SULPHURIC A ciD. This is unfortunately too common a poi,on, being often swallowed from design, or taken inadvertently. From being so much used in many ma nufactures and arts, it is always within reach of the peo ple. It is by no means an uncommon expedient among suicides, extraordinary as it may appear ; and it has also frequently been taken accidentally by children and others.
The symptoms which it produces are, an austere styptic taste, with a burning heat through the oesophagus and stomach, pain in the throat, an insufferable smell, with insupportably fetid breath, black vomitings, constipation, or bloody diarrhoea, colic pains, and tenderness of the ab domen, dyspncea, anxiety, a small hurried pulse, with a sense of coldness in the skin, restlessness, oppressed re spiration, spasms, and sometimes a pustular eruption all over the body. The mouth and throat are always inflam ed, and generally ulcerated.
Inflammations and gangrene of the throat and ali mentary canal in general, arc the common appearances after death.
Treatment of the patient. Pure magnesia proves the best counterpoison in this case ; but unless it is adminis tered very early it is inefficacious, as it cannot counteract that inflammation and destruction of parts which has al ready been determined. it should be given as soon as possible, diluted in abundance of water. Should it not be at band, alkalies, or even soap and water, may be gi ven. Every thing here depends on promptitude and ac tivity, as there is no time to lose. Supposing the poi son to be thus neutralized, the local injuries must be treated in the same way as if they had arisen from any other causes, by proper .surgical and medical remedies and applications.
We must remark here, in closing this account of the sulphuric acid, that its external application has been known to produce death.