The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-01-04

But the toiier whom Goa careth for
1 - ss-London Spectator.
POISONs AND THEIR ANTID0TES.
IA Under the head of poison may be
classed any substan ce-gas. liquid or
solid-which by its own inherent quail
ties is capable of injuring health or de-
stroying life. s.i5 s,n - "a sa.,li.
= As rule poisons prove most rapidly
fatal when introduced, by q wound in q
vein or by hypodermic injection, direct
ly into the blood. Their action Is also
speedy when brought into contact with
the membrane of the lungs. They are,
as rule, readily absorbed through the
serous and mucous membranes of the
body, while through the skin the abb
sorption is slow. o a.t-a1
sons especially if iquid-act more
speedily when the latter is empty than
when it is full.
Most poisons injuriously affect the
system. no matter how introduced into
il, but there are exceptions to this rule
the sting of the viper may be deadly,
but the poison Is harmless when swal-
lowed. There are also class of bodies
which when swallowed most directly af-
feet the nervous system, but fail to act
when applied to the brain or nerve
trunks. osoas-s,... !.
Some poisons disorganize or corrode
the organs with which they come in
contact, but there are especially
among the narcotlcs-that, while pro-
ducing very slight local change. often
develop remarkable, remote effects.
Belladonna, in whatever way intro
duced into the system, paralyzes the
ciliary nerves, and so causes dilation
of the pupil. 1g s;ial -
The preparations of arsenic, opium,
and the prussiates (cyanides) are the
substances mostfrequently employed as
toms attending slow poisoning by arsen-
ical and antimorial compounds are FREE
quently such as might appear to be
owing to natural causes, and it is to be
feared that more instances Of secret
murder due to such causes have oc-
Cured than have been detected. s1 2
The following is q condensed state
ment of the characteristics, symptoms,
antidotes and. simple methods Of testing
for and identifying some of the more
common poisors: l9s9
Poisens are usually divided into three
classes-irritant, narcotic and narcotic
irritant- Irritant poisons are usually
considered under the heads of mineral
-or metallic and non-metsllic-
tants, vegetable irritants and animal
irritants. In the first of these divisions
are arsenic and its compounds-arseni-
Gus acid (white arsenic), metallic ar
senic, fly powder. potassium arsenite
(Fowler' s solutionl, arsenic acid, arsenic
sulphides yellow orpiment and red
,e<.~.I
This fearful poison has of late years
caused more untimely deaths than any
other mineral poison. Some of the in
soluble compounds of arsenic are not SO
rapid in their action upon the system as
the more soluble ones, but there Is not
q single compound into which arsenic
/ enters that is not capable of causing IA
tai results when taken into the system
From half an hour to an hour after
the arsenic has been swallowed the per-
son begins to feel o nameless uneasi-
ness, developing into faintness, depres-
sion and nausea, with an intense burn
ing pain in the region of the stomach,
increased by pressure, retching. vomit-
ing, sense Of construction in the throat,
with intense thirst; diarrhea, more or
less violent. accompanied by cramps in
the calves of the legs; matter dis
charged from the stomach of a dark
greenish color, sometimes streaked with
blood. The pulse becomes small fire.
quent and Irregular; skin cold and
clammy in the state of collapse, at other
times very hot; respiration painful;
eyes red and bright Sometimes the
sufferer becomes unconscious or suffers
partial paralysis or tetanic convulsions
-precursors of death. These symp-
toms will vary according to the nature
of the compound aud the quantity
TAKEN
There is no specific antidote for
arsenic, and remedies are rarely at
tended with success if not applied at
an early stage. Mixtures of olive oil
and lime water promptly administered
after the effectual use of an emetic have
been recommended; recently pfecipi-
tated hydrated oxide of iron MIXED with
magnesia has also been used with favor
able results. No chemical antidote
should ever supersede active evacuent
treatment by emetics and with the
stomach pump.
Lead or its salts are often taken into
the sy stem unawares-in drinking wa
ter which has been allowed to stand in
lead pipes or reservoirs, or in preserved
vegetables and fruit cooked or allowed
.
with lead soldered joints. All lead
salts are more or less poisonous, and
their effects are accumulative-as as with
the painter who becomes ssleadef by
the gradual absorption of lead from the
paints with which he is In constant
contact. When any considerable guam
tity of this metal has been swallowed,
or when it has accumulated in the sys-
tenn, the usual symptoms are: q burn
ing, prickling sensation in the throat,
with dryness and thirst, uneasiness of
the stomach, and irritation of the ali
mentary canal, followed by violent and
obstinate collie and great pain in the
abdomen. relieved somewhat by press.
ure, the pain being intermittent. There
is usually obstinate constipation. cold
skin and general prostration- In ex-
treme cases the extremities become
numb or paralyzed, followed by convul-
sions and insensibility. ,1..s,
For lead poisoning sulphate of soda
or EPSON salts is the prescribed anti
dote; powdered charcoal and sulphate
of magnesia are also recommended.
Large quantities of cream and albumen
(or white of eggs) also retard the sc-
ton of lead ppisons. and emetics are
given to promote vomitingif if the poison
does not Itself occasion it
The action on the system Of the salts
of antimeny when taken in considera-
Bile doses is similar to that of arsenic.
The usual antidotes are solution of tam
min, strong tea and magnesia and milk.
The symptoms of poisoning with cop
per salts are similar to those produced
by arsenic, but the vomited matters are
blue or green, and there Is usual " q