Acetic Acid
By Timothy F. Allen — The Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica
Pure Glacial Acetic acid, C2H4O2 . (Density 1.064 above 60 F.; below that degree crystalline.) Prepare the lower dilutions with distilled water.
Authorities.
1 , Melion, Roth's Mat. Med. Med., 3, 15; 2 , Orfila (toxicologie) ibid.; 3 , Cattell, B. J., 11, 338; 4 , Waring's Therapeutics, Peter's Elements; 5 , Berridge, M. H. Rev., 15, 297.
MIND
- Hydrophobia, 3.
- Slight and transient delirium, 2.
- Irritability of temper, 2.
- Nervous and excitable mood, 2.
- Very great anxiety, 1.
- Confusion of ideas, 2.
- Diminished intellectual power, 2.
- Disinclination to exert the mind, 2.
- She is hardly able to express herself, 1.
- She is unconscious of all around her, 3.
HEAD. [10.]
- Giddiness, 3.
- Heaviness in head, with sense of intoxication, 2.
- Indications of vascular excitement in brain, 2.
- Dull pains in forehead and vertex, 2.
- Confused dull aching over frontal regions (nervous cephalalgia), 3.
- Dull aching in right forehead, at a spot near the ossific centre, externally, and afterwards slightly on the left side, 3.
- Shooting pains through the temples, 2.
- Distension of temporal bloodvessels, with increased heat of head, 2.
EYES
FACE
- Wildness of countenance, 3.
- Face pale and waxen, 4.
- Bright red flush on both cheeks and spots of perspiration on the forehead (from drinking vinegar), 5.
- Bright flush and heat on both cheeks, especially on the left (from drinking vinegar), 5.
MOUTH
STOMACH
- Diminished appetite, 4.
- Adipsia, 4.
- Intense thirst, 3. [30.]
- (Eructations fetid, and hiccough), 3.
- Nausea, 3.
- Retching, 3.
- Vomiting soon after eating, 4.
- Frequent vomiting, 1.
- Violent pain and sensation of burning in the region of the chest and stomach, 1.
- Severe burning pain in stomach and in abdomen, 3.
- Heat in the stomach, with slight colicky uneasiness in small intestines, as of approaching diarrhœa, 3.
- Heat in the stomach, with slight hot eructations, 2.
- Gastrodynia, 3. [40.]
- She complains of her stomach, 1.
- Chronic derangements of the gastro-intestinal canal, 3.
- Sensation as if the contents of the stomach were in a state of ferment, with horrible tormenting agony, 3.
- Pain, as of ulcerative gnawing at a spot in the stomach, following after depression and agony, 3.
- He fancies there is an ulcer in his stomach, which seems sore in one spot, with gnawing; he does not suffer pain, but his agony is distressing, preventing his falling asleep, or remaining long in the same position; towards midnight he feels very sick, and vomits some thick, gruelly substance, which relieves him, and he then falls asleep; in the morning the ejected substance is seen to be yellow, thick matter, like yeast , without froth or bubbles, and in quantity about three tablespoonfuls--unfortunately, it was not more minutely examined; the depressing, agonizing feeling still continues throughout the second day, and is removed by tobacco, 3.
- (Scirrhus of the pylorus), 3.
- Great pain at the scrobiculus cordis, 2.
ABDOMEN
- Abdomen distended, 3.
- Tympanitis, with difficulty of breathing (from large doses); rumbling in abdomen, 4.
- Severe burning pain in abdomen and stomach, 3. [50.]
- Griping pain in bowels, 4.
- Chronic derangements of gastro-intestinal canal, 3.
- Slight colicky uneasiness in small intestines, as of approaching liquid diarrhœa; with heat in stomach, 3.
STOOL AND ANUS
- Diarrhœa, 4.
- Watery diarrhœa, 4.
- Liquid diarrhœa, 3.
- Diarrhœa, with swelling of the feet and legs, 3.
- Diarrhœa, with colic pains and tenderness of the abdomen to touch, 4.
- Diarrhœa of phthisical subjects, [°], 3.
- Diarrhœic stools, 1. [60.]
- Bloody discharges from bowels, 4.
URINARY ORGANS
- Urine increased, 3.
- Urine increased in quantity and of a lighter color, 4.
- The secretions smell of the drug, 3.
- (Urine cloudy), 3.
RESPIRATORY APPARATUS
- Irritation of windpipe and chest, 4.
- (Hoarseness from irritable larynx), 3.
- Croup ; hissing respiration, with rattling in the throat; lining membrane of windpipe is found covered with fibrinous membrane exactly as in true croup, 3.
- (Foul breath), 3.
- He can scarcely speak, 3. [70.]
- Dry cough, attended with increased respiration, succeeded by a moist cough, with fever, increased difficulty of breathing, emaciation, night-sweats, œdema of feet and legs, diarrhœa and death, 4.
- Respiration feeble, difficult, 3.
- Respiration hurried, laborious, 3.
- (Bronchial hemorrhage), 3.
HEART AND PULSE
CHEST
- Violent pain and burning sensation in regions of chest and stomach, 1.
- All the lobes of the lungs filled with tubercles somewhat like a bunch of grapes, 4.
- Chronic inflammation of the lungs, 3.
UPPER EXTREMITIES. [80.]
- Diminished muscular power of arms and hands, 2.
- Paralytic sensation in wrists and hands, 2.
- Coldness and prickling in hands, 2.
- Skin of hands dry, 3.
LOWER EXTREMITIES
- Lassitude of the limbs, 3.
- Impaired muscular power of legs, 4.
