TOXIC GASTRO-ENTEBITIS. 



213 



Pathological anatomy. There is a cauterization of the diges- 

 tive mucous membrane from the mouth to the stomach, tumefaction 

 of the tongue and cheeks, etc. 



Treatment. Dihited alkalies; soap-water, lime-water, lye of 

 soda or potash, calcined magnesia. Stimulants. 



Poisoning through caustic acids is very rare in our domestic 

 animals ; in a case mentioned by Gerlach the accident was caused 

 by straw from oats which had been used as a packing of sulphuric 

 acid flasks ; in another case, related by Johne, sulphuric acid had 

 been mixed with malt.^ But exterior cauterizations are quite 

 frequent, particularly in the dog. 



3. Poisoning by Sea-salt, Meat-brine , Herring-brine, etc. 



Symptoms. I. In poisoning from sea-salt the predominating 

 symptoms are those of gastro-enteritis accompanied by paralytic 

 conditions ; diminution of appetite ; a dry, hot, red mouth ; great 

 thirst, vomiting, colics, watery diarrhea, frequent micturition, great 

 muscular weakness, a staggering gait, falls, a more or less extended 

 paralysis, paraplegia in the horse; stupefaction, dilatation of the 

 pupil, trembling; spasms in the pig; heart weakness, small, slight 

 pulse; dyspnœa. [It is not uncommon to see epileptiform con- 

 vulsions preceding the paralysis in the horse and dog. — w. L. z.] 



Death occurs from the sixth to the forty-eighth hour. When 

 the disease lasts longer it is complicated by anemia ; in the ox we 

 frequently observe symptoms of chronic enteritis. 



II. In poisoning from brine, we observe as well all the symptoms 

 of a severe nervous excitation and spasms : grinding of the teeth, 

 trismus, epileptiform convulsions, opisthotonos, pleurosthotonos ; 

 rotation of the eyes (nystagmus), convulsive shutting of the eyes, 

 dilatation of the pupil, blindness ; extended shock, vertigo, the 

 sitting position of the dog, symptoms of immobility, stupefaction 

 and insensibility ; in cows, abortion and prolapsus of the uterus 

 are frequent accidents. 



1 The Veterinary Eeview for 1877 contains a very interesting note from Abadie 

 (of Nantes) relative to poisonings of animals of the bovine species, produced by sul- 

 phuric acid. Two quacks of the Ancenis district poisoned stabled cows by means of 

 this agent whenever they could gain entrance to a stable ; they afterward called to 

 see the affected beasts, pronounced them incurable, bought such animals for almost 

 nothing, and sent the meat to the market of Nantes. In a few months they caused 

 a damage of more than 25,000 francs in the six communities where they operated, 



— N. D. T. 



