A06 Prof. Curistison on the Poisonous Properties of Hemlock, 
time the person who administered the poison went up to him, 
and examined for a little while his feet and legs, and then squeez- 
ing his foot strongly, asked whether he felt him do so? Socra- 
rEs replied that he did not. After this the man did the same 
to his legs, and proceeding upwards in this way shewed us that 
he was cold and stiff. And he approached him and said to us, 
that when the effects of the poison should reach the heart, So- 
crates would depart. And now the parts about the lower belly 
were cold, when he uncovered himself (for he was covered up), 
and said, which were his last words: ‘ Crito, we owe AuscuLa- 
prus a cock; pay the debt, and do not forget it.’ ‘It shall be 
done,’ replied Crrro ; ‘but consider whether you have any thing 
else to say.’ SocrarEs answered not, but in a short time was 
convulsed. The man then uncovered him. His eyes were fixed ; 
and when Criro observed this, he closed his eyelids and his 
mouth.”* 
If this narrative be altered to a modern toxicological descrip- 
tion, it is plain that the Athenian state-poison must be regarded 
as producing spasm and coldness of the limbs, gradually advan- 
cing to the internal parts, causing death eventually by acting 
either on the heart or respiration, and without affecting the func- 
tions of the mind even to the very last- 
Such a view of its action is altogether at variance equally 
with the effects usually ascribed in recent times to the spotted 
* “O de megscrdoy, emeson of Bocguver tact (Dn ru oxern, xcerexrsdn barrios® &ro ya exerevoey 0 avbewaos. 
nots cope Pumrouesves airov obros 6 Dous ro Pugpcrnoy, Diarrmay yeovoy emernomes Tous xpodns reLb Te 
oKEAN. KeeTELTOL code mlicas avtov Toy mode necro ci aicbcvorro 6 8 om EQn. noes wera Tovto cubic 
ras Kynpeces* 00k Emrcuvia orale icy emedenvuTo ors uyorro Te Kok mnyYUTO. Xen aUTOs NETETO, xu 
cimey ork emeiDaay pos TH Keegdbe vyemnTaL aUTW, Tore oly nero. on ovy cyedoy Ts ceutou Hy Tae mégs To 
areoy Yuyzopesvie, Hobe exnurvipapsvos, evexexarumTro ree, cimey, 6 On rereuTecsoy EDbeyzaro, 2 Keirwy, ePn, 
za Acxanmiw aQesrAousy AAMT QUOI. GAA cmodore nett en apeanonte. AAAw TavTH, On, torat, o 
Keira" An ope Ei Th GAAS Asyers. Tate eeopmevou avrov ovdey ert amrengiverro, GAN GAuyov yeovov 
Siccrimray exivndn re eee 0 ctvgamros kenarviey aurov, reer oc Tae dpepeenee torncey’ idwy De o Kerrwy 
BuveraBe to rropen Te nok TOUS 2PbaArpous. Platonis Dialogi. Ex Recensione I. Bekkeri. Berol. 
1817, vol. iii. par. 2, p. 127. Phedo. 
