Femina, A Work for Every Woman

by John A. Miller

Arsenic: Give the white of eggs, lime water or chalk and water; tablespoonful doses of carbonate of iron, mixed with water, or calcined magnesia in the same manner, then evacuate the stomach with an ipecac emetic.

Corrosive sublimate: Give white of eggs, or wheat flour mixed with water; afterwards give an emetic.

Alcohol: First cleanse out the stomach with an emetic, then dash cold water on the head and give frequent doses of aromatic spirits of ammonia in water.

Charcoal or coal gas poisoning: Remove the patient into the open air, dash cold water on the head and body and stimulate by passing ammonia to and fro under the nostrils, at the same time rubbing the chest briskly.

Lead: White lead and sugar of lead should first be treated with alum emetic, afterwards a cathartic of castor oil or Epsom salt.

Nitrate of silver (lunar caustic): Give a strong solution of common salt, and then emetics.

Prussic acid or cyanide of potassium. For this no certain antidote exists, and it destroys life so suddenly as scarcely to allow of use if we had one. When there is time chlorine in solution has been recommended, also water of ammonia and cold affusions.

Opium, laudanum and morphine require the same antidote. If the patient can swallow an emetic should be given; twenty grains of sulphate of zinc and a teaspoonful of powdered ipecac mixed in a draught of water should be given every twenty or thirty minutes until vomiting is insured. A mixture of half teaspoonful of mustard and a tablespoonful of salt dissolved in a pint or quart of warm water is another efficient emetic in these cases. If swallowing is impossible the stomach pump must be used. When the stomach is cleansed out give strong coffee and acid drinks, dash cold water on the head and keep the patient walking.

Belladonna and black henbane: Give emetics, and afterwards a dose of paregoric, and a hot whisky toddy, or a cupful of strong tea.

Nux Vomica and strychnine have no reliable chemical antidote; emetics should first be given, or the stomach washed out with a siphon tube or stomach pump. Chloroform must be employed to control the spasms, then alcoholic stimulants should be freely administered.