Page:Treatise on poisons in relation to medical jurisprudence, physiology, and the practice of physic (IA treatiseonpoison00chriuoft).pdf/490

 instance of their deleterious operation occurred a few years ago at Dunkirk. At least an unusual prevalence of colic, diarrhœa, and cholera was believed to have been traced to an importation of unwholesome oysters from the Normandy coast. Dr. Zandyk, the physician who was appointed to investigate the matter, found that the suspected fish contained a slimy water, and that the membranes were retracted from the shell towards the body of the animal. Dr. Clarke believes that even wholesome oysters have a tendency to act deleteriously on women immediately after delivery. He asserts that he has repeatedly found them to induce apoplexy or convulsions; that the symptoms generally came on the day after the oysters were taken; and that two cases of the kind proved fatal. I am not aware that these statements have been since confirmed by any other observer.

Of Poisonous Eels.

Eels have also been at times found in temperate climates to acquire poisonous properties. Virey mentions an instance where several individuals were attacked with violent tormina and diarrhœa a few hours after eating a paté made of eels from a stagnant castle-ditch near Orleans; and in alluding to similar accidents having previously happened in various parts of France, he adds that domestic animals have been killed by eating the remains of the suspected dish.

CHAPTER XXIII.

OF POISONING BY VENOMOUS SNAKES.

Another entire group of poisons allied to the acrid vegetables in their action, but infinitely more energetic, comprehends the poisons of the venomous serpents. If we were to trust the impressions the vulgar entertain of the effects of the bite of serpents, the poisons now mentioned would be considered true septics or putrefiants; for they were once universally believed, and are still thought by many, to cause putrefaction of the living body. This property has been assigned them probably on no other grounds, except that they are apt to bring on diffuse subcutaneous inflammation, which frequently runs on to gangrene. But there are some serpents, especially among those of hot climates, which appear also to act remotely on the centre of the nervous system, and to occasion death through means of that action.

The present group of poisons is of little consequence to the British medical jurist, as an opportunity of witnessing their effects in this country is seldom to be found. The viper is the only poisonous