The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1938-10-07
sTIMULANTs AND SEDATIvES

STIMULANTS AND SEDATIVES
It Is simple physiological fact
that the effect of stimulant-tern-
porary increase Of functional activ-
ity-is inevitably followed by tenn
porary decrease Of functional activ-
ity. Can't have your cake and eat 1t
too. Unwise, reckless persons some
times try to revise the law OF nat
ure, Of physiology, by repeating the
dose Of the stimulant at frequent
intervals in the foolish hope OF
preventing the after-depression.
Among recognized stimulants
there are only two which I consider
necessary or advisable for domestic
medicine, and these two stimulants
seem to have the least pronounced
after-depression Of all. They are
ammonia and caffeine.
Aromatic Spirits Of Ammonia
should be kept In the medicine cup
board in q glass-stoppered vial
holding two or more ounces. 1t is
useful as a rapidly acting stimulant
In many emergencies; the dose is
one-half teaspoonful given in an
ounce or two Of cold water, and this
dose may be repeated every ten or
fifteen minutes for several times II
necessary. It Is thus used for faint
ness, shock, conclusion, snake
poisoning, heat exhaustion, heart
failure or extreme depression from
any cause. Being alkaline, 1t Is es-
pecially grateful in cases OF sick
headache associated with nausea
and hyperacidity Of the stomach.
Probably that Is the reason some
people imagine aromatic spirits OF
ammonia will quickly remove the
effects Of alcohol and sober drunk
en- person. OF course 1t has no such
effect.
How to administer aromatic
spirits of ammonia or other medi-
cine to q person who is only partly
conscious, as in syncope or faint
ing, shock, heat-exhaustion or
heart-failure or collapse from any
cause:
Mix the dose Of aromatic spirits
Of ammonia In glass not more than
half full of water. Hold glass IN
your right hand, while you life pa
tents head and shoulders just q
few inches off the ground or above
the horizontal by supporting head
and shoulders with your left hand
under the pillow. Put the glass to
patients lips. II he is conscious he
will drink or swallow. II he Is un--
conscious he will not--and 1t would
be dangerous to try to make an tin-
conscious person take anything BY
mouth, as It might cause strangula-
ton or choking. Aside from this
slight elevation Of the head to adj
minister medicine, It Is better never
to raise the patients head or to per-
NIT the patient to attempt to sit up,
in case Of fainting, Syncope, shock
and the like. Always keep the head
as low or even lower than the rest
OF the body. But the arms and legs
may be elevated, and sometimes
slowly and steadily rubbed toward
the heart TO aid the enfeebled cir
culation.
If the victim Is unable to swallow,
then administer the aromatic spirits
of ammonia by pouring Q spoonful
ON handkerchief or in palm Of hand
and holding close under the nose,
The ammonium carbonate In II Is
volatile and will be absorbed by tn
halation. Indeed, smelling salts" Is
ammonium carbonate With stronger
ammonia water and oil Of lavender
added.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Vitamin b Complex
Please explain what the difference
Is between vitamin B and vitanin B
complex? IN. A. a., M. d.
Aiiswer-.Vitamin B complex Is the
name now applied to all OF the en-
tites In vitamin B. 1t includes so.
called vitamin b (thiamin), vita
min "a or q (riboflavin or lactofila-
VIM, Nicotine acid (pellagra preven-
tive), an antigray hair factor, an
anti -dermatitis factor, growth fac
tor, q weight-factor, etc. Some Of
these have been chemically isolated
and synthesiEed, notably thiamin.
which Is administered N the pure
form By hypoderrnic and intravenous
routes. IN general nutrition 1t Is
probably better to employ the vita
min y complex whenever II Is de-