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FORENSIC    MEDICINE 


AND 


TOXICOLOGY. 


.»s:^r -••••- 


WOODMAN  &  TlOn  FORENSIC  MEDICINE  AND  TOXICOLOGY. 
NOW,  JUST   READY. 

Forming  a  Large  Octavo  Volume  of  over  looo  Pages,  con- 
taining 8  Full-page  Chromo-Lithographic  Plates, 
and  1x5   other  Illustrations. 


Forensic   Medicine 

AND 

Toxicology. 

BV 

W.  BATHURST  WOODMAN,  M.  D..  F.  R.  C.  P.,       ' 

Aaii«t*nt  Phykicikn  to  the  London  Hospita] ;  Physician  to  the  North-Eastern  Ho«pltal  for 

Children;  Examiner  at  Apothecaries'  Hall;  Late  Co-Lccturer  on  Physiology 

and  Histology  at  the  London  Hospital,  etCt,  etc, 

AND 

CHARLES  MEYMOTT  TIDY.  M.  B..  F.C.S., 

ProTessor  of  Chemtstry  and  of  Medical  Juriiprudence  and  Public  Health  at  the  London  Hospital 

Medical  Officer  of  Health  and  Public  Analyst  for  Ishngton  ;  Vice-President  of  the  Society 

of  Medical  Officers  0/  Health;  Master  of  Surgery;  Lnte  Deputy  Medical  Officer 

of  Health  and  Public  Analyst  for  the  City  of  London,  etc..  etc. 

WITH    CHROMO-LITHOCRAPHIC  PLATES, 

«i 

Representing  the  ApfK*aranr:e  of  the  Stomach  in  Poisoning  by  Arsenic,  Cor- 
rosive Sublimate,  Nitric  Acid,  Oxalic  Acid  ;  the  Spectra  of  Blood,  and  ihe 
Microscopic  Appearance  of  Human  and  other  Hairs  j  together  with  ii6 
other  Illustrations. 

IN   ONE  LARGE  OCTAVO   VOLUME. 

Handsomely  Bound  in  Cloth     ....     Price,  $7.50 
••  *'       in  Leather,  Medical  Style.         *•         8,50 

«  "  •'  Law  "  ••         8,50 

The  London  Lancei,  of  June  16,  1S77,  reviewing  this  work,  says : 

"  Medical  jurisprudence  i»  one  •f  tho*e  subjects  which  it  has  always  seemed  lo  us  is 
too  wide  in  its  sco|>c  to  be  adequately  dealt  with  by  any  one  author.  A  real  professor  of 
medical  jurisprudence  should  be  informed  at  all  points  in  every  department  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  must  be  learned  as  a  physician  and  as  a  surgeon,  and  accustomed  to  de.nl 
with  all  cases  which  arise  in  obstetric  practice;  an  exact  .matomist,  a  well  informed  physi- 
ologist, a  bot.inist,  a  microscopist,  and  an  expert  chemist;  cunnin)^  of  fence  in  meeting 
questions  put  in  cross-examination,  learned  in  the  law,  possessed  of  tact,  judgment,  and 
common  sense,  and  skilled  in  the  use  of  modern  instruments  of  research,  such  ns  the  spec* 
lro»copc,  the  ophlhalmoscope,  and  the  electric  battery.  He  w  also  expected  to  be  well 
informed  on  all  matters  connected  with  lunacy;  he  must,  of  course,  be  a  pathologist  of 
very  great  knowledge;  and,  lastly,  he  must  l>e  versed  in  all  matters  which  du-cclly  or  indi- 
rectly  affect  the  chances  of  life.  Such  Admirable  Crichtous  must  be  few  and  far  between, 
and  we  notice  th.it  the  originators  of  the  pro^wsed  Conjoint  Examining  Board,  evidently 
despairing  of  tintling  such  men,  do  not  propose  lo  apixtint  ttpectal  examiners  in  forensic 
niedtcine,  but  determine  that  •  questions  on  forensic  medicine  are  to  lie  included  among 
those  asked  by  the  examiners  on  chemistry,  medicine,  surgery,  and  midwifery.'  The  fact 
that  the  present  volume  i»  written  by  two  authors,  both  of  whom  are  most  f:ivorahly  known 


iven  to  the  world  of  science, 
he  tiroag  fiftMtS /itn^  evidence  that  this  j<»int  jircKluctinn  would  l>e  something  out  of 
the  Cammcm,  Ike  reatiert  of  the  book  will  not  he  tiiuippointed.  It  is  '  as  full  of  meat 
••  ss  Kgi;/  ihc  information  \s  sound,  and  ihe  arrangement  is  good.  Not  only  is  the  knowl* 
•ilgr  di«pt4yed  of  a  litgh  order,  but  the  references  to  other  works,  which  are  thickly  scal- 
tcml  llM«0(ht>ut  the  rolutnc,  very  greatly  enhance  its  value. 

**  Neatly  half  liie  vtilume  is  a.vi.igned  to  Toxicology,  and  this  is  probably  the  mo«t 
tfcowm^h  trcaiiie  on  the  subject  in  this  or  any  other  language. 

••TTi*  chapter  on  Systematic  Chemical  Analysis,  containing  as  it  does  much  of  the  cx- 
petteocc  «(  ihc  late  L)r.  Lethcby,  is  excellent,  and  gives  the  nto^st  explicit  details  of  the 
of  proceeding  in  an  analysis  of  the  contents  of  a  stomach.  A  perusal  of  this  chupler 
lo  ttrengthen  the  tnipres&ion  that  the  search  for  pois^ans  is  a  matter  only  to  be  uiider- 
lalbcm  ly  iIm  skilled  chemist,  whose  life  is  passed  in  the  constant  practice  of  chemical 
maaipalatkNis.  It  is  not  lo  (fc  c&peded  of  ihe  ordinary  medical  man  that  he  should  be 
al4e  fen  carry  out  the  details  of  the*  mo^t  diUficuU  of  all  analyses,  and  it  is  certainly  most 
■alkir  la  the  accused  that  he  should  attempt  lo  do  so.  We  cannot  give  .^  Itetter  idea  of 
ckia  urctioa  of  tlie  work  ihan  by  showing  what  is  the  method  pursued  by  our  authors  iu 
•IdliaiE  frith  the  various  poisons.  Let  us  take  a  comittott  one,  such  as  nrscnic.  First  we 
kftvc  thr  chemistry  of  the  element  aisenicum,  the  tuodes  of  preparing  it,  its  economical 
■Mt  mmA  its  vanuUA  compounds  with  ovygen.  sulphur,  chlorine,  iodine,  and  hydrogen. 
AfKBioaa  add  t»  then  ireared  in  the  same  way.  and  its  physical  and  chemical  properties 
are  (tvcA  fti  length.  Nc»t  we  have  the  symptoms  of  arsenical  poisoning, the  treatment  and 
the  poax  luortetn  appearances;  and  here  we  must  not  forget  to  mention  a  very  good  iltus. 
traikM  in  chromo  bthoi^rnphy  of  the  post  moitem  .ip|)earances  of  the  stomach.  Tlieii  we 
haw  Ihc  (c*t»  (tit  koitii  ar»cnicand  for  orscntovis  acid  in  solution,  the  diagnosis  between  arsenic 
Mi4  alMMnuay,  atul  the  full  details  of  the  toxicologic.il  .-inalysis  in  cases  of  arsenic  }K>i>on^ 
M^  Ijtfdy,  we  have  a  table  giving  the  more  imjHirtant  details  of  ninety-eight  ca&es  of 
\m%  f*y  arsenical  preparations,  and  a  long  list  of  lefcrences  to  other  published  cases. 
%  are  treated  of  with  similar  care  and  show  of  lalxiriuus  invesligation  and 


Lam  iht  pMiHwi 

^^^^^■p  the  • 
^^^1^^^^  tow 


Xllc  chaffer  on  the  examination  of  Hair«  and  Stains  is  admimblc,  and  gives  at  great 

the  valuable  information  which  the  microsco|>e  and  spectroscope  arc  capable  of 

towards  the  unravelling  of  difBcull  cases.     Here,  nguin,  we  have  capital  illustra- 

liihoigraphy,  as  well  as  wood  cuts,  and   the  various  blood-spectra  are  given  in 

lilhoqgraphy  as  a  frontispiece  to  Ihe  volume. 

•  The  chapUEf  on  Life  A^urance  ihowi  that  care  which  is  the  characteristic  of  the  voU 
ia<«  «kd  «  Uinf  synupcical  table  of  disputed  policies  gives  a  large  amount  of  information 
•  a  «TV7  aoHJI  tpacr. 

*  Th«  qpc«liuna  of  Rape,  Delivery,  and   Infanticide  are  all  ably  handled,  and  so  pro- 
tilsifcraied  that  ^rritlert  *nd  others  may,  without  much  difEculty,  master  the  main 


Tb«  chapter  on  Inaanity  is  full  of  illustrative  cases,  among  which  we  notice  most  of 
,iA  lr•^^^,\^  Uvm  other  text  books,  as  well  as  the  more  notable  of  the  recent  English 
,  vuch  a»  the  Windham  case  and  Lady  Mordaunt's  case. 
tv  «u.>w  bow  carefully  the  work  has  lieen  brought  up  to  the  last  level  of  scientific 
re  may  racniion  that  the  method  of  diagnosing  Lwtween  true  and  feigned  double 
vMoo  la  takro  Inini  Dr.  Brislowc's  recent  work  on  the  Practice  of  Medicine.  All  the  best 
teMTQ  vorka  uo  Medical  Jurisprudence  have  been  Uid  under  conlribulion  for  the  produc- 
liMl  «#  ihe  pteaeni  volume.  It  contuns  almr&t  everylhing  that  can  Ije  found  iu  other 
•m  the  tohjea;  but  it  is  no  mere  compilation.  Dr.  Woodman  and  Dr.  Tidy  have 
hiMflit  out  the  suivjcci  for  themselves,  and,  with  rare  industry  and  acumen,  linve 
lunethrr  a  mass  of  (actm  which  i«  little  s^hort  of  astounding.  The  Uiok  is  woitliy 
latehe  IU  pUce  alongside  of  any  work  on  the  same  subject,  and  must  prove  of  great  \x>e 
Itall  vha  fmcttae  in  cnminal  courts  and  to  all  medical  prnclitioners.  We  have  uo  bcai- 
Ib  fXnmnKodiog  it  to  our  readers." 

UNDSAY  &  BLAKISTON,  Publishers. 

25  South  Sixth  Streel,  Philadelphia. 


OTHER    WORKS 


ON 


PSYCHOLOGICAL,  FORENSIC  MEDICINE, 
AND  TOXICOLOGY. 

PUBLISHED   BY  LINDSAY  &   BLAKISTON. 


A  Manual  of  Psychological  Medicine:  containing  the  Lunncy  Lhwr,  the 
Musuloc.v,  (Etiology  Sutti^iic^,  Dt^tfcn  pi  inn,  Diagnngig,  Pathohi'gy  (including 
morbid  Histology),  and  Treatment  of  Insanity.  By  John  Charlkh  Buck- 
kill,  M  D  ,  and  Daniel  H.  Titkb,  M.D.  Third  'Edition,  much  enlarged. 
With  10  Lithographic  Plates,  and  numerous  other  Illustrations.  Octavo. 
Price,  te.OO. 

Post-Mortem  EzamlnatlonB.  A  Description  and  Explanation  of  the  Mode  of 
Performing  them  in  the  Dead  House  of  the  Berlin  Charity  Hospitnl,  with 
Special  Reference  to  Medico- Legal  Practice.  By  Professor  Rudolph  Vir- 
CHow.     16mo.     Cl«>th.     Price,  76  cents. 

Madness,  in  its  Medical,  Social,  and*  Legal  Aspects.  By  Edgar  Shep- 
PAKD,  M.D.,  Prol<•^8or  of  l'8ych<)logicHl  Medicine  in  King's  College,  Lon- 
don.    A  Series  of  Lectures  delivered  hy  him.     Price,  $2.&0. 

On  Cerebrla  and  Other  Diseases  of  the  Brain.  By  Charles  Elam,  F.R.C.P. 
Oclavo.     Price,  $2.60. 

ninstrations  of  the  Inilnenoe  of  the  Mind  upon  the  Body.  By  Daniel  H. 
Tuke,  M.D.,  Associate  Author  of  A  Manual  of  Pt^ychological  Medicine^  etc. 
Octavo. 

The  Medical  Jnrispradenoe  of  Insanity.  Second  Edition,  very  much  en- 
larged. "Wiih  Refen-nces  to  the  Scou-h  and  American  Decisions,  etc.,  etc. 
By  J.  H  Balfour  Browne,  Esq.  In  one  Octavo  volume,  bound  in  cloth. 
Price,  $5.00. 

The  Pathology  and  Therapeutics  of  Mental  Diseases.  By  J.  L.  C.  Schroeder 
Van  dkk  Kolk.    Translated  by  Mr.  Rudall,  F.R.C.S.     OcUvo.     $3.00. 

Lectures  on  Mental  Diseases.  By  W.  H.  O.  Sankbt,  M.D,  FRCP. 
Octavo.     Price,  $8.26. 

A  Memoranda  of  PolBons.     By  Thomas  Hawkrs  Tanner,  M.D.    A  New  and 

much  Enlarged  Edition.     Price,  76  cents. 


FORENSIC  MEDICINE 


AND 


TOXICOLOGY. 


BY 


W.  BATHURST  ^OODMAN,  M.D.,  F.R.C.P. 

AU»TA>T   PHTaiClAV  TO  THX  LOaOOa  H01PITAL;    FBTSIOIA*  TO  TUC    «ORTaBABTBEK     HOtriTAti  rOS 
CBILDKBM;    BZAMIRBk     AT    APOTHCOABIBa'     BALL:     LATB    00-LKCTDBBk     OB 

wmntoxjoar  aip  bistomot  at  txb  loioob  bohpital  ;  bto..  btc. 


AND 

CHARLES  MEYMOTT  TIDY,  M.B.,  F.C.S. 

PBOrSSaOB  op  CBBBIBTBT  ABD  op   BBDICAL  JUBISPBUDBBCB  ABD    PITBLIC  HBALTB   at  TBB    tOBDOB   BOBPtTAL  i 

MBDICAL  OPPICRB  OP  BBALTB  ABO  POBbtC  ABALTBT  FOB  WLIBOTOB;    TICB-PBBaiDBNT    OP  TBR  SOOIXTT 

OF  MXDICAI.  OPnCBIB  OP  BCALTB  ;  MABTBB  OP  aOBekBT;    LATB  OKPOTT  MBDICAL  OPPICBB 

OP  BBALTB  ABD  PVBLIO  4BALTBT  FOB  TBB  OtTT  OP  LOBDOB,  BTO.,   BTO. 

WITH 

PLIGHT  FULL-PAGE  LITHOGRAPHIC  PLATES, 

AND  OWE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTEEN  Ol^HER 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 


C00N0SCETI8  VERITATEM    ET    VERITAS   LIBERABIT   VOS. 

'Qf  bvdiv  rj  fiaS/jffi^f  ^v  fii)  N0T2  ^ap^, 

Mbitandbr. 

"9ant  bona,  sunt  qnaedam  mediocria,  sunt  mala  plnra. 
Qa»  legis  kic  :  aliter  non  fit,  Avite,  liber  !" 

Martial. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
LINDSAY  &  BLAKISTON. 

1877. 


in  jnemotjg 


OP 


HENRY    LETHEBY. 


PREFACE. 


This  Manaal  is  from  fir^t  to  last  a  joint  production,  the  authors 
holding  iheni^iflvt's,  in  each  and  every  particular,  iiuitLmlly  rt'spoii- 
sibliv 

It  tiaiiiiH  to  bf  hirnply  a  comprehonsive  Medico- lejjal  Handy-book. 
Ai(houy;h  its  sulyect  is  k^^al  ioe<licniiej  it  deals  with  the  medical 
nher  than  with  the  legal.  The  authors  have  felt  lliat  lawyers  know 
ic  lopi!  as|>ect  of  the  subject  better  than  physicians,  whilst  phy- 
imos  know  the  medical  better  than  lawyers.  Recognizing^  however, 
the  exigence  of  a  part  of  the  stibject  belonging  to  Iwth  lawyer  and 
y-^:  -  ri,  but  sjiecial  to  neither,  they  have  ventured  on  this  odd- 
t  ,  tru-?liiig  that  their  inetlical   view  of  the  land   in  question 

ty  be  found  of  service  to  those  whose  profeijsion  leads  them  to 
^ve^rd  it  primarily  from  a  different  point  of  view. 

It  may  U*  desirable  to  mention  that  in  describing  chemical  reactions, 
authors  have  usually  adopted  the  trivial  narne--*  for  reagents  rather 
a  ^ttrielly  srientifir  nnmenehiture.  This  they  have  done  adviscnlly, 
!  in  all  probability  the  work  will  Ik?  as  frequently  nsetl  by  those 
ifamiliar  with  njociern  ciiemistry  a.s  by  the  chemic*al  student.  The 
remark  explaiui^  the  use  of  Fahrenheit  degrees  and  avoirdupoi.s 
igfitx  in  pla<^!  of  the  Centigrade  and  metric  systems. 
The  authorH  are  greatly  indebted  to  numerous  friends  for  sugges- 
m»,  and  in  many  ca^ws  for  material  assistance.  Amongst  others 
libit  be  ii{>eiiaUy  mentioned,  Mr.  M.  C  Sobbv,  F.K.S.,  for  his  help 
ID  thi?  chapter  on  bloo<l,  Dr.  Robert  Barnes,  Mr.  Hittchinsux 
[whfiM;  name  was  unfortunately  omitted  from  the  history  ttf  bis  own 
liicovcry  of  nckt<*he<l  teeth  at  p.  f>34i,  Dr.  LAN<ii>ON  Down,  Dr.  Juhn 
Raxdaix^  Mr.  Wabex  Tav,  and  Dr.  John  St<x:ker,  Mr.  Need- 
^jiAll  (for  drawing  the  plalea  of  hairs),  and  Mr,  Mit>w  inter.  Tliey 
iti»t,  however,  expn*s**  how  miicii  they  are  indebted  to  the  late  Dr. 
Lrrif  (3Y  for  help  and  aaslatance  in  ways  far  too  numerous  to  men* 


Ion. 


Z'Slp 


VUl  PKBFACE. 

The  authors  desire  to  express  to  the  Messrs.  Churchill  their 
thanks  for  the  liberal  mauner  in  which  they  have  met  them  in  the 
matter  of  illustrations. 

As  a  matter  of  course  the  authors  have  made  free  use  of  the  stand- 
ard works  on  legal  medicine.  To  acknowledge  at  every  point  how 
much  they  have  been  indebted  to  the  elaborate  works  of  Alfred 
SwAiNE  Taylor,  Christison,  Orfila,  Tardieu,  Beck,  Casper, 
Guy,  and  Wormley,  would  have  involved  mentioning  their  names 
on  almost  every  page.  The  titles  of  their  works  will  be  found  in  the 
Bibliography  appended.  The  brevity  of  this  list  is  compensated  in 
.some  measure  by  frequent  references  in  the  text  and  in  the  footnotes. 

That  unavoidable  mistakes  in  so  complicated  a  work  Nvill  have 
crept  in,  notwithstanding  every  care  to  prevent  them,  the  authors  can- 
not for  one  moment  doubt.  They  trust  some  excuse  will  be  found  in 
the  fact  that  the  Manual  has  been  written  amidst  the  demands  of  pro- 
fessional work. 

Lastly.  They  dedicate  this  book  to  the  memory  of  their  late  col- 
league and  former  teacher,  Dr.  Letheby.  During  his  life  he  had 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  its  progress,  and  had  given  permission  for  the 
work  to  be  dedicated  to  him.  He  had,  moreover,  consented  to  write 
an  introduction.  And  now  he  is  gone,  the  authors  sorrowfully  dedi- 
cate it  to  his  memory,  not  merely  in  recognition  of  his  having  been 
one  of  the  greatest  English  authorities  on  its  subject-matter,  nor  as  an 
acknowledgment  of  numerous  acts  of  personal  kindness,  but  more 
particularly  as  his  pupils,  whose  first  lessons  in  Forensic  Medicine 
were  his  lectures,  and  in  testimony  of  that  to  which  a  long  race  of 
London  Hospital  students  can  bear  record,  his  ever  ready  willingness 
to  teach,  as  well  as  his  rare  aptitude  in  imparting  the  knowledge  he 
himself  possessed  in  so  profound  a  degree. 

C.  Meymott  Tidy, 

48  QusKN  Anne  Strkbt, 

Cavkndish  Squarb. 

W.  Bathurst  Woodman, 

6  Chbistophrr  Strkbt, 

F1N8BURT  Square. 
March,  1877. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


cnAPTEE  I. 


PAOI 


Turn CoRoxm's  Couet— Ikqdksts— This  SrrKKiOB  Courts— Modi c»l  evi- 

•^Ftm  IcgKllj  cltiini(.*d  by  Medical  Men, 26-30 

CUAPTER  II. 

Bow  to  rnitV^  B  '*  PosT.MOBTEM  "  ExAMTKATio!«'— Weight  tnd  »ise  of  T&ri- 

oiMorgmBi — Poftt-naortom  Digestion  af  Siomiich, 30-35 

CHAFl^ER  IIL 

\mg  «Uve  —  S101119  or  Dkath  —  Post-mortem  toropBrntures  —  Riqor 
|oiiTi»—PuTM»rACTinN—ADiPQ<:icRi6— The  order  in  which  the  signs 
fUmlh  «ucc««d  (uu.-4i  other, 3&-51 


CHAPTER  IV. 

rAT  u  A  PoJ^oK? — Action  of  poisons — Circumstances  modifying  their 
•ttJpn— CifcumeUnc«-'9  lending  to  the  Suspicion  op  PoirtON  hHving  be«n 
given— Hymploins  of  Corrosive,  Irritant,  Narcotic,  »nd  Nar- 
raTiiAj-AcRiD  Poi«ON» — ^Trpatrnent  of  Polaoning  Caum  —  Conclus^ion 
bvm  AiiALT«>ts — How  fur  Poiwins  are  Natural  Constituents  of 

TMft  BoilY— PoftT-MORTBM  ApPBARANCEsI    IN   PoiSOXINO  CasES— Dl8- 

BA*Si  THAT  stHULATB  FoihONiKO — CM»eA  of  6U|tpo»ed  poiBoning  and 
■MliBfccinK— CLAMtriCATioN  ov  Poisons, 


62-7« 


CHAPTER  V. 

kTIc  ClIEMlOAI.  Amalyais  in  c«»e8  of  PoisoDtng^ 


rft-s4 


CHAPTER  VI. 

PiiOvMiOBrB.  iU  Turtotiefl,  »oliibiltty,  nnd  the  circumstances  afiecting  ite 
Isaalnotity— Symptom*  of  PoisoNiwa  by  Pbosphobus — Treatment— 
P4»4*moM4*m  appoAmncea—Cbronic  Poiaonrng— The  LccirBK  Di»- 
JUAB  — Propbyi»il« — Tumtn  for  PnoaruoRUs— Toxicoi^ooical  Am- 
ALYSU— Cmm  of  Pboiiphc»rue  Poinonlng^ 86>97 


X  TABLB   OF   COKTBNTS. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  HALOID   ELEMENTS. 

PACK 

Chlorine  —  Hypochloroui  Acid  —  Bromine  —  Symptomt  —  Iodine— 
Symptoms  —  Treatment  —  Poht-mortbm  Appearances  —  Toxico- 
logical  Analysis — Iodide  or  PoTAssiuM—Tests— Ca^es  of  Poi- 
jsoning— Fluorine— Manufacture  of  Superphosphate  of  Lime,        .      98-108 

CflAPTER  VIII. 

THE  ALKALINE   METALS. 
Potassium— Sodium— Ammonium— Lithium-rRubidium—Cffisium,  104-120 

CHAPTER  IX. 

METAUB  OF  THE  ALKALINE   EARTHS. 

Barium — Symptoms — Experiments  on  Animals — Tests — Cases  of  Poison- 
ing— Strontium — Calcium, 120-126 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  METALB. 

Antimony- Tartar  Emetic— Symptoms— Treatment— Chronic  Anti- 
MONIAL  Poisoning — Experiments  on  Animals— Tests — Tozicologi- 
cal  A-nalysis  —  Chloaide  or  Antimony  —  Arsenicum  —  White 
A  rsenic — Preparations — Symptoms— Treatment— Post-mortem  Ap- 
pearances— Chronic  Arsenical  Poisoning — Tests — Toxicological 
Analysis — Arsenic  Acid— Arsenite  or  Copper,  or  Schecle's  Green 
— Wall-papers — Tests — Orpiment — Realgar  —  Chloride  of  Arseni- 
cum— Arseniurettod  Hydrogen — Iodide  of  Arsenicum — Bismuth — 
Cadmium — Cerium— Chromium— Bichromate  of  Potash — Chronic 
Poisoning — Cobalt — Copper — Red  Oxide— Black  Oxide— Sulphate — 
Sulphide- Nitrate— The  Acetates- Chronic  Copper  Poisoning — 
-Guld — Iridium  and  Rhodium — Iron- Lead — White  Lead— Other 
Leud  Salts— Symptoms — Treatment- Chronic  Lead  Poisoning — 
Action  or  Water  on  Lead — Pust  mortem  Appearances — Tests — 
Tuxicolugioal  Analysis — Manganese — Mekcury — Corrositb  Sub- 
limate— Symptoms— TrcHiment — Chronic  Mercurial  Poison- 
ing— Experiments  on  Animals — Post-mortem  Appearances — Tests 
— Toxicological  Analysis — Calomel — White  and  Red  Precipitates 
— Turi)eth's  Mineral— Vermilion— Nitrates— Cyanide  and  Sulpho- 
cyanide  of  Mercury— Mec uric  Methide— Molybdenum — Nicki»l 
— Osmium— Palladium — Platinum  —  Siltkr  —  Thallium  —  Tin — 
Titanium — Tungsten,  or  Wolfram — Uranium — Zinc — Oxide — Car- 
bonate— Chloride — Sulphide — Sulphate  —  Acetate — Symptoms,  etc. 
— Experiments  on  Animals — Test^j— Toxicological  Analysis,     . 


12»-227 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE   MINERAL   ACID6. 

Sulphuric  Acid,  or  Oil  of  Vitriol — Proparatitm — Properties — Symptoms 
— Treatment — Post-mortem  Appearances — Tests— Methods  of  Dis- 


TABLE   OF    CONTENTS.  XI 


PAGC 


tinguishing  the  Free  Acid  from  that  in  combinution — Tozicological 
Analysis — List  of  Cases — Nitric  Acid — Preparation — Varieties — 
I m  pu ri ties — Sr m ptoms — Post- mor^m  A  ppeara nces — ToKicological 
Analysis — List  of  Cases— H  ydroch  loric  Acid— Preparation — Prop- 
erties— Impurities — Symptoms  —  Tests  —  Tozicological  Analysis  — 
Lii^t  of  Cases — Under  these  Acids,  the  NuisAMCxa  arisimo  from 
THKiR  Manufacture  are  di^sussed — Hydrofluoric  Acid — Nilro- 
sulphuric  Acid — JSitro-byd roc h loric  Acid — Sulpbindigotic  Acid,      .     227-268 

CHAPTER  XII. 

VEGETABLE  POISONS. 

Narcissus — Rhus  —  Nerium  —  Oleander — Ilex  (Holly)— Arum— Upas — 
Sambucus  (Elder)— Viburnum  (Guelder-rose^,— Ifbcacuavha — Cin- 
chona— Quinine — Artemisia  (Wormwood) — Absinths — Lettuce — 
Marsh  Marigold— Savin  —  Oil  of  Sayin — Cases  of  Poisoning  by 
Savin— Yew— Cases  of  Poisoning  by  Yew — Scammont — Jalap — 
Sumach — Bryony — Bitter  Applk,  or  Colocynth — Elatbrium,  or 
Squirting  Cucumber — Black  Bryony — Croton  (Tiolium)— Cases  of 
Poisoning- Euphorbia — Manchineel,  or  Manzanilla — Physic  Not 
(Jatropha) — Castor  Oil  (Kicinus) — Eroot  of  Ryk— Poisonotjs 
FuNOi— Gamboge — Darnel  —  Camphor  —  Laburnum  — OALABAm 
Bkan — Physostigmin  or  E!>erin  —  Aloss  —  Aloin  —  Squill  — Lo- 
BKLiA— Gelseminum— Nux  Vomica  and  Strychnine- Brucia— 
Woorara  Poison — Tozicological  Analysis — Cases  of  Poisoning  by 
Stryehniaand  Vermin-Killers— Sabadilla — Vkratria — Colcbicum, 
or  Meadow  Saffron — Veratrum  Album— White  Hellebore — Vera- 
trum  Viride,  or  Green  Hellebore — Cocculus  Indicus — Picrotoxin 
— Privet— Opium,  and  its  preparations — Laudanum— Black  Drop 
— Ch I orody ne— Godfrey's  Cordial,  etc.,  etc. — Morphia — Cases  of 
Poisoning  by  Opium,  Morphia,  and  their  Preparations — Aconite, 
or  Monkshood — Aeon i tin— Cases  of  Poisoning  by  Aconite^ — Hel- 
leborus  Niger  (Christmas  Rose) — Stavesacre — Rue — Diqitalis,  or 
Foxglove — Digitalin — Belladoiina — Atrqpin — Capsicum — Stra- 
monium— Thorn  Apple — Daturin — Henbane  (Hyoscyamus) — Hy- 
oscyamin  — Tobacco  —  Nicotin  —  Woody  Nightshade  —  Solanin — 
Mezereum— Fool's  Parsley — ^thusa  Cynapium — Water  Hem- 
lock (Cioutavirosa) — Conium  Maculatum,  or  Spotted  Hemlock — 
Conia — (Enanth*  Crocata — Hemlock — Water  Dropwort — Other 
Poisonous  Plants, 268-897 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Cyanogen  and  its  Compounds — Chloride  of  Cyanogen — Hydrocyanic 
orpRUSsic  Acid — Varieti<.'s(l:;fcheelo's,Pharm»icopceial,etc.) — Symp- 
toms— Treatment — Post-mortem  Appearances — Tests — Toxicological 
Analysis — Essential  Oil  of  Almonds — Laurel  Water — Aqua 
Laurocerasi— Cyanideof  Potassium — Silvering  Solutions — Ferro- 
cyanides — Sulphocyanides — Cyanic  Acid,         .....     397-424 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

VEGETABLE  ACIDS. 

Acetic,  Citric,  and  Oxalic  Acids — Binoxalate  of  Potash  or  Salt  of 

Lemons,  Salt  OF  SoRRKL — Pyrogallic  Acid — Tartaric  Acid,     .        .     424-433 


Xll  TABLB  OF   CONTENTS. 


CHAPTERX  V. 

PAGE 

Alcouol — Amylicand  Methylic  Alcohols — Nitrate  of  Amtl — Amy- 
lene  —  Bknzol  —  Nitrobknzol  —  Ani lin  —  Cakbolio  Acid— Bi- 
8ULPHIDR  or  Cakbov — CHLORAL  and  Bromal — Chloroform — 
Ethkr— Crkasotk — Bichloride  of  Methylene— Nitroolyckrin— 
Turpentine 484-465 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

ANIMAL  POISONS. 

Cantharidbs — Cantbaridin — Poisonous  Food— Trichina  Spiralis — 
CysticercuB — Mkasly  Pork,  etc.— Flukks— Charactera  of  Good 
AND  Bad  Mrat— Poisonous  Fish, 465-477 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

POISONOUS   GASES. 

Carbonic  Acid — Carbonic  Oxide — Coal-qas — Nitrous  Oxide — Phos- 
phuretted  and  Seleniuretted  Uydrogcn — Sulphurkttbd  Uydrookn 
—Sulphurous  Acid, 478-496 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Compound  PoMONiNo, 496-497 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Hairs — Linen— Cotton  and  Woollen  Fibrks — Seminal  Stains — Sper- 
matozoa—  Bloodstains  —  Things  which  resemble  Bloodstains— 
SPKCTROscortc  Tests  for  Blood — Old  Bloodstains — Blood  in 
Urine — Blood-corpuscles— Measurement  of  Blood  disks— Micro- 
scopic Examination  of  Bloodstains— Blood-crystals — Day's 
Test  with  Goaiacmn — Teichmann's  Test, 497-528 

CHAPTER  XX. 

LiFR  Insurance — The  Normal  Man — Tables  of  Expectation  of 
Life— Presumption  of  Scrvitorship— How  to  examine  "  Lives  " 
— Height  and  Weight  at  Different  Ages— Cases  of  Disputed 
Policies— Modes  of  Death— Sudden  Death,         ....    529-557 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Limits  of  Distinct  V»iom— Audible  Sounds— Personal  Identity 
in  the  Dead  and  Living— Male  and  Female  Pelvis— Development 
OF  FotTUs — Measurements  of  Skeletons,  etc. — Identity  from 
the   Handwriting— Sympathetic    Inks— Footprints,        .        .    567-687 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Monsters  —  Hermaphrodites  —  Sexual    incapacity  —  Impotence    and 

Sterility — Unnatural  Crimes — Sodomy  and  Pederasty,        .        .     587-602 


TABLE   OF   CONTBNTS. 


Xlll 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

PAOS 

Pregnancy — Period  of  Utero-gpfitHtion — Signs  of  Rbcknt  Deliviert 

IN  THE  Dead  and  in  the  Living, 602-626 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Malapraxis— Unprofe^Bionnl   Conduct — Fractturbs — Dislocations- 
Obstetric  Cases — Syphilis  in  iu  Medieo-legal  Relations,      . 


620-687 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Criminal  Assaults — Indecent  Exposures — Rapk— Physical  Sitjns  of  Vir- 
ginity—The  Hymen— Signs  of  Defloration— Diseases  mistaken 
roR  Rape, 


r-666 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Premature  Labor — Abortion  and  Abortikaciknts — Infanticide — 
Proofs  of  Live  Birth — Effects  of  RespiratI'in  on  the  Lungs,  etc., 
— Concealment  of  Birth — Legitimacy  and  Superfostation,  . 


655-781 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Unsoundness  op  Mind— Idiocy— Cretinism— Mania— Monomania 
—Melancholia — Dkmkntia — Epileptic  and  Hysterical  In- 
sanity—General Paralysis  —  Fkionkd  Insanity— How  to 
Examine  Lunatics — Certificates  of  Insanity — Feignkd  Dis- 
eases AND  Malingering — How  to  Make  a  Will — Disputed 
Capacity  to  Make  a  Will — Illustrative  Cases,    .... 


731-816 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Death  by  Apnoia — Drowning — Hanging — Strangulation — Suffo- 
cation— Smothering — Symptoms — Treatment — P«»8t-mortem  Ap- 
pearances of  all  these  Modes  of  Death — Death  by  Poisonous  Gases 
and  An^estuktics — The  Anatomy  Act, 816-^59 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Death  from  Lightning — Effects  of  Great  Cold  and  Great  Heat — 
Coup  deSoleil,  or  Sunstroke — Burns  and  Scalds — Spontaneous 
Combustion — The  Nature  of  Food — Starvation,  Acute  and 
Chronic 859-981 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Mechanical  Injuries — "Wounds — Incised — Contused — Lacerated — Punc- 
tured, etc. — What  Wounds  are  Mortal  or  Dangerous? — Dying 
Declarations — Of  Wounds  inflicted  before  and  after  Death — Gun- 
shot Wounds — Wounds  and  Injuriesof  Special  Regions — Injuries 
to  Head,  Neck,  Chest,  Abdomen,  Limbs,  and  Spink— Illustrative 
Cases — L^Envoi 


981-1064 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


CHROMO-LITHOGRAPHS. 

PAGE 
PlaTK    I.-— THK  STOMACH  IK  POISOiriKO  BY  ARSKNIC,  io  face      142 

♦'       II. —                   "                                "                     CORROtilYB  8UBLIMATK,  "  204 

*•    III.—                   "                                ««                     NITRIC  ACID,            .            .  ••  250 

"      IV.—                  "                               **-                   OXALIC  ACID,          .           .  •'  428 

"        V. — THK  8P1CCTRA  OF  B^OOD "  Title 

Plates  VI,  VII,  and  VIII. — microscopic  appbarancks  of  human  and 

OTHKR  HAIRS, io  fact  pages    497,498,600 


LIST  OF  WOODCUTS. 

FXO.  PA6K 

1.  SKKTCB-MAP  OF  FARMHOUSE  IN  SARAH  JACOB'S  CASE  (THE  WELSH  FAST- 

ING GIRL), 81 

2.  APPARATUS  FOR  TESTING  FOR  PRU88IC  ACID, 79 

3.  LIEBIU'H  CONDENSER,  AND  OTHER  APPARATUS, 79 

4.  APPARATUS  FOR  HYDROGEN  SULPBIDE^ 80 

5.  SUCTION  PIPETTE  FOR  TEST-TUBE, 81 

6.  APPARATUS  FOR  RKCOYBRY  OF  ETHER, 82 

7.  PORTABLE  WATEB-BATH, 88 

8.  APPARATUS  FOR  DISCOVERING  PHOSPHORUS, 94 

9.  CRYSTALS  OF  SODIUM  NITRATE, 114 

10.  TESTING  FOR  ARSENIC  IN  BLOWPIPE  FLAME, 148 

11.  CRYSTALS  OF  ARSENI0U8  ACID,    .                       144 

12.  THE  SAME,  MORE  HIGHLY  MAGNIFIED, 144 

13.  OBTAINING  A  SUBLIMATE  IN  TEST-TUBE, 144 

14.  IMPROVED  REDUCTION-TUBE, 145 

15.  APPARATUS  FOR  MARSH'S  TEST, 148 

16.  TESTING  THE  GAS  THUS  OBTAINED,       .            .          , 148 

17.  HEATING  TUB  GAS  IN  TURKS  FOR  ARSENIC  AND  ANTIMONY,           .           .            .  149 

18.  BLOXAM'S  APPARATUS  FOR  ARSENIC, 150 

19.  REDUCTION-TUBE  IN  REINSCH'S  TEST, 151 

20.  TESTING  FOR  BISMUTH  IN  BLOWPIPE  FLAME, 167 

21-22.   CRYSTALS  OF  CORROSIVE  SUBLIMATE  FROM   AQUEOUS   AND   ALCOHOLIC 

SOLUTIONS, 205 

28.   TESTING  FOR  ARSENIC  IN  SULPHURIC  ACID, 230 


LIST   OP   ILLUSTRATIONS.  XV 


ria.                                     '  PAGE 

24.  APPARATUS  FOR  TESTING  NITRIC  ACID 24» 

25.  CKPBAKLIS  IPECACUANHA, 267 

26.  EXOOONIUM  PUROA, 273 

27.  COLOCYNTH,  OR  BITTER  APPLK, 276 

28     THE  SQUIRTING  CUCUMBER, 276 

29.    TUB  CASTOR-OIL  PLANT, 280 

80.  THE  GAMBOGE  PLANT, 287 

81.  THE  CALABAR  BEAN, 298 

82.  COLCUICU.M,  OR  MEADOW  SAFFRON, 822 

88.    YERATRUM  ALBUM,  OR  WHITE  HELLEBORE, 825 

84.    PAPAVER  80MNIFKRUM, 880 

35.    ATROPA  BELLADONNA, 862 

86.  DATURA  STRAMONIUM, 871 

87.  HY08CTAMUS  NIGER, 874 

88.  DAPHNE  MKZEREUM, 886 

89.  CONIUM  MACULATUM, 888 

40.  PRUNUS  LAUROCERASUS, 415 

41.  APPARATUS  FOR  TESTING  FOR  CHLOROFORM, 459 

42.  MAIWURM  OF  THE  GERMANS 465 

48.    CA  NTH  A  RIDES  INSECTS,          .            .            .            .• 466 

44.  MICROMETER  SCALE, 498 

45.  HUMAN  SPERMATOZOA, 502 

46.  SPERMATOZOA  OF  SHEEP, 508 

47.  SPERMATOZOA  OF  OTHER  ANIMALS, 504 

48.  MICROSPECTROSCOPE 618 

49.  THE  SAME  IN  SECTION, 518 

60     BAROMETER  TUBING  CELL, 514 

51.  SMALL  HOE  FOR  BLOOD-TESTS, 516 

52.  HUMAN  BLOOD-CORPUSCLES, 621 

58.  VARIOUS  BLOOD-CORPUSCLES, .            .            ,  621 

54.  BLOOD-CRYSTALS, 626 

55.  '»              "          IN  teichmann's  test, 526 

56.  BONE-CELLS  OR  CORPUSCLES, 561 

57.  male  PELVIS, 662 

68.  FEMALE  pelvis, 568 

59.  changes  in  lower  jaw  by  age, 668 

60.  adult  lower  jaw, 569 

61.  lower  jaw  in  old  age, 570 

62-65,  skulls  of  negro  and  Esquimaux, 577 

66.  european  skull, 678 

67.  two-headed  monster, 688 

68   development  of  genital  organs, 591 

69.  PROLAPSE  OF  THE  UTERUS, 692 

70.  INTERIOR  OF  UTERUS  MENSTRUATING, 606 

71-74.    CHANGES  IN  08  AND  CERVIX  UTERI, 607-608 

76.    FORMATION  OF  CORPUS  LUTBUM, 611 


XVI  LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ria.  PAOK 

76.  OVARY  SHOWING  GRAAFIAN  VKSICLS, 612 

77.  CASK  OK  TUBAL  PRKONANCT, 619 

78.  FIRST  MILK  SKICN  WITH  MICROSCOPE, 620 

79-82.    NULLIPAROUB  AND  MULT1PAR0U8  UTBRUS,  ....        628-624 

83-84.   TKKTH  OF  HXRKDITART  SYPHILIS, 684 

86-88.    NATURAL  FORMS  OF  HYMEN, 648 

89.  UTERUS,  OVARIES,  VAGINA,  ETC., 644 

90.  SIDE  VIEW  OF  FEMALE  FKLVIS, 645 

91-94.    HYMEN  AFTER  VIOLATION, 647-648 

95.  HUMAN  OVUM  AT  EIGHTH  WEEK, 657 

96.  SECTION  OF  IMPREGNATED  UTERUS, 658 

97.  UMBILICAL  CORD  AND  PLACENTA, 658 

98.  SECTION  OF  PLACENTA  AND  UTERINE  WALL, 659 

99.  HEART,  LUNGS,  AND  GREAT  VESSELS,  ETC. 672 

100.  SECTION  OF  THORAX  AT  ROOT  OF  LUNGS, 678 

101.  THE  VALVES  OF  THE  HEART,  FROM  BELOW 678 

102.  DIAGRAM  OF  F<ETAL  CIRCULATION, 674 

108.    VIEW  OF  F<ETAL  HEART  AND  FORAMEN  OVALE, 676 

104.    FORAMEN  OVALE  NEARLY  CLOSED, 680 

106.    THE    FCETAL  SKULL, 706 

106.  REFLECTIONS  OF  PERITONEUM  IN  FEMALE — SHOWS  RELATIONS  OF  BLAD- 

DER, WOMB,  BOWELS,  ETC., 706 

107.  BASE  OF  BRAIN  AND  CRANIAL  NERVES, 782 

108-109.   CONVOLUTIONS  OF  HUMAN  BRAIN 782-788 

110-111.    DR.  SYLVESTER'S  METHOD  OF  ARTIFICIAL   RESPIRATION,   .  .  .      821 

112-113.   THE  ATLAS  AND  AXIS  VERTEBRAE, 880 

114.    BLOODVESSELS  AND  NERVES  OF  THE  NECK, 1014 

116.   SIDE  VIEW  OF  MALE  PELVIS  AND  VISCERA, 1028 


FORENSIC  MEDICINE 


AMD 


TOXICOLOGY. 


CHAPTER  I. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


The  Coroner's  Court — Inquests — The  Superior  Courts — Medicnl  evidence — Fee» 
legally  claimable  by  medical  men. 

Forensic  Medicine,  or  Medical  Jurisprudence,  may  be  said  to  include 
every  branch  of  Meflical  Art,  and  every  fact  in  the  wide  domain  of  Medi- 
cal Science.  A  medical  witness  in  a  court  of  law  may  be  asked  questions 
the  correct  answer  to  which  may  presuppose  an  almost  onaniscient  acquaint- 
ance with  the  facts  and  theories  of  Anatomy,  Chemistry.  Medicine,  Sur- 
gery, and  Obstetrics,  and  we  may  even  add  Technology;  in  order  to  the 
detection  of  crimes  of  all  kinds,  including  the  adulteration  of  food,  and  the 
complicated  manoeuvres  of  the  forger  and  the  coiner.  It  is  almost  self- 
evident  that  such  a  "circle  of  the  sciences,"  even  if  the  authors  were 
accomplished  enough  to  undertake  so  gigantic  a  task  as  the  digest  of  the 
whole,  could  never  be  comprised  within  the  limits  of  a  "handy-book." 
Toxicology  alone  has  now  a  voluminous  literature  of  its  own,  and  is  justly 
considered  to  be  a  special  division  of  the  subject.  This  wide  field  of  study, 
and  the  great  length  of  the  works  which  have  been  written  upon  it,  deter 
many  students  and  practitioners  of  medicine  from  undertaking  the  study 
of  the  relations  of  their  art  to  the  requirements  of  justice  in  civilized  com- 
munities. They  fear  to  begin  the  study  of  forensic  medicine  because  it 
appears  to  them  a  labyrinth  of  undigested  facts  and  theories  far  too  be- 
wildering for  men  of  average  abilities  and  ordinary  leisure.  The  evils  of 
this  state  of  things  are  at  least  twofold.  First,  many  students  are  rejected 
at  examinations  solely  on  account  of  their  shortcomings  in  this  subject ; 
and  secondly,  many  medical  practitioners  are  conscious  of  painful  and 
ridiculous  exhibitions  of  ignorance  in  courts  of  law ;  ignorance  which  it  is 
to  be  feared  has  too  often  led  to  a  failure  of  justice.  The  object  which  the 
authors  propose  to  themselves  in  this  handy- book  is  to  exhibit  briefly  the 
outlines  of  the  current  knowledge  of  the  day  on  those  topics  which  are 
most  frequently  the  subject  of  inquiry,  and  sometimes  of  controversy,  during 
civil  or  criminal  trials. 


26 


THE   coroner's    COURT.  —  INQUESTS. 


8ome  of  the  chief  practical  issues  which  hyv  to  be  decided  by  njedical 
witne^^ea  are : 

Ist.  Quesitions  of  perianal  iilentity  of  ihe  dead  or  liviug. 

2d.  The  fact  of  death  iUelf;  uiul 

Ud.  The  cause  of  death,  ^vheiher  by  the  ordinary  course  of  nature,  dis- 
ease, or  violence  ( puisuii,  or  ulhervvife).  If  by  any  of  the^ie,  what  are  the 
prools  ? 

4th.  The  questions  of  pregnancy,  and  ittt  duration;  legitimacy,  and  the 
capacity  for  procreation;  and  the  proofi^,  if  any,  uf  critnes  coiimiitt^d 
against  morality  and  social  order. 

5ib.  Disputed  claims  as  to  life  insurance  and  survivorship. 

Gtli,  Qucj^tious  of  malingering,  and  feigned  diseases,  and  the  capacity  of 
prisoners  to  undergo  certain  fienteuees. 

7tli.  (j^ueatjonsj  of  meotal  souudueas  or  insanity.  The  capacity  to  make 
a  will,  or  to  manage  one's  own  affairs. 

8th.  More  rarely  the  questions  of  forgery  of  documents,  and  adultera- 
tions of  food  and  medicine^  and 

9th.  Quedtions  of  malapraxii?. 

The  Coroner's  Court     Inquesh, 

The  first  court  to  which  you  will  pmbably  be  summoned  m  a  medical 
witness,  is  lJ»e  coroner's^,  the  pnicci'^Iings  at  which  are  generally  known  as 
au  inque^L  The  suranions  you  will  receive  should  be  in  the  fi>rni  sub* 
joined : 

*•  Coroner'/(  ittqued  at  Oie  in  the  parish  of 

in  the  amnixj  of  upon  (he  body  of 

"  By  virtue  of  U*i*  my  order^  wt  Coroner  of  you  are 

ftquired  to  appear  hrfore  me  and  the  jury  at  the  place  aforesaid^  on  the 

ly  of  one  thofi^nud  cif/ht  hundred  aud  at 

'ef  the  eloek  in  (he  no*)u,  tn  yive  evidence  touch iny  the  cnnne  of  the 

^aeath  of  the  of oreJiniH person;  and  male,  o^r  oAsid  in  mnkiny^  a  po^t  mortem 
k^aminntiQH  of  the  hody  (uri^h  an  antdynlji  of  the  eontenla  of  the  ttomuch^  if 
\wck  be  ueee^imry),  and  report  fli^reon  at  Uic  said  inquest, 

"  Tq  Mr.  "  Cormerr 


Unless  the  suromous  be  worded  as  above,  it  is  not  considered  a  medical 
sumtniMiH. 

Yon  may  receive  this*  notice  only  a  few  hours,  or  even  less,  before  the 
time  fixed  for  the  inquest.  However  s^hort  the  notice,  it  is  not  sate  to  dis- 
regard the  summons,  as  neglect  not  only  entails  a  penalty  of  £5,  but  in  the 
event  of  the  case  being  carried  into  the  crimiual  courts,  you  may  lay  your- 
self open  to  a  i-eprimand  from  the  presiding  judge.  The  only  legal  excuse 
for  your  non-attendance  is*  a  sumnmns  for  the  same  hour  fnun  one  of  the 
superior  court*.  It  may,  of  couree,  hapfjen  that  a  medical  niiiu  might  be 
morally  justified  in  refusing  to  leave  a  case  involving  risks  to  life,  but  such 
cases  will  of  necese^ity  be  exceedingly  rare. 

The  Coroner's  Court  is  one  of  great  antiquity,  and  the  statute  upon 
which  the  proceedings  are  chieily  I'ouutled  dates  back  to  the  fourth  year 
of  Edward  I  (statute  2).  The  coroner,  who  is  supreme  judge  in  his  own 
court,  can  issue  a  summons  for  the  atlendance  of  any  legally  qualified 
medic«l  practitioner.  You  must  not,  therefore,  refuse  to  go,  merely  because 
ymn  know  nothintj  about  the  ease.  Your  opinion  may  be  required  as  a  skilled 
witness  upon  collateral  issues  of  fact  or  opinion.  Th<:  ordinary  tee  for  a 
medical  witness  is  one  guinea.     You  cannot  legally  retuse  to  make  a  po«t- 


Haw    TO   GIVE    EVIDENCE. 


27 


mortem  examination  if  the  coroner  requests  it,  and  yoti  cannot  claim  more 
than  two  guineas  for  your  attendance  anil  thf  autopsy,  int'kiding  a  chemi- 
cal analysis  of  the  stomaeh,  etc.  But  if  yoii  *iu  not  feel  competent  to  niuke 
the  anaiy^is  you  ought  to  t^ay  m,  and  refuse  to  perform  io  a  hti.sty  and 
iinpruper  manner  that  which  may  involve  not  oniy  the  life  but  the  ivi>u- 
iliou  ui'  others.  A  coroner  may  m^k  you  to  make  a  post-mortem  exami- 
Liion  whilst  ilie  inquest  is*  being  hehl,  rtud  by  artificial  light.  You  ^l)Ught 
to  proleiii  against  thi^,  as  it  is  impoi^^ible  to  make  a  careful  examination 
of  the  wljole  biHly  in  less  than  anliour,  and,  if  it  be  possible,  daylight  Is 
aJwaV'-*  preferable.  The  yellow  tinge  given  to  the  skin  by  certain  pt/tsung 
(picric  acid,  e.  7. 1,  and  the  same  tint  produced  by  disease  (*^\  ^.,  jaundice), 
may  easily  escape  notice  by  candle  or  gaslight.  Tlie  principles  whirh 
(should  guide  you  in  giving  evidence  in  the  superior  eourts  are  applicable 
at  inquei*t^,  and  we  shall^  therefore,  state  them  brietiy  in  this?  chapter: 

I.  Make  youi-selves  as  fully  acquninted  as  p>ssible  with  all  the  faet^*  of 
the  case  on  which  you  have  to  give  evidence,  l^et  your  po.«t-mortem  ex- 
amination be  a  thorough  one,  (»!!ilpr  (Chapter  II, )  Do  not,  for  example, 
make  so  serious  a  mistake  as  to  neglect  the  examination  of  the  Iteafi  be- 
cause the  death  was  a  sudden  one,  and  you  found  heart  disease.  Death 
in  sudden  in  some  cases  of  cranial  luemorrhage,  and  remember  apoplexy 
may  coexist  with,  or  be  caused  by,  poisoning.  Carefully  examine  the 
clothings  if  any,  and  all  the  surroundings  of  a  dead  body.  You  should 
a]«o  refresh  your  memoryby  a  reference  to  eonie  standard  work  on  the 
subject,  so  as  to  know  the  views  held  by  authorities.  Even  should  your 
own  opinion  be  the  more  correct  one,  it  is  not  fair  to  an  inculpiited  person 
to  give  it  as  if  there  were  no  other,  when  professional  men  of  eminence 
may  hold  an  opposite  view  to  your  own. 

II.  Be  punctual  to  the  lime  atq>oiuted  for  the  inquiry. 

III.  Avoid  all  flippancy  of  manuer.  Possibly  the  incjuest  may  termi- 
uttte  in  a  verdict  of  manslaughter  or  murder,  and  the  caj^e  will  then  go  for 
trial  before  a  8uperif>r  court.  But  even  if  no  .nuch  serious  i.-i.-^ues  are  at 
iitake,  your  own  s^nse  of  propriety  must  lead  you  to  spare  the  feelings  of 
the  relatives  or  friends  of  the  deceased  as  much  as  possible,  and  to  respect 
yourself  and  your  oath  by  a  decent  and  tjuitable  behavior.  At  the  same 
time,  a  man's  natural  manner  is  the  best,  and  we  deprecate  all  assumption 
of  preternatural  gravity. 

IV.  Arrange  what  you  have  to  say  (especially  the  symptoms  observed 
during  life,  and  the  post-mortem  examination)  in  a  methodical  manner. 
You  cnnjioi  be  too  Hear  ohont  dttte^.     It  is  Well  to  affix  the  day  of  the  week, 

AH  well  as  that  of  the  month,  to  every  important  event. 

Measurements,  and  the  sizes  11  nd  distances  of  objects,  should  be  given 
either  from  well  known  standards,  such  as  parts  of  an  inch,  ioot,  yard,  and 
the  like,  or  you  may  use,  though  less  definite,  siiih  expressions  as  a  fiuger's 
or  hand's  breadth.  You  may  also  compare  the  sizes  of  things  with  well- 
known  objects,  such  as  a  sixpence  or  a  shilling. 

In  descriptions  of  injuries,  it  is  l>etter  to  take  some  hone  Caa  a  rib)  for 
R  stjirling-point  than  a  more  variable  object  like  the  ni]»ple. 

V.  Use  the  plainest  English  you  can,  and  never  strive  to  api>ear  learned 
by  the  u«e  of  scientific  or  cant  terms.  Let  the  result  of  a  blow  be  a  bruise 
rather  than  a  cootusion;  speak  of  a  blood-clot  rather  than  of  aj>oplectic  ex- 
tnivasation. 

VI.  Do  not  answer  any  question  unless  you  both  hear  it  and  clearly 
understand  it;  and  take  care  to  give  your  own  evidence  so  as  to  be  heard 
and  uuderst-ood.  Your  evidence  given  in  a  village  inn  may  be  read  and 
commented  upon  by  the  medical  and  legal  profe^ions  throughout  the 
world. 


28 


HOW    TO    GIVE    EVIBENCE. 


VII.  Never  lt>se  your  tem|>er  in  the  witnes.*  hmx.  Your  bes^t  nieth(»d  ol 
defeuce,  If  unduly  pressed,  i^to  be  as  cuul  and  iriipertycbable  as  |>o*§ib]e. 

VIII.  Avoid  prolixity  and  Uiteless  repetiti«Hi>.  Vi>lui]ieer  an  littie  evi- 
deuee  as  fxissible ;  but  keep  bark  no  part  of  (he  irutb,  when  li^miea  are 
plaiidy  put  to  you,  aa  uothijjg  can  be  more  duntuging  to  a  case  than  tbe 
ttppeanujee  of  slniffling  or  evasioD  in  a  wiLness.  A  niodieal  or  indeed  a 
dcieutiHc  witneBS  should  never  show  himttelf  a  nifre  parlirimi.  You  should, 
therefore,  nilber  answer  questions  than  volunieer  istatemenU  in  the  ma- 
jority of  eases. 

IX.  Keep  your  (Tptniow^,  together  with  all  disputed  eircumstanc^,  tjuite 
separate  fruai  those  facts  whieh  vou  have  yourself  observed,  or  which  are 
satii+factorily  proved  by  the  evidence.  Thus  there  can  be  no  reasonable 
doubt  that  belladonrni  and  prussie  acid  are  deadly  poisons  in  certain  dose?, 
whilst  the  preeii?e  manner  in  whieh  they  kill  is  as  yet  uncertain.  Again, 
io  a  ea^e  of  cut  throat,  the  direcliori  of  a  wound  and  its  dimensions  are 
simple  matters  of  fa<*t ;  but  the  deduction  that  tbe  wound  in  fiiiestion  was 
iuflicted  by  a  left-hantled  ihitsou  or  was  homicidal  or  suicidal,  will  in  many 
cases  be  a  matter  of  opinion. 

X.  WhiUt  avoiding  undue  hesitation,  as  you  would  avoid  undue  pre- 
cipitancy, take  timeao  to  frame  your  answer  that  it  may  con%'ey  your  real 
meanings  and  be  easily  undcr'sioud.  The  use  of  exiiggerated  expressions 
should  be  avoided,  t'or  example,  we  once  heard  two  luediail  men  swear 
that  in  a  given  case  there  was  an  enormous  quantity  of  fiuid  in  the  peri- 
cardium ;  but  on  being  pressed  ait  to  thi%  quantity,  ihey  aibnitted  there  was 
only  uhont  two  ouncen, 

XI.  The  law  is  very  strict  on  the  point  of  written  uote^.  The  witness 
is  not  allowed  to  read  his  evidence,  although  he  isi  allowed  to  refresh  his 
memory  by  referring  to  his  notes.  Further,  all  notes  referred  to  in  the 
witut^S'box  must  have  been  made  at  the  time  to  which  they  refer,  or  im- 
mediately after ;  and  if  tbe  mites  theiuselvej^  are  to  be  admitted  a.^  evidence, 
they  must  be  the  originals,  and  not  copies.  You  may  not  unreasonably 
ask,  "Am  I  at  liberty  to  quoU'  authorities  in  the  witness-box?"  Ojuuions 
ditier  as  to  the  admissibiliiy  of  evidence  from  books.  As  a  rule,  judges  do 
not  favor  this,  since  you  are  culled  for  your  own  knowledge  of  facLs,  or 
your  own  opinious.  Dr.  Taylor  slates,  very  justly,  that  you  ouglit  to 
verify  all  assumed  "(juotation?"  before  assenting  to,  or  dissenting  from 
tbem,  as  counsel  may  either  wilfully,  or  by  mistake,  misrepresent  the 
author  from  whom  they  quote.  Do  not  let  any  authority,  however  emi- 
nent, shake  you  on  simple  matters  of  fact. 

Take  care  that  your  de[K>sitiot)a  are  read  over  to  y^m  before  signing 
them. 

XII.  The  highest  legal  authorities  have  decided  that  there  is  no  s[>ecial 
privilege  attaching  to  medical  uicn  with  regard  tt)  secrets  of  a  professional 
nature,  In  other  words,  no  practitioner  can  claim  exemption  fnjui  an- 
swering a  question,  because  the  answer  may  involve  a  violatiuu  of  secrecy, 
or  implicate  the  character  of  his  patient  or  friend.  Thi?^  is  the  law;  and 
however  it  may  be  defended  on  legal  grounds,  we  hope  that  there  are 
nmny  medical  men  who  would  prefer  to  sacriiice  ibeir  pergonal  liberty  to 
their  honor.  For  it  Aeems  a  monstrous  thing  that  secrets  affecting  the 
honor  of  families,  and  [perhaps  confided  to  a  medical  man  in  a  moment  of 
weakne.^,  should  be  draggetl  into  the  garish  light  of  a  law  court.  Our 
duty  here,  however,  is  .simply  to  state  the  law. 


The  Superior  CourU:  Sulfpmnfif, 
^Supposing  thec^se  In  which  the  inquest  has  been  held  ends  in  a  verdict 


FEES    PAID    TO    MEDICAL    WITNESSES. 


29 


of  mftiK^langhter,  i»r  murder,  you  will  probably  have  to  appear  at  n  police 
court,  or  before  niflgi^triiteii,  aurl  you  will  tben  be  boutid  over  to  give  evi- 
deni.'e  oti  the  trial.  Of  this  you  will  receive  due  notice.  A  sum  of  £20 
or  £40  ts  u>nully  named  as  ti  ^►eualLy  for  nou-atteudance.  No  medinal 
man  is  bound  to  atteud  ti  trial  unless  a  .aubp^'iia  has  been  plarefl  in  bis 
hiiTids  a  rea?'«>tiuble  time  l>efon'band.  In  eivil  ca;*es  a  payment  of  mme 
kind  is  needed  to  make  tbe  j^ubna-im  binding.  It  is  f^enerally  in  the  foroi 
subjoined,  wbieb  differs  but  little  from  that  used  in  the  criminal  courts: 

Victoria,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  of  tbe  United  Kingdom  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  Queen,  Defender  of  ibe  Fuitli,  To 

Greeting;  We  <*ommand  you  and  every 
of  you,  that  all  thing^s  set  aside  and  ceasing  every  excuse,  you  and  every 
of  ynit  be  and  apf>ear  in  your  pro|)er  pei^ons  before  our  justice-s  asskigued 
to  take  the  a.«)?izes  in  and  for  tbe  county  of  at 

in  tbe  t^aid  county,  on  the  day  of  by  nine  of  the 

clwk  in  the  foren<.Mjn  of  the  sauje  day,  an<l  ^n  from  day  to  day,  until  tbe 
cause  hereinafter  mentioned  Ive  tried,  to  testify  the  trutli  according  tu  your 
knowledge,  in  a  certain  actirm  now  in  our  court  bef<irc 
kt  <lepending  between  plaintiff  and 

•fendant  on  the  piart  of  the  and  at  the  aforesaid  dav  by  a 

'3ur\^  of  the  country,  between  the  parties*  afores^aid,  in  the  action  aforesaid 
to  f>e  tried ;  and  this  you  nor  any  of  you  sbsill  in  nowise  omit,  under  the 
pooalty  of  every  of  you  of  one  hundred  pounds.     Witness, 

at  Westminster,  the  day  of  in  the 

year  of  our  reign. 

A  profe-^sional  witness  sliould  a><k  for  and  obtain  ]m  rea^^onable  ex- 
sosfie;  ttUfl  he  is  not  Iwund  in  a  eivil  trial,  nor  always  in  a  police  court, 
to  give  evi<lence  until  so  paid.  But  when  once  .sworn,  he  cannot  legally 
refufiie  to  give  evidence  as  to  matters  of  fact.  If  you  are  subptenaed  to  both 
a  civil  anil  criminal  case  at  the  same  time,  you  shoidd  attend  to  the 
criminal  one,  giving  due  notice  to  the  counsel  on  the  other  case.  If  both 
subpienas  are  for  similar  courts*,  then  the  njonitiou  from  the  Superior 
"  mrt  must  have  the  first  attention.  If  from  two  cnurt-s  of  equal  authority^ 
len  thtj  summons  first  received  should  be  ol>eyed.  You  cannot  recover 
"any  fees  urdess  you  are  duly  registered.  The  following  are  the  fees  legally 
claimable  by  n>edical  men  summoned  as  witnesses  when  there  is  no  special 
agreement  as  to  fee?*.  (See  A  Ma  nun  I  of  the  Lawn  affecting  Medical  Men  ^ 
by  R.  G.  Glen,  LL.B..  Barrister  at  Law.     Churebills.) 

In  the  Superior  Courts,  and  in  lupiity,  £1  l.-*.  a  day,  if  resident  in  the 
litwn  in  which  the  cause  is  tried;  £2  2--*.  to  £3  3x.  a  day,  if  resident  at  a 
d-stiince  from  the  place  of  trial,  inclusive  of  all  except  travelling  expenses. 
If  the  witnes.s  altencl  in  more  than  one  cause,  he  is  entifle<l  to  a  propor- 
tioiijite  part  in  each  cause  only.  For  travelling  expenses,  the  amount 
reasonably  and  actually  paid  is  allowed,  provided  it  does  not  exceed  1*. 
per  mile  one  way.  In  tlie  Prubate  Court,  £1  1».  a  day,  if  resident  within 
five  miles  of  the  General  Post  Office;  £3  *i<.  a  day,  if  resident  beyond  that 
distance  (inclu<ling  board  and  lodging ).  The  .''ame  allowance  for  travelling 
expenses  as  in  tbe  Superior  Courts.  In  ^be  Divorce  Court,  £1  li*,  a  day, 
if  resident  within  five  miles  of  the  General  Poi*t  Office.  From  £2  2^. 
to  £3  'M.  a  day,  if  resident  beyond  that  distance  (including  board  an<l 
l*Klging).  The  same  allowance  as  in  tbe  IVobute  Court  fur  travelling  cx- 
petise*.  In  the  House  of  Lords,  physicians  and  surgeons  £2  2/*.  a  day,  and 
£1  ^*.  a  day  for  hotel  expenses  if  from  home.     Apothecaries  £1  1j».  aday, 

id  the  same  allowance  for  hotel  expenses.     Higher  charges  are  allowed 


HOW    TO    MAKB    A    "POST-MORTEM* 

undtT  special  cireumatanoes.     Buodays  do  not  count  as  time.     The  «um 

ijeees?arily  esjiended  is  allowed  for  imvelling  expenses.  In  the  County 
Court,  from  10.'<.  to  £1  a  day.  For  travt'llinj^exiH^n-^^'j'*,  the  sum  reasouahly 
paid,  not  more  than  tW.  a  mile  one  vvav.  In  tin*  Adininilly  Court,  from 
£1  1^.  to  £3  3^.  a  day  jineluding  board  and  lodging).  The  same  allow- 
ance us  in  the  Superior  Courtn  ff)r  trn veiling  exfxMisiC^.  In  the  Bankruptry 
Court,  £1  L*.  a  day,  if  rei^ident  in  the  tf»\vn  in  whieh  the  court  ia^  held. 
Pnmi  £1  1^,  to  £3  3n,  a  day,  if  rei^ident  at  a  distance  from  the  court  I  in- 
cluding subsistence).  Travelling  cxpen.^es  Id.  a  mile  one  way,  where  no 
railway  h  available^  or  expenses  actually  incurn^d.  In  the  Lord  May(»r'8 
Court.  lO-*.  iUL  to  £1  U,  a  day,  and  the  same  allowance  for  travelling  ex- 
pcrise?*  as  in  the  Superior  Ctnirts,  The  expenses  of  witnescie^  in  moiji  ciues 
of  mi:*demeanor,  and  in  all  cashes  of  felojiy,  are  now  allowed.  On  an  ex- 
amination before  a  magistrate,  a  sum  not  exceeding  Uh.  (yd.  may  he  allowed 
to  a  medical  witne^  residing  in  the  city,  borough,  or  pariinh  where  the 
examination  takes  place,  or  within  two  mile*  thereof,  and  to  such  a  witness 
residing  beyond  that  distance  a  sum  not  to  exctn-d  £1  1^.  For  mileage, 
a  sum  not  exceeding  3*7.  a  mile  each  way.  Medical  wilncftses  attending 
Courts  of  Assize,  General  Se^^sions  of  the  Peace,  etc.,  lo  give  profetssional 
evidence,  but  not  otherwise,  may  be  allowed  £l  [h.  a  day,  with  2^.  for 
every  night  they  are  detained  from  home,  and  for  mileage,  a  sum  not 
exceeding  3t/.  a  mile  each  way.  Every  legally  quali5e<t  practitioner  who 
has  attended  at  a  coroner's  inquest,  in  obedience  to  a  coroner's  order,  is 
entitled  to  a  fee  of  £1  1*.  for  attending  to  give  evidence,  where  no  p<»8t- 
mortem  examination  has  been  made,  and  to  a  fee  of  £2  2j9.  for  making  a 
post-mortem  examination,  and  attending  to  give  evidence.  No  fee  can, 
however,  be  claimed  for  the  [)erforman<'e  r>f  u  post-morlem  examination 
instituted  without  the  previous  ilii-eciion  of  the  coroner.  These  fees  are 
to  be  ailvanced  and  paid  by  the  oiironer  immediately  after  the  terminatioo 
of  the  iufjUe^t. 

In  a  |>rotnicled  trial  it  i*  not  generally  necessary  that  you  should  attend 
the  whole  of  each  day  ;  but  it  is  necessary,  in  onler  to  legally  claim  your 
(eoii,  that  you  should  aiteiul  the  court  at,  or  just  before  its  first  opening 
each  day,  when  you  can  generally  ascertain  whether  your  evi<lence  is  likely 
to  be  required  for  that  day.  Fees  are  not  recoverable  from  attorneys,  but 
only  from  the  principals  in  an  action ;  and  it  does  not  appear  that  large 
fees  are  recoverable  at  all.  A  skilled  witness  should,  therefore,  take  care 
to  be  paid  bel'ore  giving  his  evidence,  if  he  has  any  doubts  of  the  honor 
of  those  retaining  him. 


CHAPTER  II. 


Examinfltion  of  hodiofl  fuiind  doHt]— Wpi(;ht  nnd  »ixQ  of  vuriaui  organs- 

morU'm  digestion. 


Po«t- 


Ilotv  to  make  a  **  Pod-morttm^*  Examination, 

TriK  first  thing  you  have  to  do,  when  called  to  a  caee  of  sup[>oscd  death, 
should  he  li»  ascertain  the  fact  of  death  itself,  {i^e  Chapter  IH,  on  the 
Signs  of  Death.)  Being  saHsfied  that  Ihe  body  found  by  you  is  truly  a 
corpse,  it  is  well  to  observe  some  mtthod  in  the  j>osl-mortem  examination. 
The  same  general  rules  apply  to  all  case^  in  which  it  is  considered  advis- 


HOW   TO    MAKB    A    *^' POST -MOBTBM. 


31 


'inch  an  pxaminatioiueven  when  there  is  no  pni^pect  of  le^l 
]  •  r^.     And  the  same  habit  of  (rareful,  minute,  and  methodical  in- 

•1'  '  be  of  immense  J«erviee  in  you  in  rases  of  severe  injury  or  acei- 

ocnt,  even  when  life  is  not  extinct.  Dr  Lethehy  has  shown  ^*'  Lancet,"  vol. 
U  1^*>.  \h  410,  etc.)  that  such  a  methmlicaJ  inquiry,  if  you  keep  careful 
i>oie«.  «ill  otien  $ave  you  much  "  badgering"  and  confusion  when  in  the 
rime—  K,  ,v  He  algo  f>oiiit«  out  that  medical  men  are  far  too  apt  to  draw 
[y  in*!,  and  to  assume,  for  instance,  the  reality  of  poi.soning,  on 

;ry  uj-uui-  m  ut  evidence.     We  believe  that  there  i^  much  improvement 
thi*  Qialicr  in  the  thirty  years  which  have  elapsed  since  his  paper  was 
ill*?ti,     Bui  there  is  still  room  for  much  further  improvement.     As  re- 
LrtU  pij(?t-mortera  examinationiK,  three  or  four  general  remarks  seem  desir- 
befon*  proceeiling  to  more  minute  details,  viz. : 

I.  Before  you  digiturh  the  bmlv  at  all,  carefully  note  its  position  and 
sflrrttundingii.  Very  slight  knowledge  of  drawing  will  easily  enable  you 
to  make  a  rough  sketch  of  the  position  of  the  body,  especially  as  relate 
to  article**  of  furniture,  and  the  position  of  blood-stain*,  etc.,  etc. 

Tbe  lioUuwiug  i»ketvh  will  illu^tnite  our  meaning: 

Fin.  1. 


4. 1*  fco— ;  li,*cr*«iiU'  bvclr^MHri :  c,  kltctieu;  l^  liaek>l[Ueli«rn ;  k,  Anlrj;  P,  table;  g,  dretser; 

'.  wtnlrob?;  3^  coroer  cuplM>gint;  4.  Uiit  rastloK  girl's  iH-^tlcnd ;  S,  hvad  of 
V  i'ii<bt«^J  r«n(llc»'irrrp  |ilncc<Hii  Uie  cvvuiit({  dud  ul«(hl-liine  of  thn  litst  wutch  ; 

It,  la*  <»  i       :  Ihi'u  pr<3«<«;  M,  »,  Ute  two  chain  in  which  Ih*  nunw*  r««|i««Uvel]r  «k|  anil  wticbcd  r 

Jk  •tvrlTI-A. 

(■f  tijil  ^KrmJMloQ ttf  Vr,  TomUt, from  hb  (hmplttt  JlMorf  qf  tht  WUsh  J^uting  Girt,  p. 30] 


If  ytvi  fSeel  unequal  to  thi«  graphic  method,  you  can  at  least  describe  in 

and  put  down  meamiremenUi  in  feet  and  inches. 
n    "  *        von  {'omc  to  examine  the  bo<ly  itself,  proceed  methtMlically, 

5  the  out>ide,  and  going  on  to  the  inside  seriatim. 
J  I.  iiu  not  be  i>aii^fied  with  ojiening  only  one  cavity,  such  as  the  tho- 
mx  or  tib<!<>mfn.     I>ct  your  post-mortem  examination  l>e  "  thorough." 
I^  ir  notee,  however  rough,  l>e  dated,  paged,  and  hav«  the  name 

r  the  deceased,  or  some  otiier  fact  tending  tosvardi^  idcntitica' 
sarly  niarkM  upon  them — and  the  time  (if  known)  which  has 
fUice  death. 

We  now  come  to  matters  of  tletail,  and  observe — 
^l. )  Tliat   rou  nhould  carefully  examine  and  note  the  attitude  of  the 
ljr»Io  tee  if  there  be  anything  MiggciJtive  of  a  struggle,  or  violent  death, 
'  ou  or  otherwise.     Lwk  for  weapooti,  and  traces  of  bloo*!,  and  for 


32 


HOW    TO    MAKE    A    '*  POST-MORTEM, 


cups  or  ht^ittlcs  which  may  have  coutained  poison.  For  example,  prusftU 
acid  is  oiU-n  given  or  taken  in  beer,  and  araenic  in  tea  or  coftee,  or  in  aolk 
articles  of  food, 

(2.)  h  the  body  clothed?  or  wholly  or  partially  naked?  Are  the 
clothes  injured  or  stained  ? 

(3.)  iS\ite  carefully  the  position  of  the  limbs.  Are  they  rigid?  (See 
P,  M.  Kijridily,  p.  40.)  If  the  fingei*ei  or  toes  are  clenched,  i^ee  if  there  be 
anything  held  between  them.  Kxatnine  the  nails  also.  In  struggles,  hairs 
or  portions  of  f^kin  or  ciotbing  may  be  found  ;  whilst  in  drowning,  sand  or 
weed^B  may  be  met  with. 

(4, }  (.'arefully  uole  the  coh»r  and  expression  of  the  face.  Are  the  eyes 
"dreadfully  elaring"  or  "decently  closed"  (T.  Hood)?  What  is  the 
color  of  the  conjurictivaj?  Are  the  pupils  large^  aman,  or  unequal?  I« 
the  mouth  ojjcu,  or  the  teeth  clenched  ?  Is  there  froth  about  the  mouth, 
or  any  petuliur  smell?  (Chloroform,  pru.srric  acid,  etc.)  The  face  will 
generally  be  livid  after  apoplexy,  death  from  suflbcutiou  (hanging,  ete.), 
or  where  much  struggling  has  preceded  death,  or  in  natural  niixles  of 
death  \u  which  the  lungs,  right  heart,  and  venous  system  are  much  gorged. 
It  ie,  however,  usually  pale  after  death  from  acids,  even  priissic  acid,  al- 
kalies, most  vegetable  poisons,  blows  upon  the  epigastrium,  and  injuries  to 
vital  organs.  On  the  otlier  hand,  in  poisoning  by  alcohol,  opium,  the 
oxides  of  carbon,  and  cliloroform,  it  may  he  either  pale  or  red,  In  most 
violent  deaths,  and  after  severe  hiemorrhages,  the  features  are  convulsed, 
Apiplexy,  opium,  carbonic  acid,  and  other  narcotics,  often  give  ii  calm 
lcK)k,  whilst  corrosive  poisons,  especially  such  as  prwluce  severe  ahdomiual 
symptoms,  frequently  give  a  pinched  and  anxious  expression,  like  the  lacies 
hippocratica. 

Note  the  condition  of  the  gum**  and  teeth.    Has  the  tongue  been  bitten  ? 

(5.)  Now  remove  all  clothes  from  the  body.     Carefully  examine  for 

irs,  lathmingT?,  najvi,  and  other  means  of  identification.  Note  if  urine, 
Pieces,  srmen  or  any  other  discharge  have  taken  place.    (^Ve  Ilaiigiog,  etc.) 

{G. )  Now  note  if  the  budy  be  fat  or  thin — lake  care  nut  to  mistake 
dropsy  or  gaseous  distension  \nr  fat.  Kxamiuc  carefully  for  external 
wounds,  marks  of  burns,  blisters,  etc.  If  you  find  any  wounds  in  the 
throat  or  elsewhere,  note  tfieir  dlrectinn  and  depth  ;  in  other  words,  are 
they  deepest  from  right  to  left  or  vice  verm ;  how  fur  do  they  extend,  and 
if  they  were  prolonged  in  the  same  line,  where  would  the  knife,  bullet,  or 
other  weapon  emerge?  Jf  tieceviary,  dissect  carefully  to  see  what  parts 
are  iujplicatcd.  Nute  if  there  be  any  marks  of  a  cord  round  the  neck. 
If  you  lind  a  cord,  note  where  the  ki»ot  is,  front  or  back,  via  in  suicide  it 
is  generally  in  front  Note  the  con<lition  of  the  edges  of  woun<ls — make 
incisions  into  bruise*,  aufl  note  the  presence  or  absence  of  blood  and  clots. 
jyr.  Letheby  has  pointed  out  that  wounds  inHictcd  after  death  generally 
dry  and  discolor  rapidly  upou  the  edges,  "acquiring  a  brownish  parch- 
ment-like appearance.'* 

(7.)  Note  all  circumstances  tending  to  throw  any  light  upon  the  time 
an  well  as  the  mode  of  death.  The  chief  of  them  are  (1 )  the  temperature; 
(2)  the  amount  or  absence  of  rigidity  ;  f  •^)  the  extent  of  putretaction  or 
other  cliHinge.     {See  Chapter  III  on  Si^Mis  of  J)^»th.) 

(6.)  You  should  now  proceed  to  make  an  exaraiuation  of  the  head  and 
other  organs  in  a  systematic  manner,  as  follows: 

First,  make  an  incision  from  car  to  ear  across  the  head,  down  to  the 
bone,  and  reflect  the  scalp.  Before  doing  this,  if  the  hair  be  very  thick, 
It  may  be  well,  in  a  doubtful  ca?e  of  injury,  to  remove  some  of  it,  or  even 
t«i  shave  the  head.  ,This  is,  however,  very  seldom  necessary.  Note  the 
amount  of  blood   in  the  acalp,  and  look  !or  fractures  or  injuries  to  the 


HOW    TO    MAKK    A   "POST-MORTEM,"  S8 

'6!ble  of  the  ^kull.  Saw  carefully  rounfl  the  skull^  about  half  an 
ttkvh  »l>ove  the  meHtus>  auditonus  exteruu.<,  remove  the  calvunii»*  and 
m\u:  the  ctmciitiou  of  the  diira  rnater.  The  dura  mater  should  now 
hm  caivfuUy  cut  round  with  a  probe- y)oiu ted  scissors  or  bistoury,  and 
the  ri^-  '  '-'  *i  of  the  arachnoid  and  pia  mater  noted*  Now  remove  the 
hmiix  — note  the  condition  of  it*4  baseband  of  the  sinuses  there, 

mkI  prK-eru  ui  slice  the  brain.  The  principal  appearancejii  to  look  for  are, 
goPigaation,  AXtra valuation,  such  as  apo]>!ectic  ck^ts,  effusion  of  serum  or 
bT  "  *  upb,  pu^,  hydatids,  aneurism  or  blocking  of  vessels,  and  tumors 
ii  it  or  simple).! 

i^.  *  >mw  proceed  to  the  examination  of  the  gpinai  cord  and  its  mem- 
kDe» — ^awin^r  or  otherwise  cutting  throyj^h  the  laininw  of  the  v^ertebrpe 
m  «!'  hpinoue  processes  with  great  caution  ;  make  sectious  of 

tll«  c*  n[  part8.    Carefully  note  the  apfiearauce^  (if  blood  welk 

up.  el«\  I. 

1  \U.)  Now  prix:«ed  (turning  the  b<x]y  over)  to  the  examination  of  the 
ch«>c  aofi  abdomen.  Make  a  lon^r  iuci^^iou  from  a  little  above  the  lop  of 
tlic  tiejuuui  down  to  tlie  pube«i.  Cut  through  and  reilect  mii&»cles  ano  iu- 
te^nefttA  aj*  U>w  &«  the  ensifi^rm  cartilage — afterward.^  reflect  only  the 
•kin  frt>m  thence  to  the  pubes.  With  your  thumb  on  the  back  of  your 
knife,  and  it-'  edge  laterulized,  cut  carefully  through  the  sternoclavicular 
tjpmeiito,  Aiid  the  cartilages  of  the  rib:«.  In  very  old  people,  or  if  o>csiH- 
m$iaikmi  Ikcie  cartilages  has  occurred,  cutting  pliers  or  a  saw  may  have 
to  b#  OMKi.  Not^  if  bluotl  flows*  freely  from  the  cut  integuments.  Be 
very  can^ul  not  to  wotind  the  large  vein?  of  the  neck,  etc.  Reflect  the 
•iefii«itn«  mai  note  if  the  lung»  l>e  co)lap?»ed  or  All  the  chest.  Are  the 
lunjr^  adbpffot?  Is  there  any  fluid  in  the  pleural  cavitiefs^  or  in  the  peri- 
c:  Are  the  heart's  cavities  full  or  empty?     What  is  the  color 

»  ti«  «nd  of  the  blood  in  the  heart,  etc.?    Is  it  coagulated  ?     Kx- 

a  :hr  large  vessels.     Abo  the  whole  of  the  air-pa.ssage.«.     It  may 

be  i. ,iry  t<»  prolong  the  fii"»t  incision  in  the  skin  up  to  the  chin,  then 

nrdoct  llic  »kin  m»  l»r  back  as  possible,  plunge  the  knife  in  just  under  and 
|^K.«  .L.,  •yuiphyuis  of  the  jaw,  so  as  to  emerge  in  the  mouthy  carry  it  along 
«  inner  nurface  of  the  lower  jaw  on  each  eide  a*  far  as  the  bone 

tu-uu-j  then  wize  the  tongue  from  below,  and  divide  the  velum  pendu- 
palati  with  your  knife,  dragging  the  tongue  forward  all  the  time, 
nrpqtralc  the  pharA-nx.etc,  and  then  continue  to  make  traction  on  the 
taapK  till  the  pharynx,  larynx,  trachea,  and  ler-ophagUfi  have  been  re- 
inuil  Open  the  larynx  and  trachea  and  look  for  foreign  bodies,  fal;§e 
■imbwuH^.  mark*  of  corrfM^iou,  etc.  81  it  up  the  bronchi  in  the  same  way, 
aot)  tnaki  of  the  lung^. 

A#  iioijii  iMjrax  ii  empty,  examiDe  further  for  fractures  or  disea.«e 

i>f  ri1»  iir  vertebne. 


•  Thi.  wunl. 

lil(ik    ti-liin«'M 


r^ammttt. 


which  it  fftntniiiif',  t*  ofU'fi  written  ralvariuoi.  a»  if  nculor  Dr. 
►  «.)«'f  ivcd  from  rairro,  to  b«  b**ld,  lH>eou*«  ii  U  \h**  purt  tJr^l  MflV^cUKi 

It  i«  lh*«  ariNUXDiiiil  nMiiJo  for  that  porlron  of  ihn  «»k«itl  which  U 
fvrbtl*,  ti'mpic*,  find  <K-c'ipitnl  pp)tut>«rMricc«.     C«'Uu»  iiaoa  i(  for  iho 

«♦.  ••("alvarv,"  '*  the  |i)Mce  of  k  «kull,"  in  our  £figli»h  VHrtiun  of 

ritrinnl  h»'in{;  **  (itAi*itl\nn,'* 

hcud,  lhi«  pnrt  ^bouhl  bo  rniik('<l.     Thi<  budy 

l.lr,  Niid  N  plu;;  shfnitil  Ih'^  iriNt'rlt'd  in  th<*  hirgo 

fi}{  «*ut      N'mc*  ri'i'ii'miiM'nd  opmiiig  the  ch»^t 

r  fnifity,  thrn  opcninu  iho  xkuU, 

^     '-r   U**nn  for  Ihi'xH  purpiHOA,  thfV   mil«t  be  rx- 

^bituid  <5XiiTi)in(«  m)I  thi*  lurgt*  ▼(•»i««U,  and  aUo  thv  mrttrnwy 

iiute  any  abnurniNlilii'*  of  xlruftun*  whtrb  tna^  bi:  proHont  I  Mb 


34 


HOW    TO    MAKE    A    "POST -MORTEM.*' 


(11  ♦)  Now  proceed  to  the  exaraination  of  the  ahdomen.  Doting  Us  eon- 
tenti*,  ami  the  general  appearance  of  the  viscera  and  peritoneum.  Look 
for  Htraiipnhitlon  of  intestinoj?,  iniu^siiseeptions,  Internal  herniju,  et<".  If 
you  find  iihod,  look  for  lareratif)ii8  of  J  lie  liver,  spleen^  kidueya,  etr.  Never 
forget  to  examine  the  pelvic  organs,  and  particularly  the  bladder,  ovaries, 
and  uterus.  Young  women  nojitetimes  die  suddenly  <if  apoplexy  of  die  ovary 
or  of  jielvic  ha»matocele9.  Fatal  injurieM  may  he  inflicted  through  the  anus 
(Edward  II),  or  the  vagina,  or  Isihia  pudeitdi,  and  |)«iwns  have  even  been 
introduced  in  thi.s  way.     (Ed.  **  Med.  ar»d  8urg.  Jour.,"  vol,  xxxv,  p.  85.) 

AlWr  poiH>ning  hy  arsenic,  the  intestincji  are  Mmietioies  yellowed  by 
formation  of  orpinient.  Sulphuric  and  other  mifiera]  acids  may  eauj^e  a 
blackened  or  hiuinh  appearance.  Iron  ftaltft  cause  greenish  or  blaekish 
coloration.  Place  a  ligature  around  the  a-sophageal  end  of  the  stontach, 
and  two  around  the  first  part  of  the  dutHicnum.  Remove  the  stomach, 
cutting  hcturcn  fhv  two  li^ahtren  hist  titti.  Note  its  external  coltjr,  apjjear- 
ance,  and  !*me!l,  and  put  it  unopene4l  into  a  clean  bottle  or  jar,  and  seal 
it  up  for  further  examination.  Besides  sealing,  it  must  be  so  labelled  as 
to  prevent  any  mistake.  The  stouiach  itself  should  aflerwardy  he  care- 
fully examined  with  a  lens  and  the  finger,  for  t'olid  particles  of  phoispho- 
ni3,  arsenic,  corrosive  sublimate,  or  other  fM>isons.  for  seed.s  and  [)ortion8 
of  leaves,  crystals,  pigments,  or  articles  of  food,  and  for  the  condition  of 
its  mucous  membrane. 

The  contents  of  the  duwienum,  and  of  the  rectum,  together  with  the 
stomach,  and  portions  of  the  liver,  or  other  organs  should  be  put  in  clean 
widemoutheil  botiles  or  jar?:,  and  duly  labelled  and  sealed.  The  whole  of 
the  intejitinal  tract  must  he  examined.  You  ought  to  be  familiar  with  the 
appearances  produced  by  syphilis,  tufwrcle,  typhoid  fever,  etc,  and  a.-* 
regards  ulcers  ami  perforations,  we  may  remark  that  any  person  familiar 
with  the  poHt-morteu)  room,  can  scarcely  mi.stake  the  rounded  and  thick- 
enetl  edges  of  chronic  ulcers  for  the  thinned  and  frayed  condition  of  the 
i)erforations  caused  hv  corrosive  fluids  and  irritant  poisons.  On  the  other 
hand  great  care  should  be  taken  not  to  cut  or  tear  the  organs  in  removal. 
Do  not  forget  to  examine  the  oesophagus  as  well  as  the  mouth  and  pharynx. 
In  examining  the  latter,  great  asaistanee  may  be  derived  from  the  large 
mirror  of  the  laryngos^cope. 

The  following  are  the  average  weights  and  measuremeufs  of  the  viscera 
in  health.  Borne  allowance  must  be  made  for  extremes  (either  way)  of 
height  and  weight.     The  nteasuremenli?  are  in  inches : 

Heart— Adult  Mitk',  .11    oz.  >  U^unllv  hIkmH  the  »Tzr»  of  iho 

••  ••      K<'mnlo.  .       9     ••    /     t-Iosod  list  (6  x  3^  x  2^). 

Bnun— Adull  M»le,  .         .    .     .     40|   " 
••  "       Fenmle 44      ♦» 

Spinnl  Cord  I    ox.  to    If  "      18  inches  long. 

LlvtT,      .  60     "    ••  fiO      *       12x4x2. 

PHncrPMB,  2J   '•    "    8|    •♦ 

Spjpoa, 6     •«     ic    7     .. 

Luiigg^AdiiU  Mule,      .     .     ,     .     45     •*    1  rn  ,^,t    . 
-  -       Femile..     .     .  82     ••    }  Together. 

Thyroid  bfxlv 1    oz.  to    2     " 

Tlivmu?  Hi  b'irili, J   «• 

KidntyMog*»iber,    ,     .     .     .     .      fl     •' (4^  x  2J  x  I  each). 

Sijprnr(Mi«l  i'i«p&ulc8,       ....       2  drnchins, 

Pri>*t»it*»  gUoid, ♦)        " 

Tt'S'licle?,  together,    .     ,      J  oz.  to    1    oz* 

Unimp»g„.,cduteru.,     .    .    .       {  I,";  !f„t™;;';;:'}.1  »  2  x  1  incb«. 
(The**;  weight*  nro  chiefly  Inken  from  '^QuHin's  Aniitomy,"  7th  ed  ] 

*  Mr  Curling  ttntes  tho  averHge  weight  of  u  Itealtby  teniole  to  bo  6  dra!'hm». 


BURTINO    ALIVE. 


35 


Til  the  examination  of  the  abclomen,  the  caution  piven  under  the  head- 

int?  of  post  mortem  stains  or  hypostases  is  e.-*pefially  necessary,  namely, 

liot  to  eonfu.*e  those  wliioh  are  found  in  the  most  dependent  parts  with  the 

Inflects  of  iuflanmmtion,  either  from  natural  cauiies,  or  from  violence  or 

|H)i}*on. 

As  rejrards  the  stomach,  it  is  aUo  very  neceisisary  to  remember  that 
brandy  and  other  stimulaoi."*  given  just  before  deaths  produce  reddening 
of  the  mucous^  uiembrane.  The  .sti^mftch  alfio  undergoes  digestion,  or  post- 
mortem solution,  which  npp<*ars  to  have  attracted  thp  attention  of  John 
Hunter,  who.-e  de.*cription  is  subjoined.  He  says:  "There  are  very  few 
^dea<l  bodies  in  which  the  stonmch  at  its  j^reat  end  is  not  in  some  degree 
^digested  ;  and  one  who  is  acquainted  with  dinsectionsi  can  easily  trace  these 
gradaticms.  To  be  sensible  of  this  effect,  noticing  more  is  necessary  than 
lo  compare  the  inner  surface  of  the  great  em!  of  the  stomach  with  auy 
other  part  of  its  inner  surface,  the  sound  portions  will  apjiear  soft.,  spongy, 
and  granulated,  and  without  di.<4tinct  b!oo€lves>seli^,  opaque  and  tliick,  while 
the  others  will  appear  smooth,  thin,  imd  more  transparent,  and  (he  vessels 
will  be  seen  ramifying  in  its  substance;  and  upon  squeezing  the  blood  which 
they  contain  from  the  larger  branches  to  the  smaller,  it  will  be  ftnind  to 
pass  ont  at  the  digested  end  of  the  vessels,  and  to  appear  like  drops  on  the 
inner  surface."  ( Hunter's  "  Animal  fv-ouomy."  Owen's  edition,  p.  119.) 
If  this  dig&sition  has  been  aftive,  the  stomach  is  often  found  perforated, 
and  its  contents  escaped.  Dr.  Fen  wick  ("  Morbid  States  of  the  Stoinach  and 
Duodenum,"  pp.  42-47)  entei's  into  this*  subject  with  some  detail.  In  j>er- 
8<ms  suddenly  killed,  as  by  lightning,  whilst  digestion  is  going  on,  in 
phthisis  and  other  diseascj?  with  acid  dyspefisia,  and  in  persons  i^uflering 
from  cerebral  disease,  especially  in  warm  weather,  this  post-mortem  diges- 
ttoo  will  be  most  conspicuous. 


CHAPTER  IIL 


lurying  nliv(>— Siern*  of  deiith — P"st-mnrtem  icinpRrMtur«»« — Posl-morlem 
r»|«:idily  — pLilrefj»clii»n — Adip<fcere — Order  of  s.jgns  nf  dettth. 

TnKRE  is  a  widely  prevalent  idea  that  premature  interment,  or  in  other 
words,  *•  burying  alive,"  is  a  common  practice.  Careful  and  ut»prcjndiced 
inquiry  leads  to  the  conclui-ion  that  the  frequency  of  this  event  hsis  been 
enormously  exaggerated.  Yet  it  can  scarcely  be  doubled  that  in  hot 
countries,  and  sometimes  even  in  temperate  climes,  persons  who  were  not 
really  dead  have  been  buried  ;  either  from  fear  of  contagion,  during  the 
prevalence  of  epidemics  such  as  cholera,  the  plague,  and  other  infectious 
diseiasee;  or  sometimes  from  won?^  motives^  by  interested  relatives;  at  other 
times,  particularly  in  hot  countries,  from  the  practice  of  burying  on  the 
day  of,  f)r  the  day  after,  death.  The  most  important  prizes  at  the  disposal 
of  the  Paris  Academy  of  Sciences  in  1873  were  those  founded  by  the  Mar- 
quis il'Ourches  in  reference  to  this  very  subject.  The  principal  prize  was 
^m  euin  of  20,(K>0  francs  (£800)  "  for  the  discovery  of  a  simple  and  popular 
loHe  of  recognizing  ihe  signs  of  real  death,  in  a  certain  and  indubitable 
manner,  a  methotl  which  mav  b»»  put  into  practice  by  poor  uneducated  vil- 
lagers." The  other  prize  of  TjOfM)  francs  (£200)  is  to  be  given  for  "the 
discovery  of  a  scientific  method  of  recognizing  with  certainty  the  signs  of 


SIONS    OF    DEATH. 


ftctual  {ieath/*  The  great  prize  has  not  yet  been  fl  warded,  and  only  a  por- 
tion of  the  Miialler  ooe.  In  Great  Britain  interment  \h  s^eldom  >*o  rapid  as 
in  foreign  coiintrie?*,  and  it  is  therefore  seldom  puj^s^ilile  for  f^o  liorrible  a 
catastrophe  ay  the  burying  of  the  quick  witii  the  dead,  to  occur  The 
question  uf  the  reality  of  death,  which  is  far  fron*  beiiiL:  n>  sinjple  ha  popii- 
Jar  proverbs  *' dead  as  a  door-uail,"  and  the  Itke  would  seem  to  iruply»  is 
howe\'er  likely  to  be  frequently  referred  to  tlie  medical  practitioner,  on  one 
or  more  of  the  following  occasions : 

Ist.  Tho»e  who  liave  a  great  dread  of  being  thus*  untimely  disposed  of, 
Bonielimes  ordain  by  will,  that  before  being  **  fastened  down  in  their  eof- 
fini>,"  their  bodie.s  ^hall  be  exaniioed  by  one  or  more  competent  metlic&l 
men, 

2<l.  During  <'old  weather,  the  signs  of  putrefaction  are  very  slow  in  ap- 
pearing;  and  certain  mode»  of  death  are  either  **o  quick  and  pninle««,  or 
8o  gmdual  and  imp<^rcepiible  in  their  progrej*,  that  the  exterual  apfwar- 
ance  of  the  corpse  diHen?  little  from  that  of  the  living  person.  Anxious 
relative?!  are  therefore  unwilling  to  lose  their  '*  beloved  dea«l  "  (uit  of  their 
sight,  unle-*is  skilled  medical  opiiiiuii  declares  the  reality  of  death. 

Hd.  Although  really  incloded  in  the  last  heading,  it  may  [HThaps  be 
worth  ui»ting  separately,  that  certain  accidenUs,  such  i\^  railway  cotlisions, 
producing  shoi-K  or  coucusj^ion,  and  compression  ;  and  mining  accidents, 
or  the  effects  of  poisonous  ga,se.*^  often  lead  to  medical  mmi  being  consulted 
as  to  the  reality  of  death,  by  the  officials  whose  duty  it  is  to  provide  for 
the  safety  of  the  wounded  an<l  injured, 

4th.  There  are  cases  in  which  the  lingular  phenomena  commonly  known 
as  **a  trance,"  have  precedeil  death,  or  are  smnpectcd  to  exist, 

5th.  In  some  case^  of  succe^wion  to  pniperty  of  large  arnoAiut,  a  medical 
witness  may  be  asked  to  certify  the  reality  of  death.  There  tnay  be  other 
reasons  not  mentioned,  but  in  any  case  the  iliity  of  the  medical  man,  in 
the  prew?nt  .«^tate  of  our  knowledge,  is  clearly  uut  to  be  miinfiM  with  ant/ 
one,  or  evtin  tuv  of  the  ordinary  ttigns  of  (irath  .^  but  to  reju^f  n  certifintte  of 
death  in  nil  runfa  whtre  n  mnjuritt/  nf  the  tritfUi*  meuiiutied  btlinr  are  (tbnent. 
It  is  t«urelv  better  to  wait  a  few  houra,  or  even  dayw,  than  to  incur  so  hor- 
rible a  riek. 

What  then  are  the  "Sigue  of  Death  T 
Briefly  they  are  aa  follows : 

1st.  Entire  ee*mtion  of  the  hearCs  action,  not  for  a  few  seconds  only,  but 
continuously.  Mere  absence  of  the  puUe  at  the  wrist,  or  even  in  other 
arlerie»»,  iw  not  enough,  an  this  may  be  found  in  cholera,  abdominal  col- 
lapse, and  other  kinds  of  shock,  etc.  Careful  auscultation  and  palpation 
of  the  canliac  region,  in  a  quiet  room,  can  alone  decide  the  ab^-ence  of 
cardiac  action.  In  doubtful  casei?  it  wtiuld  be  better  to  employ  acupunc- 
ture of  the  left  ventricle,  and  the  stimulus  of  a  galvanic  ahwk  to  the  car- 
diac region.  It  is  well  known  that  two  sounds  are  caused  by  the  heart'i* 
working,  which  have  been  compared  to  lub  dup'p,  Ifib  drip'[»,  etc.,  but  io 
cases  of  great  wt>akne^,  only  the  second  s«iund  may  be  audible^ — a  blow- 
ing sound  (bruit)  posrsibly  replacing  one  or  both  of  these  iu  C4uses  of  valvu- 
lar disease  of  the  heart,  of  great  aujemia  (poverty  of  blood  i.  Dr.  G.  W. 
Balfour  has  pointed  out  that  tine  needles  with  little  cork  or  paper  flags 
will  oflen  render  cardiac  movements  visible  where  not  previously  so.  It 
is  doubtful,  however,  if  this  he  available  in  cases  such  as  wc  are  dej*crib- 
ing.  It  should  lie  remembered  that  there  is  a  *'  pulse  "  wherever  an  artery 
is  superficial  enough  to  communicate  its  stroke  to  the  expli>riug  finger,  as 
ill  the  facial,  the  carotids  of  the  ueck,  the  brachial,  radial,  ulnar,  fe[uoral, 


6IOK8   OF   DEATH* 


87 


popliteal,  and  anterior  and  posterior  tibial  arteries.  N.  B.  Negative  evi- 
deace  IVoni  steth«iscopic  examination  of  the  hearty  great  vessel**,  or  lungs, 
lean  only  be  considered  decisive  when  done  mine  hours  after  the  supposed 
I'deatl).  Thf^re  are  many  instances  on  rectird  of  recovery  of  infants*  and 
iyr»ung  children  after  the  heAri  had  apparently  ceased  to  beat  for  at  least 
in  quarter  of  au  hour.  (See  Drowning. )  The  phenomena  of  hiHeniatitni 
must  not  be  forgotten.  M.  Buuchut  states  that  the  marmot  or  ntounlaiii 
rut  during  ite  lorpi^i  state  has  only  some  M-10  beats  of  the  heart  per  minute, 
whilst  at  uther  times  the  heart-beats  are  80-yO.  He  further  states  that  in 
syncope  the  beaU  of  the  heurt  can  almost  always  be  heard  by  an  expe- 
rienced Rf«cuUator  in  a  rjuiet  room.  Dr.  Tayhir  recommends  half  an  liour 
lo  be  gpent  in  auswultation.  It  wouhl  surely  be  better  to  auscultate  at  in* 
terval»  of  hulf  an  hour  or  more.  The  heart,  and  particularly  it$  right 
lauricle,  "  ultimum  moriens,"  seems  to  have  a  life  of  its  own.  dii^tinct  from 
the  great  nervous?  centres,  and  continues  to  beat  or  contract  even  when  cut 
into  frafcfment^,  for  some  minutes  after  its  removal  from  the  body.  The 
pre8umi>tion  of  death  when  thijj  last  part  of  the  body  to  die,  no  longer 
'gives  signs  of  life,  must,  therefore,  be  very  strong.  The  case  of  Colonel 
Towntiheud,*  who  could  voluntarily  suf<peud  the  action  of  his  heart,  should 
not  l>e  forgotten  here. 

lid.  Eniirf  ccjistilion  of  respiration.  The  act  of  breathing  is  so  eminently 
a  vital  one,  that  any  long  :*U!*pension  of  this  function  {See  Drowning)  can- 
not but  be  fata!.  Here  again  the  stethoscope  should  be  used,  as  careful 
au.^'ultalioD  is  far  more  likely  to  detect  the  sounds  caused  by  air,  or  air 
and  mucus,  (»r  other  fluids  traversing  the  air-tubci',  than  any  other  means. 
The  use  of  a  looking  gl«u?s,  to  condense  the  moisture  of  the  breath,  and  of 
a  feather  or  other  light  body  to  indicate  the  movements  of  air,  are  popular, 
but  not  very  satisfactory  methods  of  ju*certaining  the  continuance  or  other- 
wise of  respiration.  There  is  a  peculiar  mode  of  breathing  known  by  the 
^uame  of  "  Stokes-Cheyne  re^? pi  ration."  Mmietimes  seen  in  cnrdiae  and 
cerebral  disease,  rarely  in  fevers,  iu  tul>ercular  affections,  and  j>erhaps 
other  maladies,  which  may  deceive  an  iucautious  observer.  The  patient, 
in  such  cases,  breathes  at  first  so  slightly  as  scarcely  to  seem  to  breathe  at 
kll,  each  succeeding  inspiration  is  a  little  deeper  until  a  maximum  is 
reached,  and  then  each  breath  that  follows  becomes  shallower  aud  shal- 
lower, till  at  last  the  patient  may  again  ap]X'ar  not  to  hreatlie  at  all— then 
a  feeble  inspiration  is  taken,  followed  by  aiiotliera  little  stronger,  indicat- 
ing the  conuneucemeut  of  a  new  series  like  the  former. 

II Id.  Chaitr/en  in  and  ahout  the  ei/e.  These  consist  of  (1)  an  entire  loss 
of  sensibility  to  light.  The  pupil  no  longer  contracts*  or  dilates  according 
to  the  amount  of  light  thrown  upon  it.  The  best  mode  of  testing  this  is 
known  to  ophthalmic  surgeons  as  *'  obliijue  illumination,"  A  bright  light 
18  placetl  on  one  side  of  the  eye  to  be  examined,  antl  its  rays  brought  to  a 
focus  by  means  of  a  double  convex  lens  of  ubout  two  inches  focus,  and  the 
lens  and  light  so  disposed,  that  this  focus  falls  ujjon,  or  nearly  coincides 
with,  the  pupillary  aperture.  When  no  change  is  produced,  the  iris  re- 
.maining  immovable,  we  may  thejj  usually  conclude  that  life  is  extinct.  Ad- 
[iegious  of  long  standing,  bellatlonua  or  iU  alkaloid  atropin  aud  calabar 
l'l>eau  may,  however,  greatly  afflict  the  mobility  of  the  iris,  as  is  well  known. 
Alcohol  aud  some  other  poisons  also  produce  similar  effects.  (2.)  There  la 
an  entire  los.s  of  sensibility  to  lourh  iu  the  ocular  conjunctiva?.  This  is, 
however,  equally  true  of  a  period  in  epilepiic  tits»  and  iu  some  cerebral  in- 
juries, (3.J  The  conjunctiva  covering  the  .sclerotic  soon  begins  to  show  a 
gray  cloudy  discoloration  on  its  external  portion,  which  soon  becomes 

•  See  Dr.  Oeorgo  Chcyno'*  Tn-iitiee  on  Nervous  Diaeaaes,  p.  807. 


88 


SIGNS    OP    DEATB — POST-MORTEM    TEMPERATURES. 


blackiiih,  THia  Ij?  <|inckl y  followed  by  a  similar  stain  on  the  bitier  side. 
M.  Larcher,  who  fir^t  pointed  diiis  out,  cous^ider;!  the  phi^tioiiifua  lo  be  due 
to  cadaveric  irnhibitioii,  and  probably  deptindeijl  ufjun  putret'uctivu  chaiij^es. 
"These  two  ^fmtw  extend  and  apprnarli  earfi  otljer,  Ibrniiiig  the  segment 
of  an  ellipese.'*  (4.)  The  cornea  i*|ieedily  lo^-te^  it^  transparency,  in  other 
words,  the  eye  lias  hit-t  its  lustre-  TJii^t  may,  however,  liike  phice  during 
life,  ua  h  repeatedly  seen  in  cholera,  and  uther  diseai*e».  {/).)  The  eye 
Boon  become."*  iinnkeu  in  it#  socket,  and  the  globe  itself  becomes  flaccid,  so 
tLn  tti  retain  the  dint  or  mark  at  any  prei^ure  made  upon  it.  •*Lo«.s  of 
touic'ily.  or  niinui*  lension,"  iss,  lujwev^r,  met  with  in  gome  di^ases  of  the 
eye,  (6.)  Snppo^ioj;;  the  eornea  to  be  clear  enough  lo  allow  of  ophthal- 
moscopic exufuinution,  it  if*  totaled  by  M.  Poncct  that  the  yellowish-rejl  of 
the  livinjr  fundus  of  the  eye,  it*  cluui^ed  at  the  moment  of  death  to  a  yel- 
lowisb-whije,  or  paler  hue.  M.  Bimehut  states  that  bead^  of  air  or  gas,  in 
other  word:*  an  interrupte<l  column  of  blood,  will  be  seen  in  the  retinal 
veins  resembling  bubbles  of  air  in  the  colored  fluid  of  at^pirit  thermometer, 
or  the  beaded  appearance  familiar  to  us  m  nerve  tubeH.  i  Pneumatosis  of 
retinal  veins.)  (".  >  At  the  anme  time,  the  eyelids  will  have  loyt  their 
elasticity — neither  they  nor  the  globe  of  the  eye  moving  any  longer.  (8.) 
It  IB  said  that  atropin  and  calabar  beau  no  longer  produce  the  dibitation 
and  c«)ntraction  which  are  their  res»pective  property.  This  in  quite  true  of 
a  btwiy  dead  some  ilayj*,  biit  not  always  true  of  one  dead  only  a  few  houn*. 
(9.)  Electric  and  mechanical  stimuli  equally  fail  to  atlect  the  eye  of  one 
dead  t)ome  tiuje. 

IVth.  Chantje*  in  the  temperature  ofthebodif.  Gradual  cooling  or  loss  of 
heat  is  the  mo<t  conunon  change  after  death.  In  some  diij*ease!j,  h<mever,  the 
temperature  of  the  body  actually  rise^  after  death.  Thi^s  is  particularly  the 
ca.se  in  yellow  lever  (as  pjinted  out  by  Dr.  Bennett  Dowler },  cholera,  rheu- 
matic fever,  tetanus,  and  other  injuries  to  the  nervou;^  <«ystem,  ymall-pox, 
and  gome  abdominal  dij^ai^cs,  where  a  rise  amounting  to  9^  F.  (or  5°  C.) 
has  been  uot^xl  after  death.  It  h  probable  (as  the  blood  is  no  longer  cooled 
in  the  lung^i)  that  there  i»  a  slight  past-mortem  elevation  of  internal  tem- 
perature in  all  ca^es  of  death.  Be  this  as  it  may.  it  is  a  familiar  observa- 
tion that  within  a  few  hours  t)f  death  the  body  cools,  more  or  less  rapidly 
accortling  to  the  external  temperature,  the  amount  of  clothing,  and  other 
accidental  circiimsiances.  In  the  case  of  Gardner,  a  chimney  sweep, 
charged  with  the  murder  of  his  wife,  and  coQvicte<l  in  Oi-tulK^r,  18G2,  Mr. 
ge<|Ueira,  the  medical  man  first  called  in,  stated  that  sije  most  have  been 
dead  at  ha-t  four  hours, as  the  body, lying  on  a  wotMien  fl<K>r, covered  only 
with  a  flannel  petticoat  and  a  chemii^e,  was  (juite  cold  and  rigid.  iShe  had 
lost  a  large  nuantity  of  blood  from  a  wound  in  the  tbrtiat.  This  led  to  a 
numl>er  of  otservations  ou  the  temperature  of  deiid  bodies  by  Drs.  Wilka 
and  A.  S.  Taylor  (See  '^Ouy's  Ht.spital  Ueiwrt*,"  Oct.  1863,  p.  184,  for  the 
details),  who  give  the  tblluwing  tablt; : 


FIni  prrKMl, 
2  Uf  a  hourt. 

Secnofl  pflrlod, 
4  tu  «  boun. 

«  1i>  8  huuni. 

Fourth  fwriod. 

12  hiMtrs  ur 

uiurc 

Number  of  ot>«^^▼lltions, 

76 

49 

29 

85 

Mfixinium  tem|>era|ure  of 
the  body 

Minimum  tcm{>criituro  of 
Ihe  iMMly,    ..... 

Av<Tiige  iicnjpcTKlurf', 

F.           C. 
94°      84  4° 

60°      lft.5° 

77»      2.j» 

F.            C. 

86°      80° 

«2°      lfifi° 
74°      23.8° 

F.          C 

80°      26.6° 

flO°      16.5° 
70°      :il.l° 

F,           C 

79°      26  1° 

6«°      18  B° 
69°      20.5° 

PCBT-lfORTSM    TEMPBRATTTRES. 


30 


««e  obsenratioDii  were  made  hy  sinipty  placing  the  bulb  of  a  thermometer 

00  tli»  «kin  of  the  abilomeu.  They  toijiiil  internal  tem|>eralures  of  7(>^  P., 
■cwfifcrvn  and  tighteeu  hours  atler  death,  and  of  85^  F.,  teu  hourtj  after 
it—tii*  Wry  nunjeroiig  observntioiiis  have  beeu  made  on  the  subject  by 
Mw?r?  Diimnd  anil  Liiia?.  The  result  of  their  experiment8  seems  to  be 
tt  tifn  to  tweuty-four  hours  are  required  for  the  body,  under 
or  *ii!ihiuoe!$,  to  cool  down  to  the  temperature  of  the  surrouud- 
ir.  oere.*  In  summer  in  hot  days  a  temperature  of  25^  C.  (77°  F.) 
»  umion,  whilst  au  iu.«taoce  is  recorded  of  a  frozen  woman  restorefl 
In  lifr  by  warmth,  whose  tem|)erdture  was  ouly  20^  C.  ^68'  F, ).  M.  La- 
bcirde  has  stated  that  iu  five  to  eight  boun*  the  temperature  of  the  deeper 
tkHMB  in  the  dead  body  tails  to  27^  or  28^  C.  (=80,6^  to  «2.4^  F.).  But 
I>r.  F.  Niderkorn  ("  De  la  Rigidity  t^daverique  chez  rhomrae,"  Pari-*,  1872) 
ibuWE  that  iu  mx  cii»i-s.  taken  indiffereutlv  six  to  eigrht  hours  after  death, 
tkm  redal  lemperaliire  averaged  32.6^  C  (90.6'^  F,)  and  nine  ctu"*es,  in 
I— liH  to  fourteen  houn;  atler  death,  gave  a  rectal  temperature  of  81.8*^ 
C  ^^  '  v.).  As  thew?  observations  have  not  been  published  in  English, 
w                   a  Mimmary  of  his  observations — which  are  taken  seriatim  from 

1  '  of  various  dit^easnes  They  differ  from  those  of  Drs. 
V                   >  by  being  taken  in  the  axilla  and  at  Paris: 


t  to  4  boun. 

4  tu6  buun. 

*  to  8  hourt. 

1 
8  to  13  boun  or 
roor*. 

"^^•*^              *«< 

fUPF. 

mjBP  F.  1  S7«  r. 

•8.30F, 

tSXPC 

77J^F.    75JSPC. 

Tlw  ^!!*>WTng  seem  the  chief  practical  conclusions  from  these  and  other 
'  >m  thi*  subject: 

l«l-  . in  iu  winter  the  human  body  generally  takes  several  hours, 

OBttMknlj  not  Jeiss  than  four,  and  sometime:!  twelx'e  or  even  more  (Nysten 
mm  **lhrte  t\&y^  in  cases  of  asphyxia**!,  to  cool  down  to  the  temperature 
of  th«  Mirrouudiug  air,  especially  if  internal  temperature  be  observed, 

2<i,  Tb*?  rxtrnt'it  tfinperatnre^  the  amount  and  kind  of  clothinrj,  and  the 
jMMfuNt  ol*  thr  fnidif,  all  modify  the  rate  of  cooling.  This  cooling  i«eem^ 
to  drprod  upon  (1.)  The  cessation  of  heat  production  by  vital  or  chemical 
piwijwj;  {L)  Radiation;  (3.)  C<)nduction  and  convection  by  cool  air,  cold 
gf^ofid,  *(on<*)*«  woo<l,  article:^  of  bedding',  and  other  substances  upon  which 
tkc  ImmIv  rrwt^,  (*r  by  which  it  \».  HUrroiuided. 

."Jrl  iir  to  modify  thi^  but  little,  if  at  all,  per  «e,  although 

tlw  O'  Kahlv  pMoU  more  rapidly  than  older  infants. 

4i1j  '  to  do  with  it.     Large  losnes  of  blo«Mi 

ar«  #B  .to  caut*e  rapid  cof>ling.     This  agrees 

with  uur  tmn,  and  wiiii  common  experieDce,  but  Dr.  Taylor  has  shown 
tliat  It  th  not  invnriahly  true.     A  man,  aged  forty-eight,  died  from  loaiog 


fttmy^^ 

mA  Uj 

lk«f»r 

wUanaUi.m 

tnu 

MflMMvS9^B 

«IIA 

Mldl^ 

llr^l' 

t>r    «, 

K*«m  fav#»n^  by  Dr.  LHh«by  with  »oin«  M8.  in-te*  of  ob^ft'Ntionft 
'  M  IMal,  on  tbe  |ihpn«>iocnA  fotltj^vini;  dfiith.   Tho  Mti«<.'rvM(iori(>  on 
f  ^tf-bI  inlt,T45»t.     Th»'y  include  HXtiinry  und  rcctwl  tern^KTiiUirc*, 
f  the  nKJin  in  which  the  LkhIii-hi  wirr,     Tho  U^n)|»«;rHlureB  of 
fto^Hth  do  not  nmLeriiilt)!,'  differ  from  \\\iy*f  quoted.      But  »on)o 
lnMliit*  of  wdult  mn1f4  ^how  ihmi  whi-n  ihi;  •urrotindoig 
Fuhr,  ihe  milUry  tenipvrHtitre  wh*  «tn  an  nverHUe  14®, 
•    ''   '   r  itinn  that  of  Ibr  nir,  90  long  nftcr  d<*iilh  m 
^  nioNt  rupid  in  iht*  flr-ii  f»^w  hinu*  nfiiTdi*«lh. 
...p,  -    ...Jiiul  I"  F.  (wr  hour,  whicli  *«^fn»  uvnrlv  -•i.rr<«-t 


40 


MINOR    TESTS    FOR    DEATH. 


about  4  lbs.  of  blood.  Four  hour3  after  death  the  "kin  of  bis  abdomen 
bad  a  leinperatiire  of  84°  F.,  eieht  hours  atler  of  80^  F.,  alihongh  ilie 
dead-buufte  iemj>erature  was  38°  F.  only.  The  coiKlitinns  wer**  favorable 
to  rapid  cooling.  It  is,  however,  noteworthy  that  lie  had  met  with  an 
accident,  necers^sitating  ligature  of  his  axillary  artery. 

Observations*  on  temjx^rature  .should  be  taken  by  a  thennoraeter,  and 
repeatcil  at  intervals  of  a  few  ht>ur?*-  It  is  the //r«</rr^j*/t'<j  nmtiuuotM  cool- 
ing, not  thf  aiAulute  temperature,  which  iftdictitcif  death. 

Vth.  ^rn^crnl  minor  phenomt'tia,  or  »o-ca(lvd  ** tests"  for  death^  have  been 
ohstm^ed^nnd  may  cunveitienttif  he  ifrovpcd  asfothw*:  (1.)  If  scarificators  and 
cupping-j^l assies  be  applied  to  any  part,  e.  g.,  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  blood 
usually  H(>ws,  but  it  witl  not  do  so  after  death,  at  all  events  not  njany 
hours.  fiXL  Levaaseur,  Hotel  Dieu.)  (2.)  Bright  steel  needles  inserted 
in  any  part  of  ihe  skin,  will  be  found  free  from  rust  even  after  some  hours. 
(M.  La  horde. )  This  appears  greatly  depi*ndeut  on  t!ie  amount  of  cooling 
and  moisture,  and  is  untrustworthy.  (3.)  Wires  attached  to  these  needle* 
no  longer  deflect  a  galvanometer.  (See  muscular  irritability.)  (4.)  Il  is 
stated  that  a  burning  mateh,  hot  sealing-wax,  cautharides  solutions,  or  blis- 
tering fluids  no  longer  produce  vej^ication.  Here  again  there  is  a  fallacy, 
an  in  young  and  healthy  subjects,  such  eflects  do  follow  shortly  after  death, 
although  not  after  the  secoml  or  third  day.  (5.)  The  fingers  and  hanrls, 
especially  in  y^ung  subjects,  are  translucent  during  life,  but  bcconie  opaque 
after  death.  In  other  words,  if  a  bright  light  l>e  placed  behind  the  hand 
of  a  living  person,  in  a  dark  room,  it  shows  a  pinkish  red,  almc)::4t  trans- 
jiarent  ap[iearauce.  (6.)  A  string  tied  tightly  round  the  Jiuger  <tf  thesuj>- 
posed  corpse  will,  if  life  be  not  extinct,  shortly  cause  the  finger  to  become 
blnishred.  (7.)  As  the  arteries  are  well  known  to  be  usually  pale  and 
ern|)ty  of  blood  after  death,  Dr.  Leou  Davis  proposes  to  cut  d*j\vn  on  the 
temiK>ral  or  nidial  artery  in  doubtful  cases,  to  ascertain  the  color  and  con- 
tents. There  are,  however,  exceptions  to  the  above  rule,  es|>erially  when 
the  arteries  have  become  at  all  rigid.  (8.)  It  has  been  propoK'd  to  inject 
liquor  ammonia' subcutaneously.  In  tlie  living  body,  or  in  one  only  just 
dead,  a  sort  of  port-wine  cougestjon  is  immediately  produced.  In  a  body 
only  just  dead,  a  le«  degree  of  this  might  be  visible ;  but  in  one  dead  some 
hours  or  days  scarcely  any  change  is  produced. 

Vlth,  The  limbs  and  joints  of  the  body  become  stiff.  In  other  word/f  pod- 
7nortem  rigidtttj  #«7»  in  at  a  vanabU  time  after  death.  This  rignliiy  or  siitf- 
Dess  is  a  pheitoinenon  belonging  to  the  voluntary  muscles,  and  althougli 
much  attention"  has  been  given  to  it,  is  a  subject  still  involved  in  mueh 
obscurity.  It  does  not  seem  certain  as  yet  that  it  is  due  to  coagulation  t>f 
the  myojtin  or  albuminous  principle  of  muscular  tissues.  This  body  is  ub- 
taine«l  wiih  clitfitulty  in  an  ynctjagulateil  state,  from  warm4du<Kled  nni- 
nnils,  an<i  ha.^  an  exiraoixlinary  tendency  to  coagulate  at  all  lemperatures 
above  32^  F.  lU'  C).  The  following  facts  on  muscular  rigidity  api>ear 
well  authenticated.* 


(1)  The  coagulation  of  the  muscle  plasma  is  greatly  accelerated  by  heat. 
At  40*-  C.(l(>4''  F.)  it  coagulates  almost  instantaneously.  Cold  water, 
and  15  per  cent,  solutions  of  sodium  chloride  coagulate  it  when  il  is  dropped 
into  them.  In  W  per  cent,  solution  of  HCI  it  coagulate^*,  but  the  clot  is 
dissolve<l,  and  Ayntouin  formed. 

(2)  Living  muscles  at  rest  have  a  double,  or  amphichroraatic  reaction 


*  Nofiof  |be«(«  fncls  will  be  fimnd  In  th«  <»xMlent  articld  by  Dr.  Michio^)  Fofitor, 

in  Klein,  Snnr]tTM>n,  Fo>t*jr,  nnd  Brunlorr*  Hnndbook  for  the  Phy-i'Ooyicttl  Liibor- 
nXvry,     t}«w  hUo  Dr.  Huglies  Byntietf*  Text-Book  of  Pbyaiology,  1872. 


POST-MORTEM    RIOIDITY. 


41 


J,  changing  the  color  of  both  blue  and  red.     But  the  red 
ii  ftltcfftd  oios<t,  so  th»t  the  musoiilar  rejictioii  niiiy  be  dei^orihed  a:?  aihilitte, 
ift^   \f\ir  tofttrurtion  of  a  muscle  in  life,  and  during  post-mortem  rigid- 
it;,  iciion  (if  the  muscle  is  arid  (reddens  blue  litmus-paper).     This 
rly  evident  in  rigor  mortis. 

jifid  rigid  muscle,  after  death,  again  becomes  soft,  non-ela»tic, 
i  iiJtv.iiiue,  HA  &oon  an  the  post-mortem  rigidity  ha«  passed  off.     Lastly, 
(5>  the  mftAcJe  in  a  mUitc  of  rigor  mortis,  ha«  become  opaque.     {See  No.  (5), 
p  tignn  in  Ia?.t  pageO 

ilir.  =  —  11°  C.  muscular  fibres  pass  rapidly  into  some  new 
"wtticcular  cuutlition  from  which  ihcy  do  not  return  into  active  life  by  any 
kiM«Wfi  rnfjiujt  of  recovery  (Dr.  B.  W.  Richard.son).  Brown-Ht'quard  ha^ 
fth  t  A  current  of  arterial  blood  restores  muscular  contractility  to 


practical  questions  arising  out  of  the  pheoomeoa  of  post-mortem 
fil^lv  ar«  th«  following: 

i  1  )   How  aoon  after  death  does  it  come  on  ? 

i'J)   1  o  what  order  are  the  various  part:^  of  the  body  affected? 

i.'t»   H.m*  won  doe?  it  pass  ofl"? 
-Ii   By  what  circumstances  is  it  modified  't 

On  **nih  and  nil  of  these  questions  there  has  been  much  discu&^ion. 
•  "f  and  **  layer*  out"  are  always  extremely  anxious  t^  close  the 

-  -'..h  a  penny  piece,  ami  to  binti  up  the  lower  jaw  the  moment  after 
if  ih^'V  cjin.  \c^t  rigidity  should  supervene  before  they  have  time  thus 
WcomiMJ^  the  corpi-e.  Our  own  observations  have  taught  us  that  rigidity 
*t(  the  t^yelids  Hometimes  corner  on  in  les-*  thiin  five  niiinites  after  death. 
|>f.  Uuy  *ay».  **Even  before  the  heart  has  coaeefl  to  beat  in  some  case**," 
vmJ  Browo-S?e<^uanl  confirms  this.  Sonmier  says  he  has  known  it  appear 
in  leo  iniouleit.  From  three  to  gix  hours  is  perhaps  an  average.  Nider- 
JburD.  wli<i*ie  observations  ap|)ear  to  have  becii  made  with  great  care,  states 
in  more  than  iwo-thirdt*  <»f  liis  135  casei5  post-mortem  rigidiiy  wa.s 
iplrle  in  the  third,  fourth,  fifth,  jir  sixth  hour;  in  only  two  out  of  116 
3*  was  it  complete  a*  early  as  two  houi-s.  But  he  stales  that  in  all  the 
1215  oMcvi  M>aie  one  ur  more  tA'  the  articulations  were  rigid  within  the  first 
Iw^  bourn  after  death.  There  seems  no  well-uulbt-nticuted  case  in  which 
f}^  -'■»- •-- '  •■ru,|,  of  |>,i„t,fny|.ten,  rigidity  has  been  delayed  beyond  the  day 
o:  .rh  tbeff  are  numerous  c«ses  in  which  it  passes  ofl'so  quickly 

r  are  the  variofn  remans  of  the  body  affected f     Nysteu, 
pliy»iologie  et  de  chtmie  patliologiques  pour  faire  suite  i 
»ur  la  vie  et  Ja  mort "  (A.l).  1811 ),  says:  "This  stirtneae 
liT  '  •   human  subject  with  the  trunk  and  neck,  then  attacks 

it  lod  from  them  proceeds  to  the  abdominal  ones,  so  that 

lb«  Uii4*r  an;  i«ti)l  <i>upple  when  the  funner  are  already  stit!';  and  it  follows 
t^  «am«  pnif?r  in  diMippeariug,  so  that  the  legs  are  ot^ten  quite  stiff  wlieu  the 
Nllwf  MrU  of  the  body  have  regained  their  suppleness."  Jle  does  not  meji- 
liuo  tfir  ifiw  at  all.     .Sommer  ("  De  signii?  mortem  hominis  absoliitcni  ante 

E*  icoc*»um  indicantibuH,"  Cofjeuhageu,  1833,  a  mre  book,  quote*! 

IV. :  "It  iH'gins  in  the  neck  and  lower  jaw,  then  attacks  the 
*,  U*tly  the  pelvic  limbs.     It  is  rare  for  it  to  begin  in  the 
*r  1(1  invade  all  four  limbs  at  once.     In  200  cases  Som- 
in  which  it  did  not  lx*gin  in  the  Deck."    Larcher  (in  a 
Hemotr  a^Miivrreii  tg  the  Academy  of  Scienccg,  iu  tlie  **  Archives  de  Mede- 


42 


due,"  1862)  foiintlpd  cm  the  exiuniimtion  of  000  bodies,  atatps  that:  "The 
order  of  post-mortem  rigiiUty  is  always  the  «inie,  uu  niatter  what  the  kiud 
of  death,  whether  suddi:ii  or  slow,  iiatoral  ni  accidental.  The  muscles  of 
the  lower  jaw  stifieD  first,  then  the  alMiuminal  lirub:?,  then  the  neck  mus- 
cle?; laiitly,  more  or  less  slowly,  the  thoracic  limbs  (arms).  The  muscles 
which  are  the  first  to  stiffen,  remain  etiff'  the  longest.  It  is  also  certain 
that  the  lower  jaw  and  the  knee  stiffen  mure  slowly  and  thorouirhly  than 
the  jp^hciulder." 

Cuj^per  states  that  '*  it  passes  from  above  downward?,  begins  on  the  back 
of  the  neck  and  lower  jaw,  passea  then  into  ilie  facial  muscle?,  the  fmnt 
of  the  neck,  the  chest,  the  upjier  extremities,  and  ta?it  of  all  the  lower 
extremitieiJ.  Us^ually  it  pa^!>c«  off  in  the  Hime  order,  and  once  gone  it 
never  returns,  and  the  body  becomes  as  flexible  as  it  formerly  was." 

Niderkorn  (Inc.  cil.,  p.  91)  ihink.s  there  is  no  such  invariable  law  as 
the^e  authors  BUpnoge.  He  gays  the  hip  and  the  knee  ^'o  togeiher,  antl 
the  shoulder  and  elbow  ;  in  about  half  the  cases  the  foot  and  wrist  go  with 
their  larger  joints*.  The  /ourrjaw  is  usually  first  attacked,  then  the  neck, 
then  the  lower  extremiiicf*,  but  very  often  upper  and  lower  extremities 
stiffen  almost  Himultaneoitsly. 

In  anmrcr  h  the  qupgitmi^  how  foon  does  it  pa»&  offf  it  must  lie  said  that 
there  are  ca>ies  in  which  it  parses  off  with  extreme  rapidity,  even  as  soon 
as  in  one  itr  two  hours.  In  winter  b\x  or  seven  days  are  not  uncommon. 
As  long  as  three  weeks  has  been  noted  in  very  cold  weather.  {See  the 
next  paragraph,) 

Tkr  circumHtajicc.'t  wfu'cJi  modify  pos(-mortnn  riffidthj  are:  (a. )  The  age  of 
the  subject,  and  the  condition  of  the  muj-cuhir  ?<yi>tcm,  E.^tckuHng  faHusea 
of  inmiature  growth,  young  subjects,  etc.,  very  olt!  ones  dis^piny  the  most 
complete  rigidity.  It  Ia  le.s.«  marked  in  middle  age,  except  in  very  mus- 
cular "tubjects.  (b.)  The  mode  of  death.  In  very  lingering  djsea.-ea  (such 
as  phthisis)  it  ofVen  corner  on  very  speedily,  and  flisappeart?  in  an  hour  or 
two.  In  conditions  of  great  exhaustioti  IVoin  fatigue  (as  at  the  end  of  a 
battle,  or  in  hnnted  animal?)  the  fame  thing  occurs.  In  chtdera  it  cornea 
on  early  and  last.s  late.  In  most  eases  of  violent  death,  aivd  of  poisoning, 
it  sets  in  late,  and  lasts  long.  Casper  states  that  it  h  absent  in  narcotic 
poisoning.  This  is  not,  however,  generally  true.  Habitual  drunkards 
exhibit  a  long  continuance  of  post-mortem  rigidity.  There  can  l>e  no 
doubt  that  a  low  temperature  of  the  surrounding  air  is  favorable  to  the 
long  pen<istenee  of  this  rigidity.  On  tfje  other  hand,  Brown-Secjuard  and 
others  have  shown  that  it  fisay  come  ou  in  a  warm  bath,  that  it  is  exceed- 
ingly well  marked  in  hot  countries,  and  that  it  often  corner  on  when  the 
internal  temperature  of  the  cor[»se  is  above  the  normal.  (See  particularly 
Niderkorn,  loc.  cit.,  p[>.  8*J  and  59.)  Paralyzed  limbs  become  rigid,  but 
the  muscles  of  limbi*  shattered  by  accident  do  not  stifien  like  others.  Post- 
mortem rigidity  has  been  statcii  (on  the  high  authority  of  Jidm  Hunter) 
Dot  to  occur  in  death  by  lightning.  Mr.  Gulliver,  and  more  lately  Dr. 
B.  Ward  Richardson,  have  shown  this  to  be  erroneous,  both  by  cases  and 
experiments.  The  latter  points  out  that  animals  dying  with  an  increase 
of  their  oormai  or  natural  temperature  s[>ee(Jily  become  very  strongly  rigid, 
and  remain  stifl'a  long  time.  This  often  happens  in  smalbpox,  acute  rheu- 
matism, tetanus,  meningitis,  alxiominal  di'^eases,  pytemia,  and  the  like. 
Lastly,  cold  water  is  favorable  to  the  loug  continuance  of  post-mortem 
rigidity.     {See  Drowning.) 

When  a  joint  or  articulation  stiff  from  rigor  mortis,  or  post-mortem 
rigidity,  is  forcibly  bent,  the  siittbess  pusses  off,  and  does  not  n-turn.  This 
may  distinguish  death  from  certain  cases  of  mppowd  trance,  from  cata- 
leptic states,  and  from  tetanic  rigidity  or  the  eiiect  of  poisons.     The  pro- 


LOSS 


MUSCDLAR    IRRITABILITY, 


43 


Ive  loss  of  heat  in  post-mortem  rigidity,  and  the  application  of  other 
lis  for  the  reality  of  death  will  also  save  the  careful  medical -mau  from 
liiflakiug  stiHiiess?  iu  the  living  hm\y  for  the  rigidity  which  coiue;*  ou  after 
death.  (See  Catuh'pntf,  JWnum,  and  llijderia,) 

Vllth.  Previous  to  the  oectirnuce  o/jjottl-mortern  rigidity,  the  voluntary 
iuiclcs  have  Imt  their  irrilabilittj.  In  other  worda,  chemical,  mechanical, 
mod  other  irritaots,  sucli  as  interrupted  and  induced  correntjj  of  electricity, 
no  longer  excite  contractions  of  the  muscles.  Whilst  referring  to  trea- 
tiiies  on  Physiology  for  details  of  the  eifects  of  various  irritants  on  mus- 
cular fibres  the  following  facts  appear  to  us  of  especial  tmporlance  iu  a 
joedicodegal  point  of  view  : 

(1)  WhiUt  healthy  mui*cles  are  easily  excited  to  oontraction  by  inter- 
rupted currents  of  moderate  force  (such  as  tht^e  from  one  of  the  urdinury 
'  medical"  machines  iu  which  the  "  keeper"  is  made  to  rotate  between  the 
les  of  a  magnet),  yet  tbi^j  contractility,  even  in  life,  maybe  in  abeyauce, 
for  suf|>en(1ed,  by  the  following  agencies  :  (a)  The  effect  of  certain  (lojsooa, 
us  in  chronic  lead-poisoning,  strychnine  and  \is>  congeners,  nitrate  of  amyl, 
etc.     {b)  By  previous  exhaust i«in,  from  long-continued   mechanical,  elec- 
trical, and  other  stimuli.     Hence  it  is  undesirable   in   cases  of  suspended 
'animation,  to   use  galvanism   or  any   form   of  electricity  for  prolonged 
fieriods  of  time.     Eveu  great  fatigue,  or  repeated  blows  as  iu  prize  tights, 
or  prolonged  struggles,  will   have  the  same  etfect.     (c)  Long-continued 
cola  suspends,  without  destroying   the   irritability. of  voluntary  muscles. 
According  to  Dr.  B.  Ward  Richardson  (*' Crooniau  Lecture/'  1873)  from 
38*^  to  28^  F.  is  the  most  favorable  degree  of  cold  for  mere  suspension. 
^d)  Increased  heat,  especially  ahi>ut  12^  Fahrenheit  (=  0.6^  Centigrade), 
ibove  the  normal  temperature  of  an  animal,  if  long-continued  it  tends  to 
>riug  about  a  permanent  loss  of  irritablliiy,  or  rlyor  unortis  iu  the  muscles 
From  coagulation  of  the   myosin  (Norri?',  rtichardson,  etc),     (e)  A  sud- 
den sharp  blow  has  been  kntrwri  to  produce  the  same  effect.     (/)  Accord- 
ing to  Xysteu,*  the  order  in  which  muscular  irritability  ceases,  is  tlie  fol- 
lowing: first  in  the  left  ventricle  of  the  heart,  then  in  the  intestines  aud 
stomach,  the  urinary  bladder,  right  ventricle  of  heart,  a-sophagus,  iris,  then 
iu  the  voluntary  muscles  of  the  trunk,  lower  and  upper  extremities,  lastly 
iu  the  left  and   light  auricle  of  the  heart,     iff)  Certain  diseases  of  the 
brain   and   spinal   cord   (Paralyses,  especially  Paraplegia,  Pseud t>-hy per- 
trojihic  Paralysis  of  Duchenne,  etc.)  show  suspension  or  entire  loss  of  this 
irritability,     yh)  During  contraction  of  a  muscle  heat  is  produced,  hence 
as  a  t*8t  it  has  been  proposed  lo  insert  a  delicate  thermometer  (registering 
at  least  tenths  of  a  degree  Centigrade)  into  the  muscle  to  be  tcj^ted,  whilst  an 
^•electric   current  is  passed  through  it,  or  still  better,  through  itJS  nerve.     (.<*) 
mod  is  also  produced  when  muscles  contract  forcibly.     This  susurrua 
light  therefore  be  listened  for  with  the  stethoscope,  whilst  making  the  ex- 
jriment  to  induce  contraction.     (To  imitate  this,  listen  over  biceps  whilst 
mtracting,  or  insert  tip  of  little  finger  into  ear,  aud  contract  muscles  of 
ill  of    thumbs  quickly.  Dr,  Wolluston.)     {J}  Alter  death,  notably  in 
rellow  fever,  cholera,  an<l  sume  other  diseases,  iimscular  movements,  and 
luscular  irritability  in   a  njarked  degree,  may  persist  for  several  hours 
'dMth,  in  other  words,  after  respiration  and  circulation  have  ceased. 


•  Oni(i)u«  |L«  MouvemeriL  MediieHl.  F<?b  187.1)  i*uaos  ihnL  tlioi  firi^l  muscles  to 
loie  ihoir  excitMbility  are  the  diMphragm  uud  the  tongue;  tlieii  the  rucial  muscli*, 
of  vkhieh  lb«f  niH«spiMr  i«  U/fL  In  Iv/a  nml  h  hnlf  to  lliree  hours  lifter  deiilh  con- 
trncUlity  U  quite  lost  in  uU  of  thi*rn.  In  Iho  limbs  the  extunsor  ouiselea  j;;o  first — 
iho  flfjtor*  return  excitiibility  nbuul  nn  hour  h»nj^er.  Five  or  eix  buurb  iilVr  dfath 
ibo  trunk  mnM*h'R  &l\\\  unswcr  tu  rHrttdiz^ailuii — the  abdominal  muscleu  somclimea 
iren  later  timn  thii«. 


{See  Dr.  Beiinet  Dowler*?  **  Experimental  Researches  ou  Post-rnorlera  Con- 
tractility," New  York,  184H.}  Of  tliJs  wc  were  ourselves  witriessrs  in  the 
oliolera  epidemic  of  186fi.*  (k)  It  h  a  (iisputeri  point  whether  the  blood 
has  any  appreciable  iiiilyeDce  upon  muscular  irritability  after  death.  It 
is^  however,  known  that  ligature  of  a  larce  arterj^  in  animals  suspends  or 
greatly  diminish&s  this  irritability,  as^  da  large  looses  of  blood,  whilst  arti- 
ficial circulation,  ej»pecially  of  warm  fluid;*,  restores  it.  {I)  Lastly, certain 
curious  so-called  pychical  state?,  such  as  trance,  hysteria,  shock,  etc.,  sus- 
pend or  greatly  im[>air  muscvibr  contraciility. 

VII  Ith.  Pittrrfitrtlan,  ufthoif^k  ii,^H<tU>/ ii  htc,  in  p^rhnp»  (he  moat  certuln 
aifjn  of  death  wc  pomeM.  Yet  it  scarcely  dej*erves  the  name  of  an  itiJdJlible 
Aif/H, given  it  by  Dr. Guv,  for  the  following  reasons:  (1)  In  a  living  body, 
a  portion  may  die,  as  in  the  cas^?  of  gangrene  of  limbs,  or  on  the  face» 
trunk,  etc.,  after  severe  local  injuries*,  or  in  certain  feeble  states  of  health. 
(2)  The  spontaneous  changes  of  color  undergone  by  extravasated  blood, 
what  is  iKJpuIarly  known  a«  *' a  brni?e/' simulate  the  coloration  due  to 
putrefaction.  It  is  pretty  obvious  too  that  such  an  ap|>earftnce  might  be 
arlificjally  produced  by  ]>igment!!».  (3)  The  odor  of  decom|M>!*itiou,  so 
far  from  being  exclumvely  ^  post  mortem  phenomenon,  is  met  with  in  cer- 
tain diseases,  as  gangrene  of  the  lungs,  etc.,  ulcerw  of  the  lower  extremities, 
caries  of  bones  (ozirna\and  the  like.  It  must,  however,  be  admitted  that 
general  and  advaneed  decomposition  of  the  tissues  is  ytie  of  the  safest  signs 
of  death.  The  phenomena  presented  by  dead  bodies  undergoing  putrefac- 
tion may  be  classed  as  follows: 

(a)  Appearances  due  to  extravasation  and  imbibition  of  fluids,  (b") 
Those  due  to  putrefaction  itself,  and  the  evolution  of  gases,  (c)  Tho.se 
due  to  saponitiuation,  ou  the  formation  of  ailijxicere.  (D)  Those  due  to 
mummification,  or  slow  drying  of  the  tissues. 

A.  Appearances  due  to  extravasation  of  and  imbibition  of  fluids*  Post- 
nittrtem  slains  or  hypostases.  Very  soon  after  death  i  8  t(»  1*2  hours,  Cas- 
per) the  dependent  or  lowest  parts  of  the  body  (no  matter  what  the  posi- 
tion) acquire  an  appearance  which  closely  simulates  the  effects  of  bruises 
or  contusions.  The  blood  within  the  bo<ly,  after  death,  coagulates,  just 
as  blood  withdrawn  from  the  living  body  does,  though  more  slowly.  lu 
acut«  inflammations,  where  the  amount  of  fibrin  is  much  iucreased,  this 
coagulation  sometimes  precedes  the  actual  moment  of  death,  and  is  in  fact 
one  of  the  modes  of  death.  In  diseases  sucli  as  those  levers  which  diminish 
the  quantity  of  fibrin  or  reduce  it  to  almost  nothing,  as  e,  //.,  pljlhisis,  the 
blood  may  scarcely  coagulate  at  all.  Sir  .James  I'a get  has  drawn  atten- 
tion to  the  subject  of  "Coagulaliou  of  the  Bloiwl  afler  Death/'  in  a  pajier 
with  this  title  in  the  "  London  Medical  Gazette,"  %'ol.  xxvii,  p.  fi!l.">,  etc.  He 
shows  that  the  position  of  the  red  blood-corpu^cles,  in  other  words,  of  the 
iDost  deeply  colored  portion  of  the  clot,  may  oAen  determine  the  position 
of  the  body  at  the  time  of  death.  It  is  generally  said  that  the  seat  of  the 
discolorations  atler  death  (cadaveric  lividity )  diflers  from  that  of  the  dis- 
coloration produced  when  the  man  was  alive;  the  rete  muco.sum  and  vas- 
cular membrane  exterior  to  (above)  the  true  skin,  being  the  parts  atfected 
by  post-mortem  changes,  the  true  skin  being  found  injectecl  aud  ecchy- 
niosed  in  bruise^*  inflicted  during  life,  and  from  the  effects  of  poisons  aud 


**  When  6uch  movements  are  ritpidly  tocceeded  by  po§t-mortem  rigidity,  the 
liinbft  uf  a  corpiH?,  ur  the  body  Usclf,  n\n\  miiupIiiih^*  bi-  fnind  in  vorj'  »inguliir  po- 
(•itioti^,  Atnl  thi'**^  «ttitu«b*j»  tuny  vvi'u  givw  ri-i'  l<»  ibf  Mtppoi-ition  of  murUtir;  tills 
i«  most  likclv  to  nccur  in  cm«*^  <jf  suUdcn  d«*itli  from  npoplcxy,  etc.  Heo  Tuylor'a 
P,  Had  P.  of  M.  J,,  vol.  i,  p.  70-73. 


FOST-MORTEH   STAINS. 


45 


I>r.  Guv  bas  fth< 


that  this  U  by  no  means  always  true 
p.  2^?8).     N»»  blood  flowjs  from  un  inoUion  iuto  post  raortera 

tuoel  only  a  lew  bloiMly  points  ran  he  made  out  in  most  cases. 

Ill  OMB  of  d^op^*y,  however,  a  blood-gtaiiied  tieruni  might  exude.  These 
pcvt-^iuoitcin  htaiiiH  or  hyptwlas**  ('^r.n  i/izr^fu)  are  divided  iuto  internal  and 
exi^roA).  The  latter  are  to  be  looked  for  at  the  hack  of  the  bead^  neck, 
ttk,  the  iiales,  back  of  armn  and  ihii^dii*,  calves?,  etc.,  in  ordinary 
but  they  way  also  be  found  on  the  face,  ear-,  and  slides,  and  as 
-••■•t'd,  on  the  l()H'esl  or  most  dejRMident  parts  of  the  l>ody,  wliatever 
it-  ,  may  bavt*  been.     If  the  biMly  be  inrned  over  uhiUt  still  warm, 

».n;;mal  staiu.'^  more  or  lefif  disiippt-ar,  and  fre^h  onci*  may  form.     The 
r  raries*  from  livi<l  or  cijpfKry-red  to  redd ii^h  blue,  and  tiie  Ntitline>  are 
ftr  lilar,  as  is  the  size  of  the  .'ipotP  or  stainB.     ►Some  medical  jnrista 

ca  [KJ»t-mortem  stains  sufjillai'ton,  an  ambigyons  term  (»ee  Contn- 

mim»h  rhi:ee  re.«embling  stripes  are  called  ribictM.  It  is  important  for 
ytm  tn  ktinw  that  j-ucli  marks  closelv  simulatinj^  the  effeetH  of  fltt|r^ing, 
«j  d  by  the  prejs.siire  of  clothes,  or  of  the  surface  ou  whiefi  the 

b«-  '<  ai*!0  on  the  marks*  of  lifraturcii  under  6'*//fora^V>j'i).     Occa- 

nooAilj  poBl-morleine«.'chymojses,  particularly  in  death  by  lightning.  a?3ume 
iMi  arbonKs<*ent  or  tre<dike  form,  which  appears  to  be  due  to  the  di.itenyion 
of  culAOi^us  capillaries  and  small  veins.  The  larger  mark;^  do  not  always 
correspond  to  the  cutaneous  veins,  etc.,  described  in  books,  but  it  must  be 
rooierobt'rvd  ihnl  great  irregularities  are  met  willt  iu  the  cutaneous  veins* 
InUrnal  h^unUiArA,  or  bloods^tains,  occur  cliiefly  in  the  following  ftitua- 
tkxif :  M  j  In  the  veins  of  the  pia  mater  of  the  [msterior  hemisphere,  in 
'  i'tn  of  the  head  afier  death,  il)  Iu  the  pijsterii>r  part 
jipf)ear8  to  be  true  of  aU  bidies,  esjK'cially  in  case*  of 
Set  uf  Viwm,     About  one-fourth  ot  the  liuigij  i.-*  thn.«  marked.    (3) 

On  lb«  •  n.     Thi«  maybe  mistakeu  by  the  incautious  fur  |ieritonitis. 

To  (HUird  vuurselves  from  thi(*,  pull  the  convolutions  of  the  bowels*  for- 
WaM»,  &fic(  you  will  see  *'break!^"  in  the  redness.  On  the  posterior  or 
de|ieiMleiit  portions  of  the  inferior  of  the  etonmch  and  small  intestines  a 
Miilaf  diicol  oral  ion  may  be  njet  with,  due  Hinifily  to  the  Jrame  hypor^tatic 
coodHloiw.  (4)  Id  the  |K»-iterior  jiart  of  the  kidneyg.  (5)  In  the  poa- 
tenor  f^irt  of  the  wpinal  conl,  particidarly  of  its  pia  mater.  You  j^hould 
fiuBiluinJse  your»«dvej«  with  the  apf>earancey  presented  in  the  powt-morlem 
n*^*"  *"-'♦>  ou  the  exterior  and  interior  of  the  body.  This^  will  be  your 
U  litxl  againxt  tho«e  ridictdous  mistakes  which  are  constantly  made 

hj  piTJMicis  igri<inint  of  these  matters.  Were  they  only  ridiculous,  but 
Ittile  ham  would  Ik*  done ;  bijt,  unfortunately,  there  is  a  serious  i*ide,  and 
tmmrt  I  ty  t>e  condemned  by  mistake*<  originating  in  ignorance. 

It  fn»i  I  that  much  remain.'^  yet  to  be  learnt  of  the  true  nature 

of  ►runi  changi*5».     It  in  fpiite  clear  that  besides  coagulalioQ 

<»I  it're  in  n   hikclike  .solution  of  the  coloring-matter  iu  many 

ra  due  to  ammoniaenl  ga?,  and  that  the  Mdiiiequent  changes 

fit  I'-  to  varying  degrees  of  oxidation,  and  to  the  Reparation  of 

mm  from  Ui«  eoluriog-matter.    Similar  changes  occur  in  old  apoplectic 

i«. — 8<-M)n  after  death  changes  take  place  in  bJle,  so  that  its  Cid- 

ft.'...^ ,;*roo2t*  through  the  gallbladder,  and  other  parU  which  contain 

ic  lo  thi«  way  the  contiguous*  part**  of  the  stomach  and  iule-ttiues  may  he 
daiotd  ofn  yellowish  or  greeuit^h  ctdor.  Do  not  mi^^take  tbi.s  for  the  effect 
■f  namwive  pou«>nM. 

B,   HktiNgf*  /  '  htj  I'litrrffteticn  nnd  thr  Ewthtlion  of  Oase*. — The*e 

boeodie  eviileD!  ,  ^niell.uud  chemical  te^t?.  One  of  the  earliest  firgns 

if  puUviieCkici  i»  a  greeulifh  or  greeolsb' purple,  or  yellowiiih-greea  dijicol- 


PUTREFACTIVE    CHAlfGHS. 


oration  of  the  &kin  of  the  abdomen.  This  next  exteads  itself  to  the  geoi- 
tills,  and  then  to  other  parts  of  the  hcMiy.  The  discoloration  of  the  eye 
has  already  been  noticed.  Next,  gases  of  various  kinds  are  geiiemted  in 
tiiorc  or  le-ss  abundance, giving  the  body  a  bloated  appparnnce.and  e.s(»m- 
ally  distending  the  abdomen.  In  .«orae  cases  the  gjw  U  highly  inHammiihle. 
The  chief  gases  which  have  been  recognized  by  cheniisLK  as  evolved  from 
decomposing  bodies  are:  Otrhonic  arid  (known  by  reaction  with  lime  or 
baryta-water,  and  reddening  litmus-paper  fugitively);  Curbonic  oxide 
(burns  with  pale  blue  flame);  Ammonia  (by  pungent  odor,  bluing  red 
litmus,  and  fuming  with  liydrocblurtc  acid) ;  Ht/drof/fn  sulphide  (blackens 
lead-paper);  Carhureited  lujdroyen  (burns  like  coal-ga!»»and  produces  water 
and  CO,  in  combustion);  P/io-^phi/rdicd  ht/drofjen  irevngiuzQd  by  in  flam- 
mability,  and  by  paper  soake<l  in  nitrate  of  silver,  which  has  been  kept  in 
the  dark,  and  moisitened  just  before  use) ;  Kifrogen,  ktiowu  by  its  negative 
properties,  and  Carhomtte  of  ammonia.  If  the  sulphuretted  hydnigeu  and 
ammonia  are  combined,  paper  moistened  with  uitro-prussiile  of  sodiura 
acquirer  a  crimson  tiut  by  expoj^ure  to  the  gjis.  (Dr.  A,  8.  Taylor.)  Other 
gases  maybe  geuemted,  either  from  the  tissues, or  from  the  food  and  fiecea 
in  the  stomach  and  intestines.  These  gases  tinge  both  the  exterior  and 
interior  of  the  viscera  in  a  renuirkable  manner,  cjfteu  resembling  the  efiecti 
of  poison.  Reddish-brown,  deep-livid  purples,  slate  tailor,  and  green  or 
greenish-yellow,  or  even  black  streaks  or  lines,  may  be  found.  The  color 
of  the  blooil  in  the  veins  or  heart  may  al^o  be  greatly  changed  by  these 
Bpontane^ms  decompositions.  //  is  I/ulm  exfrcmflij  inipovttiiit  to  note  the  time 
afler  death,  and  the  avionnt  of  piitrrfarfivf  rhauf/f:t<  pnjtrnt. 

The  force  of  the  gas  generated  has  been  sufJicieut,  in  some  cases,  to 
empty  the  lieart  and  great  vessels — even,  it  is  said,  to  exj>el  the  fwtua 
from  the  uterus  (!)  and  to  burst  the  coHins^  even  when  made  of  lead,  in 
winch  such  bodies  have  been  inclosed.  There  is  a  |>opu]ar  idea  preva- 
lent, that  it  is  common  for  bodies  to  burst ;  but  this  is  the  reverse  of 
truth.  With  a  view  to  economize  space,  we  have  constructed  the  follow- 
ing table : 

Tabular  Virw  of  the  Circumstances  affecting  Putrkfactiok. 


Thinffs  whith  favor  putrt/aetion, 

THTfiperattirps  betwe<»n  70*  aod  100"  F 
(21,1*  nnd  37.7°  U. ),  ihrTt-fore  f-uiiiiinT 
w»'i«lhL'r  nnd  warm  room*. 

Moisture— I lior»'fi»ro  Urnin  Hndeye«0OD 
piilr<*l'y,  <»o  <lo  dre»p*ie'iil  subjecU. 

Low  swampy  ground. 


Free  accws  of  iiir. 

A  shallow  grnve. 

Absence  of  cloihm^. 
Provious    injurip*    i»T>d    disease*,    a» 
brui«e»,  woundb,  iiitlamintitiuns. 

Suddea  dcjith. 

Arute  di^rnncs. 

Childbo<Kj  (ftes  Infanticide),  and  ac- 
cording t<j  Orfllrt,  ihfi  femnle  »ex — espc- 
Ciwlly  nller  childbirth.     (Urtsjier.) 

CorpuW-ncfi. 

Animjil  poijinni',  pru«ic  iicid  (?),  tome 
of  lh«  poisonous  gnma.     Oxygoa, 


Th'tngn  wf\ich.  retard  it. 

Ti'mpfTMturo  of  82''  F.  (0^  CK  nnd  be- 
low this  (cold  wenther  nnd  culd  rooim). 

Temp*'rRturo  ohove  212*  F.  (100®  C). 
Hajriiorrhjigo!',  if  very  profupc. 

CoiJ'pU'lo,  or  nearly  rompU'U^  immer- 
sion in  WHier  rcilnid!*  docoin position  (*«fl 
Dr<iwnini;).     A  deep  ffmve. 

Tlie  b"dy  beinj;  pruti*ctcd  by  clothing, 
or  other  covering:*. 

BuriHl,  ot'pei.MHily  in  dry  sitnd  or  earth, 
and  burin  I  vury  socm  wfler  deiilh. 

Dry,  ck'valtMl  ground. 

t^onirt  |Hii[^on(>f  MS  iirseitic,  iileohol, 
cljlorof.irni,  Btrychnine  (?),  pho»phorus. 
{Cit*per.) 

CwrlHiri  ^gefi,  Nitrofr*»n,  the  ri'siduum 
of  Hiir  irictosed  in  uir-light  cotlinii. 

Lt'ttnnea*. 

Old  »go,  unless  corpulence,  or  other 
•pecini  reuioai  m  dropiy. 


Lime,  03  opposed  to  the  popular  views. 


CIRCUMSTANCES    AFFSCTTN(J    PUTREPA'CTION. 


47 


Pbr  an  aecount  of  the  changes  undergone  by  bcxlies  more  or  less  im- 
mmtd  in  waler,  it  seems  l(»  us  far  more  ronvenient  to  the  aturleut  to 
w9§f  lo  the  articles?  oo  Uruwuimj.  See,  also,  Adipocere^  in  the  next 
MCCion.  For  the  effect*  of  varioti*  modes  of  death,  as  poisoos,  on  putre- 
fiurtioo,  reffre-nce  must  also  be  nmde  to  ihe  articles  on  tlie  various  puisf»ris. 
Yog  mat  probably  be  aj^ked,  "  How  mon  after  death  can  put rffaction 
Offrrf**  Y»mr  answer  niusl  l>c  that,  under  favorable  conditions,  it  may 
«•  within  a  very  few  hours  after  death — (.ertainly,  within  six  or 

t  ^  im — even   to  the  production  of  vesications.     Dr.  Taylor  states 

UmU  if  tiiK-s  not,  and  cannot,  begin  until  post-mortem  rigidity  hai*  passed 
off"  n,i»»  t»f  the  authon*,  however^  lately  saw  a  ca.se  with  Dr.  Herbert 
I  1  nit  her  cold  weather,  in  which  the  ctirpjic  of  a  young  girl  was 

*:  11  w»H'k  urter  death,  but  putrefaction  bad  commenced,  and  had 

t  krd  the  face.     The  answer  to  another  probiiUIe  question,  '*  How 

iunj  r-ttti  it  Ite  rttardt'il f  **  cannot  be  so  definite.  Under  Mummiji^^ation, 
ihintHinff,  I'lc,  you  will  gain  some  idea  how  you  ought  to  answer  such  a 
qUMiion.  A  remarkable  instance  of  the  preservative  power  of  cohl  la 
gtvi'n  by  Adolfth  Ermau,  who  states  that  the  body  of  Prince  Metichikof, 
a  •  of  IVler  the  Great,  exhumed,  ailer  ninety-two  years'  burial 

\  -oil,  lit  Beresov  (in  Siberia),  had  undergone  fiardly  any  change. 

Tl.«  '^'iirterly  .lournal  of  Science,"  vol.  viii,  p.  05,  gives  an  account  of 
ihv  ili*t  »very,  in  a  remarkable  state  of  preservation,  of  the  bodv  of  an 
cxtiiH-t  ^pet-iits  of  elephant  {E.  primir/enius)  in  a  maas  of  Ice  iu  Siberia, 
141  x\w  yeur  ISO/i. 

B<»j^i<ii'5  the  color  changeii,  and  development  of  gases  in  putrefaction, 
»e  fullowing  ttlterntions  in  the  detid  body  are  caused  by  it.  The  dia- 
imgrn  i«  forr«?ii  u]>  by  the  distended  bowels  ;  the  blood  h  forced  to- 
trd*  tho  head  and  neck;  the  face  swells;  the  eyes,  which  had  been 
voiik«fi»  now  becotne  horribly  prominent,  and  collapse  at  a  later  pcrifHl ; 
liicij*,  bK>o*lv  froth,  or  the  conlent^i  of  the  stomarh  and  luug^,  cojiie  from 
iDOiitb.  llarely,  the  content*!  of  the  bowels  e-irape.  Blood  or  rather 
milike  fluid,  exudcH  from  ruptured  vessels,  or  from  old  wounds.  (This 
tboojrbt,  in  bygone  day-^,  to  be  due  to  the  presence  of  the  murderer!) 
'eyelidi!*,  scrotum,  fienis.  the  great  labia)  are  distended. 
iL^tirins^  form;  and  the  hair,  nail^n,  and  scarf ?iik in  ejLiily  be- 
:  achifd.  The  breath  nnd  poi'tlous  of  thf  Itudij  have  been  ttuninoitji  in 
^HA  1  r  in  mmif  ocutes;  gi?uerally  iu  advanced  stages  of  coUHUmptiou,  ur 
v«.«iin|t  di!4>a>*e. 

Although  the  occurrence  of  putrefaction  ia  very  variable  as  to  time, 

grnoral  f»nler  for  the  time  and  .succession  of  its  various  steps  can 

dy  bf  litttcr  given  than  in  Dr.  Letheby's  words  (*'  Lancet,"  vol.  i, 

*•  In  alvmt  eight  or  ten  houry  after  death,  the  surface  of  the  body,  &«pe- 
II V  ..vcr  tin*  (?hc?t  and  on  the  inside  of  the  arms  and  thighs,  put^  on  a 
■I  araucr,  due  lo  a  turgeecence  of  the  «u|)erfieial  veins.     In 

ut  -,x....i  hourx  the  tlependent  parts  become  livid  or  reddish-purple, 
Ma*\,  afi«T  the  lap«e  of  twenty  four  hour?,  this  lividity  is  generally  very 
jDark«xi,  and  the  marbling  on  the  cheiitt  and  arms  begins  to  acquire  a 
irpli«b  tint.  About  the  s(H>oud  day  it  a^isumes  a  brownish  hue,  and  at 
time  the  abdomen  nnd  groinn  show  more  evident  marks  of  the  putre* 
proom»  by  acquiring  a  green  color.  From  this  period  it  advances 
fm>fO  or  lo**  nipidily,  according  to  attendant  eircnmstances.  In 
or  iix  dATii  the  entire  surface  is  ordinarily  very  green,  and  the  venous 
4i]iK  itill  strongly  marked,  Almut  this  time,  iu  warm  weather,  the 
begins  to  looi»eu,  and  the  fluid;$  aeijuire  great  liquidity,  and 


gravitate  (o  t!je  dependent  parts,  through  whirh  they  rcmdily  ewape. 
Beyoo<l  thi$,  the  track  of  deeumpusitiou  cuo  scarcely  be  followed  with 
any  certainty." 

•* /«  u'hut  order  dops  puircfadmn  advanre  In  inlernal  organ»  f^^  Id  other 
words.  Wliut  part«  of  the  body  puti-efy  fii>t,  and  which  resist  it  lougest? 
As  ftli  aid  lo  the  memory,  it  may  be  said  that  the  windpipe  and  brain 
are  fir^t  attacked,  and  the  hmrt,  lungA^  and  uWrim  last.  The  other  facts 
are  tabulated  from  Ca^sper;  but  there  L?  a  pretty  general  agreement  on  this 
subject  amongst  practical  raen. 

Table  of  order  in  which  internal  organs  are  attacked  by  putrefaction  : 

\.  Larynx  and  trachea;  2.  Brain  of  infanU*  and  young  children;  3. 
Stomarh  ;  4.  lutewtine^^;  5.  Spleen  (to  thb  there  are  many  exfeptitins  oc- 
curring at  an  earlier  pcritid  |;  G.  Liver  (gall-bhiddor  collap^ei*,  but  does 
not  putrefy  so  soon  );  7.  Brain  of  ado  It^s;  8.  Lun<f?!  and  heart;  0.  Kidneys; 
10.  Urinary  bladder;  IL  tE>op!ia^us  or  gullet;  12.  Pancreas;  13.  Dia- 
phragm; 14.  Ljirge  bloodvessels;  15.  Lust  of  all  the  uterus.  (iScc;  under 
determinalton  of  Sex,) 

C.  Appearances  due  to  saponification,  i>r  the  formation  of  Adipocrre. 
Under  certain  circumstaucej?,  particnlarlv  in  bodies  long  imu»er>*ed  in 
water,  in  very  Ikt  bodie^i,  particularly  of  yonng  pei'son;!,  and  in  bodies 
buried  one  on  top  of  another,  at  a  considerable  depth,  in  a  moif«t  soil,  a 
cnriou.*  soapy,  unctuous  substance,  named  Adipocere,  irom  adep,%  lurd,and 
cern,  wax,  is  formed  principally  out  of  tlie  fatty  tis.s«es.  Although  it  is 
said  to  have  been  known  to  the  ancients*,  and  nienti(tned  by  Lord  Bacon, 
ihia  Kubsiiance  attracted  little  attention  till  the  publication  of  Fovircroy^s 
Memoir,  read  in  1789  to  the  K<tyal  Academy  of  Sciences  of  Paris.  He 
found  in  the  removal  f»f  large  nundiers  of  IkhIips  from  the  Cimetiere  des 
lDDOceu.s  in  Paris',  that  the  bodie.^  prcaeuted  three  different  states:  (1) 
The  most  ancient  were  ftimply  portion.'*  of  bones  irregularly  disfiersed  in 
the  iK)il,  which  had  been  frcr|nently  tli^turbed  ;  (2)  A  seeoml  state  exhib- 
ited the  skin,  muiicles,  tcndona,  and  a[Kmeun>ses,  in  bodies  which  ha<l  been 
in.Mdated,  dry,  brittle,  bard,  more  or  less  gray,  and  like  what  are  called 
*•  Mummies  **  {^ee  next  section  ) ;  I  o)  The  most  singular  .•^tate  wa.s  observed 
in  the  "  fosses  communes,"  where  large  numbers  had  been  interred  in  deep 
pits,  one  ab<we  the  other.  On  opening  one  of  these,  which  had  been  finite 
closed  for  fifteen  year?,  he  found  the  coffins  fairly  preserved  ;  ihe  linen 
which  had  covered  them  was  alightly  adlierent  to  the  flattened  bodies,  and 
with  the  form  of  the  different  regions  exhibited  ;  on  removing  the  Jinen, 
Dothing  but  irregular  masses  of  a  soft  ductile  matter,  of  a  gray-wliite  color, 
resembling  common  white  cheeye.  "  It  was  gometimea  found  nearly  white, 
at  others  yellowish-brown  ;  sometimes  brittle  and  dry.  always  more  or  Icks 
unctuous  or  soapy."  »Since  the  publication  of  this  Memoir,  many  researches 
have  been  made  into  the  formaiion  of  ihh  s^ingylar  tiubfeitance,  whieh  iis  by 
no  means  invariably  of  the  fsame  comfiosition.  Thu;^  some  samples  melt  at 
less  than  200^  Fahrenheit ;  s^ime,  examined  by  Dr.  Taylor,  ret)iiiri.'d  a 
higher  tem|,)erature.  Most  ««pecimena  appear  to  ht*  an  amnKininaii  soap, 
and  are  soluble  in  hot  ateohol,  making  a  latlier  with  water,  whilst  others 
contaii]  lime  as  a  base.  Whether  liniw  or  ammonia,  the  base  is  combined 
with  oleic,  stearic,  and  perhaps  palmitic  acid.  As  all  the  tissues  cimtaiu 
more  or  less  fat,  almost  every  part  of  the  body  may  hd  gradually  con- 
verted into  Adipocere — even  the  hontts  to  a  great  extent — bnt  the  skin, 
breasts,  and  fat  of  various  organs  are  first  so  converted;  more  slowly  mus- 
cles, ,s<jlid  vif<?era,  and  the  hanler  ti.ssues.  (For  further  accounts  of  this 
substance,  »t'e  Dr.  Taylor  (lou.  cit.,  p.  109; ;  Ure's  *'  Dictionary  of  the  Arts," 


MUMMIFICATION   OF   B0DIB8. 


49 


I 

I 


VJI 

i 


I 


aod  art.  Adlpocere;  Hooper*!*  ^'MkI.  Diet.,"  art.  Adipocere;  Wetherell,  in 
A  !iiv.  der  Pliannarit/'  1857,  Ffl).,  p.  203;  Guy'a  "Forensic  Medicine," 
_  <;  DfVergie,  **ArujHles  d'Hyjfiene," vol.  ii,  etc., etc.)  It  appetins  cer- 
taiu  thai  under  favorable  circumstance:?,  as  in  running  water,  a  body  can 
be  p^rtimllv  couvertiHl  into  adinocere  in  from  four  to  five  or  six  week.^.  (See 
DeV^gi<?,  Kh?.  cit.;  alt^t  Dr.  CiilesV  **  Ex  peri  men  t:;*  upon  Meat.")  Dr.  Tay- 
lor MAIisd  that  a  female  interred  in  a  eotumon  grave,  at>er  fourteen  moulhs, 
w»»  found  purtially  converted  into  this  substance,  chiefly  the  lower  part  of 
ber  body.  The  ftcriod  re^^uired  by  this  change  is  therefore  njiich  leAs  than 
VNJi  vlatii)  by  the  grave-diggers  to  Fourcroy,  This  bus  already  been  the 
jb}t?i't  t»f  inquiry  at  a  trial.  (For  full  partieulara  of  wliich,  i<f^'  Beck's 
J^f^cliral  Jurisprudence,"  5th  edit.,  p.  590. )     The  questifjo  was  Iriwl  at 

' ?ts!S(xe?«,  at  Warwick,  in  the  year  1805.     An  in^iolvcnt  gentleman, 

eidmtn,  left  his  house  Nov.  3d,  as  wa:*  supjiosed  from  his  words 
>'r,  to  destrtiy  himself.     Five  weeks  and  four  days  after  (Dec. 
1  -  Ijody  was  found  floating  down  a  river,  three  miles  iVoni  his  houje. 

1'  [len ranees  of  putrefaction  in  the  face  and  scalp,  the  lower  part 

ti  !nmen  and  the  glutei  muscles  were  found  converted  into  adi- 

p»Ktre.  A  nmmiission  of  bankruptcy  was  taken  out  agairtst  him  a  ffw 
rfmw  ft/ffT  hr  (rfi  homt.  The  tnedico-lecral  question  was,  *'  Is  it  prnhahle  lie 
?!'  If  on   the  day  he  left  homeS*"     In  which  case  the  bauk- 

r   ,  ^c  annulled.     Dr  Gibbes,  of  Bath,  gave  evi<lence  thiit  adi- 

pocrrp  recpnrrd  at  least  a  month,  perhaps  five  or  six  weeks,  to  be  found  in 
tar  oiiantity.  even  in  running  water.  The  jury  decided  on  this,  that  he 
hii«l  aniimed  himself  when  the  commission  was  taken  out.  (This  formed 
ft  Ribjwi  of  one  of  the  M.  B.  questions  at  Cambridge  in  1872.) 
Ik  *\pf»«*a ranees  due  to  njummification.  Probably  ni<>st  of  you  are 
iliar  with  ihe  appearances  of  an  Egyptian  mummy.  Most  of  our  raedi- 
cai  mufieums  etjutnin  some  specimens  of  bodies,  or  portions  of  such,  in  this 
ODBifitinfi.  Our  dissecting-rooms  also  give  occasional  samples  from  the 
fif  uid  or  bloodlesss  persons.  Similar  changes  occur  in  dry  or  senile 
^  in  bodies  embalmed.  It  is  said  that  Hhakspeare's  expres- 
t,"  Act  V,  Scene  In  "A  tanner  will  last  you  nine  year!" 
Bodies  expired  to  a  drying  wind,  as  in  an  open  vault  at 
trf^nr  Berlin,  appear  to  be  preserved  in  a  very  wonderful 
vol.  i;  Dr.  Bidft>ur's  Traiu^.,  p.  4.'i.  i  Embalming 
atures  to  be  identified  after  the  lapse  of  more  than  a 
iwjlury.  Thus  the  luwly  of  King  Charles  I,  after  I(»5  years,  wa^  easilv  rec- 
ctfOtZML  {See  Sir  Henry  Halforfl's  "Account  of  the  Opening  of  the  Tomb 
•r  ChAflc*  I,"  in  his  Essays  anrl  Orations.  A  reduced  ropy  of  the  engrav- 
.i..,  ..*  ti,,  <;.,.^.  ^^(.^  yf\]\  \^  found  in  Guy's  "Forensic  Medicine,"  p.  lO.) 
jil  inhabit-ants  of  the  Canary  Islands  preserverl  the  bodies 
•  d  friends,  which  have  been  found  in  great  numhtrs  in  the 
Talma,  Fcrro,  TcneriftL*,  etc. :  the  natives  called  them  A'j/'»j. 
r  to  fiave  been  renioved,  the  b^Mlies  dried  in  air,  with 
«,  and  pome  sort  of  varuish  ?  Humlxjldt  found  similar 
•  and  Peru.  In  the  celebrated  Monastery  of  St.  Ber- 
travellers  f«>und  dead  in  the  snow  are  deposited  in 
I  grated  windown;  t!i*y  are  in  a  lilting  j>osition,  leAaio^ 
oreast.  H^re  cold  rtems  to  have  preserved  them,  and 
fivifi  tine  tifr  drying.  The  following  are  also  instances  of  long  preserva- 
tt»o  hr  •  mbaJmiog;  King  Ivlward  I.  buried  in  1307,  was  found  entire  in 

r 

it 

Af  1  entire  at  Caen  in  the  Hixteetitb  century.     The  vaults 

1. 1-  k.  iriucUri-y  of  the  Cordelier*  at  Toulouse,  the  Capuchin  vaults, 


finhlc» 


OJ     tIJ' 

QUAi 

r 


mrf);  Canute  died  in  103f».  and  his  br»<|y  was  found  very  f^el^h 
In  i..«f^>  ;  (he  biidies  of  WiHiam  the  Conqueror,  and  his  Queen 


i»UU»l|l,   w 


60 


ORDER    OF    SIGNS    OF    DEATH, 


uear  Palermo,  as  well  as  the  Cntacomlps  in  the  East,  and  at  Rome  and 
I'aris,  pppsfr'nt  man y -speciiucn.-^  of  iirtlura!  mummies,  Thuiigh  ii<d  miirh  is 
known  of  the  time  required  for  .«nfh  ualiiral  de^iL■catioIl,  it  apjjears  pretty 
certain  thai  bodies  of  a  rather  dry  nature  (i.  e,,  not  containing  mueh  hlood 
or  fat,  and  abounding  in  fibrous  tissue),  exposed  to  a  dry  air,  and  protected 
from  moisture,  are  likely  to  be  preserved  longest. 

A.-*  reju^ards  /miV»  tedh^  ttktn,  and  itoncjt,  there  seems  scarcely  any  limit  to 
the  time  tliey  may  be  preserved  under  favorable  conditions. 

We  have  ourselves  examined  portions  of  skin,  the  history  of  which  was 
that  they  belonged  to  I)ane8,  who  liad  been  flayed  (probably  alive)  for 
piracy,  more  than  lOUO  years  ago.  Analogous  facts  are  presented  by  speci- 
meo8  from  the  vegetable  kiugdom  iu  our  museums  and  horti  sicci. 

Order  in  which  ihe  Signs  of  Death  succeed  each  other. 

The  rapidity  of  decomposition  in  some  casei?,  and  the  length  of  time 
during  which  it  is  retarded  iu  others,  renders  it  very  unsafe  to  give  any 
general  formula  wliich  shall  settle  ibe  time  a  hotly  haji  been  dead.  Your 
opinion  must  be  founded  upon  the  condition  of  all  the  organs^ — tlie  mode 
of  death,  and  the  Kurronnding^ — tucluding  in  the  latter  term  the  seaj^on  of 
the  year,  the  amount  nf  heat  and  moistore,  and  the  ijiuintity  of  clcitbiug, 
deprh  of  grave,  et<\  But  Caf^per's  rules  will  be  found  (*orre(!t  lu  the  ma- 
jority of  cases.  With  slight  alteration,  the!?e  are  as  tbilows  Oot^'*  c't*,  vol. 
i,  pp.  15-40) : 

I.  Signs  of  death  present  in  bodies  dead  from  ten  to  twelve  hours  at 
longest. 

1.  Complete  cessation  of  respiration  and  circulation — no  evidence  of 
either,  even  by  auscultation. 

2.  The  eye  has  lost  its  lustre,  the  pupil  is  immovable,  and  the  globe  has 
lost  it*t  normal  tension. 

3.  No  stimulus  has  any  power  of  producing  reaction. 

[In  previously  healthy  subject*  who  have  met  with  a  violent  or  sudden 
death,  galvanism  (interrupted  currents  or  shocks  from  any  electric  ma- 
chine), may,  however^  produce  movement^*,  as  in  Galvanl's  wellknown  ex- 
f^veriments  for  some  hours  after  death.] 

4.  The  body  is  ashy  white.  [Except  in  jaundiw,  or  yellow  colorations 
from  poisons,  and  in  fiersons  with  very  florid  complexions.  Tattt>o-mark9, 
the  edges  of  ulcers,  bruises,  and  wounds  inflicted  during  life,  and  extrava- 
sations, us  in  purpura,  must  be  excepted  also.] 

5.  Most  bodies  are  quite  cold  in  from  eight  to  twelve  hours  (etWfantea), 

6.  There  is  a  state  of  general   relaxation  and   fiaccidity  (unless  rigor 
iorti«  be  present,  ami  sometimes  even  then),  with  flatteoing  of  the  nates, 

calves,  etc.,  when  subjected  to  the  pressure  of  their  own  weight,  and  this  is 
strikingly  shown  in  the  globe  of  the  eye. 

7.  Dependent  or  posterior  portions  of  the  body  begin  to  exhibit  a  bruised- 
like  condilioii,  known  as  post-mortem  staining,  or  hypostases — internal 
and  external. 

IL  Signs  of  death  present  in  bwlics  dead  from  two  to  three  days,  In  ad- 
dition to  all,  or  nearly  all  the  preceding,  especially  the  post-mortem  staiua, 
we  get 

8.  Coagulation  of  the  blood  (see  before),  and 

9.  Rigor  mortis  is  either  present,  or  has  passed  off.  (See  before,  p.  40, 
for  rules  and  exceptiona.) 

As  regards  fruiett  bodies,  the  rigidity  due  to  frost  is  known  by  its  af- 
fecting all  parts  of  the  body,  and  completely  fixing  the  articulations. 


CAUTIONS    AS  TO    PUTREFACTION, 


51 


in.  Sfgns  of  lieatb  in  bodied  dead  more  thau  three  days. 

10.  Kxcept  in  very  rare  cases,  there  will  now  be  signs  of  ptttrefaelwn. 

19  exceptions  will  be  in  very  cold  weather,  or  bodies  preserved  in  ice,  or 
ffMiie  mooiea  of  death  (as  alcohol  pi*isoning),  or  when  some  methmi  of  km- 
dvviDg  decora pi>»it ion.  has  been  employed  ;  or  at  later  perimls,  w  hep  niuni- 
nilfeation  or  ^aponi  Heat  ion  [formation  of  adijwcere],  of  wiiich  we  ha%'e 
jail;  fpoken,  bas  modified  this  process."  (11.)  The  teoipendurtf  will  now 
M  ibal  of  the  surrounding  medium,  or  but  little  ttbi>ve  it.  (12.)  And  the 
mttecle:*  will  DO  longer  respond  to  the  strongest  galvauic  current  or  elec- 
Une  shock. 

Catttions  as  to  Pittrejadion, 

It  w  g^enerally  admitted  that  the  earlier  stages  of  this  process  are  the  most 
gerf>Ufl  a6  regards  infection  from  what  are  commonly  called  **  [lost-mor- 
or  disMctit^n  wounds,"  Some  of  the  later  stages  u>ay,  hotvever,  be 
,ii]|Mt  dangerous,  or  even  more  .so,  unlej«s  precautions  are  taken  to  insure 
tke  dilution  of  the  poii^uous  gases  with  a  large  bulk  of  air,  and  disinfec- 
lioo  by  chefiiical  means.  The  matters  are,  however,  not  so  much  within 
the  pr»rvfn«?  of  legal  medicine  as  are  the  following : 

^.very  properly,  that  bo<lies  green  from  putridity,  blown 
U;  1   excoriated,  at  the  expiration   of  one  month,  or  i'rora 

ihmc  lit  live  aionths  alter  death  (fhis  stage  of  putrefaction  lasting  a  long 
time  iti  tutmit  cases  >,  cat.  f/ar.,  cannot  with  any  certainty  be  dislinguishetl 
frocM  eskcb  other,  a^  regards  either  recognizing  the  features,  or  stAting  which 
"ii-il  Tr-f    fir  how  h»ng  death  has  taken  place. 

y.  We  should  hardly  ever  refuse  to  perform  a  post-mortem  ex- 
,,....   I.  mrrvly  on  account  of  putridity,  since  in  the  most  rotten  corpses 
tran  g\ fiemlly  detennine  the  sex  and  age  (from  the  bones  or  hair,  or  dis- 
t*'T\  it(  a  uterus),  and  very  often  the  nuwle  of  death,  as  for  example, 
ap^tpU'xy.  aneurism*  and  many  forms  of  pois^ming,  notably  arsenical, 
chnmii,  and  sometimes  the  existence  of  pregnancy,  from  tiuiling  tVetal 
•-•.  '»?»♦.  Til  the  interior  of  a  woman's  Ixxly ;  or  some  artkle,  as  a  false 
iir  truss,  or  the  los*  of  a  limb,  or  an  ununited  or  other  frac- 
t.^  y  lend  to  identiticatioQ,  as  au  ununited  fracture  did  iu  the 

tarn  Mti  Dr.  LiVM;^'-r'>ii*\ 


^  thtmtt  •Uilm  ihiit  hi*  ^«p«ri«nc«  Ifuds  him  to  conclude  thnt  tbe  fultowing  pro- 
■Tiiwii  It  but  (»tr  from  th»«  «?»jivl  iruih  :  '♦  At  n  toUnt^tit/  timi/nr  areraf/e  trmpera- 
fl9#.  lh»  tUjfff*  '>/  put r'f factum  ftrr^rnt  im  n  futiijf  ofter  It/iug  m  tkt  ufteu  air  fur  ont 
wrtk  f  •»^  fnt.ufhi,  ntrrrM/H/nfft  tit  thai  f'/unil  in  a  inult/  aftrr  tj/tntf  in  tkf  traler  two 
i0fk0  {uc  m*.»**tKt\,  vT  i*jt*r  lyiftp  in  tht  earth  iw  the  »«*.mo/  mam*fr  f"r  ei*fht  u^ek^  (or 
wmmfi^B}."  Th*«  lattrr  tvf<m>to  ihf  prnrrtiil  buriitl  m«irH  ciiiiinxiii  tibrond  thun  in  Ea< 
gliMi,  liwt  mtXftT  lb«  ttral  wevk  lliii  prvpjrlivu  will  hv  fuuiid  preUy  *^]lmcU 


52 


LEGAL    DEFINITIONS   OP    POISONS, 


CHAPTEK  IV. 


ON  POISONS  AND  POISONING. 


I>eflnUinn  nf  n  pojann— Ariion  of  poisons — Circumstunees  mrxlifying  tbfir  Action 
— CinMKiiHfMnfps  Ipfulinj;  In  tlir>  f^uf^picinn  of  poisf)n  hMvinc;  been  Mfirtjinifiterpd  — 
Sviiip«nrn*  of:  (1  |  Corrosive;  (2.)  Irrilnnl;  ^3.)  Njirc'<»iic  Rn«i  nurcotico-ntrid 
pt.j>..n« — TreiitriR'nt  of  p«.i»i>nin!<  cHaen — Con('lusii»n*  to  be  drHwri  from  unHtygea 
—  Hnw  fjir  poi'^on^  lirp  nnUtrHt  €onBti!tn*nts  of  the  lifwjy  —  Hints  for  n  poni-nior- 
tPtn  —  I\>-t-m"rl»*m  jifi|.<'^Mr«ncoj*  in  difl«^rpiu  forms  <>(  poiponin*; — Di*onaf»  that 
{«iiiitit]ite  poison ing^Cases  of  supposed  poisoning  and  malingeriug^Ctassittcn- 
tiun  of  poisons. 

The  reply  to  the  question,  ''n'hat  Is  a  puimnF'  seems  simple  enough. 

In  common  laiigiuige  we  say:  "It  ih  a  siib-stance  capable  of  destroying  life 

pnimptly  when  taken  iti  small  rmantity,**     But  this  popular  iiotii>n  of  a 

,J)oismi  is  not  guffieieiitly  exaet  for  the  medienl!  jyris^t;  for,  as  the  law  floes 

Jxiot  define  a  p^^iH>n,  its  strict  definition  by  the  medical  witness  oftea  becomes 

a  matter  of  paramount  importance. 

We  are  indebteil  to  Dr.  Letheby  for  the  following  definition  of  a  poison: 
"Anything  which  otherwise  than  by  the  agency  of  heat  or  electricity  is 
e4tpable  of  destroying  life,  either  by  chemical  action  on  ibe  tis^iues  of  the 
living  body  or  by  physiological  action  from  absorption  into  the  living 
system." 

It  will  be  remarked  that  m  this  definition  no  reference  is*  made  to  tlie 
quantity  of  the  drug  necessary  to  destroy  life.  Nor  would  it  be  accurate 
o  do  so.  Oxalic  acid  is  a  poison,  and  an  active  cme;  but  usually  at  h-ast 
inif  an  ounce  is  necessary  to  cau(*e  death.  Half  an  ounce  can  scarcely  l>e 
C4illcd  a  .«umll  quantity.  Similarly,  too,  if  quantity  wa**  to  be  regar<led  as 
an  cA^ential  element  in  the  definitif>n  of  a  poison,  the  salts  of  several  of  the 
metals  would  necessarily  be  excluded  frotn  the  category  of  poisons. 

Again,  a  poison  may  be  administereil  in  several  ways  other  than  by  the 
mouth.  It  may  be  hyj>odermicully  injected  or  applied  to  the  rectum, 
vagina,  ear,  or  ntxstril.or  to  the  lungs,  or  to  the  skin,  abraded  or  unbroken. 
Our  definition,  therefore,  must  provide  for  any  mode  of  administration. 
The  act  uses  the  words  ^* adminhiered  to*'  or  *' Uikrn  ht/^  the  |>erson  killed, 
the  words  **  apply  or  administer  to  "  being  added  in  a  later  act,  to  provide 
for  the  ailminisiration  of  ''chloroform,  hunlatium,  or  otlier  stupeiying  or 
overjx>wering  drug,  matter,  or  thing."  In  all  this  the  want  of  accuracy 
of  definition  i.**  manifest.  For  instance,  it  might  be  questioneil  whether 
the  external  application  of  a  poison  to  an  abradc<l  surface:  would  be  com- 
prehended in  the  phra.'se  "administer  to,"  although  such  a  case  we  should 
suppose  might  fairly  be  regarded  as  the  application  of  '*  an  overpowering 

Again,  the  action  of  a  poison  in  destroying  life  must  be  either  chemlval 
or  phifMutUtfjlcni,  and  not  merely  luccbanical.  Pins,  needles,  sjjonge,  etc., 
are  not  poisons,  although  they  may  destroy  life  given  ititornally,  their 
action  being  strictly  mechanical,  and  not  chemical  or  physiidogicat. 

To  Bustain  a  capital  charge,  it  is  necesj^ary  to  prove  (1  Vic(„  cap,  85, 
eec.  2)  that  the  suhetaoce  adminiuistered  is  "a  poison  or  other  destructive 
thing"  "given**  "with  intent  to  commit  nuirder."  What  is  the  <liHerence, 
we  must  ask,  between  a  ''poison"  and  **a  destructive  thing?"     A  poison 


THE    ACTION   OF    POISONS. 


5B 


^ 


destructive  thing,  but  a  destructive  thing  is  not  neocAaarily  ft 
pbiMm.  A  poiMin.  as  we  have  said,  destroys  life,  either  Uy  a  cheniical  or 
pbjTBJolo^ii'al  action,  whils^t  a  destructive  thing  may  act  purely  uiecbaoic- 
allr.     Thb  term,  therefore,  will  include  pins,  needle?,  and  so  lorih. 

Ill  in(«t  indiclmentj^  the  term  ** deadly  poii^ou  "  is  U!<ed.  Mr.  Jurilice  Erie 
(••Law  Tmiee/'  April  12ih,  1845)  ha;*  wisely  decided  ihat  this  and  stich 
lii..  txrm-  are  mere  "legal  surpki^age/'  althuugh  their  «»1>jt'ctifmiih]c  char- 
a  MHlanily  to  be  noted  by  the  frequent  legal  qnilibies  they  involve. 

V  i  he  admini<«tration  of  a  poivsoo  is  followed  by  death  or  nut,  it  is  a 

eas  »ny,  provided  it  be  proved  that  the  poir^on  was  given  "with  intent 

t  :    murder."     Failing,  however,  to   prove  the  intent  lo  commit 

ui  liich  ca«teH  formerly  e.'^eaped  justice),  an  act  wa^"  paj^sied  (23  Vici., 

cap-  *".  >lurcb  23*1,  1800)  providing  for  those  cases  where  poison.-'  such  a;* 
phmpborui^,  cantbaride!»,  tartar  emetic,  etc.,  were  administered  for  the 
purpfise  of  anuoyance,  or  even  for  wurse  motives.     It  provides : 


'  the  administration  of  a  poison,  or  other  destructive  or  noxious 
l^  o  intent  to  endanger  life  or  inflict  grievou;*!  bodily  harm,  h  felon j^^ 

tlw«entrt>cr  beiitg  penal  sservitude  for  not  more  than  ten  nor  Ics'*  tlian  three 
tfAr*t  or  imprisoumenl  for  not  more  limn  three  years  with  or  wu]u>ul  hard 

2.  Tluit  ibc  administration  of  a  poison,  or  other  destrnclive  thing,  with 
btrot  lo  injure,  grieve,  or  annoy  u  pereiori.  is  a  mmlememior,  the  senleuce 
^  '  ig  tmpruttmment  for  not  exceeding  three  years  with  or  without  hard 
if. 
That  II  jury  failing  to  convict  a  prisoner  for  felony,  is  at  liberty  to 
ftttiro  btm  guilty  of  mi^^demeanor 

Fartb*»r,  th^  a^^-mpi  to  administer  a  pol«*on,  although  it  may  be  uiisuc- 
ifu'  !  as  a  felony  pnni?haUle  by  tmu^portatiou. 

-»n  hat*  been  raised  (Keg.  v.  Cluderay,  Jtin,  19th,  1849), 
vbcili^r  the  adminii^tralion  of  a  berry  that  was  poijionous,  ]iH'lo,scd  in  a 
IMteotiuUi?  hui-k,  and  which,  cons43qnently,  aHowed  the  poisonouss  biKly 
|Mi^  through  the  syfetem  without  injury  to  tlie  person  tu  wh«Hn  it  was 
ttiitiii.rorv'd,  wa8  a  criminal  act.     It  wa«  decided  tliut  this  wa«  the  ad- 
•u  of  a  poison  with  intent  to  murder. 

"  ■■  decitl^ed  upon  several  (Kcai^ious  that,  the  intent  Iicing  proved, 

mount  of  poij^on  administered  might  be  insufficient  to  cau.^e 

e  of  attempting  to  administer  jxnson  is  con»pJete, 

to  define  the  exact  boundary  between  a  medicine  and  a 

»D-     A  medicine  in  a  large  do?e  may  be  a  poi-on,  mid  yo  al-^o  may 

•rtive  drug,  although  it  be  only  adrntnit^tered  ht  medicinal  doiie*,  if 

doNM  are  too  frei^uentty  repeated. 


In  wlvat  xeay  do  PoUom  act  t 

Th(^  nrtton  of  fKUMms  is  either 

1  -^'f,  i  t,f  when  the  action  is  confined  lo  the  part  to  which  the  jioison 

or 
/.'■/;o/r,  !.#'.,  when  the  action  extends  to  distant  organs. 

I-***  vi*. — Strong  acid«»,  caustic   alkaliei*,  or   corrosive  salt,s  applied 

rually  or  internally  produce  corrosion  at  the  i^pot  where  they 

-j  J  .i.d.     Himilarly,  arsenic,  tartar   emetic,    cantharides,  and  other 

trriUDt«,  produce  injJ'unmntion  and   Ittt   result!*.     The  local  action   of  a 

yd  nerve*  is  illustrated  by  the  anie^lhelic  action  ot  chloroform  or 


64 


THE    ACTION    OF    POISONS. 


veratria ;  the  Ii>cal  action  on  miutcfe  by  the  effects  of  belkdonua  and 
Calabar  beau  on  the  irii*.  The  local  ucliau,  therefore,  of  mmc  pois^ons,  it 
will  be  seen,  is  entirely  chtinicjii,  t\(}.,  nitric  acid,  the  mineral  salts,  and 
ftli  ttiiih  hrxlies  at*  coagulate  albumen;  whilst  of  others  it  is  entirely 
ph/HtoltKjiral,  as  '. 57.,  aconite,  belladonna,  opium,  etc. 

II.  Ui:MrjTK. — Death  is  very  rarely  bronght  about  merely  by  the  local 
action  of  a  poison.  In  some  few  cases,  as  with  mineral  acid^  or  cau^^tic 
alkalieti,  i^ucli  a  thinj:  may  happen,  byt  far  more  frequently  the  true  tleath 
action  is  a  reniote  one;  we  mean  by  that  an  injury  ^t  np  in  some  other 
organ  to  which  the  poison  has  not  been  directly  applied.  The  effects  of 
ar»euic  in  producing  inllainmatioii  of  the  mucous  membraneii  generally, 
and  the  eHects  of  strychnia  on  the  nervous  system,  are  illustrations  m 
point. 

Further,  the  remote  action  of  a  p<3i<on  is  !?e]dom  a  7<^/jfrrt7  action.  AH 
poi.*on^,  moreover,  do  not  act  on  the  siime  organs,  nor  do  they  destroy  life 
in  the  aame  way.  Poisons  poiJses-^  a  certain  power  of  selection,  acting  upon 
tissues  or  npim  organs  peculiar  to  themselves. 

By  ?onie  the  heurt  is  specially  affected,  as,  e  </.,  by  digital!?,  tobacco, 
oxalic  acid,  baryta,  and  strontia ;  and  by  lead,  zinc,  and  copper  salt*. 
"Cardiac  paralysis  may  in  this  way  be  produced  by  the  poisoned  blood  find- 
ing its  way  into  the  coronary  arteries. 

The  organn  of  renpiration  are  affected  by  others,  as,  f.  <?.,  by  hydrocyanic 
acid,  euphorbium,  tobacco,  etc.  With  ihese  poisons  sufll>cation  is  produced 
by  an  arrest  of  the  capilhiry  circulation.  Antimony,  likewise,  although 
it  possesses  a  depressing  intluence  on  the  system  generally,  has  a  special 
action  on  the  lungs. 

The  ^rrtm  ii*  affected  by  others,  as,  <?.  7.,  by  opium.  Morphia,  alcohol, 
and  nitro-benzo!  may  generally  he  found  in  the  brain  after  poisoning  with 
Ui<»e  drugs;  the  fatal  result  Being  probably  due  to  an  indirect  actiim  on 
the  respiration. 

The  fpiital  cord,  again  is  affectefl  by  .strychnia.  This  effect  is  indepen- 
dent of  any  action  ou  the  brain  (Emmert ),  inarfmucb  iu  it  happeus  when 
the  connection  between  {hem  is  s^evered. 

We  find  as  a  matter  of  fact  that  poi.suns  generally  have  a  decided  pref- 
erence for  h)cating  themselves  in  the  liver,  and  hence  the  importance  in 
all  medico-legal  investigations  of  specially  preserving  and  examining  this 

VJSCUS. 

Although  we  may  in  this  manner  systematize  the  selective  action  of 
poiwns,  it  is  more  common  to  find  very  con:?iderab!e  complicatiooH,  from 
more  organs  than  one  being  attacked  ;  the  extent  of  action,  and  the  organs 
affected  being  largely  influcncetl  by  the  quantity  of  the  poiyojj  takeu.  As 
an  examfde  of  this  we  often  find  the  i?toniach,  (he  heart,  the  brain,  and  the 
spinal  cord  all  more  or  lej^s  affected  by  a  large  dose  of  oxalic  acid. 

Thi.-?  remote  selective  action  of  pcusous  U  a  subject  demanding  close 
attention,  inasmuch  as  symptoms  of  the  greatest  value  may  be  noticed 
enabling  us  to  distinguish  the  very  poiHon  that  has  been  taken,  or  at  any 
rate  the  class  to  which  it  beliingn.  With  tetanic  spasm^^,  you  suspect 
strychnia;  with  narcotic  gtuj)or,  opium ;  with  salivatiun,  mercury  ;  with 
inflamnuition  of  the  nmciius  membranes,  arsenic;  with  bloody  >^tools  and 
bloody  urine,  amtbarides;  with  delirium,  beUadouna,  Indian  hemp,  hyos- 
cyamus,  etc. ;  with  loss  of  mus^'uhir  power,  tobacco,  conia,  digitalis,  or 
aconite ;  with  gangrene  of  the  li«»bs,  ergot ;  and  so  forth.  Lead  poisoning 
shows  itself  liy  the  blue  line  00  the  gums ;  mercurial  poisoning  by  paralysis 
agitans;  phosphorus  poisoning  by  the  necrosed  jaw  (an  action  which,  how- 
ever, is  almost  entirely  local).  And  yet  even  here  it  is  neces-sary  to  be 
aware  that  it  'Is  possible  to  draw  too  fine  a  line  of  demarcation,  for  the 


THB   ACTION   OF   POISONS. 


55 


itrtnpfoms  of  one  poison  may  be  and  often  are  the  occasional  symp- 
umm>-'  Tetanus,  for  example,  the  general  symptom  of  strychnia 

poinor't  uud  ociaj^ionally  as  a  symptom  of  poigoning  by  other  alka- 

|oid4v*t>d  even  by  tartar  emetic.  In  a  eaj^e  of  poisoning  by  savin  referred 
to  ooc  of  the  authors,  the  symptoms  strongly  pointed  to  strychnia.  Again, 
•ztmnc  mlivation  may  be  an  occasional  symptom  of  iodide  of  polasiiium, 
P^r.  KL.rw?*.  of  ifofj^  belladonna,  etc, 

<>  we  must  nsk,  in  what  way  is  this  remote  action  of  a  poisoa 
kr^'junv  iti'out,  and  how  is  the  influence  of  a  poison  thus  conveyed? 
Two  answers  have  been  given  to  this  question. 

l«t.  That  pois&rig  are  ahsorbe*!  by  ike  blood  and  mrried  by  the  circulatioii 
ike  p^ari  unere  tht  remotv  oHion  m  )*d  up.  And  this  view  has  been  gener- 
!▼  accepted  ainee  the  famous  experiments  of  Magendie  in  1809, 
Independently  of  bow  poi^^ons  have  been  administered,  the  analysis  of 
ihm  bluod  in  poisoning  cases  will  very  frecpiently  prove  their  existence  in 
Ibe  giffieral  circulation,  Magendie  showed  that  even  when  a  limb  was 
merbly  connecieii  with  the  IhxIv  by  quills  placed  in  the  large  vessels,  glass 
tolwi  having  t»eeu  sub^'tituted  for  (juills  in  the  latter  experiments,  the  poison 
euiiUQQ^*}  to  act,  whilst  it  has  been  proved  that  even  prussic  acid,  intro« 
doced:  into  the  stomach  by  a  Hstulous  opening,  is  innocuous,  provuled  a 
Inttirt*  be  placc<l  round  the  ve<«se]s  passing  from  the  stomach  to  the  liver. 
'^^  iihiD  one  minute,  however,  after  the  ligature  is  removed,  the  poison  will 
Wgin  to  act  i  Blake,  **  Ei\.  Med.  and  Surg.  Journal,**  vol.  liii,  p.  45).  Thus 
mv  «r**  led  to  believe  {a)  that  poisons  are  absorbed  and  conveyed  lhn>tigh 
tV  -  -  — '  --tern  by  the  circulatHm  to  the  special  organ  upon  whi«^h  they 
a  l.£it  the  fatal  action  of  a  poison  is  the  result  of  its  absorption. 

\Hitii  tiicK-  luels  before  us,  we  can  understand  liow  sucking  a  poisoned 
ncMUid,  ur  applying  a  ligature  may  save  a  life. 

2dly.  It  ha$  been  Hated  that  the  odwn  of  the  poimn  on  the  part  to  whieh  U 
9lied  U  propagated  by  tJte  neroea  to  the  nerwiu  centres,  and  from  tliem 
fed  to  the  remote  oryaim. 
TliQM  who  believe  in  this  action  of  nerve  communication  or  sympathy, 
^  io  tupimrt  uf  it  the  amazing  rapidity  with  which  prussic  acid  fre* 
qocatly  provn  fatal,  an  action  compared  by  Magendie^  in  piint  of  switl- 
Wtm,  Io  th«  passage  of  a  cannon  bull  or  a  thuuderbtdt.  Such  an  action 
llwy  wmr  '*  i»  incompatible  with  its  having  followed  the  circuitous  route  of 
tbt  ctrctilation  in  order  to  reach  the  organs  on  which  it  acts,  and  there  is 
to  oUier  coorc.ivuble  mode  by  which  it  can  act,  except  by  the  transmission 
of  a  pr •••:"•"  !r>ral  impulse  along  the  nerves"  iChristison).  On  the  other 
land  d  that  fioisons  inserted  into  a  limb,  connected  with  the  body 

by  Der\>'-  <Miiy,  have  no  action.  This  was  first  proved  by  Emmert,  whilst 
cxprrim^Dtiug  with  the  woorara  poison.  Further,  it  has  been  provetl  that 
tlia  inmiediatc  contact  of  a  poison  with  the  substance  of  the  brain  itself 
otay  be  onaccompanicd  by  any  symptom  of  |>oisoning  whatsoever.  Whilst, 
h^mt^^,  boldiQg  mo^t  strongly  that  a  nerve-trunk  is  incapable  of  trans- 
mtUMog  poisou,  experience  comi^els  us  to  admit  the  instantaneously  fatal 
actii(>o  u(  Mime  drugs.  Cases  are  on  reconJ  where  a  dog  ha»  dropped  down 
drad  aft»*f  having  dcarcely  swallowed  a  dose  of  prussic  acid  two  seconds. 
|V  iher  poison  with  which  we  are  acquainted  is  the  action  so  extra- 

niiJiii  an  it  is  with  pruswic  acid.     This  cannot,  it  is  manifest,  be 
rence  of  the  poison  by  the  circulation  if  the  ortlinarily 
U  ^   .;.a:  circulation  be  correct;  and  hence,  although  the  action 

H   1  !•  excessively  rare,  the  case  of  prussic  acid  suggests  the  possi- 
rm  deiitruying  life  by  a  sudden  nervous  shock.     Nor  indeed 


5^      CIRCDMSTANCKS    MODIFYING    TIIE    ACTION    OF    POISONS. 

is  there  any  difficulty  in  admitting  that  under  exreptionfll  eircum stances 

sucli  may  be  ifie  ca^%  when  we  remember  how  fatal  the  Midden  !*htH"k  pro- 
duced by  mtabaiiicai  injuries!,  or  by  the  heariuji^  bad  or  slariliiig  news 
laccasioiiuJIy  proves.  But  there  are  diHicultit^  even  uiih  pru^rtic  acid  in 
admitting  that  the  nervous  shock  i.s  iiHlejwtideuL  of  the  circuhiiion.  An 
ounce  of  prussie  acid  may  be  placed  in  the  stomach  of  a  dog,  as  we  huve 
said,  pruvided  the  portal  vein  and  u'^tiphagus  be  tied,  without  any  symj>- 
tom*  of  poiyouinj5  being  produced — at  any  rate  no  aymptomf*  occurring 
until  such  time  as  the  collateral  circulution  briuga  the  poison  inlo  the 
sy«*teiii ;  but  the  moment  the  ligature  is  removed  from  the  [jortal  vein,  the 
dog  falls  dowu  dead.  This  experiment  certainly  throws  a  doubt  on  any 
conveyance  of  a  poi^son  other  than  by  the  circulation,  and  loadtt  us  to  aali 
whether  the  generally  aeceptc<I  physiological  facts  relative  to  the  tin»e  of 
the  circulation  and  the  period  nece»«ary  for  the  transit  of  hloud  from  place 
to  place  may  not  {xissibly  require  some  modification. 


Olrcumstanees  Modifying  the  Action  of  Poisons. 

I.  Qimntity. — As  a  rule,  the  greater  the  cprantity  of  a  poi.«on  taken  the 
more  severe  are  the  symplouif!,  und  the  more  rapid  their  action.  But  this 
is  by  DO  means  always  or  necessarily  the  cai^.  A  large  dos-e  oJ"  ur»senic 
may  fail  to  destroy  life  from  the  vomiting  that  it  produces,  whil.xt  a  !«mall 
dose,  failing  to  &et  up  vomiting,  and  consequently  retained  by  the  s*tonm«h, 
may  prove  fatal.  The  dose,  again,  largely  regulates  gymploms.  Many 
poisons,  wliich  iu  large  doses  act  on  the  nervous  system,  act  in  email  doses 
on  the  alimentary  c^nal.  Our  colleague,  Mr.  Iiodger«,  informs  us  of  a 
remarkable  case  iu  his  practice,  where  a  woman  was  apparently  ."luflcriug 
from  all  the  effects  of  an  irritant  poison,  with  eymptoms  of  eonsidenible 
severity,  produced  by  sulphate  of  magnesia,  given  to  her  by  her  husband 
iu  small  m\d  very  frequently  repeated  doses  for  a  long  pcn(}d,  luid  intro- 
duced with  criminal  intent  into  every  article  of  her  food.  When  the  fiict 
wa^  discovered^  and  means  were  taken  to  prevent  it.s  further  a<lministra- 
tioD,  the  symptoms  eutircly  disappeared,  The  modifying  action  of  d4ise, 
again,  is  well  illustrated  iu  the  case  of  oxalic  ueid,  which,  in  a  large  dose, 
may  kill  by  shock  ;  in  a  smaller  dose  hy  its  action  on  the  heart  ;  in  a  still 
smaller  dose  by  its  action  on  the  brain  and  nervous  system,  producing  vio- 
lent tetanic  spasms;  and  in  a  yet  smaller  dose  still,  destroying  life  with 
all  the  syutptomsi  of  pure  coma. 

IL  Mokcutar  Form  or  Phijniml  Condition. — A  poison  in  the  state  of  a 
gas  or  vaptir  is,  of  all  forms  iu  which  it  can  be  taken,  tlie  most  active.  A 
poison  capable  of  being  volatilized  is  more  energetic  in  its  action  when  in- 
haled iu  a  vaporous  state  than  when  swallowed  ai*  a  solid  or  liquid.  Next 
to  the  gaseous  condition  a  poison  in  scdution  is  the  most  active  ;  absorption 
is  easier,  and  contact  with  a  larger  surface  njiire  certainly  secured.  Whilst, 
lastly,  a  poison  insoluble  in  water  or  iu  all  the  fluids  of  the  digestive  tract 
is  probably  iuert. 

III.   Chtmical  Comhinfiiion.^Ser  Compound  Poisoning,! 

(«;   The  activity  of  a  poison  may  be  incrensed  hy  rhnniciJ  comhinaiion. 

Such  happens  when  the  solnbdity  of  a  poison  is  increased.  Morphia,  for 
^example,  in  combination  with  hydrochloric  or  acetic  acids,  is  mor«?  soluble 
than  when  in  a  free  state,  its  activity  being  thereby  iuleusified.  It  is  also 
well  to  remember  that  the  acid  juices  of  the  stomach  or  of  the  skin  are 
capable  of  forming  soluble  salts  with  certain  poisons,  and  so  by  this  means 
increasing  their  activity. 

(,i)   The  activity  of  a  poison  may  be  deereoMd  by  chfmieal  tamhi nation. 

This  happens  specially  with  poisons  which  act  locally.     Sulphuric  acid 


CIRCUMSTANCES    MODIFYING    THE    ACTION    OF    POISONS. 


57 


and  cnustic  goda,  when  comlnned,  form  a  gentle  aperient,  the  ooe  ncutral- 
"  iiiig  the  other.  And  agnin,  whenever  combinntion  decreases  the  ^oliibiiily 
"of  a  pobofi,  it  decreases  \li^  aetivily  in  the  same  ratio.  Snlpbute  of  buryta 
is*  innocuous,  because  insoluble;  but  both  baryta  aod  sulphuric  acid  are 
deadly  |>oi$oni;, 

(jr)    The.  activity  of  a  pniMon  may  he  modijied  by  chemical  covihination. 

If,  as  for  example,  with  arsenite  of  copper,  bdlh  elenienf^i  of  the  com- 
pouud  be  poisi">ns,  we  may  have  mixed  ^lymptoins,  or  tiie  symptoms  of  the 
ruost  aetive,  or  symptoms  peculiar  to  the  chemical  mixture. 

IV.  Mt'rhanirnt  Mixture. 

If  the  mechanical  mixture  server  in  any  way  to  shield  a  poison,  its  in- 
teubily  of  action  is  thereby  diminJs*hed.  Tliu;*  arsenic  has  been  jajiveu  in  a 
8uet  dumpling  without  producing  any  effect.  This  is  the  explanation  too 
of  the  delay  in  the  ctimmencement  of  the  symptoms  caused  when  a  [wison 
is  taken  with,  or  directly  after  a  meal,  or  when  admioi.stered  mdxed  with 
oil  or  mucilage.  The  poisonous?  action  further  is  usually  lessened  by  dilu* 
^on,  although  this  ia  not  always  the  case,  prussic  acid  being  a  notable  ex- 
'eeptiou. 

V,  The  method  by  which,  or  the  pari  to  mhich  the  poison  is  administered. 
(<i)  Fin?t  in  order  of  activity  is  the  in.*eriioH  of  a  poison  into  a  wound^ 

or  it$  app/ieution  to  the  fiiuys  hm  a  yas  <>r  vapor. 

The  activity  of  morphia  when  injected  subeutaneously  (provided  the 
wound  (loes  not  bleed  too  freely,  so  as  to  wa;*h  the  poinoii  away)  is  an  in- 
lance  of  the  former;  and  the  inieui-ity  of  tlie  action  of  sewer  gases  an 
istance  of  the  latter 

(^?)  The  application  nf  a  poi^ion  to  .^rroua  membranes  stands  next  in  order. 
Oxalic  acid  injected  into  the  peritoneum  i^  intinilely  more  rapid  in  its  poi- 
sonous and  dcHtruclive  action  than  when  merely  swallowed. 

(7*)  Their  application  to  miirou^  meinbraneit  comes  next;  as,  p.  7.,  when 
a  jw>is^ou  is  swallowed,  and  so  applied  to  the  stomach  and  intestines. 
Under  these  circumstances  the  inteustiy  and  rapidity  of  the  action  of  a 
poison  ia  infinitely  less  than  in  those  before  mentioned.  It  is  well  known 
that  a  large  quantity  of  the  poison  of  the  rattlesnake  may  be  swallowed 
with  impunity;  whereas  the  smallest  possible  quantity  injected  into  a  vein 
is  certain  to  be  fatal. 

(<J)  And  lastly,  in  point  of  order,  is  the  application  of  the  poison  to  tlie 
mbrohm  i^kin.  For  here  the  action  ia  excessively  slow,  and  oftentimes 
luite  inert. 

The  intensity  of  action  of  some  {xiisons,  such,  for  example,  as  the  mineral 
acids,  will  depend  on  two  circumstances:  { 1 ),  the  e.ctcnt  of  aurface  de- 
Btroyed  ;  and  i  2),  the  part  to  which  it  has  been  afiplied. 

Poisons,  as  before  remarked,  have  no  actiiin  when  applied  simply  to 
nerve-tissue. 

VL  Habit. 

It  may  be  broadly  stated  that  the  habitual  use  of  a  poison  teiidfi  to 
decrease  its  activity  of  action.  At  any  rate,  there  is  no  doubt  this  rule  i» 
true  of  oryanie  poisons.  No  one  tloubts  the  stones  of  De  Quincey  and  of 
other  opium-eaters.  We  know  too  well  the  enormous  quantities  (jf  lauda- 
num given  U)  and  borne  by  children  in  factory  districts  to  keep  them  quiet. 
The  large  quantities  of  alcohol  the  coufirmed  dniukard  consumes,  as  well 
as  the  enormiius  amount  of  tobacco-smoke  tl>e  inveterate  smoker  can  in- 
baJe,  are  well  knt>wu  as  further  illustratious  of  the  power  of  habit.  But 
we  must  not  forget  that  although  habit  begets  this  tolerance,  a  serious 
shauge  in  the  constitution  is  ofteu  brought  about  by  their  agency.  The 
irbed  digestion  and  enfeebled  mind  of  the  opium-eater,  and  the  cirrhofiia 


CIRCrMSTANCBB   MODtFTlNO    THB    ACTION  OF   POISONS. 


of  the  "gta-fjrinker,"  are  proof  that  habit  may  ward  off  for  a  lime  the  evil 
day,  but  cannot  altogether  prevent  it. 

How  far,  however,  habit  can  de<'reaae  the  activity  of  inorganic  poisond 
is  we  consider  a  nmtter  of  question.  The  truth  of  the  old  stories  of  the 
Slyriao  arsenic-eaters,  and  ol"  the  Tiirkij^h  corrosive-subli mate-eaters,  may 
fairly  be  regarded  as  open  to  grave  doubt,  €*ertaiiily,  one's  experience  of 
the  action  of  gome  inorganic  poisons  used  in  iht^  arts  (e.  ^.,  carbonate  of 
lead  and  arsenite  oJ'  copj^er),  does  not  lead  ns  to  believe  muiii  in  the  power 
of  habit  in  decreasing  the  activity  ofnrineral  poi.ions.  Still,  a  celebrated 
French  toxicologist  (M.  Flandin,  "Traite  de.s  l**(isons"')  informs  us  that  he 
has  been  able  to  train  animals  to  bear  large,  iind  even  enorjpous  d'jses  of 
arsenic.  One  of  the  authors  has  pointed  out  the  ease  with  wbieh  animals 
can  be  trained  to  breathe  in  an  atnu^yphere  tnmtaining  a  quantity  of  sul- 
phurrais  acid,  that  would  prove  immediately  fatal  to  those  unaccuistomed 
to  it.* 

VII.  Idi/tAyticrmy, 

Whilj't  hnbitt  as  we  have  paid,  tends  to  dlminijih  the  activittf  of  poisons, 
idiotrifncragy,  on  the  contrary,  ha.M  a  tendency  to  incnaite  their  (vttcity. 

As  a  familiar  illustration  of  the  Jnttuence  of  idio?iyncrttsy,  we  may  men- 
tion the  varied  and  well-known  effifcts  on  difterent  persona  of  the  volatile 
oil  of  grasiit!^,  or  of  their  pollen,  as  many  lielicve,  inducing  in  some  .severe 
catarrhal  sympttnns  (hay  fever),  but  apparently  having  no  action  upon 
others.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  that  a  ^muil  dof^e  of  mercury,  which 
in  mo^it  people  would  merely  act  an  a  mild  laxative,  will  in  others  produce 
alarming  salivation.  Nor  can  it  be  other  than  to  jieculJar  idio'^yucrasies 
that  we  can  trace  the  diHerent  actions  of  alcohol.  A  <lebanch  that  would 
kill  one  man,  does  not  apparently  affect  another.  Chnstison  tells  a  re- 
markable cai«e  of  a  man  who  tot>k  an  ounee  of  ^olid  opium  without  any 
effect,  allhoiigh  he  was  ijuite  una<rcustomefl  to  its  use.  The  |>ccn]iarilies 
of  idiosyncrasy  are  to  be  noticed  in  the  cliHcrent  effects  of  drugs.  There 
are  cases  on  record  where  Epsom  salt,'*  has  been  known  to  act  as  a  nar- 
cotic, and  <»pium  as  a  purgative.  Again,  susceptibility  to  the  action  of 
poisons  is  ordinarily  found  to  be  increased  by  age.  An  old  person  is  far 
more  easily  atfected  by  opium  than  a  young  adult.  Again,  some  things, 
according  to  Foderd?,  act  as  piisons  to  some  animals,  but  not  to  others. 
Ilogs,  he  says,  can  eat  henbnne*  jiheasants,  stramonium;  and  goat^,  water 
hemlock*  wiih  impunity.  <^)gle  has  proved  that,  rabbits  can  live  on  bella- 
donna, whilst  Mitchell  a&?erts  the  immunity  of  pigeons  to  morphia.  Chria- 
lisou  doi*bts  the  accuracy  of  some  of  these  assertions.  But  in  everyday 
life  experience  proves  that  it  is  no  mere  old  woman's  saying,  that  **  what 
is  one  man's  meat,  is  another  man's  poison;"  for  we  find  case^  occasionally 
where  mushro<jms  and  pork  and  shellfish  act  as  violent  irritant  poisons  to 
one  person,  but  have  no  action  on  a  second.  These  peculiarities  of  indi- 
viduals it  is  most  important  should  be  borne  in  mind  in  medico-legal 
inquiries,  as  otherwise  symptoms  due  to  quite  ditferent  causes  may  be 
attributed  to  the  efl'ects  of  poisrm. 

VIII.  Jleafth  of  the  imlividwjl. 

Usually  the  intensity  of  the  action  of  a  poison  is  impaired  by  disease; 
but  this  is  by  no  means  a  universal  rule. 

(a)  The  susceptibility  to  the  action  of  (Hiisons  may  be  decrmted  by 
disease. 

This  '^tolerance  oJ  drugs,'*  as  it  is  called,  is  very  remarkable  in  the  ciLse 
of  both  organic  and  inorganic  poiisons,  but  especially  in  the  former.     In 


*  On  VitiHtcd  Air,  by  C,  Meymntt  Tidy,  MB,  1873.     A  puper  road  kwfore  the 
Attoeiattun  uf  Medienl'OtficerB  of  llouUh. 


BU8PICI0NB    OF    POISOMINQ 


59 


dysentery,  tetanus,  niaoia,  cholera,  hysteria,  and  delirium  tremens,  there 
A  remarkable  tolerance  for  opium.  In  typhoid  fever  stimulants  can  be 
)nie  in  enorinoua  quantity.  In  diseases  of  the  lungs  there  is  a  special 
derance  for  antimony.  In  sp>inal  paralysis  large  doses  of  strychnia  may 
Ueually  be  given  without  any  bad  results.  In  tetanus,  and  also  in  con- 
tinued and  yellow  fever,  there  is  ordinarily  diniinisbed  auscepiibitity  to 
the  action  of  mercury.  No  doubt  also  persons  in  a  state  of  melancholia 
are  less  susceptible  than  others  to  the  action  of  poisons  generally, 

(/S)  The  Busceptibility  to  the  action  of  poisons  may  be  hicrtaaed  by 
disease. 

This  wonld  necessarily  occur  where  poisons  are  administered  which 
would  increase  the  symptoms  of  a  disease  from  which  a  person  was  already 
[•urt'eriog;  e.  (f.^  in  a  person  siitferiug  from  indanimation  of  the  stomach  or 
bowels,  an  irritant  poison  would  induce  symptoms  of  more  than  usual  irri- 
tation. The  experience  of  the  authors  is  that  '*  like  does  not  core  like/* 
Again,  in  a  patient  predisposed  to  apoplexy,  a  very  small  dose  of  opiym 
has  been  known  to  prove  fatal.  It  Is  stated  that  in  patients  suHering  from 
granular  degeneration  of  the  kidney,  a  small  dose  of  calomel  will  some- 
times protiuce  alarming  symptoms. 

IX.  Sieif, 

The  action  of  drugs  is  impaired  by  sleep,  for  sleep  may  be  regarded  as 
a  state  of  diminished  activity.  It  is,  of  coui-se,  well  known  thut  a  purga- 
tive does  not  act  so  rapidly  during  sleep  as  when  the  person  is  awake. 
The  combination  of  opium  with  arsenic,  e,  <;.,  retards  the  action  of  the 
arsenic  by  reason  of  the  narcotic  actiou  of  the  opium. 

X.  Food. 

The  action  of  a  poi&on  is  usually  retarded  if  it  be  taken  with  food  or  on 
a  full  stomaci),  perfect  contact  with  the  mucous  membrane  being  thereby 
prevented.  The  action,  of  course,  is  frei|Ueutly  mechanical,  but  uol  neces- 
aarUy  no. 


CHrctifMtanees  leading  us  to  suspect  the  Administratimi  of  Poison, 

When  called  to  a  suspected  case  of  poisoning,  make  notes  at  the  time, 
or  at  the  earliest  possible  opiwrtunity,  briefly  and  chronologically,  of 
everything  that  strikes  you  a^  importairt.  Only  enter  facts  iu  your  uotes, 
and  let  them  be  perfectly  free  from  all  technicalities.  Above  all,  if  you 
have  a  suspicion  of  foul  play,  watch  the  case  closely,  but  unless  your  sus- 
picion is  conlirmed  by  well-observed  facts,  do  not  mention  it  to  anybody, 
and  under  no  circumstances  talk  about  it,  or  publish  it  in  the  neighborhood 
or  elsewhere.  Your  first  duly  is  to  save  the  life  of  your  patient,  your 
second  is  to  assist  justice  in  exposing  and  punishing  crime. 

The  first  question  we  must  consider  is— What  are  the  circumstances  that 
^ivould  lead  us  to  t^uspect  potsou  liad  been  administered? 

I.  The  sympimm  appearing  siiddenltf  in  a  person  otlienme  healthy^  and 
thrir  prnyresft  toimrdti  a  fatal  term'tjtafion  being  rapid. 

When  poisons  are  given  with  criminal  intent,  they  are  as  a  rule  given 
in  large  doses,  and  consequently  begin  to  act  soon  after  they  are  adrniniB- 
tere<K  But  besides  the  modifying  actions  of  sleep  and  food,  there  are  other 
important  facta  to  be  noticed. 

Isl.  Povsons  may  be  almc  in  their  action,  especially  when  given  in  small 

repeate<l  doses.     I'his  is  the  case  with  such  poisons  as  arseuic,  mercury, 

I phoephorns,  and  nitro-benzol.     With  bad  and  poisonous  food,  the  action 

lilfl  often  very  tardy.     The  subject  of  slow  poisoning  is  bound  up  so  curiously 

with  popular  literature  and  superstitloQ,  that  it  is  do  easy  matter  to  say 


SUSPTCIOWS  OF  POTfiTONINO. 


wliere  falsehood  ends  an<J  trutli  begina.  Still  chronic  poisoQtng;  demands 
serious  attention  from  tlie  Ihct  that  soch  questions  are  not  uufrequently 
referred  to  the  Metlieal  Jurist.  The  time  oeenpied  by  a  poison  in  bring- 
ing about  a  fatal  result  necessarily  varies.  There  is  always  in  these  cai^ea 
a  great  diHiculty  in  pr<»ving  guilt,  becau-se  it  is  nece»*ary  to  prove  the 
absence  of  tendency  to  diseaj*e.  And,  aji^uin,  eases  of  chronic  poisoning 
may  occur  in  those  engaged  in  some  trade  or  another,  where  the  air  may 
be  charged  with  minute  quantities  of  irritant  poisons,  such  as  are  used  in 
the  business, 

2d.  Many  rU^fajne*  Mine  on  vtnj  rtudfienfy,  such  as  acute  discai^es  generally. 
Cholera  and  other  severe  epidemic  diseasie>,  aud  often  the  exanthemata 
are  exceedingly  sniddcti  in  tlieir  commencement. 

Again,  tlie  pcjfson  attacked  nuiy  not  he  "ofherwisie  healthy."  Poi.^on 
may  be  administered  when  a  person  is  ill,  and  thus  suspicion  be  disarmed, 
8till,  if  violent  jsymptoms,  such  as  vomiting  and  purging  on  the  one  hand, 
or  giddiness,  delirium,  or  unusual  dn^wsiness  on  the  other,  set  in  without 
any  obvious  or  natural  causes  to  explain  their  oecurreuce,  we  are  more 
than  justified  in  in;*tituting  a  strict  watch.  Again,  cases  are  on  record 
where  the  health  has  bceo  undermined  by  the  slow  exhibition  of  one  poison 
as,  e,g.,  tartar  emetic,  whilst  the  actual  death  lia?i  been  brcmght  about  by 
a  second  |»oison  such  as  strychnia.  As  regards  rapid  and  sudden  death  as 
a  pnmf  of  poisoning,  we  must  bear  in  mind  that  whilst,  on  the  one  hand, 
in  many  eases  of  poisoning  dc'ath  is  very  ?.lo\v\  on  the  other  hand,  in  many 
cases  of  disease,  death  is  sudden  and  unexpected. 

II.  In  a  coife  of  poimouiuf^  (he  i<tfniptonti*  niil  prohnhiij  hf  dattd  as  coming 
on  soon  ajter  the  taling  a  crriata  meal  or  soitw  arik'h  oj  JooiL 

It  may  be  regarded  as  strong  eviflence  ai^ainsit  the  suspicion  of  poison 
being  the  cause  of  death,  if  no  food  or  medicine  has  l)ecn  taken  for  hours 
before  the  symptoms  set  in.  On  the  other  hand,  it  i;*  a  strong  argument 
in  favor  of  the  HUdpicion,  if  the  symptoms  set  in  speedily  after  taking  food 
or  medicine.  It  is  atways  advisable  for  the  chemist  or  general  practitioner 
to  remember,  supposing  that  the  poisonous  symptoms  commenced  after 
taking  a  dose  of  medicine,  that  the  malicious  nuiy  put  jMji^ori  into  the  very 
medicine  that  has  btn^n  sent  a  patient,  aud  so  endeavor  to  disarm  suspicion 
against  the  true  criminal. 

But  we  must  remember 

(«)  Symptoms  may  eouii'.  on  after  food  or  medinne  whidi  merely  resemble 
thorn  of  poimniua. 

Many  natural  disorders  come  on  after  a  full  meal,  such  as,  for  example, 
apoplexy,  or  rupture  of  stf)mach  from  overdistensiiun  tifter  long  disease. 
Unwholesome  and  bad  food  may  pnidut:e  a  sudden  attack  of  English 
cholera.  Immediate  death,  too,  has  more  than  once  followed  the  mere 
drinking  a  draught  of  cold  water  when  a  |>erson  was  c^verheated. 

iiJ  j  Po\Jion«  may  he  adinlniMerrA  in  other  u'nyn  than  by  the  month. 

They  may  be  applied  to  ulcerated  surfaces,  or  they  may  be  injected 
into  the  vagina  or  rectum,  or  under  the  skin,  or  they  may  l>e  inhaled. 
The  adtutnistration  of  chlorolurni  or  rdtrite  uf  amyl  during  slcfp,  aud 
es|KH.'iaIly  if  the  perst>n  slept  with  the  mouth  open,  would  be  a  matter  of 
DO  difficulty. 

III.  Symptoms  tomi'ng  on  after  a  menl  of  whieh  many  have  eaten,  will  be 
more  or  lem  compfmned  of  by  ^fevcrol  or  by  all  who  have  partaken  of  it. 

This  is  a  very  strong  rcas<m  indeed  for  suspecting  poison,  whilst,  on  the 
contrary,  others  having  partaken  of  the  mmc  meal,  and  no  bud  effects 
resulting  in  their  case,  would  lead  us  to  an  opposite  conclusion.  And  yet 
this  evidence  is  by  no  means  c«mchjsive.  Poison  may  be  in  one  part  of  a 
dish  and  not  in  another,  or  the  symptoms  may  vary  owing  to  different 


STMPTOMS   OF    FOIBONING. 


61 


idtosyncra?!^,  Kor  niust  we  forget  tliat  certain  foods,  such  as  sausages, 
icheese,  shell-fisb^  etc.,  are,  at  t'ertatn  timciJ,  ho  unwholesome  as  to  give  rise 
[to  violent  symptonis  of  irrkuiit  poi^ioiiing.  In  tli«  ctise  of  chee.^e  such 
J€ftecl>  are  very  common,  li'  a  dL*h  has  been  mixed  with  poison  and 
•t^veral  have  eaten  of  it,  pr<»bably  the  perfion  who  has  eaten  luost  will 
fare  the  worst,  although  this  is  uot  neces^jarily  the  case,  becauj*e,  as  before 
»lated,  a  small  ouantity  of  a  poisou  may  prove  fatal,  whilst  if  a  large 
quantity  be  swallowed,  it  may  be  vomited,  and  so  produce  no  bad  efleot«. 


Symptotm  of  PaUoning. 

The  symptoms  produced  by  poisons  vary.  It  may  be  well  here,  as  far 
posefhle,  to  systematize  the  general  symptoms  produced  hy  poi^ion^'*, 
jrviDg  for  onr  remarks  on  each,  auy  s|M3ciaI  characteristics  that  its 
symptoms  prei«ent. 

L  Sijmptom*  of  Corrosive  Poisons. 

[^Strong  miiierat  tmds^  cauMlc  olknUes  and  their  cnrhormfeA^drong  solu- 
tionif  of  ojraUc  tifid,  corrosive  sublimate,  chlorides  of  imtimouy,  zinc,  titi^  eic.) 

Imuifdinfr  burning  pain  in  the  mouth,  throat,  and  sitomacb,  rapidly 
exieuding  to  the  abdomen.  Vomiting  occurs  very  soon,  followed  by  |*urg;- 
infi;.  Blixid  is  discharged  pure  or  mixed.  The  month  and  throat  will  be 
found  lo  be  corroded.  8pee<ly  death  will  occur  either  from  U)  shock,  or 
(2)  eshaustiou,  or  (3)  frotn  perforation  of  the  stomach  or  intestinal  canal, 
or  (4)  from  starvation  by  s^tiit^ture  of  the  gullet,  or  (5)  from  suffocation 
from  injury  to  the  gli)tti.*  or  windpipe. 

IL  Sgmptoms  of  Irritants. 

iArwnic^  merraiy,  (in,  lead,  copper^  phospfmrus,  wdine,  contharides^  irri- 
mt  gases.  Every  corrosive  acti:!  us  an  irritant,  iiilHamin|r  jjome  parts  whilsit 
itdfcf«troy!*othen!!,  but  there  are  ruany  irriumis  that  are  not  corrosives,  such 
dlH  of  baryta.  cant!iaridcs«,  etc.) 

The  sytnptoms  vary  cnnsidttrably  both  in  intensity  and  rapidity  of  action, 
hose  ditferonces  depen<I  largely  on  the  solubility  uf  the  poison  and  the 
^uaulity  swallowed.  A^  rci,nirdK  Mfdithiiiti/  and  it^  influence  <in  the  coni- 
icement  of  the  siympioms,  we  may  note  that  with  some  pvisouf*,  such  as 
EmreeDious  acid,  a  considerable  delay  may  occur  from  their  insolubility  in 
water  or  in  other  liquids.  The  inteui^e  pain  atid  dryness  in  the  throat, 
ummlly  produred  by  irritant  poisons  as  soon  as  swallowed,  is  often,  by 
reason  of  their  in.«tolnbility,  ab-^ent  in  the  first  instanc«%  but  superveues  iu 
a  later  stiige  w^hen  the  poison,  dissolved  more  or  leas  in  the  gastric  Huids, 
comes  in  contact  with  the  gullet  in  the  act  of  voraltiog.  This  broad  dis- 
tinction between  corrosives  and  irritants  may  be  noted,  that  with  the  former 
tlie  symptoms  are  usually  immediate,  whilst  with  the  latter  c<msiderable 
^delay  in  their  appearance  is  not  unconiniou.  By  this  test,  therefore,  we 
hould  be  able  to  say  whether  a  poisou  that  had  been  swallowed  was  calo- 
mel or  corrosive  sublimate. 

After  a  certain  time  ]>ain  and  great  dryness  of  the  throat  is  complained 
of.  There  is  commonly  great  thirst,  nausea,  and  vomiting;  jiain  and 
extreme  temlerness  of  the  abdomen,  the  pain  being  iueroased  by  pressure, 
xiurgiog  with  tenesmus,  the  discharges  usually  being  mixed  with  blood  ; 
hiccough,  h»s^  of  voice,  cold  sweats,  an  irregular  thready  pulse,  pain  in  the 
region  of  the  kidneys,  vvith  strangury.  The  patient,  as  a  rule,  is  sensible 
to  the  last.  Death  will  occur  either  from  (1)  shock  to  the  nervous  system, 
or  (2)  convulsions,  or  (3)  exhanstiou,  or  (4)  starvation,  or  (5j  suflbcation 
from  inflammation  of  the  upper  part  of  the  windpipe. 

And  here  it  is  imfK>rtont  to  note  two  facts:  (1),  that  anomalous  symp- 
toms occasioDally  occur  as  the  result  of  irritant  poisoning,  such  as  coma, 


62 


SYMPTOMS 


HSOKING. 


paralysi?,  and  tetanic  ^spftsnis  ;  antl  (2),  that  some*  di^pase?,  such,  for  exam- 
pie,  as  ga.stro*ent(?riti?,  complieated  with  ai*uto  iiepliritis,  closely  8iiniiJate( 
an  Dr,  An>itie  pointed  out,  wises  of  irritant  poisoninif.  ("Medical  Times 
ati(]  Gazette/'  Marcli  2d,  1801,  p,  239.) 

Ill,  Sipnptoms  of  NarcoiicA  and  Narrolico-aerids. 

or  thepe  we  may  distinguish  several  classes.     The  symptoms  are  morej 
easily  misstuken  for  disease  than  those  produced  by  corrosives  or  irrilanta,] 

A.  Poimn9  thnt  produce  SUep, 

(Such  as  opium,) 

Immedifttelv,  or  in  a  short  time  after  their  admitii!*tration,  there  is  gid- 
diness, headaclie^  dim  sight,  protrusion  of  llie  eye^s,  eontraetion  of  the  pupils, 
noises  in  the  ears,  aud  drowsines*s,  passing  on  to  jijj?ensibiltty.  Vomiting 
h  rare,  and  if  it  occurs,  is  a  very  favorable  symptom.  There  U  rarely  either 
paralyj;i.s,  convulsion:?,  or  tetanic  spasms.  Pain  and  convulsions,,  h(nvever, 
are  occasional  symptoms  towards  the  end  of  a  case.  Death  may  result 
from  (1 ),  apoplexy;  (2),  colktpse;  (3),  apnoea;  or  (4),  convulsions. 

B.  Piihov«  that  produfe  Delirium. 
(Buch  as  hdladonna,  atravumium,  AyoHn/«?n«j*.) 
There  is  delirium,  illusions  of  the  senses,  thirst,  dryness  of  the  throat, 

and  dilated  pupils.  The  nlher  symptoms  are  very  varied.  Irritation  of 
the  stomach  and  bowels  ami  dysuria  are  not  uncommon.  Sometimes  we 
may  have  tetanie  spasms,  paralysis  of  the  motor  and  sensitive  nerves,  conja, 
and  insensibility.  Death  generally  is  ushered  in  by  comatose  symptoms, 
and  rarely  by  convulsions. 

C.  Poisonff  that  produce  Kxritemetit. 
(Such  as  alcohol^  ether,  chfvrttfonn,  Indian  hemp.) 
Excitement  of  tbe  brain  and  circulation,  followed  by  great  muscular 

weakness,  nausea  and  vomiting,  double  vi^iun,  and  want  of  co-ordination 
of  movement.*,  the  patient  ut  last  passing  into  a  condition  of  more  or  less 
complete  coma, are  the  usual  effects  to  be  noticed.  The  smell  of  the  breath 
will  often  be  a  well-marked  diagnostic  sign.  These  inebriaots  may  to  a 
certain  extent  act  as  irritants^the  irritating  action  being  very  partial,  and 
contincd  to  the  stomach,  or»  if  inhaled,  to  the  air-passages.  Death  may 
result  (1)  suddenly  from  shock,  but  more  geueraily  arises  {2}  from  cardiac 
paralysis,  or  (3j  a  state  allied  to  apoplexy. 

D.  Poi^iom*  that  produce  ConvuLtions. 
(Such  m  dnjchnia,  and  substances  containing  it.) 
The  symptoms  are  violent  paroxysms  of  rigid  convulsions  with  great 

suffering,  the  risus  sardouicus,  tetanus  or  lockjaw ;  the  mind,  as  a  rule, 
not  being  much  affected.  Death  results  ( 1)  from  exhaustion,  or  (2)  from 
suffocation,  (3)  or  more  commonly  from  interference  with  the  free  action 
of  the  r^piratory  muscles  (for  modes  of  death  by  strychnia,  «ee  "Lancet," 
July  19th,  1856,  p.  72).  (Tetanic  convulsions  simulating  {toisouing  by 
strycbuia,  me  Dr.  lioberl^,  *' Lancet,"  March  27lh,  1858.) 

K.  PoijtotiM  that  km  by  iSfwrk. 

(Such  as  htjdroctjatiic  iirid^  the  action  of  which  is  usually  so  rapid  as  not 
to  allow  of  special  symptoms.) 

F.  Pmji<ni$  thnt  produce  Anphtjxia. 

(Such  as  rurbonir  acid,  carhnnic  oxide,  jnifphuretted  ht/dro^ett,  etc.) 
Suffocation,  with  headache  and  drowaiue&i,  are  coraraouly  found.     Death 
is  camjed  by  asj>hyxia. 

LaBtly,  it  may  be  noted  that  if  a  medical  man  has  reason  to  suspect 


TREATMENT    OP   POISONING,  63 

a  person  is  being  poisoned,  it  will  be  advSisable,  if  possible,  to  secure 
Hli*  ^rvire?<  of  a  confideiitittl  nurse,  and  to  order  that  the  urine  and  vomited 
matters  should  be  saved,  the  examination  of  which  in  ull  probability  will 
yield  us  confirmatory  evidonce  or  otherwise. 


The  General  Treatmetit  of  Oase^  of  Poisoning. 

And  DOW  we  may  examine  the  jieneral  prinHples  that  should  ^uide  us  in 
our  treatment  of  a  cage  of  poisoning,  provided  the  patient  be  living.  The 
indications  are  four : 

1.  Get  the  poison  out  of  the  system  as  soon  as  you  can. 

2.  Neutralize  what  you  cannot  remov^e. 

3.  Favor  the  natural  elimiuatiou  of  the  poi-^on, 

4.  Cumbat  any  dangerous  symptoms  that  jnay  arise^ 

1.  Remove  the  poison  as  soon  as  possible^  eifher  by  mechanical  means  or  by 
exdiintf  the  action  of  the  stomach  to  disehartje  if. 

(a)  Emetics. 

Emetics  should  not  be  given  in  cases  of  poisoning  with  the  mineral 
acidfi,  or  with  the  caustic  alkalies,  or  with  oxalic  acid,  as  in  these  casea 
the  proper  treatment  is  to  neutralize  the  poison.  A^ain^  with  prusi^ic  acid, 
it  is  lueless  giving  an  emetic,  as  the  patient  wmild  be  dead  bef«»re  tt  acted. 
In  cases  of  poisoning  by  the  salts  of  the  atkalie.s  and  the  alkaline  earths,  by 
phosphorus,  arsenic^  arul  the  preparations  of  lead  and  copper,  mul  by  such 
pfiisons  a.s  opium,  belladonna,  etc.,  an  eiaetic  is  indicated.  We  are  strongly 
of  opinion  that  the  tartar  emetic  as  an  emetic  should  be  discouraged. 
Torpidity  of  the  stomach  may  interfere  with  v uniting,  and  if  the  antimony 
be  retained  the  case  is  rendyred  more  desperate  than  it  was  l!>eforc  it  was 
given.  We  should  recommend  half-drachm  doses,  of  sulphate  of  zinc,  or  if 
this  be  not  at  hand,  mustani  and  water  in  the  proportion  of  a  teaspoonful 
of  mustard  to  a  tablespoon fn I  of  water,  re[>eated  every  quarter  of  an  hour. 
We  object  to  the  use  of  sulphate  of  copper  altogether.  It  is  itself  a  pi>ison^ 
and  h  uncertain  in  its  action.  If,  however,  it  be  given  for  want  of  any- 
thing else.  10  grains  will  be  a  sutficieut  dose. 

(/i)  Stomach-pump. 

Every  medical  luan  slumld  have  a  stomachpnmp  in  readiness  and  m 
workituj  ofiitr.  Unfortunaif  ly  it  is  not  always  applicable  in  the  treatment 
of  poisoning,  fnmi  the  destructive  action  of  some  poisons,  and  the  rapidity 
of  the  action  of  others.  Its  use  is  specially  indicated  in  cases  of  ptiisoning 
by  strychnia,  alcohol,  limiid  chloroform,  and  opium,  and  in  the  c^fir/// stagefj 
of  ar>*eoical  poisoning,  by  which  means  jiortions  adhering  to  the  stomach 
may  pt)ssibly  be  washed  away.  It  must  not  be  used  under  any  circum- 
stances in  poisoning  by  the  corrosives,  otherwise  additional  injury  will  be 
inflicted. 

To  introduce  the  stomach-pump,  it  is  often  necessary  to  place  a  gng  with 
a  hole  in  it  to  prevent  the  tube  being  bitten  in  the  patient's  mouth  ;  but  if 
this  can  be  dispensed  with,  so  much  the  better.  It  is  general ly  advisable 
to  tie  the  gag  in.  Let  the  patient  sit  in  a  chair  or  lie  ui>ou  a  ci>uch,  with 
the  head  well  thrown  back.  Having  warmed  and  oiled  the  tube,  and 
curved  it*  extremity  somewhat  abruptly,  puss  it  to  the  bark  of  the  throat, 
and  as  soon  as  this  is  d<me  Jvring  the  head  a  little  forward  and  gently  push 
the  tube  so  that  it  may  pass  along  the  vertebne  into  the  pharynx,  A  slight 
difficulty  may  occur  for  an  instant  at  the  larynx,  but  it  will  only  be  mo- 
mentary. Keep  the  tube  exactly  in  the  median  line.  If  the  tube  had 
poased  into  the  trachea,  the  urgent  dyspncca  would  at  once  show  your  error. 


64 


TREATMENT    OF    POTSOKINQ. 


Before  you  withdraw  any  fluid  from  the  gtomach,  inject  into  it  one  or  two 
piuts  of  wurm  water,  and  lake  cure  never  to  witlidrawat  auy  time  a-s  mucii 
fluid  as  you  have  injected.  This  iujet^tion  and  witlidravviil  may  he  done 
several  times.  If  the  eyes  {>f  the  tube  beeoitie  choked  witli  tindigeated 
matter?,  immediutely  reverse  the  action  t»f  the  purupso  as  to  tlrive  the  frag- 
tnentii  out.  If  this  fail?,  withdraw  the  tulie  aud  clean  it.  With  chihJrea 
the  best  tube  to  use  is  a  huge  guni-elastic  catheter,  adapted  to  the  pump 
with  a  piece  of  india-rubber  tubing. 

To  induce  voniitin;?,  however,  such  simple  means  m  tickling  the  throat 
as  far  down  a,s  posnihle  with  a  feather  or  merely  with  the  finger  may  be 
oflen  rcHortctl  to  with  advantage. 

2.  Ncntntfizc  the  ftolstoit  ijou  avc  unnble  to  rrmovt\ 

This  ib  eft'ccted  by  fiutittotiji.  An  antidote  is  defined  by  Johnsi>n  as  "a 
thing  given  in  i>ppo8itiim  to  something  elfie."  There  are  three  kinds  of  an- 
tidotes; chemical,  mechanical,  and  physiological. 

( tt)   Ch f  m u'u I  Aut idoff-». 

Take  care  your  antidote  is  inert,  or  of  it  be  poisonous,  a  poisoo  that  is 
certain  to  Ik?  neutralizi^l  by  the  poison  that  has  been  aln^aiiy  taken.  It 
is  not  sufficient  that  a  chemical  antidote  should  merely  render  a  jthhsou  in- 
soluble in  water,  but  also  that  it  should  render  it  insoluble  in  the  fluids  of 
the  digei?tive  tract. 

As  illu.**tralion8  of  chemical  antidotes  may  be  cited,  cha!k  and  magnesia 
for  acid  poiscms;  lemon  juice  or  vinegar  for  caut^lic  alkalies;  nlkaline  sul- 
phates for  salts  of  lead  and  baryta  ;  common  ^alt  mixed  with  milk  and  white 
of  egg  for  nitrate  of  silver,  corrosive  puhlimate  and  verdigris  ;  tannic  acid 
for  mor[)hia,  etc.  The  freyh  hydrated  sesquioxide  of  iron  formed  by  pre- 
cipitating thetinetura  ferri  perchloridi  with  excels  of  ammonia  has  been 
much  prai^etl  by  many  as  a  chemical  antidote  for  arsenic  and  metallic 
poijsons  genemlly. 

(,'i)   MtThimeai  Antidotes. 

TJieir  influence  ia  essentially  protective,  thepobon  merely  by  their  means 
being  mechainca!ly  held  in  !'U.-*pen.'*iou.  Flour  and  water,  hydrate  of  mag- 
nesia, a  mixture  of  chalk,,  ca.stor  oil,  and  water,  are  illustrations  of  me- 
chanical antidolei*.  In  poisoning  by  phosphoruj^,  corrosive  snhlinmte,  can- 
tharidcfj,  etc.,  .euch  antidotes*  are  must  useful.  In  some  canes  t^f  poisim- 
iiig,  and  notably  with  strychnia,  the  u?e  of  animal  charcoal  difJiJsed  iu 
water,  first  suggested  by  Dr.  Garrml,  \»  most  elficaciou,H  in  removing  the 
poison  by  it^  power  of  absorption,  and  when  aborbed  ceases  to  be  delete- 
rious. 

{Y)    PInjAwfaffical  Antidote4, 

A  mo^t  elaborate  series  of  observations  on  physiological  antidotes  has 
lately  been  made  by  a  committee  under  the  presidency  itf  Dr.  Hughes  Ben- 
nett. The^eare  recorded  in  detail  io  the  "British  Medical  Journal."  We 
caution  the  reader,  however,  against  putting  too  much  reliaucc  oo  physio- 
h>gical  antidotes,  and  especially  upon  results  gathered  froni  cxjK'riments 
on  animals.  It  is  diflicult  to  poison  a  dog  with  arsenic,  or  a  rabbit  with 
belhuhinna :  it  is  easy  to  jtidson  a  rabbit  with  arsenic,  aiid  a  dog  with  bel- 
ladonna, and  a  man  with  either  one  or  the  other,  Bcdladonna  has  no 
action  on  the  pupils  of  pigeons,  nor  are  they  influenced  by  morphia,  stra- 
monium, or  hyoseyainus.  Dogs  will  take  atropin^  and  horses  siryehuia, 
io  enormous  doses. 

Some  care,  too,  is  needful  before  we  conclude  that  a  drug  which  in  one 
respect  seems  aniagoni/'tic  to  another  drug,  if  necessjirily  an  antidote  for  it. 
This  subject,  however,  is  one  we  consider  tliat  at  prei^eut,  at  any  rale,  rather 
belongs.  ti>  the  physiologist  than  to  the  niedical  jurist ;  for  the  experiments 
have  very  little  njore  than  physiological  interest.     Because  one  thing  con- 


PHYSIOLOGICAL    ANTIDOTES. 


65 


trnctt?  the  ptipil,  and  aiioiher  thing  dilates  it,  it  is  folly  to  say  that  they  arc 
autagoiiislic  druj^ji.  And  even  allowing  such  untagunism  tu  exist,  the 
hfllanoe  between  the  two  iioisonn  is  too  fioe  to  allow  us  to  revar(J  them  as 
antiiioteH.  Posisibly,  fur  example,  atropiii,  io  soiwe  fixetl  p^op^.JrtioD,  may 
he  an  antidote  to  morphia ;  hut  if*  you  give  too  mueh,  the  patient  may  die 
from  the  poison  given  m  the  antidote.  Under  physiological  antidotes, 
however,  we  may  include  the  action  of  ammonia  in  fmiaoning  by  hydrtiey- 
anicacid,  and  strong  coffee  or  tea  in  opium  or  belladonna,  etc.  And  that 
"le^  are  useful,  there  can  he  hut  little  doubt. 

3.  Favor  in  e\>cry  po.f^ible  way  the  decomprmtion  and  elimination  of  the 
poimn. 

Uo  this  question  of  poison  elimination  «>nie  difference  of  opinion  exists. 
Dr.  An:^iie  appears  to  hold  that  there  is  no  tendency  in  the  unaided  ani- 
mal organii^ra  to  get  rid  i>f  poij^ons,  and  that  remedies  administered  with 
the  object  of  assisting  elimination  are,  ais  a  rule,  powerles,**.  Such  a  view 
seems  contrary,  to  eay  the  leai-t,  to  the  general  experience  that  potfous 
pass  out  of  the  body  through  the  agency  of  all  the  excretion.^.  The  kid- 
neys, of  all  eliminatory  agenis,  seem  the  most  powerful,  and  hence,  in  toxi- 
cological  investigation!?,  we  always  examine  the  urine,  if  possible,  fur  the 
►i!*ou.  Alcohol,  we  know,  ia  carried  away  by  the  breath,  mercury  by  the 
in,  and  mt»t  poisons  by  the  bowels.  The  fact  that  some  poijjoni^  are 
carried  away  by  some  of  the  secretions  in  preference  to  others,  suggest^!'  the 
rule,  in  the  treatment,  to  stimulate  that  organ  which  is  mast  powerful  in 
it»  action  of  getting  rid  of  the  poi-^tm.  To  eliminate  lead  from  the  system, 
it  is  customary  to  give  iotlide  of  pota^a^ium,  although  thi.-^  may  be  regrtrded 
as  a  chemical  antidote.  Again,  in  opium  poisoning  we  constantly  rouse 
the  patient,  and  make  him  walk  about,  to  a^ist  in  the  oxidatiou  of  the 
opium. 

4.  Lastly^  combat  special  Bympfoms  that  may  arise.  And  here  it  i^  difficult 
to  give  sipecific  instructions.  In  alcolnd,  on  the  one  hand,  and  in  opium 
on  the  oilier,  your  chief  reliance  mu.st  be  placed.  Kor  must  the  impor- 
tance of  galvanism  f»e  overlwiked. 

One  general  recommendation  in  all  cases  of  poisoning  may  be  made 
here:  that  h,  never  neglect  by  every  |mssible  menus  to  preserve  the  tem- 
perature of  the  body,     C"  Dublin  Medical  Journal,**  186-5,  p.  435.) 


Analyiicul  and  }f{croHropical  Invedigalion. 

We  reserve  for  the  next  chapter  the  chemical  processes  to  be  adopted  in 

toxicological  investigation,  limiting  our  remarks  here  to  .«5uch  general 
|uestioD8  as  may  be  suggested  by  the  evidence  or  by  the  results  of  the 

dy»<is. 

