Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/99

ANT - terwards cold water gently alkalis- ed, ought to be drunk in abund- ance. Though lead may not be consi- dered as corrosive poison, its ef- fects are nevertheless deleterious, and may be corrected by r he re- medies already suggested, namely, by drinking large quantities of aci- dulated liquors, or solutions of the liv r of sulphur, and completing the cure by gentle laxatives j but, in the commencement of the com- plaint, drastic purgatives carefully avoided. The poisonous effects of mineral acids may be counteracted by the ■ ion of calcined magne- sia. M. Uesgraxges relieved a soldier in the agonies of death, who bad sv. allowed a glass of the sui- te acid, or oil of vitriol, by prescribing die following antidote, viz. a dram and a half of the car- bonate of magnesia Y»2ag7?m« ustti aerate), dissolved in a tea-cupful of pure water. This dose pro- duced excessive vomiting. I. peated the magnesia in the quanti- ty of half a dram every halt hour, giving at intervals a solution of gum-arabic and sugar till the cure was accomplished. • To obviate the ill effects of opium, emetics should be given as speedily as possible, If the first symptoms only appear, v bicb the same as those of intoxication, the following emetic will be of ser- vice, viz. Simple spearmint- water and oxymel of squills, of each one ounce, and half a scruple of ipeca- cuanha : frequent draughts of wa- ter-gruel should be given, to assist the operation. If the poison has been swallowed in a liquid, state, b may be ascertained from the smell of the nr.^t discharge, four or five vomitings may be sufficient: ant ii S but if in a solid form, two or three must be procured, by giving Should the symptoms continue violent, it will be neces- sary to increase the quantity of the medicines, in proportion to the ur- gency of the ease, and the strength of the patient. The principal ob- ject to be kept in view, according to Dr. Seaman, is, to produce such a degree of irritation, as may counteract the narcotic effects of this deleterious drug. Hence it is very useful to stimulate the nos- tril.-, with spirits of hartshorn* and to apply friction with salt over the whole body. Lemon juice, a solution of white vitriol, and other acid substances, have long been considered as effec- tual antidotes against opium ; but they do not afford sufficient secu- rity. As we • advise all per- sons in this unfortunate situation, immediately to avail themselves of medical assistar.ee, it would be needless to expatiate farther en the subject : we shall only observe, that there is a remedy at once sim- ple and t . or all kinds of poisons, to be found near even' cot- tage, as weii as in the palaces of the great. This is pure wate r, which, when taken at an early pe- riod, and in sufficient quantity, has ■nefieial tendency of diluting and neutralizing most of the poisons introduced into the stomach. With respect to those vege- table substances which sometimes, though rarely, require antidotes,we ahall in this place mention the fol- lowing : 1. Camphor 5 2. Arnica^ or German Leopard's bane ; 3. his Lulus, or India berry j 4. Gamboge; 5. Datura stroma' niuiii, or Thorn-apple; 0'. /</</- lium all u nt, or White Hellebore ; and