,,transcriber',s ,,notes3 --,obvious print and punctuation errors were corrected4 --,the subscript numbers1 used in chemical formulae1 have been rendered as ,h#b,,so#d4 ,,reports ,,of ,,trials ,,for ,,murder ,,by ,,poisoning4 ,,reports ,,of ,,trials ,,for ,,murder ,,by ,,poisoning2 ,,by ,,prussic ,,acid1 ,,strychnia1 ,,antimony1 ,,arsenic1 ,,and ,,aconitia4 ,,including ,,the ,,trials ,,of ,,tawell1 ,w4 ,,palmer1 ,,dove1 ,,madeline ,,smith1 ,,dr4 ,,pritchard1 ,,smethurst1 ,,and ,,dr4 ,,lamson1 ,,with ,,chemical ,,introduction ,,and ,,notes ,,on ,,the ,,poisons ,,used4 ,,by ,g4 ,,lathom ,,browne1 ,,of ,,the ,,midland ,,circuit1 ,,barrister-,,at-,,law1 ,,author ,,of 8,,narratives ,,of ,,state ,,trials ,,in ,,the #ai,,th ,,century10 ,,and ,c4 ,g4 ,,stewart1 ,,senior ,,assistant ,,in ,,the ,,laboratory ,,of ,,st4 ,,thomas',s ,,hospital2 ,,associate ,,of ,,the ,,royal ,,college ,,of ,,science1 ,,dublin2 ,,and ,,of ,,the ,,society ,,of ,,public ,,analysts4 ,,london3 ,,stevens ,,and ,,sons1 #aai1 ,,chancery ,,lane1 ,law ,publishers and ,booksellers4 #ahhc4 ,,london3 ,,bradbury1 ,,agnew1 ,,co41 ,,printers1 ,,whitefriars4 ,,prefaces4 ,,this volume of selected reports of the most remarkable trials for murder by poisoning1 which have been held during the past half century1 with essays and notes explanatory of the nature1 and operation1 and methods of detecting the various poisons supposed to have been employed1 will it is hoped prove useful to the medical1 as well as the legal profession4 ,with this object the evidence of the medical and chemical witnesses has been given in detail1 especially in those cases in which a conflict of scientific testimony arose1 between experts of the highest professional character and reputation4 ,care has also been taken to state the scientific nomenclature of this class of witness correctly1 a point on which the shorthand writers1 otherwise so reliable1 are naturally liable to fail1 catching as they do only the sounds of a language unknown to them1 in reporting which the error even in a single letter is often most important4 ,my colleague1 besides furnishing the latest information obtainable with reference to the various poisons1 has offered from recent experiments1 made specially for this purpose1 explanations of those points in the several trials about which the rival experts disputed1 bringing to bear on them the latest discoveries in chemical science4 ,in preparing these reports1 ,i have followed the form adopted by the late ,mr4 ,townsend1 the ,recorder of ,macclesfield1 in his valuable volumes of trials--now ,i believe quite out of print--grouping the witnesses under the heads of the case to which their evidence specially applied1 dividing the scientific from the moral testimony1 and wherever a conflict arose between the experts called for the prosecution and those for the defence1 giving the evidence of the latter immediately after that of the former1 so as to place the points at issue more clearly before the reader4 ,it would have been impossible1 within reasonable limits1 to have reported in detail the elaborate speeches of counsel 7most of them models of argument1 criticism1 and eloquence71 or the minute and exhaustive charges of many of the presiding judges4 ,the abstracts which have been given will1 however1 serve to perpetuate the most important and notable parts of both4 ,in some of the cases the immediate application of these either to certain points in the evidence1 or to the arguments adduced on either side1 has been shown by quotations in the notes4 ,with these exceptions1 and a few notes pointing out errors or discrepancies in the evidence1 ,i have generally forborne to express an opinion on the verdict1 preferring to present such reports of the evidence as may enable the student to form his own conclusions4 ,with the progress of chemical science the field of the poisoner is constantly extending4 ,new poisons are yearly discovered1 each succeeding one apparently more difficult of detection than the former4 ,death lurks in many unsuspected forms1 and but for the parallel march of the science of detection1 the poisoner would more often escape4 ,a grave danger to society1 too1 lies in the patent medicines1 so popular and so perilous2 in the vermin killers1 loaded with deadly poison1 which can be bought without let or hindrance by any one2 and the use of preparations for animals--not so deleterious to the latter1 as they are death-dealing--if either intentionally or by accident given to a human being4 ,stringent as the regulations of the ,poisons ,act appear on paper1 the facility with which ,lamson purchased aconitia1 merely on the credit of his name appearing in the ,medical ,directory1 and the really unrestricted sale of patent medicines and vermin-killers1 mark the practical inutility of the ,act4 ,a new ,act1 dealing with these points1 has been promised by the ,government1 but there seems little probability of its passing this session4 ,g4 ,l4 ,b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,in the compilation of these chemical notes it has been found very difficult to be sufficiently simple and complete in explanation for non-scientific readers1 without either sacrificing many important details1 or exceeding the limited space available4 ,i have attempted as far as possible not only to solve the questions that arose in the trials1 but to look forward to many that might occur in future cases4 ,no claim is laid to originality except in a few experiments2 but the search through existing authorities has involved so much labour1 that ,i must plead a very limited leisure as an excuse for any incompleteness4 ,in such portions as touched on medicine ,i have been guided by the later text-books1 and by living advice4 ,it has been thought preferable to give references in the text1 at the very passage quoted1 instead of in foot-notes4 ,with regard to the proposed new ,poisons ,act one or two considerations should not be forgotten4 ,there are hundreds of ways of taking life3 the poisoner's is only one4 ,even in his method the number of fatal agents he may use is almost unlimited4 ,to make a schedule of certain poisons that are not to be sold without restriction1 seems like prohibiting knives1 while allowing stilettos--the latter are certainly less usual1 but quite as fatal4 ,moreover1 the ,act of #ahfh only affects one channel by which poisons may reach the public--viz41 through the retail chemists4 ,it secures a record of ordinary shop purchases1 and thus facilitates the tracing of crime4 ,but the channels of trade are still open3 hundred-weights of arsenic are obtained1 where ounces could not be purchased2 and these large stocks are often carelessly kept1 and left open to servants1 workmen1 or even children4 ,the result is that the supposed restrictions on obtaining poisons are almost illusory3 these substances are sown broadcast among ignorant people1 and are placed in cupboards unlabelled among articles of food4 ,the following are recent illustrations3-- 8,at ,corkley1 ,wilts1 the wife of a labourer used1 instead of baking-powder1 a packet of arsenic1 intended by her husband as medicine for his horses4 ,the husband and wife died40--,weekly ,dispatch1 ,may #f1 #ahhc4 8,at ,whitchurch1 a farmer was accused of poisoning a large number of cattle and other animals with arsenic4 ,in #ahha he had obtained several pounds of it from ,liverpool1 stating that he wanted it to destroy vermin40--,evening ,standard1 ,june #b1 #ahhc4 ,in the schedule of the #ahfh ,act1 among the less dangerous poisons1 to be obtained without restriction beyond proper labelling1 appears1 8,almonds1 ,essential ,oil of 7unless deprived of prussic acid740 ,yet this preparation is one of the most perilous1 as has been shown by numbers of deaths1 and lately by the ,west ,malling case 7not yet ripe enough for reporting74 ,there are also other faults in the schedule4 ,remembering1 then1 that legislation on the sale of poisons is utterly unable to prevent poisoning1 that all it can do is to make the means a little difficult1 and the detection more easy1 how can we approve the proposal at this moment made1 to tack on a few1 very tentative clauses to an unsuccessful ,act1 and four more names to a very defective schedule8 ,why insert chloride of antimony1 and omit nitrate of silver1 sulphate of copper1 and chloride of tin8 ,the essence of a 8poison0 is quantity2 and no ,act which does not specify the maximum quantity that may be sold1 can be effective4 ,beyond this1 why should it be more criminal to sell a dangerous substance to a poisoner than to give it to him1 or by culpable negligence to allow him to take possession of it8 ,if such neglect were made punishable1 if people who left arsenic1 c41 about in cupboards without precaution1 had to suffer for the consequences1 we should hear less of such 8accidents40 ,i am deeply indebted to ,dr4 ,bernays1 ,professor of ,chemistry at ,st4 ,thomas's ,hospital1 for kind advice and facilities of consultation and experiment2 to ,doctors ,harley1 ,ord1 ,acland1 and to my namesake1 ,mr4 ,charles ,stewart1 ,f4,l4,s41 for many valuable suggestions2 and especially to ,mr4 ,e4 ,g4 ,clayton1 ,f4,c4,s41 who contributed the main part of the chapter on ,aconitia1 and helped me materially in other portions of the chemical notes4 ,the main authorities drawn upon have been3-- ,taylor's ,medical ,jurisprudence1 #ahgc4 ,taylor on ,poisons4 ,woodman and ,tidy's ,handy-,book of ,forensic ,medicine and ,toxicology1 #ahgg4 ,blyth's ,manual of ,practical ,chemistry1 #ahgi4 ,guy and ,ferrier's ,forensic ,medicine1 #ahha4 ,allen's ,commercial ,organic ,analysis1 #ahgi4 ,royle's ,materia ,medica1 edited by ,dr4 ,j4 ,harley1 #ahgf4 ,christison on ,poisons1 #ahbi4 ,fresenius' ,qual4 and ,quant4 ,analysis4 ,watt's ,dictionary of ,chemistry4 ,chemical ,society's ,journal4 ,chemical ,news1 ,lancet1 c4 ,farquharson's ,therapeutics4 ,mohr's ,toxicologie1 trans4 by ,gautier1 #ahgf4 ,casper's ,handbook of ,forensic ,medicine1 trans4 by ,balfour1 #ahfa-e4 ,beilstein's ,organische ,chemie1 #ahhb4 ,year ,book of ,pharmacy4 ,british and other ,pharmacopias4 ,squire's ,companion4 ,in conclusion1 it has been obviously impossible in the limited space to explain elementary facts or principles4 ,these may be ascertained from any of the standard textbooks4 ,c4 ,g4 ,s4 ,,contents4 ,,page ,,prefaces v ,,addenda3 ,,differences ,,between ,,strychnia ,,and ,,morphia xv 0 ,,process ,,for ,,obtaining ,,pure ,,chlorine xvi ,,chapter ,i4 ,,chemical ,,introduction4 ,summary of symptoms exhibited by various poisons3 7#a7 ,sudden death--7#b7 ,insensibility--7#c7 ,vomiting--7#d7 ,action on the eye--7#e7 ,convulsions--7#f7 ,chronic poisoning4 ,alkaloids1 chemically and physiologically--,processes for their detection--,necessity for keeping the extracts separate--,dragendorff's process--,dr4 ,guy's sublimation process--,effects on animals--,doubtful value of this test--,preparation and effects of reagents3 7#a7 ,mayer's--7#b7 ,potassium tri-iodide--7#c7 ,sonnenschein's test--7#d7 ,bismuth--7#e7 ,phosphotungstic acid--7#f7 ,picric acid--7#g7 ,animal charcoal--7#h7 ,platinic chloride--7#i7 ,tannin or ,tannic acid--7#aj7 ,phospho-antimonic acid--7#aa7 ,silico-tungstic acid--7#ab7 ,auric1 palladium and mercuric chlorides--,ptomaines or cadaveric alkaloids2 difficulties raised by their discovery--,principles to be observed in analysing #a ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,trials ,,for ,,poisoning ,,by ,,prussic ,,acid #af 7#a7 ,john ,tawell 7,slough ,case71 ,march1 #ahej4 7#b7 ,george ,ball 7,lewes ,case71 ,july1 #ahfj4 7#c7 ,peter ,walker 7,egglesham ,case71 ,dec41 #aheg4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,hydrocyanic ,,or ,,prussic ,,acid4 ,nature of--,strength of different preparations of1 ,english and foreign--,where found--,tests1 preliminary3 7#a7 ,odour--7#b7 ,silver--7#c7 ,prussian blue--7#d7 ,sulphur--7#e7 ,guaiacum--7#f7 ,uranium--7#g7 ,picric acid--7#h7 ,cupric sulphate--7#i7 ,cobalt chloride--7#aj7 ,mercuric oxide--7#aa7 ,peroxide of hydrogen--7#ab7 ,mercurous nitrate4 ,test apparatus--,salts of hydrocyanic acid3 7#a7 ,potassium cyanide--7#b7 ,mercuric cyanide--7#c7 ,cyanides of the heavy metals--7#d7 ,double cyanides--7#e7 ,sulphocyanides--,oil of bitter almonds--,antidotes--,fatal dose--,symptoms--,post-mortem appearances--,drops and minims--,period after death at which hydrocyanic acid can be discovered--,formic acid to be tested for--,processes #ee ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,trials ,,for ,,poisoning ,,by ,,strychnia #hd 7#a7 ,william ,palmer 7,rugeley ,case71 ,may1 #ahef4 7#b7 ,william ,dove 7,leeds ,case71 ,july1 #ahef4 7#c7 ,silas ,barlow 7,vauxhall ,case71 ,november1 #ahgf4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,strychnia ,,and ,,brucia4 ,contained in ,st4 ,ignatius's bean--,false ,angostura bark--,nux ,vomica1 c4--,properties of strychnia--,facility of detection4 ,tests3 7#a7 ,microscope--7#b7 ,taste--7#c7 ,color test2 ditto in other alkaloids1 in bile1 and in resinous and saccharine matters--7#d7 ,physiological test 7,marshall ,hall7--7#e7 ,bichromate of potash--7#f7 ,picric acid--7#g7 ,sulphuric acid and sodium nitrite--7#h7 ,mercuric chloride4 ,preparations of strychnia3 ,vermin killers--,battle's1 ,gibson's1 ,miller's1 ,marsden's1 ,barber's1 ,hunter's1 ,keating's--,brucia--,igasuria--,igasuri c acid4 ,doses of strychnia3 medicinal1 fatal1 recovery--,nux vomica4 ,fatal period for strychnia--,symptoms in man1 commencement of symptoms1 if given in powder1 in solution1 in pills4 ,explanation of symptoms3 by hysteria1 tetanus1 epilepsy1 gritty granules on spinal cord--,angina pectoris4 ,post-mortem appearances--,treatment--,antidotes--,dr 4 ,taylor's evidence--,ptomaine--,did ,cook die from morphia8--,granular preparations at ,st4 ,thomas's ,hospital #bgf ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,trials ,,for ,,poisoning ,,by ,,arsenic #bid 7#a7 ,madeline ,smith 7,glasgow ,case71 ,june1 #aheg4 7#b7 ,ann ,merritt 7,clapton ,case71 ,march1 #ahej4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,arsenic4 ,the element 7arsenicum7--,the oxide 7white arsenic7--,arsenicum--,arsenicum trioxide4 ,forms of3 7#a7 ,crystalline--7#b7 ,amorphous--,solubility4 ,uses and occurrences3 7#a7 ,steeping1 wheat--7#b7 ,preservation of skins--7#c7 ,antiseptics--7#d7 ,glass making--7#e7 ,fur in boilers--7#f7 ,candles--7#g7 ,preservation of wood--7#h7 ,sheep washes--7#i7 ,scheele's green and emerald green as pigments in sweets 7case of ,franklin and ,randall71 wall papers1 toys1 c4--7#aj7 ,medicinal--7#aa7 ,for horses--7#ab7 ,tooth-stopping--7#ac7 ,aniline dyes--7#ad7 ,fireworks--7#ae7 ,rat and fly poisons 7case of ,maria ,gage7--7#af7 ,for cleansing metals--7#ag7 ,arsenic eaters--7#ah7 ,cosmetics--7#ai7 ,for bronzing metals--7#bj7 ,beer brewed from glucose--7#ba7 ,american paper collars--7#bb7 ,speculum metal--7#bc7 ,inhalation for asthma and bronchitis--7#bd7 ,mineral waters4 ,sulphides of ,arsenic3 7#a7 ,orpiment 7case of ,m4 ,a4 ,burdock7--7#b7 ,realgar4 ,arsenic acid--,the arsenates--,arsenic trichloride--,arseniuretted hydrogen--,methods of extraction--,tests--,modifications of old processes suggested--,marsh's test1 distinction of results in arsenic and antimony--,reinsch's test--,doses--,antidotes--,physiological effects--,remarks--,did ,l',angelier commit suicide8 #cgc ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,trials ,,for ,,poisoning ,,by ,,antimony #cig 7#a7 ,dr4 ,pritchard 7,glasgow ,case71 ,july1 #ahfe4 7#b7 ,dr4 ,smethurst 7,richmond ,case71 ,august1 #ahei4 7#c7 ,thos4 ,winslow 7,liverpool ,case71 ,august1 #ahfj4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,antimony4 ,properties of the metal--,alloys--,compounds--,chlorides1 sulphides1 oxides1 hydride4 ,tartar emetic--solubility1 composition1 uses and occurrence--commercial1 veterinary1 medicinal4 ,doses and preparations--fatal dose1 fatal period4 ,physiological effects--,antidotes--,separations and tests--7#a7 ,reinsch's--,presence of antimony2 purity of the copper employed1 how to be secured2 different stains resulting from presence of arsenic1 antimony1 mercury1 bismuth1 tin1 silver1 gold1 platinum1 palladium1 sulphur compounds--7#b7 ,dr4 ,maclagan's test in ,pritchard's trial--7#c7 ,marsh's test--,remarks on ,pritchard's trial--,on ,smethurst's trial--,dr4 ,taylor and ,mr4 ,herapath--,arsenic in bismuth--,antimony in grey powder #dij ,,chapter ,x4 ,,trials ,,for ,,poisoning ,,by ,,aconitia ,,or ,,aconitine #ead 7#a7 ,mc,conkey--,dublin4 7#b7 ,g4 ,h4 ,lamson 7,wimbledon ,case71 ,december1 #ahha4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,aconite1 ,,and ,,aconitia1 ,,or ,,aconitine4 ,plants3 ,aconitum napellus--,a4 ferox4 ,alkaloids3 aconitia--,pseudaconitia--other bases--,decompositions--,proportions in the plants4 ,commercial aconitia--,german aconitia--,english aconitia4 ,separation--,tests1 chemical and physiological4 ,history--,preparations1 official and non-official4 ,physiological effects--,causes of death--,post-mortem appearances--,treatment and antidotes--,remarks #efh ,,index #ehc ,,addenda4 ,a4 ,,the following is my own experience of the differences between strychnia and morphia4--,c4 ,g4 ,s4 ---------------------------------------- ---- ,,morphia4 ,,strychnia4 ---------------------------------------- ---- ,concent4 ,h#b,,so#d--;cold4 ,if pure1 nothing at ,if pure1 nothing4 first4 ,some yellowbrown4 0 0 warmed4,violet1 not strong4 ,do4 ,to this warmed solution add3-- ---------------------------------------- ---- ,mn,o#b4 ,red1 changing slowly ,deep blue purple to brown1 then --tored purple-- orange4 ,on dilution1cherryred--finally yellowbrown4 7changes slow74 ,on dilution1 rich orange red4 ---------------------------------------- ---- ,k#f;,cfy#b4 ,violet1 changing to ,same changes1 but orange2 not strong4 more rapid and ,on dilution1 at once less distinct4 ,on destroyed to dilution1 at once greenishyellow destroyed to solution1 turning greenishyellow blue4 solution4 ---------------------------------------- ---- ,k#b;,cr#b,o#g4 ,redbrown1 ,same as with orangebrown1 ,mn,o#b1 but more green4 evanescent and ,on dilution1 rapid in change4 green4 ,on dilution1 at once removed to yellowishbrown4 ---------------------------------------- ---- ,,hno#c concent4 ,intense brownish ,in the cold1 red1 changing nothing if pure4 to brown-- bleached ,on warming1 by ,sn,cl#b4 orangeyellow --then ,sn,cl#b brown changing with excess to yellow4 ---------------------------------------- ---- ,b4 ,the chlorine used in the separation of arsenic 7p4 #che7 must be pure4 ,the best process for making it is to heat pure potass4 dichromate with pure hydrochloric acid4 ,the latter may be obtained by heating the 8pure0 acid of commerce in a retort until a portion of the distillate gives no indication of arsenic by the tests4 ,the remainder in the retort is then arsenic-free4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,erratum4 ,page #cig1 line #aa1 for 8,waislow10 read1 8,winslow40 ,,trials ,,for ,,poisoning4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,chemical ,,introduction4 ,summary of symptoms exhibited by various poisons3 7#a7 ,sudden death--7#b7 ,insensibility--7#c7 ,vomiting--7#d7 ,action on the eye--7#e7 ,convulsions--7#f7 ,chronic poisoning4 ,alkaloids1 chemically and physiologically--,processes for their detection--,necessity for keeping the extracts separate--,dragendorff's process--,dr4 ,guy's sublimation process--,effects on animals--,doubtful value of this test--,preparation and effects of reagents3 7#a7 ,mayer's--7#b7 ,potassium tri-iodide--7#c7 ,sonnenschein's test--7#d7 ,bismuth--7#e7 ,phosphotungstic acid--7#f7 ,picric acid--7#g7 ,animal charcoal--7#h7 ,platinic chloride--7#i7 ,tannin or tannic acid--7#aj7 ,phospho-antimonic acid--7#aa7 ,silico-tungstic acid--7#aa7 ,auric1 palladium and mercuric chlorides--,ptomaines or cadaveric alkaloids2 difficulties raised by their discovery--,principles to be observed in analysing4 ,,before proceeding to a separate examination of the poisons used in the following trials1 it will be advisable to take a general view of poisons1 specially noticing those that we have selected as the most important legally4 ,they do not admit1 perhaps1 of accurate classification1 but inasmuch as the manner of death and symptoms are usually the most available indication as to the nature of the poison that has acted1 the following arrangement will be serviceable4 ,the heads indicate the most prominent symptom3 ,i4 ,,sudden ,,death4--,large quantities of any poison might be rapid in fatal result1 but the sudden poisons proper are3--concentrated sulphuric1 nitric1 and hydrochloric acids2 poisonous gases and vapours1 such as carbonic acid and sulphuretted hydrogen 7see ,casper's ,forensic ,medicine1 ,case ,,ccxli471 carbonic oxide1 arseniuretted and antimoniuretted hydrogen1 and certain rare organic compounds1 as kakodyl1 c42 strychnia sometimes1 oxalic acid in large doses1 chloroform under certain circumstances4 ,but beyond all others1 the quickest of poisons is hydrocyanic or prussic acid4 ,,ii4 ,,insensibility1 generally following nervous excitement4 ,morphia and opium2 henbane 7,hyoscyamus72 stramonium2 belladonna2 nicotine 7tobacco72 darnel 7lolium temulentum72 hemlock 7,conium maculatum72 water hemlock 7nanthe crocata72 fool's parsley 7thusa cynapium71 ,dr4 ,j4 ,harley shows that this is not so poisonous as believed3 see ,st4 ,thomas's ,hospital ,reports1 x4 #be2 ,indian hemp 7,cannabis indica72 ,woody ,nightshade 7,solanum dulcamara72 ,solanum nigrum2 the berries of ,potato 7,solanum tuberosum72 ,lobelia inflata3 ,foxglove 7,digitalis72 cocculus indicus2 certain fungi 7notably ,amanita muscaria72 chloroform2 chloral2 butylchloral --8croton chloral073 amylene2 methylene dichloride2 sulphuretted hydrogen2 carbonic oxide2 and many other substances usually classed as narcotics4 ,,iii4 ,,vomiting4--,irritant poisons1 such as acids1 alkalies1 alkaline salts in considerable doses 7even common salt has proved fatal3 see ,christison#a72 most soluble compounds of the heavy metals 7especially antimony1 arsenic1 zinc1 and copper72 certain vegetal alkaloids 7from colchicum1 laburnum1 yew1 savin1 ipecacuanha1 capsicum1 pepper1 ergot1 many species of ,ranunculace1 the ,hellebores1 and some fungi72 cantharides1 turpentine1 and essential oils1 c4 ,pain in the digestive organs1 purging1 and general inflammation are commonly present4 ,most of the medicinal purgatives will produce sickness and vomiting if given in overdoses2 of course unwholesome food or disease may frequently be the cause4 ,,iv4 ,,action ,,on ,,the ,,eye4--,opium and morphia1 calabar bean1 aconite 7871 and strychnia1 contract the pupil3 belladonna1 henbane1 tobacco1 stramonium1 digitalis and hemlock1 dilate the pupil4 ,the effect is often temporary1 and sometimes is reversed after a time4 ,it is a valuable indication in after-experiments on animals4 ,v4 ,,convulsions4--,strychnia1 brucia1 and some fungi3 but this symptom is by no means confined to these1 and may even result as tetanus1 from disease or irritants 7see ,trial of ,palmer74 ,morphia1 in rare cases1 has also caused it4 ,,vi4 ,,chronic ,,poisoning1 prostration and wasting4 ,antimony1 mercury1 and lead in small repeated doses4 ,with the two latter1 but more especially with lead1 there is a blue line at the edge of the gums2 constipation and colic1 paralysis and trembling of the limbs4 ,as lead frequently occurs as an impurity in food1 and also may be absorbed by those working with it1 these symptoms may be often accidental4 ,mercury also is given1 less than of old1 it is true1 but still systematically by some1 as a regular course in syphilis1 c43 also to children in teething powders4 ,antimony has been almost abandoned in medicine1 from its depressant effect4 ,in these cases1 motive1 amount1 and necessity of dose1 and right to administer1 must be considered before wilful poisoning can be proved4 ,the analysis1 therefore1 must be strictly quantitative1 which is fortunately tolerably easy4 ,the above summary is by no means perfect1 since there are minor differences in each class1 which may sometimes rise into such prominence as to confuse the classification4 ,but in medical evidence on the individual poisons of which we treat1 those physiologically resembling them in action are always most heard of at the trial1 and questions are asked whether this or that may not produce the same symptoms2 and hence it is well to direct attention to the analogues of our types4 ,the primary idea of an alkaloid is derived from its resemblance to an alkali4 ,alkaloids are often called also 8,organic ,bases40 ,their names terminate in--ia or ine4#b ,they are more or less alkaline to test paper1 and combine with acids to form salts which are neutral in reaction and often crystallizable4 ,only a few of the alkaloids are liquid and easily volatile1 but almost all can be volatilized by careful heating at definite temperatures1 giving in many cases a sublimate of characteristic appearance under the microscope1 either of crystals1 globules1 or a mere film4 ,in a free state1 the alkaloids are very slightly soluble in water1 but soluble in alcohol1 and generally in ether and chloroform4 ,some are soluble in benzine1 others in amylic alcohol1 petroleum spirit1 acetic ether1 c4 ,on a judicious use of these various solvents depend the different processes of isolation1 among which ,dragendorff's is the most complete1 but so complicated that it is rarely used in its entirety4 ,fortunately there is generally a clue more or less definite to the probable poison administered1 enabling a shorter and quicker method to be adopted4 ,for further details as to these processes see ,blyth's ,manual of ,practical ,chemistry4 ,the sulphates1 chlorides1 and acetates of the alkaloids are generally soluble in water2 if ammonia or potash be added to the solution1 a precipitate 7usually crystalline7 of the free alkaloid occurs if the solution be of moderate strength4 ,chemically1 the alkaloids are derived from ammonia 7,,nh#c7 by substituting various organic groups or 8compound radicles0 7compounds of carbon and hydrogen71 for the hydrogen of the ammonia4 ,they are therefore 8compound ammonias10 or 8amines40 ,nitrogen1 carbon1 and hydrogen1 are always present in natural alkaloids1 the non-volatile ones1 including the greater number1 also contain oxygen4 ,physiologically1 alkaloids as a class have a powerful action on the human and animal frame4 ,the medicinal properties of plants are generally due to these substances1 though many are still undiscovered or imperfectly known4 ,they exist in the plant combined with vegetal acids1 some of which are characteristic1 as aconitic acid in aconite1 meconic in opium1 igasuric 787 in nux vomica1 c4 ,the very small quantity which may sometimes be fatal 7a fraction of a grain of the pure alkaloid71 the indefiniteness of many of their chemical reactions1 and the facility with which they decompose if too high a heat1 or too strong reagents1 be employed in their extraction1 render the detection often a difficult1 and sometimes an impossible matter4 ,fortunately1 however1 fresh tests and better processes develop from every case1 and other indications1 from symptoms and collateral circumstances1 rarely fail to bring home the guilt even to the most ingenious and scientific of poisoners4 ,for extracting the alkaloids from animal matters the following process has been used by the author4 ,mince finely1 digest with rectified spirit and enough acetic acid to just acidify1 warm to blood-heat for #ae minutes1 filter3 this is the first extract4 ,warm the insoluble matters with more alcohol and filter again3 this is the second extract4 ,repeat the extraction a third time4 ,keep the three extracts separate4 ,each should be evaporated at as low a temperature as possible1 not exceeding #ej ,c41 and preferably in a vacuum at the ordinary temperature1 if this can be done fairly quickly4 ,the syrupy residues must be treated with water and a drop of acetic acid1 passed through wet filters to separate fat1 rendered just alkaline with ammonia1 and shaken with a moderate quantity of a mixture of equal volumes of ether and chloroform 7,allen74 ,by a stoppered funnel or burette the ethereal layer is separated1 the shaking with ether and chloroform and the separation repeated a second and a third time1 the ethereal extracts mixed1 transferred to a large porcelain dish1 and evaporated1 first in a current of air1 then in a vacuum or spontaneously4 ,as the solvents evaporate1 water generally appears3 this hinders any crystallization4 ,therefore the residue must be rendered dry1 then dissolved in a little anhydrous chloroform 7dried by standing over fused calcium chloride71 and again evaporated in air in a large watch glass4 ,the residue will generally be crystalline under the microscope if any alkaloid be present4 ,dissolve again in chloroform1 transfer to a graduated burette1 make up to a convenient volume 7say #aj cubic centimetres71 and transfer a measured fraction to a number of watch glasses1 reserving about one-fourth for any subsequent quantitative test that may be necessary4 ,allow the liquid in the watch glasses to spontaneously evaporate4 ,to the first add a little water and a very minute quantity of dilute hydrochloric acid1 and cautiously taste a portion4 ,a tingling of the lips and subsequent numbness indicate aconite2 intense bitterness points to strychnia2 if there be no taste at all it is unlikely that any alkaloid is present4 ,there are some alkaloids of a peppery taste2 these are irritants1 and are not common as poisons4 ,bitterness is the most frequent characteristic4 #b4 ,moisten the contents of the second watch glass with a little water and a trace of acetic acid1 and apply through an incision in the skin of the back of a young frog4 ,he should be kept as comfortable as possible and the symptoms observed4 ,strychnia readily produces tetanus in this animal2 other poisons also have peculiar effects4 ,some observers have used mice1 rabbits1 or cats2 in the ,palmer trial it was observed that dogs were not employed because they were inconvenient and might bite6 ,on the whole this so-called physiological test has been overrated1 as it is hardly to be expected that an animal with its back cut and otherwise injured will not exhibit some symptoms2 and all who have kept wild animals in confinement will know how soon they become1 first almost convulsive from excitement1 then finally sink into stupor and die4 ,if necessary1 any judge may grant a special licence to the experts in a trial to make experiments on animals1 otherwise such cruelty is rendered penal by the ,vivisection ,act4#c #c4 ,to the third watch glass1 after the contents have been dissolved as before1 a drop of a solution of iodine in potassium iodide is added4 ,nearly all alkaloids give a brown precipitate4 ,if none occur1 a negative conclusion may be expected4 #d4 ,test the fourth watch glass in one corner for strychnia by concentrated sulphuric acid and peroxide of manganese2 in another corner for morphia by iodic acid and starch2 in a third corner for brucia 7and morphia7 by strong nitric acid4 7,see the special paragraphs on these reactions1 pp4 #bhj1 #bhe47 #e4 ,if there is still no indication1 and no information has been obtained from other sources1 it may be necessary to employ ,dragendorff's process on the remainder4 ,but if the poison has been discovered1 the solution reserved in the burette should be evaporated1 dissolved in water and a little dilute acid1 avoiding heat1 and titrated by ,mayer's reagent to ascertain the quantity4#d ,the second and third extractions of the organs must now be considered4 ,most of the text-books recommend that all the extracts should be mixed4 ,the objection to this is1 that since the alkaloid is usually present in very small amount1 the first extraction will remove nearly all of it1 while the second and third will mainly contain other matters1 and therefore will be only adding to the impurities1 and consequently to the difficulty of isolation4 ,if it be worth while1 the second and third extracts may be treated separately as above1 and should any further quantity of alkaloid be found1 it may be determined quantitatively1 and the amount added to that already obtained4 ,it has been proposed to precipitate the original spirituous extract by neutral or basic acetate of lead1 which throws down many impurities1 but leaves the alkaloids in solution4 ,after filtration1 the liquid is treated with a current of sulphuretted hydrogen to remove lead2 again filtered1 evaporated 7as speedily as can be done without overheating7 to a moderate bulk1 and treated with a little ammonia and with ether-chloroform as before4 ,if the sulphuretted hydrogen be left exposed to the air for some time1 it oxidizes to sulphuric acid1 which1 during and after evaporation1 tends to destroy the alkaloid4 ,hence ,i have found it advisable to remove the ,h#b,s quickly by a current of carbonic acid and warming--previous to evaporation4 ,but this process is not good for alkaloids1 as sulphur compounds are often formed1 which interfere with subsequent operations4 ,the foregoing process may fail to extract morphia1 curarine1 and solanine1 as these1 being very little soluble in ether-chloroform1 may remain behind in the aqueous liquid4 ,this1 therefore1 should be afterwards treated in one of the following ways3-- #a4 ,heat some redistilled amylic alcohol nearly to boiling 7it boils at #abj ,c471 add an equal volume to the aqueous 7alkaline7 solution2 shake vigorously1 separate while still hot1 and shake again with a fresh1 but rather smaller1 quantity of the hot solvent4 ,the united amylic alcohol solutions will contain all the morphia1 but can only be distilled in vacuo1 since at #abj ,c4 the stability of the morphia would be endangered4 ,it is better to extract the morphia from the amylic solution by shaking with successive small portions of weak acetic acid1 separating each time1 till the acidity remains unneutralized4 ,the alkaloid will now be in the acid solution4 ,nearly neutralize this with ammonia1 evaporate at a gentle heat1 and apply the special tests4 #b4 ,instead of the above1 the aqueous alkaline solution may be agitated with a mixture of equal volumes of ether and pure acetic ether 7the latter having been previously purified from free acid by standing over powdered carbonate of lime74 ,although this mixture does not extract the morphia so readily as amylic alcohol1 it has this advantage that1 after separation from the aqueous layer1 it can be evaporated at a moderate temperature1 when the morphia1 if in sufficient quantity1 will be left in the crystalline state1 and can be tested as usual4 ,if sufficient material be at hand1 of course both processes may be used4#e ,selmi 7,gazz4 ,chim4 ,ital4 vi41 #cb7 has given a process for alkaloidal extraction of which ,i have no experience4 ,when the alkaloid is obtained in a sufficiently pure form and in sufficient quantity1 the sublimation process of ,dr4 ,guy1 as improved by ,blyth1 may be used4 ,for the entire original method1 see ,blyth's ,practical ,chemistry1 page #bhe4 ,dr4 ,guy's 8subliming cell0 is a ring of glass tubing about -inch long and to -inch diameter1 ground true and smooth at top and bottom1 resting on a circle of thin microscope glass1 and covered with another similar circle4 ,the alkaloid1 thoroughly dry1 is placed on the lower disc 7a drop of the solution may be evaporated on it71 the whole fitted together1 and floated on mercury1 or better1 fusible metal1 contained in a small glass beaker nearly full1 supported on wire gauze over a small flame4 ,a thermometer held by a clamp dips in the liquid metal4 ,with a hand lens of as high power as possible1 the melting point1 and also the point when the first sublimate occurs on the upper glass1 may be observed4 ,as soon as the sublimate has become sufficiently distinct1 the upper disc is removed1 replaced by another1 and examined under -inch power of the microscope4 ,the heat is slowly raised till charring occurs1 and anything characteristic noted4 ,morphia gives a clouding1 consisting of minute dots1 at #aej ,c42 from #ahh to #bjj ,c41 distinct crystals are obtained2 then it commences to brown1 melt1 and carbonize4 ,strychnia gives a minute sublimate of fine needles at #afi ,c41 and melts at about #bba ,c4 ,brucia melts at #aea ,c41 browns easily1 but gives no true sublimate4 ,aconitine or aconitia melts at #ahc to #ahd ,c4 ,pseudaconitine melts at #ajd to #aje ,c41 and easily decomposes1 giving off water4 ,commercial aconitine usually melts below #ajj ,c41 and gives an amorphous sublimate above #aej ,c4 ,the reactions of the other alkaloids will be found in ,blyth's ,practical ,chemistry4 ,in order to avoid repetition1 the mode of preparing the general reagents for alkaloids will be given here4 #a4 ,mayers ,reagent1 potassio-iodide of mercury1 already described 7p4 #g2 ,liebig's ,annalen1 #acc1 #bhf71 gives white precipitates with almost all alkaloids4 ,the latter can be recovered from the precipitate by treating it with a solution of zinc chloride mixed with caustic soda4 7,mayer47 #b4 ,potassium tri-iodide1 a solution of iodine in potassium iodide1 gives a brown or reddish precipitate4#f #c4 ,sonnenschein's test1 ,phosphomolybdic acid1 is prepared as follows4 ,to a warm solution of molybdate of ammonia acidified with nitric acid1 phosphate of soda is added as long as any yellow precipitate is obtained4 ,the precipitate is washed with water containing a little nitric acid1 and heated with sodium carbonate solution till dissolved4 ,evaporate to dryness1 heat to expel ammonia1 add a little nitric acid and heat again4 ,one part of the residue is then dissolved in a mixture of one part of nitric acid of #ad sp4 gr41 and nine parts of water4 ,with this reagent strychnia gives a pale1 other alkaloids a bright yellow flocculent precipitate1 in very dilute solutions4 ,the precipitates are soluble in ammonia1 with the production of a greenish blue colour in the cases of aconitia and morphia4 ,from the alkaline liquid the alkaloid can be dissolved out by at once shaking with ether-chloroform or hot amylic alcohol as already described4 ,instead of using ammonia1 the precipitate may be agitated with barium carbonate1 which has less tendency to decompose the base on its liberation4 #d4 ,a solution of bismuth iodide in iodide of potassium is recommended by ,dragendorff 7,zeitschr4 f4 ,chimie1 #ahff1 #dgh74 #hj grammes of commercial bismuth subnitrate are dissolved in #bjj cubic centimetres of nitric acid of sp4 gr4 #aah3 #bgb grammes of potassium iodide dissolved in a little water are added1 the potassium nitrate allowed to crystallize out1 and the whole diluted to one litre4 ,this solution precipitates most alkaloids4 ,the precipitate can be treated with sodium carbonate and the liberated alkaloid extracted by ether-chloroform1 c4 ,for the equivalents1 see ,maugini1 ,gazz4 ,chim4 ,ital4 #ab1 #aee4 #e4 ,scheibler has proposed ,phosphotungstic acid as a precipitant4 ,sodium tungstate is digested with half its weight of phosphoric acid1 sp4 gr4 #aac3 on standing1 phosphotungstic acid crystallizes4 ,its solution is said to give a distinct precipitate with #a_/bjjjjj of a grain of strychnia and #a_/ajjjjj of quina1 and with similar amounts of other alkaloids4 ,from this precipitate the alkaloid is obtained by treating with sufficient milk of lime and shaking with ether-chloroform1 c41 as before4 ,he recommends the previous removal of impurities by lead acetate and sulphuretted hydrogen as already described 7p4 #g7 7,fresenius1 ,zeitschr4 f4 anal4 ,chemie1 #ab1 #cae74 #f4 ,picric acid1 a saturated aqueous solution1 gives precipitates in neutral solutions of morphia and atropia4 ,in solutions acidified with sulphuric acid it gives the following3--morphia1 and pseudomorphia1 no precipitate2 aconitia1 a precipitate only in concentrated solutions2 other alkaloids of opium1 a thick precipitate4#g #g4 ,animal charcoal1 previously purified by hydrochloric acid and thorough washing with water1 when digested with neutral or alkaline solutions of alkaloids1 not too dilute1 absorbs them from the liquid4 ,the charcoal1 washed twice or thrice with small quantities of water1 is dried at a moderate temperature1 and boiled with strong alcohol1 which extracts the alkaloid4 ,this process has been used for separating picrotoxin from beer1 but has the inconvenience that the alkaloid is liable to gradual oxidation within the pores of the charcoal1 and that the separation is never complete4 ,it is this property that has caused charcoal to be recommended as an antidote in poisoning4 #h4 ,all alkaloids form with platinic chloride double salts of more or less sparing solubility4 ,these precipitates1 washed1 dried and weighed1 and then burnt1 leave metallic platinum1 the amount of which yields a clue to the composition of the base4 ,but aconitine and narcotine are only thrown down from concentrated solutions1 and a few are not precipitated at all4 ,hence this test is of only occasional value in toxicological work4 ,the same may be said of auric chloride4 #i4 ,tannin or tannic acid1 a moderately strong solution in water1 throws down most alkaloids4 ,coffee and tea1 and other tannin-containing infusions1 have1 therefore1 been used as antidotes with dubious success4 ,as a test it is not distinctive4 #aj4 ,phospho-antimonic acid 7,schultze71 prepared by mixing antimony pentachloride with ordinary sodium phosphate and decanting the clear liquid1 gives whitish amorphous precipitates with alkaloids4 #aa4 ,silico-tungstic acid is prepared by boiling commercial tungstate of soda with fresh gelatinous silica4 ,filter and allow to crystallize4 ,this gives precipitates with very dilute solutions of alkaloids1 but it is also precipitated by ammonium chloride 7,godefroy1 ,arch4 d4 ,pharm41 ,nov4 #ahgi74 ,zaubenheimer recommends it as a most delicate test3 the precipitate may be decomposed by soda or potash1 and the base extracted by ether-chloroform4 #ab4 ,auric chloride1 palladious chloride1 and mercuric chloride have been proposed1 but are not of much use4 ,potassium chromate and sulphocyanide1 and sodium nitroprusside give somewhat insoluble precipitates1 generally crystalline and of characteristic appearance under the microscope4 ,these tests should be strong1 and must be used in small quantity4 ,,ptomaines ,,or ,,cadaveric ,,alkaloids4--,much attention has been attracted lately by the possible interference to toxicological detections owing to the undoubted existence of natural alkaloids in the dead body unpoisoned4 ,some of these1 called by ,selmi 8,ptomaines0 7,greek3 ptma1 a corpse71 somewhat simulate strychnia1 c41 in their chemical and physiological characters4 ,the observation is not new1 as years ago1 in the ,privy ,council's reports1 ,thudichum called attention to alkaloids separated by ,sonnenschein's process 7phosphomolybdic acid7 from the brain1 urine1 and from decomposed bodies4 ,various substances of the kind have also been found by other investigators4 ,to these 8cadaveric alkaloids0 have been attributed the 8sausage poisoning10 so frequent in ,germany 7for cases1 see ,casper's ,handbook1 vol4 #c71 poisoning by various foods1 such as tinned meats1 cheese1 c4 ,some are irritants1 others narcotics3 different periods and circumstances of putrefaction producing different compounds4 ,in an ,italian criminal prosecution1 ,f4 ,ciotto1 who made the investigation of the corpse1 gave it as his opinion that strychnia was probably present4 ,selmi1 for the defence1 pointed out differences from strychnia1 and considered the compound to be a ptomaine4 ,arch4 ,pharm4 7#c71 #ai1 #ahg4 ,this will show the importance of the subject4 ,casali 7,gazetta1 #ahha1 #cab7 regards ptomaines as not true alkaloids1 but as 8acid or basic amidated compounds40 ,it is only the basic ones that will interfere with testing4 ,panum and ,bergmann have isolated a substance called 8sepsin10 generated by putrefaction1 poisonous1 acting like a ferment but not destroyed by boiling1 soluble in water1 but insoluble in alcohol1 and thereby distinguished from alkaloids4 ,sonnenschein and ,zuelzer found a product of putrefaction which produced tetanic symptoms1 besides one resembling atropine4 ,but these substances1 or similar ones1 can be produced without putrefaction1 as ,paterno and ,spica have shown that fresh blood and fresh albumen 7white of egg7 yielded1 with phosphomolybdic acid1 potassio-mercuric iodide1 and other alkaloidal reagents1 precipitates like those of the vegetal alkaloids4 ,selmi has even supposed that death from various diseases may be due to the formation of these compounds4 ,the same author obtained from a dead body one month after death a considerable amount of a crystallizable ptomaine1 giving reactions like those of alkaloidal poisons1 and having poisonous effects on frogs4 ,brouardel and ,bouting 7,compt4 ,rend4 #ib1 #ajef7 propose the reducing action of ptomaines as a distinction between them and vegetal alkaloids4 ,the solution in weak acid is added to a dilute mixture of ferric chloride and potassium ferricyanide3 the latter1 if a ptomaine be present1 is reduced to ferrocyanide1 and ,prussian blue is thereby precipitated4 ,but ,spica 7,gazetta1 #aa1 #dhf7 has shown that strychnia1 brucia1 morphia1 and some others produce this reaction readily1 and ,beckurts 7,arch4 ,pharm4 #c1 #bj1 #ajd7 adds aconitine and others as producing it slowly4 ,hence the distinction is delusive4 ,see also ,husemann 7,arch4 ,pharm4 #c1 #af1 #afi2 also #c1 #bj1 #bgj71 ,tauret 7,compt4 ,rend4 #ib1 #aafc74 ,the discovery of these bodies has certainly raised a new difficulty for toxicologists1 and suggested a new and plausible defence1 as it must be confessed that at present there is no general method of distinguishing between 8cadaveric0 and vegetal alkaloids4 ,yet this mainly affects the 8physiological0 tests--on frogs and other small animals--for there is no ptomaine yet discovered which gives all the reactions of strychnia1 morphia1 c4 ,if a chemist be asked1 8,could any other substance produce these reactions80 he can only answer1 8,i do not know of any02 he cannot aver the impossibility4 ,then the circumstantial evidence must decide4 ,in conclusion1 the following principles should be noted3-- #a4 ,the quantity of poison found is generally only a small fraction of the quantity taken4 ,the vomit and evacuations are frequently lost1 and much may be decomposed by vital actions in the body1 or by putrefaction4 ,that which has caused death is probably thereby either decomposed or so combined as to be rendered undetectible3 that which is found is merely the surplus beyond the fatal dose4 ,this would account for the frequent non-discovery in the tissues when a small amount has been given1 or much time has elapsed4 ,to metallic poisons this does not apply1 as1 unless eliminated1 they can always be found4 ,see further under ,strychnia4 #b4 ,the symptoms will differ according to the dose1 the form 7solid or solution1 pure or admixed71 habit1 or idiosyncrasy1 the state of health1 c4 #c4 ,in the post-mortem examination1 appearances common to dead bodies generally are often mistaken for the effects of poison4 ,see ,casper's ,handbook1 vol4 ,i41 et passim4 #d4 ,unhealthy or improper food or acute disease may cause suspicious symptoms4 ,this is the commonest solution of suspected poisoning4 #e4 ,in experiments on animals1 it may be objected that they are inconclusive as to man4 ,this is not strictly true4 ,but if a recent vomit proves poisonous to an animal1 with the same symptoms as in the man1 that is almost conclusive evidence4 #f4 ,when a poison is not found by analysis1 it does not follow that it has not caused death4 ,unequal distribution1 uncertainty of tests1 improper securing of the samples 7,palmer case71 decomposition or elimination of the poison1 may hinder discovery4 #g4 ,in every case1 if possible1 the approximate quantity of the poison should be ascertained and stated4 ,this specially applies to substances that may have been administered medicinally4 8,if poison be administered with intent to murder1 it is not necessary that there should be enough in the article administered to cause death1 or that it should be given in such a way as to act fatally4 ,if any poison be there1 and the intent be proved1 the crime of attempting to administer poison is complete40 ,judge's ruling in ,hartley1 ,cent4 ,crim4 ,court1 ,may #abth1 #ahej2 ,reg4 v4 ,bacon1 ,lincoln ,summer ,assizes1 #aheg2 ,reg4 v4 ,southgate1 ,chelmsford ,lent ,assizes2 ,reg4 v4 ,cluderay1 ,york1 #ahdi4 ,for minute directions as to the conduct of toxicological investigations1 see ,taylor's ,medical ,jurisprudence1 #ahgc1 ,i41 #bjb-bji2 also ,guy and ,ferrier's ,forensic ,medicine1 #ahha1 p4 #cei1 et seq4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,trials ,,for ,,poisoning ,,by ,,hydrocyanic ,,or ,,prussic ,,acid4 ,two cases are reported under this head4 ,the first that of ,john ,tawell1 for the murder of his mistress1 ,sarah ,hart1 at ,salthill1 near ,windsor1 tried at the ,spring ,assizes at ,aylesbury1 #ahde1 before the late ,baron ,parke 7,lord ,wensleydale74 ,the second--a case of misadventure--the trial of ,george ,ball1 a surgeon1 at ,lewes1 for the murder of his mother by the negligent administration of an overdose of this poison1 medicinally1 before the ,lord ,chief ,justice of the ,common ,pleas 7,coleridge7 ,summer ,assizes1 ,lewes1 #ahfj4 ,,trial ,,of ,,john ,,tawell ,,for ,,poisoning ,,sarah ,,hart ,,at ,,salthill ,,by ,,prussic ,,acid4 ,march #ab1 #ac1 and #ad1 #ahde1 ,,spring ,,assizes1 ,,aylesbury1 before ,,baron ,,parke4 ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,case4 ,the trial of ,john ,tawell1 of ,berkhampstead1 ,berks1 for the murder of ,sarah ,hart1 at ,hall ,place1 ,slough1 attracted more than usual attention1 from the cruelty of the act in poisoning the woman whom he had seduced1 the position and popular character of the murderer as a benevolent and hospitable ,quaker1 noted for his charities1 and the novelty of the mode by which his detection was mainly insured4 ,the electric telegraph had only very lately been established on the line of the ,great ,western ,railway1 and though ,tawell lost no time after committing the act1 in getting into the train for ,london at ,slough1 the telegraph outstripped him1 and on his arrival at the ,paddington station he was recognised1 and tracked to his lodgings1 and thus his immediate arrest secured4 ,tawell's life had been of a remarkable character4 ,originally a commercial traveller1 he had exhibited a strange mixture of great shrewdness and money-making talent1 combined with an outward show of religious observance4 ,as a young man he had been indicted for forging a bill for #ajjj1 and had he been tried on the counts for forging1 or uttering1 he would doubtless have been executed4 ,by some influence1 however1 he was allowed to plead guilty to the count for having the bill in his possession 7a nolle prosequi being entered on the others71 and sentenced to transportation for life4 8,accordingly10 says ,mr4 ,justice ,therry1 who knew him well in ,sydney1 8he came out to the colony as a convict4 ,besides being a commercial traveller for some time1 he had been in an apothecary's shop in ,england1 and on obtaining partial exemption from convict discipline1 became the principal druggist in ,sydney4 ,after a prosperous career he sold his business for1 it was said1 #ad1jjj1 and judiciously invested this sum in buildings and other pursuits of profit4 ,for nearly two years he occupied the house opposite to mine in ,sydney1 which gave me almost daily opportunity then of seeing him4 ,he struck me as being a remarkably well-conducted person4 ,he had once been a member of the ,society of ,friends2 he wore a broad-brimmed hat1 appeared always in a neat and carefully adjusted costume1 and his whole appearance and manner impressed one with the notion of his being a very saintly personage4 ,he always sought the society in public of persons of reputed piety4 ,i have often met him in the street accompanied by a secretary or collector to a charitable institution1 whom he assisted in obtaining contributions for benevolent objects4 ,at one time he took up the cause of temperance in such an intemperate and silly spirit1 that he ordered a puncheon of rum he had imported to be staved on the wharf at ,sydney1 and its contents poured into the sea1 saying that1 #8he would not be instrumental to the guilt of disseminating such poison throughout the colony4' ,at another time his zeal took an apparently religious turn4 ,he built1 in ,macquarie ,street1 ,sydney1 a commodious meeting-house for the ,society of ,friends1 on the front of which was inscribed on a large square stone inserted in the wall some such words as these-- ,,john ,,tawell ,,to ,,the ,,society ,,of ,,friends4 ,he conveyed no title1 however1 to the ,society to secure them the tenure of the property4 ,after his execution it was sold1 ,i understood1 with other portions of his property1 for the benefit of the party entitled to it under his will1 the ,crown having waived its right to the forfeiture of the estate4 8,tawell was himself a liberal contributor to charities1 and the opinion of his character was so favourable1 that the act for which he suffered created great astonishment in ,sydney4 ,a considerable part of his money had been realised by buying up all the whalebone that trading vessels1 at an early period1 imported into ,sydney4 ,this he sent to a ,london house1 where it was manufactured into combs1 handles for brushes1 and various other articles of domestic use4 ,he was the first person in the colony who converted whalebone into an article of profitable export4 ,when he left the colony1 he had a considerable property from rents and other sources which became much reduced by the general distress that prevailed in ,new ,south ,wales in #ahdc40 ,hence the anxiety expressed by him for his ,sydney letters1 referred to in the course of his trial4 ,still1 however1 a man of good means1 occupying a respected position in his town1 and noted1 through a long and industrious life1 for his benevolence and straightforward conduct in his relations with his neighbours1 he might well say when first charged with the murder of his mistress1 8,my station in society places me beyond suspicion40 ,such had been the remarkable career1 and such was the ostensible character of the man to whom the most cold-blooded of murders was clearly brought home in the following trial40 ,at the trial before ,mr4 ,baron ,parke1 at ,aylesbury1 on the #abth1 #acth1 and #adth of ,march1 #ahde1 ,sergeant ,byles and ,mr4 ,prendergast appeared for the prosecution1 and ,mr4 ,fitzroy ,kelly1 ,q4,c41 ,mr4 ,gunning1 and ,mr4 ,o',malley1 assisted by ,messrs4 ,herapath1 of ,bristol1 ,professor ,graham and ,dr4 ,letheby1 of ,london1 the eminent chemists1 for the defence4 ,in consequence of the excitement in the county caused by the event1 numerous objections were taken to jurymen by the prisoner's counsel4 ,at length1 however1 a jury was formed1 and after a brief recapitulation of the leading facts of the proposed evidence by ,sergeant ,byles1 ,mary ,ashley1 a next door neighbour of the deceased1 was called1 who had seen ,tawell go to ,sarah ,hart's between #d and #e in the afternoon of the #ast of ,january1 and between #f and #g the same evening1 8hearing a sort of stifled scream10 had gone to her door with a candle and seen him leaving the cottage4 ,the cottages stood in a row1 with small gardens in front1 with rails and gates1 and contained four rooms1 two on the ground floor1 and the same number above4 8,the prisoner10 said the witness1 8appeared to be agitated1 and unable to open the gate4 ,i opened it for him2 it was fastened with a small button4 ,when ,i went out of my house1 ,i said1 #8,i am afraid my neighbour is ill'--not speaking to any person in particular1 but as the prisoner was then coming down the garden ,i should think that ,i spoke loud enough for him to hear me3 ,i was about six yards from him4 ,no reply was made by him4 ,when ,i got to the gate ,i could hear ,mrs4 ,hart still making the same description of noise3 the prisoner made me no answer when ,i asked him if ,i should open the gate2 he appeared very much agitated1 and was trying in a hurried manner to open the gate2 he came out of the gate before ,i went in2 ,i saw his face2 ,i held the candle over the gate to open it3 ,i have no doubt that he is the same man1 though ,i had never seen him before that afternoon4 ,in the afternoon ,mrs4 ,hart said to me1 #8,i expect my old master1 but perhaps he will not come till to-morrow4' ,when ,i got to ,mrs4 ,hart's door it was shut1 and upon my opening it ,i saw ,mrs4 ,hart lying on the floor with her head not a great way from the door2 her legs were towards the fire1 her dress was quite in a disordered state1 her petticoats nearly up to her knees1 her left stocking down to her ankle1 and torn1 and her left shoe off3 her cap was off1 and her hair hanging down over her head3 her cap was a little distance from her3 she was still making a noise1 and her eyes were fixed1 but her lips moving4 ,i took hold of her hands and raised her head1 and said1 #8,oh1 ,mrs4 ,hart1 what is the matter8' ,she did not make any answer1 but ,i thought she seemed to press my hand1 but ,i could not positively tell4 ,i then raised her up1 and a little froth came out of her mouth1 and ,i thought she was dying4 ,i laid her down again1 and took my candle and went into ,mrs4 ,wheeler's house1 next door but one4 ,when ,i went into ,mrs4 ,hart's ,i observed a bottle and a glass by the side of it half full1 and another glass on the opposite side of the table1 near the door1 empty2 but there appeared to be something in the bottom of it4 ,a chair was beside ,mrs4 ,hart1 and another opposite her4 ,i returned from ,mrs4 ,wheeler's with ,mrs4 ,barrett1 and we placed a pillow on the child's chair and bathed her temples4 ,one of ,mrs4 ,barrett's apprentices went for ,dr4 ,champneys1 and he came4 ,i searched the place immediately1 and found no small vial about the size of a thimble4 ,there was a middling fire in the house4 ,before ,i got into the house ,i thought the prisoner was looking1 and ,i locked the door1 because ,i was frightened4 ,the deceased was breathing hard in a short way1 and making a noise like #8oh6 oh6' and her eyes looked very full40 ,on cross-examination by ,mr4 ,kelly1 she said-- 8,that she heard ,mrs4 ,hart's voice rather loud after ,mr4 ,tawell went in--only a few words1 but could not hear what she said4 ,she did not think that they were quarrelling1 but that perhaps ,mrs4 ,hart was in hysterics1 as money matters were always talked over when ,tawell came4 ,when ,mr4 ,champneys came in1 he said he must try to bleed her3 he did so1 and there was about as much blood as would cover a plate2 she died immediately afterwards2 indeed1 ,i think she was dead when he bled her4 ,about ,christmas ,mrs4 ,hart received a basket of apples as a present--about a peck1 some of which were left in a box40 ,on re-examination1 she said-- 8,that it was not more than a minute after she left her own house that she entered ,mrs4 ,hart's1 and that she saw about ten or a dozen apples in the box after her death40 ,mrs4 ,barrett confirmed ,mrs4 ,ashley's account of the condition in which she found the deceased1 but did not see any foam on her lips until after she tried to pour some water down her throat4#h ,it was then proved by the barmaid at the 8,windmill10 on ,salthill1 and a gardener1 that about half after six on that day the deceased came there for a bottle of ,guinness's stout1 and that she was met between her house and the 8,windmill0 about the same time in high spirits running towards her cottage4 ,the next witness spoke to the acts of the prisoner before he arrived at the cottage4 ,at three o'clock in the afternoon he had been at the ,jerusalem ,coffee-house1 inquiring at what hour they closed1 saying he was going to the ,west ,end1 and should not be back until half-past eight1 and wishing to leave a greatcoat and a parcel1 which1 by arrangement with the waiter1 he fetched away about half-past nine or a quarter to ten that night1 leaving his umbrella there4 ,other witnesses proved his being seen running from ,bath ,place towards ,slough1 getting into the ,eton omnibus and stopping opposite ,sir ,john ,herschel's house1 then returning towards the ,slough station and leaving it for ,paddington by the half-past eight train4#i ,the evidence of the next witness1 who tracked him from the moment of his arrival at ,paddington1 must be given in detail4 ,william ,williams said-- 8,i am a sergeant of police on the ,great ,western ,railway1 at ,paddington ,station4 ,on the #ast of ,january1 in consequence of a telegraphic communication1 ,i observed the prisoner get out of a carriage and get into a ,new ,road omnibus4 ,i put on a private coat1 and acted as guard4 ,he got out opposite ,princes' ,street1 near the ,bank1 about a quarter past nine4 ,i opened the door on purpose to look at him2 he went towards the ,wellington ,statue1 and then crossed over to ,birch's1 the pastrycooks3 he stood a moment1 as if he was considering2 ,i watched him from behind the statue4 ,he then went towards the ,jerusalem ,coffee-house1 and ,i followed him2 he then went down a court into ,birchin ,lane1 and from thence to ,scott's ,yard1 in the ,borough1 where he lodged1 where ,i left him4 ,on returning there next morning he was gone1 so ,i went to the ,jerusalem1 and an officer 7,wiggins7 went in and took him into custody4 ,wiggins said to him that he was last seen in the house of a woman at ,slough who was found dead1 when he replied that1 #8,i was not at ,slough yesterday--,i know no one there4' ,i then remarked that ,i had seen him get off the train from ,slough1 and that he had given me sixpence after riding in the omnibus from the ,paddington station4 #8,you must be mistaken1' he replied2 #8my station in life must rebut any suspicion that might be attached to me4'0 ,wiggins1 an inspector of the ,metropolitan police1 gave a graphic account of the arrest4 8,on ,thursday1 the #bnd of ,january1 ,i went into the ,jerusalem ,coffee-house with the last witness1 and asked the prisoner if his name was ,tawell2 he said1 #8,yes4' ,i then asked him if he had been at ,slough last night1 and he said1 #8,no1 ,i did not leave town all day yesterday4' ,i then opened my coat1 showed my uniform1 and said1 #8,i want you concerning the woman you were with last night4' ,he said1 #8,i don't know anyone there4' ,i said1 #8,there was a woman found dead there1 and you are supposed to be the last person who was seen with her alive4' ,he said1 #8,thee must be mistaken in the identity1 my station in society places me beyond suspicion4' ,i then took him down to ,salt ,hill1 to the #8,three ,tuns1' where the inquest was being held4 ,i searched him1 and found #ab4 #ajs4 in gold and #a4 #as4 #f;d4 in silver1 a gold watch1 and a letter addressed to him1 which he said he had received from his wife4 ,on the second day of the inquest ,i saw him again4 ,after consulting with his lawyer1 he said to me1 #8,i took thee for a gentleman in the railway carriage4' ,i said1 #8,i told you ,i was an officer4' ,he replied1 #8,yes1 but that was afterwards4' ,the first day of the inquest he said1 #8,mind1 ,i have disclosed nothing4'0 ,in cross-examination1 ,mr4 ,kelly failed to get the witness to say that when asked about ,slough the prisoner said he came from ,berkhampstead1 and only led the witness to reiterate that he stated 8that he had not been at ,slough that day40 ,to ,perkins1 the inspector of the ,eton police1 ,tawell was dangerously communicative4 8,on the day after ,i had taken him into custody10 said this witness1 8and brought him to my own house1 after he had seen his lawyer1 he said to me1 #8,the unfortunate woman once lived in my service1 about two years and a half1 or nearly so4' ,he asked me if ,i knew this4 ,i told him ,i had heard so4 ,then ,holmes1 the other constable1 came in1 and he added1 #8,she left my service about five years ago4' ,i told him whatever he said ,i should communicate to the coroner to-morrow4 ,he said1 #8he would have no objection to that1' and then continued1 #8she had been in the habit of writing letters to him for money1' and that he had been pestered with her2 she was a very good servant when in his service1 but a bad principled woman4 ,she wrote to him that if he did not send her something she would make away with herself4 ,he came down to her house and told her that he would not give her any more money4 ,she then asked him if he would not give her some porter4 ,i then sent for a bottle of stout1 and she had a glass and ,i had a glass4 ,she then took out a small phial1 about the size of a thimble1 and said1 8,i will1 ,i will10 and poured some into her glass and drank a part of it--the remainder was thrown into the fire4 ,she then done herself about and laid down on the hearth-rug2 ,i then went out4 ,i did not think she was in earnest1 otherwise ,i would have called somebody4' ,i asked him if he had got those letters1 and he said1 #8,no1 ,i never keep such letters as those4' ,i knew him by person1 having seen him at ,aylesbury40 ,the cross-examination was unimportant--mainly directed to the probable inaccuracy of his recollection and to the nature of the communication he made to the coroner4 ,holmes1 in addition to confirming ,perkins' report of the prisoner's statement1 was present when ,mrs4 ,tawell visited her husband1 when1 in reply to her question1 8what he had been doing10 he replied1 8,nothing4 ,i hope you will forgive me40 ,,medical ,,evidence4 ,h4 ,montague ,champneys1 surgeon at ,salthill1 sent for a few minutes before #g ,p4,m4 on ,january #ast1 said-- 8,i ran1 and when ,i got there saw deceased on the floor1 felt her pulse1 but am not certain whether ,i felt any pulsation4 ,i put my hand under her clothes over her heart1 and could not discover any pulsation2 considered her dead1 but still thought it best to open a vein in her arm1 and obtained about an ounce of blood4 ,next day ,i made a post mortem examination with ,mr4 ,norblad and ,mr4 ,pickering4 ,having previously examined the external parts1 we opened the body1 when ,i smelt the odour of prussic acid2 the lungs were perfectly healthy1 but the coverings had the appearance of inflammation4 ,examined stomach and contents4 ,rather more mucus than there ought to be2 the abdominal viscera perfectly healthy4 ,put contents of stomach into a bottle1 which ,i1 with ,messrs4 ,norblad and ,pickering1 took to ,mr4 ,cooper1 in ,london4 ,the contents were tested for sulphuric acid1 oxalic acid1 and some poisonous salts1 but nothing was discovered2 afterwards an experiment was tried for prussic acid4 ,mr4 ,cooper tried protosulphate of iron1 and also nitrate of silver1 but could not during the experiment discover any prussic acid2 but nevertheless1 it is my opinion that she died from the effects of that poison4 ,on the following ,sunday ,i took the beer and the part of a bun found on the table to ,mr4 ,cooper1 which were tested for prussic acid1 but none discovered4 ,when ,i stated that in my opinion the deceased died from the effects of prussic acid ,i did not know that the prisoner had bought any4 ,i know ,scheele's prussic acid and that of the ,london ,pharmacopia2 less than a grain of pure prussic acid would be a dose2 two drams of ,scheele's would contain six grains4 ,there are cases on record where the smell of prussic acid could not be discovered in the stomach of a person who had taken it4 ,a person in ,paris died from taking seven-tenths of a grain4 ,prussic acid is volatile1 and may be carried off by the lungs or absorbed by the tissues4 ,there is a case in the ,lancet of a person dying from having less than a grain administered to her4 ,after this occurrence ,i put thirty grains of ,scheele's acid into a glass of ,guinness's stout1 and the smell was scarcely perceptible4 ,the symptoms would come on in less than two minutes40 ,in the very minute and detailed cross-examination to which this witness was subjected by ,mr4 ,kelly1 he made the following statements3-- 8,i have no experience in detecting the odour of prussic acid in a human subject--should think it may be taken without detection2 should expect to find the odour in the mouth and in the breath1 but there may be exceptions4 ,neither ,mr4 ,pickering nor ,mr4 ,norblad smelt it when the body was opened4 ,it was not a conjecture of mine2 ,i was positive of it4 ,the smell is very peculiar and strong1 and easy to be detected by those acquainted with it4 ,it is more likely to be detected when exposed as this was to a heat of #bab degrees4 ,at every heat we tried to smell it1 but failed4 ,there was no such smell in the blood which ,i drew shortly after death4 ,i am not competent to say whether epileptic patients die more quickly from prussic acid than others4 ,it is said to act powerfully on the nervous system4 ,have read the case of the seven epileptic patients who died from a dose of seven-tenths of a grain each in from thirty to forty-five hours4 ,there was a case in which the ,french doctors discovered poison eight days after death4 8,this acid exists in a great number of substances1 in apples for instance1 and probably in many other substances in which it has never been discovered4 ,i agree with ,dr4 ,christisn in his opinion 7p4 #gef7 in respect of the formation of this acid in various organic substances and other articles4 ,it is made from the blood1 bones1 and horns of animals4 ,it consists of #ab carbon1 #ad nitrogen1 and #a hydrogen4 ,those are its elements4 ,they exist and can be obtained in great quantities from various substances--cherry-stones1 and stones of various fruits2 they are found in the human saliva1 but not in the form of prussic acid4 ,it 7the salt7 is called sulphocyanide1 and when taken is perceptible in the blood and breath1 but most in the stomach4#aj ,in apple-pips or other substances the smell would not be given off until disengaged by some process for that purpose4 8,during the experiments for oxalic acid and other poisons1 ,messrs4 ,cooper1 ,pickering1 and ,norblad failed to perceive any smell4 ,one of them then came to the conclusion that there must be prussic acid40 ,question4--8,did ,mr4 ,cooper then apply a process which would set free prussic acid from apple-pips and other substances80 ,answer4--8,i believe that is the process1 but it was not carried to the full extent4 ,i refer to the heat4 ,when this new process was applied1 the result was that prussic acid was found4 ,i did not smell it1 nor anyone else4 ,beyond the smell in opening the body1 ,i smelt none at all40 8,when ,i first saw the deceased ,i thought ,i felt a few beats of the pulse1 but ,i imagine that ,i was mistaken4 ,it might have been the pulse in my own finger4 ,the analogy between animals and human beings dying of prussic acid is considered doubtful by the best authorities4 ,the heart would continue to beat for a short time after the pulse had receded from the arms4 ,the lungs might be considered slightly congested40 ,mr4 ,kelly4--8,why then inform my learned friend that they were sound and healthy80 ,witness4--8,the lungs themselves were not diseased40 ,mr4 ,kelly4--8,is it natural and healthy when the lungs are congested80 ,witness4--8,they contained rather more blood than usual40 ,mr4 ,kelly4--8,is that a healthy state80 ,witness4--8,not perfectly so40 ,mr4 ,kelly4--8,is not congested lungs the cause of various modes of sudden death80 ,witness4--8,yes40 8,i then examined the pericardium1 it was empty4 ,the heart had a natural appearance4 ,i do not recollect that ,i examined the arteries proceeding from the aorta4 ,any disease of the coronary arteries is likely to cause sudden death4 ,i did not examine the spinal marrow4 ,the valves of the heart were very clear4 ,death might suddenly result from the adhesion of the spinal marrow1 if it had existed some time4 ,a sudden termination also might take place where the disease is latent4 ,i looked at the gall-bladder1 the colour was natural4 ,my experience teaches me that prussic acid would colour it blue4#aa ,i examined the sophagus to see if there was any foreign substance1 and found none4 ,i opened the trachea1 but not the bronchial tubes1 so ,i could not tell whether there was water in them or not4 ,when ,i felt the pulse and heart of the deceased ,i was satisfied that she was dead1 still ,i bled her1 as ,i thought it best to try every means to restore animation4 ,i did not do it to ascertain the cause of death4 ,i then got no information as to the cause of death4 ,i saw a slight motion of the jaw as ,i felt the pulse1 and apprehend she died then4 ,i took the stomach from the body eighteen hours after death4 ,the contents were turned into a jug or basin1 and afterwards into a bottle4 ,i do not know for what purpose the bottle had been used4 ,i did not wash it out40 7,the bottle was here produced1 a large-mouthed one1 like a pickle bottle47 ,the witness then stated what care he took of it to prevent its being tampered with before taking it to ,mr4 ,cooper3--8,the exact dose to cause death is still undetermined1 also whether the effect is cumulative or not1 also the effect of the same quantity diluted more or less is unsettled4 ,scheele's prussic acid varies in strength4 ,prussic acid evaporates by keeping40 ,mr4 ,kelly1 reading from ,watson's 8,lectures on ,physic40--8,do you agree to this--#8,a blow1 a fall1 an electric shock1 a teaspoonful of prussic acid1 may cause death and leave no trace on the nervous system8'0 ,witness4--8,yes40 ,on his re-examination by ,serjt4 ,byles1 the witness said3-- 8,in the case of the seven epileptic patients two medical men did not smell the acid1 but two chemists did some time afterwards4 ,it requires an extensive experience readily to detect the smell4 ,some may perceive it1 some not4 ,several persons should smell1 some not being so susceptible of the odour as others4 ,i agree with a ,french chemist that #8under a considerable number of circumstances there must be great practical knowledge to detect smell4' ,if a person once knows the smell1 ,i think he will know it again40#ab 8,i should think that before prussic acid could be obtained from horns1 blood1 and bones of animals1 a heat of from #djj to #ejj degrees would be necessary4 ,all animals1 whether human or not1 die if they take prussic acid4 ,there is no difference in its operation upon man and the inferior animals4 ,there was no appearance of disease in the heart of the deceased4 ,had there been any rupture of the coronary arteries it would have been apparent4 ,i never knew such a disease of the spinal marrow to cause sudden death4 ,i know only of the two cases mentioned by ,taylor of the gall bladder having a blue tint4 ,the absence of it is no proof that the person did not die from prussic acid4 ,the bottle into which ,i put the contents was perfectly clean and dry4 ,the ends of the stomach were securely tied up with string when ,i moved the contents into the jug1 which was also perfectly dry and clean4 ,i have no doubt the deceased died from prussic acid40 ,after two constables 7,hill and ,larkin7 had proved the finding of a phial in a cupboard and two others in a jug1 one of which contained hartshorn1 the case was adjourned to the following morning4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,second ,,day4 ,thursday1 ,,march #ac4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,supposed ,,previous ,,attempt ,,to ,,poison4 ,charlotte ,howard1 unmarried1 a servant1 said3-- 8,i knew ,mrs4 ,hart1 and went to see her at ,salthill on the #bfth ,september1 #ahdc4 ,she had a child of mine in her care4 ,i was there from three to four months1 in which time ,i saw ,mr4 ,tawell there twice4 ,on the #cjth of ,september he came1 and in ten minutes after1 ,mrs4 ,hart sent me out for a bottle of stout1 which ,i got and gave to her4 ,she took it into the room where he was4 ,shortly after she came out and sent me for a sheet of paper1 leaving ,mr4 ,tawell in the room with the stout4 ,when ,i came back she said to me #8,i am so ill1 ,i shall be obliged to tell my master to go2 ,i am so sick1 my head is so bad4' ,she was very sick1 and ,i helped her upstairs to bed4 ,after she got upstairs she was sick again4 ,she was in very good health when ,tawell came4 ,she said she only drank one glass of porter and felt sick directly afterwards4 ,i went down again and saw eighteen sovereigns on the table1 which ,i put into a drawer4 ,there was some porter in the glasses and in the bottle4 ,that in the glasses ,i threw away1 and drank that in the bottle1 and it did not make me ill4 ,mrs4 ,hart complained of being very giddy1 but did not say anything about her throat40 ,,analytical ,,evidence4 ,mr4 ,cooper1 the ,analytical ,chemist and ,lecturer on ,medical ,jurisprudence1 was then called and examined by ,serjeant ,byles4 8,on the #crd of ,january10 said the witness1 8,messrs4 ,champneys1 ,norblad1 and ,pickering called on me with a carpet bag4 ,the bag contained a bottle 7ordinary one1 such as olives are usually sold in7 full or nearly so with the contents of the stomach2 a portion of porter in an ordinary beer-bottle1 on which was a paper label signifying that it contained ,guinness's beer2 a glass tumbler1 about half full of what appeared to be a mixture of beer and water2 a part of a plum bun1 and a phial containing a few drops 7perhaps about half a drachm7 of a nearly colourless fluid2 a small piece of pink paper1 such as is generally used by apothecaries for tying over the corks of medicine phials1 and had apparently been used for such purpose2 and the stomach and part of the intestines4 ,the bottle which contained the contents of the stomach was tied over with a piece of bladder1 and1 ,i think1 corked as well1 but of the latter ,i am not certain2 it was opened and smelt strongly of food in the progress of digestion1 it had also the smell of beer4 ,on the application of litmus paper to the surface of the contents it became red instantly1 and so very red that ,i was disposed to consider that ,mr4 ,norblad and the other gentlemen were right in their conjecture as to its containing oxalic acid4 ,a portion was now taken out of this bottle and put into a porcelain evaporating basin1 to which some distilled water was added1 and stirred well together with a glass rod2 the basin with its contents was then placed on the heated sand bath and kept stirring until it boiled1 and even after it had boiled for some minutes4 ,during the whole of this operation ,i was standing over it1 and the vapour that escaped ,i smelt the whole time1 but did not recognise the slightest odour of prussic acid2 the odour was the same as that of the contents of the bottle1 but it was more powerful4 ,the contents of the basin were then put into a paper filter placed in a glass funnel1 and that which passed through the filter was collected in a glass vessel placed for its reception4 ,while this operation was going on ,i directed my attention to the contents of the beer bottle and the tumbler4 ,i found them both to have an acid reaction on litmus paper1 the contents of the beer bottle very decidedly so2 but on the application of the usual tests employed for the detection of oxalic acid1 not a trace of it could be found4 8,by this time a small quantity of clear liquid from the contents of the basin had passed the filter2 this was removed from the glass vessel employed to receive it into a test glass1 and on the application of the tests for the detection of oxalic acid not the smallest trace was indicated4 ,i then felt quite certain that oxalic acid had not been the cause of death4 8,i was then shown the stomach by ,messrs4 ,champneys and ,norblad1 and on examining its interior surface it did not appear to have been acted on by any corrosive substance3 nevertheless ,i thought it advisable to search for sulphuric acid1 and accordingly applied to a small portion of the liquid1 filtered from that which had been boiled1 the test for that substance1 but none could be detected4 ,in like manner ,i did also apply the tests for the detection of baryta1 opium1 arsenic1 the salts of mercury1 and other metallic poisons1 and could find none of them4 ,i then came to the conclusion that1 if the person had died from the effect of poison1 it could be no other than prussic acid4 8,a portion of the contents of the stomach was then taken from the bottle and put into a tubulated retort1 to which was added a very small quantity of dilute sulphuric acid2 the retort with its contents was placed on the sand bath1 a receiver applied and a portion distilled off4 ,when about two drachms of clear liquid had distilled over1 it was removed from the receiver into a test glass1 about a grain of green sulphate of iron was added1 and when this was dissolved1 a small quantity of solution of potassa4 ,these were allowed to remain a short time together and stirred with a glass rod4 ,subsequently muriatic acid was added in sufficient quantity when instantly ,prussian blue appeared1 which could not have resulted unless cyanogen or hydrocyanic acid had been present4 ,but it could not be recognised by the smell4 ,although ,i had no doubt in my own mind1 from the gentle heat that had been employed in the above detailed process of distillation1 that the prussic acid could not have resulted from any decomposition of the animal matters present in the contents of the stomach1 yet ,i thought it prudent to conduct the process of distillation in such a manner as to preclude the possibility of such occurrence4 8,another and much larger portion of the contents of the stomach was put into another retort1 to which a little dilute sulphuric acid was added as before1 and the retort with its contents placed in a water bath1 to which some common salt was added4 ,the salt-water bath was heated until it boiled2 a receiver was put on to the retort1 an adapter intervening so as to remove the receiver to a greater distance from the furnace1 and the receiver was kept as cool as possible by folds of blotting paper kept constantly wet applied to its external surface4 ,in this manner was the distillation slowly conducted1 until about an ounce of clear liquid had distilled over40 ,on the removal of this liquid from the receiver it had the same smell as that contained in the bottle had before distillation1 and neither myself1 ,mr4 ,norblad1 ,mr4 ,champneys1 nor my son could detect the smell of prussic acid in the slightest degree4 ,in fact the odour of beer and digesting food was so powerful as to cover or disguise the smell of the prussic acid in this weak state1 but on applying the same tests as before ,prussian blue was found in considerable quantity4 8,the few drops of liquid which were in the phial before mentioned were now examined3 they had no action on litmus paper1 they smelt of camphor and acetate of ammonia4 ,the test for prussic acid was applied1 but it did not show the smallest quantity4 ,the phial was then washed out1 and the distilled liquid1 with the precipitated ,prussian blue obtained by the two above-detailed processes was put into it4 ,it was corked up and taken by ,messrs4 ,norblad and ,champneys to keep in their possession4 ,i also added the same test to distilled water containing a few drops of prussic acid1 for the sake of comparison and to try the test4 ,this was also taken by ,messrs4 ,norblad and ,champneys1 as was also some distilled water with the same tests applied1 to which no prussic acid had been added1 and which was colourless4 ,as far as ,i can recollect this completed the first day's proceedings1 it being now nearly dark4 8,on the evening of the following day 7,saturday7 ,mr4 ,pickering came to me to request ,i would on the ,monday following examine1 by the coroner's desire1 the contents of the glass tumbler1 the beer bottle1 and the remainder of the beer1 to determine if prussic acid existed in any of them4 ,on ,sunday the #fth1 being engaged at ,derby on the ,monday1 ,messrs4 ,norblad and ,champneys came1 bringing with them the whole of the things they took away with them on the ,friday4 ,the beer1 the contents of the tumbler1 and the remains of the plum bun we each subjected separately to distillation in the salt-water bath1 and to the liquor obtained by distillation the same tests for detecting prussic acid were added1 but not a trace could be found4 8,i may here observe that1 on the intervening ,saturday1 ,i continued the distillation of the larger portion before spoken of for the purpose of obtaining more of the distilled liquid1 and in fact to continue the distillation until the whole of the prussic acid had been separated4 ,a part of the distilled liquor had its ,prussian blue precipitated1 which was given to ,messrs4 ,norblad and ,champneys on the ,sunday1 and to another part ,i added nitrate of silver for the purpose of separating the hydrocyanic acid1 or rather the cyanogen it contained4 ,i kept it safe from decomposition or change during my absence1 and for the purpose of further experiments on my return1 and at my leisure4 8,accordingly1 shortly after my return1 ,i put the cyanide of silver obtained by the above process1 together with some very dilute muriatic acid1 into a small retort1 to which a receiver was attached4 ,the retort was placed over a lamp in order to be heated1 and the receiver was surrounded by cold water4 ,the distillation proceeded until about a drachm and a half had distilled over4 ,this liquor possessed the odour of prussic acid1 distinctly recognised by myself1 and also by two of my sons4 8,it occurred to me that as ,messrs4 ,norblad1 ,champneys1 and myself had distinctly seen among the contents of the stomach some undigested apples1 that the seeds or pips of the apple might give rise to the formation of prussic acid by distillation4 ,i therefore determined on making an experiment to see if any and what quantity of prussic acid they were capable of producing4 ,accordingly the seeds from fifteen apples were bruised and put into a retort with some distilled water1 and about an ounce of liquor was distilled off4 ,on the application of the tests before spoken of1 ,prussian blue1 in exceeding small quantity1 was produced4 ,on testing the last product of distillation1 no ,prussian blue was found4 ,i have the whole of the ,prussian blue thus produced4 8,about ten days ago ,i was applied to and requested to make more experiments for the purpose 7if possible7 of discovering the whole amount of prussic acid originally contained in the contents of the stomach1 or at least of that portion brought to me4 ,i stated that ,i had not the means in my possession of doing so1 and that ,mr4 ,norblad or ,mr4 ,champneys possessed almost everything relating to the matter2 but ,i thought it possible1 if ,i had the remainder of the contents of the stomach1 and that if it were contained in the same bottle in which it was originally brought1 ,i might be able to do so--having a distinct recollection of about the height at which the matter stood in the neck of the bottle4 ,mr4 ,champneys1 on ,saturday1 the #hth of ,february1 delivered1 with other matters1 into my charge1 the remainder of the contents of the stomach which had not before been subjected to any operation or experiment1 and which1 when ,i gave it him back1 after my former experiments1 ,i requested him to keep in a cool dark place for further investigation1 should it be deemed requisite4 ,the bottle was tightly corked and securely tied over with a piece of bladder4 ,before uncorking it1 ,i made a mark with a file outside the bottle coincident with the surface of the contents in the interior4 ,i then emptied the contents into a glass alembic1 washed the bottle out with a little distilled water1 and added this to the matter in the alembic4 ,the head of the alembic was then put on1 a condensing apparatus attached1 the alembic placed as before on a salt-water bath1 the bath brought to the boiling point1 and distillation conducted until the whole of the prussic acid was expelled4 ,a solution of nitrate of silver was put into the recipient for the purpose of seizing hold of the hydrocyanic acid the moment it reached that vessel4 ,by this process ,i succeeded in obtaining #adee grains of dry cyanide of silver1 very slightly contaminated with chloride of silver4 ,the latter did not amount to a quantity which could be collected and weighed4 ,but if ,i allow #jjbe grains1 and call the quantity of cyanide of silver produced in reality #adc on the quantity operated on in this instance1 it must be very near the truth4 ,but as the quantity operated on in this instance formed only #ea parts out of the #ahj of the whole volume of the contents of the bottle as it was first brought to me1 the following proportion will show how much was contained in the whole4 ,for if #ea parts give #adc grains of cyanide of silver1 #ahj parts will give #ejdg grains of cyanide of silver4 ,this quantity of cyanide of silver is equivalent to #ajjb grains of real hydrocyanic or prussic acid1 which is equal to #ej grains of the prussic acid of the strength of the ,london ,pharmacopeia4 ,the determination of the relative quantity operated on1 and the original volume of the contents of the stomach1 was ascertained by measuring1 with water1 the bottle filled1 as near as possible to remember1 to that part in the neck where the contents originally stood1 which was #ahj drachms1 and to the mark made by the file #ea drachms4 8,i may also remark that the contents of the stomach1 after distillation1 was still strongly acid1 occasioned most probably by the acid in the beer1 and also by the acid which is invariably produced during the process of digestion40#ac ,during his examination1 ,mr4 ,cooper produced the bottles containing the ,prussian blue produced from the stomach and from the apple-pips--the former dark blue in colour1 the latter hardly more than tinged with it4 ,when placed side by side on the front of the witness-box the marked contrast caused much excitement in ,court4 ,the cross-examination of this witness by ,mr4 ,kelly was so important1 that though very lengthy it is necessary to give it in considerable detail4 8,until this case10 said the witness1 8,i had never examined the contents of a human stomach where a person had been killed by prussic acid1 or a human stomach containing prussic acid4 ,respecting the effect of prussic acid on the stomach and tissues of the body1 my knowledge is only theoretical4 ,prussic acid1 which ,i have smelt from its most concentrated to its weakest state1 has a peculiar smell2 it affects different persons differently4 ,when ,i smell it1 it affects spasmodically the back of the throat4 ,but it loses its smell in combinations4 ,i am not aware what quantity of prussic acid destroys life4 ,i have no practical knowledge on the subject4 ,the case ,i am most familiar with is that of the seven epileptics4 8,i began my investigation with the view of seeing if oxalic acid was present4 ,i recognised the odour of beer more strongly in the contents of the stomach than anything else4 ,i did not trace the smell of prussic acid in them1 nor feel any spasmodic affection in the throat in smelling them4 ,i did not come to the conclusion1 after trying for those acids and mercurial poisons1 which ,i did not discover1 that there was prussic acid in the stomach1 but ,i remarked to those present at that time1 #8,well1 if this person has taken poison1 it must be prussic acid4' 8,i have no idea how much ,prussian blue ,i obtained from the first experiment1 as it was made in a hurry4 7,the bottle of dark blue liquid was here shown again47 ,i thought the obtaining evidence of its presence sufficient4 ,i got more ,prussian blue in the second experiment than in the first1 and more in the third experiment than the second4 ,i have not calculated the total amount of ,prussian blue in the bottle40 ,as to the contents of the stomach3 8,there was undigested flesh and a pulpy mass of which ,i could make nothing1 and some portion of apple1 but no pips either partially digested or undigested with the apple4 ,i am not prepared to say that the pips of this apple contained more prussic acid than others4 ,there is a great difference between bitter and sweet apples--the bitter contain a great deal of prussic acid1 the sweet1 ,i believe1 none40#ad ,as to prussic acid being in many substances3 8,strictly speaking1 ,i don't think it exists in any substance1 not even in bitter almonds4 ,i mean in a free state2 it is so extremely volatile that it cannot possibly exist unless in combination with some other substance4 ,it is my opinion that prussic acid is a #8product1' and not an #8educt'--that is to say1 in consequence of its great volatility it cannot exist unless in combination with some other substance2 you liberate it by combination and change4 ,the elements of it exist in a great many substances4 ,these elements1 on taking new arrangements1 may produce prussic acid4 ,therefore ,i feel that it is always a #8product1' and that it does not exist in any substance in a free state1 because if it did it would be continually evaporating from that substance40 ,question4--8,are not the substances which are already known to contain the elements of prussic acid1 and from which it can be obtained1 very numerous80 ,answer4--8,they are very numerous certainly1 because all those compounds which contain carbon1 nitrogen1 oxygen1 and hydrogen1 may1 in my opinion1 by new changes be made to produce prussic acid4 ,all animal substances of any kind contain those elements1 in which are contained the elements of prussic acid4 ,i agree1 as far as ,i know1 with ,christison1 that the distilled seeds of bitter almonds1 and pomaceous seeds1 yield prussic acid by distillation40 ,question4--8,is it not found1 from time to time1 by accident or experiment1 to exist in organic and other matters80 ,answer4--8,i believe it is4 ,i was the first person to discover it in fulminating silver1 and perhaps also in apple-pips1 from recent experiments4 ,i am not aware of it ever having been produced by mere organic changes in the stomach4 ,if the apple-pips on which ,i operated had been macerated1 ,i cannot say that ,i should have obtained more ,prussian blue4 ,i know it is the habit to macerate bitter almonds1 but ,i also know that without maceration they have sometimes yielded more prussic acid than with maceration40 ,question4--8,i will ask you one question more1 #8,do you agree with ,dr4 ,taylor that the odour of prussic acid1 which is said to be peculiar1 may be found when all tests fail80 ,answer4--8,i do not believe it4 ,as far as my experience goes1 it would lead me to the contrary conclusion40 ,question4--8,but if ,i understand you rightly1 you do not smell prussic acid1 but feel its effects in another way80 ,answer4--8,sometimes it has produced a spasmodic constriction about the throat1 without my smelling it4 ,at other times ,i have distinctly smelt it4 ,it depends very much1 ,i think1 on the state of the nasal organ at the time40 ,to ,serjeant ,byles4--8,the same peculiar action at the back of the throat is1 ,i think1 felt by others on putting prussic acid to the nose4 ,i communicated the nature of my evidence to the solicitor of the prisoner about a month ago40 ,baron ,parke4--8,have you or have you not a doubt upon your mind from the result of your experiments as to the existence of prussic acid in the stomach80 ,witness4--8,none whatever6 ,i have no doubt that prussic acid may exist without being smelt40 ,baron ,parke4--8,if there was an absence of smell1 would you suppose that the prussic acid was present in the shape of a salt1 and that1 therefore1 you did not smell it80 ,witness4--8,absence of smell may arise from dilution1 or from its being covered by the smell of other substances40 ,baron ,parke4--8,do you1 in this particular case1 ascribe the absence of smell to the circumstance of the prussic acid being in the form of a salt80 ,witness4--8,no1 because it could not exist in the stomach as a cyanide of potassium1 which is a salt1 or as a cyanide of soda1 when another and more powerful acid was present2 as1 for instance1 muriatic acid1 which in this case was found in considerable quantity1 it being an acid generated by the process of digestion40 ,baron ,parke4--8,do you not believe that there was also acetic acid present4 ,is not that a strong acid80 ,witness4--8,i have no doubt there was also acetic acid present1 and it would have a greater affinity for soda or potash than prussic acid4 ,i think prussic acid cannot be formed by putrefaction in the stomach40 ,mr4 ,joseph ,cooper1 a son of the last witness1 and his assistant for four years1 deposed to having smelt the ordinary prussic acid at the time in the process1 mentioned by his father4 ,mr4 ,norblad1 surgeon and apothecary at ,slough for #aj years1 said3 8,on ,january #b ,i went to ,mrs4 ,hart's house and saw her body2 have heard the evidence of ,mr4 ,champneys1 and should say that death was caused by prussic or oxalic acid2 do not know of any other poisons that would produce death so rapidly2 was present at ,mr4 ,cooper's experiments2 have heard and perfectly agree with his evidence2 oxalic acid must have been detected if present2 ,i am quite of opinion that prussic acid was present in the stomach1 and have no doubt about it2 have heard the evidence of the witness ,howard1 the symptoms she describes 7of supposed former attempt7 are precisely those of prussic acid4 ,that acid acts uniformly upon all animal subjects1 and destroys life in the same way in all cases4 ,have tried experiments on dogs1 and have seen cats and dogs poisoned by that acid4 ,on the #ahth ,february ,i made an experiment on two dogs4 ,five hours after feeding them ,i gave one of them half an ounce and the other one drachm of ,scheele's acid1 administered it at #g p4m41 and exactly in ten seconds after receiving the smaller dose the dog fell as if dead1 and the other in half the time2 ,i opened their bodies eighteen hours after and could not discover any odour2 ,i smelt the mouth of the dog and could not detect it then1 nor at any other time2 ,i opened the stomach of the dog1 which smelt intensely of sour beer1 the acid having been administered in beer4 ,i attributed the absence of smell to the admixture of ,guinness's stout2 ,i should have expected on opening ,mrs4 ,hart's body to have discovered the cause of death40 ,by the ,court4--8,i examined the brain2 it was perfectly healthy2 death did not arise from apoplexy40 ,by ,serjeant ,byles4--8,less than a grain of pure prussic acid would be sufficient to produce death40 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,kelly3-- 8,i have never attended any one who had taken prussic acid except in the form of medicine4 ,the average dose of ,scheele's is five minims1 and a minim is about a grain4 ,never heard of prussic acid being administered externally for varicose veins1 and should think it useless 7prescription handed to him74 ,that is a proper prescription for varicose veins4 ,i agree with ,dr4 ,thompson1 of ,london1 that prussic acid may be applied successfully to diseases of the skin and cancerous affections to alleviate pain4 ,i consider my sense of smell very acute4 ,i mixed twelve grains of prussic acid with a pint of porter1 but could not smell it4 ,some porter dropped on the table and ,i did then smell it4 ,i know that prussic acid when combined with the blood of an animal volatilises very rapidly when exposed to the air4 ,there is a case in which prussic acid appears to have allayed irritation of the stomach2 it is a useful medicine sometimes in small doses4 ,i have seen dogs vomit after it4 ,disease of the heart would produce death from mental emotion or rupture of the coronaries of the heart4 ,forcing water down the throat of a person in a syncope might cause sudden death4 ,there was no congestion or gorging of the lungs4 ,i saw but did not examine specially the coronary arteries40 ,kelly4--8,if sudden death had occurred from a disease of the coronary arteries1 what would be the appearance of the lungs80 ,witness4--8,the lungs have nothing to do with the coronary arteries2 ossification of them is supposed to cause sudden death4 ,the blood in the lungs would not be prevented from returning the heart so as to gorge the lungs4 ,i did not see any symptoms of the coronary arteries being ossified40 8,i examined the lungs carefully4 ,the lungs have been found gorged in some persons who have died of prussic acid4 ,i don't think that what has been called congestion was always clearly so4 ,in all cases of paralysis of the heart1 the blood has not been returned to the heart1 and remaining in it gorges the lungs4 ,death by prussic acid paralyses the heart4 ,in death from prussic acid1 death is often denoted by an involuntary scream4 ,i cannot say that ,i have heard of a succession of screams in any case of the kind4 ,when ,i first saw the body1 my impression was that death had been caused by oxalic acid1 and that impression continued until the tests were applied4 ,blackness of the stomach is a symptom4 ,there was a dark spot on the surface of the stomach4 ,i have not seen a case of poisoning by oxalic acid40 ,re-examined by ,mr4 ,prendergast4 8,there was nothing in the stifled screams described by ,mrs4 ,ashley yesterday at all inconsistent with poisoning by prussic acid2 on the contrary1 the catching of the breath is the last symptom4 ,less than one grain of prussic acid will kill a healthy person40 ,by the ,court4--8,i saw nothing on the brain to indicate death by apoplexy4 ,if a sudden emotion had caused death ,i don't think ,i could have told that by the brain40 ,mr4 ,pickering1 who had been in practice as a surgeon for nine years1 and was present when ,mr4 ,champneys made the first incision through the integuments1 said he then smelt the odour of prussic acid1#ae and confirmed the accounts of the previous witnesses of the experiments in ,mr4 ,cooper's laboratory4 ,on cross-examination he admitted that before they examined the body they were led to suppose that the death had been caused by poison1 and that he had never seen a case of death from poisoning either by oxalic or prussic acid4 ,previous visits of ,tawell to ,mrs4 ,hart1 were proved by ,kesiah ,harding1 a washerwoman at ,slough1 in ,december1 #ahdd1 and particularly on the ,monday week before her death1 when he told the deceased that he wished her to be alone when he next came1 and that he would come on the ,tuesday or ,saturday week4 ,,purchase ,,of ,,prussic ,,acid ,,by ,,tawell4 ,this was proved by ,henry ,thomas1 shopman to a ,mr4 ,hughes1 a chemist in ,bishopsgate ,street1 who said1 8,on the #ast of ,january1 between twelve and two the prisoner came to the shop dressed in a great coat and usual quaker garb and asked for two drachms of ,scheele's ,prussic ,acid1 bringing with him a oz4 bottle with a regular label of ,scheele's ,acid on it4 ,as ,i could not get the stopper out1 ,i gave it him in one of our own bottles4 ,when about to put on a label1 ,i believe the prisoner said 8,you need not10 but ,i would not swear it4 ,he said he wanted it for an external application to varicose veins1 paid #d;d4 for it1 which was entered in the book now produced4 ,next day he came again between ten and two and asked for the same quantity1 and1 as he had broken our bottle1 took it in the one he had originally brought4 ,i had seen him frequently before and might have sold him prussic acid1 but am not certain4 ,he told me1 three months before1 that he had been a chemist and apothecary abroad4 ,i do not remember his being in a hurry to catch the train and my being not able to get the stopper out4 ,it is our practice to do it4 ,we usually cover our bottles with leather4 ,attended at ,aylesbury on the #acth of ,january1 and recognised the prisoner the next morning in gaol40 ,the cross-examination of this witness1 who was evidently favourable to the prisoner and in communication with his solicitor1 was directed to three points--the suitability of prussic acid to the disease in the legs from which the prisoner suffered2 the effect of porter on the odour of prussic acid when mixed with it2 and the amount that can be produced from apple-pips4 8,the prisoner10 said the witness1 8told me he was suffering from varicose veins4 ,i judged that he was1 from the medicine ,i sold him4 ,he rubbed his leg4 ,the prescription now shown me would be a good external application for the ulceration produced by varicose veins40 ,baron ,parke4--8,what is that80 ,kelly4--8,scheele's ,acid40 ,witness4--8,that prescription is in the handwriting of ,dr4 ,addison4 ,i do not believe that ,scheele's ,prussic ,acid could be mixed with a drink and taken by a person and not smelt after death4 ,i do not think porter would disguise it4 ,i put about twenty drops of ,scheele's ,prussic ,acid down the throat of a parrot with a glass syringe4 ,three women were present1 and the smell was so strong and suffocating1 that it compelled them to leave the room4 ,the bird was afterwards stuffed4 ,i mixed thirty drops of this acid with eleven ounces of porter1 and found the odour slightly perceptible4 ,i did not perceive the difference when the froth was on and when there was none4 ,it is the property of prussic acid to give out a smell when volatilising4 ,apple-pips contain prussic acid4 ,i have assisted at the extracting it from fifteen small apples4 ,the process was a soft-water bath1 diluted sulphuric acid1 and sulphate of iron4 ,,two ,,grains ,,and ,a ,,quarter ,,of ,,cyanide ,,of ,,silver ,,were ,,produced4 ,i did this under the direction of ,dr4 ,lievesley1 a lecturer at the ,london ,hospital4 ,in this process two sweet almonds were used40#af ,on cross-examination by ,serjeant ,byles the witness admitted that he made this experiment on the #ith of ,march at the request of the ,prisoner's solicitor1 and that he had never made this experiment before2 that he had been with ,mr4 ,hughes only about a year and half1 and was paid #hj a year1 and that ,dr4 ,lievesley provided the ,london ,pharmacopia acid1 and the porter4 ,on being shown a leather or paper covering of a small bottle that had been found in the ashes of the grate in ,mrs4 ,hart's house1 the witness declared that it could not be the covering of the bottle that he had put on1 as it was too small for leather4 ,,history ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,hart4 ,sarah ,bateman said that she knew ,mrs4 ,hart six years ago1 when employed to nurse the ,prisoner's first wife1 who soon after died4 ,the witness at that time observed that ,mrs4 ,hart--then known as ,hadler--was with child1 and the following statement was subsequently made by her when at tea with ,tawell and the witness4 8,i am in the family way1 and will vindicate my master in it4 ,he is going to be married to ,sarah ,catforth 7the present wife71 #8and if it was to get abroad it would make a great difference to him4' ,she seemed much excited1 and ,tawell begged her not to excite herself4 #8,he was about to be admitted into the ,society of ,friends1' he said1 #8and should not like these things to get abroad4' ,she said1 #8,he could marry ,miss ,catforth1 and no one1 not even her mother1 should know what had become of her4'0 ,mary ,ann ,moss1 of ,crawford ,street1 ,bryanston ,square1 with whom ,mrs4 ,hart came to lodge in #ahda1 when she was confined of a girl1 remembered ,tawell frequently visiting her1 as ,mrs4 ,hart said1 8to bring her money from her husband40 ,from there she removed to a small house on ,paddington ,green for the sake of privacy1 where ,tawell paid regular visits1 and eventually to ,salt ,hill1 at ,tawell's desire4 ,she represented to this witness that her husband was ,tawell's son1 that ,tawell disapproved of the marriage1 and that the girl and a boy of whom she had been subsequently delivered were his4 ,mrs4 ,hart's mother1 ,mrs4 ,hadler1 also spoke to her having not heard of her for several years4 ,with the proof by a clerk of ,barnet's ,bank that ,tawell had drawn a cheque for #ad on the #ast of ,january1 and the identification of certain letters being in his handwriting1 the case for the prosecution was closed4 ,,the ,,defence4 ,the nature of the defence opened by ,mr4 ,fitzroy ,kelly1 in his long and eloquent address to the jury has already been indicated by his cross-examination of the medical witnesses1 and was so fully commented on by the learned judge in his charge to the jury that it is needless to reprint it4 ,on its conclusion residents at ,berkhampstead who had known him for several years1 testified to the good character which he had borne for kindness1 charity1 and benevolence1 and a ,mr4 ,richards1 of ,dover1 and a ,captain ,dillon1 who had both known him abroad--the latter for nearly thirty years--gave similar evidence of his kind1 charitable1 and hospitable disposition4 ,on the conclusion of this evidence ,baron ,parke adjourned the ,court to the next morning1 when he gave the following exhaustive charge to the jury4 ,,the ,,judge',s ,,charge4 ,after the usual introductory caution to the ,jury to be strictly impartial1 ,baron ,parke said3-- 8,he would next tell them what the case was1 and how it was to be proved4 ,it was to be proved by circumstantial evidence--the only sort of evidence that could be obtained in most cases of a similar nature4 ,the most atrocious crimes were committed in secret1 but ,providence had so ordered it that some traces were frequently left which were sufficient to lead to the discovery of the perpetrators4 ,the law1 therefore1 wisely provided that direct proof of crime was not absolutely necessary2 but on the other hand it was equally necessary that by circumstantial evidence the case should be so fully made out as to leave no rational doubt of its committal4 ,he should1 therefore1 advise them to lay down the rule1 that they should first consider what had been proved to their satisfaction1 and then whether all those facts were consistent with the guilt of the prisoner4 ,if they thought that they were consistent with his guilt--and there was nothing inconsistent with it except the prisoner's previous character--then they should consider whether they were inconsistent with his innocence1 and they should remember that the existence of the crime was not inconsistent with the other parts of the case4 ,whilst on this part of the case1 he should observe that the counsel for the prisoner had admitted all those facts1 but had asserted that the law required not only that those facts should be proved1 but that it should be shown directly that the deceased had died from poison1 and that a sufficient quantity of poison to cause death had been found in her stomach4 ,that was not true of the law4 ,it was not necessary to give direct and positive evidence in every step of the case4 ,there was no difference between direct and circumstantial evidence1 if the evidence was sufficient to satisfy their minds that death had ensued from poison4 ,it was not necessary to prove what quantity of that poison was necessary to produce death by the testimony of the person who had actually seen death produced by it2 nor was it necessary to prove that such a quantity as would destroy life was actually found in the body4 ,if they were satisfied that the prisoner administered poison to the deceased1 and that she died of it1 it was not necessary to prove what quantity had been administered to her4 ,the only positive fact which the law required to be proved was the finding of the body1 where such was possible4 ,the body of the deceased having been found1 it was to be considered whether the prisoner administered poison to her--whether it had been administered to her by the prisoner or by herself4 ,the only allegation that she had done so was that of the prisoner himself1 and if the jury thought the extraordinary story told by him was worthy of credit1 it would agree with the latter mode of accounting for her death4 ,but if they did not believe it1 they had no other conclusion left than that he had committed the crime imputed to him40 ,the learned judge then proceeded to comment on the evidence of ,mrs4 ,ashley1 and others1 who deposed to the perfect health and good spirits of the deceased up to a few minutes of the discovery of her lifeless body1 and to the medical evidence of the perfect state of her internal bodily organs1 leaving no doubt that she had not died from natural causes4 ,he then went to the evidence of ,messrs4 ,champneys and ,pickering1 the surgeons1 who1 on opening the body of the deceased on the day following her death smelt the odour of the prussic acid4#ag 8,there1 then10 he said1 8was evidence at once of the presence of prussic acid in the stomach on the day following a sudden death accompanied by appearances1 such as would be symptomatic of sudden death from that powerful poison4 ,mr4 ,cooper1 the chemist1 analysed the contents of the stomach subsequently and obtained a quantity of pure ,prussian blue from it1 and before he proceeded further with the evidence on this point1 he would observe1 that the jury should never lose sight of the conduct of the prisoner during the whole of the proceedings4 ,he then proceeded to comment on the evidence of the presence of prussic acid in the stomach immediately after death1 and the allegation of the ,prisoner's counsel1 that it was producible from apples1 and that it might have been produced from natural causes in the stomach1 which contained a quantity of apple pulp4 ,he pointed out that from all the medical evidence1 it was proved that1 that acid was contained not in the apple1 but in the pip1 and that pips were not found in the pulp in the deceased's stomach4 ,it was also proved that prussic acid had been obtained from the pips themselves only by a process of distillation1 and was not produced by the mere natural process of digestion4#ah ,no one would die from eating apple pips1 although a person might be killed by the prussic acid obtained from them by a chemist4 ,besides1 the action of the acid was sudden and immediate1 and the deceased had died in the manner she would have done after suddenly swallowing some40 ,with respect to the evidence regarding the odour of the acid being perceptible under this or that circumstance1 said the ,judge3-- 8,all that could be inferred was1 that though the perception of it was a positive proof of its presence1 the non-perception was no proof of its not being present4 ,as to the deceased having died from water having been poured down her throat1 it was quite idle to attribute it to that4 ,at that moment she was not living3 death had already done its work4 ,with regard to the quantity of prussic acid requisite to kill a human being1 it had been proved that less than a grain would kill in some cases1 as appeared by the melancholy cases so frequently referred to of the seven epileptic patients in ,paris2 and ,mr4 ,cooper had proved that more than a grain existed in the stomach of the deceased4 ,it was said that the experiments were not satisfactorily conducted--that was a question for the jury4 8,in considering the conduct of the prisoner1 the jury must couple it with all the other evidence1 in order to judge how far it bore out or contradicted the inferences that might be derived from it4 ,it appeared that on the day in question the prisoner had gone to the ,paddington station of the ,great ,western ,railway and taken his place for ,slough4 ,he had left his great coat at the ,jerusalem coffee-house1 and told the waiter that he was going to dine at the ,west ,end of town4 ,that was untrue1 and he must have made that false statement for some object or other4 ,he went down to ,slough at five o'clock1 and between six and seven ,mrs4 ,ashley went round to the deceased's house1 in consequence of the noise she heard of stifled screaming4 ,she met the prisoner in the garden in a state of agitation--so great that he could not undo the latch of the gate4 ,she opened it for him4 ,as to the observation she made about fearing that her neighbour was ill1 she could not say that the prisoner heard it1 and therefore it went for nothing4 ,let that pass4 ,however1 after she got in at the door of the deceased's house1 she turned round and saw the prisoner looking at her1 and such was the effect upon her that she felt alarmed1 and closed and fastened the door4 ,at seven o'clock the prisoner was seen by a postboy1 and he was then making towards the station4 ,at ten minutes after seven he was at the station4 ,he was next seen getting into the ,eton omnibus1 and asking to be set down at ,herschel ,house4 ,what his intention was in going to ,herschel ,house does not appear4 ,he was traced back again to the station1 and an alarm having been given1 a signal was made by the electric telegraph1 and he was seen to alight from the railway carriage at ,paddington1 and was then traced home4 ,when he was taken up next morning1 and told what he was taken for1 his answer was1 that he knew no one at ,slough4 ,it had been suggested by his counsel that this was strictly true1 as the deceased did not live exactly at ,slough1 but a little distance from it4 ,it had also been suggested that he wished to prevent his wife hearing of his improper connection4 ,it would be for the jury to say what degree of weight should be given to these explanations4 8,he had told several falsehoods when informed of the nature of the charge4 ,on the ,friday1 about one o'clock1 the prisoner had an interview with his legal adviser1 and after that1 but not until after that1 did he make any attempt at explanation or give any account of what had taken place2 and the account which he then gave was the extraordinary statement of her self-destruction4 ,here1 then1 the prisoner represented himself as present when the poison was administered1 and as it was found in her stomach1 it was for the jury to say whether the question did not amount to the simple one1 of whether she had destroyed herself or the prisoner had administered it4 ,if he thought she had been threatening to poison herself1 he should at least have stayed to see what would be the effect upon her4 ,the jury would next observe1 keeping the prisoner's story in mind1 that no such vial as that described by him was found in the house4 ,it had been proved by ,mr4 ,thomas1 who had sold him the poison in the morning1 that the prisoner had prussic acid in his possession that day4 ,he 7the judge7 did not give much weight to the observation that he would not have gone back the next day to the same shop for more if he were conscious of guilt1 because in cases of murder1 and especially of murder by poison1 it was found that great precautions were not used4 ,the perpetrators did not at all expect to be found out4 ,as to the medicinal use alleged to have been made by the prisoner of the deadly poison1 he might have had varicose veins2 but at all events it had been shown that he had poison in his possession--he had the means of doing this act on the day it was committed40 ,coming then to the question of motive the ,judge gave a brief history of the connection between the prisoner and the deceased1 and1 after detailing its commencement1 commented on it as showing her extraordinary affection and devotion to the prisoner4 8,with striking self-devotion10 said ,baron ,parke1 8she had said1 that1 in order not to prevent the union of the prisoner with the lady to whom he was about to be married1 she would go out of the world1 and be dead to the world1 even to her own mother1 from that day forth2 and the jury had heard from that very mother that from that time she had never heard of her unfortunate daughter until after her death4 ,she kept her promise4 ,she did go out of the world1 and went from place to place till she went to reside at ,slough4 ,it appeared that there she received from the prisoner an allowance of #ac a quarter1 and on the day in question it was seen that he was to have taken her her quarterly allowance4 ,when taken into custody1 the sum of #ab #ajs41 besides silver1 was found in his pocket2 and it was proved that he had drawn a cheque for #ad that morning4 ,from that fact it might be inferred that he had gone down with a sort of mixed feeling1 either of paying her the money or1 if he had the opportunity of accomplishing his purpose1 of poisoning her4 ,but as to motive for destroying her1 it had been suggested that no man would commit such a dreadful crime for the sake of getting rid of expense4 ,that1 he should say1 was not a matter to be easily judged of40 ,his ,lordship then touched upon all the evidence regarding his alleged pecuniary circumstances1 and read the letter from his wife1 in which allusion was made to his anxiety to have the papers from ,sydney4 8,as to the feeling appeal made upon that affectionate letter by his counsel1 it only proved that the prisoner had been very kind to and enjoyed the affection of his wife1 which was not at all incompatible with the commission of the crime with which he stood charged towards another woman40 ,as to the alleged previous attempt to poison the deceased in ,september last1 the ,judge considered that there was no sufficient proof that he then administered prussic acid to her4 ,it was1 however1 remarkable that after drinking porter with the prisoner on the #cjth ,september1 she should have been so ill1 and that after drinking porter with him on the #ast of ,january she should have been taken ill and died4 ,the strong facts against the prisoner1 in his opinion1 8were his presence at the woman's house at the time she died2 his declarations before and after his arrest1 and the fact that prussic acid was found in her stomach40 ,the ,judge then read over the whole of the material evidence1 and1 with the usual caution1 left the case in the hands of the jury4 ,on ,mr4 ,gunning reminding him of the evidence to the prisoner's character which had been produced1 ,baron ,parke said--8,such evidence was admissible in cases of this kind1 because it went to show the general impression of the habits and feelings of a person4 ,the prisoner was reputed to be a kind-hearted1 benevolent man4 ,it was admitted that he had been transported for some offence1 the nature of which they had not been told1 but it was said that it was not one to affect his character for kindness of disposition40 ,the ,judge then read over the evidence to character1 and left it to the jury to decide in reference to its value to the prisoner in his present position4 ,on the conclusion of the ,judge's charge1 which lasted from eight in the morning until half-past eleven1 the ,jury retired1 and in about half an hour returned a verdict of ,guilty4 ,in a few impressive sentences1 in which he spoke of the hypocrisy that had characterised the prisoner's life in the assumption of the garb of a virtuous1 peaceful1 benevolent1 and religious body of persons1 the ,judge passed on him the dread sentence of the law1 which he suffered on the #bhth of ,march4 ,previously to his execution ,tawell handed a written confession to the jail chaplain1 that he committed the murder for fear that his wife should discover his connection with the deceased1 and that the previous attempt was not made with prussic acid4 ,he never imagined that ,sarah ,hart had spoken of him to her neighbours1 to whom he believed that he was personally unknown1 and so more likely to escape detection4 ,at the ,easter ,quarter ,sessions of the ,county1 held subsequently to the execution of ,tawell1 an ineffectual attempt was made by a section of the magistrates to compel the jail chaplain to deliver to the visiting justices this written confession1 which the chaplain refused to hand over1 on the ground of its having been received under the seal of confession1 and on the promise that it should not be published4 ,all that was known of it rested on the statement of the governor of the prison1 and the general admission of the chaplain that it was a full confession of the prisoner's guilt4 ,a difficult legal question arose1 after ,tawell's death1 with reference to his ,australian land1 which the ,crown re-granted to his widow and family1 after its forfeiture by his conviction2 whether this re-grant should prevail over the claims of a previous purchaser1 a retired auctioneer1 who had houses on it1 who alleged that he had purchased it for a bon fide consideration1 under a sufficient power of attorney1 executed before ,tawell's conviction4 8,the affixing the seal of the colony to this grant by ,sir ,w4 ,denison1 created a serious difference between that governor and his chief minister1 ,mr4 ,cowper4 ,the seal was affixed pursuant to the instructions of the ,secretary of the ,colonies1 who only acted in the matter in accordance with the opinion of the ,attorney and ,solicitor-,general of ,england4 ,a part of the sworn duty of a colonial governor is to obey the instructions of the ,secretary of ,state for the ,colonies40#ai ,the governor1 therefore1 sent his private secretary for the great seal of the colony and himself executed the new deed4 ,on this being done the owners of the property found the ground cut from under their feet1 and it never came before the law courts1 but it is believed that some compromise was effected with the family of ,tawell1 and so the matter ended4 ,,trial ,,of ,,george ,,ball ,,for ,,poisoning ,,his ,,mother ,,with ,,prussic ,,acid4 ,july1 #ahfj1 ,,home ,,circuit1 ,,lewes1 before ,,coleridge1 ,,chief ,,justice of ,common ,pleas4 ,,barrow1 for the ,prosecution4 ,,serjeant ,,ballantine for the ,defence4 ,this case1 really of misadventure1 is reported1 briefly1 as showing the carelessness with which dangerous medicines may1 no doubt most unintentionally1 be administered even by professional men1 the culpable ignorance in some of those chemists who deal in such deadly preparations4 ,the accused1 a medical man1 but not in regular practice1 had for some time attended his mother1 a very ailing old lady1 and been in the habit of giving her small doses of prussic acid1 as a remedy for violent attacks of vomiting to which she was subject4 ,on the #aath of ,july in consequence1 he purchased of a ,mr4 ,moswell1 a chemist in ,lewes1 a drachm of ,scheele's prussic acid1 equal to #fj 8minims10 and gave her a dose of #d 8minims40 ,the result was favourable1 and the old lady went for a walk4 ,on her return1 however1 she again complained1 and the accused administered another dose of prussic acid1 evidently from its effects1 a deadly quantity1 as she hardly got to her bedroom before she became insensible1 and died almost instantaneously4 ,the accused believed he had given her only seven drops1 the proper quantity to be given4 ,that he gave her seven drops was not doubted1 but that the size of drops differ under circumstances as much as the strength of ,scheele's preparation of the acid1 will be seen from the following evidence4 ,mr4 ,scrate1 a surgeon at ,lewes 7who was sent for by the accused1 found the lady dead and the accused apparently in a very distressed state of mind71 said3-- 8,i asked what was the matter2 and the accused said he had given her seven drops of prussic acid1 and witness replied he must have given her more40 ,chief ,justice4--8,would seven drops be sufficient to cause death80 ,witness4--8,not according to my experience2 it was the proper quantity to be given4 ,the smallest quantity of prussic acid on record having caused death was of nine-tenths of a grain40 ,chief ,justice4--8,how many #8minims' would a #8drop' contain80 ,witness4--8,that would depend upon how the drops were obtained from the bottle4 ,if the cork was partly in1 the drop would be larger than if it was carefully poured from the open neck of the bottle4 ,some medical men made use of one method and some of the other1 but it was his practice not to rely on #8drops1' but to measure #8minims4'0 ,to ,mr4 ,barrow4--8,with such a deadly poison as prussic acid ,i should say that it was not prudent for any medical man to rely on #8drops1' but to measure #8minims4' ,the proper doses1 as marked on all bottles of ,scheele's strength1 to be administered were one1 two1 or the largest three #8minims4' ,scheele's acid was not uniform in strength3 sometimes it contained four1 sometimes five1 and sometimes as much as six per cent40 ,chief ,justice4--8,would not that amount to almost the difference between life and death80 ,witness4--8,it would make a very great difference certainly4 ,taylor and other eminent medical men have recommended that ,scheele's prussic acid should not be used1 on account of the very great variation of strength4 ,i myself always use that of the ,pharmacopia4 ,but notwithstanding what has been written upon the subject by many eminent men1 ,scheele's acid is generally used in the profession40 ,chief ,justice4--8,supposing the acid to be of the highest strength you have mentioned1 do you consider seven drops would have been sufficient to cause death80 ,witness4--8,i don't believe they would40 ,to ,mr4 ,barrow4--8,six per cent4 is an exceptional strength1 but ,i should think that it would take seventeen minims of that strength to cause death40 ,chief ,justice4--8,what do you say is the difference between a #8drop' and a #8minim'80 ,witness4--8,that would depend on the sort of #8drop4' ,the prisoner afterwards gave me a bottle which contained prussic acid4 ,he told me he had given his mother four minims1 and #be minims remained4 ,i did not test the strength of what remained1 but had no doubt the deceased died from the effects of prussic acid40 ,to ,serjeant ,ballantine4--8,there was a broken cork in the bottle when the accused gave it to me4 ,in his opinion #8seventeen minims' was the smallest dose that would destroy life4 ,it was very easy to destroy life when dropping the liquid from a bottle4 ,when accused told him he had given seven drops1 he understood that he had given three and a half minims4 ,he had never heard of any instance in which the strength of ,scheele's acid had exceeded six per cent40 ,mr4 ,c4 ,h4 ,moswell 7chemist in ,lewes74--8,on the #aath of ,july accused came to his shop and asked for some prussic acid4 ,gave him a drachm1 which would contain sixty minims4 ,did not measure it1 but gave what he considered a quarter of the bottle40 ,cross-examined by ,serjeant ,ballantine4--8,as you say you really did not measure it1 can you tell us how much prussic acid you really did give80 ,witness4--8,i cannot say to a drop4 ,i am sure he had fifty drops4 ,i consider a #8drop' and a #8minim' synonymous4 ,i gave him about the quantity1 but when prussic acid is dispensed by a medical man1 he is1 of course1 careful as to the quantity he uses40 ,chief ,justice4--8,we have been told that a #8drop' contains two #8minims1' and this witness says he looks upon them as synonymous40 ,serjeant ,ballantine4--8,if you were told to give a patient so many #8minims1' should you give him so many #8drops'80 ,witness4--8,certainly not40 ,serjeant ,ballantine4--8,can you tell us the strength of the prussic acid you sold80 ,witness4--8,i don't know what the strength was--,i should suppose about four per cent40 ,case for the prosecution closed4 ,the ,chief ,justice called the attention of the ,jury to the evidence and observed1 that the fact of the cork being broken in the bottle and defective was certainly an important matter for their consideration1 as it admitted the possibility that the prussic acid might have escaped from the bottle accidentally1 and then there was an absence of evidence that an excessive dose had been administered by the accused4 ,the ,jury almost immediately returned a verdict of 8,not ,guilty40 ,if the estimate of the witness ,scrate is taken for the difference between a drop and a minim1 and the second witness1 ,moswell1 is correct in saying that he gave the accused at least #ej drops1 equal to #be minims1 as only #be minims were left in the bottle1 equal to #d drops2 in the two doses the accused must have administered more than #de drops1 equal to #bb minims4 ,if the cork was not broken in the bottle when the first dose was administered1 the probability is that the dose then given did not exceed seven drops of the size that would make them equal to #c minims1 thus leaving #ai minims for the second dose4 ,it is to be regretted that the strength of the prussic acid was not tested4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,note ,,on ,,tawell',s ,,case4 ,in a case of the poisoning at ,egglesham1 near ,glasgow1 by prussic acid1 of a young woman1 of the name of ,agnes ,montgomery1 by ,peter ,walker1 a tailor1 the symptoms were thus described by one of the witnesses1 as well as the effect of prussic acid on herself3-- 8,after we learnt that the moaning came from ,aggie's room1 we came up1 got ,clarkson's key1 and went in4 7,as in ,tawell's case1 the prisoner had left the girl's room only a few minutes before47 ,aggie was sitting on a chair 7in which it was probable from other evidence that she had been placed by her murderer71 with her head leaning on the table4 ,the body was quite still4 ,there was a little froth coming out of the wicks of her mouth4 ,it was a little coloured with blood2 and we afterwards found she had bit her tongue and her lips4 ,she threw back at different times1 as if in distress4 ,her right hand was very firmly closed4 ,i loosed the boot of the left foot1 and found it was swelled and quite stiff4 ,about ten minutes after that was another groan3 the breathing was slow1 and with great oppression4 ,she sighed six times before she died4 ,her skin was getting quite cold after we got her4 ,i thought there was a little sweat on her face4 ,we got hot water to bathe her arms4 ,the eyes were large and staring4 ,she died about three quarters of an hour after we got her4 ,when we went into her room1 ,i found a sickening smell4 ,i felt in my nostrils a kind of nipping1 and my throat was dry4 ,i felt it off ,aggie the moment ,i came forward4 ,i know the smell of almonds1 but can't say it was exactly like that4 ,on the #eth of ,november ,i saw the superintendent of police1 and others1 and saw something 7it was prussic acid7 put into beer4 ,i smelt the beer2 and after some of it was poured on the floor1 ,i recognised it as the same smell4 ,it affected me in the same way as before in the nostrils and throat40--,evidence of ,mrs4 ,m',donald4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in this case1 on a post-mortem examination of the exhumed body1 the presence of prussic acid was clearly detected2 and it was proved on the trial that the prisoner had employed a carrier to get some prussic acid for him1 and that the bottle containing it had been given to him on the day of the murder2 and the fragments of a glass phial were subsequently discovered1 with the key of the girl's room1 at the root of a tree1 at which the prisoner had been seen stopping1 as he returned from going for a doctor4 ,in this case the poison had been most probably given in beer1 as in ,tawell's1 a tumbler in which beer had been being found on the girl's table4 ,the fellow1 two months afterwards1 tried to poison a ,mr4 ,mason and his wife1 with whom he had gone to lodge in ,glasgow1 with prussic acid1 but happily failed in his attempt4 ,he confessed his guilt2 and at first gave as his motive his desire to possess himself of the girl's money1 but subsequently said he could not tell what possessed him to do it4 8,following so closely on the case of ,madeleine ,smith1 the probability is that her case had had on him the same effect as ,palmer's on ,dove--exciting a morbid desire to tamper with deadly drugs1 and that the death of his victim1 and the danger of the others1 was as much due to this feeling as the desire for plunder40 ,he was discovered to have been transported for robbery1 and to have been guilty of other crimes4 ,he now confessed that he had murdered a lad1 by pushing him into a quarry hole4 ,he was executed at ,paisley1 ,jan4 #ad1 #aheh4--;,annual ,register for #aheh4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,chemical ,,notes4 ,,note ,i4--,,hydrocyanic ,,or ,,prussic ,,acid4 ,nature of--,strength of different preparations of1 ,english and foreign--,where found--,tests1 preliminary3 7#a7 ,odour--7#b7 ,silver--7#c7 ,prussian blue--7#d7 ,sulphur--7#e7 ,guaiacum--7#f7 ,uranium--7#g7 ,picric acid--7#h7 ,cupric sulphate--7#i7 ,cobalt chloride--7#aj7 ,mercuric oxide--7#aa7 ,peroxide of hydrogen--7#ab7 ,mercurous nitrate4 ,test apparatus--,salts of hydrocyanic acid3 7#a7 ,potassium cyanide--7#b7 ,mercuric cyanide--7#c7 ,cyanides of the heavy metals--7#d7 ,double cyanides--7#e7 ,sulphocyanides--,oil of bitter almonds--,antidotes--,fatal dose--,symptoms--,post-mortem appearances--,drops and minims--,period after death at which hydrocyanic acid can be discovered--,formic acid to be tested for--,processes4 ,synonyms4--,cyanhydric or prussic acid1 ,hydric cyanide1 ,hydrogen cyanide1 ,acidum borussicum1 ,blausare1 ,berlinerblausare4 ,formula ,,hcn1 i4e41 a compound of single atoms1 of hydrogen1 carbon1 and nitrogen1 in the proportions by weight of #a #ab #ad #bg4 ,in its pure state 7anhydrous1 or free from water71 it is a feebly acid1 colourless1 mobile liquid1 inflammable and very volatile4 ,boiling point #bde ,c4 ,much lighter than water3 sp4 gr4 #gjeh4 ,it has a characteristic overpowering and oppressive odour1 resembling peach-blossom or laurel-water4 ,but the anhydrous acid1 from its volatility and dangerous character is rarely seen or made4 ,in commerce it is always found as a dilute aqueous solution1 the varying strengths in real ,,hcn being3-- ,per cent4 ,,hcn4 ,pharmacopia1 ,british1 ,swiss1 ,america1 ,borussica1 ,london1 ,norway1 #b ,schrders #ae ,pharmac4 ,saxony #ai 0 ,austria1 ,baden1 ,batavia #be 0 ,edinburgh1 ,dublin #cc ,vauquelin's acid #cc to #ce ,pharmac4 ,bavaria #d ,scheele's acid #d to #e 7rarely #f7 ,duflos's acid #i ,french ,pharmacopia #aj to #aje ,riner's and ,pfaff's acids #aj ,hessian ,pharmacopia #ah to #bj ,koller's #be ,robiquet's #ej ,in this country1 only ,scheele's1 and the ,british ,pharmacopia 7#b per cent47 acid1 are usually met with4 ,these numbers1 however1 must be regarded merely as rough approximations for two reasons2 first1 on account of the extreme volatility of the acid--if loosely stoppered1 or frequently opened1 it rapidly loses strength--second1 both the anhydrous acid and its aqueous solution are decomposed by light1 with formation of a brown matter4 ,this change is supposed to be retarded by a trace of mineral acid1 hence a little hydrochloric or sulphuric acid is frequently added to the commercial solution with this object4 ,but the acid may even be stronger than supposed1 as the methods of preparation are somewhat various1 and the one adopted may have been carelessly carried out4 ,scheele's acid is said to be the most popular among medical men2 samples of it obtained from different large firms and examined by the author showed very irregular strengths1 the lowest being #b1 and the highest #h per cent4 ,the latter was purchased at the shop of a chemist who said he had made it himself1 and could guarantee it was of full strength4 ,he had evidently made allowance for deterioration4 ,woodman and ,tidy found #af samples sold in one neighbourhood as ,b4,p4 acid to contain #jf to #cb per cent4 of ,,hcn2 others have found #jbe per cent4 not infrequent4 ,it follows that if1 in a poison case1 a bottle has been found of a hydrocyanic preparation of a definite name1 or even with a certain strength or dose marked on it1 it will not be safe to trust to such figures without actually determining the amount4 ,in ,ball's trial 7,lewes1 #ahfj71 the judge asked whether this variation in strength would not make the difference between a medicinal and a poisonous dose8 ,it would not1 as the maximum medicinal dose1 #d grains1 of even the abnormally strong 7#h per cent47 ,scheele's acid mentioned above1 would only contain #jcb grain of anhydrous ,,hcn1 and it requires at least half a grain to cause death1 while about #a grain is the usual fatal quantity4 ,and a medical man would not even give the maximum medicinal dose as a beginning1 and without precaution4 ,,acidum ,,hydrocyanicum ,,dilutum1 ,,pharmacop,,ia ,,britannica4 ,we shall use the abbreviation 8,b4 ,p4 #b per cent40 for this acid1 which has the characteristic odour1 a sp4 gr4 of #iig1 and a taste 8at first bland and sweet1 ultimately pungent and acrid0 7,thomson71 8hot and bitter0 7,taylor71 8cooling1 with pungent bitter aftertaste0 7,watts74 ,if pure1 it only slightly and transiently reddens litmus2 if other acids have been added to keep it1 it may have a stronger reddening effect4 ,also1 if pure1 it leaves no residue on platinum1 and gives no precipitate with barium chloride1 but with silver nitrate it gives an immediate white curdy precipitate of silver cyanide1 not blackening in daylight as the chloride does1 soluble in ammonia1 insoluble in dilute1 but soluble in hot concentrated nitric acid4 ,it dissolves mercuric oxide1 giving a mercuric cyanide which may be obtained in white crystals on evaporation4 ,the vapour is said to be more deadly than the fluid acid4 ,the weaker the acid1 the more permanent it is4 ,glycerine increases its stability 7,j4 ,williams72 this might be useful if suspected substances had to be kept a long time4 ,occurrence4--,hydrocyanic acid itself has never been found as a natural constituent of the body1 although a compound of cyanogen occurs in the saliva 7see ,sulphocyanides74 ,hydrocyanic acid is not formed during putrefaction1 nor by heating organic substances with chemical reagents at temperatures up to #bab ,f41 as in testing for poisons4 ,the only way in which it may be generated from animal matter is by heating with alkalies to a red heat2#bj this cannot1 of course1 happen in the ordinary process of testing for prussic acid1 though it must be remembered that cyanide might thus be formed in an ash 7by burning71 without having been present in the original substance4 ,it is rather frequent1 however1 in the vegetable kingdom1 and consequently in a poisoning case the defence often sets up the theory that it has been ingested in the food 7,tawell's ,trial1 c474 ,it is necessary1 therefore1 to examine in what kind of food1 and to what amount1 it may be taken4 ,its principal source is the seeds1 leaves1 and flowers1 and sometimes the bark1 of most of the species of the sub-orders ,amygdale and ,pome of the natural order ,rosace4 ,it does not occur in them ready-formed4 ,there is a substance called ,amygdalin1 a white bitterish crystalline body1 which may be extracted by alcohol from these plants4 ,amygdalin when dissolved by itself in water does not produce ,,hcn1 and is probably harmless1 but there exists by its side in the plant a species of ferment called ,emulsin or ,synaptase1 which has the power1 when macerated in water with amygdalin1 of breaking up the latter into glucose 7so-called grape-sugar71 benzoyl hydride 7oil of bitter almonds71 and hydrocyanic acid4 ,in the plant the amygdalin apparently exists in cells apart from the emulsin1 but by crushing in water1 or masticating in the mouth1 the change is very rapidly effected4 ,by long soaking the same result may happen1 as in cherry brandy2 here the diluted spirit dissolves the amygdalin1 and the emulsin then may act4 ,but if1 in the stomach1 the apple-pips or cherry-stones should be found whole1 it is almost impossible that the amygdalin should be decomposed1 protected as it is by its horny or stony envelope4 ,stones and pips1 in fact1 pass through the body intact1 and are found in the fces4 ,yet as amygdalin and its decomposition may be much mentioned by the defence1 the following account may be useful4 #ajj parts of amygdalin yield #f parts ,,hcn4 ,it has been found in the species of ,rosace given below1 generally in fruit1 flowers1 leaves1 sometimes bark1 rarely root4 ,pyrus malus 7apple pips71 domesticus 7pear74 ,prunus spinosa 7sloe71 avium 7bird cherry71 padus 7wild service71 ,virginiana or serotina 7wild black cherry71 capricida1 insititia 7bullace71 domestica 7plum1 damson1 c474 ,amygdalus communis 7almond71 ,persica 7peach71 lvis 7nectarine74 ,armeniaca vulgaris 7apricot74 ,cerasus communis 7cherry71 acida1 laurocerasus 7cherry-laurel71 ,lusitanica 7,portugal laurel74 ,cydonia vulgaris 7quince74 ,sorbus aucuparia 7mountain ash71 torminalis1 hybrida4 ,cratgus oxyacantha 7hawthorn1 young branches74 ,spira aruncus1 sorbifolia1 japonica 7not in herbaceous species74 ,hydrocyanic acid1 ready formed1 has been found in the roots of the bitter and sweet cassava 7,jatropha manihot74 ,if the poisonous dose of the ,b4 ,p4 7#b per cent47 acid be at least #cj minims 7,royle's ,mat4 ,med41 ,dr4 ,harley1 #fth ed47 the following table shows the amount of some of the above which is needed4 ,percentage,equal to ,amount ,substance4 of ,,hcn required for ,observer4 amygdalin4per cent4poisonous dose4 ,cherry kernels #c #jah #ccc grains,gieseler4 ,pips of sweet apples #jde #jjbg #bbbb 0 ,c4,g4 ,stewart ,pips of bitter apples #jhe #jjea #aagf 0 0 ,wild service kernels #ae #jjh #gej 0 ,hermann4 ,flowers1 fruit1 and #aj #jjf #ajjj 0 ,riegel4 bark of do4 ,bitter almond pulp #dbe #jbe #bdj 0 ,allen4 ,sweet ,cassava #jjag #cejj 0 ,francis4 ,bitter do4 #jjbg #bbbb 0 0 ,sweet almonds contain emulsin1 but no amygdalin1 hence give no ,,hcn 7see ,tawell's ,trial1 p4 #dj74 ,according to my own experiments1 #hcg sweet apples 7apples weighing #ace pounds1 pips about #e oz471 would be required for a poisonous dose of ,,hcn2 whereas #acj bitter apples1 weighing #ah pounds1 and the pips about #b oz41 would suffice4 ,the pips of bitter apples are bigger1 more numerous1 and weigh about three times as much as those of sweet apples4 ,among substances containing much more ,,hcn1 and actually poisonous on that account1 are3-- ,,hcn4 ,crude bitter almond oil #h to #ae per cent4 ,bitter almond water to #a 0 ,cherry laurel oil #b to #c 0 0 0 water#ba to 0 ,cluster cherry oil #i to #aj 0 7,allen1 ,comm4 ,org4 ,anal47 ,it is obvious that of fruits an impossibly large quantity must be eaten to produce any considerable amount of ,,hcn4 ,in ,tawell's trial1 ,mr4 ,cooper1 the analyst1 deposed that the seeds from #ae apples gave him an exceedingly small quantity of ,prussian blue4 ,whereas1 ,henry ,thomas1 a druggist's assistant1 stated that 8#ae small apples gave #b grains of silver cyanide0 equal to #jdf1 or nearly a grain1 of anhydrous ,,hcn1 corresponding to #be minims of ,b4 ,p4 acid1 nearly a poisonous dose6 8,this was done under the direction of a lecturer at the ,london ,hospital40 ,a fair sample of the erroneous and bewildering evidence that is frequently offered in courts of justice4 ,mr4 ,cooper also stated 8there is a great difference between bitter and sweet apples2 the bitter contain a great deal of prussic acid1 the sweet1 ,i believe1 none at all60 ,this statement is misleading2 no apples contain prussic acid1 but all that ,i have met with will yield it by maceration1 as all contain amygdalin4 ,the highest class of eating apples1 such as ,newtown pippins1 ,ribstones1 and ,blenheims1 contain only a minute trace4 ,these have very few pips1 #c to #e to each apple1 while the bitter varieties1 such as 8winesours10 have #i to #ac pips4 ,in the arts1 cyanides are used in photography1 dyeing1 cleaning lace and metals1 electro-plating1 removing silver stains1 c4 ,their solutions may cause accidental poisoning1 either by the fumes or by absorption through the skin1 especially if the latter is abraded4 ,hydrocyanic acid is also formed 7#a7 in the preparation of nitrous ether 7sweet spirit of nitre71 7#b7 by distilling albumen1 fibrin1 casein1 or gelatin1 with sulphuric acid and bichromate of potash1 or manganese peroxide1 7#c7 by the dry distillation of albuminous bodies4 ,it is hardly necessary to say that these formations could not occur in the ordinary methods of testing4 ,,tests3 ,,preliminary4--,it cannot be too strongly insisted that all operations for the detection of ,,hcn should be carried out as soon after death as possible1 on account of the loss from volatility1 or from secondary changes4 7,see ,sulphocyanides47 ,allen asserts 7,commercial ,organic ,analysis1 #ahgi71 that detection in the body is rarely possible more than twenty-four hours after death2 but ,taylor 7,med4 ,juris41 #ahgc1 p4 #cfh7 has found it in the stomach twelve days after1 saying1 however1 that 8after the stomach had been exposed a few days longer1 all had disappeared40 ,in a dog's stomach he found it1 after twenty-four hours' exposure1 and washing with water4 ,in a human stomach1 success was achieved seven days after death1 where no odour was perceptible2 in another case1 after twenty-two days in the stomach1 and after two months in the spleen4 ,it may be found in the stomach1 and not in the tissues2 but in most cases it is easily detected1 soon after death1 in the blood1 organs1 c4 ,the vapour of ,,hcn will traverse paper1 wet or dry bladder1 c41 in a few minutes 7,taylor71 and few stoppers are close enough to retain it4 ,hence care should be taken to shut up the suspected matters at once in glass bottles accurately stoppered2 bad stoppers are worse than corks4 ,the stomach should be first examined entire1 to ascertain odour1 c41 noticing whether alkaline or acid1 then cut in pieces1 under distilled water sufficient to cover it1 the whole measured1 and one-half 7acidulated with tartaric acid1 if alkaline71 placed in a capacious retort1 and distilled in a bath of water saturated with salt to raise the boiling point4 ,the condenser should be well supplied with cold water1 the receiver attached airtight1 with a mercury valve 7a narrow glass ,u-tube1 containing mercury71 to prevent undue pressure4 ,a little distilled water1 about oz41 should be placed in the receiver4 ,the distillation should be continued till one-third to one-half of the original liquid has passed over4 ,the tests may then be applied to the distillate4 ,allen recommends us to distil with water alone about one-half4 ,if there is no result on testing the distillate1 continue with addition of tartaric acid4 ,finally1 add a considerable excess of moderately dilute sulphuric and hydrochloric acid1 and carry the distillation nearly to dryness4 ,in the last stage sulpho-1 ferro-and ferricyanides and mercuric cyanide are decomposed1 and give ,,hcn4 ,the original should be tested for ferrocyanide1 c4 ,this seems a process calculated to give the clearest idea of the form in which the ,,hcn is present1 but is open to the objection that it is protracted1 and may hence cause loss4 ,sokoloff4 7,chem4 ,centr41 #ahgf1 #fjc7 advises a much more heroic treatment4 8,strongly acidify with sulphuric acid1 and distil over a water bath for two or three days1 replenishing the water as evaporated4 ,the longer the distillation1 the more accurate the result40 ,he adds1 that the muscles contain the greater part of the ,,hcn4 ,he quotes figures in support of his results1 but ,i have not found such prolongation necessary2 and we must remember that ,,hcn is decomposed by heating with moderately strong mineral acids4 ,the following modification1 proposed by the author1 may be advantageous1 as diminishing the risk of loss1 and also effecting concentration3--,prepare exactly equivalent solutions of silver nitrate1 and hydrochloric acid3 the silver solution may contain #ag grammes of silver nitrate1 the hydrochloric solution #cfe grammes of hydric chloride1 per litre4 ,place in the receiver #ajj cubic centimetres of the silver solution 7 #agj gramme silver nitrate7 before distillation4 ,this is allowing large excess1 to provide for exceptional quantities of ,,hcn4 ,if any quantity of ,,hcn be present1 the liquid in the receiver will become milky2 if it does not1 there cannot be more than a minute trace4 ,transfer the distillate and washings to a retort1 provided with a thistle-funnel1 and boil down to one-third of its bulk2 then add1 through the funnel1 #ajj cubic centimetres of the hydric chloride solution1 which will precipitate all the silver as chloride1 and liberate the ,,hcn4 ,distill with the same precautions as before3 the first #be cubic centimetres will contain probably all the ,,hcn4 ,if doubted1 a further quantity may be collected and tested4 ,the #be cubic centimetres of distillate may now be subjected to the following tests1 taking care that each portion is measured before being examined1 in order that the idea of the quantity present may be definite4 ,for instance1 in the ,prussian blue1 and sulphocyanide tests1 the resulting colour may be imitated by standard solutions3 in the silver test1 a standard silver solution should also be used1 and thus a triply-confirmed knowledge of the quantity present may be attained2 and little bottles1 containing the results1 should be preserved1 to show in the courts of justice4 ,i4 ,,odour4--,all tests involving odour are affected seriously by the remarkable differences between different people as to their sense of smell4 ,we hear much of 8colour-blindness20 but the analogous olfactory defect has almost escaped remark4 ,yet 8smell-blindness10 as ,i have formerly christened it1 or 8anozism10 if a ,greek word be required1 is exceedingly common1 and chemists and medical men are frequently afflicted with it4 ,i have known an artist1 who could not smell strong ammonia1 yet delighted in the odour of new paint1 which he compared to roses4 ,many laboratory students can neither smell acetic acid1 arseniuretted hydrogen1 nor cyanogen4 ,an assistant was so fond of sulphuretted hydrogen1 that he was once found insensible beside the apparatus1 having narcotized himself with the gas 7he recovered72 and many more such eccentricities4 ,in the case of prussic acid these diversities are enormous4 ,some are so sensitive1 that the least trace in a room becomes rapidly unbearable1 causing headache and nausea2 others are like photographers1 and can work in a heavily-cyanogened atmosphere4 ,such idiosyncrasies become of great importance in evidence2 for example3-- ,in ,tawell's trial1 ,mr4 ,champneys1 surgeon1 testified as follows3 8,have no experience in detecting odour of prussic acid in a human subject4 ,should think it may be taken without detection4 ,should expect it in the mouth and breath1 but there may be exceptions4 ,there was no odour in her the deceased's breath2 but1 on opening the body1 ,i was positive ,i smelt prussic acid4 ,the other two surgeons could not smell it40 ,afterwards1 when the contents of the stomach were transferred to a jar1 neither the three surgeons1 nor ,mr4 ,cooper1 the analyst1 could perceive the least odour of prussic acid1 even when the contents were boiled4 ,nor was it smelt in the blood4 ,mr4 ,cooper subsequently stated3 8,i have no doubt that prussic acid may exist without being smelt3 absence of smell may arise from dilution1 or from its being covered by the smell of other substances4 ,when ,i smell it1 it affects spasmodically the back of the throat4 ,sometimes it has produced a spasmodic constriction about the throat without my smelling it40 ,here was a well-marked case of intermittent smell-blindness4 ,there were also several questions as to whether prussic acid might have existed in the form of an inodorous salt4 ,mr4 ,champneys further stated that he put drachm of prussic acid into a tumbler filled with ,guinness's porter1 and the smell was scarcely perceptible4 ,mr4 ,norblad1 surgeon1 deposed that he mixed #ab grains of prussic acid with a pint of porter1 but could not then smell it4 8,some of the porter dropped on the table1 and ,i did then smell it40 ,in the same trial1 ,henry ,thomas1 druggist's assistant1 mixed #cj drops of ,b4,p4 prussic acid with #aa oz4 of porter1 and found the odour of the acid slightly perceptible2 yet1 when he was pouring ,scheele's acid from a bottle1 three women had to leave the room to avoid suffocation6 ,in a case of suicide by cyanide of potassium 7,chem4 ,news1 #ahfa1 p4 #bfa71 the smell of prussic acid was not perceived by the surgeon1 either immediately after death or at the post-mortem examination1 nor by the analyst until the contents had been distilled with dilute sulphuric acid4 ,to help in elucidating this matter ,i have made some experiments as to the detection of the odour of prussic acid4 ,an acid of #b per cent4 strength 7,b4,p47 was used4 #a4 ,from a bottle of ,guinness's stout1 freshly opened1 #c samples of #a fluid oz4 each were measured4 ,to the first #a drop of the acid was added1 to the second #b drops1 the third being left untouched4 ,this was done out of my sight in another room4 ,they were then privately marked by an assistant1 and brought in2 when myself and two others1 one of them entirely inexperienced1 independently and at once classified them without hesitation correctly as to the relative amounts of prussic acid4 ,the odour was so distinct as to produce1 when inhaled1 a feeling of oppression1 and to quite overpower the odour of the beer4 #a drop in #a fl4 oz4 #jbc per cent4 of the dilute 7,b4,p47 acid4 0 #jjdf per cent4 of real anhydrous ,,hcn4 ,about #a_/cj of a poisonous dose4 ,hence if a poisonous dose were put into a pint and a half of stout1 the odour would be distinct4 #b4 ,one drop of the dilute 7#b per cent47 acid was added to #f oz4 stout3 there resulted a slight but distinct odour of prussic acid4 ,hence a poisonous dose in nine pints would be smelt4 ,covered by a watch-glass1 with a drop of yellow ammonium sulphide on it1 it was warmed2 the drop1 on evaporation1 gave a distinct red sulphocyanide reaction with ferric chloride4 ,exposed to the air for twenty-four hours1 all the above samples had lost their odour1 and failed to give the sulphocyanide reaction4 #c4 ,two samples of urine1 measuring pint each1 were treated respectively with #a and #b drops of ,b4,p4 acid 7strength in this case #aah per cent4 ,,hcn71 and a third pint left untouched1 the same precautions being used as with the above beers4 ,three independent witnesses again classified them without difficulty as to relative amounts of the poison4 ,this is #b drops of an exceptionally weak acid to the pint4 #d4 ,the contents of a human stomach1 very fetid from decomposition1 were divided into two portions of about #b oz4 each3 one was left untouched2 to the other #a grain of mercuric cyanide was added1 and then about #e drops of hydrochloric acid1 and a little zinc dust4 ,the whole was well stirred1 and shut up close4 ,next day the odour of ,,hcn was very prominent in the one to which the cyanide had been added1 in spite of the strong original smell of both4 #e4 ,i cannot agree with ,taylor that either peppermint or tobacco mask the odour appreciably4 ,the odour of nitrobenzol1 being similar to that of bitter almonds1 might lead to a suspicion of prussic acid without due caution 7,woodman and ,tidy74 ,in putrefying1 organic matters often develope ammonium sulphide1 becoming alkaline4 ,the ammonium sulphide would combine with the ,,hcn to form sulphocyanide of ammonium1 which is inodorous1 but1 by distillation with acids1 gives ,,hcn4 ,sulphocyanide1 however1 could not be produced unless the original matters were alkaline4 ,in ,tawell's1 and most other trials1 the stomach contents were acid1 as they always are naturally from the gastric juice4 ,taylor 7,med4 ,jurisprudence1 #ahgc1 vol4 i41 p4 #cfd7 mentions a case where the blood had a strong odour of prussic acid1 and the mucous membrane of the stomach1 even after it had been washed three times with water1 also exhaled a strong odour4 ,in another case 7,med4 ,gaz41 vol4 xxxvi41 p4 #ajd71 where #bj grains of ,scheele's acid had been taken with ultimate recovery1 the vomited matters had no odour1 8showing that1 if not concealed by other odours1 the whole of the acid must have been absorbed40 ,many other instances might be quoted where nothing was smelt1 and yet the tests revealed prussic acid4 ,as to the question about the salts of prussic acid1 it may be generally said that all poisonous cyanides would smell in the stomach1 except1 perhaps1 mercuric cyanide4 ,see 8,properties of the ,salts10 p4 #gc4 ,possibly the formation of mercuric cyanide may have accounted for the absence of odour in some of the above cases1 as ,i do not find that mercury was tested for1 though its compounds are common medicines4 ,otherwise it is hardly possible that hydrocyanic poisoning should have been effected1 and the acid be still there1 without its very characteristic odour being perceptible to an observer with an acute olfactory sense4 ,i have entered at some length into the question of odour1 as much importance has been attached to it in the trials1 and ,i still consider it as one of the most delicate and positive of tests4 ,,ii4 ,,silver ,,test4--,when silver nitrate is added to a solution containing ,,hcn or a cyanide acidulated with nitric acid1 a white precipitate falls of silver cyanide1 soluble in ammonia1 insoluble in dilute1 but soluble in hot concentrated nitric acid1 and not blackened by light4 ,this reaction is rendered quantitative according to ,liebig's volumetric method4 ,the original solution is made slightly alkaline by potash1 and a standard solution containing #ag grammes of silver nitrate per litre 7#a cub4 centimetre #jjag grm4 ,ag,n,o#c7 is added until a permanent white turbidity is produced1 seen best over a sheet of black paper or a black book4 ,then each cub4 centimetre used is equivalent to a double quantity or #jjjed grammes of ,,hcn4 ,formic acid1 or chlorides1 do not interfere2 in fact1 it is advantageous to have a little chloride present4 ,the silver cyanide may be also estimated gravimetrically by adding excess of silver nitrate1 collecting the precipitate on a weighed filter1 washing1 drying1 and weighing4 ,silver cyanide corresponds to two-tenths of its weight of ,,hcn 7#acd gives #bg74 ,if chlorides be present1 the mixed precipitate of silver cyanide and chloride is weighed1 treated with dilute hydrochloric acid1 and weighed again4 ,the ,,hcn is thus displaced1 and passes into the filtrate2 the silver precipitate1 now all as chloride1 is weighed again3 then the increase of weight multiplied by #bg and divided by #ie 7the difference between the equivalent weights of silver chloride and cyanide7 is equal to the weight of ,,hcn present4 ,but the volumetric process is quite as accurate1 and more expeditious4 ,in poisoning cases advantage is taken of the opacity of silver cyanide thus3 ,a drop of moderately dilute silver nitrate is placed on a watch-glass over the substance1 which may be gently warmed1 taking care that the steam condensed does not cause the drop to fall4 ,if ,,hcn be present1 the drop will become opaque-white from formation of silver cyanide4 #a_/ajj grain of ,,hcn1 equal to grain of ,b4,p4 acid1 will give this reaction 7,taylor74 ,if there is only a small amount1 and the action is gradual1 the drop on drying in the air may exhibit crystals of silver cyanide1 recognizable under the microscope as minute prisms obliquely truncated4 ,of course the silver nitrate itself may give crystals1 but they will be very soluble in water4 ,cyanide of silver is decomposed by 7#a7 hydrochloric acid1 giving silver chloride2 7#b7 dilute sulphuric acid and zinc1 giving silver2 7#c7 sulphuretted hydrogen1 giving silver sulphide2 in each case ,,hcn is liberated and may be distilled off3 then the other tests may be applied4 ,if sulphuretted hydrogen be present1 it will give a black with silver nitrate4 ,the liquid should in this case be previously shaken with just enough carbonate of lead to remove the sulphuretted hydrogen4 ,the latter1 however1 does not interfere with the ,prussian blue or sulphur tests4 ,when sufficient in quantity1 the cyanide of silver1 thoroughly dried in a water-bath1 may be transferred to a small bulb-tube and heated1 the end being closed with the finger4 ,it breaks up into cyanogen gas1 silver1 and paracyanide of silver1 a peculiar glow and effervescence occurring as it decomposes4 ,the cyanogen will have the characteristic bitter almond odour1 and1 on removing the finger1 will burn with a flame violet on the margin and rosy in the centre4 ,,iii4 ,,prussian ,,blue 7,scheele74--,add to the solution or distillate caustic potash in excess1 then a drop or two of fresh ferrous sulphate 7protosulphate of iron71 and a little ferric chloride 7perchloride of iron--the tinct4 ferri perchlor4 of the ,pharmacopia will do71 warm gently for a few minutes1 add dilute hydrochloric acid in slight excess3 if much ,,hcn be present1 a deep blue precipitate 7,prussian blue7 will remain2 if only a trace1 the liquid will be greenish1 and on standing till the next day a blue deposit will form4#bb ,this is the only blue iron precipitate which is insoluble in dilute hydrochloric acid4#bc ,remarks4--,sulphuretted hydrogen does not interfere with this test1 as the black ferrous sulphide dissolves in hydrochloric acid4 ,the amount of iron salts added should have some relation to the amount of ,,hcn present1 an idea of which will have been attained by the silver test4 ,moderate excess of potash must be present all the time till the hydrochloric acid is added4 ,a large amount of iron salt is objectionable1 as the yellow colour interferes with the final green tint with traces of ,,hcn4 ,the test may be made quantitative by imitating the tint with a weak standard solution of potassium ferrocyanide treated with a drop of hydrochloric acid and a drop of ferric chloride1 on the same principle as 8,nesslerizing0 7see ,wanklyn's ,water ,analysis74 ,finally the precipitate of ,prussian blue should be preserved to exhibit at the trial1 as this is the most positive1 though not the most delicate1 test4 ,,iv4 ,,sulphur ,,test 7,liebig74--,the liquid to be examined is placed in a somewhat shallow glass dish or beaker1 covered almost airtight with a watch-glass1 moistened on the under surface with a drop or two of yellow ammonium sulphide4 ,the ordinary sulphide is commonly yellow enough for the purpose1 or1 if not1 can be made so by warming with a little flowers of sulphur4 ,after warming gently for a short time 7the periods recommended by different authorities vary from half a minute to ten minutes71 great care being taken that the steam does not condense and cause the solution on the watch-glass to drop back into the liquid1 the cover is removed1 dried on a water bath to drive off any excess of ammonium sulphide1 treated with a drop or two of water1 and a drop of not too acid ferric chloride free from nitric acid and diluted till nearly free from colour4 ,if ,,hcn be present1 it will have formed sulphocyanide with the ammonium sulphide1 and will therefore generate a blood-red colour with the ferric chloride4 ,if a colour be produced1 continue the addition of ferric chloride till no further deepening occurs4 ,the reaction is made quantitative by comparing the tint with that produced by a known quantity of sulphocyanide and ferric solution 7,herapath74 ,but there are difficulties in making it exact4 ,this is the most delicate test for ,,hcn1 detecting #a_/gicjth of a grain of ,,hcn in a very dilute liquid1 whereas ,prussian blue does not discover less than #a_/ghjth of a grain 7,taylor1 ,ann4 ,ch4 ,pharm4 lxv41 #bfc74 ,salts of acetic1 formic1 and meconic acids give red colours with ferric chloride1 but 7#a7 meconic acid is not volatile2 7#b7 the red from acetic and formic acids is at once removed by a slight excess of dilute hydrochloric acid1 sulphocyanide is not2 7#c7 sulphocyanide-red is destroyed by solution of mercuric chloride1 the others are not4 ,the above tests are sufficient1 but the following additional ones have been at different times proposed4 ,v4 ,,guaiacum ,,test4--,paper dipped in fresh tincture of guaiacum1 containing about #c per cent4 of the resin1 then dried1 then moistened with dilute cupric sulphate solution 7#b per cent471 becomes blue in ,,hcn vapour4 ,but the same effect is produced without ,,hcn by almost all oxydants1 such as chlorine1 bromine1 or iodine1 ferric chloride1 nitric and nitrous acids1 chromic acid1 peroxide of hydrogen1 ozone 7,mohr's ,toxicologie71 also by ammonia1 hypochlorous acid1 soluble chromates1 c4 7,blyth74 ,,vi4 ,,uranium ,,test4--,a grain or two of pure ferrous salt 7ammonio-ferrous sulphate will do71 and the same quantity of uranium nitrate1 are dissolved in half an ounce of water4 ,two or three drops of this are placed on a white plate1 and a drop of the suspected liquid added4 ,a purple precipitate1 or a greyish purple colour in weak solutions1 indicates ,,hcn4 ,cobalt nitrate may be used instead of the uranium salt1 and is nearly as delicate4 7,carey ,lea1 ,american ,j4 of ,science #c ix41 #aba47 ,,vii4 ,a hot solution of potassium cyanide mixed with picric acid gives a deep blood-red --8picrocyanic0 acid74 ,free ,,hcn does not give this reaction1 and therefore must first be neutralized by an alkali4 ,said to be more delicate than the iron tests4 7,c4 ,d4 ,braun1 ,zeitschr4 f4 anal4 ,ch4 iii41 #dfd47 ,,viii4 ,slightly alkalize the distillate with potash1 add a few drops of cupric sulphate1 and afterwards just enough hydrochloric acid to dissolve the excess of cupric hydrate3 white cuprous cyanide will remain undissolved4 8,this test will detect #a_/bjjjj of ,,hcn in solution40 7,lassaigne1 ,ann4 de ,chimie1 xxvii41 #bjj47 ,but a similar effect is produced by hydriodic acid1 and potassium iodide might have been administered4 ,,ix4 ,mix the ,,hcn with excess of alkali1 add cobalt chloride and tartaric acid3 on exposure to air a deep brown-red colour will be produced4 7,c4 ,d4 ,braun1 loc4 cit474 ,x4 ,if to a solution of ,,hcn1 potash be added in excess1 and then a little very finely pulverised1 or precipitated1 mercuric oxide1 the latter will dissolve4 ,mercuric oxide is soluble in alkaline fluids only in presence of ,,hcn4 7,fresenius1 ,qual4 ,anal474 ,,xi4 8,with peroxide of hydrogen1 natural blood gives effervescence from escape of oxygen1 but no discoloration4 ,blood containing ,,hcn gives a brown colour1 the spectroscopic bands disappearing1 and no effervescence40 7,schnbein47 ,hmatocrystallin1 the colouring matter of the blood corpuscles1 combines1 in fact1 with ,,hcn1 giving a dark coloured compound which appears to be crystallizable and definite in composition 7,hoppe ,seyler71 does not act as a carrier of oxygen like the natural hmatocrystallin1 and possesses a distinct spectrum 7see ,thudichum1 ,chem4 ,physiology74 ,the blue masses in the blood described by ,ralph 7,journ4 ,microsc4 ,science1 ,oct4 #bd1 #ahff7 have not been found by others4 ,,xii4 ,mercurous nitrate gives at once with ,,hcn solutions1 a black deposit of metallic mercury1 and a solution of mercuric cyanide4 ,with calomel1 a similar reaction takes place according to ,allen1 but ,i have found that the solution is not deodorized even by large excess of calomel1 the odour becoming stronger and more pungent than the original ,,hcn4 ,on evaporating1 mercuric chloride is left4 ,probably some cyanogen chloride is formed4 ,the odour is so much intensified that it might be of use as a test4 ,in view of the possible administration of calomel1 the reaction is interesting4 ,of course it will not be necessary to employ all these methods4 ,the odour1 and the silver1 ,prussian blue1 and 8sulphur0 tests will be sufficient4 ,i would suggest a form of apparatus by which all the latter could be obtained from the original substance without distillation in a retort4 ,a shallow beaker or glass jar is closed by an india-rubber stopper1 through two holes in which are passed glass rods ending in glass spoon bowls bent at right angles1 so as to be horizontal when mounted4 ,the bowls should be one inch in diameter1 and will have to be specially made4 ,in the first bowl a few drops of silver nitrate are placed1 in the second a little potash4 ,the apparatus is put in a warm place for six or eight hours1 then the two rods are removed1 a third rod substituted1 its bowl containing a drop or two of yellow ammonium sulphide1 the other hole plugged1 and the apparatus put back in the warm place for two or three hours more4 ,the first bowl will have the silver cyanide1 the second should be treated with ferric and ferrous salt and hydrochloric acid for ,prussian blue 7vide71 the third evaporated and ferric chloride added for the sulphocyanide test4 ,this arrangement prevents loss of ,,hcn by volatilization1 and also1 with a little care1 avoids any danger of the reagent dropping back into the solution4 ,the three rods cannot safely be placed in together1 as the sulphide vapour would blacken the silver4 ,for the modifications in testing necessitated by the presence of mercury1 c41 see under the different ,salts4 ,,salts4 ,hydrocyanic acid combines with bases to form the cyanides1 which may be thus grouped3-- ,a4 ,,cyanides ,,of ,,the ,,alkalies 7potassium1 sodium1 ammonium71 and of the ,,alkaline ,,earths 7barium1 strontium1 calcium1 magnesium74 ,these are all soluble in water1 are alkaline to test paper1 and are decomposed by all acids1 even carbonic1 hence they exhale an odour of ,,hcn1 and are nearly as poisonous as prussic acid itself4 ,if they are present1 the stomach contents must be alkaline4 ,the only member of this group likely to be met with is ,,potassium ,,cyanide1 ,,kcn4 ,broken opaque white lumps1 or small crystals1 deliquescent1 smelling strongly of ,,hcn1 soapy to the feel1 often containing much carbonate1 and therefore effervescing with acids1 easily fused by heat to a clear liquid1 very soluble in water1 less in alcohol4 ,used for removing silver stains in the form of 8cyanogen soap10 but very dangerous1 as a cut or scratch may cause absorption1 and even the unbroken skin1 according to ,allen1 may absorb enough to cause symptoms4 ,its aqueous solution decomposes spontaneously into formiate of potassium1 ammonia1 and a brown substance4 ,its taste is bitter and acrid1 causing constriction and a burning heat in the throat4 ,it is very strongly alkaline4 ,distilled with dilute acids it gives off all its ,,hcn4 ,it easily responds to the other tests4 ,in a case of poisoning investigated by ,dr4 ,bernays1 a piece of potassium cyanide was found in the deceased's mouth1 which was much inflamed by its acridity4 ,the alkali being strong1 and the acid weak1 cyanide of potassium has most of the effects of an alkaline irritant4 ,the potassium may be found by incinerating a portion of the substance and testing for it in the ash4 ,taylor 7,med4 ,jurisprudence7 improperly says that the salt itself 7cyanide of potassium7 may be recovered from the organs by incinerating them in close vessels and treating the ash with water4 ,i have already mentioned that cyanide would be formed in this way from the organic matters themselves1 even if not originally present4 ,b4 ,,mercuric ,,cyanide1 ,hg7,,cn7#b4 ,of all metals mercury has most affinity for ,,hcn1 mercuric oxide decomposing other cyanides1 even ,prussian blue1 and dissolving readily1 as we have seen1 in free ,,hcn1 or in alkaline cyanides4 ,hence if a compound of mercury have been given medicinally1 the prussic acid will be found in the stomach as mercuric cyanide1 which is easily soluble in water1 neutral to test paper1 quite inodorous1 and extremely poisonous4 ,it is not officially recognised in any ,pharmacopia1 except the ,french2 has been occasionally used in medicine instead of mercuric chloride1 which it resembles in action1 but has the advantage of not being incompatible with alkalies and organic matters 7,royle's ,mat4 ,med41 #fth ed474 ,it crystallizes in anhydrous four-sided obliquely-truncated white opaque prisms1 with a disagreeable metallic taste1 is permanent in the air1 easily soluble in water1 less in alcohol4 ,it fails to respond to the