POISONS AND POISONING. 59 



Symptoms. — Symptoms are generally dullness, lying down with the 

 head turned toward the flank, colic, rumbling in the abdomen, loss 

 of control of the limbs when walking, twitching, champing of the 

 jaws, moving in a circle, convulsions, delirium, violent bellowing, fol- 

 lowed by stupor and death. The symptoms generally extend over 

 considerable time, but may end in death after 24 hours. 



Treatment. — The treatment should first be directed toward remov- 

 ing the cause. A large dose of purgative medicine should be given, 

 and the brain symptoms be relieved by giving bromid of potassium in 

 half-ounce doses every 4 or 5 hours and the application of cold water 

 to the head. Dilute sulphuric acid in half-ounce doses should be 

 given with the purgative medicine. In this case sulphate of mag- 

 nesia (Epsom salt) is the best purgative, and it may be given in 

 doses of from 1 to 2 pounds dissolved in warm water. After the 

 acute symptoms have abated, iodid of potassium may be given, in 

 doses of 2 drams each, three times a day for a week. 



Chronic lead 'poisoning occasionally occurs in districts where lead 

 mining is the principal industry. The waste products of the mine 

 thrown into streams contaminate the water supply, so that the min- 

 eral is taken into the system gradually, and a very small per cent of 

 any of the salts taken into the system in this way is pernicious. 

 Water which contains any salt of lead to the extent of more than 

 one-tenth of a grain to the gallon is unfit to drink. Such water when 

 Uvsed continually is likely to produce colic from the resulting intesti- 

 nal irritation, and in aggravated cases paralysis more or less severe 

 is likely to be developed. A blue line on the margin of the gums, 

 the last symptom, is regarded as diagnostic and its presence as con- 

 clusive evidence of the nature of the disorder. The free use of pur- 

 gatives is indicated with iodid of potassium. 



Treatment. — No treatment is likely to be of avail until the cause is 

 removed. 



COPPER POISONING. 



The soluble salts of copper, though used as a tonic in the medicinal 

 treatment of cattle, are poisonous when taken in large quantities. 

 Like lead and arsenic, they have an irritant effect upon the mucous 

 membrane with which they come in contact in a concentrated form. 

 Cattle are not very likely to be poisoned from this cause unless 

 through carelessness. The salts of copper — the most common of 

 which is the sulphate of copper, commonly called blue vitriol — is 

 occasionally used for disinfecting and cleansing stables, where it 

 might inadvertently be mixed with the food. It is also used largely 

 for making the Bordeaux mixture used in spraying fruit trees. The 

 general symptoms produced are those of intestinal irritation, short 

 breathing, stamping, and tender abdomen. 



