DISEASES. 98 



and it is when so used, being placed on bread and butter, bits of meat, etc., that 

 they are most likely to be picked up by the dog. 



Symptoms: Violent vomiting and purging of stringy and offensive matter, 

 the belly is distended and painful to the touch, the urine suppressed, cramp and 

 twitches are noticeable in the limbs, and frequently paralysis ensues. 



Antidotes: Tartar emetic as an emetic; white of egg, followed immediately 

 by infusion of galls; milk or gluten of wheat. Of the chemical antidotes, the 

 albumen of eggs is by far the best; the white of one egg is sufficient to neutralize 

 or render insoluble 4gr. of solid bichloride of mercury. 



Phosphorus. Antidotes: Calcined magnesia, with diluents and demulcents 

 given in quantity. 



Strychnine. Symptoms: Acute pain, causing the dog to utter sharp cries; 

 frequent twitchings and jerkings of the head and limbs, the fore and hind legs 

 are drawn towards each other, the back is arched; the fits of cramp and twitch- 

 ing are intermittent, but are readily brought on by a touch or a sudden noise. 

 Foaming at the mouth is another and frequent symptom. 



ANTIDOTES. Give an emetic at once, mustard and hot water, coffee, salt and 

 hot water; give lard, or any fat, in considerable quantities. 



"The following has saved many valuable dogs poisoned by strychnine and 

 will save any dog if breath is left in body. As soon as the owner is convinced 

 that the dog has strychnine, or dog button (nux vomica), symptoms of which 

 are readily detected by spasms and rigid spine, give fifteen drops of homeopathy 

 tincture of belladonia (green root). Give same dose after each spasm. If dog is 

 too far gone to swallow, inject thirty drops in rectum. The second dose can be 

 given by mouth. It is seldom the third dose is necessary." This I copied from 

 letter sent to the American Field by some sportsman who had been out hunting 

 with his pointer. He further wrote: "When I reached him he had had some 

 twelve spasms and was rigid, tongue cold, eyes turned, etc. Three doses brought 

 the dog out and some thirty quail were killed over him the next day." 



Here are also other antidotes that are used m cases of poisoning: 



Strychnine is most commonly used to poison dogs, and if noticed when taken 

 sick, or even after violent convulsions have set in, they can almost invariably 

 be savpd by injecting under the skin, with hypodermic syringe, 10-grain doses of 

 chloral (dissolved in water) every 15 or 20 minutes until 50 or 60 grains are used. 



If convulsions quiet down and dog seems better, it might be safe to stop 

 when 80 or 40 grains have been given. 



It will pay any one owning a number of dogs to keep a hypodermic syringe. 



DEXT says: The best antidote for 'strychnine poisoning is chloral hydrate, 

 size of dose depends upon the condition of the dog; in health the dose is 5 to 20 

 grains. 



Dog poisoning is so prevalent in many parts of the country just now, it may 

 not be out of place to reproduce part of Mr. A. J. Sewell's (the noted English 

 veterinarian) article on this subject in the Kennel Gazette (Eng.), so that dog 

 owners may be prepared for such emergencies: 



"In all cases of poisoning, more especially when due to strychnia, prompt 

 action is required and means should be at once taken to make the dog disgorge 

 what had been swallowed. An emetic that will act well and quickly must be at 

 once administered; for this there is nothing better than a dose of apomorphia. 

 This medicine acts in two ways; it is the quickest and surest emetic, and besides 



