216 POISONING. 



as in poisoning by tannin and essential oils. These complications are 

 of infectious origin. 



In young animals, like lambs and young pigs, still with their mothers 

 alimentary intoxication may also occur though the mothers show no 

 signs of illness. The passage of poisonous principles into the milk 

 cannot be disputed. Moussu has seen numerous cases of alimentary 

 intoxication in lambs whose dams were fed with decomposed beet pulp, 

 and in sucking pigs whose mothers had received bad maize, turnips, etc. 



Diagnosis. Careful examination of the substances with which the 

 animals are fed, and consideration of the history, prevent confusion with 

 ordinary poisoning. Anthrax as a cause can easily be eliminated. 



The prognosis is grave, unless the practitioner is summoned early. 



The lesions are those of acute gastro-enteritis — congestion of the 

 mucous membrane, abomasum, and intestine, submucous infiltration, 

 shedding of the epithelium, which sometimes attains the stage of ulcera- 

 tion, suffusion and intestinal or superficial haemorrhage, dilatation of the 

 capillaries, etc. 



The symptoms of poisoning are produced by the absorption of toxic 

 products, which j^ass from the intestine into the blood current. 



Poisoning is frequently complicated by infection produced in a similar 

 manner. 



Treatment. The first point is to change the food. This alone is 

 often sufficient to dispose of the digestive disturbance in a week or two. 

 In addition, mustard plasters may be applied, and purgatives, stimulants 

 and mucilaginous drinks may be given. Finally, diuretics are useful in 

 eliminating the toxic products accumulated in the blood. They comprise 

 general stimulants like wine, alcohol, tea, coffee, etc. Subcutaneous or 

 intravenous injection of physiological salt solution is indicated. 



POISONING BY CAUSTIC ALKALIES. 



The cause consists in the administration of insufficiently diluted 

 solutions of ammonia in cases of tympanites, or the ingestion of quick- 

 lime, used for disinfecting stables, by animals suffering from depraved 

 appetite. 



The symptoms indicate injury to the anterior part of the digestive 

 tract. They consist in salivation, loss of appetite, colic, indigestion, 

 diarrhoea, and progressive loss of strength. 



Diagnosis is only possible when the history is clear. 



The prognosis is grave if. the doses swallowed have been so large 

 as to cause severe burning of the mouth, oesophagus, rumen, etc. The 

 local lesions are grey and soft. 



Treatment consists in immediately giving acidulated draughts con- 

 taining vinegar or 1, 2 or 3 per cent, of hydrochloric acid, and emollient, 



