polishing the spoon and placing it in a similar mixture. Half an hour afterward green spots were perceived on the spoon, and in twelve hours it was quite green, as well as the butter in contact with it.

468. e. Arsenite of copper, or SCHEELE'S Green, being extensively used as a pigment, both in the arts and in confectionery, has occasioned dangerous effects. Dr. GEOGHAGAN informed Mr. TAYLOR, that fourteen children in Dublin, in 1842, suffered symptoms of poisoning owing to their having eaten confectionery ornaments coloured with this substance; and jaundice followed in two or three of those cases. Three lives were nearly sacrificed at a school near Manchester by the same cause: they suffered from violent vomiting, severe pains in the stomach and bowels, and spasms of the extremities. 469. The green colour of the matters vomited, in cases of poisoning by the cupreous compounds, has been mistaken by some for bilious vomiting. But this colour is generally owing to the poison, and not to the presence of bile in the vomited matters; for the bile is generally -obstructed, and the liver and intestines more or less paralyzed by the influence of the poison on the organic nerves, as shown by the jaundice, and by the flatulent and colicky distention of the abdomen in these cases.

pains in the legs and thighs. Generally there is a coppery taste in the mouth and throat, and an aversion from the smell of copper. Jaundice is a common symptom, and is never observed in poisoning by arsenic or sublimate. Fatal cases terminate with palsy, insensibility, and convulsions. This order of the symptoms is, however, by no means generally observed; for the headache often does not appear until after the vomiting; and the paralytic state, either of the sensibility or the power of motion, is often early. The chief diagnostic signs on which any reliance can be placed, are the coppery taste of the mouth, with a peculiar astringeney and watering of the throat, with ulceration in the more chronic cases; vomitings and eructations of greenish, or greenish-blue matters, and frequently jaundice, or slight yellowness of the surface, which, however, does not appear in some cases until after death.

472. Cupreous substances, when taken in minute quantities for a long time, or when used by workmen who are inattentive to cleanliness, according to the observations of PATISSIER, MORAT, and others, are productive of a greenish sallow hue of the countenance; of an infirm and decrepit state of the body; and of severe attacks of colic, with partial or slight palsy; the children of persons thus rendered infirm being ricketty and puny.

jority of instances, however, the alimentary canal is more or less inflamed; and it very commonly presents a greenish hue, especially the stomach, œsophagus, and duodenum. The external surface is generally jaundiced or slightly yellow. The blood is of a dark hue, and fluid in some cases, and coagulated in others. The lungs and the sinuses of the brain are more or less congested; and the brain is sometimes more vascular than usual.

470. f. The modus operandi of the cupreous compounds appear to vary with the preparation, 473. h. The appearances on dissection of fatal with the quantity swallowed, and the state of cases are most varied and uncertain. In some, the stomach at the time, as respects especially the corrosive action of the poison already dethe quantity and nature of the contents of this scribed (§ 207) is the most remarkable, espeviscus. They certainly produce, as shown cially in the stomach and duodenum. In othabove (§ 207), a corrosive action on this organers, equally or even more rapidly fatal, little or when taken in large quantities, and in other cir- no structural change of these viscera is observcumstances favourable to that action; while, ed; nor even inflammatory appearances of the in other cases, this action is but slight, the fa-stomach and bowels are met with. In the matal issue chiefly resulting from the change produced by them in the nervous system. Their organic action, or the disorganization produced by them locally, is mainly owing to their chemical combination with the albumen, or with one or more of the animal tissues. They evidently, also, affect the nerves of the part with which they come in contact, altering the innervation of the surface or viscus. They are also more or less imbibed by the surfaces and tissues, and carried into the circulation, thereby farther depressing and otherwise changing the irritability and innervation of the structures, the poisonous action of the cupreous salts being produced in this way chiefly, especially when given in repeated doses, or applied to a wound, as shown by the absence of corrosive or other local effects, and by the fact of these salts having been detected in the blood and viscera of animals poisoned by them. Dr. DUNCAN found that the application of the sulphate to a wound produced death in twenty-two hours, and yet the body appeared everywhere in a healthy state; but SMITH and ORFILA state that the acetate applied to wounds caused only local inflammation.

