POISONING.
In the case of animals, the subject has been treated of in the body of this work. In cases of poisoning of any member of the family, send for a physician at once. But the following general treatment will be indicated, when the poison is not known : Vomit the patient freely with warm water and mustard, ipecac or salt water, then give white of eggs freely, or of lard, olive, or other bland oil, except in phosphorus poisoning. If an acid has been taken give freely of calcined magnesia, chalk, or other alkali. If the poison has been an alkali, give oil freely, and after the vomiting neutralize with acid drinks, followed by more oil and second vomiting, if acids will not make poisonous compounds with the alkali. If the source of the poisoning is known, the fol lowing special treatment will be indicated. , For Arsenical Poisoning. Vomit with ipecac. Solution of alum and salt water. Give white of egg freely, and follow with weakened solution of perchloride of iron or dialised iron. If the pa tient is very weak use hot applications, and vely cautiously of alcoholic stimulants.
For Aconite, Belladonna, and Dwitalis. Vomit ing, stimulants, strong coffee, opium, and hot applications. Opium only under the care of a physician or experienced person.
Chloral Hydrate or Chlorofo,7a. Vomiting, stimulants, strong coffee, hot baths, and drop ping the head lower than the rest of the body, to cause a flow of blood to the brain.
Lead Poisooing. Epsom salts in large doses, with ipecac until vomiting and purging sets in. Use white of egg if poison is a lead salt taken into the stomach, and give plenty of fresh milk. Strychnia is often found valuable when there is paralysis. Fresh milk used regularly in diet is said to prevent lead colic with those who work in paint or lead.
Lye Polso,.ing. Give freely of oil, or warm lard and white of egg, and if possible cause vomiting after giving the oil.
Opium, or Morphia, Vomiting and white of egg. If the poison has been just taken give a solution of tannin to prevent ready absorption of the poison. If already diffused in the system, use tinct. belladonna in full doses until the pulse quickens, and the pupils of the eye begin to di late, observing great caution after these signs appear. Strong coffee is beneficial, also electric currents, and frequent application of cold water so as to shock the system. Kecp the patient in motion constantly if practicable.
Silver, Nitrate. Use moderately strong solu tion of common salt, and after the vomiting give freely' of fresh milk.
Strycknia and its Salts. Vomiting, and if the poison has been recently taken use solution of tannin, and very freely of white of egg. If con vulsions appear use chloroform, chloral hydrate, or opium.
Antidotes for Strychnia. Prof. Bellini, after a long series of experiments on poisoning by strych nia and its salts, arrives at the following conclu sions: That the best antidotes are tannic acid, chlorine, and the tinctures of iodine and bromine. Chlorine attacks the strychnia even after it is dif fused through the system. He believes the arrest in the symptoms by tannin to be due, not to chemical action, but to its astringent effects on the mucous membrane of ' the stomach, whereby the absorption of the poison is rendered difficult.
Ch2oroform. Death from chloroform need never occur, according to the doctrine of Syme, Lister and Hughes, if this simple rule be observed : ``Never mind the pulse, never mind the heart, leave the pupil to itself. Keep your eye on the breathing, and if it becomes embarrassed to a grave extent, take an artery forceps and pull the tongue well out." Syme never lost a case from chloroform, although he gave it 5,000 times. This simple rule enabled him (so he thought) to make this excellent record. Another remedy is to lay the patient so that his head will hang lower than the rest of the body, and cause a flow of blood to the brain.—To avoid mistakes with poisons when not intending to use them: Keep all active poisons as arsenic, corrosive sublimate, Hall's and Fowler's solutions, etc., in bottles painted with rings of black, or a large black square under the label, in the center of which a death's head label might ,he pasted. This not only prevents using such medicines by mistake in place of comparatively harmless remedies,,hut also calls attention to their dangerous character when using properly aud incites closer notice of quantities prescribed. For eruptions of poison oak or poison ivy, the following prescription is most valuable. Get the prescription idlled by a druggist: Acid Carbolic Half drachm.
01. Sa.safraa 01. Juniperi Each one drachm.
Ung. Zinci Oxide (Benz.) One ounce.
Apply from two to four times daily, and before going to bed wash the inflamed part thoroughly with w arm water and soap.