474 SPOKADIC DISEASKS. 



The blind poucli of the caecum was nearly gangrenous. There 

 was nothing remarkable about the liver, spleen, or kidneys, 

 except that they were of a singularly blue appearance. The 

 brain and spinal cord were not examined." — (Finlay Dun's 

 Materia Medica.) 



Lead palsy in man is characterised in its later stages by the 

 blue line around the teeth, ulceration of the mouth, colic, and 

 epileptic fits, preceded, however, by palsy of the upper extremities. 

 The extensor muscles of the hands and fingers become first para- 

 lyzed, so that when the arms are stretched out the hands hang 

 down by their own weight, causing what is termed " icrist-drop." 

 This paralysis is succeeded by atrophy of the affected muscles. 



In the diagnosis of lead palsy in man the electric current plays 

 an important part, for it is found that when the palsy is induceil 

 l)y lead the excitability of the muscles is much diminished, 

 Mdiilst it is normal in ordinary paralysis. " Therefore, lohen tlie 

 7n.uscles of a paralytic limh move locll under the influence of the 

 electric current, we may fairly conclude that there is no lead in 

 the system." — (Dr. Altiians on Paralysis, Neuralgia, t&c.) 



]\Ir. Herapath reports in the Chemist for 1855 (see F. Dun's 

 Materia Medica) some interesting cases of lead poisoning, which 

 followed the erection of smelting furnaces on the Mendip Hills 

 in 1853. The inquiry appeared to commence half a mile from 

 the chimney, and to extend half a mile further. Oxide, carbonate, 

 and sulphate of lead were found on the herbage, hedges, and hay. 

 On the live stock " the effects of the metal were, a stunted 

 growth, a leanness, shortness of breathing, paralysis of the ex- 

 tremities, particularly the hinder ones, the flexor muscles of the 

 fore legs were affected, so that they stood upon their toes, swelling 

 of the knees, but no constipation or colic as in the human species; 

 in a few months death followed. In the young the symptoms 

 were more conspicuous and the mortality greater. Lambs were 

 yeaned paralytic. When three weeks old they could not stand, 

 although they made great efforts to do so. In attempting to feed 

 tliem from a bottle they were nearly suffocated from paralysis of 

 the glottis. Twenty-one died early out of twenty-three. Colts 

 also died ; and those that lived could not be trotted 150 yards 

 without distressed breathing. Pigs confined to the sty were 

 ]K)t injured, but if allowed to roam were soon affected. The 

 milk of cows and sheep was reduced in quality and quantity, 



