Gastro- Enteritis from Caustic Alkalies. 265 



"blood in the vessels is of a dark red, coagulates imperfectly and 

 ithe blood globules are dissolved changing the color to black, and 

 ithen brownish red. Prior to death there is great distress, saliva- 

 stion, inability to swallow, swollen tongue, frequent pulse and 

 irespiration, cough, spasms, and sometimes the odor of ammonia. 

 .Retching and vomiting may be a feature in carnivora and omni- 

 'vora, and diarrhoea if the case is not promptly fatal. The urine is 

 ,not rendered alkaline. White fumes with muriatic acid indicate 

 :ammonia. 



Ammonia Carbonate gives rise to the same symptoms and 

 jlesions with the exceptions that there is less corrosion of the 



mucosa, and no pure ammonia exhales in the breath. 



Caustic Potash, Lye. I^ethal dose, 5 grs. dog iutervenous. 

 In strong solution this is one of the most potent caustics, 



which penetrates deeply into the tissues and abstracting 



water cauterizes everything with which it comes in contact. 



It therefore produces the most destructive changes on the walls 

 -of the stomach, and intestines, with violent gastro-enteritis, 

 -retching, or vomiting of alkaline matters. The congested, 

 -ashen and even black color of the tongue, and (post mortem) 

 •of the gullet, stomach and intestines, and the intense alkalinity 

 -of contents are characteristic. The blood is fluid, gelatiniform, 

 ;and blackish red. Later, erosions and contractions are common. 

 Caustic Soda is only leSs destructive than potash, and pro- 

 -duces the same general lesions and symptoms. 



The Carbonates of Potash and Soda have the same general 



properties only they act with very much less energy. Potassium 

 -can be recognized by its purple color in an alcohol or Bunsen 



flame and sodium by an intense yellow. 



Treatment. Weak acids (acetic, vinegar, citric, malic, lactic, 



boric, benzoic, salicylic) or the stronger mineral acids largely 

 .diluted. Mucilaginous solutions (flax-seed, elm bark, gruel, 

 jnallow). Anodynes (opium). 