474. i. The Treatment of the slow or acrosedative form of poisoning by cupreous substances should be based chiefly on the method stated above (§ 208, et seq.). After the evacuation of the poisonous substances as there advised, albuminous and saccharine substances should be given, and irritability of the stomach ought to be quieted, as it tends remarkably to lower the depressed vitality of the frame, by opium conjoined with camphor and creasote, and by external derivatives applied over the epigastric region. If inflammatory action be manifested, the usual local and general measures indicated by the state and associations of this condition ought to be prescribed.

475. D. SALTS OF POTASH.-a. Chromate of 471. g. The diagnosis of cupreous poisoning Potash.-Chrome--Bi-chromate of Potash.-This is of some importance, seeing that the symp- salt is extensively used in dyeing; yet poisontoms caused by it closely resemble those pro- ing by it is rare; but instances have been reduced by arsenic and corrosive sublimate. Ac-cently recorded. A concentrated solution of it cording to ORFILA, the first symptom occasioned by the compounds or salts of copper is violent headache, which is followed by vomiting and cutting pain in the bowels, and by cramps and

causes all the symptoms and structural changes of corrosive poisons. In small doses it occasions vomiting, diarrhea, paralysis, and death in the course of some hours. It appears to be

more or less absorbed, and to depress and otherwise affect nervous and vital power. In a case described by Mr. WILSON, of Leeds (Lond. Med. Gaz., vol. xxxiii., p. 734), where a large quantity of this poison had been taken, the poisoned person not having been seen until soon after death, the countenance was pale, placid, and composed; the eyes and mouth closed; the pupils dilated; no marks of vomiting or diarrhoea, nor discharge from any of the outlets of the body, nor any stain upon his hands or person, or upon the bed linen, or furniture, could be detected. On dissection, a pint of turbid, inky fluid was found in the stomach. The mucous membrane of this organ was red and very vascular, particularly about the cardiac orifice. The brain, its membranes, and all the other viscera were quite healthy. The contents of the stomach furnished the chromate on analysis. In this case the chrome produced neither vomiting nor purging, and did not act by any irritating influence; but by its sedative action entirely. Hence it may be viewed as causing, according to the dose, state of the stomach, and other circumstances, either a decided corrosive effect, or an acro-sedative action, or even a purely sedative or fatally depressing operation. The Treatment appropriate to poisoning with this salt is recourse to emetics or the stomach-pump, and to the administration of magnesia or chalk, mixed in water.

bloody mucus was found in the stomach; the villous coat was of a brownish-red colour, generally inflamed, and detached from the adjacent coat in places. None of the poison was detected in the stomach; but its nature was determined by the analysis of the portion left in the vessel from which it was taken. It is evident that the rapidity of the fatal result in this case was owing to the extent of the local injury, to the shock sustained by the constitution, and to the absorption, in a very short period, of so large a quantity of the salt into the circulation; this salt being rapidly absorbed, especially in solution, and acting not merely as an irritant, but also as a powerful sedative.

478. c. Sulphate of potass, according to Mr. MOWBRAY (Med. Gaz., vol. xxxviii., p. 54), is much employed in France as a popular abortive, and when thus administered has proved not infrequently poisonous. It has also been employed in this country with the same object, and in one case, at least, with the same results, as shown by Mr. TAYLOR. In one case two drachms acted most powerfully, and in another four drachms, administered to a lady after her confinement, acted as an irritant poison. Another lady took, about a week after her delivery, about ten drachms of this salt, in divided doses, as an aperient. After the first dose she was seized with severe pain in the stomach, with nausea, vomiting, purging, and cramps in the extremities. These symptoms became aug

hours. On inspection, the villous surface of the stomach and intestines was found pale, except the valvulæ conniventes, which were reddened. The stomach contained much reddish liquid, which was found to contain only sulphate of potass.

