Alcohol

Symptoms Of Poisoning

The symptoms of an over-dose of Alcohol are so well known, that there is no occasion to enumerate them.

Treatment

Give an emetic. Dash cold water on the head in a constant stream; apply warmth to the feet: and as soon as the patient can swallow give ten drops of Sal Volatile in a little water occasionally. A mustard poultice to the pit of the stomach will be of service:

Bryony Root

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Violent vomitings, with severe colic pains, and purging; great thirst, difficulty of breathing, and sometimes convulsions.

Treatment

Excite vomiting by drinking freely quantities of warm water; afterwards take milk and gruel, or thin starch.

Calabar Bean

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Giddiness and a feeling of torpidity, followed by great weakness and faintness, paleness of the surface, extreme weakness and irregularity of the pulse, and indisposition or inability to make voluntary muscular efforts, nausea and vomiting. The vomiting it produces often saves life, when it is taken in poisonous quantities. Seventy cases are related of children who ate more or less of some beans on their arrival from Africa, at the wharf at Liverpool, in all of whom vomiting was brought on, either by the poison itself or by emetics administered, except in one case; and that case was the only one that proved fatal.

Treatment

Give emetics as soon as possible, Ipecacuanha, Antimonial Wine, Sulphate of Zinc, or mustard and water. After emptying the stomach, give stimulants; wine, brandy and Ammonia.

Camphor

Symptoms Of Poisoning

In large doses Camphor produces violent excitement of the brain and nervous system; vomiting; giddiness; countenance pale; great anxiety; small pulse; difficult breathing; fainting; cold sweats and convulsions. In some instances it has caused death.

Treatment

Wine and Opium (the latter in small doses) to be given at short intervals till the symptoms abate.

Cocculus Indicus

Symptoms Of Poisoning

The symptoms of poisoning by these berries closely resemble those of intoxication by Alcohol.

Treatment

Encourage vomiting and purge freely: if symptoms resembling Apoplexy set in, it may be necessary to take away a little blood.

Colocynth

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Violent pains in the stomach and "bowels, with vomiting and purging, the stools being mixed with blood. The sight soon becomes obscured, and this state is succeeded by giddiness and delirium.

Treatment

Emetics should be taken to empty the stomach, and as soon as the stomach will bear it, a dose of Castor Oil. Milk and gruel should be taken, and leeches or a mustard poultice may be applied to the pit of the stomach.

Creosote

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Causes inflammation of the tissue with which it comes in contact, as the throat, gullet and stomach, and thus occasionally destroys life.

Treatment

First give the whites of three or four eggs, beaten up with water or milk. Afterwards give emetics. When the stomach is clear, the patient may take Ammonia in small doses (10 drops) in gruel or thin starch, or flour and water.

Deadly Nightshade

Symptoms Of Poisoning

A feeling of great dryness and tightness of the throat and gullet; sickness; giddiness; pupils of the eyes dilated and dimness of sight; laughter, redness and tumefaction of the face; convulsions. The stomach and bowels becoming sometimes so paralyzed that vomiting can scarcely be produced by the most powerful emetics, and death follows.

Treatment

As soon as the poisoning is discovered, drink plentifully of vinegar and water. Then take an emetic of Sulphate of Zinc, or, if that is not at hand, of Ipecacuanha or mustard and water. After the stomach is emptied more vinegar and water, or lemon juice and water should be taken, followed by strong purgatives. After the vomiting strong coffee has been found beneficial.

Elaterium. (Squirting Cucumber.)

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Violent sickness, vomiting and pain in the bowels; the stools being very watery, and followed by sudden and excessive debility, cold sweats and death.

Treatment

Gruel, thin starch and flour and water should be given frequently with small doses of Opium; and the same may be given by way of enema. As the mucous coat of the stomach and intestines are apt to become inflamed, it is not advisable to give stimulants.

Foxglove. (Digitalis.)

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Intermitting pulse, giddiness,indistinct vision, nausea, hiccough, cold sweats, delirium, fainting, convulsions and death.

Treatment

Give cordials, as brandy, spiced wine, and small doses of Sal Volatile and Opium, say 10 or 15 drops of Sal Volatile and a quarter of a grain of Opium every hour. Apply a mustard poultice to the pit of the stomach.

Fool's Parsley

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Heat in the throat, thirst, vomiting and occasionally diarrhoea; difficult breathing; a small, quick pulse; headache, giddiness and delirium.

Treatment

Give emetics to promote vomiting, and assist their operation with warm water or thin gruel. Afterwards give Castor Oil or some other purgative.

Gamboge

Symptoms Of Poisoning

In large doses violent vomiting, colic; followed by great prostration of strength, and death.

Treatment

Carbonate of Potash or Saleratus should be given in doses of half a teaspoonful every half hour, mixed in gruel or milk. As soon as the stomach is clear, a quarter of a grain of Opium may be given every hour, or every second hour.

Hellebore (Black.)

Symptoms Of Poisoning

Severe pain in the stomach and bowels; violent vomiting, giddiness, excessive debility, salivation, convulsions, and death. It produces the same effects if applied to a wound, as if taken inwardly.