POISONOUS PLANTS 251 



possibly on account of slow elimination, as with strychnine. 

 It may thus produce chronic poisoning, and is contra- 

 indicated in cases of kidney disease. With medicinal doses 

 the pulse is slower, fuller, and more regular, but in poison- 

 ing it is rapid, weak, and irregular. 



Symptoms. — Pinlay Dun * gives a careful account of the 

 experimental poisoning of a three-year old brown mare, 

 which had received in all 9 drachms of powdered digitalis 

 over a period of three days. Towards evening of the third 

 day the mare showed dulness and loss of appetite. On the 

 fourth day she was nauseated ; nose, mouth, and ears cold ; 

 abdomen tympanitic, with colicky pain, and occasional 

 pawing ; pupil somewhat contracted ; pulse firm at axilla 

 and heart, but not very perceptible at jaw. At 4.30 p.m. 

 she was down, much pained, and attempting to roll ; 

 pulse 82, but unequal. On the following day at 12 noon, 

 pulse, imperceptible at jaw, about 120 ; respiration 25, and 

 very much laboured ; lips retracted, and saliva dripping 

 from the mouth ; enormous abdominal tympanites, and 

 much pain ; rapid sinking; died next day at 11 a.m. 



Two other animals, which had received similar doses, 

 recovered, not having displayed marked cardiac symptoms. 



In a case mentioned by Graham Gillam ^ two cows and 

 a horse, after eating hay containing dry foxglove, were 

 observed to feed erratically, breathe hard, and lie down 

 after feeding. Pulse almost imperceptible, contracted pupil, 

 and excessive urination. 



Horses ^ which had foxglove by mistake, showed 

 sleepiness, swollen eyelids, dilated pupils, injected 

 conjunctivas, considerable swelling in submaxillary space, 

 respiration normal, temperature 103'5° F., pulse full, 

 between 65 and 75, most intermittent, being occasionally 

 normal ; the second heart sound was frequently obliterated. 

 On the next day laboured breathing, head immensely 

 swollen, tongue greatly enlarged and protruding, pulse 80, 

 and most erratic, temperature very slightly up, great rest- 

 lessness. The respiration became more difficult and ster- 

 * ' Veterinary Medicines,' 1910, p. 539. 



