Zincum Mariaticum

Chloride of Zinc. Zinc Chloride. ZnCla. Solutions in water or alcohol.

Clinical

Brigbt's disease. Consolation, Convulsions. Cramps. Diphtheria. Dysentery. Emaciation. Haematemesis. Hiccough. Hydrocephalus, Smell, perverted. Taste perverted. Typhoid fever. Wounds.

Characteristics

The bulk of the symptoms of Zn. m, are derived from poisoning cases. Chloride of Zinc is an active poison and a powerful disinfectant, and being readily accessible in the form of '' Sir Wm. Burnett's Disinfectant Fluid/' has occasioned many poisonings, both accidental and suicidal. Most of the symptoms are the usual effects of a corrosive poison, but some characteristic symptoms appear. One of them was the ]>perversion of the senses of smell and taste : Things had a putrid smell and taste which were not putrid ; and faeces had no odour at all. Quinine had no bitter taste, and acids and alkalies had no acid or alkaline taste. Insipid things were most relished. Other symptoms were : " No natural appetite, but a morbid craving for something to allay the irritation at the stomach." '' Vomiting of all food except boiled milk." '' Occasional attacks of tetanic spasms of right forearm and hand." '' Emaciation ; skin looked as if stretched tightly over bones of face and hands." '' Bluish and blue-mottled skin." '' Sleeps on right side with legs drawn up, grinds teeth." Spasmodic twitchings of face and hands, sprains and convulsions were prominent features. De Noe Walker used a dilution of Zn. m, as an application to fresh wounds, and found it very effectual in securing rapid healing.

Mind

Excessive nervous derangement and prostration. — Picks bedclothes. — Anxiety, dulness. — Depressed. — Intellect clear by day, wanders at night — Semi-comatose.

Head

Vertigo : and fainting ; and rush of blood to head. — Headache, occipital and frontal.

Eyes

Eyes sunken. — Pupils: widely dilated; contracted. — Sight lost

Nose

Smell perverted : putrid and faecal matter had no odour ; scents smelt like hemlock; meats if the least bit burnt smelt intolerably putrid.

Face p. 1600

Face : distorted with agony and livid ; pale and anxious ; dusky; flushed; convulsed and twitching. — Swelling of lips, with thick, transparent mucus adhering. — Vesication of lips and tongue.

Mouth p. 1600

Toothache in carious teeth. — Gums : spongy ; red and covered with white sordes. — Tongue : coated with white fur ; thick 3|Fellow fur ; intensely red ; covered with brown sordes. — Frothing at month. — Peculiar fetor of breath. — Taste: astringent; metallic; perverted not less than the sense of smell, roast things intolerable, most foods, esp. raw oysters, tasted of burnt flour, quinine was not bitter, nor acids acid. Thfx>at. — Throat : inflamed ; painful ; burning. — Diphtheritic-uke membrane on fauces. — Constriction of throat. — Burning along oesophagus. — Swallowing difficult

Stomach p. 1600

No natural appetite, had a morbid craving to allay irritation of stomach. — Anorexia. — Constant thirst, but aversion to swallowing any fluids. — Nausea. — Vomiting : distressing ; violent ; of all food except boiled milk ; of shreds of membrane ; most offensive ; of blood. — In stomach : clawing and burning pain. IS. Atxiotnen. — Severe pain in l. hypochondrium, < by food. — Abdomen shrunken edge of liver sharply defined. — Intense abdominal pain and tenderness.

Stool and Anus p. 1600

Diarrhoea : violent, with vomiting and collapse. — Stools : thin, dark brown ; fetid ; coffee-ground ; pitchy ; olive-green ; pale, clayey, dry, crumbling.— Constipation. I4« Urinary Organs. — Nephritis (H, W,, xxxii. 428). — Urine excessive, seven pints in five hours.

Respiratory Organs p. 1600

Voice: in whispers; lost. — Breathing: difficult ; thoracic, rapid.

Heart p. 1600

Pain in praecordial region ; pulse rapid, fluttering.

Limbs p. 1600

Tremor in limbs.

Upper Limbs p. 1600

Spasmodic pains at shoulders and back. — Tetanic spasms occasionally in r. forearm and hand.

Lower Limbs p. 1600

Legs drawn up on belly. — Severe cramps.

Generalities p. 1600

Emaciation extreme. — Nervous prostration, hypersesthesia. — Spasmodic movements of muscles of face and arms. — Convulsions. — Faintness. — Collapse.

Skin p. 1600

Skin : dusky ; ghastly bluish green ; harsh and dry, with odour as in starvation ; bluish mottled ; dry ; hot. — Skin of legs covered with thick scales.

Sleep p. 1600

Utter inability to sleep. — Slept restlessly, lying always on r. side with legs drawn up, and ground teeth during sleep.

Fever p. 1600

Surface cold, wet, and clammy. — Alternations of cold and heat. — Complained of cold though skin moderately warm to touch. — Forehead bathed in sweat, general surface warm. — Cold, clammy sweat