Part 13 (2/2)

=Poisons.=--Poisons may be cla.s.sified under two distinct heads--_mineral_ and _vegetable_. _Mineral poisons_ are irritating and corrosive in their action. They produce a metallic taste in the mouth, burning pains in the throat, stomach, and bowels, and, often, violent retching and b.l.o.o.d.y vomiting, purging, cramps, cold sweats, and great depression. _Vegetable poisons_ are chiefly narcotics, and many of them are as virulent as any in the mineral kingdom. They cause giddiness, drowsiness, stupor, insensibility or delirium, and oppressed breathing.

_General Directions._--First and instantly dilute the poison with large draughts of warm water, either clear, or, if the particular poison is known, containing the proper antidote. This will usually cause vomiting, which is to be desired. If vomiting does not soon occur, excite it.

Protect as much as possible the lining membrane of the stomach and bowels from contact with the poison by large and frequent doses of sweet-oil, mucilage of gum arabic, flaxseed tea, milk, etc. Melted cosmoline, vaseline, b.u.t.ter, or lard will serve for this purpose. Keep up the temperature by means of warm blankets, hot bottles, etc.; and if there are marked evidences of sinking, such as a failure of the pulse, or very feeble, gasping respiration, give a little stimulus, preferably by injection into the bowels. In the case of an adult, a tablespoonful of brandy, whisky or gin, with an equal quant.i.ty of water, may be administered in this manner every five or ten minutes, until reaction sets in--that is, until the face regains its color, the pulse becomes stronger, and the breathing natural.

A general antidote for all cases of poisoning, where the nature of the poison is unknown, is a mixture of carbonate of magnesia, powdered charcoal, and hydrated sesquioxide of iron, equal parts, in water.

POISONS--MINERAL. _Acids.--Muriatic_ (spirit of salt), _nitric_ (aqua fortis), _sulphuric_ (oil of vitriol), _oxalic_, _nitro-muriatic_, etc.

Nitric and sulphuric acids are sometimes used for the removal of warts; oxalic acid is often employed for taking out iron or ink stains; muriatic and nitro-muriatic acids are frequently prescribed medicinally.

As soon as a poisonous dose has been swallowed, seek for something which will neutralize the acid. Powdered chalk, whiting, magnesia, or lime sc.r.a.ped from a wall and stirred in water, may be given in any of these cases. For sulphuric or muriatic acid also administer soap-suds, sweet milk, common soap cut into small pieces, baking or was.h.i.+ng soda, or saleratus, giving these latter in very small quant.i.ties at a time, so as not to produce dangerous distension of the stomach, from the evolution of gas. In the case of sulphuric acid, water must not be used freely at first, at least not unless it contains some antidote, as the heat produced, when this acid and water are mixed, is sufficient of itself to cause serious damage.

_Ammonia, and other alkalies (Caustic Potash, Soda or Lime)._--Antidotes: Vinegar, lemon juice, or a weak solution of tartaric acid, to be followed immediately with sweet-oil or mucilage of gum arabic, and an emetic. Also give an injection of boiled starch. Pain may be relieved with laudanum, in doses of ten to fifteen drops, as the paroxysms occur.

_Antimony (b.u.t.ter of Antimony, Tartar Emetic)._--Encourage vomiting. The antidotes are milk, tea, tannic acid.

_a.r.s.enic, Ratsbane, Paris Green, Cobalt, and all a.r.s.enical preparations used as rat poisons._--Give the whites of five or six eggs, beaten in half a pint of water; or, flour and water, barley water, flaxseed tea, or magnesia. Also administer an emetic of five grains of sulphate of copper (blue vitriol), or fifteen grains of sulphate of zinc (white vitriol), ipecac, or mustard and water. After the vomiting, give hydrated sesquioxide of iron in tablespoon doses, every fifteen minutes, until danger is past. This is the best-known antidote for a.r.s.enic, and should be procured fresh from the drug store if possible.

