634 
TETANUS V. WOURALI. 
symptom of tetanus. These facts attracted a considerable degree 
of public attention. 
A poor fellow died lately of hydrophobia at Nottingham. It 
was wished to try the effect of the wourali poison upon him, and 
Mr. Waterton, who resides near Wakefield, was sent for. He 
immediately started, but the patient was dead before he could 
arrive. It was determined, however, to put the wourali to the 
test in the next case of hydrophobia, or of tetanus, that might 
occur. In the intermediate time a few medical men instituted some 
farther# experiments on the wourali, that they might be able to 
proceed more satisfactorily when the hour of trial arrived. 
A great number of medical gentlemen attended to witness the 
result. A large dog was brought in, and wounded in the side by 
a spearhead covered with the poison. In about a quarter of an 
hour the circulation was much increased — the pulse rising to 130 
in a minute, and the action of the heart being irregular. At thirty- 
six minutes the poor fellow was unable to stand, and convulsive 
twitchings stole over his whole frame. In fifty-two minutes he 
ceased to breath, but the heart continued its action. In a few mi- 
nutes afterwards the chest was opened, and the heart irritated by 
the end of a scalpel. In a very short time the irritability alto- 
gether ceased. 
The subject of the second experiment was an ass. Artificial 
respiration was here had recourse to, and was kept up during the 
whole of the time that the animal continued under the influence of 
the poison, so that when its power had ceased the ass would re- 
sume its natural respiration, and the artificial means be discontinued, 
thus enabling it to survive the powerful effect of this most deadly 
poison. The arrow head was inserted a few minutes after nine. 
In a quarter of an hour the heart began to beat irregularly, and 
the respirations were about fifteen in a minute, the pulse was ac- 
celerated, and the pupils dilated. In half an hour the breathing 
had become difficult and irregular, and the pulse had risen to 104. 
A moment after this, the animal fell as if dead, and the pulse 
could not be detected. An opening was immediately made into the 
trachea — the bellows introduced, and the usual process persevered 
in for seven hours and a half, at which time the animal commenced 
breathing by its own efforts. The patient gradually improved, 
and presently began to eat, almost as if nothing had happened. 
A third experiment was made on a younger and stronger ass, 
on another day. A less quantity of the poison was used. The 
patient suffered but little, and continued to eat for thirty-four mi- 
nutes, when the effect became evident, and he fell senseless and 
motionless. Artificial respiration was carried on for two hours, 
and then the natural respiration commenced. The ass was so far 
