Mr. N^U'ieu on the Effects of inhaling Cyanide Fumes. 191 



ulcerations on his legs and other parts of his body. The bad gas, as it is 

 termed, was blamed, but for some time I could not convince myself that 

 that was the cause ; an experience, however, of at least five years, has 

 now completely verified the observation, that these outbreaks are the re- 

 sults of breathing these prussic acid fumes Any circumstance which neces- 

 sitates the inhaling much of these fumes for a few days successively, gives 

 rise to ulceration, and often the person has to retire for a few days to the 

 coast, where they heal rapidly. Another curious circumstance is, that a 

 person who has wrought in the fumes these last seven years, has com- 

 pletely lost the sense of smell for every thing but strong ammonia ; even 

 sulphuret of carbon, using his own language, " smells as sweet to me as a 

 rose." 



I have not heard of any fatal results, either directly or indirectly, 

 arising from following this occupation ; and in some works where care is 

 taken, the effects I have been describing are produced only in a very 

 mild form, and are only' occasionally felt, being considered quite 

 evanescent. One remarkable difference I may notice between the effects 

 of breathing these fumes, and that of inhaling the vapour of quicksilver ; 

 in the old process of gilding, pure mercury enters and gets a footing in 

 the system; it undermines it, and permanently destroys health and shortens 

 life ; but in the cases I have given of the effects of breathing cyanide 

 fumes, notwithstanding the great want of care in the conditions, and the 

 dangerous nature of the efiects, by an absence of a few months from the 

 business the health of all the parties described has been completely 

 restored. 



The solutions of gold and silver in cyanide of potassium are deadly 

 poisons if taken into the stomach, but from their extremely disagreeable 

 bitter taste, the slightest drop getting into the mouth is immediately 

 washed out with water, to get rid of the taste, — a great preventative of 

 evil from that source, as small drops often unavoidably get into the 

 mouth, and would be unconsciously swallowed were it not for the taste. 



When any part of the skin is broken and comes into contact with the 

 solution, severe ulcerations and great pain are caused. The solution 

 coming upon the healthy skin creates little ulcerations. The operator is 

 much more liable to this when^gilding than plating; the gold solution 

 being wrought hot, when it comes in contact with the hands is more 

 powerful. The hands are also much exposed to the steam of the solution, 

 and often, from this cause, break out in watery pimples, which are very 

 itchy and painful. When ulcerations are caused by the solutions, or when 

 the solutions come into contact with ulcerations, the metal is reduced to 

 the metallic state in the sore, and if looked at through a common Ions, 

 the metal is quite visible. The reduction and presence of the metal are, 

 no doubt, the cause of the irritation and pain. 



I have thus briefly endeavoured to give the [results of observations 

 upon the effects experienced by myself, and at least four other indivi- 

 duals, during a period of several years' working in prussic acid fumes. 



