SPOTTED HEMLOCK-

1065

been animals generally. —The effects of hemlock on animals havev W* by Harder (Boneti, Sepulchr. 1. iv. sect. x. Obs. iv. p. 488),Scl P er {Hist. Cicut. aquat. p. 201, 1733), Orfila ( Toxicol . Gen. ii.), ande x ar * (Wibmer, Wirk. d. Arzneim. ii. Gifte. ii. 169). The animals° f V ^nted on were the dog, wolf, rabbit, and guinea-pig. The actionth an Ill oc k on the solipedes and ruminants is very much less energetica 11( j the carnivora. Moiroud ( Pharm. Vet. 359.) has given three lbs.a Uot i aa h of the plant to a young horse, without inconvenience; but inIt c Cr case a decoction of four ounces of the dried plant proved fatal,tiojj ,lse( b dejection, stupor, dilatation of the pupils, trembling, saliva-lYiij:’ Ilausea > spasmodic contraction of the muscles of the extremities,ll >e 0 £.l f tl,e c >' e > grinding of the teeth, and copious cold sweats. FromV as Serv ations of Orfila, hemlock is a local irritant (though this actionof s °b constantly observed), and produces giddiness, convulsions, lossServesand coma. This account, as Dr. Christison ob-Oot s ’ ^ oes not agree with the symptoms induced by conia, which doesis p to affect the senses so long as the respiration goes on. “ But itHad ) e )” he adds, “ that the difference is more apparent than real,? lem ^ oc k has been supposed to extinguish sensation, merely be-le as t •^ 1I1( ^ucing paralysis it takes away the power of expression; ataffgc, 10 , SOl ue experiments I have made, sensation did not appear to beby c .5 and the whole phenomena were identical with those produced<tb S() ] la - In these experiments I used very strong extracts, prepared byof te alcohol from the fresh leaves or the full-grown seeds; and eachthe y 6 ? 1 occasioned, in doses of thirty grains or thereabouts, paralysis of°f ^ Un tary muscles, with occasional slight convulsions, then paralysistiop of re «piratory muscles of the chest and abdomen, and finally cessa-lopg \he action of the diaphragm. Sensation appeared to continue sothe j as h was practicable to make an observation on the subject; andthe p e . art contracted vigorously for a long time after death.” But fromCail nof 1 ^ °k ser vations of the effects of hemlock on animals and man, IPrin c ; i le ^P suspecting, either that this plant contains a second activeMn J^ e ’ "’hose operation is somewhat distinct from conia, or that the

*his alkaloid is greatly modified in the plant by combination(c.)o 6r matt ers.

4( Wn‘ U man -—In sma ll or medicinal doses, hemlock has been frequently<lis ea ls t® re d for a considerable period, with obvious relief, in certaine lhumours of various kinds, for example), without any other evi-iti$ eri . cct : hence the statement of some authors, that hemlock actsftemln 0n the system. “ It seldom purges,” says Storck ( Essay on!ti Cre C / Eng. Tr. 2d ed. 1762), “ and very rarely vomits. Sometimes ita di) e 8 P er spiration, and often it occasions a copious discharge of viscid°f tb e in ,nan y patients, nevertheless, it does not sensibly augment anyLong-continued use, especially if the doses be in-

|he j ler( ’ " hi sometimes occasion disorder of the digestive organs or ofs aid ) ° Us system, dryness of the throat, thirst, and occasionally, it isPie e aS g eru Ption on the skin. Choquet (Orfila, Toxic . Gen. ii.) mentionsa hr ac y^ a lna n who gradually increased the dose of the extract to half

to s Usn . lt P r0( Iuced slight delirium and syncopes, which obliged him

The Cn .hs use.

e »ce 0v , ailClen f s were of opinion that hemlock exercised a specific influ-er the breasts and testicles. “ It extinguishes the milk,” says