Spoiled foods. Toxic rye. Botulism. Brine poisoning. Flesh of
overdriven (leucomaines). Symptoms: from mouldy bread, brain disorder,
gastric, urinary, hæmatic: from brine, restlessness, convulsions,
eructations, vomiting, weakness, paresis. Lesions: congestion of
stomach, bowels and mesenteric glands; with brine, heart and skin
charged with black blood, congestion of brain, kidneys and bladder.
Petechiæ. Treatment: empty stomach, emetics, purgatives, potassium
iodide, antiferments, sedatives, cold to head, enemata,
counter-irritants. Prevention.
_Causes._ Spoiled foods of all kinds such as mouldy bread, musty meal,
spoiled grains of all kinds, or rotten potatoes, or apples are common
causes of poisoning. In specimens of toxic rye Woronin found four
fungi:—=fusarium roseum=, =gilberella Sanbinetti=, =belminthosporium=,
and =cladosporium herbarium=. Prilleux and Delacroix have obtained a
fifth, =endoconidium temulentum=. Rye so affected produced nervous
disorder in swine, dogs, birds and even in man. Pigs often die from
botulism, being fed flesh in a more or less advanced stage of
putrefaction. Old meat brine is also a source of toxin and ptomaine
poisoning since its toxic property increases with age which is not the
case with a mere solution of common salt. Yet this is very deadly to the
pig, a half a pint often proving fatal. Kuhnert records that the flesh
of an overdriven horse proved fatal to the pigs that ate it.
_Symptoms._ From mouldy bread the pig becomes dull, stupid, sluggish,
stiff, stilty and staggering in his gait, and usually costive. There are
usually signs of colicy pains, inappetence, frothy lips, champing of the
jaws, yawning, retching and vomiting. The mucosæ become yellow and the
urine red and albuminous.
The symptoms caused by old brine are more violent. There are dullness,
prostration, and inclination to lie, but at short intervals the animal
gets up and wanders round, moving stiffly, is seized by tremors and
finally convulsions, in which he falls to the ground, dashes his head
from side to side, champs his teeth, rolls his eyes and froths at the
mouth. There are usually eructations and often vomiting which does not,
however, give the desired relief. The animal becomes rapidly weaker and
though unable to rise has frequent paroxysms of trembling and other
nervous symptoms.
_Lesions._ With mouldy bread the congestion of the gastric and
intestinal mucosa, and of the mesenteric glands are marked features.
With brine there is in addition the heart gorged with black, tarry
blood, the skin and subcutaneous connective tissue shows a similar dark
congestion, also the brain and its membranes and the kidneys and
bladder. Petechiæ are abundant on the serous membranes and other parts
of the body.
_Treatment._ Evacuate the stomach by tickling the fauces, giving tepid
drinks, or ipecacuan. Follow with purgative of sulphate of soda and
diuretics especially potassium iodide. Potassium bromide, sodium
salicylate or salol may be given to calm nervous excitement and check
fermentation. Degoix recommends chloral hydrate, enemata, cold to the
head, and counter-irritants and in very prostrate conditions stimulants
may be employed.
The most important measure, however, is the cutting off of the supply of
the poison and the administration of a wholesome diet. Medicinal
treatment is too often unsatisfactory and will seldom pay for the
trouble; prevention is the one rational and economical measure.