silver nitrate 7partially7 or ,prussian blue tests1 and gives the sulphur test with difficulty4 ,it is decomposed by distillation with hydrochloric acid1 but only rds of the ,,hcn pass over into the distillate1 unless ammonium chloride be added 7,roscoe and ,schorlemmer's ,chemistry74 ,whenever ,,hcn is looked for1 it is safer to examine also for mercury1 and1 if found1 to add a little hydrochloric acid and sulphuretted hydrogen to the original liquid1 thereby precipitating mercuric sulphide 7black7 and liberating the ,,hcn1 which may be distilled off4 ,if1 however1 excess of sulphuretted hydrogen has been inadvertently added1 it would blacken silver nitrate1 and hence the silver test would not be available1 unless the solution was previously shaken with lead carbonate to remove the sulphide4 ,but it would not affect the ,prussian blue or sulphur tests1 as sulphide of iron is soluble in hydrochloric acid4 ,mercuric cyanide also gives off all its ,,hcn when distilled with iron filings or zinc dust1 sulphuric acid1 and water4 ,this seems a better method4 ,mercuric cyanide is said to be an irritant poison1 and to be similar in its action to corrosive sublimate4 ,combination with mercury seems to mask the physiological action of ,,hcn1 just as it does its chemical action4 ,the medicinal dose is #a_/afth grain gradually increased to grain1 in pills or solution 7,royle74 #aj grains have proved fatal4 ,by heat1 when dry1 it is broken up like silver cyanide into mercury and cyanogen4 ,c4 ,,cyanides ,,of ,,the ,,heavy ,,metals1 as zinc1 lead1 copper1 c4 ,silver cyanide has already been described4 ,these are insoluble in water1 inodorous1 and probably1 while intact1 not poisonous4 ,but they are decomposed by mineral acids1 and1 as the gastric juice is acid1 they would more or less readily yield free ,,hcn1 with its usual odour and effects4 ,the influence of the metal has also to be considered4 ,d4 ,,double ,,cyanides1 derived from iron1 cobalt1 manganese1 chromium1 platinum1 c41 are inodorous4 ,those of the alkalies and alkaline earths are alone soluble4 ,the only common ones are ferro-and ferricyanide of potassium1 the so-called yellow and red prussiates of potash4 ,they are said to be merely purgative1 not poisonous1 but1 from the comparative facility with which they yield ,,hcn by acids1 they cannot be considered safe4 ,soluble ferrocyanides give1 with pure ferrous sulphate1 a white precipitate turning blue in air2 with ferric chloride a precipitate of ,prussian blue2 with cupric sulphate a maroon precipitate4 ,ferricyanide solutions give with ferrous salts a deep blue precipitate2 with ferric salts a dark-brown coloration4 ,these reactions would be applied to a filtered portion of the stomach contents4 ,prussian blue is ferric ferrocyanide mainly1 but varies in composition3 it is supposed to be inert4 ,almen states 7,chem4 ,centr4 #ahgb1 #dci7 that potassium ferrocyanide in solution decomposes at ordinary temperatures1 especially if a little free acid be present1 ,,hcn being formed4 ,prussian blue only decomposes when warmed to #dj or #ej ,c4 7therefore not in the body1 ,c4 ,g4 ,s471 8hence the presence of ,,hcn1 if accompanied by ferrocyanide1 is not a proof of poisoning40 ,but ferrocyanide is not in any ,pharmacopia1 and is not administered medicinally4 ,yet1 to answer a possible question1 a known fraction of the original substance might be extracted with water1 and tested as above4 ,the same observations apply to ferricyanide4 ,when ferro-or ferricyanides are distilled with moderately strong sulphuric acid1 a portion of the contained ,,hcn passes over2 in fact1 this is the common process for preparing prussic acid4 ,the iron remains behind in the retort1 in combination with potassium and the rest of the cyanogen4 ,if ferric hydrate --8ferri peroxidum humidum071 or ferrous sulphate and potash1 have been administered as antidotes to ,,hcn1 ,prussian blue might be formed in the stomach4 ,it would then show a blue colour1 either by itself or on addition of an acid1 and blue particles under the microscope1 if in sufficient quantity4 ,in this case the ,,hcn left in the stomach would have been rendered innocuous1 and the prussic acid which had actually caused the death would be found free in the blood1 c4 ,the stomach contents might then show no ,,hcn1 either by odour or distillation1 as ,prussian blue is inodorous1 and not easily decomposed by dilute acids4 ,with alkalies it turns brown1 giving ferric hydrate and an alkaline ferrocyanide4 ,ludwig and ,maushner 7,chem4 ,centr4 #ahha1 #dc71 in a case of poisoning1 discovered a quantity of potassium ferrocyanide in the body4 ,this was removed by slightly acidulating and carefully precipitating by ferric chloride4 ,the filtrate1 distilled with tartaric acid1 yielded much ,,hcn4 ,the sample of cyanide of potassium1 which had probably caused death1 was afterwards found to contain a large proportion of ferrocyanide4 ,e4 ,,sulphoncyanides 7,thiocyanates74 ,those of the alkalies and alkaline earths are soluble and colourless2 ferric sulphocyanide is soluble1 and intense blood-red 7sulphur test72 other sulphocyanides are mostly insoluble4 ,they are all inodorous1 poisonous in moderate quantities1 and are not officinal in any ,pharmacopia4 ,distilled with acids they break up1 ,,hcn being found in the distillate4 ,it has been mentioned already that ammonium sulphide1 produced by putrefaction1 may combine with any ,,hcn present to form ammonium sulphocyanide2 therefore1 if the matters to be examined are alkaline1 and putrefaction has commenced1 ,allen 7,commerc4 ,org4 ,anal41 #ahgi1 art4 ,,hcn7 recommends us to digest with alcohol1 filter1 evaporate to dryness on a water bath1 redissolve in a little water1 filter again1 and test the filtrate with ferric chloride after just acidulating with hydrochloric acid3 the well-known blood-red colour will result 7see 8,sulphur ,test074 ,but the ordinary distillation with tartaric or sulphuric acid would in this case also detect the ,,hcn1 though the whole might not pass into the distillate4 ,sulphocyanide of mercury is the toy called 8,pharaoh's ,serpent40 ,a case of poisoning by it is recorded4 ,it is important to notice that traces of sulphocyanide are naturally present in the saliva4 ,if this salt be found1 the question will occur1 how much could be accounted for by the saliva8 ,carpenter 7,princ4 of ,human ,physiol47 quotes ,harley to the effect that the average daily secretion from the salivary glands is #a or #b pounds3 other observers have stated that it varies greatly4 ,the secretion itself is said to contain1 in #ajjj parts1 one part 7,frehrichs71 or #jf part 7,jacubowitsch71 or even #jc part 7,oehl71 of potassium sulphocyanide2 that is1 #db to #g grains per pound1 equivalent to from #a to #b grains of ,,hcn1 or #b to #d grains if #b pounds of saliva were secreted4 ,this would be a serious matter but for the fact that1 whether from decomposition by the gastric juice or otherwise1 or from its passing out of the stomach as it passes in1 it is certain that no such quantity is ever found naturally in the stomach1 not more than a minute trace being ever given by the processes1 unless hydrocyanic acid1 in one of its forms1 has actually been administered4 ,cyanide of cadmium1 and some of its double salts1 are sparingly soluble4 ,double cyanide of silver and potassium is soluble and crystallizable4 ,it is the salt used in electro-plating1 and1 as commonly met with1 smells strongly of potassium cyanide4 ,zinc-potassium cyanide has been used medicinally3 it occurs in beautiful crystals1 inodorous when dry1 but having a faint odour of ,,hcn in solution4 ,the other cyanides are rare1 and their physiological action is unrecorded4 ,cyanic acid and cyanates are said not to be poisonous4 ,oil of ,bitter ,almonds4--,the crude oil contains1 as we have seen1 #h to #ae per cent1 of ,,hcn4 ,dissolved in spirit it forms 8essence of almonds10 and is exceedingly poisonous1 having caused thirty-one deaths in four years 7,taylor74 ,two drachms of the oil has killed a man in seventeen minutes 7,lancet1 #ahfh1 p4 #ddg71 two ounces caused death immediately4 ,the odour of almonds is always distinct in the stomach4 ,the oil can be freed from ,,hcn1 but then does not keep so well1 and is much more costly4 ,its sp4 gr4 is #ajdi2 it boils at #cef ,f4 ,the crude oil is yellow3 with concentrated sulphuric acid it gives a crimson-red colour1 and on diluting a yellow emulsion4 ,we may estimate the amount of ,,hcn in it by shaking with water1 separating1 adding dilute potash to the aqueous liquid1 and testing it with standard silver solution as described under 8,silver ,test40 ,the other tests may also be used to prove the presence of ,,hcn2 the guaiacum and copper paper being specially convenient4 ,a case of poisoning by bitter almonds is reported in the 8,south ,australian ,register0 for ,august #fth1 #ahgi4 ,a female child 7whose age is not stated7 ate a dozen of them1 freshly taken from the tree1 and died in three hours4 ,the symptoms described are pain1 coma1 and convulsions4 ,antidotes to ,,hcn are generally useless since the death is so sudden4 ,a moderately dilute solution of an alkali1 such as potash1 lime or washing soda1 along with a little ferrous sulphate1 would render harmless so much of the poison as was still in the stomach unabsorbed4 ,as already mentioned1 this would cause a little difficulty in the chemical analysis4 ,ammonia acts as an antidote by opposing the depressant action of ,,hcn4 ,chlorine water has been used3 this converts the ,,hcn into ammonium chloride1 carbon monoxide and dioxide1 and a little cyanogen chloride4 ,medicinal uses4--,its primary action is on the cerebrospinal nerves4 ,it is employed externally1 largely diluted1 to allay neuralgia and itching of the skin1 and to relieve earache 7not more than two drops of ,b4 ,p4 acid at a time7#bd3 it must not come in contact with abrasions1 or it might be absorbed and produce poisoning symptoms4 ,internally1 it allays dyspepsia and the irritant effects of capsicum1 c4 7,royle74 ,safe dose internally two to six minims of the ,b4 ,p4 #b per cent4 acid1 suspended if there is any constriction of the throat 7,farquharson's ,therapeutics74 ,fatal dose4--,smallest recorded 7,med4 ,gaz4 #ce1 p4 #hif72 twenty grains of ,scheele's acid1 fatal in twenty minutes1 equal to fifty grains of ,b4 ,p4 #b per cent4 acid1 equal to one grain of anhydrous prussic acid4 ,largest dose with recovery 7,lancet1 #ahed1 ,january #ad71 one drachm 7sixty grains7 of ,scheele's acid1 but in this case energetic remedies were at once applied4 ,average fatal dose of #b per cent4 acid1 thirty minims 7,royle's ,mat4 ,med41 ,dr4 ,harley1 #fth ed474 ,symptoms4--,these vary with the dose1 c4 ,a large quantity kills in two to five minutes1 though insensibility may ensue in a few seconds4 ,but patients may survive for twenty minutes1 or even for an hour2 and may continue in imminent danger for several hours1 and yet recover 7,guy and ,ferrier1 ,forens4 ,med41 #ahha74 ,many cases have occurred of voluntary acts1 such as concealing or throwing away the bottle1 having been performed after fatal doses had been swallowed 7,ibid1 p4 #fjj74 ,in animals1 according to ,mr4 ,nunneley1 there is usually a peculiar plaintive cry1 but not in man1 though there may be a call for assistance4 ,convulsions1 and involuntary evacuation of fces or urine1 may or may not occur4 ,large doses kill by cardiac syncope2 smaller ones by paralysis of the respiratory centre1 or1 if gradual1 by impeded oxidation of the blood 7,farquharson's ,therapeutics74 ,other symptoms are1 dilatation of pupils1 muscular prostration1 deep convulsive breathing at long intervals1 quick feeble irregular pulse1 spasmodic closure of the jaws and clenching of the hands 7,taylor74 ,breathing sometimes stertorous 7,christison1 ,ed4 ,month4 ,journal1 ,february1 #ahej1 p4 #ig4 ,reg4 v4 ,burroughs1 ,cent4 ,crim4 ,court1 ,february1 #aheg74 ,vomiting occasional1 or foaming at the mouth4 ,post-mortem appearances4--,not characteristic 7,farquharson2 ,guy and ,ferrier74 ,putrefaction not accelerated 7,taylor74 ,the veins contain dark fluid blood3 the right side of the heart is gorged 7,harley74 ,there may or may not be congestion and reddening of stomach and intestines1 or of the brain4 ,on the whole1 the appearances are those of asphyxia4#be ,the odour should be sought for in all parts1 and as soon as possible the organs should be shut up in stoppered jars1 or well-corked and sealed bottles1 and sent at once for analysis4 ,the symptoms and post-mortem appearances of poisoning by ,cyanide of ,potassium are the same as those of prussic acid1 except that3-- #a4 ,convulsions are more common4 #b4 ,owing to the irritant action of the alkali1 the stomach is reddened4 #c4 ,the contents are alkaline4 ,the fatal dose is less than five grains1 but ,taylor mentions a case of recovery after nearly one ounce of the commercial cyanide1 which may1 however1 have contained much carbonate4 ,hydrocyanic acid is not1 in the strict sense1 a cumulative poison2 8but doses that exceed the proper medicinal limit may happen to prove fatal though similar previous ones have appeared to be harmless1 in consequence of a change in the body itself40 7,guy and ,ferrier's ,forensic ,medicine1 #ahha1 p4 #fjf47 ,in the trial of ,george ,ball for poisoning his mother with prussic acid1 at ,lewes1 ,july1 #ahfj 7previously reported71 the question arose as to the difference between minims and drops4 ,a minim of water is supposed to weigh a grain3 if the fluid is heavier than water1 it weighs more than a grain2 if lighter1 it weighs less4 ,but a drop is quite an indefinite quantity3 it is affected1 not only by the specific gravity1 but by the cohesion of the fluid1 by the shape and size of the vessel1 the manner of pouring1 and the temperature4 ,i have made some experiments which show the irregularity4 7,see also ,woodman and ,tidy's ,forensic ,medicine1 p4 #def47 ,measured ,no4 of in ,capacity of ,bottle4 ,liquid4 ,drops4 ,minims4 7,stoppered7 #f fluid oz4 ,water #aag #ahj ,do4 7another observer7 ,do4 #ij #abj #a fluid oz4 ,do4 #dg #ajj 7,corked7 #f do4 ,do4 #cf #ajj ,same capacity1 dropped with the cork ,do4 #cg to #da #ajj 7,stoppered7 #f fluid oz4 ,rectified #bdc #abj ,spirit ,proving that while a drop may be estimated at about #a to #b minims 7a good deal more than the usual supposition1 the two terms being often regarded as synonymous71 yet the inconstancy is so great that it is absolutely imperative1 in using powerful medicines1 to prescribe exact measurement1 and not such a precarious process as dropping4 ,as to the period after death during which ,,hcn may be detected1 ,allen 7,comm4 ,org4 ,anal47 asserts that its detection is rarely possible after more than twenty-four hours4 ,this is astonishing1 as ,casper separated more than #ah milligrammes from a body eight days after death2 ,sokoloff detected it in hounds sixty days after2 ,dragendorff after four weeks in a dog1 after eight or ten days in man4 ,reichardt 7,arch4 ,pharm4 #c1 #ai1 #bjd7 found it in a body two months after death--in the organs1 but not in the urine4 ,in the ,tawell trial1 also1 the interval was considerable4 ,casper states in his ,handbook 7vol4 iii41 illustrative cases of ,,hcn7 that ,schauenstein 7one of the ,prussian official chemists71 twenty-six hours after death1 found no ,,hcn in the stomach1 but a considerable amount of formic acid1 the result of its metamorphosis4 ,we know that strong ,,hcn1 exposed to light1 decomposes into formate of ammonium1 which1 by distillation with a dilute acid1 would give formic acid in the distillate4 ,that such a change should occur so rapidly in a dilute solution1 and in the darkness of the body1 is improbable4 ,it would be well1 however1 that formic acid should be looked for in the distillate thus3-- ,carefully neutralize a measured portion with pure soda or potash2 evaporate on the water-bath to dryness4 ,the alkaline formate will be left in white crystals if present1 together with the cyanide1 which will not crystallize1 but remain as a deliquescent mass4 ,dissolve in a little water1 and divide into three equal portions4 7#a47 ,to the first add silver nitrate in slight excess4 ,cyanide of silver will precipitate1 formate will remain in solution1 if not too concentrated4 ,filter1 if possible4 ,on boiling1 if any blackening happens from reduction of the silver1 formic acid is probably present4 ,acetic acid does not reduce silver nitrate4 7#b47 ,to the second add dilute neutral ferric chloride 7a solution of iron-alum answers admirably74 ,a red-brown colour1 removed by a drop of hydrochloric acid1 indicates either acetic or formic acid4 7#c47 ,evaporate the third portion to dryness1 and ignite gently in a closed crucible4 ,formate and acetate will be turned into carbonate1 while cyanide will remain unchanged if air be excluded4 ,if then effervescence take place on treating the residue with a little hydrochloric acid1 it is a confirmation of the presence of formic or acetic acid4 ,the first test will have revealed which it is4 ,many animal substances1 when distilled with strong acids1 do give acetic and formic acids1 but they do not act thus with dilute acids4 ,yet a stomach will usually yield a little acetic acid from the food having turned sour4 ,if formic acid be present1 it will probably have proceeded from the decomposition of ,,hcn4 ,then the reduced silver obtained in the first test should be weighed1 and calculated into formic acid1 and also into hydrocyanic acid 7#ajh parts of silver #df parts formic acid1 or #bg parts ,,hcn74 ,the result may be stated thus3-- 8,hydrocyanic acid actually found1---- grains4 ,formic acid found1---- grains4 ,if this had proceeded from the decomposition of hydrocyanic acid1 it would correspond to an additional amount of---- grains of hydrocyanic acid40 ,it is needless to observe that the mere finding of formic acid would be no proof of the administration of ,,hcn1 unless strong corroborative evidence were at hand4 ,on the whole1 we must always try1 and we may often hope1 to find ,,hcn if given1 either free1 as cyanide1 or as sulphocyanide1 even after months have elapsed4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,trials ,,for ,,poisoning ,,by ,,strychnia4 ,,palmer1 ,,dove1 ,,and ,,barlow4 ,,three cases are reported in this chapter4 7#a7 ,that of ,william ,palmer1 for the poisoning of ,john ,parsons ,cook1 at ,rugeley1 in ,staffordshire1 which1 in consequence of the prejudice existing against him in that county1 was transferred by ,act of ,parliament to the ,central ,criminal ,court in the ,city of ,london1#bf and taken before ,lord ,chief ,justice ,campbell1 on the #adth1 and eleven following days1 of ,may1 #ahef4 7#b7 ,that of ,william ,dove1 for the murder of his wife1 ,harriet1 at ,leeds1 tried at ,york1 ,july #afth1 #ahef1 before ,baron ,bramwell4 7#c7 ,that of ,silas ,barlow1 for the murder of his mistress1 ,eliza ,soper1 at ,vauxhall1 tried at the ,central ,criminal ,court1 ,november1 #ahgf1 before ,mr4 ,justice ,denman4 ,the first of these trials is remarkable for the conflict of the medico-scientific evidence1 the most eminent men among our physicians and analysts being called on either side1 and the most contradictory testimony as to the possibility of detecting strychnia being given by them4 ,the second trial shows the dangerous effect of hasty newspaper reports in such cases--the murder of his wife by ,dove having been clearly suggested by the popular report to which some of the journals of the day gave circulation1 that ,dr4 ,taylor1 the eminent analyst1 had stated1 in connection with ,palmer's case1 that strychnia could not be detected by analysis4 ,this case is also interesting from the nature of the insanity which was set up by the defence4 ,the last trial1 that of ,silas ,barlow1 exposes the danger of the sale of the 8,vermin ,killers10 so popular with all householders1 most1 if not all1 of which contain a large proportion of strychnia1 and thus offer a ready means for murder or suicide1 especially as the purchase of them would not be attributed to an evil intention4 ,it is but a poor consolation to know that1 when the mischief has been done1 the punishment of the actor can be secured by the skill of the analyst4 ,,the ,,rugeley ,,poisonings4 ,,trial ,,of ,,william ,,palmer1 ,may #ad1 and following days1 #ahef4bg ,before ,,lord ,,chief ,,justice ,,campbell1 ,,baron ,,alderson1 and ,,mr4 ,,justice ,,cresswell1 at the ,,central ,,criminal ,,court4 ,for the ,prosecution3 ,the ,attorney-,general 7,sir ,a4 ,cockburn71 ,mr4 ,edwin ,james1 ,q4,c41 ,mr4 ,bodkin1 ,mr4 ,welsby1 and ,mr4 ,huddlestone4 ,for the ,defence3 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee1 ,mr4 ,grove1 ,q4,c41 ,mr4 ,gray1 and ,mr4 ,kenealy4 ,william ,palmer1 surgeon1 of ,rugeley1 ,staffordshire1 aged #ca1 was indicted for the wilful murder of ,john ,parsons ,cook4 ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,case4 ,connection between ,cook and ,palmer4 ,mr4 ,cook1 having been originally brought up as a solicitor1 on coming into a fortune of from #ab1jjj to #ac1jjj1 abandoned his profession1 and took to the turf1 where he became acquainted with the prisoner1 who had for some years kept racehorses4 ,originally in good local practice1 ,palmer had of late transferred the majority of his patients to a ,mr4 ,thirlby1 who had previously been his assistant1 retaining only two or three more immediately connected with him or his family4 ,his father1 originally a working sawyer1 had1 by his industry1 gradually risen to be a timber merchant in a large way of business1 and1 on his sudden death in #ahcg1 left a fortune of #gj1jjj4 ,as he died intestate1 the eldest son executed a deed by which each of the children took #g1jjj1 and the remainder was left to the widow4 ,of these children1 seven in number1 the prisoner was the fourth4 ,as a child he was known for his amiability and kindness1 but also for his shy and underhand manner1 and his partiality for trying experiments of a cruel nature on animals4 8,he was just and generous10 said one of his early friends1 8when he grew up1 and he never forgot an old face40#bh ,originally apprenticed to a firm of druggists in ,liverpool1 he had to leave them in consequence of a scandal in money matters2 was then put with ,mr4 ,tylecote1 a surgeon1 near ,rugeley2 walked the ,london hospitals1 living the gay life of so many of that class of students2 passed his examinations2 married the illegitimate daughter of an ,indian officer1 who left her a small property2 and set up in ,rugeley as a surgeon4 ,of his five children only the first1 a son1 was living at the time of his trial1 the others all dying suddenly of convulsions within a few weeks after their birth4 ,he was an indulgent husband1 a kind father1 a regular attendant at church1 and apparently a religious man4 ,on his marriage1 ,palmer commenced to live in a handsome style1 keeping his carriage1 and soon after began training and breeding racehorses1 and occupying himself on the turf4 ,as his wife's fortune was only for her life1 in #ahed he insured her life for #ac1jjj1 the premiums on which exceeded the income he derived from her1 further insurances of a greater amount being declined by other offices4 ,within nine months after this1 his wife was dead1 and the insurance money received1 relieving ,palmer from difficulties that were already pressing on him4 ,again1 within three months after his wife's death1 ,palmer was endeavouring to effect insurances on the life of his brother ,walter1 a confirmed drunkard1 to the enormous extent of #hj1jjj4 ,only one of these policies1 that in the ,prince of ,wales' office1 was accepted1 the other offices being put on their guard by the hint that 8his wife had died after the first payment of the premium had been made40 ,pressed by his pecuniary difficulties1 he then tried to effect an insurance for #aj1jjj on the life of one ,george ,bate1 a decayed farmer1 whom he employed as a kind of farm bailiff1 and represented as a gentleman and an esquire1 with a famous cellar of wine1 but the insurance offices were now thoroughly awake2 a detective was sent to interview the esquire1 whom he found hoeing turnips1 and the scheme fell through4#bi ,since #ahed1 ,palmer had been in the hands of the bill discounters1 and especially of a money-lending attorney in ,mayfair of the name of ,pratt1 with whom he from time to time discounted what purported to be the acceptances of his mother1 some of which were renewed on partial payment1 others cleared off by the money received from the insurance of his wife's life4 8,this10 said the ,attorney-,general1 8brings us to the close of #ahed4 ,in the course of that year he effected another insurance in his brother's name1 but ,palmer was the real party1 and corresponded with ,mr4 ,pratt on the subject of effecting it1 and the policy for #ac1jjj was assigned to ,palmer4 ,on the strength of that policy1 which remained in the hands of ,pratt1 who paid the first premium out of a bill he discounted for ,palmer at #fj per cent41 they proceeded to discount further bills1 this policy being kept as a collateral security4 ,the bills1 in the whole1 discounted in the course of that year1 amounted to #ab1ejj--two in ,june1 which were held over from month to month to keep them alive--two of #bjjj each in ,march1 #ahee1 with the proceeds of which ,palmer bought two racehorses1 ,nettle and ,chicken4 ,these bills were renewed from time to time1 and eventually came due in ,january1 #ahef4 ,another bill for #bjjj was discounted in ,april1 #ahee1 renewed like the others1 and became due on the #beth of ,october4 ,on the #ith of ,july another bill for #bjjj was discounted1 renewed1 and became due on the #abth of ,january4 ,on the #bgth of ,september another bill for #ajjj was discounted to pay for the renewal of the bills due and then coming due4 ,so that when the ,shrewsbury races took place in ,november1 #ahee1 bills were due or rapidly maturing to the extent of #aa1ejj1 every one of which bore the forged acceptance of the prisoner's mother4 ,you will therefore understand the pressure which naturally and necessarily arose upon him2 the pressure of the liabilities for #aa1ejj which he had not a shilling in the world to meet1 and the still greater pressure which arose from the consciousness that the moment he could go on no longer1 his mother would be resorted to for payment4 ,the fact of his having committed these forgeries would be known1 and would bring on him the penalty of the law for that crime so committed4 ,the insurance company having refused to pay the policy effected on his brother's life1 no assistance could be derived from that source40 ,already1 in ,may1 #ahee1 ,cook1 with whom he had become intimately acquainted in racing transactions1 had lent him his acceptance for #bjj to meet a small claim1 and had had to pay it on ,palmer's default4 ,in ,august of that year1 ,palmer again asked the money-lending attorney of ,mayfair to discount a bill of ,cook's for #ejj1 representing that ,cook required the money4 ,it was1 however1 declined without further security1 and then ,cook assigned two of his racehorses--,polestar1 the subsequent winner at ,shrewsbury1 and ,sirius--as a collateral security1 and obtained only #cge in money1 and a wine warrant for #fe1 the rest being swallowed up in discount and expenses4 ,this money and warrant ,cook never got1 ,palmer asking ,pratt to send it to the post-office at ,doncaster1 whence he obtained it2 and as it was made 8to order10 and bore a receipt stamp1 ,palmer1 it was alleged1 forged the name 8,john ,parsons ,cook10 and took the cheque and the warrant1 and appropriated the proceeds4 ,that bill would be due on the day of ,cook's death4 ,in the same month it was that he attempted to effect the insurance on ,bate's life and failed2 and though ,cook had1 at ,palmer's request1 attested this proposal1 which referred to ,palmer as the usual medical attendant1 beyond that he had nothing to do with this attempt4 ,such was the desperate position of the prisoner at this time4 ,it1 however1 rapidly grew worse4 ,on the #fth of ,november a writ for #bjjj against ,palmer1 and another for the same sum against his mother1 were issued1 but held over by ,pratt in order that ,palmer might make some arrangement4 ,this he did to the amount of #hjj1 and in consequence1 after allowing for an exorbitant discount1 #fjj was taken off the bill1 leaving #adjj to be met4 ,the ,prince of ,wales office had refused to pay on ,walter ,palmer's life1 and ,mr4 ,pratt would not wait any longer4 ,on the #acth of ,november1 ,pratt wrote him that all the bills1 #aa1ejj in amount1 must be met--a letter which ,palmer must have received the next day--the day after that on which ,cook's horse1 ,polestar1 won at the ,shrewsbury races4 ,after the race1 ,cook had between #gjj and #hjj in his pocket from bets paid on the course1 and from the stakes and his other bets would be entitled on the week after to receive more than a thousand pounds at ,tattersal's4 ,before that day ,cook was dead1 his pocket-book empty1 and his betting-book not to be found4 ,cook1 though slightly disposed to pulmonary complaints1 was a hale and hearty young man1 at the time of his fatal illness suffering only from debility4#cj ,it was only natural that his victory should excite him1 and that with some friends he should celebrate it with two or three bottles of champagne at the 8,raven ,hotel0 on his return from the course4 ,he was1 however1 generally abstemious4 ,he went to bed with nothing the matter with him1 got up the next day and went on the course as usual4 ,that night his illness began4 ,late on the evening of the #adth of ,november1 a betting agent of ,cook's1 of the name of ,fisher1 who was staying at the 8,raven10 was invited by ,cook to come into the room where he1 ,palmer1 and one ,myatt were1 and take some brandy and water4 8,they were drinking grog10 says ,fisher2 8the deceased had some brandy and water before him4 ,he asked me to sit down1 and ,i did so4 ,cook asked the prisoner to have some more brandy and water1 and he said he would not until ,cook had drunk his4 ,cook then took up his glass1 and drank almost all the liquor that was in it1 and1 within a minute1 he exclaimed1 #8,there is something in it2 it burns my throat dreadfully4' ,upon his saying this1 ,palmer took up the glass1 and sipped what remained in it1 and said1 #8,there is nothing in it4' ,there was a very small quantity in the glass when the prisoner took it up4 ,at this time a person of the name of ,reid came in1 and the prisoner handed the glass to him1 and asked if he thought there was anything in it1 and handed it to me also1 and we said there was nothing we could recognize1 as the glass was empty4 ,i said1 however1 that there was a strong scent upon it1 but ,i could not detect anything but brandy4 ,cook went out of the room1 and when he returned he called me out4 ,i went with him into my sitting-room4 ,he appeared very ill1 and he told me he had been very sick and asked me to take his money4 ,he said he thought ,palmer had been dosing him4 ,he gave me #gjj4 ,he did not say what ,i was to do with the money4 ,he was very sick again after he had given me the money1 and asked me to go into his bedroom with him4 ,i did so4 ,another person named ,jones went with us2 the deceased vomited violently in his bedroom in our presence4 ,he was so ill ,i recommended him to send for ,dr4 ,gibson1 who attended and gave him some medicine4 ,he was certainly not drunk2 there was nothing about him approaching to drunkenness4 ,he appeared very ill the next morning1 but a good deal better than the previous night1 and ,i returned him his money40#ca ,mr4 ,gibson1 who saw ,cook during this attack1 confirmed ,fisher's and ,reed's account1 stating that his tongue was perfectly clean1 his pulse good1 but his stomach appeared distended1 that he only administered simple remedies4 ,cook told him he thought he had been poisoned4 ,he seemed a little excited1 but not drunk4 ,a ,mrs4 ,brooks1 who also attends races1 added the following evidence on this incident3-- 8,i went to the #8,raven' to see ,palmer about half-past ten at night on ,wednesday the #aeth4 ,i went upstairs1 and asked a servant to tell ,palmer that ,i wished to speak to him4 ,she said he was there4 ,at the top of the stairs are two passages1 one facing1 the other to the left4 ,i turned to the left4 ,i saw ,palmer standing by a small table in the passage4 ,he had a tumbler-glass in his hand in which there appeared to be a small quantity of water4 ,i did not see him put anything into it4 ,there was a light between me and him1 and he held it up to the light4 ,he said to me1 #8,i will be with you presently4' ,he saw me the moment ,i got to the top of the stairs4 ,he stood at the table a minute or two longer with the glass in his hand1 holding it up to the light and shaking it4 ,the door of a sitting-room was partially open1 and he went into it1 taking the glass with him4 ,in two or three minutes he came out again with the glass4 ,what was in it was still of the colour of water4 ,he then went into his own sitting-room1 and the door was shut40 ,some brandy and water1 which ,palmer afterwards brought to ,mrs4 ,brooks1 proved harmless to her2 but she admitted that on the previous day a great number of the racing men at ,shrewsbury were affected with sickness and purging1 and that there was a talk in the town of the water being poisoned4#cb ,with the return of ,cook from ,shrewsbury to ,rugeley with ,palmer1 on the day after this suspicious attack1 the summary of the case ends1 it being necessary to detail the subsequent events in the words of the leading witnesses4 ,,the ,,symptoms4 ,in the evening of the #aeth of ,november1 ,cook returned from ,shrewsbury with ,palmer to the 8,talbot ,arms10 at ,rugeley1 an inn situated immediately opposite ,palmer's own house4 ,he said he had been ill at ,shrewsbury1 went to bed early1 dined with ,palmer the next day1 and returned to the inn at night1 apparently none the worse1 and quite sober4 8,on the following morning10 said ,mills1 the chambermaid1 8,palmer came to see him1 and asked me for a cup of coffee for him1 which ,i procured1 and ,i think ,i gave it to the deceased1 and left the room4 ,i did not see him drink the coffee2 but when ,i went into the room shortly afterwards1 ,i found it had been vomited in the utensil4 ,i did not observe a jug of toast-and-water in the bedroom2 but a jug that did not belong to the bedroom was sent down at night1 for me to make some fresh toast-and-water in it4 ,the prisoner was in deceased's bedroom four or five times on this day1 and ,i heard him tell ,cook that he would send him over some soup4 ,i afterwards saw some broth in the kitchen1 which ,i knew had not been made in the ,talbot ,arms2 and the waitress took this broth to the deceased's bedroom4 ,i saw the prisoner after this1 and he asked me if ,mr4 ,cook had had his broth2 and the waitress said she had taken it to him1 but he refused to take it1 and said that it would not stay on his stomach4 ,the prisoner then told me to fetch the broth1 as ,mr4 ,cook must have it1 and ,i did so1 and left it in deceased's bedroom1 and shortly afterwards ,i saw that it had been vomited4 ,the same evening some barley water was made for the deceased1 and also some arrowroot1 but ,i cannot say whether they remained on his stomach or not4 ,mr4 ,bamford1 the doctor1 was called in after this4 ,on the ,sunday after the deceased came to the ,talbot ,arms1 ,i saw him in his bedroom about eight o'clock in the morning1 and he said he had slept well since twelve o'clock1 and he felt pretty comfortable4 ,a large breakfast cup of broth was brought from the prisoner's house between twelve and one o'clock on the ,sunday1 and ,i took it up to the deceased's bedroom4 ,i tasted the broth1 and very soon afterwards ,i was sick4 ,i drunk about two tablespoonfuls4 ,i vomited violently all the afternoon1 and was obliged to go to bed4 ,i was quite well up to the time of my drinking the broth4 ,i saw the deceased on ,sunday evening1 and he seemed in good spirits1 and not to be any worse4 ,i saw the deceased on the ,monday morning between seven and eight o'clock1 when ,i took him a cup of coffee for his breakfast4 ,he did not vomit the coffee4 ,palmer had seen him before this1 but he did not come again until ten o'clock at night4 ,the deceased got up about one o'clock1 and he shaved and dressed himself1 and appeared a great deal better1 but said that he was exceedingly weak4 ,ashmall1 the jockey1 came to see him on the ,monday1 and also ,mr4 ,saunders1 the trainer4 ,soon after one o'clock1 the deceased took some arrowroot1 and it remained on his stomach4 ,the deceased went to bed at four o'clock1 and between nine and ten the prisoner went into his room1 and ,i left him there4 ,some pills were sent by ,dr4 ,bamford for the deceased1 about eight o'clock1 and ,i took them into his room1 and placed them on the dressing-table1 and they were there when the prisoner went into the room4 ,i went to bed between ten and eleven1 and ,i was called up about twelve4 ,i then heard violent screams from the deceased's bedroom1 and upon entering it ,i saw the deceased sitting up in bed1 and he desired me to fetch the prisoner directly4 ,i told him he had been sent for1 and ,i then walked to the bedside and found one of the pillows was upon the floor4 ,i picked it up and asked ,mr4 ,cook if he would lay his head down4 ,at this time he was beating the bedclothes apparently in great agony1 and he told me he could not lie down1 and he should be suffocated if he did2 and he then1 in a loud tone1 asked me again to send for ,mr4 ,palmer4 ,there was a sort of jumping or jerking about his head and neck and body all this time1 and his breathing was very much affected4 ,he screamed three or four times while ,i was in the room1 and twice he called out1 #8,murder4' ,he asked me to rub one of his hands1 and ,i found it quite stiff4 ,it was the left hand4 ,the fingers were all stretched out and there was no motion in them1 and they twitched while ,i was rubbing the hand4 ,palmer came into the room while this was going on1 and the deceased recognized him1 and said1 #8,oh1 ,palmer1' or #8,oh1 doctor1 ,i shall die4' ,the prisoner replied1 #8,oh1 my lad1 you won't2' and after remaining a minute or two in the room he told me to stay there1 and went out4 ,he returned in a very few minutes1 and he then produced some pills1 and he gave the deceased a draught in a wine-glass1 after he had given him the pills4 ,cook said that the pills stuck in his throat1 and the prisoner told me to give him some toast-and-water1 and ,i did so in a teaspoon4 ,his head and body continued jerking1 and he seized the spoon fast between his teeth and seemed to bite it very hard4 ,the deceased shortly after swallowed the toast-and-water and the pills1 and the prisoner then handed him the draught4 ,it had a thick heavy appearance4 ,the deceased snapped at the glass in the same way he did at the spoon1 and he appeared unable to control himself4 ,as soon as he had swallowed the draught1 he vomited it immediately1 and it appeared to me to smell like opium4 ,the prisoner then made the remark that he hoped the pills had stayed1 and he searched the utensil in which the deceased had vomited with a quill1 and said that he could not find them2 and he told me to take the utensil away and empty it carefully1 and ,i did so1 but could not see any trace of the pills4 ,after this the deceased seemed a little more easy4 ,the attack lasted altogether about half an hour1 and during the whole of the time he was quite conscious4 ,when he was composed he asked the prisoner to feel how his heart beat2 and ,palmer went to his bedside1 and put his hand either to his heart1 or the side of his face1 and he said it was all right4 ,i left the deceased about three o'clock in the morning1 and at this time the prisoner was sitting in the easy chair1 and ,i believe he was asleep4 ,about six o'clock the same morning ,i saw the deceased again1 and he told me that ,mr4 ,palmer had left him about a quarter past five o'clock4 ,i asked him how he was1 and he replied that he was no worse2 and he then asked me if ,i had ever seen any one in such agony as he was the night before1 and ,i told him ,i never had4 ,he then said he was sure ,i should never like to see anyone in such agony again1 and ,i inquired what he thought was the cause4 ,he replied that it was through some pills that ,palmer had given him about half-past ten4 ,the deceased was quite composed and quiet at this time1 and there was no jerking or convulsion about him1 but his eyes looked very wild4 ,about twelve o'clock the deceased desired me to send the ,boots over to ,mr4 ,palmer to know whether he might have a cup of coffee4 ,a message was brought back that he might1 and ,mr4 ,palmer would be over immediately4 ,when ,i took up the coffee the prisoner was in the room1 and ,i gave him the coffee1 and he tasted it to see that it was not too strong4 ,mr4 ,jones came to the inn about three o'clock1 and ,i saw him in the deceased's room1 and the prisoner after this told me that ,cook had vomited the coffee4 ,i saw ,cook several times after this1 and he appeared in very good spirits1 and talked about getting up the next morning1 and wished the barber to be sent for to shave him4 ,i did not see the deceased later than half-past ten o'clock on the ,tuesday night1 and the prisoner was then in his bedroom1 and ,i gave him some toast-and-water for the deceased1 and the prisoner said he did not want anything more4 ,i sat up in the kitchen on purpose to see how ,mr4 ,cook went on1 and ,i heard the bell of his room ring violently about ten minutes before twelve1 and went up immediately4 ,i found the deceased sitting up1 and ,mr4 ,jones had his arm round his shoulders1 apparently supporting him4 ,the deceased when he saw me1 told me to fetch ,palmer directly4 ,i went over to his house1 and rang the surgery bell1 and the prisoner came to the window almost in an instant1 and opened a small casement1 and ,i told him to come over to ,mr4 ,cook1 as he was in much the same state as he was the night before4 ,he made some reply1 and ,i returned at once to the #8,talbot ,arms1' and in a minute or two the prisoner came into ,mr4 ,cook's room4 ,the first thing he said was that he did not think he had ever dressed so quickly before in his life4 ,at this time ,mr4 ,jones was supporting the deceased4 ,i went out into the landing about a minute or two1 and the prisoner came out1 and ,i observed to him that ,mr4 ,cook appeared in the same state as the night before1 and he replied1 #8,not so ill by a fiftieth part4' ,he then went to his own house1 and returned in a very short time to the deceased's bedroom4 ,i then heard the deceased ask to be turned on his right side1 and ,i then shortly after heard that he was dead40 ,the cross-examination of ,elizabeth ,mills was mainly directed to three points--7#a47 ,the fact of ,mr4 ,cook complaining of sore throat1 but not of difficulty in swallowing1 in ,may1 #ahee1 when the witness said all that he did was to use a gargle sent by ,dr4 ,bamford4 7#b47 ,her omission to tell the coroner that the broth had made her sick2 that ,cook had said he became ill on taking the pills sent by ,palmer2 that he beat the bedclothes1 called 8,murder60 and 8twitched0 when she rubbed his hands4 ,these omissions the witness accounted for by the fact that the coroner did not ask her to detail all the symptoms she saw1 but merely required her to answer such questions as he put4 ,on her depositions being read1 the ,attorney-,general proposed to call evidence to prove the negligence and misconduct of the coroner1 but the court ruled that it was inadmissible4#cc 7#c47 ,that the witness had had several interviews with ,cook's stepfather1 ,stevens1 his attorney1 and the chief constable1 before giving evidence--the defence imputing that they had instructed her in the symptoms4 ,she denied1 however1 any such conduct on their part4 ,she had heard of ,dove's case1 but not read it1 and ,mr4 ,stevens had never given her any money4 ,an attempt to injure her moral character in reference to a man of the name of ,dutton entirely failed1 and her evidence remained substantially uncontradicted4 ,lavinia ,barnes1 the waitress at the 8,talbot ,arms10 remembered ,cook coming there on ,monday1 the #abth1 on his way to the races1 and not complaining of illness1 and she saw him when he returned on ,thursday1 the #aeth1 and after he came from dining at ,palmer's1 on the ,friday evening1 when he spoke to her1 and was sober4 8,on the ,saturday10 continued this witness1 8,i saw him twice4 ,some broth was sent over and taken up to him by me4 ,he could not take it2 he was too sick4 ,i carried it down1 and put it in the kitchen4 ,i afterwards saw ,palmer1 and told him ,cook was too sick to take it2 he said he must have it4 ,elizabeth ,mills afterwards took it up again4 ,mills was taken ill with violent vomiting on the ,sunday between twelve and one o'clock4 ,she went to bed1 and did not come downstairs till four or five o'clock4 ,i saw some broth that day in the kitchen2 it was in a sick cup1 with two handles1 not belonging to the house4 ,i did not see it brought2 it was taken back to ,palmer's4 ,on ,monday morning 7#aith7 ,i saw ,palmer1 and he told ,mills he was going to ,london4 ,i saw ,cook during that day4 ,saunders came to see him1 and took him up some brandy-and-water4 ,i slept that night in the next room to ,cook's4 ,palmer came between eight and nine in the evening1 but ,i did not see if he went up to ,cook's room4 7,according to ,mills1 ,palmer had seen ,cook in the morning1 and saw him again at ten at night47 ,about twelve o'clock ,i was in the kitchen1 when ,cook's bell rang violently4 ,i went upstairs4 ,cook was very ill1 and asked me to send for ,palmer4 ,he screamed out #8',murder6' ,he exclaimed that he was in violent pain--that he was suffocating4 ,his eyes were wild-looking1 standing a great way out of his head4 ,he was beating his bed with his arms4 ,he cried out1 #8,christ1 have mercy on my soul6' ,i never saw a person in such a state4 ,having called up ,mills1 ,i left to send #8,boots' for ,palmer1 who came1 and ,i again went into ,cook's room4 ,cook was then more composed4 ,he said1 #8,oh1 doctor1 ,i shall die6' ,palmer replied1 #8,don't be alarmed1 my lad4' ,i saw ,cook drink a dark mixture out of a glass1 but do not know who gave it him4 ,i both heard and saw him snap at the glass4 ,he brought up the draught4 ,i left him between twelve and one1 when he was more composed4 ,on ,tuesday he seemed a little better4 ,at night1 a little before twelve1 the bell rang again4 ,i was in the kitchen4 ,mills went upstairs1 and ,i followed her1 and heard ,cook screaming1 but did not go into the room4 ,i stood outside the door1 and saw ,palmer come4 ,he had been fetched4 ,i said1 as he passed me1 #8,mr4 ,cook is ill again4' ,he said1 #8,oh1 is he8' and went into the room4 ,he was dressed in his usual manner1 and wore a black coat and a cap4#cd ,she also heard him make the observation to ,mills before reported4 ,she went to the room1 but came out before ,cook died40 ,,medical ,,evidence4 ,in consequence of his severe illness1 the following deposition of ,dr4 ,bamford 7an aged local practitioner7 before the coroner was read3-- 8,i attended the late ,mr4 ,cook1 at the request of ,william ,palmer1 and first saw him about three o'clock on ,saturday1 the #agth of ,november1 when he was suffering from violent vomiting1 the stomach being in that irritable state1 that it would not contain a teaspoonful of milk4 ,there was perfect moisture of the skin1 and he was quite sensible4 ,i prescribed medicine for him2 and ,mr4 ,palmer went up to my house and waited until ,i had made it up1 and then took it away4 ,i prescribed a saline draught1 to be taken in an effervescing state4 ,between seven and eight in the evening ,mr4 ,palmer again requested me to visit ,mr4 ,cook4 ,the sickness still continued1 everything he took being ejected from his stomach4 ,i gave him two small pills as an opiate4 ,palmer took the pills from my house4 ,i did not accompany1 nor do ,i know what became of the pills4 ,on the following morning 7,sunday7 ,palmer again called1 and asked me to accompany him4 ,mr4 ,cook's sickness still continued4 ,i remained about ten minutes4 ,everything he took that morning was ejected from his stomach4 ,everything he threw up was as clear as water1 except some coffee that he had taken4 ,palmer had administered some pills before ,i saw ,mr4 ,cook on ,saturday1 which had purged him several times4 ,between six and seven in the evening ,i again visited the deceased1 accompanied by ,palmer4 ,the sickness still continued4 ,i went on ,monday morning between eight and nine1 and changed his medicine4 ,i sent him a draught1 which relieved his sickness1 and gave him ease4 ,i did not see him again until ,tuesday night1 when ,palmer called for me4 ,i examined ,mr4 ,cook1 in the presence of ,mr4 ,jones and ,mr4 ,palmer1 and ,i observed a change in him4 ,he was irritable and troubled in his mind4 ,his pulse was firm1 but tremulous1 and between #hj and #ij4 ,he threw himself down on the bed1 and turned his face away4 ,he said he would have no more pills1 nor take any medicine4 ,after they had left the room1 ,palmer asked me to make two more pills1 similar to those on the previous night1 which ,i did1 and he then asked me to write the directions on a slip of paper1 and ,i gave the pills to ,palmer4 ,the effervescing mixture contained #bj grains of carbonate of potash1 #b drachms of compound tincture of cardamine1 and #b drachms of simple syrup1 together with #ae grains of tartaric acid for each powder4 ,i never gave ,mr4 ,cook a grain of antimony4 ,i did not see the preparations after they were taken away4 ,his skin was moist1 and there was not the least fever about him4 ,i considered death to have been the result of congestion of the brain1 when the post-mortem examination was made1 and ,i do not see any reason to alter that opinion4 ,palmer said he was of the same opinion with respect to the death of the deceased4 ,i never knew apoplexy produce rigidity of the limbs4 ,drowsiness is a prelude to apoplexy4 ,i attribute the sickness on the first two days to a disordered stomach40 ,when called in the sixth day of the trial1 after his recovery1 the witness said--speaking of the last visit to ,mr4 ,cook--8,having seen ,cook1 ,i left the room with ,jones and ,palmer3 the latter said he rather wished ,cook to have his pills again 7,i had prepared the same pills on ,saturday1 ,sunday1 and ,monday71 and he would walk up with me for them4 ,he did so1 and stood by me in the surgery while ,i prepared them4 ,i had strychnia in a cupboard in my private room4 ,i put the pills in a box1 and addressed it #8,night pills1 ,john ,parsons ,cook1 ,esq4' ,i wrote that direction all four nights4 ,on the ,tuesday night ,palmer requested me to put on a direction4 ,after that ,i did not see ,cook alive4 ,it was1 as near as could be1 twenty minutes past twelve1 at midnight1 when ,i saw ,cook dead4 ,i understood he was alive when they came for me1 and ,i could not have been more than five or ten minutes in going up4 ,my house is about two hundred yards from ,palmer4 ,i found the body stretched out1 resting on the heels and the back of the head1 as straight as possible1 and stiff4 ,the arms were extended down each side of the body1 and the hands clenched4 ,i certified it was apoplexy40 ,mr4 ,william ,henry ,jones1 a surgeon at ,lutterworth1 and intimate friend of ,cook's for the last five years1 was written to by ,palmer on the ,monday1 the #aith1 stating that 8,cook was taken ill at ,shrewsbury1 and obliged to call in a medical man20 that 8since then he had been confined to his bed with a very serious bilious attack1 combined with diarrha10 and that ,palmer 8thought it advisable that his friend should come and see him40 ,illness prevented this before about half-past three in the afternoon of ,tuesday1 the day before ,cook died4 8,on my arrival at ,rugeley10 said the witness1 8,i went up to ,cook's room4 ,he said he was very comfortable1 but had been very ill at ,shrewsbury4 ,he did not detail the symptoms1 but said he had had to call in a doctor4 ,palmer came in4 ,i examined ,cook in his presence4 ,he had a natural pulse4 ,i looked at his tongue2 it was clean4 ,i said it was hardly the tongue of a bilious1 diarrha attack4 ,palmer replied1 #8,you should have seen it before4' ,i did not then prescribe for ,cook4 ,in the course of the afternoon ,i visited him several times4 ,he changed for the better4 ,his spirits and pulse both improved4 ,i gave him1 at his request1 some toast and water1 and he vomited4 ,there was no diarrha4 ,the toast and water was in the room4 ,mr4 ,bamford came in the evening1 about #g o'clock1 and expressed his opinion that ,cook was going on very satisfactorily4 ,we were talking about what he was to have1 and ,cook objected to the pills of the previous night4 ,palmer was there all the time4 ,cook said the pills made him ill4 ,i do not remember to whom he addressed this observation4 ,we three 7,palmer1 ,bamford1 and myself7 went out upon the landing4 ,palmer proposed that ,mr4 ,bamford should make up some morphine pills as before1 at the same time requesting me not to mention to ,cook what they contained1 as he objected to the morphine so much4 ,mr4 ,bamford agreed to this1 and he went away4 ,i went back to ,cook's room1 and ,palmer went with me4 ,during the evening ,i was several times in ,cook's room4 ,he seemed very comfortable all the evening4 ,there was no more vomiting nor any diarrha1 but there was a natural motion in the bowels4 ,i observed no bilious symptoms about ,cook40 ,by ,lord ,campbell4--8,did he appear to have recently suffered from a bilious attack80 ,answer4--8,no40 ,examination resumed4--8,palmer and ,i went to his house about eight o'clock4 ,i remained there about half-an-hour1 and then returned to ,cook4 ,i next saw ,palmer in ,cook's room at nearly eleven o'clock4 ,he had brought with him a box of pills4 ,he opened the paper on which the direction was written in my presence4 ,that paper was round the box4 ,he called my attention to the paper1 saying1 #8,what an excellent handwriting for an old man6' ,i did not read the direction1 but looked at the writing1 which was very good4 ,palmer proposed to ,cook that he should take the pills4 ,cook protested very much against it1 because they had made him so ill on the previous night4 ,palmer repeated the request several times1 and at last ,cook complied with it1 and took the pills4 ,the moment he took them he vomited into the utensil4 ,palmer and myself 7at ,palmer's request7 searched in it for the pills1 to see whether they were returned4 ,we found nothing but toast-and-water4 ,i do not know when ,cook had drunk the toast-and-water1 but it was standing by the bedside all the evening4 ,the vomiting could not have been caused by the contents of the pills1 nor by the act of swallowing4 ,after vomiting ,cook laid down and appeared quiet4 ,before ,palmer came ,cook had got up and sat in a chair4 ,his spirits were very good2 he was laughing and joking1 talking of what he should do with himself during the winter4 ,after he had taken the pills ,i went downstairs to my supper1 and returned to his room at nearly twelve o'clock4 ,his room was double-bedded1 and it had been arranged that ,i should sleep in it that night4 ,i talked to ,cook for a few minutes1 and then went to bed4 ,when ,i last talked to him he was rather sleepy1 but quite as well as he had been during the evening4 ,there was nothing about him to excite any apprehensions4 ,i had been in bed about ten minutes1 and had not got to sleep1 when he suddenly started up in bed1 and called out1 #8,doctor1 get up1 ,i am going to be ill6 ,ring the bell and send for ,palmer4' ,i rang the bell4 ,the chambermaid came1 and ,cook called out to her1 #8,fetch ,mr4 ,palmer4' ,he asked me to give him something4 ,i declined1 and said1 #8,palmer will be here directly4' ,cook was then sitting up in bed4 ,the room was rather dark1 and ,i did not observe anything particular in his countenance4 ,he asked me to rub the back of his neck4 ,i did so4 ,i supported him with my arm4 ,there was a stiffness about the muscles of his neck4 ,palmer soon came in2 two or three minutes at the utmost after the chambermaid went for him4 ,he said1 #8,i never dressed so quickly in my life4' ,i did not observe how he was dressed4 ,he gave ,cook two pills1 which he told me were ammonia pills4 ,cook swallowed them4 ,directly he did so he uttered loud screams1 threw himself back in the bed1 and was dreadfully convulsed4 ,that could not have been the result of the pills last taken4 ,he said1 #8,raise me up2 ,i shall be suffocated4' ,that was at the commencement of the convulsions1 which lasted five or ten minutes4 ,the convulsions affected every muscle of the body1 and were accompanied by stiffening of the limbs4 ,i endeavoured to raise ,cook with the assistance of ,palmer1 but found it quite impossible1 owing to the rigidity of the limbs4 ,when ,cook found we could not raise him up1 he asked to be turned over4 ,he was then quite sensible4 ,i turned him on his side4 ,i listened to the action of the heart4 ,i found it gradually weakened1 and asked ,palmer to fetch some spirits of ammonia1 to be used as a stimulant4 ,he went to his house and fetched a bottle4 ,he was away a very short time4 ,when he returned the pulsations of the heart were gradually ceasing1 and life was almost extinct4 ,he died very quietly a short time afterwards4 8,from the time he called to me to the time of his death there elapsed about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour4 ,he died of tetanus1 which is a spasmodic affection of the muscles of the whole body4 ,it causes death by stopping the action of the heart4 ,the sense of suffocation is caused by the contraction of the respiratory muscles4 ,the room was so dark that ,i could not observe the outward appearance of ,cook's body after death4 ,when he threw himself back in bed he clenched his teeth1 and they remained clenched after his death4 ,when ,i was rubbing his neck1 his head and neck were unnaturally bent back by the spasmodic action of the muscles4 ,after his death his body was so twisted or bowed that if ,i had placed it upon the back it would have rested on the head and feet40 ,by ,lord ,campbell4--8,when did you first observe the bowing and twisting80 ,witness4--8,when ,cook threw himself back on the bed4 ,the jaw was affected by the spasmodic action40 ,the cross-examination of this witness was directed to the previous health of the deceased1 and to his fears that he was still suffering from a former attack of venereal disease1 which ,mr4 ,jones decidedly negatived2 to his having been in pecuniary difficulties from his racing ventures1 which the witness said he was steadily redeeming2 to ,cook's objection to take morphia2 to the question whether1 when before the coroner1 the witness had used the word 8tetanus10 which it was evident from the original depositions had been scratched out by the clerk1 probably from ignorance of its meaning1 and to whether he agreed with ,dr4 ,bamford that ,cook had died in an apoplectic fit1 or rather1 as the witness at the time thought1 of one of an epileptic character4 ,in re-examination1 he said that 8he was satisfied that ,cook's death did not arise from epilepsy1 as in that disease consciousness is lost1 but there is no rigidity or convulsive spasm of the muscles1 and the symptoms quite different4 ,he was equally certain that it did not arise from apoplexy40 ,dr4 ,savage1 of ,gloucester ,place1 ,london1 who had attended ,cook for four years1 also negatived the suggestion that he was suffering from syphilitic symptoms1 or that he had any venereal taint about him4 ,he was timid1 no doubt1 about his throat1 and had had two small ulcers on his tongue due to two bad teeth1 but by the end of ,may they had gradually disappeared1 and were quite well4 ,the woman who laid out the body noticed that 8though it was quite warm1 the hands and arms were cold2 the body lying on the back1 straight down the bed1#ce the arms crossed upon the chest1 and the head #8lying a little turned on one side4'0 ,she had never seen so stiff a corpse before4 8,we10 she continued1 8had difficulty in straightening the arms4 ,we could not keep them straight down to the body4 ,i passed a piece of tape under the back1 and tied it round the wrists1 to fasten the arms down4 ,the right foot turned on one side outwards4 ,we were obliged to tie both feet together4 ,the eyes were open4 ,we were a considerable time before we could close them1 because the eyelids were so stiff4 ,the hands were closed1 and were very stiff4 ,i have never known them so stiff as in this case40 ,mr4 ,stevens1 ,cook's stepfather1 who saw the body three days after death1 also noted that the right hand was clenched1 and1 as he looked across the body1 that the left was clenched in the same way4 ,what passed between ,mr4 ,stevens and ,palmer at their interview at ,rugeley on the ,friday after ,cook's death1 and the reasons why he eventually insisted on a post-mortem examination and a chemical analysis of the corpse1 belong rather to the section relating to the conduct of the prisoner4 ,it will be sufficient here to note that on the #bfth of ,november the post-mortem examination was held with the following results by ,dr4 ,harland1 of ,stafford1 assisted by ,mr4 ,devonshire1 of the ,london ,university1 and ,mr4 ,newton1 of ,rugeley1 in the presence of ,dr4 ,bamford1 ,palmer1 and several other persons4 ,,post-,,mortem ,,examination4 ,dr4 ,john ,thomas ,harland1 physician1 of ,stafford1 arrived at ,rugeley at ten in the morning of the #bfth1 called at ,dr4 ,bamford's on his way to the hotel where the examination was to be conducted1 and on his road met ,palmer1 whom he had previously known4 8,i am glad10 said ,palmer1 8that you are come to make a post-mortem examination4 ,someone might have been sent whom ,i did not know40 8,what is the case80 replied ,harland2 8,i hear there is a suspicion of poisoning40 8,oh no10 said ,palmer2 8he had an epileptic fit on ,monday and ,tuesday last1 and you will find old disease in the heart and head40 ,such was not the result of the post-mortem4 ,they 8found the body much stiffer than bodies usually are five or six days after death--the muscles strongly contracted and thrown out1 and the hands stiff and firmly closed40 ,according to a report which ,dr4 ,harland sent to ,mr4 ,stevens1 and which at the suggestion of the judge was read in full1 the various internal organs were perfectly healthy and natural1 as described in detail in the following examination1 subsequent to reading the report3-- 8,the abdominal viscera were in a perfectly healthy state4 ,they were taken out of the body4 ,we examined the liver4 ,it was healthy4 ,the lungs were healthy1 but contained a good deal of blood2 not more than would be accounted for by gravitation after death4 ,we examined the head4 ,the brain was quite healthy4 ,there was no extravasation of blood1 and no serum4 ,there was nothing which1 in my judgment1 could cause pressure4 ,the heart was contracted1 and contained no blood4 ,that was the result1 not of disease1 but of spasmodic action4 ,at the larger end of the stomach there were numerous small yellowish-white spots1 about the size of mustard seeds4 ,they would not at all account for death4 ,i doubt whether they would have any effect upon the health4 ,i think they were mucous follicles4 ,the kidneys were full of blood which had gravitated there4 ,they had no appearance of disease4 ,the blood was in a fluid state4 ,that was not usual4 ,it is found so in some cases of sudden death1 which are of rare occurrence4 ,the lower part of the spinal cord was not very closely examined4 ,we examined the upper part of that cord4 ,it presented a perfectly natural appearance4 ,on a subsequent day1 ,i think the #beth of ,january1 it was thought right to exhume the body1 that the spinal cord might be more carefully examined4 ,i was present at that examination4 ,the lower part of the spinal cord was then minutely examined4 ,a report was made of that examination40 ,this report was put in1 and was read by the witness4 ,it described minutely the appearance and condition of the spinal cord and its envelopes1 and concluded with this statement3--8,there is nothing in the condition of the spinal cord or its envelopes to account for death2 nothing but the most normal and healthy state1 allowance being made for the lapse of time since the death of the deceased40 ,examination resumed4--8,i am still of opinion that there was nothing in the appearance of the spine to account for the death of the deceased1 and nothing of an unusual kind which might not be referred to changes after death4 ,when the stomach and intestines were removed from the body on the occasion of the first examination they were separately emptied into a jar1 and were afterwards placed in it4 ,mr4 ,devonshire and ,mr4 ,newton removed them from the body4 ,they were the only two who operated4 ,at the time the prisoner was standing on the right of ,mr4 ,newton4 ,while ,mr4 ,devonshire was opening the stomach a push was given by ,palmer1 which sent ,mr4 ,newton against ,mr4 ,devonshire1 and shook some of the contents of the stomach into the body4 ,i thought a joke was passing among them1 and said1 #8,don't do that4'0 ,by ,lord ,campbell4--8,might not ,palmer have been impelled by some one outside him80 ,answer4--8,there was no one who could have impelled him40 ,question4--8,what did you observe ,palmer do80 ,answer4--8,i saw ,mr4 ,newton and ,mr4 ,devonshire pushed together1 and ,palmer was over them4 ,he was smiling at the time40 ,examination continued4--8,after this interruption the opening of the stomach was pursued4 ,the stomach contained about three ounces of a brownish fluid4 ,there was nothing particular in that4 ,palmer was looking on1 and said1 #8,they won't hang us yet4' ,he said that to ,mr4 ,bamford in a loud whisper4 ,that remark was made upon his own observation of the stomach4 ,the stomach after being emptied1 was put into the jar4 ,the intestines were then examined1 but nothing particular was found in them4 ,they were contracted and very small4 ,the viscera1 with their contents1 as taken from the body1 were placed in the jar1 which was then covered over with two bladders1 which were tied and sealed4 ,i tied and sealed them4 ,after ,i had done so ,i placed the jar upon the table by the body4 ,palmer was then moving about the room4 ,in a few minutes ,i missed the jar from where ,i had placed it4 ,during that time my attention had been withdrawn by the examination4 ,on missing the jar ,i called out1 #8,where's the jar8' and ,palmer from the other end of the room1 said1 #8,it is here2 ,i thought it would be more convenient for you to take away4' ,there was a door at the end of the room where he was4 ,he was within a yard or two of that door1 and about twenty-four feet from the table on which the body was lying40 7,before making this last statement the witness referred to a plan of the room which was put in by the ,attorney-,general47 8,the other door near which ,palmer was standing was not the one by which he entered the room4 ,i called to ,palmer1 #8,will you bring it here8' ,i went from the table and met ,palmer half-way coming with the jar4 ,since ,i last saw it it had been cut through both bladders4 ,the cut was hardly an inch long1 done with a sharp instrument4 ,i examined the jar4 ,the edges were quite clean2 no part of the contents could have passed through it4 ,finding this cut1 ,i said1 #8,here is a cut6 who has done it8' ,palmer1 ,devonshire1 and ,newton1 all said they had not done it1 and nothing more was said4 ,when ,i was about to remove the jar from the room1 the prisoner asked me what ,i was going to do with it4 ,i said ,i should take it to ,mr4 ,frere's 7a neighbouring surgeon74 ,he said1 #8,i would rather you would take it to ,stafford than take it there4' ,i made no answer that ,i remember4 ,on finding the slit1 ,i cut the strings1 and altered the bladder1 so that the slits were not over the top4 ,i took it to ,mr4 ,frere's1 and left it in his hall1 tied and sealed4 ,afterwards when ,i went for my carriage1 whilst waiting in the yard1 the prisoner came and asked me what would be done with it1 and ,i said1 #8,sent either to ,birmingham or ,london for examination4' ,when ,i recovered the jar1 ,i tied each corner separately and resealed it with my own seal4 ,during the first post-mortem examination1 there were several ,rugeley persons present1 but1 ,i believe1 no one on behalf of the prisoner4 ,at the second examination there was some one on behalf of ,palmer 7,mr4 ,pemberton and ,mr4 ,bolton740 ,on cross-examination1 after stating that ,palmer's words1 8they won't hang us yet10 were addressed to ,bamford in a loud whisper1 and afterwards repeated to several persons1 and that his original notes in pencil were destroyed1 a more formal report being written by him on getting home1 ,dr4 ,harland said-- 8,at the base of the tongue of the deceased ,i observed some enlarged mucous follicles2 they were not pustules containing matter1 but enlarged mucous follicles of long standing4 ,there were a good many of them1 but ,i do not suppose that they would occasion much inconvenience4 ,they might cause some degree of pain1 but it would be slight4 ,i do not believe they were enlarged glands4 ,i should not say that the deceased's lungs were diseased1 although they were not in their normal state4 ,the lungs were full of blood and the heart empty4 ,i had no lens at the post-mortem examination1 but ,i made an examination which was satisfactory without one4 ,the brain was carefully taken out2 the membranes and external parts were first examined1 and thin slices about a quarter of an inch in thickness were taken off and subjected to separate examination4 ,i think that by that means we should have discovered disease if any had existed2 and if there had been any indication of disease ,i should have examined it more carefully4 ,i examined the spinal cord as far down as possible1 and if there had been any appearance of disease1 ,i should have opened the canal4 ,there was no appearance of disease1 however4 ,we opened down to the first vertebra4 ,if we had found a softening of the spinal cord1 ,i do not think that it would have been sufficient to have caused ,mr4 ,cook's death2 certainly not4 ,a softening of the spinal cord would not produce tetanus2 it might produce paralysis4 ,i do not think1 as a medical man investigating the cause of death1 that it was necessary carefully to examine the spinal cord4 ,i do not know who suggested that there should be an examination of the spinal cord two months after death4 ,there were some appearances of decomposition when we examined the spinal cord1 but ,i do not think that there was sufficient to interfere with our examination4#cf ,i examined the body to ascertain if there was any trace of venereal disease4 ,i did find certain indications of that description1 and the marks of an old excoriation1 which was cicatrized over40 ,re-examined by the ,attorney-,general4--8,there were no indications of wounds or sores such as could by possibility produce tetanus4 ,there was no disease of the lungs to account for death4 ,the heart was healthy1 and its emptiness ,i attribute to spasmodic action4 ,the heart being empty1 of course death ensued4 ,the convulsive spasmodic action of the muscles of the body1 which was deposed to yesterday by ,mr4 ,jones1 would1 in my judgment occasion the emptiness of the heart4 ,there was nothing whatever in the brain to indicate the presence of any disease of any sort2 but if there had been1 ,i never heard or read of any disease of the brain ever producing tetanus4 ,there was no relaxation of the spinal cord which would account for the symptoms accompanying ,mr4 ,cook's death as they have been described4 ,in fact1 there was no relaxation of the spinal cord at all1 and there is no disease of the spinal cord with which ,i am acquainted which would produce tetanus40 ,dr4 ,monckton1 a physician at ,rugeley1 made a separate examination of the spinal marrow of the deceased on the #bhth of ,january1 when he said that the body was in such a condition as to enable him to do so satisfactorily1 and when had there been any disease of a normal character on the spine he should have had no difficulty in discovering it4 ,all that he found were certain granules1 the origin of which it was difficult to account for1 though frequently found in persons of an advanced age1 but which he never knew to occasion sudden death4 ,he agreed entirely with the evidence of ,dr4 ,harland4#cg ,,evidence ,,of ,,medical ,,experts4 ,we come next to a remarkable body of evidence given by men of such eminence in their profession as ,mr4 ,curling1 ,dr4 ,todd1 ,sir ,benjamin ,brodie1 and others of nearly equal mark1 negativing the idea that had been suggested in the previous cross-examinations that the death was due to one of the two forms of true tetanus1 and affirming that the symptoms which had been detailed were those of the action of strychnia4 ,not only were these opinions closely questioned in cross-examination1 but as many medical men1 several of them of not less eminence than these witnesses1 were subsequently called for the defence to contradict them2 and thus the most extraordinary conflict of scientific evidence raised that had hitherto been witnessed in a criminal court4 ,subsequently1 as we shall see1 a similar dispute between the medical giants of the day was roused in the case of ,dr4 ,smethurst1 but with1 in the end1 a very different result4 ,in reading the following statements for the prosecution1 it will help to make them more clear1 if it is borne in mind that tetanus is of two kinds--7#a71 ,idiopathic1 or self-generated1 and the other 7#b71 ,traumatic1 the result of a wound or a sore2 that the former may arise from exposure to cold or damp1 or even from the irritation of worms in the alimentary canal1 but in temperate climates is by no means a frequent disease2 whilst the latter1 from the various accidents to which human beings are liable1 is of more frequent occurrence4 ,another point to be remembered is1 that it is a moot point in medical practice whether a syphilitic sore1 unless of course of a most aggravated character1 will produce tetanus1 and that the difference between the symptoms and progress of true tetanus and of that due to poison is1 in the opinion of these experts1 very marked4 ,dr4 ,james ,blizard ,curling1 surgeon to the ,london ,hospital1 was first called1 and after describing the two kinds of tetanus and their causes1 and speaking of the very numerous cases of the 8traumatic0 kind which he had seen1 he thus detailed the symptoms3-- 8,the disease first manifests itself about the jaws and neck4 ,rigidity of the muscles of the abdomen afterwards sets in4 ,a dragging pain at the pit of the stomach is almost a constant attendant4 ,in many instances the muscles of the back are extensively affected4 ,these symptoms1 though continuous1 are liable to aggravations into paroxysms4 ,as the disease goes on these paroxysms become more frequent and more severe4 ,when they occur the body is drawn backwards2 in some instances1 though less frequent1 it is bent forward4 ,a difficulty in swallowing is a very common symptom1 and also a difficulty of breathing during the paroxysms4 ,the disease may1 if fatal1 end in two ways4 ,the patient may die somewhat suddenly1 from suffocation1 owing to the closure of the opening of the windpipe2 or he may be worn out by the severe and painful spasms1 the muscles may relax1 and the patient gradually sink4 ,the disease is generally fatal4 ,the locking of the jaw is an almost constant symptom attending #8traumatic tetanus2' ,i may say a constant symptom4 ,it is not always marked1 but generally so4 ,it is an early symptom4 ,another symptom is a peculiar expression of countenance4 ,i believe this is not peculiar to #8traumatic tetanus1' but my observation is from such cases4 ,there is a contraction of the eyelids1 a raising of the angles of the mouth1 and contraction of the brow4 ,in #8traumatic tetanus' the lower extremities are sometimes affected1 and sometimes1 but rarely1 the upper ones4 ,when the muscles of the extremities are affected1 the time at which that occurs varies4 ,if there is no wound in the arms or legs1 the extremities are generally not affected until late in the progress of the disease4 ,i never knew of tetanus being produced by a sore throat or a chancre4 ,in my opinion a syphilitic sore would not produce tetanus4 ,i know of no instance in which one has led to tetanus4 ,i think it a very unlikely cause4 ,the time within which #8traumatic tetanus' causes death varies from twenty-four hours to two or three days or longer4 ,the shortest time to my knowledge was eight to ten hours4 ,when once commenced1 the disease is continuous40 ,question4--8,did you ever hear of a case in which a man was attacked one day1 had twenty-four hours' respite1 and was then attacked the next day80 ,witness4--8,never4 ,such a case could not occur40 ,question4--8,you have heard ,mr4 ,jones's account of the death of the deceased4 ,were the symptoms there consistent with any forms of traumatic tetanus80 ,witness4--8,no40 ,question4--8,what distinguishes it from such causes80 ,witness4--8,the sudden onset of the disease4 ,in all cases that have come under my observation the disease was preceded by the milder symptoms of tetanus1 gradually proceeding to the complete development40 ,question4--8,were the symptoms described by ,mills those of tetanus80 ,witness4--8,no4 ,not of tetanus of disease40 ,question4--8,assuming tetanus to be synonymous with convulsive or spasmodic action of the muscles1 was there1 in that sense1 tetanus on ,monday night80 ,witness4--8,no doubt there was spasmodic action of the muscles1 but not idiopathic or traumatic tetanus1 because the sudden onset of the spasms1 and their rapid subsidence1 are consistent with neither of the two forms of tetanus40 ,question4--8,is there not hysteric tetanus80 ,witness4--8,yes3 it is rather hysteria combined with spasms1 but it is sometimes called hysteric tetanus4 ,i have known no instance of its proving fatal1 or of it occurring to a man4 ,some poisons will produce tetanus4 ,nux vomica1 acting through its poisons1 strychnia and brucia1 poisons of a cognate character1 produce that effect4 ,i never saw human or animal life destroyed by strychnia40 ,in his cross-examination1 ,mr4 ,curling admitted that irritation of the spinal cord1 or of the nerves proceeding to it1 might produce tetanus1 and the correctness of ,dr4 ,watson's statements in his ,lectures1 that1 in four cases out of five1 the disease begins with lockjaw1 and that all the symptoms of tetanic convulsions may arise from very trivial blows2 but he denied that there was any well authenticated instance of 8traumatic tetanus0 occurring within a quarter of an hour after the reception of the injury1 or that it was very likely that the irritation of a syphilitic sore by wet1 cold1 drink1 mercury1 or mental excitement1 might lead to tetanic symptoms4 8,the irritation10 said ,mr4 ,curling1 8which is likely to produce tetanus is the sore being exposed to friction1 to which syphilitic sores in the throat are not exposed4 ,i should class tetanus arising from the irritation of a sore as traumatic4 ,cases very rarely occur which it is difficult to class as either traumatic or idiopathic4 ,i should class tetanus arising from irritation of the intestines as idiopathic4 ,the character of the spasms of epilepsy are not tetanic40 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,not of the spasms2 but are not the contractions of epilepsy sometimes continuous1 so that the body may be twisted into various forms1 and remain rigidly in them80 ,answer4--8,not continuously40 ,question4--8,for five or ten minutes together80 ,answer4--8,i think not40 ,question4--8,does it not frequently happen that general convulsions1 no cause or trace of which in the form of disease or lesion is to be found in the body after death1 occur in the most violent and spastic way so as to exhibit appearances of tetanic convulsions80 ,answer4--8,no instance of the kind has come under my observation40#ch ,question4--8,do you agree with this opinion of ,dr4 ,copland1 expressed in his ,dictionary of ,practical ,medicine1 under the head of #8,general ,convulsions1' #8,the abnormal contraction of the muscles is in some cases of the most violent and spastic nature1 and frequently of some continuance1 the relaxations being of brief duration or scarcely observable1 and in others nearly or altogether approaching to tetanic8'0 ,answer4--8,i would rather speak from my own observation4 ,i have not observed anything of the kind40 ,question4--8,does it not happen that a patient dies of convulsions1 spasmodic in the sense of their being tumultuous and alternating1 and chronic in the sense of exhibiting continuous rigidity1 yet after death no disease is found80 ,answer4--8,it does not often happen to adults40 ,question4--8,does it sometimes80 ,answer4--8,i do not know1 nor have ,i read of such a case4 ,i have no hesitation in saying that people may die from tetanus and other diseases without the appearance of morbid symptoms after death40 ,question4--8,are not convulsions1 not1 strictly speaking1 tetanic1 constantly preceded by retching1 distention of the stomach1 flatulence of the stomach and bowels1 and other dyspeptic symptoms80 ,answer4--8,such cases do not come under my observation as a hospital surgeon4 ,i think it is very probable that general convulsions are accompanied by yelling4 ,i don't know that they frequently terminate fatally1 and that the proximate cause of death is spasm of the respiratory muscles1 inducing asphyxia40 ,re-examined by the ,attorney-,general4--8,these convulsions are easily distinguished from tetanus1 because in them there is an entire loss of consciousness40 ,question4--8,is it one of the characteristic features of tetanus that the consciousness is not affected80 ,answer4--8,it is40 ,dr4 ,todd1 for twenty-one years physician to ,king's ,college ,hospital1 well known for his lectures on ,tetanus and the diseases of the ,nervous ,system1 and who had seen only two cases of what appeared to him to be idiopathic tetanus1 so rare are they in this country1 gave the following evidence3#ci-- 8,in my opinion the term tetanus ought not to be applied to disease produced by poisons1 but ,i should call the symptoms tetanic in order to distinguish the character of the convulsions4 ,i have observed cases of traumatic tetanus4 ,except that in all such cases there is some lesion the symptoms are precisely the same as those of idiopathic tetanus4 ,the disease begins with stiffness about the jaw4 ,the symptoms gradually develope themselves and extend to the muscles of the trunk40 ,question4--8,when the disease has begun is there any intermission80 ,answer4--8,there are remissions1 but they are not complete2 only diminutions of the severity of the symptoms1 not a total subsidence4 ,the patient does not express himself as completely well1 quite comfortable4 ,i speak from my own experience40 ,question4--8,what is the usual period that elapses between the commencement and the termination of the disease80 ,answer4--8,the cases may be divided into two classes4 ,acute cases will terminate in three or four days1 chronic cases will go on as long as from nineteen to twenty-two or twenty-three days1 and perhaps longer4 ,i do not think that ,i have known a case in which death occurred within four days4 ,cases are reported in which it occurred in a shorter period4 ,in tetanus the extremities are affected1 but not so much as the trunk4 ,their affection is a late symptom4 ,the locking of the jaw is an early one4 ,sometimes the convulsions of epilepsy assume somewhat of a tetanic character1 but they are essentially distinct from tetanus4 ,in epilepsy the patient always loses consciousness4 ,apoplexy never produces tetanic convulsions4 ,perhaps ,i may be allowed to say that when there is an effusion of blood upon the brain1 and a particular portion of the brain is involved1 the muscles may be thrown into short tetanic convulsions4 ,in such a case the consciousness would be destroyed4 ,having heard described the symptoms attending the death of the deceased1 and the post-mortem examination1 ,i am of opinion that in this case there was neither apoplexy nor epilepsy40 ,the deposition of ,dr4 ,bamford1 before reported1 was here read1 his inability to attend from illness having been proved4 ,the examination of ,dr4 ,todd by the ,attorney-,general was then proceeded with as follows3-- 8,having heard the deposition of ,dr4 ,bamford read1 ,i do not believe that the deceased died from apoplexy or from epilepsy4 ,i never knew tetanus arise either from syphilitic sores or from sore throat4 ,there are poisons which will produce tetanic convulsions4 ,the principal of these poisons are nux vomica and those which contain as their active ingredients strychnia and brucia4 ,i have never seen human life destroyed by strychnia1 but ,i have seen animals destroyed by it frequently4 ,the poison is usually given in a largish dose in those cases1 so as to put an end to the sufferings and destroy life as soon as possible4 ,i should not like to give a human subject a quarter of a grain4 ,i think that it is not unlikely that half a grain might destroy life2 and ,i believe that a grain certainly would4 ,i think that half a grain would kill a cat4 ,the symptoms which would ensue upon the administration of strychnine when given in solution--and ,i believe that poisons of that nature act more rapidly in a state of solution than in any other form--would develope themselves in ten minutes after it was taken1 if the dose was a large one2 if not so large1 they might be half an hour or an hour before they appeared4 ,those symptoms would be tetanic convulsions of the muscles--more especially those of the spine and neck2 the head and back would be bent back1 and the trunk would be bowed in a marked manner2 the extremities also would be stiffened and jerked out4 ,the stiffness1 once set in1 would never entirely disappear2 but fresh paroxysms would set in1 and the jerking would reappear1 and death would probably ensue in a quarter of an hour or so4 ,the difference between tetanus produced by strychnia and other tetanus is very marked4 ,in the former case the duration of the symptoms is very short1 and instead of being continuous in their development1 they will subside if the dose has not been strong enough to produce death1 and will be renewed in fresh paroxysms3 whereas in other descriptions of tetanus the symptoms commence in a mild form1 and become stronger and more violent as the disease progresses4 ,the difficulty experienced in breathing is common alike to tetanus properly so called1 and to tetanic convulsions occasioned by strychnia1 arising from the pressure on the respiratory muscles4 ,i think it is remarkable that the deceased was able to swallow1 and that there was no fixing of the jaw1 which would have been the case with tetanus proper1 resulting either from a wound or from disease4 ,from all the evidence that ,i have heard1 ,i think that the symptoms which presented themselves in the case of ,mr4 ,cook arose from tetanus produced by strychnia40 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,grove1 ,q4,c4--8,there are cases sloping into each other1 as it were1 of every grade and degree1 from mild convulsions to tetanic spasms4 ,i have published some lectures upon diseases of the brain1 and ,i adhere to the opinion there expressed1 that the state of a person suffering from tetanus is identical with that which strychnia is capable of producing4 ,in a pathological point of view1 an examination of the spinal cord shortly after death1 in investigating supposed deaths from strychnia1 is important4 ,the signs of decomposition1 however1 could be easily distinguished from the evidence of disease which existed previously to death1 but it would be difficult to distinguish in such a case whether mere softening resulted from decomposition or from pre-existing disease4 ,there is nothing in the post-mortem examination that leads me to think that the deceased died from tetanus proper4 ,i think that granules upon the spinal cord1 such as ,i have heard described1 would not be likely to cause tetanus4 ,in animals to which strychnia has been administered ,i cannot say that ,i have observed what you call an intolerance of touch1 but by touching them spasms are apt to be excited4 ,that sensibility to touch continues as long as the operation of the poison continues4 ,i have examined the interior of animals that have been killed by strychnia1 but ,i have not observed in such cases that the right side of the heart was usually full of blood4 ,it is some years since ,i made such an examination1 but ,i am able1 nevertheless1 to speak positively as to the state of the heart4 ,it is usually empty on both sides4 ,i do not agree with ,dr4 ,taylor1 or other authorities1 that1 in cases of tetanus1 animals died asphyxiated4 ,if they did1 we should invariably have the right side of the heart full of blood1 which is not the case4 ,i think the term asphyxiated is sometimes very loosely used4 ,i know1 from my reading1 that morphia sometimes produces convulsions1 but believe they would be of an epileptic character4 ,i think that the symptoms of morphia would be longer deferred in making their appearance than from strychnia1 but cannot speak positively on the point4 ,morphia1 like strychnia1 is a vegetable poison4 ,i have not observed in animals the jaw fixed after the administration of strychnia40 ,re-examined by the ,attorney-,general4--8,whatever may be the true theory as to the emptiness of the heart after strychnia1 ,i should say that the heart is more ordinarily empty than filled after tetanus1 and more contracted after strychnia1 than in ordinary tetanus4 ,i do not believe that a medical practitioner would have any difficulty in distinguishing between ordinary convulsions and tetanic convulsions4 ,i have heard the evidence of the gentlemen who made the post-mortem examination1 and ,i apprehend that there was nothing to prevent the discovery of disease in the spinal cord had any existed previously to death40 ,sir ,benjamin ,brodie's evidence1 which follows1 was given 8with great clearness1 slowly1 audibly1 and distinctly10 and produced a marked effect4 ,sir ,benjamin ,brodie1 examined by ,mr4 ,james1 ,q4,c4--8,i have been for many years senior surgeon to ,st4 ,george's ,hospital1 and have had considerable experience as a surgeon4 ,in the course of my practice ,i have had under my care many cases of death from tetanus4 ,death from idiopathic tetanus is1 according to my experience1 very rare in this country4 ,the ordinary tetanus in this country is traumatic tetanus4 ,i have heard the symptoms which accompanied the death of ,mr4 ,cook1 and ,i am of opinion that so far as there was a general contraction of the muscles they resembled those of traumatic tetanus2 but1 as to the course those symptoms took1 they were entirely different4 ,i have attended to the detailed description of the attack suffered by ,mr4 ,cook on the ,monday night1 its ceasing on ,tuesday1 and its renewal on the ,tuesday night4 ,the symptoms of traumatic tetanus always begin1 so far as ,i have seen1 very gradually1 the stiffness of the lower jaw being1 ,i believe1 invariably1 the symptom first complained of--at least1 so it has been in my experience4 ,the contraction of the muscles of the back is always a later symptom--generally much later4 ,the muscles of the extremities are affected in a much less degree than those of the neck and trunk1 except in some cases where the injury has been in a limb1 and an early symptom has been spasmodic contraction of the muscles of that limb4 ,i do not myself recollect a case of ordinary tetanus in which occurred that contraction in the muscles of the hand which ,i understand was stated to have taken place in this instance4 ,again1 ordinary tetanus rarely runs its course in less than two or three days1 and often is protracted to a much longer period4 ,i knew one case only in which the disease was said to have terminated in so short a time as twelve hours2 but probably in that case the early symptoms had been overlooked4 ,again1 ,i never knew the symptoms of ordinary tetanus to last for a few minutes1 then subside1 and then come on again after twenty-four hours4 ,i think that these are the principal points of difference which ,i perceived between the symptoms of ordinary tetanus and those which ,i have heard described in this case4 ,i have not witnessed tetanic convulsions from strychnia on animal life4 ,i do not believe that death in the case of ,mr4 ,cook arose from what we ordinarily call tetanus--either idiopathic or traumatic4 ,i never knew tetanus result from sore throat or from a chancre1 or from any other form of syphilitic disease4 ,the symptoms were not the result either of apoplexy or of epilepsy4 ,perhaps ,i had better say at once that ,i never saw a case in which the symptoms that ,i have heard described here rose from any disease4 7,sensation47 ,when ,i say that1 of course ,i refer not to particular symptoms1 but to the general course which the symptoms took40 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,i believe ,i remember one case in the physician's ward of ,st4 ,george's ,hospital1 which was shown to me as a case of idiopathic tetanus1 but ,i doubted whether it was tetanus at all4 ,it was a slight case1 and ,i do not remember the particulars40 ,question4--8,considering how rare cases of tetanus are1 do you think that the description given by a chambermaid and a provincial medical man1 who had never seen but one case1 is sufficient to enable you to form an opinion as to the nature of the case80 ,answer4--8,i must say ,i thought that the description was very clearly given40 ,question4--8,supposing that they differed in their description1 which would you rely upon--the medical man or the chambermaid80 ,lord ,campbell4--8,that is hardly a proper question40 ,baron ,alderson4--8,it may be a very proper observation for you to make40 ,cross-examination continued4--8,i never knew syphilitic poison produce tetanic convulsions1 except in cases where there was disease of the bones of the head40 ,two other surgeons1 ,dr4 ,daniell1 late surgeon to the ,british ,hospital1 and ,mr4 ,samuel ,solly1 of ,st4 ,thomas's ,hospital1 confirmed in every respect the views of the previous medical witnesses1 that the circumstances attending ,cook's death were clearly distinguishable from those attendant on ordinary tetanus4 ,they relied on the fact that ordinary tetanus was always progressive1 and that it is never intermittent to the extent witnessed in ,cook's case1 and seldom endured less than from thirty to forty hours4 ,mr4 ,solly alluded to the peculiar grin--8the risus ,sardonicus1 as the first symptom of true tetanus1 which is not common to all convulsions1 and which having once seen10 he said1 8you cannot forget40 ,he distinguished between tetanus with convulsions and death from epileptic convulsions by the fact that 8the first seldom leaves any trace behind it1 whilst the latter does leave its trace in the shape of a slight effusion of blood on the brain1 and a congestion of the vessels40 ,the syphilitic theory was finally overthrown by the testimony of ,mr4 ,henry ,lee1 surgeon to the ,lock ,hospital1 which is exclusively devoted to syphilitic cases4 ,though he saw there nearly #cjjj cases a year1 he had never known one resulting in tetanus1 or read of a case of primary or secondary symptoms having that result4 ,in addition to these experts1 on the sixth day important evidence was given by ,dr4 ,jackson1 who had had twenty-five years' experience of tetanus in ,india1 on the difference of the symptoms observed in the idiopathic and traumatic kinds2 the former being much more frequent in ,india than in other climates1 affording him in his practice as many as forty cases4 8,it is as equally fatal10 said ,dr4 ,jackson1 8according to my experience1 as traumatic4 ,it is frequently found1 in ,india1 in children1 both natives and ,europeans1 and generally takes place the third day after birth4 ,it will also be occasioned by cold in that climate4 ,in infants there is a more marked symptom of lockjaw in idiopathic tetanus4 ,in adults there is no difference in the symptoms from traumatic4 ,i have always seen the idiopathic form preceded by premonitory symptoms1 such as a peculiar expression of the countenance1 stiffness of the muscles of the throat and of the jaw4 ,the usual period from the attack to death in infants is forty-eight hours2 in adults1 when arising from cold1 it is of longer duration1 and may continue for many days1 going through the same grades as the traumatic forms40 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,the patient always appears to be very uncomfortable shortly before an attack of idiopathic tetanus4 ,his appetite would not be affected1 but he would chiefly complain of the muscles of the neck4 ,he might entertain a desire for food1 and take it as usual within twelve hours of the attack4 ,i never heard a patient complain of want of appetite4 ,within the twelve hours ,i should say that the patient's attention would be more directed to the stiffness of his mouth and neck4 ,i have known cases of idiopathic tetanus1 where the first paroxysm was in bed4 ,difficulty of swallowing is another premonitory symptom40 ,re-examined by the ,attorney-,general4--8,in the case of a child not more than six hours would elapse between the premonitory symptoms and the tetanic convulsions2 in an adult the period would not be greater than twenty-four hours4 ,the duration of the disease generally varies from three to ten days1 but death has occurred as early as two days4 ,the traumatic and idiopathic cases are alike in these respects4 ,both forms of the disorder are much more common in ,india than they are in this country4 ,the symptoms are not more severe4 ,in all my experience ,i never saw a case in which the disease ran its course in twenty minutes40 ,,late ,,examples ,,of ,,death ,,by ,,strychnia4 ,four cases of undoubted poisoning by strychnia were brought forward by the prosecution1 in each of which the symptoms had been observed by medical men1 as well as by the attendants on the several patients4 ,in the first case1 that of ,agnes ,sennett1 or ,french1 a patient in the ,glasgow ,infirmary1 in ,september1 #ahde1 for a sore skin1 from thoughtlessness apparently1 she took one of two strychnia pills prepared for a paralytic patient1 and then went and sat by the ward fire4 8,in three quarters of an hour10 said ,kelly1 another patient1 8she was taken ill and fell back on the floor4 ,i went for the nurse2 we took her to bed1 and sent for the doctor2 we were obliged to cut her clothes off first because she never moved4 ,she was like a poker4 ,she never spoke till she died40 ,each pill1 according to the prescription1 contained a quarter of a grain of strychnia4 ,when the medical clerk of the hospital saw her in bed1 the symptoms were-- 8,a strong retraction of the mouth2 the face much suffused and red2 the pupils of the eyes dilated2 the head bent back2 the spine curved1 and the muscles rigid and hard as a board2 the arms stretched out2 the hands clinched2 and there were severe paroxysms occurring in about a quarter of an hour4 ,she died in about an hour and a quarter4 ,when ,i was called the paroxysms did not last so long2 but they increased in severity40 8,the retraction of the mouth was continuous1 but worse at times4 ,i do not think ,i observed it after death4 ,the hands were not clinched after death2 they were semi-bent4 ,the symptoms appeared about thirty minutes after taking the pills4 ,i tried to make her vomit with a feather4 ,she only vomited partially after ,i had given her an emetic4 ,there was spasmodic action and grinding of the teeth4 ,she could open her mouth and swallow4 ,there was no lockjaw or ordinary tetanus40#dj ,dr4 ,watson1 the surgeon to the infirmary1 who was called in within a quarter of an hour of the patient being taken ill1 said1 8,she was in violent convulsions1 and her arms stretched out and rigid2 they were kept quiet by rigidity4 ,she did not breathe1 the muscles being kept still by tetanic rigidity4 ,that paroxysm subsided1 and fresh ones came on after a short interval4 ,she died in about half an hour4 ,she was perfectly conscious4 ,her body was opened4 ,the heart was found distended and stiff4 ,the cavities of it were empty4 ,the spinal cord was healthy40 ,the second case1 also of accidental poisoning1 by the error of a local chemist1 who substituted strychnia for salicine 7willow bark71 of which there ought to have been nine grains in the bottle of medicine1 was that of a ,mrs4 ,sergeantson ,smyth1 residing near ,romsey4 ,on the #cjth of ,october1 #ahdh1 she took half a wine-glass of the mixture1 equal to a third of the whole1 containing three grains of strychnia4 ,the effect was of course immediate4 ,the symptoms were identical with ,cook's4 8,i left the room10 said ,hickson1 the lady's maid1 8when ,i had given it her4 ,five or ten minutes afterwards ,i was alarmed by the ringing of her bell4 ,i went into her room and found her out of bed leaning upon a chair in her night-dress4 ,i thought she had fainted4 ,she appeared to suffer from what ,i thought were spasms4 ,i ran and sent the coachman for ,dr4 ,taylor1 and returned to her4 ,some of the other servants were there assisting her4 ,she was lying on the floor4 ,she screamed loudly1 and her teeth were clinched4 ,she asked to have her arms and legs held straight4 ,i took hold of them2 they were very much drawn up4 ,she still screamed and was in great agony4 ,she requested that water should be thrown over her1 and ,i threw some4 ,i put a bottle of hot water to her feet1 but it did not relax them4 ,shortly before she died she said she felt easier4 ,the last words she uttered were1 #8,turn me over4' ,she died very quietly4 ,she was quite conscious1 and knew me during the whole time4 ,about an hour and a quarter after ,i gave her the medicine she died40 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,grove1 ,q4,c4--8,she could not sit up from the time ,i went to her till she died4 ,it was when she was in a paroxysm that ,i tried to straighten her limbs4 ,the effect of the cold water was to throw her into a paroxysm4 ,it was a continually recurring attack1 lasting about an hour and a quarter4 ,her teeth were clinched the whole time40 ,re-examined4--8,she was stiff all the time till within a few minutes of her death4 ,she was conscious all the time40 ,mr4 ,francis ,taylor1 of ,romsey1 found her dead on his arrival4 8,her body was on the floor by the bed2 the hands very much bent2 the feet contracted and turned inwards2 the soles of the feet hollowed up and the toes contracted1 apparently from recent spasmodic action2 the inner edge of each foot was turned2 there was a remarkable rigidity about the limbs2 the body was warm1 and the eyelids almost adherent to the eyeballs40 ,three days afterwards the witness made a post-mortem examination1 with the following results3-- 8,the contraction of the feet continued1 but it had gone off somewhat from the rest of the body4 ,i found no disease in the body4 ,the heart was contracted1 and perfectly empty1 as were all the large arteries leading from it4 ,i analysed the medicine she had taken with another medical man4 ,it contained a large quantity of strychnia4 ,it had originally contained nine grains2 she had taken a third--three grains4 ,i made a very casual examination of the stomach and bowels1 as we had plenty of proof that poison had been taken1 without the use of tests40 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,in cases of death from ordinary causes the body is much distorted4 ,it does not generally remain in the same position4 ,if the body is not laid out immediately1 probably it is stiffened by the rigor mortis4 ,the ankles were tied by a bandage to keep them together4 ,i commenced to open the body by the thorax and abdomen4 ,the head also was opened40 ,the third case was that of a ,mr4 ,clutterbuck1 a gentleman suffering from paralysis1 on whom1 with ,dr4 ,chambers1 ,mr4 ,e4 ,d4 ,moore1 who detailed the case1 had attended some fifteen years before4 8,we had been giving him10 said the witness1 8small doses of strychnia1 when he went to ,brighton4 ,on his return he told us he had taken larger doses of it1 and we in consequence gave him a stronger dose4 ,i made up three draughts of a quarter of a grain each4 ,he took one in my presence4 ,i remained with him a little time1 and he said he felt quite comfortable4 ,about three quarters of an hour afterwards ,i was summoned to him4 ,i found him stiffened in every limb1 and the head drawn back4 ,he was desirous we should move him1 and turn him and rub him4 ,we tried to give him ammonia in a spoon1 and he snapped at it4 ,he was suffering1 ,i should say1 more than three hours4 ,sedatives were given to him4 ,he survived the attack4 ,he was conscious all the time40 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,the spasms ceased in about three hours1 but the rigidity of the muscles remained till the next day4 ,his hands were at first drawn back1 and he was much easier when we got them round clinched together4 ,his paralysis was better after the attack40 ,re-examined by the ,attorney-,general4--8,strychnia stimulates the nerves which act upon the voluntary muscles1 and therefore acts beneficially in cases of paralysis40 ,the fourth case of poisoning by strychnia1 though at this time given anonymously1 as it had not as yet been brought to a public trial1 was that of ,mrs4 ,dove1 of ,leeds1 more fully related in the next report4 ,in this case1 ,mrs4 ,witham1 who had been in attendance on the deceased1 described how1 after taking the medicine given to her1 8,she complained first of her back2 her head was thrown back2 her body stretched out2 that she twitched1 her eyes were drawn aside1 staring1 and that when the witness put her hands on the patient's limbs they did not relax40 ,in this case the illness commenced on the #beth of ,february2 attacks came on the #bgth1 #bhth1 and #bith 7the last a very slight one71 and then again1 about a quarter past eight1 on the #ast of ,march1 and the person died about twenty minutes to eleven on that night4 8,she principally complained of prickings in the legs1 twitchings in the muscles and in the hands1 which she said she could compare to nothing else than a galvanic shock4 ,between the attacks1 she was composed4 ,she wished her husband to rub her legs and arms4 ,she was dead when the doctor came40 ,on cross-examination1 the witness said that the sufferer 8could not bear to have her legs touched when the spasms were strong upon her4 ,her limbs were rigidly extended when she asked to be rubbed between the intervals of the spasms4 ,touching her then brought on the spasms4 ,her body was stiff immediately after death10 but how long it continued so the witness could not say1 as she did not stay long4 ,she was sensible from half an hour to an hour1 from a quarter past eight till after nine1 and the witness supposed she was insensible the remainder of the time2 she did not speak4 ,on the ,saturday before she died the symptoms were the same as on the other days--not more violent40 ,mr4 ,morley1 the surgeon who had attended this case1 and whose opinion as to the symptoms being identical with those in the present inquiry1 was directly opposed by ,mr4 ,nunneley1 of ,leeds1 who had then assisted him in the post-mortem examination1 not only detailed the symptoms he then saw1 but also the method and results of his subsequent examination of the body4 8,i had attended10 said ,mr4 ,morley1 8on the lady to whom the last witness has alluded for about two months before her death4 ,on the ,monday before she died she was in her bed1 apparently comfortable1 when ,i observed 7as ,i stood by her side7 several slight convulsive twitchings of her arms4 ,i supposed they arose from hysteria1 and ordered medicine in consequence4 ,the same symptoms appeared on the following ,wednesday and ,thursday4 ,i saw her on ,saturday1 the day she died4 ,she was apparently better and quite composed in the middle of the day4 ,she complained of an attack she had had at night4 ,she spoke of pain and spasms in her back and neck1 and of shocks4 ,i and another medical man were sent for hastily on ,saturday night4 ,we were met by an announcement that the lady was dead4 ,on the ,monday ,i accompanied another medical gentleman 7,nunneley7 to the post-mortem examination4 ,we found no disease in any part of the body which would account for death4 ,there was no emaciation1 wound1 or sore4 ,there was a peculiar expression of anxiety in the countenance4 ,the hands were bent and the fingers curved4 ,the feet were strongly arched4 ,we carefully examined the stomach and its contents for poison4 ,we applied several tests--nitric acid1 followed by protochloride of tin1#da sulphuric acid1 followed by bichromate of potash in a liquid and also in a solid state4 ,they are the best tests to detect strychnia4 ,in each case we found appearances characteristic of strychnia4 ,we administered the strychnia taken from the stomach to animals by inoculation--to two mice1 two rabbits1 and a guinea-pig1 having first separated it by chemical analysis4 ,we observed in each of the animals more or less of the effects produced by strychnia1 namely--general uneasiness1 difficult breathing1 convulsions of a tetanic kind1 muscular rigidity1 arching backwards of the head and neck1 violent stretching out of the legs4 ,these symptoms appeared in some of the animals in four or five minutes1 in others in less than an hour4 ,the guinea-pig suffered but slightly at first1 and was left1 and was dead next day4 ,the symptoms were strongly marked in the rabbits4 ,after death there was an interval of flaccidity1 after which rigidity commenced1 more than if it had been occasioned by the rigor mortis4 ,i afterwards made numerous experiments on animals with exactly similar results1 the poison being administered in a fluid form40 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,grove4--8,i did not see the patient during a severe attack4 ,i have observed in animals that spasms are brought on by touch4 ,that is a very marked symptom4 ,the spasm is like a galvanic shock4 ,the patient was not at all insensible during the time ,i saw her1 and she was able to swallow1 but ,i did not see her during a severe attack4 ,after death we found the lungs very much congested4 ,there was a small quantity of bloody serum found in the pericardium4 ,the muscles of the whole body were dark and soft4 ,there was a decided quantity of effusion in the brain4 ,there was also a quantity of serum tinged with blood in the membranes of the spinal cord4 ,the membranes of the spinal marrow were congested to a considerable extent4 ,we opened the head first1 and there was a good deal of blood flowing out4 ,part of the blood may have flowed from the heart4 ,that might partially empty the heart1 and would make it uncertain whether the heart was full or empty at the time of death4 ,i have often examined the hearts of animals poisoned by strychnia4 ,the right side of the heart is generally full4 ,in some cases ,i think that the symptoms did not appear for an hour after the administration of the poison4 ,i have made the experiments in conjunction with ,mr4 ,nunneley4 ,we have made experiments upon frogs1 but they are different in many respects from warm-blooded animals4 ,i have in almost all cases found the strychnia where it was known to have been administered4 ,in one case it was doubtful4 ,we were sure the strychnia had been administered in that case1 but we doubted whether it had reached the stomach4 ,there were appearances which might lead one to infer the presence of strychnia1 but they were not satisfactory4 ,i have detected strychnia in the stomach nearly two months after death1 when decomposition has proceeded to a considerable extent40 ,re-examined by the ,attorney-,general4--8,from half a grain to a grain has been administered to cats1 rabbits1 and dogs4 ,from one to two grains is quite sufficient to kill a dog40 ,question4--8,how does the strychnia act8 ,is it taken up by the absorbents1 and carried into the system80 ,answer4--8,i think it acts upon the nerves1 but a part may be taken into the blood and act through the blood4 ,we generally examined the stomach of the animals when the poison had been administered internally4 ,sometimes we examined the skin4 ,the poison found in the stomach would be in excess of that absorbed into the system40 ,question4--8,are you then of opinion that1 a portion of the poison being taken into the system and a portion being left in the stomach1 the portion taken into the system would produce tetanic symptoms and death80 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee objected to a question which suggested a theory4 ,the ,attorney-,general4--8,what would be the operation of that portion of the poison which is taken into the system80 ,answer4--8,it would destroy life40 ,mr4 ,baron ,alderson4--8,and yet leave an excess in the stomach80 ,answer4--8,that is my opinion40 ,the ,attorney-,general4--8,would the excess remaining in the stomach produce no effect80 ,answer4--8,i am not sure that strychnia could lie in the stomach without acting prejudicially40 ,question4--8,suppose that a minimum quantity is administered1 which1 being absorbed into the system1 destroys life1 should you expect to find any in the stomach80 ,answer4--8,i should expect sometimes to fail in discovering it40 ,question4--8,if death resulted from a series of minimum doses spread over several days1 would the appearance of the body be different from that of one whose death had been caused by one dose80 ,answer4--8,i should connect the appearance of the body with the final struggle of the last day40 ,question4--8,would you expect a different set of phenomena in cases where death had taken place after a brief struggle1 and in cases where the struggle had been protracted80 ,answer4--8,certainly4 ,at the post-mortem examination of which ,i have spoken we found fluid blood in the veins40 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,is it your theory that in the action of poisoning the poison becomes absorbed and ceases to exist as poison80 ,answer4--8,i have thought much upon that question1 and have not formed a decided opinion1 but ,i am inclined to think that it is so4 ,a part may be absorbed and a part remain in the stomach unchanged40 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,what chymical reason can you give for your opinion that strychnia1 after having effected the operation of poisoning1 ceases to be strychnia in the blood80 ,answer4--8,my opinion rests upon the general principle that1 in acting upon living bodies1 organic substances--such as food and medicine--are generally changed in their composition40 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,what are the component parts of strychnia80 ,mr4 ,baron ,alderson4--8,you will find that in any cyclopdia1 brother ,shee40 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,have you any reason to believe that strychnia can be decomposed by any sort of putrefying or fermenting process80 ,witness4--8,i doubt whether it can40#db ,,analytical ,,evidence4 ,on the fifth day1 the late ,doctor ,alfred ,swaine ,taylor1 the well-known ,analytical ,chemist and ,author of 8,medical ,jurisprudence0 7the text-book of the legal profession in all criminal investigations71 ,doctor ,owen ,rees1 now one of the physicians extraordinary to her ,majesty1 and the late ,professor ,brande1 of the ,royal ,institution1 were called as witnesses4 ,by the two first1 the analytical examination of the various parts of ,mr4 ,cook's body had been conducted1 and they had made a joint report of the results4 ,by the last1 that report had been carefully examined1 and he had also heard all the evidence as to symptoms previously given in the case4 ,no inconsiderable portion of the cross-examination of ,dr4 ,taylor was occupied by questions connected with the publication1 in the ,illustrated ,times1 by ,mr4 ,augustus ,mayhew1 of what professed to be statements as to the details of their analysis by ,dr4 ,taylor and ,dr4 ,rees1 in which1 if correctly reported1 the former had committed himself somewhat prematurely to opinions on the case1 and had used expressions towards the prisoner which1 to say the least1 were not discreet4 ,dr4 ,taylor1 however1 stoutly maintained that he had not used many of the expressions objected to2 that the opportunity of interviewing him1 after the ,american fashion1 had been unfairly obtained1 and the pretended report published not only without1 but contrary to1 his expressed wish4 ,except1 however1 as throwing a shade of partisanship over his conduct1 and so far lessening the value of his evidence1 the whole episode was useless to the defence--perhaps1 to a certain extent1 injurious4 ,dr4 ,taylor had been hasty and injudicious1 and undoubtedly taken at an advantage by the energetic reporter1 who certainly obtained his interview with him by pretences not strictly true4#dc ,with these remarks1 due to ,dr4 ,taylor's reputation and abilities1 we proceed to give his evidence4 ,dr4 ,alfred ,swaine ,taylor1 examined by the ,attorney-,general4--8,i am a fellow of the ,college of ,physicians1 lecturer on medical jurisprudence at ,guy's ,hospital1 and the author of the well-known treatise on poisons and on medical jurisprudence4 ,i have made the poison called strychnia the subject of my attention4 ,it is the produce of the nux vomica1 which also contains brucia1 a poison of an analogous character4 ,brucia is variously estimated at from one-sixth to one-twelfth the strength of strychnia4 ,most varieties of impure strychnia that are sold contain more or less brucia4 ,unless1 therefore1 you are certain as to the purity of the article1 you may be misled as to its strength4 ,i have performed a variety of experiments with strychnia on animal life4 ,i have never witnessed its action on a human subject4 ,i have tried its effects upon animal life--upon rabbits--in ten or twelve instances4 ,the symptoms are1 on the whole1 very uniform4 ,the quantity ,i have given has varied from half a grain to two grains4 ,half a grain is sufficient to destroy a rabbit4 ,i have given it both in a solid and liquid state4 ,when given in a fluid state it produces its effects in a very few minutes2 when in a solid state1 as a sort of pill or bolus1 in about six to eleven minutes4 ,the time varies according to the strength of the dose1 and also to the strength of the animal40 ,question4--8,in what way does it operate1 in your opinion80 ,answer4--8,it is first absorbed into the blood1 then circulated through the body1 and especially acts on the spinal cord1 from which proceed the nerves acting on the voluntary muscles40 ,question4--8,supposing the poison has been absorbed1 what time would you give for the circulating process80 ,answer4--8,the circulation of the blood through the whole system is considered to take place about once in four minutes4 ,the circulation in animals is quicker4 ,the absorption of the poison by rabbits is therefore quicker4 ,the time would also depend on the state of the stomach1--whether it contained much food or not1 whether the poison came into immediate contact with the inner surface of the stomach40 ,question4--8,in your opinion1 does the poison act immediately on the nervous system1 or must it first be absorbed80 ,answer4--8,it must first be absorbed40 ,question4--8,the symptoms1 you say1 are uniform4 ,will you describe them80 ,answer4--8,the animal for about five or six minutes does not appear to suffer1 but moves about gently2 when the poison begins to act it suddenly falls on its side2 there is a trembling1 a quivering motion of the whole of the muscles of the body1 arising from the poison producing violent and involuntary contraction4 ,there is then a sudden paroxysm or fit1 the fore legs and the hind legs are stretched out1 the head and the tail are drawn back in the form of a bow1 the jaws are spasmodically closed1 the eyes are prominent2 after a short time there is a slight remission of the symptoms1 and the animal appears to lie quiet1 but the slightest noise or touch reproduces another convulsive paroxysm2 sometimes there is a scream1 or a sort of shriek1 as if the animal suffered from pain2 the heart beats violently during the fit1 and after a succession of these fits the animal dies quietly4 ,sometimes1 however1 the animal dies during a spasm1 and ,i only know that death has occurred from holding my hand over the heart4 ,the appearances after death differ4 ,in some instances the rigidity continues4 ,in one case the muscles were so strongly contracted for a week afterwards1 that it was possible to hold the body by its hind legs stretched out horizontally4 ,in an animal killed the other day the body was flaccid at the time of death1 but became rigid about five minutes afterwards4 ,i have opened the bodies of animals thus destroyed40 ,question4--8,could you detect any injury in the stomach80 ,answer4--8,no4 ,i have found in some cases congestion of the membranes of the spinal cord to a greater extent than would be accounted for by the gravitation of the blood4 ,in other cases ,i have found no departure from the ordinary state of the spinal cord and the brain4 ,i ascribe congestion to the succession of fits before death4 ,in a majority of instances1 three out of five1 ,i found no change in the abnormal condition of the spine4 ,in all cases the heart has been congested1 especially the right side4 ,i saw a case of ordinary tetanus in the human subject years ago1 but ,i have not had much experience of such cases4 ,i saw one case last ,thursday week at ,st4 ,bartholomew's ,hospital4 ,the patient recovered40 ,question4--8,you have heard the description given by the witnesses of the symptoms and appearances which accompanied ,cook's attacks80 ,answer4--8,i have40 ,question4--8,were those symptoms and appearances the same as those you have observed in the animals to which you administered strychnia80 ,answer4--8,they were4 ,death has taken place in the animals more rapidly when the poison has been administered in a fluid than in a solid form4 ,they have died at various periods after the administration of the poison4 ,the experiments ,i have performed lately have been entirely in reference to solid strychnia4 ,in the first case the symptoms began in seven minutes1 and the animal died 7including those seven7 in thirteen minutes4 ,in the second case the symptoms appeared in nine minutes1 and the animal died in seventeen4 ,in the third case the symptoms appeared in ten minutes1 and the animal died in eighteen4 ,in the fourth case the symptoms appeared in five minutes1 and death took place in twenty-two4 ,in the fifth case the symptoms appeared in twelve minutes1 and death occurred in twenty-three4 ,if the poison were taken by the human subject in pills it would take a longer time to act1 because the structure of the pill must be broken up in order to bring the poison in contact with the mucous membrane of the stomach4 ,i have administered it to rabbits in pills40 ,question4--8,would poison given in pills take a longer period to operate on a human subject than on a rabbit80 ,answer4--8,i do not think we can draw any inference from a comparison of the rapidity of death in a human subject and in a rabbit4 ,the circulation and absorption are different in the two cases4 ,there is also a difference between one human subject and another4 ,the strength of the dose1 too1 would make a difference1 as a large dose would produce a more rapid effect than a small one4 ,i have experimented upon the intestines of animals1 in order to reproduce the strychnia4 ,the process consists in putting the stomach and its contents in alcohol1 with a small quantity of acid which dissolves the strychnia1 and produces sulphate of strychnia in the stomach4 ,the liquid is then filtered1 gently evaporated1 and an alkali added--carbonate of potash1 which combines with the sulphuric acid1 and precipitates the strychnia4 ,tests are applied to the strychnia1 or supposed strychnia1 when extracted4 ,strychnia has a peculiar strongly bitter taste4 ,it is not soluble in water1 but it is in acids and in alcohol4 ,the colour tests are applied to the dry residue after evaporation4 ,change of colour is produced by a mixture of sulphuric acid and bichromate of potash4 ,it produces a blue colour1 changing to violet and purple1 and passing to red2 but colouring tests are very fallacious1 with this exception1--when we have strychnia separated in its crystallised state we can recognise the crystals by their form and their chemical properties1 and1 above all1 by the tetanic symptoms and death when administered through a wound in the skin of animals40#dd ,question4--8,are there other vegetable substances from which1 if these colouring tests were applied1 similar colours could be obtained80 ,answer4--8,there are a variety of mixtures which produce similar colours2#de one of them also has a bitter taste like strychnine4#df ,vegetable poisons are more difficult of detection than mineral3 the tests are far more fallacious4 ,i have endeavoured to discover the presence of strychnine in animals ,i have poisoned in four cases1 assisted by ,dr4 ,rees4 ,i have applied the process ,i first described4 ,i have applied the tests of colouring and taste4 ,in one case ,i discovered some by the colour test4 ,in a second case there was a bitter taste1 but no other indication of strychnine4 ,in the other two cases there were no indications at all4 ,in the case where it had been discovered by the colour test1 two grains had been administered2 and in the second case1 where there was a bitter taste1 one grain4 ,in one of the cases where we failed to detect it1 one grain1 and1 in the other1 half a grain had been given4 ,i account for the absence of any indication1 because it is absorbed in the blood1 and is no longer in the stomach4 ,it is in a great part changed in the blood4 ,when administered in large doses there is a retention of some in excess of what is required for the destruction of life40 ,question4--8,supposing a minimum dose1 which will destroy life1 has been given1 could you find any80 ,answer4--8,no4 ,it is taken up by absorption1 and is no longer discoverable in the stomach4 ,the smallest quantity by which ,i have destroyed an animal is half a grain4 ,there is no process with which ,i am acquainted by which it can be discovered in the tissue4#dg ,as far as ,i know1 a small quantity cannot be discovered40 ,question4--8,suppose half a grain to be absorbed into the blood1 what proportion does it bear to the total quantity of blood circulated in the system80 ,answer4--8,assuming the system to contain the lowest quantity of blood--#belb4--it would be one-fiftieth of a grain to a pound of blood4 ,a physician once died from a dose of half a grain in twenty minutes4 ,i believe it undergoes some partial change in the blood which increases the difficulty of discovering it4 ,i never heard of its being separated from the tissues in a crystallised state4 ,the crystals are peculiar in form1 but there are other organic crystallised substances like them1 so that a chemist will not rely on form only4 ,after the post-mortem examination1 a portion of the stomach was delivered to me by ,mr4 ,boycott1 covered with bladder1 tied and sealed4 ,the jar contained the stomach and the intestines4 ,i have experimented upon them with a view to discover if any poison was present4 ,i sought for prussic acid1 morphia1 strychnia1 veratria1 tobacco poison1 hemlock1 arsenic1 antimony1 mercury1 and other mineral poisons1 but only found small traces of antimony4 ,the parts on which ,i had to operate were in the most unfavourable condition that could possibly be4 ,the stomach had been cut completely from end to end2 all the contents were gone1 and the fine mucous surface1 on which any poison1 if present1 would have been found1 was lying in contact with the outside of the intestines--all thrown together4 ,the inside of the stomach was lying in a mass of intestinal fcal matter4 ,that was1 ,i presume1 the fault or misfortune of the person who dissected1 but it seemed to have been shaken about in every possible way in its journey to ,london4#dh ,by my request the spleen1 two kidneys1 and a small bottle of blood1 were sent up to me4 ,we had no idea where the blood came from4 ,each part of the liver1 one kidney1 and the spleen1 all yielded antimony4 ,it was reproduced1 or brought out by boiling the animal matter in a mixture of hydrochloric acid and water4 ,copper1 in the shape of foil and gauze in a sort of web of fine copper1 was introduced1 and the antimony was found deposited on the copper4 ,the quantity of antimony was less in proportion in the spleen than in the other parts4 ,i detected some antimony in the blood4 ,we applied the tests of ,professor ,brande1 ,dr4 ,rees1 and others4 ,it is impossible to say how recently it had been administered1 but ,i should say shortly before death1 that is1 within some days4 ,the longest period at which antimony can be found in the blood after death1 within my knowledge1 is eight days2 the earliest period1 within my knowledge1 eighteen hours4 ,a boy died within eighteen hours after taking it1 and it was found in his liver4 ,it is usually given in the form of tartar emetic2 it acts as an irritant1 and produces vomiting4 ,if given in repeated doses1 a portion would find its way into the blood and the system1 beyond what was ejected4 ,if it continued to be given after it had produced certain symptoms1 it would destroy life4 ,it may1 however1 be given with impunity40 ,referring to the symptoms previously proved in ,cook's case1 the witness said-- 8,vomitings produced by antimony would cause those symptoms4 ,if given in small quantities1 sufficient to cause vomiting1 it would not affect the colour of the liquid with which it was mixed1 whether brandy1 wine1 broth1 or water4 ,it is impossible to form an exact judgment when the antimony was administered1 but it must have been two or three weeks at the outside before death4 ,there was no evidence that it was administered within some hours before death4 ,it might leave a sensation in the throat--a choking sensation--if a large quantity was given at once4 ,i found no trace of mercury during the analysis4 ,if a few grains had been taken recently before death1 ,i should have expected to find some trace4 ,if a man had taken mercury for a syphilitic affection within two or three weeks1 ,i should have expected to find it4 ,it is very slow in passing out of the body4 ,as small a quantity as three or four grains might leave some trace4 ,i recollect a case in which three grains of calomel were given three or four hours before death1 and traces of mercury were found4 ,half a grain three or four days before death1 if given in divided doses more favourable for absorption1 would1 ,i should expect1 leave a trace4 ,one grain would certainly do so40 ,the witness agreed with the opinion of the other witnesses as to the causes of the deaths of ,mrs4 ,smyth1 ,agnes ,french1 and the other lady 7,mrs4 ,dove71 and of the attack of ,clutterbuck1 and that the symptoms in ,mr4 ,cook's case appeared to be of a similar character4 ,as a professor of medical science1 he did not know any cause in the range of human disease1 except strychnia1 to which the symptoms in ,cook's case could be referred4 ,the cross-examination of ,dr4 ,taylor was necessarily very diffuse and lengthy2 with the exception1 however1 of the part in which it was sought to raise a prejudice against the witness as a partisan1 to which ,i have previously referred1 it was so important that1 like the examination in chief1 it must1 in justice to all parties1 be reported at length4 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,i mean by the word #8trace' a very small quantity1 which can hardly be estimated by weight4 ,i do not apply it in the sense of an imponderable quantity4 ,in chemical language it is frequently used in that sense4 ,an infinitesimal quantity would be called #8a trace4' ,the quantity of antimony that we discovered in all parts of the body would make up about half a grain4 ,we did not ascertain that there was that quantity1 but ,i will undertake to say that we extracted as much as half a grain4 ,that quantity would not be sufficient to cause death4 ,only arsenic or antimony could have been deposited1 under the circumstances1 on the copper1 and no sublimate of arsenic was obtained40 ,the witness1 in reply to a further question1 detailed the elaborate test which he had applied to the deposit1 in order to ascertain that it consisted of antimony4 ,question4--8,would a mistake in any one of the processes you have described1 or a defect in any of the materials you have used1 defeat the object of the test80 ,answer4--8,it would1 but all the materials ,i used were pure4 ,such an accident could not have happened without my having some intimation of it in the course of the process4 ,i should think antimony would operate more quickly upon animals than upon men4 ,i am acquainted with the works of ,orfila4 ,he stood in the highest rank of analytical chemists40 ,question4--8,did not ,orfila find antimony in a dog four months after injection80 ,answer4--8,yes2 but the animal had taken about forty-five grains40 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee called the attention of the witness to a passage in ,orfila's work in reference to that case1 to the effect that the antimony was found accumulating in the bones1 the liver contained a great deal1 and the tissues a very little4 ,witness4--8,yes2 when antimony has been long in the body it passes into the bones2 but ,i think you will find that these are not ,orfila's experiments4 ,orfila is quoting the experiments of another person40#di ,question4--8,but is not that the case with nearly all the experiments referred to in your own book80 ,answer4--8,no2 ,i cannot say that40 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee again referred to a case in ,orfila in which forty-five grains were given to a dog1 and three and a half months after death a quantity was found in the fat1 and some in the liver1 bones1 and tissues4 ,witness4--8,that shows that antimony gets into the bones and flesh1 but ,i never knew a case in which forty-five grains had been given to a human being in ten days1 and ,i have given no opinion upon such a case40 ,question4--8,a pretty good dose is required to poison a person1 ,i suppose80 ,answer4--8,that depends on the mode in which it is given4 ,a dog has been poisoned with six grains4 ,the dog died in the case you mentioned4 ,when antimony is administered as it was in that case the liver becomes fatty and gristled4 ,cook's liver presented no appearance of the sort4 ,i should infer that the antimony we found in ,cook's body was given much more recently than in the experiments you have described4 ,we cannot say positively how long it takes to get out of the body1 but ,i have known three grains cleared out in twenty-four hours4 ,i was first applied to in this case on ,thursday1 the #bgth of ,november1 by ,mr4 ,stevens1 who was introduced to me by ,mr4 ,warrington1 professor of chemistry4 ,either then or subsequently he mentioned ,mr4 ,gardner4 ,i had not known ,mr4 ,gardner before4 ,i had never before been concerned in cases of this kind at ,rugeley40 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee read the letter written by ,dr4 ,taylor to ,mr4 ,gardner3 8,,chemical ,,laboratory1 ,,guy',s ,,hospital1 8,dec4 #d1 #ahee4 8,re ,j4 ,p4 ,cook1 ,esq41 deceased4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,dr4 ,rees and ,i have completed the analysis to-day4 ,we have sketched a report1 which will be ready to-morrow or next day4 8,as ,i am going to ,durham ,assizes on the part of the ,crown1 in the case of ,reg4 v4 ,wooler1 the report will be in the hands of ,dr4 ,rees1 ,no4 #bf1 ,albemarle-street4 ,it will be most desirable that ,mr4 ,stevens should call on ,dr4 ,rees1 read the report with him1 and put such questions as may occur4 8,in reply to your letter received here this morning ,i beg to say that we wish a statement of all the medicines prescribed for deceased 7until his death7 to be drawn up and sent to ,dr4 ,rees4 8,we do not find strychnine1 prussic acid1 or any trace of opium4 ,from the contents having been drained away it is now impossible to say whether any strychnine had or had not been given just before death1 but it is quite possible for tartar emetic to destroy life if given in repeated doses2 and1 so far as we can at present form an opinion1 in the absence of any natural cause of death1 the deceased may have died from the effects of antimony in this or some other form4 8,we are1 dear ,sir1 yours faithfully1 8,,alfred ,s4 ,,taylor4 8,g4 ,,owen ,,rees40 ,question4--8,was that your opinion at the time80 ,answer4--8,it was4 ,we could infer nothing else40 ,question4--8,have you not said that the quantity of antimony you found was not sufficient to account for death80 ,answer4--8,certainly4 ,if a man takes antimony he first vomits1 and then a part of the antimony goes out of the body2 some may escape from the bowels4 ,a great deal passes at once into the blood by absorption1 and is carried out by the urine40 ,question4--8,can you say upon your oath that from the traces in ,cook's body you were justified in stating your opinion that death was caused by antimony80 ,answer4--8,yes2 perfectly and distinctly4 ,that which is found in a dead body is not the slightest criterion as to what the man took when alive40 ,question4--8,when you gave your opinion that ,cook died from the effects of antimony1 had you any reason to think that an undue quantity had been administered80 ,answer4--8,i could not tell4 ,people may die from large or small quantities2 the quantity found in the body was no criterion as to how much he had taken40 ,question4--8,may not the injudicious use of a quack medicine containing antimony1 the injudicious use of ,james's powders1 account for the antimony you found in the body80 ,answer4--8,yes2 the injudicious use of any antimonial medicine would account for it40 ,question4--8,or even their judicious use80 ,answer4--8,it might40 ,question4--8,with that knowledge1 upon being consulted with regard to ,cook1 you gave it as your opinion that he died from the poison of antimony80 ,answer4--8,you pervert my meaning entirely4 ,i said that antimony in the form of tartar emetic might occasion vomiting and other symptoms of irritation1 and that in large doses it would cause death1 preceded by convulsions40 ,the witness was proceeding to read his report upon the case1 but was stopped by the ,court4 8,i was told that the deceased was in good health seven or eight days before his death1 and that he had been taken very sick and ill1 and had died in convulsions4 ,no further particulars being given us1 we were left to suppose that he had not died a natural death4 ,there was no natural cause to account for death2 and finding antimony existing throughout the body1 we thought it might have been caused by antimony4 ,an analysis cannot be made effectually without information40 ,question4--8,you think it necessary before you can rely upon an analysis to have received a long statement of the symptoms before death80 ,answer4--8,a short statement will do40 ,question4--8,you allow your judgment to be influenced by the statement of a person who knows nothing of his own knowledge80 ,answer4--8,i do not allow my judgment to be influenced in any way2 ,i judge by the result40 ,question4--8,do you mean to say that what ,mr4 ,stevens told you did not assist you in arriving at the conclusion you state in writing80 ,answer4--8,i stated it as a possible case--not as a certainty4 ,if we had found a large quantity of tartar emetic in the stomach we should have come to the conclusion that the man died from it4 ,as we found only a small quantity1 we said he might have died from it4 ,i attended the coroner's inquest1 first1 ,i think1 on ,december #ad4 ,some of the evidence was read over to me4 ,i think that ,dr4 ,harland was the first witness ,i heard examined4 ,i heard ,mr4 ,bamford1 and also ,lavinia ,barnes4 ,i cannot say as to ,newton4 ,i heard ,jones4 ,i had experimented some years ago on five of the rabbits ,i have mentioned4 ,that is the only knowledge of my own that ,i had of the effect of strychnia upon animal life when ,i wrote my book4 ,i have a great objection to the sacrifice of life4 ,no toxicologist will sacrifice the lives of one hundred rabbits to establish facts which he knows to be already well established4 ,i experimented on the last rabbits since the inquest40 ,question4--8,do you not think it rather rash to judge of the effects of strychnia on man by so small an experiment80 ,answer4--8,you must add to the experiment the study of poisons and cases40 ,question4--8,do you not think that a rabbit is a very unfair animal to select80 ,answer4--8,no40 ,question4--8,would not a dog be better80 ,answer4--8,they are very dangerous to handle40 ,question4--8,do you mean to give that answer80 ,answer4--8,dogs and cats bear a greater analogy to man because they vomit1 while rabbits do not2 but rabbits are much more manageable40 ,question4--8,do you admit that as to the action of the respiratory organs they would be better than rabbits80 ,answer4--8,i do not40 ,question4--8,as to the effect of poison would they not80 ,answer4--8,i think a rabbit quite as good as any animal4 ,the poison is retained1 and its operation is shown4 ,at the inquest ,i saw ,mr4 ,gardner 7the solicitor of ,mr4 ,stevens74 ,i suggested questions to the coroner4 ,some of them he put to the witnesses1 and others they answered upon my suggesting them4 ,ten days before the inquest ,mr4 ,gardner informed me in his letter that strychnia1 ,battley's solution1 and prussic acid1 had been purchased on ,tuesday2 that was why ,i used the expressions to which you have referred4 ,we did not allow that information to have any influence on our report40 ,the witness's deposition before the coroner was then read4 8,having given my evidence1 ,i returned to town1 and soon afterwards heard that the prisoner had been committed on a charge of wilful murder40 ,question4--8,and that his life depended in a great degree on you80 ,answer4--8,no4 ,i simply gave an opinion as to the poison1 not as to the prisoner's case4 ,i knew ,i should probably be examined as a witness on the trial40 ,question4--8,do you think it your duty to abstain from all public discussion of the question which might influence the public mind40 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,did you write a letter to the ,lancet80 ,answer4--8,yes1 to contradict several mis-statements of my evidence that had been made40 ,letter to ,lancet of ,feb4 #b1 #ahef1 read1 in which ,dr4 ,taylor said3--8,during the quarter of a century which ,i have now specially devoted to toxicological inquiries1 ,i have never met with any cases like these suspected cases of poisoning at ,rugeley4 ,the mode in which they will affect the person accused is of minor importance compared with their probable influence on society4 ,i have no hesitation in saying that the future security of life in this country will mainly depend on the judge1 the jury1 and the counsel who may have to dispose of the charges of murder which have arisen out of these investigations40#ej ,cross-examination continued4--8,that is my opinion now4 ,it had been stated that if strychnia caused death it could always be found1 which ,i deny4 ,it had also been circulated in every newspaper that a person could not be killed by tartar emetic1 which ,i deny1 and which might have led to the destruction of hundreds of lives4 ,i entertained no prejudice against the prisoner4 ,what ,i meant was that if these statements which ,i had seen in medical and other periodicals were to have their way there was not a life in the country which was safe40 ,question4--8,do you adhere to your opinion that #8the mode in which they will affect the person accused1' that is1 lead him to the scaffold1 #8is of minor importance1 compared with their probable influence on society'80 ,answer4--8,i have never suggested that they should lead him to the scaffold4 ,i hope that1 if innocent1 he will be acquitted40 ,question4--8,what do you mean by the mode in which they will affect the person accused being of minor importance80 ,answer4--8,the lives of sixteen millions of people are1 in my opinion1 of greater importance than that of one man40 ,question4--8,that is your opinion80 ,answer4--8,yes4 ,as you appear to put that as an objection to my evidence1 allow me to state that in two dead bodies ,i find antimony4 ,in one case death occurred suddenly1 and in the other the body was saturated with antimony1 which ,i never found before in the examination of three hundred bodies4 ,i say these were circumstances which demanded explanation40 ,question4--8,you adhere to the opinion that1 as a medical man and a member of an honourable profession1 you were right in publishing this letter before the trial of the person accused80 ,answer4--8,i think ,i had a right to state that opinion in answer to the comments which had been made upon my evidence40 ,question4--8,had any comments been made by the prisoner80 ,answer4--8,no40 ,question4--8,or by any of his family80 ,answer4--8,mr4 ,smith1 the solicitor for the defence1 circulated in every paper statements of #8,dr4 ,taylor's inaccuracy4' ,i had no wish or motive to charge the prisoner with this crime4 ,my duty concerns the lives of all40 ,i omit here the numerous questions about ,mr4 ,mayhew's visit1 and take up the cross-examination with the witness's opinion of ,cook's symptoms4 8,cook's symptoms were quite in accordance with an ordinary case of poisoning by strychnia40 ,question4--8,can you tell me any case in which a patient after being seized with tetanic symptoms sat up in bed and talked80 ,answer4--8,it was after he sat up that ,cook was seized with these symptoms40 ,question4--8,can you refer to a case in which a patient who had taken strychnia beat the bed with his or her arms80 ,answer4--8,it is exactly what ,i should expect to arise from a sense of suffocation40 ,question4--8,do you know in your reading of any case in which the symptoms of poisoning by strychnia commenced with beating of the bed clothes80 ,answer4--8,there have been only about fifteen cases1 and in none of those was the patient seized in bed4 ,beating of the bed clothes is a symptom which may be exhibited by a person suffering from a sense of suffocation1 whether caused by strychnia or other causes4 ,a case has been communicated to me by a friend1 in which the patient shook as though with an ague40 ,answer objected to1 but allowed as witness had been questioned as to the results of his reading4 8,i have known of no case of poisoning by strychnia in which the patient screamed before he was seized4 ,that is common in ordinary convulsions4 ,in cases of poisoning by strychnia the patient screams when the spasms set in2 the pain is very severe4 ,i cannot refer to a case in which the patient has spoken freely after the paroxysms had commenced40 ,question4--8,can you refer me to any case in an authentic publication in which the access of the strychnia paroxysm has been delayed so long after the injection of the poison as in the case of ,cook on ,tuesday night80 ,answer4--8,yes2 longer4 ,in my book on ,medical ,jurisprudence1 p4 #ahe1 #eth ,edition1 it is stated that in a case communicated to the ,lancet1 ,aug4 #ca1 #ahej1 by ,mr4 ,bennett1 a grain and a half of strychnia taken by mistake destroyed the life of a healthy female in an hour and a half4 ,none of the symptoms appeared for an hour4 ,there is a case in which the period which elapsed was two hours and a half4 ,a grain and a half is a full1 but not a very considerable1 dose4 ,in my book on ,poisons there is no case in which the paroxysm commenced more than an hour and a half after the injection of the poison4 ,that book is eight years old1 and since #ahdh cases have occurred4 ,there is a mention of one in which three hours elapsed before the paroxysms occurred40 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee then referred to the case1 and called attention to the fact that the only statement as to time was that in three hours the patient lost his speech1 and was seized with violent convulsions4#ea ,cross-examination continued4--8,i know of no other fatal case in which the interval was so long4 ,in that case there was disease of the brain4 ,referring to the ,lancet1 ,i find that in the case to which ,i referred1 as communicated by ,dr4 ,bennett1 the strychnia was dissolved in cinnamon water4 ,being dissolved1 one would have expected it to have a more speedy action4 ,the time in which a patient would recover would depend entirely upon the dose of strychnia which had been taken4 ,i do not remember any case in which a patient recovered in three or four hours1 but such cases must have occurred4 ,there is one mentioned in my book on ,medical ,jurisprudence4 ,the patient had taken nux vomica1 but its powers depend upon strychnia4 ,in that case the violence of the paroxysms gradually subsided1 and the next day1 although feeble and exhausted1 the patient was able to walk home4 ,the time of the recovery is a point which is not usually stated by medical men4 ,i cannot mention any case in which there was a repetition of the paroxysms after so long an interval as that from ,monday to ,tuesday night1 which occurred in ,cook's case4 ,i do not think that the attack on ,tuesday night was the result of anything which had been administered to him on the ,monday night4 ,in the cases of four out of five rabbits the rigidity was continued at the time of death and after death4 ,in the other the animal was flaccid at the time of death40 ,question4--8,are you acquainted with this opinion of ,dr4 ,christison1 that in these cases rigidity does not come on at the time of death1 but comes on shortly afterwards80 ,answer4--8,dr4 ,christison speaks from his experience1 and ,i from mine40 ,question4--8,did you hear that ,dr4 ,bamford said that when he arrived he found the body of ,cook quite straight in bed80 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,can that have been a case of ophisthotonos80 ,answer4--8,it may have been40 ,question4--8,are not the colour tests of strychnia so uncertain and fallacious that they cannot be depended upon80 ,answer4--8,yes1 unless you first get the strychnia in a visible and tangible form40 ,question4--8,is it not impossible to get it so from the stomach80 ,answer4--8,it is not impossible2 it depends upon the quantity which remains there40 ,question4--8,you do not agree that the fiftieth part of a grain might be discovered80 ,answer4--8,i think not40 ,question4--8,nor even half a grain80 ,answer4--8,that might be4 ,it would depend upon the quantity of food in the stomach with which it was mixed40 ,re-examined by the ,attorney-,general4--8,in cases of death from strychnia the heart is sometimes found empty after death4 ,that is the case of human subjects4 ,there are three such cases on record4 ,i think that emptiness results from spasmodic affection of the heart4 ,i know of no reason why that should rather occur in the case of man than in that of a small animal like a rabbit4 ,the heart is generally more filled when the paroxysms are frequent4 ,when the paroxysm is short and violent1 and causes death in a few moments1 ,i should expect to find the heart empty4 ,the rigidity after death always affects the same muscles2 those of the limbs and back4 ,in the case of the rabbit1 in which the rigidity was relaxed at the time of death1 it returned while the body was warm4 ,in ordinary death it only occurs when the body is cold1 or nearly so4 ,i never knew a case of tetanus in which the rigidity lasted two months after death2 but such a fact would give me the impression that there were very violent spasms4 ,it would indicate great violence of the spasms from which the person died4 ,the time which elapses between the taking of strychnia and the commencement of the paroxysms depends on the constitution and strength of the individual4 ,a feeling of suffocation is one of the earliest symptoms of poisoning by strychnia1 and that would lead the patient to beat the bedclothes4 ,i have no doubt that the substances ,i used for the purpose of analysis were pure4 ,i had tested them4 ,the fact that three distinct processes each gave the same result was strong confirmation of each4 ,i have no doubt that what we found was antimony4 ,the quantity found does not enable me to say how much was taken4 ,it might be the residue of either large or small doses4 ,sickness would throw off some portion of the antimony which had been administered4 ,we did not analyse the bones and tissues4 ,i suggested questions to the coroner because he did not put such as enabled me to form an opinion4 ,i think that arose rather from want of knowledge than intention4 ,there was an omission to take down the answers4 ,at the time ,i wrote to ,mr4 ,gardiner ,i had not learnt the symptoms which attended the attack and death of ,cook4 ,i had only the information that he was well seven days before he died1 and had died in convulsions4 ,i had not information to lead me to suppose that strychnia had been the cause of death1 except that ,palmer had purchased strychnia4 ,failing to find opium1 prussic acid1 or strychnia1 ,i referred to antimony as the only substance found in the body4 ,before writing to the ,lancet1 ,i had been made the subject of a great many attacks4 ,what ,i had said as to the possibility or impossibility of discovering strychnia after death had been misrepresented4 ,in various newspapers it had been represented that ,i had said strychnia could never be detected--that it was destroyed by putrefaction4 ,what ,i had said was1 that when absorbed in the blood it could not be separated as strychnia4 ,i wrote the letter in my own vindication40 ,dr4 ,rees and ,professor ,brande briefly but decidedly confirmed the statements1 and coincided with the opinions expressed by ,dr4 ,taylor1 the latter witness speaking as to an experiment made by him to test the accuracy of the previous one1 with reference to the supposed presence of antimony1 which enabled him to state positively that that poison was isolated by it4 ,professor ,christison1 of the ,university of ,edinburgh1 author of the well-known treatise on poisons1 was then called1 and gave the following evidence3-- ,professor ,christison said3--8,i am a fellow of the ,royal ,college of ,physicians and ,professor of ,materia ,medica to the ,university of ,edinburgh2 ,i am also the author of a work on the subject of poisons1 and ,i have directed a good deal of attention to strychnia4 ,in my opinion it acts by absorption into the blood1 and through that upon the nervous system4 ,i have seen its effects upon a human subject1 but not a fatal case4 ,i have seen it tried upon pigs1 rabbits1 cats1 and one wild boar4 7,a laugh47 ,i first directed my attention to this poison in #ahbj1 in ,paris4 ,it had been discovered two years before in ,paris4 ,in most of my experiments upon animals ,i gave very small doses--a sixth of a grain2 but ,i once administered a grain4 ,i cannot say how small a dose would cause the death of an animal by administration into the stomach4 ,i generally applied it by injection through an incision in the cavity of the chest4 ,a sixth part of a grain so administered killed a dog in two minutes4 ,i once administered to a rabbit1 through the stomach1 a dose of a grain4 ,i saw ,dr4 ,taylor administer three-quarters of a grain to a rabbit1 and it was all swallowed except a very small quantity4 ,the symptoms are nearly the same in rabbits1 cats1 and dogs4 ,the first is a slight tremor and unwillingness to move2 then frequently the animal jerks its head back slightly2 soon after that all the symptoms of tetanus come on which have been so often described by the previous witnesses4 ,when the poison is administered by the stomach death generally takes place between a period of five minutes and five and twenty minutes after the symptoms first make their appearance4 ,i have frequently opened the bodies of animals thus killed1 and have never been able to trace any effect of the poison upon the stomach or intestines1 or upon the spinal cord or brain1 that ,i could attribute satisfactorily to the poison4 ,the heart of the animal generally contained blood in all the cases in which ,i have been concerned4 ,in the case of the wild boar the poison was injected into the chest4 ,a third of a grain was all that was used1 and in ten minutes the symptoms began to show themselves4 ,if strychnia was administered in the form of a pill it might be mixed with other ingredients that would protract the period of its operation4 ,this would be the case if it were mixed with resinous materials1 or any materials that were difficult of digestion1 and such materials would be within the knowledge of any medical men1 and they are frequently used for the purpose of making ordinary pills4 ,absorption in such a case would not commence until the pill was broken down by the process of digestion4 ,in the present state of our knowledge of the subject ,i do not think it is possible to fix the precise time when the operation of the poison commences on a human subject4 ,in the case of an animal we take care that it is fasting1 and we mix the poison with ingredients that are readily soluble1 and in every circumstance favourable for the development of the poison4 ,i have seen many cases of tetanus arising from wounds and other causes4 ,the general symptoms of the disorder very nearly resemble each other1 and in all the natural forms of tetanus the symptoms begin and advance much more slowly1 and they prove fatal much more slowly1 and there is no intermission in certain forms of natural tetanus4 ,in tetanus from strychnia there are short intermissions4 ,i have heard the evidence of what took place at the #8,talbot ,arms' on the ,monday and ,tuesday1 and the result of my experience induces me to come to the conclusion that the symptoms exhibited by the deceased were only attributable to strychnia1 or the four poisons containing it3 namely1 nux vomica1 ,st4 ,ignatius's bean1 snakewood1 and a draught poison called 8exhetwick40#eb ,there is no natural disease of any description that ,i am acquainted with to which ,i could refer these symptoms4 ,in cases of tetanus consciousness remains to the very last moment4 ,when death takes place in a human subject by spasm it tends to empty the heart of blood4 ,when death is the consequence of the administration of strychnia1 if the quantity is small1 ,i should not expect to find any trace in the body after death4 ,if there was an excess of quantity more than was required to cause the death by absorption1 ,i should expect to find that excess in the stomach4 ,the colour tests for the detection of the presence of strychnia are uncertain4 ,vegetable poisons are more difficult of detection than mineral ones1 and there is one poison with which ,i am acquainted for which no known test has been discovered4 ,the stomach of the deceased was sent in a very unsatisfactory state for examination1 and there must have been a considerable quantity of strychnia in the stomach to have enabled any one to detect its presence under such circumstances40 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,grove4--8,the experiments ,i refer to were made many years ago4 ,in one instance ,i tried one of the colour tests in the case of a man who was poisoned by strychnia1 but ,i failed to discover the presence of the poison in the stomach4 ,i tried the test for the development of the violet colour by means of sulphuric acid and oxide of lead4 ,from my own observation ,i should say that animals destroyed by strychnia die of asphyxia1 but in my work1 which has been referred to1 it will be seen that ,i have left the question open40 ,some further questions were put to the witness by the learned counsel for the prisoner in reference to opinions expressed by him in his work1 and he explained that this work was written twelve years ago1 and that the experience he had since obtained had modified some of the opinions he then entertained4 ,cross-examination continued4--8,i have not noticed that in cases where a patient is suffering from strychnia the slightest touch appears to bring on the paroxysm4 ,it is very remarkable in the case of animals1 unless you touch them very gently indeed4 ,strychnia has a most intensely bitter taste4 ,it is said on the authority of a ,french chemist that a grain will give a taste to more than a gallon of water4 ,if resinous substances were used in the formation of a pill it does not follow that they would necessarily be found in the stomach2 they might be passed off40 ,by the ,attorney-,general4--8,one of the cases quoted in the work that has been referred to was that of a gamekeeper1 who was found dead2 his head was thrown back1 his hands were clenched1 and his limbs were rigid4 ,a paper containing strychnia was found in his pocket1 and upon a post-mortem examination1 there were indications which1 under the circumstances1 satisfied me of the existence of strychnia4 ,there was a substance in the body of an intensely bitter taste1 which was tested by the colour test1 and it succeeded in one instance1 but failed in another4 ,it appears that colour tests are not to be relied upon in the case of strychnia in an impure condition3 in the first place1 you may not find indication of strychnia3 and1 secondly1 they are subject to fallacy even if the strychnia is pure from other substances not containing strychnia presenting similar appearances40 ,with the examination of this witness1 the medical and scientific evidence for the prosecution was closed4 ,,medico-,,scientific ,,evidence ,,for ,,the ,,defence4 ,the conflict in the testimony given by scientific experts in this case1 will be more clearly shown if1 instead of deferring it to its original position1 after the speech for the defence1 the evidence of the eminent medical men and analysts is at once contrasted with that of those called for the prosecution4 ,the two points mainly in contest were1 7#a47 ,were the symptoms in ,cook's case such as could only be produced by strychnia1 or could they have arisen from other diseases1 and especially from one of the forms of ordinary tetanus8 7#b47 ,if strychnia had been given1 could it not have been discovered by chemical analysis8#ec ,under the first head came the consideration of ,cook's mode of life and general state of health1 and his excitement at the victory of his horse at such a critical period of his fortunes1 as predisposing causes to one or other of the various diseases to which the witnesses for the defence were prepared to attribute the symptoms and the result4 ,under the second1 the success that uniformly attended such analysts as ,mr4 ,herapath in detecting1 even twenty times less than the fiftieth part of a grain of strychnia1 and the inference that as it was not discovered by such eminent analysts as ,dr4 ,taylor and ,dr4 ,rees1 that none had been given4 ,if this inference was fair1 it would follow that1 however mysterious the causes of the death of ,cook might have been1 and the symptoms of his attacks difficult of being referred to any known form of disease1 yet it was not proved that he died of strychnia1 and that therefore ,palmer was entitled to an acquittal4 8,according to the witnesses for the ,crown10 said ,serjeant ,shee1 8the poison of strychnia is of that nature1 that when it has done its fatal work1 and become absorbed into the system1 it ceases to be the thing it was when it was taken into the system2 it becomes decomposed1 its elements separated from each other1 and1 therefore1 no longer capable of responding to the tests which1 according to ,taylor1 would certainly detect the presence of undecomposed strychnia4 ,they account for the fact that it is not detected1 and for their still believing that it destroyed ,mr4 ,cook1 by this hypothesis4 ,now it is only an hypothesis3 there is no foundation for it in experiment3 it is not supported by the evidence of any eminent toxicologists but themselves2 it was the theory of ,dr4 ,taylor1 which he propounds in his book--but he propounds it as a theory of his own2 he does not vouch1 as ,i remember1 any eminent toxicologist in support of it40 ,against this theory1 among other eminent men1 the defence called ,mr4 ,nunneley1 of ,leeds1 who had assisted ,mr4 ,morley 7previously called for the prosecution7 in the case of ,mrs4 ,dove1 ,dr4 ,letheby1 the medical officer of health of the city of ,london1 and ,mr4 ,william ,herapath4 ,of these three experts it will be advisable to give the evidence at some length1 contenting oneself with summarising that of the other scientific witnesses who agreed with them in rejecting1 as a scientific heresy1 the hypothesis of ,dr4 ,taylor4 ,the evidence of ,mr4 ,nunneley covered both points--the character of ,cook's symptoms and the discovery of strychnia4 8,he had been1 he said1 in large practice for more than twenty-five years1 and had seen four cases of idiopathic tetanus1 all of which did not commence with lockjaw2 in one of them lockjaw not becoming so marked as to prevent the person from swallowing once during the disease40 8,i assume10 said the witness1 8that ,cook was a man of very delicate constitution2 that for a long time he had felt himself ailing1 for which indisposition he had been under medical treatment2 that he had suffered from syphilis2 that he had disease of the lungs1 and an old standing disease of the throat2 that he led an irregular life2 that he was subject to mental depression and excitement1 and that after death appearances were found in his body to show this to have been the case4 ,there was an unusual appearance in the stomach4 ,the throat was in an unnatural condition4 ,the back of the tongue showed similar indications4 ,the air vessels of the lungs were dilated4 ,in the lining of the aorta there was an unnatural deposit1 and there was an unusual appearance in the membranes of the spinal marrow4 ,one of the witnesses also said there was a loss of substance from the penis4 ,that scar on it could only have resulted from an ulcer4 ,a chancre is an ulcer1 but an ulcer is not necessarily a chancre4 ,the symptoms at the root of the tongue and throat ,i should ascribe to syphilitic inflammation of the throat4 ,supposing these symptoms to be correct0 7which they were not71 8,i should infer that ,cook's health had not for a long time been good1 and that his constitution was delicate4 ,his father and mother died young4 ,supposing that to have been his state of health1 it would make him liable to nervous irritation4 ,that might be excited by moral causes4 ,any excitement or depression might produce that effect4 ,a person of such health and constitution would be more susceptible of the injurious influence of wet and cold than one of a stronger one4 ,upon such a constitution convulsive disease is more likely to supervene4 ,i understand he had three attacks on succeeding nights1 occurring about the same hour4 ,as a medical man ,i should infer from this that they were of a convulsive character--in the absence of other causes to account for them4 ,convulsive attacks are as various as possible in their forms and degrees of violence3 it is not possible to give a definite name to every convulsive symptom4 ,there are some forms of convulsion in which the patient retains consciousness4 ,those are forms of hysteria1 sometimes found in the male sex4 ,it is also stated that there are forms of epilepsy in which the patient retains consciousness40 ,to ,lord ,campbell4--8,i cannot mention a case in which consciousness has been retained during the fit4 ,no such case has come under my notice40 ,examination continued4--8,i know from reading that1 though rarely1 it does sometimes occur4 ,the degree of consciousness in epilepsy varies very much4 ,in some attacks it is wholly lost for a long time4 ,convulsive attacks are sometimes accompanied by violent spasms and rigidity of the limbs--they sometimes assume tetanic complexion4 ,i agree with ,dr4 ,copland that convulsions arise from almost any cause4 ,affections of the spinal cord1 or eating indigestible food1 will produce them4 ,i know of no case in which they resulted from retching and vomiting4 ,i agree with ,dr4 ,copland that they sometimes end immediately in death4 ,the immediate proximate cause of death is frequently asphyxia4 ,death from spasm of the heart is often described as death by asphyxia4 ,i have seen convulsions recurring--in various cases4 ,the time at which a patient recovers his ease after a violent attack of convulsions varies very much4 ,it may be a few minutes1 it may be hours4 ,from an interval between one convulsion and another ,i should infer that the convulsions arose from slight irritation in the brain or the spinal cord4 ,when death takes place in such paroxysms there is sometimes no trace of organic disease to be found by a post-mortem examination4 ,granules between the ,,dura ,,mater and the ,,arachnoid are not common at any age4 ,i should not draw any particular inference from their appearance4 ,they might or might not lead to a conjecture as to their cause and effect4 ,i do not form any opinion upon these points4 ,they might produce an effect upon the spinal cord4 ,there are three preparations in museums where granules are exhibited in the spinal cord1 in which the patients are said to have died from tetanus4 ,those are at ,st4 ,thomas's ,hospital4#ed ,to ascertain the nature and effect of such granules the spinal cord ought to be examined immediately after death4 ,not the most remote opinion could be formed upon an examination made two months after death1 more especially if the brain had been previously opened4 ,independently of the appearance of granules1 it would not after that period be possible to form a satisfactory opinion upon the general condition of the spinal cord4 ,if there were a large tumour1 or some similar change1 it might be exhibited2 but neither softening nor induration of the structure could be perceived4 ,the nervous structure changes within two days of death4 ,to ascertain minutely its condition it is necessary to use a lens or microscope4 ,that is required in an examination made immediately after death4 ,i have attended cases of traumatic tetanus4 ,that disease commonly begins with an attack upon the jaw4 ,one of the cases of idiopathic tetanus that ,i have seen was my own child4 ,in three of those cases the disease began with lockjaw4 ,the fourth case commenced in the body1 the facility of swallowing remaining4 ,i have within the last twelve months made post-mortem examinations of two persons who had died from strychnia4 ,i did not see the patients before death4 ,in both cases ,i ascertained by chemical analysis that death had been caused by strychnia4 ,in both ,i found the strychnia4 ,in one case--that of a lady aged twenty-eight years--,i made my examination forty-two hours after death1 and in the other thirty hours4 ,in the former case the body had not been opened before ,i commenced my examination40 ,the witness read a report of this examination1 in which it was stated that the eyelids were partially open1 the globes flaccid1 and the pupils dilated4 ,the muscles of the trunk were not in the least rigid2 indeed1 they were so soft that the body might be bent in any direction4 ,the muscles at the hip and shoulder joints were not quite so flaccid1 but they allowed these joints to be easily moved2 while those of the head and neck1 forearms1 c41 were rigid4 ,the fingers were curved1 and the feet somewhat arched4 ,all the muscles1 when cut into1 were found soft and dark in colour4 ,the membranes of the liver were exceedingly vascular4 ,the membrane of the spinal cord was much congested4 ,there was bloody serum in the pericardium2 the lungs were distended1 and some of the air cells were ruptured4 ,the lining membrane of the trachea and bronchial tubes was covered with a layer of dark bloody mucus of a dark chocolate colour4 ,the thoracic vessels and membranes were much congested1 and the blood was everywhere dark and fluid4 ,after reading this report the witness continued3--8,in the second case ,i made my examination thirty hours after death4 ,i first saw the body about twelve hours after death4 ,it was a woman somewhere near twenty years of age40 ,the witness also read the report of the examination in this case4 ,the appearances of the body were substantially similar to those presented in the previous case4 8,in two other cases ,i have seen a patient suffering from over doses of strychnia4 ,neither of those cases was fatal4 ,in one case ,i had prescribed the twelfth of a grain1 and the patient took one-sixth4 ,that was for a man of middle age4 ,strychnia had been given in solution4 ,in a few minutes the symptoms appeared4 ,they were a want of power to control the muscles1 manifested by twitchings1 rigidity1 and cramp1 more violent in the legs than in any other part of the body4 ,the spasms were not very violent4 ,they continued six hours before they entirely disappeared4 ,during that time they were intermittent at various intervals4 ,as the attack passed off the length of the intervals increased4 ,at first their length was but a few seconds4 ,the spasms were not combated by medical treatment4 ,the other case was a very similar one4 ,the quantity taken was the same--double what ,i had prescribed4 ,i have experimented upon upwards of sixty animals with strychnia4 ,those animals were dogs1 cats1 rats1 mice1 guinea pigs1 frogs1 and toads4 ,the symptoms of the attack in all animals present great resemblances4 ,some animals are1 however1 much more susceptible of its influence than others are4 ,the period elapsing between the injection of the poison and the commencement of the symptoms has been from two minutes to thirty1--more generally five or six4 ,i administered the poison occasionally in solution1 but more generally in its solid state4 ,it was sometimes placed dry upon the back of the tongue1 and some fluid poured down the throat2 sometimes it was enclosed between two portions of meat2 sometimes mixed up with butter or suet1 and sometimes rolled up in a small piece of gut4 ,to frogs and toads it was administered by putting them into a solution of strychnia4 ,i have also applied it direct to the spinal cord1 and in other cases to the brain4 ,the first symptom has been a desire to be quite still2 then hurried breathing2 then slavering at the mouth 7when the poison had been given through that organ72 then twitching of the ears1 trembling of the muscles1 inability to walk1 convulsions of all the muscles of the body1 the jaws being generally firmly closed2 the convulsions attended by a total want of power in the muscles1 which on the least touch were thrown into violent spasms with a galvanic-like shock4 ,spasms also come on if the animal voluntarily attempts to move2 