1 74 On the different Modes in which Death 



might be kept up by means of artificial respiration. It is 

 evident that this poison acts in some way or other on the 

 brain, and that the cessation of the functions of this organ 

 is the immediate cause of death. 



I found in these experiments, that the best mode of ap- 

 plying the woorara is when it is dissolved in water to the 

 consistence of a thin paste. I first made the wound, and 

 then smeared the poison over it with the end of the scalpel. 

 I found that the animal was more speedily and certainly af- 

 fected, if there was some haemorrhage, unless the haemor- 

 rhage was very copious, when it produced an opposite ef- 

 fect, by washing the poison away from the wound. When 

 the poison was applied in large quantity, it sometimes be- 

 gan to act in six or seven minutes. Never more than half 

 an hour elapsed from the time of the poison being inserted, 

 to that of the animal being affected, except in one instance, 

 where a ligature was applied on the limb, which will be 

 mentioned afterwards. The woorara, which I employed, 

 had been preserved for some years, which will account for 

 its having been less active than it has been described to be 

 by those who had witnessed its effects when in a recent 

 state. 



Experiments with the Upas Anliar*. 



Exp. 21. About two grains of this poison were made into 

 a thin paste with water, and inserted into a wound in the 

 thigh of a dog. Twelve minutes afterwards he became 

 languidj at the end of fifteen minutes, the heart was found 

 to beat very irregularly, and with frequent intermissions ; 

 after this, he had a slight rigor. At the end of twenty mi- 

 nutes, the heart beat very feebly and irregularly; he was 

 languid; was sick and vomited; but the respirations were 

 as frequent and as full as under natural circumstances, and 

 he was perfectly sensible. At the end of twenty minutes 

 he suddenly fell on one side, and was apparently dead. I 

 immediately opened into the thorax, and found the heart 

 distended with blood in a very remarkable degree, and to 

 have entirely ceased contracting. There was one distinct 

 and full inspiration after I had begun making the incision 

 into the thorax. The cavities of the left side of the heart 

 contained scarlet blood, and those of the right side contained 

 dark-coloured blood, as in a living animal. 



Exp. 22. A small quantity of the upas antiar, prepared 



• We are informed that the island of Java produces two powerful vege- 

 table poison-! to one of which the natives give the name of L'pns tifntc, and 

 to the other ihat of Upas antiar. I was supplied with a quantity of the latter 

 through the kindness of Mr. Marsideii, v/ho had some of it in his possession. 



as 



