Part 5 (1/2)

This gas, which is a waste product in the manufacture of was.h.i.+ng soda, is the chief cause of the barrenness which surrounds soda works where it is allowed to escape, it being extremely destructive to vegetable life.

_Ammonia._-It has been already noticed (p. 48) that the vapor of ammonia is poisonous, exciting inflammation of the larynx, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Serious symptoms have sometimes arisen from its indiscriminate application in cases of syncope, &c.

III.-SPECIFIC IRRITANT POISONS.

By Specific Irritant Poisons we mean those which, taken internally, produce local inflammation or irritation, these being of course indicated by certain const.i.tutional symptoms; but over and above these, which may be the result of ordinary inflammation, there are certain specific signs of the action of a poison, in most instances peculiar, and frequently pointing directly to the poison employed. This group is one of the utmost importance in Toxicology, and includes substances acting in many different ways, all, however, giving rise to the common symptoms of gastric irritation.

CHAPTER XIII.

SPECIFIC MINERAL IRRITANTS.

IODINE AND IODIDE OF POTa.s.sIUM.

IODINE is obtained from kelp (the ash of marine plants) and is a bluish black scaly substance. It strikes an intense blue color with starch, and when heated gives off an irritating purple vapor. It likewise imparts a yellowish-brown stain to the skin (which may be removed by liquor pota.s.sae) and mucous membranes, and slowly corrodes these tissues.

Iodine is an active poison, although its effects are variable. Some const.i.tutions are violently affected by two or three grains, whereas others are uninjured by ten or twenty. Iodine is commonly employed in medicine in combination with pota.s.sium (iodide of pota.s.sium). Of this substance very large doses may be given (thirty grains or more, three times a day) in tertiary syphilis, with none but good effect.

The _symptoms_ of poisoning by iodine consist of an acrid taste, tightness about the throat, epigastric pain, vomiting, and purging, especially if much has been taken. In a case which came under observation, a man took an ounce of the compound tincture of iodine, in mistake for a purgative draught. He was immediately seized with an intense burning pain in the throat and epigastrium, and vomiting, followed by great thirst, headache, and syncope. The vomiting was encouraged, large quant.i.ties of arrowroot given, starch enemata administered, and in twelve hours all the symptoms had disappeared, leaving him in a state of exhaustion, from which he recovered in a few days.

In chronic poisoning (iodism) there are signs of irritation of the alimentary ca.n.a.l, often a measly eruption, ptyalism, running from the nose and eyes, mental and bodily depression, and loss of flesh. Nothing leads to the belief that it causes absorption of the t.e.s.t.i.c.l.es or mammae, as is often a.s.serted.

The _post-mortem appearances_ would be those due to an irritant poison, namely, inflammation and softening of the stomach; the mucous membrane being detached in different parts, and stained of a yellow color.

The _treatment_ should consist in the encouragement of vomiting, and the free administration of amylaceous fluids, as gruel, arrowroot, boiled starch, &c. This should be continued until the matters vomited are of their natural color; for as long as any iodine remains they will be rendered blue, iodide of starch being formed.

The crystals _of iodide of pota.s.sium_ are white cubes, very soluble in water, and permanent in the air; though when impure they have a yellowish tinge, and are deliquescent. In a few instances this valuable medicine appears to have given rise to troublesome symptoms, even when administered in small doses. Mr. Erichsen has reported a remarkable case, in which five grains produced coryza, conjunctivitis, difficulty of breathing, and other serious effects, promptly ceasing with the discontinuance of the medicine. The _treatment_ must consist in emptying the stomach by emetics or the stomach-pump, and administering starchy diluents.

_Tests._ 1. Iodine may be readily detected by the blue color it gives to starch.

Iodide of pota.s.sium gives the same when the iodine is set free by an acid, such as sulphuric acid.

2. It also forms a scarlet precipitate with perchloride of mercury; and

3. It gives a yellow precipitate with acetate of lead.

CHAPTER XIV.

PHOSPHORUS.

This substance is sold in a pure state in small wax-like cylinders, which must be preserved under water. It is soluble in oil, alcohol, ether, and chloroform, and still more so in carbon disulphide; it is luminous in the dark, and it ignites at a very low temperature, giving off a dense white smoke. Phosphorus is much more frequently used as a poison abroad than in England; but since restrictions have been put on the sale of poisons, and rat poisons containing it have been more common, cases of poisoning have more frequently occurred, and are likely to do so even oftener in future. The cases which have occurred show that it is a very powerful irritant, and capable of causing death when taken, even in small doses. One grain has caused death; the shortest period in which it has followed the administration of the poison being four hours.

The phosphorous paste sold consists of flour, sugar, and fat, with phosphorous, ordinarily colored with Prussian blue. Coloring matter is also generally present in lucifer-match tops, which contain phosphorus and chlorate of potash, or nitre; hence, the vomited matters after either of these has been swallowed may be variously colored. In the so-called ”safety matches” the phosphorus is on the box and not on the match. Phosphorus does not readily lend itself to the purposes of the criminal, its luminosity, its taste, and its garlic odor rendering it difficult of concealment.

The _symptoms_ of poisoning by phosphorus are very varied, often insidious. At first there may be merely the ordinary signs of irritant poisoning. The vomited matters are luminous in the dark, sometimes bilious, sometimes b.l.o.o.d.y. There is very great prostration, and there may be diarrha with b.l.o.o.d.y stools. These symptoms sometimes abate, and everything seems going on well, when suddenly a new train of symptoms, still more serious, develop themselves. These are such as would occur in the worst forms of blood poisoning: harsh, dry, yellow skin, with discharges of blood from the various pa.s.sages, and the formation of extravasations below the skin. The urine is ordinarily retained or suppressed, what little there is being alb.u.minous or bile-stained. Finally, acute delirium with convulsions sets in; the patient dies comatose a few hours after taking the poison, or it may be as many months.