On the physiological and medicinal properties of bromine and its compounds; also on the analogies between the physiological and medicinal properties of these bodies, and those of chlorine and iodine, with their correspondent compounds / [Robert Mortimer Glover].

  • Glover, Robert Mortimer, 1816-1859
Date:
[1842]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the physiological and medicinal properties of bromine and its compounds; also on the analogies between the physiological and medicinal properties of these bodies, and those of chlorine and iodine, with their correspondent compounds / [Robert Mortimer Glover]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    membrane was thickened and softened, and bearan to exhibit traces of vascularity, which were very distinct in the sigmoid flexure and rectum, where there was little or no corrosion. The colon was empty. The lower part of the liver was corroded and of a bluish colour. The membranes of the brain were vascular. A careful analysis of the heart and its contents showed that bro¬ mine had been absorbed into the blood. Remarks.—Two series of effects are produced by the intro¬ duction of bromine in large doses into the stomach. We have the action due to volatilized bromine getting into the fauces and air- passages, and so into the lungs, and the corrosive and irritant ac¬ tion on the stomach and intestines. Another series of effects might be due to the entrance of bromine into the circulation. To the first series must be referred the coryza, sneezing, salivation, and affection of the respiration. The solution of a great part of the stomach in the seventh experiment, may be accounted for by supposing that, after a time, the stomach became unable to trans¬ mit its contents into the duodenum, when the bromine remaining in the organ becoming converted into hydrobromic acid dissolved the coats. The intestines being not so well adapted for the lodge¬ ment of the poison, the appearances they presented differed from that of the stomach, being the effect of the element, and not of the hydracid. An experiment will be afterwards detailed, in which it will be found that hydriodic acid dissolves a portion of the sto¬ mach. The peculiar blue colour appears characteristic of the ac¬ tion of the hydracids on this organ, and resembles the appearance of the stomach, showing the action of the gastric juice after death, as given in Carswelfs plates. T could not, as has been related, exactly imitate the process which I suppose to have taken place in this experiment, by acting on white of egg by bromine. The absorption of hydrobromic acid is corroborated by nume¬ rous analogical facts. Chlorine and sulphuretted hydrogen pass into the urine, * also arsenious acid ; and I shall afterwards bring forward evidence of the absorption of the acid bichloride of mer¬ cury. The hydracids of chlorine, bromine, and iodine are peculi¬ arly likely to be absorbed, since the two former form soluble com¬ pounds with albumen, and we may assume as much of the other.*)* * Becquerel, Semeiotique des Urines, pp. 128—180. f In my essay, given in for competition on the 1st of January, I stated this ab¬ sorption of hydrobromic acid, the argument above given in favour of the absorption of other acids, and the evidence of the absorption of corrosive sublimate. Orfila an- nounces.in a letter of very recent date (See Echo du Monde Savant, 28 Avril 1842) that he has now established the absorption of muriatic, nitric, sulphuric, and oxalic acids. As yet he has given no details. He has also detected mercury in the urine. The absorption of the oxacids may be accounted for from their compounds with albumen being soluble in a large quantity, the absorption of corrosive sublimate is explained by its compound with albumen being soluble in solution of the electro-positive chlo¬ rides. (May 12th.)