VEGETABLE POISONS. 231 



The doctor fully confirms the poisonous quality 

 of the bitter almond, the basis of which, like that 

 of the laurel, is prussic acid ; and states that the 

 smallest proportion inserted into a wound pro- 

 duces death ; and Dr. Brodie, in the Philoso- 

 phical Transactions, has given some interesting 

 experiments of the oil of bitter almonds upon 

 animals, illustrative of its destructive operation 

 on the animal system. Laurel water, combined 

 with other articles, is not qn frequently put into 

 insipid wines, to give them a flavour. 



For the treatment, Dr. Orfila recommends first, 

 active vomits ; next, very strong infusions of cof- 

 fee ; and lastly, bold and large doses of the oil 

 of turpentine administered in coffee, at intervals 

 of three or four hours. 



The Nicotiana Tabaca t or Tobacco, is too well 

 known to need description, and its narcotic 

 effects are daily experienced by those not accus- 

 tomed to its use. Differing from the other nar- 

 cotics when taken internally, it acts as powerfully 

 on the stomach and intestines, as upon the brain 

 and circulating system, producing great pain in 

 the abdomen, active vomiting and cholera, fol- 

 lowed by vertigo, delirium, a dilated pupil of the 

 eye, great variations in the pulse, convulsions, 

 and death. The same effects have been produced 

 by a decoction applied externally, or by an oint- 

 ment to an open surface ; and excepting where 

 habit has rendered it less deleterious, tobacco 



