th£ Action of Poisons on the Anhnal System. 2SS 



•tally inSated ; bat this appeared to have no effect in pro- 

 lonciM!! ihe hearts action. On dissection, itie inner meoir 

 hrane of the stfinach was found s!ight1y infi.nned. 



Experhnent 4. — ^T«o drams of arsenic acid dissolved 

 in six ounces of water were injected into the stomach of a 

 doSj bv means of a tube of elastic gum, passed down the 

 eesopha^us. }n three minutes he vimited a small quantity 

 of mucus, and this occurred again several times. The 

 pulse became less frequent,- and occasienallv intermitted. 

 At the end of thirty-five minutes the hind legs were para- 

 l\sed, and he lay ia a half sensible state. At the end of 

 lortv-five minutes he \vS less sensible ; -he pupils of the 

 eyes were dilated ; the pulse had fallen from 140 to 70 in 

 a minute, and the intermissions were h-equent. Alter this, 

 ];e became quite insensible ; convuisioiis took place, and at 

 the end of fjt'tv minutes, from the beginnina of the experi- 

 nieot, he died. On opening the thorax, imirediately after 

 death, tremulous contractions rf the heart were observed ; 

 but not sufficient to r:.v.-Ja:n the circulation. The stomach 

 and intestines contained a large quantity of raucous fluid, 

 and their internal nien:bra:'.e was i.ighiy inflamed. 



These experiments were repeated, and the results, in all 

 essential circuiri stances, were the same. The symptoms 

 produced '.vere, 1 • paralysis of the hind legs, and afterwards 

 of the other parts of the body: convulsions; dilatation of 

 the pupils o^ the eves ; ir^sensibilitv ; all of which indicate 

 disturbance of the functions of the brain : 2. a feeble, 

 slow, intermitting pulse, indicating disturbance of the 

 functions of the heart. Where the bean ha* continued to 

 act after apparent death, I have never, in any one instance, 

 been ayle to prolong its action by means of artifina! re- 

 spiration. 3. Pain in the region of the abdomen ; preter- 

 natural secretion of mucus from the alimentan,- canal ; sick- 

 ness and vomiting in those animals which arc capable of 

 voiniting; symptoms which arise from the action of the 

 poison on the stomach and intestines. There is no dif- 

 ference in the effects of arsenic, whether it is employed in 

 the form of white c.xide, or of arsenic acid, except that Uie 

 latter is a more active preparation. When arsenic is ap- 

 plied to a wound, the symptoms take place sootier than 

 when it is given internally ; but their nature is the same. 



The symptoms produced by arsenic may be referred to 

 the influence of the poison on the ntrvous system, the 

 heart*, and the aliioenury canal. As of these the two 



former 



* Wbcn I (ay that a pobon acts on the heart, I da not mean to Imply that 

 ^t occcMaril J must act ilirecUy oa (be mascular fibres of that organ. It i« 



highly 



