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when there is no inflammation about the throat, tickle it with a feather

to excite vomiting.



Vomiting may be caused by giving warm water, with a teaspoonful of

mustard to the tumblerful, well stirred up. Sulphate of zinc (white

vitriol) may be used in place of the mustard, or powdered alum. Powder

of ipecacuanha, a teaspoonful rubbed up with molasses, may be employed

for children. Tartar emetic should never be given, as it is excessively

depressing, and uncontrollable in its effects. The stomach pump can only

be used by skillful hands, and even then with caution.



Opium and other Narcotics--After vomiting has occurred, cold water

should be dashed over the face and head. The patient must be kept awake,

walked about between two strong persons, made to grasp the handles of a

galvanic battery, dosed with strong coffee, and vigorously slapped.

Belladonna is an antidote for opium and for morphia, etc.; its active

principles; and, on the other hand, the latter counteract the effects of

belladonna. But a knowledge of medicine is necessary for dealing with

these articles.



Strychnia--After emetics have been freely and successfully given, the

patient should be allowed to breathe the vapor of sulphuric ether,

poured on a handkerchief and held to the face, in such quantities as to

keep down the tendency to convulsions. Bromide of potassium, twenty

grains at a dose, dissolved in syrup, may be given every hour.



Alcoholic Poisoning should be combated by emetics, of which the sulphate

of zinc, given as above directed, is the best. After that, strong coffee

internally, and stimulation by heat externally, should be used.



Acids are sometimes swallowed by mistake. Alkalies, lime water,

magnesia, or common chalk mixed with water, may be freely given, and

afterward mucilaginous drinks, such as thick gum water or flaxseed tea.



Alkalies are less frequently taken in injurious strength or quantity,

but sometimes children swallow lye by mistake. Common vinegar may be

given freely, and then castor or sweet oil in full doses--a

tablespoonful at a time, repeated every half hour or two.



Nitrate of silver when swallowed is neutralized by common table salt

freely given in solution in water.



The salts of mercury or arsenic (often kept as bedbug poison), which are

powerful irritants, are apt to be very quickly fatal. Milk or the whites

of eggs may be freely given and afterward a very thin paste of flour and

water. In these cases an emetic is to be given after the poison is

neutralized.



Phosphorus paste, kept for roach poison or in parlor matches, is

sometimes eaten by children and has been willfully taken for the purpose

of suicide. It is a powerful irritant. The first thing to be done is to

give freely of magnesia and water; then to give mucilaginous drinks as

flaxseed tea, gum water or sassafras pith and water; and lastly to

administer finely powdered bone-charcoal, either in pill or in mixture

with water.



In no case of poisoning should there be any avoidable delay in obtaining

the advice of a physician, and, meanwhile, the friends or bystanders

should endeavor to find out exactly what has been taken, so that the

treatment adopted may be as prompt and effective as possible.