418 THE RAPIDITY OF THE ABSORPTION OF POISONS. 
satifactorily proved , — “ First, That the time required by a sub* 
stance to permeate the capillary vessels may be considered in- 
appreciable. Secondly, That the interval elapsing between the 
absorption of a substance by the capillaries, and its general dif- 
fusion through the body, may not exceed nine seconds. Thirdly, 
That an interval, always more than nine seconds, elapses between 
the introduction of a poison into the capillaries or veins and the 
appearance of its first effects. Fourthly, That, if a poison be in- 
troduced into a part nearer the brain, its effects are produced 
more rapidly. Fifthly, That the contact of a poison with a large 
surface of the body is not sufficient to give rise to general symp- 
toms, as long as its general diffusion through the body is pre- 
vented/’ He has drawn up the following table, deduced from 
his experiments, to shew that these rapidly fatal poisons act in 
different animals in the exact ratio of the rapidity of the circula- 
tion : — 
Time required for the blood to pass from the jugular vein to the 
capillary terminations of the coronary arteries : 
In the Horse 
Dog 
Fowl 
Rabbit 
. . 16 seconds 
11 to 12 
. . 6 
. . 4 
Time that elapses between the introduction of a poison into the 
jugular vein, and the first symptoms of its action : 
In the Horse 
Dog 
Fowl 
Rabbit 
16 seconds 
12 
6i 
4 * 
