TUTU POISONING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2110, 1 April 1920, Page 1

TUTU POISONING.

It is often a very dilficull matter to apply medical treatment to animals suffering from tutu poisoning l , 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 be applied, is the internal administration of liquid ammonia, or carbonate of ammonih mixed with milk or thin gruel, if possible; in addition a large dose of linseed oil —not less than two pints—should be given. The dose of liquid ammonia in cases such as this should he one ounce in a quart of milk or thin gruel. If neither of these should be available, the ammonia should be mixed with two pints of linseed oil recommended above. Liquid ammonia is irritating 1 to the membrane of the mouth and throat, lienee the necessity for diluting it with a quantity of some demulcent fluid. It should be borne in mind that there are two liquid preparations of ammonia—one a very strong preparation know as “liquid ammonia fort,” the other the ordinary liquid ammonia, which is here recommended. If carbonate of ammonia is used in cases of tutu poisoning, the dose is 11 ozs, If the rumen (first stomach) is greatly distended with gas, relief cam be afforded by puncturing it at a spot between the haunch-bone and the last rib. This should be done on the left side of the animal. The best instrument for such puncturing is that known'as a trocar, fitted with a canula. The trocar is a round, sharp-pointed instrument, with a metal tube (-the canula) fitted tightly over it. After making the puncture the instrument is withdrawn and the tube left in, allowing the continued escape of gas. It is unlikely, however, that the farmer will

have this instrument at hand, and in an emergency a sharp-pointed knife with a long, but thin blade can lie used. In ibis case the knife must not be simply plunged in and withdrawn, but must be held in position after making (he puncture, the blade being twisted slightly sideways, thus maintaining an opening through which the gas can escape from the rumen. Owing to the usually excited condition of affected animals, however, it is olfen very difficult to carry out this operation. It is usually travelling stock which become the victims of tutu poisoning; and feeding on the plant undoubtedly causes much more trouble when taken on a more or less empty stomach.