SUBSTANCE ANALOGOUS TO GUN COTTON. 249 
immediately her hea^was^lhrown backwards upon her neck, 
and maintained there. Saliva flowed freely from her mouth, 
which was open and the tongue protruding. The eyes were 
glassy and fixed, and the pupils very much dilated. She 
walked backwards, but with great difficulty, as her limbs were 
extremely rigid. The pulse was very rapid, but as I had 
neglected to count it before commencing the experiment, I 
could not tell how much it had been affected. As soon as 
she began to recover, I put about three drops of this sub- 
stance into her mouth. There was no effort to move after 
a few seconds ; the limbs were perfectly paralyzed and rigid. 
The contractions of the heart could not be counted, though 
they could be distinctly felt. Respiration was very difficult 
and rapid. The eyes actually stood out of the head, and the 
iris was scarcely visible. In about two minutes from the 
time in which I put the poison upon her tongue, she ceased 
to breathe, though the heart beat a few seconds longer. 
Spasmodic contractions of the legs occurred for some time 
after both respiration and circulation had ceased. 
I intended to make an extended series of experiments 
upon animals, but circumstances beyond my control have 
hitherto prevented my doing so. At some future time, 
however, I hope t(? be able to give a more satisfactory 
account of the effects of this substance ; sufficient has been 
done, however, after having made all due allowance, to 
show the great power, and the rapidity of its action. 
In its toxical effects it resembles very nearly the aconi- 
tum napellus, but is far more rapid in its action, if not more 
fatal in its results. 
Whether or not this substance will prove valuable in the 
treatment of disease remains yet to be seen, but I am well 
convinced that it is destined to occupy no mean position in 
the list of therapeutical agents. — Medical Examiner, May, 
1849. 
