The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-05-16
POISONS AND ANTIDOTES.
How Life May Often be Saved by
Prompt Action.

Prompt Action.
Poison may be defined as any SUBJ
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..
Qua'n's Medical Dictionary. The &C.
ltion of poisons is twofold, being either
local or remote, OF both, The local &C
ton is generally one of corrosive or
lnflammatory nature, or is character
lied by its effects upon the nerves and
sensations Although it is impossible
10 deal with so vast subject in detail,
yet nevertheless it can not be denied
that general knowledge of some of
ithe most virulent posions and their an
'dotes is not only subject of great in
terest to the public, but at times mat
ter of life and death. By fair insight
into pOisons and their antidotes, life in
deed may often be saved, when the de-
hay 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
lis an important factor, for thereby we
may hope more rapidly to recognize the
especial destructive agency at work,
and thus to arrest its further progress
Great, care, however, is requisite never
to draw hasty conclusion from one
symptom alone, but to bear in mind
'other signs upon which correct dag
nosis can alone be based. Many at
ftempts 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 their special action. They may
therefore be divided generally under the
following heads-(D Corrosives; (2)
ITritants, and (3) Neurotics.
Under the head of corrosives, corro-
sive sublimate stands foremost in inn
portance. being the most typical of this
class. The effects are rapid in their de-
velopment, being well marked by a
burning sensation felt in the mouth and
throat, followed by agonizing pain in
tho stomach. The tongue and throat
have 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 little water, as the
best antidote in cases of acute poison
ing from corrosive sublimate. The al
bumen combines with the corrosive
sublimate to sorm an insoluble and COM
paratively inert compound. Should
eggs not be immediately obtainable.
gluten obtained from flour, or wheat
flour alone mixed with milk or water
may be given until the more reliable
antidote is ready. The chief of the cor
rosive poisons are the mineral acids,
sulphuric, nitric and hydrochloric; the
vegetable acids, oxalic, binoxalate of
potash Commonly called salt of
lemon and salt of sorreD, and
occasionally in large doses tar
taric acid; the alkalies, potash,
soda, and ammonia, with certain of
their salts, such as pearl-ash Commonly
called salt of tartar), carbonate of soda
Commonly called washing-soda) and
carbonate of ammonia; also various me-
tallic compounds, including salts of
zinc, tin, silver and anthony, etc.
Poisoning by oxalic acid is a very COM
mon method chosen by would-be sui
cides, probably owing to the fact that it
is a substance much used in household
operations, and therefore readily OBJ
tainable by any one bent on committing
suicide. In speaking of the action Of
this poison, that renowned authority. the
late Sir Robert Christison, observes in
his splendid work on Toxicology; IF
q person Immediately after swallowing
q solution of q crystalline salt which
tasted purely and strongly acid, is at
tackled with burning in the throat, then
with burning in the stomach, vomiting,
particularly of bloody matter, imper-
ceptible pulse and excessive languor,
and dies in half an hour or twenty
minutes, or still more in ten or fifteen
minutes, / do not know any fallacy
which can interfere with the conclusion
, that oxalic acid was the cause of
death"
1t is obvious in such cases that the
chances of success in applying antidotes
depend very much upon their immedi-
ate employment. For the mineral acids,
alkaline bicarbonates, such as bicar-
Donates Of potash or soda (baking soda),
chalk or magnesia should at once be
given, followed by milk; whilst oxalic
acid il best treated by the administra-
ton Of chalk, or magnesia either plain
or in the form of carbonate, whereby
the insoluble and almost inert oxalates
Of lime and magnesia are formed.
When poisoning is occasioned by the
alkalies potash, soda, or ammonia, or
their carbonates, carbonate of potash
( (also known a. pearl-ash or salt Of tar
tar), carbonate Of soda (washing
and carbonate OF ammonia, Z strong
burning sensation il experienced in
swallowing, followed by severe pain
and great tenderness at the pit of the
stomach, increased by pressure. There
arc frequent vomits Of brownish mat
ter, swelling Of the stomach and hoarse-
nesg Of the voice. When seeking to
oounteract the disastrous effects result
Ing from this variety of poisons, the
great object aimed sG u to neutralize
caust q alkalies. This may be best ac-
conp1 shed b. means 81 well-diluted