A Word of Warning in the Use of Poisons - Special Bottles in Which to Keep Them - Distinctive

Labels - Symptoms and Antidotes of Certain Poisons

As various poisons have been mentioned in other articles, it is only right that some emphasis should be laid on the dangers attending the home poison bottle. Hundreds of accidents occur every year through carelessness in handling poisonous medicines.

Strong acids often are applied to the eyes in mistake for a harmless eye lotion. Children are given poisonous drugs instead of simple aperients. More than one tragedy has occurred through poisons having been put temporarily into ordinary medicine bottles.

The mistress of a household cannot be too careful or too strict- in her rules regarding poisons in the home.

All poisons should invariably be placed in special bottles. In America, triangular bottles of blue glass are now coming into use. These have a white label with the name of the poison and the antidote for it on red labelling. Of course, no chemist in this country is allowed to sell poisons without placing them in special ribbed, dark-coloured bottles.

The poison bottle should be dark in colour and ribbed so that it can be recognised even in a dim light

Now it should be made an unbreakable rule in every household that poisons are never to be put into any other kind of bottle.

The second rule is that all poison bottles should be kept under lock and key out of reach of children, and if every person would read the label twice before giving any medicine whatever many accidents would be prevented in the home.

Unlabelled bottles should not be permitted under any circumstances whatever. To write a label really gives very little trouble. Whilst neglecting to do so is the cause of many mishaps.

The following poisons, with their antidotes, should be carefully studied by the amateur nurse: