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ss That an excerpt from this minute be sent to Lady Makdougall 
Brisbane, with an expression of the Society’s sympathy and condo- 
lence.” 
The following Communications were read 
1, On the Capture of Whales with the aid of Poison, 
By Dr Christison, 
This paper was an account of a plan proposed and tried many 
years ago for poisoning whales, by introducing hydrocyanic acid into 
their bodies when struck with the harpoon. 
In 1831, the author was consulted on the subject by the late 
Messrs G. and W. Young of Leith, at that time concerned in the 
northern whale-fishery. It appeared to the author that the idea 
was feasible ; that it was sufficient to paralyse the animal, so that 
the boats could speedily come up with it ; and that a quantity of 
concentrated hydrocyanic acid, adequate to produce that effect at 
least, could be introduced by means of two glass tubes, one on each 
side of the shank of the harpoon, where they would be protected by 
the barbs of the blade. After various devices were thought of for 
breaking the tubes at the right moment, the contrivance fixed on 
was, that the double barb, with which each side of the blade ter- 
minates, should be jointed movably on the upper portion of the blade ; 
so that, when traction was exerted, on the whale starting off with 
the harpoon in its body, the external ends of the barbs would be 
thrown outwards so as to increase the hold of the harpoon, while the 
inner ends of the barbs would be squeezed against the tubes, and 
crush them to pieces. 
Harpoons so constructed, one of which was exhibited to the So- 
ciety, were sent out in a Greenland ship, with a large supply of con- 
centrated hydrocyanic acid, in the spring of 1832; but the ship 
was nipped between two ice-fields on its first arrival among the 
whales, and just when all was ready for the trial. In 1834, another 
vessel was sent out by the Messrs Young, provided with the same 
kind of harpoons, and with a harpoon gun for firing them. Hot 
having been aware till lately of this second trial, the author had 
been able to inquire into the result only a few weeks ago. The ac- 
counts he received were discrepant. According to the most credible 
report, the experiment succeeded ; but the crew were so alarmed at 
