POISONING CAUSED BY SEEDS OF DATURA-STRAM ONIUM IN HORSES - CASE-REPORT

During the past year, nine cases of fatal poisoning caused by seeds of Datura stramonium L. were observed. The horses consumed once or twice , during two consecutive feeding approx. 60 to 300 g of seeds of datur a in corn of maize or in its cleaning byproduct (refuse grain). The cl inical symptoms - restlessness, colic, dyspnoea, tachycardia and perip heral circulatory insufficiency, constipation, tympany, stop of perist altic, dilated pupils, drying of oral and nasal mucosa - developed aft er 6 to 24 hours. Death occurred 24 to 72 hours after the uptake of da tura seeds. The treatment - gastric lavage, electrolyte and liquid sub stitution, puncture of coecum, rectal tamponade, oily purgation, admin istration of pilocarpin, etc. - was successful only in cases with mild er course of disease. At the time of necropsy, the seeds were always f ound in the stomach. The gross pathological examination revealed signs of circulatory disturbances, pulmonary emphysema, cardiac dilation, c onstipation, and occasionally intestinal displacement.