Poisons. 2 5 5 



developed, generally after a meal, or they may be asso- 

 ciated with some special act or circumstance, as the 

 giving of a tit-bit by an admiring stranger, or immediately 

 after the external use or internal administration of a 

 remedy. Such facts being kept in mind, precise attention 

 may be directed to the probable cause with the result of 

 showing whether the signs are due to malicious intent, 

 poisonous agents, or mistakes in medicines. Concise 

 information on these points, as far as they are elucidated, 

 should always be sent in writing to the canine surgeon 

 when summoned. 



The precise Treatment of Poisoning must always be 

 left with the canine surgeon. He alone can provide the 

 acknowledged antidote. The owner may alleviate to an 

 extent the pangs and sufferings of the patient, for instance 

 in diarrhoea or dysentery, by the giving of milk with ^gg 

 beaten up, thick flour or starch with water will be useful ; 

 and when abdominal pain is acute a dose of laudanum, 

 twenty -five or thirty drops, or three to five grains of the 

 gum. Syrup of white poppies, one to three or four drachms, 

 also proves a useful agent. If vermin powder has been 

 taken, give broth or thick soup ; and when hellebore or 

 colchicum is the cause, add to the milk and eggs nitrous 

 ether, ammonia, or spirits, as gin, whisky or brandy, to 

 obviate the extreme depression which ensues. 



Mineral Poisons. — These comprise a variety of sub- 

 stances used in medicine or otherwise, the most active of 

 which are preparations of arsenic, lead, mercury and zinc, 

 and copper. 



The General Symptoms of Poisoning by Mifierals are as 

 follow : irritation and violent pain in the stomach and 

 bowels, with vomitingj diarrhoea, painful straining, the 

 evacuations being mixed with blood, cramps of the limbs 

 and collapse. The membrane of the bowels is sometimes 

 also removed, and may be found in the evacuations, as 

 in the case of arsenic, the compounds of??iercury, and even 

 mercurial oi?itment when largely used to the skin. To 

 the latter metal also is ascribed the ^nercurial eczema 

 which arises from long continuance of its use externally 

 as well as internally. Salivation is also present, and the 



