454  Tyrotoxicon  in  Ice  Cream,  Milk,  etc.  {AmsSt'"i886arm' 
sis  tan  t,  Mr.  Novie,  and  myself,  took  at  first,  30  drops  of  the  vanilla 
extract.  No  ill  effects  following  this,  Mr.  Novie  took  two  teaspoon- 
fuls  more,  with  no  results.  This  settled  the  question  of  the. poisonous 
nature  of  the  vanilla  more  satisfactorily  than  could  have  been  done 
by  a  chemical  analysis. 
We  then  added  some  distilled  water  to  the  cream  and,  after 
thorough  agitation,  filtered  it.  The  filtrate  was  tested  for  tyrotoxicon 
by  the  method  already  given.  The  aqueous  solution,  after  the  sponta- 
neous evaporation  of  the  ether,  was  given  to  a  cat.  Within  ten 
minutes  the  cat  began  to  retch,  and  soon  it  vomited.  This  retching 
and  vomiting  continued  for  two  hours,  during  which  time  the  animal 
was  under  observation,  and  the  next  morning  it  was  observed  that  it 
had  passed  several  watery  stools.  After  this,  although  the  cat  could 
walk  about  the  room,  it  was  unable  to  retain  any  food.  Several 
times  it  was  observed  to  lap  a  little  milk,  but  on  doing  so  it  would 
immediately  begin  to  retch  and  vomit.  Even  cold  water  produced 
this  effect.  This  condition  continuing,  after  three  days  the  animal 
was  placed  under  ether  and  its  abdominal  organs  examined.  We 
certainly  expected  to  find  marked  inflammation  of  the  stomach. 
But  we  really  did  find  the  stomach  and  small  intestines  filled  with  a 
frothy,  serous  fluid,  such  as  had  formed  the  vomited  matter,  and  the 
mucous  membrane  very  white  and  soft.  There  was  not  the  slightest 
redness  anywhere.  The  liver  and  other  abdominal  organs  seemed  to 
be  normal. 
It  should  be  rem  irked  that  this  cat  was  about  two  months  old. 
Attention  is  called  to  this,  because  young  animals  are  affected  by 
this  poison  much  more  readily  than  older  ones.  It  requires  a  com- 
paratively large  amount  of  the  poison  to  cause  any  marked  symp- 
toms in  an  old  cat. 
After  having  made  these  experiments,  I  received  from  Dr.  R.  C. 
Mofntt,  of  Lawton,  Mich.,  the  following  letter  : 
Lawton,  Mich.,  June  21,  1886. 
Dear  Doctor: — I  understand  from  Prof.  Chas.  Lawton,  of  this  place,  that 
the  cream  sent  to  Lansing,  for  examination,  has  been  forwarded  to  you,  so  I 
write  to  give  you  the  particulars.  About  two  hours  after  eating  the  cream 
every  one  was  taken  with  severe  vomiting,  and  after  from  one  to  six  hours 
later  with  purging.  The  vomit  was  of  a  soapy  character,  and  the  stools 
watery  and  frothy.  There  was  some  griping  of  the  stomach  and  abdomen, 
with  severe  occipital  headache,  excruciating  back-ache  and  'bone'  pains  all 
over,  especially  marked  in  the  extremities.    The  vomiting  lasted  from  two  t  » 
