252 VETEEINAEY TOXICOLOGY 



torous, tongue and buccal membranes livid, jugular standing 

 out. Tracheotomy failed to save. 



Other horses showed less aggravated symptoms, and 

 nearly all recovered under treatment. 



In a case of the poisoning of pigs ^ the cause was the 

 pouring by a servant of decoction of digitalis leaves 

 into the pigs' bucket, whereby five animals were affected, 

 and two died. They were languid and sleepy, refusing to 

 eat or drink, attempting to vomit, and repeatedly passing 

 small quantities of faeces. Urination was scanty and 

 strained. In the case of those which recovered, the effects 

 did not pass off for more than a week. 



Post-MoFtem Appearances. — The pigs above referred to 

 showed acute inflammation of the mucosa of the stomach 

 and intestines, with thin yellow contents. The kidneys 

 were slightly congested, bladder empty, and other viscera 

 healthy. These appearances seem to point to a predomin- 

 ating saponin-like effect, due to digitonin. 



In Finlay Dun's case the stomach was ruptured, but 

 there was no inflammation of the alimentary membranes. 



In digitalis poisoning, as a rule, the abdominal viscera 

 are healthy. The lungs are engorged with dark venous 

 blood, and the heart shows great distension of the auricles, 

 so that the transverse may be greater thaii the longitudinal 

 section. 



Treatment. — The treatment consists of purgatives, 

 mucilaginous draughts, and stimulants. There is no 

 specific antidote, but atropine may be given to counteract 

 the irregular heart action. 



Chemical Diagnosis. — Digitalis constituents are best 

 sought for in ingesta, vomit, and the like. They are yielded 

 to solvents in the extraction of the acid liquid in systematic 

 work, on Dragendorff's principle. The best means of detec- 

 tion is given by the Kiliani-Keller test for digitoxin. A 

 trace of the substance is dissolved in 3 or 4 c.c. of strong 

 acetic acid, containing ferric iron (100 c.c. of acetic acid to 

 1 c.c. of 5 per cent, ferric sulphate), and a layer of strong 

 sulphuric acid (also containing iron) is poured beneath the 



