Mother, Nurse and Infant / A Manual Especially Adapted for the Guidance of Mothers and Monthly Nurses, Comprising Full Instruction in Regard To Pregnancy, Preparation for Child-birth, and the Care of Mother and Child, and Designed to Impart so Much Knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology, Midwifery, and the Proper Use of Medicines as Will Serve Intelligently to Direct the Wife, Mother and Nurse in All Emergencies.

by S. P. Sackett

But either common salt or mustard is nearly always at hand and may be given. Stir up a tablespoonful of salt or a teaspoonful of mustard in a cup of warm water, and give immediately, and repeat until a pint is swallowed; do not stop to stir them very much, but give as quickly as possible. You may tickle the throat with a finger or a feather to induce immediate vomiting. Do not give tartar emetic; do not give fluids so as to distend the stomach too much; some bland fluid may be given with or immediately after giving mustard and salt; either milk, lime water, white of egg, flour and water, gruel, drinks sweetened with honey or sugar. Oil should not be given unless ordered.

Before naming the antidotes for particular poisons I wish to instruct the nurse to not only note the symptoms, but also to examine every article of a suspicious nature, (such as phials, boxes, or papers containing powders), and preserve them. Preserve also all vomited matter and everything that may afford a clue to the poison for after inspection, if the nature of the poison is likely to be a subject of after inquiry.

In regard to the symptoms it may be well to know that Prussic acid, cyanide of potassium, strong ammonia, pure carbonic acid gas, or pure carbonic oxide may KILL almost at once, as indeed almost every poison may if taken in a very large dose; strong acids, alkalies, aconite, antimony, arsenic, tobacco, or lobelia may cause SPEEDY COLLAPSE.

Belladonna, hyoscyamus, strammonium, canabis indica, alcohol or camphor, may cause DELIRIUM.

Nux vomica, strychnine, antimony, or arsenic may cause TETANUS or tonic contraction of the muscles.

Antimony, arsenic, carbonic oxide, aconite, strong acids or alkalies may cause CONVULSIONS.

Gelsemium, conium, aconite, arsenic, or lead may cause PARALYSIS.

Belladonna, atropine, hyoscyamus, or strammonium causes DRY SKIN; and opium, aconite, antimony, alcohol or lobelia causes MOIST SKIN. The skin is almost always moist in collapse.

Belladonna, atropine, hyoscyamus, stammonium, aconite, alcohol, chloroform or conium may cause DILATED PUPILS.

Opium or chloral may cause CONTRACTED PUPILS, especially during sleep.