Poisoning requires prompt and effective treatment, and the patient's life depends largely upon the length of time that has elapsed between the taking of the poison, and the administration of an appropriate antidote. The first and most necessary thing in poisoning by opium, arsenic, phosphorus, or strychnia, is to empty the stomach. The patient should be encouraged to take large draughts of mustard and water, if readily obtainable, but it is better to use salt water, or even warm water, than wait for something better. If none of these are at hand, or do not produce copious vomiting, it should be induced if possible, by tickling the throat with the finger, or better still, if at hand, a feather. Should the patient's hair be long enough, it will probably do as well as a feather. Large quantities of liquids hold the poison in solution, distend the stomach and make the vomiting more effective, if quickly produced. When opium has been taken, and the stomach emptied, the patient should be given frequent draughts of strong coffee, and kept constantly moving about, if able, but if not, apply cold water and maintain artificial respiration. In strychnia poisoning, administer sedatives.

The best ones for this purpose are bromide of potassium of sodium, and should be given at once in forty grain doses. If neither of these are quickly obtainable, preparations of opium such as laudanum of paregoric - usually found in every household - mav be substituted. In cases of poisoning from arsenic, rat poison or paris green, the patient should be given sulphate of magnesia and salt, and kept at rest. The antidote for phosphorus poisoning, after vomiting, is a small dose of sulphate of copper, and a large dose of magnesia. Do not give oil. Milk and whites of eggs are of value in most cases of poisoning. In poisoning by acids, and alkalies, we have not only the systemic effects to deal with, but also their more painful and destructive local action. They very rapidly destroy the lining membranes of the mouth, oesophagus and stomach, and if their action is not quickly arrested, eat rapidly into deeper tissues.

Vomiting in these cases should not be employed, because the burning of the oesophagus incident to vomiting, will likely do greater harm. Chemical antidotes should be given as quickly as possible. The violent efforts at vomiting may cause rupture or hemorrhage of the stomach, if the destruction of tissue has been extensive. In poisoning by mineral acids, solutions of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), or chalk, should be given, and when these cannot be obtained quickly, plaster from the walls may be used. In carbolic acid poisoning, give sulphate of magnesia or soda, and olive oil or melted fat - lard, butter, etc. In poisoning by lye give weak acids, such as vinegar or lemon juice, and fats and oils.