EXTRACTS FROM A LECTURE ON STRYCHNINE. 725 
and, as the animal was still sensibly warm, I judged it likely that it must 
have died about two hours before my return — in other words, in twelve 
hours from the administration of the alkaloid. 
The Scotch terrier dog was dissected in about six hours after its 
death, and on examination by the method detailed in my former paper, 
strychnine was detected in (1) the stomach and intestines, (2) the muscles, 
lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, and heart, (3) the blood, and (4) the urine. 
The latter was found in the bladder after the death of the dog, so that it is 
likely it was all secreted after the spasms commenced, at which time, it will 
be remembered, the then secreted urine was forcibly ejected. The bones 
of this auimal were also examined for strychnine. The process followed 
was to digest the bones in dilute hydrochloric acid, till all the earthy matter 
was dissolved out. The solution so obtained was filtered through muslin, 
placed in an evaporating basin on a sandbath, and raised to a temperature 
verging on 200° F. Concentrated' sulphuric acid was added till it ceased to 
cause any further precipitation ; the mixture was allowed to cool and settle, 
when the supernatant liquid was siphoned off. To this solution, pulverized 
chalk was added till the former was nearly neutralized, when the mixture 
was again allowed to settle, and the liquid being withdrawn, was placed in 
a bottle, along with animal charcoal, and agitated repeatedly during forty- 
eight hours. The charcoal was subsequently treated with alcohol, the 
alcoholic extract evaporated to dryness, and tested with bichromate of pot- 
ash and sulphuric acid. No satisfactory evidence of the presence of strych- 
nine in the bones was obtained. 
The above experiments demonstrate that an animal poisoned by a mini- 
mum dose of strychnine, may live twelve hours after partaking of that alka- 
loid, and yet quite distinct evidence of the administration of the poison will 
be found in the remains of the animal after its death. The comparatively 
lengthened period during which the Scotch terrier dog survived its 
minimum dose of strychnine, as contrasted with the WHiTE dog or black 
dog which received much larger doses, led me at first to surmise that 
possibly, as a general rule, the rapidity of the physiological symptoms 
might be taken as an index of the quantity of strychnine actually ad- 
ministered ; but the following experiments give no countenance to such an 
opinion, 
Through the kindness of Mr. Williamson, veterinary surgeon, I had 
placed at my disposal three healthy greyhounds, which had been handed 
over to him for destruction. These dogs were condemned to death for an 
over- display of their hunting propensities, in worrying a flock of sheep, and 
were in every respect in good condition. Two of these three animals formed 
the subjects of the following experiments : 
THE FIRST GREYHOUND — FOUR YEARS OLD. 
0 minute. 
38 minutes. 
53 ,, 
57 „ 
59 
1 hour 
2 
3 
5 
30 
3 grains of strychnine were placed on its tongue. 
Showed symptoms of uneasiness. 
.Repeated rising and running about— each side being 
alternately spasmodically affected. 
Heavy breathings. 
Ran about at signal. 
Leapt from the ground, throwing its head backwards, 
and fell in a tetanic fit. 
Repose. Gentle breathing. 
Spasms. Heavy breathing. 
Repose. Gentle breathing. 
Death. 
