Liver.—The hepatic cells show varied degeneration; the vessels passing between the cells are engorged with blood, the cells being frequently much distorted from their general arrangement, and here and there completely obliterated by small areas of exudation as well as actual hæmorrhages.
Spleen.—The parenchyma shows masses of irregular spaces filled with recently-shed blood; the individual cells show a granular degeneration, with occasional basophile staining, the general appearance being one of chronic congestion. Here and there cloudy swelling may be seen.
Intestine.—Sections across the small intestine show atrophy of the intestinal wall, slight degeneration of the muscular coats, with infiltration and minute hæmorrhages.
Large Intestine.—Here similar minute hæmorrhages are found, in no case large enough to be seen by the naked eye. Areas of necrotic tissue are also seen in which considerable quantities of lead sulphide particles are found.
PLATE I
Fig. 1.—Section of Large Intestine of Animal poisoned by Inhalation of White Lead, showing Excretion of Lead by Tissues. (Stained Eosin and Hæmatoxylin.) × 250.
The whole of the large intestine was stained black, the staining commencing at the ileo-cæcal valve. No staining is observable in the small intestine; the line of demarcation is sharp.
Fig. 2.—Intestinal Ulceration in Turpentine Poisoning. (Stained Eosin and Hæmatoxylin.) × 250.