452 poisons: their effects and detection. [§§ 560 , 561 . 
is also removed by substances which paralyse the heart, as delphinin, 
saponin, and apomorphin. 
Large doses of digitalin, thrown suddenly on the circulation by intra¬ 
venous injection, cause convulsions and sudden death, from quick palsy 
of the heart. With frogs under these circumstances there are no con¬ 
vulsions, but a reflex depression, which, according to Weil 1 and 
Meihuizen, 2 disappears on decapitation. The central cerebral symptoms 
are without doubt partly due to the disturbance of the circulation, and 
there is good ground for attributing them also to a toxic action on the 
nervous substance. The arteries are affected as well as the heart, and 
are reduced in calibre ; the blood pressure is also increased. 3 This is 
essentially due to the firm, strong contraction of the heart, and also to 
the “ stop-cock ” action of the small arteries. 4 
§ 560. Post-mortem Appearances. — In the case of the recruit 
poisoned by digitalis leaf (p. 446), the blood was found dark and fluid; 
the right ventricle and auricle of the heart were filled with blood ; the 
left empty ; the brain and its membranes were anaemic ; the stomach 
and mucous membrane of the intestines were in parts ecchymosed, and 
there were patches of injection. In the case of the widow De Pauw, 
poisoned with digitalin by the homoeopath Conty de la Pommerais, 
the only abnormality discovered was a few hypersemic points in the 
mucous membrane of the stomach and small intestines. It is then 
certain that although more or less redness of the lining membrane of 
the intestinal tract may be present, yet, on the other hand, the active 
principle of the digitalis may destroy life, and leave no appreciable sign. 
§ 561. Separation of the Digitalins from Animal Tissues, etc.— 
It is best to make an alcoholic extract after the method of Yitali, already 
detailed, the alcohol being feebly acidulated, if necessary, by acetic acid, 
and all operations being carried on at a temperature below 60°. The 
alcoholic extract is dissolved in water feebly acidulated by acetic acid, 
and shaken up, first with petroleum ether to remove impurities (the 
ether will not dissolve any of the digitalins), then with benzene, and, 
lastly, with chloroform. The benzene dissolves digitalein, and the 
chloroform, digitalin and digitoxin. On allowing these solvents to 
1 Archiv f. Anat. u. Physiol., 1871, p. 282. 
2 Archiv f. d. Ges. Physiol., vii. 201. 
3 The following is a brief summary of observations on the blood pressure ; four 
stages may be noticed:— ( 1 ) Rise of normal blood pressure, not necessarily accom¬ 
panied by a diminution of pulse frequency ; ( 2 ) continuation of heightened blood 
pressure, the pulse being raised beyond the normal rate ; ( 3 ) continued high pressure, 
with great irregularity of the heart and intermittent pulse ; (4) quick depression of 
pressure, sudden stopping of the heart, and death. 
4 According to Boehm {Arch. f. d. Ges. Physiol., v. 189) and to Williams 
{Arch. f. exper. Pathol., xiii. 2), the rise of pressure is due entirely to the heart, 
and not to the contractions of the small arteries ; but it is difficult to see how the 
small arteries can contract, and yet not heighten the pressure. 
