CHLORUM.
The element. Chlorine; (G.), Chlor-gas; (Fr.),
Chlore.
Preparations
, Saturated solution of the
gas in ice-cold water; lower dilutions with water.
Authorities.
1,
Hering “and another man,” Neues Archiv, 2, 3, p. 165; 2, Buchner, ibid.; 3,
Berzelius, effect of inspiring the gas, from Hering’s résumé; 4, Buchheim, general effects, from ibid.; 5, Christison, general effects of gas, ibid.;
6, Ferriar, ibid.; 7, Fourcroy, ibid.; 8,
Gmelin, effects of inspired gas, ibid.; 9,
Hare, effect of plunging the hand into the gas, ibid.; 10, Kastner, effect of inspiring the gas,
from Hering and Wibmer; 11,
(omitted); 12, Pereira, ibid.; 13, Siebers, ibid.; 14,
Thenard, effect of the inspired gas, ibid.; 15,
Wallace, ibid.; 16, anonymous,
effect of fumes of Calcium chloride (from Archiv f. Hom., 19, 1, 69),
ibid.; 17, Wallace, from Orfila
Tox., effects applied to skin; 18,
Cattell, symptoms (compiled), B. J. of Hom., 11, 157; 19, Dr. Tott, an apothecary, inhaled fumes,
Frank’s Mag., 4, 823, from All. Med. Zeit., 37, 1425; 20, Ziemssen’s Handbuch d. Sp. Path. und
Ther., 1, acute poisoning, effects on workmen; 21,
ibid., chronic poisoning; 22,
Dunham, effects of washing mouth with a solution of Chlorine, Am. Hom.
Rev., 2, 18; 23, ibid., effect of
inhalation of the gas, ibid.; 24, S.
A. Jones, N. Y. J. of Hom., 2, 249, effects of inhaling the gas.
MIND.
►
Emotional. ► Mind tranquil
and active, [18]. ► Excessive anxiety attacks him, [10]. ►
Excessive anxiety; he could not speak a word, [10]. ► His
mind is terribly affected; he is afraid of becoming insane; thinks it is
impossible to get through it; everything seems confused; at the same
time he cannot remember anything; worse the second day, [1]. ► Great
irritability and disposition to anger, [1].
► Great fretfulness in the morning, [1]. ►
Intellectual. ► The
difficulty of recalling names when he sees the persons is far worse,
besides, what is not so common, that of recollecting persons when he
sees their names (second day), [1].
HEAD.
►
Vertigo. ►
Vertigo and stupefaction, [6]. ► General Head. ►
Disagreeable sensation in the head when shuddering, [1]. [10.] ► Forenoon at 11, disagreeable sensation in
the head; crawling shudder, most on the back; he sits with his back to
the sun, which makes it worse;
later, a feverish sensation, [1]. ► Sensation as if he would have a headache
(after the first dose, in a man who never had a headache in his life), [1]. ►
Headache during coryza, [3]. ► Headache, worse after dinner, [1]. ►
Vertex. ► Painful wearing
sensation in vertex and down the left side, with inclination to lie down
(in a man who never had suffered from headache, every time on taking a
drop of a weak solution of Chlorine, evening and morning), [1]. ►
Parietals. ► Headache in
the left side, before the shuddering, [1].
► Occiput. ► Burning and pressure in the occipital
protuberance gradually increased in severity (till he took the antidote,
Sulphuretted hydrogen), [19].
EYE.
►
Eyes protruding, [10]. ► Lachrymal Apparatus. ► Lachrymation during coryza, [1]. ►
Lachrymation on waking (third day), [1].
[20.] ►
Lachrymation, especially in the open air; the right eye was formerly
disposed thereto, [1]. ► Watering of the eyes from Chlorine vapor,
[1]. ►
Eyes very much affected the second day; he is often obliged to wipe
them, [1]. ► Vision. ►
Dimness of the eyes during fever, [1].
► Suddenly, numerous fantastic images
floated before the eyes, which disappeared with lightning-like rapidity,
[19].
EAR.
►
Ringing in the right ear (dulness also in the left; deaf for forty
years), [1].
NOSE.