476. b. Nitrate of Potass.-TARTRA denies that this salt possesses any poisonous proper-mented after each dose, and she died in two ties; and it is stated to have been given, for medicinal purposes, in doses varying from six to twelve or even sixteen drachms in the twenty-four hours. (Med. Chirurg. Rev., April, 1844, p. 549) As it is much employed in the arts, accidents occasionally occur from it; and, in a large dose, as when taken in mistake for some 479. d. Oxalate of Potass.-Salt of Sorrel.purging salt, serious or even fatal results may Bin-oxalate of potass is an active poison, owing be produced by it, although its effects are some-chiefly to the oxalic acid. It is much employed what uncertain. Two men swallowed each under the name of "essential salt of lemons," one ounce of nitre by mistake for GLAUBER's and instances of poisoning have occurred from salt, and almost instantly experienced a sense its having been taken by mistake, some of which of coldness in the course of the spine, trem- have been adduced by Mr. TAYLOR. The folbling in the limbs, with vomiting and purging; lowing case is recorded by Mr. JACKSON: A fethe stools were bloody. They recovered in the male, aged 20, took about an ounce of this salt course of a few days. In another case record- in solution. About an hour and a half aftered in the same work, an ounce of nitre was fa- ward she was found on the floor quite faint, tal in thirty-six hours. (CASPER'S Wochen- having been very sick. The nature of the poischrift, b. xviii., 1841.) son was soon ascertained, and four ounces of mistura creta were administered. She was then in a state of extreme depression; the pulse could hardly be felt; the skin was cold and clammy; the lips and face were pale, and rigours continually affected the whole body. She complained of a scalding sensation in the throat and stomach, of pain in the back, of soreness of the eyes and dimness of vision. The conjunctive were injected and the pupils dilated. She was wrapped in warm blankets; ether, tincture of opium and camphor were administered, and reaction took place. The patient af terward recovered. Most probably the greatest part of the salt had been thrown off the stomach before she was found. The treatment of this case throughout was as judicious as successful.-(Med. Gaz., vol. xxvii., p. 480.)-A lady,

477. The symptoms and structural lesions produced by a poisonous dose of this salt will appear from the following details: M. ORFILA states that a lady took an ounce of nitre by mistake, and in a quarter of an hour suffered nausea, vomiting, and purging; and the muscles of the face were convulsed, the pulse weak, respiration laborious, and the extremities cold; but there was a burning pain in the epigastrium. She died three hours after taking the salt. On dissection, the stomach was found inflamed and the villous coat detached in places. Near the pylorus the inflammation approached to gangrene. A large quantity of fluid, coloured with blood, was found in the stomach. Dr. GEOGHEGAN Communicated to Mr. TAYLOR the following case: A man took, by mistake for salts, from an ounce to an ounce and a half of nitre. Se-recently confined, took by mistake an ounce of vere pain in the stomach followed, with violent vomiting, but no purging. He died in about two hours after taking the salt. On examination, a

this salt. She had scarcely swallowed the dose when she was seized with violent pain in the abdomen and convulsions; she died in eight

ing to the esophagus; and by mortal faintness and convulsions in the fatal cases.

minutes. The mucous membrane of the stom- taste on the palate; pulse quick, afterward feeach and small intestines was found inflamed. ble, fluttering, and almost imperceptible; folA tea-spoonful of this salt was taken for three lowed, in the cases which recovered, by inflamsuccessive mornings, and produced severe vom-matory reaction of the digestive canal, extenditing; about an hour after the third dose the patient expired. There was no examination of the body. It is evident from these cases, that this salt is a powerful acro-sedative poison, its depressing operation being most energetic.

