On poisoning by nicotina, with remarks / by Alfred S. Taylor.

  • Taylor, Alfred Swaine, 1806-1880.
Date:
[cbetween 1800 and 1899?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On poisoning by nicotina, with remarks / by Alfred S. Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    crepitant under pressure, and discoloured by putrefaction. When tliis was pierced by a knife, gas escaped, followed by a discharge of dark fluid blood from the areolar tissue in which it had been effused. The mucous membrane lining the lips and mouth, was not excoriated. On dividing the scalp, dark liquid blood was found effused to a very unusual and remark- able extent, through the structures covering the cranium. On opening the head, the meningeal vessels and those of the brain generally were turgid with black fluid blood. The substance of the brain was healthy, of a darker colour than usual, and the cortical portion presented a green-grey tint. On slicing the brain, few or no bloody points were observed. The ven- tricles contained a few drachms of serous fluid. In the chest, the lungs were found filling the pleural cavities, highly crepi- tant, and presenting on section a remarkable engorgement with black blood, resembling iii colour and appearance black currant jelly. The heart was somewhat small, of a fawn colour and very flabby. The cavities were empty, with the exception of the left auricle, which contained about two drachms of blood, resembling in colour and fluidity that found throughout the body. The stomach was distended with gas, and externally it did not present any unnatural appearance. It contained a small quantity of chocolate-coloured fluid of a treacly consistency. When this was removed, the whole of the mucous membrane presented a dark crimson-red colour, as if stained with black currant-jelly. There was the most intense congestion of the whole of the capillary vessels, but there was no abrasion, corrosion, or destruction of the coats. These were not softened: they had their usual tenacity and strength. The deep crimson colour of the mucous membrane was especially marked at the cardiac end of the stomach. No odour resembling nicotina or tobacco could be perceived on opening the cavities of the body, and the stomach and its con- tents had merely the smell arising from incipient putrefaction. The liver and lungs were almost purple-black from the amount of congestion in their capillary structure. The blood was liquid, but in some parts thickened to the consistency of treacle—the fibrin appeared to be broken up aud destroyed. Its colour was peculiar, resembling that of black currant juice. The stomach aud contents, with the blood and other portions