Enquire Within Upon Everything Part 120

1362. Oxalic Acid.

E. Vomiting and acute pain in the stomach, general debility, cramps, and death.

A. Chalk.

T. Give large draughts of lime water or magnesia.

1363. Spanish Flies.

E. Acrid taste, burning heat in the throat, stomach, and belly, b.l.o.o.d.y vomitings, colic, purging, retention of urine, convulsions, death.

T. Large draughts of olive oil; thin gruel, milk, starch enemas, linseed tea, laudanum, and camphorated water.

1364. Poisonous Fish.

(_Old-wife; sea-lobster; mussel; tunny; blower; rock-fish, &c._)

E. Intense pain in the stomach after swallowing the fish, vomiting, purging, and sometimes cramps.

T. Give an emetic; excite vomiting by tickling the throat, and plenty of warm water. Follow emetics by active purgatives, particularly of castor oil and laudanum, or opium and calomel, and abate inflammation by the usual remedies.

1365. Bites of Reptiles.

(_Viper; black viper; Indian serpents; rattle-snake._)

E. Violent and quick inflammation of the part, extending towards the body, soon becoming livid; nausea, vomiting, convulsions, difficult breathing, mortification, cold sweats, and death.

T. Suppose that the wrist has been bitten: immediately tie a tape between the wound and the heart, scarify the parts with a penknife, razor, or lancet, and apply a cupping-gla.s.s over the bite, frequently removing it and bathing the wound with volatile alkali, or heat a poker and burn the wound well, or drop some of Sir Wm.

Burnett's Disinfecting Fluid into the wound, or cauterize the bite freely with lunar caustic, but not till the part has been well sucked with the mouth, or frequently washed and cupped. The strength is to be supported by brandy, ammonia, ether, and opium. Give plenty of warm drinks, and cover up in bed.

1366. Mad Animals, Bite of.

E. Hydrophobia, or a fear of fluids.

T. Tie a string tightly over the part, cut out the bite, and cauterize the wound with a red-hot poker, lunar caustic, or Sir Wm.

Burnett's Disinfecting Fluid. Then apply a piece of "spongio-piline," give a purgative, and plenty of warm drink.

Whenever chloroform can be procured, sprinkle a few drops upon a handkerchief, and apply to the nose and mouth of the patient before cauterizing the wound. When the breathing appears difficult, cease the application of the chloroform. A physician, writing in the _Times_, strongly urged this course, and stated, many years ago, that there is no danger, with ordinary care, in the application of the chloroform, while the cauterization may be more effectively performed.

1367. Insect Stings.

(_Wasp, bee, gnat, hornet, gadfly, scorpion._)

E. Swelling, nausea, and fever.

T. Press the barrel of a watch-key over the part, so as to expose the sting, which must be removed. Give fifteen drops of hartshorn or sal-volatile in half a wine-gla.s.sful of camomile tea, and cover the part stung with a piece of lint soaked in extract of lead.

1368. Cautions for the Prevention of Accidents.

The following regulations should be engraved on the memory of all:

i. As many sudden deaths come by water, particular caution is therefore necessary in its vicinity.

ii. Do not stand near a tree, or any leaden spout, iron gate, or palisade, in times of lightning.

iii. Lay loaded guns in safe places, and never imitate firing a gun in jest.

iv. Never sleep near charcoal; if drowsy at any work where charcoal fires are used, take the fresh air.

v. Carefully rope trees before they are cut down, that when they fall they may do no injury.

vi. When benumbed with cold beware of sleeping out of doors; rub yourself, if you have it in your power, with snow, and do not hastily approach the fire.

vii. Beware of damp.

viii. Air vaults, by letting them remain open some time before you enter, or scattering powdered lime in them. Where a lighted candle will not burn, animal life cannot exist; it will be an excellent caution, therefore, before entering damp and confined places, to try this simple experiment.

ix. Never leave saddle or draught horses, while in use, by themselves; nor go immediately behind a led horse, as he is apt to kick. When crossing a roadway always go behind a cart or carriage, never in front of it.

x. Do not ride on footways.

xi. Look closely after children, whether they are up or in bed; and particularly when they are near the fire, an element with which they are very apt to amuse themselves.

xii. Leave nothing poisonous open or accessible; and never omit to write the word "POISON" in large letters upon it, wherever it may be placed.

xiii. In walking the streets keep out of the line of the cellars, and never look one way and walk another.

xiv. Never throw pieces of orange peel, or broken gla.s.s bottles, into the streets.

xv. Never meddle with gunpowder by candle-light.

xvi. In tr.i.m.m.i.n.g a lamp with naphtha, never fill it. Leave s.p.a.ce for the spirit to expand with warmth.

xvii. Never quit a room leaving the poker in the fire.

xviii. When the bra.s.s rod of the stair-carpet becomes loose, fasten it immediately.

xix. In opening effervescing drinks, such as soda water, hold the cork in your hand.

xx. Quit your house with care on a frosty morning.

xxi. Have your horses' shoes roughed directly there are indications of frost.