270 
R. MIDDLETON. 
suits agree completely with the opinion formerly stated, to 
wit: that the flesh of sheep killed by the alkaloids strychnine 
and eserine, when eaten is absolutely uninjurious for man 
and dogs. 
EXPERIMENT WITH STRYCHNINE. 
1. A strong wether, weighing 39 kils., was killed by a 
subcutaneous injection of 0.05 strychnium nitricum; in 
12 minutes after, the first symptoms appeared, and in 20 
minutes the sheep died. We stewed and ate half a pound of 
the meat, together with the fluid therefrom, without noting 
any unpleasantness in the taste or experiencing any of the ef¬ 
fects of the alkaloid. Three young dogs, weighing respect¬ 
ively 15, 17, 18 pounds each, received 1 kilogram of the flesh; 
despite close observation for several days no abnormal ac¬ 
tions were seen. 
2. A ewe weighing 24 kilograms was poisoned by in¬ 
jecting 0.03 strychnine—death supervened in 19 minutes. A 
half pound of the meat, together with the bouillon, was agree¬ 
able to the taste, not even being bitter or subsequently active. 
The same dogs, after consuming each 2 pounds of the meat, 
manifested no symptoms. 
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE FLESH. 
The extraction of the alkaloid was according: to the 
method of Dragendorf. The muscle is cut as fine as possible 
and stirred with just sufficient water to give a thin broth ; 
diluted sulphuric acid (1.5) is added until a distinct acid re¬ 
action is obtainable. The mass is now put into a retort and 
at a temperature of 50C. digested for 6 hours ; after this the 
fluid is expressed from the solid substance and drained 
through a dampened filter. The meat is again mixed with 
water and digested for 4 hours at the same temperature, 
afterward pressed and filtered. Both decoctions are pfit into 
a single vessel and over the waterbath are evaporated to 
the consistency of syrup. The meat itself, which has already 
passed through two processes of extraction, is once more 
macerated in four times its weight of 95 per cent, alcohol 
for 12 hours, and the liquid portion, after filtering, distilled. 
