Susceptibility of cat and other animals. Fatal dose. Effect of
dilution and gastric plenitude. Concentrated is corrosive. Symptoms:
Salivation, dysphagia, anorexia, thirst, emesis, colic, arched back,
odor of the acid, dark, greenish brown, albuminous urine, tremors,
lowered temperature, debility, stertor, stupor, coma. Lesions:
Whitened corroded mucosa, inflammation, ecchymosis, dark, liquid
blood, brain effusions or extravasations, nephritic congestion.
Treatment: Vinegar, alcohol, emesis, demulcents, Glauber salts.
The cat is the most susceptible to this poison. For dogs, cats and
rabbits from 3 to 4 drops per pound, is the minimum fatal dose. For an
ordinary dog the lethal dose is ½ to 1 drachm. The horse has taken 3
ounces without fatal results, and 15 ounces in a week (Munk). Much
depends on the dilution of the agent and the plenitude of the stomach.
In a concentrated state it acts at once on the mucosa as a caustic
abstracting the water and forming a white eschar.
_Symptoms._ The concentrated acid causes salivation, dysphagia,
anorexia, thirst, emesis in vomiting animals, colics, arched back,
retracted abdomen, odor of the acid in the breath, dark or greenish
brown albuminous urine, trembling, lowered temperature, debility,
stertorous breathing, clonic or tonic spasms, paralysis of the hind
limbs, stupor, coma and death.
_Lesions._ In the mouth, throat, stomach and intestines are whitish,
cauterized patches, with active inflammation beneath and around them,
and ecchymosis. The blood is fluid and dark colored, extravasations or
effusions on the brain or in the lateral ventricles, with pulmonary
congestion and parenchymatous nephritis.
_Treatment._ If available, give vinegar proportionate to the amount of
carbolic acid taken. Alcohol is a good substitute. Emesis should be
encouraged when available. Next mucilaginous agents and bland oils to
dilute the acid are required. Glauber salts may assist in neutralizing
and expelling the acid.