These Circumstances considered, the ensuing Process is what I should recommend.—In the first State, before the Poison has had Power to act, and only Symptoms common to Ebriety appear (which is generally very soon after it has been taken) let a Vomit be administered, to provoke the Discharge of it; as soon as possible; for Instance;
Take of simple Spearmint-Water,
Oxymel of Squills; each one Ounce;
Powder of Ipecacuanha-Root, half a Scruple; mix them for a Vomiting Potion.
The Person should, if possible, be diverted from immediate Sitting, or lying down, and frequent Draughts of a Water-Gruel; not too thin, be given to assist the Operation; which, if repeated, so as to procure four or five Vomitings, will bring with it the major Part of the Opium. This happy Effect may be presently guessed by the Smell of what is discharged from the Stomach, and will be sufficient for the Time, if the Poison taken was in a liquid State; but if in a Solid, the Vomiting should be continued, by giving fresh Gruel, even to six or seven Times; for by the compact Form, and through the stupefying Power of Opium, it will be the last Thing disengaged from the Stomach. The Strength of the vomiting Potion, if not deemed sufficient, may be encreased, according to the Strength of the Patient, with an Addition of the Powder of Ipecacuanha-Root.
This Operation may soon be over, as it depends upon the Assiduity of administering the Gruel; nor need there be much Time spent in making it, an Handful of Oatmeal being sufficient, mixing it in cold Water, and pouring warm to it, without standing to settle, or straining; Broth, Beer-Wort, or even Water alone might do; but the Gruel being easily and quickly attainable by every one, I would recommend that, as the most proper; if the Patient's Stomach had been charged with Food, but a short Time before taking the Poison, this Vomiting may be found sufficient to perform the Cure; yet is, in my Opinion, too precarious to be solely depended on. I mention this chiefly as a favourable Symptom, since the Power of Opium is to be much feared, when alone, in an empty Stomach, or one, at most, charged with Fluids.
The next Thing requisite, is to place the Patient in a Bed, or Chair, not in a lying, but sitting Posture, his Head supported, and Body covered very warm, to promote a Sweat, but not so as to incumber him with their Weight.
This is quite different from the Opinion of Dr. Jones, who recommends the Patient to be kept cold, in Proportion to the Stupor, in order to brace the relaxed Parts. If the Symptoms are extream, he advises the Person to be exposed, stark naked, to the coldest Air, or thrown into cold Water; and when you have not the Conveniency of a Vessel large enough, you are to pump or dash cold Water over the naked Body. To this extraordinary Opinion, I shall beg Leave to oppose that of Grevinus. Lib. 2. de Venenis, Cap. 16. Pag. 208. Balnea cum sint Calida & Humida, cutim extendunt, Partes refrigeratas et exsiccatas corroborant, & per insensibilem transpirationem exhalare faciunt id, quod inter Carnem & Cutim relinqui potuit, Sanguinemque pristino vigori suo restituunt. Baccius likewise, Lib. 7. de Thermis, Cap. 23. Pag. 474. particularly recommends the Use of warm Bathing, to the Recovery of those who have taken Opium, and have appeared almost dead. Add to these, the Opinions of most Authors for promoting the Secretions; which Opium powerfully interrupts, especially in cold Climates, according to Tournefort's Observation; and Willis, de Opii Nocumentis, Page 188. Who gives an Account of a robust Man, dying in four Hours, from the Time of taking the Laudanum, without the least Sleep or Evacuation.——How does Dr. Jones himself account for the Itching of the Skin, as a Symptom of Opium having been taken to Excess, but by the Obstruction of the Pores? And what will open them so soon, and promote the other necessary Secretions so readily, as a warm Bath? I should never fail therefore to advise the Use of a warm Bath, would Time admit of the Preparing it; the Recovery of the Patient depending much upon the most expeditious Applications.
To return to the Point in View. We must correct what remaining Powers of the Poison are left in the Body, after the Evacuations by Vomit, which are to be carried off by Sweat, observing the Use of cordial Medicines, to support, strengthen, and brace the Frame, using likewise Blisters, which will not only rouse Nature by their Stimulus, but derive a Portion of the Humours to themselves.
Take of simple Penny-Royal-Water, one Ounce and a Half, Strong Nutmeg-Water, Distilled Vinegar; each two Drachms. The Cardiac Confection, Powder of Mountain Valerian; each half a Drachm. Syrup of Saffron, two Drachms; Tincture of Castor; twenty Drops; mix these for one Dose, to be taken immediately, and repeated every half Hour, to four Times, and afterwards every second, third, or fourth Hour, as the Exigency of the Case may require.