METHOD OF CURING THE FIT OF DRUNKENNESS.
I. _From Liquors._—Generally speaking, there is no remedy for drunkenness
equal to vomiting. The sooner the stomach is emptied of its contents the
better, and this may, in most cases, be accomplished by drinking freely
of tepid water, and tickling the fauces. On more obstinate occasions,
powerful emetics will be necessary. The best for this purpose, are ten
grains of sulphate of copper, half a drachm of sulphate of zinc, or
five grains of tartar emetic. Either of these should be dissolved in
a small quantity of tepid water, and instantly swallowed. Should this
treatment fail in effecting vomiting, and dangerous symptoms supervene,
the stomach pump should be employed. Cold applications to the head
are likewise useful. In all cases, the head ought to be well elevated,
and the neck-cloth removed, that there may be no impediment to the
circulation. Where there is total insensibility, where the pulse is
slow and full, the pupils dilated, the face flushed, and the breathing
stertorous, it becomes a question whether blooding might be useful.
Darwin[26] and Trotter speak discouragingly of the practice. As a general
rule I think it is bad; and that many persons who would have recovered,
if left to themselves, have lost their lives by being prematurely bled.
In all cases it should be done cautiously, and not for a considerable
time. Vomiting and other means should invariably be first had recourse
to, and if they fail, and nature is unable of her own power to overcome
the stupor, blooding may be tried. In this respect, liquors differ from
opium, the insensibility from which is benefited by abstraction of blood.
There is one variety of drunkenness in which both blooding and cold
are inadmissible. This is when a person is struck down, as it were,
by drinking suddenly a great quantity of ardent spirits. Here he is
overcome by an instantaneous stupor: his countenance is ghastly and pale,
his pulse feeble, and his body cold. While these symptoms continue,
there is no remedy but vomiting. When, however, they wear off, and
are succeeded, as they usually are, by flushing, heat, and general
excitement, the case is changed, and must be treated as any other where
such symptoms exist.
The acetate of ammonia is said to possess singular properties in
restoring from intoxication. This fact was ascertained by M. Masurer, a
French chemist. According to him, from twenty to thirty drops in a glass
of water, will, in most cases, relieve the patient from the sense of
giddiness and oppression of the brain; or, if that quantity should be
insufficient, half the same may be again given in eight or ten minutes
after. In some cases the remedy will occasion nausea or vomiting, which,
however, will be salutary to the patient, as the state of the brain is
much aggravated by the load on the stomach, and subsequent indigestion.
It is also farther stated that the value of this medicine is greatly
enhanced from its not occasioning that heat of the stomach and subsequent
inflammation which are apt to be produced by pure ammonia. Whether it
possesses all the virtues attributed to it, I cannot say from personal
observation, having never had occasion to use it in any case which came
under my management; but I think it at least promises to be useful, and
is, at all events, worthy of a trial. I must mention, however, that the
acetate of ammonia is seldom to be procured in the highly concentrated
state in which it is used by M. Masurer. Owing to the great difficulty of
chrystallizing it, it is rarely seen except in the fluid state, in which
condition it is recommended by the French chemist. The form in which it
is almost always used in this country, is that of the Aq. Acet. Ammon. or
Spirit of Mindererus, in doses of half an ounce or an ounce, but whether
in this shape it would be equally effectual in obviating the effects of
drunkenness, remains to be seen.
Mr. Broomley of Deptford recommends a draught composed of two drachms
of Aq. Ammon. Aromat. in two ounces of water, as an effectual remedy in
drunkenness.
The carbonate of ammonia might be used with a good effect. M. Dupuy,
director to the Veterinary School at Toulouse, tried a curious experiment
with this medicine upon a horse. Having previously intoxicated the animal
by injecting a demiletre of alcohol into the jugular vein, he injected
five grains of the carbonate of ammonia, dissolved in an ounce of water,
into the same vein, when the effects of the alcohol immediately ceased.
We have already mentioned that the excitement of drunkenness is succeeded
by universal languor. In the first stage, the drunkard is full of
energy, and capable of withstanding vigorously all external influences.
In the second, there is general torpor and exhaustion, and he is more
than usually subject to every impression, whether of cold or contagion.
Persons are often picked up half dead in this second stage. The stimulus
of intoxication had enabled them to endure the chill of the atmosphere,
but the succeeding weakness left them more susceptible than before of its
severity. In this state the body will not sustain any farther abstraction
of stimuli; and blooding and cold would be highly injurious. Vomiting is
here equally necessary, as in all other instances; but the person must
be kept in a warm temperature, and cherished with light and nourishing
food with soups, if such can be procured, and even with negus, should the
prostration of strength be very great.
A paroxysm of _periodical_ drunkenness may be sometimes shortened by
putting such small quantities of tartar emetic into the liquor which the
person indulges in, as to bring on nausea. This, however, must be done
with secrecy and caution.
It may here be mentioned, though not with a view of recommending
the practice, that the vegetable acids have a strong effect both in
counteracting and removing drunkenness. To illustrate this fact, the
following circumstance may be mentioned:—About twenty years ago, an
English regiment was stationed in Glasgow, the men of which, as is common
in all regiments, became enamoured of whisky. This liquor, to which they
gave the whimsical denomination of _white ale_, was new to them—being
nearly unknown in England: and they soon indulged in it to such an
extent, as to attract the censure of their officers. Being obliged to
be at quarters by a certain hour, they found out the plan of sobering
themselves by drinking large quantities of vinegar, perhaps a gill or two
at a draught. This, except in very bad cases, had the desired effect, and
enabled them to enter the barrack-court, or appear on parade, in a state
of tolerable sobriety. The power of the vegetable acids in resisting
intoxication, is well shown in the case of cold punch—a larger portion
of which can be withstood than of either grog or toddy, even when the
quantity of spirit is precisely the same.
