PRUSSIC ACID ON THE ANIMAL ECONOMY. 227 
of ammonia vapour. One hour after, the blood exhibited blue 
particles satisfactorily. 
2nd Exp., Sept. 12th.—A kitten was killed by inhalation 
of prussic-acid vapour. Blood found to contain many large 
irregularly rounded dark-coloured bodies, too dark to ascertain 
if of a blue color. One or two light blue flaky masses were 
found; also, in and about the sheath of the sympathetic 
nerve, one indigo-blue film of some size. This was decolorized 
by action of potassa; colour restored by application of acetic 
acid. The decided bright blue particles do not appear to 
yield to potassa; medulla oblongata examined; some blue 
points and several dark ones seen. 
drd Exp., Sept. 14th.—Tincture of iron diluted was in- 
jected into the stomach of a frog, and vapour of prussic acid 
was soon after administered. Died after some hours. Some 
decided bright blue particles were seen in the blood; also, 
dark partreles of irregular form (peroxidized iron?) in 
abundance. 
4th Exp., Sept. 19th.—Dog killed by prussic acid dropped 
on the nose and mouth; death in a minute and half. Blood 
from heart presented some dark-coloured bodies, and one 
large decidedly indigo-blue mass. 
5th Exp., Oct. 4th.—Frog killed by concussion; blood 
gave no evidence of blue particles. 
6th Exp., Oct. 6th—A frog slowly poisoned by prussic 
acid administered ; the animal did not die from the effects of 
the poison, but was killed and examined. Obtained some 
blue reaction in the blood, and about the larger nerves going 
to the extremities. 
7th Exp., Oct. 7th.—A full-grown cat had three drops of 
Scheele’s prussic acid given her, undiluted, by means of a 
glass tube introduced in the pharynx. In the space of a 
minute she lay down and gasped, and died,.with the usual 
symptoms, in two minutes more at the furthest. Seven 
hours after, body quite rigid; heart removed for examination; 
two or three specimens of blood from it showed either dark 
blue coloured particles, or black ones; one large flake of 
indigo blue was seen. Muscular fibre from the interior of 
the heart gave as satisfactory evidence. 
8th Exp.—A frog killed by concussion (second experiment 
of the kind) ; the blood examined showed no blue-coloured 
particles ; a leg of the animal cut off immediately after death 
had prussic acid applied to the cut surface ; one side of blood 
examined exhibited a solid amorphous body with a blue 
coloration at one end, while the other was colourless, 
9th Exp.—A strong, recently caught frog, poisoned by 4 
