APPENDIX. 



POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. 



ACCIDENTS from poisoning are of such frequent occurrence, thai 

 every one should be able to administer the more common antidotes, 

 until the services of a physician can be obtained. As many poisons 

 bear a close resemblance to articles in common use, no dangerous 

 substance should be brought into the household without having the 

 word poison plainly written or printed on the label ; and any pack- 

 age, box, or vial, without a label, should be at once destroyed, if the 

 contents are not positively known. 



When a healthy person is taken severely and suddenly ill soon 

 after some substance has been swallowed, we may suspect that he has 

 been poisoned. In all cases where poison has been taken into the 

 stomach, it should be quickly and thoroughly evacuated by some 

 active emetic, which can be speedily obtained This may be accom- 

 plished by drinking a tumblerful of warm water, containing either a 

 tablespoonful of powdered mustard or of" common salt, or two tea- 

 spoonfuls of powdered alum in two tablespoonfuls of syrup. When 

 vomiting has already taken place, it should be maintained by copious 

 draughts of warm water or mucilaginous drinks, such as gum-water 

 or flaxseed tea, and tickling the throat with the finger until there is 

 reason to believe that all the poisonous substance has been expelled 

 from the stomach. 



The following list embraces only the more common poisons, to 

 getker with such antidotes as are usually at hand, to be used until 

 the physician arrives. 



POISONS. 



Acids. Hydrochloric acid; muriatic acid (spirits of salt); nitric 

 acid (aqua fortis) ; sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol). 



ANTIDOTE. An antidote should be given at once to neutralize the 

 acid. Strong soapsuds is an efficient remedy, and can always be 

 obtained. It should be followed by copious draughts of warm water 

 or flaxseed tea. Chalk, magnesia, soda or saleraUis (with water)' or 



