258 Poisons. 



and wouraiij death arising from paralysis of the muscles 

 of respiration, in addition to the action upon the heart. 

 In order to avert death, the utmost endeavours must be 

 made to promote artificial respiration, contemporaneous 

 with other means described, by which life is preserved 

 long enough for the other remedies to act in the neutrali- 

 sation of the toxic agent. 



Wasps, hornets, bees, &c., in this country, are trouble- 

 some pests to the dog. Those animals used for hunting 

 purposes, and others which act as marauders, disturb the 

 insects by accidentally upsetting the nests. The hornet's 

 sting is often rapidly fatal, giving no opportunity for 

 treatment. To escape an attack from the infuriated 

 insects it is common to raise a dense smoke, or take 

 refuge behind thick bushes, and, best of all, to rush into 

 water when at hand. The best local as well as internal 

 remedy is ammonia ; the common washing-blue is also 

 effective externally; and a third popular agent is carron- 

 oil, a compound of linseed oil and lime-water in equal 

 parts. Such, however, is the severity of the poison, 

 especially that of the hornet, that the dog frequently dies 

 before anything can be done in the way of treatment. 



The Destruction of Dogs. — An effective and speedy 

 method of putting useless and other animals out of 

 existence is a subject of importance. When they have 

 served us faithfully, having also grown old, decrepit, and 

 often offensive, a burden to themselves also, we grieve to 

 witness their condition, and desire to see their misery 

 terminated. Euthanasia, an easy or calm death, is what 

 we prefer ; many methods are speedy, but the results are 

 agonising. Thus, prussic acid is probably the most 

 speedy and powerful poison, but the convulsions are 

 horrifying. An electric shock, sufficiently powerful, is 

 surprisingly effective, but is cumbrous in its application. 

 Pithing and drow?iing 2xq objectionable on grounds so 

 obvious that their discussion is unnecessary. The 

 hypodermic method, or simply injecting the lethal dose 

 beneath the skin, is, perhaps, the most speedy ; but we 

 object to the evidences, although it is probably certain 

 the animal is totally unconscious of all suffering. For 



