640 TOBACCO AND NICOTINE 



somewhat deeper, and then gradually failing both in rhythni 

 and depth, with the central depression. 



The action on the brain and spinal cord accounts for th( 

 preliminary excitement and hyperaesthesia, the muscular 

 tremors and clonic spasms and then the subsequent paralysis. 

 Death occurs from paralysis of respiration, the heart-beats 

 continuing for some time after breathing has stopped. 



TOXIC EFFECTS are produced in horses by 9 ounces of 

 tobacco ; in cattle by 1 Ib. ; in sheep by 1 ounce ; in dogs 

 by 1 to 2 drachms. The poisonous dose of nicotine for horses 

 and cattle is 5 to 6 minims, for dogs 1 to 3 minims. One- 

 tenth part of these doses used hypodermically is dangerous 

 (Frohner and Kaufmann). Hertwig gave horses half an 

 ounce to an ounce of the powdered leaves, with the effect 

 of lowering the pulse three to ten beats per minute, and 

 rendering it irregular and intermittent ; while a repetition 

 of such doses increased evacuation both of faeces and urine 

 Large doses, especially intravenously injected, accelerated 

 the pulse, increased the action of the bowels and kidneys 

 and caused irritability and restlessness. A healthy middle- 

 aged cow received two ounces dissolved in water, in dividec 

 doses, but given within two and a half hours. The tempera 

 ture of the skin was heightened : the pulse raised froir 

 65 to 70 ; the breathing quickened and somewhat oppressed 

 the pupil dilated, while perspiration was abundant. Nexl 

 day the animal continued dull, but by the third day shf 

 was perfectly well. An ox consumed about four pounds o: 

 tobacco leaves, and speedily became very restive, grounc 

 his teeth and groaned, lay with outstretched limbs and dis 

 tended rumen, passed quantities of thin foetid faeces, anc 

 died in eleven hours in convulsions. The leaves wer< 

 found in the alimentary canal, and the mucous membrane 

 especially of the fourth stomach, was red and eroded 

 particularly where in contact with the tobacco. Hertwig 

 further mentions that goats are similarly affected by on< 

 or two ounces, and generally die in about ten hours. 



Orfila administered to a dog five and a half drachm: 

 powdered tobacco (rappee) ensuring its retention by liga 

 ture of the oesophagus. There ensued violent efforts t< 

 vomit, nausea, purging, tremors of the extremities, giddi 