that is usually the case1 but occasionally the animal is able to move without inducing a recurrence of the spasms4 ,these spasms recur at various periods1 but do not always increase in violence4 ,the animals die after periods varying from three hours to three hours and a half4 ,in the cases where the animals live longest1 the paroxysms occur at the longest intervals4 ,in all cases in the interval before death the rigidity ceases 7,i know no exception to this7 and the muscles become quite soft1 powerless1 and flaccid4 ,the limbs may be put in any position whatever4 ,there is but little difference from ordinary cases of convulsive death in the time at which the rigor mortis comes on4 ,i have destroyed animals with other poisons1 and there is very little difference between the rigidity in their cases and that in the cases of death from strychnia4 ,in the two women ,i have mentioned the rigor mortis was much less than is usual in cases of death from natural disease4 ,i have known fatal cases of poisoning animals by strychnia in which there has between the first and the second paroxysm been an interval of about half-an-hour1 but that is not common4 ,i have examined the bodies of upwards of forty animals killed by strychnia4 ,i have invariably found the heart full on the right side2 very generally the left ventricle firmly contracted1 and the blood usually dark1 and often fluid4 ,there is no particular appearance about the spine4 ,i have experimented with other poisons upon upwards of #cjjj animals1 and have written upon this subject4 ,it very often happens that in the case of animals dying suddenly from poisoning the blood is fluid after death4 ,that also happens in cases of sudden death from other causes4 ,i have attended to the evidence as to the symptoms exhibited by ,cook on the ,sunday1 ,monday1 and ,tuesday nights4 ,the symptoms on ,sunday night ,i assume to have been from great excitement4 ,cook described himself as having been very ill1 and in such a state that he considered himself mad for a few minutes4 ,he stated that the cause of this was a noise in the street4 ,these symptoms in the three nights ,i have mentioned1 do not resemble those which ,i have seen follow the administration of strychnia4 ,cook had more power of voluntary motion than ,i have observed in animals under the influence of this poison4 ,he sat up in bed1 and moved his hands about freely1 swallowed1 talked1 and asked to be rubbed and moved1 none of which1 if poisoned by strychnia1 could he have done4 ,the sudden accession of the convulsions is another reason for believing that they were not produced by strychnia4 ,other reasons for believing that the convulsions were not produced by strychnia are their sudden accession without the usual premonitory symptoms1 the length of time which had elapsed between their commencement and the taking of the pills which are supposed to have contained poison1 and the screaming and vomiting4 ,i never knew an animal which had been poisoned with strychnia to vomit or scream voluntarily4 ,i apprehend that where there is so much spasm of the heart there must be inability to vomit4 ,in the cases related in which attempts were made to produce vomiting they did not succeed4 ,there is such a case in the #ajth volume of the ,journal de ,pharmacie1 in which an emetic was given without success4 ,the symptoms exhibited after death by animals poisoned by strychnia differ materially from those presented by the body of ,cook4 ,in his case the heart is stated to have been empty and uncontracted40 ,lord ,campbell4--8,i do not remember that4 ,i think it was said that it was contracted40 ,mr4 ,baron ,alderson4-0,according to my note1 ,dr4 ,harland said that the heart was contracted1 and contained no blood40 ,examination continued4--8,the lungs were not congested1 nor was the brain4 ,in the case of animals which have recovered the paroxysms have subsided gradually4 ,i never knew a severe paroxysm followed by a long interval of repose4 ,i have experimented upon the discovery of strychnia in the bodies of animals in various stages of decomposition1 from a few hours after death up to the forty-third day1 in which latter case the body was quite putrid4 ,it has never happened to me to fail to discover the poison4 ,i have experimented in about fifteen cases40 ,question4--8,supposing a person to have died under the influence of strychnia poison in the first paroxysm1 and his stomach to have been taken out and put into a jar on the sixth day after death1 must strychnia have1 by a proper analysis1 been found in the body80 ,answer4--8,yes4 ,if the strychnia be pure1 such as is almost invariably found among medical men and druggists1 the test is nitric acid1 which gives a red colour1 which in a great measure disappears on the addition of protochloride of tin4#ee ,if the strychnia be pure1 it does not undergo any change on the addition of sulphuric acid1 but on the addition of a mixture of bichromate of potash1 with several other substances it produces a beautiful purple1 which changes to varying shades until it gets to be a dirty red4 ,there are several other tests4 ,in this case the stomach was not1 in my opinion1 in an unfavourable condition for examination4 ,the circumstances attending its position in the jar and its removal to ,london would give a little more trouble1 but would not otherwise affect the result4 ,if the deceased had died from strychnia poison it ought to have been found in the liver1 spleen1 and kidneys4 ,i have seen this poison found in similar portions of animals which had been killed by it4 ,i have also seen it found in the blood2 that was by ,mr4 ,herapath1 of ,bristol40 ,question4--8,could the analyses be defeated or confused by the existence in the stomach of any other substance which would produce the same colours80 ,answer4--8,no4 ,supposing that pyroxanthine and salicine were in the parts examined1 their existence would not defeat the analysis4 ,pyroxanthine is very unlikely to be found in the stomach4 ,it is one of the rarest and most difficult to be obtained4 ,the distinction between pyroxanthine and strychnia is quite evident4 ,pyroxanthine changes to a deep purple on the addition of sulphuric acid alone1 and the bichromate of potash spoils the colour4 ,in strychnia no change is produced by sulphuric acid4 ,it requires the addition of the bichromate to produce the colour40 ,question4--8,supposing the death to have been caused by a dose of strychnia1 not more than sufficient to destroy the animal1 would it be so diffused by the process of absorption that you would not be able by these tests to detect it in any portion of the system80 ,answer4--8,no2 ,i believe it would not4 ,that question had occupied my attention before ,i was called upon to give evidence in this trial4 ,my reason for stating that strychnia when it has done its work continues as strychnia in the system is1 that those who say some change takes place1 argue1 that as food undergoes a change1 so does poison2 it becomes decomposed4 ,but the change in food takes place in digestion2 consequently its traces are not found in the blood4 ,substances like strychnia are absorbed without digestion1 and may be obtained unchanged from the blood4 ,they may be administered in various ways40 ,question4--8,in your judgment1 will any amount of putrefaction prevent the discovery of strychnia80 ,answer4--8,to say that it is absolutely indestructible would be absurd1 but within ordinary limits1 no4 ,i have found it at the end of forty days4 ,the emptier the stomach1 the quicker the action of strychnia40 ,on cross-examination by the ,attorney-,general1 the witness1 who1 to judge from the expressions that passed between them1 assumed an antagonistic position to the prosecution1 after admitting that perhaps half of his sixty experiments had been made in conjunction with ,mr4 ,morley1 and spread over thirty years2 that some had been made after the ,leeds case1 and some in reference to the present1 and that he had been in consultation with the prisoner's attorney since the case at ,leeds1 to whom he had transmitted its details1 he thus continued3-- 8,the general dose in these experiments was from half a grain to two grains2 half a grain is sufficient to destroy life in larger animals4 ,i have seen both a dog and a cat die of this dose1 but not always4 ,some animals as a species are more susceptible than those of a different species1 and among animals of the same species some are more susceptible than others4 ,the symptoms in the experiments ,i have mentioned did not occur after so long a period as an hour4 ,we have had to repeat the dose in some instances when half a grain was given4 ,in the case of a cat1 symptoms of spasm were produced1 but the cat did not die2 she had not swallowed the whole dose4 ,i think ,i have known animals of the cat species killed with half a grain40 ,question4--8,have you any doubt of it80 ,answer4--8,yes4 ,i think it would be the minimum dose in an old strong cat4 ,if given in a fluid state ,i think a smaller dose would suffice4 ,hurried breathing is one of the first symptoms1 afterwards there are twitchings and trembling of the muscles and then convulsions40 ,question4--8,is there any diversity in the intervals and order of the symptoms in animals of the same species80 ,answer4--8,they certainly do not occur after the same intervals of time1 but ,i should say they generally occur in the order ,i have described4 ,there is some difference in the periods at which the convulsions take place4 ,some will die after less convulsions than others1 but generally after four or five4 ,in one or two instances an animal has died after one convulsion4 ,in those instances a dose has been given equal in amount to another which has not produced the same effect4 ,the order in which the muscles are convulsed varies to some extent4 ,the muscles of the limbs are generally affected first4 ,the convulsions generally occur simultaneously40 ,question4--8,do you know of any case of strychnia in which rigidity after death was greater than the usual rigor mortis80 ,answer4--8,i think not4 ,i don't think there is any peculiar rigidity produced by strychnia40 ,question4--8,have you never found undue rigidity in a human subject after death by strychnia80 ,answer4--8,considerably less40 ,question4-0,in the anonymous case 7the ,leeds71 were not the hands curved and the feet arched by muscular contraction80 ,answer4--8,not more than is usual in cases of death from ordinary causes4 ,the limbs were rigid1 but not more than usual40 ,question4--8,in the face of the medical profession ,i ask you whether you signed a report stating that #8the hands were curved and the feet decidedly arched by muscular contraction1' and whether you meant by those words that there was no more than the ordinary rigidity of death80 ,answer4--8,certainly2 ,i stated so at the time40 ,question4--8,where8 ,in the report80 ,answer4--8,no2 in conversation4 ,allow me to explain that a distinction was drawn between the muscles of the different parts of the body4 ,i heard ,mr4 ,morley's evidence with regard to experiments on animals1 and his statement that #8after death there was an interval of flaccidity1 after which rigidity commenced more than if it had been occasioned by the usual rigor mortis4'0 ,question4--8,you don't agree with that statement80 ,answer4--8,i do not4 ,i generally found the right side of the heart full40 ,question4--8,does the fact of the heart in ,cook's case having been found empty lead you to the conclusion that death was not caused by strychnia80 ,answer4--8,among other things1 it does4 ,i heard the evidence of ,dr4 ,watson as to the case of ,agnes ,sennett1 in which the heart was found distended and empty3 also of ,dr4 ,taylor1 as to the post-mortem of ,mrs4 ,smyth4 ,no doubt he stated that the heart in that case was also empty40 ,question4--8,and do those facts exercise no influence on your judgment80 ,answer4--8,they would not unless ,i knew how the post-mortem examination had been made4 ,if it was commenced at the head1 the blood being fluid1 the large drains would be opened1 and the blood1 from natural causes1 would drain away40 ,question4--8,do you know how the post-mortem examination was made in this case80 ,answer4--8,no4 ,excuse me1 ,i do4 ,the chest and the abdomen1 not the head1 were first opened40 ,question4--8,the heart1 then1 was not emptied in the first instance80 ,answer4--8,no40 ,question4--8,then what occasioned the contraction of the heart80 ,answer4--8,when the heart is emptied it is usually contracted40 ,question4--8,but how do you account for its contraction and emptiness80 ,answer4--8,i cannot account for it40 ,lord ,campbell4--8 ,would the heart contract if there was blood in it80 ,answer4--8,no40 ,lord ,campbell4--8,when you find the heart contracted1 you know1 then1 that it was contracted at the moment of death80 ,answer4--8,it is necessary to draw a distinction between the two cavities4 ,it is very common to find the left ventricle contracted and hard1 while the right is uncontracted40 ,lord ,campbell4--8,that is death by asphyxia80 ,answer4--8,precisely40#ef ,by the ,attorney-,general4--8,in ,cook's case the lungs were described as not congested4 ,entosthema is of two kinds2 one of them consists of dilation of the cells1 the other of a rupture of the cells4 ,when animals die from strychnine1 entosthema occurs4 ,i do not know the character of the entosthema in ,cook's case4 ,it did not occur to me to have the question put to the witnesses who described the post-mortem examination40 ,question4--8,to what constitutional symptoms about ,cook do you ascribe the convulsions from which he died80 ,answer4--8,not to any40 ,question4--8,was not the fact of his having syphilis an important ingredient in your judgment upon his case80 ,answer4--8,it was4 ,i judge that he died from convulsions1 by the combination of symptoms40 ,question4--8,what evidence have you to suppose that he was liable to excitement and depression of spirits80 ,answer4--8,the fact that after winning the race he could not speak for three minutes40 ,question4--8,anything else80 ,answer4--8,mr4 ,jones stated that he was subject to mental depression4 ,excitement will produce a state of brain which will be followed1 at some distance1 by convulsions4 ,i think ,dr4 ,bamford made a mistake when he said the brain was perfectly healthy40 ,question4--8,do you mean to set up that opinion against that of ,dr4 ,devonshire and ,dr4 ,harland1 who were present at the post-mortem80 ,answer4--8,my opinion is founded in part on the evidence taken at the inquest1 in part on the depositions4 ,with the brain and the system in the condition in which ,cook's were1 ,i believe it is quite possible for convulsions to come on and destroy a person4 ,i do not believe that he died from apoplexy4 ,he was under the influence of morphia4 ,i don't ascribe his death to morphia1 except that it might assist in producing a convulsive attack4 ,i should think morphia was not very good treatment1 considering the state of excitement he was in40 ,question4--8,do you mean to say1 on your oath1 that you think he was in a state of excitement at ,rugeley80 ,answer4--8,i wish to give my evidence honestly4 ,morphia1 when given in an injured state of the brain1 often disagrees with the patient40 ,question4--8,but what evidence have you as to the injured state of the brain80 ,answer4--8,sickness often indicates it4 ,i can't say whether the attack of ,sunday night was an attack of convulsions4 ,i think that the ,sunday attack was one of a similar character1 but not so intense1 as the attack of ,tuesday1 in which he died4 ,i don't think he had convulsions on the ,sunday1 but he was in that condition which often precedes convulsions4 ,i think he was mistaken when he stated that he was awoke by a noise4 ,i believe he was delirious4 ,that is one of the symptoms on which ,i found my opinion4 ,any intestinal irritation will produce convulsions in a tetanic form4 ,i have known instances in children4 ,i have not seen an instance in an animal4 ,medical writers state that such cases do occur4 ,i know no name for convulsions of that kind40 ,question4--8,have you ever known a case of convulsions of that kind1 terminating in death1 in which the patient remained conscious to the last80 ,answer4--8,i have not4 ,where epilepsy terminates in death consciousness is gone4 ,i have known four cases of traumatic1 and five or six of idiopathic tetanus40 ,question4--8,you heard ,mr4 ,jones make this statement of the symptoms of ,cook after the commencement of the paroxysms3--#8,after he swallowed the pills he uttered loud screams1 threw himself back in the bed1 and was dreadfully convulsed4 ,he said1 8,raise me up6 ,i shall be suffocated40 ,the convulsions affected every muscle of the body1 and were accompanied by stiffening of the limbs4 ,i endeavoured to raise ,cook with the assistance of ,palmer1 but found it quite impossible owing to the rigidity of the limbs4 ,when ,cook found we could not raise him up1 he asked me to turn him over4 ,he was then quite sensible4 ,i turned him on to his side4 ,i listened to the action of his heart4 ,i found that it gradually weakened1 and asked ,palmer to fetch some spirits of ammonia1 to be used as a stimulant4 ,when he returned1 the pulsations of the heart were gradually ceasing1 and life was almost extinct4 ,cook died very quietly a very short time afterwards4 ,when he threw himself back in bed he clinched his hands1 and they remained clinched after death4 ,when ,i was rubbing his neck1 his head and neck were unnaturally bent back by the spasmodic action of the muscles4 ,after death his body was so twisted or bowed that if ,i had placed it upon the back it would have rested upon the head and feet6' ,now1 ,i ask you to distinguish in any one particular between those symptoms and the symptoms of tetanic convulsions40 ,answer4--8,it is not tetanus at all2 not idiopathic tetanus40 ,question4--8,i quite agree with you that it was not idiopathic tetanus4 ,but point out any distinction that you can see between these symptoms and real tetanus80 ,answer4--8,i do not know that there is any distinction1 except that in a case of tetanus ,i never saw rigidity continue till death and afterwards40 ,question4--8,can you tell me of any case of death from convulsions in which the patient was conscious to the last80 ,answer4--8,i do not know any4 ,convulsions occurring after poison has been taken are properly called tetanic40 ,question4--8,sir ,b4 ,brodie tells us that while paroxysms of tetanic convulsion last there is no difference between those that arise from strychnia and those from tetanus properly so called1 but only in the course the symptoms take4 ,what do you say is the difference80 ,answer4--8,the hands are less violently contracted2 the effect of the spasm is less in ordinary tetanus2 the convulsion1 too1 never entirely passes away4 ,i have stated that tetanus is a disease of days1 strychnia of hours and minutes2 that convulsive twitchings are in strychnia the first symptoms1 the last in tetanus2 that in tetanus the hands1 feet1 and legs are usually the last affected1 while in strychnia they are the first4 ,i gave that opinion after the symptoms in the case of the lady at ,leeds which were described by the witness ,witham1 and ,i still adhere to it4 ,i never said that ,cook's was a case of idiopathic tetanus in any sense of the word4 ,it differed from the course of tetanus from strychnine in the particulars ,i have already mentioned40 ,the ,attorney-,general4--8,repeat them40 ,answer4--8,there was a sudden accession of the convulsions40 ,question4--8,sudden--after what80 ,answer4--8,after the rousing by ,jones4 ,there was also the power of talking40 ,question4--8,don't you know that ,mrs4 ,smyth talked and retained her consciousness to the end3 that her last words were1 #8,turn me over'80 ,answer4--8,she did say something of that kind4 ,no doubt those were the words she used4 ,i believe that in poison tetanus the symptoms are first observed in the legs and feet4 ,in the animals upon which ,i have experimented twitchings in the ears and difficulty of breathing have been premonitory symptoms40 ,question4--8,when ,cook felt a stiffness and difficulty of breathing1 and said that he should be suffocated on the first night1 what were they but premonitory symptoms80 7question evaded74 ,answer4--8,well1 he asked to be rubbed2 but as far as my experience goes with regard to animals----40 ,the ,attorney-,general4--8,they can't ask to have their ears rubbed1 of course40 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,the witness was about to explain the effect of being rubbed upon animals40 ,witness4--8,in no single instance could the animals bear to be touched40 ,question4--8,did not ,mrs4 ,smyth ask to have her arms and legs rubbed80 ,answer4--8,in the ,leeds case the lady asked to be rubbed before the convulsions came on1 but afterwards she could not bear it1 and begged not to be touched40 ,question4--8,can you point out any one point1 after the premonitory symptoms1 in which the symptoms in this case differ from those of strychnia tetanus80 ,answer4--8,there is the power of swallowing1 which is taken away by inability to move the jaw40 ,question4--8,but have you not stated that lockjaw is the last symptom in strychnia tetanus80 ,answer4--8,i have4 ,i don't deny that it may be4 ,i am speaking of the general rule4 ,in the ,leeds case it came on very early1 more than two hours before death1 the paroxysms having continued for two and a half hours4 ,in that case we believed the dose was four times repeated4 ,poison might probably be extracted by chemical process from the tissues1 but ,i never tried it except in the case of one animal4 ,i am not sure whether poison was in that case given through the mouth4 ,we killed four animals in reference to the ,leeds case1 and in every instance we found strychnia in the contents of the stomach4 ,in one case we administered it by two processes--one failed1 and the other succeeded40 ,re-examined4--8,in making reports on cases such as that referred to 7,leeds7 we state ordinary appearances as well as extraordinary--facts without anything more40 ,mr4 ,william ,herapath1 examined by ,mr4 ,grove1 ,q4 ,c4--8,i am a professor of chemistry and toxicology at the ,bristol ,medical ,school--have studied chemistry for more than forty years--toxicology for thirty4 ,have experimented on strychnia2 have seen no case of a human subject during life1 but have examined a human body after death4 ,in one case ,i examined the contents of the stomach1 and found strychnia three days after death4 ,i obtained evidence of strychnia by the colour tests in that case4 ,i have experimented on animals for strychnia in eight or nine cases1 and analysed the bodies in two cases where ,i destroyed the animals myself--both cats4 ,i gave the first one grain of strychnia in a solid form4 ,the animal took the poison at night1 and ,i found it dead in the morning4 ,it was dreadfully contorted and rigid1 the limbs extended1 the head turned round--not to the back1 to the side--the eyes protruding and staring1 the iris expanded so as to be almost invisible4 ,i found strychnia in the urine which had been ejected1 and also in the stomach1 by the test ,i mentioned4 ,i administered the same quantity of strychnia in a solid form to another cat4 ,it remained very quiet for fifteen or twenty minutes1 but seemed a little restless in the eyes and its breathing4 ,in thirty-five minutes it had a terrible spasm1 the extremities and the head being drawn together and the feet extended4 ,i watched it for three hours4 ,the first spasm lasted a minute or two4 ,the saliva dropped from its mouth1 and it forcibly ejected its urine4 ,it had a second spasm a few minutes afterwards4 ,it soon recovered and remained still1 with the exception of a trembling all over4 ,it continued in that state three hours4 ,during two hours and a half it was in a very peculiar state4 ,it appeared to be electrified all through2 blowing upon it or touching the basket in which it was placed produced a kind of electric jump like a galvanic shock4 ,i left it in three hours1 thinking it would recover1 but in the morning ,i found it dead1 in the same indurated and contorted condition as the former animal4 ,i examined the body thirty-six hours after death and found strychnia in the urine1 in the stomach and in the upper intestine1 in the liver1 and in the blood of the heart4 ,i have discovered strychnia in all other cases by the same tests1 but ,i took extraordinary means to get rid of organic matter4 ,in all cases in which strychnia has been given ,i have been able to find it1 but not only strychnia1 but the nux vomica from which it is taken4 ,i have found nux vomica in a fox and other animals4 ,the detection of nux vomica is more complicated than that of strychnia4 ,in one case the animal had been buried two months4 ,i have experimented with strychnia mixed purposely with organic putrefying matter4 ,i have found it in all cases1 whatever was the state of decomposition of the matter40 ,question4--8,are you of opinion that where strychnia has been taken in a sufficient dose to poison it can and ought to be discovered80 ,answer4--8,yes2 unless the body has been completely decomposed--that is1 unless decomposition had reduced it to a dry powder4 ,i am of opinion1 from the accounts given by ,dr4 ,taylor and the other witnesses1 that if it had existed in the body of ,cook it ought to have been discovered4 ,i am aware of no cause of error in the analysis1 if the organic matter had been properly got rid of4 ,the experiments ,i made were in ,bristol4 ,i have made experiments in ,london1 and found strychnia in the stomach1 liver1 and blood of an animal40 ,cross-examined by the ,attorney-,general4--8,i don't profess to be a toxicologist4 ,i have principally experimented on the stomach till lately4 ,i tried my chemical process on the #hth of this month with a view to the present case4 ,the experiment here was on a dog4 ,i experimented on the tissues of a cat at ,bristol1 and a dog in ,london4 ,i found strychnia in the blood1 the heart1 and the urine of the cat1 besides the stomach4 ,one grain was given to the dog4 ,it was a large dog4 ,i have seen a cat killed with a quarter of a grain40 ,question4--8,have you not said1 that you had no doubt strychnia had been taken1 but that ,dr4 ,taylor had not gone the right way to find it80 ,answer4--8,no2 certainly not40 ,question4--8,have you not said it to the present ,mayor of ,bristol80 ,answer4--8,i have said1 if it was there ,dr4 ,taylor ought to have found it40 ,question4--8,have you not said several times in his presence that you had no doubt strychnia had been given1 but that ,dr4 ,taylor had not found it80 ,answer4--8,i had a strong opinion from the reports in the newspapers2 it is very likely ,i might4 ,i don't deny it40 ,to ,lord ,campbell4--8,from the statements ,i saw in the newspapers3 ,i was not engaged in the case1 and ,i conceived ,i had a right to express an opinion1 the same as others4 ,i dare say ,i have frequently said so in conversation4 ,hundreds of persons spoke to me1 knowing ,i had made toxicology a study1 and it is possible ,i may have said something like what you ask me about40#eg ,re-examined by ,mr4 ,grove4--8,what is the smallest quantity of strychnia that your process is capable of detecting80 ,answer4--8,i am perfectly sure ,i could detect the #ej1jjjth part of a grain if it was unmixed with organic matter4 ,if ,i put ten grains in a gallon1 or #gj1jjj grains of water1 ,i could discover its presence in the tenth part of a grain of that water4 ,it is more difficult to detect when mixed with organic matter4 ,if a person had taken a grain1 a very small quantity would be found in the heart1 but no doubt it could be found4 ,i made four experiments with a large dog to which ,i had given the one-eighth part of a grain4 ,i have discovered it by change of colour in the thirty-second part of the liver of a dog40 ,in reply to a request by ,mr4 ,grove1 ,lord ,campbell intimated that in the opinion of the ,court experiments could not now be shown4 ,this defect of evidence has been cured by the ,vivisection ,act1 before referred to4 ,dr4 ,henry ,letheby1 examined by ,mr4 ,kenealy4--8,i am a bachelor of medicine1 professor of chemistry and toxicology in the ,london ,hospital of ,medicine1 and ,medical ,officer of ,health to the ,city of ,london4 ,i have been engaged for a considerable time in the study of poisons and their action on the living animal economy4 ,i have also been frequently engaged on behalf of the ,crown in prosecutions in cases of this nature during the last fourteen years4 ,i have been present during the examination of the medical witnesses1 and have attended to the evidence as to the symptoms which have been described as attending the death of ,cook4 ,i have witnessed many cases of animals poisoned by strychnia1 and many cases of poisoning by nux vomica in the human body1 one of which was fatal4 ,the symptoms described in this case do not accord with the symptoms ,i have witnessed in the case of those animals4 ,they differ in this respect3--,in the first place ,i never witnessed the long interval between the administration of the poison and the commencement of the symptoms which is said to have elapsed in this case4 ,the longest interval ,i have known has been three-quarters of an hour1 and then the poison was administered under most disadvantageous circumstances4 ,it was given on a very full stomach and in a form uneasy of solution4 ,i have seen the symptoms begin in five minutes4 ,the average time in which they begin is a quarter of an hour4 ,in all cases ,i have seen the system has been in that irritable state that the very lightest excitement1 such as an effort to move1 a touch1 a noise1 a breath of air1 would send the patient off in convulsions4 ,it is not at all probable that a person1 after taking strychnia1 could pull a bell violently4 ,any movement would excite the nervous system1 and bring on spasms4 ,it is not likely that a person in that state could bear to have his neck rubbed4 ,when a case of strychnia does not end fatally1 the first paroxysm is succeeded by others1 gradually shaded off1 the paroxysms becoming less violent every time1 and ,i agree with ,dr4 ,christison that they would subside in twelve or sixteen hours4 ,i have no hesitation in saying that strychnia is1 of all poisons1 either mineral or vegetable1 the most easy of detection4 ,i have detected it in the stomach of animals in numerous instances1 also in the blood and in the tissues4 ,the longest period after death in which ,i have detected it is about a month4 ,the animal was then in a state of decomposition4 ,i have detected very minute portions of strychnia4 ,when it is pure1 the #bj1jjjth part of a grain can be detected4 ,i can detect the tenth part of a grain most easily in a pint of any liquid1 whether pure or putrid4 ,i gave one animal half a grain1 and ,i have the strychnia here now within a very small trifle4 ,i never failed to detect strychnia where it had been administered4 ,i have made post-mortem examinations on various animals killed by it4 ,i have always found the right side of the heart full4 ,the reason is that the death takes place from the fixing of the muscles of the chest by spasms1 so that the blood is unable to pass through the lungs1 and the heart cannot relieve itself from the blood flowing to it1 and therefore becomes gorged4 ,the lungs are congested and filled with blood4 ,i have administered strychnia in a liquid and a solid form2 ,i agree with ,dr4 ,taylor that it may kill in six or eleven minutes when taken in a solid state in the form of a pill or bolus4 ,i also agree with him that the first symptom is that the animal falls on its side1 the jaws are spasmodically closed1 and the slightest touch produces another paroxysm4 ,but ,i do not agree with him that the colour tests are fallacious4 ,i do not agree that it is changed when it is absorbed into the blood1 but ,i agree with its absorption4 ,i think it is not changed when the body is decomposed4 ,the shaking about of the contents of the stomach with the intestines in a jar1 would not prevent the discovery of strychnia1 if it had been administered4 ,even if the contents of the stomach were lost1 the mucous membrane would1 in the ordinary course of things1 exhibit traces of strychnia4 ,i have studied the poison of antimony4 ,if a quantity had been introduced into brandy-and-water1 and swallowed at a gulp1 the effect would not be to burn the throat4 ,antimony does not possess any such quality as that of immediate burning4 ,i have turned my attention to the subject of poison for seventeen or eighteen years40 ,cross-examined by the ,attorney-,general4--8,i am not a member of the ,college of ,physicians or of ,surgeons4 ,i do not now practise4 ,i have been in general practice for two or three years4 ,i gave evidence in the last case of this sort1 tried in this court in #ahej0 7the case of ,ann ,merritt74 8,i gave evidence of the presence of arsenic4 ,the woman was convicted4 ,i stated that it had been administered within four hours of death4 ,i was the cause of her being respited1 and the sentence was not carried into effect1 in consequence of a letter ,i wrote to the ,home ,office4 ,other scientific gentlemen interfered1 and challenged the soundness of my conclusions before ,i wrote that letter4 ,i have not since been employed by the ,crown4 ,there has not been a case that ,i know of4 ,i have been employed in prosecutions40 ,by ,mr4 ,justice ,cresswell4--8,i was present at the trial4 ,i perfectly remember it40 7,see the report of this case1 post47 ,cross-examination continued4--8,i detected the poison4 ,i said in my letter that ,i could not speak as to possibilities1 but merely as to probabilities4 ,i have experimented on animals for a great number of years4 ,on five recently4 ,i have never given more than a grain1 and it has always been in a solid form--in pills or bread4 ,in the case where poison was administered under disadvantageous circumstances it was kneaded up into a hard mass of bread40 ,mr4 ,baron ,alderson4--8,did the animal bolt it or bite it80 ,witness4--8,i opened the mouth and put it into the throat4 ,about half an hour elapsed before the symptoms appeared in one case in which half a grain had been given4 ,in another case death took place within thirteen minutes4 ,i have noticed twitching of the ears1 difficulty of breathing1 and other premonitory symptoms4 ,there are little variations in the order in which the symptoms occur4 ,i have known frequent instances in which an animal has died in the first paroxysm4 ,i heard the evidence of ,mrs4 ,smyth's death1 and ,i was surprised at her having got out of bed when the servant answered the bell4 ,it is not consistent with the cases ,i have seen4 ,that fact does not shake my opinion4 ,i have no doubt that ,mrs4 ,smyth died from strychnia4 ,cook's sitting up in bed and asking ,jones to ring the bell is inconsistent with what ,i have observed in strychnia cases40 ,question4--8,if a man's breath is hurried1 is it not natural for him to sit up80 ,answer4--8,it is4 ,i have seen cases of recovery of human subjects after taking strychnia4 ,there is a great uniformity in its effects2 that is1 in their main features1 but there is a small variation as to the time in which they are produced40 ,question4--8,what do you attribute ,cook's death to80 ,answer4--8,it is irreconcileable with everything with which ,i am acquainted40 ,question4--8,is it reconcileable with any known disease you have ever seen or heard of80 ,answer4--8,no40#eh ,re-examined by ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,we are learning new facts every day1 and ,i do not at present conceive it to be impossible that some peculiarity of the spinal cord1 unrecognisable at the examination after death1 may have produced symptoms like those which have been described4 ,i1 of course1 include strychnia in my answer1 but it is irreconcileable with everything ,i have seen or heard of4 ,it is as irreconcileable with everything else2 it is irreconcileable with every disease that ,i am acquainted with1 natural or artificial4 ,touching an animal during the premonitory symptoms will bring on a paroxysm4 ,vomiting is inconsistent with strychnia4 ,the ,romsey case was an exceptional one1 from the quantity of the dose4 ,the ringing of the bell would have produced a paroxysm4 ,i am still of opinion that the evidence ,i gave on the trial in #ahea is correct4 ,i am not aware that there is any ground for an imputation upon me in respect of that evidence4 ,i have no reason to think ,government was dissatisfied with me4 ,i have been since employed in prosecutions1 where ,i very much think the ,crown was the prosecutor4 ,after that case ,dr4 ,pereira came to my laboratory1 and asked me1 as an act of mercy1 to write a letter to him to show to the ,home ,office1 admitting the possibility of the poison which ,i found in the stomach having been administered longer than four hours before death4 ,i wrote the letter1 drawing a distinction between what was possible and probable1 and the woman was transported for life40 ,in addition to these analytical chemists1 ,professor ,rogers1 of the ,st4 ,george's ,medical ,school1 ,london1 described an experiment he had lately made on a dog to which he had given two grains of strychnia4 ,he had not taken out its stomach and its contents1 together with some of the blood1 until three days after death1 and had put off the analysis of the latter for ten days1 when it had become putrid1 and that of the stomach and its contents for a month or five weeks1 yet found in both portions strychnia in large quantities4 ,this witness maintained that unless the contents of the stomach in ,cook's case had been lost1 their being shaken would only make the process of detection more difficult1 but admitted that if strychnia had been in his stomach it would be found smeared over its mucous membrane1 which1 it may be remembered1 was not sent to ,dr4 ,taylor4 ,dr4 ,francis ,wrightson1 a pupil of ,liebig1 of ,giessen1 a teacher of chemistry at a school in ,birmingham1 described two similar experiments on animals1 with the same results as ,professor ,rogers4 ,he expressed his decided opinion that strychnia could be detected in a mixture of bile1 bilious matter1 and putrifying blood and in the tissues in extremely minute quantities indeed1 and that five or six days after death he should expect to find it1 if it had been given--unless the dose had been entirely absorbed4 ,the clearness and decision with which this witness gave his evidence elicited the well-deserved commendation of ,lord ,campbell4 ,on cross-examination by the ,attorney-,general1 he was asked-- ,question4--8,supposing that the whole dose was absorbed into the system1 where would you expect to find it80 ,answer4--8,in the blood40 ,question4--8,does it pass from the blood into the solids of the body80 ,answer4--8,it does1 or ,i should rather say it is left in the solids of the body4 ,in its progress towards its final destination1 the destruction of life1 it passes from the blood1 or is left by the blood in the solid tissues of the body40 ,question4--8,if it be present in the stomach1 you find it in the stomach2 if it be present in the blood1 you find it there2 if left by the blood in the tissues1 you find it there80 ,answer4--8,precisely so40 ,question4--8,suppose the whole had been absorbed40 ,answer4--8,then ,i would not undertake to find it40 ,question4--8,suppose the whole had been eliminated from the blood1 and had passed into the urine1 should you expect to find it in the blood80 ,answer4--8,certainly not40 ,question4--8,suppose the minimum dose which will destroy life had been taken1 and absorbed into the circulation1 then deposited in the tissues1 and then a part eliminated by the action of the kidneys2 where would you search for it80 ,answer4--8,in the blood1 in the tissues1 and in the ejections2 and ,i would undertake to discover it in each of them40 ,mr4 ,partridge1 the professor of ,anatomy at ,king's ,college1 gave the following evidence1 attributing the death of ,cook to the granules found on his spine at the post-mortem examination3-- 8,these granules10 said the witness1 8would be likely to cause inflammation1 and no doubt that inflammation would have been discovered if the spinal cord or its membranes had been examined shortly after death4 ,it would not be likely to be discovered if the spinal cord was not examined until nine weeks after death4 ,i have not seen cases in which this inflammation has produced tetanic form of convulsions1 but such cases are on record4 ,it sometimes does1 and sometimes does not produce convulsions and death40 ,question4--8,can you form any judgment as to the cause of death in ,cook's case80 ,answer4--8,i cannot4 ,no conclusion or inference can be drawn from the degree or kind of the contractions of the body after death40 ,lord ,campbell4--8,can you not say from the symptoms you heard whether death was produced by tetanus1 without saying what was the cause of tetanus80 ,answer4--8,hypothetically ,i should infer that he died of the form of tetanus which convulses the muscles4 ,great varieties of rigidity arise after death from natural causes4 ,the half-bent hands and fingers are not uncommon after natural death4 ,the arching of the feet in this case seemed to me rather greater than usual40 ,cross-examined by the ,attorney-,general4--8,granules are sometimes1 but not commonly1 found about the spine of a healthy subject1--not on the cord itself2 they may exist consistently with health4 ,no satisfactory cases of the inflammation ,i have described have come under my notice without producing convulsions4 ,it is a very rare disease4 ,i cannot state from the recorded cases the course of the symptoms of that disease4 ,it varies in duration1 sometimes lasting only for days1 sometimes much longer4 ,if the patient lives it is accompanied with paralysis4 ,it produces no effect on the brain which is recognisable after death4 ,it would not affect the brain prior to death4 ,i do not know whether it is attended with loss of sensibility before death4 ,the size of the granules which will produce it varies4 ,this disease is not a matter of months1 unless it terminates in palsy4 ,i never heard of a case in which the patient died after a single convulsion4 ,between the intervals of the convulsions ,i don't believe a man could have twenty-four hours' repose4 ,pain and spasms would accompany the convulsions4 ,i cannot form a judgment as to whether the general health would be affected in the intervals between them40 ,question4--8,you have heard it stated that from the midnight of ,monday till ,tuesday ,cook had complete repose4 ,now1 ,i ask you1 in the face of the medical profession1 whether you think the symptoms which have been described proceeded from that disease80 ,answer4--8,i should think not40 ,question4--8,did you ever know the hands completely clinched after death except in case of tetanus80 ,answer4--8,no40 ,question4--8,have you ever known it even in idiopathic or traumatic tetanus80 ,answer4--8,i have never seen idiopathic tetanus4 ,i have seen the hands completely clinched in traumatic tetanus4 ,a great deal of force is often required to separate them40 ,question4--8,have you ever known the feet so distorted as to assume the form of a club foot80 ,answer4--8,no40 ,question4--8,you heard ,mr4 ,jones state that if he had turned the body upon the back it would have rested on the head and the heels4 ,have you any doubt that that is an indication of death from tetanus80 ,answer4--8,no2 it is a form of tetanic spasm4 ,i am only acquainted with tetanus resulting from strychnia by reading4 ,some of the symptoms in ,cook's case are consistent1 some are inconsistent with strychnia tetanus4 ,the first inconsistent symptom is the intervals that occurred between the taking of the supposed poison and the attacks40 ,question4--8,are not symptoms of bending of the body1 difficulty of respiration1 convulsions in the throat1 legs1 and arms1 perfectly consistent with what you know of the symptoms of death from strychnia80 ,answer4--8,perfectly consistent4 ,i have known cases of traumatic tetanus4 ,the symptoms in those cases had been occasionally remitted1 never wholly terminated4 ,i never knew traumatic tetanus run its course to death in less than three or four days4 ,i never knew a complete case of the operation of strychnia upon a human subject40 ,question4--8,bearing in mind the distinction between traumatic and idiopathic tetanus1 did you ever know of such a death as that of ,cook according to the symptoms you have heard described80 ,answer4--8,no40 ,re-examined by ,mr4 ,grove4--8,besides the symptom which ,i have mentioned as being inconsistent with the theory of death by strychnia1 there are others--namely1 sickness1 beating the bed clothes1 want of sensitiveness to external impressions1 and sudden cessation of the convulsions and apparent complete recovery4 ,there was apparently an absence of the usual muscular agitation4 ,symptoms of convulsive character arising from an injury to the spine vary considerably in their degrees of violence1 in their periods of intermission1 and in the muscles which are attacked4 ,intermission of the disease occurs1 but is not frequent in traumatic tetanus4 ,i don't remember that death has ever taken place in fifteen hours2 it may take place in forty-eight hours during convulsions4 ,granules about the spine are more unusual in young people than in old4 ,i don't know of any case in which the spine can preserve its integrity1 so as to be properly examined1 for a period of nine weeks4 ,i should not feel justified in inferring that there was no disease from not finding any at the end of that time4 ,the period of decomposition varies from a few hours to a few days4 ,it is not in the least probable that it could be delayed for nine weeks40 ,by the ,attorney-,general4--8,supposing the stomach were acted on by other causes1 ,i do not think sickness would be inconsistent with tetanus40 ,with reference to the existence of these granules1 ,mr4 ,oliver ,pemberton1 anatomical lecturer at ,queen's ,college1 ,birmingham1 who was present with ,professor ,bolton when ,cook's body was exhumed1 in ,january1 for the special purpose of arriving at a more satisfactory decision on this point than had been effected at the first post-mortem examination1 was called for the defence4 ,he gave it as his opinion1 in which ,professor ,bolton agreed1 that the spinal cord was not then in a condition to enable him to judge as to what was its state immediately after death2 the upper part1 where it separated from the brain1 being green from decomposition1 and the other part1 though better preserved1 not soft enough for that purpose4 ,this point was1 therefore1 left in a far from satisfactory position4 ,a ,dr4 ,g4 ,robinson1 of the ,newcastle-on-,tyne ,dispensary1 also supported the spinal granules theory1 and considered that from his habits of life ,cook was predisposed to epilepsy4 ,he admitted1 however1 on cross-examination1 that 8he had never seen symptoms of epilepsy proceed to anything like the extent as in ,cook's case2 never saw a body so stiff in epilepsy as to rest on its head and heels2 nor such symptoms1 except in tetanus1 and that the extreme form of epilepsy was always accompanied by unconsciousness40 8,the granules10 he thought1 8were likely to have irritated the spinal cord1 and yet no indications remain after death2 they might have produced ,cook's death40 ,attorney-,general4--8,but do you think so80 ,witness4--8,putting aside the assumption of strychnia1 ,i should say so40 ,attorney-,general4--8,are not all the symptoms reported by ,mr4 ,jones indicative of death by strychnia80 ,witness4--8,they certainly are40 ,attorney-,general4--8,then it comes to this1 that if there were no other cause of death suggested1 you should say it arose from epilepsy80 ,witness4--8,yes4 ,epilepsy is a well-known disease which includes many others1 and the convulsions of that disease sometimes assume tetanic appearances40 ,the last important medical witness called for the defence1 ,dr4 ,benjamin ,ward ,richardson1 physician1 of ,london1 took the prosecution somewhat by surprise by attributing ,cook's death to ,angina pectoris1 a cause not as yet hinted at4 ,as the counsel for the ,crown were not prepared with information requisite for an effective cross-examination on this point1 at the close of the prisoner's case the ,attorney-,general asked leave to recall this witness1 as he was then prepared with the books required for that purpose4 ,the ,court1 however1 refused the application1 and the evidence therefore must be accepted with caution4 ,dr4 ,richardson said3--8,i am a physician1 practising in ,london4 ,i have never seen a case of tetanus1 properly so called1 but ,i have seen many cases of death by convulsions4 ,in many instances they have presented tetanic appearances without being strictly tetanus4 ,i have seen the muscles fixed1 especially those of the upper part of the body4 ,i have observed the arms stiffened out1 and the hands closely and firmly clinched until death4 ,i have also observed a sense of suffocation in the patient4 ,in some forms of convulsions ,i have seen contortions both of the legs and the feet1 and the patient generally expresses a wish to sit up4 ,i have known persons die of a disease called angina pectoris4 ,the symptoms of that disease1 ,i consider1 resemble closely those of ,mr4 ,cook4 ,angina pectoris comes under the denomination of spasmodic diseases4 ,in some cases the disease is detectable upon post-mortem examination2 in others it is not4 ,i attended one case4 ,a girl ten years old was under my care in #ahej4 ,i supposed she had suffered from scarlet fever4 ,she recovered so far that my visits ceased4 ,i left her amused and merry in the morning2 at half-past ten in the evening ,i was called in to see her1 and ,i found her dying4 ,she was supported upright at her own request1 her face was pale1 the muscles of the face rigid1 the arms rigid1 the fingers clinched1 the respiratory muscles completely fixed and rigid1 and with all this there was combined intense agony and restlessness1 such as ,i have never witnessed4 ,there was perfect consciousness4 ,the child knew me1 described her agony1 and eagerly took some brandy and water from a spoon4 ,i left for the purpose of obtaining some chloroform from my own house1 which was thirty yards distant4 ,when ,i returned her head was drawn back1 and ,i could detect no respiration2 the eyes were then fixed open1 and the body just resembled a statue2 she was dead4 ,on the following day ,i made a post-mortem examination4 ,the brain was slightly congested2 the upper part of the spinal cord seemed healthy2 the lungs were collapsed2 the heart was in such a state of firm spasm and solidity1 and so emptied of blood1 that ,i remarked that it might have been rinsed out4 ,i could not discover any appearance of disease that would account for the death1 except a slight effusion of serum in one pleural cavity4 ,i never could ascertain any cause for the death4 ,the child went to bed well and merry1 and immediately afterwards jumped up1 screamed1 and exclaimed1 #8,i am going to die4'0 ,by the ,attorney-,general4--8,i consider that the symptoms ,i have described were those of angina pectoris4 ,it is the opinion of ,dr4 ,jenner that this disease is occasioned by the ossification of some of the small vessels of the heart4 ,i did not find that to be the case in this instance4 ,there have been many cases where no cause whatever was discovered4 ,it is called angina pectoris1 from its causing such extreme anguish to the chest4 ,i do not think the symptoms ,i have described were such as would result from taking strychnia4 ,there is this difference1--that rubbing the hands gives ease to the patient in cases of angina pectoris4 ,i must say there would be great difficulty in detecting the difference in cases of angina pectoris and strychnia4 ,as regards symptoms ,i know of no difference between the two4 ,i am bound to say that if ,i had known so much of these subjects as ,i do now1 in the case ,i have referred to ,i should have gone on to analysis to endeavour to detect strychnia4 ,in the second case ,i discovered organic disease of the heart1 which was quite sufficient to account for the symptoms4 ,the disease of angina pectoris comes on quite suddenly1 and does not give any notice of its approach4 ,i did not send any note of this case to any medical publication4 ,it is not at all an uncommon occurrence to find the hands firmly clinched after death in cases of natural disease40 ,by ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,there are cases of angina pectoris in which the patient has recovered and appeared perfectly well for a period of twenty-four hours1 and then the attack has returned4 ,i am of opinion that the fact of the recurrence of the second fit in ,cook's case is more the symptom of angina pectoris than of strychnia poison40#ei ,dr4 ,wrightson was recalled1 and in answer to a question put by ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee he said it was his opinion that when the strychnia poison was absorbed in the system it was diffused throughout the entire system4 ,by the ,attorney-,general4--8,the longer time that elapsed before the death would render the absorption more complete4 ,if a minimum dose to destroy life were given1 and a long interval elapsed to the death1 the more complete would be the absorption and the less the chance of finding it in the stomach40 ,by ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,i should expect still to find it in the spleen and liver and blood40 ,,cases ,,of ,,tetanus ,,brought ,,forward ,,for ,,the ,,defence4 ,in answer to the cases of undoubted poisoning by strychnia proved on the part of the prosecution1 four cases of tetanus were brought forward on behalf of the prisoner1 with the object of showing that the symptoms then exhibited were identical with those in ,cook's case1 and1 therefore1 raising the presumption that he might have died from ordinary tetanic convulsions1 and not from those produced by strychnia4 ,the first of these cases was described by ,mr4 ,robert ,edward ,gay1 a member of the ,college of ,surgeons1 who had attended a patient of the name of ,forster for tetanus in ,october1 #ahee4 ,apparently1 at first the patient was suffering only from sore throat and its usual attendant pains in the neck and upper portion of the spine1 for which he was duly treated4 ,on the fourth day of his illness the muscular pains extended to the face1 and particularly to the lower jaw1 and by evening lockjaw had come on1 with pains of the muscles of the bowels1 legs1 and arms4 8,he became very convulsed throughout the entire muscular system1 had frequent involuntary contractions of the arms1 hands1 and legs2 his difficulty of swallowing increased1 and not a particle of food1 solid or liquid1 could be introduced into the mouth1 the attempt to do so bringing on violent convulsions2 so strong were they1 that ,i could compare him to nothing but a piece of warped board40 ,the head was thrown back1 the abdomen thrust forward1 the legs frequently drawn up and contracted2 the attempt to feed him with a spoon1 the opening a window1 or placing the fingers on the pulse1 brought on violent convulsions4 ,while the patient was suffering in this manner1 he complained of great hunger1 repeatedly exclaimed that he was hungry1 and could not eat4 ,he was kept alive to the fourteenth day entirely by injections of a milky and farinaceous character4 ,he was insensible on the #abth1 and continued so till he died4 ,there was no sore or hurt about his body1 and ,mr4 ,gay attributed his death to an inflammatory sore throat1 from cold and exposure to the weather1 assuming a tetanic form1 from the patient being a very nervous1 excited1 and anxious person4 ,mr4 ,gay1 whilst satisfied that this was a case of idiopathic tetanus1 admitted that he never met with such another case2 that it was altogether progressive from the first onset2 that although for a short time there was a remission of symptoms1 they invariably recurred1 and that the locking of the jaw was the very first symptom that made its appearance4 ,in another case1 at the ,royal ,free ,hospital1 in #ahdc1 on the #bhth of ,july1 a boy was brought in with the middle toe of his left foot smashed by a stone1 which ,mr4 ,john ,gay amputated4 ,the accident had happened a week before1 and the wound became very unhealthy4 ,when the surgeon first saw him1 his mouth was almost closed1 and continued so until the #ast of ,august1 but a small quantity of medicine could be introduced4 8,during the first three days10 said ,mr4 ,j4 ,gay1 8his paroxysms were of unusual severity2 he complained of a stiff neck1 and during the first night started up and was convulsed4 ,on the following night he was again convulsed4 ,at times the abdominal muscles1 as well as those of the legs and back1 were rigid1 and the muscles of the face in a state of great contraction4 ,he was in the same state the next day1 but at two o'clock there was much less rigidity of the muscles1 especially those of the abdomen and back4 ,on the following morning the rigidity had gone1 he opened his mouth and could talk2 he was thoroughly relieved4 ,he had no return of spasms till half-past five on the following day4 ,he then asked the nurse to change his linen1 and as she lifted him up in bed to do so1 violent convulsions of the arms and face came on1 and he died in a few minutes4 ,about thirty hours elapsed between the preceding convulsion and the one which ended his life4 ,before the paroxysm came on the rigidity had been completely relaxed4 ,tartar emetic 7containing antimony71 which ,i gave on the second and third day1 did not produce vomiting2 the rigidity of the muscles of the chest would go far to prevent it4 ,the wound might have rubbed against the bed when he was raised1 but ,i don't think it possible4 ,some peculiar irritation of the nerves would give rise to the affection of the spinal cord4 ,there may be various causes for this irritation of the spinal cord1 which ends in tetanus1 but it would be very difficult merely from seeing symptoms of tetanus1 and in the absence of knowledge of how it had been occasioned1 to ascribe it to any particular cause4 ,no doubt the death took place in consequence of something produced by the injury of the toe40 ,the seriousness of the wound in this case1 in comparison with any signs of wounds found on ,cook's body1 and the severity of the shock occasioned by such a painful accident1 renders this example almost valueless4 ,in a third case1 at the ,london ,hospital1 on the #bbnd of ,march of #ahef1 a patient1 aged thirty-seven1 was brought in about half-past seven in the evening4 ,when in the receiving room1 he had one paroxysm1 and another soon after when in the ward4 ,after the first1 his pulse was feeble and rapid1 his jaws closed and fixed1 an expression of anxiety on his countenance1 and his features sunken2 he was unable to swallow1 and the muscles of the abdomen and the back were somewhat tense4 ,after the second paroxysm1 his body became arched for about a minute4 ,he was quieter for a few minutes1 had a third attack1 and died4 ,he had some old neglected sores of a chronic character1 particularly at the right elbow1 a peculiarly sensitive spot1 and ,mr4 ,ross1 the house-surgeon1 who attended the case1 admitted that the disease had been coming on since the morning1 that he had felt symptoms of lockjaw at breakfast1 and had had successive attacks all the afternoon before coming to the hospital4 ,here again the case had been progressive until death1 and commenced with lockjaw1 the admitted signs of ordinary tetanus as distinguished from that due to poison4 ,the last case proved was that of ,catherine ,wilson1 of ,garnkirk1 near ,glasgow1 who 8was attacked with a fit10 as she deposed1 8in ,october last year at night1 felt heavy all the day from the morning1 but had no pain till night4 ,my first pain10 she said1 8was in the stomach1 and then ,i had cramp in the arm1 and became quite insensible40 ,by the administration of chloroform the spasms were relieved1 and she recovered4 ,dr4 ,william ,macdonald1 of ,edinburgh1 who saw the case about an hour after the attack1 admitted that lockjaw came on in about an hour or two after he was called in4 ,this witness was also put forward as a medical expert in cases of strychnia1 and attributed ,cook's death to 8epileptic convulsions with tetanic complications10 and was subjected to the following cross-examination by the ,attorney-,general3-- 8,i believe10 said ,dr4 ,macdonald1 8that all convulsive diseases1 including the epileptic forms and the various tetanic complications1 arise from the decomposition of the blood acting upon the nerves4 ,any mental excitement might have caused ,cook's death4 ,cook was excited at ,shrewsbury1 and whenever there is excitement there is a consequent depression4 ,i think ,cook was afterwards depressed4 ,when a man is lying in bed and vomiting he must be depressed40 ,attorney-,general4--8,this gentleman was much overjoyed at his horse winning1 and you think he vomited in consequence80 ,witness4--8,it might predispose him to vomit40 ,attorney-,general4--8,i am not speaking of #8mights4' ,do you think that the excitement of three minutes on the course on ,tuesday accounts for the vomiting on ,wednesday night480 ,witness4--8,i do not4 ,i find no symptoms of excitement or depression reported between that time and his death4 ,the white spots found in the stomach of the deceased might1 by producing an inflammatory condition of the stomach1 have brought on the convulsions that caused death40 ,attorney-,general4--8,but the gentlemen who made the post-mortem examination say that the stomach was not inflamed40 ,witness4--8,there were white spots1 which cannot exist without inflammation4 ,there must have been inflammation40 ,attorney-,general4--8,but these gentlemen say there was not40 ,witness4--8,i do not believe them4 ,sexual excitement might cause epileptic convulsions with tetanic complications4 ,the chancre and syphilitic sores were evidence that ,cook had undergone such excitement4 ,that might have occurred before he was at ,shrewsbury40 ,attorney-,general4--8,might sexual excitement produce epilepsy a fortnight after it occurred80 ,witness4--8,there is an instance on record in which epilepsy supervened upon the very act of intercourse40 ,attorney-,general4--8,have you any instance in which epilepsy came on a fortnight afterwards80 ,witness4--8,it is within the range of possibility40 ,attorney-,general4--8,do you mean as a serious man of science to say so80 ,witness4--8,the results might40 ,attorney-,general4--8,what results were there in this case80 ,witness4--8,the chancre and the syphilitic sores40 ,attorney-,general4--8,did you ever hear of a chancre causing epilepsy80 ,witness4--8,no40 ,attorney-,general4--8,did you ever dream of such a thing40 ,witness4--8,i never heard of it40 ,attorney-,general4--8,did you ever hear of any other form of syphilitic disease producing epilepsy80 ,witness4--8,no2 but tetanus40 ,attorney-,general4--8,but you say that this was epilepsy4 ,we are not talking of tetanus40 ,witness4--8,you forget the tetanic complication40 ,attorney-,general4--8,if ,i understand it right then1 the sexual excitement produces epilepsy1 and the chancre superadds tetanic complications40 ,witness4--8,i say the results of sexual excitement produce epilepsy40 ,attorney-,general4--8,what would be the effect of morphia given a day or two previously2 would it not retard the action of the poison80 ,witness4--8,no4 ,i have seen opium bring on convulsions very nearly similar40 ,attorney-,general4--8,what quantity80 ,witness4--8,a grain and a half4 ,from my experience1 ,i think if morphia had been given a day or two before1 it would have accelerated the action of the strychnia4 ,if this were a case of poisoning by strychnia1 ,i should suppose that as both opium and strychnia produce congestion of the brain1 they would act together and have a more speedy effect4 ,if congestion of the brain was coming on when morphia was given to ,cook on the ,sunday and ,monday nights it might have increased rather than allayed it40 ,attorney-,general4--8,but the gentlemen who examined the body say there was no congestion after death40 ,witness4--8,but ,dr4 ,bamford says there was40 ,attorney-,general4--8,you stick to ,dr4 ,bamford40 ,witness4--8,yes2 because he was a man of experience and could judge much better than younger men1 and was not so likely to be mistaken40 ,attorney-,general4--8,but ,dr4 ,bamford says that ,cook died of apoplexy4 ,do you think it was apoplexy80 ,witness4--8,no2 it was not40 ,attorney-,general4--8,what then do you think of ,dr4 ,bamford1 who certified that it was80 ,witness4--8,that was a matter of opinion1 but the existence of congestion on the brain he saw40 ,attorney-,general4--8,the other medical men said there was none40 ,lord ,campbell4--8,that is rather a matter of reasoning than of evidence40 ,having thus reported the medico-scientific evidence pro and con1 we pass on to the moral evidence--the purchase of poison by the prisoner1 and his acts during ,cook's illness and subsequent to his death4 ,,purchase ,,of ,,poison ,,by ,,palmer4 ,the proof that ,palmer purchased strychnia on two separate occasions immediately before the convulsive attacks of which ,cook died rested on the evidence of two druggists' assistants at ,rugeley4 ,one of these1 ,charles ,newton1 assistant to ,mr4 ,salt1 swore that about nine o'clock on the ,monday evening1 the #aith of ,november1 ,palmer came to his master's shop1 asked for three grains of strychnia1 which he gave him1 without charge1 as he knew him as a medical practitioner of the town4 ,next morning1 between eleven and twelve1 ,roberts1 the assistant of ,hawkins1 another druggist in ,rugeley1 was asked by ,palmer for two drachms of prussic acid1 for which he brought a bottle with him4 ,whilst ,roberts was preparing this1 ,newton1 the former witness1 came into the shop1 and ,palmer1 putting his hand on ,newton's shoulder1 said he wished to speak with him1 and together they stepped out into the street1 when ,palmer asked some questions about ,mr4 ,edwin ,salt going to a farm about fourteen miles from ,rugeley4 ,whilst they were talking1 a ,mr4 ,brassington joined them1 and began to speak to ,newton about some accounts for ,mr4 ,salt1 on which ,palmer went back into ,hawkins's shop and asked for six grains of strychnia and two drachms of ,batley's solution of opium4 8,whilst ,i was preparing them10 said ,roberts1 8,palmer stood at the shop door with his back to me1 looking into the street4 ,i was about five minutes preparing them4 ,he stood at the door till they were ready1 when ,i delivered them to him--the prussic acid in the bottle he had brought1 the strychnia in a paper1 and the opium in a bottle4 ,he paid1 and took them away4 ,no one else was in the shop40 ,as soon as ,palmer had left1 ,newton came in1 and spoke to ,roberts about ,palmer's visit1 and no doubt was struck with the information he received4 ,at that time he did not mention to his master ,palmer's purchase of the strychnia because1 he said1 ,palmer and ,salt were not friends1 and he was afraid that the latter might blame him for having given ,palmer the strychnia4 8,i first mentioned it10 said ,newton1 8to ,boycott1 the clerk to ,mr4 ,gardner1 the solicitor1 at the ,rugeley station1 when ,i and a number of witnesses were assembled for the purpose of going to ,london4 ,he took me to ,mr4 ,gardner's4 ,i told him what ,i had to say1 and he took me to the solicitor of the ,treasury40 ,counsel for the defence tried to elicit from him that he had given as his reason for not mentioning it before that he was afraid of being prosecuted for perjury4 8,no10 he replied2 8,i did not give that as a reason1 but ,i stated to a gentleman that a young man at ,wolverhampton had been threatened by ,george ,palmer because he had said at the inquest on ,walter ,palmer that he had sold the prisoner prussic acid1 and he had not entered it in the book1 and could not prove it4 ,i stated at the same time that ,george ,palmer said he could be transported for it4 ,the inquest on ,walter ,palmer did not take place until five or six weeks after that on ,cook40 ,not only1 however1 did ,newton#fj not mention this purchase of strychnia when before the coroner1 but he did not state that on the #beth of ,november he was sent for about seven in the evening to ,palmer's house1 where he found the prisoner in his kitchen1 sitting by the fire reading4 8,he asked me10 he now said1 8how ,i was1 and to have some brandy and water4 ,no one else was there4 ,he asked me what was the dose of strychnia to kill a dog4 ,i told him a grain4 ,he asked me what would be the appearance after death4 ,i told him that there would be no inflammation1 and that ,i did not think it could be found4 ,upon that he snapped his finger and thumb in a quiet way and exclaimed1 as if communing with himself1 #8,that's all right4' ,he made some other commonplace remark1 which ,i do not recollect4 ,i was with him altogether about five minutes40 ,though he appears to have related the story of the dog at an earlier date1 it was not until the ,tuesday before the trial that he said a word to anyone about the purchase of the strychnia4 ,to contradict the evidence of ,newton1 the inspector of police at the ,euston station was called to prove that the last train for ,rugeley left at #b,p4,m41 and that if ,palmer went by the five o'clock express he would not get to ,stafford until #h4de1 and would then have nine miles to travel to reach ,rugeley4 ,it was1 however1 remarked by the ,attorney-,general that ,newton's words were 8about nine o'clock10 and 8that everyone knows how easy it is to make a mistake of half an hour or three quarters of an hour1 or even an hour1 if your attention is not called to the circumstances within a week or a fortnight1 or three weeks afterwards40 ,not content with this evidence1 counsel for the defence called one ,jeremiah ,smith1 an attorney1 of ,rugeley1 and intimate friend of the prisoner's mother1 who swore that on the night in question he saw ,palmer get out of a car coming in the direction from ,stafford at ten minutes past ten1 and went with him to ,cook's room4 ,the exhibition made by this fellow in the box was disgusting4 ,for some time he declared that he had never had anything to do with the applications for the enormous insurances on ,walter ,palmer's life2 would not acknowledge his signature to them as a witness1 and only after a most vigorous cross-examination admitted that he witnessed them on the application of the prisoner4 ,he it was who made the application to the ,midland ,insurance ,company for the policy of #aj1jjj on the life of ,bate1 the person whom ,palmer represented as a gentleman of property with a fine cellar of wine1 but whom the insurance agent found hoeing turnips in a field of ,palmer's1 and with six months' rent in arrear for the room in the farm-house which he occupied4 ,the credit of ,newton was set up by the desperate attempt of ,mr4 ,jeremiah ,smith4#fa ,,acts ,,of ,,the ,,prisoner ,,during ,,cook',s ,,illness ,,and ,,after ,,his ,,death4 ,on ,thursday1 the #aeth of ,november1 ,cook returned from ,shrewsbury with ,palmer to the 8,talbot10 at ,rugeley1 complaining of being poorly4 ,it will be remembered that he had been sick at ,shrewsbury after partaking of the brandy and water in ,palmer's company4 ,next day he dined with ,palmer1 and came back to the inn between nine and ten at night1 as the witness ,barnes said1 sober4 ,early the next morning 7,saturday7 ,palmer was in his bedroom1 and sent for a cup of coffee for him4 ,mills1 who brought it up1 did not see him drink it2 but when soon after she went into his room she found he had vomited it in the chamber4 ,palmer was in and out frequently1 and promised to send ,cook some soup2 for this he sent ,ann ,rowley1 a charwoman to the 8,albion ,inn10 who brought it to ,palmer in his kitchen1 left it there about five minutes with him1 whilst she went about her other work1 and then1 by ,palmer's orders1 took it to the 8,talbot10 with a message that ,jerry ,smith1 a mutual friend who had dined with them on the ,friday1 had sent it4#fb ,cook1 seeming unwilling to take this1 ,palmer said he must have it4 ,it was taken up again2 ,cook drank it1 and shortly after vomited4 ,again1 on the ,sunday1 ,palmer sent a jobbing gardener in his employ with a covered cup of broth to the 8,talbot10 of which ,mills1 who took it up to ,cook's room1 tasted about two tablespoonsful1 and was so sick that she had to go to bed4 ,whether ,cook drank this or not was not distinctly proved1 but the cup was afterwards seen empty in the kitchen of the hotel4 ,what followed as to the pills sent by ,dr4 ,bamford1 and the others produced by ,palmer1 is already fully given in ,mills's evidence4 ,immediately after ,cook's death1 ,palmer was found by ,barnes searching the pockets of ,cook's coat and under his pillow1 and the bank-notes which ,cook had had only a few days before1 his betting-book1 which had been seen on his dressing-table1 and the letters that had been on his chimney-piece1 had disappeared4#fc ,previously to this time ,palmer had been very short of money1 being pressed for small debts1 but immediately afterwards was in funds1 paying small bills1 and depositing #ej in a local bank4 ,on ,tuesday evening 7#bjth71 when ,cook was in such a serious state1 ,palmer sent for ,cheshire1 the ,rugeley postmaster1 and asked him to fill up the body of a cheque on ,weatherby for #cej in ,palmer's favour1 which he said that he would take over to ,cook to sign4 ,that cheque was sent to ,weatherby's that night1 and returned by them to ,palmer1 as ,weatherby1 not having yet received the stakes ,cook had won1 was not in funds to meet it4 ,that cheque was called for by the prosecution1 but not produced by the prisoner4 ,again1 on the ,thursday or ,friday after1 between six and seven in the evening1 ,palmer sent for ,cheshire4 8,when ,i arrived10 said the witness1 8,i found him in the kitchen1 and he immediately went out1 and shortly after returned with a quarto sheet of paper in his hand4 ,he gave me a pen1 and asked me to sign something4 ,i asked what it was1 and he replied1 #8,you know that ,cook and ,i have had dealings together1 and this is a document he gave me some days ago1 and ,i want you to witness it4' ,i said1 #8,what is it about8' ,he said1 #8,some business that ,i have joined in with him1 and which is all for his benefit1 and this is the document stating so4'0 ,cheshire refused1 and ,palmer1 saying perhaps they would not dispute ,cook's signature1 took it away4 ,this document was also called for1 and not produced4#fd ,on ,friday1 #bcrd1 ,mr4 ,stevens1 who had married the widow of ,cook's father some years before1 and was executor to his grandfather's will1 arrived in ,rugeley1 saw ,palmer1 and asked him about his stepson's affairs4 8,there are #djjj of his bills out10 said ,palmer1 8and ,i am sorry to say my name is to them1 but ,i have got a paper drawn up and signed by him to show that ,i never had any money from them40 ,mr4 ,stevens expressed great surprise1 and said1 8,i fear there will not be #djjj shillings to pay you40 ,then1 after discussing his stepson's affairs1 ,mr4 ,stevens said1 8,well1 whether he has left anything or not1 poor fellow1 he must be buried10 on which ,palmer immediately said1 8,oh1 ,i will bury him myself1 if that is all40 ,mr4 ,stevens at once refused1 and expressed his intention of removing the body to ,london for interment1 so as not to inconvenience the inn people4 8,oh10 said ,palmer1 8that is of no consequence1 but the body ought to be fastened up2 as long as the body is fastened up1 it is of no consequence40 ,whilst ,mr4 ,stevens was talking with the persons in the room1 ,palmer went out1 and on his return1 when asked by ,stevens to recommend an undertaker1 said1 8,i have been and done this4 ,i have ordered a shell and a strong oak coffin40 ,mr4 ,stevens expressed his surprise1 and insisted on giving instructions himself to the undertaker4 ,later in the day1 after dinner1 on ,mr4 ,jones reporting to ,stevens1 who had asked him to go up to ,cook's room for that purpose1 that he could not find any betting-book or papers1 ,palmer said1 8,oh1 it's no manner of use if you do find it40 8,no use10 replied ,stevens1 8,i am the best judge of that40 ,again said ,palmer1 8,it's of no manner of use40 8,i am told it is10 was the reply2 8my son won a great deal of money at ,shrewsbury1 and ,i ought to know something about it40 8,it is of no use1 ,i assure you10 replied ,palmer2 8when a man dies1 his bets are done with2 and besides1 ,cook received the greater part of the money on the course40 8,very well10 replied ,stevens1 8the book ought to be found1 and must be found10 when ,palmer said1 in a quieter tone1 8,it will be found1 no doubt40 ,the room was then locked by ,mr4 ,stevens's order1 but the book was never found4 ,mr4 ,stevens returned to ,london to see his solicitor1 and on his way back met ,palmer 7who had been to ,london to pay ,pratt #ajj1 and caution him against giving any information about ,cook's affairs71 and told him his intention of having a post-mortem examination4 ,apparently agreeing with that1 ,palmer offered to introduce him to a local solicitor to conduct it1 which was declined2 but1 added ,mr4 ,stevens1 8,i said1 #8,mr4 ,palmer1 if ,i should call in a solicitor to give me advice1 ,i suppose you will have no objection to answer any question he may put to you4' ,i altered my tone purposely2 ,i looked him steadily in the face1 but although the moon was shining1 ,i could not see his features distinctly4 ,he said1 with a spasmodic convulsion of the throat1 which was perfectly apparent1 #8,oh no1 certainly not4'0 ,later in the evening ,palmer came to ,mr4 ,stevens and renewed his conversation about the bills1 hoping that affairs would be settled pleasantly1 and was told by the stepfather that 8they could be only settled in ,chancery40 ,palmer1 at that time1 denied that he had attended ,cook in a medical capacity4 ,on the #agth of ,november1 ,ishmael ,fisher1 who was ,cook's usual racing agent1 received a letter from ,cook requesting him to pay ,pratt #bjj1 which he would repay him on the following ,monday1 when the ,shrewsbury bets would be settled at ,tattersall's4 ,much to his surprise1 he was not employed as usual1 and in consequence lost the money he had advanced1 for on the #aith ,mr4 ,george ,herring1 another betting man1 got a letter from ,palmer to call on him at the latter's lodgings1 in ,london1 at half-past two that day4 ,he did so4 8,i found ,palmer there10 said ,herring4 8,he asked me what ,i would take4 ,i declined to take anything4 ,i then asked him how ,mr4 ,cook was4 ,he said1 #8,he's all right2 his physician gave him a dose of calomel1 and advised him not to come out1 it being a damp day4' ,i don't know which term he used1 #8damp' or #8wet4' ,he then went on to say1 in the same sentence1 #8,what ,i want to see you about is settling his account4' ,while he was speaking he took out half a sheet of note paper from his pocket1 and it was open when he had finished the sentence4 ,he held it up and said1 #8,this is it4' ,i rose to take it4 ,he said1 #8,you had better take its contents down2 this will be a check against you4' ,at the same time he pointed to some paper lying on the table4 ,i wrote on that paper from his dictation4 ,i have here the paper which ,i so wrote4 ,the witness read the document in question1 which contained instructions as to certain payments he should make out of moneys to be received by him at ,tattersall's on account of the ,shrewsbury races4 ,palmer then said that ,i had better write out a cheque for ,pratt and ,padwick--for the former #dej1 and for the latter #cej1 and send them at once4 ,i told him ,i had only one form of cheque in my pocket4 ,he said ,i could easily fill up a draught on half a sheet of paper4 ,i refused to comply with his request1 as ,i had not as yet received the money4 ,he replied that it would be all right1 for that ,cook would not deceive me4 ,he wished me particularly to pay ,mr4 ,pratt the #dej4 ,his words1 as nearly as ,i can remember them1 were1 #8,you must pay ,pratt1 as it is for a bill of sale on the mare4' ,i don't know whether he said #8a bill of sale1' or #8a joint bill of sale4' ,he told me he was going to see both ,pratt and ,padwick1 to tell them that ,i would send on the money4 ,previous to his saying this1 ,i told him that if he would give me the address of ,pratt and ,padwick ,i would call on them1 after ,i had got the money from ,tattersall's1 and give it to them4 ,he then asked me what was between us4 ,there were only a few pounds between us1 and after we had had some conversation on the point1 he took out of his pocket a #ej ,bank of ,england note4 ,he required #bi out of the note1 and ,i was not able to give it2 but he said that if ,i gave him a cheque it would answer as well4 ,i gave him a cheque for #bj and nine sovereigns4 ,when ,i was going away ,i do not remember that he said anything about my paying the money to ,pratt and ,padwick4 ,he said on parting1 #8,when you have settled this account write down word to either me or ,cook4' ,i turned round and said1 #8,i shall certainly write to ,mr4 ,cook4' ,i said so because ,i thought ,i was settling ,mr4 ,cook's account4 ,he said1 #8,it don't much matter which you write to4' ,i said1 #8,if ,i address ,mr4 ,cook1 ,rugeley1 ,stafford1 it will be correct1 will it not8' ,he said1 #8,yes4' ,after leaving ,beaufort ,buildings ,i went to ,tattersall's4 ,i then received all the money ,i expected1 except #aaj from ,mr4 ,morris1 who paid me #ij instead of #bjj4 ,i sent from ,tattersall's a cheque for #dej to ,mr4 ,pratt4 ,i posted a letter to ,cook from ,tattersall's1 and directed it to ,rugeley4 ,on ,tuesday the #bjth1 next day1 ,i received a telegraphic message4 ,i have not got it here4 ,i gave it to ,captain ,hatton at the coroner's inquest at ,rugeley4 ,in consequence of receiving that message ,i wrote again to ,cook that day4 ,i addressed my letter as before1 but ,i believe the letter was not posted till the ,wednesday4 ,i have three bills of exchange with me4 ,i know ,palmer's handwriting1 but never saw him write4 ,i cannot prove his writing2 but ,i knew ,cook's writing1 and ,i believe the drawing of two and the accepting of the three bills to be in his writing4 ,i got them from ,fisher and gave him cash for them40 ,the witness ,boycott was recalled1 and identified the signatures on the bills as those of ,palmer and ,cook4 ,examination continued4--8,the bills are each for #bjj4 ,one of them was payable in a month1 and when it fell due on ,october #ah1 ,cook paid the #ajj on account4 ,he paid me the remaining #ajj at ,shrewsbury1 but ,i cannot tell with certainty on what day4 ,i did not pay the #cej to ,padwick4 ,i hold another bill for #ejj40 ,thomas ,strawbridge1 manager of the bank at ,rugeley1 identified the drawing and endorsing as in the handwriting of ,palmer4 ,the acceptance1 purporting to be in the writing of ,mrs4 ,sarah ,palmer1 he did not believe to have been written by her4 ,examination continued4--8,i am sure that the endorsement on the #ejj bill is in ,cook's writing4 ,i got the bill from ,mr4 ,fisher4 ,i paid #bjj on account of it to ,palmer1 and #bge to ,mr4 ,fisher4 ,the balance was discount4 ,it was not paid at maturity4 ,i have taken proceedings against ,palmer to recover the amount40 ,on the #bfth of ,november1 the post-mortem examination was held1 at which ,palmer was present1 and the incidents of the pushing of the jar containing the contents of the stomach and the cutting of its coverings occurred2 and if the evidence of ,myatt1 the postboy1 is to be taken as true1 ,palmer tried to bribe him to upset the fly in which ,mr4 ,stevens and his solicitor's clerk were to take the jar to the ,stafford station1 en route to ,london1 ,james ,myatt1 examined by ,mr4 ,james4--8,in ,november last ,i was postboy at the #8,talbot ,arms1' ,rugeley4 ,i know ,palmer1 the prisoner1 and ,i remember ,monday1 the #bfth of ,november last4 ,i was ordered on that night1 a little after five o'clock1 to take ,mr4 ,stevens to the ,stafford station in a fly4 ,before ,i started ,i went home to get my tea1 and on returning from my tea to the #8,talbot ,arms' ,i met the prisoner4 ,he asked me if ,i was going to drive ,mr4 ,stevens to ,stafford4 ,i told him ,i was40 ,question4--8,what did he say to you then80 ,answer4--8,he asked me if ,i would upset them40 ,question4--8,them8 ,had anything been said about a jar80 ,answer4--8,he said he supposed ,i was going to take the jar40 ,question4--8,what did you say then80 ,answer4--8,i said ,i believed ,i was40 ,question4--8,what did he say after that80 ,answer4--8,he said--#8,do you think you could upset them8'0 ,question4--8,what answer did you make80 ,answer4--8,i told him #8,no4'0 ,question4--8,did he say anything more80 ,answer4--8,he said--#8,if you could1 there's a #aj note for you4'0 ,question4--8,what did you say to that80 ,answer4--8,i told him ,i could not4 ,i then said1 #8,i must go1 the horses are in the fly ready for us to start4' ,i do not recollect that he said anything more about the jar4 ,i said1 that if ,i didn't go somebody else would go4 ,he told me not to be in a hurry1 for if anybody else went he would pay me4 ,i saw him again next morning1 when ,i was going to breakfast4 ,he asked me then who went with the fly4 ,i told him ,mr4 ,stevens1 and1 ,i believed1 one of ,mr4 ,gardner's clerks40 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--8,were not the words that ,palmer used--#8,i wouldn't mind giving #aj to break ,stevens's neck8'0 ,answer4--8,i don't recollect the words #8break his neck4'0 ,question4--8,well1 #8upset him4' ,did he say1 #8,i wouldn't mind giving #aj to upset him8'0 ,answer4--8,yes2 ,i believe those were the words4 ,i do not know that ,palmer appeared to have been drinking4 ,i don't recollect that he had4 ,i can't say that he used any epithet1 applied to ,stevens--he said it was a humbugging concern altogether1 or something of that4 ,i don't recollect that he said ,stevens was a troublesome fellow1 and very inquisitive4 ,i don't remember anything more than ,i have said4 ,i do not know whether there was more than one jar40 ,whilst the analysis of the contents of the jar was being conducted in ,london1 the coroner opened an inquest at ,rugeley4 ,palmer1 now fully aware of his danger1 determined to use his influence over the postmaster to get the earliest information of the results of the analysis1 and to make a friend of ,ward1 the coroner4 ,with the latter object1 he sent a hamper of fish and game to the coroner from ,london on the #ast of ,december1 writing the direction himself1 but not otherwise letting ,ward know from whom they came1 which he professed to wish to be kept secret4 ,to ,cheshire1 the postmaster1 with whom he had long been on very friendly terms1 receiving from him his mother's and ,cook's letters1 on the #bnd of ,december he hinted the importance of his knowing anything that might pass through the post between ,dr4 ,taylor and the local solicitor4 ,in consequence1 on the ,wednesday following1 he is told by ,cheshire the substance of the letter1 already quoted1 written by the analyst to ,mr4 ,gardner on the previous day4 ,on this ,palmer1 on the #hth1 writes to a poulterer at ,stafford to have some game ready for his messenger1 and sends ,bate over for it1 to take it1 with the following note1 to the coroner3-- 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,i am sorry to tell you that ,i am still confined to my bed4 ,i don't think it was mentioned at the inquest yesterday that ,cook was taken ill on ,sunday and ,monday night1 in the same way as he was on the ,tuesday1 when he died4 ,the chambermaid at the #8,crown' ,hotel 7,masters's7 can prove this4 ,i also believe that a man by the name of ,fisher is coming down to prove he received some money at ,shrewsbury4 ,now1 here he could only pay ,smith #aj out of #da he owed him4 ,had you not better call ,smith to prove this8 ,and1 again1 whatever ,professor ,taylor may say to-morrow1 he wrote from ,london last ,tuesday night to ,gardner to say1 #8,we 7and ,dr4 ,rees7 have this day finished our analysis1 and find no traces of either strychnia1 prussic acid1 or opium4' ,what can beat this from a man like ,taylor1 if he says what he has already said1 and ,dr4 ,harlands's evidence8 ,mind you1 ,i know and saw it in black and white what ,taylor said to ,gardner2 but this is strictly private and confidential1 but it is true4 ,as regards his betting-book1 ,i know nothing of it1 and it is of no good to anyone4 ,i hope the verdict to-morrow will be that he died of natural causes1 and thus end it4 8,ever yours1 8,w4 ,p40 ,bate goes to the poulterer1 re-directs1 and sends the game by a lad1 and then finds his way to the inn1 where the coroner is smoking1 calls him out of the billiard-room1 and privately gives him the letter4 ,on the #adth of ,december the adjourned inquest is to be held1 and ,dr4 ,taylor's evidence taken4 ,on the previous day1 therefore1 ,bate is again summoned by ,palmer1 and sent to borrow a #e note of ,thirlby1 and on his return1 ,palmer being still ill in bed1 is told by him to look in a drawer for another1 but can only find one for #ej4 ,at this juncture the sheriff's officer arrives to arrest him on one of the overdue bills1 ,bate is sent out of the room1 and on his return commissioned to take a note to the coroner1 and to be sure that no one sees him deliver it4 ,this he succeeds in doing between the 8station0 and the 8,junction ,hotel10 where he slips it slily into ,ward's hand4 ,not liking all this secrecy1 ,bate had hesitated at accepting the mission1 and asked that some one else should be sent1 when ,palmer replied1 8,why1 ,george1 as to this poor fellow ,cook1 he was the best pal ,i ever had in my life2 and why should ,i have poisoned him80 and then added1 8,i am as innocent as you1 ,george40 ,the inquest proceeded1 and in addition to the evidence of the symptoms attendant on ,cook's death1 ,dr4 ,taylor gave his1 and ,roberts proved the purchase of strychnia only a day before ,cook's death4 ,palmer was summoned1 but professed to be too ill to come1 and on the next day a verdict of wilful murder against him was returned1 and a warrant issued for his transfer to ,stafford jail4 ,after a few days' detention in his own house1 ,palmer was conveyed to jail1 in such a state of despondency that he appears to have determined to starve himself to death1 and would probably have done so1 but for the threat of compulsory measures by the ,governor4 ,soon afterwards all his property was seized under a bill of sale and sold1 his racehorses alone realising four thousand guineas4#fe ,,the ,,defence4 ,of ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee's address to the jury in the defence of the prisoner1 which occupied1 without wearying1 the attention of the ,court during eight hours on the seventh day1 only a brief analysis can be given4 ,the main points on which he insisted were--,first1 the erroneous nature of the medico-scientific evidence in referring the symptoms exhibited in ,cook's case to tetanus from strychnia1 on which he was prepared to contradict it by witnesses of equal character and credit in the profession4 ,secondly1 the probability1 amounting as near as possible to a certainty1 that if the death had been occasioned by strychnia1 the presence of that poison should have been detected by the analysts4 ,thirdly1 the similarity of the symptoms in the case to those of cases of traumatic or idiopathic tetanus of late occurrence1 to be described by the doctors who had attended them4 ,as the mass of evidence by which he sought to support these propositions has been already reported1 it is needless to recur to it4 ,we may therefore pass on to the moral evidence1 only pausing to extract the noble passage descriptive of the mechanism of the human frame1 with which he introduced the former subject1 and his picture of ,cook's state of mind from before his victory at ,shrewsbury until his death4 8#8,a little learning is a dangerous thing4' 8,it appears to me there never was a case in which the adage was so applicable as it is in this4 ,of all the works of ,god1 the one best calculated to fill us with wonder and admiration1 and convince us of our dependence on our ,maker1 and the utter nothingness of ourselves1 is the mortal coil in which we live1 and breathe1 and think1 and have our being4 ,every minute of our lives1 functions are performed at our will1 the unerring accuracy of which nothing but omniscience and omnipotence could have secured4 ,we feel and see exactly what takes place1 and yet the moment we attempt to explain what takes place1 the instant we endeavour to get a reason for what we know1 and see1 and do1 the mystery of creation--#8,god created man in his own image1 in the image of ,god created he them'--arrests our course1 and we are flung back on conjecture and doubt4 ,we know in a sense--we suppose--that the soft medullary substance which is within the cavity of the head is the seat of thought1 of sensation1 and of will4 ,we know that that soft medullary substance is continued down the middle of the back1 protected by a bony duct or canal1 within which it lies embedded1 and we know that from the sides of that bony duct and from this medullary substance proceed an infinite variety of nerves 7the conduits of sensation from all parts of the body to the soul7 and of muscles connected and dependent on them1 the instruments of voluntary motion4 ,this we know2 and we know that by that process all the ordinary actions of ourselves1 at our will1 are effected with the most wonderful precision4 ,sometimes1 however1 these nerves and muscles depart from their normal character1 and instead of being the mere instruments of the soul1 become irregular1 convulsive1 tumultuary1 vindicating to themselves a sort of independent vitality1 totally regardless of the authority to which they are ordinarily subject4 ,when thrown into this state of excitement1 their effects are known by the general name of convulsions4 ,it is remarkable1 unlike most other fine names1 they are not of modern adaptation4 ,the ancients had them to express the very same thing4 ,the spasmodic and tetanic affections were known then1 and as much about them hundreds and thousands of years ago as is known now4 ,tetanic convulsions have been divided in later times into two specific branches of tetanus--idiopathic and traumatic40 ,in opening the portion of his case that ,cook's death was attributable to causes other than strychnia1 ,serjeant ,shee adroitly concealed the names of the diseases to which his witnesses were prepared to attribute it4 ,until1 therefore1 his cloud of witnesses had been passed through1 the prosecution did not know1 except from the cross-examination of their own medico-scientific witnesses1 to what technical points they had to shape their reply4 ,in support of his contention that ,cook's death could be fairly attributed to ordinary convulsions1 the learned ,serjeant gave the following graphic sketch of the state of his mind at the period of ,shrewsbury races1 and from then to his death3-- 8,he went there in the imminent peril of returning from them a ruined man4 ,his stepfather assured ,palmer that there would not be #djjj shillings for those who had claims on his estate4 ,from the necessity he was under of raising money at an enormous discount we may easily infer that he was in desperate difficulties1 and that unless some sudden success on the turf should retrieve his fortunes1 they were hopeless4 ,his health was shattered1 his mind distracted2 he had long been cherishing hopes that ,polestar would win1 and so put him in possession of something like a thousand guineas4 ,the mare1 it was true1 was hardly his own1 for she had been mortgaged2 and if she should lose1 she would become the property of another person4 ,picture to yourselves what must have been the condition1 mental and bodily1 of that young man when he rose from his bed on the morning of the races4 ,it is scarcely possible1 as he went down to breakfast1 that this thought must not have crossed his mind1 #8,my fate is trembling in the balance2 this is the crisis of my destiny4 ,unless my horse shall win1 to-night ,i am a beggar4' ,with these feelings he repairs to the course4 ,another race is run before ,polestar is brought out4 ,his impatience is extreme4 ,he looks on in a state of agonising excitement4 ,will the minutes never fly8 ,at last arrives the decisive moment2 the time has come for his race4 ,the flag is dropped2 the horses start2 his mare wins easily1 and he1 her master1 has won a thousand guineas6 ,for three minutes he is not able to speak1 so intense is his emotion4 ,slowly he recovers his utterance1 and then how rapturous is his joy6 ,he is saved1 he is saved6 ,another chance to retrieve his position--one chance more to recover his character6 ,as yet1 at all events1 he will not be a disgrace to his family and his friends4 ,conceive him to be1 with all his faults1 an honourable young man1 and you may easily imagine what his ecstasy must have been4 ,he loves the memory of his dead mother--he still reverences the name of his father--he is jealous of his sister's honour1 and it may be that he cherishes silently in his heart the thought of some other being dearer still than all to whom the story of his ruin would bring bitter anguish4 ,but he is not ruined2 he will meet his engagements like an honourable man4 ,there is now no danger of his being an outcast1 an adventurer1 a black-leg4 ,he will live to redeem his position1 and to give joy to those who love him4 ,with such thoughts in his heart1 he returns to his inn in a state of indescribable elation1 and with a revulsion from despair that must have convulsed--though not in the sense of illness--every fibre of his frame4 ,his first idea is to entertain his friends1 and he does so4 ,the evidence does not prove that he drank to excess1 but he gave a champagne dinner2 and we all know that is a luxurious entertainment1 at which there is no stint and not much self-respect4 ,that evening he did not spend in the society of ,palmer2 indeed1 it is not clear in whose company he spent it4 ,but we find him on the evening of ,wednesday at the #8,unicorn' with ,saunders1 his trainer1 and a lady4 ,on ,thursday he walks upon the course1 and ,herring remonstrates with him for doing so1 as the day is damp and misty1 and the ground wet4 ,that night he is seized with illness1 and he continues ailing until his death at ,rugeley4 ,arrived at ,rugeley1 it is but natural to suppose that a reaction of feeling may have set in4 ,then the dark side of the picture may have presented itself to his imagination4 ,the chilling thought may have come upon him that his winnings were already forestalled and would scarcely suffice to save him from destruction4 ,it is when suffering from a weakened body1 and an irritated and excited mind1 that he is attacked by a sickness which clings to his system1 leaves him without any rest1 incapacitates him from taking food1 distracts his nerves1 and places him in imminent danger of falling a victim to any sudden attack of convulsions to which he may have a predisposition4 ,he relished no society so much as that of ,palmer1 whose residence was immediately opposite the #8,talbot ,arms' ,inn1 where he was lying on his sick bed4 ,for two days he had been taking opiate pills prescribed by ,dr4 ,bamford4 ,on ,sunday night1 at twelve o'clock1 he started as from a dream in a state of the utmost excitement and alarm4 ,he admitted afterwards that for two minutes he was mad1 but he could not ascribe it to anything unless to his having been awakened by a squabble in the street4 ,but do no such things happen to people of sound constitutions and regular habits8 ,do no such people awaken in agony and delirium because there is a noise under their windows8 ,no2 these are the afflictions of the dissipated and anxious1 whose bodies are shattered and whose minds are distracted4 ,next day1 ,monday1 he was pretty well1 but not so well as to mount his horse or to take a walk in the fields4 ,he could converse with his trainer and jockey1 but he could take no substantial food1 and drank not a drop of brandy-and-water4 ,you will bear in mind that ,palmer was not with him that day4 ,in the middle of the night he was seized with an attack similar in character to that of the night preceding1 but manifestly much milder1 for he retained his consciousness throughout it1 and was not mad for a moment4 ,the evidence of ,elizabeth ,mills is conclusive on the point4 ,at three o'clock on the following day 7,tuesday7 ,mr4 ,jones1 the surgeon of ,lutterworth1 arrived1 and spent a considerable time--probably from three to seven o'clock--in his company4 ,they had abundant opportunity for conversing confidentially1 and they were likely to have done so1 for they were very intimate1 and ,jones appears to have been on more familiar terms with ,cook than was any other person1 not even excepting ,mr4 ,stevens4 ,nothing occurred in the entire and unbounded confidence which must have existed between ,mr4 ,cook and ,mr4 ,jones1 to raise any suspicions in the mind of ,mr4 ,jones2 and at the consultation1 which took place between seven and eight o'clock on ,tuesday evening between ,jones1 ,palmer1 and ,bamford1 as to what the medicine for that evening should be1 the fit of the ,monday night was not mentioned4 ,that is a remarkable fact4 ,the ,crown may say that it is remarkable1 inasmuch as ,palmer knew it1 and said not a word about it2 but ,i think that it shows that the fit was so little serious in the opinion of ,cook that he did not think it worth mentioning to his intimate friend40 ,in dealing with the 8moral evidence10 counsel first attacked the motive imputed by the prosecution1 and sought to show from the correspondence1 as well as from the conduct of the parties1 that at the moment when ,palmer was charged with killing ,cook1 he was his best and indeed the only friend whom he could look to to assist him in his severe financial troubles4 8,was it10 he said1 8to his interest that in the second week in ,november ,cook should be killed1 say by a railway accident8 ,for some time they had been mixed up together in racing transactions1 had made heavy losses during the late sporting season1 and ,cook at least--and most probably ,palmer1 as associated with him--was looking forward to the success of ,polestar to save them from ruin4 ,at that time ,pratt1 the bill discounter1 was pressing for an extra #bjj to stave off legal proceedings on the #bjjj bill1 to which his mother's name had been forged4 ,to whom does ,palmer apply8 ,to ,cook1 who at once writes to his betting agent ,fisher to advance and pay that to ,pratt on the ,saturday before the ,monday's settlement at ,tattersall's of the ,shrewsbury winnings4 ,fisher having done this1 was it not probable that ,cook arranged with ,palmer1 that in order to get the use of this #bjj for a few days1 ,herring1 and not ,fisher1 should be authorised to collect the winnings and secure a sufficient payment to ,pratt to stave off the action80 ,cook's letter of the #aith of ,november was accordingly cited as a proof of his anxiety to assist ,palmer4 8,again1 there was in ,herring's hands a bill of ,palmer's for #ejj1 bearing his mother's forged acceptance4 ,was it likely that with this danger staring him in the face1 ,palmer would kill the only man from whom he could look for money8 ,the transaction as to the bill for #ejj1 secured on ,cook's racehorses1 discounted by ,pratt1 for which1 as ,pratt wrote him at once1 ,palmer would have to provide1 was another reason for not killing his only friend40 ,in ,september ,palmer had negotiated this bill with ,pratt professedly for ,cook's benefit1 and had received from ,pratt a crossed cheque to ,cook's order for #che1 and a wine warrant for #fe1 and at the same time1 on his own account1 #cae in cash1 and the imputation by the ,crown was that he forged ,cook's endorsement and took the money4 ,the improbability of his doing this1 as ,cook was certain1 had he done so1 to have complained of it during the months that elapsed between the giving of the bill of sale on his horses and his death1 was urged by ,mr4 ,shee1 who ventured to offer as an explanation the suggestion that as ,cook wanted cash on that day1 ,palmer gave him his #cae1 and with his consent endorsed ,cook's name on the cheque and paid that to his own account4 ,again he dealt with the circumstance of ,cook's cheque for #cej1 the body of which was drawn by ,cheshire1 and1 as ,palmer said1 taken by him on the #bjth ,november to ,cook for him to sign in his sick room4 ,that cheque1 it will be remembered1 was not produced1 but 8,weatherby1 on whom it was drawn10 said ,serjeant ,shee1 8was under the impression that the signature was ,cook's4#ff ,as it was not certain that ,frail would have sent up to ,weatherby the stakes against which it was drawn by the ,monday1 was it likely that1 had ,palmer meditated ,cook's death at the time1 he would have risked its being returned--as it was--and passing into the hands of ,cook's executors1 who would be certain to enquire into the matter1 on ,cook's sudden death8 ,from the enquiries that had been instituted as to his brother's life policy1 he knew himself to be an object of suspicion1 and1 if any foul play happened to ,cook1 all hope of recovering that would be gone4 #8,their refusal1' wrote ,pratt to him1 #8altered the whole state of affairs1 and ,palmer must be prepared to pay his mother's acceptances for #d1jjj due at the end of the month4' ,there was the pinch2 the office would not pay2 the #d1jjj was becoming due2 the holder of the bills saw that he was without security1 and1 if anything occurred to increase the suspicions of the insurance office1 which was very reluctant to pay1 the #ac1jjj was lost for ever1 lost beyond hope4 ,gentlemen1 that #ac1jjj is sure to be paid1 unless this man is convicted of murder2 and that has a great deal to do with the clamour and alarm which have been excited4 ,so sure as that man is saved1 and saved ,i believe he will be1 that #ac1jjj is paid4 ,there is no defence1 no pretence for a defence--the letters of the office make that plain4 ,they took an enormous premium2 knowing that the man was only #cj1 they took a premium for a man of #ej--;at least1 the letters show that the premium was enormous--and ,i say that1 as sure as this man is saved1 that #ac1jjj is good for him1 and will pay his creditors4 ,do not these facts show that in this ,october suspicions were hanging in menacing meteors about ,palmer's head1 which would come down with irresistible momentum and crush him upon suspicion of a sudden death by murder8 ,do you believe that a man who wrote what the effects of strychnia were in his manual would risk such a scene as a death-bed by it1 in the presence of the dearest and best friend of ,cook--a man whom he could not influence2 a medical man1 who liked him and loved him well enough when he knew he was ill to sleep in the same room with him1 that he might be able to attend to him in case he wanted assistance during the night8 ,is that common sense8 ,are you going to endorse such a theory as that upon the suggestion of ,dr4 ,taylor about the effects of strychnia produced upon his five rabbits8 ,impossible6 perfectly impossible6 as ,i submit to you4 ,so sure as anything happened by foul play to ,cook1 he had no more chance of getting the #ac1jjj than the #ahj1jjj from the ,prince of ,wales ,insurance ,office--none whatever4 ,that was the only means he had at that time of extricating himself from these encumbrances40 ,again1 he tried to depreciate the evidence of ,mills as to the symptoms of ,cook's attacks1 on the ground--not1 indeed1 that she had been tampered with by the prosecution--because then1 he said1 he was certain that she would not have been called--but 8that she had been instructed in the various symptoms by the repeated private examinations to which she had been subjected10 dwelling on the omission from her evidence before the coroner that she had been so violently sick after tasting the broth1 and on the other discrepancies in1 and omissions from1 her description of the symptoms when there1 and when in court4 8,upon all occasions10 said the learned counsel1 8,i am most reluctant to attack a witness who is examined on his or her oath1 and particularly if he be in a humble position of life4 ,i am very reluctant to impute perjury to such a person2 and ,i think that a man who has been as long in the profession as ,i have been must be put a little to his wits' end when he rushes upon the assumption that a person whose statements have1 after a considerable lapse of time1 materially varied1 is1 therefore1 necessarily1 deliberately perjured4 ,the truth is1 we know perfectly well1 that if a considerable interval of time occurs between the first story and the second1 and if the intelligent and respectable persons who are anxious to investigate the truth1 but who have still a strong moral conviction--upon imperfect information--of the guilt of the accused person1 will talk to witnesses and say1 #8,was there anything of this kind8' or1 #8,anything of that kind8' the witnesses at last catch hold of the phrase or term which has so often been used to them1 and having in that way adopted it1 they fancy they may tell it in court40 ,he also attacked the conduct of ,mr4 ,stevens1 the stepfather1 for1 as he said1 8goading and irritating ,palmer into incautious expressions1 by insinuating that he had stolen a trumpery betting-book that could not be of use to anyone20 and attributed ,palmer's anxiety to nominate a local solicitor to manage affairs to the nature of the pecuniary transactions1 so much relying on honour1 making them far more easy of adjustment by a friendly than by a hostile agent4 ,as for ,myatt1 the postboy's1 story of the bribe for upsetting the fly1 he attributed that to a personal feeling against the 8meddlesome old gentleman10 as he called ,stevens1 and not to any idea of destroying the probable proofs of his delinquency4 ,his marked attention to ,cook during his illness he attributed to the interest he necessarily felt in his life1 and the sending of broth and other things from his own house to the wish to save expense at a time when neither of them were too well off4 8,would he10 said ,serjeant ,shee1 8dream of sending poisoned broth to an inn1 where it was sure to be tasted by the cook80 ,in addition to the scientific witnesses which he would call to rebut those of the prosecution's1 he would prove that ,cook1 previously to the ,shrewsbury meeting1 was suffering severely from a syphilitic state of throat1 and applying to ,palmer for remedies for it--that ,palmer could not have been in ,rugeley at the time at which ,newton swore that he sold the strychnia to him1 and that the incident at the 8,raven10 at ,shrewsbury1 of the brandy-and-water was a fiction4 ,to what this evidence of previous illness amounted1 and how the two witnesses who were to negative ,newton and disprove the scene at the 8,raven0 fared when put in the box1 will be seen in the report of their examination4#fg ,great stress was of course laid on ,palmer's not only calling in ,dr4 ,bamford1 but sending for ,mr4 ,jones1 ,cook's firmest friend1 to witness what proved his last day of life1 and on the improbability of ,palmer tampering with the medicines under such professional supervision4 8,is it conceivable that if ,palmer meant to slay ,cook with poison in the dead of night1 he would previously have insured the presence in his victim's chamber of a medical witness1 who would know from his frightful symptoms that the man was not dying a natural death8 ,he brings a medical man into his room1 and makes him lie within a few inches of the sick man's bed1 that he may be startled with his terriffic shrieks1 and gaze on those agonizing convulsions which indicate the fatal potency of the poison4 ,can you believe it8 ,he might have dispatched him by means that defy detection1 for ,cook was taking morphia medicinally1 and a grain or two more would have silently thrown him into an eternal sleep2#fh but instead of this he sends to ,lutterworth for ,jones4 ,you have been told that this was done to cover appearances4 ,done to cover appearances6 ,no1 no1 no6 ,you cannot believe it4 ,it is not in human nature4 ,it cannot be true4 ,you cannot find him guilty4 ,you dare not find him guilty on the supposition of its truth4 ,the country will not stand by you if you believe it to be true4 ,you will be impeached before the whole world if you say that it is true4 ,i believe in my conscience it is false1 because1 consistently with the laws that govern human nature1 it cannot be true40 8,the incident of his being found searching the clothes and under the pillow10 said counsel1 8ought not to be looked upon as suspicious1 as ,mills1 who came into the room at the time1 thought no suspicion of it1 and there was nothing but the evidence of a kind and considerate character in his having ordered the shell and the coffin2 nor was it possible to torture into a presumption of guilt the few words of irritation which may have fallen from him in the course of a conversation in which ,mr4 ,stevens treated him with scorn1 not to say with insolence40 ,and then1 alluding to the entry as to the effects of strychnia in one of his medical books1 the learned ,serjeant turned it most adroitly to his own purpose1 as the basis of a peroration so telling in its language and perfect in its construction that it must be preserved intact4 8,the ,crown had1 no doubt1 originally intended to rely upon the prisoner's medical books as affording damning proof of his guilt2 but ,i will refer to those volumes for evidences that will speak eloquently in his favour4 ,in youth and early manhood there is no such protection for a man as the society of an innocent and virtuous woman to whom he is sincerely attached4 ,if you find a young man devoted to such a woman1 loving her dearly1 and marrying her for the love he bears her1 you may depend upon it that he is a man of humane and gentle nature1 little prone to deeds of violence4 ,to such a woman was ,palmer attached in his youth1 and ,i will bring you proof positive to show that the volumes cited against him were the books he used when a student1 and that the manuscript passages are in the handwriting of his wife4 ,his was a marriage of the heart4 ,he loved that young and virtuous woman with a pure and generous affection2 he loved her as he now loves her first-born1 who awaits with trembling anxiety the verdict that will restore him to the arms of his father1 or drive that father to an ignominious death upon the scaffold40 ,the prisoner here covered his face with his hands and shed tears4 8,here in this book ,i have conclusive evidence of the kind of man that ,palmer was seven years ago4 ,i find in its pages the copy of a letter addressed by him while still a student to the woman whom he afterwards made his wife4 ,it is as follows3-- 8#8,,my ,,dearest ,,annie1--,i snatch a moment from my studies to your dear1 dear little self4 ,i need scarcely say that the principal inducement ,i have to work is the desire of getting my studies finished1 so as to be able to press your dear little form in my arms4 ,with best1 best love1 believe me1 dearest ,annie1 #8,your own ,,william4' 8,now this is not the sort of letter that is generally read in courts of justice4 ,it was no part of my instructions to read that letter1 but the book was put in to prove that this man is a wicked1 heartless1 savage desperado2 and ,i show you what he was seven years ago--that he was a man who loved a young woman for her own sake--loved her with a pure and virtuous affection--such an affection as would1 in almost all natures1 be a certain antidote against guilt4 ,such is the man whom it has been my duty to defend upon this occasion1 and upon the evidence that is before you ,i cannot believe him to be guilty4 ,don't suppose1 gentlemen1 that he is unsupported in this dreadful trial by his family and his friends4 ,an aged mother1 who may have disapproved of some part of his conduct1 awaits with trembling anxiety your verdict2 a dear sister can scarcely support herself under the suspense which now presses upon her2 a brave and gallant brother stands by him to defend him1 and spares neither time nor trouble to save him from an awful doom4 ,i call upon you1 gentlemen1 to raise your minds to a capacity to estimate the high duty which you have to perform4 ,you have to stem the torrent of prejudice2 you have to vindicate the honour and character of your country2 you have1 with firmness and courage1 to do your duty1 and to find a verdict for the ,crown if you believe that guilt is proved2 but1 if you have a doubt upon that point1 depend upon it that the time will come when the innocence of that man will be made apparent1 and when you will deeply regret any want of due and calm consideration of the case which it has been my duty to lay before you40 ,,the ,,reply4 ,the greater part of the tenth day was occupied with the reply of the ,attorney-,general1 dealing in the first part with the medico-scientific evidence brought forward for the defence1 and contrasting it with that on the part of the prosecution1 and in the latter part pressing home with all his force of criticism and power of language the suspicious acts of the prisoner before and after the death of ,cook4 ,between idiopathic and traumatic tetanus he drew the distinction1 8supported10 as he said1 8by the evidence of men who had seen1 not here and there a stray case1 but numerous instances of that disease1 that the former was a disease of days1 and even weeks1 and not of hours or minutes40 ,he pointed out that such were really the symptoms in the cases adduced for the defence1 and ridiculed the notion that the old ulcers of the spring of the year1 with which ,dr4 ,savage had dealt successfully1 could be assigned as the causes of this form of disease in ,cook's case1 and then criticised seriatim the other forms of convulsive disease to which the witnesses for the defence attributed it4 ,after referring to the statements of ,dr4 ,savage and ,mr4 ,stevens as to the state of ,cook's health prior to his departure for ,shrewsbury races1 he thus dealt with the evidences of his state of health offered by the prisoner's witnesses3-- 8,it is said that at some former time he had exhibited his throat to some of the witnesses that were called1 and had applied to ,palmer for mercurial wash to apply to it1 or to some of the ulcers4 ,the precise period is not fixed1 but it is perfectly clear that1 though at one time he had adopted that course1 under the recommendation of ,dr4 ,savage he had got rid of it1 and there is not the slightest pretence for saying that this man was suffering under a syphilitic affection of any kind2 that fact was negatived distinctly and unequivocally by a man of the highest authority1 a medical gentleman of eminence1 under whose treatment the man got so rapidly well4 ,it is a pretence1 gentlemen1 which has not the shadow of a foundation1 and which ,i should be shrinking from my duty if ,i did not denounce as altogether unworthy of your consideration4 ,there was nothing about the man1 according to the statement of those who were competent to give you an opinion1 which would warrant1 for a single moment1 the supposition that there was anything in any part of his body which could justify the notion of traumatic tetanus4 ,even if there were1 the character which his symptoms assumed when the tetanus set in1 is utterly incompatible1 according to the evidence of all the witnesses1 with a case of traumatic tetanus40 ,then1 after pointing out how the two cases of this disease put forward by the defence were cases of days and hours1 and1 not like ,cook's1 of minutes1 he proceeded to deal with the suggestion of idiopathic tetanus4 8,idiopathic tetanus8 ,proceeding from what8 ,they say that ,mr4 ,cook was a man of a delicate constitution1 subject to excitement2 that he had something the matter with his chest2 that1 in addition1 he had this diseased condition of his throat1 and1 putting all these things together1 they say1 that if he took cold1 he might get #8idiopathic tetanus4' ,we are launched into a sea of speculation and impossibilities4 ,mr4 ,nunneley1 who came forward for the purpose of inducing you to believe this1 goes through a bead-roll of the supposed infirmities of ,mr4 ,cook2 talks about his exciteability1 about his delicacy of chest1 about the affection of his throat1 goes through these various heads1 and says that these things may have predisposed him to #8idiopathic tetanus1' if he took cold4 ,what evidence is there that he ever did take cold8 ,not the slightest in the world4 ,from beginning to end he was never treated for cold by anybody1 and never complained of it to anyone4 ,i cannot help saying that to me it seems a scandal upon a learned1 distinguished1 and liberal profession1 that men should put forward such speculations as these1 perverting facts1 and drawing from them sophistical and unwarrantable conclusions with the view of deceiving a jury4 ,i have the greatest respect for science1 no man can have more2 but ,i cannot repress my indignation and abhorrence when ,i see it thus perverted and prostituted to the purposes of a particular cause in a court of justice4 ,do not talk to me about excitement1 as ,mr4 ,nunneley did the other day1 being the cause of idiopathic tetanus4 ,you remember the sort of excitement he spoke of1 they are unworthy of your notice1 and they were topics discreditable to be put forward by a witness as worthy of the attention of sensible men constituting such a tribunal as you are40 ,again1 on ,mr4 ,nunneley's suggestion that it might be a case of general convulsions accompanied by tetanic symptoms1 said the ,attorney-,general4-- 8,well1 but pause a moment1 ,mr4 ,nunneley2 have you ever seen one single case in which death arising from general convulsions1 accompanied by tetanic symptoms1 has not ended in the unconsciousness of the patient before death8 #8,no1 ,i never knew such a case--not one4 ,but in some book or other ,i am told that there is such a case reported2' and he cites one1 not for that purpose1 ,i think1 but with reference1 to general convulsions being sometimes accompanied by tetanic symptoms and ending in death1 from a very eminent author of the present day1 ,dr4 ,copland4 ,dr4 ,copland is living and ,dr4 ,copland might have been called--was not called1 notwithstanding the challenge which ,i threw out4 ,why8 ,because it is infinitely better in such a case to call together from the east and west practitioners of more or less obscurity1 instead of bringing to bear upon the subject the light of science which is treasured in the breasts of the eminent practitioners with which this city abounds40 ,again1 on ,mr4 ,partridge's evidence of the probable effect of the granules on the spinal marrow1 8,i called his attention10 he said1 8to what had evidently not been done before1 namely1 the symptoms of ,mr4 ,cook's case1 and asked him in simple1 straightforward terms whether1 looking at these1 he would pledge his opinion1 in the face of the medical world and the ,court1 that this was a case of arachnitis1 and he candidly admitted that he would not assert it40 ,against ,dr4 ,macdonald's epileptic convulsions with tetanic complications1 he cited the following from that gentleman's cross-examination3-- 8,did you ever know a case of epilepsy1 with or without tetanic complications1 in which consciousness was not destroyed before the patient died8 ,he said #8,no1 ,i cannot say ,i ever did1 but ,i have read in some book that such a case occurred4' ,is there anything to make you think this was epilepsy8 #8,well1 it may have been epilepsy1 because ,i do not know what else to ascribe it to1 but ,i must admit that epilepsy is characterised generally by unconsciousness4' ,well1 then1 what difference would tetanic complications make8 ,that he is unable to explain40 ,with the final suggestion of ,angina pectoris1 he could not deal so minutely as with the four preceding ones4 8,the gentleman10 he said1 8who was called at the last moment would not have escaped quite so easily if ,i had had the books to which he referred under my hand1 and been able to expose1 as ,i would have done1 the ignorance or presumption of the assertion he dared to make4 ,i say ignorance or presumption2 or1 what is worse1 an intention to deceive4 ,i assert it in the face of the whole medical profession1 and ,i am satisfied ,i shall have a verdict in my favour40 ,he then concluded this part of his speech by calling attention to the fact1 that three of the witnesses for the prisoner1 ,mr4 ,partridge1 ,dr4 ,robinson1 and even ,dr4 ,letheby1 strongly as he was biased for the defence1 agreed with ,sir ,b4 ,brodie and the other medical witnesses for the ,crown1 that1 8in the whole of their experience1 learning1 and information1 they knew of no known disease to which the symptoms of ,mr4 ,cook could possibly be referred--a fact the importance of which it was impossible to exaggerate40 ,assuming1 then1 that all were agreed1 that from the time that the final paroxysm set in1 the symptoms were similar to those of strychnia tetanus1 he dealt with the point which the defence had raised--which he admitted deserved their most attentive consideration--that there were points of difference1 which had led some of the witnesses to the conclusion that they could not have resulted from that cause4 8,let us see10 he said1 8what they are4 ,in the first place1 they showed that the period which elapsed between the supposed administration of the poison1 and the first symptoms1 was longer than they have ever observed in animals upon which they have experimented4 ,the first observation which arises is this3 that there is a known difference between animal and human life1 in the power with which certain specific things act upon their organization4 ,it may well be that poison administered to a rabbit will produce its effect in a given time4 ,it by no means follows that it will produce the same effect in the same time on an animal of a different description4 ,still less does it follow that it will exercise its baneful influence in the same time on a human subject4 ,the whole of the evidence on both sides leads to establish this fact1 that not only in individuals of different species1 but in individuals of the same species1 the same poison and the same influence will produce effects different in degree1 different in duration1 different in power4 ,but again1 it is perfectly notorious that the rapidity with which the poison begins to work depends mainly upon the mode of its administration4 ,if it is administered in a fluid state it acts with great rapidity4 ,if it is given in a solid state its effects come on more slowly4 ,if it is given in an indurated substance it will act with still greater tardiness4 ,then what was the period at which this poison began to act after its administration1 assuming it to have been poison8 ,it seems1 from ,mr4 ,jones's statement1 that ,palmer came to administer the pills somewhere about #aa o'clock1 but they were not administered on his first arrival1 for the patient1 as if with an intuitive sense of the death that awaited him1 strongly resisted the attempts to make him take them2 and no doubt these remonstrances1 and the endeavours to overcome them1 occupied some period of time4 ,the pills were at last given4 ,assuming--which ,i only do for the sake of argument--that the pills contained strychnia1 how soon did they begin to operate8 ,mr4 ,jones says he went down to his supper1 and came back again about #ab o'clock4 ,upon his return to the room1 after a word or two of conversation with ,cook1 he proceeded to undress and go to bed1 and had not been in bed ten minutes before a warning came that another of the paroxysms was about to take place4 ,the maidservant puts it still earlier1 and it appears that as early as ten minutes before twelve the first alarm was given1 which would make the interval little more than three-quarters of an hour4 ,when these witnesses tell us that it would take an hour and a half1 or two hours1 we see here another of those exaggerated determinations to see the facts only in the way that will be most favourable to the prisoner4 ,i find in some of the experiments that have been made that the duration of time1 before the poison begins to work1 has been little1 if anything1 less than an hour4 ,in the case of a girl at ,glasgow it was stated that it was three-quarters of an hour before the pills began to work4 ,there may have been some reason for the pills not taking effect within a certain period after their administration4 ,it would be easy to mix them up with substances difficult of solution1 or which might retard their action4 ,i cannot bring myself to believe that if in all other respects you are perfectly satisfied that the symptoms1 the consequences1 the effects1 were analogous1 and similar in all respects to those produced by strychnia1 you will conclude that in this case strychnia was not administered1 and found your conclusion on the simple fact that a quarter of an hour more than usual may have elapsed before the pills operated4 ,but they say the premonitory symptoms were wanting4 ,they assert that in the case of animals the animal at first manifests some uneasiness1 shrinks1 and draws itself into itself1 as it were1 and avoids moving2 that certain involuntary twitchings about the head come on1 and that there were no such premonitory symptoms in ,cook's case4 ,i utterly deny the proposition4 ,i say there were premonitory symptoms of the most marked character4 ,he is lying in his bed2 he suddenly starts up in an agony of alarm4 ,what made him do that8 ,was there nothing premonitory there--nothing that warned him the paroxysm was coming on8 ,he jumps up1 says1 #8,go and fetch ,palmer--fetch me help6 ,i am going to be ill as ,i was last night6' ,what was that but a knowledge that the symptoms of the previous night were returning1 and a warning of what he might expect unless some relief were obtained8 ,he sits up and prays to have his neck rubbed4 ,what was the feeling about his neck but a premonitory symptom1 which was to precede the paroxysms that were to supervene8 ,he begs to have his neck rubbed1 and that gives him some comfort4 ,but here they say this could not have been tetanus from strychnia1 because animals cannot bear to be touched1 for a touch brings on a paroxysm--not only a touch1 but a breath of air1 a sound1 a word1 a movement of any one near will bring on a return of the paroxysm4 ,now1 in three cases of death from strychnia we have shown that the patient has endured rubbing of the limbs1 and received satisfaction from that rubbing4 ,in ,mrs4 ,smyth's case1 when her legs were distorted1 she prayed and entreated that she might have them straightened4 ,the lady at ,leeds1 in the case which ,dr4 ,nunneley himself attended1 implored her husband between the spasms to rub her legs and arms in order to overcome the rigidity4 ,that case was within his own knowledge1 and yet in spite of it1 although he detected strychnia in the body of the unhappy woman1 he dares to say that ,cook's having tolerated the rubbing between the paroxysms is a proof that he had not taken strychnia4 ,then there is the case of ,clutterbuck4 ,he had taken an overdose of strychnia1 and suffered from the reappearance of tetanus1 and his only comfort was to have his legs rubbed4 ,therefore1 ,i say that the continued endeavour to persuade a jury that the fact of ,cook's having had his neck rubbed proves that this is not tetanus by strychnia1 shows nothing but the dishonesty and insincerity of the witnesses who have so dared to pervert the facts4 ,but they go further1 and contend that ,cook was able to swallow4 ,so he was before the paroxysms came on4 ,but nobody has ever pretended that he could swallow afterwards4 ,he swallowed the pills1 and what is very curious1 and illustrates part of the theory1 is this1 that it was the act of swallowing the pills1 a sort of movement in raising his head1 which brought on the paroxysm of which he died40 ,having thus called attention to the fact1 that against the three cases of undoubted poisoning by strychnia 7those of ,mrs4 ,smyth1 ,mrs4 ,dove1 and ,mr4 ,clutterbuck71 the sufferers in which begged to be rubbed1 all that could be set up was1 that animals when thus poisoned could not bear to be touched1 the ,attorney-,general dealt with the fact of the rigidity of ,cook's body after death1 on which ,mr4 ,nunneley relied as a proof that it could not be a case of strychnia poisoning4 ,he cited the evidence of ,mr4 ,herapath1 the very next analyst called by the defence1 that in two of his experiments on animals 8the bodies had been indurated and contorted10 as well that of ,dr4 ,taylor that one of the animals in his experiments was so rigid after death that it could be held out in an horizontal position in the air as though it were on its four legs on a plane surface4 8,what10 he said1 8are you to think of the honesty of this sort of evidence8 8,again1 on the question of the fulness or emptiness of the heart1 he thus accounted for the variation of the symptoms3-- 8,it is obvious to any one who reflects for a single moment that the question whether the heart shall be found compressed1 or the lungs congested must depend upon the immediate cause of death1 and we know that in cases of tetanus death may result from more than one cause4 ,all the muscles of the body are subject to the exciting action of this powerful poison1 but no one can tell in what order those muscles will be affected1 or where the poisonous influence will put forth the fulness of its power4 ,if it acts on the respiratory muscles1 and arrests the play of the lungs1 and with it the breathing of the atmospheric air1 the result will be that the heart will be left full4 ,but if some spasm seizes on the heart1 contracting it and expelling from it the blood that it contains1 and so produces death1 the result will be that the heart will be found empty4 ,so that you never have perfect certainty as to how these symptoms will manifest themselves after death2 but that is again put forward as if the fact of the heart being empty is a conclusive fact of the death not having taken place from strychnia4 ,yet those men who come here as witnesses under the sanction of scientific authority1 must have heard both these cases spoken to by medical gentlemen who had examined those two unfortunate patients after death1 and who told us that in both cases they found the heart empty4 ,that gets rid of that matter4 ,as death takes place from one or other of these causes1 so will be the appearance of the heart1 the brain1 and the body after death4 ,there is nothing in this for a single moment to negative the conclusion which you would otherwise arrive at from the other symptoms40 ,for the difficulty which he admitted arose from the non-discovery of strychnia by the analyst1 he assigned another reason besides that of the condition of the stomach and other parts from the negligence imputed to those who had conducted the post mortem examination--namely1 the probable smallness of the fatal dose4 ,in all the cases of experiments on animals in which the poison had been detected1 the doses had been one or even two grains1 yet half a grain would prove fatal2 and where so little as that had been given in experiments1 ,dr4 ,taylor and ,dr4 ,rees had failed to detect it4 ,on the partisanship of ,mr4 ,herapath1 sitting by the side of the prisoner's counsel1 prompting questions1 and on his assertion that he believed that ,cook had been killed by strychnia and that ,taylor could and ought to have detected it1 his remarks were those rather of a ,french ,public ,prosecutor than an ,attorney-,general4 8,i do not say that alters the fact2 but ,i do say that it induces one to look at the credit of those witnesses with a very great amount of suspicion4 ,i reverence a man who1 from a sense of justice and a love of truth--from those high considerations which form the noblest character of man--comes forward in favour of a man against whom the world may turn in a torrent of prejudice and aversion1 and who stands and states what he believes to be the truth4 ,but ,i abhor the traffic in testimony to which1 ,i regret to say1 men of science sometimes permit themselves to condescend40 ,whether ,newton was believed or not--and he showed how his statement was confirmed by ,roberts's account of ,palmer's conduct at the time of the second purchase of poison1 he urged that of the latter fact there could be no doubt1 and asked what was done with that strychnia4 ,that ,palmer obtained this strychnia was not controverted1 and what he did with it was not attempted to be satisfactorily accounted for4 8,purchased for whom8 for what8 ,if for a patient why is he not produced8 ,if for any other purpose1 let us at least have it explained4 ,has there been a shadow of an explanation8 ,alas1 ,i grieve to say1 none at all4 ,something was said1 in the outset of the case1 about dogs that had been troublesome in the paddocks1 but that was in ,september4 ,if there was any recurrence of this1 why are not the grooms here to prove this8 ,some one must have assisted ,palmer to destroy these dogs4 ,where are those persons8 ,why are they not called8 ,not only are they not called1 they are not even named4 ,my learned friend does not venture to breathe even a suggestion40#fi ,as for the witness called to disprove the incident of the brandy and water at ,shrewsbury1 his solitary evidence1 that of one of the prisoner's associates1 he urged1 would not stand for a moment against those of the witnesses who had spoken for the prosecution4 ,as for the attempt to prove that ,palmer could not have been in ,rugeley at the time when ,newton swore that he purchased the strychnia1 ,mr4 ,jeremiah ,smith's antecedents1 the disgraceful part he had played in the insurance transactions1 let alone his exhibition in the witness-box1 he added1 deprived his evidence of credit4 ,again1 antimony was undoubtedly discovered in the body1 and yet no one is known to have given it to ,cook1 unless ,palmer did so in the broth1 the toast and water1 and the coffee that he pressed him to take1 and provided for him4 ,on the question of motive so anxiously laboured by the defence1 it was enough simply to repeat1 the amounts of the debts pressing on ,palmer1 and to bear in mind how drowning men will catch at a straw4 ,cook's bets1 which ,palmer had collected1 staved off immediate pressure2 and had not ,mr4 ,stevens1 whose conduct as ,cook's relative the ,attorney-,general earnestly defended1 insisted on the post-mortem1 and thus brought about the inquest and this inquiry1 it was possible that the insurance office might have paid the policy on ,walter's life1 and the forged bills been thus redeemed in time to save exposure4 ,cook also was valueless to help ,palmer to keep these bills alive2 even ,pratt1 the #fj per cent4 money-lender1 would not discount his acceptance for #ejj without the security of a bill of sale on his horses4 ,better acquainted with turf doings than his opponent1 the ,attorney-,general smiled at the idea1 that because a man was another's confederate on the turf therefore he made himself responsible for his debts1 or that ,cook1 with all his friendship for ,palmer1 would beggar himself for his sake4 8,joint engagement they had but one1 the #ejj bill secured on ,sirius and ,polestar1 and it was to meet this1 and free his horses1 that ,cook gave #cjj out of his receipts at ,shrewsbury to ,palmer to send up to ,pratt1 and wrote to ,fisher to advance the other #bjj4 ,no #cjj was sent up1 and the #bjj1 with the bets collected by ,herring1 went not to free this bill1 but to stop ,pratt's action on the forged bill of #bjjj of ,palmer's4 ,it was no doubt true that after a man's death1 his bets were irrecoverable and his betting-book useless4 ,it was1 however1 useful to enable ,palmer to give a list of bets to ,herring to collect1 the proceeds of which were turned to his own use1 and the previous collection of which ,palmer withheld from ,stevens4 ,in the same way would have gone the cheque for #cej for the stakes--whether a forgery or not--but for the accident of their not having paid over in time4 ,had ,cook lived1 the closely approaching claim on his #ejj acceptance1 which he believed to have been settled1 would have revealed the whole transaction40 ,again1 the ,attorney-,general pressed for the production of the #cej cheque filled up by ,cheshire4 8,why should ,cheshire be asked to fill it up8 ,just about this time ,palmer was to meet ,dr4 ,bamford and ,jones in consultation--why not ask ,mr4 ,jones1 the trusted friend of ,cook1 tell him the same story as he did ,cheshire1 and not send for the latter8 ,from the day that this cheque was drawn till he was arrested on the bill1 ,palmer had undisturbed possession of his own papers--from the day of his arrest till his trial the papers had been in safe custody4 ,why1 then1 is it not produced8 ,can you help drawing the inference that the transaction will not bear the light8 ,look1 again1 at the claim of #cjjj or #djjj of bills on ,cook's estate1 the document ,cheshire refused to witness1 which is also not produced--the letter to ,pratt that he must have ,polestar1 and the instructions not to give any information on ,cook's affairs4 ,can you doubt that they were all part of one fraudulent and flagitious design1 for the full completion of which the death of ,cook was a necessary thing80 ,palmer's conduct at the post-mortem1 the tampering with the cover of the jar--by whom8--his anxiety to upset ,mr4 ,stevens when in charge of it1 because1 it had been urged1 of 8his prying meddlesome curiosity20 his presents and letters to the coroner2 his prompting ,cheshire to tamper with the letter from ,dr4 ,taylor2 his anxiety to know1 and to let the coroner know1 that strychnia had not been found2 his suggestion to call ,smith 7what a witness ,jeremiah would have made672 his assertions of previous epileptic fits1 and his hope 8that the verdict to-morrow would be that he died of natural causes1 and thus end it10 were all dwelt upon3 8little things1 if taken individually1 but taken as a whole10 said the ,attorney-,general1 8as ,i submit to you1 leading irresistibly to the conclusion of the guilt of this man40 ,in concluding this masterly speech1 though in some parts too like fighting for a verdict1 the ,attorney-,general criticised the assertion by ,serjeant ,shee of his belief of the prisoner's innocence3-- 8,you have1 indeed1 had introduced into this case one other element1 which ,i own1 ,i think1 had better have been omitted4 ,you have had from my learned friend the unusual1 ,i think ,i may say the unprecedented1 assurance of his conviction of the innocence of his client4 ,i can only say upon that point that ,i think it would have been better if my learned friend had abstained from giving such an assurance4 ,what would he think of me if1 imitating his example1 ,i should at this moment declare to you1 on my honour1 as he did1 what is the intimate conviction which has followed from my own conscientious consideration of this case8 ,my learned friend also1 in his address1 of which all admired the power and ability1 adopting a course which is sometimes resorted to by advocates1 but which1 in my mind1 involves more or less a species of insult to the good sense or good feeling of the jury--endeavoured to intimidate you1 by an appeal to your consciences1 from discharging firmly and honestly the great and solemn duty which you are called upon to perform4 ,my learned friend told you that1 if your verdict in this case should be #8guilty1' the innocence of the prisoner would one day be made manifest1 and that you would never cease to regret the verdict which you had given4 ,if my learned friend were sincere in that--and ,i know that he was1 for there is no man in whom the spirit of truth and honour is more keenly alive--if he said what he believed1 ,i can only answer that it shows how1 when a man enters upon the consideration of a case with a strong bias on his mind1 he is liable to err4 ,i think then that my learned friend had better have abstained from making any assurance which involved his conviction of the prisoner's innocence4 ,i think1 further--in justice and consideration to you--that he should have abstained from representing to you that the voice of the country would not sanction the verdict which you might give4 ,i say nothing of the inconsistency which is involved in such a statement1 coming from one who but a short hour before had complained in eloquent terms of the universal torrent of passion and of prejudice by which he said that his client would be borne down2 but in answer to my learned friend ,i say this to you3--,pay no regard to the voice of the country1 whether it be for condemnation or for acquittal2 pay no regard to anything but to the internal voice of your own consciences1 and to that sense of duty which you owe to ,god and man upon this occasion1 seeking no reward except the comforting assurance that when you look back to the proceedings of this day you will feel that you have discharged to the utmost of your ability and to the best of your power the duty which it was yours to perform4 ,if on a review of this whole case1 comparing the evidence on one side and on the other1 and weighing it in the even scales of justice1 you can come to the conclusion of innocence1 or can even entertain that fair and reasonable amount of doubt of which the accused is entitled to the benefit1 in ,god's name acquit him2 but if1 on the other hand1 all the facts and all the evidence lead your minds1 with satisfaction to yourselves1 to the conclusion of his guilt1 then--but then only--,i ask for a verdict of #8guilty' at your hands4 ,for the protection of the good1 for the repression of the wicked1 ,i ask for that verdict by which alone--as it seems to me--the safety of society can be secured1 and the demands1 the imperious demands of public justice1 can be satisfied40 ,,the ,,judge',s ,,charge4 ,as the learned ,judge's charge occupied the whole of the eleventh and until half-past four on the twelfth day1 and was necessarily protracted by his reading in detail nearly all the voluminous evidence to the jury1 it would be impossible to give it in full4 ,i shall1 therefore1 limit this report to such of his observations1 as have not already been given in the notes to the evidence of the various witnesses to whom they applied4 ,contrasting the practice in foreign countries of raising the probability of guilt1 from the fact of the previous commission by a prisoner of other crimes against other persons1 and even of a totally different character to that with which he then stands charged1 ,lord ,campbell warned the jury that they must deal with him now as if he were an entirely innocent man1 and confine their attention solely to the evidence bearing on the crime itself4 ,he warned them also that the expression of his counsel's opinion1 that the prisoner was innocent1 meant no more than the plea of 8,not ,guilty10 and that the most inconvenient consequences would follow from regarding it in any other light4 ,neither was it necessary1 as a point of law1 that the poison by which it was charged that the murder was effected1 should be found in the body1 or seen to be administered4 ,they must look to the medical evidence to see whether the death was from that poison1 or from natural causes1 and to the moral evidence1 whether that showed that the prisoner not only had the opportunity1 but that he actually availed himself of that opportunity1 and administered the poison4 ,he then proceeded to read over the evidence1 commencing with that showing the indebtedness of ,palmer to ,pratt1 in which ,cook had no liability1 and then taking up the joint liability of ,palmer and ,cook to the same person in connection with the loan secured on ,cook's horses4 ,with reference to the former transactions he called attention to ,palmer's letter to ,pratt1 8not to let ,cook's friends know what money ,cook had ever had from him10 remarking1 8that it was written at a time when the stepfather was making inquiries of a nature certainly very disagreeable to ,palmer40 ,on the latter correspondence he called attention to the cheque for #cge1 sent by ,pratt for ,cook1 on which ,palmer wrote the endorsement1 and admitted 8that it was very properly argued for the defence1 that it was possible that ,cook had authorised some one else to write it20 but coupled with it the circumstance that on the #acth of ,november ,palmer was in a state of embarrassment1 and that on the #bjth he could pay ,armshaw two #ej notes1 and that on the #bbnd he could pay a further #ej4 ,after next reading the evidence of ,wright1 the attorney of ,birmingham1 to show how heavily ,palmer was indebted to his brother1 besides to ,pratt1 and alluding to the bill of sale of all his property1 he laid great stress on the non-production of the cheque on ,weatherby for #cej1 the production of which would have settled the question whether or not it was forged with the intention of appropriating it to his own use4 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee here interposing with the remark that ,weatherby thought the signature genuine1 ,lord ,campbell replied3-- 8,mr4 ,weatherby said the body of the cheque was not in ,cook's handwriting1 and he had paid no attention to the signature4 ,you1 gentlemen1 must consider the evidence with regard to this part of the case4 ,the cheque is not produced1 though it was sent back by ,weatherby to ,palmer4 ,it is not produced0 here the judge read the evidence of the search for papers at ,palmer's4 8,it might have been expected that the cheque so returned to ,palmer1 who professed to set store upon it1 and to have given value for it1 would have been found1 but it is not forthcoming4 ,it is for you to draw whatever inference may suggest itself to you from this circumstance40 ,the judge then alluded to the fact of ,palmer remaining in the neighbourhood after suspicion had been excited against him1 as of importance1 and worthy of being taken into consideration1 though1 as he added1 8he might have done so1 perhaps1 thinking that from the care he had taken nothing would be discovered against him10 and that neither the bills nor the document by which ,cook was said to have admitted his liability on them were produced1 and closed this portion of the evidence4 ,on the incident of the brandy-and-water at ,shrewsbury1 the learned judge remarked1 8,what a mysterious circumstance it was1 that ,cook1 after he had stated his suspicions1 still retained his confidence in ,palmer--was still constantly in his company--during the few remaining days of his life1 still sent for him whenever in distress2 and1 in fact1 seemed to a great extent to be under his influence40 ,in a subsequent part of his charge1 when dealing with the evidence for the defence1 he contrasted the evidence of ,myatt in contradiction to that of ,brooks and ,fisher1 and left the jury to draw their own conclusion which they would believe4 ,cook's letter to ,fisher to pay ,pratt the #bjj was also here read and commented on1 and the jury left to infer why he did not go to ,london as he proposed1 and why he put the collection of his bets in ,herring's hands instead of ,fisher's--8if he did so40 ,coming now to the illness at ,rugeley1 he said1 8he was bound to declare that not one fact had been adduced to prove that ,mills had been bribed1 or that ,mr4 ,stevens had read over the newspaper to her1 to influence her evidence in a particular direction3 it was a gratuitous assertion1 unsupported by evidence1 and distinctly denied40 ,whether the difference of ,palmer's dress when he ran over1 as described by ,mills or ,barnes1 was of sufficient importance1 was a question for the jury1 and also whether ,mills's deposition before the coroner1 and her evidence in ,court 7the deposition was read7 was not substantially the same4 ,on the letter from ,palmer calling in ,jones1 cited by the defence as a proof of innocence1 he said3-- 8,it is important1 however1 to consider at what period of ,cook's illness ,jones was sent for1 and in what condition he was when ,jones arrived4 ,palmer's assertion in the letter was1 that ,cook had been suffering from diarrha1 and of this statement we have not the slightest confirmation in the evidence4 ,when ,jones1 looking at ,cook's tongue1 observed it was not the tongue of a bilious attack1 ,palmer's reply was1 #8,you should have seen it before4' ,what reason could ,palmer have for using these words1 when there is not the slightest evidence of ,cook having suffered from such an illness80 ,then1 having had ,jones's deposition before the coroner read1 he added1 8,it is for you to say whether in your opinion this deposition at all varies from his evidence given here3 ,i confess that ,i see no variation1 and no reason to suppose that his evidence is not the evidence of sincerity and truth40 ,after observing that the evidence of ,dr4 ,savage showed that previous to his departure for ,shrewsbury ,cook was in better health than he had been for a long time1 the learned judge read the evidence of ,newton1 and his deposition before the coroner4 ,remarking on his omitting to mention the first purchase of strychnia until the ,tuesday morning1 when coming to ,london1 he said3-- 8,you will observe that though there has been an omission1 there is no contradiction4 ,you are then to consider what is the probability of his inventing this wicked lie--a most important lie1 if lie it be4 ,he had no ill will towards the prisoner at the bar1 he had never quarrelled with him1 and had nothing to get by injuring him4 ,i cannot see any motive for his inventing a lie to take away the life of the prisoner4 ,no inducement was held out to him by the ,crown4 ,he says himself that no inducement was held out to him1 and that at last he disclosed this circumstance from a sense of duty4 ,if you believe his evidence1 it is very strong against the prisoner40 ,and then1 reading the evidence of ,roberts and remarking that he was not cross-examined or in any way contradicted1 he added--8,if you couple that with the statement of ,newton--believing that statement--you have evidence of strychnia having been procured by the prisoner on the ,monday night before the symptoms of strychnia were exhibited by ,cook2 and by the evidence of ,roberts1 undenied and unquestioned1 that on ,tuesday six grains of strychnia were supplied to him4 ,supposing you should come to the conclusion that the symptoms of ,cook were consistent with strychnia1 then a case is made out for the ,crown4 ,the learned counsel did not favour us with the theory he had formed in his own mind with respect to that strychnia4 ,there is no evidence--there is no suggestion--how it was applied2 what became of it4#gj ,that must not influence your verdict1 unless you come to the conclusion that ,cook's symptoms were consistent with death by strychnia4 ,but if you come to that conclusion1 ,i should shrink from my duty--,i should be unworthy to sit here--if ,i did not call your attention to the inference1 that if he purchased that strychnia1 he purchased it for the purpose of administering it to ,cook40 ,then1 after vindicating the conduct of ,mr4 ,stevens in relation to the loss of the betting-book1 ,lord ,campbell alluded to the pushing of the jar1 at the post-mortem1 as probably an accident1 and its removal as 8nothing more than the pushing1 were it not coupled with evidence afterwards given1 which might lead to the inference that there was a plan to destroy it and prevent the analysis of its contents40 ,he saw no reason to doubt the evidence of the postboy1 and did not believe that ,stevens had given ,palmer such provocation as to induce him to offer ,myatt a bribe to upset him4 8,that is not indeed a decisive proof of guilt1 but it is for you to say whether the prisoner did not enter on that contrivance to prevent an opportunity of examining the jar1 which might contain evidence against him40 ,cheshire's evidence as to filling up the cheque1 and being asked to witness ,cook's signature1 as if he was present1 to the document professing to admit his liability on ,palmer's bills2 his subsequent dealing with ,dr4 ,taylor's letter to ,mr4 ,gardner2 ,palmer's letter to the coroner stating the result of the analysis2 his presents to the coroner2 and his instructions to ,bate not to let anyone see him deliver his letter to ,mr4 ,ward1 together with the instructions to ,herring about ,cook's bets1 were then carefully reviewed before entering on the medico-scientific evidence offered on the part of the prosecution4 ,the evidence of this class of witnesses has been so fully reported1 that it is needless to repeat the ,judge's passing comments on their descriptions of the symptoms of tetanus as consistent with those in ,cook's case1 and with those exhibited in the cases of undoubted poisoning by strychnia1 detailed by the medical men who had attended the several patients4 ,with reference to the results of the analysis by ,drs4 ,taylor and ,rees1 and of the effect of their evidence1 the learned ,judge made the following comment on their experiments on animals3-- 8,there is here a most important question for your consideration4 ,great reliance is placed by the prisoner's counsel1 and very naturally so1 upon the fact that no trace of strychnia was detected in the stomach of ,cook by ,dr4 ,taylor and ,dr4 ,rees1 who alone analysed it and experimented upon it4 ,but1 on the other hand1 you must bear in mind that we have their own evidence to show that there may be and have been cases of death by strychnia in which the united skill of these two individuals has failed to detect the presence of the strychnia after death4 ,both ,dr4 ,taylor and ,dr4 ,rees have stated upon their oaths that in two cases where they knew death to have been occasioned by strychnia--the poison having1 in fact1 been administered with their own hands--they failed to discover the slightest trace of the poison in the dead bodies of the animals on which they had experimented4 ,it is possible that other chemists might have succeeded in detecting strychnia in those animals and strychnia also in the jar containing the stomach and intestines of ,cook2 but1 however this may be1 it is beyond all question that ,dr4 ,taylor and ,dr4 ,rees failed to discover the faintest indications of strychnia in the bodies of two animals which they had themselves poisoned with that deadly drug4 ,whatever may be the nature of the different theories propounded for the explanation of this fact1 the fact itself is deposed to on oath2 and1 if we believe the witnesses1 does not admit of doubt40 ,with regard to the letter from ,dr4 ,taylor to ,mr4 ,gardner1 stating that neither strychnia1 prussic acid1 nor opium had been found in the body1 his lordship said1 8this letter was written before ,cook's symptoms had been communicated to them2 but they had been informed that prussic acid1 strychnia1 and opium had been bought by ,palmer on the ,tuesday4 ,they searched for all these poisons1 and found none4 ,the only poison they found was antimony1 and they did not1 therefore1 in the absence of symptoms1 attribute death to strychnia1 as they could not at that time2 but they say it might have been produced by antimony1 as they say that the quantity found in the body was no test of the quantity taken into the system40--8,for the discovery of strychnia ,dr4 ,taylor experimented upon the bodies of animals which he had himself killed by this poison1 but in them no strychnia could be found4 ,i do not know what interest ,dr4 ,taylor could be supposed to have to give evidence against the prisoner4 ,he was regularly employed by the ,crown1 and knew nothing of ,palmer until he was called upon by ,mr4 ,stevens1 and the jar was given to him4 ,he could have no enmity against the prisoner and no interest whatever to misrepresent facts40 ,on being reminded that ,dr4 ,taylor's experiments on the two rabbits were not made until after the inquest1 8that10 said ,lord ,campbell1 8makes no difference4 ,if that experiment was made this morning the fact would be the same4 ,against ,dr4 ,rees there is not even the imputation of having written an indiscreet letter to a newspaper4 ,yet ,dr4 ,rees concurs with ,dr4 ,taylor1 that these rabbits were killed by strychnia2 that they did whatever was in their power1 according to their skill and knowledge1 to discover strychnia1 as they did with the contents of the jar1 and that no strychnia could be discovered4 ,as to antimony1 he corroborates the testimony of ,dr4 ,taylor4 ,antimony is a component of tartar emetic2 tartar emetic produces vomiting1 and you will judge from the vomiting at ,shrewsbury and ,rugeley whether antimony may have been administered to ,cook at those places4 ,antimony may not have produced death1 but the question of its administration is a part of the case which you must most seriously consider40 ,having then read the evidence of ,professor ,brande1 ,dr4 ,christison1 and ,dr4 ,john ,jackson1 ,lord ,campbell1 at eight o'clock1 reserved the evidence for the defence to the next day4 ,on resuming his charge the next morning1 ,lord ,campbell commenced by a brief summary of his previous remarks4 8,the evidence for the prosecution certainly did present a serious case against the prisoner4 ,it appeared that in ,november last he was most seriously embarrassed1 and that he had to make payments for which he was entirely unprepared4 ,there were actions against himself and his mother1 and he had no credit left in any quarter4 ,cook by the races at ,shrewsbury became master of #ajjj1 and the inference had been drawn that ,palmer formed a design of appropriating it to his own purposes1 in order to relieve himself from his embarrassments4 ,again1 it was proved that the prisoner drew a cheque in the name of ,cook which was a forgery1 for the purpose of appropriating to himself ,cook's property4 ,what would have been the effect of the survival of ,cook under those circumstances it would be for the jury to consider4 ,no doubt1 if ,cook had lived1 that cheque would have been brought forward1 and would have led to an exposure of all ,palmer's delinquencies4 ,with respect to the joint liability of ,cook and ,palmer1 it was said that it was disadvantageous to ,palmer that ,cook should die2 but there seemed to be some doubt whether it was not the intention of ,palmer to possess himself of the whole of ,cook's property1 and in that case he had a direct interest in his death4 ,then as to the medical evidence which had been adduced for the prosecution4 ,the jury had heard the evidence of able and honourable men1 who said that the deceased did not die a natural death1 and that the symptoms were consistent with death by strychnia1 and not consistent with death by ordinary tetanus4 ,there was no point of law which required that the strychnia should be found in the body of the deceased1 and it would therefore be for the jury on this point to consider whether the evidence of the prosecution was sufficient1 or whether they could rely upon the answer which had been put in by the defence4 ,there was direct evidence that the prisoner procured the poison of strychnia on ,monday and ,tuesday4 ,what he did with it was not for him in that place to affirm4 ,it was impossible for the jury not to pay attention to the conduct of the prisoner before and after the death of ,cook1 and they would not fail to consider1 as part of those circumstances1 his very remarkable proceedings in reference to the betting-book1 which had never been discovered40 ,he then proceeded to consider the evidence tendered by medical and scientific experts for the defence4 8,then as to the evidence which had been put in for the defence1 the jury had had before them gentlemen of great ability and high honour1 who had given in detail the results of their experience4 ,with that evidence he would now proceed to deal40 ,the learned judge read in extenso the voluminous evidence of ,mr4 ,nunneley1 the surgeon1 of ,leeds4 8,the jury had heard the manner in which ,mr4 ,nunneley had given his evidence1 and they must form their own opinion of it4 ,certainly he seemed to display an interest in the case not altogether consistent with the character of a witness4 ,he differed very much from several witnesses who were examined for the prosecution1 and particularly in reference to rigidity being produced by strychnia after death4 ,these and similar questions were for the jury4 ,the next witness who was examined was ,mr4 ,herapath1 of ,bristol1 a very eminent analytical chemist1 who had paid great attention to the subject of poisons4 ,that gentleman said that where there had been death by strychnia it ought to be discovered4 ,but it appeared1 on cross-examination1 that he had expressed an opinion1 on another occasion1 that ,cook died from strychnia1 but that ,dr4 ,taylor had not taken the proper means to find it4 ,after adverting to the evidence of ,mr4 ,rogers1 his lordship read that of ,dr4 ,letheby1 of the ,london ,hospital1 the medical officer of the ,city of ,london1 of whom he said that he seemed to prove that cases of this sort were very variable1 and that he admitted that the ,romsey case was an exception4 ,now1 while these exceptional cases existed1 it could hardly be said that the principles laid down by ,dr4 ,letheby were sufficient to rebut the evidence in chief4 ,his lordship next referred to ,mr4 ,gay's case of the omnibus conductor4 ,this1 he said1 was a case of idiopathic tetanus4 ,the jury would say1 on comparing it with the symptoms in ,cook's case1 whether his was also a case of idiopathic tetanus4 ,the great weight of evidence seemed to show that ,cook's was not a case of idiopathic any more than it was a case of traumatic tetanus4 ,mr4 ,gay's case differed altogether from that of ,cook1 and as far as he could see there was no analogy between them4 ,passing next to the evidence of ,mr4 ,ross1 and to his case of a man1 who died from ulcers1 his lordship remarked that he did not see why this case was brought before the ,court unless to prove that ,cook's was of the same sort4 ,this was a case1 whether of idiopathic or traumatic tetanus1 in which it was sought to prove that death was caused by bruises on the body4 ,but there were no bruises of any sort about ,cook1 and therefore the analogy failed4 ,in reference to the important evidence of ,dr4 ,wrightson1 who said he had detected strychnia in putrifying blood and decomposed matter1 and that strychnia did not under such circumstances decompose1 he must say that this witness was a scientific and honourable man1 and had spoken throughout with proper caution4 ,according to ,dr4 ,wrightson1 the discovery of the poison should have been proved1 but at the same time his evidence did not overthrow the case for the prosecution2 and it would be for the jury to say whether1 in the event of poison actually being in the body1 the tests employed to detect it were sufficient4 ,referring to the evidence of ,mr4 ,partridge1 his lordship said that the witness had stated that the symptoms in ,cook's case did not correspond with what he should have expected to have found from strychnia1 but he spoke from his own experience1 and he admitted that the symptoms were very variable2 and he did not seem1 therefore1 to speak with any degree of certainty upon the subject4 ,mr4 ,gay's case of a boy who suffered from tetanus from an injury to his toe was1 his lordship thought1 not at all analogous to that of ,cook2 nor was that of the young woman who had an attack of tetanus without any apparent cause1 and recovered1 as deposed to by ,dr4 ,mc,donald4 ,the last witness had given his opinion that ,cook died from epileptic convulsions1 accompanied with tetanic complications1 and this he thought might have been produced by mental or sensual excitement4 ,the jury would see to what length this witness went1 and it would be for the jury to say what weight they attached to his evidence4 ,having adverted to several cases adduced by the defence1 and which his lordship considered bore no analogy to ,cook's1 he read the evidence of ,dr4 ,robinson1 of ,newcastle-on-,tyne1 who ascribed the death to epilepsy4 ,he then passed on to ,dr4 ,richardson1 who narrated the particulars of a remarkable case of angina pectoris1 to the symptoms of which disease he said ,cook's bore a remarkable resemblance4 ,the witness1 his lordship said1 seemed a most respectable man1 and he said that the symptoms in this case were consistent with those arising from strychnia1 and that if he had known as much of strychnia at that time as he did now1 he should have searched for it in that case4 ,it would be for the jury to consider whether ,cook's symptoms were consistent with strychnia1 and if so1 that ought to lead them as to the opinion they should form on the case4 ,his lordship having adverted to the evidence of ,catharine ,watson1 the girl who was attacked with tetanus in ,scotland1 and to other witnesses who were recalled1 said this was all the medical evidence that had been adduced by the counsel for the defence of the prisoner4 ,but then1 gentlemen1 said ,lord ,campbell1 comes that most important question1 whether the symptoms of the deceased were consistent with death by poisoning with strychnia4 ,you will say whether your opinion upon that subject is altered by the evidence given on the part of the prisoner4 ,several of the witnesses called by the prisoner seem to admit 7although1 of course1 you will form your own judgment upon it7 that those symptoms were consistent with strychnia1 although1 in the absence of evidence to show that strychnia was administered1 they could not come to such a conclusion40 ,lord ,campbell's subsequent remarks on the witnesses who were called to contradict those for the prosecution as to the state of ,cook's health1 the incident of the brandy and water at ,shrewsbury1 and the possibility of ,palmer arriving in ,rugeley from ,london at the time spoken to by ,newton1 have already been given in previous notes4 ,in conclusion1 he said1 8,the conduct of the prisoner in requesting to have the body fastened up1 with respect to the betting book1 and the tampering with the coroner1 remained unanswered1 as did also the bribe offered to the postboy4 ,no explanation was offered as to the strychnia purchased by the prisoner on the ,tuesday morning1 the proof of which stands uncontradicted2 no evidence has been given of any purpose to which it was to be applied1 and no explanation of what became of that poison4 ,the case was now before the jury4 ,they must not act upon suspicion1 or even strong suspicion1 and they must only pronounce a verdict of guilty if their minds were made up4 ,if1 however1 they could come to the conclusion that he was guilty1 they would return such a verdict unfettered and undeterred by any intimidation40 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee objected to the question put to the jury by the judge4 ,he submitted that the question1 whether the symptoms of ,cook's death were consistent with death by strychnia was a wrong one1 unless coupled with the words 8and inconsistent with death from natural causes10 and that the question should then be 8whether the medical evidence established beyond all reasonable doubt that the death of ,cook was attributable to strychnia40 ,baron ,alderson4--8,that is the question that has been put40 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee submitted that the question whether the symptoms were consistent with strychnia ought not to have been put4 ,lord ,campbell4--8 ,i have told the jury that1 unless they think the symptoms described agree with the supposition that the deceased died from strychnia1 they must acquit the prisoner40 ,baron ,alderson4--8,that has been stated in the speech40 ,after some further remarks from ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee1 ,lord ,campbell told the jury that not only must they be satisfied that the symptoms described agreed with the supposition that the deceased died from strychnia1 but that it was administered by the prisoner4 ,the jury retired at #b4bj1 and at #c4de returned a verdict of guilty1 and ,lord ,campbell passed sentence of death1 to be carried out at ,stafford jail4 ,the prisoner heard the sentence perfectly unmoved4 ,at one time he drew himself up1 as if about to make some remark1 but did not attempt to speak4 ,he stood quite calm1 and when his ,lordship had concluded1 turned round and walked from the dock with the same coolness as he had shown during the whole of his protracted trial4 ,contrasting the procedure in this memorable trial with what it might and no doubt would have been in a criminal court in ,france1 ,mr4 ,justice ,stephen makes the following remarks3--8,not less remarkable than the careful way in which all topics of prejudice were avoided was the extreme fulness and completeness of the evidence as to facts really relevant to the case4 ,nothing was omitted which the jury could properly want to know1 nor anything which the prisoner could possibly wish to say4 ,no case could set in a clearer light the characteristic features of ,english ,criminal ,law--namely1 its essentially litigious character1 and the way in which it deals with scientific evidence4 ,a study of the case will show1 first1 that evidence could not be more condensed1 more complete1 more clearly directed to the point at issue2 secondly1 that the subjection of all the witnesses1 and especially the scientific witnesses1 to the most rigorous cross-examination is absolutely essential to the trustworthiness of their evidence4 ,the clearness and skill with which the various witnesses1 especially those for the defence1 were cross-examined1 and forced to admit that they could not really distinguish the symptoms of ,cook from those of poisoning by strychnia1 was such an illustration of the efficiency of cross-examination as is rarely indeed afforded40 8,the defence was by far the least impressive part of the trial1 but that was mainly because there was nothing to say4 ,it was impossible to suggest any innocent explanation of ,palmer's conduct4 ,it was proved to demonstration that he was in dire need of money in order to avoid a prosecution for forgery2 that he robbed his friend of all he had by a series of devices which he must instantly have discovered if he had lived2 that he provided himself with the means of committing the murder just before ,cook's death2 and that he could neither produce the poison he had bought1 nor suggest any innocent reason for buying it4 ,there must have been some mystery in the case which has never been discovered4 ,palmer1 at and before his death1 was repeatedly pressed to say whether he was guilty or not1 and told that everyone would believe him guilty if he did not emphatically deny it4 ,he could only say ,cook was not poisoned by strychnia1 and ,i have reason to know that he was anxious that ,mr4 ,herapath should examine the body for strychnia1 though aware that he could detect the #a-ej1jjjth part of a grain4 ,he may have discovered some way of