Volume 1

The standard physician : a new and practical encyclopaedia of medicine and hygiene especially prepared for the household / edited by Sir James Crichton-Browne [and others].

Date:: 1908-1909

Credit: The standard physician : a new and practical encyclopaedia of medicine and hygiene especially prepared for the household / edited by Sir James Crichton-Browne [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

328/430 (page 302)

$Cantharldes Castor-Oil THE STANDARD PHYSICIAN 302 Periods of unconsciousness supervene, during which the ])atient may be aroused ; and he finally falls into a deep sleep, upon awakening from which he often feels some nausea and malaise, similar to the symptoms which follow indulgence in opium and most of the other narcotics. This sleep may occur without preceding excitement or unusual sensations. d he immediate effect of the drug is not deleterious, but its prolonged use causes dementia. Cannabis Indica is used as a sleep-])roducing remedy in nervous exhaustion or in sleeplessness due to pain. The dose of the tincture is about twenty drops. CANTHARIDES (SPANISH FLY).—A beetle, the Cantharis vesicatoria, which is found in southern Europe. It is a violent irritant, and is principally used externally to produce a blister. Internally it is sometimes used for its stimulating effect on the urinary tract, but it is uncertain and dangerous. Poisoning by cantharides causes nausea and vomiting, violent pain in the abdomen and kidney region, and a burning sensation in the bladder and urethra, with frequent and painful attempts to urinate. The urine, which is bloody, is at first diminished in amount and finally suppressed. Small ])articles of iridescent wing-sheaths found in the vomit, show con- clusively the nature of the trouble. CARBOLIC ACID POISONING.—A form of acute poisoning caused bv the ingestion of carbolic acid, either accidentally or with suicidal intent. The first symptom is a severe burning of the mucous membranes of the mouth, gullet, and stomach, accompanied by excessive pain. This is soon followed by headache, nausea and vomiting, faintness and weakness, and death in consequence of a gradual paralysis of the heart. The urine is brownish, or greenish black. In sucli cases it is necessary to assist the activity of the heart by administering stimulants, such as strong, black coffee, Hoffmann’s anodyne, etc. As antidote, water with the white of eggs, milk, a solution of Glauber’s salt, or alcoholic drinks should be given. Attempts should be made at once to dilute the acid by copious draughts of water, which should be immediately washed out or vomited. A physician should be called promptly. Carbolic acid {phenol) leaves a tell-tale white scar on the mucous membranes, and this, together with the characteristic odour, is usually sufficient to make a diagnosis. Continued action on the skin of unnecessaril}^ strong solutions of carbolic acid, as occurs in frequent applications of carbolic acid compresses, may eventually lead to mortification of the skin and of the parts immediately beneath it. A solution containing only 2 per cent, of the acid may cause this. The skin turns first white, and then black ; and sometimes the fingers mortify after such carbolic acid bandages. Great care is necessary, there- fore, in the application of the latter, especially when the solution of carbolic acid is not fresh. It is better to avoid them entirely, and, until the physician arrives, to use less harmful remedies which show equally good results :$