1,  Suppoidug  a  poison  is  found. 

(a)  If  it  l»e  in  a  stool  or  votnit,  was  the  vessel  that  contained  them  per- 
fectly clean  l>efore  they  were  put  in? 

(/3f)  If  it  l)e  found  in  the  f(M)d  of  which  a  person  had  piirtaken,  was  it 
inaliciousty  introduced,  in  order  to  inculpate  an  innocent  jKrson':"  This, 
^of  couD'C,  will   t>e  a  ques^tion  for  a  jury  to  deci<le.     It  should  be  reiuem- 

•red  that  the  presence  or  alisence  of  poison  in  food  must  always  l>e  con- 
lidered  io  conjunction  with  the  circumstance  that  from  uneijual  distribu- 
lioD  it  may  very  likely  be  present  in  one  part  of  a  dish  hut  not  in  another. 

(j'\  If  the  poison  be  found  in  the  urine,  it  is  of  all  evidence  the  most 
important,  because  it  is  proof  that  the  poison  has  passed  through  the  body. 

A  poison  being  found  in  the  stomach  af\er  death,  the  counsel  for  the 
pris«>ner  will  probably  suggest  the  following  difficulties  that  you  will  have 
to  meet. 


66 


RESULTS    OF    ANALYSIS. 


Ist.  Tbitt  the  quantity  found  is  very  small,  and  itisufficlent  to  account 
for  deuti). 

And  this  difficulty  we  must  consider  carefully. 

Say  we  have  fouuil  n  fM>i»oti,  and  we  are  asked,  ia  the  quautity  found, 
or  the  quantity  that  was  probably  swallowed,  sufficient  Ui  €aui*e  death  or 
to  produce  the  symptumn  described  ?  Here,  then,  it  ia  advisable  la  have 
clearly  before  your  niitid  certain  facts. 

A.  All  the  poison  that  is  swallowed  u  rarely  absorbed.  Sorae  h  got  rid  of 
either  by 

(a)  Vruuiiing,  or 
(A)  Dinrrhica ; 

(c)  Whilst  some,  if  death  be  rapid,  remains  lu  the  stomach  and  iotes- 
lines,  aud  may  be  found  there. 

B<  The  portion  of  the  poieon  absorbed  is  not  equalhj  dh^tribnted  over  the 
whole  bochj.^Fur  it  is  well  known  that  with  many  poisons  the  liver  be- 
cuniei)  s)>ecially  the  home  of  the  poison  after  absorption. 

C  As  S(H)n  as  a  poison  is  abmrbed  by  the  system,  elimination  from  the 
syst^n  commences. 

Arsenic,  for  example,  is  often  entirely  eliminated  from  the  system  after 
a  fortniglrt. 

And  hence  note 

(a)  From  the  time  a  poison  is  absorbed,  the  quantity  in  the  body  begins 
to  dindnii^h. 

{b}  That  death  may  be  caused  by  a  poison  which  is  not  discoverable  by 
analy.^is  after  <teath. 

(c)  That  it  is  not  necessary,  in  order  that  a  poison  should  destroy  life, 
that  it  j<hciuld  be  in  the  botJy  up  to  the  last  mi>mcnt  of  the  jxtsoo's  exist- 
ence. The  poison  strikes  the  blow, — this  develops  di^ciu^ed  aclirm,  and 
death  resullj*  from  t!»e  disease;  but  the  pjison  struck  the  blow,  and  waa 
therefore  the  true  cause  of  death. 

D.  The  portion  of  poison  found  in  the  slomach  and  alimentary  canal  con' 

8titH(t/f  that  portion  of  the  poison  not  nhaovbetlt  ond  therefore  the  portion  over 
and  above  thtd  which  teas  necetijiary  to  dcMroy  life.  This  excess,  discovered 
by  analysis,  in  the  digestive  tract,  may  Ibrm  but  a  small  portion  of  tliat 
swallowed.  Hence  the  discovery  of  a  very  small  portion  in  the  stomach 
is  no  criterion  of  the  quantity  taken. 

E.  The  quantity  found  in  a  given  organ  (say  the  liver)  is  only  a  |>or- 
tion  of  the  poison  absorbed,  and  consequently  may  form,  and  [jrobably 
dofts  form,  a  very  smull  part  of  the  Itttul  p<iison  swullowid.  You  cannot, 
therefore,  judge  of  the  amount  of  a  poison  swallowed  by  the  quantity  found 
in  any  one  organ. 

F.  The  action  of  j}oisonson  different  pn'tfons  is  very  variable.  What  will 
kill  one  man  will  scarcely  affect  a  second.  It  is  unadvisable,  therefore,  tu 
a  Court  of  law,  to  say  what  is  the  minimum  dose  (as  yon  will  often  be 
asked)  that  will  destroy  life.  All  you  can  state  is,  what  is  the  smallest 
do»e  that  has  tlestroyed  lile— what-  is  the  average  dose— and  what  is  the 
larges»t  dose  fmm  which  a  person  has  recovered. 

In  every  case  where  possible,  estimate  the  quantity  of  poison  found  in 
the  contents  of  the  stomach  and  alimentary  canal,  and  also  the  quantity 
found  in  any  special  organ  (as  the  liver)  submitted  to  analy>'is.  And  in 
drawing  conclusions  from  your  analysis,  carefully  bear  in  mind  the  follow- 
ing circumstiinces: 


RESULTS    OF    ANALYSIS. 


67 


(a)  If  there  has  been  vomiting  and  purging,  it  is  impossible  (unless 

II  the  vomits  and  stools  are  exanimed)  to  hazard  a  conjecture  as  to  the 
juantity  originally  taken  from  the  amount  found  in  the  alimentary  canal. 

III  you  can  Bay  is  that  it  is  a  quantity  greater  than  that  which  you  have 
'ibund. 

f6)  The  unequal  distribution  of  a  poison  and  it«  constant  elimination 
prevents  m  giving  an  opinion  of  the  quantity  absorbed,  and  muf^h  lesa 
of  the  quantity  swallowed  by  the  amount  we  find  in  certain  organs,  or 
portions  of  organs.  What  we  find  by  analysis  in  certain  visrera  is  only  a 
portion  of  that  which  was  absorbed,  and  that  only  a  portion  of  what  was 
swallowed.  , 

(f)  If  there  has  been  no  vomiting  and  no  diarrhnna,  and  on  analysis  no 
poison  i*an  be  found  in  the  stomai-h  and  intestines^  it  follows  that  all  that 
was  taken  has  been  absorbed.  This  quantity  cannot  be  estimated  accu- 
flBtely,  becauFe  it  is  unequally  di^itributed,  unless  the  whole  body  be  sub- 
lilted  to  examination,  and  even  then  the  process  of  elimination  would 
render  the  experiment  imperfect. 

id)  The  quantity  taken,  minus  that  absorbed,  and  which  was  really  the 
portion  that  killed,  may  be  estimated  if — 

(1 )  The  vomits  and  stools  and  the  ermtents  of  the  digestive  tract  be  ex- 
amincil,  if  there  has  been  vomiting  and  purging  ;  or, 

C2)  The  contents  of  the  digestive  tract  alone,  if  there  has  been  no 
vomiting  or  purging* 

Hence  our  answer  to  the  objection  of  counsel  that  the  quantity  found  is 
very  small  and  insnfficieot  to  account  for  deaths  is  that  the  quantity  found 
is  only  a  portion  of  the  quantity  swallowe<lj  and  very  po.^s.-^ibly  bears  little 
or  no  relationship  to  it ;  and  further,  that  the  portion  found  in  the  stomach 
was  not  the  portion  that  dt-stroyed  life,  but  the  excess  over  aucl  above  that 
which  was  needful  to  bring  about  a  fatal  result. 

Further,  the  analysis  of  diiferent  foods  and  medicines  taken  by  the  de- 
ceased is  most  important,  as  tliis  may  enable  us  to  tind  the  true  sourtre  of 
the  poison,  and  thus  e>tablirth  guilt  or  innocence.  By  comparative  analy- 
ses of  this  kind,  in  a  case  submitted  to  one  of  the  authors,  he  was  enabled 
entirely  to  clear  a  person  in  custody  on  a  charge  of  murder,  and  to  prove 
the  source  id'  the  poison  from  which  the  deceased  died. 

2<lly.  It  may  be  urged  by  counsel  that  some  poisons  are  natural  constitu- 
\ta  of  the  body.     This  defence  requires  consideration. 

(«)  With  respect  to  arsenic. 

Orfila  at  one  time  imagined  arsenic  to  be  a  normal  constituent  of  the 
body;  but  he  afterwards  admitted  liis  error  when  proof  was  dcjnanded  by 
he  French  Institute.    "  8uperph€jsphate,"  which  is  largely  used  as  muuuro, 
manufactured  with  common  oil  of  vitriol.     This  usually  contains  nota- 
ble quantities  of  arsenic,  derived  from   the  pyrites  used  in   its  manufac- 
ture.    It  is  8uppf)sed  that  ihe  arsi-uic  which  thus  gets  into  the  superphos- 
phate contaminates  the  plants?  grown   on  the  soil  to  which  it  is  applied. 
.iJul  this,  we  are  convinced,  is  an  error.     Again,  it  is  .stated  tliat  arsenic 
to  be  found  in   the  fur  of  tea-kettle.<3  and  boilers;  but  it  can  scarcely, 
'at   auv   rate,  b^  in    such    a    qnantity   as   tan   possibly  prove  injurious. 
Chalybeate  springs,  it  is  true,  frequently  coulain  arsenic,  but  only  in  such 
quantities  that  a  jXTson  would   have  to  rlririk  f taking  an  extreme  case) 
some  seventy-nine  gallons,  in   order  to  have  swallowed  the   y^'nth  of  a 
fmin.     Even  in  the  mountain  stream  in  Cumberland  (Whilbeck),  where 
»n)hal>ly  more  arsenic  is  foujid  than  in  any  other,  the  water  has   never 
m  found  to  prove  poisonous  to  anylhiug  but  ducks.     ("British  Medical 
roumal/'  Oct  18th,  1862,  p.  425.)     Dr.  Taylor  has  stated  that  a  notable 


68 


POISONS    NATtJEAL    CONSTITUENTS   OF   TOE    BODT, 


.quantity  of  arsenic  may  be  found  in  Thames  mud.  The  authors  have 
failed  t*)  find  any  trace  of  it. 

(li)    With  rettpect  to  Copper, 

Devergie,  Lefortier,  ami  Orfila  consider  it  to  be  a  normal  coostituent  of 
all  tisiaues,  and  of  the  blond.  They  have  also  found  it  in  the  sweat.  Signor 
Cattanci  guys  it  is  noi  present  in  newborn  infant*  I  M.  Barse  has  recently 
confirmed  thci^e  investigations;  byt  Eiiglish  experimenter.^  do  not  seem  to 
have  diseovered  it  at  all.  We  can,  however,  unite  imagine  traces  of  cupper 
to  be  prei^eut  in  the  b(»dy,  derivable  from  two  so»ircet<:  (1)  From  articles 
of  f<H>d ;  and  ( 2 )  from  copf>er  vcdsels  uaed  in  cooking.  (^  Vide  **^  Metl. 
Time*/'  O.t.  19ih,  1844,  p.  55.)      . 

(y)    With  rtfptd  to  LeatL 

The  same  ehemistj?  who  found  copper  have  found  lead.  But  there  is,  we 
consider,  much  reason  to  doubt  tlieir  resulta,  although  it  is  true  tliat  the 
lead  pipes  and  lead  cisterns  used  for  wuier,  an<l  especially  if  they  are  badly 
tinned,  may  be  a  niean^  of  conveying  lead  into  the  system. 

('^)    With  rf\*perl  to  Majujnnf'Hr., 

In  small  (jutiutities  this  has,  no  doubt,  been  found  in  the  bair,  in  some 
urinary  caleuti,  imd  in  gallstotiei*. 

We  are  not.  aware  of  qucstioni*  being  raised  as  to  any  other  poisonous 
bodie^i  than  those  we  have  mentioned  being  natural  coustilueutJi  of  the 
body. 

3<My.  7/  mny  probaUtf  he  urgt'fl  hif  counsel  (hat  the  Mt/mptomM  dei<f.rihed  do 
not  coincide  exactly  with  the  poijiou  dincovered ;  and  hence  that  the  poidon 
found  is  the  true  cause  of  death  is  uot  proved. 

In  answer  to  this  we  mut^t  show  the  great  variation  in  the  symptoms  that 
a  known  poison  will  produce,  owing  to  the  many  modifying  circumstaoces 
to  which  we  have  already  referred. 

4thly*  Although  the  poimn  is  fonud^  may  it  not^  n  couiucl  may  urge,  have 
been  mnlicioHnhi  introduced  ajtt  r  death  f 

Such  a  thing  has  happened,  although  there  is  no  case  of  surh  an  act 
on  record  in  Enghmd.  OrHla,  however,  carefully  investigated  the  sub- 
ject; and  ultliough  he  found  corrosive  poisom*,  as  well  as  some  irritunts, 
would  pRMbiie  a  change  ou  dead  tissue,  still  their  action  is  strictly  limited 
to  the  exact  spot  to  which  the  poison  is  applied ^  no  inflammatory  ap[)ear- 
ance  being  visible  lieyond  the  spot,  and  the  line  of  demarcation  between 
tissue  acted  upon  and  tissue  unacted  upon  being  perfectly  well  marked 
and  distinct. 

2.  Snppojiifjj  a  poijton  i«  not  found , 

It  does  not  therefore  nece^yyinly  follow  that  none  has  been  taken,  al- 
though we  are  of  opinion  that,  with  few  cxceplions,  without  there  is  chemi- 
cal evidence  to  prove  a  p<>isou  actually  present,  no  charge  of  poisoning 
should  be  regarded  as  proved.  Ciruumstances  of  course  may  explaiu  its 
absence  in  the  stomach  after  death,  and  these  huve  to  be  considered.  It 
may  be  dij»'har(fed  by  vomiting  and  pirging,  although  with  sparingly  solu- 
ble poisons,  such  as  arsenic,  we  };euerally  find  some  partieles  glued  to  I  he 
stomach  by  the  products  <if  intliimniation.  It  may  have  evtiporuted^  as 
might  happen  with  volatile  poisoiw,  sueh  as  hydron'auic  acid,  chloro- 
form, etc.  It  may  be  aftiorbed;  and  hence  under  all  ^irnimstances  we 
should  examine  other  orgiins  besides  the  stomach.  It  umy  he  decontpnued, 
es{)ecially  if  a  ciynsiderable  time  has  elapsed  between  itsi  administration 
and  the  fatal  result.  It  is  importaut,  however,  to  remember  (and  wt^  shall 
refer  to  the  subjeet  again ),  that  some  organic  poisons,  such  as  strychuia, 
are  not  destroye<i  by  contact  with  dmd  animal  tissues,  although  the  tissues 
themj^elves  may  be  in  a  state  of  active  decomposition  and  decay.     It  vwy 


CAU8BS  OF  FAILURE  IN  DBTECTINO  POISONS  AFTER  DEATH.      69 

have  enintd  into  rie?£F  combinalionit  an  example  of  which  is  foimd  in  the 
convemon  of  anK-nious  adtl  into  a  sulphide.  Corrosive  sublimate  again 
[way  he  chnoged  tf>  OAiomel  or  even  the  nittal  be  entirely  reduoerl.  Lastly, 
Hhe  poimn  may  be  one  which  chemical  ann/ysis  is  unnbie  to  dtttct,  ur  ivhieJi, 
hrfnrr  drnth,  hai*  hreu  euiireJy  eiitnimUed  from  the  bod^j.  Thus,  for  example, 
antiinooy  may  be  takeu  uud  cause  death  ;  but  it.*  elimination  will  j)rul>a- 
bly  be  complete  if  as  long  as  a  week  intervcues  between  its  administration 
ind  the  fatal  rej^ult  (Mr.  Hera  path). 

Experiments  on  AnimaU  may  furnifsh  us  with  much  useful  information 
in  cas**  of  suiipected  poisoning,  but  their  value  muist  not  be  overej^ti mated. 

(a)  Certainly  if  the  food  of  which  the  deceased  person   had  partaken 
proves  fatal  to  some  domestic  animal,  the  evideuue  in   favor  of  pnij^uning 
bs  $^trong.     And»  uti  the  other  band,  if  an  animal  lias  eaten  frum  the  same 
Ibod,  and  no  pyraptoms  of  poisioniug  result,  it  nui.^t  he  reijarded  as  i*irong 
jevidence  to  the  contrary.     If  yon  are  told  that  the  food  which  the  friends 
fbelieved  canned  the  patient's  death,  also  killed  some  animal  that  acci- 
'denlfllly  ate  it,  inf|uire  most  carefully  into  the  ^iymploiii.s  that  manife:?ted 
themselves  in   the  auinml.     And   yet  it  must   he  remembered  that  ^vhwq 
poisons  !*eem  to  be  inert  on  certain  animate.     Rabbits,  ]M,  Uuifge  anfl  Dr 
rOgie  tell  uj«  can  live  on  the  leaver  of  belladoniiH,  hyo.'jcyamu.s,  and  stra- 
monium.    Dr.  Weir  Mitchell  ha.^  pointed  <nit  the  ce>mparative   immunity 
from  the  effix'ts  of  morphia  enjoyed  by  pigeons.     ^^^^  have  yeeii  a  majis?  of 
maggots  feeding  off  wheat  8oake<l  in  etrychnia.     Uiiff»rtuiiatelyj  too,  our 
knowledge  of  the  action  of  drugs  on  animals  is<  a.**  yet  sadly  incomplete. 

(i?)  The  effects  on  animals  of  vomited  matters  and  of  the  cimlenis  of 
the  stomach,  constitute,  at  best,  very  doubtful  evidence.  Animal  fluids 
8«cretcd  during  disea^^e,  e-specially  if  at  all  putrid,  and  at  timet*  even  an 
ordinary  vomit,  willprove  poi^^ouons  to  animal!*,  Morgagni  has  related  a 
case  where  the  bile  from  the  gtonmch  of  a  child,  who  died  from  convulnions 
iu  tertian  ague,  killed  a  cock  that  eat  it,  and  two  pigeons  inoculated  with  it. 

When  you  are  called  to  a  case  of  suspected  poisoning,  and  you  find  the 
|>er»on  dead,  the  following  hints  may  assist  you  in  note-taking: 

1.  Note  down  the  time  you  were  sent  for,  the  time  of  your  first  visit, 
and  the  time  the  person  died. 

2.  Inquire  the  time  of  the  last  meal  or  food  or  medicine  taken  before 
the  symptoms  appeared. 

3.  Note  down  everything  the  deceased  was  reported  to  have  eaten  during 
the  last  hi>ur!i  of  life,  and  if  any  portions  of  ihe-se  remain,  take  possession 
of  them  f«ir  further  examination. 

4.  luquire  the  time  the  symptoms  tirst  set  iu,  and  what  remissions 
occurred. 

5.  Note  whether  anybody  else  partook  of  the  last  meal  with  the  deceased, 
and  with  what  rei^ults. 

B.  Note  everything  that  is  told  you  respecting  the  symptoras  from  which 
the  deceni*e<l  suHered  frtun  the  time  he  was  taken  ill. 

7.  If  vomiting  occurred,  .save,  if  [)os?ible,  the  vomit,  taking  care  espe- 
cially to  preserve  any  deposit  in  the  ver^sel.  If  only  st^iins  from  the  vom- 
iting exist,  cut  them  out  and  preserve  them.     If  there  is  any  vomit  left  on 

c  floor,  soak  it  u[i  with  a  sponge,  and  keep  the  sjwnge.     If  there  is  any 
fine,  take  charge  of  it  at  once.     It  is  advisable  to  put  these  under  seal 
fore  leaving  the  house. 

8.  Note  the  position  of  the  body  at  the  time  of  your  visit. 

9.  Carefully  inspect  the  room  where  the  deceased  ia  found.     Preserve, 


70 


INQUIRIES    IN    A    CASE    OP    SUSPECTED    POISONING. 


without  ivniark,al]  bnttle.«,  liqiiids,  paper-pat'ket!«,  etf.,  that  you  find  about; 
also  any  auwusherl  wiue-gla^ee^  or  luinblerri  iVoni  which  poison  may  possibly 
have  heeu  taken. 

10.  Note  all  you  can  learn  reapecting  the  previous  illnesses  of  the  de- 
ceased. 

11.  Put  down  in  writing,  and  iu  their  own  words,  all  communications 
made  to  you  by  those  in  attendance. 

Very   important  moral  evidence  may  come  under  the  notice  of  the 

iDedical  jurist  who  may  be  called  in  to  a  suspected  case  of  poisoning,  and 
it  iif  not  ri^lit  lliut  he  fihould  neglect  to  attend  to  evidence  of  this  nature. 
Such  (|uestions  as  these  may  po^ibly  be  of  use  in  eliciting  the  history  of 
the  case. 

1.  Has  there  been  any  special  enmity  between  the  deceased  and  the 
person  suspected  ? 

2.  Ha*  the  person  suspected  been  dabbling  with  poisons,  or  purchased 
any  under  fal^e  pretences,  as  e.g,,  saying  it  was  to  poisou  rats  or  mice? 

3.  Has  \u;  Iteeu  making  iuqwirie;?  about  p<iiyous? 

4.  Has  he  interfered  with  the  deceased  having  proper  medical  atten- 
tion ? 

5.  Has  he  given  a  false  version  of  the  symptoms,  and  such  as  to  «how 
acquaintance  wiih  the  usual  eHect^  of  the  poison? 

6.  Has  he  shown  any  anxiety  to  prepare  food,  or  convey  it  to  the  de- 
ceased? 

7.  Has  he  prevented  friends  or  relations  being  sent  for  during  the  illness 
of  the  deceased  ? 

8.  Has  be  been  desirous  of  getting  rid  of  any  article  of  food,  etc.»  iefl^ 
of  which  the  deceased  partook? 

9.  Has  he  hurried  the  funeral  arrangements? 

10.  Has  he  attempted  to  tamper  with  any  articles  set  aside  for  analysis? 

11.  Has  he  any  interest  in  the  death  of  the  deceased  (burial  club,  life 
insurance,  etc.)? 

12.  Has  he  made  any  false  statements  to  obtain  a  certificate  of  death? 

In  Cujies  of  Krhumaiion. 

1.  Note  the  state  of  the  coffin, 

2.  Preserve  some  of  the  earth  around  the  coffin  for  analysis. 

3.  Let  the  body,  if  jK>ssibIe,  be  identified  by  a  relative  in  your  presence. 

4.  Never  use  disinfectants,  but  if  necessary  wear  a  charcoal  respirator. 

Pod-mortem  in  Cases  of  Pot^oning. 

In  a  popt-mortera  examination,  we  reconmiend  you  to  make  notes  during 
the  operation,  ti>r  notes  and  memoranda,  to  be  admissible  in  a  court  of  law, 
must  be  made  at  the  time  of  the  examination.  Heuce,  you  must  not  after- 
wards make  "a  fair  cony"  of  your  notes  for  use  iu  the  witness-box.  The 
original  notes,  although  not  evidence,  may  be  used  if  necessary  to  refresh 
your  memory. 

Previously  to  commencing  a  post  mortem,  have  six  wide-mouthed,  glass- 
stoppered  bottles  in  readiness,  Uikiug  care  they  are  well  washed  and  cleansed. 
Also  provi<le  yourself  with  string,  caudle,  sealing-wax,  and  seal,  At\er 
you  have  placed  the  viscera  in  the  bottles,  tie  the  stoppers  down  with  string, 
using  no  paper  or  calico  to  tie  over  them.  Then  se^il  the  bottles  securely. 
If  you  have  no  seal  at  baud,  a  key  does  very  well.  Let  no  disinfectants 
of  any  kind  be  used  during  the  i^iost  mortem. 


THK  POST-MORTEM  IN  CASKS  OF  SUSPECTED  POISONING.       71 

The  following  hiuta  of  what  you  are  to  note  may  he  of  use: 

1.  Note  the  time  after  death  that  the  exaniination  is  made. 

2.  Nott*  the  external  apjxiiiranee  of  the  body,  and  the  expression  of  the 
countenance.  (In  poisoning  by  eorrosives,  it  appears  anxious;  by  narcot- 
ics, placiil ;  whilst  where  there  has  been  couvulsJODS,  it  will  oJlen  appear 
diiitorted.) 

3.  Note  the  presence  of  rigidity,  or  cfttdnveric  epasra. 

4.  Note  any  marks  of  violence,  blood-stains,  etc. 

5.  Note  any  appearances  that  may  suggest  murder  or  suicide. 

6.  Note  the  external  appearances  of  the  stomach.  Ligature  both  ends. 
Remove  it  without  opening,  and  at  once  {dace  it  in  a  clean  stoppered 
bottle. 

7.  Remove  the  whole  of  the  intestines,  except  the  rectum,  and  preserve 
them  unopened  in  another  bottle. 

8.  Itemove  and  examine  the  rectum  for  foreign  bodies.  The  presence 
of  hardened  fecal  matter  prove??  the  absence  of  purging  l>efore  death. 

9.  Note  the  color  of  the  throat,  gullet,  and  windpipe,  and  examine  them 
fur  corrosions  and  for  foreign  bodies. 

10.  Plxamine  the  lungs,  brain,  and  spinal  cord. 

11.  Remove  the  liver  and  gall-bladder,  and  preserve  them  for  analysis. 

12.  Remove  and  preserve  the  bladder  and  its  contents. 

13.  In  the  female,  examine  the  genital  organs  carefully,  and  look  for 
foreign  b«jdie8. 

14.  Note  all  pathological  appearances.  Remember,  you  must  endeavor 
to  prove  not  merely  that  the  deceaijed  died  from  potion,  but  that  death 
did  not  result  from  natural  causes. 

It  was  formerly  believed  that  the  bodies  of  persons  who  died  from  poison 
putrefied  rapidly.  This,  hnwe%'er,  is  proved  to  be  a  mistake.  Indeed, 
with  Home  poisons,  such  as  arsenic,  chloroform,  strychnia,  chloride  of  zinc, 
corroejive  sublimate,  etc.,  putrefaction  seems  to  be  delayed  rather  than 
hastened. 

Lastly,  never  allow  the  bottler  and  the  substances  you  intend  for  exam- 
ination to  be  out  of  your  custody  for  a  moment;  never  leave  them,  except 
under  lock  and  key,  and  let  them  all  be  carefully  labelled. 

We  may  here  generalize  on  the  post-mortem  appearances  found  in  cases 
of  poii*oning. 

(A)  The  Pwft-moriem  Appearances  of  Oorrosiveg, 

The  corrosive  action  may  be  extensive  or  limited.  The  tissues  may 
appear  softened,  or  hardened  and  shrivelled.  Home  portions  of  the  coats 
of  tlie  stomachy  or  of  the  gullet,  may  be  destroyed,  and  perforations  pro- 
duce<l^  whilst  other  p<irti<>im  may  appear  gangreuous.  In  the  gullet  it 
is  not  uncommon  to  lin<l  a  wrinkled,  worm-eaten  appearance,  due  to  the 
itoutraction  of  the  longitudinal  and  transverHc  librei*,  and  the  removal  of 
^•jKitches  of  epithelium.  Other  parts  will  be  found  inteni^ely  iuflamed,  with 
an  exien.*ive  extravasation  of  blood  in  the  cellular  tissue. 

Note  carefully  the  changes  of  c^hr  induced  in  the  tis.'^Mes  by  the  actiou 
of  tlirtereut  corrosive  poisons.  The  black,  charred  appearance  from  sul- 
phuric acid  ;  the  yellowish,  or  yellowish -green  from  nitric  acid  ;  the  slate- 
colored  deposit  of  reduced  mercury  or  of  the  black  sulphide  from  corrosive 
sublimate  are  singularly  characteristic.  The  hardened  and  crimpled 
appearance  of  the  gullet  is  never  noticed  in  disease,  whilst  gangrene  of 
the  alimentary  tract  is  excesaively  rare. 


72 


APPEARANCES   AFTER  DEATH  BY  CORROSIVE  POISONS. 


A  lyiiPstioD,  however,  will  probably  arise  whether  perforatiuo  may  not 
be  prmluretl  by  other  causes  liiat*  corrui^ive  poi.sims. 

Ist.  We  note  that  pertbration  arising  IVorri  uleeratiotK  the  re-solt  of  idio- 
pathic iuflauiumtioi),  is  comparatively  rare.  And  it  may  even  be  further 
Btated  that  perlbratioD^  resulting  from  tlie  aetiou  of  an  irritant  poison,  is 
alsK)  very  rare.  In  the  ease  of  j>erforalioM,  the  result  of  ehronie  disease, 
the  ab.iieiice  of  any  Ptaiiiiug  or  of  extreme  geuernl  itilUiuimution  will  be 
importaut  sign?.  Further,  of  course,  analysis  will  prove  the  absence  of 
poison. 

2<lly.  Perforation  arising  from  softening  of  the  coats  of  the  stomach 
during  life  and  their  coujicquent  rupture  is  of  occasional  occurrence.  The 
rupture  often  happens  after  a  meal  upon  j?ndden  exertion^  and  is  accom- 
panied with  great  |)ain,  but  without  any  diarrba-a,  and  piubably  with  but 
very  little  vomiting.  The  patient,  as*  a  rule  in  these  casesj  dies  in  a  state 
of  collapse  in  from  eighteen  to  thirty  hours.  Thi^  \s  very  importiifit  to 
note,  inajsmuch  as*  when  such  |wison3  as  arsenic  have  produced  perforation, 
there  are  no  ca««  on  record  where  it  has  been  caused  in  so  short  a  time 
even  aa  thirty  hours  after  the  poison  has  been  swallowed.  In  chronic 
perforating  ulcers  of  the  stomach,  duodenum,  etc.,  of  which  as  many  as 
twelve  have  been  found  in  one  stomach,  the  edges  are  generally  greatly 
thickened,  but  very  smoolli, and  more  regular  in  form  than  those  |>roduced 
by  the  action  of  corrosive  poisons.  And,  again,  the  perforalioir^  in  these 
cases  of  diiicni-e  are  generally  of  a  well-marked  conical  slmpt?,  from  the 
peritoneal  opening  l>eing  smaller  than  those  of  the  other  coats.  As  a  rule, 
toil,  there  are  but  few  signs  of  acute  iuflammalion  ;  indeed,  not  nnfretjuerttly, 
an  unusual  whiteness  of  the  stomach  will  be  apparent  (Christison;,  whilst 
no  poison  will  be  found  on  analys^is. 

3dly.  Perforation  may  be  produced  after  deiUh  by  the  solvent  action  of 
the  gastric  fluid.  This  peculiar  action  was  first  explained  by  the  illu.sirious 
John  Hunter.  It  occurs  most  comm*mIy  in  those  that  have  died  a  violent 
death,  such  iu-^  from  hanging,  fracture  of  the  >kull,  etc. ;  but  it  is  by  no 
means  confined  to  these  cases.  It  will  be  found  yl)  That  the  opening 
usually  exists  at  the  fundus  and  cardiac,  or  greater  end  of  the  stomach, 
and  probably  in  t!ie  posterior  part ;  but  that  this  will  be  depejident  on  the 
position  of  tlie  body.  (2)  Thai  the  opening  is  large  and  irregular,  and 
the  edges  jmlpy.  (3)  That  the  mucous  mcinbrane  of  the  slonuich  is  not 
inflamed,  (4)  That  there  is  no  well-marked  perittmifis,  although  some 
slight  action  umy  be  noticed^  if  the  gastric  tiuid  has  escapetl,  and  come  in 
contact  with  other  organs.  (5)  That  there  are  no  changes  in  the  throat, 
or  gullet.  (<>)  That  during  life  there  were  no  symptoms  cjf  poisoning,  and 
that  alter  death  no  poison  can  be  found  on  analysis. 


(B)  The  Po^l'mQrtem  Appearances  of  Irritants. 

They  are  those  of  inflammation  and  its  results. 

The  redness  <if  the  stomach  oniy  be  very  slight,  the  surface  being  covered 
with  a  teuaciou-.  glairy  secrvtion,  Kemeiuber,  however,  that  the  stomach 
is  always  slightly  red  during  digestion  ;  that  there  is  increased  redness  if 
the  post-mortem  has  been  delayed  for  some  hours  ;  and  that  one  otlen  find« 
redoees  of  a  very  marked  degree  in  diseases  where  there  has  been  no  gastric 
complaint,  or  sign  of  poisoning,  as,  for  example,  after  death  by  acute  bron- 
chitis, or  where  brandy  has  been  administered  ^^hortly  before  deatli.  The 
stomach,  too,  if  the  post-mortem  is  not  made  fors<>me  titne  after  death,  may 
have  a  yellowi.sh  or  greenish  apficarauce  from  the  proximity  of  the  liver. 

But  the  redness  after  death  by  irritants  will  nsually  be  foun«l  to  be  ex- 
cessive, the  coats  of  the  stomach  thickened,  the  submucous  tissue  loaded 


APPBAKANCES    AFTER    DEATH    BY    IRRITANT    POISONS. 


73 


with  extravaeated  blood,  ulcerated,  softeited,  gangrenous,  or,  it  may  he, 
hard  aud  shrivelled.  Up  to  the  end  of  the  duodeiiutii  black  rainifyiug  ves« 
eels  and  bhick  spots  may  often  be  seen,  whilst  the  whole  of  tlie  !4niall  intes- 
tines are  more  or  lees  inflamed,  uleers  bein^  sometimes  found  m  ttie  large 
jMtestiueis.  Inflammation  may  often  be  noticed  in  the  larynx  aud  air-pas- 
gages. 

A  very  important  question  may  arise  here — how  long  after  death  can 
you  disting^uish  inflammation,  the  eflects  of  an  irritant  poison,  from  a  post- 
mortem change.  This  rule  is  a  safe  oue— ^Wi-er  allow  mere  retlnr^^^s  of  fhc 
mueoua  metnhrane  h  be  a  proof  of  hkfiamination ;  but  if  the  redness  be  ac- 
companied with  softeuingand  putrefaction,  with  the  deposit  of  glairy  mucug, 
au<l  with  general  opacity  of  the  mucous  membrane,  you  may  stately  con- 
clude that  It  is  so.  Gnrif/reue,  again,  maj^  be  due  to  internal  constriction, 
as  in  cuses  of  hernia.  The  injection  of  vc«»eh  with  black  blood  i«  found  in 
enteritiai  and  acute  dysentery,  and  may  be  produced  by  the  application  of 
the  mineral  acids  atVer  death.  You  will  know  mvinnoiic  ifpoi«  Ijy  their 
being  well  defined,  and  by  the  al:>sence  of  general  intlmnmatioo.  Ulcers 
(not  corroteious,  for  the  one  is  produced  by  chemical  meauy,  whilst  the  other 
is  slrictlv  vital)  may  result  from  jKjiiion,  or  from  disease: 

{a)  Liters  from  ptoi^on  are  rare,  and  generuliy  they  are  accompanied 
with  extensive  inflammation  in  the  small  intestine!?,  and  e8pe(^ially  in  the 
duodenum.  They  are  usually  discolored — the  color  depending  on  the 
poi:*on  from  which  they  reault. 

(,j)  Ulcers  from  dtsmite  will  prDbahly  be  confined  to  the  stomach*  other 
part«<  being  in  a  tolerably  healthy  condition.  They  are  generally  jsituated 
uD  ihe  posterior  ^^urface,  or  aloug  the  lesser  curvature,  or  in  the  neigh bor- 
hf>od  of  the  pyloru«i.  They  are  UHuany  round  or  oval,  with  a  tolerably 
.nharp  outline,  looking  a?  if  they  haii  been  [lurieheil  i»ut,  the  edges  being 
thickened,  raided,  and  smooth.  Tbojic  from  eaneer  may  i<onietiint<e  be  very 
ragged. 

(C)   The  po8i-mortem  appearances  of  Kureotics  and  Narcotico-Acrids, 

In  poisoning  by  the^  substances,  very  pOj«aibly  no  characteristic  post- 
mortem ap[>earances  will  be  discovered.  They  are  rarely  found  to  inflame 
the  stomach  or  bowels.  In  the  post-mortems  of  ctises  of  poi<t)niug  by 
opium,  fulness  of  the  veins  and  sinuses  of  the  bratn,  with  efllision  of  serum 
beneath  the  membranes,  at  the  base,  or  in  the  ventricles,  with  oi'casioual 
extnivu.^ation  of  blood,  are  coram  only  found. 

Diseases  that  simttiate  Poisoning. 

There  are  many  diseases,  it  must  be  admitted,  that  even  an  experienced 
medical  jurist  may  confound  with  poisoning,  and  hence  the  extreme  neces- 
sity for  care  in  such  cases  in  giving  opjiiiuus.  It  is  not  often  that  any  diffi- 
culty will  be  found  after  a  post-mortem  has  been  performed,  berauae  if 
diwiase  has  been  the  cause  of  death,  such  disease  will  probably  be  dis- 
covered. 


1.  Diseages  that  simulate  poisou in ff  by  Corrosives  and  Irritants. 

(«)  Acute  GaMriiiJ!!,  which  rarely,  if  ever,  occurs  idiopathically. 

(p)  Enylish  and  A^intic  Vhnlcra^  au<l  all  other  aeide  injhimmationk 
of  t lie  Altmeiifiinj  Ointili,  mtch  ha  Dijmntery^  dc— In  choleral 
the  vomit  rarely  contains  blood,  which  it  fretjuently  does  in 
irritant  poisoning.  In  cliolera,  again,  there  is  rarely  paiu 
or  constriction  in  the  throat,  aud  if  it  does  occur  it  is  the 
Boreneas  of  vomiting,  aud  is  occasioned  by  it.  In  cholera,, 
6 


again,  purging  is  an  earlier  symptom  than  it  is  in  jjoison- 
ing.  (^W  Dr.  Letbeby's  paper,  "  Medical  Times,"  Nov.  1 1th, 
1«4«,  p.  76.) 

(y)  In  Ihus,  Strunrpdated  Hernia^  etc.,  we  generally  have  constipa- 
tion, the  votiiited  matters  being  fecal. 

M)  liupture  of  Abdominal  Vi^eera. — The  rupture  of  the  stomach 
during  or  directly  after  a  meal,  from  probably  an  effort  to 
vomit,  has  been  a  cause  of  sudden  death.  8o  also  aneurism 
and  the  rupture  of  intestinew,  hiliiiry  ductfii,  uterus,  and  other 
viscera,  the  giving  way  of  the  Fallopian  tubes,  apoplexy  of 
the  ovary,  etc.  (all  of  which  may  be  accompanied  by  syra|>- 
Aoms  of  collaps*e,  by  pain,  vomiting,  and  death  in  lei^s  than 
twenty- four  hour?),  have  been  mistaken  for  cases  of  poison- 
ing.  The  true  cauee,  however,  of  all  these  will  be  revealed 
by  the  po8t-nu>rtem. 

(j)  Drinking  a  draught  of  cold  water  when  heated  baa  caused  sud- 
den death.  The  absence  of  poision  will  be  the  main  evidence 
in  such  a  case. 


2.  DUea^cs  thai  nimulnie  pohdninff  hij  Narmtictj  etc. 

We  must  remember  there  are  many  diseases  of  the  nervous  centres  in 
which  coma  and  iut^eiisibility  are  prominent  symptoms.  In  ura?raic  poison- 
ing, apoplexy,  epilepj^y,  hydrocepbalu.^,  blows  on  the  head,  and  :*oitictimej!i 
<rven  in  fever,  similar  symptoms  occur.  Nor  must  we  assert  that  the  diag- 
nosis in  such  cases  is  ea*y,  or  the  post-mortem  appearances  couclusive. 

In  Epilep^  the  history  of  the  case,  its  chronic  nature,  the  length  of  the 
iits,  and  the  peculiarity  of  the  paroxysms,  will  generally  be  sufficient  to 
lead  to  a  correct  diagnosis. 

In  A popUry  note  (1)  the  general  preraooitory  symptoms;  (2)  that  it 
usually  attacks  the  old  ;  and  (3)  that  it  is  oftcu  impossible  to  rouse  the 
patieni  from  the  apoplectic  sleejx 

Wliilst  in  poisoning  ( 1 )  tht^re  are  no  premonitory  symptoms ;  (2)  any 
may  be  the  victims,  and  (3)  that  with  such  poisons  as  opium  the  patient 
can  be  roused, 

Idiupatkic  Telanm^  agaiOj «  not  common.  Note  the<>e  peculiarities,  which 
will  enable  you  to  disLiuguish  between  it  and  the  tetanus  of  strychnia. 

(A)  Idiopathic  Tetanus — 

(1)  Begins  with  difficult  swallowing,  and  is  followed  by  stiffness 

of  the  JAWs,  and  theu  stiffness  ol'  the  trunk  and  extremities. 

(2)  The  symptoms  are  at  the  first  obscure,  and  develop  graduftlly. 

(3)  Opisthotouoa  does  not  come  on  until  after  several  hours,  or  may 

be  days. 
•(4)  There  is  rarely  any  intermission  in  the  symptoms. 
(5)  Death  takes  place  after  several  hours  or  days,  or  recovery  is 

very  slow. 

(B)  In  the  TetJimis  of  Strychnia — 

(1)  The  muscles  of  the  jaw  are  rarely  attacked  at  first,  and  may 

possibly  escape  altogether. 

(2)  The  symptoms  are  well  marked  at  the  commencement,  and 

reach  their  full  development  in  a  few  minutes. 

(3)  Opisthotonos  is  a  very  early  symptom. 

(4)  There  are  usually  intervals  of  complete  intermission. 

(5}  Death  occurs  commonly  in  lesis  than  three  hours,  or  else  recov 
ery  is  very  rapid. 


d 


FALSE    ACCUSATIONS — MALINQBRINO. 


75 


»,  tetanus  may  be  caused  by  other  poisons  than  gtrycbnia,  but,  if 
\\l  he  usually  c'omplicate<!  wiih  other  symptoms,  whil^at  in  strychnia 
poisoDing  tetanus  ia  the  one  promiueut  symptom.  Nor  mu^t  we  forget  the 
tetHDoid  convulsions  of  hysteria  and  epilepsy,  although  the  genenil  his- 
tory of  the  case,  and  the  character  of  the  spasms,  with  tlieir  rapid  alter- 
Datioti?  of  relaxation  and  contraction,  and  the  infre(|uency  of  a  fatal 
lermitmtioD  will,  a^s  a  rule,  be  suthcient  tn  guide  us  to  a  right  diagnosis. 

Again,  a  delirium  simulating  that  produced  by  belladonna,  etc.,  is  often 
a  symptom  of  febrile  diseases,  and  of  uther  d ii^ eases* »  if  aceumpauied  by 
fever ;  and,  further,  the  actioti  of  intense  cold,  and  al^^o  the  symptoms  of 
mental  disorders  in  their  incipient  stage*  may  simulate  alcohol  poisoning, 
although  the  peculiar  odor  of  the  breath  iu  alcoholism  will,  if  well  marked, 
oflen  be  a  safe  and  conclusive  sign. 


Fahe  Acematioii» — Malingering, 


I 

lo 

|»       of 
■    ihi 

M 


Cftflee  at  times  occur  when  persons  will  imagine  tbemselvea  the  vtctima 
of  attempted  pnist>uing.  Sucli  cases  are  excessively  embarrassing,  and 
need  adroit  management.  Two  considerations  in  dealing  with  them  must 
be  clearly  before  you.  Firnt,  is  there  any  truth  in  the  story?  and,  ^econdhf, 
finding  the  roan  is  the  victim  of  delusion,  can  he  in  any  way  be  convinced 
or  pacified?  It  would  not  be  justifiable  to  treat  iu  the  first  instance  all 
startling  stories  as  imaginary,  or  as  the  creation  of  a  disordered  bniin. 
The  patient  should  be  urged  tpiietly  and  by  degrees  to  give  a  full  account 
of  his  case,  when  before  very  long  he  will,  no  doubt,  be  found  to  conmiit 
himself  with  undoubted  extra vngances.  Having  discovered  that  the  man 
la  mad,  you  must  not  tell  him  so,  but  try  to  convince  liim,  if  possible,  that 
he  is  wrong,  or  else  (and,  perhaps,  usually  this  is  the  only  way )  admit  all 
he  says,  and  suggest  a  reniedy.  A  case  iu  illustruti<tn  muy  be  quoted.  Dr. 
Letheby,  a  short  time  back,  had  a  gentleman  call  upon  him,  asserting  that 
his  relatives  were  poisoning  him  with  nitrate  of  silver,  which  they  j»ut  into 
every  article  of  iiiod  of  which  he  partook.  He  requested  analyses  made  of  a 
large  number  of  samples  he  hud  from  time  to  time  collected.  Dr.  Letheby 
began  to  urge  the  extreme  improbability  of  such  a  thing,  but  be  immedi- 
ately explained  the  whole  matter  by  saying,  "that  his  relations  bad  dis- 
covered that  metals  were  good  conductors  of  electricity,  and  that  their 
intention  was  to  saturate  his  system  with  silver,  so  as  to  render  his  body  a 
cooductor,  and  extract  from  him  of  a  night  when  he  was  asleep,  by  elec- 
tricity, secrets  of  which  he  imagined  himself  the  custudiau."  The  story 
being  clearly  the  invention  of  a  lunatic,  Dr.  Letheby  entirely  succeeded 
iu  quieting  the  man's  mind  by  agreeing  with  him  as  Ut  the  power  of  metals 
to  conduct  electricity,  hut  assuring  him  that  if  be  always  slept  on  a  sheet 
of  india-rubber,  which  was  a  non-conductor,  it  would  entirely  frustrate 
the  designs  of  his  friends  to  extract  his  secrets.    The  man  went  away 

tirely  satisfied  with  the  remedy  suggested. 

Kor,  again,  must  we  forget  that  cases  of  malingenng  may  occur.  One 
l^lhe  authors  has  refen-ed,  in  the  *' Ijondon  Hospital  Reports,"  to  some  cases 
of  this  kind  that  came  under  his  own  observation  (vol.  ii,  p.  209).  When 
in  doubt,  do  not  treat  the  case  ligblly — a  day  or  twii  will  generally  reveal 
the  facts. 


La«tly,  Id  drawing  up  a  report  of  a  case  of  suspected  poisoning,  state: 
1.  The  time,  day  of  the  month,  day  of  the  week,  and  the  hour  in  every 


SYBTEMATIO   OHEMIOAL    ANALYSIS, 

2.  State  the  facts  seriatim,  without  any  technicalities,  never  iDdulging 
io  hypotheses,  and  never  usiug  ifs  and  buU,  but  state 

(a)  Facts  of  a  medical  nature. 

O)  Facts  you  have  yourself  seen  and  observed. 

3,  Then  draw  your  conclusions  on  the  facta  stated, 

(a)  Cause  of  death,  in  yowr  opinion. 

i,^)  Why  you  thiuk  the  death  unuatural  (or  viee  vend), 

ClaisifieaHon  of  Pomiu, 

Great  diffi cullies  have  been  experienced  by  writers  on  poisons  in  the 
matter  of  clas-sificatiou.  Nor  is  this  to  be  wondered  at,  as  classifications 
at  best  are  merely  artificial.  Clas.*<ifving  poiaons  arcrvrding  to  their  eflects 
Foder^  made  six  classes,  viz.:  (1)  Astritigents ;  (2)  Rubefacients;  (Ij) 
Corrosives  or  Escluirotics ;  (4)  Nareotico-Acrids ;  (5)  Narcotics;  (fi) 
Septit^  or  Piitrelacieut,**.  Tbi;^  classitication  was  adopted  by  Paris  and 
Gordon  Smith,  Ortila  and  Devergie  made  four  classes,  viz.:  (,1)  Irri- 
tants; (2)  Narcotics;  (3)  Narcotico-Acnds ;  and  (4)  Septics.  Taylor 
and  ChristisoD  both  take  the  first  three  of  these  only,  \h.:  (1)  Irritants; 
(2)  Narcotics;  and  (3)  Narcofico-Acrid^  ;  wbiUt  Guerin  makes  only  two 
classes:  (1)  Irritant:^,  and  (2)  Sedatives, 

All  these  classificatiaiia  ui'  |Kiisons  are  more  or  less  objectionable,  and 
we  therefore  propose  adopting  the  more  simple,  if  less  scientific  plan  of 
arranging  them  according  to  their  origin  or  natural  sources,  viz. : 

(1)  Mineral. 

(2)  Vegetable. 

(3)  Animal, 

(4)  Gaseous. 


CHAPTER  V. 


SYSTEMATIC  CHEMICAL  ANALYSIS. 

Before  proceeding  to  describe  the  method  to  be  adopted  in  the  exami- 
nation of  the  contents  of  a  stomach  in  a  ea.»*e  of  *<ns|K"eted  p<>is<>ning,  one 
or  two  remarks  of  a  general  character  may  not  be  altogether  out  of  place, 
inasmuch  as  in  a  matter  of  such  grave  iniporianec  as  a  trial  for  murder, 
every  minute  detail  has  peculiar  importance.  Betbre  commencing  your 
chemical  aualy:<is  it  is  mo^t  unadvi^able,  for  many  reasons,  to  be  hunting 
about  for  the  various  symptoms  that  manifested  themselvM  during  life. 
If  they  are  brought  before  you,  well  and  gi>od — hut  even  then  be  careful 
not  to  place  too  high  a  value  upon  them.  For  first,  the  guess  as  to  what 
has  been  taken  is  often  wrong ;  and  secondly,  symptoms  are  not  infallible 
guides,  for  irritants  have  o&n  produced  the  symptoms  of  narcotics  and 
narcotics  of  irritants. 

Let  your  analysis  in  every  case  be  complete  and  systematic.  Nothing 
can  justify  any  other  metliod  of  procedure.  For  if  you  confine  your  ex|ieri- 
raents  to  a  mere  search  for  a  suNpccted  poison,  it  may  not  be  there  at  all, 
and  »omcthingelse  may,  and  you  have  then  li^al  a  jKirtimi  of  your  niatorial  ; 


SYSTEMATIC    CHEMICAL    ANALYSIS. 


77 


and  further,  more  than  one  poison  may  be  present,  the  discovery  of  which 
rany  materially  aid  m  fleiiriag  up  the  ease.     Let  every  examination,  there- 
Ibre,  t>e  part  of  a  general  srhenie  (we  are  quoting  in  sjubstauce  from  a 
;r  of  Dr.  Lethehy's)   whereby  the  search  for  nil   poisons  may  be  at 
Ice  accomplished,     tf  this  is  not  done  your  only  alternative  t.s  to  ^iieas 
at  the  poison  that  is  to  be  scujght  for,  or  else  to  divide  your  material  into 
a^  many  jmrts  a>*  there  are  poisnni!   to  be  found.     In  the  first  ca-^e,  tfie 
chemist  lends  himself  to  all  sort.s  of  idle  nimon^,  to  hearsay  gossip,  and  to 
the  chance  of  being  grossly  deceived,  and,  thr  refore,  seriously  wrong  in 
hi*  guesisea  ;  whilst  in  hissJearch  for  some  particular  thing,  which  was  never 
pre^nt,  he  uses  up  his  material,  ami  with  it,  the  only  means  at  his  disposal 
for  the  discovery  of  crime.     Besides  which,  a  proceeding  conduett^il  afler 
such  a  fashion   must  alwayjs  prejutlice  tlic  judgment  of  the  operator,  and 
destroy  the  confi<lence  of  all  who  are  interested  in  the  iuijuiry,  Ijy  making 
it  appear  that  llie  priiieiples  and  powers  of  chemistry  are  uncertain,  that 
they  are  greatly  saboniinate  to  the  other  portions  of  the  case,  and   that 
they  can  never  be  made  an  indei>endeni  or  primary  part  of  the  invesiiga- 
tD.     In  the  second  case,  as  we  need  hardly  i^ay,  the  operator  would  be 
ipting  the  best  possible  means  of  insuring  a  failure;  for  if  the  poison 
present  in  very  small  quantity,  the  division  (tf  ifr  into  many  parts  would 
be  a  certain  way  of  baffling  the  investigator. 

11,  When  you  receive  materials  for  a  toxicological  analysis,  note  at  the 
time  in  writing 
2 


(a)  The  person  from  whom  you  received  it, 

(b)  The  date  upon  which  you  received  it. 

(c)  The  place  at  which  it  was  delivered  to  you. 

{(I)  The  number  and  description  of  tlie  articles  received. 
(«)  The  state  fi'.r.,  whether  securely  sealed  or  not)  in  which  they 
were  handed  to  you. 


2.  The  materials  sent  for  analysis  should  be  forwarded  by  hand  and  not 
by  any  public  conveyance,  and  sfiould  be  delivered  to  the  analyst  himself. 

3.  After  they  are  delivered  to  you,  never  allow  them  out  of  your  sight 
except  under  lock  and  key,  no  duplicate  key  being  in  the  possession  of  a 
eecond  jKM-son. 

4.  The  analysis  must  throughout  be  conducted  by  yourself,  and  by 
yourself  only. 

5.  When  yon  open  the  bottles  or  jars  do  not  break  the  seals,  but  nU 
tlu^m  out  unbroken,  and  preserve  them  for  identification.  If  necessary,  in 
the  witness-box. 

6.  Kemenibering  the  volatility  of  many  poisons,  let  there  be  no  delay 
in  the  commencement  of  the  analysis. 

7.  Always  examine  the  contents  of  the  diff*ereut  bottles  or  jars  sepa- 
rately. Of  course,  if  different  viscera  be  put  into  the  same  jar,  then  there 
is  no  object,  as  a  rule,  in  making  separjjte  analyses  of  the  different  viscera. 

8-^   The  quantities  of  every  solid  s^hould  be  weighed,  and  of  every  liquid 

:h  as  the  contents  of  the  stomach)  measured. 
^9.  Xever  subject  the  whfjle  of  your  materials  to  analysis  at  first,  for  you 
may  have  an  accident,  or  it  may  be  iieccs*!ary  for  further  analyses  to  be 
made.  In  examining,  say  the  stomach  and  h-m  contents,  take  about  one- 
third  (or  ooe-half,  if  the  quantity  be  .snuill)  and  seal  the  renuunder  down 
Stirciy,  preserving  the  bottle  under  lock  and  key.  If  you  have  an  acci- 
ii  (which  may  happen  to  the  most  skilful ),  or  if  you  wish  to  confirm 
your  results,  you  will  tnen  be  able  to  operate  on  the  half  of  what  you  have 


8TSTBMATIC    CBEMICAL    ANALTBIS. 

left,  nnd  pven  then  leave  sufficient,  if  the  court  sees  fit,  for  a  further  ex- 
amination by  &orae  other  nnalyst. 

10.  Take  care  that  the  a[)pttratiJ9  y^u  employ  is  thoroughly  clean,  and 
only  use  such  reagents  as  you  have  yourself  proved  in  be  pure. 

11.  In  testing  for  a  poison  always  begiti  by  it*?  most  characteristic  reac- 
tion. If  one  teat,  however,  fails,  do  noi  imniediarely  conclude  the  absence 
of  the  poison,  but  try  a  second  test,  rcmernbcring  how  trivial  circunislttncea 
interfere  with  some  reactions.  And  further,  never  he  satiisfied  of  the  pT€9- 
encf:  of  a  poison  by  a  single  reaction,  as  certainty  can  only  be  establiuhed 
by  a  combination  of  tests, 

12.  Never  jump  to  conclusions  on  the  results  of  your  analyses.  8up- 
po«ie,  e.  jr.,  a  piece  of  clean  copper  waj*  coated  when  boiled  in  a  hydrochloric 
acid  solution.  Do  not  ^ay  it  ij*  mercury,  or  that  it  i.s  art^enic,  bouover  much 
it  may  look  like  it,  until  by  further  ex|>eriment  you  have  proved  it  is  so. 

13.  Reduce  your  solutions  in  te-'jting  to  as  concentrated  a  state  as  possi- 
ble, as  the  reactions  with  small  (|uantities,  when  they  are  diffused  through 
a  large  bulk  of  lifjuid,  may  esrape  notice. 

14.  Note  that  although  we  my  u  given  test  will  give  distinct  reactions 
with  a  minute  fraction  of  a  grain  of  a  poison,  we  do  not  thereby  intend  to 
imply  that  such  a  minute  quantity  can  be  discovered  when  present  in  com- 
plex organic  mixtures. 

15.  In  all  cates,  if  posmble,  determine  the  quautity  of  the  poisoti  present. 
Remember,  however,  that  the  chemical  evidence  i.^  not  defective,  although 
the  quantity  of  jxtison  found  is  les.>  than  that  required  to  kill  {vidt-  page  6G). 

In  examining  the  stomach,  first  of  all  empty  the  contents  into  a  measure 
glass,  and  note  the  quantity.  Then  open  the  stomach,  and  spread  it  out 
on  a  clean  white  [jiale,  and  note  in  writing  its  internal  apjieamuce.  Now 
take  a  large  baud  magnifying-glass,  and  carefully  inspect  the  surface.  In 
this  way  you  may  pt)*'^ddy  find  pieces  of  leaves,  fruits,  seeds,  or  roots;  or 
adherent  powders,  .^uch  as  magnesia,  calomel,  or  arf*eniou8  acid  ;  or  crys- 
tals of  oxalic  acid,  or  shining  particles  of  cantharide.%  or  colored  metallic 
sulphides  (such  as  the  yellow  sulphide  of  antenic,  or  the  orange  sulphide 
of  antimony);  or  yon  may  detect  som?  sooty  matter,  such  as  is  generally 
mixed  with  arsenic  when  it  is  sold  retail,  or  blue  coloring  matters,  such  aa 
are  onlinarily  found  in  the  various  vermin  killers;  <»r  you  may  fiiul  pieces 
of  lucifer  matches  and  their  coloring  matters,  if  these  have  been  the  cause 
of  death.  Whatever  you  find,  however,  let  them  be  carefully  preserved. 
In  a  similar  manner  examine  the  intestines  from  end  to  end. 


In  examining  the  contents  of  the  stomach.     Note — 

1.  The  qwintUy  by  measure. 

2.  The  odor: — such  poistms  as  alcohol,  chloroform,  carbolic  acid,  hydro- 
cyanic acid,  opium,  may  thus  perhaps  be  detected. 

3.  The  color; — the  mineral  acids,  f.<7.,  are  indicated  by  the  oontenta 
having  a  dark,  grumous,  charred  appearance. 

4.  The  acidity  or  alkn/inity. 

5.  The  consistency  and  apparent  composition.  You  may  be  able  to  say 
how  long  before  death  the  person  had  a  meal,  and  of  what  that  meal  con- 
sisted. Also  in  sui^()ected  cases  of  poisoning  in  children,  note  the  presence 
or  absence  of  starchy  matters,  milk,  etc. 

Systematic  Analym. 

We  are  indebted  largely  to  Dr.  Letheby  for  the  following  method  o! 
syBtematic  analysis  in  poisoning  uases. 


BTSTKMATIC    CHEMICAL    ANALYSIS. 


79 


Tftke  one-third  of  the  contents  of  the  stomach,  and  strain  them  through 
a  piece  of  new  muslin.  Carefolly  examine  the  solid  malenals  on  the 
inii8lin  wiih  a  hand  lens  for  portions  of  k'uves,  ^eds,  or  other  bodies  that 
may  be  present. 

We  have  found  it  very  useful  to  keep  specimens  of  the  eeeds  of  common 
fniitA  pre*?erved  in  little  botlley  in  spirit,  so  that  we  may  at  once  lie  able 
to  compare  any  seeds  found  in  the  stomach  with  thos^e  of  known  fruits. 
There  will  be  no  difficulty  in  detectin;?  some  of  the  larger  seeds  or  their 
covering**,  ^ucIj  ag  those  of  croton,  whilst  the  smaller  seeds',  puch  as  those 
of  the  [K>ppy,  belhidonna,  hyoycyamus,  digitali^^,  etc.^  can  be  easily  recog- 
nized by  their  peculiar  markings. 

And  now,  having  examined  the  naked-eye  appearancea  of  the  stomach, 
and  its  Folid  contents,  mix  the  whole  together  in  a  clean  wide-mouthed 
glaaa  l>ottle.  8taud  this  in  some  warm  water  in  a  basin,  and  cover  the 
mouth  of  the  bottle  over  with  a  clean  glass  plate  (Fig.  2),  upon  wliich  a 
drop  of  a  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver  has  been  ^o  placed  that  it  will  be 
freely  exposed  to  the  vapors  arising  from  the  fluid  in  the  bottle. 

In  a  very  short  time,  if  hydrocyanic  acid  be  present,  the  drop  of  silver 
srdnlion  will  turn  white  from  the  formation 
of  a  cyanide  of  silver.  If  examiricd  by  the 
ndcroscojM?,  this  deposit  will  probably  ap- 
pear crvistalline,  the  crystals  being  especi- 
ally well  marked  about  the  edges;  but  the 
deposit  may  not  be  crystalline,  from  its  ad- 
mixture with  chlorine^  bromine,  iodine,  or 
their  hydrogen  acids,  and  yet  be  due  to 
hydnM/yanic  acid.  The  deposits  of  argen- 
tic bromide  or  iodide  may  he  known  by 
their  not  being  perfectly  white,  as  well  m 
by  rhe  peculiar  odor  of  these  Vxidies,  which 
is  readily  detected  even  in  small  fjuantities. 
('ynnidc^  of  silver  is  insoluble  in  nitric  acid 
at  ordinary  temperatures,  but  soluble  at  a 
boiling  heat;  chloride  of  silver  being  insoluble  in  nitric  acid,  hot  or  cold. 

I m mediately  after  the  removal  of  the  glass  plate  with  the  silver  salt, 


Fio.  2. 


?IQ.  X 


pi^ 


place  over  the  bottle,  in  a  similar  manner,  another  glass,  having  upon  it 
a  dn»p  of  a  solution  of  caustic  potash  ;  allow  this  to  remain  for  a  short 
time,  and  after  removing  it  at  once  take  the  Inittle  out  of  the  water,  and 
put  the  stopper  in,     Toucli  the  s[)ot  of  potash  solution  with  a  drop,  on  a 


80 


SYSTEMATIC    CUEMICAL    ANALYSIS. 


glass  rod,  of  a  mixed  solution  of  proto-  and  persulphate  of  iron,  when, 
hydrooyuuic  acid  be  prcjjt'ut,  a  bro\vnish-jjret»u  precipitate  h  produced, 
which  becomes  blue  (Prussian  blue;  od  the  addition  of  a  little  dilute 
gillphurif  acid, 

Liel>i^:'s  te#t  may,  if  necessary,  also  be  tried  in  the  same  way,  {See 
Iftfdronjanth  Add. ) 

Now  put  the  portion  of  the  contents  to  he  examined  into  a  retort  eon- 
nectecl  with  a  Ltehig's  c'oiide»ij*er  and  a  well-(*»)ole<l  receiver,  as  arranged 
ill  Fig.  3,  excepting  that  the  retort  must,  under  no  ci re iim stances,  be  ex- 
posed to  the  naked  flame,  hut  a  8ftlt-\vater  buth  inii^t  in  this,  as  in  every 
other  ca'«e,  be  emphvyed.  Di^sstil  over  about  ooe-siixth  of  the  quantity  in 
the  retort.  If  free  hydrocyanic  acid  he  present,  it  will  he  found  in  the 
distillate.  (This  is  to  he  tested  as  directed  under  Hi/dyoryanir  Acid.)  If 
hydroryunic  acid  be  obtained  in  this  manner,  the  contents  of  the  stomach, 
not  being  ulkaline,  the  hydrftcyanic  acid  was  present  in  a  free  state;  but 
if  the  contents  were  alkaline  before  distilhition,  it  must  have  been  present 
in  the  original  litjuid  as  a  cyanide,  however  it  rtniy  have  been  administered. 

The  distillation  should  now  be  continued  almont  to  dryness.  In  the 
distillate  «jlher  vohitile  poisons  will  be  found,  and  their  presence  for  the 
must  part  may  easily  be  detected  by  their  oilor,  such,  e.  jy.,  as  the  volatile 
oils,  alcnhol,  chloroform,  ether,  turpentine,  carbolic  acid,  nilro-benzol, 
benzol,  etc.  Appropriate  tests  nuist  then  be  employed  for  these.  If  there 
is  no  evi<ience  of  any  volatile  poi.'*ous,  return  or  reject  the  distillate,  acidu- 
late the  eontents  of  the  retort  with  a  few  drops  of  pure  Hulj>huric  acid,  and 
oDce  more  distil  into  a  small  receiver,  containing  either  nitrate  of  silver 
or  a  potash  solution,  so  as  to  fix  any  acid  that  may  come  over.  Any 
cyanide  present  will  now  evolve  iu  cyanoi^eu  as  hydrocyanic  acid.  The 
jMitash  of  silver  solution  may  then  be  tested. 

If  the  contents  (already  at-ichilated  with  pure  sulphuric  acid)  are  very 
thin  and  watery,  it  will  he  advisable  to  concentrate  them  to  the  consistence 
of  a  thin  pai'te  by  evajtoration  on  a  water-bath.  This  is,  liowever,  seldom 
necessary.  Treat  all  the  addulated  materials  with  about  twice  their  bulk 
of  alcohol,  arid  allow  tlie  mixture  to  stanil  in  a  warm  place  for  about  twelve 
hours,  occiuiionaliy  giving  tlit?  bottle  a  shake. 

Filter  the  liquid  through  thick  blotting-paper: 

(A)  Preserve  the  solid  matters  on  the  filter- paper. 

(B)  Throngh  one-half  of  the  clear  liltmte  pass  a  stream  of  well-washed 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  for  some  short  time.  (This  is  conveniently  gener- 
ated in  an  apparatus  represented  in  Fig.  4.)     If  arsenic,  or  sugar  of  lead, 

or  corrosive  sublimate,  or  tartar  emetic,  or  any 
of  the  metallic  chlorides  soluble  in  alcohol  are 
present,  a  precipitate  will  be  formed,  whilst  any 
change  of  color  producetl  by  a  minute  trace  of 
metallic  salts  is  best  noted  by  comparing  the 
color  of  that  portion  of  the  filtrate  through 
which  the  sulphuretted  hydrogen  has  been 
pas.sed  wilh  that  |>ortion  unacted  upon  by  the 
gas.  If  there  is  any  sign  of  a  precipitate,  the 
gas  sbouhi  then  be  passed  for  a  considerable 
lirne  through  the  whole  filtrate.  After  stand- 
ing for  twenty-four  hours,  the  solution  should 
be  filtered,  and  llie  precipitalo  on  the  filler- 
paper  e.vamined  for  the  several  metals  by  ap- 
proved chemical  processes.  If  at  this  stage  of  the  examination  diniinct 
evidence  was  obtained  uf  the  presence  of  arsenic,  it  would  be  advisable  to 


I 

I 


Fl««.  4, 


J 


d 


STETEMATIC    CHEMICAL    ANALT8IS. 


81 


take  the  whole  of  the  solid  matters  and  of  the  tiqaid  cnntentSj  mix  thera 
with  pure  hydmchloric  acid,  and  distil  them  in  a  retort  to  drynesjs,  fresh 
hydrochloric  acid  beinp  at^^erwards  |JOured  on  the  mutenuls  in  the  retort 
and  again  distilled.  By  tliia  means  yon  will  obtain  a  clear  distillate  con- 
taining all  the  arsenic  as  a  chhjride,  and  rendering  the  e.«timation  of  the 
quantity  present  easy.  If  no  results  are  obtained  by  pasriintr  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  through  the  filtrate,  allow  it  to  stand  for  twenty- four  boura 
uncovered,  so  that  the  gas  may  e.«ctii)e.  Add  now  to  the  whole  filtrate  an 
excels  of  a  solution  of  subacetate  of  lead,  and  filter. 

fC)  The  preeipltate  containn,  besides  gummy  matters,  etc.,  sulphuric, 
phoi^phorir,  oxalic»and  other  vcfretable  acids  such  lu*  meconic  acid,  in  com- 
bination with  lead.  Ditfuse  this?  precipitate  tlirough  water,  and  pa^  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen  through  it  to  complete  saturation,  judLiing  when  it  ia 
complete  by  the  solution  blackening  lead  paper.  Filler  off  the  sulphide 
of  lead  formed,  and  examine  the  filtrate  for  the  several  acids. 

(D)  Through  the  filtrate,  after  the  precipitate  produced  by  the  acetate 
of  lead  has  been  filtered  ofl'  pass  sulphuretted  hydrogen  until  all  the  lead 
which  was  added  in  excess  is  thrown  down.  This  means  of  getting  rid  of 
the  lead,  although  more  tedious,  is  infinitely  preferable  to  any  fit  her  method. 
Filter  off  the  lead  sulphide,  and  evaporate  the  filtrate  in  a  beaker  almost  to 
dryness ;  add  to  this  a  drop  of  acetic  acid  and  about  a  drachm  of  water,  and 
filter.  Evaporate  once  more  the  filtrate  almost  to  drynchS,  add  to  it  a  few 
dropg  of  water,  and  supersatumte  with  a  solution  of  pure  caustic  pota-sh. 
Put  this  into  a  long  narrow  test-tube,  and  ?hake  it  up  lljoroughly  with 
three  or  four  times  its  bulk  of  ether,  and  allow  the  whole  to  stand  until 
the  ethereal  and  watery  solutions  have  completely  separated.  Very  rarely 
will  any  difficulty  be  experienced  in  this,  but  if  such  difficulty  occur,  and 
the  etber  refuses  to  separate  kindly,  either  try  to  break  do'wn  the  vesicles 
of  the  ether  with  a  glass  rod,  or  else  adil  a  little  more  ether  and  a  little 

>re  water.     And  now  carefully  decant  the  colorless  ethereal 
►lulion.     In  drawing  ofi*  the  ether  we  adopt  llie  following  ^^**-  ^' 

plan  :  Fixed  to  a  pipette  of  large  size  we  have  an  elastic  india- 
rubber  ball ;  this  we  exhaust  by  pressure  before  placiug  the 
pipetle  in  the  fluid.  Having  j>res.sed  out  the  air,  the  pipette 
is  to  be  introduced,  care  being  takeu  that  the  end  of  the  pipette 
does  not  reach  below  the  ether  layer  (Fig,  5).  In  this  way 
the  whole  of  the  clear  ethereal  solution  will  be  drawn  up  into 
the  glass  tube  as  the  eljistic  btill  resumes  its  original  state. 
Again  and  again,  if  needful,  the  aqueous  solution  must  he 
treated  with  fresh  quantities  of  ether.  Toxic^Iogists  difier  a 
little  as  t»>  the  best  solvent  to  be  employed,  We  prefer  in  the 
first  instance  the  use  of  ether,  perhaps  fnmi  the  circnnistant'e 
of  being  accustomed  to  it.  Most  of  the  organic  alkaloids,  sucIj 
as  strychnia,  brucia,  veratria,  nicotina,  conia,  aconitina,  atro- 
piott,  quinia,  cantharidin,  etc.,  are  taken  up  by  it,  whilst  its 
action  on  .*onie  others,  such  as  morphia  and  cinchonia,is  very 
limited.  If,  therefore,  after  using  ether,  there  were  the  slight- 
est sicna  of  the  presence  of  morjihia  or  of  some  oliier  bodies,  chloroform 
ebould  then  be  used  for  their  more  perfect  extraction.  It  is  most  impor- 
tant that  we  should  familiarize  ourselvej*  with  the  taste  of  certain  alkaloids, 
such  as  the  bitter  of  strychnia,  as  so  much  may  be  learned  during  the  prog- 
reM  of  an  investigation  by  the  taste  of  resitlues.  The  application,  too, 
of  a  nduute  i>ortion  of  a  residue  to  the  iusidc  of  the  gums,  enables  us  to 
decide  better  than  by  any  chemical  tests,  the  presence  or  absence  of  such 
biKlies  a>  cuniharidiu,  aconite, etc.  Such  a  method  of  investigation  should 
never  be  neglected. 


«9 


82 


SYSTEMATIC    CBGUICAL    ANALYSIS. 


(E)  Put  the  clear  ethereal  solution  into  n  small  flask  fitted  with  a  long 
tube  atiii  connected  with  a  receiver  kept  perfectly  coltl,  and  iipplyu  gentle 
heat,  collecting  and  saving  the  ether  that  distils  over  (Fig.  0). 

(F)  The  residue  in  the  flask  should  now  be  disj?olved  out  with  a  little 
dilute  acetic  acid, and  filtered  if  turbid, so  as  to  separate  any  tatty  matters 
that  may  be  left.  The  re.^idue  from  this  will,  in  many  cases*,  be  sutficiently 
pure  to  allow  (Jpi  at  ouce  to  apply  our  testy,  but  if  not,  it  must  once  more 
be  treated  with  potash,  and  the  alkaloids  again  taken  up  with  ether. 

The  ethereal  residue  must  now  be  examined  for  the  alkaloids  by  the  va- 
rious tests  to  be  hereat'ter  tlescribed. 

It  must  be  borne  in  minvl  that  the  action  of  the  color  tests  (as  in  testing 
for  strychnia),  U  con^idembly  interfered  with  by  the  presence  of  such  & 
bo<ly  as  piperin,  and  by  spice.s  that  are  not  uidikely  to  he  present  iu  the 
stomach.     To  get  rid  of  these  impediment*  tu  the  test,  treat  the  ethereal 

Fto.  t. 


residue  with  a  few  drops  of  pure  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  and  allow 
the  mixture  to  stand  for  twelve  hotirs  in  a  warm  place.  The  strychnia  is 
not  injured  liy  the  acid  in  the  least  degree,  but  the  other  organic  substances 
will  be  charred.  Dilute  with  water,  sufMTsat urate  with  potassic  carbonate, 
and  again  treat  with  ether,  when  the  pore  alkaloid  may  be  obtained. 

Suppo?*iug  that  no  reaction  h  produced  with  the  color  tests,  it  is  always 
advisable  to  try  the  eifecLs  of  the  re-^idue  on  a  frc^g  in  the  manner  de.^cribed 
under  Stnjchniti. 

(G)  Now  take  all  the  solitl  contents  left  on  filter- paper  A,  cut  up  the 
Btomach  iti*elf,  and  any  other  solid  matters  to  he  examined,  into  very  small 
pieces,  bruise  them  in  a  mortar,  place  them  in  a  large  flask,  add  to  them 
a  mixture  of  two  parts  of  water  and  one  part  of  pure  hydrochloric  acid, 
and  slowly,  and  by  degrees,  bring  the  mixture  up  to  the  boiling-point. 
Do  not,  Imwever,  let  it  boil  fast,  or  fur  more  than  a  few  minutes,  and  after- 
wards set  it  aside  to  cool,  and  when  sufficiently  cold,  filter. 

(H)  Preserve  the  materials  on  the  filter-frnper. 

(I)  To  the  clear  filtrate  placed  in  a  glass  flask  add  one  or  two  small 
pieces  (l\  in.  x  i  iu.)  of  purr  copper-Coil;  the  copper  should  be  thoroughly 
cleansed,  first  by  igniting  it  in  a  liunsen  burner,  then  acting  upon  it  for  a 
minute  with  nitric  acid,  and  afterwards  thoroughly  washing  with  water. 
In  this  way  the  copper  will  be  rendi-red  perfectly  bright,  and  after  clean- 
ing,  should  ntit  be  touched  with  the  fingers.  Introduce  the  copper-foil  into 
the  clear  hydrochloric  acid  solution,  and  boil.     If  the  copper  becomes 


SYSTEMATIC    CHEMICAL    ANALYSIS. 


83 


Fio.  7. 


coate<1,  then  add  fresh  pieces  of  copper,  piece  by  piece,  until  there  is  no 
longer  auy  perceptible  dij*colorati«ni  of  the  last  piere  that  was  ndded. 
Nnw  remove  the  pieces  of  cupper,  and  having  wa.shed  and  drie<l  them 
between  t'oldm  of  bibulous  pafier,  exaniiiie  the  deposiit,  whatever  it  rnav  be 
(mercury,  aniCDic,  aDtiiuony,  etc.),  by  the  appropriate  lesti*,  hereal^er 
described. 

(Kj  Take  alt  the  materials  left  otj  the  filter- paper  U,  and  incinerate 
them  in  a  Berlin  porcelain  crucible.  Act  on  the  rci^idue  with  nitric  arid, 
and  having  diluted  with  water,  filter,  and  pass  sulphuretted  hydrogen 
through  the  filtrate.  In  this  way  any  lead,  or  other  substance*  not  dis- 
solved out  by  other  means,  will  be  di^scovered. 

Up  to  thia  )Kiint  we  have  chiefly  spoken  of  the  examioation  of  the 
stomach  and  its  content*.  It  will  be  noticed,  however,  that  precisely  the 
same  process  may  be  adopted,  with  ^ome  slight  modifications,  when  exam- 
ining the  tissues.  They  shhould  be  cut  up  very  fine,  and,  as  far  as  possible, 
broken  up  in  a  mortar  into  a  pulpy  mas.s.  Digest  ibein  for  some  hours  iu 
spirit  and  water,  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  and  proceed  as  with 
the  content.^  of  the  stomach. 

Although  we  are  strongly  of  opinion  that  the  process  just  described  is 
the  one  most  generally  applicable,  still,  under  some  circumatnucejj,  we 
adndt  that  it  may  be  desirable  to  search  fur  the  alka- 
loids before  proceeding  with  our  examination  for  the 
metals. 

The  following  plan  in  such  a  case  is  the  one  adopted 
by  the  authors:  Having  examined  the  stomach  and  its 
contentft  for  volatile  poisons,  in  the  manner  already 
dei«cribed,  and  also,  if  nece.^sary,  for  phosphorus,  acidify 
in  alight  excess,  with  acetic  acid,  which  has  the  advan- 
tage of  forming  very  soluble  salts  with  the  alkaloids. 
Eva|H»nite  to  dryness  over  a  water-bath  {Fig.  7).  In 
this  way  any  blood  iu  a  great  measure  will  be  broken 
up.  The  residue  should  now  be  boiled,  first  with  water 
acidified  with  acetic  acid,  and  filtered  ;  and  then  with  alcohtd  acidified 
with  acetic  acid,  and  filtered.  The  filtrates  should  then  be  mixed  together, 
and  set  on  one  side  to  cool,  when  any  fatty  matters  that  may  cidlect  on 
the  surface  can  be  without  difficulty  remove<l. 

Evaporate  the  litjuid  to  dryness  at  a  low  temperature,  collecting  aud 
prci^erving  the  spirit  that  distils  over,  IF  fatty  or  insoluble  matters  sepa- 
rate during  the  distillation,  they  must  he  got  rid  of  by  filtration. 

Dissolve  the  residue  in  a  little  pure  water,  and  add  to  it  a  slight  excess 
of  bicarbonate  oi'  potash.  Warm  gently.  When  cold,  shake  up  with  ether 
or  chloroform,  and  proceed  as  already  directed  iu  the  last  process.  This 
process  was  that  originally  suggested  by  Stas. 

Now  collect  all  the  materials  that  are  on  the  filter-papers  together,  and 
cut  up  such  solid  tissues  as  you  may  have  to  examine  into  very  small 
pieces,  and  test  them  for  mineral  poisons.  For  this  purpose  we  strongly 
recommend  the  process  of  Reinsch  ;  that  is,  the  heating  all  the  materials 
with  a  mixture  of  one  part  of  hydrochloric  acid,  and  two  of  water,  filter- 
ing, and  then  boiling,  with  gome  pieces  of  pure  copper-foil,  in  the  maoQer 
already  described. 

It  is  right,  however,  that  we  should  give  here  in  detail  the  process  of 
Fresenius  and  Von  Babo  for  the  destruction  of  the  organic  matters,  a 
process  which,  although  it  has  In^en  favombly  received  by  many,  is  one 
which  we  are  convinced  is  neither  a  desirable  nor  advisable  one  for  use  iu 
prartical  investigations. 

Freseniuas  process  b  as  follows:  Put  the  materials  to  be  examined  into 


SYSTEMATIC    CHfiMICAL    ANALYSIS, 

a  larjre  porcelain  dish,  and  add  to  tliem  about  an  equal  weight  of  hydi 
cliloric  acid  and  a  little  wnter^  so  as  to  make  the  whole  into  a  thin  [taste. 
This  muBt  he  heated  on  n  waler-baih.  Add  to  the  hot  liquid  about  thirty 
grains  of  powdered  chlorate  of  potash.  Stir  the  mixture  freqviently,  and 
from  time  to  time  continue  the  additi(tti  of  the  chlorate,  until  the  mass 
becomeji  of  a  light  yellow  homogeneoun  character,  adding  now  and  then  a 
little  water,  to  make  up  for  loss  by  evaporation.  Continue  to  ap]*!y  heat 
until  the  liquid  cen-ses  to  give  fjff  any  odor  of  chlorine.  When  C(dd,  strain 
the  liquid  through  linen,  Wa^h  the  polid  residue  with  hot  water,  and 
evaporate  down  the  whole  of  the  filtrate  to  a  .small  bulk,  and  again  filter. 

Ihe  next  part  of  the  procePvS  is*  to  reduce  any  metallic  oxide  that  may 
be  in  solution,  and  which  will  be  present  as  a  high  oxide,  to  a  lower  grade 
of  oxidation  hy  heating  with  sulphite  of  s^oda.  This  being  done,  sulphu- 
retted hydrogen  in  to  be  pasf^ed  through  the  siolution,  and  the  step^*  of  au 
ordinary  M'atematic  analysis  is  then  all  that  is  necessary. 

We  nius^t  just  refer  to  one  other  p«'(jee!^,  viz.,  that  suggested  by  Flandin, 
of  breaking  up  the  organic  matters  with  heat  and  sulphuric  acid. 

AVe  are  consciou.s  that  possibly  .sjrne  will  object  to  the  use  of  subaceiate 
of  lead  in  the  proce^j;  we  have  reeomniemlcd;  but  inasmuch  as  ihc  lead  is 
not  to  be  added  until  we  have  entirely  completed  our  Hearch  for  metallic 
pois4ms,  we  are  of  opinion  that  such  objections  are  immaterial. 

Further,  considering  that  the  verdict  of  a  jury,  and  consequently  the 
life  or  death  of  a  prij-oner  is  frec|uendy  dependent  on  a  chemical  analysts, 
the  results  we  obtain  hy  our  test*  should  iti  all  cases  be  something  more 
than  questionable  or  doubtful  reaction?,  about  which  a  possible  ditference 
of  opinion  may  exist.  We  consider  it,  therefore,  nnnece.<sary  to  enter  into 
any  flescri]>tive  detail,  as*  others  have  done,  of  processes  for  the  detection 
of  inillionths  of  a  grain  by  8uch  methods  as  the  conention  of  njicro«copic 
enblimat*^,  which  we  admit  are  as  exquisitely  beautiful,  as  they  are,  in 
our  opinion,  totally  unfitted  for  practical  investifralions.  If  such  poisons 
a35  arsenic,  calomel,  tartar  emetic,  corrosive  sublimate,  and  oxalic  acid, 
cannot  be  detected  hy  their  reactions  in  a  te^t-glas?,  we  are  doubtful 
wl>elher  we  should  ever  he  justified  in  giving  pt»sitive  evidence  of  their 
pre.'ience  on  a  criminal  trial,  by  their  microscopic  form,  and  microscopic 
reactions.  These  are  all  very  well  as  confirmatiuy  tests,  but  nothing  more. 
To  build  evidence  entirely  uptjn  them  in  a  criminal  case  is*  daugerous  in 
the  extreme. 

Lai«tly,  although  we  have  given  a  detailed  account  of  methods  of  syste- 
matic aftalys*es,  guch  as  we  ourselves  adopt  in  toxicological  investigations, 
it  would  not  be  lair  to  conclude  this  chapter  without  warning  the  operator 
that  he  must  be  prepared  at  every  turn  to  encounter  numerous  difficulties, 
which  are  m  impossible  to  be  described  as  they  are  unexpected,  and  the 
rejuedies  for  which  can  alone  be  suggested  by  his  own  chemical  knowledg:e 
and  manipulative  skill.  (For  Kx|)erimeuts  on  Dialysis  in  Toxicological 
Inquiries,  gee  ** Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Dec.  12ih,  1863,  p.  CU^ 


I 


I 


CIRCUHSTAVOES  AFFECIINQ  OXIDATION  OF  PHOSPHORUS.   85 


CHAPTEE  VI. 

MINERAL    POISONS. 


PHOSPHORUS. 

Varietiee — Circumstances  affecting  its  luminosity — Solubility — Symptoms,  etc.,  of 
PoiM>nin^ — Treatment-  Post-mortem  Appearances — Chronic  Poisoning — The 
Lucifer  Disease — Precautionary  Measures — Tests — Toxiuologioal  Analysis — 
Cases  of  Poisoning. 

(F  =  31.  •  8p.  gr.  of  vapor,  4.42;  boils  at  288**  C. ;. fuses  at  44°  C;  takes 

fire  at  about  60°  C.) 

Phosphorus  assumes  different  allotropic  forms,  of  which,  amongst  others, 
are  the  following : 

1.  Clear  Transparent  Variety. — This  is  yellow,  soft,  waxlike,  and  taste- 
less in  the  solid  i'orm,  but  has  a  sharp,  pungent  flavor  in  solution.  It  has 
the  odor  of  garlic.  The  sp.  gr.  varies  from  1.848  to  1.853.  It  is  a  n(m- 
conductor  of  heat.  It  volatilizes  at  44°  C,  the  fumes  in  a  dark  room  ap- 
pearing luminous. 

2.  White  Opaque  Variety  (Rose). — This  is  formed  by  the  action  of  light 
on  the  yellow  phosphorus  when  kept  under  water.  The  white  opaque 
crust  forms  most  readily  when  the  water  contains  an  abundance  of  cal- 
careous matter.    Sp.gr.  is  1.515. 

3.  Black  variety  (Th^uard)  is  produced  when  ordinary  phosphorus  is 
melted  and  suddenly  cooled  to  0°  C. 

4.  Red  variety  (Sch rotter)  is  formed  by  heating  yellow  phosphorus  for 
thirty  or  forty  hours  in  an  atmosphere  in  which  it  cannot  oxidize,  and  at 
a  temperature  of  from  238°  C.  to  248°  C.  It  is  amorphous,  and  of  a  dull 
red  color.  Its  sp.  gr.  is  2.14,  and  it  fuses  at  288°  C.  It  is  not  luminous 
until  heated  to  near  its  firing-point  (316^  C).  It  is  insoluble  in  bisul- 
phide of  carbon.  It  becomes  changed  back  again  to  the  common  yellow 
variety  by  the  action  of  heat  in  the  presence  of  air. 

Phosphorus  has  a  great  affinity  for  oxygen.  It  sometimes  ignites  spon- 
taneously, and  particularly  if  it  be  in  a  finely  divided  state,  or  smeared 
with  a  little  olive  oil. 

Circumstances  Affecting  the  Oxidation  of  Phosphorus  in  Air. 

(fit)   Temperature. 

It  ceases  to  be  luminous  at  0°  C;  it  becomes  faintly  luminous  from  5° 
to  6°  C,  the  luminosity  above  this  being  in  direct  ratio  to  the  heat  applied. 

(/5)  Pressure  of  Surrounding  Atmosphere. 

The  luminosity  is  increased  by  a  rarefied  atmosphere,  and  checked  by  a 
dense  one.  At  a  pressure  of  four  atmospheres  (60  lbs.)  scarcely  any  lu- 
minosity will  be  apparent  even  when  the  phosphorus  is  liquefied  and  par- 
tially sublimed. 

(y)  The  Presence  of  certain  Vapors  and  Oases. 

The  following  diminish,  or  altogether  prevent,  the  luminosity  of  phos- 
phorus, but  their  exact  action  is  doubtful:  pure  dry  oxygen,  impure  hydro- 
gen, bromine,  chlorine,  iodine,  sulphurous  acid,  nitrous  acid,  nitric  oxide, 


86 


60Lt 


phosphoiftteil  and  snl])hu retted  liydrogen,  ether,  alcohol,  bisulphide  of 
carbun,  olefiant  gas,  coal  ga?,  oaphtha^  turpentine,  volatile  oils,  etc. 

The  iollowin^  have  no  apparent  actiun :  pure  hydrogen^  nitrogen,  car- 
bonic acidt  carlxinic  oxide,  hydrochluric  acid,  ammonia,  sulphur  va])or, 
sulphuric  acid,  acetic  acid^  etc. 


Proportions  in  which  certain  OoMes  and  Vapors  Atop  Uie  Sfow  Comhtuttion 
of  Phoifphorus  in  Air  at  urditiQry  Temperatures  and  Pressurtn. 


Kftma  of  tba  Gmi. 


Sutpburiftted  Hydrogen,  , 
Suiphurouii  Acid,  .  .  . 
Chlorine, 

Ether,         ...... 

OletlNrit,      ...... 

Fbo»phurnttcd  Hydrogen, 

Nll|>UlllH,     ...... 

Oil  t.f  Tttrppnlino,  .  .  . 
Bi.»utj)hiUi'  of  Cttrbon, , 


Prottoriloo*  la  th«  ftir 


I 


Tllff 
Meri'st  truce. 


Temperature  wh«D 

iho  ]uiuhi*>«ity  ui-UHn 

CVui  Israel  e. 


Quantities  of  Vapor  required  to  check  ihe  LitminosUy  of  Phosphorus  in  Air 
at  Elevated  Temperatures, 


iJu  or  Vapor. 


01«fl«nt  Gftft, 

£tlM?r,     .     . 
it 

Nuphlha, 
Tur|>eiilino, 


FrojHirlioMs  In  the  atr 
by  volume. 


Ye  m  ftp  in  tu  re  at  which 
O&iclitttiun  ccawa. 


93.3  Cent. 
101  2     «' 
104  4     " 

85.6    " 


The  white  fumes  evolved  when  phosphorus  undergoes  slow  combustion 
in  air  are  chiedy  phosphorous  anhydride  with  some  phosphoric  anhydride. 
Ozone  is  also  produced,  ai*  may  be  proved  by  the  action  of  the  vapor  on  a 
eulution  of  starch  and  iodide  of'  potassium.  When  the  combu-itiou  id  rapid, 
pho8|>horic  anhydride  (FjOj)  i»  formed;  and  it'  tl)i.s  is*  allowed  to  collect  on 
neighboring  objects  it  prevenU  their  taking  fire.  Hence,  phosphorus 
flatueH  do  not  spread. 

Burn^  of  the  skin  of  great  severity  are  caused  by  phosphorus.  These 
are  due  to  two  causes:  (1)  the  great  heat  produced  by  it«  combustion,  aud 
(2)  the  development  of  phosphoric  acid,  which  is  a  innverlul  local  irritant. 
Alkaline  lotion?  form  the  appropriate  treatment  in  burns  of  thiij  character. 
The  ftcdubility  of  phosphorus  in  differeut  li<|uid»  i»  represented  in  the  fol- 
lowing table: 


•  Witl*  H  IdPjcje  Amount  of  naphtha  and  turp<;ntine,  pboepborus  may  be  nctuully 
distilled  witboul  llring. 


fSTHPTOUS    OF    FBOSPHORDB    POIBONINa. 


87 


&/iubiiiiy  of  Pho^hortts  in  mrioim  Liquidtt, 

Wmtur,  ......     Slight. 

8lrof»jf  «ci*tic  acirl,  0  04  per  con t. 

AUtihoI  <*.p.  gr  83*4),     .  .0.4 

Kth^r  <»|>,  (p-.  7A8),  .09        " 

Ulivpoil  (tp.  gr.  »lrtK  .10        '• 

Turj^niine  (*p.  pr.  99Gi,  .        .25        •* 

lii»uiphide  uf  otrbori,     .  .     10  to  15  limes  its  weight, 

Tlir#olutioo8,  however,  differ  in  strength  very  materially,  according  to 
tk  length  of  time  that  the  solvent  has  acted. 

TdtUihomng  the  Si)luhifity  of  Pho/^phoruji  in  various  Liquids  after  remain- 
ing in  contaet  with  them  for  different  times. 


U|^ 

QOMtlty 

by 
Mriuurr. 

QuAntHy 

by 

Amount  or  Fbo«|»honi»  tiik«a  up  during 

1st  d«y. 

Mday. 

UAmj. 

4th  d»y. 

fiihd«y. 

<tbd«y. 

400  gr«. 
864    " 
440    ♦' 
478    » 

0.«1 
29 
1.0 
3.1 

0.42 

3,0 

13 

48 

0.64 
8.1 
2.4 
6.6 

one 

88 
8.0 

8.tt 

1.6 

83 
4.0 

lO.Q 

1.6 

88 

44 

12.0 

»iu>ru8  is  neither  acted  upou  hy  sulphuric  acid  at  ordinary  tem- 
iltinst,  Dor  by  boiliug  hydrochloric  acid,  uor  by  bo) ii lions  of  ammtjnia, 
*ikAlio«  carbitDatcd,  sulphale*,  or  phosphates,  nor  by  solutions  of  sugar, 
Alboinvo,  or  gelatin,  Dor  by  iiifujiion  of  tea,  nor  by  tincture  of  gal  J.*,  milk, 
b(]^  He.  It  \a  ttctwl  upon,  more  or  less,  by  sulphuric  acid  at  915'  C,  hy 
lll(r'  *   iodic  aoids,  by  some  organic  acid."!  (as  acetic),  and  by  solutions 

of  ^Mlri,  and  potash.     It  combines  readily  with  nascent  hydr(»gen. 

•rful  nnluciug  acti()n  on   many  metallic  solution.^,  jinch  as 
ilvcr,  copjx'r,  and  platinum,  whilst  it  posyessies,  apparently, 
o  lead,  iron,  zinc,  anttinuny,  an^enic,  or  manganeskj.     It  has  no 
(rail  mucous  uieinbrane,  unle^  freely  exposed  to  the  air,  when 
,  diAcolors,  au<l  in  time  dissolves  it. 
fkfjArtbiiruA  i,"*  frcfjuently  u.std  on   the  Continent,  but  comparatively 
T»:  ill*  country,  for  criminal  purpos^^.     The  variou.s  f<»rms  of  rat- 

yn  -   '-ontAin  generally  about  5  per  cent,  of  phiwphorus,  mixed 

wt  tr,  oil,  })utter,  and  Prussian  blue,  and  lucifer- [natch  tips, 

»!  t  I'i  phcMiphoruH,  chlorate  of  potash,  sand,  anfi  h»hic  coloriug- 

a»-  .  e  bci-41  the  nsual  forms  in  which  the  poison  has  been  taken.* 


Ui 


Sgmpiomtf  Dose,  etc. 

The  f3rniptoi]]fl  vnry  coosidcrably  as  to  the  time  of  their  cominencemeDt. 
Biimetiak»  they  set  in  rapidly,  but  more  oflen  a  considerable  interval 
oeeufi  before  adv  serioua  eflects  are  noticed.  P^ven  a  period  of  inac- 
tion m  lung  fts  five  days  is  recorded.  As  a  rule,  within  one  or  two  hours 
the  |«tieiil  com  plains  of  a  peculiarly  disagreeable  ta.«te,  and  of  extreme 
in  Ibe  etuuiach  and  bowels,  gradually  developing  into  a  violent 


*  C«iiiipi»*ition  of  riit«p»»tr ;  8  piir**  of  pho»iythoru«  hto  luj;tK*fl«»d  Iti   180  nnrts  of 
itwwtm  ^aUt,  nri<1  |»Hiir<Hl  inio  a,  inortur  ;  li^U  pnrLi>i  nf  ry4<<riiiMil  arc  ndtlc-d,  and 
Ci  ]*nri»  of  «ii|i!Hr,  180  pHrla  of  lmil<T,  himI  »<i»me  cnl^ring 

-      <  m'«  rill  poi»un  i*  con)ni>ficd  of  phti>«.phtiriirt  Hiid  urienic. 
U  (tMcaiii-d  titatxh  ^MiKliesJ  Tlin««  «nd  GiiMlte,  LXfO.  Ut,  IBud,  p.  OtiO.) 


TREATMENT    OF    PHOSPHORUS    POISONING. 


httniing  pain,  rbosphores^eeiit  eructation:*,  liaviug  a  garliL'  odor,  may 
ob^erve<l.  V4»miliiig  and  purging  are  Di3t  ytifreqiieot,  tin;  vomit  being 
generally  dark-colorefl,  and  having  the  peculiur  pho.'*phoru8  odor.  The 
pube  is  weak,  the  tem[)erature  low,  the  pupils  dilated,  the  ihirHt  intense, 
the  abdomen  dii^tendeii^  tlie  extremitiei*  eotd,  and  the  intellect  clear. 

For  a  time  the  patient  will  nrobaWy  rally ,  and  be  apparently  fast  re* 
covering,  when,  about  the  third  to  the  filth  day,  jaundice,  with  retention 
of  urine,  and  po!?iiibly  delirium,  will  set  in.  lu  twelve  out  of  sixteen  cases 
jaundice  is  recorded.  The  relapse  i$  usually  sudden,  and  the  patient  will, 
in  all  probability,  die  within  forty-eight  hours  from  its  occurrence,  either 
coraatose  or  in  convulsions.  In  one  or  two  caset^  paralysis  has  occurred, 
the  action  of  the  poison  on  the  nervous  and  genital  .system  being  generally 
well  markeiJ.     Recovery  is  compiratively  very  rare. 

The  lime  of  death  varies.  One  ctxse  is  recorded  where  it  occurred  in 
half  an  hour,  one  in  thirteen  hours,  one  in  twenty  hour?!,  and  several  other 
OEM'S  in  times  varying  from  two  to  twelve  day*^ ;  fritrn  tiie  third  to  the 
eeventh  day  being  the  most  com m on. 

The  i^Hfintiitj  nece.*sary  lo  destroy  life  may  be  judged  of  from  the  follow- 
ing cases.  A  child  died  after  sucking  two  matches,  or  a  quantity  equal  to 
alHiut  the  one  fiftieth  of  a  grain;  one-eighth  of  a  grain  killed  a  woman, 
and  1.5  gmins  a  man,  in  twelve  hours.  Ou  the  other  hand,  Dr.  Worndey 
records  a  case  of  recovery  alter  a  child  had  swallowed  a  tcaspoonful  of 
phosphorus  paste,  and  Dr.  Taylor  one  «if  recovery  after  a  child  hud  sucked 
thri>e  hundred  malches.  The  authors  have  iouud  0.5  grain  of  [iho.sphorus 
will  kill  a  dog.  Dr.  Pereira  ass+^rts  tliat  Cbabert,  the  celebrated  '*  Fire 
King/'  could  swallow  sixteen  grains  of  phosphorus  without  iucon- 
veuieuce(! !). 

TVeaimenJU 

The  tpentment  is  comparatively  simple,  for  there  is  no  chemical  antidote 
for  the  poison.  To  get  it  out  of  the  stomach  therefore,  as  soon  a,s  possible, 
is  the  one  great  indication.  If  the  patient  is  seen  soon  after  the  poison  has 
been  taken,  the  stoniach  punvj)  may  be  used  ;  otherwise,  an  emetic  of  sul- 
phate of  xinc  is  best.  Some  thick  diluent,  such  as  magnesia  or  chalk, 
mixed  in  gruel,  should  be  freely  administered,  in  order  both  to  sus|>eod  the 
fragments  of  the  jKiison,  thus  protecting  them  from  oxidation  as  well  as  to 
neutralize  their  acid  products.  Alkaline  drinks  may  be  given  freely; 
whilst,  if  the  pois^^u  ha-s  haii  time  to  reach  the  intestines,  a  free  purge  should 
be  administered.  Bui  n<ite  particularly  that  mj  oil  or  fatty  matterMi  must  be 
ffivffn^  for  they  dis^solve  phosphorus,  and  so  aid  its  absorption, 

M.  Perronne  strongly  recommends  turpentine  in  cases  of  phosphorus  as 
well  as  in  pyrogallic  acid  poisoning.  His  experimenl4?  liave  been  rej>t»ated 
and  confirmed  liv  Kiihler  an<l  Schimpf.  ('*  Jirilish  Medical  Journal,"  Feb- 
ruary 4ih,  J87i;  p.  123;  "8t  Andrews  Med.  G.  Trans.,"  vol.  v,  p.  53.) 

Animal  charcoal  has  been  alsi>  recommended,  from  its  power  of  absorb- 
ing free  phwphoru.^.     (Eulenberg  and  Vithl.) 

fransfusion  of  blood  is  recommended  if  the  case  becomes  desperate. 
The  ex()eriments  of  Dra,  Eulenberg  and  Laudois  seem  to  ^how  that,  even 
in  extreme  t^ases,  life  may  by  this  means  lie  prolonged.  (**  British  Medical 
Journal,"  July  27th,  1827,  p.  71,) 

Profe?!Sor  Bellini  (*' Brit,  and  For.  Medico-Chirurgical  Re?fe\T,"  1870, 
p.  25),  in  a  valuable  pa|)er  on  antidotes  to  phosphorus,  speaks  favorably  of 
the  nitrate  of  silver.  Three  grains  of  nitrate  of  silver  are  nece,ssary  ibr  the 
ueutrali^atiun  of  one  of  phosphorus.  Phosphorus  in  the  presence  of  nitric 
acid  and  oxide  of  silver,  produces  an  iuKiluhle  com[K)und  of  silver  and 
pho8phorus,  which  is  unaffected  by  weak  acidsor  by  the  acids  of  the  stomach. 


,1 


FOST-HORTSK  APPEARANCES  PRODUCED  BT  PHOSPHORUS*      89 


FhyHtohgical  Action. 

The  physiological  action  of  phosphorus  as  a  poison  has  been  a  subject 
'  some  discu8!<iun,  and  raiiy  be  considered  here.    8orn^  hold  that  its  poison- 
action  is  due  to  its  conversion  into  phosphorous  aciH»  the  oxidation 
'iug  effected  at  the  expense  of  the  oxygen  of  the  blood.    With  this  view, 
it  has  been  recommended  that  all  the  water  that  is  used   in  making  the 
»Jttucila|Tinous  drinks  in  \i-hich  to  suspend  the  niaguesfa  or  chalk,  or  even 
'  the  water  that  is  given  to  relieve  thirst,  should  he  boiled,  in  order  to  get 
rid  of  the  dissolved  oxygen,   Similarly,  Perronne's  explunation  of  theactiou 
of  turpentine  as  an  antidote,  is  its  power  of  preventing  internal  combua- 
tion.     On  the  other  handjt  is  held  that  phosphorus  is  a  true  bJood-poison, 
capable  of  being  absorbed,  and  remaining  unaltered  even  after  absorption. 
The  fact  that  the  urine  in  poisoning  by  phosphorus  has  more  than  once 
been  noticed  to  be  luminous,  somewhat  confirms  this  view.   And  hence  the 
exactly  opp«)site  line  of  treatment  has  been  suggested.    Dr.  Percy  ('*  Prize 
^jEesay,")  1872)  advocates  turpentine  as  an  antidiitc,  but  states  that  the  old 
^"*  only  is  antidotal,  accounting  for  the  circumstance  by  the  fact  that  the 
old  oil  has  already  absorbed  oxygen.     He  even  urges,  as  of  great  service, 
inhalations  of  oxygen,  and  the  gradual  introduction  into  the  stomach,  by 
meftiia  of  an  elastic  tube,  of  htghEy  oxygenated  water. 

Pod- Mortem  Appearaueei, 

The  appearances  usually  found  after  death  are  those  of  a  corrosive  irri- 
_Uui  j^i^on,  but  they  are  somewhat  variable,  the  variations  being  largely 
'"  spendent  on  the  form  in  which  the  poison  was  taken.  In  some  cases  no 
special  morbid  appearances  have  been  uotetL 

The  skin  usually  lias  a  peculiar  yellow  ieieric  appearance.  On  opening 
the  abdomen,  black  spots  or  patches  nmy  be  i>bser%^ed,  and,  possibly,  lumi- 
nosity of  the  stomach  or  other  parts  will  be  appareuL  The  stomach  and  iu- 
.|B6tines  will  usually  be  found  inflnmed,  and  occasionally  gangn^nous,  here 

id  there  marked  with  either  large  or  small  ecchymoseil  patchei*,  some 
being  apparently  in  a  state  of  ulceration.  Small  vesic^tiitns  of  the  mu- 
cous membrane  are  reconled.  Perforation  oi"  the  stomacli  has  been  no- 
ticed. Black  spots  and  patches  are  also  commonly  found  both  on  the  skin 
and  on  the  pleura  and  pericardium.  The  mesenteric  glands  are  usually 
found  to  be  very  soft,  and  to  break  down  with  the  merest  touc-h.  Blood 
is  olten  found  in  the  bladder,  intestines,  and  pleural  cavity.  The  mucous 
membranes  throughout  the  entire  body  are  generally  dtscolored  and  soft- 
ened. The  heart  is  usually  discolored,  empty,  and  contracted,  hut  some- 
times will  be  found  to  contain  a  small  quantity  of  fluid  blood.  The  blood 
is  commonly  dark,  and,  although  fluid,  syrupy  in  consistence-  In  phos- 
phorus [xjiisouing  the  blood-corpuscles  are  said  to  undergo  complete  disin- 
tegration. (Dr.  Percy.) 

It  has  been  stilted  that  the  acute  yellow  atrophy  of  primiparoue  single 
women  is  generally  due  to  phosphorus  poisoning. 

One  singularly  uniform  (wst-mortem  appearance  is  the  fatty  change  dis- 
coverable in  the  liver,  and  sometimes  accompanied  with  atrophy,  as  well  as 
in  other  soft  organs,  such  as  the  kidneys,  the  glands  of  the  stomach,  the 
heart,  the  muscles,  and,  at  times,  the  aorta.  This  fatty  degeneration  pro- 
^4uced  by  ph«isnhorus  was  first  notice<l  by  Dr.  Lewin,  of  Berlin.     His  ex- 

{rimeuis  on  dogs  were  entirely  confirmatory  of  the  records  of  autopsies, 
lowever  emaciated  the  anipial,  Dr.  Lewin  found  tatty  degeneration  a 
eonntant  after-death  appearance  of  poisoning  by  phosphorus.     No  doubt 

7 


90 


CHHONIC    PHOSPHORUS    POISONING, 


this  fat  U  prodtu^d  by  tht^  deooin|K)>ition  of  the  albumen  in  the  viscem, 
('*  British  Mfd,  Juurnal,"  Dec,  2(ith,  18ti3,  p.  000.)  Those  faeU  hrtve  been 
fbrlber  investigated  by  Voit  atid  Btuier,  who  finiud  similar  fatty  changes 
produced  by  jihosphorus  \n  dogs  that  had  been  previi»u*'ly  starved.  We 
must,  however,  remember  that  fatty  degeiierulion  ia  ocea.'*iottally  found, 
although  in  a  much  less  degree,  in  eases  of  fwisoning  by  other  eubstaucea, 
such  as  ammonia,  alrohol,  etc.  Lewiii  further  nuiieed  that  phoi*p]n>rua 
produced  a  peculiar  affectiou  of  the  kidneys,  and  ihat.duriug  life,  iu  thfts© 
caseH,  the  urine  was  generally  albiiniimHi».  The  urea  excreted  Beems  to 
be  iuereit«ed,  whilst  the  oxygen  taken  in,  and  the  carbonic  acid  given  off, 
is  said  to  be  lessened. 


Chranic  Pho^phorut  PoiAonlnQ. 

The  Lttsnjer  Dufettse. 

Thh  disease  was  first  inve«tigatp<l  by  Lorind?Jer  of  Wieden  (184.5),  an< 
afterwards  by  Heylelder  «Nuretibur>r),  Struhl   <  Siras-buurg),  Dupaisquier 
(Lyons),  He] ft  (BLilin),  K<iU!^feel  (Paris),  Von  Bihra  and  Gelst  (Ntiren- 
burg  I,  Taylor   ( Xuitingharn  )^   Letheby,  Simon,   and    Staidey  (Loudon). 
(See  "  Lancet/'  vol.  i,  1850,  p.  4L) 

The  lucifer  di*i*aae  specially  attacks  weakly,  scrofulous  subjects  engaged 
in  either  the  dipping,  the  drying,  or  the  parking  of  the  matches. 

In  the  raanuiiicture  of  lucifer  matches*  the  wooden  splinters  are  first 
coate<i  with  ^ome  material  to  render  them  enny  of  igniti(jn,such  as  sulphur 
or  paraffin.  They  are  then  dipped  on  a  warm  iron  plate  coated  with  a 
phosphorus  composition,  cousistiug  of  clilorate  of  potash,  gum,  glue,  phos- 
phorus, and  some  coloring  matter.  During  this  proecns,  supposing  even 
that  the  phosphorus  c<Mnp4isition  does  not  fire  (which  is  nu  uncommoD 
thing),  a  quantity  of  acid  fumes  arc  coutijuuiily  evolved.  The  matches 
are  then  dried,  and  here  again  the  evolution  of  the  deleterious  [ihoiiphorus 
oxides  continues. 

The  evil  effects  of  these  vapors  are  rarely  immediate,  although  occasion- 
ally bronchial  and  gastric  discomfort  will  be  comphiiu».'d  of  very  soon  after 
commenciug  work,  lu  one  case  recorded  by  Piy^^kal,  it  occurred  after  a 
very  slight  exposure.  But  more  otlen  months,  and  sometinnis  even  yeara, 
mill  elapse  before  any  symf)toms  ol"  illness  arise.  CiWics  where  2}f  years 
(Stanley),  8J  years  (UtisiDttJ  years  {Dr.  Taylor), and  even  12  years  {Tay- 
lor and  Simon),  are  re<.!orde<l.  The  iirst  ibing  complained  of  will  [)rubably 
be  iucreasiug  weakue^  and  fatigue,  with  griping  pains  in  the  abdomen, 
and  diarrhcea.  Aher  a  time  an  interniitieni  toothache  will  torment  the 
|jatient.  The  teeth  on  examination  will  be  fouiid  to  be  carious,  the  gums 
swollen,  and  daily  more  and  more  retiring  Irom  the  teell>,  with  possibly 
pus  of  an  oflensive  nature  is-uiog  from  them.  Possibly  the  glands  of  the 
neck  will  appear  more  or  less  inflamed.  After  a  time  the  jaw  becomes 
exixjsed,  and  will  be  found  ri>ugh  and  diseased.  The  general  system  usu- 
ally sutlers  severely,  and  unlc&s  the  bone  exfoliates,  or  is  removed  by  oper- 
ation, death  is  alnioet  certaiu.  The  length  of  time  the  disease  lasts  varies. 
In  some  cases  it  is  only  a  few  uecks^  whilst  in  others  it  torments  the  pa- 
tient tor  years. 

In  the  majority  of  the  cases  the  lower  jaw  is  the  seal  of  the  disease. 
In  Dr.  Lorindser's  22  cuses,  9  were  affected  iu  the  up[yer  jaw,  12  iu  the 
lower,  and  1  in  both.  In  1.5  cases  recorded  by  V«ui  Bibra  and  Geist,  5 
were  iu  the  upper  jaw%  9  in  the  lower,  and  1  in  both.     In  the  H  cases  of 


I 


m 


CHRONIC    PHOSPHORUS    POISONING. 


91 


Ncuiiintt'?,  3  were  io  the  upper,  4  In  the  lower,  and  1  in  both.    Of  the 
54  cases  recorded,  therefore — 

27  were  in  the  lower  jaw. 
22  were  in  the  upper  jaw. 
.3  were  in  both. 

As  to  the  cause  of  the  disease,  both  Dupasquier  and  Stanley  were  of 
opinion  that  it  depended  ^n  the  contamination  of  the  phosphorus  that  was 
used  with  arseoic,  whibt  most  invej^tigators  cou-*ider  that  the  etffots  are 
produced  by  the  irritating  fumes  of  tlie  phojfphonis  oxides,  and  possibly 
by  the  ozone.  The  action,  it  is  generally  believed,  ia  in  the  first  instance 
merely  local.  It  ia  a  well-known  fact  that  the  di.sease  does  not  occur  until 
one  or  more  of  the  patieot'ji  teeth  have  become  carious.  The  periosteum 
thus  expo.sed  is  acted  upon  by  the  saliva  in  which  the  acid  fumes  are  din- 
solved.  And  this  ia  no  doubt  the  reason,  the  saliva  being  brought  into 
contact  with  the  lower  jaw  by  gravitation,  why  it  is  generally  atiected. 
But  the  action,  although  local,  is  more  thau  local^ — the  sallow  look,  the 
gjiatric  dijiturhance,  the  nervoui^  irritability,  the  eruptiou  on  the  tkio,  the 
tailing  itH"  of  the  hair,  the  rret|ueut  oceurreuce  of  tubercular  deposit,  the 
black  condition  of  the  bhxxl,  and  the  enormous  increase  of  phosphates*  in 
the  urine,  indicate  that  the  action  is  due  to  the  actual  absorption  of  the 
pois^m  into  the  system. 

It  has  been  notiwd  further  that  women  who  work  in  phosphorus  mnuu- 
factories  very  often  miscarry.     ("Lancet,"  Oct.  Ifith,  18.^.) 

The  following  precautionary  measures  should  be  reeomraended : 

1.  CfeanlineM.  Before  leaving  the  factory  the  clothes  should  be  changed, 
and  the  hands  and  face  washed  in  a  f^lightly  alkaline  licpiid. 

2.  Afhiline  drinks  should  be  provided,  and  the  mouth  at  times  rtDsed 
out  with  a  weak  solution  of  carhoimte  of  soda. 

3.  The  workshop  should  be  urfl  vrntilutcd,  which  is  best  effected  by  the 
introduction  of  several  large  shat\s. 

4.  The  "fiippin^**  process  should  be  done  in  a  separate  room,  so  as  to 
expose  as  tew  of  the  workpeople  as  possible  to  the  turner. 

5.  •S(n<Arr^  full  of  titrpeutim  should  he  [)laced  about  the  factory,  so  that 
the  vapor  may  l>e  thoroughly  diftused  throughout  the  room.  The  action 
vi'  hydrocjirbons  has  been  already  alluded  to. 

6.  The  evil  may  be  entirely  remedied  by  the  use  of  the  red  phosphortcs 
instead  of  the  yellow  phosphorus  in  matchmaking. 

Tests  far  Phtjifphortta. 

1.  ItM  Odor. — This  can  be  recognized  in  exceedingly  dilute  solutions. 

2.  Itjt  l^foperiy  of  Fuminf/  in  the  Air  and  Shiuinff  in  the  l)nrl\ — These 
efleets  only  become  manifest  when  the  phosphorus  is  examined  iu  the  dry 
state^  or  in  solution  in  water,  vinegar,  or  the  fixed  oils,  the  etfecls  being 
intensified  by  ifie  applieatiou  of  heat.  It  is  not  manifest  wh^n  the  phos- 
phorus is  dis^stilved  iu  ether,  bisulphide  of  carbon,  alcohol,  turpentine,  or 
the  volatile  oils,  until  the  solvt-nt  has  completely  evaporated. 

The  criminal  a<imixture  of  phosphorus  with  food  has  more  thau  once 
been  disc«»vere<l  by  it*  luminosity.     ('*Aun.  d'Hygicne,"  1870,  2,  203,) 

3.  lt:i  laenUy  of  Evolvimj  Ozone,  dc.^  in  Damp  Air. — This  may  be  known 

(a)  A  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver  on  white  ptiper  being  blackened. 
L^)  8tarch  and  iodide  of  potassium  on  white  paper  being  turned  biue^ 
(/)  Litmus-paper  being  first  reddened  and  then  bleacbed*. 
(^)  The  protosalts  of  manganese  being  discolored. 


92 


TESTS    FOR    PHOSPBORUS. 


4.  The  Color  of  the  Flttjne  and  the  ProdwU  oj  iU  Comhttstion. — It  gives 
a  bright  yellow  light  when  burut,  aud  produces  a  white  smoke.  (Phofk. 
phoric  annyilride.) 

5.  JU  Actum  OH  certain  MtialUe  Compounds. 

(a)  S<ilid  phosphorus  reduces  gold,  silver,  copper,  etc.,  from  tlieir 
solutions. 

(/9)  Nitrate  of  »iher  gives  a  bhck  precipitate,  with  a  solution  of  phos- 
phorus ;  mlphatf  of  copper  a  br^iwu  precipitate ;  and  mereurie 
chhride  a  yellow  precipitate. 

fi.  It  A  Oonversijin  inljo  Phottphoric  Acid. 

To  etTcct  this  proceed  as  follows: 

Boil  the  phosphorus  in  a  retort  with  twelve  or  fourteen  time,?  iUs  weight 
of  dilute  nitric  acid  (jjp.  gr.  1200).  The  materials  that  distil  over  inudt 
be  poured  back  into  the  retort  from  time  to  time,  until  the  whole  of  the 
phosphorus  be  dissolved.  Evaporate  the  solution  nearly  to  dryness,  and 
dissolve  the  residual  phosphoric  acid  iu  water.  The  solution  is  acid  to 
litmus-paper. 

A  solution  boiled  for  some  time,  and  just  rendered  neutral  with  ammo- 
nia, gives : 

(a)  With  nitrate  of  ailver  a  yellow  precipitate  (AgPOj),  or  under  some 
circumstances,  a  white  precipitate  (AgFO,). 

(A  yellow  precipitate  is  also  produced  hy  nitrate  of  silver  with  neutral 
solution!!  of  arseuioua  acid,  but  the  pret-ipitate  is  crystalline,  and  when 
heated  in  a  reduction-tube  yields  a  sublimate  of  octahedral  crystals  of 
arsenious  acid.) 

(/S)  Ammonia  and  Sulphate  of  Maffu&na, 

rrtxluce  a  white  precipitate  ol'amuKujto-magneaic  phosphate 

(H.N,  MgPO.  + 611.0), 

soluble  in  free  acids.  Collect  and  wash  the  precipitate.  Dry,  ignite,  and 
weigh  (=  MgjPjO,), 

lUO  grains  =  28  grains  of  free  phosphorus. 

(A  similar  precipitate  h  produced  with  arsenic  acid,  and  is  soluble  in 
acetic  acid.  It  may  l>e  known  from  the  phosphoric  acid  solution  by  nitrate 
of  silver  giving  a  rcddish-bruwn  precipitate  with  arsenic  acid,  and  a  yellow 
precipitate  with  phosphoric  acid.) 

{jTj  Molijbdate  of  Ammonia  iSonnemehein), 

(The  test  is  prepared  by  dissolving  1  part  of  molybdic  acid  iu  8  parts 
of  ammonia  solution,  and  2(t  parts  of  nitric  acid.) 
A  yellow  precipitate  of  phospho-molybdate  of  ammonia  is  produced. 


Toxicologieal  Analysis. 

Id  conducting  a  toxicological  examination,  it  must  be  remembered  that 
free  phfwphorus  will  probably  not  be  found  if  the  patient  has  survived  for 
several  days,  or  even  if  the  examination  be  long  delayed  alter  death.  In 
one  case  where  a  girl  died  six  days  after  taking  the  poison,  and  in  another 
where  after  death  twenty-thret^  days  had  pas-sed  before  the  analysis  was 
commenced,  no  signs  of  phosphorus  were  found. 

(1)  Note  the  odor,  whether  it  is  like  garlic  or  not.  Remember  that  the 
smell  of  pho.«?phorus  may  be  obscured  by  other  highly  odorous  bwiies. 

(2)  E.Yamiue  as  to  the  presence  or  absence  of  luminosity.     If  white 


AI7ALY8IS    IN    CASES    OF    PBOSPIIOHUS    POlSONINa,  93 

fbmes  are  evolved,  uote  their  action  on  pieces  of  white  paper  raotstened 
either  with  nitrate  of  silver  or  with  starch  and  iodide  of  potassium  (p.  91). 
(.3)  Pour  the  cootents  of  the  stomach  out  iuto  a  very  shallow  vessel, 
and  spread  the  more  solid  portions  in  a  thin  layer  on  a  plate.  In  this 
way  any  particles  of  pho:f*phorus,  however  minute,  will  be  detected  by 
their  apiMMiriiig  luminous.  Always  examine  the  materials  in  a  c/^r^  room, 
ao  that  the  Imninosity  may  be  belter  seen.  If  you  find  pieces  of  phos- 
phorus, weigh  and  preserve  them  in  water, 

(4)  Carefully  search  for  any  fatty  matters  that  may  contain  phosphorus. 

(5)  Carefully  examine  the  stomach  and  alimentary  canal  for  pieces  of 
Jocifer  mulches,  and  for  such  coloring  matters  as  Prussian  blue,  etc.,  that 
are  Uf^ni  boih  in  their  manufacture,  and  iti  that  of  rat  pastes. 

(6)  Several  methiKis  of  detecting  phosphorus  in  organic  solutions  have 
been  pnj posed. 

I.  (MetluKl  of  Lipowttz.) 

Thii*  depends  on  the  property  poissegded  by  sulphur  of  combining  with 
free  |>hos|>horus  when  heated  with  it. 

The  contents  of  the  stomach  are  to  be  acidulated  with  sulphuric  acid. 
Small  lumps  of  sulphur  abdut  the  t:ize  of  a  bcttu  are  tlien  to  be  put  into  a 
retort  with  the  acid  contents,  heat  applied,  and  the  distillate  collected. 
Boil  for  at  least  one  hour. 

A.  Remove  and  wash  ike  pie<*es  of  milphur. 

(1)  Note  their  odor,  whether  like  garlic  or  not. 

(2)  Note  whether  they  appear  luminous  in  thi?  dark. 

(3)  Heat  them  with  strong  nitric  acid,  aud  evaporate  the  liquid  to  a 
dl  bulk ;  neutralize  with  ammonia,  and  estimate  the  phosiphoric  acid 

^preient  bj  adding  sulphate  of  magnesia,  collectiug,  drying,  igniting,  aud 
weighing  the  precipitate  {Mg.^P,0/), 

B,  Examine  tfie  distillate  similarly  for  phmphurie  acid. 

Lipowitz  Mtates  that  by  this  method  he  could  detect  one  part  of  phos- 
phorus in  140,00(J  parts  of  an  organic  liquid.  Wh  have  not  ourselves  been 
able  to  obtain  satisfactory  results  with  so  small  a  quantity  as  this,  although 
we  lielieve  the  method  is  reliable. 

II,  (Method  of  Dusart  and  Fresenius.) 

This  process  depends  on  the  power  of  nascent  hydrogen  to  combine  with 
phosphorus  to  form  phosphorelted  hydrogen  (PII,),  which  in  the  dark  is 
lumiiiou^,  and  sometimes  inflammable. 

Hydrogen  is  to  be  set  free  by  the  action  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  on 
zinc,  ami  the  organic  mixture  contiiining  the  phosphorus  cautiously  added. 

Note— 

(«)  The  flame  produced  when  the  gas  is  burnt  at  the  jet  is  of  au 

emerald  green  color. 
(jS)  The  gas  gives  a  black  precipitate  when  passed  into  a  solution  of 

nitrate  of  silver. 
(y)  It  gives  a  black  precipitate  passed  into  a  solution  of  chloride  of 

mercury. 

IIL  (Method  of  Mitacherlich.) 

The  organic  liquid  is  to  be  distilled  in  the  dark,  with  a  little  dilute  sul- 
phuric acid,  which  netitralizes  any  ammonia  genenited  during  putrefaction^ 
and  the  vapors  conducted  through  a  tube  kept  well  cN>oIed  with  running 
water,  aud  the  end  of  which  passes  iuto  a  receiver  (Fig. '8).    The  pboe- 


H 


ASBS    OF    PHOSPtfl 


phorona  vapor  will  coijdense  in  the  tnbe,  and  will  be  there  eeea  to  be 
luminouii.     The  distillatiou  must  be  carried  lo  dryuess. 

Note  the  results  in  this  experiment  as  follows : 

1.  The  lumioosity  of  the  vapor  in  the  tube. 
2;  The  garlic  odor  of  the  distillate, 

3.  Examine  the  diHlilhite  for  minute  globules  of  phosphorus. 

4.  Treat  the  disiillnto  with  about  two  drachnus  of  nitric  acid.  Concent 
trale  to  a  i^ma!l  bulk,  and  estimate  the  phosphorus  by  adding  amraonia 
and  Bidphate  of  magnesia. 

5.  Lastly,  drench  what  remains  in  the  flask  with  its  own  bulk  of  dilute 
nitro  hydtiH'hIurio  acid  i  1  part  of  nitrict  2  of  hydrorhloric,  and  4  of  water), 
mid  distil  to  dryness.     The  distillate,  with  a  few  drops  of  nitric  acid,  is  to 

Fig.  8. 


be  evaporated  to  a  small  bulk,  and  the  phosphoric  acid  estimated  by  the 
addition  of  amraonia  in  excess,  and  sulphate  of  magnesia  as  already  de- 
scribed, drying,  igniting,  and  weighing  the  precipitate  of  pyrophosphate  of 
magnesia. 

We  have  obtaineil  excellent  results  by  this  method  with  less  than  ^',^th 
of  a  grain  of  phoi^iphorus  in  5  ounces  of  organic  liquid.  If  phosfihorea- 
cence  is  noticed  it  is  decis^ive  of  the  presence  of /r<.r  plnjsphoru.*.  Unless 
phf>6phores<'euce  is  not«d,  or  globules  of  phosphorus  are  Ibund,  we  should 
te  cauti<»us  in  drawing  hasty  conclusions  from  the  mere  presence  of  a  trace 
of  pliosphoric  acid  in  the  distillate. 

The  jiliosphorescence  may  otXeu  be  detected  by  merely  boiling  the  or- 
ganic naatier  in  a  glass  retort. 

6.  It  is  important  to  remember  that  the  luminosity  is  destroyed  by  alco- 
hol, ether,  and  turpentine  vapors  (the  two  former  soon  passing  oH'),  as  well 
as  by  itxiine,  calomel,  corrosive  sublimate,  and  metallic  sulphides,  in  the 
presence  of  free  sulphuric  acid. 

It  is  always  advisable,  if  possible,  in  phosphorus  poisoning  to  examine 
the  urine,  as  the  existence  of  large  tipianiities  of  earthy  and  alkaline  phos- 
phates will  be  Important.     To  do  this,  proceed  as  follows: 


4 


006 

<i 

a 

0.2 

(( 

0  25 

11 

006 

t( 

03 

<( 

0  06 

u 

O.l 

it 

20.  to  00. 

(( 

u 

7.  to  10. 

i( 

u 

CA8B8   OF   POISONING    BY    PHOSPHORUS.  95 

Collect  the  urine,  acidulate,  if  there  is  a  precipitate,  with  hydrochloric 
acid.  Add  a  solution  of  sulphate  of  maguesia  and  excess  of  ammonia. 
Filter  immediately,  dry,  ignite,  and  weigh.* 

Remember  that  phosphorus  is  a  constant  constituent  of  animal  solids 
and  fluids : 

Flei^h  contains  about    .        .        .        .0.1    per  cent,  of  pbosphates. 

Blood        "  •• 

Liquid  albumen  contains  about  . 

Milk  contains  about     .... 

Cheese       ♦'  "        .         .         .         . 

Peas  "  »         .         .         .         . 

PoUtoes    "  «».... 

Brend         "  '•.... 

Bones        "      from      .... 

The  dry  residue  of  urine  contains  from 

Lastly,  note  the  most  conclusive  results  in  the  search  for  phosphorus  are 
to  be  found  in  the  odor,  the  luminosity,  the  products  of  the  combustion, 
and  the  products  of  the  distillation. 

Cnaes  of  Poisoning  by  Phosphoms. 

CA.^E  1.— "Lancet,"  September  14th,  1844,  p.  754  (Mr.  Reedal).  Male:  tet  10.  A  quantity  of  pho*- 
phorus  giren  by  a  quack,  and  supposed  to  be  the  cause  of  death.  None  had  been  taken  for  ten 
dayn  before  death. 

Sjfmpfomji.—Cojirulsiona,  stupor,  insensibility. 

J^Ma.— Death. 

J\»t-mortem.—Bnin  congested  in  parts ;  lung«  congested  ;*linlng  membrane  of  the  heart  red;  raucous 
membrane  of  stomach  softened,  and  much  Inflamed. 

CASE  2.—"  Lancet,"  June  12th,  1869,  p.  836  (Mr.  Kay).  Female :  «t.  32.  3j.  of  James's  phosphor 
paste. 

4rMp'oiiu— Pain,  Tomiling,  perfect  consciousness:  palse  90;  death. 

Retmlt.—Dnth  in  two  days. 

iW-morteii».—CE»ophaguB, stomach, and  intestines  mahogany  color;  lungs  congested;  both  sides  of 
heart  full  of  blood. 

CASE  3.—"  lancet,"  August  5th,  1871,  p.  189  ("Dr.  Anderson).    Female :  set.  2.    Sucked  20  matches. 

^mptomu— In  forty-elcht  hours  became  drowsy,  which  continued  for  twi'nty  hours  Tiirp*»ntine 
was  administered  ;  vomiiing,  pain,  and  thirst  came  on.  On  the  fifth  day  the  child  became  uncon- 
scious, with  Tomlting  and  convulsions.  Died  on  tbo  seventh  day.  (The  mother,  after  she  discovered 
the  accident,  gave  the  child  a  dose  of  castor  oil.) 

Remit. — Death  on  seventit  day. 

i\>i/-mor/«m.— Body  yellow ;  heart,  lungs,  kidney,  spleen,  normal ;  the  liver  large,  and  distinct 
traces  of  fatty  d)>geiieration ;  alliaceous  odor  noticed  un  opening  the  stomach,  which  was  very  con- 
gested ;  llfum  al.v)  congi-sted. 

CASE  4.— "  Virchow  .Tahresbor.,"  1868.  p.  311.    Sucking  matches. 

Sfmptoma. — Stools  of  a  green  color  ;  peculiar  odor  in  breath,  porispi ration,  and  urine. 

AuW/.— Death  In  eleven  days. 

Pott'morfem. — Mucous  membrane  of  <esophaeus,  anterior  part  of  pharynx  and  epiglottis  destroyed  ; 
that  of  stomach  and  duodenum  intact;  the  white  blood-corpuscles  increased  in  quantity,  and  the 
red  diminLthHi;  fatty  changes  in  liver  and  spleen. 

CASE  5.—"  Edinburgh  Monthly  Journal,"  October,  1860.  Female :  a:t.  26.  Lucifer  matches  taken 
in  coffee. 

Sffmpfonu. — An  emetic  was  given  in  one  hour:  no  pain,  or  purging;  on  the  fourth  day  febrile 
symptoms  set  in,  with  jaundice  and  bloody  vomiting;  vomited  matters  appeared  luminous. 

iZemy/.— Death  in  sevt-n  days. 

i^»«/-lltor/eln.— No  inflammation  of  stomach,  gullet,  or  small  intestines;  one  red  patch  was  found 
in  the  cecum,  and  one  in  the  colon  ;  brain  congested;  bUnxly  eifu.si<)n»  in  the  chest  and  abdomen. 

CASE  6.— Taylor's  "  Medical  Jurisprudence;"  vol.  I,  p.  2*3  (Mr.  Parsons).  Female.  A  quantity  of 
phosphorus  paste. 

Sytuptomt. — Thirst,  and  phosphorus  odor  of  breath,  but  no  well-marked  symptoms  until  the  fifth 
day,  when  purging  and  Bicknfss  came  on. 

Ruult  —Death  in  hIx  days. 

Pifut-mortem. — Body  putrefied  rapidly;  soon  became  livid,  the  finger-nails  appearing  very  blue. 


♦  A  curious  case  is  recorded  in  the  Lancet,  1845,  vol  ii,  p.  503,  by  Dr.  Collier, 
of  a  man  who  waA  poii^onf'd  by  drinking  his  own  urine  fur  nine  days,  which  he  was 
advihed  to  do  by  an  old  woman. 


CASE  7,—*'  lAooct,"  Jun«  ISth,  1857,  i».  600  ( Dr.  Biogley).  Male :  let.  M.  A  quantity  of  pbosplionts 
paate^ 

Sifmptoau.— Found  deuA  in  the  tnoroiog,  alter  baring  beeu  seen  well  al  noon  iho  dnj  before. 

JivjtfJt—Uimlh. 

PtMTHfMwfeii*.— Great  muKutar  rlplitty;  bniln  eonifeflM ;  bifart  niiarljr  empty  anJ  flnecM;  por- 
ilrtiu  of  muroiis  mi'mbninc  ilt-Atroyfd  in  Kiillirt,  aloinnehf  and  smalt  lute»ttaea.  Ou  opening  th« 
■lutaach  a  white  vapur  e»cap4^,  bavini;  a  pboapburus  odor. 

CASE  8.— "Lancet,"  April  13tb,  IMX.  p.  459  (I>r.  Ilaborsbonj.  Female.  Rat  potBon  mLs-ed  with 
WBtKf  (  —  to  about  lhro<?  grain*  of  i»ho»|»hiiru»  i. 

Sfmptomg.—HrvMh  |iho*|j|iore9Kei*nl ;  vimillintc  and  purging,  wbiob  ceased  In  tw«i  hour*;  Jatindica 
on  flftb  day,  wltb  flovt^ri>  pxin  In  biiiis;  alKloiucii  disttfudei] ;  liver  uuIargiHl  ;  unno  albuiuinuus; 
tcm|.<^rulurf  low  <**U  H°ji ;  diet!  on  lh«  OAU  day, 

/frjm/f.— TN-Btli  on  liflb  tiny. 

Pfut  mortem.— Yaiiy  degvn^raiinn  of  liver,  lildoey»,  pancreaA,  bear t„  gastric  foliMcles,  tod  aphwo; 
degeneration  of  voluntary  mnstular  ahrea. 

CASE  V<— "BtiiLih  M.*dlcal  Ji.itrnal."  Koverabsr  »Oth,  1H67,  p,  BOO  (Dr.  B«ith).  Fenala:  kL  21. 
Fbuiipbnrua  pnBl«  ;  twodoaes  tukvu  at  an  interval  of  forly*eiebt  hours. 

i%iMptomi  — In  vl^bl  hours  urtvr  ibi;  IaaI  dime  sevr-re  vnniUing  and  purging  came  on ;  conilnited  to 
get  bvtU'r  for  four  dnya,  and  at  the  end  of  Ihv  foorlli  day  died  suddenly. 

£/v«tt.— Di'alb  on  luurtb  day. 

Posl-ntorlem. —Bh»ni  very  fluid;  bumnrrhaglc  s|»ota  on  the  surface  of  the  hrarti  muscular  tlf^u.' 
palti  and  loadi'd  whb  fal<crll»;  liver  si'ctni'd  like  "an  aggregulton  uf  oil  dr«>pii." 

CA^'E  to  — "  Brllisb  SlfiJical  Journal;'  Orlobt-r  2  VI,  \mn,  p.  454  <Mr.  WatcrhouHe).  Fi^malc  :  a«t.  20, 
hi.  lx»ltb.'  of  Jnin«s's  pbo<»p|i(ir  paNt*?.     (Dor»  it  eonlalu  strVLbuta  r> 

Hymp/omM. ^Hvinmc  unconaciuui  l»  one  hour;  oplaLbutuitoa  and  tetanic  apastna  won  aet  in;  no 
Touiitiug;  ntonisicb-puuip  uaed  ;  for  aoiue  days  great  thlnl;  urine  scanty,  and  no  appetiUi. 

CASK  11.—"  Mixlioal  Times  and  GAieitft,**  NoveaibBr  10th,  1&59,  p.  R12.    Ml.  three  moniha.  Several 
uatrbvBMtt'ked. 
^ymiproM^.— <°olie,  voinlttng,  dlarrbiva,  garlic  smiill  of  breath, 
/;/4w//.— Di'ath  in  twenty  hours. 
PitMf-mortrm. — Slomnc'b  v«ry  rotten  ;  bladder  coloriiiis  and  empty. 

CA^P  12.— '•MedlealTime»ftndGaiotte,"Notr«-niburlOth,1859,  p.5I2.  M*l«".  leL  46.  At«tbe]»Ml« 
of  tiro  if*%p»  of  tiiatch<>B. 

Sympfnmt.—iin'ii  pain  and  vomiting,  hut  rallied  the  next  day  so  as  to  return  to  work  ;  had  a  n» 
ittptnit  on  A<  ootid  day,  and  dird  Ibeday  following. 

Jtustit/  -~r»fa(b  on  third  day. 

CAPE  l3,-"M<?dicalTlm«9andGaxett«,''May3d,  1862,  p,4e3(ProfeMorFrerloha).  Female.  Ate 
the  to)M  of  one  thnuiiattd  liit'lr^r  matebea. 

.syM>»;<fom4,— Jauudtcr  ;  enlargement  of  tlrer;  uHue  albuimlaous;  not  much  pal q,  and  oo  nervous 
syniplnms. 

/tewft.— Death. 

^iMtf'ineribtiM.— Blood  ibtn,  not  coagulaied,  and  tht*  eolnr  of  cburry  juice ;  liver  enlarged  and  very 
fatty. 

CASE  It—"  Mediral  Tlraea  and  Caaette,"  October  lOlb,  18«S,  p.  378  (Mr.  John  Dawaon).  Female: 
tut  27.     A  Jar  full  of  phosphor  rMi|iaftt*». 

.S^frfcrtw*,— Drow^lni'M;  brealh  smelt  of  pb'tapborun;  no  pain;  gre»t  tblrat;  vomlt1nc;on  thf>  third 
Any  Iho  biidy  wan  tilulab,  and  the  odor  of  pbosphorux  rpftu  the  hrvatb  djatlncl;  death  aiaty-three 
bour*  after  adniissioo, 

itont//,— Di-oib  on  fourth  day. 

/^M/inr/^m.^Lunj^B  Knr«od  with  d»rk  blood;  hi»«r»  and  lUer  were  both  pnl"  and  rotten;  P^miach 
pdle  eitternally :  th»»  mueouii  meni)>rani>  was  duHky  rt-d  al  the  cnrdlacemi  and  rnittHl  In  patches; 
on  perforation',  Intestiuea.  except  low*>r  part  of  Ileum,  pale;  bl.-id  ihlt  k.  nod  dirty  red  in  color, 

CA«E  15— "Medleal  Time*  nod  nniette."  Ooiobor  Rib,  ISM,  p.  am  {Dr.  Worjdiuan).  Females:  19 
and  '2ft.    Ate  a  penny  Ifox  of  phoKphoriu  pa*te  b<-twei>n  Ihvm. 

.^inj[i/omj.— Se«>n  in  one  bour;  hrenth  waa  luminoitii,  and  i^meU  strongly  of  pboapboroa;  thin  lasted 
In  one  enw  for  tbrei-  days;  iMitb  bad  burning  pain  In  the  mouth  and  «toniaeh ;  the  lon^'ue  In  txtth 
was  very  red,  and  bare  of  epUbelluta;  both  bad  urticaria:  both  bad  bvuiateraesls,  and  both  bad  a 
great  desire  lo  »leep, 

VZ»W/.— Recovery  In  Ion  days. 

CASE  16.— Betk's  " Medical  Jurl-prudonce."  vo!.  It,  p.  511.    Male.    1.5  grains. 

JEeni/ir.— Death  on  the  twelfth  dwy. 

CASE  17.—"  Wharton  and  Sltllf's  Jurisprudence,"  p.  fllPB.    iEt,  2%    Snelied  eight  raatehea. 
««m//.^Death. 

CA.«E  18.-"\^'TiartoD  and  SUIW*   Medical  JurUprudence,"  p.  60. 
aaU-hes, 
JSsra/t.— Death. 


JRl,  %  months.    Sucked  two 


CA8B3  or  POtSONIKO    B7   PHOSPHORUS. 


97 


CiK  l9.->'*n»«mical  Ne«rs,«*  April,  I860«p.  SOT.    Femnle.    Thirty  or  forty  luclfon  tAkcD  In  mflk. 
telA^lMMtll  lu  furty^i;;!)!  Umiii-k 

CASEA— "t'ortrd  vSutM  I>U]>ensaiory/*  USS,  |i.  644.  Child.  Tvtepooarul  of  |»haB|»horus  piste. 
IWMHift  adoilllUti^md. 

CASt  tJ.— ••  <iuy '»  H«j»ji«Ul  Rrf»ort«/*  IHfiS, p.  242 f  Dr.  Tftylor).    Femftl«  j  W.  18.    Pfaosplioru*  pute. 
V>^iHMt.^Tl»v  fli*t  Tomli  WM  luniltiouv;  grtmt  p«,lli. 
An^— fiftftth  on  lh«'  «klxih  dny. 

#l#«Mr*i«i. — ^Exchyinofled  puli-hci  on  th«  ikta  of  the  chest  and  Kbdoniun  ;  stomach  not  loflamed, 
|Bl«BCil«l»»d  a  thick  Mmxij  fluid;  intettlnirs  normal ;  IW«fr  Tally. 
CiifCn. — "(ialltcr't  TuxlC0ilogi«,"  voL  1,  p.  87.     Fpiiiule:   uel.  52.    One  gruln   la  divided  doses 

i^ia§mmt  -^iiw%t  pain. 

JhaflC^— tw«th  In  llirr«  daya. 

Jtatf^MHaak— OulIrt,  •tomarb,  and  •niAll  Intntlnea  Erifliimcd. 

tAS^  SL— ^"BrltUh  and  Fnni>]itn  M>  dito-CliiriirKicit]  RbvLrtr/'  October,  1859  (Dr.  Liswlovl/), 
!%■•&•;  «t.  "Si.     Phospbnrii»  composition  •ctafMid  off  malchHa. 

^■fritaik^  — Pain  <iccurr«d  very  aooo,  Tumitliig  of  luuitnuus  matter;  JAUndJce  OD  tblrd  day;  iwa- 
•iiria«sa«<l  cuiua. 

Jiaatf-^UnMhon  aUrh  day. 

1^  —  I  III  ■  "jStuiuai  h  >ud  lnl«atinc«  illed  with  a  blat^lHth-browii  fluid;  blttddtr  con  t  meted  and 
mtftj ;  h««n  eotitrartiiil. 

CAAMt-Gm^I^  "FttWPato  Ifedlcio*,'*  vol.  It.  p.  100.    Fcmal*;  wt.  JO.    Thnje  graloa  of  phoa- 

J^a^fttmm. — i*iolao«  Uk«<a  at  »ix  ia  the  erening:  had  •  reailesa  nlKht,  sod  Toinlted  onri;. 

Jhaa«l->P*«tl»  lii  tarrlve  Itotira. 

A^  wt»»iM  — Liimtoouw  vapor*  IbbqctI  from  anim  and  Tn^lna  fortyn'l^ht  bount  after  death;  IdIw- 
tkam  paA»:  •tomai-b  mi-l  laflartMal ;  Kver,  Aplt^cn,  kiditeya,  and  (dadder  ci>ngtali-d  ;  hvart  tiuply. 

rjkSK, U."**  Mrd^  riiL  Z«itun«,*'  tSiM,  vol.  It,  p.  183  (0r.  FUohtlaiMl).  Male:  let.  24.  (juautlty  (t); 
tikiA  ••  bread  «ttb  buitt.*r. 

i^mtfmmt.—  V^  Tomhing;  fragmeDt»  of  pbo*phora»  pMaed  by  bowgb. 

JhaBir.^Ckvttt  nn. 

J^m  mi  mi      -  i«l  bow^la  «xt4*rna)ly  InflanxHl;  niuroua  lawmbraoe  of  sioniaoh  mud  In- 

InitaBV fangtvow ua :  taritv  intmlinva  vt?ry  contracted;  »|<l(M'ti  aud  kidneys  ludaruod. 

CMKfis— '"ItKuH  Mi-dlkato,"  l«i9,  voL  m.  p.  429.  Mal«.  Oua  grant  un  July  Jd,  two  grftlos  (Hi 
J«ff  tlM.tlir^v  gmlua  on  Ju)y  'tM* 

%aij»ii— 4»ii  th*  ZM  voiulilBg,  wllh  delirium;  eonvulalotiA,  and  pAralyal*  Rfterwarda  a«t  In; 
iaai*  t«9li  plarv  <>■  the  29lh. 

JtavaMt.'— Ui^tb  cu  arTrnih  day. 

CAtt  ff/*^lt«4l«al  Tlnira  and  GaMttc."  August  30th,  iSri,  p.  StS.  Male.  Sucked  fnrly-two 
maM^m — •§•«»  clghl  cntM- 

%w|tfia.    i  itf  rg  tymptowa  In  tarn  hoora. 

JBM»tL— tvatti  In  thtrtrvn  boitra. 

i^^marum.—axuouuh  futy  pale,  but  except  one  red  patch,  there  were  oo  apeciol  poit-mortem  ap- 


Other  Gttet  of  Phoapfu^rut  Poi»onin0,  See 

Madlcal  Jottmal,"  January  lit.  1N70,  p.  B,  (Lucifer  matchra.) 
M«4lcal  Jtfurii*)."  Much  S^ih,  lerro,  p.  244.  (Liuctrcr  mntchca.) 
Ttikaa  atid  («aa«>it«,"  July  dih*  1M4,  p.  00.    ^Demth  fruiii  niantifacture  of  inalchea;  Dr. 


it  TiniMi  aod  <la»rtl#«."  r*^tiT»b(nr  1««,  l*'i."S,  p  r»4W.    (Dfaib  frmn  pKo.-iphoroB  rat-polaonj 
Ileal  Tim>-«  aiul  t>a<*<ll>-,"  l»<-<'riiil).rr  '.'.'li,  lHeV»,  p.  (KlO.    (  From  aiiiklnK  liiL-ifora.) 
flwamadUacwll-."  *XI<>lf  r  I'Jlh,  l»€tl.  y  417.     (F.  4Sj;  Dr.  llillier.) 
T1na,**Ortuber  71>r.  lH4a  p.  :it.    (Vurlitus  i-as*  i) 
[tral  Tlin««,'*  Diwinlfr  Iffih,  >M7,  p,  724.     (HatlvniiMn  and  din<>asrd  Juir  from  fuiitea.) 
nra)  Juurtial,"  A|irll  rHitb,  liMVt,  p  4H7.    il><'(ith  frciin  pliosphurius.) 
.  .<n*»I  JufUprtidi'm!*!,"  vol.  1,  p.  J42.     (R**!!.  »*,  Fi«htfr.) 
ifi,"  I^mW.  vmI.  I.  p.  271.    (Hr   Ki"»l.'r.i 
l»4A,  p.  117,    'HU  irrain*  In  divldt^tl  d«i«M,     IVath.) 
f4an-  -  .  .-.    .    .  .  K'l.  I.  p.  4i3,    iD* ntba  from  4n  gr«|n«.  2.a  grains,  and  bljth  isruln.) 

ll»41Ufvf|ir«J  Tranaai  tluDt."  tif87.  vol.  I.   (Caae  quoted  by  Dr.  Uabershoo.   Death  in  thirty 
.) 
>M«Ai«l  rt«ai^"  Novauiber  Ifttb,  IWU,  p  434. 


98  THB   HALOID   ELEMENTS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  HALOID  ELEMENTS. 

Chlorlnfi — H  ypochlorous  acid — Bromine— Symptoms — Todino — Symptoms — Treat- 
ment — Poi*t-morlpra  appeBranoe^ — Toxicolojjical  Htinly^is — Iodide  of  potaa- 
sium — Testt) — Cases  of  poisoning— Fluorine — ManufHcture  of  superphosphate. 

CHLORINE  (CI  =35.5). 

The  chief  source  of  chlorine  is  commoD  salt  (NaCl).  Chlorine  is  both 
an  active  deodorizer  and  a  powerful  bleaching  agent,  and  on  account  of 
these  properties  is  largely  u^ed  both  iu  the  sick-room  and  the  manufao* 
tory.  Even  when  largely  diluted  with  air,  chlorine  produces,  if  inhaled, 
considerable  inflammatory  action  in  the  lungs,  air-passages,  and  eyes.  It 
is  remarkable,  however,  how  large  a  quantity  can  be  breathed  with  impu- 
nity by  those  accustomed  to  it.  We  are  told  that  the  men  constantly  at 
work  in  a  chlorine  atmosphere  never  get  fat,  or  if  fat  when  they  commence 
work  that  they  soou  get  thin,  but  that  it  does  not  shorten  their  days.  If 
the  gas  is  injected  into  the  jugular  veins  it  destroys  life  rapidly  (Nysten 
and  OrfihO,  the  blood  after  death  being  fluid  and  dark -colored.  One  part 
in  two  hundred  of  air  will  kill  a  sparrow  in  Ave  minutes  (Tidy).  It  has 
been  noticed  that  the  lungs  of  animals  killed  by  chlorine  are  yellow 
(Broughton).  When  injected  into  the  stomach  in  a  fluid  state  death  is 
rapid  and  the  stomach  is  found  after  death  intensely  inflamed. 

After  poisoning  by  chlorine,  the  patient  must  be  at  once  brought  into 
the  fresh  air  and  made  to  breathe  ammonia,  or  very  dilute  sulphuretted 
hydrogen,  or  ether  va|X)r.    The  inhalation  of  steam  is  also  beneficial. 

The  color,  odor,  and  bleaching  properties  of  the  gas  constitute  its  tests. 

Cases  of  PoiMning  with  Chlorine. 

CASE  1.— "Chriatlnon,"  p.  803,  from  "  Wlbm.T."    Mule:  adult.    Dilute  chlorine. 

nVywt/ttonu.— IniiiKMliatc  irritntinn  in  the  e|»ii;I<>tl[H,  wln(lpl|ie,  and  bronchial  branches;  cough; 
tightnciu  and  prvsHure  in  cheat ;  inability  to  swallow ;  difflculty  in  breatblnK*.  severe  sneezing;  pro- 
trusion of  «y<v<< ;  swelling  of  face;  great  relief  was  afTurded  by  breathing  a  little  sulphuretted  hydro- 
gen, and  in  one  hour  and  a  half  he  was  well. 

RfsuH.—VtMvovvry. 

CASE  2.—"  Lancet,"  April  27th.  1839,  p.  194.    Male :  adult.    Dilute  chlorine. 

Symploms.—St^yQn'  effects,  rery  much  as  above. 

i2««//.— Recovery. 

Hypochlorou8  Acid  (HCIO). 
The  Hypochlorites  or  Bleaching  Powders, 

Chloride  of  Lime  (Bleaching  powder)  ^  Chloride  and  Hypochlorite  of 
Calcium.     (CaCl,,  CaClA). 

Htjpochlorite  of  Sodium  (NaCIO\  Chlorinated  Soda. 

The  hypochlorites  are  largely  used  by  the  French  wa.«herwomen  on 
account  of  their  bleaching  properties  (I'eau  de  javelle).  They  are  very 
soluble  in  water,  and  give  off  a  strong  chlorine  odor,  which  is  much  more 
marked  if  an  acid  be  added. 


PROPERTIES    AND    ACTION    OP    BROMINE. 


99 


II  is  important  to  note  that  a  hyjwchkinte  may  prove  poisonous,  and 
yet  none  be  Ibund  after  death  in  the  (.nnitent!*  of  the  f^tomach,  an  inert 
cbhiride  having  l:»eeu  product^d.  The  symptoms  of  poisoning  by  the 
hyi)ochIorite»  geem  to  be  irritation  of  the  alimentary  eaoal,  vomiting,  and 
general  wasting  of  the  body. 

In  cases  where  there  i?  a  suspicion  of  their  adniini.*tration»  search  must 
be  specially  made  for  stainj*  on  linen  and  clothes.  The  stains  on  black 
materials  are  usually  of  a  red dii^h -brown  color. 

In  the  manufacture  of  chloride  of  lime  (bleaching  powder)  a  little 
chlorine  will  at  times  escape  from  the  work*,  and  be  a  cau*e  of  nuisance 
and  litigation.  It  is  either  due  to  acci<Ieut  or  rarele.s8npss.  The  litjuid 
muriatic  acid  which  flows  from  the  condensing  towei*s  at  the  alkali  work?? 
is  that  which  is  generally  used  for  producing  the  chlorine*  The  acid 
(gravity  112o  to  1140;  or  25  to  28,  Twa<!dell)  is  run  into  a  still  contain- 
ing oxide  of  manganese  and  subjected  to  heat.  The  chlorine  evolved  by 
this  means  is  pa^^sed  over  slightly  damp,  well -j^luked  lime,  placed  In  layers 
three  to  six  inches  deep.  The  oxide  of  manganene  is  usually  recovered 
from  the  material  in  the  retort  Uhus  preventing  it  becoming  an  annoy- 
aoce),  by  treating  it,  first,  with  carbonate  of  lime,  which  tlocs  not  decom- 
poise  the  chloride  of  manganese,  hut  merely  .serves  to  neutralize  any  free 
acid.  ■  The  clear  supernatant  solution  of  chloride  of  mangrtnese  is  then 
drawn  off  into  an  "oxidutor,"  where  it  is  treated  with  milk  f>rlime,  which 
decomposes  the  chloride  of  manganese,  and  thruws  dowu  a  prH*ipitate  of 
the  oxide.  This  protoxide  is  now  converted  into  peroxide  by  blowing  air 
iuto  the  mixture.     This  is  allowed  to  settle  and  is  then  c<41ec(*nL 

Chlorine  is  also  prepared  from  the  gaseous  hydrochloric  acid  from  salt 
cake  furnaces,  by  acting  upon  it  at  a  tow  red  heat  with  atmo.spheric  air, 
bj  which  means  the  hydrogen  is  oxidized  and  the  chlorine  set  free.  The 
giW!,  being  ^nt  cooled  and  dried  by  passing  it  through  a  sulphuric  acid 
scrubber,  is  then  conveyed  to  the  lime  chambers.  This  method  of  gen- 
erating chlorine  demands  care  and  attetitlou,  as  the  high  tem|jerature  of 
the  decomposing  apparatus  is  very  likely  to  lead  to  fissures  and  cracks  in 
the  apparatus,  and  in  this  way  to  the  escape  of  irritating  gase.-j. 


Cune  of  PohuniMff  by  Hypochlorite  of  S^tdn  (  Chlorinnted  Sirtfln). 


BtUoved  to 


CASE  I.— R«<»r,"M»oual  of  Toiloolo^y,"  p.  l»8.  from  "T*itH*^»i."    M\.  6  months. 
have  iierri  iidmltiijtt«r«d  oq  teviTul  u«ca»ioDs  during  ft  period  oTtwo  luonlbt. 

-Pecullwr  odor  «Kbaled  by  brwiih;  irritutfun  of  alirmnlary  cannl ;  voDiitIng;  faHiog 

.—No  odor  in  thr  Moninrh  of  clilt»rinp.    The  laat  d(wo  lind  lii-nrly  i>eeu  giveu  six  dn}*« 
-  ■boorai»t  aiuountj)  of  chJuridei  were  fouod  iti  urttie  and  kidueys. 

BROMINE  (Br.  =  80), 

(Boils  at  63^  C\    Sp,  gr  2.9(?6.) 

Bromine  is  largely  used  in   photogi'aphy.      It  is  a  dark-red   volatile 
iquid,  having  a  very  unpleasant  odor  and  taste.     It  is  inteysely  corr<isive 
d  very  destructive  to  animal  tissues*     The  vapor,  which  is  given  off"  at 
mmon  temperatures,  is  very  irritating  to  the  eyes  and  lungs  and  induces 
n  kind  of  catarrh. 

Given  internally  it  is  rapidly  converted  into  hydrobromic  acid  (HBr)* 

In  H  free  state  its  color,  odur,  am!  peculiar  fumes  are  its  distinctive  testa. 

Il  ii*  not,  however,  likely  to  he  found  in  this  form  in  a  medico-legal  in- 

quiry.     In  -such  an  investigation  proceed  as  follows:  Filter  the  eonients 

of  the  atomach  and  add  a  little  chlorine-water  to,  or  pass  a  few  bubbletiof 


100 


PK0PBRTIE8    AND    ACTION   OF  IODINE. 


chlorine  (avoiding  an  ezcees)  through  t!ie  filtrate.  Shake  the  whole  up 
with  ether  and  allow  the  mixture  to  sinud  for  the  ether  to  separate,  which, 
if  hromine  he  present,  will  have  a  yellow  or  rtddigh  color.  Decant,  and 
after  the  addition  of  a  few  drops  of  potai*h  t*olutioti,  evaporate  off  and 
preserve  the  ether.  Di^nolve  the  bromide  which  remains  in  the  ilask  in 
water,  and  apain  ^et  the  hromine  free  Ity  the  additi<in  of  a  little  chlorine 
water.  If  now  a  few  drops*  {if  starch-water  be  added ^  the  yellow  bromide 
of  starch  will  be  at  once  formed. 

Injected  into  the  jugular  vein,  Barthez,  Dieffenbach,  and  Bnt^ke  noticed 
that  animals  either  die  almost  diredly  or  else  recxn-er.  Thus  adminis- 
tered, 12  grains  killed  a  d-jg^  and  5  pralns  very  nearly  killed  a  horse, 
whilst  ca>es  are  recorded  of  a  dog  recovering  inmi  17  drops  and  a  cat 
from  12  drops,  the  leading  symptoms  when  recovery  occurred  being  sneex- 
inp",  discharge  from  the  no^trib,  rigors,  and  debility. 

By  introducing  it  into  tlie  stomach  the  following  were  the  results: 

Barthez  found  40  to  HO  drops  killed  dogs  in  four  or  five  days*,  the  symjv- 
toma  ob«erve<l  being  dilated  pupilx,  sneezing  and  vomiting,  the  vomit  a 
few  minutes  after  ihe  adrninii<irMtii)n  of  the  pois^on  having  no  appreciable 
odor  of  bromine.  But.^ke  found  5  grain?  killed  a  dog  in  twenty-lour  hours 
with  convulsions.  The  stomach  and  duodenum  were  found  much  con- 
gested alter  death. 

So  far  as  we  know,  there  is  no  case  of  poisoning  symptoms  being  iu- 
duced  by  the  u»e  of  Bromide  of  Potassium. 

Case  of  I^iaonirtff  tpith  Bromine,. 

CASE  1  — "  New  York  Journal  of  Mi-diclne,"  NoTembrr,  1850 (Dr.  Sayrc).     Male:  wt.  2J.    y  of 
miof  t«krn  ou  an  en»t>lf  aiomftch. 

^^ymp/onw.— tuinicdiatr  «JtlHciilty  of  raaptrRtioo ;  inteute  piiln  fo  atumftcb;  great  an&ietjr,  wltli 
ireiDbllng  of  handx  ;  pulw?  rapfd 

SeauUt — Dt*aih  iu  Jievea  biiuni. 

J^kif-HMrtPfD.— 8toniiirh  fxl«rria}ly  Inji-etcd  ;  itilerrtaUy  It  irn*  covortHl  trith  «  thlek  black  layer,  th« 
iQiicoiiii  m^mbrBne  bclnj;  intPii«M-'ly  liirtniofd ;  vl<»cer«  Of»r  nte*tu»ch  w<Ttt  of  h  dfvp  yellow  iTwlnr; 
|i«HluD^«l  c»ai»  of  »t<^iDiK'h  tirid  duodt-nuni  (njiuti-d;  ttoniurb  L-uutulai-d  four  ounces  of  ft  ihick 
reddUb  fluid,  batiog  a  brumine  Aoit'lL 

IODINE  (I  =  127). 

Iodine  is  obtained  from  the  allies  of  sea  plants.  It  is  scaly  in  form, 
deep  violet  in  color,  and  peculiar  in  o<tor.  It  u  j^paringly  soluble  in  water, 
more  soluble  in  certain  saline  solutions,  such  ita  iodide  of  potassium,  and 
very  soluble  in  spirit.  If  a  very  strong  solution  be  applied  to  the  skin  it 
acts  as  a  corrosive,  and  stains  the  skin  yellow,  but  the  color  can  be  removed 
by  treating  it  with  an  alkali. 

'  The  vapor  of  iodine  is  very  irritating.  It  fuses  at  107.2^  C.  (225°  F.), 
and  boils  at  175^  C.  (347'  F.) 

The  symptoms  of  acute  |M)iscmiug  by  iodine  are  those  of  an  irritant  and 
cornisive  poison.  There  is  imnuHlintc  j>ain  and  heat  in  the  throat  and 
adomen,  with  vomiting  and  purging.  The  vomit  wilt  pmbaldy  be  of  a 
yellow  or  brown  color,  possibly  bloody,  but  blue  or  black  if  anv  starchy 
food  was  present  iu  the  stoumch  when  the  poison  svas  taken.  The  stools 
often  contain  blood.  Giddiness  and  fainting,  with  headache  and  convul- 
sive movements  are  not  uncommon. 

Applied  externally  or  given  internally  in  small  dos^,  certain  chronic 
or  8e<^ondary  etfects  are  induced  (iodism).  There  is  a  general  irritability 
of  the  alimentary  canal  and  consequent  indigestion,  frequent  vomitings 


FOST-HOKTKM    APPBABANCBS   IN   IODINE   POISONINfl.      101 

porpnf,  Mul  pain  in  the  stomach,  a  loaded  tongue,  an  enlarged  liver,  and 
mcwwlpnihle  jmlpitatiou  and  cram|>s.  An  increase  of  all  the  secretions 
ttu>u«I,  whibt  salivnlion,  a  general  waiting  of  the  body*  and  specially  in 
thefrnmlf  al>sorptioD  of  the  breaftts,  and  in  the  male  of  the  testicles,  are 
nirj  tn  hr  onliimry  aymptoni^j.  Dr.  Rivers  believes  barrenness  to  be  in- 
(!'  u*^  of  iodine. 

-  (hr  povKmmu  dom  the  records  of  coses  are  perplexing.  Re- 
cmvm  I*  rt-ciirded  after  ten  grains  taken  in  one  di>se  (Msigeiidie),  four 
jr*ln#  tjtken  daily  for  fifteen  mouths  (Chrisliwon),  thirty  grain*  taken  daily 
IOuIIt  iitjd  Deli.saez),  twelve  grains  taken  for  eighty  dayt*  (  Kennedy),  and 
ihfrf  «lrachms  of  the  tincture  taken  in  one  doi^e  by  an  infant  (Wright), 
In  tiuiny  of  the  cases  no  f»yniplonii»  wortb  recording  occu  rred.  On  the  other 
hand  \m\  ettVcts  are  said  to  have  resulted  from  half  a  grain  takpn  three 
twjcn  daily  for  a  week,  and  frtim  even  a  less  quantity.  Death  has  resulted 
fmm  twenty  grains  of  iodine,  whilst  recovery  is  recorded  afler  a  drachm 
mmI  1  half,  the  i^ymptoros  produced,  however,  being  severe.  When  death 
wurs  it  usuaHy  happens  within  thirty  hours  after  the  poison  has  been 
likro. 

h  may  be  well  to  note  here  that  iodine  may  be  easily  detected  in  the 
Utxnl,  urine,  saliva,  milk  and  sweat,  even  after  a  mere  medicinal  dose. 
Aftrf  forty  mifrute*  it  will  be  found  in  the  urine,  and  will  probably  not 
cii«p(i«ar  i(iT  five  days.  The  iodine  h  present,  however,  not  iu  the  free 
«we,  but  %B  hydriodic  ftcid,  into  which  it  is  rapidly  converted. 

TreatmvnL 

M^trtnimaU  will  consiiit  in  the  free  adminiMtration  of  farinaceous  foods 
■ftir  vomiting  baa  been  produced  by  emetics. 

Pwit-moriem  Appmratiees, 

Thr  popt^niortera  ap|)earances  tliat  have  been  noted  are  those  of  a  cor- 
ivf  irritttul  jK)Uon.     Orfila   noticed  in  dogs  little  yellow  ulcers  in  the 
:h,  whilj^t  the   enlargement  and   congested  state  of  the  liver  seems 
It.    Tl  are  generally  found  natural.     The  brain  is  usually 

le».  1. 

Toxieological  A  nnJyttis, 

:ing  a  toxicolr»gical  invt^tigalion  fimt  of  all  filter  the  contents 
1'  h,  and  if  the  filtrate  be  clear  and  culorlesj^,  or  nearly  so,  test 
ior  iiMline  by  adding  a  little  starch  solution,  when,  if  iodine  be 
a  blue  color  will  be  produced,  disappearing  temfiorarily  on  the 
•f'J'licitiim  of  heat,  and  pcrnnmeutly  by  the  action  of  sulphuretted  hydro- 
|ai.  If,  however,  the  tiltrnle  l*e  too  dark-colored  to  allow  of  its  being  at 
«•«  tmiie«l  with  starch,  shake  it  up  with  its  own  bulk  (d'  ether,  and  after 
ilWio^  the  ether  to  sepanite,  decant  the  ethereal  solution,  and  tcf^t  this 
Arii*|it}«.  If  lhi«  aU»  hiiU,  the  process  suggested  for  iodide  of  potassium 
(pVf  lO^i)  nn^  b«  luiopied. 

lodidt  of  PotfuiMiHm  (KI  =  166), 
(HydrioHJate  of  Pota.«h.) 

lit  «iit  b  much  uaed  in  medicine  and  in  the  laboratory. 
h  if  prepared 

(1>  By  adding  iodine  to  a  solution  of  potash  when  iodide  of  potassium 
(Kl^ajM  the  iodnt*^  of  potJiAsium  i  KIO,)  are  formed 

6KHO  -f  31,  =  KIO,  +  3H.O  +  5KI. 


w 


102 


0A9BS    OF   POISONING    BY    IODINE. 


This  18  then  be&te<1,  and  in  this  manner  the  oxygen  from  the  KIO, 
driven  otf. 

(2)  By  dissolving  carbonate  of  potash  in  hydpiodlc  acid. 

K,CO,  +  2HI  =  CO,  +  H/>  +  2KI. 
(The  KI  otVen  contains  noinble  qiiantitieg  of  K^CO,.) 
It  18  a  white  LTyj«talliuc  solid  (cubes)  somewhat  deliquescent,  aiid  very 
soluble  ill  water  and  alcoliol. 

Sipnptoms.     Treatment. 

Owing  to  peculiar  idiosyncra'sies,  very  small  doses  of  the  salt  (such  a» 
tweJve  and  even  five  grains)  have  at  time^B  pnwluoed  alurmiiig  results*.  By 
some  persijue,  on  the  other  hand,  even  draehm  doses*  will  be  taken  with  im- 
punity. Salivation  ha^  been  known  to  occur  from  its  exhibition  on  nn- 
uierons  occasione.  The  general  symptoms  produce*!  by  it  are  those  of 
severe  catarrh.  Sometime!?,  however,  violent  abdominul  pjtins  with  purg- 
ing and  vomiting,  in  udditioii  to  the  ordinary  symptoms,  such  a:?  running 
at  the  uosc  and  eyes,  thirst,  headache,  dy.*pntt!a,  iHc,  have  been  noticed. 
It  has  been  fitated  by  some  French  phyficiaiis  tbiU  it  is  capable  ot*  acting 
aj?  an  ab<»rtive  (?|.  In  !*omc  cases  an  eruption  like  that  of  srimll-p<:>x,  or 
a  kind  of  Imllous  eruption  like  Hydroa,  k  the  result  of  raedicii»al  doses. 

The  irentmciit  must  consist  in  the  use  of  the  sb>raach-pump,  cmeti< 
diluents,  and  such  other  renifdies  as  the  case  ^uggesta. 

Tedf. 

\.  With  mercuric  chloride  (IlgCl,)  a  red  preci()itate  of  mercuric  iodioe 
(Hgl/)  is  formed,  which  is  soluble  both  in  cxceiis  of  iodide  of  potassium 
and  of  the  test  solutitui. 

2.  With  acetate  of  it-act,  a  vellow  precipitate  is  produced  of  iodide  of 
leailiPbl,). 

3.  Mixed  with  a  Utile  atarch-ivater^  and  «  very  Utile  chlorine-wattr^  the 
blue  i(Mli<ie  of  starch  i;*  formed.  By  warming  the  color  goes,  whilst  if  too 
much  chlorine  be  present,  chloride  ol  iodine  is  Jbrraed,  and  this  Is  color- 
Jess, 

4.  Tofiide  of  potamam  is  decomposed  by  nitric  acid,  chlorine,  etc.,  iodine 
being  libenited. 

5.  Nitrate  of  silver  g\ve»  a  yellowish-whtte  precipitate  of  iodide  of  silver 
(Agl;  insoluble  in  nitric  acid,  and  sparingly  soluble  in  ammonia. 

Toximlorfical  Analym. 

In  organic  mixtures  Br.  Guy  advises  that  sulphuretted  hydrogen  be 
])assed  through  the  mixture  of  the  solids  and  liijuids  to  convert  any  froo 
icnline  into  liydriudic  acid.  Gently  heat  the  mixture  to  drive  off  any  ex- 
cess of  the  gas,  and  afterwards  add  au  excess  of  potash,  filter,  and  evap4> 
rate  to  dryness.  Char  the  residue  in  a  covered  crucible,  pawder,  treat  with 
water,  and  filter.  Evaporate  this  down  to  a  small  bulk,  and  then  add 
chlorine  to  set  the  iodine  free,  and  a  little  starch,  when  the  characteristic 
blue  color  will  appear, 

Cntea  of  Poisoning  tyy  Iodine. 

CASE  1.— "Medic&I  Ttttirt  siihI  Ga^tte,"  December  2nU,  1S«1.  p.  669  (Dr.  Baitibrldi^l.    F«niale: 
»i. M,    ^0t  tJnc^ura  «r  lodlaa  by  nii«tAke  for  black  driiught  («- &».  of  Mine),  ukcti  on  empt/ 


.^iii|*(«iiM.— Iiiilatit  buruibf  p^^^n ;  etnetica  wert  fivao  direetijr ;  iffi'at  d«bllttf }  Iom  of  Uite. 


OASES   OF   POISONING    BT   lODINB.  103 

CASE  2v— "  Medical  Timet  mod  Gaxette,"  Norember  5th,  1864,  p.  488  (Dr.  Gillespie).  Male:  Kt.  17. 
Iodine  applied  to  enlargtsd  glands,  the  patient  sufluring  at  the  time  from  reniitteut  fever. 

Sini»pi9ms.-~In  Ave  houra  romlting  and  purging  of  a  yellow  fluid  canie  on ;  pain,  and  suppression  of 
nrfne;  mind  clear  to  the  last. 

jeswif.— D^ath  in  thirty  houni. 

/^Mf-morlrm.— Brain  somewhat  congested ;  liver  large  and  congested ;  gall-bladder  full  of  dark  bile ; 
ttomach  and  intestines  had  eochyinosed  spots  upon  them;  urine  contained  iodine. 

CASE  3.—"  Provincial  Journal,"  June  80tb,  1847,  p.  3^.    Female.    3j  of  iodine  in  SJ  of  spirit. 

4^ai|iloiiu.— Almost  immediate  pain  in  throat  and  stomach ;  retching  and  vomiting;  eyes  suffused 
and  prominent. 

JSemtt.— Death  in  twenty-four  hours. 

CASE  4.—"  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  December  28th,  1861,  p.  669.    5s8. 

JTem/t.— Recovery. 

CASE  5.— "Essay  on  the  Effects  of  Iodine"  (Dr.  Gairduer),  1824,  p.  20.  ^t.  4.  20  grains  taken 
as  tincture. 

Jbmtf.— Death  in  a  few  houra. 

CASE  6.— Horn's  "  Arohiv,"  1829,  vol.  i,  p.  340  (Dr.  Jahn).    Overdose  ? 

i^priHpllsivu.— Violent  pain  in  alidomen;  vomiting;  profuse  bloody  diarrhoea;  coldness  of  skin; 
rigors;  quivering  of  sight,  and  rapid  pulse. 

BetuiL—  (?) 

CASE  7.— "Christison,"  page  194.    3|j9s.  in  solution  of  iodide  of  potassium. 

Sirmftomu. — Immediate  nausea,  and  great  pain  in  stomach;  the  vomit  was  yellow;  restlessness; 
headache;  giddiness.    Becovery  in  five  days. 

iientA:— Recovery. 

CASE  8.— "Christison,"  page  194.    Sljss. 

^^/rfoau.— Immediate  burning  pain  in  throat  and  stomach;  vomiting  had  to  be  induced  by 
draughts  of  warm  water ;  and  in  nine  hours  the  patient  recovered. 
iEemitt.— Recovery. 

.  Caaea  of  Poisoning  by  Iodide  of  Poiaanium. 

CASE  1.— "Medical  Gazette,"  September  3d,  1841.    Male:  adult.    Gr.  iii,  three  times  daily.    Four 
doaes  taken. 
jrjrM|ifoin4.— Had  a  shivering  fit;  thirst;  vomiting;  purging,  with  great  prostration. 
J?M«//.— Recovery, 

CASE  2.— Taylor's  "  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  240  (Mr.  Erichsen).    Gr.  r. 
^mjitoiiw.— Alarming  sympioms  of  difficulty  of  breathing  and  of  catarrh. 
JEemtt.— Reco  v  ery . 

CASES.— -Medical  Gazette,"  xxvli,  p.  688.    (Dr.  Laurie).    Adult.   Gr.  vijss. 
'.— Dryness  of  throat;  difliculty  of  breathing. 


FLUORINE  (Fl  =  19). 

In  one  matter  only  are  fluorine  compouuds  likely  to  become  a  matter 
of  importance  to  the  medical  jurist. 

The  manufacture  of  "superphosphate"  is,  unless  properly  conducted, 
likely  to  be  a  cause  of  considerable  annoyance.  The  materials  used  are 
ground  coprolites,  crushed  bones,  spent  animal  charcoal  from  sugar  re- 
tineries,  and  animal  refuse  of  all  kinds.  These  are  treated  in  a  proper 
apparatus  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid.  The  action  of  the  acid  on  the  flu- 
orides and  silicates  of  the  coprolites  is  to  evolve  the  excessively  irritating 
and  acrid  tetrajliiorlde  of  siUcon  along  with  other  vapors.  The  mixer 
should  be  air-tight,  and  should  be  so  arranged  that  it  need  not  be  opened 
externally  until  the  materials  in  the  mixer  have  passed  into  the  super- 
phosphate room.  The  gases  should,  first  of  all,  be  conveyed  from  the 
mixer  into  a  chamber  where  they  meet  with  a  copious  spray  of  water. 
This  decomposes  the  tetrafluoride  of  silicon,  hydrate  of  silica  being  formed, 
which  w  deposited  in  a  pulpy  state,  and  an  acid — hydrofluosilicic  acid — 
set  free,  which  is  dissolved  by  the  water.  The  gases  should  be  now  passed 
through  a  coke  scrubber  kept  moistened  with  water,  then  through  a  lime 
purifier,  and  lastly,  through  the  furnace  into  the  furnace  shaft. 


104 


PROPERTIBS   OF   CAUSTIC   POTASH. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


METALS  OF  THE  ALKALIES. 


Pota.B8ium — Sodium — Animonium — Lithium — Rubidium — CsBsium. 

We  need  only  consider  the  first  three  of  these  in  any  detail. 
The  whole  group  are  lighter  than  water,  univalent,  and  their  salts  freely 
soluble  in  water. 

POTASSIUM. 
(K  =  At.  wt.  39:  Sp.  gr.  0.865:  melts  at  62.5°  C.) 

The  metal  is  prepared  by  distilling  potassic  carbonate  with  charooal, 
and  condensing  tne  metal  in  a  receiver,  containing  naphtha. 

K,CO,  +  2C=K,  +  3CO. 

Potash  (KjO  =  9A), 
This  is  obtained  by  heating  caustic  potash  with  metallic  potassium. 
KHO  +  K=K,0  +  H. 

Potamum  Hydrate  (KHO)  =  56. 
(Caustic  Potash ;  Potassa  Fusa.) 

This  is  prepared  by  boiling  together  slaked  lime  and  commercial 
"pearlash,"  which  is  an  impure  carbonate  of  potash,  obtained  from  wood 

K,CO,  +  CaO,  H,0  =  2(HK0)  +  CaOO^ 

Caustic  potash  is  a  white,  hard,  solid  substance,  and  is  sold  either  iu 
lumps  or  in  sticks.  It  is  often  of  a  brownish  color,  from  the  presence  of 
foreign  matters.     ^^  ^  *'  -     i-i       -j  t-  ^  ./»  ..    i. 

bonic  acid. 


It  deliquesces  readily,  and  has  a  great  affinity  for  car- 


Tfie  Proportion  of  Anhydrous  Potmh  (K,0)  in  Aqueout  Solutions  of 
various  Gravities  (Dalton). 


S|)rcific  GrmTity. 


1  78 
1.K8 

1  m 

1.52 
1.47 
1.44 
1.42 
1.80 


Per  Cent. 

56  8 

612 

46.7 

429 

8«6 

36.8 

34  4 

32.4 

Specific  Gravity. 

1  86 
1  33 
1.28 
1.28 
1.19 
1.15 
1  11 
106 


Per  CenU 

29.4 
26.8 
23  4 
19.6 
16.2 
18.0 

9  5 

4.7 


Soil  soap  is  formed  by  the  action  of  a  solution  of  caustic  potash  on  fat. 
The  alkaline  solution  is  called  "a  l^e,"  which  was  formerly  nothing  more 
than  a  solution  of  wood  ashes. 


TRRATMBNT    IN   POISONING    BY    CAUSTIC    POTASH.  105 

Potash  dissolves  freely  in  water  (100  parts  in  50),  great  heat  being 
thereby  evolved.  The  saturated  solution  has  a  sp.  gr.  of  about  2.0,  and 
contains  70  per  cent,  of  anhydrous  alkali. 

The  solubility  of  the  caustic  alkali  in  alcohol  is  equally  as  great  as  its 
solubility  in  water.  The  salts  of  potash  are  also  very  soluble  in  water, 
but  are  not  usually  soluble  in  alcohol. 

Potash  and  soda  are  termed  fixed  alkalies ;  i.  e.,  they  are  not  dissipated 
by  heat,  like  ammonia.  Porcelain  and  glass  are  attacked  by  both  the 
fixed  alkalies.  A  solution  of  potash,  kept  for  a  length  of  time  in  a  glass 
bottle,  will  certainly  be  found  to  contain  silica.  Platinum  is  slightly 
acted  upon  by  it,  but  not  silver.  When  brought  into  contact  with  animal 
tissues,  8  rapid  destruction  of  the  tissue  results,  soluble  compounds  being 
formed.  Indeed,  it  will  dissolve  the  tissue  of  the  stomach  more  readily 
than  acids.     It  acts  energetically  on  vegetable  matters,  such  as  cork. 

The  impurities  of  ordinary  caustic  potash  are  carbonic  acid,  sulphuric 
acid,  phosphoric  acid,  chlorine,  silica,  and  alumina.  They  are  chiefly 
derived  from  impure  materials,  used  in  the  manufacture.  Most  of  them 
are  left  behind,  when  the  alkali  is  purified  by  dissolving  it  in  alcohol. 

Symptoms;  Dose^  dc 

The  symptoms  produced  by  potash  and  soda  are  almost  identical.  There 
is  an  immediate  nauseous  soapy  taste  due  to  the  rapid  disorganization  of 
the  mucous  membranes.  If  the  poison  be  swallowed,  there  will  be  imme- 
diate and  intense  pain  and  heat  from  mouth  to  stomach.  The  lips  and 
tongue  swell  rapialy,  and  become  brown.  Violent  colicky  pains,  with 
intense  tenderness  in  the  stomach  follow,  and  are  generally  accompanied 
by  the  vomiting  of  mucus  mixed  with  blood,  epithelium  flakes,  and  shreds 
of  mucous  membrane.  There  is  often  severe  purging  of  bloody  mucus. 
Slizht  convulsions  have  been  recorded.  The  pulse  becomes  very  small 
and  rapid,  and  the  skin  cold  and  clammy.  The  death  (as  with  mineral 
acids)  may  be  either  very  rapid  from  collapse ;  or,  as  is  most  often  the 
case,  it  may  result  from  starvation  due  to  secondary  causes,  such  as  stric- 
ture of  the  oesophagus,  or  stricture  of  one  or  both  openings  of  the  stomach, 
the  taking  food  under  such  circumstances  gradually  becoming  more  and 
more  diflicult,  and  at  last  impossible. 

As  regards  dose^  forty  grains  of  caustic  potash  has  caused  death.  This 
is  the  smallest  dose  on  record.  Half  an  ounce  may  be  regarded  as  the 
poisonous  dose  under  ordinary  circumstances. 

Death  may  be  rapid ;  but  the  patient  more  often  survives  the  acute 
symptoms,  and  dies,  after  a  considerable  time,  from  starvation. 

Post-mortem  Appearances. 

Wherever  the  poison  has  gone,  there  great  local  action,  with  broken  up 
and  disorganized  membranes  will  be  apparent.  This  will  specially  be  the 
case,  therefore,  in  the  mouth,  throat,  gullet,  stomach,  etc.  The  larynx  is 
very  likely  to  be  more  or  less  inflamed.  The  stomach  may,  if  a  large  dose 
has  been  swallowed,  appear  completely  black  from  the  extravasation  of 
disorganized  blood  on  its  coats.  Contraction  of  the  oesophagus  aud  of  the 
stomach,  with  constriction  of  the  orifices,  are  usually  found  in  cases  where 
death  has  occurred  after  an  interval. 

Treatment 

The  stomach-pump  must  not,  under  any  circumstances,  be  used.  Dilute 
vinegar  or  lemon-juice  should  be  at  once  administered.    Oranges,  olive 

8 


106  TE8TB   FOR   POTASH. 

oil  (converting  thereby  the  alkali  into  a  soap),  and  milk  may  be  given 
freely.  Opium,  if  there  \a  much  pain  ;  and  stimulants,  if  there  is  great 
depression,  are  indicated. 

Te^:  General  Notes  respecting  Tests  for  the  Alkalies. 

Previous  to  dealing  with  the  tests  for  the  alkalies  in  detail,  it  will  be 
useful  to  note,  first  of  all,  a  few  reactions  that  are  common  to  all  the  alka- 
lies, and  some  that  are  peculiar  to  each : 

(a)  They  all  have  (as  well  as  their  carbonates)  a  strong  alkaline  reao> 
tion. 

(6)  They  all  are  (unlike  other  metallic  oxides)  soluble  in  water. 

(c)  They  are — 

(1)  Not  precipitated  by  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  like  tin,  gold,  platinum, 

arsenic,  antimony,  bismuth,  mercury,  lead,  silver,  copper,  or 
cadmium. 

(2)  They  are  not  precipitated  by  sidphide  of  ammonium,  like  nickel, 

cobalt,  manganese,  iron,  chromium,  aluminium,  or  zinc. 

(3)  They  are  not  precipitated  hy  carbdnate  of  ammonium,  like  barium, 

strontium,  and  calcium. 

(d)  The  caustic  alkalies  may  be  known  from  their  carbonates  by  the 
latter  effervescing  on  the  addition  of  dilute  hydrochloric  acid. 

(  Carbonates  of  potcuth  and  soda,  a  white  pre- 
(«)  Sul^}^^^agne,ia.  Bi^Znatc  of  p«U.,k  and  ,oda,  no  prtscipi- 

[  Carbonate  of  ammonia,  no  precipitate. 
'  Potash  and  soda,  a  brown  precipitate,  insolu- 
ble in  excess  of  the  alkali. 
Ammonia,  a  brown  precipitate,  soluble  in  ex- 
cess of  the  alkali. 
^  The  carbonates,  a   yellowish-white  precipi- 

with      .        .        .|      tate, — 

The  precipitate  being  soluble,  in  excess  of 
alkali,  with  the  carbonates  of  sodium  and 
potassium,  but  insoluble,  in  excess  of  alkali, 
with  carbonate  of  ammonium. 

(g)  Lastly,  in  every  case,  previously  to  applying  the  several  tests  to  the 
solution  under  examination  for  the  alkalies,  the  absence  of  metallic  oxides 
must  be  proved  by  treating  the  solution  first  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen, 
then  with  sulphide  of  ammonium,  and  then  with  carbonate  of  ammonium. 

Tests  for  Potash, 

1.  Perchloride  of  platinum  {TtOt). 

Produces  with  the  chloride  of  potassium  (and  for  that  reason  first  add 
hydrochloric  acid  to  the  solution  you  are  testing)  a  yellow  crystalline  pre- 
cipitate (octahedra)  of  the  potassio-chloride  of  platinum  (2KC1,  PtCl4), 
which  id  almost  insoluble  either  in  cold  water  or  in  alcohol. 

Every  100  grs.  of  the  double  salt  =  22.94  grs.  of  KHO,  or  19.26  gre. 
of  Kp.  • 

Fallacy. — A  similar  precipitate  is  also  given  with  salts  of  ammonia 
(2NHpi,  PtCl^).    Hence  before  testing  the  solution  for  potash,  it  is  oeces- 


(/)  Nitrate  of  silver  gives 


TBST8   FOR    POTASH.  107 

sary  to  prove  the  absence  of  ammonia  compounds.    This  may  be  done  as 
follows : 

A.  Boil  a  little  of  the  solution  under  examination  with  a  small  quantity 
of  caustic  soda  or  potash.     If  ammonia  be  present — 

(a)  The  odor  of  ammonia  will  be  evolved. 

(fi)  A  piece  of  turmeric-paper  held  over  the  testtube  will  be  turned 
of  a  brown  color. 

B.  Or,  having  precipitated  the  solution  with  the  platinum  salt,  the  pre- 
cipitate may  be  further  tested  as  follows : 

Heat  the  precipitate  to  redness,  dissolve  in  water  and  filter — 

(a)  If  it  be  a  potash  preeipiiatey  platinum  and  chloride  of  potassium 
will  be  left  after  ignition.  Act  on  this  with  water.  A  precipi- 
tate of  chloride  of  silver  will  be  produced  when  nitrate  of  silver 
is  added  to  the  solution. 

(^)  If  it  be  an  ammonia  precipitate,  only  platinum  will  be  left,  and 
no  precipitate  will  be  produced  when  nitrate  of  silver  is  added 

to  the  filtered  solution. 

• 

2.  Picric  or  Carbazotic  Acid  (alcoholic  solution). 

A  yellow  precipitate  (long  needle  crystals),  insoluble  in  alcohol  or  in 
excess  of  picric  acid,  is  produced — 

100  grs.  of  carbazotate  of  potash  =  17.66  of  K,0. 
Failaeies. — ^A  precipitate  is  also  produced  with  ammonia,  with  strong 
soda  solutions,  with  many  of  the  vegetable  alkaloids,  and  with  some  of 
the  metallic  oxides. 

3.  Tartaric  Add, 

Added  in  excess  to  neutral  or  alkaline  solutions  of  potash,  tartaric  acid 
g^ves  a  white  precipitate  of  cream  of  tartar  (KH,  C^Hp,).  The  precipi- 
tation is  aided  by  the  addition  of  a  little  alcohol,  and  by  well  stirring  the 
solution.  The  precipitate  is  soluble  in  the  mineral  acids,  in  hot  water,  and 
in  a  large  excess  of  cold  water. 

Fallacy. — ^A  precipitate  is  also  produced  with  ammonia  salts. 

4.  HydrofluosUidc  Acid 

Gives  a  gelatinous  precipitate  insoluble  in  hydrochloric  acid. 

6.  Perchloric  Add 

Gives  a  white  crystalline  precipitate. 

6.  All  potassium  salts  heated  on  a  piece  of  platinum-foil  leave  a  fixed 
and  usually  fusible  residue. 

7.  Potassium  and  its  salts  give  a  violet  color  to  flame,  which  is  entirely 
obscured  by  the  presence  of  the  merest  trace  of  a  sodium  salt.  The  potas- 
sium spectrum,  which  consists  of  two  lines,  one  in  the  red  and  one  in  the 
blue,  is  very  characteristic,  and  constitutes  a  test  of  great  delicacy. 

Toxicological  Analysis. 

The  soapy  feel,  the  frothy  appearance,  and  the  alkaline  reaction  of  the 
mixture,  are  characteristic  either  of  caustic  potash,  or  soda,  or  their  car- 
bonates, f 

(1)  It  will  generally  be  sufficient  to  evaporate  the  liquid  under  exam- 
ination to  dryness,  and  to  heat  it  thoroughly,  so  as  to  char  the  organic 


108  PR0PBRTIB8   OP   CARBONATE   OF   POTASH. 

matter.  The  ash  is  then  to  be  digested  in  distilled  water  and  filtered, 
when  the  alkali  will  be  found  in  solution  as  a  carbonate.  The  proper  tests 
may  then  be  applied. 

(2)  But  if  it  is  considered  necessary  to  separate  the  caustic  alkali 
(whether  potash  or  soda)  from  the  carbonate  that  may  be  present,  the 
liquid  must  first  be  evaporated  to  dryness,  aod  the  residue  treated  with 
absolute  alcohol,  which  will  not  dissolve  the  carbonate,  but  will  freely 
dissolve  the  caustic  alkali.  After  filtration  evaporate  the  alcoholic  solu- 
tion to  dryness,  incinerate  so  as  to  get  rid  of  organic  matter,  dissolve  the 
residue  in  water,  and  test  as  directed. 

To  EstimaU  Potash  Quantitatively. — Add  hydrochloric  acid  and  an  ex- 
cess of  perchloride  of  platinum  to  the  solution.  Then  concentrate  the 
mixture  nearly  to  dryneijs.  Wash  the  residue  in  a  mixture  of  ether  and 
alcohol,  so  as  to  remove  all  excess  of  the  perchloride  of  platinum.  Collect 
the  precipitate  on  a  weighed  filter ;  again  wash  with  alcohol,  and  dry  and 
weigh — 

100  parts  =  22.94  of  KHO 
=  19.26  of  K,0 
=  28.5    ofK,CO,. 

Potasaie  Carbonate  (K,CO,=  138). 

This  is  sold  by  oilmen,  and  called  either  (1)  potash,  which  is  a  deliques- 
cent solid,  and  largely  used  for  cleaning  lamps;  or  (2)  pearlash,  which  is 
chiefly  used  for  washing  purposes.  It  was  originally  called  potash,  because 
it  was  contained  in  the  a^hes  left  after  the  combustion  of  wood.  These 
ashes  are  lixiviated  (i.  e.,  mixed  with  water),  and  the  clear  solution  boiled 
down  in  iron  pot^  (hence  the  name  potash),  and  the  residue  thus  formed 
afterwards  calcined  and  sold  as  American  ash  or  pearlash. 

It  is  very  deliquescent,  very  soluble  in  water,  insoluble  in  alcohol,  turns 
red  litmus  blue,  and  melts  at  a  red  heat  without  decomposition.  If  sand 
(SiO,)  be  mixed  with  it  whilst  in  this  melted  state,  potash  glass  or  potas- 
sium silicate  is  formed,  carbonic  acid  being  expelled. 

On  passing  earbonio  acid  through  a  solution  of  carbonate  of  potash,  a 
potassic  bicarbonate  (KnCOj=  100)  is  formed. 

The  symptoms  and  poi<t- mortem  appearances  produced  by  the  carbonate 
are  similar  to  but  le.<s  intense  than  those  caused  by  the  caustic  alkali. 
In  Dr.  Barclay's  case,  where  death  occurred  atler  a  considerable  interval, 
the  lower  opening  of  the  stomach  was  so  contracted  as  only  to  admit  a 
probe. 

Half  an  ounce  may  be  considered  a  poisonous  dose.  Death  has  occurred 
as  rapidly  as  three  hours  after  taking  this  poison ;  but  it  would  seem  that 
it  more  generally  causes  death  after  a  considerable  interval  by  secondary 
symptoms,  such  as  by  stricture  of  the  gullet  or  stomach. 

For  tests  and  examination  of  organic  mixtures,  vide  Potash. 

Potas^nc  Nitrate  (KXO,=  101 ). 
(Nitre,  Saltpetre,  Sal  Prunella.) 

This  salt  is  found  in  India  upon  the  soil.  It  is  collected  by  the  natives, 
dissolved  in  water,  and  the  solution  allowed  to  evaporate  in  the  sun,  crys- 
tals of  the  salt  being  obtained  in  this  way.  It  is  formed  whenever  animal 
nitrogcnized  matters  are  decomposed  in  contact  with  clay,  or  with  any 
substance  capable  of  yielding  pi>ta.sh. 

It  is  largely  used  in  making  gunpowder.  It  is  a  white  crystalline  solid 
(striated  six-sided  prisms),  having  a  cool,  saline  taste.     It  is  soluble  in 


BI8ULPHATB   OF    POTASH.  109 

three  and  a  half  times  its  weight  of  water.  It  melts  when  heated,  and 
when  cast  iuto  balls  constitutes  the  sal-prunelle  balls  of  the  shops. 

The  cases  of  poisoning  by  it  have  been  usually  accidental,  and  commonly 
arise  from  its  having  been  taken  by  mistake  for  the  sulphates  of  soda  or 
magnesia. 

The  gymptoms  it  occasions  are  severe  burning  abdominal  pains,  with 
nausea  and  bloody  vomiting,  occasional  purging,  coldness  in  the  limbs, 
nervous  symptoms,  such  as  convulsions  and  partial  paralysis,  tremors, 
great  prostration,  and  collapse.     The  secretion  of  urine  is  often  arrested. 

One  ounce  has  in  several  cases  proved  fatal ;  but  recovery  has  taken 
place  after  two  ounces.  Very  large  doses  have  been  given  medicinally. 
Death  is  often  as  rapid  as  two,  three,  or  five  hours ;  but  life  has  been 
prolonged  to  nearly  three  days. 

Post'inortem  Appearances. — Omsiderahle  inflammatory  action  in  the  stom- 
ach and  intestines,  the  mucous  membrane  being  detached.  Bloody  mucus 
may  be  found  in  large  Quantities  in  the  intestmal  tract,  whilst  even  per- 
foration of  the  stomach  nas  been  noted. 

As  regards  treatmenty  vou  must  get  rid  of  the  poison  bv  emetics  and  the 
stomach-pump,  but  which,  if  used,  must  be  employed  with  very  great  care. 
Demulcents  may  be  given  freely.     Opium  and  stimulants  may  be  required. 

Inorganic  mixtures.     (  Vide  Potash  and  Nitric  Acid.) 

Bimlphate  of  Potash  (KHSO,=  136). 
(Sal  Polychrest,  Sal  de  Duobus.) 

This  salt  is  somewhat  popular  in  France,  from  the  power  it  is  believed 
to  possess  of  producing  abortion  ;  and  with  that  object  it  has  been  gener- 
ally administered. 

Symptoms. — Dr.  Letheby  pointed  out  that  its  action  is  that  of  a  true 
and  powerful  irritant ;  pain,  nausea,  vomiting,  purging,  and  cramps  being 
induced. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  sulphate  of  potash  is  said  to  be  often 
contaminated  with  sulphate  of  zinc,  as  well  as  with  arsenate  of  potash, 
derived  from  the  arsenic  present  in  the  sulphuric  acid  used  in  its  manu- 
facture. 

Ten  drachms  has  proved  fatal  in  two  hours. 

The  treatment  is  the  same  as  that  directed  for  nitrate  of  potash. 

In  organic  mixtures,  evaporate  the  mixture  to  dryness,  incinerate,  and 
take  up  the  sulphate  with  water. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  a  trace  of  sulphate  is  present  in  all  animal 
tissues  and  fluids. 

Bitartrate  of  Potash  (KHC,H,0,  =  188). 
(Cream  of  Tartar,  Argol.) 

Bv  boiling  this  salt  with  carbonate  of  potash,  a  dipotassium  tartrate  is 
form'ed  =  (K,C,H,0  j. 

Bv  boiling  it  with  carbonate  of  soda,  the  potassio-sodiura  tartrate,  or 
Bochel/e  saU  is  formed  (KNaC,Hp«). 

By  boiling  it  with  antimonious  anhydride  (PUp^),  the  potassio-antimo- 
nious  tartrate,  or  tartar  emetic^  is  formed  (2  [K(SbO)C\H^Og]H,0). 

Cream  of  tartar  is  a  white  solid,  insoluble  to  a  great  extent  in  water, 
the  solution  having  a  feebly  acid  reaction. 

Its  action  is  that  of  an  irritant  poison. 

Death  has  been  caused  in  forty- eight  hours  by  two  and  a  half  ounces. 


no 


BY    ALUM* 


The  treatment  is  the  same  as  that  direetefl  fur  nitrate  of  potash.  Small 
doBQi*  of  bicarbonate  of  potash  in  milk  may  he  given  with  aflvanta^^e. 

The  tartrates  are  known  by  their  swelling  up  when  ignited,  piving  off 
an  odor  of  burnt  sugar,  and  leaving  a  larpje  charcoal  reftidiie.  They  also 
blacken  when  heated  with  strong  sulphuric  acid. 

Alum:  Pbtmsium  Ahm  =  (K,80,,  Al^SSO^  4-  24H,0  =949). 
(Note. — NH,,  or  Na  raay  be  substituted  for  the  K  ;  or  Fe^  Mn„  or  Cr/ 

for  the  Al,.) 

Alum,  as  found  in  the  .^hop!*,  is  a  colorless  crystalline  body.  It  U  not 
often  used  ub  a  p<>i6?on.  Its  laste  h  sour,  and  its  reaeliou  when  dissolved 
acid.  The  solution  prmluces  cubical  or  octahedral  crystals  when  evapo- 
rated down  or  allowed  to  crys^tallizo.  It  is  soluble  in  eighteen  part«  of 
cold  water. 

Alum  h  largely  used  in  dyeing,  in  the  arts,  and  in  medicine.  The 
symptoms  prothiced  by  it  in  poi8on<ius  doaes  are  th(»se  of  an  irritant. 

The  treaimmt  cotiai^ts  in  getting  rid  of  tlie  poison  by  emetics  and  the 
stomach-pump.     Lime-water  has  beeu  recommended, 

Tb8T8. — ^The  Sulphuric  Acid  gives  a  white  precipitate,  with  uitrate  of 

baryta. 
The  Alumina  ^ivea  a  gelatinous  precipitate,  with  ammonia. 
The  Futa^h  gives  a  crystalline  precipitate,  with  perchloride  of 

pi  all  num. 

Sulphide  of  Pofnmum  (3K,S,  +  K^SO,==  G96). 

(Liver  of  8ulphur.) 

All  the  sulphides  act  as  irritant  poisons.  Sometimes  their  action  is  very 
rapid.  That  they  have  been  swallowed  wjfl  hu-  known  by  the  intense  odor 
of  e^ulphuretted  hydrogen  iu  the  brcAlli  and  in  all  discharges* 

On  examining  the  stomach  after  dcntli  the  ordinary  post-mortem  Appear- 
ances of  an  irritant  poison  will  be  found,  and  probably  the  deposiitiou  of 
sulphur  on  the  lining  membranes. 

The  treatment  is  that  of  irritant  poisoning  generally.  Dilute  solutions 
of  bleaching  liquid-s  (chloride  of  lime  or  mdA)  are  recommended, 

TestM. — Sulphuretted  hydrogen  will  be  given  off  when  the  material  U 
treated  with  an  acid,  and  will  be  known  by  its  blackening  lead  paper. 

Hitwxalate  of  Potash,  {  Vide  (jxalic  Acid.) 

Iodide  of  Potamum,   (  Vide  Iodine.) 

Cyanide  of  Potassium.  (  Vldt:  Hydrocyanic  Acid.) 


Cases  of  Puisonintf  hy  Pufn/ih  tind  Saftit  nf  I\>ta8aiufn. 

(I.)  CAUSTIC  POTASH. 

CASE  1.— BcfUn  "Med.  ZeUunf."  1857.  Xo.  LL  (Dr  Dvutsehv  Male:  at,  65.  A  flui  of  ftunp- 
lc««  (— 30  peri'C'aC.  of  Cftusttc  polAah  ;  quantity  tAken— ^u.  of  (KiUah). 

Sgmfitoms.—yioath  and  fHuc«»  irametliatflf  UM^UMie  bhilith-r»>»>;  imjii  int«Dto;  frHinc  of  constrlc- 
llou  In  cp4ophn((U9;  Intbtllty  tn  swallow;  sHfirht  conpulii1oii<t;  for  «  lupg  time  the  loAbJIlty  to  iwal- 
low  codUdumI  :  and  aflvr  twerttf-t'iglit  we«k«  U*  djled  frutn  lu»nilluo. 

JltnU.—li«a\b  Id  twentj.eigbt  wt^eka. 

Pint-morUm.—Thv  lower  part  of  tbo  a»nphaitii«  wiw  Immenuclf  th|rk«<nrd ;  ihrearillar  vprrtiirci 
of  the  atAiiiach  would  tf'Rrretr  admit  a  <>row(|iiUI;  nn  iilcors;  thr  Monictrh  wiu  siuull,  uiuptjr,  rnn- 
tracted,  «dd  bloodlMi;  otherwise  both  Ktouiuch  and  Int^tliiea  werv  tinrmal. 

CA-^K  2 --Taylor's  "M*Hilral  .IiirUprudenre/*  toI.  I,  p. 'iUI.  Femnte:  adult,  ^u.of  cominoo  potaab 
•oluttnn  (••*  p«"f  t**!t»t.  of  KllOf. 

S^mpftmt.~ltr[ini\on,  friMu  which  the  recerered  for  a  time.    Died  of  eshauatlon. 

J?«m|£.— Death  In  aeiri'jQ  wei>k». 


OASES  OF  POISONING  BT  SALTS  OF  POTASSIUM.     Ill 

Cases  of  PoisontTtg  by  Caustic  Potash  are  recorded  in — 
**  Medical  Tlmo»  and  Guette,"  AuRuat  Ist,  1863.  p.  130.    (Death.    Female :  set.  68.) 
"  Arch.  d.  Hfllk.,"  1872,  p.  213.    (Death  In  twenty-two  hours  from  lobular  pneumonia.) 
Sir  Chirlea  BvU's  "Surgical  Obserratioiis,"  part  i,  p.  82. 

(IL)  CARBONATE  OF  POTASH. 

CASE  S^Taylor'B  •'  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  281.    Male :  boy.    SiiJ  of  a  strong  solution. 

JBtovll.— Death  in  three  hours. 

CASE  4.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  281  (Dr.  Cox).  Male:  set.  3.  Small  quantity  of  a 
■troDg  solution. 

L— Di'ath  in  twenty-four  hoars. 

L— IVath  frpin  sufTocation,  induced  by  inflatnroation  of  the  larynx. 

CASE  S.— "Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  1853,  p. 554,  November  26th  (Dr.  Barclay).  Female:  set.  44. 
A  quantity.  (?) 

ifil|r«!P'oaw.— Immediate  Tomiting;  mouth  and  throat  corroded;  pain  on  swallowing;  death  Arom 
atarration  from  inability  to  Uke  food. 

Jbmcir.— Death  In  two  months. 

Aiaf-mortem.— Lower  part  of  the  gullet  contracted,  and  lining  membrane  destroyed;  muscular 
coat  thiclFened  and  exposed;  the  lower  opening  of  the  stomach  was  so  contracted  as  only  to  admit 
•  probe;  otherwise  healthy. 

CASE  6.- Taylor's  "  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  232.    Male :  adult.    Quantity.  (?) 

A^raip/eMi.— Fain  and  Tomlling. 

JBefuZr.— Death  in  four  months. 

Asf-mofinn.— Stricture  of  the  gulled 

CASE  7.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  232  (Orflla).    Two  young  men.    Sm. 

iSlrMptoiw.— Recovered  from  first  symptoms. 

Rt9mU.—{\)  Death  in  three  months. 

Eamn.~-{2)  Death  in  four  months. 

CASE  8.— "Edinburgh  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,"  xxx,  p.  309  (Mr.  Dewar).  Boy.  Si^  of  a 
strong  solution. 

JZcm//.— Death  in  twelve  hours. 
'  CASE  9— Beck's  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  524.    Female:  ait.  11    Sss. 

iffjrM/ifonw.— Immediate;  and  continued  uninterruptedly. 

JBmhA.— Death  In  two  months. 

CASE  10.— Beck's  " Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  524.    Female:  set.  16.    Sss. 

Sjfmjptmu  — 8et  In  directly,  but  abated  after  a  few  days.    A  relapse  afterwards  occurred. 

Asmir.— Death  In  three  months. 

(m.)  NITRATE  OF  POTASH. 

CASE  11.—"  Orflla."  i,  288.    Female :  .Hj. 

iS^jptoRM.— Vomiting  in  fifteen  minutes;  pain  in  stomach;  difficult  breathing. 
J{«nf//.— Death  in  three  hours. 

Potl-moriem. — Stomach  inflamed,  and  mucous  membrane  detached. 
CASE  12.— "Orflla,"  I,  288.    Sss. 
JSem/r.— Death  in  sixty  hours. 
/W-4nor(<^.— Perforation  found  in  stomach. 

CASE  13.— Taylor's  "Medical  Juri^iprudence,"  p.  237  (Dr.  Geoghegan).    Male:  adult.    Sj— Sjss. 
Sifmpioma.—V9i\n',  vomiting;  no  purging. 
JSrntI/.— Death  in  two  hours. 

Pnul-moTtem. — Inflammation  of  stomach.    None  of  the  nitrate  found  after  death. 
CASE  14.— Casper's  "Wocheoschrift,"  1841,  No.  18.    Male:  adult.    Two  men  swallowed  8J  by 
mistake. 
:S^;)/ofiu.— Vomiting,  and  bloody  purging. 
JBcn»/».— Recovery. 

CASE  15  -Casper's  "  Wochenschrift,"  1841,  No.  18.    Male.    SJ. 
J26ft(Z/.— Death  in  thirty-six  hours. 

CASE  16.— Taylor's  "  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  238.    Male:a!t.  60.    5x.    • 
J^s^onM.— Purgi  ng. 
/Send/. — Death  in  five  hours. 

PoM-moriem  —Signs  of  great  irritation  in  the  stomach. 

CASE  17.—"  Pharmaceutical  Journal,"  February,  1846,  p.  356.    Female :  set.  28.    Sj  in  two  doses. 
Sffmpfomt. — Pain;  vomiting;  no  purging;  secretion  of  urine  arrested. 
Jtemil.- Recovery. 

CASE  18.— " Provincial  Medical  Journal,"  Autrust  19th.  1846.  p. 382 (Mr. Gillard).  Male:  adult.  Slj. 
Sffmp/om».—Pzin  and  sickness  set  in  in  five  minutes;  vomiting  induced  by  mustard. 
JBesvO.- Recovery. 


112  OASES   OF   P0T80NINO    BT   SALTS   OF   POTASSIUM. 

CASE  19.— Taylor's  "Medlonl  JuriitpnideDce,"  p.  238  (Mr.  Fuller).    Male:  «dulL    y. 

Sympfonu. — Vomiting;  no  purging. 

^to//.— Death  in  three  lioiirs. 

7\M<-mor/CTn.— Stomach  and  duodenum  much  inflamed. 

CASE  20.—"  M«jdical  Times  and  Ga«ett#»,"  Norember  7th,  1857,  p.  484  (Mr.  Daviei).  Female.  ^  In 
water. 

Sjfinptomt.—The  following  day  seemed  quite  collapsed ;  Tomitiog;  swollen  abdomen ;  purging,  with 
bloody  stool. 

iZeiu//.- Recorery. 

CASE  21.—"  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  August  30th,  1836,  p.  220  (Dr.  Dentsch).  From  ** Berlin 
Zcitung,"  1855,  No.  49.  Male :  »t.  30.  3vJ  at  one  dose,  !(jss.  baring  been  taken  preTiousiy  in  small 
doses. 

iS^p/orru.-Insensibility  after  the  StJ  dose ;  trcmliling;  slight  conrulsions;  hallucination  of  aenaes; 
partial  paralysis  of  muscular  action.  Buffered  for  some  time  after  fh>m  derangement  of  uriuary  and 
digestive  organs. 

.fiontlf.— RecoTery. 

A  Case  of  Poisoning  by  Nitrate  of  Potash  is  recorded  in 
"  British  Medical  Journal,"  January  9th,  1864,  p.  56. 

(IV.)  SULPHATE  OF  POTASH. 

CASE  22.— "Ann.  d'Hygi^ne,"  April,  1842.  Female:  adult,  ax  taken  as  a  laxative  a  week  after 
delivery. 

Symptoms. — Pain  ;  nausea ;  vomitiug ;  purging ;  cramps. 

RftuU.—Dcvith  in  two  hours. 

Pott-mortem. — Mucous  membrane  of  stomach  and  intestines  pale;  reddish-colored  liquid  found  in 
stomach. 

CASE  23.— "Medical  Times  and  (Jazette,"  December  30th,  1843.  p.  175;  Taylor's  "  MedicalJoria- 
prudence,"  p.  239  (Queen  v.  Uaynes),  October,  1843.  Female:  adult.  5iJ.  Given  to  induce  inlaearu 
riage. 

Ruult. — Deati)  in  one  hour  and  a  half. 

i\w<-morM//i.— Stomach  very  inflamed  ;  blood  eff'used  on  the  brain. 

CASE  24.— "Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  October  26th,  1856,  p. 420 (Queen  v. Gaylor).  Fmale: 
adult,    .^ij.    To  procure  abortion. 

Symptomt. — Severe  irritation  of  stomach ;  pain ;  vomiting  and  purging. 

Remit.— iK-vA'h. 

PtM-mortem.—^iomwch  inflamed. 

See  alto  Qua  in  "Mem.  Acad.  Nat.  Cur,"  1862,  from  GuscIIius;  "Journal  de  MMecine,"  vol.  Ixil 
(Sobaux; ;  "  Journal  de  Pharmacie,"  March,  1843  (Moritz);  "  Medical  Gazette,"  vol.  xxxiii,  p.  64. 

(V.)  TARTRATE  OF  POTASH. 

CASE  25.—"  Lancet,"  October  28th,  1837,  p.  162  (Mr.  Tyson).  Male :  set.  37.  At  least  a  quarter  of 
a  pound. 

^m/>/off».— Vomiting  and  purging;  great  pain  and  thirst  set  in  in  twenty-four  hours;  legs 
appeared  paralyzed;  vomit  of  a  black  iHh-green  color. 

Jle*iilt.—l>vAt\i  in  forty-eight  hours. 

Piut-morteni.— Stomach,  duodeuum,  and  rectum  inflamed  in  patches;  other  viscera  healthy. 

(VL)  ALUM  (SULPHATE  OF  ALUMINA). 

CASE  26.— "  L' Union  Medicate,"  No.  64,  1873.  Male:  Kt.  27.  Fifty  grammes  (  —  one  ounce,  Ave 
drachms.) 

iS^7iip/&Mit.— Immediate  burning  sennatiou  and  feeling  of  constriction;  nausea  and  vomiting;  no 
diarrhoea ;  Intense  agony  ;  intellect  clear. 

J?wu//.— Death  in  eight  hours. 

JPott-HUtrie in.— The  whole  of  the  digestive  canal  inflamed. 

SODIUM. 

(Na  =  At.  Wt.  23.) 

(Sp.  Gr.  0.972:  melts  at  90°  C.) 

Sodium  is  prepared  by  treating  sodium  carbonate  (NajCO,)  with  carbon 
in  a  similar  mauDer  to  that  adopted  in  the  preparation  of  |>otas8ium.  It 
forms  two  oxides,  Na,0  and  Na^O,. 

Sodium  Hydrate  (NaHO  =  40). 
(Caustic  Soda.) 


PR0PBRTIB8    OF   OAUSTIC    SODA. 


118 


Caustic  soda  is  obtained  from  the  carbonate  by  the  same  method  that  is 
adopted  in  the  preparation  of  caustic  potash.  It  is  a  white  solid,  very 
soluble  in  water.  The  soda-lye  (solution  of  the  hydrate  in  water)  boiled 
with  fat  or  oil  constitutes  hard  Map.  The  marine  soap  which  is  soluble 
in  salt  water  is  made  from  soda-lye  and  cocoanut  oil. 

Strength  of  Aqx^eous  Solutions  of  Soda  of  Various  Oravities. 


Specific  OraTity. 

Per  cent,  of  Na/). 

Specific  Gravity. 

-  Per  cent,  of  Ni^O. 

1.428 

80.22 

1  194 

12  69 

1.875 

2«69 

1.163 

10.87 

1.827 

22  96 

1.123 

8.46 

1.298 

20.05 

1.094 

6.04 

1.277 

18.78 

1.067 

4  83 

1.J67 

16.02 

1.033 

2  41 

1.228 

14  50 

1.016 

120 

The  action  of  caustic  soda  on  animal  tissues  is  a  little  less  energetic  than 
that  of  potash.  It  has,  however,  not  much  interest  medico-legally.  The 
salts  are  colorless,  and  are  all  soluble  in  water. 

Respecting  the  symptoms,  post-mortem  appearances,  and  treatment,  what 
has  been  said  of  potash  will  apply  equally  to  caustic  soda  {see  Potash). 

Tests  (vide  page  106). 

1.  Antimoniaie  of  Potash. 

(The  test  solution  must  be  prepared  fresh  each  time  it  is  required.) 

If  the  solution  to  be  tested  be  acid,  neutralize  it  first  of  all  carefully 
with  potash,  and  then  add  the  test  solution,  when  a  white  precipitate  of 
antimoniate  of  soda  will  be  produced. 

Fallacy. — The  test  produces  a  precipitate  with  many  metallic  oxides,  the 
absence  of  which  must  first  l)e  proved. 

No  precipitate  is  given  by  it  with  ammonia  or  potash. 

2.  Action  of  Polarized  Light  ("  Chemical  Gazette,'*  x,  878).  The  double 
platinum  salt  of  soda  at  once  restores  light  to  the  dark  field  of  the  polari- 
scope. 

Proceed  as  follows :  After  getting  rid  of  all  bases  from  your  solution 
add  hydrochloric  acid  and  a  small  quantity  of  a  solution  of  perchloride 
of  platinum ;  evaporate  until  the  salt  begins  to  crystallize ;  arrange  the 
apparatus  so  that  the  field  of  view  is  dark,  that  is,  the  analyzer  being  at 
nght  angles  to  the  polarizer.  Immediately  the  crystals  containing  the 
scMdium  salt  are  placed  in  the  field,  light  will  be  restored,  and  a  play  of 
color  observed.  Neither  the  potansium  salt  nor  the  platinum  salt  alone 
possesses  this  power.  It  is  said  that  the  jt^Vdo^^  S***  of  Na^O  may  be  thus 
detected. 

3.  Picric  or  Carhazotic  Acid. 

Produces  a  yellow  precipitate  of  radiating  feathery  crystals. 

4.  All  sodium  salts  heated  on  platinum : 

1st.  Leave  a  fixed  residue,  which  is  generally  fusible. 
2d.  The  least  trace  of  this  residue  gives  a  yellow  color  to  flame. 
3d.  Examined  with  the  spectroscope  it  produces  a  yellow  band  at 
the  D  line  of  the  spectrum. 
For  recovery  of  caustic  soda  from  organic  mixtures  in  toxicological  ex- 
aminations, viae  Potash. 

Sodic  Carbonate  (=  Na,CO,  +  10H,O  =  106  +  180). 
(Common  washing  soda :  Scotch  soda :  Soda.    Soap-lees.) 


114 


BODIC    CARBONATE. 


This  vifxs  formerly  ma<le  from  the  ashes  of  sen-weeds.  Land  plant 
tain  potaah-^alts  and  their  a?h  K^'O^,  .•<rit  plauls  coniaiii  soda-^alts  aud 
their  ash  NayCOj.  This  a^h  (kelp,  barilla,  or  varec)  is  now  used  for  the 
extraction  of  the  iodine,  and  not  for  the  carbonate  of  soda,  which  ia  ordi- 
narily prepared  from  common  salt  by  the  process  of  Leblaiic. 

It  consists  of  large  etfiorescent  crystal?,  nicking  when  healed  io  their 
water  of  crystallization.  If  the  heat  be  further  coiitiuyed,  anhydrous 
Fodium  carbonate  remain!*-  It  is  very  soluble  in  water,  in.soluble  in  alco- 
hol, and  has  a  disagreeable  taste.     It  is  strongly  alkaline  to  test-paper. 

Comoieretal  soda  ordinarily  contains  snlphuric  acid  and  chlorine,  and 
occasionally  hypasulpliurous  acid,  sulphide,  and  cyanide. 

Common  soda  is  largely  sold  by  oilmen  fur  cleanaiog  purposes.  It  acts 
as  an  irritant  poison. 

Ilydric  Sadie  Carbonate  (NaHCO,  =  84).  I 

(Biearhonate  of  Soda.) 

This  is  prepared  by  exposing  crystals  of  the  carbunate  to  the  actiun  of 
carbonic  acid  gas.     It  is  less  soltible  in  water  than  sodic  carbonate. 

Sadium  Chloride  (NaCl  =  58.5). 
(Corainon  Salt.) 

Common  salt  is  found  native  and  may  also  be  obtained  from  natural 
epringfi  aod  Irttm  sea  water  (==  bay  salt). 

In  large  (|uantit»es  it  acts  as  an  irritant  poison. — Appropriate  treatment 
for  irritant  poisoning  must  be  adopted. 

Sodium  Sulphide.    • 
Vide  Potassium  Sulphide. 

Sftdium  Nitmte  (NaNO,\ 

(Cubic  Nitre  or  Chili  Saltpetre,  Fig.  9.) 

Vide  Potassium  Nitrate. 


CtysUla  oi  NUrftle  ut  mmU  uim^uiUcU  <lu  diamctofS. 

Oi»e»  nf  PoiiKiniTtg  by  Sodium  and  its  Salts, 

(I)  CAUSTIC  SODA 


CASE  l,~a«!«  *'L«noet."  Kov«mb«r  S<J.  iad«,  p.  SOH. 


ilL)  CARBONATE  OF  SODA 

CASE  1.—"  Irfiocpt,"  Murch  iJil,  tN')*<  JJr,  Hatliftmi.    SoDp-l«««. 
KejmU.—lnitil .  infit!  two  >«"*r«  uud  m  ^lUrlAfr. 
Atitf-morfcm.— Strict ur«  ut  orsopbngus. 


PROPERTIES   OF    AMMONIA, 


115 


CASE  S.— "Medical  Ttmes,**  November  30th,  1850,  p.  SC4  (Dr.  Tunstall).  Male.  Took  SU  for  six- 
teer.  year*  dally. 

J|r»yfcwM.— Pr.  Tunstall  traces  thla  death  to  the  drug. 

jeemtf.— Dlvd  suddenly. 

iVi«-«Mnni».— Stomach  Tery  diseased. 

CASE  4.— "Medical  Times  and  Gasette,"  Aagiist  13th,  1864,  p.  187.  Female.  About  three-quarters 
of  a  pound  of  common  washiux  soda  taken  in  water. 

JS!fmptoma.—<in»t  pain,  rigors,  and  headache;  difficulty  in  passing  water;  and  great  thirst.  Nausea. 
Urine  very  alkaline  for  sereral  days. 

JBeMifl.— ReeoTery. 

(m.)  CHLORIDB  OF  SODIUM. 

CASE  S.— *•  Medical  Times."  toI.  1,  January  4th,  1840,  p.  133.    Half  a  pound. 
4nnpteM<.— Paralysis . 
AmK.— Death. 

AMMONIUM. 
(H,N  =  18.) 

The  existeDce  of  the  compouDd  radical  ammoDium  is  only  as  yet  as- 
sumed. We  regard  it  (H^N)  as  a  compound  metal  just  as  we  regard 
cyanogen  (CN)  as  a  compound  halogen. 

Ammonia  ^cw  (NH,  =  17)  is  set  free  by  heating  two  parts  of  sal  ammo- 
niac (NH^Cl)  with  three  of  well-slaked  lime. 

2(NH,C1)  +  CaO,  H,0  =  2(NH,)  +  CaCl,  +  2(H,0). 

To  form  the  liquor  ammonisB  the  gas  is  parsed  into  water  which  dissolves 
at  0°  Cent,  more  than  1000  times,  and  at  17°  Cent,  about  700  times  its 
bulk.  It  has  a  sp.  gr.  of  8.5.  It  has  a  very  pungent  smell  and  an  ex- 
ceedingly corrosive  action  on  animal  tissues.  It  turns  red  litmus  blue, but 
the  original  color  in  time  comes  back.  It  is,  therefore,  a  volatile  and  not 
a  fixed  alkali.  It  can  be  made  to  burn,  although  with  great  difficulty. 
It  is  decomposed  by  the  electric  spark,  and  also  by  passing  it  through  a 
red-hot  tube,  the  decomposed  gases  occupying  double  the  space  of  the  un- 
decomposed  gas.  It  can  be  liquefied  by  a  pressure  of  6  atmospheres  at 
10°  Cent. 

Ammonia  gas  is  a  constituent  of  the  atmosphere,  and  is  given  off  when 
animal  and  vegetable  substances  containing  nitrogen  undergo  putrefaction. 
It  is  further  produced  in  large  quantities  during  the  manufacture  of  coal 
gas. 

Solution  of  Ammonia. 

(Spirits  of  Hartshorn — Aqua  Ammonise — Liquor  Ammonise.) 

This  solution  may  be  regarded  as  ammonium  hydrate  ([H<N]HO).  It 
is  largely  used  both  in  the  arts  and  in  medicine.  When  pure  it  is  color- 
less, and  leaves  no  residue  when  evaporated  to  dryness.  The  gas  is  given 
off  freelv  when  the  solution  is  heated.  It  has  a  pungent  smell,  and  a 
powerful  alkaline  reaetiou. 

Table  showing  the  Percentage  of  Ammonia  (NH,)  in  Liquids  of  various 

Gravities, 


Specific  Orarity. 
0  875 

Per  cent,  of  Nir» 

Specific  Gravity. 

Per  cent,  of  NH» 

32  30 

0  938 

15.88 

0.885 

29.25 

0  943 

14.53 

0.900 

2f;oo 

0.947 

1346 

0.005 

25.37 

0.951 

12  40 

0  916 

22  07 

0  954 

11.56 

0  925 

19.54 

0  959 

10.17 

0.932 

17.52 

0.9b8 

9.50 

116 


:80N1NG< 


The  salts  of  aninioum  are  colorless,  and  volatile  by  beat,  whilst  all 
(exceptiiijT  the  aeid  tartrate)  are  freely  soluble  i«i  water.  They  are  de- 
compo^d  au(i  ariiruonia  gas  set  free  by  the  action  of  heat  applied  io  the 
presence  of  the  fixed  caustic  alkalies. 

Sifinpitvnn;  Dose,  eic. 

If  the  sofution  of  the  gas  be  admhri.^tered,  the  sympt^inis  produced  are 
very  similiir  to  those  re?;irltintr  frojn  the  ar.'tion  ii^f  sodii  and  potasii,  except- 
ing iu  two  parl]culan>»  (1)  llmt  the  symptoms  are  (oore  i»evere,  and  (2) 
that  dygpufea,  which  is  not  a  very  pmrnineut  nyniptom  with  the  fixed 
alkalies,  is  always  very  intense  in  ammonia  poi&tming.  After  the  active 
etage  has  pa.«j*ed  away  there  is  a  better  chance  of  recovery  ihau  with  either 
potash  or  soda. 

In  the  fonn  of  vapor  it  has  produced  intensely  severe  effecta,  such  as 
violent  dyspua^a,  pain,  8uff>cation,  with  extreme  irriliition  of  the  larynx, 
luogs,  and  air-passages.  Even  its  indiscriminate  use  for  rousing  persons 
from  fainting  fit^*  has  been  aceonipaiiied  with  bad  resutltfl. 

Deatli  has  taken  place  in  as  short  a  time  a^  four  miuates»  whilst  it  has 
been  delayed  for  niueteeu  days  and  even  three  months.  Ciuses  of  death 
are  on  record  in  four  and  five  hours,  and  in  two,  three,  and  four  daya. 

As  regards  ipmnfihj,  two  drachms  oj'  the  strong  solution  has  proved  fatal. 
Half  an  ouu<*e  is  usually  u  poisonous  dose,  but  recovery  is  recorded  after 
one  oun(»e.  One  of  the  authors  hit«  met  witli  three  or  four  cases  of  re- 
covery after  three  or  four  drachms  of  liquid  ammonia. 

Pod-tfwrfem  Appmranre^, 

These  are  similar  to  those  produced  by  potash  and  soda  (page  105) ;  an 
extremely  fluid  state  of  the  blond,  fatty  changes  in  the  liver  and  kidneye, 
and  softness  of  the  spleen  have  been  specially  noticed. 

Trmtm^nt 

The  treahnerU  to  be  adopted  must  be  similar  to  that  recommended  for 

pf)ta*«h  and  soda.     In  poisoning  by  the  vapor,  the  in  habit  ion  of  acetic  or 
dilute  hydrochloric  acid  c<»nslitutes  the  most  appropriate  treatment. 

The  action  of  the  tetramethyl  of  ammonlutn  has  of  late  been  investigated 
by  M,  liabuteau  ;  one-sixth  of  a  grain  killed  a  frog  in  five  minutes,  and 
ten  grains  killed  a  dog  in  a  few  hours. 

Test^/or  Ammonia  and  its  Salts. 

1.  Ammonia  salts  are  known — 

(rt)  By  their  being  entirely  dissiputt^-d  when  heated  on  platioum-foin 
unless  a  fixed  acid  or  foreign  matter  be  present. 

(6)  Treated  either  with  lime,  caustic  potash,  or  soda,  and  heated,  free 
ammonia  is  given  oflT.     This  is  known — • 

1.  By  its  odor. 

2.  By  its  action  on  turmeric-paper. 

3.  By  white  fumes  being  produced  (NHjCl)  when  a  rod  moistened 

with  hydrochloric  acid  is  brought  near. 

2.  Pcrrhhridc  of  Plat  hi  urn. —In  neutral  or  slightly  acid  solutions,  a 
yellow  crystalline  precipitate  of  ammouio-chloride  of  platinum  (2NH,CI, 
PtCl^  =  446.4),  sparingly  soluble  iu  dilute  mineral  acids,  or  in  free  alka- 
lies, is  produced. 


TBST8   FOR    AMMONIA.  117 

FaUaey. — ^The  precipitate  is  very  similar  to  the  potash  precipitate.  To 
distinguish  them,  vide  page  107. 

No  precipitate  is  produced  when  the  platinum  chloride  is  added  to 
solutions  of  sodium  salts. 

3.  Tartaric  Acid. — In  neutral  solutions,  if  they  be  not  very  dilute,  a  white 
crystalline  precipitate  of  tartrate  of  ammonium  (NH4HjC40a=  167),  solu- 
ble in  alkalies  and  in  dilute  mineral  acids,  is  produced. 

4.  Picric  Add  (alcoholic  solution). 

Gives  in  neutral  solutions  a  yellow  crystalline  precipitate  soluble  in 


5.  Ne88ler*9  Solution, 

This  test  is  exceedingly  delicate.  It  consists  in  the  addition  of  an  excess 
of  iodide  of  potassium  to  a  solution  of  mercuric  chloride  (HuCl,),  until  the 
mercuric  iodide  formed  is  redissolved,  an  excess  of  free  potash  being  added. 

Preparation. — Dissolve  550  grs.  of  iodide  of  potassium  in  5  oz.  of  water, 
and  220  grs.  of  corrosive  sublimate  in  5  oz.  of  water,  and  900  grs.  of 
potash  in  5  oz.  of  water.  Add  the  iodide  of  potassium  solution  to  the 
corrosive  sublimate  solution,  then  add  the  potash  solution,  and  make  up 
to  20  oz.  with  water.     Allow  the  solution  to  settle,  and  decant  when  clear. 

This  liquid  gives  a  brown  discoloration  with  the  merest  trace  of  ammo- 
nia, a  hydrargyro-iodide  of  ammonium  being  said  to  be  formed.  The  re- 
action does  not  take  place  in  the  presence  of  cyanides,  and  it  is  also 
influenced  to  an  extent  by  an  excess  of  chlorides. 

6.  Phospho-molybdate  of  Soda  (Sonnenschein). 

Gives  a  yellow  precipitate  of  phospho-molybdate  of  ammonia.  It  con- 
stitutes a  very  delicate  test  for  ammonia.  A  similar  precipitate  is  pro- 
duced with  potash,  but  not  with  soda-salts. 

Toxicological  Analysis. 

If  the  organic  matter  is  in  a  state  of  decomposition,  it  will  be  very  little 
eood  in  attempting  to  recover  the  ammonia  that  has  been  the  cause  of 
death,  for  not  only  is  ammonia  volatile,  but  is  itself  produced  by  decom- 
posing organic  matters. 

If  only  ammonia  or  the  carbonate  be  present,  the  liquid  will  have  an 
ammonia  odor  and  an  alkaline  reaction.  Distil  over  about  one-fourth  of 
the  organic  liquid,  conducting  the  vapors  through  a  bent  tube  into  a  well- 
cooled  receiver  containing  a  little  water  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid. 
If  no  ammonia  be  given  off  in  this  way,  proceed  to  examine  the  materials 
for  other  ammonia  salts. 

To  do  this,  Wormley  advises  to  act  on  the  residue  in  the  retort  with 
strong  alcohol.  Filter.  Treat  the  filtrate  with  caustic  potash  and  distil 
as  before.     Test  the  acid  solution  for  ammonia  by  the  several  tests. 

Ammonia  is  estimated  quantitatively  either  by  the  Nessler  test,  or  as 
ammonio-chloride  of  platinum  {see  Potash). 

100  grs.  =   7.62  of  NH,. 
"      =  15.68  of  (H,X)HO. 

Sesquicarbonate  of  Ammonia  (2[2(H,N)C03]CO,=  236). 
(Smelling  Salts.    The  Solution  is  called  Sal  Volatile.) 

It  is  prepared  by  heating  chalk  with  about  half  its  weight  of  powdered 
sal  ammoniac  and  subliming.  Much  free  ammonia  is  generated  during 
the  process. 

6H,NC1  +  3CaC0,  =  3CaCI,  +  2[2(H,N)CO,]CO,  +  2H,N  +  H,0.     _ 


118  TB8TS   FOR  8BSQUICARB0NATE   OF    AMMOITIA. 

It  is  very  volatile,  having  an  ammonia  smell,  and  becomes  a  bicarbonate 
when  exposed  to  air.     It  is  soluble  in  cold  water. 

The  symptoms  and  post-mortem  appearances  are  the  same  as  those 
already  described  («ee  rotash). 

Death  has  been  both  rapid  and  delayed. 

Te8t8  (vide  page  116). 
It  may  be  known — 

1.  From  carbonates  of  soda  and  potash;  by  its  being  volatile,  by  its 
giving  no  precipitate  with  sulphate  of  magnesia,  and  by  its  turning  a 
sulphate  of  copper  solution  a  deep  blue. 

2.  From  other  carbonates;  by  its  odor,  alkalinity,  and  volatility. 

3.  From  ammonia;  by  effervescing  with  an  acid,  and  by  giving  a  white 
precipitate  with  chloride  of  calcium. 

Chloride  of  Ammonium  (NH^Cl). 
(Sal  Ammoniac.) 

It  consists  of  colorless  crystals,  soluble  both  in  water  and  in  alcohol. 
It  is  generally  made  from  the  ammoniacal  liquor  of  gas  works  by  neu- 
tralizing it  with  hydrochloric  acid. 

One  case  of  poisoning  by  its  action  is  recorded. 

Cases  of  Pointming  by  Amtnonia  and  Us  Salts. 

(I.)  AMMONIA. 

CASE  1.— Taylor's  "  Medical  JurUprudence  "  p.  233.  Vapor  used  to  rouse  the  patient,  who  «■•  an 
epileptic. 

Hymploms. — Croup. 

EesulL—D^th  in  two  days. 

CASE  2.— "Chri8ti9«D,"p.  194.    Male.  Adult.  Solution. 

SetuU.—DvtLth  in  four  minutes. 

CASE  3.— "Journal  de  Pharniacie,"  October,  1846,  p.  285.    3J-5iJ  Ilq.  ammonls. 

Symptom*.— yvmiting  and  bloody  purging. 

ReauU.—Dvtith. 

But-^nortem,— Blood  infused  in  intestines;  blood  rerj  fluid. 

CASE  4.—"  Journal  de  Chiroie  M6dicale,"  1845,  p.  531.    Male.    Siss.  of  Ilq.  ammonia. 

Symptoau.— Veil  down  instantly  insensible. 

feni/i.— Death. 

CASE  5.— Taylor's  "  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  234  (Mr.  Hilton).    Male :  adult.    Liq.  ammoni*. 

5ym/i/</»u.— •Symptoms  immediate  from  lucal  irritation  ;  great  dlfllculty  of  breathing. 

i2e«u/(.— Death  in  three  days. 

roti.morUiu.—CoTTii!ili)n  in  various  parts,  with  perforation  of  stomach ;  stomach  very  congested. 
None  uf  the  p<iisou  found. 

CA.SE  6.-"  Edinburgh  Medical  Journal,"  1857,  vol.  11,  p.  236  (Dr.  Patterson).  Male:  «t.  40.  BU  of 
liq.  ammonite  ur  carbonate  (7). 

Sjfmp'omt.— Vain  aiid  instant  vomiting;  difficult  breathing. 

BemU.—DvalU  in  nineteen  days. 

CASE  7.— "American  JuMrnal  of  Medical  Science,"  January,  1870,  p.  275  (Dr.  KerrX  Male:  «t.  70. 
Two  niuuthrulM  of  liq.  ammuniie. 

SympttmM.—Imm'ditite  suflbcution  and  vomiting. 

Retuii.—Deuth  in  four  hours. 

POit-ntortf.m. —iimt  general  congestion ;  lining  membrane  of  mouth,  throat,  etc.,  destroyed. 

CASE  8.—"  Uncet,"  1870,  vol.  i,  p.  467.    Male.    Sas.  of  liq.  amnioniie. 

.Rmm^.— Death  in  five  hours. 

CASE  9.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  235  (Mr.  Tyerman).  Male:  «t.  62.  SU  of  Un. 
caniph.  CO.  and  liq.  ammonite  —  Sijss. 

Symptinnt.—hunl  the  power  of  swallowing  from  inflammation. 

JKemtt.— Recovery  in  four  days. 


0ASB8   OF   POISONING    BY    AMMONIA.  119 

CASE  10.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jurisprudenoe,"  p.  235  (Mr.  Gill).  Infant  four  days  old.  Small 
quantity  of  lin.  camph.  oo. 

^ — Pain;  clenched  bands;  difficulty  in  swallowing  and  breathing. 
!.— Death  in  thirty-two  hours. 

CASE  11.—"  Lancet,"  April  4th,  1846,  p.  385  (Mr.  E.  P.  Wllkins).  Female :  Kt.  24.  A  strong  solution. 

^■yitewj.— Immediate  insensibiiiiy;  great  pain;  voice  l)ecame  a  merewhtoper;  choking  sensa* 
tlon  on  swallowing;  convulsions.    Recovered  in  a  fortnight. 

J2(!nilt.-~Beeovery. 

CASE  12.—"  Medical  Times  and  Gasette,"  October  8th,  1864,  p.  885  (Dr.  Woodman).  Female :  set.  18. 
Ill  of  the  strongest  solution. 

iS^Mploiiu.— InsUnt  vomiting.  In  four  hours  tongue,  lips,  and  tonsils  appeared  white  In  patches, 
and  stripped  of  epithelium ;  pupils  dilated ;  great  headache ;  pain  in  throat  and  stomach  ;  glands  of 
neck  swollen  and  tender;  great  tendency  to  syncope.    Urine  became  scanty  and  dark-colored. 

iienctf.— Recovery. 

CASE  18.—"  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  August  2d,  1862,  p.  118  (M.  Potain).  Male :  a>t.  44.  SiiJ 
of  liq.  ammonin  —  100  grammes. 

8ipmptom». — Immediate  symptoms  of  suffocation ;  pain  and  prostration ;  bloody  vomiting  and 
purging;  difficulty  of  swallowing. 
-Death  In  ten  days. 

L— Larynx  and  pharynx  of  a  bright  red  color;  cesophagus  ulcerated ;  stomach  natural, 
excepUug  an  ulcer  at  the  cardiac  orifice ;  intestines  natural ;  kidneys  futty. 

CASE  14.— "Medical  Times  and  Gasette,"  July  21st,  1865,  p.  69  (Dr.  Wilson  Reed).  Male:  »t.  35. 
Liniment  of  liq.  am.  fort.  3iij,  amm.  carb.  SiiJ.  ol.  olivs  sij. 

iStrMp/onu.— Immediate  burning  pain  in  throat  and  stomach ;  loss  of  speech ;  bloody  secretion  from 
mouth  and  nares;  profuse  perspiration ;  vomiting;  insensibility  in  three  hours;  urine  said  to  have 
been  bloody ;  extrepe  inflammatory  symptoms  set  in.    No  difficulty  in  swallowing. 

JiauU. — Recovery. 

CASE  15.— "Med.  Chi.  Ceutralblatt,"  July  4th,  1873  (Dr.  Winter).  Male:  ast.  28.  Siij  of  strong  liq. 
ammoniae. 

Sffmptoma.— Skin  pale  and  cold ;  early  vomiting ;  intellect  dear ;  pupils  widely  dilated ;  mouth  and 
throat  swollen  and  tender ;  laryngeal  symptoms  not  severe,  l>ut  the  voice  weak  and  hoarse ;  great 
pain  along  the  cesophagus,  but  not  in  the  stomach;  no  abdominal  distension;  great  quantity  of 
urates  found  in  urine  the  following  day.  No  action  of  bowels  for  fire  days.  (Viuegar,  ice,  and  clear 
cold  soups  given.) 

ilfevMa— Recovery. 

CASE  16.—"  Med.  Chi.  Monatshefte,"  p.  498,  January,  1857.    Male.   H. 

Sifmptomt.Se'ren  laryngeal  symptoms,  profuse  salivation,  and  great  general  emaciation. 

iBem/r.— Recovery. 

CASE  17.— "Guy's  Hospital  Reports,"  third  series,  xvil,  p.  225  (Dr.  Stevenson).  A  teaspoonful  of 
strong  liq.  ammonis,  sp.  gr.  0.88. 

Sjfnqttomi. — No  asph}  xia. 

JZetiiK.— Death  suddenly. 

CASE  18.— Taylor's  "  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  236.    Male :  adult.    5v  of  a  solution. 

^rmpt(mt.—l  n  ten  minutes  stupor  came  on.  6uff«rrcd  for  some  time  after  from  irriuiion  about  the 
throat. 

JisfK//.— Recovery. 

CASE  19.—"  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  November  26th,  1853,  p.  654  (Dr.  Barclay).  Female :  let. 
19.    A  quantity  of  hartshorn. 

Si^ptvm*.—\ itmlting  of  blood ;  irritability  of  stomach ;  constipation. 

Be*ulL — Death  in  three  months. 

i^ki<-m«f^em.— Guiitrt  healthy;  cardiac  orifice  of  stomach  slightly  contracted,  and  the  Intestinal 
orifice  contracted  to  size  of  crowquill. 

CASE  20.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  236  (Dr.  Proctor).  Infant:  four  weeks.  A  tea- 
spoonful  of  hartshorn. 

Sympionu.—Vo  vomiting  or  purging ;  no  excoriation  of  mouth  or  throat. 

.fiufty/.- Dfath  in  thirty-six  hours. 

CASE  21.— "Lancet,"  December  1st,  1849,  p.  675 (Mr.  Illif).  Male:  kU  2.  3iv  spirits  of  hartshorn 
merely  takon  into  the  mouth. 

^I^p/onw.— Immediate  vomiting;  croupy  breathing;  probably  none  went  into  the  stomach. 

.Beni^.— Recovery. 

CASE  22.—"  Lancet,"  March  13th,  1852,  p.  261  (Mr.  Trotter).  Male :  36.  y  of  hartshorn  in  milk  by 
mistake  for  castor  oil. 

;^rin/rfofiu.— Vomiting;  great  pain;  lips  and  mouth  excoriated  and  white.    No  diarrhcea. 

BeauU.—Recorerj  in  two  days. 

For  other  Cases  of  Poisoning  hy  Ammonia  and  the  FumeSf  see 
"Lancet,"  February  lOth,  1866,  p.  162;  "Ann.  d'Hygifine,"  January,  1841  (vapor), 
"Medical  Times,"  December  5th,  1840,  p.  112  (from  the  vapor);  "Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  May 
26th,  1855  (liniment). 
"  Montpellier  Med.,"  November,  1871,  p.  527  (poisoning  from  the  fumes). 


120      METALS  OF  THE  ALKALINE  EARTHS  AND  THEIR  SALTS. 


(n.)  CHLORIDB  OF  AMMONIXTM. 

CASE  23.—"  Lancet,"  June  6th,  1868,  p.  720  (Dr.  C.  Browoe).  Male :  tet.  25.  A  quantity  tak«n  duf^ 
ing  six  hours. 

SympkMM.—Ho  symptoms  for  at  least  two  hours  after  the  last  dose;  afterwards  glddincm;  atag- 
gering;  pain  in  stomach;  delirium;  uonTulslons;  pupils  normal.  The  following  day  he  seemed  for 
a  time  better,  but  bad  symptoms  came  on.  An  hour  afterwards  ho  was  reported  desid.  The  medical 
officer  detected  a  flutter  of  the  pulse,  and  commenced  vigorous  measures  for  resuseitationu  Aft«r  a 
time  convubiuuH  came  on,  aud  oplsthotouos,  then  muscular  relaxation,  and  consciousness  in  about 
fifteen  minutes.  Delirium  returned  in  one  hour.  He  was  unable  to  pasd  water ;  and,  with  some  symp- 
toms of  drowsiness  and  delirium,  be  made  a  perfect  recovery  by  the  following  morniug. 

.ftuuA.— Recovery. 

LITHIUM— RUBIDIUM— CCESIUM. 

As  regards  lithium,  rubidium,  and  ccesium,  they  are  do  doubt  poisons, 
but  from  their  extreme  rarity  are  of  little  interest  to  the  medical  jurists 
The  use  of  lithium  in  medicine  in  cases  of  gout  depends  on  the  fact  that 
it  forms  with  uric  acid  a  very  soluble  salt,  a  very  small  quantity  only 
being  needed  to  keep  in  solution  a  large  quantity  of  the  acid.  In  this  waj 
uric  acid  may  be  got  out  of  the  system  (for  lithia  is  itself  a  diuretic),  ana 
its  deposition  prevented. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

METALS  OF  THE  ALKALINE  EARTHS  AND  THEIR  SALTa 

Bartum— Symptoms,  etc. — Experiments  on  AniinaU— Tests— Cases  of  Poisoning — 

Sironiium —  Calcium. 

Barium  (Ba) ;  Strontium  (Sr) ;   Calcium  (Ca). 

The  oxides  of  these  metals  are  called  alkaline  earths,  viz.,  Baryta 
(BaOj;  Strontia  (SrO);  and  Lime  (CaO).  They  are  all  nearly  insoluble 
in  water. 

The  metals  of  the  alkaline  earths  differ  from  the  metals  of  the  alkalies 
in  the  following  respects : 

1.  They  are  divalent,  the  alkaline  metals  being  univalent. 

2.  They  are  all  heavier  than  water,  the  alkaline  metals  being  lighter. 

3.  They  decompose  water  much  less  rapidly. 

4.  Their  carbonates  are  insoluble  in  pure  water,  but  soluble  when  the 
water  contains  carbonic  acid  in  solution. 

BARIUM  (Ba=  137;  sp.  gr.  4.00). 

Barium  is  but  little  known  in  a  free  state.  Both  it  and  its  soluble  salts 
are  very  poisonous. 

Barium  Compounds. 

Baryta  (BaO  =  153)  is  prepared  by  heating  nitrate  of  baryta  (Ba2N0g) 
in  a  crucible  to  redness.  It  combines  with  water  very  energetically,  form- 
ing— 

Barium  Hydrate  (BaO,  H,0  =  171).  (Crystals  BaO,  H,0  +  8H,0 
=  171  + 144.)  The  hydrate  is  soluble  in  twenty  parts  of  cold  and  in 
three  part;^  of  hot  water. 


SYMPTOMS    OF    BARYTA    POISONING. 


121 


Barium  Sulphate  (BaSO,  =  233).     The  sulphate  is  very  insoltible,  and 

it  is  dinibtfiil  whether  it  is  a  |>i>is«>n,  It  is  called  heavy  spar  ainl  is  used 
an  a  substitute  for  and  an  adulteraut  of  white  lead  (permaneDt  white). 

Barium  Chhnde (BaCl,=  208).  (Cry8tal8= Bad,, 2H,0  =  208  +  36.) 
The  chloride  crystallizes  in  thin  pearly  plates.  It  h  insoluble  iu  absolute 
alcohoK 

Barium  Nitrate  (Ba,  2X03=261)  is  largely  used  in  pyrotechuy.  When 
heated,  BaO  h  left. 

Barium  Carbowtic  CB&CO^^  197)  Wltherite.  It  is  insoluble  in  water, 
but  is  easily  soluble  in  the  acid  juices  of  the  stomach.  It  is  used  as  a  rat 
poisOQ.     A  drachm  is  said  to  be  a  fatal  dose. 

Symptoms ,  Dote,  etc. 

The  symptoms  produced  by  Baryta  and  its  salt^  are  those  of  an  irritant 
poisfon.  Great  patn  io  the  stomach  and  bowels,  a  heaving  palpitation  of 
the  heart,  with  purging  and  vomiting,  are  the  prominent  symptoms. 

Towards  the  clf»se  of  the  case,  brain  and  oer\'oua  sym|)toms  usually  occur, 
0uch  as  giddiness,  cramps,  paralysis,  and  violent  cotivulsioiia. 

Death  has  resulte<l  from  one  drachm  of  the  chloride,  whilst  bad  symp- 
toms were  pro<luced  in  one  case  by  less  than  three  grains  given  iu  divided 
doses.  A  C-ase  is  recorded  of  poisouuns  symptoms  being  produced  in  a  child 
bv  itJ*  sucking  a  paper  collar  that  had  been  stiffened  with  sulphate  of 
Baryta  (T)  r  British  Medical  Journal,"  February  8ih,  1^08.  p,  136). 

Death  has  occurred  in  one  hour  and  been  delayed  fur  seventeen. 

Pod-mmiem  Appearances, 

Those  recorded  in  the  human  subject  are  very  similar  to  what  have 
been  observed  as  having  occurred  iu  animals.  The  ettects  in  the  main  are 
thoeie  of  an  irritant  poison.  In  a  ease  coming  under  the  observation  of 
one  of  the  authors  there  was  great  congestion  of  the  brain  and  its  mem- 
branes, both  sides  of  the  heart  were  full  of  black  Idood,  and  the  lungs 
much  inrtamed.  The  stomach  as  well  as  the  duodenum  sh<»wed  signs  of 
considerable  inflammatory  action.  Perforation  has  in  one  case  been  re- 
corde<l.  The  remainder  of  the  intestines  were  not  in  the  case  referred  to 
in8ame<i  nntil  the  rectum  was  reached,  and  this  was  found  to  be  in  a  state 
of  great  cx)ngestion. 

Oriila  has  polluted  out  that  the  salts  of  barium  are  quickly  absorbed  and 
\y  be  detected  after  death  in  the  liver,  spleen,  and  kidneys. 


Treatment, 

The  treatment  consists  in  the  free  administration  of  the  soluble  sulphates, 
such  AS  those  of  sodiutn  and  magnesium.  The  stomach-pninp  may  be  used 
if  the  case  be  seen  early^  and  emetics  must  be  given  freely. 


^^H            122                EXPERIMENTS    WITH    BARYTA    OK    ANIMALS.          ^^^^^| 

^^^^^f                                              Experiments  on  Animalt,                                     ^^^^M 

^^H^             The  following  is  a  tabulated  li^t  of  the  results  obtained  by  several  in-    ■ 

^1 

vestigatorB : 

J 

I 

t>OM. 

ADlmaL 

Bympttiina. 

Reaaltc. 

Post-mo  riem. 

1 

10  ^rmln>  uf  Nitral« 
of     Ilaryu    (Tidy 

RabblMbf 

Deaib    IQ    1 

PupTliidil«l#d.  Brain, 
liv*-r,     and      lun^ 

^^^^^^M 

mouth). 

hour. 

■ 

and  WcHiJmau). 

cortgr-sli'd,  ^iiiri»a<-b 
rutleiii  atid  iiiHiim> 
eid,      R(*ctuni    very 
oong^'Hted.                  1 

n 

^^^^^H 

5  imlna   of  NUrmt« 

Rabhlt  (hj 
nioulh). 

Conrnlaions     In     2 

Death   in  26 

Bruin  normal.   Stom- 

^^^^^H 

of    Bftryu    (Tldr 

boun.         VIolrnt. 

boura. 

Neh    liinttiiii'd    and 

^^^^H 

and  WouduiAu). 

ga,«.p,.       Pupil. 

very  rotii-n.  Long* 

^^^^H 

and  livt«rcong>Bt«d. 

^^^^^^B 

liti'tiini    very  con- 

^^JL 

^^^^H: 

gealed.    No  appar- 

^^H 

^^^^^^^H 

ent   change  fii  the 

^^^^1 

^^^^B 

Bmall  lnte«tlne»- 

^^H 

^^^^^^M 

30  (jfRln*  of  Nit  rule 

Small  terrier 

ToB<0ri!in>1e  In  2hniirB, 

Di^th 

Brulii  normal.  Lung*. 

^^H 

^^^^H 

of    Bjirym    ilu\j 

(by  mouihj. 

Willi        vomlttdK, 

In  about  4 

liver,  sloniach,  and 

^^1 

^^^^H 

«uil  WuoOiuaiw. 

puf|flnR,  and  lon- 
vn|jiinn«.       I'ltidiM 

buura. 

duodenum  cungMU 

^^H 

^^^^^^^B 

ed.      Kictum      In- 

^^^^1 

^^^^H 

diluted. 

tcnaely  ao. 

^^H 

^^^^^^m 

10  gmlm  of  NKriitr 
of     Baryta    (Tidy 

Dog  (by 

No    marked    dymp- 

Recovered  In 

^^^1 

^^^^H 

muulbj. 

turns  for  17  bnors, 

4  daya. 

^^B 

H 

and  WviMitnMiij. 

wKvo  cour(iUion», 
vuinUinkf.uiid  purg- 
ing   OftMlflTd.      lu 

7H  hoors  paruly^ts. 

