lo Feb., 1909.] Arsenical Poisoning in Cattle. 95 



gered on being moved, refused feed, and went right off their milk. The 

 dairyman however did not view the matter seriously as he ascribed the 

 symptoms to over-feeding. It is a common practice for dairymen to give 

 their cattle extra feed on Friday morning to insure a plentiful supply of 

 milk for Saturday's delivery. In the early hours of Saturday morning, 

 nth December, two died, and professional aid was then obtained. A 

 ■post-mortem examination revealed signs of irritant poisoning, especially in 

 the abomasum or true stomach, which was acutely inflamed. Four other 

 cows exhibited symptoms of sub-acute colic — moaning and grunting at 

 intervals — and were drenched with iron, chalk, and emollients. Medicinal 

 treatment however, proved of little avail as two more died between eight 

 and nine o'clock on Saturday morning, and a like number succumbed 

 through the night. 



On Sunday afternoon (13th December) the second autopsy was made, 

 and the following morning another beast, whose udder had been inflated 

 during the previous afternoon, and which had subsequently regained 

 control of its hind quarters, died and was subjected to a post-mortem 

 examination. Another death took place on Monday, and the ninth beast 

 being " in extremis " was slaughtered and examined on the following 

 morning. 



Chemical Examination. — Samples of the gastric and intestinal con- 

 tents of two cows were examined chemically and the presence of arsenic 

 detected. Qualitative analyses of the fodder (bran, pollard, hay) gave 

 negative results, but in the case of the water samples there were " slight 

 indications of the presence of internal poison identical with arsenic." 

 The results obtained by chemical analysis were supported by the appearance 

 of the post-mortem lesions and to some extent by the clinical symptoms. 



Symptoms. — In his article on "Arsenical Poisoning," Bevan points 

 out that "where the drug has been swallo\ved the symptoms seem to depend 

 upon the quantity and the form in which it was taken. Thus a very strong 

 solution of a readily absorbed form of arsenic produces most acute 

 symptoms, but solid and compact pieces of arsenic, not easily dissolved, 

 or preparations of the drug not readily absorbed, give rise to less acute 

 symptoms and a slower form of poisoning." Possibly, as he suggests, such 

 solid lumps or particles may remain unchanged in the rumen, causing prac- 

 tically no svstemic disturbance till washed on into the more sensitive 

 abomasum and intestines by incoming liquids. In the true stomach and 

 intestinal tube, absorption is rapid and the delicate mucous membranes 

 suffer severely from the caustic properties of the drug. 



At Camberwell, onlv sub-acute cases were encountered. Six died be- 

 tween the 24th and 48th hours and the other three after a longer interval. 

 The chief symptoms exhibited were as follows : — 



1. Dullness, weakness, loss of appetite, reduced milk flow, and in 

 some cases groaning and grunting as if in pain, 



2. Diarrhoea — the discharge being slightly sanious. In one instance 

 the rumen was impacted and doughv but no violent col icy symptoms or 

 tenderness over the belly was observed. 



3. Temperature subnormal and ears cold. The thermometer readings 

 ranged from 99.2 deg. F. to loi.g deg. F. 



4. Pulse 90 — 120; small and weak; almost imperceptible in some 

 cases. 



5. Respirations normal ; muzzle dry ; conjunctivae slightly injected. 



6. Paralysis of hind quarters ; staggering gait, and difficulty in rising. 

 Autopsies. — Four post-mortem examinations were held — three on 



beasts that had died twelve to twenty-four hours previously and one on a 



