258 Poisoning. 



abomasum, by the woody seed covering, the fibres of which become 

 agglutinated and close the pyloric opening, just as do the fragments of 

 w^ool or the hairs in animals affected with the licking habit (pica, de- 

 praved appetite). The mass thus formed passes into the intestine, and 

 is apt to become fixed at some point and to cause death. 



In the ox, as in the sheep, true poisoning may result from the action 

 of an injurious principle which Cornevin discovered in the seed and 

 particularly in the meal. The relative rarity of such accidents is 

 explained by the composition of the cakes, which are rich in husks but 

 poor in meal. 



In the first series of accidents the symptoms resemble those pro- 

 duced by the intestinal obstructions peculiar to the licking disease; in 

 the second they appear about the eighth to the fifteenth day, and are 

 indicated by sensitiveness of the abdomen and by efforts to pass urine. 

 The urine is albuminous ; at a later stage it becomes darker in colour, 

 reddish, and stained with hsemoglobin. The mucous membranes exhibit 

 a sub-icteric tint. 



Lesions. The liver shows interstitial hepatitis, consequent on changes 

 in the hepatic cells due to the poisonous principle. The kidney first 

 shows lesions of interstitial, but afterwards of epithelial, nephritis ; the 

 endothelium of the tubes appears to be undergoing proliferation. 



Treatment should only be undertaken when the organic lesions 

 seem trifling, and suggest the possibility of cure without excessive 

 outlay. Under such circumstances it is sufficient to remove the cause 

 and to supply proper diet. 



POISONING BY MOLASSES KEFUSE. 



Molasses refuse is much used about Paris and in the department of 

 Le Nord for fattening or simply for feeding animals. Added to rough 

 fodder, even of j^oor quality, the refuse renders it palatable, and thus 

 forms an economic food ; it also improves the condition of animals with 

 broken wind. Its poverty in nitrogenous materials (the refuse consists 

 of 60 per cent, of hydrocarbons ; 10 to 12 per cent, of potash and soda 

 salts) renders it necessary to enrich it in this respect. Moreover, only 

 a limited quantity should be given. If given in larger amounts than 

 2 to 2^ parts per 500 parts of body weight it may produce bad effects. 

 In this case the earlier symptoms point to interference with the urinary 

 apparatus, the digestive apparatus being affected later ; both accidents 

 are due to the potash and soda salts present in the refuse, and may 

 become so well marked as to constitute true poisoning. 



The symptoms consist in abundant diuresis, resulting from the 

 excess of potash and soda salts, and are followed by albuminuria. Super- 

 purgation is usually present. 



