u 



ACTION OF POISONS ON THE ANIMAL SYSTEM. 



Experiment 

 repeated. 



Similar effects 

 on the sto- 

 mach of a 

 dead rabbit. 



Etp. 9. Mil- 

 riate of mer- 

 cury given to 

 a cat. 



appearances 

 o:\ dissection. 



resembled the usual contents of the stomach j while those of 

 the cardiac portion consisted of the food of the animal much 

 diluted by fluid j so that the solution, which had been injected, 

 appeared to be confined to the cardiac portion of # the stomach, 

 and to be prevented entering the pyloric portion by the muscu- 

 lar contraction in the centre. 



In the pyloric portion of the stomach the mucous membrane 

 had its natural appearance j but in the cardiac portion it was 

 of a dark gray colour, was readily torn and peeled off j and 

 in some parts its texture was completely destroyed, so that it 

 appeared like a pulp, on removing which the muscular and 

 peritoneal coats were exposed. 



The repetition of the experiment was attended with similar 

 results. The alteration of the texture of the internal mem- 

 brane appears to have been occasioned by its being chemically" 

 acted on by the corrosive sublimate injected into it. When 

 the injection is made into the stomach of a dead rabbit, pre- 

 cisely the same effects are produced, except that, as the middle 

 contraction is here wanting, the appearances are not confined in 

 the same degree to the cardiac portion. 



Experiment g. A scruple of corrosive sublimate, dissolved 

 in six drams of distilled water, was injected into the stomach 

 of a full grown cat. For the first five minutes no symptoms 

 were produced. After this, the poison operated twice as an 

 emetic. 'The animal appeared restless, and made expression 

 of pain in the abdomen. He gradually became insensible, and 

 lay on one side motionless, with the pupils of the eyes dilated. 

 The respiration was laborious, and the pulse could not be felt. 

 Twenty-five minutes after the poison was injected, there was 

 a convulsive action of the voluntary muscles, and death ensued. 

 On opening the thorax immediately afterward, the heart was 

 seen still contracting, but very feebly. 



The stomach was found perfectly empty and contracted. 

 The mucous membrane was every where of a dark gray 

 colour. It had lost its natural texture, and was readily torn 

 and separated from the muscular coat. The internal mem- 

 brane of the duodenum had a similar appearance, but in a less 

 degree, for nearly three inches from the pylorus. In the situa- 

 tion of the.pylorus the effects of the poison were less apparent 

 than in any other part. 



The 



