! 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
367 
POISONED BY CASTOR BEANS. 
By Flavius J. Smith, Y.S. 
On the night of September 25, 1886,1 was called to treat two 
orses, the property of Mr. F. Upon my arrival I learned the 
(fected animals had eaten some castor beans, that were left over 
i 'om those planted last spring, on the morning of the 23d inst., 
nd began to show signs of illness on the following morning, 
lie symptoms were as follows, viz.: Complete loss of appetite, 
reat thirst and nausea and gastro-intestinal irritation, frequently 
ying down in soft places and rolling from side to side. The 
nlse and respiration were increased in frequency and the temper- 
;ure elevated. The animal most seriously affected purged freely 
id died soon after my arrival. 
In the second case the bowels were constipated, and when re¬ 
eved a large quantity of mucous came away with the contents, 
lie amount of beans eaten by the sick animals could not be 
scertained. 
Treatment. —Antemetics, anti-spasmodic aperients and ene- 
las; bromide of soda, used in small doses hypodermically, we 
insider one of the best equine antemetics in this and similar 
ises. The case was discharged on the third day, appetite fairly 
ood and the bowels moving with their normal frequency. 
Post-mortem examination made by artificial light. On expos- 
lg the bowels they appeared to be highly inflamed, and on laying 
lem open from end to end it was found that the mucous mem- 
rane was destroyed almost their entire length. The spots of 
ichymosis and extravasation and the inflammation gradually in- 
reased in severity from the stomach to about the centre of the 
oating colon, where there was a gangrenous spot about ten 
iches long. The contents consisted of fluids and solids, tinged 
ith blood, undergoing fermentation, and a few oats. 
No fragments of the beans were detected. The lungs and 
ver were congested, otherwise appeared to be healthy, as were 
ie spleen and kidneys. The blood was black and coagulated, 
nick and freely in the cavities of the heart and large vessels. 
Austin, Tex., Oct. 6, 1886. 