■ 

^^^^H 

20  irrainti  of  NllraU" 

Dog  (hy 

Votikirtng  Mnd  pttrK* 

Rerovered  In 

^^^^^^H 

of     rUiyttt    <Tldy 

muitih). 

Ing  In   a'«j   hoiira. 

2  daya. 

^^H 

and  W.M..JntftU|. 

roi>vi»Uiui>«    III   6 
hours. 

^^^^H 

30  tfrahift  of  Nltrale 
of     nnryta    <Tldjr 

r>oirfbr 

III.  t'l  luHirs  rojiTiil- 

Recovered  Id 

^^^^H 

UJOUtll), 

nlutibaiid  purging. 

8  daya. 

^^^^^^^H 

and  WiKidmim  i. 

^^^^H 

60  Kmllin  i>f  Nitrate 
of     Boiryla     <Tidy 

Large  dog  (by 

In  8  hoitru  con*ul- 

lle<x»v<»redlD 

^^^^H 

luuuth). 

■loaa  and  pu ruing 

2  daya. 

H 

and  Wuodruaij), 

— fMiuHHl    a    larice 
ooaniity  of  wau«r. 
In  23  hiHirn  paraly* 
nlit  <*f  hind  k-g». 

i 

^^^^H 

langrnlnnof  KUmte 
of     Baryta    (Tidy 

Largf  dog  (>y 

Courulsiuns,     |><irg- 

Death  In  2)4 

Brain  normal ;]unga. 

1 

^^^^^^B 

niuutbj. 

ing.  and  TOQiilhig 

boura. 

liter,  kidneys,  »t«- 

■ 

atid  Wuudmau). 

In   1   hour,    fircal 
thiral;     p«««3    a 
lari^Q   quantity    uf 
uriiitv 

nmeh.   and  oil  the 
int<'»tintiit  but    ea- 
peclally  the  ni'lum, 
dfiply     eongcatcd. 
fitaddor  eiapcy. 

J 

^^^^H 

6  grains  nf  Clikirlde 

(Tnjwted   into 

ConTulslona. 

Death   In   6 

^1 

^^^H 

Ol  Bariiim  i  Or II la). 

**•!««    of    tt 
dog.) 
Ai>|»n**d    lo    a 

ralnutca. 

^ 

^^^H 

W  Erainii    of    Chl<»- 
rtdfi     of    Barium 

Convubiona,    pal*y, 

Death  tn  » 

] 

^^^^H 

irourtdoa  lh« 

coma. 

mtnuiet. 

^ 

^^^H 

(Bnidie). 

back  of  a  rab- 
bit. 
Calibymuutb). 

■ 

^^^H 

3  grainx  of  rhluHdi* 

,. 

Death    In    1 

■ 

^^^^^^B 

«f  Bariums  Brodle). 

hour. 

^^^^H 

.%IJ    of    rniurld».»    of 
BariMiii      i  Htuard 

Horw!  (by 

Death  {D  IS 

^1 

^^^^H 

myuth). 

day.. 

^H 

^^^^^^1 

and  Blpin). 

^^^^^^m 

Slj  of  rarb.nate  nf 
Baryta  (raiuiybtlK 

I>..MHy 
mouth  J. 

, ^ „ 

Death   In    6 

^^^H 

^^^^H 

hotin. 

^^ 

^^^^^^B 

IS  ftntlns  *if  <^  nrbi>- 

l>.jg  (by 

..<........»>........»..».» 

Death  in  IS 

^^^^H 

aatff     nf     Bnrvla 

muuth). 

houTS. 

1 

^^^^^^H 

(lampbHI). 

^^^^^^m 

12  Kmltii.  of  TartM*. 

^^^^^H 

aat«     I'f     Uaryu 

Applied    l«    ■ 

ConTuUlonji. 

Duith. 

i 

^H 

(CampMU 

wound  on  the 
DflckofAoat, 

d 

^1 

Experiments  prove  that  Baryta  (as  happens  with  most  irritant  poisons) 

li 

^^^H           has  a  doyble  actiiiti,  the  one  local  aud  lli<?  other  renwte.     The  usual  symp-          1 
^^H           toois  are  couvulsiouis,  excessive  tmrgUig  and  vomiting,  great  thirst,  dilated          i 

^^H^          pupils,  with  frequent  and  excessive  micturition  and  paralysis.   The  marked    M 

TBST8    FOR    BARIUM    AND    ITS   SALTS. 


123 


post-mortem  appearances  are  persistent  rigor  ranrtiis,  distension  of  buth 
Bidei  of  the  heart  with  hlairk  bluod,  congt\«tion  of  the  lung^;,  liver,  aud  kid- 
neys, congestion  and  extreme  rottenness  of  the  stomach,  and  sometimes  of 
the  whole  intestines,  but  invariably  intense  iufhimmatiou  of  the  rectum. 

Tc9Ufi>r  the  Salts  of  the  MdaU  qJ  the  Alkaline  Earths. 

Note:  There  are  certain  properties  that  barium, strontium, and  enlcinm 
salts  have  in  common. 

1.  Their  sulphides  and  sulpbydratea  are  all  soluble;  therefore,  they 
are  not  precipitated  by  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  or  by  sulphide  of  am- 
monium. 

2.  Their  oxalates*,  phasphate^,  and  carbonates  are  inBoluble  in  water* 
They  ran  all  therefore  be  precipitated  by  a  soluble  carbounte. 

3.  They  lire  all  precipitated  byj?u]phunc  add  and  the  soluble  sulphates. 
Sulphaie  of  barijta  is  alwolutely  insoluble  in  water — sulphate  of  tttmntiu 
Dearly  insoluble  in  water,  and  tnilphate  of  calcium,  only  soluble  to  the  extent 
of  1  grain  in  1  oz-  of  water 

4-  A  white  fixed  residue  is  left  when  any  of  their  salts  are  ignited. 


I 


Test^for  Barium  and  its  Salts. 

1.  Sulphuric  acid  and  mlidions  of  all  tnilpltat^ff  give  a  white  precipitate 
of  sulphalL*  of  barium  (BaSO^  =  23*{)  which  is  insoluble  either  in  acids  or 
alkalies.  Always  before  testing  uetdiilute  the  solution  with  nitric  acid,  or 
otherwise  the  white  precipitate  may  be  a  carbonate,  phosphate,  or  oxalate 
of  barium. 

2.  Heated  on  platinum  wire  in  a  colorless  Bunsen  flame  or  before  the 
blowpipe,  they  impart  a  green  color  to  the  flame. 

8.  In  neutral  and  acid  solutions,  Itiffirofluo-tilicic  acid  gives  a  precipitate 
of  iluottilicate  of  barium  (Ba8iF,i.  The  acids  of  the  several  salts  must 
be  recognized  by  their  several  reactions. 


Tospicoh^ical  AnalysU. 

Filter  the  contents  of  the  stomach. 

{a)   f*iltrred  liquid. 

Add  dilute  suJphuric  acid,  boil  and  filter.  Ignite  the  Bker-pa|xir  so  as 
to  burn  away  the  organic  matter.  Boil  the  residue  with  water,  acidulated 
with  sulphuric  acid,  and  again  filter  and  weigh.  Kvery  101)  grains  indi- 
cate 65.H6  of  baryta.  This  indicates  the  quantity  of  soluble  baryta  salt 
present. 

(X)  HrM due  on  filler. 

Boil  with  carbouute  of  soda,  filter,  and  wash  the  residue  with  distilled 
water,  a<'idulated  with  hydrochloric  acid.  Test  the  filtrate  for  baryta  as 
io  the  preceding  ease. 


Ca!*fn  nf  piiinnn't»g  hi/  fhr  Snlt!^  iif  Bnryta. 
(L)  CHLORIDE  OF  BARIUM. 

CASE  ].— "LAACct."  FrbruRry  30tb,  1859,  p.  211  (Mr.  W«Uti,  M«aobf«tfir).  Femde:  cet.22.  A  tea« 
^pooofkjl  (BlKHit  5Ji  In  WKtcr. 

$^mtfiam: — In  half  an  hour  strer*?  p«in,  rornltiuFT  snd  piin^ng  set  tn.    In  nne  hour  and  a  tiiilf 
aaiicul«r  ijowtff  of  extrtiulUei  Aliuotl  Rone,  IniollljiU'nfi-  noi  iinpiilritl,  reopirallott  «lc»w  and  labupid. 
In  rlichl  hours  KyioploiDn  fteviuvil  lo  Abate,  but  f-'liirocd  with  outrm  «fl<T  ftMirtprn  hours.    Convul- 
tiofui  tfccurrrd  Iwu  hour*  before  ile«tti»  aud  coutitiucd  witliuut  luUriuitalua  uutil  dQath. 
r. — Dciftth  Io  •«vcDti<«a  bours. 


124 


CASKS   OF   POISONING    WITH    BARIUM    SAL' 


GA3E  %—"  Ann.  d'lljrg./*  iMl,  2, 217.    SJ  taken  tn  laisUke  for  GUulief  mU. 
jS!|m;i/oi»«,^Voiu{tiiig,  cuHvuUiuti,  beadAcbc, deafueu. 
JierM^.— Deulli  In  one  bour, 

CASE  3.— "Christtiaon."  p.  A80  (Dr,  Wiich).    Fflmale:  adult    S«a.  bjr  mUtake  for  sulphate  of  aoda. 
SjftnjtlomM.-^k'kuvhtt  eorivu1i<iuii»,  loaxuf  voice,  faculties  ck'sr  to  the  losL 

I'M  mftrirm  —Stomach  vrrjr  (tiflnmcd  rxtornally  and  Internally  *  pcrfornflon  near  the  cardiac  end; 
aniall  Inlt^tlni'S  fuAarnrd  ;  iar^e  ii]t(^tlti«  contravUHl  ,  luuuaandl  brain  gur^ed. 

CJi&V,  •».— "Mi'dical  TliMiV  March  28»h,  I^W.  p.  WJS)  (Dr.  FerguMiii,  from  the  *'  Dublin  .Tournal  of 
ll«dlcftl  8<<iciice*'|.  Femslv.  One-twdrib  grain  three  iluiea  a  day  (atmul  two  graiua  and  a  quarter 
altogether). 

Ify&ktttomt.—ln  a  WMlt  extreme  exhauslioa  rnme  on,  and  wxcre.  norrous  sjmptoma, 

iian^.— Rocorrry. 

(II)  NITRATE  OF  BARYTA, 

CASE  a.— "PharniawutlcalJournal.  "  June,  1872,  p.  1021;  "Medical  Pre«»nd  ClrcuUr'WDr  Tidy 
and  Mr.  Keiuu'UyK    Male-  «t,  4««     Coui«idemljIo  i|ijantity  Klveu  in  mlktake  mixed  with  aulphur. 

S}fmplitHu.—&^m)}UniM  iintuedlate.  JuU>na«  paJo  lu  htoiuacb,  ]u«a  of  voice,  vuiiiUitig.  purging, oua- 
Tiilsioiis. 

Mfuiuit.—VK'iWi  in  six  hoiireand  a  limir. 

IW-iworfrm.— Great  congcttlou  (if  the  vi*HN3ra.    <if  the  intestine*,  cjuly  the  duodeoum  and 
reetuut  aflvctcd. 

(m.)  CARBONATE  OF  BAR7TA 

CASE  6— " Mi-dical  OtMUe,"  vol.  llv.p.  418  <  Dr.  Wilson).  Female.  Ualf  a  teacup  in  water  taken 
fksliug. 

Sjfntptomt. — III  liro  honn  weight  atiitomach,  ditnucaa  of  sight,  pain  In  bead,  cramp  in  legf,  vomit- 
ing, Ketere  |>al|ji<alluufl. 

JtentU. — Becuvery. 

(IV.)  ACETATE  OF  BARYTA 

CASE  7.—"  Medical  Tlmca  and  Gaxette,"  January  9Iat.  18'4.  p.  134,    Male :  wt.  40.   A  conatdenbl« 
quADiiiy, 
JitoMtt.— Death, 

STRONTIUM  (Sr.  =87.5;  sp.  gr.  2.5). 

The  nitrate  of  strontium  is  largely  used  in  firework  manufacture.  All 
the  compflunrls  are  more  or  less  [)o)j?onous.  We  are  indebted  tor  experi- 
roent^  with  the  stroiitinm  ^hs  to  Pelletier,  Blu  men  bach,  Gnielin,  and 
Blake^  A  rabbit  died  frum  the  effeetj?  uf  hall  an  ounce  uf  the  chloride  of 
BtroDiiuni  given  internally,  a  fnialJer  doj^e  producing  no  effect.  Th  o  drachms 
of  the  carbonate  and  two  of  the  nitrate  given  to  rabbits,  merely  caused  a 
slight  diarrhrea.  Ten  grain.*?  of  the  chloride  injected  into  the  jngnlar  vein 
of  a  dog  pnxluced  no  rciiults,  but  forty  grains  arretted  the  heart's  acliuo 
in  fifteen  seconds. 

1.  The  Siduhlf  Oirbouute»  give  white  insnliible  precipitates,  soluble  id 
hydrochloric  acid,  and  in  water  containing  carbonic  acid. 

2.  Di/ute  Sulphur  if  Acid  and  Stflttblfr  Stt/phtteJt  give  a  white  precipitate 
of  sulphate  of  strontia  (SrSO, »,  insoluble  in  tliluie  atnds.  The  precipitate 
being  somewhat  soluble  in  water,  does  not  form  iraraediatelj  the  test  solu- 
tion is  added. 

'i.  Strontium  compounds  when  heated  render  the  flame  of  a  carmine 
red  color. 

CALCIUM  (Ca  =  40;  sp.  gr.  1.6). 

One  ca?e  of  death  from  lime  is  recorded.  A  man  was  ordered  by  his 
physician  to  drink  some  lime-water.  He  thereupon  procureii  a  lump  of 
lime,  put  it  into  water,  stirred  it  up,  ami  drafik  the  thiek  liquid.  Death 
occurred  in  a  few  hours  ('*  Medical  Tirne.«  and  Gazette/*  Feb.  4th,  1871,  p. 
13).     Lime  is  a  caustic  and  irritant  poim>n.     lo  cases  of  poisoning  the 


THE    M£TALS« 


125 


soluble  8u1phates  should  be  adraialstered.     It  should  be  remembered  that 
lime  i»  a  ualural  coostitueni  of  various  tissues. 

Tests  for  Salta  of  Lime. 

1.  The  Soiuble  Carbonated  give  white  insoluble  precipitates  of  calcium 
carhrmate  (ChCO  ). 

2.  DUtde  Sulphnrie  Aeid  give?,  in  concentrated  solutions  only,  a  white 
precipitate  of  sulphate  of  lime  (CiiSOj)  Bfiirhtly  soluble  in  water, 

3.  Oxalate  of  Atinnotila  gives  a  white  [irecipitnte  of  oxalate  of  lime 
(CaCjO^),  soluble  in  hydrochloric  acid.  Tlie  delicacy  of  this  test  is  in- 
creased by  the  previous  addition  to  the  solution  uf  a  little  free  ammonia. 
A  similar  precipitate  is  prtHluced  with  baryta  and  strontia. 

4.  Lime  cora()ounds,  ht^aied  in  the  inner  blowpipe  flame,  give  an  orange- 
red  color  to  the  outer  Hume.  Insoluble  saltj*  should  be  first  moistened 
with  hydrochloric  acid  before  placing  tbem  io  the  flame. 


CFIAPTER  X. 


THE  METALS. 


Antimony— Twrliir  Ernotic;  ProjK'riiea,  Symptoni^,  TfnHtm<*nt,  etc.— Chronic 
AnttmoninI  Poi'oning — E\|>erimpnli»  on  Aiiimnls — T(>t9— QiiMntitntive  E?*li- 
rniiliim — T«i3ii«:»l'>)MjirMl  AmilyHi* — Chi<*ridi'  of  Aruiirinny;  Pr<*jt>'rlw*»t  kIc  — 
C'Mf*»«8  of  poisoning — A/Aeriiriitu,  Ars^i'iiif^Prfpurulion  — Uji<-<« — Propt-rtir* — 
St>1ubility— Sym|ilonis,  i*ic. — Tri-Mlmi-iit— Pt»t-nioriem  A|ip4»nr»nr<'si — CliniRJc 
Ar^fnicnl  PoiKoning — Tesl.t — Toxicolo^ieal  Aiialy>-ift — Vrtriouf?  l*r«x"'*!«si«s — Ar- 
wnlc  Arid — Arsenileof  Copiwr — lis  U^a  for  VVhII  Piipcr*.  etc  — IWi?— Orpi- 
ment — Rfnljjnr — Chloritl*^ i»f  Aruonicuin — Ars<'r(iuroU»'<l  rt>ilr'»p<tr» — Iciditlf  of 
Arsenicum — BUmulh — Cadmium — Certtnn  —  Cftrumiifvt — Bk-hn^muU*  of  Pnlnsh 
— Chronic  INiisuninc — Cuhnff — (%*pp'(^f — Kctl  tlviiji* — Blnck  Uxi(t»' — Sul|,hnt« — 
Siil{jhide — NiifHle— Tli«  AreiHles — Symptttin* — Exp'rinuMVls  upon  Anitiuils— 
Chninic  Copp«»r  Poittininq: — Artion  (»f  W»t<'r  und  of  Arti<'l<«*  (.f  Fo<.<J  <.n 
Cupper  Ves-ils — Test* — Quid — hntllum  nud  /fftodtutn — lion — L^ttd—Cavhuhnle 
of  Lfitd  Mnd  oilier  ShIu — S\  inplorui*— Aclitm  on  AnimAb — Trfjilm«nt — 
CUronic  LfHd  PoLinnijii; — Artion  of  Wiil<*r  on  Lead — Airtion  of  Aoidt*  on 
Lend — l*ost-inoriem  Ajtp«>irnnotr!»— Ti'«i.-i — T'*xicolr»ifkHl  Annly>is — MnntfnueM 
—  i'V/rrcf/ry— C<»rrosive  8nbliiiiHle — S\  mjdoitis-^Trt'HliiU'ril — Clironic  Mrrt'U- 
rittl  Pi*iftotiirtU — Experiments  on  AniniulH — l'M*il-mort('in  App<  umiu'ea — T«'sL8 
— Toxit'olotjienl  A»iMly-*ii*— Calom*»l — White  Pn-cipifHU'—  K^J  rn-ripiiHi© — 
Turpt'th  MiniTul — VrrmiHon  — Nilrutes — CyHni«l*p  and  Siilpli<K'VHrude  of  Mor- 
ciini* — Mi*rouric  Methido — yt'ttyhdcnuoi  —  Nirkel — 0.imuifn^l'*iilfiditit/t  —  IHali- 
nutn — SUi-er — ThnlHutn —  Tin —  Tifanittut —  Tutn/iffen —  UrnniuTn—ZfUC —  Oxide 
— OHrlfoniiio — t'hloriiki — Sulpliid"* — SutpUnt<' — Aoi'tMle— Syinptoma,  etc, — Ex- 
perimenu  on  Aniinula — Tcsit* — T«»xjrologicul  Analysis. 

ANTIMONY  (Sb  =  122), 
(Sp.  gr,  6J1  ;  fuse^  at  430=*  C.) 

Antimony  is  usually  prepared  from  the  gray  antimony  ore  ^ black  suJ- 

fjhide).  It  is  a  bliiish-wliiti^  very  brittle,  laminated,  eryptallinc  (rhombo- 
ledric)  metal,  not  rearlily  tarnishing  in  air,  and.ulthough  volatile,  nothing 
like  go  volatile  Eis  arsenic. 

The  metal  itself  i^  said  not  to  be  poisonous,  but  all  its  compounds  are. 


126 


PROPERTIES    OF    ANTIMONY. 


Tartar  emetic  and  the  chlorides  are,  toxicolugicAlly,  the  most  tniportaol 
of  its  palt--^. 

Antimony  is  largely  employed  id  various  branches  of  industry.  The 
metal  Uiieil  for  tyjM?  consistii  of  one-fourth  antiniony,  one-fourth  tin,  and 
the  rest  lead ;  the  antimony  being  used  from  the  cirrnmstJiuee  that  it  ex- 
pands a  little  on  cooling, ?io  giving  isharpue,"»s  to  the  cast.  A  certain  c)uaa- 
tity  is  a!w  added  to  pewter,  Britannia  metal,  and  the  old  Poniln  Emclica, 
Tbe  autimoniou8  oxide  ^rrouud  yf'nh  liiii^eed  oil  is  iitied  as  a  white  paiDt, 
but  is  much  inferior  to  lead. 

Antimony  burns  when  heated  to  redness,  giving  off  an  oxide  (Sb,0,), 
It  catches  fire  when  powdered  and  thrown  into  chlorine  and  bromine. 

Hydrochloric  and  sulphuric  acidj*  have  no  action  upon  it  when  cold, 
but  tliey  have  when  heated.  It  is«  oxidized  by  hot  nitric  acid,  antimonic 
acid  (8h,0^)  being  formed.     It  is  freely  soluble  in  uitrodiydrochloric  acid. 

The  ?»ah>  of  antimony  are  generally  white,  and  art*  witliout  taste.  They 
are  not  uj^ually  deromposerl  by  heat.  Tbey  are  mostly  either  insoluble  or 
of  difficult  solubility  in  water,  but  their  solubility  is  increased  wlieu  organic 
substances  are  present.  Tbey  are  generally  soluble  in  hydrochloric  acid, 
but  precipitation  oecurs  if  the  solution  be  poured  into  water. 

It  should  be  nested  that  both  the  metal  and  its  salts  usually  contaia 
small  but  notable  traces  of  arsenic. 


I 


Sb,0, 

SbA 


292 
32-4 


Compounds  of  Anthmity, 

Antimoui/  and  Oxijffen, 

Antimonious  Oxide,     ,         .         .         - 
ArUinmnic  Oxide  or  Antimony  Peroxide, 

Antimony  and  Clihrine, 
Antimonious  .Sulphide, 
Antimonic  t^ulphide  (Gold  8ulphur\   , 

Antimoity  tind  Suiphnr, 
Antimonious  Chloride, 
Antimonic  Chloride 

Aniimftmj  and  ffydroffen, 

Antim<miurt?tted  Hydrogen^         .         .         .     RhH,,  =  125 
Potftssio-tartrate  of  Antimony,  .    2[K(SbO;C,HpjHjO    =  6ti8 


Sb,S,  =  340 
Sb,S,  ^  404 

SbCl,  =  228.5 

Sbci,  =  2yy.5 


Tartar  Emeiic  or  Pfiiasttw-inrirnU  of  Antimony, 

2[K(SbO)C,H,OJHA 

(Stibiated  Tartar,  Tartrate  of  Antimony  and  Potash,  Tarlarized 
Antimony.) 

This  is  a  salt  cvf  tartaric  acid  in  comljination  with  potassium  and  auti- 
mony.  It  is  found  in  comn»erce  either  as  a  white  atuorphous  powtler,  or 
in  yellowish-white  crystalline  massa^,  having  a  metallic  taste  and  a  faintly 
acid  reaction  when  dissolved.  The  crystals  are  octahedral,  somewhat 
efflorescent,  and  turn  orange-red  when  touched  witlj  sulphide  of  am- 
monium. 

Tartar  emetic  is  soluble  iu  twelve  to  fourteen  fiarts  of  water  at  ordinary 
temjieratures,  and  in  about  three  parts  when  boiling.  Tlie  solution  easily 
decomposes,  and  even  when  very  dilute,  growths  of  a  filamentous  nature 
will  be  developed  in  it  after  standing  a  short  time.  It  is  insoluble  in 
aloohoi.     If  spirit  be  added  to   an  aqueous 


solution  of  even  extreme 


SYMPTOMS    OF    ANTIMONIAL    POISONING- 


127 


dilution,  it  precipitates  the  salt  in  the  form  of  plumose  crystals.  When 
heatad  io  a  reduction-tube  it  turu8  black,  the  reMdunl  masA  coasisting  of 
the  roettil  and  carbon.  According  to  Taylor,  the  heat  of  the  sspirit-Iump 
t»  insufficient  to  effect  its  subliniatiuu.  Mixeii  with  curbonate  t)f  ymiimni, 
and  heated  on  charcoal  with  the  bh>wpipe,  ghjbules  of  the  metal  will  be 
formed,  and  may  he  recognized  by  their  extreme  briltiene«s,  ami  by  their 
havinu:  a  white  incrugiation  around  them  ;  but  both  the  metal  and  the  in- 
crustation disappear  if  the  heat  be  suffit-iently  intense  and  long  (■(uuimjed. 
Lastly,  note,  as  we  have  iiiiid,  that  tartar  emetic  often  contains  a  trace 
of  ardenic. 

Sijmptomgt  Dose,  etc. 

In  the  act  of  swallowing  the  poison,  the  patient  complains  of  tin  in- 
tensely metallic  tai^te.  In  a  !*hort  tinie  pain,  pjk rial ly  iti  the  region  of  the 
stomachy  and,  more  or  lesi?,  uwr  the  wbule  abdumcUf  coiner  ou.  There  is 
usually  intense  thirst,  but  drinking  is  an  effort,  owin^  to  a  feeling  of  con- 
striction in  the  throat.  Ince?i.>*ant  and  violent  vomiting,  with  continuous 
purging,  are  usually  early  and  likewi-^e  hop<:ful  synifjtunis.  If  they  are 
ab-ent  (as  they  sometimes  are},  the  case  is  then  more  d€*!*perate.  Intense 
cardiac  depression  is  a  prominent  symptom.  The  pnl^e  may  be  so  feeble 
that  it  can  scarcely  be  felt,  the  ^kin  clammy  and  cold,  the  res-piralion 
laborious,  and  tlie  urine,  though  increased  in  quantity,  pasj*ed  with  pain. 
Cramps  in  the  extremities,  convulsions  and  ^pn^ims  of  a  tetanic  nature, 
often  precede  death,  which  re^ultn  generally  from  collapse  by  the  depress- 
ing action  of  the  poison  ou  the  heart.  For  this  reason  antimony  should 
not  be  admini.stered,  even  modieinally,  to  old  people.  The  palts  of  anti- 
mony, and  especially  tartar  enietic,  are  apt  to  aflect  the  puliviiry  glands. 
Magendie  salivated  dogw  with  tariar  emetic,  antl  Dr.  Samuel  Wright  has 
seen  an  artive  ptyalif*m  indueed  by  James's  powder.  ("Lancet,"  Sep- 
tember 10th,  1842,  p.  807.)  In  .some  eases  inseiisibility  has  been  an  early 
symptom,  and,  at  a  later  period,  a  peculiar  pustular  eruption  has  been 
uoticed  on  the  skin  and  throat.  8nch  eruptiom*  are  not  nnt'onimon  even 
when  ointmenl^t  crmtaining  antimony  have  been  applied  externally. 

The  quantity  necessary  to  cause  death  varies  greatly.  Recovery  i?  re- 
conicd,  on  several  occa-sions,  after  half  an  ounce,  whilst  Ij  grain  has 
proved  fatal.  Its  external  applieation  on  a  plaster,  and  as  an  (tintment 
to  the  spine,  has  abo  caused  death.  The  variable  result*  prudueed  by 
large  and  small  doses  may  be  explained  in  two  ways:  (1st.)  If  vomiting 
and  purging  are  early  *iymptonis,  all  or  nearly  all,  the  poison  may  ?>€  got 
rid  of.  Hence  the  reason  why  v«miitiug  and  purging  render  the  ease  hope- 
ful. (2dly.)  Peculiar  idiosyncrasie,¥.  Children  can  take  large  dose?*  Ivetter 
than  adults.  The  ordinary  effects  of  antimony,  moreover,  are  not  noticed 
when  it  is  admiui.stered  in  certain  disease.^,  such  as  in  croup  and  inftara- 
mation  of  the  lungs,  when  even  two  grains  may  be  given  at  short  intervals 
without  bad  ettects  being  produced. 

In  one  case  death  wcurred  in  seven  hours.  This  is  the  shortest  time  on 
record.  In  other  cases  it  has  been  delaj'ed  for  one,  two,  and  four  days, 
and  even  for  two  and  more  weeks. 


Treaiment. 

If  vomiting  is  not  present,  it  must  be  immediately  induced  by  draughts 
of  wartn  water,  or  by  hot  milk,  or  by  tickling  the  throat;  and  if  these 
fail,  the  stomach-pump  should  be  used  without  delay. 

'I'incture  of  cinchona  bark,  or  any  liquids  containing  tannin,  such  aa 
strong  tea,  nutgalls,  or  decoction  of  oak  bark,  are  the  proper  antidotes. 


\^      FOST-MOETBM  APPEAR A9CCE8  IS  A57IM05IAL  POISONIFO. 

WKeu  the  iloauicii  b  nd  of  ike  poiroB,  wtnm^  caflw  mar  Ik  giTen,  w 
opium  to  allay  the  vomittog;  vbite  blond lefticig.  &&  sa  aiidpblo^tic,  m 
bd  ittdicateii. '  0|ii«t»  are  oAeo  naefiii  m  Uii»  siagc^ 

XiMl-MOf€aii  jippetxTdMCttm 

The  toDgiie  is  fmiallTooTefed  with  a  white  fur.    Gaageslioo  fif  the  da 

maier,  effu^iun  betweeo  the  aracbooid  and  pia  otater,  injeenoo  of  the  ve 
sela  OD  the  i^urface  of  the  braio,  with  coDgesiioo  of  the  brain  iti$elf, 
oommoDly  found.  The  liiog^  are  frequentlj  of  a  very  deep  color.  Tl 
Btomach  aud  first  part  of  the  iateiiSiDes  are  gen^mlly  Tery  inflamed 
empty.  No  c&ee  of  perforation  h  recorded,  hut  the  stomach  iu  one 
appeared  as  if  ulcerated.  Both  s4oa»eb  and  bcywels  are  generally  covere 
with  a  thick,  viscid  coating  of  altoijr  nracaik  Tlie  blood  ia  usoally  bla  ' 
aud  fluid. 

Chronic  AnHmottial  Primming:  £ipmai«ni9  on  AnimaU. 

On  more  than  one  occaaion  death  has  been  caused  criminally  by  t 
administration  of  ^rnall  doees  of  antimony  at  intervals  to  healthy  persoi 
Nausea  and  vomiting,  with  extreme  depression,  accompanied  either  h 
constipation  or  by  a  watery  pur^ng,  death  at  ia^  resulting  from  exbam 
tion,  are  the  prominent  f^ymptoms. 

Our  knowledge  of  chronic  antimonial  poi^ninj;  is  derived  from  th 
ezperimenta  of  several  investigators;  amongst  others.  Dr.  Xevins  ("Livel 
pool  Medioi-Chirurgical  Journal,"  Ko.  1  >,  Oriila,  Richardson,  and  t 
Messrs.  Miller  and  Lavran  ("  Ann.  d'Hygi^e,"  vol  xxxvi,  p.  221 ).  Th 
remlta  of  Dr.  Xevius's  observations  we  have  taken  from  the  ab^^tract 
Guy*s  '*  MtkUU&lJ*  Hi«  experiments  were  conducted  on  eleven  rabbitis 
which  do»e»  of  0.5  gr.,  1.0  gr.,  aud  2.0  grs.,  were  given  four  limes  dail 
The  weakest  rabbit  died  after  lakiog  12,  the  strongest  after  taking  7 
grains.  One  died  after  four,  aud  another  after  seventeen  days.  One  wi 
killed  thirty-one  days  after  it  bad  taken  the  la^t  doeeof  tbe  {v»isou,  one 
fourteen  days,  and  three  in  one,  three,  and  four  days  respectively. 

The  general  symptoms  noted  were  emaciation  and  great  loss  of  appetil 
None  of  them  vomited,  aud  in  only  three  cas&  out  of  eight  was  there  an; 
diarrhcea;  four  out  of  the  five  had  convulsions;  and  one  aborted. 

Antimony  was  found,  in  every  case,  in  large  quantity  in  tbe  liver,  ai 
in  smaller  quantities  in  tbe  spleen  and  stomach.     It  was  found  in  the  ki 
iiejs  in  thoee  animals  that  survived  for  some  time.     It  was  found  in  th 
iungs,  and,  in  thoee  that  bad  lived  for  fifteen  days,  in  the  bones.     It 
also  found  in  the  urine  after  tbe  animals  bad  taken  the  twelfth  d4^se;  am 
lastly,  it  was  found  in  the  fcetal  rabbit  in  tbe  case  where  alx^rt ion  occui 

The  ap|)ea  ranees  after  death  were  in  each  case  great  congestion  of  tb 
liver  and  inflammation  of  tbe  mucous  membrane  of  the  stomach.  In  tw 
caaea  ulceration  was  observed.  The  inflammation  extended  iu  some  c 
into  the  small  intestines,  the  solitary  glands  being  often  enlar^^nl  and  coif 
ered  with  a  yellowish  deposit,  which,  on  analysis,  was  found  to  contatj 
antimony.  The  colon  and  rectum  were  generally  healthy,  the  kidne 
somewhat  congested,  and  the  lungs  very  much  so.  The  brain,  heart,  am 
spleen  were  usually  normat. 

It  was  long  ago  proved  that  large  doses  of  antimony  might  be  given 
dogs,  nn<l  thut  little  effect  was  produced,  provided  free  vomiting  occurred 
but  that  if  the  gullet  was  tied,  to  prevent  vomiting,  a  very  few  grai 
wouhl   prove  fatal.      If  injected   into   the  vein;*,  a   very  small  quauti 
induced  vomiting  and  purging,  with  iuflanimation  of  the  lungs  and  al 


128      POST-MORTEM  APPEARANCES  IN  ANTIMONIAL  POISONING. 


When  the  8tomach  is  rid  of  tfie  pnisou»  strong  coffee  may  be  given,  and 
opium  to  altay  the  vomiting  ;  whiUt  lilooiilettiug^  a^  iiu  antiplilugiatic,  may 
be  iDdieated.    Opiates  are  often  useful  iu  thie  stage. 

Post-mortem  Appearances, 

The  tongue  is  u«uiil I y  covered  with  a  wKitn  fur.  Congestion  of  the  du 
mater,  effusion  between  the  arachnoid  and  pin  mater,  injection  of  the  Vi 
eels  on  the  surfaee  of  the  brain,  with  congealioo  of  the  brain  JLself,  are 
commonly  found.  The  Iniigs  are  frequently  of  a  very  deep  color.  The 
eltunach  and  first  part  of  the  intestines  are  ji^enerally  very  inflamed  and 
empty.  No  ease  of  perforatiun  \a  recorded,  but  the  stomach  in  one  caae 
appeared  aa  if  ulcerated.  Both  stomach  and  bowels  are  generally  covered 
wilh  a  thick,  viscid  coating  of  slimy  mucus.  The  blood  is  usually  black 
and  fluid. 

Chronic  Antimonial  Poisoning:  Experiments  on  Animais. 

On  more  than  one  occasion  death  has  been  caused  criminally  bj  the 

administration  of  small  dojies  of  antimony  at  intervals  to  henUby  [)er»onik 
Naujisea  and  vomiting,  with  extreme  deprcjision,  acconipauied  either  by 
consiipatifiu  or  by  a  watery  purging,  death  at  la^t  resulting  from  exhaus- 
tion, are  the  prominent  symptoms. 

Oyr  knowledge  of  chronic  antimonial  poisoning  is  derived  from  the 
ex  i)eri  men  Is  of  several  investigators;  amoug?*t  other:*,  Dr.  Nevins  ("Liver- 
pool Medico-Chirurgical  Journal,"  No.  1),  Orfila,  Richardson,  and  the 
Mesi^Hra,  Miller  and  Lavran  T*  Ann,  d'Hygiuue,"  %'ol.  xxxvi,  p.  *221 ).  The 
resultn  of  Dr,  Nevins's  obsiervatioas  we  liave  taken  from  the  ab?^tract  in 
Guv's  "Manual."  Hia  experimenta  were  conducted  on  eleven  rabbits,  to 
which  doses  of  0.5  gr.,  1.0  gr.,  and  2.0  gr?*.,  were  given  four  time^  daily. 
The  weakest  rabbit  died  alter  taking  12,  the  strongest  after  taking  72 
grains.  One  die<i  after  four,  and  anotlier  after  seventeen  days.  One  waa 
killed  thirty-ooe  days  af\er  it  bad  taken  the  last  dose  of  the  poison,  one  in 
fourteen  days,  and  three  iu  one,  three,  and  four  days  resj>ectively. 

The  general  symptoms*  noted  were  eniucitttion  and  great  loss  of  appetite. 
None  of  them  vomited,  and  in  only  three  ciirfes  out  of  eight  was  there  any 
diarrhwa ;  four  out  of  the  five  had  convulsionj^ ;  and  one  aborted. 

Antimony  was  found,  in  every  ca^,  in  large  quantity  in  the  liver,  and 
in  smaller  quantities  in  the  spleen  and  stomuch.  It  was  found  in  the  kid- 
neys in  tho*ie  animals  that  survived  fursonie  time.  It  was  fovmd  iu  the 
lungs,  and,  in  those  that  bad  lived  for  fifteen  days,  in  the  bon*?s.  It  was 
also  found  in  the  urine  after  the  animals  bad  taken  the  twelfth  dose;  and, 
lazily,  it  was  found  in  the  fuetal  rabbit  in  the  ca>e  where  abortion  occurred. 

The  apj)earauees  after  death  were  in  each  case  great  congestion  of  the 
liver  and  inflammation  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  stomach.  In  two 
cases  ulceration  was  observed.  The  inflamnjatiou  extended  in  some  ca^es 
into  the  small  inte.stines,  the  solitary  glands  being  often  enlarfjed  and  cov- 
ered wilh  a  yellowish  deposit,  which,  nn  analysis,  was  found  to  contain 
antimony.  The  cohm  and  rectum  were  generally  healthy,  the  kidneys 
somewhat  conge8te<l,  and  the  lungs  very  rrtuch  so.  The  brain,  heart,  aod 
spleen  were  usually  normal. 

It  was  long  ago  provetl  that  large  doses  of  antimony  might  l>e  given  to 
dogs,  and  tliat  little  effect  was  produce<i.  provided  free  vomiting  occurred  ; 
but  that  if  the  gullet  was  tied,  to  prevent  vomiting,  a  very  few  grains 
would  prove  fatal.  If  injected  into  the  veins,  a  very  small  quantity 
induced  voiuitiog  and  purging,  with  inflammation  of  the  lungs  and  ali- 


I 

1 

I 


I 


i 


ANTIMONIAL    POISONING. 


129 


mentan*  cftnal.  And  thus  Dr.  Neviiie  coucludea  that  tartar  emetic  is  a 
deadly  p(ii.<oD  when  repeated  in  smul]  doses  for  a  **ufficient  length  of  time, 
but  that  the  total  quanlity  necei-sary  to  cause  death,  and  the  length  of 
time  required,  vary  considerably  in  cliifereut  cases :  that  there  is  a  general 
giinilanty  in  the  gymptoiDs*  and  morbid  a|ipearanfes  produced,  hut  by  no 
means  aWo^ute:  uniformity:  that  the  poison  permeates  all  the  tis,^u€»s  of 
tbe  bo<ly,  and  even  thoj;e  of  the  unborn  nttspring^  if  'Ms  adminiiilrati'in  be 
continue<l  long  enough,  whilst  at  the  same  time  it  is  couj*iuully  being 
eliminated  by  the  kidneyEi  and  bowels;  and,  lastly,  that  the  liital  etfecta 
are  uft^n  disproportionrtte  to  the  apparent  ehanges  found  alYer  death. 

As  regards  the  (detection  of  antimony,  Ortila  records  id  his  "Trait^de 
Toxicologie"  the  following  iacts  : 

1.  That  he  found  antimony  in  the  fat,  liver,  and  bones  of  a  dog  that 
had  taken,  three  mouths  and  a  half  before  itn  death,  4n.5  grains  of  tartar 
emetic  during  the  course  often  days.  No  antimony  had  been  taken  after- 
wards, 

2.  That  similar  results  were  obtaioed  in  a  second  case  in  which  the 
interval  wa<5  four  mouths. 

3.  Tartar  emetic  was  administered  to  a  bitch  for  a  period  of  five  days, 
fifteen  days  before  she  littered.     The  pups  were  liM>rn  at  full  time.     Both 

H     the  i)up!»  and  the  mother  were  then  killed,  and  aatiraony,  on  anrtly??is,  was 

■  found  iu  them  all. 

■  Dr.  Richard^in's  experiments  ("Lancet,"  May  10th,  185G)  are  ira- 
^^jMrtaot.  A  dog  died  iu  1  hour  and  40  minutes  after  a  drachm  of  tartar 
^HBniettc  iu  .solution  had  been  injected  into  the  cellular  tiswue.  The  *yiup- 
^^  lomfs  did  not  set  in  for  thirty  minute,*.    After  death,  both  sides  of  the  heart 

were  found  to  be  tli«itended  ;  the  lungs  dark,  and  full  of  bloud,  but  not 
inflamed  ;  the  bladder  empty,  and  the  blood  generally  fluitl.  The  mucouii 
inembrane  of  the  stomach  was  bright  pink.  The  antimony  wa.s  found  in 
the  following  part^,  beginning  with  that  part  where  the  largest  c|uantity 
was  discovered :  blood,  vomit,  rectum,  illng!*^  liver,  stomach,  bladder^  kid- 

Iuevs,  and  small  intestines. 
In  a  second  experiment,  made  with  antimouiuretted  hydrogen,  a   dog 
was  placed  in  a  glass  chamber  caf)able  of  holding  J^tJOO  cubic  inches  of 
^     air;  KK)  cubic  inches  of  the  gas  was*  admitted  every  twenty  miuutes,  and 
B    at  the  eud  of  3  hours  and  50  minutes  the  dog  died.     No  symptoms  set  in 
'        for  1  hour  and  40  minutef*.  when  purging  occurred,  and,  iu  ten  minutea 
afterwards,  vjmiting.     Extreme  prostration,  however,  was  the  prominent 
lymptom. 

In  the  post-mortem  all  the  viscera  were  found  congested;  the  blood 

P  loosely  coagulated;  the  lungs  inflated  and  full  of  blood,  but  not  specially 
inflamed. 
In  a  third  experiment,  a  wound  in  a  dog^s  neck  was  dressed  every  morn- 
ing with  tarlar^emetic  ointment.  The  dog  died  in  seven  dava.  There  wa,^ 
no  purging  or  vomiting,  but  the  animal  refused  food,  and  rfied  exhausted, 
as  if  from  inanition. 

The  bUtoil  waa  fluid,  the  stomach  red  internally,  and  the  heart  full  ou 
botli  sides.  No  antitaouy  was  found  iu  the  brain,  but  it  was  found  in 
larger  quantities  both  in  the  liver  and  in  the  spleen  than  iu  the  other 
organs. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  following  are  the  tests  for  antimony,  but  that 
only  a  few  are  testes  for  antimony  in  the  form  of  tartar  emetic'    In  a  so- 


130 


!ST8    FOR 


lution  of  tiirtar  eraetic,  after  the  antimony  lias  been  thrown  Hown  wiitb 
sulphuretted  byilrogen,  snul  filtered  off,  the  cream  of  tartar  (KHC^H^O^) 
may  be  obtained  by  evaporating  the  filtrate  to  dryness. 

1.  A  drop  of  the  solution  of  tartar  emetic  evaporated  to  drynesB,  yields 
tetralipilml  t.ry8tal«  of  the  salt. 

2.  The  soluliou  ha^  a  metallic  ta^te  aod  an  acid  reaction.  It  is  decom* 
posed  by  keepiug. 

3.  No  precipiiate  is  produced  with  Jerrncyanide  of  potassium  ;  and  thus 
it  is  known  from  mo^t  other  metallic  poi^oiiH. 

4.  Su/phtrrettt'd  hydro^fttt  given,  with  a  g^^ilution  reudered  acid  by  tartaric 
acid,  or  by  a  mere  drop  of  hydroi-hlorif  acid,  the  characteristic  orange-red 
precipitate  of  nntimoui<nis  sulpliiiliW.Sb.S,),  the  depth  of  color  being  jjome- 
what  dependent  on  the  qurtntity  of  anliiiiuiiy  present. 

This  precipitate  is  to  be  coiU'ctetl  and  well  wiuihed. 

Note  the  fallowing:  properties  and  reactions  of  the  precipitate  (Sb^S,): 

{(l^  It  is  Qot  soliilde  in  ammonia. 

(b)  It  is  solui^le  in  strong  solutiooja  of  caustic  potash. 

(c)  It  is  poluble  in  strong  hydrochloric  acid,  sulphuretted  hydrogen 

being  given  of,  which  may  be  known  by  its  snjeli  and  tiy  black- 
ening lead-paper.  Chloride  of  antimony  (^BbCl,)  will  be  found 
in  solution. 

(<l)  The  hydrochloric  acid  solution  of  the  chloride  (c)  jwured  into 
water  givey  a  white  precipiiate  of  oxychloride  of  antimony, 
which  is  S(jluble  in  tartaric  acid. 

(e)  The  precipitated  nnlphide  (Sh/S^)  i.«i  scdnble  in  sulphi<ie  of  ammo- 
nium, but  is  repreeipilated  of  au  orange-red  color  when  an  acid 
is  added. 

.^.  Rf.huch*ft  Test.     (For  general  directions  in  performing  the  experiment, 
4ll»'*  Arsenic") 

Make  the  experiment  as  follows: 

The  antimouial  sfilution  is  to  be  boiled  with  one-fourth  its  bulk  of  pure 
hydrochlorit:  acid,  together  with  a  j-mtill  piece  of  pure,  well-cleaneii  copner- 
foil.  If  antimony  be  present  in  forge  q^tnnl^ttf,  the  copjier  will  have  a  bl*iek 
deposit  of  the  metal  thrown  down  upon  it,  but  if  it  exist^i  only  hi  »mall 
quantity,  the  deposit  will  then  appear  of  a  vkiht-rcd  color. 

The  copper-fuil  is  to  be  removed,  washed,  dricil,  and  treated  as  follows : 

(a)  Heat  the  copper-foil  in  a  reduction-tube,  when  an  amorphous  sub- 
limate will  be  produced,  cli^^e  to  the  heated  end  of  ilie  tube. 
(No  siihliniate  is  priKluced  except  with  the  three  metals,  anti- 
mony, ar^nic,  and  mercury  ;  but  the  sublimate  of  nutimony  is 
ntnorphouj*^  of  nvHientc  octahcd mi,  find  of  vierniry  phhnfjir.) 

(iT)  Or  boil  the  copper-l'oil  io  a  s<dution  of  caustic  fiotash,  exposing  it 
every  now  and  then  Io  the  air  in  order  to  oxidize  it.  In  a  short 
time  (he  antimony  will  be  disjiolved,  and  an  antimoniate  of 
|HJtash  formed.  Acidulate  this  solutrtm  with  hydrochloric  acid, 
and  pa-ss  su)|jhiiretted  hydrogen  ihruugh  it,\vhen  an  orauge-red 
precipitate  will  be  produced,  which  is  to  be  tested  as  before  di- 
rected. 

(7)  Or  boil  the  coppt?r-foil  in  a  weak,  feebly  alkaline  solution  of  per- 
manganate of  potash.  The  antimoninl  coaling  will  be  diHSt)lved, 
the  permaiigaimtc  lo-ing  its  color,  and  mnriganie  liydratt'  pre- 
cipitated.    Filter  the  solution,  treat  the  tiltrate  with  a  few  jlrops 


TESTS    FOR    ANTIMONY, 


131 


of  hydrochloric  acid,  and  pass  sulphuretted  hydrogen  through 
it.    (Odling.) 

6.  MnrA*Ji  TtM.     (For  freneral  directious  Bce  "  Arseuic.** ) 
Ant imoiiiu retted   hydrogen  (SbH,)  is  set  free  by  the  action  of  dilute 

sulphuric  acid  mi  luyr  in  the  presence  of  antimony.     For  combiuation  to 
take  place  the  giis  uutst  be  ua;*cenl. 

Note- 

(a)  The  gas  produces  a  black  stain  if  allowed  to  play  on  a  piece  of 
paper  moistened  with  nitrate  of  silver  (antiovooide  of  silver). 

(p)  T&as  the  gas*  throu|zh  a  .-^olntinn  of  nitrare  of  Hilver,  when  a  bhick 
precipitate  of  a *if/mo«iW<' fjf  .*(7i'(r  will  be  thrown  down.  (In 
the  ease  of  arsenic,  a  blaek  [>recipitate  is  also  thrown  down,  but 
this  precipitate  con>i.sti*  merely  of  metnllic  mlver.)  Collect  the 
precipitate,  wash,  and  boil  for  !«onie  time  in  a  solution  of  tar- 
t^iric  acid,  filter,  and  treat  the  filtrate  with  sulphuretted  hy«iro- 
gen,  when  an  nraii^e-red  precipitate  (Sb^H.,)  will  be  obtained. 

(y)  The  gai*  (ShH,)  burns  with  u  pale  bliii>h-while  flame,  giving  off 
while  fume?  of  antimonitms  oxide  (Sb,0^), 

{Ji)  A  piece  of  white  porcelain  held  in  the  flume  is  sooa  coated  with 
•  a  black  deposit  of  metallic  autimouy. 

Note  the  following  properties  and  reactions  of  this  metallic  deposit: 

(1)  The  absence  of  metallic  lustre.     It  is  sootlike  iti  appearaoce. 

(2)  lis  ditficult  volatili/jition. 
(I])  lis  insidnbility  in  a  .solution  of  chloride  of  lime. 

(4)  Its  ^(duhility  in  sulphide  of  ammimium,  whieb,  on  evaporation 
to  drynesSj  leaven  a  briffftf  orauije  sUiin,  mlubie  in  hydrochlo- 
ric arid,  aod  ui soluble  in  ammonia. 

(N.  B.  The  arsi'uk-al  dej^sit  h  brilliantly  metallic,  vola- 
tilizes with  a  slight  heat,  is  soluble  in  a  solution  of  chloride 
of  lime,  and  in  sutpliide  of  ammoniym;  this  latter,  on  evapo- 
ration, leaving  a  yellow  stain  insoluble  in  hydrochloric  acid, 
hut  soluble  in  aiomonia. ) 

(5)  Treat  theantimonitvl  stain  with  nitro-muriaticacltl,  and  evapo- 
rate to  dryueK*.  The  residue  does  not  give  a  red  precipitate 
with  a  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver  as  hapf>ens  with  an  ar- 
senical stain. 

(e)  Heat  the  tube  conveying  the  aiitimoniuretted  hydrogen  with  a 
spirit-lamp,  when  a  ring  of  metnllic  antimony  will  be  found 
near  and  on  l>i)th  sides  of  the  flame  by  reason  of  its  slight 
volatility.     (See  Fig.  under  Arsenic.) 

Note  respecting  this  antimoniul  stain — 

(1)  The  antimonial  stain  is  difficult  to  sublime,  whilst  the  arsenical 
stain  sublime*  with  ease. 

(2)  No  white  octahedral  sublimate  cnn  be  formed,  as  with  arsenic. 

(3)  The  melallie  dep<wit  of  antimony  dissolves  easily  in  sulphide 
of  ammonium,  leaving  an  omnge  stain  on  evaponitiou. 

7.  Acidulate  the  autimontal  solution  with  about  one-tenth  its  bulk  of 
hydrochloric  acid  ;  suspend  iu  the  cold  mixture  a  piece  of  tin-fbil,  when. 

ither  immediately  or  iu  the  course  of  some  time,  a  black  deposit  of  the 
letal  wilt  be  thrown  down  on  the  tin.     This  does  not  occur  with  arsenic. 

8.  Plnee  a  few  drops  of  the  solution  of  autiniouy,  acidulated  with  by- 


132 

drochloric  acid,  m  a  shaHow  platinum  capsule.  Ttuich  the  platinum, 
through  the  liquid,  with  a  piece  of  ziiit*,  when  metalHe  antimony  will  be 
de|K>sited,  and  adhere  to  the  jilatinuni.  Wa><h  the  stain,  and  dissolve  it 
iu  warm  uitric  acid.  Evaporate  this  s^ijkitioii  to  dryiieiiSj  and  touch  with 
Bidphide  of  amruooium  ;  or  el'^e  pour  a  little  sulphide  of  amoiouiuni  upon 
the  stain,  which  readily  di.*H>lve.s  it,  and  eva|)orate  to  dryues:',  when  an 
orange-red  prenpilate  (Sb^^S^)  will  be  lormed.  (This  test  i?«  applicable  in 
the  exanjiiiation  of  organic  liquid.^,  for  copper,  antimony,  etc.j 

9.  Action  of  Acidf*  on  Stjlutiou^  of  Ttirtur  Eintfic, 
Dihtifl  Nitric  Ai'id  givH«  a  white  pretnpitate  of  siibnitrate  of  antimony, 

wliich  is  soluble  in  a  solution  of  tartiiric  acid,  and  in  excels  of  ammonia. 
The  precipitate  turn^  orange-red  when  treated  with  sulphide  of  ammoniuin.        ' 

Ifydrofh/oric  Aeid  gives  a  white  nre<  ipitate  in  concentrated  solutions, 
which  iri  both  soluble  in  excess,  and  in   a  solution  of  tartaric  acid.     A 
similar  white  precipitate  is  also  produced  with  lead,  silver,  and  mercury  ^^ 
&alts,  but  the  antimony  precipitate  may  be  known  by  its  turuiog  orange-  ^H 
red  with  sulphide  of  ammonium.  ^^ 

Sulphurie  Add  givets  a  white  precipitate,  soluble  in  excess  of  the  acid, 
or  in  a  solution  of  tartaric  acid. 

10,  PoOt,th,  Sodn,  and  Ammonia  give  white  precipitates  in  concentrated 
solutions,  soluble  in  excess  of  the  precipitant, 

11,  Mercuric  Chhride  ^ives  a  white  precipitate.  * 

12.  Infimion  of  Nut^til/if  gives  a  dirty  yellowish- white  precipitate. 
Hi.  Aeetate  of  Lead  gives  a  white  amorphous  precipitate,  soluble  in 

acetic  and  tartaric  acid. 

QHrtutitative  Analysis, 

Convert  the  antimonial  compound  into  a  chloride  by  boiling  with  nitro- 
inuriatic  arid.  Filter,  dilute  with  water  until  a  slight  chmdine^s  begins  to 
appear.  Then  paj«s  sulphuretted  hydrogen  through  the  solution,  boil  to 
expel  excess,  dry  the  precipitate,  and  weigh ♦ 

100  grs.  of  8b^,=   85.88  of  Autim^mious  Oxide,  Sb,0,. 
=  196.47  of  Tartar  P>neiic. 
=    71.76  of  Metallic  Arttimony. 
=  134.41  of  Antimonious  Chloride,  SbCL. 


Toxicological  Aiialyd*. 

The  antimony  may  exist  in  organic  mixtures  both  in  a  soluble  and  in- 
soluble form.  Tannic  acid  renders  the  poison  insoluble,  but  the  antimo- 
nial salt*  are  not  affected  by  albuminous  liquids. 

The  stomach  and  it^  conteuti?  are  to  be  diluted  with  water  acidulated 
with  a  few  dro{»  of  hydrochloric  acid,  and  with  some  tartaric  acid,  and 
set  aside  for  a  short  time  iu  a  warui  plncc.  Afterwards  strain  and  filter 
the  lifpiid.  Pass  sulphuretted  hydrogen  through  the  tiltrute,  and  let  it 
stand  for  the  precipitate  to  subside.  Collect,  wa.sh,  and  dry  the  precipi- 
tated sulphide.  The  color  of  the  precipitate,  which  should  iV*  orange-red, 
may  be  more  or  less  browu  from  admixture  with  organic  matters. 

Note  the  following  reactions  of  the  precipitate: 

1.  It  is  iiifloluble  in  amm(mia. 

2.  Add  to  it  a  little  strong  hydrochloric  acid,  and  dissolve  by  heat. 
Sulphuretted  hydrogen  is  evolved,  and  a  chloride  of  antimony  is  left  in 
aolutioD. 


TESTS    FOR    ANTIMONY. 


133 


3.  Test  this  acid  liquid  as  follows: 

(o)  Pour  a  little  ioto  water,  when  the  white  ox^'chloride  will  be  pre- 
cipitated, 
(6)  Test  by  '* Marshes  TmI"  and  by  other  te^te. 

In  the  exaviinatioH  of  the  Tmnes. 

1.  Cut  the  tissues  up  into  very  BmaU  pieces,  and  boil  them  in  a  flft«k  in 
'm  mixture  of  four  parta  of  water  aud  ooe  part  of  hydrochloric  a€id  for 
'JBbout  a  quarter  of  au  hour.     Fiker. 

Tet<t  the  filtfiite  by  ReiiL^eh's  process  T^nth  copper-foil  (see  tests  as  before). 

2,  Or  they  may  be  treated  by  the  process  of  Freseuiua  and  Vou  Babo; 
viz.,  by  destroying  the  organic  matter  with  chlorate  of  potash  and  hydro- 
chloric acid  i«ee  Arsenic). 

Always,  if  possible,  examine  the  urine.  This  is  most  important,  as  the 
elimination  of  aotitnouy  by  the  kidneys  is  rapid. 

Dr.  Taylor  recommends,  when  the  quantity  present  is  very  small,  txj 
suspend  in  the  weak  acid  solution  a  coil  of  pure  a^inc-foil  wound  round  a 
piece  of  platinum-foil,  when  ruetallic  antimony  will,  if  present,  be  found 
deposited  on  the  platinum.  Cure  must  be  taken  that  the  acid  is  not  pres- 
ent  in  sufficient  quantity  to  dissolve  the  zinc.  The  deposit  on  the  platinum 
may  be  treated  as  follows: 

(a)  Wash  and  digest  in  strong  nitric  acid  until  the  deposit  is  dissolved, 
and  evaporate  to  dryness.  Dissolve  the  residue  in  hydrochloric 
acid,  and  treat  the  solution  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

(h)  Or  di.'ssolve  the  residue  in  sulphide  of  ammonium,  evaporate  to 
dryness,  and  su  obtain  the  omnge-red  precipitate. 

Lastly,  it  must  be  remembered  antimony  is  often  used  as  a  medicine. 
It  18  necessary,  therefore,  that  the  quantity  present  should  be  estimated, 
and  should  be  above  a  mere  medicinal  dose,  so  as  to  make  certain  it  was 
given  or  taken  as  a  poison. 

Chhride  of  Antimony  (Sb€l3  =  228.5). 
(Butter  of  Antimouy,) 

This  is  a  very  corrosive  fuming  liquid,  and  is  often  dark -colored  or  of  a 
yellow  tint,  from  its  containing  chloride  of  iron.  It  is  sometimes  given  to 
horses^  to  make  them  look  sleek. 

The  symptoms  produced  by  it  set  in  rapiilly^  and  are  usually  violeDt 
Death  has  occurred  in  ten  hours  after  two  or  tliree  ounces.  In  this  case 
narcotic  symptoms  are  reported  to  have  occurred. 

In  ihe  poHl-mort^m  appeartince^  we  are  told  in  the  case  above  referred  to 
that  the  stomach  and  iute^tines  appeared  as  if  charred,  the  mucous  meni> 
brane  being  entirely  destroyed.  All  this  shows  that  chloride  of  antimony 
is  an  exceedingly  active  poison. 

The  trcatmeiUf  etc.,  must  be  the  same  as  for  tartar  emetic. 

In  the  analysis,  in  addition  to  what  has  been  already  said,  specially 
note — 

1.  That  if  the  chloride  of  antimony  be  added  to  water,  a  yellowish-whit© 
precipitate  of  oxychloride  of  antimony  is  thrown  down. 

2.  That  this  white  precipitate  is  soluble  in  tartaric  acid. 

3.  That  if  the  precipitate  be  mixed  with  carbonate  of  sodium  and  heated 


134 


CASES    OF    POISONING    BY    ANTIMONY. 


ou  a  piece  of  charcoal  with  the  hlgwpijw,  metallic  amtiinotiy  will  be  ol 
tailed. 

4.  That  the  solutiou  of  ihe  white  |»reni>i[ate  iu  tartaric  acid  is  thrown 
dowu  as  an  orauge-red  precipitate  when  treated  with  «jiilphu retted  hy- 
drogen. 

5.  That  after  the  precipitation  by  the  additiou  of  water,  the  clear  liquid, 
if  tested  with  uitrate  ol' silver,  witl  be  found  to  contain  hydrochloric  acid* 

[Note  here  that  a  while  precipitate  is  al*o  prorluced  when  the  bii^muth 
salt  is  added  to  water,  but  that  sulplmretled  hydroj^en  giveit  a  blatrk  pre- 
cipitate with  bismuth,  whilst  it  gives  an  orange-red  preciprtate  with  aoti- 
mony.] 

For  recovery  from  organic  mixtures  and  for  further  teats  (vide  as  before). 


waterjr  purging. 


AdutL    Saa.  t«1ceti 


Que*  of  Pinisoninff  by  Antimonj/. 

(L)  TARTAR  EMETIC, 
CASE  1.— Orftk'u  "  Toticologfle."  vol.  i,  |..  c^i.    JUIp:  »!.  5o,    Thirty-»©rco  grnJok 

Jbt#wtt.'-Di:>«lh  hi  fuur  duys. 

CASE  2.— Bwk's  '*  Medii'ftl  Jurisprudence."    Child.    Flfteeo  gr»lafl. 

Sjt^ptom*. — VninUing  aoii  piirgiug;  tiuQVul&iao». 

Rtfittt.^heuth  iu  »  few  week  J. 

CASK  .'I.—"  Mndlcil  Ciiitle,*'  vol.  45,  p,  801  (Dr,  PoTlock).     Malo:  mi,9Q.    !!j. 

Siftnj>to*iu,—Enrly  kod  violtsnt  rotuUla^;  uo  eouviilx]i>a8. 

i&vmi<.— Uirnth  iu  ten  lioum. 

CA-iK  4.-'  LftDCft,"  May  lliX,  1*47,  p.  535  (Mr  Frrrc ).     Mol«  :  let.  2ft.    :^IJ. 

Sifmptonu. — Iu  one   hour  tpasmtidif  cuntrscliuu   of    iuu;itlea;    vutuUMl  once: 

iJ««//.— Kecofery. 

CASC  5.— '•  Aiaer lc«Q  Juuraiil  of  Medical  Science,"  Janutiry  7th,  1853,  p.  WI, 
bf  mttitftkti  for  »til|ihiit««  of  fUHla, 

Sffmf>lomji. — VuuiUitig  in  hnlf  an  hour.    (Grran  tea  and  Unnln  adnilDtiitercd.) 

JhuN'f.— 'Bet-HiTerjr  after  »evcral  A»y». 

CASI2  «.— Df.  Taylor'*  *' Mimical  Jurlsprudt^Doe,*'  p.  809,  vol.  1.  Male:  adult.  Two  hundred  gnlDS. 

%m;/'otru.— Yotulilng  In  fiftetsD  tiiluiit««}  aovere  cnunp«  in  thra«  hours ;  aitpprcsslua  uf  urlnuk, 

.fie#Mtt — Recover  jr. 

CASK  7— Taylor"*  "  Medic*l  Jurliprudeuco,"  p.  309  (I>r.  Proctor).    Four  chUdron.    Sj  ofiulphttr, 
and  3j  of  tartar  ftaeilc  U'tw>  t.>u  tho  fmir. 

SjfiHpttttia.~Ea.r\Y  vumltiug  and  cruiups  ;  do  difficulty  in  awallowlug,  or  constrictlun  of  throat. 

S$gMU,—Becoviiry.  I 

CASE  8.—"  Lancet,"  January  21st,  1854  (Dr.  Ikale).    Female :  kU  16.    Forty  to  alxty  graiiu. 

AynytewM.— VuniUiugaud  purgitig  to  Hftvt^d  iulniitv»:  a  p<vriod  occurred  after  a  few  hourtvheo 
abtt  aeeiocd  better,  but  a  rt-Uiisic  futluw^fd.     I[>elitiuiii ;  dilated  puplla. 

Ruiitt.—\)ealii  in  thirty-ttlx  hours, 

Puat-mM'ttm.-'Lvkngi  »Ugbily  coDg«siod;  no  JDllaioiijatioa  in  fliomach  orloiestlDw. 

CAi^E  ».— '*  WotHtBro  Juurual  of  31i<dicinti  and  Surgery  "  (America),  1848,  p.  23  (Dr.Gloa^es).    M*t«: 
adult.    SM. 

^m^ifnnM.— Vomiting  for  on*^  hour  and  A  half,  when  tho  vomit  idtTely  oonthtod  of  the  tBMtteim 
Uktan  tu  Induce  vomiting;  purging  tu  two  hoitra. 

ItmiU.—Ujiieavvry  in  Iwu  weeks. 

CA8E  10,— "B'Mloii  M.'dicfti  and  Surgical  .lournftl."  Dwombor,  1866,  p.  400.  Female:  let.  21.  Dnae? 

^mf^iMf,— Vouiitiug  and  purgiugi  oo  coavuUioua, 

i^Mu/f.— l>'atb  (ti  scvuu  htium. 

CASE  11.—"  .Mtxiic4il  Timia  aud  Oaaatlo,"  Uarvb  '^ftitb,  1807.  FoDi«ao.  Gr.  Ua.cgr.XT  of  tpecftoi- 
aaha  givi>n  Ave  duys  after  i-ijiiflut!UJi?tit. 

^■yftwj.— Vomiting,  ptirtiiug. 

ja«ri»/l,— Death. 

CA'jiE  Ji— "Lancet,"  May  19th,  IWS,  p.  220  fOrfila).    Male:  adult.    ^, 

j^^AM.— Pain,  vumiUng^aud  dlurrhOMii  dintresaiug  cfMiopa. 

ifa«»/l.— ftv«o  V  c  ry. 

CASC  1.1.--"  Lanri'l,"  May  19tb,  I8»d,  p.  260  (M.  Retnmler).    Male:  adulL    Forty  gtldtn, 

9^fMfttttmt.—\vtaiilMg',  purging;  couvulaloiin. 


CASES    OF    POISONINO    BY    ANTIMONY, 


ISS 


I 


■ 


CASK  14.— **L«»c»t."  Mii]r  ]9ih,  1^^.  p.  290.    F«Tiii^l«:  wU  20.    A  .p1iiat«r  sprinkled  vUh  in,  of 
tartar «mr((c  ippli^^i  '(^  tbo  rpl^strlutn  after  tb«  ap]>lici*Uoti  of  loccbps. 
iyiv^ito«Nt.r-A|)ltlhi»  ill  nioutb. 

CA5B  n.— "  L*iipct,"  May  19tli,  1838,  p.  250.    JCt.  2.    Spin©  rubbed  irllh  Urtiir  emetic  oldtmcnt. 

-rViitb  in  ff»rty-«fght  b<^iir«. 

CASE  l«.-'  L.I1CCI/'  April  12(fi,  IR.'W,  p.  100  fDr.  B.  W.  RlchnnJion).  M«le.  Aboat  three  gntna  wm 
4rop|>rd  lcifoth<«  lofdlclnr  txntJi'  hu6  not  writ  in1»cd ;  takt-ii  at  a  d-uM?. 

^mfiromj.-'i^jtDpiotas  rrry  *;»erf,  aud  nenrly  faml,  The  nian  siifPered  from  scute  inflamitttlorf 
•fntptntD*. 

JfuiOL^BcTO  r  e  r J. 

CASE  17.—"  Uuc*l."  April  12tb.  IJWC,  p.  400  (Dr.  R  W.  Ricb»nl»on>.  Malo:  adult,  isni  of  au- 
Umonf  «1n«. 

J9)ri*V*'<x**'-~'^'*""^"  JiDceaaanl ;  proatratlon  gre*t;  no  pnrglog. 

ii»«itf .— Krcin  vr  ry . 

CA^E  IM— "  Medical  Tlmoi  and  Gasftte,"  Octobfr  6th«  I8A6, p.  3T9  (I>r.  Gmbb).  Male :  tti.  40.  Tbre« 
tea«p4>onftilM  of  tartar  «iiit«tie  —  Stj  at  l<?u»t.    H<3  took  »««uo  vine^jir  sliorlly  after. 

itymplvnu—yij  vinnUiuit  for  tTiure  Ihao  an  huur,  when  fcickufM  an  J  purging  fanu'  on,  In  four 
hour*  vM'Ut  •.rainpfl  In  th«  legs  «ri9rt!couiplaiued  uf,  but  uo  pulii  at  ibe  !i.tomiu:b.  He  got  bvtter  for  s 
tlmr,  hilt  bad  a  rHa|f>e,aaddi<Hi. 

ite*itU,—UtiH\i  io  flirty  boura. 

CASE  VJ.—**  Lancet/*  April  25ih,  l»4i>.  p.  4fiO  (Mr,  Hartley).  Male:  kI.  tirt.  Female:  let.  three. 
I^h  hoda  powder  contalniDf^  ten  grains  uf  tartar  virictlo. 

9lfmftlbm*—Ui  twi«nty  uiiniiies  b<ith  rhildrcii  had  vomiting  and  purging,  with  tetanic  spuma. 
TIH'  t^tj  dwd  in  vlght  boiira,  Ibnglr)  I'u  Iwi'lvti  ur  iblrteun  baunt. 

//,^.jy  _  i».  ,.ti,  \u  einbl  and  lu  tiri'lv**  bnura, 

/  II  i^irl.— LuDija  MuiDwliHt  cungcal«d-,  liver  boulthy,  peritoneal  coal  of  lul«*al!oe8  J d- 

Suii  iKMit  litilamH  ;  luuetiua  HK-mbraueoriloinHcli  nitiob  (nflaincd  ;  brain  vL>ry  ititigi'sted. 

l\M,i.m*itu,i>  uii  ttoy— Similar,  Spot*  ou  Momaeb,  a«  if  uleemiid;  ond  ft  acarlatlnal  erupttoo  oo 
tb«  anni,  )«'|{«,  and  neck, 

(EL)  CHLORroE  OP  ANTIMONY. 

CASE  20.— Taylor'i  "Medical  JurinprudvDccr  p.  ai5.    Mal« :  wU  VL    3lT-Sr  ttkcn  la  mlatake  for 


(.—Vomiting  in  two  houra. 
|B|Bii(t-;-B«!cuTery. 

CA8K  21.— TayloT'a  "Medical  Jnriaprudeuee,"  p.  315  TMr.  Mann),    Mate:  adult.    SiJ-Sig. 
ji|rn4p<MMt.^-<rn'at  pain;  inec<Miaiii  attcnipla  lu  touiU  and  lu  evaviiatt*  ibe  bowels.    After 
1lOUr«  tb<'rr  waa  a  great  desir«  to  ale«'p. 
Rrmtlt  --I»fath  In  ten  bonra  and  a  luilf. 

y\*ii*morif  m.~The  wbolv  aliuiciUary  Iract  appeared  black,  a»  If  charrtd.    The  mncoua  membnne 
waa  «tiUn-)y  deatruycd. 

CAi^E  TJ— Taylor's  "Medical  Jndaprudenco,"  p.  316  (Mr.  Evana).    Mjite;  adult.    9lU  of  bronzing 
a<|iild  —  solution  **t  81%  (1. 

(.— I'alu,  Tomlllng;  no  purging. 
-Dratb  In  elgbtc-eu  hour«, 

irm.— liiicHM  inOumiuHiory  action  In  atomaeh ;  no  perforation;  puUy-like  muaea,  vfatoh 
•ootalucd  aiitiutony  found  ta«twuiai.:h. 
CASE  a—"  Lancet,"  D«:enib<r  4th.  1541^  p.  »24  (Sfr  Hou§b(on>.    Male  :  »t.  10.    A  UUeepoonfuL 
■Iminixliate  cbuklug  and  liuruiu^  pain.    ReiruvcriMJ  in  two  daya. 
L— Eecoiery. 
CASBS4.- ■  Lancet,"  Febninry  2«th,  1»48,  p.  3S0  (Mr.  Weedeu  Cooke).   Sialet  let.  41.   ^  of  eblo- 
ride  of  aoUatuny. 

-Iniuiediate  burning  teBaalton:  loaeDBiblllly  ■  pulse  very  small ;  apparently  compIetA 
JUrtHirvrvd  in  a  few  daya. 
L— Becovery. 
CASE  3ff  — "  Medical  TImeaand  Gaaette/'  October  23d,  IBM,  p.  44J)  (Dr.  Crtap).  Female:  tet,  19,  tUJ. 
J$^n*tp(Mn«.*'lireat  pain  ;  ttilrsl:  Tomlting;  diurrhisa;  du  urluepaued;  tbe  mind  remained  ole*r  ; 
Up*  and  notith  block  and  excoriated. 
Anitt— Itaaib  In  twtrnly*lour  boiini. 

/Vi4f-«Miff«n>.— t^tomacfa  Appeared  uniformly  covered  with  aDtlmuny.    When  this  waa  removed,  tbe 
•aoeoua  mewbnane  appeared  black  aud  charred.    Part  uf  the  amall  iuteAllnea  aUo  affected. 

EP  See  ihefolhwing  Ca»e9  of  Antimoniat  Poisoning, 

**  Medle&I  Timea  and  Gaaette,"  mt  II,  imo,  pp.  12, 1»0,  218,  and  271.    (Sus[ieeted  deaths  at  YeovlL 
and  LI»erpo4.i 
**M«akftl  Tloea,"  Mareb  22d.  1841,  p.  3(Nt.    (TarUr  emetic.) 


136  PEOPERTIES    AND    COMPOUNDS    OF    ARSENICUM. 

"  MwJl.»l  Time*."  January  J7th  »nd  Fehruary  7th.  \M<i,  pp.  322  and  »8I.    Death  of  boy  and 

"  UvdionI  Time*."  June  24ih,  I8-W,  p.  127  (a  lablespouwrtil  of  tartar  croeik).    Recovery ;  «y wpionw 
•evure;  |iiait.ubr  eniptioo. 

"Medical  Tifiiea/'  M»rcb  tfith.  IBU,    (Ten  graiui  Dovifr'a  powder.}    Death  in  Urcnty  bouraof  a 
child  »ev«n  weeks  old. 

"  M«?dicnl  TUue*  and  Gaatette,"  April  -Ith.  1868,  p.  3S4.     Death  from  a  done  of  antllUQDT,  taken  tn  a 
aeldltu  iHJirdfr  liy  a  drunken  woruaii  to  produce  "quIctbeiM." 

•'MedlcaKiowlte,"  vn\.  U,  p.  334. 

"  Aasoclatlon  Mvdlcal  Jtmrnnl,"  June  lOth,  \Bm,  p.  Mi, 

"ljuy'«  Hospital  Report*."  Ovtober.  tA57  (Dr.  Taylor). 

"  Laucet,"  Augiut  SOth,  1856,  p.  259  (Etegliia  i*.  McMuUen).    Anttmony  gleen  as  a  cure  fordi 
enoeas. 

"Medical  Tfrnea  and  c;«izctte."  August  25rb,  and  &k*ptcinber  IStb  and  29tb.  I8Q0. 

"  Aiuerii-au  Juurual  tif  Medical  Scieuce,"  January,  18A:(,  p  131. 

ARSENICUM. 

(Svmb.  As.    At.  wt.  75;  ep.  gr.:  solid,  6.97  ;  vapor,  10.6 ;  volatilizes  at 
im^'Ll  (356^  F,).) 
It  is  prepared  either 

(1 )  By  .«ubliniing  the  metal  from  some  ore  which  contains  it  in  an  im-' 

corabioeiJ  state;  or 

(2)  By  subliming  the  arseoinal  8iilphi<]e  of  iron  (FeAsS)  (Mispickel), 
obtained  eliiefly  from  Silesian  mines,  the  arsenicunj  being  given  off  a3 
white  arsenic  (As,pj). 

Arsenicnni  is  a  brittle  steel-gray  metal,  has  a  brilliantly  metallic  tuatre, 
and  is  far  more  volatile  than  antimony.  The  vapor  has  a  peculiar  garlic- 
like  odor.  The  metal  is  a  conduetor  of  electricity.  In  making  small  shot 
it  is  mixed^  with  lead  in  order  to  facilitate  its  assuming  a  globular  form. 
When  powViered  and  thrown  into  chlorine  it  catches  fire.  It  cosily  com- 
bines with  bromine,  iodine,  and  jiolphiir  when  heated  with  them.  It  \a 
readily  oxidized  either  by  hot  t'ulpbyric  or  nitric  acids,  hydrochloric  acid 
having  but  little  or  no  action  upon  it.  It  ib  soluble  in  a  solution  of  bleach- 
ing powder.  Heated  in  air  it  is  converted  into  arsenious  anhvdride 
(A.,(),). 

Metallic  arsenic  acts  as  a  powerful*  poison,  although  it  is  doubtful 
whether  it  does  so  until  it  becomes  converted  into  arsenious  acid.  It  is, 
however,  a  question  of  no  great  practical  importance,  as  the  process  ofl 
oxidation  in  the  body  is  rapid. 

Compounds  with  Oxyf/en, 

1.  Arsenious  Auhydride  (white  arsenic;  arsenious  acid),        .     AsjO, 

(8alt^  are  called  Arseuites.) 

2.  Arsenic  Anhydride A8,0, 

Cmnponndi  with  Stdphnr, 

1.  Sulphide  of  Arsenic.     Realgar.        Color,  n%  rerf,  .  ^^fii 

2.  "  Orpimeut      Color,  bright  yeliow,     .    As^Sg 
a.                ••  Color,  "       .         ,     A^Sj 

Compound  with  Chlorine^ 
1.  Chloride  of  Arsenicum, AsCJ, 

Compound  with  Iodine. 
1.  Iodide  of  Arsenicum, Asl, 

*  **  Fly  powder  '*  consists  of  n  tnixture  of  ftrscoioui  acid  and  metallic  ftrsonic. 


4 

n 


U8RS    OF    ARSENIC. 


1S7 


Compound  with  Hydrogen » 
1.  Afseniuretted  Hydrogen,  .... 


AsH, 


I 


It  also  enters  into  other  comhi nations. 

We  *hall  DOW  examine  araenious  acid  in  detail,  and  as  we  proceed,  the 
reactions,  etc.,  of  the  other  compounds  of  arsenicum  will  suggest  them- 
selves. Arsenious  acid  has  heen  known  for  a  long  time  as  an  active  drug, 
and  constituted  the  poisoiioiia  ingredient  of  the  **  Aqna  Tofliina "  of  the 
sixteeutb  century. 

The  cases  of  poisoning  by  arsenic  have  much  diminished  of  late,  owing 
to  the  act  of  1851  (14  Vict.,  cap,  xiii,  sec.  3),  which  oot  only  restrifts  lis 
sale,  but  requires  that  when  sold  retail  and  in  small  quantity,  it  sh<»uld  be 
mixed  with  «oot  or  iodigo. 


ArsenwiiJi  Anhydride  (As^O,  =  198). 

(Arsenic ;  White  Arsenie ;  Arseiiious  Acid  ;  Ratebsne.) 

(Sp.  gr.  of  opaque  form  3.65,  of  the  trausparent  3.75;  ap.  gr,  of  vapor 
13.8:  sublimes  at  137.6' C.) 
It  in  prepared  either 

(1)  During  the  roasting  of  arsenical  ores  in  a  current  of  air;  or 

(2)  By  heating  metallic  arsenic  in  the  presence  of  air. 

Its  uses  are  numerous.  It  was  formerly  put  into  candles  to  harden 
them,  and  to  give  them  a  waxlike  aptjearance.  tCorpf*e  candlesj  Ex- 
tremely dangerous  eff'ecU  were  produced  by  the  slow  vi>Iatilizaiion  of  the 
tir^ieuic  whilst  the  candles  were  burning.  We  may  remark  here  that  the 
anwnic  may  easily  be  dtitectetl  in  eandlc^j  by  boiling  the  fatty  mailer  in 
water,  and  removing  the  fat  en  miu^e  when  the  water  is  cold.  The  ars?enjc 
will  then  be  found  in  M)lul)on.  The  an=<niite  of  copper  is  occaj*ioimlly  used 
for  coloring  green  tapers,  although,  us  a  rule,  verdigris  is  employed  for 
this  pur|K)se,  The  authors  have  founil  the  ursenite  in  these  tajjers  on 
several  occasions,  in  ofie  case  as  much  as  was  equal  to  1  per  cent,  of  arseni- 
OU0  acid  being  present. 

Wheat  is  often  steeped  in  an  arsenical  solution^and  this  has  heen  a  cause 
of  accidental  poisoning,  both  io  men  and  animals  ("Lancet,"  March  Ittb, 
1850,  p.  812).  An  arsenical  solntiou  is  also  used  by  shepherds  as  a  sheep- 
wash.  Bad  effects  have  been  produced  on  those  engaged  in  washing  the 
sheep  with  it  ("Lancet,"  i^epieiiiber  12th,  1857,  p.  *281),  whilst  ou  more 
than  one  occasion  accidents  have  resulted  Irom  wine  being  put  into  a 
bottle  that  had  been  used  for  the  wash  without  its  having  been  previously 
cleansed  ("  Lancet,"  October  IHth,  lH5t>,  p.  447). 

Arsenic  is  also  used  in  glas*-makirig  and  1«  white  euamoUing.  It  is 
by  grooms  for  horses  from  sunie  fancied  belief  that  it  renders  their 
Coat«  bleek.  It  forms  a  constituent  of  many  of  the  vernain-killers  aud  rat- 
pastes.  It*  use  as  a  rat-j>a^te  has  more  than  kjucc  proved  serious  in  places 
supplied  with  water  by  wells.  The  poisoiuf'd  rat^  tormetited  by  thirst, 
rushes  to  the  well  to  allay  it,  and  is  drowned  or  dies  there,  and  at  the  sanje 
tuue  contaminates  the  water  with  the  poison.  "SirupsoD*s  Rat-Paste  "  ia 
a  compound  of  starch,  smalt,  and  arsenious  acid  (40  per  cent.),  scented 
with  <»il  of  rhodium  (Herapath).  (^Vide  fatal  ease,  *' British  Medical 
Journal,"  May  6th,  18(io,  p.  473.) 

Arsenic  is  also  useil  in  stuliing  animals,  and  in  preparing  specimens,  ou 
accouut  of  it«  preservative  power.     A  case  is  recorded  of  well-marked 

10 


than 

M    bottl 
H_  cleai 

mi 
I 


188 


PROFKRTIES    OP    ARSENIC 


arsenical  symptoms  being  produced  by  merely  keeping  birrl.^  that  had  been 
BtuHed  with  an  arsenical  preparation  m  a  n>oni.     {''  Lancet, "  April  23d, 
18iJ8,  p.  397.) 
Some  quack  pills  also  contain  it  (Reg.  %\  Bone,  Hertford  Assizes,  1874). 

Phyitical  Properties. 

It  exists  in  two  forraa.  (1)  A  tnlreoujt  form,  which  is  tran^parctit  nod 
colorle!?s  when  first  made,  but  becomes  yellowi^^h,  white,  npaqiie,  and  some- 
what like  p<»rcelfti[i  after  expos^ure  to  tiir.  Some  doubt  exists  as  to  the 
true  cauw?  of  this  change.  (2)  A  cnjHfnlUne  form  (octHhedra)»  which  ar- 
senic a?-sun»e3  when  it  is*  carefully  sublimed  in  small  quantities,  or  crystal- 
lized out  from  a  hydrochloric  acid  solution. 

It  i?'  very  nearly,  if  not  entirely,  <leiitit<itc  of  both  taste  and  smell.  The 
opaqtie  vnriety  has  a  lower  specific  gravity  than  the  trunsJpareut.  Heat 
converts  the  opatjue  form  into  tb<3  vitrenun,  whilst  mere  grinding  in  a  mor- 
tar converts  the  vitreouH  into  the  opaque.  Heated  to  187.6^  C,  it  softens 
and  sublinies  without  lu:*ing,  forming  transparent  octahedral  crystals  on 
8Urfac&»  tliat  have  been  warmed,  A  somewhat  characteristic  behaviur  of 
arsenic  is  the  white  layer  that  it  forms  on  the  surface  of  water  when  thrown 
into  it  in  a^tateof  powder. 

Cheinicai  I^-operties, 

ArseBious  acid  has  feebly  acid  propertie.«,  but  it  readily  combines  with 
base?,  the  salts  being  called  arf^enltm.  They  are  genenilly  easily  decom- 
posed by  a  stronger  acid.  All  arseiiiles  of  the  alkalie.s  are  soluble  in 
water,  and  are  very  poiisonous.  All  the  other  arsenites  are  almoi^t  iosolu- 
ble,  and  hence  the  action  of  time  and  magnesia  when  u.«ed  as  antidotes. 
Most  of  the  arseuites  are  decomposed  by  heat,  whilst  all  when  heated  with 
a  reducing  agent  evolve  the  metal  in  a  vaporous  form. 

Ar^^enious  acid  is  readily  soluble  in  solutions  of  the  fixed  caustic  alka- 
lies, but  is  not  so  soluble  in  ammonia-  It  is  very  slightly  soluble  in  sul- 
phuric acid,  but  is  freely  soluble  in  hot  nitric  acid,  when  the  arsenious  is 
<jhangeil  to  arsenic  acid.  It  is  also  readily  soluble  in  hydrochloric  and  in 
some  vegetable  acids^  in  alcohol  (1  in  200U  of  alcohol,  sp.  gr.  0.802),  and 
in  diloroforra  (1  in  200,000) »  but  is  iusohible  in  absolute  ether.  Wheu 
chlorine  is  passed  through  a  solution  of  the  acid,  arsenic  acid  is  formed. 

The  solubility  of  ai*senic  in  water  is  a  question  of  very  considerable 
medico-legal  importance.  There  are  great  variations  iu  the  results  ob- 
tained by  diiTereut  investigators.  The  following  are  the  chief  circum- 
stances that  serve  U)  modify  the  disstdving  action  of  water  on  ihe  acid  : 

1.  The  peculiar  modificjition  of  add  used. 

2  Its  admixture  or  contamination  with  organic  matter.  It  is  stiid  that 
the  presence  of  greasy  matter,  such  as  bacon,  reduces  the  sokibilitv  of  ar- 
senious acid  to  ^*fflh.  If  this  be  the  fad,  it  affords  a  pariial  expfaimtion 
of  whv  sometimes  its  action  seems  to  be  suspended. — (Dr.  Blondlot,  ''Medi- 
cal Ti'mes  and  Gazette,"  Feb.  lUh,  lH(iO.) 

3.  The  length  of  time  the  water  has  acted. 

4.  The  temperature  of  the  water. 

5.  If  boileci,  the  length  of  time  that  the  boiling  was  continued. 

6.  The  time  that  has  elapsed  between  boiling  and  the  examination. 

We  will  endeavor  to  state  a  few  results  we  have  obtained  iu  a  tabular 
form,  80  as  to  show  them  as  clearly  as  possible. 


I 


I 

I 


SYMPTOMS    OF    ARSENICAL    POISONING, 


139 


Solubility  of  Arseniouji  Acid, 


1000  grains  of  cold  distil UkJ  wtttor  Kfu»r 
ihtHindinii;  fur  2*  houp^,  di»M)lve<l  .     . 

lOOOgrttin^  of  boiling  whUt  |>*Hiri'd  on 
thi'  ncid,  Hiu]  nllowcd  tiisUiad  for  24 
linur>,  diriiHiU'ed     , 

1000  ffruin*  of  wnter  boil*xl  for  one 
h<»ur,  llif  qunntity  h>\u^  k<*pt  uni- 
f»»rm  l»ytbt!Mddilii*nn»r  bciiluiy  whUt 
fr'»m  lime  to  time,  nnd  tiUtred  im- 
mi'dtxU'ivt  di'!'!)olvod .     .     .     .     .     . 


funu,  Opaquo  form.  |j^,.  ^i^^ 


76.5 


87.0       " 


Symptoms^  Dose,  eic^ 

How?fR>n  after  the  poison  is  taken  do  the  symptoms  of  arsenical  poisoo- 
ing  coniment'e?  This  is  an  important  meiliro-legal  questiou.  Case:*  are 
recorded  where  the  symptoms  have  eel  in  immediately.  In  one-half  the 
recordeil  case;s  they  have  commenced  within  two  honrs,  and  in  two-thirdjii 
within  five  hours.  In  two  caries  that  are  on  record,  oo  active  symptoms 
occurred  before  the  fourth  day.  It  will,  however,  geneirally  be  found  that 
in  cases  where  the  symptoms  are  delayed  for  sojiie  hours,  either  that  the 
^ergop  went  to  «leep  after  taking  the  poij-on  (for  during  sleep  the  animal 
Hfl|Kitt  is  peculiarly  iiniclive),  or  that  tlie  poi.scjn  was  takt^n  with  or  soon 
^^nBorm  tneah  Of  course,  too,  the  form  in  which  it  wa»  swallowed^  that  is, 
whether  solid  or  in  siilution,  largely  influences  the  rapidity  of  it.*i  action. 

The  symptoms  are  th<»se  of  an  intense  irritauL  Tiie  countenance  tells 
of  severe  suffering.  There  is  generally  great  depression,  followed  by  a 
*'  fire  burning"  pain  in  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  aggravated  by  the  slighte^it 
pressure.  Diarrhcea»  with  tenesmus,  burning  pains  at  the  anus,  and  in- 
tensely painful  crampd  in  the  leg^  are  u^sual.  We  invariably  find  violent 
vomiting,  increased  by  taking  the  least  thing  iril<i  the  stomaeh,  the  vomit 
conj!>isting  either  of  a  white  gummy  matter  from  admixture  with  the  pf»is«>n» 
or  of  a  brow*n  liquid  mixed  with  bile,  and  sometimes  blood.  During  the 
vomiting  the  patient  eomplairif:  of  the  great  heat  and  con!?triotiou  felt  ia 
the  throat.  There  i«  UHually  <lysuria,  the  quantity  of  urine  parsed  being, 
M  a  rule,  diminiifihed  in  quantity,  but  not  !*uptjres.sed-  Some  have  ajs«erteil 
there  is  no  retention,  but  simply  a  constant  desiire  to  micturate,  whilst 
Others  hold  that  reteruion  is  a  marked  .symptom  of  arsieuiual  poisoning 
("Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  March  24th,  1866,  p.  328). 

The  thirst  is  intense,  the  ?kin  dry  and  hot,  the  headache  severe,  the 
puJbe  small  and  rapid,  the  tongue  dry  and  furred,  the  breathing  catching, 
the  eyes  suffused  and  ^^marting,  the  coujunctivtc  being  red,  with  greiit  in* 
tolerance  of  light,  great  general  restlessness,  twitchings  in  the  extremities, 
but  generally  a  perfectly  clear  mind.  The  nervous  symptoms  are  intense 
'  lung-coniinued.     The^  symptoms  may  terminate  in  several  ways. 

«)   Corttfti/*mw,  with  fits  of  an  epileptic  nature.     Tetanic  spasms,  and 

one  case  lockjaw,  are  recorded  as  early  symptoms, 

(b)  The  case  may  assume  merely  the  form  of  English  cholera,  and  the 
practitioner  be  in  this  way  thrown  otf  his  guard. 

[Se€  I>r  Letheby  on  points  of  similarity  and  dissimilarity  between 
cholera  and  arsenical  poi.^oning,  "Medical  Times,"  Nov.  llth,  1848,  p.  76; 

10  Virchuw's  "Archiv/'  xlvii,  524. 


SYMPTOMS    OP    ARSENICAL    POISONINO. 


ic)  Collnpue,  with  or  without  (as  happens  iu  some  very  exceptional  ca^e*) 
pail),  vomiting,  or  diarrh^JMi.  In  the:se  cases  death  is  usually  very  rapi<l» 
fjut  the  mind  is  clear  to  the  end. 

id)  littrttM  wmrt,  as  in  the  case  related  by  ^[r.  Wright,  of  Dubliu, 

(a)  Death  may  be  almost  immediate,  as  if  by  shock. 

But  the  symptoms  of  arsenical  (joisoinng,  it  must  be  admitted,  are  often 
auouuihuis  and  perplexing,  nor  ij*  it  pu>»il>le  always  to  explain  them. 
Often  there  is  an  irritation  and  entption  of  fhf  ffkhi  of  a  very  severe  character 
(Christimm,  p.  3*28;  Dr.  Bchlender's  ca.se  of  arrjciiiuiietted  hydrogen  n<>i.«ioD- 
iog);  sometimes,  and  ni»t  niK-ommmily,  locid  pnratym  ("Lancet,*  June 
7lh,  1845;  "Lancet,'*  July  6f.h,  1H44;  "American  Journal  of  Medical 
Science,"  July,  1851 );  sometiiue?*  mlleaiion,  and  even  mmtia  are  recorded 
as  having  occurred  (ChrUtison,  p.  81H).  .Sometimes  the  symptoms  sud- 
denly disappear  for  some  hours,  to  come  on  wjtli  reuewed  vigor  ('*L<indoQ 
Medico'Chirurgical  Transactions/'  II,  K]4  ;  **  Chemical  News,"  Dec.  2Gth, 
1863).  Sometimes  the  patient  dies  without  literally  any  bad  or  severe 
symptoms  at  all  r'Proviucial  Jounnd/*  June  28th,  1848;  Christison,  p. 
310).  Id  all  forms,  however,  arsenic  U  a  poison.  The  gaseous  form  is, 
SrS  we  should  expect,  the  mo>it  active,  and  of  the  rest  it  may  be  t-aid  that 
the  greattr  the  i^oluhility  the  more  intenjie  are  their  poisonous  properties. 
It  is  a  poison,  too,  however  admiiii^tere<l,  whether  applied  to  the  sound 
skin  ("Mem.  <»r  London  Medical  Society,"  II,  397,  Mr,  Sherweo's  experi- 
ments), or  used  as  a  wash  ("American  Journal  of  Medical  Science,"  Jul?, 
1851),  or  applie<l  to  the  scalp  ("British  Medical  Journal,"  March  5th,  ^ 
1864,  p.  275),  or  applied  as  an  ointmeut  to  a  tumor  ("British  Medical  ^M 
Journal,"  Oct.  6ih,  1866,  p.  395 ),  or  used  as  a  plaster  ("Lancet,"  March  ^ 
20th,  1869,  p.  410,  and  Oct.  3d,  1868,  p.  457),  or  applied  to  the  nostrils 
(ChriHtison,  n.  328),  or  applied  to  wounds  or  ulcers  (Christisou.  pp.  320- 
321),  or  applied  to  the  rectum  or  vagina  (Ohristison,  p.  323),  or  admin- 
istorc'd  internally  as  solid,  liquid,  or  k»s. 

Tlie  time  of  denih  varies  greatly.  In  one-half  of  the  cases  on  record  it 
provetl  fata!  within  oiue  hour.*.  But  it  has  killed  as  .soon  as  twenty 
minutes,  whilst  the  fatal  period  has  been  delayed  to  ten  and  sixteen  days, 
and  in  one  case  even  to  iwo  years. 


Ail  regards  fatttl  (juantiti/,  Orfila  a-sserts  ("Lancet/*  Nov.  14th,  1840,  n« 
262),  that  ln»wever  much  arsenic  may  be  taken  into  the  stomach,  the  whole 
qtmutity  aliffs<irbed  in  case  of  death  never  exceeds  1.5  to  2  gruius.  In  Dr. 
Bigmond's  lectures  iu  the  "Lancet"  of  Dec.  16lh,  1837,  the  case  of  a  man, 
a!t.  63,  is  referred  to.  who  took  one  grain  of  arsenic  in  divided  dose?,  and 
died,  it  was  believed,  as  the  reinilt,  A  second  case  is  rec(jrded  by  Roux 
of  a  girl,  aet.  18,  who  died  after  the  application  of  a  very  weak  "  pflte 
arseuicale"  lo  a  cancerous  breast;  and  a  third  case  is  recorded  by  Sir 
Astley  Cooper,  where  death  resulted  from  the  application  of  arsenic  to  a 
fungus  in  the  eye,  the  stomach  after  death  showing  all  the  appearances  of 
arsenical  poisoning.  In  a  ca^e  recorded  by  Dr.  Letheby,  2.5  grains  proved 
fatal  to  a  girl  of  nineteen.  On  the  other  hand,  there  are  numerous  cases 
on  record  of  recovery  after  enormous  doses.  In  nearly  all  these  casofl, 
however,  two  ccmditions  are  reeonled ;  fii-st,  that  the  i>oison  was  taken 
after  a  full  meal,an<l  secomUy,  that  very  early  and  free  vomiting  occurretl. 
This  indeed  is  doubtless  the  t'xplatmtitiU  of  many  cases  which  utijerwise 
appear  unexplaimible.  Nor  must  we  forget  to  mention  the  remarkalde 
stories  of  the  arricnic-eaters  of  Slyria  and  Lower  Austria;  stories,  indeed, 
which  it  is  as  hard  to  credit  a*i  it  is  impossible  to  explain  ("Lancet," 
January  17th,  1852,  p.  85),  We  have  also  a  curious  case  on  record  of  an 
English  arsenic  eater,  who  was  able  to  take  very  large  quantities  of  the 


I 
I 


AFTER-DEATH    APPEARANCES    PRODUOBD    BY    ARSENIC.      141 


poisoo  ("Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Oct  Gth,  1866,  p,  375),  Areeuic 
IS  also  said  to  be  used  largr^Iy  by  the  Cingalese  ltd  metluHl  of  prepara- 
tion by  them  it*  curiou:?  ("Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Oct.  25th,  1802, 
p.  454).  It  has  been  stated  that  the  io tensity  of  nr^eoic  as  a  poisrm  is 
increased  by  its  admixture  with  certaiu  salts,  such  a**  uitre  (*' Medical 
TimeV  Dec.  7th,  1844,  p.  216). 

(Respecting  the  tolerauce  for  arsenic,  see  Headland  on  the  "Action  of 
Me<iiciuei?,'*  p.  400.) 

Further,  it  has  been  stated  that  the  poiMUJou**  effects  of  arsenic  are 
grt'atly  aggravat<*d  when  it  is  adminifiif red  after  antimony  has  been  given 
and  during  the  interniission  of  it.^  use.  Under  such  circumstances  even 
medicinal  doses  have  proved  dangerous  ("Medical  Times  and  Gazette," 
May  22ci,  1858,  p.  524). 

Treatment, 

Ne^yfT  neglect  Ireafmsnt  beainse  the  aise  look^t  hopeleM,  As  a  rule  vomit- 
ing iet8  in  !«pontaueou^ly ;  and  if  the  poison  ha.-*  been  taken  on  a.  full 
Momach  the  whole  of  it  may  in  tlii-i  way  be  got  rid  of.  Not  so,  hnw*ever, 
if  taken  on  iin  emptt/  one,  Uir  then  the  ar$enic  sticks  to  the  sstomach,  aeXs 
up  intense  inflammation,  and  becomes  glued  to  the  coats  by  the  exudation 
of  roagulable  lymph  ("Ann.  d'Hyg.,"  xxx,  pp.  124-423). 

If  tlie  case  U  seen  immefiinUly  after  the  (>i>ison  has  been  taken,  the 
etomach-pump  may  be  used,  but  not  under  any  circumstances  afterwards. 
To  get  rid  of  the  poison,  which  must  he  yc»ur  firsst  endeavor,  administer 
hnt  milk  and  water,  and  emetics  of  sulphate  of  zinc  or  mustard,  al  the 
■nme  time  tickle  the  throat  with  a  feather.     But  do  not  give  antimony. 

Afler  tree  vomiting  give  milk  and  eggs.  8ugar  and  magnesia  in  milk 
tsngood  mixture,  an  insohible  compound  with  arf^enioui?  acid  being  in  this 
way  formed.  Treat  symptoms  as  they  arise:  collapse  with  stimuhiiits, 
nervous  symptoms  with  anodynes,  coma  by  venesection,  tetanus  with  chlo- 
n>form,  thirst  with  water. 

Tlie  hydratetl  peroxides  of  iron  and  magnesia  are  much  lauded  by  some 
AS  antidotes  in  cases  of  nrrienical  (woMining.  The  first  is  prepared  liy  pre- 
cipitutifig  the  muriatic  tincture  of  iron  wiih  excess  uf  ammonia,  collecting 
the  precipitate  on  a  tilter-paper,  and  well  washing  it  with  water,  and  the 
second  by  precipitating  a  stnmg solution  of  suljthateof  magnesia  with  lif|Uur 
potasxne.  Each  must  be  prepared  fre^h  and  given  whilst  moist.  They 
ihould,  to  be  of  any  good,  be  admini&tererl  at  lea.-^t  in  the  proportion  of  20 
narts  of  the  iron  com|H>und  to  every  1  of  the  acid  tnken  (nee  experiments 
by  Dr.  Duuald  Mackenzie,  ''Lancet/'  April  4th,  1840.  p,  46). 

The  permanganate  of  potash,  well  diluted,  h  also  recommended,  in  order 
to  convert  arsenioiis  into  aim'oic  acid. 

The  byd rated  f^uli>hide  of  iron  (recommended  by  Mialhe),  acetate  of 
iron,  animal  and  vegetable  charcoal,  and  albuiuen,  are  all  next  to  useless. 

Lastly,  act  on  the  ki<lneys  by  fre(pjently  rejieatetl  doses  of  nitrate  of 

lahh.  For  the  kidneys,  it  is  to  be  remembered,  are  the  great  excretors 
of  the  poison. 

Pod-mortem  Appearances, 

We  may  remark  first,  that  several  cases  are  recorded  where  no  B|tecial 
after-death  apf)earance.s  were  discovered.  In  one  such  ca«e  the  f>atient 
lived  for  twelve  hours  and  the  vomiling  had  been  violent  (Professor  Wag- 
ner:  Horu'ia  Archiv,  18^14,  755).  Asa  ride,  where  all  absence  of  abnor- 
raal  change  is  noted,  death  has  been  unus^ually  rajtid  ;  hut,  on  the  contrary, 
it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  tleath  may  be  very  rapid,  and  yet,  well-marked 
post' mortem  appearances  be  found. 


142  CHRONIC    ARSENICAL    POISONING. 

The  post-mortem  appearance:;  usually  discovered  arc  those  common  to 
the  action  of  irritant  poi»tons.  Their  intensity  for  the  most  part  depend 
on  two  circumstances:  (1)  the  amount  taken,  and  (2)  the  length  of  time 
the  patient  lived  after  taking  it.  The  stomach  is  acutely  inflamed,  either 
in  its  entirety  or  in  patches,  the  inflamed  parts  being  often  covered  with 
coagulable  lymph  mixe<i  with  solid  arsonic,  supposing  the  poison  to  have 
been  taken  in  that  form.  One  well-marked  peculiarity  must  specially  be 
noted,  and  that  is,  that  the  stomach  is  generally  studded  with  minute  pe* 
techious  dots  (see  plate  1).  This  condition  is  of^en  apparent,  even  when 
death  has  taken  place  after  two  or  three  hours.  The  coats  of  the  stomach 
are  sometimes  thickened  and  corrugated  (and  this  is  the  common  appear- 
ance), whilst  at  other  times  they  appear  thinner  than  normal.  Ulceration 
is  rare,  but  it  has  been  found  even  when  death  has  occurred  as  early  as 
ten  hours  alter  the  poison  has  been  swallowed.  Perforation  and  gangrene 
arc  still  more  uncommon  (for  arsenic  is  not  a  corromive  poistju),  although 
such  eastw  are  on  record.  The  intestines  may  be  inflamed  along  their 
whole  length,  hut  more  often  the  inflammation  is  limited  to  the  duiMienum. 
The  colon  is  otten  very  contracted,  and  the  rectum  is  invariably  the  seat 
of  acute  inflammation.  Congestion  of  the  ossophagus,  mouth,  and  wind- 
pipe, fn)m  the  application  of  the  poison  durii:g  vomiting,  is  general.  In- 
flammation of  the  bladder  and  |)eritoneum,  enlargement  of  the  intestinal 
glands,  livid  spots  on  the  skin,  congestion  and  serous  efliision  of  the  brain, 
arc  occasionally  found.  It  is  remarkable  that,  as  a  rule,  no  special  post- 
mortem appearances  will  be  noticed  in  the  liver,  spleen,  or  kidneys,  although 
these  are  the  great  receptacles  of  the  poison.  The  blood  is  usually  fluid. 
Dr.  Wilks  has  pointed  out  that  ecchymosis  of  the  heart  is  common  ("Medi- 
cal Tima4  and  Gazette,"  June  18th,  1862,  p.  70).  Sometimes  the  organs 
of  generation  are  greatly  inflamed. 

It  is  stated  that  after  death  by  arsenical  {misoning,  the  body  has  a  pecu- 
liar alliaceous  odor.    The  authors  have  never  been  able  to  detect  it. 

Further,  we  must  note  the  great  preservative  })ower  of  arsenic  It  is 
on  account  of  this  profterty  that  we  employ  it  for  injecting  bodies  in  the 
dis^ecting-room,  and  for  the  same  rea^'oii  it  is  used  in  stuflSne  birds  and 
animals.  Dr.  Wormley  tells  of  a  case  where  a  b(Miy  was  fouua  to  be  well 
preserved  seventeen  months  after  poisoning  by  arsenic,  whilst  others  record 
cases  of  bodies  remaining  in  go<xl  condition  for  very  much  longer  periods. 
But  some  cases  are  on  record  (exceptional  cases,  it  must  be  admitted)  of 
the  reverse.  How  far  this  may  be  due  to  the  arsenic  having  been  entirely 
removed  from  the  body  by  vomiting  is  the  question,  and  may  be  the  true 
explanation. 

Chronic  Arsenical  Pouiomug. 

Chronic  arsenical  poisoning  has  been  carefully  investigated  by  Dr.  George 
Harley  ( "  I-ancet,"  November  23d,  18G1,  p.  490).  The' following  are  some 
of  the  results  at  which  he  arrives : 

1.  That  arsenic  has  a  specific  action  on  the  digestive  canal. 

2.  That  the  action  of  arsenic  on  the  digestive  canal  is  manifested  irre- 
spcctivi'iy  of  itii  mode  of  administration. 

W.  That  the  effects  of  the  direct  contacjt  of  arsenic  with  the  mucous  mem- 
brane is  slight  compared  with  the  influence  it  oxertj<  through  the  blo<Ml. 

4.  That  the  symptoms  and  post-mortem  apjiearunces  of  acute  and  chronic 
poisiuiing  differ  materially. 

5.  That  the  post-mortem  changes  in  the  acuie  form  arc  most  marked  at 
the  ranliac,  and  in  the  chronic  form  at  the  pyloric  end  of  the  stomach. 

G.  That  the  more  gra<luul  the  poisoning  the  more  manifest  is  the  action 


TESTS    FOR    ARSENIC. 


143 


of  the  poison  on  the  iutestines,  and  the  less  manifest  its  Action  on  the 
tomach, 

7,  Thut  Heath  may  occur  so  rapidly  that  no  structural  change  will  be 
dffiroverable, 

H.  That  the  immunity  of  arsenic-eaters  ia  probably  due  to  their  taking 
it  in  a  solid  form,  and  consequently  a  very  small  ^jortion  only  entering  the 
circulation, 

9.  That  the  beneficial  effects  of  arsenic  as  a  metliclne  are  due  to  its  di- 
tninif^hin.o;  tis^sue  change  by  it-s  peculiar  action  on  the  blood. 

10.  That  its  prejudicial  cHects^  arc  due  tu  iL^  destroying  the  ptjwer  of  the 
bloi>d  to  become  oxidized,  and  td"  thereby  being  fitted  for  tlie  purposes  of 
nutrition. 

I,  For  Solid  Ar sen  ions  Acid, 

1.  Heat  a  &maU  quautity  of  the  acid  on  platinum-foil,  when  it  will  be 
found   to  volatilize  completely,  opaque  white  garlic -seen  ted  fumes   being 

Fio.  10. 


f:ivcn  off.     If  any  residue  be  left  it  is  impurity,  and  probably  sulphate  of 
ime. 

The  evolution  of  the  white  fumes  is  well  marked  when  the  acid  Is  ihrowa 
on  a  hot  coal. 

2.  Heat  a  small  portion  of  the  acid  on  a  clean  platinum  wire  in  a  blow- 
pipe fiame.  The  flame  will  be  found  to  be  titigpd  of  u  pale  blue  color 
tarsenical  flame),  white  fumeK  being  given  off     (Fig.  10.) 

3.  Put  a  small  quantity  <d'  the  iK'id  into  a  reduction -tube,  and  warm  the 
portion  of  the  tube  juet  above  the  acid  previously  to  heating  the  ucicj  it^sclf. 
After  thi?,  apply  the  flame  ti»  the  and,  when  a  s'ublimale  which  sparkles 
when  the  tube  is  held  against  a  black  background,  will  be  formed  ou  that 
part  of  the  tul)e  that  ha?  been  heated,  but  it  is  to  be  noted  that  the  a»"seni- 
OU8  acid  iti^elf  hajf  not  mrlted.  The  crystafa  on  l)eing  examined  with  a 
strong  len^,  will  be  found  to  be  ochtfudrnf^  having  triangubir  iiiceti*,  rarely 
of  any  other  tornn  and  invariably  .separate  aud  difitiuct  (Figs.  11  and  12). 
If  the  iM)rti<m  of  the  tube  where  the  sublimate  collects  is  not  warmed,  the 
sublimate  will  not  be  cry^taliine  but  am<irphou.«. 

(Note  that  oxalic  acid,  corrosive  sublimate,  and  ammonia  wilt.-,  yield 
crystalline  sublimates,  but  that  none  of  these  sublime  before  melting,  and 
luniQ  produce  octahedral  cryHtals.) 

That  part  of  the  tube  containing  the  sublimate  of  arsenious  acid  ?hou!d 
now  be  broken  olf  ami  boiled  in  wuler  for  sonje  time,  and  the  solution 
examined  for  the  acid  by  the  liquid  tents.  If  there  is  only  a  small  quan- 
tity for  analysis  it  is  nut  advisable  to  use  a  larger  reduction-tube  than 


TESTS    FOK    ARSENIC 


144 


j^th  in.  diameter,  and  to  draw  it  ont,  so  that  you  may  sublime  the  ni 
ous  acid  (  Ab/3j)  into  the  capillary  portion,  which  cno  then  be  eueily 
amined  under  the  raicros<^^ope  for  the  CTy.sLals.     It  has  been  suggested  to 
colleot  the  sublimate  on  a  flat  glass,  but  for  practical  purpojics  the  method 
we  have  described  isa  much  to  be  preferred. 


Fio.  n. 


Fi«.  12. 


im, 


4.  B.)il  some  of  the  powder  of  ar^enioiin  add  in  a  beaker  in  water;  little 
hinipsi  of  (he  add  will  lie  found  at  the  bottom  of  the  be-aker,  and  a  white 
film  will  collect  U[)on  the  surface  of  the  water,  which  will  be  equally 
apparent  wliether  the  water  be  cold  or  hot. 

•').  Add  to  a  fimall  quantity  of  the  acid  placed  in  a  watch-g1tLSf>,  a  little 
8ulf)hide  of  ammonium.  No  change  of  color  will  result.  If  a  gradual 
heat  be  now  applied  the  arsenic  will  di^olve,  and  as  soon  as  all  the 
ammojiiti  i.*  dissipwted,  a  yelluw  film  of  sulphide  of  arsenicum  will  be  left, 
which  is  soluble  in  alkalies,  but  instjluble  in  hydrochloric  acid. 

(J,  Take  a  tfr^  warm  narrow  hard-Lrlaj4s  rediiction-tnbe  (avoiding  Ger- 
man glads,  because  it  contains  lead),  about  fuur  im-hea  long  and  one-eighth 

inch  diameier,  and  place  in  it  a  untall 
f^'"'  '"'^  quaoiity  of  arseniuus  acid  well  mixed 

with  Rime  retluciug  agent,  taking 
care  not  to  soil  the  tube  in  introduc- 
ing the  mixture,  {Dr.  Letheby  rec- 
ommends an  a  reducing  agent  a 
mixture  of  powdered  charciial  and 
carbojiate  of  sodium^  and  I>r,  Tay- 
lor, one  part  of  cyanide  of  potaj*- 
Blum  and  three  parts  of  dry  carbon- 
ate of  wodium.  Acetate  of  !>odium 
well  incinerated,  mixed  either  with 
finely  powilered  and  recently  ignited 
^AArcoal  or  dried  fernicyanide  of  pot.apy*ium  is  recimimended  by  others  as 
iMilox,)  Cover  the  tube,  htdding  it  obliquely,  loosely  with  the  finger,  and 
apply  the  heat  of  a  spiritdamp  or  of  a  ga^  tiarae  to  the  mixture  (Fig.  13). 

Note  as  follows: 

A.  The  gnrlic  odor,  which  is  especially  produced  aa  the  metal  paases 
from  the  metallic  state  to  that  of  arseuious  acid.  Thi^  garlic  odor  is  not, 
however,  peculiar  to  arsenic. 

B.  The  dark  brown  or  black  rlntj  of  metallic  arMeuic,  fortned  about  half 
an  inch  above  the  mixture  in  the  cool  part  of  the  tube  <Fig,  14,  b)> 
This  ring  is  ollen  double,  the  lower  part  being  brilliantly  metallic,  but 
the  upper  part  less  lustroui*,  and  merging  ofl'  at  ka  upf>er  margin  into  au 


4 


TESTS    FOR    ARSBKia 


145 


ar^nious  acid  sublimate.     The  iuterDal  pari  of  the  ring  will  usually  be 
seen  lo  be  distiuutlj  crystalline. 

C  The  ring  of  metallic  arsenic  will  be  found  to  be  very  volatile,  and 
wheu  heiit  is  apjilied  to  it,  it  can  be  made  to  pai*a  up  and  down  the  tube, 
the  sublimate  collecting  on  those  parts  that  are  cold  ;  and 

D.  It  will  be  found  that  after  repeated  vohitilizatiotis  in      ^'■*"  *■*• 
the  prej«nce  of  plenty  of  air,  the  whole  of  the  metal  ivill  be- 

►me  oxidized,  and  white  octahedral  crystals  of  arsentous  acid 
only  be  letl.  This  is  undoubted  evidence  of  its  ars^enicat  na- 
ture. It  will  be  advisable,  in  order  to  obtain  the  complete 
oxidation  of  the  arse[»icuni,  if  in  any  quantity,  to  cut  away  the 
part  of  the  tube  containing  the  raetalHc  ring,  to  put  it  into  a 
teM-tube  where  the  supply  of  air  in  abundant,  and  then  to 
apply  heat. 

E.  The  sublimate  of  arsenious  acid  thus  obtained  is  to  be 
boiled  with  water,  and  the  solution  examined  by  the  Jiqyid 
te^tfv. 

F.  Or,  instead  of  oxidizing:  the  metallic  E^iiblimate  aa  above, 
dissolve  the  ring  of  metallic  arsenic  in  a  drop  or  two  of  dilute 
nitro-muriatic  acid,  and  ei^aporate  the  solution  to  drynei«3, 
when  arsenic  acid  will  be  left.  This  is  to  be  dissolved  in  a 
little  water,  and  treated  with  a  solutiou  of  nitrate  of  nlver, 
when  a  red-brick  precipitate  of  arsenate  of  .silver  will  be  pro- 
duced. 

G.  The  metallic  sublimate  is  soluble  in  a  solution  of  hypochlorite  of 
soda  or  lime. 

Failncies,  Mercury  compounds,  cadmium,  tellurium,  and  fielenium,  like 
ar^eoicum,  yield  sublimates,  but  aa  a  rule  they  appear  globular  even  to 
the  uuked  eye.  The  globules  of  a  selenium  sublimate  are  of  a  port-wine 
color.  Tellurium  occasionally  pr«jduces  a  crystalline  aublimate  (telluric 
lujid),  but 

(1)  None  yield  octahedral  crystals  when  revolatilized. 

(2)  Xone  are  soluble  in  hypochli>rite  of  s«>da. 
^3)  Having  been  treated  as  directed  (F)  with  nitro-hydrochloric  acid, 

Done  give  a  red  precipitate  with  nitrate  of  silver. 

C  Dissolve  some  chloride  of  tin  in  hydrochloric  acid,  and  heat  to  boil- 
ing.    The  solution  ^hotdd  be  eolurless.    The  merest  trace  of  arseiiious  acid 
Ided  to   this   solution    produces  a   brown  black    pret'ipilate  of  metallic 
—"lie.     Antimony  gives  no  result  with  this  test  (^iDettendortf;. 

II.  For  Araeiiiotia  Acid  in  SoluUon, 

1.  The  solution  is  tasteless  or  nearly  so. 

2.  It  is  feebly  acid  to  litmus  (reaction  noticeable  with  1  part  in  1000  of 
water  L 

3.  The  solution  when  evaporated  to  dryness  leaver  octahedral  iTVstals, 
which  may  l>e  completely  volatilized  by  the  continued  application  of  heat* 

4.  The  folkiwinp;  reactions  should  be  noted,  but  they  are  uu important  aa 
tests,  because  of  their  numerous  fa  1  lacier  : 

Lime-water  gives  a  white  precipitate,  soluble  in  hydrochloric  acid, 
lodifie  of  potaitftiitm  gives  a  white  precipitate,  which  becomes  yellow  on 
the  addition  uf  hydrochloric  acid, 

Btrhrrjmnlf  of  yoUi»h  give's  a  green  precipitate. 

lloik'd  with  emt»tie  potm^h  and  a  ih-np  of  a  mhtlmi  of  sulphate  of  copper 
Ided,  a  red  precipitate  of  the  euboitide  is  produce^!.     A  similar  action 


146 


'OR    AESBKtC. 


occurs  with  grape-sugar.  A  very  little  sulphate  of  copper  must  be  ad<le<1, 
otherwise  the  black  protoxide  will  he  thrown  dowo  which  masks  the  red 
color  of  the  suboxide. 

The  following  testa  are  of  im  pot  ranee  : 

5.  Amtuonto-Nitrate  of  Stiver  (ii nine's  Test,  1789).  The  reagent  must 
be  prepared  fresh  each  time  it  is  required^  ( Preparntton  :  Add,  drop  by 
drop,  u  weak  aolatioji  of  animooia  to  a  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver,  until 
the  brown  preei pittite  lirst  produced  is  ueurhj  dissolved  ;  decant  the  clear 
liquid.  Tliere  tiiUf^t  he  enough  anniiouia,  ollierwi.He  a  ve]h>w  precipitate 
wilt  be  produced  wiib  alkaline  pht).sphate.<«  and  silicates,  but  not  too  much, 
otherwine  no  precipitate  is  f<»rnied  wilh  arsenious  acid/) 

This  solution  [jDwlueea  a  bright-yellow  cryatalliue  preei[utate  of  arseuite 
of  stiver  <A^',A>*>, J  with  ai>enioua  acid  ^dutioiii^.  The  precipitate  is 
soluble  in  auunonia  and  in  dilute  acid?i,  hut  insolulde  in  the  fixed  caustic 
alkalieit.  It  in  deecjmposed  hj  hydrochloric  acid,  chloride  of  silver  being 
formed.     It  chauges  to  u  grceui>h-brovvu  color  by  the  action  of  sunlight. 

The  precipitate  must  be  collected  and  heated  with  a  reducing  agent.  In 
this  way  a  sublimate  of  metallic  arsenic  will  be  obtained,  from  which  sub- 
limate the  octahedral  crystals  of  ar^enious  acid  may  be  prodnce<l  by 
rejMjated  volatilizations  in  a  free  supply  of  air. 

F'ulftint'A: 

A  yellow  preci]utate  is  produced  with  free  pkoffphoric  acid,  which  \a 
Soluble  in  amiumiia  and  nitric  acid. 

A  yellow  precipilate  is  produced  with  vannfltr  nnd. 

A  yellow  precipitate  is  al^u  produced  with  alkailne  iW»Vfc#  and  bromhirji, 
which  is  in^Kiluble  to  dilute  nitric  acid,  and  only  slightly  soluble  iu  at 
raonia. 

None  of  these  precipitates,  however,  yield  sublimates  resembling  thoae 
of  metallic  arsenic  or  of  arsenioua  acid- 

KoTE. — This  test  is  not  applicable  to  solutions  containing  organic  mat- 
ter, as  it  decomposes  the  te^t  reagent. 

6,  Ammonio-Sit/phale  of  Coppt'.r  (Scheele's  Te^t). 

{Prejiiirtttion, — Add  drop  by  drop  ammonia  solution  to  a  weak  solntioo 
of  sulphate  of  copper,  until  the  pr<H'rpitate  tii'r't  produced  i;*  nearly  dis- 
golved.  Decant  the  clear  liijuid.  The  te^t  is  to  be  prepared  fresh  each 
time  it  is  require^b) 

It  profluces  with  a  solution  of  amenious  acid  a  li^ht  apple-greeu  pre- 
cipitate of  ar?*cnite  <>f  copper  (Scheele's  greeu  :  CuH,  AsO,>,  which  is 
soluble  in  ammonia  and  rljhite  acid?*.  If  the  scdution  U  weak,  the  pre- 
cipitate is  H.inie  time  iu  appearing.  Sulphate  of  copper  alone  gives  similar 
preci]>itates  with  solulions  of  i/t-w/m/ ar?euites. 

Collect  the  ariAenite  of  copper  and  test  as  follows : 

(a)  Heat  a  small  quantity  iu  a  reduction-tube  with  a  reducing  aeent, 
aad  by  this  means  obtain  a  metallic  sublimate,  which  mu«t  atlerwards  be 
oxidized  by  repeated  volatilizatitms. 

ib)  Disi^filve  the  remainder  of  the  arsenite  in  hydrochloric  acid  and 
divide  into  two  parts  (1  and  2). 

(1)  Pajf««  sulphuretted  hydrogen  through  the  solution,  collect  the  pr^ 

cipitate,  dissolve  in  ammonia,  and  ^Iter;  neutralize  the  5ltrate 
with  hydrochloric  acid,  when  the  sulphide  will  be  again  pre* 
ci  pit  a  ted. 

(2)  Teet  the  remainder  of  the  acid  solution  by  boiling  iu  it  some 

elrips  uf  clean  copper. 


TB8TS    FOB    ARSENIC. 


i4r 


Fal/actfg:  no  metallic  substance  is  likely  to  be  a  aouree  of  error,  hut 
VAriuuA  orgaaic  substances,  such  as  tea,  coffee,  etc.,  give  a  somewhat  similar 
precipitate, 

7.  Sulphurfitcd  Htjdro^en  (U.^). 

Give?  with  an  arsenious  acifl  solution,  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid, 
a  bright-yellow  amorphous  precipitate  of  orpinient  {Xs^^}, 

Note— 

A.  The  precipitate  is  not  prodiicefl  in  an  alkaline  soltition.  Hence  8nl- 
lide  of  ainnionturn  should  u*it  be  used,  although  the  ar-ieuic  can  be  afler- 
ird^  precipitated  by  the  addition  of  hydrochloric  acid.     It  (nuj*t,  how- 

•r,  be  remembered  that  acids  precipitate  rtulpliur,  which  has  more  tluiii 
once  been  nii»stakeu  for  orpiment  from  the  pirnilnrity  of  the  color. 

B.  The  sulphuretted  hydrogeu  should  always  be  paaj^ed  lhr()U<,d»  a  wash- 
bottle  before  passiuif  it  throuj^h  the  isolation  to  be  tested  (Fig.  4). 

C  The  hydrochloric  acid  used  in  t!ie  experiment  must  be  pure  and  free 
from  arsenic. 

D.  Dr.  Taylor  say^  the  precipitation  is  aided  by  the  addition  of  a  solu- 
tion of  chloride  of  animoniurn. 

E.  If  the  ar?eniou«  acid  solution  be  very  dilute,  it  wfll  be  advisable, 
before  ojllecting  the  precipitate,  to  get  rid  of  the  excess  of  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  by  heating  the  solution. 

F.  When  organic  matter  is  present,  the  precipitate  often  api>ears  of  a 
dull  yellow  color. 

G.  if  sulphate  of  copper  has  been  given  as  an  emetic,  the  black  color  of 
the  ci>p}>er  precipitate  may  ob»«cure  the  yellow  color  of  the  arsenic.     In 

ich  a  ca^  filter  off  the  precipitate,  dige.-^t  in  aniniouia,  filter,  and  ev«i> 
►rate  down  theammoniacal  solution,  when^the  residiie  will  nhow  the  yellow 
dor  of  the  orpiment. 

The  sulphide  of  arsenic  h  inmfuhle  \o  f<dd  hydrochloric  acid,  and  hut 
very  slightly  goiuble  in  hoi;  but  it  h  mtubfe  in  nitric  acid  (by  which  it  is 
changed  into  arsenic  acid)  and  also  in  caustic  alkalies,  and  in  alkaline 
sulphides  and  carbonates. 

Memo: — Sulphuretted  hydrogen  gives  a  bright  yellow  precipitate  with 
CiDMitM  in  weak  acid  wjlutinns,  the  precipitate  being  mhihk  in  hydro- 
chloric acid,  but  inmlnbU  in  alkalies*. 

Ti.  gives  with  SELENrors  Acid  in  neutral  or  alkaline  solutions  a  yellow 
prvcipitate  changing  to  red,  the  precipitate  being  iiuoiuble  either  in  bydro- 
chloric  acid  or  in  ammonia. 

It  gived  with  Tin  a  dull  yellow  precipitate  either  in  acid  or  neutral 
Bolutionf^,  the  precipitate  being  sparingly  mfub/f  in  nmmonia. 

It  give?i  with  AsTrMONv  an  orange  red  precipitate,  either  in  acid,  neu- 
tral or  alkaline  solutions^  the  precipitate  being  s*ihibfe  in  cold  concentrtited 
hydrochloric  acid,  very  soluble  in  caustic  p<»fash,  but  nearly  inmluhle  in 
amuionia.  i s\  hydrochloric  acid  solution,  boiled  with  a  piece  of  L'opj>er- 
foil,  prtxluces  a  violet-colored  metallic  deposiitf  which  rnay  be  known  from 
an)*^uic  by  not  yielding  octahetlral  crystals.) 

You  have  now  to  prove  the  yellow  precipitate  produced  by  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  is  an  amenioal  tiifphlde.     Note  as  fijllows: 

1.  It  is  insoluble  in  water  or  in  hydrochloric  acid. 

2.  It  i^  soluble  in  ammonia  sutuiiou  and  in  solutions  of  caustic  potash 
and  itoda, 

3.  Dry  and  heat  a  portion  of  the  .sulphide  with  a  reducing  flux  of  car- 
liouato  of  sodium  aod  charcoal  in  a  reduction-tube,  and  so  obtain  — 


148 


fR    ARSENIC. 


(«^  A  metallic  sublimate, 

(b)  Octahedral  crvistiils  of  areenious  acid  by  repeated  volatiliza- 
tiouaiu  ibe  prepuce  of  air. 

4.  Dissolve  a  portion  of  the  precipitate  in  hot  nitric  acid.  Evaporate 
to  drynesi^j  and,  the  residue  being  neutral,  add  a  few  dro(»s  ot*  a  strong 
»o!iiti«)u  iif  nitrate  of  f;ilver,  when  a  brickdust  precipitate  of  anseDate  of 
silver  will  be  formed  t  Ag^AiiO/). 

8.  Marsh's  Test.     (Mr.  Marsh  of  Woolwich,  1836.) 

(Dependiog  on  the  property  of  no^sccnt  hydrogen  to  combine  with 
arsenic  to  form  arsenioretted  hydrogen »  AsH,.) 

Arseninrctted  hydrogen  (*.  g.  2.695k  ia  a  colorless  gas  having  a  garlic 
od^ir,  very  poisonous,  ppnrirrgly  soJnble  in  water,  borain^  with  a  bluish 
flame,  and  being  readily  decompoi*ed  by  heat  into  arsenicLim  and  free 
hydrogen: 

To  make  the  experiment  proceed  aa  follows: 

An  apparatus  must  be  arraniiret]  o^  beluw,  uew  bottles  and  tubes  beti 
used  for  each  experiment  (Fig,  15 L 

Generate  hydrogen  in  the  bottle  (a)  by  the  action  of  pure  dilute  sul- 
phuric acid  on  pure  zinc.     If  the  hydrogcu  be  difficult  to  get  ott\  an  it  will 


Flo.  15. 


Fio.  10, 


oAen  lie  found  to  He  when  pure  zinc  la  u>^ed,a  few  little  pieces  of  platinum 
flropped  into  the  battle  will  remedy  the  difficulty.  Prove  the  aWnce  of 
any  arseJiic  in  the  reagent?,  first  of  all,  by  generating  the  gas  for  ?ome 
fitleeu  minute«,  and  testing  as  directed.  If  all  the  materials  be  thus 
proved  to  be  pure,  then  pour  the  arsenical  liijuid  to  be  examined,  into  the 
bottle  where  the  hydrogen  is  being  generated.  The  gas  (which  will  now 
be  arseniuretted  hydrngcn)  will  he  found  to  come  tjff  much  faster  than  the 
pure  hydntgeu  did  before  the  addition  of  tlie  an-Acnical  solution.  Ignite 
the  gas.     Note^ — 

A.  Tfte  JH, — This  is  much  increa.^cd  in  size  by  the  addition  of  the 
ar&enic.  (The  hydrogen,  therei^jre.shimld  be  generated  very  slowly  before 
the  arsenic  tj^  added.)  The  flame  bec«mie8  of  a  blue  tint,  has  a  garlic 
odor,  and  mav  po:^sihly  give  otf  a  thick  white  smoke  ( A«,0,),  which  may 
be  collected  ^Fig.  10).  (The  flame  of  antimoniuretted  hydrogeu  is  with- 
out smell  and  of  a  green  color.; 

B.  Hold  a  slip  of  cold  porcelain  near  the  point  of  the  flame  (e)^  when  a 
crust  of  metallic  arseiuc  will  form  upon  it.  Several  of  thei»c  dp|xM«it« 
should  Imj  obtaiued,aud  they  will  be  louod  to  pos«ei»s  the  following  charac< 


TESTS    FOR    ARSENIC 


149 


ters.     The  centre  p*art  hajs  a  brillmntly  metnllic  lustre,  anil  is  «iurrf5imded 
by  a  dark  ring  (probably  a  suboxide  of  the  metal :   Odlintf);  outride  this, 
either  a  white  riug  ot'arsenious  acid,  or  a  brownish  ring  formed  by  ft  miix- 
ture  of  the  metal  and  anjenious  acid,  will  be  tbund. 
To  prove  this  stain  is  araetiical.     Note — 

(a)  Its  metallic  brilliancy. 

{ti)  It«  hair-bri>wu  colur.     This  is  best  seen  by  transmitted  lif^ht. 
(y)  Its  volatility.     The  atain   h  diasinated,  rtiid  arsenioiis  acid  pro- 
duced, when  it  i^  heated  even  below  redoes.^, 
id)  Its  solubility  when  warmed  in  a  solution  of  chloride  of  lime, 
t)  No  apparent  aetiou  rei<uli^  when  the  stain   in  first  treated  with 
^^_  sulphide  oi'auimoiiiuni,  but  if  heat  be  applied  to  the  mixturefa 

^^B  yellow  8taiu  having  a  metallic  centre  will  be  formed. 

^^m     (C)  Warm  the  4taiu  with  a  drop  or  two  of  uitni-muriatic  acid  and 
^^V  evaporate  to  dryuexn;  the  residue  may  l»e  proved  to  be  ai"seuic 

^^^^^B  acifi  by  the  production  of  the  pecuIJiir  brirkduf^t  precipitate  of 

^^^HV         arseuate  of  f^ilver  on  the  addition  of  nitrate  of  silver. 
^^^{tj)  It  is  not  acted  upon  by  a  sobiiion  of  protochloride  of  tin. 

The  authors  consider  it  very  doubtful  that  any  difficulty  or  fallacy  can 
ame  (as  some  have  suggested)  from  the  pre^sence  iu  the  arsenical  solution 
of  iron,  phosphorus,  or  sulphur. 

Note  the  following  points  of  difference  in  the  reactions  of  a  crust  of  me- 
tallic arsenic  and  of  metallic  antimony. 


Arsenic. 
1.   Acted  on  very  tlowly  by  sulphide  of 
Bill  m  on  i  urn. 

2    This  mixtupp  ( 1 )  evuporated  to  dry- 
<■«««  givfs  H  hriyht  yellow  tlepuAit, — 
S'tluMc  ill  iimmoniH  ; 
lnsc»Iubl<!  in  hydr<K  bloric  iictd. 

a.  It  is  Vffy  soluble  in  h  scihuion  of 
chluride  of  limo. 

4,  it  i-»  soluble  in  WHnn  nitric  rieid  ; 
ftnd  ihk.^,oii  liH^ing  eviipunited  Uj  drynetw^, 
leiivvf  H  while  rcii'iduo. 

Add  ultrnie  of  »Urfr  find  ii  brick-red 
pr^ripttate  r*  pi'offucM. 

b.  It  ie  nut  di*»olived  by  a  solution  of 
protuchluride  of  tin. 


AjfTIMONY. 

1.  Di!*itn)ved  rapidly  by  gulphlde  of 
Hmmitnium. 

2.  This  uifxlure  (1)  evnporrtt<'d  to  dry- 
ne*,-?  givw  fit*  uTiinyr-rtH  d<"[n>ftil,— 

1  iiiinlubio  in  iilnni4»iiia  ; 
Sniiiblr  In  hydrfK-'hlfjric  wrid. 
S     It  if*  very  t'liijhtly  wnd  j«l«>wly  solu- 
ble in  a  ptdijti«in  nf  chlori<l<i  fif  liiiifj 

4  It  16  'soliiblo  in  wnrm  nitrlr  ucid; 
Mud  this,  on  bi'lm;  ovttpuraled  Lo  drynvf^s, 
leaves  H  while  ri'sidvjR 

Add   nitrate  (tf  tiher  and  no  netion 
rCiftittM. 
5.    It  tH  di^snlvi'd  Mlowly  by  o  soliitlan 
of  prolochluridL'  of  tm. 


C.  Heat  the  tube  at  d  (Fig.  15)  to  n  red  heat,  when  the  gas  will  be  de- 
compo*»ed  and  a  steel-gray  ring  of 

metallic  arseuic  be  formed  at  some  ^'*'-  '^■ 

Iiltledistauce6e*y(A»f/the  Hame  (Ber- 
lelius),  (It  is  belter  that  the  tube 
should  be  red  hot  before  the  araeui- 
cal  sw)lntion  is  introduced.) 

Note  the  following  (lifTerences  be- 
tween the  !?taiu  pro<luced  by  ar^eni- 
urctted  hydrogen  and  that  produced 
by  autinioniu retted  hydrogen  under 
eimil&r  circumstances : 

1.  To    produce   the    arsenical 
stain  a  higher  tempera- 
ture is  needetl  than  it*  re- 
quired to  produce  theautimonial  from  their  respective  hydrogen 
compounds. 


150 


2.  The  arseuical  stain  is  depoeitetl  at  a  short  distance  from  the  j?oui 

of  heat  (Fig.  17  (Ij),  The  antimuuiul  si&in  is  dupusited  doiC 
tA)  and  on  both  sides  of  it  (2). 

3.  The  ar^it'nkal  stain  readily  volatilizes  by  the  applieatioD  of  heat, 

rectiiidftifing  a  little  furlliiT  im  in  the  tube,  octahedral  crystuls 
of  AifijOj,  being  formed.  The  (iHtimonitil  stnin  volatilizes  with 
diffiL'ulty,  and  yields  a  white  atnorphous  preeipitAte  very  near 
to  the  spot  where  the  heat  if*  applied. 

4.  The  ar«tnicnl  stum  is  solubb  in  a  solution  of  chlorinated  lime,  the 

mittmonial  bmng  insoluble, 

5.  Similar  te.4ts  are  to  be  applied  to  these  stains  as  already  deseribed 

(page  149). 

D.  Pass  the  ga.*?  slowly  through  a  weak  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver, 
when  a  black  precipitate  of  wtrW/Zc  *j7r<r  will  be  produced.  Precipitate 
the  excess  of  silver  with  hydrochloric  acid,  filter,  and  either 

(1)  Evaporate  the  filtrate  to  liryness  and  teat  the  residue  for  arsenic 

acid  with  nitrate  of  silver;  or 

(2)  Treat  the  filtrate  with  i^otphuretted  hydrogen.     If  the  quantity 

he  sufficient,  try  both  testa. 

(Note.— If  the  silver  solution  should  become  suddenly  black,  this  raay 
be  due  to  sulphur  compounds,  which  you  would  know  are  being  set 
by  testing  the  action  of  the  gas  on  lead-paper.) 

E.  St^raetitnes  it  is  convenient  to  pass  the  arseniuretted  hydrogen  in! 
nitric  acid  containing  a  little  suljttiurie  acid.     This  may  alterwards  be 
evaporated  to  dryness,  and  tested  for  arsenic  acid  with  nitmte  of  silver. 

It  must  not  be  ibrgotten  that  not 
'^"''1^'  only   the    zinc    but   also    the   oil   of 

vitriol  of  commerce  ollen  contains 
arsenic,  from  the  pyrites  ustnl  in  its 
pre jtfi ration,  RoujiKiu  recommended 
the  u.se  of  ntngnesium  in  the  plai-e  of 
zinc,  and  Morton  {**  Lancet,*'  Jan. 
Itith  and  June  12tb,  1H41,  pp.  585 
and  31>4)  has  suggested  utilizing  tor 
the  exfieriment  the  hydrogen  devel- 
oped during  the  detHjm position  of 
water  by  the  galvanic  battery. 

The  annexed  figure  (Fig.  18)  rep- 
re?ent.s  the  farn^  of  apparatus  recom- 
mended by  l^toxam,  and  nee<ls  only 
u  word  of  explanation.  A  2-ounce 
bottle  has  its  bottom  replaced  by  a 
parchment  covering,  secured  round 
the  bottle  with  phuinum  wire.  This 
is  place*!  in  another  glass,  and  the 
whole  apparatus  kept  cool  by  being  iramerj^ed  in  a  ves^s^el  containing  cold 
water,  iwo  piece;?  of  platinum-toil  connected  with  platinum  wires,  are 
placed  one  in  the  bottle  and  one  in  the  vessel  external  to  the  bottle.  The 
one  in  the  bottle  is  to  be  connected  with  the  nefjidive  j>o!e  of  the  battery 
from  which  the  hydrogen  is  generated,  and  the  other  with  the  positive  pole, 
B4»th  the  vessel  and  the  bottle  are  to  be  filled  half  full  with  dilute  sul- 
phuric acid  (one  to  three  of  water).  Whcu  the  abftuuce  of  arsenic  has 
been  clearly  ascertAined,  the  liquid  lo  be  tested  may  t>€  poured  through  the 
funnel  into  the  bottle.     All  the  reactions  already  described  can  thus  be 


"HI 


TESTS    POK    AR8KNI0, 


151 


kbtahied.    The  iVothing^  which  sometimes  occurs  can  be  kept  m  check  by 
le  addition  of  a  little  alcohol. 
The  delicacy  of  Mar-*h\s  tent  is  very  great. 

Should  the  arsenic  exbt  m  arsenic  acid,  or  as  a  salt  of  arsenic  acid»  no 
miuretted  hydrogen  will  be  ^^enerateil.     It  is  then  neces!*ary  to  heat  the 
Miic  acid  with  sulphite  of  sodiit  and  »o  reduce  it  t^*  the  lower  grade  of 
(ioD,  wheu  the  reactions  described  may  be  obtained. 

'imeh's  TeM  (184:^). 

(Depending  on  the  deprjsit  of  the  metal  on  copper  when  boiled  in  a  hy- 
drochloric-acid solution.) 

Boil  the  i^olution  of  art«enious  acid  with  about  one-sixth  its  bulk  of  pure 
ihvdrochloric  acid,  and  place  in  the  mixture  one  or  two  pieces  of  well- 
^ Gleaned,  bright,  pure  copper-foil. 

The  cop|>er  is  to  be  cleaned  by  first  heating  it  in  a  Buusen  burner,  and, 
after  acting  upon  it  with  a  little  nitric  arid  in  a  test-tube  until  it  is  per- 
fectly bright,  thoroughly  wuj^liiug  with  water. 

The  cop}>er  will,  alter  a  shnn  time»  arrjuire  a  steelUke  metallic  coating, 
which  will  l>e  funnel,  if  the  solution  is  boilt^l  bio  long,  or  the  arsenic  be  in 
large  quantity,  to  peel  off  reudily  from  the  copper.     If  the  ahjcuic  is  only 


Fio- 19. 


present  in  very  small  quantity,  the  deposit  ia  thin  and  of  a  violet  tint. 
The  coating  is  believed  to  be  an  alloy  of  arsenic  aud  copper  (Lijtpert). 
The  delicacy  of  this  te^t  h  very  great,  and  although  it  is,  [jerhaps,  n(it  so 
delicate  aa  Man»h'a  test,  it  is  in  our  opinion  far  more  ui»eful  for  general 
work. 

The  following  points  in  the  experiment  demand  attention : 

1.  The  Iiydrochloric  acid  and  the  copper  muet  themselves  be  proved  to 
be  free  from  arsenic. 

2.  At  the  commencement  of  the  exj>eriment,  the  smaller  the  piece  of 
copper-foil  that  is  introduced  the  l)etter  i  but  if  the  first  piece  bcetMnes 
coated,  then  piece  after  piece  sthould  be  added  until  the  last  piece  reniaius 
bright 

3.  Before  you  decide  the  absence  of  ar^^nic,  boil  the  copjier  with  the 
acid  siolution  for  at  least  half  an  hour,  as  the  lii|Uid  may  possibly  deposit 

?nic  on  the  copper  as  it  becomes  more  concentrate^l. 

4.  C>>pper  will  aometimes  become  aomewhat  din^v  after  prolonged 
lioiling  in  an  acid  liquid  containing  organic  matter.  This  ilingiuess  must 
not  be  raij-taken  for  an  arsenical  deposit. 

And  now  remove  the  copper  strips  from  the  solution,  wa«h  them  with  a 
little  pure  water  from  a  wash-bottle,  and  dry  by  pressiug  them  very  gently 
between  folds  of  blotting-paper. 

You  must  now  prove  that  the  deposit  on  the  copper  b  arsenic. 

Note — 

1.  The  st.eel-gray  color  of  the  depof^it. 

2.  Coil  up  the  pieces  of  copper  and  put  them  into  a  dry  clean  reduction- 
tube  (rfry,  because  the  cJepositiou  of  mois*turc  might  possibly  be  deceptive). 
Heat  lliem,  and  in  thii^  manner  the  octahedral  crystals  of  arsenious  acid 
will  be  obtained.     The  size  of  the  reduction-tube  used  roust  depend  on  the 


152 


TESTS    FOR    AR8BNI0. 


quaotity  of  tbe  deposit.  If  it.  he  only  very  small,  a  tube  drawn  out  some- 
what tiuely  will  be  best  (Fig.  10),  the  aublitmite  being  allowed  to  form  iu 
the  narrowed  portion  of  the  tube, 

3,  Proceed  to  test  these  erystals  of  arsenious  aeid  as  already  described 
by  the  liquid  teata  after  dissolving  them  by  boiling  with  water* 

This  test  is  not  appUcnble  when  oxidizing  bodie.-*  are  present.  Free 
nitric  acid,  exce^sa  of  nitrates,  or  the  presence  of  a  chlorate  are  therefore 
itu  pediments. 

The  po^ible/i//aci<w  are  important — antimony,  mercury,  silver,  bismuth, 
platinum,  palladium,  tin  anrl  gold  are  depostited  on  eopper  when  boiled  io 
an  acid  stibition,  whilst  the  dingy  tarnish  that  copper  acquire?*  when  boiled 
in  an  acid  liquid  containing  organic  matter  (especially  if  it  contains  sul- 
phur) has  already  been  noted.  The  aniinmny  depa«?it  is  violet;  the  mercuty^ 
silver,  and  bUmuih  {leposit?;  are  bright  and  silvery  ;  the  gold  h  yellow,  whilst 
the  pbithtum  and  pai/mtinm  depo.nits  have  a  great  resemblance  to  arsenic. 
Two  only  of  thene  deposit**,  however,  hesidea  arsenic,  viz.,  antimony  and 
mercury,  yield  a  sublimate  wneii  heated  io  a  reduction-tube. 

(fit)  The  sublimate  from  aittijuony  la  amorphous,  and  insoluble  in  water, 
(,3)  The  sublimate  from  mercury  cou^isU  of  bright  metallic  globules  in- 
soluble in  water, 

(;'}  The  sublimate  from  arsenic  consists  of  octahedral  erystalsj  sparingly 
soluble  in  water.     The  presence  of  these  octahedral  crystals  is  decisive. 

Lastly,  tartar  emetic  often  contains  a  trace  of  arsenic.  Hence  if  tartar 
emetic  has  Ijeen  given  to  produce  vomiting  or  as  a  medicine,  the  puaaibility 
of  obtaining  a  mixed  sublijnate  must  not  be  overlooked. 


Toxicologicul  AtiQlysis, 
Io  conducting  a  toxicological  investigation— 

1,  Not*  that  ina.smuch  as  white  arsenic  is  only  very  sparingly  soluble  in 
the  fluids  of  the  diga-^tivf  tract,  solid  white  particle.^  should  be  carefully 
looked  lor  with  a  powerful  magnifying  glas.s  both  iu  the  contents  and  on 
the  Ci>nts  of  the  stomach,  scraping  them  for  this  purpose  here  and  there 
with  the  hiindle  of  a  scalpel.  It  must  not  be  concluded  that  every  white 
powder  so  tound  is  arsenic  fsncli  mistakes  have  been  made),  but  it  should, 
if  fonucl,be  carefully  removed,  cleaned,  and  tested.  Note  further  whether 
the  arsenic  is  in  lumps  or  in  fine  powder 

2,  Carefully  look  for  soot  or  indigo  with  which  the  arsenic  may  have 
been  mixed. 

3.  Hemeniber  that  white  arsenic,  as  the  body  putrefies,  may  pass  par- 
tially or  completely  into  the  state  of  yellow  sul])hide.  If  soli(i  arsenic  is 
found  it  is  ithmhiidy  certain  it  was  taken  iu  a  mild  state,  but  if  otherwise, 
it  mav  then  liave  been  taken  either  as  a  !^olid  or  in  solution. 

4.  In  cases  of  suspected  arsenical  poisoning,  examine,  if  possible,  par- 
ticularly the  urine,  the  liver,  and  the  spleen.  In  these  the  largest  quantity 
will  probably  be  found,  and  possibly  when  none  can  be  discovered  in  other 
parts. 

As  regards  the  elimination  of  the  poison  by  the  urine,  M.  Lafonde's 
experiments  prove  that  the  time  which  elapses  l)etween  the  adoiinislration 
of  the  arsenic  and  its  detection  in  the  urine  is  never  less  than  one,  or  more 
than  seven  hours*     ("Lancet,"  1845,  vol.  ii,  p,  209.) 

Further,  it  is  worth  noting  that  Dr.  Legmux  found  the  serum  from  a 
blister  of  a  patient  who  had  taken  ai'senic  gave  distinct  evidences  of  the 
presence  of  the  poison.     ("  Med.  Times,"  OcU  9th,  1847,  p.  652.) 


ANALYSIS   IN    A    CASE    OF    ARSENICAL    P0I60KINQ.  153 

A*  Cut  up  the  tissues,  to  be  examined,  very  iine,  and  as  far  as  poesible 
break  them  up  iu  a  mortar.  Dilute  these,  together  with  any  organic 
liquids  euch  as  the  conteuts  of  the  stomach,  with  sufficient  distilled  water 
that  they  may  filter  easily.  Acidulate  with  hydrochloric  acid,  and  set  the 
whole  aside  for  some  hours  id  a  warm  place.  Filter.  Divide  the  filtrate 
iato  two  parts  (o  aod  «9). 

(a)  Through  one  part  pasa/or  some  time  a  stream  of  washed  sulphu- 
retted hydrogen.     Collect  the  precipitate  and  test  (see  tests). 
(iS)  The  other  half  is  to  be  examined  by  lieiusch's  process  (see  tests). 

All  the  solid  materials  on  the  filter-paper  are  now  to  be  well  mixed 
with  dilute  hydrochloric  acid  (one  of  acid  to  two  of  water)  gently  boiled, 
then  filtered,  and  the  filtrate  tested  by  Reiusch's  process  (see  tests). 

Vomited  and  other  matters  may  he  similarly  examined. 

B.  The  following  is  a  process  which,  at  times,  may  be  found  useful. 
Acidulate  the  contents  of  the  stomach  with  acetic  acid,  add  distilled 

water  and  boil  ;  filter;  again  and  again  boil  in  fresh  acidulated  water  aud 
filter.  Mix  these  filtrates  together,  and  divide  them  into  two  equal  parts 
(1  and  2). 

(1)  Evaporate  the  one  part  nearly  to  dryness,  and  heat  until  quite* 
charred  with  twice  its  bulk  of  sulphuric  acid.  Dilute  the- 
mixture  with  water,  aud  little  by  little  pour  it  into  a  Woulff's- 
bottle  in  which  hydrogen  is  being  slowly  evolved  from  pure 
zinc  and  dilute  sulphuric  acid.  Pass  the  gas  by  means  of  a 
bent  tube  dniwu  out  at  its  end  through  a  solution  of  nitrate  of 
silver,  when  a  black  precipitiite  will  be  thrown  down.  (The 
gas  most  only  be  allowed  to  pass  slowly/)  When  do  more  gas 
comes  over,  add  to  the  black  silver  sofutton  hydrochloric  acid* 
in  slight  excess,  in  order  to  precipitate  the  rcmaioder  of  the 
silver;  boil  for  a  few  minutes,  filter  aud  evajjorate  the  filtrate 
to  dryne-ss.  Dissolve  any  residue  in  distilled  water,,  and  care- 
fully precipitate  the  arsenic  acid  as  arsenate  of  silver  with. 
ammonio-uitrate  of  silver  (451.51  grs.  =:  100  grs.  of  araenious 
acid). 

Heated  with  black  flux  or  charcoal  this  arsenate  of  silver  may  be  re- 
duced, the  metallic  sublimate  being  preserved  for  evidence, 

(2)  Slightly  acidulate  the  second  part  with  hydrochloric  acid,  and 

boil  the  solution  with  some  clean  strips  of  copper  that  have 
been  previously  weighed.  After  boiling  for  some  time  remove 
the  jjieces  of  copper,  <lry,  and  again  weigh — the  increase  of 
weight  being  noted.  They  are  then  to  be  heated  in  a  tube  and 
the  metal  suhlimed,  the  weight  of  the  copper,.  less  the  arseui- 
cum,  being  again  note<L  In  this  way  the  qoautity  of  araeoic 
present  may  be  estimated. 

d  other  processes  are  recommended  by  some  toxicologists,  and 
((without  ourselves  recommending  them)  we  must  briefly  notice. 

C.  (Process  of  Fre^enius  and  Von  Baho.)^Cnt  the  tissue*  up  very  fine^ 
and  mix  them  with  an  equal  weight  of  hydrwhloric  acid.  Heat*  on  a 
water-bath.  Add  twenty  grains  of  chlorate  of  potash  aud  j<tir  well,  lie- 
peat  the  dose  of  chlorate  of  potash  from  time  to  time  until  the  organic 
matter  is  entirely  destroyed,  which  may  be  known  by  the  light  yellow 
color  the  solution  will  assume,     Continue  the  heat  until  all  odor  of  chlo- 

11 


154 


ANALYSIS    IN    A    CASE    OF    ARSENICAL    POISONINO. 


Any  ar^oic  now  existe 


fine  has  disappeared.     Strain  the  materials, 
the  solution  a^  ars^^nlc  acid — ( A^^Oj). 

Reduce  the  areeuic  acid  (As^Oj  to  arsenious  acid  (A«,0,)  by  boiling 
with  sulphite  of  sodium. 

Add  to  the  solution  hydrot-hloric  acid,  and  pnm  sulphtiretted  hydrogen 
through  it.  Collect  the  precifutate  by  allowing  it  to  stand,  and  then 
pouring  o^  the  supernatant  liquid.  Act  on  thii^  with  a  little  water  and 
with  strong  ammonia  (mercury,  copper,  antimony^  and  lead  will  not  be 
dissolved).  Filter  the  solution,  and  wash  the  matters  on  the  filter-paper 
with  ammonia- water.  The  filtrate  will  contain  the  arsenic,  the  solution 
being  generally  pore  enough  to  be  at  once  tested. 

The  precipitate  on  the  filler-paper  may  then  be  examined  for  other  sub- 
stances. 

Take  care  previously,  however,  carefully  to  examine  the  chlorate  of 
potash  for  arsenic.  This  can  easily  be  done  by  passing  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  through  the  solution  of  the  salt,  or  by  adding  to  it  a  solution 
either  of  ummoniacal  sulphate  of  copper  (green)  or  of  ammoniacal  nitrate 
of  silver  (yellow). — 0.U02  part  of  a  grain  of  arsenic  in  a  fluid  ounce  of  a 
solution  coniaiutug  ^ix  per  cent,  of  chlorate  of  potash  can  in  thid.  way  be 
easily  detected*  lit'hti^ch'ii  ^vif  cannot  be  used,  because  the  gas*es  evolved 
(chlorine  at»d  chloric  oxide)  by  the  action  of  hydrochloric  acid  on  the  salt 
at  a  boiling  temperature  dissolve  the  copper.  Mtjmh'H  (fd  may  be  used. 
For  this  purpose  treat  the  solution  with  jsulphuric  acid  drop  by  drop 
until  about  one-tenth  part  by  volume  has  been  added.  With  this  solution 
hydrogen  may  be  yet  free  by  acting  on  pure  zinc,  and  the  gas  tested  aa 
usual. 

The  greut  objections  to  Fresenius  and  Von  Baho's  test  for  arsenic  is  (1) 
that  both  the  reagentj^  used  (chlorate  of  potash  and  hydrochloric  acid) 
may  contain  the  iwij^on,  and  (2)  that  the  chlorine  and  chloric  oxide 
evolved,  carry  away  with  them  a  large  portion  of  arsenic  in  the  form  of  a 
volatile  chloride.  Except  under  special  circumstances  we  consider  its  use 
imadvisablc- 

D.  (ProceM  of  Danrjer  and  FkudinJ) — Cut  up  the  tissues  very  fine.  Act 
opou  tlicm  with  one-fourth  their  weight  of  concentrated  anlphuric  acid, 
and  heat  until  the  materials  are  thoroughly  dry  and  charred.  Treat  the 
ma^s  with  boiling  water  acidulated  with  nitric  acid,  and  evaporate  to  drv- 
oeas^  the  re^^idue  being  once  more  treated  with  dilute  nitric  acid,  and  again 
evaporated  to  dryness.  Act  now  on  the  residue  with  water,  and  neutralize 
the  solution  with  carbonate  of  soda.  Evaporate  to  dryness,  and  having 
added  to  the  residue  a  few  drops  of  sulphuric  acid,  dissolve  the  arsenate  of 
soda  (as  it  now  exists)  in  a  little  hot  water.  Reduce  the  arsenic  sjalt  with 
sulphite  of  sodium,  and  examine  the  solution  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen 
and  by  March's  test. 

Throughout  this  process  the  dbttllates  should  be  preserved  and  ex- 
amined for  arsenic. 

E.  (Odiing:) — Thoroughly  dry  the  tissue.  Treat  the  mass  with  an 
equal  weight  of  the  8tronge!*t  hydrochloric  acid,  and  place  it  in  a  retort 
fitted  with  a  Liebig's  condenser,  and  connecteil  with  a  well-cooled  receiver 
containing  a  little  water.  Distil  to  dryne?!«,  and  test  the  distillate  for 
arsenic  by  the  several  te^ts  described.  This  method  will  serve  to  detect 
arsenic  in  all  its  forms,  except  when  it  exists  as  an  insoluble  sulphide. 
The  process  depends  on  the  extreme  volatility  of  the  chloride  of  arseni- 
cum.  Chloride  of  antimony  is  di^cult  to  obtain  by  distillation,  whilst 
the  chlorides  of  lead,  copper,  mercury,  etc.,  are  not  volatile. 

Test  the  distillate  by  Marsh's  teat  (page  148),  by  Heiusch's  test  (pAge 
151),  and  by  Bettendorif's  test  (page  145), 


I 

I 


I 


■ 


POISONING    BY    ARSENITB    OF    COPPER 


155 


It  is  necessary  here  to  note  a  few  important  facts — 

1,  Arsenic  ia  not  aa  Orfila  supposed  a  normal  constituent  of  the  body. 
Orfila's  mistakes  were  due,  as  be  afterwards  admitted,  to  the  use  of  an 
impure  pyritic  sulphuric  acid, 

2^  If  a  large  quantity  of  arsenic  is  found  after  death,  a  large  dose  must 
have  been  taken;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  u  very  aniall  quantity  only  may 
be  found,  and  yet  a  large  dose  may  have  been  taken.  The  quantity  found 
after  death,  therefore,  often  gives  no  data  by  which  to  judge  of  the  amount 
taken  by  the  deceased. 

3.  After  about  fourteen  days,  if  the  patient  lives  aa  long,  the  arsenic 
will  probably  have  entirely  pas^y^ed  out  of  the  system  and  none  be  able  to 
be  detected  in  the  viscera  after  death. 

Its  entire  evacuation  may  be  effected  according  to  Dr.  Taylor,  even  after 
eight  houre,  whilst  on  the  other  hand,  the  period  of  its  detention  may  pos- 
sibly be  protracted.  At  any  rate  thi*  is  certain,  if  the  poison  is  in  the 
body  at  death,  it  is  never  lost.  It  has  been  found  after  fourteen  and  more 
yeafe.  (Vide  the  '•  Lancet,"  Jan,  20th,  1838,  p.  593,  case  of  the  widow 
Lamothe.) 

4.  The  quantity  of  the  poison  is  estimated  in  the  form  of  sulphide — 

100  grs.  of  Afl,S,  —  80.48  of  Ab^O^ 

5.  Arsenic  react*  on  Troramer's  test  similarly  to  grape-sugar,  hence  it  is 
important  not  to  confound  the  two. 

D.  It  has  been  stated  by  French  toxicologists  that  in  some  cases  of 
exhumation,  where  arsenic  was  afterwards  proved  to  be  the  cause  of  death, 
a  peculiar  alliaceous  «mell  was  noticeable,  which  was  attributed  by  them 
to  the  development  of  arseuiuretted  hydrogen.  This  very  probably  is  a 
D]i(»t4ike,  and  it  certainly  is  not  usually  to  be  noticed  in  such  cases. 

7.  In  exhumation  cases,  it  is  always  advisable  to  examine  some  of  the 
noil  of  the  cemetery,  which  may  contain  arsenic,  from  ita  geological  con- 
ttitiitioD,  The  quantity,  if  any  be  present,  should  be  carefully  estimated, 
("Mfedical  Times,*'  July  27th,  1844,  p.  216,) 

8.  tit  may  be  advisable  to  examine  all  the  antidotes  that  were  adminis- 
tered, if  arsenic  be  found,  in  order  to  meet  possible  objections. 

Ar«eniie*  o/  Soda  and  PotasSi, 

Both  the  arsenites  of  soda  and  of  potash  (liquor  arseniealis  or  liquor 
Fowleri, "  tasteless  ague  drop  ")  are  very  poisonous.  The  arsenite  of  soda 
i«  used  for  cleaning  metal,  and  has  upon  several  oc/^asions  produced  fatal 
results.  What  is  known  as  **tly  water''  is  generally  a  solution  of  the 
mixed  arsenited  of  potash  and  soda. 

m^  Anetiite  of  Copper.  (CuHAsO,). 

^^V  (Bcheele's  Green.) 

H        The  copper  arsenite  is  a  green  pigment  and  is  largely  used  in  the  arta 
V     and  manufactures,  numerous  shades  being  produced  by  its  admixture  with 
whitening  or  with  zinc  oxide.     It  is  insoluble  in  water,  but  soluble  to  a 
certain  extent  in  the  fluids  of  the  digestive  tract. 

Very  bad  eftect*  have  resulted  fium  its  use.  It  is  largely  used  for  paper 
hangings,  and  if  these  be  unglazed  the  danger  is  considerable,  ("Lancet," 
April  26th,  1862,  p,  44f> :  Nov.  8th,  1862,  p.  517;  Jan.  31st,  1874,  p,  175. 
"Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  1857,  vol.  i,  pp.  177  and  520.)  On  more 
than  one  occaeioQ  we  have  found  arsenic  on  the  dust  of  books  in  a  library 
hung  with  a  green  paper.     The  authors  have  found  as  much  aa  thirty-live 


POISONING    BY    ARSENITE    OF    COPPER. 


trains  of  araeiiious  acid  on  a  square  foot  of  paper.  Poisoning  BynsptOQIi 
ave  been  produced  in  workmeu  by  merely  uupaekiug  the  green  papers 
("Medical  Times  and  Gazette/'  Jlay  lOlh,  1862,  p.  497),  whiUt  the  paper- 
hangers  often  suffer  severely  from  skin  eruptions,  especially  on  the  scrotunj, 
from  oedema  of  the  face,  anil  in  advanced  stages  from  all  the  symptoms  of 
arsenical  poisoning.  The  evd  effects  are  not  so  much  due  to  the  volatility 
of  the  arsenic,  as  some  have  imagined,  although  it  is  quite  possible  this 
may  partially  be  a  cause  of  the  evil,  but  chiefly  to  the  mechanical  suspen- 
sion of  arsenical  dust  in  the  air  of  the  room.  Arsenical  symptoms,  too, 
have  been  produced,  in  ballet  dancers,  through  wearing  green  dressed 
("Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  April  llth,  1863,  p.  374),  by  the  use  of 
green  artificial  flowers  ("Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Nov.  30lh,  1861, 
p.  560),  by  the  use  of  the  araeuite  to  color  air-balls  t"  Medical  Times  and 
Gazette/'  May  22d,  1858,  p.  529),  by  sucking  green-colored  wafers 
("Medical  Times/'  Nov.  13th,  1847,  p.  70),  and  by  its  use  in  confectionery 
("Lancet/'  Feb.  17th,  1849,  p.  llfl,  and  Jan.  22*d,  1853,  p.  1  CM),  and  Jan, 
Slst,  1874,  p,  175.  St'e  also  Dr.  Letbebv's  report  on  arsenical  flowers  and 
dresses, "  British  Jledical  Journal,"  Oct"  25th,  1862,  p.  448.)  No  metallic 
coloring  matter,  whatever  they  may  be,  or  however  small  the  quantity, 
should  oe  used  in  coufeetiouery.  Nor  is  there  any  need  for  it.  We  have 
lately  examined  some  magnificent  vegetable  coloring  matters  (prepared 
chiefly  from  quercitron  bark  and  Pcrjiian  berrie^^)  matiufacturetl  by  Mr. 
Bi»»h  of  Liverpool  Street.  What  is  called  Sehweinfurt,  emerald,  or  min- 
eral green  is  also  largely  used  as  a  pigment.  This  is  a  double  salt  of 
arsenite  and  acetate  of  copper.  A  ea.se  is  recorded  of  poisoning  symptoms 
being  induced  by  merclv  handling  and  powdering  cakes  of  this  suk-stance 
("Lancet,"  Dec.  14th,  1872,  p.  854). 

The  symptoms  produced  by  arsenical  wall  and  dress  pigments  are  those 
of  alteration  in  the  blood  and  disturbance  of  the  central  nervous  system. 
They  are  essentially  the  action  of  the  annenic  and  not  of  the  copper  («« 
piij)er  by  Dr.  KirchgiL«ser,or  Coldenz,"  Vierteljahrschr,/'  ix,  p.  96),  and  may 
often  be  found  well  marked  in  dressmakers  who  work  at  colored  fabrics, 
as  well  as  in  the  ladies  who  wear  them  constantly.  The  eyes  and  eyelids 
are  generally  first  of  all  affected,  the  patient  complaining  of  great  debility, 
irritation,  and  dryness  of  the  throat,  perhaps  even  of  diphtheritic  symp- 
toms, a  constant  hawking  up  of  viscid  purulent  sputa,  cold  sweats,  nausea, 
colicky  pains  and  rumbling  in  the  bowels,  more  or  less  feverishness  of  an 
intermittent  character,  crnnips  in  the  legs  and  hands,  epigastric  tender- 
ness, sometimes  salivation  with  even  purulent  saliva,  and  the  symptoms  of 
irritation  of  the  mncons  mt^mUranes  generally.  A  green  or  clay-colored 
tinge  may  often  be  noticed  over  the  skin,  with  brownish  spot«  on  the  fore- 
bead  and  cheeks.  Stjmetimes  nrtii aria  supervenes.  The  hair  frequently 
drop*  otf.  There  is  usually  painful  micturition,  arsenic  being  found  in 
the  urine  in  six  out  of  every  eight  cases.  The  liver  is  the  part  which  Is 
generally  the  mmt  afl*ectetl,  whilst  not  uncommonly  more  or  le^  severe 
jaundice  occurs. 

Dr.  Guy  gives  the  particulars  of  a  fatal  case,  and  has  described  with 
singular  accuracy  the  erup<i<m  of  the  skin  that  is  oflen  met  with.  It  is 
in  the  first  instance  a  papular  rash  running  on  to  pustulation,  appearing 
about  the  root  of  the  nostrils,  on  the  lieuds  of  the  ears,  elbow,  thighs,  etc., 
but  especially  on  the  scrotum,  where  superiicial  ulcers  may  be  found,  vary- 
ing in  size  from  a  split  pea  to  that  of  a  fourpeuny  piece,  whilst  Sometimes 
the  fingers  will  be  found  inflamed  and  the  nails  dropping  off.  A  case  is 
recorded  of  peculiar  ulcerations  on  the  anus  being  prwluced  by  the  local 
use  of  a  green  paper  dyed  with  arsenite  of  copper  ('*  Lancet,"  July  12th, 
1873,  p.  49). 


rOieOHINO    BT    A&SBKIC    ACID. 


167 


Lastly,  areenite  of  copper  has  been  giveo  with  the  view  of  procuring 
abortioQ,  but  it«  action  i«  questionable.  It  would  appear  that  the  nervous 
symptoms  pro<luced  when  it  is  given  iuterually  are  the  chief  p<}iiiti*  of 
interest  id  these  casej?.  There  is  great  irritability,  loss  of  memory,  faint- 
itigs,  quiverings  of  the  muscles,  atid  in  some  caj^es  partial  paralysis  of  the 
extremities,  the  raujiclej*  retaining,  however,  their  sudceptibility  to  the 
action  of  the  electric  current.  The  extent  to  which  sensation  is  atterted 
is  uot  usually  great,  The  touch  and  hearing  are  eometimes  impaired,  but 
not  usually  the  sight.     Headache  is  often  troublesome. 

(1)  Act  on  some  of  the  coloring  matter  with  a  strong  ammonia  solu- 
tion, when  it  becomes  of  a  deep  blue  color.  Pour  this  !)kie  solution  over 
a  crj'stal  of  nitrate  of  silver  in  a  white  capsule,  and  note  that  a  yellow 
ar^nite  of  silver  is  formed  on  the  surface  of  the  crystal.   (Taylor,) 

(2>  Dissolve  some  chloride  of  tia  in  hydrochloric  acid ;  heat  to  boiling. 
Add  to  this  a  small  quantity  of  the  coioriog  matter,  when  the  metallic 
arsenic  will  be  precipitated  of  a  brown  color. 

(3 1  Dissolve  some  of  the  coloring  matter  in  hydrochloric  acid,  and  test 
by  Marsh's  test. 

(4j  Or  any  other  teats  for  arsenic  may  be  used. 

The  post-mortem  appearances  and  treatment  are  thoise  described  under 
aneniouB  acid. 

Arsenic  Acicl  (AsjOj)  and  the  Alkaline  Arsenates, 

Arsenic  acid  ie  a  white  deliquescent  solid,  without  smell,  and  soluble  m 
water. 

It  hais  a  very  acid  reaction,  and  is  reduced  by  the  action  either  of  a  sul- 
phite or  of  sulphurous  acid  to  arsenious  acid.  At  a  red  heat  it  fuses  and 
evolves  oxygen.  It  is  used  as  an  oxidizing  agent  in  the  manufacture  of 
lUiilin  colors.     This  is  the  explanation  of  many  of  the  canes  of  eruption 

Used  bv  the  use  of  magenta-colored  flocks  and  other  wearing  apparel. 
(See  *•  British  Medical  JonniHl,"  Nov.  *21^t,  1874,  p.  SA'.i ;  "  Medical  Times 
and  Gaw^tte,"  Feb.  27th,  1869,  and  April  17ih,  1869.)  Nor  should  it  be 
forgotten  that  red  liqueurs  are  occasionally  colored  with  magenta.  There 
are  nn  cases?  on  record  of  p<iiiioning  with  arsenic  aci*l  in  the  free  state  in 
the  human  subject.  Dr.  Glover  reSiites  a  case  where  a  rabbit  was  poisoned 
with  four  grains  in  tour  hours.  The  alkaline  arsenates  ar«i  soluble  in 
water,  but  the  metallic  arsenates  are  insoluble.  The  alkaline  iirsenittes  are 
active  poisons.  Christison  relates  two  cases  of  poisoning  with  them.  The 
arsenate  of  soda  is  used  in  France  as  a  merlicine.  *' Pmrson's  mlittion*^  is 
a  solution  of  the  arsenate  of  soda  (1  gr.  to  ^j  of  water).  "  Maeqmr'.f  neu- 
tral arseinail  sail''  is  a  biuarsenate  of  potash.  The  wellknowu  "papier 
moure"  consists  of  paper  soaked  in  a  solution  of  arsenate  of  potash. 

Tests  for  Arsenic  Add. 

(1)  It  is  not  entirely  volatilized  by  heat. 

(2)  A  sublimate  of  metallic  arsenic  is  produced  by  heating  the  acid  or 
it£  compounds  with  a  reducing  agent. 

(3)  yUrfite  of  silver  gives  a  reddish -brown  precipitate,  which  is  soluble 
in  nitric  acid  and  in  ammonia,  but  is  insoluble  in  acetic  acid. 

(4)  Sulphuretted  hydrogen  gives  no  immediate  precipitate  with  ar^nic 
acid  even  in  concentrated  solution  as  it  does  with  argenious  acid,  but  after 


158 


ARSENIC    ACID. 


some  time  a  light  yellow  precipitate  falls  which  is  iosolyWe  in  hydrochloric 
acid,  soluble  in  ammonia  aud  it^  carbonate,  and  yields  a  metallic  sublimate 
Vfhea  heated  with  reducing  agents.  (Heiiee  it  is  advisable  before  treating 
an  arsenic  acid  solution  with  H^S,  to  reduce  the  arsenic  acid  to  arsenious 
acid  by  treating  it  with  aulphuroua  acid  gas,  or  by  heating  with  sulphite 
of  8oda.) 

(5)  Ammonio-gnlphate  of  magne»in  (made  by  precipitating  sulphate  of 
magnesia  with  ammonia,  chloride  of  amnioninm  being  added  to  dissolve 
any  precipitate  tliat  may  form)  prodnrea  with  arj^nic  acid  a  precipitate  of 
animonio-aryeuate  of  magnesia  ( NH^MgA.stJ/i,  which  is  soluble  iu  nitric, 
hydrochloric,  and  acetic  acidn,  and  sparingly  soluble  in  ammonia.  (This 
reagent  does  not  precipitate  arseuions  acid,  but  it  does  phosphoric  acid.) 
To  prove  the  precipitate  is  ur^ieuical  it  sbonld  be  boiled  in  hydrochloric 
acid  with  some  strips  of  bright  copper-foil. 

(G )  With  Reini^cntt  ted  arsenic  acid  gives  on  copper  an  iron-gray  deposit, 
but  the  depfjsit  is  not  nearly  so  characteristic  as  that  produced  with 
ardenious  acid, 

(7)  Amm^nio'fuiphate  of  copper  produces  a  greenish -blue  precipitate 
soluble  in  ammonia,  in  nitric,  aud  lu  exce^ss  of  free  arsenic  acid. 

Arsenic  acid  is  be^it  estimated  as  amrnonio-arsenate  of  magnesia:  100 
grs.  =^  63.53  of  arsenic  acid. 


Orpiment  (AsjS,). 

(Sulphide  of  arsenic  ;  yellow  ar!*enic  ;  King's  yellow.) 

This  being  a  bright-yellow  pigment  is  largely  used  for  coloring  pur- 
poses. It  has  been  used  by  mistake  for  turmeric  in  coloring  confectionery, 
aud  with  fata!  results.  It  is  important  to  remember  that  w*hite  arsenic  is 
convened  into  orpiment  in  the  body,  but  that  orpiment  cannot  be  changed 
back  into  white  arsenic.  Orpiment  owes  its  poisonous  properties  ti>  the 
variable  proportions  of  white  arsenic  that  it  coutaius.  As  much  as  79  per 
cent,  is  reptjrted  to  have  been  found. 

In  conducting  a  toxicological  examination — 

1.  Examine  the  stomach  for  the  characteristic  color  of  the  poison. 

2.  Dissolve  the  powder  in  ammonia  aud  reprecipitate  with  hydrochloric 
acid. 

3.  Examine  this  precipitate  (ifide  page  147)  as  directed. 

4.  If  much  organic  matter  be  mixed  with  it,  heat  the  materials  with 
strong  nitric  acid  to  dryne:*s,  thus  converting  it  into  arsenic  acid,  and  pro- 
ceed accordingly  (page  147). 

Realgar  (As^,), 

(Red  arsenic ;  sandaracha.) 

Used  also  as  a  coloring  matter*  and  is  very  poisonous. 

Chloride  ofAr«enic  (AsCl^). 

This  is  prepared  by  dissolving  arsenic  in  dilute  hydrochloric  acid,  and 
was  originally  used  iu  medicine.     It  is  very  poisonous. 

A  rjten  iureUed  Hjfdrogen  ( A  s  H J .     ( Pa  ge  1 48. ) 

This  is  a  very  poisouout  gaseous  compound,  and  probably  the  most  dan- 
gerous of  all  the  compounds  of  arsenicum. 


CASES    OP    POISONING    BY    AKSBNIO. 


159 


It  has  proved  fatal  id  several  caaes.  It  is  inflammable,  and  maj  easily 
be  detected  id  other  gases  by  Marsh*^  test  {{y&ge  148). 

Iodide  of  Arsenicum  ( Asl,). 

This  15  prepared  either  by  triturating  the  metal  with  dry  iodine,  aiding 
eonibioatioo  with  slight  heat,  ur  by  bulling  the  metal  with  iodine  far  some 
lime. 

It  has  a  brick-red  coKir,  no  smell>  but  a  strong  metallic  tAste,  It  sub- 
limes readily.  It  la  soluble  in  a  large  bulk  of  water,  forming  an  acid 
leraon-culored  solution,  which  becomes  deep  brown  on  prolonged  exposure 
to  air.  It  is  decomposed  if  thrown  into  water,  pnn^ided  the  quantity  be 
insuffieieut  for  its  solution.     It  i^  readily  decomposed  by  mineral  acid*. 

Its  j)hysiological  action  in  poisonous  doses  is  very  similar  to  arseuioua 
acid.     It  is  abo  a  cumulative  p>isou. 

Id  Dr.  A.  Todd  Tliomsou's  experiraedts  ("Lancet,"  Octfjber  27th,  1838, 
p.  180)  one  drachm  killed  a  dog  in  two  and  a  half  hours,  the  cesophagus 
being  tied,  the  symptomt*  (pain,  convulsions,  emprosthotonost,  and  at  last 
in»en»ibility)  setting  in  after  four  minutes.  Half  a  drachm,  dissolved  in 
four  ounces  of  water,  injecteil  into  the  abdominal  cavity  of  a  dog,  killed  it 
in  about  twelve  minutes.  A  similar  rpiantity  injected  into  the  thorax 
killed  in  fifteen  minutes;  forty  grains  killed  a  dog  when  it  was  iu?*erted 
into  a  wound,  and  fifteen  grains  injected  into  the  jugular  vein  killed  in 
twenty  seconds.  Given  by  the  mouth  (the  oesophagus  not  being  tied)  the 
animal  vomited  the  poison  and  recovered. 

The  i>ost-mortem  apjjearances  show,  that  the  iodide  softens  and  gelat- 
inizes the  mucous  membrane  of  the  stomach,  and  occasionally  cau&es 
ulceration.  It  may  be  found  after  administratiun  in  all  thti  secretions, 
even  in  the  milk.  Dr.  A.  T.  Thomson,  believed  it  to  be,  in  small  doses,  a 
very  valuable  medicine. 

OxM'*  nf  I\ji9oning  hy  Arnfnlc  and  Ar»fnieal  Compawul*. 
(L)  ARSENIOtrS  ACID. 

CASE  1.—**  Lancet,"  Febnuiy  I»t,  IS40.  p.  70fi.    FeraDle :  let,  M  (?).    A  fwooyirorth  (T). 

B^imf4omt.—\xi  two  houn  uaitMui  aud  palu. 

JbEfMitt. — Di^lh  oil  fourth  dAf . 

^4l><i«of«m,— J^ioioncb  ext^roAlIj  appeared  white,  but  iDtcraallf  wjw  »oftcii(3d  and  utcemted;  In- 
trelliiva  Itifiamed  ;  Urer  »oA. 

CASE  2.— "I-anoot,"  Dcfero^M-r  7th,  1iH39,  p.  ilfl  (Dr.  Burne).    Female  :  adult.    Four  pl]U,««f:h  con- 

Inlag  one-twentieth  of  a  grain,  taken  during  four  ilufs. 

Hjf-mpttntiM.^Q'a  the  fourth  ria;  ijifltttnmallun  uf  ihe  timuitch;  deUrium;  swimming  of  CfO,  and 
*xbaustit>n. 

RmhIL—  RecoYerf . 

CASE  3.—"  Uncct,"  May  15th,  1841,  p.  31*  fMr.  M1(  ha^J  Fr>Bl«r).     Female :  wt.  37.    Dose  (?>. 

fiymplOMH. — Lo^al  action  not  exceti^iYe;  but  uervuuB  excitement  inlvuae. 

MtmuU.—lHfih  '\u  Three  houn  and  a  half. 

/W-iMBrtrm.— Siumach,  inti'stineit,  »nd  bladder  inflamed. 

CA&E  *.— •*  LoncH't,"  May  15th,  1,»41,  p.  305  (Mr.  Michael  Foster).    Female :  nt,  2J4.    Doae  (T). 

Sjftnptfm*. — Aluii'tt  complete  narcotism;  int^uBeiDflatuiuatory  aympioniK. 

Mtmlt.'—J>i»iit  In  twD  hdun. 

A»rf-in«r6ni»,— 8toiaich,lnl««tin«,  and  bladder  Inflnraed;  Ihe  appcarancw  more  intense  Tbati  la 
the  iMl  CM*. 

CASK  5.— '•  Lancet,"  May  Iflth,  1841,  p.  3ft5  (Mr.  Micbt«l  Fotter).    Mi.  5  nionLha.    I>t>8e  (7). 

Sfmplattt*.—luienae  Irritant  syniptoinn. 

Jtwitif.— Death  io  kix  houra  and  a  half 

/Wf-a»»r<«}»».— Inflammation  very  inteuse. 

CASE  a.—"  Laoeot."  July  i>tb.  1844,  p.  707  (fruLu  "  Amerlcai)  Journal  of  Medical  Bctence)."  Male: 
iiduii.    Atuoatlc!    A  ie-a«|Mifinful, 

.Vym/Mtotrw. — Voniitiug  in  hall  nn  hour;  paralysla  »i«t  \u  after  Home  days,  for  which  atryobnia  wta 
^loinlNtfn^,  after  which  he  entirely  recovered,  both  from  the  poiaoQ  and  tbeluaacjl!! 


100 


»F   POISONING    BT    ARSENIC. 


CASE  7.—"  LancL't,"  t8»fi-3:,  toK  U,  p.  626  (Mr,  Page),    Mt,  a)^.    Eight  gnloi. 

*y«»p**wa.— No  ajriuptonta  a«t  to  for  four  dii]ra ;  de«lli. 

ibniXr.— Dratb  on  flfth  day. 

CASE  8.— •♦  Lancet."  Norerabor  4th,  1848  tMr,  Fox).    Male,    A  leaapooorul. 

^fmptomt.— So  tymptMmi  for  alx  bourn;  when  TomiUng,  fturf^ng,  aud  drowslatSM  Aet  io^  tnit  no 
jftAn,  or  t«Ddeni««  of  abdomen. 

i^MNttf.— t>ettib. 

CASE  ».— "  IjiDcet."  October  7d.  1852,  p.  S90  (Mr.  BryaiilK    Male :  let.  m.    jlj, 

^fmptontM—^o  Bymptotn<  for  two  or  Ibree  liaun,  and  th*>ii  not  Mv^re  (euietlca,  stomach -pump, 
*ad  peroxide  of  iroa  oa«d>.    The  man  waa  an  habitual  drunkard. 

BentiL—Rccorerj. 

CASE  10.—"  Uucet,"  November  2d,  1844,  p.  154  (Dr,  KelaoK  Female;  art.  8.  Arseoic  Sj-3ij  mixed 
wtlh  oatmeal. 

Sytt^tomt.^V omiting,  pale,  and  heat  iu  one  hour  and  a  half;  In  four  hours  and  a  half  the  »yiD|K 
toma  much  increaacd  Id  aererily  {peroxide  of  iron  giveu). 

Ruvit. — Beco  very. 

CASE  11,—"  Lancet/'  November  30th,  1M4.  p.  tfO  (Mr.  l^oderhiM).    Moto.    Two  Uhleepoiinrula. 

SgmpdftM. — Syncope;  do  slckoeaa  (twroxide  of  Iron  giveu). 

.fie«i4i<.— Recovery . 

CASE  12  — '*  tAQcet,"  November  iOih,  1844,  p.  2*2  (Mr.  Underhlll).    ^t.  8.    Aneoic  with  0«tmeat 

Aym^Mt.— Ordiuary  aymptoma  (peroxide  of  Irou  given )v 

JteMHtL—  Recovery. 

CA^iE  13.—"  Laocet,"  November  3(Hh,  l$H,  p.  2d'2  (Mr,  Uadcrbill).  Female:  Rt.  31.  Two  ponoy- 
«orth. 

AynipKmi.— Symptonu  set  Iti  lo  half  an  hour ;  Iron  given. 

JZetii/l.— DcAth. 

CA.SE  14.—"  Lancet,'*  November  30tb,  1844.  p.  283  (Mr>  UoderbfU).    Eight  cliildren  ate 
talnlng  artcntc.    < Peroxide  of  Iron  given.) 

Jttjull.— All  recovered. 

CAJif^E  15.— Taylor's.  •*  Mediral  J  u  via  prudence."  vol.  1,  p.  251.     (Case  of  Lofthome.) 

4%M;itofiu.— ^yniplumi  aet  la  vhllat  the  cake  which  contained  the  poU<iiQ  waa  being  eftteo. 

CASE  IB.— Taylor'ii  "  McdicalJurlaprndcnce,"  vol.  I,  p.  2Sl(Mr.  Todd^aoaae).  SJ  od  empty  «tf>ntaeb, 

^ra*/«toaM.~n8yn)pl0iuacomiDPOCL-d  iu  iwo  hour*. 

CASE  17.— "MmilL-al  Ttiuei."  Au^unt  !M)tb,  1851,  p.  229  (Mr.  Jeffryet).  Female:  Ki.  89.  AfMslo 
taken  in  the  aolid  form  in  a  pud'ikjg,  pr<ibal>ly  put  in  by  niittake  for  egg  powder. 

ifiyni/)A>nM.— Symptoms  immediate;  complete  collapae  in  two  hours;  no  vomltingor  purging,  death 
vlthont  any  eonvuMona. 

Amu^.— Death  Iq  three  hours. 

pMi-inorfeui.— Post-morleui  In  forty  hours;  stomach  very  inflamed,  eapecially  at  the  pyloric 
end. 

CASE  18.— Taylor's  **  Medical  Jurlaprudenco,"  voL  l«  p.  236  (Mr.  Thompson).    Male  -,  let  17     Largij 


/^nwplonM. — Symptoms  of  tetanus. 
JBsffu//. — Death  Id  twttuty  ni mutes. 

CASE  i<i.— Taylor's  '  Medlc^Al  Jurtsprndence.'*  voK  I,  p.  277.  "Bradford  LoMttfC  Cifl«."  NOTWibtik 
\B!i»,  "  Medical  Timt-s  and  Gan:lte, "  N'jvember  Gth,  185^,  p.  49it  «aiA  Sooeotber  SHh,  ISSI,  p,  m< 
AneDle  used  by  mistake  lo  adulterate  loaonges  instead  of  plaster  of  Paris. 

^IfMpfowu.— 4»v«r  two  hundred  peraooa  attacked;  seventeen  died— twvlve  from  BCUie  pObMUlOf 
aiid  Ave  from  thf  secondary  efTecta. 

Ae^ntt.— Deslha. 

C^AS£  20.— Taylor's  **  Medical  Jurtaprudenee,"  vnl.  1,  p,  253.    Female :  lel.  24.    Large  doae^-over  qj. 

4hftn//{&ffu.— Symptoma  »«)l  In  In  one  to  two  huars;  they  were  not  severe. 

Aaiitt.— Death  in  about  two  lM)un. 

i^ii«-nn«r<ei>».— Stomach  Irderoally  Inflamed;  mucoui  membraoe  raleed,  and  thlckenod.  hariog 
broad,  livid  patches  upon  it, 

CASE  21.—"  M«Iical  Timra,"  October  21st,  1S48.  p.  26  (Mr.  CleggV  Female :  wt.  17.  About  a  l«»- 
apoonful.    fTlie  girl  was  an  opium-eater,  and  this  explains,  no  doubt,  delay  in  Hymptoms,) 

Sifmplofn.—Biitl  Ayiuptonisset  lu  in  twenty-three  hours;  she  waiistck  once  prevlounly.  but  had  no 
diatreas,  uo  pain,  vumiting,  or  diarrba>a ;  extreme  uarcottsm. 

JEsmH.— Death  In  twenty^three  houra  and  a  half. 

I\ni'maHem,—'Mucoun  coat  of  itomacb  much  corrugated,  and  both  aiowacb  and  inleatlnca  In- 
tfamed;  arsenic  fuuud. 

CASE  22.— "Medical  Times  and  Gaaette,"  April  12lh.  1851,  p.  413  (Dr.  Ryan).  Male.  iaa.  Uken 
la  ponar.    He  had  b««n  previously  intoxicated  for  a  week. 

/^KytosM.— Syuptoma  commenced  after  oino  hours  with  vomlUog;  the  patient  slept  during  this 

SmitL^Dt^th  la  three  days. 


CA6BS    OF    POISONINO    BT    ABSBNIO. 


161 


CASS  )3.— "  FUndln  ToxJcologie,"  toL  i,  p.  SIO.    F«iuftle,    A  im«U  quantllf  taken  In  soup  dally 
for  ilz  vcckA, 

— VomittnK  ftA«T  9W9TJ  mf%\,  lesdiof  to  great  Irritability  of  tbe  itomach  and  general 
;  MerTOfia  IrritAbUit/  ;  apitllug  of  bluud  ;  lh«  paUent  recuvensd  wbeo  Uie  cauu)  wu  dbt- 


JtonlC^Reeovery. 

CA9S  21.— " LaDcet,"  January  2d,  1M7,  p.  44  <Dr,  Letheby).  Female:  kL  19,  Twa  and  a  half 
frmlro  taken  in  two  ounces  of  fly-vater  at  iilfsht. 

^fmplomM.—ftrmilem  duriug  tbu  olfrht ;  in  tbo  tnorning  bad  p»ln,  vomtUng, and  tblrst;  afterwarda 
rmttlrd,  btti  ooma  eventually  c»uie  on. 

JtAnJll.— t»ratb  In  thirty-«ix  bouni. 

#fMP«M>rlnn. —Brain  eongpstoil;  lungs  nataroJ ;  hr«art  flabby,  and  valves  eccbynioaed;  itdtnaeb 
pale,  and  nearly  empty  ;  pyloric  end  of  a  gamboge  yellow  lint. 

CASE  1ft.— "Ann.  d'Hfg.,'*  K-i2,  vol.  I.  p.  4l«  (M.  ChevalJIerK 

PatI  mortem. — BLoinacb  iwrrurttted  at  ihe  larger  end  ;  aperture  nbont  ad  inch  diameter,  rounii,  aoft, 
and  tblckrned  at  the  margin  ;  no  redness  about  it,  or  appearuncr  of  ulceration  on  other  parts, 

CASE  m,— Taylor'*  "Medical  Jarlaprudence,"  vul,  I,  p.  aS4.  Female;  icL  9.  Arsenical  ointmenl 
fttbbed  on  icalp  to  kill  vermin. 

9ymf^Hu,—Ho  symptomi  until  the  flftb  day  ;  on  tbe  eighth  day  cramp,  dlarrhtca,  but  no  tomit- 
tng;  drowtineM. 

SfttUt^lHMih  on  the  tenth  day. 

/W-m^rfm.— Stomach  inflamed  ;  araenic  found  in  tbe  stomach  and  liver. 

CASK  27.— " Taylor,"  vol.  i,  p.  255.    Eiji?ht  cbiltlrvn.     AnH'nlca!  vHjKtrs  let  into  a  room. 

%mjrfata«.>^AIl  the  children  tufftn^ ;  tbe  infant,  after  b^^'ing  in  the  room  an  hour,  had  pain,  Tom- 
IUog«  and  purging,  and  died ;  a  canary  died ;  the  ofber  cbUdren  recovered. 

JttfKif.— Iiealh  in  twenty. four  houra. 

f^'morttm.SiomBch  and  Inteatluua  lafiamed;  brain  and  Inngi  congested;  lining  membrane  of 
inehaa  brl|;ht  red. 

CA8B  3*.— Tkylor*!  "  Medical  JiirUprudenee,"  vol.  i,  p.  MS.    Male :  adult.    Largt  doM. 
».— Symptoms tet  in  very  soon. 
L— Death  in  three  boun. 

k — Intestines  and  stomach  Inflamed;  anealc  found  In  the  stomach,  Uvvr,  and  Itldneya; 
Uw  poUon  r«uDd  aa  low  down  aa  tbe  co^um. 

CAflR  29.— Tajlora  "  Medical  Jurisprudence."  vol.  I,  p.  369,  "  Atlee  Family  "  (bodies  exhumed  afler 
■  wouthA    "  LAnvet,"  February  24tb,  )ti>t.    Female. 
JBMwtt.— Death  aft«>r  several  daya. 
/W-jMOfiteM  — Mo  araenic  found  in  tbe  atomach  or  bowels,  but  te  iAe  ll«sr. 

CASK  ao.— "Edinburgh  Monthly  Medical  Journal,"  D«ccmber,  18S7, p. 481  (Sir  B. ChrUUson).  Hale. 
AMrate  jflvrn  homicidally  in  whiAky  punch. 
RtmUl, — DiTath  In  five  (o  seven  hour*. 
^MUfHorfem.— KluL'ty  to  oni-  bumtrinl  grains  was  found  in  stomacb. 

CASS  81.—" Lanret,"  April  fiili.  1845,  p,  4l.t  (Mr. Alison),  Female :  ajt.  18.  Two teaspoonfula  in 
tv«  AoaeH,  with  so  hour'*  intf  rvul. 

.^Violent  pains  In  thrwit  and  stomach;  (ferric  oxybydrate  was  adminisiered,  also  asf- 
•nd  eiator  oil). 
•  Becovery, 

CAS£  33.—"  Lancet,"  February  Ist,  IMS,  p.  139.   Male:  at  31.    Workman  In  candle  flaotory  wbero 
ETMDle  was  used. 
Slfmf>t9m*.—Snmt  of  tbe  araenic  wu  abaorbed  through  a  wound. 
iBamk.— Death  In  three  dajrt. 

CASE  as,—"  Lancet,"  Jane  7lb.  1848,  p.  640  <Mr.  Woodcock).    Female  adult.    Teaapoonful  and  a 


-Taken  on  an  empty  atumach;  vomiting  «et  In  in  flflecn  minut«s,aDd  continued  for 
ferty.«lght  tiouraj  paralysis  of  the  bands  and  feet.    Becovervd  In  eight  or  nine  daja. 
Aii»ff.— fiecovery. 

CASE  3H.-"  Lancet,"*  8apl«mber  39lh.  1fl38,  p.  54  (Dr.  Murray).    Male :  »L  32.    Fiftoen  grains. 
^mfibMM.— Vomitln|{  In  one  hour  (hydraU'd  peroxide  of  iron  administered). 
Jtera/I.^  Bcco  very . 

C.KHr.  ».— "  Uncft,"  Oclob«r  6tb,  1»38,  p.  103  (Mr.  Ray ner).  Female,  Dt»e  C).  Supposed  to  bate 
bec^n  la  lien  in  tfirself. 

Retnit.—Dvuih. 

J\fat  ai»r<mi.^— The  body  wan  L'xbumed,  nn«]  two  or  three  drarhro»  of  the  suiphi<lo  found. 

CA8B  »w— •*  Unret."  November  24tb,  1H.1H.  p.  .124  (M,  DevUle).  Female:  Jet.  19.  SIxly-alx  gratna 
mtxcd  with  I2A  grains  of  nulphste  of  Imryis. 

%»^ptowu.— In  one  hour  vomiting,  and  huat  In  throat  {four  bonra  later  the  bydratod  peroxide  of 
Iron  was  admlnUered  freely^ 


i 


162 


TiM 


Male.   A  quaaUlr  Ukea  afUr  »  htmrj 


CASE  87.—"  Lancet,'*  Mtrch  I3th,  IMl,  p.  8S2  (Mr  Thompson).    M»lct  irt,  18.    QumUtjrC?). 

£|ftN{ptonM. — Cmmptt;  noparlkular  abdomiaul  teudcriifsa  ;  death. 

MuuU.—t>etlh  iti  iva  houn. 

Aul-«pi«rtein.— 6tuioAch  aod  iatestinea  very  liifl»naedi  tmin  and  iungt  gorged  irlth  black 

CASE  3H— •*  Edinburgh  Medical  aud  SurKlcitl  Jouraal/'  xxxlli,  p.  a?  (Sir  R.  ChriailaoQ). 
persuDB  Uyok  one  grain  io  wtne, 
^m/tfpflu.— SfrlouA  triuptoias  for  lwelr«  hour*. 
JUfidt.—JUxnv*iVf. 

CASE  89.—"  Amrricab  Journal  of  Medical  Soi«Dce,"  tdI.  xt.  p.  61.  Male.  Sixty  graloi  Uk«n  with 
clDCbona-bark  powder. 

Jiu%iU.— Recovery. 

CASE  40.—"  WJhmer,"  toI.  1,  p.  27«.    Male.    Tixnk  Slas.  aflor  a  very  hearty  meal. 

^m^«Miu.->Vomltedi^«el7;  nnd  waa  well  in  four  days. 

jBmvA.- RecoTC  ry. 

CASE  41.— "London  Med.  and  Pbya.  Journal,"  x]vi,p.467. 
■upp«r. 

HLVf/fft^crfiM.— Severe  symptomt. 

ito*M*i.— Recovery. 

CASE  42.—"  M«diciil  Time*  and  Gaaetto;*  April  18th,  1897.  p.  489  (Dr.  Geogbeffnii).    Mate. 

dOB«. 

JSetutt.— I>t>ath  on  aliloeulh  day. 
PMt'mortr*n,^iiu  ar»euIo  foiiuil  on  analyafs. 

CASE  43.— "Cour4  de  MM.  Lug"  p.  121.     Ft^malH:  ii*t.  fM.    A  dilution  used  to  cure  the  itcb. 

JS[in»/]tonu.—Erystp«latoiu  eruption  induced;  ^d  great  nud'tifluK:  geuenil  tremor  of  Itnibf. 

iEew/l.— Di'ath  in  two  yearn. 

CASE  44,—"  Brltijh  Medical  Journal,"  January  25tb.  1873,  p.  88  (Mr.  Morley).  Fl/l*en  perwnit 
taken  111  Uy  eating  a  pudding  In  which  a  bnktutf  powdi>r  that  wa^  ui«<l  contained  araenlc 

aifmploma.—A\l  had  pain  la  the  stomach  and  Ixick  ;  liluod  was  vomited  io  one  caio  ;  the  co^Juoc- 
tlrm  Injected  In  all ;  In  one  case  there  woa  Irritation  of  the  akin. 

.Be#u/t— R*HorLTy. 

CASE  46.—"  Medical  TlttiM  "  Juno  lOtb,  1843,  p^  169-    Three  haodred  gralnt, 

jSympfotM.— Aa  uaual  ^emetica,  and  large  do««e  of  nitrate  of  i>utaflb  La  decoction  of  mallow*  ad' 
mlnlatered). 

ifoivllL— Recovery. 

CASE  46.— "Medical  Tlraee,"  July  29th,  1843, p.  28S.  Female:  art  31.  On*  bnodred  and  tweaty 
grain*. 

S^mptomM.—ilfon  preparations  glir^n) ;  oo  intenae  aymptvma  set  io  for  three  daya. 

Jhm^^Deaih  on  aixth  day. 

CASE  47.—"  I.Ancci;'  March  2gLb.  1862,  p.  325  (Dr.  Wilka).    Male :  let.  86.    Saa.  of  araenic 

<9h>ey4Dfn«,— Uaual  symptom*. 

/temtt.— Death  in  twdve  houra. 

iW-iii0r/<w.— Rlood  fluid  on  both  aldea  of  the  heart;  mueoaa  raembraoe  of  stomach  lutuDaoly  lii> 
flamed  at  ihe pj^toric  end ;  small  iuteattnea  inflamed  In  patches;  coluu  much  coQlractcd. 

CASE  48.- "Lancet,'' June  18tb,  1864,  p.  65»7  (Dr.  Blngleyj.and  June  Mth,  18C4,  p.  732  lT>r,  ElUli), 
Female:  aet.  40.    Doee  <?>. 

S^piom*. —Vvmiliag,  aod  crampa  in  the  leg* ;  went  to  sleep,  and  was  afterwarda  foutid  djead. 

JbfW(.— Death. 

Jhmt'mer1em.—AneD\c  found. 

CASE  49.— "i'hrijilison;'  p.  328  (Deagrangea).    Female.    Araenical  ulatmeot  applied  to  Itead. 
j^^onu.— Poisoning  iymptoma^  Including  a  papHnlar  eruption. 
Jf enilt.^RecoT  eijT . 

CASE  eo  — ** Cbriatison,"  p.  329  (Deagrangae).    Boy,    Arsenic  Died  aa  a  Ikee  powder. 
iS^nnptonu.— Poiaoning  symptoms, 
JiieMia.— Recovery. 

CASE  51.— "American  Journal  of  Medical  Belenee,"  July,  1831,  p.  2A».    ^'Et.l.    Araenioua  add 
and  gum  applied  to  tbe  bead. 
^^mpAxMi.— Purging;  teneamua;  paralyaiaof  tbe  lower  extreinltlee, 
&mtt.— Death  iu  thirl y-alx  hours. 

CASE  ««.— "  American  Journal  of  Medical  Science,"  July,  1858.  p.  77  (Dr,  W,  C.  Jackaon),  Male : 
Rt.  28.    SlJ  on  empty  otomach. 

Sfjfmpbmu.^lii  two  hours  alight  Tonitting  urcurrcd,  but  tb«  majority  uf^the  poison  waa  not  got  rid 
of  for  aia  hours  after  it  bod  been  taken  ;  tbeu  palu  b«1  In,  whiub  loated  for  six  houra. 

^<*Mir.^-RccoTcry. 

CASE  n.— "ChrittlsoD.^p.  aoe.    Male.    One  ounce. 

^nyimm.— Two  or  three  ikt4  of  Toinlting,  but  very  slight  pain  or  heat  in  the 
Mb  in  eight  houra. 


CASES    OF    POISONING    BY    ARSENIC. 


168 


Over  S». 

dentb  preceded  by  coQTubtoiis. 


DOM  <f ).     The  man  wft»  « 


CASE  IM— ♦' ChrUtlBotj,"  p. 808,    Feranle, 
u— Very  alieht  dl«rrh<Bft  or  polo ; 

i^hi<  mortem.— Stomttclt  and  ialeatine«  Ueftlthy. 
CASE  .VS.— "Chrl«ll»rni,"  p.  im.    Female:  Kt.  U.    Ninety  nmfos. 
,— VomiUrf  once  or  iwico,  bul  had  very  lUfl*.'  pnln. 
L<->D««lb  la  five  hours. 

.— StoiDBeh  aad  latcBtlnea  bealtbj. 
CASB56.— ■'CbrbUsOD."  p.  308,  "Bevue  M«dicale/'  1822.     Male. 
4ruDk»rd. 
^irnv*""*— Pfrfw^'y  Iranquil  for  five  houra,  tfrheubo  Tpiulti-d,  and  a  few  mlnutea  later  expired. 
JSem/l.— I>eath  in  about  Are  hours. 

57— •'(TjtistiBon."  p.  30a(Orflla).    Male:  aduU,    5l1j. 

-Walked  about  for  »ome  time;  afterwards  Utok  an  emetic,  which  prodaced  free  Torolt- 
biit  bad  no  pain  for  Ave  houn  ;  died  in  four  hours  aTtcr. 
Jittuti.—ttnath  iu  nine  bour». 

CA8E/W.— Orflla.  ^Toxlcologie,"  foI.  I,  p.  397  (Prof.  Cbauwler).    Male:  adult.     Large  qnantlty. 
Sjfmfiviiu, — Intenee  fceblenesa,  and  tendieoey  to  fahit ;  no  other  synipUims. 
Jfew«J(.— Dvnth  In  a  Uw  hours. 

ft^nt-mortem.—Vo  post-mortem  appcaraoci»  in  atomach  or  1i>t<.»tine9. 
CASE  .W.— "  Joiirnul  df  Mfrdeelne,"  Ixx,  p.  89  i  M.  Ijtbordc-).    Ftrmale. 

Stfmptomu.—Vomitlag  was  induced  by  emetics  ^  very  llUle  pain  ;  ooiua  came  on,  from  which  ahe 
died. 
Jbtn/t.^Vemlh. 

A#-iNe«iCsat.— A  clot  of  blood  found  In  the  atomadh. 

CASK  «0.— "Christ i»on,"  p.  ?ttO  <Dr.  Choulant).     Female.    A  thlmMefiil  in  wnip. 
I. — Vomiting,  but  do  pain. 
L— Death  In  elcTf  n  hours, 
}E61,— *•  liondon  Medical  Chinirffiral  Tran«>actlon»."  vol.  li,  p.  \U  (Dr.  RopetV     Female.    3J. 
.—Violent  «yrapt4>ro»  for  twentj-four  hoors;  for  the  next  twelve  houra  Btie  Impro'Tf'd : 
n  wbleh  cunvul»iona  and  nervoua  affections  ft«t  in,  which  laatcd  for  serontoen  daya. 
JtemA.— Becovery. 

CASE  62.—"  Lancet,"  .Tanuary  I6th,  1849,  p.  S5  (Mr.  OornlRli).  Male,  adult.  Ono  ounce  of  arsunit: 
mla#d  with  flonr  andbaici'd  in  n  rnke;  tuken  an  a  full  meal. 

^mfiAmu.— Inienxlbiliiy  j  TomilliiH;;  JBtouiaeh-puuip  uaed,  and  bydrated  oxide  of  Jron  ifi^en*;  re- 
COfiren-vI  in  fifteen  days. 
JBtm/f.— RecoTery . 

CASE <W.—"  Lancet,"  January  IClJi,  1849,  p.  aS  (Mr.  Cornish),    Female:  aduU.    One  ounce  of  ar- 
arnk  miird  with  flour,  and  baked  in  a  cake;  lakon  on  a  full  n)t:al. 
Slpnpliimui.—VomMag ;  pain. 
JBmn/I.— BecoTery. 

CASE  M,— "Lancet,"  July  7th,  1549,  p.  1  (Mr.  Knott).  Male.  Araenic  (about  Saa.)  in  brandy  and 
water, 

^fia/iiam^.— Appeared  for  a  ibort  time  to  get  better,  but  the  bad  aympLoma  nstarned;  (hydrated 
petifXldt  of  iron  given.) 
Jtejw//.— Death  in  six  hour*. 

/W-Mor^em.— GangreDoiia  jitatc  of  the  lower  half  of  the  rc!$ophagus ;  stomach  along  greater  curra- 
ter«  and  at  pyloric  end  gaDgrenous;  re»lof  the  atonnjich  uninjured, 

CASK  66.—"  Lancet,"  September  22d,  1S49,  p.  'M I  (Dr.  McGee).    Female :  ost.  10.    Bat  poison  (over 
feco  gmliia  of  araenious  acid). 
Aiwiptoifu,— Emetics  given  before  serious  symptoms  set  tn ;  chalybeatea  alterwarda. 
Er^ntif.— HccoTery . 

•  Ayy.  66.—*^'  Lancet,'*  August  Zad.  1846,  p.  216  (Mr.  Houghton).    Female.    Sas.  of  anenlc. 
Sftnpfinni.—^Teni  mental  exeiternent  »et  in  In  thrt'4vqutrter«  of  an  hour, but  no  Toniiting,  pain,  o 
<!larrli<ra,  vomlllnK  set  in  aflerwardi*;  alter  which  she  fell  dispost'd  to  doze;  great  dcpreasion  fol- 
low«i<itvniach>|>iu»p  used  and  Uydrated  <>xidu  of  iron  glreu);  died  in  twelve  hours;  no  gaatrlo 
•jBipaoma,  or  erarap,  cerebral,  ur  apinat  symptoms  uiTurred. 
-Death  In  twelra  hours. 

/W(-(f»or(w»i— Bright  red  patch  on  the  pyloric  end  of  the  stomach ;  mucous  membrane  not  being 
In  the  Icikst  destroyed. 

iSE  «7.— "  Lancet,"  Dtrpnilwr  ISlli,  1847,  p.  051  (Dr.  Barnes),    Family  consisting  of  male:  adull. 
laiii:  adult.    Male.tet.H.    Malctu:t.S.    Male:  ict.  1*,^    Female:  ict.4;4    Female-,  si^t.  6.  Aracnlo 
k«n  In  rhubarb  pudding 
^Ifrnplgmt^—Sjiuptomt  as  usunl. 
/e#nill,'-Two  rec«>vB»d,  the  rest  rlii-d. 

/Sff.m<rHc«n.— Inflammation  In  1tiu-«tlnal  canal  in  all;  stomach  Inflamed  in  5  caari;  dnodenum 
lufl&ni'xl  In  3;  J<ejunum  in  5;  ileum  lnteni!i«.4y  htfiamed  in  1;  colon  ioS;  rectum  in  I;  eccbymoaed 
spot  on  the  heart  in  1 ;  btood  black,  thin,  and  Quid  Id  all ;  kldneya  congested  tn  4 ;  bladder  empty  la 
4  :  llrer  congested  tn  2. 


164 


OF   POISONING    BY    ARSBNITE   OP   COPPER, 


CASE  fi8.—"  Lancet,*'  Oclobor  lulh,1844,p.  103  iMr.  Arspul).    Female.    X«.or«r*ontc  aft«rft 
S^tnplOHu,— Alter  cighl  boura  p«in,  vouiiUng,  and  purging  sot  Id  (.stomach-pump  uicd), 

CASE  69.— "Medical Times iittdG«Jcettc,"  D(««ttil>«r  loth.  t(U»,p.  612 (Dr, Mitchell).  Male,  Araenl- 
Cft]  •OOP  rubbed  on  •crolum  and  axtlltt. 

4l^»p/om«.— Difficulty  In  ewallowlog  iift«r  tvelve  honra;  testicle*  became  enlarged;  Toau£ing» 
pttrglog,  and  violent  pain  in  atomaoh  ;  rocovory  In  a  rortnlghU 

JBftm/t— RecoTcrj. 

CASE  70.— "  Chrlntlaon,"  p.  399  (Mr.  MacauJay).    S»iJ. 

8^mplomM.Symi>tnnm  set  in  in  three  hnura-  the  raan  slept  between  taking  the  poboa  and  th« 
oemmeDCemenl:  of  the  aymptonu. 

JBvuflf. — Deaih  In  nine  lioiira, 

CASE  71.—"  lilinhtirKh  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal."  lix.  p.  ;W0  (Dr.  Dyinock).    Fcntal«.    jy, 

SywjB^owM.— Afler  two  bourn  and  a  half  g^ot  up  from  her  bed,  sal  down  on  her  chair,  and  died  in- 
stantljr. 

J2f.nlf.— Death  in  two  boun  and  a  half. 

J^ait'marlem.—Btnronr.h  marlced  wicli  ficarlct  palrhea, 

CASE  72.—"  Cdioijtirgb  Medical  and  Surgical  Juuroal,"  xxxti,  p.  M.  Tlkre<HiuarteTs  of  an  ounce 
taken  after  a  meal. 

SfmptttM.—Vn  arrioua  aymptotns;  free  Tomitin^  Induced. 

J?f«itt.— Recovery. 

{n.)  AHSBNITB  OF  POTASH. 

CASE  73.— "Medit-al  Ttmea,"  August  26th.  184«,  and  *'  PmvJnclal  .lournal,"  June  28th,  IMS,  p. 
(Dt.  Cattle).    Female.     Jaa.  of  Ilqimr  Fowinri  taken  In  the  courae  of  Btc  dajra  «>  ibreo  graina  AyD!» 
8ifMftiotH4,—Vii,  Tomitlng  or  purging;  dealb  6y  tpncope, 
.&««/<.— Death  on  flfth  day. 
PM^morfem.— Stomach  and  intestines  inflamed:  heart  flabby;  arsenic  found.  ^ 

(nX.)  AHSENIT^  OF  SODA.. 

CASE  74.— "Taylor  on  Polnona."  p.  378.    TIitlh^  iiinnin-d  and  f^rty  children  drank  the  water 
<mt  Ola  boiler  that  had  prevloualy  been  clcaoaed  wiih  araenlte  uf  soda.    Each  took  about  one  grain. 

S^fmtplemts.— Many  suffered  fcevoroly. 

JSeniA. — All  TecorercO, 

CA.SE  7fl.— Taylor's  "  Medical  JorlBpmdence,"  »ol.  I,  p.  271.  Male.  Drank  beer  from  a  pewter  pot 
which  had  been  cleansed  with  themraeulte, 

<Sfym/w<w»u,— Acute  lymptomf . 

JiKtutt.—DvAtb. 

(TV.)  ARSENmi  OP  COPPER 

CASE  76.— "Gal Her,"  tqI.  l»  p,  6a6.  Malr  :  let.  ».  Swallowed  a  cajwule  full  of  the  ars^'nltc,  u»ed  by 
btafltlfl^r  as  a  pi^^cnt 

Sirmfikmji.—iiymputttut  of  colic  In  half  an  hour,  followed  by  acule  syuiptoina  (bydrated  oxfd«  <rf 
Iron  administert^), 

Jinni/f.— RtTovfry  in  twenty-four  hours. 

CASE  77.— "Galtler,"  vol.  I.  p  636.    Male  :  lel.  1.    Several  pluees  of  arsetlite  of  copper  cake  «al*n. 

d]^/i<anu.— IniruHlate  voiuillug',  afterwards  purging. 

RfMMlL—  RecoTcry . 

CASE  78— "Medical  Times,"  April  2gth,  IMS,  p.  507  (.Mr.  Bully  J.  Two  children  poisoned  by  con- 
fectionery colort<d  with  the  plgmt^nt. 

JSIyn^plimM.— Symptoms  aevere. 

iSWttit— Recovery. 

CASE  79.—"  lancet,"  March  5th,  1859,  p.  237  (Dr.  Roae).  Mai«:  »  monthi.  Sacking  ffreea  paint 
(Scheelo's  grecM ;. 

jS|rmp<Mru— Very  severe  vomiting;  purging;  symptoms  of  collapM. 

JSsfHtf.— Recovery. 

CASE  80.—"  Lancet,"  December  1st,  1860,  p.  !»5  ( Dr.  Lelbeby  V    Mat*  :  <et.  ^%.    Altteaic  tnm  WftU 


^wiptsuM.— ConvulsioDS. 

/S«ni4f.— Death. 

CASE  SI.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  voLl,p.  274. 
picked  up  In  sireet  —  two  to  thn-e  grains. 

i^f>iNpfOnM.—8ym plows  as  usual. 

JSera//.— Death. 

CASE  82.— "Kegina  r.  Franklin  and  Randall."  "Taylor,' 
mange. 

JZcMi/t.— Death. 


Two  children.    Colored  coofiMtloneiy    ^i 


0A8BS   OF   POISONING    BY    ARSENIURETTED    HYDROQEN.      165 

CASE  83.— **OB«|i«r."  p^^  78.    MaU  :  OBt.  2^.    Cmk»  ot  grenn  color.    Dotra  (7). 
JEew&.^Dejitb  in  fire  houra. 

CASE  M,—"  Lancet,"  Heptfliabur  3d.  1870,  p.  3S« {Df,  HIeks).    Male:  »t.  48.    Frotti  ft  p»per  which 
be  had  bdett  «ii|jrsged  in  strlppiog^  off  the  walh. 
iS|HWipip<wi»— ViiiJcDt  »yuiptoaia;  supprtaaiua  ot  urioe. 

CASE  8S.— ••British  Medical  JourDal,"  NoTember  Slit,  1861,  p,  59B.    Foinnto:  wt.  19.    Artiflciftl- 
4o<r«r  mftker. 
J^wyiiDiu— Ore«ni»h  Tomlt;  p*tiistnstoinftch. 

^mlmortem — ^Aneuite  of  copper  fuuad  in  luog?,  liver,  and  mesenteric  glsDifn;  fetomacb  bigblf 

(V.)  ARSSNATB  OF  POTASH  AND  SODA, 

CA8E  M.— "Bellrfige  xun  OerkhLllcheu  Arznerkiiude,"  vol.  Iv,  p.  1221  (Sir  K.  CbriitUoo,  p.  2&4).  A 
ilf  j^ireo  by  adruggiat. 


(VL)  BULFHIDEB  OF  ARSISNICITM. 
CASES?,— '^ChiisliMn/'  p,  2m,  "  B^^giQu  v.  Burdock."     FouDik'.    Orplmenl  coaUIalngTS  per  cent. 

CASE  8*.— 'Medical  TlruM/*  October  17th,  l&47,p,(»2  (Dr.  Patefjion).    Fetnule.    5j  of  king's  jeUow. 

J(|nw|rfoiiM.— Votuttiug  Id  two  to  four  bouns  (bydraUHl  poruxlde  of  Iran  given);  patient  dlod  of 
ohaM  ftllWctioa  oi)  Lhv  third  day. 

A»mU.—t}t»th. 

ftmtmrrtem.—LtiDga  eagorgvd;  th«  itomach  had  pftcbet  ordirt]rgre«n>cO'lored  inuoui  adheriag  to 
It*  inii<!r  •urtace,  but  wa«  Dot  ulc«riteJ  or  iaSBmiyi. 

CASE  ny.— Taj  lor's"  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  vol.  1,  p.  277,  "aiftwo  Bath  Bun  Case,"  becembur, 
lASfL    Orplineiit  uwd  liialCHd  of  chromate  of  |««d  to  culur  buns, 

^fmft9m*.~^li.  persona  aufTe-red  aevurely, 

AwiiA— lleco  V  er  J , 

CASK  IHf.— "  Whartuti  and  SlUl^'a  Medical  Juriaprudotic«;'  p.  iU.  Malo:  adult.  Orpfiueut  a»ed 
liwt«tml  wf  turmeric  Id  ptirridge. 

S^fmptiM.—iiervTe  ajmptotiiit. 

JbmA.— IX>ath  in  tweoty-four  hours. 

CASE  91.—"  VV barton  and  $LlllC**8  Medical  Juriipru deuce,"  p.  iM.  Male:  child,  Orpiiitenl  lucd 
Uliliftfd  of  tumieric  in  porridge. 

a^fpftwu.— Seyero. 

(TH.)  CHLORIDB  OF  ARSENIC. 

CASE  02.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jurlsprudvneu,'*  vol.  1,  p.  278.    Fcmalo.    M.  xxx  In  twenty-lhre« 
boon  —  0.1  gralo, 
gifmpiemd — Symptom*  acvere. 
I,— Kecovery. 

(VDX)  ARSENIURETTED  HTDR09EN. 

M.r-^ Lyon  M6dicalp. "  .Murch  2Tih.  lK70iDr.  Valette).    Male:  irt.  30.    Breathed  hydrc^a 
Lsf  ftneaie  from  being  preparetl  (nun  liupiire  zinc  and  p£ld. 

I.— Vouifting  and  purgJuK:  bloudy  udue  (liydrat«d  oxido  of  luagoMla  adialnlatered}; 
■nrafe  fuuod  in  urine. 

Simttt     Reco  v  f*  r  y . 

CASE  M.— "  Lyon  MMicale,*'  Maivh  27tb,  1B70  (Dr.  Valolte).  Male.  Breathed  hydrogen  nuda 
f^oi  Impure  icloc  and  acid. 

il|rigyfon»«.— Similar  »TtiiptoTnji  to  laat  one,  but  no  urine  paaaed  for  tweoly^four  hours;  an  omptloa 
of  pttpulea  occur rt-d  in  thi»  case. 

iEcaiatf.^I»eatb  on  thirt««ulh  day. 

CASE  W.^^ Chemical  News, '  December  36th,  IBdS.    Male:  let.  29. 

d|pm^«M.— Symptoms  set  iu  in  one  hour;  all  the  symptunts  of  arsenical  poisoning.  There  was  au 
intermlMlnn  of  symptoms  fur  twu  hours. 

jdtMil^.— iKtath  in  Ave  days. 

CASE  W.—" Dublin  Journal  of  Medical  Science,"  toI.  xx,  p.  422  (Dr.  0'R«l)ly).  C^e  of  Mr. 
Brillalo.    Ckuaud  by  preparing  faydrugen  with  impure  acid  for  breathing  pii r|>oiie8  ( —  to  12  grains  of 

f^mfrfOMt.— Aftor  Mcond  inhalatioD.  seiaed  with  glddineaa ;  paast^  two  ounces  of  bloody  urine  and 
•fttrvaida  had  pain  and  vumittug;  no  urlae  passed ;  jatiDdlce. 

JBm«K« — D««tb  on  the  seveulb  day. 

■ftil  -aiofttw*.— Pleurc  coutalnod  two  pints  of  red  serum ;  lungs  beallhy ;  kidneys  of  an  l&dlgo  blae 
eolor;  ttomacb  iaflained  in  patohea;  bladder  empty. 


166      CASES    OF    POISONINO    BY    AR8ENIUEBTTED    HTDROQEN, 


CASE  97.— BuchDer'i  "  Toxioologio/'  p.  476  (cote  of  Geylen).    Dted  whilit  experlmeoUng  vltb  the 

J|Wif)<Hw<.~No  htalory  oo  record. 

JbuHlr.— t>eath. 

CASE  »8.— "  aepertorlum  ftlr  di«  PhamiBcIe,"  toI.  Ulx,  p,  271  (Dr.Sehlluderl.    Ono  half  cubic 
Inch  (t  qiiftntUy  corrvapondhiK  ta  ono^fghtti  of  a  grtiiD  of  arsenic)  {nhalini  )n  forty  u<fniiti!>«. 

gjfmpkniu.—Verf  tttsmre  •ymptoras;  giddltieaii  In  three  hours;  pnlti;  loaa  of  tuusctilar  poi 
vomititig;  ftre«i  imUi  in  Iridnoyt,  aod  coostaiit  df9ir«  to  pass  wat«r,  lh«-  uHne  beUig  rtxl41»U<ii>rova  ; 
r«cuvt.<r<Ml  iu  seven  dnj*',  but  aUrr  lbrv«  weeks  had  a  puatular  eruplloo  abcvul  the  prfpuce,  vliicb 
wan  not  ()ulLc  well  for  aerea  weeks. 

/eetv^.— Beooferj. 


Other  GtHtB  of  Po'uimin^  hy  Arwntout  Aeid^  elc.y  are  aUo  recorded  nsftAhun: 
"Medical  Timci  and  Gaaette."  Soplember  inih,  t8r>l,  p.  294.    (U«v>id  ^y  poltou.    Death.) 
April.^.iO«&l.p.446.     L^n^Dical  paper,,    Deatha.) 
May  Sd.  KHfi'i.  p.  471,         >  *   ' 

•'  ••  July  ISlh,  IHfiS,  p.  72.    iUm  of  anwnlrni  nheep-wasb.    Death.) 

••  *•  April  llili.  1R57.  p.  36*.    (Arsenic  and  ujitiiiiony.    I>ealh.) 

••  ••  January  24tb,  1857,  p.  62>    (Arsenic  taken  to  produce  nboriioD.) 

**  **  April  ii-llh,  IHS?,  p.  412.    (Arsenic  not  found  on  aualysis.) 

"Britbb  Medical  Journal,"  Jauuary  17[h,  IA74.  p.  84.  I  (Deaths  from   quack  pilK  i.>tu*inli 

"  Murcb  Hib,  Id74.  p.  355.    \  arMolo 

*'Medieal  Time* and  Gaaetle,"  January  lOCh,  1874,  p.  62.    (Artenlcal  papers,) 
**  Medical  Titaea,"  October21»t,  1H43,  p.  ^.  aithalalioaslDtidlnualyloduclng  death.  Goldiug  Bll 
October 25th.  1&4.\  p. 94  (Mr.  Adanu).    <8«reral  caae*,) 
"  May  2ad,  IS4G,  p.  WL    (Norfolk  cai»e«  of  poUoalng.) 

•«  April  loth  aiid  »7th.  t847,  pp.  144  and  158.    (Burton-on-trweU  cases.) 

"  Jane  5(h  and  12th,  1847,  pp.  SO-I  and  322.    (Keiiial  New  Town  case.) 

*•  NoTemher  2<Mh.  1847,  p.  107.    (Sheridan's  case.) 

"  August  3th.  1S48.  p,  221,    (Brl*tol  cases.) 

"Medical  Timea  and  Oaaette/'  vol.  i,  JW7,  pp.  177  and  320.    (Wall  paper.) 
"  British  Medical  Journal,"  March  stb  iHi,  p,  276,    (Death  from  anenle  applied  to  scalp.) 

"  "  "         r>etob<}r  Cth,  18fte.  p.  305.    (D^th  from  ointmeut  applied  to  ilium.) 

"  Lancet,"  December  Hlh,  H^^,  p.  451.    fCaae  of  Louis  Mercicr.) 
"Taylor's  Medical  Jurl»prud«'nce,"  toI,  it,  p.  251.    (Syrapiouiiset  in  In  eight  minutes.) 
"  Annslra  d'HygiSne,"  1837,  vol.  i,  p.  844.    (Synjprotni  srt  In  In  scren  hoars.) 
"  Medico-Clilrurgical  ReTiew,"  January,  1854,  p.  294.  (Symptoms  commenced  lo  five  oral*  hoati.) 
'^Flandin,^'  vol,  I,  p.  5^.    (Arsenic  found  In  «toniiich  Iu  a  cyst  of  mucous  membrane.) 
"Medical  Gaxelte."  vol.  ivl.  p.  79».    (Saliratiofi  occurred.) 
"  Ortila^s  ToxicoloKle,"  vol.  I,  p.  440.    tl/x:l(jflw  in  ihree-qiiarten  of  an  hour.) 
''Medical  Gaaette,"  vol.  xlvit,  p.  181. 
"Casper,  N.  8.  S.,"  voL  ii.  pp.  7P,  71.  72. 
*'  Medical  Gwtetle,"  NoveraiMT  241  h,  1848. 

*'  Pharmaceutti'al  Journal,*'  July,  1870,  p.  60.    (Araenical  wall  papera.) 
"Guy's  Hospital  B^-porta,*'  ftctober,  1850,  p.  183. 

"Taylor's  Medical  Jnrlnpnidlence,"  vuJ.  i,  p.  2.>0  (death  in  I  wo  boo  mi,  and  p.  288. 
"  Medical  naaette,"  xlviii,  p.  44A.     (Sss. ;  no  pain  ;  death  In  fifty  hours.j 
"  Annales  d'Hyglfrne,"  1S47,  vol.  II,  p.  3fl7.    <Death  on  sixth  day.) 
"  Loncet,"  July  Vlih,  lHfi3.  p.  47.  Queen  v.  Wim»nis.\ 

"  UbtoQ  M«'dical*>,"  June  30lh,  1850  (^urDard).  V  (Ko  polw>D  found  after  death.) 

"  Horn's  Vierteljahra.,"  1865.  vol.  I.  p.  175.  i 

"Ijoirdon  Medirul  Garrlle."  AuRUsi  16th.  1850,  pp.  46,201.    (Case  of  Ann  Merritt.) 
"Pharumceutlcal  J*Mirn»l,"  July  27lb,  1872,  p.  1^.    (I>(«Rth  very  rapid,) 

"Taylor's  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  vol.  i,  p.  271.    (Twenty  grains  found  In  slonaeh  eighteen 
months  after  death.} 

Reg.  9.  Madeleine  Smith,  "  Medical  Tiroes  and  Gasetle,"  July  18ih,  1807.p,  66.  (EigbtyHSlght  grain* 
fouad.) 
Reg.  V.  Dodds.  *^  Tnylur's  Menlical  JMriflpnidence,"  p.  71.    (One  hundred  and  fifty  grainn  found.) 
Reg.  e.  Bi^witt  (1863),  "Taylor's  Medical  Jurisprudence/*  p.  271.    (One  hundr^-d  and  fifty-four 
grains  found,) 
Reg.  P.  Holmes  (1880),  "Taylor's  Medical  JuHsprudcnce,"  p.  272.    (Death  In  seven  days.) 
Reg.  V.  Newton.  "  Lancet,"  August  WllH.  IWW,  p.  262. 

"  Lancet,"  Joly  9th,  LS-Vt,  p.  41.    ( Arsenlr  fijund  after  twelve  years"  interment) 
**         July  2Slh,  1840,  p.  09.    (Arsenic  found  after  eight  years'  fotemient.) 
"Taylor"*  Me^tical  Jurln prudence,"  I,  p.  271.    (Arseulc  found  after  fimrleen  years'  Interment  > 
"  Loudoo  Medical  and  Physiological  Journal,"  xlix ,  p.  117.    (Symptoms  sft  io  In  eight  minutes.) 

"  "  "  ♦•  xxvlll.  p,  847.    (rveath  in  thirty-elxboura.J 

"EdinbuTsh  Medical  and  Surgical  Joiiraiil."  xiil,  p.  507  (epikpllc  fita);  xvll,  p.  167.    (Partial 
ptUy.) 
"  Uncet,**  November  3d,  1906.  p.  806.    (Arsenic  la  the  water  used  for  making  %^ 


BISMtJTEIC    NITRATE, 


167 


'Guy'»  noaplUl  R^poru,"  October,  IMO.p.  2l&,\ 

'  M-dtcftl  Guetle,"  ?oI.  xllil.  p.  304.  I  Ars«>nlte  of  copper. 

"  Edinl.urxh  Monthly  Journal,"  July,  1851,  p,  iJ 

"  I>«nii<>n  Medical  Bepcnitorjr,"  January,  ISld.  >     .  .      *      ^     »       j     j 

"  BrIlW.  Medle^  JouromI,"  Aaga«l  30th,  1873.  p.  m /   ^^'^^.te  of  potash  and  soda. 


BISMUTH. 

(Bi  =  210r  sp.  gr.  9.8:  fusing-poiDt  264°  C.) 

Bismuth  b  generally  found  native.  It  is  a  hard,  brittle,  volatile,  citb- 
talline  (rhombs)  metal.  It  burns  when  heated  In  air.  Nitric  acid  cfis- 
solves  it  freely.     It  is  used  io  preimriug  "Jtufibh  a//m/,"  a  mixture  very 

I  valuable  to  the  die-sinker,  from  its  property  of  expanding  considerably  as 
it  cools : 


Bismuth  Sesquioxide  (yellow),     . 
Bismuth  Peroxide  (brown )^ 
Bismuth  Nitrate, 
Bismuth  C'hloride. 
Bismuth  Sulphide, 

It  18  necessary  that  we  should  notice  the 


Bi,0,  =  468. 

Bi;if  NO,)  +  5Hp  =  396  +  90. 
BiCl3  =  31t).5. 


Bi,S,  =510, 


BUmuthle  Nitraia  (B(3(N0,)  ^SHjO). 
(Pearl  White,  Magistery  of  Bismuth.) 

This  is  prepared  by  dissolving  bltimnth  in  nitric  acid.  If  this  solu- 
tion be  poured  into  water,  the  **trisnitrate/'  as  it  was  formerly  culled,  is 
thrown  down.  The  "  trisuitrate"  h,  in  reality,  a  white,  basic  oxynilrate 
(Bi(NOjH,0).  It  is  largely  uaed  both  mediciuftljy,  and  m  a  face  paint, 
under  the  name  of  pearl  white.  It  is  worth  remembering  by  those  that 
use  it  for  the  latter  purpose,  that  a  trace  of  i^ulphuretted  hydrogen,  such 
as  may  even  be  preseut  in  common  gas,  or  be  developed  from  boiled 
vegetables,  will  change  its  color, 

Orfila  found  that  the  soluble  portion  of  fifteen  grains  of  the  nitrate 
injected  into  the  jugular  vein  of  a  dog  caused  immediate  staggering  and 
death  in  eight  minutes,  whilst  forty  grains  given  internal ly,  killed  a  dog 
in  tweuty-fonr  hours.  Of  the  trisnifrate  two  drachm^i  and  a  half  killed  a 
dog  io  twenty-four  hours,  the  pdisou  being  found  upou  analysis  in  the 
liver,  spleen,  and  urine.  The  stomach  was  io  each  case  red,  and  ulcerated 
spoti^  were  apparent. 

The  nitrate  is  no  doubt  itself  an  irritant  poison  ;  but  its  frequent  con- 
tamination with  arsenic  and  carbonate  of  lead  may  account  for  many  of 


Flo.  2^. 


symptoms  that  have  been  described  as  oct^asioned  by  it.  Dr.  Taylor 
says  Vhat  he  found  arsenic  in  three  samples,  purchased  at  respeclable 
dniggist«,  only  two  specimens  in  five  being  free  from  it.  Well-described 
Cttoco  are  on  record,  where  violent  salivation  has  taken  place  from  the 


168  CASES    OF    POISONING    BY    NITRATE    OF    BISMUTH. 

medicinal  adoiiriistratioii  of  five  grains  ("Lancet/*  Jan,  11th,  1840,  p. 
584),  and  of  seveu  graina  of  the  oitnite  (**  Lancet,"  Jan.  25tii,  1840,  p. 
675). 

Tests  for  BUmutk. 

1.  If  hisrouth  com|>ounds  be  heated  on  charcoal  with  carbonate  of  iH>dA 
in  the  reducing  bIowpi[M?  flame,  a  bright,  brittle,  nietallic  bead,  having  a 
yellow  iDcrustatioo^  m  produced  (Fig.  20). 

2.  SuiphureUed  hydrotfen  gives  a  black  precipitate  (Bi^S,),  insoluble  in 
6ulj?hide  of  ammonium,  but  soluble  in  hot  mineral  acids. 

i  The  alkalies  give  a  white  precipitate  of  the  hyd rated  oxide  (BiHjO,), 
insoluble  in  excess  of  the  precipitant. 

4.  Solutions  of  bismuth,  if  not  too  acid,  give  a  white  precipitate  when 
mixed  with  water.  This  precipitate  is  not  soluble  in  tartaric  acid,  but  U 
soluble  in  excess  of  nitric  and  hydrochloric  acids. 

5.  Chromak  of  potimh  gives  a  yellow  precipitate,  soluble  in  dilute  nitric 
acid. 

6.  Iodide  of  potasgium  gives  a  deep  brown  precipitate. 

Caaes  of  Poisoning  by  Nitrate  of  Biicmuth. 

CASE  L— "  Chrlftlboo,"  p.  495.    Mate :  adult.     S(j  of  trl«Dllnit«. 

^^m^itomur. — Burnlag  In  thromt;  pain;  piii^lnR ;  TomlUng;  crampi;  Bupprenlon  of  urlo«;  Saliva^ 
tioa  OD  the  flftli  day  ;  d&Urium  on  tbe  alxtli  day. 

je»v/f.— tk-ath  on  Dinih  day. 

P9tt-moftem,—The  whole  ailtdeotary  tract  gudgrfrtious,  but  otpecLiIly  markecl  at  the  rectuiu  ,  kid- 
neyaand  brain  healthy. 

CASE  2.— "TraUra  OuLHum,*' p.  115.  (Taylor's  "Medical  Jurlaprudeace,'*  p.  321.)  liUl«:  Adult. 
3Tj  oftrtftnltriitc. 

Symptom*. — V<>rulllDg  ;  fiA-ta. 

ieani4f.^A«covery. 

CADMIUM. 

(Cd=112.) 

Twenty  grains  of  the  oxide  was  found  to  induce  vomiting  in  a  dog,  but 
that  is  all.  In  tbe  form  of  iwlide  it  is  used  a.s  an  outward  application, 
having  a  H'iniilar  theraj>eutic  action  to  iodide  of  le^td,  without  staining  the 
skin.     The  sulphate  is  recommended  as  an  autisyphilitic. 

CERIUM. 
(Ce  =  92,) 

Cerium,  given  in  doses  of  three  drachma  of  the  chloride,  produced  ^[ 

effect  on  a  dog.  The  oxalate  is  used  in  medicine  in  one  or  two-grain  doses 
as  a  local  sedative  and  nervine  tonic.  It  is  «ai<l  to  be  useful  in  the  vomit- 
ing of  pregnancy,  and  in  dyspepsia  generally.  In  nervous  diseaj^e^,  such 
as  epilepsy  and  chorea,  it  hat)  been  found  ueeful.  Sir  James  Simpson  was 
the  first  who  suggested  its  use. 

CHROMIUM. 
(Cr  =  52.5.    Sp,  gr.  6.8.) 

Chromium  is  chiefly  obtained  from  chrome  iron  stone  (FeOCr,0,). 
18  a  steel-gray,  hard,  and  brittle  metal,  w^luble  io  hydrochloric  acid. 

All  the  safts  are  colored  ;  and  heuce  the  name  Chromium  {jputfta).  All 
the  chromium  compounds  are  poisonous;  it  will,  however,  be  sufficient  to 
deal  in  detail  with  nut  one,  viz.,  the  dichromate  of  potash.     The  chromate 


^ 


POrSONINO    BY    BICHROMATE    OP    POTASH. 


169 


CrO. 

Cr,0.. 


li'ad  h  yellow,  and  much  used  aa  a  paint;  but  ita  pobonous  action 
princi pally  due  to  the  lead  that  it  contains : 

['Jhromous  Oxide  (brown), 
L'broraic  Oxide  (green), 
(Used  as  a  paint;  the  coloring  principle  of  the 
emerald  ami  ruby.) 
\n  Oxide  corresponding  to  the  Magnetic  Oxide 
of  Iron CrOCrA- 
I'hromic  Acid, CrO,. 
I'hroniate  of  Potash  (yellow),      ...»     K,CiO^. 
Dichnimate  of  PotJish  (red),       ....     K,CrO/:rO,, 
■ 


in 


Chroraato  of  Lead, PbCiO.. 


Dkhromaie  of  Potaj<h  (KXVO.CrOJ. 

riB  is  a  red  transparent  salt,  crystallizing  ia  four-sideil  tables^  and 
luble  in  about  ten  parts  of  cold  water.  It  fuses  below  redue«:3.  It  is 
not  used  by  English  physicians  ;  but  Burness  aud  Mavor,  rm  the  continent, 
have  advocated  iVi  use  in  secondary  and  tertiary  syphiiis,  aw  well  u»  hi 
eoute  hepatic  ease**.     The  dichromate,  however,  is  largely  employed  by  the 

er;  and  owing  to  ita  common  use  in  this  and  other  trade  operations,  it 
,^  necessary  to  examine  its  action  in  some  detail.  It  is  commouly 
Bichromate. 

In  acute  poisoning  it  is  found  to  act  as  a  powerful  irrilant.  There  \s 
usually  constant  and  violent  purging,  the  stools  being  of  a  peculiar  clay 
color,  and  painful  vomiting  of  yellowish  mutters.  The  pupils  are  dibted.. 
There  are  violent  cramps  in  the  legs,  and  the  general  depression  produced 
ia  extreme.  The  urine  is  either  suppressed  or  in  small  quiintity  an<l 
purulent.  The  pcriosteiim  generally  is  swollen  and  painful.  The  actiooi 
of  the  poison  is  specially  marked  on  the  mucous  membranes.  Two^ 
dnu3hnij$  has  caused  death  in  four  hours;  but  a  case  of  recovery  ia  re- 
corded after  a  dose  of  two  ounces. 

The  experiment*  of  Gmelin  on  animak  are  important.  One  grain  in- 
jected into  the  jugular  vein  of  a  dog  bad  no  apparent  etfect;  four  graiui* 
caused  death  in  six  days;  ten  grains  caused  instant  death,  by  paralyzing 
the  heart.  Introduced  under  the  skin,  a  drachm  causes!  death  in  six  days,, 
iting  aud  palsy  of  the  hind  legs  being  the  prominent  symptoms.  Ia 
of  tne  dogs  an  eruption  appeared  on  the  skin,  aud  the  hair  fell  oflT, 

As  regards  the  morbid  anatomy ^  the  effects  are  those  of  an  irritant 
poison.  Tlie  raucous  mend>rane  of  the  stunmch  will  be  found  iutlamed  or 
destroyed,  or  marked  with  patches  of  dark-red  discoloration,  the  blood. 
i^eing  black,  and  very  thin.  But  its  poisonous  action  (a.^  is  the  case  with- 
__^  t  irritants)  may  be  indirect,  and  entirely  confined  to  the  nerwoue 
Vfitem,  and  in  such  cases  no  well-marked  post-mortem  appearajoces  raa-y 
be  observed- 

The  treatment  must  consist  in  the  administration  of  emetics  (if  requirecT),. 
and  the  free  use  of  carbonate  of  magnesia  or  lime,  in  milk. 


r 


Chronic  Poimnmg. 

The  effects  produced  on  workmen  engaged  in  the  bichromate  raauu- 
focture,  a  business  of  very  considerable  commercial  importance,,  require 
consideration  here. 

From  the  researches  of  MM.  B^court  and  Chcvallier,  we  learn  that  no 
effect  is  produced  on  the  health  of  the  meu  engaged  merely  in  the  manu- 
Hicture  of  the  neutral  chromate.    But  when  the  acid  is  added,  at  a  boiJing 

12 


>F    POISONING    BY    BICHROMATB    OF 

temprature,  in  order  to  convert  the  chromate  into  a  bichromate,  a  nuin- 
bi^r  o(  fine  particles  are  carried  up,  and  are  iu  this  way  dii^persed  through- 
out the  Workshop  in  which  the  operation  i§  being  conducted.  The  tuen  j 
usuaiiy  become  affected  after  they  have  worked  for  about  a  week,  in  the 
first  instance  complaining  of  a  bitter  nau^ous  ta*ie  iu  the  mouth,  of  great 
irritation  of  the  nasal  mucous  membrane,  with  incessant  sneezing,  of  ao  in- 
creased secretion  of  tear*,  and  even  sometimes  of  severe  conjunctivitis.  If 
the  work  be  continued,  the«e  symptoms  increase,  until  at  la^st  the  mucous 
membrane  ulcerates,  and  even  destruction  of  the  septum  naj^ii  retiult^. 
There  is,  however,  one  very  commun  symptom  observed,  audlhat  h  chronic 
&ores  on  the  hands',  phou'lders*,  and  feet.  80  long  as  the  skm  if*  9<mnd, 
these  do  not  form  readily  ;  but  directly  there  is  any  legion  of  the  .'^kiu,  the 
caustic  action  of  the  poison  becomeii  apparent.  One  of  the  authors  has 
noticed  in  a  workman  engaged  in  the  bichromate  buHiJiess  ulcers  about  the 
mmf,  mouth,  feet,  hands,  and  trunk,  but  particuhirly  about  the  scrotum 
and  penift,  which,  except  from  the  mini's  hi>*lor}',  and  from  the  aljsence  of 
any  green  color  about  the  ulcers  (and  which,  however,  is  not  constant), 
would  have  lieen  difficult  to  diagnose  from  those  found  on  workmen 
engaged  in  the  maimfitcture  of  arsenical  green  colors.  These  soi-es  go  on 
to  form  large  ulcers,  with  hardened  edges.  (  Vide  "New  Sydenham  Soc. 
Year-Book,"  1859,  p.  AW;  and  18ti:3,  p.  457.) 

Tlie  spcniging  the  throat  with  oitrate  of  silver  solution,  and  the  internal 
use  of  corrosive  sublimate,  constitute  efficacious  remedies. 


TeMjn  for  Chromium  and  Ha  SalU. 

1.  Heated  in  the  borax  bend,  thi^y  impart  to  it  a  magnificent  green  color. 

2.  Heated  on  platinum,  with  the  blttwpipe  flame,  with  nitre  and  sodium 
carbonate,  a  yellow  mass  (KNaCK),)  is  fiirmed,  soluble  in  water,  the  solu- 
tion giving  a  yellow  precipitate  (  PbCHI^),  with  acetate  of  lead. 

3.  No  precipitate  is  produced  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

4.  Sulphide  of  Ammotiium  gives  a  green  precipitate  of  the  bydrated 
ftesquioxide  (CrjO,,  3HjO). 

5.  The  Fixed  Alktdiee  give  a  green  precipitate  (CrH^O,),  soluble  in  ex- 
cess, but  reprecipitated  on  boiling, 

[Note. — In  this  way  chromium,  iron,  and  aluminium  salts  maybe  sepa- 
mted. 
Ferric  hydrate  w  insoluble  in  fixed  alkalies,  cold  or  boL 
ChroniiuH*  hydrate  is  soluble  in  cold,  but  insoluble  iu  hot, 
Aluniiniutn  iiydrat*  is  sol  utile  in  both.] 

6.  A  Salt  of  Lead  gives  a  bright  yellow  precipitate  (PbCrO,). 

ToTi<s)l<i(jieal  Anulymn. 

In  a  toxicologieal  examination  after  poif^oning  by  the  dichromate,  prob- 
ably the  red  color  of  the  solution  will  materially  guide  us;  but  it  nmy  not 
unlikely  be  fouud  to  have  aHsuinet!  a  grceui'^h  tint  from  the  reduction  of 
the  chromic  acid  by  the  organic  matter.  The  stomach  and  it^  contents, 
and  other  solid  mailers,  should  be  well  digested  in  water,  acidulated  with 
hydrochloric  acid,  boiled,  and  filtered,  and  the  filtrate  tested. 

Catta  of  Paiaonin^  by  Biehromnie  of  Fotaah. 

CA.SE  1— "rhrl5ti»oti,"p.  496(l)r.  eohliidlerl.    Miilr  :  adult.    QnanUly  (T), 
S\fmf*emi.—Xtiiit  iromUlng  had  bepii  in<)ucvd,  tin*  |»»tloiu  soi'm^.n!  to  rticot-rr,  but  tMCAtue  worte 
D«xt  <liiy,  Willi  (riirgliiK,  pAio  in  ih^  kidbt-ys,  huiJ  rcu-niiuu.     E&treoti!  tleprrisloo. 
&-*«//.— tv-mb  Wi  M  hours, 
/^^HMorrfM.— <Stoin»eb  health/;  kldiitfj-s  gorged  vlth  Mood;  bladder  einptf. 


TB8TS   FOR   COBALT, 


171 


CASE  2L— "  Mrtlctil  Times."  March  l6tU  aud  2J!d,  1844,  pp.  435,  46e.    Male:  ttl.  M.    QaanUtjr(?). 
round  4*>ftd  in  t})c  roor(»iiiK. 

Hlfmpiimu.—iio  »lgu»  tliAt  he  had  vomited  or  had  been   ptirged;  gastrltl*  not  severe;  narcotlfl 
57aj|)l0(us  chkfly. 

/!«r«(r,— Di'Ath  111  tweWe  hours. 

/Nw<-i»oHrnL— Brain  benliliy ;  dilated  pupili ;  uo  welt-mark^  poit>taortem  appeamncea ;  Ibe  poison 
eTideuUf  kiitod  by  Imllrcci  nctioii  on  llie  nervouii  ty Ktom. 

CASE  3.— "Ou j's  Hcrtpilul  K-'ports."  Ocluber,  1850,  p.  21fi (Mr.  BUhqp  of  Klrktlall).    Male. 
A^MptooM.— Palu :  vonltlitl^»,  dikudpuptU;  onuupa. 
Jtomlr.— Recovery  in  four  d*yi. 

CASE  4— Horo'a  '*  ViertelJ^brMchrlft.'*  186C,  vol.  II.  p.  113.    Female :  itl.  24.    A  dose  taken  to  pro- 
con*  atiortiia. 

SifmptemM.—V^iu;  todiUIdb;  purging. 
JBwuil— Death. 

CASE  5.— Taylor's  "Medical  JurlsprndeiiM,"  »ol,  I,  p.  S23  (Mr.  Wood),    Fetoalo:  adult.   SlJ 
/iyiniKteiiM.— VotnUlng  and  purijlnf  o(  yellowiah  iii«it«ri.    Whon  fir»l  »e«u  waa  appartfnHy  d^lng, 
pukcleas,  and  iineonscloua. 

Mfii^lL—liiJtkth  in  four  hours. 
"l  J^itt-morttm.—lMtjo6  dark  and  liquid  ;  mucous  membrane  of  stomach  dnrk-broim.and  dMtxoyod  tH 
k:  pari  of  iintill  intentintis  laurh  iDnAmtd. 

ISE  «.— "  Lancet,"  February  10th,  IH72,  p.  210  ^Dr.  Audrufws),    Male :  bbU  87.    SU  in  anlullon. 
I,— Cramp;  TomUing;  purging;  dilated  piiplU. 
t. — Recorery  In  nine  hours. 
iSE  7.^"  Lancet/'  February  llth,  1854,  p.  152  (Mr.  Bealhcotc).    Male:  KL  SD,    Worked  JQ  a  fac 
ire  MehromRle  was  bvlog  cryslalHnrd. 

.— *>r«'  tbroai,  wltb  ulcers-  great  exhauatlon. 
L— B*co»«*ry. 

COBALT. 

(Co  =  58.7.     Sp.  gr.  8.5.) 

Cobalt  is  a  reddij^h-white  melnl,  iind  when  found  (for  it  is  rare)  is  always 
combined  with  either  snlphnr,  anfenic,  or  nickel.  It  is  used  ibr  the  ptir- 
pos«  of  giving  a  blue  cuior  to  g\a»&.  Smalt  is  a  powdered  g^la-ss,  c{>lored 
bhie  with  oxide  of  cobalt ;  Znffre  is  an  impure  oxide ;  ItiffJUHn'i*  (Jreen  is 
a  mixture  of  oxide  of  cobalt  with  oxide  of  zinc.  Given  to  df>gs,  thirty 
grains  of  the  oxide  proved  fatal  in  a  few  hours ;  whilst  three  graiua  of  the 
sulphate  injected  into  a  vein  proved  fatal  in  futir  days. 

Tests. 

1.  Svlphide  of  Ammonium  gives  a  black  precipitate  of  sulphide  of  co- 
balt (Cc»8l,  which  is  insoluble  in  byilrochloric  acid,  but  soluble  in  nitro- 
hydrochloric  acid. 

2.  Potash  gives  a  blue  precipitate  tCoILp,),  insoluble  ia  excess. 

3.  Ammonm  gives  a  blue  precipitate,  (Soluble  in  exccM,  and  becoming  a 
reddish-brown  liquid,  the  soiutiuu  being  aided  by  the  addition  of  chloride 
of  ammonium. 

COPPER. 

(Cu  =  63.5.    Sp.  gr.  8.95.) 

Copper  is  found  native ;  but  it  ii?,  as  a  rule,  obtained  commercially  either 
from  Copper  pvrites  (pu,S,  Fe.^3),  or  from  a  green  carbonate  (Matachit^^ 
Cu(:0„  CuO,  H,0),  or  trom  the  blue  carbonate  (2(CuCO,jCuO,  H,<)). 

Ctupper  is  found  in  seawater  and  &ea-weeds.  Its  presence  in  laud  phinta 
htxs  been  proved  to  depend  on  its  existence  in  the  manure  used  for  the  land 
on  which  they  were  grown. 

C^itnper,  as  with  many  other  metals,  is  said  not  to  be  poisonous  in  the 
metallic  state.  Halfpence  are  said  to  have  been  swallowed  without  ill  re- 
sult* following,  although  even  this  is  not  always  the  case.  ("Medical 
Times/'  Nov.  9th,  1844,  p.  lU).)  Ou  the  other  hand,  the  breathing  the 
fmely-dtvided  metal,  such  as  the  bronze-dust  u^<\  in  painting,  has  proved 
very  injurious,  although  this  may  be  accounted  for  by  the  readiness  with 
which  the  metal  iu  such  a  state  can  become  oxidized. 


172 


PROPERTIES    OF    THE    SALTS    OP    COPPER. 


Copper  is  a  red,  very  malleable^ 
out  a  |)eculiar  coppery  odor.  It  is  u  good  conductor  of  hent  and  electricity. 
If  heated  io  the  pre-seuce  of  air,  h!ack  scales  of  cupric  oxide  form  up<}n 
it.  If  kept  in  moist  air  for  any  time,  it  becomen  covered  with  the  green 
carbonate  (verdi^ri.s).  Pure  water  has  no  action  upon  it.  It  is  not  solu- 
ble in  cold  sulphuric,  or  even  in  lioiling  hydrocbloric  acids;  but  it  is  stolu* 


ble  in  hot  sulphuric  acid,  fumes  oi*  sulphurous  anhydride  being  given  off. 

id 

evolved. 


