In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 151 



tucked-up appearance of the flanks, anorexia, nausea, 

 irregular respiration, slow and soft pulse, decline of animal 

 heat, vertigo, staggeiing gait with crossing of the legs, 

 amaurosis, listlessness, coma, and death. These signs are 

 sometimes mistaken again in their turn for acute indiges- 

 tion and nervous apoplexy. When the horse has eaten 

 darnel and produced the effects of poisoning there is no 

 antidote known to counteract its effect that we can use with 

 reliance ; for empty its stomach we cannot with an emetic, 

 therefore reliance must be placed upon powerful catharties, 

 stimulants, and the treatment of apoplexy and narcotic 

 poisoning generally. The first thing to do is to empty its 

 stomach, which must be done by the slow process of 

 purging, and nothing is better than one pint and a-half of 

 linseed oil, given milk warm. After that has purged give a 

 four-drachm aloes ball, then tonic medicine to restore the 

 appetite. The difference between darnel poisoning and 

 nervous apoplexy is known by the absence of all cerebral 

 disturbance, weak pulse which is sometimes small but 

 not usually rapid ; the appetite remains, there is also a 

 general vivacity, but the bowels are usually constipated and 

 there is little fever present. The limbs do not always lose 

 their powers of movement although the ability to stand is 

 absent. These cases are best treated by the practical 

 veterinary surgeon, as it is necessary to use nox vomica 

 in minute doses, and also strychnine, which being very 

 dangerous drugs should only be used by practical men. 



rhei'6 is yet another disease with which the horses is at 

 times affected, which is sometimes mistaken for mad staggers. 

 The cases are rare ; happily it is so. This disease is 



