SALT OF SORREL, or Essential Salts of Lemons, is the acid oxalate of potash, used for bleaching straw and removing ink stains; it produces the symptoms of poisoning by Oxalic Acid, and must be treated in the same way.
14.- Carbolic Acid (Acidum Carbolicum).
Carbolic Acid was at one time one of the favourite poisons wherewith to commit suicide, and it is among suicides that by far the largest number of deaths from carbolic acid are to be found.
Cases of accidental poisoning by the incautious use of it are also, unfortunately, of rather frequent occurrence. Used in the sick-room as a disinfectant, there is some danger of its being erroneously given to the patient. And elsewhere, even the handling of it in the form of powder may cause unpleasant effects. Moreover, when treating Abscesses, Wounds, and Fractures, it should be employed cautiously, for serious complications have arisen from its undue absorption by the system. As the Acid is absorbed more readily when combined with oil than in an aqueous solution, the latter is in some cases preferable when the Acid comes into direct contact with a large granulating surface. When introduced into the uterine cavity the solution has produced dangerous collapse. Whenever employed, the urine should be frequently examined; for as the Acid is eliminated by the kidneys, it acts as an irritant on those organs, and may cause renal hyperaemia, or parenchymatous inflammation, of which abnormal urinary secretions would be symptomatic.
SYMPTOMS.- Burning in mouth, throat and stomach; usually skin becomes livid, or has a mottled appearance; stools are blackish- brown; urine is very dark brown, almost black; absence of vomiting; low temperature, heart failure. When applied to the skin it loses its sensitiveness, and becomes white and puckered, as from immersion in hot water; then it becomes dry, red, sore to the touch; burns, tingles, smarts; and finally cracks; forming deep, sore fissures.
TREATMENT.- When Carbolic Acid has come in contact with the skin, disintegration, of the cuticle may be averted by the application of a cuticle may be averted by the application of a strong solution of Carbonate of Soda; the same remedy may be employed, oils, white egg, milk and water, hot bottles and hot flannels, stimulants, artificial respiration.
15.- Oil of Tar (Kreasote).
This is seldom taken in poisonous doses. Mucilage, oil, etc., are antidotes to this powerful irritant. If great depression be one of the symptoms, Ammonia, or similar remedies, may be required.
16.- Colchicum (Colchicum).
Cases of poisoning by this medicine are most likely preparations of the drug, or from continued doses, producing gradual intoxication.
SYMPTOMS. – These much resemble those of tartarized Antimony there being great nausea, sickness, purging, and depression of the heart’s action.
TREATMENT.- Same as for Aconite.
17.- Opium (Opium).
It is important to distinguish between Opium poisoning and primary Apoplexy. The chief differences are tabulated as follows:-
DIFFERENCES.
OPIUM-POISONING. (Primary) APOPLEXY.
1. Occurs chiefly in young 1. Occurs mostly in persons persons.
2. If taken with a meal, as in 2. Is often the immediate beer, the symptoms would not arise consequence of over
for half an hour. repletion of the stomach.
3. The symptoms come on gradually. 3. The symptoms occur suddenly.
4. The patient can be roused. 4. The patient cannot be roused.
5. The face may be every pale 5. The face is turgid and and sunken or bloated, the eyes congested, and the pupils are closed and the pupils usually are seldom markedly contracted, frequently to the contracted unless the haemorrhage size of a pin’s point, and is into the Pons insensible to light. Varioli of the brain.
6. The breathing is deep but 6. The breathing is quiet. stertorous.
7. Pulse small and of natural 7. Pulse, slow, full and frequency. labouring.
8. Is usually fatal between 8. Is usually fatal the seventh and twelfth hours. earlier or later than Opium poisoning.
Morphia, the principal alkaloid of Opium, acts similarly. Narcotine is an excitant, increasing the frequency of the pulse and raising the temperature. Thebaine excites the upper portion of the spinal cord.