Kitric  acid  also  dissolves  it  readily,  red  fumes  of  nitrous  anhydride  beiog 


Copper  is  largely  U5e<l  in  the  manufacture  of  cooking  utensils  and  for 
alloys,  such  as  brass  (2  of  copper  and  1  of  zinc),  brouite,  belt-metal,  Ger- 
man silver,  etc.  It  is  used  for  sheathing  ships,  whilst  many  of  its  salts 
are  used  in  medicine,  and  in  the  arts  as  paints  and  pigment.'^. 

The  salts  of  copjver,  like  tho:*e  of  nickel  and  iron,  are  colored,  generally 
either  blue  or  green,  turning  white  when  dried.  They  are  all  poisonous, 
excent,  perhaps,  the  sulphide.  They  are  nearly  all  soluble  in  water,  aod 
in  dilute  acids. 

The  method  of  testing  the  copper-foil,  used  in  Reingch's  test,  to  prove 
its  freedom  from  arsenic,  is  impjortant ;  for  a  little  copper  is  nearly  always 
dissolved  by  the  acid  liquid,  and  comniercial  copper  is  rarely  {fee  from 
arsenic.     Its  purity  may  be  tested  as  follows: 

(a)  If  clean  copper  strips  be  boiled  with  pwrc  hydrochloric  acid  for  some 
time,  without  any  uppareut  tarnish,  the  copper  may  be  considered  pure. 

{,11)  Place  ten  grains  of  the  copjier  in  a  .nmall  glass  retort,  and  heat 
with  about  twenty  grains  of  preci]iitated  peroxide  of  iron,  and  excess  of 
hydrochloric  acid.  Distil  to  dryne^«a  into  a  little  water.  If  anv  arsenic 
existed  in  the  copper,  it  will  be  detected  in  the  distillate,  where  it  will  be 
present  as  a  chloride. 


Cuprous  oxide, 
or  Red  Oxide,    . 

Cupric  Oxide, 
or  Black  Oxide,, 

Cupric  Sulphate,  . 
Cuprous  Sulphide,  , 
Cupric  Sulphide,    . 

Cupric  Nitrate, 


Cup  =  143. 
CuO  =^  79.5. 


Cu80„  5H,0  =  159.5  -f-  90. 
CuyS  ==  159, 
CuS  =  95.5. 

Cu2N03  +  6H,0  =  187.5  +  108. 


^':&Z  '^rBonaieX  \  '(^^^  +  *=^"«.  ".O  =  247  +  79.5  +  18. 


Green  Copper  Ore 
{Mulachiie), 

Cuprous  Chloride, , 
Cupric  CJhloride,    . 

Cuprous  Iodide,     . 


(CuCO,)  +  CuO,  H,0  =  123.5  +  79.6  + 

CuCl  =  99. 

CuCI,,  2H,0  =  134.5  +  36. 

Cul  =  190.5. 


Ouproii«  Oxide,  or  Red  Oxide  of  Copper, 
(Cu,0  =  143.) 

The  red  oxide  is  found  native,  or  it  may  he  formed  artificiallv  by  warm- 
ing a  mixture  of  grape-sugar,  sulphate  of  copper,  and  potash  solution, 
when  a  copious  yellow,  or  red  precipitate  of  the  cuprous  oxide  (Cu,0)  will 
be  formed. 

Oupfic  Oxide^  or  Blaek  Oxide  of  Copper, 
(CuO  =  79.5.) 


SYMPTOMS    OF    ACUTE    COPPER    P0I60KIN6.  17B 

The  black  oxide  is  formefl  either  by  hoatiug  copper  in  air,  or  bybenting 
nitrate  of  copper  in  a  crucible ;  or  it  mfiy  be  precipitated  as  a  hydrate,  hy 
addiug  potash  lo  a  solutiou  of  one  of  its  salts. 

Su/phate  of  Copper,  or  Cypric  Stdphate, 

(CuSO,  -f  5H,0  =  159.5  +  90.) 

(Roman  Vitriol,  Blue  Vitriol,  Blue  Stone,  Blue  Copperas,  Vitriol  of 

Copper.) 

8u1pbate  of  copper  is  usually  found  iu  the  form  of  large  blue  cryttals. 
It  i«  soluble  in  four  parts  of  cob!,  iind  iu  two  of  lioilJug  water,  the  poiu- 
iioD  having  an  acid  r*^action.  If  blue  vitriol  be  heatwl  to  205^  C.  it  loses 
its  water  of  crystallization,  and  becomt'S  cokirlefis,  iu  which  st^te  it  la  ex- 
ceedingly hygroscopic.  It  h  largely  un^ed  in  calico-printing.  It  will  fre- 
quently be  found  to  contain  trare:^  of  arsenic,  which  it  is  important  to 
remember  if  anscoic  be  fonnd  in  the  contents  of  the  stomach,  after  the 
admiaiistration  of  sulphate  of  copper  as  an  emetic. 

Sulphide  of  Copper. 
(Cu8-=95.5.) 
The  sulphide  i.s  thrown  down  when  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  or  sulphide 
of  ammonmm  is  added  to  a  solutiou  of  a  copfier  salt 

NUrak  of  Copper. 

(Cu2N0„  -b  6H,0  ==  187.r>  -f  108.) 

The  nilnite  is  a  blue  deliiiuescent  salt,  and  is  much  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  ti reworks. 

Oirbonate  of  copper  (natural  verdiffria)  is  formed  on  copper  by  the  action 
of  air  and  water.     Malachite  is  also  a  carbonate. 

The  (icrtutes  ofroppcr  iarttjicinl  rerdigriM),  which  are  the  common  copper 
pigments,  ditfer  much  in  compik^ition,  anrl  contain  variable  proportions  of 
the  neutral  acetate  and  carbunate.  They  are  only  partially  soluble  in 
water,  but  are  freely  soluble  in  free  acids. 

Sfftfiptoim  of  Acute  Fouoning.     DoeCf  de. 

In  full  poisonous  do.«e3  the  copper  ^a\ts  produce  the  ordinary  symfitoms 
of  irritant  poisons.  The  patient  coniphiins  immediately  of  the  i^typtic 
coppery  metallic  taste  of  the  poison,  and  of  the  burning  heat  in  the  throat. 
The  vomiting  of  blue  or  green  colored  matters  is  an  early  aymptom.  The 
vomit  may  pa«sibly  contain  piecci*  of  the  copper  salt.  Much  ban  been  said 
about  the  possibility  of  confounding  bilious  vomiting  with  the  vomiting  of 
copper  poisoning.  If,  however,  a  little  ammonia  be  added  to  the  vomit, 
no  change  will  result  if  it  be  bile;  but  if  it  be  copjj**r,  a  deep  blue  color 
will  be  immediately  produced.  The  patient  within  from  fifteen  minutes 
to  half  an  hour  will  complain  of  severe  headache,  thirst,  and  dizziness. 
The  pulse  will  be  found  Binall  and  irregular,  and  the  body  bathed  in  per- 
spinition.  Severe  purging  and  tenesmus  with  intense  colicky  pains  and 
troublesome  eructations,  complete  or  partial  suppression  of  urine,  spasms, 
and  crampfl  of  the  extremities,  are  ordinary  symptoms;  whilst  in  severe 
cttsc«  convulsions,  tetanus,  and  etjmplete  insensibility  may  occur.  Jaun- 
dice i*,  bowever,  the  sj>ecially  diagnostic  symptom  of  copper  poisoning,  and 
is  nearly  always  present.  It  is  never  met  with  either  in  poisoning  by 
arsenic  or  by  mercury. 


TBIATMKNT   OF   COPPER    POISONING* 

It  is  ptiitefl  ihtxt  a  fnirple  line,  of  a  ^imiewhat  jiermanent  nature,  tnav 
be  seen  muml  the  gums  a  short  time  atler  the  poboii  has  been  swallowed. 
A  green  line  is  seen  in  raalachite  worker-*. 

kSulpliate  of  copper  was  onoe  tleemec!  an  active  ag:e!iit  in  producing  abor- 
tion, and  in  the  puptdar  mind  is  still  believetl  to  have  eonsiderahle  |M3wer» 

What  quantity  of  copper  will  jimve  fatal?  EJeath  has  been  cauj*ed  by 
one  ounce  of  the  sulphate.  No  tloubt  less  than  I  his,  however,  would  }M>i*i»n» 
although  recovery  is  recorded  after  an  onnce,  or  even  more.  With  the 
fact?  before  us  of  !*uch  large  doses  producing  in  some  cases  no  well-marked 
effects,  it  is  strange  when  we  read  of  bad  symptoms  resulting  fnjni  the  use 
of  a  brass  injeciioo  apparatus  ('*  Lancet,"  iSept,  18th,  18(30,  p.  426),  aod 
frotii  other  causes,  where  the  amount  of  copper  present  is  altnost  bomo^a- 
pathic. 

Death  \m^  occurred  in  as  soon  as  four  hours,  whilst  it  has  been  delayed 
for  three  days. 

Treatment. 

If  vomiting  be  not  present,  encourage  it  by  draughts  of  warm  water. 
The  stoinach-purap  may  be  used,  if  necessary.  Milk,  mixed  with  sugar 
and  white  of  egg,  should  be  given  freely.  The  atbumeu  produces  au  in- 
soluble albuminate  of  copper,  upon  which  the  acid  juices  of  the  stomach 
have  little  or  no  action.     (OrHla,  Bhrader,  and  Duval.) 


Post-mortem  Appearances, 

The  body  externally  will  usually  be  noticed  to  have  a  distinct  vellow 
tinge.  Upon  o|>euing  the  stomach  and  intestiney,  their  contents  will  gen- 
erally be  found  to  be  of  a  greenish  blue  color ;  and  npou  touching  tbem 
with  ammonia,  the  tint  will  become  greatly  intensiHed.  The  lining  mem- 
branes of  the  stomach  and  intestines  are  usually  inHamed  and  thickened. 
In  the  stomach,  the  raucous  membrane  may  be  f*iuiul  softened,  destroyed, 
or  even  ulcerated  and  gangrenous.  In  the  small  inte^ines  perforations 
have  been  noticed,  the  escape  of  the  contents  setting  up  peritonitis.  The 
rectum  has  been  found  ulcerated,  aud  the  lungs  usually  are  congested. 

Experimenti  upon  Animals, 

The  experiments  upon  animals  with  copper  salts  demand  notice,  inas- 
much as  they  prove  that  in  whatever  way  copper  may  be  introduced  into 
the  system,  its  action  as  a  poison  is  violent.  It  acts  not  merely  as  an  irri- 
tant poison  when  swallowed,  but  is  equally  energetic  when  injected  into 
the  bloo<l,  paralyzing  the  action  of  the  heart,  and  in  this  manner  causing 
death.     Even  its  mere  application  to  a  wound  has  been  fatal ; 


Pom.  etc. 

HowodiDloUterad. 

Sjmptons. 

DMtb. 

IHwI-mortein. 

12  grwin*  of  Vcrdi- 

By  the  mouth 

Deut!iin22 

Stomach  very 

litlltMnflmncd 

N«>     morbid 

griR  I  Drounrd). 
2  gtHini  or   Verdi- 

(doR),         i 
Injected    into 

Vomiting  in  7 

hmira. 
Dt-Hth  in  30 

gri*  1  Drouttrd). 
0.5  grain  of    V«r- 

juguUr  (dogj. 
ditto 

minutes. 
On  the  3a  dicv 

minutes. 
DiMth  in  4 

uppi'itmncM. 

digris  (Drouard), 
6  jcrnini  Sulphate  of 

By  the  mouth 

piiraly^ia     uf 
the  hind  legs. 

dHy*. 
DortthinSO 

No  inflamma- 

Copper  f  Drouard ) . 

(doe). 
InjecUMi    into 

tnintil<vi. 

lion. 

1  grain  of  Acetme 

Convulsions. 

DcHthin  10 

Nopo*t-mor- 

of  Copper  (Orilla). 

^ . . — 

vem  (dog). 

minutes. 

Lem   ttppcttr> 
iinces. 

CnRONIC    COPPER    POISONING. 


175 


Twelve  to  fifteen  grains  of  ihe  acetate,  the  authon?  have  found,  usually 
proves  fatal  to  dogs  within  one  hunr  of  its  heiug  admiui^tered,  with  con- 
vulsions and  tetanu:}.  Experimeuls  prove  that  when  the  copper  salt*  are 
given  iu  large  doses,  they  act  as  true  irritant  poisons.  Their  action,  how- 
ever, is  far  more  energetic  when  they  are  introduced  directly  into  the 
►lood  ;  and  it  is  then  that  the  other  operation  of  the  poison  (for  ita  action 
19  don  hie )  is  specially  raani  tested  ;  viz.,  its  power  **  of  exhausting  muscular 
irritahility,  and  occasioning  death  hy  paralyzing  the  heart." 

Chronic  Copper  Poiaoning. 

From  the  numerous  uses  to  which  c«jpper  i»  applied  in  every-day  life, 
chnitnic  poisoning  hy  it  isi  not  very  uncommon.  Some  of  the  causes  that 
have  produced  it  are  as  follows: 

From  keeping  orange-flowers  and  other  distilled  waterg,  and  oils  such 
as  Cajepul  oil,  in  copper  vessels,  or  in  vessels  colored  with  copper. 

From  its  use  in  pickles  and  in  preserved  fruits,  to  give  them  a  green 
color. 

From  ita  use  in  colored  cnufeetiouery  ("Medical  Times/'  Sept,  14th, 
1844,  p.  495;  "Lancet/'  February  17th  and   24th,  1840,  pp.  191,  216^ 

From  it^  presence  in  the  water  fiumd  in  the  neighborhowl  of  copper 
minei^.    ( Existing  as  a  sulphate  from  the  gradual  oxidation  of  the  pyrites.) 

From  its  presence  in  notable  proportion  in  various  mineral  waters  (with 
ai^enlc)  (0.6  gr.  per  gallon),  as  in  those  of  Schwalbach  and  Pyrmont 
(Walchner). 

From  the  u»e  of  a  coppr  tea  kettle  ("  Medical  Times  and  Gazette," 
September  10th,  1859,  p.  2(>o),  and  of  copper  vessels  used  for  culinary 
purposK^. 

From  the  use  of  lemon-juice  that  has  been  kept  in  copper  tanks. 
(••  Metrical  Times  and  Gazette/'  June  20th,  1808.  p.  G58.) 

From  the  ii.«e  of  green  wrappers  for  farinaceous  foods.  ("  Medical 
Times,"  June  3<1,  1843,  p.  158.) 

From  the  use  of  inferior  gold,  such  as  is  used  by  the  cheap  dentists  for 
supf)orts  of  artificial  teeth,  the  action  of  the  saliva  producing  soluble 
copper  salts. 

Fronj  the  use  of  sulphate  of  copper  as  an  adylteraut  of  bread,  which  is 
added  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  the  fermentation  of  the  dough,  to  pre- 
vent loss,  and  to  give  it  additional  whiteness. 

From  the  manufacture  uf  artificial  flowers,  where  co]>per  salts  are  used 
as  pigments.     ("  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,'*  June  20th,  1868,  p.  658.) 

From  the  inhalation  of  anhydrous  sulphate  of  copper,  flying  about 
workshops  where  it  is  u.sed,  in  a  state  of  ininnte  subdivision.  ("  British 
Medical  Journal,"  May  27th,  1865,  p.  54:L) 

From  trades  where  copper  has  to  be  fikd  and  handled,  as  e.  gr.,  copper- 
smiths C'  Medical  Times  ami  Gazette,"  June  20th,  18(58,  p.  658) ;  watch- 
makers ("  Medical  Times  and  (Jazette,"  Nov.  llth,  1801,  p.  488),  etc. 

From  the  external  application  of  substances  coutuining  copper,  such  as 
the  handling  of  areenite  of  copper,  a  pigment  largely  used  in  the  arts,  etc. 
Workers  in  malachite  also  surt'er. 

M.  Blandet  states  that  in  copper  workshops,  after  fusing  days,  the  men 

fre«juenlly  suffer  from  various  symptoms  of  poisoning,  which  end   m  a 

lightly  feverish   reaction.      These  last  symptons,  however,  M,   Blandet 

Ittributes  particularly  to  the  zinc  that  is  mixed  with  the  copper  to  form 

bronze.     It  may  further  be  noted  here  that  copper- works  have  proved, 


176 


ACTION    OP    WATER    ON    COPPER. 


owiag  either  to  careless  work,  or  to  waot  of  proper  appliances  for  con  den- 
satioQ,  a  serious  nuisance  to  the  neigh borhuorJ,  iVoru  the  e8<*aj>e  of  a  white 
^rnoke  ("copper  sniuke"),  which  contains  arsenic,  and  which  is  very  inju- 
rious both  to  animal  ami  vegetable  life. 

Action  of  Water  and  Articles  of  Food  on  Copper. 

In  connectiim  with  chnmic  copper  poisoning,  it  is  important  t«  note  the 
results  of  the  experiments  of  iiuinenHis  inve.*titjat«>r^,  amongst  whom  must 
be  mentioned  Falconer,  Drouard,  Eller,  Orfila,  and  Christiaou,  on  the 
action  of  water  and  of  articles  of  food  generally  on  copper.  The  facts 
may  be  thus  summarized  : 

1.  Distilled  water  has  no  action  upon  clean  copper,  if  air  be  excluded, 
even  when  kept  in  contact  witli  it  for  weeks  i  Falconer  and  Drouard  i ;  but, 
on  the  contrary,  if  air  be  present^  and  the  water  be  boiled  in  contact  with 
the  copper,  then  a  certain  quantify  of  copper  is  sure  to  be  dissolved  by 
the  water. 

2.  Water  containing  a  large  amount  of  valine  matter,  and  especially 
chlorides,  nitrates,  and  sulphate?,  is  more  likely  when  boiled  in  contact 
with  copper  to  dissolve  the  metal  than  if  the  water  be  chemically  pure- 

8.  Water,  containing  a  quantity  of  common  salt  in  solution,  if  boiled 
in  copper  pans,  readily  acts  on  the  metal  ;  but  it  is  asserted  that  if  at  the 
same  tin»e  fish  or  meat  be  boiled  in  the  water,  none  of  the  copper  will  be 
dissolved.     (Eller. — The  truth  of  this  is  questione*!  by  Orfila.) 

4.  Milk,  tea,  coflfee,  and  beer,  according  to  Eller,  and  water  containing 
caliba^es,  potatoes,  turnips,  carrots,  onions,  rice,  and  barley,  according  to 
Falconer,  have  no  action  on  copper  vessels  when  boiled  in  them. 

5.  All  acid  solutions,  such  as  vinegar,  acicl  wines,  etc.,  all  matters  con- 
taining acids,  such  as  rhubarb,  fruits,  etc.,  all  fatty  and  oily  luatterv^ 
especially  the  volatile  oils  and  rancid  oils,  when  boiled  in  copper  or  io 
brass  vessels,  and  allowed  to  cool,  are  certain  to  dissolve  some  of  the 
copper,  a  greeu  color  beint^  iin])arted  to  the  food* 

6.  It  is,  however,  well-established  : 

(a)  That  if  an  acid  solution  be  boiled  in  a  perfectly  clean  copper 
vessel,  and  poured  out  when  hot  (that  is,  not  allowed  to  cool  in 
contact  with  the  copper),  none  of  the  metal  will  be  disscjlved. 

(,S)  But  that  if  the  copper  vessel  be  not  perfectly  clean,  the  mere 
boiling  the  acid  solution  will  be  sutficient  to  contaminate  it. 

(y)  That  if  the  acid  liquid  be  allowed  to  cool  in  contact  with  the 
copper,  although  the  vessel  be  perfectly  clean,  some  of  the 
metal  is  certain  to  be  dissolved.     (Falconer  and  Proust.) 

7.  It  has  been  suggested  to  line  the  copper  vessels  used  in  the  kitchen 
with  a  mixture  of  lead  and  tin.  This,  however,  soon  wears  oiT;  and  there 
is  always  a  fear,  when  two  metals  are  thus  brought  into  contact,  that  gal- 
vanic action  will  be  set  up,  and  solution  consoiiuently  aided  thereby. 

8.  No  copper  vej?.sels  should  be  used  for  eulinarv  purposes,  as  there  is 
scarcely  any  article  of  fotid  likely  to  be  ccx>ked  in  them  that  does  not  con- 
tain either  an  acid  or  fatty  matters  of  some  kind.  Cast  iron  is  very 
preferable  to  copper. 

9.  Lastly,  it  may  be  worth  noting  that  symptoms  of  lead  poisoning 
may  result  from  the  tin  that  is  used  for  tinning  the  vessels  containing  lead 
fts  an  impurity  ;  and  ar^en tea/  symptoms  from  the  copper  similarly  contain- 
ing arsenic. 


1 


SYMPTOMS    OP   CHROUrC    COPPER    POISDNINQ, 


177 


Stfmpioms  of  Chronic  Poisoning, 

In  whatever  way  minute  quantities  of  copper  may  be  iiitrntiueed  into 
the  system  for  a  con?i(ii>ralile  period,  ehronic  poisoning  is  likely  to  result. 
The  premonitory  symptom;?  are  lassitude  and  giddiness,  headache,  a  lops  of 
appetite,  constant  thirst,  aud  an  ever-present  metallic  taste  in  the  mouth. 
Kxtreme  mnscular  debility,  a  constant  desire  to  vomit,  and  dinrrbcpal 
motions  of  a  dark  color,  come  on  after  a  linger  or  shorter  time  ;  but  acute 
colic  ami  local  paralysis  are  as  rare  in  chronic  copper  poisoning,  as  they 
•re  common  in  chronic  lead  poisoning.  Further,  it  is  stated  that  copper- 
workers  enjoy  a  peculiar  immunity  from  cholera  and  choleraic  diarrhoea. 
An  early  symptom  that  has  been  usually  abserved  is  a  change  in  the  color 
of  the  skin  (a  kind  of  jaundice),  accompanied  by  free  perspirations  of  a 
bluish-green  color  which  stain  the  shirt  of  the  patient.  Dr.  Perron  has 
noticed  a  green  or  bronzed  *itain  on  the  teeth  of  watchmakers  and  others 
engaged  in  filing  the  metfll  ("Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Nov.  0th, 
1861,  p.  488);  and  Dr.  Clapton  likewise  records  similar  stains  iu  copjier- 
workers  generally,  as  well  as  a  green  line  around  the  margin  of  the  gums, 
due,  he  considers,  to  the  actual  ubsorpti*)n  of  the  poison.  ("Lancet,"  Oct. 
16th,  18B9,  p.  543.)  Other  observers,  however,  have  not  noticed  this*  line 
even  in  well-marked  cases  of  copper  poisoning.  Sir  D.  Corrigun  states 
that  in  nearly  all  eases,  he  has  noticed  a  fieculiarly  characteristic  retrac- 
tion of  the  gums,  the  edges  of  which  appear  of  a  purple  color.  ("  Dublin 
Hospital  Gazette/'  Sept.  1855.)  The  hairjs  paid  t^ometimes  to  turn  of  a 
green  tint ;  and  not  un frequently  a  vesicular  eruption  has  been  noticed 
•bout  the  roots  of  the  hairs  on  the  pubes. 

The  treatment  will  be  suggested  by  tho  symptoms.  One  thing  is  cer- 
tain, that  all  tre^itmeot  will  fail  unless  the  cause  of  the  mischief  be  aban- 
doned. Milk  is  said  to  be  a  prophylactic ;  and  Dr.  Perron  advises  that 
thc»se  engaged  io  filing  copper  should  wear  mustaches.  ("Medical  Times 
and  Gazette,"  Nov.  9th,  1861,  p.  488.) 

Tests. 

1.  &tlphur€ttefi  Hydrogen  gives  even  with  acid  solutions  of  copper,  or 
its  salts,  a  brown-black  precipitate,  which  turns  a  greenish-black  when 
dried.  It  is  insoluble  in  caustic  alkalies,  but  is  soluble  in  hot  concentrated 
hydrochloric  acid,  and  in  dilute  nitric  acid,  when  a  blue  solution  results. 
By  exposure  to  moist  air,  the  sulphide  becomes  sulphate. 

To  teat  the  Premplkiie : 

_  dissolve  by  heat  in  dilute  nitric  acid.  Evaporate  to  dryness,  dissolve  the 
residue  in  water,  and  test  for  copper  with  ammonia,  with  ferrocyanide  of 
|K)tiiasium,  etc. 

^(NoTa — Neither  nickel,  chromium,  uranium,  nor  cobalt  are  precipi- 
tated by  H^  in  acid,  or  neutral  solutions. ) 


2.  Ammonia  gives- — 

(a)  With  fitrouff  copper  solutions,  a  bluish-white  ankorphous  preeipitAte. 


This  is  soluble  in  excess  of  ammonia,  when  a  deep  purple-blue 

liquid  is  formed  (CuO,  2NH,), 

With  dihite  copper  mhtdouH  no  precipitate   is  formed,  but  the 

liquid  turns  of  a  deep  blue  color. 

Cnudic  Putanh  has  no  action  on  the  blue  solution,  even  when  added  in 

great  excess ;  but/ree  aeidSf  added  iu  excess,  destroy  the  color.    The  color- 


tf) 


TBgTS    FOR    COPPER. 


less  liquid  tliiia  prodiicod,  after  the  acid  h  added,  may  then  be  furtb< 

teate<l  for  copper,  with  ptitassic  ferrocyuuide. 

(Note. — With  JVicAc/,  umtnouia  gives  a  j^reen  precipitate ,  soluble  in  ex- 
cels, the  Bolutiou  beiug  blwif  aufl  repreci  pita  ted  oo  the  addition  uf  caustii 
potash. 

Willi  Chrovu'wn,  aTiiiiKiiria  gives  a  grayhh-hlue  precipiiaie,  soluble  il 
excess,  the  siiluiidu  being  ptuk. 

With  I'ranium,  atnronnia  gives  a  ytllow  prcripiinte,  iLsi^luble  in  exc€9&. 

With  Cobalt^  ammonia  gives  a  blue  prccipitaU,  soluble  io  excess,  tb< 
solution  beiug  reddish 'brown,) 

3.  Ferroryanide  of  Potasgittm  gives — 

(a)  In  drong  gofutionj^  of  copper  aalts,  a  reddish-brown  gelatinouii 

precipitate  of  ferrocyanide  **f  copper. 
(/5)  Bui  in  dilute  solutions  rhe  liquid  merely  turns  of  a  rich  claret^ 

c^lor. 

The  precipitate  is  ftparingly  soluble  in  ammonia,  and  is  insoluble  in  lb( 
miiiertil  acids',  in  acetic  aci<l,  or  in  excess  of  the  precipitant. 

(XoTK. — Uranium  also  gives  a  bnnvu  precipitate,  with  ferrocyanide  of^ 
pota8{jium.) 

4.  Iron  Tfsi. — Immerse  a  piece  of  bright  iran  or  steel  (a  large  darning-j 
needle  answers  the  purprjse  very  well)  in  a  solution  of  a  copper  salt,  when  I 
the  iron  gradually  acquires  a  <'oatijig  of  metallic  copper.  Some  of  lh«| 
iron  dissolves,  and  fornis  u  salt  with  the  acid  previously  combined  with  the 
copper. 

Fe  +  CuSO,  =  FeSO.  +  Cu. 

If  there  was  enough  copper  in  the  dilution,  all  the  iron  would  in  time 
be  dis&cdved,  and  a  hollow  copper  cylinder  left.  In  diiuf*  copper  solutions 
the  deposition  is  much  facilitated  by  the  additiun  of  either  a  little  hydro- 
chloric or  sulphuric  acidti. 

To  further  test  the  depasit  on  the  needle,  it  must  be  removed,  and  the 
copper  coating  well  washed  with  water.  It  may  then  be  acted  upon  with 
a  little  ammonia,  which,  by  exptiMure  to  air^  will  dissolve  it,  a  aeep  blue 
solution  being  formed.  Acidify  thin  with  acetic  acid,  and  test  the  color- 
Jess  solution  for  c<»pper  with  ferrocyanitle  of  [mtassiura. 

Orfila  suggejited  the  Uj'e  of  phosphorus  instead  of  iron  or  steel,  but  it  is 
not  nearly  &o  mauageable. 

5.  Galmnic  TeM, — Acidulate  the  c^qjper  wlution  with  hydrochhiric  acid, 
and  place  it  in  a  platinum  di«h.  A  piece  of  bright  line  h  then  to  be  put 
into  the  i^olutiou,  when  the  copper  will  be  deposited  on  the  platinum  as  a 
brown  i*taiu,  wherever  the  zinc  touches  it. 

A  little  ammonia,  with  exposure  to  air,  will  dissolve  the  stain  thus 
formed,  the  solution  becoming  blue,  which  may  then  be  further  tested  by 
first  decolorizing  with  acetic  acidj  and  then  adding  ferrocyanide  of  ]>ota^ 
stum. 

6.  Bh/ivpipe  Ttat — Sails  of  copper  mixed  with  carbonate  of  eoda,  and 
heated  on  charcoal  in  the  reducing  blowpipe  flame,  yield  globules  of  me* 
lallic  copper,  which  are  of  a  red  color  and  very  malleable.  These  may 
be  dissolved  in  nitric  acid, and  tested  accordingly. 

7.  Color  Tents, — Salts  of  copper  healed  in  the  inner  blowpipe  flame 
impart  a  brilliant  green  color  to  the  outer  flame. 


AKALT8IS   IN   CASKS   OF   COPPER    POISONING, 


179 


We  niiiBt  note  several  other  reactions  of  copper,  Done  of  which  however 
are  of  much  importance. 

1.  The  fijced  Caugth  Alkfi/t^A  give  a  blue  araorphoys  precipitate  of  the 
bydraU'd  oxide  (CuO,  H,/)),  iuitoluble  io  exee&s  of  the  precipitate,  aud 
turning  black  when  boiled. 

And  here,  it  is  to  be  noted,  that  if  some  bodie^t,  such  as  grape-sugar,  be 
preasent,  the  copf>er  is  soluble  in  excess,  forming  under  tlies^e  circumslances 
a  deep  blue  solution,  from  which  the  copjier  is  thrown  down  as  a  yellow 
suboxide  (Cu,0)  by  boiling. 

2.  The  mlnbie  Cnrbonfite.H  give  a  green i.^h-blue  amorphous  precipitate  uf 
the  hydrated  oxycarbonatei*,  soluble  in  excea*. 

3.  Arsenik  of  Potmh  gives  in  neutral  solutions  a  bright  green  precipi- 
tate of  arsenite  of  copper  (Seheele's  green ),  soluble  in  ammonia  and  in 
free  acida. 

4.  Chromate  of  Potash  givei*  with  strong  solutions  a  reddjsh-browu  pre- 
cipitate, and  with  dilute  solutions  a  greenish -yellow  precipitate,  soluble  in 
ammonia. 

5.  Ftrrici/nnide  of  Potassium  gives  a  brownish-yellow  amorphous  pre- 
cipUate,  soluble  in  ammonia  and  insoluble  in  acetie  acid. 

6.  lodidf  of  Potassium  gives  a  browniah-green  precipitate,  soluble  in 
ammonia. 

Quantitative  Analyii^t. 

The  quantitative  estimation  of  copper  may  be  effected  by  weighing  it  as 
an  oxide. 

(a)  Heat  the  solution  to  boiling  and  precipitate  with  caustic  potash. 
Cool  the  lit^uid  and  collect  the  precipitate  on  a  filter;  wash,  dry,  ignite, 
and  weigh.  If  the  filtrate  still  1ms  a  blue  color,  proving  that  more  copper 
is  present,  boil  with  grapt^-sugnr,  and  throw  the  copper  down  as  Cu^O, 
which  must  then  be  folIeete<l,  washed,  moistened  with  nitric  acid,  evapor- 
ated to  dryness,  and  the  residue  obtained  ignited,  and  added  to  the  pre- 
cipitate formed  with  the  niuslic  pittas h  ; 

100  grains  of  CuO  =  314.21  of  CuSO,  +  5H,p, 
=  371.43  of  Cu2NO,  +  6Hp. 
"  **  =120.25  of  CuS. 

(Jf)  Or  tlie  precipitated  sulphide  may  be  dried  and  weighed: 

100  grains  of  CuS  =  2G1.1  of  CiiSO,  ^  6H,0. 

=  309.52  of  Cu2N O,  -h  ^H,0. 
=   82.15  of  CuO. 

Toxifologkal  Analysis. 

viously  to  describing  the  process  to  be  adopted  in  toxicological  in- 
vestigations, it  is  important  to  note  that  some  observers,  and  purticularly 
iSlRrzeau,  have  asserted  that  copper  is  a  unrnml  constituent  of  both  {dants 
#id  animals,  and  is  always  to  be  found  in  the  bloody  as  well  as  in  coHee, 
wheat,  cinchona  bark,  etc.  These  views  were  ht-ld  by  others  besides  Bar- 
zcau,  as  by  Orfila,  licnry^  Devergie,  and  Meissner,  but  were  opposed  by 
Flandin  and  Danger,  Chevreul,  Christison,  etc. 

Boutigny,  who  has  investigated  the  subject  with  great  care,  asserts  that 
copper  is  never  tbund  in  flour,  wine,  or  cider,  unless  it  is  present  in  the 
manure  used  in  raising  the  wheat,  grapes,  or  apples.  He  asserts  that  the 
street  manure  from  towns  nearly  always  contains  a  trace  of  copper ;  and 
he  concludes,  that  if  copper  he  present  in  the  animal  body,  it  is  not  as  a 


POISONING    BY   OOPPEK. 

normal  constituent,  but  i.**  introfluoed  either  by  the  use  of  copper  yeaselsj 
in  cookinp,  or  by  vegetabb^s  that  have  been  fed  with  a  maoure  containtog 
it.     Fortiitmtt4y  the  amount  found  has  never  exceeded  the  jjoVflo*^^  P'^f*' 
whilst  it  is  often  m  little  a^*  the  TrffoooD^^-     ^^  '^  ^tarcely  likely » therefore, 
to  be  a  fallacy. 

It  may  be  well  to  uote,  moreover,  that  copper  has  been  found  by  M. 
Hiers  Reynaert  in  the  ash  of  tilter-papers. 

In  conducting  a  medico-legal  examination,  it  roust  be  remembered  that: 
copi>er  may  be  present  in  the  i^tomaeh  both  in  an  insoluble  as  well  as  iu  ai 
soluble  form,  inasmuch  as  rertain  orgjniic  principlt^s  such  as  albumen  and 
the  mucous  membrane  of  the  stomach  iu*elf,  will  throw  down  an  oxide  of 
the  metal.  As  a  rule,  however,  all  the  ftirms  in  which  it  will  be  found 
are  soluble  in  acids.  In  examining  the  contents  of  the  stomach,  it  is  ad- 
visable to  scrape  it  thorou;.»hly,  in  order  to  remove  the  insoluble  portioDa< 
adhering  to  the  raucous  membrane.  Organic  Iit|uids  containing  copperj 
are  generally  of  a  greenish-blue  color. 

Proceed  as  follows  : 

(1)  Dilute  the  contents  of  the  stomach  with  sufficient  water,  that  they 
may  filter  easily.  Acidulate  with  liydrochlorie  acid,  and  after  allowinj^ 
them  to  stand  for  some  hours  and  shaking  frequently,  filter. 

Pas.*)  sulphuretted  hydrogen  through  the  clear  filtrate,  and  throw  down 
the  copper  us  a  sulphide,  CV>1 1  ect  the  precipitate  on  a  filter- pa  per,  and 
dissolve  in  dilute  nitric  acid,  when  a  sulphate  of  copper  will  l>e  lormed. 
Evaporate  the  solution  to  dryness,  dissolve  the  residue  iu  water,  aud  lest 
as  already  directed. 

If  you  have  a  large  quantity  of  the  copper  solution,  it  is  well  to  lest  a 
portion  by  plar-ing  a  clean  needle  in  the  miuid  und  allowing  it  to  remain 
in  for  some  hours.  The  deposit  must  be  examined  as  already  directed. 
It  must  ncjt  be  concluded  that  a  mere  reddish  deposit  on  the  needle,  with- 
out further  analysis,  is  copper,  as  it  is  often  difficult  to  distinguish  this  by 
the  naketl-eye  appearance  from  a  deposit  due  to  the  formatiun  of  a  little 
oxide  of  iron. 

(2)  (a)  Cut  the  solid  matters  up  into  small  pieces,  and  bruise  them  in 
a  mortar.  Boil  for  a  short  time  iu  dilute  hydrochloric  acid,  tilter,  concen* 
trale  the  filtrate,  and  test  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

(i^)  All  the  solid  matteis  that  are  left  shoiilrl  now  be  incinerated,  when, 
if  copper  be  presetit,  the  ash  will  be  of  a  bluish  color,  (It  does  not,  how- 
ever, follow  that  a  blue  ash  is  due  to  co[)per. )  Diss(dve  this  in  dilute 
nitric  acid  (one  to  one  of  water),  filter,  and  test  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

Caaes  of  Poinnniutf  vslth  Qtppfr. 

(t)  BXJIiFHATG  or  COPFEH. 

CASK  K— "La  Franco  MHloUo,"  September  lOtb,  1874  fcoso  of  MoFMu).  Bc«ord«d  In  doUil  Iu 
the  "BriUib  Mrdtcal  Jnurtml."  SrptvmV'r  2<ytb,  1874.    Female:  «t.  33. 

Birmfitamu.'^nm^x  a  quantit)-  of  gUirj  luucut  vomited;  great  (Miins  lu  ib«  atoiiucli;  gmSuftl 
rahttOiUon, 

Afvir.— DcAib. 

Am^- HMrim.— Copper  found. 

CASE  2.—-  Medical  OaMtt«."  vol.  xrUt,  p.  741    FoiBAlc  i  •!  IS  tttootba.    Fui  ^tcm  in  moulb,  ftod 
■licked  WitffSL. 
^IfwyhwH*,— Vom King  In  flrtei'a  mlbutet;  aocunruUtutia. 
JtefMft.— DMib  In  four  huurs. 

CASES.— Bwk's"  Medical  Jurinprudooce/'ToLU,  p.  flor.    Malo:  tet.iO.    1). 
j^mW— t»rnth  Iu  Iiti'Itc  hours, 
CASE  4.— *  Womjlry,"  \k  a77  fDr.  Perclral).    Female:  adult.    $IJ. 

!,— E«ooTcrjr. 


CASES    OF    POISONINll    BY    COFFER.  181 

CASE  Ji^--8tf  IW,  "  Materia  Modlea,**  vol.  f,  p.  325.    3J. 

CABE6b— ^lADCeC  April  90tb,  1842, 1^.145  (Dr.  R.  B.Todd).  F^tOftJe:  oet.  1ft.  A  qnnnllly  ia  aolu- 
Uoa. 

i%a^p«MM.— Violent  IrritaDt  symptonu,  coDtinuiiig  fur  nine  dft^s;  no  jauDdtoe. 

JBiw»>.^B<ecoyery. 

CMS&  7.^"  Medical  Times."  J«nuur>-  9th,  1H(7.  p.  281.    Female  ;  ici.  86.    310  grains. 

/j^rnyteiiu,— luiiuMllate  paiu»  In  Uiruat  auil  ntoiuut-b,  witb  ilckneas. 

itlemir.— RecoTcry. 

CAtJi;  8—"  Wluo.  Med,  WocbenMh,,"  »S71.    No.  2&,    Sulpliale  of  «opper. 

AlniylMW.-^autidiee. 

JBaiHiBL'Deslb  In  Ihrue  daya. 

/VfMMr<i;n«.— Fattx  degcntratton  of  liver. 

CASE  9,— "Medical  Tliura  and  Gaxctt«,"  October  20lh,  1966,  p,  4^.  Fmnale;  Kt.  75.  SuipbAlo  of 
cofypcr. 

(n.)  VERDIGRIS. 

CASE  10.^"  Taachenbucb,"  p.  46«i  (Niemann),  ^uotod  by  Taylor,  p.  304.    F«male :  icL  21.    Sm. 

i^fyrfirwu.— Irritation  of  sUtm»t:h. 

lUfftfr     Trnlh  in  sixty  bourai. 

CASE  II.—"  Worojlt'y,"  p,  370  (Pylj ;  " Cbfia tlBon,"  p.  466.    Female.    Slj. 

^wyrfOWi. — CoDYuUiont;  paralysia, 

MmdL — Deatli  In  ihree  days. 

CASE  12.— cjrftla,  "  Toxlcolodie,"  vol  I,  p,  519.    Mttle  i  aduh,    iu.  in  water. 

JSImvi'OMM.— ^yu>lJt"iuB  iM>t  lo  after  OTtei'n  iuiuut«a:  vtoleut  vomltiajf  and  jaundice;  also  purgiDg. 

JEenttt.— Recovery  on  fourth  day. 

(lU.)  CHRONIC  POISONING. 

CASE  ll-'Taylor'a  "Medical  Jurl»pnidt'i]tt","  vul.  I,  p.  .3W  —  A  imly  nnd  some  children  ate  aome 
rbuUarb  tC^iwed  in  a  copper  Teii^el  iinp^Tft^L'tly  thiticd.  Alt  wero  talcen  ill,  and  the  la>ly  died  after 
•ev«r«  tyntptom*,  from  which  she  partitUly  recovered,  but  which  afterwards  cauiC'  od  with  incrtiu»ed 
a«T«rlt7. 

CASE  H.— "Guy'B  Hospitul  Ri'port^/'  1;»G6.  p.  n?9.  Syrnptoma  of  [HiJaonltift  indncc<l  in  a  ramfly  by 
t!he  ume  of  a  Ixidly-tiuncd  copper  tl'WK'I  for  nioklng.    One  old  man  (ii:t.  90)  died  in  tttree  wuulca. 

CABE  l.**  - "  PbamiaceMtlcfti  Jounial/'  Aujfiist,  1W(^,  p.  158.  Ten  persona  taken  ill  iln  Geneva) 
Ikvn  fmid  being  cookinl  in  a  dirty  cupp«r  vu9»et. 

CA5C  ifi.—"  Worn) ley,"  p,  370  (Dr.  Perclral).  Female:  nt.  17.  From  eating  plcklod  samphire 
eooUminat«d  with  cupper. 

a^eyltimi.— No  uerroua  symptoms.    No  eonvulslona. 

MmiA^bvMh  on  ninth  day. 

CASE  17.— ** CbriaiUou,"  p.  4C6.  Two  females;  lady  and  dangbler.  From  eating  sanerkraat  kept 
locerppcr 

Jftiiwff.    Qno  dlrd  In  twelve  hours,  the  other  in  thirteen. 

i^MMMrfViik.— Bkin  very  y«l|ow  ufl«r  d- ath. 

CASE  |i!l.^"Cbrl»tiaont"  p.  4;>4.  liiuv'lin  irari^d  an  outbreak  of  iiIaes-%  at  a  mona'^tiiry  from  the 
vse  of  copper  veasela.    A  similar  irii*o  ulso  rcorded  ut  thu  m^mastery  uf  the  Jncubiii  nioiika  at  Parts. 

CAB£  19.— "Chriatlson,"  p.  4417.    Femixle:  set.  18,     From  beans coofctnl  iu  copper  vessel. 

/f^^Oniu.— Sic  knees  at  first ;  afterwards  vonTUlaloas  and  inseaslblilty. 

Mtatuit, — Death  In  seventy-eight  hours. 

CASE  JO.—"  Lancet,"  Auguf^t  l,  isr,;t,  p,  129  fDr.  lTarl<^y).    Male:  wt.  18.    ropppr-plafe  worker. 

SymptoHu, — Acute  abdominal  pains;  purple  Uuti  ruund  the  guma,  the  Unu  remalnitig  fur  aome 
lime  after  recovery. 

J2e«W^— Recovery. 

For  other  Ca»e»  of  Copper  PoUoning^  tee 

**  Pbarmacentlcal  Journal,"  1A70.  p.  874.    <Su1phat«  of  copper.) 

"  Medif-al  Time*,"  April  11th,  l»4fi.  p.  33,  and  Noveralwr  2.^tb,  IM3.    (Verdigris.) 

"  Mr>llcai  Times  and  <ia«etU>,"  June,  ld66,  p.  C<!).4,  and  l^'di,  vol.  i,  p.  OSl.    (Chronic  poisoning.) 

GOLD  (Au  =  196.5.) 

Gold  w  a  soft,  yellow  met^l,  and  has  been  employed  from  tirae  to  time 
SL»  A  medicine,  chiefly  in  the  treatment  of  .scrofulous  and  venereal  affec- 
lioue.     It  is  used  by  deotbti^  fur  stopping  teeth.     The  perchloride  (AuCl,) 


182 


POISONINO    BY    GOLD. 


is  the  only  compound  we  need  notice;  but,  although  a  violent  poison,  we 
have  no  C4iije-'§  of  poison  in  g  to  record  with  it  in  the  humaa  e  abject.  OrHIa 
found  tlmt  very  small  cjuantities  would  kill  animals  in  a  few  minutes  if 
injected  into  the  veins.  Its  action  is  corrosive,  death  resulting  purely  from 
local  injury,  and  not  as  the  re^nlt  of  the  absorption  of  the  poison.  In  lh« 
fc»rm  oi' fulminate,  \a  which  it  was  formerly  prescribed,  six  grains  bavi 
proved  fatal,  vomiting,  convulsions,  and  salivation  being  prominent  sjm| 
toms. 

TesU, 

1.  Sulphiiretied  FTfjdrogen  gives  a  brown  precipitate  (Au,S,),  soluble  in 
sulphide  of  ammonium. 

2.  Ferrous  tSuInh'iie  trives  a  brown  precipitate  of  metallic  gold. 

3.  Protochlorme  of  Tin  gives  a  purple  precipitate  (purple  of  Cassius). 

IRIDIUM  (Ir  =  197;)     RHODIUM  (Ro  =  104.) 

Iridium  and  rhodium  are  white,  hard^  brittle  Tuetals.  The  salts  of 
rhodium  are  rose-colored.  Tbe  metals  are  verj'  difficult  of  solution,  even 
in  nitro' muriatic  acid.     BotJi  are  found  in  platinum  ores. 

The  chloriiies  of  both  metals  are  poisonous,  and  act  similarly  to  plati> 
nura,  but  not,  perhaps,  quite  so  energetically, 

IRON  (Fe  --  5G.    Sp.  gr.  7.84.) 

Iron  h  found  Qati%x  in  meteoric  stones,  and  but  seldom  under  other  cii 
cumstances. 

The  ores  are  numerous. 

It  is  soluble  in  dilute  sulphuric  and  hydrochloric  acids,  and  also  in  a 
weak  solution  of  nitric  acid. 

Dry  air  does  not  affect  it,  but  it  oxidizes  rapidly  if  moisture  be  present,! 
Iron  itself  is  not  a  rKjis<ni ;  and  only  two  of  the  salts  need  further  de«crip-j 
tion  (viz.,  the  sulphate  and  the  chliiride)  a.s  possessing  interest  to  the] 
toxicologist. 

Ferrous  Sulphate,  or  Snlpliate  of  Iron  (Fe.SO,,  7Rfi),  Green  Vitriol, 

Gopperaa. 

This  is  prepared  by  diswlvin^  iron  wire  in  sulphuric  acid. 

It  is  insoluble  in  alcohol,  but  is  soluble  in  one  and  a  half  times  it«  weight 
of  ctdd  water.  It  has  a  powerful  astringent  action  ;  and  for  tins,  and  as  a 
hsematinic  and  an  cmmenagogue,  it  is  largely  used  in  medicine.  It  is  also] 
largely  used  in  ink  and  dye  manufactures. 


Ferric  Chloride  (Fe.CI,). 
(Liquor  Ferri  Perchloridi.) 

The  solution  is  prepared  by  dissolving  iron  wire  in  hydrochloric  acid, 
and  peroxidiziiig  the  iron  by  boiling  with  nitric  acid,  l^he  applicatiou  of 
the  perch loride  to  prevent  haemorrhage,  a  use  to  which  it  is  frequently 
applied,  ha^»  l>een  known  to  produce  injurious  effects.  { *'  Lan<H.*!,"  March 
16th.  1861,  p.  279.)     Its  injection  into  a  nievus  has  proved  tauil. 

The  inm  yalis,  none  of  which  are  active  poisnui*,  have  been  taken  and 
administered  on  several  occnsions  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  criminal 
abortion.  The  symptoms  that  are  usually  induced  by  an  overdose  are 
those  of  an  irritant  poison,  with  pain  in  the  stomach,  vomiting  of  an  inky 
fluid,  and  violent  purging  hs  administration  to  pregnant  females  formed! 
a  subject  of  discussion  before  the  Obstetrical  Society,  to  which  discussioOj 
the  reader  is  referred.     ("  Trans.  Obstet.  Soc./'  vol.  xii,  p.  33.) 


TESTS    FOR    IRON. 


188 


The  treatment  must  consist  in  the  use  of  the  stomach- pump,  emetics  if 
neoeeeary,  and  diluents  with  alkaline  carbonates, 

Gmelin  found  that  when  two  drachms  of  tlie  sulphate  was  administered 
to  dog«,  no  symptom  other  than  vomiting  was  producod.  Twenty  grains 
injet'letl  into  the  veins  of  dogs  produced  no  effect  whatsf>ever.  Rubbits, 
moreover,  swallowed  forty  grains  without  injury.  There  in,  however^  some 
di^crejianey  between  these  results  and  those  obtained  by  Dr.  Smith,  who 
found  that  dogs  died  in  twenty-four  hours  after  u  dose  of  two  drachms, 
but  that  much  less  proved  fatal  when  applied  to  a  wound. 

The  post-mortem  apiK'aranees  are  those  of  a  pure  irritant.  The  stomach 
and  bowels  will  probably  be  found  to  contain  a  quantity  of  black  fluid 
throughout  their  whole  length. 


Tents  for  Iron  and  iU  Sal(4. 

KoTS. — Sulphuretted  Hydroffen  gives  no  precipitate  with  a  solution  of  a 
P^rrouj!  Sail  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid  ;  but  with  a  solution  <>f  a 
Ferric  Salt  a  white  precipitate  of  sulphur  is  thrown  duwn,  wliilat  the  ferric 
tA  ferrous  salt. 

2Fe,Cl.  +  2H,S  =  4FcCl,  +  4HC1  +  S^ 

With  Sulphide  of  Ammfyniitm  a  solution  of  a  FerrouA  salt  gives  a  black 
precipitate  of  ferrous  sulphide  (FeS).  If  added  to  a  F^mc  solution,  the 
ferric  salt  is  reduced  to  a  ferrous  salt,  the  black  FeS  being  precipitated, 
and  sulphur  set  free. 

Ferrouj*  Saltji  (that  is,  saltw  having  FeO  as  the  base)  reprasented  by 
?n  vitriol  (FeJSOj  have  the  following  properties  and  reactions: 

1.  They  are  generally  colorless,  or  of  a  light-green  tint  when  in  solu- 
tion, and  have  an  inky  taste. 

2.  The  Alkatiem  give  a  greenish  precipitate  of  ferrous  hydrate 
(FeHjOj),  which  becomes  red  when  exposed  to  air. 

3.  Ferrocyantde  of  Fotfis;*iwn  gives  a  pale  blue  precipitate  (ferrocy- 
anide  of  iron  and  potassium,  K.^F*ifiy^). 

4.  Ferrinjimide  of  Pola^ium  gives  a  dark-blue  precipitate  (FejCy^), 
insoluble  in  dilute  acids. 

Soiubie  Carbonates  give  a  precipitate  of  iron  carbonate,  which   is 

white  when  pure. 
A  soluble  ferrous  salt  boiled  with  nitric  acid  becomes  converted 

into  a  ferric  salt,  one  of  the  lower  oxides  of  nitrogen  escaping. 

"^.f^  Ferric  SaiU  (that  is,  Salt*?  having  FCjO,  as  the  base,  as   represented 
Mflquichloride  of  iron,  FcjClj)  have  the  tbllowing  properties  and  reac- 
tions. 

1.  The  solutions  are  usually  yelhnv,  red,  or  brown. 
2-  The  alkalies  (and  their  carbonates)  give  a  red  precipitate  of  ferric 
hydrate  (FejHjUj),  insoluble  even  when  boiled. 

3.  Fcrronjanide  of  PoftMnum  givc-j  a  dee[i  blue  precipitate  of  sesqui- 
ferrocyanide  of  iron  ( Fe^Cy^),  insoluble  in  dilute  acids,  but  de- 
com loosed  by  alkalies. 

4.  Sufphocyanide  of  Potasfflum  produces  a  deep  red  solution  (ferric 
sulphocyanide,  FcjCyaSj). 

5.  Tinrturc  of  Qttlk  producer*  a  black  (inky)  solution. 

6.  Ferrir.ifanide  of  Potmsium  produces  no  precipitate.     It  is,  there- 
fore, the  distinguishing  test  between  ferrous  and  ferric  salts. 


184 


CASES    OF    POISONING    BY    IRON. 


Iroo  sAlts  are  soluble  in  a  borax  bead,  giving  it  a  bottle-green  coh 
the  reducing,  aud  a  bruvvtii$h  tint  in  tlie  oxidiziug  flame. 

Toxicological  Analysis. 

In  examining  oi^anic  matters  for  iron,  digest  them  thoroughly  with 
water  acidiilate<l  with  acetic  acid  ;  filter;  evaporate  the  filtrate  to  dryness; 
incinerate  the  ref^idue,  aud  ai[\er  acting  on  the  ash  with  dilute  auiphuric 
acid,  test  accordingly  with  sulphuretted  bydrogen,  ferrocyanide  of  potas- 
sium, etc. 

To  estimate  Iron  quatitiiaiivehj^  oxidize  it  first  to  the  condition  of  a 
peroxide  with  nitric  acid  and  heat,  and  then  precipitate  with  amnioniiL. 
Collect  the  precipitate  and  dry.  Every  WO  parts  is  equal  to  66  of  iron. 
Perniaugaoute  of  p^ta^jh  may  be  used  for  tbe  same  purpose. 

Ca.^es  of  Poiiifninff  wifh  Iron, 
TINCTtTRE  OF  PBRCHLORIDS  OF  IRON. 

CASE  1.— Tuylor'i  '*  Medical  iuri^tprtidence,"  vol,  I,  p.  3'JO.    Female:  a;t<  15.    <vi  to  1iidiJc«  »b0rllo 

.SymplDvu.— <jrr«kt  irriUtloD  of  urmar;  eyst«m. 

RuutL—  Rt'co  TO  ry , 

CABC  2.— "ProvliidalJourual,"  AprU7tfa,I847(Mr,  Aymol).  Female:  idiilt  Slaa.  of  th«  tlOCture 

£^ii^ptoiiM<— Immediate  roiuittng;  cough ;  pala  uluog  gullet  and  in  stoiDaoh  ;  black  molioiML. 

Biu*iU* — Recov«ry  In  a  mouth. 

CASE  S,— "Dubllo  Medical  Preas,"  February  2I»t.  1849  (Sir  James  Murray).    Male :  «0t  72.     3iy. 

ig^mpl»na.— Syinptonu  or»uffucallou;  totigue  very  awoUea;  pulse  feobl«i;  muiiuD*  black. 

Asfwf/,— R«j«J¥«ry. 

CASB  4.—"  PharaioceuUcal  Journal/'  April,  1800,  p.  605.    I^. 

fijrti//,— Recovery. 

CASE  5.—"  Lancol,"  Junnary  2d,  1S69,  p.  9  (Mr.  Warburtoni.    Female:  »t.  SO.    Jj. 

^j^NyylfrwM.— >VTere  couvulHioiiiA  ia  tt  ijiuarlcr  of  ao  buur;  romidng  waa  produced  hj  emeitoik 
Id  five  houra  and  a  hair  tbc  putit'Dt  waii  fairly  well. 

Aefiill.<-U<»K*vury. 

CASE  6.— "American  Journal  of  Medical  Scleoce,"  April,  IB70,  p.  506.  Uaed  as  a  uterine  iuject 

Jj^wplwin.-  Per  itoB  i  ttfl. 

jeu«tt.~DeAth. 

CASE  7.— "ClirUti»oii,"p.  54l6(I>r.  CombA).    Male:  adult,    SIh. 

^^fffiptoinj.— luky  and  blwHly  roiullliig^  bloody  purging.    Seemed  tu  recover  io  three  week 
bad  a  r«lap««  two  weeks  anorwarUi. 

/S»uU.— Di'ath  In  lix  wi-vks. 

Pod^marbBm,—i*f\i>fMt  tblckt-ned  :  oxtensiTe  iDdatumatlon. 

CASE  S  — "  LaDci^t,"  February  7tb,  1^74,  p.  1115  (Mr.  W.  B.  Kesteven).  i£t.  9  moatha.  A  li«rua 
the  head  ittjf^ted  wilb  attoul  tbree  minima  of  ihc  (lerebluride.  Tbe  tame  operation  bad  t»een  p 
formed  on  tbe  child  aix  inuiiiti»  pruTioualy. 

EtnM.-'limMa  in  five  minutes. 

F(yr  Que*  of  Poisoning  with  ifu  Stdphait^  »ee 

'* Medical OazeUe,"  1890,  jt.M);  "Ann.  d'Uyg.."  1851,  tqL  1,  p.  IfiSi  Cbriatlaon,  p.  906  (roQOTWX 
after  ]U>, 


i 


LEAD. 
(Pb  =  207.    Sp.  gr.  11.4.     Melts  at  327^  Cent) 


J 


Lead  is  usually  prepared  fn>m  galena  (PbS),  by  first  heating  it  in  air, 
by  which  means  a  mixture  k  produced  of  oxide  nf  lead  (PbO),  sulphate 
of  lead  (Pb80/)t  and  sulphide  of  lead  (FbS).  The  air  h  then  excluded, 
and  the  temperature  raised,  when  the  Bulphur  becomes  oxidized  at  the  ex- 
peuiie  of  the  oxygen  in  the  lead  compounds,  ancl  cscnpes,  as  sulphurous 
anhydride,  by  the  shaft,  the  pure  metal  remaining  in  the  crucible.  Galeoa 
often  conUins  a  little  silver,  and  sometimea  even  a  little  gold- 
Lead  is  a  8oil,  easily  fu!«ible  metal,  malleable,  but  not  ductile.     It  is 


J 


POISONING    BY    LEAD. 


165 


volatile  by  heat,  and  tarnishes  readily  in  moist  air,  an  oxide  being  formed 
on  the  surface  of  the  metal. 

It  \s  very  soluble  in  dilute  nitric  acid,  but  neither  cokl  hydrochloric  nor 
sulphuric  acids  have  any  action  u|K}n  it  For  this  reason  leaden  chambem 
are  us^ed  in  the  manufacture  of  oil  of  vitriol.  Hot  sulphuric  acid,  how- 
ever, dissolves  it,  sulphurousi  acirll  being  given  off, 

The  pure  metal  is  mid  oot  to  be  poii*onnu!»,  but  from  the  ease  and  ra- 
pidity with  which  mo!<t  dilute  acids  act  upon  it,  and  its  common  use  iu 
every-day  life,  chronic  poisoniDg  by  it  is  not  uncommon,  AH  the  m\U  are 
poisonous,  except,  perhaps,  the  sulphide.  Even  a  case  of  poisoning  by 
the  insoluble  malate  is  recorded.  ("  Ann.  d'Hyg.,"  published  Jan.  7th, 
1842.) 


Z,ead  with  Oxygen : 

PI  urn  bo  US  or  Lead  Suboxide, . 
Plumbic  or  Lead  Oxide  (Litharge), 
Pluttibic  or  Lead  Dioxide, 

Red  Lead  =  Mixture  of  the  two  Oxides, 

Plumbic  or  Lead  Nitrate, 

Plumbic  Acetate  ^  SugAr  of  Lead, 

Plumbic  or  Lead  Carbonate, 
Plumbic  or  Lead  Sulphate,  . 
Plumbic  or  Lead  Sulphide,  . 
Plumbic  or  Lead  Chloride,  . 
Plumbic  or  Lead  Iodide, 
PluQd>ic  or  Lead  Oxalate,  . 
Plumbic  or  Lead  Cliromate, . 


Pb,O  =  430. 

Pbb  ^  223. 

PbO,  ^  239, 
f(PbO.PbOAor 
((2PbO,Pba). 

Pb2NO,  =  33L 

Pb2(C,H,0,). 

PbC*0,  =  267. 
PbSO,  =  303. 
PbS  =  239. 
PbCl  =  278. 
PbI,  =  4(>L 
PbCp.  =  295. 
PbCrO,  ^  323.5. 


P 


Carbonate  of  Lead  ( PbCOj  =  257). 

(Ceruse — White  Lead,) 

Carbonate  of  Lead  is  found  native.  It  nuay  be  prepared  by  precipi- 
tating sugar  of  lead  with  carbonate  of  5o<la.  It  is  very  heavy,  and  i* 
usually  found  either  in  lumps  or  as  a  soow-white  powder.  It  is  largely 
use<l  as  a  white  paint,  and  was  formerly  employed  for  enamelling  cards. 

•'White  I^ead"  is  an  impure  carbonate.  It  is  prepared  as  follows:  A 
piece  of  metallic  lead  is  so  arnmged  that  it  may  be  freely  expo**d  to 
acetic  arid  vapor  given  off  from  a  little  vinegar  placed  in  the  bottom  of  a 
Btuatl  pot.  It  is  then  loo-sely  covered  over,  and  old  tun  thrown  over  the 
top,  a  number  of  p^yts  being  similarly  arranged.  In  this  manner  the  lead 
b  ex|K>sed  simultaneously  to  the  action  of  air,  vinegar,  and  carbonic  acid 
from  the  decomposing  tan.  First  of  nil,  we  have  an  acetate  of  lead 
formed.  This  lead  acetate  { Pb2i  C^H.OjJ )  takes  up  plumbic  oxide,  forming 
Pb2(CJI,0,)2PbO.  This  last  ( PbO ) 'takes  up  the  carbonic  acid  given 
off  fr»jm  the  tan,  carbonate  of  lead  being  thereby  (2Pb< '(),)  formed.  The 
lead  acetate  dissolves  more  lead  oxide,  atid  so  the  process  goes  on  until 
the  action  is  rctarde<:I  by  the  thick  crust  of  carbonate  on  the  surface  of  the 
lead.  The  crust  is  then  removed,  ground  to  powder,  and  sold  as  white 
lead.  White  lead  is  often  adulterated  with  su Inhale  of  barium,  an  im- 
parity which  would  be  known  by  its  being  insoluble  in  nitric  acid.  Car- 
bonate of  lead  gives:  (1)  when  heated  on  platinum  a  vellow  residue, 
Hihible  in  nitric  acid  ;  (2)  it  is  blackened  by  sulphuretletl  hydrogen  ;  and 
(,3)  it  IS  soluble  with  effervescence  in  dilute  nitric  acid. 

13 


FOTSOHIKO   BY   LBAD  6ALTS, 

Sulphate  of  Lead  (PbSO,  =  303). 

Lead  sulphate  is  a  white,  heavy,  insoluble  powder.  It  turns  black  with 
sulphuretted  hydrogen,  sulphuric  acid  remaiuing  in  soUuion*  It  is  said 
not  to  be  poisonous,  because  of  its  insolubility  ;  but  this  is  doubtful,  for 
cases  are  recorded  of  seamstresses  being  poisoned  by  sucking  thread  that 
had  been  niixe«i  with  sulphate  of  lew!  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  iu 
weight.  ("  British  Medical  Journal,"  Jan.  19th  and  26th,  1867,  pp,  71 
and  86.) 

Sulphide  of  Lead  (PbS  =  239).  ■ 

Thw  is  found  in  nature  as  galena.    It  is  precipitated  as  a  black  hydrate.  ^ 
OD  piBBaiug  sulphuretted  liydrogen  through  a  solution  of  a  lead  salt.'     It  is 
decomposed  by  nitric  acid. 

Chioride  o/  Ltad  (PbCl,  =  278). 

This  is  one  of  the  three  chlorides  (viz.,  silver,  lead,  and  raercurous)  in« 
soluble  in  water.  At  a  moderate  heut  it  fuses  and  becomes  a  homy  tuaas 
{Flumbum  Corneum). 

Jodlde  of  Lead  (Pbl,  =  461). 
This  is  a  yellow  salt,  soluble  with  difficulty  in  water. 

Oxyrfdonde  of  Lead  {Pb,0,Cl,). 

(MiDeral  Yellow— Patent  Yellow— Turner's  Yellow — Cftfisel  Yellow.] 
Used  as  a  paint. 

Chromate  of  Lead  CPbCrO,). 

The  chromate  is  a  yellow,  iusoluble  salt.  It  has  proved  fatal  frona  it8 
accidental  us^e  by  na>try  cookt?  to  color  liuiw,  in  order  to  give  them  a  rich 
appearance.  (*'  Medical  Titues  and  GaKette,"  Dec.  24th,  1859,  p.  635.) 
It  is  also  used  to  color  cheap  confectionery. 


Oxide  of  Lead  (PbO  =  223). 
(Ordinarily  c-alled  "Litharge,"  or,  wheu  finely  p<jwde!'ed,  "  J/aW«>£."] 

Lead  Oxide  is  prepared  during  the  extractioo  of  silver  from  lead, 
is  more  or  less  of  a  yellow  cnJar*  It  is  soluble  in  nitric  acid,  and  pij«(8esses 
the  property,  when  lu  contact  with  air,  of  absorbing:  carbonic  acid  from 
it.  It  melts  at  a  red  heat,  and,  wJien  melted,  IVeeTy  dissolves  glass  and 
earthenware,  farming  fusible  plumbic  silicatcjs.  It  is  this  propertv  of 
litharge  which  renders  it  vaiuaale  in  glass-making  aud  in  glazing  eartltieii^ 
ware. 

Poisonous  symptomis  have  often  been  produced  by  it.  It  is  largely  uaed 
by  painters  and  glaziers,  and  also  in  the  prejmratiou  of  hair  dyes.  'Some- 
times it  i.s  added  to  sour  wines,  to  give  them  a  sweet  taste,  aud  many 
accitlents  have  arisen  from  its  use  for  this  purpose.  Accidental  cases  of 
poisoning  have  re^^ulted  from  the  glaze  on  earthenware  being  dissolved  by 
the  action  of  dilute  acids  ufc^ed  in  c<ioking.  It  has  been  6up|MJsed  to  be  an 
abortive,  and  has  been  so  administered,  but  it  does  not  seem  to  be  in  any 
way  an  active  poison,  for  a  caae  ia  recorded  where  two  tablespoonfuls  were 
taken  without  any  ill  efiects. 


POISONING    BY    LEAD   SALTS. 


187 


ned  L&id  (PbO,  PbO,).     (Mioium.) 

Red  Lead  is  made  by  heating  litharge  in  the  presence  nf  air,  whereby 
oxygen  is  absorbed.  It  is  partly  soluble  iu  uitric  acid  ;  that  is,  the  acid 
diss'ilves  the  Pb(),  but  not  the  PbO,.  It  is  tjoitietitne-s  mixed  with  siutff, 
to  give  it  a  red  tiut,  and  has  also  been  ys^ed  far  coloring  waters.  It  is  a 
poison,  and  is  often  in  the  manufacture  of  "  beetle- wa fere"  mixed  with 
Sour  and  water.  A  case  of  death  from  the^e  wafers  is  recorded.  ("Medi- 
cal Timra  and  Gazette/*  March  li^t,  1851,  p.  249.)  A  case  is  also  recorded 
where  some  red  lead  was  left  accidentally  in  a  brewer's  apparatus^  and  wau 
not  discovered  until  after  some  seriousi  poisoniiig  ca^^es  had  occurred  from 
persons  drinking  the  beer  with  which  it  had  been  mixed.  ("  Laucet," 
March  19th,  1870,  p.  428.) 

The  mere  working  in  red  lead  ha.s  also  produced  gerioiis  syniptoniB. 
("  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Dec.  27th,  1856,  p.  643.) 

Nitrate  of  Lead  ( Pb2N03  =  331 ) . 

This  is  formed  by  dissolving  lead  or  litharge  in  nitric  acid.  It  is  solu- 
ble in  water.  It  is  largely  used  in  calico  printing.  It  forms  the  basis  of 
Ledoyeo's  Disinfecting  Fluid. 


Acetate  of  Lead  (Pb2(C,H,0,)  )— (Sugar  of  Lead). 

This  is  usually  found  iu  shops  as  a  white,  ^olid,  crYstalliue  mass,  having 
an  agreeable  odor,  and  a  iwimewhat  aweet  taste.  It  crystallizes  in  four- 
eided  prisms,  which  etfloresce  in  dry  air,  a  carbouate  of  the  metal  being 
fonned.  Its  solution  in  water  is  sweet,  colorless,  odorless,  and  faintly  acid 
to  litmus.  On  spontaneous  evaporation,  white  needle-shaped  crystals  are 
produced.  One  hundred  grains  are  soluble  in  about  250  of  water  at  ordi- 
nary tempenitures,  and  in  6500  of  atcohoL     It  is  insoluble  in  ether. 

li'  heated  moderately  on  a  piece  of  mica  it  gives  out  its  water  of  crystal- 
lization, and  becomes  a  white  anhydrous  mass.  Heated  still  further,  it 
again  melts,  and  gives  off  vapors  of  acetic  acid,  tfte  residual  miiss  gradu- 
ally becoming  black.  This  residue  consists  of  charcoal  and  metallic  lead, 
and  15  of  much  greater  bulk  than  that  of  the  salt  originally  operated  u|>ou. 
Ko  sublimate  under  such  circumstances  is  prwluced.  Heated  with  the 
blowpipe  on  charcoal,  it  melts,  globules  of  tnetalliu  lead  being  formed, 
surrounded  by  a  yellow  incrustation  of  lead  oxide. 

Moistened  with  sulphide  of  ammonium,  acetate  of  lead  turns  black,  and 
with  iodide  of  potassium  or  with  chromate  of  potash  sokitious,  yellow.  If 
it  be  boiled  with  a  little  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  acetic  acid  is  given  off,  which 
may  be  recognized  by  its  odor.  If  to  this  a  little  alcohol  be  added,  and 
further  heated,  acetic  ether  will  be  formed,  which  will  be  known  by  its 
peculiarly  fragrant  apple  odor. 

The  solution  of  acetate  of  lead  when  added  to  common  water  renders  it 
white  and  milky,  an  action  due  to  the  preaeuce  of  sulphates  and  carbonic 
acid  in  the  water. 

It  ifl  not  an  active  poi.*oii,  although  it  is  commonly  supposed  to  be  so. 

A  goluttoD  of  sugar  of  lead  will  dissolve  lead  oxide  (PhO),  when  a 
tri basic  salt  is  formed,  called  subacetate  of  lead,  or  Goulard's  Extract 
(Pb2(C,H,Oj)2PbO),  which  has  the  property  of  easily  and  freely  absorb- 
ing carbonic  acid,  whereby  au  insoluble  carbonate  ( PbCO  j  is  formed,  the 
original  acetate  being  left  in  solutlou. 


188 


SYKPTOMS 


Symptoms,  Dose,  ete. 

First,  we  may  ootice  the  symptoms  of  acute  lead  poisoning. 

Sugar  of  lead  (for,  loxicofogically,  this  and  the  carbonate  arc  the  only 
two  iialts  of  much  interest)  i^  a  weak,  and  rarely  fatal,  irritaut  poidou. 
Dryness  of  the  throat,  a  metallic  taste,  and  thirst  are  complained  of  soon 
after  it  has  been  swallowed.  Great,  but  often  iutermittenl,  abdominal 
pains  of  a  colicky  character,  especially  referred  to  the  navel,  and  relieved 
on  pressure,  is  the  prominent  complaint.  The  mu^icled  of  the  abdomen  are 
usually  very  rigid.  The  countenance  is  often  very  anxious,  dingy,  and 
heavy-looking,  the  pulj*e  very  feeble  and  very  slow,  and  the  prostration 
extreme.  SickueFs  is  not  a  constant  symptom.  There  is  (different  from 
mogt  irritant  poi.sons)  invariably  constipation ^  from  paralysis  of  the  intes- 
tinal muscular  coat.  The  urine  h  generally  scanty,  and  very  red.  As 
the  case  progre^r^es,  violent  cramps,  cold  sweats,  paralysis  of  the  lower  ex- 
tremities, and  often  convulsions  and  tetanic  spasms,  come  on.  The  intel- 
lect usually  remains  clear  to  the  lust.  Death  during  the  stage  of  colic  is 
almost  unknown. 

As  to  the  dose  of  sugar  of  lead  capable  of  producing  acute  poisoning.  It 
is  very  difficult  to  speak  with  any  degree  uf  certainty.  A  drachm  of  ace- 
tate of  lead  has  been  taken  daily  for  ten  days  before  any  symptoms  of 
poisoning  manifesteti  themselve*.  One  ounce  has  been  taken  vsriihout  any 
result  whatsoever,  whilst  in  other  cases  two  drachms  hu^s  produced  alarm- 
ing symptoms.  Cases  are  recorded  (*' Lancet,"  Oct.  2'3d,  1841,  p.  123,  also 
p.  805)  where  mere  medicirml  doses  have  produced  symptoms  of  acute  poi- 
soning. (See  "St.  And.  Med.  Grad.  Trans./'  vol.  v,  p.  22G-7,  for  produc- 
tion of  lead  line,  after  18,  21,  and  42  grains?  of  this  salt.) 

As  regards  the  thiie  of  its  proving  fatal,  this  in  equally  variable.  Two 
children  died  in  thirty-six  hours  from  swallowing  Goulard's  Extract, 
Deaths  have  occurred  at  the  end  of  three  days.  We  have  no  records  of 
quantity  in  these  cases. 

Action  of  Lead  Salts  on  Animah. 

The  experiments  on  liiiimal!*  of  Orfila,  Gaspard,  Blake,  Campl>ell,  and 
others  with  lead  salts,  demand  a  passing  notice  here.  It  is  ditficult,  ou 
account  of  the  vomiting  produced,  to  kill  a  dog  with  sugar  of  lead.  But 
if  vomiting  be  prevented  by  tying  the  gullet,  half  an  ounce  of  the  acetate 
has  been  found  to  kill  dogs  in  from  nine  hours  to  two  days,  the  symptoms 
Ijeing  those  of  acute  irritant  poisoning.  Thirteen  grains  injected  into  the 
jugular  vein  of  a  dog  killed  it  immediately.  Five  grains  similarly  admin- 
istered killed  a  dog  in  live  days,  the  symptoms  not  appearing  until  the 
third  day,  and  no  special  po.st-mortem  appearances  being  manifest  in  either 
case.  Gaspard  fuund  that  even  two  grains  similarly  injected  would  kill  a 
dog;  Campbell  records  a  case  of  death  by  the  application  of  sugar  of  lead 
to  a  wound;  and  others  have  noticed  injurious  results  from  the  application 
of  white  lead  to  a  scalded  surface.  ( "  Brit,  and  For.  Med. -Chi r.  Kev.,"  Oct, 
1857,  p.  525.) 

Christison  found  400  grains  of  nitrate  of  lead  killed  a  strong  dog  in 
sixteen  hours,  the  appearances  after  death  being  those  of  an  irritant  pr)isoD. 
According  to  the  experiments  of  MiLscherlich,  half  a  gramme  (7.7  grains) 
of  the  acetate,  dissolved  in  water,  given  daily  to  rabbits,  will  trause  death 
in  from  ten  to  twelve  clays.  Very  little  ellect  was  produced  until  the  ani- 
mal had  taken  six  or  seven  doses.  When  ten  grammes  (=  154  graius) 
was  injecteil  into  the  stomach,  death  occurred  in  from  three  to  twelve 
hours. 


SYMPTOMS   OP   LEAD    POISONING. 


189 


cperiraents  by  several  Ointiuental  toxicologii^ta  prove  that  effects  can 
be  produced  in  animal?,  as  the  result  of  small  and  long-coDtinued  <ioses, 
itlar  to  thuse  produced  in  man. 
»ad  may  be  found  after  death  in  the  liver  and  kidneys,  often  in  the 
ipleen  and  urine,  and  generally  itj  the  miiecles.  It  has  been  found  in  the 
milk  of  a  cow  poisoned,  with  the  carbonate. 

Treatment  of  Acitfe  Poisoning. 

The  proper  antidotes  to  be  given  are  the  soluble  alkaline  and  earthy 
sulphates,  and  of  the-se  sulphate  of  magnesia  is  undoubtedly  the  best.  It 
is,  however,  advisable  in  the  tirst  instance  to  encourage  free  vomitioj>',  with 
warm  water  or  sijphate  of  zinc  ;  whil><t  if  these  fail,  the  use  of  the  stomatrh- 
pump  should  be  'resorted  to.  Atler  this,  sulphate  of  magucsia  in  milk, 
with  ejjgs,  may  be  given  freely. 

Opium  may  be  necessary  for  the  relief  of  pain,  and  purgatives,  if  the 
bowels  be  very  costive,  Injeetiou^i  are  often  useful.  The  carbonates  which 
have  been  recommended  as  antidotes  are  broken  reeds,  carbonate  of  lead 
being  itself  a  poison. 

Chronic  Lead  Poisoning, 

The  causes  of  chronic  lead  poisoning  are  numberless.  Nor  is  this  to  be 
idered  at,  considering  its  extensive  use  in  medicine  and  in  the  arts  as 
Well  as  in  every-day  life.  Lead  is  a  eumuhuive  poison,  and  may  be  re- 
ceived into  the  system  by  all  ptLssihle  inlet?^ — stomach,  lungs,  or  skin.  A 
few  of  the  causes  ti»at  have  produced  chronic  lead  poisoning  are  as  follows. 
We  have  arranged  them  under  three  classes: 

1.  Where  the  lead  was  swallowed, 

2.  Where  the  lead  was  inhaled. 

3.  Where  the  lead  was  applied  externally, 

A-    Whrre  the  le<td  has  been  9walh\ced. 

1.  By  sucking  pieces  of  lead.     (*'  Lancet,"  June  12th,  1869,  p.  835.) 

2.  Bv  the  use  of  lead  in  confectionery  as  a  coloring  matter.  ("Medical 
Times  aud  Gazette,"  December  24th,  1859,  p.  635.) 

3.  By  the  use  of  farinaceous  foods  that  have  been  wrapped  in  lead-foil. 
(See  a  similar  case  of  curry  powder,  "  Lancet,"  April  21st,  1860,  p.  40G. ) 

4.  Bv  the  use  of  leaden  pipes  for  conveying  acid  beer  or  cider.  {''Meili- 
cal  Tim'es  and  Gazette,"  August  31st,  1807,  and  October  23ti  1869.  ''  Lan- 
cet/' June  5th,  12th,  and  20th.  18fi9,  pp.  779,  820,  and  HHIi) 

(See  **  Lancet,"  June  12th  and  26ih,  1809,  for  a  case  where  a  pulilican 
symptoms  of  lead  [joisonitjg,  from  taking  every  morning  a  glass  of 
*r,  which,  being  the  first  drawn,  had  been  in  contact  with  the  lead  pipes 
all  night.) 

5.  By  drinking  the  water  in  lend  mines,  or  the  water  kept  in  a  leaden  cis- 
tern (*•  Lancet,"  February  22d,  1851,  p.  202  \  or  by  the  use  of  leaden  pipes 
for  it^  conveyance  {*'  Dublin  Quarterly  Journal,^'  May,  1849 ;  "  Medical 
Gazette,"  vol.  xliv,  p.  200). 

6.  By  drinking  wine  impregnated  with  lead.  (*'  Lancet,"  August  3d, 
1807,  p.  149.) 

7.  By  the  use  of  flour  ground  with  stones  that  had  been  filled  in  with 
lead.  (••  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  December  22d,  1866;  **  British 
Medical  Journal,"  July  7th,  1866,  p.  7.) 

8.  By  the  use  of  glazed  culinary  vessel,  which  gla?^  is  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent dissolved  if  acid  liquids  be  boiled  in  contact  with  it. 


190 


CHRONIC    LEAD    POTSOKIWO. 


(See  case  where  (ilnger-hter  protUiced  lead  poisoning  from  I  to  having 
been  made  Jti  glazed  earthenware  bushel  pans.  "  Medical  Tliuea  aud  Ga- 
zette," November  2l8t,  1868,  p.  595.) 

Milk  and  nVfffr  kept  in  glazeil  ptins. — "  Taylor*8  Medical  Jurisprudence," 
vol.  i.,  p.  302  (Dr.  Proct4>r). 

9.  By  the  use  of  reii  lea<!  as  a  cement  for  ves,*elj«  containing  food,  or  that 
are  used  for  cooking  purposes.     ("  Lancet,"  June  19th,  1^61),  p.  870.) 

10.  By  eatiug  pifkle.^j,  the  jars  containing  them  being  capped  with  leadeti 
tops.  Soda  water  is  alw  said  to  produce  lead  poisoning  where  the  tajia^ 
(patent  siphon  taps)  have  bt^en  made  of  lead. 

11.  By  the  use  of  sugar  refined  by  lead,  or  sugar  ca.«*t  in  mould?,  the^j 
insides  of  which  have  been  painted  with  white  Ipad. 

12.  Occasionally  by  the  use  of  lead  niedicinallv.  (The  "Lancet,"  Oct, 
3Ut,  \m^,  p.  5U7  :  "St.  And.  Med.  tirad.  Trnns,/'  vol.  v,  p.  22«.} 

13.  By  solder  dissolved  in  Mulligatawny  aoup. 

B.  Where  the  lead  has  been  ijihaled  either  In  the  solid  or  vaporous  form. 

In  some  of  the^e  cases  external  application,  as  well  as  inhalation,  will 
be  the  eau*e  of  the  lead  poisoning. 

1.  By  sleeping  in  newly  painted  rooms.  ("Lancet,"  Oct.  30th,  1852, 
p.  391.) 

2.  By  removing  lead  paint  (scaling)  by  heat.  ("Lancet,"  Aug.  2d,| 
1873.  p.  14(j.) 

3.  By  the  use  of  snuff*  and  tobacco  which  has  been  wrapped  in  lead-foil^ 
or  from  the  snuff*  being  adulterated  with  rtnl  lead  to  give  it  a  color  <  Dr. 
Garrtxl).  ("  Lancet,^'  Feb,  9th,  1861,  p.  152,  and  Dec.  3d,  1870,  and  Jan. 
6th,  1872,  p.  2;  "  Medical  Gazette,"  xxxii,  p.  138,) 

4.  Various  businesses  and  trades. 

(a)  Profession  ol  artista.     ("Taylor's  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  vol.  i, 

p.  298.) 
((5)  Inhalation  of  lead  dust  io  cloth  maDufactories.     ("  Lancet,"  Dec* 

24th,  18B4,  p.  733.) 
ir)  Glasks  making.     ( "  Lancet,"  Sept  4th,  1852,  p.  214.) 
{i)  Sealing-wax  making  (carbonate  and  chroniiite  of  lead  being  used 

as  colors).     ("  Lancet,"  Sept.  4th,  1852,  p.  214.^ 
(«)  House  painting.     ("  Lancet,"  Aug.  15th,  1868,  p.  215 ;  June  5th, 

18G9,  p.  779;  August  2d,  1873,  p.  146.) 
(C)  Lead  soldering.     ("  Lancet,"  Sept.  4ih,  1852,  p.  214.) 

Three  curious  cases  are  recorded  of  lend  poisoning  in  persons  engaged 
in  an  underground  kilchen  of  the  London  Railway  Terminus,  where  leaden 
pipes  were  used  for  the  conveyance  of  the  steam. 


C.   Wliere  the  lead  has  been  applied  exterrutlly, 
1.  Various  trades  and  businesees. 

(o)  White  lead  grindei-s.  Since  the  system  of  {rrinding  under 
instead  of  as  formerly,  in  a  dry  state,  has  been  introduced, 
number  of  cases  of  poisoning  from  this  cause  has  much  dimin- 
ished. (See  a  fatal  case,  "  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Nov. 
26th,  1864,  p.  569. ) 

(/S)  Plumljers,  painters,  lead-pipe  makers,  and  workers  in  lead  mines* 
C  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Nov.  28th,  1868,  p.  611.) 


CHRONIC    LEAD   POISONING. 


191 


r 


(;»)  Manufftcturers  nf  gltized  cards  (lead  for  this?  purfvose  h  not  used 
now,  l>ecaui*e  the  cards  so  easily  turn  black).  ("  Lancet,"  Sept. 
4th,  1852, p.  214.) 

(^)  Litharge  fnaters,  pottery  worker?,  and  glassblowers. 

(<)  Workers  in  rc(i  lead.  ("Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Dec.  27th, 
1856,  p.  643.) 

(C)  The  handlin;;  of  vulcanized  rubber  colored  with  lead.  (^' Pbar- 
maceutical  Journal,"  1870,  p,  426.) 

(jj)  The  working;  in  black  plazed  cloth  (overland  cloth).  ("British 
Medical  Journal,"  Sept.  24th,  1870,  p.  325.) 

(0)  The  cleiin.«ing  and  handling:  pewter  |Kjts  (barnien");  ("Medioal 
Gazette,"  vol.  xlviii,  p.  1047;  "Lancet,''  Jan.  2Ut,  1860,  and 
Aug.  loth,  1868,  p.  2\i}],  and  cleansing;  lead  counters',  snt-h  as 
are  used  bv  fij^h mongers,  with  brine.  (^"  Guy's  Forensic  Medi- 
cine/' p.  482.) 

(O  Type  handling.  ("  Lancet,"  Sept.  4th,  1852,  p.  214.) 

(«)  Manufacture  of  origan  pipes.  (•*  Lancet,"  Dec.  3d,  1870,  p.  781.) 

(i)  Japanning.  ("Lancet,"  Aug.  I5tb,  18ti8,  p.  215.) 

(/*)  Gas  and  engine  fitting.  ("Lancet,"  June  5th,  18(i9,  p.  779; 
"Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Nov.  28th,  1868,  p.  611.) 

2.  The  use  of  hair  dyes  and  ctjsnietic«i.  ("  Pinirmaceutical  Journal/' 
Nov.  1869,  p.  304 ;  "  La'ncet,"  Sept.  4th,  1852,  p.  214.  Jan.  12th,  IHfil,  p. 
44;  "Meilical  Times  and  Gazette/' Oct.  10th,  1868,  p.  433;  "British 
Me<lical  Journal/'  Oct.  17th.  1874,  p.  513.) 

3.  The  working  in  lead  dyes.tiuch  an  chromate  of  lead.  ("  British  Medi- 
cal Journal,"  Aug.  3d,  1872,  p.  131.  Fatal  cases  recorded,  **  Medical 
Time»*  and  Gazette,"  Dec.  24th,  1864,  p.  692.) 

4.  From  the  action  of  white  leather  linings  to  bats,  which  oftea  contain 
Urge  qmintities  of  carbonaie  of  lead. 

5.  **  Aujcrican  cbtth  "  often  contains  lead. 

Of  1213  cases  of  chronic  poisoning  collected  by  M.  des  Planches,  406 
urrcd  amongst  maunfacturers  of  white  lead,  305  amongst  hoii.^je  painters, 

amongst  color-grinder?,  63  amongst  red  lead  manufacturers,  54  amongst 
Dianufactni'er^  of  common  earthen  pottery,  52  amongst  type-founders,  47 
among?t  carriage- pa  inters,  35  amongst  lapidaries,  33  amongMt  ornamental 
painters,  and  the  remainder  amongst  a  larg«  number  of  trades. 

The  fact,  then,  is  this,  that  in  whatever  form  lead  be  constantly  or  habit- 
ually applied  to  the  body,  whether  it  be  the  inhalation  of  the  fomes,  or  it« 
accidental  administration  with  foods  (see  a  s«frics  of  eases  recorded  l>y  Dr. 
Taylor,  of  Guildtord,  "  Lancet,"  March  19th,  1870,  p.  428),  or  its  exhibi- 
tiou  as  a  medicine,  either  given  iuterouUy,  or  applied  externally  as  tin 
unguent  (us  t^.^j,,  to  piles  or  t*ore  nipplejj),  the  symptoms  of  chronic  lead 
poisoning  may  bo  set  up.  It  has  been  stated  that  the  women  in  factories 
are  not  so  easily  affected  by  lead  a.^  men  ("  Lancet/'  Oct.  4lh,  1856.  See 
aJi^  Lecture  by  Sir  J.  Aldersou,  "  Lancet,"  July  24th,  1852,  p.  98). 

Stfmptomit  of  Chronic  Lead  Poisoning. 

The  syraptonifl  raav  be,  and  ot^en  are,  slow  in  their  progress.  Obstinate 
constipation  and  indigestion,  with  an  intense  n>eling  of  depression  may  be 
**  the  patient  at  first  con^plarns  of  Then  there  tbllows  in  due  course  a 
of  appetite,  an  unrelicvable  thirst,  a  constant  unpleasant  metallic  taste, 
ftod  an  extreme  fetor  of  the  breath.  The  countenance  becomes  dull  and 
beavy,  and  appears  anxious.  There  is  rarely  any  fever,  and  the  pulse  is 
uaily  oatural.     The  respiration  is  often  rapid.     There  is  frequently  great 


192 


CHRONIC    LEAD   POISONIKt 


abdomiual  hiirtiness  ami  pain,  relieved  by  prea.<u re,  either  at  the  pit  of 
stomach,  ubtmt  the  navel,  or  in  the  regitiu  uf  ihe  colou  (cofk),  the  paiu 
crenaiug"  in  inteosity  as  the  case  proij^resges.  The  navel  will  ofleo  be  no- 
ticed to  be  drawn  inwarils.  Obstinate  conatipation  is  a  common  symptom, 
or  if  the  bciwels  at;t,  the  motions  are  passed  with  pain  and  are  dark*colored, 
from  sulphidt'  of  lead  being  formed.  There  m  usually  but  little  urine 
pa^edp  and  a  difficuUv  in  past^ing  it.  In  the  female  vaginismus  is  a  com- 
mon symptom.  I>r.  hoi|ue  as'^ert*?  that  slow  lead  poisoning,  whether  iu 
the  father  or  the  mother,  predisposes  to  miscarriage,  and  often  producer 
convulsions,  idiocy,  imbecilily,  and  epilepsy  iu  the  children  i"  Medical 
Times  and  Gazette,"  Aug,  IHtJO,  p.  lt>7).  iloreover,  iu  chronic  saturnine 
jwisoniug  a  peculiar  delirium,  ei^pecially  occurring  of  a  night  (delirium  of 
dread),  is  not  uncommon  ("  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Feb.  27lh,  18»j9, 
p.  222),  The  case  may  terminate  favorably  without  any  furiher  bad 
8ymptoi«fj,  whilst,  sometinie^,  a  form  of  apoplexy  is  set  u[»  which  rapidly 
proves  fatal  with  coma  and  convulsions. 

But  far  more  commonly  Lead  Pnljiif  manifesUs  itself.  We  are  told  that 
paralysifi  is  commoner  in  boys  and  girl?,  and  colic  in  aduhi«.  Ijcad  palsy 
may  occur  after  a  single  attack  of  chronic  lea<l  pjisoning,  but  it  is  mom 
frecpiently  the  rej*ult  of  a  succesj^iou  of  attacks,  wbil!<t  occayioually  it  comes 
on  wilhout  t>eing  preceded  by  any  attack  at  alL  It  i»  to  be  particularly 
uotetl  that  the  upper  extremitie.*,  and  ei^peciaUy  the  extensor  musclei*,  ar« 
those  most  commonly  attacked,  and  that  the  muscles  which  are  the  first  to 
lo&e  powtr  and  wa-ste  away  are  the  extensor  mustdes  of  the  hand  and  fore- 
arm. And  this  is  the  history  of  "the  dropped  hand"  of  chronic  lead  poi- 
fioniug. 

But  we  have  yet  to  notice  the  great  diagnoiilic  sign  of  saturnine  poison- 
ing, a  sign  that  may  be  dijjcovered  when  the  cause  of  the  patient's  illness 
is  often  neither  suspi^cted  by  the  patient  nor  his  tViends;  that  is,  the  hiue 
line  iu  the  gums  arouufl  the  margin  of  the  teeth.  It  is  rarely  absent,  and, 
as  a  rule,  is  a  very  early  symptom.  Dr.  Fleming  records  a  case,  however, 
which  is  worth  noting,  of  lead  (M>isoning  occurring  in  an  infant  before  it 
had  any  teeth,  and  in  this  case  no  blue  line  was  apparent  in  the  gums 
(*'  British  Medical  Journal,"  Jan.  14th,  1865,  p.  27 ), 

This  blue  line  is  not  due,  as  some  have  supp*>.sed,  to  a  deposit  of  the 
metal  on  the  epithelium  cells,  but  to  the  formation  in  the  minute  capilla- 
ries of  the  gums  of  a  sulphide  of  lead,  produced  by  the  action  of  suiphu- 
retted  hydrogeu  derived  fr*ini  the  fluids  of  the  mouth,  on  the  lead  cir- 
culating in  the  capiliaries.  If  the  blue  line  be  examined  with  a  highly 
magnifying  lens,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  capdlariea  are  dotted  with 
blackish  gnitiule.**. 

The  subject  of  chronic  Iwid  poipouing  has  been  of  late  carefully  inves- 
tigated by  Heubel  ('*  Virchow  nnd  Hirsch's  Jahresber,"  1871,  vol.  i,  p. 
316).  The  boned  in  tlicst'  casc^  were  found  to  contain  the  most  lead,  theo 
the  liver  and  kidneys.  The  muwles,  blood,  and  intestines  contained  lesa 
than  other  parti^,  even  than  the  brain  and  spinal  cortl.  He  denies,  there- 
fore, what  Ilenle  assert,'^,  that  lead  has  a  special  affinity  for  muscle,  or  that 
the  poison  exerts  a  spec  i  tic  action  on  the  pale  and  striated  muscular  fibre*; 
nor  does  he  consider  that  the  colicky  pains  are  due  to  pre:isnre  of  the  con- 
tracted muscular  fibres  on  the  ends  of  the  .^lensory  nerves*.  The  conatipa- 
tiou  and  diminution  of  urine  he  attributes  to  abnormal  irritation  of  the 
f»planchnic  nerve ;  whilst  the  muscular  atrophy  he  traces  to  the  general 
affinity  of  the  nerve  tissue  for  the  poison. 

Iodi4le  of  Potassium  is  reganled  by  many  as  the  great  remedy  in  chronic 
lead -poisoning.  It  should  be  given  in  d(^ses  of  from  five  to  ten  grains  three 
timea  daily.     There  is,  however,  strong  reason  to  doubt  whether  this  treat 


\ 


ACTION    OF    WATER    ON    LEAD. 


193 


tiicnt  is  always  so  successful  as  many  seem  to  suppose.     Soluble  sulphates 
(emlpliate  of  magDesia)  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid  (first  suggesterl  m  1831 

^by  M.  GeudriD )  »eem  the  most  efficacious  treatment  under  ordiaary  dr- 
cumstances.  The  use  of  purgatives  mixed  with  aoodynes,  as,  for  example, 
opium  and  castor  oil,  ha.^  proved  very  useful.  Some  recnmmeod  a  full 
do^  of  a  laxative  salt  to  be  given  tirst,  followed  in  an  lionr  by  the  opium. 
fjn  severe  cases  crotou  oil  has  been  found  of  service.  Mercury  given  to 
■llivation  has  been  said  to  have  relieved  the  colic  ivheu  other  things  failed, 
l)ui  the  authors  consider  this  to  be  bad  practice. 
In  the  advanced  Btate  of  the  disease,  when  the  dropped  hand  is  the 
proiuitient  symptom,  the  patient  must  entirely  gi\»e  up  buainesa,  take  con- 
stant exercise  in  the  opeij  air,  and  be  alluvvecl  a  generous  diet.  Friction 
and  electricity  may  be  used  with  advantage,  and  strychoia  given  internally 
ha<?  proved  beoeficiaL 

Once  a  patient  has  sufleretl  from  lend  poisoning,  the  chances  are  that,  if 
he  is  exposed  to  similar  condilionSj  he  will  have  a  repetition  of  the  disease. 
The  prophylactics,  therefore,  are  a  matter  of  great  importance. 

1st,  And  above  all,  great  cit^anfiufff/t  must  be  observe*!.  Workmen, 
unfortunately,  are  not,  as  a  rule,  very  clean.  Frequent  bathing  and  wash- 
ing with  soap,  the  use  of  sulphurous  baths,  rinsing  the  month  out  from 
time  to  time  and  combing  the  hair  thoroughly,  should  never  be  neglected. 

2dlv.  The  clothes  of  workmen  sfiouid  not  be  made  of  imnfieii  mate  rial, 
but  or  compact  linen  ;  these  should  be  washed  frequently  and  changed  for 
other  clothes  upon  leaving  the  workshop.  A  cap  should  be  worn  whilst 
at  work. 

.'>dly.  Ko  incaU  or  food  should  be  allowed  to  be  eaten  in  the  workshop. 
Before  eating,  the  hands  should  be  welt  washed,  the  nails  cleaned,  and  the 
teeth  brushed. 

4th ly.  The  diet  sliould  be  easily  digestible.  Vinegar,  sour  beer,  and 
tart  wines  (*uch  as  are  often  drunk  on  the  Continent)  should  be  avoided. 
Fatty  fotKls  are  said  to  be  good. 

5tidy.  Liel»Jg  and  M.  Gendrin  advise  that  lemonade,  or  sugai-ed  water 
acidulated  with  sulphurii*  acid,  should  be  provided  for  the  work-people  as 

I     a  be^-erage  during  work  hours. 
6thly.  The  workshop  nrust  be  well  ventilated  with  free  currents  of  air, 
BO  ujs  t*»  carry  away  floating  lead  particles.     All  the  operations  of  grinding 
ID  "white  lead  factories"  shotihl  be  conducted  under  water. 

7lhly.  At  the  very  first  indication  of  lead-poisoning  the  work  must  be 
discontinued,  and  proper  treatment  at  once  adopted.  Medicine  should^  in 
all  cuse-s,  be  occasionally  taken  by  the  workmen,  even  when  well^  in  order 
tu  prevent  constipation;  and  for  this  purpose  sulphate  of  magnesia  is  to 

the  preferred  to  all  other  purgatives. 
■  Action  of  Water  on  Lead. 

It  is  of  importance  here  that  we  should  consider  carefully  the  action  of 
water  on  lead  in  connection  with  the  ImportAnt  medical  question  of  chronic 
lead'poisoniug. 
And  note — 
Iflt.  That  pure  distilled  water,  freed  from  any  dissolved  gases  by  boiling 
^d  excluded  from  contact  with  air,  has  no  action  whats<>ever  on  lead. 
P  2dly.  If  the  distilled  water  containing  it-*  customary  gases  he  brought 
into  contact  with  lead,  the  surface  of  the  water  not  being  exposed  to  the 
air,  the  lead  soon  becomes?  dull  and  white,  but  the  action  of  the  water  on 
the  lead  is  very  temporary  and  limited. 


104 


ACTION    OF    WATER    ON    LEAD. 


Sdly.  If  distilled  water^  or  any  pure  water,  such  as  raiu-Wftt4?r, 
water,  or  the  water  of  ^ome  rivt^Ti^  ami  spring?,  be  allowed  to  act  U|k>!i 
in  tlie  pre.'^nee  of  air,  the  antion  U  energetic,  and  the  lead  is  certain  to  he 
more  or  less  dtj^solved.  The  chemical  process  whereby  this  is  eflTecled  is 
inipurtant.  An  oxide  of  the  lead  is  formed.  This  ia  slightly  Mdnble  in 
water.  The  solution  then  absorbs  carbouif  acid  from  the  air.  The  carbonic 
acid  precipitates  the  lead  in  jjreat  purt  from  the  water  as  a  hyd rated  oxy- 
carbonate  (PhO,  H/J,  PbCO^ ).  When  this  is  precipitated  the  water  dis- 
solves  fre*h  oxide,  which  is  again  precipitated  by  the  water  absorbing  fresh 
carbonic  acid,  and  so  on.  Rain-water,  therefore,  collected  in  leaden  pipes 
from  the  roofs  of  houses  is  not  unlikely  to  be  seriously  coiitaminated  with 
lead. 

4thly.  Certain  circumstances  modify  the  action. 


n 


(a)  Circumstances  increasing  the  corrosive  action  of  water  on  lead 
Such  for  example  aa  the  preseDce  in  water  of  chlorides,  Dttrates,  and 

nitrites. 

(/?)  Circumstances  decreasiiiff  the  corrosive  action  of  water  on  lead. 

Such  as  the  presence  of  sulphates,  phosphates,  and  carbonates.  And 
ft>r  this  reason  a  hard  water,  so  far  as  lead  is  concerned,  is  a  safe  water.  1 
part  of  sulphates  in  5000  parts  of  water  interferes  with,  if  not  entirely  pre- 
vents the  action  of  the  water  upon  lead,  A  water,  such  tts  is  si.ip[died  to 
the  city  of  Londim,  tif  twelve  or  thirteen  de^^rees  of  hardness  before  and 
three  degrees  after  boiling,  is  absolutely  without  sohitive  power  on  lead, 
lo  nearly  all  town  waters  the  amount  of  carbonate  of  lime  present  ia  sutii- 
cient  to  prevent  injurious  action.  A  film  of  insoluble  ba^ic  carbonate  is 
formed,  an<l  bein^  once  formed  protects  the  lead  from  further  corrosion. 
Spring  waters  may,  as  a  rule,  be  considercil  without  action  on  lead  at  all 

A  little  vegetable  matter  in  water  i^  said  to  act  as  a  preservative,  as  ia 
the  Scoteh  lake  waters,  where  an  insoluble  lining  to  pipes  and  cisterns  is 
formed  by  its  combination  with  the  lead  oxide. 

Othly.  The  practical  conclusions  to  be  drawn  from  these  facts  are  that 

(a)  Lead  should  not  be  used  at  all  for  the  storage  of  water.  Cisterns 
should  be  made,  if  required,  of  slate.  It  is  better,  however, 
not  to  store  water  in  private  houses  at  all.  The  distilled  waters 
of  aromatic  plants  sihonld  never  be  kept  by  druggists  in  leAdeti 
vessels,  as  this  may  be  a  cause  of  accident. 

(ii)  Iron  or  earthenware  pipes  for  conveying  water  are  preferable  to 
lead. 

(y-)  No  pump  should  have  a  lead  cover,  as  the  water  that  rises  hv 
evaporatiim  ia  very  pure  and  therefore  freely  dissolves  lead. 
This,  dropping  down  into  the  pump,  may  serve  to  coutamiuate 
the  water  of  the  well. 

(3)  The  M^e  of  tinned  pipes  i?  objectionable.  If  the  layer  of  tin  ia 
not  perfect  in  every  point,  a  galvanic  action  is  likely  to  be  i*et 
up  and  the  solution  of  the  lead  hastened  accordingly.  The 
solder,  moreover,  used  in  leaden  cisterns  may  by  galvanic  ac- 
tion assist  the  solution  of  t!ie  lead.  Even  impurities  in  the 
lead  itself  may  in  a  similar  manner  act  injuriously. 

6thly.  To  test  whether  a  water  has  any  action  upon  lead,  lhori>ughl}r 
clean  some  stri|)s  of  lead  Ijy  scraping  them  with  a  piece  of  glass,  ami  place 
them  in  a  tumbler  full  of  water,  allowing  the  whole  to  be  freely  exfK>seti 
to  the  Jiir.  At  the  end  of  three  days  remove  the  pieces  of  lead  and  paa6 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  through  the  water  and  observe  whether  any  black- 


I 

i 


i^CTlON   OF    ACIDS    ON   LEAD. 


195 


ening  of  the  water  results.     The  change  of  color  is  best  seen  by  staudiog 
the  glass  oa  a  piece  of  white  paper  in  a  good  light. 

Aetim  of  Acids  on  Lead. 

It  is  iDiportant  to  notice  the  action  of  acida  on  lead. 

L  Sulphuriri  Acid, — A  trace  of  sulphuric  acid  added  to  distilled  water 
?atly  decreases  }t»  solutive  power, 

*2,  Hydf'orhhric  Acid. — One  part  in  3000  of  water  largely  increases  the 
solvent  power  of  the  water. 

3.  Acetic  Acid. — One  pnrt  in  10,000  of  water  largely  increases  the  sol- 
vejit  action,  provided  a  free  supply  of  air  be  niaintaiued. 

4.  Citric  Acid  increases  the  solvent  action,  but  to  a  lesser  degree  than 
acetic  acidL 

5.  Tartaric  Acid  also  increases  the  solvent  action,  but  to  a  lesser  degree 
than  citric  acid. 

6.  Maiic  Acid, — One  part  in  5000  of  water,  if  allowed  to  be  in  contact 
with  lead  for  one  hour,  will  show  a  marked  reaction  with  sulphuretted 
hydrogen. 

This  action  of  acids  on  lead  will  serve  to  explain  some  of  the  evil  effects 
that  have  resulted  from  the  storage  of  various  articles  of  food  In  leaden 
vessels  or  in  dishes  glazed  with  lead.  For  example,  milk  that  has  been 
kept  in  glazed  earthenware  piin.^  has  been  a  causae  of  lead  poison Jug-  Rum 
beiug  preserved  in  leaden  vessels  was  proved  to  have  produced  an  epidemic 
colic  in  Jamaica.  Wine  being  placed  iti  bottles  where  lead  shot  had  been 
used  for  cleaning  the  bottle,  and  the  shot  not  entirely  removed,  has  been  a 
cauMe  of  accident;  whilst  the  lead  colic  that  at  one  time  was  so  common 
in  Devonshire  was  clearly  traced  to  the  contamination  of  the  cider  with 
lead,  and  that  not  merely  caused  by  the  addition  of  a  lead  salt  in  order  to 
correct  aridity^  hut  to  its  coulact  with  metallic  lead  in  the  up[taratus  used 
in  the  tniinufacture. 

And  here  it  may  be  mentioned  that  wines  were  formerly  much  adulter- 
ated with  lead  for  the  purpose  of  correcting  their  acidity.  The  "CW/ca 
/^Wo/ii/m"  derives  its  name  from  the  sixteenth  century  outbreak  of  colic 
at  Poitou,  which  raged  for  sixty  and  more  years,  brought  about,  it  is  be- 
lieve<l,  by  such  admixture.  This  method  of  sweetening  wincii  is  not  adopted 
Dowarlays,  but  the  acetate  of  lead  has  been  und  is  still  used  for  the  purpose 
of  clarifying  not  only  wines  and  spirits,  but  also  sugar. 

Post-mortem  Appearances. 

Often  in  an  acute  case  no  well-marked  appearances  have  been  discov- 
ered. At  other  times  more  or  less  inflammation  of  the  intestinal  tract  has 
been  observed,  8<unetimes  the  stomach  has  appeared  white,  as  if  corroded 
by  the  jHjison.     Tlie  intestines  have  generally  been  found  coutnicted. 

As  regftrils  chronic  cases  there  is  nothing  delinite  to  be  recorded,  save 
the  constriction  and  cimtraulitjn  of  the  large  intestines,  and  the  llabby  and 
whitish  appearance  of  the  muscles  specially  atfected.  They  may  even  be 
retluced  to  the  general  aspect  of  while  fibrous  ti.'^iie.  In  cases  where  con- 
vulsions have  preceded  death,  no  special  morbid  appearances,  such  as  we 
should  cxj>ect,  have  been  discovered  in  the  heatl. 

M.  Taotjuerel,  atler  an  elaborate  inquiry  into  the  post-raortem  appear- 
ances of  lead  poisoning,  conciudes  that  the  pathological  phenomena  are 
not  caused  by  such  anatomical  changes  as  are  cognizable  by  the  senses. 


LEAD. 


Tests, 

1.  Sulphuretfed  Hydrogen. 
Givea  in  neutral,  acid,  or  alkaline  ftolutions*  a  black  precipitate  (Pb8V 

In  very  ililute  solutions  the  precipitatian  of  the  e<i)Iphide  of  leail  may  he 
eon&idemhly  aided  by  heat.  The  precipitate  la  insoluble  in  caustic  alka- 
lies or  in  dilute  mineral  aeid^».     It  is  soluble  in  hot  hydrochloric  acid. 

To  further  test  the  precipitate,  boil  k  in  dilute  nitric  acid  for  fifteen 
minuter  (one  of  acid  to  four  of  water)  and  filter.  Test  the  Bltrate  for  lead 
aB  follows: 

(a)  Evaporate  a  drop  of  the  solution  to  dryness,  and  so  obtaiD  slender 

prismatic  crystals  of  nitrate  of  lead. 
(fi)  Iodide  of  potaxjtitim  gives  a  yellow  preci pittite  (vide  2\ 
(/)  Cltromate  of  Potmh  gives  a  bright  yellow  precipitate  (vide  6). 
(9)  Dilute  iulphuric  acid  gives  a  whit©  precipitate  [vide  3). 

2.  Iodide  of  Potasgium. 

Gives,  in  solutions  neither  very  acid  nor  alkaline,  a  bright  yellow  pre- 
cipitate (Pbl,)  insoluble  iu  excess  of  the  iodide;  soluble  in  caustic  potash, 
formini^  a  clear  solution,  as  well  at*  in  nitric  and  hydrochloric  acids;  spar- 
ingly .■'oUible  in  cold  water;  soluble  to  a  slight  extent  in  boiling  water, 
from  which  it  is  reprwipitiiled  on  cooling  in  golden  six-sided  scales.  It 
18  less  soluble  in  water  coutaiuing  iodide  of  pota^^siuiu  than  it  is  iu  pure 
water. 

3.  Sulphuric  Acid  and  the  Soluhlt  Sulphaies. 

Give  a  white  heavy  precipitate  of  sulphate  of  lead  (Pb80j>  which  to 
dilute  solutions  suh?iidesi  «iomewhat  slowly. 

The  precipitate  is  insoluble  in  dilute  nitric  acid,  but  is  sobible  in  boil- 
ing hydrochltjric  acid  htkI  iu  a  large  excess  of  potash  and  soda. 

(Note. — Sulphuric  acid  also  pi-ecipiuites  baryta  and  stroulia,  but  PbSO, 
may  be  known  either  by  it.s  turning  black  when  touched  with  sulphide  of 
animoniuni,  or  when  mixed  with  carbonate  of  soda  and  heated  on  charcoal 
with  the  blowpipe,  by  its  yielding  a  globule  of  metallic  lead.) 

4.  Hifd  rock  forte  Acid  arjd  Solubie  OilomdcM. 

Give  a  white  precipitate  with  strong  solutions  of  lead  salts,  the  precipi- 
tate being  sparingly  soluble  in  water  (I  in  120),  but  soluble  in  hot  hydro- 
chloric acid. 

(Note. — Hydrochloric  acid  also  gives  a  white  precipitate  with  solutions 
of  silver  and  suboxide  of  mercury.  Both  of  these  are  quite  insoluble  in 
water.     The  one  may  be  known  from  the  other  as  follows: 

Add  to  the  precipitate  a  solution  of  ammonia. 

The  Lend  Chloride  is  insoluble  and  is  not  altered  in  color. 

The  Slieer  Ckhride  is  perfectly  soluble. 

The  Mercuroits  Chloride  turns  black.) 

5.  Zine  TeM  (the  Lead  tree). 

(a)  Susf)^nd  by  a  thread  of  silk  a  piece  of  pure  zinc  in  a  lead  aolution, 
when  metalltc  lead  will  be  deposited  upon  the  zinc. 

(,3)  Put  the  lead  solution  into  a  platinum  capsule^  acidulate  it  with 
acetic  acid,  and  touch  the  platinum  through  the  lead  solution  with  a  piece 
of  zinc,  when  metallic  lead  will  be  thrown  down  on  the  phitiimui,  and  may 
be  tested  accordingly. 


TESTS    FOR    LEAD. 


197 


I 

I 


6*  Chromate  of  Potash. 

Gives»  in  neutral  solvition^,  a  bright  gamboge-yellow  amorphous  precipi- 
tate of  Chromate  of  Lead,  which  is  iu^vlubJe  iu  acetic  acid,  is  very  soluble 
ID  caustic  potash,  and  is  blackened  when  acted  upon  by  sulphide  of  am- 
monium, 

7.  Oxu laie  of  A m m onia . 

Gives,  in  neutral  solutions,  a  white  precipitate  of  oxalate  of  lead,  which 
is  soluble  in  nitric  acid,  insoluble  in  acetic  acid,  blackened  by  isiulph!de  of 
anmioniunjj  aud  yields  a  metallic  bead  when  heated  on  charcoal  with  the 
blowpipe. 

8.  Alkaline  Carbonates. 

Give  a  white  amorphous  precipitate,  insoluble  in  excess  of  the  precipi- 
tant, but  soluble  iu  potash  and  soda  and  iu  nitric  and  acetic  acids. 

9.  Lead  solutions  also  give  white  precipitates,  with  potash,  ammonia, 
and  ferrocyauide  of  potassium,  aud  a  yellow  precipitate  soluble  iu  ammo- 
nia with  ferricyanide  of  potassium. 

10.  All  load  salts  mixed  with  carbonate  of  sodium  and  heated  on  char- 
coal in  the  reducing  flame  of  the  blowpipe,  are  reduced  to  a  malleable 
metaHic  bead  of  the  metal  surrounded  more  or  le&?  by  a  ring  uf  yellow 
oxide. 

Toxic&loffieat  A  nalijsis. 

A.  (a)  In  conducting  a  toxicological  inrjuiry,  treat  the  contents  of  the 


mort 

for  s 


ach  and  any  tissues  to  be  examined,  previnus?ly  well  broken  up  in  a 
mortar,  with  sufficient  water  to  filter  caj?ily  \  Hcldulate  with  nitric  acid,  boil 
for  a  few  minutes,  titter,  and  treat  the  tiltrate  with  washed  sulphuretted 
hydrogen. 

But  it  rauet  not  be  forgotten  that  the  lead  salt  may  be  present  in  an  in- 
soluble form  from  its  having  been  precipitated  either  by  the  several  anti- 
dotes administered,  or  by  the  casein,  albumen,  etc,  normally  present.  Pro- 
ceed now  as  follows : 

ip)  Incinerate  all  the  materials  on  the  filter- paper  in  a  porcelain  cap- 
«ule.  Dissolve  the  ai*h  by  heat  in  dilute  nitric  acid,  filter,  an<l  pass  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen  through  the  tiltrate. 

The  black  precipitate  must  now  be  proved  to  be  lead  by  the  several  tests 
already  described. 

If  an  alkaline  sulphate  haa  been  given  as  an  antidote,  a  white  precipi- 
tate of  sulphate  of  lead  may  be  found  in  the  stomach.  This  should  be 
collected,  boiled  in  pate  caustic  |K>tash  (taking  care  it  is  itself  free  from 
lead),  and  the  solution  tinted  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

B.  The  contents  of  the  stoniucb  aid  the  tissues  may  be  boiled  with  a 
little  carbonate  of  swla,  and  filtered.  Add  a  little  acetic  acid  to  the 
rc!:>iduc  on  the  filter,  and  wash  with  water.  Put  these  w'a.shings  and  the 
filtered  liquid  together,  pass  sulphuretted  hydrogen  through  it,  collect  the 
sulphide,  and  weigh. 

(C.)  The  process  of  Fresenius  and  also  Dialysis  have  been  recommended 
by  some  for  the  recovery  of  the  poison. 

(D.)  In  the  case  of  sweetmeats  suspected  of  being  colored  with  lead, 
slightly  moisten  them  with  water  aud  put  them  on  a  plate,  placing  in  the 
centre  a  little  capeule  coutaiuiDg  a  drachm  or  two  of  sulphide  of  ammo- 
nium, and  cover  the  whole  over  with  a  tumbler.  If  lead  be  present  the 
sweetmeala  will  after  a  short  time  be  found  to  be  blackened  by  the  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen  evolved. 


198 

(E. )  Tti  examine  water  for  lead,  two  clear  wliite  pint  bottles  should  be 
taken  aud  filled  with  the  water  to  be  exaiuined.  Through  the  one  washed 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  shtjiild  be  passed  ii>r  some  time,  and  the  color 
should  then  be  examined,  by  eompariyoii  with  the  water  in  the  other  bottle 
ill  a  good  light,  to  see  whether  auy  blackening  effect  has  been  thereby 
produced. 

Q ua ntitaHve  E$timatio n . 

To  estimate  lead  quantitatively  we  precipitate  it  as  a  sulphide: 

If  a  liquid,  evaporate  to  drynesi*,  expose  to  a  red  heat  with  charcoal 
carbonate  of  soda  (black  tiux),  di^olve  in  nitric  acid,  dilute^  ueu trails 
with  animooia  and  precipitate  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  collect,  dry,! 
and  weigh* 

HX)  grains  of  PbS  =   93.31  of  PbO  (Litharge). 
"     =  107.53  of  PbCO,. 
"     ==138.49  of  Pb2N0,. 
"  "     =  158.37  of  crystallized  acetate  of  lead. 

10€  grains  of  PbSO,  =  VI'j.Qi)  of  acetate  of  lead. 


Qisea  of  Poiaohinff  bt/  the  Salt*  of  Lead. 

(L)  ACirrATE  OF  EiEAD. 

CASE  1.— "Lancet,"  August  iitb,  giid  Miiy  f.th.  1»49.  p.  'im  <r>r.  NorrU).    The  Stourbrtdfc 
Thirif  poduds  of  actifjilt!'  of  lea<1  hy  uiUt»k«  for  nlum  mixed  with  Bcventr  or  right  j  sacks  of  com. 

Sympl(im4.—iitr  i]e«lh».    Blue  line  obserred  in  guni»  In  nearly  alJi  (he  cases  (over  oDe  hundred  aAd 
tirenly);  sallvatloii  In  several  caies;  pains  In  Lbc  loins  very  frequent. 

JKMii/t— RecoTcry. 

CA8E  2.—"  Medical  Time*  and  Ga«eUe,"  .March  2aih,  ISSft,  p.  286  (Dr.  Learml),    Male.    Om 
dissolved  In  water. 
Sifmpt^mt.—V omhiug  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  und  purging  in  three-quarters;  coDstipaliun. 
MaulL— Recovery. 

CASE  3.-^"  Medical  Tiran,"  1>ee«nibQr  '2(>ih,  IRIO,  p,  ]i%    Fi;ni»t«.    Abont  six  hundred  graina, 
JSym^Oftir.'Im mediate  fainting,  coQvuUionB,  and  TORildnK;  a  IsrKeMaantltf  «f  urfnewadpoafe 
and  found  hy  Orflla  to  contain  a  large  quantity  of  lead.     No  e«rfbral  syuiptomi  or  uumbntiaa. 
Remit. — Kecorerj, 

CASE  4.— " Medltal  Times,"  Soptember  lath.  1865,  p.  471.    Female:  fljl.24.    Shi. 
SjiwiyAxpM.— ItnfDediate  harniug  pain  in  stomach,  and  skkneu;   mouth  became  white; 
pultaled  violently. 
RauU. — Rt-covery. 

CASE  .■>,—" Prorlnclal  Medical  Jonrnal,"  April,  IH(\  ifMr.  Gorrlnge).    (1)  Female,    y. 
Sjftnptovu.—  'Vonnllnis;  pnln.    Suifbred  for  nioru  than  a  year  from  dyspepata. 
JtemlL—Hecovvry . 

CASH  6.—"  I'roviuclal  Medical  Journal,"  April,  1»46  (Mr.  Goninge).    (2)  Female.    ^J. 
JZsratf.— Rt«(j  t  c  ry . 

CASE  7.—"  Lancet,"  April  4th,  1^«,  p.  381.    81»tj  gralDi. 

.Ramff.^Reeovered  in  tbree  weeks. 

cast;  8,— "Tranaactlnna  of  thf  College  of  Physiclanii,  London,"  vol.  ill,  p.  42(5  {Sir  GeorfO  Bak«rV 
Male:  ndult:  5j,  taken  lu  twodoan. 

Symptfmtt.— Ill  flFfl  hours  great  pain  ;  romltlng  ;  delirium. 

/iAfWf .'-Heco  V  u  ry . 

CASK  9.—*'  Bulletin  de  la  8oc.  Roy.  de  MM.."  IS40,  tqI.  tI,  p.  283.    Faraole  *  adult.    1). 

StfmplomM. — No  bad  symptoms.    Lead  fo^uud  In  urine. 

JSmbI/.— It  ecorery. 

CASK  10.— "I^odon  Medleal  Repository,"  1824,  vol.  ill,  p  IT  (Mr.  lUlT). 

^■yiAMif.— Pain,  rigidity,  Qumboeas.  lasting  for  some  dayi.    At  firat  Ui«M  was  TOtuitiog 
eolle. 

iiara/f.— RceoTtrf. 


CASES    OF   POISONING    BY    LEAD. 


199 


(n.)  OOULA.RD'8  EXTRACT  iSUBACBTATB). 

CASE  II.—"  LdDWt,"  jATinary  Ulti,  JWUi  ( |ir.  Aldls).     F^-niali?:  nl.  21.    Threo-quarterB  of  ■  pint, 
Ayjvyitomt.— Grt>Atagi>ny ;  ioudcU'a  o(  bclty  dnwii  iowards;  tr«iut>liai;  or  t)»u<}«;  no  rotuiliQg  or 
purxiiig,  but  desire  to  vomit;  ureal  thirst. 
/7f»T./(,  — Recotory- 

.   v^l.  12. _«  Lancet/*  Matrh  3d.  18-T«.    Male:  »duU.    Taken,  b«lieriDg  tl  to  be  wlue. 
>.,  vi/'<um«. — On  the  third  day  sovure  colic,  lost  of  rotce,  locked  jaw,  and  coorulsluDf, 
AVirrZ/— Heath  uo  tliirU  day, 

f  A^K  tX— "Juuriial  UnlTer»«]|,"  tol.  xx,  p.  S51.    Mate:  adult.    1>o*o<7). 
-jK'n/rf<jt»M.— ik'TiTrcuIlp  on  third  day. 
ii'ejM//.— Ih-ath  Jn  tlireedays, 


(in.)  LITHAHGB. 

CA»E  K— "UoMt,"  May  24tb,  1873,  p.  733.    Fcmal«:  «t.  30.   Two  tabteipooofula  of  HlHargo  to 
brinic  on  inrosea. 
S^mtt^Mu.So  poisoDoiu  flymptotna  of  any  kind. 
UtJuU  — RecoTery, 

(17.)  BUD  LEAD. 

CASE  !«.— "Guy'»  Honpllal  Report*."  Octul/rr.  liiau.  p.  iod.    Fcmnlo:  adult,    Slj^. 
L— ^No  syuipiuiDH  for  ninv  hours. 
-R«euTiTi-d  Id  twelve  days. 
t  ASE  !«.— "  L*i»eet,"  1870.  rol  I,  pp,  428  and  493  (Dr  H.  S,  Tayluri.    A  Kertet  of  caica  caused  by 
aonie  beer  uiade  at  a  brewery  where  a  quantity  uf  red  lead  bad  b«eu  accideatally  left  in  one  of  the 
brewing  iit<>D»ila. 
BtJuJ:t,—ijuti  futal  caM. 

(V.)  CARBONATE  OF  LEAD. 

CASH  17.'"  Unect,**  October  2tlb,  iHA,  p.  144  yiir.  Saow  ^    Male :  Kt.  S.    Piece  of  wbil«  lead  sise 
of  a  luarble. 

-Had  pain  and  contlvcoew  for  three  days.    Od  the  third  day  vomlltng  came  on,    The 
bo4F ^«c*>^o ^v<^'«<l  *it^b  peiechlte;  gums  teunr  and  rerr  white.    Died  (n  tiJiiety  houra. 

i&a«/f,-'t>ralb  In  ninety  buuni. 

J^»tt-moTi^n.—Qiiant\tr  of  bUMMir  fluid  In  perfcardluni ;  Innjja  t>Qgorg<'d  ;  liver,  heart,  and  kidncyi 
tuft  aac]  flabby;  ttomacb  inlensoty  iMllaUK'd;  Intoatlnc*  nattirjiL     Lead  not  found. 

r.U'E  18.— Casper's  "^WocbefiK-hrlft,"  No,  84,1844;  "Medical  Tlmea,"  August  Mtb.  1845,  p.  S90. 
M*ln :  kL  m    Sv  lo  3tJ  id  nilxtake  fur  chalk. 

ji]ir<»|)'>nfu,— VitruUlog  aud  paina  in  a  few  houn.    Severe  thJnt  and  eousltpatlon. 

Jbfiiil.— Recovery. 

t.^E  to --'*  Medical  Tlmea,'*  February  2Sd,  1839,  p.  7M  (Mr.  B.  Crosa)     Female:  Kt.  3S,    Srj  to 

jyn»p/«m#.— t^ymptema  aet  In  In  five  houra    Salpbate  of  magneala  admlatatered. 
JbawCr— Keeovery. 

CAS£«0,— "fbrUtlaoorp-Ma^Dr.  Ogaten).    Female.    JJ. 
npiomt  —No  effect. 
.— Recovery, 
llv— "ChrlstinoD,"  p.  552  (Mr,  Croiw),     FcranK    3vJ, 

I— Violent  »yniptom«  for  eight  huitra. 
-Recovery. 


I 


t 


MANGANESE, 

(Mo  ==  55.) 

This  metal  i«  widely  diffused.  Il«  attraction  for  carbon  is  8o  very  great 
that  it  is  difficult  to  obtain  it  in  a  pure  ^!tate.  It  is  a  hard,  brittle,  gray, 
»nd  feebly  magnetic  metal.     The  mauganatt^  are  all  colored. 

Preparations  of  inanganesie  liave  been  pro|>o.se<l  and  us»etl  in  medicine. 
The  sulphate,  in  do«e^  of  from  t>0  to  120  grain??,  is  said  to  have  a  purga- 
Uto  elffct,  and  to  increase  the  excretion  of  bile.  Its  value  in  ea^ea  of 
aDBtnia  is,  however,  very  doubtful.  It  colors  the  ffeces  pink  or  golden 
yellow. 

MaDgaoe^  is  a  feeble  poieon.    A  drachm  proved  fatal  to  a  rabbit  in  an 


TESTS    FOR    MAKOAKBSK. 

hour.  Tunelre  grains  injected  idIo  the  jugular  vein  of  a  dog  killed  it  id 
five  dmjBt  the  ftooacii,  lirer,  asd  duodeoum  being  found  inflamed.  Hiine- 
feld  IboDd  nanguLic  acid  might  he  given  tn  a  rabbit  for  tvro  or  three  day«. 
IB  doKB  iff  tea  or  fifteen  grains,  without  producing  any  effect  except  an 
Miiiiawid  flow  of  uHoe.  The  liver^  however,  on  analy:$i9,  yielded  man- 
flBOCM.  Dr.  Couper,  of  Glasgow,  has  aa$erted  that  manganese  i^  an 
losidioas  painoii  and  induces  paraplegia,  whilst  on  the  otber  hand.  Dr. 
TImmimmi,  of  Glasgow,  states  that  ao  ounce  of  the  sulphate  is  a  safe  laxative^ 

Tegts. 

1.  Sulphide  of  Ammonium  gives  a  buff-colored  precipitate  (MnS),  soluble 
eyeo  in  acetic  acid. 

2.  7/*^  Alkalies  give  a  while  precipiute  of  hydrated  oxide  (MnHO,)» 
which  becomes  brown  fmm  the  formation  of  Mn^HO^.  i 

3.  Mixed  with  sodium  carbonate  and  heate<i  on  platioura-foil  in  the 
oxidizing  flame  of  the  blowpipe,  a  fusible  ma^  of  a  green  color  id  produced 
(Xa^MnOj. 

4.  Heated  io  a  borax  bead  iti  the  oxidizing  flame  of  the  blowpipe,  aj 
magnificent  amethyst-red  bead  is  formed. 

MERCURY. 

(Symbol  Hg— Atom.  wt.  200 ;  Sp.  gr.  at  0°  13.596 ;  of  Vapor  6.976 ; 

Melting  Pt.  39^  C;  B^iiling  Pt.  350°  C.) 

Mercury  is  the  only  metal  liquid  at  ordinary  temperatures.  It  is  ex»! 
tracted  from  a  red  ore  called  cinnabar  (HgS  u  It  is  attacked  by  ail  the 
haloid  elements,  and  di^^olves  most  of  the  metals,  except  iron  and  platinuftL 
It  is  dissolved  by  hot  nitric  and  sulphuric  aCids;  whilst  hydrochloric  acid, 
has  no  action  upcju  it.  It  volatilizes  at  all  temperatures  above  4°  Ceat, 
and  boiJH  at  350"  Cent.,  when  it  pase^^s  off  unchanged.  When  pure  it  is! 
not  tarnished  by  exposure  to  air,  but  if  kept  at  a  temperature  of  MOO®  it 
slowly  absorbs  oxygen  and  become.^  c«m verted  into  the  red  oxide. 

Mercury  is  not  a  constituent  of  the  human  body,  nor  is  it  a  poistm  ex- 
cept it  be(H)mes  oxidized.  If  the  vapor  be  breathed,  or  if  it  be  applied  in 
a  finely-divided  state  to  an  ulcer  or  to  the  abradi^d  skin,  or  even  to  the 
sound  skin,  as  happens  with  those  who  are  engaged  in  mining  the  metal, 
then  the  various  symptoms  indicative  %A'  mercuriiil  poisoning  mav  be  pro* 
duced  ("Lancet,'  Jan.  llth,  1H68,  p.  f}8).  In  all  these  cases,  liuwever, 
the  action  is  not  produced  by  the  pure  metal,  but  by  oxidized  pniducta. 
The  blue  pill  and  blue  ointment  of  the  Pharniacopieia,  both  of  which  are 
made  with  the  metal,  are  always  found  to  contain  more  or  less  of  an  oxide. 
Thus  the  *'  blue  ointment"  has  mure  than  once  proved  fatal  to  sheep  from 
its  being  used  as  a  wai^h  for  the  fly,  and  moreover,  no  doubt  more  or  less 
impregnates  the  fleah,  thereby  rendering  it  unfit  for  ftifhi.  In  all  samples 
of  "  Hyd.  C  Cret."  some  of  the  mercury  will  be  found  to  have  becf»me 
oxidized,  and  for  this  reason  grny  powder  is  a  somewhat  uncertain  prep- 
aration, as  the  amount  of  the  oxide  formed  varies  considerably  according 
to  the  length  of  time  it  has  been  made,  and  the  extent  to  which  it  has 
been  exposinl  to  air  and  .sunlight.  ^1 

Thi^  fact  nuiy  be  important  in  explaining  some  anomalous  cases  that  ^^ 
are  on  record  of  poisoning  from  "Hyd.  c  Cret."  and  from  other  mercurial 
preimratior»s. 

Ihe  njoHt  important  compound  of  mercury  from  a  medicolegal  point  of 
view,  is  corrosive  sublimate.  We  must  therefore  deal  with  this  in  some 
detail.     Other  preparations  have  from  time  to  time  been  used  for  criminal 


CORROSIVE    SUBLIMATE. 


201 


ifmnoms,  and  these  we  shall  briefly  notice.  We  append  a  table  of  some 
of  tiie  mercurial  salts,  many  of  whiL-b,  however,  are  of  but  little  interest 
or  ituporiance  toxicologically. 


Mercuric  Chloride,  or  Perchloride  of  Mercury  (Cor-  } 
rosive  Sublimate), ) 

Mercurous  Chloride  or  Subchloride  of  Mercury  (Cal- 
omel), .         ,         , 

Aramonio'Cbloride  of  Mercury  (White  Precipitate)i 

Mercuric  Oxide  (Red  Precipitate),  . 

Mercurous  Oxide  ( Black) 

Mercuric  Sulphate,  ,...,. 

Mercurous  Sulphate,         ..... 

Mercuric  Oxyyulphate  (Turpeth  Mineral), 

Mercuric  Sulphide  ( Vermilion), 

jEthiops  Mineral — ^Mixture  of  Sulphide  of  Mercury 
and  Sulphur,         ...... 

Mercuric  Nitrate, 

^fercurous  Nitrate,  ...... 

Mercuric  Iodide  (Red  Iodide), . 

Alercurouij  L>dide  (Green  Iodide),     .' 

Mercuric  Cyanide 

Mercurous  Cbromate 


HgCl.. 

HgCl. 

NH,Hg"a. 

HgO. 

Hg,0. 

Hg.SO, 

Hg.S«J.. 

HgAVSO,. 

HgS. 


Hg2NO,2H.O. 
HgNO.. 

Hgl. 
Hgl. 

HgCy,. 
Hg.CrO, 


( 'nrro-.n^e  Subfimnie  or  Mercuric  Chloride  (HgCl,). 
(Bichloride,  Chloride,  Oxytmiriate,  Perchloride.) 

It  is  prepared  by  subliming  a   mixture  of  common  salt  and  mercuric 

Iphate. 

'  It  13  a  powerful  antiseptic.  Wood  and  canvas  are  often  soaked  in  a  so- 
lution of  the  salt  on  account  of  its  preservative  power.  It  is  used  in  the 
preservation  of  skins^  for  the  destruction  of  vermin  in  man  and  animals, 
and  also  as  a  medicine  for  syphilis,  etc. 

It  h  met  with  both  as  a  white  powder  and  in  a  crystalline  form  (rhom- 
bic prisms),  the  crystals  being  permanent  in  the  air.  It  has  no  smell,  but 
its  taste  is  intensely  metallic.     It  has  a  specific  gravity  of  ti,6. 

Heated  on  platinum -foil  it  melts,  and  at  a  temperature  of  93.3**  Cent. 
it  Bublimee  in  the  form  of  stellate  crystals.  At  295°  Cent,  it  boil^,  no 
residue  being  left  on  the  foil.  This  complete  volatilization  is  likewise 
characteristic  of  ammouia  salts,  of  oxalic  acid,  and  of  arseuioua  acid.  Its 
solubility  in  various  liquids  is  as  follows: 

9  grains  of  corrosive  sublimate  dissolves  in  100  of  water  (10''  Cent.). 
48     "  "  "  "  100  of  water  i  100**  Cent.). 

80    •*  "  "  "  100  of  alcohol. 

35    •*  "  "  "  300  of  ether. 

1     "  "  "  "  1700  of  chiorolbrm. 

It  is  decomposed  by  the  fixed  alkalies.     It  is  not  acted  upon  by  sulphu- 
acid,  hut  is  soluble  in  nitric  and  hydrochloric  acids.     Albumen,  fibrin, 
gluten,  gelatin,  tannic  acid,  etc.,  decompose  and  precipitate  it  when 
ion.     Its  solution  or  the  crystals  forniett  by  evaporation  orsublima- 
turned  blttck  by  sulphide  of  ammonium,  i^carict  by  iodide  of  potas- 
sium, yeiU/w  by  caustic  potash  or  soda,  and  Mack  by  chloride  of  tin.     If 

14 


OP    IfBRCURIAL    Pi 


»  «r  imr  dme»  its  bulk  of  carbonate  of  ^oda  the  metal  U 
mttm  h  feebly  acid  to  litmus-paper. 

8pnpi(mi8f  Dosct  etc, 

mmmmcvie  case  of  raercurial  poisanii)g  set  in  very  Bwm, 
_  w  iaMiediatel J  afler  the  poison  has  been  swallowed,  th< 

L^^^Mft  Wi^only  a  few  mituite.^.     An  intensely  nauseous  raetal^j 
^ggf  ^gi  A  fiKT  buniiug  pain  from  tliront  to  stomach  are  the  fii 
■t^    IW  tOOfO^  and   mouth   appear  white   and   shrivelled,  as 
•mii^ m takt^htm  of  caustic  silver, and  the  face  Hushed  and  intensely' 
lWifcktr*yniptoma  ysually  obj^erved,  are  difficulty  in  breathing, 
"^    pMM,  abdominal  swelling  and  pain,  which  U  gerierallyi 
CM  pressure  (although  cnriou-^ly  pain  is  sometime:*  absentij 
tvimiting  of  white  stringy  or  bloody  mucus,  bloody  stool \ 
wv  ?kiu,  and  a  more  nr  less  complete  suppression  of  urinell 
rfimies  set5  jn  about  the  third  day,  although  in  acute  eases 
^1^  ^ ^i4  M  tovuriablc  symptom.     Death  is  sometimes  rapid  from  eol- 
1,^  jji^itiiTir  »<H\)mpanie<I  with  convulsions,  whilst  at  other  times  there 
^^^n^^ift  %m\  intense  coma  from  which  tlie  patient  never  rallies. 

f|»  iwr^iptoms  of  poisoning  by  corrosive  suhJimate  may  be  diaguosed 
|k|l^  ^MVt  of  ar^fnic  by  : 

I  l^r  commencing  sooner  after  the  poison  is  swallowed. 
V  XWlMtettselv  metallic  taste  of  corrosive  sublinuite. 
)L  TW  iiiMn9<>  burning  produced  in  the  throat  and  gullet. 
4^  tlMftWltor  frequency  of  blood  in  the  vomit  aod  stools. 

II  it  *  mort  actively  poi.«onous  drug  than  arsenic,  because  it  is  more 
■jitlihr  B      h»*  more  powerful  cliemicttl  reactions  on  animal  structures. 

t^iw  graiuH  is  the  simille^t  quantity  that  has  proved  tatal.  A  caj«e  of 
i^  Mmii^  dc«troying  lile  is  recorded.  Recovery  has  taken  place  after 
^^l«>  ^niiuf.  Cliildrcn  are  less  susceptible  to  its  action  than  adults,  the 
f^^rw  NMng  the  case  with  opium.  We  are  disposed  to  doubt,  without 
^ii^  Uuter  verification  than  we  at  present  posse.^»«,  the  stories  of  men  who 
l^;4iid  to  havt»  accpiired  a  habit  of  eating  corrosive  sublimate  until  they 
^^l^U\  lake  a  tlrarbm  of  it  daily.  8o  runs  the  story  of  the  celebrateil 
f^vk,     liw  external  ap{)lication  has  proved  fatal. 

iK'ath  htiM  been  as  ra{j)d  !is  half  an  hour,  whilst  it  has  beeD  delayed  for 
ilXliH'ii  day**     From  three  to  six  days  is  the  average. 

Dreatvtent. 

\\  hilc  of  egg  in  milk,  or  else  wheat  flour  mixed  with  milk,  should 

tdven  inimediatcfy.  The  white  of  one  egg  is  said  to  be  alvte  to  neutralil 
tatr  gruiuf*  of  corrosive  sublimate  (Dr.  Peschier).  It  has  been  stated  that 
lttt>  Miueh  alhumni  nniy  be  given,  the  compound  formed  being  soluble  in 
fone-- I"  Lancet."  May  l«tli,  1M4,  from  the  "Dublin  Journal").  The 
aulh»n'rt  iv\peiirnerit>  do  not  <'tnj(irm  this  opinion. 

N'uniitiug  •should  he  ein'ouruged  by  emetics.  A  mixture  of  iron  filiogt 
and  gold  duHt  hjis  been  recommended.  By  this  means  the  mercury  is  eaid 
hi  b«»  rwltn'tni.  Supposing  the  antidote  worth  anything,  it  is  not  often 
likely  to  be  al  hanti  wivcn  wanted,  if  salivation  is  troublesome,  gargles 
iif  ainrn  and  chlorate  of  potash  onnt  be  employed.  The  after  treatment 
will  depend  <in  the  jivniptoms,  but:  white  of  egg  in  milk  should  be  admin* 
N{4<riul  two  <»r  tlnvo  times  daily  for  some  few  weeks. 


CBEONtC    MERCURIAL    POISONINa< 


208 


Chronic  Mercurial  Poisoninff. 

The  symptoms  of  chrome  poisooin^,  known  as  shaking  pihif,  mercitriaf 
irefnor^,  etc,  occurring  in  those  euj^aged  io  baodliog  mercurial  corn  pounds, 
ur,  in  ihoee  exposed  to  the  fymes  of  mercury,  vary  M>mewhat  in  detail,  but 
are  tolerably  constant  iu  their  leading  characteristics.  The  time  when  the 
svmptoma  set  in,  is  as  variable  as  their  duration.  They  will  probably  com- 
mence by  the  person  complaining  of  debility,  nansea,  and  vomiting,  with 
frequently  recurring  colicky  pain?,  gmd  a  constant  and  diyugret'uble  coppery 
tajBte  in  the  month.  It  will  be  noticed,  moreover,  that  the  breath  of  the 
patient  U  fetid,  the  breathing  difficult,  the  act  of  swallowing  nn  cHlirt,  whilst 
there  may  be  a  constant  backing  congh  with  occasional  jipitting  of  blood. 
SiM>uer  or  later  Halivation  or  ptyalis^ni  will  become  the  prominent  symptom, 
the  tongue  and  gums  becoming  re<l,  swollen,  and  ulcerated.  It  must,  how- 
ever, be  remeuibered  that  many  things  produce  salivation  besides  mercury, 
aod  hence  we  myst  never  be  hasty  in  drawing  conclusions  from  this  5*ymp- 
tom  alone.  Bromine  (^"Edinburgh  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,"  July, 
1842),  arsenic  (*' I^oudon  Medical  Gazette,"  Hi),  antimony,  lead  (Christi- 
Bon,  p-  514),  prussic  acid  ("Medical  and  Physiologicnl  Juuruai,"  vol.  4G, 
pp.  359  and  363),  nux  vomica  ("London  Medical  Repository,"  19,  p.  44^S), 
ad  well  as  gold,  cantbarides,  digitalia,  couium,  belladonuo,  opium,  and  par- 

Iticularly  i«>dide  of  j>otassium,  have  all  been  known  at  times  to  produce  h\V\- 
vation  ("Lancet,"  8ept.  3d,  1^<42,  p.  807).  Mercurial  ptyalisra,  however, 
is  peculiar  iu  two  respect^*,  viz.,  the  extreme  ietor  of  the  breath,  and  the 
painful  sponginesa  of  the  gum.s.  If  any  C|uestion  exisitd,  however,  as  to  the 
cause  of  the  galivation,  all  doubt  can  be  set  at  re^ft  by  examining  the 
saliva,  where,  if  it  be  due  to  ufercury,  the  metal  is  ijure  to  be  discovered. 
Not  UQ frequently  has  cmterum  orh  following  some  debilitating  disease 

>it]  ill-cared  for  children,  been  explained  by  parents  as  due  to  mercurial 
salivation  ;  and  as  very  possibly  the  doctor  nmy  have  administered  a  doi^e 
of  «)me  preparation  of  mercury  as  a  mild  laxative,  the  charge  may  seem 
to  the  outride  world  to  have  sonje  weight.     A  dark  red  line  iu  chronic 

L mercurial  poisoning  may  olten  be  observed  in  the  gums,  and  aometimes 
also  a  blue  line,  not  unlike  that  prodiicc<l  by  the  action  of  lead.  This, 
however,  is  by  no  means  a  constant  symptom.  The  teeth,  too,  according 
to  Dr.  Guy,  are  often  very  brittle. 
_  Another  well-marked  symptom  of  chronic  poisoning  is  the  trembling 
kid  convulsive  movements  of  the  limbs  (m^ruriai  trt'mora),  attacking  in 
the  first  instance  the  upper  extremities,  then  extending  to  the  low^er,  walk- 
ing thereby  being  rendered  difficult.  By  leaving  off  work,  ami  by  active 
and  appropriate  treatment,  such  as  great  attention  to  cleanliness  and  the 

»  internal  administration  of  white  of  egg,  the  patient  may  poj*sibly  recover,. 
but  on  the  other  hand  severe  cases  fK-cur  where  death  results  from  an  iu- 
teode  exhaustion,  accompanied  by  gangrene  of  the  mouth  and  other  severe 
sjnaptoms. 
^  Iu  lo«^king-glas»  manufactories,  where  it  is  common  for  the  work-people 
H  to  Siuffer  from  symptoms  of  mercurial  pijtsoning,  Dr.  Meyer  recommends 
^^ga  an  excellent  prophylactic  the  sprinkling  the  workshop  every  evening 
^HChselv  with  ammonia  after  the  day's  work  is  done  ("Lancet,"  April  26th, 
^  1873,  p.  ♦iOl). 

f         We  may  further  notice  that  one  case  is  recorded  where  metallic  mercury 
was  given,  but  without  result,  to  produce  abortion  ("Lancet,"  March  8th, 
^_     1873,  p.  3^5^),  whilst  mercurial  tremors  were  produced  by  the  action  of 
the  metal. 


BPFECTB 


ErperimenU  on  Animals, 

The  experimeDts  on  aoimals  are  important,  and  may  be  thus  sunitna- 
rized; 

1.  Six  to  twenty  grains  of  corrosive  8iiblirnate  inserted  into  the  ftomaeh 
of  rabbits  and  eai5,  killed  them  in  from  five  to  twenty-five  minutt*.  iu&ieQ* 
sibilitv  being  produced  in  a  few  minutes,  aud  afterwards   couvulsiuc 
(Orfira). 

2.  The  local  action  of  the  poison  on»the  living  stomach  is  similar  to  its 
action  when  applied  to  the  dead  atomacht  the  tissue  being  rendered  thereby 
gray  aud  hrittle. 

3.  When  the  cheat  was  opened  directly  after  death,  the  heart  was  found 
motionless  or  contruL-ting  but  feebly,  whilst  the  blood  in  the  left  side  wa». 
arterial  (Sir  B.  Brodiej.  I 

4.  Doses  of  three,  iijur,  or  five  grraina  cause  death,  when  applied  to  a 

Dysenteric  symptoms  usually  occur, 


ivouudf  in  from  two  to  five  dnys, 
iuflaiiimatiou  or  even  ulceration  ol 
alter  death.     The  lungs  and  the  heart  are  generally  iuHanied  (Orlila  and 


iuflaiiimatiou  or  even  ulceration  of  the  stomach  aud  rectum  being  noticed ^H 
Smith), 


i}.  The  inflammation  of  the  hmgs  and  the  inflammation  of  the  stomach 
and  rectum  is  even  more  marked  when  the  poison  is  injected  into  the  hhnxi. 
Death  after  this  form  of  administration  is  sometimes  very  rapid  (Gaispard] 

Postmortem  Appearances. 

The  abdomen  is  generally  very  tympanitic.  The  salivary  glands  will 
be  iound  enlarged,  aud  saliva  tnckliog  from  the  mouth.  The  tongue  is. 
frequently  shrivelled,  the  papilla?  at  the  base  being  enlarged  and  verjr' 
prominent. 

The  mucous  membrane  of  the  mouth  and  throat  frequently  baa  a  gray- 
ish-white appearance,  whilst  at  other  times  it  is  found  to  be  intensely  in- 
flamed and  even  corroded.  Where  there  has  been  salivation,  the  {larts 
may  eveu  be  in  a  state  of  slough.  The  storuach  is  often  covered  with  a 
slate-colored  precipitate  of  finely  divided  mercury  (Plate  II),  or  if  putre> 
iaction  has  c<mimi;uctHl,  witli  a  black  deposit  of  the  sulphide.  Sometimes, 
however,  it  is  intensely  iufitimed,  the  iutlammation  being  greater  than  thai 
found  even  in  arsenical  pnisouijig.  Pertbration  is  rare.  The  inte^tinetl 
generally  are  much  congested,  aud  so  also  are  the  whole  urinary  organs^! 
the  bladder  being  often  empty  and  contracte<l. 

Dr.  Byassou  has  exumiued  with  great  care  the  time  it  takes  for  a  solu- 
ble mercurial  salt,  intro(]uce<i  into  the  stomach,  to  get  into  the  urine,  saliva, 
and  sweat.  Corrosive  sublimate  he  found  takes  two  hours  tf>  reach  the 
urine,  and  four  hours  to  reach  the  saliva.  He  never  found  it  in  the  per- 
spiration. Twenty-four  hours  after  it  has  been  takeu  he  regards  it*  elim- 
ination as  complete  ("Kobin's  Journal  d'Auatomie  et  de  Physiologie"). 

(See  au  extraordinary  account  of  metallic  mercury  being  found  in  tbttj 
bones  after  death  by  corrosive  sublimate,  to  such  au  extent  that  it  wi 
possible  to  shake  out  globules  of  the  metal  by  striking  the  boue  on  ihi 
table ;  "  Lancet,"  Sept.  20th,  1873,  p.  42110 

Tests. 

All  the  salts  of  mercury  are  volatile;  they  are  all  reduced  when  heated^ 
with  protochloride  of  tin,  aud  they  all  yield  a  sublimate  of  metallic  mei 
cury  when  heated  iu  a  glass  tube  with  carbonate  of  soda. 

1.  With  proto  salts,  such  as  caiorMl  (HgCl) — 


TESTS    FOR    MERCURY    SALTS. 


205 


(rt)  Potaah,  soda,  and  lime,  give  a  black  precipitate  (Hgfl). 

{ft)  Sulphuretted  Hydrogen  aud  mlphide  of  ammonium  give  a  black  pre- 

cimtate  (IlgjS). 
(/)  Ht/Jrochloric  Acid  gives  a  white  precipitate  (HgCl),  whicb  is 

turned  black  by  ammonia. 
{S)  Iodide  of  FoiaMitium  gives  a  ^reeuieh -yellow  precipitate, 
fc)  Ferrocyanidt  of  Potasifium  gives  a  white  gelaticouE  precipitate. 

2.  With  pe^rmitA,  such  as  corro«ive  mblimate  (IlgCI,)-^ 

(a)  Pidoih,  soda,  and  Hme,  give  a  bright  yellow  precipitate  (HgO). 
0)  Sulphuretted  Hydroyen  give^  first  a  white  precipitate  (especially 

marked  in  dilute  solntious),  rapidly  changing  to  black,  passing 

through  shadfi*  of  yellow,  orange,  anJ  brownish  red.     Sulphide 

of  ammouium  givee  a  black  precipitate. 
ij)  Hydrochloric  Acid  gives  no  precipitate. 
(d)  Iodide  of  PokiHsium  gives  a  yellow  precipitate,  becoming  red,  and 

being  8olnhle  in  cxceas. 
{t)  Ferrocyanide  of  Potamium  gives  a  white  precipitate,  becoming 
"^  blue. 

Te«t4  for  Corrom'e  Suhlitmde. 

Our  tests  prove.  a«f  a  rule,  dimply  the  existence  of  mercury.  By  careful 
irch  we  may,  in  some  cases,  <Ietect  in  the  stomach  and  intestines,  small 
ItDdissolved  pieces  of  corrosive  sublimate.  But  this  is  not  usual.  It  is 
well  to  remember,  moreover,  that  mercury  is  a  common  medicine,  aud 
hence  the  necessity  of  guarded  evidence,  when  a  mere  trace  only  is  dis- 
coverable. 

A.   Tejfts  for  nolid  oorroi'ive  sublimate.     Note — 

(1)  Its  crystalline  form  under  the  microscope  (Figs,  21  and  22). 


no.  21. 


Fw.W. 


CrysUlu  of  CorrtisSve  Swbliinatf  from 
an  a<|iiPou»  »iiluUon,  mugnilU'd   HO 


OysliiN  of   (.'orrosilvf    Sublimat*    from    an 
aJcolioUc  saliiUoD,  mHgnifiLsl  HO  (Uiitut^lors. 


(2)  If  a  sniall  portion  be  heated  on  ptatinum-foii  it  will  be  entirely  dia- 
ipated,  white  fumes  being  given  off 

(3)  Heated  in  a  small  tube,  a  characteristic  crystitHiue  sublimate  may 
be  obtained. 

(4)  Mix  a  small  t|uantity  of  the  salt  in  a  dry  clean  reduction-tube  with 
four  times  its  bulk  of  recently  calcined  carbonate  of  soda,  covering  the 
mixture  over  with  a  little  additional  carbonate.     Heat  the  carbonate  on 


206 


TESTS    FOl 


ihe  surface  first  uilli  a  spirU-lnmp,  and  after  this  ii<  thoroughly  heatetl 
apply  the  tieat  to  the  mixture,  when  a  globular  siubliraate  of  metallic  mer- 
cury will  be  found  to  lorru  tu  the  eool  part  tyf  the  tube, 

(0)  Break  ofl'  the  portiou  of  the  tube  i'ontaiiHiig  the  fuAed  remdue,  boil 
it  iu  a  little  water  ueidulateil  with  uitric  acid,  and  precipitate  the  cbloriue 
with  a  solution  of  uitrute  of  silver.  The  chloride  of  silver  ii?.  solul)le  in  am- 
monia, {Memo. — Test  your  carbonate  of  soda  previously,  to  pnive  ibal 
it  contains  no  chloride,;  The  renminiug  teats  are  best  applie<i  to  a  stila- 
tion  of  the  poisou. 

B.   T^Jtis  for  So!ution  of  Corrosive  SnbUtnnte. 

(1 )  Iodide  of  pofaAnhim  gives  a  yellow  precipitate,  rapidly  changioj^  to 
a  bright  scarlet  (Hgl^l,  freely  soluble  in  excess  (»f  iodide  of  potass-ium,  and 
iu  lui  extent  iu  solutii>ns  of  alkaline  chlorides.  Collect  anci  allow  the  red 
precipitate  to  dry  without  the  applit^tion  of  heat. 

('j)  Heat  a  small  portion  on  a  piece  of  white  paper,  when  the  scarlet 
precipitate  turus  yclluw^  gradually  changing  back  a^iu  to 
scarlet,  if  allowed  to  remain  on  the  paper,  or  if  rubbed  with  a 
knife. 

(i§)  Heat  a  small  |K)rtiou,  mixed  with  four  tifnes  it«  bulk  of  carlxinate 
of  8oda,  in  a  mduction-tube,  when  a  sublimate  of  metallic  mer- 
cury will  be  obtained  in  the  cool  part  of  the  tube. 

(2)  Sulphttretted  hydrogen  produces,  at  firj't,  a  white  turbidity,  which 
rapidly  cfiange^,  n^  above,  to  a  densely  hhick  precipitate  of  the  sulphide. 
Sti^jdiifie  of  amTnontum  producer  the  s^anie  black  precipitate  a^*  the  ga*.  The 
precipitate  is  insoluble  in  boihng  nitric  acid.  Collect  the  precipitate  on  a 
filter-paper,  and  dry, 

(a)  Heat  a  small  quimtity  in  a  dry  reduction-tube,  when  it  will  be 
ff)und  to  volatilize  mmpifteh/t  a  black  sublimate  being  formed. 

(^}  Heated  with  carbonate  of  soda  in  a  reduction-tube,  a  meLalHc 
sublimate  will  be  produced. 

(3)  Excess  of  potash  or  lime-water  produces  an  orange  yellow  precipi- 
tate of  the  hydrate<l  oxide,  a  reaction  comnioo  to  all  the  persalts  of  mer- 
cury. (  A  black  precipitate  18  given  with  calomel.)  Filter,  examine  the 
precipitate  and  tikrate  as  follows  ; 

(«)  Heat  the  prec! jilt  ate,  w^ien  oxygen  will  be  given  off,  which  may 
be  collected  in  a  te*i  tube  phiced  over  water,  and  tested  by  it« 
action  <ui  a  glowing  jiplintcr.  Keduced  mercury  will  be  fouod 
iu  the  tulic  ill  which  the  precipitnte  was  heated. 

(,3)  The  fiifrnfc  m  to  be  acidulated  with  nitric  acid,  and  tested  for 
chlorine  with  nitrate  of  silver. 


(4)  ProtocKioride  (if  tin  (Magpie  te^st).  (The  experiment  is  best  cou- 
ducted  in  a  watch-glasri.)  This  gives  with  corrosive  sublimate,  acidulated 
with  hydrochtoric  acid,  first  a  white  precipitate  (calomel),  afterwards 
becoming  gray,  ami  ultimately  black,  the  black  deposit  being  finely 
<livided  mercury.  Apply  heat  to  the  mixture,  pour  off  the  supernataot 
liquid,  and  buil  ihe  precipitate  with  hy<lrochloric  acid,  when  globule*  of 
metallic  mercury  will  be  obtained. 

(Memo^—Thh  te^st  is  iuterferccl  with  when  either  alkaline  chlorates  or 
free  nitric  acid  is  present.) 


TESTS    FOE    MBRCUBT    SALTS. 


207 


(5)  Acidulate  a  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate  with  a  sixth  of  its  bulk 
of  hvdnx'hloric  acid.  Put  itito  the  wliition  a  piece  of  bright  copper- foil. 
A  silver  coating  of  mercury  will  be  alter  a  time  deposited  on  the  copper 
even  in  the  cold,  the  actlou  being  aided  and  reu<lered  more  rapid  when 
heat  is  applied.  Arsenic  similarly  treated  will  tint  bo  depo.*ited  at  all  on 
copper  in  the  cold.  Remove  the  copper  slips,  wash,  and  dry  at  a  venj 
geniU  heat. 

(6 1  Place  the  slips  of  copper  iu  a  dry  tube,  and  apply  the  heat  of  a 
nrit-lamp.     The  copper  will  entirely  lose  its  silver  coating,  whilst  a  sub- 
limate of  metallic  mercury  will  fortu  in  the  tube. 

Note  respecting  this  sublimate — 

(«)  It  consists  of  perfect  spheres,  that  are  opaque  to  light  and  of  a 

silvery  white  color. 
(/t)  They  do  not  oxidize  by  successive  resubliniations. 
{y)  Di&yolve  the  sublimate  in  a  few  drop.'*  of  a  jnixture  of  nitric  and 

hydrochloric  acids,  heat  ou  a  sand-bath  to  dryness,  and  touch 

the  residue  w^ith  iodide  of  pota-ssiunij  when  it  will  turn  iirst 

yellow,  afterwards  cbangiug  to  scarlet. 

7.  Acidulate  a  few  drops  of  the  scilution  of  corrosive  sublimate  with 

hydrochloric  acid ;  place  it  on  a  piece  of  gold-foil,  or  upon  a  sovereign. 

Touch  the  edge  of  the  gold  with  a  key  or  other  steel  in^itrument,  allowing 
another  portion  of  the  key  to  touch  the  metal  through  the  liqnid,  when 
lercury  will  be  deposited  on  the  gold  as  a  bright  f^itver  i?taiu  where  the 

two  metals  meet.     This   silver  staiu  may  lie  entirely  dissipated  by  the 

application  of  heat. 

Toximhgiml  Analt/tds, 

(A.)  In  conducting  an  inquiry  in  a  ctt.*e'  of  suspected  poiaoning,  mix 
th©  contents  of  the  stomach,  together  with  the  tissues  cot  up  and  crushed 
in  a  mortar,  with  pnfficient  alcohol  to  render  HItrution  easy.  Acidulate 
them  with  hydrochloric  acid,  and  gently  warm  for  ^ome  time.  Filter  and 
test  the  filtrate  both  by  Reiusch's  test  and  by  fjolphurelted  hydrogen.  Alii 
the  materials  on  the  filter-paper  are  then  to  he  mixed  with  hydrochloric 
acid  and  water  (one  to  four)  boiled  and  filtered,  the  filtered  liquid  being 
then  similarly  examined  by  the  process  of  Heinsch. 

In  this  way  we  shall  be  able  to  prove  the  presence  of  mereury^  but  not 
of  earromve  miblimafe.  Proof  of  this,  however,  may  sometimes  be  obtained 
by  concentrating  the  conteuts  of  the  >itomach  by  evaporation,  and  shaking 
tht-m  np  with  a  large  bulk  of  ether,  in  which  corrosive  sublimate  is  very 
soluble.  The  ether  is  to  he  carefully  decanted,  distilled  off  at  a  gentle 
heat,  and  the  residue  tested  for  the  j^alt. 

^B.)  To  detect  mercury  in  the  saliva  (which  is  oue  great  means  of  it« 
elimination),  acidulate  about  two  drachms  of  the  saliva  with  hydrochloric 
acid,  and  put  into  the  mixture  a  small  piece  of  clean^  brii;ht  copper,  and 
note  whether  it  becomes  covered  with  a  silver  deposit.  The  cooper  may 
Uien  be  gently  heated  in  a  reduction-tube,  and  iu  this  way  the  metal 
obtained  and  tested  accordingly. 

(C.  >  In  examining  the  urine,  evaporate  down  about  fourteen  ounces  to 
one  ounce.  Acidulate  this  with  hydrochloric  acid,  fitter,  and  boil  the 
filtrate  with  a  piece  of  bright  copper-foil,  and  proceed  as  already  directed. 

f  D. )  In  a  case  where  arsenic  and  corrf>sive  sublimate  are  mixed  together, 
jither  the  corrosive  sublimate  may  be  separated  by  agitation  with  ether  in 
rhich  corrosive  sublimate  is  soluble  and  arsenic  is  not,  or  the  arsenic  may 

distilled  off  as  a  chloride. 


▲  SALTSId 


Br    MERCURT. 


»  liftre  oepnrred  vben  dhemicBl  ADalyae  has  failed  to  find  the 
after  dMth  fitMU  hi  exUbitiao.  Dr.  6?«»od  regards  lU  elimiua' 
OBuailj  oomplete  ereo  after  twentj-ibar  hours,  whilst  roost  experi- 

I  agree  tbat  if  a  patient  lives  for  foorteeo  ciajn  after  the  poitson  haa 
beeD  svalFowed,  tbere  will  be  bot  little  dianoe  of  fiodiog  it. 


Mercury  ia  estimated  quaotitatiirelT  as  a  sulphide. 

100  graios  HgS  —  86.2  Hg. 

=  116.81  HgO^ 
=  lOLOT  HgCI. 
=  108.42  HgH^'CL 

CalotneL    (Mercurous  Chloride.     HgCl.) 

Qilomel  may  destroy  life,  either  by  its  power^l  irritant  action,  or  by 
cauHng  gangrenous  ulceration  of  the  mouth  and  throat  from  the  excessive 
salivHtiou  it  produces.  Twenty  grains,  and  even  a  Ies«  quanCity  than  this, 
baa  produced  fatal  results.  Its  action,  as  a  poison  and  as  a  medicine,  is 
curiously  modified  both  by  disease  and  idioevncrasv.  Nor  must  we  forget 
the  possibility  that  a  trace  of  corrosive  sublimate  may  be  preseut  in  ealo- 
me],  which  at  times  h  more  than  sufficient  to  explain  its  violent  and  un- 
looked -for  action.  Mr.  Tot^will  records  cases  of  salivation  being  produced 
'  1  one  case  by  two  and  a  half,  and  in  a  second  case  by  five  grains  of  calo- 
^  lel  ("  Lancet,"  September  4th,  1841,  p.  863).  Dr.  Munk  reeorda  the 
case  of  a  woman  being  salivated  by  one  grain  of  calomel,  all  the  family 
being  equally  susceptible  to  its  influence  ("Lancet,"  January  18lh,  1840, 
p.  r»26);  whilst  another  case  is  on  record  where  two  grains  produced  sali- 
vatiou,  exfoliation  of  the  lower  jaw,  and  death  (*'  Lancet,"  November  25th, 
1837,  p.  294),  Further,  it  is  recorded  that  salivation  has  been  produced 
where  calomel  has  simply  been  applied  externally  ('*  Lancet,"  1850,  vol. 
i,  p.  195), 

Calomel  has  been  used  for  worm  lozenges,  and  death  been  caused  thereby 
('*  Medical  Times  and  Gitzette,"  April  24ih,  1858,  p.  431). 

Calomtl  h  a  heavy  white  powtler  without  taste  or  smell.  It  volatilixes 
at  115.0'  Cent,  as  an  amorphous  powder.  Unlike  corrosive  sublimate  it 
is  insoluble  in  water,  alcohol,  or  ether.  It  is  turned  black  by  caustic 
potash,  by  ammonia,  and  by  .-^ylphide  of  ammonitim.  Protxjchloride  of  tin, 
as  in  the  ca.He  of  corrosive  sublimate,  turns  it  black,  and  if  this  be  heated 
in  a  reductioQtube  with  carbonate  of  soda,  the  metal  will  be  reduced,  aud 
may  be  collected  as  a  sublimate. 

\lliitc  Pr«!tpi<erfc  ( Ammoniated  Mercury;  Ammooio-Chloride  of  Mercury, 

NH,Hg"CI). 

A  question  has  been  raised  whether  this  substance  is  a  poison,  but  there 
can  be  very  little  doubt  that  it  is  so.  Dr.  Pavy's  experiments  have  proved 
conclusively  that  it  is  far  more  powerful  iu  its  action  than  was  once  sup- 
posed. Four  or  five  grains  was  found  to  kill  a  rabbit.  The  mercury  after 
death  was  found  specially  deposited  in  the  liver. 

White  precipitate  is  prepart^d  by  adding  ammonia  to  a  solution  of  cor- 
rosive sublimate,  the  precipitate  being  collecte<l,  washed,  and  dried. 

It  is  a  white  amorphous  heavy  powder,  insoluble  in  water,  alcohol^  or 
tbef*    Dr.  Taylor  says  that  the  white  precipitate  of  the  sho|>H  frequently 


^ 


FOISONINQ    BY    SALTS    OF    MERCURY. 


209 


lins  one  or  two  per  cent,  of  corrosive  sublimate.  Heated  with  a  solu- 
tiou  of  potash,  it  gives  oft'  ammonia  vapor  which  browns  turmeric-paper, 
the  solution  turning  yellow  from  the  formation  of  the  oxiile  of  mercury. 
It  is  soluble  in  acids.  Heated  with  carbonate  of  soda,  a  metallic  subli- 
mate is  formed.  In  conductinji;  a  toxicokigical  investigation  the  organic 
fluids  and  solids  must  be  boiled  in  dilute  hydrochloric  acid,  and  filtered, 
vhen  upon  adding  some  pieces  of  bright  copper  to  the  filtrate,  metaUic 
mercury  will  be  deposited. 

^ed  Precip  itaie  (  Me  r cu  ric  Ox  i  de.     Hg  O ) . 

This  is  prepared  by  heating  mercury  exposed  to  the  air  to  nearly  its 
boiling-point,  when  oxygen  is  absorbed,  and  the  oxide  formed  ou  the  sur- 
face of  the  metal. 

It  is  used,  mixed  with  grease,  as  a  vermin-killer.  It  is  an  active  poidon, 
but  has  seldom  been  used  for  criminal  purposes. 

It  is  usually  found  in  the  form  of  shining  scales  of  a  red  color.  It  is 
insoluble  in  water,  but  soluble  in  hydrochloric  acid.  Heated,  it  iij  resolved 
into  oxygen  and  metallic  mercury » 

Turpetk  or  Turbeth  Mineral  (Mercuric  Oxysulphate.     HgjO,SOj). 

One  drachm  of  this  sail  in  one  ease  proved  fatal  to  a  boy  in  jjcven  days, 
'  in  another  case  forty  grains  proved  fetal  to  an  adult  in  eleven  days, 
le  symptoms  produced  were  those  of  an  irritant  poison.  It  is  a  heavy 
yellow  powder,  soluble  in  2000  parU  of  water.  When  heated,  fumes  of 
sulphurous  acid  are  evolved^  a  sublimate  of  the  metal  being  produced. 

Mercuric  Sulphide  (HgS). 

This  body  is  known  as  vermilion  when  iu  the  form  of  powder,  and  ci'/i- 
fMi6</f  when  in  lumps.  It  has  been  used  on  account  of  its  brilliant  tint  for 
coloring  confectionery,  wafers,  etc.,  and  also  as  a  coloring  matter  for  the 
vulcanized  rubber  which  is  largely  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  frames 
for  artificial  teeth.  Its  use  for  ilm  purpose  is  very  mucli  t(j  be  deprecated 
("Britifth  Medical  Jounml,"  September  Tith,  18t)3,  and  "  I^kdictil  Prc.Hs 
and  Circular,"  December  !Hh,  1874),  One  of  the  authors  ( Dr,  Woodman) 
has  shown  ("  Trarjsactions  of  Odontological  Society  of  Great  Britain") 
the  Rerious  results  that  may  arise  from  its  employment.  The  red  vulcanite 
contains  a  (pnintity  of  vermilion,  varying  from  33  to  3G  per  cent.  No 
doubt,  as  Orfila  pointed  out,  large  doses  may  be  given  to  dogs,  without 
poisoning  symptoms  being  induced.  From  this  he  inferred  that,  as  a  poi- 
»oD,  it  was  almost  inert,  a  conclusion,  however,  which  is  quite  at  variance 
?rith  the  general  experience  of  phy.'^icians,  when  it  is  administered  in  the 
form  of  vapor- baths  for  syphilis.  The  poisonous  action  produced  by  it  in 
the  form  of  vulcanite  teeth*plates,  may  either  be  due  to  the  formation  of 
a  small  quantity  of  corrosive  sublimate  by  tlie  action  of  the  chlorides  of 
the  saliva  and  of  food,  or  to  the  escape  of  portions  of  the  unmixed  pig- 
ment from  cracks  or  fissures  in  the  plate,  either  in  the  solid  form,  or  in  the 
^ape  of  vapor. 

It  may  be  known  from  red  lead  by  its  not  being  blackened  with  sulphide 
of  ammonium,  and  from  red predpitaie  by  ita  insolubility  in  hydrochloric 
ticid. 

It  is  a  heavy  substance,  insoluble  both  in  water  and  hydrochloric  acid, 
and  is  entirely  dissipated  by  heat.  Heated  with  carbonate  of  soda  in  a 
tube,  globules  of  mercury  will  be  formed. 

If  present  inorganic  liquids  or  solids,  they  must  be  acted  on  with  nitro- 


210 


P0I80NI 


MBRCGRT. 


hydrochloric  acitls?,  and  evaporated  to  dryues?.     The  corrosive  sublimate 
thii»  furmed  must  be  dissolved  ia  water  or  spirit,  and  tested  accordiogly. 

Mercuric  Nitraie  (Hg2N0„  2H3O)  and  Mercuroiu  Nitrale  (HgXO^  H,0). 

Both  are  solid  white  poi.«onoug  salts,  ami  act  as  stroag  corrosives.  They 
are  soluble  iu  water,  the  solutions  having  acid  reactions.  They  have  been 
used  as  ap[)licaliou8  to  the  throat  and  to  the  neck  of  the  uterus.  A  sub- 
limate of  the  metal  is  formed  when  the  salt^  are  heated  with  carbonate  of  j 
soda. 

Mercuric  Cyanide  (KgCy^), 

Twenty  grains  of  this  salt  has  proved  fatal.  The  crystals  are  white, 
heavy,  and  soluble  in  cold  water.  It  is  as  poisooouii  as  corrosive  sublimate, 
ami  the  symptoms  pnxluceti  by  it  are  similar.  Cyanogen  gas,  which  burnt 
with  a  rose-colored  ftanie,  is  given  ofl"  when  the  salt  is  heated.  If  it  be 
treated  with  hydrochloric  acid  ru  a  retort,  and  heat  applied,  h^'drocyanic 
acid  will  distil  over,  whilst  the  solution  in  the  retort  will  give  a  black  pre- 
cipitate when  treated  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

Mercuric  Suiphocyimide  (Pharaoh's  serpent)* 

A  case  of  severe  symptoms  being  produced  from  taking  the  salt  (%J 
Pharaoh's  serpent)  is  recorded,  but  the  patieut  recovered. 

Mercuric  Meihide. 

This  is  a  colorless,  heavy,  inflammable  liquid,  having  an  ethereal  si 
and  tjiste.     It  contains  87  per  cent,  of  mercury.    It  boils  at  93^  C. 

Cbte«  0/  Poitomng  by  Merettry  and  its  Prtpnration$. 

(1)  MERCURY. 

CA8E  1.— ••  Uncet,'*  OeUiber  37tb,  1B38,  p.  2iS  ^Mr.  J.  W.  Potter).  Femda:  ■!.  It.  Elglltiwi) 
grain*  of  blue  put. 

SyiH/ffM*w.— IntuBte  utlWHtioii ;  dentil. 

Result.— Dtath  io  too  diys. 

CASE  2-"  Uncel,"  M»reh  8lh,  1873.  p.  339  {Sir  Duncan  Gibb).  Fcinalo:  jet.  20.  Ili  gUta  Ut  pro- 
duce aborilon. 

Sjfmptom4.—Adm[jiie>ttrvd  to  ibe  woman  when  Ihrtre  moatha  pr««o«at.  Id  a  (ew  daya  ni«f««r|»l 
treioon  act  in— laaied  until  conAnemeDl ;  no  MUraUoD.    Th«  child  at  birtb  had  th«  aaiifllMk. 

ibnttt.— Recovery. 

CASE  S— " Mrdical  Tima and  Oaaetie,"  May  2d,  ]S4}8.  p. 466.    Female.    Blue  pill. 

i^MMff.— tK-alh. 

CASE  4.—"  BrtlUh  Medical  Joamal,"  January  lUb,  IMS,  p.  48.    BItie  olnimenU    Nuiaerou*  casea. 

%np^onu.— OiiopaMdks);  Mllvatlug  lo  fortj  oibor  cam. 

MomU^—DvuU  Io  one  case. 


(IL)  BICHLORIDE  OF  MCRCURT  ICORROBI7B  SUBLIMATB). 

CASE  .1.—"  Lanri-l,"  IVcernh^r  13lh,  tMn,  p  (LV»  <  Dr,  Hi'rapatlO.    Male:  adult.    Sj. 
£hnM(pfo«M.— ViimllifiK  In  Iww  itiliralw;  dlurrh«£a  in  firi<>t;n  nilnHt4>4;  ptXttJlatu  on  the  thtrd  ilaj. 
«i*aiid  coitvtilnioDs  nn  thi<  vltjltlh,  aud  death  ou  the  tvuth. 
f<.— Dralh  on  tenth  diiy, 

.— €i|omatfh  and  iulratines  inOaiued;  c;^al   extrctnitjr  of  ik>mn  alnio«l  ipiOf ««aoua , 
luilamed  and  gHOKfcnoua;  revtuiu  tnuih  indained;  lunga  uuuK«.>ated. 
CA-SE  «.-"  Lancei."  September  16U»,  1*71,  p.  413  (Dr.  Meeraa^    Fomala  j  mU  9.    Applied  tor  rtog- 

One  application. 
^M^^f^ONM  — SullTaikin  in  two  or  Uiree  daya. 
JlMii^f.~I>caih. 

CASE  7.—"  ArchlT.  Gtn.  de  Med,"  toI  ix,  p.  4«»  ^M,  t»eTeixleV    Frmnle.    Sllj  «n  •nlitllnn. 
Svmf,ti,inM.^Pm\n,  Toniiiinx,  and  piirtiing;  I1|m  aud  tungue  white  and  •brlvetled;  dlarrhn>a. 
*— ".— t>valh  in  twenty-three  houra. 


CASKS    OF    POTSONINQ    BY    MERCDRTT. 


211 


CAi»E  f^-'lffedlcal  Ossettr,"'  vol.  riil,  p.  Glti  i  Dr.  Venabtoa).     Dose  (?>. 
Sipmphwu.—Pmln,  bloody  vouiUtng,  dlarrlKca,  and  suppression  of  urinn.    No  uiltvkUon. 
Jteaif.^Dcftlh  ill  eight  day». 
.CASE  !».—*'  Lancu't,"  May  6th,  184ft.  p.  S(td  (Mr.  Wado).    Mule :  «t.  il.    Otpf  5j  la  sohitloo. 

rM'^«f)U.— MiiCOU»  mcDobranr  of  th*^  mouth  not  anVci^nJ.    Vouitliog  s«t  In  iilmii»l  tnmiedinlely, 
vomit  b«ing  bloody;  pain  not  tnorna«(*d  by  prr-uure.  At  Lho«ud  oftwodoya  the  tuna  was  luufh 
Iter,    On  ihc  third  day  there  was  n  anddeii  fallurt)  of  the  powers  of  respir»tmn> 
MeMM//.^D«atb  on  tliird  day. 

Item. — Mouth  and  <EsophHgu,'«  healthy;  cnrdiac  <^bA  of  vtomnch  btach  nnd  iian^rcni)!!?) ;  py- 
lortc  riid  healthy,  cxceptiug  a  hw  rod  pati^hus  ;  heart  etupCy  ;  bloud  Uuid -,  respirutury  orgau»  viiry 

CASE  to.— **M«dical Ttm^s  and  Gazottc/'  February  18th,  ISm,  p.  162  (Dr.  Coghlao).    Male:  wl.  19. 
»lT«ffmfo«  lakt'n  on  empty  stAiiiauh. 

•Vntnitlrig  sod  relchlug  in  thrtte  tntciuleB;  purgtug  In  a  quarter  of  an  honr;  uUv&tlon 
llie  tklrd  day.    Not  much  pnlo. 
JEtTMi/.— BpcoTcry. 
CASK  II.— Orflla'a  "ToxIcoIorIc,"  vol.  i,  p.  263.    Main.     Ateoboltc  stdutlon. 

n/rfOMu.— In»tunt  llghtiienH  in  the  throat  atid  burulit);  iu  rho  niotuiieh  ;  vomiting  nnd  piirKlng; 
|Miln  ;  micturUiou  dilbcult  a.ud  uriue  acaiity  ,  brcatlihig  ofpressed  ;  tendvucy  to  doie;  croitips. 
To  kalivalion. 

JtuW/,— Itecovery  In  eight  dnya. 

CASK  12— "Journal  d*j  <'hfnile  M&dicale,"  lft42,  p.  294  (Vauti^'r).    Sixteen  gtiln$. 
Sjrmfjfomt.—'Pu.iB;  tremLliiigs  of  anna  nod  luga  ;  voiiiitlug.    Mo  sallvatloD. 
J?ci«//.— Recovery. 

CASE  13.— "Medical  Times,"  June  irnh.  i«il.  p.  Ji8,    f  From,  "EdlntMtfgb  Monthly  JournaL"    Dr. 
Wal*uu.) 
.*^!/rfr/Vom#.— patient  lived  seven  dayi»,  but  there  was  no  real  tallTatlon. 
JtcittJi  ^I>e«th  on  «evf  nih  day. 

Pbti'marirm — EOV-ct^  of  p<dfl<m  almost  entirely  eoD6tie«l  to  atimeniary  canal;  aNopha|(us,ilotnaicb, 
Ileum,  colon,  and  partleuhirty  the  rectum,  were  much  cotig<.'f<lvd;  tilciUder  al»0  luJlAiiied. 
CASE  li— '*(fiiy'»  Hospital  lU-ports,"  April.  1844,  p.  24.  Doae  (,;.) 
Ay«p/oa«j.-^.oinplet«)  »opprv4Jtit>Q  of  urine, 
jBe#w/<.~Death  In  four  days. 

kSE  15.— Casper's  "Wochen*chrift;'  January  10th,  1846,  p.  30  i  Dr.  Wegeh-r).   Male:  ail.  17.  SlIJ, 
rmjM'Ofru.— No  urine  secretrd  during  the  last  tbr«e  days;  no  pulti  In  the  abdom^'n  on  preMure- 
—Death  ou  aixlh  day. 

IS.— "  American  Journal   of  Medical  Science,"  April,  1863,  p.  340  (Dr.  Johnston).    Male, 
tty  grains  Uiken  in  whiatcy  and  wattrr. 
^^rm^Mur.— Vomiting  in  ten  minutes;  (albumon.  mtlk«  gold-le&f,  nod  iron  given).    No  aalirailon. 
^#Wl  — H^covf  ry  in  vi^Ui  dnya. 

<  ASE  17— "Edinburgh  Moulitly  Jwuroal,"  Dtfceiuber,  1851,  p.  682  (Dr.  Thornton).    Male.    3lJ. 
RewulJ .—lhi%vh  In  forty  lioinsi. 

AH/-in«rfcm.— Mucuuf  lueinbrane  of  atoniach,  duodenum,  u^^^per  part  of  the  ileum,  part»  of  the 
large  iul^-atlne*  K*^9pi>cially  the  ciceuni  and  aigtuoid  dexurv  of  the  eolonj  w»re  of  a  bright  red  color. 
CASE  IH,— "Mi>diial  Tinu'«  viwX  Gasette,"  February  2fitl«.  1S'.9,  p.  210  (Mr.  Roberts).    Male:  irt. 

Thirty  grainsi  mlx<.-d  with  half  an  ouuce  of  tinctufe  of  |i«n'h1odde  of  iron. 
J^wyfaiwj.— Symptoms  began  In  a  fuw  mlnutea;  buruiug  pain  from  gulk't  Ut  ntomacb.    Ko  aalUu- 
iWtt. 
A>iiJir^I>ealh  on  twelfth  day. 

/\Mf'mor^nn.— Stonincli  vinpCy,  Hiftcned,  and  rc-d,  nnd,  towards  tlif  JDlestinea^  P^'lpy  and  gangrett- 
Ma;  Inteatioes  intenacly  inllHmi'd^  almnit  gangrvnous. 

IB  19-—"  Edinburgh  Monthly  Jonrnai,"  vol.  i.  ItiGO.  p.  958.     Sixty  to  eishly  grains. 

.—No  nyrnptoms  on  th«  flmt  day  ;  mouth  nnd  guma  alTected  on  tbw  third  day  ;  on  the 
Hh  day  was  apparently  well;  and  on  the  twetflh  day  died. 
i/*.— Death  on  twelfth  day, 
IE  m— "Lancet,"  February  tat,  lBfi2.  p.  U9  (Dr.  Skegg).   Male:  ret.  54.  One  hundred  and  twelve 

r.— 9yinp(oro!i  eanie  on  very  wron;  intenae  pain  and  bloody  purging;  mouth  and  tongue 
•  htte  ;  akin  blitnehed  ;  vomiting  of  a  atrliiK^y  ftubatauee. 
L>e«th  In  three  hours  and  a  quarter. 

u— Siomacb  externally  deep  rc'd,  internally  of  a  dark  crimoon  color;  inteatiaea  rcd- 


CASE  21.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jurisprudt-nce,"  vol.  i,  p.  283.  Mate ;  set.  '25.  Five  grains  dissolved 
la  TlD«)|sr. 

A||nii^ieM«.^lmmediatn  heat  and  vomiting;  bloody  stools  and  vomit;  urine  supprcaaed.  Greater 
part  of  the  potwu  waagut  rid  of  by  vomiting. 

i&»J(.— Drath  in  six  days. 

A>«r-4«^rf<^.— MucouA  membrane  of  slomach  reddened ;  no  appearance  of  corrosion  ;  small  and 
Isrge  iutcatinea  deeply  congested. 


212  CASES   OP  POISONINe   BT   MBRCURT. 

TASK  ti  -"  Knnopt,"  Fobruary  28th,  1870,  p.  302  (Dr.  Eade).  Sfalc:  cc.li.  Loapof  eorraifviaW 
llmrtii'  wi'«kI«Iiik  <»»«'«■  ^J.  ^"ken  when  drimk. 

.v^.-ififiiHij,  K|iM'|i'i|  fntm  at<»iiiaih  in  one  hour.  OidEnary  synpcoiiu,  witk  lappTeMioB of  iriM, 
„>i  III  nil  lh«<  Ihiiil  iliir  ;  nullvaliua  ou  the  fifth  day. 

r,>.f»//.     I»i>nth  oil  i'li{hth  iluy. 

/VI^*n••l^)N.  I.iiiiK^  highly  ciinKOHted:  heart  healthy  and  empty;  npper  third  of  th«  crwphapw 
III  n  alDiitthy  i-oiiiliii»";  Hlumach  grayiah,  with  patches  of  redncM;  all  the  latestiiies  eongcated; 
Miiilili-i  I'niply. 

V.\m;  ■.•;»  "MrJti-.h  »iid  F(»r«.'iKn  M<-dIco^:hirurgicai  BeTiew."  October,  1860, p.  »0l  Male:  cl 
'>:     MRv  itiolK*' 

.\^i'tf<to»ii     S)iii|iiiiiii4  i>(iiiimi>nr(*d  iinuiediatvly. 

IfMMli     l>i mil  1)11  nixti'i'nih  day. 

Srf  rrNn  f/tr  following  Ca^fn  of  Poisoning  with  Bichloride  of  Mercury. 

"  |iilll<li  Mriilriil  .IiMiriiHl."  Aiik'iiHt  8th,  186.3,  p.  1C3.    Recorery  after  takiog  fortf  grmiaa.    Gold- 
li-il  mill  h.»ii  ninm*  mimliilsHTiMl. 
'■  ItillMi  Mi>il<<  ill  .loiirinil."  .Viiitiinl  'JIM,  1874,  p.2.f0.    Poisoning  by  minute  doaei. 
I  111  l.»r»  '■  Ml  tllorti  .liirl-prmiiMii'o,"  vol.  i.  p.  282.    Three  graina.    Death. 

viil.  I.  p.  2H.1.    Dt.>ath  in  thirty  minutes. 
■  M.-.li.nl  <i  i-'-Ho."  vol  \lvl,  p.  2-Vt.    I>.>uth  in  flrt<>eu  daya.    Nu  mercury  found  after  death. 
^t.^^  hi.  III!  M<t(i>  :il  .liuiriial,"  Novi'iubtT  18th,  1843,  p.  126.    No  purging;  urine  accreted  In  amail 

.|n>iiil<l\ 

iIII.^  AMMONIO-CHLORIDE  OF  MERCURY. 

,\M     'I     ■  I  III..!.-  r.-liniary  Sih.  IHjo,  p.  737  (Dr.  R.  WilliamA).    Female:  adult.    A  penny* 

>      ,.     :.     •.Mm'i.<ii\*  n.'l  \or>  «i'vi»n'.    Slomarh-purap  used. 

f,'.  .f.  I      i;.i.>\iix 

I  \  .1    ■.        I  ,.,..i.'  iVi.^l-i  luh.  ISTl.  p.  .l*o,Dr.  Ojjli'.),    Female:  adult.  Thirty  to  forty  itraina. 

\  .      iiti,  ,11  ,  |<i<:t«tii(ini.;(n(i  r»rtwi>iity-f(iur  huuretwltchingof  themuacleaof  theleft  arm 

.111.1  I. .. 

,>.  ....       u....<.  IX 

I   \  <i     ,1      li, ,.   .    M..,>i.<  J  i'wo<.  1S«U>V    Tnylnr'a  "MtHiiral  .TurlaprudeDce,"  p.  289.   A  woman  ad* 
mini  •.!..(  II  i.>  li.  ■  liii«i-:ni.i       \r.|iillli^i  on  llio  trnniml  that  It  waa  not  a  poison. 

.   \   I  M.,|,   i:  iiiii.>*  :iiia  i;.i.-Hii>."  IVoombor  l!ith.  ISC't,  p.  645  (Dr.  Greenhow\    Female: 

„.i..ii        ..  ill  ■»..!  It.  .1  I  |>.  iiii\»..iih  of  «liiu>  priHipliati>.  and  th«>n  a  pennyworth  of  sugar  of  lead. 

\. ii>.l|.iiniii  li:ili  :inhiiiir:  iil'torwania  dri>wsinc((s.    Salivation  set  In  un  the 

1 1. 1.  I  1 .1    ..  ..I.  ,  ...i<  .I'.ii.MHii.  liiiiK  >>r  liiiilx.    .*vilivaiiou  ceased  on  the  eighth  day. 
I.. ,    •. . « 

,11  I,  n,..,i.,    M  i'i.J».>irr.  J-rj". .     A  cirl  attvnipti<d  to  poiiton  her  father. 

III.         I  ,,i.  .  .      I, lit   ii1>    IS..'.],   'i   Mr  iiil.-s^.     Fcnialo.    AlMiut  5w. 
I ,-ii'i  iii.i  "I.  Vii.^N.  swi-iiiiii;  of  face:  aallvatiou. 

|..  .     1 .  1 1   «ii   .il-..tii    t  i.i.Miih 

.   t   I    .,•        M    I,.  .1   1. iii.l  t.iMiit'."  Miy  .-iih.  iS'ti).  p.  414  (Mr.  Short).     Male:  set.  three 

I'    III. 

II   11  ,-1  iii.i..^us  ii)<-in)>r.iiii*  of  tho  a>:mphnKii" '•  atomach  normal,  except  one 

(ill.     ■  i..ii  ...I «  II 

i>.  Ml  I,  M..ii.  i!  .'.■.-.■.  ;ir. '    \|>iil  l<>t1i.i'ir>9.  p.  .T.x.MPr.  <:ra1iam>.    Malo:et.39.    About 


I   I    I 

•  ii 


.\  .1  1.  *i.<.  t.  i.>':.i|>«r  urtor  ti-n  hmini.    At  no  time  was  there  any 
■.  »i:.i  «;!■•:»      Hi  '.hI  «ai  iw-oitl  frtvly  from  b«>wela. 


.•  ('.}*.  .  •■  I\    <■  <.inff  u-ith   White  Precipitate : 
M    II   .11 ii.i.ii.      Mi:>i\  >ili.  t'>i>  I.  p  .'■'•■•■    Ft'inalo :  a-t.  i>.    Death  from  the  ointment 

„l  I  li      I   i  •■!      ■       >■  ■!<    '  ■  .  <>i>ii 

tV  '    RED    PRECIPITATE. 

I   \'\     !■      I...I   .  .      %i..ii.  ii    li  i.|..  -.l.-ii.-i' ■■  \..l    i.  p   •.':'».     Ki'maU-:  set.  22.     A  quantity,  r?) 
.S    I'           -'.,...1..  .    i.t  ni.i  .  I  i-ii  .i«     nil.  .«ti.-  xtiipir  :  ■>  .M«i  Mill  Viimiiink;  of  hhI  matten-  pain 
«iiit.i»»M ■«■!  .  «•.,  iiitii,«      V:i<M  i\.iir  it.i}>  olu' «a«»i  ill  iiiulcr  the  ioflneoce  of  the  mer- 
uit I 


CASES   OF   POISONING    BY    MERCURY 


213 


VABE  Sl-'«Irbh  HoqilUl  G««ett«;'  October  IBlh,  187S  (Mf,  Ru»ell),  FemaJe:  itt.  15.  Hair  an 
ounce  uketi  hy  roUUike. 

Sjfmptomi.—'iso  urj^nt  B7ni,pto»iB  until  the  foUnmrlng  day,  when  ber  Ups,  giirnn,  and  luoiith  became 
•ore  Mi>d  Bwullen,  0.  distinct  luercuiiiil  ftrtor  ih«iied  Troui  tbti  breath,  lU«  pnUcut  ci>iuplH!uliig  of 
bnidnrbi''  iiud  pain. 

Jtf  •  wA. — ttecorerj. 

(V.)  TURPETS  MINBRAIr. 

CAtiE  34.—"  Lancet,"  March  )3th,  1947,  p.  285  (Dr.  Letheby ).     Male :  tut.  16.    Hj. 

9^mplmm r.— Bu ro I ng  paio ;  nJcknew ;  diarrbica ;  aallvatiua  un  tb«  third  daj.  Jfovar  either  lost  hil 
■enaes,  or  became  cumalote,  or  jiad  coQVuUloDi. 

JtawJl— Death  in  seven  daya. 

/WiworteBt.— y  pB  and  gytnut  of  a  leadpn  blue ;  from  mouth  to  anus  the  alliuentary  canal  wa»  red, 
aod  Mudded  with  livid  pc tvchial  spolB,  thesL-  bviug  espii'ially  iiiurkiHJ  on  tbe  cieeum  ;  inteatines  oon- 
tneted. 

CA8E  38— Ttylor'8  "Mcdica]  Jiiriftprudenre,"  vol.  I,  p.  291.     Mule:  vet.  27.    3iij  on  empljr  stomach. 

S^fmfliMM. — Purging  and  Toiuiitng  In  teu  ininuteii;  puin  In  abdotnen.  BjmptuuiB  fur  a  Uma  tm- 
pnived,  but  be  dtwi  on  the  »'k'Veijlb  day. 

/^-mA  — I>t>ath  r*n  rJevi'iilh  day. 

J^if^-ntrtrUtn.SlouiVLch  and  iutcslinns  inflamed  and  softened. 

CAg£  36.— "Medical  Tfmcii  and  lituvttc, "  August  i-id.  1HG3.  p.  193  (Mr.  Lowndeft).  Male^  Bt.^. 
3J  of  the  powder  takou  In  mistake  fi>r  ttsfhiopa  mineral. 

Symfit»m*. — loirDcdialir  hurnkig  scn&alldn  iii  ibe  throat;  Tomitlng;  purging',  crmra|».  Slight 
WlivatioQ  on  the  stMiaud  day. 

JBmitt.— Becuvery. 

(VI.)  VERMILION, 

CASE  87.— ** Medical  Times,"  September  27tb,  184$,  p.  17.    Female.    VapB.r  of  Silj  applied  to  Cfta- 
eetout  breaat. 
^fllfwyiawa.— eaH?»ttop,  ferer,  atid  odematoua  Hlale  of  the  right  arm  miter  three  fumlgatlona. 

(Vn.)  NITRATES  OF  MERCURT. 

CASE  M.—'* British  Mtnlical  Journal."  .hiaiiary  iTib.  1872.  y.  li;i  (Dr.  Hlckenbolhamj.    Feroalet 
mi~  30.    Saa.  of  a  solution  nf  mercury  in  nllrlcr  acid  (drc^siug  fur  Bbiiivj>-rot). 
^mfiktm*. — Ininiedialc  tluli<ut  palnii ;  faitittieHA. 
JtoaO.— IXeatb  in  twenty-dva  mlmiten. 

ftui  i—ortem.— Mouth  vbitc^  guUvt  and  stomach  corrugmted.    In  soiue  places  the  muruus  mombraDC 
vaa  quite  destroyed. 
JCASE  8».— "Medical  Gatotte,"  toL  ▼!,  p.  »29  (Dr.  Blgsby).    Male:  ast  16.    A  leaapoonftil  of  mer- 
diaaolted  in  strong  nitric  acid. 

I. — 8ympiouui  sut  in  very  soon  :  pain,  parglDg,  and  colie;  mueouj  roiuitiug. 
L — Death  lu  two  hours  and  a  half. 


.— Stomach  laHaiat^  and  corrodwl. 
40,— "Guy's  Uuspltal  Reports,"  October, 


p.  24)6.    Application  to  throat  as  an escbarotlc. 


-Death  imnitfiliat^  by  asphyxia, 
-Death  immediate. 

4U— "  Eilinburgb  Moitthly  Jourusl/'  1SC4.  p.  \G»,    Application  to  the  skin  as  a  HnimeDt. 
.—Ordinary  symptoms  of  mercurial  jiHiijiouiii^  ;  duaib  on  the  tiintll  day. 
■Death  un  the  ninth  day. 
'AMrlsm. — Stomach  aad  InttAtlnea  inllamed,  with  patches  of  ecchyoiosls.    Mercury  found  In 
Uter. 

CA.«E  41.^Beg.  v.  E.  Stnilh  (Taylor's  "Medical  jMrlsprudenGe,"  vol.  I,  p.  39a).  A  girl  accaaed  of 
adiuioislerloK  it  to  her  miiitrojis  tn  chamomile  tea, 

CAHE  43.— Taylor's  "  Medical  JuHaprudeuce,"  vol.  I,  p. '^92  (Dr.  Taylor).  Male:  let.  91.  Chronlo 
poisuniui;  from  it*  u»e  dudnK  a  period  of  four  years  for  packing  furs,  which  were  brushed  over  with 
the  oltrstv  of  uit'rcury. 

Symj^Qm*.— After  ihrtHi  yean  be  tost  power  in  hia  bands;  salivation  set  In  soon  after  fa«  com- 
nicuced  the  work.    No  mercury  was  found  iu  the  urine.    J>led  fourteen  dsys  after  his  admlaalon  to 
the  hospital. 
Jbsstff.— Death. 

..—Brain  and  spinal  cord  healthy.    Mercury  found  in  brain,  kidneys,  and  livor. 


See  also  ike  following  Case  of  Poiioning  by  the  Niimie: 

"BrUlsb  Medical  Journal,"  May  Kith,  ia7»,  p.  €87;  "Medical  (iasetto,"  vol.  alt,  p.  \(m.  Chronic 
marcurial  paralysis,  produced  from  using  a  solution  of  mercuric  nitrute  for  steeping  wool  proparulory 
to  lla  uoderxoiug  the  process  uf  Mllng. 


214 


CASES    OF    POIBONING    SY    MERCURY. 


(Vm.)  CYANIDE  OF  MERCURY. 

CASE  44.— Orflla,  "ToiIcol<Jgle."  v«il.  I,  p.  7S5.    Twenty  grafnt. 

,$y«M|4</f?w.— Syiuptoma  Itamiidiale:  voiniliug^  Mliratiuii.  suppression  of  urine,  pursing.  «i 
¥ulftiuu«. 
J?»rutt.— Dealh  \n  nine  days. 

Poit-iMrlem.— stomach  and  intestines  ^fery  inflnmed. 
CASE  45.—"  ClirisUsoii;'  p.  427.    Ten  grains. 

CASE  46.— Vircliow'n  "ArcliiT,"  toI.  sxxl,  p.  117. 
i?e«|/.— Bt'covury. 

(IX.)  SUIiPHOCYANIDE  OF  MERCURY, 

CASTS  47.— "Union  M6d.;'  voL  110.  p.  r>i.5,   ISft.5.    Sfnle:  ati.  ij.     8wall.iw<«d  a  whole  P bar 
gerpi-ul. 

.Vi^/M/i/tfimr.- Pain;  dllficuUjr  of  «waiJowing;  vomiting, wklck gave  iome  relief;  uliivvrlDgi&Dd^f 
weakncsa  <lime-water  giveu;. 

/^Mu/f.— Rtvovery. 

(X.)  MERCURIC  MBTHIDB. 

CASE  48.— "St.  BartlinlomeWs  Hospital  RrfMjrUi,' JSW,  vol.  I.  p.  141  (Dr.  Ed  wards  V    En( 
preparation  of  niprcurlt?  nielbidf. 

iijfmploim.—  lmpa.lrmeal  *j>fMt{ht  was  the  flrst  ajrinptom  tintic(<d  ;  nutnbnfen  of  hands,  drafai 
aiorcurial  fetor  and  awelliag  of  gums;  delirluim;  loos  of  powBr  on  left  «idt'. 

/?«t*.*//.— lH?fttb. 

J^t-moriftn.    Brain  very  coD^i?sitcd  aud  (edctualoua;  kidneys  conifeslod. 

CASE  49.— "St.  Rurth.jronu  w"»  IIoBpittil  Ri'porta,"  18«5,  Yol  1,  p.  141  (.Or.  Edward*).    Male:  «rr. 
EnjjMjjwi  in  prcparallun  of  tni'rcurlc  inelhidf. 

Synii4omM.—\\'i''dkti*f^,  sori}n(>M  of  gunin,  dliniu'its  of  sight,  giddiness,  nausea,  and  ToinitiJig; 
uv*s,  Ivml  sti-imatlun  aud  power  of  uioliuu  ;  di'llriym. 

iee«uA.--Dealti, 


MOLYBDENUM.     (Mo  =  92.) 

This  is  usually  found  as  a  t^wlphide,  the  ore  much  regembling  black  ]eaf( 
in  appearance.     It  is  a  gray  metal  and  nxidizei*  when  heated  in  the 
(MoOj).     Mulybdic  aeid  k  naed  in  the  Jaboratory  as  a  means  of  detectin 
ti'aee^  of  pho^(ihonc  acid. 

It  is  a  very  feeble  poistin.  Thirty  graina  of  molybdate  of  ammonia 
found  to  kill  a  rabbit  in  two  Irours.  In  dogs,  however,  it  merely  pnx1uc6 
purging  and  vomiting,  whilst  even  ten  gniiDs  injected  into  the  jugular  vei 
will  not  prove  fatal. 

NICKEL.     (Ni  =  o9.) 

Nickel  h  largely  used  in  the  composition  of  German  silver  (copper,  zin 
and  nickel),  Vomiling  is  freely  induced  in  a  dog  by  a  dose  of  tweut 
grains  of  the  sulphate,  whilst  ten  grains  injected  into  the  jugular  vein  wi 
destroy  life  instantly. 

Tesh, 

1.  Sufpkkie  of  amvionium  gives  a  black  precipitate  (NiS). 

2.  Ammonia  give«  a  green  precipitate  (NiH./>^)  soluble  in  excess. 

3.  It  givesi  a  purple  gray  to  the  borax  bead  in  the  reducing  llame, 
a  violet  m  the  oxidizing  flume  of  the  blowpipe. 


OSMIUM.    (08  =  199.) 

Omiinm  h  the  least  fu.sible  of  ali  the  metals.  It  oxidizes  in  a  currei 
of  atr  (OsO^),  the  oxide  having  a  pungent  smell,  aud  being  freely  K>lubl 
in  water. 

The  oxide  is  said  to  be  almost  as  active  a  poison  as  arsenic.     One  ai 


POISONING    BY    PALLADIUM. 


215 


groins  admiDisterpd  by  the  mouth  will  ktH  a  dog  w  a  day,  whilst 
half  that  qunntiry  will  prove  fiital  id  one  hour  if  injected  into  a  vein.  It 
seems  to  act  as  a  pure  irritant. 

Severol  French  investigators  have  noticed  the  deleterious  action  of  osmic 
acid.  Amongst  these  are  M.  Fr(^my,  M.  Sainte  Claire  Deville  (who  him- 
aelf  was  seized  with  persiatent  nervous  asthma  under  its  influence),  M. 
Debray  (who  suffereii  from  some  afiection  of  ihe  eyps  caused  hy  it ),  and 
M.  Julien  Cl^meut  (in  whom  it  induced  a  peculiar  cutaneous  disease  which 
was  found  very  difficult  to  cure). 

A  caj«  of  suppof«ed  poisoning  by  osmic  acid,  is  related  by  M.  Raymond 
ID  "Le  Prfjgr^,s  Medieale"  (27tli  June,  1874).  A  man  aged  thirty,  worked 
for  a  short  time  io  the  luhoratory  of  M.  Sainte  Claire  Deville,  Ijciiinf  out  of 
employment  in  his  usual  work  (Imndhox  maker).  Here  he  daily  handled 
pieces  of  osmium,  phitinum,  and  in<liutu.  In  the  process  to  which  these 
were  subjected,  ao  osmiate  of  baryta  was  produced.  Thin  wiig  treated  with 
Ditric  acid,  and  the  osmium  precipitates!  with  sulphide  of  amniouivim. 

The  man  up  to  the  time  of  beginning  this  new  occupation  was  perfectly 
well  and  healthy,  nor  was  there  any  history  of  syphilis. 

Shortly  alter  commencing  the  work,  he  was  taken  ill,  the  first  symptoms 
of  which  he  complained  being  pains  in  the  eyes.  He  slept  heavily  at  night, 
and  was  much  troubled  with  nightmares.  After  a  short  time  an  extensive 
eruption  appeared  on  the  surface  of  the  forearm,  as  well  as  on  the  face, 
and  on  both  sides  of  the  hands. 

Extreme  indigestion,  frequent  diarrhijca  (nine  or  ten  times  daily),  the 
passage  at  each  stool  of  a  quantity  of  black  blood  (the  patient  liaving  uo 
piles),  and  violent  headaches,  were  the  prominent  symptoms  as  the  cage 
progressed.  Nausea  but  without  vomiting,  ahiverings,  extreme  dyspntpa, 
and  cough  rapidly  supervened.  On  his  admit-sion  to  the  hospital,  the  one 
prominent  symptom  wa^  the  extreme  difficulty  in  breathing,  amounting 
almost  to  threatening  asphyxia.  The  temperature  was  40^  C.  (104^  F. ), 
The  chest  on  examination  revealed  the  exisitence  of  a  general  bronchitis, 
aod  on  the  left  side  a  somewhat  extensive  pneumonia.  The  skin  of  the 
hands  and  forearm  was  sprinkled  with  large  and  small  papules  of  a  red 
and  brown  color,  whilst  the  urine  contained  a  large  amount  of  albumen. 

The  man  died  eight  days  atler  his  admission  to  the  hospital.  The  pneu- 
monia increased  in  severity,  the  temperature  continued  at  104"-  F. ;  no 
apparent  diminution  taking  place  iu  the  amount  of  albumen  lu  the  urine, 
wnilst  the  weakness  gradually  became  extreme. 

At  the  post-mortem  the  Iuiujm  showed  extensive  evidence  of  pneumonia. 
In  one  lung  there  was  a  gangrenous  cavern  in  course  of  formation.  On 
examinaliou  with  the  microscope,  pus-globules  were  discovered  iu  the  pul- 
monary cells  of  both  lungs.  The  A- j*rfwq/.H,  too,  showed  the  pathological 
appearonces  indicating  B right's  disease.  In  Ihe  titomHch  there  was  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  iniiammatory  action  along  the  greater  curvature.  The 
other  organs  were  healthy.  On  chemical  examination,  however,  of  the 
several  viscera,  no  trace  of  the  poison,  wliich  was  the  supposed  cause  of 
the  illness,  was  discovered. 

M.  Raymond,  however,  concludes  by  stating  that  the  case,  iu  his  opinion, 
was  one  of  uoquestionable  poisoning  by  osmic  acid. 


PALLADIUM  ( Pd  =  106.5). 

This  metal  is  found  iu  platinum  ores,  and  is  nearly  as  infusible  as  plati- 
num. It  is  remarkable  lor  its  power  of  absorbing  hydrogen.  It  can  be 
diBiolved  in  nitric  acid,  when  a  brown  solution  is  formed. 

The  chloride  given  internally  is  not  more  energetic  in  its  action  tfaaa 


216 


POISONING    BY    SILVER, 


the  corresponding  platinum  salt,  but  it  is  far  more  intensely  active  when 
injected  into  a  vein.  Two-thirds  of  a  grain  has  heen  found  to  kill  ft  dog 
in  a  miuute. 

PLATmUM.     (Ft  =  198.    Sp.  Or,  21.5.) 

All  the  Wilts  of  platimjni  act  as  irritant  poihons*. 

Twelve  grains  of  the  chloride  (PtCI,)  given  to  a  dog  killed  it  in  the 
course  of  a  day,  whilst  half  that  quantity  will  prove  fatal  when  injected^ 
into  a  vein. 

Tests. 

(The  PtClj  is  the  only  convenient  solution  for  testing.) 

1.  Camtic  poimh  and  mmnonm  give  yellow  precipitates. 

2.  Suiphurdted  ht/drot^en  give^  a  dark -brown  jirecipitate  (PtS,).  soluble 
In  8ulphJde  of  ainmoniuiih  Before  parsing  the  H,S  through  the  8olutioo, 
add  to  it  an  equal  bulk  uf  a  !:!olutiou  of  common  »ak. 

3.  lioiied  with  ftirbfmnte  of  soda  and  sugar,  a  precipitate  of  metallic 
platinum  (platinuni-black)  falls*. 

4.  A  mtuiion  of  ehloridr  of  (trnmonitan  gives  a  yellow  precipitate  of  the 
double  chloride  of  platinum  and  ammyniura  (PtCl^,  2NH4CI;.  i 

SILVER.    (Ag:=108.)  ^^ 

Sp.  Gr.  10.5.  ^1 

Silver  is  soraetimea  found  native,  usually  in  the  form  of  a  sulphide, 
occasionally  as  a  chloride^  but  never  as  an  oxide.  It  is  also  found  in 
many  metallic  ores,  as  in  those  of  lead  and  copper  It  is  very  malleable] 
and  ductile.  Electroplate  consists  of  a  coating  of  pure  silver  depositedJ 
on  a  white  alloy  by  galvanic  action.  The  purer  the  silver  the  easier  it  ill 
found  to  tarnish,  and  hence  tlie  reason  why  electroplate  so  soon  loses  ita' 
brilliancy.  Silver  itself  is  not  a  poison,  and  the  only  salt  of  importance 
medico-legally  is  the  nitrate. 

Silver  Oxide Ag,0     =  232. 

Silver  Nitrate AgNOj  =  170. 

Silver  8ulphate,       ......  Ag,SO,  =  312. 

Silver  Sulphide Ag^      =248. 

Silver  Chloride AgCl     =143.5 

Nifrah  of  Silver.     AgNO,  =  170. 

(Lunar  Caustic — Lapis  Inferualis.) 

Lunar  Caustic  is  found  in  shops  either  in  sticks  or  in  crystals.  It  W 
prepared  by  dissolving  silver  in  dilute  nitric  acid,  evaporating  the  solution 
to  dryne^,  and  crystallizing  out  the  salt.  Its  solution  in  w^ater  rapidly 
decomposes  in  the  presence  of  organic  matter,  a  black  insoluble  compound 
being  iornied.  Hence  its  use  for  marking  linen.  The  black  stains  may, 
to  a  great  extent,  be  removed  by  potassium  cyanide.  It  is  largely  used 
by  photographers.  i 

Experiments  on  Animals — Symptoms,  etc.  ^^ 

Orfila's  experiments  on  nitrate  of  silver  prove,  that  when  iniected  into 
the  veins  its  action  is  energetic.     Two  grains  killed  a  dog  in  six  minute^i] 
the  difficully  of  breathing  being  the  prominent  symptom.     A  third  of  »] 
grain  cuuseu  death  in  four  and  a  half  hours  by  tetiauus.     In  both 
the  blood  in  the  heart  was  black,  and  the  lungs  gorged.    Given  ijiteraallyj 


TB6T3   FOB   SILVER. 


217 


thirty-six  grains  killed  a  dog  m  thirty-six  houm,  no  particular  symptom 
being  noted,  but  the  after-death  appearance  of  the  stomach  betokeiieiJ  a 
corrosive  action,  parl-s  presenting  ao  appearanee  fliinilar  to  the  ei^chara 
produce<l  by  the  action  of  the  eauatic  silver  on  the  skin.  Nitrate  of  silver 
mu»t,  therefore,  be  regarded  as  an  irritant  and  corrosive  poison. 

The  bluenejjs  of  the  «kin  produced  by  the  action  of  nitrate  of  eilver, 
proves  it  to  be  freely  absorbed.  This  color  la  due  to  the  reduction  of  the 
inetal,  and  it^  ilepiwitiou  on  the  surface  of  the  true  skin.  For  this  action 
to  take  place,  the  drug  muj^t  be  taken  for  a  very  considerable  time.  It  ia 
given  medicinally  in  chronic  gastric  aflections  and  in  some  nervous  atfec- 
tions  (epilepsy,  etc.)  in  doijc^  varying  from  a  quarter  to  half  a  grain. 

But,  although  no  diHcoloralifui  of  the  body  may  be  apparent,  the  absorp- 
tion of  the  poison  is  manifest,  even  when  but  one  dose  has  been  taken,  for 
Oriilft  has  found  it  under  such  circumstancei*  in  the  liver,  spleen,  urine, 
etc.,  whilst  Panizza  and  Krumer  have  found  it  in  the  blood. 

The  trmtmeni  of  poisoTiing  with  silver  salu  is  obvious.  Common  salt 
or  sal  ammoniac  in  aoluiion  must  be  given  freely.  Vomiting  must  also  be 
encouraged.     White  of  egg  should  be  adminiatered. 


Pogt-mortem  Appearances. 

In  slow  poisoning  the  body  will  be  found  of  a  blue  tint.  When  death 
ia  rapid  from  a  large  dose,  a  blue  line  will  sometimes  be  found  round  the 
gums,  the  stomach  and  intestitie>«  being  either  intensely  red  and  inflamed, 
or  white  from  the  action  of  the  caustic  nitrate,  or  black  from  the  decom- 
position of  animal  matlers. 

Tests. 

1.  Mixed  with  carbonate  of  »oda,  and  heated  on  charcoal  with  the 
blowpipe,  a  hard,  white  malleable  metallic  bead  ia  produced,  with  no 
incrustation  whatsoever. 

2.  SnlfihnreHed  h\jdrogen  gives  a  black  precipitate  (Ag^),  insoluble  in 
sulphide  of  ammonium,  but  soluble  in  warm  nitric  acid, 

3.  The  camtic  ulkalie/t  give  a  brown  precipitate  { AgllO),  soluble  in  ex- 
cess of  ammonia,  but  not  in  potash  or  soda. 

4.  Rydrochloric  acid  and  any  miahle.  chloride  give  a  white  precipitate 
(AgCl)»  which  turns  slate-colored  after  exposure  to  the  light,  soluble  iu 
aoimonia,  in  hyposulphite  of  soda,  and  in  cyanide  of  (wtassium,  but  in- 
soluble  in  boiling  nitric  acid.  The  cfaloricle,  when  heated,  becomes  a 
boruy  mass. 

(KOTE. — There  are  three  insoluble  chlorides — 

(a)  Lead  chloride  (FbCl,)^ — not  acted  on  by  ammonia. 

{,5^  Mercurous  chloride  (llgCl) — turned  black  by  ummouia. 

{y)  Silver  chloride  ( AgCl)— Uiiiiolved  by  ammonia,) 

5.  Iodide  and  bromide  {>/ potuMtum  j^ve  yellow  precipitates,  which  are 
Dot  easily  soluble  in  ammonia. 

Quantitcttlve  Anfihjsis. 

Acidulate  the  solution  of  the  silver  with  nitric  acid,  and  precipitate 
with  hydrochloric  acid  ;  filter,  wash,  and  dry  the  chloride. 

100  grains  (AgCl)  =    75.47  Ag. 

=  lia46  AgNO». 
16 


LLiirir. 


Ikmieohffical  Aiuify, 


j»i*. 


mtm^  iht  ttonmch  with  bicarbonate  of  potash  and  (\]icr. 
>'*j»ifeitoer-paper  with  oitrohytlrochloric  acid,  and  agiin 
dBfeittfr  toMther,  and  evaporate  them  to  drynes^s,  so  as  to 
R.  Kediasolve  the  residue  in  diUite  nitric  acid,  and 
filler  aod  precipitate  the  silver  with  hydrochloric 
nodered  acid  with  nitric  acid. 


■  ^  RuMoninff  with  Nilmte  of  Silper. 

; JktrtBpradei)c«,'*  vol.  t.  p,  SW.    Female:  mt.  ai. 
t««r.  token  tn  divided  doses. 
Wttbh-jrelloMr  fluid. 


A  infxlure  cootlfB-^ 


>^Bk  tttMfitlit««  InAikraHl;  tllver  fauad  lo  atoniAch  and  liver 
ifcrf  rnwmil  "  May  2atb,  )»7I,  p,  52'  <  Mr.  ScatUT^'mid).    Mt,  1$  inOBlliiL 
i^m  ftrteri  ofHii  hitb  lutig,  shpiufl  down  the  throut. 
i  »■— itft;  («soiumon  mU  wan  admioistemi)-  couvulaioaa.    Deftth  Id  «!»• 


■*»»»T>— Two  or  three  )>tU.-hP'ii  of  corr»>9liin  in  Ihn  ceMtphafrnA ;  mttcouk 
'iv-v-pi  one  piluh  »t  corroaion  of  a  hrllliant  white  color  (A^^li;  duo- 
vaaniAtlj  eorroflfd;  heart  empty  and  contracted. 
r.fHtatr  iDevenjIip;,"  vol.  lit  (M.  T'omniarAde),     Male:  ttL  21,    Ono  ouoce^ 
my   «»»t«hlTe  movoinenta  of  uppf  r  limbs ;  of  the  fare ;  fnrclMe  closure  of  (h< 
Mfavtfi^Ul;  of  the  pupil ;  improved  under  Irealiueal,  but  iflerwarda  bad  a 


.^  »Hll«l  Journal/'  May  27th.  187 1,  p  M2  (Mr,  Hart),    ^t.  4.    A  piece  of 
.^»fc*v  •.i^UlOK  induotHl  (milk  treaaiuenl  aloue  adopted), 


rHAUUl'M  (Tl  =  204.    Sp.  Gr.  11.85). 

,    ♦^  n  »pleudid  green  line  in  the  spectrum,  led  to  the  dw- 

t'V  i^rookes  in  1861.     The  palls  are  said  to  be  very  poi- 

vthing  can  be  definitely  stateii  as  to  their  physiologi* 

I  more  ninuerous  and  more  accurate  experimenL'*  than 

Fmm  the  circumstance  that  the  ealt«  are  perlectly 

^luble  in  water,  some  more  information  than  we  n't 

,  *MWoh  to  be  desired.     15.5  grains  of  ihe  carbonate  killed 

\t  hours  ( Paiilet) ;  75  grains  of  the  sulphate  kille<l  two 

puppies,  and  a  middle-hized  dog;  1.5  grain  killed  a 

-  ^M.  Laniy).     The  symptoms  described  are  intense 

•  u»4il  |)iiinjt,  !<^]tvation,  convulsions,  and  {Specially  paralysis. 

jiWut  vomiting  or  purging,  and  no  marked  post-mortem 

iwxmlixi, 

\"HTience,  however,  seems  completely  different  to  what 

s  th«c  investigator?.     He  atates  that  he  had  himself 

^i»  ^rninii  of  thallium  salt  without  any  effect,  nor  ha« 

.  hii^  been  so  much  exposed)  proved  injurioua.     Thal- 

M  tht^  liair»  and  to  render  the  skin  hard  and  yellow. 

«hiillium  poii*oning»  bv  M.  Lamv,  see  "  British  Medi- 

;tUh,  KH(i;j,  p.  ;i5i) 

KHndiar  green  band  by  the  spectroscope,  at  ooce 
v«aK  m  Iv^  Kh-  ilA  presence  of  extreme  delicacy. 


FOISONINa    BY    TIN. 


219 


TIN  (Su  =  118).     8p.  Gr.  7.30 ;  melts  at  228°  C. 

Tin  is  chiefly  found  in  Cornwall  as  tiu-stoiie  (SnOj),  It  is  a  softj  mal- 
leable, silver' white  metal,  and  i.s  Ifirgely  used  for  coating:  sheet-iron  (tin- 
plate),  fts  well  as  in  variiius  alloys,  such  as  bronze,  bell-metal,  pewter, 
solder,  etc.     The  metal  itself  is  not  a  poison. 

The  chlorides  are  the  only  compounds  of  interest  raedico-legally.  Under 
the  Dame  of  "  Dyers'  {spirit,"  they  are  largely  used  in  calieo-priutine: ; 
whilst  what  is  called  *' Tin  prepare  liquor/*  m  a  stanimte  of  sodmm  (Naj 
SuOj,  4H.P).  The  oxide  of  tin  constitutes  one  ingredient  of  putty  pow- 
der, which  is  used  for  polishing  silver-plate,  and  for  giving  white  opacity 
to  enamek. 


Stannous  Oxide SdO 

Stannic  Oxide BnOj 

Stannous  Sulphide  (brown),       ....     SnS 

Stannic  8ulphide  (yellow)  (mosaic  gold)  (bronz-  ]  ^^  ^ 
ing  powder),,         .         *         .         .         .         .J         ' 

Stannous  Chloride,    ......     SnCl,  = 

Stannic  Chloride  (spirit  of  Libavius),        .        .  = 

Experiments  on  Animah, 


==  134. 
=  150. 
=  150. 

=  182. 


189. 
260. 


The  chlorides  of  tin  are  decomposed  by  nearly  all  animal  fluids  and 
stable  infusions.     They  are  active  poisons.     According  to  Orfila'ji  ex- 

piraent*,  from  eighteen  to  tweiity-fotir  grains  given  internally  to  dogs, 
Jlled  them  in  one,  two,  and  three  days,  the  symptoms  produced  being 
violent  vomiting,  and  great  general  depression.  Applied  to  a  wouud,  he 
found  that  two  drachms  caused  sloughing  of  the  part,  and  death  in  twelve 
days.  But  the  action  of  the  chloride  is  far  more  energetic  when  injected 
into  the  veln*^,  six  grains  killing  a  dog  in  one  minute*  Two  grains  thug 
administered  killed  a  dog  in  fifteen  minutes  (tetanus  being  a  prominent 
eymptom ),  and  0.5  grain  in  twelve  hours*,  a  curiou.s  cataleptic  condition 
being  induced.  The  poison  was  discoveretl  in  each  ease  after  death  in  the 
liver, spleen,  and  urine.     The  morbid  appearances  were  those  of  an  irritant 

►i«on.     Orfihi  refcn?  to  a  peculiar  tanned  appearance  of  the  villous  coat 

the  stomachs  of  the  dog;?. 

The  tin  salts  not  as  irritant  |xjisous  in  the  human  subject.  In  the  treat- 
ment of  poisoning  cases  a  solution  of  carbonate  of  ammonia  is  indicated, 
together  with  large  quantities  of  milk  antl  white  of  egg.  Vomiting  must 
be  encouraged  by  emetic?*,  and  the  stomach-pump  used,  if  necessary,  with 
great  care,  and  only  if  the  ease  be  seen  very  soon. 

Testt, 

(A)  Stannous  Salts  (e.  g.,  Stannous  Chloride.     SnClj). 

1.  Snlphurdied  Hijflroffen  gives  a  brown  preci]>itat6  (SnS).  Collect  the 
precipitate,  and,  whilst  moist,  add  yellow  sulphide  of  aramonium,  when  it 
¥rill  he  converted  into  a  persulphide  (SnS,|.  If  an  acid  be  added  to  this, 
a  yellow  precipitate  falls. 

2.  SoliitiotiA  of  Fixed  Alkalies  give  a  white  precipitate  (Sn2H0),  soluble 
in  excess.  If  the  solution  be  boiled,  eome  oi  the  tin  is  repreci  pita  ted  as 
staDDous  oxide  (black),  (SnO). 

3.  Corroftive  Subrmmie  gives  a  gray  precipitate  consisting  of  mercury,  in 
A  state  of  fine  subdivision. 

4.  Chloride  of  Gold  gives  a  purple  precipitate  (purple  of  Casaius). 


SS0 


OASES    OP    POISONING    BY    TIN    SALTS. 


(B)  StJinnic  SalU  (e,  g.^  Stannic  Chloride.     SnCl^). 

1.  Sulphuretted  Hydrogen  gives  a  yellow  precipitate  (Sii.S,),  soluble  ti 
ammonia,  aod  in  sylphide  of  aininooium,  and  precipitated  therefrom,  on 
the  addition  of  an  acid. 

2.  Sohitioii^  of  the  Fixed  All'idlt^^  give  a  white  precipitate  of  stunnic 
acid  (H,SnOj  goluble  in  excess  <jf  the  alkali,  but  uot  reprecipitated  on 
boiling,  as  happens  with  stannon.s  jialts. 

When  tin  compotirids  are  heated  hy  the  blowpipe  on  charcoal  with  car- 
bonate of  soda,  a  white  metallic  globule  is  formed,  which  will  be  found  to 
be  malleable  and  solnhle  in  hydrochloric  acid,  to  which  solution  the  vari'i 
0U8  te^ts  may  be  applied, 

Toxicoloffkal  A  nalym. 

With  organic  liquids  and  tissues  all  that  is  usual ly  necessary  is  to  boil 
tliem  for  some  time  in  water  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  then  to, 
filter,  and  to  test  the  iiltrate. 

CbjAs  of  Poisoning  by  Chloride  of  Tin. 

CASE  L-^rftla,  "Toxicologic  G6n6rftIo,"  1843,  II,  5;  ChrlstboD,  p.  489.    Given  to  avvenl 
by  the  cook  uaiux  It  hj  mbukc  lonlcad  of  taU. 
SffmfttomM.—^Qnm  vomlled;  cutlckjr  pBlaftftad  dlan-ha'ii. 
JUfttU.—M\  r6cof«rod. 

CASE  2.—"  HedicAl  Thaea,"  October  9th,  1S41.    5a*.  of  solution  of  chloride. 
f^mplonu. — Vomiting;  }iiiiin.    Detirlum  oa  ihi"  third  day. 
£e^j[/.— Death  on  third  day. 


TITANIUM  (Ti^SO). 

Has  no  action,  so  far  as  exiienmenta  have  as  yet  been  made,  on  auimi 
life. 

TUNGSTEN.  WOLFRAM  (W  =  184). 

So  far  aa  we  know,  tungsten  is  peri'eetly  inert.     One  of  the  authors  haft^j 
given  one  ounce  of  tungstate  of  ammonia  to  a  dog,  but  no  eifecta  wei 
produced. 

URANIUM  (U  =  120).    Sp.  gr.  18.4. 

This  is  a  steel-white  metal.     The  uranium  compounds  are  chiefly  us 
for  glass  staining,  the  urauom  oxide  giving  a  black,  and  the  uranic  oxidj^ 
a  fine  yellow  to  glass.     It  is  also  used  in  photography. 

Vomiting  is  induced  when  a  dose  of  from  filleeu  to  sixty  grain?  of  the 
chloride  is  given  to  a  dog,  but  nothing  more.  Three  grains  of  the  chloride 
injected  into  a  vein  proves  instantly  fatal,     (Gnaelin.) 

ZINC  (Zn=65).    Sp.  gr.  7.0. 

Zinc  is  never  met  with  in  an  uncombinated  state  in  the  inorganic  woi 
whilst  it  does  not  exist  at  all,  so  far  ti^  we  know,  in  the  organic.     It 
found  both  in  the  form  of  a  sulphide  (Zn8,  blende),  and  carbonate  (^ZnCO^j 
calamine).     Zinc  is  a  bhii^h-white  metal,  v«ry  brittle,  and  breaks  with  A^ 
ery.'itailiije  fracture.     At  100°  C.  it  is,  to  a  certain  extent,  both  malleable 
an<l  ductile. 

In  moist  air  it  rapidly  tarnishes,  a  thin  film  of  oxide  being  formed.  It 
quickly  dissolves  in  dilute  hydrochloric  and  sulphuric  acids,  and  also  in  a 
not  caustic  potash  solution,  hydrogen  being  set  free.  Nitric  acid  acta  ua 
it  powerfully,  but  the  acid  it«elf  is  decomposed.     It  boils  at  1040°  C>  and 


POISONING    BY    ZINC   SALTS, 


22t 


at  iKig  temperature  give?  off  a  vapor,  which  burps  with  a  bUiiah-white 
flame,  depositiog  xinc  oxide.  The  inhtilation  of  zinc  fumea  are  said  to 
have  produced  injurious  results.  ("Chemical  Oazette/*  viii,  p.  362;  aod 
Christisou,  p.  502.)  It  is  thought  by  some  that  the  evil  eflecte  produced 
in  copper  workshops  on  melting  days  in  due  to  the  ziuc  mixed  with  the 
capper  (bronze),  rather  than  to  the  action  of  the  copper.  Zinc  la  not  itself 
a  poison,  but  all  it5  salt^  are,  although  nothing  like  so  energetic  id  their 
action  as  those  of  lead  and  copper. 

Zinc  is  largely  used  fur  rooting  houi^es.  Sheet-iron,  dippetl  into  a  bath 
of  melted  zinc,  is  coiiimoaly  known  as  galvanized  irtm.  Bnt.^^  is  an  alloy 
of  zinc  with  copper  ;  German  silver  consists  of  brass  whitened  with  nickel. 
All  the  wilts  of  zinc  are  colorless;  aud  most  of  them  are  readily  soluble 
in  water  The  oxide  is  closely  allied  to  magnesia  in  its  combinations, 
,  The  use  of  ziite  for  cooking  utensils  h  not  altogether  without  danger  j 
HjBir,  considering  the  extreme  britttenesa  of  the  metal,  is  it  to  be  recom- 
^HSeuded  for  the  purpose.  Water,  if  it  contains  either  a  free  acid,  or  fatty 
■  matters,  or  a  quantity  of  salt,  has  a  slightly  stjlutive  action  on  zinc 

mi 


Zinc  Oxide, 

Zinc  Carbonate  (Calamine), 

Zinc  Chloride,     . 

Zinc  Sulphide  (Blende), 

Zinc  Sulphate,     . 

Zinc  Acetate, 


ZnO  =  8L 
ZuCO^=125. 
ZuCl,  =  136. 

ZuS  =  97, 


ZnSO„7H,0  =  16H-126. 
Zn(C,H,0,),  2Hp  =  183  +  36. 


Zinc  Oxide  (ZuO  ^  8L) 

This  is  formed  when  zinc  is  burnt  in  air.  The  hydrated  oxide  (ZdOH,P) 
is  precipitated  by  the  addition  of  caustic  soda  or  pi>tash  from  solutions  of 
its  salts.  Oxide  of  zinc  is  used  occasionallv  under  the  name  of  ''Zinc 
White,*'  as  a  paint,  in  the  place  of  white  lead,  its  advantage  being  that  it 
is  not  blackened  by  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

Carbonate  of  Zinc-^ Calamine  (ZnOO,  ^  125). 

When  soluble  carbonates  are  added  to  a  zinc  solutioD,  the  precipitate 
formed  is  a  mixture  of  the  carbonate  and  oxide.  It  is  soluble  in  carbo- 
nate of  ammonia,  but  not  in  the  carbonates  of  potash  or  soda. 

Chhride  oj  Zinc  (ZuCl,—  136> 

This  salt  is  soluble  in  water,  alcohol,  and  ether.  It  Is  used  by  plumbera 
in  soldering  as  a  flux.  Further,  it  possesses  powerful  antiseptic  and  de- 
odorizing properties.  The  strong  a<jueous  solution  constitutes  what  is 
known  as  "  Sir  William  Burnett'.-*  Disinfecting  Fluid."  The  strength  of 
this  liquid  varies  from  205  to  230  grains  of  the  salt  per  ounce. 

It  is,  moreover,  a  powerful  corrosive  poison.  Several  cases  are  recorded 
where  it  has  been  swallowed  accidentally,  and  with  a  fatal  result.  Ap- 
plie<.l  externally,  it  is  found  to  act  as  a  powerful  escliarotic. 

The  chloride  of  zinc  differs  in  its  action  from  all  other  zinc  salts  by  its 
rapidly  coagulating  action  on  liquid  albumen,  and  on  the  delicate  tissues 
of  the  body.  Its  action  on  the  living  body  \^  twofold  :  (let)  It  is  a  caustic 
and  an  irritant,  producing  pain,  and  instant  vomiting;  and  (2dly),  it  ex- 
ert* a  specific  action  on  the  motor  or  organic  system  of  nerves ;  for  after 
the  poison  has  been  taken,  the  pulse  and  breathing  are  accelerated,  the 
voluntary  muscles  become  paralysed,  the  pupils  dilate,  coma  aupervenej?, 
and  death  occurs  without  a  struggle.    The  poison  may  be  fbuod  in  the 


wuwnam  wi  luc  salts. 


ike  blood  bkek 


and 


Hiieiifliivei 
6awa  finofliiii 


it  hwwni  <g  .JJBi A,    Sa^JBiiBof  ■mniooiBm  titrowi 
tlM  kjdroed  wipliilB  (Zi^  H,0). 


1 


a^k^  ^  Smt  (ZrfO,  ^  THfi  =  161  -h  126). 

( WliiSe  \*itrwl,  WUle  Opppau.) 

if  zioekawhiteemlAlfiBeiilt^aiidcaoraMatDdrjatr.  It 
two  M>d  m  ImIT  paiti  of  eold,  aad  in  leai  thaa  its  own  weight 
of  boflte  water  It  k  deaipooed  bj  mlbaiBea  and  milk^  the  aotmal 
BMtlefs  Sranur  MaolohW  oompoiiBdi  with  h.  It  bas  isore  than  oDce  beeo 
taken  bj  mutake  for  MUpkiUe  of  i—aynii.  At  100"^  C.  it  gives  ap  nx  of 
VBter,  and  at  210°  C  it  giTS  op  all  its  water  of  enretaUtxatioii.  If  ex- 
poied  to  a  brigbt  red  beat,  a  BWf«  rasidae  oi  oxide  of  suic  is  lefL 

In  small  doses  <  gr.  j — vj)  it  acts  as  a  nenriiie  tooic,  and  b  aseftil  in 
dftoraa,  epilepsr,  ete.  A  nuicb  laiger  dose  can  be  borne  after  a  patient 
has  ukeo  it  fiir  aocBe  time.  It  is  also  used  as  an  anrii^ent  id  chronic 
diacbaigca  froni  macoos  membfrnoeiL  In  laige  doses  (gr,  x — gr.  xxx)  it  is 
gim  as  an  enetie,  its  action  not  bcung  aeeontpaiiied  with  very  much  geo* 
eval  deprcswoo.  In  oidinnrj  cnses  of  poisoinng  tweoty  grains  of  ibe  sul* 
pbate  maj  be  safely  given,  for  the  purpose  of  produciog  vomitin 

AMUOe  of  Zine  (Zd(C A0,),2H,0  =  183  +  36). 

Thb  salt  li  foriDCti  hv  dia»>IriDg  carbooate  of  zioc  in  acetic  add.     It 
soluble  in  water,  and  ii  given  aa  a  tnoic  in  1  gr.  doses,  and  aa  an  emetic 
in  15  gr.  doaea. 

Symptoms  of  Zinc  Pbuonin^^  Dote^  etc 

To  the  act  of  swallowing  the  peculiar  and  disagreeably  metallic  ta^te' 
the  poison  will  be  complained  of.     The  immediate  vomiting  of  matte] 
contstning  more  or  less  b]tx)d,  the  severe  abdominal  pain,  accompanied 
with  purging,  and  the  burning  pain  in  the  gullet,  are  the  prominent  symp- 
toms of  p^jitfoning  with  the  zinc  salts.     The  pulse  is  generally  very  feeble, 
the  body  very  cold,  the  countenance  very  anxious,  but  the  intellect  clear.  ^ 
On  ooe  occasion  no  vomiting  seems  to  have  been  produced.  fl 

AAer  chloride  of  zinc  has  been  swallowed,  the  several  membranes  with  * 
which  it  comes  into  contact,  owing  to  its  terribly  corrosive  action,  will  be 
found  destrojed,  froth  will  probably  issue  from  the  mouth,  and  the  patient 
loati  both  voice  and  sighL  Its  action,  too,  on  the  nervous  system  is  gener- 
ally very  considerable.  The  patient  may,  moreover,  apparently  recover 
from  the  primary  symptoms;  but  they  oflen  again  recur,  or  induce  death 
bv  Moonnary  causes,  such  as  stricture  of  the  gullet,  or  pylorus,  or  by  the 
chemical  action  of  the  poi^^^m  on  the  lining  membrane  of  the  stomach. 

As  regards  the  thiie  of  deaths  it  is  t*)  be  remarked  that  this  specially 
depends  on  whether  vomiting  and  purging  are  early  or  late  symptoms, 
Ooe  ounce  of  the  sulphate,  or  100  grains  of  the  chloride,  may  be  regarded 
as  a  poisonous  dose.  Great  tolerance  of  zinc  compouudis,  however,  is 
brought  about  by  use,  Thu*  we  read  of  two  scruples  of  the  acetate  being 
given  three  times  a  day  in  a  case  of  epilepsy. 


{ 


TB8TS    FOR    ZINC, 


223 


Treatment. 

The  treatment  of  zinc  poisooiag  is  similar  to  that  recomraeDded  in  cases 
of  poisoning  by  copper.  In  cases  where  chJoride  of  zinc  haa  been  taken, 
carbonate  of  soda,  with  milk,  white  of  egg,  teii,  and  decoction  of  bark,  are 
indicated.     Opium  toay  be  given  to  relieve  pain. 

Poft-mortem  Appearances. 

When  the  sulphate  has  been  taken,  inflamraation  of  the  iotestina!  tract 
is  uniformly  found.     The  brain  and  lungs  are  generally  congested. 

With  the  chloride  the  post-raortem  appearances,  reported  by  Dr. 
LfCtbeby,  are  a  peculiar  whitened  and  opacity  of  the  mucous  membraue 
of  the  mouth  and  a^50pbagus»  and  a  hard,  leathery  state  of  the  .storoacli, 
which  is  generally  corrugated,  contracte<l,  opaque,  and  of  a  dark-leaden 
color,  all  parts  having  a  very  acid  reaction.  The  lungs  and  kidneys  are 
usually  congested.  The  fluid  in  the  stomach  ollen  has  the  appearance  of 
curds  and  whey.     In  one  case  two  perforations  in  the  stomach  were  lound. 

Fatty  changes  in  the  various  viscera  have  beeu  mure  than  once  re- 
corded. 

Experiments  on  Animals. 

Orfila  found  that  dogs  recovered  after  taking  as  much  as  seven  or  eight 
drachms  of  the  acetate,  if  the  poison  was  not  artificiaHy  retained  in  the 
etomach  ;  but  that  death  generally  occurred  iu  about  three  days,  if  the 
gullet  was  tied,  the  inflammation  in  the  stomach  alter  death  being  well 
marked.  Injected  into  the  veins,  forty-eight  grains  caused  instaot  death  j 
whilst  with  even  twenty-four  grains,  death  occurred  in  three  minutes. 
OrHla  tbuud  the  poison  afterwards  in  the  .spleen,  liver,  and  urine,  Blake's 
exp4-*rimeiit«  showed  that  some  depression  of  the  heart's  action  was  pro- 
duced when  even  three  grains  was  injected  into  the  veins,  whibt  an  arrest 
of  the  heart's  action  occurred  in  eight  seconds  when  thirty  grsina  was 
similarly  injected. 

In  PyFs  '* Memoirs"  a  case  is  recorded,  where  the  outward  application  of 
the  sulphate  of  zinc  to  an  eniptiou  caused  death  iu  five  hours,  with  voniit- 
iag,  purging,  and  convulsions. 

Tests, 

1.  Sulphuretted  Hydrogen  gives  in  neutral  or  alkaline  solutioDa  (but  not 
in  an  acid  solution)  a  white  annirphouj^  precipitate.  Zinc  is  the  only  metal 
that  gives  a  white  precipitate  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen.  A  simiiar  pre- 
cipitate is  produced  with  .*nlphide  of  ammonium.  The  precipitate  thus 
formed  is  insoluble  in  caustic  alkalies,  or  in  acetic  acid,  but  is  soluble  in 
the  mineral  acids,  even  when  very  dilute.  The  precipitation  of  the  metal 
i»  aided  by  a  slight  heat. 

2.  Caustic  Alkalifji  give  a  white  precipitate  (ZuH.jO,),  soluble  iu  excess 
of  the  alkalies,  and  in  free  acids. 

3.  Alkaline  Cnrhonaie^ ^y%  a  white  precipitate,  insoluble  either  in  excesa- 
of  the  carbonates,  or  in  the  fixed  alkalies,  but  soluble  in  all  ammooiv 
salts, 

4.  The  separation  of  zinc  from  it^  solutions  can  be  effected  by  placing 
the  solution  in  a  platinum  capsule,  and  touching  the  platinum  through  the 
liquid  with  a  piece  of  magnesium,  when  the  metal  will  be  depi.>sited  on  the 
platinum. 

5.  Zinc  salta,  when  heated  on  platiuura-foil,  leave  a  fixed  infusible  im- 
due,  which,  when  hot,  is  yellow,  and,  when  cold,  is  white.     If  the  residue 


224 


ANALYSIS    IN    CASES    OF    ZINC    POISONING, 


he  warmetl  witli  nitnite  of  cobalt,  and  afterwanJs  heated  with  the  blow- 
pip*?,  the  nijuis  assumes  n.  brilliant  green  color. 

t).  Zinc  salts,  heated  with  carbonate  <*f  soda  in  the  reduciuj^  flame  of  the 
blowpipe,  deposit  an  iniTiistation  similar  to  the  above,  that  is,  yellow  when 
hot,  and  white  when  cold. 

7.  Fcrroct/anidv  of  Polam.um  gives  a  white  amorphoas  precipitate,  in- 
soluble in  mineral  aeiH^,  but  solnbte  in  fiTrcd  caustic  alkalies. 

8.  Ferrivyanitfe  of  PotaMmum  gives  a  reddish-brown  precipitate,  inmlable 
in  mineral  acidi?,  but  eotuble  iu  caustic  alkalies. 

9.  Oj^aiic  Aetd  gives  a  white  crystalline  precipitate,  very  soluble  io  the 
mineral  acid:*. 

Note, — That  nearly  all  the  tests  give  white  precipitates. 


Quantitative  Estimation. 


Zinc  18  usually  estimated  {jnantitatively  as  an  oxide.    The  solution  raust 
he  boiled,  treated  willi  ctirbonate  of  soda  until  a  precipitate  ceases  to  be 
pniduf't'd,  again  boiled,  hllered,  and  the 
ignited. 

100  gre.  ZnO  =  354.13 
"     =  167.77 
«         *♦     =  270.37 


precipitate  washed,  dried,  and 
7H,0. 


ZnSO, 

ZnCl^ 

Acetate  of  Zinc, 


Toxicolofjical  Analysis, 

In  examining  the  stomach  and  its  contents,  in  a  case  of  suspected  poison* 
iog,  it  should  always  be  remembered  that  zinc  may  have  been  given  to 
a  patient  as  an  emetic,  and  hence,  although  found  in  the  stomach  after 
death,  not  be  the  cause  of  death.  If  found,  it  should  never  deter  us  from 
eeeking  for  other  iwisons. 

Boil  the  contents  of  the  stomach,  or  any  organic  liquid,  with  acetle 
acid.  This  will  dissolve  any  Kinc  oxides  existing  iu  combination  with  ani- 
mal matters.  Filter  the  liquid,  and  pass  sulphuretted  hydrogen  through 
the  HUrate.  Collect  the  precipitate,  wash  and  dry.  Act  upon  this  with 
strong  nitric  acid,  and  dilute  sufficiently  with  water.  The  solution  may 
tliei)  be  n^^utralized  with  carbonate  of  ammonia,  and  tested  accordingly. 

The  prc?^ence  of  iron  as  a  peroxide  somewhat  interferes  with  the  reac- 
tions. The  iron  can  be  precipitated  by  first  adding  an  excess  of  ammonia, 
and  filtering  the  zinc  remaining  in  solution.  The  filtrate  must  be  evapo' 
rated  to  dryne-^s,  and  a  drop  of  acetic  acid  having  been  added  to  the 
rejiitlue,  the  zinc  may  then  be  tl resolved  in  water  and  tested. 

The  Holtd  nuitterii  uiu»t  he  incinerated,  and  the  ash  tested  accordingly. 

Cans  t*f  PoUwdnff  tpif  A  the  Salt$  o/  Zinc. 
(I.)  CHLORIDE  OF  ZINC. 

CARE  1.—"  LftQcet,*'  September  Sd,  1844,  p.  267  [Ur.  CroHing).  F«in»lfl :  «t.  ft3.  |1«  of  Sir  Wtt- 
lltiu  Burnett'*  solution. 

Sifmfikmu.—lnwUni  pain  und  romUinK,  nod  «ft«rw«rd9  pirri^intr.  In  on<!>  and  AhtirhuureUieTolee 
tH»  ifone,  AiMl  she  t>eciinio  fridity.  to  a  few  hourtabv  bad  uunTulsloiia,  wltli  lwl(chkug<!i  of  the  fMa] 
MUM»l«i;  eotlftpM,  stid  death  Jo  fourteen  hours. 

JUfHlt, —J>vnih  in  f<»urt«<a  boun. 

/^t•^4n9rfnK.— [tody  was  premerved  unuiii&tif  wetl ;  mucous  mr>iiibrane  of  lips  and  tongue  abrwled, 
•nd  tbat  of  the  ceaopbagua  and  stomach  entirely  destroyed.  No  ulcernltoa  or  porformifcm  ;  doo4*- 
BUDD  and  lolestinea  congested  ;  heart  uorDial,  left  »ldv  mtrm^l  with  blood ;  luiifpi  coBKcatcd. 

'*4SE  2—"  Lancet,"  January  Olb,  I8G4.  p.  sa  (Or.  WardHI  <.  Ftmale:  mU  Jt.  ThrmMiuarten  of  ft 
aaaful  of  BuriKtt's  dUtufvctlng  fluid—  I4<l  ifralu?  of  ZiiCt|. 


CASKS    OF    POISONING    Bt    ZINC. 


225 


',— Violrnt  ami  Immpdtiite  Tomlliax,  vith  gretki  pftJn  to  Itonilhcli ;  fviiplla  fimall;  great 
pmalrmttoti,  hut  no  parikljsia  of  the  upper  or  lower  extremUi«a. 

BunUL—Um^th  In  forty-one  hours. 

CASE  a,— -"Edinbtinth  Medicnl  and  Snrglcal  Journal,**  OctotMr,  184B  (Pr.  Stratton).     Female: 
mAall.    SIJ  of  a  solutioo  •>  )2  grftlna. 
—Palo;  Tufuiting. 
K»H^uTfry. 

CARE  4.—*'  I^ancfi,"  September  12th,  1857,  p,  271  (Dr.  Rote).    Male:  rt.  21.    Oae-hair  plni  of  Sir 
William  Burnett't  diaiorectlng  toluilon. 
Death. 

Kaodt  clt^cbed;  miiraii*  membrane  of  ffionaach  deep  purple,  partfalljr  oorrrtded  and 
4e»troycd ;  pj\ot\c  uTiAc«>  con5trlct«d;  duodt^ntirii  iitiiirh  «ingest«d;  right  lui>g  inuvb  coiig*<fltMl; 
WOlrlclcaof  heart  Ailed  vllh  dark  coa^uta;  brain  aod  uiernbraaesooageatMl. 

CASES""  Lflno^t,"  JaQU»rir  )-2th,  |JM1,  p,  21HDr.  II.  c^  Wrlgbtju  Female:  m/Ll.  Siaa.  ofBlr  Wll- 
tten  BMrnrll'a  wMutlon  taken  on  an  empty  Hloiuafh, 

i^mv»foww, — Symptoins  iniiuedinle.  She  got  tiHtrr  iiniltT  treatment,  and  n*m9lned  so  for  ittu  days* 
vlieo,  without  any  apparent  caus4\  iromittng  uf  MooJ  t<»<>k  ptaoe.  From  thia  llroe  ahc  b<;caitte  very 
HI.  bvl  recovered  after  a  lopg  iJlueaa.    (Batha  of  mUk  were  uaed.} 

JBamllr.— ReeoTery . 

CASE  «.— "  Lancet,"  January  12tb,  1861,  p.  30  <  Dr.  H.  Wright).  Female .  lei.  13.  Sir  Witltam  Bur- 
nrltSi  flaid  drank  by  mistake. 

S^fu^omi.^^he  rallied  for  iwci  days,  after  which  hxraatemeaij  ocrurred  and  vlolt^ut  Bickneaa.  She 
fot  Iwilier  for  a  time,  but  died  after  a  abort  p«rl<Ml.    There  were  ao  nenrous  aymptom*. 

#Bam/l.— tieaih  an<er  a  few  days. 

CASiE  7.—" £diBburgb  M«dU«l  and  Surgteal  Jouroal,'*  October,  1H4«,  p.  ^5.  Male :  adult.  I>oee  200 
(nalna. 

^ym^NU.— Dnrning  pain  ;  Tomttlng. 

iiMw/i  — Itecorcry  in  fllxteeo  days. 

CASE  8  — "  Lancet,"  Auguat  20ih.  \H^\  p.  IIJO  ^Dr.  R.  HassplU.    Male.    Stlj  of  Burnett'*  fluid. 

%mplmu.—Tncenant  vomiting;  purging  aot  tn  on  the  IhJnl  day;  oo  corroalve  action;  nervous 
aymploida.  Indicated  by  perversion  of  taste  and  smell,  net  In. 

Aa*«ir~ReC'fv«ry  In  three  mi.tnibi. 

CASK  t>  -"MiMJical  Tlmea  and  Caxelti;."  .Tuue  llth,  ISS9,  p.  ffSS  (Dr.  Markham).  Female:  let.  46. 
lOOgralna  — half  a  wineglamrul  of  iiioluiicm. 

',— Vomiting  and  pain;  apparently  got  well,  but  In  three  wcvka  the  vomiting  retiiroed, 
nlrd  wirh  cxbaustiou. 
.^Dtr-alli  in  ten  week». 

Stomach  very  con«trlcted  at  iate«tinal  end,  so  aa  only  to  admit  a  crowqnill, 

CARE  to.— "  Lancet,"  July  6th,  18S0,  p.  S  (Dt.  Letheby).  Female:  lei.  dfleei]  montha.  Sir  Wil- 
Umb  Burnett**  fluid. 

4|n«|i/0flu.— Extreme  prmtratloo,  aod  died  comatoae,    Occaalonal  vomllltig  of  a  freihy  fluid. 

JfearMir.— I>eath  in  ten  boura. 

AtiT-Mor/PM —Lining  membrane  of  (he  mouth  and  throat  white  and  opaque;  atomacb  hard  and 
leaihrry,  the  inner  surface  dark^oJoriMi  ;  lungs  and  kldnt-ys  oongi'Mtti. 

CA,SE  II.— *'Ameriean  Journal  of  Medical  Science,"  January,  IlMiO,  p.  liW.  Female:  eet.  40,  A 
ijuaoiilf  of  dUlofrctlDg  fluid  taken  for  gin. 

dl^|rf«fiM.— Vomited  io  teo  mluutra.    Stomach  became  ao  IrrlUble  that  food  could  not  be  retaiaed. 

iCeiH/f.— Death  in  fourteen  weeks. 

CASE  12.-*  British  Mrdlral  Journal,"  September  5th,  1874,  p.  M7  (Dr.  TuckweU).  Female:  Ki.  81. 
A  qwantity  (about  four  ounces). 

0|)iyi>BM.— No  injury  to  llpa  or  to  niucotia  membrane  of  the  mouth;  Immediate  pialn  and  vomlt- 
tag.    For  Bfty-aeven  daya  li/e  wa«  supported  by  injections.    The  body  was  full  of  petechial  spota. 

AnU. — Death  la  ooe  hundred  and  ftlxteen  daya. 

A#  moftfei.— Body  much  emaclut4-d ;  fblty  changes  had  taken  place  in  various  organa.  lotealiaea 
Wty  voofested. 

CASE  13.—'* Lancet,"  September  6lb.  1S54,  p.  250  (Dr.  Thorn).  Male :  let.  30  mootba.  A  teaapoon* 
tui  of  Crewe's  disinfecting  fluid. 

Jt|rw^owM.— l^reat  palu,  purging,  aod  vomiting. 

/iomtf.— It«"Covery. 

CASK  14— "Medical  TImea  and  rtaactte,"  October  llih.  tWH,  p.  882  (Mr.  Milton).  Male:  adult. 
Burmtt'N  n.iirl  takt'O  for  gtn.    Drauk  a  glass  without  noticing  the  mistake. 

S^mfttomj.—l'aiBm  and  vomiting  soon  st^t  In  ;  could  iwraroely  move  beeause  of  the  ogODy  it  caused. 
Ho  movMrr^l  after  a  week,  but  bad  a  relapse,  from  which  he  recovered  after  three  weeks. 

