Arsenic {Realgar or Red Arsenic^ White ArseniCy Scheelen
Green^ Orpitiient^ or Yellow Arsenic). — Symptoms. — An un-
pleasantly strong metallic taste, a tightness in the throat,
vomiting of a brown mucus character, mixed with blood,
fainting, great thirst, excessive pain in the stomach, with
shivering purging, the stools being very offensive and of a
dark character, pulse small and rapid, great nervous prostra-
tion and delirium. Arsenic is sometimes administered in
repeated small doses, and by this means is produced a state
which is called " chronic arsenical poisoning." In this case,
disorder of the stomach and bowels exists, but does not form
such a prominent symptom as in the more acute form of this
poisoning. There will be redness and smarting in the eyes,
great sensibility of the skin, at times accompanied either by a
rash, which consists of minute vesicles or blisters, or else by
nettle-rash. There is also local paralysis — that is to say, par-
alysis of one particular set of muscles, accompanied, or rather
preceded, by numbness and tingling in the fingers and toes.
The patient loses flesh and becomes exhausted. Sometimes
the skin peels off, and loss of hair occurs.
Treatment. — A substance termed hydrated peroxide of
iron has been strongly vaunted as an antidote to arsenic. The
best way to give it is to mix a tablespoonful with water, and
give every five or ten minutes. Should this not be procurable,
it is best to use the stomach-pump or emetics. (See under
Hemlock.) Large quantities of mucilage should be given to
drink, or eggs, or milk. When the worst symptoms have
subsided, and the patient is out of immediate danger, he should
be kept in bed, with warm poultices applied to the pit of the
stomach. Small pills of one grain of opium should be given
every four hours while pain continues, but no violent aperient.
Arsenic is one of those poisons which, begun with very small
doses, and gradually increasing them, may become almost
harmless. One form of arsenic (** Scheele's green ") is largely
404 MEDICINAL.
used as a coloring for room papers. In this form it often doe*
insidious mischief, as it separates from the paper in minute
particles, and circulates freely in the air of the room as dust.
This fact may be proved by submitting some of the dust which
collects on bookshelves, etc., in a room thus ornamented to a
few simple chemical tests, or by causing some expert to analyze
it. By so doing, the inquirer will often receive satisfactory
evidence of the existence of this poison, if he has not previ-
ously had some practical experience of its effects.
Copper {Blue Vitriol. Mineral Green. Verdigris). — Symp-
toms.— These, again, are much the same as in arsenic, but rather
less acute. It may here be stated that many alleged cases of
poison by verdigris, from cooking vessels, etc., are in reality
owing to bad or decomposed food. A poisonous dose of salts
of copper is always followed (if the patient recovers from the
first effects) by inflammation of the bowels.
Treatment. — Begin with the stomach-pump, or an emetic.
When the stomach has been evacuated, give white of egg, flour
and water, milk. The subsequent inflammation of the bowels
should be treated as described under arsenic.
Page 298
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
Arsenic (Realgar or Red Arsenic, White Arsenic, Scheele's Green, Orpiment, or Yellow Arsenic). — Symptoms. — An unpleasantly strong metallic taste, a tightness in the throat, vomiting of a brown mucus character, mixed with blood, fainting, great thirst, excessive pain in the stomach, with shivering purging, the stools being very offensive and of a dark character, pulse small and rapid, great nervous prostration and delirium. Arsenic is sometimes administered in repeated small doses, and by this means is produced a state which is called " chronic arsenical poisoning." In this case, disorder of the stomach and bowels exists, but does not form such a prominent symptom as in the more acute form of this poisoning. There will be redness and smarting in the eyes, great sensibility of the skin, at times accompanied either by a rash, which consists of minute vesicles or blisters, or else by nettle-rash. There is also local paralysis — that is to say, paralysis of one particular set of muscles, accompanied, or rather preceded, by numbness and tingling in the fingers and toes. The patient loses flesh and becomes exhausted. Sometimes the skin peels off, and loss of hair occurs.
Treatment. — A substance termed hydrated peroxide of iron has been strongly vaunted as an antidote to arsenic. The best way to give it is to mix a tablespoonful with water, and give every five or ten minutes. Should this not be procurable, it is best to use the stomach-pump or emetics. (See under Hemlock.) Large quantities of mucilage should be given to drink, or eggs, or milk. When the worst symptoms have subsided, and the patient is out of immediate danger, he should be kept in bed, with warm poultices applied to the pit of the stomach. Small pills of one grain of opium should be given every four hours while pain continues, but no violent aperient. Arsenic is one of those poisons which, begun with very small doses, and gradually increasing them, may become almost harmless. One form of arsenic (** Scheele's green ") is largely
used as a coloring for room papers. In this form it often does insidious mischief, as it separates from the paper in minute particles, and circulates freely in the air of the room as dust. This fact may be proved by submitting some of the dust which collects on bookshelves, etc., in a room thus ornamented to a few simple chemical tests, or by causing some expert to analyze it. By so doing, the inquirer will often receive satisfactory evidence of the existence of this poison, if he has not previously had some practical experience of its effects.
Copper {Blue Vitriol. Mineral Green. Verdigris). — Symptoms.— These, again, are much the same as in arsenic, but rather less acute. It may here be stated that many alleged cases of poison by verdigris, from cooking vessels, etc., are in reality owing to bad or decomposed food. A poisonous dose of salts of copper is always followed (if the patient recovers from the first effects) by inflammation of the bowels.
Treatment. — Begin with the stomach-pump, or an emetic. When the stomach has been evacuated, give white of egg, flour and water, milk. The subsequent inflammation of the bowels should be treated as described under arsenic.