Treatment

The vomiting caused by the poison itself should be assisted by drinking freely of warm water, thin gruel or starch water; and may be followed by a dose or two of Castor Oil.

Hellebore (White.)

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Vomiting, with bloody stools; great anxiety, trembling, giddiness, fainting, sinking of the pulse, cold sweats, convulsions and death. Nearly the same symptoms are produced by the application of the root to an ulcerated surface.

Treatment

Cleanse out the stomach with plentiful draughts of warm water, thin gruel, or warm flour and water. Then give vinegar and water or strong coffee, and small doses of Camphor. Soothe the rectum by giving Clysters of thick gruel. The same instructions will serve in cases of poisoning by Stinking Hellebore, Sabadilla, Buttercups, Indian Turnip, and others of the same class.

Hemlock (Wild Parsnip.)

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Sickness, difficulty of breathing, great anxiety, giddiness, delirium, which often rises to maniacal frenzy dilatation of the pupils of the eyes, stupor, convulsions,and death

Treatment

Empty the stomach by 20 grains of Sulphate of Zinc dissolved in a glass of water, or by an emetic of Ipecacuanha or mustard. Then give plenty of vinegar and water, or other acid drinks. Apply cold water to the head; and after the stomach is quite settled, a dose or two of Castor Oil may be given,

Henbane

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Sickness, stupor,' dimness of sight and delirium, followed by insensibility, and great dilatation of the pupils of the eyes; the pulse at first hard, becomes gradually weaker and tremulous.

Treatment

If the poison has been recently taken, empty the stomach by a strong emetic; and afterwards give vinegar and water and other acid drinks. If the poison has had time to enter the system, the acid drinks may be given with purgatives, but it may also be necessary to bleed, to reduce the inflammation.

Meadow Saffron (Colchicum.)

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Nausea and vomiting, violent griping, headache, rapid sinking of the pulse, and cold sweats.

Treatment

Assist the vomiting by large draughts of thin gruel or weak tea. Afterwards take cordials, with small doses of Opium.

Monkshood (Aconite.)

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Numbness of the point of the tongue, with a sensation of burning in the throat, followed by tremors and a feeling of coldness in those parts. Nausea and vomiting, giddiness, cold sweats, delirium and convulsions, which terminate in death.

Treatment

Give large draughts of warm water or gruel to assist the vomiting; when the stomach is clear give acid drinks or strong coffee, with wine or brandy.

Mushrooms (Poisonous.)

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Different Funguses produce different effects on the system. The more general symptoms, which usually occur from six to twenty hours after eating them, are pains in the stomach, nausea, vomiting and purging; colic; cramp of the lower extremities; convulsions, both general and partial; an unquenchable thirst, vertigo, delirium, insensibility and death.

Treatment

First get rid of the poison by means of emetics and purgatives. Castor Oil is valuable in these cases. After the stomach and bowels have been emptied, Sweet Spirit of Nitre may be given in twenty drop doses every half hour. After the patient is sufficiently recovered, he may take Peruvian Bark or Quinine to counteract the debility.

Opium. Laudanum. Morphia

Symptoms Of Poisoning

The symptoms of Poisoning by Opium and its salts and preparations are the same, or nearly so,-in a large dose producing drowsiness and stupor, which are followed by delirium, pale countenance, sighing, deep breathing, cold sweats, insensibility and death.

Treatment

If a large dose has been taken, a stomach-pump may be used to empty the stomach, if it can be obtained; if not, emetics should be given. After the stomach is emptied give large draughts of vinegar and water, frequently repeated. Strong coffee, brandy and cordials may also be given. Cold water may be applied to the head, and a mustard poultice to the pit of the stomach. Keep the patient awake till the effects of the poison have gone off.

Oxalic Acid

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Burning pain in the stomach; nausea, and severe but ineffectual efforts to vomit; pupils of the eyes much dilated; giddiness, convulsions and death.

In poisoning with Oxalic Acid the employment of Soda or Potash, or Saleratus must be carefully avoided, as the salts which they form with Oxalic Acid are as poisonous as the Acid itself.

Treatment

The proper antidotes are Chalk, Whiting, or Magnesia, which should be taken in large quantities, mixed in water, as quickly as possible after the poison has been taken. If taken in time they will be successful; but the Acid in some cases acts so rapidly that there is no time for the employment of remedies. If none of these are attainable at the moment, tear down the plaster of the room and beat it up fine with water, and drink that.

Poke (Berries And Root.)

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Excessive vomiting and purging, with great prostration of strength, and sometimes convulsions, followed by insensibility and death.

Treatment

The stomach should be cleaned by drinking warm mucilaginous liquids; as thin gruel, milk, or if nothing else is at hand, warm water; after the stomach is clear, stimulants may be given.

Prussic Acid

Symptoms Of Poisoning

When the dose is large, death is the immediate result; but, if smaller, it is succeeded by stupor and weight in the head, nausea, faintness, giddiness, difficulty of breathing, loss of sight, dilated pupils, a small pulse, and insensibility, ending in death, if no antidotes are employed.

Treatment

In poisoning by Prussic Acid, whatever is done must be done quickly. Chlorine is the most powerful antidote, and if obtainable Chlorine Water is to be given in doses of one or two tea-spoonfuls, diluted with water; or the same quantity of Solution of Chloride of Soda, or Chloride of Lime in water. If these are not obtainable, give hot brandy and water, with Camphor Water, and 20 or 30 drops of Hartshorn or Spirit of Sal Volatile. Dashing cold water over the face may also be tried.