administering it which would render detection impossible1 but it is difficult to doubt that he used it2 for if not1 why buy it80#ga ,,the ,,leeds ,,poisoning ,,case4 ,before ,,baron ,,bramwell1 ,,northern ,,circuit1 ,,york1 ,july #af1 #ag1 and #ah1 #ahef4 ,for the ,prosecution3 ,mr4 ,overend1 ,q4,c41 ,mr4 ,g4 ,hardy1 and ,mr4 ,l4 ,h4 ,bayly4 ,for the ,defence3 ,mr4 ,bliss1 ,q4,c41 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,wilkins1 and ,mr4 ,middleton4#gb ,william ,dove1 aged #cj1 was indicted for the murder of his wife1 on the #ast of ,march1 #ahef1 at ,leeds4 ,,early ,,life ,,of ,,the ,,prisoner4 ,the prisoner1 the son of a respectable leather manufacturer at ,leeds1 had been1 from his childhood to his seventh year1 more than usually fractious1 mischievous1 ill-natured1 and irrational in his tricks3 putting lighted candles more than once in a basket and locking them in a cupboard3 pouring some kind of spirits on his bedroom curtains and setting them on fire3 chasing his sisters with a red-hot poker and threatening to burn them3 hanging a cat by its tail out of window3 cutting himself with knives and writing his name with his blood3 an irregular and inapt scholar1 especially in his religion4#gc ,the usher at his first school1 where he was from the age of ten to thirteen years1 regarded him 8as a boy of very low intellect1 great inability of mind1 great want of moral power1 evil and vicious propensities4 ,once1 when he had got a pistol1 he told his schoolfellows he was going to shoot his father--a dull boy1 and a had boy4 ,i then thought him insane1 but did not feel myself in a position to object to his being flogged40#gd ,mr4 ,highley1 the master of this school1 spoke strongly of ,dove's bad conduct1 which he attributed to his reasoning powers being very limited4 8,he appeared10 said the witness1 8to have no idea of any consequences2 to be deprived of reason4 ,i am satisfied he was labouring under an aberration of intellect40#ge ,having been expelled from his school1 his father took the opinion of a ,mr4 ,lord1 a schoolmaster1 as to what was best to be done with the boy4 8,i could make no impression on his heart or his head10 said ,mr4 ,lord4 8,he could not appreciate what ,i said4 ,he listened1 but ,i could make no impression--get no rational answers4 ,when ,i heard of his engagement ,i told his future wife's brother-in-law that inquiry ought to be made about ,dove on account of his unaccountable irrational conduct40 ,by ,mr4 ,lord's advice1 he was sent to learn farming1 for more than five years1 with a ,mr4 ,frankish4 ,here again his mischievous and cruel propensities were exhibited--putting vitriol on the tails of some cows1 burning half-grown kittens with it1 putting it into the horse-trough1 and setting fire to the gorse4 ,he was as unapt a scholar at farming as at religion and grammar4 ,again1 when he went to another farmer for a year1 he was the same dull unpractical pupil4 ,he was now sent to ,america for a short visit1 returning with travellers' stories of his adventures of unusual wildness and incredibility4 ,still1 however1 he was deemed by his father capable of being trusted with a farm1 where his mischievous and extravagant conduct astonished his servants1 and made them regard him as 8not of a sound mind40#gf ,at this time1 #aheb1 he married1 quarrelling or playing with his wife like a child1 and changed his farm more than once1 without apparent reason4 ,other witnesses spoke to the incoherence of his conversation3 of his lying on the ground and crying without a cause2 complaining of noises in his house2 trying to reap his own corn in a green state2 exhibiting conjuring tricks1 and talking of having put a spell on the steward of the proprietor of one of his farms4 ,eventually1 in consequence of his intemperate habits1 he had to give up farming and remove into the outskirts of ,leeds1 where he lived on an annuity of #ij a year1 left to him by his father1 who died in #ahed4 ,with nothing to do1 he became an habitual drunkard1 aggravating his eccentricities1 stimulating his mischievous propensities1 and stupefying himself as to the consequences of his actions to himself4#gg ,with such propensities1 it may be conceived that his wife led a wretched life2 that quarrels were frequent2 that at one time he threatened her with a pistol2 and that eventually1 after a very few years1 they occupied separate beds1 and rarely met1 except at meals4 ,unfortunately for both of them1 an arrangement for a separation was broken off by the interposition of injudicious friends1 and until the beginning of #ahef they endured their miserable life together4 ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,case4 ,it was at this time that the enquiries into the death of ,cook at ,rugeley were filling the newspapers1 and the evidence on the inquest became matter of popular discussion4 ,among ,dove's friends was one ,harrison1 known as the ,witchman of ,leeds1 who1 according to his own account1 was 8a dentist1 a water caster1 a caster of nativities1 and a believer in the stars40 ,on hearing this man read1 in a public-house1 the results of the analytical examination of ,cook's body by ,dr4 ,taylor1 as related at the inquest1 and that gentleman's statement of the difficulty1 if not impossibility1 of discovering strychnia by chemical analysis1 ,dove appears to have been forcibly struck by the revelation4 ,he asked ,harrison either to make or get him some strychnia1 and1 when he refused1 said he could get it elsewhere4 ,probably at that time the idea of poisoning his wife was first entertained by him4 ,unfortunately he had no difficulty in obtaining the necessary poison1 as he was intimately acquainted with ,mr4 ,morley1 the surgeon of ,leeds1 who had attended the ,dove family for many years1 and was a constant visitor to his surgery4 ,subsequently1 therefore1 to his acquiring knowledge of what had happened in ,palmer's case1 he had repeated conversations with one of ,mr4 ,morley's pupils about strychnia2 and on the #ajth of ,february1 on the plea that his house was infested by rats1 and that he was worried by his neighbour's cats1 he obtained from him ten grains of this deadly poison4 ,this he placed about the house in a careless way1 and destroyed a cat1 the body of which he buried in the midden4 ,again on the #agth he got four or five grains more of strychnia1 promising the pupil who gave it to him the skin of a grey cat which he professed to be about to poison with it4 ,at this time1 the pupil was of opinion that ,dove noted whereabouts on the shelf the bottle of strychnia was placed4 ,a few days after he was seen by ,mr4 ,morley's coachman in the surgery alone1 with the gas turned up1 which1 as the coachman came near1 he turned down1 and in an apparent flurry1 meeting him at the door1 gave as his excuse that he had come to light his pipe4#gh ,the suggestion of the prosecution was that at this time1 knowing where the bottle of strychnia was kept1 he took the opportunity of helping himself to some more of the poison4 ,during all this time it was evident1 from his conversations on strychnia and the impossibility of its detection1 that he had studied ,palmer's case4 ,previously to ,sunday1 the #bdth of ,february1 ,mrs4 ,dove had not been well1 but on that day appeared quite recovered4 ,on the ,monday1 however1 when she went upstairs with her servant to make the beds1 she was suddenly taken ill1 staggered1 became paralysed1 twitched and jumped1 and when put on the bed1 on the slightest touch either of her body or the bedclothes1 had renewed convulsions4 ,dove1 who was downstairs1 was sent for1 and went for the doctor1 to whom he said that his wife had been ill all night1 and asked if his wife died would there be a coroner's inquest8#gi ,after two or three hours the convulsions passed away1 and the patient remained free from pain4 ,dove's attention to his wife was suspiciously marked4 ,he gave her medicine with his own hands2 called in a neighbour to attend to her1 and seemed greatly distressed at her condition4 ,three days after1 a second attack of the same nature occurred1 and again he told the doctor he was sure his wife would die4 ,she was seen to cry bitterly1 and heard to say that she was sure the medicine1 of the bitter taste of which she complained1 was killing her4 ,next evening a third attack came on1 with the same symptoms4 ,and on the #bhth ,dove predicted that she would have another attack about ten that evening2 at that hour he gave her the medicine1 and in half an hour afterwards another and more severe attack came on1 so severe that she said1 8,oh dear1 ,i thought it was all over40 ,in all these attacks after a time the spasms and convulsions passed away1 and she was apparently only suffering from exhaustion after them1 and otherwise quite well4 ,on ,saturday ,dove1 who had gone out1 returned much in liquor1 and at #h ,p4,m4 gave her her medicine4 8,it is very disagreeable10 she said1 8hot and bitter40 ,he washed out the glass and wiped it as usual1 saying1 8,i always wash it out2 medicine is always such nasty stuff40 ,within half an hour of taking this dose an attack more than usually violent came on1 and after a series of spasms and convulsions the poor creature died about twenty minutes to eleven that night4 ,struck with the resemblance of the symptoms of ,mrs4 ,dove's attacks to those due to poisoning by strychnia1 and hearing from his pupil of the purchase of that drug by the prisoner1 ,mr4 ,morley1 who had attended her1 decided on having a post-mortem examination4 ,this ,dove1 who had on her first attack asked ,morley's pupil whether ,mr4 ,morley would have a post-mortem examination if his wife died1 tried to prevent1 on the plea of his having promised his wife that it should not be allowed1 and his horror at the desecration of her body4 ,mr4 ,morley1 however1 obtained the consent of ,dove's mother1 and persevered4 ,on the examination of the body by himself and ,mr4 ,nunneley1 the surgeon1 and the subsequent chemical analysis of its different parts1 every test proved the presence of strychnia in large quantities4 ,during the examination of the body1 blood to the extent of a crown piece fell on the floor of the room1 and a week after the spaniel of a woman who was cleaning the room was supposed to have licked it1 and as she left on the completion of her work1 was attacked with violent spasms1 fell on its back1 and died at once4 ,on the examination of its body strychnia was also detected4 ,the prisoner1 who after his wife's funeral had wandered about1 asking ,harrison and other persons whether it was safe to go back1 and talking about the possibility of the wife having taken the strychnia by accident1 as he had carelessly placed it in his razor case1 and put it about in the house1 was subsequently arrested and put upon his trial4 ,it is needless to give in detail the evidence of the persons by whom the above facts were proved1 which were hardly traversed by counsel for the defence4 ,the testimony with reference to the symptoms and the results of the post-mortem examination cannot1 however1 with safety be abridged1 seeing the importance attached to this case in ,palmer's trial4 ,,the ,,symptoms4 ,ann ,fisher1 who took her daughter's place in the house in consequence of the latter's illness1 said-- 8,on ,saturday and ,sunday ,mrs4 ,dove appeared pretty well1 and on the latter day went to church4 ,on ,monday1 ,february #be1 after breakfast1 she complained of her legs1 and said she felt curious1 and fell in the bedroom whilst helping witness to make the beds4 ,witness caught her in her arms1 and called up ,dove1 who went for ,mrs4 ,witham 7next door neighbour71 and witness put ,mrs4 ,dove to bed4 ,she started1 and twitched1 and jumped1 and1 even if witness touched the bedclothes1 or walked across the room1 complained that it made her worse4 ,mr4 ,scarth 7,morley's assistant7 came and gave some medicine1 and she felt better4 ,the jerkings continued from two to two and a half hours4 ,she lay on her right side1 and her breathing was rather difficult3 she was quite sensible the whole time4 ,she seemed better in the afternoon1 and pretty well the next morning4 ,on ,wednesday1 the #bgth1 she had another attack1 beating1 jumping1 and starting2 complained about her legs and back being very bad3 said there was a stiffness in them2 they seemed paralysed1 and she could not move them about4 ,she lay on her side1 and her breathing was very bad when she had these attacks on her4 ,she was better after the medicines on the two occasions on which ,i gave them to her myself4 ,i cannot recollect ,thursday1 but on ,friday night1 about #aj ,p4,m41 ,i was called up into the bedroom4 ,dove was dressed1 standing by the bedside holding her hand4 ,her back was quite arched1 and she was making a great noise in her inside4 ,she said1 #8,oh dear1 ,i thought it had been my last4' ,her breathing was very difficult4 ,she complained about her jaws being stiff4 ,i stayed with her till about #b ,a4,m41 and she was better1 and ,i went to bed4 ,next morning she said she was very poorly1 and could not take any coffee4 ,she had had no rest all night4 ,she took some coffee afterwards1 and had a little rest4 ,in the afternoon ,mrs4 ,witham was with her4 ,she appeared much better then1 washed herself and rubbed her legs1 which seemed to ease her4 ,she became worse at #h4cj ,p4,m4 ,the bell was rung3 ,mrs4 ,wood and ,mrs4 ,witham were with her4 ,dove was out--had gone out about a quarter to half an hour4 ,she then moaned and screamed2 her body was quite arched and her feet projected right from her body1 and she was in that state till twenty minutes to eleven1 when she died4 ,before she died she grasped the hands of ,mrs4 ,wood and ,mrs4 ,witham1 who were holding hers1 so hard that it hurt them4 ,dove came back at about ten3 she was then in great agony4 ,as soon as he saw me1 he told me he was going to ,mr4 ,morley's for medicine1 and that if ,mrs4 ,wood wanted to go home1 ,i was to go up and take her place4 ,when he returned with the doctors1 she was dead40 ,mrs4 ,witham1#hj the next door neighbour who attended the deceased almost daily1 confirmed ,mrs4 ,fisher's account of the earlier symptoms1 and gave the following details of the night of her death3-- 8,on ,saturday1 ,march the #ast1 ,i saw her again about #b4cj ,p4,m4 ,she seemed better1 and ,i remained with her till about six4 ,at #c4cj ,p4,m4 ,i gave her her medicine4 ,mr4 ,morley came at four1 when she seemed well4 ,i got the food he ordered for her1 and she seemed better than ,i had seen her before4 ,dove was there1 and when ,i told him ,i had given her the medicine1 he said she ought not to have it until about five4 ,i was sent for again later to sit with her until ,mrs4 ,fisher came1 as ,dove was going for medicine4 ,he was rubbing her legs1 and asked her to kiss him1 which she did4 ,shortly after1 he gave her her medicine4 ,he went to the washstand1 and came back with a glass in one hand1 with the medicine and water in the other4 ,he was at the washstand time enough to pour out the medicine4 ,mrs4 ,wood was present4 ,after she had taken it1 ,mrs4 ,dove complained that it was very hot1 and asked for a lozenge4 ,dove took the glass to the washstand1 and said he always washed it out after giving the medicine4 ,he then left1 as he said1 to get more medicine4 ,in about a quarter of an hour she complained of her back3 her head was thrown back4 ,i took hold of her hand1 and she grasped it so tightly ,i could not get it away4 ,her eyes looked fixed4 ,i put my hand to them3 they did not move4 ,her features were very much distorted1 and her teeth clinched4 ,we both took hold of her hands1 which she grasped so tightly that ,i could not bear it4 ,mrs4 ,wood was going to rub her back4 ,she said1 #8,oh1 don't2 lift me up1' and ,i and ,mrs4 ,wood tried to do so4 ,her back was arched1 her body quite stiff1 her legs stretched out4 ,i did not notice her feet4 ,we lifted her up1 and put a pillow under her back4 ,she rested on her shoulders1 and the bottom part of her back1 until the pillow was placed under her4 ,the symptoms grew more violent1 but she could speak4 ,her breathing was loud and difficult4 ,she shrieked several times--a sort of scream4 ,in about half an hour she could speak no longer4 ,we could not be positive if she was sensible1 and at twenty minutes to eleven she died4 ,dove came in after she had ceased to speak1 threw off his coat1 and was going to rub her legs1 when ,i said she could not bear it4 ,mrs4 ,wood said something to him1 and he left the house immediately4 ,when the doctors came she had been dead some minutes40 ,on cross-examination the witness said-- 8,that when she gave her the medicine about three o'clock1 deceased complained that it was bitter1 as witness found it was on tasting it3 7it contained aloes74 ,that when the attack came on she appeared to lose her senses very soon1 her eyes being fixed1 and not speaking3 this was in about an hour4 ,she spoke until half an hour after her attack1 but not until forty minutes4 ,she was in better health and spirits on the ,saturday than she had been all the week4 ,she was rubbed after each fit1 and it seemed to relieve her4 ,the jumpings and twitchings went on1 on the ,saturday1 and she was then some hours still1 and then they began again40 ,mrs4 ,wood added the following particulars of the last attack3-- 8,i went at twenty minutes to eight on the ,saturday evening and found her sitting up2 her husband and ,mrs4 ,witham were with her4 ,about eight she asked her husband for her medicine2 he went out of the room to get it1 and returned in about a minute with it1 and gave it to her4 ,she said it was very bitter1 very hot1 and very nasty1 and that she thought she would get better if the attack did not return4 ,i recommended her to try and put it off4 ,in about a quarter of an hour after taking the medicine she began to be ill4 ,i asked ,mrs4 ,witham to go round and take her hand1 saying1 #8this ,gird is coming on4' ,she was propped up with pillows4 ,in a short time she said1 #8,off the bed' and repeated it three times4 ,i thought at that time she wished to get off the bed4 ,mrs4 ,witham said1 #8,oh no1 we cannot4' ,i do not think she was sensible after she said #8,off the bed' the first time4 ,she died at twenty minutes to eleven4 ,dove went for the doctors2 when he returned she was dead40 ,mr4 ,scarth1 ,morley's pupil1 who attended on the #beth of ,february1 at the request of the prisoner1 in ,mr4 ,morley's absence1 said-- 8,i found ,mrs4 ,dove in bed with very minute twitchings of the muscles of the face and arms1 and her teeth closed--hands clinched--head thrown slightly back1 and the shoulders likewise1 and her feet stretched straight out with the legs4 ,again ,i saw her at seven on the ,thursday night1 the symptoms were the same1 but her principal complaint was of pain in the shoulders and back4 ,her shoulders were thrown back4 ,the attack passed off whilst ,i was there in about five minutes4 ,i gave her the draught prescribed by ,mr4 ,morley1 and the convulsions ceased and did not return1 and ,i ordered her the repetition of the draught40 ,this witness had the cat dug out of the midden1 in which the prisoner said he had buried it1 and was present when ,mr4 ,morley and ,mr4 ,nunneley experimented on it4 ,,medical ,,and ,,analytical ,,evidence4 ,mr4 ,george ,morley1 a surgeon at ,leeds1 who had always attended the ,dove family1 was called in to the deceased in ,december1 #ahee1 when he found her suffering from disordered digestion and nervous excitement4 ,she improved1 and he subsequently only saw her at long intervals till the #beth of ,february2 on that day1 he said-- 8,i found her in bed1 and only observed twitchings of the arms twice4 ,she told me she had had an attack in the morning with pains in the back and limbs1 and had been often before so1 and that she suffered from an excitable temperament4 ,i thought it an hysterical attack1 as she was at the age for them4 ,saw her every day during the week1 and on the ,wednesday and ,thursday again saw slight jerking of the arms4 ,on the ,friday and ,saturday she was decidedly better1 and ,i did not alter my opinion of her case until the ,saturday night1 as ,i had often seen such symptoms arise from hysteria4 ,i made the medicines antispasmodic and sedative3 they would check the symptoms1 and for a time seemed to do so4 ,on ,wednesday ,i proposed seeing another doctor1 when ,dove said she would not recover1 and ,i warned him not to say so in her hearing1 and that he had better call in a physician4 ,next day ,i received a note from him declining the proposed consultation1 as his wife had perfect confidence in me4 ,on ,saturday ,i received a message that she was worse1 and that ,i was to bring ,dr4 ,hobson with me4 ,dove came afterwards to my house1 and said he thought she would not recover1 and that he should object to a post mortem examination4 ,i said ,i thought there would be no need of one1 and that she would recover4 ,he said his wife objected to it strongly4 ,he seemed excited1 as with drink1 but quite rational4 ,we were too late to see ,mrs4 ,dove alive4 ,from what ,mr4 ,scarth told me ,i took measures for a post mortem examination4 8,i now attribute the symptoms ,i have heard described to the poison of strychnia--from the symptoms and what ,i found in the body--finding in the body no organic disease to account for death4 ,the symptoms do not correspond with those of any other disease1 but do with those produced by strychnia4 ,in hysteria the symptoms are more irregular2 they do not assume a tetanic character2 there is more disturbance of the mind2 and such attacks are never fatal4 ,tetanic affections are stiffening of the limbs1 rigidity1 and stretching out of the limbs1 arching back of the trunk1 stiffening of the neck and jaw4 ,the symptoms of hysteria might be some of those symptoms4 ,no one but might be found in hysteria1 but not all together4 ,the symptoms are separately and conjointly in accordance with poisoning by strychnia4 ,on ,monday1 ,march #crd1 forty-two hours after death1 by authority of the prisoner's mother1 ,i made a post mortem examination in conjunction with ,mr4 ,nunneley1 and drew up the following joint report40 ,it is unnecessary to give in detail the first portion of this report1 in which1 from a most careful examination of all parts of the body1 it was evident that the death could not be attributed to any known organic disease4 ,with the exception of a slight appearance of congestion in the intestines1 every part of the body was in a healthy state1 and the stomach contained only usual food4 ,the report then continued3-- 8,no appearance of irritation from any mineral or other irritant poison1 nor any odour of any poison recognizable by smell4 ,hence we searched for strychnia4 ,we divided the stomach and its contents into three parts3--7#a47 ,the brown pulpy mass in the stomach2 7#b47 ,the mucous and all other matters that could be removed from the stomach2 7#c47 ,the stomach itself4 ,by the usual tests we obtained strychnia from each of these4 ,the spirituous extracts were also unusually bitter4 ,in the contents of the intestines we found only faint traces4 ,we obtained the body of the cat1 that had been poisoned some time before1 and proved that it is possible to discover strychnia in a dead body some time after death4 ,the result was decidedly the same evidence as we had from the human body40 ,the report then gave the details of the processes by which the strychnia had been detected4 7#a47 ,taste2 7#b47 ,nitric acid1 producing a red colour 7the test for brucia72 7#c47 ,acetic acid and solution of chloride of gold1 producing a yellowish-white precipitate 7of doubtful value72 7#d47 ,concentrated sulphuric acid and solution of bichromate of potash1 both in powder and in solution1 producing the purple colour2 7#e47 ,the application of the same tests to strychnia itself with the same results1 by each of them separately1 and repeated with such variations as could detect any error that might have crept in1 and the conclusion to which the analysts came that the stomach contained strychnia enough to cause death4 ,the report then described the effects of administering portions of the spirituous extracts proved to have contained strychnia to several animals1 five in number4 ,in the cases of four of these1 two rabbits1 one mouse1 and a guinea-pig1 the liquid was given by inoculation through small openings either in the cellular tissues beneath the skin1 or into one of the mucous cavities of the body2 and in the case of one of the mice1 by the mouth4 ,in three cases death followed at the respective intervals of two1 twelve1 and fifty minutes after the introduction of the poison2 and in one case--that of a rabbit--although for a time it remained nearly dead1 it afterwards revived1 and eventually recovered4 ,in the case of the pig1 the effects were much more slight2 the spasms were not so violent as to throw it down and entirely disable it1 but on the following day it was found dead1 with the muscles rigid1 and the hind legs extended1 as if from poison4 8,the symptoms preceding death1 in all the cases1 were1 disturbed respiration1 general distress1 convulsive twitchings and jerkings1 tetanic spasms1 a peculiar out-stretching of the legs1 and general rigidity1 exactly those commonly produced by strychnia40 ,the same effects1 for the sake of comparison1 were produced in a parallel series of experiments on animals with ordinary strychnia1 which1 as a series1 were not more severe1 or more rapidly fatal4 8,these experiments10 said the analysts1 8which add the test of physiological effect to that of the chemical reagent1 directly confirm our analysis1 and taking them in connection with the analyses and with the symptoms observed during life1 and with the appearances noted after death1 they afford1 in our opinion1 the most complete proof that the death of ,mrs4 ,dove was from the poisonous effects of strychnia1 and from no other cause40 ,the witness then spoke from his own personal knowledge of cases of poisoning by strychnia1 and continued3-- 8,i cannot refer the death to any other cause1 nor the symptoms during life1 as described by the witnesses ,witham1 ,fisher1 and ,wood4 ,there is no other substance that will produce such symptoms and appearances4 ,i tried similar experiments on a little dog1 with the same results4 ,strychnia is not a cumulative poison4 ,the effect of of it passes off entirely by a gradual subsidence of the spasms4 ,in part the strychnia is absorbed in the blood1 in part it passes off by the secretions1 part remains in the stomach1 its carbon1 hydrogen1 and other constituents broken up4 ,if not decomposed1 it would act on other animals4 ,the series of symptoms produced by strychnia were complete4 ,i have no doubt that each of the several attacks were produced by strychnia4 ,several of the medicines ,i sent to ,mrs4 ,dove were bitter1 containing aloes and gentian1 and hot1 containing ammonia and ether4 ,the effects of strychnia would follow from in a few seconds to an hour and a half1 depending on the constitution of the person1 and state of the stomach1 and how the strychnia was administered4 ,assuming that ,mrs4 ,dove took no food or tea1 ,i should refer the time at which she took the strychnia to the time at which she took the medicine4 ,that would be the natural time for the attack2 she would be attacked in a quarter to half an hour after taking it4 ,the strychnia ,i had in my surgery was a soft white powder1 fine1 but not so fine as salt4 ,there is a form of pure crystallised strychnia more like salt4 ,i should judge that she had taken two to three grains to produce the results of ,saturday night4 ,you might take two or three grains between your finger and thumb3 a quarter of a grain would kill a dog4 ,i have examined one of the bottles of medicine which ,i sent to ,mrs4 ,dove2 it is the same as ,i sent40 ,the witness also related the following conversations with the prisoner3-- 8,during the post-mortem examination1 ,i had a conversation with the prisoner at his mother's4 ,he asked me what we had found in the analysis--had we found poison8 ,i said the analysis was not complete1 and could not give any answer till it was4 ,i said we had not found any natural causes of death4 ,he asked me1 #8,if poison was found1 what would the jury say8 #8 ,i replied1 that #8,they could only say it was taken by accident1 or intentionally1 or given to her by some one4' ,he wished me to let him know before the inquest if we had found poison4 ,i had inquired about his getting poison1 and asked him how often4 ,he replied1 #8,only once1 and that he had it to kill mice1 as well as cats2 had placed it in his razor-case1 and told his wife that it was the poison ,palmer used2 that it was a deadly poison1 and she must not touch it4' ,i never told him there should be no examination40 ,on cross-examination by ,mr4 ,bliss1 after speaking to his having attended the ,dove family for many years1 but seen but little of the prisoner before he came to ,leeds1 the witness said-- 8,when the conversation about strychnia took place1 the prisoner asked me if ,i suspected him1 and said1 #8,should ,i have done it openly if ,i had intended to do it8 ,should ,i have come to your surgery for it or have talked openly about it to other people8 ,could ,i have been so cruel8' ,that was the first time that ,i named strychnia to any relative4 ,i examined the little dog and have no doubt it died of strychnia4 ,they brought me a piece of carpet and the board on which was blood1 but ,i discovered no strychnia4 ,i could not2 the quantity was too small4 ,i think the stains in the carpet and on the board could not have contained strychnia enough to have poisoned the dog4 ,i discovered very little blood in the intestines4 ,strychnia is exceedingly bitter4 ,one part in #dj1jjj would be bitter1 less would be perceptibly bitter4 ,there was a considerable quantity of fces in the intestines1 and three or four ounces of digested food4 ,mrs4 ,dove's medicines were alkaline4 ,i saw ,mrs4 ,dove every day from ,monday to ,saturday1 and she told me her ailments4 ,i found nothing in the body to account for death but the strychnia taken on ,saturday4 ,strychnia is not soluble in alkali4 ,the symptoms ,i have heard to-day1 prior to those on ,saturday1 are additional to what ,i saw4 ,hysteria would have left no symptoms4 ,there was nothing inconsistent with strychnia having been administered before in the appearances of the body4 ,the engorged state of the lungs and the condition of the brain favoured that view4 ,i say this guardedly4 ,she might with this condition of body have been better on ,saturday1 as congestion would pass away quickly4 ,i found no symptoms on ,saturday of the brain or lungs being engorged4 ,she was better in health1 in spirits1 and in appetite4 ,mrs4 ,witham's and ,mrs4 ,fisher's statements have changed my opinion4 ,the symptoms they describe are all to be found separately in hysteria4 ,mr4 ,scarth's account also influenced me1 which ,i did not hear until after her death4 ,it was my opinion at the time that she was affected with hysteria4 ,in a paroxysm from strychnia it is possible that a patient might wish to be rubbed1 but it is not what ,i should #8 priori1' look for4 ,touch sometimes renews the spasms1 but it depends upon the stage4 ,the desire not to be touched is a symptom of strychnia4 ,after hearing of her symptoms ,i prescribed a liniment to be rubbed4 ,it consisted with the dose of strychnia said to have been administered that she should be better on ,saturday4 ,the effect of hysteria would be to gorge the vessels of the brain and lungs4 ,not shrinking from touch was consistent with strychnia1 but a desire not to be touched was an indication of it40 ,on re-examination1 the witness said-- 8,there are several cases in which persons labouring under strychnia had desired to be rubbed4 ,parts of the body might fall on the floor as well as the blood4 8,by a ,juror4--,if strychnia were put in the medicine it would not alter the colour of it1 it might have left a powdery deposit4 ,i never knew a case of hysteria cause death with such external appearances as in ,mrs4 ,dove's case40 ,mr4 ,thomas ,nunneley1 professor of surgery in the ,leeds ,college of ,medicine1 who was examined in ,palmer's case on behalf of that prisoner1 and then maintained that if ,cook had been poisoned by strychnia it would have been found in his body by the chemical and other tests as late as the sixth day after his death1 confirmed the statements in the joint report1 and the opinion of ,mr4 ,morley1 that ,mrs4 ,dove had died from the effects of strychnia4 ,his experiments on strychnia in the cases of animals had been carried on for over thirty years1 and he was of opinion that1 8though he should not have anticipated the improvement spoken of on the ,saturday1 yet that it was not inconsistent with her having taken strychnia on the ,friday40 ,on cross-examination by ,mr4 ,bliss1 he gave the following evidence3-- 8,i found nothing on dissection that could not be referred to the strychnia taken on the ,saturday night--the intensity of that attack might have produced the appearances in the brain and lungs4 ,hysteria will simulate the appearances of other diseases1 and among them of tetanus4 ,i did not examine the fces and tissues of the body1 but ,i should expect to find strychnia in the tissues if taken six days before4 ,my attention was not called to its having been taken before ,saturday1 but even if it had ,i think ,i should have found it4 ,this case and the one in ,london 7,palmer's7 have advanced our knowledge in the discovery of this poison far beyond what it was before4 ,it accords with my experience that a person suffering from strychnia would not bear to be rubbed40 ,re-examined4--8,i attribute the symptoms exhibited before ,saturday to strychnia4 ,they are not so in accordance with any disease as with strychnia40 ,dr4 ,christison1 the eminent writer on poisons1 also agreed with ,mr4 ,morley and ,mr4 ,nunneley as to the cause of the symptoms4 ,he admitted that 8it was just possible to attribute them to hysteria1 but had never seen such a combination of symptoms in an hysteric case4 ,he thought it was unusual for a person to be insensible before death in a case of strychnia1 but he had seen it lately in the case of an animal killed by that poison--the symptoms were exactly those which would be produced by an overdose of strychnia in the prior attacks40 ,dr4 ,hobson1 who had seen the deceased with ,mr4 ,morley a few minutes after her death1 8saw nothing either in her countenance or position that he thought particular1 and admitted that all the symptoms described before those of ,saturday might be accounted for in an aggravated form of hysteria1 but would not expect a person who suffered under such a form of hysteria to be conscious1 nor did he attribute these symptoms to that disease40 ,mr4 ,teal1 who had been in practice in ,leeds for thirty-four years1 agreed 8in the symptoms being entirely in accord with strychnia1 and though he had seen hysteria simulate strychnism1 he had never seen it entirely resemble the entire group of symptoms represented in this case2 had he heard only of the symptoms before ,saturday1 he should have considered them in strict accordance with the effects of that poison2 and even if he had heard of hysteric symptoms before1 he should have suspected strychnia1 but would not deny the possibility of their being consistent with hysteria40 ,in reply to a juryman1 he added the following evidence on the probable reason for the state of the prisoner's mind3-- 8,excessive drinking without producing delirium tremens might cause the conduct of the prisoner1 described by ,harrison1#ha as to spirits and noises4 ,he might have any delusions when under the influence of drink1 but when sober such a man might be sound in mind and without delusions1 and when partially drunk might have delusions without suffering under delirium tremens40 ,mr4 ,richard ,hey1 who had been in practice in ,york for twenty-seven years1 and concurred with the other medical men1 on cross-examination1 said-- 8,i have had experience in hysteria1 and have seen cases in which many of the symptoms would be the same as those described4 ,the freedom from affection of the brain would lead me to suspect it to be strychnia4 ,i think the violent twitchings and spasms1 and the extreme pain they produced1 would make a very marked distinction from the effects of hysteria4 ,i have never seen instances of screaming out from pain in hysteria4 ,i have heard of screaming out4 ,they complain of pain1 but not violent pain4 ,the spasm consequent on strychnia would1 ,i imagine1 induce a patient to be rubbed as in ordinary spasms and cramp1 but ,i never saw spasms so intense as in those spoken of in strychnia4 ,one of the most marked symptoms in strychnia1 in aggravated cases1 is not being able to bear to be touched1 but it is not so in slight attacks40 ,re-examined4--8,i never knew touching or walking across a room not bearable in hysteria1 or pain in the jaws1 or all these things combined in hysteria40 ,the last witness called by the prosecution1 ,mr4 ,william ,hey1 who had been in practice in ,leeds for thirty-seven years1 was equally of opinion that the symptoms were inconsistent with any known disease1 but consistent with the effects of strychnia1 and with nothing else4 8,had he heard only the evidence of the symptoms down to ,friday night1 her hysterical temperament1 and her recovery on the ,saturday1 he should not have attributed them to hysteria1 but he should have thought it a most extraordinary case40 ,,the ,,prisoner',s ,,actions ,,and ,,statements4 ,in addition to the acts and statements of the prisoner reported in the 8,early ,life of the ,prisoner0 and the evidence already given1 ,miss ,fisher deposed to his very violent threats against his wife1 especially when in liquor2 his telling her on one occasion 8to mind her own business1 or he would do her job for her02 his threatening her with a knife and striking her1 and telling her 8he would give her a pill02 and to his wife saying1 in his presence1 8,if ,i should die1 it is my wish1 ,elizabeth1 that you should tell my friends to have my body examined02 to his writing a letter to the witchman ,harrison1 asking him 8to torment his wife when at ,manchester1 as she was not a right woman02 and telling the witness that ,harrison had told him that his wife's days would end in ,february4 ,he also told another witness 7,elizabeth ,thornhill1 a charwoman7 that ,harrison had told him that his wife would not live long1 and that he would marry the lady next door 7,mrs4 ,witham74 ,whilst the inquest was proceeding he asked ,mrs4 ,witham how it was going on1 and when she said to him1 8,it is a very suspicious thing that you gave her the medicine at eight o'clock and that she became ill a quarter of an hour after10 he replied1 8,if they ask me if ,i gave the medicine1 ,i shall say ,i did not2 and if they ask if she took it herself1 ,i shall say ,i do not know40 ,to ,margaret ,gray1 another witness1 he stated on the ,friday that his wife was ill of spasms1 and he did not think she would live over ,saturday night4 ,to ,mary ,hicks he more than once stated that he was sure his wife would die1 and that ,mr4 ,morley would want a post mortem examination1 as he did in his father's case1 but that he would object to it1 as he had promised his wife to do2 that he should probably soon marry again2 and when ,mrs4 ,hicks told him to go back1 as his wife might have another attack1 he said she would not until half-past ten or eleven1 and made no reply when again asked if the attacks were periodical4 ,on the ,sunday morning after his wife's death1 he told this witness that there was to be an inquest1 and when she asked why1 said1 8,oh1 we live in a bad neighbourhood1 and have not lived happily together4 ,it is all nonsense40 ,to the ,rev4 ,h4 ,t4 ,sturgeon1 the clergyman of ,burley1 whom he asked to visit his wife1 and to whom he professed to be very anxious about her spiritual welfare1 he assigned as his reason for not calling in further advice 7as recommended by ,mr4 ,morley7 his fear of offending that gentleman4 ,to a man of the name of ,rose1 a baker1 whose name even he did not know1 and whom he met by accident in a dram shop on the ,thursday before his wife's death1 he said that he thought his wife would die1 and told him 8not to come to him till he saw her death in the paper1 and then1 if he lighted on a woman that would suit him1 to bring her down to his house1 as he could not do without one if his wife died40 ,to ,harrison1 the watchman1 on the ,thursday after his wife's death1 when giving him a card for her funeral1 he said there was an inquest on her4 ,when ,harrison asked why1 the prisoner said1 8,can they detect a grain or a grain and a half of strychnia80 8,why10 replied ,harrison1 8have you given her any80 8,no10 replied ,dove2 8but ,i got some of ,morley's man to kill cats1 and some might have been spilt and she have got it40 ,again ,harrison saw him the next day1 when he said1 8,mr4 ,morley has told me they have found poison in my wife4 ,could they take me if ,i go back80 8,i should10 replied ,harrison4 8,if you are innocent1 go back2 what occasion have you to be frightened8 ,they will not take you if you are innocent10 and ,dove then went away4 ,to his wife's mother1 ,mrs4 ,jenkins1 who came to his house after her daughter's death1 he said at breakfast on the ,friday1 the day of the adjourned inquest1 8,do you know that a sprinkle of oil of almonds will kill a person8 ,arsenic you can detect in a body after #bj years4 ,belladonna you cannot2 one is a mineral1 the other a vegetable4 ,there is a poison like this0--taking up a piece of salt--8in a man you can detect it1 in a woman you cannot40 ,he told her also that he could not think but that he should marry again4 ,when he talked about the poisons another person1 a ,mrs4 ,risdon1 was present4 ,to ,mr4 ,scarth1 a pupil of ,mr4 ,morley's1 who1 in consequence of the latter's engagement1 was the first to see her on the #beth of ,february1 he put the question whether ,mr4 ,morley would require a post mortem examination if his wife died4 ,scarth replied that ,mr4 ,morley generally did on all his patients who died suddenly1 when the prisoner said1 8,i will not consent40 8,probably10 said ,scarth1 8as you did when your father died40 8,his wife10 replied ,dove1 8would not consent40 ,on the close of the case for the prosecution1 ,mr4 ,bliss called on the counsel to put into the box the remainder of the witnesses whose names were on the back of the bill1 and ,mr4 ,hardy1 in the absence of his leader1 declining to take this responsibility1 ,baron ,bramwell1 on the authority of the case of ,r4 v4 ,woodhead1 ruled that the prosecutor need not do so1 but was bound to have the witnesses in ,court so that they might1 if required1 be called by the defence4#hb ,,the ,,defence4 ,though the defence of the prisoner was mainly rested on the question of his sanity1 ,mr4 ,bliss urged on the jury that the circumstantial evidence against him was inconclusive1 turning the openness of the prisoner's acts and conversations1 and his attention to his wife during her attacks1 to the best advantage4 ,on the question of his sanity1 in addition to the mischievous and cruel acts that had been elicited in cross-examination1 he cited as further proof his belief in witchcraft and his frequent consultations with the witchman ,harrison1 and his request to that person to torment his wife1 professedly to force her to return to his bed4 ,the witchman1 said counsel1 not contemplating the murderous result1 encouraged him1 and held out such promises of future happiness that the desire ripened into practice1 and the wife was murdered4 ,even after detection was inevitable1 the confidence of the dupe remained unimpaired1 and he firmly believed that the witchman could rescue him from his doom4 ,as a proof of this insane belief the following letter written in his own blood1 which had been found in his pocket when in jail1 was read3-- 8,dear ,devil1--,if you will get me clear at the assizes1 and let me have the enjoyment of life1 wealth1 tobacco1 more food and better1 and my wishes granted till ,i am sixty1 come to me to-night4 ,i remain1 your faithful subject1 8,,william ,,dove40 ,,medical ,,evidence ,,for ,,the ,,defence4 ,in support of the plea of insanity1 in addition to the witnesses already referred to in the introduction to this case1 three medical witnesses of tried experience in lunacy1 ,dr4 ,caleb ,williams 7for #cj years the medical attendant at the ,york ,asylum71 ,dr4 ,pyeman ,smith 7of the ,leeds ,lunatic ,asylum71 and ,mr4 ,john ,kitchen 7of ,the ,retreat1 at ,york71 were called for the defence1 whose evidence1 it is only fair1 should be given in some detail4 ,dr4 ,williams1 who had been in ,court during the whole trial1 and had also examined the prisoner with ,mr4 ,kitchen a few days before the trial1 was decidedly of opinion1 from the evidence he had heard1 that the prisoner was of unsound mind1 and that his violent emotions and his belief in supernatural agency were indications of it4 8,taking into account10 said the witness1 8that he had written and said similar things before about selling his soul to the devil1 ,i think that his letter to the devil was not simulated4 ,it appears to be written with blood4 ,i had conversation with him about that letter when ,i saw him1 and he told me it was written under satanic influence4 ,the result of that conversation was that1 in my opinion1 it was not simulated4 ,i have no doubt that his illusion1 that he had sold himself to the devil1 was a real one4 ,i believe his incantations spoken of were connected with his belief in supernatural agency2 and ,i think his saying that he had put a spell on the steward arose from the same belief4#hc ,the letter to his schoolmaster1 in which he declared his sanity1 is very like what is done by insane persons--they declare they are sane4 ,his talking to various persons about strychnia showed the weakness of his mind4 ,the effect of drink on a lunatic are to make him violent and dangerous4 ,persons liable to insanity would exhibit a tendency and inclination to drink4 ,i think from what ,i have heard he has not the power of controlling his emotions and passions4 ,none of them at all times4#hd ,there would be periods when he would have control over some4 ,the circumstance of his shooting the cat showed an uncontrollable impulse to injure or take life2 and seeing it was not expended in injuring the man1 he shot the cat4 ,the effect of confining a person for several weeks on strictly sober diet1 who has before been subject to get drunk1 would be to reduce him to a calm condition4 ,the ,castle diet is sober 7,dove's prison74 ,from all ,i have heard and seen1 ,i consider his powers of mind1 during the fatal week were probably influenced by his notions regarding supernatural agency1 and that consequently he was the subject of a delusion4 ,during that week1 labouring under such delusions1 he might retain his power of adapting means to an end1 and of judging of the consequences4 ,he could not under those delusions have the power of resisting any impulse40 ,on cross-examination by ,mr4 ,overend1 after repudiating the notion that his evidence was tinged by religious objections to capital punishment1 the witness said3-- 8,i should not call administering poison five or six times an impulse1 but a propensity--an uncontrollable propensity to destroy life1 and give pain4 ,for the time it would be a permanent condition of the mind1 and might select the special object1 and constantly seek opportunities of carrying out the propensity4 ,i think a person with such a propensity would not know that he was doing wrong4 ,i think he might fear the consequences1 and know that punishment would follow4 ,he would know1 probably1 that he was breaking the law4 ,i say that1 because he would have a very incorrect appreciation of right and wrong4 ,he would not know at the time that he would be hanged4 ,i found that opinion on the occupation of the mind by the insane propensity4 ,it is uncertain whether he would know it before he did it4 ,he might after he had done it4 ,he might do a murder secretly1 because he could not otherwise do it4 ,a propensity of that kind generally acts without a motive4 ,one of the peculiarities is that a person seeks no escape3 in certain cases acknowledges his crime4 ,the propensity may come on suddenly3 an impulse comes on suddenly--a propensity more frequently comes on slowly1 and starts from a considerable time4 ,if a man gives way to his passions1 and commits a rape1 ,i call that a vice1 and not a propensity4 ,supposing a cruel man1 who wishes to get rid of his wife1 quarrels with her1 in the abstract that is a vice4 ,supposing a man to have taken every precaution against discovery1 and pains to procure poison for his wife1 and to prepare for her death1 ,i should think that a vice1 and not a delusion4 ,supposing a man of cruel disposition had formed a dislike to his wife1 and wanted to get rid of her1 and had nursed that dislike into a propensity to kill4 ,i should call that an insane propensity4 ,i don't say that every man who dislikes his wife1 and wishes to get rid of her1 is insane4 ,when he acquires the propensity to kill1 and cannot control it1 he is insane40 ,question4--8,if a person lived with his wife1 hated her1 and determined to1 and did kill her1 what is the difference between that determination which is vice1 and that propensity which is insanity80 ,answer4--8,the prisoner's history would be required to determine whether it was vice or insanity40 ,question4--8,supposing a man was determined to kill his wife1 and he nurses the thought for six months1 till the desire becomes uncontrollable1 when does the desire become insanity80 ,answer4--8,when by nourishing such an idea1 the mind becomes diseased1 and he cannot control his acts--that applies to other things40 ,question4--8,if a man dwells on the possession of a woman till he cannot control his desire1 would that be vice or insanity80 ,answer4--8,it might be insanity1 and might apply to rape4#he ,in insanity there is a tendency to thieve4 ,theft is one of the indications of moral insanity2 and a man may desire to possess another man's goods1 till he cannot control his acts4 ,he is then insane4 ,if a man permits himself to indulge a passion till he becomes uncontrollable1 that is moral insanity1 and he is not responsible4 ,consulting a sorcerer1 and all superstitious beliefs1 are indications of a weak mind4 ,belief in clairvoyance and dreams is not necessarily an indication of insanity4 ,a belief in spiritual rappings1 ,i should infer1 was an indication of a weak mind4 ,talking to persons about strychnia1 and his wife's death1 ,i think indicated a feeble state of mind40 ,on re-examination1 ,dr4 ,williams said-- 8,imitativeness is one of the characteristics of insanity1 and hearing strychnia and ,palmer's trial very much talked about would be very likely1 in a weak mind1 to produce imitation4 ,you must know a man's history before you can say whether his acts proceed from vice or insanity4 ,madness very frequently developes itself in great cunning and foresightedness when reasoning on false premises4 ,i have frequently known insane persons to attempt to escape from the asylum1 and to have shown great cleverness in their preparations for it extending over several days40 ,question4--8,suppose you had heard the case of a man put to you who wished to get rid of his wife1 and had from his childhood displayed cruelty of disposition--had threatened to shoot his father2 said he heard supernatural noises1 sometimes treated his wife kindly1 and sometimes cried like no other man1 would you have any doubt that he was insane80 ,answer4--8,no6 and not fit to be at large4 ,i should have no difficulty1 as a medical man1 in certifying that he was a lunatic4 ,lunatics have often displayed great ingenuity in committing theft and concealing it4 ,the passion of lust frequently becomes a disease of the mind4 ,when the prisoner gave his cows linseed to take one night1 to fatten them for market the next morning1 that ,i should deem an indication of an unsound mind40 ,in reply to questions by the ,judge1 the witness said3-- 0,it would require a longer period than a month to establish disease and an uncontrollable propensity to commit a crime4 ,if a man committed a crime1 having thought of it for a month1 ,i should not say he was of unsound mind4 ,the difference would depend on length of time4 ,some men's minds1 previously weak1 would take a shorter time1 and very exciting causes would shorten the time2 but there must be an appreciable period1 and an interval for the mind to pass into a morbid condition from the continual contemplation of one object4 ,the period is necessarily very uncertain1 from the variable effect of emotions and circumstances on the mind40 ,the ,judge4--8,suppose1 at the time when he shot the cat1 a policeman had come in1 would he have shot it80#hf ,answer4--8,no4 ,the presence of the policeman would probably have controlled him2 he would probably have expended the impulse on some person or something else4 ,unless the person is exceedingly violent1 the presence of a policeman would have some influence to control him40 ,question4--8,whenever a man commits a crime1 is it because he is uncontrolled by existing circumstances80 ,answer4--8,it is40 ,the ,judge4--8,then what is the difference between such a man and the case you put80 ,answer4--8,in the case ,i put the impulse is uncontrollable1 because his mind would be so occupied with his purpose40 ,the ,judge4--8,is it true of everybody1 whether sane or insane1 that when intent on an act they forget the consequences80 ,answer4--8,an insane man would be more likely to forget consequences4 ,sane and insane persons would talk about occurrences4 ,how and what they talked about would depend on their judgment40 ,the witness wished to say with regard to the question as to shooting the cat1 that he thought the impulse of destruction was so strong at the time1 that he could not control it1 and must have shot something4#hg ,dr4 ,pyeman ,smith1 the proprietor of a private lunatic asylum at ,leeds for the past #ae years1 though1 from what he had heard and seen1 he was prepared to declare that ,dove was of unsound mind during the fatal week1 and had been so for the last #bj years1 admitted1 on cross-examination1 that he did know right from wrong during that period4 ,he1 however1 on re-examination1 qualified this admission4 8,a decided lunatic10 said the witness1 8very often knows right from wrong1 and yet may be regardless of any consequences from his acts4 ,he may be utterly unable to refrain from doing an act1 though he knew it was wrong4 ,i cannot say the prisoner was utterly unable to refrain from wrong during the fatal week4 ,circumstances might enable him to refrain--other circumstances40 ,to the ,judge4--8,not a greater degree of punishment4 ,i have already said he was entirely regardless of circumstances40 ,mr4 ,bliss objected to this line of examination by the judge4 ,the ,judge4--8,i am entitled to1 and in my opinion bound to1 and ,i will put the questions40 ,witness then continued-- 8,not possessing the poison would be a circumstance which would have prevented him4 ,i believe1 during the week1 it was from unsoundness of mind that he was regardless of consequences40 ,mr4 ,john ,kitchen1 superintendent of ,the ,retreat at ,york1 where the patients averaged a hundred1 also agreed with the previous medical witnesses1 that ,dove was of unsound mind during the fatal week4 ,he1 however1 admitted that 8during that period he knew right from wrong1 had some knowledge of the difference--some knowledge that he was committing murder--and that if found out he would be punished40 ,this admission he sought to explain away1 on re-examination1 protesting that what he meant was 8that ,dove knew he was killing his wife1 but did not know he was doing a wrong act--that he would know in proportion as he knew the difference between right and wrong40 ,question by a juryman4--8,do you adopt the theory of ,dr4 ,smith as to irresistible propensity in mania80 ,answer4--8,in general terms ,i do40 ,question4--8,do you adopt it in this case80 ,answer4--8,i do not4 ,i account for the murder1 if he committed it1 on different principles4 ,we have a man of deficient mental powers2 besides that he is insane2 he is liable to do any absurd1 cruel1 or vicious or irrational action that presented itself to his mind1 as his life shows4 ,supposing him to be insane1 ,i should apply the term vicious or malignant to him4 ,we have heard1 in evidence1 that he was brought up by pious parents1 put to the best schools1 and was unable to receive the smallest amount of education4 ,we see him carried away to do the most foolish things4 ,where he loves1 he loves with a foolish intensity2 and where he hates1 he hates with a foolish malignity3 and if a woman puts herself into the power of such a man as his wife1 what has happened is just what might have been expected40 ,to ,mr4 ,overend4--8,i think he knew right from wrong--that it was wrong to steal or murder4 ,if he murdered1 ,i should expect him to deny it in that form of insanity4 ,in one form of insanity1 impulsive madness1 they own their crime4 ,this case was only partly impulsive1 and ,i should not expect him to divulge it4 ,if he thought of this crime before he committed it1 he would know it was wrong4 ,he probably would learn it was wrong in his childhood4 ,it is impossible to say when he committed the act he knew it was wrong4 ,i don't know when he would know it was wrong4 ,i can give no opinion about it40 ,on re-examination1 he said3-- 8,there are dangerous wards in some asylums1 but ,i should not expect to find the greatest number of impulsive cases in that ward4 ,sometimes impulsive lunatics are dangerous4 ,the keepers have an influence over them--a mental influence4 ,they formerly worked on their fears1 and thus kept patients under control4 ,there is a madness which consists in a propensity to kill4 ,if a stranger was left with such a one in a room alone1 ,i should expect him to exercise his propensity and kill him2 and yet1 probably1 that patient would yield his keeper obedience4 ,probably the fear of some chastisement would induce fear of his keeper40 ,,the ,,judge',s ,,charge4 ,the greater portion of ,baron ,bramwell's charge was necessarily occupied by reading over and commenting on the evidence produced by the prosecution--that the death of the wife had been due to the administration of strychnia1 and that the prisoner had opportunities of administering it4 ,the evidence on these points has been already so fully reported that it is needless to give this portion of his exhaustive summing-up4 ,his remarks on the rule of law on the plea of insanity1 and on the nature of the insanity suggested by the medical witnesses1 are too valuable to be omitted4 8,the rules of law10 said the learned ,baron1 8are that it must be clearly proved that1 at the time of committing the act1 the party accused was labouring under such a defect of reason1 from disease of the mind1 as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing2 or1 if he did know it1 that he did not know he was doing wrong4 ,if the accused was conscious of the act he did1 he is punishable2 and what you have to consider is1 had he sufficient degree of sanity to know he was doing wrong8 ,with respect to delusions the law is the same4 ,according to the law1 as ,i lay it down to you on the highest authority1 to exempt a man from the penal consequence of his act1 the act being contrary to the law1 you must be of opinion that at the time he did the act he was not conscious that it was one he ought not to do2 for if he was conscious that it was contrary to law1 he is punishable4 ,you must be satisfied that he had not a sufficient degree of reason to know that he was doing an act that was wrong--of course that means an act prohibited by law3 because a man might imagine that the thing was a right thing to do1 and it might not be contrary to law4 ,he might think it right to take from the rich and give to the poor4 ,but if he did it1 not knowing it was wrong1 he must not know that the thing which he did was what the law would punish him for4 ,it is not necessary for me to justify the law1 or for you to approve it4 ,we have only to administer it4 ,don't1 however1 suppose for a moment that ,i doubt the reasonableness of it4 8,let me put a case to you4 ,a man labours under a delusion4 ,he thinks ,i have done him wrong--have traduced his character4 ,he waylays and murders me4 ,why should he be acquitted8 ,suppose he was wronged1 that would not justify his taking away my life4 ,suppose1 again1 a person imagined some part of his person to be made of glass1 or had swallowed something1 or got something wrong in his inside4 ,imagine that man deliberately waylaying a person1 knowing that he possessed property1 to take it from him1 and afterwards to conceal what he had done1 and to act in every other respect as a rational man4 ,why should he be held irresponsible for this because he was irrational in other respects8 8,why should punishment be administered at all8 ,it was not inflicted on a man who had committed a crime because he had inflicted that upon others1 but in order to hold out an example to deter other people4 ,if you punish an insane man1 you hold out no example1 because you are punishing a man who thinks he is doing right4 ,but take the case of a man who is labouring under a delusion--under an evil propensity4 ,if you punish him when he does wrong1 or any other person with a similar propensity to commit that offence1 and he knows1 that when he indulged in it1 or that when somebody else did1 he was punished for it1 that will deter him from repeating or from doing that act4 ,take the case of a man who has a strong propensity to thieve--a strong desire on him to do it2 his intellect not very strong1 and he knows that he is punished if he does such an act3 do not you think1 if he is punished1 it will deter him from doing it again8 ,there cannot be a doubt that it is so2 and if you were to announce to all the world1 that a man who has a strong propensity to an evil1 that a person in his condition1 shall not be punished1 you take away from such persons the only thing that would deter them from committing the evil4 ,take a man of a weak mind and strong animal propensities1 and it will not deter him from committing such an act40 ,again1 after going carefully through the evidence in the case1 and pointing out the application of the different classes of proofs1 the learned ,baron said that 8he thought none of the instances of strange conduct adduced when the prisoner was a boy evidence of insanity more than might be found in the conduct of a perverse1 ill-conducted boy20 and contrasted the opinions of the witnesses as to his being almost an idiot with the letters written by him1 which exhibited no traces of mental incapacity4#hh ,in commenting on the opinions of the medical men of experience in insanity1 he adopted the judgment of ,dr4 ,lushington in the ,dyce ,sombre case1 8that the facts to which they depose1 and not their opinions alone1 were of weight20 and added 8that he sincerely believed that the jury were as capable of judging as these mad doctors40 8,two of them10 continued the learned judge1 8were of opinion that the contemplation of a crime constituted insanity1 if it were only contemplated enough4 ,then it was said that a man who had a propensity to vice1 to cruelty1 to crime1 was insane4 ,take the case of a man found guilty at these assizes of a crime4 ,it is found that he has twice been convicted before and in prison half a dozen times1 and that he has a general propensity to commit crime4 ,in such a case1 why should not ,dr4 ,williams come forward and say1 8,you are wrong4 ,he is insane2 you ought not to punish him40 ,if they believed these experts you would take away protection from the community1 because they would have a check less to prevent the commission of crime4 ,it would be affectation in him to say that he did not set a value on this scientific evidence4 ,but he would rather take his own independent opinion1 than that of others1 on the facts4 ,but it was not for him to do more than comment1 and for the jury to judge of its value--of the conduct of the prisoner1 of his letters1 and of the arguments before them40 ,after a brief consideration the jury returned a verdict of 8guilty1 but recommended him to mercy on the ground of his defective intellect40 ,sentence of death was passed on him1 and he was executed at ,york4 ,,the ,,prisoner',s ,,confessions4 ,a day or two before his execution ,dove dictated two long and extraordinary statements of his connection with the 8,witchman10 and the part played in the tragedy by this dangerous man1 which contrast strongly with the evidence given by ,harrison himself1 and probably disclose facts which that person was glad to conceal at the time of his examination4 ,in the first of these statements he details his earlier interviews with the 8,witchman0 on the subjects of recovering lost cattle1 removing strange noises from his house1 and the bewitching of his live stock1 in which ,harrison appears to have played off on him the common tricks of his trade4 ,his confidence in this fellow was unfortunately largely increased by his prophecying that ,dove's father would die before a certain ,christmas ,day--he died on ,christmas ,eve--and led him to consult the 8,witchman0 about his wife when he first conceived his violent hatred towards her4 8,about ,august1 #ahee10 he says1 8,i had some unpleasantness with my wife1 and went over to ,harrison at ,leeds1 told him of it1 and he promised to make it all right4 ,he told me ,i must let him know by letter how things went on4 ,in two days after this ,i wrote him that my wife was no better1 and that he must do something to make peace4 ,i sent this by ,fisher1 a porter at the railway station1 to post4 ,mrs4 ,dove knew ,i had written1 but not what about4 ,she therefore sent the servant to ,fisher1 got back the letter1 took out what ,i had written1 and put in a blank sheet4#hi ,i did not know this at the time1 but1 hearing some whispering1 wrote another letter1 and posted it myself about two o'clock4 ,at three ,i went myself to ,harrison1 who told me he had received a blank sheet1 and asked why1 and ,i told him4 ,i then informed him of the unpleasantness and unhappiness with my wife1 and he said #8,you will never have happiness till she is out of the way4' ,i said #8,how do you know that4' ,he said #8,come upstairs and ,i'll tell you1 for ,i've got your nativity marked out4' ,upstairs he showed him a paper with the signs of the ,zodiac1 and hieroglyphical forms and numbers1 which he describes at length4 ,harrison then read out of a book my destiny4 ,between twenty-seven and thirty-two all would go against me4 ,i should have nothing but misfortunes2 that at thirty-two the sun and moon would come into conjunction1 and then everything would be in my favour2 that at thirty-two ,i should lose my wife1 marry again1 and have a child1 and an addition to my fortune2 and that for my sake he did not care how soon it was here1 for until then ,i should never be a happy man2 that after #8thirty-two' everything would go well for a few years4 ,he made other remarks as to different periods of my life40 ,then follow the usual enquiries about the kind of person that was to be his second wife4 8,i saw ,harrison again in ,november about my wife's temper4 ,he said never mind1 #8she will die before the end of ,february or ,march1 ,i am not certain which4' ,when he told me my wife would die soon ,i said #8,you have told me before she would die at thirty-two4' ,he replied #8,before thirty-two1 but ,i did not say how much before4' ,in a few days afterwards 7after ,december #ba7 ,i went to the #8,new ,cross ,inn1' and ,harrison came in with a newspaper and read about ,palmer's case4 ,i then asked him whether strychnia could be detected1 and he said #8,no1 nor any other vegetable poison4' ,i then said #8,what other vegetable poisons are there that cannot be detected8 and he said #8,digitalis1 belladonna1 particularly if crystallised2 he could not remember more then4' ,i then asked him to get or make me some strychnia1 as we were much annoyed in our new house with cats1 but he refused4 ,i told him ,i would get some elsewhere4 8,i went to him again in ,january last about my wife4 ,i told him about my wife's temper and her being poorly then1 and he again said1 #8,she won't live long2 she will never get better4 ,as ,i told you before1 she will die in ,february4' 8,i had no further communication with ,harrison until the #fth of ,march1 when ,i sent for him to the #8,new ,cross ,inn1' and told him my wife had died1 and that an inquest was to be held4 ,he asked1 #8,why8' ,i said1 #8,my wife died very suddenly1 and ,mr4 ,morley cannot account for it1 and it is known that ,i had strychnia in the house4 ,mr4 ,morley thinks some may have been spilt1 and my wife got at it accidentally4' ,i then said1 #8,you told me strychnia could not be detected1 but ,i have seen in the ,materia ,medica that it can2#ij what is your opinion now8 ,can a grain to a grain and a half be detected1 for there is a great difference on the subject8 ,professor ,taylor says it cannot be detected twenty-four hours after death in the human body4' ,harrison said1 #8,what1 have you poisoned your wife8' ,i replied1 #8,no1 ,i should be very sorry to4' ,nothing more passed then4 8,on ,friday1 the #gth1 whilst the inquest was going on1 ,i went to the back door of ,harrison's house1 about #c ,p4,m41 and said to him #8that several witnesses had been called1 and ,i was suspected of poisoning my wife1' and added1 #8,how will the case go8' ,he said1 #8,it will be a very difficult case1 but ,i can get you out4' ,i said1 #8,you only say you can2 but tell me1 will you8' and he replied1 #8,set yourself altogether at rest2 ,i will4'0 ,in the second statement he gives details of his administration of the strychnia1 declaring that even when he got the second portion of that poison from ,mr4 ,morley's pupil he had no intention of poisoning his wife1 but only intended it for the cats4 ,his first attempt was with the jelly his sister ,jane had sent1 of which1 it may be remembered1 the wife1 on the score of its bitterness1 took only a spoonful4 ,he then goes on3-- 8,on the ,saturday1 after ,fisher left1#ia ,i took the paper containing the strychnia out of my razor-case and put it in my waistcoat-pocket1 and then went to my mother's house4 ,in the afternoon ,i had previously called at ,mr4 ,morley's for my wife's medicine4 ,it was an effervescing draught1 in two bottles4 ,at my mother's that evening ,i took the cork out of one of the bottles and touched the wet end of it with the strychnia4 ,on that ,saturday evening my wife took some of the draught in ,mrs4 ,witham's presence4 ,mrs4 ,witham tasted it1 and said it tasted bitter4 ,the draught was not shaken that night before taken4 ,my wife did not suffer from the effects at all4 ,on my way from my mother's that night ,i threw away the remainder of the strychnia4 ,i cannot tell you the feelings of my mind when ,i put the strychnia into the jelly and the mixture4 ,i did not think at the moment as to its effects and consequences4 ,on the ,sunday following1 which was the #bdth of ,february1 ,i went to the surgery2 and there being no person there at the time1 ,i took perhaps ten grains of strychnia and folded them in paper1 and when ,i got home placed it in the stable4 ,on the ,monday morning ,i gave my wife her medicine--the effervescent mixture--about half-past nine1 and at ten she had the attack mentioned by ,mrs4 ,fisher and ,mrs4 ,witham4 ,at the time she took it she complained very much of the bitterness1 and said she would tell ,mr4 ,morley about it4 ,there were three or four doses left in the bottle after that draught was taken1 and ,i broke the bottle in my wife's presence1 fearing ,mr4 ,morley might taste it4 ,the mixture was changed on the ,monday2 the mixture then given was very bitter4 ,on ,tuesday night or ,wednesday morning ,i applied the wet end of the cork of the medicine-bottle to the strychnia1 as before4 ,i think there might be from half to a grain of strychnia on the cork when ,i put it into the bottle4 ,i shook the mixture up4 ,there were only two or three doses in the bottle4 ,i don't remember my wife having an attack on the ,wednesday4 ,she took her medicine that day4 ,on ,thursday ,i got another bottle of medicine from ,mr4 ,morley1 and ,i again applied the wet end of the cork to the strychnia as before4 ,about the same quantity adhered4 ,the last dose of that medicine was taken on ,friday night about ten1 and my wife was taken seriously ill in half an hour1 but she had no arching of the back1 as far as ,i can remember4 ,mrs4 ,fisher is mistaken in that point1 but her statement in other respects is true1 ,i believe4 ,on that ,friday night ,i got another bottle of medicine from ,mr4 ,morley's1 directed to be taken four times a day4 ,i did not put any strychnia into that bottle1 or upon its cork4 ,mrs4 ,witham gave a dose out of that bottle in the afternoon of ,saturday4#ib ,the strychnia was in the stable1 where ,i had first placed it1 and there was none in the razor-case on that day1 nor during any part of that week4 ,i was drinking at ,sadlefee's public-house on that ,saturday1 and was more or less affected with drink all that afternoon and evening4 ,about three in the afternoon ,i went to the stable and took a grain and a half of strychnia out of the stable and put it in another paper1 which ,i placed in my waistcoat-pocket4 ,i put that strychnia into the wine-glass which contained a little water--,i believe the water left in the glass by ,mrs4 ,witham after giving my wife the third dose in the afternoon1 but ,i have no recollection as to the time ,i put the strychnia into the glass4 ,i gave the mixture in the evening1 as stated by ,mrs4 ,witham and ,mrs4 ,wood in their evidence4 ,i poured the mixture into the glass which contained the water and strychnia4 ,i did not put the strychnia into the wine-glass in the presence of ,mrs4 ,witham and ,mrs4 ,wood4 ,i know that ,i put it in before1 but cannot tell how long before giving the medicine4 ,i did not1 when ,i gave the medicine on the occasions mentioned1 think of the consequences2 but when ,i saw my wife suffering on the ,saturday night1 it flashed across my mind that ,i had given her medicine1 and that she would die from the effects4 ,i was muddled before this1 and did not know what ,i was doing4 ,when the thoughts of her death crossed my mind1 ,i regretted what ,i had done1 and believe that if ,mr4 ,morley had come in at that moment ,i should have told him what ,i had given her1 so that he might have used means to restore her4 ,i cannot disguise the anguish ,i felt when ,i returned from ,mr4 ,morley's and found her dead4 ,palmer's case first called my attention to strychnia1 but ,i never should have thought of using that or any other poison for the purpose of taking my wife's life but for ,harrison1 who was always telling me that ,i should never have any happiness till my wife was out of the way40#ic ,,trial ,,of ,,silas ,,barlow ,,for ,,the ,,wilful ,,murder ,,of ,,eliza ,,soper4 ,before ,,the ,,honorable ,,mr4 ,,justice ,,denman1 at the ,,central ,,criminal ,,court1 ,november #bg1 #ahgf4 ,for the ,prosecution3 ,mr4 ,poland and ,mr4 ,beasley4 ,for the ,defence3 ,mr4 ,fulton and ,mr4 ,grubbe4 ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,case4 ,,the prisoner1 an engine driver on the ,south-,western ,railway1 about a year before the trial1 on being left a widower1 had formed a connection with the deceased1 who1 with their infant1 came to lodge at the house of a ,mrs4 ,wilson1 in ,leopold ,street1 ,vauxhall1 in ,august1 #ahgf1 under the name of ,smith1 where she was occasionally visited by the prisoner1 who passed as her husband4 ,apparently they lived together on kindly terms1 and were in fairly comfortable circumstances4 ,on the #crd of ,september the prisoner visited her about half-past eight in the evening1 and stayed an hour4 ,up to that day the deceased had been in good health4 ,as soon1 however1 as the prisoner had left1 she came down from her room1 knocked at the landlady's door1 and complained to her that she was very sick from the sarsaparilla which he had given her4 8,her lips were white1 she was very nervous1 and appeared hardly able to stand10 said ,mrs4 ,wilson4 8,i had never seen her so before4 ,she went upstairs1 and when ,i went to bed ,i went to her4 ,she was retching very much1 and sitting in a chair4 ,i then went away4 ,next morning ,i saw her2 she came downstairs and said she was very bad--worse4 ,she could not stand1 and had to lean against the wall4 ,during the day she became better40 ,,the ,,symptoms4 ,the prisoner came again on the ,sunday following1 the #ajth1 at the same time as before4 8,the deceased10 said ,mrs4 ,wilson1 8was at the street door1 talking to me1 with her baby1 and in perfect health4 ,they went up into their room1 and in about an hour the prisoner knocked at my room door and said his wife had had two fits4 ,i ran upstairs and found her lying across the bed2 the prisoner was in the room4 ,she was in a kind of fit or convulsion4 ,i sent the prisoner for some brandy and water4 ,she became a little conscious1 and taking me by the hand said #8,don't touch me4' ,she had been unconscious1 but the moment she was touched she went into convulsions4 ,her feet and hands were clenched1 and she was drawn quite backwards1 her back forming an entire arch4 ,she was not conscious then4 ,the prisoner was holding her all the time4 ,about half past ten ,i sent him for ,dr4 ,miller1 who came at once1 and applied mustard plasters1 remaining with her about five minutes1 and the prisoner going back with him for medicine4 ,she was slightly conscious when ,dr4 ,miller came1 and more so afterwards4 ,her feet were quite white787#id the toes being drawn backwards to the soles of the feet4 ,i did what the doctor told me1 but it did not do her any good4 ,i tried to give her the medicine1 but she could not take it1 and went off in a swoon4 ,she had licked the spoon4 ,she then had dreadful convulsions1 one in particular1 when it took the prisoner and me to hold her4 ,her neck was drawn backwards and quite arched4 ,after that she became quite conscious1 and said it was the nasty sarsaparilla that made her ill4 ,the prisoner said #8,oh no4 ,i have taken more of it than you4' ,he also said #8,i have given her two pills and taken two myself4' ,she complained of a dreadful pain in her heart1 and continued unconscious1 coming to herself a little at times1 but very slightly4 ,the convulsions were dreadful1 and she died about two o'clock on the eleventh4 ,she seemed to drop instantly after a dreadful convulsion4 ,i gave her two doses of the medicine the doctor sent4 ,i had not seen any sarsaparilla in the room40 ,on cross-examination by ,mr4 ,fulton1 after stating that she had never heard any quarrels between the prisoner and the deceased1 she gave the following further particulars as to the symptoms3-- 8,in the evening1 when ,i was called in1 her eyes were partly closed during the convulsions2 her breathing very hot 7hard87 and at most suspended2 her teeth entirely clenched and also her hands during the convulsions4 ,she wanted to be sick shortly before her death2 her lips were pale1 and remained so until her death4 ,the prisoner tried to move her1 when she became sick1 and she went into convulsions4 ,he helped to hold her1 and said he could not imagine what was the matter with her2 seemed distressed1 and sat on the bed holding her4 ,to all appearance he was kind to her but not affectionate4 ,she was more unconscious than conscious during the whole time4 ,about twelve o'clock she appeared quite conscious4 ,she had to move herself so that she could be sick1 and caught hold of the bed head1 and then went again into convulsions4 ,virtually she was unconscious the whole time4 ,dr4 ,miller came a second time1 and she told him she had had some fearful fits1 but ,i cannot recollect whether ,i said anything about the #8arching4' ,there was none when he saw her1 but her feet were curved1 and ,i told him about the #8shakings1' ,i mean the #8convulsions4' ,i first heard from the coroners officer that she had died of strychnia4 ,i had previously told him the symptoms attending her death1 but don't remember telling him of the #8arching4' ,he said there was every appearance of her having died from strychnia40 ,,medical ,,evidence4 ,james ,miller1 medical assistant at the ,vauxhall dispensary1 before that with ,mr4 ,scott1 a general practitioner1 and previously an insurance agent1 gave the following account of the case3-- 8,about twenty minutes to eleven on the #ajth of ,september ,i was called by the prisoner to his wife1 who he said had had two fainting fits4 ,i found her lying on the bed1 dressed1 and quite conscious4 ,she lay very quietly4 ,she said she had severe pain in the legs1 and that she had fainted twice4 ,i asked her if she had complained during the week4 ,she said only of pains in the head4 ,i found the calves of her legs very rigid1 her feet turned slightly inwards1 the toes of each foot inclined towards the other as she lay1 cramp in the lower limbs1 her arms quiet4 ,she beat her breast at times4 ,her hands were partly closed1 her heart very excited1 and her breathing slightly laboured4 ,her heart continued excited all the time ,i was there1 about five minutes4 ,i asked her what she had taken4 ,she said a cup of tea in the morning and a herring at tea4 ,she said she had pain in her head all the last week4 ,i believed she was suffering from epilepsy4 ,on leaving1 the prisoner returned with me2 ,i made up a bottle of medicine1 antispasmodic1 which he took away with him4 ,i never saw her again alive40 ,on cross-examination he said-- 8,he did not notice any such #8arching' as the witness ,wilson spoke of1 nor did she mention it to him as one of the symptoms4 ,nor should he call what he saw of the feet #8arching4' ,he had only seen one case of epilepsy before--that was twelve months ago--and the symptoms in it were very similar to what he saw in the deceased4 ,he saw the body immediately after death2 there was no #8arching' of it then4 ,if there had been he should have seen it4 ,she was lying1 with her clothes on1 on the bed4 ,if there had been any marked rigidity of the body he should have observed it2 that was a quarter of an hour after death40 ,re-examined by ,mr4 ,poland4--8,she had her clothes on when he saw her1 and part of her body might have been covered with the bedclothes4 ,in the case of epilepsy he referred to1 the person died in six hours4 ,he prescribed no pills1 only the mixture40 ,proof was then given of the finding in the prisoner's room of six bottles of medicine1 a box with two pills1#ie and a packet of powder in dirty paper1 and of their delivery to ,dr4 ,lees1 and subsequently to ,dr4 ,bernays for analysis4 ,it was not1 however1 until suspicions were aroused by other circumstances 7the finding of the body of the infant in the river7 that a post-mortem examination was held by ,dr4 ,lees1 and the contents of the stomach and other interior parts of the body analysed by him1 and subsequently handed to ,dr4 ,bernays for the same purpose4 ,in one of the bottles ,dr4 ,bernays found a distinct sediment of ,prussian blue1 pointing clearly to the use of some vermin killer4 ,subsequently two kinds of these dangerous preparations were submitted to and analysed by him4 ,,analytical ,,evidence4 ,dr4 ,lees1 ,m4,d41 of the ,brixton ,road1 on the #ahth of ,september made a post-mortem examination of the body in conjunction with a ,dr4 ,lewis4 ,they found no morbid appearances to indicate the cause of death--the limbs were somewhat rigid1 the body fairly nourished1 and the stomach showed no sign of irritant poison4 8,it contained10 said the witness1 8six ounces of a thin reddish fluid4 ,i put the stomach and contents into a jar1 and the viscera into another4 ,i received the bottles from the constable and the paper of powder1 and saw some pills at the inquest4 ,among the bottles was one of the larger ones1 which appeared to have contained a few ounces of good sarsaparilla--it was empty and rinsed out4 ,one bottle contained about two grains of dried powder1 adhering to the bottle4 ,i added to the bottle a few drachms of water1 two drachms of spirits of wine1 thirty drops of hydrochloric acid1 and two grains of dried powder4 ,my purpose up to that time was to test for strychnia1 but it was frustrated4 ,what ,i had done was not sufficient to enable me to form an opinion4 ,i had previously analysed a portion of a two-ounce phial1 containing half a drachm or thirty drops of a reddish brown fluid--half a spoonful4 ,i first tested five drops1 and obtained clear evidence of strychnia4 ,i was enabled to separate from the rest a substance that yielded strychnia4 ,i used three separate tests2 the second time with ten drops1 and obtained needle-shaped crystals4 ,i showed the colour to ,dr4 ,bernays4 ,i did not test the bottle for any other purpose4 ,i left the rest 7five drops7 in the bottle and corked it up4 ,half a grain of strychnia is a fatal dose4 ,i have been in practice fourteen years1 and am of opinion that if ,mrs4 ,wilson's description of the symptoms is correct1 they were consistent with death from strychnia4 ,they only resemble the disease known as idiopathic tetanus4 ,if ,mrs4 ,wilson's description is correct1 the symptoms were not consistent with anything ,i know except death by strychnia--it came on so rapidly4 ,if strychnia were administered in solution1 the symptoms would come on in a very few minutes4 ,strychnia occasionally produces irritation of the stomach4 ,the symptoms of poisoning by it are the rapid occurrence of twitchings in the limbs and rigidity of the muscles of the limbs1 usually commencing in the lower extremities2 the sense of weight on the chest1 the extension of the spasms to the muscles of the trunk1 the arching back of the head1 the intervals of consciousness1 the absence of any great difficulty in swallowing1 and death in six hours4 ,mr4 ,miller's evidence is consistent with death from strychnia40 ,the cross-examination was1 as in ,mrs4 ,wilson's case1 directed to the eliciting admissions in favour of the opinion1 at first adopted by ,mr4 ,miller1 that the death was due to epilepsy4 8,leaving out the #8arching'0 7opisthotonos71 said the witness1 8,i should hesitate to say she died of strychnia2 it is a leading symptom1 and also that the intellect was clear at intervals4 ,vomiting is not usual in epilepsy4 ,it was eight days after death that ,i examined the body4 ,there was then no rigidity beyond what ,i might expect in death4 ,the lungs were congested1 the heart flabby and decomposed1 spongy from putrefaction1 and containing a little coagulated blood4 ,taking the appearances of the whole post-mortem examination1 there were no marked ones to account for death40 ,dr4 ,a4 ,j4 ,bernays1 professor of chemistry at ,st4 ,thomas's ,hospital1 to whom the bottles and powder found in the room1 the jars with the stomach1 intestines1 and viscera1 and a bottle supposed to contain vomit1#if had been handed on the #bhth of ,october1 reported the results of his analysis of their contents4#ig 8,in the organs 7the lungs1 heart1 liver1 kidneys1 intestines1 spleen1 and blood7 he found no poison of any kind4 ,the stomach was inflamed1 and there was a trace of strychnia1 but of no other poison4 ,in one bottle of medicine1 opium1 myrrh1 but no strychnia1 were found1 and in another only peppermint and asaftida4 ,the powder was innocuous1 consisting of old mustard and fenugreek4 ,in one nearly empty bottle was found a distinct sediment of ,prussian blue1 one of the usual ingredients in #8vermin powder4' ,he was satisfied that what ,dr4 ,lees showed him on a watch glass was strychnia2 on testing1 it was found to contain the #ajjjth part of a grain4 ,on the #cast of ,october the inspector brought two packets labelled ,battle's ,vermin ,killer4 ,poison4 ,lincoln--a light blue powder1 a threepenny and a sixpenny packet4 ,the first consisted of fifteen grains1 containing wheat flour1 ,prussian blue1 and crystallised strychnia4 ,the second packet1 of the same composition as the first1 weighed thirty grains4 ,the amount of strychnia was--in the threepenny packet #ajfi per cent41 in the sixpenny packet #ajjf per cent41 corresponding to #af grains in the smaller packet4 ,on the #ith ,november a threepenny and sixpenny packet of ,butler's ,gloucestershire ,vermin and ,insect ,killer for killing rats and mice1 c41 was received1 marked poison4 ,the weight of the two was fifty-six grains4 ,it was a grey powder1 containing flour1 soot1 and barium carbonate1 but no strychnia2 but another packet of the same contained flour1 soot1 strychnia1 but no barium carbonate4 ,these #8vermin killers1' if used at all1 should never be made or sold except by the legitimate pharmaceutists of the country1 and under proper precautions40 ,mr4 ,justice ,denman4--8,a very proper suggestion for the consideration of the legislature40 ,mr4 ,thomas ,stephenson1 ,m4,d41 lecturer in chemistry at ,guy's ,hospital1 agreed with ,dr4 ,lees and ,dr4 ,bernays1 and had no doubt of the correctness of their experiments4 ,it was also proved by the prisoner's brother-in-law that the prisoner was in the habit of taking sarsaparilla1 and that whilst the prisoner lodged with him1 the witness had been using ,battle's ,vermin ,killer1 as he was troubled with mice in his room4 ,this he had bought at a shop in the ,vauxhall ,road1 but he did not recollect having any of it left1 or of the prisoner using it in his room4 ,the prisoner had left ,mrs4 ,wilson a few hours after the woman's death1 saying he was going to telegraph down the line and would be absent till the evening4 ,he did not return until about nine on the morning of the #aath1 when he said his cousin would take the child1 which ,mrs4 ,wilson dressed and gave to him1 and never saw it again until the #aeth1 when it was lying dead in a public-house at ,battersea1 having been found drowned in the river4 ,he also promised ,mrs4 ,wilson that he would attend the woman's funeral1 but did not1 and told her on one occasion that he always had strychnia by him4 ,for the defence ,mr4 ,fulton urged that the evidence of the 8arching0 of the body was very vague1 and rested only on the word of ,mrs4 ,wilson1 who had not mentioned this important symptom either to the doctor or the coroner's constable1 and that without that symptom the death might be accounted for by epilepsy1 and the first opinion of ,dr4 ,miller justified4 ,he endeavoured to minimise the evidence of the analysts1 and argued that the conduct of the prisoner in his attendance on his wife was a strong proof of his innocence4 8,motive10 he said1 8there appeared to be none1 as from his wages the prisoner was quite able to bear the expense of the mother and child40 ,the jury1 however1 returned a verdict of 8guilty10 and the prisoner was executed on the #bnd of ,december1 admitting the justice of his sentence1 and that he was a party to the death of the child1 but saying others were in it4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,strychnia ,,and ,,brucia4 ,contained in ,st4 ,ignatius's bean--,false ,angostura bark--,nux ,vomica1 c4--,properties of strychnia--,facility of detection4 ,tests3 7#a7 ,microscope--7#b7 ,taste--7#c7 ,color test2 ditto in other alkaloids1 in bile1 and in resinous and saccharine matters--7#d7 ,physiological test 7,marshall ,hall7--7#e7 ,bichromate of potash--7#f7 ,picric acid--7#g7 ,sulphuric acid and sodium nitrite--7#h7 ,mercuric chloride4 ,preparations of strychnia3 ,vermin killers--,battle's1 ,gibson's1 ,miller's1 ,marsden's1 ,barber's1 ,hunter's1 ,keating's--,brucia--,igasuria--,igasuri c acid4 ,doses of strychnia3 medicinal1 fatal1 recovery--,nux vomica4 ,fatal period for strychnia--,symptoms in man1 commencement of symptoms1 if given in powder1 in solution1 in pills4 ,explanation of symptoms3 by hysteria1 tetanus1 epilepsy1 gritty granules on spinal cord--,angina pectoris4 ,post-mortem appearances--,treatment--,antidotes--,dr 4 ,taylor's evidence--,ptomaine--,did ,cook die from morphia8--,granular preparations at ,st4 ,thomas's ,hospital4 ,,several species of ,strychnos1 of the natural order ,loganiace1 contain1 mainly in their seeds1 the alkaloids ,strychnia and ,brucia in the proportion of one to one and a half per cent4 ,the plants yet proved to contain these two alkaloids are3--,strychnos nux-vomica 7bark and seeds71 ,strychnos ,ignatia 7,faba amara1 or ,st4 ,ignatius's bean71 ,strychnos ,tieute 7the ,upas tree of ,java71 ,strychnos toxifera 7main source of woorara or curare1 the arrow poison of the ,south ,american ,indians71 and ,strychnos ,ligustrina and ,colubrina --8snakewood071 a tree of ,asia4 ,s4 potatorum --8clearing nut07 and ,s4 pseudokina are not poisonous4 ,in commerce1 8,nux vomica10 8,faba amara1 or ,st4 ,ignatius's bean10 8false ,angostura bark0 7the bark of ,strychnos nux-vomica71 and an extract called 8curare10 are met with4 ,the last is made by mixing the juice of the bark of ,strychnos toxifera and another species with pepper and acrid plants2 as its effects depend upon 8curarine10 another alkaloid1 and not upon strychnia1 it will not enter much into our subject4 8,faba ,amara10 ,st4 ,ignatius's bean1 contains #ab per cent4 ,strychnia and some ,brucia4 8,false ,angostura ,bark0 contains ,strychnia and ,brucia1 gives a light yellow powder1 intensely bitter1 and turned red by nitric acid4 ,nux ,vomica1 a flattened circular seed1 from half to one inch diameter1 generally concavo-convex1 with a slight central prominence4 ,colour greyish-brown2 silky from radiating hairs4 ,substance tough and horny2 powder light brown1 with an odour like liquorice1 and an intense and persistent bitter taste4 ,nitric acid gives with the powder and with the extract an orange-red colour1 owing to the presence of brucia4 ,the aqueous infusion gives a precipitate with tannin1 and an olive-green tint with neutral ferric chloride4 ,,strychnia1 ,c#ba;,h#bb,n#b,o#b1 occurs in commerce in opaque white rhombic prisms 7the 8right square octahedra0 of the ,british ,pharmacopia are not met with71 inodorous1 having a sp4 gr4 of #acf4 ,one part of strychnia dissolves in #gjjj parts of cold1 in #bejj parts of boiling1 water2 in #abej parts of ether2 in #ajjj of carbon disulphide2 in #bjj of absolute alcohol2 in #abj parts of cold1 and #aj parts of hot1 rectified spirit2 in #aha parts of amylic alcohol2 in #afd of benzene2 and #g of chloroform4 ,creasote and essential and fixed oils also dissolve strychnia 7,blyth74 ,it sublimes in needle shaped crystals1 or sometimes1 if too quickly heated1 in drops1 at #afi ,c42 melts at #bba ,c41 finally darkening and carbonizing4 ,its bitter taste is its most prominent physical characteristic4 ,i have verified the statement that one grain of strychnia in a gallon 7#gj1jjj grains7 of water is distinctly perceptible4 ,one grain in #cj1jjj is markedly bitter4 ,its salts are crystallizable1 and also bitter1 lvo-rotatory in solution1 mostly colourless1 neutral to test-paper1 generally soluble with facility in water1 hence more rapidly poisonous than the free alkaloid4 ,strychnia sulphates occur in large four-sided prisms1 octahedrons1 or needles1 according to the amount of water of crystallization4 ,strychnia nitrate crystallizes in silky needles1 easily soluble in water4 ,the sulphate is officinal in the ,french1 the nitrate in the ,german1 ,austrian1 ,swiss1 ,norwegian1 and ,dutch ,pharmacopias4 ,the acetate and hydrochloride are met with in commerce1 but are not officinal4 ,strychnia itself1 the free alkaloid1 is prescribed in the ,british ,pharmacopia4 ,liquor strychni is a solution of the hydrochloride4 ,separation4--,strychnia is probably the easiest of the alkaloids to detect1 on account of its stability and the delicacy of its reactions4 ,one half-millionth of a grain in the pure state is discoverable by the colour tests 7,pharm4 ,journ41 ,july1 #ahef74 ,putrefaction does not change it1 for ,richter detected it in tissues after eleven years 7,sammlung ,klin4 ,vortrge1 #fi1 #efb71 and other observers in decomposed or buried bodies after five to eight weeks4 ,and yet there are few analysts who have not on some occasion failed to find it 7see p4 #adg47 ,a very small quantity1 about a grain1 may destroy life4 ,even of this1 only a portion is absorbed2 the rest is eliminated by vomiting 7when it occurs71 and by the urine and fces2 the absorbed portion is diffused with great rapidity through a large mass of blood and tissue2 the result is that we are looking for one part of the poison in about a million times its weight of impurities--almost worse than the needle in the haystack4 ,matters are still more difficult if the theory be true that an alkaloid1 in killing1 itself suffers change 7see pp4 #abh and #acc7--;an idea that ,dr4 ,letheby and ,mr4 ,nunneley strongly repudiated in the ,palmer defence1 though the latter witness had to admit that he himself had once failed to detect strychnia in an animal to which he had administered it4 ,dragendorff records several negative results without apparent cause4 ,taylor 7,med4 ,jur41 #ahgc1 ,vol4 ,i41 #dad7 mentions cases of non-discovery by ,dr4 ,reese of ,philadelphia1 ,mr4 ,horsley of ,cheltenham1 by himself in the organs of an animal hypodermically poisoned2 and also a case in which five grains had been taken1 and only a little over a grain was found4 ,sonnenschein 7,casper's ,handbook7 in one case found a quantity in the stomach1 but none in the tissues2 yet it had caused death4 ,all these facts greatly support the theory that the alkaloid is itself changed in causing death4 ,however this be1 if the stomach has failed to yield strychnia1 the whole of the rest of the organs1 the blood1 and the muscles--in fact1 as much of the body as can be managed--should be extracted with hot redistilled methylated spirit acidified with a little acetic acid4 ,it is easy to fit up an arrangement with a stoneware pan1 a wooden cover1 and a coil of tin pipe1 through which steam can be passed1 and thus the alcohol can be kept warm for two or three hours without much loss4 ,strain the whole through a cloth1 distil off most of the alcohol1 evaporate on a water bath at about #gj ,c41 and treat the extract as described in the general process for alkaloids4 ,to facilitate the purification1 the alcoholic solution may be precipitated by acetate of lead 7avoiding much excess71 filtered1 the lead removed from the filtrate by adding sufficient sulphate of potash in solution and allowing it to settle1 and the clear liquid evaporated as before4 ,much syrupy matter1 which occasions trouble1 is thus removed4 ,the ether-chloroform solution 7p4 #e71 by spontaneous evaporation1 leaves the strychnia in 8rosettes1 veined leaves1 stellate dotted needles1 circles with broken radii1 and branched and reticulated forms0 7,guy and ,ferrier1 ,forens4 ,med41 #ahha1 #efh74 ,if not yet pure enough to crystallize1 advantage may be taken of the fact that while most of the impurities are charred by warm concentrated sulphuric acid1 strychnia is very little affected4 ,a few drops of this acid are therefore added to the residue1 then it is warmed for ten or fifteen minutes on the water-bath1 finally diluted to about ten cubic centimetres1 filtered1 the filter washed with water1 and the filtrate treated again with ammonia and ether-chloroform4 ,the residue left by the latter1 on spontaneous evaporation1 will now be pure enough for the following ,,tests4--#a4 ,the microscopic appearances are so various as to be somewhat indefinite2 ,guy's description has been already given4 ,if no crystals are found1 strychnia and most other alkaloids are unlikely to be present4 ,but if crystals are obtained1 they frequently1 on further examination1 prove to be some inorganic salt or an ammonium compound1 leading to wrong conclusions1 if the microscope be trusted too much4 #b4 ,dissolve in water with a trace of acid1 and divide on several watch-glasses1 as described in the introduction4 ,if one portion be cautiously tasted1 and there be no bitterness1 strychnia is very improbable4 #c4 ,proceed at once to the colour test4 ,transfer a portion of the residue1 dissolved in a drop of acetic acid1 to a white porcelain dish or plate2 dry gently on the water-bath2 moisten it with about two drops of pure concentrated sulphuric acid2 strychnia gives no coloration2 with the point of a knife place a minute quantity of finely-powdered peroxide of manganese 7the precipitated hydrate is often recommended1 but the natural peroxide answers better1 being more gradual in its action7 on the side of the dish2 slant the dish so as to allow the liquid to come in contact with the powder4 ,at the moment of contact a deep rich blue colour is produced if #a_/bjjjjth of a grain of strychnia be present4 ,the blue colour rapidly changes into purple1 crimson1 rich red-brown1 then fades into bright orange-red1 which last tint remains for some hours4 ,by cautiously stirring with a glass rod1 the succession of colours can be brought out again at another spot4 ,one or two other qualified observers should always be summoned to witness the experiment1 for two reasons2 first1 that they may testify at the trial1 if necessary1 to the certainty of the conclusion2 secondly1 because the sense of colour is differently developed in different people1 and1 if the hues are faint1 one is apt to imagine what one expects to find4 ,but if two or three1 without prompting1 see the same appearances1 the chance of error is removed4 ,applied in this way1 the succession of colours is absolutely peculiar to strychnia4 ,but1 as objections have been made that these can be produced from other substances1 they may as well be discussed and disposed of4 7a7 ,curarine 7from ,strychnos toxifera7 has a bitter taste1 is almost insoluble in ether and chloroform2 hence it is not usually extracted by the above alkaloidal process1 but remains behind in the aqueous liquid4 ,with sulphuric acid and peroxide of manganese it gives the same colours as strychnia1 but the changes are slower4 ,with sulphuric acid alone1 it yields a pale violet colour1 changing to dirty red1 and finally to rose4 ,its physiological effects are opposite to those of strychnia--so much so that it has been proposed as an antidote4 7b7 ,pyroxanthine 7a rare substance1 obtained in very small quantity from wood spirit71 salicine 7from the willow71 and piperine 7from pepper71 give with sulphuric acid alone a deep-red colour1 destroyed or spoilt by peroxide of manganese4 7,nunneley1 in ,palmer's trial47 7c7 ,if sugar and bile should be present together1 sulphuric acid will develope a purple colour very like the strychnia test4 ,bile would also give bitterness4 ,but it must be remembered that bile1 without sugar1 will not give the colour1 that sugar will not be extracted by the ether-chloroform1 and that the colour will appear immediately on the addition of the acid alone1 whereas strychnia remains then uncoloured4 7d7 ,many resinous and saccharine matters are coloured by sulphuric acid1 but can be got rid of by warming with the acid as described above4 ,so that none of these can be mistaken for strychnia4 ,this important test depends upon the action of nascent oxygen2 hence any substance which yields oxygen will give the colours more or less satisfactorily4 ,bichromate of potash1 potassium ferricyanide1 peroxide of lead1 peroxide of cerium 7,sonnenschein71 have been employed1 but most of them give colours of their own1 and none are so good as peroxide of manganese4 ,it is only necessary that the manganese should be finely pounded and not too much added4 ,the action is slower and more lasting than with bichromate4 ,letheby's galvanic test is interesting1 and has the advantage of not introducing any extraneous substance into the matter under examination1 so that another alkaloid can be tested for afterwards4 ,i have found it better to place the drop of supposed strychnia solution1 acidified with a drop of dilute sulphuric acid 7#aj per cent4 strength7 on a white plate1 to place on its opposite sides two small pieces of platinum foil pressed closely against the plate1 touching the drop1 and approaching within a quarter of an inch of one another1 and to touch them simultaneously with the terminals of a battery of two ,grove's or other cells4 ,in the region of the positive terminal the same colours manifest themselves as with peroxide of manganese4 ,if no colour is shown at once1 the battery should be removed1 as further galvanic action may decompose any other alkaloid that may be present4 ,the test is not so delicate as sulphuric acid and peroxide of manganese4 ,it is said that the presence of much morphia will interfere with the above test4 ,but morphia1 again1 is not extracted completely by the ether-chloroform2 and ,i have not found it to hinder the reaction if performed carefully4 ,brucia in ordinary quantities1 quinine1 cinchonine1 veratrine1 and santonine do not interfere4 ,in strychnia poisoning1 morphia should always be sought for1 as it is used as an antidote4 ,if found1 its interference may be obviated thus4 ,dissolve the supposed strychnia in water with a little acetic acid1 add an equal volume of ether1 and then ammonia in slight excess1 and shake well4 ,the strychnia will dissolve in the ether1 the morphia will remain in the aqueous liquid4 ,on evaporating the ether1 the strychnia will be isolated4 #d4 ,dr4 ,marshall ,hall's physiological test is very delicate4 ,with some small animal--preferably a frog--proceed as mentioned in the introduction 7p4 #f74 ,tetanic spasms are caused4 ,but other poisons1 ptomaines1 and even the mechanical injury1 may produce irritation and perhaps convulsions1 so that the test is dangerous1 except as confirmatory or negative4 #e4 ,bichromate of potash solution gives with strychnia1 at once or on standing1 a yellow precipitate1 appearing under the microscope as rectangular plates and prisms4 7,see ,guy and ,ferrier's ,forensic ,medicine1 p4 #efg47 #f4 ,a sublimate of strychnia touched with a drop of dilute picric acid solution1 strength #a in #bej1 gives microscopic arborescent crystallizations of peculiar curved forms4 7,ibid47 #g4 ,treated with concentrated sulphuric acid and then with a crystal of sodium nitrite1 strychnia gives a dirty yellow colour1 changed by an alcoholic solution of potash to a fine orange-red1 by an aqueous solution to brownish green1 and finally to dirty red-brown4 7,arnold1 ,arch4 d4 ,pharm4 #c1 #bj1 #efa47 #h4 ,mercuric chloride produces a white precipitate1 as also does potassium sulphocyanide4 ,all the general reagents for alkaloids precipitate strychnia4 ,if1 however1 the reaction with sulphuric acid and manganese have come out properly1 all the other tests are superfluous2 if it has not been obtained1 none of the other tests will be of use4 ,preparations4 ---------------------------------------- -- ,approximate ,approximate ,name4 ,composition4 ,amount of ,amount of ,strychnia4 ,brucia4 ----------------------------v----------- - ,aqueous ,liquor solution #d grs4 in ,none4 ,strychni1 of strychnia #a fl4 oz4 ,b4,p4 hydrochloride ,tinct4 ,nut extracted #jae per cent4 #jae per cent4 ,nucis ,vom4 with spirit ,extractum ,spirituous ,nuc4 ,vom41 extract ,english evaporated #c to #d per cent4 #c to #d per cent4 ,pharm41 c4 ,extr4 ,nuc4 ,aqueous ,vom41 ,germ4 extract to #a per cent4 #b to ,pharm4 evaporated #c per cent4 ,extr4 ,fab4 ,from ,st4 ,ignati1 ,ignatius's #e per cent4 ,very little4 ,american4 bean ---------------------------------------- -- ,vermin ,killers4 #a4 ,battle's seems to vary in composition4 ,tardieu found in a packet of #ai grains1 #a grain of strychnia1 or #gg per cent41 the rest being ,potato starch and ,prussian blue4 ,woodman and ,tidy 7,for4 ,med4 p4 #cbi7 found #bc per cent4 strychnia1 with sugar1 flour1 and ,prussian blue4 ,bernays found #ajg per cent4 of strychnia1 with flour and ,prussian blue4 7,barlow's case47 #b4 ,butler's contains flour1 soot1 and about #e per cent4 strychnia4 ,sometimes it contains ,prussian blue1 and sometimes carbonate of barium in place of strychnia4 #c4 ,gibson's contains half a grain of strychnia in each powder4 #d4 ,miller's ,rat ,powder contains oatmeal1 and about #f per cent4 of nux vomica 7equal to #jjbc strychnia and #jjfg brucia74 7,blyth1 ,man4 of ,prac4 ,chem4 p4 #cag47 #e4 ,marsden's ,vermin and ,insect ,killer3 one packet contains grain strychnia4 7,lancet1 ,april #ai1 #ahef47 #f4 ,barber's 8,magic ,vermin ,killer ,powders0 weigh #bh grains and contain #aj per cent4 of strychnia4 8,hunter's ,infallible0 also contains it4 ,in ,keating's ,insect ,powder ,i have found no strychnia nor arsenic4 ,,brucia4 ,c#bc ,h#bf ,n#b ,o#d1 #d ,h#b ,o1 is probably derived from strychnia by the substitution of two molecules of methoxyl 7,,ch#c ,o7 for two atoms of hydrogen 7,shenstone1 ,chem4 ,soc4 ,journal1 ,feb41 #ahhc71 hence might be named dimethoxystrychnia4 ,but efforts to change it into strychnia have1 as yet1 been unsuccessful4 ,all plants containing strychnia contain also brucia4 ,in false ,angostura bark the latter much predominates4 ,it occurs in needles or #d-sided monoclinic prisms 7rarely in tables71 colourless1 intensely bitter1 lvo-rotatory to a less extent than strychnia1 but more soluble in water1 alcohol1 c41 hence remaining in the mother liquors in the preparation of strychnia4 ,insoluble in pure ether4 ,it melts at #aea ,c4 7,blyth71 and produces a scanty amorphous sublimate near its temperature of decomposition4 ,the salts are neutral1 easily soluble in water1 and crystallize in needles 7the acetate with difficulty74 ,its physiological action is the same as strychnia1 but six or seven times weaker4 ,with the general reagents for alkaloids brucia gives precipitates4 ,with concent4 nitric acid it gives a deep-red colour1 changing to orange1 and finally to yellow4 ,a trace of stannous chloride 7protochloride of tin7 turns the red solution purple3 excess bleaches it4#ih ,this test is very delicate4 ,in former times commercial strychnia always contained brucia1 hence the coloration by nitric acid was even looked upon as a test for strychnia 7see p4 #abe1 and p4 #aef74 ,but1 as the strychnia now sold is generally pure1 it gives no colour with nitric acid in the cold4 ,therefore1 if both strychnia and brucia are found in a product extracted from the animal tissues1 it follows that ,nux ,vomica1 or one of the plants1 or their preparations1 has been used1 and not the pure alkaloid4 ,the microscope in this case will generally detect some of the vegetal tissue or hairs in the stomach4 ,concent4 sulphuric acid1 followed by bichromate of potash1 gives with brucia a red-brown colour passing to green and yellow 7,guy74 ,whenever strychnia is found1 brucia should also be looked for4 ,,igasuria1 a supposed third alkaloid of the ,strychnos tribe1 has been shown by ,shenstone to be a mixture of strychnia and brucia 7,chem4 ,soc4 ,journal1 ,sept4 #ahha1 p4 #deg74 ,strychnic or ,igasuric ,acid1 obtained by ,pelletier and ,caventun from ,nux ,vomica and from ,st4 ,ignatius' ,bean1 is probably identical with malic acid4 ,,doses4 ,medicinal dose of strychnia #a_/cj to #a_/ab grain4 ,fatal dose3 smallest recorded grain 7,dr4 ,warner1 8,poisoning by ,strychnia10 p4 #ach71 grain 7,guy2 also case of ,agnes ,sennett1 p4 #aba1 ante71 but a child of two or three years was killed by #a_/af grain 7,christison73 average for adults1 to #b grains 7,taylor74 ,recovery has taken place after #c grains 7,taylor71 #d grains 7,lancet1 #ahfc1 i4 #ed71 #c to #g grains 7,husemann71 #g grains 7,med4 ,gaz41 xli41 #cje71 8#bj grains or more0 78 ,guy and ,ferrier's ,forens4 ,med41 #ahha1 p4 #egd71 #dj grains 7,med4 ,times and ,gaz41 #ahfe1 p4 #bfg74 ,if these statements are correct1 they must be accounted for either by vomiting1 early and vigorous treatment1 or impurity of the alkaloid4 ,poisonous symptoms have sometimes occurred in adults1 and frequently in children1 from medicinal doses4 ,fatal close of nux vomica3 of the powder1 #cj grains is the smallest 7 grain strychnia71 7,hoffmann1 ,med4 ,rat4 ,system1 #b1 #age71 of the alcoholic extract1 #c grains 7,christison on ,poisons1 p4 #fdb74 ,brucia is not used in medicine4 ,fatal dose rather uncertain1 probably three to ten grains4 ,,fatal ,,period ,,for ,,strychnia3--,shortest1 five minutes 7,dr4 ,gray on ,strychnia1 #ahgb1 p4 #ee72 longest1 six hours after three grains 7,taylor1 ,guy's ,hosp4 ,reports1 ,oct41 #aheg1 p4 #dhc72 average1 two hours4 ,for nux vomica3--,shortest1 fifteen minutes2 longest1 three hours or more 7,guy72 average1 two hours 7,taylor71 one hour 7,guy74 ,symptoms commence at various intervals after taking1 according to dose1 form1 and constitution4 ,the beginning may be 7#a7 almost immediate 7,mad4 ,merghelynk1 #ahgj1 ,taylor's ,med4 ,juris41 p4 #djh71 7#b7 in five minutes 7case of ,dr4 ,warner1 also ,dr4 ,gray on ,strychnia1 #ahgb1 p4 #ee71 7#c7 in fifteen minutes 7trial of ,dove1 p4 #bdb71 7#d7 about an hour 7,palmer's trial1 p4 #ajb71 7#e7 forty minutes 7,lond4 ,med4 ,repository1 xix41 #ddh71 up to two and a half hours 7,wormley1 ,microchemistry of ,poisons1 p4 #ech74 ,hence no conclusion can safely be drawn from this feature 7see ,dr4 ,letheby's evidence in the ,palmer trial1 p4 #aff74 ,probably ,dr4 ,todd's statement in the same trial is the most correct average3--8,symptoms in ten minutes1 if in solution and a large dose2 otherwise in a half to one hour40 ,the different action of powder and solution is shown in the following experiments on two full-grown rats3-- #a4 ,half a grain of powdered strychnia--,first convulsion in twenty minutes1 death in two and a half hours4 #b4 ,same quantity dissolved in sufficient acid--,effect almost immediate2 death in half an hour4 ,in the stomach1 liver1 and brain1 strychnia was separately detected4 ,pills1 especially if hard1 would be very slow in action4 ,the most intense effect is produced by hypodermic injection4 ,,symptoms ,,in ,,man3--,bitter taste in the mouth1 feeling of suffocation1 jerkings and twitchings of head and limbs1 then tetanic convulsions of nearly all the muscles4 ,body stretched out stiff1 finally arched back so as to rest on the head and the heels 7opisthotonos71 spasmodic and difficult breathing1 usually a peculiar grin 7risus sardonicus74 ,after a time the jaw becomes tightly fixed 7trismus or lockjaw71 the fingers are clenched1 the feet arched inwards 7incurvated71 the eyes prominent and staring4 ,the spasm lasts from a half to two minutes1 then there is an interval of comparative rest4 ,the pupils are generally dilated during the fit1 contracted in the interval4 ,a touch1 a change of position1 or a sudden noise1 will usually cause a renewal of the spasm4 ,in severe cases the convulsions recur at diminishing intervals1 increasing in violence till death occurs from exhaustion or suffocation4 ,vomiting is very rare4 ,taylor says 8the jaw is not always fixed during a paroxysm3 the patient can frequently speak and swallow0 7,med4 ,juris41 #ahgc1 p4 #djd74 ,woodman and ,tidy 7,forens4 ,med41 #ahgg1 p4 #ccj7 say that this symptom is invariably present4 ,guy and ,ferrier are cautious1 and state that the effort to drink often causes rigid spasms of the jaw1 but that the 8jaw is not always fixed1 even in the fit0 7,guy and ,ferrier's ,forens4 ,med41 #ahha1 p4 #egc74 ,on the whole1 fixing of the jaw is usual but not invariable4 ,in the ,palmer and ,dove trials the patients spoke or shrieked during the paroxysms4 ,as to impatience of touch1 ,mr4 ,morley's dictum in the ,dove trial expresses the truth3 8,not shrinking from touch is consistent with strychnia1 but a desire not to be touched is an indication of it4 ,several cases of strychnia had desired to be rubbed40 ,see also the cases of ,mrs4 ,smyth and ,mr4 ,clutterbuck1 pp4 #abb and #abc4 ,consciousness1 in the immense majority of cases1 is preserved to the last4 ,if1 as in ,mrs4 ,dove1 insensibility occurs1 it is due to the exhaustion4 ,in this trial ,dr4 ,christison said 8it is unusual to be insensible before death from strychnia40 ,farquharson 7,therapeutics1 p4 #bfd7 states that 8the cerebral functions remain unimpaired almost up to the close40 ,this is agreed to by all authorities4 ,the symptoms of strychnia poisoning have been explained away by the defence as 8hysteria10 8idiopathic tetanus10 8epileptic convulsions with tetanic complications0 7,dr4 ,macdonald in ,palmer's trial71 8angina pectoris0 7,dr4 ,richardson71 8apoplexy0 7,dr4 ,bamford's certificate74 ,gritty granules on the spinal cord1 sexual or other excitement1 cold and damp1 drink1 c41 were in that trial assigned as causes4 ,as to 8gritty granules10 the expression is not clear2 such granules as occurred in ,cook have been found in many post-mortems1 where they certainly did not cause the death4 ,sexual excitement was out of the question in this case4 ,drink does not cause tetanus4 ,the cold and damp were hardly sufficient reasons1 as no symptoms of chill were noticed4 ,apoplexy is distinct1 as in this the brain would show the disease4 ,hysteria1 epilepsy1 and idiopathic tetanus 7tetanus which is 8constitutional10 or not occasioned by external injury7 produce in some cases insensibility2 strychnia1 as a rule1 does not4 ,they are also continuous in symptoms4 ,traumatic tetanus is caused by a wound or injury1 rarely by ulcers or syphilitic sores 7see p4 #aac74 ,if there be none of these it cannot1 of course1 be traumatic tetanus4 ,hysteria is exceedingly variable1 and simulates many other diseases3 it is generally the result of excitement4 ,but it does not produce opisthotonos4 ,epilepsy has never such symptoms as strychnia occasions3 it rarely supervenes without some history of hereditary tendency1 and it is always attended by unconsciousness 7p4 #aea74 ,idiopathic tetanus may occur from a cold 7see a case of ,dr4 ,todd's1 ,lond4 ,med4 ,gaz41 ,nov41 #ahej71 or from no assignable cause4 ,it is very close to strychnia in symptoms1 but the latter is much more rapid3 the shortest recorded fatal period for natural tetanus being twelve hours --8even here the early symptoms had been probably overlooked0--,sir ,b4 ,brodie71 the usual about eight days4 ,in both kinds of tetanus the jaw is usually the first1 in strychnia the last part to be affected4 ,angina pectoris ,dr4 ,richardson himself disposed of1 as in the case he mentions he says that had he known more at the time he would have suspected strychnia 7see ,palmer's trial1 p4 #agf74 ,the symptoms of this disease1 as given in the leading works1 differ much from strychnia poisoning4 ,,post-,,mortem ,,appearances4--,neither characteristic nor uniform 7,guy and ,ferrier74 ,as a rule1 the body is relaxed at death1 and stiffens afterwards 7,taylor71 but occasionally the reverse is the case 7,reg4 v4 ,vyse1 ,central ,criminal ,court1 #ahfb74ii ,sometimes the rigidity1 as in ,cook's case1 remains for months4 ,clinching of the hands1 arching of the feet1 are nearly always present1 but they may likewise be noticed in cases of natural death 7,casper1 quoted by ,taylor1 ,med4 ,jur41 p4 #djf2 also ,prof4 ,partridge's evidence in the ,palmer trial1 p4 #agb--8;half-bent hands and fingers1 not uncommon after natural death074 ,brain1 spinal cord1 and lungs almost invariably congested4 ,blood dark and fluid4 ,in some cases the heart is full of blood1 especially on the right side1 but occasionally it is empty and contracted4 ,stomach generally healthy1 rarely congested4 ,casper found a dark violet colour of the muscles of the throat and gullet2 this was the only peculiarity he noticed1 and even this has not occurred in other cases4 ,on the whole1 the diagnosis must depend mainly on the symptoms during life1 though the congestion mentioned above is a valuable corroborative from the post-mortem4 ,involuntary evacuation of urine and fces generally occurs1 but is usual in all painful deaths4 ,,treatment ,,and ,,antidotes4--,the question will often arise in a trial whether the best means were taken of saving the patient4 ,in ,tawell's trial it was actually suggested that the water poured down the throat may have caused the death by choking6 ,if emetics are used1 they are all more or less poisons4 ,if the stomach-pump be employed1 it will cause irritation and exhaustion4 ,nevertheless1 where a violent poison has been given1 the only hope is in strong remedies--to empty the stomach by emetics or the pump1 to give tannin or animal charcoal1 and to generally sustain nature during the operations4 ,as the inquiry is1 8,what caused death80 the defence will frequently endeavour to fasten the responsibility on the remedial measures4 ,these would not of themselves be fatal1 unless disease or poison had previously brought the patient to a nearly dying state2 whether it be disease or poison will be otherwise determined4 ,the direct antidote to strychnia is chloroform4 ,in animals ,i have noticed a large percentage of recoveries4 ,woodman and ,tidy 7,forens4 ,med41 p4 #ccb7 give the majority of recoveries to this agent4#ajj ,i believe that most cases could be saved if1 on the approach of the convulsions1 they could be put vigorously under the action of chloroform4 ,chloral hydrate1 nicotine1 opium1 c41 have been also tried with scanty success4 ,tannin precipitates strychnia1 as well as most other alkaloids2 hence may be useful as an adjunct4 ,when the jaw is fixed1 liquids can only be given through a tube2 even teeth have been taken out to effect this4 ,enemata may also be used4 ,artificial respiration should be cautiously tried4 ,curara and ,calabar ,bean are dangerous and not effective4 ,death or recovery is always rapid2 if a person lives over five or six hours1 the case is hopeful 7,woodman and ,tidy74 ,one or two considerations remain4 ,dr4 ,taylor's evidence in the ,palmer trial1 though in most points it has been corroborated by subsequent authorities1 contained the following statements that require rectifying3-- 7#a47 8,the colour tests are fallacious0 7pp4 #add and #adg74 ,they are quite decisive if properly performed1 and the precautions remembered4 7#b47 8,i know of no process which can detect strychnia in the tissues0 7p4 #acc74 ,this has been repeatedly done by the same method as is used for the stomach4 ,dr4 ,taylor himself admits it in his later works 7see ,med4 ,juris41 #ahgc1 p4 #dae74 ,no operator now neglects the tissues4 ,they should always be forwarded for analysis at the same time as the stomach1 but in separate jars4 ,if indications be obtained1 the question will occur--8,could they be due to ,selmi's ptomaine1 resembling strychnia80 ,if we consider that in an immense multitude of cases of suspicion1 where there is no clue1 strychnia is tested for but not found1 it is evident that this natural imitation of the alkaloid must be decidedly rare4 ,so that the overwhelming probability1 if the colour test has been obtained1 is that strychnia itself is present4 ,in conclusion1 ,palmer afterwards is said to have more or less admitted that he poisoned ,cook1 8but not with strychnia40 ,though the word of such a man is of little value1 there are others who have been of this opinion4 ,mr4 ,justice ,grove is reported to have expressed some hesitation afterwards on this point4 ,mr4 ,nunneley1 who1 although he showed too much partizanship in the trial1 yet may be said to have certainly had great experience with animals1 asserted that the symptoms did not quite coincide with strychnia4 ,others followed in this train4 ,the assertion is certainly wrong1 but ,dr4 ,guy 7,forens4 ,med4 #ahha1 p4 #ebe7 has made a suggestion that may be noticed4 ,after quoting ,dr4 ,shearman's case of a patient who had taken one and a-half grain of morphia acetate1 and who was seized with 8twitching of the limbs and face1 difficulty in swallowing1 spasms of the arms1 legs1 and abdomen1 partial opisthotonos1 and great activity of the reflex function0 7,med4 ,times and ,gazette1 ,march #g1 #aheg72 another case from orfila1 when twenty-two grains of morphia hydrochloride had caused lockjaw1 tension of the abdomen1 and occasional convulsions2 and ,castaing's case1 when twenty-six grains of morphia acetate1 and twelve grains of tartar emetic1 had been purchased1 and the victim had 8vomiting1 purging1 convulsions1 lockjaw1 rigid spasms of the neck and abdomen1 inability to swallow1 loss of sensibility in the legs1 contracted pupils1 and stertorous breathing10 ,dr4 ,guy goes on to say that as ,cook had probably three grains of morphia acetate within seventy-two hours1 and had previously been reduced by tartar emetic1 his death may have been due to morphia and not to strychnia4 ,but setting aside the second and third cases where the dose was so large1 ,cook's symptoms did not on the whole agree with those of ,dr4 ,shearman's patient4 ,the dose in the time was not larger1 but the effects on ,cook were immensely more severe4 ,if these be examples of morphia in its worst and most anomalous aspect1 it certainly cannot dispute with strychnia for the responsibility of ,cook's death4#aja ,see also ,dr4 ,todd's remark1 p4 #aag4 ,the three preparations of 8gritty granules0 on the spinal cord in the museum of ,st4 ,thomas's ,hospital1 8in which the patients are said to have died from tetanus0 7,mr4 ,nunneley's evidence1 p4 #aeb1 also ,dr4 ,macdonald's evidence1 p4 #ahj71 are in section ,n1 numbers #aac1 #aad1 and #aae4 ,they are described in the catalogue as-- 8#aac4 ,several small patches of earthy matter on the arachnoid of the medulla spinalis40 8#aad4 ,a spinal cord4 ,there are numerous large plates of bone on the arachnoid of the lumbar portion1 and of the cauda equina40 8#aae4 ,a similar preparation4 ,the plates of bone extend as high as the upper dorsal vertebr40 ,mr4 ,charles ,stewart1 professor of comparative anatomy and curator of the museum at ,st4 ,thomas's1 tells me that these are calcareous1 but not true bone1 that they are not uncommon in post-mortems where they have had nothing to do with death1 and that if the above had died from tetanus it would probably have been recorded in the catalogue4 ,as there is no mention of the cause of death1 it is certain that it had no reference to the so-called 8granules40 ,the assertion of ,mr4 ,morley 7,dove's ,case1 p4 #bde71 that strychnia is decomposed into its elements1 is obviously incorrect1 probably an error of the reporter4 ,see also an interesting case lately reported 7,j4 de ,pharm4 et de ,chimie1 ,november #ahhb71 where strychnia was found1 and also arsenic1 in the stomach1 liver1 and brain4 ,dr4 ,john ,harley tells me that he finds hemlock juice the best antidote to the convulsions of all kinds of tetanus4 ,he has had many successful cases4 ,messrs4 ,mavor1 veterinary surgeons1 find this remedy most efficacious with horses1 in which animal tetanus is very common4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,trials ,,for ,,poisoning ,,by ,,arsenic4 ,,notwithstanding the difficulties thrown in the way of the purchase of arsenic by the 8,sale of ,arsenic ,regulation ,act0 of #aheb1 the cases of poisoning by the use of this drug have been so numerous1 that it has been difficult to select examples without greatly extending the bulk of this volume4 ,i have1 therefore1 limited the full reports in this chapter to two1 namely3--7#a74 ,the case of ,miss ,madeline ,smith for the imputed murder of her lover1 ,pierre ,emile ,l',angelier in ,glasgow1 tried before the 8,lords of the ,justiciary10 the chief criminal court of ,scotland1 in ,edinburgh1 on the #cjth of ,june1 #aheg1 a case full of interest and doubt1 the mystery of which will probably never be disclosed2 and 7#b7 that of ,ann ,merritt for the murder of her husband1 tried at the ,old ,bailey1 ,march #hth1 #ahej1 on the verdict in which arose a notable difference of opinion between leading medical and other experts1 and the chief medical witness1 as to the possibility of fixing1 with any definiteness1 the time at which the arsenic found in the body had been administered2 resulting in the eventual commutation of the capital sentence by ,sir ,george ,grey1 the ,home ,secretary4 ,this was the case referred to by the ,attorney-,general in his cross-examination of ,dr4 ,letheby in ,palmer's trial4 ,for the trial of ,madeline ,smith ,i have relied on the ,report reprinted with additions and corrections from 8,the ,scotsman10 by far the most accurate that ,i have read4 ,to my copy is an ,appendix of the whole of the letters1 including those suppressed in ,court1 published in ,new ,york at the ,astor ,press4 ,happily it is not necessary to dwell on their disgusting details4 ,,trial ,,of ,,madeline ,,smith4 ,before the ,,lord ,,justice ,,clerk 7the ,,hon4 ,,john ,,hope71 ,,lord ,,ivory1 and ,,lord ,,handyside1 at ,,edinburgh1 #cjth ,june and following days1 #aheg4 ,for the ,prosecution3 ,the ,lord ,advocate 7,jas4 ,moncrieffe71 ,the ,solicitor-,general 7,e4 ,f4 ,maitland71 and ,mr4 ,donald ,mackenzie4 ,for the ,defence3 ,the ,dean of ,faculty1 ,mr4 ,john ,inglis 7now ,lord ,justice ,general71 ,mr4 ,g4 ,young 7now ,lord ,young71 and ,mr4 ,h4 ,moncrieff4 ,by the indictment the ,prisoner was charged with administering or causing to be administered to ,emile ,l',angelier1#ajb arsenic or some other poison1 in coffee1 cocoa1 or some other food or drink1 on the #aith or #bjth of ,february1 and on the #bbnd or #bcrd of ,february last1 with intent to murder1 and on the #bbnd or #bcrd of ,march1 whereby he died on the day last named1 and was thus murdered by the ,prisoner4 ,to which the ,prisoner pleaded 8,not ,guilty40 ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,case4 ,pierre ,emile ,l',angelier1 a ,frenchman by birth1 had been employed in ,scotland since the year #ahdc1 when he was with a firm of nurserymen at ,dundee4 ,how long he stayed with them was not proved1 but according to his own statement he was one of the ,national ,guard in the ,revolution in ,paris in #ahdh4 ,he was always a poor man1 and in #ahea1 when again in ,scotland1 was in such straits that he was living at a tavern in ,edinburgh on the charity of its proprietor4 ,when there he was at times in very low spirits1 crying at night1 and speaking of committing suicide1 getting out of bed and walking about the room weeping1 and on one occasion on the point apparently of throwing himself out of the window of his room had he not been prevented by his companion4 ,some love affairs--one with an ,english lady1 another with a lady in ,fife--were the causes he assigned for his melancholy and depression4 ,in a letter1 probably of this date1 he wrote1 8,i never was so unhappy in my life4 ,i wish ,i had the courage to blow my brains out40 ,in #aheb he was in the employ of another nurseryman at ,dundee1 still harping on his disappointment in love1 complaining bitterly of the last lady's intended marriage with another--gloomy1 moody1 dull1 and threatening to stab himself4 ,vain of his person1 he was always talking of his success with ladies1 and of what he should do if he was again jilted4 ,on one occasion1 when speaking of the use of arsenic for improving the coats of horses1 and asked if he was not afraid of poisoning them1 he said1 8,oh1 no3 so far from doing that1 he had taken it himself1 without any bad effects40 ,from this employment he went to that of ,messrs4 ,huggins and ,co41 of ,glasgow1 where he was looked upon as a steady1 industrious clerk1 8a well-behaved1 well-principled1 religious man40 ,whilst with this firm he pressed a young friend to introduce him to ,miss ,smith2 and thus sprang up the attachment which led to the catastrophe4 ,miss ,madeline ,smith1 to whom ,l',angelier was introduced towards the end of #ahed1 was the daughter of an architect of position in ,glasgow1 and had lately returned from an ,english boarding-school4 ,she was attractive in person1 and just of the age to fall violently in love with such a plausible1 goodlooking man as ,l',angelier4 ,as her parents naturally had little liking for a merchant's clerk as their daughter's husband1 the love affair that arose at once after the introduction was carried on clandestinely by a voluminous correspondence1 in which more than #bjj letters passed from her to the deceased in the brief period of their attachment1 and such stolen interviews in or out of her father's house as could be arranged with the connivance of one of his servants4 ,according to the theory of the prosecution1 ,l',angelier was an accomplished and deliberate seducer1 who at last gained his purpose on the #fth of ,may1 from which date ,miss ,smith's letters to her lover speak plainly of matters of which even married persons would be reticent1 and are couched in language suitable only to married persons4 ,she was clearly in ,l',angelier's power1 who wished to marry her1 and made more than one arrangement for an elopement4 ,towards the end of #ahef1 however1 her affection for him began to cool1 and with reason4 ,she had accepted the attentions of a ,mr4 ,minnoch1 with the full consent of her parents1 and shortly after actually fixed the day for her marriage with him4 ,the danger of her situation pressed upon her4 ,l',angelier1 when he knew of this1 was not the man to sit tamely under such a slight1 or to let another person marry one of whom he knew so much to her discredit4 ,she wrote him to return her letters1 begged and prayed him to do so1 and let the engagement drop1 to which she never could get the sanction of her parents4 ,he refused4 ,he had heard a rumour of the ,minnoch engagement1 and he threatened to send the letters to her father4 ,still it was not revenge that he wanted2 he wanted his wife4 ,her letters at this time give the most painful proofs of the state of mind into which she had fallen4 8,on her bended knees10 she wrote1 begging 8him not to expose her1 for her mother's sake10 and 8the dread of her father's anger40 8,as you hope for mercy at the judgment day1 do not inform on me2 do not make me a public shame4 ,there is no one ,i love4 ,my love was all given to you4 ,my heart is empty1 cold4 ,i am unloved4 ,i am despised4 ,i told you ,i had ceased to love4 ,it is true40 ,such was her letter1 presumably of the #aath of ,february1 #aheg4 ,at this time she was engaged to ,minnoch1 and the day of the marriage1 if not actually fixed1 had been talked about4 ,she begged for an interview4 ,in the postscript to this sad letter1 she added3 8,i will take you within the door2 the area gate will be open4 ,i shall see you from my window1 twelve o'clock4 ,i will wait till one o'clock40 ,the exact date of this letter could not be proved1 as it had been delivered and not posted4 ,it was dated only ,tuesday evening1 twelve o'clock2 and however ingenious was the argument of the ,lord ,advocate1 it failed to satisfy the court that it produced an interview on the #aath which led to another on the #aith--the day on which1 according to the ,crown1 she first administered the poison to her lover1 from which arose the first of his illnesses1 as described by ,mrs4 ,jenkins1 his landlady4 ,previously to the trial1 the following explanation of the connection with ,l',angelier had been given by the prisoner1 in her examination before the ,sheriff ,substitute of ,lanarkshire on the #cast of ,march1 8when10 he said1 8she answered his questions without hesitation1 and with great appearance of frankness and candour40 ,,declaration ,,of ,,the ,,prisoner4 8,i am a native of ,glasgow1 #ba years of age1 and reside with my father at ,no4 #g1 ,blythswood ,square1 ,glasgow4 ,for about two years ,i have been acquainted with ,p4 ,emile ,l',angelier1 who was in the employment of ,huggins ,co41 in ,bothwell ,street1 and resided at #aj1 ,franklin ,place4 ,he recently paid his addresses to me1 and ,i have met him on a variety of occasions4 ,i heard of his death on the afternoon of the #bcrd of ,march from my mother4 ,i had not seen him for about three weeks before his death1 and the last time ,i saw him was on a night about half-past ten o'clock4 ,on that occasion he tapped at my window1 which is on the ground floor and fronts ,main ,street4 ,i talked to him from the window1 which is stanchioned outside1 and ,i did not go out to him1 nor did he come into me4 ,this occasion1 which1 as already said1 was the last1 was about three weeks before his death1 and was the last time ,i saw him4 ,he was in the habit of writing notes to me1 and ,i was in the habit of replying to them4 ,the last note ,i wrote was on the ,friday before his death1 the #bjth of ,march4 7,identifies note and envelope47 ,in consequence of that note ,i expected him to visit me on ,saturday the #bast1 at my bedroom window1 in the same way as before1 but he did not come and sent no notice4 ,there was no tapping at my window on the ,saturday night1 nor on the ,sunday following4 ,i went to bed on the ,saturday night about eleven1 and remained in bed until the usual time of getting up next morning1 being eight or nine o'clock4 ,in the course of my meetings with him1 he and ,i had arranged to get married1 and at one time we had proposed ,september last as the time and subsequently the present month of ,march4 ,it was proposed we should reside in furnished lodgings1 but we had not made any definite arrangement as to time or otherwise4 ,he was very unwell1 and had gone to the ,bridge of ,allan for his health1 and he complained of sickness2 but ,i have no idea what was the cause of it4 ,i remember giving him some cocoa from my window one night1 some time ago1 but ,i cannot specify the time particularly4 ,he took the cup in his hand and barely tasted it1 and ,i gave him no bread with it4 ,i was taking some cocoa myself at the time1 and had prepared it myself4 7,identifies note ,no4 #b1 which she wrote and sent to post47 ,as ,i had attributed his illness to want of food1 ,i proposed1 as stated in the note1 to give him a loaf of bread1 but ,i said that merely in a joke1 and in point of fact ,i never gave him any bread4 ,i have bought arsenic on various occasions4 ,the last ,i bought was a sixpenny-worth1 in ,currie's1 the apothecary's shop in ,sauchiehall ,street4 ,prior to that ,i had bought other two quantities of arsenic for which ,i paid sixpence each--one of these in ,currie's1 and the other in ,murdoch's1 the apothecary's shop in ,sauchiehall ,street4 ,i used it all as a cosmetic1 and applied it to my face1 neck1 and arms1 diluted with water4 ,the arsenic ,i got at ,currie's on ,wednesday1 #ahth ,march1 and used it all on one occasion1 having put it all in the basin where ,i was to wash myself4 ,i had been advised to this use of arsenic by a young lady of the name of ,giubilei1 the daughter of an actress1 whom ,i had met at school at ,clapton near ,london4#ajc ,i had also seen it recommended in the newspapers4 ,i did not wish any of my father's family to know that ,i was using arsenic1 and therefore never mentioned it to anyone1 and ,i do not suppose that they or any of the servants noticed it in the basin4 ,when ,i bought the arsenic at ,murdoch's1 ,i am not sure whether ,i was asked or not what it was for2 but ,i think ,i said for a gardener1 to kill rats or destroy vermin about flowers1 and ,i only said this because ,i did not wish them to know that ,i was going to use it as a cosmetic4 ,i do not remember whether ,i was asked as to the use ,i was going to make of the arsenic on the other two occasions4 ,i likely made the same statement about it as ,i had done at ,murdoch's2 and on all three occasions1 as required in the shops1 ,i signed my name to a book in which the sales are entered4 ,on the first occasion ,i was accompanied by ,mary1 a daughter of ,dr4 ,buchanan1 of ,dumbarton4 ,for several years past ,mr4 ,minnoch1 of the firm of ,w4 ,houldsworth ,co41 has been coming a good deal about my father's house2 and about a month ago he made a proposal of marriage to me1 and ,i gave him my hand in token of acceptance1 but no time for the marriage has been fixed2#ajd and my object in writing the note1 ,no4 #a1 before mentioned1 was to have a meeting with ,mr4 ,l',angelier to tell him ,i was engaged to ,mr4 ,minnoch4#aje 7,identifies two notes and an envelope bearing the ,glasgow post-mark of #bcrd ,january1 as written and sent by her to ,l',angelier47 ,on the occasion that ,i gave ,l',angelier the cocoa1 ,i think that ,i used it must have been known to the servants and members of my father's family1 as the package containing the cocoa was lying on the mantelpiece in my room1 but no one of the family used it1 as they did not like it4 ,the water that ,i used ,i got hot from the servants4 ,on the night of the #ahth1 when ,i used the arsenic last1 ,i was going to a dinner party at ,mr4 ,minnoch's house4 ,i never administered1 or caused to be administered1 to ,mr4 ,l',angelier arsenic or anything injurious4 ,and this ,i declare to be truth40 ,with this brief introduction1 let us proceed to the details of his various illnesses1 due1 as the prosecution inferred1 to arsenical poisoning4 ,,the ,,symptoms4 ,mrs4 ,jenkins1 at whose house ,l',angelier came to lodge in the ,july of #ahef1 and continued there till his death1 spoke of her lodger as of civil habits1 but wont to stay out at night1 for which purpose he had the use of a latch-key4 ,his health was usually good2 but about the middle of ,february1 #aheg1 he had a severe attack of illness1 and another on the #bcrd1 of which she gave the following account3-- 8,one night he wished a pass key1 as he thought he would be late out4 ,i went to bed and did not hear him come in4 ,i knocked at his door about eight the next morning and got no answer4 ,i knocked again1 and he said1 #8,come in1 if you please4' ,i went in4 ,he said1 #8,i have been very unwell2 look what ,i have vomited4' ,i said ,i thought it was bile4 ,it was a greenish substance4 ,there was a great deal of it4 ,it was thick stuff1 like gruel4 ,i said1 #8,why did you not call me8' ,he said that while on the road coming home1 he was seized with a violent pain in his bowels and stomach1 and when he was taking off his clothes1 thought he should have died on the carpet1 and no human eye would have seen him4 #8,i was not able1' he said1 #8to ring the bell4' ,he asked me to make a little tea1 and said he would not go out4 ,i emptied what he had vomited1 and advised him to go to a doctor1 and he said he would4 ,he took a little breakfast and then went to sleep for an hour1 when ,i went back to him1 and he said he was better1 and would go out4 ,mr4 ,thuau1 who lodges in my house1 saw him4 ,he went out between ten and eleven--his place of business is two streets off4 ,he returned about three in the afternoon1 said he had been to a doctor and brought a bottle of medicine with him4 ,he took the medicine and complained about feeling very thirsty4 8,his illness made a great change in his appearance4 ,he looked yellow and dull1 and before that his complexion was fresh4 ,he became dark under the eyes1 and the red of his cheeks seemed to be more broken4 ,he complained of being very cold after he came in4 ,he lay down on the sofa1 and ,i laid a railway-rug over him4 ,i did nothing for his feet4 ,he never was the same after his illness4 ,when asked how he felt1 he was accustomed to say1 #8,i never feel well4' ,on a ,monday morning1 about four o'clock1 he called me4 ,he was vomiting4 ,it was the same kind of stuff as before in colour and otherwise4 ,there was not quite so much of it4 ,he complained on this occasion likewise of pain in the bowels and stomach1 and of thirst and cold4 ,i did not know he was out the night before4 ,he did not say anything about it4 ,i put more blankets on him1 jars of hot water to his feet1 and made him some tea4 ,i gave him also a great many drinks--toast and water1 lemon and water1 and such like--because he was thirsty4 ,i called again about six in the morning4 ,he did not rise until the forenoon4 ,dr4 ,thomson came to attend1 fetched by ,thuau1 and left a prescription for powders1 of which he took one or two4 ,he said they were not doing him the good he expected2 #8the doctor always said he was getting better1 but he did not feel well2' #8he did not feel getting better4' ,he was eight days away from business at that time4 ,some time after he went to ,edinburgh1 and returned to ,glasgow on the #agth of ,march1 and stayed till the #aith1 when he went away1 as he said1 to the ,bridge of ,allan4 8,he went away about #aj ,a4,m41 and said he would not be home before ,wednesday night or ,thursday morning next week4 ,a letter came for him on the #aith like those that used to come1 and ,i gave it to ,thuau4 ,i don't remember any coming on ,friday1 but one more1 like a lady's writing1 on ,saturday1 which ,i also gave to ,thuau4 7,identifies envelope as like that of letter received on ,saturday1 but not another which was shown her47 ,l',angelier was much disappointed at not getting a letter before he left1 and said1 #8,if ,i get a letter1 perhaps ,i shall be home to-night4' 8,i next saw ,l',angelier on ,sunday night1 about eight4 ,he said the letter sent had brought him home4 ,i told him it had come on ,saturday afternoon4 ,he did not say where he had come from4 ,i understood he had been at the ,bridge of ,allan4 ,he looked much better1 and said he was so4 ,he went out about #i ,p4,m41 and asked for a latch-key1 as he might be late4 ,i was to call him early4 ,it was about half-past two next morning when ,i next saw him2 he did not use the latch-key1 but rang the bell violently4 ,when ,i opened the door1 he was standing with his arms on his stomach4 ,he said1 #8,i am very bad4 ,i am going to have another vomiting of that bile4' ,the first time ,i saw the vomitings1 ,i said it was bile4 ,he said he was never troubled with bile4 ,he said he never thought he should have got home1 he was so bad on the road4 ,he did not say how he had been bad4 ,the first thing he took was a little water4 ,i filled up the tumbler1 and he tried to vomit4 ,he wished a little tea4 ,i went into the room 7with it871 and before he was half undressed he was vomiting severely4 ,it was the same kind of matter as ,i had seen before4 ,there was a light4 ,the vomiting was attended with great pain4 ,i asked him whether he had taken anything to disagree with his stomach4 ,he said he had taken nothing since he was at the ,bridge of ,allan4 ,he was chill and cold1 and wished a jar of hot water to his feet1 and another to his stomach4 ,i got these for him1 and two blankets and mats4 ,he got a little easier4 ,about four o'clock he was worse1 and on my proposing to go for a doctor said he was a little better1 and ,i need not4 ,about five he was worse again1 and his bowels became bad4 ,he had been vomiting only up to this time4 ,i went for ,dr4 ,steven1 who could not come so early1 but told me to give him twenty-five drops of laudanum1 and put a mustard blister on his stomach1 and if he did not get better he would come4 ,at ,l',angelier's request1 ,i went again1 and the doctor came1 who immediately ordered him mustard4 ,i said to him1 #8,look at what he has vomited4' ,he said1 #8,take it away1 it is making him faint4' ,i got the mustard1 and the doctor put it on1 and ,i think gave him a little morphia4 ,i said to ,l',angelier1 #8,this is the worst attack you have had4' ,the doctor stayed about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes4 ,i took him into the dining-room1 and asked him what was wrong2 he asked me if he was a person that tippled4 ,i said1 #8,no1' and that this was the second time this had occurred1 and asked what was the reason4 ,the doctor said this was matter for explanation4 ,the first time ,i went back1 ,l',angelier asked what the doctor had said4 ,i said he thought he would get over it1 and ,l',angelier replied1 #8,i am far worse than he thinks4' ,about nine1 when ,i drew the curtains1 he looked very ill1 and ,i asked if there was no one he wished sent for4 ,he asked to see ,miss ,perry1 of ,bamfield ,street4 ,i sent for her4 ,he said he thought that if he could get five minutes' sleep he should be better4 ,these were the last words ,i heard him use4 ,i went back into the room in about five minutes2 he was then quite quiet1 and ,i thought he was asleep4 ,the doctor then returned1 and ,i told him so4 ,he went into the room1 felt his pulse1 lifted his head1 and said he was dead40 ,nothing of importance with reference to the symptoms of his attacks was elicited in cross-examination4 ,his first illness1 according to the witness1 was a great deal worse than the second4 ,it was in ,january that he first complained of ill health4 ,he then first complained of his tongue2 then a boil came out on his neck1 and shortly after another4 ,she did not think that he ate what suited him1 and especially too many vegetables1 to which he said he was accustomed in ,france4 ,on the morning of his death he complained about his mouth being sore4 ,the doctor gave him some water1 and he said it was choking him1 or that it was going into his chest4 ,when in bed that morning he always had his arms out on the bed clothes4 ,she did not remember his hands being clenched4 ,his right hand was clenched when he died4 ,the remainder of the cross-examination related to the dress he usually wore1 and the search by the officers for his papers4#ajf ,,medical ,,evidence4 ,dr4 ,thomson1 a physician in ,glasgow1 who had known ,l',angelier for two years1 gave the following evidence as to his health up to about the #ajth of ,march3-- 8,he consulted me professionally1 the first time1 fully a year ago1 when he had a bowel complaint1 of which he got better4 ,next time was on the #crd ,february this year for a cold and cough1 and boil on his neck1 for which ,i prescribed4 ,the next week after ,i saw him1 when another boil had appeared4 ,on the #bcrd of ,february he came to me4 ,he was very feverish1 and his tongue was furred1 and had a patchy appearance1 from the fur being off in various places4 ,he complained of nausea1 and had been vomiting4 ,he was prostrate1 his pulse was quick1 and he had general symptoms of fever4 ,i prescribed for him 7taking his complaint to be bilious derangement7 an aperient draught4 ,he had been ill1 ,i think1 for a day or two1 but he had been taken worse the night before he called on me--during the night of the #bbnd and the morning of the #bcrd4 ,he was confined to the house for two or three days4 ,i visited him on the #bdth1 #beth1 and #bfth of ,february1 and on the #ast of ,march met him4 ,the aperient draught ,i prescribed contained magnesia and soda4 ,on the #bdth ,i prescribed powders containing rhubarb1 soda1 chalk of camomile1 and ipecacuanha4 ,on the #bdth he was much in the same state4 ,he had vomited the draught ,i had given him on the #bcrd1 and ,i observed that his skin was considerably jaundiced2 and from the whole symptoms ,i called the disease a bilious fever4 ,on the #beth he was rather better1 and had risen from his bed to the sofa1 but was not dressed4 ,on the #bfth he felt considerably better and cooler1 and ,i did not think it necessary to repeat my visits till ,i happened to be in the neighbourhood4 ,it did not occur to me that these symptoms arose from the action of any irritant poison4 ,if ,i had known that he had taken an irritant poison1 these were the symptoms ,i should expect to follow4 ,i don't think ,i asked him when he was seriously taken ill4 ,i had not seen him for some little time before1 and certainly he looked very dejected and ill2 his colour was rather darker and jaundiced1 and round the eye the colour was rather darker than usual4 ,i saw him again eight or ten days after the #ast of ,march4 ,he called on me1 but ,i have no note of the day2 he was much the same as on the #ast of ,march4 ,he said he was thinking of going into the country1 but did not say where4 ,i did not prescribe for him then4 ,on the #bfth of ,february1 ,i think ,i told him to give up smoking4 ,i thought it was injurious to his stomach4 ,i never saw him again in life40 8,on the morning of the #bcrd of ,march1 ,mr4 ,stevenson and ,mr4 ,thuau called on me1 mentioned his death1 and wished me to go and see his body1 and see if ,i could give an opinion as to the cause of his death4 ,they did not know that ,i had not seen him alive in his last illness4 ,i went to the house4 ,the body was laid out on a stretcher on the table4 ,the skin had a slightly jaundiced hue4 ,i said it was impossible to give a decided opinion1 and requested ,dr4 ,steven to be sent for1 who had been in attendance4 ,i examined the body with my hands externally1 and over the region of the liver the sound was dull2 and over the region of the heart the sound was natural4 ,i saw what he had vomited1 and made inquiry as to the symptoms before death4 ,dr4 ,steven1 when he arrived1 corroborated the statements of the landlady1 as far as he was concerned4 ,no resolution as to a post-mortem examination was come to that day1 but in the afternoon ,i stated to ,mr4 ,huggins and another gentleman1 who called on me1 that the symptoms were such as might have been produced by an irritant poison1 and that it was such a case that1 had it occurred in ,england1 a coroner's inquest would be held40 ,on cross-examination1 the witness said-- 8,at the time ,i attended ,l',angelier1 in ,february1 there were no symptoms that ,i could definitely say were not due to a bilious attack1 they were all the symptoms of such an attack4 ,there was no appearance of jaundice4 ,i have heard of that as a symptom of irritant poison4 ,it is in ,dr4 ,taylor's work on poisons4 ,the jaundice ,i saw was quite consistent that he was labouring under a bilious attack1 and could easily be accounted for that way40 ,dr4 ,steven1 physician of ,glasgow1 who was called in by ,mrs4 ,jenkins on the #bcrd of ,march1 at the commencement of the fatal attack1 carried on the case to the death of the deceased3-- 8,i was applied to10 said the ,witness1 8early in the morning of the #bcrd of ,march last1 by ,mrs4 ,jenkins1 to see her lodger1 who she told me was suffering from a severe bilious attack4 ,being unwell myself ,i was unwilling to go1 but advised her to give him hot water and drops of laudanum4 ,she came to me again about seven4 ,i went1 thinking1 as he was a ,frenchman1 he might not be understood4 ,i found him in bed1 very much depressed4 ,his features were pinched1 and his hands4 ,he complained of coldness and pain over the region of the stomach4 ,by pinched1 ,i mean shrunk and cold1 or inclined to become cold4 ,he complained of general chilliness and his face and hands were cold to the touch4 ,he was physically and mentally depressed4 ,i spoke to him and observed nothing peculiar in his voice4 ,i did not expect a strong voice1 and it was not particularly weak4 ,that was when ,i first entered the room4 ,but his voice became weaker4 ,he complained that his breathing was painful1 but it did not seem hurried4 ,i dissuaded him from speaking1 had extra clothes put on his bed1 gave him a little morphia 7mustard87 to make him vomit1 but he seemed to have vomited all he could4 ,he had a weak pulse4 ,i felt the action of the heart corresponding to it4 ,that imported that the circulation was weaker at the extremities4 ,the feet were not cold4 ,hot bottles were put to them1 and also above his body for his hands4 ,he was not urgently complaining of thirst4 ,he seemed afraid of drinking large quantities for fear of making himself vomit4 ,he asked particularly for cold water1 and was unwilling to take whisky1 which the landlady talked of giving him4 ,he said he had been vomiting and purging4 ,i saw a utensil filled with the matter vomited and purged4 ,i ordered it to be removed and a clean one put in its place1 that ,i might see what he had vomited4 ,i did not see it4 ,i believe it was kept for some time1 but ,i said it might be thrown away3 that was after his death4 ,he said1 #8,this is third attack ,i have had3 the landlady says it is bile1 but ,i never was subject to bile4' ,he seemed to get worse while ,i was there4 ,he several times said1 #8,my poor mother1' and how dull he felt at being so ill away from friends4 ,i applied a mustard poultice to his stomach4 ,i stayed ,i suppose half-an-hour4 ,i called again about a quarter past eleven4 ,the landlady met me and said he had been quite as bad as in the morning4 ,i went into the room and found him dead4 ,he was lying on his right side1 with his back towards the light1 his knees drawn a little up1 one arm outside the bedclothes and the other in4 ,they were not much--not unnaturally drawn up4 ,he seemed in a comfortable position1 as if sleeping4 ,about mid-day ,i was sent for again2 ,dr4 ,thomson was there when ,i went in4 ,i asked him if there was anything in his previous illness1 with the symptoms ,i mentioned1 which would account for the cause of death1 but we were entirely at a loss to account for it4 ,i declined giving a certificate unless ,i made an examination1 and ,dr4 ,thomson and ,i made one the next day4 ,we subsequently made a second examination after the body was exhumed40 ,the witness then described how the stomach and its contents were carefully preserved and sent to ,professor ,penny for analysis 7see ,appendix ,a41 p4 #cee74 ,,analytical ,,evidence4 ,dr4 ,penny1 the ,professor of ,chemistry in the ,andersonian ,university1 ,glasgow1 then read the following report of his analysis of the parts of the body handed to him by ,dr4 ,thomson1 made at the request of one of the procurators fiscal of the country4 7#a47 ,contents of ,stomach4 8,the liquid measured #h ounces4 ,on being allowed to repose1 it deposited a white powder1 which was found on examination to possess the external characters and all the chemical properties peculiar to arsenious acid1 that is1 the common white arsenic of the shops4 ,it consisted of hard1 gritty1 transparent1 colourless crystalline particles2 it was soluble in boiling water1 and readily dissolved in a solution of caustic potash4 ,it was unchanged by sulphide of ammonium1 and volatised when heated on platina foil4 ,heated in a tube it gave a sparkling white sublimate1 which1 under the microscope1 was found to consist of octahedral crystals4 ,its aqueous solution afforded1 with ammonio-nitrate of silver1 ammonio-sulphate of copper1 sulphuretted hydrogen1 and bichromate of potash1 the highly characteristic results produced by arsenious acid4 ,on heating a small portion of it in a small tube with black flux1 a brilliant ring of metallic arsenic was obtained1 with all its distinctive properties4 ,heated with dilute hydrochloric acid and a slip of copper foil1 a steel-gray coating was deposited on the copper2 and this coating1 by further examination1 was proved to be metallic arsenic4 8,another portion of the powder1 on being heated with nitric acid1 yielded a substance having the peculiar characters of arsenic acid4 ,a small portion of the powder was also subjected to what is commonly known as #8,marsh's ,proof1' and metallic arsenic was thus obtained1 with all its peculiar physical and chemical properties4 ,these results show1 unequivocally1 that the said white powder was arsenious acid--that is the preparation of arsenic which is usually sold in commerce1 and administered1 or taken as a poison1 under the name of arsenic or oxide of arsenic4 8,i then examined the fluid contents of the stomach4 ,after the usual preparatory operations1 it was subjected to the following processes3-- 87#a47 ,to a portion of the fluid ,reinsch's process was applied1 and an abundant steel-like coating was obtained on copper foil4 ,on heating the coated copper in a glass tube1 the peculiar odour of arsenic was distinctly perceptible1 and a white crystalline sublimate was produced1 possessing the properties peculiar to arsenious acid4 87#b47 ,another portion was distilled1 and the distillate subjected to ,marsh's process4 ,the gas produced by this process had an arsenical odour1 burned with a bluish-white flame1 and gave with nitrate of silver the characteristic reaction of arseniuretted hydrogen4 ,on holding above the flame a slip of bibulous paper moistened with a solution of ammonio-nitrate of silver1 a yellow colour was communicated to the paper4 ,a white porcelain capsule depressed upon the flame was quickly covered with brilliant stains1 which on being tested with the appropriate reagents1 were found to be metallic arsenic4 ,by a modification of ,marsh's apparatus1 the gas was conducted through a heated tube1 when a lustrous mirror-like deposit of arsenic in the metallic state was collected2 and this deposit was afterwards converted into arsenious acid4 87#c47 ,through another portion of the fluid a stream of sulphuretted hydrogen was transmitted1 when a bright yellow precipitate separated1 having the chemical properties of trisulphide of arsenic4 ,it dissolved readily in ammonia2 it remained unchanged in hydrochloric acid2 and it gave1 on being heated with black flux1 a brilliant ring of metallic arsenic4 87#d47 ,a fourth portion1 being properly acidified with hydrochloric acid was distilled1 and the distillate subjected to #8,fleitmann's' process4 ,for this purpose it was boiled with zinc and a strong solution of caustic potash4 ,arseniuretted hydrogen was disengaged and was recognised by its odour1 and its characteristic action on nitrate of silver40 7#b47 ,stomach4 8,i examined1 in the next place1 the stomach itself4 ,it was cut into small pieces1 and boiled for some time in water containing hydrochloric acid1 and the solution1 after being filtered1 was subjected to the same processes as those applied to the contents of the stomach4 ,the results in every case were precisely similar1 and the presence of a considerable quantity of arsenic was unequivocally detected40 7#c47 ,quantity of ,arsenic4 8,i made1 in the last place1 a careful determination of the quantity of arsenic contained in the stomach and its contents4 ,a stream of sulphuretted hydrogen gas was transmitted through a known quantity of the prepared fluid from the said matters1 until the whole of the arsenic was precipitated in the form of trisulphide of arsenic4 ,this sulphide1 after being carefully purified1 was collected1 dried1 and weighed1 and the weight corresponded to a quantity of arsenious acid 7common white arsenic7 in the entire stomach and its contents equal to #hb grains and seven-tenths of a grain1 or nearly one-fifth of an ounce4 ,the accuracy of this result was confirmed by converting the sulphide of arsenic into arseniate of ammonia and magnesia1 and weighing the product4 ,the quantity here stated is exclusive of the white powder first examined4 ,the purity of the various materials and reagents employed in this investigation was most scrupulously ascertained40 ,conclusions4 8,having considered the results of this investigation1 ,i am clearly of opinion that they are conclusive in showing 7#a71 ,that the matters subjected to examination and analysis contained arsenic1 and 7#b71 ,that the quantity of arsenic found was considerably more than sufficient to destroy life4 8,all this is true1 on soul and conscience4 8,,frederick ,,penny1 8,professor of ,chemistry40 ,april #f1 #aheg4 ,examination resumed4--8,it is not easy to give a precise answer to the question #8,how much arsenic would destroy life8' ,cases are on record in which life was destroyed by two and four grains2 four or six grains are generally sufficient to destroy life1 and the amount ,i determined as existing in the stomach was #hb grains4 ,on the #cast of ,march ,i attended the exhumation of ,m4 ,l',angelier's body4 ,i saw the coffin opened1 and the portions of the body removed1 which were carefully preserved1 in jars of which ,i never lost sight1 and ,i analysed the contents1 and prepared the following ,report4 8,on ,tuesday1 #cast ,march last1 ,i was present at a post-mortem examination of the body of ,p4 ,e4 ,l',angelier1 made by ,drs4 ,corbet1 ,thomson1 and ,steven1 in a vault in the ,ramshorn ,church1 ,glasgow4 8,at my request1 portions of the following organs were removed from the body1 and properly preserved for chemical analysis and examination3 7#a47 ,small intestine and contents2 7#b47 ,large intestine2 7#c47 ,liver2 7#d47 ,heart2 7#e47 ,lung2 7#f47 ,brain4 ,these articles were taken direct to the ,laboratory of the ,andersonian ,institution1 and were there delivered to me by the parties named4 ,i have since made a careful analysis and chemical examination of all the said matters1 with the following results3-- 7#a47 ,small ,intestine and ,contents4 8,the portion of the small intestine contained a turbid and reddish-coloured fluid1 measuring four ounces4 ,on standing for several hours in a glass vessel1 this liquid deposited numerous and well-defined octahedral crystals1 which1 being subjected to the usual chemical processes for the detection of arsenic1 were found to be arsenious acid4 ,arsenic was also detected in the small intestine4 7#b47 ,large ,intestine4 8,this organ yielded arsenic1 but in less proportion than in the small intestine4 7#c47 ,liver1 ,brain1 and ,heart4 8,arsenic was separated from the liver1 brain1 and heart1 but in much less proportion than from the small and large intestines4 7#d47 ,lung4 8,the lung gave only a slight indication of the presence of arsenic4 ,conclusions4 87#a47 ,that the body of the deceased contained arsenic4 87#b47 ,that the arsenic must have been taken by or administered to him while living40 ,the witness then spoke of the examinations he had made into the arsenic sold by the two chemists1 ,murdoch and ,currie1 at whose shops the prisoner had stated she had purchased it1 for the purposes of a cosmetic4 ,in that sold at ,murdoch's1 #iaa per cent4 was pure white arsenic1 and in that from ,currie's1 #idd per cent41 and the remainder inorganic matter2 in ,murdoch's carbonaceous1 in ,currie's indigo and carbonaceous matter4 ,the quantity of indigo in this arsenic was extremely small1 and capable of being removed by peculiar and dexterous manipulation1 so that the arsenic would appear white to the unassisted eye4 ,if of this an amount sufficient to cause death had been given1 and prior to death great vomiting had taken place1 the witness would not expect to find any portion of the indigo3 the quantity was so small1 that it would not colour wine of any sort4 ,in the case of ,murdoch's arsenic1 however1 as it was mixed with carbonaceous particles1 if that had been given and settled down from the contents of the stomach as in this case1 he should have expected to find such particles--not1 however1 if it had been given a month before4 ,of the twelve bottles and two packages of medicines1 and the cake of chocolate found at ,l',angelier's lodging1 and submitted to him for analysis1 none1 except a weak solution of aconite were poisonous1 and that was so weak1 that had the whole two ounces in the phial been swallowed1 it would not have destroyed life4 ,of the use of prussic acid or arsenic as a cosmetic he had never heard1 and believed that both would be dangerous1 and the latter might produce constitutional symptoms of poisoning4 ,he had heard of its use as a depilatory1 but then mixed with other matters1 as lime1 and it was not arsenious acid1 but usually the yellow sulphide1 that was used for this purpose4 ,on cross-examination by the ,dean of ,faculty1 the witness said3-- 8,in the entire stomach and its contents there was arsenic equal to #hb1 #g-ajth grains1 exclusive of the white powder first examined1 which1 after being dried1 weighed #e1 #b-ajth grains1 and was arsenious acid4 ,i did not determine the quantity of arsenic in the liver1 heart1 or brain1 and can give no notion of the quantity that might be in those organs4 ,in the small intestine it must have been considerable1 because when its contents were allowed to repose arsenious acid crystallised out of that liquid and deposited abundantly on the sides of the vessel1--which indicated that the liquid had as much arsenic as it could hold in solution at that temperature4 ,i can't give any idea of the quantity in the small intestine4 ,it was decidedly appreciable4 ,it would be a mere matter of guess1 and ,i should not like to guess in so serious a matter4 ,if the deceased1 when attacked by symptoms of arsenical poisoning1 vomited often1 and in large quantities1 it would depend on the mode of administration whether a quantity would be carried off4 ,if given in solid food1 and in a solid state1 a large portion of the arsenic would be ejected from the stomach if all the food were vomited2 but if the arsenic were stirred up with the liquid1 and thereby thrown into a state of mechanical suspension1 ,i should not expect that so considerable a portion would be ejected by vomiting4 ,by solid food ,i mean bread and the like4 ,in the case of the arsenic being taken in a fluid1 ,i could not say what proportion might be ejected4 ,i should not be surprised to find that as much had been ejected as retained4 ,judging from what ,i found in the body1 the dose must have been of a very unusual size4 ,there are cases on record in which large quantities of arsenic have been found in the stomach and intestines--larger than in the present4 ,i think there is a case where two drachms--#abj grains--were found4 ,in the cases ,i refer to the arsenic was taken voluntarily1 with the intention to commit suicide4 ,it would be very difficult to give a large dose in a liquid4 ,by a large dose you exclude many vehicles in which arsenic might be administered4 ,nothing which ,i found indicated the time when the arsenic must have been taken4 ,the ordinary period between the administration of the poison and the symptoms being manifested is eight to ten hours in the cases on record3 that is the extreme time4 ,there are some cases in which they show themselves in half an hour4 ,we have cases in which death resulted in a few hours1 and cases in which death has been delayed two days4 ,as to the arsenic bought at ,currie's shop1 the greater part of the colouring matter might be removed4 ,if you were to throw water on the arsenic1 and agitate the two together1 and after the arsenic has subsided you throw off the liquor1 a portion of the colouring matter is thrown off1 and if you keep the vessel shaken in a particular way you may coax the greater part of the colouring matter away4 ,murdoch's arsenic was coloured with carbonaceous matter--it had the colour of coal soot4 ,i cannot tell from examination whether the arsenic found was given in one dose or in several4 ,it would be very dangerous to use arsenic externally in any way4 ,there are cases in which it has been rubbed on the whole skin1 and the symptoms of poisoning produced--vomiting1 pain1 but not death4 ,my impression is1 from general reading1 that it produces eruption on the sound skin4#ajg ,if cold water were used1 ,i should not like to wash in it4 ,i cannot give any other answer40 ,to the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,there are cases in which inflammation of the intestines has been produced by the external application of arsenic40 ,to the ,dean4--8,arsenic is an irritant poison2 it is absorbed into the blood1 ,i presume1 with great rapidity1 and through the blood it reaches all the organs in which we find it40 ,to the ,lord ,advocate4--8,in administering large doses of arsenic many vehicles are excluded4 ,cocoa or chocolate is a vehicle in which a large dose might be given4 ,there is a great difference between giving rise to suspicion and actual detection4 ,i have found by actual experiment1 that when #cj to #dj grains of arsenic are put into a cup of warm chocolate1 a large portion of the arsenic settles down in the bottom of the cup1 and ,i think a person drinking such poisonous chocolate would suspect something when the gritty particles came into his mouth2 but when the same and even a larger quantity were boiled with the chocolate1 instead of being stirred or mixed1 none of it settles down4#ajh ,i could not separate the soot from ,murdoch's arsenic1 but a very large quantity of it might be separated4 ,supposing a person subjected to repeated doses of arsenic1 ,i have no evidence on which to form an opinion whether the last dose would be more rapidly fatal40 ,to the ,dean4--8,in the case of chocolate being boiled with arsenic in it1 a larger portion dissolves and does not subside4 ,that is what ,i find by actual experiment4 ,coffee or tea could not be made the vehicle of so large a dose of arsenic40 ,to the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,the period in which the arsenic produces its effect varies in different individuals1 and according to the mode of administration4 ,pain in the stomach is one of the first symptoms1 and vomiting usually accompanies the pain1 but it may be very severe before the vomiting actually begins4 ,ten1 fifteen1 or twenty grains might be given in coffee40 ,professor ,penny1 subsequently 7on the fourth day71 gave the following account of experiments made by him with arsenic purchased from ,murdoch's and ,currie's shops3-- 8,some of the arsenic ,i purchased from ,murdoch's1 which was mixed with soot1 ,i gave to a dog1 and ,i had no difficulty in detecting the soot in the stomach of that dog after death4 ,i administered arsenic1 coloured by myself with indigo1 to another dog1 and had no difficulty in detecting the indigo in that case by chemical tests4 ,to another dog ,i administered arsenic purchased at ,currie's1 which it will be remembered was mixed with indigo4 ,after death ,i detected black particles in the stomach of that dog1 but ,i could not undertake to identify the arsenic found with the arsenic given3 ,i mean ,i found carbonaceous particles1 but that ,i could not undertake to say that these particles were of themselves sufficient to identify any of the particular poison administered4 ,but as ,i administered it myself1 it must have been the same--at least1 ,i know of no other source4 ,i could detect no arsenic in the brains of the dogs4 ,i found solid arsenic in the stomach1 as well as in the texture of the stomach40 ,by the ,court4--8,is it the fact that there is less arsenic found in the brains of animals than of human beings80 ,witness4--8,i am not aware4 ,in the one case ,i detected blue colouring matter of indigo1 in the other carbonaceous particles40#aji ,by the ,dean4--8,did you make yourself acquainted with the nature of the colouring matter of ,currie's arsenic before administering it to the dog80 ,witness4--8,i did40 ,the ,dean4--8,did the black particles you found correspond to the constituents of the colouring matter80 ,witness4--8,they have a close resemblance to them1 both in physical appearance and in chemical properties40 ,the ,dean4--8,were they not in physical appearance and chemical properties1 identical80 ,witness4--8,they were40 ,professor ,christison1 to whom1 on the #aath of ,may1 ,dr4 ,penny had delivered similar portions of the body to those on which he had experimented1 together with portions of the deposits from the stomach and intestines1 made a chemical analysis of the white powder1 and the fluids obtained from the stomach1 and the small intestine1 and of a portion of the liver4 ,as from these he obtained unequivocal proofs of the presence of arsenic1 he did not1 at that time1 proceed further4 ,subsequently1 however1 on the #bhth of ,may1 he analysed a portion of the great intestine1 and was satisfied of the presence of arsenic2 and in a portion of the brain he found 8traces of arsenic1 but not satisfactory evidence1 which might be owing to the small quantity of