ARSENICAL POISONING FROM SMELTER SMOKE. 
409 
over the valley more frequently, there appeared the ulcerated 
nostrils, colics, cerebral symptoms, diarrhoea, disturbance of the 
heart and muscular paralysis. That some of the cases of colic, 
as well as the “fits” and “staggers” had other elements in their 
etiology than arsenical action is probable, but, admitting this, it 
is certain that the irritating action of the arsenic on the walls of 
the digestive organs favored the development of digestive dis¬ 
turbances and colics, and that the action of the arsenic on the 
brain increased the congestion about any chronic lesions which- 
might exist in this organ and caused the development of active 
symptoms. 
Dairy cattle would be doing well and showing no symptoms 
of poisoning, then the smoke would come over the pasture for a 
few days and there would be a sudden shrinkage in the quantity 
of milk which was obtained; there would be salivation and drool¬ 
ing of mucus from the mouth, constipation, often followed by 
diarrhoea, red and weeping eyes, loss of appetite, cough, garlicky 
breath and feces covered with mucus. 
Salivation, the writer has found to be a common symptom of 
arsenical poisoning, and occurs even when the arsenic is admin¬ 
istered by subcutaneous injection. It is, therefore, probably due 
to the excretion of arsenic through the salivary glands, and not, 
as might be supposed, to the irritating effect of the arsenic on the 
mucous membrane of the mouth when it is being ingested. 
During the months of the year when the smoke was carried 
away from the valley by. the air currents, the great majority of 
the animals did not present symptoms which would lead one to 
suspect, from their general appearance, that they were suffering 
from the effects, of arsenic. There were, however, marked ex¬ 
ceptions, one of which will be given as indicating how some ani¬ 
mals would be poisoned during the most favorable portion of the 
year. This was a colt, n months old, which died June 30, 1906, 
and the postmortem was No. 26 of this series. It had been on 
the Para ranch for some time and was examined carefully by the 
writer 3 or 4 days before its death. At that time it was in a 
cachectic and very weak condition, with a well marked red gum 
