Effects of the Prussic Acid. 193 



half a drop of prussic acid, in sweetened water, every two 

 hours ; to be increased to a drop on the next day. The 

 mother, who knew nothing of the nature of the medicine, 

 informed me that, on increasing the dose, the child became 

 dizzy, and could not walk strait, but observed no other con- 

 sequence. She was therefore advised not to increase the 

 quantity above the half drop. The first effect was to di- 

 minish the aggravated, and distressing paroxysms of cough- 

 ing which afflicted the patient, particularly during the night, 

 and to procure some repose. The medicine being continu- 

 ed, the symptoms gradually disappeared, until at the end of 

 about one week, I was informed by the mother that the child 

 had no more turns of coughing, and was in fact cured of all 

 disease. 



Observations. 



I have witnessed the operation of the Prussic acid in ten 

 or twelve cases, all of them diseases of the lungs or catarr- 

 hal membrane. 



That it acts with intense energy on the hving system can- 

 not be doubted by any one who has made experiments with 

 it on animals or insects, and that it possesses great power as 

 a medicine, when given in proper doses, will not be denied 

 by those who have administered it as such. 



But whether its effects are directly sedative, as supposed 

 by Dr. Magendie, Orfila, and others, may reasonably admit 

 of doubt. It is well known that the principle of life may be 

 as completely (and even more quickly) destroyed, by a stimu- 

 lant which shall, in an instant exhaust the sensorial power 

 beyond a certain point, as by any means with which we. 

 are acquainted. 



The effects of lightning and electricity are examples. 

 Here not only the phenomena of life, but the principle of 

 irritability itself becomes extinct in a second of time. And 

 we know of a great variety of stimulants which produce 

 the same effect, the time being in inverse proportion to the 

 energy with which they operate. 



But it may be fairly doubted, whether we are acquainted 

 with any substance which affects the principle of life by di= 

 vectly destroying the source from which the sensorial power 



Vol. IIL.....No.\l. 2.f^ 



