220 ON ANIMAL AND 



ceeded by cold perspirations, much nervous de- 

 pression, a very dilated pupil of the eye, a slow 

 feeble pulse, convulsions, and death. 



Most of the articles previously alluded to, 

 though in an over dose, strong poisons, are used 

 in medicine ; and in the hands of prudent and 

 skilful physicians, many of them prove remedies 

 of great value. But as they all possess very 

 active qualities, too much discretion cannot be 

 observed in the application of them to medicinal 

 purposes. 



The appearances, on dissection of persons who 

 have been destroyed by any of the acrid vege- 

 tables, are much the same as those produced by 

 the mineral poisons, differing only in degree. 

 Great swelling and livid appearance of the abdo- 

 men; inflammation, erosion, and gangrene of the 

 stomach, intestines, and sometimes of the aesopha- 

 gus ; and occasionally, a determination of blood 

 to the head ; are the circumstances most observ- 

 able in such cases. 



In the treatment, the principal object is to clear 

 the prima viae of the offending matter with as little 

 delay as possible ; to sheath the whole of the 

 grand intestinal tube from the acrimony of the 

 poison by demulcent remedies ; to remove fever 

 and inflammation when present; and to support 

 the constitution with cordials when symptoms of 

 exhaustion supervene. For this purpose, a quick 

 operating emetic, mild aperients, demulcent 



