A Case of Recovery after Swallowing Strong Sulphuric Acid

B??, aged 18, the wife of a Bengalee gentleman, swallowed about half an ounce of strong oil of vitriol at 11-45 a. m. of 6th February, 1868. She had taken no food since 8 p.m. on the previous evening. Immediately after swallowing the poison she felt a severe burning pain extending from the mouth, down the throat into the stoiuaoh, quickly followed by copious vomiting ; the ejected matter consisted of thick black masses,? fio doubt of clots of blood. On my arrival I found the patient m great agony, especially over the region of the stomach ; her countenance was pale, eyes closed, and in fact she appeared to be djing. I could not open her mouth, but her lips were swollen and excoriated ; pulse very feeble ; hands and feet cold and clammy. Some magnesia and lime water being at hand, a mixture was prepared with these and milk, which the patient was made to swallow in order to dilute and neutralize any free acid yet remaining in the stomach j this was repeated over and over again in spite of the free vomiting it caused. At fii'st the ejected matter contained a large quantity of dark blood; but gradually it became less bloody, and latterly was merely marked with a few streaks. Being assured of there being no more free acid in the stomach, I next administered a mixture of milk and white of eggs, with about an ounce of brandy, as the patient was sinking rapidly. In the evening, in consultation with Dr. Chevers and Baboo