328 INORGANIC AGENTS 



shallow and stertorous ; the pulse is weak, irregular, and 

 usually frequent; the temperature is'lowered, and there are 

 the usual symptoms ot collapse, with insensibility, coma, 

 loss of reflex action, general paralysis, occasional convul- 

 sions and death. Sometimes hsematuria, albuminuria and 

 hsemoglobinuria have been observed. The condition resem- 

 bles apoplexy, but the mucous membrane of the mouth is 

 stained white in patches after ingestion of pure acid, dark 

 with crude acid, and the odor of the poison lingering about 

 the animal, together with the dark, green- colored urine, are 

 characteristic of phenol poisoning. The urine may be clear 

 when first voided, but becomes dark on standing. 



The absence of carbolic acid in the urine affords certain 

 eTidence that the case is not one of poisoning by this drug. 

 Post-mortem examination reveals hard, whitish or brownish 

 or black patches and sloughs upon the mucous membrane 

 of the mouth, gullet, stomach, and even the small intestines. 

 The blood is dark from asphyxia, and imperfectly coagu- 

 lated. There is occasionally futty degeneration of the liver 

 and kidneys. The odor of the acid remains not longer than 

 itwenty-four hours. 



Treatment. — Emetics are usually valueless on account of 

 the anaesthetic condition of the mucous membrane of the 

 stomach. We use, therefore the stomach pump or tube, 

 and, as antidotes, pure whisky or brandy, to avert the local 

 escharotic effect and as a stimulant. Washing the stomach 

 with 10 per cent, solution of alcohol has proven most 

 efficient. Epsom or Glauber's salts do not form in- 

 soluble sulphocarbolates in the body, and are there- 

 fore useless. For collapse, heart and respiratory fail- 

 ure, — digitalis, strychnine, atropine, ether, and brandy sub- 

 cutaneously, are to be employed, together with heat ex- 

 ternally. Mucilaginous drinks are also useful. The local 

 caustic action of carbolic acid on the skin or mucous mem- 

 branes can be prevented by the immediate application of 

 strong (96 per cent.) alcohol to these parts. Of late years 

 alcohol has also been regarded and widely given as a phy- 

 siological and chemical aiitidote in carbolic poisoning. In 



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