learned from the sufferers in all the accidents, made up of chlorate of potash, sulphur, and realgar. In some cases, the patients have told me, it consisted of chlorate of potash and sulphur, or chlorate of potash and realgar, equal parts. This preparation is made up by people in order to prepare crackers, for amusement and for sale. Portions of the powder are tied in paper with a few fragments of small pebble; upon the paper packet is wrapped a rag, and a thread over all. Great caution is necessary in avoiding any undue pressure while forming the packet, otherwise immediate explosion is the result. These packets explode by being thrown, and the consequent collision with the wall or the ground. In most cases, besides the body, the eyes have sustained serious injury. 1. One Mussa, a lad of 21 years, Mahomedan, while mixing the powder of the above-mentioned constituents in an earthen-pot, received injuries by an explosion taking place. The hands, chest, and face, were severely burnt, red particles of realgar entered the eye, and were lodged in the cornea and conjunctiva. Some of them were removed. Sight was restored. All the wounds healed and patient made a slow, but
steady,
recovery.
A few Mohomedan children were mixing the ingredients of the powder in a musjid, and a powerful explosion took place. The dome fell from the top. Oue man was killed out-right, and another was dreadfully wounded. The face, nose, and eyes, were burnt and smashed, and the nasal bones were discharged, and he recovered after an illness of a month. Several other persons received minor injuries by the explosion and the fall of the building. 3. A Brahmin lad of Jetpur says, that he powdered realgar and chlorate of potash separately, and then mixed them with paper in the form of a spoon. He says, with the slightest friction or pressure, the compound explodes. When he got up to get a bottle for the reception of the powder it was lying on the ground, and exploded spontaneously, broke through the floor of the first story, and, even through the tiled roof above. Two cupboards, standing close by, were thrown down, and a loud explosive sound took place. A deep excavation took place in the ground where the powder was lying. The particles penetrated into the cornea and sclerotic. Intense inflammation followed. The left eye was lost aud the right eye is half impaired in its vision, the cornea being rendered opaque in its lower half. Numerous red particles of realgar are seen in the substauce of the cornea; but they are so deep that they cannot be removed with safety. The eye is yet?12 months after the occurrence of the accident intolerant of light, watering, aud painful. 2.
% IHiilOT 4 Hospital fpttitc. JUNGADH STATE HOSPITAL. CASES OF ACCIDENTAL EXPLOSIONS. By Assistant Surgeon T. m. SHAH,
Chief Medical Officer, I have met with several cases of explosions which have been attended by serious results. The composition of the explosive is, as I have
By
40
302
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
[Oct.
1887.
several attempts, a few red particles imbedded measures. Iii all the cases, besides the external in the cornea were extracted. injuries, the eyes suffered from penetration of But they were so numerous and deeply located the particles which, from their colour, appear to that all could not be extracted by any judicious consist of realgar. They set up inflammation trials, the patient was covered with numerous which persists for months and years, and the small wounds caused by the penetration of the vision is more or less completely interfered with. powder, from which he has completely recovered. They are lodged in most part so deeply as to 4. An elderly Mohomedau, Jivabhoi, of 35 render it impossible to extract them without risk. years, resident of Batnea, received injuries by an accidental explosion of the same compound six months' ago. His right hand was badly ?wounded. The skin of his face, hands, entire left lei? and part of the right leg was penetrated by particles of the compound, and felt thick, leathery, granular, and dark. Both eyes have There is extreme sustained serious injury. photophobia, redness, and lachrymatiou. The corneae are inflamed and rendered opaque to a great extent. He could not see anything. After treatment for nearly six weeks, the inflammation of the cornea was slightly better; but intolerance of light is yet so great that he could not open his eyes in a glare. 5. Nathoo Bhowan, aged 24 years, of Babra, had both his eyes hurt by an explosion of similar materials one month ago. Orange-red particles are found imbedded in the cornea and sclerotic of both eyes. There is much redness, lachrymation, and photophobia; corueae are rendered partly opaque. Vision is partly affected. Some of the particles were removed; but many others could not be extracted lest perforation of cornea might result. 6. Kurson Bhadar, aged 22 years, resident of Bhamnagger, had met with an accident of a similar kind one month ago. While mixing the ingredients they exploded, injuring his left hand and botli the eyes. The corneae are half opaque with numerous small orange-red particles in their substance and iu that of the sclerotic. There is redness, photophobia, aud lachrymation to some extent. Vision is fair. Some of the particles were extracted. In this patient there was increased sensibility of the eyes so that even atropia, esserine, and cocaine drops instilled into them caused much pain. There was some improvement; but the corneas were irrecoverably lost in part. The sketches of the six cases of accidental explosions mentioned above show that the free sale of the ingredients is dangerous to life aud to body. They all came under my observation ?within a period of 18 months, and X hear that accidents arising from explosive compounds are
unfrequent. patients came Kattyawar, showing
not
from different^ parts of how extensive is the use of the compound. As the sale of gunpowder is restricted and guarded with license and record, so, the sale of chlorate of potash, which is an indispensable ingredient of the explosive compound, ought to be limited by judicious The
steady,
recovery.
