A Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene Part 65

APPENDIX.

POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES

1028. POISONING, either from accident or design, is of such frequency and danger, that it is of the greatest importance that every person should know the proper mode of procedure in such cases, in order to render immediate a.s.sistance when within his power.

1029. Poisons are divided into two cla.s.ses--_mineral_ (which include the acids) and _vegetable_.

1030. The first thing, usually, to be done, when it is ascertained that a poison has been swallowed, is to evacuate the stomach, unless vomiting takes place spontaneously. Emetics of the sulphate of zinc, (white vitriol,) or ipecacuanha, (ipecac,) or ground mustard seed, should be given.

1031. When vomiting has commenced, it should be aided by large and frequent draughts of the following drinks: flaxseed tea, gum-water, slippery-elm tea, barley water, sugar and water, or any thing of a mucilaginous or diluent character.

MINERAL POISONS.

1032. AMMONIA.--The _water of ammonia_, if taken in an over-dose, and in an undiluted state, acts as a violent corrosive poison.

1033. The best and most effectual antidote is _vinegar_. It should be administered in water, without delay. It neutralizes the ammonia, and renders it inactive. Emetics should not be given.

1034. ANTIMONY.--The _wine of antimony_ and _tartar emetic_, if taken in over-doses, cause distressing vomiting. In addition to the diluent, mucilaginous drinks, give a tea-spoonful of the sirup of poppies, paregoric, or twenty drops of laudanum, every twenty minutes, until five or six doses have been taken, or the vomiting ceases.

1025. Is it useful to know the antidotes or remedies for poison? 1029.

Into how many cla.s.ses are poisons divided? 1030. What is the first thing to be done when it is ascertained that poison has been swallowed? 1031. What should be taken after the vomiting has commenced? 1032. What effect has an over-dose of ammonia? 1033. The antidote? Should an emetic be given for this poison? 1034. What effect has an over-dose of the wine of antimony or tartar emetic?

1035. The antidotes are _nutgalls_ and _oak bark_, which may be administered in infusion, or by steeping in water.

1036. a.r.s.eNIC.--When this has been taken, administer an emetic of ipecac, speedily, in mucilaginous teas, and use the stomach-pump as soon as possible.

1037. The antidote is the _hydrated peroxide of iron_. It should be kept constantly on hand at the apothecaries' shops. It may be given in any quant.i.ty, without injurious results.

1038. COPPER.--The most common cause of poisoning from this metal, is through the careless use of cooking utensils made of it, on which the _acetate of copper_ (verdigris) has been allowed to form. When this has been taken, immediately induce vomiting, give mucilaginous drinks, or the _white of eggs_, diffused in water.

1039. The antidote is the _carbonate of soda_, which should be administered without delay.

1040. LEAD.--The _acetate_ (sugar) _of lead_ is the preparation of this metal, which is liable to be taken accidentally, in poisonous doses. Induce immediate vomiting, by emetics of ground mustard seed, sulphate of zinc, and diluent drinks.

1041. The antidote is diluted _sulphuric acid_. When this acid is not to be obtained, either the sulphate of magnesia, (epsom salts,) or the sulphate of soda, (glauber's salts,) will answer every purpose.

1042. MERCURY.--The preparation of this mineral by which poisoning is commonly produced, is _corrosive sublimate_. The mode of treatment to be pursued when this poison has been swallowed, is as follows: The _whites of a dozen eggs_ should be beaten in two quarts of cold water, and a tumbler-full given every two minutes, to induce vomiting. When the whites of eggs are not to be obtained, soap and water should be mixed with wheat flour, and given in copious draughts, and the stomach-pump introduced as soon as possible. Emetics or irritating substances should not be given.

1043. NITRE--_Saltpetre._--This, in over-doses, produces violent poisonous symptoms. Vomiting should be immediately induced by large doses of mucilaginous, diluent drinks; but emetics which irritate the stomach should not be given.

1035. What is the antidote? 1036. What should immediately be done when a.r.s.enic is swallowed? 1037. What is the antidote? Can any quant.i.ty of this preparation of iron be given without injurious results? 1038.

