Atropine and Belladonna.
The stomach-tube or emetics, and afterwards the following are to be gig I Tannin, very strong Coffee or Tea, Charcoal, Morphine (i gt .) by subcutaneous injection or Laudanum by the mouth or Pilocarpine (4 gr.) subcutaneously, followed by purgatives.
The poison being excreted by the kidneys, the bladder should be emptied by the catheter to prevent reabsorption. Eserine in small doses has been advocated as an antagonist, but pilocarpine is better. Free stimulation by Alcohol, hot and cold douching alternately should be carried out ; counter irritation and artificial respiration may be necessary. When the patient is seen immediately after swallowing the alkaloid, Permanganate of Potassium 5 grs. when at hand in solution should be instantly swallowed before using the pump or tube.
Barium Salts.
After the use of the stomach-tube or emetics r oz. doses of Glauber's or Epsom Salt should be given dissolved in a tumblerful of water. As barium kills by paralysing the heart muscle, Strychnine hypodermically and Alcohol by the mouth should be given.
White of eggs in milk may be freely administered, and warmth with friction applied to the skin.
Camphor.
Stomach-tube or emetics, and copious draughts of water, with brisk Saline cathartics and general counter-irritation, or cold and hot douches alternately, afford the best means of dealing with this poison. Alcoholic stimulation may 1)3 necessary. Where the drug has been swallowed in an undissolved condition warm milk may be freely used as a lavage fluid to dissolve the solid particles adhering to the mucous membrane.
Cannabis Indica.
The stomach-tube or emetics, especially Apomorphine hypodermically (ro mins. of B.P. injection), are to be given, and the symptoms treated as they present themselves. It will generally be found necessary to both purge and stimulate.
Cantharides.
Stomach-tube or emetics, mucilaginous drinks, or, in their absence, Oils, Chalk, a little Opium by the mouth and a Morphine suppository by the rectum should be used.
• Carbolic Acid.
A stomach-tube of soft rubber should be used, after which the organ should be thoroughly washed out with Soluble Sulphates as Epsom or Glauber's Salt in tn6clerately strong solution. Schubert gives Saccharated Solution of Lime if
the poison is still in the stomach, and follows it up with sulphates after emesis. Give oils, egg albumin and warm mucilaginous drinks, with any soluble sulphate and finally, freely stimulate, counter-irritate, and inject gr. of Atropine. Though there is no reliable antidote, the writer—in a case where half a cupful of the strong acid was taken in a fit of drunkenness—after the contents of the stomach were evacuated, washed that organ out repeatedly with pure Glycerin, using gallon of it, the Glycerin dissolving the excess of acid out of the swollen in icons membrane, and the patient made a good recovery. He has since satisfied himself that this is the best treatment whenever the strong acid has been swallowed; it does not interfere with the administration of soluble sulphates. The shock may be combated by Alcohol in full doses by the rectum, and external warmth applied by hot bottles and warmed blankets.
Iodine is said to be a true antidote, and r oz. Iodised Starch may be added to the water used for lavage.
Carbon Dioxide (Carbonic Acid).
The treatment of this form of poisoning and of Acetylene gas should be conducted upon the same lines as for the following poison.
Carbon Monoxide (Carbonic Oxide).
Water-gas and coal-gas owe their poisonous properties to the amount of this agent in their composition. Artificial respiration must be kept up after the removal of the patient from the poisoned atmosphere, and this must be con tinued for hours when necessary. Inhalation of Oxygen is to he used at the same time freely, and if the heart shows signs of failure Strychnine may be given and Faradisation of the phrenic nerve and rhythmic traction of the tongue should be resorted to. When the patient's case appears desperate, venesection should be resorted to, and after the removal of 20 to 30 us. blood as much Normal Saline should be injected into the vein or twice as much hypodermically, and warmth should be applied to the surface of the body.