' TARTAR EMETIC 269 



tines, analogous to what is seen in patients that have died while affected 

 by diarrhea. Neither in this nor in any of the other cases were the 

 lungs congested or inflamed, as is said to have occurred in Magendie's 

 experiments. 



Frohner's experiments show similar results. Healthy 

 horses, he states, take one or two drachms without causing 

 any notable effect except increased discharge from the 

 bowels ; but these doses if continued are said to slow the 

 pulse and cause palpitation, lassitude, diarrhoea, polyuria, 

 and, when further continued, great weakness. An ounce 

 in pill or electuary was not fatal, but in solution caused 

 spasms, and death in eight days ; while sixty grammes 

 (nearly two ounces) in solution proved fatal in two and a half 

 hours. Hertwig records that four drachms in solution in 

 water induced colic, trembling, and acceleration of the pulse ; 

 the symptoms after a few hours abated, but death resulted 

 after six or eight days. Much greater activity is, however, 

 observed when tartar emetic is administered to horses intra- 

 venously. One drachm thus given raised the pulse to 120 

 beats per minute, caused difficult breathing, purging, sweat- 

 ing, flow of tears and saliva, eructation, retching, and 

 muscular spasms. Two drachms further produced severe 

 fits, vertigo, paralysis, and death in one and a half to three 

 hours, but without action of the bowels. Kaufmann states 

 that horses receiving fifteen grains intravenously in a few 

 minutes exhibited efforts to vomit, great inquietude, dilata- 

 tion of the nostrils, and lowering of the neck, as if suffering 

 abdominal pain. 



Cattle, like horses, take large doses with impunity. Hert- 

 wig and Viborg gave quantities varying from two to ten 

 drachms, and Gilbert gave ten drachms in solution all 

 without effect. Dun repeatedly administered an ounce 

 twice a day to cattle, and, except in a few cases where 

 purgation occurred, did not observe any evidence of its 

 action. Balfour, Kirkcaldy, has given half a pound in 

 solution without any very obvious effects. Sheep exhibit 

 similar insusceptibility. Viborg gave one drachm, and Gil- 

 bert three drachms in solution, and four in the solid state, 

 without effect. But Gilbert found that four to six drachms 

 in solution destroyed one-year-old sheep. Intravenous 



