The post-mortem appearances are the following: The body may have a healthy appearance. Usually there are stains about the mouth, fingers, and wherever the cuticle has been reached by the acid. The inner surface of the mouth, fauces, and œsophagus, is usually white and corroded, or dark brown and shrivelled, the mucous coat being easily detached. The epiglottis and glottis are usually swollen. The gullet resembles the mouth in most respects. The outer surface of the stomach and intestines is very vascular, that of the former being sometimes corroded and occasionally perforated. The stomach is sometimes contracted, sometimes distended with gas, and contains a thick, dark brown fluid; its inner surface has a charred, blackened appearance, the mucous membrane between the rugæ being of a scarlet hue. The pylorus is mostly contracted; while the inner coat of the duodenum and small intestines presents a similar appearance, in a less degree, to that of the stomach. When perforation occurs it usually takes place posteriorly, and the edges of the rent are softened. The escaped matters may have acted on the adjacent viscera.
According to Casper, after poisoning by sulphuric acid the bodies resist putrefaction for some time, owing perhaps to the acid neutralizing the ammonia of decomposition. It may be the same with the other mineral acids.
Treatment.—Bicarbonate of soda, or calcined magnesia, or the carbonate of magnesia, should be immediately given, mixed in milk or any mucilaginous fluid; the doses being continued at short intervals, until it may be inferred that the acid is neutralized. In the absence of these remedies substitutes may be found in chalk, whiting, soap and water, or the plaster of the apartment beaten up with water. Oleaginous and mucilaginous fluids, as olive oil, linseed tea, barley water, milk gruel, &c., may be freely given, either alone, or as the vehicles of the antidote. The success of this treatment will depend upon the promptitude with which it is adopted.
The stomach pump should not be employed; the disorganized and softened state of the gullet and stomach, rendering them excessively liable to perforation.
Should the larynx be affected and the breathing impeded, tracheotomy must be at once had recourse to.
After a sufficiency of the antidote has been given the use of mucilaginous diluents must be continued for some time, and the subsequent treatment will be that for gastro-enteritis. Great benefit will be derived from the use of oily enemata.
The external parts which have been injured by the acid should be well bathed with soap and water, and treated like burns.