Whatever may be the nature of the poison, we should endeavour with all possible expedition, to eject it from the body; and upon the promptness with which this is effected, the safety of the patient will generally depend; for the dangerous effects of such substances advance in a very increasing ratio, with the time they remain in contact with a living surface. A question may arise, whether in some cases it would not be judicious to attempt in the first instance the neutralization or decomposition of the poison; where a mineral acid, or a caustic alkali has been swallowed, it would undoubtedly be right to neutralize, and dilute it, as soon as possible, and then to excite vomiting, which may be advantageously effected by thrusting the finger down the throat, or by tickling the internal fauces with a feather: where an emetic is at hand, whatever may be its nature, it should be promptly given, but if circumstances will allow us the opportunity of selection, _Antimony_, _Ipecacuanha_, &c. should be rejected, and _Sulphate of Zinc_, or _Sulphate of Copper_, for several reasons, be preferred; in the first place they do not require much dilution[225] for their action, a circumstance of no small importance in the treatment of poisons that act by being absorbed; in the next place, they are extremely expeditious, a dose of fifteen or twenty grains producing almost instantaneous vomiting, without exciting that previous stage of nausea which so frequently characterises other emetics, and which occasions a state of the vascular system highly favourable to the function of absorption, (as I have so fully explained at page 86, &c.) The practice of emptying the stomach by means of a syringe, as proposed by Boerhaave, has lately been revived with all the confidence of a _new_ invention. There are cases of narcotic poisoning in which there can be no doubt it would furnish the practitioner with a valuable resource, but I much fear that it will be found to be less successful than its more sanguine advocates have anticipated; for where the stomach has so far lost its power as to be insensible to the stimulus of a potent emetic, the chances of recovery are small; the practice, however, in such cases ought never to be neglected, for it cannot possibly do harm, and may perhaps be beneficial. After all has been ejected, which the operations of art can effect, we are to proceed, without delay, to the fulfilment of the second indication; viz. 2. _The Decomposition of any remaining Portion, and the adoption of measures best calculated to obviate its absorption._