 Section 103 of the Book of Household Management. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Anna Simon. The Book of Household Management by Isabella Beaton. The Doctor. Chapter 43, Part 1. Section 578. Time, according to the old proverb, is money, and it may also, in many cases, and with equal truthfulness, be said to be life. For a few moments in great emergencies often turn the balance between recovery and death. This applies more especially to all kinds of poisoning, fits, submersion in water, or exposure to noxious gases, and many accidents. If people knew how to act during the interval that must necessarily elapse from the moment that a medical man is sent for until he arrives, many lives might be saved, which now, unhappily, are lost. Generally speaking, however, nothing is done. All is confusion and fright, and the surgeon on his arrival finds that death has already seized its victim, who, had as friends but known a few rough rules for their guidance, might have been rescued. We shall therefore, in a series of papers, give such information as to the means to be employed in event of accidents, injuries, etc., as, by the aid of a gentleman of large professional experience, we are warranted in recommending. List of drugs, etc., necessary to carry out all instructions. 2579. We append at once a list of drugs, etc., and a few prescriptions necessary to carry out all the instructions given in this series of articles. It will be seen that there are few, they are not expensive, and by laying in a little stock of them, our instructions will be of instant value in all cases of accident, etc. The drugs are, antimonial wine, antimonial powder, blister compound, blue pill, chamomile, carbonate of potash, compound iron pills, compound extract of colosin, compound tincture of camphor, epsom salts, goulard extract, jellop in powder, linseed oil, myrrh and aloe's pills, nitre, oil of turpentine, opium, powdered, and lorinum, salamoniac, sena leaves, soap liniment, opodeldac, sweet spirits of nitre, turners syrit, to which should be added, common adhesive plaster, isenglased plaster, lint, a pair of small scales with weights, an ounce and a dram measure glass, a lancet, a probe, a pair of forceps, and some curved needles. 2580. The following prescriptions may be made up for a few shillings, and by keeping them properly labeled and by referring to the remarks on the treatment of any particular case, much suffering and perhaps some lives may be saved. 2581. Draft. 20 grains of sulphate of zinc in an ounce and a half of water. This draft is to be repeated in a quarter of an hour if vomiting does not take place. 2582. Clista. Two tablespoonfuls of oil of turpentine in a pint of warm gruel. 2583. Liniments. One equal parts of lime water and linseed oil well mixed together. Lime water is made thus, pour six pints of boiling water upon a quarter pound of lime, mix well together, and when cool strain the liquid from off the lime which has fallen to the bottom, taking care to get it as clear as possible. 2. Compound camphor liniment. 2584. Lotions. One, mix a dessert spoonful of Guler's extract and two tablespoonfuls of vinegar in a pint of water. 2. Mix a half ounce of cell ammonia, two tablespoonfuls of vinegar, and the same quantity of gin or whisky in half a pint of water. 2585. Guler's lotion. One dram of sugar of lead, two pints of rainwater, two teaspoonfuls of spirits of wine. For inflammation of the eyes or elsewhere, the better way of making Guler's lotion if for the eyes is to add to six ounces of distilled water or water that has been well boiled, one dram of the extract of lead. 2586. Oppo del doc. This lotion being a valuable application for sprains, lumbago, weakness of joints etc. and it being difficult to procure either pure or freshly made, we give a recipe for its preparation. Dissolve one ounce of camphor in a pint of rectified spirits of wine, then dissolve four ounce of hard white Spanish soap scraped thin in four ounce of oil of rosemary and mix them together. 2587. The common black draft. Infusion of senna, ten drams, epsom salts, ten drams, tincture of senna, compound tincture of cardamoms, compound spirit of lavender of each one dram. Families who make black draft in quantity and wish to preserve it for some time without spoiling should add about two drams of spirits of heart's horn to each pint of the strained mixture. The use of this drug being to prevent its becoming moldy or decomposed. A simpler and equally efficacious form of black draft is made by infusing a half ounce of Alexandrian senna, three ounce of epsom salts and two drams of bruised ginger and coriander seeds for several hours in a pint of boiling water, straining the liquor and adding either two drams of cell volatile or spirits of heart's horn to the whole and giving three tablespoonfuls for a dose to an adult. 2588. Mixtures. One. A period. Dissolve an ounce of epsom salts in half a pint of senna tea. Take a quarter of the mixture as a dose and repeat it in three or four hours if necessary. 2589. Two. Fever mixture. Mix a dram of powdered niter, two drams of carbonate of potash, two teaspoonfuls of entomonal wine, and a tablespoonful of sweet spirits of niter in half a pint of water. 2590. Three. Murr and Ellows pills. Ten grains made into two pills are the dose for a full grown person. 2591. Four. Compound iron pills. Dose for a full grown person. Ten grains made into two pills. 2592. Pills. One. Mix five grains of kalamal and the same quantity of entomonal powder with a little bread crumb and make into two pills. Dose for a full grown person. Two pills. Two. Mix five grains of blue pill and the same quantity of compound extract of coarsynth together and make into two pills, the dose for a full grown person. 2593. Powders. Mix a grain of kalamal and four grains of powdered jalape together. 2594. In all cases the dose of medicines given is to be regulated by the age of the patient. 2595. Abernethi's plan for making a bread and water poultice. First, skull out a basin, then having put in some boiling water, throw in coarsely crumbled bread and cover it with a plate. When the bread has soaked up as much water as it will imbibe, drain off the remaining water and there will be left a light pulp. Spread it a third of an inch thick unfolded linen and apply it one of the temperature of a warm bath. To preserve it moist, occasionally drop warm water on it. 2596. Linseed meal poultice. Skulled your basin by pouring a little hot water into it, then put a small quantity of finely ground linseed meal into the basin. Pour a little hot water in it and stir it round briskly until you have well incorporated them. Add a little more meal and little more water, then stir it again. Do not let any lumps remain in the basin but stir the poultice well and do not be sparing of your trouble. What you do next is to take as much of it out of the basin as you may require, lay it on a piece of soft linen and let it be about a quarter of an inch thick. Abernethy. 2597. Mustard poultice. Mix equal parts of dry mustard and linseed meal in warm vinegar. When the poultice is once weak warm water may be used for the vinegar and when it is required very strong mustard alone without any linseed meal is to be mixed with warm vinegar. 2598. An ordinary blister. Spread a little blister compound on a piece of common adhesive plaster with the right thumb. It should be put on just thickly enough to conceal the appearance of the plaster beneath. The part from which the blister has been taken should be covered till it heals over with soft linen rags smeared with lard. Baths and fomentations. 2599. All fluid applications to the body are exhibited either in a hot or cold form and the object for which they are administered is to produce a stimulating effect over the entire or a part of the system. For the effect though differently obtained and varying in degree is the same in principle whether procured by hot or cold water. 2600. Heat. There are three forms in which heat is universally applied to the body that of the tepid warm and vapor bath. But as the first is too inert to be worth notice and the last dangerous and inexplicable except in public institutions we shall confine our remarks to the really efficacious and always attainable one. The 2601. Warm and hot bath. These baths are used whenever there is congestion or accumulation of blood in the internal organs causing pain, difficulty of breathing or stupor and are employed by their stimulating property to cause a rush of blood to the surface and by unloading the great organs produce a temporary inflammation in the skin and so equalize the circulation. The effect of the hot bath is to increase the fullness of the pulse accelerate respiration and excite perspiration. In all inflammations with the stomach and bowels the hot bath is of the utmost consequence. The temperature of the warm bath varies from 92 degrees to 100 degrees and may be obtained by those who have no thermometer to test the exact heat by mixing one measure of boiling with two of cold water. 2602. Fomentations are generally used to affect in a part the benefit produced on the whole body by the bath to which a sedative action is occasionally given by the use of roots, herbs or other ingredients the object being to relieve the internal organ as the throat or muscles round the joint by exciting a greater flow of blood to the skin over the affected part. As the real agent of relief is heat the fermentation should always be as hot as it can comfortably be born and to ensure in fact should be repeated every half hour. Warm fluids are applied in order to render the swelling which accompanies inflammation less painful by the greater readiness with which the skin yields than when it's harsh and dry. There are various kinds but the most simple and oftentimes the most useful that can be employed is warm water. Another kind of fermentation is composed of dried poppy heads four ounces break them to pieces empty out the seeds put them into four pints of water boil for a quarter of an hour then strain through a cloth or sieve and keep the water for use or chamomile flowers hemlock and many other plants may be boiled and the part fermented with the hot liquor by means of flannels wedded with a decoction. 