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
stomach, urgent thirst, redness of the tongue, involuntary contractions
of the muscles of the extremities, and weakness and irregularity of the
pulse came on; and one person died within twenty-four hours, while the
other recovered, chiefly because the dressing caused so much pain that
the patient could not keep it on long.[686]
Next as to ulcers; M. Roux has noticed the case of a girl, who was
killed by the application of the arsenical paste to an ulcer of the
breast, and in whom the constitutional symptoms were strongly marked,
although the quantity of the poison must have been very small. The
preparation used, which contains only a twenty-fourth of its weight of
arsenic, was applied for a single night on a surface not exceeding an
inch and a half in diameter. Yet she complained next day of violent
colic and vomited frequently, the countenance soon became collapsed, and
she died two days afterwards in great anguish.[687] Another instance of
the like kind is related in the Annales d’Hygiène, where death arose
from an arsenical ointment ignorantly applied for scirrhous breast over
a large surface of the skin stripped of the cuticle by a blister. The
particular symptoms and their duration are not stated; but there was
violent irritation of the stomach.[688] Another fatal case, related by
Dr. Küchler, arose from the application of Frêre Cosme’s powder to a
soft fungoid tumour on the temple, which discharged serum usually and
blood upon slight pressure. About a drachm and a half of arsenic mixed
with fifteen grains of other powders was applied. Severe inflammation
spread round the tumour next day; and soon afterwards, the patient was
attacked with great difficulty of breathing, thirst, pains in the belly,
and purging, then with difficulty in swallowing from swelling of the
base of the tongue, delirium, cold sweating, and extreme debility; and
death ensued in four days.[689]
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