226 
FIFTH REPORT — 1835 . 
cods membrane of the stomach was corrugated, and exhibited extensive 
deep and bright injection, not nearly so uniformly diffused as is often 
the case, but most considerably affecting the rugae. The middle third 
was the most considerably affected, but there was no marked difference 
at that part which is opposed to the cardiac orifice. There was no decided 
abrasion, but at two or three small points the effused lymph was adhe¬ 
rent. The pyloric extremity was the least reddened, but at this part 
the follicular glands were elevated and very distinct. The stomach 
contained a considerable quantity of watery bilious fluid, and a mass 
which appeared chiefly to consist of a coagulated secretion resembling 
the plastic lymph on the surface of an inflamed serous membrane. It 
was about the size of the palm of one’s hand, and had very strongly re¬ 
ceived the impression of the rugae of the stomach, and the surface in 
contact with the lining membrane closely resembled it in colour and in 
the distribution of the extravasated blood intimately intermixed with it 
on this surface. The other surface resembled common eoagulable lymph, 
but entangled in it there was a fragment of what appeared to be par¬ 
tially dissolved cheese, mixed with numerous particles of white opake 
matter. A small quantity taken from this part, dried and mixed with 
black flux and heated, afforded a distinct trace of sublimed metallic ar¬ 
senic. Another portion, reduced on charcoal before the blowpipe, 
yielded the alliaceous odour. There was a diffused and light but not 
bright redness of the duodenum. A similar condition, but in a much 
less marked degree, was observable throughout the small intestines, in 
which the solitary glands were particularly distinct; there was scarcely 
any fsecal matter in the canal, but there was abundance of secretion, 
which in its character appeared intermediate between ordinary mucus 
and eoagulable lymph. There was a slight degree of oedema of the sub¬ 
mucous cellular membrane. The large intestines were of a more natu¬ 
ral appearance. The mucous membrane was generally pale, but there 
was a manifest increase of redness about the verge of the anus. Many 
of the mesenteric glands were much enlarged. The structure of the 
liver appeared to be healthy, with the exception of some scattered ecchy- 
mosed spots, obviously of recent formation, and a little dappling of a 
lighter colour. The gall-bladder was distended with rather dilute bile. 
The spleen and pancreas were healthy, as were also the kidneys and 
bladder, excepting some increased vascularity of the mucous membrane 
of the bladder near the cervix at the posterior part. 
The points worthy of remark in this case appear to be: 1st, That 
though a considerable quantity of arsenic had been taken, the symptoms 
which followed were not proportionably urgent and rapid. For this 
there appeared to have been at least two causes. The cheese in which 
the arsenic was involved having resisted digestion, seems to have pre¬ 
vented much of the arsenic from coming in contact with the stomach. 
The food which was taken almost immediately after the swallowing of 
the poison may have also acted in a similar manner. It may also have 
had the effect of exciting the healthy action of the stomach by setting 
up the digestive process: this appears to be analogous to what takes 
place in horses which have eaten the leaves of the yew tree, which are 
