Post-Mortem Appearances.—The blood is bright red in colour, due to the interaction of carbonic oxide with hæmoglobin. A rosy hue of the skin-surface and viscera is often noticed. Bright red patches of colour are found over the surface of the body. The spectrum of the blood is characteristic.
Treatment.—Ammonia to the nostrils, inhalation of oxygen, cold douche in moderation, artificial respiration, transfusion of blood.
Coal Gas.—Coal gas contains light carburetted hydrogen or marsh gas, olefiant gas, ammonia, sulphuretted hydrogen, carbonic acid, carbonic oxide, free hydrogen, and nitrogen. Coal gas has an offensive odour, burns with a yellowish-white flame, yielding water and carbonic acid. Cases of poisoning often due to escape of gas into the room.
Symptoms.—Headache and giddiness, foaming at mouth, vomiting, convulsions, tetanic spasms, stertorous breathing, dilated pupil. The breath smells of gas; there is profound stupor; the patient, if alive, exhales gas from the lungs when removed into a fresh room or into the air. Smell of gas in the room and in patient's breath.
Post-Mortem Appearances.—Pallor of skin and internal tissues; florid colour of neck, back, and muscles, if much CO present in the coal gas; fluid florid blood; infiltration of lungs.
Treatment.—Fresh air, artificial respiration, cold affusion, diffusible stimulants; inhalation of oxygen freely.
Sulphuretted Hydrogen is characterized by its odour, like that of rotten eggs. It is extremely poisonous.
Symptoms.—Giddiness, pain and oppression in stomach, nausea, loss of power; delirium, tetanus, and convulsions.
Post-Mortem Appearances.—Fluid and black blood (sulph-hæmoglobin), smell of H2S on opening the body; loss of contractility of muscles, rapid putrefaction.
Treatment.—Fresh air, stimulants, inhalation of chlorine.