REVIEWS. 
223 
and physical properties — its impurities, and the mode of 
detecting them — its general action on the various domesticated 
animals in health and disease — its uses, doses, and the most 
suitable mode of administration or application.” 
Mr. Dun, has, in his preface, (p. vii) specified what we 
shall find original matter in this section of his book ; and to 
prevent the rise of any mis-apprehension touching their 
“ originality,” we shall select the articles named by him as 
such in preference to any other for extract ; viz. those on 
K aconite and tartar emetic 
“ Among carnivorous animals a violent and speedy effect is readily pro- 
duced by aconite, as well shown in the two following experiments made at the 
Veterinary College in October, 1852. A cat of average size got Tqyii of 
Fleming’s tincture of aconite. In two minutes severe retching came on, 
and in five minutes painful vomiting and involuntary muscular contractions 
of a most active kind, with perverted action of the voluntary muscles, 
causing the animal to leap up the wall and turn somersaults backwards. 
The vomiting and muscular action continued till within two or three minutes 
of death, which took place twenty minutes after the administration of the 
poison. No morbid or peculiar post-mortem appearances were observable. 
“ An ordinary sized Scotch terrier got 5ss of Fleming’s tincture. In five 
minutes painful and active vomiting came on, which must have effectually 
emptied the stomach. The retching and vomiting continued, however, for 
half an hour, when the animal was so exhausted and paralysed in its hinder 
extremities as to be unable to' walk except by supporting itself on its fore 
limbs, and dragging the hind ones after it. It gradually recovered, however, 
in about two hours. In some other cases a drachm has destroyed dogs with 
as much rapidity as an equal quantity of prussic acid. Among ruminating 
animals, the action of aconite, when introduced into the stomach, is less 
prompt and powerful than in other animals, and Dr. Fleming found that the 
activity of aconite was sensibly diminished by digesting it with the gastric 
secretions either of rabbits or calves.* When, however, it is injected into 
the veins, or placed underneath the cellular tissue in these animals, it 
develops its poisonous effects as readily as in other animals, and with the 
same marked depression of the action of the heart. 
“ According to the dose in which it is given, aconite appears to destroy 
life in one of these three ways : — 1st. In a very large amount it sometimes 
kills by communicating a sudden shock, possibly somewhat in the same 
manner as a blow on the stomach, or a flash of lightning; 2d. It paralyses 
the muscles of respiration; and, 3d. It paralyses the action of the heart. 
In most cases death results from the concurrence of the two latter effects. 
“ In poisoning by aconite, emetics or the stomach pump must be promptly 
used to get rid of any of the poison that may still remain unabsorbed. For 
a similar reason cathartics are also useful. The only chemical antidote of 
any value is tannic acid, which owes its efficacy to its forming an insoluble 
* See Dr. Fleming’s admirable monograph on the physiological and medi- 
cinal properties of Aconitum Napellus. 
