A universal formulary : containing the methods of preparing and administering officinal and other medicines the whole adapted to physicians and pharmaceutists / by R. Eglesfeld Griffith.

  • Griffith, R. Eglesfeld (Robert Eglesfeld), 1798-1850.
Date:
[1854]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A universal formulary : containing the methods of preparing and administering officinal and other medicines the whole adapted to physicians and pharmaceutists / by R. Eglesfeld Griffith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    564/696 (page 558)
    ALKALIES —ANTIMONY. ftffusion is useful in some cases. Ammonia may be employed as a stimulant^ and general symptoms obviated by blood-letting j but this must be employed with great caution. Alkalies. Ammonia.—A corrosive poison. Symptoms.—Excoriation of the mouth and fauces; burning sensation in the throat and stomach, usually followed by vomiting and purging, the ejected matters being often bloody. When the quantity taken is large, an immediate feeling of strangula- tion ensues, attended with convulsions. If the result is fatal, it quickly follows the ingestion of the poison. The inhalation of ammonia by the nostrils, when too freely used in cases of fainting, has caused the same symptoms as when taken into the stomach. Morbid Appearances.—Marks of high inflammation of the parts with which the poison has come in contact. Tests.—The pungent odor; its alkaline reaction—but which is dissipated by heat. By causing a yellow precipitate with a mixture of arsenious acid and nitrate of sil- ver; by producing a rich violet-blue solution with the salts of copper; [by yielding a yellow precipitate with the bichloride of platinum; by giving a white precipitate with the bichloride of mercury;] and forming white fumes with chlorine or hydro- chloric acid. Treatment.—The immediate administration of vinegar or one of the vegetable acids, and afterwards the copious use of demulcents. When ammoniacal vapor has been inhaled, the patient should inspire the vapor of vinegar. PoTASSA.—A corrosive mineral poison. Symptoms.—An acrid, caustic, urinous taste in the mouth; a sensation of burn- ing heat in the throat; nausea, and sometimes vomiting of bloody matters. The sur- face cold and clammy; the pulse quick and feeble; hypercatharsis, and violent colicky pains. Morbid Appearances.—Strong marks of inflammation in the alimentary canal, softening, erosion of the mucqus coat, and, in some cases, perforation of the stomach. Tests.—Alkaline reaction; precipitation of nitrate of silver in the form of a dark- colored oxide. Carbonic acid water causes no precipitate. A concentrated solution afi'ords a canary-yellow precipitate with bichloride of platinum. [A solution of tar- taric acid causes a white precipitate of cream of tartar.] Treatment. — Give vinegar and the diluted vegetable acids; to be followed by a free use of demulcents, or oleaginous mixtures. Soda.—A corrosive mineral poison. Symptoms and Morbid Appearances. — Analogous to those following the use of potassa. Tests. — Caustic soda in solution is not precipitated by bichloride of platinum or tartaric acid; its alkaline nature can be ascertained by the usual tests. [Antimo- niate of potassa affords a white precipitate, when added to the salts of soda. Soda tinges the outer flame of the blow-pipe yellow.] Treatment. —The same as for potassa. Antimony.—Metallic antimony is not regarded as a poison; but its vapor is said to cause unpleasant symptoms when respired. Antimony, Tartarized, generally known as Tartar Emetic, is an irritant metallic poison. Symptoms. —Nausea and severe vomiting, hiccough, cardialgia, burning heat at the epigastrium, severe colic and purging, small and. rapid pulse, cold skin, syncope.