216 ON THE POISONOUS ErPECT OE THE LITER OF A DIODON. 



exertion ; his face was somewliat fluslied ; his eyes glisteniBg, and 

 pupils rather contracted ; his mouth was open, and, as the muscles 

 of the pharynx were drawTi together by cramp, the saliva flowed 

 from it ; the lips were tumid and somewhat blue ; the forehead 

 covered with perspiration; the pidse quick, small, and intermittent. 

 The patient was extremely uneasy and in great distress, but was 

 still conscious. With great difficulty he related that he had par- 

 taken of the liver of the fish ; complained of pain from constriction 

 of the fauces and gullet, together with great uneasiness in the 

 region of the stomach ; and at this time there appeared an inclina- 

 tion to vomit. The patient begged most earnestly for speedy 

 relief. A powder containing one grain of Tartarus stihiatus and 

 five grains pulv. rad. Ijyecac. was immediately administered to 

 him, which, however, was rejected in a few minutes. It was with 

 great difficulty he could swallow the powder and the accompanying 

 warm water. The state of the patient quickly assumed a paralytic 

 form ; his eyes became fixed in one direction ; his breathing became 

 difficult, and was accompanied with dilatation of the nostrils ; his 

 face became pale and covered with cold perspiration; his lips livid; 

 his consciousness and ptdse failed ; his rattling respiration finally 

 ceased. The patient died scarcely seventeen minutes after par- 

 taking of the liver of the fish. During this rapid course there was 

 no full vomiting, the powder given him for that purpose having 

 no efiect. 



" ' Almost the same symptoms, following each other with equal 

 rapidity, appeared in J. Hansen ; vomiting ensued even before an 

 emetic was administered to him. A powder similar to that already 

 mentioned, together with abundance of warm water, was, however, 

 exhibited; the vomiting was repeated, and the patient after a 

 second powder vomited for the third time. He was stiU conscious, 

 and said that he felt easier, expressing at the same time some 

 hope ; the pulse became softer ; the vomiting was again repeated ; 

 but in a few moments a single convulsive movement in the arms 

 ensued, whereupon the pulse disappeared, and the livid tongue 

 was protruded from between the lips. His death took place about 

 one minute later than that of his messmate. 



(Signed) " ' Julius Hellmuth.' " 



