Sulphur Hydrogenisatum.
Hydrogenium sulphuratum. Sulphuretted Hydrogen. H2S.
Solution of the gas.Clinical.─
Asphyxia. Asthma. Convulsions.
Delirium. Mania. Tetanus. Typhoid fever.
Characteristics.─
Sul. h.
is a colourless, inflammable gas, having a sweetish taste and an exceedingly fetid smell
resembling rotten eggs. It is extremely poisonous when inhaled. It is evolved when animal or
vegetable tissues containing Sulphur decays; and it also
occurs in mineral springs, being liberated by the reduction of gypsum or other sulphates
through the action of a microbe (Cent. Dict.). Sul. h. is one of the agents which give rise to “blood
poisoning” when bad smells are encountered. Asphyxia, tetanus, delirium, low continued
fever have been observed as resulting from the gas J. Wiglesworth (B.
M. J., July 16, 1892) has recorded two cases of insanity, one certainly, and both
probably, due to inhaling the gas: R. H., 32, engineman at chemical works, had been kept at
home with an attack of bronchitis for ten days. A few days after his return to work he
became “gassed” (i.e., accidentally inhaled Sul. h.). This caused headache, stupor, prostration, compelling
him to stay at home for a few days, when he became wildly delirious. He passed rapidly into
a very excited state, shouting and gesticulating; said he was Jesus Christ, &c.; tried
to bury his head in the floor and to raise his feet above his head. Three days later he was
admitted to Rainhill Asylum, and was there still very violent and excited, gesticulating and
talking incoherently, chiefly on religious subjects. At the end of a month there was some
improvement, and he was discharged, recovered, five months after admission. In the other
case, that of a labourer at chemical works, Wiglesworth is not quite certain that Sul. h. was the poison inhaled. This patient was greatly excited;
threw his arms about; shouted and laughed by turns was excited and talkative. He remained
permanently insane.
SYMPTOMS.
1. Mind.─
Loss of consciousness.─Coma
commencing as natural sleep.─Three days after exposure became delirious;
passed rapidly into a violent excited state, shouting and gesticulating; said he was Jesus
Christ, &c., tried to bury his head in the floor and raise his feet above his head.─Gesticulating
and talking incoherently on religious subjects (the mania lasted three weeks; complete
recovery in five months).
2. Head.─
Headache; and prostration.
3. Eyes.─
Eyes sunk with darks rings round them.
6. Face.─
Face pale.─Lips
blue.
11. Stomach.─
Nausea.─Sickness
and debility.─Vomiting and diarrhśa, both very painful.
12. Abdomen.─
Diffused pains in abdomen.
17. Respiratory Organs.─
Respiration: rapid and
irregular; laboured; spasmodic attempts to get air into lungs.─Immediate
asphyxia.
19. Heart.─
Pulse: rapid; at first weak then hard
and rapid; irregular: a feeble flutter.
24. Generalities.─
Blood brownish black.─Muscular
system flabby and emaciated.─Convulsions.─Spasms.─Tetanic
spasms, sometimes preceded by delirium, sometimes by pains in stomach, faintness and
difficult breathing, and the mouth fills with white froth, while the pulse sinks.─Trembling.─Sudden
weakness and loss of motion and sensation.
27. Fever.─
Skin cold; deathly.─Low
fever and delirium.® 2000
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