On vegetable Poisons. 85 



ployed in such cases, at least as auxiliary characters, to assist 

 us in clisiintruishiiig substances which are so different in 

 their nauire. 



Coloured glass possesses but feebly the faculty of pre- 

 serving electricity ; and if ilicre docs not exist in this re- 

 spect anv verv marked difference between such substances 

 and quariz, we shall at least avoid confounding with the 

 eu'erald, the topaz, or the sapphire, factitious stones which 

 sonictinics present imposing iniitalions of these gems. I 

 know that the sptcific gravity, the hardnesi, and the retrac- 

 tion of these sul)stances present much more palpable n»eans 

 of detection than the above; but we cannot too much mul- 

 tiply indications which may assist us in ascertaining a mi- 

 neral substance, when the artist has stripped it of the ex- 

 terior which nature had given it, or rather of that fornri 

 which cannoi be imitated by any other. 



XX. Experiments and Observations on the different Modes' 

 in which Death is produced bij certain vegetable Poiso?is. 

 Fy B. C. Brodik, Esq. F.R.S. Covnnanicated ly the 

 Society for promoting the Knowledge of Animal Che- 

 mistry*. 



I. i HI'; following experiments were instituted with a view 

 to ascertain, in what manner certain substances act on the 

 animal system, so as to occasion death, independi ntly of 

 mechanical injury. I was led to the inquiry, from the sub- 

 ject of it appearincj to be of considerable interest and im- 

 portance, and from a hope, that, in the present improved 

 stale of physiological knowledge, we might be enabled to 

 arrive at some n)ore satisfactory conclusions than had been 

 deduced from any former observations. 



The substances which act as poisons when applied to 

 the animal body are very numerous. In 'he experiments 

 which I have hitlierto made, I have employed vegetable 

 poisons only. Of tliese I have selected such as are very 

 active and certain in producing their effects, believing that, 

 on this account j the exact nature of ih ise effects would ha 

 UKjrc readily ascertained. The principal objects which I 

 have kept in view have been to deierniine, on which of 

 the vital organs the poison employed exercises its jirimary 

 influence, and through what medium that organ becomes 

 affecttd. I have also endeavoured to ascertain by what 

 means the lata! consequences of some poisons may be pre- 



• rVum the Pliilusopliical Transactions for 18 U, part i. 



F3 vented. 



