Chromic acid, chromate and bichromate of potash. Corrosive. Cause:
Gastro-intestinal inflammation, albuminuria, hæmaturia, emaciation,
digital ulcers and sloughs, colic. Diarrhœa, vertigo, stiffness,
weakness. Lesions. Treatment: Emesis, stomach pump, demulcents.
Bichromate of potash is used extensively in dyeing, calico printing, in
the manufacture of porcelain, in chemistry and photography, and to a
slight extent in medicine, while lead chromate (chrome yellow) is a
valuable pigment. Chromic acid is one of the most potent caustics, at a
moderately high temperature dissolving all animal products that may be
subjected to it. The chromate and bichromate of potash are only less
violently caustic, producing deep and fistulous sores on the hands of
the dyers, and acting in a similar manner on the mucosa of the
alimentary canal. Twenty-eight grains of the bichromate given by the
stomach killed a rabbit in two hours, while 45 grains of the chromate
had no such effect (Gmelin). Pelikan found that the bichromate acted
like arsenic or mercuric chloride, producing violent irritation of the
stomach and intestines, followed by albuminuria, hæmaturia and
emaciation: 1 to 5½ grains proved fatal to rabbits and dogs.
Workmen inhaling the bichromate dust, have inflammation, ulceration and
finally destruction of the nasal septum, together with skin eruptions
and ulcerations.
Horses working at the factories have intractable ulcers of the skin and
sometimes shed the hoofs (B. W. Richardson).
_Symptoms._ Taken by the mouth the bichromate causes colicy pains,
emesis in vomiting animals, diarrhœa, great prostration, cold
extremities, vertigo, stiffness or weakness of the hind limbs, dilated
pupils, weak pulse and death. If protracted the urine may be bloody and
albuminous.
_Lesions._ There is more or less intense congestion of the stomach and
intestine, yellow shrunken mucosa, abrasions, sloughs, and ulcers, and
congested kidneys with yellow cloudiness of the epithelium of the
convoluted tubes and congestion of the glomeruli.
_Treatment._ Wash out the stomach by emesis or the stomach pump and use
albuminous and mucilaginous agents freely.