Cadmium Muriaticum

Case of poisoning, reported by Dr. Salzer, M. Hom. Rev., 1871, 291, as reported at page 297 of the

Manual of Medical Jurisprudence of India.

A slender lad, about 14 years of age, was brought to the hospital on the 2d of March, 1866. On admission he was in a state of perfect collapse, with a cold, clammy skin; radial pulse scarcely perceptible; respiration feeble, slow, and sighing; no stertor; face considerably disfigured, owing to considerable chemosis of both eyes to such an extent as to prevent closure of the lids, completely hiding the pupil; lips everted, the mucous membrane of the mouth being pale and sodden; tongue swollen, greatly resembling the distended belly of a frog; lay apparently unconscious, though, when shaken and roused by dashing cold water on the face, he replies rationally, in a hoarse whisper, to any questions put to him; there was extreme restlessness and throwing about of the limbs; deglutition impeded; with considerable difficulty he could be got to swallow a little milk and water; this was due, in all probability, to a similar condition of parts existing in the pharynx as was seen in the mouth. He died about an hour and a half after taking the dose. On tasting some of the (according to the statement of the mother) supposed Epsom salt, Mr. Hinder experienced, almost instantaneously, a sharp, raw sensation through the tongue, as though it were bared of its epithelial covering, with constriction and drying of the fauces, followed by a spasmodic pain at the epigastrium, attended with nausea and spitting.