2603 cold when applied in excess to the body drives the blood from the surface to the center reduces the pulse makes the breathing hard and difficult produces coma and if long continued death but when medicinally used it excites a reaction on the surface equivalent to a stimulating effect as in some cases of fever when the body has been sponged with cold water it excites by reaction increased circulation on the skin. Cold is sometimes used to keep up a repellent action as when local inflammation takes place a remedy is applied which by its benumbing and astringent effect causes the blood or the excess of it in the part to recede and by contracting the vessels prevents the return of any induced quantity till the affected part recovers its tone. Such remedies are called lotions and should when used be applied with the same persistency as the fermentation for as the latter should be renewed as often as the heat passes off so the former should be applied as often as the heat from the skin deprives the application of its cold. 2604 Pultuses are only another form of fermentation though chiefly used for abscesses the ingredient best suited for a poultice is that which retains heat the longest of these ingredients the best are linseed meal bran and bread bran suited into a bag as it can be reheated will be found the cleanest and most useful especially for sore throats how to bleed. 2605 in cases of great emergency such as a strong kind of apoplexy and when a surgeon cannot possibly be obtained for some considerable time the life of the patient depends almost entirely upon the fact of his being blood or not we therefore give instructions how the operation of bleeding is to be performed but caution the reader only to attempt it in cases of the greatest emergency place a handkerchief or piece of tape rather but not too tightly around the arm about three or four inches above the elbow this will cause the veins below to swell and become very evident if this is not sufficient the hand should be constantly and quickly opened and shut for the same purpose there will now be seen passing up the middle of the forearm a vein which just below the bend of the elbow sends a branch inwards and outwards each branch shortly joining another large vein it is from the outer branch that the person is to be bled the right arm is the one mostly operated on the operator should take the lancet in his right hand between the thumb and first finger place the thumb of his left hand on the vein below the part where he's going to bleed from and then gently thrust the tip of the lancet into the vein and taking care not to push it too deeply cut in a gently curved direction thus and bring it out point upwards at about half an inch from the part of the vein into which he had thrust it the vein must be cut lengthways and not across when sufficient blood has been taken away remove the bandage from above the elbow and place the thumb of the left hand firmly over the cut until all the bleeding ceases a small pad of lint is then to be put over the cut with a larger pad over it and the two kept in their places by means of a handkerchief or linen roller bound pretty tightly over them and round the arm. 2606 when a person is bled he should always be in the standing or at any rate in the sitting position for if as is often the case he should happen to faint he can in most cases at least easily be brought to again by their operator placing him flat on his back and stopping the bleeding this is of the greatest importance it has been recommended for what supposed advantages we don't know to bleed people when they're lying down should a person under these circumstances faint what could be done to bring him to again the great treatment of lowering the body of the patient to the flat position cannot be followed here it is in that position already and cannot be placed lower than it at present is except as is most likely to be the case under the ground 2607 bleeding from the nose many children especially those of a sanguinius temperament are subject to sudden discharges of blood from some part of the body and as all such fluxes are in general the result of an effort of nature to relieve the system from some overload or pressure such discharges unless in excess and when likely to produce stability should not be rashly or too abruptly checked in general these discharges are confined to the summer or spring months of the year and follow pains in the head a sense of drowsiness longer or oppression and as such symptoms are relieved by the loss of blood the haemorrhage should to a certain extent be encouraged when however the bleeding is excessive or returns too frequently it becomes necessary to apply means to subdue or mitigate the amount for this purpose the sudden and unexpected application of cold is itself sufficient in most cases to arrest the most active haemorrhage a wet towel laid suddenly on the back between the shoulders and placing the child in a recumbent posture is often sufficient to affect the object where however the effusion resists such simple means napkins wrung out of cold water must be laid across the forehead and nose the hands dipped in cold water and a bottle of hot water applied to the feet if in spite of these means the bleeding continues a little fine wool or few folds of lint tied together by a piece of thread must be pushed up the nostril from which the blood flows to act as a plug and pressure on the bleeding vessel when the discharge has entirely seized the plug is to be pulled out by means of the thread to prevent the repetition of the haemorrhage the body should be sponged every morning with cold water and the child put under a course of steel wine have open-air exercise and if possible salt water bathing for children a key suddenly dropped down the back between the skin and clothes will often immediately arrest a copious bleeding 2608 spitting of blood or haemorrhage from the lungs is generally known from blood from the stomach by its being of a brighter color and in less quantities than that which is always grumas and mixed with the half digested food in either case rest should be immediately enjoined total abstinence from stimulants and a low poor diet accompanied with the horizontal position and bottles of boiling water to the feet at the same time the patient should suck through a quill every half hour half a wine glass of water in which 10 or 15 drops of the alexer of vitriol has been mixed and till further advice has been procured keep a towel wrung out of cold water on the chest or stomach according to the seat of the haemorrhage bites and stings 2609 bites and stings may be divided into three kinds one those of insects two those of snakes three those of dogs and other animals 2610 one the bites or stings of insects such as gnats bees wasps etc need cause very little alarm and are generally speaking easily cured they are very serious however when they take place on some delicate part of the body such as near the eye or in the throat the treatment is very simple in most cases and consists in taking out the sting if it's left behind with a needle and applying to the part a liniment made of finely scraped choc and olive oil mixed together to about the thickness of cream 2611 bathing the part bitten with warm turpentine or warm vinegar is also of great use if the person feels faint he should lie quietly on his back and take a little brandy on water or sell volatile and water when the inside of the throat is the part stung there is great danger of violent inflammation taking place in this case from 8 to 12 leeches should be immediately put to the outside of the throat and when they drop off the part to which they have been applied should be well fermented with warm water the inside of the throat is to be constantly gargled with salt and water bits of eyes are to be sucked rubbing the face and hands well over with plain olive oil before going to bed will often keep gnats and mosquitoes from biting during the night strong scent such as odor cologne will have the same effect 2612 two bites of snakes these are much more dangerous than the proceeding and require more powerful remedies the bites of the different kinds of snakes do not all act alike but affect people in different ways treatment of the part bitten the great thing is to prevent the poison getting into the blood and if possible to remove the whole of it at once from the body a pocket handkerchief a piece of tape or cord or in fact of anything that is at hand should be tight tightly around the part of the body bitten if it be the leg or arm immediately above the bite and between it and the heart the bite should then be sucked several times by anyone who is near there is no danger in this provided the person who does it has not got the skin taken off any part of his mouth what has been sucked into the mouth should be immediately spit out again but if those who are near have sufficient nerve for the operation and a suitable instrument they should cut out the central part bitten and then bathe the wound for some time with warm water to make it bleed freely the wound should afterwards be rubbed with the stick of lunar caustic or what is better a solution of this 60 grains of lunar caustic dissolved in ounce of water should be dropped into it the band should be kept on the part during the whole of the time that these means are being adopted the wound should afterwards be covered with lint dipped in cold water the best plan however to be adopted if it can be managed is the following take a common wine glass and holding it upside down put a lighted candle or a spirit lamp into it for a minute or two this will take out the air then clap the glass suddenly over the bitten part and it will