Poisoning1 "by Strychnine

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 2497, 28 July 1893, Page 3

Poisoning 1 "by Strychnine

• • With tho fact before us of the introduction of new poiaonß for the destruction of rabbits, any information relating to the effects of well-known and deadly poisons will be acceptable to those who are any way associated with them. Both stryohnino and areeuic are ueed in the country, and both are equally deadly. It ia assumed that the basis of the new rabbit destroyer " Toxa " is either one or the other. It is being talked about, and opinions as to it efficacy are various, some maintaining it to be most deadly, while others affirm it is a comparative failure We are, however, inclined to think the failuroa ara duo to its misapplication. Its deadlines is said to be unquestionable, evea to fatal effects of eating tho animal killed by \b. This, however, wo regard as an exaggeration. We are not aware of any poison that saturates muaoular fibre by the simple process of digestion, but the stomach and intestines would be poisonous if strychnine or arsenic were used. Toxa is, howevor, extremely dangerous on account of its seductive appearance, We have heard it called '• apple jam," and hence it cannot bo kept too far froth the reach of children. If strychnine is its basis, and any harm happens to dogs from eating rabbits killed by it, or that have takon etryohnine any other way, the following letter published in the ' Field.* may be found a' valuable experience to owners of dogs. Says the writer: — "Perhaps the followiDg case may bo of interest to some of your readers : I wao aßked by a gßatleman, as a spooial favor, to oome and look at a very valuable fox terrier dog, which he aaid had oonvulsions. On arriving I immediately saw the poor animal was suffering from stryohnine poisoning. It was, of course, too late to give an emetic (as it in perfectly useless after the spasmodic attacks have set in to give anything of the kind), I immediately commenced the administration of ohloroforra during each spasmodic) atfcaok, after having given an enema of brotnidia, consisting of 2dra (two teaspoons) of bromidia in an ounce of warm water, and iojected slowly into the rectum with an ordinary glass syringe The spasmodic attacks ceased almost immediately, and, with the exception of a little afciltiness in his walk next day the poor old doggie was praotically well. Bromidia is obtainable from any ohemiat, and is composed of chloral hydrate, bromide of potassium, hyosoyamua, Oannibua indicus, &c. , and is manufactured by Battle and 00,, St, Louts, —Walter Swan (Surgeon)." While upon the aubj,eot oil poisoning, it \xi9,y be well to suggest to the Government tlie advisability of taking ft riot cognisances of new toxio nostrums Jptroduoed for rabbit aud. bird ostawriination, and put the pubUQ 0 ywrd ycßPQotlog them,