On Deformity of the Chest in Children.

Abstract

37 some metals, should be selected for either suicidal or homicidal purposes; the facility with which it can be procured, however, leads to the occasional use of it for both purposes, although far more seldom for homicidal than for suicidal purposes.According to a Parliamentary Report for the years 1837-8, the persons poisoned by sulphuric acid were thirty; by diluted sulphuric acid, one; total, thirty-one. In ten of these it was taken by adults, the verdicts with regard to which, in three instances, are not recorded; but in all the remaining seven, it was taken suicidally. The majority of poisonings by sulphuric acid, however, occurred in children. Of the total number, thirty-one, there were twenty-one children; with regard to one of these, no verdict is recorded, but the remaining twenty Coustitute a melancholy catalogue of carelessnesses of an extremely culpable kind, in all of which, the verdicts record that the deaths were caused by accidents and mistakes. In eight, the nature of the accident is not stated. In six, it was given by mothers or nurses in mistake for medicines-viz., to I four, it was given in mistake for Godfrey's Cordial; to one, for castor oil; and to one, for syrup of rhubarb. In the remaining six cases, it was left in places accessible to the children, three of whom took it in mistake for ginger beer.It is proper that you should keep in mind these various circumstances under which sulphuric acid might be taken, as well as the varied symptoms produced, in order that you may be less likely to overlook the true cause of symptoms you may have to decide upon, where, from concealment or otherwise, you are left to the suggestions of your own vigilance. A fact which I would recall to your recollection, is the comparative tranquillity, both mental and bodily, which you witnessed in our patient within two hours after the poison was swallowed: this is a condition extremely likely to mislead. lst, It is likely to prevent a suspicion of what has been taken; and 2nd, It is likely to encourage a too favourable prognosis: that condition continues, moreover, in many instances, until a very short time before death, as it did in this patient.It is not only proper to administer calcined magnesia, or other alkaline earths, or salts, but it is desirable not to trust too much to their powers as antidotes: free evacuations should be anxiously encouraged. For another reason, also, it is desirable to keep the internal surfaces well supplied with diluents, mildly alkaline. The coagulation of the mucus forming the films I have spoken of, which adhere to the surfaces where they are formed, is a process by which the acid is incorporated with the mucus, and of course cannot be removed by the evacuants, but remains adherent and corroding ; mildly alkaline diluents being in contact with these, might be absorbed, and modify their effect. With regard to promptitude in the administration of remedies, it is impossible to speak too strongly; and we cannot fail to regret that the poor woman we have lost should have been so long b...