Search -
Section on Laryngology, Otology, and Rhinology (1910)
Section on Laryngology Otology and Rhinology - 1910 Author:American Medical Association Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: ESOPHAGEAL STENOSIS FOLLOWING THE SWALLOWING OF CAUSTIC ALKALIES NECESSITY FOR COMPULSORY LABELLING OF POISONS SOLD BY GROCERS CHEVALIER JACKSON, M.D... more ». PITTSBCBG, PA. Chairman's Address Four little children threatened with starvation because of a cicatricial esophageal stenosis due to the swallowing of some form of caustic alkali to which the laxity of our laws permitted them to be exposed were under my observation within a year. These four cases are my excuse for addressing you on this subject. The law requires that the druggist shall label corrosive poisons "Poison" and the careful druggist adds antidotal advice. Next door to the druggist the grocer sells corrosive poisons having on the label not only no hint of caution, but having directly misleading statements, suchas "won't injure the hands," "will not harm the most delicate fabric," etc. One brand of concentrated lye is marked "Caution." When I encountered this I thought at last I have found one preparation on the market whose manufacturer has a conscience that compels him to give some advice protective to little children. Alas, the underwriting, "Be sure to replace the lid after using," was intended only to prevent deliquescence of the granulated contents. It is the general impression that concentrated lye i a relic of the old days of home-made soaps, but investi chapter{Section 4Cation shows that it is in common use in the household for labor-saving cleansing of all kinds. Its harmful effect on the hands conveys to the thoughtful some hint of the caustic nature of its contents. But the frequency with which patients with esophageal stricture, following the swallowing of concentrated lye, come in an almost fatal state of inanition to the esophagoscopist is an index to the thoughtlessness of the user...« less