(

the fecond Year. So that it is much the better have frefti Roots every Yean I am with the gteateft RefpetT-,

Way to

GENfLBMEN,
cheifia, Feb.

fQm m(gi

Obedient Afociate,

Philip Miller.
yiL A
T, Madden, M. T>. of Dublin, to Cromwell Mortimer, M. T>. $. Seer. giVing an Account of two Women QJ. being poifoned by the S i m p l e Distilled
Letter from

Water, of Laurel-Leaves,
federal Experiments upon

and of
it

Dogs

by

which
is

ap-

pears that
the mofi
kpoipn-

^/VLaurel-Water

one of
hitherto

Dangerous Poisons

S I

Very extraordinary Accident that fell out here fome Months ago, has difcovered to us a moft dangerous Poifon, which was never before known to fee fo, though it has been in frequent Ufe among us. The Thing I mean is a Simple Water, diftilled from the Leaves of the Lauro-c era/us. Tie Water is at
tint

f J )

Milky Colour, but the Oil which comes over it, being in a good Meafure feparated the Phlegm, by paffing it through a Flannel-Bag,, from
fir# of a

the

Helm with

as clear as common Water. has the Smell of the bitter Almond, or Peach** Kernel, and has been for many Years in frequent life among our Houfe wives and Cooks, to give that agreeable Flavour to their Creams and Puddings- It has aifo been much in life among our Drinkers of Drams ; andthe Proportion they generally ufe it in, has been one Part of Laurel-Water to four of Brandy. Nor hasthis Praftice (however frequent) ever been attended with any apparent ill Conlequences, till feme Time in the Month of Sept emberr 1718, when it happened that one Martha Boyfe* a Servant, who lived with a Per fon that fold great Quantities af this Water* got a Bottle of it from her Miftrefs* and ga.ve it to her Mother Anne Boy as a very rich Cordial. fe Anne Boyfe made a Prefent of it to Frances Eaton her Sifter, who was a Shopkeeper in the Town, and who, (he thought, might oblige her Cuftomers with it. Accordingly in a few Days fhe gave about two Ounces
it

becomes
It

otthe Water to a Woman called Mary Whaley % who had bought fome Goods of her. Alary Whaley drank about two Thirds of- what was filled out, and went away. Frances.Eaton&tank Mary Whaley- went to another Shop to buy the reft. fomewhat elfe, and in about a quarter of an Hour after fhe had drank the Water (as I am informed) (he complained of a violent Diforder in her Stomaqh. Shr was carried Home^ and from that Time lib Jp'tt her

26

Speech, anOied in about an Hour, without Vomiting, or Purging, or any Convulfion. The Shopkeeper, Francis Eaton, feat Word to her Sifter Ann Boyfe of what had happened, who came to her upon the Meflage, and affirmed^ that It was not poffible the Cordial (as fhe called it jf could have occafioned the Death of the Woman ; and to convince her of it, (he filled out about three Spoonfuls, and drank it* She continued talking with Francis Eaton about two Minutes longer, and was To earned to perfuade her of the Liquor's being inoffenfrve, that (he filled out two Spoonfuls raore^ and drank it off likewife. She

was hardly well

feated in her Chair,

when

(he died,

without the leafif Groan otonvulfton Frances Eaton, wh> f as was before obferved, had drank fomewhat above~a Spoonful, found no Difbrder In her Stomach, or elfewhere ; but to prevent any ill Confequence, fh.e took a Vomit immediately, and has been well ever fince. Mary Whaley was buried without being examined by any one, that I can find, <exeept the Coroner. I went to fee Ann Boyfe about Twenty-four Hours after her Death, but could not prevail to have her openShe was about fixty Year? old ; her Countenance ed. and Skin appeared well coloured, arid her Features were hardly altered, fo that *ihe looked as one afleep. Her Belly was not fwelled, nor had fhe any other external Mark of Poifon. This Accident brought into Difcourfe another of the like Nature which happened about four Years A young Gentlefince in the Town of Kilkenny\ Evans* an Alderman of the man, Son to Mr.

