LEAD POISONING. 6oi 



discolored, having a dark, unliealthy look. The small 

 intestine showed evidence of intense inflammation 

 through its length, and the rectum was also inflamed. 



The swan was examined a few days later than the 

 goose, and several days after its death. Its gizzard 

 contained perhaps twenty or thirty grains of corn, 

 which were softened, but not at all digested, or even 

 abraded. The gizzard contained no sand, but it did 

 contain a quantity of yellowish, jelly-like matter, which 

 appeared to be the broken down walls of the gizzard 

 lining. At the posterior part of the gizzard were a 

 dozen particles of lead, two of them evidently No. 4 

 shot, and the others small ground-up fragments of shot 

 which had lost shape and size. The tough lining mem- 

 brane of the gizzard was black in color, had lost all 

 character, and could be picked off piece by piece like 

 rotten wood or burned leather. The subjacent white 

 membrane showed the pink and purple spots of inflam- 

 mation noted in the same membrane of the goose. The 

 small intestine was highly inflamed throughout its 

 whole tract. The liver was absolutely black and very 

 soft. 



From these examinations I conclude that the birds 

 dissected died from chronic lead poisoning, the cause of 

 which was sufficiently obvious. 



Each season great quantities of shot are fired on 

 the waters of this sound, and much of it falls on the 

 feeding grounds of the wildfowl. In feeding, the geese, 

 ducks and swans — whether by accident or design — take 

 into the stomach with sand and gravel and food, more 



