Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-06
NO. 211.
A CASE OF ZINC POISONING.

On the last Monday of June, 1870, l
was called to see Mrs. A. E. f. of this
town, twenty-eight years of age, OF full
habit, and until within two or three weeks
of perfect physical antecedents. Since
that time she had suffered from variety
of anomalous sensations which had in
creased in severity until this date. / will
here transcribe her language, expressive
of her feelings and condition; II have
pain in my head, feel drowsy most of the
time, am sick at stomach, and have a
dreadful sensation in my stomach; have
to keep expectorating all the time,
and the mucus has disagreeable
metallic taste; my limbs ache, l have
pains in the knee and ankle joints, my
right arm pains me, and cannot control
my lower limbs nor my right arm. l have
occasional diarrh@a-no appetite, and
when lie down / am numb all over. 1
fear apoplexy." She had peculiarly
cadaverous, pinched, unnatural express
sion of face, a slow pulse, easily COM
pressed under the finger, moist surface,
a dirty, moist tongue, scanty urine, color
not unnatural; and she was raising large
amount of mucus of milky color. With
this train of symptoms, singularly group
ed, | came to the conclusion that she was
and at once commenced investigating the
sanitary condition of the family. My at
tention was directed to the water-supply,
with the following results: During the
month of April or early in May galvan-
lied submerged pump was placed in the
well from which all the water used on the
premises was drawn, and in the absence
of any other visible cause for these strange
incomprehensible phenomena, zinc was
suspected. The next morning the pump
was removed, and its condition inspected.
The zinc coating over portion of the
surface was entirely removed, and over
the remainder was thoroughly corroded SO
as to be easily removed with the finger,
and after drying, deposited a fine white
powder which 1 considered carbonate of
zinc. Mrs. f. continued in critical con-
dition for several days. | was enabled by
active, efficient means, to improve the
hearts action speedily, but the nausea and
distress at stomach and glandular mucous
secretions Were obstinate in yielding to
means administered; the power to use
and control the lower extremities con-
tinued to embarrass her exceedingly for
six weeks. On the Goth of August she
was able to be removed to the sea-shore,
and there she recuperated rapidly. She
returned early in September, very much
improved, though she still had some pain
in joints of knees and ankles, and to this
day her right arm gives her annoyance in
failing at all times to respond to her de-
mands. have to apologize to the pro-
fession that did not carefully note, as l
should now do, all the developments visi-
BILE and worthy of record, for l was in
credulous somewhat in regard to the alleg-
ed danger of galvanizediron in water con-
duction, having never before seen case
where | could trace any effect from its
action. and, in short, did not comprehend
SO fully the situation as a subsequent study
of the subject has convinced me its i'm
portance demands. / have since treated
case entirely unlike the aforesaid, both
so far as the physical condition of the pa
tient and the effects as manifested there
upon are concerned, which will report
at an early day. The latter case has in
duced some discussion in the daily and
weekly prints in this vicinity, and it is a
matter of surprise to me that all the evil
dence that has been adduced through your
columns and elsewhere has failed to so
great an extent to impress the profession
with the importance of this question.
j. r. BRONSON, Nj. ID.
Attleboro', Mass, July, 1871.
September No. Boston Journal Of ChemiS-
tyU