TOXIC GASTRO-ENTERITIS. 



235 



staggerings, falls, trembling, spasms — the last being often epilepti- 

 form. The pulse is slow and small ; the extremities cold. 



Autopsy. Gastro-enteritis (inconstant) is present ; also cerebral 

 and œdemic hyperemia ; the blood is dark and non-coagulated. 



Treatment. This consists of purgatives and a symptomatic 

 treatment. Also rumenotomy in the ox. Generally, the rapid 

 course of the poisoning renders all intervention impossible. 



The toxic property of the yew tree is well known ; its action 

 depends upon a narcotic principle isolated by Marmé — the so-called 

 taxine. The effects of this alkaloid are more pronounced when the 

 stomach is empty than when it is full ; the organism seems to 

 become accustomed to it after a certain length of time, and the 

 immunity enjoyed by some animals to the toxic effects otherwise 

 resulting from the ingestion of yew leaves is thus explained. In 

 practice the poisoning is always produced through a direct ingestion 

 of the leaves. 



Fatal doses : for the horse about 200 grammes of leaves ; for the 

 pig, 75 grammes ; for chickens, 30 grammes. The caustic action 

 exerted upon the digestive mucous membrane seems to depend upon 

 formic acid. 



4. Poisoning by Digitalis. 

 Symptoms. We observe salivation, nauseas, vomitings, colic, 

 and diarrhea. The heart-action is at first slow, later accelerated ; 

 there are palpitations, cardiac sounds of a metallic resonance ; the 

 pulse is small, irregular, and dicrotic, and is imperceptible toward 

 the end of life. Polyuria, albuminuria, and staggering exist. The 

 excitement is intense ; later we see stupor, weakness, and stagger- 

 ing, paralysis of the lower lip, contraction of the pupil, and 

 spasms. 



Autopsy. Gastro-enteritis, endocarditis, myocarditis ; the heart 

 arrested in diastole ; evidences of suffocation (hyperemia and hypos- 

 tasis in the lungs, ecchymoses and liquid blood). 



Treatment. There is no specific antidote. The treatment is 

 symptomatic — sedative or stimulating. Tannin may be tried. The 

 principal stimulant is camphor. 



Poisoning by digitalis is produced by the ingestion of the plant, 

 or by very large therapeutic doses. The horse is particularly sen- 

 sitive to its action. Fatal doses of dry leaves : for the horse, 25 

 grammes ; for the dog, 5 grammes. The official extract of digi- 

 talis is very inconstant in its effects. 



