Memoranda on Poisons Part 4

_Carbonate of Baryta_ or _Barium Carbonate_, in its native state, occurs in ma.s.sive radiated crystals, very heavy, and nearly colorless.

Artificially prepared, as sold in the shops, it is a fine, tasteless, odorless powder, almost insoluble in hot or cold water. One drachm is said to have destroyed life, but recovery has taken place after a much larger dose.

_Treatment._-The sulphate of soda or sulphate of magnesia, or some earthy sulphate, should be speedily administered, by which the poison will be converted into an inert insoluble sulphate of baryta. Emetics should also be given, or the stomach-pump used.

CHAPTER X.

SALTS OF THE METALS: ZINC-SILVER-TIN-BIs.m.u.tH-CHROME-IRON.

Two preparations of ZINC must be noticed:

SULPHATE OF ZINC (_White Vitriol_, _White Copperas_.)-This is a very mild irritant, resembling in its appearance Epsom salts and oxalic acid.

It is very useful as an emetic in scruple or half-drachm doses, dissolved in any thin fluid.

In one case an ounce was accidentally taken. Great pain in the stomach, vomiting, and prostration, soon set in. Subsequently there was gastritis, and recovery only occurred after a prolonged convalescence.

_Treatment._-Vomiting is to be encouraged by milk or alb.u.minous fluids; after which remedies containing tannin (strong tea, decoction of oak bark, or tincture of Peruvian bark) are to be given.

CHLORIDE OF ZINC.-A solution of chloride of zinc forms a valuable disinfectant, but is also a dangerous irritant, or, if sufficiently strong, a corrosive poison. Sir William Burnett's Fluid consists of gr.

xxv of this salt to the drachm of water. It has been taken in mistake for fluid magnesia, pale ale, &c., and has caused death.

_Symptoms._-A burning sensation in the mouth and throat is immediately produced. This is followed by nausea, vomiting, and signs of collapse.

Death has occurred in less than four hours.

_Post-mortem Appearances._-The mucous membrane of the throat and stomach has been found corrugated, hard, and leathery. In the case of a sailor who died from about half a pint of Burnett's solution, the body was livid, the neck swollen, the cerebral vessels were engorged, and the lungs were congested. The mucous coat of the stomach was of a purple red, and partially corroded, while the pyloric orifice looked as if caustic had been applied to it. There were patches of congestion in different parts of the small intestines.

_Treatment._-Alb.u.minous drinks, followed by some preparation of tannin, will be needed.

_Tests._-Zinc is distinguished from all other substances by giving a white precipitate with sulphuretted hydrogen. The solution containing it must not be too acid or no precipitate will be formed. Zinc also gives white precipitates with ferrocyanide of pota.s.sium and ammonia.

NITRATE OF SILVER (_Lunar Caustic_).-This is a powerful irritant, and has proved fatal in at least two instances. The antidote is common salt, which must be given immediately, followed by emetics.

TIN.-The chlorides of tin being employed in dyeing, color-making, &c., may lead to their being used as poisons, or being taken accidentally.

Death from their use is rare. They are decomposed by magnesia, which should therefore be freely administered, followed by alb.u.minous and mucilaginous drinks.

BIs.m.u.tH.-The nitrate or magistery of bis.m.u.th has caused death in nine days, after a dose of two drachms. The symptoms were those of a strong irritant, but in all probability were caused by some impurity in the substance. a.r.s.enic is frequently present in this way. As no antidote is known, vomiting must be promoted and emollient drinks freely given.

CHROME.-The b.i.+.c.hromate of pota.s.sium is found in the form of orange-red crystals, which yield a yellow acid solution. It is used as a dye, and has caused death in more than one instance. Emetics and magnesia or chalk, must be the remedies employed.

It is well to know that this substance is apt to produce troublesome sores on the hands of those engaged in its manufacture. Some slight abrasion begins the lesion, which does not heal, but forms on its surface a tough slough, which separating, leaves a foul ulcer with hard edges, and most untractable, behind it.

SULPHATE OF IRON (_Green Vitriol_, _Copperas_).-Although not a powerful irritant, sulphate of iron has proved fatal when taken in a large dose.

