American Pot fin called Ticunas. xxxix 
None of the animals, however, died by the application of the 
oil of tobacco. 
Experiments with the water of the Lauro-Cerafus „ 
I fhall conclude my experiments on poifons with an account 
of fome that I have made on a poifon which has for fome years be 
come remarkable in Europe. This poifon is the water of the 
Lauro-Cerafus, which is not inferior to any of the other very 
aftive poifons, if confidered with refpeft to the great diforder 
which it introduces into the animal oeconomy, and the fhort time 
which it takes to aft when given to animals by the mouth. It not 
only produces the ftrongeft convulfions, and death itfelf, even in 
animals of a middle fize ; but, moreover, when it is given in 
fmail dofes, the animal writhes fo that the head joins the tail, 
and the. vertebrae arch out in fuch a manner as to fill every body 
who fees it with horror. The convulfions and motions of the 
whole body are extremely violent, and the ftruggles kill the 
animal in a fhort time. If it be given to the animal as a glifter, it 
equally produces the convulfions and death. With only two 
tea fpoonfuls of the water given by the mouth, I have feen mid- 
dle-fized rabbits fall down convulfed in thirty feconds, and 
die within a minute. When it is given in great quantities 
to animals, they die almoft in an inftant, and without 
convulfions, the parts of the body being relaxed and pendent. 
When it is given in fmail quantities, the convulfions are more 
or lefs ftrong ; the hind feet firft lofe their motion, and after- 
wards the fore, which die flower. When the animal can no 
longer move its feet, or the reft of the body, it ftiil moves very 
well the neck and the head, which it continues to hold up 
ftrongly, and to turn round every way. In this ftate the ani- 
mal hears founds, and fees objefts ; and although it has ceafed to 
move its feet fpontaneouily, yet it ftiil moves them backwards » 
and forwards when they are much pricked or fqueezed ; a iign it 
can ftiil move them, though it moves them only on account of 
the great pain. 
z 
The 
