MINERAL POISONS. 187 



jecting the liquid contents of the stomach and bowels to the action 

 of potash, as directed when corrosive sublimate is looked for, it is 

 usual to detect arsenic by applying the blue ammoniacal sulphate 

 of copper, which will produce a lively green if arsenic is present. 

 A red hot iron will also occasion these contents to give out a 

 garlic-like smell under similar circumstances. 



The treatment proper, in cases of arsenical poisoning, 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 appearances after death 

 dissimilar, except that the ulceration and gangrenous spots are less 

 strongly marked. The presence of copper may be detected by 

 prussiate of potash, which occasions a reddish precipitate in the 

 liquid contents of the stomach and bowels when added thereto. 



The treatment in nowise differs from that detailed in mercurial 

 poisonings. 



Lead. — I have occasionally seen dogs fatally poisoned by drink- 

 ing 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 acci- 

 dentally 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, vomiting, with purging stools in some cases, 

 and costiveness in others : towards the close of fatal cases, para- 

 lysis and spasmodic twitchings take place. On dissection of these 

 bodies, there is seldom observed any lesion of the coats of either 

 the stomach or bowels ; but the inflammation is intense, and ap- 

 pears usually in patches. I have also not unfrequently met with 

 intussusception. 



The treatment is to be commenced by an active purgative, as 

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



