system, with either deliriiun^ convnlsions,
tremor, or paralysis, as strychnia (or nux-
vomica), belladonna, stramonium, calabar
bean, cocculus Indicus.
Complex (Irritant-Neurotic) poisons are
such as arsenic, carbolic acid, creosote,
digitalis, ergot, fungi (toadstools, etc.),
hellebore, iodine, bromine, lead, etc.
Depressant poisons cause prostration,
sinking : with paleness, coldness, feeble
pulse, gasping breath, with or without
nausea and vomiting ; all the symptoms of
collapse.
Irj'itant poisons produce burning and
pain in the mouth, throat, stomach, and
bowels ; with nausea, vomiting, and purg-
ing ; an artificial cholera-morbus .
Neurotic poisons have just been de-
scribed as causing either stupor, delirium,
convulsions, tremor, or paralysis. Complex
poisons may combine several of either of
these kinds of effects.
So far, we have been considering pois-
ons as taken into the stomach by the mouth.
It must be remembered, however, that they
may also enter the system by being breathed
into the lungs ; injected under the skin ; or
even absorbed from the surface of the skin
(especially with children ; a tobacco leaf
has been so fatally used) ; or inserted into
the bowels, etc.
With these general remarks, we may
now take up those poisons most likely to
be met with, or heard or read about, alpha-
betically, for ease of reference by the reader.
Acids. As already said, strong acids are
generally irrita7it poisons. Hydrocyanic or
prussic acid is a powerful depressant. The
antidotes for acids are alkalies and alkaline
earths; as soda, limewater, chalk, mag-
nesia, and soap, etc. In like manner, acids
of the milder sort, as vinegar, lemon-juice,
etc., are antidotes for poisonous doses of
strong alkalies or alkaline earths, as caustic
potassa, soda, ammonia, or lime.
Aconite. All parts of this plant (Monks-
hood, Aconitum napellus^ are poisonous.
The only form in which any one is likely
to take it injuriously is that of the Ti?icture
THE FA MIL Y DOCTOR
85
of aconite root, in overdose (the proper dose
is one, two, or three drops), or by mistake
for something else. Death has been caused
in this way : two bottles are standing by a
patient's bedside, one containing a medicine
to be taken internally, and the other a lini-
ment for external application ; an attendant,
by mistake, rubs a painful part with the
medicine, and gives him a tablespoonful
dose Oi the aconite liniment.
Symptoms : burning, tingling, and numb-
ness of mouth, throat, and stomach, extend-
ing afterwards through the whole body ;
sickness of stomach, dizziness, prostration,
sometimes convulsions ; no delirium, no
stupor, unless in quite exceptional cases.
Death, from a sufficient quantity, results in
a few hours. Less than a half a teaspoonful
of the tincture has proved fatal in some
instances ; a teaspoonful will always be
likely to do so, if left long in the stomach.
Page 225
Presented as published in 1901. 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
system, with either delirium, convulsions, tremor, or paralysis, as strychnia (or nuxvomica), belladonna, stramonium, calabar bean, cocculus Indicus.
Complex (Irritant-Neurotic) poisons are such as arsenic, carbolic acid, creosote, digitalis, ergot, fungi (toadstools, etc.), hellebore, iodine, bromine, lead, etc.
Depressant poisons cause prostration, sinking : with paleness, coldness, feeble pulse, gasping breath, with or without nausea and vomiting ; all the symptoms of
collapse.
Irritant poisons produce burning and pain in the mouth, throat, stomach, and bowels ; with nausea, vomiting, and purging ; an artificial cholera-morbus .
Neurotic poisons have just been described as causing either stupor, delirium, convulsions, tremor, or paralysis. Complex poisons may combine several of either of these kinds of effects.
So far, we have been considering poisons as taken into the stomach by the mouth. It must be remembered, however, that they may also enter the system by being breathed into the lungs ; injected under the skin ; or even absorbed from the surface of the skin (especially with children ; a tobacco leaf has been so fatally used) ; or inserted into the bowels, etc.
With these general remarks, we may now take up those poisons most likely to be met with, or heard or read about, alphabetically, for ease of reference by the reader.
Acids. As already said, strong acids are generally irrita7it poisons. Hydrocyanic or prussic acid is a powerful depressant. The antidotes for acids are alkalies and alkaline earths; as soda, limewater, chalk, magnesia, and soap, etc. In like manner, acids of the milder sort, as vinegar, lemon-juice, etc., are antidotes for poisonous doses of strong alkalies or alkaline earths, as caustic potassa, soda, ammonia, or lime.
Aconite. All parts of this plant (Monkshood, Aconitum napellus) are poisonous. The only form in which any one is likely to take it injuriously is that of the Tincture
of aconite root, in overdose (the proper dose is one, two, or three drops), or by mistake for something else. Death has been caused in this way : two bottles are standing by a patient's bedside, one containing a medicine to be taken internally, and the other a liniment for external application ; an attendant, by mistake, rubs a painful part with the medicine, and gives him a tablespoonful dose Oi the aconite liniment.
Symptoms : burning, tingling, and numbness of mouth, throat, and stomach, extending afterwards through the whole body ; sickness of stomach, dizziness, prostration, sometimes convulsions ; no delirium, no stupor, unless in quite exceptional cases. Death, from a sufficient quantity, results in a few hours. Less than a half a teaspoonful of the tincture has proved fatal in some instances ; a teaspoonful will always be likely to do so, if left long in the stomach.