MISCELLANY. 
On the kind of death determined by Hydrocyanic Acid, and the Substances 
vjhich contain it. By Dr. Hayn. — In the observation of cases of poi" 
soning by hydrocyanic acid, Which have hitherto been published, the 
rapidity of death, almost instantaneously supervening, prevented the 
verification of the reality of certain peculiarities observed by Orfila, Vi- 
borg, Krimmer, &c, in their experiments on animals, viz.: that the pri- 
mary action of hydrocyanic acid especially consisted in a decomposition 
of the constituent principles of the blood ; that the spinal marrow and 
the vague nerve, were only secondarily affected in their motive functions; 
and, finally, that the paralysis of the respiratory apparatus was only the 
result of Ihis pathological modification of the spinal marrow and vague 
nerve. It is, therefore, not uninteresting to make known a case of poi- 
soning of this kind, in which the slow poisonous effect admitted of the 
modus operandi being ascertained in a very positive manner. 
An hypochondriac, of very advanced age, drank one morning about45 
grammes of hydrolate of cherry-laurel. He had had an opportunity of 
procuring this liquid beforehand, and when symptoms of poisoning 
manifested themselves, he did not endeavor in any way to deny the 
cause to which they were due. These symptoms, which did not show 
themselves until three hours after the poison had been swallowed, were 
as following : — Paralysis of the hands and feet; head strongly iuclined 
forwards, without it being possible for the patient to hold it erect ; in" 
voluntary excretion of urine fand stools ;j the ^extremities, although 
immovable and cold, had not, however, lost their sensibility ; the pulse 
was small; the voice hoarse, but distinct; the intellectual faculties were 
perfectly intact. 
The patient observed with satisfaction the incessant progress of the 
weakness which he experienced ; notwithstanding all the care lavished 
on him, he died towards evening, without pain or convulsions, of para- 
lysis of the lungs. 
On post mortem examination, the blood was found gluey, and of a very 
peculiar, dark color; but it was impossible to detect the odor proper to 
