Part 47

Phosphorus is usually taken in the form of matches or more frequently as one of the pastes sold for the destruction of vermin. Almost all of the latter contain 1 to 2 per cent. of phosphorus, in combination with flour, sugar, and fatty or oily matters. The lethal dose of phosphorus is: Horse or ox 7 to 30 grains; pig 2 to 4 grains; dog ¾ to 1½ grain; chicken ⅓ grain.

Symptoms. Anorexia, dysphagia, swelling of the tongue, intense thirst, colic, emesis in vomiting animals, vomited matters may shine in the dark, and may be tinged with blood, diarrhœa is common though not constant, icterus, and suppression of the milk. Trembling, weakness, acceleration of the pulse and breathing and hyperthermia may be noted. Chickens have been noticed to have choreic movements in walking. Hemorrhages are common.

Lesions. Inflammation of the mucosa of the alimentary canal from the mouth to the stomach and intestines. Fatty degeneration of the epithelium very noticeable in the gastric glands. Enlargement and fatty degeneration of the liver and kidneys, and degeneration of the heart and muscles. The blood is black and ecchymosis and hemorrhages appear on various internal organs. The contents of stomach and bowels shine in the dark. Phosphorus may be recognized by its luminosity when distilled at a very low heat from an acid solution and received into a refrigerated condenser. This must be done in perfect darkness, and the phosphorescence will be seen in the condenser or connecting tube.

Treatment. Empty the stomach by emetic or stomach pump, and then give oil of turpentine in mucilaginous liquid: Horse 1 to 2 ounces; ox 2 to 3 ounces; pig ½ ounce; dog 20 to 30 drops; chicken 5 to 10 drops. This may be repeated several times and if used early enough will probably succeed.

POISONING BY TARTAR EMETIC.

Fatal doses, large in herbivora. Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhœa, ulcerative stomatitis, salivation, thirst, colic, tremors, palsy. Lesions: gastro-intestinal inflammations, ulcerations, lung infarctions. Treatment: emesis, antidote tannic acid.

This is mainly seen in the smaller vomiting animals. To kill horses or cattle much larger doses are necessary than are likely to be taken. Barlow and Dun gave 4 drs. to a horse thrice a day, and in all 10 ozs. in 10 days, yet it improved in condition. Ten and a half ounces given in 6 days proved fatal. An old sow was killed by 2 drs., a 5 months pig by 80 grs., (Hertwig). Dogs were killed by 3 to 7 grs.

Symptoms. Vomiting, diarrhœa, ulcerative stomatitis, salivation, vertigo, thirst, dullness, cold surface, colicy pains, trembling, paralysis of the hind quarters, and early death.

Lesions. General inflammation of the gastric and intestinal mucosa, sometimes ulceration especially if the agent has been taken in the solid form. Congestions and infarctions of the lung are not unknown.

Treatment. Encourage vomiting by tickling the fauces, and by the ingestion of tepid water. The best known antidote is tannic acid in any one of its combinations. Solution of tannin, decoctions of oak bark, oak galls, catechu, kino, rumex, sumac, or even strong tea will serve to render it insoluble and non-irritant.

POISONING BY CORROSIVE SALTS OF MERCURY.

Calomel with muriatic acid, corrosive sublimate, mercuric chloride, iodide, nitrate, cyanide. Fatal dose. Symptoms: anorexia, salivation, thirst, emesis, colic, diarrhœa, rumbling, debility, tremors, stupor, death. Lesions: corrosive whitening of gastro-intestinal mucosa, congestion, ulceration, blackening, bloody, glairy ingesta. Treatment: albumen, emesis, demulcents, chlorate of potash, bitters, iron sulphate. Test: copper and muriatic acid.

Calomel in itself cannot be looked on as corrosive, but in ruminants in which it is retained in the system for 3 or 4 days it is largely resolved into mercuric chloride by the free gastric acid and alkaline chlorides. It has therefore been largely excluded from the materia medica of these animals. When in these or other animals it produces corrosive action, the operation is essentially that of corrosive sublimate.

