The grey ipecacuanha, the root of the callicoca ipecacuanha separated from the meditullium, and treated in the same way, afforded,

1

To complete the plan proposed by Messrs. Pelletier and Majendie, they instituted a number of physiological experiments with the several products; as no very striking properties could be attributed to the gum, starch, wax and ligneous matter, they confined their inquiries to the fatty matter and the emetine, which we shall give in the language of the authors.

"The fatty matter imparts an odour and flavour similar, but much stronger than the ipecacuanha in substance. Hence, it might be inferred, that its action on the stomach would be analogous, but this conjecture is not confirmed by experience. Pretty large doses were given to several animals, but no sensible effects were produced; we likewise swallowed several grains in repeated doses, but were sensible only of a disagreeable nauseous smell and taste, which was momentary. M. Caventou, who kindly assisted in these experiments, took six grains at a dose and did not experience more perceptible effects.

"Very different results were obtained with the Emetine: half a grain given to a cat excited considerable and long continued vomitings followed by deep coma, from which the animal did not recover for some hours.

"This experiment was repeated on several other cats and several dogs, with nearly similar doses of the emetine; the results were similar, that is, there was always vomiting in the first place, then coma, after which the animal was restored to perfect health in a longer or shorter period."

The authors repeated these experiments on themselves and with similar results.

Since this period the emetine has been administered as an emetic to several patients; all experienced the effects usually obtained from ipecacuanha, without being disgusted with the disagreeable smell and taste of ipecacuanha; for the emetine is devoid of smell, and the taste is only slightly bitter.

Messrs. Pelletier and Majendie did not confine their inquiries to the foregoing experiments, they wished to ascertain whether the emetine administered in larger doses would induce any inconvenience.

For this purpose 12 grains of emetine were given to a small dog, about two years old; at the end of half an hour the vomiting came on, and continued for a long time. The animal became comatose, but instead of reviving as in the animals mentioned above, it died the following night about 15 hours after the emetine had been administered.

On examining the body the next day, it appeared that the animal had died of a violent inflammation of the substance of the lungs, and of the mucous membrane of the intestinal tube extending from the cardia to the anus.*

The experiment repeated on several other animals, with only six grains of the emetine, afforded similar results. The same occurred in several dogs, in whom the emetine, dissolved in a small quantity of water, was injected into the jugular veins, within the pleura and anus, or introduced into the substance of the muscles; in all, the results were similar; first, long continued vomiting, consequent coma, and death within twenty-four or thirty hours after the experiment. On opening the body, inflammation of the lungs and mucous membrane of the alimentary canal.

These experiments show that the emetine cannot be administered in large doses with impunity; and that the practitioners who consider it as indifferent whether the ipecacuanha is taken in large or small doses, are under a mistake; for its action is not limited to the excitement of vomiting, as is generally supposed.

*These appearances are similar to those observed from poisoning by emetics. See Majendie's Memoir on Emetics.

The authors likewise remark, that the action of the emetine on the lungs and the intestinal tube, justifies the practice of exhibiting ipecacuanha in small and reiterated doses in defluxions from the lungs, in chronic catarrhs, long continued diarrhoeas, &c. From this practice, in several persons affected with these disorders, they have established, that the emetine administered in regulated doses, was attended with more certain and constant effects than the ipecacuanha, and they give many cases in confirmation.

The experiments repeated with the emetine obtained from different kinds of ipecacuanha, produced the same effects, which demonstrates that this product is identically the same in all, and that it ought to be considered as a constituent of these plants.

From the results obtained by Messrs. Pelletier and Majendie they conclude; 1st. that there exists in common ipecacuanha, whose analysis has been given, a particular substance which they term emetine, to which these plants owe all their medicinal properties; 2d. that this substance is emetic, and exerts a peculiar action on the lungs and the mucous membrane of the intestinal tube, and proves likewise narcotic; 3d. that the emetine may be substituted for ipecacuanha in all cases when this article is employed, with this advantage; that in definite doses it has constantly the same effects, which is not strictly the case with the ipecacuanha of the shops, and that its being devoid of taste and smell gives it a decided preference when employed as a medicine.

MEDICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Account of the fatal Accident which happened in the Leadhills Company's Mines, the 1st March, 1817. By MR. JAMES BRAID, Surgeon, Leadhills.

[From the London Medical and Surgical Journal, for October, 1817.] ON 1st March last, I was sent for, about seven o'clock A.M., to try if any thing could be done for a number of men, who were found in the Leadhills Company's mines, who appeared to be suffocated.

On the 30th December, 1816, a young man, who kept a fireengine nearly 600 feet below the surface, was found dead, and the air where he was not to be at all agreeable: the usual modes of resuscitation were tried, but without any good effects.

On the 24th of February, 1817, there were several men very severely affected from the bad state of the air, but by giving them gentle laxatives, and keeping them quiet, they got pretty well again in the course of a few days.

On the 1st of March, none of the men had got to bank when I arrived, except a few who had been down only a very short time, and returned upon finding the air so bad. By and by, a number of those who had been down for a short time, at 25 fathoms, were brought up, and most of them quite furious. Some were disposed to fight; others, supposing every one they saw disposed to lay hands on them, made efforts, under the most extreme terror, to escape; others, quite listless, appeared to take no notice of what was going on around them. Some were singing, and some praying. Many were as if intoxicated with ardent spirits: those who had seen them in that state assured me their actions were very much the same.

Many of them vomited, and others had the inclination, but could not do so. Some evacuated the contents of the rectum,

and others had the desire without effect. The pulse was different-in some remarkably quick and feeble; in others slow, feeble, and irregular. Most complained of insufferable headach, which was somewhat relieved after vomiting. To those who had a desire to vomit without effect, I gave an emetic of sulphate of zinc; and to those troubled with tenesmus, a laxative glyster: both were followed by an alteration of symptoms.

In the course of two or three hours from the time they were brought to bank, the pulse was greatly accelerated, and hard. I prescribed a brisk purgative, after the operation of which they found themselves greatly relieved; and, by enjoining a cooling regimen, most of them got pretty well, in the course of a few days, without any other medicines. Upon inquiring of the men how it affected them, they said they first felt a difficulty of breathing, and had frequent involuntary deep inspirations then a violent pain and beating in the head, with ringing of the ears-the inferior extremities became weak, and very painful immediately above the knees, and they could with difficulty support the body-the heart palpitated violentlygreat anxiety, and in some followed by vomiting. They now became giddy, and lost all recollection, and were, as has been remarked, affected as if they had taken a large dose of ardent spirits.

There were four men, however, at 25 fathoms, who were irrecoverably lost through their own imprudence of going to work at irregular hours. Though six o'clock A. M. was the proper hour, two had gone before four, and other two a little after, in order that they might get out so much sooner. Such practices are not sanctioned by the masters. When they came to the bad air, they had thought to force their way through it, expecting it would be better below; but it had soon produced its deleterious effects upon them, so as to make them unable, either to go further, or to retrace their steps; and then, unable to support themselves, they had fallen, and remained amongst the bad air till assistance came too late. Animation must have been gone two or three hours before they were brought to bank, for they had been down not less than four hours. Had they not gone till the regular shift, when the air was found to be so bad, they would not have proceeded so far; and, if one