been investigated experimentally by Professor Orfila; who found that putrid blood, bile, or brain, caused death in this way within twenty-four hours,—producing extensive local inflammation of the diffuse kind, and great constitutional fever. In man also several instances of diffuse cellular inflammation have been observed as the consequence of pricks received during the dissection of putrid bodies. The disease, as formerly observed, certainly arises in general from pricks received in dissecting recent bodies. At the same time, a few cases have been traced quite unequivocally to inoculation with putrid matter;[1] and if any doubts existed on this point, the experiments of Orfila would remove them.
M. Lassaigne has examined chemically the putrid matter formed by keeping flesh long in close vessels, and has found it to consist of carbonate of ammonia, much caseate of ammonia, and a stinking volatile oil,—the last of which is probably the poisonous ingredient.
Of Animal Matter rendered Poisonous by Modified Putrefaction.
The third way in which animal matters naturally wholesome may become irritant poisons, is by their undergoing a modified putrefaction.
It is probable that many common articles of food occasionally become poisonous in this way; but none are so liable to acquire injurious properties as certain articles much used in Germany, namely, a particular kind of sausage, a particular kind of cheese, and bacon. The last two species of poison have been occasionally observed in France, and probably occur in Britain also. But the first has been hitherto met with only in some districts of Germany.
The best account yet given of the sausage-poison is contained in two essays published by Dr. Kerner,[2] in a Thesis by Dr. Dann,[3] and in a prize-essay by Dr. W. Horn.[4] It has at various times committed great ravages in Germany, especially in the Würtemberg territories, where 234 cases of poisoning with it occurred between the years 1793 and 1827; and of that number no less than 110 proved fatal.[5]
The symptoms of poisoning seldom begin till twenty-four, or even forty-eight hours, after the noxious meal, and rather later than earlier, The tardiness of their approach seems owing to the great indigestibility of the fatty matter with which the active principle is mixed. The first symptoms are pain in the stomach, vomiting, purging, and dryness of the mouth and nose. The eyes, eyelids, and pupils then become fixed and motionless; the voice is rendered hoarse, or is lost altogether; the power of swallowing is much impaired; the pulse
- ↑ Dr. Duncan, Edin. Med. Chirurg. Trans. i. 502 and 520.
- ↑ Neue Beobachtungen über die Vergiftungen durch dens genuss geraücherten Würste. Tübingen, 1820.—Das Fettgift, oder die Fettsaüre, und ihre Wirkungen auf den thierischen Organismus. Tübingen, 1822.
- ↑ De Veneni Botulini viribus et natura. Diss. Inaug. Berolini, 1828.
- ↑ De Veneno in Botulis. Commentatio in certamine lit. a gratioso Med. Ord. Berol. Præmio ornata, 1828. Analyzed by Dr. Arrowsmith in Edin. Med. and Surg. Journal, xxxiii. 28.
- ↑ Horn's Archiv, 1828, i. 558.
