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POISONS.

CHAP. XXXIV.POISONS.

Every person ought, in some measure, to be acquainted with thenature and treatment of poisons. They are not unfrequently takenunawares, and their effects are often so sudden and violent, as not. to admit of delay, or allow time to procure the assistance of medi-cal men.

There are four kinds of poisons; viz. mineral, vegetable, aerial,and animal.

Mineral poisons are distinguished from vegetable ones by theiraction. The former corrode, stimulate, and inflame ; the lattergenerally stupify, without leaving any marks of inflammation.

Norfe of the minera] poisons prove fatal, till after a most excru-ciating operation of at least two or three hours ; whereas some ofthe vegetable ones terminate life in a few minutes. From the ani-mal poisons the distinction is as remarkable. The aerial poisonsoperate still more quickly than any other classes, and their actionon respiration is of so peculiar and immediate influence, that it canseldom be mistaken.

Poison seldom remains long in the stomach before it occasionssickness, with an inclination to vomit. This shows plainly whatought to be done. Indeed, common sense dictates to every one,that if any thing has been taken into the stomach which endangerslife, it ought immediately to be discharged. Were this dulyregarded, the danger arising from poisons might often be avoided.

MINERAL POISONS. These consist of corrosive metallic salts ;e. g. Arsenic and its preparations ; Corrosive Sublimate, &c.

Symptoms. — When a medical poison has been swallowed,* thesymptoms are an austere taste, fetid breath, constriction of thepharynx and gullet ; hiccup ; nausea and vomiting of brown orbloody matter; anxiety and faintings; heat with violent pain at thepit of the stomach ; black and offensive stools ; small pulse ; frequentand irregular palpitations ; great thirst and burning heat ; breathingdifficult ; urine scanty, red and bloody ; delirium ; convulsions ofan epileptic type, and death.

Treatment. — Vomiting to be immediately excited ; and encour-aged by large and long-continued draughts of sugared water, lin-seed tea, or other emollient fluids. If arsenic has been taken insolution, lime-water, or chalk and water, may be drank freely.Inflammatory symptoms are to be combated ; bleeding from thearm, and leeches to the region of the stomach ; fomentations, fre-quent emollient clysters, as symptoms may require.

* In the Philosophical Transactions for 1811, Mr. Brodie has shown by experiments,that the external application of arsenious acid to abraded surfaces, is analogous withits internal exhibition, but often more rapid in its effects by the latter than the forme,mode. Ed.