Poisons, Their Effects and Detection: A Manual for the Use of Analytical Chemists and ExpertsBlyth, Alexander Wynter
Science
Poisons, Their Effects and Detection: A Manual for the Use of Analytical Chemists and Experts
Blyth, Alexander Wynter
Poisons
Accidents are liable to occur with chlorine gas from its extensive use
as a disinfectant and also in its manufacture. In the “Weldon” process
of manufacturing bleaching powder, a thick layer of lime is placed on
the floor of special chambers; chlorine gas is passed into these
chambers for about four days; then the gas is turned off; the unabsorbed
gas is drawn off by an exhaust or absorbed by a lime distributor and the
doors opened. Two hours afterwards the men go in to pack the powder. The
packers, in order to be able to work in the chambers, wear a respirator
consisting of about thirty folds of damp flannel; this is tightly bound
round the mouth with the nostrils free and resting upon it. The men are
obliged to inhale the breath through the flannel and exhale through the
nostril, otherwise they would, in technical jargon, be “gassed.” Some
also wear goggles to protect their eyes. Notwithstanding these
precautions they suffer generally from chest complaints.
§ 44. =Effects.=--Free chlorine, in the proportion of 0·04 to 0·06 per
thousand, taken into the lungs is dangerous to life, since directly
chlorine attacks a moist mucous membrane, hydrochloric acid is formed.
The effects of chlorine can hardly be differentiated from hydrochloric
acid gas, and Lehmann found that 1·5 per thousand of this latter gas
affected animals, causing at once uneasiness, evidence of pain with
great dyspnœa, and later coma. The eyes and the mucous membrane of the
nose were attacked. Anatomical changes took place in the cornea, as
evidenced by a white opacity.
In cases that recovered, a purulent discharge came from the nostrils
with occasional necrosis of the mucous membrane. The symptoms in man are
similar; there is great tightness of the breath, irritation of the nose
and eyes, cough and, with small repeated doses, bronchitis with all its
attendant evils. Bleaching powder taken by the mouth is not so deadly.
Hertwig has given 1000 grms. to horses, 30 grms. to sheep and goats, and
15 grms. to dogs without producing death. The symptoms in these cases
were quickening of the pulse and respiration, increased peristaltic
action of the bowels and a stimulation of the kidney secretion. The
urine smelt of chlorine.
§ 45. =Post-mortem Appearances.=--Hyperæmia of the lungs, with
ecchymoses and pneumonic patches with increased secretion of the
bronchial tubes. In the mucous membrane of the stomach, ecchymoses. The
alkalescence of the blood is diminished and there may be external signs
of bleaching. Only exceptionally has any chlorine smell been perceived
in the internal organs.
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