io6 



SCIENC] 



[Vol. X. No. 238 



fixed standard, since the amount of loss will depend much on the 

 particular kind of cloth, and upon the activity and habits of the 

 wearer ; and in such calculations it is to be considered that small 

 boys occur in several sizes. 



Mr. Glenn's theor)' of antidotes is in great measure correct, but 

 it must be remembered that many so-called insolubles are soluble 

 in the juices of the body. He goes on to say, " Chromic acid is a 

 very active o.xidizer. In contact with organic matter, it is quickly 

 reduced to chromic oxide (a compound insoluble in any of the 

 juices of the animal body). It is a destroyer of organic tissues, 

 therefore. The action of both normal and acid alkali chromates is 

 similar to chromic acid. They destroy organic matter by oxidizing 

 it, chromic oxide being precipitated. . . . When such dust falls 

 upon the mucous membrane, it is quickly reduced by the secretion 

 it finds there, and chromic oxide is precipitated. The membrane is 

 not attacked." 



This theory of action is not the one which is held by those who 

 consider cljromic acid and chromates true irritant poisons, and as 

 one of the latter persons I am again obliged to dissent. I cannot 

 agree with Mr. Glenn as to the general effect or the local re- 

 actions. Wharton and Stille {Medical Jurisprudence, 4th ed. vol. 

 ii.), quoting a case of poisoning by the bichromate of potassium, in 

 which, among other symptoms, suppression of urine occurred, re- 

 mark, " The suppression of the urine is probably due to inflamma- 

 tion of the kidneys produced by the chromic acid." Falck {Lekr- 

 btich der practische7i Toxikologie, 1880) quotes a case where violent 

 vomiting and intense abdominal pain occurred soon after the ap- 

 plication of chromic acid to a cancerous breast. The patient lay 

 pulseless, with cold skin and cyanotic face, constantly vomiting, 

 to all appearances like a case of Asiatic cholera. Death occurred 

 after several hours. A similar but non-fatal case is reported by 

 Bruck. 



These symptoms indicate absorption into the system, and not a 

 mere local oxidation with precipitation of a harmless oxide. The 

 symptoms in most of the reported cases of poisoning by chromic- 

 acid compounds are very similar to the above ; and these cases of 

 Mosetig and Bruck are particularly valuable in that the poison was 

 not swallowed, but absorbed from a broken surface. 



Speaking of the deaths in Philadelphia following the ingestion 

 of buns colored with chrome yellow, Mr. Glenn remarks, " No one 

 familiar with the oxidizing action of chromic-acid salts, and accus- 

 tomed to making combustions with lead chromate, would find much 

 difficulty in believing that the small quantity of lead chromate taken 

 by any one victim was reduced while in contact with organic matter 

 in the stomach and intestines, chromic oxide passing out with the 

 dejecta, and lead oxide being left to produce its cumulative effects." 

 Again I cannot agree with him, and I think he would have no 

 difficulty in finding many others who would refuse to believe that the 

 poisonous effects of lead chromate are always due to the lead alone. 

 Schuchardt says in Maschka's Handbnch, " Chromate of lead ap- 

 pears to act as a corrosive poison ; " and again, " Chromate of lead 

 appears to act more powerfully than the acetate." Wharton and 

 Stille say, " Although this substance is insoluble in water, and 

 under many circumstances in the stomach and intestinal fluids, 

 sometimes it gives rise to acute poisoning owing to its decomposi- 

 tion after it enters the body. That such a decomposition does 

 occur, and that the chromium may be absorbed, is shown by R. C. 

 Smith (Brit. Med. Journ., 1882, p. 8), who reported a case in which 

 chromic acid was detected in the urine : this was a case of pro- 

 fessional poisoning, the patient being employed in weaving yam 

 colored with chrome-yellow." I will briefly quote another case 

 bearing on this point, reported by Leopold ( Vierteljahrsschrift fiir 

 gerichtl. Medicin imd offentl. Sajiitdfswesen, Band xvii. 29). 

 Four persons engaged some days weaving blankets colored with 

 lead chromate were seized with symptoms of chronic lead-poison- 

 ing. During the work the yarn gave off so much dust, that their 

 faces and hair were quite yellow. A two-weeks-old boy was kept 

 in the same room, but was apparently protected by a covering of 

 white woollen cloth. After seven weeks the child became suddenly 

 very sick. Among other symptoms, it had several yellow diar- 

 rhoeic discharges daily, with restlessness and frequent screaming, 

 during which it dug its hands under the pillows. At first it would 

 drink, but refused food : later on, it drank with some effort, and on 



the day of its death swallowed with difficulty. The lips were dry, 

 respiration quickened, and death came slowly. On chemical e.x- 

 amination after the autopsy, lead chromate was found in the respir- 

 atory tract and aesophagus, showing that the cloth had not been a 

 sufficient protection. The rubber nipple which the child had used 

 was found to be free from chromate, most probably because the 

 dust which had adhered to it had been sucked off and swallowed. 

