NARCOTICS 141 



229. Alcoholic poisoning. Besides slow poisoning, alco- 

 hol can produce severe poisonous effects at once. A man 

 " dead drunk" is poisoned by alcohol, and is in danger of 

 his life. In treating him, vomiting should be induced as 

 soon as possible. He should be rubbed to keep up the 

 circulation, and stimulated with hot coffee. Keep his 

 body, and especially his feet, warm. 



230. Tobacco and nicotine. The essential part of tobacco 

 is a strong narcotic poison called nicotine. Pure nicotine 

 is a clear and colorless liquid. It can be turned to vapor, 

 and is found in the smoke when the tobacco is burned. It 

 is a powerful poison, producing stomach sickness and great 

 weakness of all the cells of the body, especially of the 

 heart. Two or three drops will kill a man. 



231. Effects of its continuous use. When used continu- 

 ously, the body becomes somewhat accustomed to nicotine, 

 so that it does not produce so great a feeling of sickness. 

 Then instead of producing a feeling of weakness, it acts 

 more to benumb the cells and to quiet the body. This is 

 really the first stage of poisoning, although it seems like a 

 stimulation. If a little more tobacco than usual is used, 

 the benumbed and pleasant feeling changes to one of sick- 

 ness, as though it were being used for the first time. It 

 always continues to have bad effects upon the muscles, 

 heart, lungs, eyes, and brain. Tobacco is especially inju- 

 rious to young persons, hindering their growth and lessen- 

 ing their strength. 



232. How tobacco is used. Tobacco is used in smoking, 

 in chewing, and in snuffing it up the nose. 



233. Smoking. Tobacco is smoked in a pipe or by 

 lighting the end of a roll called a cigar. Some of the 

 nicotine is turned to vapor and enters the mouth, where 

 it may be absorbed. Some of the nicotine is half burned, 