material he had to analyse40 8,the fluid from the stomach10 he said1 8appeared to indicate a considerable quantity in the system--more than sufficient to destroy life4 ,the symptoms of arsenic poisoning are variable4 ,sometimes they pass off quickly1 sometimes continue for weeks or months4 ,when they continue1 they are indigestion1 loss of strength1 emaciation1 sometimes diarrha1 lassitude of the limbs4 ,if there appeared erosions with elevated edges in the intestines1 ,i should have been led to suspect the existence of some affection of the intestines previous to the final attack4 ,the appearances exhibited by the post-mortem examination were such as the witness would expect from arsenic40 ,by the ,lord ,advocate4--8,if you had been consulted in a case of this kind1--that on the #ahth or #aith of ,february a person having gone out in good health returns1 is attacked during the night with great pain in the bowels1 severe vomiting of a green viscous fluid1 accompanied by intense thirst and purging1 and after the lapse of two or three days and partial recovery the patient is again seized with the same symptoms1 though in a somewhat modified form1 and that after the second attack he had continued affected with great lassitude1 change of colour1 low pulse1 and that after going from home for ten or fourteen days1 had again returned and been attacked the same night with those symptoms in an aggravated form1 and had died within eight or ten hours of his return1 and that on a post-mortem examination the results were found of which you are aware in this case3--,i wish you to give me your opinion1 as a man of science and skill1 what conclusion you would draw as to the cause of the previous illness and death80 ,witness4--8,i could have no doubt that the cause of death was poisoning by arsenic1 and such being the case1 ,i should have entertained a strong suspicion in regard to his previous illness1 because his death would have prevented me from taking the means of satisfying my mind on the subject by a careful examination of all the circumstances40 ,the ,lord ,advocate4--8,are the symptoms consistent with what you would expect if continuous poisoning was taking place80 ,witness4--8,they are those which have occurred in parallel cases of the administration of doses singly insufficient to cause death40 ,of the samples of ,murdoch's and ,currie's arsenic1 which ,dr4 ,penny had delivered to him1 8,the former10 he said1 8contained the due proportion of soot2 the latter was not coloured with the indigo prescribed by the ,act--was not of a bluish1 but greyish black colour1 imperfectly mixed1 and easily removeable by washing with cold water1 which cannot easily be done with good indigo4 ,the proportion was a thirty-sixth1 and not a thirty-second1 as the ,act directs40#aaj ,the cross-examination of this witness was first directed to the probability of the colouring matter in the arsenic being detected in the portions of the body analysed4 8,my attention10 said ,professor ,christison1 8was not directed to colouring matter in arsenic4 ,i got only one article in which it might have been found--the small intestine4 ,the others had been subjected to a previous analysis4 ,i was not asked to attend to the colouring matter4 ,i did not see it1 and did not search for it4 ,supposing soot or indigo to have been given with the arsenic1 ,i think it might have been found in the intestines by careful examination4 ,i can't say it would have been found3 many circumstances go to the possibility of its being found4 ,many component parts of soot are insoluble3 it might have been removed by frequent vomiting4 ,it is very difficult to remove soot from arsenic entirely4 ,indigo would have been found more easily from the peculiarity of its colour1 and the chemical ingredients are so precise4 ,currie's arsenic is not coloured with true indigo2 it is waste indigo1 or what has been used by the dyer4 ,i don't know how it is prepared4 ,i did not analyse the colouring matter of ,currie's arsenic4 ,i ascertained it was not the indigo directed by the ,act to be used1 and ,i ascertained the quantity4 ,i separated the colouring matter from the arsenic1 and subjected it to the action of sulphuric acid4 ,charcoal 7more properly--carbon7 is one of the constituents of good indigo1 and necessarily of waste4 ,the chief constituent of soot is charcoal also40 ,the remainder of his cross-examination was directed to the amount of arsenic found in the stomach1 and the symptoms of1 and the period at which the effects are exhibited4 8,i was informed by ,dr4 ,penny that he had found more than eighty grains in the stomach4 ,there was also the white powder in addition4 ,if there was great vomiting and purging1 the quantity of arsenic administered must have been much greater than that found in the stomach and intestines4 ,much would depend whether means were taken to promote vomiting4 ,if hot and cold water were freely given1 that would facilitate the discharge of the poison4 ,it is impossible to say the proportion ejected4 ,i think it would be reasonable to suppose that as much would be vomited as remained3 it might1 without any extravagant supposition1 be taken at four or five times as much40 ,symptoms4--8,there was nothing in the symptoms mentioned in the last illness in this case inconsistent with death being produced by a single dose of arsenic4 ,the ordinary symptoms of this kind are not unlike those of malignant cholera4 ,i think all the symptoms in this case might have occurred from malignant cholera4 ,if there was a sense of choking and soreness of the throat1 ,i think these are more symptoms of arsenic4 ,i don't think they have occurred in cholera4 ,i think the ulcers in the abdomen might indicate the previous existence of inflammation in the duodenum1 called duodenitis4 ,it might be a disease that would present the outward symptoms of bowel complaint or cholera40 ,appearance of effects of arsenic4--8,the ordinary time that elapses between the administration of arsenic and death is from eighteen hours to two days and a half4 ,the exceptions to this are numerous4 ,some of them are very anomalous as to the shortness of the intervals4 ,the shortest are two and two-and-a-half hours3 these have been ascertained2 but it is not always possible to ascertain when it has been administered4 ,i had a case lately in which it was five hours4 ,there are also cases in which it was seven and even ten hours4 ,it does not appear that the size of the dose affects this2 it does not depend upon the amount taken1 within certain bounds1 of course2 but ,i speak of the case as arsenic is usually administered4 ,there are a good many cases of large doses4 ,i think the dose in this case must have been double1 probably more than double1 the quantity found in the stomach4 ,a dose of #bbj grains may be considered a large dose4 ,i can't say if1 in cases of as large a dose as this1 they are intentionally administered3 in great proportion of cases of suicide1 the dose is generally found to be large--easily accounted for by the desire to make certain of death40 ,the ,dean4--8,in a case of murder no such large quantity would be used8 ,it is in cases of suicide that double-shotted pistols are used and large doses given40 ,witness4--8,but murder1 even by injuries1 and also by poison1 is very often detected by the size of the dose4 ,in all cases of poisoning by arsenic there is always more used than is necessary4 ,i cannot recollect how much has been used1 but ,i know very well that what is found in the stomach in undoubted cases of poisoning by others has been considerably larger than what is necessary to cause death3 because the very fact of poison being found in the stomach at all1 as in the case of arsenic1 shows that more has been administered than is necessary1 as it is not what is found in the stomach causes death1 but what disappears from the stomach40 ,the ,dean4--8,but do you know any case in which so great a dose as the present was administered80 ,witness4--8,i cannot recollect at the present moment4 ,in cases of charges of murder by arsenic it is scarcely possible to get any information as to the actual quantity used40 ,the ,dean4--8,you have information here in this charge of murder40 ,the ,witness4--8,you have information as to what was in the stomach40 ,the ,dean4--8,and you are enabled to draw an inference40 ,witness4--8,of course3 my inference is drawn by a sort of probability1 but that is not an inference on which ,i am entitled to found any positive statement40 ,the ,dean4--8,well1 let me put this question4 ,did you ever know any person murdered by arsenic having #hh grains of it found in his stomach and intestines80 ,witness4--8,i don't recollect at the present moment40 ,the ,dean4--8,or anything approaching to it80 ,witness4--8,i don't recollect1 but ,i would not rely on my recollection as to a negative answer40 ,the ,dean4--8,you are not1 at all events1 able to give an example the other way40 ,witness4--8,not at present4 ,as far as my own observation goes1 ,i can say that ,i never met with #hj grains in the stomach of a person who had been poisoned by arsenic4 ,i can't say what is the largest quantity ,i have found40#aaa ,the ,dean4--8,if a person designs to poison another the use of a large quantity of arsenic1 greatly exceeding what is necessary1 is to be avoided80 ,witness4--8,it is a great error4 ,in some articles of food it is easy to administer a large quantity of arsenic1 and in others it is difficult to do so4 ,it is very rare for persons to take meals after arsenic has been administered2 but there is a case of a girl who took arsenic at eleven ,a4,m41 and at two ,p4,m4 made a pretty good dinner4 ,it was a ,french case1 and the words as translated are1 that she made a very good dinner1 though it was observed she was uneasy previously4 ,the author who notices that case notices it as a very extraordinary one4 ,she died in thirteen or fourteen hours after the administration4 ,it was a rapid case40 ,by the ,lord ,advocate4--8,the amount of matter vomited is sometimes very little2 and sometimes very large doses have been thrown off by vomiting4 ,there is one case in which half an ounce was taken and no vomiting ensued4 ,i think chocolate and cocoa would be a vehicle in which a considerable dose might be given4 ,active exercise would hasten the effect of arsenic2 a long walk would do so4 ,exercise accelerates the effects of all poisons except narcotic4 ,that a man should take poison at the ,bridge of ,allan1 come to ,coatbridge1 walk eight miles to ,glasgow1 and reach that in good health and spirits1 ,i should think very unlikely4 ,cases of protraction for five hours have occurred in persons who had gone to sleep after taking it4 ,from half an hour to an hour is the usual time between administration and the symptoms manifesting themselves4 ,the administration of previous doses predisposes the system to the effects of poison1 and makes its action more rapid and violent4 ,if the individual had recovered entirely1 this would not be so much the case2 but if he still laboured under the derangement of the stomach1 ,i should look for violent effects40 ,on the fifth day ,professor ,christison was recalled1 and gave the following evidence as to the use of arsenic as a cosmetic1 its taste1 and its supposed presence naturally in the bodies of human beings4 ,by the ,lord ,advocate4--8,with regard to the use of arsenic as a cosmetic1 do you think it possible to use it1 by putting it in a basin of water and washing the face with it80 ,witness4--8,it would be very unsafe indeed4 ,i should expect it to produce inflammation1 probably1 of the eyes and nostrils1 and perhaps of the mouth4 ,it might get into the mouth1 and it would be very difficult to keep it out of the eyes and nostrils2 and if it once got in1 as it is a rather insoluble solid1 it would be difficult to wash it out4 ,a preparation made from common arsenic is sometimes used as a depilatory4 ,the old name is #8,arasma ,cacoran1' because it is used by the ,turks4 ,it is essentially a sulphuret of arsenic and a sulphuret of lime4 ,it is only used for removing hairs from the skin1 and not for the complexion40 ,by the ,dean4--8,the common arsenic of the shops1 you say1 is an insoluble solid40 ,witness4--8,it is said in general terms to be so4 ,it is sparingly soluble in cold water4 ,it is not absolutely insoluble1 however1 in cold water4 ,about the #ejjth part might be dissolved in cold water by violent agitation1 and if the arsenic were to be boiled in the first instance1 about a #cbnd part would remain in cold water4 ,cold water is the worst of all things to hold arsenic in suspension4 ,only the fine parts of the powder would be held in suspension4 ,the coarse arsenic sold in the shops would fall to the bottom40#aab ,the ,dean4--8,suppose water were used to wash the face and hands without drawing up the arsenic from the bottom1 you would not expect any serious consequences to result80 ,witness4--8,i can only say1 that ,i should not like to do it myself4 ,i do not know absolutely what would follow2 but1 on account of the risk1 any person who would do so would do a very imprudent thing40 ,by the ,lord ,advocate4--8,arsenic1 though strictly heavier than water1 would remain in suspension80 ,witness4--8,the finer parts of the powder would1 but not long4 ,i never made any experiment1 but should say it would be for a very short time4 ,i should say1 speaking on mere hazard1 in the course of three or four minutes there would be scarcely any of the arsenic remaining in suspension1 and there would only remain what had dissolved4 ,i am speaking1 as ,i said1 without having experimented40 ,by the ,court4--8,has arsenic any taste80 ,witness4--8,your lordship is aware that there is a great deal of dispute about that4 ,after the strong affirmative of its having no taste which ,i published1 a greater authority than ,i--,professor ,orfila of ,paris--still adhered to the description that it had a taste4 ,all ,i can say about that is1 that experiments were made by myself and two other medical gentlemen1 as far as it was possible to make them with so dangerous a substance1 and we found the taste to be very slight indeed2 if anything it was rather sweetish1 but all but imperceptible40 ,to the ,court4--8,then there can be no doubt that large quantities of arsenic have been swallowed repeatedly by persons without observing80 ,witness4--8,the experiments were made by myself and two other medical gentlemen1 and so far as we went we all agreed as to the result4 ,professor ,orfila maintained that it had a taste1 though he referred to my experiments4 ,but ,i think ,i may add1 that it has struck me as very strange1 that neither ,orfila nor any others who have doubted these observations of mine on the matter1 said that they had made any experiments themselves4 ,orfila does not say so4 ,he merely expresses his belief1 notwithstanding what ,i have stated40 ,by the ,court4--8,if taken in coffee or cream1 then1 the arsenic1 having1 if any1 a sweetish taste1 would not be perceptible80 ,witness4--8,not at all4 ,i could put that in a clearer point of view by a preliminary observation1 namely1 that several persons who have taken arsenic largely without knowing at the time what they were taking observed no taste2 some observed a sweetish taste1 and others what they called an acrid taste4 ,with regard to acrimony1 however1 there were two fallacies4 ,one was that they confounded the acrimony with the roughness of taste in the mouth1 and secondly with the burning effects slowly developed by the poison afterwards40 ,by the ,dean4--8,in these cases you have spoken of1 in what medium was the arsenic given80 ,witness4--8,sometimes in simple vehicles1 such as coffee and water1 and sometimes in thicker substances1 such as soup4 ,i think there are some instances where some roughness was observed in the case of porridge1 but ,i cannot speak exactly as to the vehicles4 ,i do not think the vehicle had much effect on the different tastes4 ,i cannot state the quantity administered40 ,the ,dean4--8,are these cases in which you were personally concerned80 ,witness4--8,strange to say1 ,i have only been personally concerned in two cases of poisoning by arsenic4 ,i have of course been often in cases like the present4 ,it only came twice under my personal observation4 ,it is the opinion of ,orfila that the taste of arsenic is an acrid and not a corrosive taste40 ,the ,dean4--8,exciting salivation1 is it not80 ,witness4--8,yes1 that is a pretty correct translation of the ,french word4 ,the word acrid is a professional word1 but ,orfila uses the word pre1 which rather means rough40 ,the ,dean4--8,yes1 in his #ast vol41 p4 #cgg1 he uses the word1 but at p4 #ceg you will find he says the taste is cre et corrosive40 ,witness4--8,i was not aware of that4 #8,notwithstanding the experiments of ,dr4 ,christison1' ,i think he says1 #8the taste of arsenic is acrid4' ,he did not say he made the experiments himself1 or give his authority4 ,orfila is a high name in the medical world2 none higher of modern date in the department of medico-legal chemistry40 ,the ,dean4--8,will you tell me the nature of the experiments you made with the two other medical gentlemen80 ,witness4--8,we tasted the arsenic both in a solid and a liquid state1 and allowed both kinds to pass as far back along the tongue as it was possible to do with safety1 so as to spit it out afterwards4 ,we allowed it to remain on the tongue about two minutes1 and washed the mouth carefully40 ,the ,dean4--8,can you give me any idea how much arsenic there was in your mouth on that occasion80 ,witness4--8,about two grains4 ,one of the gentlemen1 the late ,dr4 ,duncan1 kept two grains in his mouth a long time4 ,we allowed it to remain on the tongue generally two minutes1 a time quite sufficient to ascertain the taste40 ,by the ,lord ,advocate4--8,is it a common thing in cases of this sort to ascertain the quantity of arsenic80 ,witness4--8,no4 ,in the great majority of criminal cases it is not ascertained within presumption40 ,by the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,are you aware that a great chemist maintained that there was arsenic naturally in the bodies of all human beings80 ,witness4--8,i have heard that2 but he afterwards surrendered his opinion40 ,by the ,dean4--8,there has been a great shifting of opinion among medical men as to the probable effect of arsenic1 has there not80 ,witness4--8,not during the last #ce years4 ,prior to that our information as to the effects of arsenic was very vague40 ,by the ,dean4--8,was it not generally thought at one time that there was naturally arsenic in the human stomach80 ,witness4--8,it may be so1 but it is quite new to me40 ,robert ,telfer ,corbett1 physician in ,glasgow1 and senior surgeon in the infirmary1 who had assisted at the post-mortem examination and joined in the report1 was called on the fourth day1 and gave the following evidence4 8,so far as he could judge without analysis the deceased had died from the effect of poison4 ,the morbid appearances presented were of two kinds--one showing the result of recent action1 the other of action at a period antecedent to it4 ,the last of these appearances consisted of several ulcers1 each about the #a_/afth of an inch in diameter1 with elevated edge1 on the upper part of the duodenum4 ,they might have been characteristic of the effect of irritant poison at the distance of a month1 but it is impossible to fix any date4 ,i think they were such as irritant poison1 administered a month before1 would have produced4 ,they were of longer standing than immediately antecedent to death4 ,in the duodenum and intestines the body had in colour and otherwise the appearances characteristic of arsenical poisoning4 ,inflammation and ulceration are the effect of inflammation2 jaundice1 ,i mean the yellow tinge of the skin1 is an occasional1 but not a necessary symptom of death by arsenic1 but not a common one4 ,extreme thirst is one of the symptoms1 and shows itself very early4 ,it is not characteristic of ,british cholera in its earlier stages4 ,the exact time a dose of arsenic takes to exhibit its symptoms is from a half to one hour--that is the average time4 ,longer periods have been known but are very unusual4 ,they depend more on the mode in which the poison is given1 and the state of the stomach1 than on the quantity administered4 ,if a person had been the subject of repeated doses1 the irritability of the stomach would make it more likely to operate quickly4 ,i have read of cases of murder where large quantities of arsenic have been found in the stomach4 ,i can refer to cases in which details were not given1 but the quantity was said to be large40 ,the cross-examination of this witness was mainly directed to his assertion that the yellowness of the skin seen in jaundice1 and1 as he added1 of the conjunctiva of the eye also1 was a known symptom in arsenical poison1 but he admitted that the statement in ,dr4 ,taylor's book was his only authority3 he only 8knew it to be a secondary symptom from arsenical poisoning in his routine40 ,he admitted also that the ulcers on the duodenum might arise from some enteric fever1 and that any cause of inflammation might produce them4 ,on re-examination by the ,lord ,advocate1 he repeated that from his reading and study he knew jaundice to be an occasional symptom of arsenical poisoning4 ,to a question whether 8in a person during life who immediately after taking food had been seized with severe pain and intense thirst1 he should think1 because he had a yellow colour1 that might not be the effect of arsenical poisoning80 he replied 8that might or might not be10 and 8that the appearance of jaundice would not sway him materially one way or the other40 ,this witness1 though he had made many post-mortem examinations1 had only once before done so in a case of arsenical poisoning4 ,with this witness the medical evidence for the prosecution was closed4 ,it will be convenient1 as in ,palmer's case1 to give in this place the evidence of the medical witnesses1 called1 at a subsequent period1 for the defence4 ,,medical ,,evidence ,,for ,,the ,,defence4 ,two physicians were called for the prisoner1 with the object of proving 7#a71 that arsenic could be used without danger as a cosmetic2 7#b71 that the symptoms in ,l',angelier's last illness were consistent with the suggestion that he died of some form of cholera4 ,dr4 ,james ,a4 ,lawrie1 a physician of ,glasgow1 many years in practice1 who was first called1 said-- 8,he had taken a quarter or half-an-ounce of arsenic1 bought at ,currie's1 and washed his hands freely with it1 and on the previous ,saturday had tried the same experiment with a half-an-ounce on his face1 but washed his face afterwards with cold water4 ,the effect was the same as using a ball of soap with sand--it softened the skin4 ,he filled the basin with the usual quantity of water1 and mixed the arsenic with it4 ,it was a practice he should have no fear of repeating1 and would not hesitate in using1 if he had a case that required it1 such as vermin on the skin4 ,in consequence of the insolubility of arsenic1 he did not think that increasing the quantity of arsenic would make any difference in the effect40 ,on the second point this witness said3-- 8,i treated one case of poisoning by arsenic4 ,some years ago during the prevalence of cholera1 ,i was asked to see a gentleman about seven or eight in the evening1 and the account was that he had been ill since three or four in the morning4 ,i found him labouring under premonitory symptoms of cholera1 and ,i prescribed for him4 ,i returned about ten1 and found the symptoms very much aggravated1 and the vomiting and purging still continued4 ,his voice was not affected1 and the vomiting was not the same as in cholera4 ,it was a reddish yellowish matter1 and ,i requested it to be set aside4 ,i thought it was not a case of cholera1 and asked him what he had taken4 ,he said only his ordinary food1 wine1 c41 but nothing else4 ,the symptoms went on still further1 and ,i called a consultation of other medical men4 ,he still said he had taken nothing4 ,i was satisfied from the aggravation of the symptoms that something else was the matter1 and at last he died about three in the morning4 ,i next day learnt that he had purchased half-an-ounce of arsenic the day of his death4 ,i had the vomit and contents of stomach analysed1 and discovered arsenic in great quantities4 ,extreme thirst1 as far as ,i know1 is an early symptom in poisoning by arsenic--but not equally so in cholera1 it belongs to a later stage in cholera40 ,dr4 ,douglas ,maclagan1 of ,edinburgh1 who had had some experience in arsenical poisonings1 and devoted much of his time to chemistry1 had the same opinion as ,dr4 ,lawrie of the innocuousness of arsenic as a cosmetic 7mainly from its insolubility74 8,unless there was some ulceration or abrasion of the skin1 or it was kept long in contact with it4 ,in warm water it would dissolve to a greater extent than in cold--in which some such proportion as only one #djjth part would dissolve1 and if you required to dissolve any great quantity it must1 according to ,dr4 ,taylor1 be boiled violently for half-an-hour1 and then it retains about #a-djth of its weight after the water cools40 ,the ,dean4--8,will the presence of organic matter in a fluid interfere with its solvent power upon arsenic80 ,witness4--8,as a rule1 it generally will4 ,there does not appear to be any difference between tea1 coffee1 or water when poured upon arsenic4 ,they dissolve but a very small quantity1 ,i do not know how you can determine whether cocoa or chocolate is a sufficient solvent or not4 ,you cannot filter them so as to determine the quantity4 ,there is a great deal of organic matter in the ordinary chocolate or cocoa1 it ought to be entirely organic matter1 except so far as it is water40 7,the ,witness then gave an account of a case of a girl whom he attended1 who took arsenic by accident1 mistaking it for an effervescing powder47 8,we all know the ordinary symptoms of arsenical poisoning4 ,most of them are very similar to1 almost identical with1 the symptoms of cholera4 ,in the case of slight quantities of arsenic1 it would appear that the symptoms very closely resemble those of what are called bilious or ,british cholera4 ,in fatal cases they are more like malignant or ,asiatic cholera40 ,the ,dean4--8,can you diagnose a case of arsenical poisoning by the symptoms80 ,witness4--8,i believe you may4 ,in the first place the vomiting would be bloody1 from the violent irritation and the pouring out of a bloody mucus into the stomach--after that has been emptied of all its contents4 ,i suppose there would be more affections of some of the mucous membranes1 an unaccountable occurrence of an extensive inflammatory redness about the eyes1 and the occurrence of nervous symptoms1 such1 for instance1 as paralysis of the limbs4 ,but these are not necessary symptoms4 ,a person may be suffering from the effects of arsenic without these being produced if the quantity is small40 ,the ,dean4--8,you never saw jaundice as a symptom of arsenical poisoning80 ,witness4--8,i am not entitled to speak on my own experience1 as ,i never saw it4 ,there is a single line in ,taylor's book1 which says1 that it has been observed1 and which refers to the remarks of ,dr4 ,marshall on ,turner's case40 7,extract read47 ,the ,dean4--8,is that a description of jaundice80 ,witness4--8,it is a description of at least one symptom of jaundice1 yellowness of the skin2 but it is rather strange that it does not mention the most common of all signs of jaundice1 yellowness of the eyes4 ,one looks to the eye first in a case of jaundice1 because you see it best there40 ,the ,dean4--8,do you think that a sensation of choking and a feeling of irritation of the throat are symptoms of arsenical poisoning80 ,witness4--8,certainly40 ,the ,dean4--8,would that occur in a case of ,british cholera80 ,witness4--8,i have seen persons who are affected with choleraic symptoms complaining of being sore about the throat1 but it is generally the soreness arising from what they first vomit1 and after that it is the muscular soreness40 ,cross-examined by the ,lord ,advocate4--8,what is it that causes the yellow outline of the eyes and skin80 ,witness4--8,the absorption of the choleraic matter into the blood40 ,lord ,advocate4--8,i presume there is nothing in a case of arsenical poisoning that produces that80 ,witness4--8,it is certainly very remarkable that we have so many cases of arsenical poisoning where the jaundice shows itself3 we have eruption of those same parts of the duodenum according with arsenical poisoning4 ,i am not so certain that jaundice is a symptom of arsenical poisoning40 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,but if you saw the appearance of the eye was much darker than usual1 would that lead you to think there might be jaundice80 ,witness4--8,oh1 certainly40 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,i knew a case of apparent jaundice arising from a cake of yellow soap40 ,the ,lord ,advocate4--8,suppose you were told that in a case the body after death had a yellow appearance1 and it was found to be the effect of arsenical poisoning1 would you not be surprised at that80 ,witness4--8,no1 not at the yellowish aspect of the skin1 but ,i would not expect that there would be marked jaundice40 ,the ,lord ,advocate4--8,and if you found any symptom of that kind1 where repeated doses of poison had been taken during the period from the time when the patient took ill1 what would you say80 ,witness4--8,if such a case did occur1 ,i should say that there would be some connection between the cause of death and the occurrence of the jaundice40 ,lord ,advocate4--8,in regard to the vomiting1 is there not a great difference in different kinds of arsenical poisoning80 ,witness4--8,generally the vomiting is severe40 ,lord ,advocate4--8,you state that the presence of organic matter detracts from the power of holding arsenic in solution3 would you say the same as to holding it in suspension80 ,witness4--8,certainly not40 ,lord ,advocate4--8,is great thirst a symptom of arsenic80 ,witness4--8,generally it is1 and generally an early and persistent symptom40 ,lord ,advocate4--8,is it so in cholera80 ,witness4--8,i should say that ,i have seen thirst very early in cholera4 ,i think it is usually so4 ,i do not know any injurious effect that would result if the face were washed with water containing arsenic1 if you kept your mouth and eyes shut1 but ,i do not recommend it40 ,to the ,dean4--8,i cannot say how much arsenic would be held in suspension by an ordinary cupful of chocolate and cocoa4 ,it must depend upon the kind of chocolate4 ,cocoa in this country is generally thin1 but chocolate in ,france is generally as thick as porridge4 ,it is not so in this country40 ,,evidence ,,of ,,the ,,opportunities ,,for ,,the ,,administration ,,of ,,poison4 ,on the first charge1 that of administering poison on the #aith or #bjth of ,february1 it was urged on the jury that there was no reliable evidence that the lovers had met on either of these days1 that ,madeline ,smith had at that time poison in her possession1 or that the illness which ,l',angelier was supposed to have had at that time showed arsenical symptoms4 ,on the #agth of ,february ,l',angelier told ,miss ,perry1 the confidante of their loves1 that he expected to meet ,madeline on the #aith1 and1 from some other circumstances--what they were is not stated--when on the #bnd of ,march he told her how ill he had been1 falling on the floor of his room1 she said that 8she knew that he referred to the #aith of ,february40 ,mrs4 ,jenkins1 however1 could not fix the date of this attack3 it might have been eight or ten days before the second illness 7,february #bc71 and1 like his illness in ,january1 she believed it to be due to bile1 the symptoms being something the same as her own but more violent1 on both occasions accompanied by a good deal of purging and vomiting4 ,from ,dr4 ,thomson's evidence1 however1 it appears that his first illness in that year1 which ,dr4 ,thomson places on the #crd of ,february1 was due to a cold1 with cough and boils1 for which he prescribed4 ,the only attempt that ,miss ,smith made to purchase poison before that date was that of sending the page boy to ,dr4 ,yeaman's to buy some prussic acid1 which the doctor refused to sell to her4 ,the ,lord ,advocate admitted that he could not prove that she had arsenic in her possession before that illness4 8,it would not do10 said the ,lord ,justice ,clerk in his charge1 8to infer1 from her having arsenic afterwards1 that she had it also on the first occasion40#aac ,on the second charge1 that of administering poison on the #bbnd or #bcrd of ,february1 the following evidence was offered4 ,on the #bast of ,february ,miss ,smith openly purchased an ounce and a half of arsenic of the chemist ,murdoch1 ostensibly for the purpose--a false one1 as the evidence proved--of killing rats at her father's country house4 ,it was mixed with soot1 of which she some days afterwards spoke to the chemist1 saying she thought arsenic was white4 ,if1 therefore1 the lovers met on the #bbnd1 or #bcrd1 she had poison in her possession4 ,whether ,l',angelier went out on the night of the #bbnd1 his landlady could not say3#aad she did not hear him come in1 but1 when she went into his room early the next morning1 she found him suffering from his second attack of illness for which ,dr4 ,thomson attended him1 and from which he recovered in about eight days4 ,that the symptoms were those of arsenical poisoning was hardly to be doubted1 and though ,dr4 ,thomson at the time attributed them to billious derangement1 he said1 that1 8had he known that ,l',angelier had taken an irritant poison1 those were the symptoms he should expect to follow40 ,the evidence that the lovers had met on the night of the #bbnd1 or morning of the #bcrd1 rested on a letter1 which not only did not bear any date or day of the week1 but the post-mark on which was so obliterated that the post-office official could not fix any date1 though he thought he could see the 8,m0 of ,march on the stamp1 which counsel on both sides agreed in considering an error4 ,in that letter ,miss ,smith wrote3 8,i am so sorry to hear you are ill4 ,i hope to ,god you will soon be better---- you did look bad on ,sunday night and ,monday morning4 ,i think you got sick with walking home so late1 and the long want of food2 so1 next time we meet1 ,i shall make you eat a loaf of bread before you go40 ,this letter the ,lord ,advocate assumed to be written on ,wednesday1 the #beth of ,february1 and to refer to the meeting on the night of the #bbnd and morning of the #bcrd4 ,to ,miss ,perry1 on the #ith of ,march1 ,l',angelier spoke of having had a cup of coffee and chocolate from ,miss ,smith1 which ,miss ,perry understood to refer to two occasions1 and added1 8,i can't think why ,i was so unwell after getting that coffee and chocolate from her40 8,it ought not to be forgotten10 said the ,lord ,justice ,clerk1 8that the contents of the stomach on these two illnesses had not been examined1 and therefore it was merely an inference that they were caused by arsenic--an inference drawn from the fact that on the #bbnd of ,march he died from that poison40 ,with reference to the purchase of arsenic1 the learned ,judge added3 8,he attached little importance to the statements of the druggists as to what was said by the prisoner about rats2 without stating some such objects she would not have got it at all2 and it was not to be supposed1 if she had wanted it as a cosmetic1 that she would tell the druggist4 ,did she see the deceased on the ,sunday night1 before the arsenic was administered8 ,mrs4 ,jenkins did not see him go out of the house that night1 and he asked the jury to consider whether there was1 on the whole1 apart from the correspondence1 evidence that they had met together that night8 ,if there was no proof that the administration took place on the #bbnd of ,february1 then there was great force in the observation that the foundation of the case for the prosecution had been shaken40 ,on the third charge--that of poisoning on the #bbnd or #bcrd of ,march1 the following facts were proved4 ,on his return to work1 after his second illness1 ,l',angelier was so altered in health1 his complexion wan1 with a dark1 hectic spot on each cheek1 that leave of absence was given to him1 for the first time since he had been in this employ4 ,miss ,smith had advised him to take rest and change1 and ,l',angelier had apparently told her that he should go to the ,bridge of ,allan4 ,on the third of ,march1 however1 ,miss ,smith writes that her family are going to the same place1 and the next day suggests that he should go to the ,south of ,england4 ,on the #eth of ,march he writes her a painfully earnest letter on the reports about her intended marriage with ,mr4 ,minnoch1 concluding3 8,mind1 ,i insist on having an explicit answer to the question you evaded in my last40 ,next day the prisoner purchases another sixpenny-worth of arsenic1 not again of ,murdoch1 but of ,currie1 and this time the excuse is that the house in ,blythswood ,square is so overrun with rats1 that it is to be shut up and the servants sent away till the vermin is eradicated4 ,this again was pure invention on her part4 ,the family went to the ,bridge of ,allan1 whence on ,tuesday1 the #ajth of ,march1 the prisoner wrote to ,l',angelier that they would be home again in ,glasgow on the next ,monday or ,tuesday1 when she would write to arrange an interview1 adding1 8,i long to see you1 to kiss and embrace you1 my only sweet love40 ,before this the ,minnoch marriage had been arranged1 and the day talked about1 if not definitively fixed4 ,again on the #acth she wrote him3 8,i think we shall be home on ,tuesday1 so ,i shall let you know1 my own beloved sweet pet1 when we shall have a dear1 sweet interview2 when ,i may be pressed to your heart1 and kissed by you1 my own sweet love4 ,a fond1 tender embrace2 a kiss1 sweet love6 ,i hope you will enjoy your visit here40 ,it had been previously arranged between them that ,l',angelier should not come to the ,bridge of ,allan until her family had left4 ,during this visit of the ,smiths to the ,bridge of ,allan1 ,l',angelier was taking his leave of absence4 ,on the #fth of ,march he left for ,edinburgh1 and returned to ,glasgow on the #agth1 and1 finding no letter for him1 stayed at home all the next day waiting for it4 ,on the #aith he left for the ,bridge of ,allan1 where he was to stay for a week1 his friend ,thuau undertaking to forward his letters4 ,on the #aith1 after he had left1 a letter came1 and ,thuau forwarded it that night1 and it reached ,stirling at nine the next morning4 ,that letter was not to be found4 ,in his tourist's bag1 however1 the envelope of it was discovered1 and1 from a letter which he wrote to ,miss ,perry on the #bjth1 in which he said1 8,i should have come to see some one last night1 but the letter was too late10 it may be fairly assumed that it contained the wished for appointment for the ,thursday night4 ,on the #ahth the prisoner bought her third packet of arsenic at ,currie's4 ,several dead rats1 she said1 had been found1 and it was feared some large ones still remained4 ,this time she had a female companion with her1 and1 as she had to ,murdoch expressed her surprise at the arsenic she had previously purchased not being white1 she again used the same expression at ,currie's4 ,this arsenic was coloured with indigo4 ,on the #bast the last of the long series of letters reached ,l',angelier's lodgings1 and was forwarded at once by ,thuau4 8,why1 my beloved1 did you not come to me80 she wrote4 8,oh1 my beloved1 are you ill8 ,come to me4 ,sweet one1 ,i waited and waited for you1 but you came not4 ,i shall wait again to-morrow night--same hour and arrangement40 ,that letter1 which was found in his pocket1 was received by him after nine on ,sunday morning4 ,he left the ,bridge of ,allan shortly after evening service began1 and was at his lodgings by eight o'clock that evening4 ,to accomplish this ,l',angelier had walked to ,stirling1 taken the train from there to ,coatbridge1 where a ,mr4 ,ross found him1 and1 after some refreshment at the station1 walked with him to ,glasgow1 apparently quite well1 and walking briskly4#aae ,when he arrived at his lodgings he appeared greatly improved in health since he left on the previous ,thursday1 was in high spirits1 and said that the letter had brought him back4 ,he left his lodgings about nine o'clock1 is seen soon after sauntering in the direction of ,blythswood ,square1 but not near the ,smiths' house1 as it was the hour there for family prayers4 ,to wile away the time he calls on a ,mr4 ,m',alister1 who is not at home1 and from that time till he came back to his lodgings1 after midnight1 all trace of him is lost4 ,at two o'clock the next morning the door-bell rang violently2 his landlady went down1 and found ,l',angelier at the door1 standing with his arms across his stomach4 ,he was suffering from his fatal illness1 already too bad to be able to use his pass key4 ,how that attack progressed1 and what its symptoms were1 and what was the result of the post-mortem and analytical examinations1 has already been reported4 8,here10 said the learned ,judge1 8the proof stops4 ,and1 supposing you are quite satisfied that the letter brought him to ,glasgow1#aaf are you in a condition to say1 with satisfaction to your own consciences1 that1 as an inevitable and just result of that1 you can find it proved that they met that night8#aag ,that is the point in the case4 ,that you may have the strongest moral suspicion that they met--that you may believe that he was able1 after all their clandestine correspondence1 to obtain the means of an interview1 especially as she complained of his not coming on the ,thursday1 said she would wait again to-morrow night1 same hour and place1 and talked of wishing to clasp him to her bosom--that you may suppose it likely that1 although he failed to keep his appointment on ,saturday1 she would be waiting on ,sunday1 which was by no means an uncommon evening for their appointment--all that may be very true1 and probably you will think so2 but remember you are trying this case upon evidence that must be satisfactory1 complete1 and distinct4 8,a jury may safely infer certain facts from the correspondence4 ,they may even safely infer that meetings took place1 when they find these meetings either mutually appointed or arranged for by the parties4 ,but it is for you to say here whether it has been proved that ,l',angelier was in the house that night4 ,if you can hold that that link in the chain is supplied by just and satisfactory inference--remember1 ,i say just and satisfactory--and it is for you to say whether the inference is just and satisfactory in order to complete the proof4 ,if you really feel that in your own minds1 you may have the strongest suspicion that he saw her2 for really no one need hesitate to say that1 as a matter of moral opinion1 the whole probabilities of the case are in favour of it4 ,but if that is all the amount that you can derive from it1 the link still remains awanting--the catastrophe and the alleged cause of it are not found together4 ,and therefore you must be satisfied that you can here stand and rely upon the firm foundation1 ,i say1 of a just and sound1 and perhaps ,i may add1 inevitable inference4 ,that a jury is entitled often to draw such an inference there is no doubt2 and it is just because you belong to that class of men to whom the ,lord ,advocate referred1 namely1 men of common sense1 capable of exercising your judgment upon a matter which is laid before you to consider1 it is on that very account that you are to put to yourselves the question1 #8,is this a satisfactory and a just inference8' ,if you find it so1 ,i cannot tell you that you are not at liberty to act upon it1 because most of those matters occurring in life must depend upon circumstantial evidence1 and upon the inference a jury may feel bound to draw4 ,but it is an inference of a very serious character--it is an inference upon which the death of this party by the hand of the prisoner must depend40#aah ,,conduct ,,and ,,statements ,,of ,,the ,,prisoner ,,after ,l',,angelier',s ,,death4 ,in her declaration ,miss ,smith stated that she heard of ,l',angelier's death on the afternoon of ,monday1 the #bcrd4 ,on the ,wednesday evening she was out at a party1 and at eight o'clock the next morning she had left the house4 ,in consequence ,mr4 ,minnoch1 and a brother of the prisoner1 thinking apparently that she had gone to her father's country house1 took the rail to ,greenock1 and the steamer thence to ,row1 on board which they found her a little after two in the afternoon4 ,she said she was going to ,rowaleyn1 and they went on with her1 and from thence brought her to ,glasgow in a carriage4 8,when we met her on the steamboat10 said ,mr4 ,minnoch1 8,i asked her why she had left her house and her friends in such distress at her absence4 ,she made no reply4 ,i requested her not to do so among so many people4 ,i renewed my inquiry afterwards at ,rowaleyn4 ,she said she felt distressed that her parents should be so much annoyed at what she had done40 ,the suggestion on the part of the prosecution was1 that from conscious guilt she was fleeing from justice--on the part of the prisoner1 that she was fleeing from the shame of an exposure of her love passages with ,l',angelier4 8,but10 said the learned judge1 8my opinion is1 that having made a statement already about getting arsenic for the gardener to kill rats1 and knowing that if it had been discovered that he got no arsenic for such a purpose1 unpleasant consequences might follow1 she wished to see him1 in order to make an arrangement by which that statement might be borne out4 ,the steamer in which she went only sailed from ,helensburgh to ,gairloch and back1 and therefore escape by it was nearly impossible2 and1 in point of fact1 he did not believe she had any intention of attempting it40 ,previously1 however1 to this unexplained flight from home1 she had been visited by the ,french consul1 a mutual friend of the lovers1 to whose searching questions in the presence of her mother she gave most decided answers4 ,as this witness's evidence was greatly relied on by counsel for the prisoner1 it is reported in full4 ,m4 ,auguste ,vauvert de ,meau1 the ,french ,consul at ,glasgow1 who had known ,l',angelier for three years1 was acquainted with the prisoner's family1 and aware from ,l',angelier's own statements of the correspondence between the lovers1 gave the following evidence3-- 8,i remember ,l',angelier coming to my office a few weeks before his death and speaking about ,miss ,smith4 ,i said she was to be married to some gentleman1 and when ,i mentioned the public rumour1 he said it was not true1 but1 if it was1 he had documents in his possession that would be sufficient to forbid the banns4 ,i did not see her after that time4 ,i thought that1 having been received by ,mr4 ,smith in his house1 ,i was not at liberty to speak to him2 but after ,l',angelier's death ,i thought it was my duty to mention the fact of the correspondence having been carried on between them1 in order that he might take steps to exonerate his daughter in case of anything coming out4 ,in the evening of the death of ,l',angelier1 ,i called on ,mr4 ,smith and told him that ,l',angelier had in his possession a great number of letters from his daughter1 and that it was high time to let him know this1 that they might not fall into the hands of strangers1 numbers of people might go to his lodgings and read them4 ,i went to ,mr4 ,huggins's office 7,l',angelier's employer74 ,he was not in1 but ,i saw two gentlemen1 and told them what ,i had been told to ask 7to get back the letters72 but they said that they could not give them up without ,mr4 ,huggins's consent1 and ,i then asked them to keep the letters sealed up till they were disposed of4 ,i think this was on the ,tuesday after ,l',angelier's death4 ,shortly after ,i saw ,mr4 ,smith4 ,in consequence of rumours ,i went to his house and saw ,miss ,smith in the presence of her mother4 ,i apprised her of the death of ,l',angelier4 ,she asked me if it was of my own will that ,i came to tell her2 ,i told her it was not so1 but at the special request of her father4 ,i asked her if she had seen ,l',angelier on the ,sunday night2 she told me that she did not see him4 ,i asked her to put me in a position to contradict the statements which were being made as to her relation with ,l',angelier1 and asked her again if she did not see him on ,sunday evening or ,sunday night1 and she told me she did not4 ,i observed to her that ,l',angelier had come from the ,bridge of ,allan to ,glasgow on a special appointment with her1 by a letter written to him4 ,she told me she was not aware that he was at the ,bridge of ,allan before he came to ,glasgow1 and that she did not give him an appointment for ,sunday evening1 as she wrote him on ,friday evening giving him an appointment for ,saturday3 she had expected him on the ,saturday1 but he did not come1 and she had not seen him on ,sunday4 ,i put the question to her five or six times in different ways4 ,i told her that my conviction was that she must have seen him on ,sunday1 that he had come on purpose to ,glasgow on a special invitation by her to see her2 and ,i did not think it likely1 admitting that he had committed suicide1 that he had done so without knowing why she had asked him to come to ,glasgow40 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,did you know of this letter yourself80 ,witness4--8,i heard there was such a letter4 ,i said to her that the best advice that a friend could give to her under the circumstances was to tell the truth about it1 because the case was a very grave one1 and would lead to an inquiry on the part of the authorities1 and that if she did not say the truth in these circumstances1 perhaps it would be ascertained by a servant1 or a policeman1 or somebody passing the house who had seen ,l',angelier1 that he had been in the house1 and this would cause a strong suspicion as to the motive that had led her to conceal the truth4 ,miss ,smith then got up from her chair and said1 #8,i swear to you1 ,mr4 ,meau1 that ,i have not seen ,l',angelier not on that ,sunday only1 but not for three weeks or six weeks1' ,i am not sure which40 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,and the mother was present80 ,witness4--8,yes4 ,i repeated this question five or six times1 but her answer was always the same4 ,i asked her with regard to the letter inviting ,l',angelier to come and see her1 how it was that1 being engaged to another gentleman1 she could have carried on a clandestine correspondence with a former sweetheart8 she said it was to get back her letters40 ,the ,lord ,advocate4--8,did you ask her whether she was in the habit of meeting ,l',angelier80 ,witness4--8,yes4 ,i asked her if it was true that ,l',angelier was in the habit of having appointments with her in her house2 and she told me that he had never entered that house1 meaning the ,blythswood ,square house1 as ,i understood4#aai ,i asked her how1 then1 she had her appointments to meet him8 ,she told me that he used to come to a street at the corner of the house 7main street71 that he had a signal by knocking with his stick1 and that she used to talk to him40 ,the ,lord ,advocate4--8,did she speak about her former correspondence with him at all80 ,witness4--8,i asked her if it was true she had signed letters in his name1 and she said she had done so40 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,do you mean that she added his name to hers80 ,witness4--8,i meant whether she signed her letters with ,l',angelier's name1 and she said #8,yes4' ,i did not ask her why40 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,young4--8,i went to live at ,helensburgh in #ahde4 ,m4 ,l',angelier visited me1 and once he came on a ,saturday to my lodgings there1 and on ,sunday we went on the ,luss ,road4 ,i went up to my room1 and ,l',angelier not coming in for his dinner1 ,i called for him out of temper4 ,i then found that he was ill1 and was vomiting down the staircase4 ,he once complained to me of being bilious4 ,this was a year ago4 ,he complained of once having the cholera4 ,last year he came to my office and told me he had had a violent attack of cholera1 but ,i don't know whether that was a year or two years ago4 ,i think it was a journey he was to have made that led him to speak of having had the cholera4 ,i don't recollect whether he was unwell at that time4 ,i know that when he came to my house he always had a bottle of laudanum in his bag1 but ,i don't know if he used it4 ,i once heard him speak of arsenic2 it must have been in the winter of #ahed4 ,it was on a ,sunday4 ,i don't recollect how the conversation arose1 but it lasted half an hour4 ,its purport was how much arsenic a person could take without its injuring him4 ,he maintained that it was possible to do it1 by taking small quantities4 ,i don't know what led to the conversation1 and should be afraid to make any statement as to the purpose for which it was to be taken4 ,l',angelier stated to me he had once been jilted by an ,english lady1 a rich person1 and that on account of the deception he was almost mad for a fortnight1 and ran about1 getting food from a farmer in the country4 ,he was easily excited3 when he had any cause of grief he was affected very much40 ,by the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,after my marriage ,i had little intercourse with ,l',angelier4 ,i thought that he might be led to take some harsh steps with ,miss ,smith1 and as ,i had some young ladies in my house1 ,i did not think it was proper to have the same intercourse with him as when ,i was a bachelor40 ,the ,lord ,advocate4--8,what do you mean by #8harsh steps8'0 ,witness4--8,i was afraid of an elopement4 ,by #8harsh' ,i mean #8rash4' ,this was after ,l',angelier had given me his full confidence as to what he would do if her father did not consent to the marriage40 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8 ,did you understand that ,miss ,smith had engaged herself to him80 ,witness4--8,i understood so from what he said40 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,when you used the expression #8you thought it right to go to ,mr4 ,smith about the letters1 in order that he might take steps to vindicate his daughter's honour1 or prevent it from being disparaged1' did you relate to him her engagement and apparent breach of it8 ,had you in view that the letters might contain an engagement which she was breaking1 or that she had made a clandestine engagement80 ,witness4--8,i thought that these letters were love letters1 and that it would be much better that they should be in ,mr4 ,smith's hands than in those of strangers40 ,the ,lord ,advocate4--8 ,what were ,l',angelier's usual character and habits80 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,was he a steady fellow80 ,witness4--8,my opinion of ,l',angelier's character at the moment of his death was1 that he was a most regular young man in his conduct1 religious1 and in fact most exemplary in all his conduct4 ,the only objection which ,i heard made to him was that he was vain and a boaster--boasting of grand persons that he knew4 ,for example1 when he spoke of ,miss ,smith1 he would say1 ,i shall forbid ,madeline to do such a thing1 or such another thing--to dance with such a one or such another40 ,the ,lord ,justice ,cleric4--8,did he boast of any success with females80 ,witness4--8,never40 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,did he seem jealous of ,miss ,smith paying attention to others80 ,witness4--8,no2 of others paying attention to her40 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,it was not on account of any levity in his character that you discouraged him visiting you after your marriage80 ,witness4--8,no4 ,i thought his society might be fit for a bachelor1 but not for a married man40 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,do you understand the word #8levity'80 ,witness4--8,yes2 lightness1 irregularity4 ,there had been a long cessation of intercourse between us before his death4 ,the photograph 7shown him7 is a good likeness2 he was between #bh and #cj years of age4 ,i think ,i got accidentally acquainted with him in a house in ,glasgow40 ,at the close of the case for the prosecution the ,lord ,advocate proposed to put in certain entries in a pocket book of ,l',angelier's to support the first and second counts of the indictment1 which1 after argument1 was refused by the ,court4 7,see ,appendix ,c41 p4 #cei47 ,,the ,,defence4 ,in accordance with practice of the ,scotch ,courts the counsel for the prisoner had the last word2 and good use did the ,dean of ,faculty make of his privilege4 ,the ,lord ,advocate's policy had been to depict the character of the prisoner in the vilest colours--as the seducer1 rather than the seduced1 or1 at any rate1 for a long period the willing accomplice in all his acts4 ,the ,dean dealt not less hardly with the character of ,l',angelier4 8,we find him10 he said1 8according to the confession of all those who observed him narrowly1 vain1 conceited1 pretentious1 with a great opinion of his own personal attractions1 and a very silly expectation of admiration from the other sex4 ,that he was successful to a certain extent in conciliating such admiration may be the fact2 but1 at all events1 his own prevailing ideas seem to have been that he was calculated to be very successful in paying attention to ladies1 and that he was likely to push his fortune by such means4 ,accordingly1 once and again we find him engaged in attempts to get married to women of some station at least in society4 ,we heard of one disappointment which he met with in ,england1 and another we heard a great deal of connected with a lady in ,fife2 and the manner in which he bore his disappointments on those two occasions is perhaps the best indication and light we have to the true character of the man4 ,he was not a person of strong health1 and it is extremely probable that this1 among other things1 had a depressing effect on his spirits1 rendering him changeable and uncertain--now uplifted1 as one of the witnesses said1 and now most deeply depressed--of a mercurial temperament1 as another described it1 very variable and never to be depended upon4 ,such was the individual with whom the prisoner unfortunately became acquainted4 ,the progress of their acquaintance is soon told4 ,my learned friend the ,lord ,advocate said the correspondence must have been improper1 because it was clandestine3 yet the letters of the young lady at that first period breathe nothing but gentleness and propriety4 ,the correspondence in the commencement shows that if ,l',angelier had in his mind originally to corrupt and seduce the prisoner1 he entered upon the attempt with considerable ingenuity and skill2 for the very first letter of the series which we have contains a passage in which she says1 #8,i am trying to break myself of all my bad habits3 it is you ,i have to thank for this1 which ,i do sincerely from my heart4' ,he had been suggesting to her improvement in conduct or something else4 ,he had thus been insinuating himself into her company4 ,she had yielded1 no doubt1 too easily to the pleasures of this new acquaintance1 but pleasures apparently of a most innocent kind at this period4 ,yet it seems to have occurred to her mind at a very early period that it was impossible to maintain this correspondence with propriety or her own welfare2 for so early as ,april #ahee she wrote him--#8,i think you will agree with me in what ,i intend proposing1 that for the present this correspondence had better stop4 ,i know your good feeling will not take this wrong4 ,it was meant quite the reverse4 ,by continuing it1 harm may arise1 by discontinuing1 nothing can be said4' ,and from then to ,september it did cease40 ,unfortunately the correspondence was renewed1 discovered1 and stopped by her father until ,april1 #ahef1 when it is re-opened by a letter1 of the #cjth of that month1 from ,helensburgh1 in which she writes3--8,p7papa7 has not been in town a night for some time2 but the first night he is off ,i shall see you4 ,we shall spend an hour of bliss4 ,there shall be no risk3 only ,c4 ,h4 7,haggart7 shall know40 ,this letter was followed by that of the #crd of ,may1 inviting him on ,tuesday1 the #fth1 to come to the garden gate1 and adding1 8,beloved of my soul1 a fond embrace1 a dear kiss till we meet6 ,we shall have more than one1 love1 dearest40 ,signed1 8,from thy ever devoted and loving wife1 thine for ever1 ,,mini40 8,alas10 said the ,dean1 8the next scene is the most painful of all4 ,in the spring of #ahef1 the corrupting influence of the seducer was successful1 and the prisoner fell4 ,this is recorded in a letter bearing the post-mark of the #gth of ,may1 which you have heard read4 ,and how corrupting that influence must have been1 how vile the acts that he resorted to for accomplishing his nefarious purpose1 can never be proved so well as by looking at the altered tone and language of the unhappy prisoner's letters4 ,she had lost not her virtue merely1 but1 as the ,lord ,advocate said1 her sense of decency4 ,think you that without temptation1 without evil teachings1 a poor girl falls into such depths of degradation8 ,no4 ,influence from without--most corrupting influence--can alone account for such a fact4 ,and yet through the midst of this frightful correspondence1 there breathes a spirit of devoted affection towards the man that had destroyed her--that strikes me as most remarkable40 ,then1 after alluding to the precautions with which she sought to surround her interviews with ,l',angelier at the ,blythswood ,square house2 to the evident proofs that an elopement was projected1 and to the strong probability that no interview took place without ,haggart's connivance1 and that1 therefore1 the interviews at this time must be limited to the two spoken of by that witness1 he urged that up to the month of ,february1 #aheg1 he was entitled to say1 8without a shadow of evidence to the contrary1 that they were not in the habit of coming into personal contact40 8,we now10 continued the ,dean1 8come to a very important stage of the case4 ,on the #bhth of ,february ,mr4 ,minnoch proposes1 and if ,i understand the theory of my learned friend's case aright1 from that day the whole character of the girl's mind and her feelings changed1 and she set herself to prepare for the perpetration of what he has called one of the most foul1 cool1 deliberate murders that ever was committed4 ,i will not say that such a thing is impossible1 but ,i will venture to say it is very highly improbable4 ,he will be a bold man to fathom the depths of human depravity1 but this at least experience teaches us1 that perfection even in depravity1 is not rapidly attained1 and it is not by such short and easy stages as the prosecutor has been able to trace in the career of ,madeline ,smith1 that a gentle loving girl passes all at once into the savage grandeur of a ,medea1 or the appalling wickedness of a ,borgia4 ,such a thing is not possible4 ,there is a certain progress in guilt1 and it is quite out of all human experience that1 from the tone of the letters1 there should be a sudden transition--,i will not say from affection for a particular object--but to the strange desire for removing1 by any means1 the obstruction to her wishes and purposes that the prosecutor imputes to the prisoner4 ,think1 in your own minds1 how foul and unnatural a murder it is--the murder of one who1 within a very short space1 was the object of her love--an unworthy object--an unholy object2 but yet while it lasted--and its endurance was not very brief--it was a deep1 unselfish1 absorbing1 devoted passion4 ,and the object of that passion she now conceived the purpose of murdering4 ,such is the theory that you are desired to believe4 ,now before you will believe it1 will you not ask for demonstration8 ,will you be content with conjecture8 ,will you be content with suspicion1 however pregnant1 or will you be so unreasonable as to put it to me in this form1 that the man having died of poison1 the theory of the prosecution is the most probable8 ,oh1 gentlemen1 is that the manner in which a jury should treat such a case8 ,is that the kind of proof on which they should convict on a capital offence80 ,the ,dean1 then1 took up seriatim the three charges1 examining the evidence on each in detail1 making on each the criticisms1 already reported in the previous summary of the evidence1 showing how the first charge had failed even in the opinion of the prosecutor3 how doubtful1 to say the least1 it was that the interview on which the second charge was based had taken place1 and the weakness of many of the proofs on which the charge of murder was rested4 ,passing1 then1 to the suggestion of suicide1 he continued-- 8,i might stop here1 for nothing could be more fallacious than the suggestion of the ,lord ,advocate1 that it was necessary to explain how this man came by his death4 ,his lordship will tell you that a defendant has no further duty than to repel the charge and stand on the defensive1 and maintain that the case for the prosecution is not proved4 ,no man probably can tell at the present moment--,i believe no man on earth can tell--how ,l',angelier met his death4 ,nor am ,i under the slightest obligation even to suggest to you a possible manner in which that death may have been compassed without the intervention of the prisoner4 ,yet it is but fair1 when we are dealing with so many matters of conjecture and suspicion1 that we should1 for a moment1 consider whether that supposition on which the charge is founded is preferable in itself1 in respect to its higher probabilities1 to other suppositions which may be fairly made4 ,the character of this man1 his origin1 his early history1 the nature of his conversation1 the numerous occasions on which he spoke of suicide1 naturally suggest that as one mode by which he may have departed this life4 ,understand me1 ,i am not undertaking to prove that he died by his own hand--but ,i think there is more to be said for suicide than for the prisoner's guilt4 ,but ,i entreat you to remember that that is no necessary part of my defence4 ,but of course ,i should be using you very ill--should be doing less than my duty to the prisoner--if ,i had not brought before you the whole of that evidence which suggests the extreme probability of that man dying by his own hand at one time or other4 ,from the very first time at which we see him1 even as a lad1 in the year #ahdc1 he talks in a manner to impress people with the notion that he had no moral principle to guide him4 ,he speaks over and over again of suicide at ,edinburgh1 ,dundee1 and elsewhere--ay1 the prisoners letters shew that he had made the same threat to her#abj--that he would put himself out of existence4 ,and is it half as violent a supposition as the supposition of this foul murder1 that upon this evening--the #bbnd of ,march--a fit of that kind of madness which he himself described1 came over him1 when he met with disappointment--finding1 it may be1 that he could not procure access to an interview which he desired--assuming that he came to ,glasgow for that purpose--assuming even that he mistook the evening of the meeting1 and expected to see her on the ,sunday--can anything be more probable than that1 in the excited state in which he then was1 he should have committed the rash act which put an end to his existence40#aba ,again1 in answer to the motive imputed by the prosecution2 re-reading the letter of the #ajth of ,february1 in which on her bended knees ,miss ,smith besought him1 8as he hoped for mercy at the judgment1 not to inform on her--not to expose her20 asked him 8to pardon her if he could2 to pray for her as the most wretched1 guilty1 miserable creature on the earth20 told him 8she could stand anything but her father's hot temper20 when she wrote1 8,emile1 you will not cause my death4 ,if he is to get your letters1 ,i cannot see him any more2 and my poor mother1 ,i will never kiss her4 ,it would be a shame to them all4 ,emile1 will you not spare me8 ,hate me1 despise me1 but do not expose me40 ,the ,dean said-- 8,is that the language of deceit8 ,is that the mind of a murderess1 or can any one affect that frame of mind8 ,can you for one moment listen to the suggestion that that letter covers a piece of deceit8 ,no1 no4 ,the finest actress could not have written that to him1 unless she had felt it2 and is that the condition in which a woman goes about to compass the death of him whom she has loved8 ,is that the frame of mind8--shame for past sins1 burning shame1 dread of exposure1 grief at the injury she had done her parents8 ,is that the frame of mind that would lead a woman--not to advance another step on the road to destruction1 but to plunge at once into the depths of human wickedness8 ,the thing is preposterous1 and yet it is because of her despair1 as my learned friend called it1 exhibited in that and similar letters1 that he says she had a motive to destroy this man4 ,what does that mean8 ,it may mean1 in a certain improper sense of the term1 that it would have been of advantage to her that he should cease to live4 ,that is not a motive in any proper sense of the term4 ,if some advantage resulting from the death of another be a motive to the commission of murder1 a man's eldest son must always have a motive to murder him that he may succeed to his estate2 and ,i suppose the youngest officer in any regiment of ,her ,majesty's army has a motive to murder all the officers in his regiment--the younger he is1 and the further he has to ascend the scale1 the more murders he has a motive to commit4 ,away with such nonsense6 ,a motive to commit a crime must be something a great deal more than the mere fact that the result of that crime might be advantageous to the person committing it4 ,you must see the motive in action--you must see it influencing the conduct--before you can deal with it as a motive2 for this1 and this only1 is it a motive in the proper sense of the term--that is to say1 it is moving to the perpetration of the deed4 ,but let me ask you what possible motive there could be1 even in the most improper and illegitimate sense of the term--,i mean what possible advantage could she expect from ,l',angelier's death so long as the letters remained8 ,without the return of her letters she gained nothing4 ,her object1 her greatest desire1 that for which she was yearning with her whole soul1 was to prevent the exposure of her shame4 ,but the death of ,l',angelier1 with those letters in his possession1 instead of insuring that object1 would have been perfectly certain to lead to the immediate exposure of everything that passed between them4 ,shall ,i be told that she did not foresee that8 ,i think my learned friend had been giving the prisoner credit for too much talent in the course of his observations on her conduct4 ,but ,i should conceive her to be infinitely stupid if she could not foresee that the death of ,l',angelier1 with those documents in his possession1 was the true and best means of frustrating the then great object of her life4 ,shall ,i be told that the motive might be revenge8 ,listen to the letter1 ,tell me if it is possible that in the same breast with these sentiments1 there should link one feeling of revenge6 ,no2 the condition of mind in which the poor girl was throughout the months of ,february and ,march1 is entirely inconsistent with any of the hypotheses that have been made on the other side--utterly incredible and wholly irreconcileable with the perpetration of such a crime as is here laid to her charge40#abb ,passing on1 then1 to the incident of her sudden flight from her home1 when she heard of ,l',angelier's death1 the ,dean repudiated the notion that she was absconding from justice4 ,she had left ,glasgow early in the morning1 and at half-past three in the afternoon was found on board a steamer going from ,greenock to ,helensburgh4 ,any one going by rail could easily have overtaken her4 8,if her flight means anything10 he said1 8it means flying from what she could not bear--the wrath of her father1 and the averted countenance of her mother4 ,but she came back again without the slightest hesitation1 and upon the ,monday morning there occurred a scene as remarkable in the history of criminal jurisprudence as anything ,i ever heard of1 by which that broken spirit was altogether changed4 ,the moment she was met by a charge of being implicated in causing the death of ,l',angelier1 she at once assumed the courage of a heroine4 ,she was bowed down1 and she had fled1 while the true charge of her unchastity and shame was all that was brought against her2 but she stood erect and proudly conscious of her innocence when she was met with this astounding charge of murder4 ,you heard the account that ,m4 de ,meau gave of that interview with her in her father's house on the ,monday4 ,that was a most striking statement1 and given with a truthfulness obviously that could not be surpassed4 ,what was the import of that conversation8 ,he advised her1 as a friend1 if ,l',angelier was with her on that ,sunday night1 for ,god's sake not to deny it4 ,and why8 ,because1 he said1 it is certain to be proved4 ,a servant1 a policeman1 a casual passenger1 is certain to know the fact1 and if you falsely deny it1 what a fact that will be against you4 ,what was the answer8 ,in answer to five or six suggestions of ,m4 de ,meau1 she said at length that she would swear that she had not seen him for three weeks4 ,if she did not see him on the ,sunday that was true40 ,on the purchases of arsenic1 the ,dean called the attention of the jury to the improbability of her having purchased it at the time when she was urging ,l',angelier not to go to the ,bridge of ,allan whilst she was there with her family1 and to her throwing it away on the #agth of ,march1 and then buying more on the #ahth2--8throwing it away1 it was said1 when just coming within reach of her victim1 and then buying more1 with circumstances of openness and publicity inconsistent with the hypothesis of any legitimate object8 ,why expose herself to the necessity of a repeated purchase1 when she had got enough to poison twenty or a hundred men40 8,but10 continued the ,dean1 8the possession of this arsenic is said to be unaccounted for1 as far as the prisoner is concerned4 ,it might be so2 it may be so2 and yet that would not make out the case for the prosecution4 ,she says she used it as a cosmetic4 ,this might be startling at first sight to many of us here1 but after the evidence you have heard it will not amaze you4 ,at school her story1 which has so far been borne out by evidence1 shows that she read of the ,styrian peasants using it for strengthening their wind1 improving their complexions4 ,no doubt they used it internally1 and not externally as she did1 but in the imperfect state of her knowledge that was a fact of no significance4 ,l',angelier1 too1 was well aware of the same fact4 ,he stated to more than one witness--and if he stated falsely1 it is only one of a multitude of lies proved against him--that he used it himself4 ,it is not surprising if ,l',angelier knew of this custom that he should have communicated it to the prisoner1 and that she should have used it externally1 for an internal use is apparently a greater danger1 which may have suggested to her to try it externally1 and there is no reason to suppose1 that if used as she used it1 it would produce any injurious effects4 ,no doubt we have medical men coming here and shaking their heads and looking wise1 and saying that such a use of arsenic would be a dangerous procedure4 ,that is not the question4 ,the question is whether the prisoner could use it without injurious effects1 and that she could do so is proved by the experiments of ,dr4 ,laurie and ,dr4 ,maclagan4 ,the publication in ,chambers's1 ,blackwood's ,magazine1 and ,johnston's 8,chemistry of ,common ,life10 of information on the uses of arsenic1 had reached not the prisoner alone1 but a multitude of other ladies1 and had incited them to the same kind of experiments4 ,the two druggists--,robertson and ,guthrie--spoke to the fact of ladies having come to their shops seeking arsenic for such purposes on the suggestion of these publications4 ,it cannot1 therefore1 be surprising to you to learn that when the prisoner bought this arsenic1 she intended to use it1 and did actually1 afterwards1 use it for this purpose40#abc ,then1 citing the behaviour of ,eliza ,fenning1 in the well-known disputed1 and even now disputed case1 as a parallel instance of such behaviour as the prisoner showed when taxed with the charge of murder3#abd repudiating the doctrine that juries have nothing to do with the consequences of their verdict1 and that all questions of evidence must be weighed in the same scale1 whether the crime be capital1 or a mere case of pocket picking1 and appealing to the jury not to raise their rash and imprudent hands to tear away the veil ,providence has been pleased to place over this mystery1 the ,dean closed his most effective speech4 ,,the ,,judge',s ,,charge4 ,the most material comments of the ,lord ,justice ,clerk have been already so fully quoted as notes to the several portions of the evidence1 or to the points made by the counsel for the defence1 that it will now suffice to give his concluding summary of the case4 8,the first charge is that she administered arsenic on the #aith or #bjth of ,february4 ,probably you may come to the conclusion1 on the evidence of ,miss ,perry and others1 that he did see her on that occasion2 but she was not proved to have had arsenic or any other poison in her possession2 and what ,i attach very great importance to is1 that there is no medical testimony1 by analysis of the matter vomited1 that that illness did proceed from the administration of arsenic4 ,if the doctor had examined the vomit and proved that there was arsenic there1 ,i am afraid the case would have been very strong against her as having given him coffee or something before his illness on that occasion4 ,but it is not proved that that illness arose from the administration of poison4 ,arsenic she had not1 and there is no proof of her having possessed anything deleterious4 ,therefore ,i have no hesitation in telling you that charge has failed4 8,the second charge stands in a somewhat different position in regard to the evidence1 although in one respect it is similar to the first1 for it is not proved that the illness arose from the administration of arsenic or any other poisonous substance4 ,but then the way in which you can connect the prisoner with a meeting on that occasion is much stronger4 ,still if you should think you can acquit her of the first charge1 and that there is too much doubt to prove the second proven1 then you will observe how much this weakens the case that has been raised by the prosecution on the motives for revenge1 on the change in the tone of the letters1 and the desire to allure him again to her embraces and fascinations1 which could not be accounted for except on the supposition of some such murderous design4 ,in that view undoubtedly the foundation of the case is very much shaken1 and will not lead you to suppose that the purpose of murder was cherished on the #bbnd4 8,then as to the charge for murder1 the question for you to consider is a simple one4 ,no matter how the prisoner is surrounded with grave suspicions1 and with many circumstances that seem to militate against the notion of innocence upon any theory that has been propounded1 still are you prepared to say that the interview of the #bbnd ,march has been proved against her8 ,she had arsenic before the illness of #bbnd ,february1 and ,i think you will consider the excuse of using arsenic as a cosmetic of the same stamp as those which she stated to the druggists4 ,she bought arsenic again on the #fth of ,march1 and it certainly is a very odd thing that she should buy more arsenic when she came back on the #ahth4 ,because unless you are to take the account to be sure1 that she used it as a cosmetic1 she has it before the #bbnd1 and that is a dreadful fact if you are quite satisfied that she did not get it and use it for the purpose of washing her hands and face4 ,it may create the greatest reluctance in your mind to take any other view of the matter than that she was guilty of administering it somehow1 though the place where may not be made out1 or the precise time of the interview4 ,but on the other hand you must keep in view1 that arsenic could only be administered by her if an interview took place with ,l',angelier1 and that interview1 though it may be the result of an inference that may satisfy you morally that it did take place1 still rests upon an inference alone1 and that inference is to be the ground1 and must be the ground1 on which a verdict of guilty is to rest4 ,you will see1 therefore1 the necessity of great caution and jealousy in dealing with any inference which you may draw from this4 ,probably none of you may think for a moment that he did go out that night1 and that without seeing her1 and without knowing what she wanted to see him about1 if they met1 he may have swallowed #bjj grains of arsenic on the street1 and may have carried it about4 ,on the other hand1 if he did not commit suicide1 keep in view that that will not of itself establish that the prisoner administered the arsenic4 ,the matter may have remained most mysterious--wholly unexplained4 ,you may not be able to account for it on any other supposition1 but still that supposition or inference may not be a ground on which you can safely and satisfactorily rest your verdict against the prisoner4 8,now then ,i leave you to consider the case with reference to the views that are raised by this correspondence4 ,i do not think you will consider it so unlikely as was supposed that this girl1 after writing such letters1 may have been capable of cherishing such a purpose4 ,but still1 though you may take such a view of her character1 it is but a supposition that she cherished this murderous purpose--the last conclusion that you ought to come to merely on supposition and inference and observation on this wavering correspondence of a girl in the circumstances in which she was placed4 ,it receives more importance1 no doubt1 when you find the purchase of arsenic just before she expected1 or just at the time that she expected ,l',angelier4 ,but still these are but suppositions4 ,now the great and invaluable use of a jury after they direct their attention seriously to the case with the attention you have done1 is to separate firmly--firmly and clearly in your own minds--suspicions from evidence4 ,i don't say that inferences may not be completely drawn1 but ,i have already warned you about inferences in the ordinary matters of civil life1 and in such a case as this4#abe ,if you cannot say1 #8,we satisfactorily find here evidence of the meeting1 and that the poison must have been administered by her at that meeting1' whatever may be your suspicion1 however perplexing may be the probability against her1 and however you may have to struggle to get rid of it1 you perform your best and bounden duty as a jury to separate suspicion from truth1 and to proceed upon nothing that you do not feel established in evidence against her40 ,after retiring for half an hour1 the jury by a majority in each charge found the prisoner ,not ,guilty on the first1 and a verdict of ,not ,proven on the second and third charges1 in which findings the ,lord ,justice ,clerk expressed his entire concurrence4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,appendix ,a41 p4 #cjg4 ,,post-,,mortem ,,examinations4 ,,evidence ,,of ,,dr4 ,,hugh ,,thomson1 ,m4,d4 8,at the request of ,messrs4 ,w4 ,b4 ,huggins ,co41 of this city1 we1 the undersigned1 made a post-mortem examination of the body of the late ,m4 ,l',angelier1 when the appearances were as follows3--,the body1 viewed externally1 presented nothing remarkable1 except a tawny hue on the surface4 ,the incision made on opening the belly and chest revealed a considerable deposit of subcutaneous fat4 ,the heart appeared large for the individual1 but not so large as1 in our opinion1 to amount to disease4 ,its surface presented1 externally1 some opaque patches1 such as are frequently seen on the organ without giving rise to symptoms4 ,its right cavities were filled with dark fluid blood4 ,the lungs1 the liver1 and the spleen appeared quite healthy4 ,the gall-bladder was moderately full of bile1 and contained no calculi4 ,the stomach and the intestines1 externally1 presented nothing abnormal4 ,being tied at both ends1 it was removed from the body4 ,its contents1 consisting of about half a pint of dark fluid resembling coffee1 were poured into a clean bottle1 and the organ itself was laid open along its great curvature4 ,the mucous membrane1 except for a slight extent of the lesser curvature1 was then seen to be deeply injected with blood1 presenting an appearance of dark red mottling1 and its substance was remarked to be salt 7soft871 and easily torn by scratching with the finger-nail4 ,the other organs of the abdomen were not examined4 ,the appearance of the mucous membrane1 taken in connection with the history as related to us by witnesses1 being such as1 in our opinion1 justified a suspicion of death having resulted from poison1 we considered it proper to preserve the stomach and its contents in a sealed bottle for further investigation by chemical analysis1 should such be determined on4 ,we1 however1 do not imply that1 in our opinion1 death may not have resulted from natural causes1 as1 for example1 severe internal congestion1 the effect of exposure to cold after much bodily fatigue1 which we understand the deceased to have undergone4 ,having no legal authority for making this post-mortem examination1 we restrict it to the organs where we thought likely to find something to account for the death4 8#bhth ,march1 #aheg1 on soul and conscience1 8,,hugh ,,thomson1 8,,james ,,steven40 ,,second ,,post-,,mortem ,,of ,,the ,,exhumed ,,body1 ,april #c1 #aheg4 8,by virtue of a warrant from the sheriff of ,lanarkshire1 we1 the undersigned1 proceeded to the post-mortem examination of the body of ,m4 ,l',angelier within the vault of the ,ramshorn church on the #cast of ,march ultimo1 in the presence of two friends of the deceased4 ,the body being removed from the coffin1 two of our number1 ,drs4 ,thomson and ,steven1 who examined the body on the #bdth ultimo1 remarked that the features had lost their former pinched appearance1 and that the general surface of the skin1 instead of the tawny or dingy hue observed by them on that occasion1 had become rather florid4 ,we two likewise remarked that1 with the exception of the upper surface of the liver1 which had assumed a purplish colour1 all the internal parts were little changed in appearance2 and we all agreed that the evidences of putrefaction were much less marked than they usually are at such a date--the ninth day after death1 and the fifth after burial4 ,the duodenum1 along with the upper part of the small intestine1 after both ends of the gut had been secured by ligatures1 was removed and placed in a clean jar4 ,a portion of the large intestine1 consisting of part of the descending colon and the sigmoid flexure1 along with a portion of the rectum1 after using the like precaution of placing ligatures at both ends of the bowel1 was removed and placed in the same jar with the duodenum1 and a portion of the small intestine4 ,a portion of the liver1 about a one-sixth part of that organ1 was cut off and placed in a clean jar4 ,we then proceeded to open the head in the usual manner1 and observed nothing calling for remark beyond a greater degree of vascularity of the membranes of the brain than ordinary4 ,a portion of the brain was removed and placed in a fourth clean jar4 ,we then adjourned to ,dr4 ,penny's rooms1 taking with us the vessels containing the parts of the viscera above mentioned4 ,the duodenum and portion of small intestine were found together to measure thirty-six inches in length4 ,their contents poured into a clean glass measure were found to amount to four fluid ounces1 and consisted of a turbid1 sanguinolent fluid1 having suspended in it much flocculent matter1 which settled towards the bottom1 whilst a few mucus-like masses floated on the surface4 ,the mucous membrane of this part of the bowels was then examined4 ,the colour was decidedly redder than natural1 and this redness was more marked over several patches1 portions of which1 when carefully examined1 were found to be eroded4 ,several small whitish and somewhat gritty particles were removed from its surface1 and being placed on a clean piece of glass1 were delivered to ,dr4 ,penny4 ,a few small ulcers1 about the one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter1 and having elevated edges1 were observed on it1 at the upper part of the duodenum4 ,on account of the failing light1 it was determined to adjourn till a quarter past eleven next day--all the jars1 c41 being left in the custody of ,dr4 ,penny4 ,having again met at the appointed time1 we proceeded to complete our examination4 ,the portion of the largest intestine1 along with the portion of the rectum1 measuring twenty-six inches in length1 being laid open1 was found empty4 ,its mucous membrane1 coated with an abundant1 pale1 slimy mucus1 presented nothing abnormal1 except on the part lining the rectum1 on which were observed two vascular patches1 about the size of a shilling4 ,on decanting the contents of the glass measure1 we observed a number of crystals adhering to its interior1 and at the bottom a notable quantity of whitish sedimentary matter4 ,having now completed our examination of the various parts1 we finally handed them all to ,dr4 ,penny4 8,the above we attest on soul and conscience1 8,h4 ,,thomson4 8,j4 ,,steven40 ,,appendix ,b41 p4 #cai4 ,,on ,,the ,,quantity ,,of ,,poison ,,found ,,in ,,the ,,stomach ,,of ,a ,,person ,,murdered ,,by ,,arsenic4 ,,extract ,,from ,,letter ,,from ,,professor ,,christison ,,to ,,the ,edinburgh ,medical ,journal1 ,,december1 #aheg4 8,the purpose of the present brief communication is to state a case which annihilates the defence of the prisoner1 so far as the large quantity of arsenic found in the stomach of the deceased may have been thought to support it4 8,dr4 ,mackinlay1 of ,paisley1 very lately reminded me of a case of poisoning with arsenic1 in which we were both concerned in #ahdb4 ,a person came under a charge of poisoning with arsenic1 and was indicted4 ,but1 on account of some informality1 this indictment fell to the ground1 and the trial was necessarily delayed4 ,meanwhile1 during the delay1 the general evidence was thought defective1 and the trial was dropped4 ,there could be no doubt1 however1 that murder had been committed4 ,the arsenic was administered in whisky-punch with sugar1 the arsenic being kept in suspension by constant stirring4 ,the person survived at least five1 possibly seven1 hours1 and frequently vomited a yellowish or greenish liquid4 ,nevertheless1 ,i found a little spirit in the contents of the stomach2 and ,i collected thirty grains of arsenic in substance from the stomach and its contents4 8,drs4 ,mackinlay and ,wylie1 of ,paisley1 who examined the dead body1 and also discovered arsenic in the stomach1 had scraped off a quantity of the powder of this substance from the inside upon a watch-glass4 ,i was not made aware at the time how much had been thus obtained2 but ,dr4 ,mackinlay now informs me that the quantity was sixty grains4 ,here1 then1 is a case exactly like that of ,l',angelier4 ,ninety grains of arsenic1 and this in substance1 were found within the stomach alone4 ,if to this be added1 as in ,dr4 ,penny's analysis in ,l',angelier's case1 the probable arsenic dissolved and suspended in the contents of the stomach1 and that imbibed by the textures of the stomach itself1 it is impossible to estimate the total quantity in the stomach at less than #ajj grains4 ,but there was also arsenic in the intestines2 and1 indeed1 it had actually caused purging4 8,how large a quantity1 then1 must have been given in that instance6 ,how strangely easy is it for a determined designing murderer to administer secretly those large quantities of a substance1 whose weight should render it difficult to be mixed1 and whose roughness should betray its presence when abundant6 ,how difficult for the stomach to discharge it by vomiting4 ,i draw no conclusion as to the question of ,madeline ,smith's innocence or guilt4 ,in common with the public at large1 ,i am well satisfied that she escaped condemnation4 ,but1 as ,i have been supplied1 through the kindness of ,dr4 ,mackinlay1 with the means of completing a fact1 closely touching a ground of defence1 which1 at the time it was brought forward1 ,i regarded as hypothetical and baseless1 and which may be made much of again1 were it allowed to stand1 as it has hitherto done1 ,i have thought it my duty to make the true state of the question known40 99 99 99 99 99 ,,appendix ,c41 p4 #cdb4 ,l',,angelier',s ,,diary4 ,at the close of the fifth day1 after putting in the bulk of the letters1 the ,lord ,advocate proposed to read entries in ,l',angelier's pocket-book from the #afth of ,february to the #adth of ,march1 #aheg1 in support of the first and second charges4 ,they were undoubtedly in his own handwriting1 and statements of what he did on those days4 ,it was objected that the book was not regularly kept1 that the corroborative evidence was not sufficient1 and that two of the entries were contradicted by witnesses who had been examined4 ,the ,court took time to consider1 and on the next morning delivered the following judgments4 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4--8,the admission of hearsay evidence was an established rule in the law of ,scotland1 but under those restrictions and conditions1 which went in many circumstances to its entire rejection4 ,what was now proposed to be admitted was this--certain memoranda or jottings made by the deceased1 in which certain things were said to be contained1 which went directly to the vital part of this charge4 ,the ,dean of ,faculty felt so strongly that he did not scruple to state what the purport of one of these was1 in order to show the immense materiality of the point4 ,it was certainly most important for the ,court to take care that the rules of evidence were not relaxed merely because it appeared that the matter tendered was of the highest importance to the case4 ,before evidence could be received and allowed to go to a jury1 it must be shown that such evidence was legally competent to be tendered against the prisoner4 ,that was the rule also in civil cases4 ,it was of vital importance in considering whether this evidence was admissible1 to ascertain in what circumstances1 and1 if possible1 from what motive1 and at what periods these entries were made4 ,now it was a most remarkable fact that there was no entry regarding the prisoner1 or the circumstances connected with her1 before the #adth of ,february2 and at that very time the purpose on her part of breaking off the engagement with him and of demanding her letters back had been communicated to the deceased2 and his purpose and resolution not to give up the letters and to keep her to her engagement were avowed and made known1 as it appeared from evidence prior to that date4 ,then he had a purpose in writing these memoranda--a purpose obviously to strengthen his hold over the prisoner1 not only by refusing to give up the letters at that time and afterwards1 but probably with the view to hold out that he had a diary as to their interviews and communications1 so as to endeavour to effect his object of preventing the marriage1 and of terrifying her into giving up her engagement with ,mr4 ,minnoch4 ,he 7the ,lord ,justice ,clerk7 made this observation not merely with regard to the weight and credibility of these entries1 but with regard to their admissibility2 because in the case of hearsay evidence one could ascertain from the witnesses the time the statement was made1 all the circumstances and all the apparent motives which could be collected as to the statement being made by the deceased4 ,but when we could not know with certainty the motive with which the man made the entry1 or1 perhaps1 as in this case1 could perceive reasons why he made the entry as against her1 intending to prejudice her in one way1 not of course with reference to such a trial as this1 but with reference to her engagement1 he thought it could not be said that this came before the ,court as a statement recorded by him as to indifferent matters1 or as to matters in which he might have not had a strong purpose in making the statement4 ,further1 it might be a record of a past act4 ,he felt the force of what the ,lord ,advocate had said1 that supposing in this book there had been an entry that this man purchased arsenic1 would not that have been available in favour of the prisoner4 ,an illustration of this point had been suggested to him by a person whose authority and experience were of the very highest4 ,take an action of divorce against the wife where the paramour was dead2 would an entry in any diary of his that he had enjoyed the embraces of this woman on such a night in the absence of her husband be proof against the wife8 ,he thought not4 ,what was proposed in this case was to tender in evidence a thing altogether unprecedented1 according to the research of the ,bar and the ,bench1 of which no trace or indication occurred in any book whatever1 viz41 that a memorandum made by the deceased should be proof of the fact against the panel in a charge of murder4 ,he was unable to admit such evidence2 it might relax the sacred rules of evidence to an extent that the mind could hardly contemplate4 ,one could not tell how many documents might exist and be found in the repositories of deceased persons2 a man might have threatened another1 he might have hatred against him1 and be determined to revenge himself1 and what entries might he not make in a diary for this purpose8 ,he had a faint recollection of a case in #ahjh--the trial of a man ,patch for murdering ,page1 or of ,page for murdering ,patch--in which some letter of the murdered man1 prior to his death1 was used2 but he had been unable to find the case1 and he had no notion if it was of the character he had alluded to4 ,however1 in the meantime1 as the point was perfectly new1 and as it would be a departure from what he considered to be an important principle in the administration of justice1 he thought this evidence could not be received40 ,lord ,handyside4--8,the special point is1 whether the entries of certain dates--two in number--are to be read and made evidence for the prosecution1 as regards the first and second charges in the indictment4 ,the whole of these entries have been written with a lead pencil4 ,i notice this to make the observation that ink and penmanship afford to a certain degree a means of ascertaining whether entries are made de die in diem1 thus having the character of entries made daily2 or1 on the contrary1 of several entries having the appearance1 by change of ink or of pen1 of being made at one time1 and so after recollection4 ,where all the entries are in pencil1 there can be no security as to the time when the entries are1 in point of fact1 inserted1 and that they are not ex post facto2 or that the original entries have been expunged1 and others substituted in their place--whether this be a correction of memory1 or with purpose and design of another character4 ,the party making such entries in pencil has entire power over what he has done or chooses to do40 ,then alluding to the fact that no authority for such evidence could be found1 which entitled the objector to the evidence to throw on the tenderer the burden of showing that it ought to be received1 the learned judge continued--8,i think the question one of great difficulty--at least ,i have found it so4 ,had the writer of the memorandum been living1 they could not have been made evidence--of themselves they were nothing4 ,they might have been used in the witness-box to refresh the memory1 but the evidence would still be parole4 ,what would be regarded would be the oath of the witness to the facts1 time and person2 and if distinct and explicit1 though resting on memory alone1 the law of evidence would be satisfied1 irrespective of any aid by memorandums and letters1 though made at the same time4 ,it is the oath of the witness to the verity of his oral statement in the box which the law requires and regards4 ,but if the writer has died1 is this circumstance to make such memorandums thenceforward admissible as evidence by their own weight8 ,are they1 the handwriting being proved1 to be treated as written evidence8 ,that would be a bold proposition4 ,death cannot change the character originally impressed on the memorandums1 and convert them from inadmissible to admissible writings4 ,they are private memorandums1 seen by no eye but the writers as such1 subject to no check upon the accuracy of their statements1 whether arising from innocent mistakes or from prejudice or passing feeling4 ,i do not say that they are to be supposed false and dishonest1 for the idea is repugnant1 from the consideration that it would be idle to falsify and invent when memorandums are intended to be kept secret by the writer4 ,but it is quite conceivable that vanity might lead to statements being made wholly imaginary1 with a view of the subsequent exhibition of the book1 and were its admissibility as evidence set up by death1 it might become a fearful instrument of calumny and accusation4 ,i speak just now of private memorandums1 diaries1 and journals1 taken in the abstract4 ,as to other writings of a deceased person1 such as letters1 ,i do not say these may not become admissible as evidence by reason of death1 though during life they could not be used4 ,they thus become analogous to words spoken--to representations made and conversations held--by a deceased person1 the proper object of hearsay evidence4 ,it was contended that the principle on which hearsay evidence is admitted would extend to anything written by a deceased person4 ,it is assumed to be a declaration in writing of what if spoken would have been admissible on the testimony of the person hearing it4 ,and on the first view it would seem that the written mode is superior to the oral1 from the greater certainty that no mistake is committed as to the words used4 ,but this would be a fallacious ground to rest on1 for words written would require to be taken without explanation or modification2 whereas words spoken to another are subject to the further inquiry by the party addressed as to the meaning of the speaker in order to a better and more thorough understanding of the subject of communication1 the object of making it1 and the grounds on which the speaker's statements rest4 ,and all these things may be fought out in the examination of the witness who comes into court to give this hearsay evidence4 ,the value of hearsay evidence1 and the weight to be given to it1 come thus to depend much on the account which the witness gives of the circumstances under which the communication was made to him1 as to the seriousness of the statement and what followed upon it in the way of inquiry and reply4 ,now a mere writing in the way of a memorandum or entry in a book in the sole custody of the writer till his death can be subject to no such tests4 ,its very nature shows that it is not intended for communication4 ,it may be an idle1 purposeless piece of writing1 or it may be a record of unfounded suspicions and malicious charges1 treasured up by hostile and malignant feelings in a moody1 spiteful mind4 ,these views impress me strongly with the danger of admitting a private journal or diary as evidence to support a criminal charge4 ,i think the question now before us must be decided as a general point4 ,as such ,i take it up4 ,if ,i were to confine myself to the special and peculiar circumstances of this case1 ,i should see much perhaps to vindicate the court in the reception of the evidence tendered4 ,there is to be found in the letters which have already been made evidence much to give corroboration or verification to some at least of the entries in the pocket-book4 ,but ,i feel compelled to close my mind against such considerations1 and to look above all to a general and1 therefore1 safe rule by which to be guided4 ,i have come1 therefore1 to be of the opinion that the production tendered as evidence in the case in support1 as ,i take it1 of the first and second charge1 ought to be rejected40 ,lord ,ivory said the opinions just delivered had relieved his mind of a burden of responsibility under which he laboured1 and which he was ill able to bear4 ,he had given the most anxious1 serious1 and repeated consideration to this matter4 ,he had found little or nothing in the way of authority1 and no dicta so precisely bearing on the case as to be of any avail4 ,but judging in the abstract1 applying the rules as applied to other cases1 endeavouring to find a principle by comparison of the different classes and categories in which evidence had been distributed and in which it had been received1 he felt himself totally unable to come to a conclusion that the evidence of this document should be excluded from the jury4 ,as his opinion could not in the least degree influence the judgment1 he should be sorry to add anything that would even seem to be intended to detract from the authority of the judgment now given2 least of all should he be disposed to follow such a course in a capital case1 where the judgment was in favour of the prisoner4 ,he would content himself1 therefore1 with simply expressing his opinion4 ,it appeared to him that this document should have been admitted valeat quantum1 and that the jury should have considered its weight1 and credibility1 and value4 ,,trial ,,of ,,ann ,,merritt4 ,before ,,the ,,lord ,,chief ,,baron ,,pollock and ,,mr4 ,,justice ,,cresswell1 at the ,,central ,,criminal ,,court1 ,march #h1 #ahej4 ,for the ,prosecution3 ,mr4 ,bodkin and ,mr4 ,clark4 ,for the ,defence3 ,mr4 ,clarkson1 by the intervention of the ,sheriffs of ,london and ,middlesex4 ,ann ,merritt was indicted for the murder of her husband1 ,james1 by poison1 at ,clapton1 on the #beth of ,january4 ,merritt1 who was a turncock in the employ of the ,east ,london ,waterworks1 had been at work in his usual health1 with the exception of a slight cold1 on ,wednesday1 the #bcrd of ,january4 ,when1 however1 a fellow-workman called upon him about nine the next morning1 he was told by the prisoner that her husband was sick in the yard1 and in a minute or two afterwards ,merritt came in and told his comrade that he had been drinking some broth and a cup of hot tea upon it1 and expected that it had turned his stomach4 ,they started off to work1 and on the way ,merritt complained of being very thirsty1 and went into a public-house and had some rum-and-water before they separated for their respective jobs4 ,he seems1 however1 to have soon returned home unwell1 as between ten and eleven a neighbour 7,mrs4 ,gillett71 who lived next door1 who had been previously called in by eight o'clock in the morning1 saw the deceased in his house very ill1 and the prisoner emptying some thick gruel into a basin from a saucepan1 and pouring water on it4 ,the gruel had been made from oatmeal fetched from a corn-chandler's by the witness's son1 at the prisoner's request1 who had given as a reason for making it that her husband had returned so very thirsty4 ,this gruel the deceased was seen eating at a quarter past eleven1 and very soon after vomiting4 ,however1 at one o'clock1 ,merritt went out again to work with his comrade1 but soon after felt so sick and ill that he asked his friend to do his work for him1 and returned home4 ,when his friend returned to ,merritt's house with his tools1 between five and six in the evening1 the prisoner told him to go upstairs and see 8,jem10 as he was very ill1 and wanted to see him4 ,this witness went up to the deceased's bedroom1 followed by the prisoner1 and found ,merritt in bed complaining of being very sick1 feeling cramp in his limbs2 at which the deceased said1 8he did not wonder1 as what with the weather and the work they had to do1 it was enough to kill a horse40 ,no more was seen of the parties until half-past nine at night1 when ,mrs4 ,gillett was again called in by the prisoner1 and found the husband in bed retching violently1 and complaining of a burning pain in his chest and stomach4 ,between ten and eleven ,mr4 ,toulmin1 the doctor1 was called in1 and at half-past twelve the husband died4#abf ,,medical ,,and ,,analytical ,,evidence4 ,mr4 ,toulmin1 a general practitioner at ,clapton1 was first examined4 ,he was called in between ten and eleven on the ,thursday night1 and found the deceased in bed sick1 complaining greatly of pain in his stomach and cramps in his legs1 his pulse very weak1 and his skin below the natural temperature2 he prescribed for him1 and left4 ,subsequently he made a post-mortem examination of the body on the #bhth1 by the coroner's order1 with the assistance of ,mr4 ,welch1 a neighbouring surgeon1 to which the prisoner at first objected4 ,when the stomach was opened1 it contained a thickish matter slightly pink1 which was poured into a stoppered bottle and sent with the stomach to ,dr4 ,letheby for analysis4 ,on its coats there were red spots1 such as are observed in persons who have died of irritant poison4 ,dr4 ,henry ,letheby1 professor of chemistry at the ,london ,hospital1 to whom the stomach and its contents had been forwarded1 gave the following evidence1 which1 in consequence of the dispute which subsequently arose on his statement as to the time at which the fatal dose was taken1 is given in full3-- 8,i first experimented10 said the witness1 8on the contents of the bottle 7the fluid found in the stomach71 and detected #h grains of white arsenic4 ,by one course of experiments ,i reproduced the arsenic in a metallic form--it is in this tube 7produced74 ,the earthen jar contained part of a human stomach4 ,i noticed a peculiar appearance in it1 which ,i have noticed in cases of poisoning by arsenic--there was a small portion of whitish powder adhering to the lining of the stomach1 too small a quantity to enable me to ascertain what it consisted of4 ,i then examined the intestines that were in the jar2 ,i subjected them to a chemical analysis1 and the result was the detection of a very small quantity of arsenic4 ,there was also in the jar a part of a human liver4 ,i subjected about a quarter of a pound of it to experiment1 and obtained a quantity of metallic arsenic 7produced72 it was too minute a quantity to weigh4 ,that in the stomach was the only quantity ,i weighed2 that would be sufficient to cause death4 ,i had the opportunity of witnessing a case where #b grains killed2 the general quantity would be #h grains2 ,i look upon that as an average dose4 ,it would generally be fatal4 ,vomiting is almost invariably the consequence of arsenic introduced into the stomach4 ,a person attacked by that would be likely to throw up a portion of the arsenic4 ,looking at the quantity ,i found1 and the parts in which ,i found it1 in my judgment the arsenic ,i found had been taken not more than two or three hours before death1 but that is a matter of opinion2 a dose might have been given before4 ,it would depend upon many circumstances how soon it would find its way into the liver40 ,cross-examined4--,question4--8,about two grains of arsenic you say would cause death2 do you mean taken together80 ,answer4--8,yes1 or less2 #b grains have done so4 ,i know nothing of this transaction but from the examination4 ,i found a very small portion in the liver1 perhaps one tenth of a grain in a quarter of a pound4 ,a liver weighs about #e pounds1 and supposing the arsenic to be equally diffused1 there would be twenty times that quantity--equal to #b grains4 ,my observation with reference to the time it had been taken was in reference both to the stomach and the liver40 ,question4--8,are the data at all safe80 ,answer4--8,yes2 ,i will tell you why4 ,i found in the stomach #h grains of arsenic1 and there was not much in the intestines4 ,i conclude1 therefore1 that there had not been time for it to have passed into the intestines1 which would have been the case if it had been taken long before death4 ,but there was only a trace in the intestines1 so ,i conclude that it was taken a very short time before death4 ,that furnishes datum to me to form a judgment on the subject of hours4 ,food remains five hours before it passes into the intestines4 ,i am able to say that the contents of the stomach pass into the intestines in four1 eight1 or ten hours1 from experiments ,i have performed on living subjects4 ,i have not the least doubt4 ,i saw the intestines2 they were in the jar4 ,they did not appear to have been influenced by arsenic2 they were slightly red1 and there were traces of arsenic4 ,i have reduced something that was in the intestines into a metallic state4 ,i experimented on it1 and found it was arsenic4 ,it was destroyed in the experiment to which ,i was obliged to submit it to prove it was arsenic4 ,it was not likely that ,i should find it in the liver without some being in the intestines4 ,the time would not depend on the constitution of the person4 ,digestion depends upon the constitution1 but ,i am speaking of the average4 ,digestion is more or less rapid according to the constitution of the person who has received the subject matter4 ,i have heard of cases in which matters which would not digest have remained three or four days1 but those were solid matters4 ,i think liquids pass into the stomach 7intestines87 under all circumstances in five hours as 7after87 they are imbibed4 ,there is a valve which prevents solid matters from passing into the stomach till they are digested4 ,the arsenic was in a liquid state1 all except a little white powder on the side of the stomach4 ,i am obliged to have recourse to an average to form an opinion as to how long it would take4 ,we have no means of dealing with an independent case except by an average40 ,by ,mr4 ,bodkin1 ,q4,c4--,question4--8,what did the contents of the stomach look like80 ,answer4--8,thick gruel4 ,they were filtered1 and ,i examined the filtered portion1 and my opinion is that the arsenic had been taken two or three hours40#abg ,,purchase ,,of ,,poison ,,by ,,the ,,prisoner4 ,this was proved by the son of a chemist of the name of ,brown1 of whom the prisoner purchased two pennyworths of arsenic on the #aith of ,january1 which1 at her request1 he enclosed in two separate papers1 each marked 8poison10 as she said that one of them was for her sister who lived some distance off4 ,the papers had something of the appearance of those of effervescing powders4 ,,conduct ,,and ,,statements ,,of ,,the ,,prisoner4 ,mrs4 ,gillett gave some remarkable evidence as to the statements and conduct of the prisoner during the night of her husband's fatal illness and after his death4 8,when the prisoner called me in a little after nine in the evening1 ,i found her husband in bed retching violently1 and ,i gave him water half-a-dozen times1 and then went for ,dr4 ,toulmin4 ,at five o'clock that day the prisoner said she was going for the doctor1 to tell him to send her husband something for the bile1 but that he did not want her to do so4 ,a second time during the evening she told me she wanted to do this1 and that he would not let her1 and that she had applied to a neighbouring doctor1 but that he had refused to come1 and only sent some pills4 ,after her husband died she said1 #8,how true were ,dr4 ,toulmin's words1' that1 #8when her husband once took to his bed1 he would go off like the snuff of a candle4'0 ,dr4 ,toulmin had no recollection of ever having made such a statement4 8,next day the secretary of the ,benefit ,society to which her husband belonged called and had some conversation with her4 ,before that she had spoken to me about the ,benefit ,society1 and said if her husband died she should have the full benefit of it4 ,on the day of the post-mortem she asked me if ,i had asked ,dr4 ,toulmin what was the cause of death1 and ,i said1 from what ,i heard1 it was poison2 when she said1 #8,do you think ,i am guilty8' ,i replied1 #8,i do not doubt you4' ,then she walked about in an agitated manner and appeared distressed4 ,on the day of the inquest she said to me1 #8,you know1 ,mrs4 ,gillett1 that ,annie 7her little girl7 ate the rest of the gruel4' ,i said #8,don't say so2 ,i did not see any of you eat it4' ,she said1 #8,if ,i did not ,ashby did1 and he ought to be the first witness' 7,ashby said he did not see the deceased or anyone eat it74 ,on the day of the adjourned inquest she asked me if poison had been found1 and when ,i said #8,yes' she said #8,i am innocent2 he was a good husband1 and it is not likely ,i should do such a thing4 ,dear creature2 if that is the case he has done it with his own hands4' ,i replied #8,it is not likely1 as he purchased a new pair of boots the morning before his death4' ,whilst we were talking ,andrews1 the summoning officer1 came in1 and she said to him #8,mrs4 ,gillett knows that ,i ate the rest of the gruel1' and ,i replied #8,i know nothing about it1 or who ate it4'#abh ,on the #cast of ,january in her house she said to me #8,do you think if ,i had any hand in his death ,i should not have let him live to to-day and then have received the full benefit from the society4'0#abi ,on cross-examination the witness protested that she had repeated these conversations before1 and was almost certain she had done so before the coroner and the magistrate4 ,when she said #8,i did not doubt her1' she meant that she had not the slightest suspicion of her guilt4 ,the witness had introduced the subject of the burial club4 ,the prisoner was kind and affectionate to her husband1 and attentive during his illness1 and much distressed4 ,the witness had heard the deceased complain of the difficulties into which his wife had plunged him1 and on the ,monday before he was taken ill they had quarrelled4 ,other statements of a most unfavourable character were improperly extracted from her by ,coward1 the inspector of police4 ,as the ,lord ,chief ,baron said1 with well-deserved reproof1 he had evidently prepared a proceeding1 and framed certain questions1 which would enable him to observe the demeanour of the prisoner when she was confronted with a witness ready in attendance1 in order to give his own view of her conduct afterwards to the jury4 8,i10 said this witness1 8saw the prisoner on the #bnd of ,february in her house1 and told her ,i had come to ask a few questions1 which she might answer or not as she pleased1 but that it would be my duty to repeat her answers to the magistrate2 that ,i should like to have some women present to hear1 and accordingly sent for two of her neighbours1 and when they had come ,i asked her #8,did she know of any arsenic being in the house8' #8,no4' #8,did her husband use it in his business8' #8,no4' #8,had she purchased any lately8' #8,no4' ,brown was then brought in1 and she turned pale and agitated4 ,i told her ,brown had told me she had1 and she said #8,that was true1 and she would tell me what for4' ,on the way to the police court she said #8she purchased it for herself1 but thought better of it afterwards4' ,i asked her what had become of it afterwards1 and she said #8she had emptied it into one paper4' ,she then changed the conversation1 and said that her husband was very fond of soda and acid powders1 and that a woman had told her that he had said he was very troubled in his mind1 and did not know whether he should not jump into the river or ,clapton pond40 ,on cross-examination he excused the presence of the women1 on the ground that he wanted to see if ,brown could identify the prisoner2 that she wanted to say more but that he stopt her1 and told her to tell the magistrate4 ,of this last statement of the inspector1 the ,lord ,chief ,baron added in his charge-- 8,that it appeared to him to be a piece of hypocrisy1 which accorded with all the rest of his conduct4 ,he wished it to go forth to the public1 and that the police themselves should understand1 that such proceedings savoured of an excess of zeal which was perfectly unjustifiable1 and which ought not to be looked on in any other light than discreditable40 ,to ,clarke1 a police constable1 she said1 whilst in custody1 that 8she supposed she should be hung--they had told so many lies about it--she bought the arsenic for her husband40 ,to the female searcher at the police-station she said that she did not know on what charge she was brought there2 and then1 when told it1 added1 8,i know he was poisoned1 but not by whom40 ,and when told that ,mrs4 ,gillett was the principal witness against her1 declared that she was forsworn4 ,on the second examination at the police-court1 she told the gaoler that 8she wished the magistrate to know something about the case4 ,all she had said was true1 except as to not buying the poison4 ,she had placed it in the same cupboard with her husband's powders after taking off the papers marked #8poison4' ,if he had taken it1 it must have been by mistake1 and she threw the remainder of the poison and all his powders into the fire4 ,she intended to have taken it herself if he went on as he had done40 ,,the ,,prisoner',s ,,statement4 8,i have nothing to say except that ,i never intended my husband to take the poison4 ,when ,i bought it ,i intended to take it myself1 if he had come home as he had done several times before4 ,i could not live with him had he gone on so4 ,i thought no more of it till the ,sunday1 when ,i thought he might have taken it instead of the soda1 and then ,i burnt it4 ,what ,i said about hanging was this--#8,if ,i am to be hanged this moment ,i am innocent of anything to my husband4' ,i have nothing more to say40 ,mr4 ,clarkson1 for the defence1 after alluding to the difficulties under which he laboured in consequence of the prisoner not having made any preparations for her defence1 and the brief having only been handed to him as the case was opened1 attacked the evidence of ,coward in language which the ,lord ,chief ,baron entirely adopted1 and asked the jury to dismiss it from their consideration4 ,he also characterised the declarations of the prisoner as told by witnesses clearly unfavourable to her4 8,with regard to the testimony of ,dr4 ,letheby1 if they relied on it1 it would be necessary10 he said1 8to come to the conclusion that the prisoner had continued administering poison to the deceased during the whole of the day--as it was proved that he was ill as early as eight in the morning4 ,but he asked the jury if her conduct would justify such a conclusion4 ,her story might be true1 and if the deceased took the poison through her culpable negligence in putting it in the cupboard with his soda powders1 the offence would not be murder1 but manslaughter40 ,the strong remarks of the ,lord ,chief ,baron on the conduct and evidence of ,coward have already been given1 and as the remainder of his charge consisted only of an analysis of the evidence1 and its application to the different points of the case1 it is needless to report it4 ,as was characteristic of this kind judge1 every point that could be made in favour of the prisoner was brought clearly out in his able charge4 ,after a brief deliberation1 a verdict of guilty1 coupled with a recommendation to mercy on account of her previously good character1 was returned1 and sentence of death was pronounced by the learned judge4 ,a medical man of large experience1 who was present during the trial1 was so astonished at the statement of ,dr4 ,letheby as to the time when the arsenic had been administered1 that he communicated with the sheriffs1 who brought the case before ,sir ,george ,grey1 by whom it was referred to ,sir ,benjamin ,brodie1 ,dr4 ,billing1 ,dr4 ,leeson1 and other medical men of repute4 ,these1 it was understood1 agreed that the time of administration could not be fixed4 ,on this1 at the urgent request of ,dr4 ,pereira1 ,dr4 ,letheby wrote to the ,home ,secretary that it was his duty to admit that it was within the range of possibility--nay1 even probable--that the arsenic might have been taken1 as the woman asserted1 early in the morning of her husband's death1 and in consequence the capital sentence was commuted for one of penal servitude for life4 ,this case was used by ,mr4 ,bright in his speech in the ,house of ,commons in favour of the abolition of capital punishments1 as a strong example of their danger4 ,how much more satisfactory would it have been could a court of appeal have reheard such a case instead of its being left to the ,home ,secretary's judgment of evidence known only to himself4#acj ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,arsenic4 ,the element 7arsenicum7--,the oxide 7white arsenic7--,arsenicum--,arsenicum trioxide4 ,forms of3 7#a7 ,crystalline--7#b7 ,amorphous--,solubility4 ,uses and occurrences3 7#a7 ,steeping wheat--7#b7 ,preservation of skins--7#c7 ,antiseptics--7#d7 ,glass making--7#e7 ,fur in boilers--7#f7 ,candles--7#g7 ,preservation of wood--7#h7 ,sheep washes--7#i7 ,scheele's green and emerald green as pigments in sweets 7case of ,franklin and ,randall71 wall papers1 toys1 c4--7#aj7 ,medicinal--7#aa7 ,for horses--7#ab7 ,tooth-stopping--7#ac7 ,aniline dyes--7#ad7 ,fireworks--7#ae7 ,rat and fly poisons 7case of ,maria ,gage7--7#af7 ,for cleansing metals--7#ag7 ,arsenic eaters--7#ah7 ,cosmetics--7#ai7 ,for bronzing metals--7#bj7 ,beer brewed from glucose--7#ba7 ,american paper collars--7#bb7 ,speculum metal--7#bc7 ,inhalation for asthma and bronchitis--7#bd7 ,mineral waters4 ,sulphides of ,arsenic3 7#a7 ,orpiment 7case of ,m4 ,a4 ,burdock7--7#b7 ,realgar4 ,arsenic acid--,the arsenates--,arsenic trichloride--,arseniuretted hydrogen--,methods of extraction--,tests--,modifications of old processes suggested--,marsh's test1 distinction of results in arsenic and antimony--,reinsch's test--,doses--,antidotes--,physiological effects--,remarks--,did ,l',angelier commit suicide8 ,,the name 8arsenic0 is applied to two things3 in chemistry it means the element ,as2 in popular usage it signifies the oxide ,as#b,o#c4 ,in our report1 the element will be called arsenicum1 the oxide simply 8arsenic0 or 8white arsenic40 ,,arsenicum1 ,symbol ,as1 is an element of steely metallic lustre1 tarnishing to dull dark grey1 met with in crystalline 7rhombohedral7 fragments1 so brittle that they can be easily reduced to a dark grey powder1 insoluble in water1 but slowly absorbing oxygen and dissolving1 insoluble in pure hydrochloric and in vegetal acids1 and in alcohol1 soluble 7by oxidation7 in strong sulphuric and in nitric acid1 in chlorine1 in solution of bleaching powder4 ,tasteless1 and inodorous until heated1 when it sublimes1 without melting1 at #aaj ,c4 7,guy71 and gives a strong odour of garlic4 ,sp4 gr4 #eh4 ,the characters of the metal are utilized in ,marsh's and other tests1 hereafter described4 ,heated in air1 it oxidizes to white fumes of ,as#b,o#c4 ,it is employed chiefly to harden lead in making shot1 in the proportion of #jc per cent4 ,the use of these in cleaning bottles1 c41 may contribute a trace of ,as3 the presence of a larger amount of lead would in this case indicate the source4 ,common ,britannia metal1 used for teapots1 spoons1 c41 often contains ,as4 ,it occurs also in many minerals4 ,when oxidized it is poisonous1 but pure arsenicum passes through the body of animals unaltered 7,wagner's ,chem4 ,technology1 trans1 by ,crookes1 #ahgb1 p4 #hf74 ,the vapour is very poisonous4 ,arsenicum has two oxides1 the trioxide and the pentoxide4 ,,arsenicum ,,trioxide4 ,synonyms4--,arsenious oxide1 arsenious acid1 arsenious anhydride2 popularly1 8arsenic10 8flour of arsenic10 or 8white arsenic30 in mining districts it is sometimes called 8mercury30 ,latin1 acidum arseniosum4 ,chemical formula ,as#b,o#c1 or two atoms 7#aej parts by weight7 of arsenicum1 to three atoms 7#dh parts by weight7 of oxygen4 ,forms4--7#a47 ,crystalline4 ,by sublimation and slow condensation on moderately heated surfaces1 also by deposition from solution1 we obtain regular octahedra1 often so modified as to appear like equilateral triangular or hexagonal plates1 or even elongated into triangular prisms1 but never in the form of regular tetrahedra such as tartar emetic yields4 ,for figures1 see ,guy and ,ferrier's ,forens4 ,med41 #ahha1 pp4 #ddj and #fgj4 ,the crystals are transparent and highly refracting4 ,sp4 gr4 #cfi4 ,volatilizes without melting1 except under increased pressure4 7#b47 ,amorphous or vitreous4 ,suddenly cooled1 ,as#b,o#c condenses as clear transparent drops1 finally cohering into a glassy mass1 sp4 gr4 #cgd4 ,when kept1 this becomes opaque1 perhaps owing to a change into the crystalline variety1 constituting the 8porcellanous0 form found in commerce4 ,if the lumps be broken1 layers of still transparent ,as#b,o#c will be seen4 ,the solubility depends on the variety1 temperature1 length of time it is digested1 fineness of powder1 c4 ,so that exact figures cannot be given1 as hardly two authorities agree4 ,it is certain1 however1 that the amorphous form is less soluble than the crystalline4#aca ,the accepted statement is that given by ,taylor 7,med4 ,juris4 #a1 #bej73 that digested with cold water1 from #a_/ejj to #a_/ajjj dissolves1 equal from one half to one grain per fluid ounce2 if boiled for an hour and allowed to cool1 an average of twelve grains per fluid ounce remains in solution2 if boiled for a shorter time1 less is dissolved4 ,see also ,woodman and ,tidy's ,forens4 ,med41 #ahgg1 pp4 #acc1 #acd4 ,organic matter is said to decrease its solubility2 ,i have not found that it does so to any notable extent4 ,dr4 ,blondlot 7,med4 ,times and ,gazette1 ,feb4 #aa1 #ahfj7 states that fats1 such as bacon1 diminish the solubility2 this must be by coating the particles and preventing contact with water4 ,powdered white arsenic in all cases refuses for a long time to become moistened by water1 floating on the top1 and collecting in little lumps as if greasy3 the appearance is so peculiar as to have led sometimes to its detection4 ,commercial powdered white arsenic is generally the opaque form pulverized1 but it may be crystalline4 ,as#b,o#c is very soluble in potash and soda and their carbonates1 forming arsenites4 ,it is less soluble in ammonia4 ,in hydrochloric acid it dissolves easily1 forming chloride of arsenic4 ,it is less soluble 7#a in #b1jjj7 in alcohol than in water4 ,one part dissolves in #bjj1jjj of chloroform4 ,it is insoluble in pure ether4 ,it is heavy to feel1 tasteless1 very faintly acid to test paper1 and so feeble in affinity that its soluble salts are strongly alkaline1 and are decomposed by all acids with separation of ,as#b,o#c4 ,the powder and its vapour are inodorous1 but when heated with charcoal or organic matter it is reduced to arsenicum1 with its odour of garlic4 ,uses and ,occurrence4--#a4 ,as a preservative against insects and fungi1 for steeping seed-wheat4 ,many accidents have resulted4 ,birds poisoned by it and afterwards eaten by man have occasioned severe symptoms4 ,from #ahcj to #ahdj in ,france #bce accusations of arsenic poisoning occurred1 of which #aaj were against agricultural persons1 proving that the use of the drug in farming gives dangerous facilities for crime4 ,sulphate of copper1 or1 better1 a mixture of sulphate of soda and lime1 are more effectual as preservatives1 and the latter mixture is not poisonous4 7,lancet1 #ahdi1 ,jan4 #bj47 #b4 ,for preserving skins and furs 7arsenical soap74 ,this use has also caused serious results in the operators4 ,stuffed birds1 c41 kept in living rooms may prejudicially affect the inmates by giving off arsenical dust4 #c4 ,as an antiseptic it is injected in solution through the vessels of subjects for dissection4 ,of course in this case the body would show signs of the anatomical examination it had undergone4 ,in the trial of ,professor ,webster for the murder of ,dr4 ,parkman1 at ,boston1 ,u4,s41 ,march1 #ahej1 the absence of arsenic and other preservative substances in the corpse proved that it had not been a subject for dissection4 #d4 ,in glass making and the production of opaque white enamels4 ,here most of the vapour passes up the chimney and is diffused4 #e4 ,some of the patent preparations for preventing 8fur0 in boilers have contained alkaline arsenites4 #f4 ,formerly wicks of candles were steeped in arsenic solution to prevent a long 8snuff0 forming4 ,moreover1 it was incorporated with the candle itself to improve its appearance4 ,the result was a constant diffusion of arsenic vapour in the room4 ,tapers were also coloured with emerald green 7copper aceto-arsenite71 which likewise gave rise to arsenical fumes4 ,these objectionable practices have been fortunately given up1 owing to the strong representations of scientific men4 #g4 ,wood is sometimes preserved by a solution of arsenic1 and then tarred4 ,this use would be practically free from danger1 except to the operatives4 #h4 ,an alkaline arsenite is used for washing sheep to destroy vermin4 ,the workmen sometimes suffer4 7,lancet1 #aheg1 p4 #bha47 ,streams have been poisoned1 the solution has been drunk in mistake 7,ibid1 #ahef1 p4 #ddg71 and lastly1 the sheep themselves have been killed 7,taylor's ,med4 ,juris41 i4 #bgb74 ,carbolic acid would probably answer better4 #i4 ,cupric arsenite 7,scheele's green7 and aceto-arsenite 7,schweinfurth or emerald green7 are used as pigments4 ,in one case1 where a baker's shelves had been painted with this colour1 emerald green was found adhering to the bottoms of the loaves 7,med4 ,times and ,gaz41 #ahed1 p4 #cbf74 ,blancmange 7,r4 v4 ,franklin ,randall1 ,northampton1 #ahdhacb71 ornaments on cakes 7,lancet1 #ahdi1 ,feb4 #agth71 sweets1 dresses1 and artificial flowers 7,husemann1 ,jahresbericht1 #ahgb1 p4 #dhj71 lamp-shades1 insides of pasteboard cigar-holders1 toys1#acc wrappings for chocolate1 c41 wafers1 water and oil colours1 and wall papers have all been coloured with emerald green4 ,whenever such things have been swallowed1 the green colour is seen in the vomit4 ,boxes of paints should never be given to young children4 ,cakes of emerald green and of other poisonous colours have often been sucked or eaten with fatal result2 they are the more tempting as they are generally made up with honey or glycerine4 ,bright green wall papers have gone out of fashion1 still many of the dull colours have emerald green in their composition4 ,such papers certainly give off arsenical dust1 even if they do not evolve arseniuretted hydrogen or other arsenical gas1 and the symptoms they produce have been well authenticated4 ,in a new house the papers should always be tested4 ,messrs4 ,woollams1 of ,marylebone ,lane1 were1 ,i believe1 the first to disuse arsenical pigments in paper-hangings4 ,these arsenites of copper give1 with a little ammonia1 a blue solution 7due to the copper71 in which a crystal of silver nitrate becomes covered with a yellow coating of silver arsenite4 ,the ,as can also be easily found by the other tests4 ,dr4 ,raseden of ,mersberg finds that arsenical papers cause rheumatic pains1 neuralgia1 cough1 lassitude1 and emaciation 7,lancet1 #ahdi1 ,april #gth74 ,they also cause skin eruptions4 ,these effects disappear when the patients are removed4 ,in ,germany the use of these pigments is prohibited2 it should be so in ,england4 ,unfortunately no other permanent green colour is so bright in tint4 ,the copper arsenites are insoluble in water1 but soluble in acids1 hence are dissolved by the gastric juice1 and then absorbed4 #aj4 ,in medicine1 arsenic is used for skin diseases1 ague1 and as a tonic2 externally for cancer and lupus4 ,liquor arsenicalis ,b4,p41 ,fowler's solution1 or 8ague drops10 is composed of arsenic #hj grains1 potass1 carbonate #hj grains1 water #a pint1 flavoured with lavender4 ,it is a solution of potassium arsenite4 ,liquor arsenici hydrochloricus is arsenic dissolved in hydrochloric acid1 giving arsenic trichloride1 of the same strength as liquor arsenicalis4 ,among unofficial preparations are 8,donovan's ,solution of ,arsenic10 containing mercuric and arsenious iodides2 strength #jfi grain arsenicum per fluid ounce3 8,davidson's ,cancer ,remedy0 equal parts of arsenic and hemlock 7,dr4 ,paris73 8,cancer ,paste10 containing #h per cent4 of arsenic1 with cinnabar and dragon's blood3 8,hydrophobia ,pill10 #a_/af to #a_/ab grain arsenic1 with #a grain pepper1 an absurd remedy much used in the ,east ,indies4 7,blyth's ,pract4 ,chem41 #ahgi1 p4 #cgf47 ,the pharmacopial preparations of arsenic acid will be described under arsenic pentoxide4 #aa4 ,it is given by grooms to horses1 to render their coats sleek1 and improve their wind1 under the name of 8condition balls or powders0 7strength #b to #e per cent4 of arsenic71 also for worms1 and as a tonic4 #ab4 ,for destroying the nerves of decayed teeth1 about #a_/be grain is placed in the cavity4 ,in the ,lancet a case is recorded in which inflammation and caries of the jaw followed this practice1 which is a very dangerous one4 #ac4 ,in the manufacture of some aniline dyes1 and in the reduction of indigo1 arsenic is often used4 ,dyed stockings1 c41 have caused skin irritation1 supposed to be due to arsenic1 but more probably owing to the dye itself4 #ad4 ,firework preparations commonly contain some compound of ,as1 and therefore give poisonous vapours4 8,bengal light0 consists of #bd of potass4 nitrate1 #g of sulphur1 and #b of realgar 7arsenic disulphide74 ,see also ,blyth1 ,prac4 ,chem41 p4 #cgi4 #ae4 ,rat ,poisons3--,no4 #a4 ,arsenic #f per cent41 made into a paste1 with equal parts of flour and suet1 variously coloured and scented4 ,no4 #b4 ,equal parts of arsenic and carbonate of barium 7itself poisonous71 coloured with rose pink1 and scented with oils of anise and rhodium4#acd ,fly ,poisons4--8,fly powder10 a grey mixture of ,as and ,as#b ,o#c4 8,fly water10 a solution of arsenious acid1 or arsenite of soda or potash1 of varying strength1 sweetened with sugar1 treacle1 or honey4 7,med4 ,times and ,gazette1 ,sept4 #acth1 #ahea47 ,some also contain orpiment 7arsenic trisulphide74 #af4 ,for cleansing metals1 arsenite of soda has been used on account of its strong alkalinity4 ,it is an absurd preparation to use for this purpose1 as washing soda or potash would act better4 ,in ,december1 #aheg1 #cdj children were poisoned by water from a boiler that had been 8cleaned0 by this compound 7,taylor on ,poisons1 #bnd ed41 p4 #cgh74 ,in #ahfc1 a man died from drinking beer out of a pot which had been thus cleansed 7,taylor1 ,med4 ,juris41 #a1 #bgc74 #ag4 ,the well-known 8arsenic eating0 of ,styria has been ridiculed as impossible1 but has yet been authenticated on further examination4 ,a ,styrian wood-cutter was seen by a medical man to eat a piece of arsenic weighing #d grains1 and next day another #e grains1 yet remaining in his usual health4 ,it is also eaten by the natives of ,ceylon 7,med4 ,times and ,gaz4 #ahfb1 p4 #ded1 and #ahff1 p4 #cge74 ,workmen in arsenic factories often become habituated to its influence4 ,see a paper by ,roscoe1 ,mem4 of ,lit4 and ,phil4 ,soc4 of ,manchester1 #ahfj4 ,i myself can testify to this fact4 ,a student in the ,college of ,science1 ,dublin1 was accustomed to take out of the arsenic bottle little lumps about #c or #d grains each and eat them1 without apparent ill effect4 #ah4 ,as a cosmetic1 applied externally1 it would probably be useless4 ,unless the skin were abraded1 or it remained very long in contact1 no absorption1 and hence no poisonous effect1 would result1 but any scratch or wound would be dangerous4 7,see ,christison's ,evidence1 case of ,madeline ,smith1 p4 #cbj47 ,and if in protracted contact with the skin1 it will cause symptoms4 7,memoirs of ,lond4 ,med4 ,soc41 ii41 #cig1 ,amer4 ,j4 of ,med4 ,science1 ,july1 #ahea47 #ai4 ,a solution of chloride of arsenic has been employed for 8bronzing0 metals4 ,the fumes would be highly pernicious4 #bj4 ,ritter1 of ,rouen1 states that glucose or starch-sugar frequently contains arsenic1 derived from the sulphuric acid employed in its manufacture being made from arsenical pyrites4 ,he finds that by this means the arsenic is introduced into beer brewed with glucose1 into confectionery1 syrups1 liqueurs1 c4 7,reimann's ,frber ,zeitung1 ,no4 #c1 #ahgh47 #ba4 ,it is said that certain paper collars and cuffs which are extensively made in ,america have proved poisonous from containing a considerable proportion of arsenic4 7,les ,mondes1 ,nov4 #aath1 #ahhj47ace #bb4 ,speculum ,metal1 for telescope mirrors1 is an alloy of copper1 tin1 and #c per cent4 of arsenic4 #bc4 ,in ,america1 a paper soaked in a solution of arsenic and other drugs is burnt1 and the smoke inhaled for asthma and bronchitis4 7,year ,book of ,pharm41 #ahgc1 p4 #cde47 #bd4 ,traces occur in mineral waters4 ,,sulphides ,,of ,,arsenic4 ,orpiment1 ,as#b ,s#c1 ,auripigmentum1 or ,king's ,yellow1 trisulphide of arsenic1 obtained by precipitating a solution of arsenic with sulphuretted hydrogen1 is a yellow inodorous powder1 insoluble in water and in hydrochloric acid1 but slowly oxidizing in air to arsenious acid1 and therefore poisonous4 ,it is found native4 ,by heat it melts to a reddish liquid3 if air be excluded1 it volatilizes at about #gjj ,c41 and condenses unchanged3 if air be present1 it is oxidized to sulphur dioxide and arsenic trioxide1 which condenses in the crystals before-mentioned4 ,it is soluble in alkalies and their carbonates1 and reprecipitated by hydrochloric acid4 ,commercial 8,king's ,yellow10 formerly used as a pigment1 but now replaced by ,chromate of lead1 is a very poisonous mixture of ,as#b ,o#c and ,as#b ,s#c4 ,it is sometimes employed in printing indigo4 ,a mixture of orpiment1 water and lime is used in the ,east as 8,rasma0 7see page #cbj7 for a depilatory4 ,in a corpse1 by putrefaction1 the arsenic is frequently converted into sulphide4 ,realgar1 the disulphide1 ,as#b ,s#b1 is red1 exists as a mineral1 and is also made artificially for fireworks4 ,it contains about #ge per cent4 of arsenic1 but varies4 ,formerly it was used as a pigment1 and in tanning to remove hair4 ,these sulphides have rarely been used for criminal purposes4 ,orpiment was employed by ,mary ,ann ,burdock1 #ahcc4acf ,being insoluble1 they would only be absorbed after oxidation into ,as#b ,o#c4 ,ossikovszky 7,j4 ,pract4 ,chem4 #b1 xxii41 #cbc7 finds that this change happens rapidly in contact with organic bodies4 ,but the opposite change1 by putrefaction and development of sulphuretted hydrogen1 of ,as#b ,o#c into ,as#b ,s#c1 is far more likely and frequent4 ,,arsenic ,,acid is obtained by oxidizing ,as#b ,o#c by nitric acid4 ,it is a white deliquescent solid1 inodorous1 very soluble in water to a syrupy solution1 which is corrosive1 strongly acid and metallic in taste4 ,by heat it first gives the pentoxide1 ,as#b ,o#e1 then it breaks up into ,as#b ,o#c and oxygen1 finally completely volatilizing4 ,it is said to be less poisonous than ,as#b ,o#c4 7,whler and ,frehrichs1 ,ann4 ,chem4 ,pharm41 lxv41 #cce47 ,the arsenates are very like the phosphates4 ,like them they give with acid molybdate solution a yellow1 with magnesium sulphate a white crystalline1 precipitate4 ,but with sulphuretted hydrogen1 after acidifying1 they give slowly a yellow precipitate of sulphide of arsenic and sulphur2 and with silver nitrate a liver brown precipitate of silver arsenate4#acg ,sulphurous acid reduces arsenic acid to arsenious4 ,sodium arsenate is in the ,british ,pharmacopia1 and is employed in calico printing4 ,a brominated solution of potassium arsenate 7strength #a per cent4 ,as#b ,o#c7 is used in ,russia for epilepsy4 8,pearson's solution0 is #a grain sodium arsenate to #a oz4 water4 8,macquir's neutral arsenical salt0 is a binarsenate of soda4 8,papier ,moure0 consists of paper soaked in solution of potassium arsenate 7,tidy74 ,fischer 7,ber4 deutsch4 ,chem4 ,gesellschaft1 xiii41 p4 #aggh7 proposes ferrous chloride as better than sulphurous acid for reducing arsenic acid to arsenious 7see process for separation1 post74 ,arsenic ,trichloride1 ,as ,cl#c1 is a volatile1 colourless liquid1 very pungent1 and fuming in air4 ,it has been discarded from medical use on account of its dangerous properties4 ,a case of poisoning by it is mentioned in ,taylor 7,med4 ,juris4 #a1 p4 #bgh74 ,it is obtained in the process for separation from the organs4 ,arsenic ,triiodide1 a dull red crystalline solid1 is used in ointments4 ,arseniuretted hydrogen1 ,as ,h#c1 is a colourless gas of a garlic odour1 almost insoluble in water4 ,it burns with a livid bluish-grey flame1 forming water and a white cloud of ,as#b ,o#c4 ,by heating to redness it is decomposed into hydrogen and a deposit of arsenicum 7the 8mirror074 ,it is formed whenever hydrogen is evolved in contact with arsenic compounds1 hence has caused accidents in making hydrogen from impure zinc4 ,it is probably the most deadly compound of ,as1 and proved fatal to its investigator1 ,gehlen1 and in several other cases4 ,,extraction ,,and ,,tests4 ,if arsenic has been given in the solid form1 the greater part will remain insoluble1 and will be found either in lumps or powder in the stomach1 or as a white powder adhering to its lining4 ,any substance so found should be washed with water and tested for arsenic4 ,it is absurd to say1 as ,dr4 ,letheby did in ,ann ,merritt's case 7ante1 p4 #cff71 that the quantity was too small for examination3 if a white powder can be seen1 it can be tested4 ,in the contents1 or in any fluid food1 the heaviness of powdered arsenic will cause it to readily separate as a sediment4 ,soot or indigo1 the legal admixtures1 should also be sought4 ,arsenic is not naturally present in the body 7,sonnenschein1 ,gerichtlich4 ,chemie1 p4 #abb2 and others74 ,as it occurs in soils1 in cases of disinterment a portion of the earth surrounding the coffin should be tested4#ach ,when absorbed1 it may pass into every part of the body1 but more especially into the liver and spleen4 ,de ,poncy and ,livon have supposed that it was capable of replacing phosphorus in the actual brain substance 7,comptes ,rendus1 #bc1 ,june #ith1 #ahgi71 and that it is mainly localized in the brain4 ,another author finds it concentrated in the bones4 ,prof4 ,e4 ,ludwig of ,vienna1 in the case of a woman who suffered from making artificial flowers coloured with magenta containing arsenic1 found arsenic in the liver1 spleen1 kidneys1 and stomach1 but not in the bones or urine 7,lond4 ,med4 ,record1 ,dec4 #aeth1 #ahgg1 p4 #eji74 ,he found also that in human beings as well as dogs poisoned with arsenic1 in both acute and chronic cases1 the liver contained the largest amount1 the kidneys sometimes a considerable quantity1 and the bones1 brain and urine1 only small traces 7,jahresb4 fr ,thierchemie1 #ahgi1 #he74 ,these results have been discussed by ,johnson and ,chittenden 7,american ,chem4 ,journal1 #b1 #ccb71 who1 in a woman poisoned by arsenic1 found1 a year and a half after burial1 over #e grains of ,as#b ,o#c1 almost evenly distributed4 ,the conclusion to be drawn is1 that1 of the absorbed arsenic1 the main part will be in the liver1 and the rest in varying proportions in other tissues1 so that as much as possible of the whole body should be examined4 ,as the large quantity of organic matter is in the way of the tests1 it has been proposed to get rid of this by different processes4 ,that of ,fresenius and ,v4 ,babo consists in oxidizing the substances by strong hydrochloric acid and chlorate of potash4 ,there is a great objection to this1 as loss is liable to occur from volatilization of arsenic trichloride1 unless it is done in a retort1 which is practically impossible on account of the bulk and frothing1 and the danger of explosion from the oxides of chlorine formed4 ,the following modification of an old process has been found by the author to be satisfactory4 ,it may be used also for antimony and mercury4 ,weigh the whole1 cut up finely1 and grind the matters to a pulp with water1 reserving a weighed portion of about one third2 render strongly alkaline with potash or soda previously tested for arsenic4 ,pass in a current of chlorine1 stopping before the alkalinity is destroyed4 ,boil the solution down to a low bulk1 not to dryness1 till a portion taken out and treated with acetic acid gives no chlorinous odour1 showing that the hypochlorite has been completely decomposed4 ,arsenic trichloride does not escape from alkaline solutions1 so there is no loss4 ,add sufficient pure aqueous sulphurous acid1 to reduce the arsenic acid to arsenious4 ,now transfer to a large retort provided with a tube-funnel and condenser1 the end dipping into water in a well-cooled tubulated receiver1 itself connected by a tube with a flask containing dilute potash solution4 ,through the tube-funnel pour in pure concent4 sulphuric acid in volume about equal to the liquid1 adding it gradually1 as there is much heat and effervescence4 ,mix well by shaking1 and distil slowly from a sand bath4 ,in distilling a moderately strong solution of mixed arsenious and antimonious chlorides in concent4 hydrochloric acid1 ,i have found that the arsenic all comes over in the first third of the distillate1 and that after two-thirds have passed over1 the antimony also begins to distil4 ,hence1 in the above process the distillation should not be carried beyond half the volume of the liquid in the retort1 when all the arsenic1 in whatever form it originally existed1 will be found as chloride in the receiver1 except a little which may have escaped into the potash4 ,test a portion of the potash solution by ,marsh's or ,reinsch's process as hereafter described3 if any arsenic be present1 add the remainder to the liquid in the receiver1 taking care that excess of free acid is left4 ,pass into the distillate washed sulphuretted hydrogen in excess 7or add a solution of the gas in water71 warm1 cover1 and allow to stand4 7,the excess of sulphuretted hydrogen may afterwards be removed by warming and passing in carbonic acid gas47 ,if any arsenic be present1 a yellow precipitate of arsenious sulphide1 ,as#b,s#c1 will appear2 if the precipitate be pale1 it will consist mainly of sulphur1 formed by the action of the sulphuretted hydrogen on the sulphurous acid which is present4 ,some organic matters are also generally present4 ,collect the precipitate on a filter1 wash with sulphuretted hydrogen water1 dissolve in a dilute solution of ammonium carbonate1 and again precipitate with hydrochloric acid4 ,the precipitated arsenious sulphide is now nearly pure3 it may be collected on a small filter1 washed rapidly1 again dissolved in ammonia1 the solution received in a porcelain dish1 evaporated to a low bulk1 transferred to a weighed porcelain boat1 and heated cautiously in a current of carbon dioxide to a temperature not above #djj ,c41 sufficient1 in fact1 just to melt the arsenious sulphide4 ,sulphur boils at #ddf ,c41 ,as#b,s#c at #gjj ,c4 ,any remaining sulphur is thus removed1 and the arsenious sulphide may then be weighed4 ,the weight multiplied by #jhje gives the amount of arsenic trioxide4 ,a less preferable way is to collect the arsenious sulphide on a weighed filter1 to dry1 and dissolve out any sulphur by carbon disulphide4 ,yet another method is to oxidize by nitric acid1 evaporate1 precipitate the arsenic acid by a mixture of ammonic chloride1 magnesic sulphate1 and strong ammonia --8magnesia mixture07 as ammonio-magnesic arsenate1 and weigh1 either as that salt1 or1 after ignition1 as pyroarsenate of magnesia4 ,the former1 dried at #ajj ,c41 contains #cieg1 the latter #dhbi per cent4 of ,as4 ,lastly1 if the sulphide1 oxidized by nitric acid1 be alkalized with ammonia1 and warmed to #gj or #hj ,c4 with a solution of ammonium molybdate in nitric acid1 as used for the ordinary determination of phosphates 7see ,fresenius1 ,qual4 ,anal41 p4 #ed71 a yellow precipitate of arsenomolybdate of ammonia appears1 which can be weighed3 it contains #cc per cent4 of ,as 7,bull4 ,soc4 ,chem41 ,jan4 #gth1 #ahgg74 ,but where such importance may hang on quantities1 the use of weighed filters for such small amounts is simply courting error4 ,when the ,as#b,s#c has been weighed in the porcelain boat1 calculate it into ,as#b,o#c1 or into ,as 7it contains #fa per per cent4 of ,as71 then cover it with a mixture of pure potassic cyanide and sodium carbonate1 place it in a piece of combustion tubing drawn out at the end into a long thin point1 pass washed dry carbon dioxide over it1 and heat cautiously till all the water is expelled4 ,finally raise the temperature to full redness1 and pass a slow continuous current of the gas1 keeping the narrow part of the tube cool with moistened blotting paper4 ,the sulphide will be reduced to ,as1 which will deposit in a metallic coating on the narrow portion4 ,seal this part1 and preserve it as evidence4 ,it is obvious that the residue in the retort may be tested for other metals4 ,the presence of arsenic ascertained1 and the quantity known1 it would seem as if nothing more was necessary4 ,still1 it is useful to confirm results by the other tests4 ,the reserved portion may now be divided and used as follows3-- ,,marsh',s ,,test4 ,if hydrogen be evolved in presence of arsenical compounds1 it combines with the element to form 8arseniuretted hydrogen10 or arsine1 ,as,h#c1 a colourless gas of alliaceous odour1 extremely poisonous1 giving1 when passed into silver nitrate solution1 a precipitate of silver and a solution of ,as#b,o#c2 decomposed at a red heat into ,as and hydrogen1 and burning with a livid flame into ,as#b,o#c and water4 ,the flame yields1 when a cold surface1 such as a porcelain crucible-lid or dish1 is depressed into it1 a steel-grey lustrous stain or ring of metallic arsenic4 ,to evolve the hydrogen1 ,marsh originally used zinc and sulphuric acid4 ,as it is so difficult to obtain zinc pure1 magnesium has been proposed4 ,but the evolution is then too rapid4 ,moreover1 the reputed 8pure0 acids of commerce are scarcely ever free from a trace of arsenic4 ,this difficulty affects equally the galvanic method4 ,hence it is better to employ sodium amalgam 7,edmund ,davy1 ,chem4 ,news1 xxxiii41 #eh1 and ditto1 #id74 ,one part of sodium1 scraped free from oxide1 is melted under solid paraffin1 and gradually added to ten parts of mercury 7previously purified by nitric acid7 with constant stirring1 the paraffin poured off1 and the amalgam cleaned by washing with pure dry benzine4 ,the result is a solid crystalline alloy4 ,a few fragments of this alloy are placed with water in a flask provided with a thistle funnel1 and with a delivery tube dipping into a #d per cent4 solution of silver nitrate4 ,the horizontal part of the delivery tube is heated to just below redness by a lamp1 meanwhile being supported to prevent its bending4 ,if1 after about an hour1 no ,as ring appears in the tube1 and if the silver nitrate1 after precipitation of the silver by hydrochloric acid and filtration1 gives no arsenious sulphide on addition of sulphuretted hydrogen1 the amalgam is pure4 ,now add to the flask the suspected liquid1 put in more amalgam1 and continue the heating of the tube and passing of the hydrogen till no further evolution of ,as occurs4 ,the portion of tube containing the deposit of ,as may be cut off1 weighed1 the ,as dissolved off by aqua regia1 and the tube washed1 dried1 and weighed again4 ,the silver nitrate solution contains the remainder of the ,as dissolved as ,as#b,o#c3 after removal of the silver by hydrochloric acid and filtration1 the arsenious acid solution may be divided1 a portion titrated by iodine 7see ,blyth's ,pract4 ,chem41 p4 #cib71 and the rest tested qualitatively by sulphuretted hydrogen1 ammonio-silver nitrate1 and ammonio-cupric sulphate 7see these tests1 post74 ,if the original liquid be rendered strongly alkaline before adding the amalgam1 no antimony will pass off with the arsenic4 ,but from acid liquids1 arsenic and antimony pass off together4 ,they both give metallic rings in the tube1 and stains on a cold surface4 ,the chief distinctions between them are as follows3-- #a4 ,arsenic4--,more volatile1 hence deposited further from the flame2 bounded by a 8hair brown0 fringe of suboxide2 heated in a current of sulphuretted hydrogen gives yellow ,as#b,s#c1 unchanged by passing dry hydrochloric acid gas3 heated in air1 it gives easily a sublimate of ,as#b,o#c in glistening octahedral crystals4 ,it is soluble at once in chloride of lime solution4 #b4 ,antimony4--,less volatile1 hence forming close to the flame2 no brown fringe2 heated in a current of sulphuretted hydrogen1 gives orange or black ,sb#b,s#c1 volatilized by passing dry hydrochloric acid2 heated in air1 it gives a white oxide1 volatile with great difficulty1 and not generally crystalline4 ,it is insoluble in chloride of lime solution4 ,by the above process1 ,edmund ,davy has detected one-millionth of a grain of ,as2 #a_/ajjj grain gives a very decided effect in a few minutes4 ,it is applicable not only to ,as#b,o#c1 but to all other arsenical compounds in powder1 whether soluble or insoluble4 ,organic matter interferes very little4 ,it must be observed that hydrogen alone may give a slight reduction and precipitate in solutions of silver nitrate4 ,to prepare pure sulphuric acid and pure zinc1 see ,selmi1 ,chem4 ,soc4 ,journal1 ,may1 #ahha1 p4 #caa4 ,,reinsch',s ,,test4 ,if a fragment of pure copper be boiled with pure hydrochloric acid for ten minutes1 no discolouration occurs4 ,if now a solution containing arsenic be added1 the copper turns black or grey1 from formation of an alloy of copper and arsenicum4 ,on drying the copper1 and heating it in a small glass tube closed at one end1 the arsenicum is oxidized1 with production of crystals of ,as#b ,o#c4 ,organic matter does not interfere4 ,antimony1 sulphides1 and some metals produce a similar grey deposit1 but do not yield a crystalline sublimate4 ,mercury also precipitates on the copper1 but the sublimate consists of metallic globules4 ,any compound of arsenicum1 mixed with dried potassium cyanide and carbonate of soda1 introduced into a piece of hard glass tubing drawn to a point1 and heated in a slow stream of dry carbon dioxide1 gives a deposit1 in the narrow portion1 of the whole of its arsenic in the metallic form 7,fresenius74 ,as#b ,o#c heated in a tube with dry potassium or sodium acetate gives cacodyl-oxide 7,bunsen7 of an exceedingly offensive alliaceous odour4 ,in solution1 arsenious acid gives3-- #a4 ,with ammonio-silver nitrate 7prepared by adding silver nitrate to dilute ammonia till a precipitate just forms7 a yellow precipitate of silver arsenite1 soluble in ammonia and in nitric acid4 #b4 ,with ammonio-cupric sulphate 7prepared by similarly treating cupric sulphate71 a bright green precipitate of cupric arsenite4 #c4 ,with sulphuretted hydrogen a yellow colour 7the intensity of this has been proposed as a method of estimating small quantities of arsenic by comparison la ,nessler71 but no precipitate till hydrochloric or other acid be added1 when yellow arsenious sulphide falls4 ,this is a most delicate test1 as arsenious sulphide is only soluble to the extent of one part in one million of water 7,fresenius1 ,quant4 ,anal4 p4 #acg71 and not much more soluble in acids4 ,the precipitate may be weighed1 or treated as already mentioned 7pp4 #chf-g74 ,tin and cadmium solutions also give yellow sulphides1 but they are insoluble in ammonia1 and do not yield the other tests4 #d4 ,stannous chloride 7protochloride of tin7 gives a brown deposit of metallic arsenic4 ,with acids containing traces of arsenic it gives a brown colour4 ,,doses4 #a4 ,medicinal 7,british ,pharmacopia74--,acidum arseniosum 7,as#b ,o#c71 #a_/fj to #a_/ab grain in solution4 ,liquor arsenicalis 7solution of potassium arsenite71 #b to #h minims4 ,liquor arsenicalis hydrochloricus 7solution of chloride of arsenic71 #b to #h minims4 ,sod arsenias 7sodium arsenate71 #a_/af to grain4 ,liquor sod arseniatis 7solution of the preceding71 #e to #aj minims4 ,ferri arsenias 7ferric arsenate71 #a_/af to grain4 #b4 ,poisonous4--,smallest recorded3 one grain1 7,lancet1 ,dec4 #afth1 #ahcg71 two grains1 7,provincial ,journal1 #ahdh1 p4 #cdg72 average smallest1 #b grains4 ,recoveries have been described after enormous doses1 up to #a ounce1 taken solid and therefore not dissolved1 rejected by vomiting or purging1 or prevented from irritant action by abundance of food 7see a case in the ,lancet1 ,jan4 #acth1 #ahdi1 when #aoz4 was taken with recovery74#aci ,idiosyncrasy may cause smaller doses to be dangerous2 on the other hand1 habit may cause tolerance of the poison1 as already mentioned with regard to arsenic eaters4 ,nitre is said to increase the poisonous action 7,med4 ,times1 #ahdd1 p4 #baf74 ,antimony by its prostrating action would have the same effect4 ,,physiological ,,effects4 ,the symptoms usually commence in to #a hour after administration 7,taylor71 but vary with dose1 form1 c4 ,they have also been immediate 7case of ,lofthouse1 ,york1 #ahce72 in ten minutes 7,guy and ,ferrier72 in hour 7,taylor72 in #e1 #g1 #h1 and #aj hours 7,med4 ,gaz4 xlvii4 #gbb72 in #bc hours 7,med4 ,times1 ,oct4 #ba1 #ahdh72 in four days 7,woodman and ,tidy1 ,forens4 ,med4 p4 #acd74 ,as to the character of the symptoms1 irritation of the stomach and intestines is the main feature4 ,burning pain1 vomiting and purging1 cramps and occasionally tetanus 7,orfila1 i41 #ddi7 occur4 ,rarely there is insensibility and no pain4 ,great thirst1 constriction of the throat1 headache1 and finally exhaustion are common4 ,sometimes epilepsy or paralysis has been caused4 ,the truth is1 that every variety of constitutional disturbance may be caused by the violent irritation of the alimentary canal1 except that the intellect is rarely affected4 ,in many cases the effects closely resemble those of acute diarrha or ,english ,cholera4 ,one anomalous case is on record when death occurred in four hours after sound sleep1 and no inflammation of the stomach was found 7,lancet1 xii41 #aid74 ,for a detailed list of cases1 see ,guy and ,ferrier's ,forens4 ,med4 p4 #deg4 ,fatal period4--,shortest1 twenty minutes 7,taylor72 average1 about twenty-four hours4 ,death in three to eight hours is common4 ,but the end has been sometimes far more protracted1 even to two years 7,ibid41 ,med4 ,jur4 i41 #bef74 ,the vomit is usually yellowish 7,l',angelier7 from bile3 occasionally it is tinged with blood2 rarely white4 ,if the arsenic has been mixed with soot or indigo1 these will affect its colour4 ,post ,mortem ,appearances4--,the lining membrane of the stomach and intestines is almost always inflamed and reddened1 rarely darker from congestion4 ,white patches1 covered with mucus1 should be examined for solid arsenic4 ,perforation1 ulceration1 and gangrene are rare4 ,in bodies long buried1 the arsenic is often converted into sulphide by putrefaction1 and then appears as a yellow coating4 ,occasionally inflammatory appearances are found in the mouth1 throat and other organs4 ,congestion of the brain is uncommon4 ,among the effects of chronic poisoning by arsenic may be noted inflammation of the eyelids 7conjunctivitis71 skin eruptions1 irritability of the stomach1 jaundice1 and local paralysis 7for cases see ,taylor's ,med4 ,jur41 i4 #beb74 ,,treatment ,,and ,,antidotes4 ,vomiting should be encouraged by emetics or tickling the throat2 the stomach pump being used if judicious4 ,to obviate the irritation1 demulcents such as arrowroot1 mucilage1 c41 are useful4 ,albumen 7white of egg7 has proved serviceable 7,lancet1 ,jan4 #acth1 #ahdi74 ,to render the arsenic insoluble1 magnesia or chalk may be given4 ,but the best chemical antidote is hydrated ferric oxide1 freshly prepared by precipitating ferric chloride or tinct4 ferri sesquichlor4 with carbonate of soda 7washing soda71 or by similarly precipitating ferrous sulphate 7copperas71 and then shaking the mixture with air till it turns red1 or by the following formula3-- ,tinct4 ferr4 perchlor4 #a oz4 ,sod4 bicarb4 #a oz4 ,tepid water1 a teacupful4 7,hoglan1 ,year ,book of ,pharm4 #ahha1 p4 #baa74 ,m4 ,lucas of ,beauvais has stated1 that in nine cases of arsenical poisoning1 calcined magnesia arrested the symptoms and eventually removed the effects 7,j4 ,chim4 ,medi4 #ahej74 ,,remarks4 ,arsenic has been given in pessaries by the vagina1 in ointment for skin diseases and by 8cancer doctors10 also inhaled as vapour for asthma1 in each case with dangerous result4 ,the frequent occurrence of this poison in common articles of use gives an opportunity to the defence which has led to analyses of multitudes of articles--wall-papers1 clothing1 cooking vessels1 c4 ,it may be positively affirmed that if white arsenic in the solid state be found in the stomach1 it could not have come from any of these sources4 ,the trace that could be derived from wall-papers would be infinitesimal4 ,the tests for arsenic are almost inconveniently delicate1 so that the slightest impurity of the reagents will make it appear to be present4 ,reichardt 7,archiv4 der ,pharm41 xiv4 #a-bc71 states that #a_/ajjj milligramme of ,as#b,o#c evolved as arseniuretted hydrogen will precipitate silver nitrate1 and that by this means he has found it in the urine of patients suffering from arsenical wall-papers4 ,the effect of such papers is certainly pernicious1 though it may be mentioned that in ,silesia mortar is made with arsenical sand1 and people living in houses thus built do not suffer 7,lancet1 #ahdi1 ,april #gth74 ,on the whole it may be concluded that in a trial1 traces of arsenic will not be sufficient1 a tangible quantity found and weighed will be the only sufficient evidence of poisoning by the mouth4 ,to illustrate the value of a knowledge of chemistry to a medical man in such cases the following may be quoted4 ,a child of ten was supposed to have eaten a quantity of meal mixed with arsenic for rats4 ,an emetic of sulphate of zinc was given3 the first vomit gave with ammon4 sulphate of copper a bright green1 with ammon4 nitrate of silver1 a yellow precipitate1 thus establishing that the poison was arsenic4 ,emetics and diluents were continued1 then albumen was given4 ,some hydrated ferric oxide was hurriedly made from common green vitriol 7ferrous sulphate7 and ammonia3 the washed precipitate was administered in successive teaspoonfuls4 ,recovery on the third day4 ,in the vomit #aj grains of white arsenic were found4 7,lancet1 #ahdi1 p4 #caa47 ,the following is a curious form of attempted poisoning4 ,a person lately presented this prescription in ,paris3 8,decoct4 barley1 #h oz42 hydroch4 acid1 #a drachm2 arsenious acid1 #aj grains40 ,the signature of a physician was appended1 but1 on suspicion being aroused1 was found to be a forgery4 ,in ,ann ,merritt's case1 ,dr4 ,letheby stated that arsenic had been taken not more than two or three hours 7afterwards he said four7 before death1 because he found undigested gruel in the stomach1 containing arsenic in solution1 and because the intestines contained very little arsenic4 ,this conclusion was considered by weighty authorities to be rash1 and probably wrong1 because3-- #a4 ,he found #b grains 7a poisonous dose7 in the liver4 ,this could hardly have got there within so short a time4 #b4 ,in a stomach irritated by arsenic or disease1 food may remain undigested for seven1 eight1 or more hours4 #h4 ,a previous dose of arsenic1 adherent to the coats of the stomach1 might be dissolved by an influx of warm gruel4 #d4 ,the portion in the intestines might have been evacuated by purging4 #e4 ,the 8pinkish liquid0 described by the surgeon who performed the post-mortem1 pointed to admixture with blood1 therefore to inflammation of some standing1 and certainly did not tally with ,dr4 ,letheby's description of 8gruel40 ,with reference to the alleged administration of arsenic in cocoa in ,madeline ,smith's case1 the following details will be illustrative4 #ajj grains of white arsenic were found to be a small teaspoonful1 not heaped4 ,this quantity was mixed with two teaspoonfuls of ,epps's cocoa4 ,the colour was rendered lighter1 but still looked natural4 ,on making up with boiling water and milk1 as directed1 a cup of cocoa was obtained1 in which neither appearance1 taste1 nor smell1 betrayed anything unusual4 ,on standing the milk rapidly curdled1 and the arsenic deposited1 but this would not be seen in an opaque cup4 ,with arrowroot or gruel a similar result was obtained4#adj ,it has been stated that arsenic trioxide volatilizes with the vapour of water4 ,i have not found this to be the case to any appreciable extent1 but it does volatilize slowly at #ajj ,c41 and still more at #abj4 ,about gramme of ,as#b ,o#c lost1 after six hours on the water-bath1 #c per cent4 of its weight2 after six hours at #abj ,c4 it lost six per cent4 ,when chlorides are present1 as in the body1 it is still more liable to volatilization as arsenic trichloride4 ,hence matters containing it cannot be boiled down or dried without danger of loss1 unless previously rendered alkaline4 ,r4 ,otto has stated that ordinary sulphuretted hydrogen may contain arsenic from the sulphate of iron used4 ,he proposes to prepare the gas by the action of pure hydrochloric acid on pure calcium sulphide obtained by roasting gypsum with charcoal 7,ber4 ,chem4 ,ges4 xii4 #bej74 ,i have tested water into which sulphuretted hydrogen has been repeatedly passed1 and have found no arsenic3 if really present in the gas1 the ,as ,h#c is not absorbed in the liquid4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,poisoning ,,by ,,antimony4 ,,the cases under this head are very numerous1 and1 therefore1 difficult of selection4 ,i have given1 as the leading cases1 full reports1 7#a71 of that of ,dr4 ,pritchard1 of ,glasgow1 tried in the ,high ,court of ,justiciary1 in ,july1 #ahfe1 for the poisoning of his wife by repeated small doses of antimony1 and his mother-in-law by antimony and aconite2 7#b71 of that of ,dr4 ,smethurst 7the ,richmond poisoning case71 tried for the poisoning of his mistress by small doses of antimony and arsenic1 at the ,central ,criminal ,court1 ,august #aeth1 #aheiada2 7#c71 ,i have added a report of the ,liverpool poisoning case--that of ,thomas ,waislow1 for the poisoning of ,ann ,james1 by antimony1 tried at ,liverpool1 ,august #bjth1 #ahfj4 ,,trial ,,of ,,dr4 ,,pritchard4#adb ,before ,,the ,,lord ,,justice ,,clerk 7,,right ,,hon4 ,,john ,,inglis71 ,,lord ,,ardmillan1 and ,,lord ,,jerviswoode1 at the ,,high ,,court ,,of ,,justiciary1 ,,edinburgh1 ,july1 #ahfe4 ,for the ,prosecution3 ,the ,solicitor-,general 7now ,lord ,young71 ,mr4 ,gifford1 and ,mr4 ,chrichton4 ,for the ,defence3 ,mr4 ,rutherford ,clark1 ,mr4 ,watson1 and ,mr4 ,brand4 ,by the first count of the indictment the prisoner was charged with the murder of his mother-in-law1 ,mrs4 ,taylor1 by administering to her1 between the #ajth and #beth of ,february1 #ahfe1 in ,battley's sedative solution1 tapioca1 porter1 or some other medicine or food1 to the prosecutor1 unknown1 tartarised antimony1 aconite1 and opium1 or one or more of them4 ,in the second count he was charged with the murder of his wife by administering the like poisons1 or one or more of them1 between the #bbnd day of ,december1 #ahfd1 and the #beth of ,march1 #ahfe1 in egg flip1 cheese1 porter1 beer1 or wine1 or some other articles of food1 to the prosecutor1 unknown4 ,to the relevancy of the indictment several objections were taken1 but overruled1 and the prisoner pleaded 8,not ,guilty40 ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,case4 ,edward ,william ,pritchard1 a native of ,england1 and member of the ,royal ,college of ,surgeons since #ahdf1 before he came to ,glasgow1 had been a traveller in the ,polar and ,pacific ,seas1 and in the countries bordering the ,mediterranean1 and first set up in practice at ,filey1 in ,yorkshire1 where he married the daughter of a ,glasgow silk merchant1 by whom he had a family4 ,in consequence of this connection1 about #ahei he removed to ,glasgow1 where1 from his writings on several diseases1 he became favourably known as a person of superior attainments1 and gradually obtained a fair practice4 ,whilst thus apparently in the enjoyment of popularity and success1 he1 in #ahfc1 became the subject of much adverse report1 from the suspicious circumstances attending a fire in his house1 by which a maid servant was killed--the ,insurance ,company refusing to pay his claim1 and the doctor not taking legal steps to enforce its recovery4 ,the ugly rumours about this affair1 however1 gradually subsided1 and his social and professional position was retained1 until the sudden death of his mother-in-law1 whilst staying in his house to nurse his sick wife1 was quickly followed by that of the wife herself4 ,as the mother-in-law was #gj years of age1 the statement that she had died of apoplexy was at first accepted4 ,when1 however1 the death of the wife so quickly followed1 suspicion was excited1 inquiries were instituted by the police1 and on the #bast of ,march1 #ahfe1 ,dr4 ,pritchard was arrested on the charge of poisoning her4 ,a post-mortem examination of her remains had proved that her death had not been due to natural causes1 and a subsequent examination of the body of his mother-in-law1 exhumed for the purpose1 led to the same result in her case4 ,chemical analyzations of the interior portions of both bodies disclosed in that of the wife the presence of antimony in sufficient quantities to account for her death2 and in that of the mother-in-law to reduce the powers of her constitution so far as to increase and facilitate the effects of a narcotic poison4 ,,the ,,symptoms4 ,the details of the progress of the lingering illness of ,mrs4 ,pritchard until her death1 and of the sudden seizure of ,mrs4 ,taylor with what proved to be a fatal attack apparently of apoplexy1 were given in great minuteness by several non-professional witnesses1 servants in the house at the time1 pupils of ,dr4 ,pritchard's1 and a girl whom ,dr4 ,pritchard had seduced and promised to marry when his wife died4 ,up to ,october1 #ahfd1 ,mrs4 ,pritchard1 never apparently a very strong woman1 had been in her usual state of health4 ,towards the end of that month1 however1 she began to look pale and lose her strength from frequent vomitings1 and had to keep her bed1 as she believed1 from a severe cold1 for four or five days4 ,about this time1 on her temporary recovery1 she went on a visit to her parents in ,edinburgh1 and there gradually recovered1 returning home about ,christmas in her former state of health4 ,after a week or so the vomiting returned1 and on the #ast of ,february1 #ahfe1 she had a severe attack of cramp4 ,some few days after1 as the prisoner said1 ,dr4 ,cowan1 a relative1 saw her1 and prescribed small doses of champagne as a stimulant4 ,however1 the vomiting returned1 and about midnight on the #hth she was seized with such a violent attack