Poisoning by home products--chemical and biological methods of diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION At the present stage of progress by chemical industry it may appear needless to fear from the toxic nature of hausehold products so common through their use; and yet acute intoxication fairly often occurs especially in children ( one to four years old) who escape their parents eye and swallow anything they find at home. The seriousness of intoxication by home products can be assessed from figures for the year 1965-66 during which 9830 calls were received at the Poison Centrein Parisand 238 children were admitted to hospital (cf. Tables 1 and 2). From the medical practitioners' point ofview these accidents are mostly mild, especially when they are due to intaking of solids, but more dangeraus when solvents or cleansing fluids are swallowed. With teenagers and adults the acute intoxication results from a suicide attempt or carelessness.