The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-04-27
THE FAMILY DOCTOR.
AccIdent. b the nou.e.


gravity, we refer to a clever little bool
entitled, "What to Do First" writer
by o. w. Dulles, which contains, in
small space, great deal that is usefu
to know in certain emergencies
Now, IS there are copper boilers attach
ed to ranges in many kitchens, the
use of oxalic acid to scour them is quite
common. Occasionally we hear of acci
dents arising from carelessness wher
oxalic acid has been left about. The
writer of this uses oxalic acid in hel
own kitchen, but with great precaution
The bottle containing it is never giver
to the cook, but only a small portion oi
its contents, and whenever il has beer
used the servant is asked "if all of II
has been employed" If any remains
over it is thrown away. It is the
most stupid of drug clerks that con.
founds oxalic acid with epson salts
The acid, as DIR. Dulles describes
1t, comes in SMALL heavy, bright
colored crystals, making a clear rattle in
bottle or jar" In case by any accident
oxalic 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 corro-
sive action on the coating of the stom-
ach is at once stopped. IF lime water
is at hand, it may be given freely, or
whitewash, tooth powder (its base is
always chalk chalk, whiting, or plaster
from the wall. The latter may be crush
ed and stirred up in water without re.
gard to grittiness, which will not do any
harm"
For sanitary purposes carbolic acid is
now frequently foun1 in houses. The
cases of its accidental use must be of
rare occurrence, as its peculiar strong
odor makes it recognizable at once.
Still, cases of its having been taken in
the dark are not uncommon. 1t is a
most dangerous poison, because, as DIR.
Dulles states, it seems after the first
painful corrosive effects to benumb
the stomach" AT once large and re-
peated doses of oil or milk should be
given. Certain cases of poisoning with
carbolic acid have been successfully
treated, after oil had been taken, by
stimulation. But it is dangerous acid,
and care should be taken with the bot
tie containing it.
Corrosive sublimate is often employed
about a house to rid bed of vermin.
As it is colorless when in solution, it
often escapes notice. {" If taken vomit-
ing must be provoked, and some form
of fannie acid must be given" Tea is
the strongest thing which is easy at
hand, and powerful decoction should
be at once administered. Adults rarely
meddle with phosphorus, but children
sometimes suck this very. deadly poison
from matches. Very fortunately it is
discoverable by it's odor in the chfld's
BREATH and its action is not rapid.
Five grain doses of sulphate of cop.
per dissolved in water may be given at
intervals of ten minutes until vomiting
comes on. Then dose of magnesia
should be administered, but no OIL"
Mistakes as to quantity of opium
preparations are by no means uncom-
mon accidents. Such are to be found,
most unfortunately, in what DIR. Dulles
very properly calls "the many poison
GUS nostrums sold as soothing syrups,
pain destroyers and drops for infants
There is no expression harsh enough
which would serve to brand the woman
who administers such poison to her
baby. A mother who gives such sub
stances to her child without o 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 unfortunately may give lauda-
mum or black drop for paregoric. "The
symptoms are deep sleep, with narrow
rV1rs ef fl.o. ,f L, L
circle, which does not enlarge in the
dark" DR.. Dulles advises the immeai-
ate and persistent use of emetics and to
allow the patient to vomit over and over
again. Particular attention should be
paid to the breathing. $50 long as the
breathing does not fall below ten to the
minute there is no immediate danger of
death; but opium is dangerous poison
and requires all the skill that can
be obtained to combat it." For
merly the custom was to walk patient
up and down, and to slap with wet tow
els. "What to Do First deprecates
this, for the reason that it exhausts the
patient, who, if very i'll, cannot rally.
Ii physical stimulant is to be used, lay
the patient ON a bed or lounge, and slap
with the back of a hair-brush, or with
slipper. "This is all the nursing neces
sary, so long as breathing keeps above
ten to the minute. Should it fall below
this, or if the breathing should cease,
artificial respiration should be employ
ed"
1t sometimes happens that child
gets, through accident, an overdose of
wine or brandy. We have known of
little girl made dangerously i'll from
having purloined branded fruit. 1t
was a case of stupor. The cure was
made by means of What to Do First
advises, " hartshorn and water, a tea
spoonful of the first in teacupfuI of
water" The use of tainted food, such
as of decayed meat or vegetables, some
times occurs. The treatment is to ex-
cite vomiting, and to follow this with
dose of castor-oil and powdered char