244 ON ANIMAL AND 



meet the evils of life with becoming fortitude, 

 are bent on self destruction; or who in the con- 

 templation of murder may have sufficient human- 

 ity to avoid this most cruel and most cowardly 

 means of accomplishing their object. In the 

 treatment of the poisonous effects of opium, the 

 first object is to relieve the stomach of the offen- 

 ding matter as effectually and as speedily as 

 possible by administering a quickly operating 

 and active emetic. The sulphates of zinc and 

 copper in suitable doses are the most speedy in 

 their operation; next a combination of tartar 

 emetic and ipecacuanha ; or should these not be at 

 hand, the irritating the throat with a feather; or 

 a tea spoonful of flour of mustard in a glass of 

 water very frequently repeated, are to be given, 

 so that by some means or other active vomiting- 

 be induced as early as possible; and then, 

 a suitable aperient can betaken with advantage. 

 After these remedies, the free use of acids, 

 as lemonade, vinegar and water, oranges, and 

 the like, may /or the first time be administered, 

 and in very considerable proportions; it having 

 been ascertained that acids given before the 

 primae via? be well cleared, have a very dangerous 

 tendency, by dissolving and adding increased 

 activity to such of the poison as remains in the 

 stomach. A very strong infusion of coffee in 

 the proportion of eight ounces to a quart of boil- 

 ing water, has been found to be of great use, by 

 giving a cupful alternately with an acid drink ; 



