Take of Castor Water, one Ounce and a half; Crabs Claws and Cordial Confection, each one Scruple; Syrup of Saffron, two Drachms; Tincture of Castor, twenty Drops; mix them, and give a large Spoonful often.
A Blister was applied to the Back, notwithstanding which, the Convulsions encreased, with short Intervals of a total Relaxation, to which Infants are very liable in most Illnesses, owing to the natural Moisture of their Bodies; I then gave the following:
Take of simple Pennyroyal Water, two Drachms; the Cordial Confection, half a Scruple; Powder of Russia Castor, three Grains; strong Cinnamon Water and distilled Vinegar, each half a Drachm; mix them for a Draught, to be given as soon as possible.
Soon after taking this Medicine, my little Patient recovered from her Convulsions, opened her Eyes, and cried.
I then gave her a Powder of Rhubarb and Jalap corrected, which, in the Course of the Day, produced several Stools, that smelt inexpressibly strong; the Fits left the Child that Evening, and, in a few Days, she was entirely recovered.
It is necessary to observe, that I continued her Testacea Powders for several Days, to correct any Disposition there might be to Acid Ferments in the first Passages, after their being so injured by the Power of the Sleeping Medicine.
It is also remarkable, that, in this Case, the Effect of the Poison upon the Child was not so sudden or violent, as on an Adult; for, I observed, the Power of it was encreased the ensuing Day; whereas a grown Person, if he escapes the extream Action of the Opiate for the first twelve Hours (which was about the Interval of Rest, from the Time of her taking it, until I saw her) his Symptoms afterwards grow mild, and he, in a Manner, out of Danger. I presume that this After-operation of the Opium on the Child, might be occasioned by a great quantity of Phlegm, that had invested, at that Time, the Coats of the Stomach. The Phlegm raised by young Children, is commonly deglutiated, and thereby might defend her Stomach from the Violence of the Poison, until such Time as a Portion of that Phlegm had passed into the Intestines, and thence had given the Opiate Room to penetrate and cummunicate its full Power to the Body.
I have now passed through the whole Process, which I have experienced in this Poison; yet, shall further add, some general Rules, for the Use of Places, where Physical Advice cannot be immediately obtained; and, as this may sometimes be the Case in Villages remote from Market-Towns, I have held it my Duty to give every Insight, that might tend to the Preservation of Life in such Exigencies; though I would not recommend this Method solely to be depended upon, without further Advice, where physical Assistance is obtainable.
A Person who has taken Opium to Excess, should forthwith be made to vomit several Times, by every Art imaginable, remembering the more quick and copious the Draughts of Liquor are given, the better Chance there is for Success.
Let the Party affected be kept as much as possible in continual Motion, giving him, when he has done vomiting, a Glass of Sack or Mountain Wine, with a Table Spoon-full of good Vinegar in it, especially when in Tremors; in a languid and relaxed State, the Vinegar thus mixed should be repeated frequently, (The Use of rich generous Wines were esteemed Specific in this Case by the Antients; and among the rest Hoffman and Rondoletius) and where Wine is not to be got readily, Water may be used, with Honey or Sugar dissolved in it, 'till the Liquor will bear an Egg.