86 On the different Modes in which Death 



vented. With some of the conclusions which I have ven- 

 tured to draw, so tar as I know, we were not before ac- 

 quainted ; and others of them, though not entirely new, 

 had not been previously established by satisfactory experi- 

 ments. 



I shall relate first those experiments in which poisons 

 were applied internally, that is, to the mucous membranes 

 of the tongue or alimentary canal, and afterwards those in 

 which poisons were applied to wounded surfaces. 



IT. Experiments with Poisons applied to the Tongue or ali- 

 mentary Canal. 



Erperijnents with Alcohol. 



When spirits are taken into the stomach, in a certain 

 quantity, they produce that kind of delirium which con- 

 stitutes intoxication: when taken in a larger quantity, it 

 is well known that they destroy life altogether, and that 

 in the course of a very short space of time. Intoxication 

 is a derangement of the functions of the n)ind, and, as 

 these arc in some way connected with those of the brain, it 

 seen)s probable, that it is by acting on this organ, that spi- 

 rits when taken into the stomach occasion death. In order 

 to ascertain how far this conclusion is just, I made the fol- 

 lowing experiments*. 



Exp. J. I poured two drachms of proof spirits down 

 the ossophasjus of a cat. Instantly he struggled violently; 

 then lay on one side, perfectly motionless and insensible; 

 jhe breathing was laboured and stertorous, and the pulsa- 

 tions of the heart were very frequent. He continued in 

 this state for seven or eight miiuitcsj then began to re- 

 cover; the respirations became easier, and presently he 

 §tood up, and was able to walk. 



Exp. 2. I injected an ounce and a half of proc)f spirits 

 into the stomach of a large full-grown rabbit, bv means of 

 an clastic gum tube passed dow n the oesophagus. The same 

 svmptoms took place as in the last experin)ent; but the 

 animal did not begin to recover from the state of inscnsi- 

 bihiv until forty minutes had elapsed irom the time of the 

 injection. 



Exp. 3. Seven drachms of proof spirits were injected 



* I am inckhtcci to Dr E. N. B mcroft for his assistance in many of the 

 experiments wh:cii I am about to derail. Mr. \V. tirKnde lent me his assist- 

 ance in the greater part of those which were nuide. I have been further 

 assisted bv Mr. Broughtort, Mr. R. Rawlins, anu Mr. R. Gatcombc, and by 

 several other gentlemen. 



ipto 



