Ptomaines and leucomaines, or the putrefactive and physiological alkaloids / By Victor C. Vaughan and Frederick G. Novy.

  • Vaughan, Victor C. (Victor Clarence), 1851-1929.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Ptomaines and leucomaines, or the putrefactive and physiological alkaloids / By Victor C. Vaughan and Frederick G. Novy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    point, and states that out of forty-eight recorded autopsies, it was especially stated in eleven that putrefaction rapidly tleveloped. In some instances there has been noticed hyperjeniia of the stomach and intestinal canal, but this is by no means constant. The liver and brain have been reported as congested, but this would result from the failure of the heart, and would, by no means, be charac- teristic of poisoning with sausage. Von Faber, in 1821, observed sixteen persons who were made sick by eating fresh, unsmoked sausage made from the flesh of a pig which had suffered from an abscess on the neck. Five of the patients died. The symptoms were as follows: There was a constriction of the throat, difficulty in swallowing, retching, vomiting, colic-like pains, vertigo, hoarseness, dimness of vision, and headache. Later and in severer cases, there was complete exhaustion, and, finally, paralysis. The eyeballs were retracted, the pupils were sometimes dilated, then contracted ; they did not respond to light; there was paralysis of the upper lids. The tonsils were swollen, but not as in tonsillitis. Liquids which were not irritating could be carried as far as the oesophagus, when they were then ejected from the mouth and nose with coughing. Solid foods could not be swal- lowed at all. On the back of the tongue and in the pharynx there was observed a puriform exudate. Obstinate constipation existed in all, while the sphincter ani was paralyzed. The breathing was easy, but all had a croupous cough. The skin was dry. There was incon- tinence of urine. There was no delirium and the mind remained clear to the last. Post-mortem examinations were held on four. The skin was rough—goose-skin. The abdomen was retracted. The large vessels in the upper part of the stomach were