Page:Treatise on poisons in relation to medical jurisprudence, physiology, and the practice of physic (IA treatiseonpoison00chriuoft).pdf/32

 *spiration become affected consecutively by the depressed state of the nervous system.

Some poisons act specifically on the spinal cord. Those which are best known to possess such an action are nux-vomica, the other species of plants which, like it, contain strychnia, and also conia and the wourali poison. The tribe of poisons of which nux-vomica may be taken as the type excite violent fits of tetanus, during the intervals of which the mind and external senses are quite entire; and death takes place during a paroxysm, apparently from suffocation caused by spasmodic fixing of the chest. Their action on the spine is quite independent of any action on the brain; if indeed such action exist at all. For when the spinal cord is separated from the brain by dividing the medulla oblongata, the effects on the muscles supplied by the spinal cord are produced as usual. Conia, the active principle of hemlock, according to my own researches, produces in the lower animals, howsoever introduced, gradually increasing paralysis, without insensibility or delirium, and without the circulation or respiration being for some time affected, till at length death takes place from stoppage of the breathing by palsy of the respiratory muscles; and after death the heart continues beating vigorously, the muscles contract when irritated, and arterialization of the blood in the lungs may be kept up long by maintaining artificial respiration. In this instance it would appear, that the first effect is arrestment of the functions of the spinal cord; that the paralysis does not depend upon a direct action on the muscles; and that neither the brain, heart, nor lungs can be influenced, except secondarily through the consequences of general muscular paralysis. Many poisons which act on the brain also act on the spinal cord.

Other poisons apparently possess the singular property of impeding or arresting the general capillary circulation, and produce their tangible effects more or less through the medium of this operation. Such at least are the inferences which seem to flow from the researches of Mr. Blake; who found that many substances, soon after they are injected backwards by the axillary artery into the aorta, produce increased pressure in the arterial system indicated by the hæmadynamometer during life, and frequently congestion of the membranous textures as observed after death. Some substances have no effect of this kind. Others act on the general capillaries in concurrence with a similar action on the capillaries of the pulmonary circulation, such as the salts of strontia, baryta, lead, silver, and soda, euphorbium, tobacco and digitalis. But a few, such as potash and ammonia, with their salts, seem to influence the capillaries of the general circulation only. These are important conclusions, if legitimate; but it cannot be denied, that the facts on which they are based must be very difficult to isolate and observe with accuracy and without bias.