Caustic Alkalies; symptoms, lesions and antidotes. Caustic Acids;
symptoms, lesions and antidotes. Caustic salts; symptoms, lesions and
antidotes.
=Caustic Alkalies= (soda, potash, ammonia and their carbonates) often
cause stomatitis. What is supposed to be _weak lye_, given to counteract
indigestions, colics, and tympanies often proves dangerously irritating,
and some of the worst forms of stomatitis we have ever seen in the horse
originated in this way. As the animal refused to swallow, the caustic
liquid lay in the mouth and virtually dissolved the epithelium and
surface layers of the fibrous mucosa. The surface in such a case is
usually of a deep red, and where the cuticular covering remains, it is
white and corrugated. The antidote is a weak, non-irritant acid, such as
vinegar, boric, citric, or salicylic acid. When the caustic alkali has
been thoroughly neutralized in this way the ordinary treatment for
catarrhal stomatitis may be followed. The attendant gastritis must
receive its special treatment.
=Caustic Acids.= Sulphuric, nitric and hydrochloric acids act by
abstracting liquids and charring the tissues. The lesions from strong
sulphuric acid turn black, those due to nitric acid, yellow,
(zanthoproteic acid,) and those due to muriatic acid are white, with the
characteristic odor of chlorine. The antidote in such cases is a
non-irritant basic agent, such as chalk, lime water, soapsuds, calcined
magnesia, and mucilaginous liquids, albumen, gluten, flax seed, with
opium. The same agents are applicable to the attendant gastritis and
when the acids are thoroughly neutralized the treatment is as for simple
inflammation.
=Caustic Salts.= Among caustic salts may be named mercuric chloride,
sulphates of copper and iron, chlorides of iron and zinc, tartar emetic.
These may be treated by albumen, blood, white of egg, milk, gluten,
mucilage and other sheathing, protecting agents which will form with the
salts insoluble and harmless coagula. The subsequent treatment will
follow the lines marked out for simple stomatitis. To prevent infection
of the raw surface Cadeac recommends: tannic acid 1 oz., benzo-naphthol
3 drachms, powdered gentian 6 drachms, honey, sufficient to make an
electuary.