( 76 ) | | 
In addition to this, we may refer to the unfortunate cafe of Sir 
"Theodofius Boughton, whofe death, in 1780, an Englifh jewry de- 
clared to be occafioned by this poifon. In this cafe the active prin- 
ciple of the Laurocerafus was concentrated by repeated .diftillations, 
and given to the quantity of an ounce; the fuddenly fatal effets of 
- which muft be fill in the recolle&ion of the public. ‘ 
_ To brute animals this poifon is almoft inftantaneoufly mortal, as 
amply appears by the experiments of Madden, Mortimer,” Nicholls,* 
Langrifh,’ Vater,’ Fontana, and others. ; | 
The experiments, conducted by thefe gentlemen, fhow, that the © 
laurel-water is deftru€tive to animal life, not only when taken into 
the ftomach, but alfo on being injected into the inteftines, or applied 
externally to different organs of the body. It is remarked by Abbé» 
Fontana, that this poifon, even “ when applied in a very {mall quantity 
to the eyes, or to the inner part of the mouth, without touching the 
oefophagus, or being carried into the ftomach, is capable of killing 
an. animal in a few inftants; whilft applied in a much greater quan-— 
tity to wounds, it has' fo little ativity, that the weakeft animals, 
/ 
29 £ 
fuch as pigeons, refift its action. 
The moft volatile is the moft active part of the Laurocerafus ; and 
‘if we judge from its fenfible qualities, an analagous principle feems to 
pervade many other vegetable fubftances, efpecially the kernels of 
_ drupaceous fruits ; and in various fpecies of the amygdalus, this fapid 
principle extends to the flowers and leaves. 
It is of importance to notice, that this is much lefs powerful in 
its action upon human fubjedts than upon dogs, rabbits, pigeons, and 
reptiles. . To poifon man the eflential oil of the Laurocerafus muft 
be feparated by diftillation, as in the fpirituous or common laurel- 
water; and unlefs this is ftrongly imbued with the oil, or given in a 
large dofe, it proves innocent. | 
> Phil. Tranf. v. 376 p. 163. 
© &f 4 Vide Langrifh. Phil. Experiments upon brutes, to which is added a courfe of 
experiments with the Laurocerafus. 
; : Diff: de Lauracerafi indole venenata. Alfo inhis Progr. de olei animal. contra 
yar ope 
€ See Skinner's Tranflation. ii. p. 180. 
«~~ Dr. Cullen 
