CHAPTER XXVIL 



POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. 



i. GENERAL RULES. II. POISONING FROM DRUGS, MINERALS, ETC. III. POISON- 

 ING WHILE GRAZING IV. POISONING OF THE SKIN. V. POISONING FROM 



STINGS. VL THE LOCO-WEED DISEASE. 



I. General Rules. 



Horses are frequently poisoned, sometimes by eating noxious plants oi 

 by getting hold of poisonous substances left about the stable ; sometimes 

 by malicious persons, from motives of revenge toward the owner, or to 

 advance some personal interest ; and sometimes by overdoses of strong 

 drugs. It is well, therefore, to know some of the more common i)oisons, 

 with their modes of action and their antidotes ; and it is, of course, ex- 

 tremely desirable to be able to find and use suital)le remedies with the 

 least possible delay, since the loss of only a few minutes will, in some 

 cases, cost the animal's life. A few general directions, like the following, 

 it will pay the reader to commit to memory, and thus have them at in- 

 stant command: — When the animal is poisoned by an alkali, give 

 him an acid, such as vinegar, &c. For poisoning by an acid, give an 

 alkali, such as bi-earbonate of soda (baking soda.) Both the articles 

 here specified are nearly always on hand. 



II. Poisoning from Drugs, Minerals, etc. 



^comYe is frequently given in overdoses, causing profuse perspiration ; 

 spasms of the glottis, seen in the continual swallowing when there is noth- 

 ing to swallow ; congestion of the lungs, with difficult breathing ; gas- 

 tro-enteritis (inflammation of the stomach and bowels) ; and quick pulse, 

 gradually becoming imperceptible. Give strong coffee, in pint doses, 

 every fifteen minutes till relieved. 



Ay^senic is sometimes got hold of. It is a corrosive, 'rritant poison, caus- 

 ing diarrhoea, mucous discharge from the eyes and nose, a quick, wiry 

 pulse, and injected mucous membranes. Iron sesqui-oxide (iron rust) is 

 the best chemical antidote. It is prepared by dissolving copperas and bi- 

 carbonate of soda in water, separately, and mixing the two solutions, 

 when the iron rust will fall to the bottom. Wash it with warm 

 water, put in a bottle, and give three or four tablespoonfuls every ten 

 or fifteen minutes. Being insoluble, it will have to be washed down the 



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