The disease may assume a chronic form, characterised by a blue line around the gums, changes in the joints, albuminuria, and bodily wasting.
The lesions are those of ulcerative stomatitis, anæmia of the mucous membranes, and fatty degeneration of the epithelium. In the chronic form the kidneys are atrophied.
Treatment consists in giving substances which form insoluble compounds with lead. It comprises the administration of dilute sulphuric acid, solutions of sodium sulphate or magnesia, milk, eggs, and iodide of potassium.
COPPER POISONING.
This is a rare form of poisoning. It may follow ingestion of food stored in copper vessels, licking of ointments containing copper salts, or ingestion of vine leaves, or leaves of other plants which have been sprayed with sulphate or acetate of copper to prevent “mildew.”
The symptoms comprise vomiting of green-coloured material, colic, diarrhœa, muscular weakness, and convulsions. The urine contains dissolved albumen and hæmoglobin.
The lesions are those of acute enteritis and dilatation of the stomach. The essential lesion consists in decomposition of the blood with the formation of methæmoglobin. Nephritis and granular degeneration of the muscles form secondary symptoms.
Treatment consists in administering raw eggs, albumen, milk, mucilage, flowers of sulphur, or calcined magnesia.
CARBOLIC ACID POISONING.
Carbolic acid poisoning sometimes follows the use of carbolic acid solutions in the form of injections, enemas, or baths.