174 INORGANIC AGENTS 



furnished with arsenical wall paper or fabrics^ or in those working in 

 arseniCj and is observed in animals living in the immediate vicinity of 

 smelters and chemical works, and in connection with drainage of sheep 

 dips on forage, or in pastures contaminated with arsenic from spraying 

 of trees. In this condition there are symptoms similar to those noted 

 above as occurring in the milder form of arsenic poisoning, together with 

 gradual loss of strength and flesh, suppression of milk, nasal ulcers, 

 local paralysis or paraplegia, and anesthesia. A slightly raised, dark red 

 or purplish band J/g to 3;% in. wide is often seen on the gums at the base 

 of the upper and lower incisor teeth of horses, the hair grows unusually 

 long, the breath has a garlicy odor and there are salivation, drooling and 

 cough, loss of appetite, and constipation with mucus coated feces, fol- 

 lowed by diarrhea (Salmon), Fatty degeneration of the liver, kidneys, 

 heart, stomach and muscles, in cases of chronic arsenical poisoning, is 

 found after death. 



The post-mortem changes observed after acute poisoning are as fol- 

 lows: Th'e gastric mucous membrane, especially the villous portion in 

 horses, is swollen, softened and covered with patches of a deep crimson 

 or dark brown color. There is rarely ulceration. The upper portion of 

 the small intestines, and in horses sometimes the whole of the intestinal 

 tract, is similarly affected with that of the stomach. There is generally 

 a wide-spread fatty degeneration of the stomach, bowels, internal organs 

 and muscles. Congestion of the trachea and lungs and hemorrhages into 

 the latter are often present. 



The treatment of acute poisoning depends mainly upon the use of 

 lavage of the stomach and the official freshly prepared arsenic antidote 

 (ferri oxidum hydratum cum magnesia) in large quantities. If this can 

 not be obtained, an antidote can be prepared by precipitating Monsel's 

 solution, or the tincture of the chloride of iron, with sodium bicarbonate 

 or ammonia. Dialyzed iron may be precipitated with an alkali. In either 

 case the precipitate should be washed in a filter of muslin and given in 

 large amounts. Magnesium oxide alone is an efficient antidote. H. & C, 

 §ss.; D., gr.xv., every 15 minutes. If vomiting has not occurred, zinc 

 sulphate should be given dogs and cats, or the stomach tube resorted to, 

 and the stomach well washed out. The after treatment is carried out with 

 castor oil, demulcents, opium and external heat. Sweet spirit of nitre is 

 to be prescribed, with considerable water, to flush out the kidneys. The 

 treatment of chronic poisoning consists in removal of the patient from 

 poisoned forage and perhaps the use of potassium iodide — which is very 

 expensive and of doubtful utility. 



Uses External. — A paste containing 1 part each of arsenous acid and 

 gum arable, with 5 parts of water, is used to destroy warts and morbid 

 growths. Arsenous acid, diluted with 5 parts of lard, may be employed 

 to slough out fistulous tracts. In any case, there is danger of poisoning 

 through absorption, if a sufficient amount of arsenic is used; but, on the 

 other hand, the danger is slight if a large enough quantity is applied to 

 cause rapid sloughing. 



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