96 EFFECTS OF 



less to enter into a detail of the individual ex- 

 periments made with this poison. 



When applied to a wound in animals, which 

 are capable of vomiting, it usually, but not con- 

 stantly, operates very speedily as an emetic ; 

 otherwise, I have found no material difference in 

 the symptoms produced in the different species 

 of animals, which I have been in the habit of 

 employing as the subjects of experiment. The 

 symptoms are paralysis, drowsiness, and at last 

 complete insensibility ; the pulse becomes feeble ; 

 the heart continues to act after apparent death ; 

 its action may be maintained by means of ar- 

 tificial respiration, but never for a longer period 

 than a few minutes : so that it appears that this 

 poison acts on the heart as well as on the brain ; 

 but that its principal action is on the latter. 

 Both the voluntary and involuntary muscles 

 may be made to contract after death, by means 

 of Voltaic electricity. The stomach sometimes 

 bears the marks of inflammation ; but at other 

 times it has its natural appearance. I have 

 never seen any appearance of inflammation of 

 the intestines. The length of time which elapses 

 from the application of the poison to the death 

 of the animal, varies. In some instances, it is 

 not more than three quarters of an hour ; but in 

 others, it is two or three hours, or even longer. 



When a solution of emetic tartar was injected 

 into the stomach of a rabbit, the same symptoms 

 took place as when it was applied to a wound. 



