A VETERINARY TOXICOLOGICAL CHART, 



CONTAINING THOSE AGENTS AVHICH ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE DEATH IN THE HORSE ; 

 WITH THE SYMPTOMS, ANTIDOTES, ACTION ON THE TISSUES, AND TESTS. 



BY W. J. T. MORTON, 



Lecturer on V^derinary , Materia Medica, etc. 



" Poisons are substances which are capable of altering or destroying, in a majority of 

 cases, some or all of the functions necessary to the support of the vital principle." — 

 Faedere. They are derived both from the organic and inorganic kingdoms ; and their 

 action is either local or remote. Local action is referrable to, 1st, Chemical Decomposi- 

 tion ; 2d, Irritation and Inflammation ; 3d, Nervous Impression. Remote action is 

 effected by, 1st, Absorption ; 2d, Sympathy. Animal Poisons rank first in potency; next 

 to these, the Mineral ; and lastly, the Vegetable. Aerial poisons are, perhaps, the most 

 insidious. 



The manner in which poisons are introduced into the System varies. The Alimen- 

 tary Tube, the Skin, the Circulation, and the Lungs, are the media. 1st, They may be 

 taken into the Stomach inadvertently with the food, or they may be maliciously or acci- 

 dentally administered. They may also be thrown up as Enemata. 2d, They may be 

 placed underneath the Sldn ; or injected into the Circulation ; or they may be absorbed 

 from Wounds. 3d, If gaseous, they may be inhaled, and enter the blood during its 

 transit through the Lungs. They are generally arranged according to the effects which 

 they produce upon the Animal Economy. The great end of Toxicological Science is 

 to counteract their influence, which may be accomplished by chemically decomposing 

 them, by their expulsion from the System, and by restoring the Function of the Organ 

 of which they have caused derangement. As comparatively large quantities of the 

 Poisons are required to destroy Life in the Horse, the niceties of chemical manipulation 

 in the application of Tests are uncalled for. It will generally be sufficient to collect 

 some of the contents of the Stomach and Intestines, add distilled Water to them, filter and 

 to the Solution apply the Test or Re-agent. Sometimes they require the influence of 

 heat ; and, when the contents are not attainable, portions of the Alimentary Tube which 

 have been most acted upon by the Agent are to be boiled in distilled Water, and similarly 

 treated. 



I. — IRRITANT POISONS. 



Tliese produce their action upon some part of the Alimentary Canal, particularly the Stom- 

 ach and Intestines ; and by absorption they are often carried to other Organs. The 

 principal Symptoms are those of Irritation and Inflammation. 



AGENTS. 



ACIDUM SULPHURICUM. 



Sulphuric Acid. 



ACIDUM NITRICUM. 



Nitric Acid. 



ACIDUM HYDROCHLORICUM. 



Hydrochloric Acid. 

 Symptoms. — The liquid mineral acids 



are the most powerful of all local irritants. 

 Indications of their action are uneasiness, 

 frequent pawing and shifting of the posi- 

 tion, increased secretion of saliva, which is 

 sometimes viscid and fetid, the mouth in- 

 flamed, difficulty in swallowing from corro- 

 sion of the lining of the esophagus, acute 

 gastric irritation extending to the intestines, 

 and giving rise to symptoms resembling a 



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