POISONING BY BARIUM. 



Poisonous salts. Symptoms : spasms, peristalsis, defecation, urination, 

 restlessness, prostration, emesis, weak pulse, coma. Lesions : Moderate 

 congestion of gastro-intestinal mucosa. Treatment : alkaline sulphate, 

 anodynes, demulcents. 



The salts of barium are irritant with a special action on the 

 nervous system shown by weakened action of the heart and 

 spasms or paresis of the muscles. The chloride is used in 

 staining wool, the nitrate and chlorate in producing green colors 

 in fireworks, the oxide and carbonate in glassmaking, the chro- 

 mate by painters, and the sulphate for giving weight and body to 

 various white powders. The chloride is now largely used to 

 stimulate intestinal peristalsis in animals. 



Symptoms. Barium chloride hypodermically produces tonic 

 and clonic convulsions, increased peristalsis, discharges of urine 

 and faeces, great restlessness, muscular prostration, emesis in 

 vomiting animals, hurried, shallow respiration, weak, thready 

 pulse, asthenia, coma, and death. 



Lesions. There is congestion of the gastric and intestinal 

 mucosa, but this is rarely violent, and corrosion and ulceration 

 are almost unknown. The agent indeed seems to act more 

 energetically upon the nervous system than on the mucosa of the 

 alimentary tract. 



Treatment. This consists in giving an alkaline sulphate (sul- 

 phate of soda, potash, or magnesia), to precipitate the insoluble 

 barium sulphate, with anodynes (opium) and mucilaginous 

 agents. Or very dilute sulphuric acid may be used. 



POISONING BY IRON. 



Sulphate and chloride on empty stomach poisonous. Symptoms ; Colic, 

 emesis, rumbling, purging. Treatment : Alkaline or earthy carbonates, 

 tannic acid, albumen. Opium. 



Sulphate and chloride are the principal poisonous compounds. 

 Both are comparatively harmless even in large doses taken on a 

 full stomach, while on an empty stomach they may cause violent 

 gastro-enteritis. 

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