Lead. — While metallic lead is not poi- sonous, many of its compounds are so. The one most nearly inert is the sulphate of lead. Hence sulphuric acid, and its salts, as sul- phate of magnesium, are antidotes for it. Sugar of lead (acetate of lead) and the sub- acetate, present in Goulard's extract, which are often used to make lead- water, are some- times taken poisonously by mistake. Vio- lent vomiting and purging, withver}^ severe pains in the abdomen, followed by prostra- tion have been the symptoms in such cases; death taking place (if the quantity was very large) in from one to three days. Treatment for such acute or sudden poisoning by lead, should consist in the use, if vomiting is not copious, of an emetic dose (twenty to thirty grains) of sulphate of zinc, followed by whites of eggs in abundance, milk, and moderate doses of sulphate of magnesium (Epsom salts); with warmth applied to the 551 88 IHE FAMILY DOCTOR body, and opiates (as paregoric or lauda- num) to relieve pain wL t\\ the most urgent symptoms have been overcome. Opium. — Symptoms of any kind of opiate poisoning are : in not very excessive dose, at first a short period of excitement ; in over- whelming dose, this is absent and the deep stupor comes almost at once ; with closed eyes, whose pupils, if the lids be raised, are seen to be contracted ; pulse slow and full ; breathing snoring (stertorous) ; face flushed and skin warm, until near the end, when pallor and coldness precede death. The slowness of the breathing in bad cases is very remarkable. The condition on the whole bears a close resemblance to apoplexy, dead drunkenness, and compression of the brain from fracture of the skull. In neither of these, however, are the pupils contracted as in opium-poisoning. Death usually fol- lows within from seven to twelve hours. Treatment of opium-poisoning calls first for an emetic ; a teaspoonful of mustard, a tablespoonful of salt, or a teaspoonful of ipecac, in warm water, should be poured down the throat at once, if the patient can swallow. When this is not possible, a phy- sician will use a stomach-pump . Also, cold water should be dashed upon the face, and the patient's body may be slapped vigor- ously, or, if he can, he may be made to walk about ; anything to keep hiin awake, or from sinking into the fatal degree of lethargy . Phosphorus. — This substance, a small portion of which is always naturally present in our brains and in our bones, is, when in the vSeparate state, a most destructive poison. It acts rapidly ; when, for example, ends of lucifer matches are swallowed, through mis- take or malice. It is known also to act slowdy, in producing disease of the jaw- bones, with those engaged in making lucifer matches. Symptoms of acute or rapid phos- phorus poisoning usually begin to appear a few hours after it is taken. There is a gar- lickly taste, with burning in the throat, pain in the stomach, violent vomiting, sometimes purging ; coldness, prostration, and either convulsions or stupor before death, which may follow in from one to five or six days. The amount necessary to kill an adult is less than a grain. A child two years old is reported to have died in consequence of swallowing 552 the ends of eight friction-matches ; and two of these have killed an infant two months old.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Lead. — While metallic lead is not poisonous, many of its compounds are so. The one most nearly inert is the sulphate of lead. Hence sulphuric acid, and its salts, as sulphate of magnesium, are antidotes for it. Sugar of lead (acetate of lead) and the subacetate, present in Goulard's extract, which are often used to make lead- water, are sometimes taken poisonously by mistake. Violent vomiting and purging, with very severe pains in the abdomen, followed by prostration have been the symptoms in such cases; death taking place (if the quantity was very large) in from one to three days. Treatment for such acute or sudden poisoning by lead, should consist in the use, if vomiting is not copious, of an emetic dose (twenty to thirty grains) of sulphate of zinc, followed by whites of eggs in abundance, milk, and moderate doses of sulphate of magnesium (Epsom salts); with warmth applied to the body, and opiates (as paregoric or laudanum) to relieve pain until the mostt urgent symptoms have been overcome. Opium. — Symptoms of any kind of opiate poisoning are : in not very excessive dose, at first a short period of excitement ; in overwhelming dose, this is absent and the deep stupor comes almost at once ; with closed eyes, whose pupils, if the lids be raised, are seen to be contracted ; pulse slow and full ; breathing snoring (stertorous) ; face flushed and skin warm, until near the end, when pallor and coldness precede death. The slowness of the breathing in bad cases is very remarkable. The condition on the whole bears a close resemblance to apoplexy, dead drunkenness, and compression of the brain from fracture of the skull. In neither of these, however, are the pupils contracted as in opium-poisoning. Death usually follows within from seven to twelve hours. Treatment of opium-poisoning calls first for an emetic ; a teaspoonful of mustard, a tablespoonful of salt, or a teaspoonful of ipecac, in warm water, should be poured down the throat at once, if the patient can swallow. When this is not possible, a physician will use a stomach-pump . Also, cold water should be dashed upon the face, and the patient's body may be slapped vigorously, or, if he can, he may be made to walk about ; anything to keep hiin awake, or from sinking into the fatal degree of lethargy . Phosphorus. — This substance, a small portion of which is always naturally present in our brains and in our bones, is, when in the separate state, a most destructive poison. It acts rapidly ; when, for example, ends of lucifer matches are swallowed, through mistake or malice. It is known also to act slowdy, in producing disease of the jawbones, with those engaged in making lucifer matches. Symptoms of acute or rapid phosphorus poisoning usually begin to appear a few hours after it is taken. There is a garlicky taste, with burning in the throat, pain in the stomach, violent vomiting, sometimes purging ; coldness, prostration, and either convulsions or stupor before death, which may follow in from one to five or six days. The amount necessary to kill an adult is less than a grain. A child two years old is reported to have died in consequence of swallowing the ends of eight friction-matches ; and two of these have killed an infant two months old.

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