Poisons

3769

Poker

dom. J. D. Mann, in his Forensic Medicine
(igoo), gives the following list of the most
important plants from which alkaloids are ob-
tained: Strychnia, mix -vomica, Cocculus in-
dicus, deadly nightshade, henbane, thorne-ap-
ple, woody nightshade, Indian hemp, Gclsem-
mm sempervirens, Indian tobacco (Lobelia in-
flala), tobacco, hemlock, foxglove, meadow-
saffron, hellebore, aconite, and laburnum. It
must not be forgotten that some of the above
are valuable remedies in skilled hands. Plants
poisonous to the touch are few, fortunately,
but the two sumachs, Rhus vernix and Rhus
radicans (the latter best known as poison ivy),
and occasionally; Cypripedium, cause tor-
menting, itching inflammations. Other plants,
such as lupines (Lupinus), death camas (Zyga-
denus), larkspurs (Delphinium}, and the no-
torious loco weeds (Astragallus) are destruc-
tive to live-stock. Children are in danger of
eating the roots of pokeweed (Phytolacca},
poison-hemlock (Conium), water-hemlock
(Cicuta), and elderberry (Sambucm); and
are, too, frequently poisoned by the seeds of
Datura, buckeye (JEsculus), etc., while pois-
onous mushrooms destroy their elders. See
Chestnut's Principal Poisonous Plants of the
United States, 1898 (U. S. Dept. Agric. Div.
Bot.Bull.2Q).

Poisons. Substances that act upon living
tissue in such a way as to impair its processes
or destroy its life. Most drugs are poisonous
in excess of certain quantities. Poisons are
variously classified, according to their effect,
as corrosives, irritants, narcotics, convulsants;
or by their chemical nature, as alkaloids, acids,
organic or inorganic. Violent symptoms, such
as pain, retching, vomiting, diarrhoea, giddi-
ness, or convulsions, coming immediately or
soon after the taking of food, hint at poison.
The middle-aged and young adult are, gener-
ally speaking, less susceptible than children
and the aged. Arsenic, one of the irritant pois-
ons, can be taken in large quantities by those
who have gradually become accustomed to its
use. Some poisons do not, allow of gradually
increasing doses, but, on the contrary, are
cumulative in their action, being stored in the
tissues and perhaps working with deadly re-
sults after their use has been discontinued.
Trional, digitalis, and strychnia are examples.
Corrosive poisons—such as sulphuric, nitric,
and carbolic acids—produce a sensation of
burning as they pass down the throat. The
lips and mouth may immediately show stain-
ing and blistering; the throat swells, and swal-
lowing and breathing becomes difficult. There
ts intense pain in the stomach, with vomiting,

possibly of mucous membrane, and purging.
Corrosives may act as irritants if taken in
comparatively small quantities; but arsenic,
phosphorus, croton oil. tartar emetic, copper,
and zinc compounds may be considered typical
examples. In acute irritant poisoning the sym-
toms are much like those of corrosives, but not
quite so rapid or violent. In chronic poison-
ing through repeated small doses, discomfort
after food, loss of appetite, occasional pain
and vomiting, with a general appearance of
illness and wasting. Common sources of unin-
tentional poisoning are matches (phosphorus),
carbolic acid, salts of sorrel (oxalic acid),
vermin killer (strychnine), laudanum, chloro-
dyne, paregoric, and Dover's powder (opium),
also hypodermic injection of morphia. Arsenic
has been mistaken for sugar; and poisoning
is frequently the result of abortifacients, such
as strong purgatives, irritants such as can-
tharides, lead (as diachylon), ergot of rye,
savin, and others. Badly-tinned meat and fish,
sausages, contaminated mussels and oysters,
frequently give rise to ptomaine poisoning.

Poisson, Simeon Denis (1781-1840),
French mathematician, was born at Pithiviers.
He was especially noted for his application of
mathematics to physics, investigating such
subjects as the invariability of the axes of the
planets, capillary phenomena, and the mathe-
matical theory of heat.

Poitiers, chief tn., dep. of Vienne, France,
60 m. by rail s. by w. of Tours, on a height be-
tween the junction of the Clain and Boivre,
It has some Roman remains; the church of St.
Hilaire le Grand, in which rest the remains of
the famous bishop of Poitiers (?32o-s68); the
church of St. Radegonde, long a place of pil-
grimage; and a cathedral, founded in 1161 by
Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of Henry n. of
England. The victory of Charles Martel over
the Saracens in 732 is named in France after
this town, though it occurred at some distance
in the direction of Tours. Poitiers is an episco-
pal see; p.33,439-

Poker, an American game of cards which
depends for its interest on the wagering of
money. The full pack of 52 cards is used, and
any number from 2 to 7 may play. Before the
game is commenced an equal number of
counters are given to each player. These count-
ers, called chips, are usually small celluloid
disks; red, white, and blue in color, each color
having a definite money value. At the con-
clusion of the game the chips are cashed in.

Before the cards are dealt, the player on the
left of the dealer (the age) must put up on
the table one-half the amount agreed upon as