138 THE EQUINE HOSPITAL FORMULARY. 



go on, unless checked. In chronic arsenical poisoning there 

 is, as a rule, intermittence of the pulse, and often a diseased 

 heart. Should a horse catch a chill, pleurisy and peri- 

 carditis will be likely, and the temperature may be so high 

 as to avert suspicion of arsenic. The horse dies of pleurisy, 

 pericarditis, and heart disease, but it may perhaps have 

 been primarily induced by arsenic. At the same time a 

 post-mortem may reveal gastro-intestinal irritation more or 

 less marked. 



During life the horse may have shown signs o^ pottering a 

 little when first leaving the stable, and, although being in 

 very good condition, with a splendid coat, when resting 

 after a good run, or after going up-hill, shakes the whole 

 trap with its blowing respirations and heaving heart-beat. 

 When a horse is under the influence of arsenic, it easily 

 takes cold, and then the pleurisy and pericarditis may 

 quickly bring about a fatal issue. 



If men realized the harm done by giving arsenic, it 

 would not be so much used ; but the fact is that deaths 

 brought about really by arsenic are often put down to 

 pleurisy, pericarditis, inflammation of the lungs or of the 

 bowels. These are sometimes merely the secondary, and 

 not the primary, causes, the organs having been rendered 

 unduly vulnerable by the poison. 



Lead. — Lead is generally taken inadvertently, and hence 

 the source of the metal should be ascertained, and the animal 

 removed therefrom. Sulphate of magnesium or sulphate 

 of sodium, together with sulphuric acid and sulphur, 

 whereby sulphate and sulphide of lead are formed, should 

 be given. If there be pain, morphia and hyoscyamus are 

 useful, but one must be careful to keep the bowels open, 

 and it is better to assuage the pain so far as possible with 

 hot woollen cloths. The sulphuric acid may be given every 



