396 LEAD POISONING. 



horses receiving it, the beans were not discontinued, but 

 ordered to be cooked in another vessel without a leaden cover, 

 and when cooked were mixed and kept apart from association 

 with lead. From that time this same food was consumed 

 without any ill effects or indications of acting as an abdominal 

 irritant. 



Although it has not yet been established so clearly in the 

 case of horses as of man, that certain waters kept in contact 

 for any length of time with leaden j^ipes or cisterns may 

 contract plumbeous impregnation, and thereby act injuri- 

 ously on them, there is no doubt that they are as liable 

 to such influences as human beings, and the water they drink 

 is as likely to be contaminated as that which is used for 

 household purposes. Although it is usually believed that 

 rather hard water is less likely in storing to be impregnated 

 with lead compounds, the absolute truth of this may not be 

 counted upon, seeing there are certain very pure waters which 

 have but a trifling action on lead, and others of a high standard 

 of hardness which possess decidedly solvent powers. 



Symptoms, a. Of Acide Lead-poisoning. — The indications 

 of poisoning by lead in all forms have, whenever occurring, and 

 in all animals, much in which they resemble each other. In 

 those instances in our patients where the amount introduced 

 into the organism is large, at least as respects the time occupied 

 in its introduction, or where the form, from its ready solubility, 

 is quickly distributed and appropriated by the different organs, 

 the form in which the symptoms of poisoning exhibit them- 

 selves is usually that of acute lead-poisoning, the so-named 

 saturnine epilepsy, associated with convulsions, delirium, or 

 coma. The occurrence of the symptoms is quickly following 

 the reception of the poisonous material, there being no pre- 

 monitory indications of failing health, as in some of the chronic 

 manifestations. 



Following impaired appetite and a somewhat haggard ex- 

 pression of countenance, with staring eyes, and injected con- 

 junctival membrane, we observe a rather copious discharge of 

 saliva, with occasional protrusion of the tongue. The position 

 of the animal is often characteristic, the limbs being drawn 

 together under the body, the head depressed, the back arched, 

 and the coat rough and staring. With some the cerebral dis- 