of cramp that1 at her request1 ,dr4 ,gairdner was called in1 who at once stopped all stimulants4 ,dr4 ,pritchard told every one that his wife was suffering from gastric fever4 ,dr4 ,gairdner1 however1 could not find any feverish symptoms1 and based his advice on their absence1 confessing himself 8puzzled with the case40 ,on the #ajth ,mrs4 ,taylor1 her mother1 came from ,edinburgh to nurse her daughter4 ,she was a hale1 hearty woman1 though #gj years of age1 but at times affected with severe headaches1 as a remedy for which she had been accustomed for some years to have recourse to ,battley's sedative solution4 ,on the #acth1 at her suggestion1 some tapioca was bought1 brought into the house1 and left for some time on the lobby table4 ,of this1 afterwards1 a cupful was made1 and fetched by ,mary ,mc,leod1 the younger servant1 and by her carried up to her mistress's bedroom4 ,whether ,mrs4 ,pritchard partook of this or not was not known1 but ,mrs4 ,taylor ate a portion of it1 and the cook tasted it before it left the kitchen4 ,both ,mrs4 ,taylor and the cook were violently sick after taking the tapioca1 the old lady saying that she feared she was suffering from the same complaint as her daughter4 ,the tapioca had not been tampered with when purchased1 but when the remainder of it was analysed it was found to be charged with nearly five grains of tartarised antimony4 ,on the #afth the old cook left1 and ,mary ,patterson came4 ,she found her mistress suffering from continual vomits1 and gradually getting weaker--as ,mrs4 ,taylor said1 8one day better1 and two days worse40 ,for the next twelve days this state continued1 and then a dreadful scene occurred4 ,mrs4 ,taylor1 who1 whilst at ,dr4 ,pritchard's1 had sent for a bottle of ,battley's solution1 was violently sick in the evening of the #bdth of ,february1 and about nine on that night rang the bell violently1 and was found by the servant vainly endeavouring to vomit and asking for hot water to assist her4 ,by the prisoner's orders this was twice brought1 and when on the second occasion ,mary ,patterson entered the room ,mrs4 ,taylor was sitting in her chair with her head down1 apparently insensible1 and with her eyes closed4 ,she was lifted into bed1 and died in about three hours4 ,whilst dressing her corpse a bottle1 about two-thirds full of ,battley's solution1 was found in her pocket1 and identified as that which she had last purchased4 ,that this also was pure and free from poison when sold was clearly proved4 ,when1 however1 it was analysed1 it was found to be charged with antimony and aconite4 ,dr4 ,pritchard declared that she had died of apoplexy following on paralysis2 but ,dr4 ,paterson1 who had been called in at the last moment1 distinctly declared that there were no such symptoms4 ,an attempt was made by the prisoner to get ,dr4 ,paterson to give the usual certificate of the cause of death1 and on his indignant refusal1 the prisoner himself filled up the form with the words1 8,paralysis for twelve hours1 followed by apoplexy10 and the first victim was buried4#adc ,mrs4 ,pritchard still lingered4 ,she had been sick on the day before her mother's death1 but not for two or three days afterwards4 ,then1 however1 the attacks returned1 coming on1 as before1 within an hour or two after her meals1 which were uniformly sent to her by her husband--generally by the hands of ,mc,leod4 ,it was during the last three weeks of her miserable existence1 that on one occasion he sent to her from the supper table a small bit of cheese1 which ,mc,leod tasted at ,mrs4 ,pritchard's request1 when it gave her a burning sensation in the throat1 and made her thirsty4 ,at another time he sent her a jug of camomile tea1 after taking a wine-glass of which1 from time to time1 as ordered1 she uniformly vomited4 ,at another time1 he had some egg-flip prepared for her in the kitchen1 and brought down the pieces of sugar for it1 taking them1 as the witness believed1 into his consulting room1 where he kept his drugs and poisons1 before he put them into the glass4 ,patterson1 who tasted it1 was struck with the taste1 and ,mrs4 ,pritchard1 who drank it1 was sick very soon after1 and in the following night4 ,in the week in which ,mrs4 ,pritchard died she drank some port wine which ,dr4 ,pritchard had sent up1 and again was sick4 ,on the #agth of ,march1 the day before she died1 ,patterson1 who had gone up to her bedroom to speak about some linen1 found ,dr4 ,pritchard handing his wife a glass of porter1 which she drank4 ,at that time ,mrs4 ,pritchard was in her senses4 ,about five o'clock the bell rang violently4 ,mc,leod called ,patterson to come up at once4 ,she did so1 and found her mistress raving about her mother1 and calling on them to leave her and assist ,mrs4 ,taylor2 her hands severely cramped--speaking wildly about her children4 ,after her hands had been rubbed1 ,mrs4 ,pritchard seemed to get more calm1 and ,mary ,patterson left1 having handed the patient's supper to her husband4 ,until about half-past one the next morning ,patterson heard nothing4 ,then she was called up by ,mc,leod to get a mustard poultice1 which the latter took up to the bedroom1 and in a few minutes after the bell again rang violently4 ,she hurried up1 and found the prisoner in bed by his wife's side4 ,her mistress was dead4 ,the long agony of months was at an end4 ,,evidence ,,of ,,the ,,medical ,,attendants4 ,dr4 ,james ,moffat ,cowan1 her second cousin1 in consequence of a letter from the prisoner1 saw ,mrs4 ,pritchard on the #gth and #hth of ,february4 ,she was then in the drawing-room1 and complained of great irritability of the stomach1 combined with an inability to keep down her food1 and vomiting for some time back4 ,he visited her rather as an old friend than as a professional man1 recommended her to go to bed1 and advised small quantities of champagne with ice to be taken at intervals1 and as she expressed a desire for food1 recommended her husband to try injections of beef tea4 ,she was seized with vomiting during the evening1 but when he saw her before he left on the following day1 seemed better1 and he never saw her again alive4 ,he spoke to the apparent happiness in which she lived with her husband1 and to the fact that1 after her death ,dr4 ,pritchard1 to enable the servants to take a last look at their mistress1 had the coffin opened4 ,mrs4 ,taylor1 with whom he was intimately acquainted1 ,dr4 ,cowan described as a person of very temperate habits4 ,dr4 ,william ,tennent ,gairdner1 who was sent for during the night between the #hth and #ith of ,february1 immediately after ,dr4 ,cowan left1 was told by the prisoner that for some time his wife had suffered from sickness and spasms1 and that ,dr4 ,cowan had recommended stimulants1 and that she had had champagne and chloroform4 8,i found her10 said the witness1 8in bed1 lying on her back1 with a considerably flushed face1 and in a state of pretty considerable excitement4 ,she told me of ,dr4 ,cowan's previous visit and of her wish that ,i should be sent for1 and we had a good deal of general conversation about her symptoms4 ,i found her to a certain extent exhausted1 but by no means extremely so4 ,she had a pretty good pulse4 ,there was nothing in her symptoms to indicate immediate danger1 and the most remarkable thing about her symptoms was the violent state of mental excitement she was in and the spasms of the hands4 ,she held her hands outside the bedclothes above her head1 and ,i saw that the wrists were turned in1 and the thumbs somewhat inverted towards the wrists--a very peculiar state of the hand4 ,i thought she was intoxicated from the combination of champagne and chloroform4 ,when ,i turned to the fire to warm my hands before feeling her1 she called me very unfeeling1 and begged me not to leave her1 using expressions for which ,i thought she was not responsible1 from her temporary intoxication4 ,i then examined her belly1 and asked particularly if there was any chance of her being pregnant1--that being a frequent cause of vomitings1--and found there was none2 and1 after various inquiries1 feeling her pulse and her skin1 spoke strongly against the use of stimulants1 which ,i ordered to be at once discontinued until ,i saw her again4 ,next day when ,i saw her1 she assured me that she felt better and had had no return of the vomiting1 but had still the remains of the spasms in her hands4 ,i repeated my injunctions of no stimulants or medicine1 and that her only food should be a plain boiled egg and bread and milk--that is1 nothing that could produce sickness or sit heavy on her stomach4 ,i told her that if her stomach had fair play it would digest the simple food ,i indicated4 ,i was very much puzzled as to what was the matter with her1 and1 had ,i been attending her as a general practitioner1 should probably have seen her once or twice a day2 but there was a doctor in the house1 and my habit is to act as a consulting physician1 and not as a general practitioner4 ,i had to leave town for a distant engagement1 but before ,i left ,i wrote to ,dr4 ,pritchard to inquire how his wife was1 and received the reply that she was better4 ,i wrote also to her brother1 ,mr4 ,michael ,taylor1 as ,i was very much puzzled with the case1 and asked to be backed up by him in forbidding the use of stimulants4 ,on my return ,dr4 ,pritchard called1 and left word that his wife was better1 and that ,i need not call again4 ,i do not think that there was any fever at all40 ,in his cross-examination ,mr4 ,clark1 in consequence of ,dr4 ,pritchard having said to the witness that it was a case of catalepsy1 elicited that ,dr4 ,pritchard was somewhat careless in his nomenclature of disease--8that he spoke occasionally a little at random1 and was not a model of wisdom1 accuracy1 and caution1 in applying names to things20 and that1 in writing to her brother--who had been a fellow-student with him--8he had not indicated to him that there had been any foul play1 but nothing more than improper treatment40 ,dr4 ,james ,paterson1 who gave his evidence with an apparently strong feeling against the prisoner1 a man of very large experience1 living within two hundred yards of ,dr4 ,pritchard's house1 had been called in a little before eleven on the night of the #bdth of ,february1 to see the mother-in-law4 8,dr4 ,pritchard10 said the witness1 8met me in his hall1 and conducted me to the bedroom1 telling me that his mother-in-law1 whilst in the act of writing a letter1 had fallen off her chair on to the floor1 and been conveyed upstairs about half an hour before ,i came4 ,she and his wife1 said the prisoner1 had partaken of some bitter beer for supper1 and soon after both became sick and vomited1 and complained of its being more bitter than usual4 ,from the quantity remaining in the bottle they could not have taken more than a third of a pint each4#add ,i asked in regard to the previous state of his mother-in-law's health1 and particularly as to her social habits1 when he led me distinctly to understand that she drank spirits occasionally4 ,he also stated that his wife had been very poorly for some time with gastric fever1 and that1 some days previously1 he had telegraphed for her mother to come and nurse her4 ,on entering the bedroom ,i observed ,mrs4 ,taylor lying on the edge of the bed nearest to me on her right side1 with all her clothes on4 ,she had all the appearance of a sudden seizure4 ,mrs4 ,pritchard1 in her night-dress and nothing on her head1 and her hair very much dishevelled1 was in the same bed1 but underneath the clothes1 sitting up immediately beyond her mother4 ,mrs4 ,taylor was then alive1 and she gave me the impression of a healthy-looking old lady1 and previously in very good health--rather beyond the usual size1 well-formed2 a very superior-looking person1 not having the slightest appearance of being addicted to the use of spirituous or intoxicating liquors4 ,her face was rather pale1 but the expression was calm and placid4 ,the eyelids partially closed1 the lips rather pale and livid2 the breathing slow and laborious2 the skin cool1 and covered with a clammy perspiration2 the pulse almost imperceptible1 and she seemed to me perfectly unconscious4 ,on my opening up the eyelids1 ,i found both pupils very much contracted4 ,from these symptoms1 and judging from her general appearance1 my conviction was that she was under the influence of opium or of some other powerful narcotic1 and ,i at once pronounced my opinion that she was dying4 8,i and ,dr4 ,pritchard retired a little from the bedside1 and went to the fireplace1 and ,i then stated distinctly that she was dying4 ,pritchard said she had frequently had attacks of a similar kind before1 but never one so severe4 ,i said1 nothing that we could do would have the slightest effect1 but that1 as a last resource1 we might try mustard poultices to the soles of the feet1 the calves of the legs1 and the inside of the thighs1 and as quickly as possible administer a strong turpentine enema4 ,pritchard at once proceeded to prepare the enema1 and said he had a little before given her one1 in which he had administered a glass of brandy4 ,the old lady lay apparently comatose1 or unconscious2 but on being roused a little1 and the head and shoulders slightly elevated1 there was a degree of consciousness came on1 and the pulse became perceptible at the wrist4 ,she had not manifested consciousness before4 ,i directed ,pritchard's attention to the pulse1 and he then clapped the old lady on the shoulder and said1 #8,you are getting better1 darling4' ,i looked at him and shook my head ominously1 as much as to say1 #8,never in this world4' ,a slight fit of retching now came on1 and she put up a small quantity of a frothy kind of mucus1 immediately after which the #8coma1' or insensibility1 returned--the breathing became more oppressed1 more laboured1 and the alvine evacuations were passed involuntarily1 ,i then concluded that the case was hopeless1 but ,pritchard administered his enema4 ,i then left the room1 and went downstairs with ,pritchard to his consulting room1 and there repeated my opinion that she was in a state of narcotism4 ,pritchard then said that the old lady was in the habit of regularly using ,battley's ,sedative ,solution1 and that she had a few days before purchased not less than a half-pound bottle of that medicine1 and that he had no doubt1 or it was very likely1 that she might have taken a good swig of it4 ,i know that medicine1 but seldom use it4 ,my impression was that she was not what is called an opium-eater1 or one that used opium to any great extent4 ,she presented no appearance of that40 ,at this visit ,dr4 ,paterson's attention was forcibly attracted to the appearances presented by ,mrs4 ,pritchard4 8,she seemed10 said the witness1 8exceedingly weak and exhausted4 ,her features were sharp or thin1 with a high hectic flush on her cheeks1 and her voice was very weak and peculiar--in fact1 very much resembling a person verging into the collapsed stage of cholera4 ,the expression of her countenance conveyed to me the idea of a kind of silly or semi-imbecile person at the time4 ,at first ,i was inclined to attribute her appearance to the recent severe attack of gastric fever1 which ,i was told by the prisoner she had had1 and her symptoms aggravated1 of course1 by the great consternation and grief not unnaturally caused by the sudden and alarming condition of her mother4 ,at the same time ,i must say that ,i could not banish from my mind the idea1 or rather conviction1 that her symptoms betokened that she was under the depressing influence of antimony--that conviction came upon me while in her presence1 and ,i could not get quit of it4 ,i did not put a single question to her40 ,at half-past eleven ,dr4 ,paterson went home1 and about one the next morning he was sent for again1 but refused to go1 as he was certain he could do nothing1 but sent word that he would do so if ,dr4 ,pritchard thought he could be of any use4 ,no answer came1 and it was not until the ,saturday morning that he heard of ,mrs4 ,taylor's death1 when her husband called on him to ask him to certify the cause of death1 and the duration of her disease4 ,this he refused1 telling ,mr4 ,taylor that that document was not given to friends of the deceased1 but only to the ,registrar4 ,soon after ,dr4 ,paterson received from the ,registrar the usual form to fill up1 which he returned at once in blank as it came1 with this note3--8,dear ,sir1--,i am surprised that ,i am called on to certify the cause of death in this case4 ,i only saw the person for a few minutes a very short period before her death4 ,she seemed to be under some narcotic2 but ,dr4 ,pritchard1 who was present from the first moment of the illness until death occurred1 and which happened in his own house1 may certify the cause4 ,the death was certainly sudden1 unexpected1 and to me mysterious40 ,the words 8the cause of death0 he rendered emphatic by underlining them4 ,that was the only communication which he made to anyone1 beyond speaking about it in his own family4 ,the certificate was eventually given by ,dr4 ,pritchard1 assigning as the cause of death 8paralysis for twelve hours as the primary cause1 and the secondary1 apoplexy10 the duration of which had been one hour4#ade 99 99 99 99 99 ,on the #ast of ,march he met ,pritchard accidentally1 who asked him to come and see his wife1 which he did the next day4#adf 8,she was in bed1 still very weak and prostrate1 and in a weak voice expressed her satisfaction and her gratitude at my calling4 ,then1 in a very earnest manner1 she asked me if ,i really thought that her mother was dying when ,i saw her4 ,i said most decidedly ,i did1 and had told ,pritchard so4 ,she then clasped her hands1 looked up1 and feebly exclaimed1 #8,good ,god1 is it possible6' and burst into a flood of tears4 ,i put some questions then as to her mother's previous state of health1 especially if she was habitually addicted to the use of ,battley's solution4 ,she told me that her mother's health1 generally speaking1 was good1 but that she suffered occasionally from what she called neuralgic headaches1 and for relief of these attacks she did take a little ,battley's solution2 but she added that she could not be said to be in the habitual use of that medicine4 8,i then questioned her about herself4 ,she told me that for a considerable time past she had suffered very much from sickness1 retching1 and vomiting1 with severe pains in the stomach and throughout the bowels1 accompanied with purgings1 great heat and uneasiness about the throat and mouth1 and a constant urgent thirst4 ,i examined her tongue2 it was very foul1 and of a lightish brown colour4 ,her features were still very sharp and deeply flushed4 ,her pulse was weak1 contracted1 and very rapid4 ,her skin was moist1 but defective in animal heat1 and altogether she presented the appearance of great general prostration4 ,her eyes were watery1 but clear and intelligent4 ,i prescribed for her small quantities of brandy and champagne to recruit her strength1 and small pieces of ice to relieve the thirst and irritability of her stomach4 ,if she tired of these1 she should have recourse to granulated citrate of magnesia as a cooling effervescent drink1 and have a mustard poultice applied on the pit of the stomach--these were verbal directions4 ,i also recommended1 at short intervals1 small quantities of easily digested nutritious food1 such as beef tea1 calves' foot jelly1 chicken soup1 arrowroot1 and so on4 ,i then wrote a prescription for #ab grains of camomile1 #bd of blue or gray powder1 #ab of powdered ipecacuanha1 and #f grains of aromatic powder1 to be carefully mixed and divided into six parts1 one to be taken daily1 to relieve the biliary disturbance and soothe the mucous lining of the alimentary canal4 ,i gave her the prescription1 and told her to show it to ,pritchard when he came home40 ,from then until the day before her death the witness did not see ,mrs4 ,pritchard4 ,on the #eth of ,march ,dr4 ,pritchard had called on him1 and reported that his wife was better for his advice1 but still very weakly1 and her stomach irritable1 and had been strongly advised by ,dr4 ,paterson to continue the treatment he had recommended4 8,on ,friday evening10 continued the witness1 8,dr4 ,pritchard called upon me personally and requested me to come and see his wife4 ,i did so4 ,she was in bed in a sitting posture1 supported by pillows1 and ,i was very much struck with her terribly altered appearance4 ,she seemed quite conscious4 ,i went up to her bedside and she caught my hand1 and ,i could see a half-smile of recognition on her countenance4 ,she very soon began to mutter something about her having been vomiting4 ,dr4 ,pritchard was standing beside me1 and he volunteered to say that she had not been vomiting--that she was raving4 ,she complained of great thirst1 and ,pritchard poured some water out of a carafe into a tumbler and gave it her1 and she drank it4 ,i observed her countenance very much changed from what it had been when ,i saw her last4 ,her cheeks were hollow1 sharp1 pinched-looking1 and still very much flushed4 ,there was a peculiarly wild expression3 the eyes were of a fiery red and sunk-looking4 ,her pulse was very weak and exceedingly rapid4 ,her tongue was a darkish brown colour1 very foul2 and she immediately began to grasp with her hand as if to catch some imaginary object on the bedclothes4 ,she muttered something about the clock1 but there was none in the room4 ,i expressed my surprise at the great change and alarming appearances1 and asked ,pritchard how long she had been confined to bed since ,i saw her4 ,he said only since morning1 that yesterday and yesterday afternoon she was in the drawing room amusing herself with the children4 ,i again expressed my surprise at her alarming condition4 ,he said she had not slept for four or five nights1 and ,i replied that we must endeavour to procure some refreshing sleep4 ,we went downstairs1 and ,i then prescribed #cj drops of solution of morphia1 #cj drops of ipecacuanha wine1 #aj drops of chlorodyne1 and an ounce of cinnamon water1 to be taken every four hours if the first dose did not give relief4 ,pritchard wrote the prescription at my dictation4 ,i said it was unnecessary2 it was simple1 and he might mix it himself4 ,i was anxious to save time1 and give relief as soon as possible4 ,he said he kept no medicines but chloroform and ,battley's solution2 he did not keep a small stock for any emergency1 which ,i thought strange4#adg ,i then left the house1 and at one o'clock the next morning a message came that ,mrs4 ,pritchard was dying1 and in less than three minutes after another that she was dead4 ,i never entered ,dr4 ,pritchard's house except on the occasions ,i have mentioned4 ,i never told him that ,i thought his wife had taken too much wine1 and ,i never recommended ,dublin stout for her40#adh ,the cross-examination of ,dr4 ,paterson was confined to two points1 the grounds on which he held that ,mrs4 ,taylor had not the appearance of having been in the habit of using opium1 and his conduct in not disclosing to some member of her family the impression he had formed that ,mrs4 ,pritchard was being slowly poisoned by antimony4 8,when a person is in the habit of taking opium to a great extent10 he said1 8you generally find that they are not very good in colour4 ,they are generally thin in features and hollow about the eyes--in fact1 not of a healthy appearance4 ,mrs4 ,taylor being stout and healthy-looking1 my impression was that she was not an habitual consumer of opium1 though she might take it occasionally as medicine40 ,on the second point he stood on professional etiquette as a consulting physician1 and not the regular medical attendant1 insisting that he had no right to revisit his patient unless sent for1 and saying that he believed he should never have been called in the second time had he not accidentally met ,dr4 ,pritchard in the street4 8,his first impression arose simply from seeing ,mrs4 ,pritchard at the time of her mother's fatal seizure1 when he formed his diagnosis from the symptoms that were present1 just as he was in the habit of forming his opinion of any patient he saw for the first time--judging from symptomatology1 the science of the signs of disease4 ,it was not his duty to interfere in the family without being invited1 as there was another doctor in the house1 and he did the best he could by apprising the registrar when refusing to sign the certificate of ,mrs4 ,taylor's death4 ,had he been called in consultation with another medical man1 he should have felt it his duty to state his medical opinion2 and had there been a post-mortem examination of ,mrs4 ,taylor's body at the time1 he believed that in all probability the drugging of ,mrs4 ,pritchard with antimony would have gone no further1 at least at that time40 ,when called in the second time on the #bnd of ,march1 he said3-- 8,i believed her to be suffering under poisoning by antimony10 and ,i prescribed accordingly4 ,i saw her alone1 but ,i did not give her any indication of what ,i thought her ailment4 ,i did not mention antimony or poison in the slightest4 ,i did not give her any idea that she was labouring under any but a natural disease1 because the treatment which ,i prescribed for her1 provided she got nothing else1 was in my mind quite sufficient to have very soon brought her round1 taking it for granted that my advice was carefully walked up to4 ,i did not mention to ,dr4 ,pritchard that his wife was being poisoned by antimony4 ,it would not have been a very safe matter to have done so4 ,i did not go back the next day to see if my advice had been acted on4 ,i did not consider that she was my patient at all4 ,i had no right or title to go back and see her4 ,in any case where a consultation is held1 the consulting physician has no right to go back to see the patient2 it would be a breach of the etiquette of the profession40#adi ,on re-examination ,dr4 ,paterson stoutly adhered to his opinion that his being called in to see ,mrs4 ,pritchard was purely accidental1 and that it would not have been very natural to have communicated his suspicions to the husband4 ,,purchase ,,and ,,possession ,,of ,,medicines ,,and ,,poisons ,,by ,,the ,,prisoner4 ,the prisoner1 when it was suggested by ,dr4 ,paterson that he should mix in his own consulting-room the prescription1 on the #agth of ,march1 told the doctor that he did not1 like other medical men1 keep in his house a small stock of medicines for any emergency4 ,it was1 however1 proved that in the presses in his room were at least five-and-thirty bottles of medicinal preparations1 and several papers and bottles of poisons2 and that he had been a constant purchaser of poisons1 and especially of ,fleming's tincture of aconite and tartarised antimony1 from ,september1 #ahfd1 to as late as the #afth of ,march1 #ahfe4aej ,according to the witnesses for the prosecution1 the quantities of antimony and tincture of aconite bought by him were largely in excess of the amounts sold to other medical men1 though not so according to the experience of two druggists called by the prisoner4 ,anyhow1 as will be seen by the list in the note1 the purchases were larger than could have been required in any ordinary practice4 ,besides the phials and papers subsequently proved to contain poison1 in one of the presses was a bottle labelled ,battley's solution1 which was found to contain an appreciable quantity of antimony1 to the extent of #ae of a grain per fluid ounce1 and the remainder of the tapioca to be charged with #dfb grains of antimony to the pound4 ,a phial containing #ce grains of tartarised antimony1 and three others containing tincture of conium1 and six other phials with small portions of tincture of aconite1 conium1 and digitalis1 were found in the prisoner's cupboard4 ,in the chloroform1 no metallic poison was discovered2 but in a small wooden box with a screw cover were #aee grains of tartarised antimony and arsenious acid 7the common poison of arsenic71 in nearly equal proportions2 #ce grains of tartarised antimony in a pasteboard box1 and about ten drops of aqueous solution of corrosive sublimate were found in a quart wine-bottle4#aea ,,medical ,,and ,,chemical ,,analyses ,,of ,,the ,,bodies ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,taylor ,,and ,,mrs4 ,,pritchard4 ,,mrs4 ,,taylor4 ,on the #bith and #cjth of ,march the exhumed body of ,mrs4 ,taylor was medically and chemically examined by ,dr4 ,maclagan1 the professor of medical jurisprudence in the university of ,edinburgh1 and ,dr4 ,henry ,duncan ,littlejohn1 surgeon of the ,edinburgh police4 ,in accordance with the admirable practice of the ,scotch courts these experts gave in formal certificates 8on soul and conscience10 which were read in court before any personal examination was allowed4 ,the medical report1 after detailing the healthy condition in which the different portions of the body were found1 concluded by stating that the examiners 8had not been able to discover in the body any morbid appearances capable of accounting for death1 and that they were of opinion that the cause of death could not be determined without chemical analysis1 and that for that purpose they had secured the alimentary canal and its contents1 the heart and some of the blood1 the liver1 the kidneys1 the bladder and uterus1 and a portion of the brain10 which had been entrusted to ,dr4 ,maclagan1 of whose report the substance is now given3-- 8,contents of stomach1 amounting to five ounces1 having been first tested for vegetable poisons1 and then for meconic acid1 without success1 #8the residues of the above process were tested for mineral poisons2 and a preliminary trial1 by ,reinsch's method1 having revealed the presence of antimony1 ,i subjected the whole to a process by which ,i was enabled to determine the amount of this metal 7process then described74 ,assuming1 for reasons afterwards to be given1 that the antimony existed in the form of tartar emetic1 the amount of this represented by the sulphuret which ,i obtained from the stomach was a little more than a quarter of a grain 7#jbgi74 8,contents of intestines4--,the whole contents were evaporated at a gentle heat on the water-bath1 and a dry residue obtained1 weighing #dcj grains4 ,ten grains of this1 by ,reinsch's process1 yielded a characteristic deposit of antimony4 ,to determine in what form this antimony existed1 other ten grains were treated with distilled water1 the solution filtered1 and the fluid subjected to ,reinsch's process4 ,a characteristic antimonial deposit was obtained1 thus proving that this metal was present in a soluble form4 ,there are only two soluble forms of antimony met with in commerce4 ,one of these1 the chloride1 is a dark-coloured1 acid1 corrosive fluid1 totally unsuited for internal administration4 ,the other is what is known scientifically as #8tartarised antimony1' and popularly as #8tartar emetic1' a colourless substance possessed of comparatively little taste1 and in daily use as a medicinal agent4 ,i have no doubt it was in this form that the antimony had been taken1 which ,i found in the alimentary canal of ,mrs4 ,taylor4 ,i endeavoured to determine the amount of antimony in the contents of the intestines1 but the deposit was too small to enable me with confidence to make it the subject of a quantitative determination4 ,no arsenic was found4 8,the ,blood4--,from one ounce a characteristic antimonial deposit was obtained4 8,the ,liver4--,by operating on #ajjj grains of this1 ,i obtained a quantity of sulphuret1 indicating that the whole liver contained one grain and one-tenth 7#aaea7 of tartar emetic4 ,i also examined the other solid organs and tissues removed from ,mrs4 ,taylor's body1 in each case following ,reinsch's method1 and in each case obtaining on copper a characteristic antimonial deposit4 ,i thus found that there was more or less of antimony present in the muscular substance of the heart1 the spleen1 the kidney1 the coats of the stomach1 and of the rectum1 the uterus1 and the brain4 8,lastly4 ,as ,mrs4 ,taylor's body had been exhumed1 ,i thought it my duty to examine some of the earth in which it had been interred1 though this was superfluous1 from the fact of the soil being dry1 and the coffin entire3 it was not found to contain a trace of soluble antimony1 and was therefore incapable of impregnating with this metal any body buried in it40 ,,mrs4 ,,pritchard4 ,on the #bast of ,march a similar examination was made of the body of ,mrs4 ,pritchard three days after death by the same medical men1 who reported 8that it presented no appearances of recent morbid action beyond a certain irritation of the alimentary canal1 and nothing at all capable of accounting for death40 ,they had therefore secured for chemical analysis those parts of the body which they deemed likely to disclose the cause of death4 ,as a portion of this analysis had been conducted during the temporary absence of ,dr4 ,maclagan in ,london by ,dr4 ,gamgee and ,dr4 ,littlejohn1 previously to the report being read they were called to prove that ,dr4 ,maclagan's report of what they had done in his absence was correct4 ,the following was the substance of the report of the chemical analysis3-- 87#a47 ,contents of stomach amounted to little more than an ounce1 and free from all odour of any poisonous drug4 ,not a trace of any vegetable poison or of antimony was found4 87#b47 ,urine4--,the presence of antimony having already been ascertained in a portion of this secretion1 the remainder 7#g ounces7 was employed to determine the quantity4 ,the process followed was that by which antimony is obtained in the form of the sulphuret1 after destroying the organic matter by means of hydrochloric acid and potash4 ,the quantity was readily weighed1 and found to be rather more than one-tenth of a grain 7#jajgh74 ,this corresponds to nearly one-fourth of a grain 7#jaba7 of tartar emetic4 87#c47 ,the ,bile4--,a little more than an ounce of this fluid was obtained from the gall-bladder4 ,by ,reinsch's process #ej minims readily gave an antimonial deposit4 ,the remainder 7#d drachms7 used to determine the amount1 yielded sulphuret of antimony corresponding to more than one-tenth of a grain 7#jaba7 of tartar emetic4 87#d47 ,the ,blood4--#a ounce1 by ,reinsch's process1 readily gave evidence of the presence of antimony4 87#e47 ,the ,liver4--,the weight was #cf ounces1 a portion of which1 weighing less than #d ounces 7#adfj grains71 by ,reinsch's process1 gave sufficient antimony to coat rather more than four square inches of copper foil4 7,this experiment was satisfactorily tested by another process described in the report47 ,as to quantity1 #a1jjj grains gave of sulphuret of antimony #jabcd grains1 corresponding to a quarter of a grain of tartar emetic1 making the whole amount contained in the liver almost exactly #d grains 7#cic grains74 8,i next examined the remainder of the solid organs removed from the body of ,mrs4 ,pritchard1 and found more or less antimony in the whole of them4 8,i also examined certain articles of clothing and bed-linen handed to me by the officer1 and in the stains on four of them--the chemise1 two sheets1 and a toilet-cover1 on which was a stain as of wine--,i found antimony4 ,from these experiments ,i have been led to the following conclusions3-- 87#a47 ,mrs4 ,pritchard had taken a large quantity of antimony in the form of tartar emetic4 87#b47 ,having regard to the absence in her body of any morbid appearances sufficient to account for death1 and to the presence in it of a substance known as capable of destroying life1 her death must be ascribed to the action of antimony4 87#c47 ,that it is most unlikely that this poison was taken in a single large dose4 ,had this been the case1 ,i should have expected to have found some more decided evidence of irritant action in the mouth1 the throat1 or the alimentary canal4 87#d47 ,that from the extent to which the whole organs and fluids of the body were impregnated with it1 it must have been taken in repeated doses1 the aggregate of which must have amounted to a large quantity4 87#e47 ,that from the large amount found in the liver1 from its ready detection in the blood1 and from its being found passing so copiously out of the body by the bile and the urine1 it is probable that some of the poison had been taken at no greater interval than a period of a few days previous to death4 87#f47 ,that ,i am inclined to believe that it had not been administered1 at all events in any great quantity1 within a few hours of her death4 ,had this been the case1 ,i should have expected to have found at least some traces of it in the contents of the stomach1 and more in those of the intestines2 whereas none was found in the former1 and the amount found in the latter seems to be amply accounted for by the bile impregnated with the poison discharged into them from the liver4 87#g47 ,that the period over which the administration had extended cannot be determined by mere chemical investigation1 but must be deduced from the history of the case1 with which ,i am unacquainted40 ,dr4 ,maclagan then stated what portions of the bodies he had handed to ,professor ,penny for further analysis1 and described the result of his examination of the solid residue obtained from ,mrs4 ,pritchard's body by the process adopted by ,dr4 ,gamgee and ,dr4 ,littlejohn4 8,i determined the presence of mercury1 and found a considerable quantity of antimony remaining in it4 ,i got a clear fluid by operating on that residue with chlorate of potash and hydrochloric acid2 and then passing sulphuretted hydrogen1 ,i got a precipitate of a dirty orange colour1 which was collected1 washed and boiled in strong hydrochloric acid4 ,the yellow colour disappeared1 and the precipitate became black4 ,the hydrochloric solution was then mixed with water and tartaric acid1 and it gave an orange precipitate which1 when collected and weighed1 amounted to #j4jhb1 equal on the whole to #a4bfe of sulphuret of antimony--rather more than a grain and a quarter--in the whole of the solid residue4 ,this was in addition to what had been found in the intestines after the precipitate had been obtained by ,dr4 ,gamgee and ,dr4 ,littlejohn4 ,a grain and a quarter of sulphuret of antimony is equal to two and a half of tartar emetic2 the amount of tartar emetic in the whole of the intestines would be about five grains and three-quarters 7#e4gab740 ,in cross-examination1 ,dr4 ,maclagan deposed to the discovery of about the three hundredth part of a grain of mercury in the #ej grains of sulphuret2 that in some cases he was not content with the mere presence of the deposit on the foil1 but boiled the copper foil in potash--namely1 with the contents of the intestines and with the liver--but otherwise was content with the coloured deposit4 ,dr4 ,frederick ,penny then gave in his reports on the portions of the bodies of ,mrs4 ,taylor and ,mrs4 ,pritchard1 given to him by ,dr4 ,maclagan4 ,the following is the substance of the report in ,mrs4 ,pritchard's case3-- 8,dried ,contents of ,intestines4--,by the first process employed an abundant black precipitate was obtained1 which by proper treatment was separated into sulphide of antimony and sulphide of mercury4 ,the sulphide of antimony1 which was obtained of a fine orange-red colour1 was washed1 dried1 and weighed4 ,its weight corresponded to a quantity of metallic arsenic equal to #b4a grains in one thousand parts of the dried contents of the stomach4 ,the same sulphide was found to be readily soluble in sulphide of ammonium1 and also in hydrochloric acid2 and the acid solution1 when poured into water1 gave a white precipitate1 and when boiled with copper ribbon deposited a violet-coloured coating on the surface of the copper4 ,the coated copper1 on being heated in a glass tube1 gave no distinct crystalline sublimate4 ,all these results are eminently characteristic of sulphide of antimony when thus treated4 8,the sulphide of mercury gave metallic mercury corresponding to #c grains in #a1jjj grains of the dried contents of the intestines4 ,the report then states how these tests were confirmed by further experiments on the solution by ,reinsch's test supplemented by that of ,marsh4 8,stomach1 by the same methods1 yielded antimony in appreciable proportions1 equal to #j4e of a grain in #a1jjj parts1 but no mercury2 that it was afterwards treated for morphia and aconite1 but not a trace of these substances was obtained4 8,liver found to contain antimony equal to one-tenth of a grain in #a1jjj parts1 but no mercury4 8,spleen yielded antimony in about the same proportion as the liver1 and also contained mercury in well-marked quantity4 8,kidney about the same proportion as the liver1 and a minute trace of mercury4 8,heart yielded antimony in a proportion rather larger than that found in the liver1 and less mercury than in the spleen4 8,brain yielded antimony in less quantity than the liver1 and no mercury4 8,blood yielded a small quantity of antimony1 and a faint trace of mercury4 8,rectum1 antimony in less quantity than the liver1 and no indications of mercury40 ,in the case of ,mrs4 ,taylor1 ,dr4 ,penny reported3-- 8,that all the articles submitted to him 7liver1 stomach1 heart1 kidney1 rectum1 blood1 and dried contents of intestines71 and subjected to analysis1 contained antimony2 7#b71 that the contents of the intestines contained the largest proportion of antimony 7#j4ehc parts in #a1jjj parts72 next1 the liver and stomach 7#j4jdg of a grain in #a1jjj grains in each72 then the blood1 and1 in less quantity1 the heart1 kidney1 and rectum2 7#c71 that part of the antimony in the contents of the intestines was in a form soluble in water2 7#d71 that the kidney was the only article in which mercury was detected2 7#e71 that neither the stomach1 nor the contents of the intestines1 contained aconite or morphia in quantity sufficient to be detected by known chemical processes2 7#f71 that the articles subjected to analysis contained no other metallic poison than antimony and mercury as reported above40 ,dr4 ,penny also handed in his reports of the examination of the contents of the cupboards in ,dr4 ,pritchard's consulting room1 the substance of which has already been given4 ,in the first of these reports1 that of the #agth of ,may1 ,dr4 ,penny had stated that he was at present engaged in testing the bottle of ,battley's solution 7in which he had discovered antimony7 for other substances1 the result of which inquiry he now detailed3-- 8,i looked for mercury and other metals4 ,i searched for aconite1 and also for conium4 ,i found aconite4 ,this is tested chiefly by the taste of the abstract obtained by evaporation1 and by its physiological action upon small animals4 ,a portion of the fluid was evaporated to dryness1 and the extract thus obtained was very carefully tasted1 or its effects upon the tongue and on the lips ascertained by applying them to it4 ,the effects were a tingling and benumbing sensation--characteristic of aconite4 ,to another portion of the extract1 dissolved in water1 ammonia was added1 and a precipitate was separated and examined in the same way1 after being dissolved in diluted hydrochloric acid4 ,the benumbing and tingling sensation produced by that precipitate was very slight4 ,but the ammoniacal liquid1 after the separation of the precipitate1 was treated with hydrochloric acid1 and evaporated1 and the sensation produced by this residue was very strong4 8,with a view to ascertain the character of aconite when mixed with ,battley's solution1 ,i mixed known quantities of tincture of aconite with ,battley's solution1 treating the mixtures in the same way4 ,i took ,fleming's tincture and the results were precisely similar2 but when the proportion of aconite was equal to #e per cent41 the sensation was by no means strong2 but when it was in the proportion of #aj per cent41 it gave a sensation1 though the same1 much stronger than that of the liquid in the bottle4 ,i draw the conclusion1 therefore1 that in this solution the proportion was between #e and #aj per cent4 ,i purchased genuine ,battley's solution at several establishments in ,glasgow1 including that of #8,murdoch ,brothers1' and was satisfied that none of them contained either antimony or aconite40 ,dr4 ,penny then detailed his experiments with pure and impure ,battley's solution on rabbits4 ,genuine ,battley1 when injected under the skin1 did not kill2 #dj grain drops from the bottle found in ,mrs4 ,taylor's dress did4 8,i made in all about ten experiments with the genuine ,battley's mixed with ,fleming's aconite4 ,i will tell you the result of two experiments4 ,in one set ,i injected a mixture of ,battley into three young rabbits1 and in a third into full grown rabbits4 ,in the first set with young rabbits ,i injected #aj grains of genuine ,battley's solution4 ,in the second experiment with a young rabbit ,i injected #aj grains of this ,battley's 7that found in the prisoner's cupboard72 in the third1 ,i injected a mixture of #i grains of genuine ,battley1 and #a grain of ,fleming's tincture of aconite4 ,in the cases of the old rabbits ,i proceeded in a similar way1 only increasing the dose to #dj grains4 ,the symptoms manifested by the rabbits1 old and young1 subjected to the action of genuine ,battley1 were simple in character and few in number1 and were not materially altered by the variation of the dose4 ,the animal soon assumed a prone position1 resting on the belly and chest1 and the head invariably resting on the ground4 ,the forelegs were either sprawling or gathered under the body1 the hind legs always extended sideways2 the eyes remained open1 and the pupils were natural and not contracted2 the breathing was invariably gentle2 no cries were uttered1 and no convulsions or spasms of the body were apparent4 ,there was a complete condition of inanity1 and1 with the exception of the open state of the eyes1 the animal seemed to be in a state of profound sleep4 ,there was no indication of spasmodic movement1 and1 when aroused and urged to motion1 the movements were always performed in a crawling1 tortoise-like manner4 ,in this state the animal remained for several hours1 and then gradually recovered4 8,the effects produced by the mixture of genuine ,battley with aconite presented a striking contrast to those resulting from pure ,battley4 ,very soon after the injection the animal became restless and uneasy1 and then began to crouch1 resting on its flank1 with the hind legs extending laterally1 and the head erect4 ,it next assumed a sitting posture1 in an attitude of watchful expectancy1 and commenced to twitch its lips and move its jaws as if chewing4 ,suddenly it staggers1 rolls over1 and quickly regains its feet4 ,saliva begins to flow from the mouth1 and soon after piteous and peculiar choking cries are emitted4 ,its head is retracted1 and the breathing is painfully laborious4 ,convulsions now set in1 followed by intervals in which the limbs are quite relaxed1 and the animal lies helpless on its side4 ,frantic leaps are now frequently taken1 accompanied by movements of a paralytic character4 ,a state of utter prostration also occurs1 variable in duration1 and then a strong convulsion comes on1 during which1 or immediately after which1 the animal expires1 the limbs becoming instantly relaxed4 8,the symptoms exhibited by the rabbits subjected to the ,battley from the prisoner's cupboard responded in every important respect with the effects produced by this mixture1 and it was impossible to detect any essential difference in them40 ,the ,battley's solution used by ,dr4 ,penny was not purchased from 8,murdoch ,brothers10 but he had purchased and analysed some from that house1 and it was exactly similar to that which he had used4 ,he had also been present when the same experiments as his were tried on rabbits by ,dr4 ,maclagan1 in the presence of ,drs4 ,christison1 ,gamgee1 and ,littlejohn1 with the same result as in his experiments4 ,dr4 ,penny was then examined on ,dr4 ,maclagan's report of his post-mortem examination of ,mrs4 ,pritchard's body1 and on the symptoms exhibited by her from the time she was taken ill in #ahfe down to her death4 ,replying purely as a chemist1 and not as a medical man1 he declared them to correspond with the action of tartar emetic or tartarised antimony4 ,he further accounted for the presence of the small portions of mercury by the administration of ,dr4 ,paterson's powders1 ,hydrargyrum cum creta1 shortly before death4 ,in ,mrs4 ,taylor's case he considered the vomitings to be the result of the antimony1 which had been traced by the analyses1 and repeated the conclusions1 already given1 to his reports on both bodies4 ,dr4 ,maclagan1 who was recalled1 declared that the whole of the symptoms in ,mrs4 ,pritchard's case1 from ,christmas1 #ahfd1 until her death--the sickness and vomiting1 muscular depression1 irritation of the bowels1 and cramp in the stomach--were symptoms of poisoning by antimony1 and could not1 as a medical man1 suggest any natural disease to which they were due1 that he could assign as the cause of death4 ,he had never seen antimony when rubbed into the skin 7referring to the prisoner's statement that he had done so for a swollen gland in his wife's neck7 produce any constitutional effect4 ,the fact of ,mrs4 ,pritchard some years ago having taken antimony internally for inflammation of the eyelids would not account for the symptoms2 and he agreed with ,dr4 ,penny that the traces of mercury were due to the powders prescribed by ,dr4 ,paterson4 8,there was nothing in the case10 he added1 8to indicate to a medical man of ordinary intelligence that she was suffering from gastric fever1 or any other fever02 and he adhered to the conclusions already given in his report1 that she had been poisoned by minute doses of antimony in the form of tartar emetic given at intervals over a long period of time4 ,dr4 ,maclagan attributed ,mrs4 ,taylor's death to something more than antimony--some powerful1 depressing poison4 8,the symptoms10 he said1 8might be produced by aconite--being found with her head fallen on her neck1 and hardly observed to breathe1 her pulse almost if not absolutely imperceptible1 and the dozing1 torpid state in which she lay1 were such as would result from aconite4 ,though he might know in a case that aconite had been taken1 he might not be able to find it by chemical analysis3 these organic poisons--all the alkaloids--are very often not found1 though known to have been taken4 ,the administration of opium might diminish the effect of antimony in causing vomiting and purging1 but its depressing effect on the muscular system would still remain2 and if opium1 aconite1 and antimony were being administered at the same time1 he should anticipate symptoms such as appeared in ,mrs4 ,taylor's case4 ,taking the symptoms and the results of the post-mortem examination together1 the idea of apoplexy was satisfactorily excluded from his judgment2 and assuming the correctness of ,dr4 ,paterson's description of the symptoms he saw1 he should not have concluded that it was apoplexy1 nor did he think any other medical man would have4 ,he was satisfied with the presence of aconite in the ,battley's solution1 without the experiments on the rabbits1 which only confirmed it40 ,the cross-examination of this witness was directed to the question whether the symptoms in ,mrs4 ,taylor's case did not indicate poisoning by opium1 probably arising from an overdose of ,battley's solution4 8,i saw10 said the witness1 8no precise indications of poisoning by opium1 though ,i cannot say that she had not taken some4 ,i think aconite was the leading feature in the final part of the case4 ,the symptoms described by ,dr4 ,paterson did not1 in my mind1 indicate poisoning by opium or laudanum at all4 ,they were not inconsistent with her having taken opium1 but they were not consistent with her having been poisoned by it1 and with the ordinary symptoms4 ,the symptoms of aconite predominated4 ,if she had taken opium alone ,i should have expected to find the pulse full and slow1 and probably the breathing laborious and stertorous4 ,though these were absent1 ,i could not say that she had not taken opium1 particularly if she had been accustomed to its use40 ,when reminded from the judge's notes that ,dr4 ,paterson had described the breathing as 8laborious10 he said1 8,it does not make much1 indeed not any1 modification of my view1 because the condition of the pulse showed the action of aconite on the heart4 ,laborious breathing is an indication of many things besides opium40 ,when reminded that ,dr4 ,paterson spoke of her being in a state of 8coma10 he admitted that that generally indicated opium and not aconite1 but added that here 8it was more oppression than true coma10 and assumed that ,dr4 ,paterson did not use the word scientifically1 but as many persons did to describe insensibility4 8,but10 said ,mr4 ,clark1 8you pointed to the absence of #8coma' as indicative of poisoning by aconite40 8,i spoke of her10 replied ,dr4 ,maclagan1 8being in a torpid condition1 which ,i think was connected with the weakened state of the circulation and not from fulness of the brain4 ,opium1 like aconite1 is a vegetable poison1 and is absorbed into the system3 a person may be poisoned by it without any trace remaining in the stomach or the system capable of being detected by chemical analysis4 ,all mineral poisons are more easily detected1 but ,i am not prepared to give into the statement broadly that a person cannot be poisoned by antimony without it being capable of detection1 though ,i cannot recollect such a case4 ,the quantity here found in both cases was considerable4 ,the expectation is that the chemical analysis will detect it1 but there may be exceptions4 ,the fact that ,mrs4 ,taylor's eyes were contracted is an indication of poisoning by opium1 but it also occurs in aconite1 though the cases vary a good deal in that respect1 from people1 as ,i think1 having observed the symptoms at different stages2 and the probability is that contraction had been produced at first1 and then relaxation at the time all the muscular parts became relaxed--namely1 at the time of death4 ,aconite is applied externally in neuralgia40#aeb ,dr4 ,littlejohn1 who was next called1 concurred in the opinion that there was nothing to indicate gastric fever in ,mrs4 ,pritchard's case1 and that her death was due to the continuous administration of small doses of antimony from the commencement of her illness to the day of her death1 and that the result of the chemical analysis was such as he should1 on that supposition1 have expected4 ,on the cause of ,mrs4 ,taylor's death he was not so certain4 8,it seemed to me10 said the witness1 8that she might have died from a dose of antimony administered shortly before death1 or else from some sedative narcotic poison4 ,i have no difficulty in saying that she died of poison1 but only as to the particular poison which killed her4 ,i am inclined to believe that the symptoms in her case were mixed to some extent1 like the symptoms of narcotic poison1 and to some extent like the symptoms of antimony4 ,there was nothing to show that she died of apoplexy1 and the post-mortem examination did not indicate any such4 ,in the failure of circulation and great depression and spasms1 and the state of insensibility1 ,i recognise the action of antimony2 in the later stages of antimonial poisoning we have generally great insensibility4 ,the hot taste in the mouth and burning sensation in the throat after taking the bit of cheese suggest a large dose of antimony1 and also suggest a strong dose of narcotic poison--they suggest many things besides cheese4 ,that it caused violent sickness in the case of one of the servants for some hours is quite consistent with antimonial poisoning4 ,in large quantities it would produce a burning sensation in the throat4 ,i have tried it in large quantities1 and the secondary sensation is always in the throat1 and it did produce a burning sensation4 ,that the egg flip gave the same effect in the case of the servant points to the use of antimony or some substance resembling it4 ,various other emetics might produce these effects4 ,egg flip is a convenient medium for administering antimony1 as it readily dissolves in it1 and sufficient antimony could be dusted on loaf sugar to produce sickness4 ,sugar is very porous1 and antimony1 being a white powder1 could be dusted over it1 and a large quantity absorbed in it--sufficient1 not to kill1 but to keep up the illness40 ,in cross-examination1 the witness adhered to his opinion as to the suitableness of egg flip when the hot water had been poured on it1 as a medium for antimony1 and to the possibility of a sufficient quantity to produce sickness being conveyed into the cup on two pieces of loaf sugar4 ,though he had not made any special experiments to support this opinion1 he considered himself1 from his special acquaintance with tartar emetic1 entitled to answer in the way he had done4 ,he did not consider opium as a sedative but as a narcotic1 and1 in his opinion1 aconite was a sedative narcotic4 ,there was nothing impossible for ,mrs4 ,taylor to take opium1 and for that to contribute to the symptoms4 ,dr4 ,paterson1 who was re-called1 was quite confirmed in his previous opinion of the cause of ,mrs4 ,pritchard's death from the evidence he had heard4 ,mrs4 ,taylor's death1 he thought1 had been caused by opium1 but there might have been some other narcotic combined to him unknown1 and he thought that aconite and opium combined would contribute to the effect and hurry the termination2 but he never in his practice had seen any person poisoned by such a combination4 ,he had not the slightest suspicion of antimony1 and the narcotic effect was such when he saw ,mrs4 ,taylor that he did not believe that he could recognise the effect of antimony4 ,the narcotic effect would overpower the other1 and laudanum would interfere with the usual effect of antimony4 ,what he called stertorous breathing was rather oppressed breathing--snoring and stertorous breathing were the same thing4 8,by coma10 he added1 8,i meant insensibility--it means that1 especially insensibility under opium2 and my impression was that it was opium alone1 or some of its preparations3 it might be morphia40 ,now that he had heard of the discovery of antimony in the body1 he believed the death to be due to a combination of antimony and opium1 a smaller dose of the latter being likely to have a greater effect1 in consequence of the condition of the body produced by the former4 ,if the opium contained upwards of five per cent4 of aconite1 the effect1 he considered1 would be much more rapid and more likely to be fatal4 ,on the conclusion of the medical testimony witnesses were called to prove that at two banks in ,glasgow1 where ,dr4 ,pritchard had accounts1 these were overdrawn on the #bjth of ,march--that he borrowed to the extent of #bee on his life policy1 the last advance being as late as the #acth of ,may--that his mother-in-law had advanced him #ejj towards the purchase of his house1 and that under her will he would be entitled1 in the event of the previous death of his wife1 to the interest on two-thirds of her property for the benefit of his children until they attained twenty-one years1 and then 8for his own use as he might consider proper40 ,letters of ,mrs4 ,taylor and ,dr4 ,pritchard were identified1 in one of the latter being an entry under ,february #gth1 8,dr4 ,j4 ,m4 ,c4 here2 on ,february #hth ,dr4 ,j4 ,m4 ,c4 left0--namely1 ,dr4 ,cowan4 ,,the ,,prisoner',s ,,statements4 ,in accordance with the ,scotch practice1 two declarations were made by ,dr4 ,pritchard before the sheriff1 one on the #bbnd of ,march1 and the other on the #bast of ,april4 ,the first declaration was as follows3-- 8,i have always attended my wife in all her ailments of every kind during the whole period of our married lives1 now fifteen years1 and some of these illnesses were very severe2 but ,i never saw her so ill as she was on the occasion which terminated fatally4 ,as far as my judgment goes1 her last illness was gastric fever1 which commenced about the beginning of the present year4 ,i gave my wife no medicines during her illness excepting wine1 champagne1 and brandy1 to support her strength2 and ,i gave her no medicines at all4 ,i trusted to nature to right itself1 with the assistance of these restoratives4 ,during the last six weeks her power of sleeping entirely went away4 ,in order to procure sleep ,i gave her1 at the commencement of her sleeplessness1 a small quantity of chloroform1 but it entirely disagreed with her1 and ,i discontinued it4 ,i then called in ,dr4 ,gairdner1 professor of medicine in the university1 and he visited and saw her several times2 and he continued to attend her till her old medical friend1 ,dr4 ,james ,m4 ,cowan1 returned1 and he came from ,edinburgh to see her4#aec ,i then wrote to her mother to come and nurse her1 and she arrived about the #aath of ,february last2 and her arrival had a beneficial effect upon ,mrs4 ,pritchard for some time1 but still the sleeplessness continued2 and shortly after her mother's death1 which happened on the #beth of ,february1 she relapsed and became much worse1 and very apprehensive about herself1 and she suggested to me the adoption of a medicine with which her mother was very familiar--,battley's solution of opium--but ,i declined to give her any without first consulting ,dr4 ,j4 ,paterson1 who lived close by4 ,i saw him1 and consulted him1 but he did not see ,mrs4 ,pritchard on that occasion1 and he did not approve of using the solution of opium4 ,he prescribed granulated citrate of magnesia1 calomel1 mercury1 and chalk1 and ,i acted on his advice and administered the medicine1 and it seemed to have a beneficial effect4#aed ,some time after1 finding her sleeplessness still continued1 ,i1 at her own suggestion1 applied a solution of atropine to the external parts of the eye1 and it had a little effect for some time1 but the effects soon ceased4 ,after her mother's death1 she became rapidly worse2 indeed1 ,i ascribed her decease to the agitation consequent on her mother's death4 ,at the time of the last event she was strongly impressed with the idea that she would herself die at the same time as her mother2 in fact1 she did die on a subsequent day at exactly the same hour4 ,on the night preceding her death she was apprehensive that1 unless she got sleep1 she should not get through the night4 ,i went for ,dr4 ,paterson1 who came immediately and sat for a considerable time by the bedside1 and afterwards dictated a prescription1 which was made up at the ,glasgow ,apothecary ,company's shop at ,elmbank-street4 ,it will be found in my desk at home4 ,it was for two draughts to be given four hours after the first if it did not succeed4 ,she got the first draught as prescribed by ,dr4 ,paterson about ten o'clock1 but she said after drinking it that it was not half strong enough1 and asked if she might have some of her mother's medicine4 ,i refused to give it her1 and said ,i dare not do it4 ,i gave her a glass of port wine1 and sat carefully watching for a short time4 ,i then went down stairs and had supper1 and1 after being absent for some time1 returned to see if she had got to sleep4 ,i found her awake1 and she wished me to give her something to make her sleep4 ,i refused1 and she then asked me to come to bed1 as ,i must be tired with the weary nights of watching4 ,it was then about twelve o'clock4 ,i tried to persuade her that ,i should sit up to watch her till past the time when her mother had died2 but to please her ,i got into bed1 and almost immediately ,i fell asleep from the state of exhaustion ,i was in2 was awoke by her pulling at my beard1 and found my wife struggling to get into bed4 ,she appeared to have got out of bed4 ,she said1 #8,edward1 ,i am faint4' ,i assisted her into bed1 and asked her how long ,i had been asleep1 but she answered1 #8,don't speak2 look6 do you see my mother8' ,i said #8,no1 it is only a vision2 only imagination1' and asked if she felt pain4 ,she said she felt cold1 and ,i need try no more skill2 that ,i had failed this time1 and that she was going to her mother4 ,i got alarmed and rang the bell violently1 and the youngest servant came4 ,i desired her to make a mustard plaster as quickly as she could1 and on that my wife turned round and said1 #8,edward1 ,i'm in my senses2 mustard plasters will do no good1' and almost immediately she fell back in my arms and died4 ,the servant came with the mustard plaster1 and found her in that position4 ,i did not give her any other medicine at that time except a little brandy applied to her lips4#aee ,during the whole course of her illness ,i never gave her any antimony1 nor any medicine in which there was any preparation of antimony4 ,antimony is a poison1 but it is used occasionally to subdue inflammations1 and ,i applied it to her neck1 in ,october last1 when she was plagued with a swelling gland in the neck4 ,i rubbed it in externally on that occasion1 and ,i have never given her any antimony since4 ,on that occasion ,i recommended change of air1 and ,i gave her a little bottle of antimony with her for the same purpose of rubbing in behind the ear4 ,she went to ,edinburgh at that time1 and she returned to ,glasgow very much better1 and ,i have never seen the bottle of antimony since she got it away with her4 ,there was a considerable quantity of antimony in my repositories at the time of my wife's last illness1 as ,i used it extensively in my practice1 and it was kept in a cupboard of which ,i had the key1 but which was not always locked4 ,i did not see any of it brought out1 or lying about1 during her illness4 ,the cupboard where the antimony was is in the consulting-room on the ground flat1 and she was so weak on the day of her death--,saturday--and on the ,friday preceding1 that ,i do not think she had strength to have gone to the cupboard herself4 ,my wife took the antimony internally on one occasion when she had a tendency to inflammation of the eyelids4 ,this was years ago1 and ,i never knew her to use it internally1 except on this occasion4 ,i never administered antimony to her internally on any occasion1 nor any other substance calculated to injure or destroy life40 ,in the second declaration1 made on the #bast day of ,april1 #ahfe1 he confirmed the correctness of the former one when read to him1 denied the charges as laid in the indictment1 and elected to make the following voluntary statement with reference to ,mrs4 ,taylor's death3-- 8,i never administered poison to her4 ,i did1 and ,i do believe1 that she died from paralysis and apoplexy4 ,i have no further statements to make1 and by the advice of my agent will make none1 with the exception that ,i am entirely innocent of the charge preferred against me40 ,being asked by the ,procurator ,fiscal whether he ever administered or caused to be administered to the said ,jane ,cowan or ,taylor tartarised antimony1 declares3-- 8,my agent recommended me to say nothing1 and ,i decline to answer the question1 and1 as ,i act under my agent's advice1 it is unnecessary to put any further questions40 ,,evidence ,,for ,,the ,,defence4 ,with this evidence the prosecution was closed late on the third day1 and on the next the defence was opened by calling witnesses on the ,prisoner's behalf4 ,dr4 ,michael ,taylor1 ,mrs4 ,pritchard's brother1 had seen her on the #bhth of ,february1 a few days after his mother's death1 when she objected to ,dr4 ,gairdner again visiting her1 and to following her brother's advice to have a nurse1 as she did not like strangers about her4 ,he also identified as her writing two letters from ,edinburgh to her husband at the time of her visit to her parents in ,november1 in which she spoke of the slowness of her recovery and her inability to go out1 except two or three times4 ,mr4 ,simpson1 a partner in ,duncan ,co41 ,chemists1 in ,edinburgh1 remembered ,dr4 ,pritchard1 some four years ago1 purchasing ,battley's solution at their shop1 and that shortly afterwards other purchases of this compound were frequently made in his name by one ,thomson1 whom he recognised1 down to the beginning of #ahfe4 ,fairgrieve1 another chemist in ,edinburgh1 spoke to repeated purchases of this compound by or for ,mrs4 ,taylor for several years before her death1 once in a #e-oz4 bottle1 but generally in bottles of #b oz4#aef ,two other witnesses proved that they consulted ,dr4 ,pritchard for affections of the ear1 and that to the first he gave a bottle labelled 8poison--#b drops in each ear every night10 and to the other a tonic of glycerine and strychnia2 the object being to account for the numerous poisons found in the cupboard in his consulting room4#aeg ,dr4 ,mc,hattie proved that there were not the necessary drugs in the cupboard to enable the ,prisoner to make up ,dr4 ,paterson's prescription1#aeh and afterwards his eldest son certified that his father and mother lived happily together1 and his daughter1 who lived chiefly with her grandparents1 that they were fond of each other4 ,the evidence for the defence then was closed4 ,,the ,,solicitor-,,general',s ,,speech4 ,in addressing the jury on the evidence1 the counsel for the prosecution drew their especial attention to 7#a7 the fact--not contested and not contestable--that though none of the medicines prescribed by the medical attendants on both of the ladies had contained any preparation of antimony1 antimony was found in their bodies--in that of ,mrs4 ,pritchard in such proportions as could only be accounted for by a long continuous administration of that drug--in ,mrs4 ,taylor's sufficient to so reduce her system as to increase the operation of any narcotic poison2 7#b7 that the notion of this having been taken by accident was excluded even by the prisoner's own statement1 and that the idea of suicide was entirely at variance with the characters of the sufferers1 and in the case of the wife with the fact that suicides do not choose 8a long1 lingering1 and painful death20 7#c7 that the prisoner had in his possession the means of administering poison as well as the opportunities2 7#d7 that in the three cases in which symptoms of antimonial poisoning were felt by those who tasted the cheese1 the egg flip1 and the tapioca1 the prisoner had the opportunities of dealing with these articles of food before they were sent to his wife2 7#e7 that in the remnant of one of them--the tapioca--antimony to a large extent was found2 7#f7 that in a bottle of ,battley's solution found in the pocket of ,mrs4 ,taylor after her death aconite in deadly proportions was detected2 and 7#g7 that there was a pecuniary motive1 paltry as it might be represented to be1 to induce the prisoner to commit both these murders4#aei ,who1 then1 he said1 put the antimony into the food8 who put that and the aconite into the ,battley's solution8 8,who1 then10 continued the ,solicitor-,general1 8was the murderer8 ,for there was a murder--a deliberate1 cold-blooded1 cruel murder--committed in that house4 ,who was it8 ,we know the inmates4 ,there were the two students of medicine4 ,i suppose you may lay them aside as having nothing to do with it4 ,suspicion does not attach to them1 neither had they the opportunity4 ,the servants change in the course of the enacting of this dreadful tragedy--all but one4 ,catherine ,lattimer was there until the #acth of ,february4 ,the poisoning went on after she left--the deaths both occurred after she left4 ,she was not the poisoner1 nor was there a breath of suspicion about her4 ,mary ,patterson comes on the #afth of ,february4 ,the poisoning1 indeed1 goes on after she comes2 but it had commenced long before--weeks before4 ,we1 therefore1 lay her aside4 ,there was ,mary ,mc,leod1 a girl under seventeen1 the only remaining grown person in the house during the whole course of the administration to which ,i need refer4 ,i need not take any notice of the children1 who were the only other inmates of the house4 ,see1 then1 to what we have come4 ,there was a murderer in the house--a murderer practising the dreadful art of slow poisoning from the end of ,december till past the middle of ,march4 ,the only two grown persons1 except the boarders1 who were in the house during that time--the only two who had access to the patients--were the prisoner at the bar and ,mary ,mc,leod4 ,this is narrowing the case to a very short question4 ,i have excluded every other idea from the case1 by fair1 legitimate1 convincing argument1 upon evidence that is not open to dispute4 ,i have excluded the notion of natural death4 ,i have established the fact of death by poison4 ,i have excluded the idea of death by accident1 by suicide1 by the administration medicinally4 ,you are shut up1 therefore1 to murderous administration4444 ,i find that the only two who had access to these miserable victims1 and had any opportunity to perpetrate the murders with which they are charged1 were the prisoner and this one girl4 ,now1 pray1 consider1 with respect to the wife1 upon the question whether or no the prisoner is not the man clearly proved by irresistible evidence to be so1 what was the nature of the murder8 ,it was a murder in which you almost detect a doctor's finger4 ,it is gradual poisoning--poisoning so as not to kill but to weaken2 leaving off for a day1 and then resuming again--one day better1 two days worse4 ,during the whole time the patient exhibited the symptoms of vomiting and purging1 the result of the action of antimony4 ,you have that going on for a long time under the very eye of a medical man1 the husband of the victim1 who was in close attendance upon her4 ,do you think anybody else--do you think a girl of seventeen could have done that deed8 ,she knew nothing about antimony4#afj ,if she did not do it1 the prisoner must have done it4 ,and what is his case8 ,his case respecting his own wife1 who was thus demonstrably being poisoned by inches under his very eye during this long period--what is his case8 8,i thought it was gastric fever10 he says4 ,gastric fever6 ,nobody could have thought it was gastric fever4 ,nothing like gastric fever in it4 ,nothing like anything except what it was--slow1 cruel poisoning1 which brought1 in the course of two or three months1 this poor woman to the grave1 with such an amount of poison in her body40 ,referring1 then1 to the false statements made by the prisoner in the case of ,mrs4 ,taylor--that she had tumbled off her chair in his consulting room in a fit1 and been carried up to bed1 when it was proved that she had walked up to her bedroom from his consulting room--had during the evening called to one of the servants to go out and get sausages for supper--had had no tumble or fit1 and that the doctor himself knew nothing about her attack till the bell rang violently three times--that hot water had been taken up by the servant to make her vomit--the strange statement to ,dr4 ,paterson before the bottle of 8,battley0 was found in ,mrs4 ,taylor's pocket1 that she had purchased half-a-pound of it a few days before--the false certificate of her death1 8paralysis for twelve hours and apoplexy for one hour10 when there was no paralysis except the paralytic affection caused by the aconite1 and that was not before she went upstairs at nine o'clock in the evening1 only four hours before her death3 then referring to the tapioca purchased entirely for ,mrs4 ,taylor's use1 into which antimony was put by some one2 the ,solicitor-,general said3-- 8,keep in view that the method of poisoning alleged against the prisoner here is not the giving a dose that would kill1 but the introducing it into the food in such quantities that the taking would not kill1 but produce sickness merely--the intention being to produce and continue the sickness for months1 the fatal termination then supervening4 ,a poisoner in this way practises the dreadful art successfully1 and could not be very apprehensive of even himself or any one else taking the food accidentally1 as it would only make them sick4 ,he knows that to produce death it will be necessary to continue it for a long time4 ,into this tapioca antimony is introduced--sufficient to produce sickness in anybody taking it1 but not death4 ,but ,mrs4 ,pritchard does not get this tapioca4 ,it is taken by ,mrs4 ,taylor1 and she is seized immediately by symptoms of poisoning by antimony4 ,she is sick in the same way--,i think she expressed it--as her daughter was2 because the effects were the same4 ,that tapioca was not put away1 as it might be required again2 and if ,mrs4 ,pritchard had wanted tapioca again1 she would have got that1 and the poisoning would have been carried on by its means4 ,if anybody else got it1 it would be a misfortune1 but not much more4 ,and who could have introduced it but the master of the house1 who was an adept in such a mode of poisoning4--,i do not know how many1 if more than one1 partook of poisoned food2 but some food had been poisoned4 ,i take that for granted1 and that it had been taken by one of the boarders1 ,connell1 ,i think4 ,but that is not presented as part of the case4 ,he was one day more or less sick4 ,the prisoner does not seem to have been alarmed about it--he does not seem to have been alarmed even when he himself was sick upon some occasion in ,february4 ,he knew very well there was no occasion for alarm1 for sickness was the end of it2 that it would require a long sickness in order to produce anything like a fatal result40 ,briefly1 then1 reviewing the points he had made1 the ,solicitor-,general concluded his exhaustive address4 ,,the ,,defence4 ,mr4 ,rutherford ,clark1 in the opening of his speech1 urged on the jury that the enormity of the double crime required it 8to be proved by evidence strong1 clear1 overwhelming1 that brought home to their minds and consciences1 without the slightest suspicion on the testimony1 the guilt of the prisoner10 and that 8the motives assigned for it were not such as could ever have1 in the slightest degree1 actuated any human being to the commission of such hideous offences40 ,whilst he could not deny that he had the opportunity of committing the crime1 he contended 8that it went a very short way--indeed no way at all--in even suggesting or indicating his guilt40 8,if10 he said1 8you find a case where crime is committed1 and where the person charged with committing it has made an opportunity for himself--has been zealous in obtaining opportunities--then opportunity is of the greatest possible importance and the strongest possible evidence2 but to say that he has opportunity in this case is nothing more than to say it was likely1 as indeed it was true1 that the husband who was attending the sick bed of his wife1 should carry to her some of her meals1 and send up others with her meals4 ,but that he should do so is1 ,i am sure1 nothing unnatural--nothing to suggest guilt4 ,it would have been frightfully suggestive of guilt1 if1 instead of sending up these meals1 and taking them up himself1 he had always chosen some other agent to carry them up and to administer the food she was taking4 ,if that had been the case1 ,i should have been inclined to say that the ,crown would have had a case much more strong to indicate guilt1 than they have when1 as it is stated here1 that he was administering to the comfort of his wife while upon her death-bed40#afa ,on the point that the prisoner was in possession of the means of poisoning1 8he was10 he said1 8by profession a doctor1 and had1 no doubt1 as most doctors have1 considerable quantities of drugs in his possession4 ,whether he had more than most medical men kept in their houses was a matter of opinion1 but it was absurd to suppose that he accumulated these large quantities of most powerful and destructive poisons--a minute dose of many of which would have been fatal--for the purpose of murder40#afb 8,but10 continued ,mr4 ,clark1 8it is not unimportant1 in considering this question1 and it is very important especially in considering the argument of the ,solicitor-,general1 that these poisons were kept1 not in any locked press1 but1 on the contrary1 within the reach of the household4 ,it is a remark ,i have made1 that there was not one of the poisoned articles of food which ever reached the lips of ,mrs4 ,taylor or ,mrs4 ,pritchard without passing through other hands than the prisoner's1 and it is odd enough that1 in regard to each of them1 the person who administered it and who carried away the food left1 is this girl1 ,mary ,mc,leod4 ,it will not do for the ,solicitor-,general to say1 #8,i have established that one of two persons must have committed these crimes1' and that you can trace the particular finger of the medical man in connection with them4 ,probability will never support a conviction4 ,it will not do for him to say1 as regards the death of ,mrs4 ,pritchard1 that it was the act either of the prisoner or ,mary ,mc,leod1 and that it was not likely that a girl of under seventeen would have the skill to do it4 ,do you not think that he shrinks from the onus of proof when he accepts this convenient mode of getting rid of the difficulty1 as he must prove that it is one of those two who did it4 ,he must prove by evidence that it was not ,mary ,mc,leod or some one else in the house1 and it was only by showing that it was not ,mary ,mc,leod1 that he can bring this charge home1 to the prisoner40 ,mr4 ,clark then noticed that the question was put to ,lattimer whether she put anything into the tapioca1 but that that question was not put to ,mary ,mc,leod4 8,it is a singular omission in the case of the ,crown1 which necessarily depends upon being able to select between those two persons1 whom the ,solicitor-,general stated were the only two who could have committed the murder1 that they did not venture to put the question to exclude upon her evidence the fact that she might have been guilty4 ,and this is all the more strong that ,i shall trace every article of poisoned food immediately through her hands40#afc ,subsequently he reviewed the evidence as to each of the three poisoned articles of food4 8,let us see10 he said1 8about this tapioca3--it was suggested1 apparently through ,mrs4 ,taylor1 that ,mrs4 ,pritchard would like some4 ,accordingly some tapioca is brought by a little boy1 and it is brought in1 and received by ,mary ,mc,leod4 ,she says she placed it for some short time on the lobby table4 ,catherine ,lattimer says ,mary ,mc,leod took it down to her1 but ,mary says ,mrs4 ,taylor did4 ,now the suggestion of the ,crown is that the prisoner put antimony in this tapioca1 so nicely adjusted to the quantity bought as to produce sickness leading to death1 but not so as to produce death itself4 ,it would certainly have been of some importance to have shown that he had any opportunity of administering or putting any poison into it1 but it is not proved--there is not a shadow of evidence that he had any opportunity1 or to show that he was in the house at the time4 ,he was a man accustomed to exercise an active profession1 and1 of course1 would naturally be out at that period of the day2 but at all events it is not shown that he was aware that his wife desired tapioca1 or that his mother-in-law had ordered it4 ,it is not even shown that there was the least possibility of his introducing antimony into that bag4 ,it is prepared and carried up by ,mary ,mc,leod to her mistress1 who declines to take it1 and it is taken by ,mrs4 ,taylor1 who was taken ill after partaking of it40 ,again1 as to the poisoned bit of cheese3-- 8,it is spoken to by ,mary ,mc,leod4 ,she tells you she had taken up the tray for supper1 and that on it was the cheese and other things which were placed on the table at which ,dr4 ,taylor and the other inmates of the house are sitting2 that she came out1 and that1 on returning again1 ,dr4 ,pritchard handed to her a piece of cheese to take to her mistress4 ,she did not see him cut off the piece of cheese1 but he handed it to her sitting at the table2 and it is perfectly obvious it must have been cut off the cheese eaten by the family at supper4 ,if he placed antimony upon it1 it must have been in the presence of the persons at supper--a piece of yellow cheese which must have indicated the powder of tartarised antimony1 if placed upon it4#afd--;,it was not asked if it were possible to put this tartarised antimony upon the cheese while sitting at supper4 ,i leave you to judge if it were possible4 ,it was taken up oddly enough--,i cannot help noticing the coincidence--by ,mary ,mc,leod4 ,she says she ate part of it1 and that it did her no harm2 but the residue was taken down into the kitchen and eaten by ,patterson1 and she suffered from vomiting40 ,again1 as to the poisoned egg-flip3-- 8,the doctor comes and tells his servant to prepare some1 a thing not unnatural to be taken by a person with a delicate stomach1 and for a medical man to order4 ,but it is said this was a plot for ,dr4 ,pritchard to get in his drugs in this way4 ,he supposes that he went through the dining-room and got the sugar1 and then into the consulting-room1 and then into the pantry1 and dropped the pieces of sugar1 on which he had put antimony1 into the egg4 ,does he give any proof of this8 ,does he suggest anything more than suspicion8 ,the ,crown seems to have doubted whether he could on the sugar have put in so much antimony as to have produced the effects which the servant girl says she suffered4 ,dr4 ,littlejohn thought it possible1 but he had never tried the experiment4 ,a possibility at the best--a large possibility--that he could have put in the drug4 ,was the egg-flip capable of producing the effects which are said to have been caused by it8 #8,barely possible1' according to ,dr4 ,littlejohn4 ,what is its history3 does it pass through his hands8 ,no4 ,it was left by ,patterson in the pantry1 and ,mary ,mc,leod came down for it to the kitchen4 ,she was told it was in the pantry1 and she goes up to bring it down again4 ,there1 again1 you have ,mary ,mc,leod intervening in the matter1 notwithstanding the dilemma on which the ,solicitor-,general placed his case3 she it is who carries it up to the bedroom1 and she it is who administers it to the patient who is suffering there4 ,there is another remarkable thing in this case4 ,the amount of antimony introduced must have been a very powerful dose1 because1 taking only a teaspoonful of the egg-flip as ,patterson did1 she lay vomiting and suffering all night4 ,mrs4 ,pritchard took a wine-glassful1 and vomited for about half an hour afterwards4 ,surely if a strong woman took only a teaspoonful1 and a weak woman a wine-glassful1 she would have been destroyed by the poison that had so powerful an effect on the former40#afe ,again1 with reference to the bottle of ,battley's solution found in ,mrs4 ,taylor's dress after her death1 into which it was suggested that the prisoner had put the aconite and antimony discovered in it1 said ,mr4 ,clark3-- 8,he knew1 no doubt1 that she was taking it1 but it is not in the least degree proved that he knew where it was1 in what bottle it was1 or where ,mrs4 ,taylor kept the bottle4 ,mary ,mc,leod did know1 for she bought it for ,mrs4 ,taylor4 ,but what is the ground of suggestion that aconite had been put into that bottle before ,mrs4 ,taylor had it8 ,all that you have is that ,drs4 ,maclagan and ,littlejohn say there was1 and that they were contradicted by the person who actually observed its effects4 ,and what became of this bottle8 ,it was found on her person after her death4 ,is it possible to suppose that he had the means of getting at the bottle before her death to introduce the poison8 ,how could he8 ,it was carried about her person1 and there is not the slightest suggestion that he ever had access to it2 and yet you are asked to act upon that suggestion1 because it is said1 #8,you may probably trace the administration of a medical hand4' ,no3 probabilities are not in this case4 ,it is proof1 and proof alone1 that we can go on4 ,what was the history of the bottle8 ,it was found in her clothes1 no doubt1 when the body was being dressed by ,patterson and ,nabb1 and even they did not know the very great quantity1 perhaps1 that this old lady had taken4 ,but still more1 supposing that she should take no aconite1 she had taken sufficient of the mixture to account for her death4 ,assuming that the highest mark on the bottle1 as taken by ,dr4 ,paterson1 is a correct one1 it would come to be not less than #b ounces that had been taken4 ,it was shown that the bottle was put by for some time2 but if it was taken away after the murder1 that is of very little consequence4 ,if he had put antimony in it1 would it not have been very easy for him to have thrown the bottle aside8 ,but instead of that1 we have him expressing his surprise to these two women that she had taken such a great quantity4 ,he takes away the bottle1 and brings it back again1 and there it remains until examined by ,dr4 ,penny1 who then finds that it contains some aconite and antimony4 ,but where is the shadow of a proof that he put it there8 ,the bottle was lying open--was not locked up in any way3 it remained in the house from the death of ,mrs4 ,taylor till after the prisoner was apprehended1 more than a month afterwards4 ,any person in the house might have access to it1 and yet all that can be suggested to prove that the prisoner put in this antimony and aconite before her death was contained in the observation of my learned friend1 that you could trace1 or that you could probably trace here1 the finger of a medical man40#aff ,the false statement in the certificate of death1 ,mr4 ,clark attributed to a desire of sparing the feelings of the husband4 ,he did not justify the morality of the act1 but1 looking at the circumstances1 asked the jury 8if there was any degree of guilty knowledge when he asked ,dr4 ,paterson to inform his father-in-law of the cause of death1 and he was only forced to take that step by his refusal40 ,with ,dr4 ,paterson's manner in the witness-box he naturally dealt in the most severe language of reproof and censure4 8,i do not believe10 he said1 in concluding his remarks on this witness1 8he saw any symptoms of poisoning1 or he would have acted as any other medical man would have acted--unselfishly1 nobly1 and generously in this matter4 ,and when you see that this is inconsistent with the whole conduct of the profession to which he belongs1 ,i ask you to disbelieve many of the statements he makes4 ,you cannot rely on these statements1 given with a bias1 for he tells you what is incredible1 or only credible at the loss of his own honour1 which ,i am sure he will strive studiously to guard4 ,he has become a partisan in this matter altogether1 and forgot what is due to his position and his profession4 ,all that can be said of ,dr4 ,paterson is this1--that he speaks about the prisoner1 of his mother-in-law1 and speaks further about what he said of her falling2 yet even after all1 this is merely an account of a circumstance given by him some months1 or1 if you like1 a month after the case occurred4 ,and because the prisoner made some statements not exactly consistent with the truth as now disclosed on the evidence1 are you to believe1 on ,dr4 ,paterson's statement1 and upon his statement only1 that these statements were made so as to show guilty knowledge4 ,i can quite understand that after there is proof of administration you may support that proof by evidence of falsehoods which the prisoner may tell1 if you have reliable evidence to prove that they were stated4 ,but when you have no evidence of administration of poison1 then the evidence is all the other way2 then ,i think you cannot eke out the probabilities of the case by appealing to these probabilities1 or to the falsehoods depending on evidence like that here1 as showing conclusively1 beyond a reasonable doubt1 that this prisoner was the person who committed that foul crime upon the person of his mother-in-law40 ,having thus commented on the evidence given for the prosecution on all the leading points of the case1 in masterly1 if not convincing arguments1 in conclusion the prisoner's counsel dwelt on the admitted terms of affection in which he lived with his wife and children--on the impossibility of believing in his commission of such a cold-blooded murder1 on the evidence adduced4 8,the whole evidence of the ,crown10 he said1 8hangs upon probability1 and can never justify you in believing1 in the first place1 that he was capable of committing the crime2 and1 in the second1 it is hardly conceivable that anything so unnatural should be committed by such a man40 ,,the ,,judge',s ,,charge4 ,on the fifth day1 the ,lord ,justice ,clerk summed up the evidence in this protracted trial with great minuteness1 in the course of his charge reading to the jury nearly the whole of the evidence1 and meeting the various objections to its relevancy offered by the prisoner's counsel4 ,there were three points1 he said1 for their consideration4 7#a47 ,did the two ladies1 or either of them1 die from poison8 7#b47 ,if aye1 was that poison administered for the purpose of destroying life8 7#c47 ,was it the prisoner who administered it8 ,on the first point1 after calling their attention in detail to the medical and analytical evidence in the case of ,mrs4 ,pritchard1 that she died from slow antimonial poisoning1 he said1 did not appear to have been contested by the prisoner's counsel1 and1 upon the evidence1 he did not think it admitted of a doubt4 ,as the evidence showed that it was not from a large dose of antimony taken lately before death that she had died1 the idea of accident or mistake was excluded4 ,that it might have arisen from unskilful treatment by the prisoner was negatived by his assertion that he had never administered antimony to her1 except once externally in ,october last1 which could have nothing to do with the state in which the intestines were found in ,march4 ,the idea of suicide by slow poisoning1 even if there had been any hint of a suicidal tendency on ,mrs4 ,pritchard's part1 was equally inadmissible3 she must1 if killed by antimony1 have had it administered to her for that purpose4 ,in ,mrs4 ,taylor's case1 into the details of which he fully entered1 one was almost forced to the conclusion that her death was brought about by the combined action of aconite1 antimony1 and opium4 ,as to the idea of accident in her case it was inconsistent with the fact that the ,battley's solution was pure when bought4 8,was it then10 he added1 8by accident that these two subtle poisons1 aconite and antimony1 found their way into her medicine-bottle3 if not by accident1 did she put them there herself1 or had she any knowledge of such things as to enable her1 if she were willing1 so to poison herself by using her own medicine8 ,there was no appearance of that1 and the character and conduct of the old lady1 her natural condition both of body and mind as you heard it described by the witnesses1 is such as not to suggest the idea of suicide in her case as a possibility at all4 ,consider1 then1 with reference to both deaths1 whether you can arrive at the conclusion1 or whether you can resist the conclusion1 that the poison by the means of which they were deprived of life was wilfully given to them for the very purpose of destroying life40 ,passing then to the third question1 8,was the poison of which these ladies died administered to them by the prisoner80 the ,lord ,justice ,clerk went with great minuteness through the painful details of ,mrs4 ,pritchard's long and lingering illness1 the symptoms which it exhibited1 the prisoner's misrepresentation of it as gastric fever1 when the medical men proved that there was no fever in the case1 but clear signs of antimonial poisoning1 and the various acts of the prisoner during it which were put forward as showing that he had1 and that he used1 the opportunities his position offered1 for the purpose of administering the poison4 ,the interest of this portion of the charge1 as well as of that relating to the symptoms and death of ,mrs4 ,taylor1 and the prisoner's conduct in relation to it1 depends so entirely on the judge's method of marshalling the evidence1 already reported1 that it could not be satisfactorily given except verbatim4 ,many of the remarks of the learned judge1 on these points of the evidence1 have already been reported in the notes4 ,it will therefore be sufficient to give1 here1 his remarks on the question of motive1 and on the suggestion of the prisoner's counsel with regard to ,mary ,mc,leod4 8,in regard to the matter of motive1 ,i would suggest to you that the motive that his pecuniary difficulties would be relieved by the death of ,mrs4 ,taylor1 does not seem to have been made out satisfactorily4 ,you will consider the evidence1 but ,i confess ,i do not think it worth while to set it before you again4 ,then1 the question comes to be1 was there a motive8 ,what is there in the shape of a motive that may be supposed to account for the perpetration of two such horrid crimes8 ,that is the way it was stated1 and ably stated1 by the prisoner's counsel4 ,but there are some considerations applicable to that part of the case which ,i am bound to suggest to you4 ,the absence of motive1 in the ordinary sense of the word1 is not a very uncommon thing in the experiences of a criminal court4 ,in truth1 the existence of any adequate motive for the perpetration of a great crime is a thing impossible4 ,still there may be what is called an intelligent motive--the existence of some foul passion1 or some immediate and strong excitement1 which1 in a moment of half frenzy1 drives a man to the commission of murder4 ,these are all very evident and intelligible incentives to crime4 ,but when we find that1 in the opinion of the prisoner's counsel1 there is no motive1 it means no more than this1 that the motive has not been discovered4 ,there must have been a motive or incentive1 and yet we may never discover what it was4 ,you are never in a condition to say that there was no motive1 but only that the motive was not discovered2 and the motives of human action1 we know from history and experience1 are often inscrutable4 ,another motive or incentive has been suggested--the illicit relation between himself and ,mary ,mc,leod4 ,this is a very important part of the case undoubtedly1 and one to which you are bound to give due attention4 ,the prosecution suggests that the existence of that intercourse was the reason or the desire that led him to get rid of his wife4 ,if that was the incentive1 ,i do not think there will be much difficulty in explaining the incentive to the commission of the other murder2 because her presence in the course of the chronic poisoning of his wife would have been a great obstruction and interference with his plans4#afg ,but it is for you to say whether it is a sufficient motive4 ,it is a fair question for your consideration1 and ,i should desire you to turn your minds to it very seriously2 keeping only in mind this view1 that even supposing you find it impossible to assign an intelligible motive for the commission of one or both of these murders1 the absence of evidence of motive is not sufficient reason for acquitting the prisoner1 if you are satisfied from the other evidence in the case that he was guilty4 ,motive1 after all1 can but create a presumption one way or another4 ,it is not evidence of the fact of murder1 that a man has an obvious motive to commit it2 and just as little can the absence of proof of the existence of a motive be a reason for finding the prisoner not guilty1 if the evidence of the fact of the murder be satisfactory against him40 ,again1 after having shown how no imputation could rest on the servants ,lattimer and ,patterson1 the learned judge thus dealt with the imputation thrown out by the prisoner's counsel against ,mary ,mc,leod3-- 8,he has said that there was another girl there who stands in a very different position1 and that it appears1 singularly enough1 that whenever an article of food was to be carried to ,mrs4 ,pritchard1 ,mary ,mc,leod's is the hand that bears it4 ,in short1 if ,i understand aright his theory1 it is ,mary ,mc,leod who caused these murders1 and he invites you to choose between her and the prisoner1 and to pronounce upon a balance of probabilities which of the two it was4 ,this is a very painful position for you to be placed in4 ,if it be necessary that you should decide absolutely between the two it must be done4 ,at the same time the prisoner's counsel did not seem sufficiently to advert1 in considering the point1 to the possibility that both might have been implicated1 and1 if that was so1 ,i suppose we should have little doubt which was the master and which was the servant2 and1 although the one might be the active hand that administered the poison1 if two were concerned1 you would have very little doubt who was the actor1 and who set on the other4 ,and1 in fact1 if you should arrive at this conclusion1 every article that the prisoner's counsel alluded to for the purpose of throwing the guilt on ,mary ,mc,leod would be an article of evidence to implicate the prisoner at the bar4 ,but ,i do not desire you to take this theory4 ,on the contrary1 ,i think it quite right that you should consider on the balance of probabilities1 as has been very well said1 which of the two is the perpetrator of this crime2 and in considering this1 it is necessary for you to advert to this--that the poison was administered in doses--in doses any one of which was insufficient to kill1 but which was quite sufficient1 in the agony it produced1 and by the gradual reduction of the strength of the patient1 at length to lead to a fatal termination4 ,is it conceivable that a girl of fifteen or sixteen years of age1 in the position of a servant maid1 could of herself have conceived and executed such a design1 within this house1 under the eye and subject to the vigilance of the husband of her victim1 himself a medical man8 ,that is very hard to believe4 ,on the other hand1 if you can suppose that the prisoner was the person who conceived and executed this wicked design1 it is not so difficult to believe that ,mary ,mc,leod may have been the perfectly unconscious instrument of carrying out his purpose--suspecting nothing1 knowing nothing of what was being done1 and seeing nothing but great kindness on the part of the prisoner to her mistress1 and seeing them dying1 not rapidly as in the case of ,mrs4 ,pritchard1 and though rapidly in that of ,mrs4 ,taylor1 still in a way the prisoner accounted for as a medical man4 ,you may understand easily enough that a girl in the position of ,mary ,mc,leod might be made the unconscious means of carrying out these designs1 and perfectly innocent on her part4 ,but there is no difficulty in this question4 ,if you are satisfied that murder was committed1 somebody did it4 ,some of them are plainly innocent1 and therefore the probability of guilt is reduced to two4 ,of these two1 one or both of them are guilty of this deed40 ,then with a remark on the suggestion of the prisoner's counsel1 that ,mrs4 ,taylor died of an overdose of opium in the ,battley's solution1 the learned judge left the case to the jury1 who1 after about an hour's deliberation1 found the prisoner 8,guilty10 and he was sentenced to death4 ,after his conviction1 in the hopes of exciting commiseration1 ,pritchard drew up a confession implicating ,mary ,mc,leod1 but the transparent falsehood failing to gain for it any credence1 he was induced to put forward a second1 and1 subsequently1 a third and apparently full confession of his guilt4 ,in this last he made the following statements3 8,i am guilty of the death of my mother-in-law1 ,mrs4 ,taylor1 and of my wife4 ,i can assign no motive for the conduct which actuated me1 beyond a species of #8terrible madness1' and the use of #8ardent spirits4' ,i hereby freely and fully state that the confession made on the #aath of this month 7implicating ,mc,leod7 was not true1 and ,i confess that ,i alone1 and not ,m4 ,mc,leod1 poisoned my wife in the way brought out in the evidence at the trial4 ,mrs4 ,taylor's death was caused according to the wording of the indictment and the main facts brought out at my trial4 ,i hereby fully acknowledge and now plead wholly and solely guilty thereto1 and may ,god have mercy on my soul40 ,he was executed on the #bgth of ,july1 at ,glasgow1 in the sight1 it was reported at the time1 of nearly one hundred thousand persons4 ,,the ,,richmond ,,poisoning ,,case4#afh ,before ,,the ,,lord ,,chief ,,baron ,,pollock1 at the ,,central ,,criminal ,,court1 ,july #g and #h1 and ,august #ae to #ai1 #ahei4 ,for the ,prosecution3 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,ballantine1 ,mr4 ,bodkin1 ,mr4 ,clerk1 and ,mr4 ,mereweather4 ,for the ,defence3 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,parry and ,mr4 ,giffard4 ,,first ,,trial--,july #g and #h4 ,thomas ,smethurst1 t4 #dh1 surgeon1 was indicted for the wilful murder of ,isabella ,bankes4 ,the prisoner was a person of small stature and insignificant appearance1 with reddish-brown moustaches1 probably older than he stated1 and1 though appearing careworn1 maintained great self-possession throughout the proceedings1 and especially during the second trial4 ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,case4 ,serjeant ,ballantine1 in stating the case to the jury1 said it was alleged that the prisoner took away the life of a fellow creature by poison1 and likewise contrived to throw around the means employed to destroy life some more than ordinary difficulties in the way of the detection of the crime2 that in order to effect this purpose he had availed himself of the knowledge he possessed1 and made use of a slow irritant poison1 which he had administered with his own hands1 until1 by the accumulation of poison and irritation1 she died4 ,the prisoner was represented to be a member of the medical profession3 he had considerable knowledge of medicine1 and was known as ,dr4 ,smethurst4 ,he was a married man1 and had a wife considerably older than himself now living4 ,at the time when he should first refer to ,dr4 ,smethurst1 he was living with his wife in a respectable lodging-house in ,bayswater4 ,while they were living there1 in the autumn of #aheh1 ,miss ,isabella ,bankes also came there to reside4 ,she was a lady of delicate constitution1#afi and possessed of property under her own control of between #a1gjj and #a1hjj1 and a life interest in #e1jjj1 which1 at her death1 went to other members of her family4 ,the result was that an intimacy sprung up between the parties4 ,in ,november of that year1 the landlady1 considering that there was too great intimacy between ,miss ,bankes and the doctor1 spoke to her1 and1 in consequence1 she left the house4 ,on the #ith of ,december1 ,miss ,bankes and the prisoner went through the form of marriage at ,battersea ,church1 and1 two days after1 commenced to reside at ,richmond4 ,from a letter to his wife found on him when in custody1 it was evident that the doctor did not intend this to be a permanent marriage4 ,until the #bhth of ,january1 #ahei1 nothing was heard of them2 then ,miss ,bankes's sister ,louisa received a letter from her1 but not dated from the place where they were living4 ,on the #aeth of ,february1 the sister received another letter from her4 ,at that time they were living in ,old ,palace ,gardens1 ,richmond4 ,miss ,bankes was then in good health1 but1 about the #bhth of ,march1 her illness commenced4 ,on the #crd of ,april1 ,dr4 ,smethurst determined to have medical advice4 ,the landlady advised ,dr4 ,julius1 as he and his partner1 ,dr4 ,bird1 were the most eminent practitioners in ,richmond4 ,they were accordingly called in4 ,the former treated her for diarrha1 in the usual way1 the complaint from which he understood she was suffering1 taking his account of her symptoms from ,dr4 ,smethurst4 ,dr4 ,julius all through consulted with the prisoner1 who took a most active part in the matter1 and sometimes pressed upon him the use of various medicines4 ,he1 however1 was only on two occasions allowed to be alone with his patient4 ,on the #aeth of ,april1 on the landlady at ,old ,palace ,gardens asking a few shillings more rent1 they removed to ,alma ,villas--,miss ,bankes so weak that she had to be taken in a cab and carried upstairs4 ,dr4 ,julius1 when he found that his remedies had a contrary effect to what was intended1 asked ,dr4 ,bird to see her1 but did not mention his own suspicions1 though they were very strong4 ,on the #ahth of ,april ,dr4 ,bird saw her1 prescribed for her1 but with the same result as his partner4 ,at this time she was sinking1 and becoming continually weaker4 ,on that day the prisoner wrote a letter to her sister ,louisa marked 8private and confidential40 ,it stated that her sister was very ill1 and wished to see her3 she was to ask for ,dr4 and ,mrs4 ,smethurst1 and not to breathe a word of the contents of the note to anyone4 ,the sister was not at this time aware of the marriage1 and had her own views of her sister's conduct4 ,she went1 however1 and found her sister in a very feeble state4 ,the deceased said to her1 8,oh1 don't say anything about it2 it will be all right when ,i get well1 won't it dear80 turning to ,dr4 ,smethurst1 who said1 8,yes1 it will be all right soon40 ,dr4 ,smethurst showed every kindness and attention to the deceased during her illness1 and to the time of her death she treated him with love and affection4 ,miss ,louisa1 however1 was never allowed to be for a moment alone with her sister4 ,whilst she was there the prisoner gave the patient a saline draught1 and she vomited immediately1 and complained of its bad taste4 ,miss ,louisa offered to make some tapioca1 but the prisoner objected on the ground that there was not any milk4 ,she then offered to make some arrowroot1 but again he objected on the ground that the landlady might not like it4 ,that evening the sister left1 and next day wrote to the deceased1 to which letter she received the following reply from the prisoner3--8,after your departure1 dear ,bella had a very bad evening and night of it1 purely from the excitement of seeing you1 and the fatigue consequent thereon4 ,vomiting and purging set in at a fearful rate1 which of course prostrated her greatly4 ,the doctor at once forbade any visitors for the present1 or he would not be responsible for the effects attendant thereon40 ,the prisoner had no doubt made such representations to ,dr4 ,bird as induced him to say that she had better not receive visitors for the present4 ,on subsequent days the sister received other letters from the prisoner postponing her intended visits from time to time2 describing her sister's condition1 and mentioning that he had insisted on having a consultation with 8,dr4 ,todd1 the first physician of the day1 and the two regular attendants who were the first doctors in the place40 ,one of these letters was dated ,april #cj1 but made no mention of his having on that day instructed an attorney in ,richmond to draw up a will upon what he said was a draft by a barrister in ,london1 but was really entirely in his own handwriting4 ,on the following day 7,sunday7 he called on the attorney1 and1 representing that the case was urgent1 induced him to come to the lodging1 where the will was formally executed4 ,by this will the whole of her property was left to the prisoner4#agj ,the consultation with ,dr4 ,todd took place1 and he agreed with other medical attendants that the patient was suffering from unfair treatment4 ,the prisoner1 however1 on the #bith1 wrote to the sister that ,dr4 ,todd not only acquiesced in what was being done1 but recommended a perseverance of the treatment1 with some slight additions of his own4 ,this was not the fact1 but the prisoner was not made aware of the suspicions entertained by the medical attendants4 ,they1 however1 caused the evacuations of the deceased to be tested1 and the result was so confirmatory of their views1 that they communicated with the police1 and the prisoner was arrested4 ,a number of bottles containing drugs and medicines were taken possession of1 and on his person was found the following letter to his wife1 sealed and stamped for post3-- ,monday1 ,may #b1 #ahei4 8,,my ,,dear ,,mary1--,i have not been able to leave for town as ,i expected1 in consequence of my medical aid being required in a case of illness4 ,i shall1 however1 see you as soon as possible4 ,should anything unforeseen prevent my leaving for town before the #aath1 ,i will send you a cheque for ,smith's money and extras4 ,i will send #e4 ,i am quite well1 and hope you are the same1 and that ,i shall find you so when ,i see you--which1 ,i trust1 will not be long first4 ,present my kind regards to the ,smiths and old friends in the house4 ,i heard from ,james the other day1 who said he had called on you1 but that you had gone out for a walk4 ,with best love1 believe me1 8,yours affectionately1 8,,thomas ,,smethurst40 ,the case not being1 in the opinion of the ,richmond magistrates1 strong enough to justify his committal1 the prisoner was discharged4 ,on the following day1 the #crd of ,may1 ,miss ,bankes died1 a coroner's inquest was held1 and the result was the re-arrest of the prisoner1 and his subsequent committal for wilful murder1 for which he was put on his trial on the #gth of ,july4#aga ,,evidence ,,of ,,medical ,,attendants4 ,dr4 ,julius said3-- 8,he was called in on the #crd of ,april to the deceased1 who was represented to be suffering from vomiting and diarrha4 ,the prisoner said he believed that her liver was overloaded with bile4 ,the witness prescribed accordingly1 but without any abatement of the symptoms4 ,there was no appearance of bile in the evacuations after the third or fourth day that he saw her1 yet the symptoms of diarrha and vomiting continued1 with a burning sensation in the bowels and soreness of the mouth4 ,she complained of a parching throat and a burning thirst4 ,he could not account for any of these appearances from any natural disease1 and began to entertain an opinion that something of an irritant character was being administered1 and in consequence desired that his partner1 ,dr4 ,bird1 should see her4 ,did not communicate his suspicions to ,dr4 ,bird1 who1 taking the prisoner's account of the symptoms1 and knowing the witness's prescriptions1 adopted his mode of treatment1 but with the same want of success4 ,the medicines were varied1 but the symptoms continued the same4 ,on this the witness communicated his fears to ,dr4 ,bird1 and he on further observation agreed that the patient was suffering from some irritant1 of the administration of which they knew nothing4 ,during this period the prisoner always saw the medical attendants1 and was always present in the room when they were with the patient1 and recommended or dissuaded the use of various medicines4 ,he displayed a considerable knowledge of medicine4 ,on the #bhth of ,april the patient was very ill1 and she repeatedly said to ,dr4 ,bird in the prisoner's presence that she should like some one else to be called in4 ,on the same day the prisoner 7who had always expressed a desire that the best medical advice should be obtained7 suggested that ,dr4 ,todd should be called in4 ,on ,dr4 ,todd's arrival1 witness gave him an outline of the case and treatment1 but did not say anything of the suspicions that had arisen in his mind4 ,subsequent to ,dr4 ,todd's attendance witness procured some of the evacuations1 and in consequence of the examination of them1 thought it his duty to communicate with the magistrates1 and the prisoner was arrested1 but released on his own recognizances4 ,witness was unable to ascribe the symptoms to any natural cause1 but if small doses of some irritant poison were administered from time to time1 it would have accounted for all the appearances that had exhibited themselves4 ,antimony and arsenic would be the character of poisons likely to produce such results4 ,there was neither antimony nor arsenic in any of the medicines he prescribed for her4 ,the prisoner told him that she was not in the family way4 ,dr4 ,todd had prescribed a pill containing a quarter of a grain of sulphate of copper and a quarter of a grain of opium1 to which the prisoner objected1 as the copper often produced symptoms of poisoning4 ,on the ,saturday the prisoner said this medicine had produced intense burning in the mouth and throat1 constant vomiting1 and fifteen bloody motions--that the burning was from the 8mouth to the anus40 ,in my judgment it could not have produced these effects4 ,the evacuation which ,i obtained was previous to her taking any of these pills1 as they did not arrive until afterwards4 ,when in prison ,dr4 ,smethurst wrote to me three letters for the particulars of the medicines that had been given1 which ,i answered4 ,in the first he also wished to know what solutions of arsenic were kept in our surgery1 and in the third letter ashed for the date of the prescription for antimony1 which had never been prescribed4 ,he also told me that she had been ill just a week--that previously she had been in very good health1 able to take long walks1 in fact out a good deal40 ,on his cross-examination1 ,dr4 ,julius 8,admitted that ,smethurst's communications to him of the symptoms were made in the clearest and plainest manner1 and tallied with his own observations--that twice he believed he saw the patient without the prisoner being present2 that previous to the #aeth of ,april the prisoner had suggested to the witness that ,drs4 ,hills or ,hassell should be called in1 and a different treatment--one of a very sedative character1 which the witness considered as too powerful1 and1 therefore1 gave in a more diluted form2 that witness had not1 whilst in attendance on ,miss ,bankes1 the slightest suspicion of her pregnancy1 but that1 if he had known of it1 he should not have made any difference in his treatment1 and now that he did know of it1 it made no difference in his opinion as to the cause of her death4 ,whilst admitting that the delivery of a woman who had a first child at the age of forty-three would be very critical1 he stated decidedly1 as the result of his experience1 that the period of pregnancy would be far less critical than in a younger woman4 ,vomiting was well-known to be an early--the earliest--sign of pregnancy1 but diarrha was not2 and though he had heard of a case in which it was accompanied with diarrha1 he had not heard of one in which the diarrha would not yield to any ordinary treatment1 and the life of the mother was only saved by the destruction of the ftus40#agb ,on re-examination ,dr4 ,julius stated that 8vomiting in early pregnancy had nothing to do with the burning sensation in the mouth and throat2 that the sickness of ,miss ,bankes was decidedly not of the same character as that of pregnancy1 nor was the diarrha such as pregnant women sometimes suffer from40 ,dr4 ,bird1 and not the witness1 prescribed bismuth1 acetate of lead1 and nitrate of silver4 ,dr4 ,bird1 who from service in the ,crimea in #ahee had had great experience and opportunity of studying bowel complaints1 confirmed the evidence of his partner4 8,none of the symptoms were in his opinion reconcileable with any known disease1 but were such as could be accounted for from the administration of small doses of antimony or arsenic4 ,the prisoner1 he said1 told him1 on one occasion1 that the deceased had seen her sister1 and that it had very much excited her1 and in consequence witness told him that it would be better if she did not come again4 ,on the #cjth he told the prisoner that he wished to take away a portion of one of her evacuations1 that it might be examined under the microscope to see if any purulent matter was in it1 that we might judge if there was any ulceration of the bowels--that the prisoner poured out a portion into a tumbler1 which he tied over with an old newspaper1 and that the witness took it to his surgery1 marked it ,no4 #b1 sealed it with his own seal1 and preserved it intact until delivered to ,dr4 ,taylor with the bottle ,no4 #a which ,dr4 ,julius had obtained4 ,a third portion of an evacuation was shown to him by the prisoner1 which he put into a white jam-pot1 and marked ,no4 #c4 ,he was downstairs at the moment ,miss ,bankes died1 but saw her every minute or two before that4 ,he gave an ample quantity of every ingredient used in his prescriptions so as to afford a sufficient opportunity for analyzation40 ,on cross-examination1 he described the various remedies he prescribed1 none of which would account for the symptoms1 and stated that he formed his opinion that it was a case of slow poisoning by an irritant1 not only from what ,dr4 ,julius and the prisoner told him1 but from the vomitings1 the motions1 and the lady's own account of her symptoms4 ,mr4 ,caudle1 the assistant of ,messrs4 ,julius and ,bird1 described the medicines he compounded1 and ,dr4 ,buzzard detailed the transmission of the bottles of evacuations to ,dr4 ,taylor4 ,,post-,,mortem ,,examination4 ,mr4 ,barwell1 ,assistant-,surgeon of the ,charing ,cross ,hospital1 who1 with ,mr4 ,palmer1 of ,mortlake1 made a post-mortem examination of the body on the #dth of ,may1 said3-- 8,i found the back part of the body externally of a dark purple1 being full of blood from the position in which the body lay3 ,i gathered from that that the blood was more fluid1 ,i should say1 than usual4 ,the arms were perfectly flexible2 legs very rigid2 feet bent downwards and turned in1 and the muscles at their bottoms very rigid1 indicating cramp or spasm in the lower extremities2 the abdomen drawn in and the muscles tense and hard2 the tongue rough1 and the papill more elevated than usual4 ,there were no signs of what ,i could call aphth2 the face was much emaciated and of a dull earthy colour2 lower lip drawn in under the upper teeth2 front of the body generally of this dull earthy colour2 brain perfectly healthy2 nothing wrong about the lungs--they were healthy4 ,i saw that the liver was firm1 full-sized1 rather large1 but did not then cut into it4 ,i examined the uterus1 and found the common signs of pregnancy and a ftus of somewhere between the fifth and seventh week2 the heart and great vessels connected with it were perfectly healthy4 ,i examined the liver subsequently2 it was slightly fatty1 rather fatty2 the remainder hard4 ,the liver when it becomes fatty is usually soft1 but in this instance it was hard1 and it was coloured in the usual manner--speckled4 ,gullet healthy1 no signs of inflammation on it4 ,the outside of the stomach1 the smaller end1 that nearer the intestine1 was red2 the larger end1 that where the gullet enters1 was of a dark colour2 in the centre it was pale4 ,on examining the inside of the stomach1 the narrow part or small end was also red2 at the larger end was a black patch of effused blood2 near the small end the mucous membrane was congested1 that is the other end from the black spot and near where the red was4 ,the contents of the stomach were a brown mucus mixed with blood and some bile1 ,i should say4 ,there were no ulcers in the stomach1 nor appearance of acute inflammation4 ,on the outside of the intestine ,i noticed on the #dth of ,may 7the first examination7 that its commencement was very red1 the small intestines generally were inflated and minutely injected with blood1 and in certain spots they were roughened by lymph1 the result of inflammation1 and glued together at certain turns where this lymph or glutinous inflammation was effused2 they were coherent together from that cause2 that did not apply to the entire length of the intestines1 only to a few parts1 and chiefly quite the lower parts4 ,those are the external symptoms4 ,internally1 the first part of the intestine 7the duodenum7 was inflamed for about three inches from its commencement1 but the mucous membrane was quite firm1 and there was no ulceration4 ,from that point the rest of the mucous membrane was only slightly injected1 not inflamed4 ,in the next intestine1 the jejunum1 the mucous membrane was still firm2 in places the vessels were injected with its own blood1 but this only in spots4 ,in the ilium1 or lower intestine1 there was much the same appearance at the commencement as in the last1 except that approaching the lower part the injections increased very much1 and at last1 about #c feet from its end1 the mucous membrane was greatly altered2 there was a deposit of lymph therein1 and a thickening of the membrane2 an ill-organized granular lymph2 the membrane at the same time was roughened1 and the glands1 which are in the intestine there1 were less visible than usual4 ,this deposit of lymph did not begin in the glands1 but went over the whole surface of the intestine1 and concealed the glands instead of rendering them more prominent--instead of being deposited in the glands1 was rather around them at first4 ,this brings me to the ccum4 ,on its mucous membrane were many very large spots4 ,the appearances within the ccum indicated very serious disease indeed--inflammation1 sloughing1 ulceration1 and suppuration4 ,those appearances diminished as ,i went lower down the intestines4 ,when ,i reached the termination1 the colon1 there was still ulceration1 but in a minor degree4 ,in the rectum there were three ulcerations4 ,i should also say that in the ccum were black spots of effused blood1 which were also found along the rest and in the rectum4 ,i have heard the evidence given of the symptoms exhibited during life1 and the treatment adopted4 ,taking those into consideration1 and the post-mortem appearances1 they are not reconcileable with any natural disease with which ,i am acquainted40 ,by the ,court4--8,what is the conclusion you have formed80 ,witness4--8,that the symptoms and appearances together have resulted from some irritant1 administered frequently during life40 ,in his cross-examination1 the earlier portion of which was occupied with questions to test the accuracy of the notes of his report1 the witness explained that the hardness of the liver1 which he observed1 was not a stage of ,cirrhosis1 as he had at first written in his memoranda1 8but a normal hardness1 nothing extraordinary20 that the use of the term 8hard0 did not imply that the liver was diseased1 but that the term 8fatty0 does4 ,sergeant ,ballantine4--8,i think ,i understood you to convey that there were no signs of disease about the liver1 except this fattiness80 ,witness4--8,no signs at all except that4 ,that is not a disease of a nature to affect the ccum and the intestines in any way40 ,by the ,court4--8,is it in any way connected with diarrha and vomiting80 ,witness4--8,no40 ,dr4 ,samuel ,wilks1 who had subsequently examined the intestines with ,mr4 ,barwell1 confirmed his statements as to their condition and that of the liver1 and 8should think ,miss ,bankes' death was most probably to be attributed to an irritant40 ,on cross-examination1 he allowed that 8severe dysentery produces great inflammation of the intestines1 particularly of the larger2 that inflammation1 if continued1 results in ulceration and destruction of the tissues2 that the ccum and rectum would be affected in that way by dysentery1 and that dark spots of effused blood are also a consequence of severe dysentery40 ,his admission1 however1 rested on his reading1 and not from his experience of cases of acute dysentery1 as he had seen only 8two cases1 which they were obliged to call by that name1 not being able to arrive at any other conclusion as to the cause of death40 ,,medical ,,experts ,,for ,,the ,,prosecution4 ,dr4 ,todd1 ,physician to ,king's ,college ,hospital1 was then called4 8,dr4 ,julius10 he said1 8told him the nature of the case before he saw the deceased1 but not his suspicions4 ,when he saw her he noticed a peculiar expression of countenance--an expression of terror1 as though she were under the influence of some one1 and that was not in accordance with the appearance of a patient suffering under an ordinary disease4 ,the abdomen was very hard--an indication of extensive inflammation in the stomach--and he was at once under the impression that she was suffering from some irritant poison4 ,by witness's desire an evacuation was obtained1 and he directed ,dr4 ,julius to make up the sulphate of copper and opium pills to allay irritation4 ,he had never known any bad effect produced by these medicines1 and did not think it could produce a burning sensation in the throat and stomach4 ,if the disease had been diarrha1 the medicines administered by ,dr4 ,julius were the proper ones40 ,sergeant ,ballantine4--8,from all you have heard of this case1 what in your opinion was the cause of this lady's death80 ,dr4 ,todd4--8,i believe that her death was caused by the administration of some irritant poison1 such as arsenic1 antimony1 or corrosive sublimate4 ,the only natural disease that would account for the symptoms is what would be called acute dysentery40 ,on cross-examination1 ,dr4 ,todd said3-- 8,i have never known any case or cases of early pregnancy of a woman of about forty to forty-five years of age in which there has been violent vomiting1 violent diarrha1 and severe dysentery1 which no ordinary medicines would stop1 and in which the life of the mother has only been saved by the abortion of the ftus4 ,no such cases have come under my cognizance4 ,i think it possible that excessive vomiting and great diarrha may be caused by the early stage of pregnancy1 and symptoms somewhat allied to those under which this lady died2 but ,i think it quite impossible that pregnancy alone1 in an early stage1 or in any stage1 could1 produce extensive ulceration of the bowels4 ,i think1 where it is a doubtful case1 it is conclusive evidence against the theory that the symptoms were caused by early pregnancy that you found such extensive ulceration as existed in this case40 ,dr4 ,buzzard1 who had been a staff-surgeon in the ,crimea1 ,dr4 ,copland1 and ,dr4 ,bowerbank1 who had had great experience of acute dysentery in tropical climates1 gave it as their opinion that the symptoms were not reconcileable with that disease1 but were those of the presence of irritant poison4 ,dr4 ,babington1 ,physician to ,queen ,charlotte's ,lying-in ,hospital1 who had attended more than #b1jjj women in their confinement1 did not consider that the death was in any way attributable to the fact of her being in an incipient state of pregnancy4 ,on cross-examination1 whilst admitting that cases of violent vomiting and diarrha in early pregnancy are recorded1 said that he did not remember any one of so severe a character as to endanger life2 that he did not think that the lady's advanced stage of life had anything to do with it2 that it was a complication generally at a later period of pregnancy2 and that a first pregnancy between #dj and #de years of age was not more critical in the early stage4 ,on re-examination1 with reference to six cases of dysentery1 in #ahda1 in which he had made post-mortem examinations1 he said3-- 8,there was not the same amount of sloughing of the ccum as in this case1 nor destruction of the mucous membrane4 ,the glands were in a different condition4 ,in the dysentery cases1 the glands were quite destroyed1 and in three of the cases there was perforation of the intestine4 ,the symptoms in all six were different to those in this case2 there was no burning sensation of the throat40 ,,analytical ,,evidence4 ,dr4 ,alfred ,swaine ,taylor4--8,on the #ast of ,may10 said the witness1 8,mr4 ,buzzard called on me1 and brought me two bottles1 which he said contained matters he wished me to examine4 ,i took about two drachms from one of these bottles 7,no4 #b71 and having first examined the test and the vessel to be employed1 and ascertained that they were pure1 ,i then made the test1 and discovered a metallic deposit on the copper wire1 which1 in my opinion1 indicated the presence of arsenic or antimony2 but ,i could not speak to the exact metal4 ,i did not proceed further at that time1 as ,i desired to have the authority of a magistrate4 ,bottle ,no4 #b was then resealed in my presence by ,mr4 ,buzzard1 and taken away by him with bottle ,no4 #a4 ,after he left1 as ,i was told that it was necessary to do something to save the life of a living person1 though it was ,sunday1 ,i proceeded with my experiment by boiling copper gauze in the remainder of the liquid in the tube1 and on examining it with a microscope1 saw appearances closely resembling metallic arsenic2 and ,i then heated a portion of the gauze covered with metal in a tube1 and obtained crystals of arsenic 7wire gauze with the crystals on it produced74 ,if you take the tube out1 under the microscope the crystals are perfectly clear2 in this little sediment1 if you put it against a dark cloth1 you will see a little ring of crystals--it is quite plain in the sun light4 ,i subsequently applied the test of nitrate of silver and nitric acid to crystals obtained in the same way1 and the result convinced me that they were composed of arsenic4 ,next day ,dr4 ,buzzard brought back the bottles with the magistrate's order4 ,i then proceeded with the examination of both bottles1 and the result perfectly satisfied me that ,i was correct in discovering arsenic in bottle #b4 ,my calculation was that there must have been at least a quarter of a grain mixed with the four ounces of matter in bottle #b4agc ,there was no trace of mercury1 bismuth1 or antimony1 but ,i did discover the presence of copper by a subsequent test2 but only such a trace of it as might be accounted for from the copper pill taken on the #bith4 ,i examined the evacuation1 and came to the conclusion that it was such as would pass from a person who had taken arsenic1 and ,i immediately advised that the antidote for arsenic1 hydrate of magnesia1 should be administered4 ,i subsequently examined the other bottle1 and found that it did not contain any poison or any metallic matter whatever4 8,on the #eth and #gth of ,may ,inspector ,mc,intyre brought me a portion of the viscera of a human being1 which ,i subsequently submitted to chemical examination4 ,the officer also gave me a number of bottles1 and several pill boxes which ,i numbered1 and subsequently some more4 ,there were altogether twenty-eight2 and on the #adth of ,may others which ,i also numbered4 ,in none of the twenty-eight1 omitting ,nos4 #e and #ba1 did ,i discover anything at all necessary you should be acquainted with4 ,i examined them for arsenic4 ,i then examined the bottles containing the viscera3--first1 the uterus1 which ,i did not analyse1 but agree with ,mr4 ,barwell as to its impregnation2 then the sophagus1 or gullet1 in which there were indications of some cause of irritation1 but no arsenic or antimony2 then the stomach1 containing yellowish fluid with blood1 and found antimony in two distinct places in the small intestines2 the middle portion of the small intestines contained the largest quantity1 the other part was above and below2 some was found above and below that and some in the ccum2 altogether the amount found in the stomach was very small4 ,in one kidney and in the blood of the heart there were traces of antimony1 and in the blood in the jar4 ,i was assisted by ,dr4 ,odling1 and we came to the conclusion that the quantity did not exceed from a quarter to half a grain4 ,i found the appearance of the stomach and ccum such as ,mr4 ,barwell has described4 ,i then examined the medicines prescribed by ,dr4 ,julius1 and found them to contain the ingredients of which they were represented to be composed4 ,i then examined bottle ,no4 #e1 and found it to contain #cee grains of chlorate of potash1 and free from anything else4 ,that bottle has been accidentally broken in half4 ,i then examined another bottle1 ,no4 #ba1 which appeared to contain a clear watery liquid of a saline taste1 and ,i tested a portion of the contents by ,reintsch's test1 and upon first trying the copper it was entirely consumed4#agd ,i made a further examination which led me to conclude that there was arsenic in the solution1 but it turned out that ,i was mistaken1 and that it did not contain either arsenic or antimony1 and that the arsenical appearances originally produced came from the copper gauze4 ,by the destruction of the gauze the arsenic in it was set free1 and this destroyed the effect of the experiment4 ,the quantity of arsenic that ,i discovered1 ,i should say1 was less than half a grain4 ,in the experiment ,i made with this bottle1 the arsenic was deposited by myself4 ,dr4 ,odling also came to the same conclusion--that the bottle contained arsenic1 and we both stated that fact in our examination before the magistrates and the coroner1 but we were1 of course1 mistaken4 ,we believed1 no doubt1 at the time1 that the arsenic we found was in the bottle which contained chlorate of potash--a cooling mixture4 ,i have used the same description of gauze for many years1 and have never before found arsenic in it4 ,i shall certainly continue to use it1 but shall take care not to do so with chlorate of potass40 ,serjeant ,parry here called for the deposition of ,dr4 ,taylor made before the magistrates1 a portion of which was read4 ,it stated that he had discovered arsenic in bottle ,no4 #ba1 in which there was chlorate of potass2 that the latter was a harmless saline mixture acting upon the kidneys1 and that if poison had been given in it1 its effect would probably be to carry off the noxious ingredient from the body very quickly1 but that by repetition constantly of such a proceeding chronic inflammation would be created which would yield to no treatment1 and would end in the death of the patient from exhaustion4 ,dr4 ,taylor then continued3-- 8,at the time ,i gave this evidence ,i firmly believed that arsenic was contained in the mixture and that it had not come from my test1 but had been placed there by some one4 ,when before the coroner ,i expressed my opinion that the death was referable to antimony and arsenic4 ,the finding of the arsenic in the bottle did not have any effect upon the opinion ,i subsequently formed with reference to the case4 ,the moment ,i discovered the mistake ,i had made ,i informed ,serjeant ,ballantine4 ,no arsenic was found in the body of deceased4 ,i did not form my theory to account for the absence of arsenic from the tissues of the body1 that it had been carried off by the chlorate of potass4 ,it did not enter into my consideration beyond this1 that it acts generally as a diuretic4 ,after ,dr4 ,odling and myself had given our evidence relative to finding the arsenic in the bottle of chlorate of potass1 we thought it was possible there might be some mistake1 and we made other experiments to satisfy ourselves4 ,we made seventy-seven experiments with the same kind of gauze1 and in seventy-six no arsenic was discovered3 and the only instance in which it was found was in the evacuation in bottle #b40 ,the witness also said that he could not1 after hearing the symptoms and the treatment of the deceased1 attribute the death to any other cause than the administration of some irritant poison4 ,this witness was also cross-examined at considerable length as to the symptoms of slow poisoning by arsenic and by antimony1 in which he agreed with the previous witnesses1 adding to their evidence the fact of its operation in causing enlargement of the liver1 and the deposit of fat in it4 ,hence the use of sulphide of antimony to fatten the geese used in ,strasburg1 in the manufacture of ,perigord ,pies4 ,on the subject of dysentery he could not speak1 having ceased to practise as a medical man1 and confined his attention to analyses4 ,on re-examination1 ,dr4 ,taylor said that 8the half grain of copper1 given in the pill during life1 would not by any action of any acid in the stomach account for the quantity of arsenic found in the evacuation2 that he had examined and found no arsenic in the copper pills2 and that though arsenic was found in the sulphate of copper taken from the surgery1 there was not a quantity to be seen2 there was no arsenic in the bismuth1 and no antimony in the medicines4 ,arsenic is sometimes found in bismuth40 ,dr4 ,odling1 ,professor of ,practical ,chemistry at ,guy's ,hospital1 who had assisted ,dr4 ,taylor in his experiments1 #b0;confirmed ,dr4 ,taylor's account in every respect1 and expressed himself satisfied that there was antimony in the body of the deceased4 ,he agreed also in attributing the death to the administration of some irritant poison1 and did not know any natural disease that would account for the symptoms spoken of40 ,william ,thomas ,brande1 formerly ,professor of ,chemistry to the ,royal ,institution1 and for fifty years engaged in the practice of chemistry1 8had examined a portion of the liquid 7the chlorate of potass71 and come to the conclusion that it did not contain arsenic4 ,reinsch's test for arsenic was reliable where chlorate of potass was not present40 8,our first object10 said the witness1 on cross-examination1 8was to get rid of the chlorate of potass1 or to decompose it so as to render it inert1 which we did2 and we then examined the liquid in question1 and found no arsenic in it40 ,to the ,court4--8,i was not aware that ,reinsch's test would be inapplicable to such a compound1 and if ,i had applied it1 and the result appeared as it did to ,drs4 ,taylor and ,odling1 ,i should have come to the same conclusion1 that there was arsenic in the substance4 ,the matter that has appeared since is to a certain extent new to the chemical world4 ,we have always been aware of the presence of very minute quantities of arsenic in copper1 but we have never considered it as interfering in any way until this particular case40#age ,,medical ,,and ,,analytical ,,evidence ,,for ,,the ,,defence4 ,it will be convenient1 as in the previous trials1 to report at this period the medical and analytical evidence offered on the part of the prisoner1 subsequent to the address of ,serjeant ,parry4 ,this was devoted to the following points3 7#a71 the absence of some of the well-known symptoms in slow poisoning by arsenic or antimony1 or by both2 7#b71 the similarity of the symptoms in this case to those exhibited in cases of acute dysentery2 7#c71 the occurrence of severe diarrha1 with vomiting in the early stages of pregnancy2 7#d71 that the non-discovery of either arsenic or antimony in the tissues of the body could not be due to its being given in1 or with chlorate of potass2 7#e71 the probability that both the arsenic and the antimony found in the evacuations and intestines might be due to the presence of arsenic in the bismuth1 and of antimony in the grey powders administered as medicines4 ,in support of these opinions four doctors and analysts1 all belonging to what was known as the ,grosvenor ,school of ,medicine1 were examined1 two of whom 7,dr4 ,richardson and ,mr4 ,rodgers7 had given evidence for ,palmer at his trial1 ,dr4 ,richardson then suggesting that ,cook's symptoms were reconcileable with an attack of ,angina pectoris1 and ,mr4 ,rodgers supporting the view that if strychnia had been given to ,cook1 it must have been discovered in his body by chemical analysis4 ,dr4 ,richardson1 after generally asserting that the symptoms in ,miss ,bankes' case were not in the main reconcileable with either slow arsenical or antimonial poisoning1 or both1 enumerated the following as absent if it was a case of slow antimonial and arsenical poisoning3-- 8#ast1 the inflammation of the conjunctival membrane of the eye2 #bnd1 soreness of the inner surface of the nostril2 #crd1 a skin disease peculiar to arsenical poisoning2 #dth1 excoriation1 amounting to absolute destruction1 possibly1 of the surface at the orifice of the mucous tracts1 the mouth1 the anus1 the lips1 and the vagina--and1 lastly1 and1 in his opinion1 the most important1 the absence of the peculiar nervous symptoms which he should expect to find which characterise arsenical poisoning--frequent convulsions of a violent kind1 in many cases2 or in others1 where the symptoms may be prolonged1 tremor of the whole limbs1 a suppressed convulsion in fact4 ,although he should not expect to find all these symptoms in a case of arsenical poisoning1 he believed it to be quite impossible that a case of arsenical poisoning could exist from which they would all be absent4--,the results of the post-mortem0 he said1 8were inconsistent with arsenical poisoning1 because the inflammation that would establish it was most demonstrated in the part ordinarily most free in such poisoning--that1 had it been a case of arsenical poisoning1 arsenic must have been found in the tissues1 and1 had it been given in chlorate of potass1 the whole of it would not have been eliminated4 ,he based this opinion on an experiment he had lately made on a large dog1 to which in sixteen days he had given #ah grains of arsenic and #cfe of chlorate of potass1 in small doses1 two or three times a day1 and then killed and examined and chemically analysed in conjunction with ,dr4 ,thudichum and ,dr4 ,webb1 two of the witnesses for the defence4 ,in this animal he found arsenic in the liver1 lungs1 and heart1 a trace in the spleen and in the kidneys1 but the greater part in the liver4 ,he could venture to say that he found half a grain40 ,the ,judge4--8,give me leave to say1 that the value of this experiment is nothing if you give a dog arsenic day by day for sixteen days1 and then it is killed1 and some arsenic is found left in it2 is that all it proves80 ,witness4--8,no2 it was done to prove whether the chlorate would eliminate the arsenic as fast as it was given40 ,the ,judge4--8,all that the experiment proves is1 that chlorate of potass does not eliminate the whole of the arsenic1 because it eliminated all but half a grain40 ,the witness then went on to show1 by experiments on two other dogs1 that the administration of chlorate made no difference either as regards symptoms1 pathology1 or the chemical result4 ,speaking again of the sweating as one of the symptoms in antimonial poisoning absent in ,miss ,bankes' case1 he admitted that he had seen it only in one case1 and that1 where it had been given in excess1 for a long time1 and in large doses medicinally1 and that in two other cases of acute poisoning by antimony there was no particular eruption1 because1 as he said1 the attack was not long enough4 ,such was all the experience he had had in cases of slow poisoning4 ,as to the effects of antimony on the liver1 he could only speak from some experiments on animals in #ahef-g1 and that1 in reality1 he had no experience at all in slow poisoning1 except from experiments on animals4 ,of dysentery1 too1 he knew very little2 had seen two or three cases1 but had never met with it in the early stage of pregnancy2 he had met with one between the third and fourth month1 but not between the fifth and seventh week4 ,he had analysed the bismuth usually administered in medicine1 and had found nearly half a grain of arsenic in an ounce1 and1 in a case in which #ij grains of that drug had been given at the rate of #e grains three times a day--for dyspepsia--with ,drs4 ,thudichum and ,webb he found about the fiftieth of a grain of arsenic in the urine4 ,the cross-examination of this witness was mainly occupied by questions about his evidence on ,palmer's trial1 and in trying to elicit from him that these canine experiments had been made for the purposes of the present case4 ,the latter he denied1 but admitted that he had made them after reading the examinations before the magistrate and the coroner1 and that though he did not communicate them to the prisoner1 he talked about them so frequently to his colleagues at the ,grosvenor ,school1 that he was not surprised at being interviewed by the prisoner's solicitor and asked to give evidence for his client4 ,as to his evidence on ,palmer's trial1 he maintained that he did not endorse the theory that ,cook died of ,angina pectoris2 that he did not negative the idea of strychnia1 but at last admitted that he could not deny that he went there to support the theory of ,angina pectoris4#agf ,in the cases of the dogs his analysis was not quantitative3 he was content with the fact that the arsenic was present4 ,he negatived the idea that the of a grain of copper in the pill would produce a burning sensation from the mouth to the anus1 but admitted that any irritant given for a long time would unquestionably produce that effect4 ,the form of dysentery to which a lady with such a liver as ,miss ,bankes' would be subject1 would be subacute1 not that arising from poison1 but which is prolonged over a very considerable time3 not chronic1 but something between chronic and acute1 but too severe to be strictly chronic2 that would not harden the coats of the stomach2 would produce a great deal of mischief in the bowels2 would not thicken them1 but probably lead to a deposit of false membrane3 it would not harden them1 but a false membrane would2 if there was great congestion1 the wall would be thicker4 ,he had not acted as an accoucheur since #ahed1 but was of opinion that sickness accompanied by dysenteric diarrha1 in the early stage of pregnancy1 might have been the cause of all the appearances exhibited in this case4 ,diarrha was sometimes an incident of and caused by pregnancy2 the opposite effect1 constipation1 was not more usual4 ,on re-examination1 the witness qualified his admission as to the effect of the copper pill to this extent1 that1 8in a patient suffering from violent irritation1 arising either from a natural or mechanical cause1 sulphate of copper would have a tendency to increase that irritation2 and he justified his reliance on the experiments on animals on their forming the great bulk of scientific knowledge in ,europe on the subject of poisons and their operation on the human frame1 and by the fact that the materials for forming a judgment of the effects of slow antimonial poisoning on the human subject were very bare10 and concluded by saying1 that1 8after his cross-examination1 and his attention having been called to all the points deemed important1 he still adhered to his opinion that the deceased lady might have died from natural causes40 ,dr4 ,j4 ,e4 ,d4 ,rodgers1 ,professor of ,chemistry in ,knowle ,college1 but for seventeen years at the ,grosvenor ,school1 agreed with ,dr4 ,richardson that chlorate of potass would have no effect in eliminating arsenic or antimony from the human system2 that the absence of arsenic or antimony from the tissues1 and especially from the liver1 would cause him to doubt whether the allegation of poisoning was correct1 and that he did not think it possible to find it in the blood and not in the liver1 8as the blood in the heart must be regarded as a sample of the whole #bh lbs4 circulating in the system1 and1 if you find the poison in one small portion1 you must find it wherever the blood flows40 ,he confirmed the amount of arsenic said to be in bismuth1 and had found antimony in grey powder3 should expect to find1 in a case of slow poisoning1 the symptoms spoken to by ,dr4 ,richardson1 and1 if he did not find any arsenic in a body from which an evacuation containing one-sixth of a grain came1 it would lead him to doubt whether the experiment had been correct4 ,dr4 ,j4 ,l4 ,w4 ,thudichum1 ,lecturer on ,chemistry at the ,grosvenor ,school1 and a pupil of ,liebig's1 attributed the death to what he called diphtheritic dysentery1 of which he had seen two cases1 and1 on opening the body in one case1 found the false membrane from which the disease takes its name4 ,the only medical work in which he had seen this form of dysentery described was ,rokitansky's ,morbid ,anatomy4#agg ,it was not1 however1 at all necessary to find the false membrane1 as it might be broken up and discharged1 and hearing that shreddy matters were found in the evacuations1 would confirm his view4 ,he quite concurred with the previous witnesses as to the symptoms they would expect to find in a case of slow arsenical or antimonial poisoning4 ,he had analysed grey powder and bismuth4 ,in the former he found caustic and carbonate of lime1 mercury partly oxidised1 silica1 with phosphate of iron1 arsenic and antimony--more arsenic than antimony2 in the bismuth he found both arsenic and antimony--more than a trace--enough to answer the test two or three times--an appreciable quantity4 8,i dare say10 he said1 8there was half a grain in #bj grains4 ,it is almost necessary1 from the mode of its preparation1 that it should contain arsenic40 ,on cross-examination1 the witness admitted that he had not made any quantitative analysis1 because they were so laborious2 had used in his experiment about one-sixteenth of #b ounces of the grey powder1 which he dissolved2 neither the grey powder nor the bismuth had anything to do with the death of ,miss ,bankes1 but the fact of bismuth containing arsenic might account for the traces in the evacuation1 and if antimony was taken in a medicine it might account for the analysis1 but this would depend upon the quantity in the medicine4 ,dr4 ,cornelius ,webb1 ,lecturer on ,medical ,jurisprudence and ,toxicology at the ,grosvenor ,school1 and ,physician to the ,great ,northern ,hospital1 said3-- 8,from all he had heard deposed to in court he was of opinion that the deceased died from natural causes that might be accounted for--that the fact of her being in an early state of pregnancy ought most decidedly to be taken into consideration2 though he did not know of a case1 he was of opinion1 founded on practical experience and general knowledge1 that severe vomiting and severe diarrha which would not yield to ordinary treatment may arise from an early state of pregnancy--that ,miss ,bankes died from dysentery1 made worse by the condition of early pregnancy1 and that a burning sensation in the mouth is consequent upon dysentery1 and the diarrha and vomiting of pregnancy4 ,all the symptoms in her case might arise from the vomiting and diarrha of pregnancy4 ,the ulceration in the stomach1 obliteration and partial destruction of the mucous membrane1 the effusion of blood under it1 and the dark patchy spots and ulcers and injection generally of the membrane might1 as ,dr4 ,wilkes said1 arise from dysentery4 ,if the deceased at one time had an affection of the womb1 for which she used nitrate of silver 7a pint bottle of this was found in her room71 it would indicate ulceration of the neck of the womb2 and if there had been such a condition of the womb an appreciable time before pregnancy1 it might add to the irritation of pregnancy4 ,unless he found other symptoms1 the vomiting1 diarrha1 sensation of the throat and the intestinal canal1 accompanied by ulcerous appearances in parts of the body1 would not1 in his judgment1 necessarily lead to the conclusion that she must be the subject of irritant poisoning--unless he found other symptoms1 it would not enter his head4 ,in a case of antimonial poisoning he should expect to find a clamminess and cold perspiration of the skin4 ,in arsenical poisoning he should expect to find arsenic in the kidneys and the spleen1 as well as the liver2 should expect to find it in the liver first--it is the great criterion4 ,and from the absence of these symptoms and appearances in this case1 he was fortified in his opinion that she died from natural causes40 ,the cross-examination of this witness was mainly directed to his assertion that1 8in such a case as this1 had he been called in at its early stage1 notwithstanding he was told that she was not pregnant1 and that her courses were in order1 he should have examined the patient for pregnancy1 especially if he found that the remedies were useless in stopping the vomiting and diarrha40 8,dysentery10 he said1 8was a most common disease1 and in such a state as ,miss ,bankes was1 the quarter-of-a-grain copper pill might increase the irritation4 ,diphtheritic dysentery was a form of idiopathic dysentery1 that is1 occurring without any particular poison--the ,eastern form2 there is a dysentery that arises from natural poison1 just the same as fever4 ,if ,i had been acquainted with all the symptoms ,i have heard described in court1 ,i should not have dreamt of poison40 ,dr4 ,g4 ,f4 ,girdwood1 who had delivered upwards of #c1jjj women1 strongly supported the view of the death being due to the effects of dysentery1 combined with pregnancy4 8,idiopathic dysentery would be its proper name--a special disease originating in itself1 one single malady1 one single suffering4 ,he had had several cases of dysentery at early stages of pregnancy1 one of them very severe1 in fact1 contemporaneous with it--he should say symptomatic of pregnancy3 this would be much aggravated by a bilious temperament1 and any affection of the liver40 ,on cross-examination the witness explained that 8in this country idiopathic dysentery assumed a less severe form than in warm climates--was what is called subacute or chronic1 and that the state of the ccum indicated a case of subacute1 not of severe dysentery1 of prolonged dysentery1 and that it did not necessarily follow that such a case should commence with febrile symptoms40 ,on re-examination he stated1 that 8in early pregnancy the dysenteric motions have become bloody1 the sign of dysentery which may come on immediately or not2 in a day or two in acute dysentery1 the result of neglected diarrha4 ,subacute dysentery is frequently the result of neglected diarrha1 or chronic dysentery--you have acute1 subacute1 and chronic40 ,mr4 ,james ,edmunds1 ,surgeon to the ,royal ,maternity ,charity1 cited a case in his own practice of a woman of about forty years of age1 who had been married ten or twelve years1 and who in her pregnancy suffered from vomiting1 purging1 and severe pain in her abdomen1 and who1 from the post-mortem examination which he made1 he was convinced died of dysentery1 complicated by vomiting and irritability of the stomach attributable to pregnancy1 and purging attributable to dysentery4 8,purging10 he said1 8was often a symptom at an early stage of pregnancy1 and often of impending labour40 ,on cross-examination1 however1 he admitted that when he first attended this woman1 when the symptoms first began1 she had been pregnant five or six months4 ,dr4 ,tyler ,smith1 the last medical witness called for the defence1 in practice for fifteen years as an accoucheur1 said that 8,he was acquainted with cases in which excessive vomiting in pregnancy had caused death--where it went on after pregnancy had commenced1 sometimes during the whole period1 but these were exceptional cases4 ,it would require considerable skill to determine accurately the age of a ftus1 as you may have a case in which it may die and remain in utero without development1 though no decomposition takes place4 ,he had known one case in which there was a great amount of vomiting and some amount of purging1 in which the friends of the lady could not be brought to believe that her husband was not poisoning her4 ,these symptoms might become so violent as to be mistaken for a case of poisoning2 the expression on the face in such cases was that of death by starvation40 ,on cross-examination1 he admitted that though he had seen cases of death in pregnancy from vomiting conjoined with purging1 he believed the vomiting to be the great cause of death1 and that ordinarily1 if dysentery is excessive1 abortion is produced4 ,on re-examination1 he said 8that in the case of a woman of from forty to forty-five years of age1 doses of irritant poison were more likely to procure abortion than idiopathic disease40 ,to a question by a juryman1 he said1 8any irritating medicine would tend to keep up dysentery40 ,with the evidence of a dentist 7,pedley7 who had attended the prisoner about the middle of ,february last1 and recommended the use of chlorate of potass for foulness of breath1 the evidence for the defence was closed4 ,,the ,,judge',s ,,charge4 ,the ,lord ,chief ,baron1 in his address to the jury1 which occupied eight hours and a half1 and of which1 therefore1 only the leading points can be given1 said3-- 8,as to the marriage of the prisoner and the deceased--though in itself a breach of the law and a felony--the jury ought not to allow it to have any weight1 excepting so far as it operated1 with the other facts in the case1 upon the question whether the prisoner was guilty or innocent of the more serious crime laid to his charge4 ,it appeared to him that it was a most important subject for their consideration--the position of the deceased at the time the fatal event occurred1 and also what she believed to be her position with the prisoner4 ,in the letter she wrote to her sister she stated she was happy1 and she also told her sister when she first saw her during her illness1 that when she got well all would be right4 ,what did she mean by that expression1 and what would have become of the prisoner if she had got well1 he having a wife living8 ,in the will that had been made by the deceased1 she appeared to have been studiously called #8spinster1' and she signed her name1 #8,isabella ,bankes1' and how she could have done this1 knowing that she had gone through the ceremony of marriage with the prisoner1 and might1 therefore1 naturally have supposed herself entitled to the name of #8,smethurst1' was certainly a very mysterious and extraordinary circumstance4#agh ,he could not help observing on the circumstances under which the will was made4 ,the prisoner had certainly told ,mr4 ,senior a falsehood1 and he did not appear to scruple to degrade most seriously the unhappy lady for the purpose of having the will prepared in the form he required4 ,if he had told the attorney the truth1 he would never have drawn the will in the form in which it appeared4 ,again1 at the very period when this unhappy woman was lying in agony on her death-bed1 and according to the prisoner's statement unable to bear the excitement of seeing her sister1 he took into her room on the ,sunday an entire stranger1 and there a will prepared by himself was read to her1 and executed by her under the circumstances of degradation to which he had alluded4 ,thus this poor dying woman1 from whom all her relations had been excluded1 had a stranger thrust into her presence1 and was allowed to pass into the other world without one word of religious consolation1 as if she had been a beggar and an unbeliever in a heathen land4 ,again1 as to the pecuniary motive1 on the supposed inadequacy of which counsel had commented because she would have been entitled to receive the interest of the #ejjj 7#aej7 only during her lifetime1 it should not be forgotten that by her will he would be at once in the possession of a sum equal to twelve years' purchase of that dividend40 8,the illness of the deceased appeared to have commenced very soon after the parties arrived at ,richmond2 the prisoner appeared to have described it as a bilious attack2 he undoubtedly appeared desirous to have additional medical aid1 and ,dr4 ,julius was in consequence called in4 ,in both the lodgings he appeared to have performed all the offices that were necessary in connection with the patient1 although it was perfectly clear that he had ample means for providing the necessary attendance4 ,the jury would consider what bearing this had on the case4 ,did he refuse to have a nurse because he did not wish to have a witness in that bedroom8 ,he not only refused to have a nurse1 but he wrote to the deceased's sister to prevent her from visiting her sister4 ,he said that he could not afford a nurse1 yet at this very time the deceased had an income of at least #bbj a year4 ,it also appeared that no portion of any of the food given to the deceased was allowed to remain2 it was always thrown away1 so that no person ever had an opportunity of tasting it4 ,this was one of the facts of the case1 from which the jury would draw their own inference4 ,it was a fact in favour of the prisoner that neither arsenic nor antimony was found at his lodgings or on his person4 ,he had1 however1 ample opportunity between his discharge on the ,monday and his re-arrest on the following day1 of getting rid of any poison1 and if the jury thought that the deceased really died of poison1 the fact that none was found in the prisoner's possession would not have much weight4 8,after the first interview1 the prisoner had taken every means in his power to prevent the deceased from seeing her sister1 on the ground that the doctor forbade it#agi--which was not true4 ,why was not the sister informed on the #cjth1 when she was allowed to see the deceased again1 that she had made a will1 and what could be the object of the prisoner in wishing that the young woman who was to witness the will should be told it was a #8,chancery paper' and not a will8 ,the fact of the sister having been sent away on the day before the death1 was probably more in connection with the will1 and from fear lest the deceased should1 at the last moment1 revoke it in favour of a beloved sister1 than with the actual death--but it was a fact in the case4 ,it was also a fact in the case1 that after the prisoner ceased to attend on the deceased she ceased to vomit1 and that the prisoner said that as the parties about the deceased had interfered1 he should take no further responsibility1 nor pay for anything1 though at that time he had money of the deceased's at his bankers4#ahj ,it was another fact to be considered that the draft of the will was entirely in the prisoner's handwriting1 and that there was no evidence that it was drawn by a barrister as he represented40 ,on the medical testimony1 the ,chief ,baron said3-- 8,the medical witnesses called for the defence thought the symptoms of this case inconsistent with slow poisoning1 and that had arsenic or antimony been the cause of death1 some portions of those substances would have been found in the body4#aha ,these statements were1 however1 the opinions of scientific men1 the result of reading and study1 and the jury would have to consider how far it weighed against the evidence of those scientific witnesses who had seen the patient when living1 and had observed personally all the symptoms that manifested themselves4 ,the medical men first called in found themselves baffled by the disease2 the medicines not only did not alleviate the symptoms1 but did not produce even their natural effects4 ,they1 therefore1 came to the conclusion that something was being administered which counteracted their medicines4 ,dr4 ,todd1 one of the most eminent physicians of the day1 was called in1 and came to the same conclusion4 ,these gentlemen1 and other competent witnesses1 who had not seen the patient while living1 were equally of opinion that the symptoms were not ascribable to any natural causes2 but were those which would arise from the administration of an irritant poison4 ,the counsel for the prisoner had laid much stress upon the mistake made by ,dr4 ,taylor in one of his tests1 and asked them to dismiss ,dr4 ,taylor's evidence from their consideration4 ,he did not agree with this4 ,the failure of ,dr4 ,taylor's analysis in one instance arose from a new and hitherto unknown fact in science1 and did not in any way invalidate his testimony4#ahb ,it appeared to him that no answer had been given to the main point urged by the prosecution--that no medicine whatever had the slightest effect upon the malady under which the deceased was suffering4 ,he did not agree with the prisoner's counsel1 that the real question for the jury was to consider which set of medical witnesses were entitled to credit4 ,the medical evidence was important1 but the jury must1 in addition1 look at all the other facts of the case1 and particularly to the conduct of the prisoner and the motives for his crime4 ,they must1 after all1 be guided by those rules of common sense that would operate on the minds of reasonable men with regard to the more important actions of their lives2 and even supposing that there were no medical testimony at all in the case1 they would still have1 as it appeared to him1 a very grave question to decide with reference to the guilt or innocence of the prisoner40 ,the jury1 after deliberating for twenty minutes1 returned a verdict of 8,guilty40 ,when the prisoner1 who appeared thunder-struck at the verdict1 was called upon to say why sentence of death should not be passed on him1 he speedily recovered his self-possession1 and addressed the ,court in a powerful1 though rambling speech1 in which he attempted to explain away some portions of his conduct1 strongly asserted his innocence1 and denounced ,dr4 ,julius1 against whom he appeared to entertain a bitter animosity4 ,again1 when the usual sentence had been passed upon him1 which he heard without emotion1 he denounced ,dr4 ,julius as his murderer1 and declared that 8he was innocent before ,god40 ,no sooner was the verdict given than its correctness was questioned alike by the legal and the medical profession1 each discussing it within its own domain1 the doctors confining themselves too exclusively to the conflict of medical testimony1 the lawyers confining their disputes too exclusively to the collateral facts of the case4 ,such1 however1 was the discussion between the two professions1 that the ,home ,secretary 7,sir ,g4 ,cornewall ,lewis7 deemed it advisable to reprieve the culprit until the case had undergone deliberate revision4 ,by the account given by ,mr4 ,justice ,stephen1 based on the notes and papers of the late ,lord ,chief ,baron1 it would appear that1 in addition to the numerous letters 7some very foolish on both sides7 sent to him1 and transmitted by him to the ,home ,secretary1 two communications1 described as 8somewhat hastily prepared10 were forwarded from ,dr4 ,baly and ,dr4 ,jenner4 ,these urged that 8sufficient weight had not been given to the fact of the pregnancy and the ambiguous character of the symptoms10 and1 some of the letters added1 8their inconsistency and incompatibility with poison40 ,as the reasons on which these 8somewhat hastily prepared communications0 were based are not divulged1 it is impossible to judge of their value4 ,the learned ,judge1 on the contrary1 called the ,home ,secretary's attention to the statement in the memorial to the ,prince ,consort 7already quoted1 note1 p4 #dgd71 to certain entries in ,smethurst's diary1 not proved at the trial1 and not now given1 showing that he had wilfully misstated the symptoms of the patient1 and to a statement in a letter of ,mr4 ,herapath in the ,times that the quantity of arsenic extracted from the chlorate of potass was larger than could have been released from the copper gauze4 7,see ,chapter ,,ix4 p4 #eji47 ,on receiving this report the ,home ,secretary referred the whole of the documents1 together with the copy of the evidence1 to ,sir ,b4 ,brodie4 ,his reply1 which1 it is reported1 dealt not only with the medical1 but the moral evidence of ,smethurst's guilt1#ahc concluded in these words3 8,taking into consideration all that ,i have stated1 ,i own that the impression on my mind is that there is not absolute and complete evidence of ,smethurst's guilt40 ,thus on evidence not subjected to the searching cross-examination which it could have received if produced at the trial1 and the opinion of a most eminent surgeon 7not an analyst7 merely on reading the papers submitted to him1 the prisoner was pardoned4 8,the responsibility10 says ,judge ,stephen1 8was thus shifted from those on whom it properly rested on to a man1 who1 however skilful and learned as a surgeon1 was neither juryman nor judge40#ahd ,,the ,,liverpool ,,poisoning ,,case4 ,,trial ,,of ,,thomas ,,winslow ,,for ,,the ,,wilful ,,murder ,,of ,,ann ,,james4 ,before ,,baron ,,martin1 ,,northern ,,circuit1 ,,liverpool1 ,august #bj1 #ahfj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,for the ,prosecution3 ,the ,attorney-,general for the ,county ,palatine 7,mr4 ,bliss1 ,q4,c471 ,mr4 ,aspinall1 and ,mr4 ,temple4 ,for the ,defence3 ,mr4 ,digby ,seymour1 ,q4,c4 for the ,county ,palatine1 ,mr4 ,fenwick1 and ,mr4 ,little4 ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,case4 ,the prisoner1 who had been an ironworker1 was charged with the murder of ,ann ,james1 by aggravating the disease of the ccum1 under which she was suffering1 through the administration of minute doses of antimony4 ,mrs4 ,james came to ,liverpool from ,devonshire1 in #ahed1 whither she was soon followed by her sister ,eliza1 her sister's husband a ,mr4 ,townsend1 an invalid1 three nephews1 and a niece1 who was married to a japanner of the name of ,cafferata4 ,commencing business as a grocer1 she had subsequently kept an eating-house1 which was eventually turned into a night refreshment and registered lodging-house1 of which the prisoner1 one of her lodgers1 had taken the active management4 ,between him and the ,townsends it was evident that no good feeling existed4 ,they were jealous of his influence over their aunt1 and suspicious of the intimate relations that existed between them4 ,one of the nephews1 ,martin1 who had caused her much trouble and expense from frequently enlisting in and having to be bought out of the army1 acted as baker to the shop1 but1 with that exception1 the ,townsends had no share in the business4 ,previous to the last illness of their aunt1 her sister1 lately left a widow1 and the other two nephews1 died suddenly1 as it was found afterwards1 under very suspicious circumstances4 ,no investigation1 however1 was made in their cases1 until after the aunt's death4 ,mrs4 ,james had prospered in her business3 according to her own account1 the prisoner had made it4 ,her stock-in-trade and the goodwill were worth between #bjj and #cjj3 she had four gas shares1 valued at #bjj1 and #acj in the savings bank1 at the time of her death4 ,an authority for the withdrawal of the money from the savings bank1 the holograph of the prisoner1 was found in a drawer1 and during her last illness the prisoner had gone to the gas company to try and get the shares entered in his own name1 and been told that it could not be done without a proper transfer1 or by will4 ,on this he got the solicitor of the gas company to see ,mrs4 ,james and draw her will4 ,this the solicitor did1 no one but himself and his clerk being present1 and by it the business and stock-in-trade were left to the prisoner1 and the rest of the property divided equally between ,mrs4 ,cafferata and her child1 and the nephew ,martin1 the prisoner being appointed sole executor4 ,on the #eth of ,february1 ,mrs4 ,james was so ill that the prisoner called in ,dr4 ,cameron1 ,physician to the ,liverpool ,southern ,hospital1 who found her in bed1 suffering from bowel complaint1 and a tumour in the abdomen1 which he believed to be cancer1 and very weak and prostrate4 ,he prescribed for her1 and desired to be sent for again if she became worse4 ,on the #bfth of that month the prisoner wrote to ,mrs4 ,cafferata at ,manchester to come at once if she wished to see her aunt alive4 ,she came and stayed with her for a fortnight1 sleeping in the same bed1 in the back parlour1 of which the prisoner had the key at night4 ,during ,mrs4 ,james's illness her food was prepared by her servants1 and brought to her room generally at night by the prisoner1 who was very attentive1 and showed great interest in her condition4 ,on the #bith of ,march1 ,dr4 ,cameron was sent for again1 and found her symptoms similar to those he had seen on his first visit4 ,again1 on the #hth of ,may he saw her1 when she was suffering under a violent attack of purging and vomiting1 but1 as regarded these effects1 was convalescent