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Scientific Proceedings (100). 



from a catarrhal inflammation to large areas of eschar formation 

 with resulting gastric ulcer, perforation, etc. The symptoma- 

 tology of the mildest lesions is covered up by that resulting from 

 the more severe burns elsewhere; the more severe ones will produce 

 marked symptoms referable to the stomach and intestines. 



2. General Action: Susceptibility. — There exists a racial (whites 

 more susceptible than negroes) and an individual susceptibility 

 to the action of dichlorethylsulphide, particularly in the case of 

 the skin and probably also of the respiratory tract. The indi- 

 vidual susceptibility, in some cases at least, is associated with the 

 characteristic stigmata and symptomatology of the thymicolym- 

 phatic constitution. Acquired susceptibility is not specific. 

 Animals show also generic and individual differences in sensitivity 

 to mustard gas. 



Systemic Action. — There is no evidence of any systemic poison- 

 ing by the absorption of dichlorethylsulphide from the skin, eyes 

 or mucous membranes of the respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts. 

 There is no metastatic action of the gas from the site of local 

 external application. 



Shock. — In all severe cases of mustard gas burns of skin, eyes, 

 or mucous membranes there is usually the clinical picture of severe 

 shock, in the form of intense pallor, depression of pulse and 

 temperature, general collapse, nausea and vomiting. The mildest 

 cases show no systemic reaction. 



Blood and Urine. — No changes are observable in the blood or 

 urine of mild cases. In cases with large infected burns of skin 

 or respiratory tract, the blood presents a mild secondary anemia 

 with leucocytosis; we have never observed leucopenia; the 

 blood urea is increased; the urine is diminished, concentrated, 

 and contains casts and albumin. Under forced fluids the urinary 

 symptoms improve, and the blood urea diminishes. In severe 

 infected cases the general picture may be that of a severe toxemia. 



Intravenous and Subcutaneous Injection. — When injected intra- 

 venously or subcutaneously dichlorethylsulphide is an active 

 poison, causing death in one to four hours intravenously and two 

 hours to three weeks after subcutaneous injections (for rabbits 

 intravenous injections of .0075 c - c - P er kilo may be lethal within 

 four hours), according to size of dose, individual animal, etc. 



