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opium. To this, my own observations of its effects upon ani-mals are directly opposed. I find that it dilates the pupil, inthe same manner, though not in the same degree, as belladonna.Geiger, Hesse, Herapath, and others, make the same state-ment. Perhaps the effect on the pupil may vary somewhat,and it is also possible that it may act differently upon man andanimals. It is certain that in animals it commonly producesdelirium or convulsions, as also salivation, all of which are rarein the human subject. On this subject of the state of the pupilfurther observations seem to be required.The first proof of Aconite poisoning is derived from the symp-

toms ; the second proof is a chemical one. Although there areno distinct chemical tests by which we can recognise Aconitina,it would be comparatively easy, in cases of poisoning, to obtainfrom the contents of the stomach and the matter vomited some

portion of the poisonous principle. My ether-process for ob-taining Aconitina might be modified for this purpose; or theprinciple obtained by boiling spirit upon the extract left onevaporating a clear acid solution of the contents of the stomach;or the animal-charcoal process pursued, by which Dr. Taylorcould extract half a grain of strychnia from a gallon of beer.The alkaloid, or the spirituous extract, should then be triedupon animals. If 1th of a grain be obtained, it will beenough. 1th of a grain will poison a mouse, with charac-teristic symptoms; 1th, a small bird. 1th of a graincauses tingling and numbness of the tip of the tongue; 1th,dissolved in spirit and rubbed into the skin, causes loss of feel-

ing, lasting for some time. By these means, which are as surein their way as chemical tests, we may determine the presenceof aconitina, and corroborate the evidence derived from ourremarks upon the symptoms.

Treatment.—As soon as the poisoning is suspected, a largequantity of animal charcoal should be given. I find thataconitina is quickly taken up, and obstinately retained by thisagent. A zinc emetic may follow. If given first, this doesharm, by assisting absorption. Brandy and ammonia shouldthen be freely administered, and, if we have rendered help intime, the patient may perhaps be saved.

Guildford-street, Russell-square.

ON A CASE OF

EXTENSIVE DISEASE OF THE HEART ANDPERICARDIUM.

BY JOHN H. BROXHOLM, M.D.

As we rarely get a case of severe pericarditis unaccompaniedby pain (though this is not absolutely essential) or uneasiness,or where there is extensive effusion into the bag of the peri-cardium, dyspnoea, or orthopnoea, from the undermentionedcase presenting none of these features, I trust it will be deemedof sufficient interest for insertion in THE LANCET.

I was sent for, on the l2th of December last, to visit a littleboy, five years of age, who had expired suddenly at a houseclose to Euston-square, and who, from what I could learn fromhis adopted parents, had enjoyed very good health for the lasttwo years. His death occurred so suddenly, that they hadbarely sufficient time to place him on a bed, having expresseda wish to lie down. Being anxious to ascertain the cause forsuch a sudden death, I proposed an examination, which was atonce acceded to.

Sectio cadaveris, forty-eight hours after death.-The body

appeared tolerably well nourished, though the child presentedall the appearances of a ricketty subject, having the long bonesof the arms and legs curved laterally, the head being verylarge, with a prominent forehead. On removing the skull-cap,there appeared great vascularity, with engorgement of thevessels, but no effusion, the brain itself being exceedinglyvascular, and presenting, on a section, numerous bloody points.The ventricles, on being cut into, presented no effusion; norwas any detected at the base of the brain. The lungs wereadherent by deposits of lymph, some being old, others recent;and on cutting into their substance, both lungs presentednumerous tubercular deposits, in an incipent state, infiltratedthrough their structure. On examining the pericardium ex-ternally, it appeared very much distended; and on openingthe bag, a very large quantity of straw-coloured serum, (Ishould say a pint,) with numerous flakes of a greenish-colouredlymph, escaped, the interior of the pericardium, all over itssurface, presenting deposits of fibro-plastic matter, renderingits surface exceedingly rough and granular. The substance ofthe heart was hypertrophied, and presented externally, over

the centre of the ventricles, two patches of a light-browncolour, feeling very firm and hard, but thinner than the snr-rounding tissue, and cutting like cartilage. One segment ofthe mitral valve had a patch of ossific matter in its centre, andthe chordæ tendineæ attached to the same segment similar

patches, situated a little way from their insertion into thevalve. The tricuspid valve was much thickened, havingfibrous deposits on the edges. The cavities were all dilated,and filled with coagulated blood, the blood in some parts beingdeprived of its colouring matter. The stomach, liver, spleen,and other organs appeared healthy, but the mesenteric glands ,were enlarged.

Thinking the child might have had rheumatism at someperiod, I made particular inquiries of the parents, to know ifsuch had been the case. However, they informed me that the-child for the last two years had not complained of any painseither of the head, limbs, or chest, or the least uneasiness oranxiety about the region of the heart; but previous to thatperiod he had been attended for some chest affection, and had11 blister applied; so that during life nothing short of examiningthe chest attentively for that important sound, friction, wouldlead us to infer such an amount of mischief was going on.The above case, from the post-mortem appearances, would’

very much resemble that insidious form of pericarditis first soably described by Dr. Hughes, where, from the absence of pain,in the prascordia, and the presence of delirium and sensorialaffection, we might diagnose the case as one of head affection,..did we not pay attention to the friction-sound.

Albert-street, Regent’s-park, 1856.

Medical Societies.MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22ND, 1856.DR. CHOWNE, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR.

SUDDEN DEATH; HEART DISEASE.

MR. ROGERS HARRISON mentioned the case of a gentlc-man,seventy-five years of age, who had been subject to dyspepsia,.and who died suddenly in bed, without any premonitorysymptoms except a slight pain, which the patient referred tohis old complaint of the stomach. After death, the onlyappearances worthy of observation were in the heart. The leftventricle presented at its apex interiorly a cartilaginous, cup--like cavity, and the upper part also exhibited a kind of carti-laginous infiltration. The valves were healthy, but consider-able deposits of bony-like matter were visible throughout theascending and descending aorta, and one of the patches hadulcerated. In the left ventricle was a polypus-like substance,perfectly unconnected with the substance of the heart. The.’pericardium was somewhat inflamed, and contained about anounce of fluid. The case appeared remarkable from the per-fectly fluid condition and bright colour of the blood, the greatflexibility of the mus:;les, and the absence of any sufficientdisease to account for so sudden a death.Some of the members examined the heart, and found that it

was in a state of fatty degeneration, and flabby, so that itcould not resist the effects of any sudden over-distension.

CROUP; FIBRINOUS CLOTS IN THE HEART.

Mr. HENRY SMITH exhibited the larynx and trachea of achild who had died from croup. The organs were lined with,false membrane. There wts a fibrinous clot in the heart, butthis he regarded as a result of the process of dying, and not thecause of death; but he had not examined the heart with a viewto determine the presence of such a clot during the lifetime at-the patient.

Dr. ROUTH read a paperON FAECAL FERMENTATION IN SOLUTION OR SUSPENSION IN.

WATER.

After passing an eulogium on Dr. Snow for his zeal in the pur--suit of this branch of inquiry, Dr. Routh stated that waterunder some circumstances emitted an unusual quantity ofoxygen. In some cases this was due to animalculæ, in othersto plants. In choleraic periods, from the large quantity ofanimal life present, it was evident that it contained an excessof oxygen, although research on this point had been entirelyomitted. How far this undue development was connected with.the chemical ravs of light. he did not know- Emanations were