Treatise on Poisons: In relation to medical jurisprudence, physiology, and the practice of physicChristison, Robert, Sir
Science
Treatise on Poisons: In relation to medical jurisprudence, physiology, and the practice of physic
Christison, Robert, Sir
Medical jurisprudence; Toxicology
M. Barthez has given the following process for detecting bromine in
compound mixtures, such as the contents of the stomach or vomited
matter. First separate the fluid matter by filtration, and subject it to
the action of chlorine, which will produce a fine orange colour. Should
this effect not result, or the change of colour be observed by the deep
tint of the fluid, treat the solid matter with solution of caustic
potass; filter and add what passes through to the former fluid;
evaporate to dryness and char by a red heat; act on the residue with
distilled water. The solution contains the bromide of potassium, and is
therefore turned orange-red by chlorine. The orange tint, whether struck
at once in the fluid part of the mixture, or after carbonization and
solution of the residue, is removed by agitation with ether; and the
etherial solution of bromine in its turn loses colour when treated with
solution of caustic potass, hydro-bromate of potass being again formed.
M. Barthez found, that a solution of twelve grains injected into the
jugular vein of a dog, sometimes occasioned immediate tetanus and death;
and that the heart was gorged with clotted blood. Sometimes however even
seventeen drops did not prove fatal, but produced merely restlessness,
difficult breathing, dilated pupil, frequency of the pulse, and
sneezing. Dieffenbach remarked similar effects in the rabbit: The animal
either died immediately, or soon recovered altogether. In a cat, after
the injection of twelve drops of a concentrated solution into its
jugular vein, death took place in fifteen minutes; but in another from
which a little blood was drawn after the symptoms were fully formed,
complete recovery gradually ensued. Butske found a horse suffer so much
from mortal prostration immediately after five grains dissolved in two
ounces of water were injected into its jugular vein, that he supposed it
was about to die; but it quickly revived, and ultimately got quite well.
Dr. Glover obtained similar results. When recovery took place, the
leading symptoms were panting, sneezing, discharge from the nostrils,
rigors and debility.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account