The preceding experiment was repeated, by injecting into the jugular vein of a moderately large dog, an ounce of fluid, derived from the maceration of putrid beef in water. The animal very soon passed extremely offensive, liquid evacuations, with much urine. The breathing became quick and deep, the pulse small and quick. Repeated efforts were made to empty the bowels. There was great depression and want of strength. At the expiration of an hour, a kind of diarrhœa or dysentery made its appearance. Liquid, bloody, and fetid evacuations, continued for an hour and a half, when the animal died.
Post-mortem appearances. Livid, brown, and black patches were found scattered over the lungs. The intestinal canal was filled with a bloody mucous secretion, resembling the matter that had been voided; its mucous membrane was of a livid colour, as in the preceding case.
Two ounces and a half of thick fetid fluid, derived from the maceration of cabbage leaves in an equal quantity of water, for two days, at a temperature of 77 Fah., were injected into the right jugular vein of a moderate sized dog. During the operation, the animal made several efforts to swallow, and soon became faint, and vomited several times. Some hours afterwards, there was great uneasiness and oppression, with recurrence of the vomiting, and continued faintness during the day. After nine hours, a most copious and very fetid evacuation took place. The discharge was as black as soot, and composed of mucus, with a little fæcal matter, and a large quantity of what appeared to be corrupted blood. Some time afterwards, there was a second evacuation of bloody mucus, exactly resembling the first. On the following day, there was much loss of strength: the animal lay upon its side, or staggered as it walked. There was great and insatiable thirst, with a small feverish pulse. But the most remarkable symptom was the occurrence, at intervals, of palpitation of the heart, accompanied by extraordinary force and sound, resembling that produced by long continued hypertrophy of that organ, in consequence of aneurism[28] of one of the large arteries. On the third and fourth days, the animal was better, but there were still great thirst, fever, and occasional rejection of fluids from the stomach. On the fifth day, the symptoms became aggravated; there was extreme weakness, a tottering gait, excessive thirst, the eyes red and filled with gum; the nostrils were stuffed, swollen, and obstructed with mucus; and the lining membrane of the mouth was tumid, and of a violet red colour. In the middle of the day, there was a liquid greyish white evacuation, resembling pus in its odour, consistence, and appearance, mixed with some clots of putrified blood. Death occurred during the following night.
Post-mortem appearances. The mucous membrane of the eyes, nose, and mouth, was red or violet, and covered by a very abundant thick mucus. The lungs were of a dark colour, with some black patches, but still crepitant. The left ventricle of the heart presented several brown stains, resembling ecchymoses, which penetrated into its tissue. Its internal surface was of the colour of lees of wine, offering a singular contrast to that of the right side, which, however, contained a hard fibrinous concretion, two drachms and a half in weight, of a light yellow colour, and resembling grease in appearance. This was of the same consistence throughout, everywhere free, with the exception of a portion of the size of a finger nail, which adhered to an irregular and apparently inflamed spot on the inner surface of the ventricle; no appearance of the injected fluid could be recognized in this clot. It was continued of the same colour and consistence into the pulmonary artery, and into the vena cava, the vena azygos, the axillary, and even the right jugular vein.
The intestinal mucous membrane, especially in the rectum, the duodenum, and a small portion of the small intestines, was of a violet red colour. It was inflamed in longitudinal stripes and in patches, which gave a mottled appearance, even to the outer surface of the intestines, before they were opened. This discolouration was not accompanied by any thickening of the tissues, nor by ulceration, and appeared rather the result of ecchymosis or hæmorrhage. The lining membrane of the rectum was principally affected, and its mucous glands were swollen and very prominent. This intestine contained puriform fluid, resembling the matter evacuated before death. The other intestines contained a very thick greyish white mucus. The mesenteric glands were inflamed, and appeared as if infiltrated with blood. The gall bladder was mottled on its surface by brown and violet patches, and contained black, thick, ropy bile, resembling melted tar.
Shewing the effects of the introduction of Mercury into an artery.
An ounce and a half of mercury, mixed with water, was injected into the left carotid artery of a sheep. The animal immediately evinced pain, and stood immoveable upon its feet. The head was held down, there was stupor and heaviness, and the eyes were protruded and widely open. The fore legs subsequently became bent, and the head inclined over the right shoulder with a kind of convulsive rigidity, which continued till death. Two hours afterwards, the animal became comatose, with some convulsive motions of the limbs, and the left eye became red and inflamed. Death took place fifty hours after the operation.
Post-mortem appearances. The left eye was found in a state of suppuration, and contained mercury. Many of the branches of the left carotid artery also contained some mercury, which had not penetrated to the capillary system. All the organs supplied with these vessels were red, swollen, and inflamed, in consequence of the presence of the foreign matter. The thyroid gland, the tongue, the cheeks, and the lips, were, however, only affected as far as the median line, leaving the opposite halves pale and in their natural condition.