There is nothing which has so strong a tendency to dispel the effects of
a debauch as hard exercise, especially if the air be cold. Aperients and
diaphoretics are also extremely useful for the same purpose.
For some days after drinking too much, the food should be light and
unirritating, consisting principally of vegetables. Animal food is apt to
heat the body, and dispose it to inflammatory complaints.[27]
II. _From Opium._—When a dangerous quantity of opium has been taken,
the treatment, in the first instance, is the same as with regard to
spirits, or any other intoxicating fluid. Immediate vomiting, by the
administration of similar emetics, is to be attempted, and when it has
taken place, it should be encouraged by warm drinks, till there is reason
to believe that the stomach has been freed of the poison. These drinks,
however, should not be given before vomiting is produced, for, in the
event of their failing to excite it, they remain upon the stomach, and
thus dissolve the opium and promote its absorption. But when vomiting
occurs from the action of the emetics, it will in all probability be
encouraged by warm drinks, and the stomach thus more effectually cleared
of the poison. Large quantities of a strong infusion of coffee ought then
to be given, or the vegetable acids, such as vinegar or lemon-juice,
mixed with water. These serve to mitigate the bad consequences which
often follow, even after the opium has been brought completely up. If the
person show signs of apoplexy, more especially if he be of a plethoric
habit, the jugular vein, or temporal artery should be opened, and a
considerable quantity of blood taken away. Indeed, it may be laid down
as a general rule, that as soon as the poison is rejected, the patient
ought to be bled, and the operation should be repeated according to
circumstances. Every means must be used to arouse him from stupor. He
must be moved about, if possible, from room to room, hartshorn applied
to his nostrils, and all plans adopted to prevent him from sinking
into lethargy. For this purpose, camphor, asafœtida, or musk, might be
administered with advantage. It is also a good practice to sponge the
body well with cold water; and the affusion of cold water on the head and
over the body, is still more effectual. In cases where vomiting cannot be
brought about by the ordinary means, M. Orfila suggests that one or two
grains of tartar emetic, dissolved in an ounce or two of water, might be
injected into the veins. In desperate cases, the stomach pump must be had
recourse to. Purgatives are latterly necessary.
Many practitioners consider vinegar and the other vegetable acids
antidotes to opium. This opinion M. Orfila has most satisfactorily
shown to be erroneous. In a series of well-conducted and conclusive
experiments made by him, it appears that the vegetable acids aggravate
the symptoms of poisoning by opium, whenever they are not vomited. They
hurry them on more rapidly, render them more violent, produce death at
an earlier period, and give rise to inflammation of the stomach—an event
which hardly ever occurs when they are not employed. These effects, it
would appear, are partly produced by their power of dissolving opium,
which they do better than the mere unassisted fluids of the stomach;
consequently the absorption is more energetic. The only time when acids
can be of use, is after the person has brought up the poison by vomiting.
They then mitigate the subsequent symptoms, and promote recovery; but if
they be swallowed before vomiting takes place, and if this act cannot by
any means be brought about, they aggravate the disorder, and death ensues
more rapidly than if they had not been taken.
Coffee has likewise a good effect when taken after the opium is got
off the stomach; but it differs from the acids in this, that it does
not, under any circumstances, increase the danger. While the opium is
still unremoved, the coffee may be considered merely inert; and it is,
therefore, a matter of indifference whether at this time it be taken or
not. Afterwards, however, it produces the same beneficial effects as
lemonade, tartaric acid, or vinegar. According to Orfila, the infusion is
more powerful as an antidote than the decoction.
Drunkenness or poisoning from the other narcotics, such as hemlock,
belladonna, aconite, hyoscyamus, &c., is treated in precisely the same
manner as that from opium.
III. _From Tobacco._—If a person feel giddy or languid from the use of
this luxury, he should lay himself down on his back, exposed to a current
of cool air. Should this fail of reviving him, let him either swallow
twenty or thirty drops of hartshorn, mixed with a glass of cold water, or
an ounce of vinegar moderately diluted. When tobacco has been received
into the stomach, so as to produce dangerous symptoms, a powerful emetic
must immediately be given, and vomiting encouraged by copious drinks,
till the poison is brought up. After this, vinegar ought to be freely
exhibited, and lethargy prevented by the external and internal use of
stimuli. If apoplectic symptoms appear, blooding must be had recourse
to. The same rule applies here, with regard to acids, as in the case
of opium. They should never be given till the stomach is thoroughly
liberated of its contents by previous vomiting.
Accidents happen oftener with tobacco than is commonly supposed. Severe
languor, retching, and convulsive attacks sometimes ensue from the
application of ointment, made with this plant, for the cure of the
ring-worm; and Santeuil, the celebrated French poet, lost his life in
consequence of having unknowingly drunk a glass of wine, into which had
been put some Spanish snuff.
IV. _From Nitrous Oxide._—Though the inhalation of this gas is seldom
attended with any risk, yet, in very plethoric habits, there might be a
determination of blood to the head, sufficient to produce apoplexy. If a
person, therefore, becomes, after the experiment, convulsed, stupified,
and livid in the countenance, and if these symptoms do not soon wear
away, some means must be adopted for their removal. In general, a free
exposure to fresh air, and dashing cold water over the face, will be
quite sufficient; but if the affection is so obstinate as to resist
this plan, it will then be necessary to draw some blood from the arm,
or, what is still better, from the jugular vein. When, in delicate
subjects, hysteria and other nervous symptoms are produced, blooding is
not necessary; all that is requisite to be done being the application
of cold water to the brow or temples, and of hartshorn to the nostrils.
In obstinate cases, twenty or thirty drops of the latter in a glass of
water, may be administered with advantage.