Town*

%7

Town,

miftook. a Bottle of this

Laurel-Water

for a

What Quantity he drank is unBottle of Pttfan. certain, but he died in a few Minutes, complaining of
This Affair was a violent Diforder in his Stomach. not much regarded at that Time, becaufe he laboured
under a Diftemper, to which, or to an improper Ufe of Remedies, his Death was attributed by thofe about him. To fatisfy myfelf farther as to the Effefts of this Poifon, I made feme Experiments, in Conjun&ion with a few of my Friends, an Account of which follows.
I.

Oftoher 3, 1718,

We

gave a large Setting- Dog

three Ounces of Laurel-PFater by the Mouth. In three Minutes after he had taken it, he began to be ftrongly

His Convulfions continued about five Minutes ; after which I untied him. He then fell into a moft violent Difficulty of Breathing, which lafted about eight Minutes, and abated gradually, upon which he endeavoured to raife himfelf, but could
convulfed.
not.
I tied him down once again, and gave him an Ounce and an half more, upon which he funk at once, and without any Return of his Convulfions, or Difficulty of Breathing, he expired in two Minutes. Upon opening the Stomach, I found in it the whole Quantity of Water which he had taken j its Surface was covered with Froth, but it was not other-

wife

altered

in

its

Colour,
vifible

Confidence,
at all

or

Smell.

The

Infide of the

Stomach was not

inflamed,

nor was
Fillofa.

there

any

Alteration in the Tunica

The

88

)
all

The

Veins of the Stomach,

the Mefaraich Veins,

and likewife the Vena Cava % were much diftended with Blood \ the Arteries^ on the contrary, were remarkably empty. -The Liver and Gall-Bladder were no Way altered. The Kidneys were unufually full of Blood, and appeared of a bluifh Colour, almoft as deep as that of the Violet Plumb. Upon making an Incifion into one of the Kidney r the Blood flowed in much greater Plenty, and was more fluid than ufual. In the Heart there appeared nothing preternatural. The Brain was no way altered. II Oftoler 24, We gave an Ounce and an half of She was the fame Water to a Bitch of afmallerSize. immediately let loofe, and in two Minutes (he loft the Ufe of her Limbs. She attempted feveral Times to raife herfeif, and walk, but (he daggered and reeled about, and then fell down. She repeated this without ceafing about five or fix Minutes. At laft (he was violently convulfed, efpecially in the Mufcles that extend the Head and Spine. About the Space of a Minute (he had that Sort of Convulfion called the Opift"hot onos , the Back of her Head being drawn almofl: to her

9aiL
After this (he vomited plentifully, and her Convulfions ceafed. She then lay ftill for feven or eight Mi*
nutes, labouring for Breath (though not fo violently
as in

We

Mouth. gave her an Ounce more of the Watery upon which

the former Cafe) and foaming at the

her Difficulty of breathing encreafed, and (he died in two Minutes.

Upon

8? )

Upon opening the Abdomen^ the fhorax and the Heady we found every thing in the fame State as in the
former Inftance. HI. OBober 2,?, We gave two Ounces of the Water to a Dog of the fame Size with the former, which produced the like Appearances as in the foregoing Cafe. This Dog was dying half an Hour ; for the Dofe was not repeated, becaufe he did not vomit up what he had taken. Upon opening him, we found every thing in the fame State as in the former Inftance. IV. OBober 26, We gave two Drams and an half of the Water to a Dog of a middle Size, and immeHe then ran about the Room ve diately untied him. xy briskly for about a Minute, and feemed to be no Way affe&ed with it ; yet he foon loft the Ufe of his Limbs. He often attempted to raife himfelf, and walk, but ftill fell down again before he had moved two Yards

from the Place. After this he vomited plentifully, confidering that he had fafted 24 Hours, upon which he was feized with a Convulfion more violent than any of the former
Dogs, efpecially in the Mufcles that extend the Head and Spine. Thefe Convulfions continued about eight or ten Minutes ; upon their ceafing, he lay ftill, breath* ing deeply, though regularly, and feemed to be afleep. In about ten Minutes he railed himfelf, took fome We left Food, and walked about tolerably well. found him him, and returning after three Hours, we
perfectly recovered.

