146 



POISONS AND ANTIDOTES 



chemical action, the drug first given is supposed to combine 

 with the tissues immediately acted on, and to this combina- 

 tion the second drug may be added, developing another and 

 less active compound ; or otherwise, from such compound 

 the second drug may displace the first. (2) The two ant- 

 agonistic drugs may act independently of each other on the 

 tissues, producing opposite effects the one exciting, the 

 other, it may be, paralysing. This latter physiological view 

 seems to meet with most general approval (Brunton). In 

 the case of poisons not rapidly fatal such as lead, mercury, 

 savin, or yew an important curative measure consists in 

 hastening their removal from the body by the organs 

 through which they are chiefly excreted. 



Poisons 



Sulphuretted Hydro- 

 gen 



Chlorine, Bromine . 

 Iodine Vapour 



Ammonia Vapour . 

 Carbon Monoxide . 



Nitrous Oxide 



Coal Gas . , 

 Charcoal Fumes 

 Carbonic Acid 

 Marsh Gas 



Sulphuric Acid 

 Hydrochloric Acid 

 Nitric Acid 

 Phosphoric Acid 



Antidotes 



Chlorine cautiously inhaled. 



(Ether : alcohol. 

 -! Steam inhalation. 

 [Opium : starch. 

 Vinegar vapour. 



I Fresh air and artificial respiration : 

 [ transfusion. 



{Artificial respiration ; tongue drawn 

 forward ; intermittent pressure over 

 cardiac region if heart action failing. 



Artificial respiration. 



Alternate warm and cold douches to 

 the head and neck. 



Encourage circulation by friction. 



Mustard plasters over surface. 



Alkalies : sodium or potassium bi- 

 carbonate. 



Magnesia : chalk : plaster 



Soap : milk : eggs whisked 



Olive or Almond oil. 



The alkalinity of the blood impaired 

 by acids is restored by intravenous 

 injection of sodium bicarbonate. 



in oil. 