become attached and hold on to the flesh the glass being nearly empty the blood containing the poison will in consequence flow into it from the wound of its own accord this process should be repeated three or four times and the wound sucked or washed with warm water before each application of the glass as a matter of course when the glass is removed all the blood should be washed out of it before it is applied again constitutional treatment there is mostly at first great depression of strength in these cases and is therefore requisite to give some stimulant a glass of hot brandium water or 20 drops of cell volatile is the best that can be given when the strength has returned and if the patient has not already been sick a little mustard in hot water should be given to make him so if on the other hand as is often the case the vomiting is excessive a large mustard poultice should be placed over the stomach and a grain of solid opium swallowed in the form of a pill for the purpose of stopping it only one of these pills should be given by a non-professional person in all cases of bites from snakes send for a surgeon as quickly as possible and act according to the above directions until he arrives if he's within any reasonable distance content yourself by putting on the band sucking the wound applying the glass and if necessary giving a little brandium water 2613 3 bites of dogs for obvious reasons these kinds of bites are more frequently met with than those of snakes the treatment is the same as that for snake bites more especially that of the bitten part the majority of rites on the subject are in favor of keeping the wound open as long as possible this may be done by putting a few beans on it and then by applying a large linseed meal poultice over them injuries and accidents to bones 2614 dislocation of bones when the end of a bone is pushed out of its natural position it is said to be dislocated this may be caused by violence disease or natural weakness of the parts about a joint symptoms deformity about the joint with unnatural prominence at one part and depression at another the limb may be shorter or longer than usual and is stiff and unable to be moved differing in these last two respects from a broken limb which is mostly shorter never longer than usual and which is always more movable treatment so much practical science and tact are requisite in order to bring a dislocated bone into its proper position again that we strongly advise the reader never to interfere in these cases unless indeed it is altogether impossible to obtain the services of its surgeon but because any one of us may very possibly be placed in that emergency we give a few rough rules for the reader's guidance in the first place make the joint from which the bone has been displaced perfectly steady either by fixing it to some firm object or else by holding it with the hands then pull the dislocated bone in a direction towards the place from which it has been thrust so that if it moves at all from its unnatural position it may have the best chance of returning to its proper place do not however pull or press against the parts too violently as you may perhaps by doing so rupture blood vessels and produce most serious consequences when you do attempt to reduce a dislocated bone do it as quickly as possible after the accident has taken place every hour making the operation more difficult when the patient is very strong he may be put into a warm bath until he feels faint or have 60 drops of antimonial wine given him every 10 minutes until he feels sickish these two means are of great use in relaxing the muscles if the bone has been brought back again to its proper place keep it thereby means of bandages and if there is much pain about the joint apply a cold lotion to it and keep it perfectly at rest the lotion should be a dessert spoonful of gulars extract and two tablespoon fulls of vinegar mixed in a pint of water leeches are sometimes necessary unless the local pain or general feverish symptoms are great the patient's diet should be the same as usual dislocations may be reduced a week or even a fortnight after they have taken place as therefore although the sooner a bone is reduced the better there is no very great emergency and as the most serious consequence may follow improper or too violent treatment it is always better for people in these cases to do too little than too much in as much as the good which has not yet may still be done whereas the evil that has been done cannot so easily be undone 2615 fractures of bones symptoms one deformity of the part two unnatural looseness three a grating sound where the two ends of the broken bone are rubbed together four loss of natural motion and power in some cases there is also shortening of the limp fracture takes place from several causes as a fall a blow a squeeze and sometimes from the violent action of muscles treatment in cases where a surgeon cannot be procured immediately after the accident the following general rules are offered for the reader's guidance the broken limb should be placed and kept as nearly as possible in its natural position this is to be done by first pulling the two portions of the bone in opposite directions until the limb becomes as long as the opposite one and then by applying a splint and binding it to the part by means of a roller when there is no deformity the pulling is of course unnecessary if there is much swelling about the broken part a cold lotion is to be applied this lotion which we will call lotion number one may be thus made mix a dessert spoonful of gulers extract and two tablespoonfuls of vinegar in a pint of water when the leg or arm is broken always if possible get it to the same length and form as the opposite limb the broken part should be kept perfectly quiet when a broken limb is deformed and a particular muscle is on the stretch place the limb in such a position as relax it this will in most cases cure the deformity brandy on water or cell volatile in water are to be given when the patient is faint surgical aid should of course be procured as soon as possible 2616 joints injuries to all kinds of injuries to joints of whatever description require particular attention a consequence of the violent inflammations which are so liable to take place in these parts of the body and which do so much mischief in a little time the joint injured should always be kept perfectly at rest and when it's very painful and the skin about it red swollen hot and shining at the same time that the patient has general fever symptoms such as great thirst and headache leeches and when they drop off warm poppy fermentations are to be applied the number one pills above mentioned are to be given to our dose for a grown person with a black draft three hours afterwards give also two tablespoonfuls of the fever mixture every four hours and keep the patient on low diet when the injury and swelling are not very great warm applications with rest low diet and a dose of apparent medicine will be sufficient when a joint is received a penetrating wound it will require the most powerful treatment and can only be properly attended to by a surgeon the patient's friends will have to use their own judgment to a great extent in these and in many other cases as to when leeches fever mixture etc are necessary a universal rule however without a single exception is always to rest a joint well after it has been injured in any way whatever to purge the patient and to keep him on low diet without beer unless he has been a very great drinker indeed in which case he may still be allowed to take a little for if the stimulant that a person has been accustomed to in excess be all taken away at once he's very likely to have an attack of delirium tremens the quantity given should not however be much say a pint or at the most a pint and a half a day rubbing the joint with opodeldoc or the application of a blister to it is of great service in taking away the thickenings which often remain after all heat pain and redness have left an injured joint great care should be observed in not using a joint too quickly after it has been injured when the shoulder joint is the one injured the arm should be bound tightly to the body by means of a linen or flannel roller and the elbow raised when the elbow it should be kept raised in the straight position on a pillow when the wrist it should be raised on the chest and suspended in a sling when the knee it should be kept in the straight position and lastly when the ankle it should be a little raised on a pillow 2617 bruises, lacerations and cuts wherever the bruise may be or however swollen or discoloured the skin may become two or three applications of the extract of lead kept to the part by means of lint will in an hour or little more remove all pain swelling and tenderness simple or clean cuts only require the edges of the wound to be placed in their exact situation drawn close together and secured there by one or two slips of adhesive plaster when the wound however is jacked or the flesh or cuticle lacerated the parts are to be laid as smooth and regular as possible and a piece of lint wedded in the extract of lead laid upon the wound and a piece of greased lint placed above it to prevent the dressing sticking the hole covered over to protect from injury and the part dressed in the same manner once a day till the cure is affected 2618 bruises and their treatment the best application for a bruise be it large or small is moist warmth therefore a warm bread and water poultice in hot moist flannels should be put on as they supple the skin if the bruise be very severe and then in a neighborhood of a joint it will be well to apply 10 or a dozen leeches over the whole bruised part and afterwards the poultice but leeches should not be put on young children if the bruised part be the knee or the ankle walking should not be attempted till it can be performed without pain in attention to this point often lays the foundation for serious mischief in