338 FIRST HELP IN ACCIDENTS 



of warm water or flaxseed tea. Chalk, magnesia, soda, or sale- 

 ratus (with water), or lime-water are the best remedies. When 

 sulphuric acid has been taken, water should be given sparingly, 

 because, when water unites with this acid intense heat is pro- 

 duced. 



Oxalic acid. 



ANTIDOTE. Oxalic acid resembles Epsom salts in appear- 

 ance, and may easily be mistaken for it. The antidotes are 

 magnesia, or chalk mixed with water. 



Prussic acid ; oil of bitter almonds ; laurel water ; cyanide 

 of potassium (used in electrotyping). 



ANTIDOTE. Cold douche to the spine. Chlorine water, or 

 water of ammonia largely diluted, should be given, and the 

 vapor arising from them may be inhaled. 



Akalies and their Salts. AMMONIA (hartshorn), liquor or 

 water of ammonia. POTASS A : caustic potash, strong lye, car- 

 bonate of potassa (pearlash), nitrate of potassa (saltpetre). 



ANTIDOTE. Give the vegetable acids diluted, as weak vine- 

 gar, acetic, citric, or tartaric acids dissolved in water. Castor 

 oil, linseed oil, and sweet oil may also be used; they form 

 soaps when mixed with the free alkalies, which they thus 

 render harmless. The poisonous effects of saltpetre must be 

 counteracted by taking mucilaginous drinks freely, so as to 

 produce vomiting. 



Alcohol. Brandy, wine ; all spirituous liquors. 



ANTIDOTE. Give as an emetic ground mustard or tartar 

 emetic. If the patient cannot swallow, introduce a stomach 

 pump ; pour cold water on the head. 



Gases. Chlorine, carbonic acid gas, carbonic oxide, fumes of 

 burning charcoal, sulphuretted hydrogen, illuminating or coal gas. 



ANTIDOTE. For poisoning by chlorine, inhale, cautiously, 

 ammonia (hartshorn). For the other gases, cold water should 

 be poured upon the head, and stimulants cautiously adminis- 

 tered ; artificial respiration. (See Marshall Hall's Heady 

 Method, page 336.) 



Metals. Antimony, tartar emetic, wine of antimony, etc. 



ANTIDOTE. If vomiting has not occurred, it should be pro- 

 duced by tickling the throat with the finger or a feather, and 



