What to do in cases of poisoning / by William Murrell.

  • William Murrell
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: What to do in cases of poisoning / by William Murrell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the poison. When there is a suicidal ten- dency there may be a renewed attempt in some other form. Be sure of your diagnosis. Some time ago I was called in to see a young lady who was said to have attempted suicide—it was a love affair—with laudanum. I applied the stomach- pump without a moment’s delay and then enquired how much she had taken. They said “ a large quantity—two doses,” so I used the stomach-pump again. I could not detect any smell of laudanum, so I asked how much she had taken altogether, when I found to my disgust that it was only six drops ! I gave a favorable prognosis and went home. Be cautious in giving a diagnosis, especially if you yourself are not very sure what is the matter, and be still more cautious in giving a prognosis. It is not a wise thing to endeavour to calm the friends by telling them there is “ no danger,” or that he “will be all right soon,” for you may prove a false prophet, and they will not readily forgive you. When you get home jot down a few notes of what happened, noting especially time, doses, &c. The circumstances are fresh in your memory, and if you fail to take this precaution you may find to your cost how quickly things are forgotten.