VOL. XXXVII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 475 



the arteries into the veins, and not returning to tiie heart. And doubtless if 

 such a person was opened after death, we should find the vena cava, the vena 

 portae, the veins and sinuses of the brain, with all their smallest ramifications, 

 very much distended with blood, and the arteries on the contrary almost 

 empty. 



But if the epileptic convulsion ceases before the circulation of the blood is 

 entirely stopped, then all becomes calm again ; the pressure is taken ofl^ the 

 veins, the blood returns to its usual course, and in a few hours the sick person 

 is perfectly recovered. 



And yet all this violent convulsion of the body, this prodigious distension of 

 the veins, and interception of the course of the blood, passes without any in 

 flammation ; as appears from the speedy recovery of the sick person : for if the 

 convulsion had occasioned an inflammation, a fever must necessarily have 

 ensued ; which would discover itself by manifest tokens, and would require a 

 much longer time for its abatement. 



Let us now observe the analogy between these appearances, and those pro- 

 duced by laurel-water. 



We find by experiment, that ] oz. or even 2-^ drs. of laurel-water, will oc- 

 casion more violent convulsions than 3 oz. or even 5 of it. Exper. 4, 5 to 11. 

 If therefore an inflammation was the necessary consequence of this water being 

 taken into the stomach or guts, the more violent the convulsion is, the greater 

 the inflammation ought to be. On the contrary, we find that the more violent 

 the convulsion is, the greater is the probability that the creature will recover. 

 Exper. 4 to 7. And when it so happens, the manner is exactly the same as in 

 the recovery of an epileptic person. In a few minutes the creature becomes as 

 brisk as if no such thing had happened. 



Now if an inflammation was at all the necessary consequence of this poison, 

 though the creature recovers, yet there must be some inflammation, greater or 

 less, produced, which must occasion more violent and lasting symptoms. But 

 since none such appear; since the recovery is so sudden and effectual; it is 

 the strongest and plainest argument, that there is not any inflammation pro 

 duced. 



If the laurel-water be administered to the quantity of 1 oz. or more, the 

 creature unavoidably dies in a few minutes; and on opening him, the appear- 

 ances are these. Both the trunks of the vena cava, and all the ramifications of 

 the meseraic veins are greatly distended with blood. These vessels are easily 

 distinguished from the arteries, not only by the thinness of their coats, but 

 also by the colour which the blood exhibits to the eye. Now the Doctor con- 

 ceives that all inflammations have their beginning in the arteries, and that they 

 3 p a 



