228 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



Besides the caustic action it exerts upon the mucous membrane 

 and the skin, carbolic acid is also a nerve poison ; the symptoms 

 which it produces in the domestic animals prove this. In human 

 beings convulsions are almost always wanting, which is a remark- 

 able fact. 



14. Poisoning by Acetic Acid. 



Symptoms. Inappétence, colic, diarrhea, staggering gait, stupor, 

 convulsions, collapse ; acceleration of the respiration and circulation. 

 Treatment. Alkalines and stimulants. 



This intoxication is very rare ; it has only been observed after 

 ingestion of very acid malt (change of alcoholic fermentation to 

 the acetic form). 



15. Poisoning by Cantharides, 



Symptoms. Salivation, stomatitis, dysphagia, vomiting, colics, 

 dysentery, tenesmus ; frequent micturition, strangury ; blood, al- 

 bumin, and cylindrical epithelial cells in the urine ; genital excita- 

 tion, redness of the vaginal mucous membrane. General weakness, 

 convulsions, falls. Accelerated pulse, which is light, evasive, 

 almost imperceptible. Also conjunctivitis, but in some cases only. 



Autopsy. The lesions of stomatitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, 

 acute gastro-enteritis, nephritis, and cystitis are found. 



Treatment. Mucilaginous drinks and opium are advisable, in 

 order to counteract gastro-enteritis. Stimulants — camphor is to be 

 preferred to all others. Oily preparations should be proscribed. 



Frictions that are too extended or concentrated, too large doses 

 used as an aphrodisiac, and ingestion of cantharides with the food, 

 form the principal causes of this intoxication. Fatal dose for the 

 ox and the horse, 25 to 35 grammes; for the dog, 0.5 to 1 gramme. 

 Whether poisoning is the result of cutaneous absorption, or ingestion 

 of the cantharides, nephritis or gastro-enteritis predominates in the 

 morbid changes. In experiments made upon the horse by Fried- 

 berger, 50 grammes of cantharides ointment applied upon the skin 

 had no toxic effect, while 250 grammes of powder, administered 

 internally, produced symptoms of intoxication within four hours. 



16. Poisoning by Croton Oil. 



Symptoms. Subacute gastro-enteritis with choleraic diarrhea; 

 general weakness, exhaustion, evasive pulse. Death in one, two, 

 or three days. 