Aicml/.— llecovery. 

C A»E  1.1  — '♦  Merliral  TImea  and  Gaaelte,"  November  Rlh,  18ftl,  p.  4*7  {Dr,  T,  Ogter  Ward).  Female: 
mt.  4n.     Alxiut  a  mouthful,  awallowod  by  mistake  fur  vinegar. 

^|raip<<i"«M— Burning  pain;  giddiness;  loss  of  sight;  purging  and  votDltlug;  ovUapae;  lossof  seii- 
^^tfMlty  atid  loos  of  voice.    Recovery  aAer  Ave  weeks. 


ZINC 


CASE  1S.~" M«dleal  TiniM  mod  Guett«,"  July  I9th,  lfiS6,  fi.  C0  <I>r.  F.  C.  V¥tVb%    Uwit,    ||  of ' 
B«TQ«tr*  fluid  by  iiil«uk<>,  taken  »ft«r  %.  full  laroJ. 

^„^^M^.— 41rvmt  ptln;  catiaUiDt  voinitltig;  nuirkKl  prostmUao;  oo  tlffni  of  eorroaloa  la 
HHMtb  or  faucMu    (Emetic  adaatoltterwl  very  aooa.)    Aecoverj  mfler  msnf  wseln. 

iSCunil— Hecowery. 

CASE  17.—"  Medical  Times  aod  Guetle;*  Noreinbpr  26lh,  18S9,  ^  SS&  (Dr.  Baberaboa).    Fennlr : 
Kt.  37.    Three-fourth*  of  a  wioeglaattful  of  Burnett'*  fluid.  | 

dlrmjNKMiu.'— Vomiting  ia  a  quarter  of  ao  hour,  aflerwarda  pur^luk*;  no  blood,  ar»d  aa  vntlrt  «^ 
aeae«  of  pain.    Three  niontba  aftrrwardR  pain  H't  in,  aod  eight  day*  after  thin  the  patleot  ditvdi 

Jtemtt.— I>(>ath  in  three  or  four  laoDths. 

/M-awrfrm.— CEiophafiu  and  ttomacb  ulceratod;  porforation  »(  tb«  «ftrdlic  fod ;  nuoooa  ai 
bnne  noch  dMtrof  ed. 

CASE  18  —"  Medical  Tiiuv*  stnd  Gaceltv,"  October  184h,  1862,  p.  404  (Dr.  CouilnaV    Fvmalo,    Abenl 
SU  of  Sir  Williaia  Burnett's  diiinfecUng  Huid. 

J^mptovM.— Id  ten  oilDuta  great  pain,  mkua^cn,  and  constriction  of  the  throAiaetta;  lo  fire  ho\in, 
gMdlaeas  aod  loas  of  sight  occurred ;  afterwanla  collap«i.    Death. 

Benli.—DcAth  in  seven  and  a  half  hours. 

CASE  19.^"  Medical  Time*  and  Gaaette/'  Augoat  l^th,  IMM.  p.  188.    Female.    ChloHd*  of  slae 
(■oldering  fluid  \. 

bjfmfttmia  — Hu rn i Dg  pain  Id  Ihroat  and  stomach. 

BandL — Beco  ve  ry. 


\ 

I 

i 


See  also  the  following  QueM  of  f\)i$tfninff  by  Chloridt  of  Zinc 

*'Medk»]  Tlmea  aad  Gaxette,"  June  Qlh,  ims,  p.  0»1  (death). 
"  Medical  TItues  and  Gaaftte,"  July  ilh,  1863,  p.  23. 
"I*haruiac<.'Ulical  Journal,'"  January,  1907,  p.  420, 
**  Lauct'l,"  1864,  Tol.  I,  p.  3S. 


Male:  Bt.  2a    8J. 


(H.)  SULPHATE  OP  ZINC. 

CA5E  20,— "Ann  d'Hyg.,"  1871.  vol.  (i,  p.  111.    Female:  aet  60.    QnanlUy 7  adlatniatered  io  aoup. 
I.— Thoee  of  irritant  polaoDiog. 
L — Death  In  three  days. 

.—Zinc  found  io  spleen,  tirer,stoinach,  and  lnteii<llb«flL 

CASE  21,— Tajflor'a  "  Medical  Jurltprudence,"  p.  316  1  Dr.  Matklptosh). 

Sifmp/omu. — Early  vomiting  and  purging. 

EeniiL — Kecuvt'ry . 

CASE  22.— *' British  and  Foroigit  Medical  and  Clilrurgkal  BeTlew,"  Aprils  1648« 
SlM.  taken  for  iu)phat«  of  nagnesia. 

Jtymptesi*.- Vomiting  and  purging  iraniediate. 

Be$Mit.—\}cM\i  in  thirteen  and  a  half  hours. 

CAHE  23.— ^'British  and  Foreign  Medical  and  Chlrnrgical  ttevlew,**  April,  IMB.    Female:  Kt.  U, 
Slaa.  taken  for  aulphale  of  uiagneiia.  . 

Sjfmptwu.—'So  vomiting  for  flfi^en  minutea,  or  purging  for  half  aa  ho«r«  I 

Aen^l.- Recovery.  ^ 

CAiJE  24.—" Chemical  News,"  June  iStb,  ia«9,  p.  288  (Dr.  H<»r»p«th)k    Slow  poltonlog  by  nilphalci 
of  xlnc  and  iron. 

Ssmpiomt—ThSni^  nausea,  vomiting;  beat  In  stomach  and  guUet, 

AMttlf.— I>eath. 

I^tai  mortew.— Stomach  iuflatned.     • 

CJ18B  SS.— Orfila's  '^Toaicologte,"  vol.  1,  p.  573.    Female.    i\\  by  misUke. 

t^w^ptonw,— Pain  and  vomiting.    (Potash  given  iu  synifi.) 

JSstkA.— Jtecovery. 

CASE  26.— C  brijitlBon,  p.  904.    Child.    Sulphate  of  sine,  used  aa  wash  lo  head. 

iS^m|)te«M.— Vomiting,  purging,  convnlstons, 

.fiiMit/fC— Death  in  live  hours. 

CASE  27.- "Mr^ical  Tlmc«  and  Gaaette."  8e'pl4>mt»er  8th,  1M2,  p.  SlltZ  (Mr,  Marsh),    Male:  kL  SL 
About  half  ao  ounce  uf  flulpbale  of  ilnc  Id  aoluilun. 

JUiayJwni     Imninlisir  pain  and  ftlcko«sa.    fieomed  to  be  getting  better  during  three  days,  wImm 
bohada  cvlapae,  aad  died.  ^ 

JBMHtt.— Death  on  the  Afth  day. 

^tt-m0tUm.—AVi,  the  I  losacs  of  abdomon  loaded  vlth  fat ;  duodenum  and  eiomaeli  laflamcd ;  iMUf 
foUy. 

CASE  28.-*'  Uncet,"  July  21st,  1855,  p.  52  iDr.  Brenoan ».    Male ;  cet.  19.    siv  tn  water  by  mt»take^ 

afmfjHtmt.—b^)[\M\A<tm%  linuicdiate;    vomiUng,  purging,  convulsions.     (Magueala   administered.^ 
Bevovery  in  three  days. 

Jlamlf.- Itecovery. 


THE    MIUBRAL    ACIDS. 


227 


».— '*  Vknetl,*'  Mftf  17tU,  1836,  p.  540  (Dr  Q.  D.  Glhb).    Femile:  ct.  22.  Slxty-seTOQ  greint. 

I  — Imnji'diAie  bitter  tote;  greftt  thirst  Aod  di'prewlon. 
-Recovery. 

I.— "LiUiCCt^"  May  25th,  IS?!,  p.  717.    Male:  leL.  21.    3j  of  sulphate  of  ilnc. 
^pmyAMM.— Yomitlng  »Dd  purging  in  a  few  tulnutoA;  craiup;  puin  lu  region  of  bladder. 
BBPHtt— BecoTerj, 

See  al$n  the  following  Cases  of  Poisoning  with  Sulphate  of  Zinc. 

Aon.  d'Hjrg.,"  »ol.  xixviJ,  p.  329  (Tnrdieu  und  Eloussiu— Death).. 
Medl<  a1  Timv«  ftnd  Gaxette,"  July  |6th,  tM>a,  p.  7$. 
Ltuica, "  Aogiwii  27ih,  iS&ii.  p.  210  (Dr.  Ogle). 


CHAPTER   XI, 


THE  MINERAL  ACIDS. 

StTLrauRic  Acid— Prf^pnTfttion — Nu'i««ncpfl  Briaing  from  Oil  of  Vilriul  Ffictorie^a 
— Impuriliw — Method  uf  Ptirifying — Viirietjes  of  Acids— Sjitciflc  GrHvitie«  of 
Acid:*  of  Various  Strengths  (tahlp) — Properties — Itsi  Aclron  on  Viinous  Itjor- 
giinic  and  Orpftnic  Bodie* — Symptoms — Trtnilment — Pai-t-mortPm  aiipenrunoea 
— ^Tests — Methods  of  Distinuui^hing  Fret?  Arid  iVorn  Acid  in  CombtimtioD — 
ToxicoTogieal  Aiuilj,>iR— Acid  Stuina— QuHmitativf  Estimntion— List  (»f  CniH?a 
— Nitric  ">lcu/—Pref.arHtion—V»rii'tieB— Impurities — Method  of  Punfving — 
Spt.'citic  Gravities  of  Vurioa»  Strength?  (table) — Action  on  («)  Vegetrtble  and 
ifi)  Animal  8ubst«nce» — vSym|itom?— Post-mortem  Appenranees — QuwnLitutive 
£i>tiniaiif)n — Toxieological  Aiiniy&is — 8lniiia  on  Clatliing — Lir^t  of  Cases — 
Hytlrochhric  Acid — Preparation  of  the  Gas— Properties — Action  on  Animal 
Liffl — Nuisances  arising  fn»m  the  Ewape  of  the  Gn»— Liquid  Aci<i — SpeciHc 
GruVllie«  of  Acids  of  Dift'erent  Strengths  (table)  —  Properties — Impurities— 
Prvfrnralion  of  Pure  Acid— Symptoms — Te^ts — Quantitativo  E>timulion^ — 
T«»xico1ogicnl  Analysis — Acid  Stains  on  Clothing— Li&t  of  Cast** — I fi/rliu> fluoric 
>lcirf^Preparali«'n — Action  und  IVstf  —  Nitroiftdp/mric  /IsrVi^ Properties— -Ac- 
lion  on  Organic  Bo<\if9^Te9lA—yitrohi/drochloric  yfcMi—Propertic^  and  Tests 
— Sulpkindigottn  Add. 

Sulphurie^  Nitric,  atid  Hrjdrochloric  Acids. 

These  acids  are  of  very  considerable  importance  me<licQ-]ega]ly.  Being 
common  trade  articles,  they  are  accessible  to  all^  and  procuraBk  by  all, 
without  guspicion.  The  cases  of  poi-soniiig,  however^  by  them  io  England 
have  been  altuost,  without  exception,  accidental  or  suicidal.  In  Berlin, 
according  to  Dr.  Caspar  (**  Medical  TimeB,"Aug.  1851,  p.  213),  nine-tenths 
of  the  cajre^  of  poisoning  are  ejected  by  commoa  oil  of  vitriol.  The  min- 
eral acids^  moreover,  are  not  uofrequeutly  employed  by  the  mischievous 
ftnd  ill-disposed  for  throwing  over  dresses  and  clothes,  aod  thus  effecting 
their  destruction. 

SULPHURIC  ACID  (H,SO,,  or  H,0,  SOJ. 

(Dihydric  Sulphate — Oil  of  Vitriol — Vitriol — Spirit  or  Essence  of 

Vitriol*) 

Preparation, 

Sulphuric  Add  \&  prepared — 

(1)  By  pflffiiog  sulphurous  acid  gas  (60 j^),  vapors  of  nitric  acid  (HKO,), 
steam  (U,0)»  and  air  into  a  leaden  chamber,  so  arranged  as  to  allow  their 


PBBFABATf09  OF  SinirHimTt;   ACtD. 


free  and  perfect  admixtare.    A  shallow  layer  of  water  covers  tlie  bottom 
of  the  chamber. 

The  Sulphun>us  Add  is  prodaced  either  by  baming  crude  sulphur  or 
pyrites  T  which  cootains  from  30  to  35  per  ceoL  of  sulphur),  or  the 
fpeDt  oxide  from  gas-woriLs  (which  usually  contaius  40  to  60  per 
cent,  of  sulphur). 

The  Xitru:  Acid  is  obtained  from  nitre  (KNO,)  by  the  addition  of 
sulphuric  acid  (H,SO^). 

The  *Stmtn  ( H,0 )  is  derived  from  a  dpecial  water-bofler. 

The  Air  in  due  quantity  is  obtained  oy  providing  a  constant  draughty 
through  the  leaden  chamber. 

The  following  are  the  reactions  that  occur : 

(a)  Tlie  SO,  becomes  oxidized  at  the  expense  of  the  oxygen  of  th« 
nitric  acid,  which  i»  by  this  means  reduced  to  nitric  oxide  (N0)«| 

3(80,)  +  2(HN0,)  -r  2{Ufl)  =  3(H^0j  -(-  2(NO). 

(fi")  The  NO  thus  formed  instantly  combines  with  the  oxygen  of  the] 
air,  and  nitric  i)er«}xide  is  formed  (KjO^). 

2(NO}  +  O,  =  NA. 

0')  The  SO,  i«  now  oxidized  at  the  expense  of  the  'SJi>^, 

SO,  -I-  H,0  -h  NO,  =  NO  +  H^,. 

Nitrogen  and  nitric  oxide  only  e?cape  bv  the  flue. 
The  dilute  ttcid  (chamber  acid)  which  is  formed  at  the  bottom  of  th( 
chamber,  i:*  drawn  off,  and  duly  concentrated. 

(2 1  .Sulphuric  acid  is  also  prepared  by  the  distillation  of  dried  snlphat 
of  iron  (FeSO^X  This  process  is  adopted  at  Nordhausen,  Ferric  oxid< 
which  18  a  red  powder,  and  knuwn  aj»  colcothar  (Fe,0,)  is  left  in  the  retort.' 

4FeSO,  -h  H,0  =  H,0,  2S0,  -h  2FeA  +  2S0,. 


NutMncet  arising  from  OH  of  Jltriot  FaHoriei, 

And  here  we  may  note  that  nuisances  arising  from  oil  of  vitriol  factories 
are  frequently  a  cau^  of  nuisance,  and  form  a  subject  of  litigation.     It 
will  be  ?een  that  a  free  current  of  air  through  the  leaden  chamber  is  nec- 
essary for  carrying  on  the  process  of  manufacture;  and  as  this  current 
escapes  at  the  exit  pipe,  it  is  not  unlikely  to  carry  with  it  various  injurioi 
gases.     As  a  rule  in  practice,  100  parts  of  sulphur  produce  2(X)  to  29^ 
parts  of  sulphuric  acid  (H^SO^).     Theoretically,  100  part*  should  produ< 
30G.2.7  jmrlfe*  of  the  acid.     The  nitre  also  employed  at  the  works  ought  not* 
to  exceed  2  part*  by  weight  for  every  100  parts  of  sulphur;  but,  in  reality, 
it  is  rarely  legs  than  4  parts,  and  ranges   from  this  to  12  parts,  or  more. 
Where  the  spent  oxide  is  employed  as  a  source  of  sulphurous  acid,  thi 
amouDt  of  nitre  used  is  rarely  less  than  7  per  cent.     If,  then,  we  find  ani 
large  disproportion  between  the  materials  used  and  the  acid  obtained,  thei 
is  strong  evidence  that  a  considerable  escape  of  gaseous  bodies  must  he^ 
going  on.     This  escape  may  be   still  more  accurately  estimated  by  direct 
experiment,  as  by  abstracting  the  gases  from  the  flues  connecting  the  cham- 
ber with  the  general  shaft.     Dr.  Koscoe  stales  that  in  well-managed  works 
the  sulphur  present  should  not  exceed  one  grain  per  cubic  foot.     The  air 
of  the  chimuty-shail,  according  to  Dr.  Letheby,  should  uot  contain  more 
than  0,2'')  grain  of  sulphur  per  cubic  fivH,  oue*half  of  this  amount  being 
nnihably  derived  from  the  coal  or  coke  used  in  the  furnaces.     The  follow- 


IMPDRITIB3    OF    SULPHURIC    ACID. 


ing  are  the  main  points  to  be  observed  in  the  inspection  of  oil  of  vitriol 
factories : 

(1)  That  the  sulphur  furnaces  are  burning  properly — no  fumes  escaping 
therefrom. 

(*2)  That  the  leaden  chamber  and  flues  are  perfectly  aouud  and  air- 
tight 

(3)  That  the  gases  iu  the  flues  leading  from  the  leaden  chamber  do  not 
contain  more  than  one  grain  of  sulphur  per  cubic  foot* 

(4)  That  previously  to  the  gases  from  the  leaden  chamber  passing  into 
the  chimney-shaft,  they  are  first  passed  through  a  water -scrubber  tlo  take 
up  sulphurous  acid);  then  through  a  sulphuric  acid  scrubber  (to  absorb 
the  oxides  of  nitrogen) ;  and  lastly,  through  a  lime  piirificr. 

(5)  That  the  process  adopted  in  the  concentration  of  the  acid  is  simi- 
larly conducted,  in  order  to  prevent  the  escape  of  otfenBive  gase^. 

Irnpuritiea, 

The  impurities  and  means  of  purifying  sulphuric  acid  are  important, 
and  must  be  considered  in  some  detail,  as  they  often  become  subjects  of 
question  in  law  courts. 

(1)  Compounds  nf  Oxygen  and  Nitrogen,  derived  from  the  nitric  acid 
used  in  the  manufactyre. 

These  nitrogen  compounds  may  be  known  in  the  acid — 

(a)  By  its  turning  sulphate  of  iron  an  olive-green  or  black  color,  the 
depth  of  csjlor  varying  according  to  the  amount  i>f  the  oxides 
present.     To  make  the  ex|ierinient,  take  a  drachm  of  the  acid, 
mix  it  with  a  lew  drops  of  water,  and  allow  the  mixture  to  cool. 
Add  to  this,  carefully,  about  half  a  drachm  of  a  sialurated  solu- 
tion of  green  sulphate  of  iron,  bo  tliat  the  solution  may  float 
on  the  acid.     Note  if  any  change  of  color  occurs  at  the  .«pot 
where  the  two  >*olutions  meet,  which  will  be  at  once  produced 
if  nitrogen  compouiid:*  are  present  iu  the  acid. 
By  the  acid  bleaching  a  few  drops  of  a  dilute  solution  of  indigo. 
(t)  By  its  turning  a  red  lint  when  mixed  with  a  little  brucia,  the 
acid  having  been  first  diluted  with  its  own  bulk  of  water. 
Ab  acid  that  contains  a  very  large  rpiantily  of  nitrogen  coraix>unda  is 
not  well  suited  for  geueratiug  sulphuretted  or  arseniuretted  hydrogen. 

(2)  Sulphurotm  AcitL 

(a)  This  is  a  fretjuent  Sm purity  of  the  acid,  and  renders  it  unfit  for 
use  in  testing  for  metals  by  Marsh's  process.  If  such  an  acid 
be  uf4ed  fur  generating  hydrogen,  the  gas  set  free,  although  j>er- 
fectly  free  from  arsenic,  is  likely  to  haflie  the  i^kill  of  the 
unwary  by  blackening  a  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver  when 
pa.«sed  through  it,  and  by  depositing  a  yellow  ring  when  heat 
is  applied  as  the  gas  traverses  a  glass  tube.  Thej*e  reaetjuns 
arc  due  to  the  development  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  the  sul- 
phurous acid  being  decomposed  when  present  where  hydrogen 
18  being  liberated.  This  teat,  however,  enables  us  to  discover 
the  impurity.     Or,  again — 

(/?)  Mix  two  drachms  of  the  acid  with  a  few  drops  of  water;  add  to 
this  a  drachm  of  an  acid  solutiou  of  protochloride  of  tin,  and 
immediately  cover  the  mixture  over  with  a  piece  of  paper 
moisteoed  at  one  spot  with  a  solution  of  acetate  of  lead.  If 
the  paper  he  darkened,  it  is  a  proof  of  the  presence  of  sulphur- 
ous acid  in  the  original  liquid. 


280 


IMPURITIES   OP    SULPHURIC    ACID. 


(3)  Anenie,  derived  from  the  pyrites  used  in  the  raanufaclure.  Dr. 
I*ctlu"ljy  lias  fcjuud  as  much  as  10  per  cent,  of  metallic  arseoic  in  some 
(•ortiiHh  Bpeciniens  of  pyrites.  The  quantity  of  arsenic  preseut  id  the 
ni^i(t  viiriex  greatly.  Mr,  Scanlan  has  procured  1.5  grains  of  the  8ulphide 
fnmi  10<M)  grains  of  the  acid;  Dr.  Rees,  22  grains  from  one  pint;  Mr. 
WattH,  'Ml  gniin»i  from  «ine  pint;  luid  Helltiian,  0.7  grain  from  one  ouufe. 
ArKcnic^  of  cour^^e,  ia  not  preisent  when  the  acid  is  prepared  from  native 
sulphur.  Dupas^quier  states  that  the  arsenic  always  exists  in  oil  of  vitriol 
ID  the  form  of  araenic  acid  (?). 

To  defect  Arsenic  in  Sulphuric  Acid. 

(a)  Neutralize  the  acid  with  carbonate  of  potash.  Add  to  the  mix- 
ture a  little  pure  hydrochloric  acid,  and  pass  Milphurelled 
hydrogen  through  the  solution.  The  yellow  sulphide  formed, 
if  arsenic  be  present,  is  soluble  in  ammonia. 


F^ 


(yJ)  Mix  three  or  four  drachras  of  the  acid  with  two  or  three  drops 
of  nitric  acid,  and  heat.  Dilute  with  water  to  a  specific  gravity 
of  1100.  Pour  this  dilute  acid  into  a  flai^k  containing  a  little 
pure  granulated  zinc,  and  pass  the  gas  generated  through  a 
solution  of  nitrate  of  silver  (Fig.  23).  If  this  be  blackened, 
it  may  be  due  either  to  the  pret*ence  of  arsenic  or  of  sulphurous 
acid.  Now  make  the  tube  hot.  If  it  be  due  to  Arsenic,  the 
aubliniale  |>rod«ct'd  will  be  a  bright  steeUlooking  ring,  but  if 
lo  fitiiphurouif  acid,  there  will  be  merely  a  deposit  of  yellowish- 
white  sulphur  formed. 

(4)  Lend,  derived  fr^vm  the  leaden  chambers.  Commercial  sulphuric 
Acid  is  said  to  contain  from  0.1  to  0.15  per  cent.  (Dr.  lire.)  Dr.  Letheby 
states  that  ho  has  not  found  usually  more  than  from  0.03  to  0.08  per 
cent. 

To  detect  its  presence,  mix  the  acid  with  about  ten  or  twelve  times  its 
bulk  of  water,  and  note  whether  the  mixture  becomes  milky  or  turbid. 
If  so,  it  is  duo  to  the  preci^>itation  of  sulphate  of  lead,  which,  although 
aoluble  io  the  strong  acid,  is  iustduble  in  dilute. 

(«)  Collect  the  precipitate  formed  on  a  filter*  diffuse  io  water,  «nd 
piuis  6ulphur*?lted  hydrogen  through  the  water,  when,  if  it  be 
lead,  the  white  preiMpitate  will  be  turned  black.  Or 
(J)  If  the  precinitttte  be  mixeil  with  twice  its  hulk  of  carbooate  of 
soda,  and  heatinl  on  a  piect;  of  charcoal  with  the  blowpipe^  the 
lead  will  be  rvducetl. 


IMPURITIES   OP   8ULPHUK1C    ACID. 


231 


(jr)  The  best  plan  is  to  boil  the  precipitate  for  aD  hour  in  a  saturated 
BolutioD  of  carboortte  of  soda;  tilter ;  dissolve  aoy  undissolved 
residue  in  a  little  acetic  acid.     Divide  ioto  two  parti^,  A  and  B. 

Test  (A)  with  iodide  of  potxuNfinm — which  gives  a  yellow  precipitate 

with  lead. 
Test  (B)  with  mlphuretted  hydrogen — which  gives  a  black  precipitate 

with  lead. 

(5)  Saline  Impnrliie^. — ^ Alkaline  sulphat^^s  are  often  present  in  quanti- 
ties varying  from  0.4  to  0.6  per  cent.  (Dr  Ure.)  These  may  be  esti- 
mated by  weighing  the  gialine  residue  at\er  the  ev^aporation  of  a  given 
quantity  of  the  acid.  8ueh  imjmrities  may  be  derived— yir.^?,  from  the 
nitre  used  in  the  manufacture  of  the  acid  ;  and,  tecondly^  they  may  be 
purpoH<?ly  added  to  increase  »t.^  gravity,  and  so  lead  to  the  belief  that  the 
acid  i«  more  concentrated  than  it  really  is.  One  part  of  sulphate  of  pot- 
ash added  to  one  hundred  of  the  acid  increases  it8  density  as  much  w^  six 
parts  in  a  thousand. 

(6)  Ciirbonaceoua  Matter.— ^\n%  is  easily  recognized  by  the  color  it  im- 
parts to  the  acid.  It  is  genemlly  due  to  the  accidental  admixture  of  the 
acid  with  pieces  of  straw,  etc. 

(^7)  Seleniom  Acid  is  gaid  to  be  sometimes  present;  and,  from  the  fact 
that  selenium  is  not  an  uncommon  constituent  of  iron  pyrites,  it  is  not 
improbable  that  it  may  be.  Seleniuretted  hydrogen  h  easily  known — ( 1 ) 
by  \XM  intolerable  odor;  and  {'!)  that  when  burnt  it  has  a  smell  of  putrid 
bone  radish. 

Method  of  Purifying  Snlphurie  Acid. 

Dilute  the  crude  oil  of  vitriol  with  about  five  tlmesi  it*i  bulk  of  water; 
pass  sul|)huretted  hydrogen  through  the  mixture  for  five  or  six  hours; 
allow  the  i^olid  impurities  to  sub«?ide,  and  aiplion  off  the  weak  supernatant 
acid.  Mix  thi**  wil  h  a  tca>!poouful  of  common  s^alt,  and  distil  in  a  capacious 
retort  containing  a  few  fragments  of  glar^:,  and  connected  with  a  receiver 
by  a  tube  about  tour  feet  long  and  one  inch  in  diameter.  The  jwrtion 
which  firvt  passes  over  is  to  be  rejected,  a.s  it  consists  chiefly  of  water,  with 
Dttric,  hydrochloric,  and  sulphurous  acids,  etc. 

Varieties  of  Acids. 

1.  Anhydrom  Sulphur ie  Add  (♦SOJ,  which  is  obtained  by  decomposing 
eulphuric  acid  by  anhydrous  phosphoric  acid,  is  a  white  solid.  It^  density 
w  1,9,  and  it  boils  a  little  above  50^  C 

2.  The  sulphuric  acids  found  in  commerce  contain  variable  proportions 
of  this  dry  acid  and  water. 

(a)  XordhaiMen  is  the  strongest  acid  known.     It  contains  about  J)0 

per  cent,  of  SO^.     8n.  gr.  1900. 
(/5)  Stron;^€st  EngltJ'h  Acid.     It  contains  about  81  or  82  per  cent,  of 

SO,.    Sp.  gr.  about  1845. 
(/)  Ordinary  Snip/utric  Acid  of  English    commerce.      It   contains 

about  78  per  cent,  of  SO,.     8p.  gr.  about  1843. 

Properties, 

}*hy»ieul  Properties, — The  stronger  acida  have  a  syrupy  appearance,  and 
those  that  contain  above  85  per  cent,  of  real  acid  fnme  in  the  air.  When 
pure,  oil  of  vitriol  has  neither  color  nor  smell  The  specific  gravity  de- 
l^eodls  upoQ  its  strength,  good  commercial  samples  having  a  gravity  vary- 


^^^ 

232           STRENGTH    OF    ACIDS    OF    DIFFERENT    GRAVITIES. 

1 

ng  from  1836  to  1845.     But  t*o  hygroscopic  h  the  acid,  that  it«  exnosore 
to  the  air  for  eveo  a  few  minute:^  will  materially  alter  its  stneD^cti  ajid 

Bpec'iHc  gravitv.    The  foilowiDg  table  shows  the  strengths  of  acids  of  dif*     | 

i 

ferent  gravities:                                                                                                       | 

Table  tthou'iuf/  tht  ptrrrrUage  Quantities  of  ASttJphyric  Auhijtirnif  *  SO^i  and 

Sulphurir.  Acid  (H,SOj  in  Specimens  of  Acids  of  diffetcni  i^pecijic  ffravi- 

ties  { Attfield  ). 

6p«eiac  UnT\ty. 

SO.-W. 

BiMUoM. 

Speeillc  QrvtVtr. 

80,-W. 

II^,-I«. 

1.9486 

81.54 

100 

18884 

40.77 

60 

1.N76 

81.72 

99               ' 

1.3788 

39.95 

49 

l.»4«0 

79.90 

98 

1  36(*7 

89.14 

^8 

_ 

18489 

79.09 

97 

1  3612 

88.32 

47          ^ 

1.8480 

72.02 

96  8B.P. 

i.sao 

87.61 

«8        ■ 

1.8410 

72.28 

96 

1.3440 

86.69 

46        M 

18J170 

77  46 

95 

1  8846 

85.88 

^^         W 

1  mm 

76  65 

94 

1.8266 

85. 0*5 

48 

m 

l.MW 

75.83 

98 

1  8165 

34.25 

42 

1.8283 

76.02 

92 

1  ao80 

33  43 

41 

1  8J7^» 

74.20 

91 

1.21*99 

3261 

40 

1  81  lo 

73  89 

90 

1  2913 

31.80 

89 

1  804^ 

72  57 

89 

1  2K26 

80.98 

88 

1.7lM)-2 

71.75 

88 

1.2740 

30.17 

87 

^^^^ 

1  7870 

70.94 

87 

1  .LM54 

29  35 

86 

^^^L 

1-7774 

70  12 

86 

1  257J 

28.54 

85 

^^^m 

1.7IJ73 

69.81 

85 

1.2490 

27.72 

34 

^^^m 

1.7570 

68.49 

84 

L2i09 

26.91 

88 

^^^m 

1.7465 

67.88 

83 

1  2i<34 

26  09 

82 

* 

^^^M 

1.7360 

86.88 

82 

1.22*'iO 

25.28 

81 

^^^M 

L724r> 

66  05 

81 

1         1  2IH4 

24  46 

80 

^^^m 

1.7120 

65.23 

80 

1         1  2108 

23.65 

29 

^^^M 

i.riWo.*j 

64  42 

79 

1         1  2o:]2 

22  83 

28 

^^^m 

l.riR70 

68.50 

78 

1         1J956 

22  01 

27 

^^^m 

}.r,iM) 

62.78 

77 

1.1876 

21  20 

26 

^^^m 

lAWiiO 

61.97 

76 

1.1792 

20.518 

25 

^^^m 

1.0520 

61.15 

76 

1.1706 

19  57 

24 

^^^H 

16415 

60  34 

74 

1  1626 

18.75 

28 

^^^m 

1.6321 

69  52 

73 

1.1649 

17.94 

22 

^^^m 

1.W204 

68  71 

72 

1.1480 

17.12 

21 

^^^B 

1.6090 

57.89 

71 

11410 

16.31 

20 

^^^m 

1.6076 

67  08 

.  70 

1.1  :«0 

15  49 

19 

^^^m 

1.5^^8 

66.26 

69 

1.1246 

14.68 

18 

^^^m 

1.67W 

66.45 

68 

1.1165 

13  86 

17 

^^^H 

1  5(548 

64.68 

67 

1         l.lOf»0 

13, HS 

16 

^^^H 

1  6r,03 

68,82 

66 

1.0019 

12.28 

16 

^^^m 

1  aaWt 

63,00 

65 

1.09i'i3 

11.41 

14 

^^^M 

1.6280 

62.18 

64 

l.ai*40 

11  MB.  P. 

13.66 

^^^M 

l.r.l-O 

61.87 

68 

1         I.08H7 

10.110 

13 

^^^B 

l.WKJO 

60  55 

62 

1.0809 

9.78 

12 

^^^m 

L4'.»no 

49.74 

61                 1         1.0743 

897 

11 

^^^M 

1.4HH0 

48.92 

60                ,          1.0682 

8.15 

10 

^^^m 

1.47«5<) 

4811 

59 

i.irnu 

7.84 

9 

^^^B 

lAmo 

47.29 

68 

1.0.144 

6  62 

8 

^^^B 

l,4.^(iO 

46.48 

57 

1.0177 

5.71 

1 

^^^B 

iJtr.o 

46.66 

56 

1.0405 

4.89 

6 

^^^m 

1  4y«H) 

44.85 

55 

ro.i;m 

4  08 

6 

^^^H 

1  42f,5 

44.08 

64 

l.O^'r.H 

3.26 

4 

^^^B 

1  4170 

43.22 

63 

1  02oft 

2.446 

a 

^^^m 

1.4U78 

42.40 

52 

1.0140 

1.08 

2 

^m 

1  8U77 

41.68 

6, 

1.0074 

0.8154 

1 

m 

- 

PROPEUTIES   OF   SULPHUBIC    ACID. 


233 


Questions  bearing  on  the  bulk  and  weight  of  some  common  popular 
measures  of  the  acid  may  be  asked  in  the  witness-box.  It  may  not  be 
out  of  place  here,  therefore,  to  remark  that  a  tempoonfui  of  distilled  water 
ctjmraonly  measures  5.i»  8^"<i  weighs  60  grains  ;  a  faUfspoanful  measures 
from  5'V  to  5vj,  and  weighs  from  240  to  oOO  grains;  a  wineglaMjul  meas- 
ures from  Jia8.  to  ^ij,  and  weighs  from  72U  to  l^fiO  grains;  a  U'*teupful 
measure^i  comniouly  about  5v,  and  weighs  about  2400  grain.s.  Kemeifl- 
beriug  that  water  is  coDsi<Iered  to  have  a  specific  gravity  of  1000,  it  is 
ensv  from  these  data  to  make  other  calculations. 

'fbe  boilii]g-|K»int8  of  the  diHerent  acids  vary.  The  ordinary  English 
commercial  acid  requires  a  heat  of  iilo.S'^  C.  (BOp*^  F.).  An  acid  having 
a  specific  gravity  ot  1780,  boils  at  223.9^  C.  (4.S5'^  F".);  and  one  having 
m  specific  gravity  of  1050,  boils  at  170.6=*  C.  (350°  F.).  The  weaker  the 
acid  is,  therefore,  t^o  the  boiling-point  is  reduced.  In  distilling  ordinary 
acid,  the  boiling-point  is  constantly  rising,  because  the  acid  in  the  retort 
is  constantly  becoming  more  concentrated,  until  at  last  it  requires  a  tem- 
perature of  320.6°  a  (620*  F,)  to  boil  it. 

Chevikal  Propirtiei. 

(a)  Affinity  for  Water. — This  is  very  great.  Dr.  Lelheby  found  (Aprili 
1870)  that  100  grains  of  acid  (sp.  gr.  1842)  freely  exposed  to  the  air  in  a 
basin,  absorbed  120  grainsof  water  in  four  days,  its  bulk  being  thereby  in- 
creased threefold,  and  its  den&;ily  lowered  lo  1340.  The  absorption  of  water, 
however,  by  larger  quantities  is  not  in  like  proportion:  1000  grainsof 
the  same  acid  freely  ex]x>.s€*d  to  the  air  in  a  similar  manner  only  ab- 
sorbed 232  grains  of  water  tu  24  hours,  430  grains  in  4S  hours,  580  grains 
in  72  hours,  690  grains  in  96  hours,  and  770  grains  in  120  hours.  The 
acid  finally  had  a  specific  gravity  of  1310,  which  is  the  point  of  dilution 
at  which  both  weak  and  str4mg  solutions  of  the  acid  arrive  when  exposed 
to  the  air.  Moreover^  the  discoloration  of  organic  bodies  produced  by  the 
action  of  the  acid  is  due  tu  itj*  affinity  for  water,  and  the  con.'^equeut  char- 
ring of  the  organic  budy. 

A  great  rise  of  temperature,  and  consequent  condensation,  occurs  when 
sulphuric  acid  is  mixed  with  water.  This  circumstance  may  be  of  consid- 
erable meibco-legal  importance,  and  we  append,  therefore,  a  table  drawn 
up  by  Dr.  Letheby,  showing  the  heat  and  cotiden.«ation  resulting  from 
various  admixtures.  The  temperature  of  the  day  on  which  the  cxperi- 
nient^H  were  made^  was  22.22°  C.  (72^  F.).  It  was  noticed  that  the  heat 
produced  was  a  little  greater  when  the  water  was  poured  into  the  acid  than 
whea  the  acid  was  poured  into  the  water,  and  that  the  temperature  of  the 
mixture  sinks  very  rapidly. 

TubU  showing  the  Heat  and  Condim^itwn  resitUing  frmn  various  Mixtures 
of  Sulphuric  Acid  and  Water. 


ft 

In 

Bulk  or 

Hi 

Bulk  or 

Tcmpenture 

Bulk  of  Re- 

flulOiig  Fluid 

w  hcQ  Cold. 

o? 

iy 

Acid  u*ed. 

WaLer  tucd. 

produced. 

Vti 

i< 

;Sjpi: 

«« 

F. 

C. 

IS40 

8000 

SlU  A  ^j 

1000 

3U  A  5U 

2660 

J80.00 

4t 

1S1« 

1>H« 

aioti 

StlM. 

••         ! 

252* 

I2a,2» 

SlT 

IMS 

ISM 

JOOO 

ijAsy 

" 

'• 

21(J0 

9SM0 

m 

i:iso 

IMO 

600 

3r 

•1 

" 

m» 

VLTSP 

SHA^ltM. 

1245 

U¥) 

250 

Silas. 

•« 

♦• 

130* 

M.MO 

stiASlU 

1136 

tfil« 

Ifil6 

»U^3U 

11 

'* 

uv» 

4SJ(80 

12it2 

IMS 

%64A 

u 

M 

1WP> 

«.'iao 

u 

1246 

ISM 

IWO 

u 

«> 

♦' 

9i^ 

85,(HJo 

♦• 

1170 

124S 

ms 

M 

H 

•' 

fHO 

27  ^a^ 

•• 

HJ74 

1l» 

113S 

l< 

li 

78^ 

25.5S« 

' 

1055 

10 


234 


PEOPERTIEa    OF    SULPHURIO    ACID. 


(ft)  Acfion  on  lAhmt^.—Thh  is  very  marked.     It  begins  to  fail  when 
the  amouDt  of  dry  acid  present  ij  reduced  to  0.015  |x:r  cent. 

{y)  Action  on  Metah. — Sulphurous  anhydride  is  given  off  when  tirviif 
acids  (coutaiuing  above  61  per  eeot.  of  Si\'i  are  boiled  with  zinc,  oop| 
etc.  The  sulphurous  anhydride  can  be  detected  by  the  blue  tint  devi 
oped  ou  a  piece  of  white  paper  moistened  with  iodic  acid  and  starch.  ~ 
action  of  dittde  acids  (i.e,,  acids  with  le?s  than  61  per  cent  of  SO,)  on  the 
common  metals  is  to  evolve  hydrogen  ;  an  action  which  is  ubeervable 
when  the  solution  docs  not  contain  more  than  0.00128  per  cent,  of  the  dry 
acid.  J 

(^)  Action  an  Organic  Substances.  I 

(1)  On  Sitgar. — Its  action  upon  all  kinds  of  cane-sugar  is  immediate, 

producing  diflcoloratif)D  by  the  abstraction  of  water  or  of  its 
elements.     The  action  on  the  fiugar  is  not  marked,  however,  at 
ordinary  temperature!*  with  an  acid  of  less  specific  gravity  than 
1400;  but  if  the  temperature  be  raised,  two  drachms  of  an  acid 
containing  not  more  than  O^OOf)  per  cent,  of  acid  will  be  found 
capable  of  charring  about  five  grains  of  sugar.      Hence,  we 
note   that  it  is  impossilile  to  administer  sulphuric  acid  on  a 
luuip  of  sugar  by  mti^iake  for  giu,  oil  of  aniseed,  etc.,  unless  i(j 
be  given  immediately.     Nor  could  it  be  given  with  sugar  dti 
solved  in  water,  as  the  charring  effect  produced  by  tlie  acid  it 
this  way  is  even  still  more  marked.     It  would  be  only  possibl 
to  avoid  this  charring  of  the  sugar,  and  then  only  to  a  limit* 
extent,  by  thoroughly  mixing  the  acid  and  the  water  befoi 
adding  it  to  the  eugar. 

(2)  On  Flour  aitd  Stnreh. — An  acid  of  sp.  gr.  1800  added  to  flour, 

turns  it  of  a  violet-red  color,  the  change  being  due  to  the  glutei 
that  the  starch  contains.  Weak  solutions  of  sulphuric  aci< 
boiled  with  starchy  matters,  convert  the  starch  into  sugar,  wh< 
iodine  no  longer  has  any  action  upon  it.  Very  small  quant 
ties  of  an  acid  solution  will  eflect  this  change.  One  grain 
starch  boiled  with  a  solution  containing  0.5  grain  of  free  acidj) 
u  nd  e  rgoes  pe  r fee  t  d  eco  im  p  osi  1 1  o  n . 

(3)  On  Wood, —  Wood  is  charred  immedtately  by  an  acid  having 

higher  specific  gravity  than  1700.  An  olive-green  tint  is  p» 
dueed  by  an  acid  having  a  specific  gravity  from  1600  to  ITf 
With  an  acid  below^  1400  no  change  is  produced  on  wood. 

(4)  On  Paper, — Strong  acids  (sp.  gr.  above  1800)   discolor   whil 

paper  immediately.     A  weak  acid,  however,  placed  on  whit 
paper,  and  held  to  the  fire,  will  after  a  time  char  the  paper,' 
owiug  to  the  eva[)oraLiou  of  the  water  of  the  acid  and  its  con- 
centration.   The  paper  to  which  a  very  weak  acid  baa  been 
applied,  becomes  very  brittle. 

(5)  Oti  Linen  Cloth. — Acids  above  sp.  gr.  1700  carbonize  linen  clotl 

immediately.    Solutions  containing  only  ^l^ih  per  ceut,  of 
acid  will  rot  the  cloth,  even  ii  they  do  not  discolor  it. 

Thus  we  see  that  the  various  substances  named  are  charred  by  8troii| 
acids,  whilst  with  weak  acids  they  aufier  conversion  into  grape-sugar. 

(6)  On  tSaliein. — Strong  sulphuric  acid  produces  a  blood-red  color^ 

No  action  is  perceptible  with  acids  below  sp.  gr.  1616. 

(7)  On  OaiUc  or  Tannic  Acid.— t^lrong  acidr*  produce  an  oraag<e-] 

color. 


SYMPTOMS    OP    SULPHURIC    ACID    POISONING 


236 


(8)  On  Stroiiff  SohUiom  nf  Albumen  (as  undiluted  white  of  egg). — 
An  acid  having  a  specific  gravity  above  ]8o0  instantly  coagu- 
lates it,  changing  it  intu  a  white  opaque  mu^s.  In  a  few  nnn- 
ules  the  albumen  will  be  found  charred  along  the  line  where 
the  acid  touches  it,  whilst,  after  an  hour  or  so,  the  albumen 
will  dityjuh^e,  and  a  brownish-yellow  liqnid  be  formed.  This 
Bolutive  action  doei  not  take  place  with  acids  having  a  less  spe- 
cific gravity  than  1400.  Acids  containing  less  than  4U  per 
cent,  of  dry  acid  have  no  aciion  wbatauever  on  albuminous 
compounds?. 

(9)  On  Hatk  Sohttiom  of  Albumen  (as  e,g.,ihe  white  of  one  egg 
mixed  with  ^j  of  water). — Such  solulions  arc  coagulated  im- 
mediately by  acidi?  having  a  epecific  gravity  above  1*190.  From 
1390  to  lOlO  the  action  of  the  acid  is  alow.  An  acid  below 
specific  gravity  1010  does  not  precipitate  albumen  at  all. 

(10)  On  Blood  Serum. — An  acid  having  a  specific  gravity  of  1830 
instantly  coagulates,  and  then  dissolves,  albumen.  An  acid 
below  10(t8  specific  gravity  has  no  action  whatsoever. 

(11)  On  Dead  Mucous  Membrane. — Acids  above  speciiic  gravity  1500 
produce  a  whitening  eifect  on  dead  mucous  membranes,  and  an 
appearance  of  their  having  been  coated  with  white  paint,  A 
mere  o]|mlescence  is  produced  with  the  weaker  acids.  If  painted 
with  a  strong  acid,  the  membrane  will  be  carbonized  nftera  few 
minutes;  whilst  willi  a  weak  acid,  if  the  tissue  be  full  of  blood, 
a  darkening  eflcet  only  will  be  produced:,  due  to  the  action  of 
the  acid  on  the  blood  coloring  matters.  It  i.s  important  to  note 
the  intimate  combination  that  takes  place  when  i?ul|ihuric  acid 
acts  upon  animal  tissues,  in  order  to  explain  occasional  unsuc- 
cc*«ful  attentpts  to  obtain  the  poison  in  after-death  examina- 
tions. 

(12)  On  Woollen  Cloth. — A  dirty-brown  color  is  produced  with  acids 
having  a  si^ecitic  gravity  above  1830.  The  cloth  snon  becomes 
rotten  and  damp.  This  rottenness  results  when  the  cloth  is 
treated  even  with  very  dilute  solutions. 

It  is  to  be  remembered  that  the  combination  of  the  acid  and  the  al- 
bumen \b  a  true  chemical  compound,  from  which  the  acid  cannot  be  washed 
aw«y  by  merely  treating  it  with  water. 

$Symptcm8j  Dose^  etc. 

Tliese  of  course  depend  largely  upon  the  concentration  of  the  acid  and 
upon  the  quantity  swallowed.  If  concentrated,  the  pain  produced  is  Im- 
mediate  and  intense.  The  mouthy  throat,  and  tongue  appeur  either  as  if 
covered  with  white  paint,  fU*  else  corroded  and  destroyed.  It  must  be  re- 
roemlwred  that  if  the  acid  })e  given  to  children  in  a  spoon,  the  mouth  may 
not  he  afferitfd  from  the  spoon  having  been  put  far  back,  whilst,  on  the 
contrary,  the  mouth  only  may  be  affected^  the  patient  having  spit  the  acid 
out  immediately  and  without  having  swallowed  any.  Death,  however, 
may,  even  under  these  circumstances,  take  place  from  asphyxia.  The 
voice  is  usually  much  aHected,  gaseoun  eructations  occurring,  with  im me- 
diate and  incessant  vomiting  of  a  brownish-colored  bloody  li<ptid  contain- 
ing disorganized  shreds  of  membrane.  The  pain  becomes  terrific,  and  the 
ibirst  great.  The  patient  can  neither  swallow,  nor  speak,  nor  scarcely 
breathe;  the  body  is  bathed  in  sweat,  and  the  face  is  livid.  Very  little 
action  of  either  bowels  or  kidneys  usually  takes  place.    The  month  is, 


236 


POST-MORTEM    APPBARANCB9. 


after  a  time,  found  full  of  slouj^hs,  and  filled  with  thick  bloody  nmtters, 
Exhau!!tii>u  sucreedsi,  p<jHsiUty  accompanied  with  nervous  symptoms,  suoh 
as  tetany?,  epilepsy,  etc.  In  a  le.«?«  concentrated  state  the  symptoms  mar 
be  more  or  le,ss  deluyed,  but  recovery  is  not  coraraoD.  Always  ask  lo  see 
the  first  vomit,  as  in  this  the  free  acid  is  most  likely  to  be  foutid.  Care- 
fully search  for  spots  about  the  patient's  dress,  as  these  may  prove  impor- 
tant evidence  in  the  case.  The  state  of  the  lips  where  some  of  the  acid 
may  have  run  out  of  the  mouth  should  also  be  particularly  noticed. 

Death  u^iually  happens  in  from  two  to  twenty-five  hour^,  but  it  hu 
occurred  within  an  hour.  It  is  always  rapid  when  perforatioa  occurs  in 
the  stomath,  or  when  the  action  of  the  acid  on  the  windpipe  is  severe  aod 
extensive.  On  the  other  band  it  may  be  delayed  for  weeks  and  months, 
death  resulting  under  these  circumstances  from  secondary  ctjiisequeuce*, 
such  as  ulceration  of  the  siumaeh  or  bowels,  disease  of  the  pjlonu, 
chronic  dyspepsia,  or  even  starvation. 

As  repirds  mianfitti:  half  a  drachm  has  killeii  a  child  (ajt  1 )  in  twenty- 
four  hour^i,  and  a  drachm  an  adult  in  seven  days.  Recovery  has  occurred 
after  one  ounc^  of  the  strong  acid  in  a  boy  mged  nine.  The  aetiot)  of  the 
acid  ia  much  influenced  by  the  quantity  of  food  present  in  the  stomach 
when  the  poiR)ti  is  taken,  upon  which,  if  abundant,  the  activity  of  the 
poison  may  be  spent. 

Treatment. 

Your  attention  must  be  directed  entirely  to  neutralizing  the  poi§on. 
The  admiuistratioD  of  white  yf  egg,  soap  and  water,  chalk  and  water,  and, 
better  still,  of  calcined  magnesia,  must  be  the  main  treatment.  Alkaline 
carbomlles  are  not  nearly  so  good  as  the  citrressiKjnding  lime  and  magne-ia 
sails.  The  stomach-pump  must  not  be  dreamt  uf.  The  plaster  from  the 
cseiling  or  from  the  wall  may  be  used  if  nothing  else  he  at  hand.  Burns 
on  the  skin  with  the  acid  may  be  treated  first  with  carbonate  of  s^>da  and 
then  with  a  mixture  of  oil  and  lime-water.  Nutritive  euemata  mu«i 
given  if  other  naeans  of  adniiuistering  food  fail.  Leeches  to  the  pit  of  tb( 
stomach  may  be  advisable. 

Pnift'tnortem  Appearances. 

Examine  carefully  first  of  all  for  spots  of  the  acid  (probably  of  a  dark- 
brown  color),  about  the  mouth  and  upon  other  parts  where  it  mar  pcmibl] 
have  been  spilL     The  mouth,  throat,  and  gullet  will  usually  present  th^ 
most  marked  eiJectn,  althi>ugh  cases  are  on  record  (one  scarcely  kn<)W!>  hoi 
to  credit  them),  where  these  part^j  have  not  been  affected  at  al|!!I  (e»i4 
"Lancet,"  March  3,  1838,  p.  840).     The  mouth  will  appear  soft  and  coi 
roded,  and  as  if  covered  with  white  ]>ainl,  whilst  the  throat  and  gulh 
will  be  seen  to  have  portions  of  the  mucou!*  mernhraoe  completely  strip[ 
oif,  or  else  dark -colored  blood  (as  if  charred)  effused  in  patches  on  an  ash- 
gray  surface.      The  stomach  will   usually  be  found  intensely  inflamed,' 
either  completely  or  in  patches,  and  traversed  with  black  lines.     It  is  fre- 
quently contracted  and  culla|>tJed,  the  mucous  membrane  appearing  black« 
corrugated,  and  partly  stripjied  off,  and  the  surhice  underneath  intensely 
red.     In  about  one-third  uf  the  cases,  and  more  fi-equently  with  sulphuric' 
than  With  the  other  mineral  acids,  the  stomach  has  been  found  j>erforated, 
the  aperture  being  irregular  and  the  edges  black  as  if  charrcil,  intent 
influnimatory  action  being  apparent  on  the  parts  surrounding  the  openini 
The  liquid  in  the  stomach,  which  is  usually  of  a  tarry  api^earance  (a  mil 
lure  of  black  blood,  acid,  and  mucus),  when  it  escapes  through  the  opei 
ing  will  be  found  to  have  attacked  the  surrounding  parts  and  viscera.    Of 
course  the  degree  of  acidity  and  consequently  the  extent  of  action 


TESTS  FOR  SULPHURIC  ACID. 


237 


depend  oo  the  amount  of  acid  swallowed*  and  the  time  that  has  elapsed 
before  its  escape  from  the  stomach,  but  even  when  there  is  no  perforation 
it  is  usual  to  tind  considerable  iaflamiiiatory  ai'tiun  with  a  ciiatin|r  of 
lymph  on  the  peritoneal  surface  of  the  viscera.  The  hhuWer  is  generally 
empty  and  contracted.  If  life  is  prolonged  lor  eighteen  or  twenty  houra, 
more  or  less  inflammation  is  certain  to  he  found  in  the  small  intestines. 
In  aome  cases  the  windpipe,  the  bronchial  tuhe.i,  and  also  the  lining  mem- 
brane of  the  aorta  have  been  found  much  inHiimed.  In  one  ca^e,  reported 
by  Dr,  I^tttheby,  none  of  the  arid  went  into  the  stomaeh,  but  passed  down 
the  trachea  into  the  lungs.  The  lunjjjs  were  charred  and  the  rings  of  the 
lnu:hea  complettrly  dissected  out.  Tlie  acid  hatl  esicaped  into  the  cavity 
of  the  pleura  and  dissulveil  the  ribs  on  the  left  siile. 

It  is  stated  that  the  bodien  of  per3<iD8  poisoned  with  the  mineral  acids 
remain  without  smell  for  a  long"  time  after  death,  probably  from  the  am- 
monia evolve*!  being  neutralized  by  the  free  acid. 

An  indigo-blue  tint  is  often  found  in  the  mucous  membranes  after  poison- 
ing by  this  acid. 

TesU. 

1.  Tante. — ^The  solution  is  perceptibly  sour,  even  when  it  only  contains 
To*oo^^  part  of  anhydrous  acid. 

2.  Action  on  Litmu-i. — The  reddening  produced  by  the  acid  on  litmus  is 
distinct  when  1  part  of  anhydrous  acid  is  diluted  with  6000  of  water, 

3.  Saturated  Solution  ttf  Chloride  of  Calchim  give^  a  copious  white  prej 
cipitatp,  in.'5oluble  in  dilute  nitric  and  hydrochloric  acids.  A  turbidity  is 
distinctly  apparent  when  the  solution  only  contains  0.014  per  cent,  of 
acid. 

4.  Ac.eiaif  nj  Lend  gives  a  white  precipitate,  insoluble  In  dilute  acids. 

6.  Chloride  of  Barium  (or  Nitrate  of  Baryta)  give^  a  white  precipitotej 
iDRjluble  in  free  acid:?  and  cau:itic  alkalies*.  The  turbidity  is  apparent 
with  a  solution  consisting  of  1  of  uci<l  in  fi2,500  of  water. 

The  baryta  salt  must  never  he  added  to  a  neutral  or  an  alknline  solu- 
tion, otherwise  rarbcunic,  phosphoric,  nxalic  acidy,  etc.^  may  be  precipitated^ 
but  all  of  which  compounds  are  soluble  in  nitric  or  hydrochloric  acids. 

Inasmuch  as  other  bodies  give  a  similar  precipitate  with  a  baryta  salt, 
il  b  necessary  further  to  prove  that  the  precipitate  so  produced  is  a 
]phnte. 

(a)  To  do  this  the  ])recipitate  must  be  collected  and  dried,  and  mixed 
with  about  four  times  its  bulk  of  powdered  wood  charcoal. 
The  mixture  is  then  to  be  heated  strongly  to  redness  in  a  pla- 
tinum crucible.  By  this  meauH  the  guijdiKle  (BaSO^)  will  be 
reduced  to  sulphide  (BaS).  Now  add  to  the  cold  residue  in  a 
test-tube  or  watch-glas:*  a  few  tlrops  of  dilute  hydrochloric  acid 
(one  to  one),  and  apply  heat,  when  sulphuretted  hydrogen  will 
be  generated,  which  umy  be  known  either  by  its  blackening 
moistened  lea<l-puper  held  near  it,  or,  if  the  gas  be  passeil 
through  a  solution  of  acetate  of  lead,  by  the  formation  and 
precipitation  of  the  black  sulphide. 

(/9)  The  ignit<ed  residue  of  the  sulphide  may,  if  the  quantity  is  very 
small,  be  placed  on  a  piece  of  moistened  lead-paper  and 
touched  with  a  drop  of  dilute  hydrochloric  acid,  when  the  lead- 
paper  will  immediately  be  blackened. 

Nitrate  of  Strontiu  gives  a  white  precipitate,  partially  soluble  in  water 
and  in  dilute  acids. 

7.  If  sulphuric  acid  be  gently  heated  in  a  test-tube  with  some  pieces  of 


woo<l»  copper,  or  raercury,  etc.,  sulphurous  acid  is  given  off*.  This  will  im- 
part a  blue  tint  to  a  piece  of  starch-paper  moit^teued  with  iodic  acid  held 
over  the  tube.  It  must  be  rennjved  the  moment  the  tint  is  develo[x?<J,  ju 
otherwiHe  the  color  will  be  bleached  by  prolonged  exposure  to  the  »cid 
fume^. 

8.  Veralria  added  to  a  drop  of  the  eonrent ruled  acid  produces  nt  firrt  i 
yellow  and  afterwards  a  crioi>!on-r£M:l  eolutiou.  No  results  are  produced 
by  its  action  on  neutral  sulphatt\4. 

9.  Paper  is  carbonized  by  the  strong  acid,  but  uot  by  the  tiiiut/f.     If  yc 
have  to  test  a  dilute  acJd,  wet  a  piece  of  white  paper  at  one  spot  with  t1 
and  heat  before  a  tire.     As  soon  as  the  acid  becomes  sufficiently  codch 
trated  by  evaporation,  the  paper  will  turn  black. 

The  question  is  a  very  important  one,  Flow  are  we  to  iiiMinrptisn  jtre 
from  that  in  comin tuition  f     Varioua  plans  have  been  proposed  .* 

1.  It  has  been  suggested  to  evaporate  the  solution  to  dryue^.  If  thci 
is  simply  free  .sulphuric  acid  present,  it  is  Hupi>o.sed  that  no  sulphatje  wij 
be  found  in  the  re>=itlue,     Tbisi,  however,  may  or  may  not  be  true. 

2.  It  has  been  sugge.'Hted  to  shake  the  solution  up  with  tiuely  powder 
carbonate  of  baryta  or  lead,  with  which  it  i.^  said  the  free  acid  will  0001*^ 
bine,  but  not  the  sulphates.     But  the  fact  h,  combinatiou  occurs  both  wilhf^ 
the  free  acid  and  witli  the  soluble  sulphates. 

3-  The  following  process  the  authors  recommend  :  Divide  the  suspec 
liquid  into  two  parts  (1  and  2 1. 

(1  j  Acidulate  the  one  part  with  nitric  acid,  precipitate  with  a  baryt 

salt^  collect  the  precipitate,  ignite  and  weigh. 
(2)  Evaporate  the  other  part  to  tlryness,  di:^solve  the  residue  iu  watei 
acidulated  with  nitric  acid,  titter,  precipitate  with  a  baryta  saiy 
collect  the  precipitate,  ignite  and  weigh. 

The  sulphate  of  barium  of  the  former  f  1 )  denotes  the  amount  of  acic 
present,  both  free  and  cojubinad^  whilst  the  latter  (2)  deuolea  the  amouol 
of  acid  present  ui  a  combined  staie  onhf,  wliilat  the  amount  of  {rae  aci< 
may  be  estimated  by  the  diflerence.  But  even  thli?  process  is  uot  eulirelj 
free  from  pos-stble  error, — Ist,  from  the  presence  of  a  aupei'su/phatf,  whici 
may  by  overdrying  be  calculated  as  free  acid;  and  2dly,  if  au  alkaline^ 
chloride  be  present,  the  free  acid,  if  there  be  any,  may  become  fixed  by 
combining  with  the  alkaline  base.         | 

If  you  have  a  pure  colorless  solution  containing  sulphuric  acid,  am 
wish  to  te.st  wlietber  some  of  the  acid  be  present  iu  a  free  state  or  not,  pi 
ceed  aa  follows : 

(a)  Kvaporate  the  solution  until  it  has  acquired  a  gravity  of  1140,  thenl 
mix  with  it  a  few  grains  of  sugar, and  boil.     If  the  solution  be  rcndoredl 
dark,  it  is  a  proof  that  free  acid  is  present,  the  darkeuiug  effect  ou  sugai 
not  being  produced  by  sulphates. 

(/?)  Evaporate  ans/ihcr  ]>f)rtion  of  the  solutioi»  until  it  acquires  a  sp.  gr.| 
of  1600.     He^t  this  with  a  few  grains  of  metnlHc  copper.     If  a  free  aci« 
be  present,  sulphurous  acid  fumes  will  be  given  oC 


Toxicoloffical  AaalytU. 

We  have  now  to  consider  the  processes  necessary  to  be  employed  wheal 
the  acid  is  present  along  with  organic  matters  and  alkaline  chloride**,  sucb 
as  is  found  in  an  ordinary  toxicological  Investigation.     You  must  oot  ex« 
pect  in  such  cases  to  find  much,  if  any,  free  acitl.     The  attempts  at  ueU' 
tralizing  the  poison,  ita  own  power  of  corabiuing  with  albuminous  sub-j 


ANALYSIS    AFTBK    POISONING    BY    8ULPHUEIC    AOID.        239 

ices,  the  profuse  vomltitig  ioduced,  and  the  amouot  of  fiuid  that  is 
taken,  owing  Ui  thp  iotense  thirst,  reinler  the  chances  doubtful  of  detecting 
•oy  free  aei<l  at  all.  Nor  cau  it  be  cjuesitioned  that  the  detection  of  sul- 
phuric acid  iu  organic  licjuids  is  altogether  a  niost  difficult  problem. 

We  have  in  dialysis  no  doubt  a  very  ready  method  of  separating  sul- 
phuric acid  (as  well  aa  other  acids ),  from  ila  admixture  with  organic  l^odie?, 
but  it  must  be  remembered  that  soluble  sulphates  also  diaivKe,  although 
their  prepuce  may  be  eiisily  determined  by  evaporating  to  dryness  some 
of  the  water  into  which  the  dialysia  has  been  etTccled. 

(A)  Dr.  Letheby  advises  the  following  proceaa  : 

1st.  E%^aporate  the  contents  of  the  stomach  on  a  water-bath  down  to  a 
thick  syrup.  Exhaust  this  with  drong  nlcohol  (sp.  gr  834)  and  filter;  test 
the  filtereil  liquid  with  baryta.  Ouly  tfte  free  acid  will  be  taken  up  by  the 
spirit. 

2dly.  The  residue  (containing  soluble  Hvlphafe^)  is  then  to  be  digested 
with  waUr^  fiUere*!,  and  the  filtrate  precipitated  with  baryta. 

lidly.  But  if  antidotes,  such  as  lime,  etc.,  have  been  given,  the  residue 
may  still  contain  earthy  fsulphatej*,  anch  as  sulphate  of  lime,  which  is  only 
very  slightly  soluble  in  water.  Boil  the  remaining  residue,  therefore,  for 
about  an  hour  with  an  excess  of  a  Mohttion  oj  rarhonnte  of  sodn,  when  car- 
bonate of  lime  will  be  precipitated  and  t*ulphate  of  soda  left  iu  solution. 
TbiB  is  then  to  be  filtered,  acidulated  with  nitric  acid,  and  precipitated 
with  a  baryta  salt.  In  this  way  all  the  sulphuric  acid  present  in  the  con- 
teotA  of  the  stomach  may  be  estimated  as — 

(a)  Free  acid. 

(iS)  Acid  existing  as  alkaline  sulphates. 

{t)  Acid  existing  as  earthy  sulphates. 

Each  of  the^e  precipitate-s  must  be  collected  and  weighed,  and  they 
ehould  feeverally  be  proved  to  bo  sulphates  by  the  process  already  indi- 
cated. 

(B)  But  we  have  to  note  further,  that  some  of  the  sulphuric  acid  takeu 
may  have  combined  with  albuminous  bodies.  Iu  this  state  the  mere  w^ash- 
ing  the  tissue  will  be  altogether  insufficient  to  recuove  it.  The  following 
prorc'^s  should  then  be  adopted:    , 

Any  tis.'^ue  attacked  by  the  acid,  such  as  the  coats  of  the  stomach,  is  to 
be  wa>;lied,  wiped  dry,  and  weighed.  It  is  then  to  be  dissolved  by  the 
action  of  heat  in  a  solution  consisting  of  one  part  of  nitric  acid,  two  of 
hydrochloric  acid,  and  two  of  water.  Allow  this  to  stand  for  a  time,  and 
filter,  and  precipitate  the  filtrate  with  nitrate  of  baryta ;  collect  the  pre- 
cipitate and  weigh.  All  the  sulphate  of  baryta  exceeding  half  a  fjnun  pa' 
cent,  of  the  wet  material  used,  may  be  regarded  as  abnormal  acid  brought 
ioto  contact  with  the  tissue  in  a  free  and  corrosive  state.  Dr.  Letheby,  as 
well  as  the  authors,  from  numerous  experimentii  have  never  obtained  more 
than  0.4  gr.  of  sulphate  of  baryta  from  normal  wet  tissue,  and,  as  a  rule, 
not  njore  than  0.2  per  cent.  The  results  of  dippitig  pieces  of  stomachs 
iuto  dilute  acids  and  testing  them  afterwards,  prove  that  there  ought  to  be 
difficulty  in  deciding,  with  considerable  accuracy,  by  this  meaus,  the 

lount  of  acid  present  over  and  above  what  is  normal. 

(C)  Again;  the  urine  should,  if  possible,  be  examined  for  the  poisou, 
not  forgetting,  however,  that  alkaline  sulphates  are  present  in  natural 
and  healthy  urine.  The  amount  of  siiil|jlinri€  acid  in  normal  urine  varies 
from  0.1  to  0.4  per  cent.     The  urine,  indeed,  is  the  great  eliminator  of  the 


240        ANAl 


»0IS0NINO   BY   SULPHURK 


sulphates.  After  a  dose  either  of  the  free  aciH  or  of  a  sulphate  has  henn 
taken,  it  will  probably  be  fourut  in  the  urine  within  two  hour*  of  if^  \i**'in^ 
swallowed,  but  it  exists,  according  in  Ben  re  Jones,  in  this  secretion  in  the 
greatest  abundance  after  about  seven  hours.  The  amount  of  normal  sul- 
phuric acid  iQ  the  urine  u  even  iucreat^ed  by  taking  dry  sulphur. 

Amount  of  Sulphuric  Acid  present  in  Nttmial  Urine  aa  found  by  diffrreni 

Chemists. 

Per  cent,  of  Sti1|>hiirl«  Add. 

Simon,  IS^eubauer,  and  Vngel,        .  from  0.10  to  0.23 

Berzelius 0,23 

Lt'hraann froiu  0.86  to  0.37 

Dumeril O.Vi 

Mardmnd .  from  0.31  to  0.3!l 

Letheby from  (1.024  to  0.31 

Bence  Jones,          .....  from  0.26  to  0,52 

Tidy, from  0.16  to  0,3^ 

Neubauer  and  Yogel  state  that  about  two  grammes  (31  grains  neiirlj)  i 
is  the  average  daily  amount  in  the  urine  of  health. 

The  greatej^t  quantity  is  always  found  after  lakiog  fo<>d. 

Hfoce,  whilst  we  urt^e  the  advirtahiliiy  of  examining  the  urine  in  rases 
where  poisoning  by  sulphuric  acid  is  fiiispeeted,  it  must  not  be  forgotten 
that  the  mere  discovery  of  an  e.vcess  of  the  acid  scarcely  coni-^titutea 
important  evidence  of  itself,  uulej^s  other  eircynkstances  t^eud  to  cunfirm 
the  suspicion.  In  the  case  of  an  adult  who  had  .swallowed  a  large  dotte  of  j 
the  aciil,  one  of  the  authors  found  on  the  second  day  28.74  gniins,  whildt 
Dr.  Letheby  has,  after  a  similar  time,  fouud  as  much  as  60.8  grains  io 
the  urine. 

( I))  Df'ifdion  of  the  Acid  on  Wood  and  Clothing, — In  almost  every  ca»e 
of  poisoning  by  this  acid,  spots  here  and  there  will  be  found.     If  it  falls 
upon  wood  the  ligneous  tissue  is   blackened  and  iliscolored,     A  little  di*' 
tilled  water  will  easily  remove  the  acid.     If  upon  iiiien^  when  it  is  gtrong^ 
aciiJ,  it  chars  and  corrodes  it,  and  if  it  is  wenlr,  a  tlamp  soluble  sugar)'  cotn-fl 
poujid  will  be  lefY.     If  upon  wi)tol,lhe  fabric  is  rendered  damp,  rotteo,  and ^B 
discolored.     On  hfftrk  rlnth   the  stain  is  fii-st  red,  ber'*uning  after  a  time  of  ^1 
a  brown  color.     In  all  cases  where  a  strong  acid  haa  caused  the  BtainSr 
tbey  continue  damp  for  a  very  considerable  time. 

If  the  fabric  be  dyed  with  inditfo  the  acid  prodtices  no  action  upon  thei 
coloring  body  ;  if  with  archil  nnd  other  bfueit,  the  stain  will  be  rwl;  if  wilhj 
hffu^od  and  mnddrry  it  will  be  yellow ;  and  if  an  iron  mordant  has  bt 
used  a  rust- red  sjwt  will  be  !ell.  But  never  guess  at  stains.  They  con* 
etitute  most  important  evidence,  and  great  care  is  consequently  needeflj 
before  any  conclusions  are  drawn  from  them.  To  detect  the  free  acid  pn>-J 
ceed  as  follows.     Cut  out  the  spot  that  is  stained,  and 

(1)  Apply  it  to  your  tongue.    If  it  is  due  to  acid,  it  will  very  Ilkelyj 
have  a  sharp  taste. 

(2)  Moisten  it  with  water  and   press  upon  it  a  piece  of  blue  litmus- 
paper,  Doting  whether  it  be  reddened  or  not. 

(8)  Digest  it  for  some  time  io  about  half  a  drachm  of  water,  filter,  and 
test  the  filtrate  with  nitric  acid  and  chloride  of  barium. 

In  this  way  you  will  easily  discover  the  acid,  even  after  verj*  consider- 
able periods.     Dr.  Letheby  found  that  he   was  able   to  recover  by  this! 
means  very  nearly  the  whole  of  the  acid  he  spilt  on  pieces  of  varioui 
fabrics.     Christisoo  recovered  at  least  one-half  after  seven   weeks.     Dr- 


CA8E6   OF    POISONING    BT    BULPBURIO    ACID< 


241 


Taylor  states  tbat  the  acid  may  be  found  on  fiibrica  after  years  have 
elapsed. 

But  it  must  be  remembered  that  many  articles  of  dress  contain  sulphnric 
acid,  consequent  upon  having  been  treated  during  their  manufacture  with 
9ome  sulphate,  such  as  alum,  copperas,  etc.  Always,  therefore,  make  a 
quantitative  examination  of  the  amount  of  sulphate  pre.nent  in  a  ^miliar 
weight  of  the  sound  fabric  at  the  same  time  that  y(>u  exflraioe  the  portion 
which  has  been  stained.  In  this  way  you  will  be  able  to  compare  the 
reiulu  of  the  two  experiments. 

A^in :  the  fabric  may  have  been  washed,  and  by  this  me^iDS  moat  of 
the  acid  got  rid  of  But  ihe  washing  will  not  hide  the  alterations  of  color 
and  texture,  nor  will  it  remove  the  acid  that  exiati  id  combination  with 
the  organic  matter.  In  tlie^e  cases  also  you  must  make  rpmoiitative 
aDalysea  of  both  the  sound  and  the  injured  parts,  and  then  compare  the 
reiuftn.     For  .this  purpose  proceed  as  follows: 

Take  given  weight*  of  the  fabric,  and  heat  with  a  little  dilute  nltro 
niiiriatic  acid  (1  of  HNO„  2  of  HCl,  and  2  of  H,0),  filter  and  precipi- 
tate with  a  jioluble  baryta  salt.  Then  ignite  the  precipitate  and  weigh 
(vide  the  "  Lancet/'  Ojt.  2,  1841,  p.  20). 

Quantitative  Edimation  ofStilphurie  Acid. 

To  estimate  the  total  acid  (free  and  combined),  acidulate  the  liquid 
with  nitric  acid,  and  add  an  excesss  of  a  baryta  salt.  Collect  the  preri[)i- 
tate,  ignite  and  weigh.  Every  117  grains  is  equal  to  40  grains  of  sulphuric 
acid,  or  in  the  proportion  very  nearly  of  three  to  one. 

If  the  liquid  contains  only  sulphates  and  sulphuric  acid,  the  free  acid 
can  be  estimated  by  a  standard  solution  of  carbonate  of  8oda» 


CASES  OP  POISONING  BY  STTLPHTTRIC  ACID. 

CASE  l,—'»L»nc!tr|,"  Jat».  2,  lanT.  j>.  4a  i  I>r,  l>:th<f»jf ),  M:»le .  »t,  9.  sj  —  n'S  gralm  of  aohydrotM 
on  of  rlirifl. 

4^r«v>te«M— rnt<<ntc  p«lo  In  throAt  and  ctotnach;  llpa  m  If  mnnared  with  wh(t«  pulnt ;  Toniitinf 
of'T  1,1*.    FItc  intouU's«U|MOd  beXbre  aotidotts  were  giveo.    For  five  day*  Ihe  acid  was 

ft)  I  n  ne  io  large  quaotUy. 

CASE  2.—"  Lancet."  Jul/  10,  1W7.  p.  85  (Dr.  Chown*!.    Female :  «l.  52.    S». 

S^  lyftiwa— Immgdiatc  oeiue  of  slraiigulakioQ ;  voice  remainwl   Datural;    cr»o|)hagus  corroded. 

AmmA.— Dfatb  Jn  torij  honn. 

■/"iMl #iOfffw.— KpighiUia  Yirry  InflfirnrHl;  (wnphaffuaof   a  dirty  aiih'r«d  color;  mucous  mcmbrajie 
of  U^atoiuach  deatniyi-d,  e*peciiil]y  ui  tin*  cardiac  end. 
CASE  X—"  huoonW'  I>et. «.  18.>7.  p.  iltf  ^Dr.  WIod).    Female  •  rI.  4.    A  qnanllty  ? 
Strf*pivmA,—\rrj  bad  lyroptoius, 
Z&f'iif .  — RcfOT  e  ry . 

CASE  <-"  Medical  Tlmoi  and  OaMlle,**  July  20, 18W,  p.  58  «I>r,  Unhrhjy     Male  :  Kt,6.     A 
toful  of  ttrfing  ocid, 

— Cblo  and  lip*  eicorfat^;  tongue,  ninoth,  and  faucf«  white;  frout  »f  drejwi  eorrwt^d 

Tarld  :  relchlriK,  but  oo  oihcr  »ory  uncent  symploms.     Add  prpsfDt  in  thtt  urine  afu-r  ten 

L^ire— 7  itralne  BlToni?  If-SO^     In   10  day*  It   waa  uurniaL      Ktt-oTiTy  rapid, 

r.'sl»  being  the  ooly  speciai  symptoms  that   occurred.     Nvrer  bad   an«r«ard> 


^—"  M«dlcal  Tlm<^  ami  OaxHtle,"  July  20,  IB50,  p.  5H  (Dr.  Lotbvhyli.    Mal«:  wbL  42  i 
Itf     Quautity  of  acid  thmwu  In  Iht^  hc«, 
Sfmp^vff —ir!}  mpUtm*  aevfre.     In  the  elder  the  eye  iloughed  away. 
JEk«MM.— Recovery. 

CA8B«.— "Medical  Tiit)MaadGftx«Ue."  July  30,  laso,  p.  98  (Dr.  Lelbeby).    Female.    2  penny- 
«orUif?|. 
^^a>|itomr.— Found  dead. 
je«^|r— Death. 

did  not  reach  tb««tomtch,Vut  eroded  tlte  cpIglottU,  and  paiaed  doirn  tb« 


SULPHURIC    ACID. 


4 

I 


trmcbcft  into  Ihc  lungs.    The  Hogs  of  the  trachea  were  dlMccied  oul  bf  the  Acid,  Biid  lb*  loagf 
ehOfTcU  :  llu'  aold  oKspvd  into  the  cttvitf  of  th(>  pleura,  and  di»uW«l  Ibe  ribs  ou  lite  left  aide. 

CASK  7,—"  Medical  TlniM,"  January  15, 1  *t8,  p.  2S8  (Dr.  G.  Corfo^    &Iat« ;  i»t.  40,    Half  a  pint 

SymptnMs.^B^fmt^  us  if  *lrangl«d ;  greiit  agony,  and  could  nnty  upeak  la  a  ffalni  wbtafrvr; 
epilltt'llititi  of  lips  and  tongue  partially  remored  and  wbit«.  Vouiltlug  cameos,  »t»«o««d«d  if 
death. 

ResuU.—lttAlh  in  seventcvn  hour*. 

^^'rmnUm.  —  V.y>\lh<r\\um  of  (i»ophai;u*  and  stomach  dl;lach^d  and  corTode«I ;  thmnfthout  tba 
Intrntinca  and  ruuroui  nitimbrane  wa«  tcarlet;  ilonaach  app«rarvd  aa  If  black  pitch  had  fac«n  Said 
over  it. 

CASE  8L~" UDc«t,»  Noveoibar  U,  183S,  p.  «M  (Mr.  Dlcktntoo).  Female:  kL  62.  taa.  wUh  tm. 
of  water. 

^in/ff«nfM.— Imuirdlate  pain  ;  (carbonala  of  magneslft  taken  diractlj);  eonatlpatlun  very  irou 
aonin.    Ri^ciivery  very  rapid  whrn  It  cotumeoced.    Ko  corroaloa  of  moutb  or  throat. 

JUtuli.—Rtscovvrj  In  five  monlhi. 

CASE  9.—"  Lancet,"  1870.  p.  .VW.    Female.    Took  some  In  her  mouth  and  spat  It  oat. 

SjfvtpUims. — lutenM)  p&Lu  Lo  month,  throat,  and  stomach;  difficulty  of  breatblag  tor  two  daya. 

I^mt/r.— Uecovf^rjr. 

CASE  10.-"Edintnirgb  Monthly  Jounial  f  June,  1S30.  p.  03«  (Dr,  Walker).    MAle:  «t.  iO. 
nearly  («.g.  \m2\ 

SymptamM,^-'\<im\t\ag  In  ibree-qiiarten  of  an  hour;  but  not  immediate. 

StMvfL—lhfulh  in  tweiity-flve  h«»ur», 

/W>mor<rm.— PyluniB  wucbcouatrlctwl ;  duodenum  inflamed;  aorta  In Aamed  ;  no  acid  fbtttid  iA 
■tomach , 

CASE  n,— *  MiHllcai  GawiK,"  voj.  xx(x,p.  U7.    ML  1  year.    Half  a  toaapoonful. 

Settftl. —IhiAlh  in  twenty-four  hours. 

CASK  I'i— i'hriiitiiwn,  p.  Ifl'A    Male  :  adutL    jj. 

J?cn>//.— Death  itiicv*  n  day*. 

CASE  lA.— "Cinxeltr  Mfrdicale,'*  December 28. 18S0.    Male:  ast^SO.    Siilaa. 

i2e»/l.— Itaath  iu  furty-five  minutiia. 

CASE  14.—*'  i.anc'if L."  1837-a,  vol.  II,  p.  782  (X>r.  Oantoer).    Male :  adult.    M*. 

SffinftimtU'^tiWifa.ilou.    Recovery  after  twelve  daya. 

Ratdt. — K^-covtry. 

CA.'SL*  ifi— **  Lancet."  April  14,  »A3J«.  p  93  (Dr.  WlUonl.    Female;  adulL     A  quantity  <») 

.Si^m/>/(/jnj.—Lired  in  (treat  ■ufferiug  fur  forty-j^re  weeks.  At  the  end  of  alx  muoUu  tlirew  op 
wlilitt  cuugbliig  the  entire  lining  uicmUrancof  the  crauphagua. 

.RMWr.— D<>ath, 

iW'inorfeiK,— The  lower  two-thlrda  of  cMophagua  thickened  and  narroved;  atomarb  perfoTatc4i 
dark-colnrvd  fltild  in  abdomen,  but  no  Inflammation. 

CASE  l«  — "  Tjincft."  ,Iuiie  11. 1842.  p.  365  ( Dr.  Sooffern).    Fmnale :  adnlt.    Doae 

JSj^/i/riin>.— iltA<  k  frulhy  nialter  iwuvd  from  luuutb ;  uiiod  cJ<*ar.  In  twelve  hours  rai]i«xl  cioo- 
aideral»ly.  In  tixti'i'u  buiirs  nervous  symptomsaet  io»  and  dttalh  occurred  in  about  eighteen  honn 
and  a  hnlrnfli-r  tnklng  the  poi»on. 

iBemlf.— iValh  In  eigbte'en  hours. 

/^wf-mvrfrai.-'Ali  parts  as  far  at  the  duodenum  blackeoad  and  inflamed  ;  kldneya  f  *ry  Itiflaned, 
and  very  acid  (o  htmut. 

CASE  17.— *' LAucet,"  February  8,  JB«0,  p.  103  (Dr.  Fripp).  Mftle:  at.  40.  About  t».  9i»  ^fmptf 
stomach. 

^^;>«on»«.— Vomiting  and  poln ;  mouth  aod  fauo«a  whit«  and  toddeo ;  Vftlked  •  nilla  Immidlatdy 
after  taking  It. 

lfe»u/r— Recovery. 

CASE  18  — »'  Lancet,"  December  7, 1872.  p.  81«  (Mr.  Bond),    Female:  let,  t\,  pregnant.    Dr»*e  rr) 

Siemf>tt'*»n. — I'sln  Hnd  vomiting;  lalxir  caiue  on  in  thL>  uigbt.  Patient  progre<M«Kl  favoraMy  for  ft 
fbrlnlgbt,  when  »heconipiaini^  of  sickness  aud  di<netilly  of  swallowing  food  ;  atrictare  of  a»opbagva 
Otmii  on.  which  houl  to  be  dilated  with  a  catheter,  and  food  Introduced. 

ifeir/t— Death  in  tbirty-aeveo  daya. 

i\>«r-mortem.— Mouth  and  faucea  found  to  bave  recovered  their  normal  ilute :  the  stricture  of 
(BBOphagua  bad  almoAt  disappeared,  but  there  waa  complete  alweuee  uf  mucmii  iiK'rubranc;  stoniacb 
black;  mucou*  uiemhrantrpiartialiy  detached, aud  underneath  It  were  found  |>aiehr^  of  fibrtoooa 
exudation  a  aiuarterofao  Inch  thick. 

CASE  19  —"  Medical  Timea  and  G«i«tte,"  February  16, 18«7,  p.  182  (Dr.  Crawfonl>.  Female:  at 
as.     A  wiueglaasflit. 

^mpfonu.— Immediate  burning  pain  in  throai:  and  alomacb.  (Bicartmnate  of  soda  was  given 
after  ten  mInuteaV,  violent  vomiting. 

£««//.— Recovr  T  y. 

CASE  20.—"  M'^lcal  Times  and  Oawtte,"  July  26,  1878.  p.  92  (Dr.  Burder).    Male;  wt,  «.   SIJ. 

*Sjfmf)t(ftn$—fipfv^y  iiiKrnRibililT  ;  vunilllng  of  black  acid  fluid;  lipa  whit*. 
-Death  in  eight  boura  and  abalf. 


* 


0A8BB   OF   POISONING    BY    SULPHURIC    ACID. 


243 


-— Wps  wblt«  and  dry;  tnniEQe  bmtrnlsh-btock  and  tbrlT^lM',  trocboA  tuflnmed.  nnd 

tow^rM  witb  A  brown  glntiufius  n<niM  ;  stomach  complptelj  ch»rri^,  and  perforRtprI  at  the  cardiac 

0t»A  ;  Iwo  perfbratlotis  in  thi'  duodenum.    The  jfjuouiii  lonlct;d  as  if  cu%'ered  witb  dirty  white  patat* 

r  21.— "Medical  Tluin  and  Gaiwtle."    April  31,  I860,  p,  408  <Dr.  Qgle^     Male:  tot.  A3.    A 

'  T. 

■  y.-/.Jumt,^-1>nipptddowa  after  taking  it,  m  If  tn  a  flt.Buddenly  :  lips  corroded  ;  collaps«;  (itomacfa'' 
pump  iisrtl '.) 

i^etM// — Ocntb  In  ijlnf  hours. 

JW<MMrf<rm.— Mitcoi]!!  menii'rane  of  the  tongufi  very  sllijhtlj  afl^tc^;  vsophagat  corroded; 
atomocb  and  divvdpnuTn  app«ar«d  tut  IT  charred ;  other  parts  InflaniPd. 

VAfiF.  22.—"  M»"dicaJ  Tinifs  and  OajiHtiV'  Nov.  t<1,  I8.'j".  p.  410  i  Dr.  lTnhGrihon>.  Femalej  let.  55. 
A  wifif^laaafiil  of  dilute  add  inken  during  a  fit  of  raeltttichojj-  {I  to  ,tor  4  piirts  wafer). 

SYmptom*.—Cial\»p6«  i&twobour«-,  DO  fitaia  on  moulhor  on  Ilpa;  bioudy  TOtnltlng and  purging; 
a»Tisibl«  to  the  ta^t. 

JBiww//.— Death  on  rlnTpnth  day. 

^MT-morfi^.— Mucou*  nicmbn«n«  Injected  at  tb©  ponlerirtr  part  nf  tbo  mouih;  eplfbcliura  of 
ttoopbaifiis  nowhere  dtMlroTed  ;  atomsch  dull  alate  colf*r.aivd  mucoua  incoibratie  here  and  there  de- 
led and  drttroyi'd.    All  the  intentines  much  eoaj;cst«d. 

rARE  2S  — *'  Medical  Time*  and  Gaaette,"  Dec.  I!>,  1857,  p.  C29  (Dr.  .Tenner).    Female.    Slj  of  dilute 
( nearly  half  and  half). 

-Bloody  Tomitind ;  mouth  white.    In  two  hours  cotlapae.    On  the  tlxth  day  reteDttoa  of 
!aet  In  ,  aenidble  to  the  lost. 

-Heath  on  the  sixteenth  day. 

■/rw».— Stomach  perforated  in  three  place*;  nftoe  of  the  content* eaeaped;  atomaeb  con- 
trM4ed  :  the  pyloric  half  wo-i  rao^t  affecled.  Nothing  tnlw  rfranrk-d  tn  the  pharynx  or  (Dsophagua; 
lipp"f  imrtof  diiridetKini  {nHaia<^;  remainder  of  intcitin'snnrrnttl. 

CASH  24  — "Mwliml  Timw  and  GiU4»tte,"  Feb.  21.  1H53.  p.  183  (I>r,  Hlglnbotbom).  Malo  :  mt.  BO. 
S»J  (n.  e.  IHIK)  dlJ(»te«]  wllh  Sij  nf  w»l«r  taken  on  an  Pinpty  stomach. 

finnr>tnmM.—(iTval  pain  ;  tongnfl  of  a  dead  white  color,  but  no  Tumiting  or  purging;  collap*e. 
JijwU  —Death  in  two  boura  nnd  a  half. 

Ih^-m«rtem  — Sidc«  of  tongue  whtt'>  and  l+'ftthery ;  aM<iphaffiis  brown  and  worm-eaten  ;  not  perfor- 
ated :  stomnrh  internally  cn^verri]  with  a  black  ^elatinouB  cont,  but  no  twrfuratlons. 

CASE  2S.—"  Brit  lab  Medical  Jmirnttl."  Sept.  IH,  IWJ,  p.  3'J5  (Dr.  Wanlcll).  Female:  Kt.  40.  StlM.of 
strong  acid  mixed  with  an  cfituil  quantity  of  water. 

^wffofiM.— Desperate  agony ;  pupils  contracted,  mouth,  lips,  nnd  throat  pearly  white  ;  mind  clear 
to  the  last. 

ISmu//.— Death  in  three  hours. 

/^«^Monrrll».— Alxlomluai  viscera  cbarre«^I;  atotnacb  perforated,  the  edsea  being  thin  and  corroded; 
duodenum  atuall  and  contracted;  cesophagua  graylah-whlLe  and  contracted;  dreaa  and  akin  much 
atalned. 

For  furthrr  Ca/fen  of  Paimning  hy  Sulphuric  Acid  fee: 
**M*dkal  Times  and  Gsaelte,"  April  3J964,  p.  S80.    f  Death  ;  two  perfonttiuoe  In  stotuaeh.) 
'Medir»ITtme.i;'  April  10  and  24,  1817,  p.  185  and  145.    CPoutypoolcoaa.} 
^hmldtS  ".lahrh.."  rril.  riv,  p,  7. 
**  Medical  GHirltt!,'*  t.d.  iA,  p.  328.    f DoAth  la  34  boura.) 
"Medical  r,a,rtte."  vol.  4,'S.  p.  1102. 
"  Lancet,"  t«vi.  Tol.  I,  p.  3G(S ;  IKW,  rol.  1,  p.  IflS. 

I*  Medl  al  Gaaette.'*  toI.  I.  p.  IIT ;  vol.  vll.  p.  27 ;  voL  xxlL,  p.  7« ;  Tol.  xxi-,  p.  Mt ;  ml.  xxn,  p.  352. 
f*Medlcnl  and  Physical  Jonrnal,"  vol.  I,  p.  500. 

Medical  Repository,"  vol.  ilv,  p.  ISO. 
"Guy's  Hoapltal  Reporta/'  vol.  Iv,  p.  297. 


NITRIC  ACia     fHNO,,) 

(Hydric  Nitrate — Azotic  Arid — Fuming  Spirits  of  Nitre — Glauber's 
Spirits  of  Nitre — Aqua  Fortis—Solutive  Water.) 

Preparation. 

Nitric  actd  is  generally  prepared  by  heating  patassic  or  sodic  nitrate 
rith  sulphuric  acid,  and  diytillitig 

H/^0,  +  NaNO,  =  NaHSO,  +  HNO,. 

Traces  of  nitric  acid  are  furtiied  when  an  electric  spark  is  passed  through 
moi^^t  air.  For  this  rea.«<ui  rain-water  is  ii^siially  found  to  contain  a  trace 
of  nitric  acid  protluced  by  at.mo.«pheric  electricity.  Pota^.slc  nitrate  in 
India  and  aodic  citrate  in  Chi!)  are  found  as  efflorescences  on  the  soil. 


244 


OP   NITRIC    A1 


Nitrates  are  frcfiuently  foimd  in  the  well  waters  of  large  cities,  but  n^tt 
often  in  those  of  country  j)lacus.  This  praves  thsit  their  source  may  bo 
traceable  to  living  beings.  ExcrementitiDus  matters  liberate  ammotiia, 
and  tliis  undergoing  oxidation  furnishes  the  acid.  We  shall  note  direetly 
that  nitric  add  can,  under  the  influence  of  uascent  hydrogen,  furnish  ani' 
nionia,  whilst  conversely  amiuonia  can  furnif^h  nitric  acid,  or,  more  properly, 
a  nitrate  under  certain  circiim»tances,such  as  the  presence  of  a  strong  base. 
Hence  the  amoniit  of  nitratei^  in  a  water  is  indicative  of  the  pollutioo  of 
a  stream  or  welt  by  foul  and  putrefying  product*. 

The  cases  of  poisoning  on  record  by  nitric  acid  are  much  fewer  than 
those  by  sulphuric  acid. 

Varieties  of  Nitric  Acid. 

1.  Anliydroiu  Nitrie  Acid  iJNf)^)  was  discovered  by  Deville  in  1849. 
It  is  a  solid  crystalline  body,  and  is  prepared  by  passing  chlorine  over  ar- 
gentic nitrate,  and  condensing  the  producti*  in  ao  ice-cold  receiver.  It  ii 
not  a  permanent  body. 

4AgN0,  +  4Ci  =  4  AgCl  +  O,  +  2NA- 

2.  CommerciijU  Nitric  Acid*  are  of  different  degrees  of  strength.  Thcy 
are  fuming  liquids,  colorlesia  if  pure,  but  generally  tinted,  owing  to  the 
presence  of  one  or  other  of  the  lower  oxides  of  nitrogen. 

Their  specific  gravity  varies  with  their  strength.  The  ordinary  acid  has 
a  gnivity  <»f  about  1*220.  Kuuelle  is  j«tated  to  have  procured  an  acid  with 
a  gravity  of  1583.   The  strol]ge^t  acid  has  geuerally  a  sp.  gr.  of  about  1512. 


hnpuritiet, 

1.  Lower  Ompomtdtf  of  Oxygen  and  Nlfrofjen, — Their  existence  is  gen 
erally  due  to  the  decomposition  of  the  acid.  Their  presence  u  known  by 
the  color  they  impart  to  the  acid,  the  tint-depth  being  ia  ilirect  proportion 
to  the  quantity  present.  If  on  diluting  the  acid  with  three  times  it«  bulk 
of  water,  and  adding  a  little  saturated  solution  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen, 
no  turbidiiy  is  produced,  you  may  be  sati^^fied  the  acid  contains  at  ixio«t 
but  the  merest  trace  of  tliese  impurities. 

2.  Vhiorine,  derived  from  tlie  al  kaline  chlorides  in  the  sal tpetre,  i»  known 
by  a  precipitate  being  produced  with  nitrate  of  stiver. 

3.  Iodine  a ji  Iodic  Acid  may  be  derived  from  Chili  nitrate  of  soda,  which 
frequently  eonlaiui*  alkaline  iodides,  berug  u?^ed  in  the  manufacture  of  the 
acid.  According  to  M.  Lamlicrt  it  in  present  in  most  samples  of  the  com- 
mercial acid.  To  detect  the  impurity  neutralise  the  aci<t  with  carbonate 
of  soda,  mix  with  a  little  starch,  and  ad<l  cautiously,  drop  by  drop,  stnmg 
sulphuric  acid,  when,  if  iodine  or  itn  coinpoundj*  be  preseul,  the  character- 
istic  blue  color  of  the  iodide  of  starch  will  be  obtained, 

4.  Stdphuric  Acid  may  be  present,  derived  fri>m  the  materials  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  the  acid.  A  white  precipitate  will  be  produced  with 
a  solution  of  uitrate  of  baryta. 

5.  Iron  is  a  very  cotnmon  impurity.  It  will  be  precipitated  as  a  yel- 
lowish brown  deposit  on  supeniatu rating  the  acid  with  ammonia. 

6.  Alumina,  Polash  ami  Soda  iS^iZ/w,  etc.,  can  be  easil}^  recognized  in  the 
ealine  residue  left  after  the  complete  evaporation  of  the  acid, 

7.  Arsenic  han  been  mentioned  as  an  occasiorml  impurity.  Neither  Dr. 
Letheby  aor  the  authors  have  ever  found  it  in  the  acid. 

Purification  of  Nitric  Acid, 

Dilute  the  acid  with  it>»  own  bulk  of  water.  Heat  the  mixture,  and 
whilst  hot,  add,  for  every  IDO  grains  of  the  strong  acid  about  one  grain  of 


I 
I 


1 


J 


B                                    SPECEFIC   GRAVITIES    OF    NITEIC    ACID.                      245               ^M 

bichromnte  of  potfi^h  for  the  purpose  of  oxidizing   any  of  the  lower             ^^ 

oxide?  of  nitrogen  that  raay  be  present.     Then  add  nitrate  of  silver  so              ^| 

long  as  any  curdy  precipitate  is  forraed.     Set  the  acid  aside  for  twenty-              ^B 

four  hours,  siphon  off  the  clear  liquid,  and  distil  almost  to  dryness  at  a              ^| 

very  gentle  heat,  rejecting  the  first  half  of  the  distillate.     The  acid  will        ^^^H 

then  be  pure,  and  have  a  sp.  gr.  of  about  1400.                                                     ^^^H 

k       Table  exhibiliuf/  ihc  Sptrijic  Gmiitie»  and  perrentaffe  Strengtiui  of  mrious        ^^^B 

1           6olntiom  of  Xitric  Anhydride  (N.Oj   and  Nitric  Acid  (HNO,),  (Att-              ^| 

1 

field.) 

■ 

F 

HN0»-6I. 

KA-108. 

Specific 
Graviiy, 

HNO,  -  68. 

»/),  -  lOS 

1 

1.6000 

92  983 

79.7 

1.2947 

46.299 

39685 

L4^80 

92.068 

78  903 

1.2887 

46  562 

39.053 

^H 

1  4\»60 

91  124 

78  106 

1.2826 

44  632 

38  266 

^H 

1.4940 

90.lt>A 

77.809 

1.2765 

43.702 

87.459 

^H 

■ 

1  4910 

89.2tM 

75.512 

1.2705 

42.772 

86.662 

^H 

■ 

1  4480 

88.384 

75.716 

1.2644 

4L842 

85  865 

^^1 

■ 

L4»f)0 

87.404 

74.9 t 8 

1.:'683 

40  913 

35  068 

^H 

■ 

1  4820 

86.484 

74.121 

1.2523 

89.983 

84  271 

^H 

■ 

L47H0 

85.545 

78.8J4 

1.2462 

39  053 

83  474 

^H 

■ 

1,47«0 

84.tll5 

72.527 

1,2402 

S8.1i;3 

82.677 

^H 

■ 

1.47JJ0            ! 

83.680 

71.730 

1.2341 

87  190 

81  880 

^H 

■ 

1-4700 

82.755 

70-933 

1.2277 

36  263 

31.088 

^H 

■ 

1.4tt70 

81  825 

70,136 

1.2212 

35,834 

80.286 

^H 

w 

1.4640 

80.805 

69.339 

1  2148 

84.404 

80.489 

^H 

l.4(^ 

VA3m 

68.642 

1.2084 

38  474 

28.692 

^H 

L 

1.4d70 

Tii.oari 

67.745 

1.2019 

82.544 

27.896 

^H 

■ 

1.4  630 

78.106 

66.948 

1.1958 

31.614 

27,098 

^H 

P 

1  45»H) 

77.181 

6fi.l55 

1.1895 

80.684 

26.301 

^^1 

L44U0 

76.246 

65.354 

1.1888 

29.755 

25  504 

^1 

■_ 

1.4424 

75.816 

64.557 

1.1770 

28.826 

24.707 

^^1 

■ 

1.4885 

74.886 

63.760 

1.1709 

27.89 

23,910 

^^1 

■ 

1.434« 

73.457 

62.963 

1.1648 

20.966 

23.118 

^^1 

r 

L490tf 

72.527 

62.166 

I  1587 

26.035      ' 

22.316 

^1 

L4269 

7L687 

6L3H9 

1.1 62G 

25.106 

21  519 

^1 

^ 

1.4-228 

7t>.667 

60. '72      1 

1.14«5 

24  176 

2".722 

^H 

■ 

1.42     B.  P. 

70  00 

fiOOO 

1  Hi  13 

23.246 

19.926 

^H 

■_-. 

1.4189 

69.737 

69.775 

1.1345 

22.316 

19  128 

^H 

■1 

L4I47 

68.807 

58.978 

1  1286 

21.386 

18.331 

^H 

Vi 

1-4107 

67.878 

58  181 

1.1227 

20.456 

17.534 

^H 

B 

l,40tt5 

66  948 

67,384 

1.1168 

19.626 

16-737 

^H 

■ 

1.4028 

66  018 

66  687 

1-1109 

18  697 

15.940 

^H 

V 

1.8078 

65.09 

65.79 

1.1051 

17.667 

15  148 

^H 

■ 

1.8945 

64.158 

64  998 

i.uno 

17.442 

14.95 

^^1 

■ 

1.38B2 

63.229 

54  196 

1  0993 

16.737 

14.346 

^H 

I 

1.88$3 

62.299 

53  399 

10985 

15  807 

13.549 

^H 

■ 

1  3783 

61.3^19 

52.f.02 

1.0878 

14.877 

12  752 

^H 

1.3782 

60.4.H9 

51.805 

I  0821 

13  947 

11.955 

^H 

18«.81 

69,679 

61.068 

1.0764 

13.017 

11.168 

^H 

■ 

1.8080 

68.679 

60.211 

10708 

12  088 

10.861 

^H 

■ 

18679 

67660 

49,414 

101.51 

11.158 

9.664 

^H 

■ 

1.3629 

66  720 

48.617 

1.0595 

10.228 

8  767 

^H 

■ 

1.8477 

65.790 

47.820 

1  0540 

9.2'.*8 

7  970 

^H 

■ 

L8427 

64.8110 

47.023 

1.0485 

8.368 

7.173 

^H 

■ 

l.«iJ7e 

63  930 

46.226 

1.0430 

7.439 

6  376 

^H 

■ 

1.88231 

63.000 

45,429 

1.0375 

6.508 

6.679 

^^1 

■ 

1  8270 

62.(K19 

44.682 

1.(^20 

5.579 

4.782 

^H 

■ 

1.821(3 

61.141 

43.835 

1.0267 

4  64  it 

8.986 

^^1 

■ 

1.8168 

60.211 

43.038 

I  0212 

8  719 

8.188 

^1 

■ 

1.8110 

49.281 

42.241 

1  0159 

2  789 

2391 

^1 

W 

1  8060 

48.855 

41.447 

10106 

1.860 

1.694 

^1 

i 

1.8001 

47.18U 

40.440 

1.0053 

0  930 

0.797 

I 

h 

k—^^HHI^^M^ 

246 


PROPERTIES    OF    NITRIC    ACID. 


If  you  recjiiire  a  very  stroug  acid,  it  must  be  again  tlistiUe<i  afU^r  mix- 
iDg  it  with  its  ciwti  hulk  of  coiiceiitraied  sulphuric  acid.  Au  acid  of  8p. 
gr.  1500,  or  even  higber,  may  be  obtaiuud  by  this  meaus. 

The  hoiling-point  of  the  acid  varies  somcwhat^ — 

Ad  acid  of  sp.  gr,  1500  boils  at    98.88*^  C.  (210^  F.) 


1450 

1420 
1400 

i;i5o 

1300 
1200 
1150 


115.51'^C.  (240^R) 
120.00*'  C.  (248'^  P.) 
119,44'  C.  1247'='  F.) 

IKi.BGMj.  <242*=*F0 
\n,m°  C.  (236*'  F.) 
107.77^  C.  (226^  F.) 
WXtiS^  a  (219'  F.) 


The  congealiug-poiot  of  pure  anhydrous  acid  is  a  little  below  that  of 
water. 

An  acid  of  sp.  gr.  1500  freezes  at  —40.00°  C.  (—40°  F.) 
1400      *'  —40.55^  C.  (—41°  F.) 

1330      "  — 41.11°  C.  (—42°  F.) 

1235      "  —41.66^  C.  (—43*^  F.) 

By  keeping,  and  more  particularly  if  it  be  expa^^ed  to  light,  nitric  aeic 
undergoes  aliemtioDj  aod  becomes  more  or  least  colored.  It  has  a  struDff 
affinity  for  water  (attracting  it  even  from  the  air),  evolving,  at  the  time' 
of  its  combination,  a  very  considerable  amouut  of  heat.  We  have  fuundj 
that  one  volume  of  nitric  acid  (sp.  gr.  1404J  mixed  with  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  and' 
()  volumes  of  water,  yiehied  acida,  the  densities  of  which  were  1234, 1160, 
1120,  lOyB,  1080,  and  1070,  whilst  the  mean  specific  gravities  should  bave 
been  1202,  1135,  1101,  1080.8,  10tJ7,  and  1058. 

The  concentrated  acid  gives  oH'  colorless  or  orange-colored  fumes  at 
ordinary  temperatures.  No  rej<idue  is  left  on  evaporation,  if  the  acid  be 
pure. 

Nitric  acid  reddens  litmus  when  the  solution  only  contains  0.2  per  cent. I 
of  the  acid.  It  acts  on  nearly  all  metala  except  gold  and  phuiuum,  lh« 
action  varying  according  to  the  dilution  and  the  temperature.  An  acid] 
having  a  sp,  gr.  from  1.35  to  L25  will  usually  be  found  to  bo  the  most 
powerful  in  its  action  on  metallic  bodies.  Zinc  dissrdves  iu  dilute  nitric i 
acid  freely,  some  of  the  HNOj  being  reduced  to  N,0.  With  a  t'«rj/  dilute 
solution,  the  acid  may  even  be  completely  reduced,  and  in  the  presence  of| 
metallic  iron  with  a  great  excess  of  caustic  potash,  ammonia  formed. 

Nitric  acid  is  an  intense  oxidizing  ageut;  and  this  being  the  case,  free 
hydrogen  is  never  developed  by  its  action  on  the  metals.  In  other  words, 
hydrogen  is,  no  doubt,  set  free,  but  is  indtautly  oxidized  at  the  expeuse 
the  oxygen  of  the  nitric  acid.    Thus — 

l8t.  Cu  +  2HN0,  =:  Cu2N0  -i-  ,H,. 
2d.   3H,+  2HN0,  =  2N0  +  4H,0. 

The  NO  upon  coming  into  contact  with  oxygen  becomes  oxidized,  pro- 
ducing N,Oj,  or  NjO,,  which  may  be  known  by  the  deep  red  fumea 
evolved. 

Actum  on  Vegetable  Matters, 

1.  On  saccharine  bodies.  Provided  the  temperature  does  not  exceed 
21.1°  C.  (70*^  F.),  the  very  strongest  nitric  acid  produces  no  perceptible 


PROPERTIES   OF   NITRIC    AOID, 


247 


I 


change  on  paccharine  b^Mlies,  but  if  the  mixture  be  raised  to  the  boih'ng- 
poiut,  then  the  organic  matter  is  more  or  Jes$  completely  converted  into 
oxalic  acid.  Sohlesinger  states  that  the  beet  proportitms  of  sugar  and 
nitric  acid  in  the  fabrication  of  oxalic  aeJd  are  four  parts  of  well-dried 
sugar,  and  thirty-three  parts  of  nitric  acid  (sp.  gr.  1380).  This  will  yield 
56  to  60  per  cent,  of  oxalic  acid.  With  wealcer  acid;*  (e.f/.^  one  having  a 
8p.gr.  of  1250),  saccharic  acid  {Cf^H^fi^)  is  formed,  whilst  with  acids  that 
are  still  weaker,  aft^r  prolonged  boiling,  sacchulmine,  a  brown  crystalline 
insoluble  substance,  is  produced. 

2.  Od  Jlonr,  starch,  atid  breaiL  A  strong  acid  dissolves  flour,  antl  con- 
verts it  into  a  jelly-like  mass.  A  weak  acid  has  very  little  action  unless 
beat  be  employed,  when  oxalic,  carbonic,  and  other  acids  are  produced. 

Bread  mixed  with  an  acid  of  sp.gr.  1300  is  immediately  stained  yellow, 
whilst  even  with  oneofsp.gr.  1180»a  similar  change  altera  time  takes 
place,  the  brejid  assuming  a  soft  gummy  consistence. 

3.  On  wood.  Nitric  acid  darkens  wood  wherever  it  touches  it.  The 
stain  varies  with  the  Mrrngfh  of  the  acidy  and  also  very  much  with  the  kind 
of  wood  to  which  it  is  applied,  in  consequence  of  the  varying  quantities  of 
resin  contained  in  difterent  Sfiecies. 

4.  On  paper  and  linen  cloth.  An  acid  below  sp.gr.  1400  has  no  action 
either  on  linen  or  paper,  unless  they  are  boilfd  with  the  acid,  when  it  dis- 
solves them,  oxalic  and  other  acid>5  being  formed.  A  strong  acid  fsp.gr. 
150<))  converts  paper  or  linen  into  a  tough  parchment-like  body,  which 
takes  fire  at  a  low  temperature. 

5.  Many  of  the  vegietitbie  aMWf>^,  such  as  morphia,  brucia,  nicotine,  etc., 
Assume  a  red  tint  with  acids  above  1300  ap.  gr. 

6.  Most  t*egetabie  colors  are  discharged  by  strong  nitric  acid,  whilst  if  the 
fabric  be  of  auimal  origin,  a  brownish-red  stain  will  be  left. 

Action  on  Animal  Substtances. 

1.  On  itrong  and  dilute  albumen.     (See  table  on  page  233.) 

2.  Dead  vnicom  membranes  are  coagulated,  and  turned  of  a  yellow  color 
by  acids  having  a  sp.  gr.  above  1180. 

3.  The  cuticle  is  also  stained  by  the  action  of  the  acid.  An  acid  of  1300 
coloi's  the  skin  almost  directly,  whilst  one  of  ep.  gr.  1180  stains  it  in  about 
&'7e  minutes. 

\4.  On  woollen  fabrics.    The  acid  produces  a  yellow  stain  on  woollen 

lies.     With  an  acid  of  sp.gr.  1500,  the  tissue  is  decomposed,  a  yellow 

pulpy  mngfna  being  left,  which  rapidly  dissolves  in  an  excess  of  the  acid. 

As  regards  the  action,  therefore,  of  nitric  acid  on  albuminous  substances, 
we  note  that  whilst  weak  acids  merely  coagulate  albumen  (a  nitrate  of 
albumen  being  formeil),  strong  acids  effect  a  further  change  by  producing 
a  yellow  substance,  known  as  xanthoproteic  acid. 

The  action  of  nitric  acid,  it  must  be  further  remarked,  is  rendered  leaa 
energetic  by  dilution,  but  more  energetic  by  its  admixture  with  sulphuric 
acid,  from  the  property  the  oil  of  vitriol  possesses  of  abstracting  water  from 
bodiea  with  which  it  has  been  brought  into  contact. 


248 


SYMPTOMS    OP    POISONING   BY    NITRIC    ACID. 


TulfUf  iliowing  ike  Aelion  of  Nitric  Acids  of  Different  Strength  on  Conca^ 
trated  and  Dilute  Albumen, 


Rpeelfle 


lOOfl 

1010 


Co  itroDg  AlbuDi«Q  (ptire  white  of  rgg). 


On  <inute  AlbuTuen  <9fjrh  %»  tUhtr 
whir4r  of  1  egg  ill  I  o«.  of  «ater,  cr  Li 
tvruta). 


No  ftHion, 

An'tinn  exceedingty  ilight  afWr  21 

hours. 
CoRgulAtion ;  coagulum  white. 


Cna(;ulntion  in  24  hours, 
CuMiziilMtirm   in  1   huur  ;   coAgulum 

white  imd  ^»rt, 
Coni;ijluti<*ii  in  10  mtntites  ;  congu- 

lum  b»<;<i(i»e»  of  h  (mk'-yellowcolor 

in  *J4  htmrs. 
Coui^uluMoM  ImmodiNt^;   coagulumjCoagiilAtion  immcdiAte  ;    eo«i^lu 

h^^conies  af  a  full  yellow  tint  in      yellow. 

10  miiiult'S.  I 

CoitgulAtioti  immediute;   coii£^u1un)  CoAgulAtion   immcdiAte;   lb9    pr«^ 

a  dce|uy6lluw  rim^s,  di^i^ulvini;  in      cipltated  albumen  yellow 

ejtcces  of  atid  wlih   slii:iit  pffer- 

Ti'scetto^f    but    rvprecipilHted   on 

diluiiuti  witU  Wf^ttT. 


TJie  Nitrates. — All  the  neutral  Ralta  are  soluble  id  water.     No  test  ageotl 
except  albumen  fujriii^hefjau  uii*oluble  preeipilate.     The  crystals  of  nitrate^ 
of  |>otaM!i  are  long  six-sided  prisms^  aud  thoa^of  nitrate  of  soda  rhombic 
platen. 

The  nitrates  deflagrate  eitber  wben  heated  ou  platinum-foil  Mith  pow»J 
dered  charctial,  or  wheu  a  crystal  of  the  i*alt  is  thrown  upon  a  hot  cinder, 
A  piece  of  hltering-paper  soaked  in  a  solutiou  of  a  nitrate,  and  dri« 
burns  like  touch -paper. 

Symptoms  of  Poisoning,  Dose,  e/e. 

In  addition  to  the  general  symptoms  proiluced  by  the  mineral  acidfl,| 
already  described  under  sulphuric  acid,  we  would  note  that  the  vomit  in 
nitric  acid  poisoning  wiil  generally  be  found  loaded  with  shreds  of  mem- 
brace  having  a  citron-yellow  color.  The  mucous  membrane  of  the  mouth 
at  first  may  appear  white  (that  is.  if  the  acid  swallowetl  be  somewhat  di- 
lute), but  it  «^oon  becomesof  a  bright*yeJlow  tint,  which  afterwards  chanj 
to  a  brown  ii^h-y el  low.  A  ra^ih  has  been  noticed  in  caaej«  where  the  patient^ 
has  survived  a  week.  Sonietiiuea  stupor  precedes  death,  but  the  mind 
generally  is  clear  to  the  last.  Death  may  result  from  secondary  causes  at 
a  considerably  later  f)eriod. 

Two  drachms  arts  said  to  have  proved  fatal  to  a  boy  aged  thirteeo^  bul 
recovery  is  in  two  cases  recorded  after  half  an  ounce  of  the  acid. 

Death  has  been  said  to  have  occurred  ahmist  immediately,  but  it  i»  &8a1 
rule  delayed  for  several  hours  aud  days,  or  even  longer. 

Pott-morteni  Appearances. 

We  have  little  to  add  to  what  has  been  already  said  respecting  the  p«%6t- 
raorteni  appearances  after  poisouiug  bv  sulphuric  acid.  The  mouth,  and 
any  spots  on  the  skin  where  the  acid  has  been  spilt,  will  apj>ear  of  a  yel- 
low color.  Bromine  and  iodine  also  produce  yellow  stains,  but  the  color 
may  in  these  cAses  be  easily  discharged  by  touching  them  with  a  solution 
of  caustic  potash,  whilst  the  nitric  acid  staius,  which  are  due  to  the  pro-. 
duciiou  of  xaiUho-proteic  acid,  are  exceedingly  permanent,  and  would  he] 
intensified  rather  than  bleached  by  the  action  of  the  caustic  alkali.     The! 


TESTS    FOR    NITRIC    ACII>, 


2i9 


I 


Pia.  24, 


bladder  \s  usually  empty — the  blood  dark  and  thick.  The  stomach  will 
probably  be  found  in  an  exceedingly  pulpy  state,  and  perJiaps  perforated, 
the  edges  of  the  perf»3ration  having  a  yellow  color.  Dr.  Taylor  remarks 
that  in  poi^oiiiug  rabbits  with  the  acid  he  has  never  fuutnl  perforation. 
The  action  of  the  acid  is  seldom  well-marked  beyood  the  duodenum,  by 
which  time  the  corrosive  properties  of  the  poison  will  probably  be  destroyed. 

1.  TnMe^ — Very  acid.  This  is  well  marked  when  the  solution  contaios 
only  O.I{  per  cent,  of  free  acid. 

2.  Reddens  titmtis  when  the  sohitioo  contains  0.2  per  cent, 

3.  Nitric  acid  is  completely  rolatilized  by  heat. 

4.  Copper  TtM, — Red  fames  are  given  off  when  the  acid  ia  treated  with 
a  slip  of  copper-foil,  a  deep  blue-colored  lirj^uid  being  produced.  These 
lames  may  be  known  as  follows: 

(a)  They  turn  a  solution  of  green  sulphate  of  iron  of  a  brown  color 
when  passed  through  it.  (An  apparatns  snch  as  is  represented 
in  Fig.  24  may  be  used.) 

(i5)  They  redden,  but  do  not  bleach,  litmus. 

{y)  They  turn  a  mixture  of  starch  and  iodide  of  potassium  blue,  by- 
Belting  free  iodine. 

Similar  reactions  may  be  obtained  with  the  nitrates,  but  it  is  necessary 
to  ael  the  nitric  acid  free  by  first  adding  a  little 
sulphuric  acid. 

5.  }*roloifitlphute  of  Iron. — A  strong  solution 
of  this  salt  is  I'hanged  by  nitric  acid  tu  a  dark- 
brown,  which  color  dlsapix-ars  on  the  applica- 
tion of  heat.  In  a  dilute  s^tuiion  of  free  ttetd, 
pour  the  iron  solution  so  that  it  may  Hoat  upon 
the  acid,  when  an  olive-brown  line  will  be  ap- 
parent where  the  two  solutions  meet.  With  a 
nitrate,  add  first  of  all  a  little  sulphuric  acid, 
and  whrn  the  mirinre  /*  perfectly/  coldy  float  the 
iron  solution  as  already  advised.  The  use  of 
the  iron-salt  in  solution  is  preferable  to  its  use 
as  a  crys^tal  in  testing. 

6.  IndiffQ  Ttist  (Liebig). — A  solution  of  nitric 

acid,  or  of  a  nilmte,  is  to  be  mixed  with  about  half  its  bulk  of  sulphuric 
acid,  colored  with  a  little  indigo.  In  most  cases  the  blue  ctdor  ia  imme- 
dimely  discharged,  otherwise  the  bleaching  effect  will  be  manifest  on  the 
addition  of  heat. 

This  test  should  not  be  trustei!  to  in  the  case  of  organic  solutions. 

7.  Gold  T(«i> — In  testing  ttrong  itifric  acid,  huil  a  little  gold-leaf  in  the 
acid,  when  no  action  on  the  gold  will  be  observed  ;  add  iu  this  a  little 
hydfochloric  acid,  in  which  a  small  piece  of  gold-leaf  hai*  a]?o  been  boileil, 
Co  prove  its  freedom  of  action  on  the  metal.  The  gold-leaf  will  be  found 
to  dissolve  freely  in  the  mixetl  acids.  In  teeing  a  nitrate,  boil  the  gold- 
leaf  first  in  hydrochloric  acid,  in  which  it  should  remain  undissolved,  and 

m  add  the  nitrate,  when  solution  will  result.  That  the  solution  of  the 
baa  been  effected  will  be  known  by  the  production  of  a  purple  tint 
*^iDg  protochloride  of  tin  to  the  solution.     We  do  not  recommend 

Morphia  ( O'Shaugneasy,  1829;  produces  with  nitric  acid  a  deep  red,, 
ebaogiug  to  orange. 

9.  Bruda  (Berthemout,  1841).    A  nitric  acid  solution,  or  a  solution  of 

17 


250 


ESTIMATION   OF    NITRIC    ACID. 


a  nitrate  mixed  with  about  half  its  bulk  of  oil  t>f  vitriol,  pro4lu<3e6  ft  car- 
mine-tinted solution  on  the  addition  of  a  trace  of  brucia.  Thia  reactiaa 
is  very  delicate. 

10.  Nitric  acid  may  be  known— 

(a)  From  hydrochloric  acid,  by  giving  no  precipitate  with  a  silver 

salt. 
03)  From  sulphuric  acid,  by  giving  no  precipitate  with   a  baritim 
salt,  and  by  its  not  rharring  paper. 
Iodide  of  Potdssliim  (Mr.  Higgin,  "Phurra.  Jour,,"  1850,  p.  84).  and 
narcotin  (Mialhe),  etc.,  have  been  pn>[)osed  as  te4>ts.     They  are  not,  w%j 
consider,  of  sufficient  importance  to  demand  a  more  detailed  notice  here. 

Further,  all  the  nitniles,  except  the  albumen  compound,  are  s^oluhle  ia^ 
water,  are  crystalline,  and  deHugrate  when  heated  on  charcoal. 

Having  stated  the«ie  several  reactions  with  different  testa,  there  are  cei 
tain  raliaincis  it  is  necessary  to  guard  against. 

1.  Sulphuric  acid  often  cuntiiins  nitric  acid. 

2.  The  chlorates,  bromatea,  and  iodates  act  like  nitrates,  and  eepectAllj 
with  ngard  to  the  reactions  of  morpliia  and  brucia.     Fortunately  th( 
ar«  uucuinniou  bodies,  and  not  likely  to  be  sources  of  error  to  the  toxicoUj 
ogist.     In  the  case  of  a  chlorate,  it  will  be  known  by  sulphuric  acid  turn- 
ing  it  a  blood-red  ctdor,  which  afterwards  becomes  yellowi&h-green,  aill 
odor  ot"  chlorine  being  evolved.     With  an  iodate  or  bromate,  aulphurie^ 
acid  decomposes  it,  and  liberates  bromine  or  iodine. 

Estimation  of  Nitric  Add, 

1.  With  a  pure  solution  of  free  nitric  acid  take  the  specific  gravity 
the  liquid,  and  refer  to  the  table  (page  254)  for  the  percentage  of  act 
present. 

2.  Pour  a  given  quantity  of  acid  (sp.  gr.  1020)  on  a  weighed  quantitj 
of  well-drieil  powdered  marble^  and  allow  it  to  act  for  twenty-four  iioorsgl 
Evaporate  the  solution  down  to  half  its  bulk.     Filter,  dry,  and  weigh  th« 
untliss<dved  marble.     Every  100  grains  of  the  marble  dissolved  repreaeol 
108  grains  of  N,0,. 

3.  Free  niiric  acid  in  solution  may  be  estimated  by  saturating  it  wit 
recently  ignited  carbonate  of  soda,  every  63  grains  of  which  will  ncutraliz< 
54  grains  of  N,<\, 

4.  But  the  solutions  may  contain  other  acids  beside  nitric  acid.     Othei 
processes  must  then  be  adopted,  which  will  be  found  in  detail  in  chemical' 
manuals. 

Supposing  no  other  acid  be  present  but  sulphuric  acid,  add  an  exoefls 
of  baryta  water,  and  evapomte  t-o  dryness.  Treat  the  residue  with  water, 
and  tilter  the  solution.  (The  BaSO,  is  in.sdluble,  and  the  remaiuinj 
baryta  over  and  above  that  which  is  combinefl  wiih  the  nitric  acid.  wUI 
during  evaporation,  become  changed  into  an  insoluble  carbonate.)  Treal 
the  solution  with  an  excess  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  ;  collect  the  liiiSO^ 
wa>ih,  dry,  and  weigh.  Every  100  parts  of  Ba80,  =  about  77.2  parta  ol 
ILNO,  sp.  gr.  1424. 

Toxi^olofficiil  Analysis. 

(A)  In  conducting  a  toxicological  investigation,  test  first  of  all  the] 
reaction  of  the  organic  liquid,  remembering  at  the  same  time  that  auti' 
dotes  may  have  removed  all  acidity,  and  even  rendered  it  alkaline*  If 
not  already  so,  render  the  liquid  alkaline  with  bicarbonate  of  nota.'^h, 
having  diluted  it  sufficiently  so  that  it  may  filter  eat^ily.  Now  boil,  filter 
through  fine  muslin,  and  evaporate  the  strained  j>ortion  to  dryness  oo  a 
water-bath.     Drench  the  residue  with  strong  alconol,  in  order  to  dissolve 


i 


CASKS   OF   POISONING    BY    NITRIC    ACID. 


251 


tlie  cblorides,  sugar,  etc.,  aod  test  tbe  undispolved  portion  for  nitrates 

as  already  dire<!ted. 

The  urioe  should  always,  if  possible,  be  exaraioed.     Normally  it  con- 

^taius  no  nitrates,  excepting,  as  B<?uce  Jones  pointed  out,  when  ammooia 
it^  salu  have  beeu  taken.     ('*  Medical  Timcij,"  August,  1851,  p.  220.) 
1(B)  In  examining  the  tissues  it  is  to  be  noted  that  the  compound  of 

^iric   acid  with  albumen  is  insoluble,  and  that  therefore  tbe  acid  will 

most  likely  be  found  in  the  stomach. 

(o)  If  the  tissues  be  aeid  to  /iVwiw,  proceed  as  follows : 

Make  a  mixture  of  equal  partjs  of  water  and  sulphuric  acid,  and 

put  twenty  or  thirty  drops  of  the  (uixture  into  four  te^t-tubes. 
To  (1 )  add  a  little  brucia  ;  no  change  Bhould  result.     Add  now  a 
little  piece  of  the  tissue  to  be  examined,  when  the  solution,  if 
nitric  acid  be  present,  will  turn  a  blood-red  color. 
To  I  2)  add  a  trace  of  sulphindigotic  acid ;  no  action  should  result. 
Add  now  a  piece  of  the  tissue,  when  the  blue  color,  if  nitric  acid 
be  pre^nt,  will  disappear. 
To  (3  j  add  a  grain  or  two  of  copjK'r  filings  and  a  piece  of  the  tissue 
to  be  examined,  and  boil.     The  evolved  vapors  will,  if  nitric 
acid  be  present,  give  a  blue   color  to  a  piece  of  white  paper 
moistened  with  a  little  starch  and  iodide  of  pc^tassium  Bolution. 
To  (4)  add  a  solution  of  sulphate  of  iron.     On  adding  a  piece  of 
the  tistsue,  the  solution  will  become  of  an  olive-brown  color  if 
nitric  acid  be  present. 
(j3)  If  the  ti&?ue-s  be  not  acid  to  lUmu%  boil  them  first  with  strong 
potjish  in  order  to  break  them  up.     Acidify  with  strong  sulphuric 
acid,  and  test  as  above. 
(C)  Stains  of  nitric  acid  on  articles  of  clothing  appear  yellow  upon 
animal  fabrics,  and  red   upon  articles  dyed  with  vegettible  colors.     The 
stained  cloth  must  be  boiled  in  a  little  water,  and  the  solution  tested. 

It  has  been  stated  that  when  the  acid  is  placed  on  fabrics  it  is  soon  lost 
because  of  its  volatility.  This  is  a  mistake.  Dr»  Letheby  has  found  it  on 
different  fabrics  after  a  laj>se  of  five  months. 

Lastly.     In  every  case  when  you  are  testing  for  nitric  acid,  endeavor 
obtain  the  characteristic  crystals  of  nitrate  of  potash. 

Cktsta  of  poisoning  iy  Nitric  Aeid. 
1,—"  LATice^t/'  April  16, 1870,  p.  549 (Mr.  £.  Adam«).   Mule:  Kt,  21.    Su.  ofstrong  «cld. 

Sifmphimtt.So  whiUbiDg  or  yiUImw  tint  about  gums  or  moylli;  gr«at  ftgooy  tod  vomiting  of 
Moody  fluid  :  eoatlriclion  of  ce:»o[)bfkgus  luting  for  some  time. 

JjMiUl.— RccoTc  ry . 

Case  2.— "Guy'a  KospUft]  Reporta,"  vol.  xtII,  p.  223  (Dr.  Sterenson).    Siy  of  uid. 

.fiaMrlL— tteaib  lo  M.'veDt««D  buur». 

J^M<  wo; Hi.— Stomach  perforatod  ;  ulcerattoQ  of  coIod. 

CASE  3.—"  BrlUib  Me4lcal  Jouroal,"  January  1, 1870,  p.  7.    Femare ;  «t.  35.    A  qnanUty  (7) 

4ri»»|^<Hnj.— Acut«  gftai  rjiift  continued  fur  netoral  weeks,  rapid  einacUtioa  and  cxfollatloa  o/  the 
mucoiM  iii«mbraD«  taking  plac«;  wax  kept  alive  eotireiy  t>y  uutritlre  iojectioai. 

MmtU.~-K9CtireT7  partial. 

CA9E  4.—**  L4iDcel,"  May  8, 1S47,  p.  488  (Mr.  Tomkius ).   Female :  et.  26.    in.  of  nitric  acid.    (Sbe 
Imd  prvvlouftiy  b«on  drink log.> 

t!^f4viKt.—  \ omWiag  ;  lipa  svolkn  and  »t«Ined  yellow  ;  spaftiitodic  closure  of  Jawi.    ReooTery  In 
A  verk. 

Bettitt.— Recovery. 

CASE  fi.— "Lancet."  NoTember  24, 1900,  p.  509  (Dr.  Budd  and  Dr.  Saniotu).     Hale:  at. M.    1  os. 
of  acid. 

%niptofrM.— Immediate  •ymptoma;  got  better  from  tlmo  to  time. 

tU*'ilt,  —  t><Hh  in  »Umontba. 

y^Mf-fuMrrirm.— From  moutb  to  alomaeh  tbo  tiMracs  were  puckered,  cooetrlcted,  and  Indurated; 
tarjrox  luUnJuxed.    Peath  occurred  fhxn  extreme  Irritability  of  U»e  atomacb. 


FROPKRTIES   OF   HYBIH 


CIO. 


CASE  ft.—"  MedJc«l  Times,"   August  15,  1846,  p,  383  (ProfesMr  Puchelil.     MaIit.      SIJ  on  fnll 

Sj/mpktmi.—lmmKdlatc  pain  and  voinittnff;   toforc  symptoms.    On  the  twentf-MCottf)  day  iKt 
niujQbrstuci  of  Ibe  stomach  wore  VDttrely  discharged,  ftad  Id  ilxtj-nli.  bourn  after  tbb  hi'  dittL 
Jtf*uU.—Dv>iih  on  the  Iweotf-fifth  day. 
i^MnofHent.— Stomach  perforated. 

For  other  Case*  of  Po'vionmg  by  Nitric  Add: 
**  6rttl«h  Hedleal  JonrnAl,"  April  30, 1870,  p.  445.    ( Death,    Aeld  Uken  for  gin.) 
Schmidt's  "Jahrb,/"  roi.  civ.  |j,  7. 
"Glasgow  Mfdlcal  Jcninml,"  |S72,  p.  221. 
"  Medical  tiazelLv/'  vol.  xli.  p.  220. 
«'U«dicalQaaeite,"  March,  1S30. 


IIYDROCHLORIC  ACID  (HCl). 

(Spirits  of  Salt,  Chlorhydric  Acid,  Muriatic  Aci<l,  Marine  Acid.) 

Cases  of  poisoning  with  the  liquid  acid  are  comparatively  rare,  but  thel 
evil  effects  producer]  by  the  escape  of  hydrochloric  acid  gas  are  a  frequent] 
subject  of  litigation.  The  hydrochloric  acid  of  coninaerce  ia  merely  a  solu- 
tion of  the  gas  iu  water. 

Preparation, 

The  gas  may  he  prepared  in  one  or  other  of  the  following  ways  : 

(1)  By  mixing  together  ct>ramoD  salt,  Bulphuric  acid,  and  water,  wheaj 
hydrochloric  acid  gas  is  given  off,  sulphate  of  sodium  remaiuiug  behiud. 

NaCl  V  lI,SO.  =  HNaSO,  +  HCL 

(2)  By  mixing  hydrogen  and  chlorine  together  iu  equal  volumes.  The 
combination  of  the  ga.^es  may  be  efTected  either  by  heat  or  by  exposure  to 
euulight.     No  coufltiKsatioo  results  when  the  gases  combine. 

(3)  By  the  action  of  chlorine  on  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

H,S+Cl3  =  2HCl-hS. 

The  caa  must  be  collected  by  displacement  or  over  mercury,  because 
itfi  solubility  iu  water. 

Properties, 

It  ia  iraport^intto  makeoursclvea  fully  acquainted  with  the  general  pro| 
erties  and  phy.siological  action  of  hydrochloric  acid  ga!<,  inasmuch  a*  law- 
suits (as  we  have  already  remarked)  often  re.<u]t  from  the  gas  having  heeo' 
allowed  to  escape  into  the  air  in  the  course  of  the  several  manufacturing 
processes  during  which  it  is  evolved. 

Physical  Properlirs. — The  gas  is  colorless,  and  about  one- fourth  heaviei 
than  the  atmosphere  <sp.  gr.  1.257).  Liberated,  therefore,  in  the  opei 
air,  it  has  a  tendeucv  to  descend.  It  can  be  Uquetied  bv  a  pressure  of 
atmospheres  at  10^'C.  (50°  F. ). 

Cfirtnical  I\operfteji. — The  solubility  of  the  gas  in  water  is  very  great 
At   a   temperature  of  4.4"*  C  (40*^  Fuhr. ),   water  absorbs  480  times  il 
volume.     The  application  of  heat  to  the  aqueous  solution  expel;?  the  gaj.] 
When  it  escapes  into  moist  air,  white  fumes  are   produced,  which  re»ult 
from  the  combiuation  of  the  acid  gas  with  ihe  moisture  of  the  atmosphere, 
the  water  being  condensed  into  liquid  globules,  which  slowly  evaporal 
If  ammonia  gas  be  allowed  to  escape  into  an  atmosphere  containing  onb 
0.01  per  cent,  of  hydrochloric  acid  giis,  white  fumes  will  be  immedialelj 
perceived.     A  drop  of  a  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver  is  rendered  f)erceptibb 
white  when  exposed  to  an  atmosphere  containing  not  more  than  one  r^i 
of  the  gas  in  20f>,000  parts  of  air.     Litraos-paper  ia  distinctly  reddened  byi 
an  atmosphere  of  one  part  <»f  the  acid  gas  in  10,000  parts  of  air     The  ga« 
ia  oeither  combustible  uor  a  supporter  of  combuatioo.    The  flame  of  a  tai 


yUlSANCBS    ARISINa   FROM    HYDROCHLORIC    ACID    GAI 


253 


h  visibly  affected  by  au  atmosphere  containing  only  two  per  cent,  of  the 
;ras,  whilst  it  is  extinguished  when  it  constitutes  a  sixth  part  of  the  whole. 
Many  of  the  common  metals  are  slowly  attacked  by  it, 

Phyalological  Properties. — Its  action  is  that  of  a  powerful  irritant,  pro- 
ducing spasiin  of  the  glottis,  and  a  feeltni^  of  inteuiye  and  immcjdiate  gtjflb- 
cation.  When  the  gas  is  even  diluted  with  1000  timea  its  bulk  of  air,  it 
produces  extreme  irritation  of  the  lungs  ami  violent  fita  of  coughing.  The 
conjunctival  membrane  i^  u!?unlly  much  affected,  and  intense  pain  in  the 
eyes,  wnth  a  copious  secretion  of  teal's,  produced.  It  occasions,  moreover, 
extreme  irritation  of  the  skin.  But  the  physiological  action  of  the  gag 
will  he  perfectly  apparent  even  when  t!ie  dilutioQ  is  as  great  as  one  part 
ID  10,000  of  air. 

If  ji  mouse  or  a  sparrow  be  put  into  the  pure  gas,  it  will  bo  found  to  fx^sp 
and  struo-gle  vehemently  for  about  two  minutes,  and  then  to  fall  down 
dead.  We  have  found  small  animals  die  in  about  three  or  four  hours  when 
the  gas  is  ililuled  with  1500  times  its  volume  of  air,  convulsions,  with 
laborious  and  qnickened  re-*piratioD,  being  the  chief  symptoms  observed. 
But  plants  are  infinitely  more  sensitive  to  the  action  of  the  gas  than 
animals.  We  have  found  that  if  a  geranium  be  introduted  into  an  atmos- 
phere containing  only  one  part  of  the  gas  in  25,000  parts  of  air,  it  will 
Degiu  to  droop  and  wither  within  one  hour. 

Nituiances  uriMUfj  fronitkiB  Escape  of  the  Gu». 

The  various  trade  operations  in  which  muriatic  acid  gas  is  set  free 
deserve  mention. 

i\)  The  ejctniction  of  the  copper  i2  to  4  per  cent,}  from  tfie  ])yrUes,  after 
It  haa  been  used  by  the  sulphuric  acid  maker,  is  effected  by  mixing  the 
crushed  pyrites  with  common  salt  (8  cwt.  to  a  ton  of  pyrites),  and  tlien 
masling  ihe  mixture  in  a  reverberatory  furnace.  A  small  quantity  of  sul- 
phurous acid  and  enormous  quantities  of  hydrochloric  acid  gas  are  thus 
genernteil,  which  have  too  otten  been  allowed  to  escape  freely  into  the 
fibaf^. 

(2 )  In  the  mnnufficture  of  common  bottle  ffldss,  as  well  as  in  the  process  of 
glazing  the  commoner  kinds  of  |Hittery,  silica  and  common  salt  are  fused 
together,  immense  volujucs  of  hydrochloric  acid  gas  being  thereby  gener- 
ated. The  alkali  of  the  common  salt  combines  with  the  fixed  acid,  form- 
ing a  ftisible  glass  or  glaze,  whilst  the  voluttle  acid  escapes. 

(3)  In  brick  and  wmenl  burning  coiisi^ierable  quantities  of  the  acid  gaa 
are  generated.  In  brick  burning  it  is  derived  from  the  cinders  <  breeze) 
which  are  charged  with  salt  I'rom  house  dust-bins,  whilst  in  cement  burning 
it  is  derived  from  the  mud  of  tidal  rivers,  from  which  mud  cement  is  made 
by  admixture  with  chalk. 

(4)  Lastly  and  specially,  "  alhtli  worl'»  "  have  until  lately  proved  serious 
nuisances  on  account  of  the  large  quantities  of  hydrochloric  acid  gas  set 
free  from  them.  The  Act  of  186.* i  compelled  the  alkali  manufacturers  to 
condenge  95  per  cent,  of  the  gas  that  might  be  produced  from  the  wliole 
of  the  materials  used,  whilst  a  later  act  further  limits  the  amount  to  one- 
fifth  of  a  grain  of  the  gas  per  cubic  foot  of  the  air  leaving  llie  works. 
Other  manufactures  by  the  Act  of  1874  are  now  included  under  the  Alkali 
Act  of  1863. 

In  alkali  workf«,  and  in  other  manufactories,  such  as  those  of  the  potter 
and  cement  maker,  the  use  of  proper  coko  towers  or  scrubbers  is  gener- 
ally adopted  for  the  purpose  of  condensing  the  fumes.  lu  the  case  of  the 
hrickmaker,  the  cinders  or  breeze  used  should  be  coke  breeze,  or  if  "house- 
bold  breeze"  be  employed,  it  should  previously  be  well  washed,  either  by 
exptMure  to  rain,  or  in  some  other  way,  to  get  rid  of  the  comman  Halt  with 
which  it  may  be  mixed. 


^H             264                        PROPERTIES    OF    HYDROCnLORIC    ACID.       ^^^^^H 

^^^^H                                  Liquid  Hydrochloric  Acid. — Fropertiei,                              ^M 

^^^^™^         When  pore  it  b  colorless,  the  color  of  the  ordinary  coramerciAl  acJ«J  be-fl 

^^V          ing  due  to  impurities.     A  table  ghowiug   the  f)crc-eutage  Atren^lh  of  tKeH 
^H           acid  compared  with  its  deosity  ^ken  i'rom  Dr,  Attaelds  "Cbeuiistry  "'jB 

^^H           we  give  in  detail.                                                                                                  ■ 

^^B            Table  of  the  Quantity  of  Hydrochloric  Acid  in  the  Liquid  Acid  of  diffrrffd  | 

Specific  Gravitiee,  (Ure.) 

1 

Sppcfflc 

Add  of). 2  in 

Ujimchlorlc 

SpwMflc 

Add  of  1,3  ia 

Bydmchlork 

m 

GriTliy. 

100. 

Avid  Ga». 

Grariljr. 

100. 

Acid  GwA. 

1.2000 

100 

40.777 

1.0980 

49 

19  980 

1.1982 

m 

40,369 

l.OftHO 

48 

19  572 

d 

1  10H4 

98 

89  961 

10939 

47 

191^ 

■ 

1.1 'MB 

97 

89.554 

1  0919 

46 

18  7Ji7 

■ 

l.VJ'IS 

96 

39.148 

1.0899 

45 

18S40 

9 

i.nno 

95 

88.788 

10879 

44 

17.94^J 

■ 

M8!*3 

94 

38.330 

1  0859 

43 

IT.Ii'M^I 

■ 

1.1875 

93 

87  928 

1  0838 

42 

17.128^1 

■ 

1.1867 

92 

87.516 

1.0818 

41 

lOTliV 

■ 

1.184U 

91 

87.108 

10798 

40 

16.SlQj^| 

■ 

1.1S22 

90 

36  700 

1.0778 

89 

15.909^1 

■ 

1.1802 

89 

86.292 

1.0758 

88 

l&.49il^| 

■ 

LI  782 

88 

35.884 

1.0738 

87 

]5  I'CT^ 

^ 

1  1762 

87 

85  476 

1.0718 

86 

I4.67» 

1  1741 

86 

35.068 

1,0697 

85 

14  271 

1  1721 

85 

84.U»-«0 

1  0677 

34 

18  868 

1.1701 

84 

84.252 

1.0657 

88 

13  0r»4 

J 

1.1681 

83 

83  845 

10687 

82 

iv 

1 

1.16»]l 

82 

33.437 

1.0657 

81 

1  = 

1 

1  1041 

81 

33.029 

10597 

80 

iLL>oa 

M 

1.1620 

80 

32.621 

1,0577 

29 

11506      : 

m 

1.1599 

79 

82.218 

1  0557 

28 

11.109      !■ 

1.1578  B. P. 

78 

81805 

1.0587 

27 

10.712     ■ 

M557 

77 

31.398 

10517 

26 

10816      (■ 

1.1536 

76 

30.WH1 

1.0.i2 

B  P. 

10  290 

m 

M615 

75 

30  582 

1,0497 

25 

0  919 

^ 

^^^B 

L1494 

74 

80.174 

1.0477 

24 

9.922 

^^^1 

1.1478 

73 

29  767 

1.0457 

23 

9J2d 

1  1452 

72 

29.359 

1,0437 

22 

8.729 

L1431 

71 

28.961 

1.0417 

21 

8HJJ2 

I.UIO 

70 

28.544 

1.0397 

20 

7  935 

l.i;iH9 

60 

28.186 

1.0377       ' 

19 

7.538 

].l;j«;9 

08 

27.728 

1.0»o7 

18 

7  141 

M349 

67 

27  821 

1,0.S37 

17 

6.745 

1.1328 

66 

26.013 

1.0318 

16 

6.348 

M308 

♦ir. 

26.508 

1,03H8 

15 

5  961 

1.1287 

64 

26098 

1  0279 

14 

5.554 

M 

1.1 2«7 

68 

25690 

1.0259 

18 

6.158 

m 

1  1247 

62 

25.282 

1-0239 

12 

4.762 

1  1220 

61 

24.874 

1  0220 

11 

4a<J6 

1  12<J6 

60 

24.466 

1  (J20i» 

10 

8996 

1.1185 

69 

24.058 

1.0180 

9 

8671 

1  1184 

68 

28.650 

l.OUJO 

8 

3.174 

1J143 

67 

23.242 

1.014<i 

7 

2-778 

1.1123 

66 

22.834 

1.0120 

e 

2381 

1.1102 

55 

22.4i6 

1.0110 

5 

H*84 

1.1082 

54 

22.019 

1.0080 

4 

1.688 

■ 

1  10»11 

58 

21.611 

i.otmo 

3 

1.191 

■ 

1.1041 

52 

21.203 

1.0040 

2 

0.796      ■ 

1.1020 

51 

20.7t»6 

1.0020 

1 

0.897 

■ 

1.1000 

60 

20.388 

1 

>^                              -^ 

PROPERTIES   OF    HTDROORLORIC    ACID. 


255 


Hydrochloric  acid  boil«  at  different  temperatures,  the  boiling-point  be- 
ing de|iendent  on  ita  strentrth.  Dr.  Dalloti'y  table,  however,  s^fiows  that 
both  weaker  and  stronger  acids  bijil  at  a  lower  temperature  than  that  hav- 
ing a  gravity  of  1094,  The  liquid  acid  freezes  at  about— 51.ir  C.  (—60° 
Fahr.). 

DaUofiB  Table  of  ilie  Boiling- Points  of  Liquid  Hydrockloric  Acid* 


[^. 

BoUtag-Polnta. 

Bolttng-PotoUu 

Boillng--PolQlt, 

1    8p«fIAc 
1  Gf.»Uf. 

Gravity. 

Specific 
Gravity. 

f 

FfthT. 

Ctnt. 

Fahr. 

Cent. 

Ffthr. 

Cent, 

1166 

170 

713.  «fi 

1121      ' 

228 

10R.88 

1035 

219 

108  88 

1154 

190 

87.77 

urn 

682 

lU-11 

1018 

216 

102.22 

1144 

212 

100  00 

107o 

228 

108.8S 

1009 

214 

101.11 

llite 

217 

102.77 

ion4 

225 

107  22 

1127 

222 

105.56 

1047 

222 

10^66 

Chemwal  Properties  of  the  Liquid  Acid. 

1.  Ittf  Affinity  for  IVater.^-The  elevation  of  temperature  resulting  from 
the  admixture  of  the  acid  with  water  is  not  great,  but  its  affinity  for  water 
is  well  marked  by  the  solution  fuming  in  !be  air,  even  when  it  does  not 
contain  more  than  20  per  cent,  of  free  acid. 

2.  The  aetiim  of  mmnoma  on  the  liquid  acid  is  manifest  when  the  solu- 
tion only  contains  8  per  cent  of  free  acid. 

3.  The  reddenimj  of  litmus  ia  marked  when  the  solution  only  containa 
0.012  per  cent,  of  free  acid. 

4.  The  action  of  the  acid  on  earthy  carbormfes  takes  place  when  tfae  boIu- 
tion  contains  2  per  cent,  of  free  acid  («p»  gr.  1010),  but  by  the  application 
ol*  heat  sligbt  ettervesceuce  will  be  mauifctit  when  the  liquid  only  coutaiua 

per  cent,  of  free  acid. 

5.  The  action  on  meiak  ']»  in  some  casea  energetic.     With  zinc  this  will 
apparent  with  a  sohitiou  containing  not  more  than  from  0.5  to  0.8  per 

cent,  of  acid.  With  iron  a  L5  per  cent.,  and  with  tin  a  40  per  cent,  acid 
aohition  is  needed,  whilst  with  other  metals, such  as  copjver;  bismuth,  lead, 
antimony,  araenic»  and  mercury,  the  action  is  le^s  energetic,  and  cousider- 
ably  slower.  The  metals  attract  the  chlorine,  and  set  free  the  hydrogeu  of 
tbe  acid. 

8.  Adimi  on  Metallic  Oxides. — Upon  low  oxides  a  chloride  merely  is 
formed,  whilst  on  high  oxides.,  such  as  plumbic  dioxide  t FbO./),  manga- 
ne«ium  f»eroxIde  (MntX),  or  chromic  trioxide  (CrOj),  chlorine  ia  set  free 
aa  well. 

7.  Jt^  action  on  high  oxygen  acids,  such  as  nitric,  chloric,  bromic,  and 
Iodic  acids,  etc.,  is  peculiar,  chlorine  being  set  free. 

8*  Hydrochloric  atid  takes  auny  the  color  from  ordinary  writing  ink^  on, 
account  of  its  affinity  for  the  iron  of  the  compound.  A  solution  contain- 
ing only  0.\  per  cent,  of  acid  discharges  the  color.  The  iron  is  in  this 
way  rfmoved,  whiht  the  reddish-brown  stain  of  galls  is  merely  left,  wnd 
may  lie  got  rid  of  with  a  little  chlorine  water.  A  weaker  acid  than  this, 
however,  will  act  if  time  be  allowed. 

9.  The  aclimi  on  organic  bodies : 
(a)  On  Cane-sugar, — Cane-sugar  is  instantly  converted  in  the  cold 

into  grape-sugar  by  an  acid  having  a  sp.  gr.  1200.     If  heat  be 
applied,  ulmic  and  sacchulmic  acids  are  formed. 
IfP)  Other  vegetable  s^ibstanceSf  such  as  wood,  etc.,  are  discolored. 


256 


IMPURITIES    OF    HYDROCHLORIC 


(/)  On  Alhianen  >S<tlutlo7i^. — These  are  coaguliiied  by  acids  wilJi  a  sp, 
gr.  over  1015.  The  action  begins  iu  about  a  quarter  of  au  hour, 
and  is  complete  in  one  hour.  An  acid  solutitm  containing  less] 
than  3  per  cent  has  do  action. 
(S)  On  Dead  Mucous  Membrane,  as,  e.y.,  the  interior  of  the  stomach. — 
The  strong  acid  instautly  whitens  it,  and  produces  in  a  few  tnin- 
utea  a  gangrenous  greenish  s|)ot.  A  solution  containing  0.5  per 
cent,  of  (rec  acid  tnkes  aljout  a  quarter  of  au  hour  to  act.  The 
acid  has  a  mf>st  remarkable  solutivp  power  on  animal  substances, 
an  action  considerably  aided  by  heat.  Liebig  states  that  the 
fibrin  of  flesh  differs  from  the  fibrin  of  blood,  not  merely  in 
that  the  former  contains  less  nitrogen,  but  that  it  is  soluble  m 
dilute  hydrochloric  acid,  blnoU  libriu  being  insoluble,  and 
merely  swelling  up  when  subjected  to  the  action  of  the  acid, 
("Chemical  Gazette,"  1850,  p.  170.) 
Lastly,  we  may  note  hydrochloric  acid  has  some  antiseptic  propertiei, 
although  they  are  not  remarkable  for  their  intensity. 

The  chlorides  are  geuenilly  white,  and  soliible  iu  water,  excepting  those 
of  silver,  lead,  and  the  subsalt  of  mercury  (HgjCI,). 

Hydrochloric  acid  ga.s  is  produced  when  a  soluble  chloride  Is  bcailed 
with  dilute  sulphuric  acid. 

ImpurUiea, 

1.  Sulphurous  acid,  derived  from  the  deoxidation  of  the  sulphuric  acid» 
either  by  the  organic  matter  of  the  salt  or  by  the  metal  of  the  still. 
The  commercial  acid  may  contain  as  much  as  11  per  cent,  of  sulphurous 
acid  (Savory).  The  presence  of  sulphurous  acid  may  be  known  M 
follows: 

(a)  Treat  some  of  the  acid  in  a  test-glass  with  a  rather  large  quan* 

tity  of  protochlortde  of  tin  (or  metallic  tin  may  be  used);  cover- 
the  glass  over  with  a  piece  of  filter-paper  moistened  at  one  spot 
with  acetate  of  lead.  If  t^ulphu retted  hydrogen  be  generaicd 
(which  will  be  known  by  its  blackening  the  lead-paper),  it  indi- 
Ciites  the  presence  of  sulphurous  acid  (Wockenroder).  This 
test  is  very  delicate. 

(b)  Dilute  the  acid  with  water ;  add  to  the  solution  pure  granulated 

zinc,  and  pass  the  gas  generated  through  a  solution  of  acetate 
of  leail,  which  will  he  blackened  if  sulphurous  acid  be  present. 
The  nascent  hydrogen  reduces  the  sulphurous  acid,  and  combines 
with  the  sulphur  to  form  U^.     ( Fordos  and  Gel  is.) 

(c)  To  ejitimate  the  quantity  of  sulphurous  acid  present,  precipitate 

the  sulphuric  acid  with  an  excess  of  chloride  of  barium ;  filter, 
and  boil  the  clear  filtrate  with  its  owu  bulk  of  nitric  acid. 
Any  fresh  sulphate  of  baryta  now  precipitated  corresponds  to 
sulphurous  acid-  A  little  fresh  baryta  solution  should  aAer- 
wards  be  added,  so  as  to  make  certain  that  the  whole  is  preoipi* 
taled. 

2.  Sufjthurie  acid  may  be  known  by  a  soluble  salt  of  baryta  pro- 
ducing a  white  precipitate. 

3.  Free  chlorine^  which  imparts  a  greenish-yellow  tint  to  the  acid  solo- 
tion,  may  be  known — 

1,  By  the  odor. 

2,  By  the  solution  dissolving?  a  little  piece  of  gold-leaf, 

3,  By  its  bleaching  a  solution  of  indigo. 

4,  By  its  precipitating  the  sulphur  from  a  solution  of  sulphuret 

nydrogeu. 


PREPARATION    OF   HTDROCnLORIC    ACID. 


257 


4.  Tndine  and  bromine  are  pometimea  present,  and  are  derived  from  im- 
purities in  the  commou  salt. 

5.  Othride  of  arsenic,  derived  from  the  sulphuric  acid,  may  be  ki\owii 
either  by  the  evolution  of  arseniuretted  hydrogen,  or  by  Reinscb'a  test. 
(See  Arsenic. ) 

G.  Chloride  of  tin  (mentioned  by  Gmeliti)  will  be  precipitated  as  a 
yellow  precipitate,  hy  passing  sulphuretted  hydrogen  through  the  acid, 
the  prcfipitate  gradually  becoiniug  of  a  brown  color. 

7.  Chloride  of  had  (Vogel)  may  be  present,  and  will  be  derived  from 
the  lead  in  the  sulfjhurie  acid,  as  well  as  pos^?ibly  from  other  causes. 

8,  Chloride  of  iron  ( Ro^e  and  Graham)  may  bo  recognized  by  neutral- 
ixing  the  acid  svith  carbonate  of  soda,  and  adding  tincture  of  galls  or 
potai^ic  ferrocyaoide.  With  the  former  a  violet,  and  with  the  fatter  a 
blue  precipitate  will  be  obtained. 

y.  Other  chl^>rid<'s  and  meiullic  auhntanceji  may  by  recognized  by  evapo- 
rating the  acid  to  dryuess,  and  examining  the  residue. 

10.  Orgitnic  Matter. — Tliii?  is  often  the  cause  of  the  dark  color  of  the 
Acid.  It  may  be  known  by  evaporating  the  acid  to  dryness,  and  noting 
whether  the  residue  becomes  charred  by  a  continued  application  of  heat. 

Preparation  of  Pure  Hydrochloric  Acid, 

It  will  at  all  times  be  found  easier  to  make  a  pure  acid  than  to  pnrifj  a 
bad  one.  The  following  two  methods  of  preparing  pure  hydrochloric  acid 
iui$  recommended : 

(a)  Dilute  one  pint  of  good  sulphuric  acid  with  eix  pints  of  water  in  a 
gla.s8  ve?i«€l,  and  pa??*  a  stream  of  well-washed  snljiluiretted  bydrcigen 
through  the  mixture  for  eorae  hours.  After  doing  so  allow  it  to  stand  un- 
disturbed for  five  or  .«ix  day?i.  When  the  precipitate  fortned  has  thoroughly 
settled,  siphon  olf  tlie  supernatant  acid,  and  after  adding  a  tea'^poonful  of 
common  salt,  put  the  acid  into  a  retort  and  concentrate  by  heat  to  the 
original  bulk. 

Fill  a  large  retort  half  full  of  good  salt,  and  add  to  it  the  sulphuric  acid 
thus  prepared.  The  retort  must  have  fitted  to  it  a  piece  of  bent  glass  tube, 
of  such  a  length  and  sba|>e  that  the  end  may  pasj*  into  a  Winchester  pint 
bottle  half  full  of  pure  di&tiiled  water,  the  end  of  the  tube  dipping  about 
jth  of  an  inch  under  the  water.  The  bottle  must  be  fitted  with  a  cork 
and  a  second  tube  connected  with  the  second  bottle  of  water,  so  arranged 
as  to  convey  any  uuabsorbed  acid  vapor  that  ei^capes  from  the  water  of 
the  first  bottle  into  the  water  of  the  second.  The  acid  thus  obtained 
will  generally  be  found  pure,  but  should  always  be  carefully  tested  be- 
fore Uhing,  both  by  passing  sulphuretted  hydrogen  through  it,  aa  well  aa 
by  boiliug  with  copper,  the  purity  of  which  has  been  already  proved  by 
aualy^ia. 

Another  method  is  the  following : 

(,5)  Take  an  acid  having  a  density  between  1115  and  1164. 

Add  to  it  a  little  pure  pmtochloride  of  tin  in  hydrochloric  acid,  and  let 
the  acid  stand  for  several  day.s  iu  a  well-stopjiered  buttle.  The  arsenic  is 
thrown  down  iu  a  metallic  form,  mixed  with  a  little  tifi.  Siphon  oft'  the 
clear  li<piid  and  distil,  rejecting  the  first  tenth  as  being  liable  to  contain  a 
little  arsenic.     The  rest  is  absolutely  free  from  it. 

Syrnptotm^  Dose,  etc. 

We  have  very  little  to  add  to  what  hm  been  already  said  reepecting  the 
symptoms  of  poisouiog  by  ftulphnric  acid,  excepting  in  one  particular. 
if  (Hit  as  ammonia  is  a  volatile  alkali^  and  bo  produces  more  active  laryngeal 


258 


TBSTS  irOR   HYDROCHLORIC    ACID. 


gymptom?  tlian  potash  or  soda,  so  hydrochloric  acid,  being  a  volailU  an<J, 
will  be  toiiml  more  liable  to  set  up  iuU^tise  laryngeal  sjmptouift  than  lh« 
other  mineral  acid?. 

Ill  poi!*onin^  by  hydrochloric  acid  the  tongue  and  throat  at  finil  appear 
^hite,  but  j^radimlly  beconie  discolored  and  rotten. 

Death  has  occurred  in  as  short  a  time  as  two  hours. 

Recovery  is  not  corauion. 

One  drachm  has  proved  fatal  to  a  girl  aged  15. 

(For  treatmcDi  and  post-mortem  appearance"?,  $ee  Rulphurio  Acid.) 

We  may  obj^erve  here  that  *orae  attention  has  been  directed  to  the 
presence  tit'  notable  quantities  of  arsenic  in  the  acid  of  coranierce,  from 
the  fact  that  certain  injurious  rcj^iulta  are  i^aid  to  have  occurred  fi"oin  the 
U8€  of  the  coturtion  acid  mixed  with  cai  bonate  of  soda  in  lieu  of  yeast,  for 
making  a  light*  and.  as  it  h  termed,  digestible  unfermente<i  bread.  The 
amount  of  the  acid  used  for  this  purpcKse  is,  of  course,  very  ^mall,  and  the 
amount  of  arnenic  coiis»e(]uently  prcsetit  in  the  acid,  to  do  harm,  must  be 
very  large.  StiH,  we  are  aware  that  very  «mall  doses  of  arsenic,  con- 
stantly rcpeate<i,  have  in  some  cases  produced  startling  results.  (^Vide 
"Monthly  Journal,"  1850,  p.  288.) 

TeM». 

1.  O^or.— Not  perceptible  in  solutions  contafniog  less  than  8  per  cent, 

2.  T(w(<f. — Very  acid,  perceptible  when  the  solution  contains  0.05  per 
cent. 

3.  Action  on  LiimMi. — Perceptible  in  a  solution  containiDg  0.002  per 
cent. 

4.  The  pure  concentrated  acid  leaves  no  residue  when  evaporated  to 
dryness. 

5.  Acftute  of  lend  gives  a  white  precipitate  (PbCl)  when ^ the  solution 
contains  above  2  per  cent.  The  precipitate  is  almost  insoluble  in  dilute 
nitric  acid,  but  is  somewhat  soluble  in  boiling  water,  from  whicli  crystals 
may  be  obtained. 

(A  white  precipitate  is  also  produced  by  acetate  of  lead  with  se^ 
other  acids.) 

6.  Merenroiu  nitrate  gives  a  white  precipitate  of  calomel  (Hg^Cl,),  !l 
soluble  in  nitric  acid.  This  reaction  may  be  observed  if  the  solution  onlj 
contains*  O.Oftfi  per  cent,  of  acid. 

7.  ^^itrale  of  silver  gives  a  white  curdy  precipitate,  either  with  the 
acid  or  with  its  soluble  compounds.    The  precipitate  acquires  a  purph 
color  on  exposure  to  light.     It  is  insoluble  in  boiling  nitric  acid,  but 
very  soluble  either  in  ammonia  s<olution,  or  cyanide  of  pota:*siuni,  or 
hyposulphite  of  wda.     Collected   and    fiij^d   the   mass  becomes   horoy.l 
The  yooD^h  of  a  grain  of  HCl  can  be  thus  detected. 

(NoTE.-pHydrocyanic  acid  also  forms  a  white  curdy  precipitiitc  with 
nitrate  of  silver,  the  precipitate  being  insoluble  in  cold  nitric  acid,  bull 
soluble  to  an  extent  in  ammonia,  and  in  nitric  acid  when  boiled.     Bu 
when  the  cyanide  of  silver  is  heated  in  a  tube,  cyanogen  gai'^  which 
inflammable,  h  given  off,  which  property  at  once  serves  to  distinguish  it 
fix)m  the  chloride.) 

S.  Heat  a  liquid  containing  free  hydrochloric  acid  with  peroxide 
manganese  (MnO,),  when  chlorine  will  be  evolved,  which  may  be  know 
(a)  by  its  greenish-yellow  color;  (b)  by  its  bkuiching  litmus;  and  (e;  b 
its  giving  a  blue  color  to  a  piece  of  pajier  moistened  with  starch  and 
potassic  iodide. 


I 

4 


AKALTSia    AFTER    POISONING    BY    HYDROCHLOftlO    ACID.    259 

Quantitative  Eetimation. 
(1)  If  it  be  pure  acid»  take  the  gravity,  and  refer  to  the  table  (page 
254)  for  the  strength. 

{2)  If  the  acid  be  preseni  mfree  acid  mily — 

(«/  The  solution  may  be  carefully  neutraliseed  with  pure  ignited  car- 
bonate of  soda. 
Every  53  grains  of  the  carbonate  used  corresponds  to  S7  grains  of 

dry  hydrochloric  acid — 
ip)  Or  act  with  a  given  quantity  of  the  acid  solution  on  a  given 
weight  of  dry  powdered  marble.    When  the  action  has  ceased, 
carefully  collect  the  undissolved  marble,  dry,  and  weigh. 
Every  50  grains  of  the  marble  disi^olved  corres[>ouds  to  37  of  dry 
hydrochloric  acid. 

(3)  Jf  the  acid  be  present  both  in  a  free  and  a  combined  gtnte,  precipitate 
ibe  acid  with  nitrate  of  silver  solution  rendered  acid  with  nitric  acid. 
Collect  the  precipitate,  dry,  and  carefully  fu^e. 

100  grains  of  chloride  of  silver  =^  24.74  of  anhydrous  hydrochloric  acid. 

=  77.80  parts  of  acid,  ap.  gr.  1.15. 

(4)  To  estimate  geparatehj  the  free  and  the  eambined  acid,  carefully,  and 
aa  low  a  temperature  aa  possible,  distil  over  about,  two-thirds  f»f  the 

lotion  under  examination.     Estimate  the  chlorine  in  both  distillate  and 
repiduum.     The  former  corresponds  to  the  free,  and  the  latter  to  the  com* 
led  acid. 

Toxicoloffical  Analysis. 

In  conducting  a  toxicological  inquiry,  note  (1 )  if  the  organic  liquid  be 
aeid :  (2)  if  it  contains  sulphuric  acid  or  a  sulphate;  (3)  if  it  evolves  a 
vapor  that  whitens  nitrate  of  silver  (hydrocyanic  acid). 

bijttil  the  liquid  portion  in  a  retort  nenrlfj  to  dryness,  inai^much  aa 
Imal  siub*tances  retain  hydrochloric  acid  with  great  tenacity.  The 
dii^tillate  must  then  be  acidntated  with  nitric  acid,  and  precipitated  with 
nitrate  of  silver  for  free  acid. 

Several  sources  of  fallacy  must  be  guarded  against  in  the  distillation. 

1.  The  evolution  of  a  volatile  chloride  (such  as  chloride  of  ammonium), 
which  h  not  unlikely  to  be  present  in  animal  fluids. 

The  u^  of  a  chloride  of  calcium  bath  for  the  distillation,  as  suggested 
by  Christiiion,  would  prevent  the  temperature  rising  above  115..')5°C. 
(240"  F.).  This  source  of  error  would  thus  be  obviated,  inai?much  an  chlo- 
ride of  ammonium  is  not  volatile  at  this  heat. 

2.  Ji  is  stated  that  the  gastric  fluid  jmiumlly  cardatns  free  hydrochhrie 
aeid, — On  the  one  hand  Prout,  Children,  Berzelius,  Gmelin,  Tiedtraann, 
Dunglison,  and  Liebig  aissert  ili*  presence.  On  the  other  hand,  Hunefeld, 
Blondlel,  Barrcswill,  Bernard,  and  Lehnmun,  assert  the'  coulrury,  explain- 
ing that  the  reactions  obtained  by  the  other  chemists  in  distilling  the  gai?tric 
fluid,  are  due  to  the  decomposition  of  a  soluble  chloride  by  a  more  fixed 
organic  acid,  such  as  lactic  acid.  Admitting,  however  (and  for  toxicologi- 
cai  purposes  it  is  safer  to  admit  it)^  that  this  may  prove  a  posj+ible  fallacy, 
it  is  worth  remembering  that  the  largest  amount  of  hydrochloric  acid 
obtained  by  the  various  chemists  does  not  exceed  the  ^^^^o&^h  {wirt  of  the 
weight  of  the  materials  operated  up.ui. 

The  urine  should  ahvay?  be  examiued  in  cases  of  suspected  poisoning  by 
hydrochloric  acid.     Orlila's  experiments  are  of  great  interest.     In  nine 


y^i"*         Tkisa  1?  ?ir305rx*  3T  3TDaacsiuiK£c  acid. 

■»#>-»/<'.■■*  '>./;*.  -.!»='  ircr:  r  T*iii»n  jr  ^izaznineL  die  3]il*iwixiz  were  the  re- 
•11. rj.  l.\  -v.,  ■a.—:'  Mtr  ii^— :ri:a:«:  r  'n^uniie  if  iilver  •jbcmined  ««• 
*r.i;n.  -.  -■;;-  ■j'-r  -fi-.  r  M'-  ii-i:.-  n  -iir^rr  "aa^  ic  wad  equal  Co  0.462 
■jf-'  v-T-     i.i'i   Ti  S  :r  -x-*^  .:  t.ij.  -iiia.  '•\  ).17n  jmr  xaz, 

?  i  -/..-r  -..  ■  V  .  ii  'ri  ir-  ja-:*-:  I'-'.-lIT  iraiiw  je  :a»*  j«;i«i,  when  cheefaloride 
".r  -:'  -r  '-.r.i.n.-::  v  su  -.:»*  i.-nr  ti?  r-ina.  t.i  2.nn  p«r  omL.  whiUt  in 
"..--^    M»--    n.--:-  v:.-r-  1^;.7  ^•n..as  ,r  ii*:iL  i:iit  owia  Admin lAered,  ibe 

I     T.-.Az  :.-.r  ;ir.:tT  :Mi^.rL'-  at.miiilj  i  Txrtaaie  priponion  of  alk^ine 

J  7-.:i-  -.:.-  .  ;:i--.--  ;r— rii-  ;n  -r:i^«r*-  :f  viu.:  !»  aormal  U  proved  to 
'r>*  !r.  :  --?  r  -.•■'■i  .-..  r.  -    -.:^  i.^.  r^-ji-_  •:' :^e  i.-.'i.;  i-Tall.jw-iil. 

i  T>.;i' .:;  i.-'-^i.--  .-.r  .  ■.j,:i-.:7  .r  ^:i_'-rj:t=  pr=tac  is  Osoallj  small, 
■■/^ra  :-t-  z^r^m.. .-  -'.-  ..".r  :".■.•:  ."•  uiirG. 

*  T-..ir. -.-.-r  ..I'j'rz-r  II- 'ir*:  r  ?-;i;-:.'t  :hl-.rji<h*  r->ua*i  in  hemlthy  arine 
L-  '. ^  -."^T  ■■f^r.r.  .:  -..■.-  -....:  ^:izri\z.  ti_-:  1.  =«:r  itia:.  maj  be  regarded  u 

'  Tr..i".  !:  rr.*^^  -.  :a--;-7  fi  ::■::'  iz-i  iz.  :r:*r  ^rin-r  in  a  case  of  inspected 
pr.V.r.  .-./  ->^  :r.  -iX-rsrs  -f  :iiLa  iX'iuz.:.  :-   .H5Cid:ii:«is  important  coofinna- 

fA-r.T.  ii.-i.T-i*  r:..\j  zk  r*s«:rri:  :•;  :':r:h«?  riirpi]«e  of  extracting  the  acid 

frf^rc.  ■■>.-/ir.->;  .;«.,!■:.-. 

TV.*  ^...'y.^  :,r  •:  :->=ri  -r  :h-r  a  ! :  i  >!i'k  o'.'ih  are  reii.  hue  are  nothing 
...i--  -.  ':.'^r.-K  !r.  '.^  .-  i-  ::.  Sr  p:  •ii'^ri  rj  jn'.r.huKi:  ai.*i«i.  They  di^p- 
f^ar  '.:.  *:.-  'i-,',r-.=-  .:  :!.-;--.  :ri  a*".'  Jia:  ■::  :at*  T.;.Ld:ilicy  of  the  acid.  For 
fr.f  't-v*iir.  i!'  ;':-.r  i'.!  i  in  -ta..-;-.  ::  L*  :nrre>  nece«ary  to  boil  a  given 
w^^T.*  ,:'  ::.■=- -'air*  r«i  '^---ri  is.  wa-^r.  a^  i  pnrcipi:ace  the  filtered  solution 
xl'r.  r.;v:iv  ■•.:  -'.iv^rr.  :'>:■:._•  a  jiaiilar  ■■jiiaQtiiy  o:  the  unstained  portion 
iur  y.r^^r'^A  of  ';'\.rflpar:-«.L. 

'.«-:-:  :       r.-.r.-*-    .:..;-;•■:  :-.->  j.  :-.    pviu:-;   Jt:. vi.   ss». 
.*  7  */>''>■'■*     f '.."..'-'■;.  ^'•' 
/.'>-. u/'      fi>-jv-   .'.'..■;  f ■■-*:.  ?i  ■■■.:» 

/•'.»'  tti.''ft...    M-,  ,T.  •ir.'l  v.r^i*  »;.:r.*;  r.o  p-^rf'-n's -n  of  :h-»  *:i-aiich, 
i  \'\.  f.        r.,r'^     .r./_7   >-..  p   i:.-i   r-r  riv:.l  Prl;.- .    Mj:- ■.  jtt. .».    About  3j. 
s  ■f»,l.>r,...t     A  r...,-'  ;.-i.r;.  'I!  j''- f.-j.tiTi. ;  bl.'.--j,;h ;  D.-.'.ivns  v-jiy  black .  pain  Terr  KTCK;  (■<«■• 
«/}.•:. -.fLj.  .'"I..     l:'''»'.Try  in  f.i;j»!  day*. 

*  A-L  :;        \au'-\      Mnr^J,  7.  Pi^..  p.  vf,    Mr.  Trawfoni  .    Female:  art  40.    A  mixture  of  !J  of 

V  I'l  »,'),  «,  of    Ht-'Jurf.  of  if'*.l, '  ai.'l  alvj  raM  to  «.>'-Dta:n  soue  o-^rrusive  soblimate.    ThU,  howerer, 

N'l' ir<.i 

.'.■'/'"/>'''»**     V<.riiiiirt;f  liuf  no  fiain  or  h<:at  in  luouth,  throat,  or  epi|^triuin  ;  no  thint.    Death  il 

tfftuU      iH'.rtli  ill  fivf  honr^  an'l  :t  tialf. 

i^.tf.ffit,,!^,,,.  |;iii/,i|  ill  ii.-iirt  l.lx'k  ami  fluid  :  niuooti*  membrane  of  stomach  easily  peeled  off;  M 
f^  rr'TJifioM  ,  l'iw<r  part^  of  rj-Hop)iaifii4apfi«.Mr«d  i:harr>.-d. 

'  A-".!,  4  "  itritinl.  M'.li^al  .loiirnal,"  Manh  i,\^li,  p.  221  Dr.  G.  Johnson).  Female:  »t.  15,  Sjof 
)iV'lro<  bloiU'  H'  t'i. 

,;yHifit,iti-:  No  «taln<i  round  tli«'  mouth  ;  nincoiis  moinhrane  of  throat  and  mouth  of  a  white  or 
Rirli  ■/!  IV  mini ,  irr'  nl  thii-l,  liiil  no  «>|icc-i.il  pain  or  Hlf^loniiual  t«*iid>.-rni'M:  rallii-d  for  a  Utile  while, 
hill  •h'Mih  iirirrw:iii|q  liirnnif  wnrM-;  trurlurotomy  had  t<>  be  perfuruied;  cpiglottU  white,  ivollea, 
mid  forrodi-'l      ili-nialmd  m-imllili- ;  HuiFrircd  Tcry  little  pain. 

/;<tM/r      i»i-iiili  In  li-n  hour*. 

/Vn' «/'ir/r/ii  in  hintii/  hoiim  Mriutli,  faiic»'«,  pharjnx.  and  flMophan^un  of  an  aith-gray  color ;  epl- 
ihiliiiiii  iiiHiiv  kirlp|i*M|  iifr.  whi'H  a  r«-<l  conJJl■M<^d  ^iirfare  appeared  undenivath  ;  iniicout  mem- 

>•' "f  (III  >i'.iii(ii  II  liliiik,  lint  not  d*-Mroy<!«I;  no  {lerfo  rat  ions;  cardiac  end  most  injured,  but  no 

liijnijr  nppHti-iit  lii-yiiiid  tin- pyloriiH. 


POISONING    BY    HYDROFLUORIC    ACID. 


261 


rB^**  Medical  Times  sad  Gucttc,"  Jitir  S.  1856,  p.  20  (Dr.  DeuUcb ).    From  '*  Berlin  Zellung," 
MB)«:fet.W.    (Quantity?) 

r,_Fell  to  the  groiiud  imrnedlatf ty ;  voiulllng  of  a  yelloTrlsh-grcen  fluid;  coaTultloiiK. 
iL^Dflb  in  two  hour>- 

— Tnni;tipaud  moiitli  unrtiatiRCtl  in  npprarfinre-,  phirynx  darlc-browo;  cncphagus nor* 
Sitl;  tuniculkr  (Tiist  orstoiuach  very  flriu,  but  rauge^ited,  with  binck  apota  io  placeti. 

CASE  6.—"  Medical  TimeB,"  Oct.  9,  IMl,  p.  IS.    Male :  adutt.    Dalf  a  teacupful  of  a  aolution  of  Ua 
ta  net 
9^mptomt.—¥aiti,  thCmt,  romiting  of  IhJck  glairy  mucus.    Delirium, 
JBhWi.— Pcath  CD  the  third  day. 

PM^nortnn.— <Eaopbagns  aotnewbat  Inflamed,  and  Htaniacb  r)ol«tit1y  »o;  a  few  inckies  only  of  the 
4aod«auin  appeared  congested. 

For  other  Cases  of  PoUoninff  by  Hydrochloric  Acid^  see: 

"  Bull.  G*n,  de  Th^rnp."  Oct,  iO.  \ni2.  p.  384  {Dr.  Paul}, 
"  Arch.  d.  Jlpflk.."  1H72.  p.  213  (Dr.  Nwger^. 
•'tiuy'B  HtwpSlal  ReiJorta,"  Oct.  l».50,  p,  211. 
*>  Medical  Gaxett«,"  Dec.  28, 1849, 

HYDROFLUORIC  ACID  (HF). 

Hy<1rofluoric  acid  is  prepared  by  liistilliug  fluor-spar  (CaFj)  with  sul- 
phuric ncid  iu  a  i»ktiimm  vessel.  Its  eliief  use  in  for  the  purpose  oi' glass- 
etching.  Its  actioD  is  iiiteiifie  when  iipplied  to  the  skin,  cautcriziDg  it  with 
greiit  rnpiflity,  ami  produciug  a  paiiil'ul  and  jilow-healiiig  sore. 

Il*  action  on  glass  constitutes  its  chief  test. 

Cue  case  of  death  from  half  au  oimce  of  the  acid  is  recorded.  The  man 
ooly  lived  for  thirty-five  miuutes. 

Case  of  Poisoninff  with  ITydrofluorie  Acid. 

kSE  1.—"  Lancet,"  February  S,  l^^Ttl,  p.  20S  i  Dr.  King).    Male :  let.  U.    Sm. 
!#,— VoiuUing  and  viojput  paia.    Dealb, 
«.— Death  Jn  Ihlfty-ftvu  minutest. 
f^-nmHrm. — Plood  acid  ;  luntt^  congt-atcdt  mmith  whIU?,  and  thn  epithelium  stripped  ofT;  parta 
of  ficaopbaguR  whitened;  part.»  of  the  c>>at»urtliv  BknuAch  btaokeued  aud  the  atuQiiu*b  \lavU  full  uf 
ab  Buld.    No  eroiiluD.    The  eptglutlis  waa  douuded. 


NITROSITT.PHURIC  ACID. 

Nitro8u1ph\iric  acid  consists  of  a  mixture  of  strong  nitric  acid  and  oil 
of  viiriiiL  It  is  largely  used  in  the  fabrication  of  gun-cotton,  and  is  con- 
sequently not  uncommonly  iu  the  bauds  of  the  public.  The  usual  propor' 
tiona  iti  which  it  is  mixed  for  thi*  purpose  are  two  parts  by  measure  of  the 
strongest  sulphuric  acid  (sp.  gr.  1850),  and  one  part  of  fuming  nitric  acid 
(«p.gr.  1450). 

It  is  a  heavy  colorless  liquid.  Its  specific  gravity  is  greater  than  the 
mean  of  the  two  acids  used  in  it**  preparation.  Dense  white  fumes  are 
ipven  off  from  it. 

A  great  rise  of  temperature  is  produced  wheu  the  acid  is  mixed  with 

ter.     It  attracts  moisture  from  the  air,  and  also  abstracts  it  from  organic 
lies  with  which  it  may  be  brought  into  contact. 

Ord'uuinj  mtkiln^  such  as  zinc,  iron,  and  lead,  are  rapidly  attacked  either 
by  the  dilute  acid,  or  by  the  strong  acid  when  heated,  but  only  very  slowly 
by  the  concentrated  acid  in  the  cold. 

^ilphur^  ph(}i*phnriui,  todinf,  et^.,  are  rapidly  acted  upon  by  it. 

Orfjanic  bodies  are  attacked  by  it  in  some  cases  with  great  energy,  deep 
red  fumes  l)eing  given  oti*,  whilst  in  other  ca^es  the  action  is  very  slow, 
comtx->unds  being  formed  that  are  more  or  less  explosive* 

Whiif.  cane-mgar  is  gradually  dissolved  by  it^  the  liquid  becoming  brown, 
and  the  J»ugar  after  a  time  separating  as  a  resinous  solid.  This  substance, 
when  wtll  washed  in  water,  becomes  a  hard,  silky,  silver-colored  bod/ 


262 


NITROHYDROCHLORIG    ACID. 


having  a  bitter  tuste.  If  heated  it  explodes  like  gunpowder,  leaving  $ 
mere  trace  of  asb.  It  is  insoluble  iu  cold  water,  but  soluble  in  alcohol^ 
and  ether* 

Manna  forms  with  it  an  explosive  body.  It  has  been  pro|iosed  that  thii 
com{x>und  isihould  he  used  for  percussion  caps. 

Its  actioTi  on  ijlyeeriii  is  energetic  at  ordinary  temperatures,  whilst  at 
low  temperature  the  glycerin   is   merely  dUsolved.     On  pouring  this  solu- 
tion into  water  a  heavy  oily  liquid  separates,  which  is  sweet,  pungent,  aD(' 
very  poij^otmus  (nitrnglyoeriu,  or  ghmoin  [C,H5<  N(),),0,]). 

tSfarch  forms  with  the  acid  a  white  explosive  pulverulent  solid.  If  any 
gluten  be  present,  the  mass  turns  of  a  yellow  color. 

Vottnn  ttr  (inen  clafh  4loea  not  appear  at  first  U)  be  acted  upon  by  th< 
acid,  but  increases  from  70  to  75  per  cent,  in  weight,  and  becomes  ver 
explosive  (Schoubein,  1H40).     The  gases  given  off  (in  quantity  abuut 
cub.  in.  for  every  0.5  ^rain  of  the  cloth  acted  U[K)q),  are  very  deleterioui 
and  consist  of  carbonic  oxide,  carbonic  acid,  cyanogen,  nitric  oxide, 
in  the  following  proportions ; 

Carbonic  oxide,         ,         .         .         .  35.7  per  cent 

Carbonic  acid,  .         .         .         .  14.3       ** 

:Nitr(jgen 7.2       " 

Nitric  oxide,     *        .        .        ,        .  35 J       " 

Cyanogen 7.1       "  =100.00. 

Wood  Urr,  resinous  matters,  etc.,  acted  on  by  the  aciil,  turn  a  dark 
the  washed  residue  bein^  somewhat  explosive. 

Most  of  the  hydrocarbons  are  acted  upon  by  it  energetically,  and 
eoiorm  are  discharged  by  it. 

Animal  Subgtanees. — Albumen  is  coagulated  and  turned  yellow.  Muroui 
membranes  are  first  whitened,  and  then  assume  a  yellow  tint.     AuimalJ 
substances  generally  become  a  pulpy  rotten  mass  when  heated  with  iL 

Tests. 

They  are  those  already  described  under  the  heads  of  the  two  acids, 
the  mixed  acid  be  distilled  the  nitric  acid  will  pass  over  first,  and  th< 
sulphuric  acid  be  left-  in  the  retort. 

In  a  case  of  poisoning  yon  would  discover  after  death  the  special  chai 
acteristic  appearances  of  nitric  acid  poisoning.     The  urine  should  bo 
ticularly  examined. 

NITROHYDROCHLOIUC  ACID)  (Aqua  Regia). 

This  is  usually  made  by  mixing  two  or  three  parts  of  hydrochloric  acid 
with  one  of  nitric. 

The  acid  hm  generally  a  slightly  yellow  color,  and  fumes  when  expoeed 
to  the  air.  It  has  a  suffocating  odor,  and  either  boils  or  is  decompoeed 
at  a  temf)erature  a  little  below  100^  Cent.  It  has  a  density  the  mean  of 
the  acids  used  in  its  preparation. 

It  is  not  a  very  permanent  btKly,  the  hydrogen  of  the  one  acid  reacting 
on  the  oxygen  of  the  other,  by  which  means  chlorine  and  nitrous  acid  are 
produced.  In  an  open  vessel  this  action  goes  on  until  one  or  other  of  the 
acids  is  entirely  de.*lroyefl.     It  is  a  powerful  oxidizing  agent. 

Iodine,  pliospborus,  sulphur,  and  selenium,  and  the  metals  generally^ 
are  rapidly  oxidized  by  it.     Vegetable  substances  are  also  rapidly  attaeke<l.j 
by  the  acid,  and  if  the  mixture  be  heated  a  product  will  be  lett,  cout4iiu-[ 
lug  oxalic  acid.     Albumen  is  coagulated  and  turned  yellow  by  iL    Animal 
matters  are  dissolved  by  the  hot  acid,  red  furae*j  being  evolved. 


VEGETABLE    POISONS, 


263 


The  tests  for  the  acid,  in  addition  to  those  already  described  under  the 
fth^dft  of  the  separate  acid.s  are — 

1.  It5  property  of  disHolviug  the  noble  metals. 

2.  The  evolution  of  chlorine  aud  nitric  oxide. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that  if  the  aeid  has  been  long 
ejcpn!«ed  to  the  air,  or  boiled  in  an  open  vessel,  it  may  then  loge  both  these 
properties. 

SULPHINDIGOTIC  ACID. 

(Sulphate  of  Indigo.) 

is  nothing  more  than  iodigo  dij^i^olved  in  sulphuric  acid.  The  ex- 
of  a  blite  vomit  may  point  to  arsenic  haviug  been  administered, 
indigo  being  one  of  the  substances  required  by  law  to  be  mixed  with  small 
quantities  when  sold  retail.  Still,  occasional  cases  of  poisoning  by  sulph- 
iiidigotic  acid  are  said  to  have  occurred.  All  the  excretions  will  be  found 
to  he  colored  blue.  The  Miymptoms  and  treatment  are  similar  to  those 
already  described  under  the  bead  of  sulphuric  acid. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


VEGETABLE  POISONS. 


Poisonoiid  Plants  and  their  Active  Principles, 

1.  AMARYLLIDACE^.— JVamViw  Pseitdo-Ntircimts  (Daffodil). 

2.  AyiACAKDlACEM.—Rhu^Eadicans,  R,  Toxicodendron.  R.  Vemue, 

3.  APOCYNACE.E.— A'ermm  Oleander, 

4.  AQUIFOLIACEJ!:.— y/«  Aqui folium  (Hollq). 
6.  AHOWEAl—Arum  MiwuMum-  {Vnrkoo  Piid). 

6.  ARTOCARPACEiE.— L>i^  Autlar, 

7.  CAPRI F0LIACE.E.—.S".oN6«ei«  Nigra  (Elder),    S.  Ebtilm.    Vibur- 

num Opidus  ( Guelder  Roue), 

8.  CINCHONACE^. —  Cephudis  Ipecacuanha  {Tpecactian).     Cinchona 

bitrkj*.      Qu  inine —  Quinoiditte. 

9.  COMPOS  IT  jE. — Artemisia  Absinthium  i  Wormwood).   Odiha  Palttsfris 

{Mur»h  Marigold),     I^cturu  tS<itiva  { Ldtuce). 

10.  CONIFER^E. — Junipej-tut  Sabina  { Savin).     Tawua  Baccata  (  Yew), 

11.  CXJNVOLVULACE^, —  Convolvulus  >)iaimviQHea  (iScammoHf/).    Exo- 

gonium  Purga  { Jalap). 

12.  CORIA RIA€E.E.—  r 'ortan«  MyriifoUa  (Mifrtle-kaved  Sumach). 

13.  CUCURBITACE.E.— /iryonm  ^IHoirM   (  White   Brtjomn.      Cummis 

Coloctftithis  {  Colocyntk).     Erbalitim  Offidimrnftt  i  Elaterium). 

14.  DIOSCORE.VCE.'K.— Tanrw«  Communis  {Black  Bn/omf), 

15.  EUPHORBIACE.E.— C?Y/fo«     Tiglium,         Euphorbia     fMcinarum 

(Spurge).     Hippomane  3(ancincliu.     Jatropha  C ureas  (Physic  Nut)* 
Ricinus  Communis  (Castor  OH). 

16.  FUNG  ALES. — Poimnous  Fumji.     Seoak  Cornuium  (Ergot). 

17.  Q\}Wl¥E\lM.^aarcinia  Mordla  (Gamhoge), 

18.  GRAMINACEX— Xo/Ziim  Ttmulentam  {Bearded  Darnel). 

19.  LAURACE^. — Ounphora  Officinarum. 


264 


VEGI^TABLS   POISONS* 


20.  LEGUMINOSJE. — Arnchis  Hij}»oga'n.      Oyttmn  Lahumum  (Lohitt* 

num).     Phjsoatiffma  Venenom in  (Calabar  or  Ordeai  Bean), 

21.  LI  Li  ACE  J?}. — Ahe  Vulgnrls.     Squilla  Mariilma  (Stjuill), 

22.  UJhELlACEJE.—Ixibelm  InfiaUt  (Indian  Tobacco). 

23.  LOGANIACE^. —  GclseniUtTH  Sempervirctta  (  Yellow  Jasmine),  Stryd^ 

jioH  2sMx  Vvmu'a, 

24.  MELANTHACE.E.— .4#a<7ro'/i    Offictnalvs.      Colchicum    AtUwmMk 

(Autvmn  LYontit).      Veraintjn  Albttm.      Veratntm  Viride^ 

25.  MEMSPERMACE.E.— J/em>/j(?r;n»m  Cncculm. 

26.  OLEACIsyK— LtV;iM<rMm  Vulrjare  {  Privet), 

27.  PAPAVEKACEJE.— Pa/>atw  8omni(eram  (Poppy), 

28.  RANUNCULACE.^1— ilconfYnm    AXapclhia    {AconUe,    Monhhmdi 

Anemone    Puhatllla^    etc.      Delphinium    Hiapkh^agria   {Stav€*a(r*- \, 
JlelkboruM  Nif/ra  ( Christmas  Jioiie).     II.  Failidm,  etc.     Manwwult 
Acriit  {Biitfermp),  etc. 

29.  mvr ACE JE.—Ruta  GraneolenA  (Rue), 

30.  SCUOl'HVLAlUACEA^^—lJigiinH^Purpitrm  (Fnxglow), 

31.  BOLANACE^E. — Atropa  Bcdudoniia  (Deadly  Nightshade),   Catmcut 

Fasti giaium, (Cayenne),  Datura  Stramonium  (Thornapple).    Hy 
amas  Niger  (Henbane),     Nieoftana  Toharum   ( Tobac^^o),     StLutm 
Dutcamara  { Woody   N^ightshade).      Solannm   Nigrum,       Solanm 
Ttfberomm. 

32.  THYMELACE.E.— Drmftne  dfesei-enm  ( 3Iezereon),  etc. 

33.  UMBELL1FEK.E.— .tVAwM    Cynapivm    {FmCs  Parsing).      Cieni 

Virom  (  Water  Hemlock),    Con  turn  Maculatnm  { Hemlock).    CEnm 
Crocaia  (Dropwort).    Phellimdrium  Aiptaticam. 

Before  proceed Jug  to  examine  the  several  poisonous  plants  in  detail,  tl 
may  '*<i  well  to  state  that  iu  conduetiiig  a  imedieo-legnl  ioquiry  in  cftjcs  of 
poi&i<miiig  by  their  agency,  we  should^  having  first  of  all  strained  off  tb< 
liquid  ptirtioTii*  tlirough  a  piece  ofniiiHlin,  earetnlly  search  in  the  solid  col 
tents  of  the  stomach  and  iotestiiies  for  any  portious  of  stems,  roots,  leave 
flowers,  fruit,  and  more  particularly  of  seeds,  and  examine  these  for  anj 
special  botanical  characters  they  present^  that  may  serve  for  the  puq 
of  their  identiiicatiou.  Such  exatuitiatirm  h  best  made  by  placing  ih( 
solid  materials  on  a  white  plate  and  by  using  a  large  baud  maguifyitig- ' 
glass  and  a  scalpcL 

Whtu  this  is  done  we  should  proceed  to  endeavor  to  extract  the  acUvf 
principle  of  the  plant  from  the  contents  of  the  stomach  and  intestines. 

In  most  casc^^  and  where  we  have  given   no  special  directionfl  to  th< 
contrary,  we  recommend  for  this  purpose  the  proce^  we  shall  now  describe! 
In  a  few  cases  it  is  either  unsuitable  or  other  procesj*e8  are  preferable.   laj 
certain  investigations,  FUch   as  an  examination  in  a  case  of  poiHOuing  b 
morphia  or  strychnia,  we  have  described  the  various  methud.M  suggested  b] 
various  authorities.     This  was  necessary  from  the  more  thau  ui^ual  ii 
portance  of  these  and  of  some  other  alkaloids. 

Place  the  contents  of  the  stomach  and  intestines  in  a  clean  wide-inouth( 
bottle,  and  having  rendered  them  acid  with  a  few  dnips  of  acetic  or  hydro-J 
chloric  acid,  treat  them  with  a  considerable  quantity  of  alcohol  auJ  put 
them  aside  for  some  hours  in  a  warm  place,  occasionally  giving  the  boltU 
a  shake.  Filter  the  matenals  through  thick  blotting-paper,  and  treat  tb( 
filtrate  with  an  excess  of  subacelate  of  lead  (Goulard's  Extract), and  fdt«j| 
off  the  precipitate  formed. 

Sulphuretted  hydrogen  must  now  be  passed  through  the  clear  fillml 
until  the  liquid  shows  by  its  action  on  lead-paper  that  complete  satunttion] 
has  been  edected.     In   this  way  any  excess  of  lead  added  will  be  throwi 


POISONING    BY    DAF?ODIL. 


265 


down  aod  may  be  filtered  off.  Evaporate  the  clear  filtrate  to  dryness  and 
dl3S<ilve  the  residue  in  a  few  drops  of  water  acidulated  with  acetic  acid. 
It  may  be  tiece«*ary  to  filter  this.  Siipersaturaie  this  alcoholic  extract 
with  bicarbonate  of  potaali,  and  extract  from  this  the  alkaloid  either  by 
ether  or  chloroform  ia  the  manner  already  indicated  (paii^e  81). 

The  tasting  the  residues  frorw  time  to  times^hould  never  be  neglected, 
whilst  in  all  cases  the  phvsioloj^ical  action  on  a  frog  of  the  ethereal  or 
chloroforoi  residue  should  be  tried  and  noted. 

1.  AMARYLLIDACE^. 
Narcisstia  Pgendo- Narcissus. 

(DafTodil-^Meadow  Narcissus.) 

Orfila  states  that  he  found  that  four  drach^ts  of  the  aqueous  extract  of 
this  plant  secured  in  the  stomach  of  a  dog  kille<1  it  in  twenty-four  hours, 
whilst  one  dnichm  placed  in  a  wound  destroyed  life  in  six  hours. 

It  acts  as  an  irritant  poison.  The  rectum  was  invariably  touud  to  be 
much  inflamed. 

2.  ANACARDTACE.E. 

lihus  Radimns  (Poison-Oak — Poison-Ivy),    R-  Toxicodendron.  E.  Vernix. 

The  milky  juice  of  these  plants  applied  to  the  skin  excites  intense  burn- 
ing and  itching.  It  is  .said  that  the  mere  huudling  the  R.  IVnitx  (poison- 
sumach)  has  caused  blindne.-^s,  whilst  bad  symptoms  have  been  produced 
by  its  being  burnt  in  an  ordinary  (ire.     Other  varieties  also  act  as  irritant 

3.  APOCYNACE^. 

Nerium  Oleander. 

Thisi  plant  has  been  examined  by  Pelikan  of  St.  Petersburg.     Its  true 
poi&tmous  principle,  he  believes,  is  a  yellow  resiuuid  body. 
Experimenting  on  frogs  he  found  that — 

L  When  first  administered  it  produces  an  acceleration  of  the  heart's 
action. 

2.  After  a  few  minutes  the  beats  become  less  frequent. 

3*  Later  on  the  pulsations  become  irregular  and  then  cease  entirely, 

4.  That  at  this  time  the  ventricles  of  the  heart  are  fempty  and  inactive, 
but  that  the  auricles  continue  to  contract. 

.5.  Finally  the  heart  becomes  completely  paralyzed. 

Ji'rofessor  Pelikan  considers  its  action  very  similar  to  that  of  digitaUs, 


4.  AQUIFOLIACE^. 

Ilej:  Aijui folium, 

(Holly.) 

TI<ilIy-berrie8  act  as  a  narcotico-acrid  poison.  The  leaves  have  been  said 
to  prove  beneficial  in  diweasesof  the  urinary  organs^as  well  as  in  jaundice, 
pleurisy,  colic,  etc. 

Cast^n  of  Poisoning  by  Htx  Aqulfolium^ 

**  tAMcel,"  April  Ifi,  t^O,  p.  Sr73  (Mr.  nttrkft*).    Mftle:  act.  3.    Numerous  berries  ofcomrnoD  hollj. 
J|)MyiwM  —  V oni  I ti Dg,  i)«iti,  t)ur](itig;  a/teririutlii  drowftaeM  mud  Iom  of  cotiaciouatitHui,    Recovery 
Ui  i««iit7.rour  boan. 
Katmtt — itffcoyery. 

18 


266 


POISONINQ    BY    TOE    ARUM. 


5.  AROIDE^. 

Arum  Maaihitum, 
(Arum — ^Cuckoo-pint — Lords  and  Ladies.) 

The  leaves  of  this  plant  are  arrow-shnpeil,  having  an  inclosed  purple 
column,  bearing  a  elus*Ler  of  bright-red  berries. 

The  root  is  tuberous  and  very  acrid. 

It  is  au  irritant  piiisoii,  it^  poisonous  properties  being  dt^ipat«d  by 
heat. 

"Portland  sago"  is  manufactured  from  the  roots,  which  are  first  steeped 
in  water,  and  then  baked  aud  powilered. 

Two  Ifavea  ai*e  suffi^'ieot  to  produce  pain,  vomiting,  and  diarrhcEt 
(Chrititison). 

Great  local  irritation,  swelling  <»f  the  tongue,  convulsions,  dilated  pupili 
insensibility^  and  coma  are  usual  syniptoui!?. 

The  .4.  iSe(juinum  (  Wej*t  ludtes)  furniishes  a  juice»  two  drachms  of  wbi< 
has  proved  fatal  iu  a  few  hours. 

Dr.  Frazer  advises?  iu  poisiODiug  by  the  arum  to  give  melted  fresh  butlei 
and,  after  free  vomiting  is  produced,  strong  coffee  {'*  British  Medical  Jaui 
nal/'  June  22,  1861,  p.  654). 

Ouwa  of  Poisoning  with  tMe  Arum  Maculatum. 

CASK  K— Gay'*  •*  Forcnsfc  MedJctne,"  p.  «2y5.    Three  chUdren.    Tho  lenTM. 

Sjrmploitu.—Thp  tongues  of  all  Iho  child rmi  becam*  m  •wullcn  as  to  render  awmllowlng  dl 
Two  chililrrn  <Ued  In  twelve  %a4  ftixteen  Qajb  ri'sptvllrelj.    The  thIrJ  reniTcred. 

BesuH.—A^i  D''atb  In  twflvc  and  »1xtt*ca  dajs.    (1 »  Rceovorf- 

CASE  2,— "Lunoet,"  April  13,  I87'i,  p,530  (I>r.  BumicU  8letU).    ^flllfl;  wU  48.    One  leaf  Uk^o 
tapeworm, 

%m;j/r/mLr.— Tmniediat«  pain  and  pricking  wnamUoo  io  tba  mouth  downwartU;  (opgue 
a«t>nt>n ;  ftalivalion;  vomiting. 
I     Retuit. — Ri'coTpry. 

CASES.— "British  Medical  Journal."  June  22,  IKfil.  p.  651  fPr.  Fraeer).    MaJe:  •!. «. 

8ymfl^n».—Funnfi  tn  a  kind  of  fit.    Rpniinindic  aeiion  af  iA\  i\\»  \ni\%c\i*m}(  the  hodf  ;  bloodf  fVotk 
■t  the  mouth :  piiplls  diluted  ;  heart'tt  action  very  feeble;  rigid  closure  of  the  jaw.    A  certain 
•ln«M  iiUKc*ed*<l. 

JKeM/r — Hecovery. 

CAi^E  4.— "Brillsh  Medkal  Jfiurnal."  June  22,  1861.  p.  654  (Dr.  Fraaer).    Male:  «L  A. 

Sfrmjttomt, — ConvtilitioDa;  puptia  Widely  dlULed. 

BemiL— Rceof  ery. 

CA8C  n.— "BHilsh  Medical  JnarnRt."  Jnoe  23,  IMI.  p.  654  (Dr.  Fraxer).    (Qttotcd  trtm 
Medira  dJ  Porlo."j    Mi.Z.    MajiUralpd  Uifl  rootii. 

.s^;N/>/umji.— Inimedlatf  burulriK  pain  In  luuuth  and  lipn;  torpor  In  three  hoan,  complele  proaftr*^ 
Uob  iu  six  houn;  dellrlutu;  asphyxia. 

iienilit.— Death  la  olne  boun. 

Anoiher  &i»e  is  olno  rrrorded. 
**  Medical  TfmM  and  Gaaette,*'  June  Ath,  1857.    Death  froai  eatloe  lea  vea. 

6.  ARTOCARPACE^. 
TJpa^  Antiar  (Anttaris  Toximrid). 

This  is  a  Javan&^e  poison.     In  small  doses  it  acts  as  an  irritant,  but 
large  doses  it  induces  coiua  and  convulsions.     It  acU  violently  on  lh< 
heart,  which  will  be  found  itnmedtately  after  death  to  have  lost  its  irril 
bility,  and  the  left  veutrick  to  cotitain  florid  blood.     The  poison  has  U( 
action  when  merely  applied  to  a  nerve. 

The  plant  contains  a  milky  juice  or  extract,  the  active  principle 
which  is  a  neutral  body  called  Antiarin. 


In  drw-^J 
GMMlfl 


CASES    OF    FOISONINO    BY    THE    OUELDER    ROSE. 


267 


The  Upwi  TieuU  (the  Slryebnos  Tieut^  [Lnganiacece]),  owes  iU  poisoDous 
avtion  to  strychoia  and  out  to  aultarin  ("Medical  Times  and  Gazette," 
May  16.  1863.  p.  511 ;  see  also  August  23,  1862.  p.  202}. 

7.  CAPRIFOLIACE.E. 

Sambucue  Nigra,     S.  EbuluB. 

(Elder.) 

Chnstison  notes  a  rase  which  occurred  m  his  practice  where  the  leaves 
and  tlowere  of  the  elder  pnidticed  in  a  boy  the  active  symptomB,  continu- 
ing  for  eight  days,  of  au  irritaut  poisnti. 

The  powdere(l  root  of  the  S,  Ebufm  (dwarf  elder)  h&n  proved  fatal  to 
a  woman  fifty-four  years  old  in  a  dose  of  two  tablespoonfuls. 

VibuT^itm  Oputua, 

(Guelder  Rose.) 

The  berries  of  this  plant  have  proved  fatal,  the  symptoms  produced 
being  those  of  a  uarcotico-acrtd  poison.  la  oue  case  death  occurred  Ln 
thirty-six  hours. 

Cases  of  FoiMtnin^  by  ih«  Berries  o/  the  Guelder  Rnse. 
T*7l.>r'«  "M**dical  Jurisprudence,"  vol.  I.  p.  4W  (Mr,  W.  B,  Smithl.    Fire  children  eat  the  berries 
9^mf4«m: — CoDift ;  in.^uslbililj;  puplb  n«)l  lunch  dilati^d ;  ings  ftoniewhal  rlgU.     Death  occurred 
tn  ouec««?  in  tliiriy-«lx  houre^fi'mAli;,  id(.  5>     The  other  chlldrt-n  recovered. 
JBtfiiA— t>rath  io  thirty -tiU  htiuni  of  feuiale  «t.  5.     Rt^covery  ia  other  c«9es. 
Fwt  marUm. — Nu  iuflainuiiiitioii  uf  Htumaeh  or  {ut«9Uue».    Bruin  ilightly  congested  od  the  lurfnco. 

8.  CINCHONACE.E. 

CepImelU  Ipeeucuanka. 

(Ipecacuan  or  Ipecacuanha.) 

Ij>ecacuan  is  a  powerful  epnetic,  and  in  large  doses  proves  dangerous. 
Sertous  syraptoms  of  great  distress  of  breathiag,   vomitiag,    with  even 

FfO.  39. 


»1ight  convulsions,  have  been  frequently  produced  by  the  odoriferous  efflu- 
via given  off  from  the  drug. 


fSONINO    BY    CINCHONA    PRODI 


The  ftlkalotd,  to  which  it  owes  its  action,  called  rmdia  or  emd^ 
(Cj<>H„Nj(\),  ig  a  poweriul  poison.  Two  grains  will  kill  n  dog  in  fifU*ea  to 
twenty-four  hours,  vomitiug  and  coma  being  the  chief  symptoms  lliat  are 
produced. 

We  may  regard  ipecacuanha  as  a  n a rcoti co-acrid  poison.  Oor  col- 
league, Mr.  Rodger?,  has  seen  several  cases  of  severe  symptoms  produced 
by  Its  internal  adrainiatration. 

Cinchona  Barks. 
(Qoioine:  Sulphate  of  Quinoidine.) 

In  a  case  that  was  referred!  to  one  of  the  authors  (Dr.  Tidy)  by  Mr. 
liBwet,  the  coroner  of  Essex,  two  ounces  of  a  strong  solution  of  sulphate 
of  quinoidine  (eighty-five  grains  to  the  oz.),  kept  in  stock  by  a  large  t^ui- 
nine  manufacturer  for  dilution  as  an  ''ague  mixture,"  to  give  his  work- 
people, was  taken  by  mistake  for  black  draught.  The  man  died  in  half 
an  hour.  We  have  no  record  of  any  symptoms.  Thft  brain,  according  to 
Mr.  Kennedy,  who  made  the  post-mortem,  wa«  much  congested,  the  v«- 
sels  being  filled  with  dark-colored  blood.  The  stomach  was  somewhat 
inflamed,  and  contained  about  four  ounces  of  a  bitter  fluid  which  exactly 
corresponded  with  the  mixture  the  deceased  was  reported  to  have  swal- 
lowed ("Lancet,"  July  13,  1872,  p.  41). 

M.  Desiderio  records  that  when  large  doses  of  sulphate  of  quinine  art] 
given  to  dogs,  it  produces  sleep,  giddiness,  and  defective  vision.  BleediDgj 
and  pruss-ic  acid  were  tuoud  to  relieve  the  symptoms  ('"Lancet,"  April  5»l 
1845,  p.  374),  M.  llalier  has  also  made  experiments  with  quluioe  oaj 
dogs,  and  ha«j  recorded  certain  poiiJonous  elfecLs  thai  he  has  seen  produced 
("Lancet,"  July  27,  1844).  Dr.  Baldwin  stiites  that  he  has  seen  bliml- 
ness,  convulsions,  and  death  re-sult  from  quinine,  and  he  regards  00  to  80( 
grains  as  a  poisonous  dose  ("Medical  Times,"  July  10,  1847,  p.  -i^l \. 

In  the  tropics,  however,  as  much  as  120  grains  have  been  given  without] 
bad  ertects.     It  may  be  doubted  if  death  haa  ever  resulted  from  quinu 
alone.  ^ 

9.  COMPOSITE. 

Artenmia  Absinfkium  and  other  tpecUs, 

(Wormwoods.) 

Severe  symptoms  have  resulted  from  the  taking  of  half  an  ounoeof 
oil  of  wormwood.     It  ia  a  uarcolico-acrid  poison. 

Absinthe,  a  favorite  French  Uqtieur,  owes  it»  poisonous  action  to  the  o» 
of  wormwood  that  it  contains.     It  is  a  mixture  of  several  aromatic  oil 
with  spirit.     Its  effects,  wheu  taken  in  excess,  .seem  to  be  terrible, — giddi 
oess,  illusions,  muscular  weakness,  loss  of  intellect,  paralysis,  and,  abovt 
all,  epileptiform  coovulsioua  conjoined  with  delirium  tremens  being  not 
uncommon. 

The  experiments  of  French  physicians  on  animala  deserve  a  panbj^ 
notice  ("Lancet,"  March  6,  1869,  p.  334).  They  show  that  animals  et« 
posed  to  the  action  of  the  vapoi-s  of  oil  of  wurmwood,  experience  first 
excitement  and  then  epileptiform  convulsions,  wliilst  experiments  made 
similarly  and  side  by  side  with  the  vapor  of  alcohol,  merely  rendered  the 
animals  intoxicated.  These  experiments  indicate  that  probably  absinthe 
poisoning  differs  materially  from  alcoholic  intoxication. 

Que  tif  Poisf^ning  by  OU  of  Wormtoood* 


>t 

i 


"M«4Ual  TIdmi  Md  Oue4t«,"  DMemb«r  6, 1862,  p.  813  <Dr.  Wm.  SmiUi). 
of  wormwood. 


M«]e  AduU : 


P0I80NIKQ    BT    MARSH    MARIGOLD, 


269 


r.— Found  emrly  one  morning  loMMlble,  eonTuJsed,  and  roaming  •!  moetlb.    ConTiibioui 
off;  j*w«  b«<'«tue  dfUcliM]  -.  pu|<iifi  diluted  ;  pu]K<>  plo«r  And  weak  ;  attempted  to  vomit  aod  to 
tialh.     After  Tomitlng  wm  Induced,  cucibcIousucm  parllaliy  reiurued.    After  rtK:ov«rj  be  bad  forgot- 
Icn  all  abuol  it. 
iSciM^. — Kmo  Y  err. 

Cfiltka  Pahtjftris. 

(Mai-ph  Marigold.) 

Severe  gymptoros  (Ruat's  "Magazine/*  sx, 451)  were  caused  in  a  family 
of  five  persoDB  from  eating  the  plant.  It  has  an  acrid  taste  (Wibmer 
and  Halier),  The  symptoms  induced  io  the  ca-ses  meniiinipd  were  pain, 
vouiitiug,  diarrhcea,  and  an  eruptioD  of  pcmphigous  vt-i*icle5.  In  this 
country  the  marsh  marigold  can  scarcely  be  regarded  as  a  dangerous 
plaut. 

LattucG  Saliva  ( Ordinary  Lettuce).  Jjacitica  Viro«a  (Strong-tcented  Letivee), 

The  lettuce  is  a  narcotic  poison.  The  L.  Virosa  is  more  energetic  in 
its  actiftn  than  the  L.  8ativa. 

The  in»pis«atcd  juice  (Lactucariuni)  of  the  lettuce  is  more  active  than 
the  extract.  The  juice  is  at  first  milky,  but  afterwards  dries  up  to  a  brown 
m&«.  It  is  very  bitter  (due  to  Lactucia),  and  has  an  opium  odor,  but 
does  not  give  the  opium  reactions. 

10.  CONIFER-E. 
Yew  and  savin  are  the  rmly  two  pjisouous  plants  of  the  order  Conifene 
>wing  in  this  country.     The  one  may  easily  be  di^stinguished  from  the 
ler  by  the  peculiar  odor  developed  when  savin  is  submitted  to  friction, 
by  the  absence  of  any  sroeli  when  the  yew  is  subjected  to  a  similar 
process. 

Juniperm  Sablna. 
(Savin,) 
ivin  is  a  bushy  shrub,  having  a  round  purple  currantdike  fniit.     All 
trt*  of  the  plant  have  a  strong  odor  and  an  acrid  taste.     It  is  an  irritant 
tiistm,  and  owes  its  action  to  the  presence  of  an  essential  oil,  which  may 
be  obtained  by  distillation  from  the  fre.Hh  tops  of  the  slinib. 

It  is  rarely  taken  as  a  poison,  but  is  frequently  both  taken  and  given 
for  the  purpose  of  procuring  abortion. 

The  experiments  on  animals  with  savin  are  important. 


IHm*. 


SQ  of  powdered 
MTto,  tDr. 
Lelbbbj). 


J*J  of  lh«  po-w- 
disrrd  lraT«a 
OrflJaV, 
nf  ihf  po*- 
<|«rvd  biavea 
(Orflla). 


«): 


Dog. 


Symptoma. 


DrovBincM  in  one  iiour;  Tomtt> 
inx  came  on  \n  nn  huur  anij  a 
biuf,  afit'r  wliicli  ibi*  dug  went 
to  (>li'«?|K  TwulioiiraatterwanlB 
H  wa«  found  in  tbe  s»me  po- 
»iiiun,  qiiiitf  c»ruato*«,  the 
brrotliing  "^  pnlff,"  ibo  piipijfl 
contracted,  tbe  actiou  uf  tho 
heart  »lo»-  and  labored,  but 
tbe  liuibft  moviOK  when  ptucli- 
ed.  ir'or  eigbt  boura  it  iaj  in 
tbii  state,  panaiog  blood  IdtoI- 
untarOy  by  atool,  occaaionai 
copvulsivo  moTfjaienta  of  the 
bind  iega  bcinK  noted ;  tbe 
breathiof  became  alower  and 
akiwer;  soddeiklb  occurred  iu 
foQitMD  houn  aAer  taking 
Ibe  pobon. 

Injected  into  tbe  itomicb.  and 
aecured  by  a  tigaturo;  dratb 
In  aixtenn  bouni, 

placed  in  a  wound;  death  on 
ibe  aeeood  day. 


FoaUmortoBo. 


Voaaela  on  aurfate  of  bruin  con- 
it*  pti'd  and  fiMed  with  dnric 
hl<jud;  tbe  brain  Itself  some- 
what  conceated;  iuuga  cril- 
tapaed  ana  of  a  brixht  acarlet 
color;  ri«bt  cavitlea  of  ibe 
heart  fiiii— the  lea  empty; 
liver  and  spleen  congeated; 
xtouiacb  Mud  upper  part  of  the 
aniali  iirieMiiies  very  pcde  ex- 
teruaily— ihe  lower  part  of  lo- 
ti'Sllm-ft  iiifin^  very  eoagcaled 
and  highly  vascular  ioteniaily; 
tbe  stomach  waa  pale,  exvept" 
iiig  in  two  or  three  apota,  whi-re 
tbti  iijijotniK  coot  waa  injtt'ted 
with  btoiid;itcou(aiutnladnr|(- 
brown  iluid,  yietdiii^  a  tnrbld 
liquid  on  dit'iiilaiiont  from 
which  aavin  oil  was  obuioed. 

Bedueaa  of  tbe  ructuiu. 


Eedneaa  of  Ibe  low«r  bowdk 


1 


2G8 

Tl.n    a  Ik:;' 
twoiity-ti.::-  jie.) 

Wo  ,„:..  -Msp.gr.  0.01.,  .aril 

lea«fiic,  >J 
by  its  ii!'. 

-:.  ain-o.     Tliey  jrt.*uera]!v 

:•; lowed  Uy  coma.  Sail- 

-     -t  Ik*  pri'jrnani  ?  luav  •  r 

J  /"  ■■  -      -ii  tliiys.  whilst  it  Iiiav 

f  ^^''■'  ■•    ■:••  r  llu'  ]H)i>(.n  ha-  h*rii 

* .  *i"  i  -t-  that  caiiM;a  dta:i:. 

""'"  -        -•  ;•  u>  MH-dic'iijo. 

pc..| 

nil  !■ 

Mr.  ■ 

.•4rN  •  '"  •••    Ijas    been    gcnenilly 

iiifi-  -        -       -^J-'-'ially  (Ml  iht;  right 

(•If  **'--*  "l"  tlie  l»»wiT  bi>\\el, 

I'  •    -  •      tn:f  ai-tion  i,i'  >aviti 

•  :•  ::  ;•  uce  in   uririii;:  on 

;:'  --    *    :  :iiv  uitru.-.  shoiiM 

::  "       -    \;->.ni.      V.»irt  wtatvs 

N      i    :'•■:.  thHivr'niv,  if  a 

■  .'.:::  11  ami  the  c.»n- 
■  .1  i  it.     Hut  on  the 

••-    :.e  cast'  whvrea 
•  ■'■.•-'••-■•ut  vtWvt.  aii-i 

.-.  ;  r- jnatit  u.»m:in. 

;.  .ii-  rii.iii  did  ihj: 

J  •  .i:  i  ir-i  di*cMvvry. 

■  •  «  r.   .:-  si:«']iici«iii. 


i  :•.  il'  |M>\vdfn*'.i 

-    .   r,  whil.-fr  tin* 

.:  •-.•••|K-.  Thf 

■ .  .  (.-••rile  »»v«.r, 

-:-  with  flhcr, 

:.  :••  dtmiiitid 

-.iv:n  »ii.'.*.»lvi(i 

;•  ir*  |Mi'iiiiiir 

ij'-lid  with 

.   ;  :.;.)!.  will  l»e 

■  •  •'■•:).'  it  in  a 
...iriaic  ol'iron. 


:    -  •T.i^.itiAfton 


CASES   OF   POISONING    BT   SAVIN.  271 

I'ASK  2.—"  Lancet,"  1845,  toI.  i,  p.  677  (Dr.  Letheby  and  Mr.  Newth).  Female :  Rt.  21.  Pregnant ; 
•eventh  or  eighth  month.    Quantity  (.?). 

SytMptonu.^AtleT  a  fi'W  hours  had  violent  pain  and  sickness,  and  then  became  Inaenblblc.  After  a 
time  at«'rtorou8  breathing  came  ot«,  with  foaming  at  mouth  and  convulsions.  The  uterus  in  twelve 
hours  was  acting  vigoruu^]7,  ench  contraction  being  accompanied  with  convulsive  tremor.  Four 
hour*  afterwards,  as  the  ]alM>r  was  progressing,  she  gave  a  low  moan,  and  died. 

itsm/l.— Death  in  sixteen  hours. 

i\>fl^mor/«in.— Veast'Is  on  nurface  of  brain  gorged,  and  brain  itself  inflamed ;  stomach  almost  natural 
except  in  one  or  two  spots,  which  were  red.    Savin  found. 

CASE  3.— "Christinon,"  p.  606  (Mr.  Cocltson).  Female.  Infusion  of  savin  leaves  taken  in  two 
doaea  to  produce  abortion. 

I^fm*P*oms.— Pain.    The  following  day  bhe  miscarried,  and  four  days  afterwards  died. 

AwA.— Death  in  four  days. 

/b«/-moririn.— Extensive  peritoneal  inflammation  ;  stomach  very  red,  contents  being  green,  and 
eoDtaliiiug  portions  of  savin. 

CASE  4.— "Christison,"  p.  606  (Dr.  Traill).    Female.    Powdered  savin. 

Sifmpiomt.—Pti\n,  vomiting,  birainiug  at  btool,  great  fever,  and  death  after  several  days. 

MmiU.—Dea,lh  after  several  dnya. 

Aw<Hnor;<rin.— Stomach  inflann-d,  and  in  parts  black  and  perforated ;  intestines  also  inflamed. 
Savin  powder  detected  after  death. 

CASE  5— "Wibmcr."    Female.    Infusion. 
I.— Violent  vomitiug. 
.—Death. 

-Death  caused  by  bursting  of  gall-bladder  fVom  violent  vomiting. 

CASE  6.— "Foderfc,"  vol.  iii,  p.  431.    Female.    Powdered  savin.    Seven  months  pregnant. 

Sjrmptoma. — Hiccough  and  vuniiliiig,  followi-d  by  a  fi'ver  lasting  fifteen  days,  from  which  she  r^ 
covered.    After  two  mouths  was  confined  of  a  healthy  child. 

Heffvil.— Reco  ve  ry . 

CASE  7.—"  Lancet,"  July  13, 187-.',  p.  41  (Dr.  Tidy).    Female. 

J|fin/)tomji.— Convulsions.    Kyniptouis  very  like  strychnia. 

ItetM/IL— Death. 

TAe  /ol lowing  Case  of  Poismiing  by  Savin  is  also  recorded. 
"  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Sept.  28, 1850,  p.  344.    ( Death.    Female :  let.  34.) 

Taxus  Baccata. 
(Yew.) 

The  leaves  of  the  yew  are  lancet-shaped.  The  berries  are  about  the  size 
of  a  pea,  and  are  contained  in  two  capsules,  one  being  of  a  light-red  color, 
and  open  at  the  top,  exposing  a  brown  capsule  underneath.  This  con- 
tains a  thick  colorless  juice,  which  is  very  acrid  and  nauseous  both  to  taste 
and  smell.  The  yew  is  a  narcotico-acrid  poison,  and  its  action  on  animals 
ffenerally  is  severe  and  rapid  (case  of  Wilson  v.  Newbury).  It  is  vulgarly 
but  erroneously  8upi)osed  that  the  fresh  leaves  are  inert. 

Two  ounces  of  the  juice  of  the  leaves  was  found  to  prove  fatal  to  a  dog, 
whilst  thirty-six  grains  of  the  extract  when  injected  into  the  jugular  vein 
caused  death,  with  giddiness  and  stupor  (Orfila). 

Iq  the  human  subject  the  leaves  and  berries  have  both  proved  fatal,  in 
times  varying  from  less  than  one  hour  to  nineteen  hours.  Vomiting,  con- 
vubions,  and  coma  are  the  prominent  symptoms  recorded.  Recovery  is 
rare. 

It  has  been  administered  as  a  cure  for  worm.s,  and  has  likewise  been  given 
and  taken  from  its  supposed  power  of  producing  abortion.  (Yew-tree 
tea.)  The  nature  of  the  yew-poison  is  not  exactly  known,  but  experiments 
lead  to  the  belief  that  the  active  principle  exists  in  a  larger  quantity  in  the 
seeds  than  in  the  other  parts  of  the  plant  ("  Lancet,"  Oct.  24, 1868,  p.  560). 

Cases  of  Poisoning  with  Yew. 
CASE  1.—"  Provincial  Journal,"  Nov.  29, 1848,  p.  662.   Female :  Kt.  5.    Berries. 


,— DeaUi  in  four  hours. 


i 


272 


CASKS    or    POIfiOKIKG    BT    TIW, 


BmK.    ill  Mill  la  liwjvea  li««f«w 
^^■■■iM,    Wi— rli  dktottJud. 

«|ghi  k««n  •Iter  Um  ImI  4mt.   laleM* 

I  te  c^fkl  DOvm. 
^->'3C•  piMt-a«rt«ni  pecalUrftiei. 
CA«£t^'Ta7l«*«McdlcalJont.'' TOLL  PL  «4S(l>r.  Proctor).    FeaakadulL    AbooSai 

bo«nb«cstti«  tMefts(ble,«»d  died  In  *  tute  of  coHapac  tlirv*  htma  tfh» 
•AcTserm]  boara. 

^■i|>ii— VdteUtog  la  oo«  boar.    No  p»iB.    CoBTulaion  u*d  npM  drmtb.    In  Um  Inl 
M«B*^  to  wiat  t«  tUrp. 
lUmrnU^—Vtmih  nftld. 

iW  <Mir*—  —  IfcBdae—  «od  »ort«ninc  of  the  ttoniAcli :  iDfljunmitioo  ofraiAli  iBUMtnci^ 
CAdC  ;.— '3C«dic»l  Tlun  ADd  (iaMlte,"  1870.  rol.  lU  p.  MS.    Msl«.    Berrifli. 
dad  aiUiBg  in  hU  cti«Jr  After  Mrvn  hro«n. 
-I>Cftlli  in  •«««&  iKtmrt  at  movt. 

.->RlKliteaTtU««  of  heafl  dUtendcr]  vitb  dnld  blood;  liammA  *iid  sm^  UilMilMii 
M^ftmcd  ;  livrr  eoDgtvted. 
CA^e  «  — "  Biut's  Mj«utxie/'  voL  xxlU,  p.  974  (I>r.  HvHsuibX    Fenal«;    I»tco«Uoa  Ukcs  (»| 
»|i«r1k>ti. 

■IMnl  wltboai  miac&rriife. 
-Ocotb. 
CASE  9.— "  Beck'a  Kedkal  Jark..**  p^  Mt  (Dr.  Ferclvkt).     Tbrce  ehl)di«iit  ■«.«,«.». 
lMV«  fivca  for  wortn*. 

-Ta«DiBf ,  lUtleMoew.    Tlie  eldert  ebild  r»init(^  a  little,  »iid  had  p^o,  bttt  th«  < 
I>QMb  oeearwd  tn  M  riUxia  >  lew  boun  uf  «»cb  other. 

CASE  10,—"  Lancet,"  Oetoher  IT.  IMA,  p.  590  <  Dr,  Jamea  ThumpHiD>.    Male  :  ci.  X.    Btirrti^ 
•— CooraUlea*  ;  pailrnt  became  ■eini-<oituil(Mie:  roaiitiug  ;  diUUed  popila. 
t.— Death  in  /our  bourx 

.' — Lirer  and  atumaeh  ci'tngfwtMl^ 
CASE  IL— "Brltub  MtKlicaJ  Journal;*  June  17.  IB7I.  p.ea  (3Cr  WaUU)^    Ftm^i  mLtt. 
iearea. 

».— Drmlb  very  sttdden.    Fupkla  aUgbtljr  dilated. 
L— Death  rapid. 

L— Heart  normal ;  alomacb  inOtned.  tod  Motatoed  fW  Utrm. 

11.   CONVOLYULACEiE. 

ConvolvuJus  Scamtnotica, 

(Scanimony.) 

The  resin  of  the  scammony  \&  usually  obtained  from   the  root  by  its 

tfolutioti  io  rectified  spirit,  and  b  therefore  free  from  admixture  with  guio. 

TAm  Daiund  acannuoiiY  i»  prepared  by  allowing  the  juice  to  flow  from  in* 

in  the  root,  andf  thb  generally  cuntaios  as  much  as  10  to  20  per 

cent,  of  gum. 

Scammonin  (C„HscO,g),  the  active  principle  of  the  plant,  is  a  gluoonde. 

Scammony  h  genemliy  regarded  as  an  irritant  poisun.     Or61a,  however, 

aoestionu  this^  and  asserts  that  he  has  found  dogs  live  after  taking  four 
rachms,  no  symptom  other  than  purging  being  produced. 

Exoyonium  PuTga  (Fig.  26). 
(Jalap).     Mexico. 
Jalap  *'  is  the  powdered  tuber  of  tlie  above  plant    It  contaiaa  about 


POISOKINO    BY    JALAP. 


273 


10  U)  15  per  cent,  of  a  resin  which  can  be  extracted  by  spirit,  and  also 
about  20  per  cent,  of  starch,  water  and  extractive  matters. 

Thr  renin  is  insoluble  in  water,  or  turpentine,  partially  solnble  in  ether, 
and  very  soluble  in  alcohol.     It  turns  p^^  ^ 

crimson  when  treated  with  sulphuric 
acid. 

An  arid  (Jalapic  Acid,  Q^^^^fi^, 
10  present  in  that  poition  soluble  in 
ether.  It  al$o  contains  two  active 
bodies^  jalapin  and  couvolvuiin. 

Jalapin  (C„H«0„).  ^^   \S\  (^\ 

Jalapin  is  the  true  active  principle 
of  the  jalap.  It  is  soluble  in  ether 
Sulphuric  acirl  changes  it  yellow,  the 
color  turning  to  an  orange  or  reddish- 
brown  when  heated.  Acted  on  with 
oiiric  acid  it  changes  yellow. 

,     Convohmlin  (Cg^Hj^O,,). 

ConvolvuHn  is  found  chiefly  in  the 
Mexican  male  jalap,  and  is  insoluble 
in  ether. 

Jnlap  is  an  irritant^  and  in  large 
doses  au  active  poison.     Two  drachms 
will  kill  a  dog  in  four  or  five  days.     Death  is  caused  by  exhaustion  from 
exoeasive  purging. 

12.  CORIARIACE^. 

Coriarla  Mtfrtifolia, 
(Myrtle-leaved  Sumach,) 

This  plant  is  a  narcotico-acrid  poison.  Fatal  cases  have  occurred  from 
the  leaves  having  been  em  ployed  as  an  adulterant  of  senna  leaves.  (iSee 
a  case  of  serious  symptoms  from  senna  tea,  "  Lancet,"  January  .3,  1846, 
p.  28.)  Death  has  been  caused  in  an  adult  by  Bfteen  of  the  berries.  The 
symptoms  that  have  been  noted  are  a  form  of  intoxication,  with  dilated 
pupils,  tetanic  convulsions,  and  coma.  Death  has  occurred  within  four 
jioursf,  whilst  it  has  been  delayed  for  twenty-four. 

Experiments  on  animals  show  that  one  drachm  of  the  extract  of  the  juice 
will  kill  a  cat  in  two  hours,  and  that  half  a  drachm  applied  to  a  wound,  will 
destroy  life  in  eighty-five  miuutej^.  One  grain  injected  into  the  jugular 
vein  of  a  rabbit  proved  immediately  fatal,  death  occurring  in  a  single  con- 
vulsive paroxysm.  Given  internally  rabbits  do  not  appear  to  be  affected 
by  it  (Mayer,  of  Btjuuj.  The  puat-mortem  appearauces  show  the  bmin 
intensely  congested  and  the  blood  fluid. 

The  C\  &u-7ncntom  (Toot  plant  of  Australia  and  New  Zealand)  is  ex- 
ceedingly poisonous,  although  it  is  stated  that  old  colonists,  as  well  as 
Dative  hordes  and  cattle,  eat  the  plant  with  tolerable  impunity, 

Ca»es  of  Picyitoning  by  Ooriaria  Myriifolia. 

CASE  1  — "  M*ra  dfl  t'Acad.  des  Scl«De«fl,"  1739.  p.  47  (Sauiriigw),    Child.    Berrtet. 
•EpIJfpdc  ciinTutsJooi. 
.—Death  la  one  day. 

I.— Mo  poat^morteoi  pecullftriUea. 


POrsOKIKG    WITH    BRYONIA    DFOIOA. 

CA^E  3.—"  Mem.  de  I'Acad.dfii  SeUucea/*  1739. p.  47  (SmivaKf^k.    AdtilU    FlOe^n  li«rHe«. 

Sympli,nui.—lAri<\Hy  uf  face;  couvul»ions,  nvtna.    The  btrrlfs  verv dUt-hRrf^  «fl«r  *n  emrtic,  h»\ 
di»ih  toiik  |»)flc«  ibv  »ftm«day. 

JtrmtL—lHitkih  wllhtn  Iwifnty-rniir  hntirn. 

CASE  :).— "  JuuruMi  4e  VhUa.  Mit].,"  vol.   iv,  528  (M.  Fee).     Matv  ndutl.    lafUBlnn  of  Mnna  leant 
thai  lind  lM?t'iv  nclitltermliMJ  wuli  corlariA,  ttc, 

m^nifitomM. — (vJic,  ci»inf«l.iio«!t,  lockjaw. 

/f'^jru//.— Dvtilh  williiu  fuur  Uoiini. 

jAiit-morfmt, — IiilittiutQatiuu  ofalonmcb  and  bowels. 

CASE  4  -"  I^iDdon  Mi-dlc*t  and  Physical  Journal,"  April,  18M,  toI.  1x1,  p.  2W  (Bom),    At.% 
Frum  Hi)  to  luO  berni^i. 

f^jmi/^&mj.— liito&lcatlon,  rolling  of  eyes,  Icku  of  foice,  coma,  lockjaw,  and  cuovalsioii*;  dOatei 
|>upit».    l>falh. 

Jtrtnli. — D'Htli  in  eiilFvn  houn  nnda  hnlf. 

Pntt-mirt'ifm,—lMi^c\\oxi  o(  ilw  iiii.mhi«irje«  of  tlie  brain  and  »p1iial  cord.    No  other  ff><»eia]  pM** 
luorlvua  upfwiirauifii,  meet)!  ri^  paicbe«  \u  ihc  itileftltDesBud  Btutuich. 

CAisE  5,-"  Luiidan  Medical  and  Physical  Journal,"  April,  1829.  toI.  1x1,  p.  2»2  ^Bpux). 
cbildn-n. 

8;,iv^ttitm.~A\\  recovered  after  Tomlting  freely^ 

jGmw«,— Rccuvtry. 

13.  CUCURBITACEJi:. 

Bryonia  Dluioa. 

(White  Brj'ony  or  Wild  Vine.) 

The  white  bryony  is  comnioDly  found  in  hedges  elitnbiDg  by  tenonl 
The  leaves  are  roughs  and  the  pnverif  small  and  of  r  green  color;  tl 
berries  are  dusftered  (s^ix  seeds]  and  contain  a  very  fetid  juice  ;  the  root  a 
fifiindlc-shapcd,  ne-^hy,  and  pale,  and  is  the  most  active  part  of  the  plant 

Bryony  h  a  simple  irritant  pc>i8<^in. 

It  is  said  to  contain  an  active  principle  called  bryonin^  20  grains 
which,  injected  into  the  pleura  of  animaU,  wa.4  Ibnnd  to  cause  death  il 
seven  honrs.     (Branded  and  Firnhaber.) 

One  uimce  of  the  root^  secured   in   the  stomach  of  a  dog,  killed   it  il 
twenty-four  hours,  and  two  atid  a  half  drachms  introduced  into  a  wouud] 
proved  fatal  in  six  hours  (Orfila).     Vonoiting,  purging,  and  watery  evacu- 
aiit»08  are  the  symptoms  recorded. 

The  8ynipt4»m8  producer)  in  the  human  subject  are  giddiness,  iotoxii 
lion,  vomiting,  diarrhwa,  and   coma.     Death  has  occurred  withia  foi 
hours,  and  been  delayed  lor  thirty. 


Oi»e»  of  Poisoning  with  Bryony. 

CASE  l.~"  Ncaea  Magoala,"  ral.  I,  part  111,  p.  5C7  (Pyl).    Male  adult.    lafualoa  of  root  t»k«B  M  a 
cure  for  aguo.  ■ 

^^m^omi.— Piirgiog.  J 

J&wi/.— IX'ath.  " 

CASE  29.— rirflla,  ''Toxicologic,"  vnl.  1,  p,fi«0.    Foniale  adnlL    Dwoctlon  of  Hj,  part  admlnbtcrrd 
by  ntuulh,  and  ifurt  iimihI  nn  att  injecllon,  tJilcen  to  nu^p  itccrctluu  of  milk. 

RrnUK—Dt'Mh  in  fnur  buura. 

CASE  3.—"  IjinaM."  May  9,  1(168,  p.  <10  (Dr  Ooate).    Feiual<i  i  a>t.  3.    Boirlut. 

Sym(4t>nn*.—  iiUldUu*»  In  bsiUnn  hour;  furious  delirium  duriUjf  tbeulgfat;  vomlUog;  dlarrt 
aud  dibu-d  pu|fib;  uAiTwardH  cuuia. 

Aert«.— iKaibJii  thirty  houra. 


CASES   OF   POISONIKO    BT   COLOOYKTH. 


276 


Cucumis  GolocynihU  (Fig.  27), 
(Colucyntb— Bitter  Apple), 


The  fruit  is  hard  and  yeUaw,  about  the  size  of  an  orange,  somewhat 
pontu^,  very  bitter,  and  contain:^  about  ^^^  ^^ 

7*2  percent,  of  seed?.     It  is  usually  met 
uith  in  a  dried  and  decorticated  state. 

It*  ttfti%*e  principle  is  Chlocynthln 
(CgfHjO^ii })f  whifh  is  aglucoside,  sol- 
uble in  water  and  alcohol,  but  not  in 
ether. 

Three  drachms  of  colocyuth^  secured 
in  the  stomach  of  a  dog,  killed  it  in  fif- 
teen hours,  whilst  di^ath  was  caused  by 
two  drachms  introduced  into  a  wound 
(Orfila).  In  the  experiments  of  the  an- 
thor«  35iiissi.  proves]  fatal  to  three  doga 
in  eighteen,  twenty-two,  and  thirty-six 
hours  r«^pectively. 

The  symptoms  produced  by  it  in  the 
human  subject  are  those  of  an  irritant 
poi«on. 

A  teaspoonful  and  a  half  of  the  pow- 
der ha*  caused  death,  hut  recovery  is 
rei'orded  after  swallowing  as  much  as 
three  ounces. 

Death  has  occurred  in  oue,  two,  and 
ihrt'e  days. 

It  i«  Htated  (Bocler)  that  those  engaged  in  handling  and  triturating  the 
pulp  often  suffer  from  violent  purging. 

CaseM  of  Poisoning  with  Otloeynih, 
CASE  l.'Orflla,  '*Toxlcologle,"  vol.  {,  p  095.     Jdnle  aduli     lllj  ofcolMjntti  Uken  for  a  goaor- 
.-^YomlUug,  pftfD.dUrrha'a^diOlrltiia.    f^fillt  wan  admlulstered,  and  leeches  applied  to 


tb*8l9lB.) 

•RccoTery. 

:  2— "CliriiitUon,"  p.  S95.    Fen^ale  Adult.    A  tca>p<jDJ]Lrul  Mhd  a  half  of  colocyoth  powder. 

(#.— Voiuiling,  purgiDg,  aud  deftth. 
f.— I>ealb  in  twpnly-four  huutn. 

a— Orftla,  "  Toxlcbtugle;'  vul.  i,  p.  695  (M.  Carron  d'Anowj').    Male  Mlult.    DeeocUon  Uk«n 
dcMiestocure  piles. 

.— Colic  aud  pur^Df ;  p«fn ;  arterwardft  the  ptni^lug  eeuKxl,  aod  releDUoa  of  urine  came 
«f  iib  prtapiuu,  cUmiuijr  «wcftls,  and  dvftth. 
I.— Dcvib  on  the  Uilrd  duy , 
^M<  wortow.—ltii^tiDo  red,  wiih  black  ipota;  itoma^h  here  aod  tbcrc  ulcerated  ,  liver,  kidnryi, 
■d  bladder  Intaniud. 

C^8E  4  — "  Lancet."  Feb.  1, 1MB,  p.  158  (Dr.  Tldy>.  Femaln  adult    SIJ  to  3ilJ  of  the  powdered  frull. 
I. —  Purging  (aionUi  l>tuody)  aod  Tomitiog  Id  a  few  bouia.     Death. 
V^ Death  in  furty  houra 

-No  poal'tnoriviD  appearances  specially  to  be  remarked. 


Ecbalium  Officinarum  (Fig.  28). 
(iSquirting  nr  Wild  Cucumber — Elat^riiim.) 
e  fruit  of  the  plant  is  about  one  and  a  half  inches  iji  length.     What 


274 


POISONING    WIT: 


CASE  2.— ••  M«m.  de  I'Aoad.dcii  Scl.  n. .  .- 

^>/»i/j/(»M.— I.ividity  of  face ;  ctiiivul'<i,.n- 
di-uili  took  place  ibt*  samcday. 

Jtfinilf.—l>va,t]i  within  twenty-four  linuv- 

CASE  a.— "Journal  de  Hihii.  Mi-.l.." 
thai  had  been  adulterated  with  e<>ii.n:. 

iiiMfjlwM.—i^Aic.  eonvulsumd,  l«ii  k  . 

Ji'xittl.—lh'ath  within  four  liiuir-. 

/^/-mcW(«».— Inflammation  or>i<-:> 

CASK  4— "London  Medical  and  : 
Fruni  MO  to  100  lierriea. 

&>/j/yr'ffi<.— InioxicatloD,  rullm.- 
pupils.    Death. 

Ji'suli.—lhttih  In  alzteon  liri.i-  .t 

J^ut-morfrm. — liijcction  of  tin-  im  ' 
mortem  ap|iearaneea,  except  n-d  pu: 

CASE  5.—" London  Mtdiial  and  I'b:- 
children. 

S<,mp(cmt.— All  recovered  Bftrr  \    ■'■ 

/?«»//.— Recovery. 


-   .-..ra  the  clear  straiaed 

'  -  active  priuciple  of  the 
:-:  is  eiaterin.  The  quan- 
:re!»ent  in  Euplish  elaie- 
.T.  varies  from  lo  to  26  per 
:-..  whilst  in  French  speti- 
run  it  is  not  more  than  from 


The  white  bi } 
The  leaver  an.;  «• 
berries  are  clu-s- 
spindle-tihaiKii 

Brytmy  is  ;. 

It  is  fuiil 
\s'hich,  injt'c- 
seven  hoiii- 

One  ouii.  • 
twenty- f«':. 
proveil  fa 
atit>n8  ai- 

The> 
lion,  V- 
hour^. 


Eiateriiim  also  contains  a 
r^n  resinous  matter,  which 
.-  -sitluble  in  ether.  It  is  ao 
-rirant  poi-son.  As  a  medi- 
■■-e  it  is  somewhat  uncertain, 
:i  action  being  that  of  a  dias- 
::o  hydragogiie  purgative. 

One-fifth  t)f  a  grain  of  elate- 
riutn  given  to  a  rabbit  in  two 
i  -sesat  an  interval  of  twenty- 
:r.e  last  dose. 

:!y  in  the  human  subject,  and 
ni?.  lasting  for  twelve  houre, 
:  a  hat  on  the  head. 
:j.  violent  purging,  and  great 
•.h  or  ^d  of  a  grain,  if  the  ela- 


uf-  :-j  with  spirit,  filtering  off  the 

-  i-.zT'.r.  and  the  resin  remain  in 
:    :  *:  y  jvniring  the  concentrated 

•  M-!"..  In-  which  means  the  resin 
■     .  -  :r.i  in  the  form  of  crystals. 
jLi:  i  but  verv  slightly  soluble 
'    *-:  A  jiucositle. 

-  .  :  --:.  a. id  turns  it  of  a  reddish- 


CAJ^ 
cure  I 
»»■ 
Jt 

r 

f 


'•.i<  :r»  tendrils.  The  leaves 
i  i-  :  r\*il.:ind  the  root  black. 
.  "-jjootl  btid  symptoms. 


■A  -^:\v  to  castor  oil  seeds,  but 
. •■...al  lines.     Thev  are  with- 


.-:::'.  oiP  which  is  of  a  light- 
:.i->il\-.wu  when  treated  with 


•.ASE3  OF   POISONING   WITH   OROTON   OIL.  277 

M't-iis  and  the  oil  are  active  irritant  poisons,  their  activity  being 

it  lie  latty  acid  (crotonic  acid)  which  is  destroyed  by  saponi- 

:  potash.     (Pelletier  and  Caventou.) 

(.[iioiiis  usually  occur  within  a  short  time  after  the  poison  has 

lowed.   Intense  pain,  and  a  cholera-like  condition,  such  as  cramps, 

!;i->kin,  imperceptible  pulse,  and  rice-water  stools,  with  purging 

;,. I] >>e,  arc  the  ordinary  symptoms. 

V  Will  lias  occurred  in  as  soon  as  three  hours,  whilst  it  has  been  delayed 

:rt'(*  days.     Life  is  rarely,  however,  prolonged  beyond  ten  hours. 
j'inve  minims  of  the  oil  has  caused  death  in  a  child  thirteen  months  old, 
.  !i<l  :i  half  drachm  in  an  adult.     Recovery  is  recorded  after  doses  of  forty- 
livi'  and  fiily-five  drops,  and  even  afler  as  much  as  half  an  ounce. 

The  e.xperiments  that  have  been  made  with  croton  oil  on  animals  are 
not  numerous.  Forty  seeds  killed  a  horse  in  seven  hours,  and  a  dog  died 
after  thirty  minims  of  the  oil  (Landsberg).  Christison  found  that  four 
minims  would  produce  severe  symptoms  in  a  dog,  whilst  fifteen  to  twenty 
minims  would  ordinarily  prove  fatal  from  the  exhaustion  produced  by 
excettive  purging. 

Cases  of  Poisoning  with  Croton  Oil. 

CASE  1.— "  Ann.  d'Hjg.,"  1871,  vol.  I,  p.  40!)  (M.  CheTallior).  Male  adult,  iaa.  in  mistake  for  eod- 
UTcr  oil. 

Sgmplomt. — Burning  sensatluD ;  romiting,  purging,  with  Bymptoms  of  collapse.  Becoverj  in 
fooiti-«n  days. 

Mesmlt. — RecoTery. 

CASE  2.—"  Ann.  d'Hyir.,"  1871 ,  toI.  i,  p.  409  (Derergie).    Male :  aet.  25.    5iisa.  of  the  oil. 

4nnpflMw. — Purging,  collapse,  death. 

MenUt.—DetLth  in  four  houm. 

CASE  3.—"  Lancet,"  August  21, 1H69,  p.  284  fDr.  Manyeain).    Female :  set.  6.    45  drops  of  the  oil. 

4nH|>AMNj.— Burning  pain ;  vomiting;  went  to  sleep  fur  four  houm,  and  afterwards  had  no  further 
bad  aympioms. 

JBemlf.— Recovery. 

CASE  4.—"  Medical  Times."  November  30, 1839,  p.  75.  Male:  »t.  25.  Large  quantity.  "  Journal 
d«  Chlm.  Med.."  1839,  p.  509. 

Slrmpfowu,—ln  three-quarters  of  an  hour  was  found  with  scarcely  a  perceptible  pulse ;  dif&cull  respi- 
nCion  ;  llps,eyeB,  and  extremilies  blue;  pupils  normal  but  intensible  ;  abdomen  very  tender,  and 
•ttempU  to  vomit  frequent.  After  a  short  time  he  became  as  it  were  Intoxicated.  Diarrhoea  set  in 
In  on«  hour  and  a  half.    He  gradually  lost  sensibility,  aud  died  in  about  four  hours. 

JKmhI/.— Death  in  four  honra. 

PMf-Mortem.— Mucous  membrane  of  stomach  slightly  softened.  A  few  spots  of  ulceration  found 
Id  the  intestines  ;  otherwise  normal. 

CASE  5.—"  Uncet,"  April  16.  1870.  p.  5.'$3  (Dr.  Aug6).    Female :  ast.  6.    65  drops  of  oil. 

AjfM/itoflu.— DlarrhoBi  aud  fever  for  three  or  four  days,  but  recovery  took  place  without  any  bad 
■jmptoms. 

ReauIL—RecoyeYj. 

CASE  6.— "British  Medical  Journal,"  Febiuary  14,  1874,  p.  211.  Female:  set.  53.  Oil  Uken  by 
mistake  for  cough  mixture. 

Jtoiiir.— Death. 

CASE  7.—**  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  August.  186G,  p.  142  (Dr.  Oreenhow).    30  m.  of  croton  oil. 

SUfmptomM.—ln  two  hours  had  very  much  the  appearanci? of  a  patient  suffering  from  cholera; 
purging  (rice-water  8to<ils)  and  cramp ;  surface  cold,  and  skin  blue ;  pulM  almost  imperceptible ; 
gnaping respiration;  intellect  clear. 

BamU.—DvBth  in  ten  hours. 

CASE  8.— "Medical  Gaxette,"  vol.  43,  p.  41.    Female. 

8sfmfiltn>u.^HQt  burning  sensations  came  on  directly.    Death  in  convulsions. 

Atmlf.— Death  in  three  days. 

CASE  9.—" Edinburgh  Medical  Journal,"  August,  1861  (Dr.  Brydon).  Female:  st.  19.  Half  a 
teacpoonful  with  olive  oil. 

8ira^lomu.—Inien9e  pain  in  throat  and  gullet  In  half  an  hour.  Violent  vomiting,  and  then  pain 
in  the  stomach ;  no  violent  purging.    Recovery  in  a  day  or  two. 

AmAL— Recovery. 

CASE  la— "Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  1870,  vol.  ii,  p.  466.  JEU  13  months.  8  m.  with  aoap 
Unlment. 

Amtf.— Death  In  aiz  houn. 


276  POISON 

is  known  as  "  Elaterium  "  is 
expressed  juice  of  the  fruit. 

Fio.  28. 


four  hours  killed 
One  graiD  ha^ 
Christison  recor 
were  caused  by 
The  symptoii 
depression.     T 
terin  be  good. 


Elaterin  i.<- 
fibrous  and 
solution.     1' 
alcoholic  fil 
remains  ili- 

It  is  V<M 
cither  in  \. 

Nitric  : 
brown  co' 


The^ 
are  snv 
The 


-si 


— =r-^a 


..  -i-xxs  TT.i,::  .'-a  » 


t 


ASBS   OF   POISONINO    BY   JATROPHA.  279 

•  mrp^nters  who  work  with  manchineel  have  to  protect 

II  the  dust  by  gauze  masks.    It  is  even  asserted  by  good 

'lioii(i:b  doubted  by  Rieord)  that  the  sleeping  under  the  tree 

ihe  droppings  of  moisture  on  the  sound  skin  will  produce 

[tptoms.     Merely  collecting  the  juice  has  produced  bad  effects 

I  ittiea  and  Gazette,"  December  23,  1871,  p.  770). 

Jatropha  Curcas,     (West  Indies.) 

(Physic  Nut — Indian  Nut — Juva  Tree.) 

B  of  this  plant  contain  an  acrid  oil,  which,  in  appearance,  is 

crotoo  oil.     Twelve  to  fifteen  drops  will  act  powerfully,  whilst 

from  which  the  oil  is  expressed  produces  violent  symptoms  in 

even  a  few  grains.     Four  seeds  act  as  a  powerful  cathartic.    It  is 

lant  poison. 

Jtttropha  Uretis,  from  the  stories  that  are  recorded,  seems  to  be  ex- 
rdinanly  powerful  in  itfl  action.    Even  the  touching  it  may  induce 
rou!*  syniptomy.     At  Kew,  one  of  the  gardeners  is  reported  merely 
Te  allowed  his  wrl^^t  to  come  in  contact  with  the  plant,  when  in  a  few 
such  severe  symptoms  of  collapse  set  in,  that  the  man  was  sup- 
I  to  be  dead.     (/'  Pharmaceutical  Journal,"  April  17, 1872,  p.  863.) 
e  afterwards  rallied. 

The  juice  of  the  root  of  the  Jatropha  Manihot  (Cassava  plant),  from 
which  tapioca  is  obtained,  has  been  known  to  prove  fatal.  It  is  a  narcotico- 
ttcrid  poison. 

The  Jatropha  Mnliifida  is  also  poisonous. 


V 


Casm  of  PoxBoning  by  Species  of  Jatropha. 
(X.)  JATHOPHA  CURCAS  (PHTSIC  PI.ANT). 


tASE  1.—"  Mt^rcal  Tlinej!  and  Gazette,"  June  25, 1864,  p.  703;  Aug.  7, 1858,  p.  143.    Ooe  hundred 
aad  ttafrtjr-nlDe  uhMdreo  eat  the  nuts  at  Dublin. 

CAl^E  2.—'*  Ann«li!fl  rl'nygliine,"  1871.  vol.  1,  p.  408  (M. CheTalller).    Thirty-ibree  persons  poisoned 
kgr  eattn^  tbe  leitli.    TliLrtet'n  recovered. 

— liiQi«ft-  TomJtiflff  and  general  depression. 


{n.)  JATROPHA  MANIHOT. 
CASR  3,— B««1i'a  "  Med[<ral  Jurisprudence  "  (Dr.  Hark).    Male  adult.    Half  a  pint  of  Juice. 
Awift.— t><?ath  In  one  bouf . 

CASE  4.— Beck' t  *'  Med  Ira]  Ju  risprudence."    Tblrty-six  drops  of  the  Juice. 
It.— CfJHtulfliQns  and  death. 
I.— Deal h  tn  nix  minutes. 

-NQthinjif  abnormal,  except  that  the  stomach  was  shrunk  to  about  half  its  ordinary 

Eidnus  Communis  (Fig.  29). 
(Castor  Oil  Plant.) 

Castor  oil  is  well  known  as  a  safe  and  mild  purgative,  but  the  seeds 
Irom  which  it  is  extracted  are  very  poisonous. 

The  ca.«tor  oil  s»eed  is  about  the  size  of  a  small  bean,  oval,  smooth,  shin- 
ing, atid  marked  with  dark  spots.  The  poisonous  principle  is  certainly 
not  in  the  oil,  hut  opinions  somewhat  differ  as  to  what  it  is,  or  where  it 
reallr  exi^t^.  No  doubt  the  seed  is  rendered  more  poisonous  by  the  heat 
nquuite  for  extracting  the  oil,  whilst  its  intensity  of  action  is  much  in- 
flnenced  by  climate.  The  seeds,  therefore,  are  poisonous,  both  to  man  and 
raimals,  even  after  the  extraction  of  the  oil.  It  is  a  curious  fact  that  the 
miler  ooveriDg  of  the  seed,  from  its  corky  indigestible  nature,  may  prevent 
the  seed  acting  injuriously  if  it  be  swallowed  without  being  masticated  or 
^~'~    otherwise  bruised. 


