254  POISONING  BY  STRYCHNIA  J  CANNABIS  INDICA. 
turbidity,  which  we  consider  to  be  due  to  the  formation  of  sul- 
phide of  bismuth. 
Sulphuretted  urines  also  give  a  black  precipitate  in  a  solution 
of  oxide  of  bismuth  in  potash  and  tartaric  acid ;  but  this  reac- 
tion cannot  be  confounded  with  that  caused  by  glucose. 
It  is,  besides,  easy  to  recognize  and  (if  desired)  to  separate 
the  albumen.  Thus,  on  bringing  to  ebullition  the  urine  of  a 
person  suffering  from  Bright's  disease,  the  liquid  becomes  turbid, 
opalescent,  and  deposits  coagulated  albumen. 
As  to  sulphides  and  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  these  are  easily 
recognized  by  means  of  hydrate  of  lead,  which  these  compounds 
darken. — London  Chem.  News,  Feb.  15,  1867,  from  Gazette 
Medicate. 
POISONING  BY  STRYCHNIA;  CANNABIS  INDICA. 
In  a  recent  number,  we  reported  in  our  periscopic  department 
a  case  of  recovery  from  strychnia  poisoning  by  means  of  chloro- 
form. We  now  add  another,  which  recovered  under  the  use  of 
Cannabis  indica,  and  tr.  of  camphor.  The  case  occurred  in  the 
practice  of  Dr.  S.  A.  McWilliams,  of  Chicago,  by  whom  it  is 
reported  in  the  Med.  Examiner.  Patient,  31  years  of  age,  took, 
suicidally,  5  grains  of  strychnia.  Was  seen  by  Dr.  McW.  3j 
hours  afterwards,  when  he  had  extensive  frequent  and  severe 
spasms,  and  with  each  a  blowing  of  froth  from  the  mouth.  He 
lay  upon  his  back,  arms  extending  obliquely  from  his  body;  face 
flushed  •,  perspiration  rolling  off  him ;  pupils  dilated  widely ; 
pulse  130  per  minute  ;  color  of  lips  natural ;  stiffness  of  muscles 
and  inability  to  move  limbs  ;  mind  perfectly  clear.  A  drachm 
of  the  tincture  of  cannabis  indica  was  immediately  given,  and 
another  in  five  minutes  ;  then  two  similar  doses  at  intervals  of 
ten  minutes ;  afterwards  two  such  doses  at  fifteen  minutes  in- 
terval with  a  rapid  amelioration  of  symptoms  ;  the  next  drachm 
was  given  in  an  hour  and  a  half.  The  remedy,  which  afterwards 
was  alternated  with  camphor,  was  continued  as  the  urgency  of 
the  symptoms  demanded,  and  the  patient  recovered,  with  unin- 
terrupted convalescence,  after  48  hours. — Med.  and  Surg.  Re- 
porter}  Philada.  February  2,  1867. 
