The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-01-10

In the pitcher which held the silica solu-
tion, oil the witnesses have been sworn
and have testified under oath.
Ny first object was to secure the re.
mains Of the solution Of silica left in the
pitcher, there being about an ounce, which
| lcarefally put into the vial, corking closely.
Portions Of this have been yariously tested,
the result each time showing simply very
strong solution Of silica in pure water.
The few drops which had been left in the
tumbler, exposed to evaporation, became
in short time hard, clear concrete, re-
sembling flint, or rather transparent quartz,
yielding sparks on being struck against
steel.
The pathology in this case, while il is
very striking, Is very plain, although !
differ with my confreres in regard 70 the
final or ultimate cause. It is well known
as geological fact that petrifactions are
due to the infiltration or silieeous earth or
lime into the interstitial spaces Of the sub
stance undergoing the process It is well
known also, as physiological fact, that
various substances, usually medicinal
agents, when taken into the stomach are
rapidly conveyed TO every portion of the
human body, in some instances in the
space Of two minutes. In this instance
the flint or quartz (calcareous earth) was
held in solution and being swallowed was
rapidly conveyed everywhere throughout
the body, filing the interstitial spaces, and
the necessary result was almost instanta.
neous petrifaction, solidifying the tissues
and ending in death, the process being
that Of in6ltntion.
This is the geological view, and while il
is in the main correct il wholly fails to
explain why so small an amount of the
solution should petrify SO large body and
should do so in such brief time. | do
not believe that on the hypothesis Of in
filtration alone petrifacation would take
place so rapidly. There is no doubt of the
absorption Of the dissolved silica and Of its
rapid conveyance to every part of the body,
but that the petrifaction is owing to the
h!fitration cannot admit 1t must be
explained upon different hypothesis.
II is well known by psychologists that
those proteine compounds-albumen, fri
brin, casein and gluten--are the proximate
organic elements, along with some other
ultimate or inorganic elements, which con.
stitute the components Of the human body.
The proteine compounds are formed BY
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen in
definite proportions, according to my dis
tinguished countryman Prof. Kolliker
thus &C 40, H 81, N 5, o 12, each
having different amount of phosphorus
and sulphur this combination forming so
many malecules.
Now silica Is compound Of oxygen and
silicon. In very small amount Of silica
the number Of atoms of ahieoR Is immense.
The very moment the silica enters the
circulation aud is distributed throughout the
capillaries it parts with its oxygen, and
each atom Of silicon being set free, com
bines with proteine molecule. These
proteine molecules which form respectively
the albumen, the fribrin the casein, and
the gluten, at once change these organic
elements into what might be termed petri-
factive elements, destroying, as il were,
the vital germs, and substituting Inorganic
proteinaceous principles / submit this
as the most philosophical rationale.
p. S.-That this case is not altogether
anomalous | will cite a passage from DR..
Austin Flint's recent .Treatise upon the
Practice of Medicine" page 81:
A change in composition, due to the deposit
Of earthly salts, in more or less abundance,
constitutes what is called edlcareous degeaera.
tion, calcifcation, or cretefaction. As just
stated, this is apt to supervene upon the
atheromatous deposit in the large arteries and
within the heart, leading in the latter situation
to various determinations Of the valves. The
term ossi6cation IS in general incorrectly ap-
Piled to this change. yirchow prefers the
name petrJaetion.
The italics are the authors own. Fur.
ther down on the same page he adds:
have met with case Of old pleuritis in
which the pleura had become hardened by
calcareous deposit 10 such an extent that Il
was removed entire with several quarts Of
liquid which it contained, and when opened
and the liquid removed It did not collapse,
but retained the form Of solid box.
This was evidently case of partial pet
rifaction, not extending throughout the
entire system, and not to any vital part 50
as to produce immediate death.