240 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



Treatment. Tannin ; vaso-dilatators and anti-spasmodics : 

 chloral hydrate and morphine. 



Ergot of rye (the persistent mycelium of Clavieeps purpurea) 

 contains, according to Robert, cornutine, sphacelic acid, and ergot- 

 inic acid (which has no effect upon the uterus). 



The poisonings which it produces, especially chronic poisonings, 

 are rarer in domestic animals than in the human race. They have, 

 nevertheless, been observed in the pig, the horse, the ox, the sheep, 

 and in poultry. 



18. Poisoning by Iodoform. 



Symptoms. 1. The acute poisoning is announced by slight 

 gastric disturbances (loss of appetite, vomiting, constipation), also 

 by somnolence, Avith coma and stupefaction, alternating with con- 

 vulsions. Dogs sometimes show from the outset an intense excite- 

 ment and rabiform symptoms. We see, in addition, a considerable 

 lowering of the temperature, disturbances of circulation, small 

 accelerated pulse, tumultuous heart, dyspnœa, oliguria, albumin- 

 uria. 



2. Chronic poisoning has the appearance and course of chronic 

 iodism ; emaciation, atrophy of the glands and mainly of the teats, 

 iodic eczema, catarrh of the mucous membranes, and especially of 

 the pituitary (iodic coryza), also of the conjunctiva, of the mucous 

 membrane of the larynx and of the bronchial tubes. 



Patholog-ical anatomy. We see a fatty degeneration of the 

 liver, the myocardium, the striated muscles, and in some cases 

 glomerulo-nephritis. 



Treatment. The first indication is to remove the poison from 

 'the stomach by the use of emetics. There is no specific antidote ; 

 large doses of starch may be tried. The treatment is symptomatic, 

 with stimulants. 



Cases of poisoning by iodoform have been observed in the dog. 

 As a rule, they are the consequence of the licking of wounds cov- 

 ered with iodoform powder. According to Poljokow, the fatal 

 dose for warm-blooded animals is 0.5 to 1.5 gramme per kilogramme 

 of body- weight. When the drug is absorbed through a wound the 

 toxic dose will be less. 



