POISONOUS PLANTS 249 



Remedies. A common practice among western stock- 

 men, cowboys and others when animals are poisoned, 

 is to keep them continually moving. It is doubtful 

 whether this can be called a safe thing to do in many 

 cases, while in some it is a positive injury. 



Generally speaking the best thing to do with such 

 animals is to let them move about or lie still as they 

 please. Bleeding is another famous "rough and ready" 

 remedy which should be more honored in the breach 

 than the observance. The sins that have been com- 

 mitted against poor, weak, helpless animals by bleeding 

 them are too numerous to mention. Few cases of 

 poisoning in animals of any kind can be helped in this 

 manner. 



There are several handy remedies which stockmen 

 usually try when remedial agents are necessary. The 

 commonest is grease, either hot lard, melted bacon or 

 oils of various sorts. These given either as injections 

 or drenches are excellent in most cases of poisoning. 

 They furnish a coating for the lining of the stomach 

 and intestines, assist in movements of the bowels and 

 aid in eliminating the poison from the animal's stomach. 



Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) is another handy 

 remedy which is given where the poison is supposed 

 to contain an unusual amount of acid, while vinegar 

 is freely used for alkaloid poisons. I have seen stock- 

 men give both to an animal at the same time and as 

 one in a way neutralizes the other the result would 

 seem to be bad for the animal. Lard and grease are 

 also of value in the early stages of bloat. Nature is 

 assisted by them in removing through the bowels the 

 load of fermenting food which makes the bloated con- 

 dition. 



