Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1878 — A Dangerous Item. [ARTICLE]

A Dangerous Item.

We do not remember, says the Scientific American in what journal we first saw the following extract as an original item; but, since it has recently been copied without comment oy several coteinporuries, attention sho’d be directed to it. The article states that: “A poison of any conceivable description and degree ff potency, which lias been intentionally’ or accidentally swallowed, may be rendered almost instantly harmless by simply swallowing two gills of sweet oil. An indi vidual with a very strongconstitution should take nearly t wice this quantity. This oil will most positively neutralize every form of vegetable, animal, or mineral poison with which physicians and chemists are acquainted.” The idea that sweet oil will neutralize such poisons as prussic acid, nicotine. strychnine, curare, and a host of others less speedy in their action, is almost too absurd to demand refutation. In some cases, when taken into the stomach in l|irge quantities, it may serve to involve acrid and poisonous substances and mitigate their action, until the arrival of a physician with specifics shall relieve the patient from danger; but it is not to be used in all eases, for its administration, for instance, immediately after the swallowing of a corrosive mineral acid, such as oil of vitrol, would be followed by most fearful results. As the great multitud J of poisons known to the physician and chemist are classified according to their varied mode of action on the animal economy, it is evident that the method of irmitiueut in cases of poisoning must likewise vary. There can be no one specific fur all. Il is to be hoped that no one will be sin ple enough to try this antidote; for if he does, the absurd person who penned the quoted statement may have a human life to answer for.