VOL. LI.J PHILOSOPHICAL TllANSACTIONS. 47^ 



of vin. ipecacuan. which was immediately given: but the patient complained 

 more and more of an inward burning heat, which made it necessary to supply 

 her with more water before the emetic operated. It had however in a short time 

 the desired effect, and operated plentifully both by vomit and stool, especially the 

 latter way. The stools, which continued to be discharged for near an hour, 

 without any griping pain, very manifestly discovered both camphor and oil being 

 mixed with them. The purging now began gradually to abate, and soon after 

 the burning heat in the region of the stomach became more tolerable, and insen- 

 sibly got better, the camphor being no longer perceptible in the breath or eva- 

 cuations. Her drink now was water with the addition of a little milk. 



The patient's spirits, which, by means of the great irritation and feverish 

 tumult the caustic tincture had excited, kept up surprisingly, now began to fail 

 her, and she was with difficulty got into bed : where, after complaining for a 

 short time only of a soreness in the first passages, she lay sweating profusely for 

 4 hours in a very low desponding condition. A gentle opiate was exhibited, 

 which took effect; and after a sound sleep of 5 hours, the patient waked very 

 easy, took some of the spermaceti mixture, and had another sleep of 3 hours. 

 She now found herself free from all her complaints; the previous slow fever, as 

 well as the effects of the poisonous tincture, being entirely carried off. It is 

 remarkable, that the patient found herself, for 4 days successively, in so happy a 

 state of ease and tranquillity, as she had never before experienced, and to this day 

 enjoys a perfect state of health. 



The following observations, which this case naturally suggests, seem (says 

 Dr. W.) to deserve attention. 



1st. That in any similar accidents of swallowing corrosive poisonous sub- 

 stances, a quick and resolute administration of these simple bodies, water and 

 oil, in a large quantity, seems to be the most effectual method of preventing any 

 bad consequences, and far preferable to the numerous boasted antidotes which 

 have been handed down to us. 'idly. That an emetic may be more safely and 

 effectually administered, and its operation waited for, after the acrimony of the 

 poison has been sheathed and blunted, and the coats of the stomach defended 

 from its attacks by a liberal use of water and oil, than immediately after it is 

 swallowed. 3dly. That as the slow fever and redundancy of milk, as well as the 

 poison, were carried off by the copious discharge excited in the easy manner 

 above-mentioned; might we not often hope for success in fevers occasioned by 

 similar causes, plenitude and obstruction, from plentiful evacuations, brought on 

 after the same manner, by simple, diluent, and sheathing medicines? 4thly. 

 The camphor was undoubtedly of great service in curbing the destructive effects 

 of the euphorbium, by blunting its acrimony, and soothing the nerves into an in- 

 sensibility of irritation, and consequently an incapacity of spasmodic affections. 



