578 POISONINGr. 



SYMPTOMS. — Great pain; inflammation of the mucous mem- 

 brane of the mouth ; extreme difficulty in breathing ; choking 

 cough; slow pulse. 



We may detect the smell of ammonia from the breath. If a 

 glass rod which has been dipped in hydrochloric acid be held near 

 the horse's nostrils, white fumes will be given off. 



TREATMENT.— Give half a pint of vinegar in a quart of 

 water. This may be repeated if required. If vinegar be not at 

 hand, substitute lemon or lime juice, or give double or treble the 

 amount of orange juice. If the animal cannot swallow, make him 

 inhale acetic acid (for preference) or vinegar from a handkerchief 

 or sponge. Tracheotomy should be performed if the difhculty of 

 breathing demands it. Inject hypodennically (p. 633) 5 grains of 

 morphine hydrochlorate dissolved in water. 



Arsenic. 



Poisonous doses of arsenic are often given to horses maliciously, 

 and also by ignorant persons to improve the condition of the 

 animals, in which case the poisoning may be either acute or 

 chronic. 



Horses have taken 3 drachms of arsenic in bulk, without harm 

 resulting to them. Half that amount given in solution on an 

 empty stomach would probably kill. 



SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE ARSENICAL POISONING.— Great 

 abdominal pain ; depression ; pulse rapid, small, and irregular ; 

 breathing hurried and painful. Diarrhoea is frequently present. 



SYMPTOMS OF CTIRONIC ARSENICAL POISONING,— The 



eyelids are puffy, and the eyes irritable and watery. The animal 

 is depressed and breathless, if put to fast work which would not 

 inconvenience him were he in his usual state of health. There 

 is sometimes a scaly eruption of the skin. 



TREATMENT OF ACUTE CASES.— Give a pint or more of 

 a solution of dialysed iron (which can be got at any chemist's 

 shop) mixed with a quart of water, and repeat; or give half a 

 pound of freshly-prepared sesqui-oxide of iron mixed in warm 

 water; or magnesia in unlimited quantities. If these be not at 

 hand, give castor oil, linseed, or any other sweet oil, butter, or, 

 in India, ghi, frequently and in large quantities. If the weakness 

 be great, give spirits freely. After the acute symptoms have 

 subsided, inject hypodennically (p, 633) 5 grains of morphine 

 hydrochlorate, dissolved in water. 



