64 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



the pulse more feeble and rapid, till death takes place. Poisoning o: 

 cattle with opium or its products rarely goes beyond the stage o: 

 excitement, because the quantity of the drug required for the late: 

 effects is so great. Seventy-five grains of morphia administered sub 

 cutaneously has sufficed merely to excite for twelve hours. 



Treatment.— Give strong coffee, 1 to 4 quarts, aromatic spirits o: 

 ammonia or carbonate of ammonia. Atropia is the physiologica 

 antidote. 



STRYCHNINE POISONING. 



Strychnine is a vory concentrated poison and produces its effeci 

 very quickly, usually only a few minutes being necessary if given it 

 sufficient dose and in such a way that it will be at once absorbed, 

 The first noticeable symptom is evidence of unrest or mental excite 

 ment, at the same time the muscles over the shoulder and croup maj 

 be seen to quiver or twitch and later there occurs a more or less well- 

 marked convulsion; the head is jerked back, the back arched and 

 leg extended, the eyes drawn. The spasm continues for only a few 

 minutes, when it relaxes and another occurs in a short time. The 

 return is hastened by excitement and in a short time again disap- 

 pears, continuing to disappear and reappear until death results. At 

 the poisonous effect advances the intervals between the spasms 

 become shorter and less marked and the spasms more severe until 

 the animal dies in violent struggles. 



Treatment. — The best method is to put the patient under the influ- 

 ence of chloral, chloroform, or ether, and keep it there continuously 

 until the effect of the poison has passed off. Alcohol may be given 

 in large doses. 



ACONITE POISONING. 



In recent years tincture of aconite has for some unknown reason 

 become a popular stable remedy. In the hands of some breeders il 

 seems to be used as a panacea for all the ills flesh is heir to. If an 

 animal is ailing, aconite is given whether indicated or not. Fortu- 

 nately the dose used is generally small, and for this reason the dam- 

 age done is much less than it would otherwise be. Aconite is one oi 

 the most deadly poisons known. It produces paralysis of motion and 

 sensation, depresses the heart's action, and causes death by paralysis 

 of respiration. la large doses it causes profuse salivation, champing 

 of the jaws, and attempts at swallowing. If not sufficient to cause 

 death, there is impaired appetite with more or less nausea for some 

 time after. In poisonous doses it causes the animal to tremble vio- 

 lently, to lose power to support itself, and it brings on slight con- 

 vulsions, with perspiration. The pulse is depressed, irregular, and 

 afterwards intermittent. 



Treatment.-— The chemical antidote is tannic acid, which forms an 

 insoluble compound with the aconitin. The depressing effect on the 



