Elements of pharmacy, materia medica, and therapeutics / by Sir William Whitla.

  • Whitla William, Sir, 1851-1933.
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Elements of pharmacy, materia medica, and therapeutics / by Sir William Whitla. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    644/702 (page 626)
    During the pumping, by reversing the action of the levers, a little water may from time to time be sent into the stomach to clear the tube of any solid obstruction, and before withdrawing it finally, tepid water should be injected into the organ, and this should be pumped out again, the operation being continued till the washings return clear. The antidote may be mixed with the water, and in many instances a quantity of this should be left in the stomach. The Syphon Tube may take the place of the stomach-pump in most cases. 30 grs. of Sulphate of Zinc or 10 grs. of Sulphate of Copper in a tumblerful of tepid water will prove efficient emetics ; and Apo- morphine, yV gr. injected hypodermically, acts with great certainty and rapidity when the patient is unable to swallow. Mustard in dessertspoonful doses, in copious quantities of tepid water, may be used when the above emetics are not at hand. Ipe- cacuanha and Antimony are too slow in their action to be depended upon. The contents of the stomach when ejected (or when obtained afterwards upon opening the body) should be carefully preserved for further investigation. This is often overlooked in the exciting period of treatment. The writer has several times successfully pumped and washed out the stomachs of infants and very young children with a soft India- rubber male catheter, attached to the nozzle of an ordinary large glass or metal syringe. The following formula may be employed as a general A ntidote for any poison of unknown nature :— Calcined Magnesia, Powdered Wood Charcoal, Hydrous Peroxide of Iron, equal parts of each. Half an ounce of each of these may be given in a tumblerful of water every half-hour till three doses be taken. Judah Jona has recently demonstrated that a full dose of Adrenalin Chloride oz,, i in 1,000 solution, diluted), if given immediately after a lethal dose of strychnine, will cause such blanch- ing of the gastric mucous membrane as to prevent for a time the absorption of the poison. This will give valuable time for the use of antidotal remedies. His experiments prove that this ex- pedient is of vital importance in poisoning by the cyanides, and it may be advantageously resorted to after the accidental swallowing of all rapidly acting alkaloidal substances. Acetanilid or Antifebrin.—The stomach-pump or an emetic of Car- bonate of Ammonia should be used, followed by Strychnine, gr. hypodermically, and external warmth. Where cyanosis is marked, inhalations of Oxygen may be given, and free stimulation with Alcohol. Acids, Mineral.—The stomach-pump should not be used. Alkalies —Lime, Soap, Chalk, Potash, Soda, or Magnesia—moderately diluted with water, may be freely given. In the absence of these, plaster off a wall (softened by hot water), oils (Almond or Olive), and small doses of Morphine hypodermically should be administered ; all food