LAUREL. 71 



water, and the page was turned down at that particular pai t. The cele - 

 brated John Hunter was a witness on the trial, and he gave it as his 

 opinion, that apoplexy or epilepsy might have produced the effects stated ; 

 but he has been much censured for the wavering and conflicting tenor of 

 his evidence. A verdict of guilty was brought in against Captain Donellan, 

 and he was accordingly executed. A diversity of opinion, even now pre- 

 vails, as to the justice of the sentence; and though, from the attendant 

 circumstances, there can be no doubt of his guilt, it cannot be regarded 

 as indisputable.* 



The distilled water is poisonous, both to vegetable and animal 

 life. When animals are made to swallow it, or it is injected into 

 the intestines, or introduced into the cellular tissue, or applied to 

 denuded surfaces, in sufficient quantity, it causes giddiness, difficult 

 respiration, loss of muscular motion, sometimes convulsions, or 

 a tetanic state, and absolute insensibility, terminated by speedy 

 death. " The essential oil, of which sixteen drops were put on the 

 tongue of rabbits, killed them in nine, fifteen, or twenty minutes. 

 The symptoms were slow breathing, palsy of the hind legs, then 

 general convulsions ; and death was preceded by complete coma. 

 A very extraordinary appearance was found in the dead body; 

 blood extravasated abundantly in the trachea and lungs." f 



" The distilled water loses its power after long keeping. Hence 

 the dose, sufficient to produce fatal effects, will vary greatly ; and 

 its strength will also vary, according as the water has been filtered 

 or not. One ounce has proved fatal, and half-an-ounce has caused 

 only temporary giddiness, loss of power over the limbs, stupor, and 

 sense of pressure in the stomach." 



Treatment. — Milk, oil, coffee, &c.have been recommended incases 

 of poisoning by the Laurel, but their efficacy is more than doubtful : 

 the prompt administration of emetics and laxatives, is much more 

 to be relied on. Warm brandy-and-water, the inhalation of dilute 

 ammonia, or chlorine, and other stimulants, have been particularly 

 recommended, together with affusions of cold w T ater upon the head. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses.— There can be no doubt 

 that a plant so energetic as the Cherry-laurel, must produce potent 

 effects in certain diseases. By Stoerck, it appears to have been 

 entirely overlooked ; and although some would decry its admis- 

 sion into general medical use, it is not without able advocates. 



* See the Trial, &c, taken in short-hand by Gurney ; or Beck's Medical 

 Jurisprudence. 



f Taddei, as quoted by Dr. Christian in his Treatise on Poisons, p. 722. 



