148 POISONING OF A DOG WITH NUX VOMICA. 
the auricles of the heart were full. These were the principal 
appearances. I regret that time would not permit me to 
make a more minute and accurate investigation. 
The contents of the box sent by post to you yesterday were 
obtained in the following manner : 
The contents of the stomach were first treated with a dilute 
solution of oxalic acid. Being then allowed to stand for 
twenty-four hours, having been frequently agitated, it was 
filtered. The contents of the filter were washed with soft 
w r ater, and the washings added to the filtrate. The whole of 
the liquid was then boiled and filtered through paper; animal 
charcoal was next added ; the whole frequently agitated for 
twenty-four hours, was well washed with cold water, and the 
charcoal received on paper. The powders now enclosed are 
— No. 1. Avery small portion of the “ brown powder” ob- 
tained from the coats of the stomach and the duodenum, by 
washings and filtration. No. 2. Some of the same powder, 
after having been subjected to the action of oxalic acid. 
The object of my inquiries as to the nature of the poison, 
is not for the purpose of bringing an offender to the bar of 
justice, for it would be difficult to believe that any person 
could be guilty of an act so base and cruel as to poison such 
an inoffensive animal and general favorite as the poor dog in 
question was; but rather to convince men of the danger they 
are subjecting their fellow v -creatures to by meddling with 
the most deadly poisons as though they were articles of 
diet. 
The gentleman to whom the dog belonged, and who owns 
an immense tract of land and preserves, informs me that it is 
customary with the keepers to place about nux vomica for the 
destruction of vermin, and that he has little doubt but that 
the poor animal fell a victim to this practice. 
Now, sirs, you will, I have no doubt, lend your valuable aid 
and influence in preventing thus the destruction of valuable 
animals, — and it might have been human life, —through reck- 
lessness and ignorance. For suppose that a poor man had 
found the rabbit instead of the unfortunate dog, he would, in 
all probability, have taken it home to a hungry family of 
seven or more in number, and it would have been cooked 
and eaten. The consequences are too fearful for the mind 
to dwell upon. It may be necessary to preserve game by 
destroying vermin, but let it not be done at the risk of sacri- 
ficing human life. 
[From the matters sent to us, sufficient indication was 
obtained of the existence of the alkaloid strychnia ; therefore 
