222 Mr . Brodie’s Observations and Experiments 
as an emetic, otherwise I have found no material difference in 
the symptoms produced in the different species of animals, 
which I have been in the habit of employing as the subjects 
of experiment. The symptoms are paralysis, drowsiness, and 
at last complete insensibility ; the pulse becomes feeble ; the 
heart continues to act after apparent death ; its action may be 
maintained by means of artificial respiration ; but never for a 
longer period than a few minutes : so that it appears that this 
poison acts on the heart as well as on the brain ; but that its 
principal action is on the latter. Both the voluntary and in- 
voluntary muscles may be made to contract after death, by 
means of Voltaic electricity. The stomach sometimes bears 
the marks of inflammation ; but at other times it has its natu- 
ral appearance. 1 have never seen any appearance of inflam- 
mation of the intestines. The length of time, which elapses 
from the application of the poison to the death of the animal, 
varies. In some instances it is not more than three quarters 
of an hour ; but in others, it is two or three hours, or even 
longer. 
When a solution of emetic tartar was injected into the sto- 
mach of a rabbit, the same symptoms took place as when it 
was applied to a wound. 
VI. On the Effects of the Corrosive Sublimate. 
When this poison is taken internally in very small and re- 
peated doses, it is absorbed into the circulation, and produces 
on the system those peculiar effects, which are produced by 
other preparations of mercury. If it passes into the circulation 
in larger quantity, it excites inflammation of some part of the 
alimentary canal, the termination of which may vary accord- 
