436 POISONING OF CALVES WITH RHODODENDRON. 
quested by the Misses Goodall, of Dorrington, six miles 
from here, to see as quickly as I could nine strong yearling 
calves, some of which would be dead—it was feared—before 
I could reach them. 
After my arrival at Dorrington, on inquiry I learned that 
some time during the preceding night the animals had 
broken into a flower-garden, and eaten freely of the rhodo¬ 
dendrons, which grew abundantly there. 
They were all under the influence of this—shall I call it 
narcotic?—shrub ; but as the symptoms differed in intensity, 
owing, I apprehend, to the difference in the quantity par¬ 
taken of, I shall select three of the most aggravated cases for 
description. 
Symptoms. —Pulse below the natural standard, steady, and 
tolerably full; breathing slower than usual; visible mucous 
membranes somewhat pallid; nose dry; skin warm; eyes 
dull, and the lids half closed; bowels costive; a continuous 
and most painful grinding of the teeth; frequent vomiting* 
of saliva, mingled with considerable quantities of the leaves 
and buds of the rhododendron. They likewise manifested 
great disinclination to move, and when made to do so, stag¬ 
gered about in such a manner as to shock the nerves of the 
disciples of Father Matthew! They would reel a few paces, 
then rush forward with their legs widely extended and in an 
eccentric way, and suddenly fall. 
Treatment .—At the urgent entreaty of the owners, I bled 
two of them, abstracting a pint of blood from each. More, 
I conceived, could not have been taken with impunity. I 
gave— 
Sulpk. Mag., ^viij, et 01. Crotini Tigl., ll\xx, 
(the only medicine I had with me) in Aqua, to each. This 
was followed, in half an hour, by \ pint of gin, given in a 
pint of warm gruel, and ordered to be repeated at intervals 
of two or three hours. Vomiting being produced both by 
the medicine and the gruel, cold gruel was given. 
January 9th, 10 a.m.—There is much improvement. The 
pulse and breathing are more natural; cessation of vomiting; 
eyes brighter; but the staggering continues, although in a 
less degree ; and the bowels are still constipated. Give— 
01. Ricini, 3X ; 
01. Crotoni Tigl., TTjxx. 
* In using the word vomiting, in reference to ruminants , I know it is 
liable to be cavilled at, as many employ the term regurgitation in describing 
this action. Still I opine vomiting is the correct term, when matter from 
the stomach is thrown beyond the mouth. The one is an involuntary, and 
the other a voluntary act.—B. K. 
