Citation

Yandell. Illinois medical and surgical journal 1845; 2(7): e112.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1845)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

37262909

PMCID

PMC9901715

Abstract

Vinegar in Cases of Narcotic Poisoning.--Dr. Clapp finds vinegar an excellent adjuvant to emetics, in cases where nar cotics have been taken into the stomach in doses to overcome the excitability of that organ. He has succeeded in bringing on vomiting by administering this acid when the emetic was about to fail. He mentioned to us the following instances. A man, in a fit of mental despondency, swallowed an ounce of laudanum on an empty stomach. In about an hour, he was visited by Dr. Clapp, and was found insensible, with sterto rous, convulsive breathing. Sulphate of zinc was administered to the extent of a hundred grains, and his fauces were tickled with a feather, but vomiting was not induced. The doctor gave him a pint of vinegar; emesis soon took place, with the relief of all the alarming symptoms.

Two children swallowed a number of seeds of the stramo nium at different times. In the case of the first, the ordinary means of exciting emesis were tried ineffectually, and the pa tient recovered.

These facts are valuable, and a knowledge of them may save the lives of many individuals. We know how often chil dren are sacrificed by the indiscreet use of opiates, and how frequent cases of poisoning by opium, the Jamestown weed, &c., are becoming in this country. If vinegar gives activity to emetics in such cases, it is an important auxiliary. Let it be tried

Language: en