CORROSIVE OR IRRITANT POISONS 53 



with eggs beaten up in milk. If constipation follows, aperients must not be 

 given, but reliance placed on the nature of the diet, and at most, a glycerine 

 enema administered from time to time. 



NITRATE OF POTASH 



Although in such general use among stablemen, nitrate of potash is 

 nevertheless an active irritant poison in excessive doses. 



Symptoms. — Trembling, more or less abdominal pain, restlessness, 

 convulsions, and collapse. 



Treatment. — The same as for irritant poisons generally. 



NITRATE OF SODA 



This substance is not used in equine medicine, but has occasioned the 

 death of several animals through being injudiciously spread over the pas- 

 tures as a manurial agent, and given in mistake for salt, and allowed to get 

 into drinking-water. 



Symptoms are those of irritant poisoning, and the same line of 

 treatment should be adopted (p. 4G). 



IODINE 



Iodine poisoning usually occurs by the accidental administration of 

 compounds, prescribed for external application, as a medicine. 



Symptoms are those of an irritant poison, with sighing, trembling, 

 convulsions, and collapse. 



Treatment. — There is no direct antidote to this drug. Starch and 

 white of egg retard absorption, while an oily purge may be given to expel 

 the offending material through the bowels. 



PHOSPHORUS 



The employment of this element for the destruction of vermin has led, 

 in careless hands, to horses being seriously injured. . A very small quantity 

 of phosphorus paste concealed in forage may be taken into the mouth by 

 a gross feeder, although it is such an offensive substance that most horses 

 would detect and reject it. 



Symptoms. — Abdominal pain, simulating ordinary colic, is followed 

 by ineffectual efforts at vomition, and subsequent purging. There is a 

 tendency to haemorrhage from the natural outlets of the body, either nose, 

 mouth, rectum, or urethral canal. The liver is invariably more or less 

 deranged. 



