Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-11-02
POISONS.

What is poison? Every one knows-no
one can say
we know that certain substances are poison
ous-arsenc for instance; but we do not know
wherein this terrible quality lies-nay, We
know that IN diminished dose the same arsenic
becomes medicine, and in still smaller doses.
lcod. Alcohol, again, Is n violent poison if
gwen pure and in a certain quantity; and so is
ether Yet diluted, and given in smaller auan-
nties, these poiSOns stimulate the secretions
and accelerate organic processes Alcohol, as
we all know, Is a curious - poison. for il SUBJ
plies the place of food, and aids diges tion-not
to mention its other qualities; and it only by an
abuse OF language that we can call alcohol i'm
itself poison, when experience and experiment
prove that the poisonous effects result onlv from
large doses. Even the most nutritious of ali
ments Will become poisonous in excess. Over
eating is as injurious as prussic acid. We are
thus led to suspect that poison is a word repre-
sentlns qHGRtItattre idea The effects of
poisonous substances being, in fact physiologi-
cal disturbances, tits only when the disturbance
Is carried beyond a certain limit and thus in
terferes with the equilibrium and operation of
the various organic processes that the POISONOUS
qualities OF the substances are manifested A
blow with the hand alighting OH the head pro-
duces but slight Disturbances blow with 4
hammer kills. Newborn babies arc often
whipped into life. but an exaggeration of this
ptOCcSS NOuIu nc ueath. lt rs ALWAYS
question OfdcSreo, complicated by physiologi-
cal consequences. ThuS, alcohol. diluted, slim
Ulates the secretiuns; but undiIutcd it attacks
the tissue Itself and alters its properties alb
stractIDS all its water, and hardening it. Nj
c0ilne, again, Is u very violent poiSun-one of
the most violent known. Let but a few drops
Oh IL fail upon the eye OF an animal and death
lnstantaneOuSly easueS. This nicotine Is AN ex-
tract ct tobacco. Do you smoke. reader If
you smoke, you consume with each cigar GER
tam portion ol this violent poison, and if your
cigars follow each other in quick succession
the end of the day will find you the consumer
OF pretty amount of pOison-and vet YOU are
not poisoned. How is this, Ii would be mex
pllcabie if the ordinary idea of poisony, as sub
stances essentially poisonous, were not replaced
Dy tue idea OF their quantitative action. DR.
Carpenter, indeed, argues that whatever is true
of large dose, must be true, in a minor de-
gree, OF small dose and, according to such a
conception, the smoker at the end Of the lay
ought to be In the same condition us man having
taken an equivalent amount of nicotine in one
dose. The facts directly contradict such 4
notion Tho smoker has taken his poison in
small doses; and these small doses have been
spread over number of hours. Now. expe-
riencc OF polsonIngs proves that tho effect of
Smai! doses Is tOtaliydiBeJsHt IN HiHd from the
effect OF large doses; and owing to the elmi-
mating process incessantly going OH, that guam
uty Is lnnocuOus, when spread over Il certain
period, which would be fatal If administered at
once We have said that the effect is different
In kind, and nicotine shall furnish US with an
example The fumes Of tobacco contain nco-
tine, and this nicotine, acting on the saivary
glands. determines an increased secrction-as
all smokers know. But, by law of our econ
omy, all the secretiOns of the intestinal canal
are In intimate sympathy. SO that to stimulate
one Is to stimulate another and the secretion
OF the ssliyary glands being stimulated to in
creased activity, the gastric secretion instantly
symPathises with it, and pours into the stomach
Thus the action Of nicotine On the salivary
glands increases tho fOw of gastric juice; and
cigar after dinner assists digestion by its nj
cotine, which said nicotine we know to be a Vi
tpoisOn ,-GaAgnaHt' $ Messenger. Oct. 3.