I'OPULAR METHODS OF TREATING VOIftCWEO ANIMALS. 41 



ill cases where cerebral .syinptoiii.s are prominent. Where no remedies 

 are at hand for immediate treatment, it is always advisable to leave the 

 animals to themselves, allowing them to lie down and remain quiet if 

 they will. In the case of sheep it is, of course, impossible to leave them 

 unprotected upon the range over night, for the reason that coyotes and 

 wolves would destroy them. If a large number of sheep are affected 

 at the same time, it will be desirable for the herder to stay out over 

 night with. them. If, on the other hand, only a small number of sheep 

 are poisoned, it will be possi})le to haul them in a wagon to the corral. 



In nearly all cases of stock poisoning the sheep herders and cowboys 

 at present resort to bleeding. A considerable difference of opinion 

 prevails among them as to the best place at which to operate. Some 

 prefer the root of the tail, others the ear, and still others the inside of 

 the lips. Bleeding at one or the other of these places is said to be quite 

 uniformly efficacious, and is tried with great confidence bj' the sheep 

 herders and cowboys. As is well known the practice of bleeding was 

 constantly employed in the early history of human medicine, and 

 was considered beneficial for all sorts of ailments. The same might 

 be said of the early history of veterinary medicine. During recent 

 years, however, the practice has been abandoned except in a few 

 special instances where it seems to be directly indicated as the appro- 

 priate procedure. With regard to bleeding poisoned animals, it is 

 obvious that the practice will have a good or bad effect according to 

 the symptoms and condition of the animal in question. If the poisons 

 which are concerned have a depressing effect upon the heart, it is 

 evidently wrong to further increase their action by withdrawing the 

 blood and thus lowering the blood pressure, A number of poisonous 

 plants have this effect upon stock, and where the}' have been eaten 

 stimulants are plainly indicated as the proper remedy. If, on the 

 other hand, the symptoms of poisoning are those of an increased blood 

 pressure accompanied by cerebral excitement and a hard, wiry pulse, 

 bleeding might furnish temporary relief. Notwithstanding the confi- 

 dent manner in which herders and cowboys speak of the beneficial 

 effects of ])leeding in all cases of poisoning it remains very doubtful 

 whether the practice is to be recommended in any case. It maj^ be 

 safeh' asserted that the practice of bleeding indiscriminately does 

 more harm than good. 



It is a (juite general practice, also, to give melted lard or fat pork in 

 any case of stock poisoning b}' plants and especially in case of bloat. 

 One of the well-known effects of these substances is a more or less 

 decided cathartic action, and this action is desirable in so far as it helps 

 the animal to eliminate the unabsorbed parts of the poisonous plant. 

 A further ])eneficial action of the lard may consist in the hindrance to 

 the a])sorption of the poisonous alkaloids ])y the formation of a tem- 

 porary oily coating upon the stomach wall. In cases where the 



