ACONITUM NAPELLUS. 9 
The root of the Aconitum napellus was given to four brigands. 
Two of them, after having experienced most violent pains, 
were saved by appropriate means; the two others died. In 
one of these were the following symptoms. Some hours after 
the administration of the root he became imbecile ; the face was 
covered by a cold sweat; asphyxia; spasms and syncope; 
involuntary alvine dejections ; vomiting of bilious matter; 
swelling of the whole body ; and he died apoplectic. (Matthiolus 
in Dioscorid., p. 768.) 
Willis reports a man dying maniacal, in a very short time 
after eating a salad containing some fresh leaves of the Aconite. 
Linneus relates, that an ignorant surgeon prescribed the 
leaves, which on his patient refusing to take, he swallowed 
them himself, and died in consequence. 
A person having eaten some of the leaves became maniacal, ~ 
and the surgeon who was called to his assistance, declared that 
the plant was not the cause of his disorder, and to convince 
the company that it was perfectly innocent, he ate freely of the 
leaves, and soon after died in great agony. (Mord. i Kel. 
Acad., 1739.) 
The juice of Aconite introduced into a small wound in the 
thumb excites pains in the fingers and arms; cardialgia ; 
anxiety, with fear of suffocation ; lipothymia (fainting) ; agita- 
tion ; gangrene ; abundant suppuration. (Alberti, Junot. Med., 
vi. p. 724.) es 
Orfila relates that five persons partook of the leaves by 
mistake; three of them died two hours after. They all 
suffered from sensations of burning in the throat, cesophagus, 
and abdomen; desire to vomit; and when vomiting, violent 
colics, swelled face, and very tumid abdomen. 
Some of the leaves of Aconite had been eaten by a man 
as a salad, and the following were the chief symptoms com- 
plained of. Sensation of tingling heat, which did not only 
affect the tongue but his jaws, so that the teeth seemed loose, 
and his cheeks were so much irritated, that he could scarce be 
