144 
POISONING WITH ARSENIOUS ACID. 
and as paralysis was the prominent symptom, he suggested 
that some compound of lead had been most probably em- 
ployed. Mr. Coleman, jun., V.S., of Tilshead, also attended 
at a later hour in the day, and came to the same conclusion ; 
after which a post-mortem examination was instituted in the 
presence of the owner. 
Autopsy . — Lungs healthy ; liver pale in colour ; stomach 
highly inflamed, and nearly corroded through at its greater 
curvature; intestines inflamed throughout their entire course, 
and the mucous membrane destroyed ; the diaphragm show r ed 
indications of spasm having existed, although it w r as not 
observed during life. A portion of the contents of one of 
the stomachs w r as taken home by Mr. Crafts and analysed, 
and he found it to contain arsenious acid. Both the stomachs 
and the duodenums, wuth their contents, were forwarded to 
Mr. Herapath, of Bristol, for analysis, and in a few days he 
sent word to say that he had found arsenious acid in both, 
which he considered to be the cause of death. 
The post-mortem appearances in both horses exactly corre- 
sponded. 
The usual antidotes were immediately resorted to for those 
living, in conjunction with aperients, consisting of Ol. Lini. 
The remaining four have recovered. The first taken ill w T as 
the last to recover. He never lay down for four weeks, 
and yet there was no swelling whatever of the legs. 
As the above cases presented some symptoms not always 
indicated by poisoning w ith arsenious acid, I have thought 
this brief description of them might not be without some 
degree of interest to the profession. 
[From the unusual but decided character of the symptoms 
manifested in these cases, and the absence of all acute suffering, 
we consider them of more than ordinary interest. Coma and 
paralysis we have not seen as the general concomitants of 
poisoning by arsenic. Probably because we have witnessed 
only the effects of this agent w 7 hen it has been given in large 
doses and productive of death. The horse will resist the in- 
fluence of comparatively large quantities of this irritant 
poison, but when its action is set up, we have commonly indi- 
cations of gastro enteritis present. This, however, is the 
consequence of its local influence, its remote action being on 
the brain and nervous system ; and this, perhaps, w ill be more 
likely to be brought about when repeated small doses of the 
agent have been given, and it has found its w ay into the cir- 
culation, than when a large quantity has been administered 
so as to act as an irritant and caustic. 
