Post-Mortem.—Gastro-intestinal mucous membrane inflamed, with gangrenous patches. Genito-urinary tract inflamed. Acute nephritis.
Treatment.—An emetic of apomorphine; demulcent drinks, such as barley-water, white of egg and water, linseed-tea and gruel (but not oils), with a hypodermic injection of morphine to allay pain.
Tests.—The vomited matter often contains shining particles of the powder. The urine will probably be albuminous.
XLVI.—ABORTIFACIENTS
Emmenagogues are remedies which have the property of exciting the catamenial flow; ecbolics, or abortives, are drugs which excite contraction of the uterus, and are supposed to have the power of expelling its contents. The vegetable substances commonly reputed to be abortives are ergot, savin, aloes (Hierapicra), digitalis, colocynth, pennyroyal, and nutmeg; but there is no evidence to show that any drug possesses this property. Lead in some parts of the country is a popular abortifacient. A medicine may be an emmenagogue without being an ecbolic. Permanganate of potassium and binoxide of manganese are valuable remedies for amenorrhœa, but will not produce abortion. The vegetable substances frequently used as abortives are savin and ergot.
Savin (Juniperus Sabina).—Leaves and tops of the plant yield an acrid oil having poisonous properties, and which has even produced death.
Symptoms.—Those of irritant poisons. Purging not always present, but tenesmus and strangury.
Post-Mortem Appearances.—Acute inflammation of alimentary canal. Green powder found. This, washed and dried and then rubbed, gives odour of savin.
Test.—A watery solution of savin strikes deep green with perchloride of iron, and if an infusion of the twigs has been taken the twigs may be detected with the microscope. The twigs obtained from the stomach, dried and rubbed between the finger and thumb, will give the odour of savin.