POISONING OF DOGS WITH STRYCHNINE. 
395 
The following account of its poisonous effects upon dogs 
came under my notice a few weeks ago, and although possessing 
nothing new in connection with this subject, I am never¬ 
theless inclined to think that it has features of sufficient 
interest to induce me to forward it for insertion in your 
journal, deferring my usual remarks on botany to a future 
month. 
The dogs in question were a Skye terrier bitch and a large 
retriever dog, which along with several other dogs belonging 
to Mr. Mauder of this town, were secured in kennels in a 
yard at the back of his premises. On the evening of May 
8th, Mr. Mauder being from home, an attendant took the 
retriever dog and the Skye terrier bitch (the latter suckling 
four whelps at home) with him for a walk along the banks of 
the river Avon, and after being out with them for about two 
hours he brought them home, both animals then appearing 
in perfect health. On the following morning the terrier 
bitch was allowed to come into the room in which some of 
the family were at breakfast, but had not been there long 
before she was observed to fall suddenly on her side, her 
head being drawn backwards (opisthotonos) and after a few 
convulsive struggles she expired. Being much alarmed, they 
immediately sought assistance, when my partner, Mr. Walker, 
attended at once, and finding the bitch dead he went to look 
at the other dogs. His attention being attracted to the 
retriever dog by his not coming from his kennel, he had him 
removed, and had hardly done so when the animal became 
convulsed, and died. 
In a short time after I accompanied Mr. Walker to look 
at the other dogs, and finding them all well, we examined the 
two dead animals. The bitch was lying upon her side, her 
head drawn backwards, and every part of the body very stiff. 
So rigid indeed had every muscle become, that by taking 
hold of one of the hind legs, the whole body of the animal 
could be supported in any position. The body of the re¬ 
triever dog on the contrary was destitute of rigidity, the 
muscles being relaxed. 
A consideration of the symptoms and appearance induced 
us to attribute death to poison, and in all probability to 
strychnine. The owner being desirous that a thorough exa¬ 
mination of the bodies should be made, I had them removed, 
and during the afternoon proceeded to make a post-mortem 
examination. The first I examined was the Skye terrier 
bitch, and was surprised to find the extreme rigidity that 
had taken place immediately after death had entirely disap¬ 
peared, the whole muscular system being perfectly relaxed. 