these joints especially in the case of scruffless persons in all conditions of bruises occurring in children whether swellings or abrasions no remedy is so quick or certain of affecting a cure as the pure extract of lead applied to the part burns and skulls 2619 burns and skulls being essentially the same in all particulars and differing only in the manner of their production may be spoken of together as a general rule skulls are less severe than burns because the heat of water by which skulls are mostly produced is not even when it's boiling so intense is that of flame oil however and other liquids whose boiling point is high produce skulls of a very severe nature burns and skulls have been divided into three classes the first class comprises those where the burn is altogether superficial and mainly reddens the skin the second where the injury is greater and we get little bladders containing a fluid called serum dotted over the affected part in the third class we get in the case of burns a churning and in that of skulls a softening or pulpinous perhaps a complete and immediate separation of the part this may occur at once or in the course of a little time the pain from the second kind of burns is much more severe than that in the other two although the danger as a general rule is less than it is in the third class these injuries are much more dangerous when they take place on the trunk than when they happen on the arms or legs the danger arises more from the extent of surface that is burned than from the death to which the burn goes this rule of course has certain exceptions because a small burn on the chest or belly penetrating deeply is more dangerous than a more extensive but superficial one on the arm or leg when a person's clothes are in flames the best way of extinguishing them is to wind a rug or some thick material tightly around the whole of the body 2620 treatment of the first class of burns and skulls of the part affected cover it immediately with a good coating of common flour or cotton wool with flour dredged well into it the great thing is to keep the affected surface of the skin from the contact of the air the part will shortly get well and the skin may or may not peel off constitutional treatment if the burn or skull is not extensive and there is no frustration of strength this is very simple and consists in simply giving a little apparent medicine pills number two as follows mix five grains of blue pill and the same quantity of compound extract of colosinth and make it to two pills the dose for a full-grown person three hours after the pills give a black draft if there are general symptoms of fever such as hot skin thirst headache etc etc two tablespoons of fever mixture are to be given every four hours the fever mixture we remind our readers is made thus mix a dram of powdered nitro two drams of carbonate of potash two teaspoonfuls of antimonial wine and a tablespoon full of sweet spirits of nitro in half a pint of water two thousand six hundred and twenty one second class local treatment as the symptoms of these kinds of burns are more severe than those of the first class so the remedies appropriate to them are more powerful having as carefully as possible remove the clothes from the burned surface and taking care not to break the bladders spread the following liniment number one on a piece of linen or lint not the fluffy side and apply it to the pot the liniment should be equal parts of lime water and linseed oil well mixed if the burn is on the trunk of the body it is better to use a warm linseed meal poultice after a few days dress the wound with ternus serrat if the burn is at the bend of the elbow place the arm in the straight position for if it is bent the skin when healed will be contracted and the arm in all probability always remain in the same unnatural position this indeed applies to all parts of the body therefore always place the part affected in the most stretched position possible constitutional treatment the same kind of treatment is to be used as for the first class only it must be more powerful stimulants are more often necessary but must be given with great caution if as is often the case there is great irritability and restlessness a dose of opium paragoric in doses of from 60 to 100 drops according to age is best is of great service the fever symptoms will require a period medicines and the fever mixture a drink made of about a tablespoon full of cream of tartar and a little lemon juice in a quart of warm water allowed to cool is a very nice one in these cases the diet throughout should not be too low especially if there's much discharge from the wound after a few days it is often necessary to give wine ammonia and strong beef tea these should be had recourse to when the tongue gets dry and dark and the pulse weak and frequent if there should be after the lapse of a week or two pain over one particular part of the belly a blister should be put on it and a powder of mercury and chargray powder and dover's powder two grains of the former and five of the letter given three times a day affections of the head and chest also frequently occur as a consequence of these kinds of burns but no one who is not a medical man can treat them 2622 third class these are so severe as to make it impossible for a non-professional person to be of much service in attending to them when they occur a surgeon should always be sent for until he arrives however the following treatment should be adopted place the patient full length on his back and keep him warm apply for mutations of flannels run out of boiling water and sprinkled with spirits of turpentine to the part and give wine and cell volatile in such quantities as the prostration of strength requires always bearing in mind the great fact that you have to steer between two quick sands death from present prostration and death from future excitement which will always be increased in proportion to the amount of stimulants given give therefore only just as much as is absolutely necessary to keep life in the body end of section 103 section 104 of the book of household management this is a lipper fox recording all lipper fox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit lipperfox.org recording by Anna Simon the book of household management by Isabella Beaton the doctor chapter 43 part 2 2623 concussion of brain stunning this may be caused by a blow or a fall symptoms cold skin weak pulse almost total insensibility slow weak breathing pupil of eyes sometimes bigger sometimes smaller than natural inability to move unwillingness to answer when spoken to these symptoms come on directly after the accident treatment place the patient quietly on a warm bed sent for a surgeon and do nothing else for the first four or six hours after this time the skin will become hot the pulse full and the patient feverish altogether if the surgeon has not arrived by the time these symptoms have set in shave the patient's head and apply the following lotion number two mix half an ounce of salamonyak two tablespoonfuls of vinegar and the same quantity of gin or whiskey in half a pint of water then give this pill number one mix five grains of kalamal and the same quantity of antimonial powder with a little bread crumb and make into two pills give a black draft three hours after the pill and two tablespoonfuls of the above mentioned fever mixture every four hours keep on low diet leeches are sometimes to be applied to the head these cases are often followed by violent inflammation of the brain they can therefore only be attended to properly throughout by a surgeon the great thing for people to do in these cases is nothing contenting themselves with putting the patient to bed and waiting the arrival of a surgeon 2624 the cholera and autumnal complaints to oppose cholera there seems no sure or better means than cleanliness sobriety and judicious ventilation where there is dirt that is the place for cholera where windows and doors are kept most jealously shut there cholera will find easiest entrance and people who indulge in intemperate diet during the hot days of autumn are actually courting death to repeated cleanliness sobriety and free ventilation almost always defy the pestilence but in case of attack immediate recourse should be had to a physician the faculty say that a large number of lives have been lost in many seasons solely from delay in seeking medical assistance they even assert that taken early the cholera is by no means a fatal disorder the copious use of salt is recommended on very excellent authority other autumnal complaints there are of which diarrhea is the worst example they come on with pain flatulence sickness with or without vomiting followed by loss of appetite generalessitude and weakness if attended to at the first appearance they may soon be conquered for which purpose it is necessary to assist nature in throwing off the contents of the bowels which may be won by means of the following prescription take of calamol three grains rhubarb eight grains mix and take it in a little honey or jelly and repeat the dose three times at the intervals of four or five hours the next purpose to be answered is the defense of the lining membrane of the intestines from their acrid contents which will be best affected by drinking copiously of linseed tea or of a drink made by pouring boiling water on quince seeds which are of a very musilaginous nature or what is still better full drafts of whey if the complaint continue after these means have been employed some astringent or binding medicine will be required as a subjoint take of prepared chalk two drams cinnamon water seven ounces syrup of poppies one ounce mix and take three tablespoonfuls every four hours should this fail to complete the cure a half ounce of tincture of catechu or of kino maybe added to it and then it will sell them fail or a teaspoonful of the tincture of kino alone with a little water every three hours till the diary is checked while any symptoms of