The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-11

a rattlesnake bite, and no antidote what
ever being known for its effects.
Speaking of antidotes, however, il is
we'll to know that most of the active
poisons have very efficient antidotes.
which, if promptly used, will often save
life. In every case of poisoning an emetic
should be given as quickly as possible, to
remove from the stomach, as much of the
poison as can be taken out. The subse-
quent treatment varies according to the
nature of the poison. For arsenic in any
of its forms the hydrated sequi-oxide of
iron, chalk or magnesia and castor oil
should be administered for lead or cop
per poisoning, no matter by what com
pound of these metals, sweet milk, the
white of eggs, sweet oil and mucilaginous
drinks are the best treatment For I've,
soda, potash or ammonia, vinegar,
oil or warm lard, with white of
egg, followed by mustard and
ipecac in warm water. For nux vomica
or strychnine, tauric acid and chloroform
are antidotes; for carbolic acid or creO-
sote, any kind of oil in liberal doses. For
oXallc, nitric and other caustic acids,
soda, chalk, lime, followed by oil and
emulsions. For the narcotic poisons, cold
applications and strong coffee must be
given and the patient kept in constant
motion 10 overcome the tendency to
stupor. Sometimes, as in the case of
chlOroform against strychnine, one poison
may be made to counteract another This
is illustrated by phosphorus, the antidote
to which is blue vitriol in large quantities
to empty the stomach, bydrated magnesia
and French oil of turpentine For iodine
the best remedy is starch, swallowed by
handfuls.
POISONING STATISTICS.
Owing to the lack of proper records in
this country it is impossible to ascertain
how large proportion of deaths arise
from Intentional or accidental poisoning,
but an article on the subject in the British
Medical journal gives some facts in this
connection that are highly significant.
From this il appears that in 1891 the
total number of deaths in England and
Wales from accidental and intentional
poisoning was $40, or no fewer than 242
more than in 1889 ''Of that number 544
were accidental, 327 were cases of suicide
and ) were cases of homicide. 1t
is chiefly the cases of accidental and
suicidal poisoning that are of interest.
There were no fewer than ia cases due
to narcotic poisoning by opium, laudanum,
morphine. chlorodyne, soothing syrup,
cordial, paregoric. The poisoning that
comes next in regard to the number Of
deaths, is chloroform, to which 90 deaths
are attributed; the carbolic acid was the
cause of death in 81 cases. The poisoning
alkoloids - aconite, belladonna, cocaine
and strychnine-have been the cause of
10 deaths: the mineral acids of II, arsenic
of 5, choral of Z, and oxalic acid only g.
'Then there were 1913 deaths caused by
number of miscellaneous poisons. In
the twenty-four cases the nature of the
poison was not ascertained The number
of deaths attributed to chloroform is a re-
markable feature of this return, but
since the circumstances of the cases are
not stated it is impossible here to con-
slider them further The number of deaths
caused by articles which are not statutory
poisons is considerable; carbolic acid and
the mineral acids are alone responsible
for fOrtY-eight deaths by accident