V. OBober x8, We inje&ed an Ounce of the Wa* ter into the Intejinum reBum of a ftrong Spaniel Dog, and let him loofe. In the Space of two Mi% nutes

(
to lofe the

Ufe of his Limbs, and to flagflutes he began ger as the others had done. He was convulfed more vioany of the reft, and chiefly in the Mufcles The Mufcles of his Eyes of the Neck and Spine. were flrongiy convulfed, which Appearance was not He foamed at the Mouth, obferved in the other Dogs. yelled frequently, and breathed with more Difficulty than any of the refL His Convulfions continued twenty Minutes ; upon their ceaflng he lay quiet, as though he fiept, only that his Eyes were open. His Limbs were now grown perfectly paralytick. We raifed him up feveral Times, and offered to fet him on his Leg?, but he did not attempt to ufe them. He continued in this Way about fifteen Minutes longer, and then was feized with another violent Convulfion, which in five Minutes put an End to his Life. Upon opening the Abdomen* we found the Veins of the Stomach and Guts very much diftended with
lently than

Blood,

as in all the

former Inftances.

In the Hearty

Lungs and Brain*

there was no vifible Alteration.

VI. Otfober 30, We inje&ed an Ounce and an half of the PFater, diluted with three Ounces of common Water warmed, into the Anus of a fmall Bitch. Before we could untie her fhe was feized with ConvulShe fell as foon as fhe was fions, and yelled much. loofed, and never after endeavoured to rife. She had Convulfions, and great Difficulty of Breathing about two Minutes. She then lay fti]l 5 with her Limbs ftifif and extended, about three Minutes; during which Time her lower Jaw was convulfed, and pulled alternately to and from the upper Jaw, with a very quick Morion.

After

(?'

After this her Limbs became paraly tick, aftd (Kc gafp. ed for Breath about two Minutes longer. She was quite dead in feven or eight Minutes from the Injeftion of the
Clyfter.

In the Abdomen, Thorax and Brain every thing appeared as ufual. injeted half an Ounce of VII. November z,

We

Water^ diluted with three Ounces of common Water warmed, into the Anus of a fmall Bitch. In the Space of four Minutes fhe began to breathe with
the

We let her loofe, but {he was not able to walk without {tumbling. The Mufcles that extend the Head were convulfed, and her Fore-legs were affe&ed for three or four Minutes with a Tetanus* but had no convulfive Motion. She vomited and purged plentifully. She did not yell, nor feem to fuffer much Pain, nor did fhe lofe her Senfes all the Time. In
Difficulty.

fland, or

half an
VIII.

Hour

{he recovered.

The

next Day,

we

Water

into the external

injefted a Drachm of the Jugular of the fame Bitch.

as violent as the for*

She was feized with Convul lions

five

mer, before we could untie her. They 1 ailed about Minutes; after which (he recovered gradually, and continued well. IX. 'November 10, Weinjefted four Ounces of the Water by the Anus, without any Dilution, into a ftrong Dog of a middling Size. He was feized with Convulsions and Difficulty of Breathing, in lefs than two

Minutes

after the Injection.

He

fell to

the

Ground

as

ibon as his Convulfions began, and never once attempted to rife ; nor were his Convulfions in any Sort fo violent, neither did they continue fo long as in the for-

me*

9*

mer
fuls.

Iriftances.

The

bled at the Nofe about four Spoon* Blood was of a very bright florid Colour,
;

He

His ConvuKions lafted about four Minutes he became entirely paralytick, and died
nutes more.

after

which

in three

Mi-

We

found the Stomach, Intejitnesy Liver, &c. in

the fame State as thofe above-mentioned. Upon cutting about an Inch from the lower Part of one of the Lobes of the Lungs, the Blood flowed from it in great

Plenty, and appeared more florid and fluid than ufual,

Ounces of Laureh the Size and of the Italian Greyhound. He feemed at firft Shape to be no Way affe&ed with itf but in about five Minutes he began to droop, and lofe the Ufe of his Limbs. He did not once yell, or ftruggle as the others had done, but funk gradually, till he became at laft He had not any Convulfion, exentirely paralytica kind of Spafmus Cjwicus, a few Minutes before cept a he died, which happened in half an Hour after the

X. Decemb.

14,

We gave

five

Water by

Clyfter to a

Dog fomewhat of

Injeftion of the Clyfter. Upon opening the Abdomen,

we

much

diftended with Blood,

as

found the Veins were alfo the Veins

and Sinufes of the Brain.

