Fatal dose without water. Vomiting animals. Superpurgation. Lesions.
Treatment: diluents, demulcents, stomach pump. Opiates.
One drachm of croton seeds given to a horse, without water proved fatal
in 24 hours (Morton); 2 drachms followed by all the water the horse
would drink produced most violent catharsis followed by recovery
(Hughes). Twenty to thirty drops of croton oil proved fatal; 8 drops in
the jugular vein caused death (Hertwig). It is much less fatal to
cattle. Dogs and pigs vomit it so readily that they usually survive with
profuse catharsis.
The _symptoms_ are profuse watery diarrhœa with tenesmus, congested
mucosæ, rapidly increasing weakness and small pulse, becoming
imperceptible.
The _lesions_ are violent congestion of the mucosa of stomach and
intestines, concentrated very largely on the cæcum and colon.
_Treatment_ consists in abundance of mucilaginous liquids, which the
animal readily drinks, and washing out the stomach with the stomach tube
or pump. Opiates may be demanded to calm the pain.