62 POISONOUS PROTEINS 



troduced into the blood are eliminated in part 

 at least into the alimentary canal. Morphine 

 given subcutaneously may be detected in wash- 

 ings from the stomach. Gastric erosion may be 

 induced by the subcutaneous or intravenous ad- 

 ministration of arsenical preparations. So 

 long ago as 1753 Sproegel showed that gastric 

 lesions may be due to arsenic absorbed from 

 wounds, and since that time they have been in- 

 duced in animals by the hypodermic adminis- 

 tration of neutral solutions of arsenic. Similar 

 lesions are seen in poisoning with antimony and 

 other metals and may result in these instances 

 also from application made to wounds and to 

 raw surfaces. Mercury when employed by in- 

 unction is poured into the alimentary canal and 

 its destructive action may be seen in almost any 

 part from the mouth to the rectum. Erosions 

 of the stomach and intestine may be extensive 

 and deep, even to perforation. The fact that 

 gastric and duodenal ulcers may follow severe 

 burns of the skin has been long known and is 

 best explained by supposing them due to the 

 large amount of poison resulting from the burn, 

 being brought to the walls of the alimentary 

 canal. The gastric inflammations and erosions 

 of the acute infectious diseases are doubtlessly 

 due to the same cause. The smallpox virus has 



