VEGETABLE EO1SONS. 217 



ejected by such remedies ; and, if possible to 

 decompose them. For this purpose, the carbo- 

 nate of ammonia, combined with ether and opium, 

 will be found a very efficacious medicine, par- 

 ticularly if assisted by fomentations and the warm 

 bath, so as to promote a determination to the 

 skin. In the West Indies, the capsicum, or 

 cayenne pepper, freely administered, is considered 

 an antidote against fish poisons ; and in that cli- 

 mate, where the inflammatory disposition does 

 not prevail, this may probably answer better 

 than any other, remedy ; its use in this country, 

 must be regulated by the constitution of the 

 patient. Should increased pain, swelling, and 

 tention of the abdomen supervene, free local 

 depletion by cupping glasses, or by leeches, 

 should be resorted to, to be succeeded by fomen- 

 tations and a blister ; saline medicines, with 

 plentiful dilution, are in that case to take the 

 place of the volatile cordial remedies ; and should 

 cholera prevail, opium is to be administered as 

 circumstances shall indicate. 



To ascertain the poisonous quality of fish, it 

 has been a custom in the West Indies, to give the 

 entrails to a dog, cat, or duck ; and if no bad 

 effects ensue, to conclud e the fish to be wholesome. 

 Another method, is to put a silver spoon into the 

 water in which fish is boiling; and if, upon taking 

 it out, the spoon be unsullied, the fish is supposed 

 to be safe; but if the colour be at all changed, 



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