lear, colourless liquid,
of an oily appearance).--_Symptoms in those who have swallowed it_. When
much is taken, these come on immediately. There is great burning pain,
extending from the mouth to the stomach; vomiting of a liquid of a dark
coffee-colour, often mixed with shreds of flesh and streaks of blood;
the skin inside the mouth is taken off; and the exposed surface is at
first white, and after a time becomes brownish. There are sometimes
spots of a brown colour round the lips and on the neck, caused by drops
of the acid falling on these parts. There is great difficulty of
breathing, owing to the swelling at the back part of the mouth. After a
time there is much depression of strength, with a quick, weak pulse, and
cold, clammy skin. The face is pale, and has a very anxious look. When
the acid swallowed has been greatly diluted in water, the same kind of
symptoms occur, only in a milder degree.--_Treatment_. Give a mixture of
magnesia in milk-and-water, or, if this cannot be obtained, of finely
powdered chalk, or whiting, or even of the plaster torn down from the
walls or ceiling, in milk-and-water. The mixture should be nearly as
thick as cream, and plenty of it given. As well as this, simple gruel,
milk, or thick flour-and-water, are very useful, and should be given in
large quantities. Violent inflammation of the parts touched by the acid
is most likely to take place in the coarse of a little time, and can
only be properly attended to by a surgeon; but if one cannot be
obtained, leeches, the fever-mixtures (the recipe for which appears
repeatedly in previous paragraphs), thick drinks, such as barley-water,
gruel, arrowroot, &c., must be had recourse to, according to the
symptoms of each particular case and the means at hand. The inflamed
condition of the back part of the mouth requires particular attention.
When the breathing is very laboured and difficult in consequence, from
fifteen to twenty leeches are to be immediately applied to the outside
of the throat, and when they drop off, warm poppy fomentations
constantly kept to the part. When the pain over the stomach is very
great, the same local treatment is necessary; but if it is only slight,
a good mustard poultice will be sufficient without the leeches. In all
these cases, two tablespoonfuls of the fever-mixture should be given
every four hours, and only gruel or arrowroot allowed to be eaten for
some days.

2650. _Nitric Acid_, commonly known as _Aqua For