Ammonia: Counter-irritation, fauces, larynx, bronchia, congestion and
softening of the gastric mucosa, loose blood clots, solution of
globules, dysphagia, salivation, in carnivora and omnivora vomiting,
diarrhœa, white fumes with muriatic acid.—Ammonia carbonate: less
corrosive, same symptoms.—Potash lye, deep corrosion, gastric
congestions, fluid, blackish red blood.—Soda lye.—Carbonates of potash
and soda, less violent, tests for potash and soda. Treatment: weak
acids, demulcents, anodynes.
=Aqua Ammonia.= Lethal dose pure, horse 1 oz. and upward; cattle 2 ozs.;
dog ½ dr. There may be sudden death from abstraction of water and
cauterization of the fauces and larynx including at times the bronchial
mucosa. In other cases death occurs later from gastro-enteritis, the
mucosa of the alimentary canal being congested, softened and covered
with bloody mucus. The blood in the vessels is of a dark red, coagulates
imperfectly and the blood globules are dissolved changing the color to
black, and then brownish red. Prior to death there is great distress,
salivation, inability to swallow, swollen tongue, frequent pulse and
respiration, cough, spasms, and sometimes the odor of ammonia. Retching
and vomiting may be a feature in carnivora and omnivora, and diarrhœa if
the case is not promptly fatal. The urine is not rendered alkaline.
White fumes with muriatic acid indicate ammonia.
=Ammonia Carbonate= gives rise to the same symptoms and lesions with the
exceptions that there is less corrosion of the mucosa, and no pure
ammonia exhales in the breath.
=Caustic Potash, Lye.= Lethal dose, 5 grs. dog intervenous. In strong
solution this is one of the most potent caustics, which penetrates
deeply into the tissues and abstracting water cauterizes everything with
which it comes in contact. It therefore produces the most destructive
changes on the walls of the stomach, and intestines, with violent
gastro-enteritis, retching, or vomiting of alkaline matters. The
congested, ashen and even black color of the tongue, and (post mortem)
of the gullet, stomach and intestines, and the intense alkalinity of
contents are characteristic. The blood is fluid, gelatiniform, and
blackish red. Later, erosions and contractions are common.
=Caustic Soda= is only less destructive than potash, and produces the
same general lesions and symptoms.
The =Carbonates of Potash and Soda= have the same general properties
only they act with very much less energy. Potassium can be recognized by
its purple color in an alcohol or Bunsen flame and sodium by an intense
yellow.
_Treatment._ Weak acids (acetic, vinegar, citric, malic, lactic, boric,
benzoic, salicylic) or the stronger mineral acids largely diluted.
Mucilaginous solutions (flaxseed, elm bark, gruel, mallow). Anodynes
(opium).