derangement are present particular attention must be paid to the diet which should be of a soothing lubricating and light nature as instanced in veal or chicken broth which should contain but little salt rice batter and bread puddings will be generally relished and be eaten with advantage but the stomach is too much impaired to digest food of a more solid nature indeed we should give that organ together with the bowels as little trouble as possible while they are so incapable of acting in their custom manner much mischief is frequently produced by the absurd practice of taking tincture of rhubarb which is almost certain of aggravating that species of disorder of which we have now treated for it is a spirit as strong as brandy and cannot fail of producing harm upon a surface which is rendered tender by the formation and contact of vitiated bile but our last advice is upon the first appearance of such symptoms as are above detailed have immediate recourse to a doctor where possible 2625 to cure a cold put a large teacup full of linseed with a quarter pound of sun raisins and two ounces of stick licorice into two quarts of soft water and let it simmer over a slow fire till reduced to one quart add to it a quart pound of pounded sugar candy a tablespoon full of old rum and a tablespoon full of the best white wine vinegar or lemon juice the rum and vinegar should be added as the decoction is taken for if they are put in at first the whole soon becomes flat and less efficacious the dose is half a pint made warm on going to bed and a little may be taken whenever the cuff is troublesome the worst cold is generally cured by this remedy in two or three days and if taken in time is considered infallible 2626 cold on the chest a flannel dipped in boiling water and sprinkled with turpentine laid on the chest as quickly as possible will relieve the most severe cold or hoarseness 2627 substances in the eye to remove fine particles of gravel lime etc the eye should be syringe with lukewarm water till free from them be particular not to worry the eye and that the impression that the substance is still there which the enlargement of some of the minute vessels makes the patient believe is actually the case 2628 sore eyes incorporate thoroughly in a glass mortar or vessel one part of strong citron ointment with three parts of spermacity ointment use the mixture night and morning by placing a piece of the size of a pea in the corner of the eye affected only to be used in cases of chronic or long-standing inflammation of the organ or its lids 2629 lime in the eye bathe the eye with it little weak vinegar and water and carefully remove any little piece of lime which may be seen with a feather if any lime has got entangled in the eyelashes carefully clear it away with a bit of soft linen soaked in vinegar and water violent inflammation is sure to follow a smart purge must be therefore administered and in all probability a blister must be applied on the temple behind the ear or nape of the neck 2630 sty in the eye styes are little abscesses which form between the roots of the eyelashes and are rarely larger than a small pea the best way to manage them is to bathe them frequently with warm water or in warm poppy water if very painful when they have burst use an ointment composed of one part of citron ointment and four of spermacity well rubbed together and smear along the edge of the eyelid give a grain or two of chamomile with five or eight grains of rhubarb according to the age of the child twice a week the old-fashioned and apparently absurd practice of rubbing the stye with a ring is as good and speedy cure as that by any process of medicinal application though the number of times it is rubbed or the quality of the ring and direction of the strokes has nothing to do with its success the pressure and the friction excite the vessels of the pod and cause an absorption of the effused matter under the eyelash the edge of the nail will answer as well as a ring 2631 inflammation of the eyelids the following ointment has been found very beneficial in inflammations of the eyeball and edges of the eyelids take of prepared chamomile one scrabble spermacity ointment a half ounce mix them well together in a glass model apply a small quantity to each corner of the eye every night and morning and also to the edges of the lids if they are infected if this should not eventually remove the inflammation elderflower water may be applied three or four times a day by means of an eye cup the bowels should be kept in a laxative state by taking occasionally a quarter of an ounce of the cheltonum or absum salts 2632 fasting it is said by many able physicians that fasting is a means of removing incipient disease and of restoring the body to its customary healthy sensations howard the celebrated philanthropist says a writer used the fast one day in every week napoleon when he felt the system unstrung suspended his wanted repast and took his exercise on horseback fits 2633 fits come on so suddenly often without even the slightest warning and may prove fatal so quickly that all people should be acquainted at least with their leading symptoms and treatment as a few moments more or less will often decide the question between life and death the treatment in very many cases at least to be of the slightest use should be immediate as a person in a fit of apoplexy for instance may die while a surgeon is being fetched from only the next street we shall give as far as the fact of our editing and work for non-professional readers will permit the peculiar and distinctive symptoms of all kinds of fits and the immediate treatment to be adopted in each case 2634 apoplexy these fits may be divided into two kinds the strong and the weak 2635 one the strong kind these cases mostly occur in stout strong short-necked bloated-faced people who are in the habit of living well symptoms the patient may or may not have had headache sparks before his eyes with confusion of ideas and giddiness for a day or two before the attack when it takes place he falls down insensible the body becomes paralyzed generally more so on one side than the other the face and head are hot and the blood vessels about them swollen the pupils of the eyes are larger than natural and the eyes themselves are fixed the mouth is mostly drawn down at one corner the breathing is like loud snoring the pulse full and hard treatment place the patient immediately in bed with his head well raised take off everything that he has around his neck and bleed freely and at once from the arm if you have not got a lancet use a pen knife or anything suitable that may be at hand apply warm mustard pulses to the soles of the feet and the insides of the thighs and legs put two drops of castor oil mixed up with eight grains of kalamul on the top of the tongue as far back as possible a most important part of the treatment being to open the bowels as quickly and freely as possible the patient cannot swallow but these medicines especially the oil will be absorbed into the stomach altogether independent of any voluntary action if possible throw up a warm turpentine clister two tablespoon fulls of oil of turpentine in a pint of warm gruel or if this cannot be obtained one composed of about a quart of warm and salt and water and soap cut off the hair and apply rags dipped in weak vinegar and water or weak gin and water or even simple cold water to the head if the blood vessels about the head and neck are much swollen put from eight to ten leeches on the temple opposite to the paralyzed side of the body always send for a surgeon immediately and act according to the above rules doing more or less according to the means at hand and the length of time that must necessarily elapse until he arrives a pint or even a quart of blood in a very strong person may be taken away when the patient is able to swallow give him the number one pills and the number one mixture directly the number one pills are made as follows mix five grains of kalamul and the same quantity of antimonial powder with a little bread crumb make into two pills the dose for a full-grown person for the number one mixture dissolve one ounce of epsom salts in half a pint of senate take a quarter of the mixture as a dose repeat these remedies if the bowels are not well opened keep the patient's head well raised and cool as above give very low diet indeed gruel arrowroot and the like when a person is recovering he should have blisters applied to the nape of the neck his bowel should be kept well open light diet given and fatigue worry in excess of all kinds avoided 2636 2 the weak kind symptoms these attacks are more frequently preceded by warning symptoms than the first kind the face is pale the pulse weak and the body especially the hands and legs cold after a little while these symptoms sometimes alter to those of the first class in a mild degree treatment at first if the pulse is very feeble indeed a little brandy on water or cell volatile must be given muscle pulses are to be put as before to the soles of the feet and the insides of the thighs and legs warm bricks or bottles filled with warm water are also to be placed under the armpits when the strength has returned the body become warmer and the pulse fuller and harder the head should be shaved and wet rags apply to it as before described leeches should be put as before to the temple opposite the side paralyzed and the bowels should be opened as freely and as quickly as possible bleeding from the arm is often necessary in these cases but a non-professional person should never have recourse to it blisters may be applied to the nape of the neck at once the diet in those cases should not be so low as in the former indeed it is often necessary in a day or so after one of these attacks to give wine strong beef tea etc according to the condition of the patient's strength 2637 distinctions between apoplexy and epilepsy one apoplexy mostly happens in people over 30 whereas epilepsy generally occurs under that