POISONS AND POISONING. 71 



coagulates albumen and acts as an astringent. As aa antidote inter- 

 nally, linie-water sweetened with sugar should be given in large quan- 

 tities or a solution of sulphate of soda. When the poisoning occurs 

 through too extensive applications to wounds or the skin, as in treat- 

 ment of mange, cold water should be freely applied so as to wash off 

 any of the acid that may still remain unabsorbed. As a surgical dressing 

 a 3 per cent solution is strong enough for ordinary purposes. Water 

 will not hold more than 5 per cent in permanent solution. No prepara- 

 tion stronger than the saturated solution should be used medicinally 

 under any circumstances. 



VEGETABLE POISONS. 



These may be divided into two classes those that are likely to be 

 administered to the animal as medicine or such as may be taken in the 

 food, either in the shape of poisonous plants or plant disease affecting 

 the natural herbage of the pasture or meadow from -which the animal 

 obtains its food supply. 



OPIUM POISONING. 



Opium and its alkaloid, morphia, are so commonly used in the prac- 

 tice of medicine that the poisonous result of an overdose is not uncom- 

 mon in ordinary practice. The common preparations are gum opium, 

 the inspissated juice of the poppy, powdered opium made from the gum, 

 tincture of opium, commonly called laudanum, and the alkaloid or active 

 principle, morphia. Laudanum has about one-eighth the strength ot 

 the gum or i>owder. Morphia is present in good opium to the extent ot 

 ;ii unit 10 per cent. In medicinal quantities it is a most useful agent in 

 allaying pain. It has an effect common to all narcotics of first produc- 

 ing a stimulating effect, which is soon followed by drowsiness, a dispo- 

 sition to sleep or complete anresthesia, depending on the quantity of 

 the drug used. In poisonous doses a state of exhilaration is apt to be 

 well marked at first. A second stage rapidly supervenes, in which the 

 symptoms are those of congestion of the brain. It has the effect of pre- 

 venting perfect aeration of the blood. The visible membranes have a 

 bluish tint (cyanotic). The breathing is slow, labored, and later ster- 

 torous; the pupils of the eyes are very much contracted; the skin dry 

 and warm. The patient may be aroused by great noise or the infliction 

 of sharp pain, when the breathing Iwomes more natural. A relapse 

 into the comatose condition soon takes plsicr when the excitement is 

 removed. Later, there is perfect coma and the patient can no longer 

 bo aroused from the insensible condition. The contraction of the pupil 

 becomes more marked, the breathing intermittent and slower, there is 

 perspiration, the pulse more feeble and rapid, till death takes place. 



Treatment. The stomach should be emptied by moans of a stomach 

 pnmp, if possible, ftnd the patient kept moving, even though what would 



