Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-07-20
For the Lswisburg Chronicle.

disseminated by means Of the periodical
newspaper. Published in book form or by
means OF medical aud scientific journals,
facts Of the utmos. importance will be
locked up in the Libraries Of the learned
and wealthy, or will lumber the shelves OF
the professional man. Published in the
columns of the periodical newspaper, it
will reach the many-will, if sufficiently
importan. md interesting, be republished,
carried to every freside and extend its ben
ci,s a thousand fold more, than any other
method of publication possibly could.
To use the expression Of a late traveller
in this country " an American without a
newspaper, is Ike cat without claws" "
Therefore, worthy reader, I design, through
the columns of the Chronicle, to furnish
you with a few essays on
TONICOLOGY,
promising that few are aware that every
dag we are exposed to noxious influences
and unsuspected poisoning through our ig-
norance of the chemical constituents Of the
atmosphere we inhale and of the substan-
ces we consume FOR our daily sustenancc.
Thus, for example, chloride Of sodium,
Common sal) used daily on our tables,
and very often administered as a domestic
medicine, is as violent an irritant poison
in large quantities as, what are called,
deadly irritant poisons are in small doses.
For example, in the year 1889, young
lady residing in the north of England,
swallowed half pound of salt as a RENE
iy for worms. 1t was considered harm
less substance, but in two hours alarming
symptoms made their appearance, paralysis
came on, and although the stomach pump
and other antidotal means were employed,
she died in few hours. On post NOR
tenn examination, those changes were
found indicative Of the effect of violent
irritant on the alimcntary passages. Lon
don Medical Gazette, lS39-i0) Thus
common salt is as much an irritant poison
as arsenic, only requiring very large doses
TO produce the same effects.
The sulphate Of magncsia Epson saits)
will destroy life in large doses. A boy
aged ten years, had two ounces admins
tered to him by his father, for the purpose
of destroying worms, he died in 40 min
utes. This case is related by DR.. Christi
son. Daniel Cox, an old man and con-
frmed drunkard, had the sulphate of mag
ncsia administered to him, in beer, as q
trick He died within forty-eight hours.
One Of the murderers Gin spOrD was con-
victed
And we have read, but short time ago,
of another such sporti.e murder-that Of
a man in Marietta, Lancaster Co, Pa, who
was killed by oleum Tiglii {Croton oiD
mixed in his liquor by persons unacquain-
ted with its poisonous properties.
Cold water, taken in large quantities,
when the system is excited, will destroy
life suddenly by shock or slowly by indu-
cling gastritis.
Raw rice, taken in milk, caused the
death Of young woman within twenty-four
hours, although emetics discharged guam
tity Of the rice the previous distention Of
the stomach and the mechanical irritation
of the hard substance no doubt produced
acute gastritis. CThis case was reported in
the London Lancet, April 10, lsl7)
DR.. Taylor mentions the death Ct a
child, aged seven years, from eating large
quantity Of orange peel.
Thus, cases could be produced without
number, proving how necessary information
on sach subjects is to the community in
general, that timely notice and warning,
with the proper remedies indicated, should
be given, and when notice and warning
have failed, and when the aid of physi-
clan can not be obtained {for in al! eases
should the physician be sought for, that
even if the noxious substance has been
voided, be may arrest the progress of at
tending iuaammat;on) may often preserve
valuable life !; and if these essays should
be the means Of preventing the loss of or
preserving one life, the author will be well
repaid for bis labor. Aud | have also an
other motive We have read remarks cir
culating through the journals of Toxico.
logical character, bat abounding in errors,
and calculated to do more harm than good
( To correct these errors would be good
deed but this alone is not enough, for ii
requires more space than few lines tC
show how in different phases of the same
poison entirely different treatment Is neces
sary. l trust l have written enough tc
show that the essays which will follow
should be read and preserved by those who
have the charge Of families; for many
noxious substances may be swallowed by
the Young brood under their care, and a
careful perusal may teach them how tc
save life when the aid of a physician can
not be obtained. j. L. l..
I