anomalies and curiosities of medicine-第124部分

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ning　following　the　application　of　extract　of　belladonna　to　the　scrotum。　Davison　reports　poisoning　by　the　application　of　belladonna　liniment。　Jenner　and　Lyman　also　record　belladonna　poisoning　from　external　applications。

Rosenthal　reports　a　rare　case　of　poisoning　in　a　child　eighteen　months　old　who　had　swallowed　about　a　teaspoonful　of　benzin。　Fifteen　minutes　later　the　child　became　unconscious。　The　stomach…contents；　which　were　promptly　removed；　contained　flakes　of　bloody　mucus。　At　the　end　of　an　hour　the　radial　pulse　was　scarcely　perceptible；　respiration　was　somewhat　increased　in　frequency　and　accompanied　with　a　rasping　sound。　The　breath　smelt　of　benzin。　The　child　lay　in　quiet　narcosis；　occasionally　throwing　itself　about　as　if　in　pain。　The　pulse　gradually　improved；　profuse　perspiration　occurred；　and　normal　sleep　intervened。　Six　hours　after　the　poisoning　the　child　was　still　stupefied。　The　urine　was　free　from　albumin　and　sugar；　and　the　next　morning　the　little　one　had　perfectly　recovered。

There　is　an　instance　mentioned　of　a　robust　youth　of　twenty　who　by　a　mistake　took　a　half　ounce　of　cantharides。　He　was　almost　immediately　seized　with　violent　heat　in　the　throat　and　stomach；　pain　in　the　head；　and　intense　burning　on　urination。　These　symptoms　progressively　increased；　were　followed　by　intense　sickness　and　almost　continual　vomiting。　In　the　evening　he　passed　great　quantities　of　blood　from　the　urethra　with　excessive　pain　in　the　urinary　tract。　On　the　third　day　all　the　symptoms　were　less　violent　and　the　vomiting　had　ceased。　Recovery　was　complete　on　the　fifteenth　day。

Digitalis　has　been　frequently　observed　to　produce　dizziness；　fainting；　disturbances　of　vision；　vomiting；　diarrhea；　weakness　of　the　pulse；　and　depression　of　temperature。　These　phenomena；　however；　are　generally　noticed　after　continued　administration　in　repeated　doses；　the　result　being　doubtless　due　to　cumulative　action　caused　by　abnormally　slow　elimination　by　the　kidneys。　Traube　observed　the　presence　of　skin…affection　after　the　use　of　digitalis　in　a　case　of　pericarditis。　Tardieu　has　seen　a　fluid…dram　of　the　tincture　of　digitalis　cause　alarming　symptoms　in　a　young　woman　who　was　pregnant。　He　also　quotes　cases　of　death　on　the　tenth　day　from　ingestion　of　20　grains　of　the　extract；　and　on　the　fifth　day　from　21　grams　of　the　infusion。　Kohuhorn　mentions　a　death　from　what　might　be　called　chronic　digitalis　poisoning。

There　is　a　deleterious　practice　of　some　of　the　Irish　peasantry　connected　with　their　belief　in　fairies；　which　consists　of　giving　a　cachetic　or　rachitic　child　large　doses　of　a　preparation　of　fox…glove　（Irishluss…more；　or　great　herb）；　to　drive　out　or　kill　the　fairy　in　the　child。　It　was　supposed　to　kill　an　unhallowed　child　and　cure　a　hallowed　one。　In　the　Hebrides；　likewise；　there　were　many　cases　of　similar　poisoning。