XI. December 19, We gave three Ounces of the Water in the fame Manner to a Cur of the Lap-dog He died in feven Minutes, without any Con* Size, vulfion, except a tetanus in the Mufcles that extend
the

Head* The LawoCerafus being an Evergreen, and aboun*

with a

dins;

warm

effential Oil,

we

imagined that other

liver*

Ever-greens

) ( might partake of the

fame poifonous

Trial of a Water diftilled in an Alembic k from the Leaves of the Te'W^free, fomuch talked of by the Ancients, and whofe very Shade they

Quality. Accordingly

we made

fuppofed to be fatal to thofe

it.

who

fate or flept

under

XII.
leaft

We gave

three Ounces of this

Water by Cly*
not in the

fter to a very fmall

Cur Dog, but he was

it,

afFe&ed with

by the Mouth, two Ounces of from the Leaves of the Bay+free* a Water* to a young Spaniel,, without any EfFet XI V We afterwards made an Experiment with the diftilled Water of ox~ Leaves, which had a very We inje&ed five Ounces of ftrong Narcotich Smell. this Water\ by the Anus* into a fmall Gur Dog, but he was no Way affe&ed with it, though we kept him. twelve Hours after the Operation. XV. Being defirous to know whether the Virulency of Laurel- Water was owing to the Fire in Diftilla* tion, we poured warm Water upon fome Laurel* Leaves bruifed, and made a ftrong Infufionof them. We poured an Ounce of it down a Dog's Throat, hjilf of which was fuppofed to enter the Stomach, and five Minutes after another Ounce was given in like Manner, The Dog feemed to be fomewhat fick at his Stomach, but was foon as lively as ever. A few Minutes after this another Ounce was given to him by the Mouth, of which we fuppofe a fourth Part to have been loft. He foon after flared, and trembled very much. In five Minutes another Ounce was exhibited, upon which
XIII.
alfo gave,
diftilled
#

We

he

94

he trembled as before, but in a little Time he appeared eafy and lively. Imagining thatthefe (mail Quantities loft their Power, during the Intervals of giving them, in ten Minutes after his taking the former Dofe, we poured down his Throat two Ounces and a half at once. He immediately tumbled on his Back convulfed, and tumbled over three or four times, but quickly returned to his Feet, He ftaggered, his Eyes flared, and he fate down like Af length he (hut his Eyes, his a Dog that is tired. became extended, and we apprehended he was Neck falling into Convulfions ; but inftead thereof he vomited a vaft Quantity of indigefted Chyle, in which appeared a great Portion of the Infufion ; after which he
feemed
ro be perfetly recovered.

In about twenty-five Minutes after this we gave the fame Dog by the Mouth two Ounces of the and*in about Juice exprefled from Laurel-Leaves,
ten Minutes more another Ounce was given him in the fame Manner. In a few Minutes he began to lofe
the

XVL

Ufe of

his hinder Legs, but

he quickly recovered

them.

Upon

his taking another

Ounce foon

after the

former, he and yelled much.

fell into a great

Difficulty of Breathing,

After this he was feized with very

ftrong Convulfions,

which

affeSted his lower

Jaw and

hinder Legs moft remarkably. In about the Space of five Minutes thefe Convulfions were fucceeded by an entire Refolution of all the
flowly.

breathed with great Difficulty, and very Appearance of Expiration. Sometimes we obferved two Attempts at Infpiration without InAt other or doling of the Mouth. termiffion,

Limbs.

He

No

mes

91

times there was near the Space of a Minute between

two

Inspirations.

