402 LEAD POISONING. 



the comparatively insoluble compounds of the sulphate and 

 sulphide. 



When abdominal pain is troublesome, relief may be afforded 

 by the addition of tincture of opium or belladonna to the 

 draught, or by occasional doses of morphia administered hypo- 

 dermically. While, should these means fail, I have found good 

 to follow the exhibition, every two hours, of one ounce of 

 sweet spirits of nitre, four ounces acetated liquor ammonia, 

 and one drachm each of camphor and extract of belladonna, 

 given in gruel ; and the application to the abdomen of woollen 

 cloths wrung from hot water. 



Havinof sfiven Avhat we consider a fair dose of the saline 

 purge, it is better to wait a reasonable time for a response 

 than to repeat the dose too soon. The acid, and probably the 

 sulphur, had better be repeated every three or four hours for 

 one or two days. 



As soon as the bowels have been placed in a moist condition, 

 they ought to be kept so for some days by the continuance of 

 the saline laxative, which may be taken in sufhcient quantity 

 to produce this effect in the drinking-water. 



Should the symptoms not become aggravated in two or 

 three days, good hopes may be entertained of a favourable 

 issue. Following this, supposing the bowels to have acted 

 freely, benefit will accrue from the exhibition twice daily of 

 such tonics as gentian, quinine, or nux vomica.'' 



In the chronic forms of lead-poisoning, the results of medical 

 treatment will entirely depend upon the length of time the 

 animal has been under the adverse influences, and the con- 

 sequent extent to which the different organs and tissues have 

 become impregnated with the poison. In the majority of 

 these cases the constitutional strength is so undermmed, and 

 special organs have become so much injured, that reason- 

 able hope can scarcely be entertained of restoration to 

 health. 



When the treatment of these is undertaken, it is based upon 

 a somewhat different principle ; the noxious agent is not now 

 chiefly, or even largely, located in the gastro-intestinal canal, 

 but, having entered the circulation, has become resident in and 

 attached to various organs and tissues, so that any treatment 

 to be adopted must proceed with the view of acting upon it as 



