Two per cent. in the atmosphere is immediately
fatal.
_Symptoms._--When in _large amount_, insensibility comes on at once;
when in _very small amounts_, headache, giddiness, noises in the ears,
nausea, and vomiting, with prostration, insensibility, and coma. There
may be convulsions. Even in cases which recover, permanent impairment of
the brain may result.
_Post-Mortem Appearances._--The blood is bright red in colour, due to
the interaction of carbonic oxide with haemoglobin. A rosy hue of the
skin-surface and viscera is often noticed. Bright red patches of colour
are found over the surface of the body. The spectrum of the blood is
characteristic.
_Treatment._--Ammonia to the nostrils, inhalation of oxygen, cold douche
in moderation, artificial respiration, transfusion of blood.
=Coal Gas.=--Coal gas contains light carburetted hydrogen or marsh gas,
olefiant gas, ammonia, sulphuretted hydrogen, carbonic acid, carbonic
oxide, free hydrogen, and nitrogen. Coal gas has an offensive odour,
burns with a yellowish-white flame, yielding water and carbonic acid.
Cases of poisoning often due to escape of gas into the room.
_Symptoms._--Headache and giddiness, foaming at mouth, vomiting,
convulsions, tetanic spasms, stertorous breathing, dilated pupil.
Pages:
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199