THE MORE COMMON POISONS, THEIR SYMPTOMS, ANTIDOTES, AND TREATMENT-(Continued).

POISONS.

SYMPTOMS.

ANTIDOTES AND TREATMENT.

Induce vomiting, if the poison has not already done
so, and give astringent infusions, as of strong tea
or oak bark. Starch unites with iodine, forming
an insoluble compound, but not with the iodide of
potassium.

The hydrated sesquioxide of iron-prepared by add-
ing ammonia to the common muriated tincture,
and washing the precipitate-is the antidote.
Give ad lib. Or dialyzed iron and magnesia, half an
ounce of each every ten minutes. After Fowler's
solution, give lime-water freely, evacuate the stom-
ach, and give demulcents.

Emetics, milk, albumen, and mucilaginous drinks.

Bismuth.

Copper.

Albumen in some form, the white of one egg to four grains of corrosive sublimate, milk, flour gruel.

VEGETABLE IRRITANTS Violent vomiting, diarrhoea, and pain,

thirst and constriction of the throat,
difficult breathing, delirium or stupor,
death.

Severe pain and burning all through the
alimentary canal, bloody evacuations,
strangury or retention of urine, con-
vulsions, delirium, death.
Indigestion, headache, vertigo, thirst,
vomiting and diarrhoea, collapse. Often
an eruption on the skin.
These are nearly all vegetable poisons.
They occasion nausea, numbness, stu-
por, delirium or convulsions, over-
stimulation of the heart, followed by
its failure, insensibility, coma, death.
With the acro-narcotics, these symp-
toms are preceded by those of irritants,
an acrid taste, dryness, and constriction
of the mouth and throat, fever, vomit-
ing and diarrhoea, with intestinal pain.
The pupils of the eyes are usually di-

Emetics, mucilage, and magnesia. No oil. May be decomposed by common salt.

Carbonate of soda in solution, milk and albumen.

Evacuate the stomach and bowels as promptly as possible, and stimulate.

Excite vomiting, give emollient drinks and enemata,
but no oil. Rub the abdomen with camphor, or
camphorated oil to relieve the strangury.

Emetics, purgatives, and stimulants.

Evacuate the stomach as thoroughly as possible, and
give active purgatives; give strong coffee and
keep the patient roused. The custom of walking
the patient up and down, and slapping with wet
towels, is objectionable; it adds exhaustion to
depression, and risks giving him pneumonia.
Keep him in the recumbent position, and employ
friction, and, if necessary, artificial respiration.

THE MORE COMMON POISONS, THEIR SYMPTOMS, ANTIDOTES, AND TREATMENT.

Laudanum.

CHAPTER XX.

Obstetric emergencies-Utero-gestation-Symptoms of pregnancyAbortion-Parturition-The three stages of labor-The conduct of each-How to treat the child, the placenta, the mother-How to wash and dress the baby-Lactation-The care of the infantCare of the mother during the puerperal state-Dangers of the puerperal state.

Ir is, perhaps, more often in obstetric cases than in any others that the nurse will be called upon to assume, in his absence, the responsibilities properly belonging to the physician. It may happen that she will have to deliver the child before medical aid can arrive, and a nurse who undertakes this branch of the work should, at least, know how to conduct a normal case in an emergency without direction, for the lives of both mother and child may depend upon her skill and promptness. In order to be prepared for such an occasion, should it arise, it is necessary for her to possess a much fuller knowledge of midwifery than she will ordinarily be called upon to put into practice. The following instructions need to be preceded by a more thorough acquaintance with pelvic anatomy and physiology than can be given here.

The development of an embryo in the uterus is known as pregnancy, or utero-gestation. During this condition the uterus becomes enlarged, rises out of the pelvis, and occupies the abdominal cavity. Other phys

ical signs are suppression of the menses, enlargement of the breasts and the presence of milk in them, and movements of the fœtus. Milk is sometimes found in the breasts as early as the second month. This is pretty reliable evidence of pregnancy. Another early and reliable sign is a deep violet discoloration of the vagina. The mammary glands are so intimately connected with the reproductive organs as to be usually classed among them. During pregnancy they become swollen and tender, the veins enlarge, and the circles, or areolæ, about the nipples become discolored. Swelling of the feet is not uncommon, with enlargement of the veins of the legs. When there is much oedema of the legs, the urine should be tested for albumen, and, if it is found to be present in any quantity, the physician should be informed. Bladder disturbances-as retention or incontinence of urine-are not uncommon. A leucorrhoeal discharge may be present. Constipation, diarrhoea, and other disturbances of digestion may be looked for. Nausea, particularly distressing in the morning, and thence called "the morning sickness," is common in the early stage of pregnancy. There may be at the same time an abnormal appetite. Salivation sometimes occurs. During the fourth month the movements of the fœtus usually begin to be felt by the mother. At this time the uterus rises above the brim of the pelvis, and the nausea may be expected to subside. Many nervous manifestations may accompany pregnancy-as insomnia, irritability, neuralgia, headaches, toothaches, etc. It is not considered advisable to have teeth extracted at this time. A cough is common, and in the later stages dyspnoea, arising from pressure upon the lungs. Neither of all these symptoms occurring singly has any diagnostic value, nor is the absence of them to be counted