The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-05-09


feet Of the Poison
On May 4. 1898. about 80 O'Clock
p. m, Mrs. x, while dining. quarreled |
with her husband, rushed up stairs and
swallowed an ounce Of liquid carbolio
acid with suicidal intent. Mr.. K fol-
lowed his wife in less than Is minutes,
to find her lying ON the floor in deep
sleep, from which he could not rouse
her. he noticed an empty bottle ON the
bureau labeled carboiic acid and recog
nized its odor through the room.
Medical aid was Immediately sum-
moned, when two physicians promptly
responded, made hurried examination
Of the condition and surroundings OF
the patient, who was in profound stu
por, with pupils contracted to pin
points. injected atropine to antagonize
the poison supposed to have been taken
and then used the stomach pump.
Demulcents-such as olive oil. glyc-
erin, etc. - and limewater and sui
phuric acid were also administered with
the stomach pump about this time, and
an effort was made to waken the pa
tent with the faradic current, but
without result. Mrs. x was now allow
ed TO remain undisturbed until o 80 p.
M, when an attempt to restore her to
consciousness succeeded. On first awak
ening she was dazed, rambled and was
unable to realize her position for few
minutes, but soon rallied and answered
questions readily. When asked what she
had used, without hesitation she replied
carbolic acid and whisky, and that she
experienced but little pain or burning
sensation and declared she slept sound
ly, having pleasant dreams.
With the exception Of slight nausea
and depression of spirits for few days
she suffered little or no more inconven-
fence and made rapid and satisfac-
tory convalescence, and has enjoyed ro-
bust health ever since.
The slight corrosive action and free
dom from pain experienced ON the pres
ent occasion proved the value Of her ex-
periments and suggests new and eff
Gent plan Of treatment in carbolic acid
poisoning. A mixture Of equal parts Of
carbolic acid and alcohol may be pour
ed over the back Of the hand, leaving
scarcely trace of corrosive action if
promptly washed off with alcohol. The
white stain caused by the liquid carbol-
ic acid can be removed by the immedi-
ate and continued application Of alco-
hol. In the case of young man who
came to my Office suffering from intense
itching caused by spider bite applied
liquid carbolic acid. which stained the
skin white. This application was left
ON the affected part until it caused Be-
we're pain, when it was thoroughly re
moved with alcohol, followed by the ap.
plication of pad Of absorbent cottor
saturated with alcohol.
BY this means the stain was removed
and pain relieved until heat was felt il
, the pad, when both stain and pain dis
appeared. The heated pad was now dis
carded and replaced by one of simila
, kind, freshly prepared, when stain ant
pain vanished second time, to return
, with heat in the pad. This phenomenon
, continued as long as heat developed il
| the pad and ceased when it was no lon
> ger evolved. The only result besides re
: lieving the itching was an intense red
= ness Of the skin over the affected area
] which disappeared in few days, at
9 tended by desquamation of the cuticle.
4 This case also affords a striking illus
( tration of the resemblance in the symr
o toms produced to carbolic acid and OPT
a um poisoning The diagnostic featur
t in the present case was the quiet an
- regular breathing.
Alcohol, apart from its power as a
antidote, is required as a stimulant i
the majority of cases of carbolic aci
g poisoning, to combat the intense deprei
y sion usually experienced, and it woul
!. therefore appear as if alcohol were
: true antidote in carbolic acid poisoning
y Medical Record.