Читать книгу Pharmacologia онлайн

192 страница из 211

These few objections, and many more might be urged, are sufficient to demonstrate the imperfection of the classification under consideration, and which must render it wholly unavailable to the physician in the treatment of cases of poisoning, who must derive his plan of cure from the physiological action of the substance against which he has to contend; thus, for instance, Arsenic and Corrosive Sublimate are both corrosive poisons, but so materially do they differ from each other in their physiological actions that, when swallowed, they will require for the preservation of the individual, a very different system of treatment.

For such reasons I have ventured to propose a new arrangement of Poisons, which may furnish the practitioner with a general theorem for the administration of Antidotes.

A SYNOPTICAL TABLE OF POISONS, NEWLY ARRANGED According to the different Primary Operations, by which they produce their effects, With a view to furnish a General Theorem for the administration of Antidotes. CLASS I. Poisons which act Primarily, through the medium of the Nerves, without being absorbed; or exciting Local Inflammation. Order 1. By which the functions of the Nervous System are suspended, or destroyed. (Death by Suffocation from paralysis of the Respiratory muscles.) Alcohol. Aconite. Oil of Tobacco. Essential Oil of Almonds.^[220] Camphor.^[220] Opium?^[220] Salts of Lead? Croton Tiglium.^[221] Order 2. By which the heart is rendered insensible to the Stimulus of the Blood. (Death by Syncope.) Infusion of Tobacco. Upas Antiar. CLASS II. Poisons which, by entering the Circulation, act through that medium, with different degrees of energy, on the Heart, Brain, and Alimentary Canal. (Death in many forms.) Arsenic. Emetic Tartar. Muriate of Baryta. Hellebore. Savine. Meadow Saffron. Squill. Opium?^[221] Lettuce. Henbane. Prussic Acid. Deadly Nightshade.^[221] Hemlock. Camphor.^[221] Coculus Indicus. CLASS III. Poisons which, through the medium of the Circulation, expend their energies upon the Spinal Marrow, without directly involving the functions of the Brain. (Death by Tetanic Convulsions.) Nux Vomica—and the whole tribe of Strychnus. CLASS IV. Poisons which produce a direct local action on the Mucous Membrane of the Alimentary Canal. (Death by Gangrene.) Corrosive Sublimate.^[220] Verdigris. Muriate and Oxide of Tin. Sulphate of Zinc. Nitrate of Silver. Concentrated Acids. Caustic Alkalies. Cantharides. Bryony. Elaterium. Euphorbium. Colocynth. Hedge Hyssop. Ranunculi. Nitre.

The First Class of our arrangement comprehends such poisons as operate, through the medium of the nerves, upon the organs immediately subservient to life; in their application it is obvious that they cannot require to be introduced into the stomach; they may convey their destructive influence by an application to any part duly supplied with nerves, and whose extremities are exposed to their action. It had been long admitted that a poison might occasion death, by acting on the nerves of the stomach and intestines without being absorbed; but to the experimental labours of Mr. Brodie^[222] we are principally indebted for our present correct views of the subject. The class admits of two important divisions, into one comprehending those poisons which destroy the functions of the brain, and into another, including those which direct their influence upon the heart. We shall offer a few observations upon the facts which have suggested such a division, and upon the practical advantages which may attend its adoption.