It is sometimes given to procure abortion. The _perchloride of iron_ has also produced alarming symptoms, after being taken for the same purpose. Dr. Christison relates the case of a man who died in five weeks from an ounce and a half of the tincture. Magnesia and diluents, freely administered, must const.i.tute the treatment.

CHAPTER XI.

SIMPLE VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL IRRITANTS.

This division of the cla.s.s of simple irritants is an important one, on account of the substances composing it consisting in considerable part of ordinary remedies or drugs, which given in over doses, may produce symptoms of poisoning. They chiefly give rise to vomiting and purging.

VEGETABLE IRRITANTS.

The most important are _aloes_, _colocynth_, _jalap_, _gamboge_, _scammony_, _elaterium_, _croton oil_, _castor oil seeds_, various species of _arum_, _euphorbium_, _bryony_, _mesereon_, _physic nut_, and others less commonly known. Dr. Taylor says that aloes and colocynth are the basis of _Morrison's pills_, which in many instances have induced fatal purging. In _Holloway's pills_, aloes is the chief ingredient. A favorite remedy with nurses for promoting the catamenia is _hierapicra_, a brown powder consisting of four parts of aloes to one of canella bark.

This may give rise to dangerous symptoms.

The _symptoms_ induced by these substances are those of irritation of the intestinal ca.n.a.l, severe pain, vomiting, diarrha, tenesmus, &c.; followed by collapse, cold sweats, and occasionally convulsions. These effects may also be produced by diseased and decayed vegetables.

The _treatment_ must be directed to the removal of the injurious substance by emetics, &c., unless spontaneous vomiting has freely taken place, when it need merely be encouraged by the use of diluents. If the irritant has pa.s.sed out of the stomach into the intestines it must be carried off by purgatives, especially castor oil. The inflammatory symptoms should be cautiously combated, on account of the great prostration usually caused by these poisons. Opiates, emollient enemata, and fomentations to the abdomen will subsequently be found useful.

SIMPLE ANIMAL IRRITANTS.

The substances which require consideration under this head, though few, are important.

_Poisonous Fish._-Several kinds of fish are constantly poisonous, while some only act injuriously on particular const.i.tutions. The chief effects are sickness and vomiting, irritation of the eyes, depression, and severe urticaria or nettle-rash. In this country the different varieties of sh.e.l.l-fish are those most frequently injurious, especially c.o.c.kles, mussels, crabs and such-like.

_Poisonous Meat._-The flesh of animals which have died of disease has produced serious symptoms when eaten, and has even destroyed life.

Several substances, as sausages, cheese, bacon, &c., also become poisonous from putrefaction.

The _treatment_ in these instances should consist in the use of emetics, purgatives, and diluents. The vital power must be supported by stimulants, tonics, nutritious diet, &c.

CHAPTER XII.

IRRITANT GASES.

The chief are chlorine, sulphurous-acid gas, nitrous-acid gas, and hydrochloric-acid gas. When diluted, they admit of being inhaled; not so when pure.

_Chlorine._-This gas has a greenish-yellow color, and a powerful suffocating odor. It is used to fumigate buildings, being a valuable disinfectant. Chlorine is employed by the calico-printer and paper-maker for its bleaching properties. The men who work in an atmosphere slightly impregnated with it suffer from dyspepsia, but are long-lived, and it has been supposed to be actually beneficial to consumptives. Any attempt to inspire chlorine in its concentrated state would at once prove fatal by closing the glottis and causing asphyxia. When diluted it excites excessive irritation of the air-pa.s.sages, cough, difficulty of breathing, and inflammation.

In poisoning by chlorine, the inhalation of a small quant.i.ty of sulphuretted hydrogen appeared to afford relief in a case reported by Christison, but with that, or any other of the irritant gases, our treatment must chiefly consist in the instant removal of the sufferer to pure air. Then the cautious inhalation of ammonia, sulphuric ether, or the vapor of warm water, will be useful.

_Sulphurous Acid Gas_ is one of the products formed by the combustion of ordinary coal. It possesses bleaching and antiseptic properties; and is very irritating when inspired.

_Nitrous Acid Gas_ is a very violent poison when inhaled, producing inflammation of the lungs, &c. It has proved fatal in several instances, when given off by nitric acid.

_Hydrochloric Acid Gas_ is irrespirable in its concentrated state, and when diluted produces great irritation of the lungs and air-pa.s.sages.