818 
P O I S O N. 
this important talk. It is accomplifned by means of a 
Ample inftrument, of which we are indebted to Boer- 
haave for the firft hint; but which has lately been im¬ 
proved by either a Mr. Jukes, a Mr. Bufh, or a Mr. Reed, 
(for we do not pretend to decide their claims to priority ;) 
fo that it is to be had at all the (hops, and is quite port¬ 
able. Its conftru< 5 lion is as follows. Firft we have a tube 
made of elaltic gum, thick enough to allow the paflage 
of half-digefted food, and long enough to reach to the 
bottom of the ftomach. At its upper end is mounted 
a brafs tube which has a ftop-cock in ic; and from this 
tube another fhort one (which has alfo a ftop-cock) is 
produced. The tubes, then united into one, arp affixed 
to a common fyringe. The apparatus is thus ufed. The 
long tube is put along the noftril, and pufhed backwards, 
when, meeting with reliftance from the back of the 
pharynx, it turns downwards into that canal, and fo to 
the ftomach. Now, by opening the cock of this tube, 
and exhaufting the fyringe, we of courfe evacuate what¬ 
ever fluid is contained in the ftomach : by flopping the 
fame cock and opening that attached to the finaller tube, 
the preffure of the poifon drives all the fluid thus drawn 
into the fyringe through this tube into a bafon or conve¬ 
nient receptacle. The fame procefs reverfed, enables us 
to fill the ftomach with any liquid we pleafe, which is to 
be done when we want to diffolve any folid poifon pre¬ 
vious to withdrawing it. It is quite obvious that, if the 
patient cannot fwallow, oris fo affected with fpafm as not 
to open his jaws, ftill this way, through the nofe, is open 
to us; and fo it is if (which is too common) he refill our 
endeavours to fave his life; for, in that cafe, it is the ab- 
folute duty of his furgeon or friends to caufe this inftru¬ 
ment to be ufed by force. As to what poifons it is 
chiefly effedlual in, we may fay that it may be ufed in all, 
but that it is chiefly to be depended on where the poifon 
has been taken in folution. It appears to us, that it 
would be particularly appoiite to employ this inftrument 
when poifoning has been produced by the concentrated 
mineral acids, and that before dilution or neutralization 
have been attempted : for it will be afcertained that an 
injury of a membranous furface is as formidable in pro¬ 
portion to its extent as its intenfity; and therefore it is 
very definable to extract the greater part of the poifon 
before it extends itfeif over the whole furface of the 
ftomach. That the latter effedt is produced by dilution 
is fufficiently obvious- 
The fymptoms which poifons induce are of twoclaffes. 
The firft indicate the prefence of a general or local in¬ 
flammation; the fecond are referribie to fufferings of 
the nervous fyftem. There are a few poifons included 
under the latter clafs, in this arrangement, which pro¬ 
duce, neverthelefs, both feries of afteflions. 
The clafs of poifons which influence or otherwife aft 
on the vafcular fyllem, produce the following fymptoms : 
i. Vomiting ; the matter ejedted being of various colours, 
and often mixed with blood, z. As the poifon defcends, 
purging- attends in many cafes ; and the faeces are of a 
bloody colour, and voided with much pain. 3. There 
is violent forenefs and tendernefs in the whole regions 
of the ftomach and belly. 4. Hiccup. 5. Difficulty of 
breathing : thefe fymptoms are very conftant. 6. Inex- 
tinguifhable thirft. 7. Difficulty of making water. 8. 
Reftleffnefs, cramps, and convulfions, the preludes of 
death. The pulfe is always hard and quick; but it is 
not ufually obferved to intermit, except when the poifon 
taken has been an acid or an alkali. It is eafy to diftin- 
guifh whether an acid, an alkali, or one of the mineral 
falts, have been taken by thefe figns; viz. the alkalies 
caufe a bitter and foapy tafle in the mouth, and the 
vomited matter turns a lyrup of violet green ; the acids 
produce a four talle and redden an infufion of red cab¬ 
bage ; the mineral falts caufe a tafte acrid and metallic, 
more or lefs refembling that of ink, and but flightly 
redden the above infufion. The fenfation of burning is 
fevere in the two former cafes, lefs fo in the latter: 
moreover, the mineral falts bring on a general conftridliora 
of the throat, and a pain referred to the back part of the 
pharynx. The peculiar fweet tafte of lead is fufficiently 
known. Nitre is remarkable, as well for the faintnefs as 
the intoxicating effedl it is apt to bring on. 
