VETERINARY TOXICOLOGY. 
247 
the colour too dark and dirty. It seems fair to regard it as 
part of the contents of the stomach which had escaped through 
the opening in some part of it, probably the reticulum, and 
which induced the peritonitis terminating in the collapse, in¬ 
dicated by the sudden change in the case on the morning of 
the fifteenth day from the time of swallowing the poison. If 
this be so—and it is reasonable to regard it as such—it is a 
hitherto unnoticed or unrecorded occurrence, so far as I am 
aware, in veterinary literature. Ulceration is comparatively 
rare in the human subject, and perforation more rare, but 
both conditions are recorded; and whether the perforation 
in this case was caused by the eroding action of the arsenic, 
or whether it was the result of any other morbid action, it 
is impossible definitely to say. Judging from the peculiar 
appearances reported, the history of the case, and the time 
it was in the system, it seems highly probable that the metal 
was the cause. 
The length of time the poison was in the system without 
producing its poisonous effects is worthy of notice, and 
suggests the questions whether this cow received all the 
poison, or whether the antidotes used saved the lives of the 
other two, but failed in this. 
Previous to their partaking of the poisoned wheat they 
were in every respect healthy, giving a fair quantity of milk, 
and for at least nine days after they all seemed to feed and 
ruminate as if nothing had occurred, so far as any one could 
detect. I saw them on the sixth day after, and declared 
them out of danger. On the ninth day it seems the milk 
began to diminish and the appetite to fail in the one in 
question, while the other two have showed no difference 
whatever. 
I think the likelihood is that the one received the greatest 
share of the poison, and that the antidotes used were in¬ 
effectual or in too small quantity to counteract its effects, or 
that the quantity partaken of by the others was so small as 
to produce no effects, or was neutralised by the antidotes 
given. 
This view is strengthened by the fact that the victim was 
the oldest of the three, and in all probability would be the 
first at the tempting morsel, and secure the largest share in 
consequence. 
No one saw them come to the grain, but the owner was 
only absent about twenty minutes, and knowing what was 
put in the drill and what came out, knew what had been 
devoured. It is scarcely possible, however, for one cow to 
have swallowed a bushel of wheat in twenty minutes, and 
