242 Mr. I*ereira on the Aconitum ferox. 



tic impressions. That many of the most active poisons produce 

 slighter effects when applied to the stomach than when applied to 

 other partSj is well known The only possible ways that I am ac- 

 quainted with of explaining this phenomenon are : 1*/, By sup- 

 posing that the stomach is less susceptible of sympathetic impres- 

 sions than most other parts ; 2dl7/, By supposing that the poison 

 operates by absorption, and that the venous absorption of the sto- 

 mach is less than that of other parts ; Sdli/, It is possible that the 

 poison may be digested and converted into chyme. 



Exp. 9. March 14, — Six grains of the spirituous extract were 

 introduced into the stomach of a full grown strong dog, that had 

 been kept fasting for twenty-four hours. The only effect noticed, 

 and even that was doubtful, was strong shivering amounting almost 

 to convulsions. This only took place once. 



Exp. 10. March 21. — Present Mr. Jer. Pereira, Mr. Lunn, and 

 Mr. J. Greeves. 



This experiment was made to confirm Exp. 6. About three 

 drachms of fluid, consisting of water with a little spirit, were thrown 

 into the jugular vein, but no obvious effects were produced. To 

 render it still more satisfactory, double the quantity of fluid was 

 thrown in at the end of half an hour. No effects observable. 



From the experiments now related, it appears to me that the 

 following inferences may be drawn : — 



Isi, That the root of the Aconitum Jerox is a most virulent poi- 

 son. 



2dhj, That both the spirituous and watery extracts are poison- 

 ous, the former much worse so than the latter. 



3dli/, That the poison exerts a local action on the nerves of the 

 part to which it is applied. 



4thlt/, That its remote action is on the nervous system. 



blhly, That the intensity of this remote action is in proportion 

 to the absorbing powers of the part to which it is applied. 



Qthly, That the immediate cause of death is asphyxia. 



^thly, That this poison diminishes the irritability of the heart. 



^thly, The symptoms produced by it were, difficulty of breath- 

 ing, convulsions, and paralysis of the extremities. 



9thly, As far as my experiments have been carried, there ap- 

 pears to be a great analogy between the effects of this species of 

 Acofiitum and the A. napellus. Dr. Wallich informs me that the 

 A. ferox is used in India as a therapeutic agent in rheumatic cases. 

 Now the A. napellus has been used in these cases in Europe,— -a 

 circumstance which tends to confirm the supposition, that the ef- 

 fects of these two species of Aconitum are similar. 



Aldersgate Street, London, May 1830. 