►
Objective. ► Severe
sneezing, [18]. ► Mornings, violent sneezing, after coryza
in the evening, [1]. ► Violent coryza, [10]. ► Flow
from the right nostril; his left is always stopped; a few minutes after
taking, afternoons, [1]. [30.] ►
Abundant discharge of mucus from the nostrils, [1]. ► Nose
discharged mucus freely; water dropped from left nostril; did not burn
or excoriate the skin, [24]. ► In twenty-four hours after coryza sets
in, copious yellow mucus appears, as if the coryza were already ripe; no
sneezing, and continued stoppage of the nose, [1]. ►
Corroding water from the nose, [1].
► Evenings, sudden flowing and
dropping from the nose of a corrosive water, but without a sharp taste;
at the same time lachrymation, dryness of the tongue, palate, and
fauces, without thirst, but cold water is very agreeable; severe
stopping up of the nose while it flows; all symptoms of coryza are worse
when lying (two hours after 1 drop), [1].
► Subjective. ► Mucous membrane of the nose attacked, [10]. ►
Dryness of the nose, [3]. ► Has a peculiar suffocating odor, which
produces a sensation of dryness in the nose and an irritation to cough
in the windpipe, with pressure on the chest, lasting a shorter or longer
time, [3]. ►
When Chlorine gas is inhaled, it causes a very disagreeable sticking
sensation, and the consequence of this action is a violent coryza, that
disappears again after several hours, [4].
► Burning pain, with severe tension
and great dryness in the nose and eyes, [19].
[40.] ►
Sensation in the corners of the nose as if eroded, without visible
soreness (after several days), [1].
► Smell. ►
Smell of Chlorine in right nostril; left one entirely stopped up, [24]. ►
Loss of smell, [21].
FACE.
►
Heightened color of the face, [6].
► Complexion pale, often greenish, [21]. ►
Face puffy, [10]. ► Face bloated, [10]. ►
Swollen face, with protrusion of eyes, [18].
MOUTH.
►
Teeth. ► Sensation of
fulness in the teeth (after several drops), [1]. ► Tongue.
► Dryness of the tongue, palate, and
fauces, without thirst, but cold water is agreeable to him, [1]. ►
General Mouth. [50.] ► Mucous membrane of the mouth affected, [10]. ►
Mucous membrane of mouth and nose severely affected, [10]. ►
Increased vascularity and minute ulcerations in mouth and throat, [18]. ►
Dryness in the mouth, [1]. ► Soreness in the mouth, fauces, and
pharynx, redness, and even small ulcers (from outward applications), [15]. ►
Soreness of mouth, fauces, and œsophagus, as if the tongue had been
burnt, as if he had been eating vegetable acids, or as if his teeth had
been injured by acids, [18]. ► Saliva. ►
The quantity and character of the saliva and bile are altered, [15]. ►
Flow of saliva (from continued use), [12].
► Salivation, [18]. ► Much
mucus in the mouth, [10]. [60.] ►
Abundant discharge of mucus from mouth and nose, [18]. ► Taste.
► Disagreeable taste and odor, so
suffocating that it cannot even be inhaled mixed with common air without
a sensation of suffocation and contraction of the chest, [8]. ►
Mornings, febrile taste in the mouth, ceased after ringing it, [1]. ►
Speech. ► Great difficulty
in articulating or breathing, [18].
THROAT.
►
Choking sensation, [8]. ► Throat sore, from uvula to bronchi (after
two hours and a quarter), [24]. ► For two days after, throat and chest were
sore and voice hoarse, [24]. ► Evenings, a few paroxysms, as if he would
have a cough; as if the whole pharynx were raw or becoming so, [1]. ►
Swallowing. ► Inability to
swallow, [10], [18]. ► He
could not swallow, [10].
STOMACH.
►
Appetite. [70.] ► Evenings, less appetite, [1]. ► At
first, appetite for tobacco later, it does not taste good; smoking bites
the tongue, and causes? in the mouth, [1].
► Thirst. ► Desire for wine rather increased, [1]. ►
Stomach. ► Inflammation of
stomach, [18]. ► Acidity, [18].
