INTEMPERANCE AND POISONS 41 



vomited. So you must give him a stimulant. Some strong 

 coffee will be the best of all. You will do him no harm 

 by giving it. 



Finally, keep the person quiet, for in his weakness he 

 cannot stand much exertion in moving about. 



75. Spoiled food or poisonous food, such as some varie- 

 ties of mushrooms, causes great pain in the lower part of 

 the body, and great weakness. When this comes on, vomit- 

 ing should be induced at once. Often the stomach will 

 vomit the food of its own accord, and so nature cures the 

 poisoning. When a person vomits, it usually means that 

 some poison is upon the stomach. 



76. Opium poisoning. The most common form of poi- 

 soning is that by opium. Opium is the dried juice of the 

 poppy plant. It is used to produce sleep and to relieve 

 pain, and is a strong poison. A piece as large as a grain 

 of corn could put a man into a deep sleep, and three or 

 four such pieces might kill him. 



People often keep different kinds of opium in the house. 

 Laudanum is opium dissolved in nine times its weight of 

 alcohol. Paregoric is a weaker form of opium and alcohol. 

 Most soothing syrups which are used to quiet children, act 

 by means of their opium. They can easily poison a baby. 

 Morphine is a powder made from opium, and is ten times 

 as strong as opium itself. 



You can tell opium poisoning by the deep sleep which it 

 produces. A poisoned person should be made to vomit, 

 and afterward he should drink some strong coffee. You 

 should also keep him awake by making him walk or even 

 by striking him with a whip ; but do not bruise his skin. 



77. Carbolic acid poisoning. Carbolic acid is often kept 

 in houses for use as a wash during sickness. If it is swal- 

 lowed it will burn the throat and stomach, leaving a white 



