q/*Me Aconitum ferox. 239 



minutes the animal was apparently dead : shortly after which the 

 pupils began to contract. 



Galvanistn and Dissection. — The phenomena were the same as 

 in the last experiment. 



Remarks. — As I had anticipated, the poison took longer time to 

 produce death, when introduced into the subcutaneous cellular tis- 

 sue, than when introduced into the sac of the peritoneum. I may 

 remark that the repeated faint cries mentioned here, appeared to 

 all who witnessed the experiment, to be, in part at least, the re- 

 sult of the involuntary action of the respiratory muscles. 



Exp. 4. — Two grains of the watery extract were introduced into 

 the peritoneal cavity of a full grown rabbit : part of the extract 

 was diffused over the wound, in consequence of the exudation of 

 some fluid from the abdominal cavity. In two minutes the animal 

 appeared to be slightly affected : seemed uneasy, and licked the 

 wound. In five minutes stretched out his hind legs : respiration 

 hurried. At the end of nine minutes the urine was passed ; and 

 at ten minutes one or two efforts were made to swallow. In fifteen 

 minutes staggered. At seventeen minutes and a half, the head 

 was drawn temporarily to one side. At twenty minutes appeared 

 much enfeebled : frequent convulsive gasps : unable to support it- 

 self : laid stretched out : fore legs principally affected : respiration 

 irregular. At twenty-five minutes was unable to rise : strong con- 

 vulsions : faint cries : pupils much dilated : eyes much protruded. 

 At twenty-seven minutes the animal was apparently dead. Imme- 

 diately afterwards the pupils began to contract. Galvanism was 

 not tried. 



Dissection. — The appearances were the same as in former expe- 

 riments. 



Remarks. — This experiment demonstrates that the watery is less 



{)owerful than the spirituous extract. It must, however, be recol- 

 ected that the animal in this case was stronger than those operat- 

 ed on in the former experiments, and that part of the poison was 

 diffused over the wound. We must not hastily conclude, from this 

 experiment, that the active principle of the root is more soluble in 

 spirit than in water. The greater activity of the spirituous over 

 the watery extract, may arise from water dissolving some proxi- 

 mate principles, (such as gum,) which are not soluble in spirit ; 

 for the quantity of spirituous extract obtained was very pmall as 

 compared with that of watery extract obtained from the same 

 weight of the root. In this experiment the fore legs were first af- 

 fected, whereas in the former experiment the hind legs appeared 

 first and principally affected. 



Exp. 5. Feb. 16. — One grain of the alcoholic extract, placed on 

 a small piece of cabbage leaf, was introduced into the back part of 

 the mouth of a small rabbit, care being taken that he swallowed 



