TUTU POISONING.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1911, Page 8

TUTU POISONING.

TREATMENT SUGGESTED

WELLINGTON, December i

Replying to a query as to what antidote should be iteed, and what treatment is required in the case of a beast, that is poisoned by eating tutu, the Director of Live Stock and Meat Division of the Agricultural Department says:—

I; is very often a difficult matter +o apply medical treatment to animals suffering from tutu poisoning, seeing that the trouble causes more or less severe brain symptoms, which render the animal intractable and difficult to

handle. Very useful treatment for this trouble, when it can bo, applied, is the internal administration of liquid ammonia mixed with milk or Thin gruel" if possible; in addition a lirq;e dose of linseed oil (not less than two pints) should be given. The dose of liquid ammonia in cases such as th s should be one ounce in a quart of n«"k or thin gruel. If neither of these be available it should be mixed with two pints of linseed oil which is recommended above. Liquid ammonia is irritating to the membrane of ihe throat and mouth, hence the necess'ty for diluting it with a quantity of some demulcent fluid. It should he borne in mind that there are two liqquid preparations of ammonia—one a very strong preparation, known as liquor .ammonia fort; the other the oicljnary liquid ammonia, which is hero ncoinmended. If carbonate of ammonia be used in cases of tutu poisoning the dose is ljozs. If the first stomach is greatly distended with gas, relief can be afforded by puncturing it at a spot midway between the haunch bone and the !a*fc rib. This should be done on the left side of the animal. Really the'best instrument for so puncturing is that known as a trocar, fitted into a canula, This is a round, sharp-pointed insfcrument with a metal tube (the canuh,! fitting tightly over it. After making the puncture the instrument is withdrawn, and the tube left in, thus allowing the continued escape of gas. It is unlikely, however, that the ioriner will have this instrument at hand, and in an emergency a sharp poiinod knife, with a long but thin blade, can be. used. In this case, however, it must not be simply plunged in and withdrawn, but it must be held in position after making the puncture, the blade being twisted slightly sideways, thus maintaining an opening Vh'rough which the gas can escape from the first stomach. Owing to the usually excited condition of affected animals, however, it is very difficult to do this. It is usually travelling stock which become the victims of tir u poisoning; and feeding on the vlaah undoubtedly causes much more trouble when taken on a more or less empty stomach. .