Mother's Remedies Part 90

Mustard.--One-half ounce or four teaspoonfuls for an adult, one to two teaspoonfuls for a child, of mustard to a cup of warm water may be given and repeated every ten or fifteen minutes until free vomiting is produced.

Salt and warm water may be used in the same way. Tickling the throat with a finger or a feather produces vomiting.

Goose grease, lard, lard drippings, vaselin, all in large amounts.

Other medicines: Sulphate of zinc, ten to twenty grains at a dose, in a cup of warm water; or fluid extract of ipecac fifteen to thirty drops, or syrup of ipecac one teaspoonful.

Poisons may be divided into corrosive and irritant.

Corrosive poison: This is a poison that is likely to eat or burn through organic tissue immediately.

Irritant poison acts more slowly and produces inflammation which later may result in suppuration and perforation.

An emetic or stomach pump cannot be used in some poisons, such as suphuric acid, because the tissues are quickly injured by the acid and the emetic and pump would only injure farther.

ACONITE. Symptoms.--Sudden collapse; slow, feeble, irregular pulse, and breathing; tickling in the mouth and the extremities, giddiness, great muscular weakness; pupils generally dilated, may be contracted; mind is clear.

Antidotes: Solution of tannic acid, twenty drops to a gla.s.s of water, to wash out the stomach.

Treatment.--Stimulants, whisky or brandy; digitalis, artificial respiration, warmth and friction of the body. Lie in rec.u.mbent position.

ALCOHOL. Symptoms.--Stupid, confused, giddy, staggers, drowsy, but can be aroused; full pulse, deep snoring, respiration, injected eyes, dilated pupils, low temperature.

Emetics.--Strong hot coffee, inhale amyl nitrite; hot and cold douches.

AMMONIA. Symptoms.--Intense inflammation of the stomach and bowels, often with b.l.o.o.d.y vomiting and purging; lips and tongue swollen; violent difficulty in breathing; characteristic odor.

Antidotes.--Lemon juice and water, vinegar and water half and half.

Treatment.--Milk, soothing drinks; sweet oil or castor oil, bland drinks like flaxseed tea, slippery elm, alb.u.men (white of egg) water. The oil should be used last.

ANTIMONY. Symptoms.--Metallic taste, violent vomiting, becoming b.l.o.o.d.y, feeble pulse; pain and burning in the stomach. Violent watery purging, becoming b.l.o.o.d.y; cramps in the extremities, thirst, great weakness; sometimes prostration, collapse, unconsciousness.

Antidotes.--Tannic acid, twenty drops to a gla.s.s of water.

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Treatment.--Soothing drinks, milk, white of egg and water, flaxseed tea, etc.; external heat.

a.r.s.eNIC, Symptoms.--Violent burning in the stomach, nausea and vomiting, retching, thirst, purging of blood and mucus, suppressed urine, cramps in the legs, intense thirst, collapse.

Antidotes.--Jeaunel's antidote.

Treatment.--Emetics freely, mustard water, salt and warm water, goose grease, etc. White of egg and milk, and then sweet oil or castor oil.

a.r.s.eNICAL POISONING, Chronic Cases, Causes.--Inhaling a.r.s.enic from dyes, in wall-paper, carpet, etc, Taking it in by the mouth in handling dyed paper, artificial flowers, etc., and in many fabrics employed as clothing.

The glazed green and red papers used in the kindergartens also contain a.r.s.enic. The drug given in repeated and excessive doses causes poisoning sometimes.

Symptoms.--Dry throat, watery swelling of the eyelids, sometimes coryza, nausea, burning vomiting, and burning watery diarrhea; skin eruptions, falling off of the hair, paralysis of the arms and legs, with wasting and numbness, but little pain, The legs are most affected, causing steppage gait.

Treatment.--Remove the cause in these chronic cases and treat the symptoms. It may be best for a physician to prescribe treatment.

ATROPINE. Symptoms.--Flushed face, red eyes, throbbing head, pulse fast, dizzy, staggering, hot and dry throat, dilated pupils, scarlet rash on the skin. Patient may be delirious and wildly so.

Antidotes.--Tannic acid, twenty drops in gla.s.s of water. Emetics to produce vomiting, such as mustard water, salt and warm water, goose grease, vaselin, etc.

Stimulants.--Coffee to drink or by enema, artificial respiration.

BELLADONNA, Symptoms.--Flushed face, red eyes, throbbing head, pulse fast, dizzy, staggering, hot and dry throat, dilated pupils, scarlet rash on the skin. Patient may be delirious and wildly so.

Antidotes.--Tannic acid, twenty drops in gla.s.s of water,

Treatment.--Emetics to produce vomiting, such as mustard water, warm salt water, goose grease, vaselin, etc.

Stimulants.--Coffee to drink or by enema, artificial respiration,

BLUE STONE. Symptoms.--Vomiting and purging, taste of metal, severe pains, dizziness and headache and sometimes insensibility.

Treatment.--Emetics such as mustard water, warm salt water, goose grease, vaselin, etc. Then white of eggs, followed by milk and soothing drinks, flaxseed tea, etc.

BLUE VITRIOL. Symptoms.--Vomiting and purging, taste of metal, severe pains, dizziness and headache and sometimes insensibility.

Antidote.--Jeaunel's antidote.

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Treatment.--Emetics such as mustard water, warm salt water, goose grease, vaselin, etc., then white of eggs, followed by milk and soothing drinks, flaxseed tea, etc.