Copper sulphate: Fatal dose, horse, dog. Symptoms: Dullness, colic,
blue or green vomit, diarrhœa, straining, weakness, spasms, palsy,
albuminuria, icterus, hæmoglobinuria, impaired appetite, emaciation,
spasms. Lesions: Redness, softening, ulceration, sloughing of
alimentary mucosa, methe-globinæmia, fatty liver, enlarged spleen,
ingesta give copper film on polished iron. Treatment: Albumen, milk,
mucilage, iron filings, sulphur, magnesia, laxatives, opium. Avoid
acids.
The common copper poisons are the sulphate and acetate. Copper alum,
oxide or carbonate of copper and paints with a copper base are less
frequently taken.
=Sulphate of copper= 1 ounce has proved fatal to the horse. In dilute
solution or with mucilaginous liquids it is much less injurious. Ten
grains to 2 drachms subcutem have killed the dog. (Tabourin.)
_Symptoms._ Dullness, colics, emesis of blue or greenish matter in
vomiting animals, diarrhœa, tenesmus, weakness, trembling, spasms,
trismus, paralysis, small, weak pulse, hurried breathing. In
experimental chronic poisoning in the sheep, albuminuria, icterus,
hæmaglobinuria, hæmaturia, impaired appetite and rumination,
constipation followed by diarrhœa, great emaciation and weakness and
finally convulsions. (Ellenberger and Hofmeister).
_Lesions._ Redness and softening of the alimentary mucosa, ulceration,
sloughing, perforation. In the chronic forms methe-globinæmia, free
hæmatin as crystals in liver, spleen and kidney, nephritic
extravasation, fatty degeneration of the liver, enlarged spleen, and
catarrhal changes in the intestinal mucosa. Polished iron placed in the
gastric or intestinal contents becomes coated with copper.
_Treatment._ White of egg, milk, mucilage, iron filings, sulphur,
calcined magnesia, laxatives. Opium may be required to calm suffering,
but acids must be carefully avoided.