POISONING BY THE NITRATES OF POTASH AND SODA. 217 



mucilaginous drinks containing opium for the purpose of calming the 

 irritation. 



POISONING BY CAUSTIC ACIDS. 



Cases of this kind are rare. Gerlach described a case of poisoning by 

 straw which had been removed from sulphuric acid carboys. Abadie 

 saw a number of cases w^hich were traced to the unskilful treatment of 

 two empirics. 



The symptoms point to the existence of stomatitis, cesophagitis, and 

 gastro-enteritis. Death occurs rapidly, with a running-down pulse. On 

 post-mortem examination one discovers more or less deep burning of the 

 mucous membrane of the digestive tract. 



The diagnosis is difficult in the absence of information. 



The prognosis is grave. 



Treatment comprises administration of alkaline draughts, solutions 

 of bicarbonate of soda, calcined magnesia, etc., and of mucilaginous drinks 

 containing opium, chalk, etc. This may produce temporary relief. 



Water mixed with whipped whites of eggs is also extremely valuable, 

 but it is often better to slaughter the animal as soon as the condition is 

 diagnosed. 



POISONING BY COMMON SALT. 



This form of poisoning is rare in oxen on account of the large 

 quantity of salt which can be ingested without producing bad effects. 

 It is commonest in animals to which old brine has been given or which 

 have received rough salt containing toxic substances (sheep and pigs). 

 Beef, pork, or fish brine, four or five months old, is especially dangerous 

 because of the toxins it contains. Half a pint is a fatal dose for a pig 

 (Eeynal). The symptoms include marked thirst, vomiting and diarrhoea ; 

 at a later stage motor and nervous disturbance appears, resulting from 

 poisoning of the cerebro-spinal system. Paralysis, epileptiform convul- 

 sions, trismus, coma and death characterise extremely acute cases. 



To the naked eye, the lesions are those of acute gastro-enteritis ; 

 and, in many cases, of marked congestion of the brain and medulla and 

 of the mucous membrane of the bladder. 



The treatment is prophylactic and hygienic. Old brine and salt of 

 doubtful purity should be avoided. The symptoms should be treated by 

 administering diuretics, preferably soda bicarbonate, which does not 

 irritate the kidney, and by giving mucilaginous drinks with anodynes. 



POISONING BY THE NITKATES OF POTASH AND SODA. 



This form of poisoning has frequently been described as following the 

 ingestion of ^\ater used for washing sacks which have contained chemical 



