Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES .

" Death by poisoning ! How often that heading attracts our attention to some paragraph in the daily paper . We are not much impressed , nerhaps , the case seems so far removed from our own individuality . It is only when some one , near and dear to us , inadvertently takes an overdose of poison , that vve suddenly realise the awful pain and anxiety attendant upon death by poison . " What is to be done ? " The first thing is to send for a doctor ; then , while waiting for his arrival , try and find out the sort of

poison which has been taken . If the patient is too ill to give any details , for himself , watch the symptoms , for by them it is quite possible to judge which antidote will be best under the circumstances . Poisons may be divided into three classes—corrosives , irritants , and neurotics . In poisoning by corrosives , of which sulphuric , nitric , and hydrochloric acids are thechief , pain and discomfort follow immediately after swallowing-. The

action of these acids , in burning and destroying everything with which they come in contact , is so prompt , and so fatal , that it impossible to give an antidote in time . A little calcined magnesia , beaten up in water or milk , is the best thing , and helps to alleviate the acuteness of the pain . Or , if no magnesia should be handy , a little whiting , or even common plaster trom the wall , ground up in water , is a good remedy . It is frequently the very

simplest things which are the most efficacious . Irritants are known by the violent purging and sickness which commence almost immediately after the dose . Encourage the vomiting by every means in your power ; a tablespoonful of salt , or the same quantity of mustard , in lukewarm water , will produce the necessary sickness . The chief irritants are salts of zinc , tin , silver , as also croton oil , and , in large doses , scammony and gamboge .

Neurotic poisons act directly upon the nerves , and opium is the chief of this class . The symptoms differ widely from those following poisons by acids . The patient has only one desire—to be allowed to sleep , and that is precisely what he must , on no account , do ; sleep in this case means death . The stomach-pump is the best thing to be used , but only a doctor can use it , therefore , while awaiting his arrival , give the patient a strong emetic , and

keep him awake somehow . If the first four hours can be safely tided over , there is much less danger , and 24 hours will generally see him practically restored to health . A cup of strong coffee is an excellent antidote , and a galvanic battery shock , if obtainable , would be most useful . So much for poisons in general ; now for a few details about some of those we are most in the way of hearing of as causing illness or death . Nux vomica and

strychnine may be placed together , insomuch as their symptoms are similar , and the same antidote can te used in each case . These poisons cause violent convulsions and spasms , closely resembling tetanus , or lockjaw . An emetic must be given at once . Powdered charcoal in a little water is the best antidote . The action of the poisons is so rapid and the results so fatal , that it is almost useless to hope for recovery after a strong dose . The most

that can be done , after the emetic and charcoal , is to keep the patient as quiet as possible by giving him an occasional whiff of chloroform or ether , to allay the spasms and deaden the pain . Aconite is really the plant monkshood , found in nearly every garden , and is one of the most fatal poisons known . One form in which it may be inadvertently taken is in mistaking the root in winter for horse-radish , which it closely

resembles . ^ When taken it causes a tingling sensation in the mouth , quickly followed by the feeling known as " pins and needles . " in the hands and feet ; this again being succeeded by numbness . An emetic must be given at once , followed by some charcoal or a strong cup of tea or coffee , the tea to be boiled a minute or two , that all the tannin may be extracted . Arsenic is frequently use 3 in medicines , and , in small doses ,

is of great value for skin diseases . One also hears of it being used by ladies for the improvement of their complexions . The results at ( irst are very good , but soon the skin looks puffy and opaque , the eyes smart and the eyelids thicken ; the hair , also , looks dull and lifeless . In cases of poisoning by arsenic an emetic must be given first , then raw eggs beaten up in milk , charcoal , or hydrated oxide of iron ( from a chemist ) . Bella donna is a

poison obtained from the deadly nightshade , which flowers in England during the months of June and July . Children , especially , are attracted by the pretty berries . The patient is inclined to sleep , but not quietly as in the case of opium poisoning ; on the contrary , he is violent and delirious . Give an emetic at once , and do not let him sleep . Use the battery if possible , and give strong black coffee . Prussic acid is so speedy and so fatal in its

symptoms that there is rarely time for an antidote to be administered . A little ammonia may be given ; and , if the dose has been small , hydrated oxide of iron may be used , as for arsenic . Mercury resembles the corrosive poisons in its symptoms . Albumen is the best antidote ; white of eggs should therefore be given , beaten up in milk . Oxalic acid must be treated as the other acids , with magnesia , in water or milk or common chalk .

Always give the calcined magnesia ( the oxide ) ; the carbonate generates too much carbonic acid , which would only aggravate the evil . Laburnum seeds are often eaten by children , and produce vomiting , purging , and cramp . An emetic of mustard and warm water , or of ipecacuanha wine , half an ounce for the dose , must be given at once ; the patient must , also , be made to take a little brandy or ammonia after the emetic has actedto

, ward olT all fear of collapse . It is very rare that a case of acute lead poisoning comes under one ' s notice ; the illness is gradual in its onset . Painters are most liable to suffer from it , though cases have been known arising from people sleeping in newly-painted rooms , or from taking snuff which has been wrapped up in lead paper , ihe first noticeable symptoms is acute pain in the stomach

and if the mouth of the patient be examined there will be found a faint blue line along the gum where it joins the teeth . If not treated at once the whole body suffers , becoming thin and emaciated . The muscles in the arms and shoulders lose their strength and are useless , so that the patient is unable to lift the smallest things . Give frequent doses of Epsom salts—half an ounce to the dose—and allow the patient to have a warm bath . The weakened muscles must be treated by electricity and

massage . Copper poisoning is caused by allowing verdigris to accumulate m kettles , or saucepans , used for cooking . Great care should be taken to thoroughl y clean and dry these vessels after using . In cases of poisoning , vomiting must be induced by large draughts of warm water containing tannic acid . Mackerel and mussels are distinctly poisonous to some people , and when that is the case and vomiting does not result from the eating of them it must be induced by an emetic of mustard and warm water . The symptoms are violent pains in the head and stomach and a feeling ol nausea .

