CASE  OF  BROMINE  POISONING. 
333 
ON  A  CASE  OF  BROMINE  POISONING. 
By  Samuel  P.  Duffield,  Ph.  D. 
On  the  10th  of  March  I  ordered  C.  W.,  an  employee  in  the 
laboratory,  to  prepare  some  bromide  of  ammonium.  The  pro- 
cess given  was  that  of  Wittstein,  which  consists  in  first  forming 
a  solution  of  bromide  of  iron,  under  water  in  a  large  glass  bal- 
loon by  the  reaction  of  bromine  upon  iron  turnings,  and  then 
decomposing  the  bromide  of  iron  by  liquor  aminonipe,  filtering 
and  evaporating  to  crystallization.  Notwithstanding  having 
cautioned  him  about  inhaling  the  vapor,  he  carelessly  poured 
rapidly,  into  the  large  glass,  three  pounds  of  bromine,  which 
evolved  vapor  to  quite  a  dangerous  extent,  and  which  he  inhaled. 
I  was  first  aware  of  the  fact  by  one  of  the  workmen  running 
to  me  and  saying  "  Carl  is  dying."  On  coming  to  the  patient 
I  found  him  perfectly  asphyxiated,  not  able  to  give  me  any  in- 
telligence as  to  what  was  the  cause,  but  on  entering  the  furnace 
room,  I  perceived  the  fumes  of  bromine,  and,  of  course,  realized 
what  the  true  state  of  affairs  was. 
The  corrosive  action  of  the  bromine  was  such  that  the  glottis 
had  closed  with  a  spasm,  and  did  not  seem  to  be  willing  to  yield. 
I  tried  ammonia  vapor,  but  as  he  could  not  breathe,  it  was  of  no 
avail.  I  drew  out  the  tongue,  and  the  air  would  fairly  whistle 
through  the  glottis,  and  then  the  spasm  would  shut  it  down  tight 
again.  For  a  few  seconds  I  was  unable  to  devise  a  plan,  but  finally 
based  my  plan  upon  the  chemical  fact  that  bromine,  like  chlorine, 
acts  by  its  absorption  of  water  from  the  tissues,  and  I  thought  if  I 
could  again  moisten  the  bronchi  that  I  might  save  him.  Having 
brought  him  near  to  a  flexible  steam  pipe  we  use  for  boiling,  I 
made  them  hold  the  mouth  open,  and  threw  the  steam  from  some 
distance,  so  as  not  to  burn  him,  into  his  mouth  and  over  his- face. 
It  had  the  effect.  The  spasm  relaxed,  and  he  was  subsequently 
treated  with  ammonia  vapor,  and  sent  home  to  keep  company 
with  the  tea-kettle.  He  assured  me  that  until  twelve  o'clock 
that  night  he  did  not  dare  leave  the  tea- kettle  for  two  minutes. 
The  subsequent  inflammatory  action  was  easily  controlled  What 
I  wish  to  particularly  call  the  attention  of  the  profession  to,  is 
the  great  value  of  steam  vapor  in  all  cases  poisoned  by  corrosive 
