150 APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY 



acid or alkali has probably been swallowed. If it is an 

 alkali, a drink of weak vinegar should be given at once as 

 an antidote. If it is an acid, soda, soapsuds, or lime water 

 should be given as an antidote. 



Also give water, or flour and water, or the white of an 

 egg, or milk, so as to dilute the substance as soon as 

 possible. 



257. Carbolic acid. When swallowed, pure carbolic 

 acid produces great weakness and rapid death. In small 

 doses, or even applied to the skin in surgical dressings, it 

 may produce headache and weakness, which may result in 

 death. 



In treating its poisonous effects, a stomach pump will 

 generally have to be used to remove the poison, because 

 the stomach will be paralyzed by the burning to which it 

 is subjected. The antidote is Epsom salts. 



258. Narcotic poisoning. If the person poisoned is 

 sleepy, it shows that a narcotic like opium or chloral has 

 been taken. Care should be taken not to mistake a faint- 

 ing spell for the drowsiness of poisoning. In faintness, 

 the face is of a deathly pale color, and no pulse can be 

 felt, and breathing ceases, while in drowsiness the face is 

 of a natural or even deeper red color, the pulse can be 

 felt, and breathing will continue. 



259. Strychnine poisoning. Strychnine produces vio- 

 Jent convulsions, like lockjaw, within half an hour after it 

 has been taken. Vomiting should be induced at once. 

 Chloral and bromide of potash are its antidotes, and 

 should be given as soon as possible, to quiet the convul- 

 sions. In an emergency tobacco may be used. 



260. Arsenic and other metals. Rat poison and Paris 

 green contain arsenic. Arsenic is a metal, and its poison- 

 ing is much like poisoning by mercury, lead, copper, silver, 