_Chloral, Chloroform, Ether._--Cold water should be sprinkled over the face and applied to the head. If breathing is suspended, treat the patient for artificial respiration. The use of electricity is recommended.

_Corrosive Sublimate_ (Bedbug Poison), _Calomel_ (Mercury).--The whites of three or four eggs, beaten in water, should be given without delay.

If eggs are not at hand, flour or thin starch gruel, mucilage of gum arabic, or milk, will answer. An emetic should be taken immediately after the antidote has been administered.

_Iodine_ (used for external application).--If it has been swallowed, give a paste of starch, or flour and water.

_Lead, Salts of (Sugar of Lead, Lead Paint)._--After an emetic, administer as much Epsom salt, or Glauber's salt, as the patient can drink. Then give large quant.i.ties of milk and whites of eggs.

_Lunar Caustic, Nitrate of Silver._--Give a large teaspoonful of common salt, in a gla.s.s of water. Repeat the dose every ten minutes for an hour. Then give a dose of castor-oil, and let the patient drink freely of flaxseed tea, barley water, or sweet milk.

_Muriates of Tin and Zinc._--These poisons are sometimes found in canned goods--fruits, vegetables, fish, and meats. They cause nausea, vomiting, sudden failure of the vital forces, and sometimes cramps and convulsions. Milk, the whites of eggs, strong tea, or tincture of Peruvian bark, should be given. After the violent symptoms have subsided, the patient should drink freely of flaxseed tea or barley water.

_Phosphorus, Matches._--Give large quant.i.ties of warm water containing calcined magnesia, chalk, or whiting.

_Prussic Acid._--Liquor of ammonia, in doses of ten drops to a tablespoonful of water, should be given every fifteen minutes, until the patient is out of danger. Also apply smelling salts to the nose, dash cold water in the face, and give stimulants.

_Verdigris._--Give sugar, milk, and whites of eggs in large quant.i.ties, then strong tea, but no acids of any kind.

Poisons--Vegetable. _Aconite._--Induce free vomiting, then give brandy or whisky every half hour until the dangerous symptoms are allayed.

_Alcohol, Spirits._--Give half a teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia in sweetened water every half hour. Bromide of pota.s.sa, in doses of fifteen to thirty grains, every two or three hours, will also be found useful.

_Cocaine_ is the alkaloid of the coca plant of South American origin. It is generally employed in the form of muriate of cocaine and princ.i.p.ally used as a local anaesthetic. It should only be used under the direction of a physician. It may occasion dangerous effects even in doses usually deemed safe. When it has been taken internally, the proper antidote is a powerful emetic followed by stimulants--such as liquor and spirits of ammonia--administered internally. When it has been used to a dangerous extent externally, give whisky or brandy and ammonia.

_Laudanum, Opium, Paregoric, Morphia, Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, Stramonium, and Conium._--An emetic of mustard and water, twenty grains of sulphate of zinc (white vitriol), or thirty grains of powdered ipecac, should be given. Strong coffee, brandy, or whisky should then be administered in large quant.i.ties, and the patient walked around the room. Slapping, pinching, das.h.i.+ng cold water in the face, and even whipping, may be necessary to keep the patient awake.

_Strychnine (Nux Vomica)._--Give an emetic of a solution of sulphate of zinc (white vitriol), or a strong infusion of tobacco; or inject into the bowels bromide of pota.s.sium, thirty grains, and the extract of coca, one-half ounce. During the spasms, the patient should breathe chloroform or ether from a saturated cloth held to the nose and mouth.

_Toadstools (False Mushrooms) and other poisonous plants and seeds, such as are liable to be picked up and eaten by children._--Empty the stomach at once by an emetic you have at hand.

Coffee poisoning occurs mostly with well-to-do people--those who are overfed. Tea poisoning comes to hard-working, half-starved women. The symptoms of coffee poisoning are want of appet.i.te, sleeplessness, and nervous tremblings, with various indications of indigestion and torpor of liver. Tea poisoning requires rest and nourishment; but the victim of coffee excess usually needs to unload his system by exercise on a low diet.

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