1340. Poisons, General Observations

The abbreviations used are as follows:—

Eeffects or symptoms
Ttreatment
Aantidotes or counter poisons
DAdangerous antidotes.

1341. Poison

A poison is a

substance

which is capable of altering or destroying some or all of the functions necessary to life. When a person is in good health, and is suddenly attacked, after having taken some food or drink, with violent pain, cramp in the stomach, feeling of sickness or nausea, vomiting, convulsive twitchings, and a sense of suffocation; or if he be seized, under the same circumstances, with giddiness, delirium, or unusual sleepiness, then it may be supposed that he has been poisoned.