554 [May 7, 



it wsre in a deep sleep. This condition would last until it died 

 the time of death varying from twenty-five minutes to twelve hours 

 after the administration of the poison. 



When the action of the poison was slower, there was often no 

 visible effect for hours or days. At first there was always a little 

 discomfort from the taste of the poison, hut this soon subsided, and 

 then for a day or more the animal appeared to be in perfect health. 

 It would go about as usual, would be quite lively in its movements, 

 would eat its food heartily, and in fact would seem to be in no way 

 affected by the poison. Suddenly, however, it would look distressed, 

 it would have an attack of vomiting, and it would tumble over in an 

 epileptic fit. When this had subsided, it was generally found that 

 the animal was weak, or even quite paralysed in its hind extremities ; 

 and after two or three of such attacks, the loss of voluntary power 

 would extend to the fore limbs. The animal would lie upon its side 

 perfectly helpless ; and then the progress of the case was much the 

 same as that already described, except that it was considerably slower. 

 Consciousness, for example, would be retained for days after the 

 animal was paralysed, and, although it was quite unable to stand, it 

 would take food and drink when they were put into its mouth. The 

 condition in which it lay was most distressing : the look was anxious 

 and full of fear ; the limbs were in constant motion ; and every now 

 and then there would be a violent struggle, as if the animal was in a 

 fit, or was making fruitless efforts to rise. This would last for days, 

 and then there would be either a gradual restoration of voluntary 

 power with complete recovery, or death from exhaustion. The time 

 that elapsed from the administration of the poison to the coming on 

 of the first symptoms, namely the epileptic fit, varied from nineteen 

 hours to seventy-two in most cases it was about two days ; and the 

 time of death was from four to nine days. 



The post-mortem appearances were nearly the same in all cases, 

 whether the death was quick or slow. The vessels of the brain and its 

 membranes were extremely turgid ; the cavities of the heart were full 

 of blood ; the lungs were but slightly congested ; the liver was of a 

 deep purple tint, and the gall-bladder distended with bile ; the stomach 

 was natural, without sign of local irritation ; and the blood all over 

 the body was black and uncoagulated. Whenever the progress of the 

 case had been quick, and death had taken place within twenty-four 



