ACTION OF POISONS ON THE ANIMAL SYSTEM, 15 



The particular state of the internal membrane of the sto- 

 mach, in this experiment as well as in the last, appears to have 

 been occasioned by the chemical action of the poison on it. 

 When 1 injected a solution of corrosive sublimate into the Effects on the 



stomach of a dead cat, and retained it there for a few minutes, y orT } a( \ °- * 



dead cat simi- 



a similar alteration of the texture of the -internal membrane lar. 

 took place ; but it assumed a lighter gray colour. The differ- 

 ence of colour may be explained by the vessels in the one case 

 being empty, and in the other case being distended with blood 

 at the time of the injection being made. 



The destruction of the substance of the internal membrane The nvrian 

 of the stomach precludes the idea of the poison having been on tlie sto / 

 absorbed into the circulation. We must conclude, that death mach ; 

 was the consequence -of the chemical action of the poison on 

 the stomach. This organ, however, is not directly necessary 

 to life, since its functions, under certain circumstances, are 

 suspended for hours, or even for days, without death being 

 produced. Although the stomach was the part primarily af- but produce* 



fected, the immediate cause of death must be looked for in d ^ ath l) y uu]v ~ 



recti y destroy 

 ilut cessation of the functions of one or more of those organs, i n g the func- 



the constant action of which is necessary to life. From the scar- * ,ons of *}** 



heart sivd 

 let colour of the blood in the left side of the heart, in the expe- braia. 



riment on the rabbit, we may conclude, that the functions of 

 the lungs were not affected j but the affection of the heart and 

 ferain is proved by the convulsions, the insensibility, the affec- 

 tion of the pulse in both experiments, and the sudden cessation 

 of the heart's action in the first j and we may therefore be 

 justified in concluding, that the immediate cause of death was 

 in both of these organs. As the effects produced appear to 

 have been independent of absorption, we may presume, that 

 the heart, as well as the brain, was acted on through the me- 

 dium of the nerves. 



That a sudden and violent injury of the stomach should be 

 capable of thus speedily proving fatal, is not surprising, when 

 we consider the powerful sympathy between it and the organs 

 on which life more immediately depends, and the existence 

 of which many circumstances in disease daily demonstrate 

 to us. 



VII. The facts which have been stated appear to lead to the General ief*. 



following 



