Poisoning by Cantharides and Other Insects. 295 



or rape, the seeds mingle when harvested and thus the cake conies 

 to contain an injurious quantity of the mustard. 



Symptoms. These will vary much according to the predomin- 

 ating action of the individual poison on other organs, but when 

 they irritate the gastro-intestinal mucosa they have this in com- 

 mon, that they impair appetite and rumination, produce colicy 

 pains (perhaps salivation and vomiting), and constipation or 

 diarrhoea of varying intensity. 



Treatment. Apart from the individual treatment demanded by 

 the special symptoms of disorder of other organs, it may follow 

 the same general line for all : Unload the stomach by tepid water, 

 ipecacuan, with tickling of the soft palate, or by the stomach 

 pump or tube, and follow this by abundance of mucilaginous 

 drinks. In cases attended by constipation a laxative of Glauber 

 salts, or aloes may be demanded, or assiduous mucilaginous injec- 

 tions. With an excess of irritation anodynes may be indicated. 

 When there is tympany and foetor of the discharges these must 

 be met by non-irritant antiseptics, such as naphthalin or salol. 

 For many of the vegetable poisons tannic acid proves advantageous, 

 being at once an antiferment, and fitted to unite with organic 

 alkaloids, rendering them less soluble and otherwise often chang- 

 ing their properties. 



Prevention should be sought by removing all such poisonous 

 plants from pastures, or land used for raising fodder crops. 



POISONING BY CANTHARIDES AND OTHER INSECTS. 



Action on genitourinary and alimentary tracts. Dysphagia, congestion, 

 retching, diarrhoea with mucus and blood, diuresis, enuresis, albuminuria, 

 retracted testicles, prostration. Lesions : urinary and gastro-intestinal con- 

 gestion, ecchymosis. Treatment : emesis with ipecacuan, demulcents, 

 avoidance of oils, alcohol and chloroform. Other vesicant beetles and larva. 



Spanish flies have a primary physiological action on the genito- 

 urinary organs, but when introduced by the stomach they prove 

 direct and violent irritants to the gastro-intestinal mucous mem- 

 brane. They cause redness of the buccal mucous membrane, 

 difficulty of swallowing, retching, emesis in vomiting animals, 

 diarrhoea with mucus and bloody faeces, diuresis or enuresis with 



