Abstract
Since 1945, the number of patients with acute poisoning has increased continuously and has now reached epidemic proportions. Acute poisoning accounts for approximately 10% of the patients admitted to a general hospital. Acts of self-poisoning rather than accidents have shown a marked increase; the drugs are easily obtained and it is common knowledge that most patients survive the experience. Poisoning is therefore used as a ready means of escape from intolerable personal or social problems. In addition to the increase in self-poisoning, the choices of poisoning have changed. Sedatives, aspirin, tranquillizers or anti-depressants are popular; corrosive poisons such as Lysol (cresol and soap solutions, BP) are now seldom taken.
Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk. John Keats, 1820
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© 1978 E. Sherwood Jones
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Jones, E.S. (1978). Common Acute Poisonings. In: Essential Intensive Care. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9644-1_16
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9644-1_16
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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