Poisons and Their Antidotes 189 



POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES 



When poisons are introduced into a man's system, often the life can 

 be saved by giving him an emetic or a drug or drugs that will cause vom- 

 iting. A common example of such a mixture is one tablespoonful each 

 of salt or mustard given in a cup of hot water or coffee. Twice as 

 much may be given to a pig or dog. However, the pig and dog usually 

 vomit of their own accord and the cow and horse can seldom vomit, 

 hence we have to resort to other methods when they are poisoned. 



In different forms of poison, different results may be desired. With 

 some poisons, another drug can be introduced into tlie stomach and by 

 chemical change, a new product can be formed that is harmless or less 

 soluble. Sometimes a drug is introduced to prevent the animal from ab- 

 sorbing all of the poison. Sometimes we try to rush the poison through 

 the system as fast as possible before it is absorbed. As a general rule, 

 oils are the best to expel poisons for they are non-irritating. A quick 

 acting physic as 15 or 20 drops of croton oil may be used in the horse 

 and 20 to 30 drops per 1000 pounds live weight for cattle. Fresh lard 

 whites of eggs, milk or butter may be given to protect the mucous mem- 

 brane from irritant poisons. 



As a general rule, if an acid is taken, it can be neutralized by an 

 alkali, as chalk, water of ammonia, baking soda or soap. If the poison 

 is an alkali as lye, sugar of lead, blue vitrol, vinegar or lemon juice 

 may be given. For poisons of plant or vegetable origin, give a full 

 dose of tannic acid, which for the horse would be two drams and cattle 

 three or four drams. If tannic acid is not available, the inner bark of 

 the smaller limbs of white oak may be given. Give the horse four to six 

 drams and the cow 11/^ ounces. 



If the poison is of mineral origin give whites of eggs. Below is 

 given the standard antidotes for some of the chief poisons. 



Arsenic — Dissolve 4 ounces of copperas in 1/2 pi"t of water. Place 

 1 olince (2 tablespoonfuls) of magnesia in 1/2 pint of water and mix the 

 two. This is a dose for a cow and one and a half doses for a horse. 

 Give milk and oil. 



