TOXIC GASTRO-ENTEEITIS. 



221 



the oxygen of the body through the phosphorus, and also through 

 consecutive decomposition of the albumin of the parenchyma. 

 Fatal doses: for the horse and the ox, 0.5 to 2 grammes; for tlie 

 pig, 0.15 to 0.38 gramme; for the dog, 0.05 to 0.1 gramme; for 

 the chicken, 0.025 gramme. 



9. Mercurial Poisoning [Mercurialism). 



Symptoms. Besides the local caustic effects we observe the 

 following manifestations : 



1. Ptyalism, ulcerous stomatitis, fetid breath, softening of the 

 gums, shrinking of the gums from the teeth in ruminants ; 



2. Symptoms of gastro-intestinal catarrh, profuse diarrhea, ex- 

 pulsion of greenish-gray excrements, which are liquid, bloody, and 

 of putrid or cadaveric odor ; 



3. Cough, purulent nasal discharge, broncho-blennorrhea, bron- 

 cho-pneumonia, painful dyspnœa, complaints, sometimes epistaxis ; 



4. Cutaneous eczema, and mainly the impetiginous or squamous 

 forms, accompanied by an intense pruritus. The animals scratch 

 themselves constantly ; the hair falls out, herpes are formed which 

 suppurate, scabs, vesicles, and pustules, resembling those of small- 

 pox, and reproducing a vesico-pustulous eczema through inoculation ; 

 the skin and subcutaneous connective tissue become thickened. 

 These alterations are generally located in the neighborhood of the 

 -eyes, the muzzle, anus, teats, and vulva, also upon the fetlock and 

 folds of the articulations. 



5. Weakness, paresis, apathy, stupefaction, vertigo, mercurial 

 trembling, paralysis of certain muscles, emaciation, and death in 

 coma ; convulsions are very rare. 



6. The temperature is normal or scarcely increased ; the pulse is 

 very accelerated and weak ; hemorrhages are produced in different 

 organs, and especially upou the nasal, pulmonary, intestinal, and 

 uterine mucous membraue (abortion). Death may occur through 

 internal hemorrhage. 



Course. The course is very rapid in young animals, and when 

 the stomach or intestine has been affected by the poison. Poisoning 

 through sublimate sometimes causes death within a few hours and 

 without producing symptoms of mercurialism. The duration of 

 acute mercurial intoxication varies from ten to fourteen days. It 

 may be chronic and persist for weeks and even months. Its symp- 

 tomatic picture is ordinarily incomplete. 



