The Baltimore County union., 1881-01-29
POISON IN THE HOUSE.
How Certain Household Articles May
Prove Very Dangorous-Antidot
that Should bo Used.


In the household occasional accidents
occur, generally Of harmless character,
but rs they sometimes are Of a certain
gravity, VIC refer to a clever little book
entitled "What to Do First" written
by c. w. Dulles, and published by
Blackiston, OF Philadelphia, which con-
tains, in small space, great deal which
is useful to know in certain emergencies.
Now, rs there are copper boilers attach
cd to ranges in many kitchens, the use
of oxalic acid TO scour them withis quite
common. Occasionally We hear Of ac-
cidents arising from carelessness, when
oxalic acid has been left about. The
writer of this used oxalic acid in her
own kitchen, but with great prccaution.
The bottle containing it is never given
to the cook, but only 4 small portion Of
lis contents, and whenever il has been
used the servant is asked .'if all Of il has
been employed. II any remains over
it is thrown away. II is the most stupid
of drug clerks that confounds oxalic acid
with epson salts. The acid, as DIR.
Dulles describes it, ''comcs in small,
heavy, brighi-colorcd crystals, making
1 clear rattle in bottle or jar. In case
by any accident oxalic acid has been
taken, the auiidoic for it is lime The
chemical reason for using lime Is that
oxalic acid forms with il an insoluble
compound, and its corrosive action on
the coating Of the stomach il at once
stopped. ''lf limc-waicr is at hand il
may be given freely, or white-wash,
tooth-powder (itS base is always chalk, y
chalk, whiting, or plaster from the wall.
The latter may be crushed and stirred
up in water without regard to grittiness,
which will not do any harm"
For sanitary purposes carbolic acid is
now frequently found in houses. The
cases of lis accidental use must DC Of
rare occurrence, as its peculiar strange
odor makes it recognizable At once
Sill, cases Of its having been taken in
the dark are not uncommon. IL is
most dangerous poison, because, rs DIR.
Dulles states, il seems after the first
painful corrosive effects ''to bcnumb the
stomach" At once large and repeated
doses of oil or milk should be given
Certain cases Cf poisoning with carbolic
acid have been successfully treated, after
oil had been taken, by stimulation
But i; is a dangerous acid, and care
should be taken with the bottle contain
ing it. Corrosive sublimaie is often
employed about house TO nd 4 bed Of
vermin. As il is colorless when in So
luton, il often escapes notice. ''lf taken
vomiting must be provoked, and some
form of tlnnic acid given" Tea is the
strongcs; thing which is easy At hand.
and powerful decoction shoald be al
once administered. Adults rarely med
die with phosphorus, but children some
times suck this very deadly substance
from matches. Very fortunately, it is
discovered by its odor in the child's
breath, and its action is not rapid
Five grain dose OF sulphate of copper
dissolved in water may be givin II in
tervaIs OF ten minutes until vomiting
comes on. Then 4 dose OF magncSia
should he administered, but no oil"
Mistakes Is TO quantity Of opium PEE
parations are by no means uncommon
accidents. Such are TO be found, most
unfortunately, in what Dr.. Dulles very
properly calls 'the many poisonous nos
;rums sold rs soothing syrups, pain dcs-
iroyers, and drops for infants" There
is no expression harsh enough which
would serve TO brand woman who
administers such poison to her baby. \
mother who gives such substance 10 her
child without I doctors advice takes
the chances Of life or death in her own
hands. Tosuch, capable Of seeing their
children waste away before their eyes,
no advice would be Of avail. We ad-
dress, then, those who, unfortunately,
may give laudanum or black drop for
paregoric. "The symptoms are deep
sleep, with narrowing of the pupil of the
eye 70 4 small-circle, which does no,
enlarge in the dark" DIR. Dulles adj
vises the immediate and persistent use Of
cme,ics ard to allow the patient to vomi,
over and over again. Particular attention
should be paid to the breathing. $50
long As the breathing docs not fall below
ten 10 the minute there is no immediate
danger of death but opium IS adangcr-
Gus poison and requires all the skill that
can be obtained to combat il" For
merly the custom was TO walk I patient
up and down and 10 slap with wet towels
.'Wha, TO Do First" dcprecaies this, for
the reason that it exhanS;s the patient,
who, II very i'll, cannot rally. II fphysi-
oalstimulant is to be used, lay the patient
on bed or lounge and slap with the
back OF hair-brush, or with slipper.
"'rhis is all the nursing necessary so
long as breathing keeps above ten TO the
minute. Should il fall below this, or If
the breathing should cease, artificial
respiration should be employed" IL
sometimes happens that child gets,
through accident, an overdose OF wine
or brandy. We have known OF little
girl made dangerously i'll from having
purloined branded fruit. II was case
OF stupor.. The cure was made by means
Of 'Whai to Do First" advises, charts
horn and water tablespoonful Of the first
in a ,eacupful of water" The use Of
tainted food, such rs Of decayed meat or
vegetables, sometimes occurs. The
treatment is TO excite vomiting, and TO
follow this with dose Of castor oil and
powdered charcoal.
Mothers are very careful, but the most
prudent OF them, in the experience Of
the writer Of this, have sometimes made
mistakes in the medicines they have
given their children. One infallible
rule in using any powder or fluid, no