THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 39 



The mucous membrane of the bladder will be engorged, 

 and similar lesions may be observed in the meninges. 



Symptoms. Intense thirst, inappetence, restless- 

 ness, and vomition are usually the first symptoms evi- 

 denced. Later there will be watery diarrhea, frequent 

 urination, depressed heart action, muscular weakness, 

 and paralysis. The animals may die within five or six 

 hours after ingesting the salt, or they may not die until 

 the second or third day; if the quantity consumed has 

 been small, they may survive. 



Treatment. Emetics should be employed if the 

 animals are observed immediately after consuming the 

 salt. In cases of several hours' standing, mucilaginous 

 drinks and rectal injections should be given. Oleaginous 

 purgatives may be of value as eliminants. Heart stimu- 

 lants should be provided to avoid cardiac depression. l 



Caustic Potash, Caustic Soda (Lye; Washing 

 Powders) 



It is a common practice to feed swine wash water, 

 particularly water that has been used for washing dishes 

 and in which liberal quantities of washing powder or 

 lye have been used. Some swine breeders and feeders 

 add varying quantities of lye to the feed to "ward off 

 disease." 



Lesions. Caustic alkalies may produce congestion, 

 inflammation, or necrosis, depending upon the concen- 

 tration of the mixture. The lesions will be diffuse if 

 the alkali has been in solution; they will tend to localiza- 

 tion if the alkali has been in the powdered form. In 

 the latter case the lesions occur where the alkali granules 

 have been deposited upon the mucous membrane. The 

 lesions are usually more intense in the stomach than in 

 the intestine. 



Symptoms. Wretching, vomition, restlessness, and 

 muscular weakness are the usual symptoms evidenced in 

 the beginning, followed later by diarrhea, incob'rdination, 



1 Poisoning by herring brine produces, in addition to toxic gastro- 

 enteritis, cerebral disturbances very similar to ptomaine poisoning. 



