THE 



EDINBURGH JOURNAL 



or 

 NATURAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCE. 



JULY 1830. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



ART. I. On the Physiological Effects of the Aconitum ferox. By 

 Jonathan Perbira, F.L.S. Member of the Royal College of 

 Surgeons in London, and Lecturer on the Materia Medica and 

 Chemistry, 



Having been requested by Dr. Wallich to determine what are 

 the physiological effects of the root of the Aconitum ferox on the 

 system, I undertook a series of experiments for this purpose, the 

 results of which are given in the second part of Dr. Wallich's splen- 

 did work, " Plantce Asiaticce rariores." The objects of the follow- 

 ing paper are, to give an account of the experiments themselves, 

 and of the inferences which may be drawn from them. 



Dr. F. Hamilton, in his " Account of the Kingdom of Nepal," 

 p. 98, mentions that large quantities of the root termed by the Ne- 

 paulese Bish or Bikh, and Hadaya Bish or Bikh, are annually im- 

 ported ; and that this root is a most virulent poison, whether taken 

 into the stomach or applied to wounds. He adds that it " is in 

 universal use for poisoning arrows ; and there is too much reason to 

 suspect for the worst of purposes. Its importation would indeed 

 seem to require the attention of the magistrates. The Gorkhalese 

 pretend that it is one of their principal securities against invasion 

 ^om the low countries ; and that they would so infect all the waters 

 on the route by which an enemy was advancing, as to occasion his 

 certain destruction. In case of such an attempt, the invaders ought 

 no doubt to be on their guard ; but the country abounds so in 

 springs that might be soon cleared, as to render such a means of 

 defence totally ineffectual, were the enemy aware of the circum- 

 stance." 



VOL. n. 2 H 



