Treatment 
To the farmer with poisoned livestock, nothing is more important than saving those 
afflicted and those exposed. Unfortunately, few of our pesticides have specific antidotes. 
In general, treatment must consist of elimination of the poison by washing or purging 
and control of the signs and symptoms that may occur. 
Metallic poisons can be treated to some degree--thatis, arsenical poisoning by BAL, 
and lead by EDTA--but the success of treatment lies in early recognition, The metallic 
poisons induce changes of essential organs that are largely irreversible; therefore, if 
the condition has existed for an appreciable time, successful treatment leaves an in- 
efficient animal that is more of a liability than an asset. 
Oddly enough, most organic pesticidal compounds produce changes which are re- 
versible until the animal reaches the extreme stages of poisoning. This is true of acute 
insecticide poisoning in particular. Removal of poison and symptomatic treatment often 
restores livestock poisoned with chlorinated hydrocarbons to full health within a matter 
of a few hours. In the case of animals poisoned by organophosphorus compounds, essen- 
tial normalcy may be restored in a matter of less than 10 minutes following atropine 
therapy. 
Recoveries are apparently full and complete, without evidence of impairment of any 
essential function. 
This lack of permanent damage is certainly to be considered in choosing between 
pesticides for safety. Compounds that is arsenic showing such reversibility are without 
question more desirable than those producing permanent damage even though the animal 
survives. 
CONCLUSION 
In our discussion we have covered the relationship of toxicity to hazard and have 
shown that a few pesticides are so highly toxic as to be hazardous in use unless handled 
by skilled people, but that the majority are not hazardous to livestock under the condi- 
tions of ordinary usage or even if misused to a moderate extent. 
We have shown that residues of pesticides on forage are practically never a hazard 
to livestock, but that some of the pesticides are stored in the tissues of livestock and ex- 
creted in their milk, creating a potential hazard to people. This hazard can be avoided 
by carefully following label instructions as to dosage and proper intervals which must 
occur between treatment and harvest or slaughter. 
Various factors affecting the toxicity and hazard of pesticides to livestock, such as 
age, species, formulation, emaciation, lactation, and stress have been discussed, 
The symptoms, lesions, diagnosis, and treatment of poisoning by the various groups 
of pesticides have been discussed, showing the difficulties faced by a veterinarian in 
reaching a sound diagnosis. 
We have pointed out that all the toxicological information developed for a given com- 
pound can be utilized only if the manufacturer, formulator, and consumer contribute 
equally to safe, intelligent usage. The manufacturers and formulators must prepare the 
compounds in stable, readily usable form, and devise labels for the final product, which 
will clearly define the intended uses and limitations of the product. 
No matter how carefully the product may have been prepared and labeled, and no 
matter how complete the scientific background may be, the consumer or user may 
nullify these totally and completely and produce a catastrophic result to his animals, 
plants, or himself. It seems silly to say that the most important consideration in the 
safe use of pesticides is the ability of the user to read and follow the label instructions; 
Way 
