322 
CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  TOXICOLOGY. 
juices,  and  an  invisible  alteration  of  the  mucous  membranes  of 
the  first  passages. 
5.  This  lead-dyscrasy  ceases  after  changing  to  the  ordinary 
food,  and  therefore  is  not  rooted  in  a  deep  alteration  of  the  body. 
(Only  one  experiment,) 
6.  During  the  formation  of  the  dyspepsia,  the  blood  and  organs 
of  the  birds  are  in  a  state  of  constant  change  and  excretion  by 
perspiration  and  excrements. 
7.  As  the  blood  and  organs  under  the  existing  dyspepsia 
cannot  be  nourished  in  the  usual  order,  their  mass  must  di- 
minish. 
8.  To  the  dyspepsia  a  tabes  is  very  soon  added,  which  must 
be  called  "  tabes  saturnina." 
9.  The  dyspepsia  can  be  joined  by  anaemia  or  oligemia,  if 
life  is  not  destroyed  too  soon. 
10.  The  decrease  of  the  weight  of  the  body  under  the  influ- 
ence of  lead,  is  the  same  as  that  caused  by  the  want  of  food. 
11.  The  temperature  of  the  body  falls  with  its  diminishing 
mass. 
12.  The  lead-dyscrasia  and  cachexia  of  the  human  body  do 
not  occur  with  birds. 
13.  Lead-colic  seems  to  occur,  but  seldom  with  birds. 
14.  The  liver  seems  to  secrete  much  bile  under  the  influence 
of  white  lead.— (Deutsche  Klinik  1855,  19 — 23.) 
Poisoning  by  Tincture  Sem.  Colchici.  By  Dr.  Roux,  of  Toulon. 
On  December  7th,  1851,  five  patients  at  the  Prisoner's  Hos- 
pital received,  by  mistake,  60  grm.  tinct.  sem.  colchici,  instead 
of  tinct.  cinchonse.  Three  hours  afterwards  two  of  the  patients 
experienced  violent  burning  in  the  epigastrium,  colic,  vomiting, 
purging,  slow  pulse,  paleness  and  coolness.  After  two  and  a 
half  hours  the  five  patients  showed  these  symptoms  increased, 
with  burning  heat  in  the  pharynx  and  along  the  oesophagus,  con- 
stant thirst,  insupportable  pains  in  the  epigastrium  and  abdo- 
men, numerous  stools  of  a  yellow  color  without  slime  or  blood, 
consciousness,  sensibility,  mobility  and  power  of  speech  unaltered, 
pupils  normal ;  the  pulse  of  two  was  imperceptible,  one  felt  a 
continuous  tingling  in  the  ears. 
During  the  following  night  three  died.    On  the  following 
