ABSTRACTS AND GLEANINGS IN BOTANY, ETC. 
27 
respiration and pulsation of the heart, and then causes a diminution of both 
these functions. 4. This poison, at the same time, causes an increase of sensi¬ 
bility, followed by tetanic convulsions; and finally produces insensibility, 
paralysis, and death. 5. It only acts secondarily on the motor system of nerves, 
does not act on the contractility of the muscular system, and it is not a poison 
of the heart, that organ continuing, on the contrary, to beat for some time 
after death. 6. In many cases in which very serious symptoms had been pro¬ 
duced, and even sudden apparent death, the animals were observed to return 
slowly to life. If, as is probable, its action on man is the same, it is easy to 
understand why this poison has been selected by the Gaboonese for judicial pur¬ 
poses. In the judgment of God, the champions recover slowly from the worst 
symptoms, but are gradually restored to health, seemingly recalled to life by 
the divinity, jealous of demonstrating their innocence. 
Sulphate of Bebeerine as a Remedy in 'Uterine diseases. 
In the 1 New York Medical Record’ Dr. A. P. Merrill gives the following as 
the results of his trials with this remedy in uterine diseases:—“ Having occa¬ 
sion, several years ago, to treat a married woman of nervous temperament for 
periodic fever and neuralgia, and finding that she suffered considerable inconve¬ 
nience from the action of quinine, I was induced to try the effect of the sul¬ 
phate of bebeerine as a substitute for it. Relief not being obtained, I proposed 
to withdraw the remedy, but she objected, saying, although it was of little ser¬ 
vice toher neuralgic pains, it had promptly relieved her of excessive menstrua¬ 
tion, and she wished to keep the medicine by her to answer that indication as 
occasion might require. Several years subsequently this intelligent la ly expressed 
to me her conviction that she owed to the use of this one remedy her relief 
from painful uterine disease of long standing, and also from the reproach of ste¬ 
rility. The sulphate of bebeerine is a remedy for dysmenorrhoea, excessive 
menstruation, haemorrhage, leucorrhcea, and all uterine disorders dependent, in 
whole or in part, upon hypertrophy and hypersemia of the uterus and its ap¬ 
pendages. It exercises, also, a tonic power over the kidneys and bladder, and a 
restraining influence over blennorrhceal discharges. I prescribe it in pills, made 
up with syrup, in doses of five to twenty grains, and commonly employ aloes as 
an adjuvant remedy.” 
Case of Strychnia Poisoning treated with Camphor and Chloroform. 
The following interesting case of recovery from strychnia poisoning occurring 
in Cbardon, Ohio, is narrated by Mr. Hamilton, in the ‘ American Medical 
Record: ’—“ On the 20th of November, 1866, at 12 m., I was requested to see 
H. F-, a young man residing in this village, who, it was said, bad, an hour 
and a half previously, taken four grains of crystals of strychnia for the 
purpose of self-destruction. I found him on the floor of the sales-room of one 
of our drug stores lying on his back, and suffering intensely from spasms easily 
excited upon the lightest touch or motion made in his presence. He was per¬ 
fectly conscious, and obstinately persisted in refusing to take any remedy 
which was proposed to avert a fatal termination. Doctors Sweeney and Nichols, 
who had arrived a few minutes earlier, had made every exertion to induce him 
to take an emetic, but failed. He had, however, taken a small quantity of 
camphor and commenced the inhalation of chloroform, wdfich he seemed very 
willing to continue on account of the relief it gave from suffering. One small 
dose of camphor was by great exertion taken, bub soon the muscles of degluti¬ 
tion became permanently rigid ; any further attempt to use internal remedies 
was utterly useless. For about three hours the chloroform was continued, the 
spasms for the last half-hour gradually gaining in severity, until 3 p.m. One 
