The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-31
COFFEE AN ANrDoTE FOR POISON


The New York Daily News cantains some
remarks by DIR Max Langenschwarz, which
are introduced by him as follows -
"a very few persons, and believe but a
small number of medical men, know that
Coffee is one of the most important anti
dotes to many deadly poisons. and to great
many ordinary drugs. This remarkable
fact leads to serious considerations, many
persons receiving the right remedies, but
not being prohibited from taking Coffee.
destroy the intended effects Of their medi-
cine, become worse, and lead the physician
to change the right treatment into false
and perhaps unhappy one-while the simple
knowledge of the above fact whould have
contributed to ameliorate their state and to
save them. But far more important is it to
know that the fatal results of many acci-
dental, spontaneous or criminal empoison-
ments could be stopped almost instantly by
administering that simple antidote, Coffee
while the loss of time in calling physician
&C.. is often the only cause of the loss of
| life.''
| ne DOCCOT d
of poisonous substances which may be GER
tainly overcome by the remedy proposed.
| Among them are Laudanum or Opium,
Hcmlock, Iodine. Tansy Oils, Borax, all
kinds of poisonous Mushrooms, Lettuce,
Wild Rosemary, &c. &c. &c.
.sAll the effects of those substances are
almost instantly destroyed by administering
what we call "tincture of raw Coffee" or
even by simple decoction of raw or green
coffee, preparation costing about nothing
and which, therefore, ought to be kept
ready in every house and in the poorest
family. The following is the very simple
way to get that tincture: Take quarter
of u pound of green Coffee Common Dom
lingo the best) and boil it with one quart of
water till it is reduced to one pint-then
put the whole (berries and liquid) in
quart bottle, add one pint of strong alcohol
and shake it from time to time q little
That's all. This tincture gets stronger
from day to day, and will, if the bottle is
well corked, keep for many years without
changing. If to the pint of alcohol about
ten minutes before mixing it with tho coffee
decoction) you add little spirits of cam |
phor, say two tablespoonfuls, you will not
only double and troble the anti-poisonous
quality of the tincture, but this preparation
will then be an invaluable and certain anti
dote.
'.The compound saving -tincture (ofgreen
coffee and camphor) is, in the respective
cases of poisoning, to be administered ma
turally and by clyster; the internal dose
about ten or twelve drops in teaspoonful
of water every five minutes, and every ff-
teen minutes when the patient begins to re-
cover. Larger, and even very large, doses
may be given, if the danger of life is immi
nent.
''The ordinary cooked coffee (roasted,
ground and boiled or fltered) is in the most
cases without any effect, and in some cases
even dangerous. In very few cases only,
and particularly as an antidote to opium. /
found it highly useful The principal sub
stance acting so powerfully in the green
tincture, is kind of coffee-ol developed !
in the raw berries"
AS to other poisons, the Doctor remarks:
sin a general toxico'ogle, soon to be
published, shall give the antidotes to all
other poisons known at present but it may
be usefnl to remark, that in about all cases
of poisoning by metallic substances, las, for
example, arsenic, copper, verdigris, &c.,) |
the best and surest is to employ instantly a
simple pap of common soap-that is, pieces
of soap stamped with water to kind CT
paste. A part of this paste diluted with
larger quantity of water, will serve for soap |
clysters, which in such cases must be ad- |
ministered every five or ten minutes. If
the jawbones are spasmodically closed, or
the swallowing of the thick paste proves
impossible, the same thing, or diluted soap
water, must be administered through the
mouth as we'll as if cam
MORTON, THE COMPANION OF DR.. KANE.