What should be given when verdigris has been taken into the stomach?

1039. What is the antidote? 1040. What should immediately be given when sugar of lead is taken? 1041. What is the antidote? 1042. Give the treatment when corrosive sublimate has been swallowed. 1043. What effect has an over-dose of saltpetre? What treatment should be adopted?

1044. ZINC.--Poisoning is sometimes caused by the _sulphate of zinc_, (white vitriol.) When this takes place, vomiting should be induced, and aided by large draughts of mucilaginous and diluent drinks. Use the stomach-pump as soon as possible.

1045. The antidote is the _carbonate_, or _super-carbonate of soda_.

1046. NITRIC, (aqua fortis,) MURIATIC, (MARINE ACID,) OR SULPHURIC (OIL OF VITRIOL,) ACIDS, may be taken by accident, and produce poisonous effects.

1047. The antidote is _calcined magnesia_, which should be freely administered, to neutralize the acid and induce vomiting. When magnesia cannot be obtained, the _carbonate of potash_ (salratus) may be given. _Chalk_, powdered and given in solution, or strong _soap suds_, will answer a good purpose, when the other articles are not at hand. It is of very great importance that something be given speedily, to neutralize the acid. One of the substances before mentioned should be taken freely, in diluent and mucilaginous drinks, as gum-water, milk, flaxseed, or slippery-elm tea. Emetics ought to be avoided.

1048. OXALIC ACID.--This acid resembles the sulphate of magnesia, (epsom salts,) which renders it liable to be taken, by mistake, in poisonous doses. Many accidents have occurred from this circ.u.mstance.

They can easily be distinguished by tasting a small quant.i.ty. _Epsom salts_, when applied to the tongue, have a very bitter taste, while _oxalic acid_ is intensely sour.

1049. The antidote is _magnesia_, between which and the acid a chemical action takes place, producing the oxalate of magnesia, which is inert. When magnesia is not at hand, _chalk_, _lime_, or _carbonate of potash_, (salratus,) will answer as a subst.i.tute. Give the antidote in some of the mucilaginous drinks before mentioned. No time should be lost in introducing the stomach-pump as soon as a surgeon can be obtained.

1050. LEY.--The ley obtained by the leaching of ashes may be taken by a child accidentally. The antidote is vinegar, or oil of any kind. The vinegar neutralizes the alkali by uniting with it, forming the acetate of potash. The oil unites with the alkali, and forms soap, which is less caustic than the ley. Give, at the same time, large draughts of mucilaginous drinks, as flaxseed tea, &c.

1044. What is the antidote for white vitriol? 1047. What is the antidote for aqua fortis and oil of vitriol? Should emetics be avoided? 1048. How can oxalic acid be distinguished from epsom salts?

1049. What is the antidote for an over-dose of oxalic acid? When magnesia cannot be obtained, what will answer as a subst.i.tute? 1050.

What is the antidote when ley is swallowed?

VEGETABLE POISONS.

1051. The vegetable poisons are quite as numerous, and many of them equally as virulent, as any in the mineral kingdom. We shall describe the most common, and which, therefore, are most liable to be taken.

1052. OPIUM.--This is the article most frequently resorted to by those wishing to commit suicide, and, being used as a common medicine, is easily obtained. From this cause, also, mistakes are very liable to be made, and accidents result from it. Two of its preparations, _laudanum_ and _paregoric_, are frequently mistaken for each other; the former being given when the latter is intended.

1053. _Morphia_, in solution, or _morphine_, as it is more commonly called by the public, is a preparation of the drug under consideration, with which many cases of poisoning are produced. It is the active narcotic principle of the opium; and one grain is equal to six of this drug in its usual form.

1054. When an over-dose of opium, or any of its preparations, has been swallowed, the stomach should be evacuated as speedily as possible. To effect this, a teaspoonful of ground mustard seed, or as much tartar emetic as can be held on a five cent piece, or as much _ipecacuanha_ as can be held on a twenty-five cent piece, should be mixed in a tumbler of warm water, and one half given at once, and the remainder in twenty minutes, if the first has not, in the mean time, operated.