Muriate of Iron
Better known as the Tincture of Sesquichloride of Iron, or the Tinctura Ferri Perchloridi.—The tincture acts as a corrosive and irritant poison, death having followed in five weeks after an ounce and a half had been swallowed. It is sometimes used as an abortifacient. Recovery has, however, taken place after three ounces had been swallowed. The symptoms present in most cases observed were those of a corrosive and irritant.
Chemical Analysis.—(1) The addition of nitrate of silver, causing a white precipitate insoluble in nitric acid, points to the presence of chlorine. (2) The peroxide of iron, indicated by the formation of Prussian blue on adding a solution of the ferrocyanide of potassium.
BISMUTH
The preparations of this metal act as irritant poisons, death having occurred from a dose of two drachms of the sub-nitrate. Dr. Trail (Outlines of Medical Jurisprudence, p. 116) mentions the ease of a patient of his who took six drachms in three days in divided doses. The symptoms were vomiting, extreme pain in the abdomen and throat, a weak, feeble pulse, and much anxiety about the præcordia. Recovery took place. A case of severe vomiting during pregnancy, ending fatally, was mistaken for arsenic poisoning. The error arose from mistaking a greyish powder on the walls of the stomach for arsenic. It turned out on further inquiry that it was bismuth, given medicinally to prevent the vomiting. Bismuth carbonate mixed with gruel or bread and milk is given in large quantities for the purposes of radiography of the alimentary canal without any untoward effects.
POTASSIUM
Nitrate of Potash
This substance is well known as nitre, saltpetre, and sal prunella. In large doses it acts as an irritant, and cases are recorded in which it has been used to poison children. In one case, the presence of crystals of the salt in some of the dried vomited matter on the child‘s shoe, led to an explanation of the cause of death.
Symptoms.—Those of a pure irritant, to which death must be referred, and not to any constitutional action of the drug. The nervous symptoms, which are sometimes very marked, are, as is well known, common to the action of many pure irritants. In some cases there is suppression of urine.
Post-mortem Appearances.—Those produced by irritants generally.