Epidemics　of　ergotism　have　been　recorded　from　time　to　time　since　the　days　of　Galen；　and　were　due　to　poverty；　wretchedness；　and　famine；　resulting　in　the　feeding　upon　ergotized　bread。　According　to　Wood；　gangrenous　ergotism；　or　〃Ignis　Sacer〃　of　the　Middle　Ages；　killed　40；000　persons　in　Southwestern　France　in　922　A。　D。；　and　in　1128…29；　in　Paris　alone；　14；000　persons　perished　from　this　malady。　It　is　described　as　commencing　with　itchings　and　formications　in　the　feet；　severe　pain　in　the　back；　contractions　in　the　muscles；　nausea；　giddiness；　apathy；　with　abortion　in　pregnant　women；　in　suckling　women　drying　of　milk；　and　in　maidens　with　amenorrhea。　After　some　time；　deep；　heavy　aching　in　the　limbs；　intense　feeling　of　coldness；　with　real　coldness　of　the　surfaces；　profound　apathy；　and　a　sense　of　utter　weariness　develop；　then　a　dark　spot　appears　on　the　nose　or　one　of　the　extremities；　all　sensibility　is　lost　in　the　affected　part；　the　skin　assumes　a　livid　red　hue；　and　adynamic　symptoms　in　severe　cases　deepen　as　the　gangrene　spreads；　until　finally　death　ensues。　Very　generally　the　appetite　and　digestion　are　preserved　to　the　last；　and　not　rarely　there　is　a　most　ferocious　hunger。　Wood　also　mentions　a　species　of　ergotism　characterized　by　epileptic　paroxysms；　which　he　calls　〃spasmodic　ergotism。〃　Prentiss　mentions　a　brunette　of　forty…two；　under　the　influence　of　ergot；　who　exhibited　a　peculiar　depression　of　spirits　with　hysteric　phenomena；　although　deriving　much　benefit　from　the　administration　of　the　drug　from　the　hemorrhage　caused　by　uterine　fibroids。　After　taking　ergot　for　three　days　she　felt　like　crying　all　the　time；　became　irritable；　and　stayed　in　bed；　being　all　day　in　tears。　The　natural　disposition　of　the　patient　was　entirely　opposed　to　these　manifestations；　as　she　was　even…　tempered　and　exceptionally　pleasant。

In　addition　to　the　instance　of　the　fatal　ingestion　of　a　dose　of　Epsom　salts　already　quoted；　Lang　mentions　a　woman　of　thirty…five　who　took　four　ounces　of　this　purge。　She　experienced　burning　pain　in　the　stomach　and　bowels；　together　with　a　sense　of　asphyxiation。　There　was　no　purging　or　vomiting；　but　she　became　paralyzed　and　entered　a　state　of　coma；　dying　fifteen　minutes　after　ingestion。

Iodin　Preparations。The　eruptions　following　the　administration　of　small　doses　of　potassium　iodid　are　frequently　noticed；　and　at　the　same　time　large　quantities　of　albumin　have　been　seen　in　the　urine。　Potassium　iodid；　although　generally　spoken　of　as　a　poisonous　drug；　by　gradually　increasing　the　dose　can　be　given　in　such　enormous　quantities　as　to　be　almost　beyond　the　bounds　of　credence；　several　drams　being　given　at　a　dose。　On　the　other　hand；　eight　grains　have　produced　alarming　symptoms。　In　the　extensive　use　of　iodoform　as　a　dressing　instances　of　untoward　effects；　and　even　fatal　ones；　have　been　noticed；　the　majority　of　them　being　due　to　careless　and　injudicious　application。　In　a　French　journal　there　is　mentioned　the　history　of　a　man　of　twenty…five；　suspected　of　urethral　ulceration；　who　submitted　to　the　local　application　of　one　gram　of　iodoform。　Deep　narcosis　and　anesthesia　were　induced；　and　two　hours　after　awakening　his　breath　smelled　strongly　of　iodoform。　There　are　two　similar　instances　recorded　in　England。　

Pope　mentions　two　fatal　cases　of　lead…poisoning　from　diachylon　plaster；　self…administered　for　the　purpose　of　producing　abortion。　Lead　water…pipes；　the　use　of　cosmetics　and　hair…dyes；　coloring　matter　in　confectionery　and　in　pastry；　habitual　biting　of　silk　threads；　imperfectly　burnt　pottery；　and　cooking　bread　with　painted　wood　have　been　mentioned　as　causes　of　chronic　lead…poisoning。

