POISONING BY BARYTA. 
181 
a very trifling complaint, post-nasal catarrh is unquestionably very troublesome to cure, 
and is very apt to return. The difficulty is mainly due (1) to the awkwardness of apply¬ 
ing topical remedies to the parts principally affected; (2) to the almost invariable 
existence of a diathetic cause; and (3) to the length of time which the complaint has 
usually existed before the patient comes under treatment. As in all affections of the 
naso-pulmonary mucous membrane, the first point is to make out the nature of the 
existing morbid constitutional state, and to apply appropriate diathetic treatment for 
its removal. But, unfortunately, this alone will not be efficient, for the local affection 
will seldom yield without some topical applications; and it is in settling the form of 
this local treatment that I have found the greatest trouble. After trying a great num¬ 
ber of applications in the form of spray, injection, gargle, lotion, inhalation, snuff, and 
lozenge, I have come to the conclusion that the best for the majority of cases is the 
combination of a Medicated Snuef and a Medicated Lozenge. 
“The snuff consisting of camphor, tannic acid, white sugar, and high-dried Welsh 
snuff, of each 5j. 
“ The lozenge consisting of camphor, gr. ij ; guaiacum, gr. j ; tannic acid, gr. £ ; 
hydrochlorate of morphia, gr. ^; tincture of benzoin, ij ; white sugar, gr. xix ; 
acacia gum, gr. ij. 
“ From three to four lozenges should be taken each day, one of which should be taken 
at bed-time, and one on waking in the morning. The snuff should be used once in the 
morning, once in the evening, and once or twice in the day, and it is best applied by 
means of a little elastic tube, one end of which is charged with snuff, and pushed into 
the nostril, the other end being put into the mouth, and the snuff blown up the nose 
with a sharp puff. I ought to add that the snuff must be discontinued should a fresh 
attack of nasal catarrh happen to set in, but its use must be resumed on the subsidence 
of inflammatory symptoms. The lozenges should be continued throughout .”—The 
Practitioner , August , 18G8. 
4 
SUICIDE BY TINCTURE OF ACONITE. 
On Saturday, August 15th, an inquest was held by Dr. Lankester at Middlesex Hos¬ 
pital respecting the death of John Heddington, aged 20, who was employed at the 
General Apothecaries’ Company, Berners Street, as porter. 
Dr. Andrew Stephens, resident medical officer at Middlesex Hospital, deposed to the 
deceased being brought to that institution about six o’clock on Tuesday evening last. 
He was told that aconite had been taken. His pulse was subdued, he had a difficulty in 
swallowing, his speech was affected, and his memory was partially gone. He was sen¬ 
sible, but did not tell what he had taken. Emetics had been administered previously to 
the deceased being brought to the hospital, but the stomach-pump was there used, and 
the fluid obtained was tried on a dog, and returned the symptoms of poisoning by aconite. 
It was also tested on the tip of the tongue, undoubtedly giving the presence of that 
irritant poison. Death ensued about two hours after admission to the hospital. The 
examination after death proved that death was due to poisoning by aconite. 
In reply to the coroner, Dr. Stephens said it was “Fleming’s Tincture of Aconite.” 
It appeared from the evidence that the deceased was seen to pour the liquid from a two- 
gallon jar kept in the laboratory. He was a sober, steady young man, and was about to 
be married. The motive for the act did not transpire. 
The coroner asked Dr. Stephens if he was aware of any efficacious antidote for vege¬ 
table poisons. Dr. Stephens replied, “ If powdered animal charcoal in water were early 
administered, after an emetic or the use of the stomach-pump, it would be very effective.’ 
A verdict of “ Suicide under temporary insanity ” was accorded. 
POISONING BY BARYTA. 
On Friday, August 21st, Mr. C. G. Lewis, the coroner for Essex, resumed and 
concluded an inquiry at the Railway Hotel, Martin Street, Stratford, into the cir- 
