A Case of Accidental Poisoning with Barium Sulphide

B. L., Hindu male, aged 55 years, took about li drachms of a depilatory powder (containing 1 part barium sulphide and 8 parts washing earth, or botni mitti) mistaking it for a laxative powder which he used to take as a home remedy, at 4 a.m. on April 14th, 1929. Vomiting commenced soon after and was persistent; he had 3 motions in the course of the next 4 hours. At 10 a.m. he noticed difficulty in lifting the arms and extending the legs and could not close the fist tightly. I saw him at 5 p.m. on the same day: his condition was as follows:? Tongue coated and dry. Pulse slow, full and intermittent. Heart sounds, booming?second aortic sound markedly accentuated?intermittent?missing a beat after every 5 or 6 beats. Blood pressure, systolic?210. diastolic?120.