In poisoning by chlorine, the inhalation of a small quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen appeared to afford relief in a case reported by Christison, but with that, or any other of the irritant gases, our treatment must chiefly consist in the instant removal of the sufferer to pure air. Then the cautious inhalation of ammonia, sulphuric ether, or the vapor of warm water, will be useful.
_Sulphurous Acid Gas_ is one of the products formed by the combustion of ordinary coal. It possesses bleaching and antiseptic properties; and is very irritating when inspired.
_Nitrous Acid Gas_ is a very violent poison when inhaled, producing inflammation of the lungs, &c. It has proved fatal in several instances, when given off by nitric acid.
_Hydrochloric Acid Gas_ is irrespirable in its concentrated state, and when diluted produces great irritation of the lungs and air-passages. This gas, which is a waste product in the manufacture of washing soda, is the chief cause of the barrenness which surrounds soda works where it is allowed to escape, it being extremely destructive to vegetable life.
_Ammonia._—It has been already noticed (p. 48) that the vapor of ammonia is poisonous, exciting inflammation of the larynx, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Serious symptoms have sometimes arisen from its indiscriminate application in cases of syncope, &c.
By Specific Irritant Poisons we mean those which, taken internally, produce local inflammation or irritation, these being of course indicated by certain constitutional symptoms; but over and above these, which may be the result of ordinary inflammation, there are certain specific signs of the action of a poison, in most instances peculiar, and frequently pointing directly to the poison employed. This group is one of the utmost importance in Toxicology, and includes substances acting in many different ways, all, however, giving rise to the common symptoms of gastric irritation.
IODINE is obtained from kelp (the ash of marine plants) and is a bluish black scaly substance. It strikes an intense blue color with starch, and when heated gives off an irritating purple vapor. It likewise imparts a yellowish-brown stain to the skin (which may be removed by liquor potassæ) and mucous membranes, and slowly corrodes these tissues.