The form in which the poison is
swallowed and the quantity also determine its action. In the gaseous
form, poisons act most rapidly and fatally. When in solution and
injected hypodermically, they also act very rapidly. In the solid form
they act as a rule slowly, and may even set up vomiting, and so may be
entirely ejected by vomiting. Poisons act most energetically when the
stomach is empty. If taken when the stomach already contains food,
solution and absorption may be greatly delayed.
Some poisons are cumulative in their action, and thus, even if
infinitesimal doses be swallowed each day, there is a certain amount of
storage in the tissues (though a certain percentage of the poison is
being constantly eliminated), and at last symptoms of poisoning show
themselves.
=Classification of Poisons.=--As an aid to memory, the following
classification is perhaps the best:
I. _Inorganic._
1. Corrosive acids and alkalies, and caustic salts (carbolic and
oxalic acids also).
2. Irritant--practically all the metals and the metalloids (I. Cl.
Br. P.).
II. _Organic._
{ Animal--venomous bites, food poisoning, cantharides.
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