FIRST AID IN POISONING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21473, 22 April 1933, Page 7 (Supplement)

FIRST AID IN POISONING

PRELIMINARY STEP To send for a doctor is, of course, one <of the first and most important steps to take in case of poisoning, and at the same times, if possible, notify the doctor as to the nature of the poison taken. Sometimes a doctor cannot be found at once, and meanwhile the patient will become worse, and may even die, unless suitable emergency treatment is given by people near by. This is the reason why every person should have some knowledge of the general principles of the treatment of a case of poisoning. The treatment in a case of poisoning is largely a matter of common sense, of keeping one's head, and of seeing that others do so too. Be quite sure that the patient has taken poison before attempting to treat him for it. Often sudden attacks of illness, such as appendicitis, intestinal obstruction may imitate very closely an attack of poisoning. Search around carefully for bottles or cups, noting the label and smell. It is desirable to see that no bottle, empty or half full, be thrown away. The contents of any cups or jugs, which may bo found near the patient should be kept, as also should any vomited matter or anything else that the doctor may want to examine when he arrives. GENERAL TREATMENT The general principles in treatment of Joisoning cases are as follows: — ■ (1) Get rid of the poison. (2) Administer the proper antidote. [(3) 'Treat the patient for shock and other various symptoms as they arise. If the poison has been taken by Jnouth, it is desirable to empty the stomach, and this is usually done by making the patient vomit. This, however, must not be done if the poisoning is due to some corrosive (i.e., one Which burns). Most of the antidotes are specific or peculiar to certain poisons, but there Bre some so-called general antidotes. One doctor in a recent article puts it thus:—" Charcoal is one. After it has been washed and pounded in a mortar to the consistency of flour, it may be given in water in large quantities._ It arts largely by delaying the absorption of the poison. Another general antidote which can be obtained at a moment's notice is albumen in the form of white of egg, milk, or hashed meat. Albumen Forms comparatively harmless compounds with nearly all the irritant poisons, including the corrosives, alkalis and acids. AVOID EXHAUSTION As poisons are absorbed by the Intestines as well as by the stomach, it is often well to give a purgative, such as salts, i.e., a tablespoonful in a tumblerful of water. All food, apart from that contained in the albumen given as an antidote, should be withheld for 48 hours, as the digestive tract is in sore need of rest if the poisoning has been severe. But the patient may bo allowed to drink plenty of barley water, and if his mouth or throat are inflamed, relief can bo obtained by sucking chewing gum. Always remember that the patient may be on tho vorge of collapse and the treatment must not be so severe as to exhaust him unnecessarily.