280 


POISONING    BY    CASTOR    OIL    PLANT. 


Sipnptom^^  Do9€,  etc. 

The  tymptoms  may  be  delayed  for  some  hoars.  Tbey  are  thf»se  of  &o 
irritant  poison.  Bloody^ f^tooU  have  been  noticed,  with  violent  crnmpsaml 
suppression  of  urine.     Death  is  usually  somewhat  tardy  (two  to  five  day*,). 

Three  grains  of  the  fresh  seed,  and  in  a  second  case  one  seed,  have  pro* 
duced  bad  symptoms;  whilst  there  are  cases  on  record  of  death  in  one  caeti 
from  three  seeds,  and  in  another  from  twenty.  It  h  said  that  the  Uunga* 
nans  eat  these  seeds  freely,  but  this,  we  think,  must  be  a  mistake. 

The  post-mortem  appearances  and  treatment  are  those  of  an  irritant 
poiHon. 

In  eatamioiog  the  conteDts  of  the  etoraach,  particular  search  most  be 
mode  for  the  variegated  outer  coats  of  the  seed  (pale-gray  with  yellowish- 

Flo.  29. 


JkA^^ 


KL^: 


brown  spots)  which  are  not  likely  to  be  dissolved  by  the  digestive  flui 
Some  castor  oil  may  also  probably  be  extracted  from  the  contents,  which, 
tinlike  most  fixed  oils,  is  soluble  in  alcohol. 

Ceurs  of  Pijisoning  with  Cattor  Oil  Seeds, 
CASE  1^— Tiylor*!  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  p.  82S,  toL  L    Female i  let.  IS.    Tvreoljr 

^ywH»l— M.— In  fiT«  hour*  faint eeaa  and  ilckneia,  with  TomlUof  and  puiYios.  Mt  I*.    Oa  fh«  i 
lD|r  afUTwardi.  cb^  app«ar«d  as  IT  ibe  wa»  lulTerlugr  from  maliidioaDt  cholera,  tite  aktn  h^lng  <y>ti|  i 
dark-ooiortd;  Itr^ath  cold;  (»uliie  anioll  and  wiry;  tlnlml,  restleeiiueaa ;  abdoiolnal  |»?iifi;  wtmV 
•Gl<Hi«B«Ma;  eTerjrthlng  Uken  was  vomltfd ;  BtooU  coaaiBiDd  merely  of  blood  and  aarous  fluid. 

JbmiL— De*lb  In  a?e  daff . 

large  part  of  the  miiooua  membrane  of  the  ■lomacb  fbund  ■ofUnftd  ftiid  *t 


POISONING    BY    BRQOT, 


281 


CASS  2,— Tiytof^«'*M<'dIc*l  .Irtri»|irtideDCf,"  |».  92d,Tol.l.  (l)  FecanU:  let.  4  or  8.  (2)  Female:  «l.2, 

ji^wjfclowl.— Both  Ukeu  Ul  very  kkjii. 

JUmlL—Ktr'oirrj. 

CASK  ».— "Mpdlcal  Tlraes  and  Go«eltc?,"  May  25,  I861,p.6ft5.  Male:  kUXL  TlirM  ie«l«,  from 
which  th«  hutks  hkd  bveo  removed. 

,^i»^<Miu.~ColJc  ftad  vomiting  came  on  In  nine  hours.  In  twenty-four  hours  th«  lymptoma  wer* 
?erj  MTirere, 

/pMiffi,— Deftth  In  forty-«ix  hours, 

y\i#4trAtfr/«f«.~8loinach  *nd  intestine*  congested  tbroug^bout;  no  ulc«nitioD  was  ooticcd. 

CASE  4.—"  AnnsJM  d'Hygieae,"  1871,  vol  J.  p.  400  (M.  Chcvanier).  Foniftle.  A  quantity  of  brnUed 
a*ed«. 

9)rmptvms.-~\(jm[l\Dg  and  bloody  par^Iog  caae  on  quickly.    Death. 

AmUt—lhemlh  on  fifth  day. 

J*oai-martfin.~The  oiueoue  memhranc  of  the  stomach  and  bowcla  waa  ilark-oolored  mad  eochj- 
moMHl,  and  thpre  were  tevenil  patcben  of  cjtlravaaaiioos  of  bloud. 

CASE  5  ■-"Jflbresbericht.'M872,p.  538.    Miilc*  adult.    SoTenlceo  »eed». 

^m/ift>f«M.— Ill  ihrv^  hours  purging,  vomitioK,  and  cramp;  vomlUug  contliMied  fbr  tweoty-on* 
boor*,  and  •»ppr«sion  of  urine  fw  ft>rty-ei|rht.    Recovery. 
Hftutt. — Kwovery. 

CASE  «.-"  Medical  Tira<^  ai>d  Gaaette."  1870,  vol.  t,  p.  flSl  { Mr.  lit  Lie).  .£1.  •  aod  S;  SoversI  seeds  (T) 
srere  raa4tl»t44  by  the  children. 

jl^qn^toMj.— Orrst  eoUapH,  with  vomiting  and  purglng^;  surface  of  body  |Nile  and  panpJring;  atnola 
IkvqtMfOt  and  watery ;  great  palo  aod  thirtl. 


CASE  7.—"  Lancet."  March  31,  IBM.  p.  867.    Ualei  ftduU.    A  tvv  of  Ibt-  Med*, 
jl^jyimii.— VomUiog  ;  parglni;:  patn  !o  atomach  and  galJ«l;  pro»(ratluu  extreme. 
BiMM,~Recov  ery . 

S.— €brUtl»oa,  |i.  AM  (from  Orflla).  (Bergin).    iialo:  adult.    Maatkatcd  ouea«o<f, 
L— VomltlDf ;  piirgtog. 
-KMorery. 

CASE  9.— ChrUtisoo,  p.  090  (fh^m  OrfllaX  (Ijauxont).    Fvmalo:  adult.    Three  graloi  of  the  frealik 

al^iiif urnw >,— Vwm Itl ng \  hieooogh ;  pain ;  falntnoaa ;  twlattog  of  bowvU.;  ayocope.. 
JiaipIL— £i«orery. 


16.  FUNGALE8. 

Sfteaie  eomtdum. 

Ergot  of  Rye — Spurred  Rye — Seigle  Ergots  (Fr.)^Mutterkorn  or  Rog- 
gfii mutter  (German). 

Wheat,  barley,  oats,  and  rye,  but  eapccuilly  the  latter,  are  liable  to  be 
attiirked  by  the  ergot  disease,  particylarly  wheu  they  are  grown  on  ill- 
dmined  soils.  Damp  .^^eason^  are  a!.*io  specially  favorable  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  ergot.  Tlie  spur  varies  iu  size  from  a  <|iiarter  to  one  inch  in 
k»n^!tl»,  and  from  oue-sixth  to  one-third  of  an  inch  in  tliifkuews.  Exter- 
Dally  it  appears  of  a  deep  purple  eolur,  having  upou  it  two  or  three  streaks 
of  dotted  gray,  and  a  bloom  fonaisting  of  the  sporidia  of  the  fungus.  In- 
ternally it  ia  white  or  pink.  The  sound  rye  is  sijecifit-ally  heavier  than 
the  diseased  rye.  The  ergot  is*  lough  but  brittle,  very  hygroscopic,  having 
au  acrid  taste  and  a  disagreeable  odor.  It  yields  its  active  principle  to 
both  alcoliol  and  wnter. 

By  acting  upon  it  with  a  solution  of  pota.sh,  the  ergot  odor  ia  freely  dis- 
engaged, and  a  lake-red  pulp  remains  behiud.  It  loscis  its  activity  by 
keet)iog,  especially  when  it  has  become  moist  and  mouldy. 

Ergot  contains  about  35  per  cent,  of  a  fixed  non-active  oil,  and  about 
15  per  cent,  of  an  active  principle  called  erffotiu.  It  la  said  to  contain 
hydrocyanic  acid,  but  of  this  there  is  great  doubt. 

Experiments  on  AnimaU. 
The  experiments  on  animals  require  notice.     It  acta  as  a  poison  to  all 


278  CASKS   OF   P0I80MINO    BT   SPURGBWOI.  . 

The  following  Canes  of  Poisoning  by  the  Oil  and  Seeds  a-- 

"Medical  Tlmeii  and  Gazette,"  NoTomber  20. 1838,  p.  638  (ftt-g.  v.  Ili|.p<.  r;  • 
"Lancet,"  August  4, 1866, p.  139. 

"Mrdh-al  Times  and  Gazette,"  March  7, 1874,  p.  272  (twenty-four  people  ui^u^  \m».  -^•^"^' 
croton  oil  seeds).  .  _ 

"Pharuaceutlcal  Journal,"  February,  1868,  p.  879. 

Euphorbia  Officinarum  and  other  species. 
(Spurgeworts.) 

Kuphorbium  consists  of  the  dried  milky  juice  which  ex*i«t'  ■ 
stems  of  the  various  forms  of  spurgeworts.  It  contains  nbitut  •  ' 
of  a  resin  which  constitutes  the  active  principle.    The  jukl..  •■  ■ 

tensely  acrid,  is  used  by  farriers  as  a  vesicant.    The  seeds  ..i   

yield  as  much  as  40  per  cent,  of  an  oil  which  is  very  itiniihu  i;  .. 
and  appearance  to  croton  oil. 

Euphorbium  is  a  narcotico-acrid  poison,  vomitinjr   nu'i 
coma  and  convulsions  being  the  symptoms  recorded  a <  j 
Its  a})pIication  to  the  skin  produces  a  nettlerash  eruption, 
is  recorded  against  a  man  for  putting  some  of  the  powder  )■ 
vant's  bed,  whereby  a  violent  and  painful  eruption  of  t In- 
duced.   The  men  engaged  in  grind  iug  the  powder  are  si  id  ' 
giddiness  and  stupor. 

Half  an  ounce  secured  in  the  stomach  of  a  dog  proved  j  ■ 
six  and  a  half  hours,  whilst  two  drachms  applied  to  a  W(iiiii<' 
in  twenty-seven  hours. 

Cases  of  Poisoning  with  various  species  of  Knp},-..- 
(L)  EUPHORBIA  OFFICINARUM. 

CASE  1.— "Journal  of  Solfnce,"  vol.  ill,  p.  51,  "Christlson"  (Mr.  Kmi.-. 
Symplomt.—VviXn  and  heat  in  throat  and  stomach ;  Tomilingset  In  ra|<i  1 ' . 
J?««n//.— I>cath  in  thrt>e  dajii. 

/W-T/iorfeni.— <iangren<>us  !fpi>t8  found  in  stomach.    Spleen  rery  rott-Ti . 
CASE  2.— Beck's  "Medical  Jurisprudence"  (Dr.  Willis).    Female,    r.ij     ' 
camphor. 
S^mp/omj.— Immediate  pain,  and  feeling  of  sufri>catIon;  (relieved  liy  •ii 
!£«««.— Recovery. 

(n.)  R  PEPLU8. 

CASP:  3.— "Medico-ThirurKfcal  Review,"  vol.  vii,  p.  275.    Male  :  oet.  6. 
*Vym/j/Ofn«.— Vomiting,  purKiug,  spasms,  inseuaibility.    Death. 
/?<r«u/f.— Death. 

i\)j(/-//iorr/!f/i.— Fauces  and  pharynx  much  inflamed  ;  stomach  and  intcittiit 
tines  healthy  ;  bladder  contracted. 

(in.)  E.  LATHTRIS. 

CASE  4.—"  ChHstison,"  p.  589  f Dr.  Hood).    Two  seeds. 

fyin/i/'ffu.— Vomiting;  afterwards  drowsiuevs,  passing  into  intense  aleep;  rii:i- 
breathing.     Recovery. 
JJef  !#//.— Recovery. 

Hippomane  Manchiella  {or  Mamanilla), 
(Mauchineel.) 

The  milky  juice,  the  apples,  and  the  wood  of  this  tree  are  poi-. 
Two  drachm.'^  a])plied  to  a  wound  killed  a  dog  in  twenty-eight  hoon, 
violent  difTime  cellular  inflammation,  whilst  one  drachm  proved  frfa 
nine  hours  when  administered  internally. 

By  merely  rubbiug  the  green  wood  on  the  skin,  violent  inl 


iberai*ciU'(i>i  fmin  tXmt^^ 
authontit;^^  (uliiiisujrli  ap^ 

and  rvreiviji  ' 
dattjciimuA  .^ 

Doi  tinfike  (TTwioii  oil     'I  ~ 
die  (iiktt  fnjm  ifhidi  tn> 
Kit  eTfi)  a  fi*w  gnii ii 
irrieunt  puiiicni. 
Tin*  Jfitrnphtj  fjt'fif 
lnn>niiuttnlv  pnwt*rlul    .i 

til  \iax\t  allowiii  hi«  Tir-' 
intRwt**  nm'h  M'vv.jv:  ^ 

Kfc^inll  to  lir"   tlrmi.      (  "  i'h 

Thr  jtiirr  tsf  th*r  roc>t     ■• 
whirh  ttipuH'ii  i.«  tjljtahicii.  •  -- 
acriii  iintMori, 

The  Jtitruphti  Muittfihi   *  '^ 

fl.)  JATROFHA 
CJ^9K  I.— "MwlJntTlm.-    . 

r  ♦.-'■-    ■•       '•   \-  r-  ■    -    '-t: 


ill 


--4%l*lh4^  ....  . 


frtini  "^x  I 

Thf 
iDg,  ant)  nitv!  - 
nut  in  tKi!  Du, 
n*»llv  cxt8ti».     N 
rvc^uiftiu*  Tor  •'^♦' 
flii«ac»fi  by  • 
anlmalfa  -  • 
ffiiUT  ri 
llir  pfctl 
Wing  r 


»»    0Y    BROOT,  281 

<M,  »rtl. !,  {I)  FomftW:  ■!.  *  or  S.  (S)  Pputat*  ,  mi.i. 

A  IMIlt  ^  585,    H«la ;  at.  32.    Tbrt*  Med*,  tram 

'-•aT».     fo  tttcMtj-foMr  houn  the  >jrinptoteis  tr«r« 

'  hfrritllitfr^   FttmaJe.  A  qu*iitfty  of  ItmUtitl 
'4aol»  «nt1  hnWHb  wi*  il«]-fc-<!<ol{jr«d  mad  wchf- 

^  I  Mr  UtUoX  'St.  <S  sud  9.  SeYsr*)  «s«l«{?]l 
.  ttirfiu^tt  t)f  bodjr  piil?  nud  pQT9j»lrtpg ;  ittook 


u     A  fftw  of  Ihe  leoila, 

11  Dili  i  pruatraUifQ  entretne. 

iff-  diliUt.     Mnpilrnt^^l  niicietNl. 


i.iuiiit .  ailiilt.    Three  gmlni  of  Use  fr«»&k 
iiu4o/  bowitliH  ijraeoiif* 


16  (^Fr.)— Mutterkorn  or  Kog- 
iiiin), 

tilly  the  latter,  are  liable  tu  \m 

wfjpD  tlw^y  are  grown  on  ilU 

illy  favumble  to  the  devdop- 

!  'Uii  A  (imirtpr  to  one  ioeh  in 

.  id^h  m  tliii'kneit^.     Kjiter- 

i  It  two  or  three  etreabi 


^  uulm  of  the  tu[i<TU9.  In* 
K  iipi*rr!lL'aiIy  heavier  tbaa 
!»:■,  vvty  Uygivj&copic,  huvUtg 
tlilji  lis  acli^e  pi 


2Su 


.  '    Ta  : 


ui' 


.  -  :ii.  1  -.•■■:.  • 
:i  •'•':-:-■:;,.■  i   • 


:v-  .j.i.  tly  ari-  :.   - 
!■:   i"  v.aiitinj   i:,    :•-- 

'.  •  •;.'.■,%•<-  •  \:\,-r  *  '  _.• 
l'.--  ...•riiin-.i  ii.    I  . 
'  r  'itiiii'--.  «Tar..!  -.  •. 
:j-.-  I.P.Vi'l   Irr:;!-'    :.  . 

'.*  !;"  laki-ii  iri  :"t..-, 
>  ..'•.•■irr-.l   in  >v.  : .-.  r 

:.  •  »■  r:ii:niv.      \:  ■■•  _•  •.« 
'.  "Lj   \i.-'  ii«i'«I.-.  :\:   i    : 

>    ••I.:i!..-.t."j!:;..-  -:. 

.i'.      ii:  J--'  i>  ti;':-:.  •  -. 
•:■  v:i.-.   ■;«   -.rja'  -.   ;.. 


•  .  ::  .:ii.  ari<i  >i'!j-'r,  t:--   j   .  -    :     ::j 

:■  V  '""  ::itl'i«!i'»-,  nti-i  i!  i-  ta. :  ;*  ":.> 
••  ri!  •%  J. •••.%•••  a  -.-ri'"!*  i,-!  ir.i'  •■  ••' 
.••  ''..i'i-l  ••  will   |tr«.'}>ai»!y  t..-  :■;:.: 


/■ 


..    v.-ivl'\  i.v.T.  aiv  i.:iitn  w.:r. 

V  :.;.!i:ii-'i   i>    iaru»r   ll.a'.j  :■? 

■I   '.i'tliii,     i  >iif  pi-r-..-:.  uill 


V**- 


•Ai'.:  ••:{!«  r  varu't:t-.«.  wiiii-n. 
rrr.ly  j«r."lii<'iiv»'  •»!'  alanniii;: 
.  a!  ii"  til'-  flilili*  vari'ii»-i  bo 

•r.-t'.tiitiMiial  n'-ult>.  -ii.-h  a* 

:>r:.lii«  111.     Tlii>  a-iM/rti'-n, 

.Na*:iiii<'li  a-  il  is  put  t'.Twani 

-  .\\s\r  ca^i;    Kusi'r*  .journal  . 


POISONOUS    FUNGI. 


283 


K  Ik  it  pomble  to  know  by  any  external  signs^  whether  a  fungus  may  be 
afely  eatni  or  not  f 

We  are  afraid  not.  The  silver  &pooa  becoming  discolored  when  boiled 
fitb  a  poisoDous  muethroom  is  only  "an  old  wuniun's  tiile."  But  ais  a  gen- 
'ml  principle,  it  may  be  shited  that  nil  fungi  growing  in  marjihy  situationg, 
iving  a  warty  cap,  and  i^niellitig  oflens^ively,  with  a  greeu  or  scarlet  hue 
Jike  the  tlv-mu.'«hroom,  wbicli,  in  inuis,  is  of  a  rich  orange-red  color)  or 
that  turo  blue  .^oon  atV r  being  cut,  or  that  are  bitter  to  the  taste  aofl  burn- 
ing to  the  ihroat,  should  he  avoided.  The  pecnliar  fungus  to  which  the 
rine  disease  is  due,  is  said  to  have  proiluced  fatal  symptoms  even  by  iuoc- 
[ulatioD.     ("British  Medical  Jnunial,'*  November  4,  1<%5,  p.  4()7.) 

We  may  quote  here  the  following  tabulation,  by  Professor  Bentley,  of 
te  general  characters  of  edible  and  poi:*onous  mushrooms  : 


lyOrow  »olie»ry  in  dry,  airy  pltMm. 

i.  Generally  whifi"  or  >trowhC9h. 
S.  Hay  If  a  rom  pad  brittle  fte^h. 
4.  r>><  fi'>)  .li.ttii|re  culur  wheD  cut  anil  ezpos«d 

»-  -' 

t-  <--    .  _,-..uble. 

7.  T*>t«  u«iiii«^rbitier,«strid(KeDl. acrid,  DorMll. 


1.  Grow  In  cluaten,  fo  woods,  and  dark,  damp 

pJntes. 

2.  U«iiAlly  of  a  bHjjht  coJor. 

S.  Hare  a  loiijrh,  naft,  wtiler/  fle«h. 
i,  ChnrtKn  lo  a  tirowii.  grt'iMj,  or  Ittue  tlDt  when 
nit  and  exposed  lo  the  uir. 

5,  Jiilee  often  niilkjr. 

6,  Odur  powerful  and  dlM^reeable. 

7,  Taste  either  bilter,attr{aKeDt,  acrid,  or salL 


It  \s  right,  however,  we  should  say  that  this  table  is  apparently  drawn 
up  with  the  view  of  ditfdrentiatiug  the  common  mushroom  alone  from 
ibe  other  species  that  may  possibly  be  mistaken  for  it.  There  are,  how- 
[ever,  apeciei?  of  fungi  coming  under  almost  all  Bfintley's  dangerous  cate- 
gory, which  are  reported  to  be  excellent,  whilst  conversely  there  are  some 
exceedingly  poisonous  without  showing  any  of  the  dangerous  signs  de- 
ificribed  by  him.     (See  Worthington  Smith,  Cooke,  etc.) 

2.  The  eommenc^ment  of  the  (tymptoms. 

There  is  in  this  matter  an  infinite  variety,  due,  no  doubt,  to  the  ditferent 
digestibility  and  slates  of  preservation  of  the  various  forms  of  fungi. 
The  tAme  fungus  will  act  diticrently  on  different  people. 

Cases  are  on  record  where  the  symptoms  have  commenced  in  ten  min- 
ute*, thirty  minutes,  one  hour  and  a  half,  tvvo  liours,  two  hours  and  a  half; 
and  io  six,  ten,  twelve,  tweuty-fuur,  thirty,  and  thirty-six  hours.  No  rule, 
therefore,  can  be  laid  down. 

3.  Symptoms. 

Fungi  often  act  as  narcotie,-i ;  intense  coma  being  the  prominent  symptom. 
At  other  limes  they  act  as  irrtlnnti :  with  pain,  purging,  and  vomiting; 
whilst,  again,  they  may  act  both  a,?  nnreottrjf  and  tTritantJi,  And  this  ilif- 
ference  is  not  to  beaccouutctl  for  by  the  varying  action  of  different  species, 
for  the  same  dish  may  produce  the  symptoms  of  an  irritant  in  the  one  part 
of  a  family,  and  of  a  narcotic  in  the  other.  Giddiness,  headache,  dim- 
De5>8  of  sight,  illusions,  convulsions,  and  delirium  are  common  symptoms. 
•  4.    The  ciftnunjiiance^  that  m<uiify  the  adwn  of  fungi. 

These  are  not  well  understood.  Some  of  the  poisonous  fungi  at  times  do 
no  harm — s<irae  edible  ones,  at  other  times,  prove  poisonous — some  are 
uaid  to  be  poisonous  when  frt^h,  but  harmless  when  dried. 

(a)  Cooking.     The  active  principle  of  a  poisonous  mushroom  is  be- 
lieved to  be  volatile,  and  dissipated  by  the  application  of  a 


FOTSOHOtrS  v^iroT. 


moderate  heat.  It  may  iq  a  great  meatttre  be  got  rid  of  eitbff 
by  boiliDg  io  water,  or  by  soakiog  the  mushrooms,  cot  iat» 
slices,  ii>  brine  or  vinegar  (_"  Brttish  Medical  JouroaJ/'  Sot. 
ao,  1861,  p.  585). 

0?)  Idiofyncra&y.     With  some  people  all  forms  of  fungi  act  inji 

ouj*ly  ;  some  being  eveo  affecied  by  a  little  ketchap.  There  i^] 
however,  nothing  strange  in  thtij  circumstance,  for  to  our  ce^ 
tain  knowledge,  this  favorite  sauce  often  contains  the  juice  of, 
at  any  rate,  more  than  one  form  of  fuogu& 

Or)  GHmaie,  Some  species  are  commonly  eaten  in  Prussia  iftd 
Buaeia  which  are  never  eaten  in  France^  whilst  there  are  innsxy 
that  are  eaten  in  France  which  we  regard  aa  poisonous  in 
England. 

(i)  Weather.  Foder6  states  that  the  common  morelle  becomes  injuri- 
oos  after  a  long  rain.  (?) 

\i)  Seavm,     It  is  asserted  that  the  eatable  mushroom  becomes 
safe  when  the  t?easoD  is  far  advanced.  (?) 
5,   The  active  principles  upon  which  the  injurious  action  of  fungi  depcndi,\ 
Thb  haa  been  investigated  by  various  experimenters. 

Braconnot  states  that  fungi  contain  a  variety  of  principles,  ditii  riug  in 
different  species,  but  consisting  generally  of  an  acrid  resin,  a  saccharios 
body,  and  a  sponj^y  principle  that  he  calls  fungin,  to  which,  however,  be 
does  not  attribute  their  poisonous  properties. 

LeidticT  believes  there  are  two  active  principles  in  fungi : 

(a)  An  acrid  volatile  principle^  to  which  he  attributes  their  n 
properties,  am]   wbieli,  being    volatile,  disappears   when 
fungus  is  dried  or  hotled  in  water. 

0?)  An  alkaloid  (amaniiit*),  to  which  he  attributes  the  nareotia\ 
syraptoras.  It  is  a  more  fixed  body  thfin  the  former,  and  formt] 
salts  with  acids.  Secard  also  believes  in  the  existence  of  tfaii 
alkaloid. 

The  Agaricus  miMCoriiw  is  said  to  contain  a  peculiar  alkaloid  (2  grs,  to< 
2  1  be.  of  the  agaric)  called  muHcarin  (MM.  Schmeideberg  and  Koppe). 
Its  action  is  said  closely  to  re;«?mble  calabar  liean.     It  produces  an  exim- 
ordinary  contraction  of  the  pupil,  and  paralysis.     \^Yidt  "  Lancet,"  Nov. 
20,  18G9,  p.  712.) 

6.  RemlU. 

Many  cases  recover,  especially  if  there  ha*?  been  early  vomiting.  I&i 
one  case  a  man  is  reported  to  have  suJfered  more  or  less  for  a  yrar. 
Death  take«  pl»ice,  however,  ujsually  within  twenty-four  hours,  although  it 
may  be  delayed  for  two  or  three  days,  hi  one  recorded  case  the  patient 
for  a  time  got  fairly  well, mid  then  had  a  relapse  and  died.  Death  is 
often  ushered  in  by  a  convulsive  fit. 

7.  TreatinenL 

Emetics  of  sulphate  of  zinc,  the  use  of  the  stomach -nu nip,  and  castor 
oil  are  indicated.  There  is  no  chemical  antidote  to  the  fungus  poison,  and 
BO  the  treatment  must  consist  in  getting  it  out  of  the  system  as  8f>eedily  as 

wblc.  It  may  be  as  well  to  note  again  how  difficult  and  tedious 'the 
libility  of  fungi  usually  appears  to  be.     After  the  fungus  has  been 


CASES   OP    POISONING    BY    PUNQI, 


285 


got  out  of  the  stomach,  coma  or  iDflaiumatiou,  if  thej  set  io,  must  be 
treated  oo  geueml  priuciples. 
8,   Pott^moriem  Appearances, 

The  fitoumch  and  intestines  are  often  found  intensely  inflamed,  and  even 
igrcaous.     The  vessels  of  the  brain  are  usually  deeply  cougeMed  and 
liver  enlarged. 


Mt 


Examination  in  a  Case  of  Muihoom  Poisoning. 

The  authors  are  indebted  to  Dr  Paxtoii,  of  Chichester,  for  the  following 
hints: 

If  possible  endeavor  to  discover  portions  of  the  raushroora  ifself  in  the 
contents  of  the  stomach.  If  such  pieces  are  foynd,  the  gills  should  be 
scraped,  and  the  scrapings  examined  with  a  miscrosci>pe  {\  in.l  for  spores. 
If  no  pieces  can  be  obtained,  iheo  search  should  be  made  for  the  spores  ia 
the  denwit  as  well  a^^  in  the  fluid  contents^  taking  drops  for  this  purpose 
from  the  surface,  from  tiie  lower  layer,  and  from  the  hulk  of  the  liquid, 
Tlie  following  facta  should  be  noted,  and  are  worth  recording: 

(1">  The  spores  are  small  bodies  (generally  about  O.D003  in.  diameter), 

viug  unusually  sharp  outlines,  and  very  much  more  defined  thau  is  Uj^ual 

th  animal  structures. 

(2,»  The  spores  are  not  materially  affected  by  frying,  or  even  by  boiling 
in  glycerin. 

i'S)  The  spores  of  the  same  species  of  fungi  are  very  definite  in  shape 
and  appearance. 

(4)  The  spores  of  the  common  raushroora  are  oval,  and  dark  slate- 
colnre<l,  and  very  like  those  of  some  of  tlje  poisonous  species  (hypholoma). 

(5)  The  discovery  ni pink  trrcguJar  i^poren  (entoloma^,  or  of  nufi/  brown 
irreyuior  ftpores  (hebelmua),  or  of  round  n^hitf  pncHy  upores  (rossida, 
lactarii ),  would  be  strong  evidence  that  a  poisonous  mushroom  had  been 
eaten. 

(6)  The  discovery  of  plain  round  spores  would  prove  nothing  beyond 
the  fact  that  a  raushroonj  had  been  ejiten,  such  spores  being  found  both  in 
edible  and  poisonous  mushruoms. 

We  must  refer  tii  one  other  matter  deserving  attention,  that  is,  the  pos- 
sibility  of  a  raushrcMmi  being  the  vehicle  for  the  administration  of  a  poison 
by  a  criminal  in  ortl^r  to  disarm  Kus(«ieion  ;  and,  therefore,  where  there  is 
any  reason  to  suspect  unfair  dealing,  the  symptoms  must  be  carefully 
BluditMl,  and  a  complete  analysis  made  to  see  whether  any  poison  other 
thaa  the  fungus  is  present. 

Cti«es  of  l^oisoning  btf  imrioiu»  /ornui  of  Fim$L 

i^F.  1— "  r."in*1on  Mt'dlcal  und  Physloloiftctl  Jouroiil,"  vol.  xxxtI,  p.  451.    M*le :  adult.    E»t 
U<i    AgnrUrnt  cnwipanulatuM. 
np/amjt.^la  U<ti  ininutrs  he  waa  ntlacked  with  glddlncM,  di(un98A  of  riaion,  debUUy,  tr«m« 
bTlt4|^  )*■»  of  tuQinory.    Extreme  drowilneM  cune  on.  (An  euieUc  wu  girea) ;  the  D«zt  day  he  wsi 

ft-*!*/!, — KecoTerj. 

CASE  2.— " .VnauU  UalrerMU  di  Medictna,"    1S42,  roU  1,  p,  GiU,    Mate:  »t.  U.    AffttrUw  pavh 

I— to  IwohouM  WM  wlBwJ  wlih  delirium  iiikI  coiiTutilon* ;  and  arterwardslnlenMcoioa. 

rcrrd  imder  the  u«e  orMnctlcif.) 
IBrmn.— Rrcovrrjr. 
CASe  3,--CorTi»Brt,  *' JouroAl  d«  MMeclne,"  vol.  xxxl,  p.  823.     Foar  toldlen.     Eat  AmanU^ 


286 


CASES    OP    POISONING    BY    FUNGI. 


^mfifvntf.— All  were  taken  nt  ^tihio  six  huMr»with  gr1p[iiK  p^iioo,  <h)r»t,  and 
(Ion.    TliH  ittidurn**!]   became  swulk'n^  snd  a  profuse  fetid  diarrhix'a  caruc  on,     I' 
occurred  In  all  fuur.    SeTcrul  ottieri  wct«  aflucicd,  in  sotue  cadet  ibe  comm  lutii 
butira. 

/J«u//.— I>e«th. 

CASE  4.-0rfila,  '*  Toxicolof ie,"  toL  II,  p.  433.  Mrd,  wife,  Mmiai,  mod  tJif««  etiUdteo.  &tl 
Afnanitti  ciiHna, 

5*wi/rfowMi.— Tijfrwife,  the  uTraDt.iLDd  one  of  the  children,  had  Totntttnt^  followed  by  4r«^e««A. 
from  vrhidv  lh#*y  afterwards  recorered.  Tho  hunband  had  vloleat  dUrrhtca,  aad  also  iT'CotcrcdL  TJm 
o(h<*r  twu  children  had  profmiitd  coma,  and  died. 

Jitjuft.—tX'Ath  aLd  rvcotrry. 

CASE  A  — rhriJllson,  p.  925.    Sis  peraoru:  2  adulU,  4  ehlldreo.     Eat  Hypapk}/U*m  tai^gui** 
(paddock  atool). 

^/n^omjT.— Symptoms  wt  In  after  pcriotl*  rarylnR  from  twelve  to  thirty  hours.    I,  Child  i«rt.7ll 
scutf'alMlutiilua]  paid  and  swell1uj{;  »ucr?pdrd  by  euiiia.  CoriTuisions  and  death  ocrurrv«l  in  a  I 
paroxynui.    2,  Child  irct,  |0).     Death  in  &tHl  mort^  violent  cotivtiUlons,    3,  Mnlher  bad  voot 
blovdy  stooU.     IVath  id  thirty-4iz  bour».  Cumat(w«.    4.  Child  diod  on  the  third  dHj.afWr  a  fdlpi: 
with  cunvnbloni,    G.  Child  had  colic  and  dvlirliidiii, hut  recovered.    6.  Futhcr  hud  an  attaek  ufdfi 
t«ry,  waa  speech Icoa  for  three  days,  and  recovered,  but  was  not  well  aflorward^  f"f    n.-i-r- tim 
year. 

JieguU.—lH%xh  and  recovery. 

CASE  H.—*' Edinburgh  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,"  toL  sllx,  p.  192  CDr.  PedditrX    ill 
adult.    (2)  MiIb  :  set.  IS.     Eat  thtf  A^rieu*  prtx^tnu, 

Sjftnplem*. — lu  thirty  minutes  bcitli  »pP<^trc'd  ^Uldy  an  If  inioxicaled,  and  in  one  hotir  iber* ' 
perfect  InaensJbtllty.  Snniibitity  retnrnt^^  nfttir  thfl  usenf  atimiilanta  and  the  sfomarh-piimp  Co^j 
▼ulaive  Bpasm*  catuoon,  and  furious  detiriuni.  The  b^weta  were  not  atTt^ted,  liur  waa  ihate  a^f 
pain.    During  sleep  the  pupib  were  coutrncled,  but  dilated  on  wakloj;. 

Jtonii/.— RccoT  ery . 

CA.SE  7.—"  Medical  Tlmrs  iind  Ciaaetle,"  November  21,  IMW,  p.  036  (If  r.  Taylor,  Emswarih).  Ill 
•t  18, 

Syw/tftMw.— In  ten  ov  eleven  hours  aflcr  eatiuj;  two  fungi  the  bf>y  felt  ill,  and  vnniUM  ;  fhU 
followed  by  pur^iDK,  ttii^l  pairi^  in  the  attdom^'u;  ^reat  tenderuess,  couslaut    vnmttinf;,  tMr«t,ti 
great  deprewiutiu    Uealh  to<jk  place  lu  forty-four  hours  after  eallog  ibt*  fuugi,  aud  tltirty-fnor 
the  begluoing  of  aymploiua.    Gibers  eat  the  iatnc  fungi  and  did  not  fttitTer. 

.Sefutt.— Death. 

Ai«r-m«r^eBi.— Lefl  Tentriclc  cootracted  and  empty ;  lungs  healthy;  atomach  and  nBalt  loiciita*' 
moch  Injected. 

CASE  8— Huspman.  ** Jahreaberlcht,''  1«72,  p.  S84.  Mal«:  ml.  43.  Female:  ai.  6.  Cal  lfc« 
A  manita  panthfmia . 

^^^«tiu.— Symptoms  of  faintneaa,  di>l)rium,and  naufea  app^'arM  In  two  hour*  and  a  half i  lU 
cloven  houraatuporand  abdomiual  tcnderneu.     la  the  child  the  pupil«  were  contracted.  ] 

iifc«/l.— Recovery.  ' 

CASE  d.— "  Lancet,"  October 4,  I^IS.  p.  SOL  Ferna.le.  A  female  dif^  from  poitonout  ntttahfAvMU 
and  the  man  who  gave  them  waa  tried  for  murder  at  the  Central  Criiuiaal  Court. 

^4ry;f.— Death. 

CASE  10.— "Lancet."  October  25,  IMI,  p.  884.    Two  adulta.    Eat  muahrooms  for  dinner. 

d(^t/ifonLr.— Violent  paina  in  a  few  houra.    Died  in  horrible  agonf  the  following  morning. 

.RcfuK— Death. 

CA.SE  tl— "  Lancet,"  September  18,  1W2,  p,  271.  Two  personi  eat  aome  miMhroonis<?)  foraoppcr. 

StyMfmnnt.—thp  boxt  tuortiiag  they  weru  leixed  with  violent  fjinptutns,  and  died  in  great  agODf" 

J^aw//.— Death. 

CASE  12.—"  British   Medical  .Journal,"  June  27,  1^5,  p.  672  (Dr.  Mitchell).    Two  adulU. 

Sytnf^^mt.—Oreal  imitt  and  dbieaiii<m  In  aUnnach;  dltnneaa  of  algbt;  no  vomltlnf  or  pur 
After  lh«  acliof)  uf  a  good  purgw  both  recovered,  but  for  a  time  auflbred  from  nerrotu  twllcklnga. 

^4rui/.— Reco  very . 

CASE  13.— "Brillsh  Medical   Jonrnal,"  October  24,  166S,  p.  461  (Mr.  Sadler),    flpor^  of  X|  ly le 
dtn  yiffantfum  u^ufT-ball.*. 
4niipl9iiu.— Violent  aymptoma  aet  in  In  half  an  hour. 

CASE  14.—" Lancet."  March  2».  1862,  p.  S29  (Dr.  O'Connor).    Male :  let.  7.    Toadstoola. 
filmpAHM.'-Collapee  ;  inaeusihlllly  i  vomltiag,  dilated  pupils;  Intense  proalraijua. 
JTenttf.— Recovurr. 

Other  eanet  of  Poiaoning  by  dlferent  forms  of  Fungi  are  recorded  a»  /olhw  : 

"Quy'9  HoHpital  R^porta,"  1872,  p.  228. 
"Medical  Oaaette."  vol.  xxv,  p.  liO. 
"Medical  Timea  and  Gaaette,"  Octntwr  26.  IA«1,  p.  44fl. 
••  "  October  18,  liiSl,  p.  423. 


(Recovery,) 
(Muabrooua.) 


POISONING    BY    6AMB0GB. 


287 


' Britith  U<  dlcal  Journal,"  .Unmrj  19,  IS&\,  p.  78.    ( Deaths.) 
♦•  SepleinlKT  14.  1861.  p.  TWH. 

"  November  ao,  1861,  p.  aS5.    (Nlneca«M,> 

"  **         August  31.  ISOl,  p.  239.    (Throe  raeo  died  wtihla  twontj-faar  boura 

fr4tta  eating  roushrooina.    Comvubkans.) 
••  -         October  10.  24,  31.  November  '21,  DeL-euibor  5, 1874,  pp.  464, 524,  55S.  645, 

706. 

17.  GUTTIFER^. 

Mebradendron  Gamhogioidei,     (Fig.  30.) 

(Grtircinia  Morella.) 

The  giiro-resiu  of  this  plant,  called  gamboge,  is  a  bright-yellow,  hard, 
brittle  substance.  It  has  no  smell,  and  when  first  put  into  the  mouth  has 
but  little  taste. 

VXi.  30. 


le  ^Mim-resin  <' gamboge)  contains  75  to  80  per  ceut.  of  a  resin  called 
)gic  acid  (C'.„H.,,0,),  and  from  20  to  2a  per  cent,  of  gum, 
gum  is  soluble  iu  water,  the  resin  remaining  su impended.     The  resin 
is  soluble  in  alcohol,  but  is  reprecipitated  on  adding  water. 

Gamboge  is  an  irritant  fnVison.  It  forms  an  imp<irtant  ingredient  of  most 
quack  pills.  One  druchni  has  pnived  fatal  to  an  adult,  but  large  doaes 
Beeni  to  have  been  administered  in  some  cases  without  any  bad  eifects 
resulting. 

Orfila,  Schubarth*  and  Wigmer  have  experimented  with  it  on  animals. 
Two  drachms  killed  a  nheep,  and  a  drachm  and  a  half  a  dog.  If  it  be 
nut  secured  in  the  stomach,  however,  large  dosies  can  be  given  without  in- 
jurioua  results,  because  of  the  free  vomiting  indueed,  One  ounce  had  no 
effect  on  a  horse,  but  18  graini*  were  found  to  kill  a  rabbit  in  twenty-four 
hours.  Great  inflammator)'  action  was  produced  when  the  poison  was  ap- 
plied to  a  wound. 

18.  GUAMINACEiE. 

Loiium  Temulenfum. 

(Bearded  Darnel.) 

The  ca&ea  of  poisoning  recorded  with  daruel  have  been  invariably  due 

to  the  accidental  admixture  of  the  i^ced.s  with  wheat.     It  is  stated  that 

chickens  will  eat  darnel  seed.n  without  any  injurious  results  being  produced. 

Bley,  of  Bemburg,  ha.^  obtained  from   theiu  a   hitter  extractive  matter, 

"^    licli  proved  fatal  to  a  pigeon. 

The  symptoms  usually  manifested  are  headache,  a  staggering  intoxica- 


2S8 


POISONING    BY    CAMPHOR. 


tian,  general    tremors,  paralysis,  great   sleepiness,   impaired   vision,  and 
vomiliii^. 

Sometimes,  however,  il^s  action  seeras  to  be  entirely  that  of  ao  irnUotj 
poison,  without  any  admixture  of  narcotic  symptoms. 

As  a  rule  patients  recover. 

CaJte  of  Pnvmnhtg  by  the  Lotium  Tetnuientum  (Darnel). 

CASE  1.— "  EdlnliiiTgh  Maritbly  Journnl,"  Aiigujil,  1850,  p.  180,  iLtid  Taylor's ''Mf'lkmll  4ii 
dence,"  vol.  li,  p.  397.    iDr.  Rfngi»U>r,»    Thirty  persaat  ent  brt'iid  cuoUliiltig  dar&ct  «erd«  uioi 
•iCCidfi'ntjilIy  with  tbe  tlnur  of  which  It  wii^  liiiide, 

SfftHptomt. — Qiddfnew;  syniptnniit  aimilEir  to  thune  of  delirium  tremena;  lii)p«irc4  irfjilao;  frttt 
prositratlon;  in  •ome  cue*  vornitiiiK. 

BetvU.—Wl  recovered  Id  twenty-four  hour*. 

CASE  2.— rhriatison,  p.  945.     Eiglity  penwiie  at  Sheffield  ftltiicked  After  l^fttlngf  Mtmcal,  Mkni 
to  cuDtMiu  darnoL 
%m/jfoivu.— Grciit  aj^ilation  of  limhft;  cotifii<loD  of  sight;  dilated  puplU;  coarubloo*  lo  twCM^ 
J2«4ti^lt.— All  recovered  iti  twelve  huiin. 

CASE  3. — rhTist1.<iont  p.  94^'^.  A  ftriiKT,  hk  wife,  aud  a  wrvant  eat  brtrad  made  of  flour  <<Oli(ll«* 
Ing  1  part  wheat  aud  &  parts  darnel  need. 

Symptoms. — AJl  wero  Tiolemly  aflcct»'d  with  TomittDg  aod  }furgtug;  both  tbe  (knuerMul  tbcMf* 
T&tit  died  wi  if  from  eollc  ;  the  wife  recorered. 

MesuU. — Two  died.    One  rtco?ered. 


la  LAUliACE^. 

'  Camphora  Officinarum.     Chmphor  (CjoH,gO)- 
(Cbramon  or  Laurel  Camplion) 

(There  is  another  variety  called  Borneo  Oimphor  (Cj^Hy^O)  obtained 
from  the  Dryuhukmnf^  aromatiea.     It  is  heavier  than  water.) 

Camphor  floats  in  water  (sp,  gr.  O.ll'H).  It  is  a  colorless,  trao.spareot* 
cn^Htalline  solid,  and  has  a  cool  pungent  taste.  It  readily  and  completely 
8u)>lime8  by  heat. 

It  is  slightly  soluble  in  water  (forty  grains  per  gallon >,  it«  solubility 
being  increased  by  the  addition  of  tincture  of  myrrh.  It  is  very  fSolublV 
in  alcohol,  but  the  camphor  la  thrown  down  when  water  is  added  to  the 
Bolution.  It  is  also  soluble  in  ether  and  chloroformi,  and  in  the  Bxed  and 
volatile  oils. 

Canjphor  is  a  concrete  volatile  oil.  Nitric  acid  changes  it  to  camphoric 
acid. 

Sijmpfoms — Dose. 

The  ordinary  eflfects  of  an  overdose  of  camphor  are  giddiness  with  ini« 
perfect  sight,  cramps,  niimbues:^  of  the  extremities,  apparent  intoxication, 
difficulty  of  breathing,  thirst,  and  sometimes  convulsions.  Rec'overy  ii« 
generally  preceded  by  a  long  deep  sleep,  during  which  there  i«  profuse 
perspiration,  tbe  patient  waking  up  in  a  state  of  intense  exhaustion. 

If  the  poisfm  has  been  given  in  solid  pieces  we  may  expect  to  meet  with 
the  general  symptoms  of  an  irritant  poison.  Usually  the  odor  of  camphor 
will  be  detected  in  the  breath. 

In  nearly  all  cases  recovery  is  recorded.  Thirty  grains  have  proved  fatal 
in  seven  hours  to  a  child  one  and  a  half  years  old.  Severe  eflecLs  have 
apparently  resulted  from  .^mall  doses  (Dr,  Johnson),  although  it  is  reconled 
that  iJoses  t)f  ninety  grains,  ref>eated  four  times  daily,  have  been  taken 
without  bad  results  (Christison). 


Post-mcrtem  Appearancee, 
The  membranes  of  the  braio  are  usually  found  to  be  injected,  and  the 


tied  ■ 
ken  ■ 


d 


CASES    OP    POISONING    BY    CAMPHOR. 


289 


Btoniach  and  bowels  inflamed,  with  considerable  congestion  of  the  gentto- 
uriuary  tract. 

ExperitnenU  on  Animals. 

From  tiie  experiment  of  Orfila  and  8cudery  we  learn  that  when  cam- 
phor was  given  to  dogs  in.  soludon,  tetfluic  convulaioiiB,  accompanied  by 
a  wild  activ*  delirium  were  pradyced,  Ciimphor  fumes  were  given  off  bv 
the  mouth.  An  iuteuse  coma  generally  succeeded,  and  after  thif,  death 
waa  rapid.  When  the  camphor  was  administered  in  mlid  pieces,  no  con- 
vulsions were  produced,  whilf^t  death  was  slow,  and  resulted  chiefly  from 
iuflammatiuo  of  the  stomach  nnd  alimentary  canal.  Twenty  grains  dis- 
solved in  oHve  oil  aud  injected  into  the  jogular  vein,  killed  a  dog  in  tea 
miuutes  (Orfila), 

After  death  a  smell  of  camphor  was  noticeable  tli  rough  out  the  whole 
body.  The  genito-uriuary  tract  ua-s  very  cnngested.  When  solid  camphor 
had  been  given,  great  intlammation  was  found  in  the  stomach  and  inted- 
tioes.  Arterial  blood  was  ftmnd  in  the  left  aide  of  the  heart,  aud  cam- 
phor was  detected  in  the  blood  itself  ( Lebiikchncr). 

TiraimenL 

The  treatment  must  consist  mainly  in  the  ftdministration  of  emetics  (for 
id  of  the  poison  is  the  first  thing  to  be  done),  and  after  this  a  full 
castor  oil. 

In  conducting  a  medico  legal  inquiry,  carefully  examine  all  parts  for 
the  peculiar  camphor  odor,  and  al^^o  search  lor  uudissjolved  portions  of  the 
poiiK>D,  which  are  not  unlikely  to  be  present  because  of  its  inipertect  suhi- 
uilily.  The  solid  contents  ^hou]d  then  be  acted  upon  with  strong  alcohol 
and  filtered,  when,  on  the  addition  of  water  to  the  alcoholic  sidution,  the 
camphor  will  be  precipitated,  and  maybe  recognized  by  its  smell  and  gen- 
eral characters. 

Oases  of  PoUoning  unth  Camphor, 

r^ASE  l.^CbriatUon,  p.  MO.    Male  adult.    S«.  used  as  an  Utjeellon. 

AfwijlBim.— Dneaalnew  act  in  la  m  few  grfnyUa;  euoaidertbie  weaknesa  and  aunibneaa  remaiaed 
lur  aom*  lime. 

CA^E  2.'-CbriaUaoo.p.  giO(Dr.  Eickhorn).    Male  adult.    3ij  tiiken   in   sni&ll  dose«  during  tbree 


. — Heat;  palpltatioD -,  pleaaaoi  inloxicatton ;  tleepand  perspiraltuu;  no  btul  reaults  fol- 
iW9A  «ie«pt  dcbitltj. 
MmJL^Brw^rv  ry . 
CASE  8.— <lirialUon,  p. 910  {Weodt,  of  Briwlaii).    Male  adult.    160 gre.  in  »o!iil(an  In  alcohol. 

. — Ko  vomiting.    Thi;  pnU«nt  ir«s  a,  drunknrd  ;  great  put n  in  the  stouiueli ;  giddinMs  ; 
dvtirliini  ;  a  dliBcuUy  of  passing  iralvr  rciuained  fur  sutitu  dnya. 
RfcoT^ry. 

CA^E  4—"  Lancft,"  Sep.  24, 1842  (Mr.  Halltai).    Female  bJuU.  Twentf  graina  in  iplrit  with  line- 
tare  of  myrrh. 
j)rm|ifiHta.— tidtn«diat«  iDtoxlcailon ;  dtrlirhtm;  occA«ional  loM  of   algbt;  pupils  nalurat ;  Dumb- 
of  extrrmltli-*;  no  p«jn.    Sla'  gol  luuch  beUer  under  trcatiacnt,  but  had  a  relapsuadur  tweutjr- 
from  wbtcb  ibe  i^corered,  with  ocxiuioDalsttacka  of  dytpooea. 

CASE  6.—"  Lancet."  Not.  23,  1873,  p,  740  /Dr.  (i.  JohnsmO.  Female:  tei.  20.  Twenty^flTe  drops  of 
aCuncentralvd  Sulutlon  (—  Sj  of  ramphor  lo  Ssa.  alcohol). 

Ilfiyftwwj  — Viwbnt  ooDTulatoua;  Tuaiuiiig  At  mouth;  bloody  vomUinfr  and  aevore  pain  came  oa 
tfff  aooil  i  partial  pjiralytk  euutinued  for  seTeral  days,  and  nervous  symptoaifr  fur  six  loouths. 

Jfcwiil>  —  RgcoTery. 

CASE  $.—"  L«nc«t."  Not.  22,  1973,  p.  740  (Dr.  G.  JohiuKin).  M&lo  a<lult.  Sni.  of  above  solution 
latell  tiftfry  five  tn[aut«s  for  one  hour. 

4|f»ipto(n«.—iateiia«  headache  and  extreme  prostraltoD,  preTeoltng  him  doing  his  work  for  Ivo 

ilefHfi.— B«eorery. 


•Ikottra 


EW» 


290 


CASES    OF    POISONING    BY    CAUPUOR^ 


CASE  T.~"  Lancrt/'  Not.  22,  1873,  p,  740  (Dr.  G.  Johnson).    Female:  vt. 
aboTcaitlulioo. 

S]/mfftumt,—Com»;  luUng  for  KTeiul  days. 

JteMuU—Rveoterf. 

CASE  8— "Derliiiex  Klin.  Wo*h«aKl.rm,"  SepL  1. 1873 {t»r.  KUijtfelh6ffer>.  Feuiftir  ».! 
grains. 

SsmptmnM.—JmmtAlM.U  giddinesB;  intenw)  pain;  ucmors ;  caiuptMiroua  odor  of  brtaatli 

Jietvtit.—  R«»covi'ry. 

CASE  9.—"  Brlllah  Medical  Journal/*  Dw.  fl,  187*.  p.  67  (Dr.  AllbuU).  M*ld :  tU,  »L  Ateut  l««Q 
dropaof  hnni)pnp4lhlc  solufion. 

^inprfourt*.— Grf«tgiddin«a;  headache;  nausea;  coD»id9rAbl«  l«ihargy ;  reeoTfrjr. 

ReMHlt, — Recovi^ry. 

CASE  10.—"  Bull,  de  Ther,"  ?ol.  lisvl,  p.  37&.    Child.    Twcnly-»lx  gnkla: 

Symptomt.—TwixchlDs^A  of  (MiuoieuBDcc ;  cfforta  at  vomiting;  cold  peraplration .   v.*.-. 
■tupor  and  retentiou  of  urine  (eoflVe  admlaisiered). 

/f«4W/.— RecoTcrr  In  sU  hours, 

CASE  ll.-"M««dlcalTiine»andG»aette."Jan«  25.  1859,  p.  658  (T>r.  BrfttlbWBlM). 
dckae  (about  thirtf  grninri>  for  Kl<fct> 

^<^/«/iw>«.— Furious  delirium  In  aHrtiit  one  hour;  pnpilH  dilatwl ;  sjrTntitnriis  amfcnvntH  vhnftl 
light  was  hrouifhl  near  th©  }>alkMil ,  Id  twenty  tii}«iH«  Wcaroe  »erj  qulol,  but  mutirred  li 
rently.    In  four  hours  and  a  halfaflerwarda  he  wai  well. 

iir«f(/f .— Hrco  vc  rj' . 

CASK  12.—''  Mfflical  Timea  and  Gazette.**  Doc  18.  16A8,  p.  615.  Male.  Over  two  hundred  gnla* 
taken  «VL*rj  tnornlng  fafltiriK, 

Sifmpl<»nM,—'So  efli-cl  uulll  the  fourth  day,  wh«rn  i^antrlirr  pains  a*l  in.  On  Ih*  Bfth  day  be  do«1<Ud 
the  d'HW.  aod  tn<ik  nnv  at  niKht  aa  well  aa  onr  in  thv  momlnp.  Intense  pain  In  thv  iirad  ramt  «a. 
appfar^d  Ininxlealed;  hecanie  io»«'n»lble;  after  an  emetic  acnRibfllty  returnrd;  be  Uj«n  yr|4  Vf 
twpnty-fonr  tioitrs  ond  woke  up  well, 

Bftiilt.—h.ecotvry . 

CASE  l.l,—"  British  Medical  Journal."  F*b  2,  IWT.    Male:  »t,  20.    r»niphor»t<^  oil. 

Stftnptomji —Bennit  in«en»ible  in  two  houra  and  a  half;  oplslhotonoa;  (Ipecacnanhft  and  «oU 
plleationn  In  the  head  were  used). 

RentU.— R«"co  rery . 

CA^E  14.— Guy'i"  Foreiule  Med.,**  p.  519.    Male  adult.    Twenty  j^raina  in  spirit, 

^>wje><owM— Ininiedlat«giddln«as;  flUof  laughter;  Cratnp;  loaaofvoloc;  prst  d«bUHy. 

iJf«d«.— HccoTcry. 

CASE  l.V— "Brlttih   Medical  Joumsl,"  March    M,  1863.    Mi.  fifteen  montba.    A 
camphorated  oO. 

iS^Ht;V«in4.— €onrul*ionji  and  Tomltiag. 

*«M/f.— !>•  ath  in  thirteen  houra. 

CA8E  16.— ".TmirnaldeChlmia  M6dicale,"    I860,  p.  SOT.    Thre«  children.    ^t,».fi.m. 
grain*  to  each  «hlld. 

S^i.t4om:—\M\fiuva',  great  thtnt;  vomiting,  purging,  and  convnltlona. 

Jbmtt.— Two  children  rccovfred.    The  youngeat  dtt^d  to  aeren  hoiiia;  comatoae. 

CASE  17.— "Mpdical  Oaselte,"  toI.  if,  p.  772.    Mnle.    3lj. 

ajyi/rfpaM,— EAhilaralioD ;  profound  aleep;  prufuae  perspinitioa  during  sleep;  and  great  «i 
(ioo  aflerwartlii. 

Rtiutt. — Ilet'OT«iry. 

CA.SE  IR.— rhrl»tI»on.  Ti-909.    Male.    SU- 

^ffip^mnj  — Very  languid  acid  reatlna  after  twenty  niinutea;  in  one  hour  became  confuard  aal 
giddy;  at  last  lost  ronscluusnesa,  and  convulaloua  aet  in;  (an  emetic  waa  adminlaiervd,  whl^ 
brought  awuy  nearly  alt  the  camphor.) 

JItfu//.— R«co  T  e  ry . 


See  also  other  Ceuea  o/  fbinoninff  by  Camphor  aa  followt  ; 

MHinii  Tiniea,"  July  11, 1!M6,  p.  2«5.    Male:  cL  20.    MJ  of  camphor. 
Medical  Gaz«tte,"  rol.  xlrlU,  p.  5&2.    SJ  used  aa  an  enema. 


20.  LEGUMINOS^, 

Arachis  Htfpogcta, 

(Grouud  Nut — Denna  Nut — Munduli.) 

Thi.<«  nut,  whieli  comes  from  the  We^t  Coai?it  of  Africa,  is  shaped  like  tD 
hourg]ai»»,  reticulated  externally,  atid  contains  two  brown  bcaiia. 

It  IB  recorded  ('*  Lancet/*  July  Id^  1873)  that  they  aometimea  piro?« 


POISONING    BY    LABURNUM. 


291 


dangerous,^ — vomiting,  diarrhoea,  drowsiiiese,  and  dilated  piipits  being  pro- 
duced.    The  authors  believe  that  these  nuts  are  perfectly  harmless. 

Ctftuus  Laburnum, 
(LaburDum.) 

All  parts  of  the  plant — wood,  bark,  leav^.  flowers,  pod?,  and  seeds — 
act  &s  narcoticik-acTid  i>ihsous.  Its  activity  is  due  to  the  alkaloid  *'  ct/lmn,"* 
which  Ih  said  to  be  the  active  priuHple  of  the  Australian  ur  Persian  insect- 
powder.     It  has  no  well-marked  chemical  properties. 

The  decoction  of  laburnum  bark  turns  olive-green  when  acted  upoQ 
with  a  persait  of  iron. 

The  symptoms  produced  by  it  usually  set  in  rapidly.  Purging,  v«>mit- 
ing,  extreme  restlessness,  afterwards  drowsiness  and  iurfeusibility,  with  eon- 

dsive  twitehingSj  are  commonly  recorded.     Death  lias  occurred  from  the 

eih  in  six  days,  and  from  the  bark  in  thirteen  hours. 

Chri!«tii5ion  fuuud  that  twenty  to  seventy  grains  of  the  dried  bark  caused 
vomiting  in  a  dog,  and  that  an  infusion  of  one  draehm,  given  to  a  rabbit, 
caused  tetanic  convulsions,  empn>sthotono8  and  opisthotonos  alternating. 


Cn$€»  of  Ihfitoning  by  Laburnum  (woofl,  bark,Jhw€rff  teedt^  root). 
(I.)  SEEBS. 

CASE  1.—"  Britkh  M0«Ho«l  Journal."  January  22,  187*.  p.  79  (Mr.  WheeJhouseX  Female:  st.  5)4, 
lAlmmam  »ords.     Ealrn  <titrin»;  thrcd  dAjs. 

S^9^tirmt,'-6jtaiftama  o{  it-rliant  t>r/l»(>nln|{ ;  inicHect  clear;  after  a  titiiB  Uiere  wov  sHirht  drov«i- 
MHft;  •Jttrftne  restlesBDcss  eontlauod  for  tbre«i  days,  when  she  »eemed  li>  gL't  beitcrr.  but  itfter  Iwo 
dajsmore  ahe  becutne  worse,  the  terrible  reallesaiieu  belog  Uie  moac  miurkod  %jmpUna. 

AfemM.— Dt*ath  la  aIx  day*. 

Case  SL— '^MedicaJ  Tiiuc«  and  Oaxette,"  Soptrmber  13,  I8&2,  p.  293  (Dr.  Uuher>,  "Pbnrmaceu- 
ticaT  Journal,"  October  18S2,  p.  185.  Male:  Kt.  11.  Male:  Kt.  12.  Cakv  flavorvd  wUb  laburnutn 
Wrda. 

S^fmptomd.-~ln  ooe  cai«  there  was  Tomllln^.  pain,  muscular  Iwllchingji,  ditnt'Nl  piit>il»,  but  nnliead- 
■cba;  clamtuf  perapirationa ;  became  Tcry  aleepy  aud  very  cold;  aympLuuui  set  iti  lu  fruiu  thirty  to 
fttrty-Avtf  minatea. 

je«m/r.— Scvorerj. 

CASE  S  — airlatison,  p.  947  { Dr.TraUl).    2  aeedi. 

J^n^owu.— IdMoaibility ;  coldneu  ot  body ;  free  romUing  waa  Induced,  and  the  next  day  the 
child  wan  well.  ^ 

Aftml/.— Kocovery, 

CASE  4— Chri»tiaoo.  p.  &4i7(Dr.  TraUl),     Boy.    Sooda. 

Jlrn^tonu— Complt-te  iuMsaKibllity ;  feeble  pulM,  aod  froth  at  mouth ;  (an  emetic  was  gtven). 

JbMitt.->K«x;ov«ry . 

CASE  8.— ChriftEM>n,  p.947  (Dr.  Blg«by).    Femalf.  child,    8cc-da. 
J|BH^<iwt»,— Vomttiog ;  ptirgiDg;  rec^rery  In  forty-«igbt  boara. 
JEcnttt.— Beco<rflry. 
CA9£  «.— CbriatiM)!).  p.  947  (Dr.  Annan).     Boy.    Se«de. 

-VomiUog  and  drowalnvaa.     For  a  month  •uftbred  from  Tomltlng  and  dtarrhcpa. 
L — Recovery. 

CASE  7.-'  IjiDoet,"  September  18,  IM9.    Female  :  child.    The  leedi. 

Symptomit.—Cttmt  paJo. 

iSe«Mil.-D<>ath. 

CA.*!E  8  — ••  Lancet,"  January  9,  IMl,  p.  .W  (Mr.  Bonnf  y  K  (11  ca«»».)  (1)  Male  .  set.  9.  1  nred.  (2) 
Ma»e:  act.  9.  I  ftp<>d,  f.^i  Male:  let.  9.  4  «^ii.  (4)  Male:  si.  8.  4  seeda.  (A)  Male:  et,  6.  Sawda. 
<6)  Male:  bU  9.  I  teed.  (7)  Male-  art.  9.  &  seeds.  (8)  Male:  ict.  8.  I  Mod.  (9)  Mal« :  Kl.  7.  1 
aeed.     (lOi  Male :  a:t- S.     1  M«d.    (U)  Male:  leT.  7.     %  ae«4. 

iflffnptvm4.—^n,  1*.  10,  and  11  scarcely  suflcn-d  at  alt.    No.  »  voraJled  and  was  soon  irell    No.  2  had 
W«]l-uiafk«!d  dUaltnl  jmpili.    Nm.7  and  8  Tomlled  and  were  purged.  Nos.  1  and  2  aleepletsnesa.  Noe. 
^WkI  S  a  oomblnntlun  of  all  the  symptoiot.    In  the  remainder  there  waa  merely  nausea  and  feehle» 
uf  pul»<*. 

L^KccoTery. 


292 


>T    P0I8OWING    BY    LABURNUM. 


CAfiE  9— "Liiiic«i"  November  1.  IfiVt.  p.  497.    Seoilt. 

AympTMiM  — Twekc  chilrlreo  at  Oiley  O'orkablre)  wtfFC  8«l»cd  with  TigHXtJ  ot  tlmlH  ft 
lowiDg  lli<P«evds. 

Jtanttt. — rtecQTtry. 

CASE  10.—"  Lancet,"  September  16,  ISTl,  rnl.  11,  p,  896  (Mr.  Wilson),    Male:  trt.  4.    Ift  •'«d«. 

Symptomt, — Votufllog  in  half  an  hour;  iu  two  hoiin  drowslncn  and  cooruUloa*;  |MipU«  Ivfitj 
dllnlrd  ;  ptiliic'  Hmnll;  bodj  cold  ;  recovered  ibe  oext  day. 

(IX)   BARK. 

CASE  11,—"  LaaoH,"  Jonnary  U,  1868,  p.  45,  January  18,  IMS,  p.  8«  (Ht.  Wtiaonl.  Half  ati. 
From  oheiring  bark  oriaburauin. 

Sifti^)tonui,—Xn  about  aix  houm  njiuptoma  of  irritant  pot»oniT)^  net  (o  ;  conatatit  vomttloit;  •feft 
between  attnek?^  of  slckin*ss;  u  fit  came  on  before  dtiatb,  which  occurred  about  ihirleen  kvun  ate 
Cbewioir  thtf  bark  of  the  tree. 

iiKnitt.— Death  In  thirtepn  hoam, 

/M-mof^rm— JawB  I'lt^uchied  ;  puplUdllated  ;  no  I  odaromatlon  apparent  In  the  itomseh,  or  la  i«*^ 
third*  of  thr>  duodetium,  or  In  the  Urge  Inlcftlince,  Kut  from  the  lower  part  of  the  dnndtrtmm  In  tte 
end  of  the  iU-uin  the  inlluiiiniutliin  wiui  liiti»ti!t»;  hIo\»d  Aiild  ;  lungs,  heart,  and  brain  bcalib| :  torn 
of  the  polnon  whs  found,  nn  no  doubt  it  band  all  been  Torolted. 

CASE  12.— "Edinhurub  M^dkal  and  SnrKipai  JourDnl,"  October,  1843  fSirR.  ChrlttlaQnV 
Some  of  the  hark  given  t>y  a  young  man  In  bnith  to  a  fellow-senraftl. 

8ffmpto»it. — Vonitlltnf  in  five  mtnotrs,  and  continiiLH]  far  thlftj-slx  houn.  with  pain,  •hlveHat.! 
and  purj^ng.  Thew  last  aymploms  continued  more  or  leM  forclghl  inontha;  al  IhU  Uuie  theft  wt»  j 
gaBtro-lnte»tlnal  Irriiatlon;  purging;  bloody  e»ftcualloD«.    She  rccorercd  eroaiually^ 

JSmmA.— Reco  ve  ry . 

CASE  l-^.— "Uncol,"  IHTO,  (i.  l«i  (Mr.  Tlnley,  Wbllby).  Female:  asl.  19.    Suolced  aptKM  of  trtHL 

>*?je^n/)/0nu.—Ft4t  unwell  }n  balf  an  hour.  Nexl  duy  KhPTv  was  pain,  oause*,  amlthlntt;  dilaui 
piiplLi ;  sense  of  fainltng  and  exhaoitjon  ;  no  purging;  recover^  in  fourteen  day*. 

i?ejru/r— BecoTery. 

(HX)    FLOWERS. 

CASE  14.— **Giiy*ii  HospUal  Reports,"  (kttjber.  ig.'H),  p.  2111.    Mi.  8.    12  labnrnniu  aowern 

^^p/onui.— Sickness  and  pain  In  flflceQ  minutes;  free  romltioj;  of  the  flowen;  no  purj^nf, 

J?e*i*/f.— Recorery. 

CASE  ]».— "Medieal  And  Fby.«ioIoglcalJourDal,*'  vol.  Ixil.  p.  86  (Mr   North).    F«aMl«S^ 
Flower*. 

J^mNpAmw.— ConniblTe  twitehiaiji«  of  muaclei  of  the  face;  ool4  ■kin;  laborlona  reeptrafetoB 
tempfi  to  roroit;  (romiting  Induced  by  emetJcii), 

itauH. — Becoferr. 

(IV.)    PODS. 

CASE  l($— Taylor's  "Medical  Juriaprudcnee,"  vol.  I,  p.  444  {3[r.  Rake).  Two  children.  JfX: 
■Its.     Lfthurnum  pods. 

Sifmpiom*, — Turned  very  pale»  with  alow  puiu  ;  pupils  natural.    Vomiting,  when  the  «a«da  ■« 
fjerted. 
Jeeta/^— Hecovery. 

(V.>  ROOT. 
CASE  17.—"  Mpd  leal  Time*  and  Gazette,"   January  3, 18-57,  p.  7  (Dr.  L.  8v*dgwicki.    Male:  ri. 
The  root  eaten  by  mistake  fur  liquorice. 

^l^ff^OffM.— The  boy  romlted  la  one  hour  and  a  quarter;  great  glddinea*  and    pro«tratioa ; 
pftlo.  oo«Tu1iioot,  or  headache. 
JC«»idl,— Recovery. 

CASE  IH.— "  it«^lcal  Tim-a  and  Crajt^tte,"  January  3, 18S7, p.7  (Dr.  L.  Sodgwiek).  Ftnilt ;  mU  \ 
The  rutit  eaten  by  mistake  for  Mquorlce. 

^iNfVwNiT.— The  girl  had  taki>n  three  times  as  much  ai  the  boy  (in  ease  No.  17V    In  one 
vomltlnir  and  grr^At  prostration  let  in ;  giddiness  and  drowsineaa  -  no  bendacbe  or  convaUloita. 
yirmW.— Itccovery, 

See  for  other  eaut  of  Poisoning  fty  Lt^umum  aa  follow9  : 
•'firltlKh  M<Kllriil  .Tournal."  October  10,  IMS,  p.  4011.    Death. 
"British  Medical  Journal/'  July  21,  1866,  p. 86.    Death. 

Phymdigma  venenoaum.     (Fig.  31.) 

(The  OrJeftl  Bean — Calabar  Bean.) 

Tb«  Calabar  bean  is  sent  to  this  country  fronj  Western  Africa.  It  it 
known  A*  the  Ordral  bcnn,  from  tlie  circum^tauce  that  the  Afric-au  rintiv^ti 
nm)t»cl  peo(>lc  accused  of  witchcraft  to  drink  a  decoction  of  the  beiin,  ia 
ih«)  iHrlief  Lhiil  if  they  are  innocent,  it  will  be  vomited,  but  that  if  guilty,, 


the  poisoD  will  be  retained,  and  cause  death.   ("British  Medical  Journal," 
October  19,  18G7,  p.  Ml,) 

Its  ui»e  ia  almost  coufiued  to  ophtbalniic  sargeous  for  effecting  coutmc- 
tion  of  tbe  pupil. 

The  beau,  which  is  somewhat 
thicker  thau  our  garden  beau,  in 
about  one  to  ooe  aud  a  half  iu- 
ches  loug,  and  a  half  lo  three- 
fourths  of  au  tucb  wide,  and 
weighs  from  90  to  120  graius. 
It  consists  of  two  distinct  parts: 
(1)  The  outer  shell,  which  is 
hard,  brittle,  aud  claret-colored, 
weighing  from  60  to  70  grains; 
and»  (2),  the  kernel,  which  k 
white,  without  smell  or  taste,  and 
weigh iog  from  30  to  50  grains. 
Touched  with  nilric  acid,  it  be- 
€Oiue0  orange,  and  with  per- 
ehloriHe  of  iron,  brown.  This 
white  portion  is  the  active  part 
of  the  bean,  its  activity  being 
due  to  an  alkaloid,  called  Phy- 
SQStigmin.  About  2.7  per  cent. 
of  tbe  bean  U  sulnble  in  alcoh'il, 

e    undissolved    portion  being 
siulogically  inert. 

Ph^sostipnia. 
(Physostigniin — Eserin — Eserina.) 

This  alkaloid  exists  exclusively  in  the  cotyledona.  It  is  a  colorless, 
crystalline  solid,  somewhat  bitter,  and  without  smell.  Beutley  and  Red- 
wood t^tale  that  it  is  a  yellowi^h-hrown  or  red  amorphons  body. 

Water  diHvSolves  it  very  slightly,  but  it  m  freely  soluble  in  alcohol,  ether, 
chloroform,  or  benzol.  It  forms  salts  with  acids.  Its  reactions  are  as 
follows : 

(a)  Its  solution  in  water,  after  caustic  soda  or  potash  has  been  added, 
urilU  upon  exp<3sure  to  air,  change  in  color  to  a  green  or  blue. 

(,J)  A  red  color  is  prwiuced,  on  adding  to  the  solution  ether  bromine- 
fmter,  or  bromine  in  bromide  of  pota.<wiurti  (Dragetulortf), 

(f )  It  is  stated  that  the  nascent  oxygen  tests  produce  somewhat  similar 
?es*ults  to  those  of  strychnia  (Dr.  J.  B.  Edwards).  This  statement,  how- 
ever, rwjuires  further  investigation.  Of  all  tests  for  Physoattgmia,  or  for 
the  Calabar  beau,  the  physiologit-al  test  is  by  far  the  mi»st  delicate  aud 
important.  The  merest  trace  drofiped  into  the  eye  of  a  rabbit  causes  con- 
Iractioa  of  tbe  pupil  in  from  ten  to  lifleea  minutes. 

ErpenmenU  on  Animals. 

For  these  we  are  indebted  mainly  to  Dr.  Fraser  (*'  Edinburgh  Royal 
Society  Transactions,"  vol.  xxiv),  and  to  Sir  R.  Christison  ("  Pharma- 
eeutical  Journal,"  1855,  p.  474).  Christison  found  that  twenty-one  grains 
of  the  powder  given  to  a  dog  produced  great  and  immediate  weakness, 
paralysis  after  about  four  miuutes,  and  death  in  five.     Slight  muscular 


204 


POISOiriKO   BT  CALABAR   BBATT. 


twitching  was  observed.    Iq  a  second  case,  two  grains  of  the  alcoholic  ex- 
tract produced  immediaie  weakness,  paralysis  io  two  minutee,  aod 
ill  three. 

Frarfer  has  examined  the  symptoms  prmiuced  by  the  [*oison  with  grwl" 
minuteness.  He  finds  it  proves  fatal  to  every  animal  except  the  E»w 
moth. 

A  large  dose  produces  instantaneous  paralysis  of  the  hind  legs,  cootrarte<i 
pupils,  iucrea,sed  secretion  from  the  mouth  and  nose,  whilst  an  abaeoce  of 
reflex  action  is  uoticeable.  The  paralysis  spreads  rapiilly  to  the  mitsclM 
of  respiration,  and  the  animal  dies  quickly.  After  death  the  pQ| 
dilate. 

A  smaller,  but  fatul  doAc,  produces  al  first  a  slight  tremor  of  the  hind 
legy,  pasvsitig  on  toconiplete  paralyms.  The  urine  and  faeces  [tarn  iovoluo* 
tarily.  The  pupils  contract,  aud  fmthy  mucus  flows  from  the  mc^uth. 
aaimal  remains  conseious  ;  but  reflex  action  seems  entirely  pone.  ISftjdtcul 
twitchings  have  been  generally  noticed,  amounting  at  times  almost  lo 
convulsions.  The  breatliiiii^  before  death  becomes  stertorous  aud  gasping. 
The  pupil.s  dilate  after  death. 

It  has  been  noticed  with  large  dases  (except  they  are  very  exces?^i?e, 
when  actual  cardiac  paratysig  may  be  pruductHl)  that  the  heart  retains  il* 
irritability  for  swme  time  after  death,  whilst  after  poisoning  by  modemte 
doses  the  muscles  contract  when  cut,  aod  the  vermicular  action  of  the- 
intestines  continues  for  .some  time.     The  lungs  are  invariably  gorged. 

These  experiments  prove   that  the  Calabar  been  belongs  to  the  sarai 
class  as  coniura,  and  kills  by  apmva.  It  wjJI  be  noted  that,  pbysiolctgically, 
it  has  a  strictly  reverse  action  to  strychnia  ;  strychnia  being  a  true  spioaii 
excitant,  and  Calabar  be^in  a  direct  spinal  depressant.     For  this  neanoaj 
the  Calabar  bean  has  been  given  in  tetanus. 

Symptoms. 

For   our  knowledge   of  symptoms   we  are  mainly  indebted    to 
dangerous  exi>eriments  made  by  Sir  R.  Christison  on  himself.   Ou  takiogj 
six  grains  of  the  s«eed,  he  states  that  he  felt  no  elUect,  except  a  little 
numbness;  but  that  when  he  ventured  ou  twelve  grains,  he  felt  giddy  andj 
drowsy  after  twenty  minutes.     He  then  took  an  emetic  ;  but  although  it, 
acted  freely,  the  giddiness  increased,  and   was   accompanied   by  extremei 
faintnesH  and  prostration.     The   heart  was  feeble  and  irregular,   but  he 
suffered   neither  pain,  numbness,  nor  pricking.     The  mind  was  perfectly 
clear.     With  stimulants  Sir  Robert  got   better,  and  was  able  to   move* 
about  a  little  ;  but  after  a  time,  feeling  a  desire   to  sleep,  he  was  allowed 
to  doze  for  two  hours.     The  sleep  he  describes  as  *' conscious  sleep;  "so 
much  so,  that  upon  awaking,  he  did  not  know  he  had  been  asleep  at  all 
Next  day  he  felt  quite  well. 

The  symptoms  of  a  poisonous  dose  may  be  thus  stated  :  Fir»t,  there  iij 
giddiness,  passing  on  to  paralysis  of  the  voluntary  muscles.  Orteu  there! 
are  muscular  twitches  of  a  convulsive  imture,  »nd  invariably  coutmetioaj 
of  ll»e  pupil,  preceded  by  myopia.  The  mind  is  generally  clear.  At  last, 
if  the  case  ends  fatally,  the  respiratory  muscles  become  affected,  aod  tbej 
person  dies  asphyxiated. 

Resj>ecting  the  contraction  of  the  pupils,  Bonchardat  found  that  oo«! 
drop  of  the  extract  applied  to  the  eye  of  an  animal  produced  contract-ion  i 
of  the  pupil  in  from  ten  to  fifteen  minutes.     Aud    this  will  be   the  great^ 


diagnostic   symptom,  distingui:jhing  the  action  of  the  poison  from  that  of' 
ropia,  couia,  daturia,  or  hyoscyamus. 
"La  France  M^dicale  "states  that  M.  Bouchat  has  given  H  in  dotes  of 


POIBONINO    BY    ALOES. 


295 


two  to  6v€  miHigrammes  ( =  ^'^  to  j\  of  a  grain)  437  times,  either  by  mouth 
or  BubcutADeousi}%  iu  cases  of  chorea  occurring  iu  youn^  giHs,  aged  eight 
to  twelve  years.  He  finds  that  the  disease  requires  ten  days'  treatment 
OQ  an  average  by  this  meth^K).  The  larger  dose  (administered  eubcutaue- 
,oii«ly)  producetl  pain,  tendency  to  cry,  desire  to  vomit  hindered  by  the 
almost  complete  paralysis  of  the  diaphragm,  sweating,  cmnrjis,  and  loss  of 
tnuscular  power,  without  any  affeetion  uf  sensation  or  iutelJigence.  The 
choreic  movements  were  checked,  atid  itever  recurred  so  violently.  These 
symptoms  lasted  about  three  hours.  Keither  coutractiou  of  the  pupils 
uor  the  convulsions  ooticed  in  animals  were  observed.  Although  the  jtupils 
were  carefully  noted,  they  were  only  found  to  be  small  in  two  cases.  Small 
tirt&en  pro^Jueed  vomiting,  but  theparalytiis  of  the  diiiphragni,  etc..  was  less 
marked.  About  ^'^  of  a  grain  seems  a  useful  dor^e  for  a  child  of  ten  or 
twelve  years  (^  3  milligrammes),  and  nmy  be  given  twice  or  three  times 
in  the  course  of  the  tweuty-four  hotirs. 

As  regards  the  state  of  tlie  pupils,  »ee  the  note  to  Morphia  (apropos  of 
the  celebrated  "  Aflaire  Castaing"), 

Six  of  the  beans  have  proved  fatal  to  a  boy  aged  six. 

Trfatment. 

[Uraelics  and  the  stomaeh-punip  must  be  med.    From  their  antagonistic 

lioQ  it  has  been  recommejided  to  inject  une-thirtieth  of  a  grain  ofatnipia 

hypoiiermicaIly,gradually  tucreasing  the  dose,  until  dilatation  of  ihe  pupils 

18  iuduced.    So  far  as  ilie   pupil   is  concerned,  of  course  there  is  a  direct 

j'antagoutsm  between  these  two  bodies;  but  we  do  not  consider  that  such 

trealmeot  is  allowable. 

Caften  of  Poisoning  with  1h*  Cahibor  litan. 
CAi5E  I,— "  Lnncct;*  Aur.  27.  I8<M.  p   245,  "  Medical  Tirnps  iicid   f;«x«.-tt*,"  Aiiff-   15    %n^   20.  1864. 
8e«ifDtjr  children  in  Lirerpool  ^at  some  beaus  which  had  heea  swept  up  io   *  «blp  that  had  coUis 
frotti  Africu.    Oao  bof.  seU  6,  who  bad  tratt'O  six  b«i»n»,  lih'd. 
Sifwf^cmt.—The^n  was  palo  ;  Tomlliag;  alaggeiiiig  u  if  iuluxtcuted»  UQd  contracted  pttpllB. 
Meguii.—Vmlli. 

CA^B  a—"  E^Unburgh  Moatbly  Journil,"  isei,  p.  lea,  iEt. 6.    Eat  tbe  kemn*l  of  nn^^ nut. 
dyiivfletM.— Silskttcsa  In  Tortj  miDut<>»-,  nleepiaeM;  haud«  powerle>ss;  stMggeriiig;  pain  in  ■tomacb  ; 
pupils  coutracted.    Becovervd  od  Ihirtl  day. 
iCnwtt.— RecoTery. 

OjI«E  a,—"  Edinburgh  Monthly  Journal."  1S64.  p,  103.    ^l.  3.    Eat  the  korncl  of  tine  nut. 
J^w^ilOwM.— SleepiniM,  deprtwioQ,  and  pain  io  the  abdomen  ;   pupile  and  pulse  nnrural ;  purging, 
prrcd  OD  tbird  day. 
-Eecovery. 

21.  LILIACE^. 

A  foe  vulvar h,  etc. 
(Barhadoes  and  other  Aloes.) 
"Aloes"  is  the  inspissated  juice  issuing  from  the  cut  leaves  of  the  dif- 
ferent species.     "  Bfirbadoffj*  aloes"   has  a  dull-brown  color^,  a  bitter  taste, 
atid   tt  tiausei>us  odor ;  "  Sorotrttte  aloes"  has  a  bright-red  C4>lor,  a  bitter 
ittl»tef  and  a  faint,  but  somewhat  agreeable  odor. 

Al<»es  isau  ingredient  of  most  tpiack  pills;  us,  e.^^.,  "  Morrison's  Pills;"* 
^ll»  well  us  of  *' the  Holy  Bitter"  (**  Iliera  Picra,"  or  "aloelic  powder'*), 
which  coDsista  of  four  parts  of  aloes,  and  one  of  canella  bark,  flie  hiera 
picra  has  l>een  usually  taken  for  the  purpose  of  ejecting  abortion,  (Ueg. 
V.  White,  Aylesbury  Assizes,  1857.)  The  aloes  is  the  chief  ingredieut  that 
possibly  may  act  on  the  uterus,  not,  however,  by  any  specific  intlueuce,  but 
by  its  acttoo  upon  the  lower  bowel,  aud  the  geoeral  upset  (hat  it  causes  to 
the  constitution. 

*  FkImI  cKiit^  9niii  lu  l>e  pr<i(Juc:e<t   by  Morrisoa'^  Pills  uru  reuurded   (^'  Luiiuut  " 
Sept.  6,  ISriS,  p.  81tJ;  July  2U,   18^0,  p.  6a6j. 


lY    SQUILL    A1 


Ak>e{<  (Ji-s^^olves  in  Bpirit,  crystals  after  a  time  being  precipitatMl. 
Ill  all  varioties  the  active  principle  of  tbe  drug  is — 

Aloin  (C„H,.0„H,Oj. 

Aloin  is  a  neutral  body,  and  is  fouud  iti  that  [lortion  of  the  aloea  wbidi 
is  Bijluble  in  water, 

]l  crystallizes  id  the  form  of  needles. 

It  i»  a  gluco^ide.  By  tbe  action  of  acid,  glucose  and  aloetic  acid  I*  fijrmel 
A  •econd  glucoside  h  also  present  in  that  portion  of  the  aloen  which  ii 
ioaolubie  in  water. 

Odd  sulpburic  acid  turns  it  yelIow»  the  color  changing  to  greea  when 
wanned.  Nitric  acid  turns  it  orange,  polychromic  and  other  acids  IrJag 
formed. 

Aloe«  also  contains  a  resin,  which,  unlike  most  resins,  is  soluble  in  boil- 
ing water.     It  is  probably  oxidizeil  aloio. 

There  is  also  an  acid  present  t  aloetic  acid),  which  strikes  an  olive-browD 
wilh  persalts  of  injn. 

AltH-«  l)>  an  irritant  poison,  and  acts  as  a  drastic  purgative.  Death  will 
be  due  mainly  to  exhaustion  by  excessive  purging. 

Cajte  of  Pifiaomng  by  Aloea. 
CA2E  l.—Tnylor'»"  Medical  Jurisfirudcnce,"  vol.  t,  p.  825.    (Oeeurrcd  la  O^muaf.i    Fmba)*: 
mt  O.    SiJ  of  p<t*d»*red  aloea. 
ffymf>l<jfn4.    VxoWiii  purging  and  di^Ath. 
Jltt»lt.—l>cn.th  In  tvclvc  buur«. 
Jf^vtUflMfieai. — Stommoh  ftad  tbe  smaU  Intestines  extenslrrly  inflamed* 

Squilia  Maritima. 
(Squill.) 

Tbe  squill  is  a  narcotico-acrfd  poison.     It  contains,  according  lo 
derer,  an  active  alkaloidal  principle,  called  »Sci!lifin,  one  grain  of  wliieh 
•aid  to  have  kilted  a  dog.     Drlila  fjuiid  that  2*  ounces  of  the   frettb  niot,] 
■ecurcd  in  the  stomach  of  a  dog,  killed  it  in  two  hours,  death  occurring 
a  fit  of  tetanus.     Ct>ma,  dilated  pupil*:,  and  general  convulsions  were  ali 
nolice<i.     Thirty-six  grains  injected  into  the  jugular  vein   killed  a  dog  Iftl 
•ixteen  hours.     Cbrisli^on  records  bad  etiects  being  produced  with  oQ&\ 
quarter  of  an  ounce  of  the  syrup  of  squills. 

Both  tbe  powdered  root  and  the  extract  have  caused  death. 


A  spoonful  of  fev<l«v«d 


Cnnrjt  of  Poisomng  Ay  Squitt, 

CASE  1.— "Toxicologlt^Geo.."  vol.  11,  p.  202  (LAiigo).     Fenule :  adult. 
tiot  Uk*o  lo  caru  tympanJlis. 
I^BylHiH.'-lmmcdUUi  pain;  conTubloiw. 

PcMMncrfem.— Stuiuftcli  iDflatuMi,  and  En  Boini>  parta  eroded. 

CASE  2 -"Journal  de  (  hlmie  Mtdkale,"  \U2,  p.  651 ;  and  "  Medical  Tlmea,"  Oct.  J»,  iMt,  ^ ' 
Famalc:  TS  graltia  of  the  extract  aa  an  alcohohc  tincture. 

%iw|i<ewM.— Kauaea  and  colic ;  arttr  twouty-four  houm  puplla  contracted;  cxtrema  ahdomlsal  tUh 
dentcM'-  coldD«a»of  extr«iDUi«»;  di^ath. 

JlMiill.-'Dealtt  00  Mcond  daj. 

22.  LOBELIACE.E. 

Lohdia  Infiaia,  and  other  Vaneiica, 
(Lobelia — Indian  Tobacco— Bladder-podded  Lobelia.) 

The  #/cmof  the  Indian  tobacco  is  angular;  the  Imvcs  are  hairy  on  thcil 
tiodcr  surface;  the  seeds  are  light  brown  and  hairy  (3176  to  1  grain; 
Guy;,  of  ao  oval  8ha|ie  and  reticulated  on  the  surface. 


POISONING    BY    LOBELIA, 


297 


It  ifl  imported  from  Nortb  America,  in  the  form  of  compressed  oblong 
cakes,  which  are  sent  over  by  the  shaking  Quakers  of  New  Lebanon,  and 
are  principally  used  by  the  qtmek  botjuiicai  doctors,  who  revel  in  the  omi- 
nous name  of  "  Coffinites."  Coffioism  is  no  innoeent,  harmless  system.  Its 
absurd  theory  is,  that  "  Heat  is  life,  and  the  want  of  heat  disease;"  and 
go  Cayenne  pepper  and  lobelia  are  the  two  principal  medicines  of  its  pro- 
fea^oR  ('♦  Lancet;*  June  22,  1850,  p.  766,  and  July  6,  1850,  p.  31),  which 
they  administer  with  uo  cautious  or  measured  band.  Over  and  over  again 
they  assert,  what  has  over  and  over  again  been  disproved^  that  lobelia  can* 
Dot'kill. 

Lobelia  is  generally  found  in  the  form  of  a  greenish-colored  powder,  con- 
liiting  chiefly  of  the  powdered  seed.  It  has  a  disagreeabJe  smell,  and  a 
iiaufteous  acritl  taste,  which  is  not  developed  until  a  short  time  after  it  hag 
been  put  into  the  mouth.  The  taste  is  due  to  the  pre^senee  of  an  alkaloid 
(lobelin),  a  volatile  oiJ,  and  a  peculiar  acid  (lobelic  acid). 

Lobelin  or  Lohelina, 

This  was  first  isolated  by  Bastick.  It  is  a  yellowish  liquid,  lighter  than 
water,  and  hu;*  au  acid  taste,  and  an  aromatic  odor. 

It  is  slightly  sohible  in  water,  and  freely  soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether. 
It  has  an  alkaline  reaction,  and  forms  salts  with  acids. 

Sfmptovu — Do^. 

In  small  doses  lobelia  acts  as  au  expectorant,  but  in  larger  doses  as  aa 
emetic. 

In  poisonous  doses  the  symptoms  closely  resemble  those  of  tobacco. 
There  is  severe  vomiting,  with  intense  depression  and  prostration,  head- 
ache, giddiness,  tremor,  and  often  insensibility.  The  patient  becomes 
bathed  in  cold  sweats.  The  popil  is  ordinarily  contracted.  Diarrhcea 
and  dysuria  are  not  uncommon.  The  pulse  is  generally  intermittent,  and 
convulsions  usher  in  death. 

But,  on  the  contrary,  the  patient  often  gets  well,  and  the  reason  is  quite 
obvious.  So  long  as  vomiting  is  produced,  all  will  be  right;  but  when 
this  becomes  impossible,  either  by  rea.*on  of  the  prostration  of  the  system 
by  disease  or  old  age,  or,  the  reverse  of  this,  its  ad miuist ration  to  infents 
and  very  young  children,  then  it  is  that  vomiting  is  not  induced,  and 
there  is  nothing  left  for  the  wretrhed  patient  but  death.  And  the  ronclu- 
sion  is  forced  upon  us,  that  lobelia,  in  the  hands  of  men  as  careless  aa 
ihev  are  ignorant  is  a  most  dangerous  drug. 

As  regards  dose,  ten  to  fifteen  grains  of  the  powdered  leaves  or  .seeds 
Will  act  as  a  strong  emetic.  A  drachm  has  destroyed  life,  although,  as  we 
have  said,  recovery  may  occur  from  very  large  doses  if  free  vomiting  be 
produced.  One-half  to  one  grain  of  lobelin  is  a  dangerous  dose ;  but  it 
appears  that  the  alkaloid  does  not  act  so  much  as  an  irritant  as  a  narcotic. 
Death  sometimes  takes  place  very  slowly. 

Po^t-morteni  App€aranre»- 

The  stomach  and  bowels  are  generally  inflamed,  and  the  vessels  of  the 
brain  congested. 

Treatment. 

Vomiting  must  be  immediately  produced,  and  stimulants  given,  in  order 
to  prevent  the  depressant  action  of  the  drug. 

In  a  toxicological  examination  search  should  be  made  specially  for  por- 

20 


298 


CASES    OF    POISONING    BY    LOBBLIA 


titins  of  the  seeds,  which  must  be  exaniiDed  micmecopicullr. 
ai-e  Dot  very  chamclenstic.     Nitric  acid  turns  the  powder  of  lol 
nod  sulpharic  acid  ohars  it. 


Ciue«  of  PoiMf^ning  by  LoUlia* 
CASE  1.—"  PbarmACeuticiil  Timefl.**  Miijr  1,  t87i.  p,  1S2.    MsIcl    U  of  povdcnd  !«■*«•  ftvft  If 

iyiM/itoflw, ''-Great  ftsln:    lokenalbilUy ;   ■oaall  paUe;   coatncted  pvplb;   rmnMmgi 

iwlirliln^  of  the  f»ce;  <i*^»ih  lu  thirty^ls  buun. 

i2Mit/^.--lK'9it)i  Id  thirty-»ix  hoiin. 

!*ti9t-murfm%, — Nothing  fouud  in  the  atomach ;  niuci>u«  mcmbniDe  of  ftoiuaob  rcry  inlUinnl 
*t\t  of  bffcln  conK«*tcd. 

CA8I-:  1!  — "  MeiKcal  Tlni«  tnd  (ia«?tt«/'  NoremOer  2fi,  t*.W,  p.  .V»  ,Dr.  Leth»byK  CI)  Mild*  "t 
27.    LrobcHa  ftovdfl  given  by  »  Cofllnlte. 

J'ad-nn/rUm—S^omtu^\i  blghlj  injected. 

CASB  .!-»  M>Hiicml  Time*  mod  GueUc,"  NoremlMr  26,  1SS2,  p.  048  (I>r.  LetkebyV  :?>  LoMH 
I^Ti!D  by  a  C'OlOitite. 

/%«f-«M4rtr*t.-^tomAcb  inflamed. 

CASE  4— IUkvIow'v  "  Aaerleata  BoUny ,"  vol.  I,  p.  181  femM  of  Ears  LovrU).  Lobdte  p««Am 
gfririi  by  a  quack. 

4l|iM^i>mj,->Ia  the  first  Invtjince  tbe  powder*  ««i«  given,  and  iodu«<d  TomlUoK}  tot  alt*r««f6 
vomUioK  dtd  nut  a«i  in,  and  aerioua  ayoiptonu  cooaequeoUy  rtuued ;  delirittta  and  cuotuUtoot 

JtoMlL—Demtb. 

CASJC  5,—"  Laowt,"  1NI»  (Dr.  Tidy  and  Mr.  Be«  LlpweUyo).    .«t  L    LobelU  firea  by  a  <|iw« 

fIraip'owM.— Vlulcut  aickoeM ;  eold  saroKta  :  conrutaiooA. 

EatuU.—ththih. 

Poat-ffHntuk. — StODtaeb  very  inflamed ;  no  lobelia  found. 

CA-HE  6— "Lancet,"  September  %,  1^9,  p.  2TS  .Reg.  r.  Jobn  WoodV  Vale.  OItcb  tslarmD; 
and  ua«<l  ^  an  iujeolion  (—  1:20  grains  internally  and  JSOgrmtaa  bf  tojccttOD). 

JBum//.— Died  in  about  tbirty-«iE  hours. 

Iiut-morimi,.—^t)m»ch  gr«atly  indanied,  especially  at  the  cardiac  orldce;  icreat  and  aiuall  tnlaa- 
tinea  more  or  leu  ItiQiLiucd  ;  an  ulcer  Tound  in  the  j^unum  ;  codgeatlou  of  tbe  braiti. 

See  the  fottowinff  Oases  ttUa  reeordeti  of  Fi>Uofiing  by  Lob«Ua  i 

"Medical  Times  and  Gaa«tte."  March  12,  1S53,  p.  271  .I>r.  LethebyK 

^Modkal  XiMM."  June  M.  lUf ,  p.  084  (death  from  tobellA  puwder  glren  by  a  CoHLiUto). 


23.  LOGANIACELE. 


alk 


ijelfemium  Snnperviren*, 

(Yellow  Jasmine.) 

The  alcoholic  extract  of  the  root  has  proved  poisonous.  It  containfl 
aloidf  gelseminiii  (Worinley),  and  an  orgautc  acid,  gel^minic  acid. 
jtlAtmiuln  h  ao  active  poi&on.     Oue-eighth  of  a  grain  killtMl  tine 


bit  whon  admini^tcr^Ld  hypodermically  in  one  hour  aud  a  half,  a  »ecoodl 
iu  fifteen  raitiute*,  and  a  third  in  forty  rainutca.     No  convulsions 
produced.     The  pupils  were  dilated. 

Offfteiniuit  Acid  is  fluorescent  when  dii^solved  in  potash.  By  the 
of  nitric  acid  it  change.^  to  a  light-red  color,  which  becomes  bli 
when  acted  U{>on  with  ammonia. 

Dr.  Worinley  atatea  that  it  may  be  detected  in  the  stomach  tnoniliQ 
death. 

Caut  of  Poiaomng  with  the  Tellow  J^amlnt. 

**  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy/'  Jajtuary,  1870.    Female  adull;  pnfvaal.    Three  i 
of  fluid  extract  -.  480  frv  to  ounce. 

S^mfiami,—X%%  twD  hnurv  p*iu  in  itcMnach ;  Dau»ca;  dlwnesa  of  Tlaton ;  became  very  reaila 
pernpltlog;  In  four  buurs  p^ilse  fe«<lit««  aud  irrtfgutar;  pniairation;   alow  and  Irregular  br 
aliln  becttia«  dry ;  iJmbti  cflU ;  pupil»  dilated  and  laaeoalble,  and  eye*  fixed ;  do  cwuvatalona; 
-Death  In  aeven  hvun  and  a  hAlf. 


THE  BARK  AND  SEEDS  OF  THE  NUX  VOMICA.      299 

J^ttl'morUcm. — Br«ln  «nd  spinal  cord  n^jmial;  hmgs  DAturnl;  heart  normiU,  the  Hup^rficlol  reins 
b^tng^  liijePtird,  »ud  tbe  c*t  tilts  distended,  with  dark  gruiiiuiia  blood;  lufl  kidney  congealed;  atomttiuht 
toUarttDCh  Knd  peritoa^uut  beaJtiiy. 

Stri/chnas  Nitx  Vomica. 

he  bark  of  the  stryohnos  mix  vomica,  which  is  very  poisoDous,  has 
n  more  than  ouce  !*ubstituto(]  for  angustiira  bark  (Galipea  Cusparia), 
and  called  lkls*e  aiigu?*lyra  bark.  The  fxtretiie  bitteruesa  of  the  uux 
vomica  bark,  it«  twisted  ajipearauce,  the  iiufKisaibility  of  separating  it  into 
thill  layer?,  an«l  the  blood-rt'tl  color  produced  wbeu  nitric  acid  is  applied 
to  ihe  internal  coat,  render  it  easy  to  distinguish  the  one  from  the  other. 
And  further,  in  true  atigustura  bark  the  external  surface  is  covered  with  a 
yellowbh-^ray  mievea  epidermiH,  the  internal  coat  being  of  a  light-brown 
color,  whilst  the  epidermis  of  the  false  angustura  or  nux  vomica  bark  is 
whlt€,  aud  8potte<t  witli  red  dots. 

Nux  Vomicu  Se^cU. 

The  fruit  of  the  nux  vomica  is  very  similar  to  an  orange,'  The  seeds 
are  of  a  light-browu  color,  nmnd,  flattened,  and  about  the  size  of  a 
fibilling,  one  side  being  convex  and  the  other  concave.  They  have  a 
velvety  feel  from  their  being  covered  with  fine  hairs.  They  have  no  rtmell, 
but  their  taste  is  iDteasely  bitter.  They  are  very  hard,  and  difficult  to 
pulverize. 

Two  preparations  of  them  are  to  be  ibund  in  tbe  "  Pharmacopceia  :^* 

1,  Esiracium  Nticis  VomiccE :  1  lb.  of  seed  yields  1^  oz.  of  extract. 

2,  Tindura  Nucis  Vomica: :  ojj  of  powdered  seeds  to  1  pint  of  spirit. 

The  seeds  have  been  called  by  the  Germans  "  Crows'  Eyes,"  from  tbcir 
tpoaed  similarity.  Some  time  back  one  of  the  authors  was  consulted 
ipectiug  the  composition  aud  properties  of  a  seed  which  had  io  every 
fesfpect  a  striking  resemblance  to  nux  vomica.  It  was  the  seed  of  a  foreign 
cucurbitaceous  plant,  aud  uus  found  uot  to  be  poisonous. 

The  powderetl  seeds  are  often  met  with  in  the  shops,  aud  have  more 
than  once  been  taken  and  administered  criminally.  The  symptoms, 
treatment,  and  post-mortem  appearance  do  not  differ  materially  from 
'ychnirt.  In  conducting  an  investigation  in  a  case  of  poiiiouing  by  the 
dcrcd  seeds,  tbe  sediment  of  the  content,"*  of  the  i^tomach,  and  particu- 
trly  the  scrapings  from  the  lining  membrane  of  the  stomach,  must  be 
carefully  examined  for  portions  of  the  seed.  Tliese  may  be  easily  ideutified, 
even  when  the  pieces  are  very  minute,  by  the  fine  silken  hairs  projecting 
from  their  surface.  An  aqueous  solution  of  nux  vomica  turns  red  when 
treated  with  nitric  acid,  the  color  beitig  discharged  by  chloride  of  tin.  It 
also  turns  green  when  treated  with  perchloride  of  iron.  It  is  precipitated 
by  tincture  of  galls.  Search  must  be  especially  made  for  strychnia  in  the 
manner  to  be  afterwards  described. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances  one  of  the  seeds,  or  about  thirty  grains, 
is  sufficient  to  cause  death.  In  the  treatment  the  stomach -pump  should 
be  actively  employed,  in  order  to  displace  the  particles  adhering  to  the 
sides  of  the  stomach. 

Woorara  Poimn, 

It  will  be  convenient  here  to  refer  to  what  is  known  as  the  Woorara 
poijMftU,  which  is  believed  by  most  toxieologists  to  owe  its  poisonous  action 
to  tl»e  presence  of  strychnia,  although  there  is  some  doubt  whether  this  be 
tlie  case  or  not. 


■  voornA^ 


(HmmbMi);   fTMrvrv  (Baaeroft,  is  1769);    Woandi  (m 
Woofmf»> ;  Tlmtwt  {the  auae  of  a  mbe  vbo  prraare  tike  poifloo) ; 
(Baliidi). 

Tbe  noofara  powoo  hac  beea  a  flobjcci  of  Itrelj  dtscowkm.  Nufl 
BaT«  bdievcd  UiiU  it«  acttre  ingrcdiast  tt  the  poiboo  of  eerpMtte-  Di^ 
tmyXor  uml  Schmoburgk  ftate  posUtTelj  that  it  oootatns  stryrhnia,  tW{ 
lallcr  affertiog  that  be  has  «iioreeded  ia  tiadi^  itswmroe  to  the  strrrliooi 
imlftrs.  On  the  other  hand,  Dr.  Cogswell  Mate*  (**  Lao cet,"  Mnrrb  1v 
18(ifi,  p.  243,1,  that  in  hu<  experiments  tlie  sTmptnins  produced  br  it 
▼cry  dtfkjvni  from  lh'j»e  of  strychnia  p<H0ooine;  whilst  M.  Velln  fts*>wti 
only  that  th<^  Wo<jrara  doe*  not  oontaiu  strrclinia  at  all,  but  » 

antidote;  for  rtrychnia,      ("Medical   Times  and  Gaxette/*  *  *^\ 

p.  3«i7.)  Dr.  C>>gsweirB  experiments  are  interesting.  He  fouud  ii  (4  bt 
▼«ry  fatal  when  swallowed,  although  Brodie  and  others  held  and  assserteJl 
a  conlniry  opinion.  Introduced  beneath  the  skin  of  a  frog's  leg,  he  foood 
that  it  cniiHeil  paralvniH  of  the  limb.  It?  primary  action^  Dr.  Cogswell 
itatcw,  he  iK'licvefl  to  be  narcotic ;  but  that  it  acts  secondarily  asa  seoUiTe, 
poralyKing  the  funotionsof  the  uervoud  system,  and  this  both  locally  when 
It  i»  immi'flifitely  applied  to  the  body,  and  constitutionally  after  it  hni 
entered  thv  cirf;ulation. 

The  poi^onouij  action   of  the   Upas  Tieut^   la  believed  to  be  dm  W\ 
niryvhum. 

"  The  Woomra  poison  is  brought' to  Europe  in  calabashes  as  a 
powdiT,  \vhif*h  dissolveii  it)  water,  producing  a  red-colored  sol uiioo,  Jiavisg 
an  ucid  rouction  ntid  bitter  taste,  and  giving  do  precipitate  witb  alki&m 
Olh<T«  (li'Kcribe  it  us  a  blaclc,  shitiing,  resinous  mass,  which  diasoln^  11 
water  »i)d  ulrohol,  and  evolves  a  nitrogenous  odor  when  beal6d.  It 
contniiirt  an  fu  tive  principle,  as  well  as  fatly,  resinous,  and  red-^otoriaf 
mntterH,  and  ^^orae  ash.  When  a  sninll  rjimntity  of  this  substaaoe  is  iatr»» 
du<v<l  into  the  syj^tcMn  through  a  scratch  in  the  skin,  death  rapidly  fi41o«a 
Hotith  AmtTifun  travellers  have  jjiven  conflicting  accounts  boili  of  tlM 
prejmrjUiori  and  action  of  the  pnisoD  ;  but  they  all  agree  in  Uie  stateoMSt 
thai  the  tloh  of  an  anininl  killed  by  a  curarized  arrow  is  quite  wliaksoaM; 
atf  tln^  poison  has  no  eJicct  when  swallowed. 

"  The  active  principle  was  firtst  isolate<l  in  an  impure  ancfTStallii 
state  by  Boussint^nult  and  Uoulin  in  18:30;  it  was  afterwards  examiMd 
other  chemists ;  nut  it  was  tirst  obtained  as  crystals  by  Preyer 
By  extracting  curara  with  alcohol,  distilling  away  the  alcohol*  dtoolfiM 
the  residue  in  water,  adding  corrcxsive  sublimate,  and  decomposuir  tks 
compound  formed,  hydrorhloride  of  curarin  was  obtained.  Otn^orM  wsif 
crk'stalliies  in  o>l(jrIiv<f!  four-jiided  prisms,  which    have  a  rijie.  Sft 

▼ery  hygrt>scopic,  and  di.-^Milve  readily  in  alcohol  and  *;>  iiliiliw 

being  alkaline,  but  not  in  ether  or  benzoU  and  but  ^lanagljr  ia  eysf^ 
form.  The  formula  a««igued  to  the  ba>e  is  C^H^N.  It  fiimi  salts  iriik 
the  iniDeral  acid$,  which  crystallize,  but  are  very  eolubls  in  vmlsr*  lUaf 
expcritneols  hare  been  made  to  determine  the  ictitm  of  this  jioijBii ;  aai 
it  mm  seems  certain  that  it  paralytes  the  nerves  of  moCioa,  and 
aaiaial  ander  its  influence  du*s  of  suflbcatioii  from  paimljsis  of  iImi 
of  tbe  chest.  The  minute:?t  quantities  of  the  purs 
eim  £ual  si-mptoms,  0.015  of  a  grain  being  dial  toa  iablNt,aad  0,0<Htsa 
frog,  whca  UBJccted  under  the  skin.  Cmmrui  ahieh  has  hm  tak;a  mm 
thestoiaadisnanlobe  difliinated  alBBQBtiHiclttafed.  If  ' 
tialioB  of  enana,  IHh  he  BMuataioed  hy  artificial 
af  rffsi  *■  matStm  aw  pcrwiTed,  and  the 

The  sW««  MBonl  is  taken  all 


laBiaihfefl 
BEUMdbrl 
in  \9A^ 


PROPERTIEa  OF  STRYCHNIA. 


301 


clopsodia,"  p.  676,  vol,  if.     But  the  authoi^  are  able  of  their  own  knowl- 
edge to  coofirm  all  these  remarks  on  the  effects  of  the  poison, 

Sirychnia  (C,^RJ^fi,). 

krychnia  was  discovered  iu  1S18  by  Pettetier  and  Caventoti,  in  the 
Is  of  the  strychuos  mix  vomica,  and  strychnos  Igtiatla  (St.  Igimtiiis's 
m).  The  tjuaotitv  present  varies  fro^m  0.5  to  1  per  ceut.  It  is  now 
known  to  exist  in  at  ieai«t  five  s|>ecies  of  the  genus  strychnos,  and  in  each 
case  is  found  associated  with  another  alkaloid,  brncia  (CjgH^N.Oj.  In 
frlrychuoB  nux  vomica  a  third  alkaloid  lias  been  discovered,  called  Igustiria, 
with  probably  other  bases  (Schntzenberger),  all  of  which  are  c<>ndiined 
with  strychnic,  igasuric,  and  lactic  acid:*.  Several  species  of  the  strychuoa 
eoDtain  qo  trace  of  the  alkaloid  strychnia. 

1.  Strychnos  Xiu-  I  om/crt,  a  tree,     (India  and  Ceylon,) 

2.  Strychuoa  Ignallti,  a  tree.     (Philippine  Islands.) 

3.  Stryehnos  Tieute  a.  shruh.     (Java.) 

4.  Stryf'/inos  Toxifera^  aald  to  be  ooe  compound  of  the  Woorara  poison. 

(Guiana.) 

5.  Shychno8  Colubrina,  a  tree.     (Asia.) 


Physical  Propertiei. 

Strychnia  is  found  either  in  the  form  of  a  white  powder,  or  else  io  crys- 
talline particles  of  different  magnitudes  and  of  variable  appearance. 
Sometimes  the  cr)'stftl3  are  in  little  pearly  scales  like  mica  ;  at  other  times 
they  are  octahedra  with  a  rhombic  baj'e^  although  they  are  somewhat  more 
commordy  found  as^  large  four-sided  prisms.  The  crystalline  forms  vary 
►rding  to  whether   they   are   obtained  from  an  ethereal  or  alcoholic 

ition. 

krychnia  has  been  more  than  once  mistaken  for  santonin,  to  which  it 
some  similarity.  C*  British  Medical  .Taurnal,"  Oct.  12,  1861,  p.  400  ; 
"Lancet*"  1870,  p.  598,  vol,  i.)  It  has  no  smell ;  but  its  taste  is  so  in- 
tensely bitter  that  it  may  be  detected  in  an  arjueous  9{»lution  containing  a 
grain  of  the  alkaloid  iu  the  gallon,  or  in   a  single  drop   of  water  which 

jlaius  not  more  than  one  part  in  5000.     The  salts  of  strychnia  are  not 

bitter  as  the  alkaloid. 

Of  all  the  common  salts  of  strychnia,  the  acetate  is  by  far  the  most 
soluble  in  water  and  alcohol,  alth<nigh  not  so  soluble  in  ether.  When 
a  drop  of  solution  of  any  salt  of  strychnia  is  allowed  to  evaporate  sj>onta- 
neously  on  a  slip  of  glaj^s,  the  crystalline  forms  can  be  easily  identified 
under  the  micr(jscoi>e.  They  are  invariably  found  either  in  the  form  «if 
plumose  tufts  of  acicular  crystal*',  radiating  from  a  centre,  or  as  long,  flat 
needles,  or  as  thin  rectangidar  plates. 

The  solubility  of  strychnia  in  different  liquids  and  the  forms  of  the 

rstala  prrxluced  from  the  various  solufums,  on  aOfiwing  the  solvents  to 

tporate  spontaneously,  are  recorded  in  the  foUowiug  table  : 


PROPBBTIES   OF   STRYCHNIA. 

SolMlUy  of  Strychnia  in  different  Liquids,  and  forms  of  Crystals 

obtained. 


I  cr.  iif  StrvchnU  diMolres  in  7000  of  Cold   Water 

fl««»C«nt.),     .     .     . 

••  »«  2600of  Boiling  Water 

riOO*>  Cent.),   .     .     . 

t«  «<  1000  of  Bisulphide  of 
Carbon, 

"  «•  840ofEthor,   .     .     . 

«*  "  2C0  of  Benzol, .    .     . 


le 

of 

Iff. 

of 

tip- 

rf 

•iS»- 

oX 

4ft- 


^  ,4  "  "  80  of  Dutch  Liquid, 


^^f         ••  "  100  of  Alcohol,    .    .  . 


4  ^s  «^f 


10  of  Chloroform,  . 


Crystals  small  and  very 
indistinct,  appearing  to 
the  naked  eye  when  seen 
in  quantity  lobe  nodular. 

Residue  white  and  granu- 
lar ;  forms  indistinct. 

Crystals  appear  as  flat 
priifms,  i^omutimes  small 
and  serrated. 

Crystals  very  large,  some- 
times octahedral. 

Crystals  brilliant  and 
sparkling;  modified  rec- 
tangular, and  rhombic 
prisms,  the  opposite  acute 
angles  being  often  re- 
placed by  planes.  Size 
of  crystnis  dependent  on 
quantity,  but  always  well 
formed. 

Residue  reddish,  and  not 
very  crystalline,  when 
only  a  small  quantity  of 
strychnia  is  present ;  but 
when  there  is  a  consider- 
able amount  the  crystals 
arc  large,  long,  rectangu- 
lar prisms. 

Crystals  not  well  formed  ; 
but  sometimes  occur  in 
rosettes  and  tufts. 


Chemical  Properties. 

?^i\chuiti  riniiHit  Im  voliitilixod  in  nn  unchanged  condition.  It  has  dis- 
jrt»*'i  i»**'>'*'  (iii»|Miriii'M,  and  n'adily  forms  crystal lizable  salts,  which  are  for 
«^«>  uuul  |Hii-|  hoIiiIiIh  hotli  in  water  and  alcohol.  It  is  not  dccompo:!(cd 
^<4ih^'r  l»v  ll«»'  ''"'d  <'on('iMitrat«Ml  mineral  acids,  or  by  the  caustic  alkalies. 
(ho  mlii(*i'iil  nridn  diNHolvc  it,  hut  no  change  of  color  results  from  their 
j^4uiu.  'I'lii'  pnwi'r  I  hut  Htrychnia  possesses  of  resisting  the  decomposing 
V4»**»»  »••'  niiun^  hjmiIh  iri  nMuarkable.  Sulphuric  acid  may  be  kept  in 
^vvtkUt'l  Milh  II  liir  iiinntliM  without  apparently  affecting  it.  It  remains  uu- 
o^Uoivd.  I«'".  htilh  in  tlio  prcnrnce  of  the  most  active  fermentation,  and  in 
^ho|«u>h>nui>d  iiMlnttuclidii  of  organic  bodies. 


lmpHntie»  of  Strychnia, 

\\\\\vU\  \'i  •d^nit  un(hI  hm  an  adulterant.  It  may  be  known  by  adding 
UUtU^  iii'id.  wlili'li  |trt)du(Mvs  no  disctdoration  with  strychnia  when  pure, 
H^U  \i  liMii'Ui  hi'  |»ri»MMil,  an  intense  n'd  color  will  be  immediately  devel- 
\^ud 

la\\\i'\\\\U\ 
y^\\\>\\   \\\\\\ 

UMt'lt'd  lioin  ihi'nt'  with  alrohol,  and  the  coloring-matter  be  got  rid  of  by 
M(««Mii  Bid|thiiil«'  iM'id.  "  Halile's  Vennin-Killer"  contains  23  per  cent,  of 
^U\«<liiiiii.  mUrd  with  NUgnr,  flour,  and  Prussian  blue;  "Butler's  Vermin- 
Kiih'i  "  iiMitnlnn  ahoul  ^  iHMMvnt.  of  strychnia,  mixed  with  flour  and  soot; 
^^i^llwMU'B  N'tMudn  KilliM*  '  fonlainM  about  0.5  grain  of  strychnia  in  each 


In  iHrgoly    U!*oil  in  the   various  forms   of  "  vermin-killers,*' 
ililli'ivni   coloring  matters.     It  may  generally  be  easily  ex- 


SYMPTOMS    OF   STRYCHNIA    POISONINQ* 


303 


powder.  A  curious  case  h  recorded,  where  about  150  pheasaota  were 
poi^oIR*d  from  eating  the  maggots  generated  in  8ome  aniinab  destroyed  by 
a  fliryc-Luia  vermiu-killer,     (.**  Lancet,"  Aug.  23,  1856,  p.  2310 


Sfjmptoms,  Do9e^  etc. 

Fmm  the  records  of  tweuty-seveo  cased,  where  the  time  of  the  com- 
meDcemeot  of  the  syinpttims  is  recorded,  we  learn  that — • 

In  2  ca^ea  the  fymptoins  set  In  directty. 


In  2    ♦• 

•( 

in     3  mtnutet. 

ln*2     " 

11 

in     6 

(t 

In  4     '« 

11 

in  10 

u 

In  5    «♦ 

ti 

in  15 

It 

In  5    *' 

II 

in  ^ 

li 

In  2     " 

It 

in  30 

M 

In  1  case 

ti 

in  45 

•t 

In  1     » 

14 

in     I 

hour. 

In  1     " 

U 

in     If 

houra. 

In  1     «• 

IJ 

in    2 

•» 

In  1     " 

It 

in     8 

It 

Thus  it  would  seem  that  the  mo^t  usual  time  for  the  symptoms  to  com- 
meoce  is  in  from  ten  to  twenty  minutes,  but  that  ttiey  may  bf^giu  im- 
mediately, or  he  delayed  lor  an  hcmr  or  more.  Such  variations  depend 
both  on  the  form  iu  which  the  poir*rm  is  taken  and  on  the  niantier  of  its 
administration.  The  action  is  rapid,  if  the  ytrychuiu  be  giveu  in  ^olu- 
tion»  and  plow  when  it  i»  administered  in  the  form  of  a  pill^  more  par- 
ticularly if  tliat  ])ill  be  old  and  hard.  Tlie  patient  will  probably  coniplaiu 
first  of  nil  of  the  hoi  bitter  taste  of  what  he  ha^  swallowed.  He  will  cry 
out  for  the  window  to  be  thrown  open,  from  a  feeling  of  impending  .suffo- 
entiou.  The  strychnia  tit  sooii  conit'ji  on,  when  the  muscles  will  be  seen  to 
jerk;  and  an  inteni*e  stiffnes,'*  of  the  body,  with  severe  tetanic  convulsions, 
will  rapidly  supervene.  The  legs  will  be  jerked  out  violently  and  fre- 
quently, the  feet  being  generally  everted  and  arched,  and  the  toes  drawn 
under  the  feet.  Opisthotonos  (that  is,  where  the  head  and  the  heels  con- 
»titute  the  only  supports  of  the  arched  body),  is  a  frequent  form  of  the 
tetanic  spasm  of  strychnia.  The  pain  is  intense,  and  the  distress  arising 
from  the  nm^cular  coutra«*tions  of  the  wht»le  body,  and  more  particularly 
of  the  abdomen,  seem^^  ab?«olutely  intolerable.  Von»iting  is  not  common. 
The  cheat  appears  fixed,  and  there  is  a  constant  gasping  respiration.  The 
face  U!<ually  appears  to  be  in  a  broad  grin.  The  eyes  are  olten  prornintuit, 
the  })uiNe  rapid,  and  foam  is^sues  from  the  mouth.  Thi;*  h  the  tit,  and  it 
generally  lasts  for  a  minute  or  two.  During  the  tit  the  pupils  are  dilated. 
Alter  a  few  minutes  a  reriiii*sion  of  all  the  ssymptoriis  occurs,  whets  the 
kpiU  contract,  and  the  ftatient,  bathed  in  sweat,  ijeems  worn  out  by  the 
»ny  he  has  endured.  The  reriiisjision  may  la-'^t  from  a  few  niinutcii  to  half 
au  hour,  when  anuther  fit  similar  to  that  already  described  will  set  in. 
The  prominent  i-ymptom,  however,  of  strychnia  poisoning  is  Mantut  or 
lockjaw  ;  and  this  is  not  merely  an  accidental  symptom,  as  when  it  happens 
ill  other  cases  of  poisoning,  but  is  invariably  present.  It  mu.'jl  too  be  noted 
particularly  that  in  sitrychnia  poisoning  the  jaw  is  the  la.st  part  to  be  af- 
fected. In  the  remisKioQ  even  the  tetanus  may  subside;  but,  although  the 
patient  appears  to  be  dying  of  thirst,  to  drink  a  drop  of  liipiid  seems  im- 
;  for  in  the  attempt,  or  by  a  touch  of  the  finger  of  a  bystander, 
ly  effort  of  the  patient,  or  by  neither  the  one  nor  the  other,  and 
-utly  without  cause,  the  fit  returns.  The  time  it  lasts  gradu- 
I  5,  whilst  the  remLssiona  become  fewer  aad  shorter;  until  at 
kogih  the  paiieat  diet*,  either  from  asphyxia  during  a  paroxysm,  or  from 


SYMPTOMS   OF   STKTCHNTA    POISOSIKO. 

intense  exhaustion  during  a  remission,  and  probably  within  two  hounitf 
his  having  taken  the  poison.  As  a  rule  the  patients  mind  h  clear  lo  Iht 
end,  conscious  of  his  danger,  and  terrifierJ  at  the  return  of  the  6te.  (Fiir 
modes  of  death  in  strychnia  poisoning,  see  **  Lancet,"  July  19*  Iti^.  p< 
72.)  As  regards  prognotiis,  the  records  of  cases  prove  that  death  or  re- 
covery is  always  rapid,  and  that  if  a  person  lives  over  five  or  six  koun, 
the  case  is  hopeful 

Tlie  records  of  32  fatal  cases  show  that  1  died  directly,  2  in  Ur 
1  in  15  ininutes,  3  in  20  minutes,  <i  in  30  minutes,  1  in  45  miuut* 
hour,  6  iu  from  U  to  IJ  hours,  3  in  from  2  to  2 J  hours,  2  in  SJ  biiun,  1 
in  5  hours,  and  4  in  ii  hours. 

The  ^\th  (o  the  ^'^th  of  a  grain  i^i  commonly  regarded  as  the  inMlict* 
nal  dose  of  strychnia.  We  usually  consider  that  Ij  to  2  grains  and  «;|»- 
wards  Is  a  poisonous  dose.  Atidral  reports  a  case  of  »evere  tetanus  h^^ing 
produced  by  the  ,'.^th  of  a  grain  ;  whilst  a  fatal  ca?e  is  recorxled  as  haviug 
occurred  from  a  quarter.  Gullard  considers  that  even  ^th  of  a  grain 
should  be  regarded  as  a  poisonous  dose.  ("  Medical  Times  and  Gazette," 
Oct.  18,  18f)2,  p.  416.) 

But  numerous  cases  are  on  record  of  recovery  after  taking  large  ^imsf, 
such  as  even  40  grains  ("Medical  Times  and  Gazette/'  8ept.  2,  1805,  p. 
267  ) ;  wliilst  several  cases  of  recovery  from  1,  3,  4,  7,  10, 15,  and  20  gnuQfi 
will  also  be  found  in  the  list  of  case.*. 

Strychnia  is  far  more  intense  in  its  action  when  administered  hypodi»T*l 
niically,  than  when  given  by  the  mouth. 

A  very  important  question  has  been  raised,  namely,  whether  an   infnntj 
can  be  poisoned  by  strychnia  through  the  meilium  of  its  mother's  milkfj 
Dr,  Letheby  at  an  iucjuest  on  a  case  of  poisoning  (*'  Lancet,"  May  \\\ 
1869,  p.  i^S'^},  replied  to  this  question,  that  he  thought  it  was  possible. 
In  the  "  Lancet "  of  May  22.  1869,  p.  732,  Dr.  George  Harley  records  ft 
case,  showing  {1 1  that  a  child  may  have  distinct  tetanic  symptoms  by  PUck* 
ing  the  milk  of  a  mother  who  was  taking  strychnia  in  medicinal  doses: 
and  (2)  that  the  toxic  etlects  on  the  child  may  be  present  withoiil  any 
corresponding  effects  on  the  mother.     "If,  then,"  Dr.  Harley  saTi*  **■ 
child  can  receive  suHicient  strychnine  in  its  mother's  milk  to  brittg  on 
tetanic  spasms,  in  a  case  where  the  mother  is  taking  medicinal  docttto 
gniall  that  she  herself  remains  physiotogically  unaffected  by  the 
are  we  not  justified  in  concluding  that  in  a  ca.<e  where  a  inotht 
taken  sufficient  to  be  poisoned,  her  offspring  at  the  breast  may  die 
the  effects  of  the  alkaloid,  although  she  herself  may  recover?"     A 
similar  case  is  also  recorded  (**  Lancet,"  June  19, 1869,  p.  872)  by  Mr. 
Lewis. 

Dr.  N.  GorochofzefT,  of  Orenburg,  concludes  from  his  experimeata  on 
dogs  that  the  poisonous  effects  of  strychnia  are  stronger  and  nijore  rapid, 
when  intrwluced  into  the  cavity  of  the  mouth  than  they  are  in  thcstoraacKJ 
Half  a  grain  of  sulphate  of  strychnia  introduced  into  the  mouth  of  a  d« 
after  the  ligature  of  the  cesophagus,  proved  fatal  in  four  minutes,  whil 
a  similar  dose  when  allowed  to  reach  the  stomach  proved  fatal  in  flftj 
minutes.  Death,  he  considers,  is  not  caused  by  absorption  of  the  (>oisoi 
when  introduced  into  the  mouth,  as  no  traces  of  strychnia  could  be  found 
in  the  blood.     ("  liev.  des  Sciences  Med.,"  May,  1875,  p.  57.) 


Pmi-mortem  Appearances, 

There  is  little  to  \w  said  respecting  post-mortem  appearance§.  What 
has  been  noticed,  if  we  except  the  state  of  the  brain  and  spinal  cord»  ii 
neither  uniform  nor  characteristic.    Post-mortem  rigidity  is  usually  pro- 


TRBATMENT    OF   STRYCHNIA    POISONINO. 


305 


longed.  Tlie  countenance  after  death  is,  as  a  rule,  natural,  but  indicative 
of  more  or  less  suffering.  The  slate  of  the  heart  varies.  In  most  of  the 
eai)e««  that  have  corae  under  our  own  observatioD,  we  have  found  the  heart 
full  of  blood  on  both  side«,  but  particularly  on  the  right  sidej  whilst  we 
have,  on  the  other  hand,  found  it  more  than  once  empty  and  contracted. 
Too  much  reliance,  we  are  convinced,  must  not  be  placed  on  the  state  of 
the  heart  as  a  characteristic  |K)st-mortem  apjwa ranee.  Dr.  Geoghegan 
states  that  in  3ix  out  of  ten  iusj^ections  of  fata!  ca^es  made  by  him,  he 
found  the  heart  either  contracted  or  wanting  in  normal  fuluesB.  As  a  rule, 
Dotbiug  specially  charaeterLstic  will  be  notifed  in  the  appearance  of  the 
stomach,  but  occasiyually  it  will  be  foun*!  intensely  congested.  If,  how- 
ever, there  is  one  specially  characteristic  morbid  a[)pearance  of  death  by 
strychnia  it  is,  as  we  have  paid,  the  intensse  congestion  both  of  the  brain 
and  8pinal  cord,  with  considerable  eflVision  of  bh^od.  But  even  these  ap- 
pearances are  not  constant.  Very  often,  too,  considerable  congestion  of 
the  air-paasages  will  be  observed. 


Treatment. 

To  get  the  poison  out  of  the  system  is  the  first  great  indication,  and  for 
thi5  purpose  we  must  use  the  stomach -pump.  The  injection  of  powdered 
nDimnl  charcoal  for  the  purpose  of  absorbing  the  poison  is  stroniijlly  recom- 
inendrd,  and  with  considerable  reason.  The  charcoal  should  be  allowed 
to  remain  in  the  stomach  for  about  five  miuute.-j,  and  then  be  pumped  out, 
and  a  fresh  quantity  injected.  Some  difficulty  will  probably  be  experienced 
in  the  introduction  of  the  pump,  from  the  fixed  state  of  the  jaw.  Imme- 
diately therefore  you  are  called  to  a  ca^e  of  strychn ia  poisoning,  administer 
chloroform,  and  when  the  patient  is  thorough ty  under  its?  infiuence,  you 
will  probably  be  able  to  introduce  the  tube  of  the  pump  without  <lifficulty. 
And  what  is  more,  the  chloroform  ofler^  the  greatest  chance  of  relief,  and 
appears  to  be  the  best  practicable  means  of  keeping  in  check  the  violence 
of  the  fits  (Dr.  Sabarth,  **  Dublin  Medical  Juuriial,**  18t>7,  vol.  xliii,  p. 
167).  At  the  same  time  it  is  right  to  note  that  Professor  Filwax  asserts 
that,  in  his  experiments  upon  animals  to  which  strychnia  had  been  ad- 
ministered, chloroform  proved  useless  a^ an  antidote  ("Medical  Times  and 
Gazeite,"  Jan.  9.  1858,  p.  44). 

The  thirst,  if  the  patient  can  take  drink,  is  best  relieved  by  strong  tea. 

Numerous  remedies  have  been  suggested. 

Opium  and  vwrphia  are  much  commended  by  some,  and  cases  on  record 
show  that  they  have  proved  useful.  Mr.  Mavor'sexjwriraents  ("Lancet," 
Dec.  9,  1871,  p.  840)  are  interesting  in  illustration  of  the  antagonism  be- 
tween strychnia  and  opium,  Cmnphor  is  also  much  recommended,  and 
ha»  certainlv  proved  of  value  ("Lancet,"  JuJy  24,  1852,  p.  80).  Xiadin 
is  believed  by  Profe^^sor  Ilaughton  to  be  of  immense  service  ('*  Dublin 
Quarterly  Journal  of  Medical  Science,"  August,  18152). 

Dr.  Ananotf,  of  Tiflis,  in  studying  the  therapeutic  value  of  oxygen, 
found  that  in  animals  poi.soned  by  stryclinia  the  inhalation  of  pure  oxyijetif 
by  aid  of  artificial  respiration,  successfully  counteractetl  the  etfectij  of  the 
poison  (**  Echo  de  la  Pre.«ise  Medicale,"  Paris,  Aug.,  1874,  p.  64). 

Taunin  has  been  specially  applauded  by  M.  Kurzak,  provided  it  bead- 
miDistered  in  a  quantity  not  less  than  tweutv  to  twenty  five  times  that  of 
the  jKjistiD  swallowed  ("  British  Medical  Journal,"  December  13,  1862, 
p,620). 

jpnijw'c  atld  ts  recommended  by  some,  but  we  scarcely  regard  the  experi- 
^t*  recorded  a»of  much  lvalue  in  asserting  its  antidotal  power  {^*  Lao- 
ort,"  vol.  i,  1868,  pp.  275-335). 


806 


sniTCHirtA. 


Chmmcn  tah  \am  aIso  Imp  eoggfsced  ("  Brttiab  Medical  Joamii)  "  J> 
27, 1867,  p,  6*3 ). 

LfUftlj,  we  have  to  refer  to  Chloral  Hydrate^    Tb^re  gbo  be  bot  Ii 
doubt  thftt  thi#  b  a  most  udeful  dru);  in  fUrcbaia  potsooiikg,  n    ^ 
fara^  it  haa  been  tried,  to  have  ai^ed  mmn  aadaroctorilv  t1 
elee.     It  should  either  be  given  in  full  doaes  aod  repealad  o^  utitu  ir  du 
esHinr,  or  if  \u  arliDiaistratioD  bv  the  mooth  be  inapoaBible,  it  ihouNi  be 
hyiKxJt-rmically  injected. 

But  h  fitryohDia  the  antidote  to  chloral  ?    This  was  aaserted  b?  Li^ 
reifh,  but  i--*  coutradicted    bv  Orfe,  the  Professor   of  Physioldgy'at 
Bordeaux  School  of  Medicine'  ('*  Lancet,"  Sept.  21,  1872,  {>.  427;. 

The  following  table  repre^ent^  the  various  trt'atmetits  adopted  in  tvcDtf' 
four  caaes  of  recovery,  afler  taking  strychnia  : 

In  7,  Chloroform  and  emetics* 

In  1»  Chloroform  and  electricity. 

In  1,  Chloroform  aud  tincture  of  aconite. 

In  7,  The  «tomach-pump  and  emetics  only. 

In  1,  Emetics,  Indian  hemp,  and  chloric  ether. 

In  3,  Opium. 

In  2,  Nict>tin. 

In  1,  Albumen. 

In  1,  Chloral  hydrate. 

Teds  Jor  Strych  u  iou 

1.  When  pure  it  is  white  and  intensely  hitter. 

2.  It  melts  and  burxis  with  a  $moky  dame  when  heated  oo  plAlinitiB- 
foil. 

3.  Sulphuric  acid  has  no  action  upon  it,  except  that  of  diasolvingit. 

4.  It  IS  not  colored  like  morphia  by  sulphomolybdio  and  by  wSm 
acids. 

6.  What  is  known  as  the  "  color  tej*t"  is  by  far  the  most  important 
test  for  strychnia,  aud  this  we  must  examine  in  eorae  detail. 

When  strychnia  is  brought  under  the  influence  of  mutcetU  oxyffen^  that  it, 
oxygen  at  the  very  moment  it  \i  set  free,  the  strychnia  instantly  acquiros 
a  deep  rich  blue  color,  which  speedily  passes  into  a  purplt^  then  into  a 
violet,  then  into  a  crimson,  and  then  into  an  orange  and  yellow.  Thcfiici 
that  brilliant  colors  appeared  wlten  strychnia  was  first  mixed  with  oxide 
of  lead,  and  touched  with  a  drop  of  siulphuric  acid,  was  Doiiced  bv  Mur* 
chand  in  1845.  Other  reagents  have  since  that  time  been  reconuriendiMl  in 
the  plact^  nf  the  plumbic  oxide,  c.  g.^  Otto,  in  184»>,  i^uggestf^d  bichromale 
of  potash  ;  Mack,  in  thei»ameyear,  peroxide  of  ma  ngauessie  ;  Bueger,  in  lHi>(l, 
clin>mic  acid  ;  whilat  ferricyauide  of  potassium,  the  alkaline  iodatos,  jtmi 
permanganate  of  potash  have  been  recommended  by  others.  Dr.  Lethchy 
was  the  first  to  suggest  the  use  of  the  galvanic  battery  iu  yjcrforming  the 
color  test.  This  constitutes  an  experiment  of  great  value  and  interest 
from  the  fact  that  it  dearly  demonstrates  the  true  theory  of  the  production 
of  the  color  by  avoiding  the  addition  of  all  chemical  reagents.  Aj  re- 
gards the  immerourt  sub^itaiices  !«tuggested  by  various  authorities,  it  must  be 
remembered  that  the  .simple  liict  is,  that  anything  that  will  give  out  MJ*" 
gen  will  develop  the  tmt^. 

There  is  a  right  and  a  wrong  way  of  performing  the  experiment.  Pro* 
eeed  as  follows :  Place  the  slrychtiia  on  a  clean  white  plate,  and  touch  it 
with  a  drop  of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid.  Mix  the  acid  with  the  utrych* 
uia  ihorougldy  by  the  aid  of  a  glass  rod.    Allow  this  to  stand  for  a  few 


ii^ 


TESTS    FOR    STRYCHNIA, 


807 


miDUte^,  and  note  that  if  the  strychnia  be  pure,  the  arid  will  not  rliscolor 

it.     Place  by  the  side  of  the  mixture  of  the  acid  with  the  strychnia  a 

simill  quantity  of  either  finely  powdered  peroxide  of  nmnf^anese  or  lead, 

md  with  a  glass  rod  cautiously  stir  a  little  of  the  powder  into  the  mixture, 

Ling  care  to  use  only  a  very  small  quantity  of  the  oxide.     The  following 
;ion  of  colors  will  be  noticed:  first,  blue,  passing  into  purple,  then 

ilet,  then  red,  the  mixture  finally  becoming  colorle.^s,  or  nearly  so. 
With  ordinary  manipulative  r^kill  it  is  impoj*}<ible  to  mlrfiake strychnia  for 
any  other  suljstance.  It  has  been  stated  that  silicin,  sugar,  bile,  pyro- 
XADthin^  piperin,  resinctus  matters,  and  many  other  things  act  as  pijssible 
fnllarie-,  nut  with  all  these  bodies  it  will  be  noticed  that  a  change  of  color 
18  produced  directly  they  are  mixed  with  the  acid,  whilst  in  the  case 
of  strychnia  no  such  alteration  of  wdor  will  be  observed. 

We  strongly  recommend  either  peroxide  of  manganese,  or  peroxide  of 
as  oxidizing  agents.     The  use  of  permanganate  of  ptotasli  is  most  un- 

Ivisable,  inasmuch  as  the  colors  produced  by  the  action  merely  of  sul- 
phuric acid  on  the  salt  itself,  are  perilously  similar  to  those  produced  wheo 
strychnia  is  present, 

rotassie  bichromate,  which  is  used  by  many,  is  assuredly  of  all  bodies 
the  wor^t  for  the  purpose. 

(a)  It  is  itself  colored  by  the  acid,  and  thus  complicates  results. 

{^)  It  will  not  act  when  organic  and  other  matters  are  present,  such  afl, 
y0*9-»  I^'^  vegetable  acids,  tartar  emetic,  putassio- tart  rate  of  soda,  sugar,  gum, 
fimce  of  morphia,  nitre,  or  common  salt, 

'{y)  It  is  the  leant  delicate  of  all  the  reagents,  even  under  the  most  favora- 
\e  circumstances;  for  whilst  the  oxide  of  manganese  or  the  oxide  of  lead 
will  show  the  presence  of  j^jjoo^^*  '^^  ^  grain  of  strychnia,  the  bichromate 
will  not  act  well  with  less  than  the  ^oVu^^*  ''^  ^  grain. 

There  need  be  no  difficidty  in  the  use  of  either  the  peroxides  of  lead  or 

iDgancse  because  of  their  dark  color.     A  very  small  ijuantity  is  all  that 

needed,  and  the  colors  produced  by  them  are  far  more  i>ernaaneut  and 
Intense  than  those  developed  with  the  bichromate. 

It  may  possibly  be  urged  that  if  aniliu  be  present  it  act.s  as  an  important 
fallacy  to  these  color  te^ts.  It  is  true  that  the  salts  of  auilin  are  not  col' 
wheo  sulphuric  acid  is  added  to  thera  and  also  that  a  play  of  color 
result  as  soon  as  nascent  oxygen  is  set  free  by  tlte  addition  to  the 
•Crid  mixture  of  either  oxide  of  lead  lir  manganese,  as  in  the  case  of  strych- 
nia. But  no  confusion  or  diffieulty  can  arise  if  the  play  of  colors  bo  well 
Doled.  The  following  is  the  tint  order  with  iftri^rJutm  :  a  very  evanescent 
blue,  llien  purple,  then  violet,  then  red,  becoming  at  last  colorless.  With 
anilin,  it  is  first  green,  then  a  very  persistent  bltie,  then  black. 

Dr.  Letheby's  suggestion  that  the  galvanic  battery  should  be  used  as  a 
mennfi  for  developiug  nascent  oxygen  removes  not  ouly  every  possible 
fluurce  of  fallacy,  giving  us  the  power  of  evolving  or  stopping  the  oxygen 
at  pleasure,  but  also  admits  of  a  j>erfect  recognition  of  tints  williout  the 
interference  of  any  extraneous  coloi-s.  Proceed  as  follows:  F'lace  a  drop  of 
a  solution  of  strychnia  (say  one  part  in  15,000  or  20,000  of  water)  in  a 
slight  ciipshaped  depression  on  a  piece  of  platiuum-foil.  Allow  the  fluid 
to  evaporate,  and  when  dry  moisten  the  spot  with  a  little  concentrated  sul- 

fihuric  acid.     Connect  the  foil  with  the  positive  {Kde  of  a  single  cell   of 
.trove's  battery,  and  touch  the  acid  with  a  platinum  terminal  from  the 
negative  pole.     In  an  instant  the  violet  color  will  flash  out,  and  on  re- 
moving the  poh  from  the  acid,  the  tint  will  remain. 
t;,   Mor^htH  HnWs  Ted. 

There  is  no  test  for  strychnia  so  remarkably  delicate  and  so  absolutely 
dn  as  its  physiological  action  on  a  small  animal,  the  frog,  being,  ac- 


808 


riA 


cording  to  Marshall  Hall,  (he  best  for  theparpose.  The  solution  to  h^m* 
amined  ^^hmitd  he  injected  under  the  skia  of  the  back,  the  liquid  btriug^ 
lees  liable  to  run  out  of  a  wound  iu  thi^  part  of  the  body  th&n  if  it  be  iiK 
jectedp  as  is  commonly  recommended,  iuto  the  abdominal  cavity. 
raii«  the  skin  of  the  back  with  the  forceps^  and  with  a  fine  tmir  of 
make  an  opening  large  enough  to  admit  the  end  of  a  small  pipette 
minute  (|imntiiY  of  iitrychuia  injected  in  this  manner  will  j^how  results  thai 
are  unmistakHble,  even  where  we  fail  to  get  sati:*factory  evideo* 
color  tests.  Dr.  Ilarley  asserts  that  on  injecting  tf  Ido^^^  *'^  *  - 
the  lungs  of  a  tumuli  frog,  tetanic  convulaious  occurred  in  otov  and  a  liaif 
minutes,  and  death  in  two  hours. 

The  following  may  be  reganled  as  the  ordinary  course  of  the  ByiDpComtj 
in  the  frog  after  its  hypo«lerniic  injection.  For  a  short  time  the  aoii 
remains  perfectly  quiet.  The  first  symptom  noticed  will  be  a  difficulty 
breathing,  which  gradually  increases  until  the  animal  seems  to  b«* 
for  its  life.  A  elight  tremor,  especially  in  the  hind  le^,  but  more  or 
over  the  entire  body,  will  be  observed.  Sometimes  the  frog  will  at 
stage  remain  quiet,  whilst  at  other  times  it  will  give  several  energetic  fti»4| 
convul&ive  leaps.  The  characteristic  tetanic  convulsions  will  n^  •  "■•^* 
their  appearance.  Occasionally  at  their  commencement,  the  an 
make  a  strange  shriek,  as  if  iu  pain,  at  the  same  time  turning  over  imin! 
to  side.  The  spasms  are  not  continuous,  but  may  instAUtly  be  prodi 
touching  the  frog,  or  by  clapping  the  hands,  or  by  knocking  the  table 
the  finger.  According  to  Dr.  Harley,  emprofithotouos,  is  inure  cooil 
in  the  Irog  than  opisthotonos,  the  reverse  being  the  case  iu  man.  It  f 
be  remarkefl  that  the  pupils  dilate  during  the  fit«  and  contract  in  thu 
tervals. 

7.  Iodine, 

The  following  is  the  be^t  plan  ofmakiog  the  experiment  with  iodine: 

Place  on  a  micnxscope  glass  a  very  small  dro[i  of  an  alcoholic  soluliou 
iodine,  and  allow  it  to  evaporate,  and  dirertf^  it  is  dry  adil  a  drop  of  ll 
strychnia  solution,  acidulated  with  acetic  acid,  to  which  has  been  addni  a 
trace  of  sulphuric  acid  and  a  drop  of  spirits  of  wine,  (To  see  thes^e  nsac- 
tions,  a  solution  of  a  trace  of  strychnia  in  three  drachms  of  acetic  add, 
one  drachm  of  spirits  of  wine,  auu  six  drops  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  ^vt$ 
good  results,) 

Aiier  it  has  dried  spontaneously,  it  is  to  be  examined  under  the  mtci 
scope  with  a  Nicol's  prism  and  selenite,  using  no  analyzer,  and  merely 
common  eyepiece.     The  following  characteristic  figures  will  be  seen: 

(a)  8mall  tutls^  mostly  circular,  of  acicular  black  crystals,  as  fine  i 
needles. 

(^1  Myriads  of  minute  dots  of  a  somewhat  triangular  form,  some  l>eiog 
larger  than  others,  and  well  defined.  They  are  generally  colored  yellow, 
pinkf  and  green. 

(c)  Large  triangular  crystals  generally  of  a  yellow  or  green  color  and 
composed  of  three  parts  radiating  from  a  centre, 

(a)  A  number  of  ^olid  macled  prisms,  presenting  here  and  there  coofr' 
piemen tary  tint*!  of  red  and  green. 

(e)  Si>lid  rosette  macles  of  four,  five,  and  six-sided  prisms.  These,  how- 
ever, are  not  so  abundant  unle,ss  the  strj'chnia  is  added  U)  the  iodine  solu- 
tion. 

if)  Lastly,  when  the  strychnia  is  in  any  considerable  quantity,  large 
feathery  and  tabular  plates  of  a  colorless  salt  of  strychnia  not  combined  witii 
iodine  will  be  apparent. 

There  are  other  ways  in  which  the  experiment  may  be  ma/le.  Tht 
forms  described  are  sometimes  well  displayed  by  dro)>ping  a  mere  fraction 


mm 


TESTS    FOR    STRYCHNIA. 


S09 


of  a  $?r&in  of  strychDia  od  an  alcoholic  solution  of  iodine  to  which  a  trace 
of  acetic  acid  has  been  added.  There  is  ftnother  method  by  which  we  have 
obtiiined  very  go(Kl  result*?;  naraely,  by  touching  a  glais  slide  first  with  a 
drop  of  acetic  acid,  and  afterwards  with  a  solutiou  of  iodine,  just  so  a*  to 
color  the  acid  slightly  yellow,  when  uptin  adding  to  this  the  mere  trace  of 
dry  strychnia,  a  deep  red-brown  color  instantly  appear:*,  which  in  a  few 
miuutei;  changes  to  orange-yellow.  Place  over  this  a  covering  gla**,  and 
on  examining  it  with  a  microacope  in  the  manner  described,  either  one  or 
other  or  all  of  the  several  varieties  of  crystals  already  noted  will  be  oh- 
served.  If  the  acetic  acid  is  added  afterwards,  myriads  of  nnnnte  acicular 
and  Boraewhat  made  crViStals  are  generally  deveh>ped.  It  is  preferable, 
however,  that  the  acetic  acid  -should  be  added  tinst,  a»  better  re^idtit  are  in 
ihia  way  obtained.     There  ia  no  difficulty  by  this  means  of  detecting  the 

^Voirt^  «fag^^l"• 
8.  Iodide  of  Potassium. 
Pnxiuce^  an  amber  colored  precipitate. 

Add  to  the  strychnia  a  drop  of  acetic  acid  upon  a  glass  slide,  and  touch 
it  with  a  drop  of  an  aqueous  solution  of  iodide  of  potassium.  The  crystals 
appear  under  the  microscope  as  niacles  and  prisms  grouped  in  rosettes.  They 
are  insoluble  either  in  exce^  of  the  iodide  or  in  free  alkalies,  but  are  solu- 
ble in  moat  acids. 
9.   Qirbazotic  Acid. 

Gives  a  pale-yellow  precipitate,  sparingly  soluble  even  in  a  large  excess 
of  acetic  acid.  The  precipitate  anpears  under  the  microscope  in  the  form 
either  of  minute  necnlles,  arranged  in  tutls,  or  as  feathery  crystals  serrated 
at  the  edges. 

Btrychnia  ia  also  precipitated  by  the  chlorides  of  aoid  and  of  plcUinum 
(pale  yellow);  hy  perch loride  of  mercHry  (white,  soluble  in  acetic  acid; 
crystals  being  plumose  tufts) ;  hj  perchloride  of  iron  (yellow;  crystals  oc- 
taliedra) ;  by  tannic  acid  (white) ;  by  ferrocyanide  of  potassium  (yellow; 
radiating  acicular  crystals,  soluble  in  mast  acids) ;  by  mlphoeynatde  of  po- 
tasgimn  (white  and  crystalline^  in  radiating  tufts,  sparingly  soluble  in  di- 
lute acetic  and  hydrochloric  acids)  ;  by  pofmk  nod  soda  and  hij  fht'ir  carbo- 
n*ite«,  and  by  ammonia  (white,  consisting  of  the  pure  alkaloid,  .soluble  in  all 
dilute  acids);  and  by  bichroviate  of  pokt^h  (bright  yellow  octahedral  crys- 
tab,  soluble  in  nitric  acid,  insoluble  in  acetic  acid). 


ToTicoloffical  Anahjsia, 

In  conducting  a  toxicological  examination  either  of  the  contents  of  the 
stomach  or  of  any  organic  mixture  for  strychnia,  proceed  as  follows  : 

(A)  Acidify  the  organic  mixture  with  a  little  acetic  acid,  diluting  it  with 
sufficient  water  to  make  it  filter  easily.  Acetic  acid  is  preferable  to  other 
acids,  because  (1)  acetate  of  strychnia  ia  a  very  soluble  salt.  (2)  The 
acid  coagulates  casein  and  other  albuminous  matters.  (3|  An  excess  ia 
easily  got  rid  of.  (4)  It  does  not  change  starchy  matters  into  sugar.  And 
(5)  it  cannot  complicate  the  inquiry  if  other  poisons  have  afterwards  to  be 
sought  for. 

Filter  the  acid  aqueous  solution  through  muslin,  and  evaporate  the  fil- 
trate on  a  water-bath  to  the  i:ousistence  of  a  thick  syrup.  Treat  this  resi- 
due with  eight  or  ten  times  its  bulk  of  alcohol;  filter  and  distil  off  the  al- 
cohol. The  extract,  if  strychnia  be  present,  will  be  intensely  bitter.  If 
neceamry.  dilute  the  residue  with  water,  and  again  filter.  Sui>ersaturate 
the  Bltrate  with  liquor  potasaie,  and  shake  the  solution  up  with  itj?  own 
bulk  of  ether.  Allow  the  mixture  to  stand  until  the  ethereal  solution  has 
aepArated.     Decant  the  ether,  and  treat  the  watery  liquid  two  or  three 


ANALYSIS   IN    A    CASE    OP   STRYCHNIA    POISONING, 


times  in  a  similar  manner  with  etber.  Chloroform  is  no  doubt  a 
vent  for  strychnia  than  ether,  byt  it  is  very  much  more  difficult  to 
Distil  off  the  ether  and  di*!«olve  the  residue  out  of  the  fla^k  with  a  lit 
dilute  ufetic  acid.  If  the  solution  be  turbid,  filter,  in  order  to  g«l  ridrf' 
fatty  matter?.  By  a  second  treatment  with  potash  and  ether,  the  alkaluid 
will'  jirt»i)aldy  be  ohtAined  in  a  state  pure  enough  to  be  tested.  But  if  Doi 
or  should  it  eoutain  |jiperin  (which  would  interfere  with  the  color  Usl*,. 
treat  the  residue  with  a  few  drop8  of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  aoii 
stand  it  in  a  warm  place  for  a  few  hours.  The  acid  will  not  injure  th« 
etrychnia,  but  it  will  char  the  organic  matter.  Afterwards  dilute  wiik 
water,  !^atMrate  with  potash,  and  treat  again  with  ether*  when  the  alkaloid 
will  be  obtained  in  n  pure  state.  To  this  residue  apply  the  color  and  olJtm 
tests  already  described. 

(B)  The  method  adopted  by  Messrs.  Rodgers  and  Girdwood,  is  soow* 
what  similar. 

The  contents  of  the  stomach  and  the  stomach  itself,  cut  into  sawll 
pieces,  are  to  be  digested  in  water  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid  oven 
water-bath  for  two  hours,  then  strained  through  muslin,  filtered  and  evaj* 
orated  to  dryne^a  o%'er  a  water-bath.     The  residue  is  to   be  dige?i»?d  io 
alcohol  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  filtered  and  again  evafximt 
to  dryness.     Again  treat  with  diritilled  water,  and  filter  into  u  long  wide] 
tube.     To  this  first  add  excess  of  ammonia,  and  nfterwanJe  shake  up  wil" 
half  an  ounce  of  chloroform.     The  chloroform  having  subside<i,  draw  it 
with  a  pipette,  and  evaporate  it  to  dryness  in  a  small  evaporatixig  basin; 
afterwards  moisten  the  residue  with  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  and  alloWj 
the  niixuire  to  remain  on  a  water-bath  for  half  an  hour.     Add  t«;  ihi 
some  dijitilled  water,  pouring  the  solution  into  a  test-tube,  and  tin 
rinsing  out  the  basin  with  hot  distilled  water.     When  cold,  add  , 
in  excess,  and  shake  the  solution  up  with  three  drachnjs  of  cldoroturm.  It 
may  be  necessary  to  repeat  the  charring  with  the  sulphuric  acid.     Evapih 
rate  a  few  drojis  of  the  chloroform  solution  on  a  white  porcelain  dish,  and 
test  with  sulphuric  acid  and  peroxide  of  manganese  in  the 
descrilwd. 

If  the  particles  of  chloroform  do  not  readily  aggregate,  the  tube  rotisti 
placed  for  a  few  minutes  in  hot  water,  and  if  this  does  not  succeed, 
mixture  should  then  be  diluted  with  a  large  bulk  of  water. 

(C)  When  the  liver,  spleen,  kidueys,  or  other  tissues  are  the  subject  oi 
analysis,  they  should  first  of  all  be  reduced  to  a  pulp  by  rubbing  them  wdlj 
up  in  a  mortar,  and  afterwards  digested  for  several  hour?  with  ftctdulated] 
water.  The  solution  should  then  be  boiled,  and  when  cold  strained  througHJ 
muslin  and  evaporated  over  a  water-bath,  the  same  process  being  tbcal 
adopted  as  with  the  contents  of  the  stomach. 

(D)  To  obtain  strychnia  from  urine,  set  it  aside  for  a  few  days,  until  it 
decomposes  and  becomes  alkaline ;  filter,  shake  up  with  chlorufonnf  and 
purify  the  alkaloid  as  already  described. 

(E)  If  blood  is  being  examined,  dilute  it  with  an  equal  bulk  of  water,.] 
acidulate  with  acetic  acid,  and  boil  for  a  short  time.     Filter  and   evai 
rate  the  filtrate  nearly  to  dryness.     Treat  the  residue  with  alcohol, 
proceed  as  before. 

(F)  Strychnia  may,  according  to  ^Ir.  Rodgers,  be  detected  in  the  boijfti 
of  animals  poisoned  with  it.  The  following  is  the  process  recommended  byj 
him  for  its  detection  in  these  more  solid  jmrts  of  the  human  body. 

*'  The  bones,  broken  into  pieces  of  a  convenient  size,  are  placed  in  a  dt 
evaporating  basin,  and  covered  with  dilute  hydrochloric  acid  (one 
acid  and  ten  parts  water),  and  digeste<l  over  a  water^bath  until  diasolved.! 
When  cold  the  liquid  is  filtered.     To  the  filtered  liquid  sulphuric 


manner 


aJreiwij 


ANALYSIS   IN    A    CASK    OF   STRYCHNIA    POISONING.  Sll 

must  be  added  8o  long  a«  a  precipitate  is  produced,  when  the  liquid  is  to  be 
agaiD  filtered.  To  the  filtmte  sulphsite  of  magnesia  must  be  added  in  the 
proportion  of  one  oimce  to  every  pound  of  bonea  used.  Excess  of  ammonia 
i«  now  added  and  the  liquid  again  filtered.  This  liquid  must  now  be  agi- 
tated with  about  half  an  ounce  of  chJorofonn  in  a  Mopj>ered  bottle,  which, 
a«  before  stated,  di.*fs<dves  the  atrychnia.  After  subsidence,  the  chloroform 
is  U)  be  drawn  oif  by  a  pipette  and  agitated  in  a  capacious  tube  with  dis- 
tilled water.  The  chlorofornj  must  again  be  drawn  ort,  and  eva|x]trated  to 
drir'oesd  over  a  water  bath ;  the  re.sidue,  after  being  moistened  with  cou- 
ceutrate*!  sulphuric  acid,  is  to  be  a^iin  heated  over  a  water  hath  for  half 
an  hour,  then  diluted  witii  distilletl  water,  and  filtered  into  a  tube.  Exce.^a 
of  ainmtinia  is  now  to  be  added,  and  the  liquid  ajijain  agitated  with  about 
three  drachms  of  chloroform.  This  ta^t  operation  requires  repetition,  aa 
the  chloroform  siolutiun  will  not  at  first  yield,  on  evaporation,  the  atryclmia 
in  a  sufficient  state  of  purity  for  the  apj^ilication  of  tlie  color  tef*t.  It  may 
be  necessary  to  remark  that  in  the  above  process  ailvantage  ii?  taken  of  the 
volubility  of  strychnia,  for  as  the  aramoniacal  eolation  to  which  the  cldo- 
roform  h  firet  added  will  generally  equal  an  imperial  pint  in  quantity, 
nearly  one  grain  and  a  quarter  of  strychnine  might  be  in  solution,  not- 
withstanding the  prenenee  of  excess  of  annraonia.'* 

(G)  Dialysi.s  may  also  be  adopted  for  the  separation  of  the  poisorr  from 
the  organic  mixture.  Acidulate  with  either  acetic  or  hydrochloric  acids, 
put  the  mixture  into  the  dialyzer  and  float  in  a  dish  containing  diMJlled 
water.  After  allowing  it  to  remain  for  two  day;*,  evaporate  the  diffusatc 
to  dryness  and  t^t  the  residue.  The  results  obtained  by  the  authors  by 
this  method  are  not  satisfactory. 

^H)  Or,  lastly,  the  general  process  suggested  at  the  coninaeucemcat  of 
this  chapter  may  be  adopted. 

Failure  in  deiecUng  Strychnui  after  Death. 

The  qne^tioD  respecting  the  c^use*?  of  failure  in  detecting  strychnia  after 
poisoning  \n  an  important  one.  There  are  some  who  assert  that  when 
e.tr)'chnia  has  been  given  in  a  miuimuiii  dose  to  cause  death,  it  Ih  not  pos- 
sible for  the  chemist  to  detect  it,  owing  to  its  decomposition  in  the  living 
organism ;  whilst  others  say  that  there  are  no  cases  in  which  strychnia 
may  not  be  detected  in  the  animal  body  after  the  admiuistnition  of  a  faLal 
dose,  no  matter  how  the  poison  was  given  or  how  long  at^er  death  the 
analysis  was  made. 

Both  these  statements  require  modification.  The  first  we  belie\re  to  be 
untrue,  and  the  second  a  little  too  strongly  stated.  Failures  in  detecting 
the  poison,  it  must  be  admitted,  have  too  often  been  due  to  miserably  im- 
perfect niethods  of  research,  and  the  employment  of  rough  processes  that 
modern  chemistry  will  not  sanction.  Strychnia,  it  is  certain,  does  not  de- 
conipo«?e  in  the  presence  of  organic  matter.  At  the  time  of  Palmer's  trial 
in  1856,  Dt,  Letheby  put  0,5  gniins  (jf  strychnia  into  a  hotlle  with  a  dog*s 
stomach,  and  sealed  it  up.  In  18fjll  (thirteen  years  afterwards),  one-half 
of  this  was  examined  by  one  of  the  authors  and  all  thcstrj^chnia  reactions 
obtained.  The  remainder  is  still  preserved.  But  if  the  dose  has  been  a 
miDimum  one,  and  the  period  between  the  taking  the  poison  and  death 
eonaiderable,  it  is  just  probable  that  complete  elimination  of  the  poison  may 
take  place,  and  render  its  discovery  impossible.  Such  cases  are  certainly 
very  rare,  but  still  it  would  he  wrong  to*lose  sight  of  their  possibility. 

The  answer  then  to  the  question,  Under  what  circumstaoces  may  strych- 
nia fail  U>  be  detected  after  death  ?  is  this:  If  the  dose  that  caused  death 
was  very  smalb  and  a  considerable  time  elapsed  between  its  admiuistra- 


^^      y    .'DI^ONING    BY    STRYCHNIA. 

,v-  -  (iiiiination  of  the  poison  from  the  system  is  piv- 

in>.  allure  to  detect  the  poison  is  uotduetoiti 

r^iK-e  }t  tissue  either  living  or  dead  (for  it  is  Dnt 

«     nniu'ition.    But  if  death  is  rapid  (as  it  usmllj 

•t.    :iaL  >.'iapse:s  bctwecu  death  and  the  analysis  is  per 

..       1    ..    iri«?  Mr.  Kodgenji'f*  words,  "  Putrefaction,  to  &r 

^    ....!    iw  separation  uf  the  strychnia,  greatly  facilitata 

..  Miici  ■:iu:«4.'s  death,  only  provided  that  the  dose  is  not 

.....luiii   >ue.  and  that  sufficient  time  has  not  elapsed  ibriti 

>.  '...   .   >  iu  the  body,  and  the  toxicologist  should  find  it,  do 

K   -xamiuation   is  made  immediately  after  death,  or 

..>    .!«(.■•  ia[>^  between  the  fatal  result  and  the  analysis. 

'.'wfii  of  Poiaonwff  trifh  Sirychnia. 

(I.)  BTRTCHNIA. 

,     ..    ■•iii,<«  .iiid  Uazottc,"  July,  lh5ti  (Dr.  Ikioth).    Male:  «t.  46.    iVi  gniu;  !*• 

f.  Hvii  tiiki'n  pri'viouhly. 

.-.,•.        >»»  'i'  '«|H'«vh  :  optsthotoiins;  pupils  dilated. 
1    4L-    murs  and  a  halT. 
.    .  t-.i^wr.    Mciiil>ranL>9  of  brain  and  spinal  cord  congested ;  apoplectic  clot  la  rigM 

.   v^..     :.iiiii.iry  :,  ]s:t8,  p.  r»4i(Dr.  Bluiuhardt).    Male:  set.  17.    40  paini. 
.    ,.•...    ■..■•»€ Ml' my. — .\liii<Nitdin!<:l1y. 

. .,  .ill.  -Mitticw uf  hoad  aud  l)ody  In  flfieen  niinuten;  perfect  coDscloiuneM;  papili 

-...  ^.  .iiiiK  iif  uriar  omotic,  which  produced  very  little  Tomltlog. 
.    ■    -I   ■:!•   h-iiir  uud  a  half. 

.   i;.ii;,»'i  -lioJy  vtTv  stiff;  two  poundn  of  fluid  but  tarry  blood  rmn  out  when  the 

. « ii.  a     III!  strychnia  found ;  Htomaih  uoriiinl.' 
......      v<i::ii'<i  :tl,  IS-V)  (Mr.  (ioorge  liennvtt).  Female:  et.  13.  13^  grains  Id  lolatlaa. 

...   I  iuituHcitfj- — In  one  hour. 
H  .u  ii  ui%  liist  upiH>artd;  oiiisthotouos;  violeut  tetanic  fits;  pupils  dilatttl  darivf 

.    .....    .1    i.xl 

■i.  .I--.  Hut  \iiift!Ar  ami  water. 
.  .  .1    I.  .  i».>  h.Mtrs  autl  a  half. 

•  I     ...  .  «    MMi  ruiMinh."  ii..'>42;  "EdJnhurKh  Monthly  Journal,"  December,  lS4.\p  906(I>r. 
1 :    1.'      ',  uf  a  i;rain. 
.  .    .-.1  .u-Hi-fig.'-lu  Iweuty  niinuteii. 

■|-      :  !l Il-'* 

■l     -.    Ml.-  Ii.'iir. 

>   I  ,  i.'vti.f.    Itrain  and  ni<.-mhranP!i  natural;  spinal  cord  healthy ;  caTltles ofbMit 

.  -i  II  iiiii.il ,  t:ici'  |i]:u-id  ;  lunxH  much  <:oiiK*.'Ati'd. 

M    J.   ii  t..w..'M.'."  vul.  x-xxvii,  184ii,  p.  'jZ't.    Male:  set.  26.    Dose  (?). 

,  .i- »"itf«»ii»«j/.    (".') 

..  I  1    I.I 

'    I  ..I'V'if     Itrain  and  niombrancs  hr-althy;  lungs  gonctrd ;  heart  contaiaed  coifa- 

«i    ii   ii  I. .Willi,"  v»il.  xxxMi.  J).  2"il.    Ft-male:  ii't.Xi.    :t  grains  taken  to  tea. 

"I- my.     Ill  twenty  nil luiU-.H. 

.1  -I..II-..  \  I- ry  ^  inli-nt,  with  {M-rii^ds  of  inteniii>sion. 

I-    ..■.III    >iii   liiiui  iiiul  lliriM--.]iiurtiTs. 

.  ,.  I  .     W.KliiiiMlirilt,"  February '.'.<«,  lS4fi;  "American  Journal  of  Medical  Science," 
.    ■        si.il.      i.liili      ::o  i:raiu>  takiMi  in  spirit. 

>•:■„.  iH.f.     In  tit'tfon  luinulcH. 

»i..  -.11.11  i«iirhiiik;>;  afli-rwanis  (ipisthotonosi. 

I II.  iL.il  t   iiiliiiil.'t. 

I  II..I.I.I.  I.  M.iiithly  .IiMirnal,"  April,  1S4C>,  p.  L>:t()  (Dr.  I-Alwards).  Male:  adulL  Dosef?'. 

I  ..,.tl.  .III.II..1. 

I     ,.i. 

.. .   I..  IK  •"     lii.iiti  aiHl  iiii-uibrancn  hvalthy  ;  lungs  congested  with  dark  flald  blood; 
I    I  ..nil  .Ink  lliii.l  t.l.iihl .  aloniach  healthy. 


CASES   OF    POISONING    BY    STRYCHNIA 


SIS 


April »,  185^   Fomftle:  net.  12.    1  grmto  taken  In  plU  hy 


CASE  P.— ^Brlilsli  Amertenti  Journal,"  Atigost,  1847  (cue  of  Dr  Warn«r).  Male ;  «t.  39.  ^  grain 
of  aalph&bi  of  strjehoia. 

Jime  of  Sfmphmu  commeneing. — In  fire  mlnntM. 

BifmptvmM, — Constriction  of  throat  was  the  flrat  sy mptora ;  LelanJc  coDTa1«loD8 ,  ophtbotonod ;  iuId^ 
dear  i«  ih«  lui. 

iletwtt.— D(r«tb  in  twpntj  minute*. 

CASE  to.-" Mvdlcal  Tita«»  and  GKotto,"  April  15, 1854,  p.  876^    Female :  let.  ae,    Mot% grain  {T>. 

Jlmm  ^f  Spmptonu  ctnntnencing. — In  ten  minutes. 

Sllf$iifilftm$, — ConvulsUiDsi ;  ecnpro»thot^Qas. 

Jbnle.— Death  iu  on(>  hour  acd  tbrec-quarterf. 

CASE  !!.,>-" Pharmaceutical  Journal/'  IMS,  tuL  ti,  p.  208.    Female:  adult,    8  graioa  in  tolutlon. 

f%imM^  SjfmftemM  commencing  —In  fivu  to  tea  uiJout^'a. 

^wytoiim.— 6pa»mi* ;  perfect  constiousneas. 

JHwiiff     fTfith  in  an  hour  and  a  quarter. 

JbuT  iiworlfMi  «»d  ^Nd/yjM.— Heart  contracted  and  emptj ;  bloody  Huldi ;  aothtng  remarknble  in  otb«r 
9«rt4L 

CASE  I'J.— "'  Medical  Times  and  Gawtte, 
Viiatake  for  ralerlauate  of  jeinc. 

ITuMi  nf  Symptanu  rommeneinff. — Very  rooq. 

J|^jtlomi«,— Btckneaa  and  tetanic  conruhifona. 

BcMir.— Death  In  an  hour  and  a  hull 

CASS  la.—" Edinburgh  Mofitbly  Joarnat,"  Septetu^wt,  1851,  p.  234  fDr.  Siolth).    Male:  adalt. 

Am  q/  4rav<cnu  eomm^Ming.—Cy 

iM-mariew*  find  .4iu[/y4i«.— Every  ]i>iat  rigid  ;  eouateaance  ti«Jd;  brala  and  mcicibroBes  rcrj  €on« 
^mM;  blood  fluid  and  dark-culortHl;  Htoutacb  aooMwIiat  i-ocgcHtod ;  apiti^>  not  eaatulned. 

CASK  1^— "Edinburgh  Moulbly  Journal,"  1B55  (Dr.  Lonadale).  Maks:  set.  59.  1^  grains  taken 
hf  mlatake  fw  Jalapln. 

fhni  t^  S^m^Uunt  comat0iuinff,^lB  aa  hour  and  a  haV. 

gfti^tomt^VMeuispMma',  iuterrali  foar  to  elgbt  minute*;  tetanaa;  puplla dilated. 

AmK.— Death  in  one  boar. 

^ul  mterlem  end  AnalyHt.—Bnln  natural;  heart  healthy  and  ea»pty;  lungs  congealed;  stomaclt 
hmaithf. 

CASE  15.— '* Medical  Time» and  CaatHte,"  December  16^  l^H  P-  ^4  (Mr.  D.  G.  McPhefwn).  Male: 
adult-    DumC*). 

Time  i/  Sfmpttm*  ctmvimeiitff  — (7) 

B^mjitvmf     Fnitni  with  his  body  arched,  teeth  clenriwd,  and  ptipik  dUalcd. 

Jto^L— Death. 

i^  mt»rlmn  and  Analifi'-— Stomach  VM  coDgMted  In  spota^  and  the  uucoua  uiembraae  MAenod; 
lu^  mgorged  ;  rod  epols  abtjut  the  diiodenam. 

CASE  1C— "  Dublin  Medical  Prciw,"  June  2S,  1856  (Dr.  Geogbegaa).    Male :  si.  20.    5  gnloM. 

Itmtt  ^  S^mpUmt  ei,mneHcinff.—liu  ifteen  minutes. 

Mmmtt     Ttrnth  In  twenty  to  tweoty-ftre  Qilnutea, 

J^nl  atn-rfr-Tr  and  Analywu.—tAtng*  coageated  ;  heart  contracted,  and  conlninlng  a  little  darltbidl 
Mood*,  tnucuua  membrane  of  atomai-b  AoTteoed. 

CASE  17.— "Lancet,"  June  8, 1861,  p. 571  (Mr.  Lawrence}.  Feniale:  aet.  30.  Probably  talsoil  i»W»ltt- 
Cion.    Do«e(t). 

fimu  ^  Smnptomi  t(nmnmcinff.—(i) 

JlmiylMii  I.— Tetanic  spoanis. 

Jbnill.^Death  in  about  three-qaartera  of  aa  boor. 

CASE  !«.— ♦■  Lancet,"  NoTctnber  16,  1S61,  p.  4tW  (Mr.  Tarlctoo). 
pDl  9hJch  had  been  made  eight  months,  and  waa  rery  b*rd, 
7f«M  ^'SyfnptmtM  txnn«M«)i«^^.— Three  houra. 
S^mplamM.^V»um\  symptoou ;  ounsciuus  and  »eQaib{e  to  the  laat. 
IWuhneni.— Cblufoforui  and  stoiaach-pump. 
JTiiwff     Prnth  in  three  hours  and  ten  mlnutea. 
CASS  I9.-'"Adu.  dUygi^ne."  1961,  vol.  i,  p.  138,    Ufale:  mt,  1%, 
Jlwff     T'l  ath  In  half  au  hour. 

CASE  20.— "Lftneet,'*  July  26, 18.^,  p.  117  (Dr.  Martyn).    Fmnale: 
Ilm^  ^  Slfmft«m4  eotNtncnrtey.— Shortly. 
Sfmptonu.—At  itatial. 
JBiTO*,— RecoTcry. 

tA^Z  21.— Taylor's  "Medical  Juriaprudence."    Male:  adult.    ^  of  a  grain  taken  at  Inbervahk 
*.— Eecotery. 

21 


Male '.  (ci.  12.     S  grains  taken  in 


9£  of  ft  gnOii. 

MH.4B,    1^  of  a  grain. 


OASES  OF   P0I80HING    BY   STRTCBNIA. 


C^E  22.—"  Uoeet,"  Au^ttat  17,  IMI,  p.  I«»  Cl>r.  IVweU).  FcBBie:  at.  28.  i^  ffttiM  m  nl  j 
Sifmplomj. — Ordiuary  fymplnm*. 
JYtatmait.—ChlnTofarra  for  liinra  hourt,  then  emettcc, 
JImWI.— Rocovory  ftft«-r  ounjo  wei»kB, 

CASE  23.—**  LftRCOt, "  Jutiiiary  |0,  18«3,  to],  i,  p.  54  (Dr.  Antcli).     Icniftlci  let.  2*).    «  tfrunt. 
JlfMfilpmj.— SuTore  paroxysniH;  opbthgtouua. 
TrMh>tetU,—On\y  tiU»nnta  given. 
/^ATutt.^Becorerj  (n  tevem  hour*. 

CASE  24.—*'  Medical  GmcHc,-  toK  xll,  p.  KW,    7  fnim. 
BeauU.— Keco  te  rjr. 

CASE  25.— Taylor's  "  Medical  Juriipnidenc^,"  vol.  1,  p.  40a  (caae  of  M.  MerghelynkX    T}^  pvltL 
SemU.—tktvth  la  fifteen  miuuttw. 

CASE  26.— Taylor's  "Mvdi;Al  Jurliprudence,"  Tol.  I,  p,  40ft  («aae  of  Madame  3<«rfbetjrakjL  'i 
grains. 
ifefWI.^Dcath  In  Icn  mlautfls. 

I.  ASf::  27.—"  LaDe«t/'  May  SO,  lftS7,  p.  j»l  (MLt.  Wtlklaa).    Male:  Kt.  33.    S  gralaa. 
Sifmj>(omj.—Tviauiccoavuiai{fii9,  opiflthotoDO^ ;  feet  Id  verted ;  octtt«clouan«M  p«rf«Ct  totlMMi 

SumU. — L>eath  io  tix  lioiira  aod  a  half. 

/\i«|.«uirteM  antt  Analjftis.—tindy  very  rl)(]d ;  flagen  contracted ;  bralo  and  mcmbrmDei  i 
right  Aldu  of  heart  full  of  dark  flukd  btuod  ;  luu^s  cuugitat  d^  nu  poisun  found. 

CASE  28.— '•  Medicsal  Tliuea  add  U««;tte."  NoTeiuber,  1857.    Female  :  let.  17.   5j  of  Butlef* 
k  11  lor. 

JUautt.—JMiMth  In  one  hutir. 

CASE  ».— "Edinburgh  Motitbtj  Journal,"  1K9,  vol.  li,  p.  507.    MAle.    Packet  of  mrtaio-HUft 
Quantity  —  i  graloa  of  Btrychnia. 

CA.SK  30.— Taylor'a  "  Medical  Juriiprudence,**  vol.  I.  p.  414.    Mala:  si.  491    S  gndiUk 

Time  a/  Symfriomt  rcmimenciny. — Klfteeo  uituut«a. 

RcntU.—livtAh  Iq  thirty  uiinutea. 

CASE  81.—"  American  Journal  of  Modical  Science,"  October,  1M4,  p,  899.    FooMUe.    <  gimli 

Timt  tt/  Hymptumt  eommencinff.—Thme  minutei. 

RsamU. — Death  iii  thirty  utloutca, 

CASE  32.—"  Wormky  on  Polsona,"  p.  538.    Male    8  gralna, 

Timt  qf  Sfrnptomu  epmmi9iwtitg,—Oaia  hour  and  thrt»c-i}uarteri. 

JSSBjTM/f.— KecoTcry. 

CASE  83.— '*Araericaii  Journal  of  Medkal  SeleDce,"  April,  1845,  p.  M2.    7  grataa  Ukafe 
doaea,  at  ftve  houn'  Interval. 

TiMU  vS  SjfmptemM  CMn«i«ti£iiiy.— Two  bout*  and  a  half. 

JEanttf.- Recovery. 

CA^  M.— "American  Journal  of  Medkal  Sc1«dc«/*  January,  1863,  p.  269.  Mala.   8  to  tOgnlaial 
nitrate  of  strychnia  taken  at  ono  ttoic,  and  aft^^rwarda  12  irniliu. 

r/e«t<M«n«.— Cranberry  soup  was  lakeu  bt<f'.»re  the  poiaon ;  the  drat  doso  was  taken  In  bltt^r<«UMHii 
water,  aitd  after  the  lait  doee  10  ^raiuji  of  aceUte  of  morphia  were  awallowed. 

/Eou/t,— Recovery. 

CA4E  3&.— Taylor't  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  voL  I,  p.  7SU    10  graina. 

SiJtuU.—thiAlh  ill  ten  miiiutea. 

CASE  36— "American  Journal  of  Medkal  Science,"  April,  1884,  p.  537.     Male.     IJ^   rralw  «f 
atryt'bnla,  wltb  the  aamr  quantity  of  Qua  vomica. 

RtMuU. — Death  imuiediat«. 

CASE  37.—-'  American  Journal  of  Medical  Sclenee,"  October,  1881,  p.  409.    •  gnlna.  • 

.fiftrwil.— Deatb  la  aix  lioura. 

CASE  3«.—"  American  Journal  of  Medical  Science,"  October,  1882,  p. 582.  Faittala:  at.  M  bipniM. 

Titmit  tf  Si^Mfdomi  cnmmencimg. — Tun  nilntitea. 

JisMiJl- Hecovcry  in  six  wet'ks. 

CASE  39.— Perplr»'9*'MaU'rla  Medlca."     Female,    2  to  3  grains. 

Jiautt.^DKMlh  In  two  hours. 

CASE  40  —  '  Briliah  and  Foreign  Medko-Chlnirflcal  Review,"  April,  1857,  p.  dOS.  Male.   |0  graiaa. 

Ttmt  qf  Symftfvmt  tiommeneifljf.— Fifteen  tuliiuti'B. 

S^MtfMofnt.— Vomiting  occurred  very  early.    Syuplvnta  aa  usual. 

/£r#nl^— Kecov«ry  in  one  week. 

CASE  4L~" Lancet,"  May  17, 1873,  p.(i96  (Dr. Dlcklnaoo).  Female:  wL  IC.  OibK>n'a  renala.kiiW. 

Time  of  SiftHfrittrnM  oaMMMiAfMf.— A  few  miDutea. 

/WoAfKai.- Uypod«nnlc  I^JooUon  uf  5tas.  of  chloral  hydrate. 

itesHA.— Aecuvary. 

CASE  42.^'*  LAnoat,"  October  U,187S,  p.  5»9i.    Male;  ■;(.  87.    About  1  frmla. 

Jtm*  qT  8ifmpl9m$  evmmmKtmif.—Viri  minutes. 

J!«««(t(.— D««tb  In  one  hour. 


ii 


OASES    OF    POI80NINQ    DY    STRYCHKIA. 


SI5 


lAiiwt,"  Jaauiry  13, 1S72,  p.  4^%    Hmte  *daU  (rat-polMa).    —  1  gnln  of  strTchalA. 
piMU  90mmtmeing. — Twenty  minutes. 
-TrMtment  adopted  before  ihe  eymptomi  aei  in. 
L— JM.  Uoct.  oplL 
(L — Eeooveiy. 

&  44.— "I«acet,"  D«c«mb«r  ^,  1H71,  p.  907  (Mr.  BeAttyK    Female:  sU  22.    Packet  of  Battle's 
Hkiller,  ibeo  sy  of  taudaDuni,  nod  rh«D  3«9.  of  red  pr&ctpiute. 
I  ^f  Sjfwtplamu  eommmdng.—Thirij  uiiDutea. 

MfMM.— Nuou  of  the  ordlnarr  itrjcboU  BympUtxan  ocuiiTT«d;  thoiie  of  opiuDi-polaoolDg  aetin 
(Urt>  minutes, 
tL— Itocorerj. 

S  45.—'*  lAQcet,"  Dwjembor  23, 1871,  p.  907  (Mr.  BwUty).  Femal« :  mjL  17 ;  pregnaiit.  B«til«^B 
t-kUler. 

I  ff  i^fnytom  eonMnMM^.—Very  moil 
itoDoa. 
-Tlneture  of  oplutQ. 

Medical  Tlmoa  and  Oiu«tte,**  Maf  25. 1861,  p.  561  (Mr.  Tboratun).    Peitiale.    3  or  4 

'S^m^ttoms  commemcing, — Very  •oon. 
><wwi.— Vtoieot  courul#iuiii  occurring  every  twenty  ultiutea;  no  pain. 
taMNt.— Emellcs  and  cbtorororm . 
H— Recovery. 

1^7.— "Laoeet,"  July  10,1852,  p.  88  f Dr.  Cooper  Fanrter).    Biale:  art.  52.    About  1  grain. 
mtif^mptom4  ay»Hmeneing.—ln  tea  mioutefl. 

Bu.— Tetanic  coarulsioiis ;  oplstliotontw ;  a  paroxy«m  every  alx  mtnaies^  laatlog  tvo  rainntea. 
ImnI.— CmeUca. 
U. — RecoTery. 

B  «».—'•  Lancet,"  June  9.  ll«!5,  p.  R96  (Mr.  Heodry),  irfale:  kU  30.  Sijof  Buller'B  rermin-kUler. 
UpHU. — Twlaulc  coDTuUiom;  op|Atlic»toiKUi. 

fm^iwl.— Emetics  and  Ktomacb-pump,  but  tbeae  vere  not  UBud  for  one  bour  and  a  half. 
K.— ttecravery. 

B  «.— "  J^ancet,'*  April  19. 18S6,  p.  428  (Dr.Ogaton).    Male :  kU  28.    A  packet  of  Manden'a  ver- 
Id  Intect  killer  —  ^  of  a  fraln  of  ttrycbnfa. 
iitfSirmpkmtt  eomm^mettig.—Almoti  Imniediately. 
(*ral,— No  treatment. 
0.— t>e«th. 

mftiem  and  ^na/y*l«.— Pupils  dilated;  back  part  of  acalp  loaded  with  blood ;  brain  and  mem- 
Bturai ;  a  quautUy  of  Mood  in  the  Hploai  canal ;  blu^td  on  t>uLh  aidu»  of  hearty  lunge  much 
|P',  clouiach  and  duodenum  congested;  atrychuia  diiscuvered. 
B  90.— Caj«  of  Dove,  vide  "  Lancut,"  March  lH  and  22.  IS&i,  pp.  292-321. 
g  61.— "lAocet."  September  13,  li^56,  p.  S02  (Dr.  Jones,  Jersey).    Female  imtft    ^  a  grain. 

Ktptcms  eommtncinff.—lu  twenty  minutes. 
Tetanic  convuLaiuuB,  wbitib  at  oue  time  left,  but  ruturn^d  ;  opiathotooos. 
Itearcely  any. 
IL— 0«fttb  In  Ave  hours. 

yiiiiii  and  JfM/yHf.— Spioe  arched  ;  fingers  and  Jaw  firmly  clpncbed ;  much,  blood  escaped  on 
Bfee  »kull  and  spinal  cord ;  atomach  natural ;  eaob  ventricle  of  heart  contmined  a  dot  of 
■Mnid  blood. 

iSL— ■•  Lancet,"  Jnly  20, 1956,  p.  107  (Mr.  Craater).  Female.  ^  of  a  grain  in  three  pUls,  with 
I  hour*!  interval  between  each. 

\^fSlgm^piomt  «omm«neiHg.— Begun  after  taking  aecond  pill. 
DSsRM.- VIolentooDvalslons;  tetajfUs. 
tngnt — Bntftk!*, 
ft.— BcQOvery  In  Are  hours. 

^LftDe«t,"Oct.  lO,tS97,p.961(Mr.  Haaell).    Female.    Qverlgimina. 

' A iuiiy#<f.— Post-mortem  Id  flfly-elybt  bonm;  Angers  and  jaws  Axed;  lungs  oon- 
fuU  of  blood  ;  on  the  ri|tbt  side  ntomach  natural ;  brain  congested  at  the  baSA. 
L—'*  Lancet,"  July  IS,  1867,  pp.  il  and  118  (Mr.  Fulker).    Malesdult.    3  grains  of  ver- 


meneiny,— In  tbree-<iuarters  of  aa  boiir. 
.—Only  two  miuutee'  iul«rval  buiwecn  apuuiB;  great  thirst;  spoama  oeMed  In  twelve 
>||ect  clear- 

^— Kept  under  the  Influence  qf  chlorororm.    Tincture  of  aconite  glvan. 
»»ery. 

'"  Lancet,"  Jan.  17, 1846,  p.  79  (Dr.  WatsaojL    Feoutte :  set.  13.    ^  of  grain  la  lhre«  pUU. 
Hsisejis^.— tn  twenty  mlnutea. 
iRoa;  mind  clear;  cooruUitjaa  ceased  suddenly ;  pupils  dilated. 


314 


CASK  2J 
St/inp'oiii 
Trr'ttm- '. 
Jiemli.- 
CASI-:  J 
.S.v*iiy7.'-. 
Tnal- 
y.V.*-:'  ■ 
(•A>1    - 

/:■■.•.■..■ 

/.■•  ■ 

(  \  . 


..>ii    BY    STRYCHNIA. 

<r!y-i'i)ur  hours.    Brain  aud  membranes  nftlunl: 
..•I     luu^ti  coi)j^'i;dt(.Hl ;  alouiach  Duriuul. 

•II.  dl  Society  ;"  "  Berlin  Journal,"  Dec.  15,  l$70(Dr. 
1  ■  "i  j:raiiia  of  ntrycbnla. 
xiiiiiai>yui|itoiU9. 

March  11, 1871,  p.  2»3  (Dr.  Atltt),    Male:  ttU  ».  % 


J: 


..    ■  »ot.  23.  UtV),  p.  491  (Dr.  Caiuoron).  Fi-male :  *t.  1"  A  U. 
A  .;r:iiu  of  .strychnia. 


.    ^/.,-it..-."  .May  y.  IHdii,  p.  400  (Mr.  McCarthy).  Female :  »t.  4.  ?■»■• 

■!»  'H>un. 
..->  I'lau-d. 
-.1  :tii  tor  one  hour  and  a  half. 


..i   M/.ctt«',"  June  27,  istw,  p.  n91  (Mr.  Phelp.-»).    Female:  let.  14.  Pea- 
.  .;iu.,'c/-lH'er  -—  about  1  grain. 
....     Vciy  soon. 

.  .i.:.<>i  iiuJcr  its  Influence,  the  stomach-pump  was  used. 

...  .   iii.l  I'.a/.etto,"  July  fi,  1HG7,  p.  .5  fDr.  Ifunterf.    Female:  »t.  TO.  M 

.i.  II  -iiiniij:  li)rty-lwo  hours  ^  ^*.,  of  a  Krain. 
..    ij,-     III  live  niiuutt-a  after  the  luMt  dot»e   "  }„  grain. 

.-..  vt-uiTcd,  but  ^  iolcnt  convulsive  twit<.-biugb  ;  miud  clear. 

,..  ,   ii.a  Cazettc,"  Manh  8,  ISfVi,  p.  2.V)  (Dr.  Wiluiot).    Female:  «t.  IS.   i 

.  .',,'      Alw>ut  fifteen  minutes. 
.1  «•-  minutes. 
SI  ••.l.lark  aii'llliii'l:  ri>;bt  side  of  heart  full  of  blor»d  ;  stomach  natural, 
:■  iii>t  :i|'|.art  ul,  explained  by  her  having,'  previously  i-aten  orani;M, 
:.,  il  Journal,"  June  2:2,  1S72,  p.  (J«KJ  (R<v.S.  Haughlon.M.D.).    Male:  irt. 


.  .  IIII.I  opi^lbotonos. 
,■  ...»  .vi  iiii-.'liii  j;iveu  every  half  un  hour  in  whi.xky  punch. 

.  M  ,!■.  «1  .I.iiirii.il."  S*>|>t.  IS,  i<iv,»,  p.  ;{22(Mr.  Heward).    Female:  at,  56.  Packet 
.i'.-Mit  ^  <r;iiii'«  of  i>trychnia. 

«    iiiinul<-'<. 

,.,-.     >;sii:«  of   t.tiiuio  e'Hivulhions;    .<«toniaeh  conge»led  and  corrugated; 
■  .  ,t     ii-.nl  i-.'Uti;u-tt»l  aiul  enijdy. 
1  -ik  Miiliial  lleeord,"  .March  1,  1S»)7.    4  grains. 

.i..|.  1  itil.'ii.foini  for  seven  hours. 


•i    \\-  .li.'  tl  .l.<iirn;il,"  S.-pt.  21,  l'<r»7,  p.  2.'>fl  (Dr.  Henry  Thompson).    Female:  xt- 
,. ..  Wei..  ol  ».-iimii-kilk'r. 
<     ifiy      liiiiiK'diute  hut  Ixirnini;  tastu,  and  twitohiuifs. 
,     ,,  .i'>i'  III  Ir.ili  in  lioiir  :  and  reiiiaiiu-d  so  for  six  or  t-ight  hours. 

Ill  I ,  tiii)>li.>i  vteie  ailinini^lerod. 

.  ,  >■'  iii.Hiih. 

,  .  I.  M    ii,  il  l..uiii.il.'  Deo.  ;Hi,  1S71,  p.  754  (Dr.  Roberta ).    Vermin-killer. 
I  I    .  I 

I  .      .,,     t  %pi.N-i>>u  of  fiii-o  calm,  and  not  distorted,  and  the  bc'dclothei  vere 


OASES   OF  POISONING   BT   NUX  YOMIOA.  817 

CASE  68.— "British  Medical  Jonrnal,**  May  20,  IMS,  p.  S09  (Mr.  RoRcn).    Female:  ttt.  28.  Barber's 

fie  Termln-killer  powders  (2.8  grs.  strychnia  in  28  grains  of  powder). 
Jlfj^lswi.— Ordinary  symptoms. 
SVwrfMciU.— Stomach-pump. 
AmA.— Death  in  two  hours. 

Aiii-Merfnn  and  ^iM/y«<*.— Rigidity  of  muscles  found  to  haTe  disappeared  after  nine  hours;  braiii 
md  splnmlcord  healthy;  longs  very  congested;  both  sides  of  heart  empty;  blood  rery  fluid. 

CASE  69.—"  Edinburgh  Medical  Journal,"  April,  1875,  p.  907  (Dr.  Ogilrie  WUl).  Male :  ttt.  18.  Not 
1m  than  4  grains  of  strychnia. 

fVai«  0/  S^fmptonu  commencing. —A  few  minutes. 
<8irmpl9HU.— As  usual. 

IVesAnaU.— Chloral  hydrate  and  emetics  given. 
JUmmIT.— Recovery. 

CASE  70.—"  Edinburgh  Medical  Journal,"  Sept.,  1873  (Mr.  Buckley).    Male. 
T^reatmtenl, — Chloroform  and  1%  grains  of  atropia  injected. 
MentlL — Recovery. 

CASE  71.—"  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  July  20, 1861,  p.  67  (Dr.  Sehnler).     Male :  ct.  SO.    One- 
twvlflh  of  a  grain  applied  to  Punctum  lachrymale. 
Thme  ^  SfB^onu  commencing. — Three  minutes. 
.—Tetanus;  urine  and  feeces  evacuated. 
».— Recovery. 

CASE  72.— "Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Dec.  15, 1860, p. 696  (Dr.  Part).    Female:  nt.31.    AM. 
faper  of  Battle's  vermin-killer  «  about  3  grains. 
ItsM  0/  Sjpnftomt  commencing. — (7) 
Bj/wtpUmu. — Opisthotonos;  violent  tetanic  convulsions. 
IWofiiMitf.— Emetics  and  afterwards  Indian  hemp  and  chloric  ether. 
Jgwiilf. — Recovery. 

CASE  73.— "Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Oct.  80,  1858,  p.  443  (Dr.  OgUvie).  Male:  »t.  21.  4 
frBtna  of  strychnia,  taken  probably  in  colTee. 

ffaM  ^f  SfmptomM  commencing. — One  hour. 

dlratpAniM.— Tetanic  seizures. 

flvsAneiif.- Bleeding  and  emetics. 

Atufl.— Death  in  seventy  minutes. 

iWwarteiw  and  Analif$ii.—Y enouB  congestion  of  the  brain;  heart  large  and  empty;  longs  very 
OMifested ;  stomach  and  intestines  normal. 

CASE  74.—"  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Jan.  2, 1855,  p.  19,  from  "  Boston  Jonrnal."    Male:  wL  Iff. 
t  fTBlna  of  strychnia  in  powder. 
Tfmt  qf  SgmplomM  eomtnmeing.—{t) 
ifllwwplwm.— Violent  symptom*. 

IVvafMeitf.— Chloroform  administered  for  four  hours  and  a  half. 
Mmmtl  -Recovery. 

CASE  75.— "Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  June  12,1858,  p.  600  (Dr.  O'RelUy).    Male.    6  grains 
in  beer. 

r.— Violent  tetanic  symptoms. 

L— Nicotin  given  in  the  form  of  Infusion  of  tobacco  (5x  of  dried  tobacco  leaves). 


CASE  76.—"  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  June  14, 1856,  p.  609  (Dr.  Kirk).    Male.    6  grains. 
fl mtmunt.    Stomach-pump ;  friction  over  spine  with  hot  turpentine. 
AmAL— Eeoorery. 

(n.)  NUZ  VOBCICA. 

CASE  77.—"  Ann.  d'Hygl^ne,"  1861,  voL  II,  p.  431.    Male.    800  grains  (powder). 
Tbmt  ^  JS^fn^om*  eommateing. — ^Two  hours. 
Sjfmtploms.    Convulsions. 


CASE  78.— Chrlstlson,  p.  901.  Female :  aged.    8  grains  of  extract. 
Jtlsnrff —Death  in  three  days. 

CASE  79.—"  Chrlstlson,"  p.  901.    30  grains  (powder). 
JtaMlb- Death. 

CASE  80.—"  Lancet,"  Dec.  15, 1819  (Mr.  IliflT).    Female :  set.  23.    SU  (powder). 

Tbme  ^  9ir>^)lom»  commencing. — Very  shortly. 

iftr«y*osM.— Dilated  pupils;  tetanic  convulsions  every  two  minutes. 

H  — ftwaii/.- Emetles  and  stomach-pump. 

AMrfb— BeeoTery. 


MUX    VOMICA 


CAMK  H.—"^  London  Medlcsl  B«|M»{|«r3r/'  vol.  xlx,  p.  4IS,  ftod  Wonnlvjr.  p.  Sift.    FMMfe.  H 
(p(i«ili>r), 

l>m*  0/  Srgn^oms  eowmfneing.—FoTij  mlnuleB. 

/{Mtt^A— [>ealb  in  one  hour 

CASK  iS.—"  New  York  M?dlciU  JoorM),*'  TOl.  jtxx,  p,  448,  w»d  Wormley^  p.   vn      K.msl       * 
talilvpoooM  (powder). 

Hmt^3im*ti9^^  MNwuMwHiitf.^IniitanUjr. 

JTtmff     fftiTrrrrx  Id  its  hours. 

TABE  <«,— OrflU, " Toxicologic  toI.  ft,  ^  605.    Male.   QaaoUly  (?). 

filei*  ttf  Sifmftiom*  commeneiuff.—lmmiidinUeij. 

Muvii.—VtHiih  on  rourth  dij. 

CASK  K4.— ••  Lftne«t»'*  Dw,  28. 1839,  p.  BOO  (T>r.  R.  D.  Tkomma).    F«ttUd« :  »i.  W.    qtttottif  fV 

JKfw  0/  iSympltimi  commtmcififf.—'V6TY$oon. 

Result  ^{yvuih  tn  two  hours. 

C  A»K  80.— "Ltwcot,"  Dot.  22,  1SIV1.  p.  MR  fl>r.  Hftwall).    Male :  Kl.  20.    Ibi.  (powdtr). 

JVr/w  <\f  Sffmptmnt  «wnm*n«np.— Witliln  ti«n  mloatea. 

B^ijtlnwui.—\n  ilirvLM|uArten  of  hd  hour  bod  IHanfc  conToUIoQ*;  optaUiotono^i 

JV»irtfi»i«ii.— Emet  lc»  aurt  atomach-pucup. 

iJ^juJ!/,— BtvoTery  la  two  daya. 

CABK  86.— "Lanc«t,"  May  17,  IS.'ie,  p.  901.    Female :  aei.  18.    laa.  (powdef ). 

nm*  <f  SfmpHma  emttneneing.—yery  s-joo. 

gyiiij»loiii«.^Toiapoa,  aodprerloijsljr,  complete  paralysia  of  lower  estremlUaa ;  fnteileet  eteif 

JV»BlWM»?.— Enactlw. 

JBMwfir.— Doath  in  WTea  hour*. 

/^MtfHinonfcM  an  J  ^  no/y#ui.'-Slotiiacb  and  ^Il«t  laach  loHaincd. 

CASE 87.—"  Lancet,"  May  17, 1950,  p.35l.    Female.    Nux  vomloa  and  ttryohBtn. 

JYow  qf  aijfmptmns  comttumHng. — lo  oue-quarler  of  an  hour. 

JS^fwtt.— DeAtb  lo  oup  tiuuj-  aod  a  half. 

CASE  88.— "Minlleal  Tlinrn  «od  »4a«i«lto,"  .Tan.  Ifi,  16.^8,  p.  m  (Mr.  L#3r).    (I)   MaU :  «lallt  81 
Ftinalo:  adult.     FiYc  giraliis  of  extract  lAkpn  hy  each  to  a  pUl. 

liiM  0/  Symptoms  cow(Wi«id»y.— Forty  iiiinule». 

4|n*9'fof)H'.— Vkotcnt  spHBUiB  and  ietaouB ,.  compIaJQed  of  b«log  "  fixed  "  lo  the  chair* ;  iot«UM*(  of 
te(b  ««re  clear. 

^— Eknetira. 
»,— KecoTery, 

CASK  m.— '*  Medical  Tlmea  and  Oajett4>;'  Feb.  9. 1850.  p.  148  (Mr.  Dariaa}.     Fem&le :  bL  IC   ^ 
{pf>wdttr)i. 

7^m«  <<  jymptona  nHi»maMif«|;r.— Walked  two  mllea  after  Uklng  It    Sjrmploina  oonVMMVd  !■  at. 
boor  and  a  half. 

i.—Vlolrnt  tetanic  aymploma. 
it.— Taiuitn ;  sulphato  uf  copper ;  cold  effualon. 
-I)calh  lu  three  liour»  and  a  half. 

AiaMnorfirMi  and  Antttf/^ii.^Wnin  f>(t  and  coDg«al»d ;  httat  alnioit  onpty ;  langs  cooj 
tob  allghtly  coaf«eU4  toward*  pyloric  end. 

Ste  aUo  iht  Jolhwing  nddiiional  ensea  0/  Sh-yehnin  Pioimntistff  : 

"Medle*l  Tlaiea  and  Oaaette,"  Deo.  »1, 1864,  p.  702  (cue  of  Df  luloe  polwning:  hU  pstfiuit  TranfryV 
"  *'  Aug.  14.1658.  p.  170  tButler'avenoin.klUer.    Z»eMh). 

**  <•  Marth  is.  1856.  pp.  174  and  3M  (caa«  of  I>uve>. 

"  Brltlah  Medical  Journal."  May  31,  18^,  p.  973  (Death  (Wo  atrycbula  applied  to  i>ao«U  Itchrr- 
SMlla). 

»  Medical  Tlmea,**  Aug.  31. 1847.  p.  812  (on«-q«iaft«r  lo  half  a  grain.    I>eaib  In  Ck»ane«a  to  ivwtf 

nloutnk. 
"  British  Medkal  Joantal,"  Jan.fi,  1866,  p.  39  (poiaoning  by  Honter'a  tofalUble  rwaOaMOtty 


i 


'  Medkal  TiraM  and  QMtttff,* 


UFAS  TIEUTB. 

Aag.  28.  Is6^2,  p.  Ml  tc*»ft  at  Java), 
May  18,180,  p.  AIL 


Strychnia  aymptosBa. 


Bnicia  was  discovered  by  Pelletier  and  Caventou,  in  1810,  Id  the  swd 
ftod  bark  of  the  Nux  vomica  and  St.  Ignatius's  beao,  in  coujuuctioa  with 
strvchuitt. 

tirucia  is  ftiund  either  ««  a  bitter  white  odorless  and  amoqihous  powdefr 
or  tti  tht^  fortti  of  crystals  consisting  of  groups  of  needles  or  four-«id«d 
prisms,  containing  15.45  per  ceot.  of  water  of  crystallization.   Bnicia  hu 


SYMPTOMS    OP    BRUCIA    P0I8DNIN0. 


819 


istinctly  basic  properties,  but  they  are  not  so  powerftil  as  those  of  strych- 
nia. It  melts  at  115^  Cent.,  and  tsublirnes  at  204°  Cent.  It  is  not  acted 
ipon  by  cold  sulphuric  acid  or  by  cftus*ttc  alkalieii.  It  is  dis8olved,h»tnot 
Jecom posed. by  hydrochloric  acid.  An  intense  red  color  is  produced  wheu 
I  18  treated  with  uitric  acid,  a  reaction  which  doe^t  not  occur  with  strychnia. 
3ne  part  of  anhydrous  brucia  disi^olves  in  1050  of  water  at  16'  Cent.,  and 
In  440  of  ether.     It  is  ven^  soluble  id  beozul,  chlorolbrra,  and  alcohol. 


S^ptomHf  etc, 

[  Brucia  has  similar  properties  to  those  of  strychnin,  producing  almost 
iideotical  physioiogical  effects,  but  its  activity  is  very  much  less.  The 
iinSTfth  of  a  grain  of  strychnia  will  produce  cunvukions  in  a  frog  in  seven 
minuter,  when  given  by  the  mouth.  It  rer^uires  the  liath  of  a  grain 
of  brucia  to  produce  the  same  etfcct  in  the  same  time  ;  that  is,  strychnia 
is,  as  nearly  fis  po.s$ible,  ten  times  more  powerful  in  its  actiuti  than 
(brucia.  The  convulsions  produced  are  neither  so  severe  nor  so  long  con- 
Jtinued.  Three  cases  of  death  from  it  are  related  by  Casper  and  two  by 
;  Chrif»ti80D. 

'  Tests, 

Nitric  Aeid  with  brucia  and  its  salts  pniduces  a  brilliant  red  color, 
which,  on  the  application  of  a  moderate  lieat,  changes  to  yellow.  If, 
after  warming,  a  trace  of  protochtoride  of  tin  be  added,  the  color  changes 
to  a  deep  purple,  which  may  be  bleached  by  an  excesa  of  either  the  tin  salt 
I  or  nitric  acid.  No  action  is  produced  with  the  nascent  oxygeu  color  tests, 
^but  if  brucia  is  mixed  with  sulphuric  acid  and  bichromate  of  potash 
jadded,  there  is  first  an  orange,  then  a  green,  then  a  yellow  tint  produced, 
itheactioD  not  being  dependeuton  the  nascent  oxygen  as  it  is  with  strychnia, 
jbut  on  the  reduction  of  the  chromium  salts. 

(  The  canatic  alkfi/lm  give  a  white  amorphous  precipitate  soluble  in  free 
[acids;  nv/phoci/nnifte  of  pottLonimi,  a  white  precipitate,  first  amorphous  then 
S crystalline,  insoluble  in  acetic  acid  ;  birJtromaifi  of  pofmh^  a  yellow  crystal- 
jline  precipitate,  insoluble  in  acetic,  hot  soluble  in  nitric  acid  ;  bichloride  of 
ij}fatinum,a  yellow  precipitate,  decompi>sed  by  caustic  alkalies;  chhn'de  of 
^old,  a  flesh-colored  amorphous  precipitate  ;  rnrbfttnttc  arid,  a  yellow  pre- 
cipitate, sparingly  soluble  in  acetic  actd  ;^erriej/auide  of  pfjtasitiu7n^  a  light- 
yellow  crj'stal  line  precipitate,  the  fbrmalion  of  which  is  prevented  by  the 
•presence  of  a  ivf<^  acid;  iodine  in  iodide  of  potamum,  an  orangc-lirowu 
'amorphous  precipitate ;  bmmine  in  hydrobromic  add,  a  deep-browa 
jamorphous  precipitate;  pet^rkloride  of  mercury,  a  white  amorphous  precip- 
;itate;  iodide  of  potamium,  a  crystalline  precipitate,,  which  takes  some  time 
jto  form  ;  and  tannic  acid,  a  white  amorphous  precipitate. 
\  In  an  organic  mixture^  the  same  process  that  is  described  for  the  re- 
loovery  of  strychnia  may  be  adopted.  In  testing  the  residue,  the  action 
lof  nitric  acid  should  be  first  trie<J,  and  afterwards,  the  protochloride  of 
itin.  and  if  no  result  is  shown  with  the^se,  it  will  be  useless  trying  the  other 


24.  MELANTHACE^. 

A  sagrtra  OJicinu  Us. 

(Sabadilla— Cevadilla.) 

The  fruit,  which  is  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  length,  contains  one  to 
three  seeds,  which  are  of  a  brown  color,  and  have  a  disagreeable  per- 


P0I80V1 


Milf  I  lAttmr  «»d  fkcrid  taste,  Aod  pcodnoe  wbeo  cbewed  great 
llw  tansBe  and  lip^ 

Half  a  dnurfam  vill  |>roTe  &ta]  to  a  dog  or  cat,  irrttaot  ajmpioiiii  oq» 
joiDed  with  D«nrous  symptoizis  bein^  pirodaoed. 

Its  poiwDous  actioQ  is  doe  to  venOria,  which  alkaloid  is  asuallj  pr^ 
finoillus  plant. 


(Veimtrine.) 

Vcfatria  ii  ao  alkaloid  contained  in  several  plants,  such  as  the  Veil' 
tnu  albam,  probably  in  the  V.  Tiride,  and  in  Sabadilla,  from  which  it 
iiVfnall  J  prepared.  It  exists  io  these  probabl?  as  a  gal  late.  One  poood 
of  flibadilia  Tieldf  tweotj  grains  of  Teratria  (t>r.  Tbonison).  and  accord* 
mg  to  Mr.  Scatter^gfxxi,  thirtj  grains  may  be  obuined  from  one  pound  of 
die  root  of  the  V.  viride. 

It  ii   osually   met  with  as  a  white  amorphous  powder,  but  may  t^^* 
obcaaoed  io  crystals  from  the  alcoholic  solottoos,  although  with  some  <iitH 
eolty.     It  has  no  smell,  but  if  applied  to  the  nostrUs,  it  produci  - 
and  nocootrollable  sneezing.     It  is  slightly  bitter  and  acrid  to  ' 
prodociBg  great  dryneis  and  heat  in  the  faaees.      An  iuteui«e 
■TiMitimi  it  produced  when  the  alcoholic  solution  is  applied  tu  tii> 

It  is  TeiT  slightly  soluble  iu  water  (1  in  9(X)0),  somewhat  «< 
ether  (1  in  100*,  and  very  soluble  in  alcohol,  chlorofurm,  beii 
dOate  adds. 

It  melis  at  115^  C  (239^  F.),  giving  off  a  pungent  vapor,  and  leaviog 
behtnd  a  carbonaceous  mass. 

The  solution  has  an  akalioe  reaction.  It  forms  salts  with  adds^  whidi 
are  very  soluble  in  water  and  chloroform,  but  io^uble  in  etbor. 

Tbe  iteaetioiit  of  acids  upon  the  alkaloid  must  be  specially  noted,  MJ 
lliey  are  eiiafaetaratic. 

1.  Sm^Ame  acid  turns  it  yellow.   The  mixture  Mioufly 
and  aftentaida  violet.     The  reaction  is  hastened  by  heat, 

2.  NUrie  aod  dtangca  it  u>  a  tight-red,  becoming;  yellow. 

3.  llyrfrodklerrieaeuf  (Trapp*$Test)  dtasolves  it  without  changing  its  color,] 
bat  on  warming  the  solution  it  beoMnes  ltd, 

4.  Chhride  of  gold  gives  a  lemon-yellow  precipitate. 


Aeiion  of  Alkaloids  wUA  CM  Sukkmfie  Aeid^  and  AUeroiions  produosd 
tiW  AppStaiion  ^  Meat, 


ooid  add. 


bf«VRi«k-]rell»«.  adiI  sllcr«srdbt» 


WTien  Wtmod. 


laowdlai*   p«rpl«,   t>M   cotor 
Sudfac 

ciimmO'tmA,  laea  tIoIhi, 


Bdirlit  l>rnvBl«b-rm).  which  darkvMb 
|Hir}il»'rv<l, 


tkwrk«M,M4 


black. 


Color  dlKhmrc«d. 

Cdilnr  iii«nir.«is  Ibu^rr  tmt 


POISONING    BY    VERATRIA. 


821 


As  regards  the  action  of  sulphuric  acid,  it  is  well  to  note,  that  when 
added  tu  veratria,  the  red  color  is  slow  in  appearing,  whilst  with  the  other 
bodies  it  is  rapid.  The  preceding  table,  taken  iu  chief  from  Worm  ley, 
will  illustrate  the  reactions  of  oil  of  vitriol,  cold  and  warm,  with  the 
leTeral  bodies  mentioned. 


Erperimeiiti  on  Animak. 
Experiments  on  animals  prove  veratria  to  be  an  active  poison. 


Dose. 

AdIiimL 

Gr.U> 

C«t 

o».u. 

Cat. 

Or.  iU. 

Dog. 

Or.  fj. 

Dof. 

6r.i. 

Dog. 

6r.J. 

Dog. 

How  ftdintDi«l«ri>d. 


InlectH  lutojagti' 
Ur  tHo. 

Inypclod  fa  to  peri- 
ton  cum. 


SjrmptouiB. 


at  mouth. 
Iii'itantaneouii  frothing 

lit  motiLb. 
InAtAnt  vonmitV;  Invol- 

uijt*rj'  tulfturltlon. 
No  i-fftfl,    (This  WM  ft 

iJlifferiMit   K«iit|iU4    iif 

the  druK  to  that  iixod 

111  Ibe  procodlagez- 

fMirfniPDla.) 

T«llitllc  tpMIUB. 

Tctftnlc  Biiuin*. 


Death. 


Death  in  l  tuloute. 
D^Alfa  In  1^  lalD- 

UtfS. 

Death  in'i  hours. 


Dt*nlh  Id  «  fevMO- 

ondH. 
DefttblbdiDiiiutn. 


Authority. 


Wonnltry. 
Wormlcf. 
Wormlejf, 
Hftgeudlo. 

Mageodie. 
Hafleadte. 


In   the  human  sulyect  the  j^th  of   a  grain   has  produced  dangerous 
[fjtuptoms,  accompanied  with  collapse. 


Treatmenf. 

le  treatment  must  consift  in  the  administration  of  emetics,  the  u.se  of 
tbesstomach-pumpand  p<jwdered  ehar<*oal,  tanniu  infusions,  and  gtimulante, 
whiUt  opium  combined  with  purgatives  may  afterwards  be  useful,  if  the 
lient  can  bear  them. 


Ctttea  of  Poiaoninff  with  Veratria. 

CASK  J,— T»ylor*«  "Medtcal  JurUprudenw,"  toI.  I,  p,  382  (Mr.  Odllawty).  FemAlo,  Onewtenth 
ftf*gr«ln. 

Si^fdtmi.^Atitr  A  Mhori  ttmewat  found  lEis«iiin)lo;  surflicecold;  puls«  failicii;,  mnd  appireutly 
dying 

JS«Mi/l.— BMHiirery , 

CA6B  1— Dr.  P«ircy*i  PHm  BHsy,  1861,  p.  70.    Mite :  tdtilt.    fiO  gnlu  of  crude  f«nitH«  pr«- 
tntm  V.  ?irfd«. 

r,— VoQiking;  proatrfttlon  ;  loss  of  pulse ;  recoTerr  od  third  dsy. 
L— E«o»CT7. 


Ookhicwn  Auhtmnak,     (Fig,  32.) 
(Colcbicum— 'Meadow  Saffron — Autumn  Crocus.) 

All  parts  of  this  plant,  even  the  flowers,  are  poisonous,  the  bulb  and 
ceeds  being  especially  active.  It  has  a  fibrous  root,  and  an  underground 
•tern  or  eorm. 

The  corm  or  bulb  is  white  internally,  and  has  a  brown  external  coat.     A 


§mm^mwLmikithmhhJkm^a^   Ita  xmau  h  UumnA 

''^^  Tke  «obA  am  «r  m  raddkhbroiro  €ol«^ 

thtr  ftre  iMitl,  ipberkal,  tod 
skrmiU  (fiwB  S  to  12  to  1  j^raio,  Gaj). 
TWt  hftfe  m  bilier  taii^  but  qo  ftmelL 

AJ  ft  naJMiM;  dfee  ftrtiofi  of  cx>Idiicoa 
b  «frft»hi  lis  ftOtiTilj  varies  accurd- 
iai^  10  Ike  lawBB  in  wliieh  it  b  gathered 
(OrOft  ftod  ChrittinQX  >u  energy  hmg 
grealoc  in  tbe  antBom  ^  Buehner). 

It    owttaitM   a   pecuitar    acid  called 

It!  active  prtDcJple  is 

CMtieiMia  or  Colckidn. 

f 
Goldiicto  »  8DppQ0ed  by  some  to  be 
idiotieftl  with  vetatrta.  but' of  this  there 
U  oonaderable  doubt     It  do€«  oot  pro- 
duce the    violent    saeeztng    pecultAr  to 
veratna.     It  is  slightly  soluble  ici  wateffj 
the  ^lutioD  being  alkaline^  but  \s  ont  Ml 
soluble  a^  veratria.     It  is  freely  soluble] 
ID  alcohol.     It  gives  with  oitric  acid  a  re^ldi^h-violet  color,  whit  h  verf  I 

fOOQ  |rfUtt«  off. 

SymptomSt  Doagf  etc. 

The  symptoms  in  the  humaD  subieet  may  coramence  immediately,  but 
^r»,  at  any  rate,  rarely  delayed  beyond  three  hours.  Paiu,  vomitiDg^ 
pur^iijf(.  (lie  HtrKjls  being  frequently  mixe<l  with  bloo<i,  cramm  and  occm* 
iioimlly  <'oiJViJ!l0toDSt  gi'eat  irritatiou  iu  the  throat,  thirst,  dilated  pupUi, 
with  gn'ut  er>hlnew<  and  prost ration »  are  the  commonly  observed  t^ymptojitt. 
Not  unuHUttlly  they  closely  resemble  malignant  cholera  in  their  nature. 
Delirium  aod  auppression  of  urint«  have  been  occasionally  noticed.  In 
ieveral  oaMi  relat)»e  and  death  have  occurred,  where  for  a  time  the  urgent 
symptoms  B<»emea  to  yield  to  treatment.  Death  ha.^  taken  place  io  seven 
hours,  whilst  it  ha*  been  delayed  for  eight  dayy,  but  in  the  majority  of^ 
ciiMM  it  occurs  williio  twenty-four  hours.  One  ounce  of  the  wine,  forty- 
eight  grains  of  the  dried  bulb,  a  tablespoonful  of  the  seeds,  two  outjee» 
\\w  rof>ked  leaves,  and  a  handful  of  the  flowers  have  severally  caused  death*] 
Uccovery  U  recorded  after  one  ounce  of  the  wine  and  one  ounce  of  thl 
tincture  wspectively. 

Post-mortem  Appearaticeit 

Tn  nearly  all  cases  the  stomach  and  intestines  are  found  inflamed.  Lij 
two  cases  no  redness  wa^  noticed,  and  in  one  case  the  stomach  was  Raid  to 
b«  gray  and  brittle.  Frerjuently,  purple  patches  will  be  observed  on  the 
•kin,  and  occasionally  on  the  internal  organ.^.  The  liver,  spleen,  brain, 
and  ftpinul  cord  are  usually  congested,  the  bladder  empty,  and  the  heart 
ftl  1 1  o  r  n  Ml  g  1 1 1  a  1 01 1  b  I  i>od . 

Colrhii'um  \m»  been  administered  criminally  (Reg.  r.  Catherine  WiiMtfi, 
K\  C.  t'„  Hcpt,,  1 8<i2,  murder  of  Mrs.  Soames). 


POISONING    BT    COLGHICUM, 


823 


Experiments  on  Animah. 

Two  drachms  of  the  drlefl  bulb  given  by  the  mouth  were  found  to  kill 
Idog  (Slorck).  A  similar  auautity  dissolved  iu  sherry  and  the  soluble 
"Ikirtiou  injected  into  the  jugular  vein  of  a  do^,  caused  death  lu  five  hours, 
with  voniitinp,  diarrhoea,  and  great  prostration.  Of  mlehicin,  the  y*gth  of 
'rain  killed  a  cat  in  twelve  hours,  vomiting,  purging,  staggering,  aod 
Lvalion  being  produced. 


Sj  of  the  wf  D« 
olammx  skin ; 


Ca»e9  of  Poimninff  by  CoUhUum, 

CASE  I.— Tmjlot'B  "  Hedicat  JuHsprudence,"  f ol.  1^  p.  330.   Ifmle.    Sfaa,  of  wine  of  colcbicam, 

i||)Mfrfuim.— Immediate'  pain  Id  »bdom«o;  death. 

Jiwiifr     r-Bth  in  sereo  hoitrs, 

CASE  2.— Schneider'*  *  AanaJcn."  toI.  1,  p.  282.    lU  of  wlno  of  oolchlcum. 

iir«»/f.— Di^aih  to  tbirtf-oiDe  boun. 

CASE  3.—"  LTDlon  Mfidicale,"  Aag.  24,  IMS.    i}  of  wine  of  cokblcuui, 
io«u.~CraRip«  Id  limb«;  twitchlngs  of  tendooa. 
•.—Recovery. 

CA>^C  4— "American  Journal  of  Mndical  Sdence,'*  Jao.,  1897.    Female:  Kt.66. 
tak»n  In  the  roarsp  of  twelre  hour^  tn  dirtded  doaea. 

Jijf<iyft>wij,— Nam^a ;  romitlnf;;  wlfKbt  purfflDg;  heat  and  p«iQ  InlhroAt;  tblnrt 
fttbto  p<ulw»;  poio  ia  ttomsch,  w|i[cb  coaiinued  for  |bree  da^a. 

MmtdL—RtcoTHTj. 

C^SB  «,— ••  Medical  Oaiette,"  toI.  i,  p,  160  (Mr.  Fereday  Diidloy).  Male.  Jlj  of  wlno  of  Dolchlciini 
(iMdaV 

^jfmploint. — Yumitingin  one  hour  and  a  half;  grwat  pain;  tnnfHinu"  and  thirst;  no  convnhlonft 
or  loacaalbilitj  -,  stippresstoo  of  urine;  weaknen  of  tlmbe  ;  and  bofnre  di^itlti  dark  watery  purging. 

JSarMtt.— Dvatb  In  fortj'-eiRht  boorR. 

Jint-^mprUm, — A  patch  of  redaexn  found  In  stomach  near  the  cardiac  end;  Jejunum  InOntiied  ;  blftd" 
dcr  eapty  ;  purple  patches  ou  the  skin. 

(^ASE  6.— Taylor'a  "  Medical  Juruprudencfl,"  toI»  i,  p.  S30  (Mr.  Bfann).  31!tn.  of  eolchicurn  wine 
iB  divided  do«n. 

JltMMli.— l>eatb  on  the  fourth  day. 

AiMMTtrm.— No  inSnmmntloa  of  lancous  roembrane  found,  but  ■Imply  extniTasallon  of  blood 
l»lo  tke  mucous  fotlicled. 

CASE  7.--"EdlDbargh  Medical  and  Surgical  Joamat/'  toI.  zIt,  p.  262.    Male.  Slw.  of  wine  mwle 
fhHD  bulb. 
;!^m|i(»fM,— Vomiting;  pain;  purging;  colic;  dalirtum;  death, 
JBpKtt,— Deaih  Intwodaya. 
FmI  larfiiw.— Ko  morbid  appearancea. 

CASE  8.—*'  Chriatfion/*  p.  882.    Three  toldien.    18  oes.  of  eolrhtcnm  wine. 
gifa^iama^—Thti  first  bad  aympioniaof  malignant  cholera;  death  In  two  days  from  collapse. 
Jta»«ftr,MJ>  Death  in  two  days. 

The  other  t vo  had  tiniilar  sjiuplomn,  pauiog  into  dyaeatery ;  death  in  a  ft^w  weuka. 
MmmU.'-{'2  and  3)  E>eath  after  a  tvw  weeks. 

CASE  9.^"  Annalea  d'Hygi^^^  Publiqac,"  toL  xrl,  p.  S94  (M,  CjklTe).  Fi'mak.  St  of  wine  contain- 
lar  tb«  netive  matter  of  %  lb.  of  Iht-  bulb. 

aifmpttrm:--P»lD,  Tomlling  and  coldness  caroe  on  rapidly;  Dpprewlan  of  brent  hing;  greftt  proetn^ 
tlon ;  cramp* ;  no  purtiing,  or  delirium,  or  conirulaiooa,  or  change  In  pupil ;  deaib. 

Aanrft.— Death  in  twonty-two  hnunt. 

^Mi  morfgiw.— Cerebral  vesnela  cooKetited ;  coagulated  blood  in  heart;  stomach  brittle  and  gray; 
Feyei'a patches  very  Mrld  and  distinct. 

CASE  10.— "Annales  d'Hypl&ne  Ptibtlque,"  vol.  xil,  p.  397.    Female  (lister  of  la^  case).    St  of 
wine,  eootalnlng  '^  lb.  of  bulb. 
i|p«qpla«u'  —Similar  njmitUtmn, 
AMCIt— Death  In  twenty-eight  bourn. 
PtMf-flHricM. — Putrefaction  after  forty-eight  hours  so  far  adraoced  as  to  render  reitutts  uncertain. 

CASE  II.--" Lancet,"  April  4,  1840,  p  62;  '*Jr*uro.  rte  Cblmie  MMicale,"  Tol.  vHI,  p.  351,  Dec.,  188a. 
(CbeTsllier).    Male  :  st.  50.    AViue  made  from  the  bulb. 
I.— Pain,  thirst,  ToniUiag. 
L— Death  lo  three  days. 

.—No  morbid  appearances.  * 


822 


POISONIKO    BY    OOLCHICUM, 


milky  juice  flows  out  when  the  fresh  bulb  is  cut. 
acrid. 


Its  taste  is  bitter 


FlO   92. 


r. 


Th^  »eeds  arc  of  a  reddish -browD  cold 
exteninlly,  and  white  ioternally.     lii 
pearance  they  are  hard^  spbericaL 
shrivelled  (from  8  to  12  to  1  grai^  ' ' 
They  have  a  bitter  taste,  but  ii< 

As  a  medicine,  the  action  of  o«.kii»-  mu 
is  imcertaiu.     Its  activity  varies  aownJ* 
inj:^  to  the  seasoo  in  which  it  is  .    '      ' 
(Orfila  and  Christison),  it*  eut  r. 
greatest  iu  the  autumn  (Biicbuer;. 

It    eoDtaina    a    peculiar    acid 
Civadic  acid. 

Its  active  principle  ia 

Cokhicinia  or  CalehMcin, 


Col  chic  in  is  supposed  by  some 
identical  with  veratria,  hut  of  ihi^  ibfW 

fii      I       ^H^H  i^  congiderahlc  duubt.     It  doe^  not  pm^ 

II       I     y^BBm^  ^^'^^  ^^^    violent    sneezing    pet^uliar  to 

11       I  tWH^^^I  veratria.     It  is  slightly  soluble  in  water,, 

if       h  fJ'f^M\vJ\  the  solution  being  alkaline,  but  k  ool«' 

soluble  aa  veratria.  It  is  freely  soluble 
in  alcohol.  It  gives  with  nitric  acid  a  reddish- violet  color,  which  veij 
soon  passes  off« 

Stpiiptom»,  Dose,  etc. 

The  symptoms  in  the  human  subject  may  commence  immediately, 
are,  at  any  rate,  rarely  delayed  beyond  three  hours.  Pain«  vomitijig 
purging,  the  stools  being  fre«^uently  mixed  with  blooii,  cramps  and  oce*' 
sionaily  convulsions*  great  irritation  in  the  throat,  thirst,  dilated  pupib, 
with  great  coldness  and  prostration,  are  the  commonly  observe*!  sympti^^nw^^ 
Not  unusually  they  closely  resemble  malignant  cholera  in  their  nature^ 
Delirium  and  suppression  of  urine  have  been  occasionally  notictMi.  Ii 
sevtfral  ca^^ej^  relapse  and  death  have  occurred,  where  for  a  time  the  ui 
symptoms  seemed  to  yield  to  treatment.  Death  has  taken  place  in 
hours,  whilst  it  has  been  delayed  for  eight  days,  but  in  the  majoi 
cases  it  occurs  within  tweuty-fuur  hours.  One  ounce  of  the  wine, 
eight  grains  of  the  dried  bulb,  a  tablespmiuful  of  the  seeds,  two  oui 
the  cooked  leaves,  and  a  handful  of  the  flowers  have  sevenilly  causi^ 
Recovery  is  recorded  after  one  ounce  of  the  wine  and  one  ouuce 
tincture  resiiectively. 

Post-mortem  Appearatices* 

In  nejirly  all  cases  the  stomach  and  intestines  are  found  inflamed.    Tl 
two  leases  no  redness  vi&s  noticed,  and  in  one  case  the  stomach  ^ta  Mid 
be  gray  and  brittle.     Fretjueutly,  purple  patches  will  be  ubMrved  on 
skin,  and  occassional ly  on  the  internal  organs.     TV 
and  spinal  cord  are  usually  congested,  the  olod' 
full  of  coagulated  blrx)d. 

Colchicum  has  been  administered  cr'' 
C.  C.  C,  Sept.,  1862,  murder  of  5f  r-. ' 


326  POISONING    BY    WeiTE    AND    GREEN    HELLnMV. 

The  poisoooMS  actioD  of  the  plaot  is  due  to  the  presence  of  the  ftlki 
veratna.  Three  other  alkaloids  are  said  to  have  been  found  in  the  pli 
and  have  been  called  respectively  SabadHlia,  Colchida^  and  Jtrvia.  WhiM 
Hellebore  is  a  powerful  irritant  poison.  Three  grains  of  the  extract  t\ 
ptied  to  the  nostril  of  a  cat  killed  it  in  three  hours,  whilst  a  dog  died  fr 
the  application  of  twenty  grains. 

Pain,  giddiness,  vomiting,  insensibility,  convulsive  movements,  di] 
pupik,  and  in  one  case  blindness,  are  the  recorded  syruptotnB.     iXeath  ifti 
one  caee  occurred  in  twelve  hours.     The  pofit^mortem  ap{>eaninces  are  Uie 
produced  by  an  irritant  poison. 

Caaes  of  Poisoning  tcith  the  Wfiite  HelUbore, 

CASE  1.— Runt's  ".TournHl;"  ''ClirUtlitoD,"  p.  879«  Famiiy  of  eight.  p«r»ona  «te  br««d  oooUltlaf 
pOwdiTPd  root  wblcb  had  been  addt-d  by  ml.ttaku. 

fynpioau.—P»la,  AwclJiug  of  tuugue,  giddlocM. 

Remit — ReooTery. 

CASE  2.— Horn's  "  Archlv."  1879.    Fftinllr  of  three  pereons  ■!«  the  root  by  luliUkc 

jfii^n^itoiiu.—Iiu ruing  in  ibruat,  oaubea,  aud  votuiting  came  ou  itx  one  bour;  g:lddlii<>«s,  biiniin 
nod  dilated  pupils;  faJulnena;  coovuL^Lve  Urealtiiui;;  iu   on«  cats  great  leibmrgy,  aod  an  »ni;;>(^i  ■ 
IUc«  flea-bitu. 

JEmuZC— ReooTery. 

CASE  3.— "Cbri«liton,"'p.8Sa    Male.    Quaollty  (?). 

Symptomt.-~Wn\<6Xil  Tomltiug.    Uenih. 

^eniit.— Death  Id  Iwelre  houra. 

/\MK-m«tr<<iin.— Outlet, atumacfa,  and  colon  inflamed. 

C^S£  4.— StiLt6-s  "  MaterijftMedica;'  vol.  Iv,  p.  314.  Two  cbUdr«Q :  »t.  8^  and  \%.  I»ed«rtteli( 
white  heliebore. 

iS^jptonu.— Vomftlng,  iruenaJbility^apnJimodic  cuoTomeDts  of  fiac«  tod  limhs;  puptU  dUlMl. 

itcnJI.— B«cuTi>ry. 

CASE  5.—"  Lancel,"  July  4,  1S57,  p.  9  <Mr.  Gtleaji  Male.  Sm.  of  powdered  white  hcUehMt  late 
by  tnhiitake  for  creatii  of  tariar. 

Aymiptowu.— Pain  and  alckneas  in  four  boun.  No  rotnitlng  occurred  until  after  eiueitoi  had  bHt 
fiven.    NocoiiFulBluua. 

J?c«y  if.— Recof  ery. 

Hdlebonta  Viridis. 

Veratrura  Viride. 

(American  or  Greeo  Hellebore — Indian  Poke — Swamp  Hellebore.) 

All  parts  of  the  plant  are  bitter  and  nauseous. 
It  is  said  to  coutaiu  two  alkaloids  (Bullock); 

1.  Veratroidia  (like  veratria)  which  w  soluble  in  ether.     Like  venUitt] 
it  causes  sneejsing,  but  it  has  a  higher  nieltiug- point.      Sulphuric 
turns  it  an  intensely  red  color,  whilst  hydrochloric  acid  has  no  acl 
upon  it  even  when  heated* 

2.  Viridiaf  which  is  insoluble  in  ether. 

We  believe,  however,  there  h  little  doubt  but  that  veratroidia  is  ideo' 
tical  with  veratria. 

The  syutptoMis  produced  by  the  green  hellebore  set  in  in  from  half  ao 
hour  to  some  few  hours.  Vomiting  and  purging,  cold  perspirntioos,  an 
almost  imperceptible  pulse,  paiu,  in  some  cases  loss  of  speech,  with  great 
prostration  and  eolla|J!se  are  commoo  synjptoras.  Death  has  t>c<.'uri^  io 
thirteen  hours,  aud  been  delayed  for  four  weeks.  Seventy  drop*  nf  the 
extract  have  killed  an  adult,  aud  thirty  to  forty  drops  of  the  tincture  have 
proved  fatal  to  an  iufunt.  Ilecovery  is  recorded  after  a  drachm  of  the 
tincture  and  a  teanpoouful  of  tli,e  fluid  extract.  No  special  poet-anoneai 
appearances  are  recorded. 


CASES   OF    POISONINO    BY    VBRATRUM    YtRlDE. 


327 


CaseJi  of  Poiifoning  with  Vcrairum  VirvU. 

CA8B  1.^"  Hedlcftl  Timn*  Aod  G«sott«;*  196S,  Tol.  I.  p.  S  (Dr.  EdwAnU).    MiUe.    Sj  of  tbp  tincture 

(tlvcD  hrUebore  -^  13  grains  of  piwder. 
Jl^a^yloiiML— CoUapMi ;  features  sunk  ;  skin  cold  uid  p«npiH.Dg;  palM  Bcarcely  perceptible;  padn  in 

iMih,  but  no  pur^ng, 
JSmw^. — Recovery. 

CASE  2,— •"American  Journal   of  Medical  Sclejjce."  July,  1865,  p.2S4  (Dr.  J.  C.  HrpHsX    .fit,  18 
ntb*.  Fonr  ur  flvedoan  of  4  dropi,  aoduucdtise of  lOdrops,  of  tfnctua'' of  veratruui Tlrldc. 
fi>y<Vi»>iii,-~Alt<mpt  io  romll;  uDcunacluutuesi  and  sterlorous  broatblng  set  In  in  sevtru  hours 
T  the  flr9l  doa«  ;  puhe  slow ;  cold  perapiration^ 
««HJir.— D«ath  ia  thlrlceo  hottrs. 

H.—"  Buffklo  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,"  ^ot.,  184S&,  p.  133  (Dr.  T.  M.  Johnaoa).   Female: 
TOdroi*  of  Tildc'o'v  Uuld  (.^'Xlrftcl  of  veratrttm  Tiridej,  tak^n  in  two  doties, 

—Fain  in  stomach,  nauKa,  and  vomiting  occurred  in  two  hours  after  the  first  dofee.    In 
.vo  liuurs  afWr  thi:  second  dose  tbesjuiptoms  increased  Id  aeveritf,  with  great  pr!:Hitratlou.    After 
Iwrlvv  hours  the  stools  wore  blcMidjr.     Vomillug  cunlttiueJ  for  four  wecka,  when  nim  died. 
J:esttU.^L>eAth  aA^r  four  weeks. 

/^Mt-morfcwt,— Nulbing  tioticed  in  Ibe  post-mortflui, except  that  thei  atomacb  waa  uousaailj email 
I  siac. 

CASE  i.— "  American  Journal  of  Medical  Selencu,"  Oct  1863,  p>  fi63  (Dr.  J,  B.  Buckingham).    Male 
lute    A  leaapoonful  of  the  fluid  ixtract  of  grc«ii  bvUebore. 

ayw*fitomt.—ln  thirty  minuter  twcauic  speecblesa  ;  retching  and  Yonltidg ;  pube  almost  impercep* 
lihlc ;  cold  perHpiratlona. 

CASE  8.— "American  Journal  of  Medical  Scienoe,"  Onst.  1865,  p.  6flS  (Dr.  J.  B.  Buckiitghsm}.   Hale 
Sduit.     A  traapouiiful  of  the  fluid  extract  of  green  ht'llcbore. 

jRtrMfitowM— ^yutptomii  »lmllar  to  laat  case,  with  loM  of  fpeech  and  of  locomotion. 
L— Jteoovery. 


MENISPERMACE^ 

Mejiuipermtim  {or  AnamiTia)  Coccuhts. 
fruit  is  known  as  the  Cocciilua  Indicue  or  Levant  Nut.) 

This  plant  ia  a  climbing  shrub  growing  in  the  East  Indies. 

The  fruit,  which  i«  known  as  the  Cocculus  ludicus,  is  like  a  large  dark- 
browu  pea,  and  consists  tif  two  parts,  husk  and  kernel,  the  former  being 
dark-brown  in  color  and  fibrous  in  structure,  and  the  latter  yellowish  and 
oily.  The  »heU  portion  has  an  emetic  action  and  contains  a  non-poison- 
ous alkaloid  called  meni^ennin  (CigH^^N^O).  The  kernel  portion  h  very 
ptjidonous,  the  active  principle  called  picrotoxin  (CjH^Oj)  being  present 
iu  quantities  var}'iQg  from  1  to  2  per  cent. 

We  have  here  an  illustration  of  a  very  poisonous  substance,  completely 
inclosed  in  a  uon-poisonous  husk.  Is  the  administration  of  the  whoie  see^, 
which  may  pass  through  the  body^  possibly  without  producing  any  bad 
results,  to  be  legally  regarded  as  the  administration  of  a  ix^ison?  It  was 
decided  that  the  administration  of  a  poison  with  intent  to  murder,  although 
bv  good  fortune  it  was  so  administered  that  it  woultl  not  act,  was  to  be  re- 
giirded  as  the  administration  of  a  poison  within  the  meaning  of  the  statute. 
(^Iteg.  r.  Cluderay,  Jan.  ID,  1849,  page  32.) 

Uses, 

Cocculus  Indicus  has  acquired  some  notoriety  from  its  having  been  used 
for  several  impnjper  purpfwes.  It  has  been  employed  for  killing  fish,  some 
doubt  exiatiug  as  to  whether  the  fleJih  of  fish  so  killed  is  poisonims  or  not. 

it  id  also  used  m  a  bird  poison  {**  Barber's  poisoned  wheat").  It  has 
1  used  by  thieves  to  prwluce  intoxication  ("  hocussing  ")  aa  a  means  of 
fiu*ilitating  the  commission  of  crimes.     It  is  said  to  be  used  by  brewers  aa 


326 


POISONING   BT   WHITE   AND   u  t: 


The  poifionous  action  of  the  plant  i.*  *; 
veratria.    Three  other  alkaloids  are  snl 
and  have  been  called  regpectively  Sah'i'!- 
Hellebore  is  a  powerful  irritant  poise 
plied  to  the  nostril  of  a  cat  killed  it  '• 
the  application  of  twenty  grains. 

Pain,  giddinesii,  vomiting,  iusri: 
pupils,  and  in  one  case  biindncs:?,  n.- 
one  case  occurre<i  in  twelve  hours, 
produced  by  an  irritant  poison. 

Casea  of  Po'.y-  /,?, 

CASE  1.— Rust's  "Journal;"  'TliriMi 
powderttl  r<iot  wliiuh  bad  bevn  ail<i<  d  '>:■ 

Syuiptoou.—ValD,  &wvlliug  of  toii^":- 

/icfu/r— Recovery. 

CA.SK  2.— Horn's  "  Archlv,"  1>«S.-|.    ! 

if'tftnjitotiui.—nurulng  in  thro:it   i....: 
and  liilatt-d  pupils;  falutnos;  i;<>:i' 
lik«>  flfa-bltos. 

Bemlt.—Hecuvery. 

CASE  3.— ••Chrlatlion,"  p.^-n. 

Symptoiu*. — Viulent  vumitit-.. 

^uu(f.— Death  In  twelve  li>  ■■ 

Fosi-mvrtfm. — UuUft,  hlnrii-i'.  I» 

CASE  4.-.Still6's  "Materia  M 
whilu  hcllfbore. 

Symjttunu. — Vuiultiug.  i:: 

if«r«//.— Recovery. 

CASES.— "I^nc't,".!:: 
by  iuUtak«  for  creaiu  ni  :  . 

iSymjjIumi. — I'ain  ait'i  - 
given.    Nocouvu1»i<ii.4 

AV«m//.— Rccuvf  r  y . 


(American 

All  pjirt!^ «»: 
It  is  said  t> 

1.  Veratr'.- 
it  causes  ."li 
turns  it  an 
u]>on  it  ev«- 

2.  Virlr 

We  hvV 
tical  wii!« 

The  >>  • 
hour  to 
almost  i' 
prostrai' 
thirtiii' 
cxtratJ 
provt'fl 
linciui 
a]>p»*si  • 


iiluting  their  \mt. 

ilution,  by  the  ad- 

For  alfsuch  pur- 


-i.ll2e*  easily  from  a  hoi 
.r:i.  .Tystals."    Its  taste  is 

nueh  more  soluble  in 
.  nl'.-roform,  alcohol,  tnd 
^!%.iline  solution, 
•iiblime,  but  it  U!»uilly 
.."  •  icUi  added  to  it  pro- 
:.  : .::  when  the  acid  mix- 
?•:-■::.     Xitric  and  h^n- 

i."  Langlev,  namely,  th»t 
v:h  acids.     As  a  rale, 

•  :.  -.i-rn  throw  them  down 
li  :he  case  of  picnrtoxin, 
:;  V-  bv  the  addition  of 


■c*!.  or  else  it  passei 

:.-M:iIly  caused  by  it. 

■-.  principle  (picro- 

zj.\:  an  hour,  i8  to 

:^     This  passes  on, 

.:lTds:ed  by  tetanic 

'-:-  i.tU-ed.    Lastly, 

IAS  been  delayed 

:   1   v-.Qecrlassful  of 

..  -..-:  rrom  the  mere 

.  •  *;x  yean?  old. 

:js  rtftra  drank,  the 

::  -d.::cii  by  loss  of 

.    ■  .:;r:r  or  sh«>rter 

'ai'-'a:  on  waking 

-  to  1  >>werful  ex- 


.  --  .:-  •■  <::i.     At  other 

,  •  .?    -f  ..?:.n  into  the 

.   ji^  '..  w:  ill  the  signs 

.,,  ..  i  •.;   a  twenty-five 
z,  iii'i  ::i4t  three  or 


POISONINQ    BY   OOCCULUS   INDICUS.  829 

Toxicological  Analysis, 

In  coDd acting  a  toxicological  inquiry,  treat  the  stomach  and  its  con- 
«nts  with  alcohol,  filter,  and  evaporate  nearly  to  dryness.  Treat  the 
"edidue  with  a  little  water  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  and  shake 
he  acid  liquor  up  with  ether.  Carefully  draw  off  the  ether,  when  crystals 
if  picrotoxin  may  be  obtained  on  evaporation. 

A  similar  system  may  be  adopted  with  beer,  as  Mr.  Langley  proposed. 
WTe  have  found  this  process  to  give  very  good  results. 

The  extract  in  the  case  of  beer  may  be  tested  by  its  action  on  animals. 
[d  every  case  the  physiological  tests  for  picrotoxin  should  be  carefully  tried. 

Depaire  suggests  another  method  of  separating  picrotoxin  from  beer. 
^hake  the  beer  up  with  common  salt  (400  grains  to  40  ounces)  and  filter. 
Bzbaust  the  filtrate  with  ether,  and  treat  the  residue  of  the  ethereal  solu- 
ion  with  alcohol  and  water,  to  which  one  drop  of  sulphuric  acid  has  been 
idded.  This  solution  is  to  be  warmed,  and  when  cool,  filtered,  and  again 
ihaken  up  with  ether,  the  residue  from  which  may  then  be  tested. 

Cases  of  Poisoning  with  Coccubts  huiiena. 

CA8E  1. — ^Traiirs  "Outlines,"  p.  14B.    Several  men  drunk  rum  containing  the  poison. 

JSenil.— One  diod  and  the  rest  rt^'overed. 

CASE  2.— Canstatt.  "  Jahrosbericht,"  1844,  vol.  v,  p.  298.     Male:  a;t.  12.    5lj  of  a  composition  con- 
ainlog  Oteeulut  Indicus,  prei>anxl  Tor  the  purpose  of  killing  flsti. 

SifmfdoiHM.— In  a  few  miiiutcs  hiiriiiiik;  pain  in  stomach,  not  relieved  hy  vomiting, occurred ;  gastro- 
'Dteritlif  suporvvned,  with  dcliriuni  and  purging. 

JluuU.—J)QgLth  on  ninotcenth  day. 

7^«e-mor(<-m.— ConffeHtionof  the  membranes  of  the  brain;  serous  effusion  into  ventricles;  stomach 
»(t  and  discolored  ;  Mgns  of  ptritonitis. 

CASE  8.~\Vharton  and  Still^'s  "  Medical  Jurisprudence,"    1873,  vol.  ii,  p.  506  (Dr.  Fish).     A 
loantitr  of  the  decoction  Riven  to  six  penk>ns  by  mistake. 

SjfmpUm*.—Convn\iiUms  occurred  in  two  (who  had  taken  a  wineglassful)  after  twenty  minutes. 

In  the  four  (who  had  tak^n  alM)utone  ounce),  giddiness,  nausea,  and  pain  in  abdomen  set  in  after 
ibout  thirty  minutes ;  in  one  case  insensibility  supervened. 

RutiU. — Death  in  the  twu  cases  in  half  an  hour.    All  the  remainder  recovered.. 

CASE  4.—"  Philadelphia  Medical  Examiner,"  April,  18o2.    .Et.  6.    Head  of  child  washed  with  an 
ilcoholic  tincture. 

^'inp/owu.— Tetanic  spasms  in  thirty  minutes,  pupils  contracted  during  convulsions,  and  dilated 
D  the  intervals. 

RamU. — Death  in  a  few  hours. 

Po^mortem.—^o  post-mortem  appearances  found. 

CASE  0.—"  Philadelphia  Medical  Examiner,"  April,  1852.    (A  younger  sister  of  the  preceding 
!Me.) 

jnyn^iCoffw.— Symptoms  similar  to  the  last  case.    A  scarlatinal  eruption  appeared  the  day  aAcr  the 
kpplication. 

JBetHft.— Becove  ry . 

CASE  6.—" British  Medical  Journal,"  April  4,1874,  p.  459  (Dr.  Bcettern).    Four  men  and  one 
voman  drank  ale  containing  Ci>ccuiu$  Indieua. 

S^pt(ma.~Fzln  aud  vomiting  set  in  after  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  In  one  a  lichenous  cruptlou 
ippeared. 

t.— Recovery. 


OLEACE^. 

Llgustrum   Vulgare. 
(Privet.) 

The  berries,  leaves,  and  shoots  of  this  plant  act  as  narcotico-irritant 
poisons.  Three  cases  of  death  by  them  are  recorded.  The  symptoms  pro- 
duced are  vomiting,  purging,  drowsiness,  and  convulsions.  The  convul- 
lioDS  assume  a  severe  tetanic  form,  opisthotonos  even  not  being  uncommon. 
Lfon  of  muscular  power  sometimes  occurs.  Privet  appears  to  have  a  very 
DODSidemble  influence  both  in  exciting  and  in  producing  the  menstrual 
Bow,  for  in  six  children  of  an  average  age  of  thirteen,  menstruation  com- 

22 


S28 


POISONIKO    BY    COCCULCS    INDI^ 


a  substitute  for  hops.     The  low  publicans,  af\«r  fn* 
iDcrease  its  lotoxicating  properties,  deterlomtc*!   ' 
dition  of  an  extract  or  a  deeoctiou  of  eocculua  iui 
poses  its  use  is  yery  improper. 

Pierotoxin  (C^HO,  i 

Picrotoxin  is  aaid  to  be  a  glucoside.  It  -f 
acid  watery  fwjlutiou  in  colorless,  stellate,  bexi 
very  bitter. 

It  is  somewhat  soluble  in  cold  water  (1  ii 
boiling  water,  whilst  it  is  freely  soluble  in 
amvlic  alcohol.     It  is  also  readily  eolublc 

Tf  heate<i  very  carefully  it  may  be 
merely  melts,  swells  up,  ami  darkens,     i 
duces  either  no  color  or  a  very  slight  -i 
ture  is  warmed  the  orange  tint  becom 
chloric  acids  dissolve  it  without  chanc 

It  is  important  to  note  one  fact   i 
picrotoxin  readily  combines  with  !• 
in  separating  alkaloids  we  dissolv 
by  an  alkali,  and  afterwards  takr- 
we  must  dissolve  in  an  alkali,  :ii 
an  acid,  thus  reversing  the  ordin, 


4«t  oplallioi9ba«. 
«Tf9  (stbefwl  In  AplO. 


If  a  whole  seed  be  swall 
rapidly  through  the  b<  f 

The  action  of  the  k<  i 
toxin),  within  a  time  v  n 
produce  extreme  giddii. 
sooner  or  later,  to  a  for* 
convulsions.    Apo-'nU 
there  is  usually  iii; 

Death  has  taken  i> 
for  nineteen  days. 

Two  scruples  of  n 
the  decoction,  hav* 
application  of  an  u 

\Vhen  beer  thnt  i 
intoxication  )>t 
power.     A  gr- 
period,  but  tli 
dreads  falling 
dlor  of  all  ili* 


fMfMnttiona  i 


POISONING    BY    OPIUM. 


331 


ikli  iiimfoistered  in  sroflller  doejes  thai)  is  necessary  tn  de>-troy  life,  they 
wntofanlitate  the  commission  of  crimes,  sueh  as  rape,  thetl,  etc.  Opium 
coontoof  the  inspissated  juice  exuding  a:*  a  white  milky  fluid  from  in- 
diM)tini(Je  io  the  unripe  fruit  of  the  white  poppy  (Papaver  somnilerum). 
Ibdor  if  peculiar,  and  its  taste  bitter. 

Tbf  following  are  analyses  by  Schiodler  of  various  kinds  of  opium  as 
^U<d  hy  Garrod : 


I>o*s. 

Ol^iuuj. 

O«fi»»iiot.l- 
Opitim. 

^fr 

\i,*'*i.    ....... 

1Q.H0 
0.2-5  > 

4,«) 
OM 
SAT 
0.42 
0  30 

8.10 

17.18 
0.40 

5n.46 
0.0-2 
0.40 
Ik22 
0.96 

2.68 

1.30 

-H.iO,C 

0.71 
008 
4.70 

It.  C»ool«iioac[  Add,  Fat,  »lid  VegeUble 

10.»3 
26  2S 

1,  »^.lul»t*  tn  vatemDd  Alcubot,     .... 
-     V.  til,  onijr  KkJuhl^  tn  water, 

Oildp,  8iUc»,Calc'lo  Piio*pii«le,'        *.       ! 

0.1  7 
0.24 
0.30 

•S.7t 

96.7S 

11  11  u«.r.ort4iiit  to  be  familiar  with   the  proportions  of  opium  in   the 
I  rations  of  the  British  PKarmat'opoMa. 
.lam  L>f  dried  opium  m  preseot  in  the  fi^Ilowing  quantities  of  the 
J 'rt|»a rations  named — 

I       in  14.5  m.  of  tinctura  opii  (laudanum). 
In  14.5  m.  of  vinum  opii. 

Iii  Im,  (;f  tinctura  caniphora  composita  (paregoric  elixir). 
it>  !^6  m.  of  tinctura  opii  ammoutata. 
»n  Jj  of  enema  opii. 
It*  '^>  gD".  of  pilula  saponis  composita. 
In  ^  grs.  of  pilula  plurabi  cum  opio. 

In  l')grsi.  of  pulvis  ijx'cacuanlue  compoaitua  (Dover'^  powder). 
Ill  20  grs.  of  pulvis  kino  com(K)situs. 
In3()gi^.  of  pi]lvi.«)  creta?  aromaticus  cum  opio. 
•»  !♦'  gn§,  of  {Mil  vis  opii  coiiipositua. 
jn  W>  gr»,  of  unguentum  gullae  cum  opio. 
1b  lOgni.  opium  lozenges. 

f«  gmin  of  opium  is  etjuivalent  to  about  half  a  grain  of  extractum 
i^;****  jmin  of  extractum  opii  is  contained  in  22''TJ?,of  extractum   opii 

,  I-  ulher  preparations  containing  opium  that  are  well- 

ug  properties,  and  from  raosft  of  which  fatal  cases  of 
'         -  ut  \>u  rtic^iid: 

'         '''  Thi«  is  three  or  four  t»me«  the  .<5trength    of  laudanum. 

,  lum   atid    morphia  dinsolvcd  in  the  juice  of  the  wild 

y  (f^ifrrfi  Cardial.     K  mixture  of  sansafra*,  treacle,  and  tincture  of 
•^a  5j  5ii  3  vj).    (  Vidif  ••  Lttocet,*'  Oct.  9,  1852,  p.  341.) 


330 


POISONING   BT    PRIV 


ineiK'cd  within  four  days  of  their  having  ea 
teen  others  the  discharge  returned  within  a 

CaMH  of  Poivtnhitf  //.. 

