In a case of “mass” poisoning reported by Dr. Coqueret,[741] three persons ate by mistake an unknown quantity of arsenious acid—two of them only suffered slightly, but the third severely, vomiting occurring almost immediately, and continuing with frequency until the end of the fourth day. Two hours after swallowing the poison, the patient took the hydrated oxide of iron as an antidote. On the sixth day there was stupor and a semi-delirious state, with an eruption of a pustular character compared to that of the small-pox. These symptoms continued more or less until the fifteenth day, when they diminished, and ultimately the patient recovered. In a case related by Tardieu,[742] in which a person died on the eleventh day from the effects of the poison, towards the end, as a specially marked symptom, there was noted hyperæsthesia of the inferior extremities, so that the least touch was painful.
[741] Journ. de Connaiss. Méd. Chirurg., 1839, p. 155; Tardieu, op. cit., Obs. xv. p. 482.
[742] Op. cit., Obs. xvii. p. 434.
§ 729. Absence of Symptoms.—In a few cases there have been a remarkable absence of symptoms, and this both in man and animals. Seven horses were fed with oats accidentally mixed with arseniate of soda. The first succumbed three hours after taking the poison, without having presented any symptom whatever; he fell suddenly, and in a short time expired.[743] It is related by Orfila,[744] that a woman, aged 27, expired in about twelve hours from a large dose of arsenious acid; there were the usual post-mortem appearances, but in life no sign of pain, no vomiting, and but little thirst.
[743] Bouley (Jeune), Ann. d’Hyg. et de Médico-Lég., 1834, t. xii. p. 393.
[744] Tome i. Obs. iv. p. 314.