662 , PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO IJSO. 



water of the Lauro-Cerasus, which is net inferior to any of the other very active 

 poisons, if considered with respect to the great disorder which it introduces into 

 the animal economy, and the short time which it takes to act when given to ani- 

 mals by the mouth. It not only produces the strongest convulsions, and death 

 itself, even in animals of a middle size ; but even when given in small doses, the 

 animal writhes so that the head joins the tail, and the vertebrae arch out in such 

 a manner as to fill every one who sees it with horror. The convulsions and 

 motions of the whole body are extremely violent, and the struggles kill the 

 animal in a short time. If it be given to the animal as a glister, it equally pro- 

 duces the convulsions and death. With only 2 tea-spoonfuls of the water given 

 by the mouth, I have seen middle-sized rabbits fall down convulsed in 30 se- 

 conds, and die within a minute. When it is given in great quantities to animals, 

 they die almost in an instant, and without convulsions, the parts of the body 

 being relaxed and pendent. When it is given in small quantities, the convul- 

 sions are more or less strong ; the hind feet first lose tlieir motion, and after- 

 wards the fore, which die slower. When the animal can no longer move its 

 feet, or the rest of the body, it still moves very well the neck and the head, 

 which it continues to hold up strongly, and to turn round every way. In this 

 state the animal hears sounds, and sees objects ; and though it has ceased to 

 move its feet spontaneously, yet it still moves them backwards and forwards when 

 they are much pricked or squeezed ; a sign it can still move them, though it 

 does so only on account of the great pain. The water of the Lauro-Cerasus is 

 therefore a strong poison when given by the mouth, or introduced into the body 

 in the manner of a glister. Its action is so violent, and so quick, that it may 

 be said to begin to act the moment an animal takes it into its mouth ; certain it 

 is, that it has scarce entered the stomach by the throat before the animal suffers. 

 It is however true, that very small doses have no effect, that is, a little drop 

 given to a small animal produces no sensible disorder, though the same quantity 

 of the poison of Ticunas would be fatal. But that makes no essential difference 

 between this poison and the other well-known poisons. 



I have found, that a certain quantity of water put on the leaves of the Lauro- 

 Cerasus produces a liquor which is quite innocent, unless the leaves be in a 

 great, and the water in a very small quantity. When the water is put several 

 times on the same 'leaves, and drawn off successively, its activity becomes 

 greater indeed, but still is not sufficient to take away life ; but if, instead of a 

 bare mixture with water, the infusion be distilled in balneo marias, the distilled 

 liquor becomes then a most powerful poison, and proves fatal in a very short 

 time. I have chiefly used it in this way; but I have no doubt but that it might 

 be raised to such a degree of activity, as to prove mortal even when given in as 

 small doses as the American poison. It might be sufficient to distil the liquor 