483. b. The structural changes in the fatal instances were great lividity of the face and extremities, and loss of the muscular contractility immediately after death. The stomach was 479*. e. Bi-tartrate of Potass.-Cream of tar-red internally, and lined with a crust of sulphur. tar is a most useful medicine, even in large do- The duodenum was also red. The lungs were ses; but it may be poisonous if a too large soft, gorged with black fluid blood, and did not quantity be given. I have prescribed as much crepitate. as two drachms three times in the day, in cases 484. c. The Treatment seems to consist in the of dropsy connected with obstruction in the liv-instant administration of any diluent at hand, er, with great benefit; but this dose should not and frequent doses of common salt. If inflambe continued long, and its effects should always mation of the stomach, &c., supervene, local be carefully watched. Mr. TAYLOR states, on and general antiphlogistic measures and exterthe authority of Mr. Tyson, that a man took nal derivatives will be required. Dr. CHRISTIfour or five table-spoonfuls of cream of tartar, SON observes, that the chloride of soda may be and was seized with violent vomiting and purg-called the antidote against this poison, as it deing, with pain in the abdomen, thirst, feeble- composes the sulphureted hydrogen which is ness of pulse, and a paralyzed state of the thighs evolved, the rapid disengagement of which he and legs. The fluid vomited was of a dark-considers to be the cause of death in the quickgreen colour, and the motions had the appear-ly fatal cases. The chloride of lime is equally ance of coffee-grounds. Death took place in efficacious with the chloride of soda. forty-eight hours, and, on inspection, the villous coat of the stomach and duodenum was found highly inflamed; the cardiac portion of the stomach being of a deep-red colour, with spots of black extravasation. This organ contained a thick, brown fluid, coloured by bile. The intestinal canal was more or less inflamed.

485. viii. TARTARIC ACID. Oxalic acid in small doses, and tartaric acid in large quantities, are productive of nearly similar effects. Tartaric acid has, until lately, been regarded as not poisonous; but an instance lately occurred of this acid having been given to a man instead of aperient salts, in the dose of one ounce, with fatal effect. The whole of this was swallowed at once, dissolved in warm water. He immediately exclaimed that he was poisoned, complained of a burning pain in the throat and stomach, and compared the sensation to that of being all on fire. Soda and magnesia were ad

480. f. The nitrate of soda, the sulphate of magnesia, the biborate of soda, the chloride of sodium, and other salts, which are harmless in small or moderate quantities, are injurious, and act as irritants and depressants when taken in large or excessive doses, especially in states of disease or of constitution which are favour-ministered with diluent drinks. Vomiting comable to their injurious operation.

menced, and continued until his death, which took place nine days afterward. Tartaric acid was found in the dregs of the cup, and the person who made the mistake admitted the act and the substance which he had thus given. On inspection of the body, nearly the whole of the alimentary canal was found inflamed. (See TAYLOR, in Op. cit., p. 104.)

481. vii. THE SULPHURETS OF POTASSIUM AND SODIUM.-The alkaline sulphurets have very rarely occasioned poisoning in this country; but they have caused fatal accidents in France, where they are frequently employed for baths and for the manufacture of artificial sulphureous waters. They act as powerful irritants of the digestive mucous surface and depressants 486. The Treatment of poisoning with this of nervous and vital power, exhausting at the acid is the same as that for oxalic acid (§ 166), same time the irritability of contractile tissues. which, when given in smaller quantities than These latter effects are in great measure ow- those usually productive of the corrosive action ing to their absorption into the circulation. M. described above (§ 160, et seq.), is partially abORFILA and M. CAYOL have recorded cases of sorbed, and, with its local irritating operation, poisoning by these sulphurets. The quantity occasions also marked depressing and paralytaken in each of these was three drachms and zing effects; and either an acute, or sub-acute, upward. Two of the cases terminated fatally or chronic form of poisoning, according to the in less than fifteen minutes; the other patients quantity taken, the circumstances of the case, who recovered were dangerously ill for some and the treatment employed soon after its indays. The rapidly fatal effects of these poisons gestion. In the slower form of poisoning by were probably owing more to the change pro-oxalic acid, as well as that by tartaric acid, as duced by them in the state of organic nervous soon as the poison is removed by vomiting or influence, than to disorganization of the villous coat of the stomach.

