drowfinefs and languor came on: after that he took repeated doses of the OXYD* of ANTIMONY, by which some of the laudanum was rejected by vomiting. I saw him, fays Dr. James JOHNSON, about nine the fame morning: his paleness, languor, and lethargic difposition, were very great; his pulfe beat languidly, about thirty-eight strokes in a minute. By ftimulating his throat with a volatile embrocation, he was empowered to swallow a cathartic+: blifters were applied to the back and arms; and finapisms to his feet. He took, by my direction, coffee frequently, and after each dofe of it, a defert spoonful of VINEGAR 1. He was also carried out, and well fhaken in a post chaise on a rough road. About four o'clock in the afternoon, he was so much roused, that his pulfe beat at least seventy strokes in a minute. The dangerous fedative power of this enormous dose of opium was thus obviated, and his brain put into such a state of vigilance, that the enfuing evening he paffed a restless night. He then returned to his ufual state of health. * For an explanation of this term, vide Vol. I. p. 11. Probably containing also fome METALLIC OXYD. Vinegar owes its acidity to the absorption of VITAL AIR. VOL. III. 4 N We We have a cafe ftill more to our point in a letter from Major BRATHWAITE to Dr. BEDDOES, in Part III. of Obfervations on the Medicinal Use of Factitious Airs, and their Production. SIR, To DR. BEDDOES. STRETTON-STREET, July 24, 1795. Having, for a confiderable time been troubled with Rheumatic pains, it was recommended to me to take a mild opiate every night on going to bed, and in the event of that dofe not proving fufficiently foporific, I was to add to it a few drops of laudanum, for which purpose I had procured a two-ounce phial of laudanum. Nevertheless, being unwilling to accustom myself to the use of opium, I generally postponed taking the opiate till extreme pain and want of fleep rendered it abfolutely neceffary. In one of these moments, about four o'clock in the morning, I reached out my hand to the night-table, on which, by mistake, my servant had placed the phial containing the two ounces of laudanum, and believing this to be my ufual night-draught, 6 I poured I poured the contents into a tumbler glass, and drank it off. I foon perceived my mistake by the taste of the laudanum, but from my immediate relief from pain, accompanied by a certain pleafing languor, it was fome time before I could rouse myself so as to call affistance. Being, however, perfectly convinced that I must foon beat a quick march to the other world, unless my ftomach was eased of the poifon it contained, I rang the bell, and ordered fome warm water. It was fome time before this could be got ready. As foon as it was brought I drank large quantities, but without any apparent effect. The apothecary was then fent for, who gave me several different doses of VITRIOLATED ZINC *, when at last they fucceeded fo well, that I brought up a confiderable quantity of the laudanum. In the morning early I fent for Dr. THORNTON, who administered the VITAL AIR †, and ordered me LEMONADE I, which, from the weak ftate of my ftomach, was almost as speedily returned, but perfectly sweet to the taste, and *This metal, like the reft, has no power, until it be combined with oxygen. + Dr. THORNTON, in his obfervations on this cafe, remarks that the VITAL AIR was very rapidly confumed, which must recall to the reader's mind the celebrated experiment of SPALDING, recorded in Vol. I. p. 89. A mixture of lemon, fugar, and water. fo deprived of all acidity*, as to be like sugar and water. This was frequently repeated, when in the evening I ate my dinner, without any fenfible difference, and felt the next day much as ufual. This is the fimple fact, to the best of my remembrance; if it can be of any use in a science, which has for its object the ease and happiness of mankind, I shall always look back with pleasure to an accident which has afforded me an opportunity of giving you this detail. I have the honour to be, SIR, Your most obedient Servant, GEO. CHARLES BRATHWAITE. * The acid principle has been before proved to be derived from the oxy GEN, or VITAL AIR. Vide Vol. I. p. II. SECT. SECT. LIII. OF ASPHYXIA FROM THE BITE OF THE VIPER, FONTANA made more than fix thousand experiments upon the poison of the viper; he employed more than four thousand animals, and the conclufion he draws from this enormous number of experiments, is, that this poison does not act on the NERVES, but on the IRRITABLE PRINCIPLE in the moving fibres, through the medium of the blood. Hence, in thofe animals that recover, the parts bitten are ufually paralytic, but not infenfible. He observes, that the venom of the viper produces a perfect gangrene, and the muscular parts are either difcoloured or pale; and that the florid colour of the blood alfo is wholly deftroyed *. His experiments are very numerous respecting the antidotes against this poison. After reading two thick volumes of experiments, ingeniously devised, we are at last amply repaid by the account he gives us of the LUNAR CAUSTIC+; that is, filver combined with OXYGEN. * Vide Vol. II. Sect. XXVI. p. 389. He |