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 the mineral waters to which is annexed, a dispensatory for the use of private practitioners / From the 22d English ed., with considerable additions and notes.

  • Buchan, William, 1729-1805
Date:
1828
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 the mineral waters to which is annexed, a dispensatory for the use of private practitioners / From the 22d English ed., with considerable additions and notes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    swallowing copious draughts of warm water, or 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 halfa 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. 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. 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: Deapity Nicursuape, Hemiock, Fox- GLovE, Henpane, Tosacco, Optum, Woopy NieutsHabeE,t &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. 'Trearment.—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 meaus of a feather, introducing a drop or two of the spirit of hartshorn 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 powertul antidote against vegetable poisons; and is directed to be used in as recent a state as possible. Kp. t All plants whose flowers have five stamens, one pistil, one petal, and whose fruit is of the berry kind, may at once be pronounced as poisonous. The umbelliferous plants which © ow in wafer, are mostly poisonous ; and such as have the corolla pur- ple and yellow, \1ay be suspected of being so. Ep.