Volume 2

A general system of toxicology : or, a treatise on poisons, found in the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms, considered in their relations with physiology, pathology, and medical jurisprudence / by M.P. [sic] Orfila.

  • Orfila, Matthieu Joseph Bonaventure, 1787-1853.
Date:
1816-17
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A general system of toxicology : or, a treatise on poisons, found in the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms, considered in their relations with physiology, pathology, and medical jurisprudence / by M.P. [sic] Orfila. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

    325/604 (page 293)
    iCTION OF THE WOORARA ON THE ANIMAL ECONOMY. Experiment 1st. A small quantity of Woorara in powder, i'as applied to a wound made on the side of a Guinea-pig. ^en minutes after, the animal was no longer able to walk, he ecame completely motionless, except that he exhibited a few light convulsive movements. A short time after, he was sunk ito a state of great insensibility ; his breathing became diffi- ult, and ceased altogether fourteen minutes after the applica- on of the poisonous substance. The thorax was opened: ]e heart was beating seventy strokes in a minute, and contained lood of a dark colour; the contractions of the heart con- nued for several minutes; the brain and the wound appeared ot at all affected. Two grains of Woorara applied in the same manner, pro- uced the same symptoms at the expiration of twenty-five linutes, and the animal died thirteen minutes after. Its action as more rapid, and shewed itself at the expiration of five or X minutes, when a large quantity was applied, or when a ight haemorrhage took place of the vessels to which it was pplied. Experiment 2nd. A small quantity of Woorara was intro- iced into a wound made in a young cat. He was affected y it in a few minutes, and fell into a state of lethargy, and f partial insensibility; he remained in that state for an hour id a quarter, when the application of the poison was re- eated. Four minutes after this repetition, respiration entirely sased, and he appeared to be dead ; but the heart still beat Dout a hundred and four strokes in the minute. The animal as placed in a temperature of 85' of Fahr.; the lungs were tificially inflated at about the rate of four times per minute; le action of the heart continued regularly; the artificial re-