A universal formulary containing the methods of preparing and administering officinal and other medicines / by R. Eglesfeld Griffith.

  • Robert Eglesfeld Griffith
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A universal formulary containing the methods of preparing and administering officinal and other medicines / by R. Eglesfeld Griffith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    ZINC. each other ia their action on the system; most of them, however, owing their pro- perties to the presence of an alkaloidal principle. The most important are : digi- talis, VERATIIUM, CONIUJI, COLCUICUM, LOBELIA, ACONITUM, BELLADONNA, STRA- MONIUM, TABACUM, NUX VOMICA, &C. S^mjUoms.—These are various, but, in general, vertigo, coma, delirium, paralysis, or cuuvulsions, with disturbance and pain in the stomach and intestines, are observed. Those belonging to the nux vomica tribe have marked effects on the spinal marrow, causing tetanus°and convulsions, but seldom coma or delirium; whilst, on the other hand, squill and foxglove produce symptoms of narcotism, preceded by vomiting, and other signs of irritant action on the stomach. jVorbid Appearmices. — These, like the symptoms, are very various. In some cases, there is inflammation of the stomach and intestines; in others, this is wholly wanting. Where there have been symptoms of cerebral disturbance, traces of con- gestion°of the brain are usually discernible, but are not found in every case. 2'ests.—Most of these poisons, as before said, owe their deleterious powers to the presence of an alkaloidal principle, which is exceedingly difficult to detect by chemi- cal tests; hence the strongest evidence is to be derived from an inspection of the fraf^mcnts of the plant itself, if it has been administered in substance; but this mode of discrimination fails where the poison has been taken in the form of extract, infusion, or decoction. In such cases, the only reliance is on the symptoms and concomitant circumstances. [Conia, the active principle of conium, when liberated from its combinations by potassa, is volatile, and exhales a strong mouse-like or urinous odor. With the vapor of muriatic acid, it forms dense white fumes. The odor of conia is so charac- teristic, that it can scarcely be confounded with any other poisonous agent. A'^eratria (obtained from veratrum), affords a reddish-yellow solution with nitric acid, an intensely-red one with concentrated sulphuric acid, and a white precipitate with tannic acid. When applied to the nose, it causes severe sneezing. Brucia (found in the seeds of the nux vomica) is colored red by nitric acid, ana this color changes to violet by the addition of proto-chloride of tin. With chlorine it gives a red color. Sulphuric acid first reddens brucia, and then turns it yellow and green. Pure strychnia (also found in the nux vomica) may be recognized by rubbing a small portion with a few drops of sulphuric acid, containing one-hundredth of its weight of nitric acid. No change ensues; but the addition of a very small quantity of the per-oxide of lead, or of bichromate of potassa, changes the solution to a blue color, then to a red, and in the course of a few hours to a yellow color. Commercial strychnia generally affords a red color, changing to a yellow, with nitric acid, owing to the presence of brucia.] Treatment.—This consists in the prompt use of emetics, or the stomach-pump, followed by the administration of purgatives. No antidote can be relied upon ; but, as tannic acid decomposes these alkaloids, the free use of decoctions or infusions containing it may be resorted to with advantage. Zinc.—This has no poisonous properties in a metallic state, but several of its salts possess active powers. Of these, the sulphate or white vitriol is the most common, and therefore the most likely to occasion unpleasant consequences. Si/mpto7ns. — Pain in the abdomen, violent vomiting and diarrhoea, quick pulse, paleness and contraction of the features, coldness of the extremities. There is always a very austere taste in the mouth. JJorhid Appearances.—Marks of inflammation in the stomach and intestines. Tests.—Ammonia gives a white precipitate, soluble in an excess of the alkali Chromate of pota.ssa affords an orange-red deposit, the chromate of zinc. Treatment. — The free exhibition of warm water with milk, albumen, magnesia, &c. Infusions containing tannic acid. Where the poison has entered the bowels, emollient clysters are to be given.