ong administration of
dilute nitric acid. This was possibly due to the local action.
According to Taylor, the smallest quantity of oxalic acid causing death
is one dram. Ellis describes a woman of fifty who swallowed an ounce of
oxalic acid in beer. In thirty minutes she complained of a burning pain
in the stomach and was rolling about in agony. Chalk and water was
immediately given to her and she recovered. Woodman reports recovery
after taking 1/2 ounce of oxalic acid.
Salicylic acid in medicinal doses frequently causes untoward symptoms,
such as dizziness, transient delirium, diminution of vision, headache,
and profuse perspiration; petechial eruptions and intense gastric
symptoms have also been noticed.
Sulphuric acid causes death from its corrosive action, and when taken
in excessive quantities it produces great gastric disturbance; however,
there are persons addicted to taking oil of vitriol without any
apparent untoward effect. There is mentioned a boot-maker who
constantly took 1/2 ounce of the strong acid in a tumbler of water,
saying that it relieved his dyspepsia and kept his bowels open.
Antimony.--It is recorded that 3/4 grain of tartar emetic has caused
death in a child and two grains in an adult. Falot reports three cases
in which after small doses of tartar emetic there occurred vomiting,
delirium, spasms, and such depression of vitality that only the
energetic use of stimulants saved life. Beau mentions death following
the administration of two doses of 1 1/2 gr. of tartar emetic.
Preparations of antimony in an ointment applied locally have caused
necrosis, particularly of the cranium, and Hebra has long since
denounced the use of tartar emetic ointment in affections of the scalp.
Carpenter mentions recovery after ingestion of two drams of tartar
emetic. Behrends describes a case of catalepsy with mania, in which a
dose of 40 gr. of tartar emetic was tolerated, and Morgagni speaks of a
man who swallowed two drams, immediately vomited, and recovered.
Instances like the last, in which an excessive amount of a poison by
its sudden emetic action induces vomiting before there is absorption of
a sufficient quantity to cause death, are sometimes noticed. McCreery
mentions a case of accidental poisoning with half an ounce of tartar
emetic successfully treated with green tea and tannin. Mason reports
recovery after taking 80 gr. of tartar emetic.
Arsenic.--The sources of arsenical poisoning are so c
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