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‘ ARSENICAL POISONING. 
ARSENIC is usually administered to horses in the form of arsenious or 
common white arsenic anhydride. Though poisoning by this substance is of 
less frequent occurrence than it once was, arsenic is still very commonly 
given by labourers and waggoners, and more rarely by grooms, in certain 
parts of the country. When given in excessive doses, it is generally through 
ignorance that this is done ; but instances are recorded of cases in which it 
has been given with criminal intent. It is usually made up in the form of a 
ball with soap, tar, or sulphur, or indeed any suitable substance. 
Sometimes it is administered as a powder in the food or water, and though 
the proper medicinal dose is but four grains, attendants commonly give as 
much as will lie upon a sixpenny or shilling piece, or even more. The 
following accounts will serve to show some of the more important symptoms 
and fost mortem appearances of arsenical poisoning :— 
When summoned one morning, some time ago, at 3 a.m., the late 
Mr. D. Gresswell found four cart horses in a very dangerous state. They 
were fine heavy animals in excellent condition, and on the previous day had 
shown no signs whatever of ill health. Their restlessness had attracted 
attention about 12 orl am. They were breathing rapidly, and the pulse 
was very rapid and almost imperceptible, the arteries feeling like mere 
threads. Al! four animals were in great pain. They got up and down 
alternately, rolled over and over, and manifested other signs of intense agony. 
The bowels were very loose, and there was much straining. The extremities 
were cold, and the eyes were staring ; and there was total loss of appetite, 
and extreme prostration. Eructations of gas frequently passed from the 
stomach. One horse died at 10 a.m., a second at 4 p.m., and a third at 
10-30 p.m. Before death the animals became still more restless, the pulse 
was weaker and finally imperceptible ; the mouth became clammy and the 
breath fetid, and they succumbed at length in a state of extreme agony and 
collapse. One animal recovered, but remained so weak and debilitated as 
to be incapable of rising without assistance. At length, however, he made a 
gradual and apparently complete recovery, but was not able to resume work 
for three or four months. When the stomachs of the animals which had 
died were examined, they were found to contain undigested food, and the 
contents were tinged with blood. The membrane lining the stomach was 
blackened, and in parts the walls were much eroded, forming many large 
eschars or patches of burnt tissue, and in other places the lining was raised 
in the form of small blisters. In one of the cases there were two almost 
complete perforations through the walls. ; 
In these cases, although the waggoner denied having administered 
anything, it was afterwards elicited, that he had given to each of the horses a 
quantity of the white arsenic, made into balls by mixing it with tar. This he 
had given at about 8 or 9 p.m. the previous day. 
On the 2oth of June, 1883, we had a team of four cart horses belonging 
to a farmer, under our care. The symptoms in these cases were similar, but 