the stomach-pump, remedial measures should not be confined to the removal of the local irri482. a. The symptoms in these cases were tation merely that is produced by it, but ought burning pain and constriction in the throat, gul- to be extended to the restoration of the nerlet, and stomach; frequent vomiting; at first vous and vital powers, which are more or less sulphureous, the air of the chamber being taint- depressed by the influence of the poison on the ed with the odour of sulphureted hydrogen, and nerves of the alimentary canal, and, by absorpafterward sanguinolent; purging, at first sul- tion, upon the heart, nervous centres, and conphureous, afterward mucous and bloody; sul-stitution generally; and with these intentions phureous exhalations from the mouth; acrid the means already recommended for the more

energetic acro-sedatives will be found the most successful for the removal of the consecutive effects, and for the slower forms of poisoning caused by small doses of oxalic acid, and by large quantities of tartaric acid.

more or less disorganization, and sometimes, also, the integuments, the fascia and tendonous sheaths, the absorbents, or veins, or both, and even the serous surfaces of adjoining cavities. This poison being productive of the most dangerous effects, and on numerous occasions, it is of the utmost importance, especially to medical men themselves, that its operation, and its counteraction and treatment, should be carefully investigated.

487. ix. THE NECROSCOPIC POISON-POISON IMBIBED FROM RECENTLY DEAD BODIES.-A. Source and Nature of the Poison.-The fluids of bodies recently dead, or that have not passed into an early stage of decomposition, not infrequently produce the most dangerous effects, especially 488. a. The poison communicated by recentwhen they come in contact with an abradedly dead bodies has been described, and illustrasurface, or are inoculated in any way. The ted by the details of cases, by Dr. DUNCAN, as effects vary with the disease of which the per- constituting a form of diffusive inflammation son died, with the constitution of the infected of the cellular tissue, and by Mr. TRAVERS, as individual, and with other circumstances. I occasioning a variety of constitutional irritahave had several occasions of observing and tion. But the doctrine inferred from these detreating the effects of this species of animal nominations is too restricted to be applicable poison. Since I first published my views as to the distemper which this poison develops. to the nature and treatinent of these effects, in Diffusive inflammation of the cellular tissue 1823, and again in 1833, I have been more fully certainly often exists as a consequence of the convinced of the accuracy of these views; and, contamination produced by the poison; but it moreover, they have received the support of is preceded and attended by constitutional efexperienced observers, and especially of Mr. fects-by states of the circulation and nervous TRAVERS, in more recent publications. The system-of the most malignant or virulent depoisonous action of the fluids of dead bodies is scription. Constitutional irritation is equally most acutely exerted when these fluids are in- present, and is certainly more or less immedioculated; but they sometimes act upon the per- ately consequent upon the local irritation, imfectly sound skin, there being no scratch, punc-pression, or alteration, or whatever the local ture, or abrasion through which they could be in-effect may be; but so are depression of organtroduced, the existence of either of these great-ic and cerebro-spinal nervous power, changes ly facilitating and aggravating their operation. In the observations I offered respecting this poison (in the London Medical Repository for July, 1823), I stated, 1st. That this poison is distinct from any other animal poison, generated or transmitted during life; 2d. That it is different, in its nature and effects, from putrid animal matter; 3d. That it does not appear to exist in the blood, either during life or after death; 4th. That it is produced during the changes which are more immediately consequent upon the loss of life; and, 5th. That it is present chiefly in the secreted and exhaled fluids on the surface of membranes, especially serous membranes, or in cellular or parenchymatous parts. I then remarked that, as respects the distemper inoculated from another body which has recently ceased to live, and as regards the nature of the animal poison which causes the distemper, and the manner of its operation, it may be inferred that it is produced by the textures before their vital properties and cohesions are quite extinct, because putrid animal matters occasion different and less dangerous effects; that as all morbid poisons possess certain properties bestowed on them by the organic nervous or vital influ-duced by the inoculation of the fluids of bodies ence of the vessels and structures secreting them, in consequence of previous disease, either of these parts or of the frame generally, which properties they preserve for a time until the elementary particles composing them enter into different combinations, so may the secretions and fluid exhalations occasionally experience, during the period in which organic nervous influence and vitality are forsaking the tis-poison in that body, owing either to the nature sues which secrete them, such a change as amounts to the acquisition of virulently poisonous properties, and that these fluids, thus changed, affect the nerves of the part to which they are applied, and, consecutively, the whole frame, the cellular tissue in the vicinity of the glands above the seat of inoculation generally evincing

