ANTIDOTES TO POISONS

The first thing to do is to cause their ejection by vomiting, to do which place mustard mixed with salt on the tongue, or give large quantities of lukewarm water, or tickle the throat with a feather. These failing, instantly resort to active emetics like tartar emetic, sulphate of copper, or sulphate of zinc. After vomiting has taken place with these, continue it if possible by copious draughts of warm water till the poison is entirely removed. Of course, if vomiting cannot be induced, the stomach pump must be employed, especially if arsenic or narcotics have been taken. A brief tame formulated as follows may be useful for emergencies.

ANTIDOTES. Alkalies — Soap and milk, chalk, soda, lime-water. Vegetable Acids — Vinegar, oil in abundance. Common salt, moderately. Send for the doctor and his stomach pump. Oak bark, strong green tea. Epsom salts, oils and magnesia. Whites of eggs, sweet milk. Whites of eggs, or strong coffee. Cold douche, followed by friction. Starch, wheat flour in water. Whites of eggs, sweet milk. Lemonade strong, epsom salt.

Emetics — cold douche, exercise and heat.

Magnesia in copious draughts.

Whites of eggs, sweet milk.

Apply fire in some form to the wound thoroughly

and immediately. Ammonia applied freely.

Same as for mad dog, followed by whisky to in- toxication.

The foregoing are the more 'common and more important poisons and their antidotes. — P. L. Hatch, M. D., Minneapolis, Minn.

DIPHTHERIA.

For this place it must be presumed that the symptoms of the disease are sufficiently distinct in a given case to be rightly interpreted by non- professional persons. At once give of Proto-iodide of Mercurius, third

POISONS. Acids. Alkalies. Alcohol. Arsenic Antimony. Baryta or Lime. Bismuth. Copper. Gases. Iodine. Creosote. Lead. Opium and other

Narcotics. Phosphorus. Zinc.

Mad Dog Bite. Bite of Insect. Bite of Serpent.

372 THE BUCKEYE COOK BOOK.

decimal trituration, from half to three grains every one to three houri according to the age of the patient and the severity of the attack, al ways leaning strongly tovi^ard the longer intervals, and never failing tc lengthen them vifith the improvement ; use no external applications except dry flannel. At the same time, without regard to the inclina- tions of the patient, give as often (in severe cases as every two hours) as every three hours, the best beef tea or extract of beef in generous quantities. In this terrible disease, if a choice were to be made be- tween the medicine or the nourishment, by all means retain the latter. The best medication may arrest the local effects of the blood poison, but cannot resupply the waste of blood, upon which, after all, recovery depends. Spend no precious time trying other remedies. Leave this to the physician after he assumes the case. — P. L. Hatch, M. £>,

SCARLET FEVER,

Like small pox, spreads by infection and contagion. The first symp- tom is generally vomiting ; fever soon sets in ; the throat is slightlj sore ; there is headache, thirst, restlessness, and slight delirium al night. These symptoms continue about forty-eight hours, when the rash makes its appearance over the lower part of the neck and upper part of the chest. This rash is of a bright scarlet in healthy persons, having a velvety appearance, but not raised or rough. On the second day of the rash it spreads over the body, and on the third over the limbs. At this period it begins to fade on the chest and body, and about the third day from its appearance on the hands and feet, it dis- appears altogether. It returns, however, as a light blush for several days, with more or less fever. With the subsidence of the eruption there appears over the body a dandruff-like scurf. This stage is very dangerous, from the fact that the removal of this outer coating renders the patient peculiarly liable to suppression of perspiration on the slightest exposure to cold. Judicious nursing is far more important than medicines, but no case should be without a competent physician. The room should have a uniform temperature day and night of about 68° to 70° ; should be well aired, without exposure to drafts. In this room the patient should remain until thoroughly well, unless it be in the summer season. The clothing should be light during the rash, and increased after it until convalescence is established. Give cold drinks very sparingly. When the skin is hot, sponge the body fre- quently. It is well to bind a piece of fat salt pork on the throat, or put around it a light flannel scarf, rubbing the throat daily and freely with camphorated oil. The diet should consist of light gruels and liquids until the eruption subsides, when it may be solid but still simple. After the early stages are passed, the danger will depend upon the exposure of the new tender surface to cold and the resulting drops

MEDICAL. 373 •

less liable to dropsy after scarlet fever. First, rub them over fre- quently with fatty substances, as lard or oil. Second, frequent warm baths during convalescence. After the bath great care should be taken to remove the refuse water beyond the reach of exposure, or disinfect it. — By an Eminent Physician.

CHOLERA MIXTURE. Take one ounce each of the following ingredients ; tincture opium, capsicum or red pepper, rhubarb, peppermint and camphor; put in large bottle, with a pint best brandy. Dose is ten to twenty drops in two or three teaspoons water. Good in any case of diarrhea. — Mrs. Dr. Thomson.