Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-11-03
Hints for the Household.
ACCIDENTS IN THE HOUSE.

out as lneN are SoulctlultS vi II Cel IdiH
gravity, we refer to a clever little book
entitled, What To Do First" written by
CIV. Dulles, and published by Blakiston,
Philadelphia, which contains in II small
space a great deal which is useful to know
in certain emergencies. Now, as there
are copper boilers attached to ranges in
many kitchens, the use of oXalic acid to
scour them with is quite common. Coca
Sionallv we hear of accidents arising form
careIessness when oxalic acid has been left
about. The writer of this uses oxalic acid
in her own kitchen, but with great precau-
ton. The bottle containing it is never
given to the cook, but only a small por-
ton of its contents, and whenever it has
been used the servant is asked if all of it
has been employed" If any remains
over it is thrown away. 1t is the most
stupid of drug clerks that cOnfounds oxaic
acid with EPSON salts The acid, as DR..
Dulles describes it, comes in small,
heavy, bright colored crystals, making a
clear rattle il. hottie or jar" In case
by any accident oxaic acid has been taken
the antidote for it is lime. The chemical
reason for using lime is that oXalic acid
forms with it an insoluble compound, and
its corrosive action on the coating of the
stomach is at once stopped. " If lime wa
ter is at hand it may be given freely, or
whitewash tooth powder Gts base is al
ways chalk), chalk, whiting, or plaster
from the wall The latter may be crushed
and stirred up in water without regard to
grittness, which will not do any harm"
For sanitary purposes carbolic acid is
now frequently found in houses. The
cases of it's accidental use must be of rare
occurrence, as its peculiarly strong odor
makes it recognizable at once. Still, cases
of its having been taken in the dark are
not uncommon, and it is a most dangerous
poison, because, as DR.. Dulles states, it
seems. after the first painful corrosive
effects; 'to benumb the stomach" At
once large and repeated doses of oil or
milk should he given. Certain cases of
poisoning with carboic acid have been
successfully treated, after oil had been
taken, by stimulation. But it is a danger.
Gus acid, and care should be taken with
the bottle containing it.
Corrosive sublimate is often employed
abeut house to rid bed of vermin. AS
it is colorlcss when in solution, it often
escapes notice. If taken vomiting must
he provoked and some form of tannic acid
given" Tea is the strongest thing which
is at hand usually, and powerful decoc
ton should be at once administered.
Adults rarely NEEDLE with phosphorus, but
children sometimes suck this very deadly
substance from matches. Very fortunate
ly it is discoverable by its odor in the
child's breath, and its action is not rapid
" Fve-grain doses of sulphate of copper
dissolved in water may be given at inter
walls of ten minutes until vomiting comes
on. Then-a dose of magnesia should De
administered, but no OIL"
Mistakes us to quantity of opium prepa-
rations are by no means uncommon acct
dents. Such are to be found, most unlor-
tunately, in what DR.. Dulles very proper
ly calls, " the many poisonous nostrums
sold us syrups, pain destroyers and drops
for infants" There is no expression harsh
lenough which would serve to brand the
woman who administers such poison to
her baby. A mother who gives such
substances to her child without doctors
advice takes the chances of life or death
in her own hands. To such, capable Of
seeing their children waste away before
their eyes, no advice would be of avail
We address, then, those who, unfortunate
ly, may give laudanum or black drop fol
parcgoric THE symptoms are deel
sleep, with narrowing OF the pupil of the
eye to Il small circle, which does not en-
large in the dark" DR.. Dulles advise.
the immediate and persistent use of emet
les, and to allow the patient to vomit owe
and over again" Particular attention
should be paid to the breathing. "St
long as the breathing does not fall below
ten to the minute there is no immediat,
danger of death; but opium is a dangerou
poison, and requires all the skill that Cal
be obtained to combat it." Formerly tn,
custom was TO walk a patient up and dowr
and to slap with wet towels. What II
Do First" deprecales this, for the reason
that it exhausts the patient, who, if very
i'll, cannot rally. If physical stimuant il
to be used, lay the patient on bed Of
lounge, and slap with the back of hal
brush, or with a slipper. This is al
the nursing necessary, so long as breath
ing keeps above ten TO the minute Should
it fall below this or if the breathing should
cease, artificial respiration should be EN-
ploy ed"
1t sometimes happens that child gets
through accident, an overdose of wine OF
brandy. We have known of little cir
made dangerously i'll from having purloin.
ed branded fruit 1t was case of stupor
The cure was made by means of "Wha
70 Do First advice" hartshorn anC
water, II teaspoon of the first in teacupfu
of water The use of tainted food, such
rs decayed meat or vegetables, sometimes
occurs. The treatment is TO excite vomit
ing, and to follow this with dose of cas-.
tor oil and powdered charcoal.
Mothers are very careful, but the mos
prudent of them, in the experience of the
writer of this, have sometimes made mis-
takes in the medicines they have given
their children. One infal!ble rule, in
using any powder or fluid, no matter what
it is, is never to take it up, much less tc
administer it, in the dark. What is the
use of having labels marked "poison y
pasted on bottles, if they be invisible in
the darkP A bottle Of medicine NAV
remain in one position for weeks, untouch.
ed, but an hour before it is used somebody
or other may have Inadvertently substi-
stituted something else. IF medicines
were always locked up less accidents
would occur. There is one word of final
advice to be given On the least suspicion
of poisoning in a house, send at once for a
physician, not necessarily your own, but
the very nearest at hand.
The question is often asked in case OF
poisoning us to the simplest way to pro-
woke vomiting. Lukewarm water in
quantity is good. but it is better to add Il
teaspoonful of ground mustard, or Il tea
spoonful of ipecac, or II tablespoonful OF
the syrup of ipecac. Further, let it be
remembered that there is no time or occa-
sion for fastidiousness. Any water will
do. Water in which hands or dishes for
that matter. have been washed, acts more
quickly than anything else, and if soap
has been used, it will be all the better for
that, AS soap is an antidote for acid poisons.
The quantity used must be large; the
sufferer must be urged to drink pint at II
time, until he can contain no more, and
has been made to vomit over and over
again. "-NeW York Times.