The glucosides, when fairly pure, are easily recognised; they are destitute of nitrogen, neutral in reaction, and split up into sugar and other compounds when submitted to the action of saponifying agents, such as boiling with dilute mineral acids.
DIVISION III.--CERTAIN POISONOUS ANHYDRIDES OF THE ORGANIC ACIDS.
It is probable that this class will in a few years be extended, for several other organic anitrogenous poisons exist, which, when better known, will most likely prove to be anhydrides.
DIVISION IV.--VARIOUS VEGETABLE POISONOUS PRINCIPLES NOT ADMITTING OF CLASSIFICATION UNDER THE PREVIOUS THREE DIVISIONS.
Ergot, picrotoxin, the poison of _Illicium religiosum_, cicutoxin, _Æthusa cynapium_, _Œnanthe crocata_, croton oil, savin oil, the toxalbumins of castor oil and _Abrus_.
The above division groups together various miscellaneous toxic principles, none of which can at present be satisfactorily classified.
E.--POISONS DERIVED FROM LIVING OR DEAD ANIMAL SUBSTANCES.
DIVISION I.--POISONS SECRETED BY THE LIVING.
1. Poisonous amphibia. 2. Poison of the scorpion. 3. Poisonous fish. 4. Poisonous insects--spiders, wasps, bees, beetles, &c. 5. Snake poison.
DIVISION II.--POISONS FORMED IN DEAD ANIMAL MATTERS.
1. Ptomaines. 2. Poisoning by putrid or changed foods--sausage poisoning.
DIVISION I.--PRECIPITATED FROM A HYDROCHLORIC ACID SOLUTION BY HYDRIC SULPHIDE--PRECIPITATE, YELLOW OR ORANGE.
DIVISION II.--PRECIPITATED BY HYDRIC SULPHIDE IN HYDROCHLORIC ACID SOLUTION--BLACK.
DIVISION III.--PRECIPITATED FROM A NEUTRAL SOLUTION BY HYDRIC SULPHIDE.
DIVISION IV.--PRECIPITATED BY AMMONIA SULPHIDE.
§ 20. The number of deaths from poison (whether accidental, suicidal, or homicidal), as compared with other forms of violent, as well as natural deaths, possesses no small interest; and this is more especially true when the statistics are studied in a comparative manner, and town be compared with town, country with country.
The greater the development of commercial industries (especially those necessitating the use or manufacture of powerful chemical agencies), the more likely are accidents from poisons to occur. It may also be stated, further, that the higher the mental development of a nation, the more likely are its homicides to be caused by subtle poison--its suicides by the euthanasia of chloral, morphine, or hemlock.