Milk sickness

Milk Sickness

Milk sickness, also known as tremetol vomiting or sick stomach, is a kind of poisoning that results from drinking milk from cows that have fed on white snakeroot plant, which contains the poison tremetol.

Pronunciation

Milk sickness: /mɪlk ˈsɪknɪs/

Etymology

The term "milk sickness" comes from the fact that the illness is often contracted from consuming milk or dairy products from a cow that has ingested the poisonous white snakeroot plant.

Symptoms

Symptoms of milk sickness can include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and severe thirst. In severe cases, it can cause tremors, severe vomiting, and even death.

Causes

Milk sickness is caused by the ingestion of milk or dairy products from a cow that has eaten the white snakeroot plant. The plant contains a toxic alcohol known as tremetol, which can be passed through the cow's milk to humans or other animals.

Treatment

Treatment for milk sickness is primarily supportive, including rehydration and symptomatic relief. In some cases, activated charcoal may be used to help absorb the toxin.

Prevention

Prevention of milk sickness involves ensuring that cows do not have access to white snakeroot plants, especially in the late summer and fall when the plant is most toxic.

Related Terms

• Poisoning
• White snakeroot
• Tremetol
• Activated charcoal

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Milk sickness
• Wikipedia's article - Milk sickness

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