196 poisons: their effects and detection. [§§ 245 , 246 . 
220° ; and a very heavy variety, boiling at 222° to 235°. The last is 
specially used for the preparation of aniline, or aniline blue. Nitro¬ 
benzene has been used as an adulterant of bitter almond oil, but the 
detection is easy (see p. 201). Nitro-benzene was first discovered 
by Mitscherlich in 1834, and its poisonous properties were first pointed 
out by Casper 1 in 1859. Its technical use in perfumes, etc., dates 
from about 1848, and in the twenty-eight years intervening between 
that date and 1876, Jubell 2 collected 42 cases of poisoning by this 
agent, 13 of which were fatal. One of these cases was suicidal, the 
rest accidental. 
§ 245. Effects of Poisoning by Nitro-benzene. —Nitro-benzene is a 
very powerful poison, whether taken in the form of vapour or as a liquid. 
The action of the vapour on animals has been studied by Eulenberg 3 
and others. One experiment will serve as an illustration. Fifteen 
grms. of nitro-benzene were evaporated on warm sand under a glass 
shade, into which a cat was introduced. There was immediately ob¬ 
served in the animal much salivation, and quickened and laboured 
breathing. After thirty minutes’ exposure, on removing the shade to 
repeat the dose of 15 grms., the cat for the moment escaped. On being 
put back there was again noticed the salivation and running at the eyes, 
with giddiness, and repeated rising and falling. The animal at last, 
about one hour and forty minutes after the first dose, succumbed with 
dyspnoea, and died with progressive paralysis of the respiration. The 
membranes of the brain were found gorged with blood, the lungs liver- 
coloured, the mucous membrane of the trachea—to the finest subdivisions 
of the bronchia—reddened, inflamed, and clothed with a fine frothy 
mucus. The left side of the heart was filled with thick black blood. 
The bladder contained 8 grms. of clear urine, in which aniline was dis¬ 
covered. There was a notable smell of bitter almonds. 
§ 246. The effects of the vapour on man are somewhat different in 
their details from those just described. In a remarkable case related 
by Dr Letheby, a man, aged 42, had spilt some nitro-benzene over his 
clothes. He went about several hours breathing an atmosphere of nitro¬ 
benzene ; he then became drowsy, his expression was stupid, and his gait 
unsteady, presenting all the appearances of intoxication. The stupor 
suddenly deepened into coma, and the man died ; the fatal course being 
altogether about nine hours—viz. four hours before coma, and five 
hours of total insensibility. 
An interesting case of poisoning by the vapour is recorded by Taylor. 4 
A woman, aged 30, tasted a liquid used for flavouring pastry, which was 
1 Vierteljahr88chrift fur ger. Med., Bd. xvi. S. 1, 1856. 
2 Die Vergiftungen mit Blausaure u. Nitro-benzol in forensischer Beziehung, 
Erlangen, 1876. 
2 Gewerbe Hygiene, S. 607, Berlin, 1876. 
4 Poisons, 3rd ed., p. 665. 
