MERCURIAL POISONING. 219 



parenchymatous organs — the liver, kidney, and heart — show fatty de- 

 generation in chronic cases. 



In prescribing arsenic, one should begin with small doses, which can 

 gradually be increased as the animal becomes accustomed to the drug. 

 Curative treatment consists in administering antidotes, such as hydrated 

 oxide of iron, sulphate of iron, and calcined magnesia. 



Haubner described a form of chronic arsenical poisoning produced 

 in the neighbourhood of blast furnaces near Freiberg. Similar forms 

 of poisoning may perhaps occur in the neighbourhood of chemical and 

 smelting works in England. 



PHOSPHORUS POISONING. 



Though the chronic form is common in men, phosphorus poisoning 

 only occurs accidentally in animals through eating phosphorus paste, 

 used as a poison for rats, or as a consequence of excessive doses given 

 medicinally. Some cases have been described by Maury. 



The symptoms comprise salivation, loss of appetite, alliaceous 

 odour of the buccal cavity, arrest of intestinal peristalsis, indigestion, 

 colic, diarrhoea, exhaustion and death in a state of coma. Albumi- 

 nuria and icterus also occur. 



The lesions are the same as those of arsenical poisoning — viz., 

 stomatitis, pharyngitis, and gastro-enteritis. The specific changes con- 

 [sist in fatty degeneration of the liver and kidneys, and the peculiar 

 odour resembling garlic exhaled by the flesh. 



Death is a consequence of deoxygenation of the blood, which appears 

 black, and when spectroscopically examined reveals only the lines of 

 reduced haemoglobin. 



Treatment. Oil and milk dissolve phosphorus and render it more 

 I easily assimilable ; they should never be administered. Large doses (up 

 to six fluid ounces) of essence of turpentine have been recommended. 

 This prevents the phosphorus absorbing oxygen at the expense of the 

 ^blood. Saline purgatives assist in eliminating the poison. 



MERCURIAL POISONING. 



Mercurial poisoning may result either from the administration of 

 medicines or from accident. Cases of the former kind follow the internal 

 use of sublimate or calomel. Doses of 2 to 2| drams of calomel, if 

 repeated for a certain time, may prove toxic in the ox. Accidental 

 [poisoning results from the use of mercurial ointment as a parasiticide 

 ^over large surfaces. Poisoning, however, rarely occurs unless the animal 

 :is able to lick the parts. Some authors have tested this point by freely 

 ^applying mercurial ointment over parts likely to absorb it readily, with- 

 |out having seen any bad effect. 



