GASEOUS POISONS These include the following : Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.—This occurs from coal gas, water gas or exposure to the suffocating fumes from fires, smoky grates, stoves, or lamps; also from the fumes from geysers.
The diagnosis may be made at once by the clinical symptoms of drowsiness, collapse and coma, and the cherry-red colour of the face and mucous membranes. The examination of the blood will make the diagnosis certain, since the presence of carbon mon oxide haemoglobin may be readily detected by the spectroscope.
The treatment consists in giving oxygen freely, and employing artificial respiration if necessary. Strychnine and digitalin should be given hypodermically, also brandy by the mouth, and warm saline either subcutaneously or by the bowel may be given. For heart failure pituitary extract may be given hypodermically.
Carbon Dioxide Poisoning, or Carbonic Acid Poisoning.—This occurs in coal mines from choke-damp or after-damp. Cellars of houses, wells, brewers' vats, lime-kilns, etc., frequently contain
large quantities of carbonic acid gas.
The treatment consists in fresh air, rest, oxygen, artificial respi ration if necessary, and the employment of warmth and stimulants.
Sulphuretted Hydrogen Poisoning.—This occurs from contami nation of the air with sewer gas, and from the gases evolved when iron slag becomes moistened with water. The gas is frequently produced in various chemical processes.
The treatment consists in giving the patient plenty of fresh air. Oxygen and stimulant treatment must be used.
Chlorine.—This, even in minute proportion in the air, acts as a powerful irritant to the lungs, and causes an acute bronchial catarrh, and pulmonary congestion which may be followed by broncho-pneumonia and other serious complications. Intense cyanosis and dyspnoea occur quickly, and severe spasm of the glottis occurs often associated with some oedema.