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POISONING BY HEMLOCK. 
The stimulant used was Spts. Aram. Aromt. 5j in half a 
pint of water followed up by two glasses each of sherry after 
the lapse of half an hour. In one no effect was visible, 
while in the other a sedative effect was produced, indicated 
by a lowering of the heart's action, and a gradual ebbing 
away of the vital powers. The animal died almost without a 
struggle in about an hour and a half after the exhibition 
of the stimulant. The other survived about two hours. The 
first one I examined and found the appearances similar to the 
other above described. The other was not examined. 
Comments .—The appearances observed indicated the mode 
of death to be by apnqea or asphyxia , in which the blood 
acted upon by the poison becomes unfit for the processes of 
nutrition and innervation; paralysis of the voluntary muscles 
ensues, indicated by the inability of the animal to stand, 
or to move the limbs when pinched, and the slow heavy 
breathing; gradually involuntary motion was arrested, the 
heart ceased to beat and life was extinct. The lowering of 
the heart's action by the exhibition of stimulants is a phy¬ 
siological fact worthy of notice, the heart deriving its motory 
power from the ganglionic system of nerves, and the ganglia 
in its own substance; while the cardiac branches of the pneu- 
mogastric exercise an inhibitory or restraining influence only. 
The brain and spinal nerves would be the first affected with 
the poison; consequently, the restraining influence of the 
vagus would be removed, hence the vigorous action of the 
organ. By the exhibition of a stimulant fresh power is given 
to the vagus, and hence the lowering of the heart’s action. 
Giving stimulants to lower the heart's action would be apt 
to be regarded as heterodox practice, still I am convinced 
that in certain conditions of the system it is more rational— 
being more in accordance with physiological principles— 
than the orthodox method of treatment by sedatives. 
The time in which a fatal termination would occur from 
the poisonous action of hemlock could not be accurately 
ascertained : from the uncertaintv as to the time when the 
plant had been partaken of, probably not more than sixteen 
hours, and not less than twelve, had elapsed, so that the 
mean, or fourteen, may be fixed as the fatal period. In the 
case of poisoning by yew , I think, the fatal period may be 
set down as twenty-four hours. If an animal having eaten 
yew survive that period, good hopes may be entertained of 
its recovery, as in all probability a sufficient quantity has not 
been partaken of to destroy life, a stimulant line of treat¬ 
ment being the best to pursue in such cases; still, could we 
know that a poisonous dose had been swallowed, rumenotomy 