► Acid stomach and other gastric
troubles (in workmen exposed to Chlorine, and for which they eat chalk),
[5]. ►
Acts on the mucous membrane of the stomach as a strong local irritant,
also increases the secretion of bile; it cannot, however, act long
independently, as it comes in contact with many substances having a
great affinity for it; in this way it increases the quantity of
chlorides in the blood, while it lessens that of carbonates and other
salts; its secondary effect will therefore be similar to that of Natrum muriaticum, [4].
ABDOMEN.
►
Hypochondria. ► The
character of the bile was altered, [15].
► Increased secretion of bile, [18]. ►
General Abdomen. ►
Weakness in the abdomen, mornings (third and fourth days), [1].
STOOL.
[80.]
► During coryza, diarrhœa and other
complaints, even during fever, appetite remains undisturbed, [1]. ►
After 1 drop in the evening, some diarrhœa in the morning, [1]. ►
After taking, stool next morning at the usual hour, but diarrhœa-like;
a second still thinner the same forenoon; following day the same, [1].
URINARY ORGANS.
►
Urethra. ► Frequent desire
to urinate, but it is only passed in moderate quantities, for several
days, [1]. ► Urine. ►
Increased urine, [6]. ► Urine possesses bleaching properties, [18]. ►
Urine loses the power of reddening litmus-paper, [18].
SEXUAL ORGANS.
►
Sudden impotence, even total aversion to sexual enjoyment; ordinarily he
was easily excited, but now the contemplation of the greatest charms
failed to arouse him; in a vigorous man of 30, [16].
RESPIRATORY ORGANS.
► Larynx, Trachea, and Bronchi. ► Inflammation of the air-passages and
lungs, [18]. ►
Inflammation of the bronchial mucous membrane, [7]. [90.] ► Phlegmonous inflammation of the bronchial
membranes, [18]. ► Bronchial catarrh, very common, [21]. ►
*Violent spasms of glottis, [18].
► A feeling as if the rima glottidis
were stiff, as if made of an iron ring (after two hours and a half), [24]. ►
Inhaled mixed with air it causes a sensation of distress and
suffocation, and violent cough; it always gave me a sensation as if the
air-passages were contracted, as if there must be a cramp in the
muscular fibres of the bronchi; the attack passed off with increased
secretion of mucus, often with spitting of blood, [12]. ► *Sensation
of constriction in air-tubes, tightness, and suffocation, [18]. ►
Violent irritation in larynx and bronchi, [10].
► Violent irritation in epiglottis,
larynx and bronchial tubes, [18]. ► Immediately, a violent irritation in the
larynx, windpipe, and bronchi, cough, oppression, pressure in the chest;
he could not swallow; exercise in the open air
agreed very well with him, but did not relieve the excessive
pressure and constriction; violent anxiety seized him, he could only
utter single words, breathed heavily; the mucous membrane of the mouth
and nose was severely affected; much mucus in the mouth, violent coryza;
Ammonia did not help him; the face was bloated, eyes protruded,
spasmodic cough tormented him, pulse slightly changed; inhalations of
sulphuretted hydrogen gas relieved him very much; excepting cough and
slight pain in the chest all other symptoms ceased after one hour and a
half, [10]. ►
Irritation to cough, [3]. ► Voice. [100.]
► *When inhaled undiluted, it causes spasms in the vocal cords, [12]. ► Loss
of voice for seven months, [18]. ► Aphonia for six months, from damp air, [18]. ►
Cough and Expectoration. ►
Cough, [10]. ►
Cough, with spitting of blood, [18].
► Cough; tightness and sensation of
pressure in chest, [18]. ► Inhaled in small quantities it causes
cough and oppression; inhaled frequently, hæmoptysis and consumption, [8]. ►
Violent cough, [12], [18]. ►
Spasmodic cough, [18]. ► Tormenting spasmodic cough, [10]. [110.]
► Chronic cough, [18]. ►
Whistling-wheezing cough, [24]. ► Coughs seldom; no expectoration, but a
little hoarseness; at each cough, a spot in the chest (region of right
bronchus) feels sore, as if the cough jarred and hurt it (after two
hours and a half), [24]. ► Cough, with expectoration of thick,
white, frothy mucus, [24]. ► Fits of coughing, in which phlegm was
always raised and ejected, but only after long and fatiguing efforts; in
a minute or two phlegm would again collect, causing a fit of exhausting
coughing until it was expectorated, [24].
