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68 DENTAL MEDICINE. ;
TOBACCO.
Symptoms.—Nausea ; vomiting ; violent retching.
Antidotes.—Emetics ; stimulants, both external and internal
strychnia ; external heat.
ZINC SALTS.
Symptoms.—A burning sensation in stomach ; nausea; vomit-
ing; anxious countenance; difficult breathing; small, quick
pulse ; cold perspiration ; syncope ; convulsions ; death.
Antidotes.—Carbonate of soda; emetics; warm demulcent
drinks.
THE PULSE.
The word " pulse " is derived from the Latin word pulso.^ " I
"
strike and denotes the striking or lifting of the finger by the
distending vessel, as with each contraction of the heart blood
is forced into the vessels.
The word pulse has also been applied to the appearance of a
lifting up of the coverings over a distending vessel, so that this
"
word " pulse is applied not only to that which is felt, but to
that which is seen.
There are two kinds of pulse, the arterial and the venous.
The arterial is appreciated mainly by palpitation, the venous
by inspection. It is the " arterial pulse," that it is necessary to
study.
"
The " radial pulse is the one usually selected, although the
" temporal pulse " also noted in the administration of anaes-
is
thetic agents. The pulse in other vessels must also some-
times be observed, as in the brachial, the facial in front of the
masseter muscle, the posterior tibial, the dorsalis pedis, the carotid
and femoral arteries.
The " radial pulse," the one usually selected, and which, in
most cases, answers all the requirements, is of moderate size,^
superficial, and can be readily compressed against the radius.
When the pulse is to be observed, the patient should be either
sitting or lying down. The observer should place his index,
middle, or ring finger lightly upon the pulse, and should then ap-