37 



into the jugular vein of a good-sized. 'strong dog, produced convulsions in one minute, and deathMn three minutes 

 ^ One grain introduced mto the cellular tissue of the back of a rabbit, began to affect the svstem at the end of sfk 

 minutes, and produced death in fifteen minutes. A rabbit was made to swallow three grains of the extract No 

 effect was produced, except that the animal continued chewing for Several hours as if ruminating, and which arose 

 probably from the local action of the poison on the mouth and throat. Tlie watery is less powerful than the 

 spirituous extract. Two grains of it introduced into the peritoneum of a rabbit did not produce death until the 

 expiration of twenty-seven minutes. 



"By referring to the experiments of Professor Orfila in his General Toxicology, and of Mr. Brodle in the Pftiloso. 

 phical Transactions, it will be seen that the symptoms produced by \\\c Aconitum Napellus are very sliullar to those pro- 

 duced by the Aconitum ferox , Hence then it is most probable, that both species contain tiie sairte active principle : but 

 the A.ferocevmsX contain it in much greater quantity, as its effects are so much more powerful. Indeed the alcoliolic 

 extract of this root appears to be nearly equal in power to Strychnine, Upas Antiar, Upas Tinite, and JUoorara 

 poisons. — That it is equal in power to Strychnine I can speak from numerous experiments, which I have made ^\lth 

 this latter ; but with respect to the activity of the Upas and JFoorara poisons I can only speak from the experiments 

 of Orfila, Brodie and others. , 



" As my experiments demonstrate, that the activity of the Aconitum ferox is in proportion to the absorbing jwwer of 

 the surface to which it is applied, we have, I think, a right to infer, that this poison becomes absorbed ; and that it 

 acts on the brain there cannot be the least doubt if we refer to the symptoms. — But we are not justified in assuming, 

 because it becomes absorbed, and produces its effects on the brain, that, therefore, it operates by coming into contact 

 with that viscus. The experiments of Messrs. Morgan and Addison seem to prove that poisons, any how introduced 

 into the blood-vessels, act on the lining membrane of the vessels, and by sympathy affect the brain. That the alcoholic 

 extract of this root acts on the nerves of the part to which it is applied, was proved by placing a minute portion of it on 

 the tongue. Shortly afterwards a peculiar pricking and numbness in the tongue and lips came on, which lasted for 

 several hours. In one experiment, the impression remained for eighteen hours. Once I experienced a peculiar 

 "feeling in the throat, as if the velum and uvula were elongated and rested on the dorsum of the tongue. This arose 

 from my taking rather more of the extract than usual. A similar sensation was felt by Drs. Bbott and Walllch." 



I am indebted to my friend Dr. George Govan for the following interesting details : — 



" This plant in all its parts is said to be a virulent poison taken internally by men or other animals. The idea of 

 its effluvia affecting the air, so as to produce deleterious effects upon those exposed to it, is likewise very prevalent 

 among the inhabitants of Blssehur and Gurhwal. Having been myself, as well as all those who accompanied me, 

 repeatedly exposed both during the day and night to its influence, without having ever experienced inconvenience, I 

 should rather be inclined to attribute this belief to the circumstance of the plants always occurring at very high 

 elevations ; where, we are informed by the first authority, great inconveniences, similar to those believed to be pro- 

 duced by it, are often felt ; viz. giddiness, fainting, somnolency and difficult respiration. The last of these symptoms has 

 been usually attributed to rarefaction of the air, and has been said to occur when the body remained j)erfectly at rest. 



"The plant occupies the highest situations in the forest belt investing the sides of the Himmalaya; and I have 

 never met with it much below where the barometer stood at 19 inches. 



"From my own personal experience of the effects above mentioned, and from that of the people who accompanied 

 me in crossing the Himmalaya, by the Role or Pannung Pass in Blssehur, where the barometer stood at about 17 

 inches, I can assert that, after passing the night at what I should judge the upper limit of perpetual snow, no other • 

 inconvenience or difficult respiration was felt, than what was the necessary result of the exertion in ascending, and which 

 ceased whenever the body remained at rest. A degree of sickness and giddiness wiis experienced upon one occasion, 

 with anxiety in respiration, and several of the servants would willingly have remained behind, to sleep for a short time 

 on the snow ; but these circumstances did not take place during the exertion of ascending. Here, however, the plant 

 was not to be found for many miles, and as the situation was much inferior in elevation to that above mentioned (the 

 barometer only having sunk to 19 inches), I could not help attributing the sensations experienced, to the exertion of 

 walkiu"- more than ankle deep among snow, for nearly six hours, during which the feet were benumbed, and the head 

 exposed to the very powerful action of the rays of the sun. This was in crossing Manjhee-ke-khanda, between the 

 Tonse and Jumnoutri, in the beginning of October. . 



" It appears that the root of this plant is imported in very considerable quantity into the plains, where it is sold at 

 the rate of one rupee per Seer (about one shilling the pound), although the sale of it seems to have been prohibited 

 under the native governments, on pains of heavy penalties, except to persons well knonii, or by authority. It Is also used 

 in cases of chronic rheumatism by the native practitioners. The coincidence in opinion respecting its efficacy in such 

 cases between them and Professor Stoerk of Vienna, who applied the extract of the roots of some of the European 

 species to similar purposes, may perhaps add to the evidence respecting its utility. The names of Meetha Doodhya 

 and Meetha Telya are applied to different preparations of it." 



Plate XLI. Fig. 1. Flower dissected. 2. Fruit ; one of the capsules detaclied. 3. Seed. 4. Segment of a root. 



