Poisons and Their Antidotes.

390. Poisons. A poison is a substance which, if taken into the system in sufficient amounts, will cause serious trouble or death. For convenience poisons may be divided into two classes, irritants and narcotics.

The effects of irritant poisons are evident immediately after being taken. They burn and corrode the skin or membrane or other parts with which they come in contact. There are burning pains in the mouth, throat, stomach, and abdomen, with nausea and vomiting. A certain amount of faintness and shock is also present.

With narcotic poisoning, the symptoms come on more slowly. After a time there is drowsiness, which gradually increases until there is a profound sleep or stupor, from which the patient can be aroused only with great difficulty. There are some substances which possess both the irritant and narcotic properties and in which the symptoms are of a mixed character.

391. Treatment of Poisoning. An antidote is a substance which will either combine with a poison to render it harmless, or which will have a directly opposite effect upon the body, thus neutralizing the effect of the poison. Hence in treatment of poisoning the first thing to do, if you know the special poison, is to give its antidote at once.

If the poison is unknown, and there is any delay in obtaining the antidote, the first thing to do is to remove the poison from the stomach. Therefore cause vomiting as quickly as possible. This may be done by an emetic given as follows: Stir a tablespoonful of mustard or of common salt in a glass of warm water and make the patient swallow the whole. It will usually be vomited in a few moments. If mustard or salt is not at hand, compel the patient to drink lukewarm water very freely until vomiting occurs.

Vomiting may be hastened by thrusting the forefinger down the throat. Two teaspoonfuls of the syrup of ipecac, or a heaping teaspoonful of powdered ipecac taken in a cup of warm water, make an efficient emetic, especially if followed with large amounts of warm water.

It is to be remembered that in some poisons, as certain acids and alkalies, no emetic should be given. Again, for certain poisons (except in case of arsenic) causing local irritation, but which also affect the system at large, no emetic should be given.

392. Reference Table of Common Poisons; Prominent Symptoms; Antidotes and Treatment. The common poisons with their leading symptoms, treatment, and antidotes, may be conveniently arranged for easy reference in the form of a table.

It is to be remembered, of course, that a complete mastery of the table of poisons, as set forth on the two following pages, is really a physician’s business. At the same time, no one of fair education should neglect to learn a few of the essential things to do in accidental or intentional poisoning.

PoisonProminent SymptomsAntidotes and Treatment
Strong Acids: Muriatic, Nitric, Sulphuric (vitriol), Oxalic. Burning sensation in mouth, throat, and stomach; blisters about mouth; vomiting; great weaknessNo emetic Saleratus; chalk; soap; plaster from the wall; lime; magnesia; baking soda (3 or 4 teaspoonfuls in a glass of water).
Alkalies: Caustic potash and soda, Ammonia, Lye, Pearlash, Saltpeter. Burning sensation in the parts; severe pain in stomach; vomiting; difficulty in swallowing; cold skin; weak pulse.No emetic Olive oil freely; lemon juice, vinegar; melted butter and vaseline; thick cream.
Arsenic: Paris green, Rough on rats, White arsenic, Fowler’s solution, Scheele’s green. Intense pains in stomach and bowels; thirst; vomiting, perhaps with blood; cold and clammy skin.Vomit patient repeatedly, give hydrated oxide of iron with magnesia, usually kept by druggists for emergencies; follow with strong solution of common salt and water.
Other Metallic Poisons: Blue vitriol, Copperas, Green vitriol, Sugar of lead, Corrosive sublimate, Bedbug poison.Symptoms in general, same as in arsenical poisoning. With lead and mercury there may be a metallic taste in the mouth.Emetic with lead; none with copper and iron; white of eggs in abundance with copper; with iron and lead give epsom salts freely; afterwards, oils, flour, and water. No emetic with mercury; raw eggs; milk, or flour, and water.
Phosphorus from Matches, rat poisons, etc. Pain in the stomach; vomiting; purging; general collapse.Cause vomiting. Strong soapsuds; magnesia in water. Never give oils.
Opium: Morphine, Laudanum, Paregoric, Dover’s powder, Soothing syrups, Cholera and diarrhœa mixturesSleepiness; dullness; stupor; “pin-hole” pupils; slow breathing; profuse sweat.Cause vomiting. Keep patient awake by any means, especially by vigorous walking; give strong coffee freely; dash cold water on face and chest.
Carbolic Acid: Creasote.Severe pain in abdomen; odor of carbolic acid, mucous membrane in around mouth white and benumbed; cold and clammy skin.No emetic. Milk or flour and water; white of eggs.
Aconite: WolfsbaneMonkshood Numbness everywhere, great weakness; cold sweat.Vomit patient freely. Stimulating drinks.
Belladonna Deadly NightshadeAtropiaEyes bright, with pupil enlarged; dry mouth and throat.Vomit patient freely.
Various Vegetable Poisons Wild parsley, Indian tobacco, Toadstools, Tobacco plant, Hemlock, Berries of the Mountain Ash, Bitter sweet, etc.Stupor, nausea, great weakness and other symptoms according to the poison.Cause brisk vomiting. Stimulating drinks.

393. Practical Points about Poisons. Poisons should never be kept in the same place with medicines or other preparations used in the household. They should always be put in some secure place under lock and key. Never use internally or externally any part of the contents of any package or bottle unless its exact nature is known. If there is the least doubt about the substance, do not assume the least risk, but destroy it at once. Many times the unknown contents of some bottle or package has been carelessly taken and found to be poison.

Careless and stupid people often take, by mistake, with serious, and often fatal, results, poisonous doses of carbolic acid, bed-bug poison, horse-liniment, oxalic acid, and other poisons. A safe rule is to keep all bottles and boxes containing poisonous substances securely bottled or packed, and carefully labeled with the word POISON plainly written in large letters across the label. Fasten the cork of a bottle containing poison to the bottle itself with copper or iron wire twisted into a knot at the top. This is an effective means of preventing any mistakes, especially in the night.

This subject of poisons assumes nowadays great importance, as it is a common custom to keep about stables, workshops, bathrooms, and living rooms generally a more or less formidable array of germicides, disinfectants, horse-liniments, insect-poisons, and other preparations of a similar character. For the most part they contain poisonous ingredients.