TOXICOLOGICAL CHART. 



205 



In some few cases scarcely a trace of 

 diseased action in the tissues could be 

 found. 



Tests. — Portions of the vegetable in the 

 stomach and intestines mixed with the in- 

 gesta. 



The active principle of the poison is 

 unknown, hence the difficulty in the treat- 

 ment. 



AGENT. 



ACIDUM HYDROCYANICUM. 



Hydrocyanic Acid, 

 Priissic Acid. 



Symptoms. — Its influence is sudden, and 

 that of a powerful sedative to the system, 

 and, when the quantity is not large, evanes- 

 cent: otherwise it is followed by marked 

 cerebral derangement, manifested by giddi- 

 ness and coma ; the breathing becomes 

 laborious ; the nostrils expanded ; the pulse 

 quickened and fluttering ; much debility is 

 present, with loss of power : to these suc- 

 ceed tetanic spasms ; the muscles become 

 rigid ; the jaws locked, and the membrana 

 nictitans is forced over the eye, which is 

 prominent, and has a glassy appearance ; 

 profuse perspiration covers the body, accom- 

 panied by violent convulsions and intense 

 suffering. These effects are succeeded by 

 a remission for a time, during wliich the 

 animal appears to be in a state of partial 

 insensibility; but the exacerbations return 

 again and again, and then the paroxysms 

 become less and less powerful, until at 

 length, aU action disappearing, the animal 

 is left in a state of exhaustion, the vital 

 powers being much depressed. In what- 

 ever way the agent is introduced into the 

 system, the effects are similar. The most 

 active form of the poison is that of vapor. 



When the dose is sufficiently large to 

 cause death, it is unaccompanied with suf- 

 fering. 



Treatment. — Cold affiisions over the 

 body ; the inhalation of dilute ammoniacal 

 and chlorine gases, particularly the latter. 



The coma may be removed by blood- 

 letting; and diffusible stimulants, such as 



ammonia, may be administered, combined 

 with tonics to rouse the depressed vital 

 powers. 



Of course this treatment will only be of 

 service when the drug has been too fre- 

 quently given, or administered in too large 

 quantities. 



Morbid Appearances. — The inner tunic 

 of the stomach and intestines slightly in- 

 flamed; the vessels of the lungs gorged 

 with blood; the parenchjnua natural; the 

 lymphatics containing red blood ; the heart 

 inflamed, and spots of ecchymosis on its 

 lining membrane ; the vessels of the brain 

 highly injected, particularly those of the 

 medullary portion, in which organ the odor 

 of the acid is easily recognized, as well as 

 throughout the body, and particularly in the 

 halitus from the blood. The eyes are glis- 

 tening and prominent. 



Tests. — Render fluid the contents of the 

 stomach, and distil an eighth part over, when 

 the following tests will be available : The 

 odor, which resembles that of bitter al- 

 monds, and impresses the tlu'oat and nos- 

 trils Mdth a peculiar acridity. 



Sulphate of Copper, the solution being 

 rendered alkaline by potass, throws down a 

 green precipitate, which becomes nearly 

 white on adding a little hydrochloric acid, 

 the cyanide of copper. 



Sulphate of the Protoxide of Iron, simi- 

 larly employed, gives a greenish precipitate, 

 which becomes of a deep blue color on the 

 addition of sulphuric acid, the ferrocyanate 

 of the protoxide of iron. 



Nitrate of Silver throws down a white 

 precipitate, the cyanide of silver, which is 

 soluble in nitric acid only at its boiling 

 temperature, and which, when dried and 

 heated in a tube, emits cyanogen gas, which 

 burns with a rose-colored flame. 



AGENT. 



CARBONIC ACID. 



Symptoms. — Instances are known of 

 horses having been suffocated during fires, 

 arising from the disengagement of this gas, 

 with, perhaps, some of the compounds of 



