622 GASTRITIS. 



individuality or speciality of action in the gastric inflammation 

 depending upon the specificity of action of these irritants on 

 other organs and functions, as also upon the quantity intro- 

 duced and the channel of introduction, upon which we do not 

 here enter, the symptoms, in a general sense, are in all much 

 alike. In the case of arsenic, the most common of irritant 

 poisons, we have nausea, with loss of appetite, restlessness, 

 or much abdominal pain, shown by the usually occurring 

 symptoms, an anxious expression of countenance, thirst, and 

 the existence of much frothy saliva in the mouth ; the respira- 

 tions are short and frequent; the pulse, at first simply frequent, 

 rapidly becomes feeble and imperceptible. Usually the bowels 

 are irritable; sometimes violent j^^^rging and tenesmus are 

 present, with much borborygmus and a peculiarly offensive 

 smell of the ftecal matter, with coldness of the extremities, and 

 patchy or general perspiration. Very shortly following the 

 develoj)ment of these symptoms we have great prostration, 

 staggering, paralysis, particularly of the hind extremities, and 

 sometimes coma, preceding death. 



With mercurial compounds, in addition to the common 

 symptoms of gastric irritation there have occasionally been 

 observed salivation, peculiar soreness, and heightening in 

 colour of the membrane of the mouth. While from excessive 

 doses of the salts of copper, special disturbance of innerva- 

 tion, with general paresis, sometimes muscular spasms of a 

 tetanic nature and great depression of internal temperature, 

 may be expected. 



In all cases where I have been certain of the poisoning of 

 horses from eating the foliage of the yew, the symptoms have 

 been developed so rapidly that little time has been allowed for 

 the close observation of these. Such as could be observed 

 were closely analogous to what we have mentioned as atten- 

 dant upon the action of other irritants. 



Diagnosis. — It will often, in all cases of evident gastric dis- 

 turbance with much abdominal pain and the exhibition of 

 such serious symptoms as we have indicated, materially assist 

 us in our diagnosis to obtain as much information as is pos- 

 sible regarding the previous history and treatment of the 

 animal. 



This no doubt is needed, or at least advantageous, in all 



