< VETERINARY SURGEON COMES. 489 



fore often very difficult even for a highly skilled person to decide 

 whether an animal is suffering from the effects of poison or is labor- 

 ing under a particular disease. 



In order to counteract the effects of a poison, not only must it 

 be known that the suffering animal has been poisoned, but the 

 nature of the poison, and consequently its antidote, must also be 

 known. Considering that poisons act in many different ways, and 

 affect different organs or tissues in the body, and that almost every 

 one of them requires a different kind of antidote, it will be seen 

 that a great amount of knowledge is required, and that in a col- 

 lection of brief notes like the present it would be impossible to 

 describe everything relating to toxicology. 



When poisoning is suspected, the veterinary surgeon should at 

 once be sent for, and the message should convey information as to 

 the kind of poison suspected, and the symptoms. Until he ap- 

 pears, everything ought to be done to neutralize the injurious 

 effects and alleviate the symptoms. 



Some poisons produce diarrhoea and dysentery, with great pain. 

 To ameliorate these symptoms, and, if possible, prevent further 

 local action, it is best to give quantities of milk, flour, or starch 

 gruel, thick and viscid, eggs beaten up, or thick broths or soups ; 

 while to allay the pain large doses of opium powder, or watery 

 infusion of opium, should be administered. These articles do well 

 for many mineral, as well as some acrid and irritant vegetable 

 poisons. If acids are the cause of poisoning, alkalies — as the car- 

 bonate of potash or soda — should be given in large quantities of 

 water, in addition to milk or flour gruel ; and when it is the caustic 

 alkalies — as soda, potash, or ammonia, then weak acids, as vinegar 

 and water, should be administered with the above-mentioned de- 

 mulcents. 



In poisoning by strychnia, which is not at all uncommon, the 

 symptoms are very marked, there being most painful spasms of all 

 the muscles at intervals, which bend the body backwards . and 

 stiffen the limbs, while the animal is quite conscious. An infusion 

 of tobacco is the best and most convenient remedy. Warm baths, 

 and the administration of chloral, or inhalation of chloroform, are 

 also useful. 



Phosphorus paste is not infrequently accidentally swallowed by 

 animals — as dogs and cats — being used for killing rats. There is 

 vomiting, and the vomit is dark, and has a luminous appearance in 

 the dark, and it, as well as the breath and faeces, has the peculiar 

 odor of phosphorus. There is great constitutional derangement 

 and thirst. With this poison, all oily fluids, as well as broth and 

 soup, shjauld not be administered, but, instead, large quantities of 

 solution of potash, magnesia, or soda. 



