Account of a case of poisoning with corrosive sublimate / [Alexander Wood].
- Wood, Alexander
- Date:
- [1839]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Account of a case of poisoning with corrosive sublimate / [Alexander Wood]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![and irregularly rough on its surface. This appearance increased on proceeding downwards, becoming very marked towards the commencement of the rectum. At some parts blood was seen effused into the submucous cellular tissue, forming little hemor¬ rhoidal-looking excrescences. Towards the rectum the number of these diminished. Chest.—The large veins contained some coagulated blood. The heart and valves were healthy. The lungs were spongy throughout. On making a section of the posterior part of either lung, a considerable quantity of frothy serum escaped. By 'din.——Considerable effusion had taken place into the suba¬ rachnoid cellular tissue, stretching the arachnoid membrane across the convolutions of the upper surface of the brain. The lateral ventricles contained rather more serum than natural. The substance of the brain was of its usual consistence. Salivary Apparatus.—The parotid and submaxillary glands differed but slightly from their natural appearance, seeming only a little softer. The pancreas was natural in appearance and con¬ sistence. Urinary Apparatus.—The kidnies contained a slight deposi¬ tion of yellow granular matter, but no traces of inflammation were observable. The bladder was quite healthy. The patient laboured under phimosis ; but no examination was made to ascertain whether or not a sore existed on the penis. We cannot suppose, that, after the perusal of the above case, any doubt can exist as to corrosive sublimate having been the powder swallowed, so accurately do the symptoms correspond with those detailed by the best toxicologists, as resulting from the ac¬ tion of this powerful mineral salt. The symptoms of irritation in the oesophagus commenced dur¬ ing the very act of swallowing,-—a circumstance which is dwelt up¬ on by Dr Christison as one, by which poisoning by this substance may be distinguished from that resulting from arsenic.* This was observed particularly in the case of Mrs Hodgson, related in a former number of this Journal, who, immediately on taking the bolus in which the poison was contained, was attacked with a sense of violent burning in the throat, gullet, and stomach ;*f* and in a case related by Mr Blacklock, whose patient “ had scarcely got the drug down, when he began to retch, and to complain of con¬ striction in his throat, accompanied with a burning sensation, and difficulty of swallowing.”:]: And in a case recorded by MM. Du- monceau and Planchon, “ the patient experienced the caustic ef¬ fects of the poison the moment he bad swallowed it.” § * Christison on Poisons, p, 35. -j* Vol. xxii. 433. Edin. Med. Journal, xxxvi. 92. § Journal de Medecine, xlix. p. 36.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30379167_0003.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
