and its Alkaloid Conia. 415 



Exp. XII. Seven drops of a faintly acidulated solution of muriate of conia, con- 

 taining two drops of conia, were diluted to one drachm, and blown from a pipette 

 into the stomach of a small rabbit, by a hole in the gullet, which was afterwards 

 tied. In one minute the hind-legs became stiff, causing the animal to rise as usual 

 straight up from the sitting position. Instantly, however, paralysis ensued, and it 

 fell down prostrate and flaccid. The respiration at the same time was short, la- 

 boured, and diaphragmatic, and the eyes sensible. In two minutes the breathing 

 ceased, and the eyes became insensible even when touched. Convulsive twitches 

 succeeded for two minutes. 



The heart contracted vigorously long after death, the ventricles acting a little 

 forty minutes afterwards, and the right auricle feebly even for sixty minutes. There 

 was a strong odour of conia in the peritoneal sac, when the belly was laid open, 

 about five minutes after death. 



The odour of conia in the peritoneum was here, I presume, 

 owing to its transmission by imbibition, or exosmose. Similar 

 phenomena have been observed of various other poisons, and 

 among the rest of oxalic acid, as was proved by Dr Coindet and 

 myself in 1823. [Edinburgh Med. and Surg. Journal, xix. 163.] 



Exp. XIII. Thirty drops of water, containing two drops of conia, exactly neu- 

 tralized with muriatic acid, and preserved in this state for a month, were blown 

 from a pipette into the left femoral vein of a middle-sized puppy, care being taken 

 to prevent any air entering the vein, and to tighten a noose round the vein instantly 

 afterwards. I had taken precautions for noting the time, at the instant after in- 

 jecting the poison, leaving the care of the ligature to another ; but, in the very act of 

 observing the time, I happened to glance over my watch at the animal, and saw 

 that respiration and motion had ceased. Certainly three seconds had not elapsed 

 before this observation was made. The usual slight convulsive twitches followed, 

 as in all cases of death by asphyxia. 



The body was opened immediately. Two minutes after the cessation of breath- 

 ing, the external arteries of the chest discharged blood per saltum. The heart con- 

 tracted spontaneously for two or perhaps three minutes more, and remained con- 

 tractile under excitement much longer. The blood was equally dark in the left as 

 in the right side, fluid and coagulable. There was no air in the heart. 



III. Experiments with Extract of Hemlock. 



Exp. XIV. Six ounces of hemlock seeds fully developed, but still quite green, 

 were carefully bruised and exhausted with absolute alcohol of density 797 in a per- 

 colator. The alcohol being in a great measure distilled off, a thick dark-green 



fluid remained, which was promptly evaporated in the vapour-bath to the consist- 



6 