Under this clafs are included, then, all acids except the 
Pruffic; the alkalies ; the various preparations of ar- 
fenic, mercury, tin, gold, filver, antimony, barytes, zinc, 
bifmuth, copper, and lead, when that poifon is taken in 
large dofes. The only animal poifon of this clafs is the 
cantharides, or bliftering fly, which, in addition to the 
fymptoms common to the clafs, caufes bloody urine or 
ifchuria, together with painful priapifm. 
The vegetable poifons of this clafs are the following. 
Irritating Poisons. 
Aconitum napellus, or - 
Anemone pulfatilla, 
Arum maculatum, 
Bryoniadio ica, 
Callicocca ipecacuanha, 
Chelidoniuin majus, 
Clematis vitalba, 
Colchicum autumnale, - 
Convulvulus fcammonea, 
Cucumis colocynthis, 
Cytifus laburnum, 
Daphne mezereum, 
Daphne laureola, 
Delphinum ftaphafageia. 
Euphorbia officinarum, - 
Fritellaria imperialis, 
Gratiola officinalis, 
Hydrocotile vulgaris, 
Heleborous niger, 
Heleborous fsetidus, 
Juniperous labina, 
Lobelia fyphilitica, 
Momordica elaterium, - 
Narciffus pfeudo-narciffus, 
CEnanthe crocata, 
Pheliandrium aquaticum, 
Pedicularis paluftris, 
Ranunculous acris, 
--lceleratus 
-■-fiammula - 
Rhododendron cryfanthe- 
mum, - - - 
Rhus toxicodendron 
Ricinus major, 
Sedum acre, - - - 
Sernpervivum tedlorum, 
Scilla maritima, 
Stalagmitis cambogoides, 
Veratrum album, 
Viola tricolor, 
Monk’s-hood. 
Pafque-flower. 
Wake Robin. 
Bryony. 
Ipecacuanha. 
Celandine. 
Virgin’s-bower. 
Meadow-faffron. 
Scammony. 
Bitter-apple. 
Laburnum (feeds). 
Mezereon. 
Spurge-laurel, 
Staves-acre. 
Euphorbium. 
Crown-imperial. 
Hedge-hyffop. 
Marfh-penny wort. 
Black Hellebore. 
Bears-foot. 
Savine. 
Cardinal-flower. 
Elaterium. 
Daffodil. 
Hemlock-Drop wort, 
Water-Hemlock. 
Loufewort. 
Buttercups. 
Water-crowfoot. 
Leffer Spearworr. 
Yellow rhododen¬ 
dron. 
Poifon-oak. 
Purging-nut. 
Wall-pepper. 
Houfe-leek. 
Squill. 
Gamboge. 
White Hellebore. 
Heart’s-Eafe. 
The effedts of thefe vegetables are—an acrid pungent 
tafte, more or lefs bitter ; exceflive heat, great drynefs of 
the mouth and throat; painful conftridlion of the throat; 
defire to vomit; vomiting, the efforts being continued 
even after the ftomach has been emptied ; purging ; pain, 
more or lefs, in the ftomach and bowels ; pulfe ftrong, 
frequent, and regular; refpiration accelerated, and ren¬ 
dered difficult; generally a ftaggering (tep, as if from in¬ 
toxication ; the pupil of the eye dilated ; infenftbility fo 
great as to induce a belief that death has taken place; 
the pulfe becomes flow, and lofes all its force, and death 
quickly clofes the feene. Some of thefe poifons occa- 
lion convulfions more or lefs violent; rigidity of the 
limbs, and acute pains, which caufe the molt plaintive 
cries to be uttered. 
Thefe phenomena, are, however, far from uniform : 
for the dole makes important differences. Even in 
large quantities, fome of the purges do not difturb the 
cerebral fundlions to the laft ; others apparently only in 
confequence 
