XLIII.

2578. "Time," according to the old proverb, "is money;" and it may also,
in many cases, and with equal truthfulness, be said to be life; for a
few moments, in great emergencies, often turn the balance between
recovery and death. This applies more especially to all kinds of
poisoning, fits, submersion in water, or exposure to noxious gases; and
many accidents. If people knew how to act during the interval that must
necessarily elapse from the moment that a medical man is sent for until
he arrives, many lives might be saved, which now, unhappily, are lost.
Generally speaking, however, nothing is done--all is confusion and
fright; and the surgeon, on his arrival, finds that death has already
seized its victim, who, had his friends but known a few rough rules for
their guidance, might have been rescued. We shall, therefore, in a
series of papers, give such information as to the means to be employed
in event of accidents, injuries, &c., as, by the aid of a gentleman of
large professional experience, we are warranted in recommending.

List of Drugs, &c., necessary to carry out all Instructions.

2579. We append at once A LIST OF DRUGS, &c., and a few PRESCRIPTIONS
necessary to carry out all the instructions given in this series of
articles. It will be seen that they are few--they are not expensive; and
by laying in a little stock of them, our instructions will be of instant
value in all cases of accident, &c.--The drugs are--Antimonial Wine.
Antimonial Powder. Blister Compound. Blue Pill. Calomel. Carbonate of
Potash. Compound Iron Pills. Compound Extract of Colocynth. Compound
Tincture of Camphor. Epsom Salts. Goulard's Extract. Jalap in Powder.
Linseed Oil. Myrrh and Aloes Pills. Nitre. Oil of Turpentine. Opium,
powdered, and Laudanum. Sal Ammoniac. Senna Leaves. Soap Liniment,
Opodeldoc. Sweet Spirits of Nitre. Turner's Cerate.--To which should be
added: Common Adhesive Plaster. Isinglass Plaster. Lint. A pair of small
Scales with Weights. An ounce and a drachm Measure-glass. A Lancet. A
Probe. A pair of Forceps, and some curved Needles.

2580. The following PRESCRIPTIONS may be made up for a few shillings;
and, by keeping them properly labelled, and by referring to the remarks
on the treatment of any particular case, much suffering, and, perhaps,
some lives, may be saved.

2581. _Draught_.--Twenty grains of sulphate of zinc in an ounce and a
half of water. This draught is to be repeated in a quarter of an ho