18 BULLETIN 69, V. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGKICULTURE. 



Viri altitudinem eminxit: mox terribili aspect u, cum omnium sensuum abolitione con- 

 vulsusfuit, osarctissime clausit, ut nulla arte aperiri valuerit, dentibus stridebat, ocu- 

 lus mire distorquebat, sanguis exauribuspromanabat: circa praecordia tumidum quod- 

 dam Corpus pugni virilis magnitudine, Patris afRicti manum & miserandi Pueri prae- 

 cordia. maxime circa Cartilaginem ensiformem,validissime feriebat: singultiebat crebro: 

 Vomiturus quandoque videbatur, nihil tamen ore arctissime clauso ejicere valuit: 

 artus mire jactabat & torquebat, saepius caput retrorsum abripiebatur, totumque 

 dorsum incurvabatur in arcum, ut puellus subtus per spatium inter dorsum & stratum 

 inoffense repere potuisset. Cessantibus convulsionibus per momentum matria opem 

 imploravit: niox pari ferocia illis redeuntibus nulla vellicatione, nulla acclamatione, 

 nullove alio ingenio excitari poterat, donee viribus deficientibus expalluit, & manu 

 pectori admota exspiravit. Durarunt haec Symptomata vix ultra horam dimidiam. 



Not only is this a vivid and accurate description of the symptoms 

 of Cicuta poisoning, but it has a touch of pathos in the call of the 

 child for assistance from his mother. 



Since the time of Wepfer a large number of descriptions of the 

 symptoms of this form of intoxication have been written, most of 

 them being cases of the poisoning of man. There is great uniformity 

 in these descriptions, the difference being mainly in the greater or 

 less stress laid -upon particular phases of the symptoms. In minor 

 particulars there has been some contradiction, but this is no more 

 than would be expected, for it is inevitable that among such a large 

 number of observers some would make inaccurate statements. 



The symptoms of the lower animals are hke those in man, only less 

 marked because of the less susceptible nervous system. 



The generally recognized symptoms are as follows: 



Pain, especially in the region of the stomach; but it may be quite general in char- 

 acter. 



Nausea, leading sometimes to violent vomiting; at others, to spasmodic attempta at 

 vomition without result. 



Generally diarrhea and polyuria. 



Dilated pupils. 



Labored, stertorous breathing, at times irregular. 



Sometimes, frothing at the mouth. 



Pulse weak, intermittent, and rapid. 



Temperature observations have been made in only a few instances, 

 probably due to the fact that most of the recorded cases occurred 

 before the use of the chnical thermometer was common among 

 medical men. According to French, 1866, there is elevation of 

 temperature. 



The convulsions are most violent, both tetanic and clonic, accom- 

 panied by gnashing of the teeth and trismus, and in violent cases, 

 as in Wepfer's story, by opisthotonos. These convulsions may be 

 accompanied or followed by unconsciousness, and in fatal cases grow 

 more violent until ended by death. 



