LEAD POISONING. 475 



and cheese made from the former had less fat in it. I found 

 in the milk of both minute traces of lead. The dead subjects 

 showed the mucous surfaces to be paler than natural The lungs 

 had large portions of a dark red colour, with circumscribed edges, 

 not like ordinary inflammation, but evidently surcharged with 

 fluid. There was a blue line seen in the gum of the lower 

 jaw, which Dr. Taylor said in court was not caused by lead 

 poison, as it did not occur, as in the human subject, on the 

 upper edge of the gum, but where the gums first come into 

 contact with the teeth, about three-sixteenths of an inch below 

 the top edge. I therefore dissected out this line, which was 

 about three-quarters of an inch in length, and the thickness of 

 sewing cotton ; and by aid of carbonate of soda and the blow- 

 pipe reduced a spangle of lead from it, quite visible to the jury 

 without the aid of the microscope." 



I am not aware that there are any cases on record of animals 

 poisoned by water conveyed in leaden pipes ; such a thing is 

 not, however, impossible, and where other sources of lead are 

 non-apparent, it will be advisable to search into this. 



Treatment. — In the rapidly developed form of lead poisoning 

 from the accidental ingestion of lead paint, bullet spray, &c., the 

 treatment must be directed to prevent the solution of the lead 

 in the stomach and intestinal canal, by administering such 

 agents as enter into combination with lead, forming insoluble 

 combinations. For this purpose the bowels are to be acted 

 upon by a solution of sulphate of magnesia, to which sulphur 

 and sulphuric acid have been added. By this means the lead 

 in the intestines is converted into an insoluble sulphate and 

 sulphide. If pain be present, opium or hyoscyamus is to be 

 added to the purgative. The acid is to be continued for some 

 time, as it is only by keeping the digestive apparatus charged 

 with it that the solution of the lead by the gastric juices can be 

 prevented, for the thin crust of sulphate,- which probably forms 

 on the surface of the portions of lead, may be thrown of, and 

 the metal, or its oxide or carbonate, as the case may be, again 

 exposed to the action of the gastric juices. 



In addition to the purgative and acid, diluents are to be freely 

 administered, and purgation actively kept up for some days. It 

 is also necessary to keep up a copious discharge of urine, witli 

 the view of eliminating the absorbed lead from the body. 



