Gastro- Enteritis from Caustic Alkalies. 265 



blood ill the vessels is of a dark red, coagulates iniperfectl)' and 

 the blood globules are dissolved changing the color to black, and 

 then brownish red. Prior to death there is great distress, saliva- 

 tion, inability to swallow, swollen tongue, frequent pulse and 

 respiration, cough, spasms, and sometimes the odor of ammonia. 

 Retching and vomiting may be a feature in carnivora and omni- 

 vora, and diarrhoea if the case is not promptly fatal. The urine is 

 not rendered alkaline. White fumes with muriatic acid indicate 

 ammonia. 



Ammonia Carbonate gives rise to the same symptoms and 

 le.sions with the exceptions that there is less corrosion of the 

 mucosa, and no pure ammonia exhales in the breath. 



Caustic Potash, Lye. Lethal dose. 5 grs. dog intervenous. 

 In strong .solution this is one of the most potent cau.stics, 

 which penetrates deeply into tiie tissues and ab.stracting 

 water cauterizes everything with which it conies in contact. 

 It therefore produces the most destructive changes on the walls 

 of the stomach, and intestines, with violent ga.stro-enteritis, 

 retching, or vomiting of alkaline matters. The congested, 

 ashen and even black color of the tongue, and (post mortem) 

 of the gullet, stomach and intestines, and the intense alkalinity 

 of contents are characteristic. The blood is fluid, gelatiniform, 

 and blackish red. Later, erosions and contractions are common. 



Caustic Soda is only less destructive than potash, and pro- 

 duces the same general lesions and .symptoms. 



The Carbonates of Potash and Soda have the .same general 

 properties only they act with very much less energy. Potassium 

 can be recognized by its purple color in an alcohol or Bunsen 

 flame and sodium by an inten.se yellow. 



Treatmeiit. Weak acids (acetic, vinegar, citric, malic, lactic, 

 boric, benzoic, salicylic) or the stronger mineral acids largely 

 diluted. Mucilaginous solutions (flaxseed, elm bark, gruel, 

 mallow). Anodynes (opium). 



