429 



stomach is more violent and more immediate, in consequence of ap- 

 plication of arsenic to wounds, than when it is taken into the sto- 

 mach itself. The symptoms first produced are paralysis of the hind 

 legs, and other parts of the body ; convulsions, dilatation of the pu- 

 pils, and general insensibility, indicating disturbance of the functions 

 of the brain. Secondly. A feeble slow intermitting pulse, from dis- 

 turbance of the functions of the heart. Thirdly. Pain in the abdomen, 

 sickness, vomiting, &c. from the action of this poison on the stomach 

 and intestines. 



From such general affection of such different organs, from the order 

 in which they are affected, and from the analogy with vegetable 

 poisons, which from Mr. Brodie's former experiments appeared not 

 to act till they had entered the circulation, he infers that arsenic also, 

 in whatever way administered, does not produce its effects even on 

 the stomach till it has been received into the blood. And although 

 it might be supposed that blood containing arsenic would equally 

 destroy the vitality of every part, there are various circumstances 

 which show that this is not the case ; for even to the instant of 

 death, in consequence of the full effect of arsenic on the brain, heart, 

 and bowels, various secretions continue apparently unimpaired ; and 

 even after death the muscles remain excitable to powerful contrac- 

 tions by means of electricity. 



From such trials as Mr. Brodie has made of muriate of barytes, it 

 has appeared to act principally on the brain, but in some degree on 

 the heart also ; for although the heart always continued to act after 

 respiration had ceased, in consequence of the affection of the brain, 

 nevertheless the pulse was feeble and intermittent ; and although ar- 

 tificial respiration was made with the greatest care, in the hope of 

 keeping up the circulation, it could rarely be maintained more than 

 a few minutes. In some instances, in which the artificial respiration 

 had been pursued with apparent success for a greater length of time, 

 there were some signs of restoration of the functions of the brain, 

 with occasional returns of voluntary respiration ; but though the 

 greatest care had been taken to preserve the temperature also by ex- 

 ternal means, the pulse notwithstanding continued to diminish in 

 strength and frequency, and ultimately ceased. It was found, how- 

 ever, that the heart, the intestines, and the muscles, in general, were 

 excitable to contraction by means of electricity, although insensible 

 to the stimulus of blood poisoned by muriate of barytes. 



The stomach likewise is affected by this poison with some degree 

 of inflammation, but less so than by arsenic. And though in some 

 instances it operates as an emetic, the author considers the inflam- 

 mation to be independent of the local application, and to arise 

 through the medium of the general circulation. 



The effects produced by emetic tartar are very similar to those of 

 the preceding poisons ; but it much more frequently occasions vo- 

 miting. The symptoms enumerated are paralysis, drowsiness, and 

 at last complete insensibility. The pulse becomes feeble, but still 

 the heart continues to act after apparent death ; so that its action 



