POISONING BY SAVIN. 
137 
Lungs. —Congested. 
Heart .—Flabby ; the base covered by spots of extravasated 
blood. 
Remarks. —I was somewhat at a loss to account for the 
symptoms, but stated to the proprietor that I believed the 
animals to be labouring under the influence of a narcotic 
poison. The man attending the horses was strictly ques¬ 
tioned, but he stoutly denied having administered anything. 
Shortly afterwards, I again questioned him, as to his having 
given savin, but he still denied it, when a search was insti¬ 
tuted, and a bottle nearly full of fluid was found in the 
stable. Upon being shown this, with the promise of 
pardon, he confessed to have poured boiling water upon 
savin, and which he had occasionally sprinkled on the food, 
commencing this practice about ten days previous to the 
death of the first animal. 
I observed that the younger horses became first affected, 
and died in a few’ hours after the first appearance of illness, 
whilst those about seven or eight years old, having a strong, 
vigorous constitution, withstood the disease longest. 
The first impression of the poison is doubtless upon the 
nervous system, which is much depressed. This I opine to 
be the cause of death, as in those cases w hich w ere affected 
only a few hours previous to death, the stomach, intes¬ 
tines, &c., were in almost a normal state. Still savin must 
be a most powerful irritant, as is shown by the intense inflam¬ 
mation of the alimentary canal in those cases which bore 
up against the effects of the agent for some days. 
The number of horses which became seriously affected 
was ten. Six of which died within five days after they 
became affected, and another in about ten days: one, although 
alive, is still unable to stand unsupported; two are conva¬ 
lescent. 
My treatment consisted of the administration of olea¬ 
ginous aperients and enemas. Large quantities of the 
former w 7 ere requisite to overcome the torpid state of the 
bowels. Counter-irritation was applied to the throat and 
abdomen. These remedies were followed by mild, stimulating 
tonics, conjoining highly nutritious food, as flax-seed, mashes, 
scalded oats, &c. 
Appended, is a copy of a letter which I received from 
Mr. Deck, chemist, of Cambridge, to whom the viscera, w ith 
their contents, were sent for examination. 
