ABSTRACT

Magnesium sulfate is a water-soluble salt that is used orally as a cathartic and intravenously as an anticonvulsant and antihypertensive agent in managing toxemia. Systemic effects are ordinarily absent after ingestion of magnesium sulfate, since the normal kidney is able to remove magnesium ion more rapidly than it can be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The principal manifestations of acute poisoning with magnesium salts are watery diarrhea and respiratory failure. Croton oil is a non-volatile oil obtained from the seeds of Croton tiglium. The pathologic findings in fatalities from the drugs include congestion and degenerative changes in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys, and brain. The oil contains about 10% of a resin that is responsible for the effects of the oil. Burning pain in the mouth and stomach, tenesmus, vomiting, watery or bloody diarrhea, pallor, collapse, fall in blood pressure, tachycardia, coma, and death.