DETECTION OF POISON IN THE URINE. 
119 
hemlock, aconite, &c, would, in part, pass through the sys- 
tem, and appear in the urine unchanged. 
With respect to the second question, as to whether their 
detection in the urine might not furnish a hint for the treat- 
ment of cases of poisoning, the author showed, from experi- 
ment upon animals, that diuretics were of great service in 
getting rid of poisons which had been administered to them, 
and thus helping them very considerably in their recovery. 
The third question embraced by the paper, viz., whether 
the detection of the poisons in the urine might not supply 
evidence of a very valuable character for the guide of the 
medical jurist? — was proved to be an important one, inas- 
much as the urine might be the only fluid or product at the 
disposal of the chemist ; 2ndly, the evidence deduced from 
it might be of a positive, and, therefore, satisfactory kind ; 
3rdly, those poisons are recognised with more ease in this 
secretion than they are in the tissues ; and 4thly, they may 
exist there to a larger amount than in any other part of the 
body. 
A few other questions were referred to as having an im- 
portant bearing on this subject, as — 
1st. Whether every poison makes its way to the urine, 
and what are characters by which it is to be recognised ? 
2ndly. What is the smallest amount of each of the poisons 
capable, after its administration, of being detected in the 
urine ? 
3rdly. What is the earliest period at which the different 
poisons may be recognised, and what the latest? 
4thly. Whether any relation existed between the quantity 
discovered in the urine, and the quantity administered? 
5thly. Whether there are any circumstances which may 
increase the facilities for their elimination, and whether 
there are any which may diminish them? 
These were questions which the author of the paper 
hoped to determine at some future period ; at present, he 
believed that the facts, as they stood, warranted the follow- 
ing conclusions : — 
