Poisons J 2\\ [Poisons 



minutes, or quicker ; but if it has been given in 

 a piece of meat, it may be an hour or so before 

 any signs appear. Then the animal becomes 

 restless ; the limbs are stiff, and the dog walks with 

 difficulty, and with the hind legs stretched apart. 

 Occasionally there is a violent twitching or jerk 

 of all the muscles of the body, as if the dog had 

 a galvanic shock, and then he suddenly falls to 

 the ground, often in a forward direction, and in 

 acute tetanic spasm. The limbs are extended, 

 and as stiff as pieces of iron, the fore ones in 

 a slightly forward direction, and the hind legs 

 in a backward direction. The head is drawn 

 back, and the back arched and the tail extended 

 and stiff; the eyes protrude, the mouth firmly 

 closed, and the pulse extremely quick. Respira- 

 tion during the spasm, which lasts about half a 

 minute or so, entirely ceases. At the end of the 

 attack the dog gives a few heavy sighs, and then 

 commences to pant hard. The least movement 

 or touch, or even a noise, will cause a return 

 of the convulsions, which continue at frequent 

 intervals, unless the dog is relieved by some 

 suitable antidote, or until death occurs, which 

 generally takes place during a paroxysm. In 

 some cases, though the acute symptoms may have 

 been checked by treatment, the dog afterwards 

 dies from the effect of the exhaustion. 



Treatment: In all cases of poisoning, more 

 especially when due to strychnine, prompt action 

 is required, and means should at once be taken 

 to make the dog disgorge what has been 

 swallowed. An emetic that will act well and 



