The Bossier banner., 1885-06-11
POISONS AND ANTIDOTES
How Life May Often be Saved by
Prompt Action.

'GOlSOH may D6 uellHeu dS any SUP
, stance which when introduced into the
system or applied externally Injuries
health or destroys life irrespective of
mechanical means or direct thermal
changes Such is the concise and apt
definition of poison laid down in Dr.
Quain's Medical Dictionary. The ac-
ton of poisons is twofold, being either
local or remote, or both, The local ac-
tionsis generally one of corrosive or
indammatory nature, or is character
lied by its effects upon the nerves and
sensations. Although it is impossible
to deal with SO vast a subject in detail,
yet nevertheless it can not be denied
that general knowledge of some of
the most yirulent posions and their an
dotes is not only a subject of great in
terest to the public. but at times a mat
ter of life and death. Bysa fair insight
into poisens and their antidotes, life in
deed may often be saved. when the de-
lay caused by seeking for. medical ad-
vice would probably be fatal. The
purpose of this paper, therefore, will be
to deal as clearly as possible with the
most general poisons and their symp-
TOMS, and to point out such antidotes
as in cases of emergency may be most
readily employed.
An acquaintance with the leading
symptoms produced by certain poisons
is an important factor, for thereby we
may hope more rapidly to recognize the
espeeials destructive agency at work,
and thus to arrest it's further progress.
Great. care, however, is requisite never
to draw a hasty conclusion from one
symptom alone, but to bear in mind
other signs upon which correct dag
nosis can alone be based. Many at
tempts have from time to time been
made with view to classify poisons;
but the most rational classification is
obviously that which is in accordance
with theirs special action. They may
therefore be divided generally under the
following headA(1r sCorrosives; (2)
lqitants, and (3) Neurotics.
Under the head of corrosives, corro-
siye sublimate stands foremost in inn
portanee, being the most typical of this
class. The effects are rapid in their de-
yelopment,a being well marked by a
burning sensation felt in the mouth and
throat, followed by agonizing pain in
the stomach. The tongue and throat
nave white appearance and excessive
tenderness and swelling of the abdomen
Is noticeable. All authorities agree in
recommending albumen in the form of
raw eggs both yelk and white
switched up with q little water, as the
best antidote in cases of acute poisan-
ing from corrosive sublimate. The al
oumen combines with the corrosive
subimate foform an insoluble and COM
paratively inert compound. Should
eggs not be Immediately obtainable,
guten8 obtained from flour. or wheat
nour alone mixed with milk or water.
may see sgTea until the more reliable
antluote Is ready. The chief of the cor
roSWe apolsens are, the mineral acids,
sulphoric' nitric and hydrochloric: the
ssseiapie acids. ;oxalic, ,binoxalate of
Potash' (eommoniy called salt of
lemon and salt of sorreD. and
occasionally in large doses tar
Es1 e. 0Al0 dlkdiI6S, potash.
s,Sta, and ammonia, with certain Of
Their salts, such aspeari-ash Commonly
called salt of tartar), carbonate of soda
commonly called washing-soda) and
carbonate OF ammonia; also various me-
talllc seeppeunds. including salts, of
1lne' TIN, silver and antimonv. etc
1oisoning by oxalic acid is very COM
mon I99t method chosen by would-be sui
cues probably owing to the fact that Fit
Is substance much used in household
operations and therefore readily OBJ
sAnaele by any one bent on committing
saielt'e. sui In Speaking of the action Of
,als poison, that renowned authority. the
late Sir Robert Christison, observes in
us splendid work on Toxicologv: eff
person Immediately after swallowing
solution of crystalline salt which
.as.ed purely and strongly acid, is at
lacked with burning in the throat, then
with burning IN the stomach, yonitino
naraeglarly Of bloody matter, imper,
eeRe ole pulse and excessive lang1lor.
ana dies in half an hour or twenty
minutes, or still more in ten or fifteen
~iniees, | do not know any fallscy