THAT FAMOUS ESSENCE PEDDLER. 175 



charge for some time and it seems to have become 

 concentrated. When recently ejected the fumes are 

 suffocatingly pungent, extremely irritating to the 

 air passages, and, I have no doubt, are capable of 

 producing oedema of the glottis, as are the fumes of 

 strong ammonia; and when inhaled without a large 

 admixture of atmosphere, the victim loses conscious- 

 ness, breathing becomes stertorous, the temperature 

 falls, the pulse slackens, and if the inhalation is pro- 

 longed the result doubtlessly proves fatal." * 



Dr. Merriam does not consider the perfume of 

 the skunk one tenth as disagreeable and disgustingly 

 nauseating as the secretions from the corresponding 

 glands of many other members of the Mustdidw, 

 particularly the weasel and mink. Nor do I. There 

 is nothing putrid about the smell of the skunk ; it is 

 undoubtedly pungent and suffocating at times, but it 

 is never sickening. 



The skunk is a hibernating animal, but he does 

 not sleep all winter long ; during the greater part of 



* There is a case on record where mischievous schoolboys 

 forced one of their number to inhale from a two-ounce vial a 

 large quantity of skunk perfume with somewhat serious conse- 

 quences. The victim became unconscious, muscular relaxation 

 followed, the temperature fell to 94°, the pulse to 65, and the ex- 

 tremities grew cold. The patient was unconscious for an hour, 

 but finally recovered after the administration of hot pediluvia 

 and stimulants. — Vide Virginia Medical Monthly, vol. viii, No. 5, 

 August, 1881. 



