POISONING OP SHEEP-DOGS WITH STRYCHNINE. 447 
of a small animal, corresponding with that of a rabbit. The 
process followed in this investigation was to digest part of the 
contents of the stomach in a dilute solution of oxalic acid for 
some hours, thereafter warm, and strain through muslin. 
The filtrate was neutralized and rendered slightly alkaline by 
stirring it with a rod of caustic potash. It was then placed 
in a narrow-mouthed bottle, several ounces of ether added, 
and the whole well agitated together. On settling for a short 
time, the ether, with the strychnine dissolved in it, floated to 
the surface of the liquid. The upper stratum of fluid was 
poured off into a porcelain evaporating basin, allowed to 
evaporate spontaneously to near dryness, slightly heated to 
remove remaining traces of the ethereal liquid, and then 
tested for strychnine. The indications which were deemed 
sufficient for the identification of strychnine were, the taste 
of the extract, and the violet colour produced by bichromate of 
potassa and sulphuric acid . 
The portion of rabbit which had not been partaken of by 
the deceased dog was subjected to the same process, but the 
extracted matter was found so largely contaminated with 
fatty matter, that the colour test could not be observed, and 
the taste test was not at all satisfactory. In order to separate 
these fatty matters, the residue was treated with a hot dilute 
solution of oxalic acid, heated to near ebullition, allowed to 
settle, and the under liquid containing the oxalate of strych- 
nine was drawn off by a pipette from the upper one consisting 
of the fused fat or oil. The water extract was then treated 
with potash, ether, &c., as previously mentioned, and the 
tests applied, when very decided indications of the presence 
of strychnine were obtained. 
In regard to the quantity of strychnine employed in the 
particular instance here specially referred to, there were no 
attempts made to estimate directly the amount, but several 
circumstances appeared to me to indicate that a comparatively 
large dose had been partaken of by the dog. There is no 
doubt that a certain relation exists between the length of time 
an animal, after partaking of the poison, will live before it 
begins to show symptoms of poisoning by strychnine, or suc- 
cumb to its action, and the greater or less dose which has 
been administered to it — the larger the dose, the quicker the 
fatal result; and the smaller the dose, the more tardy are the 
strychnine symptoms observed. There appears, also, a dis- 
tinct relation between the time an animal survives a dose of 
strychnine, and the greater or less fulness of the stomach ; 
for where this organ is well filled with nutriment, the poison 
is necessarily diffused through much harmless matter, and 
