406 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



not be made. In such cases one-quarter of a grain of atropia, with 5 

 grains of sulphate of morphia, should be dissolved in 1 dram of 

 pure water and injected under the skin. This should be repeated 

 sufficiently often to keep the animal continually under its effect. 

 This will usually mitigate the severity of the spasmodic contraction 

 of the affected muscles and lessen sensibility to pain. Good results 

 may be obtained sometimes by the injection per rectum of the fluid' 

 extract of belladonna and of cannabis indica, of each 1 dram, every 

 four or six hours. This may be diluted with a quart of milk. When 

 the animal is unable to swallow liquids, oatmeal gruel and milk 

 should be given by injection per rectum to sustain the strength of 

 the animal. A pailful of cool water should be constantly before 

 him, placed high enough for him to reach it without special effort ; 

 even if he can not drink, the laving of the mouth is refreshing. 

 Excellent success frequently may be obtained by clothing the upper 

 part of the head, the neck, and greater part of the body in woolen 

 blankets kept saturated with very warm water. This treatment 

 should be continued for six or eight hours at a time. It often 

 relaxes the cramped muscles and gives them rest and the animal 

 almost entire freedom from pain; but it should be used every day 

 until the acute spasms have permanently subsided in order to be of 

 any lasting benefit. 



Recently subcutaneous injections of brain emulsion have been 

 recommended. It is thought that the tetanus toxin will attach itself 

 to the brain cells so injected and thus free the system of this poison. 

 When it is due to a wound, the wound should be thoroughly cleaned 

 and disinfected with carbolic acid. If from a wound which has 

 healed, an excision of the cicatrix may be beneficial. In all cases it 

 is not uncommon to have a partial recovery followed by relapse when 

 the animal becomes excited from any cause. 



PLUMBISM, OR LEAD POISONING. 



This disease is not of frequent occurrence. It may be due to 

 habitually drinking water which has been standing in leaden con- 

 ductors or in old paint barrels, etc. It has been met with in enzootic 

 form near smelting works, where, by the fumes arising from such 

 works, lead in the form of oxide, carbonate, or sulphate was depos- 

 ited on the grass and herbage which the horses ate. 



Symptoms. Lead poisoning produces derangement of the func- 

 tions of digestion and locomotion, or it may affect the lungs prin- 

 cipally. In whatever system of organs the lead is deposited mostly 

 there will we have the symptoms of nervous debility most manifest. 

 If in the lungs, the breathing becomes difficult and the animal gets 

 out of breath very quickly when he is compelled to run. Roaring, 

 also, is very frequently a symptom of lead poisoning. When it 

 affects the stomach, the animal gradually falls away in flesh, the 

 hair becomes rough, the skin tight, and colicky symptoms develop. 

 When the deposit is principally in the muscles, partial or complete 

 paralysis gradually develops. When large quantities of lead have 

 been taken in and absorbed, symptoms resembling epilepsy may 

 result, or coma and delirium develop and prove fatal. In lead poi- 



