of the Aconitum ferox. 237 



the tongue and lips, from tasting a small portion of the alcoholic ex- 

 tract. Dr. Wallich, who took a still smaller portion, experienced 

 only the numbness of the tongue and lips. This sensation was also 

 felt by Dr. Falconer and Messrs J. & G. Greeves. It is deserving 

 of notice that Mr. Brodie experienced a remarkable sense of numb- 

 ness of the lips and gums, which did not subside for two or three 

 hours, from chewing a small quantity of the leaf of the Aconitum 

 napellus. My assistant, IVIr. Lunn, experienced a peculiar ting- 

 ling sensation in the nose, from powdering a small portion of the 

 root of the A. ferox. This sensation produced occasional sneezing, 

 and lasted for four hours. 



AU the experiments which I am now about to relate, were made 

 in the presence of Dr. Falconer, Assistant-Surgeon on the Bengal 

 Establishment, (to whom I am much indebted for acting as secretary 

 on the occasions,) and my brother Mr. Jer. Pereira ; and most of 

 them in the presence also of Messrs. G. & J. Greeves. 



Exp. 1. Feb. 14. 1830. — Five grains of the powdered root were 

 attempted to be introduced into the throat of a small rabbit, by 

 means of a glass tube. In consequence of the struggles of the ani- 

 mal, part (estimated at two grains) was wasted in the attempt. 

 In one minute there was difficulty of breathing ; the animal ap- 

 peared to be in pain ; and two or three drops of fluid, mixed with a 

 little of the powder, dropped from the mouth. In three minutes 

 the difficulty of breathing was much increased, and to which was 

 added a flow of saliva from the mouth. In twelve minutes, the 

 posterior extremities were much weakened, if not paralyzed : the 

 animal remained in whatever position he was placed in. At the 

 end of seventeen minutes, he could not support himself in the erect 

 posture. In eighteen minutes, convulsions of the throat and of the 

 posterior extremities ; and a little urine passed. The limbs became 

 relaxed, and the animal was apparently dead at the end of nineteen 

 minutes. At twenty minutes, the contents of the intestines were 

 evacuated. 



Galvanism. — At thirty minutes after death the voluntary mus- 

 cles were found to be susceptible of the galvanic influence ; and the 

 vermicular motion of the intestines was much increased by it. 

 Slight contraction was produced once only in the muscular fibres of 

 the heart : other attempts to produce this efi^ect failed. 



Dissection. — The left side of the heart was found empty : the 

 right filled with blood. Lungs florid red. Pulmonary arteries dis- 

 tended. Part of the powder was found in the trachea. The sto- 

 mach was filled with food. 



Remarks. — As part of the powder had got into the trachea, no 

 very accurate inferences could be drawn as to the peculiar operation 

 of this poison. Subsequent experiments, however, proved that the 

 general symptons were in all the cases similar. 



