54 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



Treatment. — Although this drug is of the nature of an irritant poison, 

 we are precluded from giving oily substances, phosphorus being readily 

 soluble in fixed oils. Solutions of gum-arabic or tragacanth and small doses 

 of turpentine are reputed to have beneficial effects in alleviating suffering 

 from this form of poisoning. 



Post-mortem Appearances. — These are fairly constant, but differ 

 in degree. A large amount of foul-smelling gas is released when the abdomen 

 is opened, and the stomach, especially in its villous portion, is reddened, 

 much softer than when the organ is healthy, and considerably thickened. 

 Inflamed patches and areas of extravasation are observed extending into 

 the small intestine, and maybe into the large bowel. 



The air-passages and lungs are congested, as are the urino-genital 

 organs. It is remarked that in phosjmorus poisoning a lardaceous or fatty 

 infiltration of the liver, brain, and other organs appears to take place in 

 a short time after administration of the drug, a pathological condition 

 usually associated with other causes of an enduring nature. Rodents and 

 other small animals do not, when killed by phosphorus, undergo the ordinary 

 processes of putrefaction, but dry up. "Whether such effects would follow 

 with horses is not at present ascertained. 



NARCOTIC POISONS 



The next group of poisons are spoken of as narcotic, but there are 

 toxic agents having both irritant and narcotic effects, the classification 

 being more or less arbitrary, and followed only as convenient for 

 reference. 



General Symptoms. — Some of these are common to the class, and 

 such as are occasioned by Indian hemp may be taken as typical. With 

 this drug, given in excessive quantity, there is often some nervous excite- 

 ment, but not invariably. This is followed by drowsiness, which passes on 

 to stupor, and the standing posture is maintained with difficulty, the 

 knees and hocks giving way from time to time. 



The animal under its influence becomes dead to external objects, and 

 can only be awakened with difficulty. Sudden noises rouse him with a 

 start, but he lapses into a state of lethargy again the next moment. The 

 head hangs low, the eyes are half-closed, and the ears pendulous. Snoring 

 sounds are emitted in breathing, the extremities are cold, altogether indi- 

 cating the effects of a poisonous dose of a narcotic drug, of which further 

 evidence may be found in the reduced force and frequency of the pulse. 

 A symptom peculiar to Indian hemp is a galloping movement when 

 compelled to walk; the power of controlling the muscles of locomotion is 



