64 



HEALTH AND DISEASE 



Symptoms. — Frothing at the mouth from excitation of the salivary 

 glands, champing and movements of the head suggesting the burning 

 sensation in the throat which is a well-known effect on human sufferers, 

 purging, frequent and violent attempts at vomition. The heart's action 

 is so depressed as to make 

 the pulse almost imper- 

 ceptible, paralysis of the 

 hind extremities super- 

 venes, and the animal reels 

 and falls about until he 

 abandons the attempt to 

 stand or an amelioration 

 of his condition follows. 



Treatment and Anti- 

 dotes. — Perfect quiet and 

 freedom from all causes 

 of excitement should be 

 provided. Digitalis, the 

 action of which is directly 

 counter to that of aconite, 

 affords a valuable antidote, 

 and should be promptly 

 administered. Diffusible 

 stimulants, as for example 

 alcohol and ammonia, may 

 be given alternately with 



the above, and a laxative Fig _ 463 _ Aconite (Aconitum NapeUlls) 



of linseed-oil early in the 



attack, despite the usual symptom of purging. Linseed-oil is said to 

 allay the violent attempts at vomition above mentioned. 



26. VETERINARY HYGIENE 



Everything which relates to the maintenance of health in the animal 

 body is included in the word " Hygiene", or in the term which the late 

 Dr. Chas. J. B. Williams preferred, " Hygienics". A perfectly accurate 

 definition of health can hardly be formulated in words, at least, which 

 will convey the exact idea existing in the mind of the physiologist. A 

 sufficiently clear view of the condition is, however, present to the common 



