24 . VETERINARY TOXICOLOGY 



rapid denouement and termination consequent on the 

 taking of a large dose. Thus, with irritant poisons, there 

 may be burning sensations, nausea, vomiting (when possible), 

 abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vertigo, and evidences of collapse ; 

 with nerve poisons, unrest, excitement, delirium, tremors, 

 convulsions, difficult respiration, cyanosis, paralysis, coma, 

 and the like. 



Subacute poisoning results from smaller doses, and dis- 

 plays the same train of symptoms, less rapidly developed, 

 less violent, and more protracted, extending over days or 

 even weeks with eventual recovery or death. 



Chronic poisoning resulting from the accumulated effect 

 of repeated small doses, each inadequate to the production 

 of serious symptoms, is not common among animals. 

 Great differences may appear with one and the same 

 poison as between the acute and chronic forms, as, for 

 instance, in phosphorus poisoning in man. Chronic lead 

 poisoning in animals is marked by persistent colic and 

 constipation, and sometimes the formation of a blue ' lead 

 line ' on the gums ; nervous symptoms are paralysis, con- 

 vulsions, coma, and muscular wasting, and general debility 

 and emaciation. 



DIAGNOSIS OF POISONING. 



Any case of sudden illness, or death, especially following 

 on a meal, or after dipping, is commonly held to be one of 

 poisoning. This idea is not by any means invariably right. 

 It can only be verified by a full post-mortem inquiry, 

 observation of the symptoms and history of the case, and 

 chemical analysis of the organs. But when one or two 

 animals are suddenly seized with violent symptoms, the 

 presumption of poisoning has sufficient justice to make 

 a post-mortem and analysis desirable. This is, perhaps, 

 even more true when each of several animals known (as so 

 commonly occurs) to move about and feed together are 

 equally affected. 



