TOXICOLOGY. 361 



Dr. Letheby, in a case of chronic poisoning, detected 

 lead in the brain, muscles, and intestines, as well as in the 

 blood and serum found effused into the ventricles of the 

 brain ; but none was discovered in the bile or urine. 



Dr. Inman detected it in one case in the cerebel- 

 lum. 



M. L. Orfila states that he found it in the tissues as long- 

 as eight months after the withdrawal of the poison ; and 

 the facts connected with the slow disappearance of the blue 

 line from the gums, on poisoning with this metal, render it 

 probable that it may be detected after the lapse of one or 

 two years. 



Treatment. — In cases where the symptoms are rapidly 

 developed from the ingestion of lead from paint or bullet- 

 spray, it is best to administer such agents as enter into com- 

 bination with lead, forming insoluble salts. 



With this view, sulphate of magnesia, or soda with 

 sulphuric acid and sulphur, may be given. 



Lead sulphate, which is the most insoluble of all the 

 salts of lead, and lead sulphide are thus formed. Being 

 insoluble, these salts are therefore not absorbed. 



If there be much pain, opium and hyoscyamus may be 

 given also. 



Should the pain continue, woollen cloths wrung out from 

 hot water should be applied to the abdomen, and hypo- 

 dermic injections of morphia may be administered. 



The sulphuric acid should be repeated every three or four 

 hours for two or three days, in order to prevent the solution 

 of the remaining lead by the gastric juice. 



The bowels should be kept in a lax condition by the 

 administration of saline purgatives for a few days, and 

 diluents may be freely given. In addition, the kidneys 

 may be acted upon by the addition of nitiic ether, or other 

 mild diuretics. 



