Symptoms. — Vegetable poisons have many features in com- mon, thus they are strongly acrid and narcotic, or depressing, causing drowsiness, feebleness of pulse, vomiting, purging, griping. Under the following enumeration, the symptoms peculiar to each will be found, together with their appropriate treatment: Aconite {Monkshood). — Symptoms. — A sensation of burn- ing, tmgling or numbness, in the mouth and throat. Giddiness, loss of power to stand firmly, pain in the region of the stomach, frothing at the mouth, vomiting and purging. The pupils are MEDICINAL. 397 dilated, the skin cold and livid, the breathing becomes difficult. In some cases delirium and paralysis follow. Treatment. — An emetic should immediately be given, such as a mixture of mustard, salt, and warm water, thus: Mustard, i teaspoonful; common salt, i teaspoonful; warm water, a tumblerful. Or, sulphate of zinc, 20 grains; water, i ounce. Given every half hour until the stomach has been emptied of the poison. Acidulous fluids, such as vinegar and water, and cordials should be given freely. External warmth should be kept up by mustard plasters, hot water bottles to the feet and friction to the surface. Distinction. — The root of this plant is often mistaken for horseradish which it closely resembles; therefore great care should be taken not to allow the two plants to grow in the same garden. The leaves and seeds of the plant are also pois- onous. Belladonna {^Deadly Nightshade), — The leaves, berries, stalks — or extract or tincture made from these — are most com- monly met with as a cause of poison. Symptoms. — Heat and dryness of mouth, a feeling of tight" ncss in the throat. Nausea, vomiting, giddiness, indistinct or double sight, intense excitement, delirium of a peculiar kind, the patient twists himself round and round, butts against the wall with his head, and performs various other antics. These are followed by heaviness and lethargy. Treatment. — Begin by giving freely a mixture of about one part of vinegar to two of water. Then cause evacuation of the stomach by means of emetics, such as mustard, i tea- spoonful; common salt, i ditto; warm water, a tumblerful. Taken at a draught. Or, sulphate of zinc, 20 grains; water, i ounce. Dissolved, and taken as a draught. Promote vomiting by warm water slightly acidulated with vinegar. The bowels should be emptied by injections of castor oil. Digitalis Purpurea (i^^^^/^z/^).— Symptoms. — Vomiting, purging, accompanied with severe pain in the stomach. This is followed by a state of lethargy, during which the patient will sleep for hours; this, again, is followed by convulsions. The pupils are dilated and insensible to the stimulating effect of light; the pulse becomes small and irregular; and, should the dose have been large, and the proper measures not adopted, coma or insensibility of a severe kind will rapidly set in, and be followed by death. Treatment. — A free use of emetics (see under Hemlock) should be pursued. Drinks containing tannic acid, such as 398 MEDICINAL. strong tea and infusion of gall-nuts, should be given; if the prostration be great, brandy should be given freely. All the parts of this plant are poisonous. They owe their poisonous properties to an active principle called digitalin. This, in combination with tannic acid, is rendered innocuous; hence the reason for its administration in cases of poisoning.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Symptoms. — Vegetable poisons have many features in common, thus they are strongly acrid and narcotic, or depressing, causing drowsiness, feebleness of pulse, vomiting, purging, griping. Under the following enumeration, the symptoms peculiar to each will be found, together with their appropriate treatment: Aconite {Monkshood). — Symptoms. — A sensation of burning, tingling or numbness, in the mouth and throat. Giddiness, loss of power to stand firmly, pain in the region of the stomach, frothing at the mouth, vomiting and purging. The pupils are dilated, the skin cold and livid, the breathing becomes difficult. In some cases delirium and paralysis follow. Treatment. — An emetic should immediately be given, such as a mixture of mustard, salt, and warm water, thus: Mustard, i teaspoonful; common salt, i teaspoonful; warm water, a tumblerful. Or, sulphate of zinc, 20 grains; water, i ounce. Given every half hour until the stomach has been emptied of the poison. Acidulous fluids, such as vinegar and water, and cordials should be given freely. External warmth should be kept up by mustard plasters, hot water bottles to the feet and friction to the surface. Distinction. — The root of this plant is often mistaken for horseradish which it closely resembles; therefore great care should be taken not to allow the two plants to grow in the same garden. The leaves and seeds of the plant are also poisonous. Belladonna {^Deadly Nightshade), — The leaves, berries, stalks — or extract or tincture made from these — are most commonly met with as a cause of poison. Symptoms. — Heat and dryness of mouth, a feeling of tightness in the throat. Nausea, vomiting, giddiness, indistinct or double sight, intense excitement, delirium of a peculiar kind, the patient twists himself round and round, butts against the wall with his head, and performs various other antics. These are followed by heaviness and lethargy. Treatment. — Begin by giving freely a mixture of about one part of vinegar to two of water. Then cause evacuation of the stomach by means of emetics, such as mustard, i teaspoonful; common salt, i ditto; warm water, a tumblerful. Taken at a draught. Or, sulphate of zinc, 20 grains; water, i ounce. Dissolved, and taken as a draught. Promote vomiting by warm water slightly acidulated with vinegar. The bowels should be emptied by injections of castor oil. [illustration: Digitalis Purpurea (Foxglove)]— Symptoms. — Vomiting, purging, accompanied with severe pain in the stomach. This is followed by a state of lethargy, during which the patient will sleep for hours; this, again, is followed by convulsions. The pupils are dilated and insensible to the stimulating effect of light; the pulse becomes small and irregular; and, should the dose have been large, and the proper measures not adopted, coma or insensibility of a severe kind will rapidly set in, and be followed by death. Treatment. — A free use of emetics (see under Hemlock) should be pursued. Drinks containing tannic acid, such as strong tea and infusion of gall-nuts, should be given; if the prostration be great, brandy should be given freely. All the parts of this plant are poisonous. They owe their poisonous properties to an active principle called digitalin. This, in combination with tannic acid, is rendered innocuous; hence the reason for its administration in cases of poisoning.

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