CARBON BISULPHIDE
This substance is largely used in certain industries, as it dissolves oils, fats, caoutchouc, gutta percha, &c. It is very inflammable, burns with a blue flame, evolving sulphur dioxide. The odour, when this substance is impure, is very disagreeable. If taken internally, it produces an intense burning sensation in the throat, headache, and giddiness. In chronic poisoning from the vapour in manufactories where it is used, there appear to be two stages—one of excitement, and one of depression. In the former, there are more or less persistent headache, irritability of temper, tinnitus aurium, and even mania; in the latter, anæsthesia of the skin, even affecting the mucous membranes, patients complaining that their tongues feel as if tied in a cloth. Paralysis of the limbs has been noted in prolonged cases of chronic poisoning. The post-mortem appearances do not differ much from those found after death from the inhalation of chloroform. Carbon bisulphide may be separated from organic liquids by distillation, and detected by its odour, and by a black precipitate of sulphide of lead when heated with nitrate of lead and potash.