358 
ON  THE  TOXICOLOGY  OF  STRYCHNIA. 
and  was  broken  near  him,  which  caused  a  sudden  spasm  with 
opisthotonos  (lasting  fifteen  seconds) ;  at  quarter  to  six  another 
l-30th  (making  5-30ths)  was  given  ;  at  twelve  minutes  past  six  a 
bunch  of  keys  was  dropped  near  him  ;  the  noise  occasioned  an 
immediate  spasm,  accompanied,  as  before,  with  opisthotonos, 
which  lasted  a  few  seconds  ;  a  second  on  touching  him,  followed 
by  a  remission,  when,  on  again  touching  him,  a  third  attack  was 
produced,  which  ended  fatally  in  a  few  seconds,  relaxation  of  all 
the  muscles  indicating  decease ;  rigor  mortis  came  on  in  three 
minutes  after  death,  and  passed  off  in  the  succeeding  twenty-four 
hours.  On  examination  the  blood  was  found  coagulated.  The 
contents  of  the  stomach,  analyzed  by  the  process  given,  yielded 
strychnine  in  abundance. 
Half  pound  of  flesh  also  yielded  strychnine  in  abundance.  Two 
drachms  of  urine  collected  after  death,  also  yielded  strychnine 
by  the  following  mode  of  analysis  :  it  was  diluted  with  an  ounce 
of  water  rendered  alkaline  by  ammonia,  and  filtered;  the  filtrate 
was  then  agitated  with  chloroform  in  along  tube,  the  chloroform 
separated  as  directed,  was  then  evaporated  in  a  porcelain  dish, 
the  residue  charred  with  sulphuric  acid,  as  already  detailed ;  this 
operation  was  repeated  three  times,  when  the  last  chloroform 
solution  yielded  the  strychnine  as  stated. 
The  bones  of  the  extremities,  the  pelvis,  and  part  of  the 
vertebral  column,  containing  its  share  of  the  spinal  marrow,  all 
being  entirely  denuded  of  fleih,  were  treated  as  follows :  They 
were  covered  in  a  deep  evaporating  basin  with  dilute  hydrochloric 
acid,  and  digested  over  a  water-bath  until  the  whole  were  dis- 
solved ;  the  solution  filtered,  the  filterate  was  then  treated  with 
concentrated  sulphuric  acid  drop  by  drop  as  long  as  a  precipitate 
fell,  adding  water  when  necessary ;  the  solution  was  again  fil- 
tered, and  about  six  drachms  of  sulphate  of  magnesia  and 
ammonia  in  excess  added ;  the  solution  was  again  filtered,  and 
the  clear  liquid  agitated  with  chloroform ;  the  chloroform  solution, 
after  being  treated  in  the  way  already  detailed,  yielded  distinct 
evidence  of  strychnine  . — 
To  these  results  must  be  added  our  former  experiments,  which 
we  have  already  published,  and  which  were  briefly  as  follows  : — > 
The  blood  and  contents  of  stomach  of  a  dog  poisoned  by  two 
grains  of  strychnine  were,  after  putrefaction,  subjected  to 
analysis,  both  yielding  strychnine. 
