universal antidote


antidote

 [an´tĭ-dōt] an agent that counteracts a poison. adj., adj antido´tal.chemical antidote one that interacts with a poison and changes its chemical nature to form a harmless substance.mechanical antidote one that prevents absorption of the poison.physiologic antidote one that counteracts the effects of the poison by producing opposing effects.universal antidote a mixture formerly recommended as an antidote when the exact poison is not known. There is, in fact, no known universal antidote. charcoal" >Activated charcoal is now being used for many poisons.

u·ni·ver·sal an·ti·dote

a dated mixture of two parts activated charcoal, one part tannic acid, and one part magnesium oxide intended to be administered to patients who consumed poison. The mixture is ineffective and no longer used; activated charcoal is useful.