diseases of the digestive organs.

POISONS AND POISONING. 71coagulates albumen and acts as an astringent. As an antidote internally,lime-water sweetened with sugar should be given in large quantitiesor a solution of sulphate of soda. When the poisoning occursthrough too extensive applications to wounds or the skin, as in treatmentof mange, cold water should be freely applied so as to wash offany of the acid that may still remain unabsorbed. As a surgical dressinga 3 per cent solution is strong enough for ordinary purposes. Waterwill not hold more than 5 per cent in permanent solution. No preparationstronger than the saturated solution should be used medicinallyunder any circumstances.VEGETABLE POISONS.These may be divided into two classes—those that are likely to beadministered to the animal as medicine or such as may be taken in thefood, either in the shape of poisonous plants or plant disease affectingthe natural herbage of the pasture or meadow from which the animalobtains its food supply.OPIUM POISONING.Opium and its alkaloid, morphia, are so commonly used in the practiceof medicine that the poisonous result of an overdose is not uncommonin ordinary practice. The common preparations are gum opium,the inspissated juice of the poppy, powdered opium made from the gum,tincture of opium, commonly called laudanum, and the alkaloid or activeprinciple, morphia. Laudanum has about one-eighth the strength ofthe gum or powder. Morphia is present in good opium to the extent ofabout 10 per cent. In medicinal quantities it is a most useful agent inallaying pain. It has an effect common to all narcotics of firstproducinga stimulating effect, which is soon followed by drowsiness, a dispositionto sleep or complete ansesthesia, depending on the quantity ofthe drug used. In poisonous doses a state of exhilaration is apt to bewell marked at first. A second stage rapidly supervenes, in which thesymptoms are those of congestion of the brain. It has the effect of preventingperfect aeration of the blood. The visible membranes have abluish tint (cyanotic). The breathing is slow, labored, and later stertorous;the pupils of the eyes are very much contracted; the skin dryand warm. The patient may be aroused by great noise or the inflictionof sharp pain, when the breathing becomes more natural. A relapseinto the comatose condition soon takes place when the excitement isremoved. Later, there is perfect coma and the patient can no longerbe aroused from the insensible condition. The contraction of the pupilbecomes more marked, the breathing intermittent and slower, there isperspiration, the pulse more feeble and rapid, till death takes place.Treatment—The stomach should be emptied by means of a stomachpump, if possible, and the patient kept moving, even though what would