Treatise on Poisons by Sir Robert Christison
11. Unascertained 22
771 words | Chapter 46
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Total 543
In France, in seven years, from 1825 to 1831, inclusive, there were 216
trials for poisoning, at which 273 persons were charged with the crime,
and only 102 condemned. In 94 cases occurring between November 1825 and
October 1832, the substances employed were as follows.[138]
Arsenic 54
Orpiment 1
Verdigris 7
Corrosive sublimate 5
Fly-powder 3
Tartar-emetic 1
Sulphate of zinc 1
Acetate of lead 1
Cerusse 1
Mercurial ointment 1
Cantharide
Nux-vomica 4
Opium 1
Sulphuric acid 1
Nitric acid 1
Unascertained 5
In the subsequent seven years there were 218 trials, and 153 prisoners
condemned. Among 194 of these the following were the poisons used.[139]
Metallic arsenic 5
Arsenious acid 132
Arsenite of copper 1
Compounds of copper 13
Corrosive sublimate 10
Artificial orpiment 3
Sulphate of zinc 1
Tartar-emetic 1
Cerusse 1
Sulphuric acid 5
Nitric acid 2
Muriatic acid 1
Hydrocyanic acid 1
Ammonia 1
Belladonna 1
Opium 3
Morphia 1
Nux-vomica 1
Cantharides 10
In Denmark, in five years ending with 1835, there were 99 cases of
poisoning of all sorts, 16 by arsenic, 74 by sulphuric or nitric acid, 4
by potash, 1 by an unascertained caustic substance, 2 by opium, 1 by
litharge, and 1 by copper. Only 5 cases, namely, 3 by arsenic and 2 by
sulphuric acid, were cases of murder, or attempt to murder.[140]
The classification of poisons has hitherto defied the ingenuity of
toxicologists. Formerly it was thought sufficient to arrange them in
three great classes, according as they are derived from the mineral, the
vegetable, or the animal kingdom. It is evident, however, that the only
sound basis of arrangement is their action on the animal economy; for
such a classification is the only one which can be useful in practice.
Now, when we consider what has been said on their mode of action, or the
symptoms produced in consequence of that action, it must at once be
perceived, that no system founded on either of these circumstances can
be logically correct. It would be very desirable, if their mode of
action could be adopted as the basis of arrangement; but both reasoning
and experience have proved this to be impracticable. One very distinct
class indeed might be formed of purely local poisons, comprehending the
mineral acids, the fixed alkalies, and one or two of their chemical
compounds. But a vast proportion of the other poisons which act locally
have also a general or remote action; and on the other hand there are
few of the latter description which do not likewise act locally. Hence
if all which possess this double action were arranged in one class, that
class would include nine-tenths at least of known poisons; so that, in
truth, the labour of classification would still remain to be overcome.
It would be even more fruitless to attempt an arrangement of poisons
according to their medium of action; for no sure criterion is known, by
which a poison acting through direct transmission of an impulse along
the nerves can be distinguished from one that acts by entering the
blood.
Neither is the embarrassment of the toxicologist materially less, if he
attempts to classify poisons according to the symptoms they induce in
man. This is the principle now generally followed, and which in common
with others I shall pursue. But the reader will be at no loss to
discover that the partitions which separate the classes are exceedingly
slight, and that very many poisons might be arranged without impropriety
in either of two classes.
The preceding statements show the impossibility of founding a good
system of arrangement on the only basis which can be acknowledged
philosophical and practical; and consequently, that, as the science of
toxicology now stands, we must altogether despair of forming one that
shall be even moderately satisfactory.
On the whole I see no reason for deviating from the classification
adopted in the first edition of the present work, being a modification
of that previously followed by Professor Orfila. In this classification
poisons are divided into irritants, narcotics, and narcotic-acrids.
The class of irritants includes all poisons whose sole or predominating
symptoms are those of irritation or inflammation; the narcotics those
which produce stupor, delirium, spasms, paralysis, and other affections
of the brain and nervous system; and the narcotico-acrids those which
cause sometimes irritation, sometimes narcotism, sometimes both
together. Some writers still adopt a fourth class, called septics,
because they give rise to putrefaction in the living body. But modern
physiology will scarcely sanction the continuance of such a class of
poisons. For assuredly no substance can cause putrefaction in the living
body.
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