A Treatise on Physiology and Hygiene Part 28

ANTIDOTE.--Evacuate, as soon as possible, the contents of the stomach and bowels by emetics (ground mustard mixed with warm water or powdered alum), and castor oil, drinking freely at the same time of vinegar and water.

Ether, with a few drops of laudanum mixed with sugar and water, may afterward be taken freely.

POISONOUS SERPENTS.--ANTIDOTE.--A ligature or handkerchief should be applied moderately tight above the bite, and a cupping-gla.s.s over the wound. The patient should drink freely of alcoholic stimulants containing a small quant.i.ty of ammonia. The physician may inject ammonia into the veins.

POISONOUS INSECTS.--_Stings of scorpion_, _hornet_, _wasp_, _bee_, etc.

ANTIDOTE.--A piece of rag moistened with a solution of carbolic acid may be kept on the affected part until the pain is relieved; and a few drops of carbolic acid may be given frequently in a little water. The sting may be removed by making strong pressure around it with the barrel of a small watch-key.

DROWNING.

MARSHALL HALL'S "READY METHOD" of treatment in asphyxia from drowning, chloroform, coal gas, etc.

1st. Treat the patient _instantly on the spot_, in the _open air_, freely exposing the face, neck, and chest to the breeze, except in severe weather.

2d. In order _to clear the throat_, place the patient gently on the face, with one wrist under the forehead, that all fluid, and the tongue itself, may fall forward, and leave the entrance into the windpipe free.

3d. _To excite respiration_, turn the patient slightly on his side, and apply some irritating or stimulating agent to the nostrils, as _veratrine_, _dilute ammonia_, etc.

4th. Make the face warm by brisk friction; then dash cold water upon it.

5th. If not successful, lose no time; but, _to imitate respiration_, place the patient on his face, and turn the body gently, but completely _on the side, and a little beyond_; then again on the face, and so on, alternately.

Repeat these movements, deliberately and perseveringly, {251} _fifteen times only_ in a minute. (When the patient lies on the thorax, this cavity is _compressed_ by the weight of the body, and _ex_piration takes place.

When he is turned on the side, this pressure is removed, and _in_spiration occurs.)

6th. When the p.r.o.ne position is resumed, make a uniform and efficient pressure _along the spine_, removing the pressure immediately, before rotation on the side. (The pressure augments the _ex_piration: the rotation commences _in_spiration.) Continue these measures.

7th. Rub the limbs _upward_, with _firm pressure_ and with _energy_. (The object being to aid the return of venous blood to the heart.)

8th. Subst.i.tute for the patient's wet clothing, if possible, such other covering as can be instantly procured, each bystander supplying a coat or cloak, etc. Meantime, and from time to time, _to excite inspiration_, let the surface of the body be _slapped_ briskly with the hand.

9th. Rub the body briskly till it is dry and warm, then dash _cold_ water upon it, and repeat the rubbing.

Avoid the immediate removal of the patient, as it involves a _dangerous loss of time_--also, the use of bellows, or any _forcing_ instrument; also, the _warm bath_, and _all rough treatment_.

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GLOSSARY.

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AB-DO'MEN (Latin _abdo_, to conceal). The largest cavity of the body containing the liver, stomach, intestines, etc.; the belly.

AB-SOR'BENTS (L. _ab_ and _sorbeo_, to suck up). The vessels which take part in the process of absorption.

AB-SORP'TION. The process of sucking up fluids by means of an animal membrane.

AC-COM-MO-DA'TION of the Eye. The alteration in the shape of the crystalline lens, which accommodates or adjusts the eye for near and remote vision.

AC'ID, LACTIC (L. _lac_, milk). The acid ingredient of sour milk; the gastric juice also contains it.

AL-BU'MEN, or Alb.u.min (L. _albus_, white). An animal substance resembling white of egg.

AL-BU'MI-NOSE (from _alb.u.men_). A soluble animal substance produced in the stomach by the digestion of the alb.u.minoid substances.

AL-BU'MIN-OID substances. A cla.s.s of proximate principles resembling alb.u.men; they may be derived from either the animal or vegetable kingdoms.

AL'I-MENT (L. _alo_, to nourish). That which affords nourishment; food.

AL-I-MENT'A-RY CA-NAL (from _aliment_). A long tube in which the food is digested, or prepared for reception into the system.

AN-aeS-THET'ICS (Greek, [Greek: an], _an_, without, [Greek: aisthesia], _aisthesia_, feeling).--Those medicinal agents which prevent the feeling of pain, such as chloroform, laughing-gas, etc.

AN-I-MAL'CULE (L. _animal'culum_, a small animal). Applied to animals which can only be seen with the aid of the microscope. Animalculum (plural, animalcula) is used with the same meaning.

A-OR'TA (Gr. [Greek: aorteomai], _aorteomai_, to be lifted up). The largest artery of the body, and main trunk of all the arteries. It arises from the left ventricle of the heart. The name was first applied to the two large branches of the trachea, which appear to be lifted up by the heart.

{253} A'QUE-OUS HUMOR (L. _aqua_, water). A few drops of watery colorless fluid occupying the s.p.a.ce between the cornea and crystalline lens.

A-RACH'NOID MEM'BRANE (Gr. [Greek: arachne], _arachne_, a cobweb, and [Greek: eidos], _eidos_, like). An extremely thin covering of the brain and spinal cord. It lies between the _dura mater_ and the _pia mater_.

AR'BOR VI'Tae (L.). Literally, "the tree of life;" a name given to the peculiar appearance presented by a section of the cerebellum.

AR'TER-Y (Gr. [Greek: aer], _aer_, air, and [Greek: terein], _terein_, to contain). A vessel by which blood is conveyed away from the heart. It was supposed by the ancients to contain air; hence the name.

AR-TIC-U-LA'TION (L. _articulo_, to form a joint). The more or less movable union of bones, etc.; a joint.

A-RYT'E-NOID CAR'TI-LA-GES (Gr. [Greek: arutaina], _arutaina_, a pitcher).

Two small cartilages of the larynx, resembling the mouth of a pitcher.

AS-SIM-I-LA'TION (L. _ad_, to, and _similis_, like). The conversion of food into living tissue.

AU-DI'TION (L. _audio_, to hear). The act of hearing sounds.

AU'DI-TO-RY NERVE. One of the cranial nerves; it is the special nerve of hearing.

AU'RI-CLE (L. _auris_, the ear). A cavity of the heart.

BAR'I-TONE (Gr. [Greek: barus], _barus_, heavy, and [Greek: tonos], _tonos_, tone). A variety of male voice between the ba.s.s and tenor.

BEL-LA-DON'NA (It. beautiful lady). A vegetable narcotic poison. It has the property of enlarging the pupil, and thus increasing the brilliancy of the eye; so called from its use by Italian ladies.

BI-CUS'PID (L. _bi_, two, and _cuspis_, prominence). The name of the fourth and fifth teeth on each side of the jaw; possessing two prominences.

BILE. The gall, or peculiar secretion of the liver; a viscid, yellowish fluid, and very bitter to the taste.