ON THE PREPARATION OF CONIUM. 
605 
At 1.30 P.M. ; pulse fifty-six ; beginning to feel warmer; pupils less dilated ; 
the heayiness of the eyelids and the voluntary giddiness diminishing; mus¬ 
cular power returning. 
At 2.30 p.m.; all the symptoms had passed off. As in previous experi¬ 
ments, I totally abstained from all kinds of stimulants during the action of 
the medicine. At this time the urine was alkaline, from the effects of a dose 
of potash taken at 8.30 a.m. After luncheon I wrote letters till 4 p.m. and 
then walked briskly a distance of three miles. I abstained from stimulants 
all day, and finished the day’s work by drawing a microscopic object. 
A second sample of the Succus was obligingly sent to me by Messrs. Allen 
and Hanburys. Its sp. g. was 1015, the greater density being chiefly, if not 
altogether, due to the larger proportion of albumen and sugar. In all other 
respects the Succus corresponded with that already described. 
Dec. 24.—N. P., a young woman of average health and strength, took f5j. 
Excepting a slight feeling of nausea, no effect followed. 
Dec. 27.—She took f5j and mxl of the Succus. No effect followed. 
Dec. 28.—She took fsiij. Within half an hour, she became giddy and 
tottering. The muscular weakness increased, and during the next half-hour 
she was hardly able to walk. At the end of an hour the symptoms began to 
subside, and two hours and a half after taking the dose they had wholly 
passed off, leaving her in her usual health. 
A third sample vms kindly forwarded to me by Messrs. J. Bell and Co. 
The sp. g. of this preparation was intermediate between that of the first and 
second samples, viz. 1005. It contained less albumen than either. In all 
other respects it agreed with the other samples, and furnished the reactions 
above mentioned. It was prepared June 3, 1863. 
Dec. 28.—N. D., a rather delicately-constituted young woman, took f 5ij of 
this Succus. No efforts followed, but she vomited an hour afterw^ards. This 
w as probably due to other causes. 
Dec. 29.—Took fsiv. About twenty minutes afterwards she experienced 
nausea, and became giddy and unable to walk. An hour after taking the 
dose, there was nearly complete muscular paralysis, the eyelids were closed, 
and the pupils widely dilated. The mind w as perfectly calm, clear, and ac¬ 
tive, and she tried without success to raise her eyelids when I requested her 
to do so; the pulse and respiration were normal. The former had been 
accelerated at the outset of the symptoms. The surface was warm. Tlie 
maximum effect was produced about an hour after taking the medicine. She 
remained in the state above described about three-quarters of an hour. The 
symptoms then subsided almost as rapidly as they came on, and three hours 
after taking the dose she was able to w^alk about as actively as ever, and 
attend to her duties. Next day, she complained of slight pain in the legs. 
From the above investigations, it is conclusive that the Succus of the 
British Pharmacopoeia possesses in an eminent degree the poisonous proper- 
’ties of the hemlock, The experiments with the third sample are peculiarly 
valuable, as they show that the preparation undergoes no change by keeping. 
Having thus distinguished the Succus from the inert tinctures, I trust that 
these will henceforth be excluded from the Pharmacopoeias, and that medical 
practitioners will rely solely upon the Succus, which, in the compactness of 
the dose required, in the absence of any objectionable taste and odour, and 
in the potency and certainty of its operation, leaves nothing to be desired. 
As a substitute for the Cataplasma Conii, P.B., a piece of lint saturated with 
the Succus, or, if heat and moisture be required, a bran poultice containing an 
ounce or an ounce and a half of the Succus, may be used. 
78, U 2 ^per Berkeley Street, W. 
(To he continued^ 
