TOXIC GASTRO-ENTEBITIS. 



225 



redness, inflammation, scarification, ulcerations, and gray or black- 

 ish coloration, due to the presence of metallic lead ; thickness of 

 this membrane in the chronic form; hydrocephalus and hydro- 

 rhachis ; the kidneys are atrophied. In apoplectic death no essential 

 alterations are found. Ellenberger and Hofmeister have experi- 

 mented upon sheep. They have produced a chronic diarrhea, fatty 

 degeneration of the liver, turbid tumefaction of the hepatic and 

 renal cells, diffused nephritis, and special degenerations of the renal 

 epithelium. Mayer has observed fatty degeneration of the intes- 

 tinal glands and a connective tissue proliferation in the neighbor- 

 hood of the intestinal ganglions, with degeneration of the latter 

 (cause of saturnine colics). Paralysis, amaurosis, and saturnine 

 arthralgia are also the consequences of the inflammation and of 

 hyperplasia of the connective tissue. 



Treatment. Sulphuric acid should be given (in a mucilage or 

 in drinking-water), or sulphates of soda, potash, or magnesia, with 

 the object of forming insoluble sulphate of lead. Emetics, purga- 

 tives ; white of egg, milk, mucilage. We can also use iodide of 

 potassium, which favors the elimination of the lead. Symptomatic 

 medication : morphia, chloral hydrate, for combating saturnine colics 

 and eclampsia, etc. 



Saturnism or plumbism is developed after the ingestion of lead 

 shot (ox), pieces of lead, also lead vapors or dust, and fertilizers 

 rich in this substance. This latter cause often generates enzootics 

 of saturnism which are observed in the neighborhood of lead-pro- 

 ducing establishments, and of factories where lead is used, or in 

 localities which are situated along watercourses containing this 

 substance (the Innerst in Hanover, the Bleibach, "lead river,'' in the 

 Province Rhénane, etc.). Paints containing lead salts, lead acetate, 

 sugar of lead, may also produce this poisoning. Lead exerts its 

 physiological action upon the nervous system particularly, and not 

 on the muscles. Oxen and poultry are very sensitive to it; the 

 animals resisting its effect most successfully are the horse and dog. 

 The cerebral symptoms of saturnism may induce one to suspect 

 epilepsy or meningitis. 



11. Copper Poisoning (Cuprism). 

 I. Acute poisoning. 



Symptoms. The symptoms are the same as those of gastro- 

 enteritis: vomiting of greenish matter; inappétence, colics, diarrhea. 



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