 Among the post-mortem appearances was a perforation of the wall 

 of the stomach. The death of this child was caused by exhaustion 

 following perforation and softening of the stomach, brought on in 

 consequence of swallowing chromate of lead. Neither the symp- 

 toms nor the post-mortem appearances could be ascribed to the in- 

 fluence of lead. Part of the chromate in the body was doubtless 

 decomposed, and perforation followed. I agree with Mr. Glenn, 

 that, " if dust from chrome-dyed yarn has any poisonous effects, 

 weavers ought to have some knowledge of it." 



Dr. Von Linstow ( Vierteljahrsschrift fiir gerichtl. Med. tt. 

 offentl. Saniidtsisjeseti, Band xxi. 60) reports two deaths occurring 

 in boys, aged respectively one and three-quarters and three and 

 one-half years, who together ate six small objects made to repre- 

 sent bees, each piece containing 0.0042 of a centigram of chromate 

 of lead. Both were seized with the same violent symptoms at the 

 same time, a few hours afterward. Among other symptoms may 

 be metioned diarrhoea, convulsions, stupor, great thirst, and difficult 

 deglutition. The younger child died on the second, the elder on 

 the fifth, day after seizure. Among other post-mortem appearances 

 observed in the elder child were destruction of the mucous mem- 

 brane of the stomach in several places, and ulceration, and perfora- 

 tion of the 'duodenum. In both cases there was fatty degeneration 

 of the liver. In the younger child there was no perforation, but the 

 mucous membrane of the stomach was marked throughout with 

 red points, and showed velvet-like, opaque swelling. The duodenal 

 mucous membrane was pale, with occasional bloody points. Would 

 anybody think of ascribing these symptoms and post-mortem ap- 

 pearances to lead oxide ? 



In conclusion, I join Mr. Glenn in the hope that investigation into 

 the subject of chrome-poisoning will not be allowed to die of neglect. 

 Charles Harrington, M.D. 



Chem. Dept. Harv. Med. Sch., Aug. 12, 



Poison Fangs and Glands of the Mosquito. 



The general arrangement of the mouth of the female mosquito 

 is well described by Dimmock on ' the mouth-parts of the Dip- 

 tera.' The under lip is a large hairy tube, 2 millimetres long, open 

 above, and serving as a sheath for the piercing- apparatus, whilst it 

 is itself terminated by two sensitive labellae, and by a central lancet- 

 like ligule. Within the structure of the sheath are a large nerve, a 

 pair of longitudinal muscles and many oblique muscles, two large 

 trachea; by which air can be admitted (so as to distend the organ 

 as in Mused), and long filiform tendons which arise at the base of 

 the sheath and support the terminal labellse. 



The piercing-apparatus is enclosed during rest in a strong-pointed 

 upper lip ilabruni) which is grooved inferiorly for their reception, 

 and which along with them is received into the sheath-like under 

 lip. Within this labrum are the two maxillae, very sharp and 

 barbed near the tip, and able to play back and forward like saws ; 

 also two mandibles, a fine styliform hypopharynx, a delicate sheath 

 for the front segment of the oesophagus, and the oesophagus itself. 

 The last-named organ is received within the head into a strong box- 

 like pharynx, which is well supplied with muscles and is a suction 

 organ. The pharynx draws in blood (and probably vegetable 

 plasm), which it transmits by the long post-pharyngeal part of the 

 oesophagus to the stomach lying in the abdomen of the insect. 



The poison-apparatus, which hitherto has been an unknown 

 quantity, is connected with the two mandibles. Each mandible has 

 a large funnel-shaped base, into which is inserted the end of a 

 poison-duct. The thickened axis of the mandible is pierced by a 

 fine canal, which opens just below the sharp apex. The structure 

 reminds one of a bee's sting, saving that it is duplicated. We can 

 by pressure drive out some of the contents and observe them issu- 

 ing at the sub-terminal orifice. It is probable that when the lancets 

 pierce an object this fang-like mechanism may, by pressing on its 

 base, automatically discharge a portion of the poison. The poison 



