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POISONING BY OIL OF BITTER ALMONDS.
335 of those parts in succession, The eye had a brilliant and glassy appearance throughterminating in destructive granular out,-mere physical brilliaucy without mental expression’. ulceration, accompanied by all those dreadful concomitant There was perfect insensibility.
enlargement and induration and
afterwards by
symptoms which
we,
as
Treatment.—Cold water had been thrown
medical men, have too often the
over
the
arms
painful necessity of witnessing, but which no one can by a lady present, who thought the child had fainted. adequately describe. There was great tenacity of life in We administered a mustard emetic, and immediately this case, for the patient struggled hard with the disease afterwards brandy and water with aromatic spirit of amuntil her forty-seventh year, when it terminated fatally. monia. The child vomited after the administration of Having now given a brief account of the features of the the latter. The vomited matters smelt strongly of hycase, let us revert to the point at issue, and see how far drocyanic acid. A jar of hot water was applied to the this case accords with the opinion so boldly asserted and’; feet, the arms were assiduously chafed, and the aromatic j spirit of ammonia rubbed into the pit of the stomach. firmly maintained by Cruveilhier. It should be remembered that the fibrous mammary The brandy and ammonia were administered at short intumour existed for thirty years, and that the first signs of tervals, and after about twenty minutes’ continued exmalignant disease manifested themselves about twenty- ertions we had the pleasure to feel the radial’ pulse three years after the injury in the breast was received, returning, at first very feeble and quick, but gradually viz., at the fortieth year of age. There was no trace of gaining power. The spasm of the jaw (which we had cachectic symptoms previous to this period, for the pa- been obliged to open by introducing the handle of a nailtient, with few unimportant exceptions, was healthy, brush) gradually relaxed, and the little patient shortly vigorous, and active to this time. During the develop- afterwards opened her eyes, and was enabled to answer ment and destructive progress of the cancerous disease questions. The case went on very favonrably, and she no alteration whatever took place in the fibrous mamhas since done well. During the insensibility ammonia mary tumour. There was no difference of size or texture was not only administered internally, but the bottle was - no degeneration in it. True, there were occasional held to the nostrils, and as the effects of the poison were lancinating pains in the breasts, as well as in the imme- lessening the child turned away her head from it, thus diate seat of the malignant disease, which induced one showing a returning susceptibility to its odour. She hadto suppose that it would appear in them also; but no no recollection of what occurred from the time of her such thing occurred. These pains were purely sympa- taking the poison. Remarks.—The undulation of the blood in the jugulars, thetic. The identity maintained by the fibrous tumour in this case seems to my mind positively corroborative of the beating of the carotids, the rosy tint of the cheeks, as the doctrine promulgated by Cruveilhier, which, if esta- well as the spasm of the muscles of the jaw and eyes, blished, will certainly deprive many an aspirant to opera- form a singular contrast with the apparent absence ofall tive fame of the eclât of curing cancer by the knife, and phenomena of life in the rest of the body, and seem to many an old woman of the credit of destroying it by other indicate an accumulation of vitality in the brain. Is the means. But it will also do something of much more action of the heart paralysed when prussic acid is taken, importance to human welfare than this,-it will lead to in the same way as occurs in a sudden apoplectic seizure, i. e. by a primary action through the circulation on the a more correct diagnosis of the diseases in question, and thus thousands of females and their friends will become brain? In other words, is the primary action of prussic satisfied and happy, instead of having their minds em- acid that of causing congestion of the brain? bittered by that mental anguish which invariably accomClifton, June 1, 1844. panies doubts and fears in such painfully interesting ON THE USE OF ATROPINE AS A SUBSTITUTE cases.
All the best tonic and sedative remedies, with auxiliaries, were had recourse to in this unfortunate case, and I may mention that the chloride of carbon, as recommended by Mr. Jewel, of the Middlesex Hospital, was used internally and locally, which proved to be a powerful and direct sedative. This, however, like all other remedies of a similar nature, soon lost its effect. The solution of chloride of lime used as a lotion seemed to have a much better effect as a corrective. St. James Barton, Bristol, May 23, 1844.
By
FOR BELLADONNA. W. WHITE COOPER, Esq., Surgeon to the North London Ophthalmic Institution.
