CHLOEOFOEM. 593 



Chloroform. 



Overdoses usually occur when preparing a horse for an opera- 

 tion. The dangerous symptom is stoppage of breathing. As long 

 as the breathing is all right, there is practically no danger. 



TREATMENT. — Draw the tongue out. Give the animal plenty 

 of air. Dash oold water (and, if procurable, warm water alter- 

 nately) in his face. Keep his head low. Try to set up artificial 

 respiration by turning the animal alternately on his back and sid«, 

 at intervals of about 5 or 6 seconds. Give him two or three sharp 

 cuts with a whip or cane_ across the chest, in order to restore the 

 action of the heart. 



Colchicum Autumnale {Autumn Crocus, or Meadow Saffron). 



There have been several cases reported of horses dying from 

 eating the stalks, leaves, and seeds of colchicum in their hay. The 

 symptoms were : violent diarrhoea, sometimes mixed with blood ; 

 severe colic and depression; frequent pulse; and hurried and diffi- 

 cult breathing. Post-mortem examination shows extensive con- 

 gestion of the internal organs. The rate of mortality depends on 

 the amount of poison consumed. 



In human cases there is intense thirst, profuse perspiration, and 

 persistent purging, the stools being mixed with blood ; in fact, the 

 symptoms are somewhat similar to those of Asiatic cholera. The 

 advisability of digging up these plants on pasture lands and 

 destroying or removing them, is self-evident. 



Give frequent ounce doses of tannic or gallic acid, or large 

 draughts of strong boiled tea. Give spirits and water if the 

 depression becomes alarming. Inject hypodermically (p. 644) 5 

 grains of morphine hydrochlorate dissolved in water. 



Copper. 



The salts of copper in most coinmon use are bluestone (the 

 sulphate) and verdigris (the subaoetate). About 3 oz. of either 

 of these would kill a horse. 



SYMPTOMS. — Colic ; diarrhoea, mixed with blood ; great de- 

 pression ; hurried and difficult breathing ; and convulsions followed 

 by death. 



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