Post-Mortem Appearances.—Inflammation of stomach and intestines, which are bluish or green in colour.
Treatment.—Encourage vomiting. Give albumin or very dilute solution of ferrocyanide of potassium.
Method of Extraction from the Stomach.—Boil the contents of the stomach in water, filter, pass hydrogen sulphide, filter, collect precipitate and boil in nitric acid, filter, dilute filtrate with water and apply tests. In the case of the solid organs, dry, incinerate, digest ash in hydrochloric acid, evaporate nearly to dryness, dilute with water, and test.
Tests.—Polished steel put into a solution containing a copper salt receives a coating of metallic copper. Ammonia gives a whitish-blue precipitate, soluble in excess. Ferrocyanide of potassium gives a rich red-brown precipitate. Sulphuretted hydrogen gives a deep brown precipitate.
XXVI.—ZINC, SILVER, BISMUTH, AND CHROMIUM
The salts of zinc requiring notice are the sulphate and chloride.
Sulphate of Zinc has been taken in mistake for Epsom salts. In large doses it causes dryness of throat, thirst, vomiting, purging, and abdominal pain.
Post-Mortem Appearances.—Those of inflammation of digestive tract.
Treatment.—Tea, decoction of oak-bark, carbonate of potassium or sodium as antidote.