GASTRITIS. 281 



ened in substance, perhaps coated with flakes of coagulable 

 lymph j it may be in places, ulcerated ; it may be gan- 

 grenous ; it is possible it may have holes through it. The 

 cuticular portion of the stomach, though not capable of any 

 vital action in itself, is chemically acted on at times by the 

 causticity of the poison, and then exhibits black patchy eschars. 



In regard to ulceration of the stomach, that excellent 

 surgeon, Mr. Abernethy, used to observe, how curious it was, 

 though all the coats were perforated, yet did not the contents 

 escape. For, as the ulceration proceeded from within out- 

 wards, the peritoneal tunic became inflamed, and contracted 

 adhesion either with the contiguous bowel or else with the 

 walls of the abdominal cavity, by which adhesion the aperture 

 in the stomach became closed. 



The intestines likewise sufi'er from poisons. The small, 

 and, in some cases, the large guts show marks of violent 

 inflammation in various parts. When arsenic has been 

 given, the csecum and colon are not infrequently discovered 

 to be black and rotten — to be, in fact, gangrenous in places. 

 One of the best tests, however, of the presence of arsenic in 

 the bowels is the extremely ofi*ensive foctor perceptible the 

 moment the gas is let out: there is something so peculiar in 

 this disgusting odour that, once perceived, it can hardly ever 

 afterwards be forgotten. 



Treatment. — " The great object when arsenic; or indeed 

 poison of whatever kind, has been swallowed, is to dislodge 

 the poison as quickly as possible; and of all emetics, the very 

 best is sulphate of zinc, because it produces full and speedy 

 vomiting. But there are poisonous substances, such as 

 opium and its preparations, in which the nervous power of 

 the stomach is so prostrated, that the sulphate of zinc will 

 not be so available as other emetics. The stomach becomes 

 paralysed, as it were, and will not act. The flour of mustard 

 is the best emetic you can employ in such cases, in the pro- 

 portion of one tea- spoonful to a tumbler of water, repeated 

 until full vomiting. The zinc emetic, when used, also 

 requires repetition.^' 



"Are ^lere any antidotes for arsenic ? Magnesia and 



