130 VETEEINAEY TOXICOLOGY 



to make tansy tea. It contains a volatile ketone tanacetone, 

 and has been credited with causing poisoning. 



In detailing the nature of the poisoning caused by the 

 above-named active principles, or the corresponding plants, 

 it may be again remarked that they present the same 

 general features of local irritant and remote paralysant 

 action. And, further, that the ill-judged exhibition by 

 inexpert persons of all varieties of turpentine, such as 

 eucalyptus, is liable to cause serious results. 



Poisonous Effects. — The symptoms, lesions, treatment, 

 and chemistry of these agents are here shortly summarised. 



Turpentine. — Gamgee (1868) grouped turpentine with oil 

 of tar and naphtha as an active irritant, and pointed out 

 that as an antispasmodic it is a dangerous drug, often 

 aggravating the disease it is intended to cure. Large doses 

 cause irritation and sometimes ulceration of the bowels. 

 Turpentine is quickly absorbed, and exercises paralysant 

 effects in the same order as those of alcohol. 



Elimination occurs by the lungs and kidneys, and the 

 urine acquires the characteristic odour. Repeated small 

 doses are more likely to cause renal inflammation than one 

 large dose, which mostly passes off in the faeces. 



On examining the alimentary organs after overdosage of 

 turpentine, one observes marked congestion and fluidity of 

 the contents. In the horse the stomach is devoid of solid, 

 and contains brownish-yellow liquid, on which turpentine 

 may be floating in large quantities. Such a result leaves 

 little room for doubt that poisoning has occurred. 



Turpentine is easily recovered from organic matter by 

 distillation in a current of steam, and its identification 

 presents little difficulty. 



Savin. — Gamgee * records a case observed in 1855 in 

 which the abortion of foals had been secured by repeated 

 dosage of savin. The foals were dropped dead, and from 

 the state of the membranes it was thought that they had 

 died some ten to twelve days previously to abortion. The 

 condition of the mares was poor, and there was a mucous 

 * ' Veterinarian's Vade-Meeum,' 1868, p. 200. 



