AN IRRITANT AND NARCOTIC POISON 411 



doses kill by paralysis of respiration, but larger doses besides 

 cause cardiac paralysis. It is excreted in part by the lungs, 

 salivary glands, and skin, mainly by the kidneys, and chiefly 

 in the form of alkaline carbolates, detectable, two or three 

 hours after administration, by bromine water. The urine 

 has a dusky green or olive-brown hue, and for a considerable 

 time resists putrefaction ; but, if it stands long, it becomes 

 amber-brown, depending upon hydroquinone and other 

 phenol products undergoing further oxidation. Excretion 

 is tolerably rapid ; carbolic acid can seldom be found in 

 any notable amount in the urine either of men or animals 

 twenty-four hours after the exhibition of the last dose. 



Toxic EFFECTS. Two drachms prove immediately fatal 

 to dogs, and kill full-grown cats in two minutes (Sansom). 

 Cullen found that one drachm given to small dogs caused 

 excitement, dilated pupils, shallow, stertorous breathing, 

 convulsions, and death in ten minutes. Friedberger found 

 that fifteen grains killed dogs in a few hours. Three or four 

 drops placed under the wings of sparrows caused excite- 

 ment, restlessness, and death in half an hour ; toads, 

 earthworms, beetles, ants, and fleas were promptly poisoned 

 (Lamaire). Two drachms repeatedly given to a donkey 

 had no very notable effect. Half-ounce doses are dangerous 

 for horses ; ounce doses are fatal (Kaufmann). Poisonous 

 doses immediately cause dogs, rabbits, and other animals 

 to reel, move in jumps, and fall ; they tremble and show 

 muscular weakness, cough, and froth at mouth ; the pulse 

 is small, quick, irregular, and intermittent ; temperature 

 is lowered ; albuminuria and haematuria are occasionally 

 present ; shallow, gasping, difficult breathing, collapse, 

 paralysis, more or less anaesthesia, and occasionally con- 

 vulsions, precede death. 



By whatever channel it is introduced into the body, its 

 characteristic effects are produced. Dressings used in 

 human surgery sometimes cause nausea, vomiting, giddi- 

 ness, high-coloured urine, and occasionally collapse, and 

 even death. Scabby sheep too freely dressed may suffer 

 from congested and inflamed lungs, linger for weeks, and 

 even then die. Sheep, dogs, and cats are ** particularly 

 susceptible ; even a single dressing, incautiously applied 



