VEGETABLE POISONS. 55 



then seized with symptoms similar to those in 

 the last experiment, and in two minutes and a 

 half he was apparently dead. 



Two minutes after apparent death, on the 

 thorax being opened into, the heart was found 

 acting regularly 1 00 times in a minute, and it 

 continued acting for several minutes. 



EXPERIMENT XV. 



A drop of the empyreumatic oil of tobacco 

 with an ounce of water was injected into the 

 rectum of a cat. The symptoms produced were, 

 in essential circumstances, similar to those which 

 occurred in the last experiment. The animal was 

 apparently dead in five minutes after the injec- 

 tion, and the heart continued to contract for 

 several minutes afterwards. 



We may conclude from these experiments, 

 that the empyreumatic oil of tobacco, whether 

 applied to the tongue, or injected into the in- 

 testine, does not stop the action of the heart and 

 induce syncope, like the infusion of tobacco ; but 

 that it occasions death by destroying the func- 

 tions of the brain, without directly acting on the 

 circulation. In other words, its effects are similar 

 to those of alcohol, the juice of aconite, and the 

 essential oil of almonds. 



E 4 



