68 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



causing death, which it may do in either of two ways. First, when 

 very strong, by exerting a narcotic influence similar to that of some of 

 the powerful poisons, checking heart action. Second, by diffused 

 inflammation of the areolar tissue, gangrene, and extensive sloughing. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of snake bite are a local swelling caused 

 by an intense local inflammation, pricks showing where the fangs pene- 

 trated, depression, weakness, feeble pulse, difficult breathing, bluish 

 discoloration of the visible mucous membranes, stupor, or convulsions. 

 If the poison is not powerful or plentiful enough to produce death, it 

 is, at any rate, likely to cause severe local abscesses or sloughs. 



Treatment. —The treatment may be divided into local and general. 

 Locally every effort should be made to prevent absorption of the 

 poison. If discovered at once the bitten part had better be excised. If 

 that is impracticable and a ligature can be applied, as in the case of 

 a bite to one of the limbs, no time should be lost in applying it above 

 the injury. It should be made sufficiently tight to so far as possible 

 arrest circulation in the bitten part. The wound should be freely 

 incised, so that it will bleed freely, and the poison should be extracted 

 by cupping or pressed out by squeezing with the fingers. Perman- 

 ganate of potash in 5 per cent solution should be applied to and 

 injected into the wound. The depressing effect of the poison on the 

 general system should be counteracted by liberal drenching with 

 stimulants, such as alcohol, coffee, digitalis, or the aromatic spirits 

 or carbonate of ammonia. In animal practice the alcoholic stimu- 

 lants and local treatment above described are likely to meet with best 

 success. A special antitoxin for use in treating snake bite is now 

 prepared and may be had from the leading druggists. It is quite 

 effective if used promptly. 



WASP AND BEE STINGS. 



Wasps and bees secrete a poisonous substance which they are able 

 to insert through the skin of an animal by the aid of their sharp 

 stings. This poison is a severe local irritant, and may even cause 

 local gangrene. It also has a depressing effect upon the central nerv- 

 ous system, and destroys the red-blood corpuscles. To produce these 

 general effects it must be introduced in very large quantities, as when 

 an animal is stung by a swarm of bees or wasps. 



^ Treatment.— The treatment is to wash the parts with diluted ammo- 

 nia or permanganate of potash solution and to give stimulants inter- 

 nally. If there is so much swelling about the head and nostrils as to 

 interfere with breathing, tracheotomy may be necessary. 



POISONING BY INSECTS ON THE FOEAGE. 



Cattle grazing on forage heavily infested with caterpillars have 

 been known to develop acute indigestion, colic, and, in a few cases, 