Science, Art, And The Drama.

In most cases , sickness and purging commence almost immediately after eating and must , on no account , be stopped until all the poisonous matter has been expelled . Afterwards , the patient will be found very much exhausted , and must be given a little brandy and soda water and allowed to sleep as long as possible .

Painters And Other Artists In The Reign Of James I.

PAINTERS AND OTHER ARTISTS IN THE REIGN OF JAMES I .

( Continued ) . Cornelius Jansen , generally , but inaccurately , called Johnson , was , according to Sandrart , born in London , of Flemish parents ; but Vertue asserts it was at Amsterdam , where he resided long , coming over quite young , ivhich , considering how late he lived , may be believed . He was born 1590 , died 1665 . His pictures are easily distinguished by their

clearness , neatness , and smoothness . They are generally painted on board , and except being a little stiff are often strongly marked with a fair character of nature , and remarkable for a lively tranquillity in their countenances . His draperies are seldom but black . He used much ultramarine in his blacks as well as his carnations , which gave them roundness and relief ; and affected black draperies to add to the force of the face ; yet it has been

said that the features are deficient in that suppleness which is the characteristic of flesh . Rubens and Vandyck were partial to black draperies . Two portraits by him are of singular merit . One of Mr . Leneve , Master of the Company of Merchant Tailors ; the other of Sir Geo . Villiers , father of the great Duke of Buckingham , less handsome , but extremely like his son . One of his hands rests on the head

of a greyhound , as fine as the animals of Snyder . Jansen's first works in England are dated about 1618 . He dwelt in the Blackfriars , and had much business . His price for a head was five broad pieces . He painted two in small in oil , and often copied his own works in that manner . In the family of Verney were the portraits of Sir Robert Heath and his lady in both sizes . At Cashiobury is a large piece , curious , but so inferior to Jansen ' s general

manner , that if his name were not to it , me might doubt it being by his hand . It represents Arthur , Lord Capel , who was beheaded , his lady , and children . - Behind them is a view of the garden at Hadham , at that time the chief seat of the family . In 1636 and the next following years Cornelius Jansen resided with Sir Arnold Braems , a Flemish merchant , at Bridge , near Canterbury . St . Alban ' s Court , the residence of the Hammond family ,

still retains remarkable examples of his genuine and best style . He was engaged to paint the portraits of the individuals of the families of Sir Dudley Digges , of Chilham Castle , Sir Anthony Ancher , of Bourne Place , and Sir Wm . Hammond , of St . Albans Court , between whom a close degree of consanguinity existed ; where are Colonels Francis , Robert , and John Hammond , who afterwards distinguished themselves in the wars of Charles I ., Lady Dormer ( 1642 ) , Lady Ady , and Lady Thynne ( 1636 ) , their sisters . ( To be continued . )

"The Illustrated London News."

"THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS . "

The history of illustrated journalism is a romance . Mr . Ingram , a newsagent at Nottingham , noticed that whenever the local papers inserted ever so primitive a block dealing with some sensational incident the sales went up enormously . " What a chance for a paper that should be full of pictures . " It was he who started the Illustrated London News . How he and his wife and family struggled to success is a story that would be well

worth relating . They had , at an important juncture , the active sympathy and support of one of England ' s greatest painters and book illustrators-John Gilbert ( later Sir John Gilbert , R . A . ) , who stood by Herbert Ingram with his pencil and hearty good will . Eventually the Illustrated London News became a familiar and welcome guest all the world over , and realised for the family of the Ingrams an enormous fortune . The incidental stories

of opposition to the Illustrated London News are numerous and curious . Chief among the rival papers that promised greatness was the Illustrated If mes , associated with the names of Vizetelly and Edmund Yates , a property that was eventually bought up by Ingram , and allowed to die , thus freeing the ground from a powerful opponentwhichin these days of

, , the multiplication of papers by a single proprietary , would have been kept going and become a prosperous concern . At last there came the Graphic . This was a rival that no amount of Ingram ' s money could have bought . 11 now has an active existence , and the Graphic and Illustrated London News are the two chief illustrated papers .

General Notes.

GENERAL NOTES .

The new Apollo Theatre will he opened by Messrs . Lowenfeld and Lederer , with "The Belle of Bohemia , " played entirely by Americans ; but previously to the admission of the public the artistic and literary craftsmen are invited to a private view , and to a house-warming on the ensuing evening . fa

Miss Julia Neilson ' s next production , when "Sweet Nell of Old Drurv " has run its course , will be a new play of modern life b y Messrs . L . iN . Parker and Boyle Lawrence , entitled " The Heel of Achilles . " * * * * The plans of Mrs . Langtry's architect , Mr . J . T . Verity , for the reconstruction of the Imperial Theatre , Westminster , have been passed by the County Council .

Golden Wedding.

GOLDEN WEDDING .

I'ifty years ago , on 20 th February , 1851 , were married at Bray-on-Thames the Baron DE FERRIERES , now of Cheltenham , to ANNIE SHEEPSHANKS , then of Harrogate . " Goodness and Mercy have followed us all the days of oar life . "

Birth.

BIRTH .

GREENHAM . —12 th February , at Scarboro ' , Shanklin , I . W ., the wife of Bro . Alfred Greenham , of a son .