SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC LEAD POISONING. 397 



turbance is even more marked, and the animal is either coma- 

 tose, or dashes or thrusts his head violently against any obstacle 

 Avhich may offer itself. Examined carefully we will observe 

 muscular twitching or spasms largely prevailing, both in the 

 cases which are still able to stand and in such as are paralyzed. 

 The pulse in all is rather variable : sometimes, as in ordinary 

 cerebral congestion, less frequent and full ; at others it is in- 

 creased in number, of little volume and hard ; the breathing is 

 quickened, and the temperature slightly elevated. In all cases 

 the bowels are inclined to be confined, even while they exhibit 

 a certain amount of irritabihty. Colic, or symptoms of ab- 

 dominal pain, do not appear as prominent features. Where 

 the illness is ushered in by the gradual developing of symptoms, 

 it is found that, although the indications of cerebral disturb- 

 ance are not strikingly manifest at first, they shortly follow in 

 conjunction with epileptic spasms and muscular twitchings. 



b. Symi-)toms of Chronic Lead-poisoning. — Between saturnine 

 epilepsy and true plumbism there are many stages or gradations: 

 in the one, the sjmiptoms of ilhiess may be developed so rapidly 

 and steadily that a fatal termination is reached in a fcAV hours ; 

 in the other, unmistakable indications of the ingestion of lead 

 may exist for months. This latter condition is peculiar to certain 

 districts, or at least to animals placed under peculiar surround- 

 ings, where the metal is furnished to them in small quantities 

 and over a lengthened period. It is observed in the neighbour- 

 hood of smelting-works, where minute particles of lead or its 

 compounds are distributed in an impalpable form over pasture- 

 lands ; and in cases where the same quiet but steady introduc- 

 tion of the metal into the bodies of animals has obtained 

 through a contaminated water-supply. 



In this form we find in the aggregate the same symptoms 

 that are observed in the acute, only somewhat changed as 

 regards the prominence and distinctiveness with which certain 

 of these are developed. In the acute form the cerebral occupy 

 the most prominent position, and completely overshadow the 

 others ; in the chronic form, although the nervous are never 

 removed from our view, those connected with digestion and 

 locomotion are more particularly brought before us. These are 

 chiefly impaired or capricious appetite, an unhealthy, rough- 

 looking state of the skin and hair, falling oft' in condition, 



