306 PROFESSOR BALFOUR ON THE 
ness and faintness, great abridgment of the power of volition over the voluntary 
muscles, very slight twitches of the muscles of the chest, but no diminution of 
sensibility, and no disorder of the mental functions. The articulation becomes 
sluggish; but it is not imperfect, if the words be pronounced deliberately and 
with attention. As these effects wear off sleep supervenes, and it lasts for a few 
hours; after which there is languor of the muscles, and inaptitude for exertion, 
passing off before next day. The effects now described were the result of taking 
twelve grains carefully chewed, while the stomach was empty. As the stomach 
was cleared out by an emetic so soon as the giddiness and weariness of the limbs 
were felt decidedly, it is not improbable that even that small dose, amounting to 
a fourth part of one bean, might prove speedily fatal. 
The mode of action seemed to be by paralyzing the heart on the one hand, 
and on the other by suspending the influence of volition over the muscles, but 
without affecting sensation. This conclusion was confirmed by a few experiments 
on the lower animals, showing that an emulsion of the seed introduced into the 
cellular tissue under the skin occasions sudden feebleness, slight muscular 
twitches, muscular paralysis, and death in a few minutes by arrestment of the 
heart; which is accordingly found immediately afterwards to be paralysed, and 
filled in its left cavities with florid blood. Sensibility was manifested so long as 
advancing paralysis did not take away the power of expression. 
Dr SHarrey has since communicated to Dr Curistison some experiments 
made at his request on the frog with an alcoholic extract of the seed. This ex- 
tract was found by Dr Curistison, by experiment on quadrupeds, to concentrate 
in itself the activity of the seed, and to be consequently a poison of intense energy. 
Dr SHARPEY ascertained by experiments on the frog, that it paralyses the action of 
the lymph-hearts, does not impair circulation in the vessels, appears to suspend 
the influence of volition over the muscles, does not affect the direct excitability 
of the muscular fibre, and apparently also leaves the muscles excitable by stimuli 
conveyed along the nerves, other than volition, at least by electricity. 
Dr Curistison attempted to detach the active proximate principle from the 
alcoholic extract; but the quantity of material was insufficient to enable him to 
do more than ascertain, that an alkaloidal principle was not separable by some 
of the simple processes of proximate analysis used in similar circumstances. 
The beans are said in Africa to lose their poisonous qualities after being 
roasted or boiled; but this is extremely doubtful. In the cooked condition, 
however, they are (according to Mr WADDELL) sometimes administered medici- 
nally, without producing poisoning. The difference of apparent effect is often 
remarkable. Mr Hewan, medical missionary of Calabar, states, that in one 
case which came under his own notice, a woman who was accused of injuring 
her child by witchcraft, came in from a distance, strong in innocence, and 
demanded to have the ordeal administered. She ate twenty-four beans and 

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