Professional paper

A case of fatal acute arsine poisoning

Ivan Mohaček ; Institut za sudsku medicinu i kriminalistiku Medicinskog fakulteta Zagreb
Zora Štajduhar ; Institut za sudsku medicinu i kriminalistiku Medicinskog fakulteta Zagreb

Abstract

is described in the article, brought about by unskilled handling of arsine during desinsection. A few hours after poisoning severe anemia was diagnosed (E = 2,840.000). The erythrocytes in the chamber could hardly be counted because they decomposed readily. The patient was anuric and no urine was discharged even when a catheter was used. He died on the third day after the poisoning. The post-mortem examination revealed degenerative changes in the liver, spleen, heart and kidney as well as a, spread edema of the lung. Several organs contained considerable quantities of arsenic (Tab. 1). Spectroscopical and spectral-photometric analyses for methemoglobin were carried out and its presence in large quantities, proved beyond doubt. Quantitative analyses according to the method of Heilmeyer yielded values between 40-65% of methemoglobin. However, the maximal values of these analyses are likely to be unreal, obviously caused by other changes in the blood which lower Heilmeyer's quotient (E576/E590) for methemoglobin.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

188204

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/188204

Publication date:

28.6.1951.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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