174 CANINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



hours, when the patient seems to improve. This 

 improvement, however, is short-lived, the patient 

 soon relapsing and becoming worse. There is great 

 depression and weakness and he is unable to stand. 

 Dyspnea is present, and the pulse is weak and 

 almost imperceptible. Convulsions may occur, or 

 the patient may lapse into coma. There may be 

 edema of the eyelids and dependent parts; paralysis 

 of the hind quarters then sets in, and, death fol- 

 lows in a day or two. 



Treatment. — Administer an emetic, 1-20 to 1-10 

 grain of apomorphin, and follow with an antidote. 



Antidote: Sesquioxid of iron prepared by pre- 

 cipitating tincture of iron perchlorid with an alkali. 

 Large amounts of this antidote should be given 

 every twenty minutes or so, followed up by a 

 purgative of magnesium sulphate. Three ounces 

 tincture of iron perchlorid, and one ounce of sodium 

 carbonate, dissolved in water and mixed together, 

 will produce sufificient sesquioxid to neutralize ten 

 grains of arsenious acid. Insoluble arsenate of iron is 

 formed and is swept out by the magnesium sulphate. 



In acute cases hypodermic injections of morphin 

 every half hour will retard absorption and ease 

 pain. Later on and in subacute cases, opium com- 

 bined with a demulcent has the same effect and 

 tends to soothe the inflamed mucous surfaces. To 

 hasten elimination, spiritus etheris nitrosis should be 

 given in full doses, well diluted with water. Collapse 

 must be combated wth stimulants. 



Phosphorus 



Phosphorus poisoning in dogs is usually acci- 

 dental, and due to their picking up pieces of bread 

 or meat smeared with vermin paste of which phos- 

 phorus is the chief constituent. 



Symptoms. — The first symptoms of phosphorus 



