You state in your book, and you tell me that when death does not take place suddenly in a fit of spasms, the person continues to be affected for twelve or fourteen hours, with small or milder paroxysms. Is that a statement which, according to your subsequent knowledge, is correct?—I have known the effects cease in a shorter time.
You state on page 903, after mentioning a case where the body was rigid, “the state of rigidity, however, does not invariably occur; on the contrary, in animals the limbs become very flaccid immediately after death, but the usual rigidity supervenes at an early period.” I presume the rigidity of which you speak is the rigidity of death, rigor-mortis?—Yes.
You have a note—“I have not altered the statement as to this point in a former edition, yet I strongly suspect that authors who describe the spasms which produce death, and continue the rigidity after death, must be inaccurate.” Is that your present opinion?—I think it is very likely, the interval being very short, that the attention may not have been attracted to the fact of there having been an interval of flaccidity. There have been some cases mentioned, very strong indications certainly, of the spasm having continued from the spasm of life to what we call spasm of death; but I still think the differences which are indicated in different cases may be explained on the supposition that there has been a want of minute and accurate attention.
Now, you mention a case on page 906, where a boy, when he was touched, was immediately thrown into a fit. Is it your present impression that, in cases of poisoning by strychnia, there is a tendency to throw the patient into a fit when touched?—That is the only case. In animals it is very remarkable; it is not noticed in the generality of cases. I have been struck with the fact that it has not more often been noted. Dr. Watson’s book mentions one. It is not that the absence of it is noted, but that it is not mentioned at all. I have invariably observed it in animals, unless you touch them very gently indeed.
R. Christison
You stated that care was taken in administering strychnia to animals to administer it to them fasting. Do you think it not likely it would supervene more quickly if administered to an empty stomach?—Certainly.
If resinous substances were used in a pill, would they not be found in the stomach on analysis afterwards?—No; if they were not acted upon they might pass into the intestines and be carried off.
Then the strychnia would be discharged with them, would it not?—Certainly, or gradually acted upon with the resinous substances.
I suppose if the resinous substances prevented the poison acting rapidly, it would prevent its absorption into the blood?—For a time.
If so, the more likely to leave portions of it in the stomach or intestines as the case may be?—The more likely.