When neither albumen nor gluten is at hand, milk is a convenient antidote of the same kind.
Iron filings would appear to be also a good antidote. MM. Milne-Edwards and Dumas have found that when they were administered in the dose of an ounce to animals after twelve or eighteen grains of corrosive sublimate had remained long enough in the stomach for the symptoms to begin, the animals recovered from the effects of the poison, and died only some days afterwards of the effects of tying the gullet, which operation was necessary to prevent them vomiting. The iron obviously acts by reducing the corrosive sublimate to the metallic state.[1]
Meconic acid, the peculiar acid of opium, which will be described under the head of that poison, is also probably a good antidote. Pettenkoffer correctly remarks that this acid has a great tendency to form very insoluble salts with the metallic oxides, particularly with the deutoxides, and above all when the acid is previously in union with a base which constitutes a soluble salt.[2] On this account it must be a good antidote. Pettenkoffer adds, that the precipitating action of the meconates is the reason why "the operation of corrosive sublimate on the animal body is almost entirely prevented by opium." Opium, however, cannot be safely used in such quantity as to decompose all the corrosive sublimate in a case of poisoning; for I find that an infusion of thirty-three grains is required to precipitate all which can be thrown down from a solution of five grains of the mercurial salt. I am not aware of any instances on record where poisoning with corrosive sublimate has been prevented or cured by opium given so as to decompose the salt; but a very remarkable case will be related under the head of Compound Poisoning, where the phenomena of its action were masked and altered in a singular manner. There is little doubt that the alkaline meconates must prove valuable antidotes for corrosive sublimate. At present an effectual barrier to their employment is their rarity; but they might be rendered more accessible, as a great quantity of meconate of lime, which is at present put to no use, is formed in the manufacture of muriate of morphia; and meconate of potass may easily be prepared in sufficient quantity from the meconate of lime.
It has been alleged by Dr. Buckler of Baltimore, that a mixture of gold-dust and iron-filings is an effectual antidote; but Orfila denies this statement; and the fact if true would be unimportant, on account of the improbability of the materials being ever at hand in practice.[3]
M. Mialhe suggested not long ago as an antidote the proto-sulphuret of iron prepared by decomposing sulphate of protoxide of iron by hydrosulphate of ammonia; and Orfila found that it is a perfect chemical antidote, which altogether prevents the poisonous action of corrosive sublimate, if administered to animals either before or immediately after the poison; but he further ascertained that the lapse