► Constant cough, the bronchi
apparently filled with thick, tenacious mucus; no relief from
expectoration, chest seemed to fill again at once; when coughing, it
seemed as if I must surely vomit, as if the effort to “raise”
the phlegm would also empty the stomach, yet no nausea is felt; warm
sweat broke out on the forehead while coughing, [24]. ►
Abundant expectoration of mucus, [18].
► Inhaled in great quantities it
produces spitting of blood and even death, with the most violent pains, [14]. ►
Hæmoptysis, [18]. ► Workmen who inhale it often are attacked
with hæmoptysis and lung disease, [2].
► Respiration. [120.] ►
Whistling râles, which are quite loud on a forced expiration (after two
hours and a quarter), [24]. ► Respiration and heart’s action much
increased, [18]. ► Expiration easy and noiseless,
inspiration a little difficult and attended with râles (after two hours
and a half), [24]. ► *Expiration easy, but not sufficient
to fully inflate the lungs, could not
completely fill them with air; inspiration is attended with a short
rattling-crackling râle; expiration difficult, prolonged, and seems as
if insufficient, as if the air-cells were hardly half emptied;
expiration is accompanied by prolonged, loud, whistling râles
(not one sound merely, but a combination of several), and each pulsation
of the heart gives a crescendo diminuendo
effect to them, [24]. ► Great anxiety, not that he thinks he will
die, but on account of the impeded respiration (should call it a physical, not a psychical anxiety), [24]. ►
Dyspnœa rapidly increasing; profound sense of impending suffocation, [24]. ►
Warm room was very suffocating, but cold open air gave no marked relief,
[24]. ►
*Scarcely had the liquid been received into my mouth, when I became
sensible of a spasmodic action of some part of the respiratory organs of
the following character: Inspiration was
unimpeded, and could be effected in the natural manner, but expiration
was absolutely impossible, and this impossibility arose, if I
might trust my sensations, not from any inability of the muscles of
expiration, but from a closure of the rima glottidis; expiration being
felt to be impossible, inspiration
was again attempted, and was accomplished fully and easily, although the
act was attended by a slight crowing noise; expiration, which was again
attempted, was impossible as before. By these successive operations the lungs became inflated to a most painful degree, but
so firmly did the glottis appear to be closed that it seemed as though
air might pass through any part of the thoracic walls more readily than
by the way of the larynx; this arrest of respiration having
endured for about a minute, the face becoming turgid and livid, partial
coma supervened, the spasm relaxed, and respiration became free again, [22]. ►►
*Comparatively free, but crowing inspiration and absolutely obstructed
expiration presented themselves, the
face became extremely livid, convulsive movements of the extremities
began, and the patient became partially comatose; I
administered ammonia by olfaction, the spasm relaxed, and consciousness
returned along with normal respiration, [23].
► Respiration difficult, [10]. [130.]
► Difficult breathing; he could
hardly speak, [10]. ►► *Sudden and extreme dyspnœa, from spasm
of the vocal chords; sufficient air
cannot be inspired, even with the aid of all the auxiliary muscles of
respiration, to sustain life, the eyes are staring, the face becomes
blue, cold sweat covers the body, the pulse becomes small and soft, the
temperature sinks from 37.4° to 36.8° C., [20]. ►
Suffocating sensation directly after taking Chlorine largely diluted
with water, [1]. ► Paroxysms of suffocation, [14]. ►
*Chlorine gas mixed with common air produces paroxysms
of suffocation, often followed by a catarrh of some duration,
[14].
CHEST.
►
Inflammation of lungs and air-passages, [18].
► Contraction of the chest, [8], [10].
► Slight pain in chest and cough, [10]. ►
At once, tightness of the chest, [24].
► When the dyspnœa was at the worst
it was attended with a feeling as if a narrow band were drawn tightly
around the lower third of the whole chest, [24]. [140.] ► Pressure on the chest, [3], [10]. ► Oppression, [10]. ►
Oppression and constriction of the chest, not relieved in open air, [4]. ►
The sensation of oppression was most felt in the right lung, [24]. ►
Sensation in lower and inner third of right lung, as if it was ruptured;
there is a feeling as if the air
escaped from the lung into the pleural cavity at each inspiration; the inspiration being attended
by a separate râle, confined to the
quasi-ruptured locality, the
vibrations of which were felt by the common
sensation (cœnæsthesis), perceptible to the touch (hand on
chest), and audible to the bystander, [24].
