Take of the Powder of Russia Castor, Mountain Valerian Root, each half a Scruple, Aromatic Species, five Grains; and with a sufficient Quantity of Sir Walter Raleigh's Cordial, mix them into a Bolus, to be taken directly, and repeated every half Hour, or oftener, as the Urgency of the Case might require.
Take of simple Spear-Mint Water six Ounces; strong Cinnamon Water, distilled Vinegar, each one Ounce; Syrup of Clove Gilly-Flowers six Drams; mix them together into a Julep, of which give the Patient four Spoonfuls with each of the above Bolusses, and between whiles, when faint.
Assafœtida Drops were used likewise to her Nostrils and Temples, and Blisters applied to the Arms as expeditiously as possible.
These Bolusses being given as directed, and the Julep, or Wine Whey, (every two or three Minutes) she went into a profuse Sweat; and, in little more than an Hour from the Time I first saw her, recovered her Senses and Speech. These, however, were imperfect; then ensued Stools, and an universal Relaxation, with frequent, and almost continual Faintings; she was relieved from these by quick Repetitions of the Julep, which had been some little time neglected by those about her. She continued the Use of the Bolus, leaving out the Castor, and encreasing the Quantity of the Valerian to a Scruple, with the Julep, for some Days; and in a Week was free from every bad Consequence. The Vertigo and Tremor had entirely left her, and no Remains of the Disorder apparent, but in the sallow Look of her Skin, and that continued some time. She was with Child, and did not miscarry, notwithstanding the Quantity of Laudanum taken was one Ounce.
In these Cases, when the Virus of the Poison is weakened, it would be wrong immediately to omit the use of Medicines, since the future Illness that would probably arise, might be prevented by the Power and Quantity of them being gradually decreased; for which Reason I shall lay down no Rule, but leave to the Discretion of the Gentleman employed to act, as the Weakness, or other consequent Symptoms attending the Patient, may direct.
I shall recite yet another Case of a Child, about eighteen Months old.
The Reader may very naturally doubt, how it was possible for a Child, so young as this, to be poisoned with Laudanum. Sorry am I to say, nothing is so easy; the Practice among Nurses to give to their Children the Syrup of the Sleeping Poppy, or other quieting Medicines, is too common; and particularly, one that goes by the Name of Godfrey's Cordial; which is a Composition very binding, has Opium in it, and was never designed by the Author for such Purposes; but was calculated principally for the Cure of Fluxes. By the Administration of such Things, a Nursery may be kept quiet, which is Inducement enough to some Nurses, as they will be enabled thereby to pursue their various Employments without Interruption, which could not be done with the same Ease, were the Child waking.
A Girl, at the Age of eighteen Months, had the Whooping Cough; to remedy which, her Mother was advised to get of a sleeping Medicine, called Elixir Paregoricum, and to give the Child a certain Quantity of it every Night. What that Quantity was, or how much was given, I cannot positively say; but am certain, that it was sufficient to be in Effect very violent; for a Struggle of Nature immediately ensued the swallowing of the Medicine to overcome Strangulation, caused by the Heat and confining Power of it; presently after, the Child sunk into a heavy Sleep, which continued near twenty-four Hours; and she bore, during that Time, all the progressive Symptoms of the Power of Opium, which encreased, as usual, to Convulsions.
The Use of Acid in this Case was, in a manner, forbid me, from the natural Tendency of the Humours in young Children to such Ferments; I therefore avoided it, till obliged by the Violence of the Effects (acting after Harris de Morbis acutis Infantum, p. 102. Quod ad convulsiones spectat, ab Acrimonia Materiæ Morbificæ propaginem Nervosam Extimulante ut plurimum pendentes, Testacea nostra, et maxime, si Castoreum iis adjiciatur, &c.
As my Patient had the nocent Dose given her at Night, the Effect was not perceived until the next Morning, when they found her, with her Eyes closed, and insensible to the taking of Aliment and Drinks, in consequence of which, I was called to her, and ordered as follows: