but the diaphragm motionless; the whole blood in the veins as well as the arteries is of a bright scarlet colour; some of the membranous surfaces, such as the pulmonary pleura, have the same tint, and the blood coagulates with remarkable rapidity. The gas in which an animal has died rekindles a blown out taper. These experiments, which physiology owes to the researches of Mr. Broughton,[1] furnish a solitary example of death from stoppage of the respiration, although the heart continues to pulsate, and the lungs to transmit florid blood. Death is probably owing to hyper-arterialization of the blood.
CHAPTER XXXII.
CLASS THIRD.
OF NARCOTICO-ACRID POISONS GENERALLY.
The third class of poisons, the narcotico-acrids, includes those
which possess a double action, the one local and irritating like that
of the irritants, the other remote, and consisting of an impression on
the nervous system.
Sometimes they cause narcotism; which is generally of a comatose nature, often attended with delirium; but in one very singular group there is neither insensibility nor delirium, but merely violent tetanic spasms.
At other times they excite inflammation where they are applied. This effect, however, is by no means constant. For Orfila justly observes, that under the name of narcotico-acrids several poisons are usually described which seldom excite inflammation. Those which inflame the tissues where they are applied rarely occasion death in this manner. Some of them may produce very violent local symptoms; but they generally prove fatal through their operation on the nervous system.
For the most part, their narcotic and irritant effects appear incompatible. That is, when they act narcotically, the body is insensible to the local irritation; and when they irritate, the dose is not large enough to act narcotically. In large doses, therefore, they act chiefly as narcotics, in small doses as irritants. Sometimes, however, the narcotic symptoms are preceded or followed by symptoms of irritation; and more rarely both exist simultaneously.
Most, if not all, of them, to whatever part of the body they are applied, act remotely by entering the blood-vessels; but it has not been settled whether they operate by being carried with the blood to the part on which they act, or by producing on the inner membrane of the vessels a peculiar impression, which is conveyed along the nerves. Some of them produce direct and obvious effects where they are applied. Thus monkshood induces a peculiar numbness
- ↑ London Quarterly Journal of Science, January, 1830.
