membranes and the cutaneous exhalants, the Pleurisy Root is a most useful remedy in bronchitis, catarrh, and chronic diarrhoea of long standing. This root is especially serviceable in sub-acute and chronic rheumatic affections, when they are attended with a dry and harsh skin. In this complaint the warm decoction may be given alternately with the tincture of colchicum. Opium in any form, has a tendency to produce congestion of the brain, and to lock up the secretions; therefore, the Asclepias is preferable to Dover's Powder in all those low forms of fever, in which there is a tendency to cerebral congestion, and where we wish to promote expectoration. In acute inflammation, of the parenchyma, or of the serious membrane of the lungs, it will not do to rely upon the Pleurisy Root alone, but we should resort at once to active depletion. Asclepias Tuberosa possesses important medicinal properties. The warm decoction acts with as much certainty as a diaphoretic, as jalap does as a cathartic. It is peculiarly applicable to the diseases of children, as it possesses no disagreeable taste, or smell. I have frequently employed the Pleurisy Root in that continued and exhausting diarrhoea to which children are subject during the summer months, and generally with manifest advantage. In the latter complaint, the root should be boiled in fresh milk. Boil three drachms of this root in a quart of fresh milk down to one pint. Half an ounce of this is to be given every two or three hours. It generally excites a copious perspiration. The White Root is applicable in every disease where diaphoresis and expectoration are to be promoted. The best mode of exhibiting this remedy is in the form of decoction. One ounce of the root may be boiled in three pints of water down to a quart, and given in doses of half a gill every half hour. Dose of the substance ten to fifteen grains.-Buffalo Medical Journal. ARTICLE VII. On the treatment of Phthisis Pulmonalis by Cod Liver Oil. By DR. HUGHE BENNETT. The effect of the oil in many cases of phthisis, is very striking, and is well seen in hospital and dispensary practice. Individuals presenting emaciation, profuse sweats, constant cough and expectoration, as most prominent symptoms, with Vol. I. No 2.-10. a degree of weakness that prevents their standing alone, after a few weeks' use of it are enabled to get up with ease and walk about, with a visible improvement in their general health, and an increased amount of flesh. The physical signs of the disease may continue unaffected for some time; but if the treatment be continued, the moist gurgling rales are exchanged for dry blowing sonnds, which become more and more persistent, pectoriloquy is merged into bronchophony, the respiration is easier, and a check is evidently given to the ulcerative process, and the formation of purulent matter in the air passages. In this state, patients often feel themselves so well, that they insist on leaving the hospital, or give up their attendance on the dispensary. Dr. Bennett has frequently found it impossible to prevail on such persons to continue the treatment, and the consequence is, that, again returning to their often unhealthy employment and bad diet, and exposed to the other causes favorable to the production of the disease, the distressing symptoms again recur. Several cases, with one or more caverns in the lungs, have, in this manner, returned to the Infirmary from four to seven or eight times during the last six years, and on each occasion have gone out, in their own opinion, perfectly cured. Notwithstanding the difficulties which have presented themselves in bringing about a complete cure of the disease, Dr. Bennet has succeeded, in several cases, in ascertaining that caverns have completely healed up, every symptom and physical sign indicating their presence, having disappeared, and only slight dulness on percussion, and increased vocal resonance remaining as a proof of the puckering and induration of the pulmonary parenchyma attendant on the cicatrix. He gives two unequivocal cases where it occurred, and alludes to others which he proposes publishing at some future time. Most cases of phthisis pulmonalis, especially in the advanced stage, are affected with more or less dyspepsia, which renders the stomach irritable, causes total loss of appetite, and is often the cause that prevents nourishment from being taken. In many instances there is no difficulty in employing the oil under these circumstances, but in others it cannot be retained on the stomach. It will then be necessary to calm the irritability of the organ, and the best remedy for this purpose, according to Dr. B.'s experience, is naphtha. It is to the power this substance has of checking vomiting, and hereby allowing nourishment to be retained, that he attriutes the advantages which have attended its use in the pracice of Dr. J. Hastings, and others. The diet should always De nutritive, without being stimulating; and counter-irritation to the chest, is an excellent auxiliary. This treatment should be perseveringly persisted in ; whilst, to prevent fresh exudations of tubercular matter, an equable temperature is of the highest importance. To equable temperature must be ascribed the advantages of favored localities for phthisis, and with proper precautions it can be very well maintained in this climate.-Monthly Journal Med. Sciences, in Medical Examiner. ARTICLE VIII. Poisons and their antidotes. From the American Medical Almanac. ARSENIC. Arsenious Acid. Fowler's Solution. King's YelSheel's Green. low. Symptoms.