46 EFFECTS OF 



rence of them in three or four seconds after the 

 first attack had subsided.* 



From the instantaneousness with which the 

 effects are produced; and from its acting more 

 speedily when applied to the tongue than when 

 injected into the intestine, though the latter 

 presents a better absorbing surface, we may con- 

 clude that this poison acts on the brain through 

 the medium of the nerves, without being absorbed 

 into the circulation. 



EXPERIMENT WITH THE EXPRESSED JUICE OF THE LEAVES 

 OF ACONITE. 



EXPERIMENT VII. 



An ounce of this juice was injected into the 

 rectum of a cat. Three minutes afterwards he 

 voided what appeared to be nearly the whole of 

 the injection; he then stood for some minutes 

 perfectly motionless, with his legs drawn to- 

 gether. At the end of nine minutes, from the 

 time of the injection, he retched and vomited; 

 then attempted to walk, but faltered and fell at 

 every step, as if from giddiness. At the end of 

 thirteen minutes, he lay on one side insensible, 

 motionless, except some slight convulsive motions 

 of the limbs. The respiration was slow and 

 laboured ; and at 47 minutes from the time of 

 the injection, he was apparently dead. One 

 minute and a half afterwards the heart was 



- * See Additional Note C. 