CASK  1.— Tiiylor'H  "  Mtflicnl  JurisprudcDco,"  vol.  i.  i..  ; 
atf  tin;  l)i>rrii>!(.    (1  •  Male :  ict.  3.    ('2)  Fcmalp:  let.'i. 

Si/m/tf'iiiu. — .1)  Pur>:iiii;  niiti  cuiivuhioDM.    D.'ath. 
furii  tiiiii*.  iIhhI  111  cutiviil.tiou!).    (3;  Recovery. 

nrtult.—  l)  Death,    !-•)  Ik-ath.    (3)  Recovery. 

CASK  'J.— Tsiylur's  "MtHUealJuri»prudencc,"  vmi 

Symiiionu. — Sijjiis  of  irritation.    Dvath. 

/4Vjr«//,~lK'uth  ill  tliirty-«cvcii  dayu. 

CASK  «.— Tuyloi'ij  "Mi-dical  Juribprudcuo.-." 
wX.  rjami  8.    l^i'avcs  and  hliootA. 

Stimiitoms.—\)u*v<i\nvi9,  coiivubive  twiU-hiii-.''- 

Rt  Kult.— Uec«»  vf  ry . 

CASK  4.—"  Mi-dical  Times  aud  Uazcitf," 
tliirty-Hfvnn  cliildreii. 

.s>m/i/o//M.— Opitittioioiiofl,  (litnit,  and  nau^- 
aftcMuliiiitt  rourti.-endarii.    Six  irhildren 
day.H  artt-rwanlM ;  aud  fourteeu  liad  a  ri'c-.i ;  • 

7i'/.»Mrt,— Uit'overy. 

CASK  .-1.-"  British  Medical  Journal/' 

.s>wi/*ro»/i<.— Fi'verisli nesn  aud  drow  >i i  ■ 

^mh//.— Recovery. 

CASK  6  — "  Hritish  Mi-dlcal  Jouri.;ii 

.s;y/N/>/om#.— Purging  aud  other  h\u  . 

Jtetuit. — Recovery. 


The  niedico-lorml  hi< 


■jM  rnmit,  mitn«v. 
.  •    'if  inairiicsia,aud 

iy  olio  jrrain  of  uw- 
rtiKiceutical  Ji^uriiiil, " 


:"  peppermint,  hy«ln»^T- 
liiis  of  morphia  persj-. 
:'  meconati.'   of  luorphii 

:;  of  opium,  sai«I  to  have 

-  '.y  a  .s\veetono<l  deooclion 
■-uoture  of  opium.  Haifa 


7y -heads  grown  in  this 

:i  ha.-?  been  causstd  iu  i 

r  iu  which  a  poppv-heatl 

July  1?<,  1?<(»8.  p."75.' 

'  r 'jvrtie:?  of  any  t)f  the 

.-i  asserted  by  sonif  l" 

.Ml  oy  others;  o\' otuhi'i, 

■'  British  Medical  Jour- 

■xrvrimenters 

:  r»^s{X"etiii;r  (»pianyl. 

■  i'l  l'*4-3,  by  aelinjr  <»d 

'  .  the  la>t  two  ortlirw 

-r.i'.Iv  attfutioii.    It  \* 

-I.  :■•    t'  apomorphia  will 

:.  r*.  hia.    But  it  j«*tms 

1  jinuii  will  proiliite 

•  ".  -•  L  >.utaneouslv  will 


reganl  it 


O.  Ile.sse,  in   the 


•  :y  present  vary- 
\:>ts  in  opium  in 


theii 
then. 


•viih  4  ounces  of 

.•'.-.  pour  ort"  the 

rrxture  of  equal 

:  >  the  original 

:  ni:er,  washing 

A<-iduhite  the 

:o     1    ounce. 

.  rli-.-r  and  wash 

•     •'.  and  water. 

..:iir'  an  oune»», 

L.-./e  collect  the 


.  :ttm  poisoning.  333 

_^  Mil  a  little  cold  water,  and  dry  at  a 

•-  in:r  cent  of  the  alkaloid. 

'■'//  Properties. 

.    liiiU'ss,  without  smell,  having  a  very  bitter 

uitlran^ailar  prisms,  in  whiirh  the  two  opposite 

■_  the  crystals  the  appearance  of  being  hex- 

Chcmical  Properties. 

_lirly  alkaline  reaction.     With  acids  it  forms  salts. 

.  Mlmehlorate  and  the  acetate,  are  used  in  medicine. 

lipitutcd  from  solutions  of  its  salts  by  the  addition  of 

itiulily  decomposed  by  concentrated  nitric  and  by  hot 

-.    but  not   by   the  caustic   alkalies.     It   sublimes   when 

•   C,  and  it  mclta  at  171°  C.  If  heated  to  a  higher  temper- 

:!-  with  a  smoky  flame  like  resin,  leaving  a  carbonaceous 

Solubility  of  Morphia  in  Different  Liquids. 

1  grain  dissolves  in  4200  cold  water  (15°  Cent.). 

1  grain  **  "  1140  of  hot  water  (lOO'-'  Cent.). 

1  grain  "  "  7720  of  absolute  ether. 

1  grain  "  "  6o()0  of  chloroform. 

1  grain        "  "  4200  of  ether  (s.  g.  733). 

1  grain  "  "    148  of  alcohol. 

1  grain  "  "      75  of  acetic  ether. 

The  salts  of  morphia  are  soluble  in  water  and  in  dilute  alcohol,  but  are 
insoUibie  in  chlorotbrm,  ether,  or  acetic  ether. 

Like  other  alkaloids,  morphia  is  precipitated  by  tannin.  No  crystals 
are  formed  (as  happens  with  strychnia)  when  morphia  is  precipitated 
with  either  chromate  of  potash,  sulphocyanide  of  potassium,  or  ferrocya- 
nide  of  potassium. 

Symptoms  of  Poisoning  by  Opinnif  Morphia^  and  their  Preparations  Dose,  etc. 

The  symptoms  of  opium  and  of  morphia  poi.?oning  vary  in  little  else 
than  that  those  of  the  latter  set  in  more  rapidly  than  those  of  the  former. 
The  symptoms  in  mor])hia  poisoning  usually  commence  in  from  ten  to 
thirty  minutes,  but  with  opium  in  from  half  an  hour  to  three  hours.  But 
iu  this  they  are  subject  to  every  ]>os.sible  variation.  Ollen  in  children  the 
symptoms  set  in  immediately,  whilst  the  action  of  the  drug  is  always  more 
rapid  if  it  be  taken  on  an  empty  stomach  or  in  a  liquid  form.  On  the 
other  hand,  cases  are  recorded  of  considerable  delay  in  the  advent  of  the 
■ymptoms,  cases  of  six,  nine,  twelve,  fourteen,  and  even  eighteen  hours 
MiDg  recorded.     If  it  be  taken  by  a  patient  suflering  from  alcoholism,  the 

Smptoms  produced  by  the  drug  may  be  either  considerably  modified  or 
toffether  suppressed. 

TSo  matter  in  what  form  or  how  opium  be  administered,  it  acts  as  a 
ponoD.  Dr.  Anstie  believes  that  the  rapidity  of  its  absorption  when  ad- 
mioiBtered  per  rectum  is  greater  than  when  it  is  administered  by  the  mouth 
('<  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  March  28,  18G3,  p.  334). 


BU 


flYltPTOMS   OF   OPIUM    POISONING, 


Drciwsluess  and  stupor  are  the  first  symptoms  ordinarily  observed  ail6 
a  poisonous  close  of  tipiuni.  At  fiffft,  the  patient  may  be  roused  wiiboi 
much  difficulty,  and  made  to  auHxver  <]U<stiiins  ;  but  having  answered  then 
ho  agaiu  rapidly  subsides  into  his  Jornier  sleep.  The  breathing  i*  gene 
ally  !r.low  and  almost  imperceptible,  and  the  pulse  weak.  If  opium  itte 
bus  beeu  t«ken,  in  all  probability  the  odor  of  the  poison  will  be  detecte 
in  the  breath. 

The  general  state  of  the  pupils  in  poisoning  by  morphia,  and  by  otbl 
alkaloidrt,  is  a  matter  deserving  careful  attention,  Thia  may  beoou^deira 
here.     The  fautij  may  be  stated  aa  follows; 

(A)  The  pupil  is  conlracted  in  poisoning  by 

1.  Morphia  and  by  the  opium  alkaloids. 

2.  Aconltin.and  by  the  preparations  of  aconite  ^enomlly,  as  wi 
arf  by  other  plants  belonging  to  the  order  Rauuuculace«. 

3.  Physostigmiu  (Eserin),  or  the  Calabar  bean. 

4.  Strychnine,  nux  vomica,  and  Woorara  poison.  (?) 

(B)  The  pupil  is  dilated  in  poisoning  by 

1.  Atropia,  and  belladonna. 

2.  Stramonium,  datura  tatula,  nicotin  and  other  preparations 
tobacco,  aud  in  poisoning  by  i*olanaceoui*  plants  gt^nerall 
ei4f>eeially  by  hyoscyamin,  and  the  other  preparations 
henbane. 

3.  Di^ntulin,  and  by  the  other  preparations  of  foxglove. 

4.  Conia,  and  by  the  other  preparations  of  the  Uiubellifene. 

There  are,  however,  numerous  exceptions  to  these  rule^,  due  (l)  p«rt 
to  the  a}j:e  of  tho?e  who  have  taken  the  poison;  for  the  pupil  ia  found! 
be  norinully  large  iu  young  subjects,  and  !<imall  in  thos^e  of  more  advaopei 
life,  liout'hut  Ibntid  tliat  the  active  principle  of  the  Calabar  bean  oo I' 
produced  contraction  of  the  pupil  in  one  or  two  out  of  four  huudre<l  aix 
thirtysieveu  cases  in  whidi  it  wa.s  administered  to  young  children 
The  state  of  the  pujnU  in  aiso  iuduenced  by  variations  in  the  atnouul  o 
moisture  or  the  dryness  of  the  iri.s  (^^ee  Gruenhagen  on  **  Variations  in  th< 
Size  of  the  Pupil  at  Different  Temperatures;"  "Berliner  KlinischeNVocheil 
schrift/'  January  11,  l>>75j  and  rcmark.«,  with  references  to  the  iyiiue,  b; 
Brown-Serjuard,  Lethebv,  and  others,  in  '*  London  Medical  Record,"  M; 
12,  1875,  p.  28!J).  (3)  It  is  to  be  noted  that  the  normal  st^ite  of  thefni 
piU  during  t?leep  is  contraction,  (4)  The  time  which  haa  elaptfied  since  th< 
poisonous  alkaloid  was  taken,  or  in  other  words,  the  stage  of  the  p«»i«>0| 
ing,  constitute,"^  antithcr  cause  of  exceptions  to  the  rule.  It  wa><  prol»«^>'/ 
from  want  of  ntteution  to  this  fwint  that  in  the  celebrated  trisd  <if  ^t 
Castaing,  who  was  executed  for  poisoning  the  brothers  Ballett  by  the  aa 
ministration^  as  was  supposed,  of  the  acetate  of  morphia,  that  there  wjtf^ 
gr^Ht  a  dificrence  oi' opinion  between  the  medical  witnesses  as  to  theclTiMrt 
of  morphia  on  tlie  pupils.  Pelletan  swore  that  it  produced  contraction  A 
the  pupils,  whilst  M.  Chaussier,  Orfila,  and  others,  stated  that,  like  olh« 
narcotics,  it  produced  a  "prodigious"  dilatation  of  the  pupils.  TlH 
authors,  from  persiinal  experience  of  the  medicinal  and  toxic  effects  <1 
opium  and  of  ii.^  alkaloids,  are  able  to  state  that  in  the  earlier  stago*  th 
pupils  are  contracted,  whilst  later  on,  and,  as  a  rule,  after  death,  they  M 
widely  dilated.  Again,  iu  strychnine  poisoning  the  pupils  are  said  U  ^ 
dilated  during  the  |>aroxy8ms,  aud  contracted  iu  the  intervals.     In 


SYMPTOMS   OP   OPIUM    POISONIKO. 


335 


ng  by  alcohol  the  pupils  are  also  variable.  Inordinary  casea  of  apoplexy 
lie  pupils  are  unequftl,  whilst  m  apoplexy  of  the  pons  Varolii,  and  io 
urge  ertnsious  of  blood,  especially  when  near  the  crura  cerebri,  the  pupils 
ire  usually  contracted  ('*  Medical  Timci^  and  Guzctte,"  Feb.  28,  1^03,  p. 
613).  During  an  epileptic  paroxysm  they  are  dilated,  whibt  in  the  aub- 
equeat  coma  they  may  become  small  again.  It  is  important  to  reraem- 
>er  that  one  or  both  pupils  may  be  fixed  by  adhesions.  Aneuriams  and 
>ther  tumors  may  al^w  cause  inequality  of  the  pupib. 

The  face  in  opium  poisoning  is  usually  ven^  placid  but  pale,  the  tips 
ivid,  and  the  nkiu  bathed  in  perapiration,  this  indeed  being  the  only  se- 
iretiou  probably  not  suspended.     Sooner  or  later,  as  the  case  may  be,  the 
irowsiness  pai^iies  on  to  complete  coma,  when  it  will  no  longer  be  found 
ble  to  rouse  the   patieut.     The  breathing  wiJl  now  be  slow  aud  ster- 
iis»  and  the  pulse  small  and  irregular.     Cold  penspiralious  will  con- 
inue  until  at  last  the  coma  ends  in  death.     But  all  kitids  of  symptoms, 
D  addition  to  thoiKi  meutioned,  may  occur,     Vomitmg  is  sotiietiuies  pres- 
nt,  and  i^s  to  be  regarded  aa  a  very  favomble  symptom,  whilst  even  easea 
here  diarrhtea  has  occurred  are  on  record.     Tetanoid  convidsioiis,  es|>e- 
ally  in  children,  and  more  particularly  when  morphia  has  been   taken, 
ve  been  recorded  ("British  Medical  Journal,'*  Nov.  l\,  1871,  p.  555). 
|n  some  few  remarkable  cases  all  narcotic  symptoms  have  been  wanting. 
Cii8e«  have  occurre<l  where  the  patient  iieemingly  recovers,  enters  freely 
into  couvereation,  and  then  has  a  relapse  and  dies.     Nor  must  we  over- 
look the  fact  that  other  diseases  may  be  mistaken  for  opium  poisoning. 
Dr.  DoWll  records  a  remarkable  case  where  the  symptoms  resulting  from 
rupture  of  the  bladder  (urtemic  pjisouing)  were  miatJiken,  and  not  with- 
out reason,  for  the  effects  of  opium  (** British    Medical  Journal/'  Nov.  14, 
1868,  p.  520);  whilst  every  one  is  familiar  with  the  difficulties  that  occa- 
ionally  occur  in  diagtiosiug  opium  pnisooing  from  the  piiisoiious  elfecLs  of 
lilcohol.     AVilh  both   we   may   have  complete  and  immediate  nnrcolism. 
pickner^s  may  be  present  in  either  case ;  and   if  present  the  <*dor  of  the 
iromit  no  doubt  will  guide  us  materially  in  our  diagnosis.     But  then,  sick- 
lust*  is  not  an  invariable  symptom.     Vomiting  and  dtarrhvea,  at  an  early 

Kieriod  of  the  case,  indicate  the  exciting  cause  to  be  spirit  rather  than 
pium.     Spirit  generally  augments  tlie  quantity  of  urine  ;  opium  does  uot, 
frud  otteo  about  the  second  day  dimiuishe-s  it.     A  contracted  pupil  is  in 
liivor  of  opiura^  a  dilated  pupil  of  alcohol,  but  this,  as  we  have  said,  is  not 
b^dute.     With  spirit  the  breathing  is  generally  stertorous  and  laborious; 
but  with  opium  it  is  calm  and  regular. 

Death  has  taken  place  in  as  soon  as  forty-five  minutes,  whilst  it  has 
been  delayed  for  two,  three,  and  four  days.  Of  forty-one  fatal  cases, 
thirty-one  died  in  times  varying  from  five  to  eighteen  hours,  about  one-half 
ID  from  six  in  ten  hours,  tlie  most  usual  rime  being  in  about  nine  or  ten 
hours  after  the  poison  had  been  taken.  If  a  patient  survives  for  twenty- 
four  liours  the  prognosis  is  favorable. 

The  dose  necessary  to  destroy  life  is  subject  to  numerous  modifying  cir- 
cumstjinces.  In  the  case  of  inliitit^,  exceedingly  sujall  <iviantities  have 
been  known  to  kill  in  a  very  short  time  after  administration,  and  fur  this 
reason  more  than  onlinary  care  is  necessivry  in  prescril>ing  opium  for 
children.  Death  has  been  caused  by  the  Jth,  j'(,th,  j'-th,  and  even  the /gth 
of  a  grain.  2.5  minims  (Dr.  Christison ),  ti  minims  (Dr.  Alison),  and  4 
minims  (Dr.  Kelso)  of  laudanum,  are  recorded  as  having  proved  fatal. 
But,  on  the  other  hand,  chihiren  have  recovered  after  taking  large  doses, 
guch  as  1  grain,  5  grains,  and  7,5  grains  of  opium  ('*  Medical  Time^*  and 
Gaatette,"  May  14,  1859,  p.  5i)5)  ;  and  two  teaspoonfuls  of  laudanum.  Half 
a  grain  of  acetate  of  morphia  has  proved  fatal  to  an  adult.     ("  Lancet," 


336 


TREATMENT    OF    OPIUM    POISONING. 


Nov.  10,  1838.)  We  may,  however,  conclude  that  four  grains  of  opium 
and  one  grain  of  a  salt  of  morphia  would,  in  raost  cases,  prove  piiisouous 
dode8  to  adults. 

But  the  history  of  opiura-eatei-s^  and  how  vjfe  .stands  out  pre-f  minsntly  as 
a  i>o\verfyI  circumstance  in  influencing  tl^e  action  of  thedng,  ftiu^i  not 
be  forgotten.  Thii*i  De  Quincey  and  hia  daily  dranght  of  niue  ouncea  of 
laudanuim^  and  tlie  many  cases  recorded  where  thirty,  and  even  sixty 
grains  of  ojiium  have  iK-en  taken  every  day  for  a  long  period,  are  no  old 
women's  fables.  Dr.  Goldiiig  Bird  relsite^  the  case  of  a  bidy  (let,  26), 
who  took  ten  grains*  of  acetate  of  morphia  three  times  a  day  for  two  years 
without  any  ill  eff'ects  ("  Luncet,"  May  7,  1842),  A  ea«e  is  recorded 
('*  Liincet/'  April  12,  1873)  where  a  man  took  thirty  grains  of  morphia 
for  twi}  cunsecutive  ilays,  as  well  as  14  07,.  of  laudanum,  without  injury 
resulting.  Mr.  Teevan  Htates  ('*  Luucet,"  Feb.  1),  183J))  th.it  he  knew  a  gen- 
tleman who  took  six  grainn  of  acetate  of  morphia  every  night  for  months, 
whilst  upon  one  occasion  he  took  twenty-five  grains  in  four  do?es  during 
twenty-four  hours,  and  upon  a  wecorul  540  grains  of  extract  of  opium  in 
the  course  of  s^even  days.  But  in  addition  to  age  and  use  modifying  the 
action  of  the  poison,  there  are  other  circumstances,  !<uch  an  pain,  individual 
peculiarities,  disease,  and  particularly  the  habitual  abuse  of  large  quan- 
tities of  alcohol,  that  must  not  be  overlooked.  As  regards  the  joint  action 
of  alcohol  and  opium,  an  important  cjiiestioo  may  arise  as  to  how  much 
opium  may  be  sately  given  medicinally  to  a  person  sutten'ng  from  delirium 
tremens.  Admitting  that  enormoujt  dane,**  may  often  be  given  in  such  cases 
without  danger,  and,  indeed^  with  positive  advantage,  we  mu.<t  not  forget 
that  opium  mav  kill  a  person  fuUv  under  the  influence  of  alcohol  <  "  British 
Medical  Journal."  Jan.  8,  1870*,  p.  41,  and  Feb.  2(i,  1H7(),  p.  212).  A 
ca,*e  is  recorded  where  four  grains  of  acetate  of  njor]dua  caused  death 
under  such  circum.Mtanee»  ('*  Lancet,"  Oct.  IG,  1841,  p.  !><>),  Other  drugs 
ali-o  materially  influence  the  action  of  opium,  and,  perhaps,  more  e.speci- 
ally  ipecacuanha,  which,  for  tbii*  rea**on,  i:^  mixed  witb  opium  in  Dover's 
powder  ("Medical  Times  and  fJazette,"  May  lU,  1800,  p.  50B).* 

Treaiment, 

In  the  treatment  of  poisoning  by  morphia  or  by  opium,  the  first  great 
indication  is  to  get  rid  of  the  poison  as  socm  as  po«,sible.  The  stomach- 
pump  must  be  employwl,  either  an  infusion  of  coflee,  or  green  ten,  or  water 
in  which  a  quantity  of  finely  powdered  charcoul  is  sas[iended,  being  used 
to  wash  out  the  stomach.  At  each  irieparate  injection  a  fresh  quantity 
of  the  charcoal  mixture,  or  of  the  tea  or  coflee  infusion,  should  be  used. 
Vomiting  must  be  erjcouniged  in  every  possible  way  by  emetics,  such  aa 
by  sulphate  of  xinc,+  repeated  at  shurt  intervals  if  necessary,  supplement- 
ing it.s  action  by  tickling  tlie  throat  with  a  feather,  etc  After  the  emetic 
has  done  its  work,  a  free  purge,  such  as  a  full  dose  of  calomel,  may  be 
administered  with  advantage.     The  patient  should  never  be  allowed  to 


^  In  a  note  in  the  *'  Lanc(»t,'*  Jnn.  4,  184i},  p.  26,  il  k  fluted  tfattt  the  coroner 
for  New  York  hiid  hMld,  durina^  1844,  h\x  inqut^als  of  denttis  from  opium — «ine 
drHcliin  beinsr  the  smallest,  und  one  and  a  half  o/^.  the  Inrge^t.quiitility  tnkt^n.  Eight 
hours  WH3  the  Bhorlpsi,  and  tw4'nly  hours  lh<!  hmgc.ft,  jierrod  brtween  lukln<(  the 
poi(tun  nnd  death.  Twpnty-three  dealhs  oecurrod  from  Inufltinum— one  dmp  luMng 
the  *malle*t,  nnd  sixteen  ujm.  the  largest,  quitnLity  tbut  proved  fatnl.  Two  hour* 
waf  Iho  shr»rt<'f«l  prriod,  forty-eight  bQur«  the  longest,  nnd  twelve  hours  the  uverage 
lime  that  the  pHiiont  survived. 

f  II  is  wi'll  U»  rcitnembor  thnt  meconate  of  sine  'u  a  somewhut  in»o!iible  Biilt. 
ThU  fact  may  be  of  importance  in  toxkological  inquirit^a  where  sulphnto  of  «j«c 
baa  been  administered  as  an  emetic. 


TESTS    FOR   MORPHIA. 


337 


lecp,  hut  must  be  kept  continually  ou  the  move,  care  being  taken  not  to 
>rrKluc^  4eath  from  muscular  fatigtie  or  exhaustion,  as,  it  k  to  be  feared, 
la^  Mtnjetimes  been  done.  Cold  water  may  now  and  then  be  thrown  over 
he  face  and  neckband  if  there  is  thiret,  nothing  is  better  to  relieve  it  tbau 
Iraught^  of  strong  tea  or  coffee  (tfee  a  Paper  on  the  use  of  Caffeio  m 
llpium  Poisoning,  "  Medical  Time*  and  Gazette,"  Aug.  18,  1860,  p.  168; 
Dr,  An:?tie'i»  ca.se,  where  cartein  wan  injectetl,  after  three  grains 
ia  bad  been  injected  bv  mistake  :  "Medical  Times  and  Gaxette/' 
L^jc.  'i.  1>*02,  p.  <»17}.  Ammonia,  if  there  be  collapse,  should  bo  applied 
jG  the  nostril?,  whilst  galvanism  ofWn  prove-?  useful  (**  Medical  Times  and 
[Gazette,"  June  26,  1847,  p.  355)  by  exciting  voluntary  motions  [i^o  oxy- 
fenating  the  blot>d)  without  at  the  same  time  exhausting  the  strength  (Dr. 
L)gle,  '*  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Oct.  8,  1868,  p.  3G8). 

Dr.  Fuller  suggested  ("Lancet,"  March  21,  1868),  a  solution  of  iodine 

au  antidote*     There  are,  however,  no  cases  as  yet  recorded  in  which  it 

bfts  been  tried.     Tannic  acid  (and  hence  the  use  of  strong  tea)  may  be 

given,  and  indeed  k  regarded  by  some  as  the  only  antidote  for  the  poison. 

Ad  regards  the  use  of  atropia  in  opium  poisoning,  we  must  reter  the 

reader  to  the  remarks  already  nmde  on  physiological  antidotes  (page  64). 

It  if*  true  many  cases  are  recorded  where  it  (*eeiiis  to  have  been  successful 

(•♦  Lancet,"  April  3,  1869,  p,  473;  **  Philadelphm  Medical  Times,"  Nov. 

S9,  1873;  "New  York  Medical  Record,"  June  1,  1873;  i»ee  aim  Dr,  Har- 

sy's  patter,    •'Pharmaceutical  Journal,"    April,   1868,   p.  471 »;  but  in 

^arly  all  the  cases,  it  is  to  be  noted  that  other  remedies  were  adopted  in 

iddiiion  to  the  atropia. 

We  reter  the  reader  to  an  excelleiit  paper  by  Dr.  Fleming,  ("British 
Ifedical  Journal,"  Feb.  15,  1868,  p.  Ki7|,  ibr  hints  as  to  the  treatment  of 
ibitutti  opium-eaters. 

Po^mortefn  Jp^pearatuxs, 

The*e  are  neither  certain  nor  charncteristic.    The  stomach  and  intestines 
lerully  appear  healthy.     After  poisoning  by  opium  the  peculiar  odor  of 
jnay  often  be  recognized  as  soon  as  the  stomach  is  opened.  Cou- 
tftatke  lungs  and  of  the  vessels  of  the  brain,  with  effusion  of  fluid 
the  arachnoid  and  into  the  ventricles,  are  the  appearances  most  com- 
ly  met  with.     The  blood,  too,  is  very  generally  fluid. 

exisleDce  of  opium  is  determined  by  the  presence  of  morphia  (its 

I  !  Jilkaloi<l)  and  meconic  acid.     Whether,   therefore,  we  are  con- 

ti  in  examination  of  the  contents  of  the  stomach  in  a  case  of  poison- 

[Dg  by  pure  morphia  or  by  opium,  the  same  course  of  procedure  must  be 
ldi>pled.  We  shall  describe  (I)  the  tesU  tor  mor[}hia  ;  (2)  the  properties 
md  teste  for  meconic  acid  ;  and  (3)  the  method  of  conducting  a  loxico- 
ogical  inquiry  in  a  ease  of  poisoning  either  by  opium  or  by  morphia  alone, 

(A.)   Tenhfor  Morphia  and  its  Salts. 

1.  Nitric  acid  added  to  a  solution  of  morphia  turns  it  an  orange  color, 
hit  oruuge-red  color,  however,  is  far  belter  marked  when  the  nitric  acid 

applied  by  means  of  a  glass  rod  to  the  solid  alkaloid,  on  a  clean  white 
ate,  when  effervescence  will  by  noticed  to  uccur,  accctmpanied  by  the  evo- 
tion  of  red  fumes.  The  intensity  of  the  color  is  not  decreased  by  adding 
loride  of  tin,  but  is  decreased  by  heat  and  by  time* 

2.  If  a  drop  of  a  carefully  neutralized  solution  of  chlorideof  iron  be  added 


dat 


338 


TESTS  yOR   MEC05IC    ACIO. 


to  the  alkaloid,  a  deep  blue  color  is  produceil,  which  changes  to  green 
the  additiou  of  aa  excess  of  the  toBt-liquid.  Persulphate  of  iron  majr 
uaed  if  no  free  acid  be  present. 

3.  If  a  trace  of  iodic  acid  be  added  to  a  solution  of  morphia,  the  lii(«i 
becomes  browo.     When  a  drop  of  this  ik}lution  is  allowed  to  iuliou  ap^ 
of  starch  paper,  the  blue  iodide  of  starch  will  be  immediately  furuied. 

These  three  tests  are,  if  the  results  be  well  marked,  conclusive  of 
presence  of  morphia  or  its  salts. 
Other  tests  are  as  follows : 

4.  If  a  few  drops  of  sulphuric  and  be  added  to  morphia  on  a  white  pUt^ 
no  change  of  color  will  result  (X.  H.,  narcotin  lurn.-i  yellow).  Lf  Ui  il»« 
acid  mixture  a  fragment  of  hichromnte  of  potash  be  now  added,  n  bright* 
green  culor  is  produced  from  the  redueiiuu  of  the  salt, 

5.  StUpho'itiifiybdie  acid  gives  a  reddish-purple,  changing  to  greea,  uti 
ultirouteiy  lu  blue. 

Iodide  uj  potassittm  gives  a  white  ervstalliue  precipitate,  soluble  in  a 
ehromate  of  pvta^hf  a  yellow  crystalline  precipitate,  soluble  in  ariH- 
ride  of  ff old,  a  yellow  amorphous  precipitate,  beconniig  rapidly  dari 
chloride  oj' pltitiitum,  a  yellow  precipilute,  soluble  lu  acids;  iodin*  .-. 
of  poUimiutn,  a  reddish-brown  amorphous  precipitate,  soluble  iu  ca 
potash  and  in  alcohol ;  carbnzotic  acid,  a  yellow  amorphous  prccipiut^ 
slightly  tuhible  iu  acetic  actd  ;  iodohffdraryt/rate  of  potash,  a  white  pnecipi* 
tatCj  soluble  in  alcohol  and  in  acetic  acid. 


(B.)  Properties  of  and  T&fta  for  Meconic  Acid  (C,H^O,) 

When  pure,  meconic  acid  is  colorless,  and  is  generally  found  in  the  form 
of  scaly  crystals.  It  exists  iu  opium  combined  with  morphia.  Of  itself  tl 
is  not  a  poi.-<oi). 

It  has  powerful  acid  properties.     It  sublimes  when  moderately  b«»tr*!. 
It  is  soluble  to  the  extent  of  about  one  per  ceut.  in  cold  water. 
iu  chloroform,  sparingly  soluble  in  ether,  and  freely  soluble  iu  u' 
is  unacted  upon  by  tbe  miueral  acids  in  the  cold,  but  is  decoin 
them  when  heat  is  euiployed.     It  is  decomposed  by  the  tixed  cauc^  a.. 
lies. 

Two  tests  for  meconic  acid  will  suffice. 

1,  Perrhloride  of  iron  produces  a  red  color  with  very  dilute  so1utiooi|j 
which  color  is  not  easily  destroyed  either  by  miueral  acids  or  by  rorr^wii 
sublimate,  but  is  destroyed  when  the  scilutiou  is  treated  with  pnitochloric 
of  tin.    If  lannic  add  be  present  in  the  solution,  the  lannate  of  irmi  formt 
will  serve  to  obscure  the  color  of  the  mecunnte  of  iri>n.     This  may  ht 
rid  of  by  adding  a  few  drops  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  to  the  mltttum. 

Note. — Hulphocyanides,  acetic  acid,  the  neutral  acetates,  and  di 
of  white  mustard  also  give  a  red  color  wiih  perchloride  of  inm. 

(«)  With  mlphocyanides,  the  color  is  discharged  by  oorro6i?e  sub- 
limate. ^ 

(/?)  Acetic  arid  and  (he  acctaies  give  no  precipitate  with  acetate  of  loifl 
as  happens  with  meconic  acid.  ■ 

(jr)  With  decM'iion  of  white  jtiu^tttrd  the  color  is  discharged  by  oo^ 
rosive  sublimate. 

2.  Acetate  of  lead  gives  a  yellowish- white  amorphous  precipitate  of  iDe> 


TOIICOLOGICAL    ANALYSIS    IV   OPIUM    POISONING.  339 

conateof  lead,  insolyble  iu  excess  of  acetic  acid,  but  soluble  in  dilute  nitric 
acid. 

Other  reactions  of  meconic  acid  are  as  follows  :  Chhride  of  barium  gives 
'white  crystalliue  precipitate;  nitrate  of  mlrer,  a  yellow  amorphuiis  pre- 
Mtate;  sulphate  of  copper,  a  greenish-blue  amorphous  precipitate. 

Toxicoloijicat  Analysis, 

In  conducticga  toxicologicalpxauiination,  note  carefully  the  odor  both  of 

the  internal  surface  and  of  the  coutf  ut;s  of  the  i*toiuacli.     Sometiiiieji  the 

teraell  ofopiura  is  very  appiircnt,  whilst  at  other  times  it  cannot  be  detected- 

[The    odor  is    more  noticeable  if   the   organic  liquid  be  slightly  heated. 

If  solid  opium  has  been  taken,  see  whether  any  pieces  uf  opium  are  to  be 

found  in  the  conteutj*.     A  trial  experifiient  may  be  made  by  testing  a  few 

(Irtips  of  the  suspected  opiate  li^^juid,  after  filtrutiou,  first  with  nitric  acid^ 

when  an  orange  color  may  be  produced  tdue  to  intirphia)»  and  then  with  a 

persalt  of  iron,  which  may  cau.se  a  red  discoloration  (due  to  meconic  acid). 

Cut  up  all  the  s<:)Iid  raattera  into  small  piecc.'^,  and  beat  them  into  a 

pulpy  ma:4S  in  a  mortar.      Treat  tbe.se,  mixed  with  the  liquid  contents  of 

the  stomach,  with  spirit  acididated  with   iicetic  acid,  and  allow  them  to 

»tiind  in  a  warm  place  for  ftome  time,  f*hakiiig  occasionally.     Filter,  and 

treat  the  filtrate  with  an  excess  of  fjubar-etate  of  lead,  and  boiL     When 

cold,  again  Hher  and  wash  the  materials  on  the  tilter-papcr  with  Avater. 

Fird,  Exumine  the  materials  on  the  Jxlter-paper  for  mejconic  ttcid  a$  meco- 
nate  of  lead. 

Suspend  them  in  water  in  a  heaker,  and  pa^  sulphuretted  hydrogen 
thrtmgh  the  mixture  to  saturation.  Filter.  After  having  reduced  the 
tiltrate  to  a  i?rnall  bulk  by  evaporation,  test  when  cold  for  meconic  acid 
with  a  per&alt  of  iron. 

If  a  red  color  be  thus  produced,  divide  the  colored  solution  into  two 
parts  (a  and  h),  and  test  rei^pectively  as  follows  : 

(a)  Add  a  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate  (color  not  discharged). 
(6)  Add  either  a  solution  of  sulphurous  acid  or  a  solution  of  protochloride 
of  tin  (color  discharged). 

(Other  methods  of  dceompusiug  the  meconate  of  lead  have  been  sujt;- 
gcsted,  such  as  boilini:  it  with  a  little  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  or  thoroughly 
mixing  it  in  a  raortar  with  sulphate  or  carbonate  of  soda.  If  time  allows, 
%t  is  ikr  better  to  decompose  it  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen.) 

Secondhf,     Examine  the  fiiirate  far  morphia. 

Throw  down  excess  of  lead  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  which  must 
Ve  parsed  to  complete  saturation.  Filter  off  the  lead  sulphide,  and  evap- 
orate the  filtrate  nearly  to  dryness.  The  residue  will  ta.ste  bitter  Add 
to  this  a  few  drops  of  water  and  filter,  and  supersaturate  the  filtrate  with 
a  stdution  of  bicarbonate  of  pota,sh,  and  then  shake  Lip  with  an  ethereal 
solution  of  acetic  ether.  Pour  off  tbe  ethereal  solution.  Evupurule  by 
flight  heat  nearly  to  drynesss,  allowing  the  remainder  of  the  ether  to  evap- 
orate spontaneously.  The  residue  is  to  be  examined  for  morphia  by  the 
tests  already  describe<l  (p.  337),  viz. : 

(«)  Nitric  acid. 

(i?)  Perch loride  of  iron. 

(j)  Iodic  acid  and  starch. 


340 


OATJBES    OF    PAILUBE    IN   BBTECTINa   VOBPiriA. 


Failure  to  dcUH  Morphia  after  Death* 

We  rauat  now  discuss  the  iraportAnt  question  :  AVhy  i»  it  that  \in6ft 
certaiD   cireura^Jtauces,  and  tho?e  circumstaucea  appareotly  the  mwt  lip 
vorable,  suitj  as  when  lar^e  quantities  of  the  poisou  huvel>een  tAken.  thttfj 
it  has  been  found  ira|)ossible  to  detect  a  trace  of  either  dj- 
morphia  in  the  contents  of  the  stomach ;  whilst  in  other  ca 
the  pertiou  has  been  long  dead,  the  poison  may  be  ea:5ily  fouinl  "'      iln  ; , 
follosving  cages  that  have  occurred  in   the  practice  uf  one  of  th**  jiiitb  .r> 
will  illustrate  what  is  meaol,  aud  will  possibly  suggest  the  •  n. 

A  young  man,  .1.  E.  H.»  aged  2ii,  liviu;^  iu  the  country,  h:i  "nf 

what  irregular  life,  suflering  from   time  to   time  with  tits  of  m 
One  night  he  retired  to  rest  somewhat  earlier  than  u^sual,  his  n-i- 
marking  that  lie  seemed  brighter  and  better  tlmn  he  had  been  tl»r 
time*     In  the  morning,  not  appearing  at  breakfast  at  the  u-imt  fi.^ 
relatives  went  up  stairs  to  call  him,  and  were  alarmed  at  fio 
perfectly  comatose  state.     A  medtcal  uiun  was  sent  for.     He  -,.■ 
rousing  him  slightly,  when  he  admitted  that  he  had  taken  laudai! 
he  went  to  bed.     This  statement  was  confirmed  by  the  tact  that  mtp  »»• 
a  recently  emptied  bottle  of  laodanura  on  the  table,  and  by  ita  wde  I 
tumbler  from  which  he  had  evidently  drank  it.     Every  mean^  to  nStm 
him  was  tried,  but  he  died  at  1(1  p.m.     It  is  difficult  to  aay  p recipe W  thi 
interval  that  elapsed  between  death  and  the  taking  of  the  drug,  bat  U 
must  have  been  somewhere  about  twenty-four  hours. 

By  the  coroner's  orders  an  analysis  was  made  of  the  stomach  and  its 
contents.  There  was  no  smell  of  opiuin,  and  the  stomach  seenittil  heallh/. 
An  analysis  of  one-half  of  the  contents  of  the  stomach  for  morphia  i^ 
meconic  acid  was  made,  but  not  the  slightest  trace  of  either  wa«  dL^covtfsL 
The  whole  of  the  experiments  were  repeated  on  the  remaining  half, 
were  again  unsuccessful  It  wtis  also  examined  systematically  for  b 
mineral  and  for  other  organic  poisons,  but  with  negative  results. 

The  second  case  was  one  that  excited  a  great  amount  of  public 
from  the  mystery  that  seemed  at  the  time  to  surround  it. 

A  policeman,  whilst  on  his  rounds  early  one  morning  ip  the  nclghbo! 
hood  of  Hackney  Wick,  discovered  a  dead  body  iu  the  cupboard  of  »a| 
unfinished  house.     At  the  inquest  it  was  proved  to  be  the  body  of  a  rait] 
who  had  ejicaped  some  four  mouths  previously  from  a  lunatic   nsyhnu 
no  very  great  distance  from  the  spot  where  he  was  found.    At  thp  rtnjt 
of  Mr.  Humphreys,  Mr.  (Jant,  of  the  Royal  Free  Ilo-spital,  made  a  p; 
mortem  examination  of  the  boily,  ami  although  it  was  in  a  »omewh 
varjced  state  of  decuniposition,  lie  was   unable  U»  deled  what  wh*. 
opinion,  sufficient  cause  for  death.     The  sli>uiaeh  was  then  forwardetl,  bjj 
the  coroner's  ordern,  for  chemical  examination,  as  well  as  a  bottle  found  bj 
the  side  of  the  deceased,  labelled  "Lttudanum,  Poison.**     The  bottle 
perfectly  dry,  and  merely  contained  a  small  quantity  of  n  brown  depcHtl 
This  deposit  was  found  to  be  opium.     The  stomach  was  in  a  dri<Ml<up  6\ 
and  seemed  covered   iuternaily  with  a  brownish-red   matlt^r.     <>DC*hi 
being  submitted  to  analysis,  morphia  was  detected  in  considerable  qi 
tity,  as  well  as  a  trace  of  meconic  acid. 

I'hese  two  cases  may  be  regarded  as  typical  ca»e5  of  opium  poiBui 
In  the  one,  although  it  is  a  mora!  certainty  that  death   resulted  froi 
action  of  opium,  the  n»an  himself  confessing  he  had  taken  it,  yet 
cal  analysis  entirely  failed  to  prove  the  presence  of  the  poison. 
olher^  although  a  long  period  had  elapsed  since  death,  yet  there 
difficulty  in  its  detection. 

And  now  the  question  suggests  itself:  AVhy  in  oae  cane  was  iu 


CAUSES   OF    FAILUBE    IN    DETECTING    JiORPHIA, 


341 


[>very  so  caay  aod  in  the  other  impossible?  There  is  but  little  doubt 
tat  tbe  true  explanation  is  t<i  be  found  in  the  length  of  time  that  elapsed 
etwecn  death  and  the  exliiliition  of  the  poison.  The  action  of  the 
^ng  atoniaeh  oii  opium,  and  un  oi-tj^auic  poii^oua  generally,  is  active  and 
Bipid.  The  poiiH>D  may  be  taken,  absiirbed,  and  circulated,  but  if  a  suf- 
ciently  loDg  time  elapse*!  before  death  the  medical  jurist  will  probably 
I>U  in  obtaining  any  evidence  whaUoever  of  its  existence. 

We  will  n(»t  attempt  here  to  tipueulate  too  far  on  the  causes  of  all  tbia. 
t  may  he  that  the  poison  1ms  been  removed  out  of  the  reach  of  analysis, 
Maetstug  off,  if  life  be  siiffiritMiily  prnlontj^eil,  by  the  secrettotis  and  excre- 
iotis;  it  may  he  that  the  (quantity  taken  when  distributed  throughout  the 

hole  body  i*^  not  in  sufficient  quantity  in  any  one  part,  such  as  is  subniit- 
etl  to  analysis,  lo  be  discoverable,  whereas,  if  we  could  exj)eriment  on  the 
Fhole  body  we  mi^ht  find  it ;  it  may  be  that   these  poisons  locate   them- 

Ive^  in  sj>e€ial  parts  of  s]>eeinl  viscera  ;  or  it  may  be  (and  such  we  deem 
Dio^t  probable)  that  organic  ]>oisous,  when  present  in  the  living  blood  and 
n  the  living  stomach,  are  readily  decomposed. 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  unquestionable  that  the  dend  stomach  has 
DO  action  upon  opium,  or,  indeed,  upon  orgauic  poisons  generally.     Here. 

t  any  rate,  is  an  illustratioo  of  how  a  man  may  be  dead  for  four  months, 
snd  yet  opium  be  detected  without  dithcuhy.  We  believe  Dr.  Letheby 
lias  bad  several  cases  iu  which  he  has  found  it  alter  even  a  longer  period 
than  lliis.  And  thus  we  were  able  |o  draw  the  tollowing  conclusions  in 
this  curious  case:  "That  tlie  man  died  from  the  ett'ects  of  opium  poison- 
ing, and  that  he  died  very  shortly  after  having  taken  the  drug,  or  other- 
Vti»e  it  wouhl  not  have  been  found  on  analysis/' 

Can  opium  be  abnorbed  (the  question  has  been  asked)  through  the  milk 
by  the  sucking  child  ?  (  Vide  "  Lancet,"  Jan.  26,  18fil ,  p.  93.)  There  is 
no  evidence  in  proof  of  this  in  the  case  usually  quoted,  iuasmucli  as  an 
opiate  fomentation  was  applied  at  the  time  to  the  si<le  of  the  mother,  this 
being  no  doubt  the  cause  of  the  child's  death,  ami  not  the  opium  that  the 
mother  had  taken  inlernally.     But  that  such  a  thing  as  the  administration 

Ionium  to  a  chihl  through  the  milk  of  the  nurse  is  possible,  there  can  be, 
khould  think,  but  very  little  doubL 


Ca»es  of  Poisoning  with  Opuan, 
I.  LAUDANUM. 


CASE  1.— *'L*iiCTt."  Nor.  1, 1845  iMr.  Rj/ao).    Male:  set-  CI.    S!J.    The  man  was  adrunWrd. 
;9yMif]4rau.— Ordiiuinr  iiTinptoiD«  of  great  severltjr  coiafQU«xl  up  to  Ibe  tUtrdda^.  Bcoovered  witb- 
Ottt  elKher  (iauj|«a,  TOCDitiug,orgtddiaeaa. 

CASB  a.—"  Lano<rt,"  Not.  25, 1837  ^Dr.  K«4»o).    JfA,  9  months.    4  4mp«. 

Sfmftlftmt.—Ot^iQKTj  syfiiptJima  kM  iu  v«ry  sooju.    Cunvtitiions ;  [kuj>il4  contracted.    Death  in  oiiits 
iboun.    Ev^ry  effort  to  savt?  tho  child  miupted. 
ikfutt.'— Dtfath  Id  nino  bourf«. 
.^<(-inorirm.~BraiLfi  uad  meiubrftnet  touch  ooDgMted  ;  lungs  n  little  congcwt(*d  -,  stomacfa  h^attbf. 

CASE  II,— "  I*ocel,"  Dec,  1, 1838,  p.  SH9.  Ft-niale:  tut.  29.  'IU  dropa  taken  every  etonlug  for  h\%  days. 
9fmjdomM.—V%\\t\tik!i\ou',  dilated  pupilaand  «oM  estremilles;  cona.     NumbaoM  of  tln)h«,  whleh 
did  not  ditupiHar  for  forty-eight  bours.    Tlie  dilataUon  of  pupils  remained  J»ra  much  l(mg«r  time- 
iErjtntif ,— Ji«cu  V  ery. 

CASE  4.—"  Laac^l,"  Oct.  3t,  1410,  p.  \m  (Mr.  Harrlsoa).    Ftrnale  t  st.  12.    4  deaBeitapooDfuLL 
SffwtfdMu. — Complete  coma;  pupiU  couimdcd,    Eecorered  ia  twodaya. 
JlSsfiilt,— Eeeo  T  e  ry . 

CA^E  5.—"  Lanoet,"  Oct  H,  \Hl,  p,  %»  (Mr.  Ilruaivy  W    Male :  i«t.  42.    Sj  In  two doaM. 
Mymf>t9md.—ln  alt  buun  whn  sbflolutety  comatus*',    iStumacfa<pump  and  g^alranUm  usod.)    Became 
eonwlMtt*  after  tbirtoea  bour»;  recorered  Iu  ulue  days. 
/Etfati.— BeooTtry. 


CASES    0?   POISONINQ   BT   OPIUM. 


CASE  «.-"  Lancet,"  Fob.  19, 1W2,  p.  758 (Mr.  Eferert).    Male:  et.  3  dftf*.    tH«* 

iSympfoiru. — Cffiua. 

.flejrM//.— I>ei»tli  iii  fourleen  hour*. 

CASE  7  -"  Ijiucet,"  S<f pt.  H,  1839,  p.  924  (Dr.  Kelso).    M«le :  nrl.  tW.    Qaantltj  f?). 

.^mjpi<r>rjiur.— No  f'fTiH.'t  for  twu  or  thR>f  huitrs,  wliru  coma  fiiipcrTeaed,  an  J  he  died  in  tig'kt  arl 
tkourn,  withotttooDTulslo'Oft  or  any  physical  lufltfriDg. 

JSejult. --Dvaih  iii  «igbt  or  ultie  houra. 

CAKE  S— "  Pruv^Dilal  .TourDBl,"  Jan.  28,  1846,  p.  42.     Mali'  adult,     itij  of  Battle^**  tltiriuTr. 

Sytti}>Ut»u).—iEui  flics  given  Ituronliatelr);  after  tlie  emetic*  iiorcoilsm  set  la.    1I«  va«k>pt  a^ititt 
for  »(;ventcen  hoars, 

Jttmtlt—RvcoytTj. 

CASE  9.— "  Lnncet,"  July  2\  1SB7.  p.  80.  and  ♦♦American  Journal  of  Medical  Sclrooe/'  Jan.  l^f. 
388  (Or.  (*.  D.  Gibb).  Male:  mi.  Ti.    Siu.  of  laudantini. 

fiymf)tom».-^jtupUtmn  did   nut  set  iu  for  n\uft  hours,  when  he  Toniited.     Pupil*  dlUtti  tAr 
▼omlllDg. 

J&raA.^Rrcorery  Id  forly-eighl  hours. 

CASE  10.— Stilie'd'' Materia  H«diea,"  vol.  t,  p.  071.    Male.    Poultice  «ilh  imudmatm  •nBti» 

BtOIUKch. 

SymptoiM. — Kar«o  tUm  > 
/e««*Zr.— Dfoth. 

CASK  n.— Betk'a  "  Medical  JurUprudelicfl,"  vol.  II,  p.  7%,     12  dropfl  of  laudauutn  used  u  in^n** 
hilo  rectuta. 

Remit. — IH'ath  m  aeventetrn  h<uin. 

CASR  12.— •' AnierlL'an  J<»urual  of  Medical  8cleuc«?,"  Oct.  1854,  p.  Itft4  (Dr  J.  It.  JackAnn^     .El  W 
ojonthi).    .'>  drops  injected  ioio  rectum. 

^«futf.— I>«ath  lu  six  hours. 

CASE  IS.— Be«fc"8  "Mt^dk-al  Jnrfsprudpncc,"  toI.  il,  p.TOi    Msio;  adult,    tiisa.  il«. opU  wdaUm 

8gvtptomt.—'To\9\  in^etinibility  in  filtfen  ttiinuies. 

jBmh^.— Death  in  oni<  tionr  and  twuty  miiuiles. 

CASE  14,— "  American  Journnl  of  MedltuI  Science,"   Oct.  1854.  p,  883  (Dr.  G.  LjrtOMlX   F«"»»^ 
Kt.52.    SJ  laud  an  urn. 

^S^;<fom/.^8yinptoin»sct  in  nftfr  ihlriy-flre  minutes. 

/(fm/f.— Death  iu  forty-fl? e  mJautt^. 

CASE  15.—'*  Aaif?ricaD  Journal  of  Medical  Science,"  Oct  IH<d0.p.  S70  (Dr.  Canipl»ell>»  Malat  MM 
SiiJ  of  laudanum. 

/tettitf.— Deatb  in  twenty  bount. 

CASE  16.—"  New  York  Medical  and  Phyaical  Journal,"  No.  xxx.  p.  2D7  (Dr.  Ue«).    !«?«« ( 

JZenii/,— Di^ath  in  Jilxtecit  h«ur». 

/\w^^(>r/«m.— Superficial  rclnaof  acalp  full  of  dark  uucoagulatcd  b|u<»d;  alnuMa  of  hrmlo  l 
blood',  yi'llow  »t>runi  b«?iiwetn  pla  mater  and  omchDoid.  Lung*  cougetled;  rlcht  atda  vlt^l 
full  of  coagulated  bl(.K>d  ;  atomacb  almost  ualural. 

CASE  17.— "Lancet,"  April  2fi,  1858,  p.  467  (Dr.  Slromonds).    Mi.  6  montbai.     A 
laudanum. 

BifmptomM.—lfo  antidot«  given  for  an  hour,  whoti  the  child  was  quite  comatose. 

jB««#tt,— RecoTt  r  y . 

CASE  18.—"  Lancet,"  Auff.  2i,  18S7,  p.  220  (Mr.  C^trbetk    Ml.  1  day.    30m.  of  laudaottm. 

j^mjptoiiM.— Coma;  vcniiiin^;  codtuIsIods;  contracted  pupils. 

iten»/l,— Recovery  \u  ten  hours. 

CASE  19.—"  Laneel."  March  29,  IS62,p.  326  (Dr.  Blstytcr).    Female:  adult.    Gli.   p  i  v 
shlllinii's  worth  of  laudanum. 

j^/)*ftHiM.~Inseujinji)ily  In  three  hours;  pupils  rery  contracted ;  luroluntary  p.i>v*.i^' 


i^enitf,— Death  in  four  hours  and  a  quarter. 

/W-ni^rlrm.— Braiti  and  membran^ss  very  COng«s|pd  ;  stomarh  cougwrtitxl ;  fluid   In  lh«  bt 
spinal  cord  smell  cd  of  spirit. 

CASE  20.—"  Lancet,"  July  18,  J84G,p,  82,    IFA.^i  modlhi,    Ahowt  Ssa. 

jTympfonu.— Complete  coma,  coot  rat.  led  pupiU.    (Elfsctru-galvaulsm  only  med.) 

BtMlt, — Keco  V  e  ry . 

CASE  21.—"  Medical  Times  and  Gasettc,*'  May  9, 1868.  p.  497  (Dr.  Tidy).    (Case  ui  Hacknry 
Male.    Age(?>.    Dose  (?>. 

When  found  was  dead«  and  was  proved  to  have  boeu  so  about  three  montha» 

Jbmtt.— Death. 

Ana/yjri«.'— Opium  discovered  on  analysla. 

CA.'^F:  22-"MtHllcal  Timea  and  GaxetUV   July  21,  1860.  p.  72  (Dr.  Pearaon).     iBt,  f  «« 
drops  Bi  least. 

Symftttttm.—Siuitot  \  pupils  contracted. 

JPsrair,- Beourery. 


CASES   OF    POISONING    BY   OPIUM. 


343 


C-iSE  23^"Modicft1  Time*  and  Guctte."  Nor. 3. 1855,  p.  «5  (Dr.  vSloane).    Male:  sel.  (52.    S-w.  of 
I  laudanum  talceri  at  9  p.m. 

i^ymfflijms. — Did  not  sleep  during  (lie  nlKht.    No  action  Tor  twelve  hour\  whflo  completo  cntaR  Mt 

pupil*  cimtrnctKd,    (Stoin«cb-pump  uw.'d  ;  irvjectloji*  of  ammonia  and  coH^e ;  and  tfalrauiiim.) 
JBp*W/.^RecoTery. 
^4U8E  24.-"  MHic»l  Times  and  Ga7elte,"  J»n.  27,  IftW.  p.  8^  (Mr  aeTeUad}.    Mrtic  :  set.  23.    Jlj 
opil  «itUtivMjton  i-mptf  iitotnach. 
nptQmM — InseDsitiilitr  in  hnlf  an  hour;  pupils  coDtrnctod;  no  vomiting  or  penpintloQ.  (CofTev 
l^|i^«llon  Ufed.) 

Jlr0uH.—T>n\\\  In  tXx  hovTB, 

t>i^  iflfitwi.— Surfltceof  brain  mncli  congested;  no  teroua  effudoa  Into  Tentrtd^s;  lunga  rer/ 

CAJ^E  25.— "British  Medical  Journal."  Oct.  10,  I8fl«,  p.SflS  (Dr.  John  S.  BoydV  Male:  jet.  82.  2 
BOL  nf  laudanum;  twenty  ioInute«arti^r  taking  li.  hec^it  hl»  thn^at,  but  no)  «vrie>iii<ly. 

^■yteiu.— No  »k><^pine»  for  fourteen  houra.    Died  after  thirty  h«iun!,perfeclly  cuniutoii«. 

JbamlL— Deatb  In  lliirljr  hours. 

CASE  S6.— Ta]rl<^r'a  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  to],  i,  p.  349  (Hon.  Mrv.  Anaon's  case).  Female.  Sfai. 
4»r  laodanuut  talien  vhitat  flutiug. 

5ym;i<«ttM.—<  Emetics  i^lvem  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour;  stomach'pnmp  used  tn  two  hoiirn  and  a  haiO 
the  mattcni  purof^Ml  up  hod  no  smell  of  laudnniini.  Complete  coma,  and  itiabttity  Ui  awnllnw.  This 
at  th«  rnd  nf  nine  hour^   wan  ri-li<'vpd,  aud  Tor  flre  minute*  ahe  ri'itiaincd  (yiu^ciou''.    Coota  ttietl 

km*  oa,  and  di'aUi  <:»ccurred  iti  fourteen  hours  from  the  time  when  the  pulaon  wua  tjilcen. 

Jift^U.'^Dt^th  in  fourteen  houm, 

CASE  27.—"  Edinburgh  31  edical  and  Surgical  Journal."  July,  18W  (Dr.  Skae).    Male :  et.  66.     31J 

—Death  in  twelve  hours. 

28.,—"  Gojr'a  Hoepital  ReporU,"  Oct.  1850,  p.  220.    Rv, 
mi.— No  sleep  produced. 
— Becovery. 
CASE  29.-"  American  Journal  of  Medical  Science,"  Oct.  18fl2,  p.  397  (Dr.  W.  F.  Norri*).    Male  : 
tl.    ^  laudanum. 

Active  inea«tire9  tiaed.y    l^yraptotut  ai  uauaL 
—Death  in  eighteen  hours. 

CASK  SO.— Worm  ley's  "  Mlon><:hemlatry,"  p.   461    (T»r,  R.  M.  l>enig).      Female:    a>L  17.     3.J 


■- — Slnpor  In  three  hours. 
!. — r»eath  In  seven  ln»ur». 
PAflE  Jtl—"  Provincial  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal/' 
m.  SS,    Twelve  drope  of  Bat t ley's  tincture, 
^rau.— Unial  aymptomn. 
L— DratKiD  twenty-four  hours. 


Nov.  18*1 ,  p.  1 29  ( Dr.  'njogood ).     Ft-mnie : 


SBa.  of  tincture. 


M«le:ieLS3.    Aimut  ^ 


CASE  n.—"  Uneet,"  Aug.  1.  1S63,  p  126  \T)t.  EUis).    Female:  leL  4>i. 

i^rMfiiftmJ.— Stupor  in  fifteen  minutes. 

£«««&.— lH<«th  in  eight  hour*  and  a  half. 

CA8B  ».— "  Lancet."  Dec.  7,  lft44.  p.  317  (Dr.  Lethohy).    Mcile:  a!l.  tS6. 

Pm»  nwwVmi.- Exhoroatloo  after  twelve  daya.  wheu  oidum  was  dlaeovered  In  the  body. 

CA0E  84— "Britinh  Medical  Journal.''  July  7,  lafifl,  p.  IS  (T>r.  Ludlow). 
<T1ie  man  had  been  accanioined  to  latce  it  for  some  ilniH.) 

^|p^|)/Aim«— Perfect  tUftenfibilHy;  contraclvd  pui>i!s;  pulse  imp4-rcepllblf;  breath iug slow ,  breath 
aa»  Hedofitplum.  I8tumach<puuip  wa*  us«'(|.  Intl  Ihc  symploTiiis  ini.'reiuied.  GalvaniHio  *tiid  c^ld  elfu- 
alon  were  then  ased.  Face  iitruck  conatanllr  with  wet  toweK  wiiich  proved  aucccssful  in  rouaing 
the  man  ;  but  he  again  went  off  into  profound  coma.    Remedies  had  to  be  icept  up  fur  a  long  time.) 

iZemi/.— Recovery, 

CASE  !»,— "  Laocet,"  August  20.  1842,  p.  70S  (Dr.  Chowne).  .Male:  iet.23.  Over  SJ;  taken  when 
dronk. 

SifmpiamM.—\Tk  two  hoara  became  insensible,  seuaibitlty  returning  afler  fourteen  bouir^ ;  pupils 
^trj  contracted, 

Jtoall.— Recovery  on  fourth  day. 

CASE  36.—"  Lancet."  May  J.1S41,  p.  18«  (Dr.  R.  H.  ScnipleX    Female:  Kt,  19.    sUa. 
JHfrnpHftnt. — Druwulneaa  in  one  hour  and  a  half;  pupils  very  contracted.    Recovered  tn  two  or 
[thf*e  daya.    » Voiulling  Induced  by  emetlca.) 
Jtamlt.— Recovery. 

CA»B  87.-'^ Lancet,"  July 31,  IMl,  p.  tWl  (Dr.  C.  J.  B.  Wtniaron).    Female  :  art.  26.    Jlias. 
Jitwyllniii.-^omplete  coma  in  one  hour  and  a  half.    (After  the  stomacb-pump electricity  was  used 
liiitanUy  restored.;    Pupils  contracted. 


CASES   OP   POISONING   BY    OPIUM, 


CASE  38.~"  Lancet,"  July  SI»  1869,  p,  187.    ^t.  B  weeka.    4diro|n. 
JietulL—Dvath. 

CAHE  89,—"  Loncct,"  Muroh  2?,  1873,  p.  idH  i  Dr.  Bowstejid).    Female :  icl.  S8.    J*irj 
Ayn»/>^(>rm«.— <'V>Dtii ;  the  patient  uot  diacovoml  for  fourteou  hours.    < Electricity  umxI,  m  veil «  Ml 
tttoTanrli-^itiinji.j    Recovered. 
/JejfM^/,  ~  Recovery . 

CASE  40.— "Uncet,"  KoT.8, 1873,  p.6M.    MaJo.    Sb*. 
^wp/t^u.— rupllff  conlfBCted.  (5a*.  of  tincture  of  belladonna  gircD  every  bour.^    fo  tJi  Im 


WHEi  niut-h  Wtti>r  ;  but  lu  »even  hourv  urifirwiirds  l>rciin)0  much  wane.  (The  aubcutatlM 
of  iitiiiuonu  was  thou  tried.)    Iiicd  in  ^>ig1itc«a  hour». 

BcivU. — Dealh  iu  (•Iglitet'n  lioum. 

CASE  41.—"  Lancet."  Sept.  6,  ISflS,  p.  812  iJ>t.  Radcliffi ).     Feiwale  ■    ttl.  30,     5ilJ. 

%mptov>^.— Scarcely MDfiiUc  after  flfti^cn  miautca.  (Emetics  and  tinct.  or  in  ilud^oiui 
In  tbrei>  day  a. 

JZmW/.— BecoTcry. 

CASE  «,— "  Lancet."  Sepi.  5, 18M.  p.  31 2  ( Dr.  RadclKTr-).    Female :  int. €0.     Ahotit  XJ 
J§|j^ipto4|M.— lD»euaiUu.    (Emtitic*  and  llnet-  of  bolladunna  given.)    Itooovervd  io  tlir<'< 
itefuJt— Recovery. 

F«male: 


CASE  43.—"  Laucel,"  NoT«mber  21, 18«8.  p,  m  (Dr.  Flolay). 


ct.  SB.    L«iulattun  oMl  il 


Sjfa^itoma. — Complete  coma;  puplln  routracted  ;  nueoavulatoDS  or  paralysis.    BeooToned  M  Oi 
fourth  day.    (Iiella4|onna  AditiJtilstered.) 
i?«Ti/^— Rts?overy. 

CA.'^E  44—"  Lancet,"  April  \%  1W51,  p.  435  (Hr,  rcBuipe).     Male:  iiduU.     10  Rr^i:  n>«-^  tun  :«m 
10  dropft  given  aa  an  injection  ('JO  drops  contatned  I  j^aln  |, 

,5j/i»/>'oRu.— Became  comato*'.*,  but  rouiHKl  up  for  a  tlfnc.and  for  twenty  honra  «<>eut«<d  Io  ha*«  i«v 
fectiy  recovered,  but  afterwanla  tiecaioe  worse,  attd  died  la  two  days  aJicr  Uie  ii^MUon  kad 
used. 

Jlenilt.—TkHkih  Id  two  days. 

CvVSE  ifi.— "  I^ancet,"  Jaa.  15,  1853  (Mr.  Kirk).    Mule:  let.  1  month.    Q  or  7  drops. 
^^;i;om«.— Bad  sympiomi.    (GalTaniani  employed.^ 
^efuW.— Recovery. 

CA8E  46.— "Chrl»tijion."    Male.    SIsji.  laudanum. 

Sffmptoira.^'So  symptoms  for  vightet^'n  hours ;  then  nareottam,  which  continued  for  sonMhMI 

ii5w«/if.— Recovery, 

CASE  47.— "  Provlnclai  Medical  JonroRl."  Oct.  28,  1W6,  p.  fil9.  JRL  ft  days.  «  4n»|B«r 
dauutJt  —  ]^ih  (jr. opium. 

.Sirm/^ronu— Cninplcte  iiarcoti«tii  !q  (tve  houi^.  Recovered  for  a  lliue  after  *  cold  imik,  ImII 
relajwo,  ttud  died. 

ItemU.—lh'hth  In  eighteen  hours, 

P04^l^orfem.— Bruin  and  viscera  healthy.    No  tmell  of  opium  la  ntoraaeh. 

CASE  4».-"  Lancet."  April  l.-i,  IWl  rDr.  E.  Smith),  *' Medical  Times  and  Qaaette,"  Apf«l»,l 
iEt.  7  days.    I  mlulm  •>  one-tirioenth  gr.  of  opium. 

^iymptiMiu. — Coma  in  hinlf  an  hour. 

itesHli. — Dvulb  ill  L-i|k;htecu  hourA. 

/W<^fN«rtmi,— Ileart  distended  with  black  bla>iM!;  lungs  collapsed,  but  not  ooiMfStod;  btmta 
gtfsted. 

CASE  49,— "Medical  Times  aud  Gasctte,"  Jap.  19, 1861,  p.  70 ;  "  LanceV  Jan.  fB,  IMU p.  *t 
6  weeks.    8ucked  the  breaat  after  m  fomeatatJun  at  giJi  &nd  laudauum  had  been  applied  to  dw 
of  the  mother. 

Sffn^ptomM. — Coma. 

Laudanum  was  given  to  the  muthor  internally,  sod  the  Jary  supposed  that  tba child  hmii 
p«tsoa  through  the  mlllc. 

CASE  fiO.-Taylor'a  "  Medli  al  Jnrispnidence.'*  vol.  1,  p.  332  (Mr.  Tubbs).      ALt.  9  maniha.     S 
Bpoonfulu  of  Isi^danuTO. 
J?6iui/.— Recovery, 

CASE  ai.— Taylor's  "Medical  JurJaprudence,^*  vol.  1,  p.  332  (Dr.  rroctor).    FeniaI«T  att,M»   ||if 

tincture. 
RtiUlL—TycHh  in  ifni*  than  two  hnurs, 
P(fti-tnortem,— Opium  fuutid  ;  membraacs  of  bmlu  congested. 

CAiie  52.— "Journal  de  M^odne,"  October,  1S4I1,  p.  475.    Mule    aj. 

Sifmpilomt. — Cntivulsions. 

iZavMtt.- Death  in  three-quarters  of  an  hour. 


i 


GASES   OF   POISONINO    BY    OPIUM. 


345 


CASE  53.— "Lancet,**  Deember  1,  ia4£>,  p.  S'i  (Mr.  IHCT).   Mkte:  let.  10.    Laudanum ;  quantity  (?); 
on  an  em|it]r  BtaroKch. 

iptomu, — lafteuaibility  in  ubout  a  qunrlcr  of  mu  hour;  ftupilt  contracted;  Tomlliag.    (Btomacfc- 
imp  ua«d. ) 
iBMW£.^Beco  f  e  ry . 

CASE  M.— •*  Lancet;*  March  24, 1849,  p.  314  (Mr.  UlWy    Female :  wt  fSfi.    About  i^ 
%Mi^pAwM.— (Stomacb-puiop  used  lo  one  hour.    Galtanlain  aUo  tried.) 
iBumtt.— Recovery. 

W,—"  Lancet,"  Decemher  1,  1840,  p.  374  (Mr.  nilT).     Femah; :  wl.  50. 

••Ml— The  above  patirul  attempted  suicide  with  Uudanum  ugain.    (StotORch^pump  and  eJec* 
IvaaUru  aiTain  used.) 
Ir. — RecoTery. 
M. — "Ltdcet,**  Jouo  19. 1847,  p.  639  (Mr.  James).    Female:  ct.  29.    !|  of  faudamioi. 
k-^Slomach-pump  and  galTBDlaia  uoed  La  the  stage  of  extrvma  coma.) 
t — ^Recovery. 

CASE  57.— "Medical  Tlmea  and  Oacette,"  February  25,  1865,  p.  195.    Femak:  bL  U.    Stw.  of 
lauum. 

-ProwtioetB  and  penpiraiioo  soon  »«i  !d ;  puplb  coniraoied.    (Emellca, ttomaob-pumpy 
moa,  aud  elcctro-mag&etiam  used.) 
-BecoTery. 
CA8B  58— "Medical  TLmes  and  Gaxette,"  July  24, 1858,  p.  M (Dr.  (XRofke).    ^t. 5  moutLft.   Lao- 

(—  3  lo  3  grains  of  exlrsct). 
«|nnf4<r<ru.— Rftpld  stiipf>r;  pupils  eontraoted.    (PHckini;  by  a  p4n  was  trl(>d  Id  order  to  roose  tb« 
liU.)    The  urine  lbrc>e  Itoure  after  the  accident  found  to  coulaln  morphia. 
Aif«fr.— Keen  T  c  ry . 
CASK  59.— '*  Medical  Tlmea  aad  Gaaatte,"  March  SO,  1888,  p.  293  (Dr.  Maafaet).    Mt.Z  tnontha, 

filrm^pANiu.- Deep  coma  In  two  houn.    (Emettca  and  galrantim,  to  wb)ch  the  coma  did  tiot  yield, 

triMl.) 

iZntiill.— I>eath  in  flfty-fl!i  hoora. 

Ptftt'morUTn.—Bniin  very  pale ;  bloody  serum  found  at  the  baae;  atomocb  pale. 
CAS£  W.—"  BritUh  Medical  Jourual,"  July  9, 1^70,  p.  33  (Dr.  Dobbte).    Female:  »t.  40.    2  ouBvftA 
U"daaum  tiikno  <>o  «n  empty  aiomach. 

-No  vomiting  for  two  hours,  aod  no  other  symptotus  produced. 
-RecoTery. 

CASE  «l.— "  Uncet.*'  February  I,  tS45,  p.  140.    Male  ailult.    Dose  (?% 

£ffmpitri»4.—Gifen  in  tMirtum  tranetu.    Shortly  bet-aiue  comaiuse,  and  conid  nOTcr  be  rotiaef. 

JBMHtt.— Death. 

CASE  t2,—"  Lancet."  June  1, 1850,  p.  696  (Dr.  Guy).    Male  :  ast.  H  uionlbs,    10  graina  of  DoretV 

(w  1  grain  of  opiumV. 

4|nn^wur.— H^yrnptoiuK  h^gan  In  tbre«  hour«i,  and  in  four  Ihours  cuma  was  complete.    (Stomach- 
hpunp  used.)    RecoYcred  after  active  weaus  ia  twenly^four  ba«irs. 
Itunil. — Ri?eo  very. 

CAfiE  63.—"  Laocet,"  April  15, 1854,  p.  419.  JEL  5  daya.   Ir^iOih  of  a  grata  aa  a  ay  nip  (Preach  »yrup 
[«f  oplom). 

!0Fiw.— Coma  in  half  an  hour;  pupllacotLtracted. 
;.— Death  in  flftet-o  buiin. 

.—Heart  distended  and  brain  eon^eat^. 
CASE  64.— Taylor'a  "  Medical  J  uriaprudence,"  rul.  I,  p.  3S0  (^.  Ogntoai).    ML  A  months.    60  diupa 
^•f  wine  of  opium, 

'. — Death  in  a  few  boors. 

hi — Brain  congealed ;  the  opium  was  not  found  oa  anatyila. 
CASE  «5.— Tayloea  "  Medical  Juriiprudi  nee,"  vol.  i.  p.  3.**!  (L^r.  Ramiwch).   .WX.  4  montha.    I  grain 
|d(  DoTet**  powder  (»  O.t  grain  of  oplumi. 

J^aylaan  —Stupor  and  other  v«ry  scTcre  lymptonnH 
JBawIt— Recovery. 

CASE  66.— Taylor'a  "  Medical  Jurlaprndeneo,'*  toL  i,  p.  851.    iEi.  4,)^    ♦graloi  of  Dover's  powder 
[|—  0.4  grain  of  opium). 


ir.— Death  in  aeveo  houra. 
CAt<e  67.— Taylor's  "  Medical  Jurlapradence,"  vol.  1^  p.  Sol  (Dr.  Thorn).   VO  graina  of  Dover'a  pow- 
|4«r  (—  1.0  grain  of  opium.; 
Sfinp«amt,^A»  usual. 
JfeamiL— Death  In  forty^four  boun. 

22 


<}AHBi   OP    POISONING    BY    MORPBIA. 


CASB  68.— "Aiuoricao  Journal  of  Medical  Solftnoe,"  April,  1899,  p.  867  (Dr.  BMjt%.  MLt  IJtj 
graliiA  rif  o|i1um. 

^yfi»;«(9i«ki<— NurcdtiAiu  Disver  profound. 

JteMU/L—Rvcovfry  in  thrt-o  daj8, 

CASE  69.— TBvlor'a  "  Medlcat  Jurltprudence^"  toL  I,  p.  352.    ML  «  montli*.    8  gnlna. 

Resuli. — RtHjortiry. 

CASE  70.— "Medical  TliOM  and  G«i«tt«."  Feb.  10,  1855,  p.  133  (Mr,  LeigbV  3<Ute  d  li  t* 
fnin«  of  Dover's  powder  ^proltabiy  more). 

i%i»/j/onw(.— Inseustbillty  la  about /our  boun  ;  contxacted  pupUt ;  eotiTuUlTc  breALblnc.  iJSiamt^ 
pump  us  fL) 

JEfivi/.^— Death  iu  nine  liours. 

I*a»t^nt^Utn,—Bmm  coo>e»ied. 

CA^C  71.-"  Medical  Ga«etuV>  toI.  ixxtH,  p.236<Dr.  Sbarkcj),  and  "Mfdieal  Timely*  ^4,li 
1805.  p.  'M^K  Male :  st.  Si.  2  pills,  each  ooalalnlog  1^4  gr.  of  extract  of  opium  »  4  gratus  ol  «■!• 
upiuiu. 

.Aerutt.— Death.  < 

i\M(-4norMM.— Dody  varia  aod  rigid  twoire  hours  after  d^atb  ,  tlomach  hcalthf.  no  effiisba  ostto 
bralD,  but  the  sinuses  aad  vvius  of  ihe  scalp  «ud  uf  the  dura  mater  werts  gorged  wUb  Maud.  J(«*i^ 
phia  or  meconlc  acid  fuiind.    Hi'art  nearly  emptjr. 

CASK  Vi.—"  Mtniical  Times  aud  Gaaetle,"  Aug.  6,  tSBO,  p.  145.    Mi.  0  weeka, 

J2mu//.— Reco  V  e  rjr. 

CASE  :».— Tuylor's  "Medical  Jurisprudeuc*',"  vol. i,p,»*5( Dr. Brown  Lahore).  Kal«  ;ftLlli 
e  gr^iasof  Dover's  powder  »  D.6  gr.  uf  opium. 

JS^p.'offu.— Sleep tiieas  io  a  quarter  of  au  hour;  oonrulsloas  In  eighlhoura^ 

Aerw/ir.— Death  in  Dlae  boun. 

CASE  74.— "  Medical  Tlmea  and  Gaaette,'  May  19,  IMO  (SCr.  Eireoa).  JBt.  »  moot]i&  tptkmd 
Dover'*  powder. 

JSenc/f.— Recoverr. 

CASE  75.— Taylor's  "  Medical  Jurisprudence,'*  vol.  t,  p.  353  (Mr.  B.  Bttcd,  Dublin).  JEi,  S  aoalla 
15  grains  of  Dovcr'a  powder. 

Jt^fWipiMHf.— Active  treatiucDt  adopted  directly. 

JIuiitt.— Recovery. 

CASE  7fi.—**  America  a  Journal  of  Medical  Selence,"  OoL,  1854  (Dr.  HortandX  Mali  aftaft  * 
grains  of  opium. 

6^/)>to<iu.— Severe  symptoma. 

jeofiiXf.- Eecuvery. 

CASE  77.—"  ChrlHilson."    M«l«.    4^  gralDt  of  opiuio  mixed  with  9  gnlita  of  camphor. 

^yiwpto«M,~ Extreme  tiarcoMam. 

i£e«ii//.— Death  Iq  nine  hours. 

CASE  78.—"  American  Journal  of  MedEcalSdeoce.'*  Oct.  1854,  p.  tt0  (Dr.  J.  B.  JaclewHi)i.  fHik 
90  gmiusof  opiuiD. 

Sjmptotns.—^oi  ncoti  for  thrive  hours,  when  she  was  completely  comatna*. 

Jtt*un.— recovery. 

CA.SI-:  79.— Worujley  "  Micrn-Chemh»try,"  p.  462  (Dr  J.  B.  Thottipsoni.  Female.  CO|tnilnaaf« 
ftod  2  hours  afterwards  f^oje.  of  laudanum,  the  doao  being  repeated  In  half  an  hour  i^  to 
gfalna  of  opium). 

fJliyitoBM.— No  i^niptoms  after  three  bQuraj  when  emetioa  were  adiulnbtered.  NarcotUai  was  ■ 
BO  tluo  severe.  "  J 

JEsfvAt,- Recovery.  I 

CA«E  Su,— "  AtueHcan  Medical  R*"cortier."  vol,  xiJl,  p.  418  (<iMoted  by  Wortnley  >,  F«inal<  t  wt.  8. 
pregaaat.    Becweeo  7  and!  8vcs.  of  solid  opium. 

Sjfmplom; — Porfectly  sensible  in  half  an  hour.  Emetics  given,  which  brought  awj»^  aboat  tlll«s 
ou«i-e»  uf  ••piuiti.  Nciri^otiJiiiii  csuie  ou,  from  which  she  recovered,  but  coutplaifi«d  «>f  vtolekt  paiUh  te 
Uie  stvinach.     I'hreiiilia  *el  in. 


-Baoovery. 


(la.)  MORPHIA. 


CASE  81.— '♦Lancet,"  Aug.  2,  1845;  "Me*llc«l  TlineA,"  IM:.  7,  IM4,  p.  314.     Female  adwtt^ 
thlrty-M^oud  of  a  grain  of  murUta  of  morphia  applied  externally  to  the  akin  after*  Mlaler  ft««l 
plications). 

.S'ym;»rowf.— Narcotism  aud  dixxioeM— complained  of  only  being  sble  toMebatfof 
objwts;  convulBloiis. 

i2e#u/l,— Recovery  io  three  weeks. 

CASE  82.— Taylor's  "  Medical  Jurlnprudeoce/'  vol.  1,  p.  85S.    Female. 
ttlcvr  of  breut, 
f|fa^p«ww*.— 8peedy  narcotism. 
JBtMtf.— Death  In  ten  hours. 


80  grains  applied  to  u  wfn 


OASES   OF    POISOKINQ    BY    MORPHIA, 


347 


CdlobnriKli  MouthlyJournft],"  Sept.  1845,  p.  195  (Dr.  PaLntnunV    1  gr&iu  taken  in  M>1u- 
io  dlvldtd  di>«i->  during  nix  bours. 
<Dv«lh  in  wvtn  boun, 

CASE  WL— Taylor'i  "MwIIcbI  Juri«prudeac«,"  vol.  I,  |>.  338.    Male:  a-t,  45.    1  fraia  of  Ihc  Lydro- 
lionte  tu  •  pill. 

isnu.— Symptoms  ctune  oo  In  three  boun. 
t.— Drttb. 

L.^No  miirphta. Tou nil  on  analysU,    Etd neyi  dlieued. 
ttl./— Tiylor'fe  "  M«dlcat  Jurisprudence,"  vol.  i,  p.  858.    Male;  et.  52.    1  grmin. 

r.— Lost  hearing  and  Atuetl  in  tbree  houFB.  «Dd  rapidly  became  con)«t4>M;. 
.^Deatb. 
W,— Taylor**  "  Medical  Jurispradcnee,*'  yo\.  i.  p.  358  (Mr.  D.  Morgan),    t  grain  injf-cted  in 

-Alter  tbf  Ibinl  fnj«^:tiun  he  slt-pi  for  two  hours,  then  woke  up,  eat  faii  dinner  and 
Iked  ;  after  two  boun  became  Ju»un»ible,  and  died  Id  aJiiXher  two  hours,  poitfectly  cunatose. 
.—Death  in  six  hours. 

CASE  r;— "Chemical  Newt."  Augiut  22;.  1M9,  p.  IS.  Int^t.  l-12Lb  of  a  grain  of  the  bydrocbloralfl. 
Aemtt.— Death. 

CASE  8S.-*' Lancet,"  January  3,  186S,  p.  8  (Mr,  Wlnierboth«Jji).    Fero*le;  let.  2.    I  grain  of  the 

in  solittiuD. 

^!^fi«iif*i«M.— Brained  undisturbed  for  two  houn  and  a  baif,  when  esnetics  were  givMi.    After  this 
MDen  came  on. 

L— BcwjTory- 

1 «».— "  Pbannaeeutlc«i  Journal,"  July,  1872,  p.  J6.    Fewale.    \  gnUn  oi  the  •oetmie  In  pill. 

L — NarcotUm  in  half  an  hour. 
L— Death  in  nine  h«»un». 

90.^Beck's  "  Medical  Jurisprudence/'  vol.  II,  p.  799  (Dr.  tlousl^n).    Mate :  art.  59.    10  grains 
\^r  Ihetiilphate. 

lOM*.— r>eep  sterturouB  breathing. 
L— Dic«th  in  two  bouni. 

91.— "Christ Isun."  p.  OM.    Female.    10  grmtna  of  Che  cMoride. 
r.— NartK^tlam  la  flifte«D  Dslnutea. 
-Death  in  iwelTc  hours. 

93.— Taylor.  "  On  Polsoaa,"  p.  617.    Feuale :  aet.  66.    6  grains  of  tlie  cbbrido, 
K. — Deuth  in  nine  bour«. 

CASE  »S.— OrftU's  "  ToxlcologJe."     Male.    10  grains  n(  the  chloride. 

h — In  ten  mlhutea  pain  io  stonuich  came  on  ;  \o  lour  hours  stupor ;  tntauaa;  dilated  pu- 
IfHlsions;  and  afterwardv  difflicult  mtrturltioQ. 
rery  In  three  days. 

CASE  94,— Wharton  and  Stlll^'a  "  Medical  Jurisprudeoce,"  p.  €81.    Male  adult    l]^  graia  of  mor^ 
fhiA  Uken  In  four  pills,  at  lotarvals  of  one  hour, 
ihtaU.— De*th. 

CASE  05.—"  ProTlneial  Medical  and  Surgical  Journai,"  Noreuatrar,  S841,  p.  139  (Di.  Toogood).    Fo> 
uitc.  ag«d.    7  drops  of  a  solution  of  the  acetate  (no  strength  naMed}. 
JteiOi— Death  in  tirelTe  hours. 

90.^ — " Cbrlatison."    Male  adult.    50  grains  of  the  acetate. 

Narcotism  In  fifteen  oHuutcs;  voiuUing  iudured  in  four  hours. 
Reoorery. 

CASE  VT.—*' American  Jaurnitl  of  Medical  flcteDC«,"  October,  1862,  p.  395  (Dr.  W.  F.  Norrls).  Male: 
i,  104    7A  grains  of  the  sulphate. 

— Narcotisai  in  one  hour  and  a  half;  emeticaaod  belladonna  given ;  galvanism  tued. 
,— B«c«j¥ery  In  two  daft. 

CASE  96.^"  American  Medical  lutelllgencer,**  toL  it,  p.  13.    Female,  aged.    1  grain  applied  to  a 
Mbtercd  aurfacc. 
il|rti^f)«»aM,— CouTulsiooa,  cold  sweats,  and  threatened  suffocation  aftor  two  hours. 
Aaraft.— Recovery. 

CASE  JW.— Stille's  "  Materia  Medic*,"  irol.  I,  p.  676.    Femule.    1-lfilh  of  a  grain  of  the  chloride  ap- 
plied to  the  denuded  akin  of  the  epigaatrium. 
. — Extreme  narcotism. 


100,—"  Medico-ChlmrgicAl  Rcriew,"  yol,  xr,  p.  651.  .£t,  &.  10  grains  of  Hilphftt«  of  morphia 
mUtake  in  an  enema. 

■Narcotism  io  ten  mloutea;  afterwards  conrulslons. 
'Death. 


S48 


CASES    OF    P0IS0NI56    B7   OPIUM    PKEFABATtOSS. 


CASE  mi.—-  W«w  York  SUdiMi  JfrnmU."  STorca 
of  ttie  wUptiate  of  ooiphlA, 

Sgmpl^mi.—Htjl  wen  for  «oaia  bovra,  wben  h«  ItaiA 
calMMoitfijr  Itijcetcd^  and  fBlT&oini  were  uaed.) 


bcr,  IMI  fPc 


CASE  Ktt.-"  M«d|»l  TfoM  and  Gasette.**  Febmagj  T.  180^  ^  IM  (Dr.  Aaattox  M«l«  t 
praiot  of  laorphU  iaj«ct«d  iuto  Feetam. 

J^m^lMM.— Uv«p  oms ;  conlracted  papili.  KotUac  4mm  ter  in  boon,  *bea  Ut«  inuM 
Jaw  were  forand  bo  contracted  Uiat  thej  could  liardlj  be  epeaed.    (€ofl^  va»  flve^ii  and 

j«ctrd.j    There  w«re  no  eooiruWooB. 
Etttai.—  l>t^ih  ia  sisteeo  bo«n  and  a  quarter, 

CASE  !(».-"  3l«>lical  Tlmea  and  G*»f%U/'  8«pl«ab«r  1,  IMt,  p,  tSO^    Kt.  S  day*.    H«f  *  gdlt  (rf 

Bartate  of  mort>hia. 
.VymyitotaiL— Stupur;  ilow  ai>d  ratlling  rcsptraUoo. 
iff  jrul^.— Death  IQ  aeTenteeo  boiin  and  a  batf. 
I^ttt-mortem.—Ho  blo«idy  rffualon  found  Id  the  bralo. 

CASE  KM.—"  Medical  Tiroes  and  GuKte,'*  March  7. 1S57,  p.  «B  (Dr.  8b«ft»ktaV    Ftanalt. 
3^-gTaiD  dciaca  of  the  ac«tat«  of  morphia. 

SirmpUmu.— Symptoms  ml  to  kinitilaliug  strxehnia  poiBoaiHK:  coarulaioo*  and  partSiU 
BO  oona,    Gnrat  relief  aflbnled  bjr  hjdroiryKDlG  add.    Morphia  foond  in  nrlna, 

/Jwtitt.— Ileco  Tt-ry , 

CASE  lOkS.— "  M«dlcal  Times  and  Gaaett«,"Sepi6mber  38. 1871,  p.  S7S(Dr,  Trask)/  MaJei 
grains  of  aulpbate  of  morphia. 

iSymp'OMu.— In  ibre«-quartera  of  an  hour  bead  synpioDi  Mt  In.  (Emetla  and  •uheulaiite 
lion  of  alrupia,  thirty  uiiiilii»  of  a  loliutioD  of  one  grain  to  uoe  ouooa,  uiwd  attd  eoftli4i«i4< 
gn»t  tMDcfit.)    Aftor  thi*  became  ^utle  uncotiacious.    ( (aev-iridty  (faradisatioD),  pokt  bc«H  \ 
orer  the  pbrvnlc  oerT<»JuKt  abofe  the  clavicles.    Atropia  li>}ectionathen  u*ed.)    AcUooofi 
went  olT  an.«r  ^ixt^'ca  buurB;  but  then  tufTered  from  great  nc^rvouj  prufitr«tiun. 

iSMtttt.— Kocotery. 

CA^K  \m.—"  LauftJt."  September  14,  1839,  p.  9S4  (TDr.  KelM)).    Experlatenl  on  hlmeclf.    Mik. 
grain  of  hydrochlorale  of  inor>>liia. 

Sifmpiom*. — GiddiocM  and  auxlety  In  two  lioura.    Agreeable  eifecU  followed.    Ia  four  hoafe^ 
•io«M,  exhauNtion  oontiaued  for  a  whole  day. 

jecruU.— RacoTery. 


(IV.)  MRS.  WINSLOW'S  SOOTHIHO  STRITP. 

CASE  107.—"  Pbannaceutical  Journal,"  1«72,  p.  618.     ..EL  15  ujunths.     Two  doMl. 
/Jeniii:— Pealb. 

(V.)  IiOCOCKS  PULMONIC  WAFERS. 

CASE  108.—"  Laocet,"  October  27, 1860,  p.  420  {Dr.  Euston).  Male:  aft. 4.  Eat  a  qaanttt* 
fflfmpto$nt.—SfmpUim»  of  polaonlng  Ml  ia  after  about  twenty  mloutca. 
iieniU/— BeeoTory. 

(VI,)  QODFREYB  CORBIAI.. 

CASE  109.— "Medical  Time*  and  Gaaetle."  October  8,  1839,  p.  887  (I>r.  Baeroa  Jaetoi 
moDtba.    Godfrey's  cordial. 

Symptoma.^la  fire  houn  atupor  and  apparent  collapee. 

ii;cfHU.^Becorery. 

CASE  110.— "Mt-dlcal  Times  and  Oaiette,"  Febroary  21,1862,  p.  308.  JBL  <  moulha, 
vorth  of  Godfrey's  cordial. 

JHendC— Deaib  lu  twenty-four  hours. 


JfXf 


(VH.)  FAREOORIC. 

CASE  lU.— "Medical  Timei  and  Gas^tte,"  August  6.  I8M,  p.  146.  JBt.  S  weeka  A  teaapooalkt - 1|. 

jfymptfam*.— Complete  coma  In  nine  hours;  contracted  puplla, 

Jt^MBlC'-BiecoTery. 

' CASE  111.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jariapradcnce,"  toK  i,  p.  a$2,    .£t  4  weekt.    A  ddae  of  pmngUlt 
eoataiDlng  opiam  —  1-eOtb  of  a  Krulo. 
Sfwtplamu. — Symplomi  of  opium  poisoning. 
/2«juLf.— Deatb, 

CASE  1  IS.—"  Pharmaceutical  Journal/*  April,  1845.    .fit.  7  rnootba.    Two  doara  of  hal r  a  i 
ful  of  tinct.  camph.  co,,  at  interval  of  one  day  *  V«  craln  of  oplun. 
iiHwIf.— I>eaih. 


CASKS    OF    POISONING    BT    OPIUM    PREPARATIONS.  849 


(Vin.)  POPPIBS— STRXJF  OF  POPPIBS. 

CASK  lU,— **  l«iicet/'  May  12.  \SH»,  p.  239.    JEi.  5  Taourhs.    3  (easpoojifuU  of  the  tyrup. 
,%i1l^iini.— Wept  to  ileep  In  h&lC  an  hour,  fend  woke  *ft«r  ta  hour  in  f real  Agoaj. 
JBmA.— Death. 

CASE  115.— "Medical  TiiaeB  and  GaMlte,"  July  18.  lg$3,  p.  75.  2  ipoonfuh  of  wat«r  Is  which  ft 
pt»ppjr>hrad  had  1«cd  bolli>d. 

CAiSt:  ll«.— TBylor*!  "Medical  JtirUprudence,"  toI.  i,  p.  353.  JEU  «  rooDtba.  Haifa  leaapoonful  of 
»yTup  of  poppica. 

j^fi<ofni.--Narcotinn  in  thre«-quart«raaf  ao  hour. 
JAmhCI.— Death. 

CASE.  117.— "Medical  Times  and  Gajtett^,"  January  20.  liOiS,  p.  G7  (Dr.  Rjau).  Ml.  \5  mootlu.  ij 
9t  K^mp  of  popples, 

— Sjinptoinj  Mt  In  after  five  hotini;  became  ignite  powerleaa ;  no  conirutalona. 
—Death  in  a>>out  eight  or  teti  haun. 

.— BraiQ  and  nieiuhriiuek  congealed*,  aeram  in  ventiicWa;  longs  not  Inflamed;  stOttUkcb 

y. 

(IX,)  CHIiORODYNR 
CASE  118.—"  Uncet,"  NoTcmlMsf  U,  J87I.  p,  697.    FeinjUo;  wu  23.    An  overdoae. 

JkMiK.— Dealt). 

CASE  1 19.—"  Lancet,"  Febmary  28,  1874,  p.  »22  (Dr.  Farrage).    Female    JO  of  chlorodyne. 

Sjfmpiimu. — Intense  coma  <after  four  hours  und  a  half  a  ftulutkui  of  ntnuiuntjL  wu  injected  iiilu  a 
▼elo,  and  afterwAnlH  ihd  aioniach-pump  wuh  ukhI.  >'he  i^raduatly  gut  better,  and  tbc>u  belladonna 
waa  ^eeol.    Beltirn  of  coottciousoeaa  in  twelvo  hourtt. 

HbmiM.— Beeo  r  ery. 

(Z.)  NEPENTHE. 

-"Pbartnaoeatlcal  Journal/'  1872,  p.  770.    ii*\ti :  vet.  U  days.    Doae  <T). 
-Nareatiint  irnnif^liate;  convulaioiu. 
-Death  In  wventeen  Uuum. 

iti.—'* "  BrJtlah  Medical  Jonrnal/'  May  4, 1872,  p.  471.  DUlwater  put  by  nlatake  In  an  empty 
i^ca$lie  bottle. 

Set  other  Queg  of  Poisoning  as  futlowa  .* 

XiAtTDANITM. 

"British  Medical  Journal,"  Janaary  8. 1»7(»,  p. 4J.   (Dealh  from  latidanum  taken  when  drunk.) 

February  26,  I«7ft,  p.  212. 
**  Ifedical  Timet  and  Gixelle/'  January  4,  IM2,  p.  18.    (Belladonna  given.    Recovery.) 
•*  Medlt-al  Tirae«,"  Aug.  U,  1841,  p.  Sat.  ({k-covery  after  ^Ix.    Nu  nareutlnni  until  after  the  utoniach 
raBrnipticd.  J 

"  Medical  Tlnieih"  Anj.  7,  1847,  p.  482.    (Death  from  2  nalnlma.) 
•"  Ihihllo  Mi-dieal  Prow,"  Dec.  24.  1845.  p.  4M. 
"  MeJlt-al  •Jaielle,"  vol.  xlv,  p.  743. 

MORPHIA. 
Time*  and  Gacette,"  Feb.  34, 1659,  p.  201.    (6  gralna  of  acetate.    Deftth.) 


28.  RANUNCULACEiE. 


Aconitttm  Napellus, 
(AcoDite,  Monkshood,  Wolfsbaae,  Blue  Rocket) 

Thi-H  piiiiit  U  itidigenou!?,  and  ii^  often  found  in  our  "gardens,  growing  to 
a  height  of  two  to  six  feet.     It  has  a  ftpike  of  rtch  blue  flowers. 

7%€  root  ia  carrot-like,  having  a  nuraber  of  eurly  fibres  parsing  off  from  it, 
and  is  genemlly  from  one  to  three  inches  long.  At  springtime  a  few  tu- 
bers form  at  the  crown  of  the  root ;  bat  these  »oou  assume  the  shape  of  the 
original  root. 

The  root  of  the  aconite  has  upon  several  occasions  been  mistaken  for  the 
of  the  honBeradish. 


350 


ON    POISONING    BY 


Tfie  root  of  the  Jtonfenidi^h  h — (1)  long^  cyliDdrical,  aoH  not  tapfli 
(2)  it  hai*  a  light-browti  color ;  (3)  It  lh  white  when  cut,  anrl  conliot 
for  au  iiidtfiiiite  time;  aod  (4)  it  is  bitter  and  bnt  to  the  ta%t€« 

Tlie  root  of  the  aeonite  h — (I)  short,  carrot-like»  and  tapering;  i*i)  iti* 
usualiy  bmwn  in  color;  (3)  it  is  white  when  cut,  but  siieedily  becomw 
red  ;  and  (4)  when  tasted,  it  produces  tingling  and  nuiubD€s»  «bou(  tbi 
mouth  and  lips, 

Th^  kav€n  are  thick,  palmate,  and  dark-green  on  the  upper  surface, ud 
produce  a  eeose  of  uumbupfis  when  chewed. 

The  flowers  are  purple,  or  rich  blue,  and  are  arranged  in  den^  racero«i. 

The  seeda  are  three-sided  (25  tn  1  g^rain,  6'wy\  twisted  and  wrinkled 
One  seed  is  sufficient  to  produce  numbueiw  and  tingling  when  chewed. 

All  parts  of  the  plant  are  poisonous.  The  tulier,  that  grows  at  ttpriBp* 
time  at  the  crown  of  the  root,  Ih  perhaps  the  most  active  part  ;  then  the 
root  itself,  then  the  seeds,  and  then  the  leaves  before  the  flowers  blow.  The 
activity  of  the  leaves  is  not  diminished  either  by  drying  or  by  keeping. 
It  is  to  be  noted,  however,  that  the  activity  of  the  plant  varie*  grtailjj 
according  to  the  time  at  which  it  is  giithered ;  and  this  circurasUinoe  a 
sufficient  to  account  ft)r  the  very  discordant  results  obtained  by  different! 
iuveatigatorsi,  and  to  prove  the  need  of  caution  in  prescribing  the  drug, 
accidents  having  more  than  once  ari«?n  from  a  belief  that  a  very  large] 
dose  can  he  borne  by  a  patient,  owing  to  the  previous  adtninistralian 
an  almost  inert  preparation. 

The  plant  owes  it*?  action  to  the  alkaloid  ncnnUina  (CaoH^^NOx),  wM 
is  present  in  the  plant,  combined  with  aconitic  acid  (C,H,0,|.     AnotWI 
alkaloid  {acondla  or  napeHlna)  is  said  to  be  present;  but  it  is  notau  acUT< 
agent. 

The  A.  ferox  (Bikh)  of  Bengal  is  probably  more  deadly  than  our  mnol 
hood.  Three  grains  of  the  root  have  been  fiiund  to  kill  a  rabbit 
nineteen  minutes,  and  nine  grains  a  cat  in  four  hours.  All  the  aconite^l 
however,  do  not  seem  to  be  poisonous,  as,  e.g.,  the  A.  pauieulntum,  the  A. 
camoHfffinum,  the  A.  vulparia^  the  A.  varieffuttim,  the  A,  niiidtim^  (lie  i« 
pijrennicnm,  and  the  A.  ochroleneum.  I 

The  ^4,  vfimmarum,  A.  hjcoctojinm,  and  the  A.  neomontanum  have 
ally  provefl  fatal  on  different  occasions. 

it  is  stated  that  aconite  was  used  by  the  Nepaulese  to  poison  the 
of  the  wells  when  our  troops  invaded  their  country.     The  soldiers  »ul 
considerably. 

Aconite  has  of  late  been  extensively  used  in  medicine.     It  has  been  fmai\ 
useful  in  neuralgia,  cancer,  etc.,  to  allay  pain,  in  heart  diseases  U^  reVitn 
palpitation,  and  in  dropsies  as  n  diuretic.     Nettrnltn  \s  said  to  \ye  Unci 
of  aconite  mixed  with  chloroform  and  ro^e-water.    It  has  prwluced 
ous  symptom H.     It  must  be  remembered  that  the    relief  of  pain  prod! 
by  aconite  is  due  to  the  local  paralysis  of  the  parts  to  which  it  U  applied. 

Aeonitin  (aconitinn;  aconitiay 
{C,H.,NO,.) 

This  is  probably  the  most  powerful  poison  known. 

It  is  found  generally  an  a  white  amorphous  powder,  but  occasionally 
R  crystjiliine  form,  k  has  no  smell,  hut  an  acrid  taste,  and  is  not  all-er 
by  exposure  to  air.  It  is  soluble  in  150  parts  of  cold,  and  in  50  part« 
boiling  water,  in  about  780  parli^  of  ether,  and  in  any  proportion  iu  alco 
hoi,  chloroform,  or  benzol.  The  salts  are  freely  soluble  in  water  ajad  in 
alcohol,  but  not  in  ether.  If  the  alkaloid  be  heated  on  porcelain,  it  nielt« 
at  about  60^  C  (140^  F.).  It  burns  with  a  yellow  tlame,  and  leave 


syMPTOMH    OF    ACONITE    POISONINQ, 


851 


due,  provided  there  be  a  free  acceas  of  air.  If  the  heat  be  not  sufficient  to 
fire  it,  a  light  vapor  will  be  given  off*  (204.')^  C),  and  a  carbtmapeourt  nmj« 
left  behind.  Sulphuric  acid,  when  added  to  it  io  ibe  cold,  does  not  alter 
its  color,  but  if  the  mixture  be  warmed,  it  changes  it  to  a  deep-browo. 

Hot  or  cold  nitric  and  hydrochloric  acids  disaolve  it  without  any  change 
of  color. 

Every  ounce  of  the  fresh  root  contains  from  }  to  f  of  a  grain  of  the  al- 
Icoloid  ;  whilst  one  pound  of  the  dried  root  will  yield  from  12  to  36  grains, 
or  in  the  proportion  of  0,1  to  0.2  per  cent. 

The  physiological  action  of  commercial  para  pies  of  the  alkaloid  varies 
greatly.  This  may,  no  doubt,  beaccoimtpfl  for  by  the  circumstance  that  it 
U  fre<iueuily  mixed  with  inert  alkaloid.-*,  such  as  delphiuia  and  aconella. 

Symptoms,  Dose^  etc. 

vefytmall  medicinal  doACJi  tingling  of  the  lips  and  tongue,  with  a  slight 
warnith  at  the  epiga&itrium,  is  produced. 

Jn  sometvhfit  larger  doetui  the  lingling  becomes  more  violent  and  extensive ; 
the  pulae  i»  diminished  in  force  and  frequency  ;  the  rate  of  breathing  de- 
creases :  auy  pain  that  may  be  present  di.^appears ;  and  the  urine  is  often 
iDCreaj»ed  in  i:|uantity. 

In  ftiU  forger  do^iea  alarming  symptoms  may  anHp,  guch  as  extreme  de- 
pression, perha|>9  bliodues.s,  an  intense  luar  of  impendtug  death,  but  with- 
out any  narcotic  symptoms  or  loss  of  the  luental  facnUies. 

We  have  now  to  consider  the  symptoms  induced  in  the  human  pubject 
by  (I  poUoiwu4  dojte,  whether  of  the  pure  alkaloid  or  of  preparations  of  the 
gevt-ral  parts  of  the  plant. 

The  symptonis  commence  in  a  time  varying  from  a  few  minutes  to  one 

»ur,  with  numbnejas  and  tingling,  tirr^t  of  all  in  the  mouth  and  throat,  but 
irwardrt  becoming  generjil.  The  heat  and  the  parched  state  of  the 
jroat  (often  descrijjecl  as  a  feeling  of  constriction  and  burning)  soon 
k^xteod  to  the  stomach,  at  which  wjwt  there  may  be  considerabte  pain. 
Vomiting  is  a  frequent,  but  not  a  universal  symptom  ;  whilst  purging  is 
not  nearly  so  frequent.  Dr.  Fleming  doubts  if  purging  ever  Imppeus  in  a 
genuine  case  of  aconite  poisonitig;  but  that  it  does  occasiotially  oecur  we 
think  there  h  little  fjue^tiou.  He  arguea,  however,  ik>uudly,  that  both 
vomiting  and  purging,  if  they  occur,  mny  be  due  just  as  much  to  loccU 
impressions  beitig  made  on  the  stomneh  sjimilar  to  thtvse  produced  on  the 
mouth,  as  to  ga^tro-intestinal  irritation.  Gradually,  as  the  case  advances, 
there  is  diminished  sensibility.  The  skin  loses  its  sensation,  whilst  there 
is  deafuess  and  ringing  in  the  ears,  with  dimness,  and  perhaps  loss  of  sight. 
Frcjthing  at  the  mouth  is  not  uncommon.  The  numbness  in  the  limbs, 
with  great  muscular  feebleness  atid  tremblings,  rapidly  increase,  passing 
ou  at  last  to  complete  paralysis  in  the  lower,  as  well  as  perhaps  in  the 
upper  extremities.  There  is  often  giddiness,  although  the  mind  is  usually 
perfectly  clear  and  collected.  As  the  case  progresses  th«  power  of  speech 
disappears,  and  the  breathing  becomes  slow  and  laburious,  whilst  the  pros- 
tration of  strength  becomes  intense.  Often  there  ia  a  painfully  terrible 
dread  of  approach iag  dealh.  The  pulse  from  the  first  is  slow,  ieeble,  aud 
Irregular,  becoming  at  last  almost  imperceptihle.  Clammy  cold  sweats, 
M'ith  intensely  bloodless  lips  and  countenance,  are  usual.  At  last  sud- 
denly, and  with  a  few  convulsive  gasps  [but  not  in  convulsions,  for  they 
are  very  uncommon),  the  patient  expires,  the  mind  remaining  perfectly  clear 
to  the  end.  Delirium  even  in  the  slightest  degree  is  a  raresytnptom,  and 
there  ia  never  auy  tendency  to  sleep,  as  happens  with  the  narcotic  poisons. 


352 


IIMENT8    ON    A" 


The  state  of  the  pupils  is  not  coDStant.     A^  a  rule,  however^  they  eeeoi  ti 
be  contracUid^  but  casea  of  ililatation  are  also  recorded. 
The  causes  of  death  may  bo  uue  of  three : 

1.  Shock.  Death  from  the  pure  alkaloid  may  be  almost  immediate  ht 
an  overwhelming  depression  of  the  nervous  system,  the  heart «  action  Doi 
being  immediately  arre.**ted. 

2  Asphyxia.  From  the  s^uspenaion  of  the  functions  of  respiratioD  t^ 
result  of  rhe  general  paralj.*»is.     (8ir  Benjamin  Brodie.) 

3.  St/ncope.  (Headland »  Harvey,  and  iSharpey.) 

Dr.  Duckworth  considers  that  when  a  large  dose  is  given,  death  m< 
to  diret't  cairdiac  syncope.     In  i<maller  doses  he  regards  death  as  hrr^i 
about  hv  a  eumbinalion   of  asphyxia  and  syncope.     (**  British  Modicdl 
Journal?'  March  2,  1861,  p.  224.) 

The  symptoms  make  their  appearance  in  from  a  few  minutes  to  one 
two  hours;  whilst  death  usually  takes  place  within  three  ur  four  hoon 
In  one  cjise  it  was  delayed  for  twenty  hours,  whilst  in  another  it  took  plut, 
in  twenty  minutes. 

As  regards  the  quantity  necessary  to  prove  fatal.  One  drachm  of 
root,  fonr  grains  of  the  alcoholic  extract,  and  one  ounce  of  the  tioclui* 
have  caused  death.  Bad  symptoms  have  Ijeen  produced  by  even  iuhtl< 
ing  the  aconite  dust  whilst  powdering  the  root.  ("Medical  Timea 
Gazette,"  Jan.  14,  1860,  p.  43.) 


Experim^nh  on  Anitnals, 

The  experiments  of  Brodie  were  made  in  1811.  He  first  decribtil  th« 
leading  symptom's,  such  as  staggerinp,  weiikness,  laborious  respiration,  and 
convulsive  twitchings.  Orjiia  in  1827  made  a  series  of  experiments,  which, 
however,  are  of  but  little  value.  He  regarded  aconite  as  a  local  irritaat. 
Pereira  in  1842  pointed  out  that  it  produced  a  diminution  of  common  aeo* 
Mtion,  so  that  you  could  f^tick  pins  in  a  dug  that  was  under  it«  tnfiueuc« 
without  causing  the  animal  pain,  alihongh  no  stupor  or  sleepiness  was  pro- 
duced. Dr.  Ftemhiff  in  1844  instituted  some  very  careful  ex[ierimeotL 
The  chief  symptoms  observed  by  him  were  weakness  of  the  limbs,  iUag- 

fering,  a  gradually  increasing  paralysis  of  the  voluntary  muscles,  loss  or 
iminutiou  of  sight,  slowness  of  pulse,  difficulty  of  breathing,  occasional , 
convulsive  movements,  in  two  cases  opisthotonos,  contracted  pupih,  but! 
often  dilating  two  or  three  minutes  before  ileAth,  and  death  by  asphyxia. 
He  confirmed  Pereira 's  observations  of  the  absence  of  sensation  without 
•topor  l>eing  produced.  He  found  that  the  heart  would  beat  at  tim*i«J 
after  breathing  had  cea'?ed;  that  the  peristaltic  action  of  the  intestines  di 
Dot  immediately  cease  after  death,  ana  that  the  blood  was  unaltered.  Al 
that  there  was  general  venous  congestion,  with  distension  of  the  rightj 
of  the  heart,  and  venous  blood  in  the  left,  as  well  as  in  the  aorta;  aj 
eoficludes  his  remarks  by  asserting  that  aconite  is  not  an  irritant  poifoo] 
Ai  it  pmducea  no  increased  vascularity  in  any  part  to  which  it  is  applied. 
An  to  the  quantity  necessary  to  kill  animals  the  experiments  are  unaatt*- 
fiwfti^ry.'Iue  to  thedifferent  strengths  of  the  diiferent  preparations  emph 
J)r.  Wormley  found  40  minims  of  the  tincture  killed  a  dog  in  »\xi] 
mirutes,  and  25  minims  a  cat  in  thirty  minutes.     In  both 


cases 


found  in  the  blood.     Headland  states  that  the  ilgth  of  a  gram 


will  kill  a  mouse,  and  the  toa^^  ^  siaall  bird  in  a  few 


mmut 


plllii  tlie  Jt^th  of  a  grain  acts  instantaneous] t.    The  V«th  of  a  ^rain  wilL 

~  fatal  lo  a  do|('tii  about  tweotj  mumtea.  id 


kill  a  cat,  aod  the  j'^th  prove<l 

lia»  been  stated  that  had  effects  bare  heea 


ia  the  human  sabjoot  bj 


TESTS    FOR    ACONITINA,  353 

tbe  's'flth  of  a  grain,  whilst  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  j'^th 
of  a  grain  may  be  regarded  as  a  certainly  fatal  dose. 

PtM^t-mortem  Appearances, 

There  is  a  general  venous  congestion.  The  brain  and  its  merabranea, 
the  liver  and  the  lungs  are  usually  more  or  less  engorged.  The  right 
cavities  of  tbe  he^irt  contaiu  more  or  less  blood,  which  is  generally  thud 
and  dark.  And  lastly,  there  is  generally  some  signs  of  gastro- intestinal 
irritation. 

Treatment 

An  emetic  of  sulphate  of  zinc  shouhJ  be  immediately  administered. 
Finely  powdered  aniiual  charctml,  as  ijuggested  by  Headland,  may  be 
given,  hut  the  stomach-pump  should  be  used  immediately  aftt^rwards. 
8liniu1ant«  (as  ammonia  an<l  bramly)  and  strong  coffee  and  tea  shouhl  be 
administered  freely.  Liniments  awd  the  application  of  friction  to  the 
]imb««  and  spine,  mustard  plasters  to  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  and  slight 
galvanic  shocks  through  the  heart,  may  be  tried  with  advantage. 

Much  has  been  said  about. the  mutual  antagonism  of  strychuia  and 
aconite,  and  judging  chiefly  from  their  differeut  physiological  etfects,  they 
liave  been  regarded  as  mutual  antidotes.     (  Vide  p.  64} 

Te^Ufor  Aconitina. 

1.  The  physiological  action  of  the  alkaloid  constitutes  its  chief  test: 

(a)  Rubbed   ii»side  tbe  gums  it  produces  a  sense  of  tingling  and 

numbness. 
(^}  Administered  to  small  animals  the  symptoms  already  described 

will  be  produced. 

2.  Cold  sulphuric  or  nitric  acids  have  no  action  upon  it. 

Witk  (he  Salts  of  AmnUin, 

(a)  QiiUftic  AtkfifieJi  give  a  white  precipitate, 
(,5)  Chloride  of  Gidd  gives  a  yellow  amorphous  precipitate. 
(jr)   Chrbazotic  Acid  gives  a  yellow  ainorphoui*  precipitatCj  insoluble  in 
ammonia. 

(«>)  Iodine  in  Iodide  of  PoimHium  gives  both  with  the  alkaloid  and  its 
dtB  a  reddish-brown  amorphous  precipitate. 

Toxicolofjfi^al  Anahjsis, 

In  conducting  a  toxicological  examination,  search  carefully  for  any 
of  tbe  plant  that  may  iMarve  for  the  purpose  of  identification.  The 
doid  may  be  obtained  in  the  manner  already  described  (p.  264).  The 
extract  flhould  be  tested  as  to  its  power  of  prmluciug  numbness  and  tingling 
by  rubbing  a  small  portion  with  tbe  finger  on  the  lips  and  gums.  If  this 
fails  to  produce  the  characteristic  numbness  and  tingling,  it  is  a  cjue,stion 
whether  further  exf>erinientj3  will  be  of  any  avail ;  but  it  may  be  advisable 
to  try  ila  action  on  some  small  animals.  The  presence  or  absence  of 
acrnite  must  be  judged  far  more  by  symptoms  and  by  physiological  action 
than  by  any  chemical  tests. 


0AB1»  OF  P0T80FI5O   BY    AOONITB. 


Caie*  &f  Poi»(»Hng  vjiih  AeoniU. 

CASE  t,— "Dut>Hti  Mf'dtcslJoiirniil."  vol.  xix,  p.  403  (]>t.  Qeoghegxnl    R»g.  v.  M<<*onk^. 

Sytnptomjt.—\Q  llttH  r'Mite  the  {>i)i!H>ti  was  n*it  fi^xiud,  but  the  symptunu  1«^  tn  a  suspjelou  »i 
log.  The  jnin  liifd  lhre«;  Imum  afUT  eui\ng  »«»iiM*  grf»*ns.  pn'pared  for  him  by  the  {tnaoiMtr, ul 
aiiffeivd  from  purttinK,  lockjaw,  I'tc.  The  prisoner  ftftirwards  conreaaed  lo  sprinkling  th*  fiww 
with  pQwcJered  &conlt»  niol.  A  lYiiMiil  who  tastled  the  grvvna  had  tho  chanurtvrlsllc  tympUmtU 
aconite  poUonln?,  and  did  oni  recover  fbr  Ave  weeka. 

i2«ii//.— IJfath  la  Ihree  hinirB. 

CA8E  2,— Taylor'a  '*  M*>dIoftl  Jurlnpnidriifc,"  vol.  I,  p.  426  (Mr.  Mjitfteld).     Mule.    Qtimnlily  '♦». 

S^/iTomt.— Four  suiull  alleos  aC  Itie  rant  were  taken  from  the  stomach,  Puiu,  ihknl,  fualUiL 
fe«ble  pulse;  perT-'Ct  cormoinuBueta;  rto  conrulsiioni. 

Itfmii.—Ufnth  In  lJir«*e  hnun« 

PbM-morttm,—€itnAPs,iioa  n(  bmln  and  raembraacai  heart  flaccid;  btood  In  ihv  right  dd?;  t^ftl 
reduMSof  uiucouk  uiLMubrane  of  stomach. 

CASE  J.—** lancet. "  June,  18S6,  p.  715.    Mi,  i]^.    Freah  leaves.    QaantUy  (f). 

£!|riii]B<Miw.-'Viiji)<<nt  r<MUiliag. 

JSmuU.— Death  la  twfuty  hours. 

F^-moriewi.—Slnfmich  very  iuflnined;  fAtchet  of  gangrenous  intlammatloD  In  the 
tinea;  heart  full  of  iinenagti1at«^  blood. 

CASE  4^'"rhristi»on;'  p.  B74  ^Dr  B»nard1ni>,    Twelve  cmm. 

jjymploiiu.— Twtdve  caaes  of  pois<inltiK  Troni  the  juice  of  Ihu  leaves,  belog  mtatakta  for  mnrrn 
gmM  (cofhk'arlft  oiSeiiialU).  Three  otincen  of  juice  were  taken  by  «ach.  Thre«  of  thMB  AM  U 
three  houni.    la  «omit>  diurrhcpa  wivi  pTv^t'Ot,  whilst  codvu1«Ii>U9  occurrt^  in  the  fatal  cmM*, 

if«#«/i,— iH-atb  in  three  out  of  the  twelve  after  three  hofira. 

Pocf-nior/etn.— Pia  toater  and  arachtiuld  much  Injected ;  lungs  gorged  ;  atomaeh  aod  aaiall  iBU«iia« 
inflaniKi. 

CASE  5  —  '  Laneet/'  March  1«.  XS-'iB,  p.  M5  (Mr.  Dlx).    Male  :  R(.  13  mODtlia.    &A  portlOtt  af  IMi 

i^mplOMt. — VuDiitlug,  dilated  puplb,  tendency  lo  «ieep. 

iZe#u  I/. —Itecove  r  y. 

CASK  G-Beek't  "  Medical  Jtiri«pni4ence."  vol.  If,  p.  B90.    Male.    Salad  mixed  irllh  alalia. 
j^jpfowu.— Hurniug  pain  Immediate;  llnifHDf;  numbness;  inusctilar  twlt<:hlags. 
JUnlt,—Ei'covvTj. 

CASE  7,— "Lancet,"  July  26,  1836,  p.  100  (Dr.  Massey).    Male:ict.49.    Eat  the  ror.t  wiii. 
milk. 

SymfMim: — Vomiting  lit  af{iiarter  of  an  hour;  giddiness  and  Irenibllng;  afterwards  i«-  .  s . 
sible.    No  diarrhte*,  but  an  in.vohin»ary  escape  of  ft  bard  motion  just  before  dentil. 

iZcjHW.— Dealh  in  Iwu  hoiins  and  a  quarter. 

i\M^^>^otiem.— Mucous  lUetubrane  of  tutotitach  appeared  of  a  deep  chocolate  color:  train  hcalikj. 

CASE  8— "Lanci  I,"  April  4.  1«.^7.  p.  aj9  (Mr,  Ha(fteld).     Male:  ttt.  64.     Root  of  aconite 

Symp(iim».—\x\  hnir  mi  hour  vi^>lfUt  [iatn<,  thirst,  retching;  no  coavuUion«.    Coiiseiouatoflialiit 

Rf-fyJt. — Ik'tttii  tn  lhre«  hours  aud  a  half. 

Pwti-mortem,—Pmtili  natural ;  blood  effused  in  the  scalp;  brain,  Innga,  and  liver  hMillhy;  ftgM 
aide  of  the  heart  ftill  of  blood. 

CASE  9.—"  Lancet,"  Octobor  6, 1880,  p.  M4  (Mr,  J.  B.  BrownX    FemBle  adalt.    Root  uk««  ll 
of  horseradliih. 

Symjitomt.—ln  ten  hoars  tpaftnis,  prlcklDg  sensations,  and  partial  loss  of  sight; 
other  wenib^rs  of  the  family  alTccted  similarly,  some  having  trismua  and  optsthoionaa. 

Rentit. — Rccarery, 

CASE  lO.-Perelni's  'Materia  Medlca,"  vol.  U,  p.  1807.    Two  eases. 

iSymjitoM-i.— Root  niihtakeo  for  boraenidish,  and  ealen  by  a  man  and  his  wife.    The  roan  aal  a 
and  u  hulf,  nnil  tlie  witmsfi  batf  a  muL     Numbness  and  tingling  came  on  In  ihr«tM)ttart«r«of  i 
hour     Tbr  luiin  dli-d  in  four  hours,  and  the  womaa  rooovered.    No  diarrhea  In  eltlkar  • 

RefuU.—licAKh  In  fuur  hours,  and  recovery. 

CASE  tl.— "Mwtical  Timoa  and  GaaeU«,"  Jan.  14,  IBdO,  p.  43.  Male.  Iiiballog  the  doat  whUaK] 
derliiK  the  root 

iSl^pfoaw,— First  numbness.    In  one  hour  there  was  dtlflcully  in  resptratifin,dllst«Tl  piipifK1a»4 
vnloe,  and  great  prostration.   Convulsions  set  in  and  lasted  for  five  hours.    Aphonia  eouUnnoii 
•  fbrtolgfat. 

/&t«i/(.— Reoovery, 

CASE  12  — "  M<ilical  Gaaetie/'  vol.  xix,  p.  4<».     Mate.    ITllxu:  of  Unctare  of  acontls. 
10  doaes  durltiK  four  days  (Dr.  Male,  of  Birmingham). 

JfesaHll.— Death. 

CAHE  18.— ''Uncet,"  July  10,  ISffl,  p.  M  (Dr.  Topham).    Female:  «l.  27.    Tilsv  of  i 
aconite. 

%«Nj9<ofru.— Symplmns  Immediate,    Ntimbncss.  loss  of  power,  dlfflcnlty  of  swallowlag; 
twitchtngsof  face;  uncoiibciousness  fur  twu  hours;  pupils  vuotractcd.    Syniplotus  laarosTMBaL. 

RuutL—Uooa  very. 


A 


OASES    OF    POISONINQ    BY    ACONITE. 


355 


CASS  14.— TKfldr'*  "Medin]  JaHtprudence,"  vol  1,  p.  436^    Female  »ilult.    TflUx  at  Fleming's 
hire  of  ae^nilo  with  1  irrain  or  ac«littt'  or  mnrphia. 

i.—Thir«t,  burning  pata  ia  stomoch  art«r  a  tew  mluutes;  TomUiiig  in  fifkeo  minute*; 
riiJ»tT«  moremeutai;  lo»  of  power  in  legA. 
JBaiWy.— I>»aHi  Id  Ttjiir  lioun. 

tan. — Membranes  of  brain,  hut  not  the  brala  Itself,  coogeated  ;  hjng^  healthy:  hf'nrl  flaiv 
dd:  Mt<-rua  eonitr^iml ;  piitchea  at  con«««lion  in  the  ttomach;  apoU  on  the  duodunum  hl^lj  ta> 
tfAJned.  v(  a  dark  color,  and  brt'akiDg  down  by  touch. 

rCJU*E  tS.— Tajlor*!  "  Medical  Jortsjjrndence/'  |>.  427.    Male.    Merely  ta«l-»d  Flpming'i  tJnctUft. 
•tfl^wfilonu.—Wslked  after  taking  it  Troui  thti  custuni-bouac  over  Loodnu  bridj^e. 
SetuU. — Death  In  four  hours. 

CASn  l«.— *•  Britlih  Medical  Joumal,"  Not.  28, 1S72,  ]>,  579  (Dr.  Henrj  Thoinp*oD),  M»l«:  «L  M. 
1  ooace  of  Fleming'*  tincture  or  acontte, 

SfmptomM.^lmnu'dliitv  rouiiti^g,  exrmse  coltapte;  puplb  throughout  mom  or  Inn  dilated,  brcom* 
log  T«ry  dilated  junl  before  death.  Action  of  heart  rery  tumultuous,  with  great  general  restl*?ranf'«a. 
I>t»th  Id  a  stat^  of  arneope. 

Jietult. — Death  In  four  boura. 

Pngt^morffm.—A)}  the  cavltb^s  of  the  heart  contained  black  fluid  Vilood  ;  Urer  oongj^twl ;  mueoua 
nenbiniir  of  Momaeh  and  intefldoos  rcdd^o&l;  nplt^on  and  kldncyii  conct'sted;  fluid  in  the  v«?n- 
tiideaftDd  at  the  bnae  of  the  bralu  ;  sinuses  of  dura  mater  full  of  dark  fluid  blood. 

CASE  17.— "British  MHiral  Journal,"  Diir.21,  1H72.  p.  682  {l>r,  Doblcj.    Male  adult.    1  ouno*  of 
Wimmin^*  tloclure  of  aconito  takt'n  when  iutoxicat«?d. 
J|>wylwi«.— Collapae ;  breathing  labored.    (Tincture  of  digitalis  Injected  aubcutauooustf.) 
i^smtt.— Recorery. 

CASE  18.—"  Lancet,"  Feb, 29, 1 W7,  p.  338  (Pr.  Johnson }.  Male :  ict.  61.  A  Ublespoonful  or  more  (?) 
•f  FIrmiog't  tinfiure. 

j9y«NpA'>«r«^.— Iiumtdlatp  burning  arnsiitlon,  flrst  In  nHuitb,  then  in  Etonmoh  ;  numbness  and  llngHnf 
«f  llpnand  tongue,  vomiting  in  hulf  an  hour.  In  ail  hourw  became  quiie  conwious,  but  Tcry  rest- 
lea*;  pupils  natural.    In  twenty-fuur  hours  he  was.  better,  and  rapldiy  recovered* 

itawW.— Recovery. 

CASE  19  —"  Lancet,"  July  14,  1*56,  p.  34  iBr.  En»ton  i.  Female :  wt  17.  Patient  five  mouth*  preg^ 
OAOt.    5IIJ  Fleming's  tincture  of  aconite  taken  on  m  full  ntoinach. 

Sjfm/tUtmf.—Jn  half  an  hour  pains  in  head  and  ttiiKllng  senitatious  In  the  body  trt  in.  The  arms 
b*x:auie  l>cnurul>»l,  and  tht-re  wjis  parthvl  Uhw  of  algJiL  She  tbcn  walked  half  a  mile,  and  became 
detlriuuB.    (Emellrs  given  in  two  hours.)    Recovered  by  tht?  next  day. 

Jte»W/- — Reco  V  c  f  y . 


CASE  20.—"  Lancet,'*  Oct.  1(1, 1B67,  p.  379. 
£a««tf.— Death. 


Fotnale.    Tincture  given  by  mlstttke. 


CASE  21.—"  Lancet,"  1888-37,  vol.  ii,  p.  13  CMr.  Sherwen).     Tincture,    Dohi!  (?). 

Symfitofn*. — Symptoms  set  in  after  five  minutes:  no  vumitlitg;*  tdiiidncss  and  great  feebleness; 
puplla  contracted.  Jaws  «it iff,  putsc  iiuperceptlbie,  hcart'a  action  feeble,  breathing  laborious;  oouvul- 
tittBS,  Irat  perfect  aenslbility. 

JbmA.— Rircovery. 

CASE  ffl.—**  American  Journal  of  MedkaJ  Science,**  Jan.  ISfia,  p.  283.  Male:  »l.  5.  Tincture  of 
■eoolte, 

;i>niiifi/Mn4.— Aggravated  symptoms.  <Nux  vomica  was  given  as  an  antidote,  and  it  Jncreaaod  the 
ibrrc  of  tha  bcmrt  at  once.) 

JBawrfl.— R«c<»»ery. 

CASK  28.— Taylor's  •* Medical  JurUprndcwce,'*  vol,  1.  p,  4a7  (caae  of  Hant).  Mulf.  A  little  lei* 
tksn  ii  of  tincture, 

t. — Vomiting;  pupils  dilated;  puin  at  the  heart;  loss  of  power  in  anas  and  legs;  pulse 
Ibl*-;  no  courulsions. 
Jfalilf.*-Dcath  In  forty-five  minuter.  * 

JbK  t»0r/CTii.— Brain  heatlhy,  but  tine  vcBsels  very  turgtd;  the  heart  healthy^  right  »idK  distended 
Vftk  Mack  fluid  blood,  left  side  empty  ;  lungs  hunithy  ;  stomach  very  congosled,  and  mucous  mem- 
iMmMe  corrugated. 

CASE  24.— Pereira*s"  Materia  MedtcaL,"-roLU,  p.  l(i9L  Vale:  iet.21.  Two  doses  ofUlTj  of  tlnoturt. 
Hcytowu.— Alarming  symptoms. 
IBesiUL— lleeovery. 

CASE  25.—"  New  Yotk  Journal  of  Medicine^"  Not.  IMI,  p.  S36  (Dr.  Gray).  Male:  ict,  14.  Ssa.  of 
Uoelure  of  aconite. 

J^miptoNU. — Symptoms  began  in  five  minutes.  After  twenty  minutes  there  was  insensibility  to 
llgbl  And  dllat«fl  pnpits.    Vornlttng,  pain  In  stomach  ;  pulse  slow ;  numbness  of  head.    Conscious  to 


'.—Death  In  two  hours. 


354 


CASES   OF    POISOKl 


3Y    ACONITE. 


Casr.n  of  P 

CASE  1.—"  Dublin  M«>dica1.Toiiriinl,"  vol. 

SymjtIoHU.— In  tliU  chm;  tlii'  juti^'iii  u:, 
ing.    The  min  df«d  ihruc  luiiin  hM>  - 
viiiferi-d  rroin  piirgfnp,  IiK'kJHW,  i-li-.     I  !■• 
with  iMwdvred  act)!)!!?,  mot.    A  frl-  n  j 
aconitR  iwiituiiinK,  aud  did  not  fl-chvi'! 

JtfMult. — I>eath  In  three  huim. 

CASK  2.— Taylor's  "M I'd ical  Jt.n- 

Spmi4omM. — Four  nuitill  slir>-si>t'  :i  - 
fi-vlilc  pulsv ;  perf'-ct  couiiL'iou!«iii.->-,  . 

Remit. — I)«;iith  in  thr<*v  hours. 

Pini-wtortem. — Concc^tinn  of  h:-'-. 
rcdufiM  of  mucouH  me iiitirnn''  nf  . : 

CASE  8.— "I.an«ftt,".Tnn".  I'-.i..  . 

SjfmiMcmi. — Viulont  vomiliii.i. 

Jit*uU.—hnlh  in  twfiity  It.,  ir- 

/W-fNorfriM.— .Stoniacti  »-ii_.    •■ 
tinea;  heart  full  of  uncu:i::iil:,;-  '' 

CASE  4^"  Christian,"  | . - 

Sjfmjtlonu. — Twclvi'  «:!■«•■■ 
gratm  (c«ichlearia  otfii-iii:'!'.^ 
thrw  houni.    In  jjoiiii*  il:. 

AiNtt.— I»eath  in  tlir. ' 

AMif-morfrm.— Pia  iikU  . 
inflained. 

CASES.— "litiinit."   * 

Sjfthfdoms. — Viiuii!  i  i- 

MeMutl. — lleoovf  ry 

CASE6.-IkHks 

<S^ii;>A)iiw.— Kii  ri  I !  ■ 

Jtemlt.—RnttVKf: 

CASE  7.— "I.!.!.- 


mlllt. 

8ymjitf,m*. — V-. 
siblu.     Nciiii.ii- 

Reml/.—lhA' 

Pfat-murt'i 

CASE  S  - 

ttttvlt-  I- 

Pont-ii-.r'- 
side  u(  III-   - 

iWSV  '.' 
of  hiiisiM  ■ 

OlhiT  II' 

Jtes'il- 

CA.^1 

.Sy,.. 
ail'l  :i 

h«inr 
/.'. 

d<M. 


in.  1852.  p.  268  (Dr.  McCmdy).   Feult: 
dushed ;  pulae  weak  and  fbequent ; 


.     T-ancet,"  April  5, 1856,  p.  389  (Dr  W.  H.  BMel 

.:!Tvn  by  mlitalce. 
!-^ :  burning  ftfeling  along  the  tongue;  twfttta 
ai«U  pupils;  iuToluutarj  escape  of  btcet;  oooTtl* 


dK>«(ed  in  patches;  heart  hoalthj;  bladder raftv, 
-.     1 .1  <«uicidc).    Female.    5iJ  of  tincture  of  acoalte. 
..^  «as  seen  the  action  of  the  heart  was  w^rrelyaoA* 
•uM-iousness ;  pupils  dilated  (one  being  utal  lo  thifc 
o  slefp ;  death. 

.  .^     ■  alve*  on  the  left  side  of  heart  thlckened.bat  nthn*' 
..  Kk>s:  lungs  healthy;  stoinacb  paler  than  usual ;aB 

.rii  rt.  1861,  p.  360  (Dr.  Thomas  Skinner).    Female:  bL 

-.9  eQ  ea»,  etc. 

'<>.    Female,    i^  of  the  tincture  taken  by  mUtskc  for 

. .  I'luwer  in  legs  and  arms. 

H.  ..euce."  Tol.  1,  p.  428   (Dr.  Yachell).    Male.    Gr.  Uoflki 

.  ^ppvaring,  but  afterwards  rapid. 

>    -i^S.  p.  70:(Mr.  Saylc).    Male:  st.  39.    Decoction  of  ilalb 


•  laming  at  the  mouth 
41 .  mind  clear. 


pupils  dIUted;  legs  paralysed;  lUi 


inliac  extremity  of  the  stomach. 
He. "  Dec.  18,  18G»,  p.  709  (Dr.  B.  W.  Rlchardsony. 


"luK^i^ring  and  tinKlIng  in  the  face  and  head  :  Tlslon 
■i    ;hi'  ^Niurse  of  eight  huiinc;  pupiln  very  dilated;  (tweniy-fll 
.u'  iMiiont  scciulhI  to  be  dood.    This  was  repeated  four  tImf«.J 


.'■"rhiff  Cnsett  of  Aconite  Poisoning  : 

I..  .-<.  I^i9,  p.  498.    (Dt-ath.    Aconite  plant.) 
1. 1  .^^l  ■*.'»:»,  p.  10:l.    (raHAofpoiHODing  at  a  convent.) 

N.-»    1'".  l<*.vi,  p.  54:».    fMlstukeu  forhnrsi^rsuli'ih.    Death.) 
f.>  ;,  KVi,  p.  118.    (Root  taken  for  honeradihh.    Twodeatha) 
<i  i   II.  fi-M,  p.  ?fi\    (IH'uth  from  Fleming's  tincture.) 

••«..  t.<.  isiVi,  p.  019.    (Death  from  four  grains  of  extract  of 

iviUlWOvHl.) 


ACOMITINA. 

l-ilH.  |>.  U  (Dr.  Goiaing  ninl).  Male 


adult.    About  2^ ^  grains  of 


I.-  \\ .  itrikinK  his  head  HOvorHy;  Tomlting:  ooIlapHe  in  eight  hoan; 

,  .<i.irtiiMi  scan-cly  iMTCfptihli';  pii|iilH  ai-tvd  to  light ;  no  |nraly>ii 

'.'i(<|[i-rt  iniiiii|iairt'il ;  fi-arfiii  spasms  on  attempting  lo  kwalluw 

I  >■■■  «(iiiiiiiiiirwa<<funTul.Hivo,  aud  really  a  jurking  out  of  the  contents 
■  '  lui-  iMMvulHiuns, 


» ..1 .  li.  p.  -j-iri  ■  M.  TVvayl    Male : 
,>ttii-r  violi-iit  fvuiptunia. 


adult.    Siss.  of  alcoholic  lolation. 


1805150  BT  AUrSMOKS,  STAVESACRE,  BLACK  HELLEBORE.       857 


A.~^N«w  York  Journal  of  Mediciti«."  Itfarcli,  1848.  p.  28S.    Mil*.    Gr.  liift.  oftcofiltlD. 
."ym|.i;<ww,-^VtoleDt  Tomflinfc.  terrible  coIUpM. 

■ll«,'«Tei7  In  thirty  hours. 
CA>tl>  17, ^^  Pharmaceutical  Juurual/'  Jmnuarf ,  1872,  p,  518.    Male.    Too  frequent  appUcatton  of 

•D«»th. 

Atieinone  Pultaiilla^  etc, 

le  most  actively  poiaoaous  species  of  the  anemoue  are  the  A.  pulta- 
(wiDd-flower),  the  A.  hortenjtiJit,  nod  the  A.  corotmria;  the  least  active 
beiog  the  A,  hepatica^  the  A,  putens^  and  the  A.  nemeromt. 

They  act  as  irritant  poisoiii*.  It  is  rccarded  by  BuMiard  that  an  old 
tnao  bad  intlanimatiQn  and  gHDgrene  by  applying  the  brtiised  rout  of  the 
A,  pulsatiOa  ( paj^que  flower)  to  the  calf  of  his  leg  for  gout.  Great  irrita- 
of  the  eye»  and  nose  is  produced  whew  even  the  |K>wdered  root  is 
id  chwe  to  them.  Animals  have  died  from  a  dose  of  the  extract,  aod 
ita  taking  the  leaves,  violent  inflainmatiou  of  the  stomach  and  rectum 
f>eii]g  specially  ooticed. 

All  the  acridity  aud  actively  poisonous  nature  of  the  plant  disappear 
wheu  it  has  been  exposed  to  the  air  for  some  time. 

Delphinium  Siaphtsaffria^  etc, 
(Stavesacre,  Pal  mated  Larkspur.) 

fitavesAcre  contaios  an  active  principle,  called  defphinia,  which  is  a 
wbite»  8olid»  crystailiue  alkaloid,  insoluble  in  water,  soluble  in  ether  aad 
alcohol,  and  forrni*  salts  with  acids.  Six  grains  of  this  alkaloid  were  found 
to  kill  a  dog  wheu  introduced  into  the  etomaeh,  to  one  cHtse  in  forty  mln- 
■tes,  and  in  other  cases  in  from  two  to  three  hours.  Jj  of  the  bruised 
destroyed  life  in  fifty-four  hours,  aod  5ij  applied  to  a  wound  killed 

jlwo  days. 

It  acts  as  an  irritant  poison. 

The  D,  tricorne  (stagger-weed)  has  been  known  to  prove  injurious  to 
aoimals, 

Hciieboriia  Niger. 

(Black  Hellebore,  Christmaa  Roae.) 

The  Christmas  rose  has  a  black  root  (raelam podium),  which,  similarly 

to  the  leaves,  is  capable  of  acting  as  a  powerful  poison. 

It  is  used  by  quacks  as  a  worm-powder,  but  is  a  dangerous  drug.  It  la 
an  irritant  in  its  action,  but  nervous  (symptoms  are  also  frequent.  Its  ac- 
tivity is  due  to  au  acrid  oil,  which  is  dissipated  by  boiling.  Two  to  three 
drachms  were  found  to  kill  a  dog  in  eighteen  houi-s,  when  secured  lu  the 
stomach.  Two  drachms  also  killed  a  dog  in  two  hours,  wlien  introduced 
into  a  wound  ;  and,  similarly  administered,  six  grains  caused  death  in 
twenty-three  hours.  The  irritant  symptoms  were  accompanied  with  giddi- 
ness, palsy  of  the  hind  legs,  and  insensibitity.  An  intense  reduesa  of  the 
rectum  was  remarked  if  the  animal  lived  for  a  few  hours. 

Death  is  recorded  in  the  human  subject  from  the  admiuistratioD  of  half 
a  drachm  of  an  aqueous  extract  of  the  root. 

Ouet  of  Poisoninff  with  Black  Seltebore, 

CAS^e  t.— '*  Ua«et,"  Julj  SS,  186<S  p.  100  (Dr.  Mtaaey).  Fsoiate.  A  teccupfUl  of  bd  tafusloo  of  1^ 
«a»«f«  of  the  root  with  IJ  ouaoes  of  w»t«r. 

afmiftiMtt  r«lfi  In  tonfMe,  r»uc«a,  Rod  throat;  dJAcuky  In  twiiloviii;;  pain  In  Ibe  itoiiueb; 
toBfu*  «iroUeti ;  Kr«*t  cvUapM.    EtaeticA  were  ii<ijikiDlst«r(vd. 


l»0IS0!fI!ff9    BY   HBLLBBORB — HVfi, 


CASE  2.—"  De  Sedfbuii  et  CbuaU  Morbornm,"  eplat.  Ux,  p.  15  (MorgagniV  Mttle:  St.  SQUmicra 
■quc^uii  extract  uf  rooL 

SjftHfjlottu. — PtiitJ  mid  TORiitlog. 

Retftlt—Diinlh  ill  Hixlecn  hours. 

ISnt-morttm.—Tbv  whole  aliiii^ntarf  conn!  Inflnmrd.  but  enpetially  the  large  lnUMlQ«t 

CASE  3— 'TV  Si'dil'iiB  ct  CausI*  Morborum,"  (?pist.  \i%,  p.  \5  (Morg:»gtii)L  Hale.  A  UmfmatM 
*tt  I  he  Ikuvty  jH»W(Jefed  r«K»l, 

8ifmtf>taiiu.-~l rriiAoi  syuipluma.    Recoverj  after  fourdafSr 

XetuU,—lU:coyvry. 

Ilelkhoriis  FwUdtia. 

(Stinking  Hellebore,  BearVfoot,  Fetter-wort,  Feloo-grass.) 

This  is  the  mo^t  violent  of  the  hellebores  in  its  poisoDou^  action.  | 

Orfita  records  the  death  of  a  child  from  eatiDg  the  root. 
The  H.  oriaUaliJt  (True  Hellebore,  Heltcbore  of  the  ADcients),  is  alsoi 
very  poisoDou!;  pJaut. 

Banuneulus  Aerify  etc. 
(Crowfoot,  Buttercup.) 

There  are  fifteen  varieties  of  ranunculus  more  or  less  poisonous,  all  parte 
containing  an  iKTid  orintiple,  which  may  be  dissipated  by  heat  and  by 
drying.  The  water  distilled  in  contact  with  the  plant  will  be  fouiid  to 
contain  the  acrid  principle. 

The  varions  forms  of  ranunculus  act  as  irritant  poisooB. 

The  R.  acrU  (buttercup)  yields  a  juice  which  is  capable  of  acting  as  t 
vesicant,  and  Ims  been  used  by  malingerers.  According  to  Dr.  Witheiinf 
it  has  caused  death. 

Krapf,  experimenting  on  himself,  found  that  two  drops  of  the  juice  ol^ 
the  buttercup  prmiuced  a  griping  pain  in  the  gullet,  similar  aymptoiiM  i " 
rebuking  from  swallowing  a  single  flower.  If  the  leaved  be  chewed, 
gum^  become  tender,  and  the  tongue  blistered.  Five  ounces  of  the  juice 
secured  in  the  gtomaeh  of  a  dog,  and  two  drachms  of  the  aqueous  extract 
apfdied  to  a  wound,  caused  death  in  each  case  in  twelve  hours  (Orfila). 

The  K.  jtummnla  is  a  powerful  emetic.    Flocka  of  sheep  are  said 
been  killed  by  it. 

29,  RUTACE^. 

Buta  Graveolem. 

(Rue.) 

Rue  is  regarded  by  M.  H^lie  aa  a  narcotico-acrid  poison.     He  consideiyj 

that  it  has  the  greatest  influence  of  any  known  substance  in  produdnri 
abortion,  even  when  there  is  no  previous  tendency  or  w|>ecial  constitutiooM^ 
weakne'^s.     Our  own  experiments  lead  us  to  believe  that  this  opinion  mnut 
be  received  with  considerable  caution.     It  is  not  an  active  poison,  althourh 
large  doses  kill  after  variable  periods.     Orfila  found  two  pounds  killed  a 
dog  on  the  second  day. 


Cases  of  Poiaoninff  teith  Rue. 

CASE  1,-"  Ann^lei  d'llygltne  Pobllquc;'  1838.  toI  xx,  p,  180  (M,  HMfe.    QuoUd  by  QiriuiaM) 
Female.    Uccociiou  of  rwiM, 

i^fm/domiu—Pmln,  tuinlUuK,  drowtloew,  fflddloeM,  dlmnen  or  siffht,  <llfieua  MliniUtliuM, 
tTMUMl  puplU,  ewnvuUive  moTcmeata  «f  llie  he»()  nnd  anna,  releniloa  af  urinat,  |mi«l*«tlott,'  M 
purj^loii;.    Miacarriaireon  the  third  day.    At  the  (leriud  of  (ho  mUk  fever,  aymptMnt  of 
rvturiHsd,  with  fMia  in  ili«  toagua,  »Dd  aallvaiioii.    FererUh  aymptoma  aet  Ui.  tnm  vhJcli  i 
varda  mCfiTered, 

itwaXL— Beeorerj. 


BTMPT0M8   OF    DIGITALIS    POISONING. 


359 


CASE  SL— "AmiAlM  d'HyxiiUie  FuMlqiie,"  1838,  rol.  xx,  lao  (M,  Hflle.    Quoted  by  Chrlnbioo). 

BceoctloD  of  roois. 

i^fmffhmt.    PympioMUi  very  mlltl.    MiBcsrrfftge.    AtUir  fifteen  days  enttrely  recorered  b9r  health. 
L— B«eovery. 


30.  SCROPHULARIACE^. 

Di^iMh  Purpurea, 
(Foxglove,  Purple  Foxglove.)    . 

This  plant  is  found  in  gardens  ami  hedges. 

The  root  consists  of  long  slender  fibres. 

T/w  leaver  (which  are  prubably  the  most  active  part  of  the  plant)  are 
ovate  or  obloug,  and  downy  on  the  under  surface.     They  coiitaiti  tannin. 

Thejlowers  are  purple  and  dotted. 

The  eeed^  (1126  to  a  grain:  Guy)  are  reddish-brown,  small,  oblong, 
angular,  and  pitted. 

All  parts  of  the  plant  are  poisonous  and  contain  :  (1)  Dlgilalin  (1  to 
2  per  cent,  according  to  some,  and  10  to  12  according  to  others) ;  (2)  An 
acrid  nmtier^  soluble  in  ether,  which  produces  vomiting  and  violent  head 
fjmptocns;  and  (3)  A  bitter  principle.     (M.  Hooiolle.) 

Digitalin  (C^H^O.^), 

DIgitalin  is  a  white  solid,  crystallizing,  although  with  difficulty,  either 
iji  scale::}  or  needles,  of  a  bitter  taste,  and  very  irritating  when  applied  to 
the  Doee.  If  burnt  with  free  acccaa  of  air,  it  leaves  no  residue.  It  sub- 
limes  at  154^  C.  (SHr  F.), 

It  b  dissolved  slightly  both  by  ether  and  by  boiling  water,  the  solutions 
being  very  bitter.  Chloroform  and  aKioboi  dissolve  it  freely.  It  is  solu- 
ble in  mwt  acids,  but  espeoiully  in  acetic  acid. 

Digitalin  is  a  neutral  body,  and  forma  therefore  no  salts  with  acids. 
It  is  a  ghicoside.  Boiled  with  sulphuric  acid,  glucose  is  found  in  solutiuu. 
Heated  in  a  tube,  it  gives  otf  au  acid,  and  not  an  ammoniacal  vapor.  It 
is  a  very  active  poison.  Nitric  acid  dissolves  it,  the  solution  having  a  deep 
orange-red  color,  whilst  orange-colored  fumes  are  evolved  when  the  acid  ie 
added  to  the  alkaloid.  Hydrochloric  acid  also  dissolves  it,  the  solution 
bex!omiug  green  when  heated.  Sulphuric  acid  turns  it  a  purple-black  color, 
the  solution  when  diluted  becoming  a  dingy  green.  Treated  with  sulphuric 
acid,  and  expt^sed  to  bromine  vapor,  it  becomes  violet.  This  constitutes  a 
Tery  characteristic  reaction  of  this  Iciody. 

It  is  precipitated  from  its  solutions  by  tannic  acid,  but  not  by  chloride 
of  mercury. 

EatperimcnU  on  Animtds. 

Experiments  on  animals  prove  that  however  digitalin  be  administered, 
it  is  an  active  poison.  Mr.  Blake  found  that  three  drachms  of  the  leaves 
arrested  the  action  of  the  heart  in  five  seconds.  Drs.  Fagge  and  Steven- 
Ron's  experiments  show  that  digitalin  produces  a  peculiar  form  of  irregu- 
larity in  the  beats  of  a  frog's  heart,  aud  the  retention  of  the  voluntary 
power  for  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  after  the  heart  stops — a  similar  result 
happening  both  with  squifl  and  veratrum  viride. 

Symptoms f  /)o«e,  etc. 
Digitalis  is  what  is  called  a  cumulative  poison  ;  that  is,  after  a  series  of 


flYMPTOMS   OP    DIGITALIS    P0I80NIWO. 

small  doses  tave  beeo  taken  apparently  without  any  cffe<7t»  the  poiMiKsQi 
action  of  the  drug  irrny  break  out  suddenty  and  with  great  violence. 

There  may  be  immediate  vomiting,  pain,  and  purgiug.  Often,  bon* 
ever,  aft^er  even  a  lar^  dose,  iw  symplomw  set  m  tor  a  lime,  whilst  all  .if 
a  sudden  the  fmtieut  becomes  io.seusible.  The  prominent  symptom  la  bf 
observed  in  digitalis  poisoning  is  the  depression  of  the  heart's  actiou,  the 
pulse  being  irregular  and  almost  imperceptible.  Frequently  the  (Tatteiii 
will  go  off,  for  a  timej  to  sJeep,  and  wake  up  in  delirium  and  couvuImuiu. 
The  pupils  are  dilated,  the  sight  confused,  or  even  l<j9l.  The  scderotic  is 
said  to  have  a  peculiar  and  characteristic  blue  tint  (Tardien),  The  urifie 
is  generally  suppreeaedj  and  salivation  has  been  recorded-  Toward*  the  end 
of  the  case  the  faintings  l>ecome  constant,  and  death  occurs  usually  from 
Bj'Dcope,  induced  by  the  patient  making  some  slight  exertion,  i«U('h  u 
sitting  up  in  bed.  Dr  A.  T.  Thomson  states  that  digitalis  acts  pl)lre^ 
fully  on  the.  generative  organs.  In  men  and  women  it  seems  to  act  a$u 
aphrodisiac.  M.  Gourvat  ("Gaz.  M^.  de  Parit*/'  Dec.  23,  1871)  consItlt*n, 
however,  that  in  men  it  tends  to  diminish  or  even  to  stop  the  aecrelioo  «f 
liquor  semini**,  and  that  in  women  it  has  a  tendency  to  produce  strung 
uterine  contractions.  It  has  been  extensively  used  as  an  abortive  in  Fnnetj 
(Tardieu). 

We  have  remarked  that  the  chief  symptom  of  digitalis  poisontng  is  the 
lowering  action  it  produces  on  the  heart.  Homolle  fouud  his  pul*e  rt- 
dueed  by  small  do^es  of  digitalin,  taken  at  short  intervals,  to  nue-fourtli 
(seventeen)  the  number  of  beats  that  was  normal  Doses  of  the  ^'^ib  !« 
the  g\jth  of  a  grain  lowered  the  circulation  in  twenty-four  hourj*,  lad 
caused  vomiting  and  purging.  Further,  it  was  noticed' that  <loses  tUiv« 
the  j'jjth  of  a  grain  (==  S  grains  of  the  jwwdered  leaves)  had  a  stroug  eroeiie 
and  purgative  action. 

We  may  from  experiment*  conclude  that  a  dose  of  from  |^  to  |  a  grain 
of  digitalin  would  prove  fatal.     Two  or  three  grains  of  good  powdered 
foxglove  will  often   produce  serious  symptoms,  although   patients  have 
recovered  after  taking  as  much  as  a  drachm.     Altogether,  it  rau«t  be  I 
acknowledged  that  digitalis  is  a  very  uncertain,  and  because  unoertain,^ 
very  dangerous  drug. 

Death  rarely  occnrs  in  less  than  twenty-two  hours,  whilst  it  has  been  de- 
layed to  the  sixth  day.  When  recovery  takes  place  it  is  generally  slow, { 
and  the  patient  is  not  out  of  danger  for  a  very  considerable  time. 

Treatment. 

Emetics  and  the  stomach-pump  may  be  necessary,  as  at  tiroeB 
is  absent.  At  any  rate,  get  rid  of  the  poison.  Tea  and  coffee  may  begivefT 
freely*  Stimulants  are  indicated,  and  |ierhaps  galvanism  at  ih^  region  of 
the  heart  may  prove  serviceable.      The  patUnd  mast  lie  in  the  r  '  po*- 

iure.     In  no  other  way  is  the  person  safe,  because  in  this  po>  -.•  ac- 

tion of  the  heart  is  less  im{>eded  than  in  any  other.     One  woman  died  oo 
the  sixth  day  from  merely  rising  up  in  bed  suddenly, 

Pod-mttrteni  Appearances,  " 

Of  the  post-inortera  appearances  there  b  little  to  be  said.  Ofien  there  it 
nothing  abnormal  to  be  noticeil,  whilst  sometiniea  inflammation  of  the  ma* 
cons  membrane  of  the  stomach  and  injection  of  the  membranes  of  thel 
brain  are  met  with. 

Toxicohgical  Analy&is. 

In  a  tozicological  examination^  the  most  satisfactory  metbod  is  to  make 


CASES   OF    POI80NINO    BY   DIQITALIB, 


361 


I  alcoliolic  extract  of  the  stomach  and  of  ita  contents,  and  to  experiment 
ith  this  00  anfmals.  Always,  if  possible,  preserve  and  examine  the 
►Tomit,  even  if  it  be  only  a  stain.  And,  above  all,  let  your  physiological 
experiments  with  the  suspected  ^uhstanee  be  conducted  side  by  side  with  a 
known  digitalis  extract  for  purpose:;,  of  accurate  comparison. 

The  separation  of  digitalin  by  dialysis,  as  suggested  by  Grandeau,  is 
questionable. 

Of  course  any  portions  of  leavea  or  seeds  found  in  the  stomach  should  be 
examined  microscopically  as  to  the  botanical  characteristics  they  present. 


Cases  of  Poiaoninff  with  Digitalis. 

I.— Cue.  of  De  la  Pommcroti,  Paris.  May,  l^M.     Vide  "Taylor."  vol.  i,  p.  4?W.  "AumJm 
I^Vn^n^,"  LM4(2),  p.  105.     Murder  of*  Ti'inale  nani«?d  Pnuw,  vt.  40,     Prisoner  vtnn  found  i^iilty. 

f.>— The  womsD  wm  suddenly  i^ixia]  with  vorafUug,  aLud  died  la  twunty-four  hours.    Vora- 
IUa?.  d«>pm*too,  ftbd  ^xhaiuUoii  ittro  tbe  cb  lofty  to  |iLoau. 
Jbtfw//.— Drath. 

irfi^m.— The  exhumed  body  wan  exumtn«d  thirteen  days  after  dratb.    Nutliing  wa;9  Ttiuud 
itcal  l*fltM;  but  A  fttbMt  died,  and  a  dojf  was  ttinde  ill,  by  lakintj  the  exlrai^t  Trom  Ihratoniacb, 

'    vtoin  beinn  Itt  d'firereanl  aii^tton  on  thH   h«arl.    Th*>  pif»!»t-mortero  appearaoee*  were 

Dot  ;  1  the  woman  bffuredenlh   had  viiinik<>d  on  the  (liwir.    Tliin  was  •cmpi'd  up,  and  »n 

alt-H  '  r  prepart-d  from  If.    Seveuty-fivp  gmlni of  ibln  killed  a  iil<»g,  iiitTfiidfl.ced  into  a  wound. 

In  t«.-Mr-(»o  bour»;  vomitiii«  and  deprt'Mt>d  cardiac  attiou  being  will  marked,  but  no  coma  or  lo- 
*m»SbHlty.  Thirty-one  grains  jjiT-n  to  a  rahbil  killed  It  In  three  houra— eardtac  deprewlon  bflog 
I  chief  vymptotujt.  No  KlTect  re«»]it^d  from  thif  wraplni.'a  of  ibtf  fl«Por  where  the  voniU  h>d  not 
Dr.  de  Poiniueraln  had  a  mnlivf  and  interest  in  bur  death,  and  was  fuuad  to  have  previously 
uaed  dtg^italin.  He  was  executed. 
CASR  2.— "  Joorna)  de  Mfidecloe,"  Not.  1817.    Male:  wt. 55.    5J  of  the  powdered  leaves, 

».— In  one  hour  voinitlnifi  giddlneas,  and  low  of  sight  occurred ;  pulse  ttrj  alow.    Did  ool 
|C4  «c|]  for  more  than  fourteen  day  a. 
JtetvA.— Recovery, 

CASE  3,—"  Medical  Tlmf%"  Sept,  IH,  196H,  p  471.    Male :  «t.  S4.    Foxdov^e  taken  fbr  tome  time. 
/t^M^onu.^Pniaottlng  «ymptoniB.iuddeuly  occurred,  au  lucreiuif  of  urine  hotng  a  prominent  aynip- 
Was  iinconftcious  for  aome  lime. 
I. — RitorfTy. 

M^ASE  4.—"  Medical  Tlinea  and  fJaaette,"  Oct.  77.  IBfiO,  p.  417  (T>r.  ArmstrongV    Female.     Sss.  of  In- 
1  takeo  for  Ihr^^e  dayw  every  foor  hours;  increMod  to  5lj»  of  which  abr  took  two  doae^. 
ptom$.—Afie:r  theaecond  &^  done  the  felt  faint,  lost  her  sight,  and  waa  dead  almost  imme- 

JbflvA.— Death. 

CASE  .5.->«' Lancet/'  July  14.  1S49,  p.  31  (Dr.  Edward)^  Male:  vt.  70.  Infusion  of  root  given  for 
"eomfrey  root"  by  a"quackdo<:tri'»-<." 

f^yn^wa,— Dim  neat  of  vision.    Failctit  became  very  fulnt  and  wealc. 

Mtmtt     Peaih  {n  five  days. 

CAflB  6.—"  Edinburgh  Medical  and  Suriftc*!  .Touroal."  vol.  27,  p.  22S  (Old  Bailey,  Oct.  1826}.  Boy. 
1^  of  m  strong  decoction  of  the  Ieavi>s  given  by  a  quack. 

JlwytewM.— 9oon  attacked  with  pain,  vouililng,  add  pvingln^.  Slept  ioundly  for  aome  houra.  On 
v«kio^.  Tomitiog  returned;  convuUluus;  pu|>U8  dilated  and  loaetistble;  pulae  slow  mnd  lrregul*r. 
Coma. 

JZlasMiC— Death  In  twcntyHwo  hours. 

fWwiorfmi  TnHnmmnUnn  nf  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  stomach  [  membranes  of  the  brain 
laj«et<d. 

CAKE  7.—"  Edinburgh  Monthly  Journal,"  1R64.  p.  !«  fDr.  Maael).    Female:  adult.    Infusion. 

i%«^irf»m«,— Contlnuou<i>  vomttinK :  great  pain  ;  face  pole;  skin  eold ;  great  muscular  weakness ;  feel- 
|PKofi>«{f>g  drunk -.confusion  of  slfrht;  puplU  djlnted;  Iosk  of  aenslbllUy ;  thlrat ;  bowi'^la  constipated^ 
urine  Muppf^a^d ;  pul-e  slow  and  irregular.    Death  oocuTred  suddenly,  from  Haiug  In  bed. 

Jhfi^'Death  on  sLtth  day. 

CASE  8^"  London  Medioal  Gaieette,*'  1842-43,  vol.  1,  p.  270.  Maletftdalt.  rnfusloo  Inken  for 
ir<H*y  *»'  twenty  days. 

9^mfiti>nt^,—'?alf»i  fell  to  half  what  waa  normal  <  reetleasneaa;  inability  to  aleep*  dilated  pnpUa; 
Iblral :  ]i)cre«ae  of  nrlne. 

/&«i»/L— Recovery . 

CASE  9.—"  Blackan  on  Dropay.*'  p.  173.    SlJ  of  Infuston  tuken  dally, 

J^isyftwiM.— Paip  and  giddlnea.<,  followed   In  tweutj-fntir  houra  by  convulsiona,  dellrlnm,  Inaenai- 
yutfr  *B^  fC^At  depreaalou  of  the  heart.    Dit.<d  In  conmUlons. 
L— Death. 


366 


CASES    OP   POrSONINO    BY    BELLADOKNl. 


264),     (See  also  process  by  Dr.  Calvert,  "Medical  Times  and  Gazette," 

May  25,  1872.) 

The  phyi*iologicaI  testa  are  of  the  greatest  importance,  and  the  action 
of  the  residue  when  dropped  into  the  eye,  or  injeeted  under  the  skin  of  a^ 
rabbit,  should  alwav;?  be  uoted. 

Dr.  Hurley  has  found  the  poison  in  the  urine  of  animals  to  whifh  it  has 
been  tidniiuis^tered.  The  urine  dropped  into  the  eye  of  another  rabbit  at 
onoe  caused  dilatation  of  the  pupil.  Heubane  and  stramouiinu  would 
an  extent,  of  counse,  although  in  a  tesaer  degree,  produce  a  similar  result, 

Gt»€S  of  Poutoninff  by  Belladonna. 

CA8B  L— *  MwHeal  Tfmws,"  Au|f,  24.  JM4,  p,  427.    Mule :  «t,  5.    Ate  &  few  ripa  borrie*. 

^ym./y^rnrw.^VumiUug,  cun*ul8lutiii,ililal^l  pupUs,  muutU  apAsiuudicully  cluii«(l. 

^MMili.— l^iitb  hi  u  (t'W  liuum. 

/\»*N»««ir;<'m.— McrnitraDe*  of  the  brnla  dbteiiiled  vith  Itakk  bUck  blood;  red  spots  around  (he 
pHaryniftUtl  ti'iwphaguii, 

CASK  i~"  McdlcAl  Time*.'*  Aug.  24,  1844,  p. 427.    MAle:  ttUH.    A  gre*t  quftntlty,  At  lemA  50,  of 
Ui«  l>«rrica. 

SyfN/>(&rn«.— lllddlneaSf  deltrium,  swoUcn  Taoe, pupils  diluted,  iDMDsIbility.    (Jlecorerx  mftor  bleed* 
lag  ami  ctiit'ltcd. ) 

Jtauit.—livcQyiety. 

CASE  8.—"  Medical  Tlmea,"  Sepe.  13, 18S5,  p.  47L    Two  caa«.    (I)  Female:  «t.  8.    (2)  Female: 
6,    Ale 'Mtme berries. 

Stnf*f/t<m*.—ln  four  haun became  stupefied  ;  pupi)»  dilated ;  low  of  ipeeob.  (BSiueilcaatliiilulatefed.)' 

JtetHi^.— RecoTery. 

CASE  4.—"  l^acfll,"  Aug.  29,  184«,  p.  291.    Tiro  cases.  Male :  adult.  Male;  bL  S.    Berrlea  »uld  for 
Dettl>'b«*rriea  aad  baked  tn  a  pie. 

S^mfjlniM. — Extreme  druwiiJnesH,  diluted  puplla;  «t  last  lDseasU}llLlf,  and  death  fu  Tiolc^nt  coDVuN 
Aioax.    St-vt-ral  uther  pcrwus  al»a  alTected, 

JBmW/.— Ueaib. 

CASK  5,— OrflU's  "  Toxicolojfle,"  1952,  toI.  U.  p.  478. 

,Vy»»/^i*>»»M  — Ooe  hundnd  »ind  fifty  French  HoWk-ni  ate  the  berries.    They  nearly  all  had  dellriua, 
but  recorcreil  I  be  Dcxt  day,  dot  remi'iubfring  what  bad  bfippeaed. 

CASE  fi.— >"New  York  JourDal  of  Medical  Science,"  toI.  tIII,  p.  284.    Two  eases.    Mjito:  adult, 
MuK-:  clilld. 

if)fmjjt0nu.~-Aie  t  pie  made  of  the  berrtea:  drowalncM  soon  came  on ;  aod  at  last  delirium  ai 
dealb  by  coma. 

Itauit.— Child  died  aame  day  ;  inin  died  next  day. 

CASH  7,«— "Medical  Time* and  Giusvtic,"  Dec.  3,  1850,  p.  6.51  (Dr.  SeatoD).  Male:  «Bl.  2S.  10  berrlea. 

Syntffomt.—la  three^uarters  of  an  hour  (hero  WA»drynesa  uf  tbroal  aitd  liidlallnct  vlaiuo;  delir- 
ium ,  ^itipib  very  dilated  when  awake,  but  coatracted  duriD^;  «ieep. 

MuulL—Rucovtry. 

CASK  8  •— "  Medical  Times  aad  Gaaetta,"  Dec.  3, 18S&,  p.  S61  (Dr.  Seaton).    Male :  let.  33.   5  berrlea. 

^ymp'cmu.— Dryness  of  throat  sjuhI  iuabllUy  to  walk  after  three  hours;  pupils  diluted ;  oo  delirium. 

ile**f/.— Kecnrcry. 

CASE  9.*—"  Medical  Times  and  Gatette,"  I>ec  a,  1850.  p^,  S61  (Dr.  SeatoD).    Male:  Mt.  2&.  8  berrlMi 

4|||||>lliiu.— Symptoms  set  in  after  ooe  huur ;  no  delirium. 

Jmilf.— Recoyery. 

CASB  10.^-" Medieal  Tlmos  atid  Oaaette,"  Dec.  3,  IS-^S,  {kKSI  (Dr.  Seatoo).    Male:  bLSZ.    18 
IwrHca. 

Hjfmjfinmji. — Symptoms  sal  In  altar  one  hour  and  a  quarter;  but  they  were  not  sttTerv. 

SejitOi. — Eeco  very. 

CASK  11.-— "Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Doc,  3,  1859,  p.WI  ^P^.  Scaum),    Male:  let  7.  6  bei 

5ym|>toiiu.— Syniploms  set  in  after  one  buur  audabalf;  vuuiitiug;  deliriuiu;  pupils  euulract 

triutc  steep. 

iCf«««.— RecoTery. 

CASE  12.^—"  Medical  Times  and  GAsette,**  Dec.  3, 1859.  p.  S51  (Dr.  Seaton).  Mate:  tti.  14.  3  berries. 

itiiymploifu.— Symptoms  set  In  after  one  hour;  no  rumillug,  but  fiulent  delirium;  ayraptoims  aa  be^ 
fore. 

JtemiXL— ReooTery. 


•  In  thaaaeaaes  opium  was  used  as  the  antidote. 


POISONING    BY    BELLADONNA, 


363 


Tlie  weds  are  small  and  brown  (90  to  1  grain  :  Otiy\ somewhat  oval  \\\A 
honcyctjriihed  in  appearance  wiieu  examined  wilh  a  lens.  Under  llif  mi- 
croscope they  will  be  J^een  to  be  studded  with  projecttng  pppckj*. 

All  parts  of  the  plant  are  poi^sonouf,  hut  nuire  pariitularly  the  root,  the 
active  principle  beiuf^  the  alkaloid  ulrupia,  Atrotiia  \&  iified  in  several 
mediciiml  preparations,  ehiffly  in  the  form  of  a  soluriou  of  the  alktihiid 
(pr.  iv  to  %}),  and  Hi*  an  uintmeut  igr.  viii  to  Jj ).  Its  artion  is  vtnleut. 
When  hyp()dennit'ally  injeeteil,  not  more  than  the  ^i^lh  of  a  j^M^ain  i^lmuld 
used.     Given  intt;rna]]y,  Or,  Garrod  has  Keen   ill  efTecLs  from   the  r}^^h 

*h  grain.  Dr.  Garmcl  has  further  pointed  ont  that  its  action  is  interft  red 
wilh»  if  not  destroyed,  by  admixture  with  the  fixed  (muiJtie  alkalies,  hnl  rjot 
with  the  alkaline  carbonates,  the  i=ame  bein^  true  of  otiier  bodies,  sueh  as 
byoscyamus  and  stramouiuni.  It  is  also  uhh]  for  producing  dilatation  of 
the  pupit^  its  action  in  thin  respect  being  strictly  local ;  that  is,  if  applied 
only  to  one  eye,  the  other  eye  is  not  atTected,  It  i?  also  used  a-s  ao  external 
application  to  allay  pain.  It  has  beeu  suggested  that  if,  in  drsptited  cases 
of  life  or  death,  a  minim  of  a  solution  of  atropia  be  dropped  into  the  eye 
it  would  undoubtedly  delermine  the  question. 

Experiments  on  Animah, 

Dr.  Ogle's  experiraenti^  on  the  action  of  belladonna  on  rabbits  are  f^tated 
in  iletail  in  tlie  "  Medical  Time*  and  Gazette,"  May  4,  1867,  p.  466  (see 
b1s*j  **  British  Medical  Jourual,"  Aug,  26,  1865,  p.  213).  His  conclusions 
are  curious.     They  are  : 

1.  That  a  rabbit  of  middle  age  can  live  for  six  daya  on  belladonna  ex- 
cltt^ively  without  inconvenience, 

2.  That  a  rabbit  can  tolerate  enormou.s  doses  of  atrnpia  admiuistered 
either  by  the  stomach  or  by  subculaneou:?  injection,  this  toierauce  ntit  being 

to  non-absorptiou  of  the  poititin. 

3.  That  this  tolerance  increases  with  the  age  of  the  rabbit. 
[4.  That  t!ie  ddatation  of  the  pupil  is  produced  just  as  readily  in  an  old 

ibit  as  in  a  young  one. 

Atropia  (Ci,H^NO,). 

[The  alkaloid  probably  exists  in  the  plant  as  a  malate.  About  0.48  per 
It.  of  atropia  is  found  in  the  root,  and  the  same  amount  in  the  leaves 
(Mr.  Luxton).  The  alkaloid  consists  of  white,  i^ilky,  odorle&?,  four-sided 
crystals,  having  a  hitter  acrid  taste. 

Atropia  is  soluble  in  about  400  parts  of  cold  water,  the  solution  having 
an  alkaline  reiiction.  It  is  f5<dnbJe  in  almost  any  proportion  in  alcohol^ 
ether»  chli»roform,  or  benzol.  It  is  also  very  soluble  in  dilute  acids,  salt« 
being  thereby  formed  ;  from  which  solutions  the  alkaloid  may  be  separated 
in  a  crystalline  form.  When  heated  upon  j)orcelain^  it  melts  at  65.5^  C* 
(160^  F.),  and  Rihlime,-*  at  1:37.7^  C.  (280'  F.),  at  which  tenj|M-raiure  it 
may  be  entirely  di^.'^ipated.  Heated  with  the  fixed  alkalie.^,  ammonia  is 
evolved.  It  ift  dissolved  by  the  mineral  acids,  hut  without  change  of  color. 
On  addition,  however,  to  the  sulphuric  acid  solution  of  a  crystal  of  bi- 
chromate of  potash,  the  mixture  actjuircs  a  green  color  from  the  pro- 
duction of  peroxide  of  chromium.  It  gives  no  precipitate  with  sulphocy- 
auide  or  with  chroiuate  of  potaaaiuin,  as  bappeu^s  with  strychuia. 

SymptoTMf  Dose,  etc. 

The  symptoms  produced  by  belladonna  and  atropia  are  identical,  except 
that  with  the  latter  thev  commence  sooner  and  are  more  severe.     With 


864 


SYMPTOMS   OP  BBLLAiyONWA   POrSONTNO. 


belladonna  they  usually  set  in  afler  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  botiTV*  bat 
they  have  commenced  as  &ooq  as  twenty  minutes,  and  been  dt  1  '  "*  (it* 
hours.     They  are  not  likely  to  be  mistaken  for  the  action  of*  >m, 

except  hyoscyaraus  or  stramonium,  with  which  in  their  general  cbaiactttv; 
they  are  closely  allied. 

The  patient  complains  of  fee!ing  f^iddy  and  drowsy,  of  gr  -    »' 

drynee.^  in  the  mouth  and  throat  from  suppression  of  the  -;i 
difficulty  in  swallowing.  Vomiting  is  an  occasional  symptom,  li 
ing  h  rare,  although  iu  one  case  bloody  stools  are  recorded.  Tht  ,1 
preternaturally  strong  and  rapid,  the  action  of  the  heart  being  increawd 
in  power.  The  countenance  is  flushed,  the  eyes  prominent  and  (cpirllln^ 
with  possibly  some  conjunctival  congestion^  and  as  a  never-absei 
torn  there  is  wide  dilatation  of  the  pupils.  In  one  CAse  they  are  i'^iMn-u 
to  have  contracted  during  sleep,  but  to  have  imraetliately  dilated  a^o 
upon  waking.  Even  for  some  time  after  the  recovery  of  the  patient,  the 
pupils  will  retain  their  dilated  condition.  Early  in  the  caM?,  a  \o>s  of 
speech,  with  at  the  same  time  a  constant  motion  of  the  lips  and  tooguff 
as  if  attempting  to  speak,  will  be  manifest.  Perhaps,  too,  there  may  btf 
loss  of  vision,  or  at  any  rate  an  imperfect,  indistinct,  or  double  viaion, 
the  patient  catching  at  objects  within  a  few  inches  of  him  as  if  they  irfit 
yards  away,  a  symptom  arising  not  so  much  from  retinal  iu*en^ibilitjr 
(which  may  exist)  as  from  a  want  of  adjusting  power.  Generally  xhftt 
will  be  a  greiit  desire  to  micturate,  but  an  inability  to  do  so.  Nutnbaoi 
of  the  extremities,  with  even  perhaps  partial  paralysis,  a  desire  to  wilk 
but  an  inability  to  do  so,  staggering  as  if  drunk,  are  symptoms  gradually 
leading  on  to  a  period  of  delirium,  which  is  of  almost  invariable  occnrreuofc 
The  delirium  is  sometimes  maniacal,  but  more  often  of  a  pleasing  cbanc* 
ter,  the  patient  laughing  uproariously.  Objects  appear  double,  or  11  if 
hidden  by  a  chmd,  and:  all  forms  of  balkiciuations,  spectral  illuMODS^  &hi 
image.<,  etc.,  develop  themselves.  This  stage  of  the  delirium  amy  precede 
or  succeed  a  stage  of  coma,  or  it  may  alternat-e  with  it,  or  termlaate  ia  Hr 
and  lead  on  to  death.  But  this  is  not  usual,  for  fatal  cases  of  belladoaia 
poisoning  are  tonij)aratively  rare.  The  patient  after  a  tinae  falls  loUi  I 
deep  sleep,  from  which  he  wakt^  up  better,  and  utterly  unconscious  of  ill 
and  everything  that  has  <i)ccurred.  Other  symptoms  have  been  recorded, 
such  as  trismus,  sneezing,  suppression  or  an  involuntary  discbarge  of  urine, 
with  hfematuriu,  and  in  several  cases  a  red  eruption  resembling  a  scarlatioal 
rash.  In  one  case,  where  the  poison  was  taken  by  a  pregnant  womant  no 
action  of  the  |)oison  on  the  uterus  was  observed. 

Death,  when  it  occurs,  usually  takes  place  within  fifteen  or  sixteen  bonr?, 
but,  as  we  have  said,  it  is  not  usual  for  the  poison  to  provo  fatal.  The 
patient,  however,  suW'ers  more  or  less  for  a  long  time,  and  perhaps  pemift- 
nently,  with  difficulty  uf  vision  and  with  various  other  nervous  »tf»?ctiotM. 
In  this  respect  the  action  of  belladonna  is  very  dilferent  to  the  action  of 
opium.     In  one  case  iUmih  after  seven  days  is  recordeil. 

Death  has  been  caused  by  a  few  ripe  beirici*,  by  a  decoction  of  80graioi 
of  the  root  used  as  an  injection,  and  by  a  drachm  of  the  extract, 
gymptoras  have  been  produced  by  two  of  the  berries,  and  by  thrfM*  prai 
of  the  extract.    Recovery  is  recorded  after  the  inge.stion  of  liu  itiel 

of  the  Ijerries  (in  one  case  as  many  as  fifty),  aft^r  an  infusion  < 
of  the  leaves,  and  after  large  doses  of  the  extract,  such  as  2  and  e 
drachms.     On  the  other  hand  death  has  resulted  from  the  exl4*rnal 
cation  of  a  helladtmna  pla(*ter  to  a  sensitive  surface.     Two  grain!*  of 
pia  has  causied  death,  whilst  recovery  is  recorded  after  0.5,  0.15,  1.0, 
1.5  grain.     The  application  of  an  atropia  ointment  has  also  pro%'etl  iaul. 


i 


4 

iaial'    ' 

d 


IBBT8   FOR    ATEOPIA, 


865 


The  activity  of  the  drug  is  said  to  be  largely  iufluenced  by  its  admix- 
ture with  BtrychDia  ("  Ediu.  Medical  Journal,"  Sept,  1873), 

Treatnveni. 

The  treatment  id  cases  of  poiaouing  by  belladotiiia  or  by  its  alkaluid, 
tDU«t  consist,  in  the  first  instance,  in  the  administration  of  emetics.  Ani- 
mm!  charci^a),  tannic  acid,  iodine  in  iodide  of  p«ta{«siunQ,  have  been  rec- 
ommended ;  but  if  they  be  administered,  the  stomach-pump  should  after- 
wards be  employed,  in  order  thoroughly  to  clear  the  stomach.  The  aiieer- 
tioD  that  opium  W£i8  the  chemical  antidote  for  the  poi-son  is  scarcely  borne 
out  by  experiment.  Opium,  it  is  true,  produces  contraction  of  the  pupils, 
whilst  belladonna  producea  dilatation.  But  this  is  about  the  extent  of  their 
aotagonism.  As  a  chemical  anlidote  it  roust  not  be  trusted  to,  although 
there  is  no  doubt  it  is  useful  in  thejstage  of  delirium.  It  is  best  adminiatere<l 
hypodermically  (^th  of  a  grain  of  morphia),  and  may  be  useil  lo  keep  the 
patient  in  a  state  of  rest  ("  Britinh  Medical  Journal,**  July  20,  1872,  p* 
82).  When  the  patient  is  a  little  better  a  good  dose  of  castor  oil  and 
BtroDg  cofiee  may  be  given  with  advantage. 


Post-mortem  Appearances. 

The  post-mortem  appearances  are,  as  a  rule,  not  well  marked.  The 
brilliant  eye  and  the  dilated  pupils  are  the  chief  points  to  be  noted.  The 
brain  ia  usually  congested.  The  stomach  may  or  may  not  be  inflamed. 
The  seeds  of  the  berries  must  always  be  carefully  looked  fur,  and  also  auy 
possible  staining  of  the  tissues  by  the  action  of  the  juice. 

T^Bstsfor  Atropm, 

1.  The^etf  canMie  all:alies  give  with  stronc  solutions  a  white  and  at 
first  an  amorphous  precipitate,  which  ullimateTy  becomes  crystalline,  and 
id  insoluble  in  excess  of  the  prer-ipitant,  or  in  strong  acids. 

Ammonia  gives  a  similar  precipitate,  but  the  precipitate  b  soluble  in 
Terj  alight  excess  of  the  alkali. 

i  A  mlndon  of  hydrobrumic  acid  mturated  with  free  bromine  gives  a 
yellow  precipitate,  speedily  becoming  crystalline,  insoluble  in  either  acetic 
acid,  or  in  the  mineral  acids,  or  in  cau-stic  alkalies. 

3.  A  solution  of  if}dinc  in  iodide  of  poUwrnnnt,  gives  a  reddish-brown  pre- 
cipitate, insoluble  in  potash  or  in  acetic  acid. 

4.  Chloride  of  gold  gives  a  citron-yellow  precipitate,  insoluble  in  potash 
and  sparingly  soluble  in  acids, 

5.  Carbtizotic  acid  gives  a  yellow  crystalline  precipitate^  soluble  in  acids. 

6.  Tannic  add  gives  a  white  amorphous  precipitate,  soluble  in  caustic 
alkalies  and  in  acids. 

ToTicologiecU  AncUtfsi^, 

In  conducting  a  toxicological  inquiry,  first  of  all  endeavor  to  discover 
any  seeds  or  leav&s  of  the  plant,  which  from  their  indigestibllity,  it  is 
probable  you  may,  if  death  haa  been  caused  by  them.  The  vomit  and  the 
stools  should  also  similarly,  in  such  cases,  be  carefully  searched,  and  no 
better  evidence  can  possibly  be  atlbrded  of  the  cause  of  death,  if  such  be 
found.  Again,  the  stomach  will  often  be  noticed  to  be  stained  with  the 
peculiar  color  of  the  tluid  of  the  berries,  if  these  have  been  swallowed, 
which  color  is  turned  green  by  alkalies  and  red  by  acids. 

The  alkaloid  may  be  separated  in  the  manner  already  indicated  (page 


CASES    OF   P0rS0?fINO    BY    BELLADONJTA. 


264).    (See  also  process  by  Dr.  Calvert,  "Medical  Times  and  Owedt,' 
Mav  25.  1872.) 

The  physiological  testa  are  of  the  greatest  iraportance,  and  the  action 
of  the  residue  when  dropped  into  the  eye,  or  injected  uoder  the  »kin  of 
rabhit,  should  alwavjj  be  ooted. 

Dr.  Hurley  has  tbund  the  poison  in  the  urine  of  animals  to  which  tthai 
been  ml  ministered.  The  urine  dropped  into  the  eye  of  aoother  ruhhii  At 
once  aiused  dilatation  of  the  pupil.  Henbane  and  {^tramoniittn  would  tn 
aa  extent,  of  course,  althuugh  iii  a  le&^er  degree,  produce  a  ^^iiuiiar  result. 

Ca9e$  of  Po%90fiinff  by  BrMadonna. 

CASK  1.—"  Medical  T1n»«,"  Aug,  24.  1844,  p.  427.    Male :  Rt.  5.    At«  ■  few  rit»e  barrtaa. 
8yinjiti»n*.—y ovaillug,  courulsloua.dilaUMl  pupils,  motilli  Hpiuiuodicnllr  cloced. 
Jirnilt.—lU^skth  (u  a  ft?w  biiiirs. 

/\MN»i«<-/rrn.— Mtnjlirauca  u/  lUe  brain  dliteniled  with  thick  bluck  blo<x) ;  ttd  vpoU  anMOd  4N 
pharynt  and  itsupliagua, 
CASK  i-"  Medical  Time*,"  Aug.  24,  1844^  p. 427.    Male:  jPt,  S4.    A  preat  quantity,  ■!  VeMl  «^iC 

Alrm/Ttof'u— GIJdlDcn,  delirium,  awolten  faccpuplU  dlUt«d,  IttBetusibUltf.    (Raootaiy  aftcf  Uia*> 
Ingand  cfni'llca.y 

/{SMU  it .—  Rero  very. 

CASK  3.—"  Medical  Times,"  Sept,  W,  |M5,  p.  471.    Two  cuet.    (I)  Fomalo:  ml.  8.    t2>  Ftmtkim, 
4,    Ate  some  berries. 

5ym/<^4'ni.— Ill  four  houra  bectune  slupefliid  ;  pupils  dilated ;  loaa  of  spaecb.  (EmctkaaiiailttMMU 

iS«nJ/.— Recorery. 

CASE  4.-'  Lancet,"   Aug.  2!),  1M6,  p.  251.    Two  cBao.  Malo  :  adult  Male:  eU  S,    BafftetlltAr 
aelllflwrriea  and  baked  in  a  pie. 

Sympiomt.— Extreme  drow»iti«w,  dllak^d  pupllii ;  nt  tut  Iu«ett«lb{l{t7,  and  death  fu  tiol*at  man^ 
sloua.    Strveral  ottier  penona  abo  adVcted. 

Mauit.—DvAlh. 

CASlv  5.— OrBla'a  •*Toxtcologle,"  1852.  toI.  tl,  p.  478. 

^yiijptorrif  — Odi«  hundrid  and  Any  Fri'iich  fluldkrv  ate  the  herriM.    Tliey  UfaHj  all  had  ddUriaai, 
but  rtreuvcred  the  aext  day,  uot  rciuetuberinif  what  bad  bapp^uod. 

ile*u/<.— Itecorcry. 

C\»E  «.— "Now  York  Journal  of  Medical  Science,"  voU  Tlli,  p.  284.    Two  caae*.    Malar  iMk 
Male;  child. 

£^ii^^MfaniiM.— Ate  a  pie  made  of  the  herritia :  drowaloei*  tooo  caiae  oo  ;  ami  at  last  dellxliuB  lil 
death  by  coma. 

Restdl. — Child  dledaame  day  ;  man  died  aeit  day. 

CASE  7  •—"Medical  Times  and  tJajcette."  Dec,  3,  t83&,  p,«1  tT>r.8eaU>n).  Male:  »L  23.  Mbtftltt 

8fnnj4Qnu.—\n  three-<]iiar{«ni<ir  itu  hour  therfi  was  dryneas  of  throat  and  iiidiailnct  fleioa;  Ml^ 
lum;  pupila  rerydilalv^  whca  awaku,  but  cualraclt'd  during  aleep. 

JJaiiti/,— Jt«cg  V  cry . 

CA^K  R  *— "  Me<lica]  Times  and  Ooxette,"  Dee.  S,  lAlSd.  p,  Afil  (Dr.  Seaton).    Male:  leL  23.    ft  befTliL 

^j/Mi/^/onf.— Dry  ti«M  of  throat  aud  luabilily  to  waJk  alter  three  buun;  pupth  dllat«>d  ;  ao  ddlflUA 

Jteifu//.— lli'uu  *crf . 

CASK  9.*— "  Medical  Times  and  Gaaelte,"  Dee.  8. 18S9,  p.  Ml  (Dr.  Soatoo).    yt^W  :  ii-t   *\   n  h^flML 

Aym^awu.— Syruptouia  eel  In  after  one  hour ;  uo  dellHum. 

BentiL—Recov  ery. 

CASE  10.*— "  Med  leal  Tlmea  and  GaaetLe,"  Dec.  8,  IS.19,  p.  551  (Dr.  Seatou).    lUle;  iM.tt.tl 
berriva. 

SifmflUmu.—ST^pboms  teC  In  after  one  hour  and  a  quarter;  but  they  were  Dot  Mvvre. 

Jiemtt.— Beeovery. 

case:  It.*—" Medical  Tiraeaand  Gaaette."  Dee.  3. 1859.  p.651  (Dr.Se&tooV    Male:  teui.€ 

Sjf 'nj>'o,m,—Sytaptoms  set  la  after  oue  buur  aud  a  half;  voaattiun::  delirium,  pupil*  ewi 
durliiK'  deep. 

iKMM>'.— Recovery . 

<.A«K  12.*— "Medical  Timee  and  Oaaette."  Dec  S.  185*,  p.  551  (Dr.  8eaton),  Male:  let.  14  t 

/iyiiii^«*r.->€yaiptuDaa  set  in  after  oaehuur:  ao  Tumiiliig,  but  violent  deUzlum:  ayiayMM  M 
fon!. 

itanOt— Aeeovery. 


*  Id  those  caaea  opium  wa^  u«ed  ai  the  aatidota. 


CABE8   OF    POIBONINO    BT    BELLADONNA, 


367 


CASE  1«.«— "^  M«dlcal  Times  Md  Cueite.'*  Dec,  a,  lB59,p.SGl  (Dr.Seatoo),    Female;  let.  M.    13 


SifmptomM. — SynplomsKt  In  a.fler  one  hour;  delirium. 
Am/I.— B«tovery. 

CASE  14,*— *•  Medical  Times  ami  Un«*U*/'  Dec.  »,  IR.W,  p.  651  (Dr.  Sealon),    Male :  ict.  8.    6  burrles. 
Svn^atnt  — Detlfium  ;  after  iiroduiing  sleep  by  uplttiu,  he  wuku  up  much  bciier. 
RcrtH. — Rvcorerjr. 

CASE  t3  •— "  Mrdical  Times  aud  ria;(«tte,"  Deo.  3, 1899,  p.  551  (Dr.  S«atoD).  Male :  «t.  tS.  2  berriet. 
j^riitfrfoim.-— 6y  M  ptoaa  aa  uiual. 
Awafr.— Recovery. 

CASS  16.*—"  Medical  Tlrncn  and  Gazette,"  Drc.  3, 1^59.  p.  551  (Dr.  Seaton).    Female :  ast.  14.    (r) 
S^fWif/hmM. — S)rru|iiomRaii  UMual.    Delirium,  with  periodit  uf  complete  uncooHclouBueas. 
AhhM.— Dcati)  in  tweolj-ulae  houn. 

Am  wTiigiw.— Heart  pale aod  ftabby;  brain  normal;  blood  fluid;  mucoua  membrane  of  stomacb 
pale. 

CAJ^  17— "BrltUh  Mtdlcal  Journal,"  H^pl.  21,  1^61,  p.  305 (Dr.  ETani).    Female:  »t  B.    Som* 
berries  (about  four). 

^«!pl0iiu.— Throat  dry;  dilated  pupils;  bad  symptoms  did  not  aet  in  for  five  hours;  nevere  and 
lenf^contisued delirium,  but  ou  coma  ;  sne«ziug ;  Kcaritrt  rub;  great  desire  to  paaa  water.    (Opium 
Slve«.) 
i8«»«iii— RecoTsry. 

CASE  ta.— "  Briti«b  Medical  Journal."  Oct.  4, 1802,  p.  372.    Sereral  cbUdren  ate  berrlra  gathered 
1b  the  Cambridge  University  Botanical  Gardeon. 

4^«V!)A»trw.— ^mptoma  very  ftovero;  dryuessof  mouth  ;  pupilsdllatcd ;  loss  orseaBiitloa;  delirinm  ; 
stupor. 
JtetuU. — Recovery. 

CA&E  19.— Taylor's  "  Medical  JurUprudenco,"  p.  432.    Male :  ml.  5.    A  quantity  of  berrita. 
i^W^pilPiiM — Vomiting;  conviiialuiis. 
!. — Death  iu  fifteen  hours. 

rflk— Ey(9  brillliiul ;  dilated  pupils;  u u me roui  bloody  spots  found  In  the  brain  ;  redneaa 
tbroai.  guUei,  and  stumacb. 
'CjLSB  2(1.— Taylor's  "Medical  JurlspnidROce,"  vol.],  p.  430.    (Several  other  cases  took  place  the 
suae  year.)    Male:  »t.  14.    Ate  :iO  b«rrieii. 

i^/thptomt,—ln  three  hours  llw  oymptojus  csnipon ;  beat  and  dryness  of  the  throat ;  extreme  glddl- 
Stfisa,  a*  If  iudtxitatr-d  ;  loss  uf  >p«rech  ,  puplN  dilated,  nod  eyes  Insenaiblo  tu  lii(hl.    On  the  second 
day  passed  some  betladoDDS  seedu  by  the  buwela. 
JBBSii<i.--^Recvrer«d  iu  a  week. 

CASE  2L-Caiper'9  "  Wochenschrift,"  Feb.  8,  1845.    Female:  Kt.  27.    A  deeocUoa  of  9ir  nf  the 
TDM  used  ss  sn  inJecttoD. 
9j/mpt»^M.—l>^^\^'\^^m•,  afterwards  coma ;  pupils  dilated. 
AewHA!.— Dealb  in  fire  hours. 

CASE  22.—"  Anoales  d'Hygl^^e."  Oct.  1847,  p.  413.    Male.    3lj  of  leares  Uken  as  an  tufuslua. 
%mpr««n«.—DitOcuUy  of  swallowing  came  on  In  an  hour ;  suppression  of  SBliva;  delirium;  con- 
ftant  desire  lu  movCf  but  staggered  In  doing  bo.    CuHTulsive  twUuhlogs;  no  vomltlog  or  purging. 
Jfenu/r.— Recovery. 

i'ASE  23,— Taylor's  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  vol  I,  p.  432.    Two  porsons  swallowed  exlnicl  of 
bcUaduuua  instead  of  juniper. 
Sjfmpltmu, — <_>rdiDary  lyniptoms  set  In  very  soon. 

JtnuU. — One  recovered  bouu  ;  the!  other  recovered  fur  a  time,  but  died  on  seventh  day. 
JASE  24.— TsylorS  "Me-Hcal  Jorlaprudence,'*  vol,  I,  p.  iai.    Female;  «t.<?).    Injection  of  SJ  of 
:l  of  belladonua,  sud  ^  'if  vhi.  opil. 

(lAW.— rupils  dilated.    The  symptoms  were  not  In  the  least  degree  influenced  by  the  opium. 

■Recovery, 
25.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  vol.  1,  p.4S2.    Female:  let  (T>  SUj  of  extract  ia  ft 
ttnffoent.  given  by  mistake. 
Sfmptvmi.—^Wghl  vomiting;  delirium;  dilated  pupils;  loss  of  speech;  paralysis  of  extremities. 
iEf«JZ— Recovered  In  five  weekSv 

CASE  26  —"  Lancet,"  ISftO,  vol.  i,  p.  188.    Male.    5j  of  extract. 
,— Delirium;  imperfect  slgbt ;  dilal«d  pupils. 
'Recovery. 

■^CASES?,— "New  York  Journal  of  Medicine,"  Sept.  1B4.'5,  p.   182.  '"Lanoet,''   Nov.  29,  1845  (Dr. 
OrayV    Ml.  2.    t  to  12  grains  of  the  extract. 

I.— Bympiotue  cnmc  on  in  half  an  hour;  pupiiii  widely  dilated ;  a  scarlet  eruption  made  it* 
vppeeraooe;  delirium  ,  no  well-marked  convulsions. 
Amtt.— Recovery , 


368 


CASES   OF   POfSOKrNd   BT   BBLLAt>01inVA 


CASE  28,— "Lancel,"  Feb.  2. 1*39,  p,  709.    40  gnilnsof  oitrncL 

SinnftotTU.—Firit  coma  ;  »ad  nfi^r  nix  boun,  delirium.    Tb«  pulu  fetl  ttom  IfiO  t»  81. 

fiwii/l.— Rccorery. 

CASK  ?9,— "  Lau^et,"  Atiff.  23,  IMS,  p.  S27  (Mr.  MolyDVUx),    Male :  et.  IC.    MJ  of  axIjmL 

<6|>wiyitai»j. — L'uuvuUlonii  occurrfi)  la  ten  miuuieii;  perfect  liifeiMlbllliy  aad  4«itb. 

JKMtttt.— Death  In  thri'ti  lioura  ttud  a  H»ir. 

IW-M^rtam.— LungB  gorged  wtib  bloud;  ctoniach  congeatrd  mod  aollcned;  brain  spd  m 
normal. 

CASE  30.—"  Lancet,"  Feb.  25. 1S54,  p.  212  (Dr.  Bran).    Female :  adult.    9 

StfmpiitmM,—jT\  flrt»  boure  ahe  wa»  unable  to  move  her  ejellds;  dryaeasof  thrMtt 
lege;  dlraueaa  of  rtaton. 

JKcrutt.— Recotery. 

CASE  31.— "  Laacct,"  P«c.  1,  1»40  (Mr.  lUir)'  Male:  adult.  »graiiit  of  extract  Ukra^a^ 
take  r»r  liiraxaeuui. 

Sit'npl(ymM.—la  aae  hour  and  a  balf  a  want  of  power  U)  masticate  set  fa  ;  fflddioew;  dilated 
perfect  con»clo««ui?«i. 

Sfjull.—Hecojerj, 

CASE  32.—"  Medical  Times  and  Gaxctte,**  Aug.  SO,  ISffl,  p.  2U.    Female :  asi.  dl.    Unloma 
tafoluggr.  XT  of  extract  or  bt-lladonna. 

jfyrwi^nu.- Rapid  coma  ;  pupils  rerj  dilated;  Tomltinf  prodnced  by  emetics.  It  iTMflgktdVi 
before  (he  piipLb  became  natural ;  the  eyes  were  always aeiulbie  lo  light. 

i?<'nJ/.— Recovery, 

CASE  33.—"  Lancet,"  Feb.  8,  IBS6,  p.  121  (Mr.  Solly),    Male:  let,  60,    8J  of  extract  of 
glveu  iD  error. 

Siyitipioms,—AQ  emetic  admlJilstered  after  two  boun,  when  rery  definite  symptomt  had  *et  to.  IV 
lympiomf  of  poiAonlng  aooo^^Tter  this  api>eared  ;  dryii4<«B  of  throat ;  kII  soru  uf  deliuloiw;  «ikMl 
puplU:  eyes  Insetislble  lo  light  and  very  prumloeul ,  tiiuKuiar  power  feeble;  very  dr«w*j;M 
eruption  ot  the  8kln. 

JZeatiJI.— Rccorery  iu  twenty-rour  huurt). 

CASES*.- "BrUlih  Medkal  JonrDal,"  Not.  18,  1*65,  p.  Ml.  Female:  «l.  22.  Extract  of  Wb^ 
donua  given  by  mistake  for  confeetlun  ot  »enoa  (alrtiut  SIjmX 

^^yn^BComr.— UnconKiousnesB  ;  coaoienanci;  tulfusptl ;  ptipils  very  dilated  ;  at 
but  the  delirium  paaaed  Uiio  profound  coma ;  vomiting.    ^Slomacb-pump  used.) 
.Aera/f.— Recovery , 

CASE  8S,— "BrHUb  Mi-dlcalJoarD*l,"  Dec.33, 1865ip,fi54(Dr.Coomba>.  Male: 
lollcm  cM>ntainiag:M  grains  of  ^-xtraci. 
Hj/mpkms.—Fwati  fiuahed  ;  body  la  constant  molloa ;  ■Ickoesi. 
JSewiiit.— Recovery. 

CASE  a6.—'* Medical  Times  and  Gaxetto."  Mar«h  1. 15G2,  p.  224.  Child.  3d  graim  of  ttimi  « 
belladOQDa. 

^I^mplosu.— Ordinary  syraptomji  looasctio;  atiipor,  ending  in  complete  cnma.  In  iwintT-^n 
bonn*  the  pupils  began  to  contract  a  Utile. 

if^^U.— Recovery. 

CA.SE  37.—"  British  Medical  Journal/'  Sept.  16,  l»7l,  p.  926  (Mr.  Mash).    FemAta :  ac  H 
•poooful  of  extract  of  belladonna. 

Sifii^tumt.--lio  delirium  or  diplopia  (emetlci  tdntlnlaiared  In  half  an  boar) 
dimlnatlve  treatment  adopted. 

ilandl(.— Recovery. 

CASE  38,- "Medical  rimes,"  Sept.  16. 1846,  p.  122  (Mr.  Jackson, of  Sbeffleld) 
of  the  extract. 

^^ptems.— floon  lost  power  of  articulation ;   parilysta;  at  last  becas 
delirium;  face  red,  and  much  twollen  ;  exlremt;  exhaustion. 

JBuiilt.- Death  iaseT«>nl«pn  hours. 

PbsHnorfem.— Venous  aystemuf  brain  greatly  distended;  taogi  eoDgcsled:  heart  Dslufn];  stooM 
black  (some  doubt  whether  bvltadon  na  could  b«  smelled) ;  the  otbei  pari  of  the  inteatlne*  b«ltky. 

CASE  39.— " Britbh  Medical  Journal."  Nov.  IJO,  1869,  p.  565  iDr.  Taylor).  M*l«:  at  IC  ||  e^ 
oxtracU 

Srmptomtt.—ln  one  hour  became  violently  agitated ;  unconsetouaness ;  ooma,  lasting  antil  destk. 
No  ToroltlDg,  purging,  or  pawing  of  water. 

SjuuU. — Death  in  two  hours  tud  (brt<e-quarten. 

/V«(HHor(efn.—LuugA gorged  ;  heart  healthy  and  empty,  except  the  right  aurtcls 
soft  dark  patches  being  fuund  InteritaUy  ;  brain  and  membranes  healthy. 

CASE  4V.—"  Medical  Times  and  Goxette,'*  Novembers,  18G«,p.473  (Mr.  Wick  bam  L^^X  lUlai 
a^  S.    Amlxtors  contalnlug  6.6  gn.of  extract  of  belladonna  and  V\)s&  of  tr.  opdl,  isksa  tn 


0t.«.   Belladota 


Wd 


j^ni^iiAMM.— Drowsiness ;  pupils  dilated ;  staggering  gait;  dry  tongue. 
£s««lf.^Eecovery. 


CASES   CF   P0I80NINQ    BY    BBLLADONNA. 


a69 


A8B  11.--^  Uncvt,**  mo,  vol,  U,  p,  83,    P«m«lo :  »t,  QA.    i^  of  belltdoaoa  Uninxtnt. 

. — Dvtlh  in  tlxicen  houn. 
/V^-^n^rdfin.— Lung*  full  of  blood;  bTmln  slightly  «0Dg«st«d;  pnplla  dUited;  vlieerm  olberwiae 


CASK  U^^MrdEcttl  Tlm««  ftnd  Gttxelto,"  OeL  8,  1884, p.  J»5  (Dr.  WoodrnAn).  Female:  mL  21. 
M.  uf  hcligvlopnft  Uiiiiueat.    (Extrttot  of  belikdonDa  rubb«d  down  with  irnlcr.) 

J|r*vi/("n4.~In  one  hour  the  face  and  beck  became  scarlet;  face  ho L  q nil  ItmlMcoId;  puplli  Im- 
1.  No  ciclifiHm.  bill  «  fin-at  tt-ndencr  lu  »Tncop<> ;  tctoctk^,  laudanum,  and  brandy 
immcuutmcted  Ihr  |>upiU-,  Calabar  bvan  was  afterwarda  used  lu  reuie<l]r  tbn  furlber 


I. — RecoTery. 

<:A!?E  «.— "Bnihh  Medical  Journal."  May  20,  1871,  p.  533  (I>r.  Oxlcy).    Fetaale:  act.  7,    A  tea- 
tnTut  of  iielladouDa  Hnlineiit  II]  conlalnf^  3;J  of  powdired  belladouna  nunt). 

>fnj.— Vfnlrnl  dvliriuin  ;  caichlog  at  I  ma  i^i  nary  objects  *,  pupib  dilaled ;   coi^JudoUtsb  eou- 
»p««eb  iadiitloct.    (Opium  admialalered.) 

CAVE  44.—"  Brltiflh  Medical  JournaV  D«c.  30, 1869,  p.  CSi.   Female:  st.  48.   BeUftdo&iia  Ilntment. 

^jprMfiain*.— <Mddiiiess  iu  tweuiy  miuutM. 

Jlhamtf.~lH'atb  in  tivc  bnum. 

CASE  45.-" Brlll«b  M.MlicaI  Journal,"  May  18. 1872,  p.  821.  Male.  »£J  Ilq,  belladoQUC  In  2  tfkiDcea 
Hf  liniment,  laprinia,  applied  extt^ruully, 

Stfmpiomtt.—y iotctU  aympiuaui;  ddlrlum. 

JfejttJC— lUKOvery. 

CASE  4«.— "BrilUb  Medical  Journal/'  May  18, 1872,  p.  521.  Female.  ^Uadonna  lotion  apptied 
lO  tllO  htrtBt, 

J^fa^p(om#— Extreme  resUeaancm. 

JHW'-ltecoTery. 

CASK  4?.->"  Medical  Timea  and  Qaxette."  Not. 22, 1856,  p.  dl3  (Sir  Wiu.  Jeuu«r).  Male.  Belladonna 
jilaaUr  applJt^  to  tbe  back,  vbere  auutber  platter  bad  bveo  previouAly  applied,  aud  a  crup  of  puo- 
Ittlcs  prudiiccd. 

^^rmiatoffw, — In  cue  bour  and  a  balf  after  the  appllcatirvn  of  the  ae<^ond  planter,  the  tongue  and 
moulb  became  to  dry  ii»  to  impt-de  artieuUtion ;  a  great  desire  to  pns.<i  water.  Ira  &ve  or  six  hours 
the  Muadbqgnn  to  ramble,  and  there  were  coavulsive  twitch  logs  of  the  llmb«  aud  face,  1  its  bn  luat 
their  jmver;  reitleaBneaa',  couEtant  catching  at  objects;  puplla  very  dilated. 

iSanilt— Becorery. 

CASE  48  -"  Briliih  Medical  Journal."  May  18,  1872,  p.  520  {I>r.  Harrlion).  Female.  A  beltadooaa 
plaetvr  applied  afresh  to  an  abraded  iturface,  from  which  it  hod  been  previously  remoTMi. 

%Mipitf»u.— (Jofifualon  of  mltid,  aa  if  iatozlpated  ;  confuaion  of  sight;  speech  aJTected;  sorenMS 
•nd  dry  new  of  throat;  deUrium. 

ibvwK.—&eeoeei7. 


ATROFIA. 

4i.— *"  American  Joarnal  of  Medtoal  Sciunoe,"  July,  18M,  p.  S0O.    Male  adult.    0.2S  grain. 
■Frfgbtrul  dftirlum  ocourrtKl  In  one  bour;  coDatant  moltoD  of  tip?  and  tongue;  pupils 
dllMiadi  eyes  Insensible ;  constant  deairo,  but  no  power  to  micturate.    (The  di'lirium  was  subdued 
bjr  Itt^teiiont  of  morphia.) 

flhinli — Recovery  in  twenty-four  hoora. 

CAfiB  M.— Wharton  and  S(ill6<a  "  Mcdl^  Jarfaprodence,"  p.  8Si».    Female  adult.    %  grain. 
a^frnpttumi     Villi  ml  Bymplom*. 
IfeaanK, — bocovery  in  vCTrn  days. 

CASE  51.— "  American  .Touruat  of  Modleal  .Science,"  April,  18M,  p.  434.    Female  adult.    1-I8th 
gnin  ImJcietcd  undpr  skiu  for  fat^'lal  neumlgia. 

Jlai^iianu.— Alarmiog  4yraptomji;  delirium;  papils  dilated. 
^WitlL— Recovery  in  eight  hours. 

CASE  53.—"  American  Journal  of  Medical  Science,"  Api^l,  1865,  p.  541.    Male  adult.    Used  as  an 
rnt  for  a  blistered  surface. 
-Violent  symptoms, 
.— l>«atb  In  two  boors. 

CASK  ».—"  Medical  Time*  and  Gaaelte,"  Dw.  17, 1889,  p.  «0l  (Mr,  Holthouae).   Male :  wt.  8>f   SU 
js  iolutlon  of  atropla  (gr.  (J  ad  jj  )>. 

■Became  almost  maniacal,  but  uboonaelous;  grasped  at  Imaginary  objects;  pupils  Tory 
UHle  of  the  Tomit  from  the  cblld  ffll  into  the  eye  uf  a  byatmider  and  caused  dilatation. 
the  child  became  allghtly  conscious.    Recovery.    Fu|itls  were  not  normal  for  a  week ; 
iUopla  fuiiiid  In  tbo  urine,  ftsc«a,  and  tomit. 
l.->&aeuTery. 


870 


IF   P0IS0NIN( 


CASE  S4.— "BerllAOr  JDia.  Woebeoccbr.,'*  April  17, 1665.    Female:  si.  SS.    1  grmla  <»r  «ilr«ilt4, 

ii!yMiptomM.—hom  of  coiucioiiaDen ;  tvltcbingt  In  one  hour;  convalsloot;  pttpUi  Uffvif 
eyiiitiloinsfMTvere. 
li'^tuiL—  Rocotcrj. 

CASE  55,— **  BrllUb  Medical  Jonntal,"  Dec.  29. 1M5,  p.  654  (Dr,  Cbomb*).  If«l«:  0t.  %. 
lutiuri  (7^ 

iiymi>Umt.—Y\\x%htii  r»ce;  dilated  pupils ;  ^niaped  at  Ibingf,  hut  iiilj»ed  tbefr  poelUoa. 

Jfetu;/.— Rwovory. 

CASE  5it.— "  Medical  Time*  and  Oaaetto."  Feb.  B,  IMl.  p.  154  (Mr.  BonxX    F«»«la;  Al 
gralD  iu  aulutiim. 

Sgrnptimu^.—VupW^  Torx  dilated:  hIrHI  nearly  lent;  tendency  t«»  il€<T>;  craraps;  tlnffhaf 
cxln.-iiittii-«;  ddlriuiD  ratuc  on  Aflvrwunifl;  frL-quent  desire  to  poaa  w^lcr;  dul  not  abvrt,  ililw^ 
pregnant;  atrupla  fuiind  Id  the  uriiit). 

Brtvit. — Eoco  »  c  ry . 

CASE  57.— "Lanuet."  Jan.  2,  ]fiG4,  p.  8  (Dr.  Chaniben).    Male:  d.  4.    About  05  irrmlB. 

^Ssfmp(wn4.^tn  about  t«u  ljour»  Ihc  child  bef;»n  to  bo  UD)iti.>ady  in  Its  iniU  ;  cunatiLat  eate 
sir ;  cauKhl  ut  things  close  to  tils  reacb  with  hi«  arnu  exteudvd  ;  PUPII4  Tcry  dllalod ;  UtI 
Iu  legn.    A(l*ir  a  wHind  »le«p  was  ajutU  better ;  pupiU  ooDtiuudd  dilated  for  aoaie  tlint. 

Jie4ult,—lleco\vTy, 

CASE  &»,—'•  Medical  Times  and  Gaxette;*  July  8,  1805,  p.  S4  (Mn  Leacb),    Mal«.    1 
Bulpbntc  in  »o]ulion. 

HympHUM.—i'iijitiU  rery  dilated ;  teemed  iatoxleated;  00  profound  coma;  beoint  fl 
aod  ubfttinale;  partial  paralysia. 

iEenift.— RecoTery. 

CASE  59.-"  Rrliisb  Medftal  Jouraal,"  D«.  25, 1809,  p.  875  (l>r.  Panont).    Hale:  BL  4S.   S)  ilfl 
opbthfilnilc  mIuIIod, 

JS'jTMip/oiirw.— Diluted  pupIU;  dryoeaa  of  throat;  choking  and  burning  patn;  dUalne*;  "tut 
feel  bi4  le^;''  difficult  articulalloa  ;  great  r^ilensaew.    His  hair  l>e»caaie  quite  white. 

RtttuU. — Recurery  In  forly<Htrlght  hours. 

CASE  fiO.— '*  British  Medical  Jouronl,"  Jnly  26. 1«7:t,  p.  101.    Male.    Atropla  and  alcnbul 

^m/iiottu.— Uuconsclousneu ;  dilated  puplU;  no  paralyiU. 

JBeratf. — Becove  ry . 

CASE  ni.— Taylor'i  "Medical  JurUprndence,"  p. 455  (Tifr.  Sell*).    Male  adult    Or.  U  of  j 
taken  00  goinK  tu  bed. 

JSetittt.— Found  dead  at  7  a.m. 

T»H  wrtfiw.— PupUs  dilated;  otomach  red  ;  no  trace  of  poison  was  fcHtad  Ott  ftBAljili. 


Sm  aim  the  followif$<j  Oi«m; 

BmiLAOONNA, 

'  Med  leal  Timea  and  Qaselte,"  May  fl,  1666,  p.  47».    (lujurloua  eSbola  fnm  eitt«rii»l 


•'M«^U>al  Timea,"  Aug.S,  1M6,  p.  962. 
"  Briiith  Medical  Journal."  Dec  12. 1863.  p.  648, 
"  British  Medical  Journal,"  Not.  24  and  Dec.  1, 1866,  pp.  596  and  62L 
external  uae  of  Utlladonua.) 
"  Edlnbiincb  Medloal  and  Surgical  Journal, ''  raL  qaix,  p.  4C1 
"Medical  Timea  and  Gaaette,"  1870,  vol.  I,  p.  .'JM. 


(TbrM  COMB  «f  polwalti  tf 


ATROPIA. 

*■  BritUh  Medical  Journal,"  May  14, 1870.  p  48».    ( Hypodermic  Injection.    Scarle4  rmab.) 
*'  Medical  Times  and  Gaxette,"  Aug.  27,  1864,  p.  238.    (Ooe^lghtb  of  a  grain.    .£1.  S.    Bvrottry  > 
"  Medical  Timat  and  GaMtte,"  May  iS.  1872. 
"BHtiah  Medical  Journal."  Jan.  31, 1865,  p.  68.     lAlnplft  ointment  applied  aftar  a  bllMO. 
parts  of  tulpbate  to  700  of  lard .    Death  In  tvo  bottra.} 
»  Brilisb  Medical  Journal."  Aug.  26,  1865,  p.  118.    (Ashburton  poiaonlAf  eoaa.) 
**  AaMCJAilon  Medical  Journal."  Sept,  01, 1859.  p.  818. 
*•  rk»rm«oentical  Journal.'*  May.  1863,  pw  589. 
**iAlieat«*' March  30, 1872,  p.  455. 


Capneum  FtitU^iatnm.^ 
(Cayenne  Pepper.) 

The  dried  ripe  fruit  contains  alratit  4  per  cent,  of  a  rry<M 
loii]  (cofisicin),  a^ociated  with  a  re^sin  and  volatile  oil.  Tl; 
Boltible  ill  water,  alcohol,  ether,  and  oils. 

Cayenne  pepper  \&  an  irritant  poison. 


POISOSING    BY    PBPPER    AND    STRAMONirM. 


371 


was  tried  at  the  C,  C.  C,  1864  ^Reg.  v.  SteveDs),where  Dr.  Letheby 

ind  capsicum  in  the  stoiiiarh  ofachihi,  aiifl  was  supposed  toha%^eraused 

death.     It  bad  been  admiuit^tcred  by  a  qiuu'k  doctor  (a  CMffiuitei.  Au- 

fr  case  is  recorded  ("  Lancet,"  July  2^1,  1871,  p.  175)  where  a  quack 

lor»  pills,  cootaiuing  cayenne,  etc.,  proved  poisonous  to  a  woman  aged 

sveiity-tbur  (see  "  Lancet,"' June  22,  1850,  p.  766). 

Guinea  pepper  (grains  of  iiaradise),  it  may  be  remarked,  is  said  to  be 

l>oi90Qou$,  and  common  black  pepper  (piperaceae)  has  also  caused  death, 

CaM  of  Poi»oning  by  Pepper. 

CART  ].— "  M«dlc«l  Tlmot,"  July  1, 1{iiA,  p.  139  (Dr.  flttlor).    Male.    A  handful  orcommoD  popper 
ltuirjl»t<'r<^  Mt  Qi^jht  ID  ft  glass  of  brandy,  far  diurrboea, 

»;Uoi*L«,— Piiin  and  Toniitin^  Ml  in  in  Ibe  morning.    Collapse  aBd  great  pain  owarird  on  the 
day.  and  i  painful  eweUlag  in  tlie  right  Iliac  rcKioo.    Ou  the  third  day  he  became  arorae,  antl 
liQthff  fvfpiug. 

.— Dt^lb  ou  tha  third  day. 
^— No  p04t-wurtem. 


Datura  Slramonittm.     (Fig.  36.) 

(Stramooium  ;  Thorn-apple ;  Jamestown  Weed.) 

(Found  in  waste  places.) 

The  i^aws  are  ovate,  of  a  dull-green  color,  large  and  smooth,  with  irregu- 
lar edges. 

Fio.  8«. 


TheJruU  (the  thorn-apple)  is  about  the  size  of  a  walnut,  and  has  prickly 
ooats. 

The  9e4'ds  (8  to  1  grani :  Guy)  are  of  a  brownish-black  color,  flattened^ 
circular  or  kidney-shaped,  and  have  a  corrugated  surface.  They  are  bitter, 
and  without  smell  unles.^  bruised. 

All  purti  of  the  plant  are  poisonous,  but  apeciallv  the  fruit  and  seeds. 
Even  the  vajxjr  from  the  fiowers  (which  is  not  uupleasant)  is  said  to  act 
injuriously.  This  poisonous  action  is  due  to  the  presence  of  the  alkaloid 
dainria  which  exist,*  in  the  plant  as  a  malate.  In  all  forms  and  however 
applied,  the  alkaloid  acts  as  a  poison  ;  whilst  in  France  and  in  the  East  it 
ba0  oAen  been  given  to  facilitate  the  commission  of  other  crimes.  It  hti« 
recommended  in  medicine  (as  well  as  the  leaves  of  the  Datura  tatula) 


iTVRTA. 

ib<)ut  tobacco  in  caaes  of  Asthma.     Its  mctka  mt\ 

.ir  Lu  belladouua. 

Daturia  (Cj.H.XO). 

'nins  about  1.0  per  cent,  of  the  alkaloid.     Datun 
i-^  identical  with  atrupia,  for  it  has  the  same  ci 
us  are  almr^bt  IdeiitlcaL    The  crystals  are  quadran. 
r  and  acrid  to  taste. 
s  given  ofi*  when  it  is  heated  with  caustic  alkalieB. 
jle  in  water,  the  solution  having  an  alkaline  re«ctiofi. 
L»y  nitric  and  hydrochh^ric  acids  without  change^  whikt  ffUfi 
rj  iicld  a  pale-ru^  tint  b^dutiou  U  produced. 

Symptoms, 

Tlw  symptoms  of  stramon  in  no  poisoning  set  in  somewhat  sooner 
iboBW  of  hyoficyumus  or  belladonna,  but  ibey  are  very  situilar,  nithnuj 
i»um«what  more  severe.     Kinging  in  the  ears,  dryness  of  the  throat, 
iuabed  fiioe,  are  early  symptom!?*     The  pupils  are  always  widely 
Delirium  of  a  violent  kind,  with  i?pectral  illusions,  double   vi."*ioir? 
ooiueH  on  rapidly,  and  these  usually  end   in  an  intense  coma.     Tb»n 
ofteti  paralysis  of  the  lower  extremitiej*,  and  sometimes  irritation  of 
aiiinentary  canal.     A  scarlet  eruption  on  the  skin  has  been  observed. 

Mi>8t  of  the  cases  in  the  huraau  subject  recover. 

Death  has  been  tmu^ed  in  one  ease  in  seven  hour?,  aod  In  aootbcri 
twaoty-four. 

Experiments  on  Animalg, 

These  prove  that  half  an  ounce  of  the  extract  will  kill  a  dog  tn  '"-^nt 
four  hours;  a  quarter  of  an  ounce,  when  applied  to  a  wound,  hi 
whilst  twenty  grains  will  prove  fatal  when  injected  into  a  vein,     i  nr  uu 
tation  of  the  pupil  was  in  every  case  well  marked. 

Treatment 

The  treatment  to  be  adopted  is  the  same  as  for  belladoona  poi 
Emetics,  the   stomach-pump,  and  castor  oil,  must  be  chiefly  relied  oj 
In  all  these  cases,  if  the  lace  is  much  flushed,  the  application  of  a 
leeches  to  the  temples  is  advisable. 

Pod-moriem  Appearances^ 

The  one  prominent  post-mortem  appearance,  and  the  only  one  wor 
recording,  is  the  congestion  of  the  brain  and  of  its  membranes.  It  may 
noticed  that  irritation  of  the  stomach  has  occasionally  been  found. 


Tox\<iologi(xJ  AnalyeU, 

In  conducting  a  toxicological  examination,  the  Bnding  of  parts  of 
plant  in  the  stomach  is  at  all  times  the  moat  conclusive  evidence. 

The  alkaloid  h  very  difficult  to  extract  from  organic  liquids,  althfii 
It  is  worth  attempting,  by  a  process  similar  to  that  already 
(page  264^ 


P0I60NINa   BY   STBAMONITJM. 


373 


CkHM  of  Poivmingi  vnth  Datura  Stramonium, 

1.^"  LondoD  Medical  GuieUe,"  vot. xv,  p.  820  (Mr.  DuAn).    .£i.  2.    tOO  wseiM. 
SkM»ui/'>fAj.— In  ODe  hour  Attempted  to  vomll,  apd  »ceined  ■«  If  Inioxicnt«d;  pupils  illtftted;  after> 
\'»  '••drUrium  came  on,  with  ■pectml  illuMoDA.    lo  two  hours  and  a  half  could  not  Awallov 

*  Id  thf  ihroBt.    Coma,  U-UdIc  codtii1s1oo«,  paralir^la  of  bladder,  aud  Inroluntarjr  Htoola 
tnrard«  oeoorred. 

,— PeKth  In  twenty-four  hours. 

. — Brain  h«altbf ;  Htomach  and  inteiitiaflfl  noriual,  but  a  tittle  redneu  waa  noticed  io 
igultelaiid  larjux  ;  hlood  Aeml-^oagiilaU-d. 

CA8B  1.— "Chrtaitson,"  p.  844  (Dr.  Droste),    DecoctJoQ  of  125  xpeds. 

KK,'— XXrliriuiii  in  fiflet-u  oilnutut;  coma. 

-Death  In  seTen  houni. 

-fiednesft  in  cardEac  end  of  stomach;  Bloraocb  oo&tAioed  pulpy  mattera,  with  reroalDS 
^■•rda :  hrart  eoipij  and  brain  gorged. 

CASE  S.— "  American  Medlral  Timea/'  I860,  voK  1,  p.  22  (l>r.  JohnsonY    Uale:  let.  7.  A  qiianUljr  of 
fT^rn  »^«ds. 

• —Impaired  »pe««h  and  staggerinfT.    In  two  bourJi  and  a  half  the  pupil*  were  dilated,  and 
ul  bliDdneaa;  the  lower  extf«iuitle«  btcanie  puwcrleaa.    Id  Tour  iiouirflADd  a  half  there 

-^  .- -•  lii-lirlum,  and  arterwatda  deafness  aud  speech  I  casness. 

Jfinwiffi— K«coTery. 

TAHK  * -^"American  Jonmal  of  Medical  Science/'  Jttly,  18««  {Dr.  E»anH).    Sotcu  children  (ages 
each  swallowed  10  of  tht  !«^ed». 
[nail  the  children,  after  four  hour«,  the  pnpit«  were  widely  dilated.    In  thren,  thta, 
Itmciilty  ofvitlon,  waft  all  that  was  noticed;  hut  lu  tb«  other  four,  toaa  of  power  In  the  lioibe, 
•Itrlura,  and  afterwards  coma  set  in.    All  recovered. 
/,— Recovery. 

CASE  fl,— "  FkHnburgh  Medical  Coin  men  tarlea,"  vol.  v,  p.  163  (Dr  Fowler).    Female  :  child.    Slaa. 
thm  eceda. 
i|Hwp>ewM.— Dellrtttm  In  two  bodn ;  apectral  tlliulooa ;  Intervals  of  sleep*    A  laxative  was  admln- 

JSswutt. — Beeovery. 

CASE  6— "rhristison."  p.843.    Chilil.    Done  ft). 
JlmyAww.— Bedncaofflkin;  awelllng  of  abdomen ;  lockjaw. 
■ftifatt.— keeovery. 

CABB  T.— "  American  Journal  of  Medical  Science,"  April,  1904.    Seven  cblWren  ale  »ome  weda- 

In  live  there  was  vomiting,  other  symptutitH  iK-in^  aligUt   In  the  other  two  caaes  there 
I  »o  voRillloK,  but  wild  delirium  matiifeatvd  itself.    They  all  recovered. 
—Recovery. 

8.—"  American  Medical  Monthly,"  8epL  1856,  p.  220.    ML  4.    A  tablespoonful  of  seeds. 
-In  seven  houm  the  seeds  were  brought  away  by  vomlling  and  puri^iug. 
AwhU.— Uecovery. 

CASK  9,—"  American  Joamal  of  Medical  Science,**  Jan.  1862,  p.  54.    Three  adults  swallowed  an 
Ite  decoction  of  atramoolum  sei-ds. 

I. — In  two  coma,  atsggerlng,  and  lossof  voice  occurred ;  faces  became  very  red.paplls  rery 
led.    lathe  third,  in  addition  to  ordinary  symptomBi^  the  akio  auumcd  a  scarlet  hue.    Alt  the 
recover"  d. 
iBen*/f,— fieco  v  ery. 

CASE  10.—"  Lancet."  May  31. 1^'ii,  p.  ^99  (Mr.  Laurence).    Male  RdtiU.    Seeds. 

•mpfvm*. — In»enaibie  to  sound  ;  pupils  vei7  dilated ;  drunkeu  stupor  and  reatlessneas.    Recovered 
Ibility  In  three  days. 
^— Recovery. 

CAiSE  n—"  Medical  Tiroes"  (Mr.  Stobrt).    Male:  set.  A.    Sj  of  the  aeeds, 

j^^ptonu— Excitement  aud  delirium  in  one  hour  ;  face  llu»hed ;  pupils  dilated  ;  convulsions.    No 
(Stoniach'pump  used.) 
:— ReeoTery. 

:  l3.->"Chr{stIson.'' p.  848  (Dr  Traill).   Male  aduti.    Or,  xs  of  the  extract  by  mtaiake  for  ur- 


•Apparent  Intoxleatinn  ;  Incessant  talking ;  dilated  pupils.    (Vomiting  was  Induced  by 
lade,  aHrr  emeticf  had  fallod.) 
^Recovery  In  twenty-four  hours. 

*Chriillson,"  p.  MS  (Ksauw  Boerhaave).    Female  adult.    Powder  given  to  pfroeure 

0lfmpltm».-^^.onm]aloDti ;  tetanic  apaoma ;  coma. 
'BMorery, 


POISOirilVO    BT    BTOeOTAMOS. 


Flo.  37, 


CASE  R— ^CbffMiwB."  IK.  Mi  pliMl'B  MiiiiliM).    Pococtlon  of  fniil  uken  la  miM 
Slfmf»tm*j^-%fmmtmUic  ckaBM  of  jm««  aad  ejrdida ;  cona&.    (Bloodlattlng.) 

CAHE  tt^"  Unc^,'*  AprU  2<.  IMS,  p.  471  (Xr.  ^wflM).   Three  foioalea  took   intiwao  ««i 
■laa  iMiMd  orhorrhoand. 

J|infiiMi» — App*9rv<d  atupid,  vf Id,  and  oiiBble  to«p««k;  ptipIU  dilated,  uid  Irmv^i 
Utx  lojectMl ;  moulb  p«rrb«4,     SQWomtiimg;  brntbiog  sterlorou*;  tmnblitiK  *>' 
ttMiia  of lUMid* ;  riKidity  of  tfat*  niuaclce  odT  neck  and  tiock.    Two  ciia««  recoveivd 

.AMkB/— Tvo  recorered ;  ooe  dled< 

See  also  the  following  Ca»e9  of  Potmmin^  hy  Datura  Stramonma 

**  ABiiftlce  d«  ta  8ocl^l«  MMIco-(lilnirKicmlv  de  iiige  "  cM.  Ruboui/.    Fuur  caaM> 
''firiUab  Medical  Juunial,''  May  19,  IMA,  p.SZ3. 

Myc»(ymnm  Niger.    (Fig.  37.) 

(Hyoecyaniua ;   HenbaDc.) 

There  are  several  ppecies  of  hyoscyamiia  that  are  said  tu  be  p>ii 
m  e.t/.^  the  H.  alboA  (with  which  it  is  reported  that  a  ship's  crew  waauMI 
Dearly  poiaoced);    H.  auretu;    U.  physaloide.'i:   H,  scopoUa,  He. 

H.  niger  »s  the  only  species,  howevM.i 
importance.  All  parts  of  the 
poisonous,  ami  may  act  injurl« 
whcD  u^ed  merely  as  a  clyster 
tice.  Its  enerpfy,  however,  p: 
peuds  on  the  time  of  year  at  \^ 
gathered.  Its  specific  action 
the  presence  of  hyoj^cycnnia^  pnibahlr  ex* 
iiiitiQg  \n  the  plant  as  a  malute,{i^  wt*lli 
of  a  peculiar  volatile  priueiple»  iuclfi 
exceedingly  active  poison,  which  nmy 
extracted  from  the  plant  by  weak 
acid.  At  present,  however,  our  kiwnrl^ 
edge  of  this  substance  is  very  irepcr 

The  H.  niger  is  used  largely  in 
cine  in  the  form  of  a  tincrun?  und 
tract  (both  of  which  are  jkrcpared  (torn 
the  leaves).  It  is  administered  as  afdi** 
live  to  the  nervous  system. 

The  plant  has  a  strong  unplea^ftDti 
and  a  uaujieous  acrid  taste,  but  both 
tttste  and  smell  disappear  in  a  great 
sure  when  the  plant  is  dried. 
TVte  root  is  spindle-shaped,  and  has  been  mistaken  both  for  chicory 
parsnips. 

The  leaves  are  green^  oblong,  viscid,  hairy,  sessile,  and  surroond 
stem. 

Thr  seeff^  are  somewhat  oval,  and  alwut  the  ^^j  th  of  an  inch  in  di 
hard,  brown,  aud  small  (120  to  grain:  Guy)  having  little  projections  Oj 
their  surfaces.     They  are  not  unlike  the  seeds  of  belladoaDa, 


Jlyoncyamia, 

Ilyoscyamia  was  first  obtained  from  hyascyamus  by  Gek' 
It  has  an  acrid,  tobacco  like  taste,  and  is  insoluble  in  water, 
in  alcidio],  ether,  aud  chloroform.     It  is  volatilized  at  a  heat  4  iiul^s 
that  of  boiling  water*     Given   iutertially  it  acta  as  a  violent  pou 


POISOHINO    BT    BT06CYAMU8< 


375 


y  be  fouod  in  the  urine  a  very  short  time  after  its  administration  (Dr. 
Parley). 

Sjjmptomfi, 

The  syinptoms  generally  come  on  somewhat  suddenly  in  from  a  few 

iciutes  to  about  half  an  hour  after  the  poi.<ori  haa  been  ^swallowed.  There 

U^uallr  at  first  a  little  excitement,  with  gidciiuess  and  pains  in  the  head, 

»e  face  beoo mill j:  flushed  and  the  pnl-^e  rapid  and  full.     As  the  case  pro- 

"eame^^  laborious  breathing,  incoberenee  in  conversation^  ora  ]of*3  of  power 

I'spenk  will  be  noticed,  whibt  lhej*igbt  becomes  either  indistinct,  or  per- 

arted,  or  absolutely  deslntyed.     In  the  more  advanced  state  of  the  case 

loss  of  power  in  the  leg!*,  with  shaking;  of  the  liiubj^,  and  muscular  tetanic 

loveinent*,  are  common  symptoms.     Two  effects,  however,  are  constant. 

*hey  are  {1)  dilated  pupils,  which  may  be  produced  eveu  by  the  appliea- 

"on  of  hyoscyamus  to  the  eye,  and  (2)  an  uninaoageable  delirium,  gener> 

Uy  of  great  violence^  alternatiug  with  or  ending  in  eoma. 

Other  occasional  symptoma  have  been  noticed,  vi/..,  dryness  in  the  throat, 
romiting  and  diarrha'a,  and  a  fecarlet  eruptioo  of  tberikiu. 

Both  the  seedy  and  the  root  have  proved  poi>?onou9  in  periods  varying 
rum  a  few  hours  to  some  days,  but  most  of  the  cases  recover. 

Experiments  on  Anivialg. 

The  experiments  on  animals  prove  hyof»cyamus  to  l>e  a  pure  narcotic 
»oison,  having  no  peculiar  local  action.  When  injected  into  tbe  veins  it 
I  far  more  intense  in  its  eflecls  than  when  swallowed.  The  ptwt-mortera 
ppearauees  that  have  beeu  noticed  are  nnt  peculiar.  Six  drarhm;*  of  llie 
xiract  proved  fatal  to  a  dog  io  two  and  a  <|uarter  hourj^,  and  three 
hms  when  applied  to  a  wound  on  the  back  destroyed  life  in  four  lioura. 


Treatment. 

le  treatment  to  be  adopted  is  the  same  as  that  for  belladonna  (page 
►).     It  has  been  stated  that  lemon-juice  is  useful,  but  it  is  difficult  to  see 
rliy  it  should  be  so. 

Post-mortem  Appearances. 

The  post-mortem  appearances  are  negative ;  except  the  congestion  of 
the  brain  and  its  membrane^:.  Nothing  specially  to  be  noted  lias  been 
iLttcTved  io  the  stomach  or  intestines. 


Toxicological  Atmlysis, 

In  a  toxicological  examination,  the  discovery  of  portions  of  the  Yeftves 
ftr  of  the  seeds  ntu&t  be  our  main  object.     The  isolation  of  the  alkaloid  is 
ext  to  imi»ofisible,  but  the  obtaining  a  residue  which,  when  applied  to  the 

Eeof  a  cat  produces  dilatation,  would  be  important  evidence,  and  should 
ways  be  attempted  in  such  eases. 

Cfues  of  PuUonint;  with  Hyoac^mua. 

CiUSEI^r— "Chrlftiioo,"  p.  745  (M.  Choquet).    Two  adults.    Two  Mldicn  at«  the  jouug  ahoota 

iTMtd  M  II  ail«d  with  oil. 

SymptifiM^—iyottn  t*c»iiic  f^lddj;  puptla  dUated  ;  tbeeyoi  became •oloaeiwIMB  Ibat  the  cornea  tntghi 

tt  Ihc  putlrnt  whtking;  taivueibliay  ;  imratyslB  atid  cttiivulaioriA.  (£meUcji  glveo); 

mbU'ticliriiim  In  I  In;  course  uf  ri*oov«;ry,    TJiey  wi-ro  tMiih  wdl  In  two  day*. 

n 


876 


CA?iE  2,^Wnmornn  "The  Poiinunoua  Ve^oUble*  of  Great  BHUln,"  ikX.    fltx  •daHi. 
jon«  at<>  ilic  roo(»  lijr  mtaUke  for  parsnips. 

£^yffi/j(t(FfM.— I>i  tirlum  Id  »11  six  ciu«4.    Oao  woman  bad  Inteiue  coma,  and  dt«d  la  that 
twenty-four  haun. 

7&uw//,— Dealh  In  twenty-four  hours. 

CASE  3.— "Christian,"  p.  74G  fWibmer).    Female.    Hyoacfamna  leavM  ap|»U«i  Ma  ^ 
the  Mhdorneti  for  atrungury  »nd  tympanitlt,^ 

SirmpJ4/ir^— Stupor ;  dilated  pupHt ;  loM  of  ap«ech. 

Jit-ntU.^fitKO  ¥  u  ry . 

CASE  4,— Pyr»  "  ypue»  MaRWEln."  to!.  M.  ».  p.  100.    Two  boya  ate  aooM  aerda, 

i^l^mp/tmu.—Botb  were  attackt'd  with  couvukioiu  iu  a  few  mtnutea;  and  ooe,  la  wtiawi 
could  not  bo  induced  by  eineUcs,  died. 

.Riwit//.— Death, 

CASE  5.— "The  Lancet,"  July  5,  1873.  p.  8  (Mr.  White).    Female:  «U  S4.     5xj  vi  iiit 
taken  in  mistake  for  hjack  dr4UKht. 

Siftnfttfm*.—lti  ten  minute's  prkklDR  a^nitatlona  tn  the  hand^aad  leg*  were  eoiaiplalaad  of: 
In  throat,  giddiness,  and  dvUrluiu.  A  ahorl  time  after  she  found  that  ahecoold  «ot  ifr\  oal  af  I 
the  power  and  9on*ibIllty  of  the  l«g8  bptog  di?!itrny*-d;  face  awnllen;  purplw  r«»l»  »(]  nm  tltc< 
lastinii  more  or  leas  fur  Tour  daya.  In  four  houm  becnnieinsi'n'iiblc;  (  '  '  UlatM;*!^ 
ob!<*ure;  In  iwulve  houra  aickoeu  and  delirhim  ;  in  twiiniy-efirM  hom  it*w«d,lMt«it( 

by  seeing  iroa^ioAry  objecta.    Rii-oroted.    Acquired  use  of  lega  In  aix  a.., .  ,   -  „i  far  a  )(Mi«lla 
meuiflry  waa  much  afTucted.    (Tincture  of  gatla,  milk,  and  elTt^rreacent  drloks  admliilaUrad.) 

iZaiitt.— BocoTcry. 

See  aim  ih*  folio  wing  Caaea  of  fhiaoninff  by  Ifyo»ej^Mmtimf 

•"  Annalci  de  la  6oci«t«  MMlco-Thirurgtcale  de  Uhgt"  (Dt,  DanleUl).    (IN>l«onlng  by  IM  Vt 
"Brill»h  Medical  Journal,"  May  19, 18<».  p.  522. 
"  Medical  Gaaette,"  rol.  47,  p.  640. 


Nicottanu  Tabtumm, 
(Tobacco.) 

All  parta  of  the  plant  contain  an  alkaloid  (nicotin)  existing  in  combiat- 
tion  wiih  malic  and  citric  acidp,  as  well  as  a  concrete  volatile  oil  called  to- 
bacco-camphor or  nicotian  in.  However  the  tohacco  may  be  taken,  wbetkr 
as  an  infusion  or  as  a  decoction,  or  by  amoking,  these  priDciplaB  are  cafr 
sidered  by  i*ome  to  be  present. 

The  leaves  (the  part  of  chief  interest)  are  covered  with  numerous 
glandular  hain^.     They  have  very  little  smell  when  fresh,  but  vheo  <liiii, 
the  odor  is  specially  developed. 

The  eoeiua  tabaci  (gr.  xx  of  leaves  to  8  ozs.  of  water)  is  a  pbamuu^"] 
pceial  preparation. 

Nicotin  (C,oH„NJ. 

(Nicotia,  Nicotioa,  Nicotylia,  NicolytiaO 

This  body  was  examined  by  Vauqoelin  in  1809;  by  Poeeelt  iind  B«i*' 
mami  in  1828;  and  by  Orligassa  and  Bnrratt  in  1842. 

French  samples  of  tobacco  contain  about  7  to  8  per  cent  of  uicotin; 
Virginia  and  Kentncky  tjobacco  contain  from  6  to  7  per  cent,;  whitit 
Havana  tobacco  does  m>t  contain  more  than  2  per  cent.      (Sob I 

Nicotin  is  a  colorless,  transparent,  volatile  liquid  alkaloid  like 
It  becomes  in  time  of  an  amber  tint,  and  eventually  changes  to  a  n^tuM 
mass.     It  has  a  pungent  acrid  la.^te,  but  not  an  unpleasant  odor  unlew 
be  verj*  old,  when  it  seriouKly  affeeti?  the  noi^e  and  eyes  if  applied  to  ih< 
It  produces  a  greasy  green  volatile  stain  when  dropped  on  white  filti 
paper  (conia  gives  a  pink  stain).      It  has  a  sp,  gr.  of  L048,  the  tb| 
having  a  dcwity  of  5.607.     It  distils  at  146°  C.  (295*=*  F.),  and  boil* 
243.3*^0.  (470^  F),  undergoing  a  slight  decomposition  if  distilled  in  at 
but  not  when  distilled  in  hydrogen.     It  burns  with  a  white  amoky 
It  id  oue  of  the  most  rapid  and  deadly  poisons  known. 


TESTS    FOR    NIOOTIN. 


377 


ft  h  soluble  iu  water,  alcoliol,  ether,  chloroibrni,  turpentine,  and  hi  the 
[ed  oils,     Botli  clilorofbnn  and  ether  extract  it  from  its  aqueous  solutions. 
Its  solutiou  in  water  k  alkaline,  and  it  has  the  fjeculiar  udor  and  ta»te 
the  poison. 

It  forms  CTYstallizable  salts  with  acids.     They  have  no  smell,  but  retain 

le  pt!culiar  taste  of  the  alkaloid.     They  are  generally  soluble  in  alcohol 

md  water,  but  are  insoluble  in  ether.    On  the  addition  of  the  fixed  alkalies 

le  sails  are  decompiled,  when  the  alkaloid  may  be  taken  up  either  by 

^roform  or  by  ether,  or  if  the  solution  be  distilled  it  will  pas.s  over 

Sther  with  amraouia.     If  the  separation  of  the  ammonia  from  the  nico- 

be  desired,  neutralize  the  alkaline  distillate  with  oxalic  acid,  evaporate 

dryue;88i,  and   treat  the  residue  with  alcohol,  which  will  dissolve  the 

[oxalate  ofnicotin,  but  not  the  oxalate  of  ammonia. 


Tests  for  Nicolin. 

1.  If  exposed  to  the  action  of  ike  vapor  of  hjdrochlonc  or  of  nitric  acidif 
[slight  white  fumes  are  produced,  hut  they  are  very  much  less  intense  than 
|ftho^  developed  when  conia  is  similarly  treated.     No  crystals  whatsoever 

formed.     The  exneriment  is  be^t  performed  by  inverting  a  watch-glass, 
[having  A  drop  of  acid  upon  it,  over  a  second  watch-glass  containing  a  drop 
the  alkaloid. 

2.  Treated  directly  with  strong  ktfdrochi4>rie  acid  distinct  crptals  will  be 
forined. 

3.  With  miric  acid  it  changes  t<>  a  thick  reddish  liquid. 

4.  With  sniphuric  acid  in  the  cold  no  change  is  produced,  but  if  the 
lixture  be  heateil  it  becomes  brown. 

5.  iWchhride  o/ /j^^iZ/H/tm  < as  with  ammonia)  gives  with  aqueous  solu- 
[ipns  a  yellowish  crystalline  precipitate  of  the  double  chloride  of  platinum 
ind   nicotin,  whicli   is  soluble  iu  hydrochloric  acid.     (No  precipitate  is 

Iproduecd  with  conia. ) 

6.  CorroMve  sublimfUe  gives  a  white  crystalline  precipitate,  changing  to 
rellow*,  soluble  in  hydrochloric  and  in  acetic  acids, 

Tbia  is  a  very  delicate  test ;  but  note — 

(a)  Corrosive  sublimate  gives  a  preci[)itftte  with  most  alkaloids,  but 
such  precipitate  is  almost  invariably  amorphous. 

(^)  The  precipitate  given  with  strychnia  is  crystalline,  but  it  is  almost 
insoluble  in  acetic  acid. 

7.  Anenio-nitraie  of  silver  gives  a  yellow  precipitate. 
(N.B. — The  reactions  of  the  last  three  t^^sts  with  ammonia  are  identical 

with  those  with  nicotin.     In  order  to  distinguish  ammonia  from 
niontin  the  odor  must  be  our  chief  guide.) 

8.  Tannic  acid  gives  a  white  amorphous  precipitate.  (TaBoic  acid  pro- 
|duoes  merely  a  red  color  with  ammuniu.) 

^,    Carhazotic  acid  gives  a  yellow  ])recipitate. 

10.  PcrcJdorlde  of  gold  gives  a  yellow  amorffhous  precipitate,  insoluble 

.'elic  and  hydrochloric  acids,  but  soluble  iu  caustic  alkalies. 
11.  Iodine  in   iodide  of  potfi^Jttum  gives  an  amorphous   reddish-browii 
prccipitaU',  soluble  in  alcohol  and  in  potash,     (No  precipitate  is  givea 
with  ammonia  J 

Experiments  on  Animals. 

*he  experiments  on  animals  are  important,  and  we  have  stated  them 
tabular  form.     The  whole  subject  was  investigated  with  great  care 

26 


SYMFT0M8   OP  TOBACCO   POTSOiniTO. 


by  a  committee  of  the  Paris  Academy  of  Medicuie  in  1845.     W| 
note — 

1.  Tliat  the  symptoms  produced  id  the  herbivora,  however  the  poiwji 
adraiuUtered,  are  diflerent  and  less  energetic  than  those  produced  ia 
carulvora. 

2.  That  tobacco  has  no  effect  when  applied  directly  to  the  brain 
the  nerves. 

3.  That  the  usually  ohflerv.ed  symptoms  are  almost  immediate  dtsoi 
of  the  respiration,  loss  of  muscular  power,  tremora,  vomiting,  stupor,  \ 
convulsions. 

4.  Mr.  Blake  holds  that  tobacco  has  no  direct  action,  but  only  ao  i 
rect  action,  on  the  heart,  by  obstructing  the  capillary  pulmonfc  cifC 
tioQ.     He  states — (1)  that  labored  respiration  precedes  cardiac  dep 

(2)  that  the  forcible  action  of  the  heart  may  return  after  it  has 

(3)  that  its  contractility  may  continue  after  death.  Sir  B.  Bn3di 
contrary,  held  that  tobacco  has  a  direct  action  on  the  heart,  throi 
nervous  system. 


DOM. 

ADimal, 

How  givf  0. 

Syroptonw. 

B«iiUl. 

A«M 

I.  Srw.  of  rap. 

Dog. 

Stottiaelij 
gullet  tied, 

Naut^a,  giddiness,  Kiupor, 
aud  muacuJar  twttcbiog. 

X>em4h  ia  9 

Ori^ 

2.  sJJodlSjfTH. 
of  n»ppee. 

boon. 

I>og. 

Wotittd. 

I>MUtlttl 

hour. 

Ofl^ 

S,  10  grs.  in  lii- 

T 

Mouth. 

lo  t«n  secoDda   laborious 

Recovery. 

&fca 

fuflJoo. 

hreathiii{[  came  on;  in 
twenty  s«condfl  tli«  ac- 
tion of  the  heart  ceaaod, 

bulallcrwarda  returned, 
bimI    b«aoie  eiceMlvo; 
no  eonvuWoD*  or  loia  of 

4.  40  itre.  Id  Id- 

ftt»lon. 
ff.  m  l&  Infti- 

t 

MouUi. 

aenilbiUty. 
SimUar  to  laat  caae. 

tLoeWTf. 

BAi 

r 

MouUi. 

Similar  to  laat,  except  that 

DcHUhlot 

^■a- 

Ihcnj  were  codTublonn, 

minutca. 

aud  Uiat  the  heart  acted 

fur  mmur  time  afler  ro»- 

pinitiofj  had  ceased. 

6.  IiirusfoD,4o«. 

? 

tnjvcted  itito 

Bnirl   was   paralyu^;    In 

I>e«th  in  10 

Bfeittt 

atktia. 

Ihe      pcjst-mortrio      tbu 
blood  In   Lbe  aorta  waa 
found  to  bo  arterial. 

miniitca. 

7.  Ttlll  or  dIco- 

Dog, 

Injected  Into 

Death  in  W 

Mikk 

lio. 

jdgiilar  vda. 

»<»«?'•>  Tilt*. 

fl,  1  %\Top  of  nl- 

Ci»tfu. 

Cat 

M«.utt.. 

Immcdlatr  pro^trAtlon,  fol* 

De.- 

^v.,nil^ 

lot*  1.1  hy  t-oti?ulMoiJi. 

f . 

9.  1  drupof  nl- 

Cat. 

Oti  tunguo. 

Extreme     prui^lratiun     io 

Vtw. 

..  .,ngl^ 

outin.           1 

teti  *e<'oud8,  Uu<u    foo- 
vuliiiuua:  tnirtiirltfon. 

minutr-. 

midropofDl- 

Cat 

Moutb. 

Loan  of  powiT   in   twelve 

DeACh  In  7S 

Womli^ 

cotln/ 

ftecondfl,    then    contul- 
sioD*. 

SMTottda. 

11. 1  drop  of  Dl- 

Rabbit. 

Mautb. 

Lou  of  power  in  flReea 

DestblASi 

9^ 

eUlo. 

eecunda;      cunvtilsions ; 

opisthotonos ;  frothy  uvu- 

i-u»     came      frnni      the 

month:  ixti-'             '  lik 

IhecoDtvnt 

acb;   1q   th.                      1 

lu   the  soft   pjul-   ni   She 

mUiitU«. 

1 

mouth  and  throat,   hut 
not  In   the  liver,  luu^a, 
or  bearL 

n 

SymptmnSt  Dme^  etc. 

Tobacco  may  be  regarded  as  essentially  a  powerful  sedative. 

There  i?  in  the  first  instance  giddiuei^i*  and  eonfuBion,  with  tn'iuTili 
of  the  liml^,  considerable  faintnes.5  and  depression,  anxiety  of  c- 
and  cold  sweats.     Olteo  there  is  sickness  and  sometimes  pur^..^^^.  - 


8YMFT0M8   AND   TREATMENT    OF    TOBACCO    POISONING.      879 


iletit  abdomiDal  pain:!.  The  pulse  gradimlly  becomes  very  weak,  quiver- 
^iog,  and  almost  imperceptible,  the  breathing  more  and  more  difficult,  the 
TisioD  impaired^  whilst  paralysis  more  or  less  complete,  and  convulsions 
more  or  le«&  severe,  usher  in  death. 

As  to  the  pupil  there  is  some  discrepancy  in  the  records.  Taylor  gays 
it  id  dilated  :  Pereira,  contracted  ;  Wharton  and  Stills,  natural.  Our  own 
oh-'  .  with  one  exception,  coincide  with  those  of  Dr.  Tuytor. 

^1  jitoms  begin  quickly,  and  terminate  rapidly.     Death  has  oc- 

curred ill  litieen  minutes  with  tobacco,  and  in  three  minutes  with  nicotin. 
An  iujectiuu  containing  in  one  case  only  half  a  drachm  aod  iu  a  second 
uaae  a  drachm  of  tobacco  has  proved  tatnl,  as  well  as  the  external  appli- 
cation of  a  decoction  for  a  skin  dfeeai^e.  Bad  .symptoms  have  been  pro- 
duced when  tobacco  leaves  have  been  applied  to  ulcers  or  even  to  the  sound 
filtia.  Recovery,  on  the  other  hand,  is  recorded  alter  injections  of  half  an 
IMitloe  of  snuff  and  an  infusion  of  five  leaver. 


TreatmeuL 

Vomiting  must  be  produced  as  soon  as  possible  with  emetics,  or  else  the 
stonuicb-pump  i^hould  be  u»ed,  injecting  at  the  same  time  a  quantity  of 
aiiiuial  cnarcoal  into  the  stomach.  Aiterwarda  allay  pain  with  opium, 
aud  preserve  power  with  stimnlants. 

Po.H-morteni  Appearancei. 

Thefie  are  not  very  chanicteristic.  The  stomach  is  generally  found 
igC!0t«d,  the  heart  empty,  and  the  vessels  of  the  brain,  liver,  and  lungs 
iogorged  with  black  blood.  The  blood  is  usually  black  and  treacly,  but 
liquid.     Nicotin  should  be  looked  for  in  the  stomach,  liver,  and  lungs, 

Smoking. 

In  all  forms  tobacco  is  a  pois^jn.  Excessive  smoking  has  proved  fatal^ 
^as  in  ibe  cases  recorde^l  by  Omelin,  where  two  men  smoked  seventeen  and 
eighteen  pipes  respectively  at  one  silting.  Mr.  Smith  of  Sheffield  records 
[two  casea  of  paralysis  of  the  portio  dura  caused  by  hard  smoking.  Br, 
kpmatl  gives  illustrations  of  dyspepsia  and  extreme  nervous  symptoms 
|re»utting  from  it  ^"Lancet,"  March  8,  184o,  p.  2G6).  No  doubtsmoking 
[may  be  valuable  from  its  soothing  action  wheu  used  in  moderation,  but  in 
there  can  be  no  question  that  it  will  produce  a  train  of  miserable 
^mptoms.  Even  blindness  has  been  stated  to  have  been  o<*cnsioued  by 
It.  (Tobacco  Amaurosi.".)  [For  further  details  respecting  smoking  see 
•*  Dobell  on  Diet/*  6th  edit,  p.  36,  and  for  some  account  of  the  efiects  of 
tobacco  smoke  on  boys,  see  Dr.  Decaisne,  "  BritUh  Medical  Journal," 
B«pt.  26,  1868,  p.  341.]  What  is  the  active  agent  in  tobacco  smoke? 
Bome  have  regarded  it  as  a  product  of  th^  decomposition  of  the  nicotin, 
and  not  the  nicotin  itself,  the  presence  of  which  in  smoke  has  been  quea- 
tioovd.  Others  have  imagined  that  the  injurious  effects  are  due  to  such 
vafiors  as  sulphide  and  cyanide  of  ammonia,  which  are  said  to  be  always 
present  more  or  less  in  tohacco  smoke  (Vogel). 

