POISONS. 501 



in farcy, and, as an external application, it is nscrl to destroy vermin, to 

 cure mange, and to dispose deep and fistulous nlcers to heal. 



It may, however, be given in too large a dose, tlie symptoms of which 

 are loss of appetite, discharge of saliva from the mouth, pawing, looking 

 eagerly at the flanks, rolling, profuse perspiration, thready pulse, rapid 

 weakness, violent purging and straining, convulsions, and death. 



The stomach will be found intensely inflamed, with patches of yet greater 

 inflammation. The whole course of the intestines will be inflamed, with 

 pai'ticular parts black and gangrenous. 



The antidote, if it is not too late to administer it, would be the white, 

 of eggs mixed with water, or thick starch or arrow-root. 



The following also are the tests of corrosive sublimate: — ' It is sublimed 

 by heat, leaving no residuum, and is soluble in water, alcohol, and sulphuric 

 ether. Lime-water gives either a lemon-yellow precipitate, or a brick-dust 

 red one. The iodide of potassium occasions a scarlet precipitate. The 

 most curious test is, however, by means of galvanism. A drop of the 

 suspected solution is placed on a sovereign, and a small key being brought 

 into contact simultaneously ^vith both the gold and the solution, an elec- 

 tric current is produced which decomposes the bichloi'ide of mercury, for 

 such it is. The chlorine unites yviih. the iron, and the mercury with the 



Lead. — This in its metallic state has little if any efiect npon the horse, 

 and some of its salts appear to have been given in very large doses without 

 producing serious results. Numerous instances, however, are recorded 

 of the fetal efi^ects of the oxide and carbonate of this metal, upon horses 

 and cattle in the vicinity of lead-works and rifle-butts. The symptoms 

 generally extend over a considerable length of time, and consist in 

 general derangement of the digestive system, such as loss of appetite, 

 falling away in strength and condition, frequent attacks of colic, with 

 obstinate constipation of the bowels. The latter is not always present, 

 but sometimes continued diarrhoea. The animal also will frequently 

 sufier to a greater or less extent from paralysis. The remedial agents for 

 lead poison should consist of active piirgatives, sulphate of magnesia and 

 croton oil being the best ; this should be followed by opium, if diarrhoea 

 be present we may give the dilute sulphuric acid and opium, with an 

 occasional dose of oil ; the animal in the meantime being kept on the 

 most nutritious diet. The tests for the salts of lead are the iodide of 

 potassium, which throws doT\ai a yellow precij^itate of iodide of lead, dilute 

 sulphuric acid produces an abundant white precipitate, and hydrosulphuret 

 of ammonia or sulphuretted hydrogen gas causes a brown-black precipitate. 

 So delicate is the latter test that Dr. Taylor asserts that ' a current of this 

 when properly employed will reveal by the production of a brown tinge, a 

 quarter of a grain of a salt of lead in a gallon of water, i. e. about 

 l-300,000th part.' 



Is there really occasion for the owner of horses to be acquainted with 

 these things ? Long experience has taught the author that poisoning with 

 these driigs is not so rare a circumstance as some imagine. In the farmer's 

 stable he has occasionally been compelled unwillingly to decide that the 

 death of one or more horses has been attributable to arsenic or corrosive 

 sublimate, and not to any peculiar disease, or to anything wrong in the 

 manner of feeding. A scoundrel was executed in 1812 for administering 

 arsenic and corrosive sublimate to several horses. He had been engaged 

 in these enormities during four long years. The discarded or ofiended 

 carter has wreaked his revenge in a similar way ; but, oftener, in his 

 eagerness to get a more glossy coat on his horses than a rival servant 

 could exhibit, he has tampered with these dangerous drugs. 



