PHYSIOLOGICAL CLASSES OF MEDICINES-

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the face pale, cold, and deadly, the lips black, the eyelids motionless, soas to remain in any position in which they were placed, the pulse verysmall and irregular, and the respiration quite extinct. The chest wasimmediately inflated by artificial means, and when this had been perse-vered in for seven minutes, expiration became accompanied with a croak,which was gradually increased in strength till natural breathing wasestablished; emetics were then given, and the patient eventually reco-vered. Another most interesting case of recovery, from poisoning byopium, by artificial respiration, has been detailed by Mr. Howship{Medico-Chirurgical Transactions, vol. xx. p. 86). I have several timesrestored animals apparently dead from the use of hydrocyanic acid,merely by keeping up artificial respiration, and Sir Benjamin Brodie has done the same with animals apparently killed by the oil of bitteralmonds.

b. Closure of the larynx. —When an attempt is made to inspire purecarbonic acid, as well as some other gases, the larynx spasmodicallycloses, and death results from asphyxia. In a case of complete insensi-bility from intoxication related by Mr. Sampson ( Medico-Chir, Trans.vol. xx. p. 46), the comatose state was thought to arise, not fromapoplexy, “ but from torpor of the brain, in consequence of that organbeing imperfectly supplied with blood not duly oxygenated; for theshrill tone and extreme difficulty of respiration shewed the existence ofcollapse of the glottis, and imperfect transmission of air into the lungs,which might be accounted for by a paralysed state of the eighth pair ofnerves and recurrent branches.” Tracheotomy was performed, and withcomplete success: in about half an hour the respiration was regular andeasy through the wound.

c. Convulsion or spasm of the respiratory muscles. —Another cause ofdeath brought on by cerebro-spinants is spasm of the respiratory muscles,whereby the function of respiration is stopped, and asphyxia produced.We have an example of this mode of operation in death by strychnia,brucia, and the substances containing these alkaloids.

d. Paralysis of the heart. —In some instances the immediate cause ofdeath appears to be paralysis of the heart. Thus in some cases ofpoisoning, the heart ceases to beat before respiration has stopped,—aswhen the alcoholic extract of aconite is applied to wounds in dogs. Ifthe chest be opened, the heart does not contract as usual when irritatedby a needle. Sir Benjamin Brodie says the infusion of tobacco kills dogsand cats by paralysing the heart.

In the case of poisons acting in this way, it has been proposed tostimulate the heart by slight galvanic shocks in order to avert the fataltermination. Even acupuncture has been advised, it the patientappeared in articulo mortis. Bretonneau ( Bayle , Travaux Thtrapeutiques,t.i. p, 432) has repeatedly punctured the brain, heart, lungs, and stomachof young dogs, without the least inconvenience; and Carraro ( Experiencessur des animaux asphyxies et ramenes a la vie par l’acupuncture ducveur, in Bayle, op. cit. t. i. p. 495) has successfully tried this prac-tice on animals in a state of asphyxia.

Seat and nature of the action of cerebro-spinants. —Those cerebro-spinants which, by their primary action, occasion lesions of the mentalfunctions, of sensibility, and of volition or voluntary motion (such as painor insensibility, erroneous perceptions, judgments, and volitions or deli-