THE HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 483 



grasses — thus, smutty grain, castor beans, hellebore or poke root, laurel, 

 gtramonium or Jamestown weed, and cured tobacco, among plants, may 

 be mentioned as common. Among minerals, sulphuric, nitric and 

 muriatic acid, and all the concentrated vegetable acids are caustic and 

 irritant poisons. They are never taken unless forced down. The anti- 

 dote to these is larie doses of powdered chalk, whiting or lime water. 

 In the absence of tnese give weak lye (white lye) until relief is obtained 

 *nd follow with a full dose of linseed oil. 



Alkalies destroy the tissues. If quick lime, caustic potash, strong lye 

 or washing soda has been taken give vinegar and water to neutralize it, 

 and follow with a dose of oil. 



Horses that are dosed with whisky to "give them strength" sometimes 

 «how alcoholic poisoning. Never give it except as a stimulant as advised 

 for disease. 



Forty grains of arsenic will kill a horse. The symptoms are, intense 

 thirst, quick, feeble pulse, great pain in the bowels, with purging some- 

 times, irregular breathing, faintness, paralysis, convulsions and death. 

 Give full doses of oil, in which is mixed two, three or four spoonfuls of 

 oarbonate of iron as the case may seem to demand. 



Corrosive sublimate is a fatal poison. A quarter of an ounce will kill 

 n horse. The symptoms are violent pain, intense thirst, effusion, and 

 bloody discharges from the bowels, trembling, salivation, ending in stupor 

 and death. Give the whites of a dozen eggs, stirred in a little warm 

 water. Follow this with linseed tea, or better with mucilage of slippery 

 €lm. Litharge and sugar of lead are poisonous. The symptomg are 

 staring coat, arched back, a protruding tongue and foaming at the mouth, 

 staggering, and sometimes dashing wildly to and fro. Give large iloses 

 of purgatives to be followed by from one to two ounces of iodide of 

 potash daily for seven or eight days. 



Strychnine is a quick and potent poison. Eight to ten grains will 

 always kill. The symptoms are violent trembling succeeded by stiffness 

 and jerking of the limbs, spasms, rigid limbs, arched back, diflScult respi- 

 ration, succeeded by intervals of quiet ; but which are again brought on 

 by a slight noise or even a touch. Soon the animal dies. Keep the 

 animal quiet and in a dark place, and give a quart of sweet oil or linseed 

 oil. Follow with powdered charcoal mixed with thin mucilage. Move 

 the bowels by means of injections as quickly as possible, and if exhaustion 

 ensues give stimulants (whisky) freely. 



Tartar emetic in doses of two to four ounces will sometimes kill a 

 horse. The symptoms are, thirst, vomiting and purging, staggerin- \ 

 colic, salivation, convulsions and paralysis. 



Give strong tea, followed as soon as you can get It, with a decoction 