age at any rate for the first time a person who is apocalyptic fits over 30 has generally suffered from them for some years two again in apoplexy the body is paralyzed and therefore has not the convulsions which take place in epilepsy three the peculiar snoring will also distinguish apoplexy from epilepsy 2638 distinctions between apoplexy and drunkenness one the known habits of the person two the fact of a person who was perfectly sober and sensible a little time before being found in a state of insensibility three the absence in apoplexy of the smell of drink on applying the nose to their mouth four a person in a fit of apoplexy cannot be roused at all in drunkenness he mostly can to a certain extent 2639 distinction between apoplexy and hysteria hysterics mostly happen in young nervous unmarried women and are attended with convulsions sobbing laughter throwing about of the body etc etc 2640 distinction between apoplexy and poisoning by opium it is exceedingly difficult to distinguish between these two cases in poisoning by opium however we find the particular smell of the drug in the patient's breath we should also in forming our opinion take into consideration the person's previous conduct whether he has been low and desponding for some time before or has ever talked about committing suicide 2641 epilepsy falling sickness those fits mostly happen at any rate for the first time to young people and are more common in boys than girls they're produced by numerous causes symptoms the fit may be preceded by pains in the head palpitations etc etc but it mostly happens that the person falls down insensible suddenly and without any warning whatever the eyes are distorted so that only their whites can be seen there is mostly foaming from the mouth the fingers are clinched and the body especially on one side is much agitated the tongue is often thrust out of the mouth when the fit goes off the patient feels drowsy and faint and often sleeps soundly for some time treatment during the fit keep the patient flat on his back with his head slightly raised and prevent him from doing any harm to himself dash cold water into his face and apply smelling salts to his nose loosen his short collar etc hold a piece of wood about as thick as a finger the handle of a toothbrush or knife will do as well between the two rows of teeth at the back part of the mouth this will prevent the tongue from being injured a teaspoon full of common salt thrust into the patient's mouth during the fit is of much service the aftertreatment of these fits is various and depends entirely upon their causes a good general rule however is always to keep the bowels well open and the patient quiet and free from fatigue worry and excess of all kinds 2642 fainting fits are sometimes very dangerous and at others perfectly harmless the question of danger depending all together upon the causes which have produced them and which are exceedingly various for instance fainting produced by disease of the heart is a very serious symptom indeed whereas that arising from some slight cause such as the side of blood etc need cause no alarm whatever the symptoms of simple fainting are so well known that it will be quite superfluous to enumerate them here the treatment consists in laying the patient at full length upon his back with his head upon a level with the rest of his body loosening everything about the neck dashing cold water into the face and sprinkling vinegar and water about the mouth applying smelling salts to the nose and when the patient is able to swallow in giving a little warm brandy on water or about 20 drops of cell volatile in water 2643 hysterics these fits take place for the most part in young nervous unmarried women they happen much less often in married women and even in some rare cases indeed in men young women who are subject to these fits are apt to think that they are suffering from all the ills that flesh is heir to and the full symptoms of disease which they show are so like the true ones that it is often exceedingly difficult to detect the difference the fits themselves are mostly preceded by great depression of spirits shedding of tears sickness palpitation of the heart etc a pain as if a nail were being driven in is also often felt at one particular part of the head in almost all cases when a fit is coming on pain is felt on the left side this pain rises gradually until it reaches the throat and then gives the patient a sensation as if she had a pellet there which prevents her from breathing properly and in fact seems to threaten actual suffocation the patient now generally becomes insensible and faints the body is thrown about in all directions froth issues from the mouth incoherent expressions are uttered and fits of laughter crying or screaming take place when the fit is going off the patient mostly cries bitterly sometimes knowing all and at others nothing of what has taken place and feeling general soreness all over the body treatment during the fit place the body in the same position as for simple fainting and treat in other respects as directed in the article on epilepsy always well loosened the patient stays and when she's recovering and able to swallow give 20 drops of cell volatile in a little water the after treatment of these cases is very various if the patient is of a strong constitution she should live on plain diet take plenty of exercise and take occasional doses of castor oil or an appearing mixture such as that described as number one in previous numbers if as is mostly the case the patient is weak and delicate she will require a different mode of treatment altogether good nourishing diet gentle exercise cold baths occasionally a dose of number three mirror and aloe's pills at night and a dose of compound iron pills twice a day as to the mirror and aloe's pills number three 10 grains made into two pills are a dose for a full grown person of the compound iron pills number full the dose for a full grown person is also 10 grains made into two pills in every case amusing the mind and avoiding all causes of overexcitement are of great service in bringing about a permanent cure 2644 liver complaint and spasms a very obliging correspondent recommends the following from personal experience take four ounces of dried dandelion root one ounce of the best ginger a quarter ounce of columbar root braise and boil altogether in three pints of water till it is reduced to a quart strain and take a wine glass full every four hours our correspondent says it is a safe and simple medicine for both liver complaint and spasms 2645 lambego a new and successful mode of treating lambego advocated by dr. day is a form of counter irritation said to have been introduced into this country by the late sir anthony carlyle and which consists in the instantaneous application of a flat iron button gently heated in a spirit lamp to the skin dr corgan published about three years ago an account of some cases very successfully treated by nearly similar means dr corgan's plan was however to touch the surface of the part affected at intervals of half an inch as lightly and rapidly as possible dr day has found greater advantages to result from drawing the flat surface of the heated button lightly over the affected part so as to act on a greater extent of service the doctor speaks so enthusiastically of the benefit to be derived from this practice that it is evidently highly deserving attention 2646 palpitation of the heart where palpitation occurs as symptomatic of indigestion the treatment must be directed to remedy that disorder when it is consequent on a plethoric state purgatives will be effectual in this case the patient should abstain from every kind of diet likely to produce a plethoric condition of body animal food and fermented liquor must be particularly avoided too much indulgence in sleep will also prove injurious when the attacks arise from nervous irritability the excitement must be elated by change of air and a tonic diet should the palpitation originate from organic derangement it must be of course beyond domestic management luxurious living indolence and tight lacing often produces affection such cases are to be conquered with a little resolution 2647 poisons shall be the next subject for remark and we anticipate more detailed instructions for the treatment of persons poisoned by giving a simple list of the principal poisons with their antidotes or remedies oil of vitriol acrophortis spirit of salt antidotes or remedies magnesium chalk soap and water ametic tartar antidotes or remedies oily drinks solution of oak bark salt of lemons or acid of sugar antidotes or remedies chalk whitening lime or magnesium water sometimes in a medic draft prusik acid antidotes or remedies pump on back smelling salts to nose artificial breathing chloride of lime to nose pear lash soap leaves smelling salts nighter hot swan cell volatile antidotes or remedies lemon juice and vinegar and water arsenic fly powder or white arsenic king's yellow or yellow arsenic antidotes or remedies ametics lime water soap and water sugar and water oily drinks mercury corrosive supplement chamomile antidotes or remedies whites of eggs soap and water opium loranum antidotes and remedies ametic draft vinegar and water dashing cold water on chest and face walking up and down two or three hours lead white lead sugar of lead or gulars extract antidotes or remedies epsom salts castor oil and ametics copper bluestone third degrees antidote or remedy whites of eggs sugar and water castor oil gruel zinc antidotes or remedies lime water chalk and water soap and water iron antidotes or remedies magnesium warm water handbane hemlock nightshade or fox glove antidotes or remedies ametics and castor oil brandy and water if necessary poisonous food antidotes or remedies ametics and castor oil 2648 the symptoms of poisoning may be known for the most part from those of some diseases which they are very like from the effect of their coming on immediately after eating or