Diseases > Domestic medicine

464 BUCHAN’S
is here necessary; the remedies for most poisons being
generally at hand, or easily obtained, and nothing but
common prudence needful in the application.
The vulgar notion, that every poison is cured by
some counter-poison as a specific, has done much
hurt. People believe they can do nothing for the
patient, unless they know the particular antidote
to that kind of poison which he has taken. Whereas
the cure of all poisons taken into the stomach with¬
out exception, depends chiefly on discharging them as
soon as possible.
There is no case wherein the indications of cure
are more obvious. Poison is seldom long in the
stomach before it occasions sickness, with an incli¬
nation to vomit. This shews plainly what ought
to be done. Indeed common sense dictates to
every one, that if any thing has been taken into the
stomach which endangers life, it ought immediately
to be discharged. Were this duly regarded, the danger
arising from poisons might generally be avoided. The
method of prevention is obvious, and the means are
in the hands of every one.
We shall not take up the reader’s time with a
detail of the ridiculous notions which have prevailed
among ignorant people in different ages with regard
to poisons ; neither shall we mention the boasted
antidotes, which have been recommended either for
preventing or obviating their effects; but shall content
ourselves with pointing out the poisons most common
in this country, and the means of avoiding their
dangerous consequences.
Poisons either belong to the mineral, the vegetable,
or the animal kingdom.
Mineral poisons are commonly of an acrid or corro¬
sive quality; as arsenic, colbat, the corrosive subliuiate
of mercury, &c.