Chloroform. — This liquid is much used,
in Europe, but less than ether in this coun-
try, as an anccsthetic, by being breathed to
annul the pain of surgical operations. It is
more dangerous, by far, than ether or nitrous
oxide, in this mode of employment ; and, of
course, it should never be taken or given in
this way by an unprofessional person.
Symptojns of chloroform poisoning are those
of stupor, from which the patient cannot be
roused. This may be preceded by signs of
great irritation of the stomach ; as chloro-
form is very pungent and heating when
swallowed. Treatme?it requires an e^netic at
once (see Aconite, Treatm^ent) ; and then, as
there is no chemical antidote, dashing cold
water on the face and chest, and, if it can be
obtained, the galvanic battery ; as a last re-
sort, artificial respiration.
Copper. — While this metal, when pure,
is not itself poisonous, its compounds are ;
and they are produced by the action on cop-
per of the fluids of the stomach, or by acids
and other materials used in cooking, pick-
ling, etc. In this way copper poisoning
sometimes occurs, as well as among those
working in copper. Mineral water (car-
bonic acid water, soda-water) dissolves cop-
per ; hence reservoirs of that metal, without
any, or with only an imperfect, lining of
something not soluble, ought not to be used
for it. The compounds of copper most
often acting poisonously are, blue vitriol
(bluestone), the sulphate ; and verdigris, the
subacetate of copper. In large amount taken
at once, either of these will cause severe
vomiting, pain in the abdomen, and purg-
ing ; afterwards headache, and, in fatal
cases, convulsions or paralysis before death.
SI02V poisoning will result from taking small
amounts of copper daily, as in cooked or
pickled articles, for a length of time. Symp-
toms of this are, a coppery taste in the
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
87
mouth, with parched tongue and throat ;
nausea, retching, perhaps vomiting ; pains
in the stomach and bowels ; diarrhoea, with
straining ; weakness, with nervous restless-
ness ; dizziness, cold sweats, cramps, and
at last convulsions.
Treatment for rapid copper poisoning (as
it is itself an emetic) should consist in giv-
ing an abundance of ivhites of eggs ; albu-
men making a harmless compound with
copper. Milk may be given freely if no eggs
are at hand ; its effect is of the same kind.
For sloiv copper poisoning, the main thing
is to withdraiv the caitse, in whatever thing
or things it may exist. Then, a milk diet,
with moderate doses of an opiate, as pare-
goric, or small doses of laudanum, to
assuage the pain and diarrhoea, will be suit-
able.
Page 228
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
Chloroform. — This liquid is much used, in Europe, but less than ether in this country, as an anesthetic, by being breathed to annul the pain of surgical operations. It is more dangerous, by far, than ether or nitrous oxide, in this mode of employment ; and, of course, it should never be taken or given in this way by an unprofessional person. Symptojns of chloroform poisoning are those of stupor, from which the patient cannot be roused. This may be preceded by signs of great irritation of the stomach ; as chloroform is very pungent and heating when swallowed. Treatment requires an e^netic at once (see Aconite, Treatment) ; and then, as there is no chemical antidote, dashing cold water on the face and chest, and, if it can be obtained, the galvanic battery ; as a last resort, artificial respiration.
Copper. — While this metal, when pure, is not itself poisonous, its compounds are ; and they are produced by the action on copper of the fluids of the stomach, or by acids and other materials used in cooking, pickling, etc. In this way copper poisoning sometimes occurs, as well as among those working in copper. Mineral water (carbonic acid water, soda-water) dissolves copper ; hence reservoirs of that metal, without any, or with only an imperfect, lining of something not soluble, ought not to be used for it. The compounds of copper most often acting poisonously are, blue vitriol (bluestone), the sulphate ; and verdigris, the subacetate of copper. In large amount taken at once, either of these will cause severe vomiting, pain in the abdomen, and purging ; afterwards headache, and, in fatal cases, convulsions or paralysis before death. Slow poisoning will result from taking small amounts of copper daily, as in cooked or pickled articles, for a length of time. Symptoms of this are, a coppery taste in the
mouth, with parched tongue and throat ; nausea, retching, perhaps vomiting ; pains in the stomach and bowels ; diarrhoea, with straining ; weakness, with nervous restlessness ; dizziness, cold sweats, cramps, and at last convulsions.
Treatment for rapid copper poisoning (as it is itself an emetic) should consist in giving an abundance of ivhites of eggs ; albumen making a harmless compound with copper. Milk may be given freely if no eggs are at hand ; its effect is of the same kind. For sloiv copper poisoning, the main thing is to withdraiv the caitse, in whatever thing or things it may exist. Then, a milk diet, with moderate doses of an opiate, as paregoric, or small doses of laudanum, to assuage the pain and diarrhoea, will be suitable.