POISONS. 215 



these contents to give out a garlic-like smell under similar 

 circumstances. 



The treaiment proper, in cases of arsenical poisonin"* is 

 to give sugar dissolved in milk, in considerable quantities, 

 until it may be supposed that all the poison is evacuated from 

 the stomach, when a similar treatment is to be pursued to that 

 before recommended. 



Verdigris. — The rust of copper is often taken by dogs, 

 from the careless practice of leaving acidulous remains of 

 food in copper vessels. The effects produced are not unlike 

 those already detailed, but less violent; neither are the ap- 

 pearances after death dissimilar, except that the ulceration 

 and gangrenous spots are less strongly marked. The pre- 

 sence of copper may be detected by the prussiate of potash, 

 which occasions a reddish precipitate in the liquid contents of 

 the stomach and bowels when added thereto. 



The treatment in no wise differs from that detailed in mer- 

 curial poisonings. 



Lead. — I have frequently seen dogs fatally poisoned by 

 drinking water from leaden vessels, or by lapping the water 

 left in the hollows of the lead coverings of areas, &c. The 

 same occurs likewise from the licking of paint, which they 

 may have accidentally smeared themselves with ; and it is to 

 be observed, that a smaller quantity of lead in this way is 

 sufficient to prove fatal, than would be supposed. The 

 symptoms produced are vertigo, violent griping pains, vo- 

 miting, with purging stools in some cases, and costiveness 

 in others : tow^ards the close of fatal cases, paralysis and 

 spasmodic twitchings take place. On dissection of these 

 cases, there is seldom observed any lesion of the coats of 

 either the stomach or bowels ; but the inflammation is in- 

 tense, and appears usually in patches. I have also not unfre- 

 quently met with intussusception. 



The treatment (when lead may be suspected to have been 

 taken) is to be commenced by an active purgative, as sul- 

 phate of magnesia (Epsom salts). Should this be rejected, 

 a ball with calomel and aloes may be substituted, and may be 



