54 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



ously. To protect the mucous membrane from the action of strong 

 irritants, one may give flaxseed tea, barley water, the whites of eggs, 

 milk, butter, olive oil, or fresh lard. Chemical antidotes may some- 

 times be used for special poisons, as advised below. In general, if 

 an acid has been taken it may be neutralized with an alkali, such as 

 chalk, magnesia, bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), ammonia 

 (diluted), or soap. If the poison is an alkali, such as caustic soda 

 or potash (lye), or ammonia, an acid, such as diluted (1 per cent) 

 sulphuric acid or vinegar, may be administered. Special treatments 

 and antidotes are considered below. 



A poisonous agent may be so gradually introduced into the system 

 as to slowly develop the power of resistance against its own action. 

 In other cases where the poison is introduced slowly the poisonous 

 action becomes accumulative, and, although there is no increase in the 

 quantity taken, violent symptoms are suddenly developed, as if the 

 whole amount, the consumption of which may have extended over 

 a considerable period, had been given in one dose. Other agents, 

 poisonous in their nature, tend to deteriorate some of the important 

 organs, and, interfering with their natural functions, are productive 

 of conditions of ill health which, although not necessarily fatal, are 

 important. Such might properly be called chronic poisons. Poisons 

 of themselves dangerous when administered in large doses are 

 used medicinally for curative purposes, and a very large percentage 

 of the pharmaceutical preparations used in the practice of medicine 

 if given in excessive quantities may produce serious results. In the 

 administration of medicines, therefore, care should be exercised not 

 only that the animal is not poisoned by the administration of an 

 excessive dose but that injury is not done by continued treatment 

 with medicines the administration of which is not called for. 



MINERAL POISONS. 



ARSENIC POISONING. 



Of the common irritant and corrosive poisons, arsenic, especially 

 one of its compounds (Paris green), is likely to be the most danger- 

 ous to our class of patients. The common practice of using Paris 

 green and other compounds of arsenic as insecticides for the destruc- 

 tion of potato beetle and other insect enemies of the farmer and fruit 

 grower has had the effect of introducing it into almost all farming 

 establishments. White arsenic is also a principal ingredient in many 

 of the popular sheep-dipping preparations, and poisoning from this 

 source occasionally takes place when, after dipping, the flock are 

 allowed to run in a yard in which there is loose fodder. The drip- 



