648 POISONS : THEIR EFFECTS AND DETECTION. [§§ 825 , 826 . 
doses daily' for a long time without any bad effect, save the production 
of a slight colic. Swieten has also given daily 3-9 grms. (60 grains) 
in ten days without observing toxic effects. That, in other cases, less 
than a grain per gallon of some lead compound dissolved in drinking- 
water, or in some way introduced into the economy, causes serious 
illness, is most inexplicable. 
(b) The Basic Acetate in solution is more poisonous apparently than 
the acetate—60 c.c. (If drm.) have caused serious symptoms. 
(c) The Carbonate of Lead. —Doses of anything like 28 grms. (an 
ounce) would probably be very dangerous to an adult; the only case of 
death on record is that of a child who took some unknown quantity 
—probably, from the description of the size of the lump, about 10 grms. 
(2f drms.). 
§ 825. Antidotes and Treatment.— Soluble sulphates (especially 
magnesic sulphate) have been given largely in both acute and chronic 
cases ; in the acute, it stands to reason that it is well to ensure the 
presence of plenty of sulphates in the stomach and intestines, in order 
to form the sparingly soluble lead sulphate, should any residue remain, 
but to expect this double decomposition to go on in the blood and tissues 
is not based upon sound observation. The chronic lead-poisoning is best 
treated by removal from the source of mischief, the administration of 
large quantities of distilled water, and medicinal doses of potassic iodide. 
§ 826. Localisation of Lead.— In a dog, which was killed by chronic 
lead-poisoning, Heubel found in the bones 0-18 to 0-27 per 1000 of 
lead ; in the kidneys, 0-17 to 0-20 ; liver, -010 to 0-33 ; spinal cord, 
0-06 to 0-11 ; brain, 0-04 to 0*05 ; muscles, 0-02 to 0-04 ; in the intes¬ 
tines, traces, 0-01 to 0-02 ; in the spleen, the blood, and the bile he also 
only found traces. Ellenberger and Hofmeister found in the kidneys of 
the sheep, 0-44 to 0-47 ; liver, 0-36 to 0-65 ; pancreas, 0*54 ; salivary 
glands, 0-42 ; bile, 0-11 to 0-40 ; bones, 0-32 ; fseces, 0-22 ; spleen, 0-14 ; 
central nervous system, 0-07 to 0-18 ; blood, 0-05 to 0-12 ; flesh, 0 05 
to 0-08 ; urine, 0-06 to 0-08 ; and in the unstriped muscles and the 
lungs, 0-03 per 1000 of lead. 
Without going so far as to say that lead is a natural constituent of 
the body, it is certain that it may be frequently met with in persons 
who have been apparently perfectly healthy, and quite free from all 
symptoms of lead-poisoning. Legrip found in the liver and spleen of a 
healthy person, 5-4 mgrms. of lead oxide in every kilogramme ; Oidtmann, 
in the liver of a man 56 years of age, 1 mgrm. of lead oxide per 
kilogramme, and in the spleen 3 mgrms. per kilogramme. G. Meillere 1 
has also found traces of lead in a majority of subjects examined. Hence 
the analyst, in searching for poison, must be very careful in his con¬ 
clusions. Grave and serious errors may also arise from complications ; 
1 Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol., 1903. 
