280 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP [1884. 



art-production in flint and jasper is uncertain. The speaker had 

 seen no specimens that conclusively showed that they did. 



Cutaneous Absorption of Nicotine. — Dr. N. A. Randolph de- 

 scribed the results of a series of experiments performed by Mr. 

 Samuel G. Dixon and himself, relative to the absorption of nico- 

 tine by the uninjured healthy skin of the living rabbit. In these 

 experiments only rabbits of ascertained good health were used. 

 The fur of the abdomen was carefully clipped (not shaved); suffi- 

 cient time, usually seven days, being allowed to intervene between 

 this operation and the application of the drug to the skin ; thus 

 permitting any slight scratch made at this time to fully heal. 

 The absence of cutaneous lesion was further confirmed by close 

 examination under a strong hand-magnifier. The drug was then 

 applied to the skin, no friction being used. In order to preclude 

 the possibility of its vaporization and subsequent absorption by the 

 lung surface, the nicotine was placed upon an adhesive plaster, 

 the backing of which was made of sheet rubber. The plaster, 

 with the drug in its centre, was then applied in the open air, on a 

 windy day. Difi"erent doses were applied ; thus, in one case, one 

 drop of nicotine applied to the skin, caused death in five hours 

 and eleven minutes. In each of three cases a similar application 

 of ten drops was fatal in respectivelj' one hundred and nine 

 minutes, twenty-eight minutes, and thirty-six minutes. In the 

 fifth case, a similar application of fifteen drops of nicotine caused 

 death in twenty-eight minutes. 



Of the ante-mortem symptoms, contraction of the pupil was 

 constant, and often appeared very quickly. Other prominent 

 symptoms were great trembling, with subsequent loss of muscular 

 power in the extremities. In one case, actual convulsions were 

 noted, and in others, coldness of the skin and increased lachrymal 

 and nasal secretion. Immediately upon the death of two of the 

 animals (after the ten- and fifteen-drop doses respectively), blood 

 was removed, defibrinated, and tested with mercuric chloride for 

 the presence of nicotine in the manner detailed by Wormley 

 (" Micro-Chemistry of Poisons"). In each, of these two instances, 

 characteristic groups of crystals were found upon microscopic 

 examination of the extract from the blood. 



The following was ordered to be printed : — 



