OEGANIC POISONS AND DEUGS 119 



The doses are probably underestimated, for Winslow 

 (' Veterinary Materia Medica ') gave a horse two doses of 

 3 grains each within twenty-five minutes, and evoked 

 symptoms with recovery in two hours. 



The same author quotes a case of an aged horse which 

 had suffered for a week from impaction of the colon. He 

 was given 12 grains of a commercial extract of Calabar 

 bean, fell almost immediately, perspired, exhibited muscular 

 tremors, and died within a few minutes. 



Symptoms. — After a toxic dose of eserine there are 

 powerful muscular tremors resembling convulsions of 

 central origin, eserine acting like strychnine in augmenting 

 the reflex activity of the cord. The excitement is followed 

 by paralysis, eventually affecting the respiratory muscles, 

 and death results from asphyxia. The animal falls and the 

 breathing is rapid, laboured, and stertorous, and in the later 

 stages feeble and irregular. There is increasing salivation, 

 sweating, vomition when possible, and increased peristalsis 

 with expulsion of dung and gas. The myotic action of 

 small doses is often replaced by mydriasis after large toxic 

 administrations. 



Post-MoFtem Appearances.— The large intestine is 

 empty, anaemic, wrinkled, and hard. Bladder empty and 

 contracted, as also is the uterus. The muscles and motor 

 nerves retain sensibility for some time after death (Kauf- 

 mann). 



Treatment consists in emetics or the pump. After 

 respiratory failure life may be prolonged, or even saved, by 

 artificial respiration (Kaufmann). Atropine is antagonistic 

 to eserine, and should be given subcutaneously. In 

 distinction to eserine, atropine inhibits secretion, diminishes 

 reflex excitability, paralyses the alimentary organs and 

 bladder, accelerates the heart by paralysis of intracardiac 

 vagi, and is mydriatic (Kaufmann), but large doses of 

 atropine are to be avoided, as aggravating the eserine effects. 



Alcohol, digitalis, and ammonia may be given by the 

 mouth, whilst strychnine is stimulant to the respiratory 

 centres. 



