INTEODUCTION 27 



3. Neutralise the effects of the poison taken. Against 

 irritants and corrosives use demulcents, such as oatmeal or 

 starch gruel, linseed tea, carron oil (equal parts of linseed 

 oil and lime water), olive oil, or castor oil (dog, |ss. to gii.), 

 petroleum emulsion, milk and eggs, or milk alone. 



Abdominal pain may be relieved by giving opium 

 tincture or laudanum (horse, ii. to ii. ; dog, 3ss. to i.), or a 

 hypodermic injection of morphine (horse, grs. v. to x. ; dog, 

 grs. ss. toil.), or solution of chloral hydrate per rectum (horse, 

 gss. to i. ; dog, grs. v. to xx.). It must be carefully remembered 

 that many vegetable irritants exert narcotic effects after 

 absorption. Care has, therefore, to be taken in using 

 sedatives, which by still further depressing might cause 

 death. 



Against narcotics, paralysants, and depressants, such as 

 opium and hemlock, stimulants are indicated. The following 

 may be employed : Alcohol in the form of rectified spirits 

 (horse, Jii. to iv. ; dog, 3i.to ii.), or as brandy or whisky (horse, 

 giii. to vi. ; dog, 3ii. to iv.) ; ether hypodermically (horse, 5i.) or 

 per rectum (horse, §ii. ; dog, 3ss. to ii.) ; draughts of strong 

 coffee or tea ; inhalations of ammonia. 



If the animal is inclined to become drowsy and comatose, 

 it must be kept moving with a whip, or by douches of cold 

 water, and the application to horses or cattle of a liniment 

 of ammonia and turpentine in oil is useful. With smaller 

 animals artificial respiration may be tried. 



Against convulsants (strychnine) use sedatives, such as 

 opium, morphine, or chloral hydrate as above, or chlorodyne 

 (horse, §i. ; dog, ti\^x. to xxx.), or inhalations of chloroform 

 (§i. on a sponge held to the muzzle for the horse; a few 

 drops on cotton-wool for the dog). Nicotine given as 

 tobacco infusion has been employed as an emergency 

 strychnine antidote (see this). 



4. Promote excretion. Unabsorbed material may be 

 3xpelled by oily purgatives, such as linseed oil (horse and 

 ox, 1 to 2 pints) and castor oil for the dog. Enemata 

 promote peristalsis and excretion. The elimination of 

 certain poisons is hastened by particular drugs ; thus 



