240 
FIFTH REPORT— 1835 . 
tities of pounded glass may be swallowed with impunity. That 
the inflammation produced by arsenic when circulated in the 
veins is also a chemical effect will no more be doubted than the 
other^ as the author conjectures ; for we know that many sub¬ 
stances if soluble in the blood may be injected even in large 
quantities into the veins. Of this we have instances in the ex¬ 
periments of Orfila with the resin of jalap, and other substances. 
The operations then we may infer to be chemical, and inflamma¬ 
tion to be excited in the part peculiarly susceptible of the action 
of the poison either because the chemical changes may take 
place in the part, or because the part itself may by idiosyncracy 
be disposed to resent that particular stimulus. Whether or not 
the system be chiefly on its guard against the introduction of 
such substances as tend to increase the disposition of the blood 
to coagulate may be matter of future consideration. Certain it 
is that metallic oxides and alcohol appear especially to excite 
the inflammatory condition. Equally certain it is that the elimi¬ 
nation of the albuminous principles in the various forms of gela¬ 
tine, albumen, and fibrine must be the means of the growth of 
natural tissues and the cause of the formation of many new 
structures. Albumen, it is well known, is precipitated by metal¬ 
lic salts, decomposition taking place, and a compound result¬ 
ing, a combination of the oxide with the albumen. This com¬ 
pound, it is true, is again soluble in a liquid containing albumen 
in excess ; a provision by which the formation of solid masses, 
which we saw in the blood of the dog poisoned by kreosote, 
would be prevented, and the fatal result which might otherwise 
ensue be obviated. But whether these chemical changes do ac¬ 
tually occur, or whether any power of the system to prevent 
such an occurrence be called into play, an increased tendency 
to coagulation must be presumed to exist; the circulating fluids 
must have become more stimulating ; and the disposition to 
a change of structure will have increased. Whether this may 
be the simple explanation of such albuminous deposits as are 
seen in the kidneys and inner coats of the arteries, especially 
in drunkards or in those addicted to spirit-drinking, is here 
advanced as appropriate matter for discussion. How far the 
agency of galvanism in the case of the oxides may operate 
in promoting coagulation may perhaps be more readily con¬ 
jectured than shown. But when the coagulation of albumen 
is under consideration, it becomes impossible to avoid calling 
to mind the extraordinary facility with which that consoli¬ 
dation is produced by the electric fluid. And it will be 
enough to observe, that in all chemical changes, both of union 
and decomposition, this agent is in operation. What the 
