EDITORIAL.POISONINGBYTINCTUREOFACONITE.—The frequent use of the strong tincture of aconite root, as an external application, has, as might have been expected, given rise to repeated accidents, from the accidental or careless internal administration of that powerful substance in an overdose. An instance has occurred within a day or two, where an attendant administered a tea-spoonful of the tincture, which had been directed to be used as a liniment for a rheumatic affection. An emetic of sulphate of zinc was administered by the physician, and within five minutes after the poison had been swallowed, free vomiting was produced. This continued for several hours, though the external application of mustard poultices to{191}the pit of the stomach, and the administration of strong coffee, with small doses of laudanum, were employed to check it. The man was naturally very stupid, and could give no clear account of his sensations. He made no complaint of his throat, until his attention was directed to it, when he said it was sore and that he had difficulty in swallowing. He had a strange, as he termed it, bursting sensation in his limbs, with constant sickness and retching, and great debility. He looked alarmed and anxious, and was restless. The pupils were at first dilated, then nearly natural, and afterwards again dilated. The extremities were cold and moist, the pulse early intermitting and weak, became extinct at the wrist, and the action of the heart was feeble and irregular. Stimulants were administered internally, but could not be retained, brandy and water with carbonate of ammonia was afterwards given in injections, per anum. and the temperature of the extremities maintained by mustard poultices, and the application of heat. After an interval of seven or eight hours the pulse again became perceptible, and the man gradually recovered.The characteristic symptoms produced by poisoning with aconite, are a peculiar numb tingling sensation produced in the tongue and lips, a sensation in the throat, as if the palate were enlarged and elongated, and resting upon the root of the tongue, irritability of the stomach, a numb creeping or tingling sensation felt in the limbs, or over the whole surface, and depressed action of the heart, and consequent prostration and coldness of the extremities. Death when it occurs, seems to depend on the depressing effect produced upon the heart. From this it would seem that the proper treatment would be, 1st, to promote the evacuation of the poison by mild means. 2nd, to maintain the circulation, by keeping the patient as quiet as possible in a horizontal posture, by the application of sinapisms and external warmth to the extremities, and by the administration of stimulants by the mouth or when they cannot be retained, by the rectum, and 3d, to control, if possible, the vomiting.Pereira states that aconite, when dropped in the eye, or when taken internally in poisonous doses, produces contraction of the pupils, and that with the exception of opium, it is the only article which does so. In the above case, and in one other, which was likewise seen by the writer, the pupils were dilated, and the same condition was observed in several cases which have been communicated to him.The above case is note-worthy from the great severity of the symptoms endangering the patients life, which followed the administration of a single tea-spoonful of the poison. It must have been absorbed too, with great promptness, since the vomiting, which took place in five minutes afforded no relief. This probably depended on the stomach being empty at the time. Much of the difference observed in the effects produced by the same dose, too, doubtless depends on the variation of the strength of the tincture, caused either by the employment of different formulæ in its preparation, or by the occasional use of decayed and inferior roots in making it.{192}SPURIOUSSULPHATEOFQUININE.—We understand that the article referred to in the subjoined note, has likewise been offered for sale in this city. It bears the label of Pelletier, Delondres & Levaillant. We hope our Western friends will be on their guard against this atrocious swindle.TOTHEEDITOROFTHENEWYORKJOURNALOFPHARMACY:—Dear Sir,—I would direct the attention of druggists and apothecaries to an article sold in New York, purporting to be quinine, put up so as to resemble the French.It has somewhat the appearance of that article, but upon examination will be found to be totally devoid of bitterness, &c. I should suppose it to be mannite.I am led to believe that 500 ounces have already been shipped to the West, and some has been sold in this vicinity.I hope that your numerous subscribers may profit by this hint, and that the parties selling the same as quinine, may be frustrated in their nefarious traffic.Your obedient servant, R. J. D.BROOKLYN,May 28, 1852.MAGANESE.—Some attention has lately been given, in France, to a variety of preparations of maganese. Maganese is commonly found associated with iron in minute quantities. It appears to be an invariable constituent of the blood, and in certain diseases, in which the iron, normally contained in that fluid, is deficient, the maganese would seem to be deficient in similar proportion. It is said that the preparations of maganese, given in connection with those of iron, in such diseases, produce effects which cannot be obtained from iron alone. Various formulæ have been offered for its administration. Commonly similar salts of the two articles, as the sulphate, lactate, carbonate, &c., are given together, the manganese being to the iron in the proportion of from1⁄2to1⁄3. The subject would seem to deserve further inquiry.☛OUR EXCHANGES.—Owing to a variety of circumstances, the Journal has not been forwarded with proper regularity to the Editors of the Journals in our own Country, with whom we would desire to exchange. Exchanges and books intended for us should be directed “TOTHEEDITOROFTHENEWYORKJOURNALOFPHARMACY,”care ofGEORGED.COGGESHALL,809 Broadway, or of T. B.MERRICK,No. 10 Gold Street.Foreign Exchangesmay be sent through the house of H.BAILLIERE,London, or J. B.BAILLERE,Paris.
