CHEONIC .M.BItettltIAL POISONIN(;.— When the metal is inhaled in the form of a vapor, the nervous system is most apt to suffer, and paralysis is a frecluent sequel. The palsy may, after long ex .•,,r, t.i.ine on suddenly or slowly; t. re s ilrt of general tremor and un-tentliness in all movements, th.-se involved in locomotion, tht skin becomes dark yellow or it. Mtntal debility may appear, the r. t r of an early demise. The mani t*. oftt.n simulate chorea and pa :tans. The disease may assuine 1,-i .11,i special forms. certain parts being involv,d than others. In some --.-drop is a marked feature, in others t iray be a brachial or crural mono etc. The special senses are often t..; and disorders of sensation are fr.. thinly observed. Neuralgia is a r in.ntnt feature of these cases.
Case of typical polyneuritis following a rolonged course of inunction of mer cury in the treatment of an attack of philis. Leyden (Deut. med. Woch., Aug. 3, '93,.
Three cases of pronounced multiple uritis from the therapeutic use of mer ury. Recovery occurred in all. Spill mann and Etienne (Res-. de -MM., Dee. 10, '95 .
MEncURIAL CACHEXIA..—This condi t. in nsembles scurvy and may result fr. in profes.sional exposure to the effects i.t nit.rcurv or as a sequence of treatment. 11,cre is marked anmia and loss of alopecia, general loss of power and cl the local manifestations of mercurial 7, f breath, diarthcea, and a ay. color of the skin. There is, besides, r ain in the bones and joints, sug z...--.ing rheumatism.
Poisoning of Mercury.—Whatever be :.rci aratiriin of mercury ingested in is n .us antities, the symptoms areL:milar, the only difference worth r • .ing being the rapidity of onset. The r .:cr.ty of accidental cases met with are -i.ily instances of bichloride poisoning. If thr. clr.se taken is larpie and concen `reed, there is nausea, vomiting, faint ness, impaired locomotion, and severe pain in the throat and chest. There is violent diarrhcea, cramps; at first the urine is freely voided; later on anuria occurs. The lips, tongue, and pharynx may be tuinefied, and dysphagia be so marked as to prevent swallowing of rem edies. After several hours the breath
becomes excessively fcetid, great saliva tion occurs, and ulcers appear on the inner aspect of the lips and cheeks, and sometimes the tongue. The gums be come spongy. Gradually the local toms become more marked and. the pa tient dies. A fatal ending rarely occurs the same day.
Case in which a woman was poisoned through drinking, at one draught, a tumblerful of tepid water, in which a 5 - per - cent. sublimate pastille had been dissolved. Immediately after drink ing this she felt nausea, faintness, and weakness in the knees, so that she could not even crawl into bed. Directly she was placed in bed violent choking sensa tions set in and she vomited bile-stained mucus. One hour and a half after the poison was swallowed the symptoms mentioned bad become aggravated. Gen eral trembling movements, especially marked in the upper part of the body, were present. The patient could not speak, but by signs expressed that she felt severe pains in the region of the stomach and pharynx and heaviness in the head. The pulse was rapid and soft, the temperature subnormal. the pupils contracted. She had taken a quart of milk, but found great difficulty in swal lowing it. The whites of 3 eggs were given at once, morphine, and, later on, oil of camphor, being injected subcutane ously. The doses of albumin were con tinued every half-hour during the day. Temporary suppression of urine was noted, but the kidneys acted within twenty-four hours; tea and black coffee favored diuresis, but these fluids were usually vomited shortly after they were swallow-ed. The symptoms were very grave for several days. The vomiting ceased gradually; profuse salivation and ulcerative stomatitis set in on the third day, with bloody and slimy motions and scanty secretion of urine. Albumin and, occasionally, blood were detected in the urine. It was a fortnight before the pa tient was able to stand. She had become extremely emaciated, lost a great quan tity of hair, and noted that her sight failed her. In about a month the patient was convalescent. Eisenhart (Centralb. f. Gynfik., Dec. 13, '90).