TOXICOLOGY. 365 



Method of Detection of Hellebore. — Powdered white helle- 

 bore-root has a reddish-brown colour resembling jalap. 



Nitric acid turns it a red colour, rapidly passing to a 

 dark brown. 



Iodine water gives it a bluish-grey tint, which is only 

 slowly brought out. Sulphuric acid turns the powder to a 

 brown-black. 



Diagnosis. — Hellebore poisoning is very frequently mis- 

 taken for choking by the uninitiated ; but the history of 

 the case, when that is to be obtained, and the character of 

 pulse, will at once clear up any doubts. 



Treatment. — A good moderate dose of some aperient 

 medicine should be given in the first place, and this should 

 be quickly followed up by the administration of stimulants 

 and tonics. 



The diet should be moist and nutritious. 



After recovering from the effects of the poison, tonics 

 should be administered for a week or two. 



OPIUM. 



Opium poisoning is of rare occurrence in the horse. 



This drug, however, is sometimes administered by dealers 

 and others in order to prevent kicking and restiveness in 

 horses they wish to sell. 



A few weeks ago we were called in to see a black mare, 

 aged eight years, to which the owner had administered one 

 ounce and a half of Turkey opium. 



When called in, on the day following the administration 

 of the drug, the mare was found to be in a very dull, de- 

 jected condition, and the pulse was very feeble and soft, 

 and the artery very compressible. The number of beats 

 was 84 per minute, and the temperature reached 102-5°. 



