27 



Treatment for Arsenical Poisoning. 



Never neglect treatment because the case seems hopeless. As a rule 

 vomiting sets in spontaneously, and, if the poison has been taken on a 

 full stomach, the whole of it may be gotten rid of. If, however, the 

 poison be taken on an empty stomach, it sticks to the walls and sets up 

 an intense inflammation. 



It should be the endeavor first to get rid of the poison, and to this 

 end, Woodman and Tidy, in their work on Forensic Medicine and 

 Toxicology, advise the administering of hot milk and water, and 

 " emetics of sulphate of zinc or mustard ; at the same time the throat 

 should be tickled with a feather, but in no case should antimony be 

 given. After free vomiting, give milk and eggs. Sugar and magnesia 

 in milk is a good mixture, an insoluble compound with arsenious acid 

 being in this way formed." Whatever active measures are taken in 

 case of poisoning, one should not neglect to call a physician as early 

 as possible. 



Paris Green. 



Arsenite of Copper, generally containing an excess of arsenic. It 

 varies somewhat in composition, hence, no absolute percentage table 

 can be given, but there is generally over 50 per cent, of arsenic in 

 that which has not been adulterated. The commercial Paris Green is 

 undoubtedly more or less adulterated, and that sold in the market for 

 the destruction of insects probably never contains more than 50 per 

 cent, of arsenic, and may contain no more than 30 per cent. If the 

 average is between these percentages, a fatal dose would be from two 

 to three times as much as of arsenic, and the table given under that 

 poison can be changed so that it will apply to Paris Green. 



The antidotes for Paris Green are given on the packages sold in 

 this state, or that given for arsenic may be used. 



London Purple. 

 This substance is one of the waste products obtained in the manu- 

 facture of aniline dyes, and, according to an analysis made by Prof. 

 Collier, contains about 43 per cent, of arsenic. If unadulterated, a fatal 

 dose would be about the same as that of the commercial Paris Green. 

 It does not appear to be so generally used as an insecticide in Massa- 

 chusetts as Paris Green, for which I cannot find any good reason, 

 unless the farmers first got accustomed to the use of Paris Green and 

 are slow to change ; or else because London Purple is sold in bulk, 

 while Paris Green is put in more convenient packages. 



Hellebore. 

 White Hellebore ( Veratrum album) is in general use for the destruc- 

 tion of the currant worm {Nematus rihesii), and is the most poisonous 



