POISONING. 
they are picked up. If these creepers were poisonous to men and 
animals the people would be more careful about polluting water not 
far from villages. 
Steel records some very interesting cases of wholesale poisoning 
of elephants in India by means of the poisonous Nepaul root called 
darka (Aconite ?) being given in balls of grain or other delicacies, 
of which these animals are fond. In this province I have never heard 
of tame or wild elephants being intentionally poisoned. We must 
nevertheless be on our guard as such a thing is possible. Many 
poisonous drugs are administered by mahouts in the treatment of 
elephants ; an overdose might be given through ignorance or care- 
lessness, or by accident. Elephants are very particular as regards 
the selection of their food ; still a case of poisoning might occur. 
In two cases where animals died rather suddenly, arsenic was. 
detected in the contents of the stomach by the Chemical Examiner. 
I have little doubt that these animals were being treated by the 
mahouts with bazaar arsenic, which is often very impure. 
The symptoms manifested which might lead us to suspect poison- 
ing are that they occur suddenly, generally while an elephant is in 
perfect health. As a rule, they arise soon after food has been taken 
or medicine administered. If more than one animal is taken ill 
after food or medicine and all suffer from similar symptoms, 
poisoning may reasonably be suspected. 
The poisons we might have to deal with are those employed in 
treatment, such as arsenic, opium, belladonna, croton beans or 
croton oil, ganja, dhatura, nux vomica, metallic salts. 
For the treatment of poisons antidotes are administered ; they 
act in two ways, either by mechanically preventing the action of 
the poison or counteracting its effect. 
Poisons and their Antidotes. 
Poisons. Antidotes. 
Arsenic ... ... Preparations of magnesia. 
Aconite ... ... Tannic acid, and animal charcoal. 
Opium ... ... Dashing cold water over the body, stimu- 
lants ; endeavour to keep the animal 
moving about. Permanganate of 
potash. 
Belladonna ... ... Keep the animal moving about ; give lime- 
water and stimulants ; dash cold water 
over the body. 
Croton beans or oil ... Demulcent drinks ; stimulants, and opium 
to relieve pain and check the purging. 
Ganja ... ... Stimulants; keep the animal moving 
about. 
