386 PRINCIPLES OP VETERINARY SCIENCE 



getting the blister material in its mouth. Mucilaginous sub- 

 stances are useful antidotes. 



Snake venom poisoning is not so common as it was a few decades 

 ago because the poisonous varieties of snakes are nearly extinct 

 in most parts of this country. Apply 5 per cent, carbolic acid 

 solution externally and give strong coffee and aromatic spirits 

 of ammonia internally. 



Ptomain poisoning occurs as a result of animals eating food 

 containing protein substances that have undergone putrefaction 

 by certain kinds of bacteria, viz.: B. enteritidis, B. coli, B. 

 botulinus. It is a common form of poisoning in poultry fed 

 on table scraps and hogs fed on garbage. The symptoms are 

 abdominal pain, diarrhea which is often bloody, weakness, and 

 prostration. Treatment is largely symptomatic. Emetics and 

 laxatives are recommended to remove the poisonous ingesta, 

 and stimulants to support the circulation. 



VEGETABLE POISONS 



Loco-weed poisoning is due to eating freely of three leguminous 

 plants, commonly known as " loco weeds." These plants grow 

 in all our western states, from sea level to the slopes, of the 

 highest mountains. The poisonous principle is not known. 

 Animals do not at first readily eat the weed or do so only when 

 food becomes scarce. A taste is soon formed for it, so that ad- 

 dicted animals will leave good food and go without water to 

 search for loco weeds. 



The most prominent symptom of locoism is a staggering and 

 uncertain gait, caused by derangement of the nervous system. 

 Horses shy and jump at imaginary objects. The animals gradu- 

 ally lose flesh and sooner or later die of starvation. Death 

 occurs in a comparatively short time in some cases. 



There is no specific antidote known for loco-poisoning. Reme- 

 dies to relieve constipation and Fowler's solution of arsenic in 

 3^-ounce doses twice each day have given the best results experi- 

 mentally. Most locoed animals with the above treatment will 

 recover, provided the weed is taken from them and they are fed 

 well. 



Horse-tail poisoning, caused by eating a plant known as 

 Equisetum, has been reported in a number of states. The symp- 



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