14     CHEMICAL  COMPOSITION  OF  GELSEMIUM  SEMPERVIRENS. 
III.  Case  of  Poisoning  by  Fluid  Extract  Gelsemium. 
Symptoms. — In  regard  to  the  case  of  poisoning  by  this  sub- 
stance, heretofore  mentioned,  the  particulars,  as  we  understand 
them,  were  briefly  as  follows.  On  the  30th  of  January  last, 
three  teaspoonfuls  of  the  fluid  extract  were  administered  to  a 
young  healthy  married  woman  several  weeks  advanced  in  preg- 
nancy, who  at  the  time  complained  of  no  serious  illness.  In 
two  hours  after  taking  the  dose,  the  patient  complained  of  pain 
in  the  stomach,  nausea,  and  dimness  of  vision.  These  symptoms 
were  soon  succeeded  with  great  restlessness,  inefi'ectual  efi'orts  to 
vomit,  and  free  prespiration  over  the  body.  At  the  expiration 
of  about  five  hours  the  pulse  was  found  feeble,  irregular,  and 
sometimes  intermittent ;  there  was  great  prostration,  with  irreg- 
ular breathing  and  slow  respiration.  The  skin  was  dry ;  ex- 
tremities cold ;  the  pupils  expanded  and  insensible  to  light ;  the 
eyes  fixed  and  inability  to  raise  the  eye-lids.  The  vital  powers 
rapidly  gave  way,  and,  without  convulsions,  death  occurred  in 
about  seven  hours  and  a  half  after  the  poison  had  been  taken. 
It  will  be  observed  that  in  this  case,  only  three  teaspoonsful 
of  the  fluid  extract  were  taken.  Presuming  it  to  have  had  about 
the  same  strength  as  the  preparation  we  examined,  the  quantity 
of  the  alkaloid  contained  in  this  amount  could  not  have  much 
exceeded  the  sixth-part  of  a  grain.  This  would  seem  to  indicate 
the  alkaloid  to  be  one  of  the  most  potent  poisons  at  present 
known. 
Post-Mortem  Appearances. — Eight  days  after  death  the  body 
presented  the  following  appearances,  as  described  by  Dr.  J.  H. 
Stephenson,  who  made  the  autopsy  and  to  whom  I  am  indebted 
for  the  account.  Countenance  natural  as  in  sleep.  No  emacia- 
tion, and  body  in  a  perfect  state  of  preservation.  Cadaveric 
rigidity  very  slight.  The  back  of  the  neck  and  between  the 
shoulders,  extending  the  full  length  of  the  spine,  as  also  the 
depending  parts  of  the  thighs  and  arms  to  the  elbows,  presented 
a  congested  appearance.  The  membranes  and  substances  of  the 
brain  and  medulla  oblongata  were  normal.  The  adipose  tissue 
remarkably  thick,  and  highly  tinged  throughout  with  bilious 
matter.    Lungs  slightly  collapsed,  natural  in  appearance,  and 
