406 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



be used as a physiological test in frogs, to decide doubtful 

 cases. The treatment of poisoning consists in evacuation of 

 the stomach and the use of tannic acid, artificial respiration, 

 external heat, and respiratory and cardiac stimulants, as 

 strychnine, atropine and alcohol. The post mortem appear- 

 ances are those of asphyxia, with sometimes evidences of 

 gastro-intestinal irritation. 



Administration. — Conium is best given in the form of 

 the fluid extract or hydrobromate of the alkaloid. The 

 English use the succus conii, of which the dose for the horse 

 is 3 ii.-iv.; dog, 3 ss.-i.; but it is inferior to the fluid extract 

 and often inert. The initial dose of any preparation should 

 be small, on account of the variation in strength, but 

 should be rapidly increased until physiological effects are 

 evident. 



Uses External. — Conium is occasionally applied extern- 

 ally as a poultice of the leaves, or in ointment (equal parts 

 of cerate and extract of conium), to relieve pain of sores, 

 ulcers, malignant growths, rheumatism and neuralgia. It is 

 thought to be both resolvent and curative on cancers and 

 tumors, but without sufficient basis. It relieves pain when 

 pain is due to spasm. 



Uses Internal. — Conium is rarely used in veterinary 

 medicine on account of the uncertainty of its preparations 

 and natural therapeutic limitations. Conium has been em- 

 ployed as a motor depressant in many diseases, but should 

 only be prescribed for spasm due to irritation of nerve 

 trunks or endings ; not for spasmodic conditions of central 

 origin. In tetanus and strychnine poisoning, it is valueless, 

 and is not wholly antagonistic (tremors and convulsions) in 

 convulsive disorders. When an animal poisoned with strych- 

 nine is given paralytic doses of conium, the tetanic spasms 

 of strychnine still persist. The drug has been prescribed in 

 chorea, however, and with temporary benefit, when the con- 

 vulsive movements were so severe as to threaten life. 



