Poison

(poi'zn.) [Fr.]. Any substance which, by its chemical action, when taken into the stomach, mixed with the blood, or applied to the flesh, disturbs or suspends the circulations and functions nece ary to life. Poisons have been divided into irritants, narcotics, and narcotico-acrids. Irritants act chiefly on the alimentary canal, causing inflammation and sometimes ulceration of the throat and parts leading to the stomach, ., nausea, vomiting, the vomited matter being often streaked with blood, and other most painful symptoms connected with the stomach and intestines. Narcotics produce totally différent effects-headache, vertigo, confused vision, stupor, convulsions, paralysis, and coma. Narcotico-acrid poisons produce symptoms which usually consist of those of the other two cla es. In large doses, narcotism predominates; in smaller, irritation; and both co-exist. No general rule can be given for the treatment of cases of poisoning. In nearly every instance vomiting should be caused as soon as po ible by tickling the throat, and by the use of ometics, such as sulphate of zinc, . The stomach pump should be employed also, but with great caution when there is disorganization on account of the presence of irritants. The stomach should be washed out with bland albuminous or mucilaginous fluids, such as milk, barley-water, flour and water, ., and sometimes sugar and water. The following are antidotes for the most usual poisons:- For mineral acids, acetic, or oxalic acid-chalk or whiting and milk, magnesia and water, soap and water albuminous diluents. For alkalies -vinegar, or any mild acid and water, including even very dilute mineral acids, olive oil, almond oil. For arsenic-emetics, thin milk gruel, and other diluents, in large quantities. For corrosive sublimate - white of eggs, and water, milk, cream. For cupreous poisons -sugar and water, white of eggs and water. For antimonial poisons - warm milk, gruel, or barley-water, infusion of galls. For nitrate of silver, abundance of warm salt and water. For sulphate of zinc-solution of carbonate of soda in water, milk, mucilaginous and farinaceous liquids. For acetate of lead - emetics, solution of sulphate of soda in water, milk, white of eggs and water. For opium and its preparations-emetics, strong coffee; torpor to be prevented by dashing cold water on the face and forced exercise. For the detection of poisons, see DIALYSIS. Poitiers, (pwah-te'a,) a fine manuf. city of France, C. dept. Vienne, on the Clair, 58 m. S.S.E. of Tours. Near this place, a great victory was gained over the French by the English under Edward the Black Prince, and John I. and the Dauphin taken prisoners, 1356. Pop. 31,034. [s. 718]