- Swelling of the feet and legs, with diarrhœa, 3.
- Œdematous swelling of feet and legs, 4.
- Diminished sensibility of the feet, 4.
- Coldness of the feet, 4.
GENERALITIES. [90.]
- He jumps out of bed like a madman, and crawls on the ground, howling with pain (immediately), 1.
- He rolls about in agony, 3.
- He lies in the ground, writhing in excruciating agony, 3.
- Strong convulsions, 2.
- Convulsions and insensibility, 3.
- Violent fatal convulsions, with pain in stomach, 4.
- Spasms with great debility, 3.
- Trembling from head to foot, 3.
- Paralysis, 3.
- Prostration of strength, 3. [100.]
- Fainting-fits, 3.
- Sense of oppression and heaviness, 3.
- Leanness, 5.
- Her body wastes, 3.
- Atrophy, 3.
- Hemorrhage, 3.
- General anasarca, 2.
- Diminished sensibility of the surface of the body, 2.
- She appears as if intoxicated, 2.
SKIN
FEVER
- Temperature of skin below natural standard, 2.
- Flushes of heat in the external parts, with increased perspiration, 3.
- Slow fever , with, 3.
- Hectic fever, with emaciation, cough, night-sweats, diarrhœa, dyspnœa, and troublesome swelling of the feet and legs, 2, 4.
- Typhus fever, with violent delirium, diarrhœa, pain in the abdomen, rumbling in the gastric region; also typhus with stupor, tympanitic abdomen, and obstinate constipation, 2, 4.
- Cold perspiration, 3.
- Profuse perspiration, 3.
- He was bathed in perspiration, 1. [120.]
- Profuse night-sweats, 3.
SUPPLEMENT: ACETIC ACID. Authorities.
6 , Dr. Gmelin, Inaug. Diss., 1838 (Hygea, 10, 392), took frequently about 1/2 ounce of pure wood spirit, diluted with more or less water, the action always being the same; 7 , A. H. David, M.D., Brit. Amer. Journ. of Med. and Phys. Sci. (Bost. Med. and Surg. Journ., vol. xxxvii, 1847. p. 134), a woman took a quart of common vinegar; 8 , Landerer, Med. Gaz., from Heller's Archiv (Lancet, 1847 (2), p. 162), a wet nurse was in the habit of drinking large quantities of Acetum rosarum; 9 , Mr. Birkett, Lancet, 1867 (2), p. 98, a man while drunk took 2 or 3 ounces Acetic acid; 10 , C. Hering, M.D., Am. Journ. of Hom. Mat. Med., 1875, p. 222, effects on a young German engaged in a vinegar factory for a little over a year; 11 , E. W. Berridge, N. E. Med. Gaz., 1874, p. 401, effects of drinking vinegar; 12 , same, Am. Journ. of Hom. Mat. Med., vol. ix, 1876, p. 245, second case of effects of tasting vinegar.
- It had a peculiar burning taste, and caused a similar taste in the throat soon afterwards there was a disagreeable burning in the epigastric region, followed by efforts to vomit; profuse secretion of saliva, and eructations; these lasted about two hours, and gradually disappeared, without causing additional disturbance. Even when taken in small quantities, so that it did not cause a burning taste, yet it caused secretion of saliva, some nausea, and eructations from time to time. There were also weariness and inclination to perspire, 5.
- Covered with cold perspiration, and trembling from head to foot, and apparently alarmed at everybody and everything about her. Her breathing was very laborious and hurried; her countenance perfectly wild, and the pupils dilated; the tongue was dry and cold; pulse 96, and full; the abdomen much distended, with extremely acute pain at the scrobiculus cordis, so much so that the slightest pressure there caused her to shriek out. She did not know any one about her, not even her own children, nor had she any recollection of anything that had happened from the time of taking the vinegar, 7.
- The milk became impoverished, it was of a specific gravity 1.002, bluish-colored, transparent, had a strongly acid taste, and a well-marked odor of Acetic acid. On paralysis he found it to be deficient in casein and butter. The child gradually drooped, had diarrhœa, and finally died of marasmus. The woman herself, in the course of a few weeks, became pale, sickly, lost flesh, and suffered from chronic hæmorrhage, 8.
- Slight collapse and laryngeal obstruction, which was so severe as to lead to cessation of respiration, but was at once relieved by tracheotomy. Some six hours later there was inability to swallow, with great thirst, 9.
- Soon after entering the factory, he lost his usual good appetite, although he remained otherwise well. He had often to work in the night, and slept during the daytime. His sleep now became very much broken, without any particular reason. If he ate something he could sleep on. At a later period he could not lie on his back, and felt as though the abdomen would sink in, which caused laborious breathing. The rested better in abdominal position. He could not drink anything cold on account of its lying heavily in the stomach and causing pressure. He had to give up drinking beer, and got an aversion to cold victuals. His florid complexion disappeared; he grew pale and emaciated. Vegetables, of which he was always fond, now disagreed, with the exception of potatoes. Bread disagreed, and butter still more; he had an aversion to all salted things. Food tasted right, but would not go down; he therefore had to eat very slowly. Of meat he could eat sparingly; cheese and eggs agreed. He frequently partook of mulled beer and eggs, which warmed him up, and caused him to perspire, after which he felt easier, but could not sleep. After taking some bitter tonics his stools became variable. The appearance of the tongue was normal. He grieved much about his sickness, and felt considerable anxiety about his children. He sighed often, and now and then was forced to take a deep breath, which relieved. Going upstairs was very difficult, .