about the remarkable effect produced by large doses of this
terrible alkaloid. This effect can be described technically so as
to be intelligible, but no description can convey, even
approximately, the terrible sensation produced in many insane
patients by large doses. In a general way, it is the condition of
paralysis of the body without the corresponding paralysis of the
mind."

"And it's this stuff that somebody has been putting into her
tonic?" I asked, startled. "Do you suppose that is part of Burr's
system, or did Miss Giles lighten her work by putting it into the
tonic?"

Kennedy did not betray his suspicion, but went on describing the
drug which was having such a serious effect on Mrs. Cranston.

"The victim lies in an absolutely helpless condition sometimes
with his muscles so completely paralyzed that he cannot so much as
move a finger, cannot close his lips or move his tongue to moisten
them. This feeling of helplessness is usually followed by
unconsciousness and then by a period of depression. The combined
feeling of helplessness and depression is absolutely unlike any
other feeling imaginable, if I may judge from the accounts of
those who have experienced it. Other sensations, such as pain, may
be judged, in a measure, by comparison with other painful
sensations, but the sensation produced by hyoscyamin in large
doses seems to have no basis for comparison. There is no kindred
feeling. Practically every institution for the insane used it a
few years ago for controlling patients, but now better methods
have been devised."