"Very different accounts have been given of the poisonous operation of hemlock, and apparently upon equal authority. The effects usually observed have been disorder of vision, dilated pupil, difficulty of speech, tremors, paralysis, delirium or stupor, and finally coma, convulsions, and death. in cases quoted by Orfila, delirium and stupor were the prominent symptoms; while, in a well-authenticated instance reported by Dr. J. H. Bennett, of Edinburgh, there was no stupor until shortly before death. The effects, in Dr. Bennett's case, were successively a staggering gait as if from intoxication, complete paralysis of the upper and lower extremities, and loss of vision and of speech, with only slight occasional twitchings of one of the legs. The palsy of the limbs was complete two hours after the poison was taken, and death occurred in three hours and a quarter. (Ed. Med. and Surg. Journ., July, 1845.) That a paralyzing influence over the voluntary muscles, and ultimately over the respiratory system, with death from asphyxia, are the ordinary effects of poisonous doses of conium, are also inferrible from the experiments of Dr. Christison on the lower animals, both with the extract of conium, and the active principle conia. He ob-served paralysis of the voluntary muscles with occasional slight convulsions, then paralysis of the respiratory muscles, and finally death from asphyxia, the heart continuing to contract long after respiration had ceased. Sensation did not seem to have been impaired. Opposed to these results, however, are the observations of Mr. Judd, who, in experiments on cats, found that even doses not large enough to be poisonous caused great languor and drowsiness, and often profound sleep for two or three hours; the muscular excitability being lessened, and the circulation and general temperature reduced.*

The appearances observed after death have been general venous congestion, a dark and fluid state of the blood, and a softened condition of the brain.

The remedies for poisoning are to evacuate the stomach, and subsequently to support the strength by stimulants; artificial respiration being resorted to, should the breathing have ceased. A case is recorded by Dr. Alderson, in which general paralysis was induced by an over-dose, with relaxation of the sphincters, which continued for nearly an hour, and gradually gave way under stimulation; the patient remaining the whole time perfectly sensible. (Alderson, quoted by Pereira, Mat. Med., 3d ed., p. 1728.)