144 Vetcrhiary Medicine. 



similar symptoms with epileptiform convulsions, and Heubel had 

 S3Mnptoms of colic in a few cases. 



Casual or Accidental Poisoning. Metallic lead is slowly 

 dissolved and therefore large doses of this may be taken in with- 

 out visible ill effect. Shot has often been given to relieve the 

 symptoms of broken wind in horses, and a dog at the L,3'ons 

 Veterinary vSchool took four ounces without visible ill effect. 

 When finely divided, however, as in sheet lead or the spray of 

 bullets it presents a much more extended surface to oxygen and 

 acids, and in the acid stomach of monogastric animals, or even in 

 the organic acids of the rumen it is dissolved in quantity sufficient 

 to prove poisonous. 



Symptoms in Horses. Shenton thus describes his cases. 

 " There was a rough, staring coat, a tucked up appearance of 

 the abdomen, and a slightly accelerated pulse ; in fact, symptoms 

 of febrile excitement which usually, however, passed away in 

 about a week. About this time large quantities of gray colored 

 matter were discharged from the nostrils, and saliva from the 

 mouth, but at no time was there any enlargement of the sub- 

 maxillary, lymphatic, or salivary glands. Nor was there consti- 

 pation of the bowels, which appears to be nearly always present 

 in cases of lead poisoning in man. Fits and partial paralysis 

 came on at intervals ; and when the animals got down they often 

 struggled, for a long time ineffectuall}', to get up again. The 

 breathing up to this time was pretty tranquil, but now became so 

 difficult and labored that the patient appeared in danger of suffo- 

 cation. The pulse was in no case above 60 or 70, and I ascribe 

 the difficulty of respiration to a paralyzed state of the respiratory 

 apparatus. The animals did not live more than two or- three 

 days after these symptoms appeared. The post mortem appear- 

 ance varied but little. The lungs and trachea were inflamed ; 

 the lungs engorged with large quantities of black blood ; the 

 trachea and bronchia filled with frothy spume. In all cases but 

 two the villous part of the stomach presented isolated patches of 

 increased vascular action, and in all cases the intestines, and 

 especially the large ones, were inflamed. The blind pouch of 

 the caecum was nearly gangrenous. There was nothing remark- 

 able about the liver, spleen or kidneys, except that they were of 

 a singularly blue appearance." 



