314 Life and Health 



quickly as possible. This may be done by stirring a table- 

 spoonful of mustard or of common salt in a glass of luke- 

 warm water and making the patient swallow the whole. 

 Repeat as often as is necessary. Vomiting may be hastened 

 by thrusting the forefinger down the throat. 



For some poisons, as acids and alkalies, no emetic should 

 be given. Again, for poisons like carbolic acid, which cause 

 local irritation, but which also affect the system at large, no 

 emetic should be given. An emetic, however, should be given 

 in the case of arsenic. 



492. Practical Points about Poisons. Poisons should never 

 be kept in the same place with medicines or other prepara- 

 tions used in the household. They should always be put in 

 some secure place under lock and key. Never use internally 

 or externally any part of the contents of any package or 

 bottle unless its exact nature is known. If there is the least 

 doubt about the substance, do not assume the least risk, but 

 destroy it at once. Many times the unknown contents of some 

 bottle or package have been carelessly taken and found to be 

 poison. 



Careless and stupid people often take by mistake, with 

 serious, and often fatal, results, poisonous doses of carbolic 

 acid, insect poison, horse liniment, oxalic acid, and other 

 poisons. A safe rule is to keep all bottles and boxes con- 

 taining poisonous substances securely bottled or packed, and 

 carefully labeled, with the word POISON plainly written in 

 large letters across the label. Fasten the cork of a bottle 

 containing poison to the bottle itself with copper wire twisted 

 into a knot at the top. This is a simple but effective means 

 of preventing any mistakes which are likely to be made by 

 children or in darkness. 



This subject of poisons assumes nowadays great impor- 

 tance, as it is a common custom to keep about stables, 

 workshops, bath rooms, and living rooms generally a more 

 or less formidable array of disinfectants, horse liniments, 

 insect destroyers, and other preparations of a similar charac- 

 ter. For the most part, they contain poisonous ingredients. 



