SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
283 
idiopathic; there had been exposure to cold. The patient recovered entirely 
in eleven days; during which 44 drops, or 26'4 grains of nicotine, were taken 
by him. The effect of the nicotine was as follows : — There was an immediate 
relaxation of the muscles of the back, abdomen, and chest ; a cessation of 
delirium ; a slight increase in the number of pulsations at the wrist ; pro- 
fuse sweating — the perspiration having an intolerable odour of snuff ; and 
a tendency to deep sleep. The third case was that of a boy who was 
treated in the Meath Hospital, by Dr. P. C. Smyly : the boy had taken 
four grains of strychnia ; and in his case, emetics had been given with 
effect. An ounce of cut cavendish was put into a jug, and a pint of 
boiling water poured on cold water was then added, until the contents 
of the jug were tepid. This was taken at twice, and was followed 
by vomiting. Another pint made in the same way with another ounce 
of tobacco had the same effect. A third pint made from the same ounce 
was partly retained by the stomach : profuse sweating and sleep came on : 
in half an hour there was complete relaxation of the muscles, and the boy 
recovered rapidly. The fourth case was traumatic, coming on after a 
compound fracture (fracture with communicating wound) of the fore-arm. 
During four days, 54 drops of nicotine, equal to 32^ grains, were given ; 
and recovery took place. 
Tannin as an Antidote for Strychnia. — M. Kurzalc, in the Journal de 
Chimie Medicate, concludes from his experiments, that if administered in 
time, tannin is an excellent antidote to this poison. Twenty or twenty- 
live times as much tannin (the active astringent principle in oak-galls, &c.), 
as the amount of strychnia taken, must be given; and it would be prudent 
to give it even in larger proportion. Infusion of galls, even of black tea 
(if but little strychnia has been taken), of acorns, chestnut-bark, willow- 
bark, oak and elm-bark, tormentilla-root, or of the root of the carnation, 
may any of them be given, as these substances are rich in tannin. A great 
recommendation to nicotine and tannin is, that both are easily obtained in 
almost every dwelling. 
Sarracenia Purpurea in Small-pox. — This plant, the Indian cup, a 
native of Nova Scotia, has recently been much spoken of as a remedy for 
small-pox, the course of which it is said to shorten, and also to prevent 
entirely the disfiguring pitting which so often follows this disease. Dr. 
Manning, of York, however, states that he has given the Sarracenia Pur- 
purea a good trial, and he finds that it has no effect at all, either in check- 
ing the course of small-pox, or in preventing pitting. 
Formation of Cinchona Plantations. — The rapid destruction of whole 
forests of the cinchonas (from which Peruvian bark and quinine are 
obtained), for the purposes of trade, without corresponding restoration by 
means of the growth of fresh trees, has led to great fears that in time we 
should be totally deprived of this valuable tree. To prevent this, our 
Government has been forming plantations of cinchona on a large scale, 
which are situated on the Neilgherry hills. The total number of plants at 
present is 72,568. Of these, 13,700 are placed permanently out of doors ; 
18,076 are in the plantation nurseries ; and 40,792 are small, and under 
glass. Extensive clearings are being made : the Denison and Markham 
plantations, both at Neddiwuttum, together contain 410 acres. Another 
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