that there is no other way of accounting for the slight apparent effects of the corrosive sublimate, at the commencement particularly, than by supposing that the narcotic operation of the opium veiled or actually retarded the irritant action of the corrosive sublimate. 6. Poisoning with Opium and Belladonna.-A lady, who used a compound infusion of opium and belladonna as a wash for an eruption in the vulva, took it into her head one day to use the wash as an injection; and actually received three successive injections, containing each the active matter of a scruple of opium and half an ounce of belladonna leaves. Fortunately none of the three was retained above a few minutes, except the last, which was not discharged for ten minutes. In less than an hour, she was found in bed in a deep sleep, but the true cause was not suspected till three hours later. She was then completely insensible and motionless, with the face pale, the pupils excessively dilated and not contractile, the pulse frequent and small, and the breathing hurried. After the use of purgative injections, blood-letting, leeches to the head, and sinapisms to the legs, she began in five hours to show some sign of returning consciousness, which improved after a fit of vomiting. When thoroughly roused, the vision continued dim with the pupils excessively dilated, and the ideas somewhat confused. For three days after the pulse continued frequent, and the pupils somewhat dilated*. Here the opium seems to have prevented the delirium usually induced by belladonna in the early stage, while on the other hand the belladonna prevented the usual effect of opium on the pupils, and actually produced the opposite action. 7. In the following cases, the active poisons to which the individuals were exposed were so numerous, that it is impossible to say which or how many of them occasioned the symptoms. A colour-maker was superintending a process in which cobalt, arsenic, mercury, sal-ammoniac, and nitric acid were subjected to heat in a mattrass, when the mattrass suddenly gave way, and a dense vapour was instantly discharged. The manufacturer, before he could escape, fell down insensible; and though speedily removed, he died in no long time, affected with enormous swelling of the abdomen. A workman who was also present, escaped by a window; but was nevertheless immedi ⚫ Martin Solon. Journal Hebdomadaire, viii 73. ately attacked with swelling of the belly, which speedily became very great, and was attended with pain in the jaws, and dimness of sight. These symptoms were very slowly dissipated under the use of colding bathing and purgatives, which brought away an enormous quantity of fetid gas *. These are not the only examples of compound poisoning which have come under my attention. But others I have noticed are not detailed with sufficient exactness to make it worth while to quote them. The instances given, however, are sufficient to show that poisons of opposite qualities given about the same time in large doses will disguise one another's effects, or impede, or perhaps even prevent them, in a manner which renders such a combination of circumstances an important subject of inquiry for the medico-legal toxicologist. It is probable that the modifying influence is established in one of two ways,—either by one poison producing a state of venous plethora or distension, which impedes, or for a time prevents, the absorption of the other, or by one poison producing an insensibility of the membrane with which the other is in contact; so that not only the local injury actually done has not the usual remote effect on the constitution, or on distant organs, but likewise is at times substantially less extensive than in ordinary circumstances. These reflexions arise naturally from a review of the preceding cases; but of course. farther facts are necessary to give them weight. • Gueneau de Mussy. Archives Gén. de Méd. Deuxième Serie, i. 594. Arsenic, dose required to cause death 275 Bitter-almond, its poisonous effects 718 -morbid appearances caused by it 309 may cause death 719 morbid appearances some- fects as a poison 721 times not caused by it at all 309 essential oil of, its morbid appearances caused by it after death 331 essential oil of, its does it prevent the bodies of fying? 321 ties poisoning symptoms it causes in man, symptoms of, at times sup- symptoms of, occasionally 277 Bitter cassada, poisoning with 542 687 14 600 causes cynanche la- 601 very trifling, even where fatal 286 -symptoms of, how soon may they begin, and how long may they be delayed ? 279 Bombyx processionaria, its poisonous 565 622 symptoms of, how soon may inflammation of its substance, they kill? 283 symptoms of, how long may they last? 294 hypertrophy of, distinguish- treatment of poisoning with 332 ed from narcotic poisoning 627 Bread, adulteration of, with the sul- known 332 phate of copper 424 changes it undergoes in the effects of spoiled, 838 stomach after death 315 metallic, not a poison 273 its effects on aniinals 186 oxide of. See Acid, arsenious Arsenite of copper, its tests 264 seldom contain- Bryony-root, effects of on man and 265 animals 544 Arum maculatum, poisoning with 552 Atropa, poisoning with symptoms induced by it in man 762 Caltha palustris, its effects as a poi- son 549 by it Atropia, alkaloid of belladonna Bacon, poisonous at times 592, 766 761 morbid appearances caus- ed by 810 symptoms excited by, in 529 man 809 muriate and carbonate, their Cantharides, physical characters of 558 appearances by 533 treatment of poisoning with 534 symptoms it excites in Bee, its poisonous sting 577 man 560 Belladonna. See Atropa. treatment of poisoning sive Sublimate. Biliary ducts, rupture of, imitates irritant poisoning 106 of lead, tests of 472 Bilious vomiting, imitates irritant of lead is formed on lead poisoning 109 Bismuth, poisoning with its com- pounds 459 |