ii Jan., 1909.] Diseases of Farm Animals. 51 



friable and the spleen shrunken. The characteristic blue line round the 

 gums at their junction with the teeth, so commonly met with in chronic 

 lead poisoning in man, is seldom observed in animals. The presence of 

 lead either in the stomachs or tissues may be easily delected by chemical 

 analysis. 



Treatment. Diluted sulphuric acid is perhaps the best chemical 

 antidote, but sulphate of magnesia in the form of Epsom salts will usually 

 be readiest to hand. Either of the.se will transform any lead with which 

 they come in contact into sulphate of lead, which, being insoluble, cannot 

 be absorbed into the system, and therefore, not being irritant, cannot pro- 

 duce any poisonous effect. The Epsom salts may be given in doses up 

 to a couple of pounds, and by its purgative action it assists in expelling 

 quantities of the poison from the bowels. 



In chronic lead poisoning animals become thriftless, emaciated and 

 affected with progressive paralysis. Appropriate treatment is the giving 

 of small doses (two drams) of Potassium iodide daily over a lengthened 

 period. It would appear that the iodide enters into chemical combination 

 with any lead deposited in the tissues, dissolves it and forms soluble iodide 

 of lead which is excreted from the system by the kidneys. 



Phosphorus Poisoning. 



Poisoning by phosphorus is credited with the deaths of many cattle in 

 rabbit infested districts. Cattle which have contracted the bone chewing 

 habit are prone to eat dead rabbits which they come across ; and, where 

 poisoning of rabbits with phosphorous baits is carried on, they must 

 frequently eat some which have been thus poisoned. But in view of the fact 

 that the small quantity of phosphorus necessary to kill a rabbit would 

 have but a slight effect on cattle, it is likely that deaths do not occur from 

 this cause as often as is suspected. The immense capacity of the cow's 

 paunch and the consequent dilution which any poison undergoes when 

 mixed with the paunch contents must always be taken into consideration 

 in this connexion ; and it would appear, therefore, that a fair number of 

 rabbits must be eaten, and that, too, within a rhort time, before fatal 

 effects may be expected. On the other hand it is conceivable that a slow 

 poisoning may result from the eating of phosphorized rabbits or baits 

 over a lengthened period, and doubtless many cattle so become affected 

 chronically. 



Symptoms. — In acute phosphorus poisoning abdominal pain (colic) is 

 exhibited ; there is increase of respiration and pulse, body tremors, perhaps 

 jaundice and sometimes swelling of the tongue. The gait becomes reeling 

 and uncontrolled and death is preceded by paralysis. Haemorrhages such 

 as exist in petechial fever may occur in sub-acute cases. In milking cows 

 the supply of milk falls off considerably and may cease altogether. 



PcsT Mortem Appearances. — In a genuine case of acute phosphorus 

 poisoning the fumes of phosphorus may be smelt and seen rising as a 

 whitish vapour when the stomach is opened. The contents or walls of the 

 stomach will also appear luminous when seen in the dark. The stomach 

 Avails or those of the anterior intestines will present inflamed patches with 

 exudation of a quantity of straw-coloured lymph. In cases where the 

 phosphorus has been acting over a lengthened time punctate haemorrhage 

 may be ob.served on the mucous and serous membranes, and the liver, 

 kidneys and other organs will be lighter coloured than usual and greasv to 

 the touch on account of the fatty degeneration which phosphorus induces. 



