Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-10-22
DEADLY DRUGS.
= + 4k2dAc.ST C4GTS AWHILE
AB0uT VARIOUS 2Ol5ONS.
tlhat The Careful DrusSi.2 Never Does -
How Terrible Mistakes Sometimes
Occur-what To DO BEFORE
the Doctor Comes.
Icin..nnatI Eannirrr Interriew.l

"TalN {. LITTLE " ali; ABOUT this Doc" 81;
the writer the Other day, putting a new
paper item into the han Is Of DR. Bathiany
&c pre- idsnt of the Kentucky Stats Plar.
maceutical association. lt wa an account
OF the recent accidental posing in Hoboke1.
Il think can tell you exactly how that
particular TRACE lv occure |, said ths doc
tor ~Tae druggist kept his suiphate OF
morphine AMI sulyGa.e II quinine beside
each other IN shelf bottle. The bottles w.rs
Of the same siZs ana letterel in the same
general style. Both drugs, you will notice
are sulphates. and they resemble each other
very cl sely in general appearance. Seeing
ths word sulphato on the bottle. the dru =
ri { hastily took IL down. filed the prescrip-
ton and replaced it, without an idea that
be had used morphine instead of quinine.
The careful druggist never puts thess
drugs in shell bottle. lie keeps them in
tie original packages IN the poisoa drawer
Of his pre- criptiOn case. under lock AMI key.
But where "A druggist maSss ons error hi;
cu,tomers make ten. anl yet aimo invar-
iahly you will find that mistaken does OF
poisons are charged 10 fault on the part OF
The druggist Let me show you what /
mean. hat would yo1 call thi-"
CAUTION TO THE BUYER.
lie produced a paper conta ming a waits
powder
"Baking.pOwderi'
NO; guess again
Cream o. tartarP
Not any. IL is arsenic. | may sell a
quantity Of arsenic ON "a doctors prescrip
tion. properly label il, and caution the
buyer 20 be careful in its use, and vet suffer
IN my gool nam. through having sold il.
Howl IA this way. Tbs arsenic may be
taken out of the original package. or the
label may be lost, AM the drug placed in
cupboard, whence IL may be carelessly taken
aud used by mistake for baking powder.
Ths result i, "A case of accidental poisoning.
The first question asked in such cases Is
Where was the poison purchasedf With
out knowing the circum ,tapces of the case
at all thoughtle,s people at once jump to the
conclusion that the mistake was the drug
gi,ts. Many pharmacists reputation has
been b.ighted ia this way, and the evil IL so
great that our state association has advised
that all druggists color ar,enic-according
TO formula which does not interfere with
it, properties-before selling il, so that il
may by no pos ibility be mistaken for any
thing el e.
POISONS AND ANTIDOTEs.
"OXalic ac has bsen taken in "A number
Of cases for epson salts which it somewhat
resemble, the crystals Of ths acid being
much coarser than those Of the salts, how
ever. When il has been taken by mistake
the symptoms are unmistakable. They are
exquisite pain, violent efforts TO vomit, dull
ness, languor, debility, ami finally death
without a struggle in a very short time
after taking the poison. There is but little
hope with this poison; but il an antidote be
taken at once it may be effective. Chalk or
magnesia mixed with water, and admins
tered in large doses, Is the best that can be
used; but il not T. be had at once white
wash, swallowed in quantities, may serve
the purpose OF a counteTactant
"ln cases where morphine has been taken
through mistake for quinine the symptoms
viii BE- that Of laudanum poisoning, in which
drowsineSs Is the prominent feature. An
emetic should be at once administered, such
as mustard-iour, followed by copious
draughts Of warm water after which all
the attention is 70 be given TO keeping the
patient awake and in constant motion
Coffee IN large and strong doses will often
promote wakefulness when other efforts
fail.
Corrosive sublimate has been mistaken
for washing soda, and left about within the
reach Of children; but arsenic captures
more victims than all the others.
AFTER SWALLOWING ARSENIC.
"WheA you have poisoned yourself with
arsenic fetii state Of the mouth will be
first noticed, followed by continued hawk
ing, construction OF the pharynx and esoph-
agus or throat, hiccough. nausea, infam-
nation OF the lips. tongue and throat vom-
iting. thirst and alterations of heat and
icy GOODNESS
THE first thing TO be done, in case no
emetic be handy, IS to thrust a feather, or
even finger, down your throat sufficiently
to bring about the desired result Swallow
milk, white Of eggs, and water. or -four and
water. Follow this with ferric hydrate,
which is the best antidots known, in guam
titles at least twelve times as great as the
amount Of arsenic taken The antiiote Is
innocent. however and may be swallowed
in almost any quantity. 1t should be given
in doses of a tablespoonful at time for
adults. and a teaspoonful for children, every
five or ten minutes