40 APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY 



There it causes the liver cells to act more strongly and to 

 produce more bile. In a short time, the liver is acting right 

 again, and we are well. In the same way, other drugs act 

 upon other parts of the body and make them act rightly 

 when they are out of order. 



72. Poisons. A little of a drug causes the cells of the 

 body to act in a more natural way. Too much of a drug 

 either causes them to overwork, or else stops their action, 

 in either case producing sickness. Substances which inter- 

 fere with the work of the the cells are poisons. So all 

 drugs and narcotics are poisons if taken in too great 

 amounts. For this reason, we should never use them un- 

 less we are guided by some one who understands their use. 



73. Signs of poisoning. When a person is poisoned, 

 he suddenly becomes very sick and weak. There is no 

 sickness that will come on so suddenly as that caused by 

 poisoning. The sufferer's mind will probably be affected, 

 and he will be much alarmed for himself. 



74. How to help a poisoned person. When a person is 

 poisoned, the first thing to do is to get rid of the poison 

 as soon as you can. This you will do by making the per- 

 son vomit. You can always do this at once by running 

 your finger down his throat as far as possible. Do not 

 get frightened, but at once either ask the person to do 

 it himself or to let you do it. 



You will also help vomiting by having the person drink 

 as much water as possible. This will also wash out his 

 stomach and get rid of more of the poison. 



You will also aid vomiting by giving a tablespoonful 

 of mustard mixed in water. The point is to get the per- 

 son to vomit as soon as possible. By remembering this, 

 you may be able to save a life. 



A poisoned person will feel very weak after he has 



