half;[1] in the former death took place in three hours only, and in addition to the symptoms remarked in the other there were convulsions and twisting of the mouth.[2] In both the pulse failed at the wrist, and a great tendency to fainting prevailed for some time before death. Dr. Geoghegan has communicated to Mr. Taylor a case where an ounce and a half taken by mistake caused severe pain in the stomach, vomiting, and death in two hours.[3]
Similar effects have been remarked in several cases which have been followed by recovery. A woman in the second month of pregnancy, immediately after taking a handful of nitre in solution, was attacked with pain in the stomach, swelling of the whole body and general pains; she then miscarried, and afterwards had the usual symptoms of gastritis and dysentery, united with great giddiness, ringing in the ears, general tremors and excessive chilliness. She seems to have made a narrow escape, as for three days the discharges by stool were profuse, and composed chiefly of blood and membranous flakes.[4] Dr. Falconer has related another instance, where also the patient's life seems to have been in great danger. The quantity taken was two ounces, and it was swallowed in half a pint of warm water by mistake instead of a laxative salt. Violent pain in the belly was immediately produced, in half an hour frequent vomiting, and in three hours a discharge of about a quart of blood from the stomach. After the administration of gruel and butter the symptoms began to subside; but they receded slowly; and even six months afterwards the man, though otherwise in good health, had frequent pain in the stomach and flatulence.[5] In the case of a female in the second month of pregnancy, described by Dr. Butter, miscarriage did not take place, although the symptoms were very violent and lasting. The quantity taken was two ounces. The symptoms were first bloody vomiting, afterwards dysentery, which continued seven days; and on the tenth day a nervous affection supervened exactly like chorea, and of two months' duration.[6] The effects of the poison in the latter period of this woman's illness tend to establish the existence of a secondary operation on the nervous system. But this kind of action is more strongly pointed out by the following cases. Three puerperal women in the Obstetric Hospital of Pavia got each an ounce of nitre by mistake for sulphate of magnesia. Two, who vomited immediately, did not suffer. The third, who retained the salt fifteen minutes, had pain in the stomach and vomiting, followed by paleness of the countenance, stiffness of the jaw, some stupor, and convulsive movements of the limbs; which symptoms continued till next day, when she gradually recovered.[7] A German physician, Dr. Geiseler, met with an instance, in which the only disorder pro-*
- ↑ Souville in Journal de Médecine, lxxiii. 19.r
- ↑ Laflize in Journ. de Méd. lxxi. 401.
- ↑ Manual of Medical Jurisprudence, 1844, 130.
- ↑ Alexander, Experimental Essays, p. 109.
- ↑ Memoirs of London Med. Society, iii. 527.
- ↑ Edin. Med. and Surg. Journ. xiv. 34.
- ↑ Annali Univers. di Medicina, 1836, iii. 333.
