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ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

water, so that it chars or carbonizes the parts with which it is placed incontact. But its power of coagulating albuminous liquids, of combiningwith albumen to form a sulphate of this organic substance, and of dis-solving fibrin, as well as coagulated albumen, contribute to its energeticescharotic action on the animal tissues. The parts to which the acid isapplied become, in the first place, white; but by the more prolongedaction of the poison, they assume a brownish or blackish appearance, sothat we can thereby frequently distinguish poisoning by this from poison-ing by nitric acid; since this last-mentioned agent produces a yellowcolour when applied to the sldn. Black spots are frequently observed inthe stomachs of those who have swallowed the acid ; and in the surround-ing parts the blood is usually coagulated in the blood-vessels. Such arethe topical chemical effects of this acid. But besides these there areother phenomena of a local nature which may be denominated vital, sincethey depend on the re-action of the living parts. I refer now to theacute inflammation set up in the tissues in the immediate neighbourhoodof those destroyed.

When strong sulphuric acid has been swallowed the symptoms ofpoisoning are the following: —Alteration, or even destruction, of the soilparts about the mouth ; burning pain in the throat, stomach, and bowels;frequently alteration of the voice, from the swelling and disorganizationof the parts about the larynx; breath foetid, from the decomposed tissues ;constant and abundant vomiting of matters, which may be bloody orotherwise, but which effervesce by falling on a marble hearth; bowelsvariously affected, sometimes constipated, though usually purged, thestools being bloody. The constitutional symptoms are principally thosearising from a disordered action of the vascular system : thus the pulse isfrequent and irregular, feeble, often imperceptible; extremities cold;great feebleness, or even fainting, with cold sweats. The same constitu-tional symptoms are observed when the stomach is wounded or ruptured.One remarkable characteristic is, that the mental faculties are unaffected,even up to a few minutes before death.

Uses. — 1. Medicinal, (a.) Internal. —In febrile diseases it may beadministered, largely diluted, as a refrigerant, to diminish thirst and pre-ternatural heat; though, in most of these cases the vegetable acids areto be preferred. In the latter stage of fever (especially the kinds calledtyphoid) considerable benefit is sometimes gained by the use of a vegeta-ble bitter (as calumba or cinchona) in combination with the dilutedsulphuric acid. To assist the appetite and promote digestion, it isadministered to patients recovering from fever. To check profuse sweat-ing in pulmonary and other affections, whether phthisical or not, it issometimes a valuable agent, as I have found on many occasions. Noother remedy is so efficacious in relieving colliquative sweatings as this.In haemorrhages, as those from the nose, lungs, stomach, and uterus, it iscommonly administered as an astringent, but its efficacy is doubtful. Soalso in purpura haimorrhagica it is given with the same intention ; butthough I have several times employed it, I have not observed any evidentbenefit derived therefrom.

In those forms of lithiasis attended with phosphatic sediments in theurine, the use of the mineral acids is at times beneficial. The sulphuricis preferred to the hydrochloric acid, since it can be continued for alonger period without occasioning gastric disorder. In skin diseases,