by the #aith4 ,on the #beth1 however1 he found her again very ill1 and for the first time1 from the symptoms1 suspected that some foreign ingredient1 some irritating substance1 such as antimony1 had been given to her4 ,mrs4 ,cafferata had again been sent for to attend on her aunt4 ,dr4 ,cameron prescribed tannin as an antidote1 and on the #fth of ,june ,mrs4 ,james was again convalescent4 ,two days after1 however1 the same bad symptoms reappeared1 and she became exceedingly prostrate4 ,some of her urine and excretions were obtained and handed to ,dr4 ,edwards for analysis1 and its results communicated to ,dr4 ,cameron1 who1 in consequence1 went to her house on the #ajth of ,june with the police1 took possession of all the medicine bottles and some cups that were in her room1 and had ,mrs4 ,james taken to the ,southern ,hospital4 ,more specimens of the excretions were obtained1 and instructions given that for the future they should be1 from time to time1 preserved4 ,on the evening of the #ith of ,june1 if ,mrs4 ,cafferata was to be believed1 a most suspicious incident occurred4 8,on that evening10 she said1 8,i made my aunt a cup of sago from a parcel on the kitchen shelf1 which she took1 and at three o'clock the next morning took up to her a cup of tea and an egg1 and1 as she did not eat them1 ,i placed them on a chair by the bedside1 went into bed to her1 and slept till nine o'clock1 having locked the door1 and placed the key under it4 ,when ,i awoke ,i found my aunt awake1 and appearing to want to go to sleep4 ,i then saw two cups had been brought into the room in the night0 7the prisoner admitted that he brought one7 8and the cup gone from the bedside40#ahe ,in one of these cups was a little sago1 in which antimony was detected by chemical analysis4 ,for some days after her removal to the ,hospital ,mrs4 ,james continued very ill1 but ceased to have attacks of vomiting and purging after the first or second day4 ,afterwards1 however1 she improved in health until the #bbnd of ,june1 when dangerous symptoms occurred1 and she died in two days4#ahf ,,medical ,,and ,,analytical ,,evidence4 ,dr4 ,cameron1 who attended the post-mortem examination of the body of the deceased1 gave the following description of the appearances presented4 8,the body was greatly emaciated4 ,the membrane of the gullet presented a yellow appearance4 ,at the entrance of the stomach there were two patches of false membrane1 but ,i could form no opinion how they were caused4 ,the stomach was distended1 and contained sixteen ounces of fluid4 ,there were two small ulcers communicating with the cancerous tumour1 which might have been caused by the administration of antimony or by disease4 ,the bowels had been perforated and their contents discharged into the cavity of the abdomen1 which was the immediate cause of death4 ,my opinion is1 that antimony was administered within a very short time of her admission into the hospital--sometime between the #ith and #ajth of ,june4 ,i do not think antimony was given to her after her admission into the hospital4 ,the vomiting was not of the kind ulcers would produce1 but of a kind which might be produced by an irritating substance such as antimony40 ,on cross-examination by ,mr4 ,digby ,seymour1 he said3-- 8,hot food in a case like that of ,mrs4 ,james might produce vomiting1 and always occasioned more or less pain with ulceration of the stomach4 ,there was no redness of the small intestines4 ,vomiting was one of the principal symptoms of ulceration of the stomach1 as by tending to starve and weaken the patient it produced emaciation and prostration4 ,purging was not a usual symptom of an ulcerated stomach1 but occurred with cancer in the bowels4 ,witness agreed with ,dr4 ,richards as to there being no case in which slow antimonial poisoning was accompanied with dysenteric evacuations4 ,the alternation of constipation and purging was one of the known symptoms of antimonial poisoning4 ,the intermitting condition of the patient was one of the reasons which led him to the conclusion that she was the subject of poison4 ,witness agreed with the opinion that in malignant diseases of the stomach the symptoms remitted in a remarkable way so as to excite a hope that recovery would take place2 but the truce was not very long2 frightful disorganization was at length produced and inevitable death at last4 ,softening of the brain had been noticed in some cases of antimonial poisoning1 but it was not a frequent or even an ordinary indication4 ,antimonial poisoning sometimes produced enlargement of the liver1 but it did not in this case4 ,aphthous ulcerations in the glands of the small intestines are also symptoms of the presence of antimony--there were none in this case4 ,eminent writers on ,materia ,medica and pathology assert that some persons can tolerate the presence of poison in their bodies without it having any effect upon them4 ,it is also an accepted truth among eminent scientific writers1 that there are conditions and circumstances of the human frame in which antimony may not possess poisonous results40 ,on re-examination1 the witness said3-- 8,this toleration of poison is common in certain cases of inflammation1 but it is my opinion that1 in this case1 the opposite to toleration has been established4 ,aphthous ulcerations are not often observed in cases of poisoning by antimony4 ,the absence of these symptoms1 combined with the state of the liver and brain1 in no way affect my opinion as to the poisoning in this case4 ,there were peculiar symptoms in the vomiting of ,mrs4 ,james which induce me to believe that it was not caused by the ulcer4 ,antimony would aggravate the ulcerous disease and enfeeble the bodily powers1 as well as affect the appetite4 ,one of the effects of slow poisoning by repeated doses is that the stomach is prevented from receiving fresh nourishment40 ,to the ,judge4--8,i have never attended a human patient poisoned by antimony4 ,persons suffering from sickness after food are relieved by vomiting2 but in the case of ,mrs4 ,james there was considerable retching after the food was thrown off the stomach40 ,john ,baker ,edwards1 ,analytical ,chemist1 said3-- 8,he analysed a bottle of urine which he received from ,dr4 ,cameron on the #fth of ,june1 and informed him that he found in it slight traces of antimony4 ,on ,saturday1 ,june #i1 he received two bottles from ,dr4 ,cameron1 one of which contained fces1 analysed it and found slight traces of antimony4 ,the other bottle was marked #8vomit4' ,analysed that1 and found in it two considerable deposits of antimony4 ,subsequently confirmed this analysis by other chemical tests4 ,he sublimed it by the application of heat1 and obtained a white sublimate1 which1 when examined under the microscope1 had the appearance of oxide of antimony4 ,afterwards dissolved this in tartaric acid1 passed sulphuretted hydrogen gas through it1 and obtained an orange precipitate--sulphuret of antimony4 ,he could not scientifically distinguish whether it was #8free' or #8eliminated' antimony4#ahg ,on ,wednesday1 the #acth of ,june1 he received three bottles labelled #8,mrs4 ,james1 ,tuesday1' one of which was labelled #8vomit4' ,it had scarcely a trace of antimony4 ,the other two bottles contained fces and urine1 in each of which was a trace of antimony4 ,on the same day he also received two cups1 one of them containing about a tablespoonful of sago4 ,this he analysed and found in it two considerable deposits of antimony on copper1 which he sublimed and recognised under the microscope as oxide of antimony4 ,on ,thursday the #adth he received three bottles1 one of them of vomit1 containing no antimony2 the other two containing fces and urine1 in which was no antimony4 ,on the #aeth he again received a bottle of vomit and also one of fces1 and in the former he found two antimonial deposits1 which under the microscope he recognised as oxide of antimony1 and in the latter a trace of antimony4 ,on the following day he found traces of antimony in two bottles of urine4 ,the day after he received two bottles1 one of urine1 and found a trace of antimony in each4 ,he also examined some uncooked sago which contained no antimony4 ,subsequently 7after ,mrs4 ,james had been removed to the hospital7 he received bottles labelled #8,mrs4 ,james4' ,the vomit contained no antimony1 but there were still distinct traces of it in the fces and urine4 ,he subsequently received four jars containing brain1 lungs1 heart1 spleen1 kidneys1 intestines1 stomach1 and blood1 labelled #8,mrs4 ,james1' and four bottles containing fluids4 ,he analysed portions of these separately4 ,from one half of the stomach he obtained five deposits of antimony4 ,he also obtained five deposits of antimony from the intestines1 four deposits of it from one of the kidneys1 and three deposits of it from one half of the liver4 ,he found no trace in the brain4 ,in four ounces of blood he found a distinct deposit of antimony1 and also from the fluid of the stomach4 ,he also analysed six bottles of medicine and two of urine1 and found no antimony4 ,on the #bfth of ,july he took a portion of the spleen and lungs of ,mrs4 ,james to ,london1 and examined them there in conjunction with ,dr4 ,miller and ,dr4 ,taylor1 and also the deposits of the viscera4 ,he examined and tested them and found by the most approved tests applied that they contained antimony40 ,on cross-examination1 the witness admitted3-- 8,that the first satisfactory result which he obtained was on the #ith of ,june--that he had no doubt that the trace he found on the #gth was antimony1 but it was not a satisfactory result--that he had examined the body of a dog which died from antimony1 and which had been exhumed1 and had not found a trace1 and1 that if the animal had vomited after taking it he should not have expected to find any40 ,dr4 ,a4 ,s4 ,taylor said3-- 8,that he received some jars at ,guy's ,hospital from ,inspector ,horne1 containing portions of the stomach1 ccum1 liver1 one kidney1 and the heart1 and afterwards from ,dr4 ,edwards a portion of the spleen and lungs4 ,he divided them and gave a part to ,mr4 ,miller4 ,dr4 ,edwards showed him some sublimate on glass1 and deposits on copper4 ,he examined them4 ,the deposits on copper were metallic antimony1 and those on the glass were oxide of antimony4 ,he was of opinion that antimony had entered the body during life4 ,assuming the deceased to have been labouring under the disease of the ccum1 and to have had two ulcers in her stomach1 the administration to her of antimony1 by depressing the bodily powers1 would tend to accelerate death4 ,antimony had a powerful depressing influence and lowered the pulse in strength1 produced great exhaustion of the system1 and in a serious disease affecting the body was likely to aggravate its effects4 ,a person might be able to bear a dose of antimony in health1 who in a serious disease would be destroyed by it4 ,his opinion1 in this case1 was that antimony had been administered at intervals in small doses4 ,antimony could be found in the tissues three weeks after it was taken4 ,it might during that time be found1 day by day and at intervals1 in the secretions4 ,the tests which he had applied were the most approved known in science40 ,on cross-examination1 the witness said3-- 8,the disease which has been described as affecting the deceased must have terminated fatally4 ,the death had been caused by inflammation arising from the passage of the contents of the diseased bowel into the cavity of the abdomen4 ,it was very difficult to draw the line where a patient had rallied from the effects of poison1 and where she sank under disease4 ,the medical man in attendance on the deceased person would be the best judge of the influence of poison in accelerating death4 ,small doses frequently repeated would have the effect of irritating the mucous membrane of the bowels4 ,in two most marked cases of poisoning with which he bad been connected there had been no change in the condition of the liver4 ,all the indications in ,mrs4 ,james's case were referable to natural causes4 ,if antimony were found in the fces1 he should conclude that the purging was occasioned by antimony4 ,in vomiting caused by ulcers in the stomach1 it was confined to the relief of the stomach from its contents1 and then ceased4 ,antimony produced prostration of the nervous power40 ,dr4 ,miller1 ,professor of ,chemistry at ,king's ,college1 confirmed the opinion of ,dr4 ,taylor so far as it related to the chemical analysis1 but gave no medical opinion4 ,dr4 ,clarence ,pemberton1 ,house ,surgeon at the ,southern ,hospital in ,liverpool1 deposed that he attended ,mrs4 ,james and paid attention to her symptoms4 ,he made the post-mortem examination4 8,taking the symptoms observed during lifetime1 and the appearances shown by the post-mortem examination1 and assuming the judgment of ,dr4 ,edwards to be correct1 the cause of death1 in his judgment1 was the diseased #8ccum1' but the administration of antimony would undoubtedly accelerate her death40 ,on cross-examination1 he admitted that1 judging from what he saw in the hospital1 all the symptoms might be attributed to natural causes1 and1 in answer to the ,judge1 said that on the post-mortem examination he could find no traces or symptoms which he exclusively attributed to the administration of antimony4 ,dr4 ,francis ,ayrton said he saw the viscera and the other portions of the deceased sent for analysation4 ,he observed some redness at the commencement of the small intestines1 and some spots on the large ones1 and he formed his opinion from these spots that an irritant had passed through the bowels4 ,antimony was an irritant1 and would produce such appearances4 ,he had heard the evidence given1 and his opinion was that the deceased's death was accelerated by antimony4 ,he also admitted1 on cross-examination1 that what he observed in the viscera might be attributable to other causes than antimonial poison4 ,,the ,,prisoner',s ,,statements4 ,according to the evidence of ,mrs4 ,cafferata1 and the inspector of police1 the prisoner openly accused the ,cafferatas of having poisoned their aunt4 ,he objected to their interference1 and ordered them to leave the house1 calling ,cafferata a second ,palmer1 because he carried white powders about in his pocket1 and saying1 when the wife showed him the soda powders in question1 8,you are not likely to show me the right stuff40 ,when ,mrs4 ,cafferata wanted to go to the hospital to see her aunt1 he threatened to put her under arrest4 ,that the prisoner had a great deal of drink when he spoke in this way was admitted by the witness1 but when he made the same accusation of the ,cafferatas to the inspector such apparently was not his condition4 ,on the other hand1 a ,mrs4 ,higgins1 on cross-examination1 spoke to a threat of ,mrs4 ,cafferata's that 8she would hang the orange dog 7the prisoner71 and that after her evidence they would want no more40 ,,purchase ,,of ,,poison ,,by ,,the ,,prisoner4 ,the proof of the purchase of antimony by the prisoner was most unsatisfactory4 ,a woman 7,ann ,foley7 who used to work for ,mrs4 ,james1 remembered that during the previous summer1 on one occasion1 when ,mrs4 ,james was sitting behind the counter and the prisoner was present1 she said to him1 8,here is ,mrs4 ,foley2 she will go for it20 that they then gave her twopence and told her to go and get antimony for the dog1 and that when she went to a chemist of the name of ,miller for it he would not let her have it1 but told her to tell them to bring the dog over to him4 ,this chemist's assistant 7,e4 ,p4 ,rees7 remembered a woman coming for antimony some nine or ten months before1 a second person coming also for it on the same day1 and a third about four months after for the same drug1 to poison a dog with4 ,the third person1 he believed1 but could not swear1 was the prisoner4 ,another witness 7,eliza ,brennan7 told a strange story about the prisoner4 ,she had been in ,mrs4 ,james's service1 some two years ago1 and spoke to him about leaving and going to ,dublin in the first week of her service4 ,on this the prisoner1 she said1 advised her to stay1 but added that1 8if she would go1 if she would buy him half-a-crown's worth of antimony in ,dublin1 and send it to him by the boat1 he would give her #e40 ,lastly1 a newspaper boy 7,thomas ,maguire71 who slept at ,mrs4 ,james's house1 swore that 8,the prisoner once sent him for a pennyworth of something for the dog1 he did not know its name1 but what he got was a white powder1 which when given to the animal in water purged it violently--that within half an hour the prisoner sent him again for the same1 and now told him its name was antimony4 ,he got it1 said the witness1 from a young man1 name ,coopland1 at ,miller's the chemist4 ,he declared it was taken from a bottle six or seven from the window1 and professed to point out the bottle to the ,inspector of police4 ,he knew that the letters ,,ant4 on it stood for antimony4 ,he had also several times since ,january last seen the prisoner when making bread and butter for the mistress take from his pocket a white powder in a paper and throw some of it on the bread before he buttered it2 when he asked him once what it was1 the prisoner had said it was salt4 ,when the witness said #8there was salt enough in the house without that1' the prisoner made no reply40 ,to ,inspector ,home the prisoner admitted that 8he knew the use of antimony1 and had given it to cattle1 but had not had any in his possession for many years40 ,in his charge to the jury1 ,baron ,martin told them that1 if they believed that the prisoner administered the antimony with the intention of killing1 and that her death from a natural disease was thus accelerated1 that was murder--citing the dictum of ,lord ,hale 8that if a man be sick of some disease which might possibly end his life1 and another gave him a wound1 which would hasten his death1 this was murder by the party giving the wound0--they were to guard against prejudice because of the nature of the crime1 and not to convict unless the evidence affirmatively satisfied their minds of his guilt4 ,the jury almost immediately returned a verdict of 8,not ,guilty40 ,,chapter ,,ix ,,antimony4 ,properties of the metal--,alloys--,compounds--,chlorides1 sulphides1 oxides1 hydride4 ,tartar emetic--solubility1 composition1 uses and occurrence--commercial1 veterinary1 medicinal4 ,doses and preparations--fatal dose1 fatal period4 ,physiological effects--,antidotes--,separations and tests--7#a7 ,reinsch's--,presence of antimony2 purity of the copper employed1 how to be secured2 different stains resulting from presence of arsenic1 antimony1 mercury1 bismuth1 tin1 silver1 gold1 platinum1 palladium1 sulphur compounds--7#b7 ,dr4 ,maclagan's test in ,pritchard's trial--7#c7 ,marsh's test--,remarks on ,pritchard's trial--,on ,smethurst's trial--,dr4 ,taylor and ,mr4 ,herapath--,arsenic in bismuth--,antimony in grey powder4 ,,antimony4 ,,the metal antimony 7symbol ,sb1 from its classical name ,stibium7 is heavier than arsenic 7sp4 gr4 #fh71 less easily tarnished1 more difficult to pulverize1 and not nearly so volatile4 ,it forms somewhat brittle masses1 with a fern-like crystalline appearance on the surface4 ,when broken the interior shows radiating 7rhombohedral7 crystals of a bluish-white1 strongly metallic lustre 7arsenicum is greyish1 bismuth is pinkish1 white71 yielding a grey or black powder4 ,melting point1 #dbe ,c4 ,heated with the blowpipe on charcoal it gives white fumes of oxide1 without odour 7arsenic gives a garlic odour74 ,the metal is insoluble in water and dilute acids1 but soluble in aqua regia to form antimonious chloride2 also soluble in sulphide of potassium or sodium4 ,hot concent4 sulphuric acid converts it into sulphate4 ,nitric acid turns it into a white powder consisting chiefly of metantimonic acid1 ,h,sb,o#c1 of which a small quantity dissolves4#ahh ,the powdered metal burns in chlorine1 forming ,sb ,cl#c1 or ,sb ,cl#e4 ,metallic antimony is obtained as a 8mirror0 in ,marsh's test3 the distinctions between it and arsenic have been already given 7p4 #chi74 ,the following is the percentage of metallic antimony in different alloys4 ,english type metal1 #bj to #be2 ,german ditto1 #ae2 ,britannia metal1 #aj to #af2 pewter1 #g2 ,argentine1 #ad2 ,ashbury metal1 #ai2 white or anti-friction metal for engine-bearings1 #aj2 ,babbit's metal1 for similar purposes1 #ac2 alloy for ships' nails1 #ag 7,ure's ,dictionary1 ,i41 #afi2 ,roscoe and ,schorlemmer's ,chemistry1 #ahhj1 ii41 #b1 p4 #cjg74 ,there is also antimony in brass1 metallic mirrors1 bell-metal1 c4 7,blyth74 ,antimony black1 used for giving a steel-like lustre to plaster casts1 is finely divided ,sb1 precipitated from the chloride by zinc4 ,metallic antimony is not poisonous unless partially oxidized4 ,commercial samples usually contain a little arsenic1 which enters into the salts4 ,antimonious chloride1 ,sb ,cl#c1 when pure1 forms colourless glistening deliquescent crystals4 ,a solution in hydrochloric acid constitutes the commercial 8butter of antimony0 used for giving a dark bronzing to brass4 ,it is a thick1 powerfully acid liquid1 coloured brown by the presence of iron1 fuming in air1 very corrosive1 and of an irritating odour1 distilling over at about #bjj ,c4 7pure ,sb ,cl#c boils at #bbc ,c471 decomposed by water into a white magma of oxychloride1 ,sb ,o ,cl1 8powder of ,algaroth0 7tartar emetic is not decomposed by water74 ,it is a violent corrosive poison1 blackening and destroying the surfaces like oil of vitriol4 ,for cases1 see ,woodman and ,tidy1 p4 #acj4 ,antimonic chloride1 ,sb ,cl#e1 is rarely met with4 ,it resembles ,sb ,cl#c1 but is liquid4 ,antimonious sulphide1 ,sb#b ,s#c1 is found native as 8stibnite10 8speiss-glas10 8grey antimony10 or 8antimony glance10 sp4 gr4 #dfc1 in lead-grey striated prisms1 fibrous or massive1 of a strong metallic lustre1 fusing readily to a dark-brown glass --8vitrum antimonii071 giving before the blowpipe white fumes1 and an odour of sulphur dioxide --8brimstone074 ,it is the principal ore1 the source of all the preparations1 and is itself used in fireworks4 ,when powdered it is black1 and in this state was used by the ,roman ladies under the name of 8stibium10 by the ,orientals as 8,kohl10 for darkening the eyelids4 ,it is soluble in hot hydrochloric acid to form ,sb,cl#c4 ,the precipitated sulphide is orange1 and will be noticed under the tests4 ,sb#b ,s#c would not be poisonous until oxidized4 ,antimonious oxide1 ,sb#b ,o#c1 obtained by burning ,sb in air1 is a white powder1 turned yellow on heating1 soluble in hydrochloric acid to form ,sb ,cl#c1 and in cream of tartar 7acid potass4 tartrate7 to form tartar emetic4 ,unlike ,as#b ,o#c1 it does not easily volatilize in crystals4 ,it is occasionally found native4 ,antimonic oxide1 ,sb#b ,o#e1 is a pale yellow powder4 ,there is also an intermediate oxide1 ,sb#b ,o#d4 ,antimonious and antimonic acids are hydrates of the above oxides4 ,they exist in several modifications1 and form metallic salts1 one of which1 sodium pyrantimonate1 ,na#b ,h#b ,sb#b ,o#g1 #f ,h#b ,o1 is the only known insoluble salt of sodium1 and hence available as a test4 ,antimonious hydride1 ,stibine1 or 8antimoniuretted hydrogen10 ,sb ,h#c1 has never been obtained pure4 ,in admixture with hydrogen1 as given by ,marsh's test1 it is a colourless gas1 almost or quite inodorous 7distinction from ,as ,h#c which smells like garlic71 decomposed by heat into hydrogen and a 8mirror0 of ,sb4 ,its poisonous properties have been doubted1 but it is probably more dangerous than ,as ,h#c1 on account of the absence of the warning odour4 ,it burns with a bluish-green flame1 giving white clouds of ,sb#b ,o#c1 and a spot of ,sb1 duller and greyer than ,as1 when a cold porcelain surface is depressed into the flame4 ,passed into silver nitrate solution1 the ,sb is precipitated along with metallic silver as silver antimonide1 ,ag#c ,sb1 whereas arsenic under the same circumstances would remain in solution as ,as#b ,o#c4 ,,tartar ,,emetic4 ,potassio-antimonyl tartrate1 tartrate of antimony and potash1 8antimonium tartarizatum10 8tartarized antimony10 8stibiated tartar10 symbol ,k 7,sb ,o7 ,c#d ,h#d ,o#f1 ,h#b ,o1 occurs in colourless rhombic octahedral crystals1 transparent at first1 but becoming opaque by efflorescence1 or as a white powder1 inodorous1 and with a strong metallic taste4 ,the aqueous solution is faintly acid to test-paper1 and becomes mouldy on keeping4 ,when evaporated on a glass slide1 it leaves a crystalline residue of tetrahedra1 cubes and branching forms4 7,see figure in ,guy and ,ferrier's ,for4 ,med41 p4 #dfi47 ,heated on platinum1 tartar emetic blackens and swells up with an odour of burnt sugar 7due to the tartaric acid71 gives a bluish-green tint to the flame1 and quickly fuses and makes a hole in the platinum1 from the formation of a fusible alloy4 ,heated in a closed tube1 it gives charcoal1 potass4 carbonate1 and metallic antimony1 which does not sublime at a moderate temperature1 is inodorous1 and may be separated in metallic globules by washing 7differences from arsenic2 see p4 #chi74 ,sulph4 hydrogen of course gives the orange-red sulphide4 ,solubility4--,tartar emetic is almost insoluble in alcohol1 and still less soluble in ether1 chloroform1 c4 ,spirits and water1 such as are mixed for drinking1 dissolve nearly as much as cold water1 and more if warm4 ,the solubility in cold water is given very variously in the text-books1 from #a part in #bah --8#bj grains per fluid ounce10 ,british ,pharmacopia71 #a in #bj 7,garrod and ,blyth71 #a in #ae 7,brande's and ,gmelin's ,chemistry71 to #a in #ad 7,graham and ,taylor74 ,to clear up this difficulty ,i prepared for ,dr4 ,bernays in #ahgi a very pure sample of the salt3 he found that #ajj cubic centimetres of water at #eh ,f4 dissolved #ffg grammes1 equal to one part in fifteen4 ,the solubility rises rapidly with the temperature1 till it reaches one part in two at the boiling point4 ,the discrepancies are accounted for by the facts that1 7#a71 the textbooks do not mention the temperature2 7#b71 the salt readily effloresces in air1 losing water and becoming less soluble2 7#c71 impurities are often present4 ,composition4--,commercial tartar emetic is generally very pure4 ,it sometimes contains a trace of sand and dirt1 occasionally an excess of cream of tartar 7potass4 hydrogen tartrate7 from careless preparation1 but ,i have never found arsenic4 ,the theoretical percentage of ,sb is #cfec3 in good commercial samples ,bernays found #cfjc to #cfcb per cent42 in an over-dried specimen1 #cgd per cent4 ,one sample contained #bc per cent4 of cream of tartar and only #bhac of ,sb2 another1 #aj per cent4 tartar and #cbg of ,sb4 ,,uses ,,and ,,occurrence4 ,the alloys and pyrotechnic uses have been already mentioned4 ,the impure fused sulphide 7vitrum antimonii7 is employed to give a yellow tint to glass and porcelain4 ,the oxides are used in glazing earthenware1 and in glass and china painting4 ,the following are antimonial pigments3 8,antimony cinnabar10 and 8crocus10 or 8saffron of antimony10 are oxysulphides3 8,naples10 8,cassell10 and 8antimony yellows10 are chiefly antimoniates of lead4 ,small quantities of antimony occur in iron ores1 ferruginous waters1 the coal formation1 and in river sand 7,roscoe74 ,in veterinary practice1 large doses of antimonials are given to animals1 as much as #ij grains of tartar emetic being often administered to a horse in his gruel three times a day4 ,other preparations are used 7see ,blyth's ,pract4 ,chem4 #ahgi1 p4 #djd74 ,they are supposed to cause fattening4 ,medicinally it is employed in typhus1 delirium tremens1 small doses in croup and the broncho-pneumonia of children1 as a general expectorant in asthma and bronchitis1 in whooping-cough1 by some recommended also in scaly skin affections4 ,in acute inflammations and pneumonia1 it has lost favour1 as too depressing 7,farquharson's ,therapeutics74 ,in times before chloroform1 tartar emetic was even used to lower the muscular tension previous to reducing dislocations4 ,,doses ,,and ,,preparations4 ,pulvis antimonialis1 #c to #aj grains4 ,this is the ,pharmacopial equivalent of 8,james's ,powder10 a secret remedy once highly popular4 ,it contains one part of ,sb#b ,o#c to two of phosphate of lime4 ,vinum antimoniale1 antimonial wine1 is a solution of #aj grains of tartar emetic to each ounce of sherry3 dose1 #e minims to #a fluid drachm4 ,antimonii oxidum1 ,sb#b ,o#c1 is often very impure4 ,it may contain1 7#a71 higher oxides of ,sb1 when it is not completely soluble on boiling with water and cream of tartar2 7#b71 carbonate of lime1 when it effervesces with acids and contains less ,sb2 7#c71 traces of arsenic1 when it gives a garlic odour before the blowpipe on charcoal4 ,percentage of ,sb1 #hcef3 dose1 #a to #d grains4 ,antimonium sulphuratum1 or oxysulphuretum1 is precipitated ,sb#b ,s#c with a small amount of ,sb#b ,o#c4 ,it contains about #fb to #fe per cent4 ,sb 7pure ,sb#b ,s#c has #gjb per cent474 ,dose1 #a to #e grains1 but rarely prescribed1 except in 8compound calomel pill10 pil4 hydrarg4 subchlorid4 co41 which contains #bj per cent4 of ,sb#b ,s#c4 ,antimonii chloridi liquor1 a solution of ,sb ,cl#c in hydrochloric acid1 is sometimes used as a caustic1 never internally4 ,antimonium tartaratum1 tartar emetic3 dose1 as a diaphoretic1 #a_/af to grain2 as a depressant1 to #a grain2 as an emetic1 #a to #b grains 7to #c grains1 ,farquharson74 ,it should never be used as an emetic in suspected poisoning1 as its presence would confuse the investigation4 ,unguentum antimonii tartarati1 antimonial ointment1 contains #bj per cent4 of tartar emetic4 ,the following proprietary pills contain tartar emetic in the annexed proportion per pill weighing about #c grains3--,dr4 ,j4 ,johnson's1 #jjd grain2 ,mitchell's1 #jje grain3 ,dixon's1 #jjf grain 7,blyth74 ,it has been stated that the liqueur absinthe owes its deleterious effects to antimony4 ,i have tested several specimens1 but never found antimony1 though traces of lead or copper were occasionally present4 ,fatal dose4--,about this1 nothing can be exactly stated4 ,the smallest was1 in a child1 grain2 in an adult1 #b grains2 but in this instance there were circumstances which favoured the fatal operation 7,taylor1 ,med4 ,jur4 i41 #caj74 ,if vomiting and purging happen1 the poison is for the most part expelled3 except for the effects of exhaustion1 there may then be hardly a limit to the amount which may pass in and pass out4 ,taylor records recoveries from #abj grains1 #bjj grains1 and even half an ounce of tartar emetic4 ,in pneumonia it has been given in repeated doses of #b grains without ill effects4 ,it must be remembered that1 in the hands of the poisoner1 its perverted use is1 not to kill1 but to so weaken the vital powers that a small and not suspicious dose of some other poison may complete the death4 ,fatal period4--,shortest1 seven hours in an adult female 7,wormley72 eight hours in a boy after #aj grains tartar emetic 7,lancet1 #ahdf1 p4 #dfj74 ,usually much longer3 four days after #dj grains 7,orfila1 i41 #dhj72 up to one year from after effects 7,guy and ,ferrier74 ,,physiological ,,effects4 ,the unpleasant metallic taste1 the heat in the throat1 and burning in the stomach1 have been described in the previously reported trials1 and in other cases4 ,afterwards there is nausea1 severe vomiting1 profuse watery purging1 often convulsions which are sometimes tetanic in character2 the skin is generally cold and clammy with perspiration2 there is collapse from exhaustion1 and occasionally delirium and insensibility4 ,death may happen either during the convulsions1 or during the collapse4 ,the heat and constriction in the throat is not invariably present4 ,after death there is generally found inflammation of the stomach and intestines1 especially the ccum3 the brain is sometimes congested1 the throat rarely affected4 ,the stomach-contents are usually tinged with blood1 as with most irritant poisons4 ,in smaller doses it acts at first as a sedative on the brain2 the action of the heart becomes slower1 weaker1 and finally irregular1 the pulse is soft1 the breathing slower2 there is an increased bronchial secretion1 and general muscular relaxation4 ,as an emetic it is sluggish and depressing1 and is often followed by diarrha4 ,it powerfully promotes perspiration1 and is therefore used in influenza1 c4 ,poisonous doses may cause paralysis1 prostration1 degeneration of the liver and other organs 7see ,taylor's remark about the geese at ,strasburg1 p4 #dfd71 inflammation and even ulceration of the intestines 7,farquharson and others74 ,,antidotes4 ,sometimes vomiting does not occur3 in this case it should be promoted by tickling the throat1 and by draughts of warm water4 ,tannin precipitates compounds of antimonious oxide 7,sb#b ,o#c71 but not those of antimonic oxide 7,sb#b ,o#e73 as the former are the ones almost invariably used1 astringent preparations1 such as strong tea1 coffee1 decoction of oak bark1 galls1 tincture of catechu or kino1 should be given4 ,tannin1 or tannic acid1 is commonly kept by photographers4 ,failing this1 sodium carbonate 7washing soda71 in not too strong solution1 may do good4 ,opium to allay the irritation1 and brandy to overcome the depression1 should then be tried4 ,,separation ,,and ,,tests4 ,during life1 antimony may be found in the urine and fces3 after death1 if its administration has been long continued1 it will be found in all parts of the body1 but especially in the liver and spleen4 ,if the doses have been discontinued some time before death1 none may be left in the stomach and intestines4 ,the enquiry divides itself into three parts3 #ast1 the presence of antimony2 #bnd1 the preparation used2 #crd1 the quantity4 ,i4 ,,presence ,,of ,,antimony4 ,marsh's and ,reinsch's tests have been mentioned under arsenic4 ,it1 however1 will be necessary to add a few observations on their special use for ,sb4 ,a fractional part1 say one-fourth1 of the suspected matter1 after mincing or pounding1 is digested with hot distilled water containing #e per cent4 of pure hydrochloric1 and a little tartaric1 acids1 well shaken or stirred in a covered or closed vessel1 and after some hours filtered4 ,to a portion of the filtrate is added a little more hydrochloric and a little sulphuric acid 7to reduce the higher oxides of ,as and ,sb71 and the whole is boiled for ten minutes4 ,a portion of the filtrate is now subjected to ,reinsch's ,test4--,first it is absolutely necessary to have pure copper2 so pure1 in fact1 that a quantity1 larger than would be used in testing1 will not1 if totally dissolved up1 yield any ,as or ,sb to another piece of copper boiled in the solution4 ,dr4 ,taylor's mistake in the case of ,smethurst1 more fully treated of hereafter1 was a very natural one4 ,the trace of arsenic in his copper would not have affected the conclusion in ordinary cases3 but it would be better not to test at all than to use materials which are not proved beforehand to be free from the poison we are seeking4 ,pure 8electrotype0 copper can now be purchased2 or it can be made pure by either of the following methods4 7a7 8,pure0 commercial sulphate of copper is boiled with a slight excess of chlorine water1 then treated with dilute ammonia till a slight permanent precipitate forms3 after standing twelve hours it is filtered 7the precipitate containing iron and arsenic71 acidulated with pure sulphuric acid1 and subjected to the current from two ,daniell cells1 the terminals being two plates of hard wax well coated with purified graphite3 the coating must communicate with the copperwire from the battery1 and the wire must not dip into the solution4 ,the distance between the terminals should be so regulated that the copper may be deposited slowly and in a tough layer on the negative pole3 the thin plate so obtained may afterwards be easily detached1 hammered or rolled1 and cut into suitable pieces3 it is absolutely free from arsenic4 7b7 ,pure crystallized chloride of copper is mixed with pure carbonate of soda in excess1 the mixture dried with constant stirring1 heated to near redness1 powdered1 mixed with an equal volume of lamp-black1 and introduced into a 8plumbago0 crucible lined with a paste of purified graphite and oil4 ,the crucible is covered1 and gradually heated in a ,fletcher's or ,griffin's gas furnace 7not with coal or coke71 and finally kept at a very high temperature till the copper is reduced4 ,the fumes contain chlorides of copper1 sodium1 c41 and are poisonous4 ,the copper1 after separation from the slag1 may be cast1 hammered1 or rolled1 and is free from ,as or ,sb4 ,i suggest these processes more for manufacturers than for chemists1 but expense and trouble should really be subordinate considerations where life is concerned4 ,now for the application4 ,two flasks containing pure diluted 7#be per cent47 hydrochloric acid are placed on a sandbath1 and nearly closed by small glass funnels4 ,about a square inch of pure copper1 cleaned by sand-paper1 is placed in each3 to one is added the suspected liquid1 to the other an equal bulk of #e per cent4 hydrochloric acid4 ,both are boiled1 with occasional inspection4 ,if the following are present1 the copper will be darkened3-- ,arsenic4--,stain steel-grey3 dried and heated in closed tube it gives easily a sublimate of octahedral crystals of ,as#b ,o#c4 7,see ,arsenic1 ante47 ,antimony4--,stain black1 or in small quantity1 violet3 in the closed tube it gives with difficulty an amorphous white sublimate of ,sb#b ,o#c1 soluble in ,h ,cl1 and then precipitated orange by ,h#b ,s4 ,mercury4--,stain silvery3 in closed tube gives a sublimate of metallic globules1 made more visible by rubbing them together with a splinter of wood4 ,bismuth1 tin1 silver1 gold1 platinum1 palladium1 c41 give black1 grey or silvery deposits1 but no sublimate in the tube4 ,gold gives a stain which is yellow on burnishing1 and yields no sublimate4 ,sulphur compounds in the organic matter may give a dull stain1 which may even yield a kind of sublimate in the tube1 but this sublimate will not conform to the tests for ,as or ,sb4 ,if there is much ,as or ,sb1 the deposit sometimes peels off if boiled too long4 ,the process used by ,prof4 ,maclagan in the ,pritchard trial is also a good means of verification4 ,boil the stained foil in a solution of caustic potash1 exposing it occasionally to the air 7or boil with a weak1 slightly alkaline solution of potass1 permanganate1 and filter--,odling74 ,the ,sb will be oxidized and dissolved4 ,add ,h,cl and pass ,h#b ,s3 an orange precipitate of ,sb#b ,s#c will prove the presence of antimony4 ,if ,sb has been found1 remove the first piece of copper1 and boil with another piece1 and so on till the ,sb is all removed4 ,the coated slips1 the sublimate1 the ,sb#b ,s#c1 and the copper in the second flask which has still remained bright1 should be sealed up to be shown in court4 ,the previous treatment with sulphurous acid prevents any interference by oxidizing agents such as chlorate of potash1 nitrates1 iodine1 c4 ,marsh's ,test is more delicate1 but more liable to error1 than ,reinsch's4 ,two methods of applying ,marsh's test to antimony may be used4 ,a4 ,by ,edmund ,davy's process with sodium amalgam 7see ,arsenic1 p4 #chh71 only ,as ,h#c passes off1 the ,sb remaining behind4 ,hence1 when the arsenic has finished coming over1 if the remaining solution be acidulated with pure sulphuric acid1#ahi pure zinc put in1 and one or two drops of pure platinic chloride added to facilitate the evolution of hydrogen1 the antimony will then come over as ,sb ,h#c4 ,b4 ,or the original substance may be placed in the flask1 treated at once with the zinc and dilute acid1 and the ,as ,h#c and ,sb ,h#c passed together into silver nitrate solution1 and separated by filtration as directed under arsenic4 ,see p4 #chi1 also as to the distinctions between the stains of ,sb and ,as4 ,to these add1 that metallic spots of both ,as and ,sb are soluble in yellow ammonium sulphide3 the solutions on evaporation to dryness on the water-bath give3 7a74 ,with arsenic a yellow stain1 soluble in ammonia1 insoluble in hydrochloric acid2 7b74 ,with antimony an orange stain1 insoluble in ammonia1 soluble in hydrochloric acid4 ,metallic antimony can be precipitated as a black powder from its solutions by acidulating with hydrochloric acid and treating with a slip of pure tin1 which does not precipitate arsenic4 ,zinc or electrolysis also precipitate ,sb1 along with copper and many other metals4 ,hence this method is not available in mixtures4 ,sulphuretted hydrogen gives with antimonial solutions slightly acidulated an orange-red precipitate of sulphide1 insoluble in ammonia or ammonium carbonate1 soluble in ammonium sulphide1 soluble in hot strong hydrochloric acid by conversion into antimonious chloride1 and sulphuretted hydrogen3 the former then gives a white precipitate with water1 the latter gives the characteristic odour and blackens lead paper4 ,the reactions with sodium hydrate and sodium carbonate1 are not so clear or decisive4 ,potass4 ferrocyanide gives no precipitate4 ,tannin and tincture of galls give a yellowish white precipitate4 ,before the blowpipe with sodium carbonate on charcoal1 solid ,sb compounds give a grey brittle globule of the metal and a white incrustation4 ,but there is rarely sufficient for such a test to be of use in toxicological work1 there is also a risk of loss1 and other metals give a similar reaction4 ,n4,b4--,among other substances1 sulphide of antimony is frequently added to caoutchouc in the process of vulcanising india-rubber3 in all toxicological experiments involving tests for antimony 7and arsenic71 great danger of a mistake is thus attendant on the use of ordinary vulcanised india-rubber tubing4 ,black unvulcanised tubing should alone be employed4 ,,ii4 ,,preparation ,,used4 ,the insoluble compounds would act very slowly as poisons and would require very large doses1 hence would be found in the solid form in the stomach1 and could be identified by appearance1 by the microscope1 and by the tests1 after washing and settling down4 ,to ascertain whether antimony was in solution1 the liquid contents of the stomach1 after dilution with water if necessary1 should be allowed to settle1 the nearly clear top layer decanted and filtered1 and the filtrate examined4 ,the soluble compounds are3-- #a4 ,tartar emetic4 ,solution slightly acid1 taste metallic4 ,on evaporation on a glass slide tetrahedral crystals are obtained4 ,if the solution is moderately strong1 it gives a white precipitate with a little hydrochloric acid1 soluble in excess3 with water it gives no precipitate4 ,stomach generally inflamed but not corroded4 #b4 ,antimonious chloride1 ,sb ,cl#c4 ,solution strongly acid1 effervescing and giving a white precipitate with sodium carbonate4 ,taste corrosive and powerfully metallic4 ,on evaporation1 no tetrahedra4 ,no precipitate with hydrochloric acid3 with water a white precipitate1 re-dissolved by tartaric acid4#aij ,by analysis a large quantity of chlorine will be found4 ,the stomach is corroded and often blackened or charred4 #c4 ,antimonates1 antimonites1 sulphantimonites1 and -ates 7such as 8,schlippe's salt071 are rare and improbable4 ,antimonates are alkaline1 give a white precipitate with acids1 and a white crystalline one with sodium salts4 ,schlippe's salt is strongly alkaline1 and gives with hydrochloric acid an orange-red precipitate of sulphide4 ,,iii4 ,,quantity4 ,to ascertain the amount of ,sb is absolutely necessary4 ,marsh's test is not available1 since a large part of the antimony is thrown down on the zinc and remains in the generating flask4 ,it has been proposed to wash this off and weigh it1 but other metals and impurities are present1 so that this is not practicable4 ,reinsch's test has been applied quantitatively by weighing the copper before and after the test3 the difference of weight was supposed to be the ,as or ,sb4 ,but the copper may dissolve or oxidise1 sulphur and other things deposit on it2 so that this method is not correct4 ,if antimony only is present1 acidulate with hydrochloric acid1 pass sulph4 hydrogen in excess1 warm1 filter1 wash the orange hydrated antimonious sulphide into a porcelain capsule1 remove most of the water1 dry on the water bath1 finally at #bjj;,c4 and weigh4 #ajj grains of ,sb#b ,s#c correspond to #hehh of ,sb#b ,o#c1 to #aifdg of tartar emetic1 to #gagf of ,sb1 to #acdda of ,sb ,cl#c4 ,but in the stomach any other metal may be present1 hence a process of separation must be used4 ,it is not generally necessary to destroy the organic matter3 if this be desired1 ,fresenius and v4 ,babo's process1 of heating with ,h ,cl and potass4 chlorate 7previously proved pure7 may be used without much danger of loss1 as ,sb ,cl#c is not so volatile as ,as ,cl#c4 ,otherwise the solution made by pure hydrochloric and a little tartaric acids is treated with sulphuretted hydrogen4 ,the precipitated sulphide may be of uncertain1 though suspicious colour4 ,after collection on a filter and washing1 it should be extracted with dilute ammon4 carbonate solution 7#aj per cent473 arsenic only will dissolve and will be reprecipitated as sulphide on adding an acid4 ,the remainder on the filter must be treated with freshly prepared ammon4 sulphide3 antimony and tin will dissolve4 ,if any black residue remains on the filter1 it will consist of mercury1 lead1 bismuth1 or copper3 it should be treated with hot #be per cent4 nitric acid1 when all will dissolve except mercuric sulphide4 ,we shall then have three portions3-- #ast4 ,the mercuric sulphide4 ,wash1 dry1 and weigh4 ,then heat in a sealed tube with dry sodium carbonate1 collect the sublimate of metallic mercury1 weigh it1 and preserve in a sealed tube4 #bnd4 ,the nitric acid solution containing lead1 bismuth1 and copper4 ,evaporate nearly to dryness1 dilute1 add dilute sulphuric acid1 and a little alcohol1 after standing collect and weigh the precipitated sulphate of lead4 ,precipitate the bismuth by ammon4 carbonate in excess1 and the copper from the filtrate by zinc or by sulph4 hydrogen4 7,see ,fresenius' ,quant4 ,anal4 p4 #daa74 #crd4 ,the ammon4 sulphide solution of the antimony and tin4 ,evaporate to dryness1 dissolve in hot strong hydrochloric acid1 dilute1 divide into two equal portions3 in one throw down both metals by a rod of zinc3 in the other throw down only ,sb by a slip of tin4 ,wash off both precipitates1 dry and weigh4 ,the first is antimony and tin together1 the second is antimony alone 7,gay ,lussac74 ,the difference is the tin4 ,usually only some of these metals will be present4 ,tin has derived more importance lately since ,hehner has proved its almost constant presence in canned provisions4 ,as to the delicacy of the precipitation of antimony by zinc or galvanism1 ,mohr 7,toxicologie1 #ahgf7 states that a solution containing #jjjje gramme of ,sb in one cub4 centimetre gives a distinct reaction in fifteen minutes4 ,such a solution gives with ,h#b,s only a colouration1 and after a long time a faint precipitate4 #a_/cjjjj part gives with zinc a clear reaction in one half-hour3 with ,h#b ,s1 only a colour1 no precipitate1 in twelve hours4 #a_/djjjj1 doubtful3 #a_/ejjjj1 imperceptible with zinc3 of course1 nothing with ,h#b ,s4 ,the reaction is only decisive if other metals are excluded4 ,from the solution of ,sb ,cl#c1 or tartar emetic in ,h ,cl1 gallic acid throws down ,sb1 and not ,as or tin4 ,the precipitate after washing and drying contains #djhe per cent4 of ,sb4 7,chem4 ,news1 ,,xxiv4 #bjg1 #bea47 ,to sum up1 the decisive characters of antimony are3-- #a4 ,an orange red precip4 by ,h#b ,s in slightly acid solutions4 #b4 ,the insolubility of this precip4 in ammon4 carbonate4 #c4 ,its solubility in ammonium sulphide4 #d4 ,its solubility in hot ,h ,cl1 with evolution of ,h#b ,s1 and formation of a solution of ,sb ,cl#c1 which is precipitated by water and cleared up again by tartaric acid4 ,,remarks4 ,,dr4 ,,pritchard',s ,,case4 ,in connection with the supposed administration of tartar emetic on a piece of cheese1 in ,dr4 ,pritchard's trial 7see ,mr4 ,clark's review of ,mc,cleod's evidence1 p4 #dch71 the following considerations are of interest4 #a4 ,an exceedingly small 7weighed7 quantity of dry powdered tartar emetic was sprinkled on the surface of a little piece of cheese3 although the amount of tartar emetic used was far less than that required to induce vomiting1 c41 the powder was found to be plainly visible1 and the appearance of the cheese so treated would certainly have excited suspicion in the mind of any ordinarily observant person4 ,hence it is impossible that enough tartar emetic to produce the recorded effects should have been sprinkled externally on the very small amounts of cheese described --8not larger than a bean0--,m4 ,mc,cleod3 8size of a good large pea0--,m4 ,patterson74#aia #b4 ,with reference to the ,lord ,justice ,clerk's observation1 p4 #dci1 note1 tartar emetic is not easily dissolved1 a cold saturated aqueous solution containing only #e per cent4 of the salt 7according to the ,b4 ,p41 #bj grains dissolve without residue in #a ounce of water74 ,a piece of cheese1 the size of a bean1 would weigh about ounce4 ,i have found by experiment that #a ounce cheese took up by soaking not more than ounce water1 which1 from the above1 could contain in solution #e grains of tartar emetic4 ,hence a piece of cheese1 the size of a bean1 #a_/cb ounce water grain of tartar emetic4 ,this amount could not cause the symptoms described4 #c4 ,if put on in powder the poisonous salt could only be concealed by being rubbed over with butter or oil3 if soaked in a solution of tartar emetic1 the cheese1 in order to avert suspicion1 must be wiped or dried--operations practically impossible at the table with so many present4 ,two possibilities remain3 7a7 ,cheese is often eaten with salt4 ,dr4 ,pritchard may have had a little salt-cellar by his side1 professedly for his own use1 containing tartar emetic1 either alone or mixed with salt4 ,he may have placed a spoonful of this on the plate with the cheese3 the latter may have been either dipped into the salt or got into it accidentally4 ,no question was asked at the trial about such a likely fact1 which would account for one person suffering1 and not another1 according as they got the salt or not4 ,the strong taste of salt would avert suspicion from that of tartar emetic4 7b7 ,mc,cleod said that it was 8new cheese--they had it in the house--it was soft--it tasted hot like pepper40 ,it is possible1 but not easy1 by warming and pounding in a mortar1 to mix cheese with a considerable amount of a powder3 it would then look soft and rather unnatural1 but might1 as 8new cheese10 escape suspicion4 ,this theory is less probable than the other4 ,tapioca4--,mr4 ,clark's remark1 p4 #dch1 8,now the suggestion of the ,crown is that the prisoner put antimony in this tapioca1 so nicely adjusted as to produce sickness leading to death1 but not so as to produce death itself10 is inconclusive1 as it requires a considerable amount to produce death4 ,a large quantity of tartar emetic could be mixed with tapioca without suspicion1 and would not betray itself by any peculiar appearance on cooking4 ,the same remark applies to the sago in ,winslow's case4 ,egg-flip4--8,the amount of antimony introduced on the sugar into the egg-flip must have been a very powerful dose1 because ,patterson took only a teaspoonful and lay vomiting and suffering all night40 ,the total amount was a tumblerful 7 #aj fluid ounces74 ,mrs4 ,pritchard took a wine-glassful 7 #b fluid ounces72 was sick very soon and all night4 ,mary ,patterson took a teaspoonful1 was sick immediately1 and vomited frequently throughout the night4 ,her dose must have been at least #a grain4 ,this would make #fj grains in the whole4 ,such a quantity of tartar emetic would be about a teaspoonful1 and obviously could not be introduced on two lumps of loaf sugar1 as the following experiment shows3--,two rather large pieces of loaf sugar weighing together #bjd grains were gently shaken with powdered tartar emetic1 and the loose part shaken off4 ,the lumps now looked rather powdery1 but nothing very noticeable4 ,the amount of tartar emetic they had taken up was nearly #c grains 7#bif71 not nearly a teaspoonful1 though amply sufficient to cause vomiting4 ,it is not the porosity1 but the roughness of surface1 that enables a powder to adhere to the sugar4 ,the tartar emetic might have been slipped into the egg-flip1 out of the hand1 at the same time that the sugar was added1 the mixture being afterwards stirred up4 ,,dr4 ,,smethurst',s ,,case4 ,,dr4 ,,taylor ,,and ,,mr4 ,,herapath4 ,in his evidence before the committing magistrates1 on the #bjth of ,may1 ,dr4 ,taylor said3-- 8,i found no arsenic or antimony in any of the bottles delivered to me by ,inspector ,mc,intyre on the #eth and #gth of ,may1 except one1 and the homopathic medicine3 that one was bottle #ba4aib ,when ,i received this bottle it was about half full of thin1 watery-looking mixture1 and ,i tested it4 ,it had a cooling1 pleasant saline taste1 not repugnant1 no smell4 ,i detected nothing wrong with the taste4 ,i evaporated some in a glass1 and examined it by the microscope1 and then found it was not tartar emetic1 as ,i thought4 ,i then applied the tests for arsenic1 and every test ,i tried was destroyed1 and failed to show the existence of arsenic1 owing1 as ,i supposed1 to there being in it1 and my tests convinced me that there was1 something very peculiar about it that ,i had not met before4 ,i tried ,reinsch's process1 but ,i found that it dissolved the copper-gauze as soon as ,i put it into the liquid4 ,i then determined to extract this noxious agent1 and continued to put in copper-gauze until it no longer possessed the power to dissolve it4 ,i then put in a piece of copper1 which at once received the arsenic4 ,i was able to decide by these tests that the mixture was chlorate of potash4 ,i found there was of chlorate of potash #g grains to the ounce1 or #a and #f_/ajths per cent41 and there was a grain of arsenic to every ounce4 ,i found that the taste of the liquid in this bottle was such that no one would be likely to suspect that it contained arsenic1 more particularly as the quantity of arsenic was so small that the liquid could be mixed with any kind of food and swallowed without the person being aware of it4#aic ,in the bottles brought to me by ,dr4 ,berry#aid ,i found arsenic--that was white arsenic4 ,i could not give an opinion on that in the evacuation 7,no4 #b71 as that was mixed with blood and mucus4 ,in ,no4 #a there was biliary matter without any metallic substance40 ,subsequently to the conviction of ,smethurst1 ,mr4 ,herapath wrote the letter to the ,times1 on the #bgth of ,august1 before referred to in the ,lord ,chief ,baron's communication to the ,home ,secretary1 in which1 after a wordy and personal attack on ,dr4 ,taylor1 with special reference to his having used for twenty years untested copper1 he said3-- 8,but was the arsenic said to have been found in bottle #ba really in the copper used to prove its presence8 ,could the copper wire-gauze dissolved by #g grains of chlorate of potash and its associated hydrochloric acid deposit one grain of arsenic8 ,in the face of all ,england1 ,i say it could not4 ,the #ajjth part of a grain of arsenic in that quantity of copper would render it so brittle that it could not be drawn into wire at all1 much less into fine wire fit for gauze4 ,the fact is the whole set of operations were a bungle4 ,reinsch's process is inapplicable where nitrates or chlorates are present4 ,taylor must have known this3 it was well known then that chlorates1 nitrates1 arsenates1 and other oxidizing agents1 interfered with ,reinsch's process4 ,when ,taylor found the copper dissolved--he knew that one of these oxidizing agents was present--he ought then to have either used ,marsh's test instead of ,reinsch's1 or should have prepared the solution by sulphurous acid first4 ,the method he did use was as dangerous as could be40 ,whether ,mr4 ,herapath communicated this opinion to the friends of ,smethurst before the trial1 as he ought to have done1 does not appear4 ,at any rate he was not called for the defence1 and his opinion was apparently only made public after the conviction4 ,it stands1 therefore1 like all the other communications laid before the ,home ,secretary1 untested by cross-examination4 ,how far was he correct8 ,taylor does not state how much of the liquid in bottle #ba he took for analysis4 ,assuming that he took #a ounce1 #g grains of chlorate would dissolve1 at the most1 #bb grains of copper4 ,if this yielded #a grain of arsenic1 the copper must have contained #d per cent4 of that poison--an impossible quantity4 ,less than per cent4 of arsenic renders copper brittle4 ,so far ,herapath was right4#aie 7#b47 ,if ,taylor was right that what he got was white arsenic1 that could not have come from the copper1 which can only contain arsenicum--metallic arsenic4 ,therefore if ,taylor's analysis was not altogether wrong1 in bottle #ba there really was arsenic1 and the prisoner was proved to have had the materials for poisoning in his possession4 ,taylor's procedure in dissolving up piece after piece of copper1 which had not been previously proved1 by the same process1 not to contain arsenic1 was highly blameable1 and his assertion that he had previously tried his tests and found them pure1 was not strictly true4 ,altogether1 his tests both for arsenic and antimony were not reliable4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,addenda4 ,the 8bismuth0 frequently referred to in the report of ,smethurst's trial is the ,bismuthi ,subnitras1 ,b4 ,p41 also known by the various names of 8,bismuthum ,album10 8,white ,bismuth10 8,trisnitrate of ,bismuth10 8,subnitrate of ,bismuth10 8,magistery of ,bismuth10 8,pearl ,white10 c4 ,this compound is a basic nitrate of bismuth1 ,bi ,n #jd1 ,h#b #j3 it is insoluble in water1 and is a heavy1 white1 minutely-crystalline powder1 much used in medicine1 and also as a cosmetic4 ,the name 8bismuth0 is misleading as applied to this drug1 which is not bismuth1 but a salt of that metal4 ,ordinary subnitrate of bismuth frequently contains various adulterations and impurities4 ,the most usual adulterants are carbonate of lead1 carbonate of lime and phosphate of lime 7,royle's ,materia ,medica1 #ahgf73 among the impurities which have been found are ammonia 7,piper1 ,pharm4 ,journ41 ,ap4 #ba1 #ahgg71 arsenic1 lead1 iron1 chlorine1 and sodium salts4 ,some specimens of bismuth subnitrate analysed by ,herapath contained #a grain of arsenic in #ajjj3 others contained as much as #a grain in #dcc4 ,taylor1 also1 found arsenic in three samples out of five examined by him4 ,riche 7,j4 ,pharm4 et ,chim41 #e1 #chd7 states that the majority of commercial samples of bismuth subnitrate contain lead and arsenic1 the former to the extent of #jc-jd per cent4 7as sulphate71 and the latter 7as arsenious acid7 to #jjb-ja per cent41 while ,chas4 ,ekin 7,pharm ,journ41 #c1 ,,iii41 #cha7 remarks that this preparation of bismuth is often very impure1 containing much subchloride1 copper1 and occasionally lead4 ,on the other hand1 three specimens of subnitrate of bismuth1 analysed by ,bernays1 contained no arsenic1 lead1 or carbonic acid1 while the percentage of bismuth oxide present closely approximated to the theoretical amount4 ,moreover1 in the ,practitioner1 ,mar4 #ahga1 p4 #aia1 the results of the examination of six samples of bismuth subnitrate are given1 the only impurities found being traces of chlorine and sulphuric acid3 there was no arsenic4 ,hence it is evident that subnitrate of bismuth does not always contain arsenic3 and the quantity of this impurity1 when present1 is so minute as 7having regard to the small doses in which the drug is usually prescribed in medicine7 to be insufficient to produce the graver symptoms of arsenical poisoning4#aif ,the presence of arsenic in bismuth subnitrate may easily be detected by ,marsh's test4 ,subnitrate of bismuth nearly always contains arsenic and other impurities1 when it has been prepared from commercial bismuth4 ,the ,british ,pharmacopia1 therefore2 very properly directs that purified bismuth 7,bismuthum ,purificatum1 ,b4 ,p47 should be used in the preparation of this drug3 the ,b4 ,p4 method of purifying the metal is as follows4 #aj ounces of bismuth and #a ounce of nitrate of potash are fused together in a crucible1 heated and stirred1 until the salt has solidified into a slag over the metal3 the salt is now removed1 another ounce of nitrate of potash is added1 and the remainder of the process is repeated4 ,the fused bismuth is now poured into a mould1 and allowed to cool4 ,herapath states that the arsenic is not all removed by this process1 and he proposes to boil the nitrate in solution of a caustic alkali1 which removes the arsenic and converts the bismuth into oxide1 from which the salts can be prepared 7,royle74 ,from the purified metal subnitrate of bismuth can be prepared by the following process1 which is that given in the ,british ,pharmacopia4 #b ounces of purified bismuth are gradually added to a mixture of #d fluid ounces nitric acid with three ounces distilled water3 when effervescence has ceased1 heat is applied for a few minutes1 and the solution is decanted from any insoluble residue4 ,the liquid is concentrated by evaporation to #b fluid ounces1 and poured into half a gallon of distilled water4 ,the precipitate formed 7,bi ,n #jd1 ,h#b #j7 is well washed by decantation1 filtered1 and finally dried at a temperature not exceeding #aej ,f4 ,in the event of the bismuth used not having been thoroughly purified1 and being therefore still likely to contain a trace of arsenic1 a modification of the above process1 recommended by ,r4 ,schneider 7,journ4 ,prakt4 ,chem41 #ahgi1 #dah71 may be employed4 ,it consists in heating the acid before the bismuth is added1 and continuing the heating until the metal is dissolved4 ,if arsenic be present1 the solution will contain in suspension a white precipitate of bismuth arsenate1 which is nearly insoluble in nitric acid1 and can be removed by filtration through asbestos1 before the solution is diluted4 ,cold nitric acid would convert any arsenic present into bismuth arsenite1 which is readily soluble in nitric acid1 and could not1 therefore1 be separated by filtration4 8,grey powder0 is ,hydrargyrum cum ,creta1 ,b4 ,p41 and consists of one part of metallic mercury in a very finely divided state1 mixed with two parts of chalk4 ,it is made by rubbing mercury and prepared chalk together until metallic globules are no longer visible4 ,the mercury in this preparation always becomes in course of time more or less oxidised1 the amount of oxide formed varying according to the length of time the mixture has been kept1 and the extent of its exposure to the air4 ,iron1 silica1 and phosphoric acid1 might be present in very small quantities as impurities1 in many samples of grey powder3 caustic lime could not possibly occur1 unless the specimen had been subjected to a red heat1 which would drive off the mercury and so spoil the preparation4 ,antimony and arsenic would rarely be met with as impurities in grey powder1 and if present1 would only be in very minute quantities4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,poisoning ,,by ,,aconitia ,,or ,,aconitine4 ,,the ,,wimbledon ,,poisoning ,,case--,,dr4 ,,lamson4 ,,under this head of poisons1 there is only one trial to report in full1 that of ,dr4 ,lamson for the murder of his brother-in-law1 ,percy ,malcolm ,john1 at ,wimbledon1 on ,saturday1 the #crd of ,december1 #ahha1 for which he was tried before ,mr4 ,justice ,hawkins1 at the ,central ,criminal ,court1 on the #hth of ,march1 #ahhb1 and the five following days4 ,the especial difficulties in the way of detecting this preparation of aconite1 invested the case with more than usual interest to both the medical and legal profession4 ,the subsequent attempt by the convict's friends to induce the ,home ,secretary to delay his execution1 in order that his mental condition might be inquired into1 backed as it was by the ,american ,government1 kept alive the public interest to an unusual extent1 and bid fair to revive another such controversy as that which followed1 but with a different result1 on the conviction of ,smethurst4 ,by the kindness of ,mr4 ,w4 ,a4 ,mills1 ,dr4 ,lamson's solicitor1 ,i have had the advantage of reading the whole of the very numerous affidavits tendered in support of this application1 of which ,i have given a summary at the close of the trial4#aig ,though the trial now reported is the only one in which aconitia was employed1 other forms of aconite have been used in previous cases4 ,in that of ,dr4 ,pritchard it was administered in the form of tincture of aconite1 and as far back as #ahda1 in the case of ,reg4 v4 ,mc,conkey1 it was administered as powdered aconite root4 ,in this case the reputed poisoner was tried at the ,lent ,assizes1 ,monaghan1 and the medico-legal investigation was conducted by the late ,dr4 ,geoghegan1 of ,dublin4 ,as in ,pritchard's and ,lamson's cases1 the medical evidence was beset with difficulties1 for no trace of the poison could be discovered in the body1 and it was only by a close analysis of symptoms and appearances that the charge was brought home to the prisoner4 ,the deceased had eaten at his dinner some greens dressed for him by the prisoner3 he complained of their having a sharp taste1 and this was perceived also by another person present who tasted them4 ,it was ascertained that the deceased1 soon after the meal1 had vomited a greenish matter1 and suffered from purging1 restlessness1 incoherence1 lockjaw1 and clenching of the hands4 ,he died in about three hours after having eaten the greens1 but was not seen by a medical man while living4 ,the chief appearance met with was in the stomach1 where the mucous membrane was of a light reddish-brown colour4 ,traces of vegetable matter were found in the intestines1 but no poison could be detected1 either botanically or chemically4 ,the symptoms suffered by a friend of the deceased1 who had accidentally tasted the greens1 were very characteristic of poisoning by aconite4 ,in two minutes he felt a burning heat in the mouth1 throat1 gullet1 and stomach2 then a sensation of swelling in the face1 with a general feeling of numbness and creeping of the skin4 ,restlessness1 dimness of sight1 and stupor almost amounting to insensibility1 followed2 and in about an hour after the meal he was found speechless--frothing at the nose and mouth1 the hands and jaws clenched1 appearing occasionally as if dead1 and then again reviving4 ,vomiting1 purging1 tenderness at the pit of the stomach1 cramps1 tingling of the flesh1 and a burning taste in the mouth1 followed4 ,this man did not entirely recover until after the lapse of five weeks4 ,the prisoner was convicted1 and confessed before his execution that the powdered root of ,monkshood 7aconite7 had been mixed with pepper and sprinkled over the greens4#aih ,,the ,,wimbledon ,,poisoning ,,case4 ,before ,,the ,,hon4 ,,mr4 ,,justice ,,hawkins1 at the ,,central ,,criminal ,,court1 ,march #i1 and five following days1 #ahhb4 99 99 99 99 99 ,for the ,prosecution3 ,the ,solicitor-,general 7,sir ,f4 ,herschel71 ,mr4 ,poland1 and ,mr4 ,a4 ,l4 ,smith4 ,for the ,defence3 ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams1 ,mr4 ,c4 ,matthews1 ,mr4 ,e4 ,gladstone1 and ,mr4 ,w4 ,s4 ,robson4 ,george ,henry ,lamson1 surgeon1 aged #bi1 was indicted for the murder of his brother-in-law1 ,percy ,malcolm ,john1 at ,blenheim ,house1 ,wimbledon1 on ,december #crd1 #ahha4 ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,case4 ,in the winter of #ahha1 among the pupils at the school of ,mr4 ,bedbrook1 of ,blenheim ,house1 ,wimbledon1 was ,percy ,malcolm ,john1 the youngest of the five children of a ,manchester merchant1 a lad of about nineteen years of age1 a sad sufferer from paralysis of the lower limbs produced by curvature of the spine1 but otherwise in a fair state of health4 ,since the death of their mother in #ahfi1 the children had been orphan wards in ,chancery1 and previously to #ahha1 one brother and one sister had died1 under age1 another sister had married a ,mr4 ,chapman1 and the third the prisoner1 a medical practitioner at ,bournemouth1 who was now indicted for the murder of his brother-in-law4 ,by the wills of their parents1 the children1 as they came of age or married1 were entitled to the family property in equal shares1 those of such as died under age passing to the survivors4 ,hence1 at the time of his death1 ,percy ,john had property in expectance to the amount of #c1jjj1 which1 in the event of his death as a minor1 would be equally divided between his two married sisters1 and by the settlement made by ,mrs4 ,lamson on her marriage1 her share would come into the hands of the prisoner4#aii ,though such a sad sufferer from paralysis as to be unable to move about readily except in a wheel-chair1 and only able to drag himself backwards up a few stairs1#bjj there were no symptoms of serious bodily illness in the lad3 his temper was good1 and his intelligence fair4 ,in his brother-in-law's health ,lamson appeared to take great interest1 visiting him at the school1 having him to stay at his own house1 and sending to his master from ,america some medicines which he stated had been found useful in that country in similar cases4 ,on the #ast of ,december1 the prisoner wrote to the boy that he would come to see him the next evening1 before he left for ,paris--a promise which he failed to keep4#bja ,on the #crd1 however1 about seven in the evening1 he came1 bringing with him some sweets1 a cake1 and a box containing gelatine capsules1 which he told the master he had brought for him from ,america1 as convenient for enabling him to administer nauseous medicines to his pupils4 ,at this interview with his brother-in-law1 he persuaded ,mr4 ,bedbrook1 who was present1 to take one of these capsules to try how easily they were swallowed4 ,whilst doing so1 the master noticed that the prisoner was filling another with some powdered sugar1 which he had asked for1 on the plea of destroying the alcohol in some wine of which he was partaking4 ,when he had put in the sugar1 the prisoner1 turning to the lad1 shook up the capsule1 saying1 8,it has to be shaken in order that the medicine may go to the bottom4 ,you are good at taking medicine2 take this40 ,the boy swallowed the capsule1 and within a few minutes after1 the prisoner1 saying that he wanted to catch the tidal-train for ,paris1 left the school-house4 ,in about twenty minutes afterwards ,percy complained of heartburn1 gradually became worse1 was carried up to bed1 and vomited largely in the closet4#bjb 8,he felt10 he said1 8as he had done in the previous ,august when the prisoner gave him a pill in the ,isle of ,wight40 ,he was in great pain1 violently restless1 and with difficulty kept down by those who were holding him4 ,after more simple remedies had failed to relieve him1 the doctors who had been called in injected morphia under the skin1 which had a temporary effect4 ,this was subsequently repeated1 but with no apparent result1 and shortly afterwards he died1 within four hours of swallowing the capsule4 ,the post-mortem examination revealed no signs of such a natural form of disease as would account for his sudden death--the only sign of disease being the long-standing curvature of the spine1 distressing1 but at that time innocuous4 ,a chemical analysis of the stomach and other parts of the body was had1 and1 so far as the present state of scientific knowledge could decide1 it was the firm opinion of the experienced analysts ,drs4 ,stevenson and ,dupr1 that death was due to an irritant vegetable poison1 and that that poison was aconitia1 a most highly poisonous vegetable alkaloid1 containing the active principle of aconite1 the product of the root of monkshood4 ,suspicion naturally fell on the prisoner1 and was greatly increased when it was discovered that a few days before his last visit to the boy he had purchased aconitia in ,london1 and that previously to the illness of the deceased in the ,isle of ,wight1 the prisoner had also purchased of a druggist at ,shanklin some of this deadly poison4 ,in the meantime the prisoner had gone to ,paris1 whence on the #hth of ,december he unexpectedly returned1 presented himself to the police at ,scotland ,yard1 in consequence1 as he said1 of the reports he had seen in the papers1 and1 apparently to his surprise1 was taken into custody4 ,other incidents in the prisoner's career and conduct gradually came to light4 ,whilst in practice as a surgeon at ,bournemouth he had been in great pecuniary difficulties1 though he had received his share of the property of that one of the children who had died a minor2 an execution had been put into his house1 and at the time of the murder he was admittedly in straitened circumstances4 ,again1 in the boy's boxes at school1 in addition to some genuine quinine powders purchased of a chemist in the ,isle of ,wight1 and proved to be free from poison1 which had been sent to the boy by the prisoner1 were three heavily charged with aconitia1 and two pills containing this deadly drug4 ,again1 he had written to the boy on the #ast of ,december that he would call on him on his way to ,paris the next day4 ,he went to ,wimbledon1 however1 on the evening of the #bnd1 with his friend1 a ,mr4 ,tulloch1 whom he left at the station1 whilst he professed to have gone to the school1 and to whom he said that 8he had seen his brother-in-law1 who was much worse1 and that he did not expect he would live long1 and that he would not go on to ,paris that night1 as ,mr4 ,bedbrook1 who was a director of a continental line1 had told him that there was a bad boat on40 ,all this was untrue4 ,he had never been to the school1 and ,mr4 ,bedbrook had nothing to do with any continental line4 ,he had invented the whole story4 ,in the trial that followed1 the interest centred on the impossibility of detecting vegetable poisons by any chemical tests1 and on the necessity1 as in ,dr4 ,pritchard's case1 with aconite1 of relying on the test of tasting the extract from the various parts of the body4 ,on this test1 supported by the effects observed on injecting drops of the extract under the skins of mice1 which successively died of the operation1 and exhibited the same symptoms before death as resulted from similar injections of pure aconitia1 depended the proof that the death resulted from this poison4 ,i proceed therefore to give the medical and analytical evidence in detail4 ,,evidence ,,of ,,medical ,,attendants4 ,dr4 ,berry1 of ,wimbledon1 the regular medical attendant at the school1 who had known the deceased for a year and a half1 and only had occasion to attend him twice during that time1 once for vaccination1 and another time for an eruption on the skin1 his state of health being otherwise good1 gave the following account of the symptoms3-- 8,on ,saturday1 ,dec4 #c1 ,i arrived at the school about five minutes to nine p4m41 and was taken by ,mr4 ,bedbrook to ,percy ,john's room4#bjc ,he was in bed1 and partly undressed1 and in great pain in the stomach4 ,he also complained of the skin of his face being drawn1 and that there was a sense of constriction in the throat1 in consequence of which he was unable to swallow4 ,he was retching and vomiting2 the vomit was a small quantity of dark-coloured fluid4 ,i asked him shortly after the cause of his illness 7,mr4 ,bedbrook had previously made a communication to me71 and said to ,percy1 #8,did your brother-in-law ever give you quinine pills before8' ,he said1 #8,yes1 at ,shanklin4' ,i said1 #8,did it make you like this before8' #8,yes1' he said1 #8but not so bad4' ,there is nothing in ordinary quinine pills to produce such symptoms4 ,i did not form an opinion at that time to what the symptoms were due4 ,during an interval of the vomiting ,i had some white of egg beaten up in water given to him1 which he was able to swallow1 and had hot linseed poultices placed on his stomach4 ,he was very restless on the bed--violently so1 throwing himself backwards and forwards and from side to side4 ,several people held him to prevent him from injuring himself4 ,he did not improve at all under this treatment4 ,hearing that ,dr4 ,little1 a medical man of ,wimbledon1 was in the house1 ,i had him sent for1 and in about twenty or twenty-five minutes after ,i had been in the room he came4 ,i consulted him1 and we determined to inject some morphia4 ,i left the house to get the morphia and an instrument1 being away five to ten minutes4 ,when ,i returned the deceased was not better1 and ,i injected a quarter of a grain of morphia under the skin1 over the region of the stomach4 ,this was done about ten o'clock4 ,the symptoms abated somewhat about half-past ten1 but not very much4 ,they were still all present1 but in a modified degree1 and then they returned again a little before eleven as severely as before the injection of the morphia4 ,a little before eleven the deceased asked to have the morphia injected again4 ,he complained then of pain in his body1 but not in any particular part4 ,i then about eleven injected one-sixth of a grain of morphia in the same place as before1 but it had no apparent effect4 ,in about ten minutes he became a little unconscious and wandering4 ,that was the first time ,i noticed it4 ,his breathing became slower and sighing1 and the heart's action weaker and weaker1 and he died about twenty minutes after eleven40 ,in his account of the symptoms and the progress of the case until the deceased's death1 ,dr4 ,berry was fully confirmed by ,dr4 ,little1 who added that at that time they were of opinion that the death was due to an irritant poison4 ,dr4 ,berry then gave the results of ,,the ,,post-,,mortem ,,examination4 8,after his death ,dr4 ,little and ,i collected some of the vomit which had been caught in a basin in the bedroom4 7,he had previously vomited in the closet47 ,i also collected some from the floor of the bedroom and the closet1 and the whole was put into a cup together1 and thence into a clean bottle1 which was sealed with my own seal1 and given to ,mr4 ,bond on the day of the post-mortem examination4 8,on ,tuesday1 ,dec4 #fth1 ,mr4 ,bond1 ,dr4 ,little1 and myself1 made a post-mortem examination4 ,i made some notes at the time which ,i have here4 ,with the exception of the paralysis of the lower limbs1 he was a particularly well-developed1 muscular lad4 ,the brain was slightly congested superficially1 as well as the substance of the brain itself4 ,by superficially1 ,i mean the membranes4 ,there was no fluid in the ventricles of the brain1 nor under the membranes4 ,the pupils of the eyes were dilated2 the lips pale and the tongue bleached2 in the right lung were some old adhesions at the apex1 between the lung and the chest wall1 the result of inflammation at some previous time4 ,both lungs were healthy1 but considerably congested in the lower part4 ,the heart was healthy muscularly1 the valves also healthy2 it was almost entirely empty and flaccid4 ,there was a small quantity of fluid in the pericardium4 ,the liver was normal in size1 but intensely congested4 ,the kidneys were also normal in size1 but much congested1 and the spleen was also congested but normal in size4 ,the stomach had the mucous membrane congested throughout4 ,under the surface1 near the large end of the stomach1 were six or eight small yellowish-grey patches1 slightly raised1 about the size of a small bean4 ,towards the smaller end of the stomach were two or three similar smaller spots4 ,i believe that they were the result of inflammation1 caused recently before death4 ,the stomach contained three or four ounces of dark fluid1 which was carefully preserved1 and of which ,mr4 ,bond took charge4 ,i examined the duodenum1 the first part of which was greatly congested1 and there were patches of congestion on other parts of the small intestines4 ,portions of the intestines were taken care of by ,mr4 ,bond1 who also took possession of the stomach itself and portions of the liver1 with the gall bladder1 both of the kidneys and the spleen4 ,the bladder contained three or four ounces of urine1 which was drawn off and taken possession of by ,mr4 ,bond4 ,there were no traces of inflammation in the peritoneum4 ,the membranes of the spinal cord were greatly congested4 ,except the appearance of the lungs and the curvature of the spine1 these were all the appearances ,i noted in the post-mortem examination4 ,there was nothing in the post-mortem examination to account for death from natural causes4 ,i should say that he died from the effect of some irritant poison1 the administration of which would1 ,i believe1 account for all the appearances4 ,aconitia is a vegetable alkaloid poison1 and the appearances would be consistent with a fatal dose of that poison1 but ,i have no special knowledge on the subject40 ,on cross-examination1 the witness repeated1 in several forms1 that he had no special knowledge of aconitia1 but some of aconite as used internally for cancer1 erysipelas1 and other complaints1 and was unable to say whether a grain of aconitia blended into #bj pills would be good for curvature of the spine1 and that the remedies he applied were for the violent irritation of the stomach from which up to the time of his death he believed the deceased was suffering4 8,at the post-mortem ,i examined the spinal cord and the spinal curvature4 ,the cord was healthy1 but congested4 ,the existence of paralysis is consistent with a healthy spinal cord1 but not with healthy bone and healthy intervertebral cartilages4 ,i did not examine the condition of the arteries in the neighbourhood of the curvature40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,are you not aware that there are many cases on record of death having resulted from the effects of pressure on the arteries in the regions of these curvatures80 ,witness4--8,no2 but ,i am not prepared to say that there are not such cases40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,will you undertake to say that death did not result from such a cause as that80 ,witness4--8,i cannot undertake to say4 ,i did not examine to see the effect of the spinal curvature on the position of the lungs40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,nor what its effect was on the heart80 ,witness4--8,no40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,do you not know that the lungs are very much displaced in some cases of spinal curvature80 ,witness4--8,yes1 they are40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,is not the heart very much displaced80 ,witness4--8,yes40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,you say this irritation of the stomach was consistent with poisoning with vegetable alkaloids1 and yet you have never seen a case of such poisoning80 ,witness4--8,i have not2 ,i did not take means to ascertain whether the appearances were post-mortem4 ,i know--only from ,taylor's #8,medical ,jurisprudence'--that vegetable alkaloids have produced these symptoms40 ,on re-examination1 the witness said that 8he could not think that the death was caused by anything he saw in the curvature of the spine2 that if death had been caused by pressure on the arteries1 he should not have expected to find the symptoms of irritation in the stomach which existed after death2 that displacement of the lungs and heart had not been1 in this case1 produced by the curvature of the spine1 and1 if there had been much displacement of either1 he could not have failed to observe it40 ,dr4 ,little was equally inexperienced with ,dr4 ,berry in cases of poisoning1 but agreed with him that the curvature of the spine in the lumbar region had not displaced either the lungs1 the stomach1 or the heart1 and that the patches on the surface of the stomach were of recent date--8might have existed for days1 but not for weeks1 but not without the patient suffering40 ,mr4 ,bond1 the ,lecturer on ,forensic ,medicine at the ,westminster ,hospital1 detailed the various portions of the body which he put aside for chemical analysis and delivered to ,dr4 ,dupr2 the receipt of two pills given to him by ,dr4 ,berry1 one of which was taken out of one of the capsule boxes after the boy's death1 and the other brought to ,dr4 ,berry whilst he was in attendance on the deceased1 and two packets of sweets1 and part of a cake4 ,he further confirmed the evidence of ,dr4 ,berry as to the results of the post-mortem examination1 with the exception1 that ,dr4 ,berry had omitted to state that 8the whole of the lungs were somewhat congested1 and the anterior part of them exceedingly so1 and that the body was not decomposed40 ,in his opinion there was nothing to account for death from natural causes1 and he attributed it to poisoning by some vegetable alkaloid1 such as aconitia1 a fatal dose of which could be given in one of the capsules4 ,the appearances on the post-mortem examination were1 he considered1 such as he should expect to find in death by aconitia4 ,he agreed also with the other medical men that the grey patches on the stomach were recent1 due to intense irritation1 and would cause the deceased great pain1 and induce vomiting4 ,on the question of the probable effect of the curvature of the spine1 he gave the following most material evidence3-- 8,the principal curvature was in the lower part of the body2 in the upper part of the spine there was slight anti-posterior or forward curvature1 but it was not enough to affect the position of the heart or lungs relatively to each other4 ,the cavities of the chest appeared to me to be deeper from before backward than usual4 ,the heart was in its right position1 except perhaps that it was higher up in the body than is normal4 ,in the lower region there was a good deal of lateral curvature4 ,i examined the spinal cord down to the end of the dorsal vertebr1 and ,i found the membranes very much congested1 but otherwise it was quite healthy1 to all appearance4 ,i did not examine it with a microscope4 ,in the lower lumbar region ,i did not open the canal1 for it was very twisted1 and ,i had difficulty in getting it open4 ,no disease there could have caused sudden death4 ,the curvature appeared to be of long standing2 the bones were very hard1 and there was no active disease there4 ,i think it impossible that death could have been caused by pressure produced by the curvature on one of the arteries40 ,the cross-examination of ,mr4 ,bond by ,mr4 ,williams was directed1 first1 to whether the time at which after taking the dose the symptoms might be expected to show1 depended on its amount4 ,of this the witness had no knowledge1 but considered that that would be determined by the fulness or emptiness of the stomach2 and secondly1 whether he would expect to find in the stomach the amount of poison that would cause death4 ,on this last point the following questions and answers must be reported3-- ,mr4 ,williams4--8,would you1 supposing death had been occasioned by aconitia1 expect to find the amount of poison that had caused death1 or would it have disappeared80 ,mr4 ,bond4--8,i believe it would be possible to use so small a dose that it could not be found in the stomach40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,supposing death caused by aconitia1 would you expect to find the actual amount that caused death80 ,mr4 ,bond4--8,that would depend on the amount4 ,my opinion is that if death was caused by an ordinary amount1 traces would be found40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,of the amount that caused death80 ,mr4 ,bond4--8,not of all40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,and you say aconitia enough to cause death might leave no trace in the stomach80 ,mr4 ,bond4--8,not of aconitia in the stomach40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,do you agree with this3 #8that the poison found on analysis would be over and above that used up in causing death8'0 ,mr4 ,bond4--8,no2 ,i should not agree to that1 unless it means that so small a quantity had been absorbed1 causing death1 leaving a larger amount which did not cause death4 ,what ,i mean is1 that the poison which may have caused death has been removed from the stomach to other organs1 and it is quite possible that a larger amount may be left behind in the stomach than the portion which has been removed1 and caused death40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,do you mean that it would be decomposed in causing death80 ,mr4 ,bond4--8,i do not know whether it would or not4 ,i think not4 ,i will not give a decided answer one way or the other4 ,i have no idea40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8#8,guy and ,ferrier on ,forensic ,medicine' is one of the first authorities1 is it not80 ,mr4 ,bond4--8,yes1 ,i think so40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,do you agree with this1 in regard to aconitia1 #8that the commencement of the symptoms may be in a few minutes or in one or two hours'80 ,mr4 ,bond4--8,i do not know anything about poisoning by the alkaloid aconitia1 so ,i cannot say one way or other40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,i understood you to say1 that the ventricles of the heart were both empty80 ,mr4 ,bond4--8,the ventricles and auricles were both empty40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,can you produce any case on record where such a symptom as that has appeared in poisoning by aconitia80 ,mr4 ,bond4--8,no1 ,i cannot produce any case on record of poisoning by aconitia40 ,on re-examination1 the witness declined to speak more positively on this point1 on the ground that he was a surgeon1 and therefore had not had experience in the pathology of such cases4 ,his only experience in poisoning by alkaloids had been in a case of strychnia4 ,in reply to the ,judge1 he admitted 8that other vegetable poisons1 even a strong solution of oil of mustard1 would produce the same congestion of the stomach1 and the same yellow marks as had been found2 that a vegetable alkaloid would pass within a minute from the stomach into the blood1 and that it would be more likely to be found in the liver1 kidneys1 and urine1 than in the heart2 he did not know whether strychnia had been found in the heart when not discoverable in the blood and the urine40 ,,analytical ,,evidence4 ,dr4 ,thomas ,stevenson1 ,lecturer on ,medical ,jurisprudence and ,chemistry at ,guy's ,hospital1 and ,examiner in ,forensic ,medicine at the ,london ,university1 after enumerating the various matters handed to him and ,dr4 ,dupr by ,mr4 ,bond for analysis1#bjd and stating that the methods of it were arranged with his colleague1 the manual operations carried out by both of them1 and the results of those performed by ,dr4 ,dupr examined by himself1 gave the following evidence1 which must be reported in full4 8,the bottle marked #8,a' contained portions of the liver1 spleen1 and kidney4 ,to that was applied ,stas's process4 ,i obtained an alkaloidal extract which contained a trace of morphia1 and which1 placed on the tongue1 gave a faint sensation like that produced by aconitia4 ,i reserved that for experiments4 ,to the bottle #8#b1' which contained part of the bowels1 large and small1 ,i applied the same process4 ,i obtained an extract which ,i have done nothing further with--that is to say1 ,i have not tested the extract4 ,no4 #c contained a fluid1 the contents of the stomach1 #c ozs4 ,this was treated in a somewhat similar way4 ,the fluid contained a raisin and a piece of fruit like the top of a carrot or an apple4 ,from that fluid ,i obtained1 by ,stas's process1 an alkaloidal extract1 which was distinctive1 and produced a very faint sensation1 like that of aconitia4 ,when placed on the tongue1 burning of the lips was produced1 though the extract did not touch the lips4 ,burning1 tingling--a kind of numbness peculiar but difficult to define2 a salivation creating a desire to expectorate1 a sensation at the back of the throat of swelling up1 and this was followed by a peculiar seared sensation of the tongue1 as if a hot iron had been drawn over it1 or some strong caustic placed on it4 ,i reserved that alkaloidal extract also for physiological experiments4 ,no4 #d ,d contained a human stomach1 and #g ozs4 of spirits added to preserve the stomach4 ,i observed that the stomach was reddened1 ,i think from congestion1 in the region of the greater curvature1 and posteriorly4 ,at one part there was a little pit as if a blister or inflammatory effusion of lymph had broken4 ,from the stomach and liquid in the bottle ,i made an extract by ,stas's process1 and obtained an alkaloidal extract4 ,that ,i reserved2 but ,i tasted it1 and it had no particular taste that ,i could recognize4 ,next was ,no4 #e ,e1 containing the urine1 #f ozs4 ,i opened it in ,dr4 ,dupr's presence4 ,he found that #d ozs4 of urine had had #b ozs4 of spirit added to preserve it4 ,i made an extract from a portion of that liquid--three-fourths4 ,i obtained an alkaloidal extract which contained a trace of morphia4 ,by a further process ,i obtained more morphia1 but the first alkaloid ,i referred to was more than could be accounted for by the morphia ,i obtained4 ,some of this extract was placed upon my tongue4 ,it produced the effects of aconitia1 which ,i have already described1 in a marked degree1 and a peculiar burning sensation extending downwards towards the stomach40 ,by the ,judge4--8,i have #ej or #hj alkaloids in my possession1 and ,i have tasted most of them40 ,the ,solicitor-,general4--8,how long did the effects last80 ,witness4--8,about four hours--not all the effects1 but the burning on the tongue did4 ,i made an experiment on about one-third of the urine4 ,i injected it beneath the skin of a mouse4 ,the animal was obviously affected in two minutes4 ,from that time it exhibited symptoms of poisoning1 and died in #cj minutes4 ,i made some experiments on mice from ,morson's aconitia1 which ,i procured for the purpose4 ,i injected some of that1 after dissolving it1 under the skins of several mice4 ,it operated on the mice in a manner which was undistinguishable from the effect of the urine4 ,the effects of the two ,i might say were ridiculously alike4 ,tartaric acid was previously used on a mouse in the same quantities and was found inoperative4 ,i retained portions of the extract made from the liver1 spleen1 and kidneys1 from the stomach1 and from the contents of the stomach4 ,all contained an alkaloid2 two giving a slight taste of aconitia1 and the third no taste4 ,i then mixed together the alkaloidal extracts1 ,nos4 #a1 #c1 and #d1 and ,i injected it under the skin of a mouse1 in the same manner1 and it produced effects on the mouse1 in nine minutes from that time1 of severe symptoms of poisoning1 and the animal died in #bb minutes4 ,these symptoms were precisely similar to those produced by ,morson's aconitia4 ,no4 #f1 the vomit1 contained nearly ten ounces1 or half a pint1 of thick1 pasty fluid stuff1 with which also were spirits of wine4 ,dr4 ,dupr pointed out marks showing that to #eoz4 of vomit #eoz4 of spirit had been added4 ,there was a good deal of solid matter in the vomit1 which must have been of a solid character4 ,i examined the solid portion and found it consisted of pieces of fat1 a very small portion of the muscular fibre of some animal1 pieces of onion1 a little starch1 probably that of wheat1 a slice of candied peel like that put on the top of cake1 a piece of apple pulp1 raisins1 and some pineapple1 with just the odour of pineapple drops4 ,i subsequently examined with the microscope the vomit again1 the solid portions1 to see if ,i could find anything corresponding to the root of aconite or the root of horseradish4 ,i found neither4 ,i made an extract from the vomit1 and obtained an alkaloidal extract4 ,the extract had no trace of morphia or of quinine4 ,i applied it to the tongue with a very powerful result1 such as that of aconitia4 ,the severe forms of attack lasted for #f hours2 it lasted for that time1 though the effects did not then cease4 ,i took #a-bdth part for experiment on a mouse4 ,i injected it into the back of a mouse4 ,it was severely affected in #b minutes1 the symptoms continuing till the time of its death1 #ae minutes after4 ,those symptoms were parallel with those of aconitia4 ,in my judgment the vomit submitted to me contained a considerable quantity of aconitia40 ,question4--8,can you fix what quantity80 ,answer4--8,approximately it was not less than one-seventh1 and not more than one-fourth of a grain40 ,question4--8,what would be a fatal dose of aconitia to a human being80 ,answer4--8,there is only one fatal case ,i know of1 and in that death was caused by about one-sixteenth of a grain4 ,what is known to have caused death was not less than one-twenty-first of a grain1 and not more than one-thirteenth4 ,each of the boxes produced contained capsules4 ,there were only two pills in them4 ,they were gelatine-coated pills1 like those in the bottle4 ,i examined those pills1 or rather ,i saw ,dr4 ,dupr do so4 ,they were simply five-grain quinine pills40 ,question4--8,the packet of sweetmeats1 ,no4 #h4 ,did they contain any traces of poison80 ,answer4--8,no40 ,question4--8,no4 #i1 the cake80 ,answer4--8,that contained no traces of poison of any kind40 ,question4--8,no4 #aj1 the capsules1 did you examine them80 ,answer4--8,they are simply gelatine capsules40 ,question4--8,you have told us there were some pills loose80 ,answer4--8,yes2 there were four1 and they were similar to those ,i have just referred to1 quinine1 gelatine-coated pills4 ,there was some sugar in a paper4 ,some of the powders were in larger papers than others2 six were in large4 ,they contained #a grains of disulphate of quinine4 ,there were #ad smaller papers containing powders4 ,they were tied together in a bundle numbering from #g to #bj4 ,they varied considerably in weight1 the lowest weighed #f-ajths of a grain1 the highest #a grains4 ,three of the powders differed in appearance4 ,the average weight of those which were quinine were #i-ajths of a grain4 ,i examined those powders1 and ,i found they consisted1 eleven of them1 #g1 #h1 #i1 #aj1 #aa1 #ab1 #ac1 #ad1 #ae1 #ah1 and #bj1 of disulphate of quinine simply1 the ordinary quinine powders1 but varying considerably in weight1 from #c-ajths of a grain up to #a grains4 ,of the other three1 my attention was drawn to ,no4 #af by ,dr4 ,dupr2 it was a different colour1 as also were ,nos4 #ag and #ai4 ,no4 #af was an obvious mixture2 there were two substances clearly to a chemist1 who would have noticed the mixture at once4 ,it was a very pale fawn1 the mixture2 the other was a pure white4 ,no4 #af weighed #a-h_/aj grs4 or #agi grs4 ,no4 #ag weighed #hh of a grain2 ,no4 #ai weighed #abf1 or about #a grs4 ,in the ,no4 #af1 which appeared to be a mixture1 it looked as if the quinine had been damaged4 ,i tasted it1 and in about three minutes a startling sensation came on4 ,the sensation was severe for three hours1 and then gradually went away after dinner40 ,question4--8,did you make a special examination of the pills80 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,what amount of aconitia was in the pills80 ,answer4--8,decimal #hc4 ,in the quinine pills there was #if4 ,i tested the action of this quinine on a mouse4 ,in three and a half minutes after ,i had administered it the effect was the same as before4 ,in ,no4 #ag there was aconitia1 and in #ai there was aconitia2 ,i cannot tell you how much4 ,in #ag and #ai ,i noticed the difference in colouring between the ordinary quinine powders4 ,the proportion of aconitia was considerably less in #af as compared with #ai40 ,question4--8,is it usual to wrap pills in tinfoil80 ,answer4--8,no40 ,question4--8,or to put them in boxes of this description80 ,answer4--8,oh1 no40 ,question4--8,were these two pills examined by yourself and ,dr4 ,dupr80 ,answer4--8,yes2 one weighed #c grs4 and another #b4 ,there was nothing particular in the appearance4 ,there was a little bitterness at first with the #b grain pill4 ,i cut out a small piece with a penknife4 ,we all took a little piece1 ,i only took the #bbnd part of a grain4 ,part of it was used for the microscope4 ,it caused intense burning4 ,the bitterness of quinine was followed by intense burning1 and the same symptoms ,i have already described1 but of a more severe kind4 ,i injected some of that into the back of a mouse4 ,it exhibited symptoms of poisoning1 was very ill in two minutes1 and it died in #d minutes4 ,i came to the conclusion that there was #de of a grain of aconitia in that pill1 or nearly half a grain4 ,no4 #ab was the sherry4 ,i found no trace of poison in that1 nor in the wafers4 ,i have said the urine contained aconitia1 showing that the poison had been absorbed into the blood1 had passed through the tissues of the body1 and had become excreted4 ,i have said ,i found in the extracts traces of morphia4 ,i have heard of the injection of morphia by ,dr4 ,little and ,dr4 ,berry during the last hour of the boy's illness4 ,the traces ,i found were such as ,i should have expected to find from that1 both in the urine and probably in the liver too40 ,question4--8,could a fatal dose of aconitia be administered in such a capsule as this80 ,answer4--8,oh1 yes4 ,many times a fatal dose4 ,i have put into one a grain of aconitia1 and into another a half-grain40 ,capsules produced by ,witness1 and shown to ,judge and ,jury1 to show how little space in the capsule was occupied even by the grain of aconitia4 ,witness continued4--8,the symptoms lasted after tasting the pill #g hours1 notwithstanding having taken a meal40 ,question4--8,supposing aconitia taken in a capsule of this description1 would it prevent a taste on the tongue80 ,answer4--8,oh1 yes40 ,question4--8,i believe there is no test of aconitia80 ,answer4--8,no specific or characteristic chemical test40 ,question4--8,what are the tests80 ,answer4--8,we can tell chemically that it is an alkaloid4 ,then there is the physiological test1 the effect on the tongue and the neighbouring parts1 and its general effect on the system if taken in any quantity4 ,then the other physiological test is that it will kill1 after a definite course of symptoms1 as shown in my experiments with the mice40 ,question4--8,have you any doubt that you did find aconitia in the portions of the body you examined and in the vomit80 ,answer4--8,not the least4 ,i have heard the description of the deceased boy4 ,he had symptoms such as would arise from poisoning by aconite4 ,his symptoms approached more nearly to those caused by that than any other poison4 ,judging from the symptoms discovered at the post-mortem examination1 ,i should say that he died from poisoning by aconitia40 ,question4--8,is aconitia a medicine commonly used for spinal diseases in this country80 ,answer4--8,no40 ,question4--8,i do not know if you are aware of its use here by medical men80 ,answer4--8,no2 the ,british ,pharmacopia orders it for external use1 but makes no mention of any dose for internal use4 ,it was formerly tried a quarter of a century ago1 or thirty years ago1 but it was given up because it was too dangerous40 ,on cross-examination by ,mr4 ,williams1 after he had stated that he had never seen an acknowledged death from aconitia1 but founded his opinion not only from tasting1 testing1 and the experiments on mice1 but from his reading1 and that he knew that it was used in ,france and ,germany1 but not that it was sold at the ,french chemist's in the ,haymarket as a patent medicine1 the examination proceeded as follows3-- ,question4--8,do you know ,guibert's ,french book on chemistry80 ,answer4--8,yes2 ,i know the book4 ,i have it in my possession40 ,question4--8,would you look at that book--is that it80 ,answer4--8,yes2 that is the book40 ,question4--8,do you there find a formula for pills with aconitia in them80 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,and drops80 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,for internal use80 ,answer4--8,no4 ,the drops are for dropping in the ear2 the pills are for internal use40 ,question4--8,also for ointment80 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,and in the ,british ,pharmacopia you will find #8,unguentum ,aconiti1' #h grains of aconitia to #a ounce of lard80 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,is ,sidney ,ringer an acknowledged authority on therapeutics80 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,do you know his books80 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,do you agree with this3--#8,aconite is used externally in the form of liniment or ointment to relieve pain80 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,the #8,unguentum ,aconiti' alludes to aconitia1 does it not80 ,answer4--8,yes1 the ointment does40 ,question4--8,is that applied in neuralgic cases80 ,answer4--8,yes1 it is used in neuralgia and rheumatism40 ,question4--8,do you agree with the statement1 #8,that a piece of ointment the size of a bean or nut should be applied with friction1 which enhances its efficacy8'0 ,answer4--8,yes1 to the skin40 ,question4--8,a piece the size of a bean would contain half a grain of aconitia1 would it not80 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,do you agree that the application in such a case will cut short pain80 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,and prevent sickness80 ,answer4--8,i do not know about that4 ,sickness is not a usual symptom in neuralgia and rheumatism40 ,question4--8,do you agree with this1 that #8,aconite diminishes sensibility1 and it has been used internally in various painful diseases8'0 ,answer4--8,yes1 aconite40 ,question4--8,have you heard of the use of aconitia in typhoid fever80 ,answer4--8,no2 ,i have heard of its use in fevers generally1 but not in typhoid40 ,question4--8,in the ,journal of ,medicine1 ,no4 #bg1 ,march1 #ahhb1 by ,dr4 ,phipson----8#bje ,the ,solicitor-,general objected that that was something written within a few days4 ,mr4 ,m4 ,williams4--8,then ,i will put this question generally4 ,have you heard of its use internally in severe cases of fever80 ,answer4--8,yes1 ,i have heard of its use in fever1 but not in typhoid40 ,question4--8,have you heard of its use in pleuro-pneumonia80 ,answer4--8,yes1 in very minute doses2 it is recommended in a journal of medicine which is edited by a man who is not a medical man40 ,question4--8,your collaborateur1 ,dr4 ,dupr1 is not a medical man1 is he80 ,answer4--8,no40 ,question4--8,with regard to the symptoms--the dilated pupils--are they not invariably dilated three days after death80 ,answer4--8,after a natural death4 ,the surface of the tongue being rough is no sure sign of aconitia poisoning4 ,congestion of the brain has been observed in aconite poisoning1 but is no sure sign40 ,question4--8,has bloody fluid in the bag of the heart been met with in aconitia poisoning80 ,answer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,would you expect to find the ventricles and auricles empty80 ,answer4--8,it has been observed in poisoning by preparations of aconitia2 but in the only case of aconitia poisoning ,i know of the state of the heart is not mentioned4 ,you will find it in the ,philadelphia ,journal of ,medicine of ,november last40#bjf ,question4--8,is congested liver a sign of aconitia poisoning80 ,answer4--8,the congestion of the internal viscera is an important sign of poisoning by aconitia4 ,the congestion could be caused by various means4 ,the kidneys being congested was consistent with aconite poisoning1 but not dependent on it4 ,the same could be said of congestion of the spleen4 ,i am prepared to admit that cases may have occurred in which congestion has been caused without poison4 ,the patches in the stomach may have existed days before death1 but not without causing pain4 ,i commenced the analysis of the contents of the stomach on the #ajth of ,december4 ,i commenced the analysis of the vomit the same day4 ,i commenced to examine the urine the same day40 ,question4--8,you say the bottle ,c1 ,no4 #c1 contained matter from which you extracted an alkaloidal extract4 ,would you expect to find an alkaloid from morphia in the contents of the stomach80 ,answer4--8,no2 but ,i should expect to find it in the urine1 and ,i found in that more alkaloid than was consistent with morphia4 ,that requires the most delicate test4 ,by a further extraction ,i got a little more morphia40 ,question4--8,the precise process ,i ask you for in testing the alkaloidal extract40 ,answer4--8,i took half the contents of the stomach4 ,i mixed it with such a quantity of rectified spirit as1 with the spirit previously added by ,dr4 ,dupr1 made the proportion of spirit two volumes of spirit to one volume of matter4 ,the liquid ,i took was acid in reaction4 ,the liquid stood over from ,sunday to ,monday4 ,it was then filtered4 ,the insoluble part was well washed with rectified spirit4 ,the clear liquid was then evaporated at a temperature below that of the human body1 till it was almost solid4 ,the portion ,i had not dissolved in spirit was then treated with an additional quantity of spirit1 to which a little quantity of tartaric acid was added4 ,the mixture was then warmed to #adj deg4 ,fahr4 ,it was then cooled4 ,the insoluble part was well washed with spirit1 and the clear liquid evaporated at a temperature below that of the human body4 ,a fairly solid residue was obtained4 ,i now obtained two alcoholic extracts1 each of which was treated in a precisely similar manner1 but separately1 by digesting them with warm absolute alcohol1 or rather tepid1 till the alcohol would take up and dissolve nothing more4 ,the solutions in absolute alcohol were filtered and evaporated nearly to dryness4 ,they were then treated with a little water4 ,they were found to be acid in reaction1 and the two solutions--that is to say1 that from the plain spirit1 and the other from the tartaric acid spirit--were mixed4 ,care was taken that they remained just faintly acid1 and the solution was then agitated with washed ether4 ,the ether was allowed to separate2 it was drawn off1 and replaced by fresh ether4 ,this operation was carried out five times4 ,the ether was set apart1 and allowed to evaporate at a temperature below boiling point2 that was reserved as not containing any alkaloid4 ,the residue was oily and partially dissoluble with water2 it was of a brownish colour4 ,it was not weighed1 but was a very appreciable quantity40 ,question4--8,were these tests conducted for aconitia only80 ,answer4--8,oh1 no2 ,i tested for other poisons4 ,the aqueous liquid which separated from the ether was made alkaline by carbonate of soda1 and it was then agitated with a mixture of washed ether and washed chloroform4 ,the ether-chloroform solution was then allowed to separate1 drawn off1 replaced by washed ether1 the ether again drawn off1 and again replaced by ether1 which was again drawn off4 ,these chloroform-ether mixtures were mixed and evaporated1 and finally dried in vacuo over oil of vitriol4 ,before it was placed in the vacuum1 ,i examined it to see if there were any volatile alkaloids1 which would be distinguished by their peculiar odour4 ,there were none4 ,i then weighed it1 after drying1 and found its weight #ajh of a grain1 or rather more than #a-ajth of a grain4 ,it was slightly crystalline in appearance4 ,i tasted it1 putting a little on my tongue4 ,that was one of my taste tests40 ,question4--8,that was afterwards dissolved1 and part of it was applied to the mouse80 ,answer4--8,yes1 but ,i had previously tested it for an alkaloid4 ,i went through the same operation with the vomit and the urine1 with only minor differences of details here and there as occasion required40 ,question4--8,you say that the effect on the tongue was characteristic of aconitia4 ,was it characteristic of nothing else80 ,answer4--8,nothing else that ,i know of40 ,question4--8,not of veratria80 ,answer4--8,no2 ,i have tried that on the tongue1 and its effect is different4 ,i do not recollect that delphinia is like aconitia4 ,morphia has no marked bitterness4 ,i know that the taste is very different from other substances4 ,pepperine has an immediate burning effect40 ,question4--8,is not phosphoric acid a test for aconitia80 ,answer4--8,no2 it is given as a test1 except by those who have studied it recently4 ,i have made experiments with pure aconitia with no results4 ,the book produced is written by an authority4 ,fluckijer1 in his work on the subject1 gives the reaction of aconitia1 but it is ,german aconitia he refers to2 it is very different to ,english aconitia4 ,i see no reference to ,english aconitia in ,fluckijer40 ,the book was handed back to counsel1 and ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams said the date was #ahgi4 ,witness1 cross-examined further4--8,the solution injected into the mouse was measured on each occasion4 ,about three minims of liquid altogether was injected4 ,with the exception of the urine and one of the vomits1 the injections were unmixed4 ,he believed1 of course1 that too much reliance must not be placed on experiments on animals40 ,question4--8,is it not a recognised fact that alkaloids are found in the human body after death1 irrespective of poisons80 ,answer4--8,it is a question still sub judice4 ,it has been asserted that such is the case where the stomach or other viscera has been much decomposed40 ,question4--8,what are called cadaveric alkaloids1 utterly irrespective of the administration of poison80 ,answer4--8,it is so asserted40 ,question4--8,is not ,stas's test a mode of extracting cadaveric alkaloids80 ,answer4--8,cadaveric as well as natural alkaloids40 ,question4--8,would these cadaveric alkaloids produce the same effects as the natural alkaloids80 ,answer4--8,they have been described as producing the same effects2 but ,i have seen no description of one producing the effects of aconitia4 ,there is a test distinguishing these cadaveric alkaloids from all natural alkaloids1 except morphia and veratria1 and certainly from aconitia4 ,that test was applied to these extracts when no morphia was present1--the reduction of the ferricyanide to the ferro-cyanide of potassium4 ,there is an authority for the method of obtaining and distinguishing these cadaveric alkaloids4 ,i was one of the first to point out that alkaloidal extracts from the stomachs of the dead would kill frogs if injected under the skin4 ,i have read most of the foreign writers on this subject4 ,i have not read ,peschi1 and cannot say whether they produce pricking of the tongue4 ,i do not remember any of them describing sensations produced on the tongue from cadaveric alkaloids1 similar to those from aconitia4 ,many things would produce prickings on the tongue40 ,question4--8,have you found the ordinary residue of the stomach from the dead poison the lower animals80 ,answer4--8,i have never known it to do so4 ,i will not say it is not so40 ,question4--8,how long after the administration of aconitia would you expect the symptoms to appear80 ,answer4--8,from a few minutes to an hour and a half40 ,question4--8,would the time of action depend upon the dose80 ,answer4--8,the probabilities are that a large dose would soonest produce effect4 ,the smallest dose that has produced death has been between #a-ba gr4 and #a-ac gr41 or about #a-af gr40 ,on re-examination by the ,solicitor-,general1 the ,witness explained that it was when corpses were putrefying that the cadaveric alkaloids were produced4 ,he had procured alkaloidal extracts from the urine1 viscera and stomach1 and ascertained the effects of them upon mice3 had made twenty-two experiments this year3 there were two cases of heart disease1 and four of the liver1 kidneys1 spleen1 vomit1 and six from the urine4 ,he had also1 in six instances1 taken from the urine of living persons1 and in three from that of healthy dead persons4 ,those extracts had no effect on his tongue4 ,he had had many years' experience1 and certainly never tasted anything like aconitia1 and he had tried these alkaloidal extracts on the same number of mice without the animals suffering except from the puncture4 ,one of these mice1 he added1 he had killed with the three-thousandths of a grain1 and two-thousandths of a grain was always fatal to a mouse4 ,to a question by the judge1 he said 8it would make a great difference in the time when the severe symptoms appeared1 whether the poison was swallowed directly and whether it came into direct contact with the tongue40 ,dr4 ,dupr confirmed in every detail the statements of his colleague4 8,in his case the effects of tasting the alkaloid from the urine continued over four hours1 and that from the vomit over six hours1 though he took lunch and dinner during that time4 ,in the vomit he did not find any trace of quinine which he should have expected had aconitia been given in conjunction with quinine40 ,,the ,,previous ,,acts ,,of ,,the ,,prisoner4 ,soon after his marriage in #ahgi1 the prisoner set up in practice at ,bournemouth1 whence in ,april1 #ahhj1 he went for a six months' trip to ,america4 ,early in #ahha1 he was in great pecuniary difficulties1 and had to part with his furniture to pay an execution out of his house1 and again went to ,america on the #cjth of ,august4 ,three days before he sailed1 whilst staying with his mother at ,ventnor1 he visited ,percy ,john at ,shanklin1 where the boy was staying with the ,chapmans1 and promised to return on the ,monday1 the #bith1 before he left ,england4 ,it was supposed that he did so1 and it was then1 according to the boy's statement before reported1 that he gave him a pill1 after which he was taken ill in much the same way as at ,blenheim ,house in the ,december following4#bjg ,from ,america he returned on the #agth of ,october1 and after a visit to ,ventnor1 where he got a cheque1 which was subsequently dishonoured1 cashed by a tradesman 7,price ,owen71 he was in ,london on the #ast of ,december1 staying at the ,nelson ,hotel1 ,portland-road4 ,his actions are now taken up by the following witness1 to whom1 and to whose brother1 the prisoner had from time to time advanced money1 in the case of the brother pawning his surgical instruments and watch1 on the #bdth of ,november1 in order to lend him five pounds4#bjh ,john ,law ,tulloch1 a student of medicine living in ,alma ,square1 ,st4 ,john's ,wood1 said3-- 8,i have known the prisoner for some time4 ,i did not see him till ,december of last year from the previous ,april4 ,i saw him on the #ast of last ,december1 a ,thursday night1 at my house4 ,he said he was staying at ,nelson's ,hotel1 and was going to ,paris the next night4 ,he had dinner at my house4 ,i went with him to ,nelson's ,hotel1 and assisted in packing his luggage4 ,i went with him from the hotel to ,waterloo ,station4 ,we had with us a leather case1 a handbag1 and a rug4 ,he said he thought he would go first of all to see his brother-in-law at ,wimbledon4 ,we went to ,wimbledon together at about six in the evening4#bji ,he said he was going up to the school1 at ,mr4 ,bedbrook's4 ,i waited for him in the public-house opposite4 ,he came back to me in about twenty minutes4 ,he said that he had seen his brother-in-law1 who was very much worse4 ,he added that he did not expect him to live long4 ,he said he had seen ,mr4 ,bedbrook1 who was a director of one of the ,continental lines1 and that gentleman had told him that it was as well that he should not go that night1 as there was a bad boat on the service4 ,we returned to town1 and went together to the ,comedy ,theatre in ,panton-street4 ,after that we went to ,stone's1 a public-house opposite the theatre1 and while we were there he wrote the cheque produced1 on the ,wilts and ,dorset ,bank1 dated ,december #b1 #ahha1 for #abl4 #ajs41 payable to ,j4 ,l4 ,tulloch4 ,he asked me to try and obtain the cash for it4 ,we went first to the ,adelphi ,hotel in ,adam-street1 but could not get it cashed there4 ,we then drove to the ,eyre ,arms1 ,st4 ,john's-wood1 which is close to where ,i reside4 ,mr4 ,perrot1 the landlord1 cashed the cheque1 and ,i gave the money to the prisoner4 ,i then parted from him1 and arranged to meet him on the following day at the ,adelphi ,hotel4 ,i saw him there about three or four in the afternoon4 ,i was to meet him at half-past one1 to see him off by a train at #b4ej1 but ,i do not know from what station4 ,he said that he was too late for the mid-day train1 and could not go until night4 ,i went with him to the ,horseshoe to have some refreshment4 ,when there we found that one of the bags received from the ,eyre ,arms contained coppers4 ,we returned to the house and obtained a #el4 note in exchange4 ,he left me there about six4 ,i did not hear of him again till he was in custody4 ,the cheque was dishonoured4 ,on the #acth of ,december he wrote saying the amount would be in my hands very soon1 and he was surprised at my attitude towards1 or1 rather against him40#baj ,on cross-examination1 the witness said3-- 8,i have said to-day the prisoner said on ,december #b1 #8the boy is very much worse1 and ,i don't think he will last long4' ,i do not think he said anything about his having passed his examination that day4 ,i was quite sober4 ,i do not owe him money40 ,at five minutes to seven1 on the evening of the #crd of ,december1 he was at ,blenheim ,house telling ,mr4 ,bedbrook he wished to see his brother-in-law4 ,the boy was brought into the dining-room1 some wine got for the prisoner1 and some powdered white sugar to cure1 as he said1 the alcohol in it4 ,he then had with him a leather bag from which he took some ,dundee cakes and sweets1 of which the boy and the master partook4 ,mr4 ,bedbrook deposed3-- 8,about a quarter past #g the prisoner said to me1 #8,oh1 by the way1 when ,i was in ,america1 ,i thought of you and your boys1 and ,i thought what excellent things these capsules would be for the boys to take nauseous medicine in4' ,he produced two boxes of capsules from his bag1 and said1 #8,i should like you to try one to see how easily they can be swallowed4' ,i examined them1 and put one in my mouth40 ,the ,judge4--8,was the box wrapped in paper1 or was it handed to you open80 ,the ,witness4--8,it was handed to me open40 ,the remainder of the capsules were here produced4 ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams4--8,i do not think they are all of one size40 ,mr4 ,poland4--8,these are the original capsules40 ,witness continuing1 said--8,i swallowed an empty capsule1 and it was very easy to swallow40 ,the ,witness continuing1 said--8,the prisoner took the lids off both of the boxes4 ,while ,i was examining a capsule the prisoner was filling another with sugar1 with a little spade spoon4 ,he then1 having apparently filled it with sugar1 said1 #8,if you shake it the medicine will come down to one end4' ,he then handed the capsule to the boy ,percy ,john1 who was sitting on his right1 about a yard from him4 ,in doing so he said1 #8,here1 ,percy2 you are a swell pill taker2 take this1 and show ,mr4 ,bedbrook how easy it is to swallow4' ,percy ,john then put the capsule in his mouth as far back as he could1 and at one gulp it was gone4 ,i remarked to him1 #8,that is soon gone1 my boy4' ,the prisoner then said1 #8,i must be going now1' and ,i then looked at the time-table to see the next train for ,london4 ,it was then #g4bj or thereabouts1 and ,i told him the next train left at #g4ba1 and advised him to go at once or he would miss his train4 ,previous to this ,i had asked him to remain a little longer1 until the #g4ej train4 ,he said1 #8,i cannot1 as ,i have to catch a train at eight o'clock at ,london ,bridge1 en route to the ,continent4' ,he said he was going to ,florence1 vi ,paris4 ,passing through the drawing-room ,i remarked to him that ,i thought the curvature of the spine of the deceased was getting worse4 ,he observed on that occasion that he did not think the boy would last long4 ,i did not make any reply to that4 ,he then left the house at about #ba or #bb minutes past seven o'clock4 ,he left behind the two boxes of capsules4 ,i placed them on the dining-room waggon40 ,question4--8,from the time ,percy ,john had swallowed the capsule how many minutes elapsed before the prisoner said1 #8,i must be going now'80 ,answer4--8,he said it within five minutes4 ,after the prisoner left the house ,i returned to the dining-room1 where ,percy ,john was4 ,when ,i got back deceased said1 #8,i feel as if ,i had an attack of heartburn4' ,i think after that ,i returned to my guests4 ,he was reading the newspapers40 ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams objected to the statements of the deceased being put in evidence4 ,the ,judge said that evidence as to symptoms could be received when made by the deceased4 ,examination continued4--8,i returned to him in five minutes4 ,he said1 #8,i feel as ,i felt when my brother-in-law had given me a quinine pill at ,shanklin4' ,he said he would like to go to bed4 ,i gave orders that he should go to bed4 ,mr4 ,bell carried him upstairs40 ,the ,judge4--8,at what time was this80 ,answer4--8,between eight and nine40 ,the fatal attack now came on as previously described4 ,in the box with the capsules were some little pills1 and in the boy's own box in his bedroom a small box of quinine powders1 and another with two pills wrapped in tinfoil4#baa ,in the previous year1 when the prisoner was in ,america1 ,mr4 ,bedbrook had received from him a box of pills1 with a letter1 saying that 8he had met some one in ,america suffering from the same complaint as the boy1 who had derived great benefit from taking medicine similar to that now sent1 and requesting ,mr4 ,bedbrook to see the boy take the medicine40 8,i afterwards10 said the witness1 8gave the boy one of the pills1 and next morning he complained of being very unwell4 ,at that time the box was in his bedroom1 and ,percy ,john said1 #8,i will take no more of them4' ,i thereupon took the pills downstairs1 and until the box produced was found1 was under the impression that ,i had thrown it away40#bab ,,purchase ,,of ,,aconitia ,,by ,,the ,,prisoner4 ,mr4 ,charles ,albert ,smith1 a chemist at ,ventnor1 proved that on the #bhth of ,august1 #ahha1 the prisoner purchased of him #c grains of sulphate of atropine1 and #b grains of aconitia1 and that he had labelled the latter 8,aconitine1 poison40 ,as he had previously made up prescriptions for the prisoner1 and knew him as a medical man1 he sold the poison to him without hesitation4 ,aconitia1 he believed1 was commonly used for neuralgia and cancer1 to relieve the palpitations in heart disease1 and as a diuretic in dropsy4 ,on the #bdth of ,november1 #ahha1 the prisoner asked for #b grains of aconitia at ,messrs4 ,allen ,hanbury's1 of ,plough-court1 ,lombard-street2 and as the assistant1 on reference to the ,medical ,directory1 found the prisoner's name as a medical man practising at ,bournemouth1 he sold them to him without further precaution than labelling it 8,poison40 ,on the evidence of this witness1 ,mr4 ,dodd1 a difficulty arose1 from his having at first entertained the impression that it was 8atropia0 which he had sold4 ,the price of this drug to a medical man would have been only threepence a grain1 whilst that of aconitia would be #as4 #c;d4#bac ,in the petty-cash book of the day1 among entries of sales marked 8,c0--the sign that they were sold to a medical man--was one of #bs4 #f;d41 but none of #c;d42 and ,mr4 ,dodd1 after consulting with the other assistant who was present at the sale1 became convinced that it was 8aconitia10 and not 8atropia10 which he had sold to the prisoner4 8,there is also10 he said1 8a difference in colour1 atropia being white1 and aconitia yellowish-white40 ,a previous attempt to purchase aconitia was proved by ,mr4 ,stilling1#bad an assistant of ,messrs4 ,bell ,co41 ,oxford-street1 on the #bjth of ,november4 ,twice before that day the prisoner had had prescriptions made up there1 which he wrote in the shop1 and marked as for his own use4 ,these contained morphia and atropia1 but at the bottom of the second of these prescriptions he had written1 8,digitaline1 pure1 #e grains40 ,by the ,judge4--8,he told me he practised at ,bournemouth40 ,by ,mr4 ,poland4--8,he led us to infer that he was accustomed to prescribe this digitaline for internal use4 ,it is the active principle of foxglove1 and is a poison4 ,while he was in the shop ,i looked at our stock of digitaline1 and found it more coloured than ,i expected4 ,i told him that1 and said ,i would provide him some fresh from the manufacturer in a few days4 ,i did that because he had laid stress on its being pure4 ,he did not say when he would call again1 but in a few days4 ,dr4 ,lamson himself then struck out the lower part of the prescription as to the digitaline4 ,all the rest was made up--morphia and the sulphate of atropia4 ,he waited in the shop while it was made up1 and paid #bs4 #i;d4 for it4 ,in a few days he called again2 it was after the #bjth of ,november4 ,he then asked for one grain of aconitia for internal use4 ,i knew it was poison1 and ,i recommended him to procure it where he was better known4 ,nothing more was said1 and he left the shop4 ,i believe he wrote an order for one grain of aconitia in the shop1 and ,i believe he tore it up himself4 ,except seeing him on the #aath and the #afth ,i knew nothing of him before40 ,by ,mr4 ,williams4--8,he told me on the #aath that he was staying at ,nelson's ,hotel1 in ,portland ,street4 ,i cannot swear that there was a written order for the aconitia4 ,i believed that when ,i went from the shop for my fellow-assistant1 ,dr4 ,lamson wrote the order2 and then when we returned he tore it up4 ,i have not said anything about that order before to-day1 because ,i was not asked4 ,only the atropia and morphia were bought on both occasions40 ,re-examined4--8,when he asked me for the aconitia1 knowing it was a potent poison1 ,i went to consult a fellow-assistant1 and then he wrote the order1 as ,i believe40 ,it may be noted here that the larger quinine powders in the box which were found to be pure were proved to have been purchased of ,mr4 ,littlefield1 a chemist at ,ventnor1 on the #acth of ,october1 #ahhj2 that he knew nothing of the smaller ones1 which were proved by ,dr4 ,stevenson to contain aconitia1 and that he never kept that drug in his shop4 ,in this he was confirmed by his assistant1 ,mr4 ,bright1 who identified his own handwriting on the box in which they had been sold4 ,the smaller quinine powders were not traced4 ,,the ,,surrender ,,of ,,the ,,prisoner4 ,on the #gth of ,december1 the prisoner called at ,scotland ,yard and saw ,inspector ,butcher1 who gave the following account of the interview3-- 8,when the prisoner came there and saw me1 he said1 #8,mr4 ,butcher8' and ,i replied1 #8,yes4' ,he said1 #8,my name is ,lamson4 ,i am ,dr4 ,lamson1 whose name has been mentioned in connection with the death at ,wimbledon4' ,i asked him to be seated1 and he continued1 #8,i have called to see what is to be done about it4 ,i considered it best to do so4 ,i read the account in the public papers in ,paris1 and came over this morning4 ,i have only just now arrived in ,london4 ,i am very unwell1 and much upset about this matter1 and not in a fit state at all to have undertaken this journey4' ,i then communicated with ,chief ,superintendent ,williamson1 who said to the prisoner1 #8,you will have to remain a time4' ,i remained with him4 ,his wife was present4 ,he conversed on various subjects for some time1 and then he said1 #8,where is the delay8 ,i thought ,i would come here and leave my address4 ,i am going into the country to ,chichester1 so that you will know where to find me1 and ,i will attend the inquest4 ,i have travelled from ,paris vi ,havre and ,southampton4 ,i went over vi ,dover and ,calais4' ,after this ,i again saw ,chief ,superintendent ,williamson1 who called the prisoner into another room4 ,i said1 #8,dr4 ,lamson1 this case has been fully considered1 and it has been decided to charge you with causing the death of ,percy ,john4 ,i therefore take you into custody1 and charge you with causing the death of ,percy ,malcolm ,john1 at ,blenheim ,house1 ,wimbledon1 on the #crd of ,december instant4' ,he said1 #8,very well2 do you think bail will be accepted8 ,i hope the matter will be kept as quiet as possible1 for the sake of my relations4' ,i told him he would now be taken to ,wandsworth police-court1 and the question of bail would rest with the magistrate4 ,i conveyed him in a cab to the ,wandsworth police-station4 ,on the way he said1 #8,you will have my father here in a day or two4 ,i hope it will be stated that ,i came to ,scotland ,yard voluntarily4 ,i came from ,paris on purpose4' ,i said1 #8,certainly4'0 ,on searching the box which he had left at ,euston ,station among various articles1 chiefly of plate1 a medical memorandum book was found1 from which the ,solicitor-,general read an extract on the 8effects of acrid vegetable poisons10 and then closed the case for the prosecution4 ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams1 having previously had the letter read from the ,home ,office1 refusing to allow an independent analysis of the contents of the body on the part of the prisoner1 then commenced4 ,,the ,,defence4 ,of the speech for the defence1 which lasted the greater part of two days1 and dealt with the case with extreme minuteness1 it will be sufficient to give a summary1 especially as its leading points were remarked upon so fully in the charge of the learned ,judge4 ,on the question whether the death of the boy was from poison1 ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams1 necessarily laid great stress on the admitted inability of the scientific witnesses to rely on any other test than that of taste4 8,scientifically10 he said1 8it was a leap in the dark1 and they had to traverse a region of science up to the present moment unexplored4 ,who knows about aconite8 and echo answers who8 ,what was it8 ,the root of monkshood4 ,aconite was one form1 and aconitia was the active principle of that form3 and up to the present moment1 with the exception of one reported case1 there was not a single authority on the subject40 ,pursuing this subject1 he said3-- 8,the first medical witness called was ,dr4 ,berry1 who on the night of ,december #crd was visiting at ,blenheim ,house1 where he saw the poor boy until his death1 and observed all the symptoms under which the unfortunate lad suffered4 ,what were they8 ,the lad told him that he was suffering from heartburn1 and where was the symptom of heartburn in the administration of aconite in the evidence of the experts that had been brought before them8 ,what medical gentleman had said that heartburn was a sign of aconitia poisoning8 ,the poor lad was found vomiting1 and ,dr4 ,berry and another medical man1 ,dr4 ,little1 treated him for irritation of the stomach4 ,neither of them treated him for1 or thought of1 poisoning4 ,the boy was taken from the bath-room1 where he was found1 to the bed from which he never rose1 and from first to last all the symptoms were those of irritation of the stomach4 ,from nine o'clock to past eleven no attempt was made to use the stomach pump2 and if the medical gentlemen thought poison had been taken1 they never used anything to relieve him1 or what might have saved him4 ,if poison was in the minds of these medical men1 why did they not treat him for such8 ,it was clear1 therefore1 there was no thought of poison2 and ,dr4 ,berry admitted in evidence that it never occurred to him that it was so until the post-mortem examination4 ,he said he then thought the death was from alkaloid poisoning4 ,it was the duty of him 7,mr4 ,williams7 to cross-examine him on vegetable alkaloids4 ,what was his knowledge8 ,his knowledge was a blank1 and he admitted he knew nothing of vegetable alkaloids4 ,therefore1 the first expert witness called for the prosecution--who had1 moreover1 the benefit of seeing the symptoms in life--broke down altogether4 ,it was his case that the theories of the prosecution were of the most speculative character4 ,dr4 ,little differed somewhat1 and said1 #8,we came to the conclusion that the boy was dying from a vegetable poison an hour before his death1' while ,dr4 ,berry said it was not until the post-mortem examination that they thought anything of the sort4 ,dr4 ,little says he read about vegetable alkaloids in his student days4 ,both those gentlemen1 who give the opinion that death resulted from vegetable alkaloids1 knew nothing whatever about the subject4 ,then they had ,mr4 ,bond1 a gentleman of great scientific attainments1 well known in these courts1 who gave the results of the post-mortem examination1 and he 7the learned counsel7 thought it would not be straining the imagination too much to say that that gentleman gave the first idea of poisoning in the matter4 ,mr4 ,bond said he came to the conclusion that death resulted from a vegetable alkaloid1 and again the same line of questions and answers followed4 ,mr4 ,bond admitted he had never known a case of such poisoning4 ,and so the jury were asked to form a verdict on the evidence of two persons who had seen the symptoms of the deceased in life1 and were entirely ignorant of the signs of vegetable alkaloid poisoning1 and of ,mr4 ,bond1 who was not present1 and who admitted he was also ignorant upon the subject4 ,they were asked to give a verdict on which an existence hung1 and to say they had no doubt whatever that aconitia was in the body4 ,he could only say up to that time there was not one single piece of evidence that the boy died by aconitia poisoning40 ,passing thence to the evidence of ,doctors ,stevenson and ,dupr1 whose tests1 the former said1 8rested on his taste1 on the effects of the solutions on the mice and his reading10 he called the attention of the jury to ,dr4 ,stevenson's admission that the results of most of these tests were consistent with other causes1 though consistent with aconitia1 and ridiculed the effects on the mice as confirmatory tests1 quoting the remarks of ,lord ,coleridge that tests upon animals were always found to be most unreliable1 and of ,professor ,tidy1 8that although useful at arriving at results1 they sometimes failed1 and were not reliable40 8,if they used their common sense they must see that that must be so4 ,so delicate was the constitution of a mouse that one of those experimented on had died because the injecting needle had been stuck in a quarter of an inch too far4 ,mice would sometimes die from fright1 and also from the injection of water1 and yet because these mice spoken of died in five minutes they were asked to say that they died of aconitia poisoning40 ,as to the test of taste1 ,dr4 ,stevenson had admitted 8that it was like some other alkaloids1 and not like others40 ,the question of the production of cadaveric alkaloids was still sub judice4 ,he was prevented1 by the refusal of the ,home ,office1 to allow experts on the prisoner's behalf to be present at the analytical examination1 from calling scientific witnesses to rebut--8an act that was trifling with life--a beautiful bit of red-tapeism2 and1 if it was contrary to all practice1 the sooner it was done away with the better40 ,on the second point1 whether if aconitia was given1 it was given by the prisoner1 ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams1 after alluding to the way in which his admitted poverty had been pressed against the prisoner1 called the attention of the jury to the facilities the prisoner would have had of poisoning his brother-in-law during the boy's visit at his house in the summer1 or his projected visit at ,christmas2 to the fact that the supposed attempt was made in the full light of gas1 and in the presence of both the master and the victim2 that there was no proof that he had brought a capsule ready charged with poison1 and that he must have manipulated one before their eyes1 and that it was not by his request that powdered white sugar was brought4 8,what was there to prevent lump sugar being brought80 ,as to the pills found with the capsules1 8,where did they come from8 ,no pills were given to the boy by the prisoner1 for ,mr4 ,bedbrook was present the whole time and no mention was made of pills4 ,where was the boy all the afternoon8 ,in the room downstairs1 and able to move about1 though this was studiously concealed by everyone from ,blenheim ,house4 ,in this room was the box in which two pills were afterwards found1 one of which was charged with aconitia4 ,were there other pills in that box8 ,it was known that ,percy ,john kept medicine unknown to everyone in the establishment1 although it was against the rules of the school2 it being the duty of the master to administer all medicine4 ,the poor fellow was called #8the swell pill taker1' and what was more likely than that1 with the fascination of the new capsules before him1 he should have taken a pill for the heartburn from which he was suffering4 ,did he do so8 ,it was suggested that these pills were some sent by the prisoner1 but ,mr4 ,bedbrook had exploded that idea4 ,he swore that he thought he had destroyed those referred to1 but at any rate he had never given them back to the prisoner4 ,now did these four or five pills1 found on the table1 come from the box8 ,was there any evidence to show that the boy did not carry pills in his pocket1 and took one in consequence of the heartburn8 ,what did the prosecution mean8 ,did they mean to say that there was a pill hidden in the capsule8 ,if the boy had thought of such a thing1 would he not have asked ,mr4 ,bedbrook or ,banbury whether they felt in a similar state8 ,the boy was in the possession of all his faculties when questioned1 but he did not say one word about the capsules40 ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams then alluded to the admission of ,mr4 ,whalley that poisons were occasionally left in the house after the chemical lectures1 and to the probability that so large a dose of aconitia as was assumed to have been given would have acted sooner1 as ,dr4 ,stevenson admitted that #a_/ba of a grain might kill1 and #a_/ac would certainly have a fatal effect4 ,as for the medical note-book found in the prisoner's possession1 he reminded the jury of ,lord ,campbell's opinion in ,palmer's case that nothing was more natural for a professional man1 and added1 8,it had no more bearing on the case than if #8,russell on ,crimes' had been found in his own possession1 on a charge of murder40 ,on the proof of the purchase of aconitia at ,allen's1 he begged them to note1 that on the #eth of ,december the police commenced their enquiries1 on the #fth the assistants at ,allen's communicated with them1 saying that the prisoner had purchased atropia1 and that it was not until after that that they changed their opinion and were convinced that it was aconitia4 ,it was true that no entry of #c;d4 was found in the cash book1 but there was one of #h;d41 and one of the chemists had deposed that the wholesale price of atropia1 to a medical man1 was #d;d4 a grain4 ,but even if it was aconitia that the prisoner then purchased1 it was only natural for him so to do1 as he was suffering from rheumatism1 of which it was a cure4 ,again1 though they knew where the larger quinine powders1 which were not poisoned1 came from1 it had not been proved whence the smaller came1 which it was the duty of the prosecution to have done4 8,oddly enough1 they were tied up with a piece of string1 a most unusual thing coming from a chemist's shop4 ,they had traced twelve quinine powders1 but they had failed to trace the pills sent from ,america which ,mr4 ,bedbrook swore were not given back to the deceased4 ,he1 ,mr4 ,williams1 could not say where the smaller powders came from1 nor where the pills came from4 ,the burden was not on him to do so1 but on the prosecution40 ,turning then to the evidence of the visit to the boy at ,shanklin1 ,mr4 ,williams said he would deal with that important episode most successfully4 8,albert ,smith10 he said1 8proved that on the #bhth of ,august he sold to prisoner three grains of atropia and one grain of aconitia1 charging #d;d4 per grain for the first and #as4 #f;d4 per grain for the last named4 ,the suggestion on the part of the prosecution was that in the month of ,august the assassin was at work and an attempt was made on the life of the lad4 ,in his judgment he would make that melt into the thinnest of thin air4 ,the #bhth of ,august was a ,sunday1 and on the previous day ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,chapman and the boy arrived4 ,at that time there were four persons of the name of ,lamson residing at the ,isle of ,wight--namely1 the prisoner's father and mother1 and himself and his wife4 ,on the #bgth of ,august they met the boy at the station1 and went to ,mrs4 ,jolliffe's lodgings1 and here again there appeared a kindness and solicitude for the deceased4 ,the #bhth was ,sunday1 and it was said that he bought aconitia on that day1 and that he was present on the #bith1 and in order to prove it it was said that a parcel was left at the station in the name of ,lamson1 when there were four persons on the island named ,lamson4 ,it was further said that the deceased suffered from illness after taking something given to him by the prisoner1 and from that they assumed it was aconitia bought at the shop of ,mr4 ,smith that he had taken4 ,the proof was all the other way1 as the symptoms upon which the prosecution relied all through the case were not those which could be assigned to aconitia1 while he recovered within a few hours4 ,beyond that1 it was shown that he suffered from indigestion1 especially by the fact that although he dined at one o'clock on the day of his death1 undigested food was found in the vomit at nine o'clock at night4 ,the prisoner purchased the atropia and aconitia on the #bhth of ,august1 he was to leave for ,america on the #cjth4 ,this mixture was the very thing he would have taken1 and the very time he would have bought it for the purpose of going on the voyage4 ,the dates exactly suited40 ,counsel's explanation of the story told by the prisoner to the witness ,tulloch was ingenious4 8,the prisoner did not deny that he went down to ,wimbledon on ,december #b with ,tulloch1 but if he contemplated assassination then would he have been likely to have taken ,tulloch with him8 ,that was an observation worthy of some note4 ,he would try and imagine a state of things to have existed1 which was not impossible but more than probable4 ,it was admitted that upon the #bnd of ,december the boy had been passing an examination4 ,it was also admitted the first thing the prisoner was greeted with on the #crd was1 #8,i am glad you did not come yesterday4' ,when he went down on the #bnd what was more likely than that he met some one1 perhaps one of the boys1 for it was a holiday1 who told him it was an examination day1 and he therefore postponed his visit until the next day8 ,all the importance of this visit depended on the evidence of a man who had altered his evidence as originally given1 and who1 it was suggested1 was on that night the worse for liquor40 ,with the remarks that the flight of the prisoner to ,paris1 where he could have been arrested1 and his return to ,england and surrender to the police1 were not the acts of a guilty man2 that1 to obtain the pecuniary gain from the boy's death1 the prisoner must have applied to the ,court of ,chancery1 and if there had been suspicion of foul play would find1 instead of receiving #a1ejj1 the hangman's halter round his neck1 and a fervid appeal on behalf of the wife who had stood by him in ,court1 and his young child1 ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams concluded his minute and able survey of the case against his client4 ,,the ,,reply4 ,the ,solicitor-,general1 in his comparatively brief reply1 directed the attention of the jury to the following points4 ,he admitted that1 in this case1 they had to traverse a branch of science but little known1 that little was known of aconitia1 and everything speculation4 ,he urged1 however1 that 8that argument1 whilst fair1 might be pressed too far1 as then a man desirous of taking life had only to use some poison but little known1 and then to ask that he should not be rendered liable for the results of his crime4 ,they found1 no doubt1 from time to time1 fresh materials used for the commission of crime4 ,if a man from his knowledge used a poison little known and little used1 still science1 with unerring precision1 and working as fast as him1 could bring the crime to light40 ,the idea of death from natural causes had apparently been abandoned by the prisoner's counsel1 so that it was impossible to doubt that it was due to poison1 and what that poison was must rest on the evidence of the scientific witnesses1 8the first in their profession1 of the highest skill1 not called in to prop up any theory1 but to frame an independent opinion4 ,the presence of a third party would not have been likely to assist the analysis1 while on the other hand it might have led to difficulty1 and even mistake40 ,he disputed the correctness of the quotation from ,dr4 ,tidy4 ,what he really did say1 was1 8,experiments on animals may furnish us with much useful information in cases of suspected poisoning1 but their value must not be over-estimated40 ,in this case they were only used to strengthen the evidence from taste4 8,the two tests must be used together4 ,it was their combined force that drove home to the mind the conviction that ,dr4 ,stevenson was right when he said that what he found in the body was aconitia1 and nothing but aconitia40 8,as to the cadaveric alkaloids1 they had in evidence that they were only produced along with putrefaction1 and that their results on animals were totally different from those of the extracts from the boy's body4 ,would they not say that ,dr4 ,stevenson's experiments had been conducted in every way to exclude error1 and must they not1 looking at the whole of the scientific evidence1 accept his judgment80 ,as to the possibility of the boy himself obtaining this poison1 it was fenced round with such safeguards that not even a medical man1 unless personally known1 could obtain it without a record being kept4 ,his story about the visit to ,wimbledon was pure invention1 and the explanation of it by counsel ingenious1 and no more4 ,falsehood seemed to have been uttered by him at every turn4 ,the taking ,mr4 ,tulloch with him was a mere blind3 his return and surrender intended to divert suspicion4 ,had he remained in ,france he must have been arrested1 and1 if he had no money1 he was compelled to return to ,england4 ,,the ,,judge',s ,,charge4 ,in his charge to the jury1 after pointing out that the two points to which they had to direct their attention were whether the boy died from poison or a natural disease1 and if by poison1 whether it was administered to him by the prisoner1 ,sir ,henry ,hawkins alluded to the alleged motive--the prospect of an accession of fortune at the time when the prisoner was in great pecuniary difficulties--and the fact that until the day of his death the deceased1 though a cripple1 was free from any mortal disease4 ,then1 after referring to the details of the prisoner's visit to the boy on the #crd of ,december1 the judge made the following remarks on the results of the chemical analysis1 and the comments of ,mr4 ,williams on them3-- 8,the presence of morphia was1 he said1 accounted for1 as it had been injected beneath the skin for the purpose of allaying the pain4 ,with regard to the dark fluid in the stomach1 it contained1 according to the evidence of ,dr4 ,stevenson1 traces of food1 an apple1 and a raisin1 and from it an alkaloidal extract was obtained2 on applying which to the tongue a slight taste of aconitia was produced4 ,the sensation extended to the lip1 although the extract did not touch it4 ,the sensation was a burning1 tingling1 numbing one difficult to define4 ,salivation and a desire to expectorate were produced--there was a sensation at the back of the throat1 a swelling up3 this was followed by a peculiar seared sensation of the tongue1 as though a hot iron had been passed over it or strong caustic4 ,experiments were made with extracts from the liver1 spleen1 and kidneys1 from the dark fluid1 and from the stomach itself1 and within nine minutes mice showed symptoms of poisoning1 and died in about twenty-two minutes afterwards4 ,the same sensation1 in fact1 was produced on the mice as had been produced on his own tongue previously4 ,in the urine there was a taste of aconitia1 which brought on a sickening and a burning sensation4 ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams had said that the experiments upon mice were hardly a test as to what the effect of the extract would be upon human beings4 ,granted2 but they were about the only tests that could properly be made1 and they proved the presence of aconitia4 ,the drug1 ,dr4 ,stevenson said1 produced a sensation to the tongue and throat which was unmistakable1 and its property of killing was proved by its test upon the mice4 ,could they believe ,dr4 ,stevenson mistaken about that1 it was asked--were there not other vegetable alkaloids8 ,there were2 and ,dr4 ,stevenson said they all had peculiar tastes which differed from that of aconitia4 ,he further said that1 having made himself acquainted with between #ej and #hj vegetable alkaloids1 aconitia differed in taste from any of them4 ,the learned ,judge proceeded to read the evidence given by ,dr4 ,stevenson as to the action of the extract and of prepared aconitia on the mice4 ,dr4 ,stevenson had minutely examined the vomit to endeavour to trace some of the fibre of monkshood from which aconite was extracted1 and which1 as was known1 had sometimes been mistaken for horse radish1 but not a particle could he find4 ,but he obtained all the symptoms of aconitia upon his tongue1 and death resulted in #ae minutes when a small quantity was injected into the back of a mouse4 ,he gave it as his opinion that #a-acth of a grain was sufficient to kill1 and that he found enough aconitia in the stomach to cause the death of two persons4 ,dr4 ,stevenson had been submitted to a severe cross-examination1 and it would be for the jury to say whether they believed that he had really found aconitia4 ,mr4 ,williams had said they were embarking in a new region in aconitia poisoning4 ,it might be they were not very learned in it1 though they would doubtless advance as fresh experiments were made and fresh tests applied4 ,at present it was true there was no chemical test4 ,that was admitted4 ,mr4 ,williams1 in the course of his cross-examination1 had spoken of phosphoric acid1 but ,dr4 ,stevenson said that only applied to foreign aconitia1 and not to ,morson's ,english preparation4 ,they had before them the explanation of ,dr4 ,stevenson4 ,it stood for what it was worth1 and it was for them to say if he was correct1 after the experiments he had made1 in saying that he had found aconitia4 ,dr4 ,stevenson had explained the only tests1 physiological and otherwise1 to trace aconitia1 and had formed his opinion that death arose from that substance4 ,with reference to cadaveric alkaloids1 ,dr4 ,stevenson did not admit that poisonous cadaveric alkaloids were to be found in the human body4 ,he did not dispute there were cadaveric alkaloids1 but he disputed their being poisonous4 ,he did not say they were not so2 it was still an open question4 ,the result of the #bb experiments he had made by tasting cadaveric alkaloids never gave him any taste like aconitia1 and in only one case did death ensue to a mouse experimented upon1 which was where the little animal's spine was injured by the needle used for the injection4 ,another circumstance spoken to by ,dr4 ,dupr was that no trace of quinine was found in the vomit1 but that might be due to the fact that a portion of the vomit was thrown away4 ,upon the testimony as to the cause of death the prosecution said that there was no possibility of accounting for death by natural causes1 and it was for the jury to say whether the death was from aconitia40 ,then going through the evidence of the prisoner's pecuniary embarrassments1 he alluded to the sending of the pills from ,america as showing that if he had entertained the design of poisoning the boy1 he had done so long before the fatal act4 8,mischief1 it was held1 had been concocted long before the lad died4 ,prisoner went to ,america in the early part of #ahha1 and returned about the #bnd ,july1 and whilst there1 as ,mr4 ,bedbrook had said1 he sent over a box of pills1 saying that he had found them to be useful in the complaint under which the boy suffered4 ,the boy had one pill given to him1 and ,mr4 ,bedbrook believed that as he did not like it he took the box and threw the remainder away4 ,in the month of ,august aconitia was1 it was said1 administered to the boy whilst at ,shanklin1 and that it came from powders contained in a box4 ,these circumstances did not lead to death1 but they indicated1 as was contended1 the desire of the prisoner to do mischief to the unfortunate boy4 ,it was a question certainly whether the pills given were the same as those which the prisoner sent over from ,america1 and which ,mr4 ,bedbrook believed he had thrown away4 ,in the bedroom at ,wimbledon was found a box of quinine powders--six large and fourteen small ones4 ,eleven of the small ones were of pure quinine1 but three of them were more or less mixed with aconitia4 ,dr4 ,stevenson said that one of the powders--,no4 #af--;contained #a and eight-tenths of a grain1 and that the proportion of quinine to aconitia in it was as #hc to #if4 ,dr4 ,stevenson tested it1 and the sensation upon his tongue lasted three hours4 ,one-fiftieth part of a grain was tried on a mouse1 and it was dead in six minutes and a half afterwards4 ,they would judge how fatal a quantity was in the powder if they bore in mind what they had been told as to the fatality of #a-acth part of a grain4 ,in ,nos4 #ag and #ai there was some trace of aconitia1 but in neither of them anything like the quantity in ,no4 #af4 ,the box in which those powders were found had been in common use1 and one of the boys had actually taken one of them4 ,anybody1 of course1 might have taken one of the eleven pure powders1 and the lad himself--with the exception of once1 at ,shanklin--had never shown any symptoms that might be considered anything like aconitia poisoning4 ,no doubt three of the powders did contain aconitia in considerable quantities1 and they had to consider how did the aconitia come into them8 ,among other things found in the boy's box were two pills in a tin pill-box4 ,a tin pill-box1 it was suggested1 was sent over from ,america4 ,mr4 ,williams said that ,mr4 ,bedbrook stated he had destroyed them1 but the fact remained that the box with the two pills--one of which was poisoned--were found in the play-box4 ,it was true there was no evidence that the box was the same1 but ,mr4 ,bedbrook said it resembled that which he received from ,america1 but which he said he thought he had destroyed40 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,pardon me1 my ,lord1 but ,mr4 ,bedbrook1 ,i think1 never said he destroyed the box2 he said he had destroyed the pills40 ,the ,judge4--8 ,i think he said he threw them away40 ,his ,lordship referred to his notes1 and said that ,mr4 ,bedbrook in his evidence stated that he took the box downstairs1 and was under the impression he threw it away4 ,when he saw the box1 however1 it appeared to him exactly like that which came from ,america1 and the pills were also exactly like them4 ,mr4 ,williams4--8,mr4 ,bedbrook said he never gave the pills back to the deceased boy40 ,the ,judge4--8,that is so4 ,he said he was under the impression he had thrown them away4 ,it was said that the boy could not get aconitia himself1 but though he could not do so the prisoner could4 ,next they heard what had occurred at ,shanklin in ,october1 #ahha4 ,the prisoner was going to ,america1 and sailed on the #cjth ,august4 ,on the #bgth of that month ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,chapman1 with the boy1 went to ,shanklin1 and found on the platform to meet them the prisoner and his wife4 ,they had some conversation1 and prisoner promised to call on ,monday1 #bith1 to say #8,good-bye4' ,on the night of ,sunday1 the #bhth1 they had it on the testimony of ,mr4 ,smith1 a chemist1 that the prisoner called on him and bought1 amongst other things1 three grains of atropia and one grain of aconitia4 ,it was endeavoured to be shown on the part of the prosecution that he had called pursuant to his promise on the #bith1 and in evidence of that it was sought to produce the cloak-room book of the railway station4 ,on the #bith1 however1 the boy was unquestionably unwell4 ,it was clear that on the #bgth the prisoner saw him1 and said he would call again on the ,monday1 but there was no direct evidence that he did1 although he bought aconitia on the #bhth1 which ,mr4 ,williams said might have been bought with an innocent motive1 as the prisoner at the time was suffering from neuralgia40 ,reviewing then the prisoner's conduct in ,london1 and the story invented by him about his pretended visit to the boy on the #bnd of ,december1 8which10 he said1 8did not amount to much1 but must be taken1 with the other circumstances of the case1 to show that the prisoner's word was not to be relied on10 the learned judge then referred to the incidents of the fatal night4 ,as to the two boxes of capsules1 he continued3-- 8,the prosecution suggested that these two boxes of capsules were brought by the prisoner1 but they did not suggest there was poison in any of them4 ,they were clearly innocent capsules1 as two of them did no harm either to ,mr4 ,bedbrook or to the lad ,banbury1 each of whom swallowed one4 ,what the prosecution suggested1 however1 was that whilst ,mr4 ,bedbrook was examining the capsule he had taken from the box1 the prisoner took another1 in which there was aconitia1 from another box1 and that over that aconitia he put in the sugar1 and then administered it to the boy4 ,that was the suggestion made4 ,they asked for those facts to be put together--the boy was in as good health as he ordinarily was1 in as good spirits as usual1 having neither eaten nor partaken of anything in which there was a suggestion of poison during the day1 and yet within half-an-hour1 or less1 of seeing the prisoner and swallowing the capsule he was taken ill4 ,the cake1 the sweets1 and the capsule were all three given him by the prisoner1 and within a short time he showed the first symptoms described1 viz41 heartburn1 which was followed rapidly by painful sensations1 and the contraction of the throat1 retching1 vomiting1 agony1 and raving to the time of death4 ,on these facts the prosecution asked them to come to the conclusion that he not only died by aconitia1 but by aconitia administered to him by the prisoner1 it being clear that no other person administered anything to him during the prisoner's visit4 ,the prosecution contended farther that they had shown the prisoner to be possessed of aconitia1 upon the evidence of two purchases of aconitia by him1 one from the chemist at ,ventnor on the #bhth ,august1 and the other about the #bjth ,november at ,allen and ,hanbury's1 in ,plough ,court4 ,then again placing before the jury the two questions he had referred to in the opening of his charge1 and warning them not to allow sympathy either for the poor boy or the prisoner to bias their decision1 ,sir ,henry ,hawkins left the case in their hands4 ,in less than three-quarters of an hour the jury returned a verdict of 8,guilty40 ,when called upon as usual to say why judgment should not be passed upon him1 the prisoner1 standing with arms folded1 in a loud voice1 8protested his innocence before ,god10 and with very few words1 the learned judge pronounced sentence of death4 ,,evidence ,,of ,,lamson',s ,,state ,,of ,,mind4 ,within a short time after the conviction of the prisoner1 ,mr4 ,lowell1 the ,american ,minister1 by the instruction of ,president ,arthur1 requested the ,home ,secretary to suspend the execution1 on the faith of a statement from the ,united ,states ,attorney-,general that evidence bearing on the state of mind of the prisoner1 was preparing in ,america1 and would be shortly forwarded to ,england4 ,to this novel application ,sir ,william ,harcourt acceded1 in courtesy to the applicant4 ,the promised affidavits arrived1 and were considered by the ,home ,secretary as insufficient4 ,again a further application for delay was made1 on the promise of further evidence1 and acceded to for the term of a fortnight1 with clear notice to ,lamson that if the promised affidavits were not more satisfactory than the preceding ones1 the sentence would be carried out4 ,such they proved in the opinion of ,sir ,william ,harcourt1 and ,lamson was at length executed on the #bhth of ,april4 ,the proffered evidence not only covered the whole of ,lamson's life from the days of his medical pupilage at ,paris till his trial1 but sought to establish 8a marked hereditary tendency to insanity10 from the fact that his grandmother had been in the ,new ,york ,bloomingdale ,asylum from the age of seventy-six till her death four years after1 and had been previously suffering from 8senile dementia10 the apparent cause of which was entered in the ,hospital ,register as 8predisposing20--that her brother1 a sea captain1 at the age of eighty1 was in the same asylum1 having been suffering for two years from 8dementia10 also entered as 8predisposing20 and that her daughter1 a ,mrs4 ,mc,gregor1 at the age of thirty-one1 was a patient until her death about three years after--her mania 8puerperal10 and also entered as 8predisposing40#bae ,no evidence1 however1 was offered of the mental condition of any less remote ancestors4 ,as a ,medical ,student in ,paris in #ahfi-gj1 ,lamson is described as suffering from cerebral anmia with a tendency to melancholia1 given to imaginary complaints about the surgical theatre1 apt to take offence1 with a passion for chemical experiments of a morbid character1 generally genial in manner1 and taciturn of speech4 ,when employed in the ,american ,ambulance during the siege of ,paris in #ahgj-ga1 8his behaviour was so wild1 erratic1 and bad1 that his associate aids were not prepared to say whether it was that of an idiot or the result of special wickedness--his mind so disordered that he could not be entrusted to administer medicines1 as to the effects of which he seemed to be utterly destitute of judgment and common sense--just as likely to give a large and dangerous dose as a smaller and safe one1 no matter how particularly instructed1 and seemed to be utterly reckless of results40#baf ,from this date to the year #ahgg1 no evidence was offered of his conduct or state of mind4 ,in that year he acted as a surgeon for the ,red ,cross ,society at ,bucharest1 in the ,servian ,war4 ,whilst there 8he exhibited a mania for the administration of aconitia in almost every case1 using it in season and out of season1 and in such quantities as to alarm the medical staff and render his recall to ,england necessary4 ,here1 too1 he appears to have commenced on himself the extravagant use of hypodermic injections of morphia1 to which he subsequently became so notoriously addicted1 on the plea that he was in constant pain and misery10 and to have been constantly under the influence of some ansthetic4 ,he was also habitually incoherent and inconsistent in his way of talking1 boasting of adventures in the ,american ,civil ,war1 when he could have been only twelve years of age4 ,his father1 who was with him1 seemed to keep a constant watch over his son1 and frequently expressed his wish that some other surgeon should be associated with him4#bag ,in #ahgi ,lamson purchased a medical practice at ,bournemouth1 and during the two years that he remained there1 according to the testimony of friends and servants1 behaved in a most erratic and strange manner4 ,whilst there his habit of injecting morphia under his skin increased in a most extraordinary degree1 one witness saying that 8he was hardly ever in his company for more than an hour that he did not use the hypodermic syringe40 ,when visiting patients he seemed not to know why he had come1 or what he ought to do1 behaving so strangely that his services were eventually dispensed with4 ,his habit of telling extravagant stories grew rapidly upon him4 ,his eyes had a fitful and nervous look as if afraid of phantoms4 ,he seemed to be perpetually trying to look sane1 and the witness 7,warren1 an artist7 who spoke to these symptoms said 8he had frequently seen him walking along quickly1 his head hanging down1 when he would stop suddenly1 turn back1 and branch off in some other direction1 crossing backwards and forwards over the road without rhyme or reason40 ,mr4 ,radcliffe ,hall1 of ,welbeck-street1 to whom ,lamson had made in writing a perfectly baseless statement about ,mrs4 ,hall's antecedents1 and afterwards could remember nothing about it1 had seen him inject morphia twenty times a day4 ,his servants thought him mad1 and humoured him accordingly1 and the patients who attended at the dispensary which with another medical man he managed1 with only one or two exceptions1 refused to be attended by him4#bah ,from ,april to ,may1 #ahha1 ,lamson was staying at ,rouse's ,point1 ,new ,york1 with the ,rev4 ,irving ,mc,elroy1 the rector of ,christ ,church1 during which period his habit of injecting morphia was continued1 and1 according to the testimony of the rector and his wife1 ,dr4 ,winston1 the ,medical ,director of the ,new ,york ,mutual ,life ,assurance ,company1 ,dr4 ,murray1 ,physician of ,rouse's ,point1 ,dr4 ,hall1 and others who knew him1 it was seriously affecting his brain4 ,on one occasion he was found in the public street with no coat on1 and his left arm bared4 ,he had a syringe in one hand1 and with the thumb of the other was pressing down the place where the injection had been made4#bai ,at his friend's house he passed the greater part of the day on the lounge1 either dozing or attempting to read4 ,he was then using a mixture apparently of morphia and atropine1 but told them he preferred aconitine1 but could not procure it in that section of the county4 ,to one of the witnesses he admitted that his whole existence depended on the constant use of morphia4 ,the marks of these repeated injections were detected by ,dr4 ,williamson of ,edinburgh whom ,lamson consulted in ,new ,york in ,october1 #ahha1 who marked the serious change that had taken place in his health1 and urged his discontinuance of this baneful practice4 ,dr4 ,hall considered ,lamson 8not a perfectly sane man10 ,dr4 ,winston considered that he 8had become a helpless victim of the habit 7of injecting morphia7 which had seriously impaired his mental powers and destroyed his moral responsibility10 and in ,dr4 ,murray's opinion 8he was utterly irresponsible for his acts40 ,it is admitted1 however1 that at intervals his conversation was perfectly clear and lucid1 and to none of the medical men appears to have been put the legal test question1 8did he know the difference between right and wrong1 at the time wherein he committed the crime80#bbj ,lastly1 we are offered testimony as to the condition of ,lamson's mind for a few days immediately preceding the fatal occurrence1 and that of his father and wife as to his strange conduct for some time previous4 ,all1 however1 that this evidence amounts to is1 that he was so strange and extravagant in his manner and conduct1 that he was spoken of by friends and acquaintance as a lunatic1 that 8for a year past his wife's fears and anxieties had been greatly and increasingly aroused for the soundness of his mind--that his brain1 predisposed to weakness1 or constitutionally liable to disturbance1 was unsettled by ill-health and trouble1 and its disease aggravated by the use of morphia40 ,his father spoke to the wild and fanciful delusions in which his son indulged--the whole being myths1 and believed 8that for at least eighteen months he had been in an unsound state of mind1 steadily increasing in its character and blinding him to the natural and inevitable effects of his acts2 and that the balance of his mind had been quite destroyed40 ,his solicitor deposed that 8he could obtain no assistance from him in the preparation of his defence--that he appeared to have no memory and to be incapable of appreciating the bearing of any of the facts of his case1 or the gravity of his position2 that he laboured under extravagant hallucination1 whilst his statements were either incoherent1 inconsistent1 or manifestly the creations of a disordered brain40 ,three medical men of experience speak to the effects almost certain to be produced by such an habitually excessive use of morphia or opium1 as that of which ,dr4 ,lamson was the victim4 ,dr4 ,coghill1 of the ,ventnor ,consumptive ,hospital1 and for eight years municipal medical officer and consulting physician to a general hospital in ,china1 where he had unusual facilities for becoming familiar with the effects of opium smoking and eating1 has no hesitation in saying that 8anyone in the habit of using opium to such an extent would be incapable of self-control1 and have his moral senses and powers of judgment deteriorated to a degree rendering him incapable of resisting morbid influences40 ,dr4 ,h4 ,h4 ,kane1 of ,fort ,washington1 ,new ,york1 who had written on the effects of 8these drugs that enslave10 and on the 8,hypodermic ,injection of ,morphia10 and was then in charge of a hospital devoted to the treatment of opium smokers and eaters and the like habits1 admits that 8as regards the question of insanity from the habitual use of opium or its alkaloids1 more especially morphia1 but little definite is known4 ,insane ,asylum reports10 he adds1 8record every year from six to eight cases of insanity attributed to the prolonged use of opiates2 and physicians in general practice recognise it as a rare1 though well-established1 form of insanity4 ,a person with an hereditary tendency to insanity1 or with a mind weakened from any combination of circumstances1 or from bodily disease1 using this drug in large amount for a considerable time1 could hardly escape some unsettling of his mental and moral powers4 ,actual mania1 melancholia1 and dementia are probably rare1 but have undoubtedly occurred from this cause4 ,of all the forms of the opium habit that by hypodermic injection1 as a rule1 works the most harm in the shortest time40 ,dr4 ,r4 ,m4 ,miller1 of ,norwood1 who saw ,lamson professionally in ,july1 #ahha1 when his friends were alarmed at his condition1 is of opinion 8that morphia and atropia1 taken in such quantities1 would gradually ruin the powers of the nervous system and also the powers of self-control40 ,such is the substance of the testimony of the cloud of witnesses proffered in support of the appeal for a scientific investigation into the mental state of ,lamson at the time when he committed the act for which he was arraigned4 ,to what does it amount8 ,even if it goes beyond proof that he was occasionally nervous1 disconnected in his ideas1 aimlessly untruthful1 and with a hobby for the administration of aconitia as a