The Ailments of Horses. 9 



The average dose of this poisonous drug 

 is 3 grains, but these foolish fellows often 

 give twenty times this amount. Con- 

 tinued for a long time, the " tolerance " 

 of the drug enables the animal (like 

 arsenic and opium eaters) to stand big 

 doses, but as arsenic tends to accumulate 

 in the cells of the liver, a fatal attack of 

 arsenic poisoning (acute inflammation of 

 the stomach and bowels) may happen at 

 any moment, the blood-stream having 

 swept the drug into the circulation. 



As a rule the proprietor is at a loss to 

 account for this sudden onset of disease, 

 and the horsekeeper is not going to 

 willingl}^ sacrifice his situation, and 

 perhaps incur criminal prosecution, if he 

 can possibly avoid confession. 



Analytical and veterinary experience 

 may subsequently compel him to do so, 

 or the plea may be established perhaps 

 without voluntary statements on his part. 



Grrooms ought to be made aware of the 

 consequences of drugging their horses 

 without consulting their master. 



Symptoms. — ^'iolent pain in the belly ; 

 purging or dysentery ; straining ; quick 

 small pulse and shallow breathing ; sweat- 

 ing, redness of the eyes, and thirst. 



Treatment. — This must be left in 

 the hands of a duly qualified veterinary 

 surgeon. The proper antidote is peroxide 

 of iron, and morphia to calm the pain. 



Azoturia. — This has been commonly 

 termed nitrogenous urine, because it was 

 thought the nitrogenous constituents of 

 this liquid excretion were largely increased. 



