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
In the Medical and Philosophical Journal of New York,[645] is related
the case of a druggist, who swallowed an ounce of powdered arsenic at
once, and died in eight hours, after two or three fits of vomiting,
with slight pain and heat in the stomach.—A similar case has been
related by Metzger. A young woman died in a few hours, after suffering
from trivial diarrhœa, pain in the stomach and strangury; her death
was immediately preceded by slight convulsions and fits of
suffocation; and on dissection the stomach and intestines were found
quite healthy. Half an ounce of arsenic was found in the
stomach.[646]—A third case similar in its particulars to the two
preceding was submitted to me for investigation by the sheriff of this
county in 1825. The subject, a girl fourteen years of age, took about
ninety grains, and died in five hours, having vomited once or twice,
complained of some little pain in the belly, and been affected towards
the close with great faintness and weakness. The stomach and
intestines were healthy.[647]—A fourth case allied to these is
succinctly told in the Medical and Physical Journal. The person
expired in five hours; and vomiting never occurred, even though
emetics were given.[648]—A fifth has been related by M. Gérard of
Beauvais. The subject was a man so addicted to drinking, that his
daily allowance was a pint of brandy. When first seen, there was so
much tranquillity, that doubts were entertained whether arsenic had
really been swallowed; but at length he was discovered actually
chewing it. This state continued for nearly five hours, when some
vomiting ensued: coldness of the extremities and spasmodic flexion of
the legs soon followed; and in a few minutes more he expired.[649]—A
sixth and very singular case of the same kind has been described by
Orfila. The individual having swallowed three drachms at eight in the
morning, went about for two hours bidding adieu to his friends and
telling what he had done. He was then prevailed on to take emetics and
diluents, which caused free, easy vomiting. He suffered very little
till one, when he became affected with constricting pain and burning
in the stomach, feeble pulse, cold sweats, and cadaverous expression,
under which symptoms he died four hours later.[650] Orfila justly
designates this case as the most extraordinary instance of poisoning
with arsenic that has come under his notice.—A seventh is related by
Mr. Holland of Manchester where death took place in the course of
eight or nine hours, and the symptoms were at first some vomiting,
afterwards little else but faintness, sickness, a sullen expression,
and a general appearance which led those around to suppose the
individual intoxicated.[651]—Professor Chaussier has described a still
more striking case than any yet mentioned. A stout middle-aged man
swallowed a large quantity of arsenic in fragments and died in a few
hours. He experienced nothing but great feebleness and frequent
tendency to fainting.
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