ON  THE  VARIOUS  ANTIDOTES  FOR  COPPER. 
537 
On  the  various  antidotes  for  Copper. 
By  Dr.  L,  Schrader. 
The  results  of  his  critical  experiments  may  be  expressed  by 
the  following  : 
1.  Hydrated  magnesia  and  the  carbonates  of  the  alkalies  are 
no  antidotes  to  copper,  inasmuch  as  the  hydrated  oxide  of  copper 
is  again  dissolved  by  the  acids  of  the  stomach  and  entrails. 
Magnesia,  therefore,  may  retard  the  acute  course  of  poisoning, 
but  cannot  entirely  arrest  it. 
2.  Hydrated  sulphuret  of  iron  decomposes  the  salts  of  copper 
instantaneously,  and  sulphuret  of  copper  is  insoluble  in  the  diges- 
tive organs  ;  but  whether  the  mono-sulphuret  of  iron  could  act 
dangerously  by  the  generation  of  hydro-sulphuric  acid,  is  to  be 
settled  first  by  further  experiments.  Larger  quantities  of  it 
might,  at  least,  molest  the  stomach  and  bowels  by  its  volume  and 
state  of  aggregation. 
3.  The  reduction  of  the  oxide  of  copper  by  sugar,  under  the 
aid  of  the  temperature  of  the  human  body,  progresses  too  slowly 
to  be  of  much  value  in  acute  cases  of  poisoning  by  copper  ; 
sugar  may  be  serviceable,  when  freely  used  as  sugar-water,  by  its 
promoting  and  even  effecting  vomiting. 
4.  If  a  pharmaceutical  remedy  is  to  be  applied,  ferrocyanuret 
of  potassium  might  best  be  recommended,  because  large  doses  of 
it  do  but  little  harm ;  it  decomposes  the  salts  of  copper  im- 
mediately ;  and  the  resulting  ferrocyanuret  of  copper,  on  ac- 
count of  its  almost  insolubility,  has  hardly  any  poisonous  effect. 
5.  Albumen  and  milk  have  the  advantage  not  to  hurt  when 
taken  in  excess,  and  to  neutralize  the  poisonous  salt  of  copper  ; 
but  this  treatment  can  only  be  successful,  if  care  is  taken  to 
remove,  as  quick  as  possible,  the  newly  formed  albuminate  or 
caseate  of  copper  from  the  stomach  and  bowels.  (Deutsche 
Klinik,  1855,  No.  4.) 
Sulphite  of  Soda,  as  an  antidote  against  Mercury. 
Dr.  Astrie'  has  been  endeavoring  to  discover  a  remedy,  which 
not  only  would  heal  the  symptoms  occasioned  by  the  abuse  of  mer- 
cury, but  which  would  also  allow  of  a  continuance  of  the  mercury, 
without  a  recurrence  of  those  mercurial  symptoms.  This  peculiar 
