Socrates is one of the three greatest philosophers of Ancient Greece. The other two were Plato and Aristotle. Socrates was acknowledged as one of the founders of Western philosophy. Though he was not a writer, much of his knowledge was preserved in the writings of Plato and Xenophon, two of his many students. Because of Plato’s dialogues, said to be the most comprehensive accounts of Socrates, Socrates has become celebrated for his contribution to the field of ethics. At the time leading to Socrates’ death, he had been a critic of democracy. Several scholars of his time took this as a manifestation of political infighting. He was tried for heresy and found guilty. He was sentenced to death by hemlock. Hemlock is one of the many poisonous plants found all over the world. If ingested it cause paralysis of the body systems, with paralysis of the respiratory system as the frequent cause of death.
Plants have many uses for people. For starters, much of human nutrition is dependent on land plants, either directly or indirectly. From rice to wheat to potato to fruits and vegetables, these all come from plants. Moreover, several beverages, sugar, cooking oil and many more come from plants. But aside from food, plants also have nonfood products, such as wood, renewable fuel and herbal supplements. Plants also have aesthetic, ornamental, scientific and cultural uses. More importantly, plants make life possible on earth. However, a variety of these plants do not come without negative effects, and one of them is poison.
Plants are poisonous to humans when ingested or if there is skin contact with the plant chemicals. Generally, the commonest problem with poisonous plants comes from direct contact with the sap oil that causes allergic skin reaction. These plants include poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. The toxic parts of the plants vary. The bulbs of the plants Hyacinth, Narcissus and Daffodil lead to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which can be fatal. The leaves and branches of Oleander affect the heart and lead to severe digest upset, and are very poisonous. The whole of Dumb Cane and Elephant Ear cause intense burning and irritation of tongue and mouth. A single seed of Castor Bean and Rosary Pea can be lethal to adults. These are just some of the poisonous plants. Each plant varies with symptoms and effects to their victims.
If the victim is conscious, ask them what they ate and comfort them. If possible, try to identify the poisonous plant in order to give proper medications immediately. If not, try to get a part of the plant but do not touch the plant directly. For skin contamination, gently wipe the affected area with a cotton dress or cotton wool. To prevent further poisoning, immediately throw away the contaminated materials. Flush the area with fresh water. Take extra precaution to remove the clothes of the victim to ensure that there are no remnants left on the body. If the eyes are contaminated, rinse with generous amounts of water and dry gently. If the toxic part was eaten, do not induce vomiting. If the casualty becomes unconscious, open airway and check breathing. If necessary, be prepared to give chest compressions and rescue breaths. Place the victim in recovery position if the victim is unconscious but breathing normally.
First aid classes and CPR courses are offered by many organizations and institutions such as St Mark James. The benefits of taking these classes are innumerable. These classes help in reducing damages and help resuscitate lives. Poison and many other medical emergencies are included in these classes.