Administered by the rectum, arsenic is thrown out by the mucous membrane of the stomach in from one-fourth to one-half hour before the beginning of the elimination by the kidneys. (Kandi doff.) Poisoning. — Acute poisoning is evi denced in from one-half to three-fourths of an hour by intense burning pain in the oesophagus and stomach, rapidly be coming general over the entire abdomen; an acrid, metallic taste; violent vomit ing and purging; excessive thirst; sup pression of the urine; collapse; convul sions or coma, and death in from five to twenty hours.
In smaller toxic doses the symptoms are less pronounced and death may not occur for six days.
In some cases profound and rapid col lapse without pain has occurred; in others rapidly developing coma, which may be mistaken for cholera. Absence of epidemic and history should eliminate the latter.
Arsenical poisoning in children attend ing a Christmas party. Symptoms finally traced to the burning of candles which were found to contain Scheele's green. (Med. Record, Mar. 30, '89.) As illustrated by the Robinson family (in which, with criminal intent, eight persons were poisoned with arsenic in five years) it is impossible to tell from the symptoms that we are dealing with a case of arsenical poisoning. Certainty can only be reached by a chemical ex amination, or proof that the poison has been taken into the system. A. F. Holt (Boston Med. and Surg. Jour., Aug. 1, '89).
Differential diagnosis between arsenical poisoning and ptomaine poisoning. In both conditions the character of the main signs is the same. The chief points of difference are that, in arsenic poisoning, swallowing may be difficult on account of pain in the throat; in ptomaine poisoning on account of paral ysis of the constrictors of the pharynx; in ptomaine poisoning the pupils are usually dilated, and the muscular pros tration is extreme, amounting, in fact, to paralysis. Harrington (Boston Med. and Surg. Jour., Dee. 14, '99).
Many cases of poisoning have been reported as a result of external appli cation of arsenic. Introduction into the vagina has also caused death.
Death of a woman, aged 53, suffering with cancer, probably from the applica tion of an arsenical plaster to the breast. A positive case also recorded as occur ring in 1883, where an arsenical plaster applied to a tumor caused death. C. A. Cameron (Brit. Med. Jour., July 20, '90).
Case of a servant-girl, 25 years old, who committed suicide by introducing white arsenic into her vagina. The quantity found in the vaginal canal amounted to nearly 0 grains; in the in ternal organs grain of arsenous acid was found. Deceased had not been preg nant. Haberda (Wiener klin. Woch.,
No. 9, Mar. 4, '97).
Although the system can easily toler ate gradually increased doses, chronic arsenical poisoning is not of infrequent occurrence from various causes.
Record of twenty-six cases of chronic arsenical poisoning from wall-paper. Es pecial attention called to the frequent occurrence of albuminuria. James Put nam (Boston Med. and Surg. Jour., Mar. 7, '89).
A case of poisoning from the use of an arsenical ointment given in the treat ment of skin disease. During four months the entire amount used was cal culated to be equivalent to 20 grains of arsenious acid. R. Krehl (Archly f. klin. Medicin, vol. iv, No. 44, 'SO).
Six cases in which jaundice was pres ent in chronic arsenical poisoning. A. Freer (Brit. Med. Jour., Aug. 1, '69).
Case of a patient, aged 50, who had for about twenty years taken V, to grain of arseniate of sodium daily. On increasing the dose he suffered from all the symptoms of arsenical poisoning. Inclination to think that the symptoms were due to a peripheral neuritis. Mathieu (Le Prog. Mad., vol. i, p. 244, '94).
Arsenic enters largely into the com position of various articles of domestic economy and was at one time a constant constituent of colored wall-paper. It is often added to common candles to give them a wax-like appearance. It is used in the binding of books, and the dust which collects on the top of the book cases in libraries often contains consid erable quantities of arsenic. It is a fre quent constituent of the outside wrapper in which cigarettes and tobaccos are sold, and it is also used in coloring carpets, advertisement cards, playing-cards, In dia-rubber balls, dolls and children's toys, artificial flowers, sweets, hat-linings, gloves, and a number of other substances. There is an impression that arsenic is a common ingredient of the "face pow ders"; although zinc, bismuth, and lead are often present, arsenic is uniformly absent. (Murrell.) A preliminary report as to the pres ence of arsenic in cigarette-wrappers: Out of seventeen series of different kinds of cigarettes and tobacco, arsenic was present in the labels of six, or more than a third. The arsenic in these eases was present, in such large quantities that no difficulty was experienced in demonstrat ing the fact. Suggestion that, as the inhalation of arsenous acid, even in minute quantities, for a considerable time produces cough, hnmoptysis, ex pectoration, and loss of flesh, which are readily mistaken for phthisis, the advan tage of accurate knowledge concerning this subject is most apparent. Murrell and Hale (Brit. Med. Jour., July 11, '96).