panacea for all diseases1 and a loss of vital nerve and energy1 there is no evidence to suggest that these eccentricities were dangerous or ever assumed the form of homicidal mania4 8,if10 said a contemporary writer1 8,lamson could appreciate the pecuniary benefit he would derive from ,percy ,john's death--and why else should he have selected his victim8--he could realise the wickedness of his act4 ,a symptom of dangerous madness is that it acts without apparent motive--the immediate circumstances of the murder pointed to the exercise of a crafty deliberation1 which1 though not in itself inconsistent with homicidal mania1 was not as aimless as homicidal mania40 ,is it not a parallel case to that of ,dove1 a weak and erratic mind1 in that case further weakened and unhinged by drink1 in this case by the vicious use of morphia8 ,are not the words of ,baron ,bramwell in ,dove's case strictly applicable to this8 8,the rules of law10 said that judge1 8are that it must be clearly proved that1 at the time of committing the act1 the party accused was labouring under such a defect of reason1 from disease of the mind1 as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing2 and if he did know it1 that he did not know he was doing wrong40 ,until the law is altered it is impossible to doubt that the ,home ,secretary was right1 8that he could find in the affidavits and statutory declarations no sufficient grounds for advising an interference with the sentence of the law40 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,aconite3 ,,aconitia ,,or ,,aconitine4 ,plants3 ,aconitum napellus--,a4 ferox4 ,alkaloids3 ,aconitia--,pseudaconitia--other bases--,decompositions--,proportions in the plants4 ,commercial aconitia--,german aconitia--,english aconitia4 ,separation--,tests1 chemical and physiological4 ,history--,preparations1 official and non-official4 ,physiological effects--,causes of death--,post mortem appearances--,treatment and antidotes--,remarks--,phosphoric acid test--,case referred to by ,dr4 ,stevenson4 ,,the name aconite is applied to a great number of plants belonging to the natural order ,ranunculace4 ,two species only need be noticed here1 ,aconitum napellus and ,a4 ferox4 ,the former is the well-known 8monkshood10 8wolfsbane10 or 8blue rocket10 a very beautiful but exceedingly poisonous plant1 commonly cultivated in ,english gardens4 ,this very variable and widely diffused species is found in the mountainous districts of the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere3 it occurs in the ,alps up to an altitude of more than #f1jjj feet1 in the ,pyrenees1 and in the mountain ranges of ,germany and ,austria4 ,it is also met with in ,sweden1 ,denmark1 ,siberia1 and in the mountainous districts on the ,pacific coast of ,north ,america4 ,aconitum ferox1 ,nepaul aconite --8,bikh071 is a native of the subalpine ,himalayas1 occurring1 together with ,a4 napellus and several other poisonous species1 at an elevation of #aj1jjj to #ad1jjj feet4 ,the most recent researches of ,dr4 ,c4 ,r4 ,alder ,wright and others have shown that ,aconitum napellus chiefly owes its poisonous properties to the base aconitia1 or aconitine 7also called aconitina71 ,c#cc ,h#dc ,,no#ab1 a highly active crystallizable alkaloid furnishing readily crystallizable salts4 ,this base constitutes about one-half of the total quantity of alkaloids present in the root1 and is considered to be in combination with aconitic acid1 ,h#c ,c#f ,h#c ,o#f4 ,there is also present1 but in much smaller quantity 7about #aj per cent4 of the total bases present--,wright71 another physiologically active crystallizable alkaloid1 pseudaconitia1 ,c#cf ,h#di ,,no#ab1 similar in many respects to aconitia 7especially in its effects upon the animal system71 but not so readily yielding crystallizable salts4 ,the roots of ,a4 napellus contain1 in addition to aconitia and pseudaconitia1 a considerable quantity of a third base1 comparatively inert1 apparently amorphous1 yielding non-crystallizable salts1 and containing a higher percentage of carbon than either aconitia or pseudaconitia4 ,aconitum ferox contains as its active principle pseudaconitia1 or nepaline1 associated with a comparatively small quantity of aconitia3 there is present in addition a non-crystallizable alkaloid containing more carbon than either of the other bases1 but apparently not identical with the analogous body from ,a4 napellus4 ,the plants have been stated to contain1 besides the bases already named1 various other alkaloids1 such as 8napel-line10 8acolyctine10 8lycoctonine10 c41 but there is no doubt that these substances are merely products of the decomposition of aconitia and pseudaconitia1 formed during the process of extraction4 ,aconitia and pseudaconitia are very easily decomposed2 thus1 when heated with water in a sealed tube1 the former is converted into benzoic acid and a fresh alkaloid1 aconine1 ,c#bf ,h#ci ,,no#aa1 the reaction being represented by the following equation3-- ,c#cc ,h#dc ,,no#ab;,h#b,o,c#g ,h#f ,o#b;,c#bf ,h#ci ,,no#aa4 ,aconitia4 ,water4 ,benzoic acid4 ,aconine4 ,pseudaconitia1 so treated1 yields dimethyl-protocatechuic 7or 8veratric07 acid and a new base1 pseudaconine1 ,c#bg ,h#da ,,no#i1 the equation being3-- ,c#cf ,h#di ,,no#ab;,h#b ,o,c#i ,h#aj,o#d ,c#bg;,h#da ,,no#i4 ,pseudaconitia4 ,water4 ,dimethyl-protocatechuic ,pseudaconine4 acid4 ,aconine is doubtless identical with ,hbschmann's 8napel-line10 discovered by him in commercial aconitia1 and afterwards proved to be the same as the 8acolyctine0 which he had previously obtained4 ,pseudaconine is apparently the base 8lycoctonine0 of the same chemist4 ,commercial aconitia is a mixture of aconitia and pseudaconitia with variable quantities of their decomposition-products1 aconine and pseudaconine1 and of the amorphous unnamed alkaloids above referred to 7,wright and others2 ,year-,book of ,pharmacy1 #ahgg1 et seq474 ,in commercial aconitia prepared from ,aconitum napellus 7,german aconitia71 aconitia predominates3 ,english aconitia is chiefly if not entirely prepared from ,a4 ferox1 and in it pseudaconitia is the prevailing active base4 ,all parts of the plants 7,a4 napellus and ,a4 ferox7 are poisonous1 the active principles being contained in the seeds1 roots1 leaves and flowering tops4 ,the roots are chiefly used for the extraction of the alkaloids1 of which the proportions yielded are very variable and depend on the time when the roots are collected4 ,an ounce of the fresh root of ,a4 napellus contains1 according to ,woodman and ,tidy1 from to of a grain of aconitia1 while a pound of the dried root furnishes from #ab to #cf grains1 or #ja to #jb per cent4 8,the average produce of the root1 collected after flowering and fresh1 is #heh grains of aconitia in the pound2 of the same dried1 #cegb grains4 ,but if collected before flowering1 the yield is only #ce grains per pound in the fresh1 and #abac in the dried root 7,herapath74 ,these results are the average of several experiments4444 ,the root of ,a4 ferox contains about three times as much alkaloid as that of the ,english plant0 7,royle's ,mat4 ,med474 ,according to ,wright and ,rennie 7,year-,book of ,pharm41 #ahhj1 #deh71 the percentage of total bases yielded by the root of ,a4 napellus1 calculated on the dry substance1 amounted to #jg per cent41 equivalent to about #je per cent1 of total alkaloids in the dry herb4 ,two-fifths of the total alkaloid consisted of pure crystallized aconitia4 ,commercial aconitia or aconitine is generally met with as a white amorphous powder1 but is occasionally crystalline4 ,it dissolves in #aej parts of cold and #ej parts of hot water1 and is also soluble in alcohol1 benzole1 and chloroform3 it is inodorous1 possesses an acrid taste 7,w4 and ,t41 ,for4 ,med41 p4 #cib71 and is strongly alkaline to test-paper4 ,it generally fuses below #ajj ,c4 7#fj ,c41 ,w4 and ,t471 and gives an amorphous sublimate above #aej ,c4 7pure aconitia fuses at #ahc-ahd ,c43 pure pseudaconitia melts at #ajd-aje ,c473 when strongly heated with free access of air1 it burns with a yellow1 smoky flame1 leaving no residue4 ,crystallized samples of commercial aconitia are the purest4 ,amorphous aconitia1 and particularly that prepared in ,germany1 is very impure1 being admixed with considerable quantities of comparatively inert bases4 ,the use of such a preparation should be avoided1 as being liable to give rise to a false idea as to the proper dose of the pure alkaloid 7,royle's ,mat4 ,med41 #ahgf1 p4 #ggc74 ,morson's 8,english aconitine0 7pseudaconitia7 is much more powerful than the ,french and ,german products1 which are mostly prepared from ,a4 napellus1 and consist mainly of aconitia4#bba ,aconitia and pseudaconitia differ from one another in their molecular weights and melting-points2 they also furnish different decomposition-products3 aconitia readily furnishes well-crystallized salts1 while the salts of pseudaconitia are usually obtained amorphous2 and finally1 crystallized aconitia is anhydrous1 while pseudaconitia crystallizes with one atom of water4 ,the two bases are similar as regards their physiological action 7pseudaconitia is perhaps somewhat more powerfully active than aconitia71 and general behaviour with reagents4 ,the characters and physiological action of commercial aconitia vary greatly1 as might be expected from the ununiformity of its composition4 ,,separation ,,and ,,tests4 ,for the extraction and separation of aconitia from anima matters1 the modification of ,stas's general method1 described on page #e 7,chap4 ,i471 may be employed4 ,the alkaloids of aconite being1 as has been already shown1 very liable to decomposition1 great care must be taken1 during the extraction with alcohol and subsequent evaporation of the extracts1 that the temperature does not rise above #ej ,c43 the use of mineral acids should also be avoided4 ,tests4--#a4 ,the residue of aconitia or pseudaconitia1 obtained on spontaneous evaporation of the anhydrous chloroform solution1 will generally be found to be more or less crystalline1 when examined under the microscope4 #b4 ,the ,taste ,test4--,a minute portion of the residue1 either alone or dissolved in a small quantity of water acidulated with acetic acid1 should be rubbed with the finger on the lips and gums1 or cautiously applied to the tip of the tongue4 ,if aconitia or pseudaconitia be present1 a peculiar tingling and numbness will be quickly experienced in and around the parts to which the alkaloidal extract has been applied3 salivation1 with a desire to expectorate1 and a sense of swelling at the back of the throat1 are also frequently noticed4 ,the effects1 or some of them1 usually last from three to six hours1 or even longer4 ,this action is peculiar to aconite2 the test1 therefore1 is of the utmost value1 and one which must never be omitted4 #c4 ,the ,physiological ,test4--,inject a small quantity of the alkaloidal extract1 dissolved in a little water acidulated with acetic acid1 into the back of a mouse or other small animal4 ,in the event of aconitia being present1 characteristic symptoms of aconite poisoning are manifested in a few minutes1 and the death of the animal rapidly ensues4 ,among the chief symptoms observed by ,dr4 ,fleming1 in some experiments upon animals1 made in #ahdd1 were 8weakness of the limbs1 staggering1 a gradually increasing paralysis of the voluntary muscles1 loss or diminution of sight1 slowness of pulse1 difficulty of breathing1 occasional convulsive movements1 in two cases opisthotonos1 contracted pupils1 but often dilating two or three minutes before death1 and death by asphyxia40 7,woodman and ,tidy's ,for4 ,med41 p4 #cid74 ,this test is also a very important one4 #d4 ,chemical ,tests4--,solutions of salts of aconitia and pseudaconitia are precipitated by most of the general reagents for alkaloids1 such as ,mayer's reagent1 tannic acid1 potassium tri-iodide1 phosphomolybdic acid1 c4 ,platinic chloride1 picric or carbazotic acid1 and auric chloride1 however1 do not give precipitates1 except in concentrated solutions4 ,among the special tests for aconitia and pseudaconitia which have been described1 the following may be mentioned4 7,a7 ,with sulphuric acid1 no change takes place in the cold1 but on warming1 a pale yellow1 deepening into brown1 and finally changing into violet-red1 is observed4 ,this reaction varies very greatly with different samples of aconitia1 and little or no reliance can be placed upon it as a toxicological test4 7,b7 ,with sulphuric acid and a drop of saturated solution of sugar1 a fine rose-red colour1 passing into dingy brown1 has been obtained4 ,experience1 however1 has not shown this test to be of any especial value4 7,c7 ,if cautiously heated for ten or fifteen minutes on the water-bath with a few drops of syrupy phosphoric acid1 aconitia is said to yield a violet or blue colour4 ,this reaction is uncertain and therefore useless3 it may be obtained with impure samples1 while pure aconitia and pseudaconitia fail to give it4 ,mr4 ,t4 ,b4 ,groves 7,year-,book of ,pharmacy1 #ahgc7 says3--8,the colour reactions of these alkaloids may be dismissed in a word4 ,there are #8none4' ,as for the phosphoric acid reaction producing a blue colour1 ,i have never succeeded in obtaining it4 ,it is probably due to some accidental impurity1 and ,i believe ,dr4 ,flckiger has arrived at the same conclusion40 ,hence1 as there are no reliable1 characteristic1 and distinctive chemical tests for aconitia1 its presence or absence must be judged chiefly from the results of the tests of taste and physiological action on small animals4 ,a substance1 previously proved to be an alkaloid by its yielding precipitates with most of the general reagents for alkaloids1 and which1 when applied to the tongue and injected under the skin of a small animal1 produces the effects already described1 is absolutely certain to be aconitia4 ,,history1 ,,preparations1 ,,and ,,doses4 ,history4--,the of the ,greeks and ,aconitum of the ,romans are believed to refer to the genus ,aconitum1 if not actually to ,a4 napellus4 ,the ancients were well acquainted with the poisonous properties of aconite1 which has been widely used as an arrow-poison4 ,it was employed by the ancient ,chinese1 and is still in requisition among the less civilised hill tribes of ,india4#bbb ,something similar was in use among the aborigines of ancient ,gaul4 ,in a ,welsh ,,ms4 of the #acth century1 aconite was pointed out as one of the plants which every physician was to grow4 ,the root and the herb are met with in the ,german pharmaceutical tariff of the #agth century4 ,strck1 of ,vienna1 introduced aconite into regular practice about the year #agfb 7,flckiger and ,hanbury2 8,pharmacographia10 #ahgi74 ,preparations and ,medicinal ,doses1--,aconite leaves 7,aconiti ,folia7 and root 7,aconiti ,radix7 are officinal in the ,british ,pharmacopia1 and the plants from which they are obtained 7,a4 napellus7 are cultivated in ,britain 7,squire's ,companion to the ,b4 ,p41 #ahfh74 ,the chief preparations are as follows3-- #a4 ,aconitia1 ,b4 ,p4--,aconitine4 ,not for internal use1 according to the ,pharmacopia4 ,it is1 however1 occasionally prescribed in very minute doses 7#a_/djj to #a_/ej of a grain by the mouth3 not more than #a_/bjj of a grain1 subcutaneously injected2 ,royle's ,materia ,medica74 ,dr4 ,j4 ,harley has given #a_/bjj of a grain1 once a day1 in fevers4 #b4 ,unguentum ,aconiti1 ,b4 ,p4--,ointment of aconitia4 ,prepared with lard4 ,strength1 #h grains of aconitia to the ounce 7 #aff per cent474 ,for external application in painful nervous affections1 neuralgia1 c4 #c4 ,linimentum ,aconiti1 ,b4 ,p4--,useful for external application in neuralgia or lumbago4 ,may contain about #b per cent4 of aconitia 7,blyth74 #d4 ,extractum ,aconiti1 ,b4 ,p4--,prepared from the leaves and flowering tops4 ,dose1 #a to #b grains4 #e4 ,tinctura ,aconiti1 ,b4 ,p4--,dose1 #e to #aj minims1 twice or thrice a day 7,squire72 #e to #ae minims1 and only to be gradually if at all increased 7,royle72 never to exceed #e minims 7,farquharson's ,therapeutics74#bbc #f4 ,fleming's ,tincture of ,aconite is not officinal2 it is nearly four times stronger than the ,b4 ,p4 tincture1 and must on no account be given in the above doses 7,royle74 #g4 ,liston's ,strong ,tincture4--,not officinal4 #h4 ,aconiti ,succus4--,the expressed juice4 ,not officinal4 ,dose1 #ae to #bj minims 7,squire's ,comp4 to the ,b4 ,p474 #i4 ,extractum ,aconiti ,rad4--,not officinal4 ,prepared with alcohol4 ,dose1 half a grain4 ,fatal ,dose of ,aconitia4--,smallest3 in one case #a_/ej of a grain nearly proved fatal 7,pereira74 ,the tenth and even twentieth of a grain are believed to have caused death 7,headland2 ,herapath74 ,the average quantity for an adult is probably between #a_/af and #a_/bj of a grain4 ,one drachm of the root1 four grains of the alcoholic extract1 and one drachm of the tincture have proved fatal4#bbd ,numerous well-authenticated cases are on record of aconite root being scraped and eaten at table1 in mistake for horseradish1 with very serious and even fatal results4#bbe 7,see ,guy and ,ferrier's ,for4 ,med41 p4 #fag47 ,fatal ,period4--,the shortest time in which death has been known to occur is #a hour3 the longest1 #bj hours3 average1 less than #d hours 7,guy and ,ferrier74 ,a case is mentioned in ,woodman and ,tidy's ,forensic ,medicine1 however1 in which death occurred in #bj minutes4 8,the symptoms usually make their appearance in from a few minutes to one or two hours2 whilst death usually takes place within three or four hours0 7,w4 and ,t41 p4 #cic74 ,,physiological ,,effects4 ,aconite produces1 locally applied1 a tingling sensation1 followed by numbness1 and the earliest symptom of poisoning by aconite1 when any one of its preparations has been taken by the mouth1 is tingling1 followed by numbness and ansthesia of the lips and throat1 afterwards becoming general4 ,vomiting occurs frequently1 but not universally3 purging is not nearly so frequent 7,w4 and ,t474 ,the intellectual faculties are usually unaffected1 but in some cases there is stupor4 ,aconite paralyses both the reflex and motor activity of the spinal cord1 hence there is an almost total loss of muscular power4 ,the respiratory centre is eventually paralysed1 so that death may result from suffocation 7,farquharson74 ,the heart's action becomes feeble and irregular2 its rapidity is first diminished1 then increased4 ,the face is pale1 and the body bathed in a clammy sweat3 the pupils 8are at first contracted1 and afterwards dilated shortly before death40 ,the respiration becomes slower1 then irregular1 and death generally results from its cessation 7asphyxia74 ,in cases of poisoning by aconite1 death may be caused by 7#a7 asphyxia1 7#b7 shock1 or 7#c7 syncope4 ,the following symptoms were noted in the case of a cat1 to which one-tenth of a grain of ,morson's ,english aconitia 7 pseudaconitia1 or nepaline7 was administered3--stertorous and difficult breathing1 staggering motions1 convulsions 7always contracting1 never stretching like strychnia71 vomiting1 foaming at the mouth1 moans and spasmodic cries1 violent struggles for breath2 the body fell over on one side1 the limbs were stretched forward and worked spasmodically1 but never stiffened4 ,attacks intermittent1 with peaceful intervals4 ,involuntary defecation2 retching 7the stomach had already emptied itself71 prolonged low moans1 gasps for breath1 abdominal rumblings1 insensibility for two hours with occasional twitching1 moans and cries4 ,eyes wide open1 pupils not contracted4 ,finally1 after #b hours1 a few slight struggles1 a convulsive gasp1 and death4 ,stiffening very slow4 ,tongue protruded beyond the teeth4 ,twelve hours after death1 the rigidity was very strong4 ,a post-mortem examination was then made1 with the following results4 ,pupils dilated4 ,intestines and other organs normal1 not congested3 lungs collapsed and congested3 heart very much venously congested4 ,blood not more fluid than usual4 ,larynx filled with frothy mucus4 ,brain congested4 ,on analysis of the stomach and other organs an alkaloidal extract was obtained1 which1 when submitted to the taste test1 produced all the effects characteristic of aconitia4 ,it is worthy of remark that the colour-tests completely failed4 ,treatment and antidotes4--8,emetics1 stimulants internal and external0 7,squire's ,comp4 ,b4 ,p474 ,no chemical antidote is known3 animal charcoal has been recommended1 but its efficacy is doubtful4 ,a mustard emetic should be applied1 followed by the stomach-pump4 8,in the latter stages1 depletion from a jugular vein to relieve the distension of the right heart1 accompanied by the most persevering efforts to promote the expansion of the chest40 ,gentle magneto-electric currents down the back of the neck and around the margin of the ribs1 to excite contractions of the diaphragm1 accompanied by rhythmical abductions of the upper extremities1 should be employed4 ,if there is yet a capability of swallowing1 brandy and ammonia should be given 7,royle's ,mat4 ,med474 ,,remarks4 ,pure aconitia is perhaps the most deadly poison with which we are at present acquainted1 and all the preparations of aconite are excessively poisonous4 ,unless employed with extreme caution they are very dangerous1 and should on no account be used1 even for external application1 except with the advice of1 or by a medical man4#bbf ,the urgent necessity for an alteration in the law at present relating to the sale of poisons1 and for the introduction of a clause placing some restrictions on the sale of patent medicines containing poisons1 is strikingly shown by the fact that such preparations as 8,neuraline0 are now sold without any restriction whatever4 ,indeed1 as the law at present stands1 the most virulent poisons1 if contained in1 or sold as patent medicines1 can be obtained by any ordinary person with less difficulty than the same poisons can be purchased1 under their own proper names1 by a medical man4 ,neuraline1 a patent medicine containing a preparation of aconite1 was brought rather prominently forward1 in #ahgb1 in connection with the death of the ,hon4 ,g4 ,c4 ,vernon1 the question arising as to whether the too frequent use of neuraline by the deceased1 for pains in his head1 had been the cause of death4#bbg ,the phosphoric acid test for aconitia1 referred to by ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams during the trial of ,dr4 ,lamson1 is described in ,professor ,flckiger's work 78,pharmaceutische ,chemie02 ,berlin1 #ahgi72 but it is at the same time mentioned that crystallized aconitia gives only an extremely faint reaction1 and crystallized nitrate of aconitia none at all4 ,it has been already pointed out 7p4 #egc7 that this test is one which cannot be relied on1 and that the violet colour is believed to be due to impurities present rather than to aconitia itself4 ,the internal administration of aconitia in very small doses is recommended1 in cases of dysentery and typhoid fever1 by a writer in the ,journal of ,medicine and ,dosimetric ,therapeutics1 according to the method of ,dr4 ,ad4 ,burggraeve1 a publication edited by ,dr4 ,t4 ,l4 ,phipson4 ,dr4 ,burggraeve's method 7or 8dosimetry10 as it is called7 is in several respects similar to homopathy1 and the journal in question cannot be regarded as a generally accepted authority4 ,in his speech for the defence1 ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams referred to the supposed existence of cadaveric alkaloids or ptomaines1 and to the absence of special chemical tests for aconitia4 ,with reference to the ptomaines1 see ,chap4 #a1 p4 #ab4 ,the objection1 that there is no characteristic chemical test for aconitia1 is to a great extent deprived of its force when one remembers that aconitia can be proved to be an alkaloid by its deportment with the general alkaloidal re-agents2 that the taste test alone will distinguish it from all other alkaloids2 and that it exerts a powerful and distinctive action on small animals1 and ultimately destroys them4 ,it must not be forgotten that the remark of ,lord ,coleridge's1 quoted by ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams1 is nothing more than an expression of personal opinion1 by an eminent lawyer on a purely scientific subject2 valuable1 no doubt1 but not necessarily infallible4 ,the statement of ,messrs4 ,allen ,hanbury's assistant1 that aconitia is yellowish-white 7p4 #edd71 does not hold good of all samples3 the colour of the alkaloids varies with their degree of purity1 and pure aconitia is not less white than pure atropia4 ,full details of the case of poisoning by aconitia1 referred to by ,dr4 ,stevenson 7p4 #ecd71 are to be found in ,schmidt's ,jahrbcher der ,in-und ,auslndischen gesammten ,medicin1 edited by ,dr4 ,adolf ,winter1 vol4 #ahi1 p4 #abb3 the case was originally communicated by ,t4 ,haakma ,tresling to a ,dutch journal 7,weekbl4 van het ,nederl4 ,tijdschr4 voor ,geneesk1 #af1 #ahhj74 ,the following is a short account of this case4 ,a patient1 for whom medicine containing aconitia nitrate 7to be taken in small and repeated doses7 had been prescribed by a physician1 ,dr4 ,m41 experienced soon after the first and second doses a burning sensation in the throat1 followed by vomiting and1 later on1 by difficulty of respiration3 the skin was icy cold to the touch1 although internally there was a sensation of burning throughout the body4 ,with the object of proving that these effects were not attributable to the medicine1 ,dr4 ,m41 at four p4m4 on ,march #afth1 #ahhj1 took a dose of the mixture1 containing rather more than #a_/af grain of aconitia nitrate4 ,the first symptoms of poisoning appeared in about an hour and a half2 and1 about four hours after he had taken the poison1 ,dr4 ,m4 was found to be pallid1 with a cold skin1 contracted pupils1 small and irregular but not accelerated pulse1 swollen tongue1 headache1 shivering fits1 and a sensation of burning in the mouth3 there was also pain extending from the throat to the lower part of the stomach4 ,suddenly the power of vision became extinct1 simultaneously with a great dilation of the pupils3 sight shortly afterwards returned1 the pupils at the same time again contracting4 ,vomiting was induced by tickling the throat2 the ejected matter was thick1 red-coloured1 and contained the remains of food previously consumed3 vomiting subsequently recurred spontaneously4 ,the first convulsions occurred eight hours and forty minutes after the dose had been taken2 respiration became more difficult1 and ,dr4 ,m4 complained of humming in the ears1 and deafness1 first in one ear and then in the other4 ,ether was now subcutaneously injected3 dilation of pupils1 with loss of vision1 again followed1 being succeeded by vomiting1 and violent and long-continued convulsions4 ,in eight hours and fifty-three minutes extraordinarily violent vomiting set in1 and was followed by a succession of violent convulsions4 ,dr4 ,m4 could not again be restored to consciousness1 the pupils were dilated and remained unaffected by the light1 and respiration was slow and laborious4 ,notwithstanding the employment of electricity1 breathing became slower1 the beating of the heart ceased to be audible1 and death occurred in nine hours from the time at which the poison was taken4 ,on a post-mortem examination being made1 it was found that the surface-tissues of the body were very pale and contained little blood1 while the internal organs were much congested4 ,the intestinal congestion increased towards the stomach1 and diminished towards the large intestine4 ,the colon1 rectum1 and bladder were very pale and bloodless4 ,the latter contained about #gj grammes 7 #b fl4 oz47 of urine4 ,the liver and spleen were enlarged1 the kidneys small2 all much congested4 ,defecation had not taken place1 though some urine had been passed4 ,the lungs did not fill the cavity of the chest2 they contained fresh infiltrations and some small cavities3 adhesion1 congestion1 and1 in the lower portions1 numerous emphysematous patches4 ,much fat was deposited on the right side of the heart1 which contained thin blood4 ,brain congested4 ,,index4 ,,aconite1 varieties 7napellus1 ferox71 #efh alkaloids1 aconitine or aconitia1 #efi pseudaconitia1 #efi aconine and pseudaconine1 #egj extraction and tests-- taste1 #egb physiological1 #egb chemical1 #egc extraction and texts-- taste1 #egb physiological1 #egb chemical1 #egc history and preparations1 #egd doses1 fatal1 #ege fatal period1 #egf cause of death1 #egg post-mortem appearances1 #egg1 #eha treatment and antidotes1 #egg remarks4 ,phosphoric acid test1 #egi ,use in dysentery1 #egi ,colour of aconitia1 #ehj ,case referred to by ,dr4 ,stevenson1 #ehj ,,alkaloids1 derivation1 #c1 #d chemically and physiologically considered1 #d general process for extracting1 #e-h morphia1 curarine1 solanine1 #h ,guy's subliming cell1 #i general reagents1 #aj-ab ptomaines or cadaveric1 #ac1 #ad ,,alloys ,,of ,,antimony1 #dia ,,alloys ,,of ,,arsenic1 #cgd1 #cha ,,almonds1 ,,bitter1 #ei1 #fj1 #gh ,,analysis1 quantitative1 indispensable in cases of poisoning by antimony1 mercury1 and lead1 #c ,,angina ,,pectoris1 ,dr4 ,richardson 7,palmer's trial71 #age1 #bhi ,,aniline ,,dyes1 arsenic in1 #cgi ,,animal ,,charcoal1 reagent for alkaloids1 #aa antidote1 #ab1 #egg ,,antimony1 symptom of poisoning by1 #b properties4 ,chap4 ,,ix41 #dij alloy of1 in different metals1 #dia compounds of1 chlorides1 sulphides1 #dia oxides1 hydride1 #dib tartar emetic1 solubility1 #dic composition1 uses and occurrences1 #did doses and preparations1 #die fatal dose and fatal period1 #dif physiological effects1 #dig antidotes1 #dig separation and tests4 ,reinsch's1 #dih ,marsh1 #ejj preparation used1 #ejb quantity1 #ejc remarks 7,pritchard's case71 #eje 7,smethurst's71 #ejg ,addenda--bismuth1 #eaj grey powder1 #eac ,,antiseptic1 arsenic as an1 #cgf ,,apple ,,pips1 amount of prussic acid in1 #ei1 #fj ,,arsenic1 element4 ,chap4 ,,vii41 #cgc solubility of1 #cba1 #cge taste of 7,christison71 #cba-c trioxide of1 #cgd uses and occurrences of1 #cgf-cha steeping wheat--soap--antiseptic1 #cgf glass--for fur in boilers--candles1 #cgf wood preserving--sheep washing--paints1 #cgg wall papers--medicines1 #cgh horses--teeth stopping--aniline dyes1 #cgi rat and fly poisons--metal cleaning1 #chj arsenic eaters--cosmetic--bronzing1 #chj glucose beer--paper collars1 #cha speculum metal--inhaling1 #cha sulphides of1 #cha orpiment 7,burdock's case71 #chb1 and note acid1 #chb arsenates1 #chc trichloride1 ,arseniuretted hydrogen1 #chc extraction and tests1 distribution1 occurrence in soils1 #chd modification of old process1 #che-g ,marsh's1 #chh ,reinsch's1 #cij doses1 medicinal1 poisonous1 #cia physiological effects of1 #cib treatment and antidotes1 #cic presence in common articles1 #cid attempted poisoning by forged prescription1 #cid remarks on evidence of ,dr4 ,letheby 7,merritt's case71 #cie on ,madeline ,smith's case1 #cie1 note #cif supposed presence in sulphuretted hydrogen1 #cif ,see trials of ,madeline ,smith1 ,pritchard1 and ,ann ,merritt1 ,chap4 ,,vi4 ,,ashley1 ,mrs41 evidence of 7,tawell's trial71 #ai ,,ayrton1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,winslow's trial71 #dhg ,,babbington1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,smethurst's trial71 #dfj ,,ball1 ,,george1 trial of1 at ,lewes1 #di-eb ,,bamford1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #ii-ajj ,,bankes1 ,,isabella1 case of1 #ddh ,,barlow1 ,,silas1 trial of1 #bfh-ge history of the case1 #bfh symptoms of poisoning1 #bfi medical evidence1 #bga analytical evidence1 ,dr4 ,lees1 #bgb ,dr4 ,bernays1 #bgd defence and verdict1 #bge ,,barnes1 ,,lavinia1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #ih-i ,,barrett1 ,mrs41 evidence of 7,tawell's trial71 #bj ,,barwell1 ,surgeon1 evidence of1 post-mortem 7,smethurst's trial71 #def ,,bateman1 ,mrs41 evidence of 7,tawell's trial71 #da ,,bedbrook1 evidence of 7,lamson's trial71 #eda ,,belladonna1 insensibility1 symptom of poisoning by1 #b dilates the pupil of the eye1 #b ,,bernays1 ,dr4 ,a4 ,j41 evidence of 7,barlow's trial71 #bgd ,,berry1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,lamson's trial71 #ebj ,,bird1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,smethurst's trial71 #dee ,,bismuth1 potassio-iodide of1 reagent for alkaloids1 #aj subnitrate1 arsenic in1 #eaj ,,blanc ,,mange1 arsenic used for colouring1 #cgg ,,boilers1 ,,fur ,,in1 arsenic used for removing1 #cgf ,,bowerbank1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,smethurst's trial71 #dfj ,,bramwell1 ,baron1 charge of 7,dove's trial71 #bfj-b ,,brand1 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,lamson's trial71 #ebd ,,brodie1 ,sir ,b41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aag opinion of 7,smethurst's case71 #dgh ,,brooks1 ,mrs41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #ib ,,brucia1 convulsions1 symptoms of poisoning by1 #c whence obtained1 #bhd tests for1 #bhe ,,burdock1 ,m4,a41 trial for poisoning by orpiment1 #chb1 note4 ,,cadaveric ,,alkaloids1 properties1 #ab-ad resembling strychnia1 #bia in ,lamson's case1 #eej1 #ehj1 #ecg-h ,,calvert1 ,f4 ,c41 ,chemist1 indestructibility of strychnia1 #adi1 note ,,cameron1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,winslow's trial71 #dhb ,,campbell1 ,lord ,chief ,justice 7,palmer's trial71 omission of ,keeling's evidence1 #ajd1 note charge of1 #bbj-ca ,,candles1 arsenic used in1 #cgf ,,cantharides1 vomiting symptom of poisoning by1 #b ,,carbonic ,,acid ,,and ,,oxide1 sudden death in poisoning by1 #a1 #b ,,cassava1 amount of prussic acid in1 #ei ,,caudle1 ,chemist1 evidence of 7,smethurst's trial71 #def ,,champneys1 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #bc-g ,,cherry ,,kernels1 amount of prussic acid in1 #ei ,,cheshire1 ,postmaster1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #ahh-i ,,chloral ,,and ,,croton ,,chloral1 insensibility1 symptom of poisoning by1 #b ,,chlorine1 process for obtaining pure1 xvi4 ,,chloroform1 solvent for alkaloids1 #d1 #e antidote to strychnia1 #bij ,,christison1 ,professor1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #adg-h 7,dove's trial71 #bdh 7,madeline ,smith's trial71 #cae1 #ceh ,,chronic ,,poisoning1 symptoms of by antimony1 mercury1 lead1 #c1 #dig ,,clark1 ,,rutherford1 defence of ,pritchard1 #dce ,,clutterbuck1 ,mr41 details of case of 7,palmer's trial71 #abc ,,cocculus ,,indicus1 symptom of poisoning by1 #b ,,cockburn1 ,attorney-,general1 statement and reply 7,palmer's trial71 #hd-id1 #bji-ai ,,cook1 murder of4 ,see ,,palmer4 ,,cooper1 ,analytical ,chemist1 evidence of 7,tawell's trial71 #bh-cc cross-examination1 #cc-i discovery of prussic acid in apple pips1 #cb1 #fj1 #fd ,,copland1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,smethurst's trial71 #dfj ,,copper1 preparation of pure1 #dih ,,corbett1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,madeline ,smith's trial71 #cbc ,,cosmetic1 use of arsenic as a1 #chj bismuth1 #eaj ,,coward1 ,inspector1 conduct of 7,merritt's trial71 #cfi ,,curarine1 process for extracting1 #h properties1 #bgg1 #bha ,,curling1 ,j4 ,b41 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aaa ,,cyanide ,,of ,,potassium1 symptoms and post-mortem appearances1 c41 #hj ,,daniell1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aai ,,death1 ,,sudden1 evidence of poisoning by sulphuric1 nitric1 and hydrochloric acids1 poisonous gases1 carbonic oxide1 arseniuretted and antimoniuretted hydrogen1 kakodyl1 strychnia1 oxalic and prussic acid1 #a1 #b chloroform1 sometimes1 #b ,,de ,,meau1 ,french ,consul1 evidence of 7,m4 ,smith's trial71 #cch ,,devonshire1 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aji1 note--#acd1 note ,,digitalis1 insensibility evidence of poisoning by1 #b dilates the pupils of the eyes1 #b ,,dodd1 ,chemist1 evidence of 7,lamson's trial71 #edd ,,dove1 ,mrs41 evidence as to her case 7,palmer's trial71 #abd ,,dove1 ,,william1 trial for murder of wife--early life1 #bcc-e history of the case1 #bce-i symptoms--,ann ,fisher1 #bci ,mrs4 ,witham1 #bdj ,mrs4 ,wood1 #bda ,mr4 ,scarth1 #bdb medical and analytical evidence 7,mr4 ,morley71 #bdb-h 7,mr4 ,nunneley71 #bdh 7,professor ,christison71 #bdh 7,mr4 ,hobson and ,mr4 ,teale71 #bdi 7,mr4 ,richard and ,mr4 ,william ,hey71 #bej prisoner's actions and statements 7,ann ,fisher71 #bej 7,gray1 ,hicks71 #bea 7,harrison1 ,jenkins1 ,scarth71 #beb defence--letter to the ,devil1 #bec evidence of insanity 7,dr4 ,williams71 #bed-g 7,dr4 ,pyeman ,smith71 #beh 7,mr4 ,j4 ,kitchen71 #bei judge's charge1 and verdict1 #bfj-c confessions of1 #bfc-h ,,dragendorff1 process for alkaloids1 #d ,,drops ,,and ,,minims 7,ball's trial71 #ej-a table of relative proportions of1 #ha ,,dupr1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,lamson's trial71 #ech ,,edwards1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,winslow's case71 #dhd ,,egglesham ,,poisoning ,,case 7,agnes ,montgomery71 #eb-c ,,essential ,,oils1 vomiting symptom of1 #b containing ,,hcn1 #fj ,,eye1 action of poisons on the--opium1 morphia1 calabar bean1 aconite81 and strychnia1 contract the pupil2 belladonna1 henbane1 tobacco1 stramonium1 digitalis1 and hemlock1 dilate the pupil1 #b ,,fireworks1 arsenic in1 #cgi antimony1 #dib ,,fisher1 ,,ann1 evidence of 7,dove's trial71 #bci1 #bea ,,fisher1 ,,ishmael1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aia-c ,,fly ,,poisons1 arsenic in1 #cgi ,,formic ,,acid1 to be tested for in supposed cases of poisoning by hydrocyanic acid1 #hb-c difference from sulphocyanide1 #gj ,,forster1 supposed case of tetanus1 #agg-h ,,foulner1 evidence of 7,pritchard's trial71 #dca ,,fowler',s ,,solution1 arsenite of potash1 #cgh dose of1 #cia ,,franklin1 trial of 7arsenic in blanc mange71 #cgg1 note ,,fresenius1 process for arsenic1 #che ,,gage1 ,,maria1 trial of 7arsenic in rat poison71 #cgi ,,gairdner1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,pritchard's trial71 #cii-djc ,,gay1 ,dr4 ,,john1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #agi ,,gillett1 ,mrs41 evidence of 7,merritt's trial71 #cfh ,,girdwood1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,smethurst's trial71 #dgb ,,glass ,,making1 arsenic used in1 #cgf ,,glucose ,,beer1 arsenic used in1 #cha ,,granules1 ,,gritty1 on spine 7,palmer's trial71 #aga1 #bib ,,gray1 ,,margaret1 evidence of 7,dove's trial71 #bea ,,gray1 ,r1 ,e41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #agg-h ,,guy1 ,dr41 process for subliming alkaloids1 #i ,,hadler1 ,mrs41 evidence of 7,tawell's trial71 #da ,,haggart1 ,c41 evidence of 7,madeline ,smith's trial71 #cdj ,,handyside1 ,lord1 judgment in ,madeline ,smith's trial1 #cfa ,,harland1 ,dr41 evidence1 post-mortem 7,palmer's trial71 #aje-i ,,harrison 7the witchman71 evidence of 7,dove's trial71 #beb ,,hart1 ,mrs41 history of 7,tawell's trial71 #da ,,hawkins1 ,sir ,h41 remarks on ,poisons ,acts 7,lamson's trial71 #edd1 note charge of 7,lamson's trial71 #eee ,,hehner1 tin in canned provisions1 #ejd ,,hemlock1 symptoms of poisoning by1 #b antidote to tetanus1 #bic ,,herapath1 ,chemist1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #afc-f letter to the ,times1 #afe1 note and ,dr4 ,taylor 7,smethurst's trial71 #ejg ,,hey1 ,r4 and ,w4 ,medical men1 evidence of 7,dove's trial71 #bej ,,hicks1 ,,mary1 evidence of 7,dove's trial71 #bea ,,hobson1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,dove's trial71 #bdi ,,hope1 ,lord ,justice ,clerk1 judgment on ,l',angelier's diary 7,madeline ,smith's trial71 #cei charge 7,madeline ,smith's trial71 #ceb-e ,,horses1 use of arsenic for1 #cgi ,,hospital1 ,,london case of tetanus at1 #agh ,,hospital1 ,,royal ,,free1 case of tetanus at1 #agi ,,howard1 ,mrs41 evidence of 7,tawell's trial71 #bh ,,hydride ,,of ,,antimony1 #dib ,,hydrargyrum ,,cum ,,creta 7grey powder71 composition of1 #eac ,,hydrochloric ,,acid1 purification of1 xvi4 ,,hydrocyanic ,,acid1 synonyms and properties1 #ee variations of strength of1 #ee-f ,british ,pharmacopia 7,,hcn71 #eg sources of1 #eh-fa poisonous doses1 #ei1 #gi the quickest poison1 #b quantity in apple pips 7,cooper71 #cb 7,thomas71 #dj 7,c4 ,g4 ,stewart71 #ei-fj tests for detection of1 preliminary1 #fa-c odour test 7,tawell's trial71 #bd1 #cd smell-blindness 7,stewart71 #fc-g silver test1 #fg-h ,prussian-blue test1 #fi sulphur test1 #gj guaiacum1 uranium1 picric acid1 cupric sulphate1 cobalt chloride1 potash and mercuric oxide tests1 #ga peroxide of hydrogen test1 #gb mercurous nitrate test1 #gb apparatus for the silver1 ,prussian-blue1 and sulphur tests1 #gb-c salts of1 #gc-h potassium cyanide1 #gc-d mercuric cyanide1 #gd-e cyanides of the heavy metals1 #ge double cyanides1 #ge-f sulphocyanides 7,pharaoh's serpent71 #gg in the saliva1 #gh oil of bitter almonds1 amount in1 #gh antidotes to1 medicinal uses of1 fatal dose1 #gi symptoms of poisoning by1 and post-mortem appearances1 #gh-hj how long after death discoverable1 #ha-c ,,hydrogen1 ,,sulphuretted1 death by1 #a supposed presence of arsenic in1 #cif reagent for antimony1 #eja ,,igasuria and ,,igasuric ,,acid1 #bhe ,,inglis1 ,dean of ,faculty1 defence of ,madeline ,smith1 #cdb-eb ,,inglis1 ,lord ,justice ,clerk1 charge at ,pritchard's trial1 #dde ,,inhaling ,,arsenic1 in asthma and bronchitis1 #cha ,,insanity1 plea of1 evidence in support of 7,dove's trial71 #bed-fj affidavits in support of 7,lamson's case71 #efa ,,insensibility1 symptom of poisoning by morphia and opium1 henbane1 stramonium1 nicotine1 darnel1 hemlock1 fools' parsley 7doubtful71 water hemlock1 ,indian hemp1 woody nightshade1 berries of potato1 lobelia inflata1 foxglove1 cocculus indicus1 some fungi1 chloroform1 chloral1 croton chloral1 amylene1 methylene dichloride1 sulphuretted hydrogen1 carbonic oxide1 belladonna1 #b not in strychnia1 #bhh ,,ivory1 ,,lord1 judgment on extracts from ,l',angelier's diary1 #cfc ,,jones1 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aja-d1 #aij ,,julius1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,smethurst's trial71 #dec ,,keeling1 ,,mary1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #ajd omitted by ,lord ,chief ,justice1 #ajd1 note ,,kerr1 evidence of 7,pritchard's trial71 #dca ,,killers1 ,,vermin1 composition1 #bhc1 #cgi ,,kitchen1 evidence of insanity 7,dove's trial71 #bei ,,lamson1 ,g4 ,h41 ,dr41 trial for murder of brother-in-law4 ,chap4 ,x41 #ead history of the case1 #eaf-bj evidence of medical attendants 7,berry1 ,little71 #ebj post-mortem 7,little71 #eba-c 7,bond71 #ebd-f analytical evidence 7,dr4 ,stevenson71 #ebf 7cross-examination71 #ecb 7,dr4 ,dupr71 #ech previous acts of 7,j4 ,l4 and ,w4 ,tulloch71 #eci 7,bedbrook71 #eda purchase of poison by 7,c4 ,a4 ,smith71 #edc 7,dodd1 ,shilling71 #edd remarks on ,poisons ,act by judge1 #edd1 note surrender of prisoner1 #edf defence 7,montagu ,williams71 #edg-ec reply 7,solicitor-,general1 ,herschel71 #eec-e judge's charge 7,sir ,h4 ,hawkins71 #eee-fj verdict and sentence1 #efj affidavits in support of application for inquiry into his sanity1 #efa ,l',,angelier1 poisoning of4 ,see ,,madeline ,,smith4 extracts from diary1 judgment on1 #cdb-ei did he commit suicide8 #cie-f ,,lawrie1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,madeline ,smith's trial71 #cbe ,,lead process for alkaloids1 #g1 #bgi ,,lee1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aag ,,lees1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,barlow's trial71 #bgb ,,letheby1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aff-i 7,merritt's trial71 #cff1 #cie ,,lewis1 ,sir ,c41 decision in ,smethurst's case1 #dgi ,,liquor1 strychni1 #bhc arsenicalis1 #cgi ,,littlejohn1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,pritchard's trial71 #dbd-e ,,macdonald1 ,w41 ,dr41 evidence and cross-examination 7,palmer's trial71 #ahj-b ,,machattie1 evidence of 7,pritchard's trial71 #dca ,,maclagan1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,madeline ,smith's trial71 #cbf 7,pritchard's trial71 #dab1 #dbb-c ,,marsh',s ,,process 7arsenic71 #chh 7antimony71 #ejj ,,mayer',s ,,reagent ,,for ,,alkaloids1 #aj ,,mercury1 symptoms of1 #c grey powder1 #eac stain on copper1 #dii ,,merritt1 ,,ann1 trial for poisoning her husband1 #cfd-gb medical and analytical evidence 7,toulmin71 #cfe 7,letheby71 #cff purchase of poison by1 #cfh acts and statements 7,gillett71 #cfh 7,coward71 #cfi prisoner's defence1 #cga charge and verdict1 and reprieve1 #cgb case referred to at ,palmer's trial1 #afh ,,metallic ,,stains ,,on ,,copper1 distinctions between1 #dii ,,metals1 cleansing and bronzing of1 by arsenic1 #chj ,,miller1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,winslow's trial71 #dhf ,,mills1 ,,elizabeth1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #id-h ,,minims ,,and ,,drops1 7,ball's trial71 #ej1 #ea table of relative proportions of1 #ha ,,monckton1 ,dr41 evidence of 7post-mortem1 ,palmer's trial71 #aji ,,morley1 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #abd-g 7,dove's trial71 #bdb-g ,,morphia1 symptom of poisoning by1 #b distinction from strychnia1 xv4 process for extracting1 #h1 #i was it used by ,palmer8 #bia ,,morson',s ,,aconitine1 #egg-i ,,motive1 remarks on 7,inglis1 defence of ,m4 ,smith71 #cdg 7,inglis1 charge1 ,pritchard's trial71 #dde 7,hope1 ,lord ,justice ,clerk1 ,m4 ,smith's trial71 #dci 7,shee1 ,serjeant1 defence of ,palmer71 #bja ,,myatt1 ,,george1 ,saddler1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #ib1 note ,,myatt1 ,,james1 ,postboy1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aic-d ,,newton1 chemist1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #ahd1 and note ,,nepaline ,,and ,,napelline1 aconite alkaloids1 #efi1 #egg ,,neuraline1 preparation of aconite1 #egi ,,nitric ,,acid1 test for brucia1 #bhe for morphia1 xv41 #f1 #bhe note ,,norblad1 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,tawell's trial71 #cf-g ,,nunneley1 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aeb-fc 7,dove's trial71 #ahd1 and note ,,odling1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,smethurst's trial71 #dfd ,,orpiment1 composition and properties1 #cha as a cosmetic1 #cbj1 #chb ,,mary ,,ann ,,burdock1 #chb1 and note ,,oxidation ,,test ,,for ,,strychnia1 #bhj ,,oxides ,,of ,,antimony1 #die ,,oxides ,,of ,,arsenic1 #cgd1 #chb ,,paints1 arsenic in1 #cgg ,,palmer1 ,,william1 trial of1 for murder of ,j4 ,p4 ,cook4 ,chap4 ,,ii41 #hd his connection with ,cook1 #hd-id health of ,cook1 #ij-a1 note sickness of ,cook at ,shrewsbury1 #ia-c ,cook's symptoms at ,rugeley 7,elizabeth ,mills71 #id-f 7,lavinia ,barnes71 #ih 7,mary ,keeling71 #ajd medical evidence 7,bamford71 #ii-ajj 7,jones71 #aja-d post-mortem 7,harland71 #aje-i 7,monckton71 #aji 7,devonshire71 #aji1 note1 #acd1 note medical experts 7,j4 ,b4 ,curling71 #aaa 7,dr4 ,todd71 #aad 7,daniell1 ,solly1 ,lee71 #aai 7,sir ,benjamin ,brodie71 #aag 7,dr4 ,jackson71 #aai-bj late cases of strychnia 7,agnes ,sennett71 #aba 7,mrs4 ,s4 ,smyth1 ,romsey71 #abb 7,mr4 ,clutterbuck71 #abc 7,mrs4 ,dove1 see ,,morley71 #abd-g analytical evidence 7,dr4 ,taylor71 #abh-de1 #bia 7,rees and ,brande71 #ade 7,professor ,christison71 #adf-h medico-scientific evidence for defence1 points of1 #adi-ej1 #bhh 7,mr4 ,nunneley71 #aeb-fc 7,mr4 ,herapath71 #afc-f 7,dr4 ,letheby71 #aff-i 7,professor ,rogers71 #agj 7,dr4 ,f4 ,wrightson71 #agj 7,mr4 ,partridge71 #aga-c 7,pemberton and ,robinson71 #agd 7,dr4 ,richardson71 #age1 #dfh1 #bhi4 cases of tetanus on part of defence1 #agg-hb purchase of poison by1 #ahc-e acts of1 during illness and after death of ,cook1 #ahf-if ,j4 ,myatt1 evidence of1 #aic letter to the coroner1 c41 #aid-e committal of1 for murder1 and conduct in gaol1 #aif evidence of1 in forged bill case1 #aif1 note defence of1 by ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee1 #aif-bjh reply of ,attorney-,general1 #bjh charge of ,lord ,campbell1 #bbj verdict and sentence1 #bca remarks of ,sir ,james ,stephen1 #bca suggested use of morphia by1 #bia ,,parke1 ,baron1 charge of 7,tawell's trial71 #db-g ,,partridge1 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aga ,,paterson1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,pritchard's trial71 #djd-bf ,,patterson1 ,servant1 evidence of 7,pritchard's trial71 #cih ,,pemberton1 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,winslow's trial71 #dhf ,,penny1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,madeline ,smith's trial71 #ceg 7,pritchard's trial71 #dac1 #dah1 #dbj1 #dbf ,,perkins1 ,constable1 evidence of 7,tawell's trial71 #bc ,,phospho-,,antimonic ,,acid1 reagent for alkaloids1 #ab ,,phospho-,,molybdic ,,acid1 reagent for alkaloids1 #aj ,,phospho-,,tungstic ,,acid1 reagent for alkaloids1 #aa ,,phosphoric ,,test ,,for ,,aconitia4 ,see ,,aconite4 ,,pickering1 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,tawell's trial71 #ch ,,picric ,,acid1 reagent for alkaloids1 #aa ,,piperine ,,and ,,pyroxanthine1 distinctions from strychnia1 #aef1 #bha ,,platinic ,,chloride1 reagent for alkaloids1 #ab ,,pollock1 ,lord ,chief ,baron1 censure of ,inspector ,coward1 #cfi-gj charge 7,smethurst's trial71 #dgc-g report to ,home ,secretary1 #dgh ,,porter1 does it disguise ,,hcn8 #cg1 #fe ,,potassium ,,tri-,,iodide ,,and ,,potassio-,,mercuric-,,iodide1 reagents for alkaloids1 #aj ,,principles1 to be observed in testing for poisons1 #ad1 #ae ,,pritchard1 ,dr41 trial of1 for murder of wife and mother-in-law1 #cig-ddh history of the case 7,patterson1 ,mc,leod71 #cih symptoms 7,gairdner1 ,paterson71 #cii medical attendants1 evidence of 7,gairdner71 #djc 7,paterson71 #djd-bf purchase of poisons by1 #dab post-mortem examinations 7,maclagan71 #dac-ah chemical analysis of medicines in ,pritchard's room1 #dac of bodies 7,penny71 #dah of bottle of ,battley's solution1 #dai experiments with ,battley's solution on animals1 #dbj-a causes of death 7,dr4 ,maclagan71 #dbb-c 7,dr4 ,littlejohn71 #dbd-e 7,dr4 ,paterson71 #dbf declarations 7official7 of1 #dbg witnesses for defence 7,dr4 ,m4 ,taylor71 #dcj 7,simpson1 ,foulner1 ,kerr1 and ,mc,hattie71 #dca speech of ,solicitor-,general1 #dca ,rutherford ,clark for prisoner1 #dce judge's charge1 #dde verdict1 confession1 #ddg ,,prussic ,,acid4 ,see ,,hydrocyanic ,,acid4 ,,pseudaconitia4 ,see ,,aconite4 ,,ptomaines4 ,see ,,cadaveric ,,alkaloids4 ,,rat ,,poisons1 arsenic in1 #cgi ,,richardson1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #age 7,smethurst's trial71 #dff ,,roberts1 ,chemist1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #ahc ,,robertson1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #agd ,,rogers1 ,professor1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #agj 7,smethurst's71 #dfi ,,ross1 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #ahj ,,salts ,,of ,,hydrocyanic ,,acid1 symptoms1 #gi post-mortem appearances1 #hj ,,sargeant1 ,j41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #ia ,,savage1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #ij1 note ,,scarth1 ,chemist1 #bdb evidence of1 7,dove's trial71 #bdb ,,scheibler',s ,,reagent ,,for ,,alkaloids1 #aa ,,sennett1 ,,agnes1 case of tetanus 7,palmer's trial71 #aba ,,shee1 ,serjeant1 speech for defence 7,palmer's trial71 #aif-bjh ,,sheepwash1 arsenic in1 #cgg ,,shilling1 evidence of 7,lamson's trial71 #edd ,,silico-,,tungstic ,,acid1 reagent for alkaloids1 #ab ,,smethurst1 trial of1 for murder of ,isabella ,bankes1 #ddh-gi history of the case 7,ballantine71 #ddi-ec evidence of medical attendants 7,julius71 #dec-e 7,bird and ,caudle71 #dee-f post-mortem examination 7,barwell71 #def-h 7,wilks71 #deh-i medical experts for prosecution 7,todd71 #dei 7,buzzard1 ,copland1 ,bowerbank1 and ,babbington71 #dfj analytical evidence 7,taylor71 #dfa-d 7,herapath's letter on1 ,odling71 #dfj medical and analytical evidence for defence1 #dfe-gc 7,dr4 ,richardson71 #dff 7,drs4 ,rogers and ,thudichum71 #dfi 7,dr4 ,cornelius ,webb71 #dgj 7,dr4 ,girdwood71 #dgb 7,dr4 ,tyler ,smith71 #dgc judge's charge 7,pollock71 #dgc-g reference to ,brodie1 #dgh pardon1 #dgi conviction for bigamy1 #deb proof of ,miss ,bankes' will1 #deb ,,smith1 ,c4 ,a41 ,chemist1 evidence of 7,lamson's trial71 #edc ,,smith1 ,,jeremiah1 examination and cross-examination 7,palmer's trial71 #ahe1 note ,,smith1 ,,madeline1 trial of1 for murder1 #bie1 #cei history of the parties1 #bie-h declaration of the accused1 #bih-cjj ,l',angelier's symptoms 7,mrs4 ,jenkins71 #cjj-c medical attendants1 evidence of 7,dr4 ,thomson71 #cjd 7,dr4 ,steven71 #cje post-mortem examination 7,appendix ,a71 #cee analytical evidence 7,dr4 ,penny71 #cjg 7,prof4 ,christison71 #cae-eh medical experts for defence 7,dr4 ,lawrie71 #cbe 7,dr4 ,mc,lagan71 #cbf opportunities of administering poison--#ast charge1 #cbi #bnd charge1 #ccj #crd charge1 #ccb conduct and statements of 7,m4 de ,meau71 #ccg-db 7,c4 ,haggart71 #cdj1 note proposed evidence from ,l',angelier's diary 7,appendix ,c71 #cdb1 #cei the defence1 #cdb judge's charge and verdict1 #ceb-e quantity of arsenic found in body of a murdered person 7,appendix ,b71 #cec ,,smith1 ,,pyeman1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,dove's trial71 #beh ,,smith1 ,,tyler1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,smethurst's trial71 #dgc ,,smyth1 ,mrs41 case of tetanus 7,palmer's trial71 #abb ,,solanine1 extraction of1 #h ,,solly1 ,surgeon1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aag ,,sonnenschein',s ,,reagent ,,for ,,alkaloids1 #aj ,,speculum ,,metal1 arsenic in1 #cha ,,spinal ,,granules 7,palmer's trial71 #aga-d specimens at ,st4 ,thomas' ,hospital1 #bib-c ,,stephen1 ,mr4 ,justice1 notes on ,palmer's trial1 #afi1 #bca-b ,dove's trial1 #bfh ,smethurst's trial1 #dgh-eaa ,,steven1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,madeline ,smith's trial71 #cje ,,stevens1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #ia1 note ,,stevenson1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,lamson's trial71 #ebf-cb ,,strychnia 7,chapter ,v471 #bgf sources and properties of1 #bgg separation of1 #bgh-hj ,,strychnia ,,tests1 microscope1 taste1 colour1 #bgi1 #bhj galvanic 7,letheby71 #bhb ,marshall ,hall's1 bichromate of potash1 #bhb picric acid1 sodium nitrite1 mercuric chloride1 #bhc preparations of 7table71 #bhc vermin killers1 #bhc-d doses1 medicinal1 #bhe fatal period for1 #bhf symptoms of1 in man1 #bhg post-mortem appearances1 #bhi treatment and antidotes1 #bij value of colour tests1 #bia discovery of1 in the tissues1 #bia did ,palmer poison ,cook with morphia8 #bib supposed preparation of spinal gritty granules1 #bib-c differences between morphia and1 xv4 ,,sulphides1 of antimony1 #dia1 #die of arsenic1 #cha1 #chg ,,tannin ,,or ,,tannic ,,acid1 reagent for alkaloids1 #ab antidote to antimony1 #dig ,,tartar ,,emetic4 ,see ,,antimony1 #did ,,tawell1 ,,john1 trial of1 for murder of ,mrs4 ,hart1 #af-di previous life of1 #ag symptoms of poison 7,ashley1 ,barrett71 #ai1 #bj conduct at ,slough1 #ba arrest of 7,williams1 ,wiggins71 #bb statement by 7,perkins71 #bc medical evidence 7,champneys71 #bc-g previous attempt to poison 7,howard71 #bh analytical evidence 7,cooper71 #bh-cf 7,norblad1 ,pickering71 #cf-h purchase of poison by 7,thomas71 #ci1 #dj history of ,mrs4 ,hart 7,bateman1 ,hadler71 #da defence 7,kelly71 #da-b judge's charge 7,parke71 and verdict1 #db-g confession1 question about publication of1 #dh legal dispute about his ,australian property1 #dh-i ,,taylor1 ,a4 ,s41 ,dr41 ,analyst1 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #abh-de 7,smethurst's trial71 #dfa-d and ,herapath1 #ejg ,,taylor1 ,,michael1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,pritchard's trial71 #dcj ,,teal1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,dove's trial71 #bdi ,,teeth ,,stopping1 arsenic used in1 #cgh ,,thompson1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,madeline ,smith's trial71 #cjd ,,thudichum1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,smethurst's trial71 #dfi ,,todd1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #aad 7,smethurst's trial71 #dei ,,toys1 coloured with arsenic1 #cgh ,,tri-,,iodide ,,and ,,trioxide ,,of ,,arsenic4 ,see ,,arsenic4 ,,tulloch1 ,j4 ,l4 and ,w41 evidence of 7,lamson's trial71 #eci petition to ,home ,secretary1 #efj ,,vomiting1 a symptom of poisoning by all irritant poisons1 acids1 alkalies1 alkaline salts1 c41 #b ,,walker1 ,,peter1 trial of 7,egglesham poisoning71 #ea-b ,,wall ,,papers1 arsenic used in colouring1 #cgh ,,webb1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,smethurst's trial71 #dgj ,,wiggins1 ,constable1 evidence of 7,tawell's trial71 #bb ,,wilks1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,smethurst's trial71 #deh ,,williams1 ,inspector ,g4 ,w4 ,r41 evidence of 7,tawell's trial71 #bb ,,williams1 ,,caleb1 ,dr41 evidence of 7,dove's trial71 #bed ,,wilson1 ,,catherine1 case of tetanus 7,palmer's trial71 #ahj ,,winslow1 ,,thomas1 trial of1 for murder of ,mrs4 ,james1 #dgi-hi history of case1 #dgi-hb medical and analytical evidence 7,cameron71 #dhb 7,j4 ,b4 ,edwards71 #dhd 7,ayrton71 #dhg 7,miller1 ,pemberton71 #dhf prisoner's statements1 #dhg purchase of poison1 #dhh charge and verdict1 #dhi ,,witham1 ,mrs41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #abd 7,dove's trial71 #bdj ,,wood1 ,,mary1 evidence of1 objection to1 #bcc1 note 7,dove's trial71 #bda ,,wood ,,preserving1 arsenic used for1 #cgg ,,wrightson1 ,dr4 ,f41 evidence of 7,palmer's trial71 #agj1 #agg ,,young1 ,solicitor-,general1 speech of 7,pritchard's trial71 #dca ,,the ,,end4 ,,bradbury1 ,,agnew1 ,,co41 ,,printers1 ,,whitefriars4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,christison on ,poisons1 #ahbi1 p4 #dia4 #b ,for instance1 strychnia or strychnine1 morphia or morphine1 aconitia or aconitine1 are the same substances4 #c #ci #dj ,vict4 cap4 #gg1 sec4 #ab4 #d ,potassio-mercuric iodide1 made by dissolving #ej grammes of potassium iodide and #ace grammes of mercuric chloride1 in a litre of distilled water4 ,the reagent is added till no further precipitate is produced1 which is known by filtering a small portion at intervals and testing with the potassio-mercuric iodide to see if finished4 ,the strength of the solution must be1 as nearly as possible1 #a part of the alkaloid in #bjj1 so that an approximate idea must first be obtained by weighing or otherwise4 ,as the quantity is in poison cases generally too small to weigh1 the approximate idea must be gathered by comparing the intensity of the tests with those furnished by known amounts of the alkaloid4 ,each cubic centimetre of ,mayer's solution precipitates #jb gramme of morphia1 #jbfh of aconitia1 and #jafg of strychnia4 ,for further details see ,blyth's ,practical ,chemistry1 #ahgi1 p4 #bhi4 #e ,rennard 7,chem4 ,centr4 #ahgf1 #def7 asserts that acetic ether is preferable to amylic alcohol1 as the latter dissolves more colouring matter4 #f ,to recover the alkaloid1 dissolve the precipitate in sufficient sulphurous acid solution1 and evaporate3 the sulphate is left 7,wagner74 #g ,if the picrate precipitate be dissolved in dilute potash1 and the solution shaken with ether-chloroform1 the latter1 on evaporation1 leaves the alkaloid again in a free state4 #h ,at the inquest this witness said that she rinsed out one of the glasses on the table to give the deceased the water4 #i ,evidence of ,katherine ,white1 barmaid2 ,w4 ,marton1 gardener2 ,j4 ,kendal1 waiter at the ,jerusalem ,coffee-house2 ,h4 ,crapp1 clerk ,g4 ,w4 ,railway1 ,slough2 ,g4 ,lewis1 postboy at ,salthill2 ,r4 ,roberts1 innkeeper1 ,slough2 ,c4 ,wibberts1 guard of ,g4 ,w4 ,r42 ,weymouth1 a plumber2 ,e4 ,j4 ,howell1 superintendent of ,slough station2 ,rev4 ,e4 ,t4 ,champneys ,t4 ,holman1 constable1 of ,farnham-,royal4 #aj ,at the inquest1 this witness1 speaking of the results of the chemical analysis1 said3--8,it may not have been prussic acid1 but in conjunction with some salt nearly allied to it4 ,i do not think it was administered by itself but in some liquid4 ,the salts of prussic acid have not the same pungent peculiar odour as prussic acid itself4 ,they would produce death1 but he could not say how quickly40 ,mr4 ,norblad1 on the same occasion1 suggested that one of the salts into the composition of which prussic acid enters1 might have been given2 8that cyanide of potassium1 the salt to which he referred1 would cause death in from two seconds to a quarter of an hour1 according to the amount given40 ,at the time of the inquest it was not known that the prisoner had bought of ,thomas1 ,scheele's solution of prussic acid4 ,on the properties of the various kinds of these salts1 see ,mr4 ,stewart's remarks1 pp4 #gc-gg4 #aa ,doubtful4 ,c4 ,g4 ,s4 #ab ,on the mooted question of 8odour10 see ,mr4 ,stewart's experiments and remarks on smell-blindness1 pp4 #fc-ff4 #ac ,in giving the examination-in-chief of this witness1 ,i have1 through the kindness of ,mr4 ,c4 ,platt1 the clerk of assize of the old ,norfolk circuit1 been able to correct the cotemporary reports in the ,times and the ,bucks ,heraldby the original report of his experiments made by ,mr4 ,cooper to the prosecution4 ,mr4 ,cooper was unable to be at the inquest1 and the results of such of these experiments as ,messrs4 ,champneys and ,norblad had witnessed were then alone given in evidence1 excluding those where the odour of prussic acid was smelt by ,mr4 ,cooper and his sons1 and where the quantity in the portion of the contents of the stomach submitted to analysation was determined4 #ad ,see the table of ,mr4 ,stewart's experiments on bitter and sweet apples1 and other fruits1 p4 #ei4 #ae ,the reporter is wrong here2 see cross-examination of ,mr4 ,champneys1 p4 #bd1 in which he says that neither ,mr4 ,norblad nor ,mr4 ,pickering smelt the odour on the first opening of the body4 #af ,sweet almonds would not affect the production of prussic acid from the apple-pips1 except as tending to produce emulsine4 #ag ,see note at p4 #ch as to ,pickering's evidence on this point4 #ah ,see p4 #eh4 #ai ,judge ,therry's ,reminiscences of #cj ,years' ,residence in ,n4 ,s4 ,wales4 #bnd edition1 p4 #ajg4 ,i have altered the conclusion of the ,judge's remarks from information supplied to me by a relative well acquainted with ,sydney in those days4 #bj ,animal matter contains the elements carbon1 hydrogen1 nitrogen1 and oxygen3 the carbon and nitrogen unite with the alkaline metal to form a cyanide1 or a ferrocyanide if iron also be present4 #ba ,case of ,sir ,t4 ,boughton1 #agha4 #bb ,the potash and ferrous salt form potassium sulphate and ferrous hydroxide1 the latter combines with cyanogen and more potash to form potassium ferro-cyanide1 the ferric chloride with the potash produces ferric hydroxide and potassium chloride2 when the hydrochloric acid is added1 it dissolves up the excess of ferrous and ferric hydroxides1 forming ferrous and ferric chlorides1 and the ferric chloride unites with the potassium ferrocyanide to form ferric ferrocyanide or ,prussian blue4 #bc ,professor ,carey ,lea 7,american ,journal of ,science1 #c1 ix41 #aba7 prefers to mix a weak solution of ammonio-ferrous sulphate with a little ammonio-ferric citrate1 to acidify with hydrochloric acid1 then to place two or three drops of this on a white plate1 and to add a few drops of the suspected solution4 ,a blue cloudiness indicates ,,hcn4 ,this method1 he says1 is capable of detecting #a_/ejjj of a grain of ,,hcn4 ,but ,i do not think it more delicate than the old method if properly performed1 and it does not so easily admit of comparative experiment as to quantity4 #bd ,professor ,toynbee met his death by incautious use in this way4 #be ,death from suffocation4 #bf #ai ,vict4 c4 #af4 #bg ,the authorities for the following report are 7#a7 ,report of ,trial of ,william ,palmer4 ,j4 ,gilbert1 ,lond41 #ahef4 7#b7 ,reprint of ,times ,report of the ,trial4 ,ward and ,lock1 ,lond41 #ahef2 and the ,life and ,career of ,william ,palmer1 by the same publishers4 7#c7 ,verbatim ,report of the ,trial1 from shorthand notes of ,mr4 ,angelo ,bennett4 ,j4 ,allen1 ,lond41 #ahef4 7#d7 ,letter to ,lord ,chief ,justice ,campbell by the ,rev4 ,thomas ,palmer1 brother to the prisoner1 with appendix of documents1 including memorial from his solicitor to ,sir ,g4 ,grey1 letters and newspaper criticisms4 ,taylor1 ,lond41 #ahef4 ,i have also availed myself of ,mr4 ,justice ,stephens' summary of the trial and his comments on the evidence1 in the appendix to the third volume of his ,history of the ,criminal ,law of ,england4 #bh 8,from his childhood upward10 says his brother1 8no man was gentler of heart--his charity was inexhaustible2 his kindliness to all who were in distress well known4 ,to him the wanderer resorted in his afflictions2 by him the poor and houseless were fed and comforted4 ,i write in the face of the public1 with my character as a gentleman and a clergyman at stake1 and ,i avow only facts that cannot be denied4 ,his liberality was a proverb2 his frank sincerity1 his courage1 his faithful loyalty to his friends1 his temperance1 his performance of the duties of religion1 his social relations in the character of father1 husband1 and son1 won for him the love and confidence of all who approached him2 and though it is true that in one fatal instance he violated the laws of his country1 and subjected himself to a severe penalty for an infringement of its commercial code1 yet1 this excepted1 his was in all respects the very opposite of that cool1 calculating1 cowardly1 crafty temper1 which is essential to the poisoner1 and we know cannot co-exist with those qualities which my brother possessed from his earliest years down even to the day when your lordship sent him to his death40 ,letter to ,lord ,campbell1 pp4 #d1 #e4 #bi ,the excuse put forward for this was his wish to raise money for ,bate4 ,the prisoner's brother complains1 in his letter to ,lord ,campbell1 pp4 #bi1 #cj1 and with justice1 that though the evidence of the negotiation for this insurance was afterwards excluded as irrelevant1 the statement was allowed to be made by the ,attorney-,general without a comment1 which ,lord ,campbell must have known would prejudice the case against the prisoner4 ,this exclusion of the evidence of a statement which has been allowed to pass unchallenged is nearly as useless as the formal warning not to pay any attention to some evidence that has been wrongly admitted--the prejudice has been raised1 and the mischief already done4 ,but for the result of this trial1 he would have been tried for the murder of his wife1 whose body had been exhumed and analysed4 #cj ,as the probability of ,cook's state of health predisposing him to epileptic attacks was made part of the prisoner's case1 the evidence of his regular medical attendant is subjoined3-- ,dr4 ,henry ,savage1 physician1 of #g1 ,gloucester-place1 examined by the ,attorney-,general4--,i knew ,john ,parsons ,cook4 ,he had been in the habit of consulting me professionally during the last four years4 ,he was a man not of robust constitution2 but his general health was good4 ,he came to me in ,may1 #ahee1 but ,i saw him about ,november of the year before1 and early in the spring of #ahee4 ,in the spring of #ahee the old affair--indigestion--was one cause of his visiting me1 and he had some spots upon his body1 about which he was uneasy4 ,he had also two shallow ulcers on his tongue1 which corresponded with two bad teeth4 ,he said that he had been under a mild mercurial course1 and he imagined that those spots were very syphilitic4 ,i thought they were not1 and ,i recommended the discontinuance of mercury4 ,i gave him quinine as a tonic1 and an aperient composed of cream of tartar1 magnesia1 and sulphur4 ,i never at any time gave him antimony4 ,under the treatment which ,i prescribed the sores gradually disappeared1 and they were quite well by the end of ,may4 ,i saw him1 however1 frequently in ,june1 as he still felt some little anxiety about the accuracy of my opinion4 ,if any little spot made its appearance he came to me1 and ,i also was anxious on the subject1 as my opinion differed from that of another medical man in ,london4 ,every time he came to me ,i examined him carefully4 ,there were no indications of a syphilitic character about the sores1 and there was no ulceration of the throat1 but one of the tonsils was slightly enlarged and tender4 ,i saw him last alive1 and carefully examined him1 either on the #crd or #eth of ,november4 ,there was in my judgment no venereal taint about him at the time4 ,cross-examined by ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee4--,i do not think that the deceased was fond of taking mercury before ,i advised him against it2 but he was timid on the subject of his throat1 and was apt to take the advice of anyone4 ,no2 ,i don't think that he would take quack medicines4 ,i don't think he was so foolish as that4 ,mr4 ,stevens1 his stepfather1 who saw him at the ,euston ,station on the #eth of ,november1 when starting for ,rugeley1 said1 8he looked better than he had seen him for a long time4 #8,you don't look1' he said to him1 #8like an invalid'2 and ,cook1 striking his chest1 said he was quite well1 and should be all right if he was happy40 ,in point of appearance he was not a robust man2 his complexion was pale1 and he had sore throat in the previous winter for some months4 ,for the defence1 ,foster1 a farmer1 said he considered him of a weak constitution1 because he had bilious headaches1 the last a year and a half back1 but admitted that he hunted three days a week4 ,john ,sargeant1 a betting man1 who met him at the races which he attended1 said3--,i had an opportunity of seeing the state of his throat before he died4 ,i was with him at the ,liverpool meeting the week previous to the ,shrewsbury races2 we slept in adjoining rooms4 ,one morning he called me into his room and drew my attention to his throat1 which was much inflamed4 ,there were ulcers upon it1 and the tongue was so swollen1 that ,i said ,i was surprised at the state of his mouth4 ,he said he had been in that state for weeks and months1 8,and now10 he said1 8,i don't take notice of it40 ,he had shown me his throat before this at almost every meeting we attended4 ,he took some gingerbread and cayenne on the platform at ,liverpool1 and told me afterwards it nearly killed him4 7,it came out afterwards that the cayenne nut was a trick nut47 ,the witness had also known ,palmer supply ,cook with blackwash before his death4 ,he had never seen ,cook's throat dressed by anybody1 and was surprised to see him eat and drink so well4 ,he saw the blackwash applied 7externally7 at the ,warwick ,spring ,meeting in #ahee4 ,with reference to another point1 this witness spoke to ,cook being unable to pay him more than #aj out of #be at the ,liverpool meeting1 and promising the balance at ,shrewsbury4 #ca ,on the part of the prisoner1 a saddler at ,rugeley1 of the name of ,myalt1 whom ,fisher spoke of as being in the room with ,cook and ,palmer1 was called to give an entirely different account of this suspicious incident4 8,i saw ,cook10 said this witness1 8in ,palmer's company on ,wednesday1 about twelve o'clock4 ,i had not dined with ,palmer1 but at my house at ,rugeley1 and got back to ,shrewsbury between eight and nine1 and went to ,palmer's room to see if he was in4 ,the first person ,i saw was ,cook at the room door1 who said1 #8,what brought you here8' ,i told him1 #8to see how they were getting on4' ,palmer1 ,i found1 had gone out1 and ,i went into the town1 and was away about an hour4 8,when ,i returned ,palmer was not there1 so ,i waited in his room till he returned1 about a couple of hours4 ,he came in with ,cook1 who was the worse for liquor--not very drunk--rather4 ,they asked me to take some brandy and water2 it was produced directly afterwards--the brandy in a decanter1 the water might be on the table4 ,i did not leave the room at all1 from the time ,cook and ,palmer came in till they all went to bed4 ,i did not see anything put into the brandy and water2 nothing could be without my seeing it4 ,palmer and ,i left together1 and slept that night in the same room4 ,cook said something about its being bad4 ,he drank part of it off1 and then gave it to some one to taste4 ,he proposed to have some more1 but ,palmer said he would not unless ,cook drank his out4 ,nothing more happened that night4 ,next morning ,palmer asked me to call ,cook4 ,i went into his room1 and he told me how ill he had been in the night1 and obliged to send for a doctor4 ,he asked me what had been put into the brandy and water1 and ,i told him ,i did not know of anything4 ,he asked me to send for the doctor--,palmer4 ,i did so4 ,the witness did not remember ,mrs4 ,brooks coming1 or ,palmer being called out of the room4 ,he swore that ,cook did not say #8it burns my throat4' ,did not remember ,fisher saying that it was no good his tasting it1 as there was nothing in the glass4 ,he told ,mr4 ,gardner and ,mr4 ,stevens before the inquest what he now said1 but they had not subpnaed him4 #cb 8,lord ,campbell did not even read this portion of the witness's evidence to the jury4 ,whatever its value might be1 and it had some in the prisoner's favour1 they were not reminded of it1 and can hardly be expected to have remembered it after a twelve days' trial40 ,letter to ,lord ,campbell1 p4 #bd4 #cc ,some questions on this point were put to ,mr4 ,gardner1 the solicitor for the prosecution1 but were stopped as too general4 #cd ,mills1 in her cross-examination1 said that ,palmer 8had on a plaid dressing-gown1 but could not say whether he had on a cap or not40 #ce ,lord ,campbell had omitted from his notes this contradiction of the statement of ,mills and others that the body was arched1 and when ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee called his attention to it1 made no comment on it to the jury4--,evidence of ,mary ,keeling4 #cf ,but see the evidence of ,mr4 ,partridge1 ,mr4 ,rogers1 and ,mr4 ,pemberton as to the state of the exhumed corpse1 and the probable effect of the granules4--,evidence of scientific witnesses for the defence1 post1 pp4 #agj-d4 #cg ,a ,mr4 ,devonshire1 a late assistant of ,dr4 ,monckton's1 who was present at the post-mortem1 was also called to confirm the previous witnesses4 ,he also proved the extraction of the liver1 kidneys1 spleen1 and some blood1 and their safe delivery through a clerk 7,boycott7 to the attorneys at ,rugeley to ,dr4 ,taylor for analysis4 #ch ,mr4 ,curling agreed with ,dr4 ,watson1 ,principles and ,practice of ,physic1 in the cases of 8the sticking of a fish bone in the fauces1 the stroke of a whip-lash under the eye leaving the skin unbroken1 the cutting of a corn1 the biting of the finger by a sparrow1 the blow of a stick on the neck1 the insertion of a seton1 the extraction of a tooth1 the injection of a hydrocele1 and the operation of cupping10 but not with 8the percussion of the air caused by a musket-shot40 ,he also explained that the supposed case of tetanus produced at once where a negro servant cut his thumb with a dish1 rested on the authority of an old cyclopdia1 and that his judgment was more mature and his experience greater than when1 twenty-two years of age1 he wrote the treatise in which he had quoted this case4 7,it was only in ,rees' ,cyclopdia47 #ci ,dr4 ,todd1 in reply to ,lord ,campbell1 defined idiopathic tetanus to be 8that form of the disease which is produced without any external wound1 apparently from internal causes--from a constitutional cause40 #dj ,evidence of ,dr4 ,robert ,corbett1 physician1 of ,glasgow1 at the time medical clerk at the ,glasgow ,infirmary2 ,dr4 ,watson1 surgeon to the infirmary2 ,dr4 ,j4 ,patterson1 of the infirmary laboratory2 and ,mary ,kelly1 patient4 #da ,this is a test for brucia and not for strychnia4 ,see p4 #bhe4 #db ,see ,ptomaine's or ,cadaveric ,poisons4 ,chemical introduction1 ante1 p4 #ab1 and ,chapter ,v41 p4 #bgh4 #dc 8,mr4 ,mayhew called on me with another gentleman with an introduction from ,professor ,faraday4 ,i received him as ,i would ,professor ,faraday1 and entered into conversation with him about these cases4 ,he represented1 as ,i understood1 that he was connected with some insurance company1 and wished for information about a number of cases of poisoning that had occurred during many years4 ,after we had conversed about an hour1 he asked if there was any objection to the publication of the details4 ,still believing him to be connected with an insurance office1 ,i replied that1 so far as the correction of error was concerned1 ,i had no objection to anything appearing4 ,on that evening he went away without telling me he was connected with the ,illustrated ,times1 or any other paper4 ,it was not until ,thursday that ,i knew that4 ,it was the greatest deception that ever was practised on a scientific man40--,dr4 ,taylor's evidence4 ,in his charge1 ,lord ,campbell said1 8,i must say ,i think it would have been better if ,dr4 ,taylor1 trusting to the credit he had before acquired1 had taken no notice of what had been said2 but it is for you to say1 whether1 he having been misrepresented1 and having written this letter to the ,lancet to set himself right1 materially detracted from the credit which would otherwise be given to his evidence40 ,it was these statements in the ,illustrated ,times1 copied into other papers1 that led ,dove to resort to strychnia to poison his wife4--,see his case1 post4 #dd ,on the value of experiments on animals1 see ,chemical ,introduction1 ante1 p4 #f4 #de 8,a mixture of sugar and bile1 or a substance called pyroxanthine--the product of a distillation of wood--will produce the purple and red tint40--,taylor's evidence4 ,but see ,chapter ,v4 #df ,curarine4 ,see ,chapter ,v4 #dg ,on this point see ,chapter ,v4 #dh ,this suggestion of negligence on the part of the operator1 ,mr4 ,devonshire1 and the comments on it by the ,attorney-,general1 having subjected him to several attacks both in the ,central ,criminal ,court and in the papers1 he gave the following explanation in a letter to the ,morning ,news1 dated ,may #bi3-- 8,it was agreed in consultation at ,mr4 ,freer's1 at ,rugeley1 that the stomach and intestines should be opened1 and1 with their contents1 enclosed in a jar4 ,it was further agreed that the spinal cord should not be opened if its upper portion and the brain should prove to be in a healthy condition4 ,at the examination ,i was assisted by ,mr4 ,newton1 a young gentleman who had1 unfortunately1 never witnessed a post-mortem4 ,he punctured the stomach1 and about a teaspoonful of its contents was lost4 ,afterwards1 when ,dr4 ,harland and ,i were examining the lining membrane1 ,mr4 ,newton suddenly turned the stomach inside out2 an additional half teaspoonful was thus lost1 the remainder falling into the jar4 ,this accounts for ,dr4 ,taylor finding the mucous membrane in contact with the intestines4 ,with the exception of this casual puncture ,i maintain the post-mortem was skilfully performed40--,letter to ,lord ,campbell4 ,appendix1 p4 xxiv4 #di ,the extract from ,orfila is3 8,in a dog who for four entire months had taken no emetic1 having taken three grammes in ten days 7that is1 about forty-five grains71 but had not taken any for four months1 the metal was found accumulated in the bones2 the liver also contained a great deal1 and the other tissues but little40 #ej ,the letter referred mainly to the case of the prisoner's wife4 ,mr4 ,serjeant ,shee wished only the concluding paragraph to he read1 but the ,attorney-,general insisted on the whole4 ,it was dated only ,jan41 published in the ,lancet of ,february #b1 was headed 8,audi alteram partem10 and was as follows3-- 8,,sir1--,i have great pleasure in replying to the inquiries in your leading article of ,january #ai4 7#a7 ,i stated that ,i had never known antimonial powder1 when given in medicinal doses 7i4e41 from five to eight grains a dose7 to produce vomiting or purging4 ,i am aware that experience differs on this point--that some have found the substance inert1 and others very active4 ,from some recent experiments on antimonial preparations1 ,i think it not unlikely that the powder sometimes contains arseniate of lime4 ,dr4 ,pereira mentions that in the case of a dose of half a teaspoonful it on one occasion produced violent vomiting1 purging1 and sweating2 while in still larger doses 7#abj grains to a dose71 prescribed by ,dr4 ,elliotson1 it occasioned in some instances only nausea4 ,i have never met with any case in which serious symptoms could be referred to its operation2 and in the case of ,ann ,palmer 7the wife7 this medical preparation would not account for the antimony found in her body4 7#b7 ,my statement as to the cause of death was that the deceased died from the effects of tartar emetic1 and from no other cause2 that is the opinion which ,dr4 ,rees and myself formed from the result of our examination1 and from the description under which the deceased laboured during the eight days before her death4 ,it is an opinion now equally shared by the two medical attendants of the deceased4 ,we are quite prepared to maintain this at the trial40 ,the letter then went on to describe the state of ,ann ,palmer's body1 though not exhumed until eighteen months after death1 and contrasted it with that of the brother1 and concluded with the passage given in the text4 ,its effect could not be but prejudicial to the prisoner4 #ea ,in this case1 stated by ,dr4 ,christison1 the patient had been affected with some complaint for four weeks1 and began to take strychnia2 in three hours there was stupor and loss of speech1 and at length violent tetanic convulsions1 and death in three hours and three-quarters4 #eb ,probably a mistake of the reporter1 as ,i cannot find any clue to the meaning of this word4--,c4 ,g4 ,s4 #ec ,an instance of the indestructibility of strychnia was communicated by ,mr4 ,f4 ,crace ,calvert1 ,f4,c4,s41 to the ,london journals subsequently to the trial4 ,in #ahdi several hounds of a pack in ,cheshire were poisoned and one brought to his laboratory1 from which1 by the usual process1 strychnia was obtained4 8,as the master of the hounds attached great importance to the case1 he requested me10 writes ,mr4 ,calvert1 8to obtain a sufficient amount of poison from the stomachs of some other of the dead dogs1 that ,i might not only be convinced of the presence of the poison1 but might also bring some of the extracted strychnia into court4 ,to enable me to do so1 several dogs were disinterred and brought to my laboratory1 and the space of time from the date of death to that when ,i submitted them to analysis was at least three weeks1 and ,i still perfectly succeeded in extracting strychnia from their stomachs and exhibiting it in the state of crystallised hydrochlorate40--,appendix to ,letter to ,lord ,campbell1 p4 xxix4 ,another correspondent to the ,times called attention to the practice in ,mexico of killing a worn-out mule with nux vomica1 leaving its carcase to be eaten by the wolves1 which are thus killed1 and that the ,turkey buzzards who feed on the dead wolves also die of the poison4--,ib4 p4 xxv4 #ed ,see ,chapter ,v4 #ee ,an error4 ,see ,chapter ,v4 #ef ,the table of cases of poisoning by strychnia1 with their symptoms and results of the post-mortem1 given by ,mr4 ,woodman and ,dr4 ,tidy1 shows that the state of the heart varies4 ,in six cases it was contracted and empty1 in some others the right side only was empty1 and in one both sides were filled with blood4--,handy ,book of ,forensic ,medicine and ,toxicology4 ,london4 #ahgg4 #eg ,in a letter to the ,times of ,june #d1 ,mr4 ,herapath says3 8,i learnt on my return here 7,bristol7 that ,mr4 ,yates had visited ,bristol with an anonymous letter in his hand 7since acknowledged to have been written by the magistrates' clerk1 ,keynsham71 and questioned several gentlemen whom ,i am in the habit of meeting1 as to whether they heard me say #8that ,i had no doubt strychnia was in ,cook's body1 but that ,dr4 ,taylor could not find it1' and #8that a word from me would hang the man4' ,they all said they had heard me speak of the case1 but not in such terms4 ,the mayor said that #8he could not say the exact terms1 but the impression on his mind was1 that ,i thought strychnia was there1 but that ,dr4 ,taylor could not find it4'0--,letter to ,lord ,campbell1 ,appendix1 p4 xxxi4 #eh 8,the controversy10 as to the non-discovery of strychnia by ,dr4 ,taylor1 says ,mr4 ,justice ,stephen1 8was foreign to the merits of the case1 inasmuch as the evidence given for the prisoner tended to prove1 not that there was no strychnia in ,cook's body1 but that ,dr4 ,taylor ought to have found it if it was there4 ,in other words it was relevant1 not so much to the guilt or innocence of the prisoner1 as to whether ,mr4 ,herapath and ,dr4 ,nunneley were better analytical chemists than ,dr4 ,taylor4 ,the evidence could not be even considered relevant to the shaking of ,dr4 ,taylor's credit1 for no part of the case rested on his evidence except the discovery of the antimony1 as to which he was corroborated by ,mr4 ,brande1 and not contradicted by the prisoner's witnesses40 7,one does not see how this could have been accomplished1 as they were not present at the analysis47 8,his opinion as to the nature of ,cook's symptoms was shared by many other medical witnesses of the highest eminence1 whose credit was altogether unimpeached4 ,the prisoner's counsel was placed in a curious difficulty by this state of the question4 ,they had to attack1 and did attack ,dr4 ,taylor's credit vigorously1 for the purpose of rebutting his conclusion that ,cook might have been poisoned by strychnia3 yet they had to maintain his credit as a skilful analyst4 ,for if they destroyed it1 the fact that he did not discover strychnia went for nothing4 ,this dilemma was fatal4 ,to admit his skill was to admit their client's guilt2 to deny it1 was to destroy the value of nearly all their own evidence4 ,the only possible way was to admit his skill and deny his good faith2 but this too was useless for the reason just assigned40--,history of ,criminal ,law in ,england4 ,vol4 ,,iii41 #dah4 #ei ,roberts1 ,theory and ,practice of ,medicine1 #ahgg1 ,vol4 ,,ii41 #bc1 gives the following symptoms of angina pectoris3--8,abrupt suddenness--intense prcordial pain--oppression and constriction of the chest--suffocation1 no cyanosis--tenderness of chest rare--face pale1 sweat--expression of intense anxiety--pulse mostly feeble1 flickering occasionally--vomiting and eructation4 ,conscious at first1 but1 if prolonged1 may be syncope4 ,spasmodic movements1 and even general convulsions may be observed4 ,usually several brief paroxysms with intermissions4 ,tendency to rave under slight exciting causes40 ,dr4 ,bristow1 ,theory and ,practice of ,medicine1 agrees with this1 and adds1 8,after death various lesions--most important the calcification of the coronary vessels--fatty and other degenerations of the muscular tissue of the heart4 ,in other cases the heart perfectly healthy40 #fj ,in the ,appendix1 p4 xxi41 to the letter to ,lord ,campbell1 is a letter from a ,mr4 ,lacy1 a hatter of ,nottingham1 dated ,june #b1 to the ,morning ,news1 giving a very unfavourable account of the earlier years of this witness4 ,he appears to have got out of the way after the trial1 and to have evaded the search made for him by the prisoner's friends4 #fa ,in cross-examination1 after admitting that he attested the proposal to the ,prince of ,wales office for #ac1jjj on ,walter ,palmer's life1 and saying that he did not recollect attesting another proposal on the same life to the ,universal1 the proposal to that office was put into his hand1 and he was asked if the 8,jeremiah ,smith0 attesting it was his signature4 8,it is very like my signature10 he said1 8but ,i have a doubt of it40 7,after a pause7 8,i believe it is not my handwriting2 ,i swear it is not4 ,i think it a very good imitation4 ,i did not receive the document from ,pratt2 ,i might from ,w4 ,palmer4 ,i don't recollect40 7,after some hesitation7 8,no doubt he did give it to me4 ,i got it before it was signed40 ,attorney-,general4--8,do you now say it is not your signature80 ,witness4--8,i do40 7,he then admitted getting appointed agent to the ,midland ,county office in order to get a policy for #aj1jjj on ,bate's life47 ,attorney-,general4--8,i will refresh your memory with regard to these proposals4 ,look at that1 and tell me whether it is your handwriting80 ,witness4--8,yes40 ,attorney-,general4--8,now1 refreshing your memory with that document1 were you applied to in ,december1 #ahed1 to attest a proposal of ,walter ,palmer to the ,solicitors' and ,general office for #ac1jjj80 ,witness4--8,that is my signature1 certainly40 ,attorney-,general repeats the question4 ,witness4--8,i don't recollect40 ,attorney-,general4--8,what1 with your signature staring you in the face80 ,witness4--8,i might have been a witness to it4 ,i am speaking from memory40 ,attorney-,general4--8,have you any doubt1 after looking at that document80 ,witness4--8,i have no doubt40 ,attorney-,general4--8,at last we have got at it from you4 ,now look to that document1 and see if another month afterwards--in ,january1 #ahee--you were asked to attest another proposal for #ac1jjj to the ,prince of ,wales office80 ,witness 7hesitating74--8,that is my signature4 7,a pause47 ,perhaps if ,i saw the paper ,i could answer40 ,attorney-,general4--8,there is the paper40 ,witness 7after a pause74--8,i might have signed it in blank4 ,i have some doubt whether ,i did not sign some of these in blank4 ,the body of the papers is in the handwriting of ,william ,palmer40 ,attorney-,general4--8,upon your oath1 don't you believe that ,william ,palmer applied to you to attest the proposal on his brother's life for #ac1jjj80 ,witness4--8,he did apply to me40 ,attorney-,general4--8,was it not to attest the proposal for #ac1jjj on his brother's life80 ,witness4--8,one of them was for #ac1jjj4 ,i don't think ,i was present when ,walter ,palmer signed the assignment4 ,i believe ,jeremiah ,smith's 7another witness of that name7 handwriting is very like mine40 ,after much fencing with the question1 the witness saying he might or he might not have attested ,walter ,palmer's signature to a deed of assignment1 the ,attorney-,general put a cheque for #e into the witness's hand1 and asked him if it was ,william ,palmer's signature to it4 ,answer4--8,it is40 ,question4--8,did you take that piece of paper to the bank and get #e for it1 and that for attesting the signature of ,walter ,palmer to the deed of assignment80 ,answer4--8,i may have got the #e at the bank2 but upon my honour ,i do not know what for4 7,laughter47 ,cook1 with reference to the #bjj bill1 gave ,palmer #aj for the accommodation1 and he took the money to ,shrewsbury races4 ,i cannot say who saw me on the ,monday night when ,i went up to ,cook's room at the #8,talbot ,arms4' ,i did not notice4 ,i believe that either the chambermaid1 the waitress1 or the cook saw me go into the hotel4 ,i don't know who drove the fly to ,stafford40 ,this witness was also severely cross-examined as to his relations with ,mrs4 ,palmer1 replying with the same caution as to their impropriety1 and could not get further than 8that there ought not to be any truth0 in the imputation4 ,mr4 ,justice ,stephen1 who was present at the trial1 gives the following graphic sketch of the demeanour of this witness3--8,no abbreviation can give the effect of this cross-examination4 ,the witness's efforts to gain time1 and his distress as the various answers were extorted from him by degrees1 may be faintly traced in the report4 ,his face was covered with sweat1 and the papers put into his hands shook and rattled40--,hist4 ,criminal ,law of ,england4 ,vol4 ,,iii41 p4 #cii1 note4 8,and yet1 after all10 as the learned judge adds1 8he was right as to the time according to the inspector at ,euston4 ,if ,smith spoke the truth1 ,newton could not have seen ,palmer at all that night1 and ,mills1 if at all1 must have seen him in ,smith's company4 ,mills never mentioned ,smith0 7and was never asked by the defence if he came with ,palmer71 8and ,smith would not swear that she or anyone else had seen him at the #8,talbot' that night40 #fb ,smith 7not ,jeremiah1 subsequently examined1 pp4 #ahe-f71 when called for the defence1 said that he sent the soup to ,cook by ,rowley1 but not to ,palmer's on the way4 #fc ,palmer's brother1 in the letter to ,lord ,campbell1 states that ,sanders1 the trainer1 if called 7who had been examined before the coroner71 could have proved that ,cook excused his not giving him more than #aj when he came to see him1 on the plea 8that he had given all his money to ,palmer to take with him to ,london to settle his affairs10 and that he was in court at the trial1 and when not called by the prosecution1 was sent out of the way to prevent his being called for the defence4--,letter to ,lord ,campbell1 pp4 #ah1 #ai4 ,he was called on his subpna at the close of the evidence for the defence 7tenth day71 and when he did not answer1 the ,attorney-,general said1 8,i should be deeply grieved if it could be possibly thought that the absence of any witness could in any way prejudice the prisoner's case1 and if my learned friend makes any application on that ground it shall not be resisted by me40 ,no application was made4 #fd ,it was an acknowledgment that certain bills1 of which the dates and amounts were set out1 were all for ,cook's benefit1 and signed either ,j4,p4 or ,i4,p4 ,cook4 ,cheshire was under ,palmer's influence1 and a few days after opened ,dr4 ,taylor's letter to ,mr4 ,gardner with the account of the results of the analytical examination1 and disclosed them to ,palmer1 for which he was prosecuted and punished4 #fe ,whilst ,palmer was in ,stafford jail1 inquests were held on the bodies of his wife and his brother ,walter4 ,in the first case there was no manner of doubt that she had been gradually dosed to death by antimony4 ,in that of the brother1 the analysis failed to detect any poison1 a fact probably accounted for by the length of time that had elapsed since the death and the action of the lead coffin1 if prussic acid was the poison used4 ,in both cases1 however1 verdicts of wilful murder against ,palmer were returned4 ,on the #bast of ,january ,palmer was brought up from jail as a witness in an action on one of the #bjjj bills purported to be signed by his mother1 the signature of which was denied by her2 clerks in banks and others who knew her handwriting well also agreeing that it was a forgery4 ,at last ,palmer was produced in custody4 ,he entered in a perfectly cool and collected manner1 nodded familiarly to his friends in the crowded court1 and gave the following evidence in a low1 yet firm and distinct voice1 without a sign of trepidation3-- ,mr4 ,edwin ,james 7putting the disputed bill into his hand74--8,is the signature of ,william ,palmer1 as drawer of this bill1 in your handwriting80 ,palmer4--8,yes40 ,mr4 ,james4--8,and did you apply to ,mr4 ,padwick to advance you money on it80 ,palmer4--8,i did40 ,mr4 ,james4--8,who wrote ,sarah ,palmer's acceptance on it80 ,palmer4--8,anne ,palmer40 ,question4--8,who is she80 ,palmer4--8,she is dead40 ,question4--8,do you mean your wife80 ,palmer4--8,yes40 ,question4--8,did you see her write it80 ,palmer4--8,yes40 ,the action was1 of course1 at once abandoned1 and no further proceedings taken on the other bills bearing the mother's name4 #ff ,see ,lord ,campbell's correction of this4--,judge's charge1 post4 #fg ,ante1 pp4 #ahe and #ahf1 note4 #fh ,see the suggestion of ,dr4 ,guy1 that the death was probably due to morphia1 and the remarks thereon in ,chapter ,v41 post4 #fi ,on this point1 which was also put very strongly by ,lord ,campbell in his charge1 the prisoner's brother1 in his letter to that judge1 accuses the prosecution of cunningly keeping back a witness of the name of ,cockayne1 who had been examined before the coroner and whose deposition was before the ,court1 who would have explained the use for which the strychnia was bought4 8,had he been1 as he ought to have been called1 he would have proved that he kept a gun loaded in the stable1 by order of my brother1 to shoot the dogs that worried his brood mares1 and that he also threatened to poison them1 and that the strychnia was purchased for that object1 and that he had missed dogs since then1 which had been in the habit of prowling about the pastures and hunting the mares40 ,he also accounts for the non-production of poisoned dogs1 by the 8medical fact that they go away to die in secret1 concealed and quiet places1 where they die undiscovered1 and would be mortally attacked in so short a time that they could not get to their own home40 ,he further accuses them of sending this witness1 and ,sanders the trainer1 who would have proved that ,cook told him he had given ,palmer all his money1 out of the way1 so that the prisoner's solicitor could not call them for the defence4--,letter to ,lord ,campbell1 pp4 #ag1 #ai4 ,but see ante1 p4 #ahh1 note4 #gj ,see ante1 p4 #baf1 note1 on the evidence of a witness1 ,cockayne1 who was called before the coroner4 #ga ,the prisoner's brother1 on the contrary1 says that he distinctly1 in a most solemn interview1 declared his 8perfect guiltlessness of blood40 ,the same writer unfortunately lessens the value of his other statements by a coarse attack on ,lord ,campbell as a worthy successor of ,jeffries1 and imputes to him and ,baron ,alderson a deliberate intention to force the jury to a conviction4 ,as ,i had not the advantage of being present at the trial1 ,i can only say nothing of this appears in any of the reports of the trial which ,i have collated1 and whilst on the contrary we now have the evidence of an experienced criminal lawyer1 who saw and heard all4 ,still1 however1 remains the great difficulty that strychnia1 as every analytical chemist will testify1 ought to have been found1 if it had been given1 though the failure to discover it does not conclusively negative the probability of it having been administered4 ,dr4 ,guy has suggested that morphia might have been the cause1 introduced into the pills1 a point of which would seem to be made in ,serjeant ,shee's speech1 and which would account for ,palmer's statement that ,cook was not killed by strychnia1 and with his wish for a further examination of the body by ,mr4 ,herapath4--,hist4 of ,crim4 ,law of ,england4 ,vol4 ,,iii41 pp4 #dbc-d4 ,see on this point ,chapter ,v4 #gb ,for the report of this trial ,i have relied on the apparently verbatim report in the ,times 7probably from the pen of the late ,mr4 ,campbell ,forster71 collated with that in the ,annual ,register of #ahef1 and with the ,summary by ,mr4 ,justice ,stephen based on the notes of the presiding judge4 #gc ,mrs4 ,mary ,wood4 ,mr4 ,overend objected to this witness being asked as to her opinion of ,dove's state of mind1 on the ground that she was not a skilled witness4 ,the objection was allowed by ,mr4 ,baron ,bramwell1 but on the suggestion of the judge1 not persevered in by the prosecution4 #gd ,charles ,harrison4 #ge ,these strong expressions were not supported by any specific proof worth reporting4 ,mr4 ,h4 admitted he used to flog him1 but added1 8,i flogged him till ,i was satisfied there was a want of reason1 but not after40 ,he admitted that he flogged him slightly 7perhaps a stroke or two7 the day before he left4--,stephens' ,summary4 ,vol4 ,,iii41 p4 #dcj4 #gf ,he used to point loaded fire-arms at his servants1 and threaten to shoot unoffending persons3 tell strange stories of being followed by robbers3 wander about his fields without an object4 #gg ,evidence of his nurse1 ,mrs4 ,wood1 ,mr4 ,highley1 ,mr4 ,c4 ,harrison1 ,mr4 ,lord1 and the servants at ,whitwell ,farm 7,james ,shaw1 ,mary ,peek1 ,robert and ,william ,tomlinson1 ,emma ,spence1 and ,emma and ,fanny ,wilson7 called for the defence1 and cross-examination of ,elizabeth ,fisher1 who had been his servant at ,normanton and ,leeds1 ,mrs4 ,thornhill1 charwoman1 generally employed at the house at ,leeds1 and ,mary ,hicks4 #gh ,in his second confession he fixes the date of this as ,sunday1 ,february #bd1 and that he took then about ten grains4 #gi ,on the ,monday he wrote the following letter to his mother3--8,my dear ,mother1--,i am sorry to tell you that my wife is very ill indeed4 ,she came down as ,i thought this morning much better1 took a nice breakfast for her1 and then she commenced to play 7the piano74 ,after that she told ,mrs4 ,fisher 7who is with us7 that she would help her to make the beds1 but instead of that she was seized in her limbs and could not stand1 neither could she take anything4 ,i went to ,mr4 ,morley1 and ,i am sure ,i did not expect to see her alive when ,i came back2 but thank ,god she was alive1 and that was all2 she was entirely prostrated4 ,mother has been to see her4 ,if you would like to see her you had better come by ,london for three and sixpence4 ,harriet would like to see her1 but she thinks of the expense4 ,my dear wife's love to you and all at home1 and accept the same from your affectionate son1 ,,william ,,dove4 ,p4,s4--,i hope ,mary will not make fun of this small bit of paper2 it would be over-heavy if ,i had not torn it off40 ,this was one of the letters referred to by ,baron ,bramwell as disproof of his imputed idiotcy4 #hj ,this witness and ,mr4 ,morley1 the surgeon1 were called in ,palmer's trial to state the symptoms observed in the course of ,mrs4 ,dove's illness and death1 without mentioning her name1 and ,mr4 ,morley also related the results of the analytical examination of her body in conjunction with ,mr4 ,nunneley1 who was called on behalf of ,palmer1 and maintained that if it had been given1 strychnia must have been found by analysis six days after death 7pp4 #abd-h74 #ha 8,he told me10 said ,harrison1 8that he was afflicted by devils1 but that ,i had more power over them1 and could send them to frighten his wife from her bed to sleep with him--believed they were in his house1 and attributed thunder and lightning to them4 ,i attributed this to delirium tremens4 ,told me he had sold his soul to the devil4 ,i did not encourage him to think ,i could rule devils2 it was his own fancy4 ,i told him ,i would cast his nativity1 but when ,i saw the state of his mind ,i did not finish it40--,harrison's evidence--cross-examination4 ,but see ,dove's account of ,harrison in his confession1 post4 #hb ,in this case ,baron ,alderson also decided that if the witnesses were called by the defence1 the person calling them made them his own witnesses1 #b ,c4 ,k4 p4 #ebj4 ,baron ,parke1 ,justice ,cresswell1 and ,lord ,campbell agreed with this4 ,see ,r4 v4 ,cassidy1 ,f4 4 ,f4 p4 #gi4 #hc ,to the schoolmaster at ,abeford--conjuring tricks6 #hd ,should not this be 8at some times40 #he 8,that would be moral insanity40--,judge's ,notes--,stephen4 #hf ,i cannot find in the reports to what particular act this question refers4 #hg 8,the suggestion of ,dr4 ,williams10 says ,judge ,stephen1 8that ,dove had allowed his mind to dwell on his wife's death till at last he became the victim of an uncontrollable propensity to kill her1 if correct1 would not prove that his act was not voluntary4 ,it is setting and keeping the mind in motion towards an object plainly conceived that constitutes the mental part of an act4 ,every act becomes irrevocable before it is consummated4 ,if a man1 for example1 strikes another1 he may repent while his arm is falling2 but there is a point at which he can no more deprive his arm of the impetus with which he has animated it1 than he can divert from its course a bullet which has been fired from a rifle4 ,suppose he deals with his mind in this manner at an earlier stage of the proceeding1 and so fills himself with a passionate1 intense longing for the forbidden object or result1 that he becomes1 as it were1 a mere machine in his own hands4 ,is not the case precisely similar1 and does not the action continue to be voluntary and wilful1 although the act of volition which made it irrevocable preceded its completion by a longer interval than usual8 8,it must1 however1 be remembered1 that the proof that ,dove's propensity was uncontrollable was very defective4 ,an uncontrollable propensity1 which accidental difficulties or the fear of detection constantly control and divert for a time1 is an inconceivable state of mind4 ,is there the smallest reason to suppose that1 if ,mrs4 ,dove had met with a fatal accident1 and had been lying in bed dying before her husband gave her any poison1 his uncontrollable propensity to kill her would have induced him to give her poison nevertheless8 ,if not1 the propensity was like any other wicked feeling4 ,it was certainly uncontrolled1 and it may probably have been strong1 but that is different to uncontrollable40--,history of the ,criminal ,law of ,england1 by ,mr4 ,justice ,stephen4 ,vol4 ,,iii41 p4 #dce-f4 #hh ,baron ,bramwell especially called attention to the letter of the prisoner to his mother of the #beth of ,february1 describing his wife's first attack 7see ante1 note p4 #bcg71 and that to the ,witchman1 ,harrison1 asking him1 in replying about his nativity1 to 8write in milk1 or lemon1 or anything else that would not show till put to the fire40 #hi ,this was proved at the trial by the ,fishers4 #ij ,mr4 ,morley's pupil had shown it to him2 proved at the trial4 #ia ,that would be ,february the #bcrd1 when ,fisher's mother come to ,dove's to take her daughter's place1 and the first attack was when ,mrs4 ,dove fell whilst helping to make the beds on the following ,monday4 ,throughout his statement ,dove is very confused as to dates4 ,the tasting by ,mrs4 ,witham was several days after this4 #ib ,mrs4 ,witham states 7see her evidence7 that she gave her medicine at #c4cj ,p4,m41 and she seemed better for it4 #ic ,in his comments on this extraordinary case1 ,mr4 ,justice ,stephen--after noting ,dove's predisposition to madness in his infancy2 the fact that the symptoms of the disease exhibited themselves at frequent intervals1 yet never reached such a pitch as to induce his friends to treat him as a madman2 the prurience with which he dwelt on the prospect of his wife's death2 the forming of the design of putting her to death1 and the deliberate contrivance and precaution with which he carried it out--says3--8,in this state of things can he be said to have known1 in the wider sense of the words1 that his act was wrong8 ,he obviously knew that it was wrong in the sense that people generally consider it so2 but was he capable of thinking1 like an ordinary man1 of the reasons why murder is wrong1 and of applying these reasons to his conduct8 ,there was evidence both ways4 ,his irrationality1 however1 was occasional1 and he appears to have acted rationally enough as a rule1 and to have transacted all the common affairs of life4 ,did1 then1 this act belong to the rational or irrational part of his conduct8 ,every circumstance connected with it referred it to the former4 ,it was a continued series of deliberate and repeated attempts1 fully completed at last40--,history of the ,criminal ,law4 ,vol4 ,,iii41 pp4 #dce-f4 #id ,this is probably an error of the reporter--rigid787 #ie ,the pills were produced at the inquest1 and seen there by ,dr4 ,lees1 but not submitted for analysis1 either to him or ,dr4 ,bernays4 #if ,in this the presence of strychnia was very distinct4 #ig ,the important evidence of this witness is given very briefly on the report of the trial4 ,from the notes of the analyses made at the time in the laboratory ,i have been enabled to give it in greater detail4 #ih ,morphia gives with nitric acid a deep orange unchanged by stannous chloride4 #ii ,see also case of ,agnes ,sennett1 p4 #aba4 #ajj ,a striking case of cure by chloroform is given in the ,london ,med4 ,gazette for #ahej1 p4 #ahg1 quoted from the ,boston ,med4 ,journal1 ,july1 #ahej4 #aja ,palmer administered to ,cook so few pills1 that unless these consisted of solid morphia1 which is impossible1 they could not much affect the above conclusion4 #ajb ,the words 8causing to be administered0 were struck out on the objection of ,mr4 ,young that 8they were not covered by the major part of the indictment1 and not material in any way40 #ajc ,this was distinctly denied by ,miss ,giubilei1 who had been a pupil teacher at the school4 #ajd ,mr4 ,minnoch1 on the contrary1 said1 8,she accepted me on the #bhth of ,january1 and then she and ,i arranged it on the #abth of ,march4 ,from the #bhth of ,january to the end of ,march there was nothing to suggest to my mind a doubt as to the engagement continuing4 ,i had no idea she was engaged to any other4 ,when the marriage was fixed in ,march it was to take place on the #ahth of ,june40 #aje 8,but surely10 said the ,lord ,justice ,clerk1 8had such been the case1 she would never have wished to be #8clasped to the heart1' as she expresses it in her letter1 of a man whom she had to inform that she was engaged to another1 and that all relations must be broken off between them40 #ajf ,on this latter matter and the identification of the envelopes for the respective letters much time was occupied4 ,in his charge the ,lord ,justice ,clark said1 that 8though the procedure adopted had been loose and slovenly1 it did not appear that the panel had suffered any prejudice from the want of any of them4 ,as to each letter being in its proper envelope1 in the first part of the correspondence1 it did not much signify whether such were the case2 because there was no doubt that those passionate letters written by the prisoner1 declaring such strong love for ,l',angelier1 and some of them expressed in very licentious terms1 were written by her at some time or other40 #ajg 8,arsenious oil applied to scalp to cure vermin caused death on #ajth day40--,taylor1 ,i41 #bed4 8,a solution to cure itch caused death in two years40 ,cours de ,med41 ,leq41 p4 #aba4 8,arsenious acid and gum to the head1 caused death in #cf hours40--,american ,journal of ,med4 ,science1 ,july1 #ahea4 8,when used as a face powder it caused poisoning symptoms40--,christison1 p4 #cbi4 8,arsenical soap applied to scrotum and axill produced violent pains in stomach1 vomiting1 purging1 but patient recovered in fourteen days40--,med4 ,times and ,gazette1 ,december #aj1 #ahec4 ,and see other similar cases in list in 8,woodman and ,tidy40 #ajh ,see ,chapter ,,vii4 #aji ,referring to the evidence of ,dr4 ,penny1 the ,dean1 in his speech for the defence1 said3 8,here comes again another point on which the evidence for the ,crown is very defective1 to say the least of it4 ,they knew very well when they were examining the contents of this poor man's stomach1 and his intestines generally1 what was the arsenic that the prisoner had bought4 ,they knew from her own candid statement that she bought it partly at ,murdoch's and partly at ,currie's4 ,if that arsenic had been swallowed by the deceased1 the colouring-matter could have been detected in the stomach--there was one means of connecting the prisoner with this poison which was found in ,l',angelier's stomach1 and a very obvious means4 ,it may be very well for ,professor ,penny and ,dr4 ,christison to say now that their attention was not directed to this matter4 ,whose fault was this8--the whole thing was in the hand of the authorities4 ,they kept it to themselves--they dealt with it exclusively--and they present this lame and impotent conclusion40 #aaj #ad ,vict4 c4 #ac1 sec4 #c3 8,before the sale1 the arsenic shall be mixed with soot or indigo in the proportion of one ounce of soot or half an ounce of indigo1 at least1 to one pound of arsenic1 except in cases where1 according to the representation of the purchaser1 such mixture would render it unfit for his purpose1 when it may be sold in quantities of not less than ten pounds40 #aaa ,in the ,edinburgh ,monthly ,journal of ,dec41 #aheg1 ,professor ,christison gives the details of a case--not of suicide--in which #ij to #ajj grains were found1 and the party lived seven hours4 ,in the case of ,r4 v4 ,dodds1 ,lincoln ,assizes1 ,december1 #ahfj1 #aej grains were found2 in that of ,r4 v4 ,hewitt1 or ,holt1 ,chester ,winter ,assizes1 #ahfc1 #aed grains were found eleven weeks after death4 ,professor ,christison's letter will be found in ,appendix ,b41 p4 #ceh4 #aab ,in ,woodman and ,tidy the following ,table1 showing the solubility of arsenic1 is given3-- ,transparent ,opaque ,crystalline ,form4 ,form4 ,acid4 7#a7 #a1jjj grains of distilled cold water1 after standing #agd gr4 #aaf gr4 #bj gr4 #bd hoursdissolved 7#b7 #a1jjj grains of boiling water1 poured on the acid1 #ajab gr4 #ed gr4 #aej gr4 and allowedto stand#bd hoursdissolved 7#c7 #a1jjj grains of water1 boiled for one hour1 the quantity being kept uniform by the addition of boiling #fde gr4 #gfe gr4 #hgj gr4 water from time to time1 and filtered immediatelydissolved #aac ,as proof that ,l',angelier's first illness could not have been on the night of the #aith and morning of the #bjth1 the ,dean referred to the fact that 8on the #bast he ordered of his butcher the largest piece of beef to be found in his pass-book 7#glbs471 and had fresh herrings in such a quantity as to alarm his landlady1 and a still more alarming quantity and variety of vegetables40 8,there's a dinner for a sick person60 ,he also said1 8,i give my learned friend the option of being impaled on one of the horns of the dilemma--,i care not which4 ,he was ill from arsenical poisoning on the morning of the #bjth1 or he was not4 ,if he was1 he received arsenic from other hands than the prisoner's4 ,if he was not1 the foundation of the case was shaken40 #aad 8,what is the evidence of ,mrs4 ,jenkins on this point8 ,she says he was in his usual condition on the #bast1 when he made that celebrated dinner1 and she thought he was making himself ill1 and on that #bast he told her he should not leave the house all the following day--the ,sunday4 ,he had1 therefore1 ,i maintain1 no appointment to keep1 else he would never have made that statement4 ,on the #bbnd ,mrs4 ,jenkins says she had no recollection of his going out4 ,when he did go out at night1 and came in late1 what was his habit8 ,mrs4 ,jenkins says he never got into the house on those occasions except in one of two ways--either he asked her for a check key1 and got one1 or ,thuau opened the door for him4 ,he did not ask for a key that night1 and ,thuau says he certainly did not let him in40--,speech of the ,dean of ,faculty for the defence4 #aae ,to the evidence for these statements1 the ,dean of ,faculty objected that1 though the guard of the train from ,stirling was shown the photograph of ,l',angelier1 and identified him by it1 the photo4 was not shown to ,ross--that ,ross only spoke of him as a foreigner--that no one at the place where he had refreshments at ,coatbridge was called to identify him--that the 8foreigner0 told ,ross he had walked from ,alloa 7eight miles71 and not from the ,bridge of ,allan1 and that on the ,friday or ,saturday previous he had walked into ,stirling to try and get a cheque cashed1 and yet no attempt was made to show that he did so4 ,the witnesses for the defence1 on the contrary 7,adams1 ,kirk1 ,dickson1 druggists71 were clear 7,adams7 that at half-past five on ,sunday1 the #bbnd1 a gentleman came to his shop for #be drops of laudanum2 ,dickson1 of ,batherton1 two miles from ,coatbridge1 that one whom he recognised as extremely like the photo4 of ,l',angelier came for a similar dose at #f4cj on a ,sunday at the end of ,march1 suffering from a bowel complaint2 and ,miss ,kirk1 of the ,gallowgate1 ,glasgow1 who remembered a gentleman1 8as like as anything ,i ever saw0 to the photo4 of ,l',angelier1 came about #h ,p4,m4 on a ,sunday night at the end of ,march for a medicine1 and got a white powder4 ,but it must be remarked that1 weak as this evidence was1 it was weakened by the admission of ,adams that his customer did not complain of illness--by that of ,dickson that it might have been in ,april1 and by the inability of ,miss ,kirk to fix any date for the occurrence1 or to state what the powder was1 though she identified the purse from which the party took the money for the payment of it4 #aaf ,on the question whether this letter brought ,l',angelier to ,glasgow1 the ,dean referred to an expression in one of his letters to ,thuau1 that he did not know what 8,mr4 ,mitchell could want with him10 and inferred that it might be to hear about this person that he hurried up to ,glasgow and called on ,m',alister1 who probably might have given some information on this point had he been called4 ,if so1 why was he not called for the defence8 #aag 8,i have already shown10 said the ,dean1 8how constantly she repeated to him her warning that on no account he was to make the slightest noise of any kind4 ,therefore1 without previous arrangement1 it does not appear to me possible for these parties to have met on the occasion on which the prosecutor says they did4 ,if ,i am right in reading that letter1 she expected him on ,saturday evening1 and she waited and waited1 as she had upon ,thursday1 but he did not come4 ,on the ,sunday evening she did not expect him4 ,why should she8 ,when he did not come on ,thursday evening1 when he did not come on ,saturday evening1 why should she expect him on the following evening8 ,well1 then1 that is the state in which her expectations were on that occasion1 and her conduct precisely squares with it4 ,she is at home in the family4 ,they are all at prayers at nine o'clock4 ,the servants come up to attend prayers with the family4 ,mackenzie1 the suitor of ,haggart1 remains below while the family are at prayers4 ,the servants afterwards go down stairs to bed1 as usual--one after the other4 ,the family then retire to rest1 and the prisoner1 with her youngest sister1 goes to her bedroom about half-past ten or eleven4 ,they both get into bed about the same time2 and1 so far as human knowledge can go1 that house is undisturbed and unapproached till the prisoner is lying in the morning side by side with her sister1 as she had fallen asleep4 ,the watchman was on his beat--he knew ,l',angelier well--and he saw nothing40 #aah ,regarding this third charge in the light of probabilities1 the ,dean said3--8,if you believe the evidence of the ,crown1 he suspected the prisoner of having tried to poison him4 ,but my learned friend says his suspicions were then lulled--she had become more kind to him before he left town4 ,i thought my learned friend said he was brooding over it when in ,edinburgh1 and spoke of it in a serious tone to the ,towerses4 ,that was on the #afth of ,march1 after which date he had nothing to change his mind in the shape of kindness from the prisoner1 and therefore if he did once entertain the suspicion1 however unfounded1 there was nothing to remove it from his mind anterior to the #bbnd of ,march4 ,a man1 whose suspicions are excited against a particular person1 is not very likely to take poison at that person's hand2 and yet1 what are we asked to believe that he took from her hand that night8 ,that he took from her hand a poisoned cup1 in which there lurked such a quantity of arsenic as was sufficient to leave in his stomach after death #hb grains2 such a dose indicating the administration of at least double--aye1 ,i think ,dr4 ,christison said the administration of at least half an ounce 7#bdj grains7--and that he took it that evening from the hand of the prisoner1 with all his previous suspicions that she was practising on him4 ,it is a dose which1 as far as experience goes1 was never successfully administered by a murderer4 ,there is not a case on record in which it has ever been shown that a person administering poison to another ever succeeded in persuading him to swallow such a quantity40 ,but note as to confidence after suspicion1 that of ,cook in ,palmer1 after the suspicious illness at ,shrewsbury4--,see ,palmer's ,case1 ante2 and as to quantity administered by murderers1 note ante1 p4 #cai1 and ,appendix ,b41 p4 #ceh4 #aai ,christina ,haggart1 if she was to be believed1 appears to contradict this assertion4 ,on re-examination she said that between a month and two before her apprehension ,miss ,smith asked her to leave the back gate into the lane open after ten at night1 and stay in the kitchen a little1 as she was to see her friend4 ,when she did so she saw no one in the lane1 but as she went into the kitchen1 which was in front of the house1 she met ,miss ,smith going towards the back door4 ,she heard footsteps coming through the gate--that she stayed in the kitchen till she heard ,miss ,smith go to her own room4 ,she stayed about half an hour4 8,charlotte ,maclean1 the cook1 stayed in the kitchen with me at my request40 ,in this she was confirmed by ,maclean1 but she could not say she heard ,miss ,smith in the passage1 though she heard her afterwards go to her bedroom4 ,miss ,smith's statement to ,dr4 ,meau is true1 if the meeting took place only at the back gate4 ,the ,lord ,justice ,clerk1 however1 spoke of this evidence as proving that ,l',angelier was in the house in ,blythswood ,square4 #abj ,in a letter with post-mark ,september #ah1 #ahee1 she alludes to some such threat1 8,beloved1 you are young1 you ought to desire life40 ,in another with post-mark ,october #ai1 #ahee1 she writes1 8#8,before long1' you say1 #8,i shall rid you and all the world of my presence4' ,god forbid that you should do this40 8,this10 said the ,judge1 8was a common enough mode of influencing females2 and if such was his design1 he seemed to have succeeded40 #aba ,as to the evidence for the defence1 that ,l',angelier had on one occasion threatened to throw himself out of the window at the 8,rainbow0 ,tavern1 his lordship observed1 8,as the witness was in bed at the time the deceased had ample opportunity to have thrown himself over1 if he had been so inclined1 before the witness could interfere2 and the jury would consider whether1 when going about the room in that excited state1 he had only thrown open the window to get air4 ,as to the other stories that he would drown himself1 if jilted1 they did not amount to much1 as on one occasion he had been jilted1 and had not drowned himself4 ,you will consider whether all this is merely the vapouring of a loose1 talkative man1 fond of awakening an interest in the minds of others about himself1 or whether it affords any indication that he was likely to commit suicide4 ,as to the evidence about giving arsenic to horses in ,france1 which would be useless unless given constantly1 he did not see its importance4 ,if he was in the habit of taking it in small quantities1 he knew its qualities1 and therefore this did not aid the notion that he took an immense quantity on the #bbnd to destroy himself4 ,no doubt the prisoner was not bound to prove that he poisoned himself1 but it was a hazardous thing to set up a defence that ,l',angelier went out that night carrying such a quantity of arsenic in his pocket1 and that he swallowed it1 how1 when1 and where1 no human being could conceive40 #abb 8,it is very difficult10 said the learned ,judge1 8to say what the exasperated feelings of a female placed in such a situation as this woman was might not lead her to do4 ,and here it is that the correspondence becomes of the utmost importance1 as shewing what feelings she cherished about that time1 what state and disposition of mind she was in1 and whether there was any trace of moral sense or propriety to be found in her letters1 or whether they did not exhibit such a degree of ill-regulated1 disordered1 distempered1 and licentious feelings1 as shew that the writer was quite capable of compassing any end by which she could avoid exposure and disgrace1 and of cherishing any feeling of revenge which such treatment might excite in her mind1 driven nearly to madness by the thought of what might follow the revelation of this correspondence4 ,we have heard a good deal said by the ,dean of ,faculty as to the character of this person3 we have no evidence on the subject1 except what these letters exhibit1 and no witness to character is brought2 and certainly these letters exhibit as extraordinary a frame of mind and of passion as perhaps ever appeared in a court of justice4 ,can you be surprised1 that after such letters as those of the #bith ,april and #crd ,may 7inviting him in very plain terms to meet her for that purpose at the garden gate of the country house71 that on the #fth ,may1 three days afterwards1 he got possession of her person8 ,on the #gth she again writes1 and in that letter is there the slightest appearance of grief1 of repentance1 of remorse8 ,it is the letter of a girl rejoicing in what had passed1 and alluding to it particularly in terms which ,i will not read1 for perhaps they were never previously committed to paper1 as having passed between man and woman4 ,there could be no doubt of the state of degraded and unholy feeling into which she had sunk1 probably not the less so if it was produced by his undermining and corruption40 #abc ,if this was the use for which the prisoner bought the arsenic1 it is at least curious that she did not buy it until the #bast of ,february1 #aheg1 when she was endeavouring to get her letters back from ,l',angelier4 ,the article in ,blackwood was in ,december1 #ahec4 ,johnston's ,book was published in #ahee1 and of the papers in ,chambers1 the first was in ,december1 #ahea1 the second in ,june1 #ahec1 and the third in ,july1 #ahef4 #abd ,without wishing to fight over again the case of ,eliza ,fenning1 ,i would refer any one at all curious on this point to a letter to the ,times1 quoted in the 8,annual ,register0 for ,july #bi1 #ahee1 from the ,rev4 ,j4 ,h4 ,gurney1 the nephew of the well-known shorthand writer1 in which it is stated1 on the authority of an extract from his uncle's note-book1 that ,eliza ,fenning did confess the crime to the ,rev4 ,james ,upton1 a ,baptist minister1 whose chapel she attended1 though she subsequently maintained her innocence to other visitors4 #abe ,the learned ,judge had previously said1 8,if this had been an appointment about business1 and it had been shown that a person came to town for the purpose of seeing another1 and he went out for that purpose1 having no other object in coming to ,glasgow1 they would probably scout the notion of a person saying1 #8,i never saw or heard of him that day that he came2' but the inference they were asked to draw was this1 that they met on that night1 when the fact of their meeting is the foundation of the charge of murder4 ,therefore the jury must feel that the grounds of drawing an inference in the ordinary matters of civil business1 or the actual appointment of mutual friends is one thing1 and the inference from the fact that he came to ,glasgow1 that they did meet1 and that1 therefore1 the poison was administered to him by her at that time1 is another1 and a most enormous jump in the category of inferences40 #abf ,evidence of ,samuel ,peckeridge1 his fellow-workman2 ,thomas ,denman1 who had seen him near the reservoir on ,stamford ,hill1 on the #bdth1 vomiting1 and going to the public-house for brandy2 ,james ,ashby1 another turncock of the ,east ,london ,company's2 ,mrs4 ,gillett1 and ,mr4 ,toulmin1 of ,clapton4 #abg ,on ,dr4 ,letheby's evidence1 see remarks in ,chapter ,,vii41 p4 #cie4 #abh ,a4 ,andrews also proved that she had only objected to the post-mortem because she knew the deceased objected to it2 that she said 8,thank ,god1 ,i am innocent4 ,poor dear soul1 ,i loved him too well to injure him20 and had told him that ,annie had eaten the rest of the gruel1 and that ,mrs4 ,gillett knew it4 #abi ,james ,urry1 the secretary of the benefit society1 proved that the deceased had been insured in it nearly two years--these would not have been completed until ,february #bnd1 and that1 in consequence1 she would be entitled to only #g #ajs4 instead of #aj4 ,when he saw the prisoner she seemed absorbed in grief4 #acj ,see on this the remarks in ,chapter ,,vii4 p4 #cie4 #aca ,tidy 7,handbook of ,modern ,chem41 #ahgh1 p4 #cig7 states that #a1jjj parts of boiling water1 digested for twenty-four hours with the powder1 dissolve--of the opaque form1 #ed parts2 of the transparent1 #aj2 of the crystalline1 #ae4 #acb ,in this case1 which was tried before the late ,lord ,denman1 at the ,summer ,assizes1 #ahdh1 very many of the guests at a dinner given to celebrate the election of an ,independent minister were seriously affected1 and the death of the chairman 7an invalid7 hastened1 by eating of a blancmange made in the form of a cucumber1 surrounded with leaves--all of the natural green colour4 ,in colouring this sweet1 emerald green1 in which1 on analysis1 #dg per cent4 of arsenite of copper was found1 had been used to such an extent that the colour was in some parts half an inch in depth4 ,the pastrycook 7,franklin7 had been previously warned1 by the chemist who sold it to him1 of its poisonous qualities1 and for a time had discontinued its use for eatables2 and the defence was1 that in this case his apprentice 7,randall7 had used it under the impression that the sweet was only for ornament4 ,they were both found guilty of manslaughter1 and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour4 #acc ,according to the ,apotheker ,zeitung1 ,no4 #ad1 ,april #c1 #ahgi1 out of #aah samples of children's toys officially examined in #ahgh1 #ec1 or nearly one-half1 were found adorned with poisonous colours4 ,in the cases of #df the vendors were punished4 ,as to dresses1 see ,chem4 ,news1 v4 #aad4 #acd ,in the case of ,maria ,gage1 tried at the ,summer ,assizes1 at ,ipswich1 on the #bnd of ,august1 #ahea1 for the murder of her husband1 it was proved that she had got a neighbour to purchase for her a pennyworth of stuff for rats and mice1 which was found to consist of linseed with arsenic enough to kill half a dozen men4 #ace 8,considerable sensation has been excited by the report that arsenic had been detected in the paper collars1 c41 manufactured by a ,leipzig firm4 ,on a careful examination1 conducted by six of the most eminent chemists1 the accusation was proved to be utterly unfounded40--,chemiker ,zeitung1 ,no4 #de1 #ahgi4 #acf ,in this case1 which was tried in ,april1 #ahce1 before ,sir ,charles ,wetherell1 as ,recorder of ,bristol1 a widow lady of the name of ,mary ,smith1 who had lodged with the prisoner1 was poisoned by her1 in ,october1 #ahcc1 for the sake of the money and other property she had with her4 ,the accused was proved to have purchased yellow arsenic about six days before ,mrs4 ,smith's death1 and to have been seen putting some yellow powder out of a paper from her pocket into a basin of gruel1 after taking which ,mrs4 ,smith was seized with dreadful convulsions1 and died4 ,in consequence of suspicions created by the prisoner's subsequent conduct and false statements1 a post-mortem was held of the body1 exhumed fourteen months after death4 ,the report of this examination was very striking4 8,a thick1 yellow coating1 like paint1 lay on the mucous membrane of the stomach1 particularly over the pyloric third1 but it extended more or less with some small interjections of unstained membrane to within two or three inches of the great cul-de-sac40 ,the accused was convicted and executed4 #acg ,phosphates give nothing with sulphuretted hydrogen1 and a yellow with silver nitrate4 #ach 8,a curious toxicological case is reported from ,hamburg4 ,the body of a man who died in #ahfg was taken for examination4 ,it was thought necessary to determine arsenic1 not merely in the corpse in question1 but in the soil of the churchyard at different distances from the coffin1 and also in the body of another man who had been subsequently buried in the same grave4 ,this latter body was perfectly free from arsenic1 which1 however1 was found in the first corpse in ample fatal quantity 7#cf grains71 whilst in the lid of the coffin and in the adjacent ground very minute quantities were traced4 ,hence the conclusion was fairly drawn that the man in question had been poisoned with arsenic1 and that a portion of the poison had been gradually transferred from his body to the wood of the coffin and the adjacent soil40--,chemiker ,zeitung1 ,no4 #g1 ,february #acth1 #ahgi4 #aci ,see also a case in the ,gaz4 ,mdicale1 #ahej4 #adj ,when we bear in mind how small a space even #bjj grains of arsenic would occupy--not more than that of an ordinary seidlitz powder--the suggestion of ,l',angelier carrying this means of suicide about him1 when keeping the supposed appointment on the ,sunday night1 is by no means improbable4 ,and when his evident tendency to attempt self-destruction1 when irritated or depresssed1 is remembered1 it is within the range of probability1 that1 if either the meeting took place and ended with a quarrel1 or he failed to obtain a meeting1 in the excited state of mind which either circumstance would have created1 he in desperation swallowed the drug very shortly before he returned to his lodgings1 only to die4 ,this is a far more probable suggestion than that set up by the defence1 that he had been dosing himself with arsenic on the road from ,stirling to ,glasgow4 ,the difficulty is that purchases of arsenic by ,l',angelier could not be proved4 ,but1 looking to the careless way in which it was exposed in the shops of some of the firms with which he had relations 7evidence of ,fleming and ,townsend71 he might have got it from thence1 without its being known1 or he might have purchased it in ,edinburgh on his visit there1 where he could not be easily recognised4 ,he certainly had an unwholesome hankering after this drug4--,g4 ,l4 ,b4 #ada ,to the medical profession1 for whose use1 as well as for that of their legal brethren1 this volume is intended1 any but a detailed report of the medical evidence in this disputed case would be useless4 #adb ,for the report of this trial ,i have relied on that published in ,edinburgh by ,william ,kay1 #ahfe4 #adc ,evidence of ,james ,struthers4 ,registrar of ,deaths for the ,blythswood district of ,glasgow4 #add ,according to ,mary ,patterson1 ,mrs4 ,taylor was in the kitchen about #g ,p4,m41 as well as usual1 only appearing a little peevish in consequence of her night-watching4 ,mary ,mc,leod met her going up stairs from the consulting-room about nine o'clock1 and in a short time her bell rang1 and she found her in her daughter's bedroom asking for hot water to make her vomit1 when she desired her to go for the doctor4 #ade ,see evidence1 ante1 p4 #dad 7note71 of ,mc,leod and ,paterson1 as to her health and actions during the evening before her seizure4 #adf ,it was with reference to this visit that ,paterson afterwards expressed his opinion1 that1 but for the accident of meeting ,pritchard1 he would not have been asked to visit his wife4 ,this was severely commented on by ,mr4 ,r4 ,clark as showing the ill-feeling towards the prisoner which was imputed to the witness4 #adg ,it was proved that he kept large quantities of antimony1 poisons1 and other drugs in his consulting-room1 though no chlorodyne4--,evidence of ,mc,call1 ,dr4 ,penny1 ,mc,hattie1 ,foulger1 and ,kerr4 #adh ,in a letter to his father-in-law on the #crd of ,march1 ,pritchard wrote3 8,i am very much fatigued with being up with dear ,mary ,jane1 who was very much worse yesterday1 and passed a wretched night4 ,wednesday has been a periodic day with her during this illness1 and she always dreads it4 ,her prostration is extreme1 and her appetite quite failed4 ,dr4 ,paterson has recommended ,dublin stout and some very simple medicine40--,evidence of ,mr4 ,taylor4 ,second day4 #adi ,on ,dr4 ,paterson's evident feeling against the prisoner1 the ,lord ,justice ,clerk made the following remarks3 8,it is said that he exhibited a strong feeling against the prisoner2 no human being could feel otherwise if he had formed the impression that ,mrs4 ,pritchard was being poisoned in the hands of her husband1 her medical attendant4 ,it is said that he exhibited this feeling in a marked unpleasant manner in the box4 ,that is a matter of manner1 and1 if the feeling existed1 ,i do not know that he could have made his evidence really more valuable if he had concealed the existence of it4 ,it may be an unpleasant thing to see what is called an animus in a witness exhibited in the witness-box4 ,if he has a feeling strong upon him1 and that on good ground1 he may come into the box and entirely suppress all appearance of it1 because he has more command of his feeling1 or a better manner of concealing it4 ,the fact remains1 that if he takes up the position ,i have described1 he cannot1 as a man of ordinary feeling1 feel otherwise than unfavourably prepossessed against the prisoner40 ,again1 on his concealment of his suspicions1 the ,judge said3 8,now1 he thought it consistent with his professional duty--and ,i must also add with his duty as a citizen of this country--to keep this opinion to himself4 ,in that ,i cannot say he did right4 ,i should be very sorry to lead you to think so4 ,i care not for professional etiquette1 or professional rule4 ,there is a rule of life and a consideration far higher than these--the duty that every citizen of this country1 that every right-minded man owes to his neighbour--to prevent the destruction of human life in this world1 and in that duty ,i cannot but say that ,dr4 ,paterson has failed4 ,now you will consider what effect that is to have1 or whether it is to have any effect on your minds4 ,it is a very painful subject--a subject which ,i would fain avoid1 but the exigencies of this case drive me to its consideration--and ,i am bound to say that1 because a man is so mistaken in regard to his duty to his fellow-citizens1 and his fellow-creatures1 it by no means follows that he is undeserving of credit as a witness4 ,you may con sider his evidence always in the light of that failing2 if you can see reason to modify anything that he says1 because of the existence of that failing1 it is your bounden duty to do that40--,charge of the ,lord ,justice ,clerk4 ,fifth day4 #aej ,from ,western ,branch of ,glasgow ,apothecaries' ,company1 ,september #ai1 #ahfd1 #aj grains strychnia2 ,november #d1 oz4 tincture conii 7,hemlock72 ,november #af1 #a oz4 laudanum1 #a oz4 tartar emetic2 ,november #bd1 #a oz4 tincture aconite2 ,december #h1 #a oz4 tincture 7,fleming's7 aconite2 ,december #i1 #a oz4 tincture conii4 #ahfe3 ,february #d1 #a oz4 tincture conii2 ,february #g1 #a oz4 tartarised antimony1 #a oz4 tincture of aconite2 ,february #i1 #a oz4 tincture of aconite2 ,february #aa1 #a oz4 tincture of digitalis2 ,february #ah1 #b oz4 tincture conii 7all sold by the manager1 ,j4 ,campbell72 ,november #bd1 #a oz4 tincture of aconite2 ,december #i1 #a oz4 tincture conii2 ,february #d1 #ahfe1 #a oz4 tincture conii 7sold by the assistant74 ,fleming's tincture of aconite is six times stronger than the ordinary tincture4--,evidence of ,j4 ,campbell4 ,from ,john ,currie1 chemist in ,glasgow3--#ahfe3 ,february #ah1 #b oz4 solution of morphia and #a oz4 of ,fleming's tincture of aconite2 ,march #h1 solution of atropine1 #a drachm1 with #b grains of atropia to a drachm2 ,march #ac1 oz4 of ,fleming's tincture of aconite2 ,march #ad1 solution of atropine1 #a drachm1 with #b grains to a drachm2 ,march #af1 solution of atropine1 #a drachm1 with #e grains to a drachm4--,evidence of ,john ,currie4 ,chloroform from ,july #ac to ,december #i1 #ahfd1 #acb oz4--,j4 ,campbell4 ,this witness said that #b oz4 of tartarised antimony and about #a to #b ozs4 of ,fleming's tincture would cover the whole of their sales for a year1 and that the chloroform was also in excess of usual sale to one person4 ,for the defence it was proved that as much as #hj oz4 of ,fleming's tincture was sold by them within a year4--,evidence of ,john ,simpson1 of ,duncan1 ,flockhart ,co41 of ,north ,bridge1 ,glasgow4 ,and from #b to #c oz4 of tartar emetic1 besides larger quantities to veterinary surgeons4--,thomas ,fairgreive1 chemist1 of ,edinburgh4 #aea ,evidence of ,alexander ,mc,call1 superintendent of ,glasgow ,police1 and ,john ,murray1 an officer of the ,sheriff--third day2 and reports of analyses by ,professor ,frederick ,penny1 same day4 ,another specimen of tapioca1 bought direct from ,barton and ,henderson1 had no antimony in it--,same witness4 #aeb ,in reply to the ,judge1 the witness said that to take #g grains of ,fleming's tincture ,mrs4 ,taylor must have taken #ajj drops of the poisoned ,battley in a single dose1 equal to a teaspoonful2 that #ajj drops would not be an unusual amount to a person accustomed to the use of it in moderation1 and that many opium eaters would not thank you for #ajj drops4 ,aconite might be given in divided doses1 and not prove fatal1 though the same quantity was taken1 the distressing effect of one dose going off before the other was taken4 #aec ,dr4 ,gairdner stated that the only time he saw ,mrs4 ,pritchard was on the night of the #hth of ,february1 and that at that interview ,pritchard told him ,dr4 ,cowan had prescribed stimulants1 which he ordered to be discontinued1 and no medicine till he saw her again4 ,dr4 ,cowan said that he did not see her until the #aath of ,february1 8to the best of his recollection1 stopped all night1 saw her again next day1 and left in the evening for ,edinburgh40 #aed ,dr4 ,paterson stated that he was called on the #bdth of ,february to see ,mrs4 ,taylor1 and then noticed the state in which ,mrs4 ,pritchard was1 but not being asked did not prescribe for her4 ,he was called in to ,mrs4 ,pritchard first on the #bnd of ,march1 when he prescribed powders containing camomile1 blue or gray powder1 ipecacuanha1 and aromatic powder1 and he never saw her again until five hours before her death4 ,there is not a word in his evidence of his having been previously consulted about the use of ,battley's solution4 ,the only interviews with the prisoner1 other than in the sick-room1 were on the #ast of ,march1 when he met him in the street and he asked him to see his wife1 and on the #eth of ,march1 when ,pritchard called on him1 reported that the remedies had had a good effect1 and ,dr4 ,paterson recommended their continuance4 #aee ,mary ,mc,leod stated that she was in the bedroom from the time ,dr4 ,paterson left till ,mrs4 ,pritchard died2 that she lay on the sofa1 and that ,pritchard told her to get the mustard-plaster1 and that it was applied to ,mrs4 ,pritchard's stomach1 and as it did not seem to do her good1 she was sent down again for another1 and that when she and ,mary ,patterson returned with it1 ,mrs4 ,pritchard was dead4 #aef ,from an account sent in to ,mr4 ,taylor after his wife's death1 the last purchases appeared to be3--#ahth ,january1 #ahfe1 #b oz42 #bith ,january1 #b oz42 and #dth ,february1 #b oz4 ,james ,thomson stated that the last time he took the bottle to be filled was on the night before ,mrs4 ,taylor left for ,glasgow1 and that for a year or so before her death he took the bottle to be filled at first only once in every two or three months1 but latterly every two or three weeks4 #aeg ,evidence of ,j4 ,foulger and ,george ,kerr4 #aeh ,this had previously been admitted by ,dr4 ,penny4 #aei ,see remarks of the ,lord ,justice ,clerk on the motive1 post1 p4 #dde4 #afj ,see the argument of the ,dean of ,faculty imputing the murder to ,mc,leod1 and the ,judge's charge on that point1 post1 #dcg-ddj4 #afa 8,mr4 ,clark very properly said10 remarked the ,judge in this charge1 8#8it is not his fault that he had abundant opportunities4 ,the relation existing between him and these ladies is not his fault1 and it was the existence of this relation that gave him these opportunities4' ,quite true1 gentlemen--a very just observation2 but remember1 on the other hand1 that as the opportunities did in point of fact exist1 he cannot argue the case as if they did not40 #afb 8,his possession of poisonous drugs10 said the ,judge in his charge1 8to such an extent is not a suspicious circumstance in the case of a medical man4 ,they are in some degree necessary2 but the peculiar position of the matter in this case--the nature of the drugs found in his consulting-room--is certainly not to be lightly passed over1 and still more the nature of the purchases that he had been making from two different apothecaries during the period to which our inquiries particularly refer4 ,in his consulting-room were found some parcels of tartaric acid--not a very large quantity2 some phials1 containing the remains of tincture of aconite and white powder to the extent of three or four grains1 containing a somewhat strange and unexplained mixture of tartarised antimony or tartar emetic and aconite4 ,these things were found in his consulting-room2 but what had he been purchasing during the period to which our inquiry refers8 ,on the #afth of ,november he purchased an ounce of tartar emetic1 and upon the #gth of ,february another ounce of the same poison--very unusual quantities1 as the apothecaries state4 ,he also purchased no less than #e ounces of tincture of aconite4 ,that1 the apothecaries state1 is a very unusual quantity for a medical man to purchase3 but ,i think it was a mistake in some respects to push this statement to the extent to which the prosecutor pressed it1 because some of the other witnesses of the same description said that for external application tincture of aconite is sometimes used in considerable quantities1 and if it were used for that purpose we might account for such a large quantity being used by the prisoner4 ,but ,i do not think anybody said1 that two ounces of tartar emetic within a month or two was a usual quantity for one medical man to use who was not in the practice of mixing it at home1 which the prisoner1 in his conversation with ,dr4 ,paterson1 says he was not4 ,besides1 there were other very strange purchases1 which have no immediate connection with this case--all of them strong poisons4 ,he was1 therefore1 undoubtedly possessed of a very large quantity of different kinds of poisonous substances2 but what is most important is1 that he was in possession of that very poison to which the death of ,mrs4 ,pritchard is undoubtedly to be traced1 and to which1 in combination with others1 the death of ,mrs4 ,taylor is to be traced--that is antimony4 ,so that whether we adopt to the full extent the suggestion of the ,crown1 it appears beyond a doubt that some one had been practising a system of poisoning1 and that in the possession of the prisoner were the agents necessary for carrying it on40 #afc ,see1 post1 p4 #ddf1 the ,judge's remarks on this attempt to throw the crime on ,mc,leod4 #afd 8,it is said10 remarked the ,lord ,justice ,clerk1 8that it would be very difficult that cheese could be poisoned by antimony--very difficult to make a powder like tartar emetic adhere to a piece of cheese in sufficient quantity to have any effect1 and that1 if it did1 it must have been visible to the naked eye1 because the cheese was yellow and the tartar emetic was white4 ,but we know from the evidence before us that tartar emetic is easily dissolved1 and the poisoned cheese could easily have been poisoned by dipping it into a solution1 quite as easily as by dipping it into a powder40 ,see ,chapter ,,ix4 #afe ,on this argument of the prisoner's counsel the ,lord ,justice ,clerk said3--8,it is difficult to offer an answer to that4 ,it is impossible to say what is the precise point to which a poison of this kind will kill--what is the precise amount that will at once destroy life as compared with that which will only inflict suffering and torture4 ,but that ,patterson did suffer these severe vomitings and pains immediately after having tasted the egg-flip ,i suppose you will not disbelieve1 looking to the general character of the evidence which she gave here as a witness40 #aff ,with reference to the finding of the bottle of ,battley's solution the ,lord ,justice ,clerk made the following remarks3--8,to that scene ,i beg now to call your attention as given by ,mary ,patterson4 #8,when the bottle was found1' she says1 #8he expressed great surprise that she should have taken so much of its contents in so short a time4' ,now he was quite aware1 as you will see by the evidence1 that the old lady was in the habit of taking a great quantity1 and you will consider whether the surprise was real or feigned4 ,that is but a very small point1 however1 in reference to this matter4 ,his expression in regard to it1 seemed to me much more strong4 ,he expressed surprise at her having sent #8a girl like that for it'--namely1 ,mc,leod4 ,i cannot see that there is anything so startling in that4 ,did he mean to suggest that in sending such a messenger there might be some mistake as to the contents of the bottle8 ,why1 what was it1 #8to send a girl like that8' ,what was the harm of sending a girl--an intelligent servant girl8 ,what was wanted was ,battley's solution1 because it was what ,mrs4 ,taylor wanted--was accustomed to take4 ,but still he thought that it was a very serious matter--and further1 that it was one of those things that it would not do to have spoken of as having occurred in his house--a man of his profession40 #afg ,had she survived the wife1 would she not have been a most important witness to aid in the conviction of the prisoner8 #afh ,for the report of this trial ,i have used that in the ,sessions ,papers1 ,central ,criminal ,court1 #ahei1 collated with that given by ,mr4 ,justice ,stephen in his 8,history of the ,criminal ,law of ,england10 vol4 iii41 p4 #dch1 and that in the ,annual ,register of #ahei4 #afi ,according to her sister she had for some time suffered from an affection of the uterus requiring the use of an injection4 #agj ,the prisoner called on the solicitor on the ,saturday and asked him to come up the next day to draw the will1 to which he consented on the prisoner's representation of the state of the lady--but wished a medical man to be present4 ,the prisoner1 however1 assured him it was quite unnecessary1 as she was suffering only from diarrha1 and was quite in her right mind4 8,i went10 said the witness1 8to the prisoner's lodging1 and he informed me that they were not married1 which was another reason why he did not wish a medical man to be present4 ,i then went up to the bedroom of the deceased1 and the prisoner said to her1 #8,my dear1 this is the gentleman who has come to make your will4' ,she bowed1 and handed me the paper which ,i had seen on ,saturday4 ,i looked at it1 and asked her if that was what she wished1 and read it to her1 and she said it was quite correct1 except that she wished to leave a brooch to a friend4 ,i then drew up the will in accordance with her instructions1 in a lower room4 ,the prisoner was with me1 and1 when the will had been drawn up1 said the daughter of the landlady could be one of the witnesses1 and he supposed ,i could say it was some ,chancery paper4 ,i told him that would not do4 ,she must know it was a will1 and he replied1 #8,oh1 very well4' ,shortly afterwards the deceased executed the will1 and ,i and ,miss ,wheatley attested it1 and ,i handed the document to the prisoner1 who paid me my fee4 ,she appeared perfectly competent to make a will40--,evidence of ,mr4 ,senior4 ,the will was proved by ,smethurst1 notwithstanding opposition1 after his punishment for bigamy4 #aga ,from the sudden and serious illness of one of the jurors1 however1 the examination of the witnesses had to be suspended1 and the trial adjourned to the first day of the next ,session4 ,eventually he was put on his trial1 before another jury1 on the #aeth of ,august4 ,as the statement of ,serjeant ,ballantine was fully confirmed by the witnesses1 the landladies of the respective lodgings1 and the sister1 it will be necessary only to report the medical evidence4 #agb ,it was apparently with reference to this case that the name of a ,dr4 ,barker1 of ,bedford1 was repeatedly mentioned1 but he was not called to confirm or explain the supposed instance of dysentery in early pregnancy4 #agc ,it must be borne in mind that there was no error in this experiment1 and that it was never suggested that the arsenic in this case came from the copper1 as it was not destroyed1 as when the bottle of chlorate of potash was afterwards tested with copper gauze1 which was destroyed by it1 and the arsenic in the gauze liberated4 ,serjeant ,parry1 of course1 said that the experiments in both cases were the same4 ,so they were so far as copper was used1 but the presence of the chlorate of potash in the other case made all the difference4--,see ,chapter ,,ix4 #agd ,had this discovery of arsenic not been erroneous1 the gap in the evidence1 as to the possession of the poison by the prisoner in a form most likely to be administered1 would have been filled up4 ,it in no way1 however1 militated against the discovery of arsenic in bottle #b4 ,see post1 ,chap4 ,,ix41 how far ,mr4 ,herapath was correct in asserting that more arsenic was found than could have been released from the copper4 ,in his statement before the committing magistrates1 on the #bjth of ,may1 ,serjeant ,ballantine stated that bottle #ba had originally been sent by ,dr4 ,julius with a quinine mixture4 #age ,on farther cross-examination1 ,professor ,brande said that the copper he used in ,reinsch's test was generally rolled down from a halfpenny1 which he considered pure enough for the purpose4 #agf ,but see his evidence1 ,palmer's trial1 p4 #age1 ante4 #agg ,handbuch der ,pathologischen ,anatomie1 by ,baron ,carl von ,rokitansky1 ,vienna1 #ahdb-df1 of which a translation by various ,english medical men of eminence was published by the ,sydenham ,society in #d vols4 #hvo4 #ahdi-ed4 ,it is still considered a valuable book of reference4 #agh ,subsequent to the verdict1 in a memorial to the ,prince ,consort1 it was stated that 8a lady friend of the deceased was a witness10 to ,miss ,bankes' knowledge1 of the fact that he was married already1 and that she wished the ceremony to be gone through4 ,this lady1 the memorial stated1 was to have been called1 but ,mr4 ,parry deemed it unnecessary4 ,upon this1 the ,lord ,chief ,baron1 in his report to the ,home ,secretary1 observed--8,i do not believe ,mr4 ,serjeant ,parry gave any such advice2 but if it be true that any such evidence was ready1 why is not the lady friend named1 and why is not her statement or declaration now offered and laid before you8 ,such evidence would1 in my opinion1 much alter the complexion of the case40--,judge ,stephen's ,hist4 of ,crim1 ,law1 iii41 #dfa4 ,what need was there of this evidence1 when it had been proved that for weeks together ,miss ,bankes had been lodging and associating in the same house with ,smethurst and his wife8 #agi ,not quite correct2 on the prisoners representations of the effect of the sister's prior visit1 ,dr4 ,bird had advised that she should not see her--at any rate at present4--,see his evidence1 ante1 p4 #dej4 #ahj ,when ,dr4 ,julius was recalled1 and stated that at the first examination before the magistrates the prisoner urged that it was necessary for him to go back to his wife2 that her death might be occasioned by his absence2 and that it was imperative that he should go2 ,serjeant ,parry asked the witness 8whether the magistrates at that time did not direct or require him not to interfere further with the patient80 ,to this he replied--8,i do not think it was addressed to him1 but it was addressed generally--it was in his presence4 ,it might have been a general direction1 but he might have heard it40 #aha 8,and not only in the evacuations1 where small portions of both were found80 ,they also laid great stress on the absence of certain symptoms generally present in slow poisoning by arsenic or antimony1 or both4 #ahb ,or he might have added1 the results of his experiments on the evacuations1 the correctness of which were proved by the subsequent #gf tests by ,reinsch's method4 #ahc 8,there were10 says ,judge ,stephen1 8fourteen reasons in all assigned by ,sir ,b4 ,brodie1 six in favour of the prisoner1 and eight against him1 of which only two of the first and four of the second proceeded on medical or chemical grounds4 ,until these are published it is impossible to judge fairly of ,brodie's opinion40 #ahd ,stephen's ,hist4 ,crim4 ,law of ,eng41 iii41 #dfe4 #ahe ,margaret ,higgins1 a servant of ,mrs4 ,james1 told a very different story when put into the box for cross-examination1 her evidence not being taken for the prosecution4 8,on the morning of the #ajth ,i went into ,mrs4 ,james's bedroom1 about half-past eight1 and found two or three spoonsful of warmsago in a tea-cup by the bedside1 and two cups on the table4 ,i took the cup from the chair by the bedside down stairs1 and ate the sago1 which did me no harm40,as the prisoner said he took it in about #e a4m41 the sago1 being in an open cup1 could not have been warm at #hcj4 ,it was also clear1 from other parts of her evidence1 that she was in favour of the prisoner1 and anxious to throw the crime on the ,cafferatas4 #ahf ,evidence of ,mrs4 ,cafferata1 ,dr4 ,cameron1 ,mr4 ,clarence ,pemberton 7surgeon71 ,mr4 ,tennyson ,lloyd 7solicitor71 ,inspector ,horne1 and detective ,kehoe1 who proved the seizure of the medicine bottles1 c41 and their safe delivery to ,dr4 ,edwards4 #ahg 8,free antimony0 is what has not been taken up into the system4 8,eliminated10 which has been taken up into the system4 #ahh ,for these acids ,i have used the systematic nomenclature corresponding to the phosphates1 as in ,bernay's 8,notes for ,students10 in preference to ,fremy's original titles4 #ahi ,sulphuric acid may be freed from arsenic or antimony by treating it with a few small fragments of charcoal and a little rock salt1 and boiling till the hydrochloric and sulphurous acids have been expelled4 #aij ,solutions of bismuth give with water white precipitates1 which are not re-dissolved by tartaric acid4 #aia ,but it must be borne in mind that it was late in the evening when the cheese was taken up to the bedroom1 where the light was not likely to have been strong2 probably1 on the contrary1 was carefully shaded1 so as not to annoy the invalid4 #aib ,this bottle1 according to ,serjeant ,ballantine's statement1 had been sent by ,dr4 ,julius to the deceased containing a quinine mixture4 #aic ,arsenic is tasteless4 ,see evidence of ,professor ,christison1 in ,madeline ,smith's case1 ante1 p4 #cbb4 #aid ,this must be an error of the reporter1 and must mean ,mc,intyre1 who1 with ,dr4 ,bird1 took possession of the bottles in the bedroom4 ,dr4 ,bird delivered only bottles #a1 #b1 #c4 #aie ,in his evidence at the trial ,dr4 ,taylor said that he found less than half a grain of arsenic1 equal to #b per cent4 in the copper dissolved--an impossibility4 #aif 8,an attempt10 says ,mr4 ,justice ,stephen1 8was made to account for the presence of antimony and arsenic alleged to be discovered by ,dr4 ,taylor1 by the suggestion that it might have been contained in the medicines administered to ,miss ,bankes during her life4 ,arsenic is generally found in bismuth1 and for three or four days doses of bismuth1 containing five or six grains1 were administered to ,miss ,bankes4 ,dr4 ,richardson put the proportion of arsenic in bismuth at half a grain to an ounce1 and as an ounce contains #dhj grains1 each dose would have contained about #a_/adj of a grain of arsenic4 ,if1 therefore1 ,miss ,bankes took twelve doses of bismuth1 she would have taken between one-eleventh and one-twelfth of a grain of arsenic in four days4 ,this seems 7for it is not perfectly clear71 from ,dr4 ,bird's evidence1 to have been more than a week before the day on which he obtained the evacuation analysed by ,dr4 ,taylor1 and in #d oz4 of which he said he found nearly a quarter of a grain40--,history of ,criminal ,law of ,england1 ,vol4 ,,iii41 #dei4 #aig ,the authorities relied on for this report are--7#a7 ,the ,central ,criminal ,court ,sessions ,paper1 #eth session of #ahhb2 7#b7 the report in the ,standard1 in which the evidence is in many points given more fully and clearly1 including the charge of the learned judge1 in which he has kindly made some corrections2 7#c7 the ,summary of ,affidavits in support of the petition to the ,home ,secretary1 and the affidavits themselves1 #gj in number1 relating to his conduct and state of mind from his youth to his conviction4 #aih ,dublin ,medical ,journal1 vol4 xix41 p4 #djc4 #aii ,on the death of ,herbert ,john1 in #ahgi1 the prisoner had received #dgi ,india ,stock and #bfi ,consols as his wife's share of that child's property4--,evidence of ,mr4 ,chapman1 and of ,mr4 ,ormond1 the trustee4 #bjj ,at ,blenheim ,house he had two wheel-chairs--one on the basement floor1 and one on the bedroom floor4 ,from the evidence of ,mrs4 ,jolliffe1 at whose house the ,chapmans lodged at ,shanklin1 in ,august1 #ahhj1 he was then able to get himself up and down stairs1 but with great difficulty--crawling up on his hands and knees4 ,the spinal-curvature was gradually increasing4 #bja ,it will be seen later that he went through the form of going to ,wimbledon that evening with ,mr4 ,tulloch1 and pretending to him that he had been to the school4--,see evidence of ,john ,law ,tulloch1 post4 #bjb ,it is incorrectly stated1 in the ,summary of ,affidavits1 that symptoms of poisoning did not begin till about three-quarters of an hour after ,lamson had left 7p4 #e74 #bjc ,according to ,banbury1 a pupil1 the boy had gone over some examination papers with him after tea1 and was in good health and spirits4 ,ball1 another pupil1 gave the same account of the boy's health4 #bjd ,the following is a list of the various articles delivered to ,dr4 ,stevenson for analysis3--8,i received a number of bottles and things from ,mr4 ,bond4 ,there was a bottle1 duly secured and sealed1 and labelled #8liver1 spleen1 and kidneys4' ,that was labelled with the letter ,a4 ,i received a bottle labelled #8,b1' containing parts of small intestines1 ccum and colon1 and other parts of the intestines handed to ,dr4 ,bond on ,december #g4 ,a third bottle was received1 containing part of the stomach4 ,the fourth was a bottle secured1 sealed1 and labelled #8stomach1' handed to ,dr4 ,dupr by ,mr4 ,bond on ,december #gth1 #8,d4' ,the fifth was a bottle1 sealed and secured as before1 #8urine1' handed to ,dr4 ,dupr by ,mr4 ,bond on ,december #g1 #8,e4' ,the sixth was a bottle1 sealed and labelled #8vomit2' and on another label1 handed to ,dr4 ,bond by ,dr4 ,berry1 ,december #f1 #8,f4' ,with this was a broken bottle1 unlabelled1 and a gutta-percha wrapper1 with two seals upon it1 as ,mr4 ,griffin said4 ,the next1 #8#g1' was a pill-box4 ,it was secured and sealed1 and marked on the tape which secured it #8,c4,b4' ,that is the pill-box 7identified71 and it is sealed in the same manner as the wrapper of the broken bottle4 #8#h' was a newspaper parcel sealed2 #8#i' was a brown paper parcel sealed2 #8#aj' was a paper parcel sealed4 ,that was the whole of what ,i received from ,mr4 ,bond4 #8#aa' ,i received from ,inspector ,butcher4 ,that was opened in the presence of ,mr4 ,bond4 ,it contained a box--7this is the box7--with capsules in it4 ,these capsules in the bottle were some of the #ajg capsules4 ,there was a paper with some sugar in it2 some loose sugar1 sweetmeat sugar4 ,it contained a box of quinine powders--7box identified7--labelled #8quinine powders' in writing1 and had the name #8,j4 ,w4 ,littlefield1 ,ventnor1' in print4 ,there were four pills loose1 one large comfit from a ,dundee cake1 and one of the capsules contained what appeared to be a pill1 but which was really a similar comfit40 8,i don't think you said what was in the newspaper parcel80 8,eight packets40 8,what did the next parcel contain80 8,nine packets4 ,packet #aa ,i received from ,inspector ,butcher on ,december #ab1 marked #8#a ,w4 ,d4' ,inside that there were two little tinfoil packages4 ,twelve was received from ,butcher on ,december #ad4 ,it was a parcel labelled #8,the remainder of the sugar from ,dr4 ,bedbrook's4' ,sherry from the decanter used by ,lamson was handed to me by ,butcher on the #adth40 8,did you later on receive this box and wafers80 8,yes4 ,it is marked #ad40 #bje ,see post1 ,chapter ,,xi4 #bjf ,see post1 ,chapter ,,xi4 #bjg ,the only evidence offered of his being at ,shanklin on the #bith was an entry1 in the 8luggage and cloak office0 book of the ,shanklin railway station1 of a ticket having been issued for luggage on the #bith ,august1 in the name of 8,lamson10 which ,mr4 ,poland proposed the porter 7,john ,durrant7 should use to refresh his memory4 ,as the witness could not identify the prisoner as the party2 without saying that it was strictly inadmissible1 ,mr4 ,justice ,hawkins considered it would have little effect1 and it was not pressed4 ,neither ,mr4 ,chapman nor ,mrs4 ,jolliffe saw him there on that day4 #bjh ,evidence of ,william ,tulloch1 and the pawnbroker1 ,robinson1 of ,mortimer ,street1 ,regent ,street4 #bji ,there is some error in the report1 as it was on the #ast ,december that the prisoner wrote to the deceased that it was too late to come that day2 and ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams admitted1 in his speech1 that the prisoner visited ,wimbledon1 and said he went to the school on the #bnd4 ,it must have been on the #bnd that the witness went with him1 the first time1 to ,wimbledon4 ,in his affidavit in support of the plea of insanity ,j4 ,l4 ,tulloch says1 that 8he saw ,dr4 ,lamson at his brother's 7,w4 ,tulloch7 for a few minutes on the #ast1 and next day proceeded with him to ,wimbledon40 #baj ,he had previously1 on the #aeth ,november1 tried to change a cheque for #ae at the ,american ,exchange1 in the ,strand1 where a parcel had been sent for him4--,evidence of ,sidney ,harbord1 the cashier4 #baa ,in the cross-examination of ,mrs4 ,bowles1 the school-matron1 ,mr4 ,williams endeavoured to get from her an admission that the chemicals kept in the house for the purposes of the scientific lectures were unsecurely kept1 and within the reach of the boy4 ,mr4 ,bedbrook1 however1 proved that the button of the cupboard in which they were kept was #f feet #f inches from the floor ,it was also proved by the chemical lecturer that the chemicals were only those acids commonly used in the production of gases--acetate of lead1 hydrochloric and sulphuric acids4--,evidence of ,eastick and ,whalley4 #bab ,in the boy's box1 on the ground floor1 five pills mixed with capsules were found4 ,twenty white powders1 which were numbered #a to #bj1 were got from a box in the dining-room1 marked 8,j4 ,littlefield10 six of which--#a to4 #f--were large4 ,the tin box with the two pills was handed to the police inspector by ,mr4 ,bedbrook1 and a decanter of sherry from the sitting-room1 and the remainder of the sugar from the matron4 ,the evidence of ,inspector ,fuller1 and other policemen1 proved that after being transferred from various hands1 these things were handed to the analyst1 the ,judge remarking on the want of care in transmitting such important pieces of evidence1 most unnecessarily1 through so many hands4 #bac ,the assistant at ,messrs4 ,bell ,co4's stated the price of atropia to a medical man as #d;d4 per grain--hence the remark of ,mr4 ,montagu ,williams on the entry of 8#h;d40 8,c40 in the cash book of that day4 ,the assistants at ,messrs4 ,allen's altered their minds1 on consultation together1 within three hours after they had told the police that it was atropia they had sold to the prisoner4 #bad ,the fact of this poison having been sold by ,allen ,hanbury's assistant to the prisoner1 on the faith of finding his name in the ,medical ,directory1 was severely commented on by the ,judge4 ,no doubt by #ca ,vict4 cap4 #aba1 sec4 #ag1 ,schedule ,a4 ,amendment ,act1 #cb #cc ,vict4 cap4 #aag1 sec4 #c1 it is not required1 in the case of a medical man1 that the name of the purchaser1 the name and quantity of poison sold1 and the purpose for which it is to be used1 should be entered1 and the signature of the purchaser is not required4 ,the following questions and answers call for publication3-- ,the ,judge4--8,suppose ,i applied and gave a name out of the ,medical ,directory1 and asked for two grains of aconitia1 would you sell it me80 ,answer4--8,if ,i were satisfied at the time you were a medical man ,i should let you have it40 ,the ,judge4--8,then anybody of respectable appearance and well dressed might apply8 and is there anything by which you can satisfy yourself that the applicant is not an impostor and telling you that which is not true80 ,answer4--8,the only thing would be the style of writing--whether it was in the style characteristic of medical men40 ,the ,judge4--8,that hardly seems satisfactory40 ,mr4 ,poland4--8,the ,act does not require registration in the case of sale to a medical man40 ,the ,judge4--8,it strikes me that anyone could go1 if he had sufficient knowledge to write in the technical style of medical men1 and get poison without difficulty2 and though the matter is not before us in this case1 it may be that the law requires amendment in this particular40 ,the jury also appended to their verdict a presentment urging greater restrictions on the sale of poisons1 with which the ,judge thoroughly agreed1 and undertook to forward it to the ,home ,secretary4 ,during the present ,session of ,parliament the ,government have announced that a 8,new ,poisons ,act0 is preparing1 and that it will deal with patent medicines4 ,it is imperatively required4 #bae ,entries in the ,register of the ,new ,york ,bloomingdale ,asylum4 #baf ,affidavit of ,dr4 ,g4 ,h4 ,boyland1 of ,baltimore1 ,u4,s41 a fellow student1 and ,dr4 ,john ,swinborne1 of ,albany1 ,n4,y41 ,surgeon-in-,chief of the ,american ,ambulance4 #bag ,affidavits of ,dr4 ,charles ,h4 ,von ,klein1 of ,hamilton1 ,county ,butler1 ,u4,s41 ,surgeon in the ,russian army1 and ,dr4 ,f4 ,p4 ,carey1 of ,auburn1 ,n4,y41 fellow surgeons with ,lamson at ,bucharest4 #bah ,statutory declarations of about thirty persons--friends1 servants1 and such as occasionally came in contact with him during his residence at ,bournemouth4 #bai ,ernest ,juch1 of #a1 ,new ,broad ,street1 journalist1 and formerly a medical practitioner1 who met ,lamson in ,new ,york1 ,august1 #ahha1 and saw him daily for two months4 #bbj ,mrs4 ,mc,elroy1 when1 with ,lamson's consent1 taking charge of his medicines1 found among other things an unmarked box of 8sugar pills10 which ,lamson said were either morphia or quinine1 he did not know which4 ,on this evidence the following remark is made on the accused's behalf3--8,after he 7,lamson7 left1 and when ,john was taken ill1 several pills were discovered on the table1 which were not noticed while ,lamson was there4 ,it is believed that as ,john was suffering from indigestion 7he had dined at one1 and portions of his dinner were vomited undigested at nine7 he determined to take a pill1 and try with it one of the capsules just given him4 ,john's symptoms of poisoning did not begin till about three-quarters of an hour 7really twenty-five minutes1 see p4 #ebj7 after ,lamson left1 and he lived for about four hours after1 whereas if he had taken the poison in the capsule1 while ,lamson was there1 it is almost certain that the symptoms would have set in much earlier1 especially considering the enormous quantity of poison said to have been taken4 ,he then1 unhappily1 selected one containing aconitia4 ,from the foregoing evidence of the way in which ,lamson used and prescribed aconitia1 taken with what ,mrs4 ,mc,elroy says of his ignorance as to what his own medicaments contained1 it might well be that he ignorantly or insanely mixed these pills1 and sent them to ,percy ,john without any murderous intent40 #bba ,a sample of 8,english aconitine10 recently obtained from ,morson's1 was amorphous1 slightly coloured1 and gave a red-brown colour1 with all acids1 even acetic2 yet its physiological action was perfect4 #bbb ,in 8,unbeaten ,tracks in ,japan0 7,isabella ,l4 ,bird1 #ahhj71 it is stated that the ,ainos1 an interesting race inhabiting a part of that country1 poison their arrow-heads with a paste prepared from the root of a species of aconite1 ,aconitum ,japonicum4 #bbc ,a servant girl was recently poisoned in ,new ,york by repeatedly rubbing tincture of aconite on the gums to relieve pain4 ,she died in three days4 7,british ,medical ,journal1 ,aug4 #bf1 #ahhb47 #bbd ,woodman and ,tidy1 p4 #cic1 wrongly give this as 8one ounce of the tincture40 #bbe ,the case of ,reg4 v4 ,mc,conkey1 already referred to 7ante1 p4 #eae71 furnishes us with an instance of aconite root being administered with criminal intent1 and with fatal result4 ,in ,aug41 #ahhb1 four boys and a girl suffered severely from chewing dried aconite root1 which they had found in the street4 ,the symptoms1 tingling and numbness1 abdominal pain1 nausea1 vomiting1 giddiness1 muscular weakness1 pains in the legs1 and coldness of the feet1 set in very rapidly1 the greatest delay being a quarter of an hour4 ,there was no dyspna1 and the pupils in all were widely dilated4 ,the treatment adopted was the administration of emetics 7sulphate of zinc and vin4 ipecac471 coffee and brandy1 and castor oil4 ,recovery in two to seven days4 ,quantity taken1 8a very small piece40 7,brit4 ,med4 ,journal1 #ahhb1 p4 #ajci47 #bbf ,an illustration of the dangerous character of these preparations1 and of the serious results which may ensue from the mistake of a person ignorant of medicine1 is afforded by the following case1 reported in the ,medical ,times and ,gazette1 of ,january #bb1 #ahec4 ,an inquest was held on ,january #aeth1 #ahec1 to inquire into the death of ,emma ,forty1 an inmate of the ,roman ,catholic ,convent of the ,good ,shepherd at ,arnosvale1 near ,bristol4 ,the deceased suffered from tapeworm1 for which the medical attendant of the convent had prescribed a decoction of pomegranate bark and quinine4 ,according to the general custom at the convent1 the medicine was prepared by ,miss ,ryder1 the sister-attendant1 who unfortunately took a wrong bottle from the dispensary1 and gave1 instead of the decoction1 a drachm of ,fleming's ,tincture of ,aconite4 ,this mixture was given to the deceased on the ,monday preceding the inquest 7,jan4 #ajth72 and death occurred in about five hours after the draught had been swallowed4 ,after some remarks by the ,coroner as to the imminent danger of unskilled persons being allowed to dispense drugs1 the jury returned a verdict that death was occasioned by the administration of aconite by ,miss ,ryder1 and expressed the opinion that much blame was attributable to the authorities of the convent for allowing persons1 without the necessary knowledge1 to dispense medicines3 they hoped that in future such a practice would be discontinued4 #bbg ,a report of the inquest is to be found in the ,pharmaceutical ,journal1 #ahgb1 p4 #fah4 ,the deceased was the ,hon4 ,gowran ,charles ,vernon1 ,recorder of ,lincoln1 and second son of ,lord ,lyvedon4 ,according to the evidence of a brother of ,mr4 ,vernon1 the latter had for some time past complained of pains in his head1 and had been in the habit of using neuraline with the object of relieving these pains4 ,on returning to his residence1 after a walk with his wife1 the deceased was seized with a fit1 and shortly afterwards died4 ,the doctors considered that he was suffering from neuralgia and epileptic fits4 ,mr4 ,g4 ,harley1 ,m4,d41 ,m4,r4,c4,s41 stated that he had analysed neuraline1 and found it to be an extract of aconite1 mixed with rose-water2 it also contained chloroform4 ,the ,coroner 7,dr4 ,lankester7 said there was no doubt that the deceased had expired from natural causes1 and that he had been seized with a fit of convulsions1 from the effects of which he died4