STRYCHNIA. 85 
most excitable of the animal species are at once the most 
delicate and specific tests of this poison. 
e£ I have just performed two experiments, and only two, 
for want of materials for more. 
<( I requested Mr. Lloyd Bullock, of Hanover Street, to 
dissolve one part of the acetate of strychnia in 1000 parts of 
distilled water, adding a drop or two of acetic acid. 
“ I then took a frog, and having added to one ounce of 
water yi^th part of a grain of the acetate of strychnia, I placed 
the frog in this dilute solution. No effect having been pro- 
duced, part of a grain of the acetate was carefully 
added. This having produced no effect, in another hour 
T ^oth part of a grain of the acetate was again added, making 
about the thirty-third part of a grain; in a few moments the 
frog became violently tetanic, and, though taken out and 
washed, died in the course of the night. 
“ I thus detected, in the most indubitable manner, the 
thirty- third of a grain of the acetate of strychnia. It ap- 
peared to me, that had more time been given, a much minuter 
quantity would be detected. 
i( I placed the second frog in one ounce of distilled water, 
to which I had added the -g^th part of a grain of the acetate 
of strychnia ; at the end of the first, second, and third hours, 
other similar additions were made, no symptoms of strych- 
nine having appeared. At the end of the fifth hour, the frog 
having been exposed to the ^th part of a grain, tetanic 
symptoms came on, and, under the same circumstances of the 
removal and washing, the frog died. 
“ I thus detected ^ th part of a grain of the poisonous 
salt by phenomena too vivid to admit of a single doubt ; the 
animal on the slightest touch being seized with the most 
rigid spasms. 
ee In cases of suspected poisoning by strychnia, the con- 
tents of the stomach and intestines, of the head and blood- 
vessels, must be severally and carefully evaporated and made 
to act on frogs. 
(e p. s. — In two subsequent experiments, the ^-i^th and the 
•To^th part of a grain of the acetate of strychnia was de- 
tected.” 
Oxford Street ; Jan . 1 , 1856 . 
