The elements of a new materia medica and therapeutics : Based upon an entirely new collection of drug-provings and clinical experience / By E.E. Marcy, J.C. Peters & Otto Füllgraff.

  • Marcy, E. E. (Erastus Edgerton), 1815-1900.
Date:
[1850?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The elements of a new materia medica and therapeutics : Based upon an entirely new collection of drug-provings and clinical experience / By E.E. Marcy, J.C. Peters & Otto Füllgraff. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    ACIDTJM NITEICUM. NITRIC ACID. T O X IC OLOGIC AL EFFECTS. From the strong acid, the symptoms come on immediately, and the swallowing of the acid is attended by the most intense burning pain in the fauces and oesophagus, extending to the stomach; there are gaseous eructations from the chemical action of the acid; swelling of the abdomen, violent vomiting of liquid or solid matters, mixed with altered blood and shreds of mucus, having a strong acid reaction. The abdomen is generally exquisitely tender. The mucous membrane of the mouth is commonly soft and white, after a time becoming yellow, or of a brown color ; the teeth are also white, and the enamel is par- tially destroyed. There is great difficulty of speaking, as well as of swallowing; the power of swallowing is sometimes entirely lost. On opening the mouth, the tongue may be found swollen and of a citron color ; the tonsils are also swollen and enlarged. The difficulty of breathing is sometimes so great as to render tracheotomy indis- pensable, especially in young subjects. As the case proceeds, the pulse becomes small, frequent and irregular ; the surface of the body extremely cold, and there are frequent rigors. The deglutition of the smallest quantity of liquid increases the severity of the pain, and gives rise to a feeling of laceration or corrosion. There is obstinate con- stipation. Death takes place in from eighteen to twenty-four hours, and is sometimes preceded by a kind of stupor easily removed; the intellectual faculties commonly remain clear to the last. (11.) Should the patient survive the first effect of the poison, the mucous membrane of the fauces and oesophagus is discharged either in ir- regular masses, or a complete cylinder of the cesophagial lining may come away. There is great irritability of the stomach, vomiting, and destruction of the powers of digestion; the patient becomes slowly emaciated, and dies from starvation or exhaustion. Death may also be caused by inflammation and wdemaof the larynx, with consequent suffocation. (11.) CHRONIC POISONING. Case 1.—A man aged 34, swallowed a wineglassful of Nitric- acid, but the greater portion was immediately rejected by vomiting. An attack of acute gastritis followed, from which he apparently re- covered ; but about a month afterwards he had severe pain throughout the oesophagus to the epigastrium, and vomiting after taking food. He gradually sank and died in three months. Pathological Anatomy.—The pylorus was found so diminished in size, that its diameter did not exceed a line or two ; and the duodonum was equally contracted for about one and a half inch from its com- mencement. The mucous membrane was softened and red in patches;