Dr. Oliver on the Prussic Acid. 183 



had been prescribed in Europe, nor have I since seen any 

 evidence of such early prescription.* The inclosed cer- 

 tificatef will prove that, since 1811, the Prussic acid has 

 been prepared in this town, and has also been kept for sale. 

 I believe that many quarts of the article have been sold 

 during the last nine years, and prescribed. At a sale at the 

 Chemical Laboratory, not long since, a very considerable 

 quantity was found on hand, and sold. 



By referring to my common place-book, I find, that it 

 was in the autumn of 1811, that I prevailed on Mr. John 

 Hunt, Chemist and Apothecary, to make for me a small 

 quantity of the Prussic Acid. It was prepared according 

 to the process of Dr, Schaub (vide Med. Repos. Hexade 

 2d, Vol. I. p. 314,) and afforded the characteristic smell, 

 and when tested, gave evidence of the presence of the 

 Prussic principle. 



ployed it, and contemplates prosecuting his experimental tests relative to its 

 medical properties. The Prussic Acid is obtained from thelauro-cerasus, 

 and is also a deadly poison to animals. There is evidently an affinity be- 

 tween the laurel and the wild black cherry, (prunus Virgina,) the kernels 

 of which have long been known to prove poisonous. These several sub- 

 stances having attracted the attention of Dr. Oliver, were subjected to his 

 experimental inquiries, and he has suggested the trial of them in hydropho- 

 bia. He proposes for trial the Prussic acid, as being readily obtained by a 

 chemical process, and as affording the efficient principle in the lauro-cera- 

 sus. The leaves of ths black-cherry might subserve the pui^pose of a sub- 

 stitute. He judiciously observes, that it is sufficiently unpleasant to admin- 

 ister poisons before their precise dose is ascertained, but medicines and 

 poisons are convertible terms, and differ only in their doses.' ' See Murray's 

 Materia. Medica. Dr. Thatcher's Book was printed in 1812 — but the coi' 

 respondence of the parties was several years antecedent to the publication. 



* This v/as 11th July, 1820, when the communication was da.ted — ^but ii 

 delay in printing of it, has given occasion to an addition of later date. 



t Jinderson Township, Hamillon County, State of Ohio, JVov. 16, 1820. 

 This may certify, that in the autumn of the year 1811, at the request of 

 Dr. Benjamin Lynde Oliver, and by directions received from him, the sub- 

 scriber, then an inhabitant of Salem, Massa,chusetts, and by occupation 

 Apothecary and Chemical Operator, prepared a quantity of prussic acid, 

 and after testing it in the presence of said Oliver, delivered a portion of it 

 for the use of a patient then under said Oliver's care, And that the sub- 

 scriber delivered the prussic acid (at the order of said Oliver,) for the use 

 of a number of patients, previous to the winter of 1812-13, when he deliv- 

 ered it for the use of his brother, William Hunt, of Salem, Massachusetts. 

 And further, that the Prussic acid was not known to the Apothecaries of 

 Salem as a medicine, autecedent to Dr. Oliver's order on the subscriber foi' 

 the preparation of it, 



JOHN HUNT. 