► Two hours and a quarter after
inhaling the gas the chest feels sore interiorly, especially on
coughing, [24]. ► The right lung seems to feel the force of
the gas most markedly (having been dosed by inhalation, the superior
size and position of the right
bronchus most probably explains this seemingly one-sided action), [24].
HEART AND PULSE.
►
Pulse frequent, [18]. ► Accelerated pulse, [6]. ► Pulse
becomes more frequent, and perspiration breaks out, [12]. [150.] ► Pulse diminished, [18].
INFERIOR EXTREMITIES.
► Weakness of the legs (second day), [1].
GENERALITIES.
►
Objective. ► The workmen
seem very old: those 30 or 35 seem at least 40, [21]. ►
Absorption of the fat, [18]. ► Loss of fat, [18]. ►
Disappearance of fat (in workmen), [12].
► Phthisis, [18]. ►
Consumption, [18]. ► Increased secretion from mucous
membranes, and increased expectoration, [18].
► Was restless, desired to walk
about; could not be easy either lying, sitting, or walking; seems as
though the whole attention must be centred upon the act of respiration, [24]. ►
Inclination to lie down (second day), [1].
► Inclination to lie down during
headache, [1]. ► Finds it difficult to rise in the
morning, and great ill-humor, [1].
► Subjective. [160.] ►
Nervous sensibility, [18]. ► Excessive sensitiveness of skin, [18]. ►
Sensibility diminished (from application of pure chlorine), [18]. ►
Feeling of comfort and increased cheerfulness, [6]. ►
Sensation as if a severe sickness were coming on, mornings at 3 o’clock,
[11]. ►
Wakes up at 3 or 4 in the morning, and feels as if a dreadful sickness
were approaching, [1].
SKIN.
►
Objective. ► Skin red and
painful, becoming tumid and swollen, and thickened, as in facial
erysipelas, [18]. ► From ordinary application of the gas, the
skin became red; if the application is continued a long time, it causes
a violent pain, which increases with the redness; the skin swells and
looks like erysipelas, with an unpleasant sensation, as if the parts
were bruised; these symptoms continue some days, as if the skin were
deeply affected; at last, itching and desquamation, [17]. ► Cutis
anserina, [18]. ► Skin like cutis anserina, dry, yellow,
and shrivelled, [18]. ► Slight desquamation, [18]. [170.] ► Furfuration, [18]. ►
Inflammation of cuticle and ulceration, [18].
► Determination of blood to the skin,
with eruption of minute papillæ,
chiefly on the back, loins, breast, abdomen, and arms, so close that the
skin has a general red appearance at a short distance, like injected
papillæ of cutis anserina; the papillæ suppurate and vesicate, or
desquamate, [18]. ► Accumulation of blood in capillaries of
skin, with heat, [18]. ► Eruptions. ►
Eruption of minute vesicles, thickly studded all over the skin; on
shoulders, their bases very nearly touch one another; they disappear on
the second day, leaving minute red and livid spots, [18]. ►
Nettle-rash, wheals white, small, in clusters, surrounded by diffuse
redness, [18]. ► Urticaria febrilis, [18]. ► Causes
tetter-like eruptions, and critical sweat, [13]. ►
Subjective. ► Sticking,
pricking sensation in skin for several hours, [18]. ► After
several days the skin of the nose feels as if eroded, [1]. [180.] ► Slight smarting, [18]. ►
Stinging, as of a nettle, [18]. ► Stinging sensation, succeeded by symptoms
like those from Cantharides, which subside after half an hour; succeeded
by soreness and bruised sensation for some days; replaced by itching
sensation, the cuticle coming off in thick scales, as in psoriasis, [18]. ►
Sensation of stinging or biting in different parts, as of very minute
insects, indescribably transient and minute, occurring here and there at
intervals, on arm, back, abdomen, and lower limbs, as if an insect
flitted over the part and stung it; increases, with desire to slap the part with the palm, so as not to
allow any rest, [18]. ► Diluted with water or air, and brought in
contact with the skin, it causes a very peculiar sensation, resembling
the stings of insects, with copious sweat, rush of blood to the skin,
sometimes an eruption of little pimples, or even vesicles. Applied to
the skin undiluted, it acts in the same way, but more violently, [15]. ►
Sensation (after ten minutes) as of stings or bites of small insects, in
various places; the number of these places increases, and a sensation of
general itching or heat follows; copious sweat usually begins with the
itching, this sweat continued during the night after the application of
the Chlorine; after this vapor-bath, there was an eruption of small
pustules over all parts of the body, especially on the back, lumbar
region, abdomen, chest, and arms; these seldom suppurated, [17]. ►
Itchiness, with greatly increased sensibility; he tries to avoid
scratching, [18].
