in which Death is produced by vegetable Poisons. 205 
Exp. 30. A wound was made in the side of a rabbit, and 
one drop of the essential oil of almonds was inserted into it, 
and immediately the animal was placed in a temperature of 
go 0 . In two minutes he was under the influence of the poison. 
The usual symptoms took place, and in three minutes more 
respiration had ceased, and he lay apparently dead, but the 
heart was still felt beating through the ribs. A tube was then 
introduced into one of the nostrils, and the lungs were inflated 
about thirty-five times in a minute. Six minutes after the 
commencement of artificial respiration, he moved his head and 
legs, and made an effort to breathe. He then was seized with 
convulsions, and again lay motionless, but continued to make 
occasional efforts to breathe. Sixteen minutes after its com- 
mencement, the artificial respiration was discontinued. He 
now breathed spontaneously seventy times in a minute, and 
moved his head and extremities. After this, he occasionally 
rose, and attempted to walk. In the intervals, he continued 
in a dozing state ; but from this he gradually recovered. In 
less than two hours he appeared perfectly well, and he conti- 
nued well on the following day. 
The inflating the lungs has been frequently recommended 
in cases of suffocation, where the cause of death is the cessa- 
tion of the functions of the lungs : as far as I know, it has 
not been before proposed in those cases, in which the cause 
of death is the cessation of the functions of the brain.* It is 
probable that this method of treatment might be employed 
with advantage for the recovery of persons labouring under 
the effects of opium, and many other poisons. 
* Since this paper was read, I have been favoured by the Right Hon. the President 
with the perusal of a Dissertation on the Effects of the Upas Tieute, lately published 
MDCCCXI. D d 
