I 



VLCTION OF VEGETABLE POISONS. 305" 



with the blood, it is reasonable to suppose, that the pres- 

 sure on the aorta would have occasioned some diminution of 

 them, and that the complete obstruction of the circulation 

 would have caused theni to cease altogether. 



From these considerations, 1 ara induced, on the whole. Appears to act 



to believe, that the infusion of tobacco, when inieoted into °" ""' 



' '' vous syste.n, 



the intestines, influences the heart through the medium of 

 the nervous system ; but 1 have not been able to devise any 

 experiment, by which the truth or fallacy of this opinion 

 might be put beyond the reach of doubt. 



It appears remarkable, that the brain and nervous system, affecting it 

 although not necessary to the action of the heart, should, T^[.^ power. 

 while under the influence of the infusion of tobacco, be ca- 

 pable of influencing this organ so as to stop its action ; but 

 this is analogous to what we see occur in consequence of vio- 

 lent emotions of the mind. Those states of the nervous 

 system, which accompany the passions of joy, fear, or anger, 

 when existing in a moderate degree, render the heart more 

 sensible to the stimulus of the blood, and increase the fre- 

 quency of its contractions ; while, when the same passions 

 exist in a greater degree, the heart is rendered altogether in- 

 sensible to the stimulus of the blood, and syncope ensues. 



Experiments with the Empyreumatic Oil of Tobacco*. 



Exp. 13. Less than a drop of this oil was applied to the Effectsof em- 

 tonarue of a young cat. Instantly violent convulsions took pyreumatic oil 



. • „ 1 , J .r • .• , cftobacco. 



place in all the muscles, and the respirations became very Exp, 13. 



frequent. In five minutes after the application, she lay on 

 one side insensible, with slight spasmodic actions of the 

 muscles. At the end of eleven minutes, she retched, but 

 did not vomit. In a quarter of an hour, she appeared to be 

 recovering. I repeated the application of the poison, and 

 she was again seized with violent convulsions, and became 

 insensible, breathing at long intervals, and in two minutes 

 from the second application respiration had entirely ceased, 

 and she was apparently dead. On opening the thorax, I 



• I was furnished with the empyreumatic oil of tobacco by Mr, W. 

 Brande. It may be procured by subjecting the leaves of tobacco to dis- 

 tillation in a heat above that of boiling water: a quantity of watery fluid 

 come» over, on the surface of which is a thin film of unctuous substance. 



Vol. XXX,— Dec. 1811. X found 