in the states of vascular action and of the blood, asthenic inflammation of the cellular tissue, and often, also, of the integuments, or of the absorbents or veins, or of adjoining serous surfaces. The truth is, that this poison produces an almost specific effect upon the tissues in the vicinity of glands above the seat of its application; but this effect may be limited to the cellular tissue, or extended to several other tissues; and it may be confined to the axilla, or extended to more deep-seated parts; it may not implicate, in a visible manner, any of the structures of the arm, although the poison was inoculated in the finger, and the cellular tissue in the axilla is most extensively diseased, no change between these situations being detected; and it may most virulently affect the nervous and vascular systems, and depress vital power and resistance, when the local changes are the least extensive or apparent.

489. b. It is of some moment to know the discases which impart this poisonous property to the recently dead body; but, as to this, we have no precise information. Although the distemper which is the result has most frequently been pro

which had died of inflammations of serous surfaces, or of erysipelas, or of puerperal diseases, yet has it occurred also after the inoculation of the fluids of bodies which have died of other visceral or inflammatory maladies-of enteritis, peritonitis, &c. More than one person has even been infected by the same dead body, this occurrence evincing a greater virulence of the

of the disease of which it died, or to the period after death at which the examination was made. That this has probably depended chiefly upon the former of these causes may be inferred from its frequent occurrence when the body has died of erysipelas, puerperal peritonitis, or other states of puerperal fever; while, on the other

491. d. Another question suggests itself, namely, Whether or no this poison is the same as the infectious emanation which caused the disease of which the person died; is allied to a specific contagion existing still in the body which has died in consequence of it? We know that the poison under consideration is frequently imbibed from bodies which have died from puerperal diseases, from visceral inflammations, from erysipelatous and other maladies. But the distemper pro

hand, there is equal, if not stronger, reason to believe that the poison imbibed in dissection is not the result of diseased action, simple or specific, in the living subject, but is altogether generated immediately after death, although certain diseases may favor its generation at this period. That the poison is not the result of the disease of which the patient died, is shown by the facts, 1st. That this poison has been imbibed during the examination of bodies of persons who have died suddenly, and in health, induced by this poison is not in any respect the consequence of accidents; that poisonous ef- same as any of these diseases, there being no fects have been produced by the fluids of a body farther resemblance than in the febrile disturbwhich has been killed by an accident, or has ance present in all of them, and in the vital died of a non-contagious disease; 2d. That the depression and weak state of vital resistance distemper developed by this poison presents a That small-pox, syphilis, erysipelas, glanders, specific character, differing only in the degree and even scarlet fever may be transmitted by the of severity and the extent of the contingent lo- recently dead body; and that the power of transcal inflammation, whatever may have been the mitting these specific contagions may be retainmalady of which the subject which furnished ed by the bodies which have died of them for a the poison died. Still, the larger proportion of considerable but an indefinite time, I believe; cases of this distemper have their origin from but when the body is surrounded by clothes of the fluids of bodies recently dead from inflam- any kind, this power of transmission is retainmations, by which an abundant exudation of ed by the clothes rather than by the body itself; morbid fluids is accumulated, and in which the for, as soon as the latter undergoes decompothoracic and abdominal viscera are examined sition, the power of transmitting the specific and handled. In most instances which have malady which caused death appears to have fallen under my observation, the bodies from ceased, especially if there be a free admission of which the poison was imbibed were still warm atmospheric air, because the contagious secrewhen examined, and many of them had died tions are also decomposed, and, by their decomof puerperal diseases. Mr. TRAVERS remarks, position, have lost their specific and poisonous also, that the subjects were recent. Not one properties. It cannot, however, be inferred had been buried; some were yet warm. Even that the distemper produced by the poison imof those in which demonstration, not inspec- bibed from recently dead bodies is allied to any tion, was the object, the bodies were in a per- of the maladies which has most frequently fectly fresh state; and he remarks a circum- caused the deaths of the bodies from which the stance, which has also struck me, namely, that poison was imbibed. when the dissection has been performed before the body has entirely parted with its warmth, a faint and peculiarly oppressive odour is emitted, which is disagreeable, not to say revolting, even to persons habituated to dissection, and which not infrequently creates nausea.

