A lecture on toxicology : delivered before the class of the Medical College of Ohio, January 15, 1841 / by John Locke.

  • Locke, John, 1792-1856.
Date:
1843
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A lecture on toxicology : delivered before the class of the Medical College of Ohio, January 15, 1841 / by John Locke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    away the deleterious qualities of the poison before it acts fully and destructively. The other controls its poisonous action after it has been established, by exci- ting a contrary action on the system. Much can be imagined, but little can be executed, by this last kind of antidotes. But chemistry has been remarkably triumphant at several points by means of the former kind, and it is chiefly with regard to these that I shall occupy the few remaining minutes, during which, I may expect your attention. The only example given by a late writer of an antidote operating by exciting a counter action, without changing the poison itself, is that the effects of lead may be counteracted by mercury given to sal- ivation, and the salivation caused by the mercury may be corrected by nau- seating doses of antimony. It is indeed, a general principle that one violent action in tho system destroys, or temporarily suspends another ; but generally, that of poison is too rapid and violent to be so controled. Besides chemical remedies which change and destroy aj poison, mechanical means are often re- sorted to with success. An emetic of sulphate of zinc speedily expels the con- tents of the stomach and with them, a part at least, of any deleterious sub- stance which it may contain. The stomach pump is a modem invention of great utility. By its means the stomach may not only be evacuated, but by the repeated injection of water it may be literally washed. In case of a poisonous wound, as by the bite of a rabid or venomous animal, instantaneous excision will remove the venom before it is absorbed. A ligature around the limb above the wound, so as to interrupt the circulation, will, at least, suspend the absorption of the poison, but it will be liable to destroy when the ligature is removed. But the ligature and bleeding from the distended veins below it may withdraw the poisonous matter so nearly as to prevent serious mischief. M. Veniere refined on this practice. Having thrust a fatal dose of poison into the foot of a dog, he applied a tight bandage or ligature around the limb, above the wound, and slowly injected as much water into the jugular vein as the animal would bear, so as to suspend absorbtion ; and finally loosening the ligature a little and opening a vein in the limb, between the ligature and the poisoned wound, drew off the blood as it passed, and brought the absorbed poison along with it. After a moderate quantity had been withdrawn, he re- moved the ligature and the animal recovered. He then injected the blood thus drawn from the first animal into the vein of a second. It died immediately in violent spasms, showing that he had removed a fatal quantity of poison from the blood of the first animal. Another successful mode of arresting the effects of poisoned wounds is by the application of cupping glasses over the wounded part. The edge of the cup acts as a ligature, by pressing on the surrounding parts, while the exhaus, tion sucks out the blood, and thus washes out the venomous matter, and pre- vents its absorption into the general circulation. The ancient poetical tale of the faithful friend who sucked out the poison from a wound made with an envenomed arrow, and thus saved the life of his companion at the risk of his own, is in effect revived as a modern discovery. The present improved mode of cupping, by means of a little air pump, if applied immediately, would have every prospect of success.