CHLOEOFORM. 581 



Chloroform. 



Overdoses usually occur when preparing a horse for an opera- 

 tion. The dangerous symptom is stoppage of breathing. As long 

 as the breathing is all right, there is practically no danger. 



TREATMENT. — Draw the tongue out. Give the animal plenty 

 of air. Dash cold water (and, if procurable, warm water alter- 

 nately) in his face. Keep his head low. Try to set up artificial 

 respiration by tiu'ning the animal alternately on his back and 

 side, at intervals of about 5 or 6 seconds. Give him (so as to act 

 agreeably to the advice, in human practic©, of Murrell) two or three 

 sharp cuts with a whip or cane across the chest, in order to restore 

 the action of the heart. 



Colchicum Autumn ale (Aiitumn Crocus, or Meadow Saffron). 



There have been several cases reported of horses dying from 

 eating in their hay the stalks, leaves, and seeds of colchicum. The 

 vsymptoms were : violent diarrhoea, sometimes mixed with blood ; 

 severe colic and depression ; frequent pulse ; and hurried and diffi- 

 cult breathing. Post-mortem examination shows extensive con- 

 gestion of the internal organs. The rate of mortality depends on 

 the amount of poison consumed. 



In human cases there is intense thirst, profuse perspiration, and 

 persistent purging, the stools being mixed with blood ; in fact, the 

 symptoms are somewhat similar to those of Asiatic cholera. The 

 advisability of digging up these plants on pasture lands and 

 destroying or removing them, is self-evident. 



Give frequent ounce doses of tannic or gallic acid, or large 

 draughts of strong boiled tea. Give spirits and water if the 

 depression becomes alarming. Inject h3rpodermically (p. 633) 5 

 grains of morphine hydrochlorate dissolved in water. 



Copper. 



The salts of copper in most common use are bluestone (the 

 sulphate) and verdigris (the subacetate). About 3 oz. of either 

 of these would kill a horse. 



SYMPTOMS. — Colic; diarrhoea, mixed with blood; great de- 

 pression ; hurried and difficult breathing ; and convulsions followed 

 by death. 



