Dimethyl sulfate poisoning
Bartalini, E.; Mariani, L.; Vaggi, L.
La Medicina del Lavoro 48(5): 329-335
1957
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7818 PMID: 13450895 Document Number: 17112
Three cases of acute dimethylsulphate poisoning, one case of lethal poisoning due to accidental ingestion and one case of prolonged exposure are reported. In the first 3 cases the poisoning was due to absorption of dimethylsulphate from splashes on the face and in the eyes. The lesions appeared after a latent period of about 12 hours and consisted in s an edema, blisters and eschars, conjunctival irritation and residual alterations of visus (concentrical reduction of the field of vision, enlargement of the macula coeca). The case of lethal poisoning was due to the ingestion of two sips of dimethylsulphate: about half an hour after the ingestion, symptoms began to appear with vomiting, illness, feeling of turning of the gastro-intestinal tract; subsequently the following other symptoms appeared, dyspnea, cardiac failure, diarrhea, cyanosis, thready pulse, motorial excitement and then anesthesia of the lower limbs and convulsions. Death followed after 3 hours and was due to cardiac failure. In the case of prolonged exposure to dimethylsulphate there were signs of liver damage and irritation of the conjunctivae and the upper respiratory tract.
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