POISONS AND POISONING. 69 



is possibly dangei^ous. Silage, properly cured, does not belong to this 

 class, because the curing of silage is not a bacterial process. But 

 spoiled silage and silage matted with mold is dangerous and should 



not be fed. 



POISONING BY ANIMAL PRODUCTS. 



SNAKE BITES. 



The poison contained in the tooth glands of certain venomous rep- 

 tiles, particularly some of the snakes, which is injected into or mider 

 the skin of an animal bitten by the reptile, is a very powerful agent. 

 It is likely to produce a serious local irritation, and in the case of the 

 more poisonous snakes serious constitutional disturbances, even to 

 causing death, which it may do in either of two ways: First, Avhen 

 very strong, by exerting a narcotic influence similar to that of some of 

 the powerful poisons, checking heart action. Second, by diffused 

 inflammation of the areolar tissue, gangrene, and extensive sloughing. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of snake bite are a local swelling 

 caused by an intense local inflammation, pricks showing where the 

 fangs penetrated, depression, weakness, feeble pulse, difficult breath- 

 ing, bluish discoloration of the visible mucous membranes, stupor, 

 or convulsions. If the poison is not powerful or plentiful enough 

 to produce death, it is, at any rate, likely to cause severe local ab- 

 scesses or sloughs. 



Treatment. — The treatment may be divided into local and general. 

 Locally every effort should be made to prevent absorption of the 

 poison. If discovered at once the bitten part had better be excised. 

 If that is impracticable and a ligature can be apj^lied, as in the case 

 of a bite to one of the limbs, no time should be lost in applying it 

 above the injury. It should be made sufficiently tight to so far as 

 possible arrest circulation in the bitten part. The wound should be 

 freely incised, so that it will bleed freely, and the poison should be 

 extracted by cupping, or pressed out by squeezing with the fingers. 

 Permanganate of potassium in 5 per cent solution should be applied to 

 and injected into the wound. The depressing effect of the poison on 

 the general system should be counteracted by hypodermic injections 

 of strychnin, or by liberal drenching with stimulants, such as alcohol, 

 coffee, digitalis, or the aromatic spirits or carbonate of ammonia. 

 In animal practice the alcoholic stimulants and local treatment 

 above described are likely to meet with best success. A special 

 antitoxin for use in treating snake bite is now prepared and may be 

 had from the leading druggists. It is quite effective if used promptly. 



WASP AND BEE STINGS. 



Wasps and bees secrete a poisonous substance which they are able 

 to insert through the skin of an animal by the aid of their sharp 



