116 REPORT—1843. 
either from the presence of the lead or some other cause, the animals did 
not appear at first to relish their food, but after a few days they ate as well 
as ever. After they had been taking this dose for ten days, the quantity of 
the acetate of lead was increased to six grains daily for each rabbit, and in 
five days more the quantity was increased to ten grains daily for each: 
they did not appear to suffer from this large dose, and it was again aug- 
mented to fifteen grains. After this dose had been taken for eighteen days 
one of the animals died, apparently from gradual inanition—there was no 
paralysis. The quantity of acetate of lead taken was 380 grains in the 
space of seven weeks. The only morbid appearances discovered after death, 
were redness of the lungs, and a thickened leathery state of the mucous 
membrane of the stomach, which was also lighter in colour than natural: the 
different viscera and the body were preserved for analysis. The other rabbit 
lived six weeks longer, the dose of the acetate of lead being gradually in- 
creased ; for six days before its death, it was taking a drachm of the acetate 
daily ; no symptoms of paralysis were observed, on the animal being allowed 
to run about, two days before it died. A post-mortem examination showed 
that the mucous membrane of the stomach had been the part principally 
acted on by the poison; it was so softened, that when the stomach was 
opened it remained adhering to the mass of food which the stomach con- 
tained, and without a careful investigation it was difficult to say if it was 
thickened mucus or the membrane itself that covered the food. The lining 
membrane of the small intestines and caecum was also softened and reddened 
in patches; the colon and rectum natural. The mesenteric glands were 
enlarged and converted into a cheesy substance ; tubercles were also found 
in the liver. The other viscera appeared healthy. At the time of its death 
this animal had taken upwards of four ounces of the acetate of lead, this sub- 
stance having been mixed with its food during nearly three months. A care- 
ful analysis of the different viscera, with the exception of the stomach and 
intestinal canal, enabled me to detect the presence of lead only in the brain, 
in which organ it was found in both rabbits. Nor was I more successful in 
discovering it in the muscular tissue, or in the bones. 170 grains of the dried 
muscle from the first rabbit were heated with nitric and sulphuric acids, and 
then incinerated in an unglazed porcelain crucible: dilute hydrochloric acid 
was added, and the soluble portions removed by filtration; as by this means 
the greater portion of the salts, which interfere with the perfect combustion 
of the organic matter, was got rid of. What remained on the filter was 
moistened with nitric acid, and again burnt; this process being repeated until 
all the organic matter appeared quite destroyed: not the slightest trace of 
lead was discovered. The same process was pursued with the whole of the 
body of the other animal, with the exception of the viscera, which were 
analysed separately, and not the slightest trace of lead was discovered, 
although the animal had been taking it for three months, during which time 
it had swallowed more than four ounces. As in the last rabbit, the brain was 
the only part in which any trace of the poison could be detected ; and here 
the quantity was so small as not to be appreciable by the balance, and must 
have been less than the hundredth of a grain, as that quantity could have 
been collected and weighed. 
I think these experiments suffice to prove that, at least in rabbits, lead is not 
deposited in the muscular tissue. ‘This result is certainly opposed to the 
commonly -received opinion on this point. I have only to observe, that the 
experiments have been conducted with the greatest care, and under favourable 
circumstances, as from the kindness of my friend Professor Graham, I had the 
advantage of conducting my analyses in his laboratory. A series of analogous 
