EXTRACTS FROM A LECTURE ON STRYCHNINE. 671 
this instance the strychnine-tests were very distinctly noticed, and it must 
be particularly observed, the stomach and its contents, as also the lungs, 
liver, spleen, heart, and kidneys, were not delivered to me. 
These experiments on the horse and large police dog satisfied me that 
an animal poisoned by strychnine in ordinary circumstances, will exhibit 
distinct evidence of the presence of the poison in the contents of the 
stomach, contents of the intestines, the blood, urine, and muscle. 
Now it has been lately suggested that antimony in the condition of tartar 
emetic is capable of destroying, retaining, or concealing strychnine, in such 
a manner, that even where it has been administered as a poison, yet still, if 
preceded or accompanied by tartar emetic, the organic poison escapes de- 
tection. On this point I have made some experiments. Two healthy dogs 
were treated with tartar emetic for four days, receiving each a quarter-grain 
dose four times a day. On the fifth day, strychnine was simultaneously ad- 
ministered to both dogs. For convenience of reference I will designate 
these animals by their prevailing colour; the white dog and the black 
dog: 
THE WHITE DOG. 
0 minute. 
9 minutes. 
17 „ 
18 
99 
31 
40 
| gr. strychnine on liver. 
The dog passed its urine, which was collected. 
\ gr. strychnine on liver. 
The dog in attempting to seize this piece of liver, let it 
drop ; it then licked off some of the strychnine and re- 
peatedly attempted to snap up the liver, but could not 
do so. 
Tremors — quick running motion — tetanic spasms and heavy 
breathings. 
Repose. 
Death. 
On being tested, strychnine was very distinctly observed in (1) the con- 
tents of the stomach, (2) the contents of the intestines, (3) the blood, (4) 
the urine, and (5) the lungs, liver, spleen, heart, and kidneys and muscle 
combined. The presence of strychnine in the urine voided only nine 
minutes after the first administration of the alkaloid, is worthy of special 
notice. This experiment demonstrated, that a preliminary treatment with 
antimony does not militate against the discovery of strychnine in animal 
matters. 
The black dog, which had likewise been under antimonial treatment for 
four days, received its doses of strychnine, accompanied by extract of hem- 
lock. The latter was given for the purpose of observing how far coniine 
might retard or relieve the spasms. 
THE BLACK DOG. 
minute. ■§ gr. strychnine, and 4 grs. extract of hemlock on liver, 
minutes. „ „ „ 
» 99 J) J) 
„ Tremors — tetanic spasms and heavy breathings. 
Repose (time not noted). 
„ Death. 
On examining the various parts of this animal, strychnine was distinctly 
observed in (1) the contents of the stomach, (2) contents of the intestines, 
(3) the blood, (4) the urine, and (5) lungs, liver, heart, spleen, and kidneys, 
and muscle together. The experiment afforded a second proof that anti- 
0 
17 
30 
33 
1 hour 2 
