724 
EXTRACTS FROM A LECTURE ON STRYCHNINE. 
upon in future to undertake a medico-legal investigation, I will insist on my 
having the whole subject to work upon, and, if such is not granted me, I 
will protest against my analysis being regarded as conclusive. 
The second suggestion I have to make is to the poisoner. Were I to 
turn knave chemist, and the poisoner were to ask me what substance he 
could most certainly employ, whereby he would most surely get rid of his 
victim and at the same time escape the hands of justice, I would say to 
him, “ Take this poison, or that, or the other ; but, as you value your life, 
my good fellow, don’t you try strychnine.” 
SUPPLEMENT. 
Since writing the notes of the Lecture on Strychnine which appeared in 
the August number of the Pharmaceutical Journal , I have been engaged in 
prosecuting still further the inquiry as to the possibility of detecting strych- 
nine in ordinary and extraordinary circumstances. These later researches 
I now proceed to record. 
The first instance I refer to was that of a Scotch terrier dog, which 
was poisoned by a minimum dose of strychnine. The animal was about 
eight years old, and though healthy, was not in the best condition. Only 
one eighth of a grain of strychnine was administered to this dog, and I re- 
solved that come what might — whether the animal died from this small 
dose or survived its effects — the various organs of its body should be 
tested for strychnine. The following are the symptoms, &c., exhibited by 
THE SCOTCH TERRIER DOG. 
0 minute. 
2 hours 
3 
)) 
3 „ 10 minutes. 
3 „ 20 
3 „ 23 
3 „ 30 
3 „ 45 
12 „ 
Received i gr. of strychnine, along with a { lb. beef 
steak. 
Sudden jerks, during which the head was thrown 
back; these jerks occurred every two or three 
minutes during one hour. 
Tetanus set in. At first the spasms were lengthy 
and severe ; but soon they became mere jerks — 
urine was ejected — violent and heavy breathings. 
Repose — a touch, at first gentle, but afterwards 
severe, failed to bring on the spasms — when 
motioned to, the dog rose, walked about, lapped 
up some water, and in every respect behaved it- 
self as if no strychnine had been administered. 
The fore legs became convulsed, whilst the hinder 
legs remained unaffected. In this condition 
the dog described a skating motion round the 
room. 
Recovered the use of all its limbs and walked about. 
Same as occurred at 3 h. 20 m. 
Repose, with occasional jerks. 
Death. 
Though 1 have stated twelve hours to be the period at which the above 
dog succumbed to the influence of strychnine, yet such must only be con- 
sidered the probable hour of death. After attentively watching the dog for 
four hours, I left my laboratory for the evening, and returned in ten hours 
thereafter, being fourteen hours from the commencement of the experiment, 
