POISONOUS MILK. 77 



intestine must be through the nervous system. Small 

 doses cause both vomiting and purging, while after large 

 doses vomiting may be impossible, and obstinate constipa- 

 tion may exist. Both the vomiting and purging after 

 small doses are undoubtedly due in part to increased 

 activity of the circular fibres of the muscular coats, induced 

 through the nerves ; and the inability to vomit, and the 

 constipation, one or both of which may be observed after 

 large doses of the poison, are due to spasm of the same 

 muscles, induced in the same manner. 



" Prof. A. B. Prescott was requested by the coroner to 

 analyze the material for mineral and vegetable poisons. 

 He made analyses of the stomach and part of its contents, 

 and a portion of the liver. His results were wholly nega- 

 tive. 



" l^ovy tested a cold-water extract of the finely divided 

 intestine for ptomaines. The fluid, which was acid in 

 reaction, was filtered, then neutralized with sodium bi- 

 carbonate, and shaken with ether. The ether, after 

 separation, was removed, and allowed to evaporate spon- 

 taneously. The residue was dissolved in water, and 

 extracted again with ether. This ether residue gave the 

 chemical reactions for tyrotoxicon, and a portion of it was 

 administered to a kitten about two months old. Within 

 half an hour after the administration the kitten began to 

 retch, and soon it vomited. Within the next three hours 

 it was noticed to vomit as many as five times. The breath- 

 ing became rapid and labored. The animal sat with its 

 head down, and seemed greatly prostrated. The pupils 

 were examined, but could not be said to be dilated. There 

 was no purging. The retching and heavy breathing, with 

 evidences of prostration, continued more or less marked 

 for two days, after which the animal slowly improved. 



" A quantity of fresh milk was divided into five por- 

 tions of one quart each, placed in quart bottles which had 



only abnormality found in the intestines consisted of the contraction of the 

 circular fibres of the transverse and descending colon. Marsh believes 

 that this was a case of ptomaiue poisoning. 



