Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-04-18
Poisons and Their Remedies.


| finally, to begin the restoration Of
| its normal tone. The poisonous sub
| stances usually found in the house
| hold may be devided into three
classes, which include: e. the cor
rosiye mineral and vegetable acids,
such as sulphuric, nitric, carbolic
and oxalic acids; (2) the simple ir-
ritants, like the strong alkalies-pot-
ash, lime, zinc, etc; 90 the specific
irritants, like arsenic, iodine and
| phosphorus. Prussic acid, chloro-
| form, and opium belong to the neu-
rotic poisons, some of which simu-
late in their effects the symptoms of
diseases of the brain and spinal cord,
producing delirium, commissions, par
alysis, and syncope. Tanner says
that morphine and alcohol specially
affect the brain, strychnine the spin
al cord, anthony and arsenic the
stomach, and digitalis the heart. The
solil poisons are less active than
fluids and gases, while those soluble
in water are most injurious, because
they are the most rapidly absorbed.
When after eating or drinking a
person is attacked with violent pain,
nausea, purging commissions, delirum
or great drowiness, the supposition
is probable that poison has been
taken, and immediate medical aid
should be obtained. While the use
of the stomach. pump is the most
thorough means of emptying and
cleansing the stomach, its operation
by an inexperienced person may
cause serious injury, either by food
ing the lungs or by decorating the
surface of the stomach, which has
already been injured by the corros-
sive action of certain poisons. The
safest course of procedure by non
medical persons is the promotion of
the nausea, which is one of the indi-
cations of poisoning, until free vom-
iting has been effected. The simplest
means to this end is the safest in the
hands of any one but physician,
that is, the use of lukewarm water in
which mustard has been dissolved;
teaspoonful to half pint of water,
repeated until the stomach is entire
ly empty.
The second remedial action is the
application of some antidote calcu-
lated to counterfeit the effect of the
poison either by combining with it,
or depriving it of its deleterious
qualities. The combination of anti
dote with poison forms harmless
chemical compounds, or those which
are insoluble in the gastric fluids. 1t
| then remains to neutralize the effect
Of the poison upon the system, and
to overcome any depression or shock
it may have caused; these are purely
the physical offices.
Of the corrosive poisons, those
most frequently used in the house
hold are oxalic and csrbolic acios,
creosote, and the caustic alkalies,
potash, soda and amonia. Oxalic
acid has some times been taken by
mistake for Epson salts the salt Of
sorrel, or the essential salt of lemons,
used, like oxalic acid, for cleaning
| purposes and bleaching has caused
poisoning.
The symptoms of oxalic acid pois-
oning are burning sensation during
swallowing, burning pain in the
stomach, and almost immediate nau-
sea. When their is no vomiting,
great prostration, feeble pulse and
commissions, death is likely to follow
from collapse. The antidote is lime
in any form-plaster or mortar
chalk, whiting or magnesia, mixed
with water; but no fluid without an
antidote, because it would favor the
absorption of the poison. As is the
case with most poisons, white of egg
is useful remedy
Creosote and carbolic acid are so
often in use as disinfectants that they
may prove dangerous, especially as
death SO rapidly follows dose of
the poison. The mouth and lips are
whitened by contact with acid, the
pupils of the eyes are very much
contracted, the breathing becomes
stertorous, and coma is soon follow
ed by death. The possibility OF re-
lief is small, but oil may be freely
given, and Immediately removed by
the free use Of emetics before it can
be absorbed
/ Crude potash, pearlash, caustic
soda, washing soda and household
ammonia have an acid burning taste
extending to the throat and stomach
accompanied by great pain tender
ness upon pressure, abdominal pains,
and suffocation. The immediate re-
lief may be followed by death from
starvation, owing to the closing OF
the esophagus by structure. Even
common remedy for sore throat,
chlorate of potash, has been known
to cause death. In a recent instance
an ounce of the chlorate was taken
in mistake for Epsom-salts, and death
ensued within a few hours. The
remedial treatment consists of ner-
tralizing the poison by use OF some
weak acid like vinegar and water,
and the free consumption Of acid
from fruit iuices lemons esupcia1lv