132 ON POISONING BY CONCENTRATED ACIDS, ETC. 
Poisoning by Nitric Acid. 
I have had occasion to observe two cases of poisoning by- 
nitric acid. 
The first in 1820, or 1821, at the hospital of La Pitie. A 
young jeweller was carried to this hospital; he had swal- 
lowed, in consequence of disappointed love, very near half an 
ounce of aqua fortis. Scarcely had he arrived, before a dose 
of calcined magnesia was administered to him. This calmed 
the symptoms, and ten days afterwards he left the institution. 
This workman for a long time remained remarkably meagre 
and emaciated. 
The second, in 1S28, or ? 29. We were informed that a 
young woman had, in consequence of disappointment, poi- 
soned herself with nitric acid. We immediately repaired to 
the patient; administered to her, almost by force, at least four 
ounces of calcined magnesia, mixed with water. The symp- 
toms were relieved, and the patient very speedily cured; 
she still lives, as but a short time since we have met with 
her. 
These facts demonstrate, in our opinion, that magnesia is 
the antidote of the acids, and ought to be employed in cases 
of poisoning by them. 
Jive the Acids absorbed in cases of Poisoning by them? 
In referring to works which have been accessible to us for 
information upon poisoning by acids, we are enabled to state, 
that when poisoning by an acid takes place, the acid is not 
absorbed, but remains upon the tissues. In fact, 1st, the ex- 
amination of the stomach and intestines taken from the dead 
body of Cuiquin, who died at Montmartre, in consequence of 
the ingestion of sulphuric acid, October 6, 1835, has evinced 
that the organs contain a very great quantity of free sulphuric 
acid, which had not been absorbed. — Rapport Judiciaire, du 
October 27, 1835. 
2d. The examination of the stomach and intestines of M. 
Dore, who died of poisoning by sulphuric acid, has shown 
that the stomach contained a great quantity of free sulphuric 
