222 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



Lesions of generalized mercurjalism. The skin and the 

 subcutaneous connective tissue are quite anemic ; the latter is the 

 seat of a serous infiltration and of bloody suffusion in the neigh- 

 borhood of the eczematous spots ; the muscles, which are pale, soft, 

 and of cooked appearance, are filled with ecchymoses and infiltrated 

 with a gelatinous serum. The blood is black, mud-like, uncoagu- 

 lated. The mucous membrane of the digestive canal is inflamed, 

 ulcerous stomatitis (not constant), there are also ecchymotic blots 

 or a diffuse redness, hemorrhagic erosions and ulcers in the stomach 

 and in the abomasum, especially upon the salient points of the 

 mucous membrane; an œdematous tumefaction is also found there; 

 the submucous connective tissue is infiltrated ; the sub-peritoneal 

 connective tissue is œdematous, and dotted with ecchymoses. The 

 liver is tumefied and anemic ; the kidneys are infiltrated, anemic, 

 and ecchymosed. 



We also find alterations of rhinitis, laryngitis, trachitis, catarrhal 

 bronchitis, and sometimes even croupous inflammation of the 

 larynx and trachea. The infiltrated lung shows hemorrhagic centres 

 on its sections, or small spots of broncho- pneumonia, or even 

 abscesses ; the bronchial and mediastinal ganglions are tumefied 

 and infiltrated. We observe sub-pleural ecchymoses, degeneration 

 of the myocardium, interstitial hemorrhages into the cardiac muscle 

 and under its two serous coverinors. The arachnoid is raised here 

 and there by discharged blood; the cerebral substance is softened^ 

 watery, and shiny ; its superficial layer contains small ecchymotic 

 points. 



Treatment. We must administer the sulphur compounds in 

 order to form insoluble sulphate of mercury : flowers of sulphur, 

 sulphate of potassium ; iron filings and sulphate of iron ; iodide of 

 potassium. Symptomatic medication appropriate to gastro-enteritis, 

 stomatitis, bronchitis, eczema, etc. 



[In the treatment of poisoning with corrosive sublimate Ortila 

 recommends the free use of the whites of eggs beaten up with water. 

 The albumen forms an insoluble and comparatively innocent com- 

 pound with the corrosive sublimate. It is, however, asserted by 

 M. Lassaigne that this compound of albumen and corrosive sub- 

 limate when recently precipitated is soluble in acid and alkaline 

 liquids and in solutions of the chlorides of potassium, sodium, and 

 calcium, also in an excess of albumen, whether introduced into the 

 stomach or previously existing there. It is, therefore, important 



