MINERAL POISONS. 95 



muscles, but also of the heart and intestines ; 

 from which it may be inferred, that the muriate 

 of bary tes, like arsenic, affects the circulation by 

 rendering the heart insensible to the usual sti- 

 mulus, and not by destroying altogether the 

 power of muscular contraction. 



The muriate of barytes affects the stomach, 

 but in a less degree than arsenic. It operates as 

 an emetic in animals that are capable of vomit- 

 ing ; but sooner when taken internally, than when 

 applied to a wound. In general, but not con- 

 stantly, there are marks of inflammation of the 

 inner membrane of the stomach, but not of the 

 intestine. In many instances there is a thin 

 layer of dark coloured coagulum of blood lining 

 the whole inner surface of the stomach, and ad- 

 hering very closely to it, so as to have a good 

 deal of the appearance of a slough ; and this is 

 independent of vomiting, as where I met with it, 

 it occurred in rabbits. 



The same circumstances, from which it may 

 be inferred that arsenic does not produce its 

 deleterious effects until it has passed into the 

 same circulation, lead also to that conclusion 

 with regard to the muriate of barytes. 



V. On the Effects of the Emetic Tartar. 



The effects of the emetic tartar, so much re- 

 semble those of arsenic and of muriate of barytes 

 in essential circumstances, that it would be need- 