drinking something whereas those of disease come on in most cases at least by degrees and with warnings in most cases where poison is known or suspected to have been taken the first thing to be done is to empty the stomach well and immediately by means of mustard mixed in warm water or plain warm sold in water or better this draft which we call number one 20 grains of sulfate of zinc in an ounce and a half of water this draft to be repeated in a quarter of an hour if vomiting does not ensue the back part of the throat should be well tickled with a feather or two of the fingers thrust down it to induce vomiting the cases where vomiting must not be used are those where the skin has been taken off and the parts touched irritated and inflamed by the poison taken and where the action of vomiting would increase the evil full instructions are given in the article on each particular poison as to where ametics are or are not to be given the best and safest way of emptying the stomach is by means of the stomach pump as in certain cases the action of vomiting is likely to increase the danger arising from the swollen and congested condition of the blood vessels of the head which often takes place in the hands however of anyone else and a surgeon it would be not only useless but harmful as a great deal of dexterity caution and experience are required to use it properly after having made these brief introductory remarks we shall now proceed to particulars 2649 sulfuric acid or oil vitriol a clear colorless liquid of an oily appearance symptoms in those who have swallowed it when much is taken these come on immediately there is great burning pain extending from the mouth to the stomach vomiting of a liquid of a dark coffee color often mixed with shreds of flesh and streaks of blood the skin inside the mouth is taken off and the exposed surface is at first white and after a time becomes brownish there are sometimes spots of a brown color around the lips and on the neck caused by drops of the acid falling on these parts there is great difficulty of breathing owing to the swelling at the back part of the mouth after a time there is much depression of strength with a quick weak pulse and cold clammy skin the face is pale and has a very anxious look when the acid swallowed has been greatly diluted in water the same kind of symptoms occur only in a milder degree treatment give a mixture of magnesia in milk and water or if this cannot be obtained a finely powdered chalk or whiting or even of the plaster torn down from the walls or ceiling in milk and water the mixture should be nearly as thick as cream and plenty of it given as well as this simple gruel milk or thick flour and water are very useful and should be given in large quantities violent inflammation of the parts touched by the acid is most likely to take place in the cause of a little time and can only be properly attended to by a surgeon but if one cannot be obtained leeches the fever mixtures the recipe for which appears repeatedly in previous paragraphs thick drinks such as barley water, gruel, arrowroot etc must be had recourse to according to the symptoms of each particular case and the means at hand the inflamed condition of the back part of the mouth requires particular attention when the breathing is very laboured and difficult in consequence from 15 to 20 leeches are to be immediately applied to the outside of the throat and when they drop off warm poppy formulations constantly kept to the part when the pain over the stomach is very great the same local treatment is necessary but if it is only slight a good mustard poultice will be sufficient without the leeches in all these cases two tablespoonfuls of the fever mixture should be given every four hours and only gruel or arrowroot allowed to be eaten for some days 2650 nitric acid commonly known as acrophortis or red spirit of niter a straw-coloured fluid of the consistent of water and which gives off dense white fumes on exposure to the air symptoms produced in those who have swallowed it much the same as in the case of sulfuric acid in this case however the surface touched by the acid becomes yellowish the tongue is mostly much swollen treatment the same as for sulfuric acid 2651 muriatic acid spirit of salt a thin yellow fluid emitting dense white fumes on exposure to air this is not often taken as a poison the symptoms and treatment are much the same as those of nitric acid and b in no case of poisoning by these three acids should a medics ever be given 2652 oxalic acid commonly called salt of lemons this poison may be taken by mistake for epsom salts which it is a good deal like it may be distinguished from them by its very acid taste and its shape which is that of needle formed crystals each of which if put into a drop of ink will turn it to a reddish brown whereas epsom salts will not change its color at all when a large dose of this poison has been taken death takes place very quickly indeed symptoms produced in those who have swallowed it a hot burning acid taste is felt in the act of swallowing and vomiting of a greenish brown fluid is produced sooner or later according to the quantity and strength of the poison taken there is great tenderness felt over the stomach followed by clammy perspirations and convulsions the legs are often drawn up and there is generally stupor from which the patient however can easily be roused and always great frustration of strength the pulse is small and weak and a breathing faint treatment chalk or magnesia made into a cream with water should be given in large quantities and afterwards the emetic draft above prescribed or submersor in water if the draft cannot be got the back part of the throat to be tickled with a feather to induce vomiting error root gruel and the like drinks are to be taken when the prostration of strength is very great and the body cold warmth is to be applied to it and a little brandy and water or a cell volatile and water given 2,653 proscik acid a thin transparent and colorless liquid with a peculiar smell which greatly resembles that of bitter almonds symptoms produced in those who have solided these come on immediately after the poison has been taken and may be produced by merely smelling it the patient becomes perfectly insensible and falls down in convulsions his eyes are fixed and staring the pupils being bigger than natural the skin is cold and clammy the pulse scarcely perceptible and the breathing slow and gasping treatment very little can be done in these cases as death takes place so quickly after the poison has been swallowed when it takes place at all the best treatment which should always be adopted in all cases even though the patient appears quite dead is to dash quantities of cold water on the back from the top of the neck downwards placing the patient under a pump and pumping on him is the best way of doing this smelling salts are also to be applied to the nose and the chest well rubbed with a camphor liniment 2,654 alkalis potash soda and ammonia or common smelling salts with their principal preparations pierolash so please liquor potasy night cell pranella heart's horn and cell volatile alkalis are seldom taken or given with a view of destroying life they may however be swallowed by mistake symptoms produced in those who've swallowed them there is at first a burning acrid taste in and a sensation of tightness around the throat like that of strangling the skin touched is destroyed retching mostly followed by actual vomiting then sets in the vomited matters often containing blood of a dark brown color with little shreds of flesh here and there and always changing vegetable blue colors green there is now great tenderness over the whole of the belly after a little while great weakness with cold clammy sweats a quick weak pulse and purging of bloody matters takes place the brain too mostly becomes affected treatment give two tablespoon fulls of vinegar or lemon juice in a glass full of water every few minutes until the burning sensation is relieved any kind of oil or milk may also be given and will form soap when mixed with the poison in the stomach barley water rule arrowroot linseed tea etc are also very useful and should be taken constantly and in large quantities if inflammation should take place it is to be treated by applying leeches and warm poppy fomentations to the part where the pain is most felt and giving two tablespoon fulls of the fever mixture every four hours the diet in all these cases should only consist of arrowroot or gruel for the first few days and then a weak broth or beef tea for some time after 2655 when very strong fumes of smelling salts have in any way been inhaled there is great difficulty of breathing and alarming pain in the mouth and nostrils in this case let the patient inhale the steam of warm vinegar and treat the fever symptoms as before 2656 arsenic mostly seen under the form of white arsenic or flypowder and yellow arsenic or king's yellow symptoms produced in those who have swallowed it these vary very much according to the form and dose in which the poison has been taken there is faintness depression and sickness with an intense burning pain in the region of the stomach which gets worse and worse and is increased by pressure there is also vomiting of dark brown matter sometimes mixed with blood and mostly great thirst with the feeling of tightness round and of burning in the throat purging also takes place the matters brought away being mixed with blood the pulse is small and irregular and the skin sometimes cold and clammy and at others hot the breathing is painful convulsions and spasms often occur treatment give a couple of teaspoon fulls of mustard in a glass of water to bring on or assist vomiting and also use the other means elsewhere recommended for the purpose a solution half of lime water and half of linseed oil well mixed may be given as well as plenty of arrowroot gruel or linseed tea simple milk is also useful a little castor oil should be given to cleanse