SOS ANIMAL CHARCOAL AN ANTIDOTE TO POISON. 
from their solutions, and that it is quite equal, if not superior, 
to the hydrated sesquioxide of iron, as an antidote to arsenious 
acid. 
3d. That the compounds of the animal charcoal with the 
poisonous principles have no injurious action on the animal 
body, and therefore, when the charcoal is given with the 
poison, or before it has become absorbed into the system, it 
will act as an antidote. 
4th. A certain amount of the antidote is required, depending 
on the quantity of active principle contained in the poison; half 
an ounce is more than sufficient for twenty grains of nux 
vomica, or one grain of strychnia ; if less is given, the poison 
may act by its excess above the antidote.* 
5th. The antidote is peculiarly adopted to poisonous sub- 
stances whose activity depends on a small quantity of an active 
principle as opium, nux vomica, the aconites, belladonna, stra- 
monium, tobacco, hemlock, &c. 
6th. The antidote itself may be given to almost any amount, 
as it exerts no injurious action on the. body. 
7th. That it is of great importance that good animal char- 
coal should be used, not the bone or ivory black, which con- 
tain about * \ of earthy matter, but the carbo animalis puri- 
ficatus of the London Pharmacopoeia. Common bone black 
was found to be very far inferior, certainly not possessing a 
fifth of the antidotal power. The vegetable charcoal was com- 
paratively inert. 
Dr. Garrod proposes, that in cases of poisoning we should 
remove as much of the poison as possible by means of the sto- 
mach-pump or emetics, and then give a large quantity of the 
animal charcoal diffused in warm water, or the antidote may 
be given with the emetic, but ipecacuanha must not be used, 
as the charcoal would destroy its emetic property. Sulphate 
of zinc or some other mineral emetic should be chosen. Dr. 
*If animal charcoal precipitates strychnia, morphia, &c, it must be a 
source of considerable loss to the manufacturer of quinia, morphia, and 
other alkaloids and bitter principles.— [Ed. Am. Jour. Pharm. 