I AM desirous of drawing the attention of my professional brethren to the action of atropine, the essential principle of belladonna, as a substitute for that drug for I have now dilating the pupil in cases of cataract, &c. used it in a considerable number of cases with the greatest satisfaction ; the proportion I have employed being two grains of atropine dissolved in a drachm of POISONING BY OIL OF BITTER ALMONDS. rectified spirits of wine, to seven drachms of distilled water. A colourless solution is the result, equally effiW. Clifton. SMITH, Esq., By cacious in its action, and much more elegant than the THE subject of the following case was a young lady, ordinary preparations of belladonna; a full drop placed ætat. eight years and a half, who took what is called by in the eye producing speedy and complete dilatation of the druggists " ratifia." This substance consisted of one the pupil in the generality of cases, although, in some drachm of the essential oil of bitter almonds to seven instances, a stronger solution may be required. I have drachms of spirit. It contained, therefore, rather more never observed any ill effects from its use, although I than seven drops of the essential oil to each drachm. It have tried it in the proportion of four grains to the ounce, is frequently used for culinary purposes, to flavour cus- but I think two grains will be found to answer every purRather more than two teaspoonfuls were pose. I direct a drop to be used night and morning tards, &c. from the small bottle, probably about a teaspoonful where I wish to keep up the dilatation of the pupil. gone was swallowed. Tenterden-street, Hanover-square, May 20th. Arriving almost immediately after the accident, I found OCCURRING AFTER another medical man present, and the symptoms of our HÆMORRHAGE DELIVERY. little patient were as follows :In the circulating system—There was no radial pulse on By R. HICKS, Esq., Surgeon. either side. The extremities seemed almost bloodless ; ON the 20th of October I attended Mrs. S. Her labour the face, however, was of the usual tint ; there was considerable swelling of and undulatory motion in the jugular was natural, of eight hours duration. About nine o’clock in the morning I left her, when she was doing remarkably veins ; the carotids beat quickly and fully. Muscular system—There was no spasm in either ex- well. Shortly after her pains became almost intolerabley tremity ; the limbs were completely lax and fell lifeless and towards the evening syncope came on to such an when lifted; the eyelids were closed, and the eyes both extent that her friends thought she wasdying. Upon drawn to the left side ; the jaw was firmly clenched in my arrival I found her almost speechless, obviously from loss of blood; notwithstanding which, the uterus was rigid spasm; the pupil was dilated. Respiratory system—There was no stertor in the breath- duly contracted, and the external discharge, although rather more than usual, not sufficient to account for the ing, which was slow and gentle.
enlargement and induration and
afterwards by
symptoms which
we,
as
Treatment.—Cold water had been thrown
medical men, have too often the
over
the
arms
painful necessity of witnessing, but which no one can by a lady present, who thought the child had fainted. adequately describe. There was great tenacity of life in We administered a mustard emetic, and immediately this case, for the patient struggled hard with the disease afterwards brandy and water with aromatic spirit of amuntil her forty-seventh year, when it terminated fatally. monia. The child vomited after the administration of Having now given a brief account of the features of the the latter. The vomited matters smelt strongly of hycase, let us revert to the point at issue, and see how far drocyanic acid. A jar of hot water was applied to the this case accords with the opinion so boldly asserted and’; feet, the arms were assiduously chafed, and the aromatic j spirit of ammonia rubbed into the pit of the stomach. firmly maintained by Cruveilhier. It should be remembered that the fibrous mammary The brandy and ammonia were administered at short intumour existed for thirty years, and that the first signs of tervals, and after about twenty minutes’ continued exmalignant disease manifested themselves about twenty- ertions we had the pleasure to feel the radial’ pulse three years after the injury in the breast was received, returning, at first very feeble and quick, but gradually viz., at the fortieth year of age. There was no trace of gaining power. The spasm of the jaw (which we had cachectic symptoms previous to this period, for the pa- been obliged to open by introducing the handle of a nailtient, with few unimportant exceptions, was healthy, brush) gradually relaxed, and the little patient shortly vigorous, and active to this time. During the develop- afterwards opened her eyes, and was enabled to answer ment and destructive progress of the cancerous disease questions. The case went on very favonrably, and she no alteration whatever took place in the fibrous mamhas since done well. During the insensibility ammonia mary tumour. There was no difference of size or texture was not only administered internally, but the bottle was - no degeneration in it. True, there were occasional held to the nostrils, and as the effects of the poison were lancinating pains in the breasts, as well as in the imme- lessening the child turned away her head from it, thus diate seat of the malignant disease, which induced one showing a returning susceptibility to its odour. She hadto suppose that it would appear in them also; but no no recollection of what occurred from the time of her such thing occurred. These pains were purely sympa- taking the poison. Remarks.—The undulation of the blood in the jugulars, thetic. The identity maintained by the fibrous tumour in this case seems to my mind positively corroborative of the beating of the carotids, the rosy tint of the cheeks, as the doctrine promulgated by Cruveilhier, which, if esta- well as the spasm of the muscles of the jaw and eyes, blished, will certainly deprive many an aspirant to opera- form a singular contrast with the apparent absence ofall tive fame of the eclât of curing cancer by the knife, and phenomena of life in the rest of the body, and seem to many an old woman of the credit of destroying it by other indicate an accumulation of vitality in the brain. Is the means. But it will also do something of much more action of the heart paralysed when prussic acid is taken, importance to human welfare than this,-it will lead to in the same way as occurs in a sudden apoplectic seizure, i. e. by a primary action through the circulation on the a more correct diagnosis of the diseases in question, and thus thousands of females and their friends will become brain? In other words, is the primary action of prussic satisfied and happy, instead of having their minds em- acid that of causing congestion of the brain? bittered by that mental anguish which invariably accomClifton, June 1, 1844. panies doubts and fears in such painfully interesting ON THE USE OF ATROPINE AS A SUBSTITUTE cases.
