ride; vapour has
caused poisoning in aeroplane ('dope') and cinema film works.

_Symptoms._--Gastric symptoms and marked jaundice. This may be followed
in days or weeks by stupor, coma, death.

_Post-Mortem._--Fatty degeneration of internal organs, chiefly liver.

=Trinitrotoluene (T.N.T.).=--An explosive solid which stains the skin an
orange colour; may be absorbed through skin or be inhaled.

_Symptoms._--Shortness of breath, headache, drowsiness. Later, skin
irritation, gastritis, jaundice, blood degeneration.

_Treatment._--Remove from work, rest in bed, diuretics, purgatives,
alkalies.

XXXIV.--ALCOHOL, ETHER, AND CHLOROFORM

Alcohol, ether, and chloroform, induce general anaesthesia, often
preceded by delirious excitement, and followed by nausea and vomiting.
When they cause death, it is by inducing a state like apoplexy or by
paralyzing the heart.

=Alcohol.=--Absolute alcohol is ethyl hydroxide (C_{2}H_{5}OH) with not
more than 1 per cent. by weight of water. Rectified spirit (spiritus
rectificatus) contains 90 per cent. of alcohol. Methylated spirit
consists of rectified spirit with 10 per cent. of wood spirit. Proof
spirit contains a little over 49 per cent. of absolute alcohol; brandy
or whisky, 53 per cent.; port wine, 20 to 25 per cent.; ales and stout,
4 to 6 per cent.

_Symptoms._--Acute poisoning; confusion, giddiness, staggering gait,
headache, passing into stupor, with subnormal temperature, and coma.
Vomiting may occur and recovery ensue, otherwise collapse sets in.
Pupils usually dilated.

Dipsomaniacs suffer from indigestion, vomiting and purging, jaundice,
albuminuria, diabetes, cirrhosis of liver, degeneration of kidneys,
congestion of brain, peripheral neuritis, alcoholic insanity, and
various forms of paralysis. In the acute form delirium tremens is the
most common manifestation.

_Post-Mortem Appearances._--Deep red colour of lining membranes of
stomach. Sometimes congestion of cerebral vessels and meninges. Lungs
congested, blood fluid. Rigor mortis persistent.

_Fatal Dose._--Death from 1/2 pint of gin and from two bottles of port,
but recovery from larger quantities.

_Fatal Period._--Average about twenty-four hours.

_Treatment._--Stomach-tube, cold affusion, electricity, injection of a
pint of hot coffee into the rectum. Give chloride of ammonium in 30
grain doses to prevent delirium; strychnine or digitalin
hypodermically.

_Method of Extraction from the Stomac