POISONS.

A poison is any substances which when takes into the body in sufficient quantity is capable of injuring health or destroying life. It may be taken either accidentally or intentionally:-
A.    Through the lungs, by breathing poisonous gases of fumes. This is put first because gas poisoning causes more deaths then all other poisons combined.

B.    By the mouth, i.e., swallowed.

C.    By injection under the skin.

GAS POISONING.

Gas poisoning occurs mainly from breathing household gas or the fumes of fires, Stoves, motor exhausts, or the smoke generated from large fires or explosions. Life is endangered by asphyxia. Sufferers may appear  decently well unless severely poisoned when they will be unconscious with difficult breathing.

SWALLOWED POISONS.

Swallowed poisons exert their dangerous effects:-
either(1) directly on the food passages causing retching, vomiting, pain and often diarrhoea. Poisons in this class include metallic poisons, poisonous fungi, and berries and contaminated decomposing food. Particularly severe symptoms are caused by the corrosives(strong acids, alkalis and disinfectants) which burns the lips, mouth, gullet, and stomach and causes intense pain.
or(2) on the nervous systems after absorption into the blood usually causing deep unconsciousness(coma) and sometimes asphyxia. The most important of these poisons are alcohol(spirits, wine, beer) taken in excessive amount and the many taken as tablets or draughts, to relieve pain(e.g., aspirin and preparations containing opium derivatitives) or to produce sleep(e.g., barbiturate drugs). All the persons unconsciousness from poisoning by drugs are seriously ill; this also applies to individuals who are insensible from alcoholic  intoxication. A few poisons act on the nervous system by causing delirium(e.g., belladonna) or fits(e.g., prussic acid).

INJECTED POISONS:

These poisons are injected by hypodermic syringe; by bytes from poisonous reptiles or rabid animals or by stings from certain insects. As result life may be endangered through coma and asphyxia.

Generally, the best and first, first aid step of poison swallowed is to make him vomit. But there are some symptoms which will be dangerous if try to induce vomiting. The symptoms are:-

A.    Do not induce vomiting if the casualty is unconsciousness.

B.    Do not induce vomiting if the lips and mouth are burned. Corrosive acids and alkalis cause yellow or grey stains on the skin, lip and mouth, which are easily recognizable.

C.    Do not induce vomiting if Acids available in laboratories, garages, some industries been swallowed.  Give plenty of water to dilute the acid. Add if possible, 2 spoons of chalk, white wash etc., to a pint of water.

TREATMENT.

Artificial respiration, which may have to be repeated or continued for a long time. As the doctor may wish to give a special antidote by injection, the first Aider should give the suspected cause of the condition when sending for medical aid.