Memory Monday: Poison

My great grandmother

My great-grandmother and her son, my grandfather

POISONS

Today if one of my children were to accidentally consume something poisonous, I would immediately call the doctor, 911, or the poison hotline (if I had that number at my fingertips, which I don’t). But years ago, our ancestors—especially those living in the wilderness as they homesteaded new land—didn’t have those options. Usually home-remedies were handed down from mother to daughter. Sometimes a housewife, if she could afford it, might purchase a book that would include instructions for such a situation as poisonings. Below are entries from two such books. The first one contains a general antidote for poisoning. The second one lists several different types of poisonings and the antidote for each.

Antidotes to Poison

            In cases where poison has been taken into the stomach, give immediately the whites of several eggs,—to a child, two or three; to an adult, six or seven. Or stir a large teaspoonful of mustard into a tumbler of warm water, to be drank all at once.

From The Young Housekeeper’s Friend by Mrs. Cornelius, Published by Thompson, Brown, & Co. Boston, Massachusetts 1871 p. 249 [This was written a couple of years before my great-parents married and had children, so this is something they might have used.  She is in the picture on the left above. The picture on the right is her and her son, my grandfather.]]

Poisoning by Verdigris, or Acetate of Copper

            Cooking utensils made of copper never ought to be tolerated; yet they are used; and it is from this verdigris which forms upon them that most of the cases of poisoning by copper happens.

            Give an emetic instantly, and then two teaspoonsfuls of carbonate of soda (bread soda) in a tumblerful of water, to be repeated in ten minutes. Whites of egg, diffused in water, and mucilaginous drinks are proper.

From The Household Physician by Ira Warren, A.M., M.D., Published by Higgins, Bradley, and Dayton, 20 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 1859, p.495

Poisoning by Corrosive Sublimates

            This is the common bed-bug poison, and is often taken by mistake.

            Mix up quickly the whites of a dozen eggs, with two pints of water, and give a glassful of the mixture every two minutes till the stomach can contain no more. If there are not eggs enough at hand, take what there are, and make up the deficiency with milk. Wheat flour, mixed with water, is a good remedy. Use the stomach pump, if at hand. Treat the resulting inflammation with leeches and fomentations.

From The Household Physician by Ira Warren, A.M., M.D., Published by Higgins, Bradley, and Dayton, 20 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 1859, p. 495   

Poisoning by Strong Lye

            Strong lye is sometimes swallowed by children. The remedy is vinegar, or oil. Vinegar will convert the lye into acetate of potash and any of the oils will unite with it, and form soap; and neither the acetate of potash, nor soap, will materially injure the stomach.

From The Household Physician by Ira Warren, A.M., M.D., Published by Higgins, Bradley, and Dayton, 20 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 1859, p.496 [This was written when my great-grandmother was seven, so her parents may have had to use this on her or her brothers.]

After reading these cures, I am glad I have directory assistance to help me find the number to call for help if one of my children swallows something poisonous. I don’t think I would have the presence of mind to crack all those eggs or measure out the other things.