Chapter I: Preface: To the Fourth Edition

The author regrets that circumstances beyond his control have delayed the re-appearance of the present work beyond the period at which it was called for by the favourable reception of the last edition. He has endeavoured to take advantage of the numerous investigations which have been carried on during the interval into the several departments of Toxicology in the leading countries of Europe; and has in consequence been led to enlarge the work materially.

He trusts it may be allowed him to express his satisfaction at finding, that the rapid progress made by Toxicological science during the last eight years, while it has been productive of many important additions to our knowledge, has nevertheless not rendered any important alterations necessary either in the general principles formerly laid down in this work, or in what had been there stated as well ascertained general facts.

EDINBURGH COLLEGE,
_November, 1844_.

CONTENTS.

PART FIRST.—OF GENERAL POISONING.

PAGE

CHAP. I. Of the Physiological Action of Poisons 9

SECTION 1. Of their Mode of Action 9

Of the Discovery of Poisons in the Blood 21

SECTION 2. Of the Causes which modify their Action 27

Application of the preceding observations to the
Treatment of Poisoning 36

CHAP. II. Of the Evidence of General Poisoning 39

SECTION 1. Of the Evidence from Symptoms 42

Characters of the Symptoms of Poisoning 42

Characters of the Symptoms of Natural Disease 46

SECTION 2. Of the Evidence from Morbid Appearances 51

SECTION 3. Of the Evidence from Chemical Analysis 54

Causes which remove Poisons beyond the reach of
analysis 55

Chemical Evidence not always indispensable to the
proof of Poisoning 59

SECTION 4. Evidence from Experiments on Animals 62

With suspected articles of food or drink 63

With vomited matter or contents of the stomach 67

With the flesh of poisoned animals 69