490. c. The question may be asked, Whether or not the poisonous fluid may produce its effects when applied to the perfectly whole cutaneous surface, or only when this surface is punctured, or the cuticle abraded, in the part which comes in contact with it? I can answer this question in the affirmative from my own experience, and from statements made to me by others in the frequent habit of making inspections. I have seen severe constitutional disorder of the specific kind produced by this poison in two instances, in which the subjects had died of puerperal disease, the surgeons who assisted me in the examinations, and who thus imbibed the poison, having had no abrasion of the cuticle whatever. The fluids accumulated in the serous cavities occasioned, in these two instances, a sensible smarting over the surfaces with which they remained for a time in contact. But I believe that such instances are rare compared with those which are owing to some scratch, abrasion, or puncture of the cuticle.*

* The following cases, abridged from Mr. TRAVERS'S work, are remarkable, as they are examples of a distemper, in the local and constitutional symptoms, closely akin to, if not actually identical with, that produced by the poison imbibed from recently dead bodies, although the poison, in the second and third cases, was imbibed from the secretions of the first case while she still lived. 1st Case. A female, while suckling, had a poisoned wound of the finger, followed by pain, fever, and delirium. The pain extended from

492. B. Symptoms.-(a) In some cases, the following is the usual procession of morbid phenomena. 1. A few hours after puncturing a

the finger up the arm, along the neck, to the tip of the ear. Matter formed within the proper sheath of the flexor tendon of the finger, and the wound in the finger continued to discharge freely after the sheath was laid open. Delirium, rapid pulse, &c., continued, and was followed by rigours and profuse colliquative sweating, and soon afterward by extreme depression, and death. 2d Case. The maid-servant who fomented this woman's hand, on the third day af ter the incision of the finger, complained of pain and tension of the point of the fore-finger of the right hand, with constitutional disturbance and delirium. She had neither wound nor scratch of any kind. Acute fascial inflammation of all the fingers, back of the hand and fore-arm, followed, and abscesses formed, requiring free incisions. 3d Case. A laun dress, who washed the sheets taken from the bed of the first of these patients shortly before her death, "had no sooner opened and immersed them in water, than she was overpowered by an effluvium, which she described as peculiarly offensive, and instantly complained of a most severe darting pain in the axilla and shoulder. Nausea and faintness followed, and in the evening she had a rigour which lasted three hours. In the morning she was much fevered, and on the two succeeding nights violently delirious. The pain arm, from the elbow to the shoulder, but there was neither she now complained of affected the outer side of the upper redness nor swelling of this part." Afterward the pain shifted to the axilla and pectoral region, and two days aftermately recovered. In neither of the second or third cases ward a deep pectoral abscess presented itself. She ultiwas there any breach of the cuticle, by which absorption of, or contamination by, a poisonous fluid could be facilitated. Mr. TRAVERS adds, that the laundress was attacked at the one and the same instant with nausea and faintness from the stench, and with acute lancinating pain from handling the linen; and that a woman who was present informed him that the laundress turned as pale as death, and exclaimed with agony, from the pain she felt in the arm within two minutes of unfolding the sheets. I quite agree with this very able surgeon in remarking that this was surely the operation of a subtle poison on the nervous system, as it is only through this medium that it could operate so instantaneously.