A few Mohomedan children were mixing the ingredients of the powder in a musjid, and a powerful explosion took place. The dome fell from the top. Oue man was killed out-right, and another was dreadfully wounded. The face, nose, and eyes, were burnt and smashed, and the nasal bones were discharged, and he recovered after an illness of a month. Several other persons received minor injuries by the explosion and the fall of the building. 3. A Brahmin lad of Jetpur says, that he powdered realgar and chlorate of potash separately, and then mixed them with paper in the form of a spoon. He says, with the slightest friction or pressure, the compound explodes. When he got up to get a bottle for the reception of the powder it was lying on the ground, and exploded spontaneously, broke through the floor of the first story, and, even through the tiled roof above. Two cupboards, standing close by, were thrown down, and a loud explosive sound took place. A deep excavation took place in the ground where the powder was lying. The particles penetrated into the cornea and sclerotic. Intense inflammation followed. The left eye was lost aud the right eye is half impaired in its vision, the cornea being rendered opaque in its lower half. Numerous red particles of realgar are seen in the substauce of the cornea; but they are so deep that they cannot be removed with safety. The eye is yet?12 months after the occurrence of the accident intolerant of light, watering, aud painful. 2.
% IHiilOT 4 Hospital fpttitc. JUNGADH STATE HOSPITAL. CASES OF ACCIDENTAL EXPLOSIONS. By Assistant Surgeon T. m. SHAH,
Chief Medical Officer, I have met with several cases of explosions which have been attended by serious results. The composition of the explosive is, as I have
By
40
302
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
[Oct.
1887.
several attempts, a few red particles imbedded measures. Iii all the cases, besides the external in the cornea were extracted. injuries, the eyes suffered from penetration of But they were so numerous and deeply located the particles which, from their colour, appear to that all could not be extracted by any judicious consist of realgar. They set up inflammation trials, the patient was covered with numerous which persists for months and years, and the small wounds caused by the penetration of the vision is more or less completely interfered with. powder, from which he has completely recovered. They are lodged in most part so deeply as to 4. An elderly Mohomedau, Jivabhoi, of 35 render it impossible to extract them without risk. years, resident of Batnea, received injuries by an accidental explosion of the same compound six months' ago. His right hand was badly ?wounded. The skin of his face, hands, entire left lei? and part of the right leg was penetrated by particles of the compound, and felt thick, leathery, granular, and dark. Both eyes have There is extreme sustained serious injury. photophobia, redness, and lachrymatiou. The corneae are inflamed and rendered opaque to a great extent. He could not see anything. After treatment for nearly six weeks, the inflammation of the cornea was slightly better; but intolerance of light is yet so great that he could not open his eyes in a glare. 5. Nathoo Bhowan, aged 24 years, of Babra, had both his eyes hurt by an explosion of similar materials one month ago. Orange-red particles are found imbedded in the cornea and sclerotic of both eyes. There is much redness, lachrymation, and photophobia; corueae are rendered partly opaque. Vision is partly affected. Some of the particles were removed; but many others could not be extracted lest perforation of cornea might result. 6. Kurson Bhadar, aged 22 years, resident of Bhamnagger, had met with an accident of a similar kind one month ago. While mixing the ingredients they exploded, injuring his left hand and botli the eyes. The corneae are half opaque with numerous small orange-red particles in their substance and iu that of the sclerotic. There is redness, photophobia, aud lachrymation to some extent. Vision is fair. Some of the particles were extracted. In this patient there was increased sensibility of the eyes so that even atropia, esserine, and cocaine drops instilled into them caused much pain. There was some improvement; but the corneas were irrecoverably lost in part. The sketches of the six cases of accidental explosions mentioned above show that the free sale of the ingredients is dangerous to life aud to body. They all came under my observation ?within a period of 18 months, and X hear that accidents arising from explosive compounds are
unfrequent. patients came Kattyawar, showing
not
from different^ parts of how extensive is the use of the compound. As the sale of gunpowder is restricted and guarded with license and record, so, the sale of chlorate of potash, which is an indispensable ingredient of the explosive compound, ought to be limited by judicious The