the intestines of all the poison and the after symptoms treated on general principles 2657 corrosive supplement mostly seen in the form of little heavy crystalline masses which melt in water and have a metallic taste it is sometimes seen in powder this is a most powerful poison symptoms these mostly come on immediately after the poison has been taken there is a coppery taste experience the act of swallowing with a burning heat extending from the top of the throat down to the stomach and also a feeling of great tightness round the throat in a few minutes great pain is felt over the region of the stomach and frequent vomiting of long stringy white masses mixed with blood takes place there is also mostly great purging the countenance is generally pale and anxious the pulse always small and frequent the skin cold and clammy and the breathing difficult convulsions and insensibility often occur and are very bad symptoms indeed the inside of the mouth is more or less swollen treatment mix the whites of a dozen eggs in two pines of cold water and give a glass full of the mixture every three or four minutes until the stomach can contain no more if vomiting does not now come on naturally and supposing the mouth is not very sore or much swollen an emetic draft number one may be given and vomiting induced the number one draft we remind our readers is thus made 20 grains of sulfate of zinc in an ounce and a half of water the draft to be repeated if vomiting does not take place in a quarter of an hour after the stomach has been well cleaned out milk flour and water linseed tea or barley water should be taken in large quantities if eggs cannot be obtained milk or flour and water should be given as a substitute for them at once when the depression of strength is very great indeed a little warm brandy and water must be given in the course of an hour or two the patient should take two tablespoon fulls of castor oil and if inflammation comes on it is to be treated as directed in the article on acids and alkalis the diet should also be the same if the patient recovers great soreness of the gums is almost certain to take place the simplest and at the same time one of the best modes of treatment is to wash them well three or four times a day with brandy and water 2,658. Kalomel a heavy white powder without taste and insoluble in water it has been occasionally known to destroy life symptoms much the same as in the case of corrosive supplement treatment the same as for corrosive supplement if the gums are sore wash them as recommended in the case of corrosive supplement with brandy and water three or four times a day and keep the patient on fluids such as arrowroot, gruel, broth or beef tea according to the other symptoms eating hard substances would make the gums more sore and tender 2,659. Copper the preparations of this metal which are most likely to be the ones producing poisonous symptoms are bluestone and vertigress people are often taken ill after eating food that has been cooked in copper saucepence when anything has been cooked in one of these vessels it should never be allowed to cool in it symptoms headache pain in the stomach and purging vomiting of green or blue matters convulsions and spasms treatment give whites of eggs sugar and water castor oil and drinks such as arrowroot and gruel 2,660 emetic tartar seen in the form of a white powder or crystals with a slightly metallic taste it has not often been known to destroy life symptoms a strong metallic taste in the act of swallowing followed by a burning pain in the region of the stomach vomiting and great purging the pulse is small and rapid the skin cold and clammy the breathing difficult and painful the limbs often much cramped there is also great prostration of strength treatment promote the vomiting by giving plenty of warm water or warm arrowroot and water strong tea in large quantities should be drunk or if it can be obtained a decoction of oak bark the aftertreatment is the same as that for acids and alkalis the principal object in all these cases being to keep down the inflammation of the parts touched by the poison by means of leeches warm poppy fomentations fever mixtures and very low diet 2,661 lead and its preparations sugar of lead goulars extract white lead lead is by no means an active poison although it is popularly considered to be so it mostly affects people by being taken into the system slowly as in the case of painters and glaciers a newly painted house too often affects those living in it symptoms produced when taken in a large dose there is at first a burning pricking sensation in the throat to which thirst giddiness and vomiting follow the belly is tight swollen and painful the pain being relieved by pressure the bowels are mostly bound there is great depression of strength and a cold skin treatment give an emetic draft number one see above at once and shortly afterwards a solution of epsom salts in large quantities a little brandy of water must be taken if the depression of strength is very great indeed milk whites of eggs and arrowroot are also useful after two or three hours cleanse the stomach and intestines well out with two tablespoons of caster oil and treat the symptoms which follow according to the rules laid down in other parts of these articles symptoms when it's taken into the body slowly headache pain about the navel loss of appetite and flesh offensive breath a blueness of the edges of the gums the belly is tight hard and knotty and the pulse slow and languid there is also sometimes a difficulty in swallowing treatment give five grains of kalmal and half a grain of opium directly in the form of a pill and half an ounce of epsom salts in two hours and repeat this treatment until the bowels are well opened put the patient into a warm bath and throw up a cluster of warmish water when he is in it fomentations of warm oil of turpentine if they can be obtained should be put over the whole of the belly the great object is to open the bowels as freely and as quickly as possible when this has been done a grain of pure opium may be given arrowroot or gruel should be taken in good large quantities the aftertreatment must depend altogether upon the symptoms of each particular case two thousand six hundred and sixty two opium and its preparations lordenum etc solid opium is mostly seen in the form of rich brown fletched cakes with little pieces of leaves sticking on them here and there and a bitter and slightly warm taste the most common form in which it is taken as a poison is that of lordenum symptoms these consist at first in giddiness stupor followed by insensibility the patient however being roused to consciousness by a great noise so as to be able to answer a question but becoming insensible again almost immediately the pulse is now quick and small the breathing hurried and the skin warm and covered with perspiration after a little time these symptoms change the person becomes perfectly insensible the breathing slow and snoring as an apoplexy the skin cold and the pulse slow and full the pupil of the eye is mostly smaller than natural on applying his nose to the patient's mouth a person may smell the poison very distinctly treatment give an emetic draft number one see above directly with large quantities of warm mustard and water warm salt and water or simple warm water tickle the top of the throat with a feather or put two fingers down it to bring on vomiting which rarely takes place of itself dash cold water on the head chest and spine and flap these parts well with the ends of wet towels give strong coffee or tea walk the patient up and down in the open air for two or three hours the great thing being to keep him from sleeping electricity is of much service when the patient is recovering mustard poultices should be applied to the soles of the feet and the insides of the thighs and legs the head should be kept cool and raised 2663 the following preparations which are constantly given to children by their nurses and mothers for the purpose of making them sleep often prove fatal syrup of poppies and Godfrey's cordial the author would most earnestly urge all people caring for their children's lives never to allow any of these preparations to be given unless ordered by a surgeon 2664 the treatment in the case of poisoning by henbane hemlock nightshade and foxglove is much the same as that for opium formating should be brought on in all of them 2665 poisonous food it sometimes happens that things which are in daily use and mostly perfectly harmless give rise under certain unknown circumstances and in certain individuals to the symptoms of poisoning the most common articles of food of this description are muscles salmon and certain kinds of cheese and bacon the general symptoms are thirst weight about the stomach difficulty of breathing formating purging spasms prostration of strength and in the case of muscles more particularly an eruption on the body like that of nettle rash treatment empty the stomach well with number one draft and warm water and give two tablespoonfuls of castor oil immediately after let the patient take plenty of arrowroot gruel and the like drinks and if there is much depression of strength give a little warm brandy and water should symptoms of fever or inflammation follow they must be treated as directed in the articles on other kinds of poisoning 2666 mushrooms and similar kinds of vegetables often produce poisonous effects the symptoms are various sometimes giddiness and stupor and others pain in and swelling off the belly with vomiting and purging being the leading ones when the symptoms come on quickly after taking the poison it is generally the head that is affected the treatment consists in bringing on vomiting in the usual manner as quickly and as freely as possible the other symptoms are to be treated on general principles if they are those of depression by brandy and water or cell volatile if those of inflammation by leeches fomentations fever mixtures etc etc end of section 104