ANTICOSTI 



281 



ANTIDOTE 



Boy's Companion, and a variety of other lit- 

 erature in furthering its work. It does not 

 confine itself to educational campaigns among 

 boys, but takes an active share in promoting 

 legislation against the sale of tobacco to 

 minors and in influencing public opinion to 

 demand rigid enforcement of such laws. It 

 also has free clinics at which those who can- 

 not rid themselves of the cigarette habit may 

 find aid, without expense. Medical treatment 

 and diets which will help to do away with 

 the craving are recommended by able physi- 

 cians, and representatives of the league visit 

 schools and churches for the purpose of offer- 

 ing such aid to boys. 



The treatment suggested by the league as a 

 cure for the cigarette habit is given in the 

 article CIGARETTE (which see). LJ.G. 



ANTICOSTI, antikahs' ti, a rocky island in 

 the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, one of the largest 

 private game preserves in North America. 

 Geographically it is a part of the Province 

 of Quebec, but in 1895 it was leased by the 

 government to M. Menier, the French manu- 

 facturer of chocolate, who made it a game 

 preserve and attempted to develop its re- 

 sources. The fact that the island was in the 

 possession of a private individual caused much 

 criticism at the beginning of the War of the 

 Nations in 1914, for its position at the mouth 

 of the Saint Lawrence River makes it of great 

 strategic importance. The use of the island as 

 a base for enemies is a remote possibility, 

 however, because of the lack of good harbors. 

 The north shore is high and rocky; the south 

 shore has shoals and submerged rocks. 



Anticosti is a favorite resort for seal, bear 

 and other wild game, and the adjacent waters 

 are filled with salmon, trout, cod and herring. 

 The climate is severe, frosts being common 

 even in midsummer. Extensive agriculture 

 is impossible, for the interior for the most 

 part is either swampy or rocky. Even where 

 the soil is otherwise suitable for crops the 

 prevalence of frosts in midsummer limits agri- 

 cultural development. Marl is found at many 

 points along the coast, and the peat-bogs are 

 most valuable in the Dominion. The 

 island is of interest to geologists as one of 

 the best examples of the transition between 

 tin Ordovician and Silurian systems (see 

 GEOLOGY). Its area is 3,147 square miles, about 

 one and a half times aa large aa the state of 

 Delaware. There are numerous lighthouses, 

 whose keepers, with their families, comprise 

 most of the population of 250. 



ANTIDOTE, an' tidote, a substance which 

 will neutralize the effect of a poison. Thus, 

 an acid is an antidote to an alkali and an 

 alkali to an acid, because chemically each de- 

 stroys the effect of the other. Morphine and 

 atropine are not chemically opposed to each 

 other, but they are antidotes each for the 

 other, because their action upon the body is 

 opposite. There are many poisons for which 

 no antidote is known, and in cases where these 

 have been taken, the stomach pump and 

 emetics furnish the only method of combat- 

 ing their evil effects. In many cases of poi- 

 soning, promptness of relief measures is the 

 most important consideration, and it is often 

 necessary to give some help before a doctor 

 can arrive. A general rule is to empty the 

 stomach at once with a pump except when 

 the poison taken is lye, caustic potash or soda, 

 or mineral acids. The following list gives the 

 names of many of the ordinary poisons, with 

 their antidotes and some means of counteract- 

 ing their injurious effects. In every case, how- 

 ever, a doctor should assume charge as soon 

 as possible: 



Alcohol: Use an emetic or stomach pump 

 as quickly as possible; then give aromatic 

 spirits of ammonia till the pulse is rapid and 

 full; then apply heat to the extremities and 

 cold to the head. 



Ammonia: See Caustic Potash, below. 



Arsenic: Give to the patient every half- 

 hour, for four doses, a tablespoon ful of dia- 

 lyzed iron, a substance which may be obtained 

 at any drug store. Follow this treatment by 

 a strong dose of castor oil. 



Bedbug Poison: See Corrosive Sublimate, 

 below. 



Bichloride of Mercury: See Corrosive Sub- 

 limate, below. 



Carbolic Acid: Give Epsom salts, the chem- 

 ical name of which is magnesium sulphate, or 

 any other soluble sulphate. At the same time 

 give large doses of sweet oil, whites of eggs 

 and stimulants. 



Carbonic Acid Gas, or Asphyxiation: Give 

 plenty of fresh air at once. If necessary, in- 

 duce respiration artificially, as described in the 

 article DROWNING. Give thirty drops of aro- 

 matic spirits of ammonia at half-hour intervals 

 for three doses; and then every three hours 

 for three doses give an ounce of diluted 

 whisky. 



Carbonic Oxide: See Carbonic Acid Go*, 

 above. 



Caustic Potash: Give diluted lemon juice, 



