TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 
605 
of nitrate of lead in solution were injected into the stomach of 
a strong young rabbit; no injurious consequences resulted, nor 
did any inconvenience follow the repetition of the experiment 
with nine grains of the nitrate on the following day. Three 
days afterwards, when the same rabbit appeared in perfect 
health, six grains of the carbonate of lead, suspended in muci¬ 
lage of starch, were injected into the stomach of the animal. 
On the following morning he was found dead. The only pecu¬ 
liarity perceived, on opening the body, was the turgid state of 
all the cavities of the heart; the blood was slightly coagulated 
in the right auricle, but it was fluid in the other cavities. 
In the fourth experiment, six grains of muriate of lead , in 
solution, were injected into the stomach of a strong young rab¬ 
bit, without being followed by any inconvenience. Three days 
afterwards, six grains of the carbonate were thrown into the 
stomach of the same rabbit, who died on the morning of the 
second day. 
Two other rabbits were treated with seven grains of the 
acetate and of the subacetate of lead. No inconvenience fol¬ 
lowed the administration of the acetate ; that of the subacetate 
was followed by dejection and languor, with a disinclination to 
move and to take food; the animal, however, was alive at the 
termination of a week after taking the salt; it died in twelve 
hours after taking four grains of the carbonate of lead. 
The author is disposed to conclude that the subacetate of 
lead, which approaches nearest to the carbonate in its effects, 
owes its poisonous property to its powerful affinity for carbonic 
acid : he points out the consequences which would result to 
the practice of medicine, if it should appear that the carbonate 
is the only salt of lead deleterious to the human subject; and 
remarks that these experiments appear to form an exception to 
the doctrine, that the activity of a poisonous salt is in propor¬ 
tion to its solubility . 
9. BOTANY. 
On the spiral Vessels observed in the mucous Matter which en¬ 
velops the Seeds of Salvia verbenaca. By Willam Baxter. 
In the “ Introduction to the Natural System of Botany,” by 
Professor Lindley, at page 220, an account is given of minute 
spiral vessels contained in the mucilaginous matter which en¬ 
velops the seed of Collomia linearis ; and Mr. Lindley adds. 
