On Diseases and Accidents of Farmers. 245 



The seeds of stramonium, or Jamestown- weed are often 

 eaten by children, and are highl) poisonous. The symp- 

 toms are convulsive motions of the arms and legs, yawn- 

 ing, loss of power over the lower limbs, dilated pupil, red 

 eruptions on the skin, and swelling of the body, indistinct 

 articulation, and constant catching at objects. The re- 

 medy is an emetic, to produce powerful vomiting. If the 

 first do not succeed, a second must be taken. If several 

 hours have elapsed before the use of medicine, a purge 

 of fifteen grains of jalap and ten of calomel should be 

 given. After the discharge of the seeds, five, ten or 

 fifteen drops of laudanum, according to the age of the 

 child, should be given to quiet the system. 



Mineral Poisons. — Arsenic is the only one likely to 

 cause mischief, from the imprudent use often made of it, 

 under the name of rats-bane, to destroy rats. It ought 

 never to be used for the purpose. When it has been 

 swallowed, twenty grains of white vitriol should be given, 

 (not tartar emetic) to cause vomiting, and then whites of 

 eggs freely taken. Sugar and water should then be drunk 

 freely, followed by a purge of calomel and jalap. Avoid 

 milk and oil. 



Swallowing Fruit-stones. — From carelessness or hurry 

 in eating, stones of fruits are often swallowed whole. 

 Cherry stones are even sometimes knowingly swallowed, 

 from a mistaken notion of their assisting the digestion of 

 that fruit. The practice is highly dangerous, and should 

 always be avoided, as alarming obstructions, and inflam- 

 mation of the bowels have been the consequence of it. 

 Death has not unfrequently happened from this cause, 



admixture with the proper proportion of lard. The utility of 

 rancid sweet oil for the same object, as recommended by De- 

 launy,* has been fully proved in Philadelphia. 



* Troinsdoif's JonrriHl of Phni'mRcy, vol 8,p, If/C 



