470 PHILOSOPHICAL TItANSAC TIONS. [aNNO 1731. 



convulsions continued about 5 minutes; after which being untied, he then fell 

 into a most violent difficulty of breathing, which lasted about 8 minutes, ami 

 abated gradually ; on which he endeavoured to raise himself, but could not. 

 The Dr. tied him down once again, and gave him l-i- oz. more; on which he 

 sunk at once, and without any return of his convulsions, or difficulty of breath- 

 ing, he expired in 2 minutes. 



On opening the stomach, they found in it the whole quantity of water which 

 he had taken; its surface was covered with froth, but it was not otherwise 

 altered in its colour, consistence, or smell. The inside of the stomach was 

 not at all inflamed, nor was there any visible alteration in the tunica villosa. 

 The veins of the stomach, all the mesaraic veins, and likewise the vena cava, 

 were much distended with blood ; but the arteries, on the contrary, were re- 

 markably empty. The liver and gall-bladder were not altered. The kidneys 

 were unusually full of blood, and appeared of a bluish colour, almost as deep 

 as that of the violet plum. On making an incision into one of the kidneys, 

 the blood flowed in much greater plenty, and was more fluid than usual. In 

 the heart there appeared nothing preternatural, nor in the brain. 



Exper. 1. — October '24, Dr. M. gave \\ oz. of the same water to a bitcii of a 

 smaller size. She was immediately let loose, and in 2 minutes she lost the use 

 of her limbs. She attempted several times to raise herself, and walk; but she 

 staggered and reeled about, and then fell down. She repeated this without 

 ceasing about 5 or 6 minutes. At last she was violently convulsed, especially 

 in the muscles that extend the head and spine. About the space of a minute 

 she had that sort of convulsion called the opisthotonos, the back of her head 

 being drawn almost to her tail. 



After this she vomited plentifully, and her convulsions ceased. She then lay 

 still for 7 or 8 minutes, labouring for breath, though not so violently as in the 

 former case, and foaming at the mouth. Dr. M. gave her 1 oz. more of the water; 

 on which her difficulty of breathing increased, and she died in 2 minutes. 



On opening the abdomen, the thorax and the head, every thing was found in 

 the same state as in the former instance. 



Exper. 3. — October 25, Dr. M. gave 2 oz. of the water to a dog of the same 

 size with the former; which produced the like appearances as in the fore- 

 going case. This dog was half an hour a dying; for the dose was not re- 

 peated, because he did not vomit up what he had taken. On opening hun, 

 every thing was found in the same state as in the former instance. 



Exper. A. — October 2tJ, Dr. M. gave 2, y drams of the water to a dog of a 

 middle size; and immediately untied him. He then ran about the room very 

 briskly for about a minute, and seemed to be no way attected with it; yet he 



