50 Jourtial oj Agriculture. [ii Jan., 1909, 



lameness, swelling of ihe knees and other joints caused by a chronic inflam- 

 mation, loosening of the teeth in their sockets, and blindness. 



Post-mortem Appearances. Some idea of these have been given 

 in the previous recountal of cases. While thev are very similar in all 

 classes of animals they differ considerably with the severitv and duration 

 of the case. In acute cases the mucous lining of the stomach, particularly 

 the villous portion, and of the anterior parts of the bowels is reddened and 

 thickened and presents patches of inflammation and extravasation of amber- 

 coloured exudate. The lungs are usually congested and the urino-genital 

 organs are also more vascular than normal. The substance of all the solid 

 organs and tissues has an unnatural oily or greasy quality, the result of a 

 fatty degeneration of the tissues which goes on under the intiuence of 

 arsenic. Putrefaction of the carcases of animals poisoned by arsenic is 

 delayed and the tissues sometimes become dry and mummified. 



Treatment. In acute cases treatment must include : — Firstly, the 

 getting rid of any absorbed poison by the giving of emetics in dogs, the 

 use of the stomach pump in horses and cattle ; or in the latter by operative 

 removal of the paunch contents through the flank (see page 71, vol. v.) 

 Secondh', the giving of chemical antidotes by which the poison may be 

 converted into a harmless, insoluble and unabsorbable salt of arsenic. The 

 freshly made moist sesqui-oxide or carbonate of iron is the best for this 

 purpose ; it converts the free arsenic into insoluble arsenite of iron 

 (Fe^ 2 As O^). Dialyzed iron is also' effectual and is more likely to be 

 obtainable at the chemists. Thirdly, the retarding of the absorption of the 

 poison by the giving of oils, lard, glycerine, gum mucilage or milk and 

 eggs, all of which mechanically coat the walls of the stomach with a pro- 

 tective layer. Finally, the subduing of the violent pain and irritation by 

 the administration of laudanum, morphine or other sedatives should be 

 attended to. For some days after the acute symptoms have subsided soft 

 food with an admixture of boiled linseed should be given. 



In chronic cases recovery is best expedited by rational feeding on 

 nutritious and easilv digested foods, but considerable time must elapse be- 

 fore the normal vigour and tone are regained. 



Lead Poisoning. 



Lead poisoning in animals may be exhibited by acute, subacute or 

 chronic pneumonia; the slow^ development of symptoms in the two latter 

 Ijeing accompanied by the slow solubility of the poison. 



Acute cases usually result from the eating of lead in the form of 

 white lead, red lead or lead pain^ picked up on rubbish heaps by cows with 

 a depraved appetite. The symptoms usually presented at first are those of 

 acute abdominal pain — getting up and lying dow^n again, switching the tail 

 and kicking the abdomen, wdth occasional fits of bellowing ; the eves are 

 glassy and protruding ; bowels constipated, excreta coated with mucus, 

 bloodstained and dark in colour ; respiration is hurried ; there may be hoven 

 (tympanitis) ; the gait becomes unsteady and, beginning in the hind limbs 

 and extending forward, motor paralysis follows ; after which death takes 

 place without much delay. 



On post mortem examination some evidences of the ingestion of lead 

 may be found in the stomachs, generally in the reticulum. The fourth 

 stomach and small intestines wdll be blackened, may be inflamed, and the 

 contents are harder than normal. The li\'er and kidneys will be pale and 



