POISONING. 391 



Treatment. The object should be, of course, to get rid 

 of the poison as soon as possible, so that it may act neither 

 locally nor constitutionally ; hence emetics, immediately 

 after the poison has been swallowed, are always indicated 

 unless the animal is already vomiting freely. For this 

 purpose fifteen to twenty grains of sulphate of zinc, with 

 a teaspoonful of wine of ipecac soon after, will usually 

 prove the best. If this is not at hand, baking soda or 

 washing soda dissolved in lukewarm water, or given in 

 pills, may answer the purpose; also mustard in water. 

 But every kennel should be provided with certain prepa- 

 rations against poisoning, such as laudanum, zinc sulphate, 

 wine of ipecac, olive oil, calcined magnesia, lime-water, 

 tincture of iron, bicarbonate of sodium, chloral hydrate, 

 stimulants, etc. Yery commonly the poison will have 

 been absorbed before the dog is noticed ; then the object 

 must be to prevent the further local effects and keep the 

 animal from sinking. Of course, expert assistance should 

 always be sought, but in the mean time something may 

 be done by an intelligent person. 



Except in phosphorus poisoning, which is rare, oil 

 may always be given; also calcined magnesia or lime- 

 water, as they are harmless and protect the stomach me- 

 chanically, which may be said of powdered charcoal and 

 some other substances, as white of eggs, milk and flour, etc. 



In strychnine poisoning an effort should be made to 

 neutralize the effect of the agent on the spinal cord and 

 brain. Bromide of potassium and chloral hydrate are the 

 best physiological antidotes. Either may be given in 

 twenty-grain doses, and, if they can not be administered 

 by the mouth or retained in the stomach, they should be 