All the best tonic and sedative remedies, with auxiliaries, were had recourse to in this unfortunate case, and I may mention that the chloride of carbon, as recommended by Mr. Jewel, of the Middlesex Hospital, was used internally and locally, which proved to be a powerful and direct sedative. This, however, like all other remedies of a similar nature, soon lost its effect. The solution of chloride of lime used as a lotion seemed to have a much better effect as a corrective. St. James Barton, Bristol, May 23, 1844.
By
FOR BELLADONNA. W. WHITE COOPER, Esq., Surgeon to the North London Ophthalmic Institution.
I AM desirous of drawing the attention of my professional brethren to the action of atropine, the essential principle of belladonna, as a substitute for that drug for I have now dilating the pupil in cases of cataract, &c. used it in a considerable number of cases with the greatest satisfaction ; the proportion I have employed being two grains of atropine dissolved in a drachm of POISONING BY OIL OF BITTER ALMONDS. rectified spirits of wine, to seven drachms of distilled water. A colourless solution is the result, equally effiW. Clifton. SMITH, Esq., By cacious in its action, and much more elegant than the THE subject of the following case was a young lady, ordinary preparations of belladonna; a full drop placed ætat. eight years and a half, who took what is called by in the eye producing speedy and complete dilatation of the druggists " ratifia." This substance consisted of one the pupil in the generality of cases, although, in some drachm of the essential oil of bitter almonds to seven instances, a stronger solution may be required. I have drachms of spirit. It contained, therefore, rather more never observed any ill effects from its use, although I than seven drops of the essential oil to each drachm. It have tried it in the proportion of four grains to the ounce, is frequently used for culinary purposes, to flavour cus- but I think two grains will be found to answer every purRather more than two teaspoonfuls were pose. I direct a drop to be used night and morning tards, &c. from the small bottle, probably about a teaspoonful where I wish to keep up the dilatation of the pupil. gone was swallowed. Tenterden-street, Hanover-square, May 20th. Arriving almost immediately after the accident, I found OCCURRING AFTER another medical man present, and the symptoms of our HÆMORRHAGE DELIVERY. little patient were as follows :In the circulating system—There was no radial pulse on By R. HICKS, Esq., Surgeon. either side. The extremities seemed almost bloodless ; ON the 20th of October I attended Mrs. S. Her labour the face, however, was of the usual tint ; there was considerable swelling of and undulatory motion in the jugular was natural, of eight hours duration. About nine o’clock in the morning I left her, when she was doing remarkably veins ; the carotids beat quickly and fully. Muscular system—There was no spasm in either ex- well. Shortly after her pains became almost intolerabley tremity ; the limbs were completely lax and fell lifeless and towards the evening syncope came on to such an when lifted; the eyelids were closed, and the eyes both extent that her friends thought she wasdying. Upon drawn to the left side ; the jaw was firmly clenched in my arrival I found her almost speechless, obviously from loss of blood; notwithstanding which, the uterus was rigid spasm; the pupil was dilated. Respiratory system—There was no stertor in the breath- duly contracted, and the external discharge, although rather more than usual, not sufficient to account for the ing, which was slow and gentle.