LEAD ACETATE 235 



greater solubility of Goulard's Extract renders it more 

 active than the sugar of lead, and it is preferable for 

 external application on account of its not drying or crystal- 

 lising. 



Toxic EFFECTS. Hertwig gave a pound of sugar of lead 

 to horses, and observed nausea, colic, a quick, small, hard 

 pulse, stiffness of the limbs, paralysis of the optic nerve, 

 and sometimes of other parts, insensibility, and often death. 

 Even more energetic effects occur in cattle. Prinz observed 

 that half an ounce given daily for three days produced in 

 cows fever, with a quick, throbbing pulse, colic, and other 

 symptoms of abdominal pain ; in one case mania, but in 

 none death. Mecke found that eight ounces, dissolved in 

 water, and given in divided doses during two days, destroyed 

 nine cattle the first on the second, the last on the four- 

 teenth day after the poison had been given. Early in 

 1857 a farmer near Glasgow lost eight cows from their 

 boiled food having been stored in a large tub obtained from 

 a chemical manufactory, and impregnated with sugar of 

 lead. The symptoms were similar to those above recorded. 

 Dogs receiving half an ounce, retained by tying the oesopha- 

 gus, suffered intense intestinal irritation, and died, occasion- 

 ally in nine hours, but sometimes only after two or three 

 days (Orfila). Owing to chemical action the membrane of 

 the stomach is grey, of a macerated appearance, and some- 

 times very vascular, especially in lingering cases. These 

 effects are due to the local irritation of the mucous membrane 

 of the stomach and intestine, set up by concentrated solu- 

 tions or large doses. They are not due in any measure to 

 systemic lead poisoning, for little lead is absorbed from the 

 alimentary tract unless given for long periods and in small 

 doses. 



MEDICINAL USES. Lead acetate is administered to check 

 haemorrhages, especially from the stomach and intestine. 

 Formerly it was prescribed for purpura in horses and red- 

 water in cattle ; but for these purposes it is useless, primarily 

 because of its non-absorption. Half -drachm doses of sugar 

 of lead and opium, given daily, sometimes check the danger- 

 ous diarrhoea and dysentery which attack badly-managed 

 anaemic cattle in autumn and early winter. Scouring lambs 



