392 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



the meadow saffron has been eaten, but not largely, mucilage of 

 linseed, with two ounces of spirit of ammonia and four ounces of 

 brandy, may be given every four hours. If the case be not at 

 all severe, three gills of linseed or castor oil will suflBce, followed 

 by the ammonia draught, which may be repeated if necessary. 



If the animal be not seen until the plant has been eaten some 

 time, it will then be necessary to adopt a somewhat different line 

 of treatment calculated to allay the irritation set up and to 

 stimulate the nerve centres. Mucilage of linseed or thick gruel 

 should be given in large amount. Brandy is as useful a stimulant 

 as any, and it may be given in eight-ounce doses every four 

 hours. If there be much purging, two ounces of tincture of 

 opium may be given with the brandy, and may be repeated at the 

 same intervals. To the belly, cloths wrung out from hot water 

 should be constantly applied in the severe cases, or a smart 

 mustard blister may be employed instead. At the autopsy, the 

 stomachs and the intestines of animals which have died of 

 colchicum-poisoning reveal signs of acute inflammation. The 

 lining membrane is of a bright red hue, and, when touched, 

 easily peels off. 



Aconite-poisoning in the ox is not very uncommon. It has 

 been seen by us in the case of a cow quite recently, being due, 

 as it always is, to an overdose of one of the preparations of 

 aconite (the tincture), prescribed, as usual, by ignorant medicine- 

 sellers as a fever medicine. This animal died, but what actual 

 share the overdose of aconite may have had in the cause of the 

 fatal issue we do not say. Aconite-poisoning is seldom fatal ; 

 but the symptoms shown are often very alarming. They consist 

 chiefly in sudden difficulty of breathing, gurgling in the throat, 

 trembling, and frothing at the mouth, convulsions, and imper- 

 ceptible pulse. Horses we have known actually fall to the 

 ground from absolute loss of power to stand ; but they seldom 

 actually die, and, when they do, one cannot always eliminate from 

 the case the original source of illness for which the draught was 

 given and repeated too quickly in succession. Two ounces of 

 spirit of ammonia with four ounces of brandy may be given in 

 gruel in these cases, and repeated at intervals of two hours, once 

 or more if necessary. 



We now propose to speak of poisoning by the foliage of 

 the yew {Taxus Baccata). Although it is believed by some 



