Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1911 — CARBOLIC ACID. [ARTICLE]

CARBOLIC ACID.

Peculiar Effect Pure Alcohol Has on This Irritant Poison. One of the most frequent Irritant poisons used for suicidal purposes is carbolic acid, and a more agonising death could not be selected. Why any one should select this poison It Is hard to understand unless on account of the fact that It is eheap and easily obtainable. This form of poisoning can usually be easily recognized by the odor, which is well known, and by the white burns or marks on the lips and mouth, which are, typical of carbolic acid poisoning. Send for the nearest physician, and in the meantime, as carbolic acid kills quielcly, the first aid treatment must be prompt in order to get results. If possible cause the patient to vomit by giving an emetic, such as ipecac or salt and water, a tablespoonful to a pint of warm water. This, however, frequently fails to work on account of the irritated condition of the mucous membrane of the stomach. One of the best chemical antidotes is epsom salt in solution. Another good chemical antidote is alcohol, the only trouble with this remedy being that it cannot be given in a pure form. It has to be diluted with water and for that reason loses its efficacy. Just exactly why alcohol counteracts the effect of carbolic acid is not known, but if, for instance, carbolic acid is splashed on the hands and they are at once Immersed in absolute alcohol there will be no resulting burn.— Dr. H. H. Hartung in National Magazine. * •