Treatment. — Emetics of the sulphated zinc (see under Hemlock), or, if the patient be too far gone to take these, the stomach pump should be applied. The patient should on no account be allowed to sleep, but his attention should be con- stantly aroused. A good plan is to walk the patient rapidly and incessantly about. A tepid bath is useful for arousing the sleeping energies, and cold water should be dashed over the head at the same time. Opium is the juice of the poppy, which runs from the incisions made in the unripe fruit. Its principal properties are due to an active principle contained in it, which is called morphia. In cases of overdoses of this drug, the same treatment should be adopted, MEDICINAL. 401 Oxalic Acid. — Symptoms. — If the dose be a large one, while it is being swallowed a hot, burning, acid taste is experienced, extending downward to the stomach; vomiting then occurs, or within a few minutes. There is a severe feeling of tightness in the throat, and sometimes delirium. When the dose is smaller the pain is less, and vomiting does not set in so soon. At times there is no vomiting, at others it alone causes death by causing exhaustion. Treatment. — Some chalk and water should be immedi- ately administered, and a quantity of water drunk to encourage vomiting. This is not often administered with a criminal intent, the taste is too strong; but it is taken sometimes in mis- take for epsom salts, which it somewhat resembles. Prussic Acid {Hydrocyanic Acid). — Symptoms. — Pallid appearance, giddiness, great nervous prostration, loss of sight more or less complete, faintness, labored and hard respiration, loss of power of motion. Treatment. — The stomach pump should be applied; or, if this is not handy, emetics, such as mustard, salt and water. (See under Hemlock). Dash cold water over the head and chest. Give salvolatile as follows: Spirits of sal volatile, i drachm; water, to i ounce. Mix. Every quarter of an hour until there is some signs of revival. Prussic acid is the most powerful poison known. This poison is often met with in the essential oil of almonds, and great care should therefore be taken in the use of this pleasant flavoring. Yew ( Taxus baccata). — Symptoms. — Professor Taylor cives the symptoms of poisoning by this plant as follows: 'Convulsions, insensibility, coma, dilated pupils, pale counte- nance, small pulse, and cold extremities are the most promi- nent; vomiting and purging are also observed among the symp- toms." Treatment.— As in many other vegetable, indeed it might safely be said in all poisons, vomiting should be excited, and this is best done, and perhaps in the quickest, safest manner, by an emetic of mustard, salt and water. Should the convulsions be very acute, and there be great heat of head, cold should be applied. If the pulse is very small, and the prostration of the patient is great, as soon as the stomach is thoroughly emptied, brandy should be given. It is commonly supposed that the leaves of this plant are not poisonous when fresh, but this is erroneous. They are at all times poisonous. The berries also are very dangerous, more especially to children, as they have an agreeable taste, and look tempting. The danger of the leaves is not so much for the human race as it is for cattle, who are fond of eating them. 402 MEDICINAL.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Treatment. — Emetics of the sulphated zinc (see under Hemlock), or, if the patient be too far gone to take these, the stomach pump should be applied. The patient should on no account be allowed to sleep, but his attention should be constantly aroused. A good plan is to walk the patient rapidly and incessantly about. A tepid bath is useful for arousing the sleeping energies, and cold water should be dashed over the head at the same time. Opium is the juice of the poppy, which runs from the incisions made in the unripe fruit. Its principal properties are due to an active principle contained in it, which is called morphia. In cases of overdoses of this drug, the same treatment should be adopted, Oxalic Acid. — Symptoms. — If the dose be a large one, while it is being swallowed a hot, burning, acid taste is experienced, extending downward to the stomach; vomiting then occurs, or within a few minutes. There is a severe feeling of tightness in the throat, and sometimes delirium. When the dose is smaller the pain is less, and vomiting does not set in so soon. At times there is no vomiting, at others it alone causes death by causing exhaustion. Treatment. — Some chalk and water should be immediately administered, and a quantity of water drunk to encourage vomiting. This is not often administered with a criminal intent, the taste is too strong; but it is taken sometimes in mistake for epsom salts, which it somewhat resembles. Prussic Acid {Hydrocyanic Acid). — Symptoms. — Pallid appearance, giddiness, great nervous prostration, loss of sight more or less complete, faintness, labored and hard respiration, loss of power of motion. Treatment. — The stomach pump should be applied; or, if this is not handy, emetics, such as mustard, salt and water. (See under Hemlock). Dash cold water over the head and chest. Give salvolatile as follows: Spirits of sal volatile, i drachm; water, to i ounce. Mix. Every quarter of an hour until there is some signs of revival. Prussic acid is the most powerful poison known. This poison is often met with in the essential oil of almonds, and great care should therefore be taken in the use of this pleasant flavoring. Yew ( Taxus baccata). — Symptoms. — Professor Taylor cives the symptoms of poisoning by this plant as follows: 'Convulsions, insensibility, coma, dilated pupils, pale countenance, small pulse, and cold extremities are the most prominent; vomiting and purging are also observed among the symptoms." Treatment.— As in many other vegetable, indeed it might safely be said in all poisons, vomiting should be excited, and this is best done, and perhaps in the quickest, safest manner, by an emetic of mustard, salt and water. Should the convulsions be very acute, and there be great heat of head, cold should be applied. If the pulse is very small, and the prostration of the patient is great, as soon as the stomach is thoroughly emptied, brandy should be given. It is commonly supposed that the leaves of this plant are not poisonous when fresh, but this is erroneous. They are at all times poisonous. The berries also are very dangerous, more especially to children, as they have an agreeable taste, and look tempting. The danger of the leaves is not so much for the human race as it is for cattle, who are fond of eating them.

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