diseases 119 



Invariably be saved by injecting under the skin, with hypodermic syringe, 

 LO grain doses of chloral (dissolved in water) every 15 or 20 minutes until 

 50 or 60 grains are used. 



If convulsions quiet down and dog seems better, it might be safe to stop 

 when 30 or 40 grains have been given. 



It will pay any one owning a number of dogs to keep a hypodermic 

 syringe. 



Dent says: The best antidote for strychnine poisoning is chloral hy- 

 drate, size of dose depends upon the condition of the dog; in health the 

 done is 5 to 20 grains. 



Dog poisoning is so prevalent in many parts of the country just now, 

 it may not be out of place to reproduce part of Mr. A. J. Sewell's (the 

 noted English veterinarian) article on this subject in the Kennel Gazette 

 (Eng.), so that dog owners may be prepared for such emergencies: 



"In all cases of poisoning, more especially when due to strychnia, 

 prompt action is required and means should be at once taken to make the 

 dog disgorge what has been swallowed. An emetic that will act well and 

 quickly must be at once administered; for this there is nothing better than 

 a dose of apomorphia. This medicine acts in two ways; it is the quickest 

 and surest emetic, and besides it relieves the spasms. The dose is the 

 eighth of a grain for small dogs, and about the quarter of a grain for 

 the large ones, given in a teaspoonful of water; but the best way of admin- 

 istering it is by injecting it under the skin with a hypodermic syringe — 

 than from three to eight minims of the one in fifty s'olutions is to be given. 



"I always advise persons who keep a number of valuable dogs to have 

 a solution of apomorphia by them ready for emergency, for while it is being 

 obtained the patient may die, and if huntsmen would always carry a small 

 bottle of solution with them, many a valuable hound's life might be saved. 

 When this medicine is not at hand some other emetic must be given. Ordi- 

 nary table salt can be always quickly procured, and from one teaspoonful to 

 a tablespoonful, according to the size of the dog, should be given in warm 

 water. If the dose does not act freely, repeat it in a few minutes, or, instead, 

 give from five to twenty grains of powdered ipecacuanha, or from one to 

 three grains of tar emetic. Either of these may be shaken dry on the 

 tongue; the dog must be made to vomit somehow, but anything like salt 

 requiring a quantity of water is often difficult to administer, as the dog's 

 mouth is often tightly clenched and trying to open it induces a paroxysm, 

 during which time it is impossible to give anything by the mouth, and here 

 the advantage of the subcutaneous injection of apomorphia comes in. This 

 may also be repeated in a quarter of an hour if the vomiting has not been 

 free. Besides the emetic some medicine is necessary to relieve the spasm. 

 Fro this there is nothing better than chloral and bromide of potassium. 

 From fifteen grains to two scruples of each may be given in from one to 

 three tablespoonfuls of water if the dog can be made to swallow, and half 

 the quantity of each may be given again in twenty or thirty minutes and 

 repeated, if necessary, in half an hour. When the dog is unable to swal- 

 low, from three to ten minims of nitrite of amyl held to the nose on a 

 pocket handkerchief is useful. This may be repeated In a quarter of an 

 hour, or chloroform may be given. Also inject into the rectum from one- 

 half to two drams of laudanum, in from on to four tablespoonfuls of water, 



