POISONING BY CARBOLIC ACID.
Susceptibility of cat and other animals. Fatal dose. Effect of dilution and gastric plenitude. Concentrated is corrosive. Symptoms: Salivation, dysphagia, anorexia, thirst, emesis, colic, arched back, odor of the acid, dark, greenish brown, albuminous urine, tremors, lowered temperature, debility, stertor, stupor, coma. Lesions: Whitened corroded mucosa, inflammation, ecchymosis, dark, liquid blood, brain effusions or extravasations, nephritic congestion. Treatment: Vinegar, alcohol, emesis, demulcents, Glauber salts.
The cat is the most susceptible to this poison. For dogs, cats and rabbits from 3 to 4 drops per pound, is the minimum fatal dose. For an ordinary dog the lethal dose is ½ to 1 drachm. The horse has taken 3 ounces without fatal results, and 15 ounces in a week (Munk). Much depends on the dilution of the agent and the plenitude of the stomach. In a concentrated state it acts at once on the mucosa as a caustic abstracting the water and forming a white eschar.
Symptoms. The concentrated acid causes salivation, dysphagia, anorexia, thirst, emesis in vomiting animals, colics, arched back, retracted abdomen, odor of the acid in the breath, dark or greenish brown albuminous urine, trembling, lowered temperature, debility, stertorous breathing, clonic or tonic spasms, paralysis of the hind limbs, stupor, coma and death.
Lesions. In the mouth, throat, stomach and intestines are whitish, cauterized patches, with active inflammation beneath and around them, and ecchymosis. The blood is fluid and dark colored, extravasations or effusions on the brain or in the lateral ventricles, with pulmonary congestion and parenchymatous nephritis.
Treatment. If available, give vinegar proportionate to the amount of carbolic acid taken. Alcohol is a good substitute. Emesis should be encouraged when available. Next mucilaginous agents and bland oils to dilute the acid are required. Glauber salts may assist in neutralizing and expelling the acid.