ITie action of antidotes may be due either to their chemical properties, or to their having pliysiological effects that are the opposite of those which they are intended to counteract. As an example of cliemical antidotes it may be mentioned that acids antidote alkalies. .s an example of physiological "antagonism" may be mentioned the case of morphine and atro[)ine. In cases of poisoning in which no true antidote is known, the treatment resorted to is necessarily of a mechanical nature. Such cases, it must be observed, are in the majority: so that the stom- ach pump, emetics, and purgatives, play an im- portant rule in the treatment of most cases of poisoning. The following is a list of ordinary poisons, with their antidotes and other factors employed in counteracting them.
Arsenic, Paris Green. — A tablespoonful of "dialyzed iron" (sold in all drug stores) should be given to the patient every half hour for four doses. This should be followed by a dose of castor oil.
Phosphorus, Matches, "Rourjh on - Rats." — Emetics, a large amount of mucilage of gum nraldc, and a purgative dose of Epsom salts, should be administered. Oils or fats should be avoided.
Caustic Potash (Lye). Washing Soda, or Am- monia. — The action of these maj- be counteracted by diluted lemon juice, or by a mixture of two parts of vinegar with one of water. The acid should be followed by large amounts of sweet oil. Oxalic .icid. — Give the patient water contain- ing such alkaline substances as chalk, whiting, or whitewash scraped from the w'all. Then give a dose of castor oil or of Epsom salts. Carbolic .icid. — A good chemical antidote for this is Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate), or any other soluble sulphate; for, on entering the blood, these form with carbolic acid harmless chemical compounds. Give the patient also large amounts of sweet oil, white of egg, and stimu- lants.
Carbonic Acid Gas, Carbonic Oxide. Coal Gas. — Fresh air should be supplied; artificial res- piration should be emplo3-cd. thirty drops of aromatic spirits of ammonia should be given every half hour for three doses, and then one ounce of well diluted whisky every three hours, for three doses.
Nicotine. — The patient should be placed fiat on the back and emetics, tea, and stimulants should be administered. A hypodermic injection of one-fortieth of a grain of nitrate of strychnine has a very good elTect.
Alcohol. — The stomach pump nia}' be used early by the attending phj'sician. Thirty grains of powdered ipecac should be given to the patient as an emetic, then thirty drops of aromatic spir- its of ammonia every half hour until the pulse has l)ecome full and rapid. Then cold should be applied to the head and heat to the extremities. Chloral, "Knock-nut-drops." — Thirty grains of ipecac in water should be given to the patient as an emetic, and a hypodermic injection of one- twentieth of a grain of strychnine. .Friction of the surface, application of warmth, and artificial respiration are effective.
Corrosive Hubliinatr (Tiichloridc of Mercury), Bed Bug Poison, White Precipitate. — Thirty grains of powdered ipecac in warm water should be given to the patient as an emetic, tlien the whites of a dozen eggs, and a hypodermic injec- tion of morphine.
Sulfonal. — The stomach pump and artificial respiration should be employed, and plenty of hot coffee should be given to the patient. Opium, Morphine. — An emetic or the stomach pump should be employed first of all ; then the patient should be m;vde to inliale anmionia and half a grain of permanganate of potash should be given every hour. Artificial respiration should be employed, two ounces of hot black cof- fee should be injected into the rectum, and treat- ment should be employed with a view to keeping the patient awake — which may be elTected by shaking, walking, flagellation of the calves, etc. A subcutaneous injection of atropine, or thirty drops of tincture of belladonna repeatedl}' given by the mouih, will have a powerfully counter- acting effect bv stimulating the respiratory cen- tre.
i^trychnine. — The stomach pump should be em- ployed as early as possible, and twenty grains of zinc sulphate should be given, or thirty grains of powdered ipecac, in warm water, as an emetic. Then twenty grains of chloral and thirty grains of bromide of sodium, dissolved together in two ounces of hot water, should be injected into the rectum. In case convulsions occur, aniesthesia may be produced by the use of chloroform.
Chloral, which is in a sense antagonistic to strychnine, is considered a valuable antidote. In anj' case, twenty grains of sodium bromide shoidd be given by the mouth every liour. Cocai)ie. — The patient should be placed flat on the back, and whisky and hypodermic injec- tions of strychnine — one-fortieth of a gi-ain each — should be given.
Phenacetin. — Whisky and digitalis should be given.
Turpentine. — An emetic, mucilage of gum ara- ble, Epsom salts, and a hypodermic injection of morphine, should be given to the patient.
Tansy. — Thirty grains of powdered ipecac in warm water as an emetic, and a dose of castor oil, should be given to the patient.
In the case of whAhoioi poisons, it is advisable to give two teaspoonfuls of chalk mixed with water, four eggs beaten up with a glass of milk, and some whisky. The stomach pump, too, may be useful, and in case these measures give no relief, artificial respiration should be employed. Of course, the physician should endeavor to as- certain the nature of the poison and direct the treatment accordingly. See Poison.
AN'TI-EMET'IC (Gk. dvr!, anti, again.st + e/ielv, emein, to vomit) . ..ny remedy which tends to arrest nausea and vomiting. No class of drugs is more unreliable in action, and rest and quiet are at times much more efficient than the administration bi an anti-emetic. Drugs may act upon the vomiting centre, as morphine or hydrocyanic acid, or on the nervous system, or locally on the stomach. Of the local remedies, external applications of counterirritants or of cold ma,y succeed. Emetics act by removing the cause for continued vomiting; lavage, or washing the stomach, in the same way. Cold carbonated waters, alcohol, especially dry champagne, chloroform, opium, bromides, chloral hydrate, and arsenic are at times used successfully. Ipecac, dilute hydrocyanic acid, small doses of calomel, cerium oxalate, cocaine, carbolic acid, nux vomica, and the alkalies iire among the most iclial)lc anti-emetics. Many drugs at times succeed where others fail. In any case, it is necessary to determine the cause of vomiting before it