After this he was feized with a Trembling in his Limbs, and in about three Quarters of an Hour from

Ounce, he died without any StrugTail extended. ling, with his There were feveral other Experiments made of the fame Kind f by fome Gentlemen of the Profeflion here, which correfponded exactly with the foregoing, excepting this one Circumftance, that they were of Opinion, that this Poifonoccafioned an Inflammation in the Stomach and Guts. Towards clearing; this Difpute, We, who thought ctherwife, put together the following Hints, from which it appears that the Fad is not as they imagined, and that notwithftanding we find, upon an Animal's
his taking the laft

being killed by this Poifon, the Veins greatly diftended with Blood, yet there is not any Inflammation pro.

duced by it. I do not know any thing that will illuftrate this Matter better, than the Analogy which may be obferved between the Convulfions occafioned by the Epilepfy, and thofe which are the Effefli: of Laurel*

Water.
For Inftance,
in the Epilepfy, the

Body

is

univer*

verfally convqlfed, efpecially the Mufcles of the Neck, aw, and thofe of the Arms. the Tongue, the lower

The Effeft of thefe

Convulfions

is

this

The Heart

beats with unufual Violence and Frequency, the ne* ceffary Confequence of which is, that the Blood will be thrown in greater Plenty from the Arteries into the But becaufe the Mufcles do coraprefs the Veins Veins. more

5>*

more than the Arteries (whofe Syftole does enable them to overcome that PrefTure) therefore the Blood, which is ftill puftied forward by the Syftole of the Heart into theVeins, will be retained there by the aforefaid Preffure

of the Mufcles, and will return in a very

fmall Quantity to the Heart. For Example, the Abdominal Mufcles being con%r ulfed,prcfs the Stomach'and Intejlines upon tiitVena Ca^a afcendens* and likewife upon the Vena Ports \ by which Means the Blood, returning from the lower
Extremiti&s, as retained in thofeVeffels. Accordingly we fee the vifible and immediate Effe&s of this Prefc
fure are the forcing out the Excrements of the

Blad*

der and Intejlines\ and very frequently the ProjlwoU

am Seminis.
In like Manner the Preffure of the Mufcles of the upon the Jugular Neck, fongue, and lower Veins and their Branches, will not fuffer the Blood to return to the Heart by the Vena Cava defcendens.

J aw

of the Diaphragm and Ribs upon the Lungs> by which Means the Trunks of the Vena Cava afcendens and defcendens are com* preffedat their Infertion into the Heart. Hence follows that frightful Blacknefs of the Face during the Paroxyfm, and the prodigious Swelling of theVeins of the Head, efpeciatly the Temporal.

To this we may add the Preffure

The

neceffary Confequence of all this muftbe^ that if

lafts

long enough the Man muft die, on Account of the Blood being thrown out of the Arteries into the Veins, and not returning to the Heart. And I make no Queftion, that if fuch a Perfon was opened after Death, we fliould find the Vena Cava f the Vena Porttf r
the ConvuMIon

97

Port #3 the Veins and Sinufesof the Bram, together with all their fmalleft Ramifications, very much diftended with Blood, and the Arteries on the contrary
almoft empty. But if the Epiieptick Convulfion ceafes before the Circulation of the Blood is entirely flopped, then all becomes calm again, the Preffure is taken off the Veins, the Blood returns to its ufual Courfe, and in a few Hours the fick Perfon is perfe&ly recovered. And yet all this violent Convulfion of the Body, this prodigious Diftenfion of the Veins, and Interception of

the Courfe of the Blood pafles without any Inflammation, as appears from the fpeedy Recovery of the fick Perfon : For if the Convulfion had dtcafioned an Inflam-

would

mation, a Fever muft neceffarily have enfued, which difcover itfelf by manifeft Tokens, and would re-

quire a

much longer Time for its Abatement. Let us now obferye the Analogy between thefe Apby LaurehWdter.
Ounce, or even two
that an

pearances, and thofe produced

We find by Experiment,

Drachms and a half of LawehWater. will occafion more violent Convuifions than three Ounces, or even five of it. Exp. 4, $ to ii. If therefore an Inflammation was the neceffary Confequence of this Water being taken into the Stvmachox Guts% the more violent the Convulfion

the greater the Inflammation ought to be. On the contrary we find, that the more violent theConis,

vulfion

is,

the greater
is

is

the Probability that the Creato 7.

ture will recover.

Exp. 4

And when itfo falls out,

exaftly the fame as in the Recovery of an Epiieptick Perfon. In a few Minutes the Creature be-

the

Manner

comes

as brisk as if no

fuch Thing had happened.

