590 POISONING. 



SYMPTOMS. — Great pain ; inflammation of the mucous mem- 

 brane of the mouth ; extreme difficulty in breathing ; choking 

 cough ; slow pulse. 



The -smell of ammonia may be detected from the breath. If a 

 glass rod which has been dipped in hydrochloric acid be held near 

 the horse's nostrils, white fumes will be given off. 



TREATMENT. — Give half a pint of vinegar in a quart of water. 

 This may be repeated if required. If vinegar be not at hand, 

 substitute lemon or lime juice, or give double or treble the amount 

 of orange juice. If the animal cannot swallow, make him inhale 

 acetic acid (for preference) or vinegar from a handkerchief or 

 sponge. Tracheotomy should be performed if the difficulty of 

 breathing demands it. Inject hypodermioally (p. 644) 5 grains of 

 morphine hydrochlorate dissolved in water. 



Arsenic. 



Poisonous doses of arsenic are often given to horses maliciously, 

 and also by ignorant persons' to improve the condition of the 

 animals, in which case the poisoning may be either acute or chronic. 



Horses have taken 3 drachms of arsenic in bulk, without harm 

 resulting to them. Half that amount given in solution on an 

 empty stomach would probably kill. 



SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE ARSENICAL POISONING.— Great 

 abdominal pain ; depression ; pulse rapid, small, and irregular ; 

 breathing hurried and painful. Diarrhoea is frequently present. 



SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC ARSENICAL POISONING.— The 

 eyelids are puffy; the eyes irritable and watery. The animal is 

 depressed and breathless, if put to fast work which would not 

 inconvenience him were he in his usual state of health. There is 

 sometimes a scaly eruption of the skin. 



TREATMENT OF ACUTE CASES.— Give a pint or more of a 

 solution of dialysed iron (which can be got at any chemist's) mixed 

 with a quart of water, and repeat ; or give half a pound of freshly- 

 prepared sesqui-oxide of iron mixed in warm water ; or magnesia 

 in unlimited quantities. If these be not at hand, give castor oil, 

 linseed, or any other sweet oil, butter, or, in India, ghi, fre- 

 quently and in large quantities. If the weakness be great, give 

 spirits freely. After the acute symptoms have subsided, inject 

 hypodermioally (p. 644) 5 grains of morphine hydrochlorate, dis- 

 solved in water. 



