ON THE VOLATILE OIL OF NUTMEGS. 
129 
3. The oil of nutmegs produces in the stomach and jejunum a 
similar alteration of structure to that of the oils of caraway, fennel, 
lemon, turpentine, juniper, copaiba, bitter almonds, and cinnamon. 
In the stomach extravasation of blood and formation of blood- 
vesicles on the mucous membrane, which was partly softened and 
devoid of blood, without being inflamed in the adjacent parts. The 
interior of the duodenum was much divested of epithelium and 
filled with mucus. In the first experiment, with the enormous 
dose of six drachms, the stomach and the jejunum were injected 
with blood. 
4. The most important symptoms of poisoning were frequent 
and powerful pulsation of the heart ; slight acceleration of breath- 
ing ; at first restlessness, afterwards weakness of the muscles, but 
considerably less than from oil of cinnamon; little or no diminu- 
tion of sensibility, evacuation of hard faeces from the colon : 
ejection of a peculiarly smelling sanguineous urine after smaller 
doses, but no increased diuresis ; decrease of strength and of the 
pulsation of the heart ; difficult breathing ; diminished heat in the 
external parts ; death without convulsions. Death was produced 
by the absorption of the volatile oil. 
Effect of the Oil of Nutmegs upon the Skin of the Human 
Body. — Part of the dorsal surface of the hand w T as moistened 
with the volatile oil of nutmegs. After about four minutes a very 
slight burning sensation was felt, which gradually increased, so 
that after fifteen minutes it became very unpleasant, and on being 
touched the reddened spot caused much pain. After thirty minutes 
the moistened spot was red ; it burnt like after a sinapism when 
the skin is moderately reddened. Upon being washed the burn- 
ing sensation disappeared within an hour; the epidermis did not 
scale off. In a second experiment with another individual, the symp- 
toms were much slighter, the burning appeared only after ten min- 
utes, and became rather strong after another ten minutes; the hand 
being then washed after thirty minutes, the burning sensation 
was still very intense, but the skin was not red. The burning 
sensation continued for about half an hour : the epidermis did not 
scale off. — London Phar. Jour. Jan. 1, 1851. — From Buchner's 
Rep., vol. xvi. 1851, p. 104. 
