144 POISONS AND ANTIDOTES 



together, and secured by a pin, round which is wound some 

 aseptic thread, or tow. 



Blood-letting, although sometimes valuable in the earlier 

 stages of acute inflammation in vigorous animals, is injurious 

 in young or weakly subjects, in the later stages of disease, in 

 epizootic and eruptive fevers, and, indeed, wherever the 

 pulse is small, quick, or weak. A pulse of this character 

 indicates debility, and bleeding in such cases increases 

 exudation and effusion instead of preventing them, while it 

 unnecessarily weakens the patient and retards recovery. 

 While blood is being drawn, the finger should, in all animals, 

 be placed upon a prominent artery, and if the pulse is 

 observed to become rapidly weaker, it is evident that the 

 treatment is unsuitable. Such mischance should, however, 

 rarely happen, for when there is any question as to the pro- 

 priety of blood-letting, such a reducing remedy should be 

 avoided. 



Local blood-letting is not much practised among the lower 

 animals. Lancing the tumid gums of teething horses is 

 seldom necessary, especially if soft food is supplied, as it 

 should be in such cases. In laminitis some practitioners 

 pare the horny sole, and open the vessels of the sensitive 

 sole, encouraging the flow of blood by immersing the foot 

 in hot water or in a warm poultice ; but in such cases the 

 heat and moisture are generally of more benefit than the 

 bleeding. Cupping and leeches are not used in veterinary 

 practice. 



POISONS AND ANTIDOTES 



Antidotes are agents which counteract the effects of poisons. 



A poison is an agent which is capable of determining definite 

 modifications of protoplasm. In the popular acceptation of 

 the term, a poison is a drug, whether animal, vegetable, or 

 mineral, which, in small quantity, destroys health and life ; 

 but it differs from a medicine only in the degree or intensity 

 of its effects. Indeed, many valuable medicines, when given 

 in large doses, become active poisons, whilst many poisons, 

 properly administered, prove valuable medicines. 



Antidotes may prevent the action of the poison, or may 



