OEGANIC POISONS AND DEUGS 137 



against excessive urination, and in large (dangerous) doses 

 as an aphrodisiac. 



Poisonous doses of cantharides, according to Gamgee,* 

 are, for the horse or ox, ^ ounce and upwards ; for the 

 sheep, 1 drachm; and for the dog, | drachm. It is dan- 

 gerous to employ too large or too extensive applications of 

 cantharides blisters, for poisoning may result from ab- 

 sorption. Dogs lick the blistered parts, and this leads to 

 swelling and engorgement of the tongue. 



Symptoms. — Large doses of cantharides cause strangury, 

 frequent passage of small quantities of urine, or its total 

 suppression, a small and rapid pulse, quickened breathing, 

 and excitement, followed by coma and collapse. 



An interesting case of poisoning of a horse is recorded 

 by H. King.t The animal had 8 ounces of a mixture 

 composed of 5 ounces each of linseed and turpentine oils, 

 and 14 drachms of powdered cantharides in mistake for 

 linseed oil. 



Next day the mouth and lips were seen to be blistered, 

 the horse was blowing slightly, and passing large quan- 

 tities of urine. The pulse was 90, very quick and feeble, 

 and temperature 100° P., soon becoming subnormal. The 

 whole of the mucosa of lips and mouth became blistered, 

 and subsequently destroyed, the mouth, throat, and neck 

 being very painful, causing much dribbling. There was 

 constipation and refusal of all food for five days, when 

 the patient took some oatmeal gruel and soft food. 

 Belladonna and nutrient enemata were given by the 

 rectum. 



On the sixth day the urine contained blood, and there 

 was slight abdominal pain. Injections of ether were given 

 thrice daily, but death occurred on the tenth day. 



On Post-Mortem the kidneys were found to be much in- 

 flamed, and each contained large abscesses. There were 

 large hsemorrhagic spots on the bladder, and an ulcerated 

 patch the size of a crown piece in the stomach. The in- 



* ' Veterinarian's Vade-Meoum,' 1868, p. 209. 

 f Vet. Jl, 1907, p. 270. 



