164 VETERINARY HOMCEOPATHY. 



produces inflaniniatiou of the organ itself or of the mucous mem- 

 brane that lines its walls, and is so intimately connected with the 

 physiological process of gastric juice secretion. Again, injur}'' 

 from foreign substances present in the food readily sets up in- 

 flammation in this always delicate organ, and poisonous agents 

 such as Arsenic, sometimes indiscreetly used by a stableman in 

 the hope of producing a glossy coat, or Mercur}^ and Lead ac- 

 cidentally taken into the system, will each set up in its turn more 

 or less inflammation in the organ. While not infrequently horses 

 experience no little damage, when turned out to grass, through 

 partaking of some poisonous herb or tree, such as the yew for 

 instance. Having in view the fact that there are so many causes 

 that may produce this dangerous condition, it is all the more un- 

 satisfactory that the special symptoms of each are not more 

 marked and recognizable, because, of course, when produced by 

 poisons the antidote is the first thing to be administered; unfortu- 

 nately, however, we are compelled to own that recognition is by 

 no means easy and in many cases absolutel}^ impossible until after 

 death; there are, however, one or two suggestive differences which 

 may in some slight degree help to furnish a clue to the best course 

 of action to be adopted under such circumstances. 



Vegetable poisons exercise a marked influence upon the brain 

 and nervous system generally, producing at one time violent con- 

 vulsions at another stupor and coma, this may probably be fol- 

 lowed by paralysis affecting the organs of locomotion or interference 

 with the co-ordination of movement in the limbs; the e3^es at one 

 period evince a wild look at another are heavy and vsleepy, the 

 breathing is hurried, urgent and intermittent. 



Poisoning by minerals is recognizable from the fact that the 

 whole of the force of the drugs seems to be centred upon the 

 stomach and the intestines; this is evinced by pain about the 

 abdomen, the horse directing his attention to that part of the body 

 where he suffers most; a horse does not so often roll as in ordi- 

 nar}' colic, but paws the ground and otherwise evinces discomfort 

 and irritation by marching about the box if loose: the respiration 

 and pulse are abnormally hurried, and the heart beat is hard; the 

 animal has a generally anxious and wearisome sort of expression 

 on the face, while sweat breaks out over different parts of the 

 body. 



