About 50 percent of all

POISON human poisoning cases in

the U.S. involve commonly
any substance that produces disease conditions, tissue injury, or used drugs or household
otherwise interrupts natural life processes when in contact with or products such as aspirin,
absorbed into the body. Most poisons taken in sufficient quantity are barbiturates, insecticides,
lethal. A poisonous substance may originate as a mineral, a vegetable, or and cosmetics. Because
an animal, and it may assume the form of a solid, liquid, or gas. A barbiturates are easily
poison, depending on the type, may attack the surface of the body or, available, toxic effects
more seriously, internal organs or the central nervous system. See also resulting from their misuse
OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES,; are not infrequent. Acute
POISONOUS PLANTS,; RADIATION EFFECTS, BIOLOGICAL,; poisoning may result from
TOXIN,; VENOM,. overdosage or interaction
with other drugs, especially
Kinds of Poison. alcohol. The victim of acute
barbiturate poisoning may
Poisons in humans are usually classified according to their effects as become agitated and
corrosives, irritants, or narcotics; the last named are also known as nauseated, or may pass into
systemic or nerve poisons. a deep sleep marked by
increasingly shallow
Corrosives include strong acids or alkalies that cause local tissue respiration. Coma and heart
destruction, externally or internally; that is, they “burn” the skin or the failure may follow. Chronic
lining of the stomach. Vomiting occurs immediately, and the vomitus is barbiturate poisoning,
intermixed with blood. Common or so-called household corrosive caused by prolonged use of
poisons include hydrochloric acid, carbolic acid, bichloride of mercury, the drugs, is usually marked
and ammonia. by gastrointestinal irritation,
loss of appetite, and anemia.
Irritants such as arsenic, mercury, iodine, and laxatives act directly on In advanced stages of
the mucous membranes, causing gastrointestinal irritation or chronic barbiturate
inflammation accompanied by pain and vomiting; diluted corrosive poisoning the victim may
poisons also have these effects. Irritants include cumulative poisons, show mental confusion.
those substances that can be absorbed gradually without apparent harm
until they suddenly take effect. Treatment.

Narcotic poisons act upon the central nervous system or upon important One of the mainstays of
organs such as the heart, liver, lungs, or kidneys until they affect the treatment of accidental
respiratory and circulatory systems. These poisons can cause coma, poisoning is the local or
convulsions, or delirium. Narcotic poisons include alcohol, opium and regional poison control
its derivatives, belladonna, turpentine, potassium cyanide, chloroform, center. Most cases of
and strychnine. Also included in this category is one of the most poisoning are handled in the
dangerous poisons known, botulin toxin, a potent bacterial toxin that is home after telephone
the cause of acute food poisoning (see BOTULISM,). consultation with a center.

Blood poisoning, also bacterial in nature, is a condition that occurs when Various treatments may
virulent microorganisms invade the bloodstream through a wound or an counteract the effect of a
infection. Symptoms include chills, fever, prostration, and often poison. The containers of
infections or secondary abscesses in various organs (see some toxic substances list
SEPTICEMIA,). Most poison gases also have an effect on the an antidote (a remedy that
bloodstream. Because these gases restrict the body's ability to absorb counteracts the effects of a
oxygen, they are often considered in a separate category called poison chemically),
asphyxiants, to which group ordinary carbon monoxide belongs. Gas although few specific
poisons, however, may also be corrosives or irritants (see CHEMICAL antidotes exist. In other
AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE,). cases it is advisable to use
an emetic, a substance that
 induces vomiting and
rids the stomach of
certain poisons. Because
certain poisons can burn
bloodstream. Because these gases restrict the the injured tissues of the
body's ability to absorb oxygen, they are often mouth and throat if the
considered in a separate category called victim vomits, this
asphyxiants, to which group ordinary carbon treatment should only be
monoxide belongs. Gas poisons, however, used if it is specified on
may also be corrosives or irritants (see the label or advised by a
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL medical professional. In
WARFARE,). any instance of
poisoning, it is
About 50 percent of all human poisoning cases imperative that remedial
in the U.S. involve commonly used drugs or treatment be started as
household products such as aspirin, soon as possible.
barbiturates, insecticides, and cosmetics.
Because barbiturates are easily available, toxic
effects resulting from their misuse are not
infrequent. Acute poisoning may result from
overdosage or interaction with other drugs,
especially alcohol. The victim of acute
barbiturate poisoning may become agitated
and nauseated, or may pass into a deep sleep
marked by increasingly shallow respiration.
Coma and heart failure may follow. Chronic
barbiturate poisoning, caused by prolonged
use of the drugs, is usually marked by
gastrointestinal irritation, loss of appetite, and
anemia. In advanced stages of chronic
barbiturate poisoning the victim may show
mental confusion.

Treatment.

One of the mainstays of treatment of

accidental poisoning is the local or regional
poison control center. Most cases of poisoning
are handled in the home after telephone
consultation with a center.

Various treatments may counteract the effect

of a poison. The containers of some toxic
substances list an antidote (a remedy that
counteracts the effects of a poison
chemically), although few specific antidotes
exist. In other cases it is advisable to use an
emetic, a substance that induces vomiting and
rids the stomach of certain poisons. Because
certain poisons can burn the injured tissues of
the mouth and throat if the victim vomits, this
treatment should only be used if it is specified
on the label or advised by a medical
professional. In any instance of poisoning, it is
imperative that remedial treatment be started
as soon as possible. See FIRST AID,.