-Metalic, austere taste in the mouth, violent burning pains in the region of the stomach, constriction of the pharynx and œsophagus, violent retching and vomiting and tenderness of the epigastrium, the matter vomited greenish or yellowish, often streaked with blood, severe gripings, purgings, and tenesmus, the stools being deep green or black, and horribly offensive; sometimes excoriations of the anus; the urine scant, red, and often bloody; the pulse small, frequent and often intermitting; difficult respirations and cold sweats; countenance collapsed, eys red and sparkling, delirium, death. Treatment. If vomiting does not already exist an emetic of sulph. zinc may be exhibited and its effect, promoted by mucilaginous drinks. If sulph. zinc is not at hand, an emetic of mustard may be given. The best antidote is hydrated peroxide of iron, in doses of a table spoonfull or more every five minutes; if the patient cannot swallow, it should be introduced by means of a stomach pump: if this antidote be not at hand, let the common red oxide mixed with water be used as a substitute. If the poison have been taken in the form of Fowler's Solution, copious draughts of lime water may be given. Counter irritants and opium may be used to relieve the pain and spasm. Ploodletting should not be employed, unless to allay the subsequent inflammation, or after the stomach has been throroughly evacuated. ACIDS. Sulphuric Acid. Symptoms.-Sour, styptic taste in the mouth, burning pain in the throat, gullet and stomach, increased by swallowing, nausea, vomiting, and horrible fator of the breath; matter vomited tinged both by arterial and venous blood, and effervesces if mixed with carbonate of lime; difficult respiration, croupy cough, small, contracted, and feeble pulse. Treatment. Dilute largely with milk mixed with the carbonate of potassa, lime, or magnesia. In the absence of these, with soap suds, infusions of wood ashes, white of eggs, milk, or oil. Water should not be allowed, in consequence of the heat generated upon its mixture with sulphuric acids. NITRIC ACID. Aqua Fortis. Symptoms.-Much the same as those of sulphuric acid. If the acid be strong and the dose large, almost immediate death follows; if it be weak, the patient may linger for a considerable time, vomiting at intervals, shreds of membranes which have an almost insupporting fætor; obstinate constipation; yellow spots upon the skin where the acid has fallen. Treatment.-Carbonate of magnesia or lime, in water, or any bland fluid; then evacuate the stomach by large draughts of demulcent fluid and treat the secondary symptoms on general principles. OXALIC ACID. Salt of Lemons. Symptoms.-Burning pain in the stomach, nausea, and severe but ineffectual efforts to vomit, great dilatation of pupils, vertigo, convulsions, death. Treatment.-Give large quantities of chalk, whiting, or magnesia or its carbonate, made into a cream with water and freely exhibited. In the absence of these antidotes, administer copious draughts of warm water, at the same time promoting vomiting by tickling the throat. Avoid the alkalies, potash and soda or their carbonates, since the salts which they form with oxalic acid are as poisonous as the acid itself. MURIATIC ACID. Hydrochloric Acid. Symptoms.-Same as sulphuric acid. It is said by Orfila, that when muriatic acid is the poison taken, thick white fume of a sharpe penetrating odor, similar to that exhaled by the acid issues from the mouth. Treatment.-Same as sulphuric acid. MERCURIALS. Corrosive Sublimate. Symptoms.-Acrid, metallic, astrigent taste, sensation of fulnesss and burning in the throat, burning pain in the stomach and intestines; nausea, vomiting and purging, often of bloody matter; pulse small, quick and hard; frequent faintings, great prostration, sometimes coma, convulsions and death. Treatment.-Large quantities of albumen in some form or other, as white of egg, for instance, must be freely administered; if this cannot be had, wheat flour beaten up with soapsuds may be used. Bleeding is requisite if the pulse be quick and hard; inflammatory symptoms to be treated on general principles. White Precipitate. WHITE MERCURY. Symptoms and Treatment same as corrosive sublimate. Symptoms.-Nausea and severe vomiting, hiccough, burning pain in the pit of the stomach, griping and purging, sense of tightness in the throat, small, frequent, and hard pulse, difficult respiration, vertigo, great prostration, insensibility, death. Treatment. If vomiting have not occurred, it should be produced by copious draughts of warm water, and tickling the faucus with a feather. Dilute freely with a tepid infusion of galls, Peruvian bark, oak bark, or green tea, to form an insoluble tannate. Powdered yellow bark may be used until the infusion is prepared. Opium is highly useful in allaying the pain and excessive evacuation. SULPHATE OF IRON. Green Vitriol. Copperas. Symptoms.-Griping pains in the stomach and abdomen constant vomiting and purging, violent pain in the throat, coldness of skin and feebleness of pulse. Treatment.-Carbonate of soda or magnesia given freely is the best antidote. Evacuating the stomach by means of emetics of sulph. of zinc, and inflammatory symptoms treated on general principles. CHLORIDE OF TIN. Spirits of Tin. Dyer's Spirits. Symptoms.-The same as those from other irritant poisons, and a peuliar tanned appearance of the villous coat of the stomach. Treatment.-Milk acts as an antidote to this poison and should be drunk copiously. Vomiting should then be excited. SUB-ACETATE OF LFAD. Sugar of Lead. Symptoms.-A burning, pricking sensation in the throat, with dryness and thirst, irritation of the alimentary canal, spasms, vomiting, and often colic; rigidity of the abdominal muscles, cramp, obstinate constipation, urine diminished, saliva increased. When the case is protracted, paralysis of the upper extremities. Treatment. This consists in the free exhibition of solution of the alkaline sulphates, either soda or magnesia. Phosphate of soda is also an antidote. Carbonates should be avoided, |