190 VEGETABLE POISONS. 



at different times, and under diflFerent circumstances. It is a 

 common but a very erroneous prejudice, that it proves poisonous 

 to such animals only as are bom blind. It is a deadly agent, not 

 only to the whole of the canine and feline genera, but it destroys 

 hares, rabbits, horses, asses, and most birds. It is irregularly 

 deleterious to man, fifteen grains having proved fatal to one, and 

 a whole nut or seed has failed to injure another. Leuriero relates, 

 that a horse died in four hours from a drachm only. Five or six 

 grains are sufficient to kill a rabbit or hare. I destroyed a very 

 large rabid Newfoundland dog in five minutes and a half by a 

 drachm of it, which was given in butter. Half a drachm was given 

 to another, of middling size, which destroyed him in twenty-eight 

 minutes; and twelve grains proved fatal to a smaller one in twenty- 

 five minutes. A watery extract is more quick, as well as more 

 certain, in its action, a few grains of which seldom fails to kill in 

 a few minutes, if given in solution: it acts less speedily when 

 given in the form of pills. But as it is, under all circumstances, 

 not uniform in its action, so I cannot, as formerly, recommend it 

 as a safe agent to depend on for the destruction of a dog. When 

 it is actually necessary to destroy one of these valuable animals, 

 humanity dictates that it should be done speedily, and in such a 

 way as will prolong the sufferings as little as possible, and a note 

 appended to the end of this article will point out one in unison 

 with these views. It is, however, sufficiently deleterious to make 

 it very commonly resorted to on such occasions by malicious per- 

 sons ; particularly as it can be easily procured, under pretence of 

 destroying vermin of various kinds. Like opium, the nux vomica 

 fails to produce any of its soporific effects on dogs, when intro- 

 duced into the stomach ; but it occasions violent tetanic convul- 

 sions, laborious respirations, and general torpor, and it thus kills 

 by robbing the nervous system of its energy ; and that so speedily, 

 that its presence is not easily detected by any morbid appearances 

 brought on : neither are any means, unless immediately resorted 

 to, sufficient to restrain its consequences. An emetic should be 

 given within a minute or two after the exhibition of the poison ; 



