Such a grouping is far from perfect; but it would be impossible to have anything worse than that still in general use. It is with the hope of rendering this little volume more generally useful these changes have been made: a reason at all times all-powerful with its lamented Author.
These Memoranda are intended to refresh the memory of the practitioner on a subject which is not brought under his notice so frequently as many other departments of medicine. They are especially adapted to show at a glance the treatment to be adopted in each particular instance of poisoning to which a medical man is liable to be summoned.
There seems reason to fear that the crime of slow poisoning is more extensively practised in the present day than is generally believed. The study of the following pages will, it is hoped, put the physician on his guard; and prevent his attributing to natural disease symptoms due to the villainous administration of deadly drugs.
CHAPTER I. PAGE Definition and Mode of Action of Poisons 13
Diagnosis of Poisoning—Duties of the Practitioner 19
Duties of the Practitioner—Treatment of Poisoning 24
The Caustic Alkalies and their Carbonates: Potash, Soda, Ammonia 48
Salts of the Alkalies and Alkaline Earths 52
Salts of the Metals: Zinc—Silver—Tin—Bismuth—Chrome—Iron 54
Specific Animal Irritants.—Cantharides 92
Narcotics.—Neurotics, acting on the Brain and producing Sleep: Opium 95
Anæsthetics.—Neurotics acting on the Brain and producing Insensibility: Chloroform—Chloral—Bichloride of Methylene—Ether—Amylene—Nitrous Oxide 102
Inebriants.—Neurotics acting on the Brain and producing Intoxication: Alcohol—Nitro-Benzole—Cocculus Indicus—Fungi, &c. 108
Delirants.—Neurotics acting on the Brain and producing Delirium: Hyoscyamus—Belladonna—Stramonium—Datura alba—Nightshade 112
Convulsives.—Neurotics producing Convulsions: Nux Vomica—Brucia—Strychnia 116
Hyposthenisants.—Neurotics producing Death by Syncope: Aconite—Prussic Acid 122
Depressants.—Neurotics producing marked depression of the Heart’s Action: Digitalis—Calabar Beans—Tobacco—Hemlock 129
Asphyxiants.—Noxious Gases, producing Neurotic Symptoms 134
Abortives.—Substances producing Abortion 137
DEFINITION AND MODE OF ACTION OF POISONS.