POISONINGBYTINCTUREOFACONITE.—The frequent use of the strong tincture of aconite root, as an external application, has, as might have been expected, given rise to repeated accidents, from the accidental or careless internal administration of that powerful substance in an overdose. An instance has occurred within a day or two, where an attendant administered a tea-spoonful of the tincture, which had been directed to be used as a liniment for a rheumatic affection. An emetic of sulphate of zinc was administered by the physician, and within five minutes after the poison had been swallowed, free vomiting was produced. This continued for several hours, though the external application of mustard poultices to{191}the pit of the stomach, and the administration of strong coffee, with small doses of laudanum, were employed to check it. The man was naturally very stupid, and could give no clear account of his sensations. He made no complaint of his throat, until his attention was directed to it, when he said it was sore and that he had difficulty in swallowing. He had a strange, as he termed it, bursting sensation in his limbs, with constant sickness and retching, and great debility. He looked alarmed and anxious, and was restless. The pupils were at first dilated, then nearly natural, and afterwards again dilated. The extremities were cold and moist, the pulse early intermitting and weak, became extinct at the wrist, and the action of the heart was feeble and irregular. Stimulants were administered internally, but could not be retained, brandy and water with carbonate of ammonia was afterwards given in injections, per anum. and the temperature of the extremities maintained by mustard poultices, and the application of heat. After an interval of seven or eight hours the pulse again became perceptible, and the man gradually recovered.
The characteristic symptoms produced by poisoning with aconite, are a peculiar numb tingling sensation produced in the tongue and lips, a sensation in the throat, as if the palate were enlarged and elongated, and resting upon the root of the tongue, irritability of the stomach, a numb creeping or tingling sensation felt in the limbs, or over the whole surface, and depressed action of the heart, and consequent prostration and coldness of the extremities. Death when it occurs, seems to depend on the depressing effect produced upon the heart. From this it would seem that the proper treatment would be, 1st, to promote the evacuation of the poison by mild means. 2nd, to maintain the circulation, by keeping the patient as quiet as possible in a horizontal posture, by the application of sinapisms and external warmth to the extremities, and by the administration of stimulants by the mouth or when they cannot be retained, by the rectum, and 3d, to control, if possible, the vomiting.
Pereira states that aconite, when dropped in the eye, or when taken internally in poisonous doses, produces contraction of the pupils, and that with the exception of opium, it is the only article which does so. In the above case, and in one other, which was likewise seen by the writer, the pupils were dilated, and the same condition was observed in several cases which have been communicated to him.
The above case is note-worthy from the great severity of the symptoms endangering the patients life, which followed the administration of a single tea-spoonful of the poison. It must have been absorbed too, with great promptness, since the vomiting, which took place in five minutes afforded no relief. This probably depended on the stomach being empty at the time. Much of the difference observed in the effects produced by the same dose, too, doubtless depends on the variation of the strength of the tincture, caused either by the employment of different formulæ in its preparation, or by the occasional use of decayed and inferior roots in making it.