Now

p8

Now if an Inflammation was at all the neceffary Confequenceof thisPoifon, though the Creature recovers^ yet there muft be fome Inflammation, greater or lefs, pro* duced, which muft occafion more violent and lafting Symptoms. But fince none fuch appear, fince the Recovery is fo fudden and effe&ual, it is the ftrongeft and plaineft Argument, that there is not any Inflammation produced* If the Laurel- prater is adminiftred to the Quantity of an Ounce or more, the Creature unavoidably dies in a few Minutes, and upon opening him the Appearances are rhefe. Both the Trunks of the Vena Cava, and all the Ramifications of the Meferatck Veins are greatly diftended with Blood. Thefe Veflels are eafily diftinguiftied from the Arteries, not only by the Thinnefs of their Coats, but alfo by the Colour which the Blood exhiNow I conceive that all Inflammatibits to the Eye. ons have their Beginning in the Arteries, and that they are produced, becaufe there is no free Paffage for the Blood into the Veins- But if once this Paffage becomes free (as in this Cafe it furely is, for we find all the Veins diftended with Blood beyond their natural Dimenfions) the Inflammation is then at an End, the Caufe which produced it being taken off. Moreover, the Fad: laid down, that the Veins are pre* ternaturally diftended with Blood, does neceffarily con* elude, that the Arteries are not diftended with it, and confequently that there cannot be any Inflammationfor if the Quantity of Blood is encreafed in the Veins, it muft be proportionably diminifhed in the Arteries. To what has been faid, we may add the following Obfervationj viz. that if there was any Inflammation produced by this Poifon, it ought to appear moft remarkable

99

markabte on the Infide of the Stomach and Intefiines^ becaufe of the immediate Contat it has with thofe
Parts.

Aii other Poifons which occafion Inflammations in firft operate upon the BloodVeffels, and corrode the Parts inflamed. They occafion Vomitings and Fluxes of Blood, which at length terminate in Convulfions. One may very eafily be deceived upon opening the Stomach of a Dog, and may miftake the Rednefs of the funk a Fillofa for an Inflammation. The inner Coat of a Dog's Stomach is naturally of a ruddy Flefh-colour, and therefore of all domeftick Animals a Dog has the^quickeft and ftrongeft DigeftiAccordingly we fee, that they fwallow Bones, on. and digeft them perfectly well ; and although they are but half chewed when taken into the Stomach, yet they are at laft reduced to as foft a Confidence as any other Part of their Aliment. It is for this Reafon therefore, that the Stomachs of Dogs are more plentifully fupplied with Blood than thofe of other Animals % by which Means not only the mufcular Force of the Stomach, but its Warmth alfo, which is the principal Inftrumentof Digeftion, is very much increafed. N.B. The ijth and t6th Experiments were communicated to me by Dr. Stephens, a Fellow of our College of Phyficians. 1 am,
the Stomach and Guts, do

SIR,
J>ublm> April
*9* *73i.

Tour moj Humble Servant ,

T.

Madden

lOt)

That "whereas there were feveral other Expert* ments made at the fame time by other Gentlemen* as Dr. Madden mentions* which agreed with thefe* fame Perfons who were prefettt at themfropofedfe* veral things to be tried as Antidotes to this Poifon ; accordingly Bole, Vinegar and Milk were given to a Dog which had /wallowedfo me of the Laurel-Wa* ter the Bole and Vinegar were not obferved to do much good* but the Dog which drank the Milk recovered without any bad Symptoms 5 but at that Dijlanceof fime the Do&or could not recoiled the Proportions that were given : He thinks a Pint of Milk. The Publifher hath triedfeveral Experiments in EiTex and in London, which correfpond with* and confirm the above-related* and will be communicated to the Publickinfome other Tranfa&ion.
:
-

J?,

John Rutty of Dublin, informed- the Publifher*

FINIS.

ERRATA.
PA Martin
G. 7*.
r#
1. 2.
3

from the Bottom, dele

Spirits in the.
1.

81

1.

7. for Tr.

as likewife

N 408. p. 39.

3.