254 Poisons. 
CHAPTER Xx. 
POISONS. 
Empirical Poisoning—Accidental Poisoning—Wilful and Malicious Poisoning — 
Symptoms of Poisoning—Treatment—Mineral Poisons—Vegetable Poison- 
ing—Animal Poisons—Snake, or Viper Bite—Wasps, Hornets, and Bees— 
Destruction of Dogs. 
Tue death of animals by poisoning arises in three 
ways : 
Tn Empirical Practice many persons make use of 
remedies the nature and action of which they know 
little or nothing ; they also continue the use of a remedy 
without being able to perceive that it is unsuitable, or 
probably dangerous. In this way an ordinary medicine 
acts with the virulence of a poison. 
Accidental Poisoning takes place in a variety of ways, 
chiefly through the absolute carelessness on the part of 
those who have the custody of remedies. They are 
sometimes carelessly left within reach of the animal, or 
become mixed with the food; and preparations for 
external use may be given internally. Vermin poisons 
reach the meal-tub or the feeding-trough; large doses 
of medicines are also given too frequently; thus, the 
remedy which might have effected a cure proves a 
deadly poison. : 
Wilful and Malicious Poisoning, happily, is not 
frequent. Yet one hears now and again of a favourite 
pet, or the first animal of a special strain, having won 
high honours, is found.dead or dying at the time, or 
before, he reaches his home. Such acts characterise 
fiends and fools who fail to see that others read them 
accurately by their daily lives, which have a full renown 
for many similar accomplishments. 
The Symptoms of Potsoning, as a rule, are quickly 
