The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-05
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
Handy Antdote For CarboIic Acid
To tho Editor of The Journal:

To tho Editor of The Journal
In the interests of suffering humanity
the fact that common cider vinegar is a
certain antidote to carbolic acid cannot
be too widely known. The dangers from
carbolic acid are doubtless greater than
from all other poisons. 1t is such d COM
mon household article, and sold so freely
by druggists that people have grown
careless in it's use. More cases of poi
SOning occur from it than from all other
poisons combined Most people regard it
as harmless antiseptic of wide and vari
GUS applicability and the poison" label
has no terror in it. l can confirm the
truth of the discovery of this antidote
from my own practice. The remedy is SO
simple and safe and always within easy
reach that no one suffering from either
an internal OF external burn from car
bolic acid should be without it. 1t can
be used without a Doctors prescription or
presence. l think on every label of poison
sold the antidotes should be named. How
easy to print Vinegar OF acetic acid"
which is also an antidote, on the carbolic
acid label. AT any rate it should be posted
in every household in some conspicuous
place.
The discovery of the virtue Of cider
vinegar in such cases was made by Dr..
| Edmond Carlton of News Y DIRK, who thus
relates the manner of it:
The antidote to carbolic acid is simple, and to
| be had in every we'll ordered household knowl
| edge of its specific worth came by accident.
! One day, while making some experiments with
| the pure acid an unlucky movement sent TWO
| ounces of it upon my hand In about two seconds
| 1 had it under stream of water and washed it.
| but to no purpose; it became white and numb.
| There seemed to be escape from the usual re-
| sult-desquamation and slow recovery of the
| sense of touch. But the odor was persistent and
| unpleasant. LII the belief that it might be
| changed thereby, servant was sent to the kitch-
! en- for cup of cider vinegar. While bathing
,,,IL irr Tod x1-;4l,
| what was my amazement to behold a .cimplete
| restoration of color and function. In five min
utes nothing remained in evidence except the
modified odor.
| That the beginning Numerous clinical
verifcatons were obtained later, but considerable
| time elapsed before evidence was obtained as tc
| the antidotal action of vinegar when the mucous
| membrane was affected. 1t came from our col
| lengue, G.. s. Kinney, NJ. ID.
Dr. Kinney was connected with the state hos
| pital for insane at aIiddletown, n. y. anC
gives the following account of the demonstration
of the fact that vinegar is an antidote for car
| bolic acid taken internally.
| "A nurse called ME to see man who hat
| swallowed some carboic acid. The patient wa
found with his lips, mouth and tongue coated
white where the acid had touched then and thu
strong characteristic Odor of the acid was pres
ent. He at once given a half cup of vine
gar, diluted with equal amount of water
and this followed in few moments by secont
dose of vinegar and water. AS the time hun;
ach pump, the patient given milk
which he willingly drank. The ,odor and thu
discoloration from the acid had disappeared from
the patients lips, mouth and tongue taking
the vinegar and water, and on using the stomach
pump odor from the liquid that was pumpc
from his stomach could be detected. After tn
stomach had been carefully washed out. the pa
tient was fed with hot milk for several days. an
no further symptoms developed. Since scein;
his @(Carleton'sl explanation for the use 0
vinegar as an antidote for the acid l have ha
an opportunity to test its efficiency in numbe
, of cases and have always found it to be re
liable in every particular, and in instanc
where the vinegar has been used within a few
4 moments has there been any eschar formed
! DR.. Spencer Carleton has demonstrated befor
medical men that acetc acid is also Dtidot
to carbolic acid, acting precisely vinegar.
| It should be also a matter of common
: knowledge that alcohol will also destro
or antidote the corrosive effect of carboli
acid, and while not SO pleasant may b.
freely applied externally to neutralize an
free acid remaining on the skin. Vincga
:: should be used to correct the burn.
i Thomas j. Gray, M. D.
o. Pillsbury Building, MINNEAPOLIS.