SLEEP AND DREAMS.
►
Falls asleep late after every mental excitement, during the first days;
is sleepy very early the following days, [1].
FEVER.
►
Chilliness. ► Chilliness
in the warm room, evenings; not in the open air, mornings, several days,
[1]. ►
Shuddering and shaking (one hour after 1 drop, in the evening), [1]. [190.]
► From 10 to 11 forenoon to 2 in the
afternoon, cold shudders over the outer surface of both arms, and over
the back and thighs, with dimness before the eyes, then a feverish
sensation with unchanged pulse, [1].
► Headache, left side, before the
shuddering. After dinner, at 2 o’clock, he feels much worse in his head,
and so badly in general, that he is obliged to lie down. He is only
improved by walking back and forth. The next day at the same time, the
same, but more lightly. (Two days after omitting the remedy, in one who
never had intermittent fever), [1].
► Heat. ►
Heat of surface of body, [18]. ► Heat while eating and after eating, with
great irritability and disposition to anger, while drinking wine and
coffee, [1]. ►
Slight fever and coryza, [3]. ► Inhaled highly diluted with air, it
causes a sensation of warmth, and promotes expectoration, [12]. ►
Pleasant feeling of warmth, and diminished sensibility (from application
of pure Chlorine), [18]. ► Warmth in the stomach, [6]. ►
Agreeable warmth in the stomach, accelerated pulse, sensation of
comfort, increased cheerfulness, heightened color, increased urine; but
from larger doses, vertigo and stupefaction; from still larger, nausea,
vomiting, colic, and diarrhœa, [6].
► Warmth in the air-passages, [12]. ►
Sensation of warmth in respiratory passages, [18]. [200.] ► With the atmosphere at 15° R., the hand
dipped in Chlorine gas, feels a heat of from 32° to 55° R., although
the thermometer is not affected. This must have been occasioned by a
chemical combination of Chlorine, with the exhalations of the skin, [9]. ►
Sweat. ► Perspiration
increased, [18]. ► Copious perspiration, [18]. ►
Night-sweat during sleep, with genial glow all over surface of body, [18]. ►
Causes critical sweat, [13].
CONDITIONS.
►
Aggravation. ► (Morning), Fretfulness; on waking,
lachrymation; sneezing; taste in mouth; weakness in abdomen; at 3
o’clock, sensation as if sickness were coming on. ►
(Afternoon), From 10 or 11 A.M. to 2
P.M., shudders over arms, etc. ► (Evening), Flowing from nose; paroxysms; less
appetite; chilliness. ► (Night), Sweat. ►
(Open air), Lachrymation. ► (After dinner),
Headache. ► (During
and after eating), Heat, etc. ►
(Lying), Symptoms of coryza. ► (Sitting with
back to sun), Shuddering. ►
Amelioration. ► (From motion in open air), Some relief. ► (From inspiring
sulphuretted hydrogen gas), Great relief.
SUPPLEMENT: CHLORUM.
Authority.
25,
M. Donné, Lancet, 1834-5 (2), p. 737, a girl, æt. nineteen years,
swallowed a glass of a solution of Chlorine.►
Immediately seized with severe
vomiting; the tongue became dry and red; she had slight fever, and the
epigastrium was somewhat sensitive to touch; the saliva was strongly
acid, [25].® 2000
Article