Give, as quickly as possible, a strong mustard emetic; that is to say, mix two teaspoonfuls of flour of mustard in half a teacupful of water, and force it down his throat. If free vomiting be not induced, tickle the upper part of the swallow with a feather; drench the little patient’s stomach with large quantities of warm water. As soon as it can be obtained from a druggist, give him the following emetic draught:
Take of—Sulphate of Zinc, one scruple;
Simple Syrup, one drachm;
Distilled Water, seven drachms:
To make a Draught.
Smack his buttocks and his back; walk him, or lead him, or carry him about in the fresh air; shake him by the shoulders; pull his hair; tickle his nostrils; shout and holla in his ears; plunge him into a warm bath and then into a cold bath alternately; well sponge his head and face with cold water; dash cold water on his head, face, and neck; and do not, on any account, until the effects of the opiate are gone off, allow him to go to sleep; if you do, he will never wake again! While doing all these things, of course, you ought to lose no time in sending for a medical man.
293. Have you any observations to make on parents allowing the Deadly Nightshade—the Atropa Belladonna—to grow in their gardens?
I wish to caution you not on any account to allow the Belladonna—the Deadly Nightshade—to grow in your garden. The whole plant—root, leaves, and berries—is poisonous; and the berries, being attractive to the eye, are very alluring to children.
294. What is the treatment of poisoning by Belladonna?
Instantly send for a medical man; but, in the mean time, give an emetic—a mustard emetic;—mix two teaspoonfuls of flour of mustard in half a teacupful of warm water, and force it down the child’s throat; then drench him with warm water, and tickle the upper part of his swallow either with a feather or with the finger, to make him sick; as the grand remedy is an emetic to bring up the offending cause. If the emetic have not acted sufficiently, the medical man when he arrives may deem it necessary to use the stomach-pump; but remember not a moment must be lost, for moments are precious in a case of belladonna poisoning, in giving a mustard emetic, and repeating it again and again until the enemy be dislodged. Dash cold water upon his head and face; the best way of doing which is by means of a large sponge, holding his head and his face over a wash-hand basin, half filled with cold water, and filling the sponge from the basin, and squeezing it over his head and face, allowing the water to continuously stream over them for an hour or two, or until the effects of the poison have passed away. This sponging of the head and face is very useful in poisoning by opium, as well as in poisoning by belladonna; indeed, the treatment of poisoning by the one is very similar to the treatment of poisoning by the other. I, therefore, for the further treatment of poisoning by belladonna, beg to refer you to a previous Conversation on the treatment of poisoning by opium.