throughout their whole progress. This character is the least invariable
of them all; for many poisons cause very different symptoms towards the
close from those which they cause at the beginning. Arsenic may induce
at first inflammation of the alimentary canal, and afterwards palsy or
epilepsy; nux-vomica may excite at first violent tetanus, and afterwards
inflammation of the stomach and bowels; and corrosive sublimate, after
exciting in the first instance inflammation, may prove eventually fatal
by inducing excessive ptyalism. In truth, certain changes of this kind
in the nature of the symptoms will, in special cases, afford strong
presumption, perhaps absolute proof, not only of general poisoning, but
even also of the particular poison given. The reason for mentioning so
uncertain a character as uniformity in the nature of the symptoms among
their characteristics will appear presently.—[pp. 47 & 50.]