Thomson's Conspectus of the British pharmacopoeias.

  • Anthony Todd Thomson
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Thomson's Conspectus of the British pharmacopoeias. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    leathery dull coloured flesh, which grow in obscure, shady places, or on the trunks of decayed trees, or on rocks which have a glary or very shining surface, or an offensive oduur, or become brown when cut, are to be rejected. They may be tested by cutting them, and applying a piece of silver to the cut surface ; if it be blackened, the mushroom is bad. Cooking fungi with vinegar or lemon juice aids greatly in destroying their poisonous properties. Treatment. First evacuate the poisonous substances by emetics and purgatives, or by combinations of these ; for example, three or four grains of tartar emetic, or twenty-four of ipecacuanha powder, in so- lution with two ounces of sulphate of soda. Castor oil is a valuable purgative in these cases. The lancet is sometimes necessary. After the stomach and bowels have been emptied, give small but repeated doses of aether in mucilage, and dilute with vinegar or other acidulated liquids. The debility subsequent to the effects of these poisons, when the fatal issue is averted, must be treated with cinchona and other tonics. GAMBOGE, (Cambogia.) An acrid vegetable poison. Symptoms. Violent vomitings, colic, and hypercatharsis, followed by great prostration of strength, and death. Morbid Appearances. Slight inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, and marks of strong vascular action in the rectum. Test. This poison is easily detected by its beautiful yellow colour, and the tinge it communicates to the whole mucous membrane of the intestines. Treatment. Carbonate of potassa in demulcent and mucilaginous liquids and milk should be freely administered ; and, after the poison is supposed to be wholly evacuated, small doses of opium at short intervals. HELLEBORE ROOT—BLACK. (Hellebori Nigri Radix.) An acrid vegetable poison. Symptoms. Severe pain of the stomach and intestines, violent vomiting, vertigo, excessive debility, salivation, convulsions sometimes opis- thotonos, sometimes emprosthotonos, and death. It produces the same effects when it is applied to a wound. Morbid Appearances. Evident siims of inflammation in the alimentary canal, but more particularly in the larger intestines. The limbs remain remarkably flexible after death. Test. None. Treatment. The poison is generally thrown out of the stomach by the vomiting it occasions. This should be assisted, however, by copious dilution with mild mucilaginous fluids ; and be followed by bleeding, and other antiphlogistic measures. HELLEBORE ROOT - WHITE. ( Veratri AIM Radix.) An acrid vegetable poison, deriving its poisonous properties from a salt of veratria. Symptoms. Vomiting and hypercatharsis, with bloody stools ; great anxiety, tremors, vertigo, syncope, sinking of the pulse, cold sweats, convulsions, and death. Nearly the same symptoms are produced by the application of the root to an ulcerated surface. Morbid Appearances. Slight inflammation of the stomach and bowels. Considerable inflammation of the rectum, which often presents spha- celated spots. The lungs are generally gorged with blood. Test. None. Treatment. Evacuate the stomach by copious draughts of oily and mu- cilaginous liquids, and exhibit emollient enemas to sheath and soothe the rectum. Then administer acidulous fluids, coffee, and camphor, and bleed, in conjunction with other antiphlogistic measures. Allay the action of the poison on the rectum by emollient clysters. Hahne- mann asserts that coffee is the antidote of this poison.
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