7 6" IN CASES OF POISONING. 



by strychnine and other drugs producing convulsions, its use would surely 

 prove fatal in poisoning by narcotics. 



Not alone in the care of animals, is shown this same stupid reasoning. 

 The writer recalls a case he once treated, that of a woman who had effect- 

 ually used creasote on a pledget of cotton pressed into an aching tooth. 

 Shortly after on being attacked with earache, reasoning that the remedj*, if 

 a success in one instance, must surely be good in another, had a quantity 

 dropped into her ear; the result can be imagined. 



The writer had a valuable horse overcome by the heat. His driver much 

 alarmed, was ready to do anything and everything advised. A bystander 

 recommended an ounce of the tincture of aconite root, which was at once 

 secured and administered. At least eight hundred drops were given of the 

 drag, whereas ten to fifteen drops would have been reasonably large. Man's 

 stupidity will never allow the limit of illustrations of this character to be 

 reached. 



While on the subject of poisons, certain rules in the use of medicines 

 are appropriate. 



Never undertake to prepare complicated prescriptions, but depend upon 

 a competent and reliable druggist. 



Protect your labels. If one is lost, sacrifice the contents of the bottle 

 rather than be in doubt. 



Use great care in dropping medicine. When uncertain about the accu- 

 racy of the dose, throw it away and drop again. 



Remember that medicine can be repeated if necessary, but cannot be recalled 

 after once given. Give too small rather than too large doses. 



All drugs require a certain time to act in, and must not be repeated until 

 a proper interval has been allowed. 



There is no protection from the poisoning fiend. Apothecaries are by 

 law foi-bidden to sell poisons. They can easily be obtained however with- 

 out legal responsibility. Pills of strychnine, mix vomica, arsenic, etc., 

 each containing the proper dose can be bought without suspicion, implying 

 they are for personal use, several of them pressed into meat, thrown into 

 the vicinity of the hated dog, and the hellish purpose be accomplished. 



One author has stated, " as a general rule for distinguishing between the 

 evidence of poisoning and the symptoms of disease, the suddenness of 

 the attack must weigh largely, and by tracing where the dog has been, 

 and what he has or is likely to have picked up, a pretty accurate conclu- 

 sion can be arrived at." 



This is about all that can be said on this subject. At the same time, it is 

 essential to remember that there are many exceptions to this rule. 



Some agents are more readily absorbed than others. Poisons taken into 

 the stomach when empty, necessarily act much more 9peedily than when 



