An essay on medical jurisprudence / by James Webster.

  • Webster, James, 1803-1854.
Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on medical jurisprudence / by James Webster. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    55/58
    of water, of which give a tumbler full every few minutes. Endeavour to promote vomiting by tickling the fauces. If oxalic acid has been taken, chalk and water must be given, in preference. When the poison is evacuated, give diluent drinks, as gruel, milk, &c. together with injections of the same. Inflammatory symptoms are to be treated on general principles. Water alone should never be given, when sul- phuric acid has been taken, as intense heat is generated by the mixture. Dissection. The lining membrane of the mouth and oesophagus hangs loose ; the teeth are loose ; the stomach is eroded, and its texture is sometimes completely destroyed, as also the in- testines, where the acid has come in contact. Nitric acid stains every part which it touches of a yellow colour. Tests. Sulphuric acid. If this has been taken, it is known by producing great heat when mixed with water ; no fumes are emitted. By adding to it barytes, a sulphate, insoluble in nitric and muriatic acids and water, will be formed. Chalk or potash will produce an effervesence. Muriatic acid. Nitrate of silver added to it produces a very white flaky precipitate of muriate of silver, which is soluble in ammonia, &c, and a light coloured one by the ni- trate of mercury. It emits pungent fumes. Nitric acid tinges the skin of a yellow hue. When cop- per is added to it, orange coloured fumes are emitted, and it is changed blue. A nitrate is formed by the addition of potash, which deflagrates when thrown on burning coals. Oxalic acid. Lime and all its salts are precipitated by this acid, hence lime water is a good test, it produces a milky precipitate. Sulphuric acid decomposes it. It is vola- tilized by heat. Of the phosphoric acid, the tartaric acids, &c. we shall say nothing. In a former chapter, under the head of laurel water, we alluded to the prussic acid. The alkalies and their earths are also very virulent poisons, when taken into the system. Nitre, or saltpetre, has not un- frequently been taken through mistake, from its resemblance