First Aid to the Injured 3 1 3 



This makes artificially a complete act of respiration. Repeat 

 this act about fifteen times every minute. 



All this may be kept up for several hours. The first 

 sign of recovery is often seen in the slight pinkish tinge 

 of the lips or finger nails. That the pulse cannot be felt 

 at the wrist is of little value in itself as a sign of death. 

 Life may be present when only the most experienced ear 

 can detect the faintest heart beat. 



When a person can breathe, even a little, he can swallow. 

 Hold smelling salts or hartshorn to the nose. Meanwhile 

 do not fail to keep up artificial warmth in the most vigorous 

 manner. 



POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES 



490. Irritant and Narcotic Poisons. For convenience 

 poisons may be divided into two classes, irritants and 

 narcotics. 



The effects of irritant poisons are evident immediately 

 after being taken. They burn, or corrode, the skin or mucous 

 membrane or other parts with which they come in contact. 

 They produce burning pains in the mouth, throat, stomach, 

 and intestines, with nausea and vomiting. 



With narcotic poisoning the symptoms come on more slowly. 

 After a time there is drowsiness, which gradually increases 

 until there is a profound sleep or stupor, from which the 

 patient can be aroused only with great difficulty. There 

 are some substances which possess both the irritant and 

 narcotic properties and in which the symptoms are of a 

 mixed character. 



491. Treatment of Poisoning. In the treatment of poison- 

 ing the first thing to do, if you know the special poison, is to 

 give its antidote at once. An antidote is a substance which will 

 either combine with a poison to render it harmless or which 

 will have a directly opposite effect upon the body, thus neu- 

 tralizing the effect of the poison. 



If the poison is unknown, or there is any delay in obtain- 

 ing the antidote, the first thing to do is to cause vomiting as 



