Volume 2

A general system of toxicology : or, a treatise on poisons, found in the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms, considered in their relations with physiology, pathology, and medical jurisprudence / by M.P. [sic] Orfila.

  • Orfila, Matthieu Joseph Bonaventure, 1787-1853.
Date:
1816-17
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A general system of toxicology : or, a treatise on poisons, found in the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms, considered in their relations with physiology, pathology, and medical jurisprudence / by M.P. [sic] Orfila. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

    208/604 (page 194)
    194 , 908. Priissic Acid. M. Cotillon, who has made some •researches respecting the remedies proposed for curing the poisoning by this acid, has ascertained: 1st. That the oil of olives does not oppose the effects produced by prussic acid; 2nd. That the same may be said with respect to milk; 3rd. That ammonia affords a feeble relief to this kind of poisoning; 4th. The same thing happens with respect to theriaca; 5th. Lastly, that Chlorine (oxygenated muriatic acid) is a feeble remedy. The professor Emmert, whose medical knowledge is so ex- i i tensive, has made numerous researches respecting the anti- dotes of the prussic acid, and has been desirous of communi- cating to us the result of his labours, which he has not yet published. I have not yet been able to discover, says he, ; any antidote for the prussic acid. The caustic potash does ! not oppose in any manner its effects, nor those of the water of the laurel, or of bitter almonds; phenomena so much the i more extraordinary, as these two last fluids lose their poison- ous properties when they are treated by the muriate of iron and potash; now, there is iron in the caustic potash. Fo?i- ^ ta7ia had already observed, that the Lapis infernalis (potash with lime), combined with the oil of laurel, did not prevent this latter from acting, whether it was administered internally, or applied externally. Amongst all the medicines I have employed, the oil of turpentine appears to be that which acts the most powerfully in combating the effects of these poisons. The same considerations may be applied to the ^* oil and to the hark of the prunus padus, the action of which on the animal economy is the same as that of the prussic acid. 909. It results from these facts that the physician, who i- called in to a case of poisoning of this kind, should hasten U administer a strong emetic; after which he should emplo} the oil of turpentine, and all the stimulants capable of exciting sensibility and contractility.