POISONS. 187 



are but special causes of certain and varied disorders, 

 such as gastero-enteritis, tetanus, and inflammation of 

 the kidneys. Taking this view of our subject, we shall 

 not here enter into unnecessary details, but shall confine 

 our attention to special points in the etiology, sympto- 

 matology, and pathology of cases of poisoning. 



Causes. — Poisons are obtained by cattle in various ways. 

 Of these, the principal are overdose of medicinal agents j 

 either as a result of mistake or ignorance or its accumu- 

 lation in the foodj presence of deleterious matters in the 

 food, as poisonous plants or lead refuse on pastures, or 

 poisonous seeds incorporated with the proper ingredients 

 of cakes. In these cases we see that the matters have 

 been passed into the alimentary canal, and this is generally 

 the method of entry in cases of malicious poisoning. 

 Thus, it behoves us in cases where the slightest suspicion 

 of foul play or poisoning is indicated to inquire closely 

 into the surroundings of the patient, whether it has 

 recently been subjected to medicinal treatment, either 

 openly or secretly, by the attendants. This must be 

 judged more by the evidence of surroundings than by 

 verbal statements. The accidental observation of a medi- 

 cine bottle or of a piece of waste paper may sometimes 

 give us more information than an hour^s conversation with 

 individuals who are apt to endeavour to conceal the truth 

 either from shame or guilt. Again, the nature of the diet 

 and its composition should be noted, and in this respect 

 the practical investigation of pastures is of the highest 

 importance. 



When called in to a case of supposed poisoning of 

 animals out at pasture, the practitioner must set about the 

 inquiry with an entirely unprejudiced mind. He will often 

 find that the outbreak is one of anthracoid or other 

 enzootic disease not due to poison properly so-called. 



It is in a case of this nature that the scientific prac- 

 titioner finds the value of a knowledge of botany. When 

 called in to put a stop to some unusual fatality in a flock 

 or herd, after duly recording the history of the out- 

 break, the symptoms, post-mortem appearances, and 