Mercury。Armstrong　mentions　recovery　after　ingestion　of　1　1/2　drams　of　corrosive　sublimate；　and　Lodge　speaks　of　recovery　after　a　dose　containing　100　grains　of　the　salt。　It　is　said　that　a　man　swallowed　80　grains　of　mercuric　chlorid　in　whiskey　and　water；　and　vomited　violently　about　ten　minutes　afterward。　A　mixture　of　albumin　and　milk　was　given　to　him；　and　in　about　twenty…five　minutes　a　bolus　of　gold…leaf　and　reduced　iron；　in　eight　days　he　perfectly　recovered。　Severe　and　even　fatal　poisoning　may　result　from　the　external　application　of　mercury。　Meeres　mentions　a　case　in　which　a　solution　（two　grains　to　the　fluid…ounce）　applied　to　the　head　of　a　child　of　nine　for　the　relief　of　tinea　tonsurans　caused　diarrhea；　profuse　salivation；　marked　prostration；　and　finally　death。　Washing　out　the　vagina　with　a　solution　of　corrosive　sublimate；　1：2000；　has　caused　severe　and　even　fatal　poisoning。　Bonet　mentions　death　after　the　inunction　of　a　mercurial　ointment；　and　instances　of　distressing　salivation　from　such　medication　are　quite　common。　There　are　various　dermal　affections　which　sometimes　follow　the　exhibition　of　mercury　and　assume　an　erythematous　type。　The　susceptibility　of　some　persons　to　calomel；　the　slightest　dose　causing　profuse　salivation　and　painful　oral　symptoms；　is　so　common　that　few　physicians　administer　mercury　to　their　patients　without　some　knowledge　of　their　susceptibility　to　this　drug。　Blundel　relates　a　curious　case　occurring　in　the　times　when　mercury　was　given　in　great　quantities；　in　which　to　relieve　obstinate　constipation　a　half　ounce　of　crude　mercury　was　administered　and　repeated　in　twelve　hours。　Scores　of　globules　of　mercury　soon　appeared　over　a　vesicated　surface；　the　result　of　a　previous　blister　applied　to　the　epigastric　region。　Blundel；　not　satisfied　with　the　actuality　of　the　phenomena；　submitted　his　case　to　Dr。　Lister；　who；　after　careful　examination；　pronounced　the　globules　metallic。

Oils。Mauvezin　tells　of　the　ingestion　of　three　drams　of　croton　oil　by　a　child　of　six；　followed　by　vomiting　and　rapid　recovery。　There　was　no　diarrhea　in　this　case。　Wood　quotes　Cowan　in　mentioning　the　case　of　a　child　of　four；　who　in　two　days　recovered　from　a　teaspoonful　of　croton　oil　taken　on　a　full　stomach。　Adams　saw　recovery　in　an　adult　after　ingestion　of　the　same　amount。　There　is　recorded　an　instance　of　a　woman　who　took　about　an　ounce；　and；　emesis　being　produced　three…quarters　of　an　hour　afterward　by　mustard；　she　finally　recovered。　There　is　a　record　in　which　so　small　a　dose　as　three　minims　is　supposed　to　have　killed　a　child　of　thirteen　months。〃　According　to　Wood；　Giacomini　mentions　a　case　in　which　24　grains　of　the　drug　proved　fatal　in　as　many　hours。

Castor　oil　is　usually　considered　a　harmless　drug；　but　the　castor　bean；　from　which　it　is　derived；　contains　a　poisonous　acrid　principle；　three　such　beans　having　sufficed　to　produce　death　in　a　man。　Doubtless　some　of　the　instances　in　which　castor　oil　has　produced　symptoms　similar　to　cholera　are　the　results　of　the　administration　of　contaminated　oil。

The　untoward　effects　of　opium　and　its　derivatives　are　quite　numerous　Gaubius　treated　an　old　woman　in　whom；　after　three　days；　a　single　grain　of　opium　produced　a　general　desquamation　of　the　epidermis；　this　peculiarity　was　not　accidental；　as　it　was　verified　on　several　other　occasions。　Hargens　speaks　of　a　woman　in　whom　the　slightest　bit　of　opium　in　any　form　produced　considerable　salivation。　Gastric　disturbances　are　quite　common；　severe　vomiting　being　produced　by　minimum　doses；　not　infrequently；　intense　mental　confusion；　vertigo；　and　headache；　lasting　hours　and　even　days；　sometimes　referable　to　the　frontal　region　and　sometimes　to　the　occipital；　are　seen　in　certain　nervous　individuals　after　a　dose　of　from　1/4　to　5/6　gr。　of　opium。　These　symptoms　were　familiar　to　the　ancient　physicians；　and；　according　to　Lewin；　Tralles　reports　an　observation　with　reference