Lead {White Lead. Sugar of Lead). — Symptoms. — This
also causes many of the symptoms described under arsenic,
when taken in a large quantity; but there is a particular form
of disease called lead colic, which particularly affects workers
in lead (see colic); these people are also subject to a form of
paralysis (see paralysis).
Treatment. — When taken in a large dose, give an emetic
of sulphur of zinc or copper (see hemlock). If the pain in the
stomach be severe, small doses of tincture of opium, about lo
minims, should be given at short intervals, combined with
sulphate of magnesia.
Mercury {Corrosive Sublimate. Calomel. White Precipi'
tate). — Symptoms. — Intense metallic taste in the mouth, pain
in the stomach, purging, vomiting, etc.; in fact, the symptoms
of nearly all metallic poisons are similar. There are, of course,
certain peculiarities belonging to each, and that belonging to
mercury is the largely increased flow of saliva, commonly called
" salivation," which almost invariably follows a poisonous dose
of mercury in any of its forms. The period which elapses
between the taking of the poison and appearance of the saliva-
tion, varies from a few hours to some days.
Treatment. — An emetic of sulphate of zinc or copper (ai
under hemlock) should be given in white of egg, mixed with
milk or water, milk, and flour and water in large draughts.
When the salivation sets in, the following will be found useful
when in conjunction with astringent gargles: Iodide of potas-
sium, 24 grains; tincture of bark, i ounce; water, to 8 ounces.
Mix, and take two tablespoonfuls three times a day. A good
form of an astringent gargle is as follows: Alum, 30 grains;
water, to 4 ounces. Mix, and use about a tablespoonful as a
gargle every three or four hours.
Ammonia. — Symptoms. — Pungent acrid odor, hot taste,
stomach-ache, followed by convulsions, delirium, and death.
Treatment. — Vinegar and water in large doses, lemon
juice and olive oil. For any other of the alkalies, soda or
potash, in their caustic forms, the same treatment should be
pursued.
Chloride of Zinc. — Symptoms. — Pain of a burning kind in
the throat, nausea and vomiting, griping pains in the stomach,
pallor and coldness, the legs are drawn up, and there are
appearances of collapse.
Alkalies. — The strong or concentrated preparation acts
with extreme corrosive violence on the mouth, gullet, and stom-
ach. Should the action of this poison be further continued, it
will* be found that it affects the nervous system. This will be
demonstrated by the patient's sight becoming dim, and the
power of taste and smell less acute than it is normally — by
extreme depression, syncope, and death.
Treatment. — Milk and white of egg should be given freely,
and emetics of mustard and warm water, combined with flour
or oatmeal.
Page 299
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
Lead {White Lead. Sugar of Lead). — Symptoms. — This also causes many of the symptoms described under arsenic, when taken in a large quantity; but there is a particular form of disease called lead colic, which particularly affects workers in lead (see colic); these people are also subject to a form of paralysis (see paralysis).
Treatment. — When taken in a large dose, give an emetic of sulphur of zinc or copper (see hemlock). If the pain in the stomach be severe, small doses of tincture of opium, about lo minims, should be given at short intervals, combined with sulphate of magnesia.
Mercury (Corrosive Sublimate. Calomel. White Precipitate). — Symptoms. — Intense metallic taste in the mouth, pain in the stomach, purging, vomiting, etc.; in fact, the symptoms of nearly all metallic poisons are similar. There are, of course, certain peculiarities belonging to each, and that belonging to mercury is the largely increased flow of saliva, commonly called " salivation," which almost invariably follows a poisonous dose of mercury in any of its forms. The period which elapses between the taking of the poison and appearance of the salivation, varies from a few hours to some days.
Treatment. — An emetic of sulphate of zinc or copper (as under hemlock) should be given in white of egg, mixed with milk or water, milk, and flour and water in large draughts. When the salivation sets in, the following will be found useful
when in conjunction with astringent gargles: Iodide of potassium, 24 grains; tincture of bark, i ounce; water, to 8 ounces. Mix, and take two tablespoonfuls three times a day. A good form of an astringent gargle is as follows: Alum, 30 grains; water, to 4 ounces. Mix, and use about a tablespoonful as a gargle every three or four hours.
Ammonia. — Symptoms. — Pungent acrid odor, hot taste, stomach-ache, followed by convulsions, delirium, and death.
Treatment. — Vinegar and water in large doses, lemon juice and olive oil. For any other of the alkalies, soda or potash, in their caustic forms, the same treatment should be pursued.
Chloride of Zinc. — Symptoms. — Pain of a burning kind in the throat, nausea and vomiting, griping pains in the stomach, pallor and coldness, the legs are drawn up, and there are appearances of collapse.
Alkalies. — The strong or concentrated preparation acts with extreme corrosive violence on the mouth, gullet, and stomach. Should the action of this poison be further continued, it will be found that it affects the nervous system. This will be demonstrated by the patient's sight becoming dim, and the power of taste and smell less acute than it is normally — by extreme depression, syncope, and death.
Treatment. — Milk and white of egg should be given freely, and emetics of mustard and warm water, combined with flour or oatmeal.