432 History of Poisons. [June, 



be made, founded on its composition, which gives for the essen- 

 tial constituents of chrysoberyl, 



Per 100 parts. 



Silica 6-61 containing oxygen 3*32 



Alumina. .. 75-75 35-38 



Glucina .... 17-64 5-49 



and very nearly corresponds with the following mineralogical 

 formula, A 4 S + 2 G A 4 . 



Article VII. 



Of Poisons, Chemically, Physiologically, and Pathologically 



considered.* 



Toxicology, or the history of poisons, forms one of the most 

 important and elaborate branches of forensic medicine ; and in 

 tracing the subject through all its numerous and interesting 

 relations to jurisprudence, we shall experience no small degree 

 of gratification by observing, how greatly and progressively this 

 obscure department of science has, within the last few years, 

 been enlightened by the discoveries of chemistry and physio- 

 logy. 



The labours of the modern chemist, indeed, have enabled us 

 to recognise and identify each particular substance by its pro- 

 perties and habitudes, with an infallible delicacy, which the 

 physicians of a former age could scarcely have anticipated, 

 and much less practised. 



The physiologist, by an invaluable series of observations and 

 experiments, has demonstrated the particular organ, or texture, 

 upon which each individual poison exerts its energies ; and the 

 pathologist has been thus enabled to establish the mode in which 

 it depraves the health, or extinguishes the life of an animal. 

 Xor has the anatomist withheld his contributions upon this 

 interesting occasion, for he has demonstrated the situation, 

 extent, and intensity, of the organic lesions which result from 

 the operation of these terrible agents upon the living body; and 

 has pointed out several appearances which occur from natural 

 causes, but which might be mistaken by the unskilful or super- 

 ficial observer, for the ravages of poison. It remains for the 

 forensic physician to converge into one focus the scattered rays 

 which have thus emanated from so many points, and thereby to 

 elucidate and determine the line of conduct which the medical 

 attendant is called upon to pursue, for the relief of the patient 

 suffering under the torments of poison, and for the establishment 



* From Medical Jurisprudence, vol. ii. by Dr, Paris and J. S. M. Fonblanque, Esq. 





