POISONING 573 



Vomiting is always a prominent symptom. Pain becomes more 

 severe as the case proceeds, and finally the animal begins to pass 

 into a sort of stupor. The hind parts become paralyzed and the 

 animal dies in convulsions. In some of the less severe cases the 

 animal may live for several days. In these cases the most pro- 

 nounced symptom is a watery diarrhea. 



Treatment. — An emetic should be given just as early as possible 

 in these cases to get the irritating substances out of the stomach. 

 The animal can be saved if the condition is recognized early enough, 

 and an emetic given before the poison has begun to get in its severe 

 work. Among the drugs which may be used for their emetic action 

 are apomorphin, zinc sulphate, and ipecac. Apomorphin should 

 be given with the hypodermic needle in doses of j to | gr. 



Plenty of water should be given to dilute the irritant which has 

 passed into the intestine. At the same time a dose of linseed oil 

 may be given for its soothing effect, and also as a means for sweep- 

 ing out the intestinal canal. In the more severe cases, where the 

 animal acts stupid and shows signs of the depressant action of the 

 poison, stimulants, such as strychnin, should be given. Where the 

 pain becomes severe and the restlessness is marked, tincture of 

 opium may be given in large doses to quiet the animal. Teaspoon- 

 ful doses of the opium preparation may be given every three or four 

 hours for several doses for this purpose. 



Poisoning from Washing Powders. — In the past ten years a 

 large number of washing powders have been placed on the market, 

 to be used in various cleansing operations about the kitchen. 

 These powders contain numerous irritating chemical substances, 

 and, where kitchen slop is used as a part of the food for hogs, these 

 irritating poisons find their way to the stomach and bowels of the 

 animals and produce very severe effects in many instances. 



The symptoms produced by this form of poisoning are referred 

 principally to the stomach and bowels. There is loss of appetite, 

 vomiting, and diarrhea. The patient becomes dull and stupid in 

 appearance and loses flesh if the condition lasts several days. 

 There is considerable tenderness of the abdominal walls on exami- 

 nation with the hands, and the animal gives evidence of pain by 

 frequent short grunts and squealing. Late in the condition the 

 animal shows considerable nervousness and muscular weakness. 



