Domestic medicine, or, A treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases by regimen and simple medicines : with observations on sea-bathing, and the use of mineral waters, to which is annexed a dispensary for the use of private practitioners / by William Buchan ... From the 22nd Engl. ed., with additions and notes.

  • William Buchan
Date:
1832
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Domestic medicine, or, A treatise on the prevention and cure of diseases by regimen and simple medicines : with observations on sea-bathing, and the use of mineral waters, to which is annexed a dispensary for the use of private practitioners / by William Buchan ... From the 22nd Engl. ed., with additions and notes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    497/552 (page 491)
    & NARCOTIC POISONS. . 491° swallowing copious draughts of warm water, of thin gruel; but should insensibility have come on without vomiting, it ought imme- diately to be excited by some powerful emetic, as the sulphate of zinc, (twenty grains dissolved in half a tea-cupful of water) or sul- phate of copper, from ten to fifteen grains; after the operation of | which, a brisk purgative should be given, and emollient or stim- ulating clysters administered, as the urgency of the case may re- quire. , Baal | _ A preferable and more expeditious mode, provided it can readily be procured, of dislodging the poison, mineral or vegetable, is the stomach-pump; as this, however, requires some anatomical know]- edge, a medical practitioner, having one of these valuable machines , in -his: possession, should be instantly sent for, in the meantime either of the preceding, or other emetics, being given. — vi After as much as possible of the poison is dislodged, either by emetics or other means, a very strong infusion of coffee, or vinegar diluted with water, may be then given with advantage.* Camphor- mixture with ether (two ounces of the former to half a drachm of | the latter,) may be taken frequently ;,and should the insensibility increase, warmth, friction, and blisters may be employed. If in- flammation, or other dangerous consequences have arisen, these must be treated accordingly. | NARCOTIC POISONS.—Among: the narcotic poisons .are- enumerated the following: Deapty Nieutsaape, Hemuock, Fox- GLovE, Henzane, Tosacco, Ortum, Woopy Nigursuabe,? &c. &c. The general symptoms of these, when taken into the stomach, or applied to a wound, produce the following effects : viz. stupor, numbness, heaviness in the head, desire to vomit, at first slight, but afterwards insupportable ;/a sort of intoxication, stupid air; the pupil of the eye dilated, furious or lively delirium, sometimes pain, convulsions of different parts of the body, or palsy of the limbs. The pulse is variable, but at first generally strong and full ; the breathing is quick, and there is great anxiety and dejection, which, if not speedily relieved, soon terminates in death. | . | TreaAtTMENT.—In the treatment of persons labouring under the influence of narcotic poison, the principal: attention should be di- rected to rouse the sensibility of the system, so as to render the stomach susceptible to the irritation of emetics, and the action of other stimulants. Late experience has proved that the best mode of effecting this is by repeatedly dashing cold water over the head and neck, whilst the other parts of the body are kept warm and dry. Applying the solution of ammonia to the nostrils by means of a feather, introducing a drop or two of the spirit of hartshorm into each eye, sprinkling cowhage over the-neck, breast, and hands, and applying a mustard-plaster over the seat of the stomach, have been attended with good effects. The best form of an. emetic, in * The fruit of the Fewillea cordifolia has. latterly been recommended-as a powerful antidote against vegetable poisons; and is directed to be used in as.recent a state as. possible. Ep. . } + All plants whose flowers have five stamens, one pistil, one petal, and whose frur is of the berry kind, may at once be pronounced as poisonous. The umbelliferous: plants which grow in water, are mostly poisonous ; and such.as.haye the corolla Pua _-iple and yellow, may be suspected of being so... Ep... , 4) ae