256 Poisons. 
breath as well as the secretions of the skin are highly 
offensive. Poisoning by Zead, or plumbism, is denoted by 
general failure of function in the digestive apparatus, a 
blue line forming along the gums, vomition, colic, vertigo, 
with gradual paralysis and death. Acute poisoning by 
copper resembles that of violent irritants generally, as 
already detailed ; the Chronic form greatly resembles that 
of slow arsenical poisoning, as impaired appetite, consti- 
pation, imperfect nutrition, weakness, and occasionally 
bloody urine. In this class of poisons cardolic acid must 
be included. Few remedies in medicines have had a 
greater responsibility as a toxic agent than this, especially 
in dogs and cats. Whether used externally, internally, 
or licked by the animal, it produces severe and immediate 
depression, weakness of the heart, with ultimate paralysis 
of the organ, convulsions and speedy death. In our 
experience dogs have simply laid down, become quite 
listless, breathing slowly, with evident oppression, and 
died in unconsciousness, when the medicine has been 
largely applied to wounded surfaces. Whatever may be 
its vaunted virtues as a sanative dressing in other animals, 
the serious drawback to employment in the same direction 
among canine and feline animals is that its general effects 
are those of a powerful poison. 
In case of absorption of the remedy sufficient to produce 
poisoning, Broad, of Bath, recommends the continued 
application of cold water as a spray, or by means of the 
rose on a watering-pot, until convulsions cease. The 
animal should also be thoroughly cleansed by means of 
cold water and hard soap, or the whole of the skin may 
be well rubbed with oil. The animal should receive 
stimulants internally. 
In Vegetable Poisoning the symptoms are mainly dif- 
ferent to those induced by the metallic salts. Strychnine, 
is perhaps the most common of dangerous drugs, and 
being recognised as one of the most fatal, is ignorantly 
selected by the wilful poisoner. Death sometimes arises 
from overdoses or long continuance of the drug. Dogs 
are specially susceptible of its effects, the symptoms 
being severe tetanic convulsions, rigidity, and straighten- 
