TOXICOLOGICAL CHAET. 



201 



consists of minutely divided metallic mer- 

 cury. 



Sulphuretted Hydrogen, which gives a 

 blackish compound, a sulphuret of mercury. 



To these may be added the test hy re- 

 duction, the reducing agent being the pro- 

 tochloride of tin, assisted by heat. 



Albumen is not now relied on as a re- 

 agent. 



AGENT. 



ANTIMONII POTASSIO-TARTRAS. 



Potassio- Tartrate of Antimany, 

 Emetic Tartar. 



Symptoms. — Violent gastric irritation ; 

 nausea ; efforts to vomit ; profuse perspira- 

 tion; catharsis, accompanied with colicky 

 pains and much flatus ; increased secretion 

 of urine ; the heart's action at first much 

 quickened, and afterwards scarcely percep- 

 tible ; labored resph'ation ; injection of the 

 mucous tissues ; extreme distress ; death. 

 . Treatment. — The yellow bark, or any 

 other astringent vegetable that contains 

 tannin, to be administered both in powder 

 and decoction ; a free use of dilutents, olea- 

 ginous purges, and opium, should then be 

 had recourse to for the purpose of allaying 

 the irritation. 



Morbid Appearances. — The stomach 

 highly inflamed, and eroded patches on the 

 mucous coat, which are of a deeper color 

 than the surrounding parts ; intestines red- 

 dened, encoated mth slimy mucus, and 

 thickened ; lungs gorged with blood ; and 

 general inflammation of the whole system 

 consequent on its absorption. 



Tests. — Caustic Potass and Lime-ivater, 

 which precipitates the oxide of antimony' 

 The carbonate of potass acts with still 

 greater delicacy. 



Hydrochloric and Sulphuric Acids also 

 afford the like precipitate. A strong infu- 

 sion of the gall-nut gives a dirty, yellowish 

 white precipitate, the gallate of antimony. 



Sulphuretted Hydrogen throws down an 

 orange-red precipitate, the red sulphuret of 

 antimony, which is so peculiar as to be al- 

 ways distinguished ; and the reduction of 



this precipitate by hydrogen at once dissi- 

 pates all doubt. 



AGENT. 



SALTS OF COPPER. 



Symptoms. — The salts of copper are 

 rarely employed as poisons to the horse. 

 Large doses of the sulphate improperly 

 given have sometimes caused much intes- 

 tinal irritation, followed by colicky pains 

 and diarrhoea ; and, in one instance, death 

 from gastro-enteritis. Doubtless inordinate 

 quantities would always destroy life, when 

 symptoms similar to those caused by any 

 other erodent would be manifested, it being 

 a local irritant. The same, perhaps, may 

 be said of the impure acetate of copper. 



In the neighborhood of works for smelt- 

 ing of copper, horses are frequently attacked 

 with diseases of the joints, indicated by 

 swelling, bursal distension, exostosis, and, 

 ultimately, anchylosis, arising either from 

 the state of the herbage or the impregnation 

 of the air by the vapors disengaged. 



Treatment. — Give a solution of the fer- 

 rocyanide of potassium, or of soap. Albu- 

 men is also an antidote, and metallic iron, 

 which latter precipitates the copper. This 

 is to be expelled by oleaginous purgatives. 

 Tepid water rendered slightly alkaline may 

 also be freely given; and opium, to allay 

 u'ritation. A free use of demulcents, as 

 gruel, infusion of linseed, etc., is indicated. 



For the local affection, puncture the bur- 

 sal distention, and, after the evacuation of 

 the cyst, apply an elastic bandage, giving 

 gentle compression. Remove the animal 

 to another locality. 



Morbid Appearances. — Stomach ulcer- 

 ated where the agent has adhered, and gen- 

 eral inflammation of its mucous lining 

 and that of the intestines, with here and 

 there spots of erosion. In the instance ad- 

 verted to of the sulphate of copper causing 

 death, there was an engorgement of the 

 blood-vessels of the lungs. 



Copper is with extreme difficulty detected 

 in any of the secretions. It, however, has 

 been found in the organic tissues, particu- 