The above case is note-worthy from the great severity of the symptoms endangering the patients life, which followed the administration of a single tea-spoonful of the poison. It must have been absorbed too, with great promptness, since the vomiting, which took place in five minutes afforded no relief. This probably depended on the stomach being empty at the time. Much of the difference observed in the effects produced by the same dose, too, doubtless depends on the variation of the strength of the tincture, caused either by the employment of different formulæ in its preparation, or by the occasional use of decayed and inferior roots in making it.
{192}
SPURIOUSSULPHATEOFQUININE.—We understand that the article referred to in the subjoined note, has likewise been offered for sale in this city. It bears the label of Pelletier, Delondres & Levaillant. We hope our Western friends will be on their guard against this atrocious swindle.
TOTHEEDITOROFTHENEWYORKJOURNALOFPHARMACY:—Dear Sir,—I would direct the attention of druggists and apothecaries to an article sold in New York, purporting to be quinine, put up so as to resemble the French.It has somewhat the appearance of that article, but upon examination will be found to be totally devoid of bitterness, &c. I should suppose it to be mannite.I am led to believe that 500 ounces have already been shipped to the West, and some has been sold in this vicinity.I hope that your numerous subscribers may profit by this hint, and that the parties selling the same as quinine, may be frustrated in their nefarious traffic.Your obedient servant, R. J. D.BROOKLYN,May 28, 1852.
TOTHEEDITOROFTHENEWYORKJOURNALOFPHARMACY:—
Dear Sir,—I would direct the attention of druggists and apothecaries to an article sold in New York, purporting to be quinine, put up so as to resemble the French.
It has somewhat the appearance of that article, but upon examination will be found to be totally devoid of bitterness, &c. I should suppose it to be mannite.
I am led to believe that 500 ounces have already been shipped to the West, and some has been sold in this vicinity.
I hope that your numerous subscribers may profit by this hint, and that the parties selling the same as quinine, may be frustrated in their nefarious traffic.Your obedient servant, R. J. D.BROOKLYN,May 28, 1852.
I hope that your numerous subscribers may profit by this hint, and that the parties selling the same as quinine, may be frustrated in their nefarious traffic.
Your obedient servant, R. J. D.
BROOKLYN,May 28, 1852.
MAGANESE.—Some attention has lately been given, in France, to a variety of preparations of maganese. Maganese is commonly found associated with iron in minute quantities. It appears to be an invariable constituent of the blood, and in certain diseases, in which the iron, normally contained in that fluid, is deficient, the maganese would seem to be deficient in similar proportion. It is said that the preparations of maganese, given in connection with those of iron, in such diseases, produce effects which cannot be obtained from iron alone. Various formulæ have been offered for its administration. Commonly similar salts of the two articles, as the sulphate, lactate, carbonate, &c., are given together, the manganese being to the iron in the proportion of from1⁄2to1⁄3. The subject would seem to deserve further inquiry.
MAGANESE.—Some attention has lately been given, in France, to a variety of preparations of maganese. Maganese is commonly found associated with iron in minute quantities. It appears to be an invariable constituent of the blood, and in certain diseases, in which the iron, normally contained in that fluid, is deficient, the maganese would seem to be deficient in similar proportion. It is said that the preparations of maganese, given in connection with those of iron, in such diseases, produce effects which cannot be obtained from iron alone. Various formulæ have been offered for its administration. Commonly similar salts of the two articles, as the sulphate, lactate, carbonate, &c., are given together, the manganese being to the iron in the proportion of from1⁄2to1⁄3. The subject would seem to deserve further inquiry.
☛OUR EXCHANGES.—Owing to a variety of circumstances, the Journal has not been forwarded with proper regularity to the Editors of the Journals in our own Country, with whom we would desire to exchange. Exchanges and books intended for us should be directed “TOTHEEDITOROFTHENEWYORKJOURNALOFPHARMACY,”care ofGEORGED.COGGESHALL,809 Broadway, or of T. B.MERRICK,No. 10 Gold Street.Foreign Exchangesmay be sent through the house of H.BAILLIERE,London, or J. B.BAILLERE,Paris.