The corrosive salts of mercury likely to be taken by animals are corrosive sublimate now so largely used as an antiseptic, the nitrates and iodides, and cyanides of mercury used as local applications or as antiseptics.

=Mercuric chloride= may be taken as the type. It has proved fatal to the horse in a dose of 2 drs.; to the ox in 1 to 2 drs.; to the dog in doses of 4 to 6 grs.

Symptoms. Loss of appetite, salivation, thirst, emesis in vomiting animals, colics, diarrhœa, often bloody, weak perhaps imperceptible pulse, hurried breathing, much rumbling of the abdomen, debility, trembling, stupor and death.

Lesions. Escharotic whitening in patches of the mucosa of the mouth, throat, gullet, stomach and intestines, with acute congestion, ulceration and ecchymosis, and sometimes blackening by the formation of the sulphide. The contents of the bowels may be serous or bloody and more or less glairy. Like arsenic, mercuric chloride concentrates its action on the intestinal canal by whatever channel it may have entered the body.

Treatment. The mercury should be precipitated in an insoluble form and then eliminated by emesis or by the stomach pump. White of eggs is usually the most available agent producing the albuminate of mercury. This is, however, still soluble in acid and alkaline liquids, in chlorides of potassium, sodium or calcium and even in excess of albumen. Vomiting may be favored by tickling the fauces, or by hypodermic injection of apomorphia. This may be followed by boiled flaxseed or copious drinks of rain water. When the mercury has been largely eliminated the salivation may be controlled by chlorate of potash, and the digestive disorder met by bitters and iron sulphate.

Test for Mercury. Place a few drops of the suspected solution on a clean surface of copper; acidulate with muriatic acid; then touch the copper through the liquid with a piece of zinc; a silver colored stain will be formed easily dissipated by heat.

POISONING BY SULPHUR.

Fatal dose, horse 16 ozs. Symptoms: dullness, anorexia, colic, diarrhœa, sulphur odor. Lesions: congestion, desquamation, ulceration of gastro-intestinal mucosa, sulphur odor in flesh, blood nearly fluid, blackens silver. Treatment: chloride of lime, oil, puncture rumen or colon, stimulants.

In excessive doses this is irritant. The horse is poisoned by 16 ozs. (Tabourin): violent colics follow a dose of 12 ozs. (Collaine). Cattle are less susceptible.

Symptoms. Dullness, anorexia, colic, pulse small and quick, skin cold and clammy. Fœtid flatus and profuse diarrhœa, are marked symptoms.

Lesions. Injection of the gastro-intestinal mucosa, shedding of the epithelium, ulceration, and sometimes gangrene. Sulphur is found in the ingesta and fæces and a sulphur odor is prominent, not only in the bowels but also in the flesh. Tympany from H_{2}S is common. The blood is mostly fluid, and ecchymosis is shown on heart, lungs and other internal organs. The tissues blacken silver.

Treatment. Chloride of lime, oleaginous laxatives, use trochar and canunla for tympany. In prostrate conditions give stimulants (alcohol, ether).

POISONING BY BROMINE AND IODINE.

Poisoning by these agents is rare in domestic animals. Bromine 2 drs. killed a dog in 5 hours: 10 to 12 drops in 1 oz. water intravenously killed a dog suddenly, and 5 to 6 drs. of iodine by the mouth killed in a few days (Orfila). A horse had colic from taking ½ oz. iodine (Tabourin), others died from the effect of 2 drs. doses intravenously (Patu).

Symptoms. Violent colicy pains, salivation, emesis in vomiting animals, diarrhœa, iodine or bromine odor, acute coryza, red eyes, dilated pupils, weakness, debility, vertigo, convulsions. If the patient survives the glandular system undergoes atrophy, with emaciation and scaly skin eruptions.