360 POISONING 



about half an hour. Harley found that half an ounce of 

 alcohol, with an equal quantity of water, injected into the 

 portal vein of dogs, so seriously interfered with the glyco- 

 genic function of the liver that the urine within three hours 

 became diabetic. 



Cattle and sheep, and indeed all ruminants, are less 

 susceptible to the actions of alcohol than dogs or horses. 

 Hertwig mentions that when brandy is given to sheep and 

 goats, they soon become fond of it, taking six or eight ounces 

 at a time without exhibiting serious symptoms. 



Chronic poisoning by alcohol, with impaired nervous 

 power and fatty degeneration, common in human patients, 

 is unknown in the lower animals. 



The antidotes are tea and coffee, or the alkaloid caffeine, 

 cold douches, enforced movement, and other means of 

 warding off the deadly stupor. Strychnine and alcohol are 

 mutually antagonistic, and hypodermic injections of strych- 

 nine may be given if collapse occur. 



MEDICINAL USES. Few remedies are more frequently and 

 extensively used than the various alcoholic liquids. They 

 stimulate gastric secretion, and improve appetite in atonic 

 indigestion ; they act as carminatives in flatulence ; control 

 the spasms of intestinal colic ; and check persistent diarrhoea 

 especially when they are conjoined with sodium benzoate 

 or vegetable astringents. They equalise irregular circula- 

 tion in chills, and antagonise cardiac feebleness, especially 

 of a temporary character, such as results from debilitating 

 disease, poisoning by sedatives, snake-bite, or shock. 

 Many cases of milk fever in cows, when stupor is approach- 

 ing, or even during the earlier excitable stages, are benefited 

 by six to ten ounces of whisky, given at intervals of one or 

 two hours. 



In influenza amongst hard-worked horses, when the pulse 

 is quick and weak, the breathing hurried and embarrassed, 

 and the temperature above 102 Fahr., no treatment is 

 more successful than a few ounces of whisky, diluted with 

 gruel or water, repeated every two or three hours ; a saline 

 draught administered thrice daily ; the body well clothed, 

 and mustard, if need be, applied to the throat. Many cases 

 of bronchitis and pneumonia, after a few days' illness, and 



