220 POISONS. 



is speedily fatal in a small dose. The effects produced by all 

 these are nearly similar. Taken into the stomach, they de- 

 stroy by at once paralyzing- the sensorium. Introduced im- 

 mediately into the blood vessels, most of them exert a 

 narcotic influence, but are no less certainly fatal. An eme- 

 tic immediately administered, and followed up by active 

 spicy stimulants, as mustard, pepper, &e., mixed with vine- 

 gar, afford the best chances of arresting the fatal effects of 

 these potent articles. 



The Woorara, Lamas, Ticunas, Faha sancti ignatii, Upas 

 antiar, and Upas tieute, are vegetable poisons, indigenous to 

 southern and eastern climes, and by far more potent and deadly 

 than our most noxious articles. Prepared with much art 

 and care, these extracts retain their poisonous qualities a 

 great length of time ; and the smallest puncture made with 

 the finest instrument, as a sharp dart or arrow, embued with 

 a solution of either of these poisons, proves fatal, in some 

 instances, v^ithin a minute. Mr. Brodie has detailed some 

 experiments made by him with these poisons on dogs, which 

 shew their dreadful activity. Mons. de la Condamine's ex- 

 periments at Paris are still more frightful pictures of their 

 potency. 



ANIMAL POISONS. 



The rabid virus is the most deadly among our animal 

 poisons, and thousands of dogs are every year destroyed by 

 it. The effects of the rabid bite are detailed under the arti- 

 cle Rabies. 



Viper bite. — In every quarter of the globe but Europe, 

 dogs are exposed to the venomous attacks of snakes, whose 

 bite is instantly mortal. The viper is the only animal of this 

 kind in Britain capable of inflicting a wound attended with 

 serious consequences, and to which dogs become exposed 

 when hunting. In these cases, the bitten part swells enor- 



sary, either of these essential oils dropped on the tongue, or a very 

 small ball made from the extract, will extinguish life almost instantane- 

 ously, and without pain. 



