Mineral Poisons. — The mineral poisons are perhaps the
most commonly used for criminal and suicidal purposes, and
they are certainly more easily detected by chemical means than
are either the vegetable or animal poisons. Science has yet
found out but few certain tests for the vegetable poisons com-
pared with the large number of accurate and easily available
tests for the mineral poisons.
Perhaps the most important of this class of poisons is
arsenic, as it is certainly the most fatal; others, such as anti-
mony, copper, lead, mercury, and the acids, are in many cases
very fatal, but few of these possess the power of destroying
life to anything like the extent that is possessed by arsenic.
Acid, Carbolic. — The powerful odor of this acid prevents
its being frequently taken accidentally, but it has been taken
with suicidal intent.
Symptoms. — These are much the same as the other power-
ful irritant poisons. There is an intense burning in the mouth
and gullet, accompanied with a feeling of tightness in the throat,
vomiting of shreds of mucus, griping pain in the stomach,
the lips and insides of the cheeks present a charred appearance,
and, if its action be not checked, the nervous system suffers,
and the organs of the senses are impaired, and death rapidly
follows.
Treatment. — Albuminous fluids should be given in large
doses, such as white of egg, flour and water, gruel and milk.
Magnesia, and chalk and water, is used in these cases. Emetics
of mustard should also be freely administered.
Acid, Hydrochloric {Muriatic Acid, spirits of Salt). —
Both the symptoms and treatment of a case of poisoning by
this acid are given under Sulphuric Acid.
Acid, Nitric {Aqua Fortis). — Symptoms. — (See Sulphuric
Acid.) The only difference is that nitric acid does not cause
such a dark discoloration of the lips and mouth.
Treatment. — Precisely the same as under case of Sulphuric
Acid.
Acid, Sulphuric {Oil of Vitriol). — This acts as a poison by
its powerful corrosive powers. It seldom causes death by its
absorption into the system, but rather by the excessive irrita-
tion and inflammation which it causes to the lining of the
mouth, the gullet, and the stomach. It immediately causes the
skin to have a charred appearance of a whitish hue, which
gradually becomes darker and browner; it causes pain in the
stomach, vomiting, and eructations of a gaseous character;
great nervous depression, which is also shared* by the pulse;
convulsions, and death.
MEDICINAL. 403
Treatment. — Give magnesia and water, or lime-water; or,
should neither of these be at hand, give soap and water freely.
Antimony {Tartar Emetic Butter of Antimony). — Symp-
toms.— These arc very much the same as those of arsenic, with
the exception that the depression, vomiting, and collapse are
much more rapid, owing to the immediate action of the poison
the heart.
Treatment. — Should the vomiting not occur freely, it will
be as well to give an emetic, and afterwards a dose of tannic
acid and water, thus: Tannic acid, lo grains; water, i ounce.
Mix. Or, a dose of very strong tea, or infusion of gall-nuts,
mixed with magnesia.
Page 297
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Mineral Poisons. — The mineral poisons are perhaps the most commonly used for criminal and suicidal purposes, and they are certainly more easily detected by chemical means than are either the vegetable or animal poisons. Science has yet found out but few certain tests for the vegetable poisons compared with the large number of accurate and easily available tests for the mineral poisons.
Perhaps the most important of this class of poisons is arsenic, as it is certainly the most fatal; others, such as antimony, copper, lead, mercury, and the acids, are in many cases very fatal, but few of these possess the power of destroying life to anything like the extent that is possessed by arsenic.
Acid, Carbolic. — The powerful odor of this acid prevents its being frequently taken accidentally, but it has been taken with suicidal intent.
Symptoms. — These are much the same as the other powerful irritant poisons. There is an intense burning in the mouth and gullet, accompanied with a feeling of tightness in the throat, vomiting of shreds of mucus, griping pain in the stomach, the lips and insides of the cheeks present a charred appearance, and, if its action be not checked, the nervous system suffers, and the organs of the senses are impaired, and death rapidly follows.
Treatment. — Albuminous fluids should be given in large doses, such as white of egg, flour and water, gruel and milk. Magnesia, and chalk and water, is used in these cases. Emetics of mustard should also be freely administered.
Acid, Hydrochloric {Muriatic Acid, spirits of Salt). — Both the symptoms and treatment of a case of poisoning by this acid are given under Sulphuric Acid.
Acid, Nitric {Aqua Fortis). — Symptoms. — (See Sulphuric Acid.) The only difference is that nitric acid does not cause such a dark discoloration of the lips and mouth.
Treatment. — Precisely the same as under case of Sulphuric Acid.
Acid, Sulphuric {Oil of Vitriol). — This acts as a poison by its powerful corrosive powers. It seldom causes death by its absorption into the system, but rather by the excessive irritation and inflammation which it causes to the lining of the mouth, the gullet, and the stomach. It immediately causes the skin to have a charred appearance of a whitish hue, which gradually becomes darker and browner; it causes pain in the stomach, vomiting, and eructations of a gaseous character; great nervous depression, which is also shared by the pulse; convulsions, and death.
Treatment. — Give magnesia and water, or lime-water; or, should neither of these be at hand, give soap and water freely.
Antimony {Tartar Emetic Butter of Antimony). — Symptoms.— These are very much the same as those of arsenic, with the exception that the depression, vomiting, and collapse are much more rapid, owing to the immediate action of the poison
on the heart.
Treatment. — Should the vomiting not occur freely, it will be as well to give an emetic, and afterwards a dose of tannic acid and water, thus: Tannic acid, lo grains; water, i ounce. Mix. Or, a dose of very strong tea, or infusion of gall-nuts, mixed with magnesia.