ns unaffected. Death often sudden.

_Post-Mortem Appearances._--Venous congestion, engorgement of brain and
membranes.

_Treatment._--Emetics, stimulants freely. Best antidote is sulphate of
atropine, 1/50 grain hypodermically, and also strychnine. Digitalis also
useful. Warmth to whole body. Patient to make no exertion.

_Fatal Dose._--Of root or tincture, 1 drachm.

_Fatal Period._--Average, less than four hours.

_Method of Extraction from the Stomach, etc._--Extraction from contents
of stomach by Stas-Otto process. It may be found in the urine; gives
usual alkaloidal reactions, but no distinctive chemical test known.

_Tests._--Chiefly physiological; tingling and numbness when applied to
tongue or inner surface of cheek. Effects on mice, etc. A cadaveric
alkaloid or ptomaine has been found in the body, possessing many of the
actions of aconitine. The presence of this substance was suggested in
the Lamson trial.

The Indian aconite, _Aconitum ferox_, the Bish poison, is much more
active than the European variety. It contains a large proportion of
pseudaconitine, and is frequently employed in India, not only for the
destruction of wild beasts, but for criminal purposes.

=Aconitine= varies much in activity according to its mode of preparation
and the source from which it is derived. The most active kind is
probably made from _A. ferox_.

XLIII.--DIGITALIS

All parts of the plant _Digitalis purpurea_ (purple foxglove) are
poisonous. Contains the glucoside digitalin and other active principles.

_Symptoms._--Nausea, vomiting, purging, and abdominal pains. Vomited
matter grass-green in colour. Headache, giddiness, and loss of sight;
pupils dilated, insensitive; pulse weak, remarkably slow and irregular;
cold sweat. Salivation occasionally, or syncope and stupor. Death
sometimes quite suddenly.

_Post-Mortem Appearances._--Congested condition of brain and membranes;
inflammation of gastric mucous membrane.

_Treatment._--Emetics freely; infusions containing tannin, as coffee,
tea, oak-bark, galls, etc. Stimulants. Hypodermic injection of 1/120
grain of aconitine.

_Method of Extraction from the Stomach, etc._--Use Stas-Otto process.

_Tests for Digitalin._--A white substance, sparingly soluble in water,
not changed by nitric acid; turns yellow, changing to green, with
hydrochloric acid. The minutest trace of digitalin moistened with
sulphuric and treated with bromine vapour gives a rose colour, t