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

Alkalies are like the acids, irritating; if strong they excoriate the fauces and esophagus. Caustic potash, lye, soda and hartshorn are examples. In these cases give acids such as vinegar and lemon juice as antidotes, and oils also to unite with the alkali and render it less irritating. Demulcent drinks must be given with the emetics, and acids must be continued afterwards.

For LUNAR CAUSTIC (nitrate of silver) give two teaspoonfuls of salt in a pint of water, also the white of egg with other demulcents.

Corrosive sublimate. For this poison the antidote is white of egg and milk, or a mixture of wheat flour and water and soap, which may be given with emetics, or after them; before if no emetic is at hand. The attendant nervous symptoms may be alleviated with paregoric.

Tartar emetic of itself produces vomiting, but this may be kept up by giving mucilage and such astringent infusions as common tea, &c.

Copper. The sulphate or acetate of copper might act as an emetic, but small quantities remaining in the stomach might act as irritant poisons. Give large doses of simple syrup as warm as can be swallowed; give also the whites of eggs and large quantities of milk; and as an antidote the hydrated peroxide of iron.

For BISMUTH, IODINE, or COPPERAS taken in an overdose, give the same emetics and demulcents as for copper.

Zinc and Tin. The sulphate of zinc and the salts of tin when not vomited entirely, produce severe irritating effects on the stomach. Besides milk and albumen give carbonate of soda in solution.

Colycinth, CROTON OIL, and SAVINE OIL may produce like the above, vomiting, diarrhœa, and also constriction of the throat. Give copious doses of barley water, etc.; give opium and perhaps stimulants. These cases and all the rest of the above may be benefitted by taking freely of gum Arabic mucilage, and may demand treatment for inflammation.

Cantharides may produce severe pain in the bowels, bloody evacuations, strangury, burning thirst and fever. Give emollient drinks with enemata, to which some laudanum may be added, and also camphor; oil must not be given in cases of poisoning by cantharides or phosphorus.

Toadstools, AGARIC, ACONITE, BELLADONNA, CONIUM, COLCHICUM, HELLEBORE, and ALCOHOL, are acro-narcotics which may cause severe irritation of the throat and stomach, and such symptoms as burning heat of the esophagus and stomach, thirst, violent nausea, purging, dryness and constriction of the mouth and throat; and be followed by such symptoms as are produced by narcotic poisons: vertigo, headache, perversion of vision, sense of suffocation, disposition to sleep, numbness or paralysis of the limbs, prostration of the strength, cold extremities, feeble pulse, and stupor.