DIAGNOSIS has also to be made from Alcoholic Intoxication, which produces similar symptoms, but here the odour of spirit can generally be detected in the breath; also from the narcotism of uraemic poisoning from diseased kidneys; in the latter case puffiness of the eyelids, and albumen in the urine, will distinguish the cases.
Opium-smoking and eating, when once the habit is formed, soon becomes an all-absorbing passion.
A cachectic state of the body, the derangement of most of its functions, is generally noticed in those who habitually use the drug; “and in them the slightest scratch often degenerates into a foul and ill-conditioned Ulcer” (Waring).
One of the most common used of Opium is for the quieting of children; for this purpose it is usually given as Laudanum, Paregoric, or soothing-syrup. Any mother, nurse, or baby-farmer, using these substances ought to be treated as a criminal; if it were so, hundreds of children would be saved who are now more or less slow poisoned, either by design, mistake, or overdosing. The nervous irritability, fretfulness, and sleeplessness for which these drugs are given, find in Homoeopathy certain and harmless remedies.
SYMPTOMS.- In addition to those stated in the table, the person lies quite still, with closed eyes, pupils contracted, pale, ghastly countenance, free perspiration, increasing slowness of respiration, and insensible to external impressions; the whole expression being indicative of deep and perfect repose. The differences just tabulated are most marked in the beginning of a case of poisoning by Opium, for afterwards congestion of the brain and effusion come on, with even stertorous breathing, and the case then more resembles one of Apoplexy. If the patient recover, the stupor passes into a prolonged sleep-twenty-four to thirty-six hours-after which nausea, vomiting, giddiness, and loathing of food, take place.
TREATMENT.- The primary object is to remove the poison from the stomach, which is best accomplished by washing it out by the stomach-pump. This treatment is better adapted to Opium than to any other poison, because it us usually taken in the liquid state of Laudanum, which narcotizes the nervous system, and renders it almost insensible to emetics. A gag should be first placed between the jaws, and the tongue pressed back to place the epiglottis over the larynx, and then a flexible, but not elastic pipe, previously softened in warm water, and lubricated with butter, passed down. About a pint of water is to be pumped into the stomach, and then nearly as much withdrawn; this should be repeated till the water returns clear. In default of a stomach- pump, or where solid Opium has been taken, a non-nauseant emetic should be given as Zinci Sulph. Zxss. A suitable emetic may be readily found in common mustard-flour a dessertspoonful of which may be given in cold water; for this, as well as Sulphate of Zinc, is a direct emetic, acting quickly, and without the preceding nausea that Antimony and Ipecacuanha usually produce.
For children, however, the proper emetic would be tartarized Antimony, about grass in a little water, and sweetened with syrup. When the poison has been removed from the stomach (but not before) vegetable acids may be given to counteract the narcotism. Cream of tartar and water, vinegar and water, or lemon-juice may be given every ten minutes. When there is inability to swallow, emetics may be given as enemata. Belladonna or Atropine has proved a successful antidote, given in as large doses as the patient can bear, and at frequent intervals, until the contracted pupil dilates. Strychnine has also been remedial.
The next object is to keep the patient constantly roused, by dashing water, cold, or alternately hot and cold, over the head and face, by keeping him walking in the open air between two strong persons; this both wards off stupor, and, by promoting respiration and circulation, expedites the elimination of the poison from the system. Flapping of the body and legs with a wet towel is rousing. Electricity is also very useful in this stage in keeping the patient awake, except when there is cerebral congestion. Camphor, Ammonia, hot coffee, brandy and water, and similar stimulants should be administered. Considerable time must elapse before the patient is allowed to sleep, and then the should be wakened up as soon as he snores.
In desperate cases, artificial respiration has properly been resorted to, and has in some instances averted a fatal issue. Often great perseverance, even for hours, in necessary, and should be observed even in hopeless cases. When the poison has been removed, a decoction of coffee, in oft-repeated doses, is useful to revive the patient, and to mitigate sickness and headache. Coffee is an excellent anti-narcotic, and helps to keep awake patients poisoned with Opium.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."