There  is  considerable  doubt,  however,  whether  nicotin  is  present  or  not 
in  tobacco  smoke.  Vohl  and  Euleuberg  failed  to  find  it,  even  when  the 
tobticco  used  contained  as  much  as  4  per  cent.  The  gases  that  were  given 
off,  according  to  their  analysis,  ct^nsisted  of  oxygen,  nitrogen,  marsh  gas, 
carbonic  acid,  and  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  together  with  various  bases, 
not  a  trace  of  nicotin.  Thev  believe  that  the  evil  effects  of  smoking 
due  to  the   pyridin  (CjH^N^)  bases,  whilst  they  consider  that  some 


but 


380      EFFECTS   OF   SMOKING    AKD    OF   TOBACCO    MANUFACTTtB. 

obaervers    have    confounded   ptirvoHu  (C^HoN)  with  nieoHn.  imd 
erroneously  asserted  the  exis^tence  of  the  latter.     The  phy.-i    ' 
of  both   parvolin  arid  pyridin,  ^eem  to  be  very  similar  to  iic 

( Vrtijhr^sohrft.  f.  Gericht.  Med.,  X.  F.,  xiv,  p.  249). 

Od  the  other  hand,  Heiibel  of  Kitivv  has  come  to  entirely  cliJSTerent 
elusion.^.     He  asserts: 

1,  That   uicotiu  is  preseot  in  tobacco  smoke  rnaiuly  aa  a  ^dt  of 
alkaloid,  and  more  especially  if  the  corabuation  be  not  over  rapid. 

2,  That  nieotin  exi:?ts  in  tobacco  as  a  stable  salt  of  the  alkaloid. 

3,  That  the  nicotiii  derive<l  from  the  smoke  of  a  dingle  cigar  bi 
cieut  to  produce  touvuljiioiiis,  paralysis,  and  death  iu   a  frog.     (< 
hlatl,  Oct.  5,  1872,) 

Snijtfhas  causrcil  death,  a^  io  the  case  of  the  French  puet  Sar*    •"' 
died  from  its  ndlminiptnition  by  way  of  joke.     The  external  ap| 
tobaecf)  haa  proved  injurious,  whil.>«t  even  sleeping  amongst  bale«<  ni  mnar^ 
leave;*  has  been  recorded  as  having  produced  symptt)ms  of  poison iuj:. 

AcUon  of  Tobacco  Manufttcture  un  Workpeople* 

From  a  ennitiiry  point  of  view  it  is  important  to  note  the  ft'*tiifl 
tobacco  manufacture  n\mn  the  workpeople.  This  was  a  matter 
investigation  in  1845  hy  the  Paris  Academy  of  Medicine,  and 
ing  were  tije  residts  of  the  inquiry:  That  on  the  Hrst  ;i 
workmau  to  the  mauufaetory,  certain  symptoms,  such  aw  hea 
and  often  diarrhuni,  are  set  up,  but  tliat  these  pass  away  as  a  rule  lo  fimil 
eight  to  fifteen  days.  Women  sulfur  more  than  men.  When  »'»•■  « 'rt- 
people  get  acclimatized  they  are  rarely  afterwards  troubled,  an 
to  have  a  singular  immunity  from  phthisis,  iuterrailtent  ^%:xer^  ui,-.* 
scabies,  and  neuralgia.  A  peculiar  grayish  tinge  of  t^kin  ia  and 
noticeable  in  those  that  have  been  at  work  for  at  least  two  yean^ 
proves  some  distinct  change  to  be  going  on  in  the  system,  y^  m(\ta' 
wantliscovered  on  analysis  either  in  the  urine  or  in  the  blood  of  ' 
peo|jte.  It  was  found  that  the  tobacco  emanations  killed  a  ixk-. 
was  placed  in  the  workroom. 

Lastly,  it  was  noticed  that  in  some  cases  (but  they  were  quite  «c 
ti<<nal)  time  did  not  overcome  the  bad  symptoms  induced  in  the  fini] 
instance. 

Toxwohgiml  Aimlyiis. 

Id  a  toxicologioal  examination,  look  carefully  with  a  lens  for  piec9^ 
tobacco,  and  exaaiine  them  under  the  microscope.     They  are  peculiar 
from  the  hairs  found  on  them. 

The  process  recommended  for  recovering  cnnia  may  be  adopted  for 
nicotin  (page  392). 

The  following  process  also  gives  satis fiictor}'  results :  Digest  the  orgaaiT 
liquid  with  water  acidulated  with  acetic  acid,  titter,  and  treat  the  filtnil 
with  acetate  of  lead.     Again   filter,  and   throw  down   the  excess  i>f  Ii 
with  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  filtering  off  the  lead  sulphide  forratMl. 
treat  the  filtrate  with  caustic  potash,  pour  otf  the  clear  supernatant  liut 
and  distil,  when  a  fluid  having  the  odor  and  reactions  of  nicotin  will 
obtained.     The  residuum  loo  in  the  retort  probably  contains  portiuti.-* 
the  poison. 

Never  neglect  to  try  the  action  of  the  residues  ou  small  birds,  or  if  there 
is  sufficient,  on  a  rabbit. 


CASKS  07  POISONINO    BY   TOBACCO.  881 

{ 

Casea  of  Poisoning  with  Jhbaeco. 

'     GAME  1.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  toI.  i,  p.  893.    Mi,  10  weeks.    Apiece  of  tobacco 
fJBCul  Id  the  mouth  of  an  infknt  whilst  it  was  asleep. 
Atmtt.— Death  on  second  day. 
CASE  2.—"  Joornal  de  Chimie  Mfidicale,"  18^,  p.  329.    Female.    Decoction  of  five  leares  used  as 

^H^iHunj.— Immediate  colic  and  giddiness;  nausea  and  syncope;  diflScult  breathing;  slow  pulse; 
dilated  pupils;  suppressed  urine. 
AiMlr.— BacoTery. 
CASE  S.— **  Edinburgh  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,"  vol.  ix,  p.  159.    SiJ  in  3  ozs.  of  water,  used 


%wpiusM.— CoDTulsiona. 
Jlwriir.    Death. 

CASE  4.—"  Journal  de  Cbimie  MMicale,"  1839,  p.  828  (M.  Calllaid).    Half  os.  of  snufil 
.— Yomitiug,  incoherence,  dilated  pupils. 
Becovery. 

CASE  5.— "Christison,"  p.  850  (Dr.  Ogston).    Male :  old.    (7)  Tobacco  given  in  rum  and  whislcy. 
, — Found  after  one  hour  insensible,  and  soon  afterwards  died. 
—Death. 

V— Blood  everywhere  fluid  ;  tobacco  found  in  the  stomach. 
CASE6.— "Christison,"  p.  849  (Dr.  Grahl,  of  Hamburg).  SJ  boiled  for  15  minutes  in  water,  and  the 
fcenctinn  used  as  a  clyster. 

. — In  two  minutes  vomiting,  convulsions,  and  stertorous  breathing  set  in.    Death. 
Death  in  three-quarters  of  an  hour. 

— Lividity  of  the  back,  lips  pale,  Joints  flexible ;  stomach  natural,  heart  entirely  empty. 
CASE  7.— **  American  Journal  of  Medical  Science,"  Jan.  1865,  p.  268.    Male :  adult.    A  decoction 
externally  for  skin  disease. 
, — Usual  symptoms.    Death. 
Death  in  three  hours. 

CASE  8.—"  London  Medical  Gazette,"  1839-40,  vol.  i,  p.  661,  "  Christison,"  p.  848.    ChUd.    A  decoo- 
BB  OMd  for  ringworm. 
^Iswplusii.— Giddiness,  vomiting,  and  fainting. 


CASE  ».— "Gasette  MM.  de  Paris,"  Nov.  1840,  p.  763  (M.  Taorgust}.  Male:  set.  55.  SU  of  tobacco 
m  MM  iqjection. 

J^pyisais.  Ctopor,  pain ;  convulsions  in  seven  or  eight  minutes ;  laborious  breathing  succeeded, 
tmd  then  coma  and  death. 

AmttL— Death  in  eighteen  minutes. 

CASE  10.— Beck's  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  vol.  ii,  p.  878.  Female  -.adult.  Enema  used  for  worms. 

Sgmflumt.    Convulsions.    Death. 

AnittL- Death  in  fifteen  minutes. 

CASE  11.— Stmt's  "  Materia  Medica,"  vol.  11,  p.  298  (Mr.  Skae).  Male :  adult.  Took  a  large  mouthful. 

SjfiV^omg.—lnKnsihility,  contracted  pupils,  weak  pulse ;  afterwards  convulsions,  dilated  pupils, 
▼oaitlng,  purging,  and  death  by  syncope. 

JbsHtt.- Death. 

CASE  12.— Pereira's  "  Materia  Medica,"  vol.  ii,  p.  494.    Injection  of  Ssa.  of  tobacco. 

JbMft.— Death. 

CASE  IS.—"  Christison."    SJ  as  injection. 

ifofMll.- Death  in  thirty-five  minutes. 

CASE  14.— "Lancet,"  Nov.  4, 1871,  663  (Dr.  Allan).  Female:  set.  48.  Leaves  applied  to  ulcers  on 
tkaleg. 

4|rMp<Mu.— Sickness,  cramps,  prostration,  dimness  of  vision,  and  numbness ;  sleepiness,  and  Irregu- 
larltj  of  heart  set  in  on  the  third  day.    Becovery  in  a  week. 


CASE  10.— Taylor's  "  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  vol.  i,  p.  393  (Dr.  Nanias).    Male.    Covered  his  body 
tobacco  leaves  to  defraud  revenue. 

—Poisonous  eflTects  were  produced  as  soon  as  the  perspiration  had  moistened  the  leaves. 
Jtenft.— Becovery. 

NICOTIN. 

CASE  16.— Orfila's  "Toxicologic,"  vol.  ii.p.  498  (case  of  Count  de  Bocarme).    Quantity  (?).  Forci- 
bly administered  by  the  Count  and  his  wife  to  Uustave  Fougnics. 
-Death  in  five  minutes. 

^— Nicotin  found  in  mouth,  throat,  stomach,  liver,  and  spleen  ;  tongue  swollen,  epithe- 
Unm  detached;  stomach  intensely  congested,  lungs  gorged,  heart  normal,  blood  not  coagulated. 


380      EFFECTS    o 

observers  ha  v. 
err(»ii«.'t>u-ly  ;i->- 
of  })otli  i>;irv.  ■ 
(Vrtljhr-^flir:' 
On  till-  ..;!  .  ■ 
elusions.     I ! 

1.  Tl.;«i    : 
alk:iloM.  : 

2.  Tl.;.' 
:j.  Tl.:- 

cioiii  I 
hliiti.  '» 

Sir 
di.-.l  ■ 
t..!.:. 


hu 


lES    OF    SOLANUM. 


p.  .K'S.     M  ill'' :  ad ..  :       ,  .An: 
■  lis.  Inn  lii'a%'iil  a   _— _    •;.•: 


Aj  li-  •■\:ir 


■k:  iniMuliraTi'- of  the  'r... 
:lif  U'tt   a'irirli-.   wliii-t,  . 


■  ■  [i-»'iili;ir  tMli.r:  liver  r< 
■It  ho  stoiiuii-h. 


-.-_.!         V 


.r."!  •Ufk-:^■I■•■J 
--1   g'h-rjiiT 


.   ''t.i't  of  T'l.hiiri'"    Puis'inlu-; : 

J<|.     I  Di-nth  fmin  i-lifwiiiK  t<>)i:i<--  •>. 
.  I  .11  iiii-'  time.     P.ath  in  ihr-c  il.ir-    \\a\w.  *i.a.. 
■  ■    p.  •;:•'*.     1  D.'iith  frmii  fhcwiii;;  ti»lij'-'--'. 
-.;.  p.  .VVJ.    ilViith  frtirn  ihi-wiii;:  Liiu-rsi-k  rol;  loto/o. 
'<a>i  «-l!i-rt.4  of  a  toliaccu  viK-nta  iu  a  cMM.  Jrt.  i'>.' 


■  'limn   Diihttmarn. 

M^rlitshado — Bitter  Sweet. ) 

:i-ri  iu  h('(l^e.«*  and  on  the  roadside.     It  flnwf-i? 

uirple  with  yi'How  stamens,  and  the  h*mti\K 

•wi  of  the  ♦S.  dulvamttra  are  uot  so  (> ii.H)nriUS  as 

^.  •li'jrum.     The  active  principle  of  the  plaut  l« 

..11.  d    ^ave  180  ])erries  as  well  as  4  ozs*.  of  theexirart 

•'..during  any  effect.     He  also  cites  a  ca.«e  in  the 

;  V  of  the  extract  wa.s  taken  in  two  doses,  but  with- 

-    I  t'ase  where  sleep  was  produced  as  the  resJullofi 
.  mH'-  i>f  the  woody  ni^^htshade  on  hi.s  head. 
^ji';'!  of  thc-je  experiments,  and  the  widely  tliffereiit  ef- 
iu-  cast's  of  poi.-ioninjr  reconled  by  the  drujr,  are  to  be 
;i:yinir  activity  of  the  plant  at  varying  .-^easuiis  and 

.  .:  ■.  »  have  been  produced  by  two  berries  in  a  child  f'.'Ur 
■■^.  purging,  an<l  convulsions  .seem  to  be  the  onlinarv 

Snl'inam    Tnhrroifum. 

( Potato.  I 

..  ■.•roduced  serious  elU'Cts. 
..  ":>K'  is  so/iiidn. 


S<Jiinuin  Xl(/rum. 

( lihu'k  or  (iiirden  Nightsluule.) 

.   'Mial  plant  l<nnid   in  gardens.     The/'"""-"  an>  white  an<] 
;   '■»       It-  active  principle  i-^  sdhtniii. 

I'll  lurries  have  both  proved  fatal  to  chihlren  in  the  coiirH- 
»,  h.Mir-.  Tlie  ordinary  .-ympiinns  pro<luced  were  paiu, 'li- 
u-.ili  dcliriiiiii  and  convulsions  of  a  li'tanic  nature. 

I.  •    ill"  til.'  Solanuin  liave  al.-o  proveil  poisonous.  a<i  »..  y.,  th«' 
..  !..  II  bcrrii-  ol"  which  hav*- produced  serious  ctlcct.«s,  and  iho 

I'imeiple  in  each  case  is  ftolnnix. 


POISONING    BY    SOLANIN, 


383 


Solanin. 

(Solaoia)  C\,H,oNOja, 

lanio  conatitiites!  the  active  principle  of  the  preceding  plants.     It  is 
as  a  white  ur  a  yelluwiMh-wbite  powder,  without  gmell,  haviug  a 
r  acrid  taste,  and  crystal lixiuir  in  needle  like  tufts. 
Il  is  soluble  in  wnter  (1  iu  IToO),  in  henzol  (1  in  840€),  in  ether  (I  in 
KKK)),  in  chloroform  (1  iu  oO,0<Xt),  and  in  amylic  alcohol  (1  in  lOGO). 

It  h  readiiy  soluble  in  alcohol  as  well  as  iu  dilute  acida,  with  which  it 
brmd  salts. 

The  salts  of  solaniu  are  soluble  in  water,  but  are  insoluble  in  chloro- 
ibnn  or  ether. 

If  heated  upon  porcelain,  solanin  first  discolors,  and  then  fuses  (216° 
V.\  when  dense  white  vapors  are  given  off  which  have  an  agreeable  odor, 
whilst  an  nbundaot  carbonaceous  deposit  is  left  behind. 

CoM  fiifphuric  tteid  changes  it  to  an  orange-yellow,  and  then  dissolves  it, 
the  solution  becoming  brown, 

yitrif  acid  dissolves  it,  the  solution  being  first  colorless,  and  afterwards 
changing  to  a  rose-red  tint. 

Hijfh'ochloinc  acid  dissolveB  it  without  change  of  color* 
Heated  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid  it  is  changed  into  grape-sugar,  a  new 
alkaloid  being  foroied  called  mlanidin. 

Sifftipiomat  Treaimetdj  etc. 

The  symptoms  produced  by  the  preceding  plants  and  by  their  alkaloid 
are  thirst,  intestinal  irritation  as  evidenced  by  pain,  nausea,  vomiting,  and 
purging,  and  also  severe  nervou.^  symptoms,  such  as  convulsions,  extreme 
aud  violent  deliriura,  tetanic  cramps,  and  coma. 

We  have  no  record  of  any  special  pmt-modem  uppearanae^. 

The  treatment  is  to  get  rid  of  the  pois^on  by  emetics  and  by  the  stomach- 
ptimp.  Strong  t^a  and  coffee  are  advisable,  and  it  may  be  necessary  to  give 
Btimulantd  freely. 

Experimeiiii  on  Animals. 

The  experiments  made  on  animals  with  solanin  are  few  and  unsatisfac- 
lory.  Otto's  experiments  on  rabbity  prove  that  1  to  3  grains  constitute  a 
poisonous  dose.  8c;hroH"  (Still^'e  Mat.  Med.,  i,  763)  administered  doses 
varying  from  the  ^Vjth  of  a  grain  to  S  j^rains  to  healthy  persons.  The  pu- 
pils were  not  altered.  There  was  giddiness,  a  great  desire  but  an  tuability 
to  sleep,  nausea,  an  irritability  of  the  skin,  with  difficult  breathing  and 
Dumbness  of  the  legs, 

1.  Sulphuric  acid  gives  an  orange-yellow  precipitate,  which  when  dia- 
golved  forms  a  yellow  solution,  becoming  ultimately  purple  (solanidin). 

2*  The  alkalies  and  the  alkaline  carbonates  give  with  the  salts  of  solanin 
a  colorless  gelatinous  precipitate  of  the  alkaloid. 

3,  Iodine  in  iodide  ofpotamnm  gives  with  the  salts  of  solanin  an  orange- 
browo  precipitate,  insioluhle  in  dilute  acids. 

4.  Chromaie  of  potash  gives  a  yellow  precipitate,  which  is  soluble  when 
the  liquid  is  treated  with  a  few  drops  of  sulphuric  acid,  the  solution  be- 
ing blue. 


S84  CASES   OF   POISOHIHe    BT   SOLAHACBJE. 

Cases  of  Poisrmmff  with  the  varieties  of  SoUmum. 

il.)  BOlMAmUM  PUI.CAMARA 

CAAE 1^*'  Lancet.**  Jane  28. 1S56,  p.  715.   3Ule :  m*.  4.    Ate  two  of  the  berrf ca. 
BjfH^ikmt.— In  AAeeo  hotin  iwrgfng  and  romiting.    Coovabions,  alternating  wftb  eona.    Death 
in  conTulatons  at  the  end  of  thfrtj-tvo  houn. 
Ant//.— Death  In  thirty-two  hours. 

CASE  2.—^'  Lancet,"  Jane  28, 1 856,  p.  715.    Female :  mt.  C    Sitter  of  above,  ate  only  one  berry. 
iSlm^t^Ma^— Purging  and  lickneM.    BeooTered. 
Amlr.^RecoTery. 

CA8E  3.—" Lancet,"  Jane  28. 1856.  p.  715.    Female:  kC  8.    Ate  two  berriea. 
Sfmptoms. — No  marked  •ymptom*. 
JZetMlf.— Becoverj. 

CAflE  4.— Beck's  "  Mt^ical  JurinpnideDce,"  vol.  11,  p.  825.    Several  children  ate  the  berriea. 
/Il^mptonu. — All  suffered  severrlj.    In  one  there  was  salivation.    AH  recovered. 
Anitf.— Becoverjr. 

(IL)  SOLANUM   IflORUM. 

CASE  0,—"  Ouy,"  p.  517  tfrom  Tanlieu).    Two  children :  set.  3^  yeara.    Ate  the  leaves. 

//Ifrnpttntu.— In  one  or  two  hours  pain,  nausea  without  vomiting,  and  delirium  set  in.  One  child 
died  ill  about  twelve  hours.  The  dvlirium  became  excessive,  with  convulsions ;  dilated  pupils;  coma. 
The  other  rhild  ri'Covered  in  tweoty-four  hours,  after  severe  symptoms.  In  this  case  also  the  pupils 
were  fully  dilated. 

Rentii.—il)  Death  in  twelve  hours.    (2)  Becovery. 

CAKE  6.— <)rflla's  "  Toxicologie,"  1852,  vol.  i,  p.  813.    Three  children  ate  the  berries. 

SmnjMomt.—Thtfj  all  had  severe  symptoms.  One  child  died  in  twelve  hours,  with  tetanic  convul- 
sions. The  other  two  children  recovered  for  a  time,  but  had  a  relapse,  and  died.  The  vomit  waa 
green  ;  pupils  dilated ;  convulsions,  with  tetanic  stiffness  of  the  limbs. 

/Semi/.— Death. 

CASE  7.— "Medical Gssette,"  vol.  zlvi, p.  548. 


(m.)  SOLANUM  TUBEROSUM. 

CASE  8.—"  British  MtHlical  Journal,"  1859,  p.  719  (Mr.  Morris).    Female:  »t.  14.    Ate  the  berries. 

/^mp/orru.— Jactitation,  cold  pcritpirations,  likin  livid,  reflpiratioo  hurried,  pulse  quick,  teeth 
cltjsed,  Ixit  a  CiiriHtant  spitting  of  a  thick  phlegm  ;  loss  of  siiecch ;  great  reatlessucss.  Death  on  second 
day. 

itejii//.— Death. 

CASE  9,-"(:hristlw>iJ,"  p.  749  ;  "Journal  deChlmIe  Mtdicale,"  1837,  p.  i:«). 

SymjitomM.—A  rumlly  of  four  had  nerlous  narcotic  symptoms  produced  by  eating  potatoes  which 
bad  couimenccd  to  germinate  and  Khrfvcl.  The  father  set>med  at  fintt  intoxicated,  then  comatose. 
The  mother  and  two  children  had  convuhions  and  then  coma.  In  all  four  there  was  vomiting.  Re- 
covered In  two  hours. 

i2«#utt.— Recovery . 


32.  TIIYMELACE^. 

Daphne  Mezereum.     (Fig.  38.) 
(Mezereon.) 

Mezercon  is  a  j^arden  shrub,  having  bright  red  berries,  each  coutaining 
a  single  seed.  They  are  very  beautiful,  and  have  been  frequently  mis- 
taken by  children  for  currants. 

It  is  an  active  narcotico-acrid  poison. 

Five  or  si.x  berries  will  produce  bad  effects.  Linnceus  saw  a  wolf  die 
fn)ni  eating  six  berries,  and  a  girl  from  taking  twelve. 

The  Daphne  gnidium  (Garon)  was  examined  by  Orfila. 


CASES    OF    POISONING    BY    MBZEREON, 


S85 


Three  drachms  of  the  powdered  bark  killed  a  dog  in  twelve  hours,  given 
hy  mouth,  a  ligature  beiug  plnced  on  the  gwllet ;  and  two  drachms  In  two 
davi^  when  the  powder  was  applied  to  a  woiind- 

xhe  Daphne  laureoh  (Spurge-laurel^  is  also  poisonous. 


Fig. 


Qisea  of  Poi^oninff  with  Mezereon, 

CASK  1.— •' Lane«t."  1837-38,  voL  1,  p.  44  iDr.  Orteve).  3i  cksm.  Msle:  tet.  2.  Female:  ttt.  25i> 
Feiu«]e  :  cL  X.    Rerrivii. 

Slfmfivmt,—\otaii i ng  unJ  purglni;  io  a  few  niiriUtM,  In  ihe  two  younger  the  symptoms  cptswi 
■ItiCTkO  rtnvtkv  In  the  eJilost  nareotinin  cftmti  on,  »ii<1  in  ain.  hours  sh^  wiia  ijull'e  cohtati>9«i  pupil» 
•Illt;hi1jil|i»twd  ;  reapinition  slow  ;  intenuHtr^iit  puljM* ;  very  thirdly  when  ftho  was  rouaer],  ItuLcoru- 
|il«la<n't  of  Dupain.  SitniitlanU  w^<re  adtulnt9iere<},  nmd  in  nntf  hour  she  uifxin  roj»-'i]  tjp  complain- 
IB|$  of  great  tblrsL  A  doav  of  cnlotnt'l  waa  Kif«^n,  ^n4  it  wa»  noLlcorl  thai  the  stuuls  were  dlot^ukrijr 
dtvotd  of  bllr.    RecoT«>rt'il  in  Eiboul  threu  hours.    Only  ouubtrry  pa&aed  by  stool. 

JBhh/I,— Reoor  «•  ry . 

CASE  2.—"  Lancet,"  Aag.  19, 1837  (Dr.  A.  T.  Thouuoii,  quoted  from  Ke«l).  M«ereon  jflren  u  a 
mncdy  lur  dr(>|»y. 

^■UplmiM.— DeMth  In  six  weeks,  preceded  by  dlarrhoeft  aod  vamitlDg. 

JBmmJIv- Death. 

CARK  »,— "  LanceJ,"  Dec.  16, 1849.  p.  637, and  Casp«r'fl  "  Woehenschrlft"  Two  cases.  Male:  aft,  4, 
F-en»al«  :  «t.  i    The  berrips. 

iffrnptamt. — TbH  eldest  child  had  dryness  of  the  throat  and  nausoa  ;  aftprwards  narcolisni.  Tha 
llttU  firl  had  no  sytuptoniA  at  flrst,  hoton  ati  emetic  l>clnjt;  jfiven  she  voiuitc<l  eight  berriea.  An 
hotirafWr  this  cutuplete'narcotlain  sft  in  wi<tb  coiuii,  cunvulsions,  and  diiated  puplU. 

BeMu/t.—Heroferj  the  following  day. 

CASE  4,—"  Mtdtcal  Tlnus,"  Ang.  24.  1M4.  p.  427.    Male  •.  adult.    Forty  bcrri«»s, 

^#in/>fom«.>-Paln  .  vjulcnt  voniltinis;  i<l'»ody  utoots;  bcfrd  giddy;  pupils  diJatcd  ;  great  thlrat; 
poise  fr«f|UeQt  and  Irregular  ;  uriti«  diirk^otored. 


33.    UMBELLIFERiE. 

^Etfntsa  Ctjjiapiuvi. 
(Fool's  Farsleyj  Lesser  Hemlock.) 

The  leaves  of  the  fwil's  pai-sley  have  been  euteu  by  mistake  for  common 
parsley,  and  the  rcjots  for  parsnips.  The  plant  may  be  known  from  true 
pareley  bv  its  producing  when  rubbed  a  imu.-euus  odor,  by  the  leaves  being 
of  a  Jark-green  color,  and  glistening  on  the  lower  auriiice,  and  by  the 
three  long  drooping  leaflets  or  bracts  appended  to  the  flower  stalks. 

It  is  a  Darcotico-irritant  poison. 


886 


CASES   OF   POTSONTNO    BY   FOOL'S   PAR8LKT. 


Ii  act«  as  a  powon  to  animals.     Six  ounces  of  the  juice  iatrodaced  inW 
the  stomach  of  a  dog,  and  secured  by  ligature,  killed  it  in  one  hour,  stopnr 

aod  convulsions  being  prominent  symptoms. 

In  the  human  euhject  it  has  caused  death  in  one  hour.     Naust^*   > 
iDg,  stupor  and  iosensibilit\\  difficulty  of  Bwallowing,  tremblio-- 
limb?,  dilated  pupils,  aud  lockjaw  have  been  observed.     If  early  aihi  iti-t 
vomiting  does  not  occur  either  spontaneously  or  by  the  aid  of  eiu«ftia»,  tW 
ca.ee  is  almojit  certain  to  eud  fatally. 

The  active  principle  is  a  body  called  wthu^in. 


Ca^ma  f»f  Fuiaoning  with  ^^hnvn  Q/naphtm. 

CASE  1.—"  MedJcal  Tlmts."  Aug.  23.  Ift46,  i>.  408  (Mr.  Thoiaw).  Frm«l«  :  aei. «.  BuIIm  tatat  Vf 
ml»Uk«  Ibr  turnips. 

Srmptoma.—lmmrd\alepsiln.hnt  no  rosaltlug;  could  not  iwrUow;  itm  ttie«p»tti«  of  »af«««l«| 
qu*Mtioii»;  expn^ton  wlJd;  no  cooruliJoM,  but  tb«  Ioir«r  J»w  brcame  ao  flxwl  ttial  noiblng  fwM 
be  tntitMloccd  into  the  mouth.    De4iltt. 

Remit.— Dv*th  in  one  hour. 

CASE  2.—"  Medical  Ttroea/*  Aug.  28.  IMC,  p.  4<»  (Mr,  TUomt*;.    Female :  ct.  8»   Bulb*  by  irta 
fur  tiirnipa. 
Symptoms.— F^n,  fllckueaa.  votnltttig,  penptration.    Recovtfred. 

CAjSH  3.— "M«dlCfll  TJuiw;'  Aug.  23,  1845,  p.  M)%  (Mr.  Tbotna»).    F«mftle :  iM.  t.    UuIIm  bj  ttilMi 
for  turafpe. 
Ssfmptonu.— Symptoms  Bimilar  to  abovr  [  emrlj  TomltlQg  and  reooverjr. 
RetvU.—Wscorery. 

CJISE  4.— "  Cburcblirs  Butauy  (Mr,  Steveoaon),  "Loodoa  M«dleal  and  Phraloal  Joaraal'fiL 
zIt,  p.  tSS.    Taken  by  Iwa  latlica  lu  salad. 

fiymptonu.— Nauaea,  vumUlDg,  glddlaeM,  Indinatloa  to  aleep.  Dumbnen  and  trembllBg  ofQM 
and  difficulty  la  awallowing. 

CAFE  5.— "G«K.>blcl.t«  di^r  PJlaniPngifH*/'  p.  B71  (flint-ICn).    Cblld. 
Sjftf^ftomt.—Vfiin  tti  stomaob,  flwclllng  of  abdomen,  dlfflriiU  brcjilHIog.    DcAtll. 
BetuU.—ltetlh  Id  eight  hours. 


Ciciifjt  llrfna  or  C,  Aqtmtica. 
(Water  Hemlock,  Cowbane.) 

All  part«  of  this  plant  are  poisououi,  but  more  particularly  the 
although  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  plant  which  grows  in  Englaod 
18  not  BO  poisonous  aa  that  which  grows  abroad.   The  roots  have  been  mi*-! 
taken  for  parsnips. 

It*  action  upon  animals  has  been  studied  by  Wepfer  and  LinniDUa,    It 
produces  tetanud  aud  death,  Ui^uiilly  on  or  abuut  the  third  day. 


8jffi%pi€9n8f  tic. 

The  symptoms  come  on  npidly,  and  ure,  first  a  great  giddioese  and 

ness  of  the  throat.  The  face  will  be  flu.nhed,  and  possibly  foam  be 
to  issue  from  the  mouth.  Vomiting  is  not  unusual,  but  purging  does 
often  occur.  The  breathing  becomes  difficult  and  spasmodic.  The  pa| 
are  commonly  widely  dilated,  Convulaioos,  accompanied  by  tetanic  symp** 
toms,  and  in  one  case  opisthotonos,  passing  either  into  profound  coma,  or 
into  delirium  with  various  hallucinations,  or  into  a  more  or  less*  genei 
paralyjiis,  are  ordinary  symptoms.  Several  cases  are  recorded  wherw 
root  has  proved  fatal.  In  one  case  death  is  stated  to  have  oocarred  ii 
thirty  minutes,  and  in  another  in  a  few  bout^s. 


POISONING    BY    CONIUM, 

Oiuea  of  Foimnlift^  with  Cieuia  Vlroia. 
CASE  L— " Wl bluer,"  p.  119  (Mertcdorff),  ".loaroiil  Cotu|il*me(jt»tre,"  Tot  xtll,  p.  361.    Three 


w 

^ 


.— CooTultfoDfl  and  Tomitiiag.    I>eath  rapid. 
^Drfttb  rwpld. 

— Mucoui  tdeoibrane of  the  .^tomacb  Injc'cted ;  rcdtieM  of  tho  Ktr-paua^es  «tid fttomiuib ; 
of  brain  filled  vUh  dark  llquiil  bluod;  bhiisli-red  spola  Tuund  on  tlie  skin. 
2  — "WibmfT,"  p.  119,  "  Jourunl  Cnmplf"m<«Dtaire;'  yoLxril,  p.  :«n  (Wepfcr).    Malu  :  nt.  20. 
quHDtltf  of  tbc  root. 

Breatblugdifflctilt,  with  foauiing  at  maulh;  epilvptic  01,  with  tetanic  lUITn^a  and 
iMidlc  breathing;  unoonaciouiDeBai. 
»«,— Death. 
/V#(.fiM>ffm»— Stomach  red,  blood  diiid. 

CASE  ;(.— "  Lancet, "  Sept.  16, 1871,  p.  ?m  (Mr.  Willaou)  Malo :  mi  48.  Cooked  roo4  eatea  bjr  mla- 
taike  r<»r  pamiiriS. 

Sjftnptmns, — (jiiddiDMisaod  drynt»a  of  tbroal  in  half  an  hour.    In  one  hour  and  a  half  Ibert*  wiia 
paraJjraii  of  the  K-gs  and  loss  of  power  in  the  urtna  ;  fuce  lluahed.    After  an  cinclic  bf^  wau  ablu  lo 
■femd^ftttd  then  pbammI  a  qaa,ntitx  of  urint?.   Halhicinatfona.   After  aereii  buun  dilated  pupils ;  ooctt- 
■toml  delirfnot.    No  purging.    Rfcoveri'd  In  two  daya. 
ifMM/j .— Reeorf>  ry. 

i  \^Y.  4.—"  Pbarmaceutlcal  Joornal,"  Juno,  1B72,  p.  1063.  Two  boja.  The  root  eaten  by  mistake 
lor  c«?!erjr. 

C.\SE  5.—"  CIc.  Aquat.,"  p.  8n  and  in?  (Wopft'r).    Eight  children  ate  tho  roots  Instead  uf  parsnlpa. 

ChSE  6.— "CIc.  Aqiiat,"  p.  So  (lud  iriT  (Wt'pfcrK     Female:  ast.  6. 

.9ym^i/otyi«,— Ti'Utiic  flta.    Coma  for  Iwenty^foor  houni. 

He»Hft.— IttfOTery. 

CASE  7.-"'Cic.  Aqua!.,"'  p.  80  and  107  (Wepfcr)     Two  caaea. 

J^^rmp/ofM.— Swelling  of  ttomaeb  ;  voniltlug;  insonslbility;  involiiotarT  diaoharge  of  arise;  oom- 
ToUlnoii ;  l«iclijaw  ;  oiiinthotom^.     B<»lh  dltti  ki  a  little  over  thirty  oiLuutca. 

/(ejrMtt.— Death  In  about  thirty  minutes. 

CASE  8,— "Journal  de  Chlniie  MMIcale/'  1842,  p.  877.  One  root  between  four.  (1)  Child:  mU  8;  (2) 
Threo  otbf  r  children,  the  eldeat  Iwing  ft. 

Sy*iKptomt^^\)  folic;  vomitings  convalalons.    Death. 

A>M/f  — m^Mtb  in  a  few  hours. 

>*iyw«/»/tt«fLi.— (2)  toldnea»;  dilated  pupils;  spaama,  and  JnaunslbtUty ;  ipteraiUlent  pulse.  &b> 
COTerwl  nflrr  eniotlca. 

J^«ni/I.— Recovery, 

Conium  Macuhium.     (Fig.  39.) 
(Couium,  Hemlo€k,  Comnioo  or  Spotted  Hemlock.) 

Hemlock  i.s  a  very  coramon  plant,  growing  m  all  hedges  and  wild  places. 
All  parts  are  poisuoous,  the  poisonous  action  being  due  to  the  prej^ence  of 
au  alkalt>id,  cowia  (C'^H^N),  existing  iu  the  plant  in  combination  with 
couic  acid.     The  alkaloid  can  ea^^ily  be  set  free,  and  its  j>eculiar  odor,  paid 

be  "mousy/*  or  like  ciite'  uriue  (Taylor),  may  be  developed  by  merely 

ueexiag  parts  of  the  plants  between   the  fingers,  or  better,  by  rubbing 

em  up  with  a  little  eaustie  potash.  Another  stibstance  (raethyl-conia, 
CjH^N)  is  said  also  t^  be  present  (Kektil6  and  Von  Planta). 

The  root  h  lAf>ering,  and  in  ,?hape  somewhat  like  a  parsnip,  for  which  it 
ba8  been  mistaken.     It  is  th«  least  active  part  of  the  plant. 

The  Man  is  tall,  roun<l,  and  smooth,  of  a  glossy  green  color,  and  marked 
with  brownish-purple  jspot^. 

The  leaver  are  deep  green,  tripinuate,  and  something  like  parsley  leaves, 
for  which  ihey  have  frequently  been  miiitaken. 

The  H!ed«  or  fruit  (20  to  a  grain,  Guy)  "are  diatinguished  from  other 
sefds  of  the  umlx^llifene  by  the  presence  of  five  prominent  wavy  ridges, 
and  the  absence  of  the  linear  receptaclea  for  volatile  oil,  termed  vittie." 

Hemlock  u  used  in  medieine ;  but  all  the  preparations  are  more  or  less 
uncertain  iu  their  action,  from  the  circumstance  that  the  alkaloid  ia  bo 


PR0PBRTIB8  OF  OONIA. 

easily  decompoied.    The  leaves,  too,  are  used  as  a  poaltice^  toix«d 

linseed. 

Fio.  39. 


Ss^ 


The  death  of  Hot-rates  ia  generally  believed  to  have  been  due  to  hrta* 
lock,  though  Sir  K.  Chrbtisou  refers  il  to  some  other  plant  of  the  ainie 
order. 

Conia  (C.H.jN). 

(Conein,  ConiUj  Couiein,  Couiciua,  Conylia,  Cicutin.'i 

C8p.  gr.  0.87.    Boils  at  212''  C.) 

The  alkaloid  is  most  abundant  in  the  fruit  of  the  plant.     One  w 
may  be  obtained  from  six  pounds  of  the  frej*h  uuripe  fruit,  ood  a  «iiDi 
quantity  from  nine  pounds  of  the  drif  ripe  fruit. 

Conia  and  uicotin  are  the  only  two  alkaloids  that  are  liquid  at  onli- 
nary  temperatures.  When  pure,  conia  is  colorless,  oily,  and  volatile,  biilj 
if  kept  for  a  time  it  turns  yellow,  and  afterwards  Ijeeomes  dark-tMhrrt-d, 
being  rej*olved,  by  decompiisition,  into  a  brown  resinoid  matter  and  am- 
monia. Its  taste  is  bitter,  acrid,  and  persistent.  It  boils  at  212^'  (',;  hull 
it  distils  over  with  the  vapor  of  water,  undergoing  slight  decomp<ie*itt«tt| 
at  180°  C.  If  distilled  in  an  atmosphere  of  hydrogen,  no  such  defn>ropo-| 
sition  occurs. 

The  vapor  is  inflammabte,  and  burns  with  a  yellow  flame,  the  coi 
bustion  being  accompanied  by  the  evolution  of  considerable  sraoke. 

It  has  an  exceedingly  puugent  smell  (**  mousy"),  which  can  be  deteeleii| 
in  a  drop  of  water  containing  not  more  than  the  50,000th  part  of  the  nibi^ 
loid.     It  is  a  violent  poi.*on,  iu  whatever  way  it  is  administered. 

It  iojparts  a  greasy  volatile  .stain  to  blotting-paper.  It  \s  very  aligfat]] 
soluble  in  water  (1  in  100  i,  the  aqueous  solution  being  alkaline. 

It  is  very  soluble  in  chloroform,  alcohol,  and  ether;  all  three  of  whi 
fiolvents,  but  especially  the  lai^t,  remove  it  from  itn  aqueous  aolutioo. 


SYMPTOMS    OF    POrSOKTNG    BY    CONIA.  389 

It  forms  salts  with  acids.  The  salts  are  without  einell ;  but  the  peciiliftr 
oclor  is  immwliately  deveh>petl  when  they  are  treated  with  au  alkali,  from 
^^liich  mixture  the  alkaloid  may  be  obtaiui'd  by  distUlatiou.  They  are 
lerally  soluble  in  water  and  m  alcohol,  but  not  in  ether.  The  adniioift- 
Utou  of  acid^,  therefore,  in  caj»e»  of  poisoning  in  not  advitjahle,  as  the 
poisou  is  rendered  more  soluble,  and  absorption  emiseqiieutly  more  rapid. 
Conia  yields  by  oxidation,  under  certain  conditions,  butyric  add.  For  its 
8|)ecial  ehemicrtl  reactions  with  differeat  bodies,  aee  the  Te^sts  (p.  391}. 

The  Belation  between  Conia  and  NicoHn. 

There  are  several  points  of  dose  relationship  between  couia  and  nicotin. 
They  are  both,  us  we  have  said,  liquid  at  ordiuary  temperatures).  They 
have  both  an  inten:?e  and  peeuliar  odor,  and  wliea  their  sait-s  or  aqueous 
solutions  are  di:*tilled  with  caujiitie  :^oda  *jr  jjotuish,  tliey  are  to  be  fuuiid  in 
the  dialillate,  giving  the  liquid  au  alkaliue  leaL-tiou,  iu  which  respect  they 
are  also  similar  to  ammonia. 

But  they  cannot  well  be  cou fused. 

yiroiin  has:  (1)  A  tobaceo  odor;  (2)  It  is  freely  soluble  in  water  in 
proportions;  (8)  No  crystals  arc  formed  when  it  ia  exposed  to   tho 

ipur  of  hydrcK'hloric  acid  ;  (4)  Corrosive  sublimate  gives  a  white  precipi- 
tate, which  in  time  becomes?  yellow  and  crystiilliue;  and  (5)  Nitrate  of 
silver  gives  a  white  precipitate,  turning  dark  on  exposure  to  light, 

Conm  has:  (1)  A  '*  mousy"  odor;  (2)  It  is  sparingly  soluble  iu  water; 
(3)  Crystals  are  formed  wheu  it  is  treated  with  or  exposed  to  the  vafKir 
of  hydrochloric  acid;  (4)  Corrosive  sublimate  gives  a  white  amurpbtiua 
precipitate;  and  (^5)  Nitrate  of  silver  gives  a  dark-browu  precipitute, 
changing  to  black. 

Sj/mptomSj  Dose^  etc. 

The  hemlock  plant  beg;ins  to  act  in  from  a  few  minutes  to  half  an  hour, 
hut  the  pure  alkaloid  is  lar  more  nipid  iu  its  actiou.  Headache,  imperfect 
vii»iou,  loss  of  power  to  swallow,  and  extreme  drowsiness  are  first  noticed. 
The  pupils  will  he  seen  to  be  dilaU'd  and  fixed,  the  pulse  beinp  variable 
and  often  intermittent.  Gradually  complete  paralysis  of  the  extremities 
comes  on,  commencing  with  groat  luuscufar  weakness  and  loss  of  power. 
This  paralysis  grathially  extends  to  tlie  muscles  of  respiration,  and  the 
patient  at  last  dies  by  apmea.  Convulsive  twitches  are  not  uncommon. 
Couia  d«>es  not  paralyze  the  heart,  for  it  is  often  noticed  to  beat  after  death. 
Its  s|>ecial  action  is  confined  to  the  voluntary  muscles  and  to  the  muscles 
of  respiration.  The  patient  will  remain  conscious  until  the  respiratory 
muscles  become  atfiicted.  There  is  seldom  much  pain,  palsy  being  the 
prominent  symptom. 

If  death  be  delayed  for  a  time,  then  convulsions,  coma,  and  more  com- 
mooly  delirium  of  a  frantic  kiud,  accompanied  by  salivation  aud  by  an 
involuntary  discharge  of  the  urine  aud  fieces,  may  be  found. 

ChriBtison's  view  of  its  action  may  be  correct.  It  is  a  local  irritant; 
but  it*  action  as  an  irritant  is  overwhelmed  by  its  actiou  as  a  uurcotic. 

Death  usually  takes  place  iu  from  one  to  three  hours.  One  drop  of  conia 
may  be  regarded  as  a  poissonous  dose. 

Treatment. 

|Toget  rid  of  the  poison  ia  the  first  iudicatiou  ;  and  for  this,  emetics  of 
rphat«  of  zinc,  or  mustard,  or  the  use  of  the  stomach-pump,  followed  by 


BXPBBl 

nfiHf  it  indicated*    Af)«r  tbU  ntmulants  must  be  et veo.    Dr.  Pertin 
strrcbDia  aa  an  aotidote,  frum  its  opptK-^iri^  phy&iological  &ctioiL 
II  voald  b«  d&ogeroufl  to  try  it 

Poe^fiidrfMi  iljDjTearaiieM. 

Tbiqr  are  those  of  death  by  apD<Ba.  The  stwuarh  is  gen^rall^r  fbtiod 
fOflftewliat  ooDffeated,  the  Inng^  iovariablv  to.  the  iritestines  healibj,  Um 
^rm$i  more  or  len  congested,  and  the  biooi  y^ry  fluid. 

Erperimentt  on  Animals. 

Tbeife  are  of  considerable  importance^  and  we  have  tabulated  tfaem  ht 
aaae  of  reference.     We  would  remark — 

1.  That  Oirii^tLson  rarely  found  convulsions  a  prominent  ^^ 
whiUt,  on  the  other  hand,  Orfila  records  convulsion:*  as  genera).  ^ 
Cbristition*8  obgervatiooa  are  the  more  correct. 

2.  That  the  root  is  not  a  very  active  part  of  the  plant,  and  that  when 
gathered  at  some  periods  of  the  year  is  almost  inert. 

H.  That  Ohristison  record?  a  ea^  of  instantaneous  death.  This  doesoai 
ftgree  with  the  experiments  of  Mr.  HIake,  who  says  he  never  saw  it  prow 
filial  in  Ie»s  than  fifteen  seconds. 

The  later  ex|>eriments  of  M.  Verigo,  published  in  the  *' CentralblatI* 
(Ko.  2,  1871),  are  important     His  conclusions  are — 

1.  That  conia  acts  most  strongly  on  the  spinal  cord. 

2,  That  w  frogs  we  get  paralysis  but  no  c<jovulsions ;  but  that  in  mam* 
miiln  couvulsioQS  occur  after  large  doses,  and  paralysis  of  the  extremiUa 
only  after  small  ones. 

li.  That  neither  the  sensory  nerves  nor  the  brain  are  mucii  alfectedj 

4.  That   respiration   is   retarded  by  small  doses  of  conia,  which 
elfeet  complete  paralysis  of  the  muscles  of  respiration. 

!}.  That  convulsions,  when  they  occur  in  mammals,  is  a  certain  indies* 
liou  iif  a  fatal  result. 

^.  That  cooia  exerts  no  action  on  the  heart,  the  blood,  or  the  pulse. 

7,  That  iti!  action  on  the  pupil  is  not  constant, 

H.  That  it  lowers  the  temperature, 

M.  Thttt  it  does  not  iuflueace  the  quality  or  quantity  of  the  urincv 
10.  That  the  post-mortem  ttp|>earauce8  are  not  characteriatic 


TBSTS  FOR  OONIA. 

2.  Sulphurk  a4^id  produces  do  immediate  change,  but  Uie  mixture,  &IW' 
some  time,  turns  fiir^t  a  purple-red,  aud  then  an  olive-green* 

3.  Nitric  acid  fumea  in  the  prej^etice  of  the  alkaloid.  The  color  of  tb 
mixture  is  first  pale  red,  then  deej)  red,  ulliniately  phanging  to  a  tan»  .f 
colorless  cryslalline  tieedles, 

4.  Vorroxive  Mtbllmate  gives  a  white  amorphous  precipltiilc,  soluble  in 
acetic  aud  in  the  ndntiral  acids. 

5.  With  ntfrate  of  ftth-er  there  is  prmkiced  at  first  a  brown  procipiUleaf 
the  oxitle,  which  afterwards  chuugej*  to  tlie  black  suboxide. 

6.  Oxalic  acid  gives  a  white  crystalKne  precipitate  of  oxalatt^ 

7.  Tannic  acid  ^ivea  a  dirty  white  precipitate  soluble  in  hydi 
acid. 

8.  Iodine  dissolved  in  iodide  ofpoUtssium  gives  a  reddUh  amorpbcm*;  jiiv 
cipitate,  dissolving  after  a  time,  but  reprecipitated  by  the  addition  of  mun 
of  the  reagent. 

9.  Carbazotie  acid  gives  a  yellow  precipitate,  first  amorphous,  iheavty^l 
talline,  soluble  in  acetic  acid  aud  in  excess  of  the  alkaloid. 

10.  Perchloride  of  ffold  (but  not  chloride  of  phitiuum)  gives  a  yellowiA*' 
white  precipitate,  insoluble  in  acetic  aud  hydmcbloric  acids. 


Toxicoloffical  Analysis, 

111  conducting  a  toxicologiual  investigation  search  carefully  for  iDf ' 
leaves,  or  portions  of  leaves,  iji  the  stotnach  aud  intestines.  These  niuij 
be  carefulJy  examined  as  to  their  botanical  characters,  Ihi  not  mistake 
the  leave,*^  of  pan*ley  for  those  of  hendock.  Of  course  the  conium  mif  j 
have  been  administered  sm  a  decoction,  when  it  is  not  likely  you  will  fioH 
any  remains  of  the  plant.  If  you  find  the  leaves,  rub  them  up  in  a  mortal 
with  di:*tillcd  water  aud  potash,  aud  see  if  the  peculiar  moitsv  (»dor 
conia  i«  exhaled.  Then  di^^til,  aud  examine  the  distillate.  Al 
to  recover  the  poison  by  this  process  before  3'0ii  try  more  i 
terns  of  analysis.  The  blood,  the  tissues,  and  the  contents  of  tit 
should  all  be  examined  separately  for  conia.  We  are  of  the  opii 
death  should  not  be  ascribed  to  the  action  of  the  poison  unless  thealki 
be  obtained  on  analysis,  as  the  mere  te^t  of  smell  h  :^carcely  suffici 
definite  and  distinct  when  liie  and  death  are  coocerned.  For  strong 
peculiar  aa  the  odor  of  conium  is^  it  is  p(.>i?8ible  to  be  misled. 

The  following  process  for  the  detection  of  conia  is  recommended  : 

Digest,  by  the  aid  of  slight  heat,  the  organic  liquid,  or  the  solid 
(in  which  the  alkaloid  Iniii  been  found  by  ^jtits)  cut  up  very  fine»  for 
time  in  water  acidulated  with  acetic  acid,  and  then  strain  through  mi 
Evaporate  down  the  filtrate  on  a  water-bath  to  a  thick  syrup  ;  mix  tiiii 
with  stroug  spirit,  aud  add  a  few  more  drops  of  acetic  acid  ;  filter^  aud 
evaporate  the  filtrate  nearly  to  drj'ness  on  a  water-bath.  Add  Co  tliii 
about  3ij  <d'  water  to  diss«jlve  the  acetate  cd'  conia  ;  filler,  and  add  exc<A 
of  caustic  potash,  to  liberate  the  alkaloid.  iSee  if  the  peculiar  odor  of 
the  poison  at  this  stage  is  noticeable,  aud  then  shake  the  filtrate  u] 
with  ether,  repeating  the  operation  several  times.  Decaut  the  ether,  aac 
allow  it  to  evaporate  spontaneously  in  a  cool  place  in  wateb-gla»>- 
if  conia  be  present,  it  will  be  left  in  the  form  of  oily  drops.  Di.- 
alkaloid  in  a  few  drops  of  water.  This  solution  should  be  tested  t»y 
several  reactions  already  described.  A  slight  heat  servea  more  compietdj 
to  develop  the  odor. 


CASES   OF    POISONINQ    BY   CONIUM. 


893 


Wormley  advises  the  followbg  process  in  obtaining  conia  from  blcMxl : 

Acidulate  the  blood  with  acetic  acid,  and  «hake  it  up  thoroughly  with 
own  volume  of  a  mixture  of  water  and  alcohol  (eijual  partj?}.  Heat 
le  mistture  iiiodenitely,  ao  as  to  coagulate  the  albumen,  and  strain  the 
icjuid  through  fine  inui*lin.  Evaporate  the  solution  on  a  water-bath  U> 
ml  half  its  bulk ;  mix  with  a  little  j^trong  alcohol,  and  again  strain  or 
off  any  coagulated  matters  that  may  have  formed.  Evaporate  the 
it«  nearly  to  dryness,  removing,  if  necej*sary,  again  and  again,  any 
mattei^  by  filtration.  Add  to  the  residue  a  little  water  and  caustic 
ih,  and  note  If  ihe  peculiar  odor  of  the  poison  can  be  detected  ;  after 
rhich  proceed  to  extract  the  alkaloid  with  ether.     Proceed  then  as  before. 

Quea  of  Fouoning  with  Ooniurn. 

CASE  1.—"  Edioburgh  Modical  and  Surgical  JuurtiA),"  July,  1845,  p.  IflQ  <Dr,  J.  H.  Beotiett).  M*le. 
r«  eaien  by  mUtake  for  parsley, 

L^ta  tweuty  rulDut^a  lo«s  of  powi>r  occurred  lo  lef^,  but  uo  paiu ;  poniljsli  of  arnu  sod 
ip]«le  in  two  hours;  coald  not  swallow;  partial  Ioim  of  ft>*n«iUoD ;  nocoDTuJtiona;  puptli 
Int^lU'Ct  clear.    Death  ia  three  hours  and  a  half  from  poruljftia  of  the  muscles  of  resplraUon. 
I.— Peaib  in  three  hours  and  a  h^t, 

rtfm.— Serous  ftlTusion  iR^utath  arachnoid;  6n»ti»  soft,  but  fsSrly  hpolthy;  Imngi  gorged; 
Iftabby  ;  <4onMtrA  cnngi'stttl,  with  oxtmriuiuMoti  of  dark  bl»KMl  below  the  numibranos ;  intetiinet 
fill  th«re  crti)grsti>d  ;  ^/im^t/  fluid  aud  dark.    The  grveu  cotiiuui  leavfa  iu  Ji  Mate  of  pulp  were 
in  Ihe  stomach > 

tE  ^—Taylor's  "  Medlca.1  Jurbprudeuce/'  vol.  i,  p.  4t8.    Child.    I'arC  of  a  t^^acupful  of  a  de- 
a. 

frfp«M.~Tlie  child  sipped  It,  and  tdiortly  aflcrwards  beOhme  paralyzed  aud  Insensible,  and  died 
a  flitUng  posture  aflcr  one  hour. 
Rttmtt, — Iteath  to  one  hour. 

!7o  mortrid  apptsraoces ;  no  lieaves  found  In  stomach,  a»  theso  had  subsided  in  the 


S.— OrfUa,  "  ToxIcoTogie,"  toL  li,  p.  fi»7  (Mr,  TlnaO.    Main  ;  adult.    Sknip  mixod  wJth  ooulujo 

I, — Hooo  fell  asleep^  and  was  found  insonslUIe  and  breathing  bard  after  one  hiKir  and  a  half, 
t0  eto*'Uc  wa»  given  and  hedii*d  in  thruo  houn. 
I — iJenth  ia  thitn;  hours. 

-Blood  Terr  fluid;  brulo  eoDgefted. 

CASE  4.— i^ill^'s  ''  Materia  Medic*,"  to],  it,  p.  268^    Male:  adutt    Sk  of  Che  Bxiract, 
d^vipfMiu,— Became  insensible ;  convubtooa. 
Bill— *f — Death  iu  two  boura. 

4,—"  ChrisUson,"    Female :  old.    Itj  of  a  •iumg  Infutlon  wEtb  JiJ  of  whisky. 

—Cotoa;  eoQTulsions;  death. 
—Death  lo  one  hour. 

Blood  iluhl ;  brain  slightly  congealed. 

«.— Pereira's  "  Materia  Medica,"  rol.  11,  p.  73*     Male, 

—General  pftralyala;  saliva  ran  from  the  mouth  ;  urine  and  fieces  InvoluntArfly  expelled. 
svDsfbility. 
JBamtt.— Recovery. 

CASE  7  — "  Pliiloeopblcal  Transwrtlons."  vol.xUH,  No.  473,  p,  18  (I>r,  Watson).  Two  soidJera.   Broth 
wUii  ciioium  leaves  miied  in  it. 

J|^a»/rfMiu.~Ciiddiness ;  coma ;  eonvulslona  ;  death. 
JIm«mII,— Death  iu  three  hours. 

CASE  8.^"  Lancet/'  Sept.  20,  ISSl,  p.  276.    Male :  et.d.  Frani  blowing  whistles  made  of  cmlum 

Jl^/i*ms^— Usual  symptoms. 
AmK,-OMtti. 

Sit  aiao  the  /ollomt^g  Cases  of  Chnittm  Poisonii^  : 

"  M«<lica1  Tlmea  and  Gaxette,**  July  7, 1859,  p.  51.    (TJeath.) 
"  MMdical  Tliiiea,"  March  23,  \U*,  p.  156.    <l>eath  from  cunlum  used  as  salad.} 
"  Aug.  12,  1848,  p.  241.    (Trial  forpai«oDing  by  couium.) 

26 


CASES  OF  POtSONINO  BY  CONIUM. 

(Emtnihe  Orocata, 
(Hemlock  Water- Drop wor t ;  Five-finger  root;  Dead  Ton^e.) 

This  plant  is  indigenous^  and  is  usuiilly  fouud  growing  near  water, iDd[ 
is  genemlly  from  4  to  5  feet  high.  Il  is  one  of  the  raoist  activelj  piiiwi*! 
ousi  of  Euglij^h  phints,  althoiigli  from  some  ob.scure  eauife  dpecimenji  htvf] 
been  fouud  that  sJeem  to  be  almost  inert.  All  parts  of  the  plunl 
8UIIOUS,  hut  ej:peria]iy  the  root.  Even  emanatiouiJ.  from  the  plant  w 
to  have  proved  injurious  to  health. 

The  root  (which  is  somewhat  like  a  bundle  of  parsuips,  and  btfl 
than  once  been  eaten  for  theiu  by  mistake)  consists  of  a  seriei  (2  to  W)(rf] 
oblong  tubeiH  with  rootlets,     lla  taste  iss  i^aid  not  to  be  disafpreeable. 

The  4em  is  round  and  jiniooth.  The/rui<  oblong  and  black.  Tb«  pint! 
when  not  in  tlower  is  vt^ry  like  celery. 

The  whole  herb  abounds  in  a  fetid  yellow  juice,  which  stnius  th«  hind, 
and  yiflds  by  in.^pi.ssation  a  gum-rej<ifiuusi  extract  in  which  the  aciire 
ciple  of  the  plant  resides,     A  rabbit  died  in  seventy-eight  luinuleti 
24  grains  (prepared  from  about  ^  oz?,  of  the  root)  of  this  gum' 
been  introduced  between  the  skin  and  muscle. 

Symptijms. 

The  symptoms  usually  set  in  rapidly,  aod  often  in  as  sh{>rt  a  time 
twenty  minutes.     Their  temiinatiun  may  be  et^ually  rapid,  po;^- "  ' 
a  few  minutes  interveniug  between  death  atid  the  eonimenceni* 
ayrnptoms.     Giddiness,  staggering,  violent  tetanic  convulsionj?,  and  wrj 
opisthotonos  are  recorded ;  the  patient  may  at  la--*t  na^ss  into  a  jstatt 
perfect  insenHbility,  the  face  becoming  livid  and  bloated,  with  hlmidT 
foam  issuing  from  the  mouth.     Stertorou.%  breathing  is  an  ordinar)'  •«ynip»^ 
torn.     The  pupils  are  generally  dilated.     There  is  oflen  considerable  if 
tatiou  of  the  alimentary  caual.     The  nervous  symptoma  are  usnallr 
severe  if  death  be  at  all  delayed.     Death  usually  takes  place  in  frona 
an  hour  t^  two  huurs. 

TreatjnerU. 

Emetics,  the  stomach-pump,  and  castQr  oil,  must  constitute  our  eW 
remedies,  in  order  to  get  the  poison  out  of  the  system  as  speedily  as  poi^ 
sible. 

Pod-mortem  Appearances. 

The  poat-mortem  apix-arances  are  usually  great  general  cougestiou  of 
the  brain,  engorgemeni  of  the  lungs,  and  signs  of  considerable 
irritation. 

Phelidndnnm  A quatmim. 

(Five-leaved  Water  Hemlock.) 

The  root  of  this  plant  has  been  mistaken  for  parsnips,  and  haa 
duced  bad  symptoms. 

Quta  of  Poisoning  with  the  Water  HemloeL 

CASE  1.— "Moaicnl  TtmM  and  Gutette,"  March  €.  1S58,  pag«  'HI  (Dr.  OnludMjk 
ofrRlinK  the  root*. 
Symplumi.^Conrul»\Qun  and  optitholODua  ocearred  In  »1l  the  cases. 


CiSES    OF    P0IS0NIK6    BT    WATEH    HEMLOCK. 


395 


CASE  X—"  Medical  Tiinei  and  Gazette,"  HATch  0.  ISflS,  p.  241  (Dr.  r.raharaf').    Male.    The  root. 
,._OoniiiiaDt  «iruct&liuii»,  g^riping.Bnd  dcbiltiy  ;  hr-cam*'  itisetisiWe;  diUiei]  |>uptl*i ;  bliM^dy 
bvutid  from  mouth  ;  opialholonijs;  tuiauic:^;  deatb  Ivu  uiinulcB  afltrr  Iheaurijcuu  saw  lilw, 
.— D«ath. 

,— Od  tnakiog  the  poat-mortctu,  ihe  pecutiur  udor  of  the  plant  was  rerf  apparent; 
ell  very  cooeealed. 

CASE  .^~'* Medical  Tlmea  mod  Gaaette,"    Sept.  25,   1860,  p.  379    (Dr.    Kane).      Female:  ii't.  4. 
iUi«r  cKaaiithe  crocata  or  tb«  fool's  parsley  (7). 
Stpmriomt.—i.'oaruliiio  twitcbiogi»  of  tbe  muaclcs  of  the  ftu:e ;  rigid  spftsioa  of  bodj  and  limba, 

CASE  -I.— "Medical  Times  and  Oazeitc,"  September  6,  1862,  p.  363  (M.  fiaume).    Several  caaea. 

yrfsmi. — Ooe  had  conruLalons  aod  died  (q  a  feir  iniautos. 
wU. — Death  In  a  few  mioutcs. 

.—Brain  very  coQjrestcd. 
8r*«il  others  were  ill  from  taking  it. 
L— Bccovery. 
5y—*' Medical  Gavette,"  vol.  xxxlv,  p.  288  (Mr  Ooasej),    A  number  of  oouvlcts  ate  the  leavetr 

[I)  Stroug  conval«loo&  came  on  Intweaty  mTnutciij  bloatiid,  livid  fiic'c;  bitKidy  foiun 
['fkvn  mouth  and  no»trl]i  ;  ia»i%sibllityand  stertprtnts  y>r4JutbinK. 
f,— r»cath  io  fire  minute*  after  the  syiuptonw  c*»tiiniPiK<  d. 

.— (Jt^rebral  veaMlit  not  ci>ugr«tv4l ;  pharyux  wblLe  and   coat«lned  niuciis;  lining  lucm- 
1l<rane  of  windpipe  injt»ct(^  with  dark  bliMn!)  luiiKb  i(orgkHj;  hU^oil  in  the  heart  black  and  fluid; 
lucoui  menibrHnt^  of  stomach  mnuh  corrtiij:!Ated  ;  rullicloji  enlatrg<x)> 
JfyjwptoBM,— H'i.)  SyniplofOB  siiuikr  ;  Mtoninch-puinp  Ksi'd. 

. — T)e«th  in  fifteen  alnutes  after  com  men  eminent  ursyiaploms. 
l^Mf-itH)r/efN. — ^Similar  to  lutca*e,  with  congestion  of  corcbral  tvbsc1&. 

8  J  in  ptoms  si  ni  ila  r. 
,£c«hI<  — Ditath  in  ouo  bmir. 
P^at-morteift.—Simllait  lo  laAt  case, 
/l^umpttrmjt. — 4  4)  Symptoms  ninjiiJar. 
BitMiU. — Dtatti  in  on«  hour. 
J^MMnttfiem,— similar  to  InAteoM. 
Sfmpiom*,—{^)  STTOptoms  sfmibir. 
JBeaikK.— Death  In  nine  days. 

—Similar  to  last  case, 


Irritation  of  allrnentAry  eanal. 

Mucous  meoiliraDe  of  stomach  and  bowela  softened  and  thick- 


S^mft9m».—{%)  &ifinptoms  similar.    Irrltatioo  of  alimenlary  csnaL 
HlfMiff  —Death  In  eleven  days. 
/W-Morfrnt.— 9imilar  lo  last  case. 
Severa]  recovered. 

CASE  6.- Taylor's  "  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  toI.  I.  p.  422.    Two  laborers  ate  some  of  the  rout*. 

dl^wkfiloms.— Jtotb  were  found  speechless  and  inaeasiWo  »ome  time  after^ faces  livid,  tongut's  pro- 
tmding.  frothy  and  bloody  mticna  about  tbeir  iiiouth»;  pu[ril»  dilated, «t«rloroufl  breathing,  con- 
valalons. 

iEMWil— Death  In  one  hour  and  a  half  from  tlie  lime  they  were  diaeovered. 

/Si*-wi«)r<*m.— Stomachs  softened  and  congt^ted;  lungs  engorged  with  dtirk  liquid  blood. 

CASE  7.— *'Gax.  Med.,"  Jan.  3,  IMC^,  p.  18.  Wutuan  tried  Ui  poi»un  iier  husband  by  tolxJiogsttcM 
of  tb*i  root  with  his  soup. 

CAS£  8.— Beek'i!  "Medical  Jurtsprudeuee/^  p.  ^17.    Twocnen  ate  the  roots 

S^fmptimtJi. — Quth  felt  a  great  heat  uf  stomnrb,  and  after  a  lime  In  both  Ibe  mind  becamu  aOected ; 
one  had  eoovubions. 

AmJI— One  died  In  two  hours  and  (be  other  in  three. 


See  aim  thefuUowing  Oase^  of  Powminff  hy  ihe  WaUr  Hemlock 


•*BrIlbb  Medical  Journal; 


Feb.  2a,  I8ei,p,2l3. 
March  16,  18CI,  p.  29:i. 


There  are  ouraerous  other  plants  and  vegetable  substatices  which  at 
times  huve  proved  poisooous,  amougst  which  are  the  following : 

ChelidoDlum  Majus  fCekndine)  and  C,  Glaucium. 
Gratiola  officinalis  (Hedge  Ilvesop). 
3Iercurialifi  Pereimis  (Herb  >teruiiry). 
Cletnatid  Vitalba  (Virgiu'a  Bower). 
Pedicularis  Paluatris. 


0A8I8   OF   POISOKIWG    BY   VARIOUS    PLAWTfl, 

Tolii  plant  of  New  Zealand  ("  British  Medical  Journal,"  Aog.  2i  l¥n, 
p.  169). 


Cape  Herbs  ("  British  Medical  Journal,"  Aug.  8,  1874,  p.  108). 

Locust  Nuts  ("  Medical  Times  aud  Gazette,"  Feb.  21,  March  7 
June  G,  1857). 

Wattle  guni  ("Metlioal  Times  aod  Gazette,"  March  25,  1871.  i 

Coffee  (severe  s^yiuptotuis  from  250  grammes :  see  **  Medical  T 
Gazette/'  Nov.  22,  IHT.i,  p.  585). 

a^nanthe  Sui'rau<?e  ("  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Adg.  23,  l^f 
205). 

Green  t«a  ("British  Medical  Journal,"  March  28,  1874, jp.  416). 

Coriaria  RuHcifolta  (Toot  poison),  ("  Medical  Times  aud  Gazett^^"  May 
16,  18fi3,  p.  512), 

Mistletoe  Berries  C' Briti.>^h  Medical  Jcjurnnl,"  Jan.  12,  "iHCiJ,  p.  4'h. 

Vanilla  ("  Britifih  Medical  Journal,"  Dec,  7,  1872,  p.  63«>  •  -^-i  Vwh.I 
jahrs^chrift  f.  Gerich,  Med.,  N.  F.,  xvi,  p.  255), 

Dahlia  root  ("Medicid  Times,"  April  7,  1849,  p,  456> 

Common  iiqunrice  ("  Jlcdical  Time?*,"  I>ec.  2,  1848,  p.  140*).  ! 

Upas  Tree  ("  British  Medical  Journal,"  July  25,  1863,  p,  8I\ 

Laurel  Koscb  (**  Medical  Times,"  March  23.^  1^44,  p.  456j. 

Poison  of  Pahonin  (Dec.  14,  1872,  p.  855). 

Btruphauus  Hispidui*  {Inaa),  ("Lancet,"  Dec.  7,  1872,  p.  827.) 

ThefoUowing  Caies  of  PoiBoning  by  vanous  Plants  are  aUo  reccurtUd^  nnd  ttrt  ^»«flrf 

without  cfnitaijicatioH  : 

(X)  MOUNTAIN  ASH  BERRIES     (Howan  Tree).     (Poraaceae, 

CASE  1.— "Ivaucet,"  St>pl.  1«,  \KiH,  [j|.  :5l7nii<1  m:\  (Mr.niekaidj,     JFA^ti.   SoQicwl.*f  dfuMf     :• 
the  true  cause,  butbeUtved  lo  Ihj  dw  to  t}if  bi.Trirs.  ' 

(U.)  MISTLETOE  BERRIES. 

CAJ9E  2.'-"BriUfth  Medic*]  Jourual,"  Febnmrr  ^W  1^1*.  p  224  ^Dr.  Diju>D).    Hal*:  Kt.  U     M^- 
iletoe  berries. 

Sifmptft»Lt.— In  rorl7  mtnnt«8  he  bocani?  Iniontible,  and   the  puplh  tll^hlljr  diUtrd.    H*  •(W^ 
wBr<1»  ralltnl,  but  wiu  Lruubled  wrtli  !ipe<<lrat  lJtit«foos  and  vlnlt^nt  d««Iirtitni  forvomo  Uac,  I 
rim  wiTC!  Tutn[tvd  titer  an  emetic  bad  l>eeu  gtrea.    Afl^r  a  Houad  «l(S«p  h«  wuke  aji  weU. 

iJemif .— Reco  V  er  y , 

(m.)  KID  NET  BEANS  (Legnminoan). 

CASE  3.— "British  Meillcal  .rntiniai;'  April  no,  ihi)4,  p.  471  *Mr.  Dale),    ML  6.    8vf«al 
beaaa  were  Hwallowedi  that  had  beomtr  immuvhal  mil  Jewed. 

atfmptffm.—App&tred  at  od<?  tiiuu  tA  be  dying ;  pul»e  almost  lmpercep(ibl« ;  pVLptU  d!l«C«4  iftAl 
sjres  ioMoalble  to  light;  cuma. 

i^atMlL— EeMreiy. 

(IV.)  SCARLET  RUNNER  BEANS 

CASE  4.— "BritJab  Medical  Jourual,"  April  'J,  ISTO.p.XVj  ^MrJk-nrpt'  WHIer).    MaIv:  d. 
six  iwnoM. 
VytnfitDtn*.—\ii3leni  7f  inptom»  of  Irritant  polflonloj^,  wtlb  collapse. 
Reiutt.—RceoY^TT. 


(V.)  ^^niiD  PARSNIP  (Siam  LatifoUum)  (AplAce9)u 

CASE  5.— •*BrUijh  Medical  journal."  L»ec.  la.  Id73,  p.  egfi  (Dr.  Wblle;,    Mate.  «l.  4t.    Aba«tl4 
of  Ui«  freah  root, 
^^■yiWM.— Vomittng,  |Mirglog,  diiciD«Be ;  loaaof  roluntary  motion  and  raantal  ptivvr. 
BamlL—BMaomjt 
8m  alao  "BriUah  Medical  Journal,'*  Dec.  4,  laav,  p.  Oil.    Strychnia  arniptonia. 

(VI )    CANNABIS  IiraiCA. 

CASE  6.— "Lancet,"  Sept  30, 1871,  p. 49'J.     Ffiuuh*    x).  nu     T.>^  nuDirosofthetitiCtttx*. 
^IrmfiioffM.— ]>rowaiiiQaii;   Tliion  diiutued  ;  sjckuess;  thlnt;  In  four  boon    pu^b  baa 
dilated.  CfOtmiAued;  loDguedry;  ibu  paUmi  appeared  very  druwayt  by  Uie  neat  •« 


»«»  wdL    At  the  Udtotho  drug  «u  taken  the  was  throe  months  pregnant,  but  the  wu  conftnod  at 

full  lime. 
Jtf*mit  —  Itcco^ef  Jf. 
For  other cusn  Mw  "Medical  Tlmea  and  t»a«elte/'  Not.  2S,  ISCJ.  p,  572.    (Bad  s^rmptoms  from  4 

-  3irc«Jl<r»l  Time*  aod  Ga*4^tte,"  Feb,  7, 1S.W,  p.  37. 


CASE  7,— "M<»dJc»l  Time*  ami  rrnz^tn*/'   Aprfl    IS,  1861  (Dr.  Pcndl«loti).     Foraale:  ast,  21.    A 
dceoctlno  lakcn  to  prorurtatMrlloti, 

r.— B«H'*nie  inroherent :  pu|»ll*<L'Ofitroetvd  ;  aflerwardftcomu  anrl  iMiraly.iNof  the  rrtlutitary 
Elea  art  lu;  no  apasuu  or  cunvu)»ion»;  no  aetioD  of  th«  uU'rus;  death  m  tweDlj^aix  hours. 
L— Death. 


(Vm  )  OIL  OP  TANSY. 

CASE  8.>-" Canada MMlcal  .Ton raal,"  NoTember,  I860.    Female.    Ateaapooafu)  taken  tolndaee 

»ma:  pupila  dilated;  dtd  not  miacarrj. 

(IX.)    PINK  ROOT    Carolina  Pink). 

CAilE  ».— " Brfllah  MrdJcal  .lourual,"  AprU  9,  1870,  p.  »7y  (Dr.  Fred.  MackeodeJ.    Male:  »t.  2. 
diiMM  of  an  Infudun  of  piuk  roul  takeu  fur  vorma  —  3j  '^f  p\nt  root. 

-iVttth. 

.—Stomach  Ttrf  iaflnaitHl. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


CYAKOGEX  AND  ITS  COMPOUNDS 

jrn — Fropnratton — Action  ou  aniTtiiil  nnd  vep'tii>>lo  ]\f<y—Chl*rnfe of  Cynntygf.n 

'Uytttuu^anic  acid — VnrliHif^a— Propprtios — Slrpnjjth  itf  tlio  ditfon'nt  m'S<ls  in 

■Sympl^'Hw — Action  on  unimale — Questions  of  fnedic«>-leK«l  iiiU*r*»st — ^1) 

H|2)  Action  of  vapnr — (3)  A*  to  its  eiimtjlHtive  liction — (4)  Tirno  when 

•ymptomft  conunenco^ — (&)  Pnasihiliiy  of  volnntwry  utls  bt^fore  donth — (6)  The 

ahrlfk— (7)  Convulsions — (8)   InvoluiUnry  expulsion  of  urine  And  ftccos — (0) 

Time?  of  donlh — Trpiitm^'nl  —  Po>t-morti*m  Appfunmeps — Teat* — Toxioolotfical 

iikf\ti\sf^M— E9!*entinl  uil  of  bifter  rr/rMTmrfa— PropcTtie*  and  USPS — Symptoms  in 

man  and  aninuils  — Bitter  mliaond  wHlt^r—  Prmms  laurorf.rnsiiM — Action  of  the 

oil  nnd  wi*t*^r — Peach  —  Mottntftht  a^h — Cfunirr  cherry — CSjtinide  of  potajmiunt — 

Silver  aotution — FemjcifauuU  of  poitutHiutn — SulphoexfaniiiKS — Cyanic  acifl. 

CYANOGEN  (Aua^oc  r«vva«i). 

(CNorCy.    8p.  gr.  1.806.) 

CrAHil^lBI «  not  found  in  tmttire  iu  a  free  ?tate.  In  snmll  f)uni)titie3 
It  IS  prod^tfoS^''duriT)^  the  distillation  of  pit  coal.  It  may  be  prepared  by 
heatiu^  the  cyanides  of  s?ilver  or  of  mercury  in  a  gla8«  tube,  when  the  gas 
b  set  free  from  its  cutnbiuatiou  with  the  tnetal. 

HgCy,  =  Hg  +  Cy,. 

Cyanogpo  is  a  heavy,  transparent,  colorles!«,  pitngent-smelliug  gas.     It 
It  combustible,  and  bum^t  with  a  roj*e-eolr>red  flame.     It  is  soluble  in  water 
in  iipirit.     It  conden.Hes  to  a  liquid  at  a  temperature  of  — 30°  C.  and 
at  —.34,4'^  a 

phyHological  action  has  been  examined  by  several  investigators, 
amongst  others,  CouUon,  Hiinefeld  and  Buchner.    Buchner  found 


398 


that  a  .arimll  bird  died  almost  instantaneously  when  held  over  a  jar 
gas,  and  he  descnbcs  how  one  of  his  own  fingers  became  h«^"mM>iHjV 
a  pefuliar  feeling  of  »tiff'iiej*8  in  the  thnnih  and  elbow  pn^ 
from  being  expo;«ed  for  an  iuataut  to  its  actirm.     Hiinefeld,  iti  -a 
ing  with  it  on  rabbits,  describes,  as  the  general  effects,  convulsiot. 
pupils,  ooma,  and  death  in  five  or  &ix  minutes,  similar  syrnptnt 
pnulnred  by  it,  according  to  Coullon,  upon  other  auiiuaU,     The  cotui 
in  nearly  all  cases,  well  marked. 

The  action  of  cyanogen  on  plants  is  very  intense.     Turoer  and 
SOD  !*taie  that  1  part  in  1700  of  air  will  destroy  mignonette  in  lx^ 
hours.     The  authors^  b*"wever,  have  observed  that  gerauiuui!*  pl.i 
atmo^'phere  consiiiting  of  one  part  of  the  gas  in  10,000  oi'  air,  nh<:i 
and  die,  whilst  one  part  in  200  of  air  wilt  induce  coma  in  sm,*4i  i:ri» 
within  twenty-l'iHir  hours. 

Clthnde  of  cffanogvn  (CVjCla)  i«  highly  poisonous.  It  is  corrosive  wlm 
applietl  to  the  skin.  One  grain  killed  a  rabbit  in  twenty- five  minuta 
(Serultas). 

HYDROCYANIC  ACID. 

(PniMh  Acid.)    HCy  or  HCN. 

Pruasic  acid  may  be  prepared  by  passing  electric  sparks  throogb  i 
raixture  of  acetylene  (Cjllj)  and  nitrogen. 

C,H,  +  N  =  2HCN. 

Varidles. 

Pitre  anhijdrom  hydroryanie  acid,  although  an  intense  poiNin,  decom- 
poses so  rapidly  that  it  la  not  likely  to  be  used  for  piisouinff  purpt^^ea.  It 
IS  therefore  of  but  little  interest  toxicologically.  It  may  be  prepared  br 
pa.'?sing  sulphuretted  hydrogen  over  mercuric  cyanide. 

Hg  {  f^  +Hfi  =  (HCN).+HgS. 

It  is  a  colorless  and  exceedingly  volatile  liquid,  boiling  at  26.5''  C.tW 
vapor  being  irifiMmmable.     It  freezes  at  — 15^  C.,  and  harf  a  sp.  gr.  of  O.fil*" 
It  rapidly  decomposes,  m  that  it  can  scarcely  be  kept  f<»r  an  hoar  if  ex- 
posed to  the  light,  a  brown  flaky  subsiauce  beiug  formed  in  the  liqtiif 
con»ii*ting  chiefly  of  paracyauogen. 

Dilute  hrfdron/nnic  actd  is  prepared  by  dissolving  2\  ounces  of  fe 
cyanide  of  potassium  in  10  ounces  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  (1  of  : 
of  water).  Thii«  is  heated  slowly  in  a  retort,  a  condenser  bcinj: 
coutaiuirjg  8  ouncas  of  water.  The  distillation  is  to  be  carri^-j  t, 
there  are  17  ounces  in  the  receiver.  This  is  to  be  diluted  (acciM-lm-  ti 
B.  P.)  until  109  grains  of  the  solution,  precipitated  with  uili*ai«  ot  Milvo;^ 
yield  10  grains  of  dry  cyanide.  The  following  fonnula  represcnL*  tlie 
reaction: 

2K,FeCy.  +  6H^SO,  =  FeK^eCy,  -f  6KH80,  +  6HCy. 

The  dilute  acid  is  a  colorless  and  very  volatile  liquid.  It  has  a  ppcnlimfl 
and  well-knowD  bitter  taste,  and  an  almond  odor.  It  reddens  litraii*-' 
paper  slightly,  but  the  effect  is  not  permanent.  Prepareti  uj.  dircctrd! 
above,  it  has  a  sp.  gr.  of  0.1)97,  and  conta^ins  2  per  cent,  of  anhydmuij 
acid.  Although  the  weak  acid  does  not  decompose  so  rapidly  w  tbel 
strong  acid  J  still  in  addition  to  loss  of  power  owing  to  its  vulatllitv,  il] 


SYMPTOMS   OF    HYDROCYANIC    ACIJ>    POISONING, 


399 


alHT)  uiiiierguea  io  time  cousiderable  ehauges,  the  brown  flakes  of  j>ara- 
cyauogeii,  to  wliich  allusion  has  aJready  beeD  made,  being  found  to  fiinn 
in  the  Hjlutiou. 

If  putv,  ihe  iioid  should  ^ive  no  precipitate,  either  with  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  or  with  a  baryta  salt. 

Streiiffih  of  different  Amd». 

The  strenpth  of  the  different  acids  in  use  varies.  No  other  acid  should 
l>e  used  in  di*>()en?itig  than  the  standard  arid  of  the  Pharniacepifia.  In 
this  way  uccideats  might  oi'xen  he  prevented.  The  authors^  have  found  that 
fample^  of  the  acid  used  by  dis|ie[i?inp:  themt.sts  vary  greatly  in  strength. 
Of  sixteen  samples,  collected  in  one  neighborhood,  the  anhydrous  acid 
rangpd  from  D.6  to  8.2  per  cent.  The  variations  are  due  to  it^  mode  of 
manufacture,  the  length  f»f  time  it  has  been  kept,  and  the  extent  to  which 
it  has  been  exposed  to  the  light. 

Strengths  of  variolic  Phartnacojxelal  and  other  Adds. 

Anhydrtiiis  Fruisic  Acid  in  100  parts, 

America, 2.0 

Austria,  ") 

Baden,     - 2.5 

Batavia, ) 

Bavaria, 4.0 

Hess»ia 18.0  to  20,0 

London, ,         .         .  2.0 

Dublin a.3 

Edinburgh, 3.3 

Hamburg, 2.0 

8axonv, 1.9 

Pari*.'- 10,5 

Beheele's  acid, 0.0 

Vauquelin's  acid, 3.5 

Io  every  form,  to  every  animal,  and  however  administered,  hydrocyanic 

acid  is  an  inteusely  active  poison.     Swallowed,  inhaled,  injected,  or  even 

somelimfs  when   merely  applied  to  the  soumi  s^kin,  ils  action  ia  energetic. 

Dr.  Letheby  ha.n  twice  fallen  down  int^enjiible  by  utcidentally  smelling  a 

bottleful   of  the  strong  acid.      To  its  presence  the  poi.sonous  qualities  of 

the  essence  of  cherry  kernel?,  hitter  almond  water,  and  laurel  water  are 

due.     The  kernels  of  fruits  like  the  peach,  plum,  and  cherrvt  the  pips  of 

the  apple,  the  bitter  almond,  the  niountaiu  af<h,  the  leaves  of  the  cherry 

^Mirel,  the  juice  of  the  root  of  the  jatropba  mauihot,  a  plant  that  yielda 

^H^ioi'a  (bitter  cassava)^  contain   it  as   their  active  poisonous  ingredient 

^pT*  Ijancet,"  Jan,  4,  1868,   p.  30).     Good   KirscbwajSiner  will  be  fouud  at 

■   tiine«  to  contain  aa  much  as  0.2  of  a  grain  of  anhydrous  acid  in  3^  ouuces> 

'    whil!*t  inferior  specimens  often   contain  four  times  a.s  moch  ("Lancet," 

March  18.  18G5> 

SipipiomM. 

The  symptoms  of  poisoning  by  prussic  acid  are  influenced  by  a  variety 
of  circum^liinces,  some  of  which  it  will  he  necciiwary  to  diycuss  in  detail : 

{a)  Given  in  medical  doses  (njij  to  i*3ex  of  the  B.  P.  acid)  it  allays  pain 
and  spa«ms,  and  is  found  u.seful  in  relieving  painful  aifecttong  of  the 
stomach,  nervousi  cougli,  palpitatiuu,  etc. 

(/)  Id  a  dose  above  this,  but  i^till  short  of  a  poisonous  dose  (^njjx  to  »jxx 


400 


SYMPTOMS   OF    HYDROCYANIC    ACID    POISONIKO. 


of  Bt  P.  acid),  other  symptoms  may  be  produced,  auch  as  nausea,  a  feeling 
of  inipeDdiDg  suffocation,  giddiness,  and  at  times  salivation  and  yleeration 
of  the  mouth. 

(/)  Small  poisonoua  doses  of  the  acid  (e.  */.,  "^ss.  of  B.  P.  acid )  often 
produce  severe  symptoms,  but  they  are  not,  as  a  rule,  immediate  in  their 
appearance.  The  patient  will  complain  of  a  hot  hitter  taste,  whilst  an 
increasing  weakness  and  giddiness  will  probably  be  the  first  well-marked 
symptom,  aecumpanied  by  severe  pains  in  the  head,  and  a  gradually  pro- 
gre.ssiHg  confusion  of  intellect.  At  length  insensibility  supervenes,  with  a 
more  or  less  complete  Iofs  of  muscular  power.  The  eyes  become  lu'igbt 
and  prominent,  and  the  face  pale  or  bloated.  Very  frequently  salivationt 
with  ulceration  of  the  mouth,  setn  in.  The  jaw  is  often  rigidly  cotitmeted, 
tetanus  being  a  commoner  symptom  atler  medium-sjRed  than  after  very 
large  dose*?.  The  pnlsc  is  quick,  and  the  breathing  stertorous,  with  often 
a  mucous  rattle.  Vomiting  is  not  common,  but  if  it  occurs  it  is  to  be 
regarded  as  a  hopeful  symptom.  Frccefliiig  death,  which,  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, will  probably  be  due  to  sitffoeutiott,  we  may  have  strong  tetanic 
convulsions,  at  limes  opisthotonos,  and  involuntary  evacuations  of  the  urine, 
or  fieces,  or  both.  In  all  probability  the  raedieal  man  will  discover  the 
odor  of  the  poison  in  the  breath. 

(d)  Of  the  symptoms  of  a  large  dose  we  cannot  be  so  well  informed  be- 
cause of  its  *'  lightning  action." 

Whilst  the  poison  is  yet  in  the  mouth  it  may  begin  to  act,  but  the  action 
is  not,  as  a  rule,  so  instantaneous  in  the  human  subject  as  it  has  been  ob- 
served to  be  in  the  lower  animals.  It  is,  however,  not  usual  for  more  than 
two  minutes  to  elapse  before  the  appearance  of  symptoms.  The  patient 
probably  falls  down  insensible.  The  face  and  skin  will  generally  be  foujid 
bathed  in  a  cold,  clammy  perspiration,  the  hands  violently  clenched,  whilst 
the  eyes  will  appear  fixed,  prominent,  and  glistening,  and  the  pupils  widely 
dilated.  The  breathing  will  be  stertorous,  convulsive,  and  gnsping,  the 
odor  of  the  poison  being  clearly  noticeable  in  the  breath.  The  pulse  will 
be  almost  imperceptible.  Involuntary  evacuations  of  urioe  and  fteces 
are  not  uncommon.  As  a  rule,  death  takes  place  with  a  forcible  expira- 
tion, which  nmy  or  may  not  be  accompanied  by  a  shriek.  Convulsions  do 
not  ordinarily  occur  in  these  rapidly  fatal  cases,,  but  if  death  he  at  all 
delayed,  convulsttjns,  with  spasmodic  closure  of  the  jaw,  are  almost  certain 
symptoms.  And  un<ler  the  circumstances  above  described,  we  may  regard 
deatn  as  due  to  shwk. 


Adion  on  Animals. 

The  symptotnsin  animals  were  accurately  observed  by  Emmert  in  1805, 
by  Coullon  in  1819,  by  Krimez  in  1827,  and  by  others,  a«  Dr.  Letheby, 
Dr.  Glover,  etc. 

The  symptoms  produced  by  a  dose  just  short  of  that  capable  of  destroy- 
ing life  commence  usually  in  from  one  to  two  minutcii.  (jriddineAs,  stagger- 
ing, and  insensibility,  with  absolute  loss  of  motive  |>nwer,  will  be  the  first 
noticeable  symptonis,  and  these  will  be  succeeded  by  a  vioU'ntly  gasping, 
panting  respiration,  and  by  tetanic  convulsions,  salivation ,  and  protrusion 
of  the  tongue  and  eyes.  Very  often  during  the  convulsions  the  sensibility 
returns,  the  return  of  consciousness  being  sudden  and  unex|>ected.  Not 
unlikely,  moreover,  the  animal  will  fall  into  a  deep  sleep,  after  which  it 
will  wake  up  better.  These  symptoms  may  last  for  a  period  varying  from 
twelve  to  twenty-four  hours. 

But  the  dose  administered  may  he  enough  to  cause  death,  hut  not 
eoough  to  cause  it  instantaneously.     Under  these  circurnstanccB  the  fatal 


SYMPTOMS    OF    HYDROCYANIC    ACID    POISONING. 


401 


niomeat  may  be  delayed  for  some  few  minutes,  although  seldom  beyond  a 
quarter  of  an  hour.  At  the  same  time  it  is  right  to  state  that  some  ob- 
servers have  recorded  a  mudi  longer  intermediiite  period  than  this.  A 
peculiar  deathlike  s^linek  will  frequeutty  be  remarked  immediately  pre- 
ceding the  fatjil  momeut.  Death  will  probably  be  due  to  suHbcatiou  from 
the  nipasmodic  action  of  the  respiratory  musclej^,  and  be  aeeompatiied  by 
coma  and  by  well-marked  tetanic  convulsions".  Hence  it  must  not  be  for- 
gotten that  poiionidg  with  prussic  acid  may  clearly  simulate  an  ordinary 
epileptic  fit. 

Liistly,  when  large  doses  are  administered,  the  eflfecta  on  animals  are 
mlmost  nb^olntely  in>itantnneouf?. 

(See  a  valuable  nidtingraph  by  Preyer,  "  Die  Blausaure,"  and  niao  some 
remarks  on  hydrocyanic  acid  poisoning  by  Dr.  Amory  (Boston),  ** The 
Practitioner,"  viii,  p.  197.) 

So  many  questions  of  grave  medico-legal  interest  occur  here  that  we 
11  proceed  to  discuss  iheiu  aerlatim. 

1.   The  Questifm  of  Dom. 

And  here  it  may  be  well  first  of  all  to  note  the  relation.ship  between 
miuinii-  and  drop.*.  The  size  of  a  drop  depends  to  a  great  extent  on  the 
mouth  of  the  bottle,  the  rapidity  with  which  tl\c  drops  fall^and  the  nature 
of  the  liquid.  The  following  results  are  averages  of  a  lareje  number  of 
experiments,  all  of  which  were  made  by  drupping  the  dilierent  liquids 
from  the  same  bottle,  and  as  ue^irly  iw  posnilile  at  the  ^ame  rate : 


10  drops  of  Water  measure 


from  20  to  22  minima. 


10  '•  of  Hydrocyanic  Acid  "  19  to  21 

10  "  of  Acetic  Acid  (strong)  "  8  to    9 

10  "  of  Chloroform  "  5  to    6        " 

10  "  of  Ether  "  9  to  10       " 

10  "  of  Benzol  "  9  to  10 

10  "  of  Spirit  "  16  to  IH       " 

10  "  of  Nitric  Acid  *'  8  to    9       « 

10  "  of  Tincture  of  Opium  "  5  to    6       " 

10  "  of  Tincture  of  Aconite  ") 

10  "  of  Tincture  of  Hvoscyarnus*'  V  6  to    8        '* 

10  "  of  Tincture  of  Digitalis  "  \ 


What  it  the  myiUest  dose  of  prtisitic  acid  that  will  prove  fatal— - 

(a)  In  Animalji, 
Mfif;f*ndie*»  experiments  show  that : 

One  drop  of  anhydrous  acid  injected  into  the  jugular  vein  of  a  dog 
proves  fatal  iustautaneoudly. 

One  drop  of  anhydrous  acid  given  by  mouth  to  a  dog  killed  it  in  a  few 
secoodB. 

ChnduotC»  experiments  show  : 

X  drop  or  unbjrdrou*  acid  glr«Q  to  a  nXMi  begap  to  act  In  t)3  sees.,  and  proved  fatal  In  83  wca. 

Sdrotii  **  cat  "  W     "  •'  :\Q     " 

3  **  "  cat  "  5      **  "  40     " 

4  "  »  rabbit  *'  20     "  "  ."iO     " 

5  "  ♦•       plac«^  In  the  fTit  «f » tat     "  20     ♦*  '*  40     '• 

•  u  u  i  ttlaced!  Iti  ■  dt>«b )  „  ..     I,  M  -nxr     „ 

•  {v.Mm.iona.>at  f  ^  '*^ 
llflL  of  medicinal  add  given  lu  a  rab1*iL                  "           ioHtantI}-                  *■  10     " 

Christison  notes  that  in  the  cases  ^vhere  death  was  slow,  there  were  fits 


of  tetfliius.     Eraprosthotooos  was  the  priDcipal  tetauic  f^ymptom  m  nu. 
ami  <tpisthotonos  in  rabbits. 

Tlit*»i'  ex^^eriiuents  prove  that  1  grain  of  anhytlrous  acid,  and 

le«a,  will  prove  fatal  to  aDinials. 

(,5)  In  vfon. 
It  is  commonly  stated   that   tn  the  well-known  case  of  ibe  Pi 
epileptics,  death  wad  produced  by  two-thirds  uf  a  graiu  of  auhv^Ir-  " 
There  is,  jiowever,  great  reason  to  doubt  tlie  accuracy  of  thU  ~ 
Guiboiirt   believing  that  the  (jiiaiitity  actually  swallowed    by  vi\>n 
about  5.5  troy  frrnins.     Omitting  thei^e  caj^ej*,  therefore,  the  $niallr»tf[ 
dose  of  whtt"h  we  have  record  (ca^ie  recorded  by  Dr.  Lctheby)  is«  0.9 
grain  of  auhydnms  acid  (=  w]z20  of  Scheele's  acid),  which  dc^slniytil  the 
life  of  au  ado  It  in  twenty  minutes.     The  pnij^on  was  taken  on  an  eroptt 
Btiminch.    Whilf^t,  liowever,  we  are  jnstihed  in  saying  that  1  gniin  oranlif' 
dron;*  prus.'jic  acid  may  prove  fatal,  we  are  clearly  not  jusitified  in  «»n 
that  it  necessarily  nm^t,  ft»r  recovery  is  recorded  after  such  «lnsr* 
monthfnl  of  Pharmjicop<eia  acid   (Dr.  Guv).  2  drachms  of  \ 
acid;  and  after  0.1*  grain  (Mr,  T.  Taylor i,L33  grain  (Mr,  Bi-     , 
grain  (C'hriKtison},  and  2.4  grains  (Mr,  Bnrman)  of  anhydrous  arid. 

rsibility,  therefore,  of  treatment  being  succeiN^ful  in  cases  of  p"?- 
prn.«iiic  acid,  a.s  in  other  forms  of  pfiisoniug,  cannot  be  too  emi 
insisted  n[>on.     Nothing  can  justify  a  medical  man  doing  uothiii^:  ^'  *•** 
as  there  is  life,  however  desperate  the  case  may  seem. 

All  ex  peri  m  enters  agree  with  Mr,  Niinneley,  that  the  energy  and  actir^' 
of  the  pnison  is  not  destroyed  or  materially  lessiened   by  mixing  it 
water,  and  that  a  given  dose  acts  similarly,  whether  administered  in  ill 
auhydrouH  Mate  or  in  any  degree  of  dilution. 

Further,  the  potent  aeliou  of  the  acid  is  very  considerably  in«' 
disease,  by  bloodletting,  by  iatigue,  by   hunger,  or  by  any  othet 
stance  which  lenti?^  to  debilitate  the  vital   powers  of  the  patient,     Lo»i 
these  circumj^iaticeji,  a  doi*e  of  the  acid  will  prove  fatal,  which  in  a  vigoi 
person  or  animal  might  have  been  swallowed  with  impunity. 

2.  Thf-  poixtjuonm  iwtmn  af  (he  vapoT  of  the  acid. 
A  bird  placed  in  a  gla^s,  the  air  of  which  if*  saturated  with  the  vapflf, 

drop.^  down  dead  iiiHtantly^     If  1  drfip  of  anhydrous*  acid  be  left  for  a  t>w 
minutcte  in   a  clean  dry  quart   bottle,  the  air  in   the  bottle   will   U   ^.-i 
poi-stined  that  if  a  bird  he  ]>laced   in  it  it  dtP:^  in  a  few  minuter.     As  a 
the  vapor  docs  not  act  <iu  or  through  the  sound  jikin,  atill  there  arc  exwj 
tious  to  this.     For  example,  M.  Robiqnet  frmnd  that  the  exposure  of  bi 
finger  to  the  action  of  the  vapor  benumbed  it,  the  want  of  sensibility  bcii 
persistent  for  some  days.     Another  cjise  is  recorded  where  a  cbemieit  k 
his  life  from  spilling  ihe  acid  on  his  naked  arm,  but  of  course  in  such 
case  the   inhalation  of  the  vapor  might  have  beeu   the  true  and   priraaJ 
cause  of  the  fatal  result.     (Coullon,  "  Recherches,"  p.  200.)     For 
have  already  observed,  the  inhalation  of  the  vapor  has  been  attend* 
.*?erions   re>iult.>!   <M.  Danuron,  *'Journ.  de  C-himic  Mt^dii'ale,"  vii. 
Dr.  Ittner  fnund  that  he  suffered  considerable  oppression  and  *rid< 
from  breathing  the  atmosphere  of  his  laboratory,  in  which  th' 
poison  wa.s  diffused   (Beck).     Dr.  Heller  records  a  case  of  - 
symptoms  being  imluced  by  merely  smvlling  a  bottle  containinu' 
acid.     Dr.  Lelheby,  as  we  have  already  mentioned,  has  becD  t 
dered  insensible  by  emelling  a  bottle  of  the  acid  which  had  been  careleolj 
left  unlabel  led. 

3.  Is  pnusic  acid  a  cwnuhtive  poiwn,  t.e.,  will  continued  smaU 


i 


UdoM    , 


SYMPTOMS    OP    HYDROCYANIC    ACID    POISONING. 


403 


mediciually,  silently  acciujurlate  in  the  system,  and  at  last  break 
OUt»  like  mercury  and  digitalis,  wiih  fatal  violence?  This  is  a  question 
that  \ni»  been  more  than  ouce  nii^ed,  and  we  may  say  that  all  evidence  is 
oppose*!  to  the  view  that  it  can  aL*t  in  this  manner.  Only  one  ease  can  he 
quoted  in  proof  of  the  possibility  of  such  a  thing  occurrin;^  (that  r>f  Dr. 
Jjaumgartner  >,  but  the  detail*  of  the  case  present  so  many  doubLful  puints 
that  we  may  fairly  question  the  accunicy  of  the  recnrd.-?.  S^>  volatile  a 
poUi>n  id  not  likely,  we  should  *np|ni8e,  to  be  cunndative,  nor  can  we 
uiidersiaud  any  drug  being  nf  this  ntiturc,  which  18  capable  of  acting  so 
Cfusiiy  iu  dit*turbiug  llie  balance  between  life  and  death. 

4.   Am  Tcgntth  the  time  wh^n  the  ^/mpfontji  tmumence  : 

va >  In  ofumnh.  When  a  very  large  dfjse  iy  admiuii^tered,  the  c<mi- 
raencemeut  of  the  symptoms  i^,  as  nearly  a?<  j>os<ible,  in.-itanta- 
ne<.iU£i,  The  animal  drops  down  jsenseles!?  whilst  licking  the  milk 
in  which  the  acid  baa  been  [daced.  Dr.  A.  T.  Thonjsfm  reciirds 
having  seen  a  dog  die  in  two  seconds  after  taking  a  dose  of  the 
concentrated  acid.  Chriritison's  experiments  prove  that  with  very 
large  doses  death  is  often  instantaneous,  whilst  with  moderately 
large  ones  a  |K'rioiJ  of  from  live  to  gixty-lhree  seconds  may  be 
regarded  as  the  length  of  the  intermediate  .stage  between  the  ad- 
mi  inatratitm  of  the  poison  and  the  beginning  of  the  syoiptonis 
(page  401 ).  Ex[)erimeuis  on  animals  prove,  then,  that  the  symp- 
toms may  set  in  without  any  apparent  interval,  or  else  be  delayed 
for  one,  oral  the  most  two,  minutes. 

It  is  right  we  should  add  thai  Mr,  B!akc  holds  that  even  after 
the  injection  of  as  large  a.dot»e  as*  'J9  minima  of  the  concentrated 
acid  into'  the  fen>oral  vein,  the  poison  never  begins  to  act  in  less 
than  ten  .aeconda.  Mr.  Btake  is*  almo.st  alone,  however,  in  deny- 
ing the  instantaneous  action  of  the  acid  upon  animals. 

(^)  In  the  htim((H  KttbJfvK  The  symptoms  are  not  no  rapid  in  their 
appearance  iu  man  aa  they  are  in  aiiinnils<.  In  stime  cases  they 
have  been  known  to  commence  in  the  course  of  a  few  second*. 
Kven  in  Hiinefield's  ca^e,  where  40  grains  of  anhydrous  arid  hatl 
been  taken,  a  tew  seconds  elapsed  hetiire  the  advent  of  the  symp- 
toms*. It  hf  however,  a  rare  thing  for  insensibility  (Which  is  not 
death,  but  is  often  mistaken  for  it)  to  be  dehiyed  beyond  the 
second  minute,  but  it  i?  not  uncommon  for  it  to  be  delayed  for  a 
minute  or  a  minute  and  a  lialf. 

And  tJds  question  suggests  our  next  consideration,  which  is  otie  of  great 
importance,  viz.: 

5.  How  far  M  it  pomble  for  voluntart/  actSf  mich  c«  walkintj  and  speaking, 
lo  bf  pf^rformed  in  thi«  interval  f 

Dr.  Guy  record:?  with  singular  precision  and  care  a  case  where  a  young 
UiAn  toi>k  a  mouthful  of  acid,  then  got  out  of  l>ed,  walked  to  a  chest  of 
drawers  at  the  foot  of  the  l>ed,  put  the  stopper  in  the  bottle,  and  returned 
lO  the  aide  of  the  bed  again,  and  then,  and  not  till  then,  fell  down  sense- 
Jtts.  In  another  case  a  girl  took,  probably,  5ivss.  of  the  acid,  and  after- 
Wftrdti  put  the  ccrrk  in  the  bottle,  wrapped  it  up,  lay  down  iu  bed,  and 
adjusted  the  bedclothes.  In  a  third  case  a  nuin  is  reported  to  have 
walked  about  fifty  steps,  and  gone  down  a  flight  of  seventeen  stairs.  With- 
out multiplying  cases  of  this  kind,  and  thfy  are  not  a  few,  another  may  bo 
mentioned,  for  which  we  are  indebted  l**  Dr.  Leiheby,  where  two  lovers 


BYMrTOMS    OP   HYDROCYANIC   ACID   POISOKtlTG. 

Uclibenitely  took  prussic  acid,  and  afler  taking  it,  perfonned  cwerm]  litdi 
voluntary  acts,  finally  arranging  their  arraa  round  each  otherV 
80  expired  together.  It  is  perfectly  clear,  therefore,  that  to  a 
extent  voluntary  actions  may  be  performed  after  a  large  d" 
poison  ;  but  we  should  &ay  that  if  tiiese  voluntary  act^  could  n 
formed  in  a  period  not  exceediDg  two  minutes  at  the  oQt«ide,  they  >ki>uU 
be  open  to  some  doubt. 

"W  e  need  scarcely,  however,  remark  that  there  are  unv  oee  wl 

no  time  whatsoever  occurred  for  voluntary  acts  to  be  ptr 

As  rcgardi'  the  po8i«ibility  of  apmking  after  taking  the   poi»ou,  we  hii 
again  undoubtecl  evidence.     In   Mr,  Bishop's  case  the  patient  gave  aa  *c« 
Cftutit  ot'  his  feelings  during  the  two  minutes'  interval.     In  a  sec-ond  o»«,| 
where  an  apothecary's  apprentice  took  5j  of  the  acid,  from  ¥^hich  he  di 
in  five  minutes,  he  crieil  out,  "  Hartshorn,  hartshorn,"  and  when  his 
panions  reached  biro,  he  mutteretl,  "  Prus^ic  acid/'     And  a  third  cae*  mil 
be  quoted  (Dr.  Sewell,  Montreal  I  where  a  man,  after  taking  ^vii  of  add  (} 
percent,  of  anhydrou-H  acid),  walked  to  the  door,  unlocked   it,  and 
out,  "  Come  to  me  «]uick,  I  am  dying," 

It  followi*,  and  it  is  important  to  note  the  fact,  that  very  probtthlv 
vessel  out  of  which  the  poison  was  taken  in  a  case  of  suicide  will  Ijc  i\m 
near  the  ijersou,  or  at  any  rate  at  no  great  distance  off,  the  abeence  uf 

flafis  or  bottle  being  always  suggestive  of  homicide.     Of  course  if 
ottle  be  left  nueorked  for  any  time,  the  fklor  of  the  poisou  from  the  hot 
will  s<Miu  dii^appear. 

6.  Ab  regards  the  shriek. 

(a)  The  shriekj  which  ie  a  peculiarly  hollow,  painful  »ound,  is 

noticed  in  animals  dying  of  the  pntHin.     In  Mr.  Nuiineler's  ei^ 
perimentK  it  occurred  in  about  one-half  the  cases, 

(jTt)  What  are  the  rirritfu^tances  under  trliich  the  »hriek  ofntrjif — Dr. 
Letheby's  exi^nraeiita  prove  that  when  animals  are  in  a  stale  of 
exhaustion  or  fatigue,  ucctisioned  either  by  physical  work  or  bj 
want  of  fr>od,  the  shriek  i$  often  absent. 

(;')  To  u'hat  is  the  shriek  to  be  attributed  f — Dr.  I^etheby  believ®  ill 
to  be  the  immediate  precursor  of  death,  a  true  death -^creani.  thfij 
last  act  of  vitality ;  in  other  words,  the  laat  expiratory  act  of  lli«i 
animal.  This  is  doubted  hy  Dr.  Glover,  whostatea  he  ha*  heardj 
animals  ehriek  and  after  that  run  about  (**  Liaocet,"  Mav  24J 
1845> 

Now  it  has  been  frecjueutly  asserted  by  medical  jurists  that  ih« 
is  never  heart!  m  the  hunuin  subject.     A  case  recorded  by  Dr. 
(that  of  Belaoey,  who  was  charged  with  pois^jning  his  wife)  di^provi 
assertion.     No  doubt  the  shriek  is  not  nearly  m  common  in  the  hm 
subject  as  it  U  in  animals,  but  there  can  be  no  possible  reason  to  see  wbf^ 
as  some  assert,  it  should  never  occur. 

Important  questions  have  arisen  and   may  again  arise  reepectiog  Util 
shriek,     Dr,  Letheby,  as  we  have  said,  contends  that  it  is  the  last  act 
life.     Belaney'a  statement,  therefore,  that  after  the  shriek   his  wife 
heard  to  make,  she  said  to  him,  "  I  have  taken  some  of  that  strong  drink,**] 
Dr.  Ijetheby  considers  could  not  have  been  true. 

(70  '^9  io  the  presence  or  o&senos  of  oonvuLtions, 

(a)  In  animais  they  frecjucatly,  but  not  always,  occur.     Dr.  Lei 
remarks  that  when  auirnals  are  hungry  and  fatigued,  convul 


TREATMENT    OP    ROISONINO    BY    HYDROCYANIC    ACID.       405 

are  not  usualf  wbilst  uo  convulsive  actioQ  is  ordinarily  noticed 
if  the  dose  administered  be  sufEciently  large  to  cause  instantaoe- 
ous  death. 
(iS)  In  man  they  are  also  frequent,  but  by  uo  means  constant  symp- 
tomi*.  Where  death  is  very  rapid  from  the  exhibition  of  a  very 
large  dose  of  the  acid,  or  when  the  patient  is  a  person  of  a  debili- 
tated constitution,  the  convulsions  may  be  exceedingly  slight  or 
altogether  wanting.  Certainly  the  calm  placid  appearance  ob- 
served in  so  many  cashes  of  death  after  prussic  acid,  and  the  symp- 
tomg  of  which  there  is  uo  record,  points  to  the  absence  rather 
than  to  the  presence  of  convulsions  during  life. 

A  question  has  been  raised  in  a  court  of  law  whether  in  a  slow  case  of 
poidooing  by  prussic  acid  the  convulsions  produced  would  not  necei^Hirily 
be  so  violent  as  to  disturb  all  the  be<lcIothea  covering  the  patient.  Our 
•nswer  undoubtedly  must  l>e  that  convulaioDS,  although  commoiily.  are 
certainly  not  necessarily,  the  consemiencea  of  an  overdone  of  the  poison, 
aod  that  if  they  do  occur  they  may  te  of  a  very  slight  eharacter. 

(S.)  Jti  to  the  tnvohintart/  expulsion  of  the  urine  andfwceJi. 

In  one-tenth  of  Mr.  Nunneley's  cases  the  fieces  alone  were  expelled — in 
-tenth  both  fiecesaud  urine — in  one-fifth  the  urine  only — and  in  two* 

khs  neither  the  one  nor  the  other. 

In  the  human  subject  the  of'ca.«ioiml  expnlsion  of  one  or  of  the  other 
has  been  observed.  In  Dr.  Guy's  case  both  urine  and  fieces  were  ex- 
pelled. 

(9,)  At  regards  the  time  of  death, 

(a)  In  aninujis  death  is  sometimes  tttntantanfous.  But  insejisibility 
and  the  power  to  move  must  not  be  confounded  with  death,  for 
the  two  are  distinct.  Mr  Nunneley  states  that  he  has  seen  ani- 
mals live  after  a  large  dose  for  hours  or  even  days.  CouUon  saw 
a  dog  live  for  uiueiceu  hours  in  great  suflTering  ufler  a  full  dose 
of  the  acid.  8uch  i-ases,  at  any  rate^  are  very  rare,  and  have  not 
occurreti  in  the  experience  of  raa«*t  investigators.  Schubarth  states 
his  opinion  that  if  an  animal  lives  over  thirty-two  minutes,  it  gets 
well. 

Thus  far,  therefore,  it  is  certiiin  that  animals  may  die  almost  in  the 
course  of  a  second,  or  that  they  may  live  for  some  considerable  time. 

{^)  In  man^  death  is  certainly  not  so  immediate  as  it  seems  to  be  in 
animals,  but  it  may  occur  within  five  minutes,  or  it  may  be  pro- 
longed to  forty.  A  period  of  from  two  to  ten  minutes  may  be  re- 
garded as  an  average  time  after  a  dose  of  from  80  to  KM)  drops 
of  dilute  acid.  And,  further^  it  may  be  taken  as  a  general  rule 
that  the  patient  dies  rapidly  or  recovers.  If  life  be  prolonged 
over  forty  minutes,  we  are  justified  in  pronouncing  a  favorable 
prognosis. 

Treatmeni. 

This  divides  itself  into  general  and  cheraieal. 

I.  OeneraL  Most  frequently  we  are  first  called  to  see  the  case  when  all 
is  o%'er,  but  if  only  a  spark  of  lite  remains  (lateat  scintilla  forstiu)  we 
should  not  hesitate  in  using  remedies,     Otlen  too,  if  the  patient  be  alive, 


APPBARANCES    AFTER    DEATH    BY    HTDROCTAKtC   ACtl 

the  jaw  iM  so  firmly  iixod  that  efforts  seem  hopeleae»  but  even  tlut 
not  hinder  us  from  giving  thera  by  a  tube  placed  throuj^h  th» 
extracting  a  tooth,  if  ueceasary,  for  tht-  purpose  of  their  atin 

(a)  Qj/d  affusion  (De  Herbst),     Da-sh  cold  water  instantly  up 
lace,  head,  and  back.     Do  uot  ha  prevented  doing  this  bfcai 
convulsions.     ^Vs  soon  aa  possible  rub  the  skin   until  it  ts 
and  dry,  and  rejjeal  the  dose,     Nu  doubt  eoUl  ttifn^iou  is  bert  ifj 
applied  before  convulsions  set  in,  but  it  j»hould  never  be  nmtUtij 

C^S)  Artificial  re^irafum   (Dr.   Pereira)   may  be   useful,  and  tuaj  W 
employed  at  the  same  time  as  the  cold  douche. 

(;')  Bleediiiff  from  the  jttffular  vein  has  been  strongly  recommends!  fcf 
Mngeudie,  Corniack,  and  Lonsdale.  It  is  stAted  that  the  <3u^iii 
contractions  arc  reMored  by  the  abstraction  of  a  little  WomI. 
We  cotti^ider  bleeding  ^h*j\ild  only  be  adopted  as  a  last  nuint 

{^)  Ammonia  ia  moi*t  usefuL     It  should  be  given  iotemallv  in 

doses,  and  the  carbonate  of  aujuionja  held  to  the  mouth  and  >j'»> 
trjli^.  It  wa.s  first  Kug}?e:ited  by  Mr.  Murray,  of  London,  ami  xi^ 
proved  by  Orfila,  M,  Dupuy,  anti  Buchner,  Take  can*,  howrvrr, 
thut  the  ammonia  is  m>l  too  strong,  as  tjtherwise  you  m-'"  ^ '  • 
iuflammatiou  of  tlie  mouth  and  air-pasaages.  The  sir 
ammonije  should  never  be  applieil  to  the  nostrila  under  »rv 
eumstauce.s. 

(e)  Chlorine  (Riauz,  1822)  was  exptriniented  upon  as  to  it** 
properties  by  Buebner,  Simeon,  Ofttereau,  Vallette,  a>.  i 
All  agree  that  it  is  very  useful.     Orfila  regards  it  a**  ilir  r 
powerful  of  all  antidotes.     It  will  .^uiiice  for  a  little  chlon<i' 
lime  mixed  with  a  little  water  tu  be  held  near  the  muuti;  t 
nostrils. 

II.  Chemical.  Chemical  antidotes  are  rarely  of  any  u^v,  becxii 
the  rapid  action  of  the  poison.  The  best  antidote  is  a  mixture  of 
and  pers^ulphate  of  iron  in  combiuatiou  with  a  little  eau^tio  alkalti^ 
this  means  the  harmless  potassic  ferrocyanide  will  be  formed,  and  if  hf 
cbaoce  the  mixture  should  become  acid,  then  the  ferric  salt  would  font'' 
the  harmless  Prui«*tau  blue.  If  this  antidote  can  be  obtained  in  tiv^ 
there  can  be  no  (|Ucts.tion  ar*  to  it*  utility. 

Sulphate  of  iron  alone  has  bt-en  suggested,  but  it  is.UdeleBe. 

To  sum  up  all.     If  you  are  called  to  a  ea^o  of  hydrocyanic  acid  ptrtRiD- 
ing,  immediately  use  tlie  c<dd  douche  and  apjdy  smelling  salts  to  the  no^, 
triis,  or  better  ytill,  chloride  of  lime.     Keep  tlie  body  dry  and  warm  lij 
friction  with  hot  toweU.     Tickle  the  back  of  the  throat  with  a  feathcrj 
and  if  you  can  open  the  jaw,  use  the  etomach-pump,  or  elf«e  give  mti*t 
or  salt,  or,  better  still,  sulphate  of  zinc.     Lose  no  time  in  ^tting  the  n 
salts  and  the  solution  of  caustic  soda  or  potash,  or  even  carbonate  of 

Post-mortem  Appearances, 

In  some  cases,  as  in  that  of  Sarah  Hart  (case  of  Taweli),  no  in* 

appearances  have  been  found. 

If  death  be  rapid,  the  countenance,  aa  a  rule,  is  pale  aud  oonn 
whilst  if  death  be  slow,  it  will  appear  bloated.  PutrefactioD  is  saidfto  U 
rapid.  Dr.  Taylor  doubts  whether  this  is  so,  but  we  know  that  ripid 
decav  is  nut  unfrecjueut  in  all  forms  of  sudden  death.  The  cy«  are 
usually  glassy,  glistening,  aud  prominent;  but  these  are  fltates,  it  i^  lo  U 


>  ««j  •••     I 


TESTS    FOR    HVDROCYANIC    ACIP* 


407 


retiienibered,  equally  characteristic  of  death  by  cholera,  carbonic  acid, 
♦  |Mli'i>ety,  etc.  The  pupils  will  generally  be  found  to  be  widely  diluted. 
Tbe  body  id,  a8  a  rule,  ng'ul,  and  the  jaw  firmly  clotied.  There  will  prob- 
ably be  found  a  qnaulity  of  frothy  foum  about  the  mouth. 

The  stomach  and  intmtine^  a.rfi  otlen  quite  natural^  but  somelimt^  they 
an?  more  or  lee*  cou^t^ted*  They  were  found  iu  a  dog  that  lived  only  a 
few  riiinutes  to  be  almost  as  inflamed  ha  if  it  had  taken  arseiiic.  One 
cae«  i!*  reported  of  gangrene,  but  the  details  raust  be  reueived  with  eautiiui. 

In  Nunneley's  experiments  on  auimali*  the  congested  condition  of  the 
»U)timeh  waji  the  mo.-*!  fomtnori,and  he  further  noticed  that  if  the  stomach 
wsi'«  empty  at  the  time  the  pois<>n  was  administered,  it  was  often  contracted 
alitor  death,  and  of  a  ptn-uiiar  hrickdust  color, 

Tht!  brain  generally  yhuws  great  vikseular  turgescence  with  serous  cifu- 
«ion  into  the  ventricle;*.  The  odor  of  the  poison  may  ofteti  be  distinctly 
ret'ognized.  In  animals  this  state  of  turge.sceuce  of  the  ve-^^els  is  particu- 
larly noticeable,  the  brain  tissue  itself  ap|>earing  almost  natural.  In  the 
<  :i-'.^  of  a  horse  poisoned  by  the  acid,  extnivasation  of  blood  waa  found  on 
the  surface  of  the  brain.  In  the  hrart  and  (jrtai  vemcU^  it  death  be  rapid, 
the  left  side  is  generally  eitipty  and  rigidly  contracted  ;  but  if  death  be 
«tow,  both  gides  will  be  found  full,  either  of  black  and  Huid,  or  of  coagu- 
lAte<l  blood.  Bchnbarth,  Bhike,  and  Magendie,  in  their  experiment!*  on 
onimab,  remark  thai  the  irritability  of  the  heart  and  voluntary  musclea 
aft«r  death  is  go  entirivly  destroyed  that  they  will  iiol  even  contract  by 
galvanism.  C-oullon  disagree*^  with  this  assertion,  whilst  Lonsdale  and 
Jhristisou  consider  that  it  in  by  no  means  a  universal  rule.  The.  liingjf, 
li'ivr,  iipltifHt  and  l-hliuufn,  are  luvaruibly  gtirged  with  blood.  The  bile  hjM 
ptore  than  once  been  noticed  of  a  deep- blue  tint.  The  venous  .Hystena  ia 
Invariahly  gorged  with  daik-cnlored  bloo^l,  and  tlie  arterial  sy.«*tem  empty. 
Tlie  blood  isi  always  fouud  to  have  undergone  j^ome  peculiar  altemtion.  It 
may  be  black  or  oily  (htnerj  or  of  a  cochineal- red  color  (  Emmerl),  whilst 
vometimes  it  is  fluid  and  at  other  timej*  coagulated.  It  often,  too,  exhales 
the  odor  of  the  pctison,  and  !*hould,  in  all  ca^»e3,  be  preserved  for  analysis,  as 
|he  acid  may  frequently  be  dii*tilled  fi*om  it. 

Lastly^  it  is  to  be  noticed  that  similar  post-mort«m  appearances  will 
probably  be  discovered,  however  the  poison  be  administered,  that  is, 
vhelher  it  be  applied  to  wounds  or  to  the  coujuuctiva  or  introduced  into 
Ibe  vagina  or  rectum. 

1.  Nitrate  of  nlver  give*  with  hydrocyanic  acid  and  with  the  soluble 
cyanides  a  dense  white  nmorphom  preeipitate  of  eifnnide  of  alleer  (Ag  Cy), 
hich,  after  stirring  thoroughly,  subsides,  the  liquid  above  the  precipitate 
then  becoming  perfectly  clear. 

(a)  The  precipitate  is  not  dissolved  by  adding  a  little  nitric  acid  to 
the  solution  in  which  it  has  been  thrown  down.     Butj 

(Jf)  The  precipitate  itself  ia  soluble  iu  concentrated  nitric  acid  when 
heated. 

Qr)  It  is  only  slightly  soluble  in   ammonia.     If  the  precipitate   be 
abundant,  its  solubility  in  ammonia  will  uot  be  perceptible. 

[0)  It  ia  freely  soluble  in  excess  of  the  alkaline  cyanides,  and  in  the 
alkaline  hyposulphites, 

Collect  the  precipitate  of  cyanide  of  silver  on  a  filter-paper,  wash  thor- 
oughly, and  dry: 


TESTS   FOR    HYDROCYANIC    ICID. 


(e)  It  will  not  be  found  to  be  altered  in  color  by  exposure  to  light b 
the  same  extent  as  the  chloride  of  silver. 

(r)  Place  some  of  the  we/l-drifd  cyanide  in  a  reduction-tube 
atone  end,  the  other  end  being  drawn  ont  to  a  fine  point 
the  cyanide  with  a  j^pirit-lump,  when  cyanogen  ga$  will   !•♦ 
otr,  which  will  be  found  to  burn  with  a  very  character 
red  flame.     Metallic  silver,  when  the  gas  is  burnt  off,  v^u*  i^,u*.u 
ill  the  tube.  ! 

(tj)  Treat  a  small  portion  of  the  cyanide  of  silver  iu  a  W akir  iritii 
a  few  drops  of  sulphide  of  aninioniiitu.  EvafKimte  gently  t»  ilnt* 
nejsSf  when  sulphocyanide  of  ammonium  and  sulphide  of  «I»«f 
will  be  formed.  Dissolve  the  sulphocyanide  in  water,  and  filter 
off  the  sulphide  of  ^silver.  Concentmte  the  filtrate,  atnl  tn-it 
with  a  f>ersalt  of  iron,  when  the  limiid  will  turn  a  brilliiuif  rA 
color. 

(O)  Treat  a  little  of  the  cyanide  of  silver  in  a  deep  watoh-gin-      '■ 
hydrochloric  acid,  when  hydrocyanic  ai-id  will   be  given     tf  a-  i 
vapor,  and  chloride  of  silver  be  formed.     Cover  the  watcb-gjaje 
over,  first,  with  a  flat  glass,  having  upon  it  a  drop  of  potash  sAn- 
tion,  and  afterwards  with  a  second  glat^  having  up<in  it  a  drnp 
yellow  sulphide  of  ammonium.     The^e  are  to  be  tested  a-»   < 
scribed  (page^  409,  etc.). 

(t)  Heat  a  portion  of  the  cyanide  very  gently  with  iodine  in  a  « 
elean  tube,  when  crystals  of  iodide  of  cyanogen  will  sublime 
form  on  the  cool  part  of  the  tube.     The.se  may  be  pre^e 
aealed  tube:?,  and  tan  be  tested  at  pleasure  by  a  solution  of 
and  by  a  mixture  of  a  |M?r-and  a  proto-salt  of  iron  as  d 
(page  409). 

The  silver  test  h  applicable  to  the  detection  of  the  vapor.  Expose  to 
the  action  of  the  vapor  a  drop  of  nitrate  of  silver  solution  on  a  gla«  alip 
(Fig.  2,  page  79).  If  the  vapor  be  present  iu  any  quantity,  the  silver  jo- 
lutiou  will  almost  instantly  assume  the  form  of  a  white  opaque  film,  1/ 
the  vapor  be  only  pre;*nt  in  very  small  quantity,  the  opacity  will,  first  <rf 
all,  be  apparent  at  the  edges  of  the  drop,  but  afterwards  ex^tend  towa, 
the  centre.  If  this  be  examined  by  the  microiscope,  crystals  iu  tho  fo 
of  sleudtT  pri:^m;5  will  be  visible.  Care  must  be  taken  nut  to  < 
these  with  crystals  of  nitrate  of  silver,  produced  by  the  evaporati- 
water  of  the  nilver  solution.  The  white  film  must  be  further  tested  m  U) 
it£  Bolubility  by  adding  a  drop  of  nitric  acid. 

[It  must  be  noted — 

(1.  J  That  nitrate  of  silver  also  gives  a  white  prccijntate  with  h_ 
chloric  acid,  and  with  the  chlorides,  phosphates,  and  carbon 
But— 

(a)  All  the  above  silver  precipitates  ai«  soluble  in  nitric  acid, 

excepting  the  chloride  and  cyanide. 

(b)  The  chloride  blackens  on  exjvosure  to  light  rapidly,  whUft 

the  cyanide  changes  very  slowly. 

(c)  The  cyanide  heated  in  a  glass  tube  gives  off  cyanogen  gas, 

which  burns  as  a  rose-r^  flame  at  the  mouth  of  the  tube, 
which,  of  course,  the  chloride  does  not. 

(2.)  Nitrate  of  silver  gives  a  yellowUh- white  precipitate  with  iodid«8v 

vbich  precipitates  are  in* 


bromides,  and  their  hydrogen  acids, 
soluble  in  cold  nitric  acid. 


J 


TB8T8    FOR    HYDROCYANIC    ACID. 


409 


(l)  The  vapors  of  chlorine,  bromine,  iodine,  and  their  hydrogen 
ncids  produce  a  white  opaque  film  when  allowed  to  act  upon  a 
drop  of  a  nitrate  of  eilver  solution.  These  vapors,  however,  are 
eiL'iily  known  by  their  peculiar  stne!l,  whilst  the  depositjs  produced 
bj  them  are  amorphous  and  not  crjstaliiDe.] 

1  Pruman  Blue  Test, 

To  to  aqueous  solution  of  hydrocyanic  acid,  carefully  add  a  weak  solu- 
DdQof  potash  until  the  odor  of  the  acid  entirely  flisappears.  The  object  of 
Ail  if  to  convert  the  acid  into  an  alkaline  cyanide,  and  of  course,  there- 
\m,  if  the  acid  previously  exists  in  this  coiubioation,  it  will  be  unnecessary 
to  idd  the  potash. 

HCy  +  KHO  =  KCy  +  H,0. 

Ko»  tdd  to  this  a  few  drops  of  a  strdutiou  of  a  mixture  of  a  per-  and 

Bfriim^U  of  iron,*  when  a  dirty  green    precipitate  is  thrown  d<iwn.     The 

c-on verts  the  cyanogen  into  ferrocyanogen,  which   ferrocyanogen 

-ombines  with    the  iron  of  the  persalt.     Now  add  carefully,  and 

f^xcess,  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  in  order  to   redissolvo  the  excess  of 

mr  iijinJeB  of  iron,  when  Prusisiau  blue  (sesqniferrocyanide  of  iron,  FeyCy,) 

■ibndtt  as  a  distinct  blue  precipitate^  which  i^ insoluble  inland  unaffected 

k.  dihit«  acids. 

If  •  mere  trace  of  prussic  acid  only  be  present,  the  addition  of  the  re- 
igfttt»  mav  pn^Juceat  lirst  but  little  change,  but  if  the  solution  be  allowed 
Ibitaod,  dalce^  of  Prussian  blue  will  form  after  a  time. 

Tb€  vapor  of  the  acid  may  also  be  examined  by  this  tesL  A  drop  of 
poiiib  aolution  is  to  he  expo.^^d  on  a  glass  slide  (Fig.  2,  page  79)  to  the 
MitQ  of  the  vapor,  and  after  l^»eing  allowed  to  remain  for  mmQ  time,  the 
|)lBlIid«  14^  to  l>e  removed*  phired  on  a  piece  of  white  paper,  and  the  drop 
if  imtatb  touched  first  with  the  mixed  iron  8a!t«*,  and  afterwards  with  a 
iw^tif  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  when  the  characteristic  blue  color  will  be 
Moped. 


Add  V 
tCfsUoi 
wyto 


$,  Sutithur  r«i  (Liebig,  1847). 

Add  to  a  solution  of  a  cyanide,  or  to  a  solution  of  the  acid,  a  few  dropa 
iw  rolphide  of  ammouium.t     Allow  this  to  evaporate  spontao^ 
dryo€>«,  or  heat  it  very  gently  until  nearly  dry  on  a  water- bath, 
whitish  deposit  will  be  obtained,  consistiJig  of  sulphur  and  sulpho- 
^fwAn  of  ammonium. 

Touch  the  deposit  thus  obtained  with  a  glaai  rod  moistened  with  a  solu< 
^  of  penoilphate  of  iron,  when  a  blood-red  color  (sulphocyanide  of 
ii^;  viJI  be  at  oooe  produced.     If  this  be  touched  with  a 

(«)  Oorrotive  tublimate  tohiUon,  the  color  will  be  discharged,  whilst 

with 
(f)  HfdroeUtrtie  atid^  the  color  will  remain  unaflected. 

nfof  that 

Vith  m^ci/nie  aeid,  perealts  of  iron  also  strike  a  red  color,  but  the 
<^^  B  uo(  diM:barg«d  by  oontMiTe  •QbUinate. 


B  frvrn  vitriol  ior  vulpbittA  of  iron),  vfl^r  expoiars  to  air,  mty  b« 
9^pl4t4  ju  etrtain  to  hr  a  mixture  of  a  per-  and  proloiulphate,  and  itji  aolutloa 
'^JtmrnupMrnUj  h9  mmd  for  titit  utt. 

tiM  i«|  utrtNif  aaoMwia  mperMturaied  wiiii  iutpbar«tt«d  hydrogva. 

27 


410 


{b)  Willi  (ilhiUnf  aceiafc>^,  a  red  color  is  also  produced,  but  tlic  cfvlorii 
discharged  by  liydrochiaric  acid  J 

The  heut  applied  to  evaporate  the  solution  down  must  be  mtfficu;ni,i,i 
el}*e  the  peraalt  of  iron  will  be  precipitateiJ  i:>y  the  uiide>conifMii&eQ  #«lpbi4fe 
It'  this  ot.'L'ur!i,  the  preeipitate  eiin  be  rejidily  disjjolved  by  a  drop  of  hyitrr»> 
ehluric  acid,  which  will  dot  iiiterl'ere  with  the  reaction.  But,  on  the  utKer 
baud,  the  heat  used  mti.d  md  be  ioo  ijreat,  or  else  the  sulphocyunide  will  b« 
dee(iii)|n>!ied,  and  the  te^<t  retJi<lered  warthlesa. 

The  Hulphur  tewt  may  be  adopted   in  the  detection  of  the  vapor.    For 
tbii*  purpose,  use  a  glas??  slide  t  Fig.  2,  p.  79),  with  a  drop  of  yellt>«r  «»f!- 
phifle  of  anuuoMium  upon  it,  mo  placed  as  to  he  freely  ex|>o«?ed  to  ■ ' 
of  the  vapur.     After  five  or  ten  minuteii  remove  the  gla^  sflide,  .mi 
the  li<)uid  to  evaporate  sh>wly  tu  dryue«;?,  when  sulpboeyaoide  ot 
uiuia  will  be  left.     A  bhtod-red  eulor  will  be  produced  when  a  drop 
persulphate  of  iron  is  added. 

In  the  ease  of  vijanides^  aet  upon  ihera  with  a  little  of  the  yellow 
phide  of  ammonium  {=  mCySj,  theu  evaporate  to  dryuets,  and  tail 
residue  with  a  persalt  of  iron. 

4.  Srhonbeiuit  TeM. 
Saturate  a  sljeet  of  white  blotting-paper  with  an  alcoholic  solutiou  of 

guaiacum  (1-3  grs.  to  5j  >,  aud  dry  geutly.  Dip  a  slip  of  the  paf»er  iutoi 
ftolutiou  of  sulphate  of  copper  1 10  grs,  to  5j),  au<l  hold  it  i>ver  a  votd 
where  the  vapor  (if  hydmcyauic  acid  is  being  gtveu  off,  wlieo  the 
will  turu  a  deef)  blue  color. 

This  teat  k  very  delicate,  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  ozone 
similarly  with  ibib  test  to  pruirsio  aeid.  It  is  better  therefore  not  to 
upon  it. 

5.  The  Copper  Tvd  (Lassaigne)  is  not  recommended.     It   cimaiftt 
precipitating  the  acid,  as  a  cyanide  of  copper,  by  the  addition  of 
phate  of  copper. 


sui 


In  et^tiniating  hydrocyanic  acid  quantitatively,  it  must  be 
as  a  cyanide  of  Hilver  with  nitrate  of  silver,  in  a  solutiou  acidulated  wilkf 
nitric  acid.     Collect,  wa.^h,  dry,  and  weigh  the  precipitate. 

A  volumetric  procefls  on  a  similar  principle  is  given  at  p.  14  of  tbf^ 
octavo  edition  of  the  Britif»h  Pbanimcopa'ia. 

Every  ICK)  grs.  of  AgCy  =  lit*.  15  of  anhydrous  prussic  acid, 

Toxleohgical  Analyniji, 

In  conducting  a  toxirological  inquiry,  carefully,  first  of  all  endeavor  to 
detect  the  prussic  acid  odor  in  the  various  solids  and  liquids  to  be  examiofd, 

Thiij  may  often  be  noticed  directly  the  body  \^  opened,  or,  at  ail  J  ivti^ 
on  opening  the  alonmch. 

Several  frtct.*^  resjiecting  the  odor  of  the  poisou  are  most  iinportAOt  to 
bear  in  mind  in  ciinducting  medicodegal  cases. 

1.  The  odor  of  prussic  acid  may  be  confounded  with  that  of  ninv- 
heuzol,  which,  however,  it  must  be  remembered,  is  it^lf  a  |KH$on. 

2.  The  odor  of  the  acid  may  often  be  detected  in  the  stomach  wheo  it 
cannot  he  detected  in  other  parts. 

3.  The  odor,  according  to  Dr.  Letheby,  may  be  detected  for  at  IcHl 
eighteen  houry  after  death,  whilst  it  has  ah-^o  been  olwerved  after  twcolv- 
two  and  thirty  hours,  and  in  one  ease  after  fuur  days. 


ANALYSIS    IN    CASES    OF    POISONING    BY    PRUSSIC    ACID.       411 

4.  It  is  not  true,  as  Orfila  asscrteJ,  that  the  odor  of  the  aeid  k  perceptible 
when  the  i.-hetincftl  reacliona  with  the  fjeveral  tejit**  fail 

5.  If  the  udor  can  be  detected  in  the  blood  and  in  the  liinb:«,  the  dif- 
ficulty i»  met  which  is  often  raised,  tbat  a  prussicacid  odor  may  be  present 
in  the  stomach,  intestines,  and  brain,  although  no  hydrocyanic  acid  has 
been  taken. 

6.  AUhougli   death  has  been   caused  by  prussic  acid,  no  odor  of  the 
m  may  be  perceived, 

(a)//!  may  hifve  dimjtpcared  either  (1)  by  f'j-hahitioti ;  that  is,  dissi- 
pated by  the  Uui^.n,  owing  to  the  time  that  has  eiup^ed  hetween 
Uking  the  poison  and  death  being  considerable  ;  i^r  (2)  btj  evapor- 
ation, from  the  body  having  been  exposed  to  tbe  open  air  or  rain  • 
or 

(,9)  The  odtyr  inny  he  cotn^t^nkd,  being  masked  by  other  scents,  guch  as 
tobacco,  onions,  |>eppenuiut,  etc. 

(j^)  Or,  non-voldlUe  (*fmtbi nation f  may  be  formed,  as  f.f;*,  if  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  be  set  free  during  decomposition,  sulphoeyauides  may 
be  produced. 

The  peculiar  bitter  taste  of  the  acid,  which  is  specially  to  be  detected  at 
the  back  of  the  tongue,  is  very  characteristic  of  its  presence. 

Having  placed  ihe  contents  of  the  stomach  and  other  solid  matters  id 
a  clean  wide-motitbed  bottle,  te^t,  first  of  all,  their  acidity  or  alkalinity. 
If  alkaline,  add  dilute  sulpluiric  acid,  until  the  mixture  bus  acrjuired  a 
dtJ^tiDCtly  acid  reaction  ;  further  note  the  quantity  of  add  neces.sary  to 
c0ect  tbi?i,  whit'h  will  serve  as  an  indication  of  the  amount  of  alkali 
prenent 

Stand  the  bottle  in  a  ba.sSrj  containing  a  little  warm  water  (Fig.  2,  page 
79),  and  exj}oee  on  clean  glass  plates  a  drop  of  the  following  reagents  suc- 
cessively, for  a  few  minutes,  to  the  action  of  the  vapor  that  will  by  this 
Dieanft  be  evolved. 

(a)  Nitrate  of  ^ih'er  (see  page  407). 

(,J)  Solution  of  poiaJi  {^ee  page  409). 

(/)  Sulphide  of  ammonium  {aee  page  409). 

Test  these  in  the  manner  already  described.  If  no  action  be  perceived 
on  removing  the  glass  slide  with  the  nitrate  of  silver,  it  will  be  very  little 
use  trying  the  other  two  reagents. 

Having  finished  thei^e  experiments,  empty  the  content.s  of  the  bottle 
into  a  retort  counecte<l  with  a  condenser,  and  apply  heat  by  means  of  a 
«aU-water  hath.  About  one-half  of  the  liquid  in  the  retort  is  to  be  care- 
fully liistilled  into  a  little  water  contained  in  a  well-cooled  receiver,  the 
distillate  obtained  being  examined  by  the  various  tests  for  an  aqueous 
solution  of  tbe  at-id  (page  4i>7). 

The  analysis  thus  far  suggests  the  further  consideration  of  some  im- 
portant questions  of  detail : 

1,  Carefully  examine  the  acidity  or  alkalinity  of  tbe  organic  liquid 
(whether  it  be  the  contents  of  the  stomach,  articles  of  food,  etc.).  IJ  they 
do  not  lihow  a  diMinctly  alkuUne  reaction  to  turmeric  paper,  they  should  be 
distilled  as  they  are,  and  without  any  acid  being  added.  If  they  do 
ihow  a  distinctly  alkaline  read  ion  (as  they  yudonhtedly  wilTif  cyanide  of 
polussiura  be  tbe  cause  of  death ),  then  they  muat  be  acidulated  before 
distillatioQ,  bo  that  the  acid  may  be  set  free. 


AITALYBIS    IN   GABB6  07    POtBONfNe    BT    PRTFSSIO    ACtD. 


2.  If  the  original  liouid  be  found  ncid^  and  on  distillation  yon  obum 
evideiiee  of  pru8»i(*  uciti,  any  pru^ic  add  found  ia  the  distillate  mustlum 
existed  in  the  original  li(juid  u;«  \'y^^  prussic  acid. 

3.  If  the  oAififial  liquid  be  di^titidhj  nlk^Iinfi,  and  upoD  adding  an  tewJ 
(such  aii  Hulpburic  atid)  and  di^stillitig,  prn}<sit*  acid  be  obtained  in  ihc  di^ilil- 
late,  ilie  prusssieacid  umst  baveexlMted  lo  tln^  original  liquid  as  mu  alkaiinr 
cyanide,  whatever  may  have  been  the  form  in  which  it  was  admioiiterrii ; 
t.  e.,  it  may  be  hi  comhinHtlou  with  ammonia  generated  during  putr«£tt* 
tion,  althiuigli  in  the  firf^t  iiii^tance  it  was  taken  tus  free  acid, 

4.  Never  he  in  a  hurry  to  aeidnlate  the  org-anic  liqnid.  It  is  fiir  better 
to  distil  at  first  withnul  adding  any  arid  at  all,  even  if  the  liquid  be  oeutral, 
inai^niiK'h  nfi  it  may  be  urged  if  acid  b«  added,  that  the  prussic  acid  ob- 
tained in  the  distillate  wil-*  the  re?:nlt  of  the  deconi|KJe'itioij  of  sulpho" 
cyanide  of  [Mjiassium,  which  m  a  normal  coiistitnent  of  the  saliva.  Al  Um 
same  time  we  hold  that  this  difficulty  is  fanciful.  The  quautity  of  Bulpho* 
cyanide  that  can  possibly  get  into  the  stomach  from  the  saliva  mu.-U  be  to 
§raa!l  that  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  it  to  be  a  8r)iirce  of  error ;  whibt  ihi 
suggestion  that  the  bydrucyanicacifl  obtained  may  arise  from  the  preseoot 
of  terrocyanides  accidentally  introduced  (a  most  unlikely  circum»«taDce), 
scarcely  needs  further  consideration  im  account  of  the  ea;?e  wilh  which  the 
existence  or  non-existence  of  this  body  in  the  original  liquid  can  be  pmT*d. 
Of  c(.orse,  if  no  acid  be  added,  neitlier  the  i^ulpho-  nor  the  ferrocyaiiides 
could  possibly  furnish  even  a  tnice  of  the  acid  by  distillation. 

5.  If  you  get  no  whitening  of  the  silver  solution  by  the  vapor  test,  it  if 
of  no  use,  as  we  liave  said,  trying  the  other  vapor  tesU^ ;  but  becau:«e  the 
vapor  testtf  are  nnsatisfactury,  or  even  show  no  result;?,  you  should  never 
neglect  to  disdi. 

6.  If  the  silver  solution  upon  being  added  to  the  distillate  be  b1aekeo«d 
by  the  presence  of  a  little  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  which  may  have  bera 
generated  by  decomposition  and  pass  over  during  distillation,  at  once  try 
the  sulphide  of  ammonium  test,  which  will  not  be  similarly  a6fecte<l. 

7.  If  prussic  acid  be  found,  it  may  be  urged  by  the  defence  that  it  i» 
possible  ibr  it  to  be  prwluced  eitlrer  during  distillation  or  in  the  process 
of  decay  by  the  decomposition  of  animal  matters,  Orfila  and  Schubartb 
believed  this,  whilst  otiiers  have  <l<mbted  it.  If  it  can  (and  we  arc  d if- 
posed  to  admit  the  possibility),  it  can  only  be  in  the  minutest  ix>«*ihl(f 
Qtianiity,  whilst  the  heat  retjuired  to  produce  it  must  be  very  much  greater 
than  that  of  a  salt-water  buih.  For  this  reason  a  higher  tern f>erH tu  re  thio 
that  of  a  salt-water  bath  should  never  be  employed  iu  the  distillation. 

Of  course,  this  fact  has  been  urg»'d  as  an  arguraeut  against  the  prooew 
of  distillation  altogether  for  recovcriog  the  prussic  acid  in  toxic^logicAl 
investigations.  The  obje(*tion,  however,  is  not  of  much  force,  as  wo  an 
not  likely  to  use  a  temJ^erature  of  (>0I.P  or  70U^  F. 

The  production  (d*  prussic  acid  said  to  result  during  the  decmy  of  cbeeM 
(Witling)  need  merely  be  mentioned  here. 

8.  Prussic  acid  nmy,  during  the  decomp(>siliou  of  the  body,  be  converted 
into  sulphocyanide  of  annuonium  (from  the  sulphide  of  ammonium  forcaed 
during  putrefaction).  In  a  case,  therefore,  where  a  bo<ly  has  l>e€n  dead 
for  a  very  cousiderable  time,  it  will  be  well  to  render  the  materials  di/itinetly 
but  not  excemirelif  alkaline,  by  the  addition  of  a  drop  or  two  of  a  solution 
ofcaualie  pota.«h,  and  then  to  acton  them  with  alcohol,  which  will  dif* 
solve  the  sulphocyanide ;  filter  the  solution  thus  obtained,  evaporate  to 
dryness.  Tl>e  residue  is  to  be  dissolvetl  iu  water,  and  tesited  with  a  i>enia}t 
of  iron.  Putrefaction  is  not,  therefore,  it  will  be  seen,  necessarilv  an 
obstacle  to  the  iletection  of  the  poison. 

d.  On  the  other  hand,  prussic  acid,  although  the  cause  of  death,  may 


POISONING    BY    OIL    OF    BITTER    ALMONDS. 


41JI 


•ntirely  dissipateil  or  decomposed,  if  the  time  that  elapses  between  death 
and  the  analysts  m  coDsiderahle. 

Casper  mentions  a  case  where  it  could  be  found  after  tweuty-^ix  hours, 
Leuret  and  Lassaigne  assert  that  if  the  body  of  an  aoimal  poisoned  with 

Eruiisic  acid  be  Jeft  unburied,  it  cannot  be  detected  after  the  tbird  day; 
ul  that  if  it  be  buried  within  Lwentyfinir  hours  after  death,  it  may  then 
be  detected  (if  exhumed)  after  a  hmger  period,  but  not  later  than  the 
eighth  day.  But*ou  the  other  hand,  the  poij^cHi  has  been  discovered  by 
aaalysigiive  days  after  death  t*'  Lancet^"  March  9,  18:-J9,  p.  882);  seven 
day*  after  death,  the  body  having  been  all  the  time  exposed  to  the  air 
(Cbristi«>n,  p.  7'>4);  seveuteeu  days  after  death  (case  of  Montg(»mery ) ; 
twenty -one  days  alter  death  ( Com  ptes-Retid  11*5,  No.  20,  Nov.  13, 1854)  ]  and 
twenty-three  tiays?  after  death  (Prov.  Med.  Jour.,  July  l23,  1845),  One  of 
the  authors  in  a  case  syubnutted  to  him  obtained  all  the  reactions  of  the 
poi-^on  nine  days  after  death. 

It*.  The  viscera  should  be  carefully  preserved  in  well -stoppered  bottles, 
the  acid  with  the  ^reiitest  ease  pa-snes  throu>(h  corks,  bladder^  or  ])aper. 
rther,  there  should  be  no  delay  in  making  the  post-mortem,  or  in  ailer- 
wards  examining  the  couteiits  of  the  stomach  for  the  poison. 


ESSENTIAL  OIL  OF  BITTER  ALMONDS. 

{Hijdr'ide.  of  Benzoyl.) 
(Essence  of  Peachuut  Kernels — Peacbnut  Oil.) 

(The  **  Almond  Flavor"  of  shops  =  1  part  of  the  oil  diluted  with 
fteven  parts  of  spirit.) 

The  bitter  almond  (Amygdala  amara)  contains  a  glueoside  called  mnyg- 
in  (C^Hj^NO,,,3HjO>,  a  body  not  presient  in  the  frwtd  alniond  (Arityg- 
ctala  dulcis).  An  enudsion  of  two  or  three  sweet  almonds,  when  brui.>*ed 
and  rubbed  up  with  water,  will  be  found  to  have  no  smell  of  "the  essence 
of  bitter  almonds/'  w  hilst  the  odor  will  be  at  ouce  noticed  if  two  or  three 
bitter  almonds  are  treated  in  a  similar  manner. 

Iij  both  bitter  and  sweet  almonds  there  is  a  peculiar  ferment  present, 
calletJ  einulxin  or  aynapta/fe^  acting  solely  by  its  presence,  neither  j^'iving 
or  taking  anything  from  the  btaiy  on  which  it  acts.  It  is  the  action  of 
this  body  00  the  araygdalin  that  produces  the  peculiar  almond  essence, 
hydrocyanic  acid  and  glucose.  The  reusoji,  therefore,  the  almond  odor  is 
oot  formed  with  the  sweet  ahnoud  is  that  it  conlaius  no  amygdalin. 

C«H„NO„  +  2H,0  aud  ferment  =  C,HflO  4.  HON  -f  C„H„0,. 


Amfgdallti. 


W»ler. 


Hydride  of 
Btoztijl. 


Pruxsic 
Auid. 


Glucose. 


One  drachm  of  the  "oil  of  bitter  almonds*^  may  be  obtained  from 
about  \i  to  li  lbs, of  bitter  almonds. 

When  a  bitter  almond  is  chewed,  the  poisonous  principle  ia  developed 
ID  the  mouth  and  stomach.  Bitter  almonds,  there fore^  should  not  be 
eaten  indiscriminately,  and  their  sate  to  children  should  he  Ibrbidden. 

Seventeen  grains  of  amygdalin  will  form,  under  the  inHiience  of  synap- 
taiT,  1  grain  of  anhydrous  priissic  acid  (=  50  minims  of  Pharmacopeia 
acid ). 

The  oil  has  a  pale  yellow  amber  color.  It  is  heavier  than  water  (sp. 
gr.  1.043;^  having  a  hot  buniing  bitter  taste,  and  producing  a  greasy  atain 


414 


POISONING    BY    OIL    OF    BTTTBR    ALMONDS. 


on  paper,  not  dipsipated  by  heat.  It  is  feebly  acid.  Water  di««olTn 
about  j'^lh  purt  of  the  oil,  but  it  i»  soluble  both  in  ether  and  spirit  in  ttioial 
any  pniptrtion. 

It  i"i  liirg*-'ly  used  in  the  kitchen  for  flavoring,  but  it  is  a  d  k 
urticli?  in  the  hand*  of  careless  eonlcs  (who  do  too  much  by  **  rui«>  ot 
and  too  litlle  l>y  weight  iinrl  uiea^tire).     W«' have  examined  vi  ai 

mitnple.-i  of  ihe  oil,  and  titid  that  the  hydrocyauic  acid  |^rtf:!»eiii  'Tj 

10  to  15  per  cent.,  the  aiuouiit  being  dependent  in  a  great  nie4if»ui 
leng:th  of  lime  that  it  hax  been  kept.     As  a  rule,  the  oil  may  be  « 
as  five  to  eii^ht  tinie^^  the  streiijijlh  of  the  PliarmacopcjBia  liydrueyanic  tad, 
and   is,  therefore,  a  very  deadly  poison.     No  doubt,  lu    a  great   fMcni 
(although  in  the  experience  of  the  aulhors^,  not  nbmltiiffy  ami  o> 
it  may  be  freed  from  the  acid  that  it  contain*,  but  ihu»  prepare*!  u   ..  .^ 
to  decompose  very  rapidly,  and  to  be  readily  converted  by  oxidalitin  laUi 
Iwnzoic  acid.     It  may  be  mistaken  by  it.-*  smell  and  ta^^te  for  nitrobeoiot, 
whicfi  h  itself  ptJisunou?. 

8ul|>huric  acid  j^rodnces  with  it  a  crimson-red  cob>reil  Hc|Utd»  whlci 
changes*,  when  exposed  to  the  air,  to  yellow.  If  the  crimson  liquid  bi 
poured  into  water,  the  red  color  disappears  and  a  y*'llow  colon Dg-matKr 
fall*  lo  the  bottom. 

Sytnptoms. 

Till'  jfijmptom^  produced  by  the  oil  of  bitter  almonds  are  thopecsseni 
of  hydrticyanic  acitl  poisoning  ( page  399),  bnt  often  j^upenidded  wi 
vomitiiif^  and  symptom.^  of  irritation.  They  ordinarily  begin,  too,  »«i 
what  later  and  last  soraewliat  Ioniser  than  thot^e  produced  by  hyilrocvmaic 
acid.  Usually  there  are  no  convuUions,  but  para]y.'«i?,  first  of  tbe  volniKi 
tary  and  then  of  the  invoI»mlury  muscles,  is  common. 

Twenty  bitter  almonds  Hlrfihi)  will  kill  a  dojj  in  six  hours,  if  fi 
be  tied, and  six  in  four  days  if  they  be  applied  to  a  wound.  Brod; 
that  1  drop  of  the  oil  placed  on  the  tongue  of  a  cat,  killed  it  in  fivr  nrio- 
tites,  with  violent  convulsions.  Goppert  fonnd  o  drops  kille*!  a  nibbit  in 
BIX  minutes.  In  our  own  exprriment«  we  found  a  small  terrier  died  altrr 
taking  4  drops  ;  whilst  in  another  case  a  doj^  recoverwl  aftt'r  1<)  ilrop  had 
been  administered.  By  prclonpjed  exposure  to  the  air,  the  poigonou*  if* 
tivity  of  the  oi!  is  much  diminished,  and  so  much  so,  that  in  one  ca$f  »« 
found  that  40  drops  of  such  au  oil  produced  no  poisonous  action  on  a  dog 
what.soever. 

The  experiment*  nf  Dr.  Diivid  Price  with  the  e^ssential  oil  are  tnterestr 
ing,  as  illustrating  how  far  the  poisonous  properties  of  the  oil  niav  b*  re- 
moved ('*  Lancet,"  Jan.  10,  1H57,  p.  47). 

1.  5,1  <>f  Lanjjdak's  purified   essential   oil  was  given  to  a  lar;go 
Immediate  intoxication  wei«  produced,  but  the  animal  recovered 
after  fifteen  minute's. 

2.  Four  droj>y  of  the  same  oil  were  given  to  a  rat.     No  aclioo. 

3.  Ftiur  drop.s  of  the  ordinary  commercial  oil  were  given  to  a  nL 
Convulsions  and  death  occurred  in  six  minutes  and  a  half. 

4.  5'^**  ^^  ^^^^  purified  oil  was  given  to  a  cat.  Immediate  intoxltration 
was  produced,  from  which  it  recovered  in  four  minutea* 

As  to  its  action  on  the  human  subject,  Dr.  Gregory  a.*sertH  that  ii 
takes  one  bitter  almond,  it  causes  a  kind  of  intoxication  and  a  nettl 
eruption.     Wibmer  mentions  a  case  where  a  man  eat  half  an  ounce 
bitter  almonds  without  any  other  effect  than  sickness  and  headache 

In  the  *'  London  Medical  and  Physic  al  Journal,"  Ivii,  p.  150,  a  cft«  ol 
death  ia  recorded  from  eating  a  considerable  ijuautity  of  bitter  ahuondft. 


POISONING    BY    OIL    OF    BITTEU    ALMONDS. 


415 


A«  regnnls  duxe,  17  minims  of  the  oil  have  destroyed  life,  but  we  are  of 
Opinion  that  a  very  much  strmller  quantity  thari  this  would  prove  fatal. 

^For  j>ost-n»ortem  appeiiraut'e.-*,  treatment,  etc.,  see  Hydroeyauie  Acid. 
Both  the  symptoms  and  the  aiter-denth  appearances  are  similar  to,  though 
Daore  intense  than,  those  of  pnre  prussic  acid  poisoning;.) 

We  have  only  to  remark  in  addition  to  what  han  been  already  staled 
onder  hydrocyanic  aeid,  that  the  vapor  testji  with  the  oil  act  very  slowly. 
Ill  livery  ease,  therefore,  distillation  is  essential  for  the  reeovery  of  the 
poie^un. 

Jiittrr  aimond  icater^  which  is  diiitilled  from  the  cake  after  the  oil  is 
expre.'^Mid,  contains  from  0  25  to  0.1  per  cent,  of  prussic  acid.  It  should 
therefore  be  used  with  jiome  care. 


PrumtA  Lnurocerafni.^.     (Fig-  40,) 

(Cherry  Laurel.) 

Nat.  Ord.  Rmaceai. 

The  water  prepared  by  distillahon  with  the  leaves  of  the  cherry  laurel 
is  p^iij-onouji,  owing  to  the  pruH.*^ic  acid  contained  iu  the  volatile  oil.     The 
oil  generally  coulaius  about  2.75  per  cent.^  and  ihe  water  about  0.25  per 
cent.     It  is  not,  we  believe,  uj?ed  so  nnich 
now^  a*  formerly  in  confectionery.     The  fio.  40. 

leaves  have  been  employed  for  flavoring 
eudtard!',  a  proceedinu;  nut  without  dai^jjjor, 
tk»  all  parts  of  the  plant,  except  the  pulp 
of  the  fniit,  <'ontaiti  [irus-sii*  acid.  Severn] 
Ac'cidenis  have  resulted  from  the  practice 
of  givinnj  a  bitter  almond  flavor  tii  brandy 
bv  the  addition  of  a  small  tjuantity  of  the 
oil  of  the  cherry  laurel  Even  the  leaves 
applied  to  a  sore  on  the  neck  are  said  to 
have  proved  fatal.  The  youiifr  leaves 
Ciintain  about  ten  tjtnej*  a.s  much  oil  as 
the  old  onea.  The  (jil  given  to  three 
rabbits  in  doses  of  16  dn»ps,  killed  them 
respectively  in  nine,  fifteetl,  and  twenty 
niiDUle^,  whiljit  Kt  or  12  drops  injected 
into  the  anus  proved  fata!  in  four  minutes. 
Extravasation  of  blond  into  the  trachea 
and  lungs  was  tbund  after  death  in  each 

The  strength  of  the  dhtilh'd  waff^r  varies 
ffreatly.  1  oz.  can  be  made  to  take  up 
3.25  grains  of  oil.  It  deteriorates  greatly 
by  kee(>ing.  GiddiuetJs.  palsy,  ini^eu^ibiiity,  convulsions,  coma,  and  death 
mre  induced,  however  it  may  be  ndministerefl.  One  ounce  ban  proved  fatal, 
ADil  severe  symptoms  have  f(jllowed  the  ad miti lustration  of  half  an  ounce. 

The  peach  plant  (Amygdalus  pernica),  and  more  particularly  its  kernels 
an<l  the  young  shoots,  freely  yield  hydrocyanic  acid.  The  peach  blossoms 
have  proved  fatal  in  two  eases  (recorded  by  Coullon),  once  io  an  adult,. 
and  once  in  a  chihl  eijfhteen  months*  old.  tn  h<jth  ca^fcs  there  were  cou- 
vubioos  and  coma.  The  leaves  are  also  poistjinou?,  atid  have  produced  in 
one  ea^e  serious  resulis.  The  kernels  are  uyed  as  a  flavoring  for  the  eaii- 
de-noyau. 

The  Mountain  wih  (Sorbus  acicuparia).    The  flowers,  bark,  aod  espe- 


416 


POISONING    Bt    CTANIDB   OF  POTASSItTM. 


cially  the  root  of  this  plant  yield  a  distilled  water  coutaintDg  bydfoefituf 

acid. 

The  hark,  seeds,  and  leaves  of  the  dtutter  dierry  (Pranus  pii(lis\  riuM 
a  dbtiiled  water  similarly  poisonous.    Half  an  ounce  of  the  water 
a  dog.     The  fruit  is  also  (wisimtious.     The  cake  made  fn»ra  the  ki. 
been  known  to  prove  fatal  to  cows,     The  essential  oil  coutains  ik»  aiuciiJi* 
9.25  per  cent,  of  hydrocyanic  acid. 

CYANIDE  OF  POTASSIUM  (KCy). 

This  is  prepared  by  fusing  together  ferrocyanide  of  potasdiutn  (K^FeCy,) 
and  carbonate  of  potash,  in  a  crucible. 

2KpO,  +  2K,FeCy.  =  lOKCy  +  2KCyO  -)-  Fe,  +  2CO^  ' 

The  cyanide  is  used  by  photographers  for  dissoiving  the  silver  ehlonde, 
and  for  removing  silver  stains  from  the  bauds.     It  is  largely  '      '  '' 
electrotypers,  by  gold  and  silver  lace  cleaners,  etc*,  and  is  ihi 
some  of  the  non- mercurial  pi  ate- powders. 

It  haif;  a  similar  odor  to  that  of  pru^gic  acid,  and  is  a  white  deliqueteol 
cryt^tnlliiie  body.  It  it  very  soluble  in  water,  the  solution  being  cletr. 
coloi'lcjis,  and  very  alkaline.  It  id  also  soluble  in  »lcoho].  It  is  decMik- 
poeed  by  all  acidn,  pruw*ic  acid  being  set  free.  The  while  precipital* 
produced  by  nitrate  of  aiU^er  with  chlorides,  etc.,  is  soluble  in  an  excess  ftf 
potaspic  cyanide.  It  i^  a  deadly  poison;  5  grains  have  des^troyeil  life  i& 
tweuly  minutes,  but  this  is  by  no  meaus  the  snialla^t  dose  that  would  prore 
fatal.  Two  grains  will  kill  a  dog  in  eight  hours.  It  is  a  dangenius  dru| 
to  apply  to  the  skin,  becaui«e  of  the  local  chemical  action  it  imluce:*. 

Ah  regards  tests,  symptoms,  and  post-mortem  appearances,  see  Hydn^ 
cyanic  Acid. 

Respecting  the  action  of  Ofanide  of  Mercury  (HgCy'),  (vide  ]mge  210.) 

It  may  be  advisable  here  to  say  a  few  words  respecting  the  action  <d\ 
cvonid^  «/  Htiver,  and  of  '*  the  nflver  mfufion**  which  eonsista  of  cyaoide  ofj 
silver  dissolved  in  cyanide  of  p-Hassiynu 

The  action  of  cyanitle  of  silver  has  been  investigated  by  Dr.  Letheby 
('*  Mfdiciil  Gazette,"   N.  S.,  vul.  i,  and  '*  Medical   Times  atid  Gazette,' 
July  12,  18dl,  p.  43).     He  Hnds  if  the  cyanide  be  dried  before  admtna*-! 
tratiou  that  it  acts  simply  as  a  local  irrilant,  producing  vomiting  aud  i^ 
congested  state  of  the  vessels  ivf  the  stomach.     But  if  it  be  adnituiMered 
in  a   nwiiit  state,  then  it  is  rafiitlty  absorbed  and  [iroduces  the  urdiuafy 
effects  of  pru.<sic  acid.     Hornet imes  it  causes  convulsions,  mure  gfucnitlr 
paralysis,  and  always  profound  coma.     The  actiou  of  the  heart  bttx>iiie5 
irregular,  death  taking  place  by  a  gradual  exhaustion  of  the  invuluntanr 
acts,  respiration  ceasing  first. 

As  1  grain  of  anhydrous  prussic  acid  is  sufficient  to  cause  death,  it  mty; 
be  suppow'd  that  its  equivalent  in  the  silver  salt  would  also  be  sufBcteot,^ 
but  of  this  we  have  no  definite  information. 

A  sohition  of  cyanide  of  silver  in  cyanide  of  potassium  has  more  than 
once  caused  death.  It  is  used  by  tlie  cuimterfeit  coiners  ("  smiu<her!« ")  in 
order  to  obtain  a  silver  coating.  The  solution  is  usually  as  limpid  and 
as  colorless  as  water.  The  analysis  of  two  samples  of  this  solution  gav 
follows : 


i 


Specific  Gravity, 

.     1071 

1115 

Rewlinn. 

very  Mlknline 

Toul  Solid  por  cMjnt., 

.         .         .  '      12  5 

1«.6 

Ourbonnti^  itf  Pfitush, 

6.87 

lO  Sfl) 

X.40j 

C.vunide  of  Piitnrt»luni,      . 

5,03 

Cyanide  oT  Silver,    . 

,       .       .        l.eoj 

TESTS    FOR    THE   SULPBOOY ANIDB8* 


417 


Sine  and  copper  readily  decoDi|HJse  the  soIutioE  and  become  coated  with 
a  layer  of  silver. 

The  symptoms  produced  by  the  liquid,  so  far  as  they  have  been  observed^ 
Sin  to  differ  somewhat  from  thoj^e  induced  by  the  action  of  pure  hydro- 
/anic  acid  or  by  ryanide  of  silver.  It  does  not  usually  prorjuee  vomiting 
or  convulsions,  hut  it  occasioJi!*  pafuly^is,  a  proitlmtion  of  all  the  vital 
powers,  and  death  by  t*<inia.  The  post-raortena  shows  that  the  arrest  of 
the  circulation  takey  place  in  the  lurigs,  for  they  are  found  after  death 
to  be  highly  conge^^ted,  the  brotu-hial  tubes  aud  pulmonary  cells  being 
filled  with  a  frothy  rau'cus,  whilst  the  right  .*ide  of  the  heart  is  gorged  with 
black  fluid  blood  aud  the  left  side  empty  (Dn  Letheby). 

The  ••  non-mercurial  "  plat^-powders  are  ofleu  compo^sed  of  cyanide  of 
I  silver,  with  whiting,  or  some  similar  admixture. 

Ff-TTfityauich.  of  potasifinm  (yellow  prus^siate  of  potash),  (K^FeCyr,  or 
K,FeC,N^  +  3U^O),  is  prepared  by  heating  iiitrogenuus  animal  refuse, 
aucb  as  the  scrapings  of  horns  aud  hooCs,  with  iron  filing;*  aud  potashes.  The 
mass  is  afterwards  boiled  with  water,  filtered,  uud  the  solution  allowed  to 
atund  for  crystals  of  the  salt  to  form. 

The  ferrocyanides  are  not  poisonous,  or  at  most  but  very  feebly  so. 
Gazan  and  Callies  assert  that  two  or  thiiee  drachms  will  kill  a  d<»g,  but 
thi!?  has  been  proved  to  be  an  error.  8ehiibarth  gave  §  oz.  and  D'Arcet 
\  lb.  to  animals  without  any  other  effect  being  produced  than  a  mild  laxa- 
tive actioD. 

BULPHOCYANIC  ACID  (HCyS). 
Sufphoa/anide  of  Fofamium  (KCyS). 

Sulphocyanide  of  potassium  is  prepared  by  boiling  t<tgether  pure  cyanide 
of  jKttassium  aud  sulphur.     It  is  not  a  very  active  poison. 

Mayer  found  that  DO  grains  killed  a  rabbit  in  four  hours,  and  in  another 
case,  that  a  rabbit  died  from  5i-*^'  <^*f  ^  strong  sohiliou  after  ninety  seconds. 
There  were  no  convulsions.  In  other  case-i  ho  tbuud  rabbits  take  5'ij 
without  any  injurious  effect. 

The  appearances  found  after  death  were  similar  to  those  produced  by 
the  aetiou  of  an  irritant  poison. 

Wejitntmb  fi>und  4il  grains  killeil  one  dog  in  seven  minutes,  and  another 
in  two  hours,  convulsions  being  the  prominent  symptom.  The  poisou  was 
afterwards  found  in  the  blood,  lungs,  spk»eii,  and  kidneys. 

Soemerrbtff  asserts  it  to  be  an  active  poison.  He  found  that  30  grains  of 
the  potash  salt  killed  a  dog  in  oue  ruiuute,  and  that  3*»-  ^^  ^  concentrated 
tiuIpDOcyanic  acid  solution  proved  tatul  almost  iustantaueousty. 


TeMs. 

1.  A  ferric  salt^  such  as  a  solution  of  permdphate  of  iron,  produces  with 
sulpbocyanic  acid  or  with  the  sulpljoeyanide.s  a  blood-red  colored  liquid. 
A  similar  reaction  occurs  when  an  iron  salt  is  added  to  raeconic  acid, 
but 

(a)  The  red  color  with  imlphort/aHideM  is  discharged  on  adding  corro- 
sive sublimate,  and  is  not  discharged  on  adding  hydrochloric  acid  j 
whilst 
(/9)  The  red  color  ivith  mec^nic  acid  is  not  discharged  on  adding  cor- 
rosive sublimate^  and  is  discharged  on  adding  hydrochloric  acid. 

Having  produced  the  red  sulphocyanide  of  iron,  acidulate  the  colored 


418 


CASES    OF   POISONING    BT   PRUS5IC   ACID. 


solution  with  hydrochloric  acid,  and  ndd  a  piece  of  zinc*  when  solpbfrj 

retted  Uydnjgeu  will  be  produced  and  the  liijuid  become  bleached. 

The  toys  called  **  Pharaoh's  Serfients  "  consist  simply  of  $Hfph*i 
of  mertrnrtj  (  HgCy,Sj,     These  pljiythiiicfs  ignite  easily,  si  ltd  nn?  dani 
from  tiie  iiict  that  the  vapor  of  m«tallic  mercury  is  given  off   " 
with   mercuric  snlphide,  iitlrogen,  carhouie  and  sulphurt)!!!?  ari 
light  Molid  nmteriai  being  le.^'l  (niehiiiide  of  mcreiiry),  which  form?  u« 
niarkable  !<tmkelike  coil.     They  require  care  iu  their  u.^e. 

A  eai^e  (if  pott>oning  by  .swal lowing  one  of  the  little  cones  of  tli«  fulfil 
cyanide  of  niereury  is  recorded. 

Cyanic  w>id  (HCyO  or  HCNO)  is  a  monoba-sic  acid.     It  fortitf 

citlled  cyanate^.     Hiiuefeld  states  that  neither  the  acid  nor  iu  mUt 
poiwnoui^. 

Ca^es  of  Poinoning  w'ltK,  PrtM§ic  Acid,  ete, 

(I.)  PRUSSIC  ACID. 

CASE  1.— '♦RcTneMHIcoU',"  Feh.  tJMrj.  vol.  i,  [i.'2i\r,.  MnU>:  adult.  T.uik  .Ij  • 
aiuruuii{  wilh'tut  *>ir''cl  ;  u  seooniJ  .Tj  nft»-r  dlniier  wilhout  rffd-t  :  u  Oiltd  \|  of  W. 
AfltTWEinJK  Inkcn;  and  a  few  seCiHirls  ufn-rwurds  iiii>>tLi-r  3j  nf  IIm*  j^ime  Add, 

5ym/>/Pffu.— After  tlie  last  d(*»*  wulkcd  a  frw  nlr]M,  nnd  thrn  foil  down  9*-n»*i>'*»i  t 
eltriMyl ;  viulc>otounru]KJo»ii;  cunsciou«U€>^»s  riturni.^  in  two  hour*  ind  »  btilt ;  for  f< 
liLlIu  wattrr  wa<i  |NUu$ed.    H(.'cov«red  )il  tlibrteen  dayft. 

/?/#«//.— Recovery. 

CAi^E  '2—C,iiy'n  "  Forcnsio  Mi-dleJoL'  "  <Dr.  Ooyi;  "Medicftl  Timci."  Not.  22,  |!i*\  j,  V9,    «* 
ttt.  lil.    A  iiiouthfttl  uf  I'liarii^At'Ofj'via  acid. 

S^tHpiiinut.^AUvt  talcing  thf  ijoisoti  ijot  ».ulof  bfd,  wiilkcd  two  or  three  fardv  put  »♦>-  .f  ^»-t  ■ 
the  (Kitllc, and  valkc'd  back  to  the  VkhI  n^nlii,  and  (hen  beeann.'  aeusL>l**»  ;   for    lhrr«  h>. 
gMldutf  r*-»plrtti»oii ;  tlu- jawii  riiuiid ;  tiu*  pu\M*  dilated,  lit  six  hour*  »i?ii»lb(!iljr  rcii> 
dnink  (vtAj;  roniking  waa  llien  iuductxi ;  ilie  fiect^  »tid  itrJne  were  luvuJuutAriJy  exi^iivL 

RttuU—  Ht*c«j  very , 

TASK  a,—"  LancH."  J»d.  14.  1854  (Mr  H«rtnmi).    Mak*:  ast.  60.    :vJ  —  2.4  M*h.»  ' 

Si/iDphtnut. — Tortk  in  u  few  si'cnud^  5*»-  of  sf>.  aniiuoniic  fonip.,  whiUt  in  four  r  <  , 

C(i>li]  aHiiHluii  wa»  !i<tiulni<((rriM] ;  voiulEiuK 'lod  roiivulAioUB  «rc*ru  sucL't!«dml  by  lu- i... .».,..»,  ♦i-"* 
piimvrl  otfiu  iwftiiy  tiiJtiiiti'i!  ^  (Ik*  itijlt'ii>>iliilHy  i]id  not  come  an  for  two  iiiinul«»;  Iblr1f4^«  iM^ 
ulfj>  aHur  Itiking  Oi«  fKiivon  be  walked  iipstnirs. 

JUtuft. — Recovf  ry . 

CABB  4.—"  Edinburgh  Motilbly  JotiruaJ,"  FaU  16C.0,  p,  97  (Sir  Robert  ChrbUtoii t.    A  doH  af  Aoi 
—  I.fi  »nhrdrnt»!«  iiclid. 

Trf'M'nien/.^'Sluitiurh-puinp:  cold  ulTuhion.) 

/&s*wtf.— RiH'orrry  tti  thru©  liourn,  whh  ureat  d1nim.il(lon  to  fdewft. 

CASE  V— "  PfnvitJi  ltd  M»*dkal   and   Sunticsil   .JnurntV  P-  St'.  Auir.  IS.  IMIS  *l#r  llW»flfl{ 
"  Lauti't/'  Svju.  W,  tfUS.    Mall- :  a-l  40.     t^lTtl  tff  M-ld  1.1  'in  |M*f  font)  —  l.a^l  m 

.S'l/m/j/omji.— Rc'iiiaOmmI  KcnKibk'  for  twf>  iiiliiut<i«,  and  wa*  able  durinw  i\\i-  -»^»i 

of  hifl  fi'djngs;  fiicc' pulo,  but  »vollcn ;  con»dous  cvt^o  lo  n<tDi;rit^i«rO)((  hu  j^^.  ».  .....^  k,«,.i  m4 

atiff',  (cold  douche  «m  employed,  with  em«llui,  anituania,  and  blet^ing). 

JZa«Wf .— RwoT  ery . 

CASE  fi,— "Mfdlcttl  Gaxotte,"  ^ol.  ijtsrl,  p.  103  (Mr.  T.  Taylor/.    Male.  301«t  8ch««|«^  mM* 
aa1)ydroii«  acl'J, 

.%mpirofM.— Remahicd  inseDiIblo  for  four  hours.    Voinitiog.    Vomited  »i«lt«ni  had  Do  od»r«(  ttv 
poJwto. 

/Jwh/I.— RtvoYery - 

CASE  7.— "  Ijmct'l,"  June  7.  IMS,  p.  638  (Dr.  Letheby);  alto  July  W.  tM4  (Dr.  Utb«by  ni 
Hlck6>. 

^)^p/oiiHji.— When  tlip  poi*r.n  wan  taken,  Iho  patient  waa  sinlnR  Iu  a  chair;  •bi»  thrn  Jum^ 
mo  a  mhort  diMance,  and  then  M\  dowu  ;  arid  bc-caiiK?  at  ouct*  i«»on«(bfo  and  vhii.  nt!v 
ihi«  limbs  tH'raiitc^  flX4'd  !ti  teluDio  »[ia.<tiiiA;  the  fuccswidteu  and  purpli*;  llic  Ja**  uatX 

th«  mouth-.  oy«-s  ulJKltntni; :  popiU  witltdy  dilnli'd,  and  inBcfDsihIo  to  light;  Ion  >  Iktik 

in  twenty  ininutei ;  there  was  oo  »or«ani. 

Hfrul/.—Viaih. 

/Va/>rTiortrF7J.—.\l  the  poat-mortrm,  four  duye  nflfrdpalh,  Ittt"  llinba  were  «"*i  -t-'     -  «     t-fiaM 
and  ihf  jjtw.i  fjxrd  ;  !h<"  vi-hsoIh  on  tho  siirfaoe  nn<l  in  tbt  Uniin  wlvv   full  >.  I,  •»* 

Odor  of  j>ru«ale«ckl  was  noticed  when  the  cbent  waa  Mpenctl,  aud  f«nlc\>i 


CASES    OP    POISONING    BY    PRUSSIC    ACID. 


419 


irdlum;  Inng b c(in|teftt«d ;  Uiectomarh  wiu  he«tth j.  ezcrptnac  stnnll  red  pMcti ;  the  i'i'dU'qI* 
fiW*l  «l'rtd«<!1y  of  «bc  »rld,  but  the  rt^aptiotvs  tirTidiicttl  weo»  ouly  slUht, 
CA^^K  S.— "f'brl*il»on."  p.  7(>4  i  liiifrlaniJ  ).     Male:  ndnlt.    Deme  .  40.0  Krutnttofpttre  Rcid. 

-Slap!C«»rwl  for*  few  »ii'pii,at)d  lht;n  awnk  down  wlthonl  ajfroan;  after  a»horl  inttrrTnJ, 
X  fnrr  rtile  «'«pirutiou,  and  ofler  »C'Vf»r^]  touvuLitTe  n-^pirutlonK,  died  ill  Ato  U)lDutc4  afttr  swal> 

i^'*!^.— Pfftltl. 

f\is*-mivrtritt  — rouDKtiaiice  composed  and  cntm  ;  Mnod  duid,  cxbuliiig  a  nuell  of  pnmip  acid  :  vps- 
»«!•  <if  hmin  gor|{id;  IfTcr^rgcd;  fltuiuucb  aud  inte«tiuca  r«dsiid  aofteiicd;  luugs  turbid;  U-il  aid« 
f  llif  \irmri  4ftn|>t}r. 

i'A!>K  3  — "  l^ncK."  June  7,  IM^.,  p,  640  (Mr.  I^cith.jid).    F«mnle;  «t,  17     !0  of  add  f?K 
SymfJfr.w4.~Thr  fartB  »ho)rlhnt  ♦tu'  swnllowed  thi"  ucid.  rhdi  r<'eoik»>]    tli''  Jjollfi*.  tlinasl  Mm  IkiIIIo 
full  ami's  Ivngth  t»elirecn  the  feather  bid  and  uiHttresa,  luid  duirii  a»:nlu  and  drew  theclolhea  over 
llurr;  ihtrtr  wa^  nost«rloror  cuDvulaiuua.    Dtath  ]u  four  ur  five  tuiuutes. 

—Mr  l>lthcBd  «iuflled  tlie  arid  an  he  eDlered   the  rooja,  fourteen  hours  a  fit.*  r  death, 
rlierr  lb<  body  of  Ihc  ifirl  wa*  lyin*,'. 
CASK  10— "  MfdicaJ    OaieUt-."    April  4.  1«-I5;  "  Lnncet,"  Fi»b.  IS,  I.s4rt.  p.  IWt  {case  of  Mr,  D.8. 
Ui>lnii*9  ,    Mr.  PcHil.'yl     Male;  adtilt.  A  lilll«  U-m  itinti  .te*.  f>f  Sclu-eif's  ortd. 

Sffntjthtm*. — Drath  in  about  trn  mimiU-H;  tb|.>r*'  wua  iiu  M.Tt'aui  ur  cunvulalona.     He  corked  the 
[boltk-  littler  ti>kiDgtbe  polAon. 
SU»uU  —Death. 

/Vw-Mor/f««.— Ffkwt-iUort'Mt)  twenly-two  luiur?«  after  d<^nlh.    Blood  eiforywhere  dnrk-coloreil  and 
luid  ,  »iaei|uf  prunic  acid  lii  Uiv  oUiinach  diAtlocl,  bttt  noue  Jn  the  bruin  ur  heart;  ?ttiiuia<;b  bt  altby ; 
Is  of  bram  gorged. 

C^F^K  n.~"B*iMi»ii   Medkval  and  Surgl»l  Journal^'  vol.  ixxvll,  p.  322.    Male-   adult,    5vil  of 
PBcYio^lf'*  Hiid  —  2J,0  trraiuB  of  nnbydrotitt  acid. 

f^fv^ytxrmt.^ StK\'t  Inking  il  bu  walkid  lii  iht'dofir  of  hla  room,  iitiluekcd  it.  and!  then  WAlkinl  back 
gain  t<i  (]u<  tofa,  aud  stretchrd  biiin>e]f  u[H)d  it. 

CASE  12— Tfiylor  "  Oo  Poinona,"  p.  646.    S!ale:  as*..  44.     tea.  (?) 

j$fnDN/i/«iru— After  inking;  U.  wiilkrd  about  tt'n  atM|.B,  went  down  oi  flight  of  aeventetn  »iaira,  lli^n 
feiil  fij  a  drufc'jfi'l'*  »h«»j»  (nrly-fivp  pacei  distant;  aitked  for  sr^iue  more  poisKin,  and  at  that  niauient 
lr«ip|iT«l  down  (tiK^nsibte,  and  di«fd  in  from  five  lu  leu  tutiiulea. 
i6*>#«;/.— I>eatb. 

CASE  1.1  -■*  MprtJPBl  r.attiie."'  v^l.  till,  p,  759.    Female.  ProJiablr  ^\\«^,  of  the  acid. 
^^^imij.— Found  d«'ad.    The  firt'iim»t«nr«?J!  pmr**  i  lial  ih<''  ^\t\  hml  corkcNl  tb«  bottle,  wrapped  It 
11|i  in  p«i|)«r,  and  adjoKtvd  th«  bedclothes  allur  Inking  Ihu  pds^iti. 
^••//.— rvarh. 

CASE  14  —Taylor's  "Mcdkftl  Jurlapradence,"  vol  I,  p.  ."JfiS  (Mr.  Fr<?iieh).    Mal«.    Svli  of  comroon 
dc  arid 

j»pfim*.—^\\ry\r\A  for  fbur  or  five  minute*;  wa9*epn  f  wo  mtnutos  after  taklnfif  thc^  pohon.  whf'n 
tiufte  iuarntlble;  no  true  convulilona,  but  vouvubive  fir»  of  breathinff,  expiration  l>clng  very 


t— I>patto  in  four  or  flre  nlnutra. 
CASE  15.— "Medical  Tlioea,"  Jum!  6,  1*16,  p.  196  (Mr  Ilott).     Fenuale;  act.  23.     Considerable 

ifUKHllty. 

5ymjci<rrtii«.— Found  dead. 

JtrMt/r.-Prttlh, 

/HMl>iiNOffnn.— Cloltii-a  not  dliarrang^'d  ;  brafn  bKalthy;  slornndi  »oflii>what  inflam[>d;  pramic  acid 
fooikd  ( Dr.  Lci-sou  j. 

CASE  Irt.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jarispnideiai',"  vo).  I,  p,  364  (Dr.  Gcoghegan).    Male:  nrt.SO.  Lar|^ 

S^fmf*mn*,—-Yn\\xiiA  df-ad  in  hi«  bed. 

/V«fH»nrfMi.— In  fire  bouri*  aflrr  death  rlpidity  poi)-nMf>nci«d  ;  fac«pDl(^;  eye*  half  olowd— not  glis- 
teninx;  o«  frolh  »t  the  mouth;  nMnmpn,  when  opened,  ^ra'eTb  d  si  ronuly  of  the  acid— the  suicll  was 
well  markeil  in  ihe»tomarb;  mufokiA  memhrane  of  atomach  vnry  roiiKesled. 

CAPE  17— TayloT'a  " 51e<Mcal  JurUpntdente."  vol.  1.  p.  364  (Mr.  Blaktr,  Lewea).  Male ;  atlult.  5j 
of  Mtrooir  atid. 

J^rmjv^eww.- Found  after  Ihlrty  «econda  In  a  state  of  eollapse,  breathing  heaTlly. 

JKejWr.— Dt^th  In  twenly  uiluutiw, 

i>>iir-»*/»rrrFf».— Cfrni  c-oiiit^'-iion  of  Ihf  coals  of  the  filornDcb  towards  the  cardiac  end;  Intestiocs 
lll||;lilf  tonjrstrd  ,  membrani'f  of  the  brain  nf>t  cougestKj. 

CASK  W— -Lanirt,"  March  24.  IRW,  p.  .^10  iDr  fTr«>fcman»:  and  "Medlenl  Timfji  and  tlnreite," 
Marrh  S,  IMfl,  p.  !2SS.    Male:  wt.  40.  So  (^raiuH  of  :vTihydrous  acid,  or  \^  oz.  of  an  ni'ld  conlalnlug  I.4S 

sr  c^'nt. 

t.— Afli'r  taklog  It,  replaceil  the  l>ottK>,  shut  the  door,  ran  up  (leventiieti  alalra  atid  ricrOM  B 


420 


OASES   OF    POtSONINa    BT   PRUS3I0    AOID. 


lonne  iHixIfnK,  iiift«rw»r(1ii  up  ■  wrond  Dticlit  nf  «lj;hteeo  stairs,  xo4  wm  then  ahle  to  stand  and  ask 
fur  a»f»i*Unoc.    Death  occiirrrd  to  t«n  nalnut«-*  wltttuut  couvulAioaa. 

Afralt— Dpatb  tri  l<pn  ruinutefl. 

/WHwor/rm,— PuAUniorteni  in  thirty  houn.  Piif>ils«|ilatod  ;  im  fidur  nf  the  poison  »l  tUe  mouth  ; 
all  the  orxtin»cnD|fC9t(.*d ;  U'fti'anitac  ventrirle  very  contracted  and  emply ;  the  rlifht  nith-  full  of 
dark  fluid  blood ;  blood  everywhere  dutd;  rntirou!*  iiieniliimn(>  of  thn  ^toinarh  r^d*'n<d,  and  the 
stomach  iltctf  contracted  ;  no  odor  notlceahle  except  Jtinl  wliou  the  ftoiuAch  wem  opened- 

CASK  19,^" Tjincet."  Nov.  %  IWJI.  p.  419  (Dr.  Ijiwr<'nc<«r,vn>.    Mnle,  adult,    Probnhly  ationt  ^. 
#ym/rf</frif.— No  w;rean)  henrd:  nn  froth  from  lb<>  mouth,  nnd  Dohullcalfunorconvuliioiiii;  no  smell 
of  the  Slid  ml  Ih**  mouth  after  out)  hour  und  a  half. 

CASK  20.—"  Mt^cal  Tlroc»  and  Ga«ctte,"  Oct.  22,  1864,  p.  434  {Mr.  lirllfiu).    Male:  mL  89.    (T) 

JfeW/.— De«lh. 

Pott-mortem  —Found  dead-  No  smell  of  pruwfc  acid  detected  in  the  mouth  ;  the  bottle  wa*  found 
in  anitther  room  ta  that  in  which  the  man  irat^  found  dead;  atomaeh  a  deep-red  color;  pruuk  acid 
found. 

CASE  21,—"  LNncet,"  Jan.  ]»<M.  p.  52  f  Dr  GriffltbV    Male:  adnlt.    Hj  of  Scheele'ft  acid. 

S^mjttifm'.—AfUT  Uking  \i  be  walked  to  bia  bud,  paued  water,  got  Into  bed  and  partly  covered 
htmseir  with  the  vlutlies. 

TTrnfr//.— Di*ath. 

PuH-mortem.SUghi  confreatloD  of  the  ttomach  at  the  sreater  curvature.  It  amelled  after  eight 
dayi  of  ihe  pcdHoti. 

CASK  22—"  Lancet."  S^^pt.  14, 1844,  p.  7.11  (Mr. Crisp,  WulwortbK    Male:  let  41    Quantity  dotibt- 
fol— probably  »  lurge  qnanLlty. 
/?/•#«//.— l>t'Hth 
PMf'mnrt^m.—Toit-fD'Mftn  fnrly-eigbt  hours  aftrr  death.    No  «idor  detected. 

CASE  an.— "Lancet,"  Pec.  14.  1844,  p.  316  ^r.  r^jtheby).  (Case  of  Dnckett  and  JIlss  WllUania,) 
2caii«a.    Mnlt^:  set.  21;  female:  a^t.27.    Each  al«ut.\|. 

JJiar(«.— Death. 

/\>rf-««irfr»/i,— post-mortem  after  iwHfe  hoiif*.  Fi^imd  xfivr  dleatb  wllh  Ihfir  arnii  arranffOd 
rottnd  riitch  other  ;  tht' e-lnlbfs  iiol  iM'ln^  Id  lhi<  stlcbt'-M  dei;rce  d!i*Arnini;id;  bcnCe  no  c<>n*ulitlona 
bad  prol-.fti»ly  iw-oiirru'd  ;  hloiid  of  hnih  wvi*  dark,  fluid,  nnd  »rnelt  of  the  potsun  ;  stoinnch  (lantally 
conKeHti'd,  with  occailonal  white  patches  and  red  dm*. 

CASE  24.— "Lanert,"  April  5,  1845,  p.  S7fl  fcaae  of  Tawell,  tried  for  the  murder  of  Sarah  Hart). 
Female.    (?) 
Sympltim*. ^Eyn  hrilllant-,  pnpIU dilated. 

AM'-wiOfyfOT.— Plight  TrnouicoDrteiitlon  of  lunjj;  Home  doubt  about  whether  there  wa^  any  smell  of 
the  polaon  Rt  the  fjoM-moriem  etKhteeu  houra  oft<*r  di'aih, 

CASE  2S.—*' Lancet,"  Sept.  14,  1R44,  )».  7r,\  (Mr.  CrUpv.    Male;  wt.  42.    Prohtibly  S<j. 

^mp^oflw.— After  taking  ft.  put  th^i  litmbler  in  Ihv  piU  df  ehambre,  panUed  It  utub>r  the  bid,  and 
turned  himself  on  his  left  side. 

A^mXI.— [>-ath. 

Piut-mortfm. — Bloody  serum  Iwued  from  lh'*raowlh;  relniion  the  arms  were  diittend<i'd  wtlli  piiqile 
1>1'mk1,  and  crininon  flfjot*  ftiuiid  on  vnrluus  parts  t>f  the  liody ;  duubt  about  the  presence  of  any  odor 
(po»l-mort««i  st'reuty  hour*  after  death). 

CASE  SB.— "lADcet,"  Oct.  11.  iS74,  p.  .^22  4Mr.  J.  Ilotrdl  Thonia4i.    Male;  irt.  44.    4j  Phsmi,  seid. 

JSi|iiH^iM.— No  tetanic  mnrulslitna,  nor  diwhnrge  of  urine  or  Ik^^es;  no  cry  before  death',  ptiplla 
dllsled.    fk^ath  in  thiity-tive  ur  forty  minutes. 

Rrm/f.—Dimlh. 

7\)x/<-iinAr/riin.—8m<'n  of  artd  noticed  in  brain  ;  huiK«  Rorsfcd  with  l[<iiiid  Wimh!;  hesrt  i-mply;  no 
STii**tl  of  sold  in  heart  or  lunKs;  patchen  "f  ronp*»iU>u  in  iW  jflormuch,  dufidt^muo,  and  Hiurn;  faint 
odor  of  till' nc id  tn  liver,  kidneys,  and  Kpleeu  ;  blood  everywhere  fluid  (post-mortem  Iwebty-two 
hours  aAcr death). 


J 
I 


in,}    OIL  OF  BITTER  ALMONDS. 

CAPH!  27.—*'  Lancet,'*  r>ec.  6,  18*5,  p.  iBI2  f  Mr.  Ilclley  i,    FcmBle  .  let  21.    Two  pennyworth  (?). 

Sitmpfam: — Couniensnoe  lit-ld.  appareitl  iiMoxic-fttion  paaainK  into  ii>sensU»ility "  pitpiUcontnicted. 
(Tlve  slomarh-piijup  wss  uwd);  bladder  and  boweU  acted  Invnlnutarlly  ;  she  afliTwarda  rou>*«^  tip, 
wbr'n  thf  pupilA  b«<ramedilslpd;  numbnesa  In  legs  and  arms  set  In;  and  coma  eoutiuued  for  some 
lime,  t»ut  «he  i-vdotuaily  recovered. 

.ffrtMrt. — RecoTery . 

CASE  2».-"  Uncet,"  Sept.  21,1839.  p.  9  tO  (Mr.  P.  B.  Chavssae).    Male:  adult,    las.  of  oil. 

^SyMyrfemr.— became  l&»eti»iUte  iu  half  a  minute ;  vomiting  occurred  In  a  few  minute,^,  with  delirium 
•nd  convulsions. 

JEamU.— ftaoorery. 


CASES   OF   POISONINa   BT   OIL    OP   BITTER    ALMONDS. 


421 


^'Uifj,  irii.lii-s,  coll 


A% 


dintaoce  of  aboitl  one  hundred  jrmrdai.  His  vye*  thvu  scH^tntfi)  to  be 
L'keta;  therr  wiia  coiupU'lt*  opUitiotoausind  tctaaic  spaaiua.  (Slumnch' 
Becavory  iu  Iwu  buur«  and  n  half. 


29.—'* Lancet."  June  S.  1844,  p,  3»  ^Mr.  Smith,  of  riirtoo).    Femate :  sL 8,    EascQcc  sj  (— 
t4>  8  spirit)  —  T  drops  of  the  oU  taken. 
^r«<y//rfp,«.— AtinMt  liuiuediatv  puLM'luuacfift;  jaw  became  firmly  clenched  ;  dilated  pupilni  Ihe  ejrea 
;(  .  iDiw^nftibilitjr. 
Rinivery. 
'  — "IldtUb  Medical  Journal,"  Aug.  IS.  l&SA,  p.  1«7  (Mr.  Bljurta>     Female:  et>  S.    A  lable- 

^■nu.— F(>iUDlog  at  ruoiitb  ;  pupila  dilated  and  fiied ;  drowiloees.    (Emetics,  cold  douche,  and 

■ri  llsi-d.J 

JtdMJvpry. 
.I.—"  Briiijh  Medical  Journal,"  Dec.  21,  1861,  p.  6.W  (Dr.  Barker),    Male  :  set.  6.    Two  tea- 

ipf»M«._Pupi|s  dIlAl<Nl ;  ef  M  brlUtatil  and  glMty.    (Culd  atfualon  and  stintulanta  glTen.) 

,.'-••  L«neet."  Jan.    13,  1855  (Mr.  Purcell).    Male:  rt.  4.    Sb  or  3t  of  the  oil  of  btiter 
^""■M.i,  «'fj[|ii>4:itirat^-d  I. 

^vtjfiiwit.—Afxvr  lakinx  It,  he  ran  ujwtairs,  and  on  reaching  the  passage  fell  down  iD«cnHlble;  he 
^^  tiicn  i-arrieil  to  the  duclor,  a 
**>»ii.i  ,.r.i«n..iiM^  froui  llielrsf 
cold  atTualuo.) 
K«?cwv«ry. 

'   l.-l     ;:j.— Taylor's  "Medical  Jurlaprudetice,"  toI,   i,  p,  371  (Dr,  Bull,   Hereford);  "Prorlncfal 
^txiuA  Ji»un»»l,"  Sept.  11,  1844.  |>.  a64.     Feainle :  «!.  4S.    17m.  of  eMenLlal  oil. 

iiymj<tr,nu. — In  Afteen  iiiiiml«'HsjiiiptQiusa«lln,wlthalroDgconvuIa{oni.  (Stuiuach>puEnp  waauaed); 
•UtMHubUity  ;  ttothing;  al  nioutb,  and  dilated  pupUa. 
_  MtnlL — I>«*alb  Iu  thirty  miuutfs. 

Aia>  mortrw.— Bitter  alun>tid  jiiicll  pervei^llblf*  in  ibealcwMU-A  nine  hours  after  death,  but  not  Iu  tho 
tlkeaC.  h>'ad,  or  hf«rt;  bralo  coogtMtcd,  w^itli  clTublori  of  seruiu   in  vcnirlclds;  niucouii  uuembrancof 
tbvatiiiDacb  cougealt^. 
trAfit  34.— Taylor's  "Medk-al  Jurlaprtidennp,"  Tol.  i,  p.  371.     Male:  art.  13,     A  ijuftnLUy.    (T) 
i^fmf>4»m*.— a tj  couvuLsluUft-,  (here  wns  ioseuBibility  aud  dilatt-d  pupils. 
Jt^y*i//.— Death  in  fiftwu  luinutos. 

f^ti.iur„it^  —iMlor  of  poimu  dett-cted  in  the  atomacb ;  the  mueoua  meiubnine  of  lbs  atomi«h  waa 
|ialr,  wjth  tctbymustd  »pot«< 

CAi»£  ^<— Taylur'«  "MvdiealJurlisprudence."  vol.  J,  p.  S7L    Male :  wt.  20.    JiJ. 
S^fttjxiu.—lvil  down  auddenly  lu  ibe  aci  of  ■wallowiug ;  made  a  laud  cry ;  ga?6  oae  de«p  expira- 
Uon,  mud  died. 
iecMUr.~'l>euth  inataotaaetiualy. 

CASE  W.— Taylor's  "  Mcdieal  Jurisprwdence,"  vol,  I,  p.  871.    Female :  n3t.  4B.    ITI  xxx  of  the  oil. 
J^l^jptowu.— InneualtiHty  act  \i\  in  leU  uilniiiles;  pupiUdilaCetJ;  fr^^thy  tuui-ma  at  the  inuulh  :  lower 
'jiv  .  '   'irealhbd  slowly  aud  heavily  ^  odur  uf  bitter  ahuondit  perceived  in  the  breath;  soiue 

bk«'  '•  lb<-  arm  wa*  (uund  thick  aud  divrk. 

Jir  >  in  ihtrty  mlnutk'B. 

CASE  37  — Taytor'a  "Medical  Jurisprudeucc,"  vol.  1,  p.  372.   Female :  lel.  3a.    S«i.  of  enaenllal  oil. 
.— Ju  ten  mlnutea  ehe  wiu  fuuud  seuBcleaa  and  motionleaa ;  pupiU  dilated;  breathlug 
uo  cunvuttiona. 
r.— Death  tn  thirty  mioutes. 
CASK  »S  — "  Lancet,"  Dec.  i:i,  IH  U,  p.  656.    Hale :  wl.  19.    SiJ  of  the  oil 
S^pH/m* —ItiUi*^  pupLl<t;  death  iu  three  huur«. 
/I.— iKalh, 

frm— Braiu  and  luoga  gnrgcd  ;  heart  filled  wlib  fluid  blood  ;  theatoniacb  on  being  opened 
led  atrougly  of  bitter  aluiouda. 
CAi^K  39.— "  Journal  Cbmpleineutaire.'Vvol.  xvll,  p.  »GG;  "♦  Chrlstlsoo,"  p.  786  (Metadorff).    Male- 

4«.    31JI  ul  the  oU. 

jt^m/jlciffu.— Ill  a  IC'W  minutea  wan  found  lu  1h-  in  apaaiua ;  and  in  twenty  mloutea  was  quite  luaen- 
albla;  puplU  ioiiuorable  ;  breaihiugsterlurouA,  and  the  odor  of  tbu  piiiBuadiatincl. 
£ic«m/i.— Death  ia  ibiay  uiioutoa. 

iVil-«M.«rteiik.— Putrelaetioo  rapid;  blood  fluid  ;  veins  everywhere  turgid;  ittouiach  atid  InleatlDM 
rery  red. 

CAliK  40.— "  London    Medical  aud    Physical   Journal,"  vol.  Ivil,  p.  WO ;  "ChriaUaon,"  p.  786  (Mr. 
XeJUM!4f ).    Malv'^  adult.    Ate  a  qtiuutity  uT  bhier  uliunuda. 

,— Dropped  down  Buddeoly,  tend  luood  to  be  luaenalble;  Impefceptlble  pulae,  lb«  breatb. 
(«r  the  ifOtaou. 
ftMft.^Duith. 

t  A^K  41.—"  Lancet."  March  lo,  1866,  p.  255 (Dr.  Barclay).    Male:  at.  57.    3lJ  of  the  oil  takeo  one 
liour  after  bn^akfast. 

f*jfm§tlomu,—ln  twenty  minutes  he  wna  found   speech le.<i» ;  pupili  dilated  ((ho  .ttomach^pump  waa 
ttacd.aiMloDiaUea  ffirco>;  In  forty  minutea  after  the  atom^eh-pump  had  beoa  uaed  be  rallied  ;  thirty- 


422 


•OIBONING    BY    CYANIDE    OF 


five  miuule*  uflerwards  TOtnitini;  Dccurri  d.  itinl  trtuuit.-  coovuklonsMt  Id  ;  malign 
larlly  ;  bn'iilhlnK  became  »pa».n>udit?.    Died  lu  tlireK  Imurs. 

Rfjtnit.—lh'tLlh  ill  thrvc  hourh, 

Pvot-tMrtrnK—Vo-il-tnoHriti  iti  tnrtily-ftHir  lii>ur».     Dark  fliiUI  l»lnod  in  Ktl]) ,  l*ni%[ 
priiMtc  aclJ;  tiitJctiUH   iufniljr»n»' of  the  stomich   cungrstrd,  And  atudtcyl  atrungijr  ot 
blowU  fluid.  vxu-ciJtlDK  a  clot  in  the  right  wnlddeof  ibu  beari. 

CASE  «.— *'  Phttriaatruutk'Bt  Journal,"  May,  1819,  p.  68.1    JEu  l«  months.    Tiin  *««*iituj< 
intteud  uf  the  Mil  of  ulitiuiKiH. 
JttftuJt.—lftatU  ill  uquui-lfroC  an  buiir 

CASK  4.1.—"  Piiarmacetitical  JanrtJiil, '  Jnn.  l^HO,  p.  389.    JEl.9moa\hiL    Small  ^loaa. 
/?eni//,— Ucalh  to  iiir«t'-qiiari<*r«  oluni  lii>un 

CASE  44.— "LiitJcet."  Pec.  1.  iWa,  p.  ^V^  ^Mr.  Illff).     Fetualc :  ttU  24. 
^ywi^/'w**.— Foutid  dead  ;  btiXUii  n-pUtcrd  Hi  pockt'l. 
Jl/^uft  —Death. 

PiMi-morUtH.—Pupih  dilated  ;  ainoM  of  the  pnisoo   at   the  aiouth,  and  oa  opening 
very  dUiinct. 

CASE  4.V—"  Medical   Timen  nod   tinKclte,"   Dec.  18,1855,  p.  609  {Ite-.QuatD). 
(t-ach  driichmciauLaliied  3.42  atibydriHiA  prujisic  add). 
Hj^nt^tomt.—Artvr  tokiug  it.  walkL>U  dnwuMaln. 
Rnutl. — iH'utb  111  Ico  niinuteji. 
/V«(-ffM>f<«'wt,— Outopha^ud  normal;  alomach  of  a  chocolate-broim  color. 


(in.)  CYANIDE  OF  POTASSIUM. 

CASE  46.— Taylor's  ♦' Medk-iil  Junsprudence?."  voL  I,  p.  b7»  iDr.  Taafcj,     Malcc 
tban  1  OS. 

A>in/y/owu.— Insensibility  and  »tc'rtorou)i  brealtiing;  came  on  In  a  few  ralnutes   istntni 
cold  vtlwftiou  was  used  \a  t<eii  luluute^  ufler  the  puiBoo  was  tjtkun;-  vutuillng  in  l«u 

£««*«.— Recovery. 

CASE  47  — "  Chrlfttison,"  p.  771.    Or.  ^-J  used  aa  Injeclloti. 

Sifuvptitm*. — ConvuLblooa;  palxiiiatlou;  diUUnl  pupilti,  tkud.  death  ia  oikeboar. 

CA8E  48.—"  Tardjfu  snr  n-:in|MjlMmni'rneut,"  p.  10:i4.     A  little  piece  of  IheeytttUe  | 
nail  lira  pbutograpbfr,  to  wbieb  h«  jill:frward<4  applU-d  vinegar. 
HjfmplOfNS. — No  losts  uf  coDsciouKDCsa ;  but  severe  sy  mpluiun. 
He*\UL — Recovery. 

CASE  49— "British  and   P'orojgn  Medical  Review."  1857,  vol.  19,  p. 49S;  atnl 
and  Suruical  Journal,"  nec.H.l»r«.    7  ffralos. 

^'yM«/>/'rf7M.— Immediate  palti,  and  6oon  after  unconaciouanras ;  no  oonvnlsiooa,  but  *  i 
alve  UL'tiuti  ofthe  body  took  pluce  after  the  heart  bad  ceaaed  t^  bcot, 

JUtuiL — rk-cith  In  one  hour* 

CASE  SO —Taylor's  "  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  vol.  i,  p.  5G9.    Female.    5  gTAln% 
iSl^m/i/vmf.— lVDCOO»ciou9Dess  In   two  tnlnutei;  convitlsloua;  dilated  pupils; 
tetaiiuf  (ituiuaeh'-pump  wsia  used  five  minute  after  the  poiwia  had  been  taken), 
/Zs*M/l.— Dcaib  la  twemy  luiuutea. 

CASE  61,— "Medical  Times  and  G«j»tt«,"  October  12,  1860.  p.  3W  (Dr.Bosa). 
Quantity  (7). 

5yiN;jifoMj.— Found  dead,  knetOinf  at  the  side  of  tlM  bed;  involnntary  pMaing  (»f  • 
tetunu,^  ntid  uplalhutonoa  hud  ap|Mreiitly  occurred. 

/E-.*!.//.— Death. 

/\i*/.«M>rtem,— Posi-mortom  on  third  day.    Lungs  coDfesled ;  stMUteb  very  red 
iu  anntyHiiii ;  blood  fluid. 

CA8E  52.— "Medical  Times  and  Gmsette,"  Nov.  9, 1850,  p.  482  (Dr.  Hioda).    A  I»n«# 
dnmkard. 

lf^if4ijms.—iIo  signs  of  convut»loD§;  frulh  issued  from  the  nose;  bands  tool 
diluted. 

ifcTM/f,— Death  In  leas  than  one  hour. 

I*wi-tmiritu*. — Counleuonre  natural ;  feature*!  placid;  brain  pale  ;  lungs coageeied  ; 
blutid  flutd  ;  stomach  Inflamed,  and  smelletl  of  tbe  {Hiiaiiu. 

CA.'SE  sa.— Taylor's  "Medfcnl  Jnriflpriidence,"  vol  I,  p.  870.    Female:  utt.  IK.     P«*« 

itymptffma. — Vomiting;  iusenaiblllty ;  pulselessnesii    in  twenty  mtuuU'M  (aniiiotai 
cold  afTuiiion  were  tritnl). 

A>jri«//.— Death  in  thirty  minutes. 

pt)ff~morlfm. — Mticous  meU3braue  of  stnmnrh  Iliji'Cted;  On  eorroilnn  abowt  the 
hcnlthy  ;  contenlsof  stomach  had  an  almond  odor;  prusslc  acid  was  Found  on  an«lyi 


t»f  srlftHl 


dealH 


.SBS    OF    POISONING    BY    CYANIDK    OF    P0TAS8IDM. 


423 


SE  M.— "  BHtiAb  Mtfdtcid  Journnl/^  NoTcmbor  2,  IBr.i.  p.  475  (Mr.  Dftrley).    MaIc:  at.  46. 

\n 

iih. 

K— LifMs  di»lorl«],  ««  if  by  conviilflions-  liver,  ttplcon,   lunca,  and  kyiii;j«  congt'stid 
I  empty  ;  Biomaoli  vt* rf  C4rtige«ted,  empty,  und  onntmcl'-d  ;  Mor  1ep\l  Hinrkrd. 


hr.)  CYANIDE  OF  POTASSIUM  AND  CTANIDI!  OP  SILVER. 

IE  as.—"  M««licul  Ttrnr*  and  <Ja»f  tl#^,"  July  12,  litM,  p  41  i  Dr,  l>llu'by>,    Foniftlo.    SiJrer  sola- 

r7>uid«  of  »ll»«r  In  cyartitltj  of  ^t»«!iium,  usctI  fur  uuuKui;  tiniuterMi  inotiey ). 

{/Amvm.— Appeared  aa  If  lutoxfcaled  ;  loaa  of  voluutary  tuuiiuu  ;  ra|jld  LDaeosibility  :  no  •tiukiifsa 

lit.— I>^Blli  )ii  forty  mitnitfji. 

■mertem.^i*inl-n%<>TUun  iu  ibirly-lwr)  boiini.    Countenance  composod;  eyps  glisten (hk;  puplia 

ti  Jawa   flrmly  iJtiiu lietl  ;  Hgcr  oinrtiii  vrryalrong;  riiciiibram>s  of  brain  inuth  congissled; 

■i4«  of  hi'arl  lull  uf  unfuattnlalcd  blood  ;  bluddcr  empLjr;  atomach  nmi;  Hraell  of  pruuic  at'id 

!U 

e  M.-"  Medical  Timea  and  Gasetlo,'*  July  12, 1851,  p.  41  <  Dr.  Lcthc(>y).    FkiujIu  :  »t,  24.    Sly 
above  tilver  solution. 

pi^RNU.— .Siiddcu  iuaenidbility ;  eonrulsiona;  foam  fruin  mouth, 
ir.— Ihitib  Iu  len  inlouWs. 

inuHmtn. — pM6t-iDorl«iu  iu  forty  houra.    Moulb  cnircred  wUH  fo«m  ;  TCB«^b  of  the  bralu  Kurjj'd 
liiud;  lunga  and  tloioacti  cougestcd. 

■  (V.)  LAUREL  WATER. 

^fc.— "Cftii^of  SirTheodoslu»Botigbtun"Urlaluf  IhJDfllttii),  Ilt?ek*8  "Medical  JurtBpruden<}«." 

^Bulr :  el . 20.    A  d rnu gb I  it). 

Mm*.— Iu!>«n9ibl1lly  In  tirteru  uiioutea;  tuelb  locked,  froth  front  month ;  ejea  fixed. 

M. — l>parh  in  iblrty  mlnures. 

•merttm — (ir«*at  rtnuuii  cuokcsiIod  everywhere;  atoraach  rery  red. 

E  5«.— i'otillou's  "  Keeherchca."  p.  95. 

vfamu.— A  chlid  dlvd  from  tb*:  clTectd  of  laurel  Icavca  applied  to  aiarxfe  aore  on  the  Deck. 

«.— l>eath. 

E  S9.— "  Coullon't  **  Recherchea,"  toI.  xxxtU,  p.  84.    Two  persona  drnnk  some  -of  the  water. 

E».— la  oot'  case,  ihrt^  spooo/ub  wvrw  swatlitwed.    Di>a(b  lo  one  case  occurrtnl  In  nnu  hour, 
MCuud,  lit  a  few  mlnuLea.     No  cunrulaiuna  in  either  cme, 
tK-alb. 
E  €0. — Fodfrifr,  vol.  Iv,  p.  27.    Two  penioaH  swallowed  several  mouthfuLieach  of  the  water, 
ftamjL—lknti  died  almost  iutlvknily  in  fuuvulaion». 

e  «!.— lIufelADd's  " Journal der  PrakilMluu  Heltkande,"  Feb.  1844  (Dr.  Uayn).    Male:  old. 
'  cherry  Uun*!  water.  ' 

mmt.—Att«T  thr«'Nr>  hours  lK*catu«  paralysed  in  bauds  and  feet,  but  did  not  loae  aensalton; 
I  facultlw  clear  to  tlie  liul ;  at  length  the  ruitiilrulury  musclm  became  Mlbetcd,  and  he  then 


tf.^D«atb. 

(VI.)  CHERRY  KERNELS. 

E  AS.—**  Medical  Times,**  May  17,  1W5,  p  123.     Ftnnilo  .  U5t.  5.    The  keroela  of  some  sJonea  of 
rry. 

-InLenaecotDa;  eyes  cloaed :  pupils  dUati^  ;  resplmttou  hurried;  urine  and  foMiea  in- 
iiArKed;  couvulsious. 
In  f«ir«y  hours, 
.  '^toioach  reddoued. 


k 


See  other  CaKrn  of  PohnnoHj  by 
(I.)  PRUSSIC  ACID. 


Inburgh  3fcdical  and  Surgical  Journal,"  vol.  xtvill,  p.  14  (Dr.  Banks).    RMOvary  after  thirty 

e«. 

king's  "  Half- Yearly  Atstrocl,"  vol.  it,  p,  399. 

dkal  Times  and  Gooetle/'  Jan.  »,  18.^^  p.  M.  (Case  of  Agnee  Montgomery— Englesham  Cooe.) 

lubunfh  Mmnthly  Journal,"  Feb.  IWW,  p.  »7, 

lUcal  Gaxeile/'  vol.  xxxv,  p.  8G». 


/n.)  OIL   OP   BITTER  ALMONDA 
L"  Ort.  17. 18flS,  p.  44  (Mr.  Philllpsj. 


POISONING    BY    ACETIC    ACID. 


(m.)  CYAinDIl  or  fOTABQlXJM. 

"Chemlail  New»,"  ft-pl,  5,  I8ft3.  ant!  ApriJ  27.  IWl,  p.  280. 

"Medlcml  T|mt?«  nod  Gajelte,-'  July  13.  1HS1.  p.  41. 

•'  Ltuctft,**  October  17. 1B63,  p.  «47,  imd  vt>t.  I,  IS7),  p.  909. 

(IV.)    LAURBL    WATER. 

"Philoiiopbieftl  TnuuacUoiui,"  1739.  p.  -152, 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


VEGETABLE   ACIDS. 


Acetic  neid — Cifrir  acU~O.Totie  «<*«/— Properties  of— Bhio^-nlnfe  of  potnnh — Symp- 
toms and  Ti'8ls — Toxicokigicnl  uDttlyais— iiJtBina  on  cioiii^ PyroffaUic  acid — 
Tartaric  acid. 

ACETIC  ACID  (HC,H,0,  =  60). 
Acetic  Anhydride  (C^H,0,). 

The  destructive  distillation  of  vvoot!,  or  the  spoDtaneous  oxidatioo  of  the 
alcohol  of  wine  as  carried  out  in  Germany,  or  the  nimihir  process  with 
naalt  solufion  as  adopted  in  EnglHtid,  are  the  eonimoii  sourecij  of  acetic 
acid.  Vinegar  ordinarily  contains  ahoui  5  per  eent.  uf  ueetic  acid.  The 
PbarinacopaMa  acetic  acid  contains  33  per  cent,  uf  real  acid,  and  28  of 
acetic  anhydride. 

Acetic  acid  iy  an  irritant  poison.  One  oz,  of  the  strong  acid  has  killed 
a  dog  in  an  hour  and  a  quarter,  wliiUt  4  or  5  ojm*.  of  vinegar  liave  caused 
death  in  times  varying  from  ten  to  fifteen  hours.  Tlie  stomach  has  been 
found  jHsrforated.  In  the  human  subject  death  has  occurred  after  six 
hours.  Recovery  is  recorded  after  2  or  3  oz^.  of  acetic  acid  taken  by  a 
man  in  a  state  of  intoxication.  ConvutsiooB  and  saiivation  are  stated  to 
have  occurred  iu  some  cases  of  poisoning. 

The  tests  for  acetic  acid  and  for  the  acetates  are  as  follows: 

(1)  On  heating  an  acetate  with  sulphuric  acid,  free  acetic  acid,  which 

may  he  recognized  by  it*!  odor,  is  evolved. 

('2)  If  a  tew  drops  of  spirit  be  added  before  the  application  of  heat, 

acetic  ether  (acetate  of  ethyl;  is  given  off,  which  may  be  known  by  its 

peculiar  apple  odor. 

(3)  If  the  solution  of  the  acetate  be  neutralized,  and  a  few  drops  of  a 
neutra)  sohition  of  perchloride  of  iron  added,  a  deep  red  liquid  will  be 
produced.     {Ferric  acetate.) 

(4)  Acetic  acid  reddens  litmus,  even  when  in  great  dilution. 

Toxicoloffical  Analyns. 

In  a  medico-legal  examination  itmunt  be  remembered  that  some  observer? 
(Tiedemann,  Gmelin,  Leuret,  and  La?^aigne)  have  ai*serted  that  acetic 
acid  Is  A  natural  ^secretion  of  the  stomach.    Something  more  than  a  mere 


426 


as  tbat  of  bookbinder!*,  leather  and  straw-workers,  brasR-vityrkeiVi 
whom  it  is  known  as  "  acid  of  sugar."  It  is  also  cumtnoaly  ummI  to 
ink-?«iain8. 

Frequent  accidents  have  occurred  from  its  having  been  tiiij 
Epsom  salts  and  for  sulphate  of  zinc,  to  both  of  which  it  bc«ni^ 
resemblance.      It  b  rarely  used  for  the  purpose  of  committing 
but  rmt  uofrequently   by  the  suicide.      Most  of  the  deaths,  howet 
corded  by  it  iiave  beeu  accidental. 

Could  a  poisonous  dose  of  oxalic  acid  be  admiaistered  to  a  peraaj 
against  his  will,  and  unbeknown  to  him  ? 

Dr.  Thudichum  {"  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  April  21,  l«60,p. 
holds  that  tijb  is  impos^sible,  inasmuch  as  he  considers  that  a  ■{ 
aci<l  not  greater  than  10  grains  in  a  pint  of  gruel  may  be  easilj; 
by  the  taste.     The  experiments  of  Br.  Thudichum,  however,  are  opi 
many  aud  obvious  objectioas. 

Phifsical  Properties. 

Oxalic  acid  is  a  colorless,  transparent,  odorless  solid,  crystallixinffin 
four-sided  prisms,  which  are  permaijeut  in  air,  and  uoi  deliqueBceaL  T\iit 
oxalates  generally  are  colorless,  crystallizable  salts. 

Chemical  Properties, 

It  has  a  very  strong  acid  reaction.     It  i»  soluble  in  9J  part^  o^ 
16^  C,  much  more  soluble  iu  boiling  water,  freely  soluble  in  al- 
insoluble  in  ether  or  chloroform.     All  the  oxalates  except  the  alk&litt 
oxalates  are  insoluble  iu  water. 

Pure  oxalic  acid  is  dissipafed  entirely  by  a  heat  of  177"^  C,  bat  ii  ^ 
not  char  when  heated,  aud  iu  this  respect  differs  from  all  other  n 
acids.     Sulphate  of  magnesia,  it  may  be  remarked  here,  leaves  n  fixi 
residue  even  when  expos^ed  to  high  temperatures,  and  maj  in   this  way 
known  from  oxalic  acid.     All  the  oxalates  are  decomposed  by  hf^t,  <ai 
bouic  acid  and  carbonic  oxide  being  g^iven  off,  whilst  a  carbonate  of 
metal  remaiui;  behind.     If  water  be  adtted  to  this  residue,  and  afteriranllj 
a  little  acid,  elitirveiJcence  at  once  takea  place. 

Nitric  and  hydrochloric  acidg  have  no  action  on  oxalic  acid.  Sulpbt 
acid  decomposes  it  by  the  removal  of  water,  carbonic  acid  and  carbooi 
oxide  being  set  free*  but  the  acid  is  not  charred,  as  happens  with  olhcf^ 
orgauic  acids.  The  oxalates  acted  upon  by  sulphuric  acid  undergo  % 
similar  decompositioQ, 

Oxalic  acid  has  no  action  upon  any  of  the  common  animal  priadplei 
except  gelatin,  which  it  dissolves^  but  neither  the  acid  nor  the  gelailo  ar» 
decomposed. 

It  forms  insoluble  oxalates  with  magnesia  and  chalk. 


Si/mptatMf  Dm^  etc. 

The  symptoms  of  poisoning  may  set  in  immediately,  whilst  occa<iioiiaUy 
they  are  delayed  for  an  hour  or  more.  In  one  case  u  man  is  rep<jrted  Idl 
have  walked  ten  miles  after  swallowing  1  ounce. 

The  symptoms  depend  largely  on  the  do§e  and  ou  the  degree  of  co&c«o«j 
tration  of  the  solution. 

IJ  the  mlntion  he  very  C4)ne£nlratedf  as  it  raopt  often  is,  thesympt^fn«« 
sist  in  an  immediate  burning  pain  in  the  stomach,  cnimps  and  nr 
of  the  legs,  the  vomiting  of  dark  and  perhaps  bloody  coftee-grouud 


POISONINQ    BY    OXALIC    ACID. 


427 


|h^  pAtieot  complaining  that  the  throat  seems  as  if  tightly  bound  muod 
itb  H  cord,  and  rt-lief  being  soutrht  by  a  constant  hacking  toiigh.  If  the 
itieiit  lives,  bloody  purging  sets  in.  The  tongue  will  be  ibnnd  swollei/, 
id  the  mouth  sore  and  usually  white,  A  peculiar  change  in  the  voice 
MIS  olVeu  been  Dotiee<i,  whil.^t  an  absolute  1oj«s  of  voice  has  also  bi'en  re- 
SOitied.  Numbness  and  tingling  of  the  legs,  twitchinga  of  the  face,  cod- 
iraUious  and  delirium,  will  nil  be  more  or  lei^s  marked. 

The  circulation  from  the  first  gradually  becomes  very  depressed,  and 
he  respiration  slow  and  i*pasmodic,  death  occurring  either  from  collapse 
or  from  palsy  of  the  heart,  its  power  of  contractility  being  entirely  de- 
stroyed. 

Ij  the  mid  be  taken  in  a  gfateof  f^eaier  dilntiony  death  often  results  from 
the  violence  of  the  tetanic  fits,  suffocation  being  the  prominent  pyniptora. 
It  would  thus  seem  to  act  on  the  nervous  syatem  through  the  blood,  in 
which,  however,  it  h&s  never  yet  been  detected,  although  leeches  have 
bee^ti  siaid  to  fall  otf  dead  when  applied  to  a  patient  who  had  taken  a 
poid<»nou?  dose  of  the  acid. 

Jtk  a  *fale  of  dill  greater  dihdion  there  may  be  no  pain,,  spasms,  or 
Toiuitiug,  but  the  patient  will  merely  sleep  to  death,  as  if  under  the  action 
of  a  narcotic  poison. 

Death  may  be  almost  instantaneous.  Cases  are  recorded  of  death  after 
three,  ten,  twenty,  and  twenty-five  minutes,  whilst  sometimes  life  is  pro- 
lougni  for  some  days.  A  ca.-^  is  recorded  by  Beck,  where  some  raontha 
ptts<s^d  before  deatli  occurred,  whfch  in  the  end  resulted  from  secondary 
cair!?es.  One  drachm  has  proved  fatal  to  a  boy  (aged  16)  in  twenty-one 
houi^.  Half  an  ounce  may  be  considered  a  |K>isonous  dose,  although  there 
are  many  cases  recorded  of  recovery  after  double,  and  even  more  than 
cif)uble,  that  quantity. 

It  may  be  well  to  note  that  if  there  is  any  reason  to  suspect  oxalic  acid 
poisoning,  the  diftcovery  of  crystals  of  osulate  of  lime  in  the  urine,  and 
which  may  be  found  for  a  week  or  more  after  the  p<iison  has  been  taken, 
will  furnish  an  important  element  of  diagnosis.  In  cases  of  poisoning  by 
oxalic  acid,  where  ihe  acid  is  found  on  analysis,  it  is  generally  urged  bv 
the  defence  that  it  may  have  got  into  the  i-ysten]  either  through  the  food, 
or  as  a  protluct  of  diseuse.  Under  these  circumstances  the  cjuantity  of  the 
poison  found,  and  the  general  history  of  the  case,  must  form  the  basis  of 
our  evidence  as  U\  the  cause  of  Jeath.  M.  Henry  states  that  he  has 
foun<i  as  much  as  33  per  cent,  of  oxalate  of  lime  in  rhubarb.  We  have 
never  ourselves  ft>und  anything  like  this  quantity.  In  the  Boston  "  Medi- 
cal and  Surgical  Journal  '*  (Jan.  27,  1870)  Dr.  White  discusses  at  length 
the  relationship  between  the  symptoms  and  the  morbid  appearances  of 
poisoning  by  oxalic  acid,  and  those  produced  by  disease.  The  reader  is  re- 
ferred to  this  interesting  memoir 

Treatment, 

This  must  be  expeditious,  or  it  will  be  useless.  The  advice  to  "  scrape 
the  ceiling,  and  administer  the  scrapings,  if  you  can  get  nothing  else  "  is 
sound. 

There  are  one  or  two  definite  points  to  be  remembered  in  the  treat- 
ment. 

(1)  The  stomach-pump  must  never  be  used. 

(2)  Warm  water  never  should  be  given  to  iuduce  vomiting,  inasmuch 
as  it  aids  absorption,  by  dissolving  any  of  the  acid  that  may  remain  un- 
dissolved. 

(3)  Alkaline  carbonates  are  useless  as  antidotes,  the  salts  formed  being 
as  poisonons  as  the  original  add. 


TB8TB   FOR   OSALIO    ACID. 

(4)  The  proper  treattueul  cougista,  Jir»<,  in  the  free  atimiDbtnituia 
chalk  or  magnesia,   held  iu  ^iisipension  by  very  small  quantities  of  6vM 
6uch  jis  milk,  or  other  tuticihigiiiaus  driuk  ;  aud,  secondly^  after  the  tadi 
neutralized,  th<3   admiuiiitraliuu   of  emetics,  supposiug,  ad    happ«o* 
sioiially,  that  there  ii  no  vomiting. 

The  authors  have  reason  to  believe  that  opium  in  moderate  doees 
leeseoa  the  activity  of  this  poistm. 

Post-mortem  Appearnnees. 

The  lining  membrane  of  the  mouth,  throat,  and  gullet  will  asually  he 
found  white,  shrivelled,  and  easy  of  removal.  It  may  iu  the  fin^t  imtuD-^ 
be  ot  a  brown  color,  from  being  coated  miU  the  eouienie  of  the  hloma.  L, 
discharged  during  vumiling.  The  epithelium  in  the  gullet  iaoi\eu  eniirtii 
destroyetl,  whilst  the  surface  thu.s  denudf<l  api^-ars  brow u  and  niLv-^i  j 
longitudinal  fold?.  The  stomach,  which  is  fre4uently  cootmctcd, 
coniains  an  intentJely  aci<l,  brown,  gelatinouw  litpiid  :  wbiUt  the  Uii — 
membrane,  if  death  be  rapid^  may  ujipcar  hi>II  and  pale,  but  if  draih  )v 
At  all  delayed,  it  is  then  usually  black  iu  bume  parl^,  nud  lU  other*  io 
tensely  congested  and  in  rngfe,  with  portions  peeling  aff,  and  the  oumu 
uudcruoalh  gangretjous.     (Plate  !V.) 

As  regards  actual  corrosion  and  perforation,  the  recor<!8  of  ctkxe*  pcnrt 
that  such  a  ^tale  is  rare.  Still,  as  iu  that  recorded  by  Dr,  Lifthrbjr  n 
well  as  in  other  ca.>*es  sotlening  and  perforation  of  the  stunmch  Iwivc  L«u 
noticed. 

The  intestines  will  usually  be  found  in  a  very  couges'ted  «of1  rvinfra-^-^i 
condition,  more  or  less  throughont  the  whole   length.     Thi  J 

heart  varies.     It  has  been  found  atone  time  almost  empty,  a  i  ;hi-' 

full  of  dark  duid  blood. 

Throughout  the  whole  body,  excepting  in  the  stomach  ftod  llie  golK 
the  blood  is  fluid.  The  Inngs  generally,  and  the  brain  occasionally,  have 
been  found  congested.  A  few  ca^^es  have  occurred  where  all  morbid  appear* 
ances  have  been  absent. 

(a.)  T^fsfsjor  Omlic  Acid. 

\,  Acid  taste  and  acid  reaction  to  litmu.H-paper  [i  grain  in  a  gallc 
water  gives  a  di.<?tiucLly  red  tint  to  blue  litmus). 

(Note. — Sulphate  of  mti^ne^ia  is  bitter,  and  has  a  neutral  reactie»a ;  tad' 
phate  ofzhwa.  faintly  acid  reaction.) 

2.  It  is  entirely  volatilized  by  heat,  without  being  charred. 

(Note. — Sulphates  of  magnesia  and  z.inc  both  leave  residuea,  even 
subjected  to  very  high  temperatures.) 

3.  It  gives  no  precipitate  witli  alkaline  carbonates, 
(Note* — The  sulphates  of  magueaia  and  iiinc  give  white  precipjljitcik)^ 


0?)   TeMsJor  Oxalic  Acid  and  the  AlknUne  Oxalates. 

1.  Nitrate  of  siher  given  a  white  amorphous  (precipitate  of  oxalnt* 
silver  (AgjC,0,),  soluble  iu  excess  of  oxalic  acid,  iu  amm  I  ii 

hot  and  cold  nitric  acid  ;  insoluble  in  awtic  acid,  and  not  u  i  bf 

boiling.    If  the  precipilate  be  collectetl,  dried,  and  heated   on   a   puntt; 
platinum-foil,  it  explode?^,  carbonic  acid  being  given  off,  and  metallic  »ii- 


TESTS    FOR    OXALIC    ACID. 


429 


y  left  behind  ;  but  this  experiment  is  interfered  with  by  the  pi-es- 

enceof  orpiinic  matter,  and  further,  if  a  little  chloride  be  presient,  n  resi- 
due (if  chloride  will  remain  after  the  explo.sion,  (All  white  precipitates 
produced  by  uitrate  of  silver  are  soluble  m  nitric  and  in  acetic  acids,  ex- 
cept chlorides  and  cyanides  ;  but  nune  explode  when  heated,  except  oxa- 
lates and  fulminates.) 

2.  Sulphate  of  lime  gives  a  white  precipitate  of  oxalate  <if  lime,  which  is 
**^liuhle  in  nitric  and  in  hydrochloric  acirJi*,  but  h  insolnble  in  acetic  acid. 
When  this  pret^ipitate  i.s  ignited,  carbonate  of  lime  is  farmed,  which  dis- 
solves in  acetic  aci<i  with  etiV'rve.*cence.  It  is  uece?*Hary  to  ad^l  a  .somewhat 
lar^^^  quantity  of  sulphate  of  lime  sultitinn  to  throw  down  all  the  oxalic 
*cicl^  because  of  the  insulubjlity  of  the  calciuin  sulphate  in  water, 

(  ^idphate  of  lime  f^ives  a  white  precipitate  with  neutral  yolutioo.s  of  al- 
**lil3e  carbonates  and  pha«phate.s,  lint  thc^e  are  sfduhle  in  acetic  acid.     It 
.**^  gives  a  white  precipitate  with  acid  ^olutinnsof  lead,  baryta,  and  ^trou- 
^^  ;    but  these  are  msoluhlein  nitric^  hydrochloric,  or  acetic  acids.) 

3.  Ch/oride  of  barium  gives  a  white  precipitate  of  oxalate  of  baryta, 
^■^ieh  'm  s^iluble  in  nitric  and  in  hydrochloric  acid.s,  as  well  as  in  a  great 
^^cef*?  of  acetic  acid. 

'Chloride  of  barium  also  gives  a  white  precipitate  with  sulphuric  acid, 
"^^d  with  the  guiphates,  but  these  are  insoluble  in  nitric  acid  ;  also  with 
^«utral  tohitious  of  alkaline  carbonates,  but  these  are  freely  soluble  ia 
Acetic  acid.) 

4»  Afd'ite  of  lend  g-ives  a  while  precipitate  of  oxalate  of  lead,  soluble  in 
liitric,  but  insoluble  in  acetic  acid. 

(Acetate  tif  leail  also  gives  a  svhite  precipitate  with  sulphuric  acid,  "and 
with  8uiphatei«  and  chlorides ;  but  tlie  precipitates  thus  formed  are  insolu- 
ble in  nitric  acid.  It  al.so  gives  a  white  precipitate  with  neutral  fiulutiona 
of  carbonates  and  phiK^pbate.-*,  and  these  are  soluble  in  acetic  acid.) 

5.  Sulphate  of  copper  gives  a  light-blue  precipitate  of  oxalate  of  copper, 
iDscdubfe  in  acetic  acid,  not  very  soluble  in  nitric  acid,  but  very  soluble 
in  ammonia. 

(Sulphate  of  copper  also  gives  precipitates  with  neutral  eolutions  of  car- 
bonates and  phosphates;  but  these  are  very  soluble  both  in  nitric  and  hy- 
druchloric  acids.) 

Toxicoioglcal  An<tlym.s. 

In  a  toxicological  investigation,  supposing  that  the  contents  of  the  stom- 
ach are  acid,  ihey  should  be  digested  for  some  time  with  water,  and  filtered. 
Treat  this  filtrate  with  an  excess  of  a  solution  of  subacetate  of  lead, 
when  a  precipitate  will  be  formed  of  oxalate  of  lead,  mixed  with  organic 
matters  in  combination  with  oxide  of  lead.  Collect  this  precipitate  upon 
a  filter-paper,  and  wash  it  thoroughly  with  water.  Whilst  the  materials 
thus  collected  are  moist,  nib  them  up  in  a  mortar  with  sufficient  water  to 
render  the  whole  fluid.  Pass  washed  sulpnuretted  hydrogen  through  the 
mixture  to  complete  saturation,,  by  which  means  the  oxalate  of  lead  will  be 
decoiufMised.  Filter,  and  test  the  clear  stdntion  (which  is  usually  suf- 
ficiently pure  for  the  purpo.-^e)  hy  the  several  tests  for  oxalic  acid.  The 
use" of  hu I [>hu retted  hydrogen  for  decomposing  the   oxalate  is  infinitely  to 

preferreil  to  boiling  it  with  suljihuric  acid,  as  is  orten  recommended. 

Buch  is  the  pro{«88  to  be  adopte<l,  if  oxalic  acid  or  the  soluble  oxalates 
pre.sent;  but  if  antidotes,  stich  as  lime  or  magnesia,  have  been  admin- 
istered,  and  the  oxalic  acid  completely  neutralized,  the  contents  of  the 
etomach  rau.st  then  be  boiled  for  one  or  two  hours  with  carbonate  of  potash. 
(Caustic  potash  must  not  be  used,  as  possibly  oxalic  acid  might  be  formed 
by  tbepmlonged  boiling  of  animal  sunstauces  with  the  caustic  alkali  (Gft}'- 


480 


CASBS    OF   POrsONING    BY    OXALTC    ACID. 


Lu^ac).     After  boiling,  filter  the  mixture,  and  add  to  the  filCnAt«  «x< 
of  acetic  acid  ;  then  precipitate  the  oxalic  acid  with  acetate  of  lead, 
proceed  as  before. 

Always  if  pOKsible^  in  poisoning  ca-sej*,  examine  the  urine,  tts  ilie  dit 
of  a  large  t|nuutitv  of  octahedral  crystals  of  oxalate  tif  lime  at  all 
conslitutes  most  important  evidence.     The  urine  is  to  he  |>laot?d  io  a 
eal  glas.s  until  the  ^aliment  collects;  decant  the  clear  .•^olutioo,  and  pi- 
amine  the  pcdimetit  under  the  microscope  for  oxalate  crystala. 

The  oxalic  acid  is  esti[nated  qnanlitatively  either   as  oxalate  of  lemi- 

100  grains  of  which  =  42.5  of  crystal lixed  oxulic  atsid, 
or  as  oxalate  of  lime,  which  is  to  be  ignited  and  weighed  aa  a  carboaalfr— 
100  grains  of  which  =  126  grains  of  crystallized  oxalic  acid, 

S(aim  OH  Bhck  Clothe  etc. 

A  solution  of  oxalic  acid  falling  upon  hlack  cloth  leaves  a  deep  hr  * 
stain.     It  also  rapidly  blenches  writing  ink,  either  on   paper  or  m  1 
In  the  ca*e  of  stain*  the  fabric  need  only  be  treated  with  a  little  ! 
and  the  proper  te.-*tf  applied  to  the  clear  filtered  solution  ;   whiKi 
has  l»eeu  u-sed  to  remove  the  color  of  ink,  an  iron  stain  will  prrdtahiy  be 
left  uptm  the  paper,  which  turns  blue  if  treated  with  a  solution  of  r-rr'rv^ 
anide  of  ptitassium. 

Acid  Oxalate  of  Potash  {KRCfi,MjCfl^,2¥lp). 

(Binoxalate  of  Potash — Sal t**  of  Sorrel — E^sseutial  Saltd  of  Lemooa) 

This  salt  U  largely  u?ed  in  straw  hleaching,  and  by  the  public 
for  removing  ink-stain?.     As  a  poison  it  ia  as  active  as  oxalir  m< 
insoluble  in  alcohol,  and  not  very  soluble  in  water.     It  has  !• 
for  the  acid  tartrate  wil!i  a  fatal  result.     The  acid  tartrate  d 
ink,  and  h  not   precipitated   by  a  lin»e  or  .silver  salt.     It  cry:*t44Jli 
rhombic  prisms,  and  behaves  similarly  to  oxalic  acid  in  all  its  rtuki 
except  in  the  circumstance  that  it  is  not  completely  volatile  when  hdl 
applied,  but  leaves  a  white  alkaline  ash.  ci>nsiMting  of  carhi>natB  of  jw»taA 
It  biis  also  been  taken    by  mistake  for   Epstno  salt.'*.     The  symptotn<  p» 
duced  by  it  are  similar  to  those  resulting  from  the  administration  nf  a: 
acid.     Death  is  usually  rapid,  two  cases  of  eight  and  ten  minutes*  inl 
being  respectively  recorded,  and  a  third  case  of  an  hour  and  a  half, 
an  ounce  has  proved  fatal,  but  recovery  Is  recorded  afler  one  ouQc*e. 


Oise*  <]f  PoiBoning  xoUh  Oxalic  Aeid, 

CASE  1.— ••Uncet."  Jiilj  II,  \U<\,  p.  39  {Dr.  Br.ish>.     Mule  ;  (tl,  fiD.    ^J  In  •olulluo- 
jQ^I<f(MM«.— ^'CmetJica  giveu  UlrL*ctljp);  pain,  tblr4t,  and  drowsiuoM,  for  six  hour*;  re«ov«ry. 
i!««/A— Recovery. 

CASE  2.—"  IjincH,"  Oct.  19.  \U\,  p.  lOS  (T>r,  Lftthebf).    Ftitnale:  »l,  yj.    Osall«  a^-ld, 
^Vntfifomr— Found  (lend  tbe  next  ninrnlng. 
JButt//,— Draih. 

Au^morfnu.— ^Stuitinch  mucli  blanched;  very  »oft4>i}ed  Aiid  dUortfADtWMl:  and*!  lb* 
appcarvd  poalltvctjr  pulpy,  with  niimrrnn^  prfnnitlons. 

CASE  «.— •' tancBt."  I>ec.  1,  Iftll,  p.  521  (Dr.  B»fker>.    Male:  *t,  IS.    M  Uktn  ••  wIM. 
iiymjtt0n%*.—%yt\i\\Uimnt>vX  innfUTont' hntir;  lo«fai<ilUi!ity  ;  towrrjaw  tpasmodifmliy  <<— < ; I 

aflt^r  a  tj|»^  partiiilljr  icnstbto,  but  very  drowsy  ;  bliiody  vomiting. 
/fi*4w/<— Death  lr>  twifnty-onv  boora. 

i\v«*  «»or<em.— TcjtijTiie  dott«d  wUh  whiUrapieclcii;  (TwphngrMa  not  tDflamed  ;  «toiiia«li  pkBfm 
C.i«iE  4— ♦'  LBOtn-t,"  Sept.  3,  \m\,  p.  26.'?  f  I>r  KIIIhl     FBtnalt!    tpt.  50     3U- 
SttfnpKnttt.SympUtmt  cnmo  on  vilhiii  biilf  nn  bonr;   vlitknt  patn-,  tnetrectuAl  ftttcaiplal*' 

troannrut  adapted  iritlitn  half  an  hour  afl«r  taking  OicpoiMO. 
MtttUt. — Jl«co  very . 


CASKS   OP    POISONING    BY    OXALIC    ACID. 


431 


Uacel,"  Slept.  2$,  1867.  p.  4*4  (Dr.  B««le).    F^idaIc  :  »t<  M.    Ss9. 

■«dl«te  imin  mud  jgiddiDc-ss.    Hiekni'U  in  flfU'un  iniiiutea;  purfflng  In  one  hour; 
ood  wupanawi  lH)lh  lir  inoiilh  and  tiy  tlnol  Tor  Avedavft  ;  i^ntbetlur;  on  tbuaeveutb 

"- ''•  tm!  puffcluK  returwcil,  (ti»d  idiodK-d  from  exlmiuiiuD. 

.— r»»  thdaf. 

■^lr>'  ind   inonrti   unntltrKi  In  appfarmnci] ;    diuc<»u»  (oeiribrmlio  of  CDMipiiftgua 

B^lf  4o<f;  *  «i»ti|(lt  U««>  Aifp  of  ft  rritwn  pUtv  Tniind  at  tb«9  lowarpartof  the  greater  curriilurv  of 
bt/taancli;  |ati<aliom  congrateii  ;  lun^H  liiflniui'd. 

UXK  4-'  Mv-dlf-aJ  Tlm.'» »nd  GaiMjUo."  Ocl.  S,  I8GI,  p  SSfi  ( Nr.  Woi>dm»n ).     Fem.tle.    3». 
|^^pta»< — In  nn#'  lioiir  tli«<  li>ri|{ui>  wxn  fuTiud  w)ill<-ijod,  us  IT  boiled  ;  puin  in  HltMiiicb,  uid  col- 
•  Trtgirmai,  rotullljig  uf  tliMxl ;  liirt^e  qUuiitity  of  oxftlatvufJlmo  ami  blood  fotiud  In 


In  ten  dajra. 
tv— 'LanceC  I>«ce»b«r  15,  I8WI,  p. 692  fUr.  (kin).    Male:  let.  26.    Sj  taken  on  an  emptf 

kw.— Iinmi<diat«  vomllini?;  purghi;?. 
<-IW»ti^  In  t«pnty-liireiiilnt*trfl. 

--Rriiin,  hrirt,  \ung\  •n4  kfdacy*  iteallthy;  liver  congMted ;  rauooua  membrane  of 
fwrj  Minit«'»t«d  »»d  eorri»ir»t«l, 
•  -"Unc^t.*'  Nov.  24,  I8«0.  !».«»( Dr.  Page).    Mn]e:«t.31.    ^. 

ifiAoma  wirure.    Afirr  treutmeoi  be  seemi'd  lo  get  murib  bi'tu^r.,  but  tbe  TomlUog 
ilniid  p<*r»i«lct»U 
Ontl)  on  tmbday. 

^ •■  Mi.-^icimarb  coniri^ted,  hut  thr  mucous  m^^mhrane  wn«  rntlre ',  It  (>«mtAliied  bloody  BuM ; 
^h^i*wr*U'i»  iif  Uie  h«art ;  bloody  fluid  found  Iti  [i«rkArd(Mni  and  in  each  pleura;  liver  l&rg« 
mkaf;*tA»*u  bolthy, 

QSRi.-*--    •      ■    ■•  iii«8»ndr,niitjtte,"  April  25,  iSflS,  p.  45(J(Dr.  UerapathX    5»j. 
^**<^  -  inoat  all  the  polaon. 

,  Minute*, 
a]  Tlmttfl  and  Qaaette,"  Sept  14,  IKM,  p. 293  (Dr.  T.  W.  Bradley),    Male:  adult, 
*  bard  drinker. 

->)tnptom«  •^TPr*".  bHrnln>;  p«l"  ;  tblntr  rlomrny  pfrtplnatoust ;  numbuett*  and  tiag- 
[r»|fi»mU»Mi,    lo  nine  honni  mu  altcratiou  of  the  voice  tvt  iu.  aud  tbis  lastiHl  for  a  munLh. 
rvfiry. 
AHllMfa   M(<dleai  Joarnat;*  May 20,  1871,  p.  &33  (Dr.  Goodfdlow).    Mule:  wt.  54.    A 

)d  dlUloulty  of  awaUowlog;  alight  coHapte;  puplla  natural. 

HiU  li--  toncKl,"  March  22,  }M\,  p.  329  (Mr.  Bourni-)-     Femalo  •  adutt.    SlU   in  S  om.  of  water, 
«.-^(}l<iniacb-ptiuip  usfd  hi  a  quarter  of  an   liour);   CuuviilalonH;    tetanic  apaania ;   the 
iirjii  hiof«  fontiiMK'il  for  a  rn«i>»h. 
R«-*t»rnr  ill  three  ruonlhe. 

•'■o  MHkj»l  and  Siirgk:al  Jimrnal/'  vol.  xxx,  p.  17  (IM'.  JuokMjfi),    Mal«:  lel.  ,10.  Jl. 

.  iiiDir  M<t  in  lRiiU4-4iiiir«'|y  ;  cullaim*  afler  iwilve  hours;  voruitliig  wilh  grt'at  dla- 

M^2«tlTii  I  ivt,  on  ihefllktb  day  hia  uilnd  began  to  vMnd<-T,  and  |ieiecbious  spoU  ap- 

■■pill. 

I     tmlt^h  ,  „ih  «fay. 

•  liirttrtim),  Mtft,  bri|;ht-rp«),  and  conjifCitled  ;  hi  art  <»ni{>ly. 
il  8lill«'a"Medlcnl  Jurlaprudence,"  p.  400.     Feoialo.  About  1'  i  ox.  In  mta- 
•lu  aulra, 

Vtmiililag  In  tvcfily  minute*;  free irarging. 
'■^^'  -IVswTrry, 

fXSF.  IV ~"  Mf>dl<«]  TitnM,"  ()rt9.  tMI,  p.  1A.    Female:  ari,  17.    Saa.  In  water. 
^P^i— Immediate  hurtling  pain  aud  bloody  vonilUng  In  tan  tnlnuMt. 
^t    Hit*ffei|  in  tirMiljr-foiir  h<iurt. 

CM||«^    "   '      ' -^'        '  Oei.ft.  IJMI.  p.  13,    Ma1e:iBt,40.    3j  lo  warm  brandy  and  water. 
^^**'  M^:  or  thick  vUmyioucuB. 

'!■  ninth  rontrai!l4Hf  and  Uifliinied  ;  vlomatrh  allghtly  tnAame<l. 

LillraJ  Jurtaprudruce,"  rol,  1^  p.  .t24  i,Mr,  Welch).  Fonialer  rt.28.    StIJ. 
F^*^-t'*-th  kn  MRf  bijur. 
t- "■  •■''•  — I,<inff*  *'iiiew«lT«"ly  eougealod ;  heart  fbll  of  dark  blood;  atotuach  redAonod ;  all  other 


'i.y. 


tM.1  ( I>r.  OgiWy.  COTtolry V     F«mtl« :  mi,  48.    ^  lo  Sjj. 
,  aud  death  Id  three  mtnuto*. 


V  iincoagiilatrd  blood  ;  thnatomacfa  waa  mtten,  and  eontatnedr 
■  appeared  at  U  boiled,  the  mucoua  tDviabrnne  peollng  olf 


432        CA^^^^^OISONINQ    BY    BINOXALATB   OF   POTASH. 

r 

CASE  19.— "LnDCct."  8«*pt.  13,  l«4fl  (Mr.  M.  K.  0'S»i«»».    Mal«- :  tdalt.    aj. 

Symj^aw*.— After  taking  iMlntJiun  traveJkd  ivn  mllca;  ifter  fnurtveD  lioufs  Umtovw^ 
pain  and  pmstratlou^  and  vonitiDgofdark  bloodf  matter;  recovery. 

.Bewfff.— Recovery. 

CASE  20.—"  Lancet,"  Oct.  18, 1845  (Dr,  Illff).    Female :  adall.    Sulumted  MlitUoii. 

Symptomt. — Nu  coiiTuUltin*, 

JZ^«tt/A— I>eath  fiittnuiaai'OUi. 

CASE  21.—"  T.nncot."  Aug.  17. 18.'».  p.  74«  (Mr.  Anderaonv    F**toalet:  •*,  IR     A  quaiaitT 

Sympionu,—Jmm«6iti\i^  vomiting,  aod  death  Iq  twenty  mlnul«a. 

JhsuU.—V'ralh  ia  twpnty  iiiloutfa. 

Pn»(-fnorUm—Uv»H  ht'altliy :  dlsLlnct  nigie  of  tnucoiu  membra  no  of  gullet  and  ftoinastak  bit  vN^ 
out  (nfluinuiaiioa.    Thu  iotratloes  were  contracted,  but  not  reddooed. 

CASE  22.—"  L»ncet,"  Sept.  28,  1839,  p.  29.    Fumala :  art.  30.    (?) 

S^mptnms.'-So  »yiupti>iit«  dpwribwl. 

JPtut-martejn.'-yiw^oiia  tnembraoe  ofRtomacK  Terjr  inflamed  and  perforated. 

CASE  2«.— "  Lanctt,"  April  30,  lft42,  p.  145  ^Dr.  R.  B.  Todd)     Female.    A  po^nnyworth  n. 
.  £^«fqi<«wu.—Itum<Mliftle  and  severe  abdomioal  pains;  vomiting  and  crampa  ;  r4.yy>v^ro1  vltbooi 
tad  symptom. 

Jiejwtt.—KneorttTj. 

CASE  24.— '•  Lancet,"  May  1, 1941,  p.  187  <I>r,  R.  II.  Semple).    Female :  let.  3S.    5lJ. 

.S)^mp/o)njr.— In)ni(>4tute  ▼aroitlng;  lolenaA  palo  In  fourteen  boura. 

ReiuH. —  Reco  v«  r  y . 

CASE  25.-*'  Lancet,"  July  13,  ift72,  p.  41  (Dr.  Tidy),    TwoaiiUort.    Each  took  ft  dliM«tit  eeotito 
inf;  oxalic  acid  Instead  uf  Epsuiu  t»lu. 

Sifmp'om».^-{,\\  Ctimplete  coma  and  death. 

Jifinii(.—\uri\\U  in  flTt>  lioun. 

,%w;*'«/f»M.— <2'  Vomlilng  and  recoTery. 

^««.— Hi'tovery. 

PuM-fHortcm. — <>xalic  acid  found  in  itomach. 

CA.SE  2ft.-'-  Lancet,"  Not.  2.  IWO,  ji.  .W2  (Mr.  Allison),    Malf  :  let.  22.    SJ  In  I  plot  of  w«te?. 

<SVm/ir'4/rrij  — Vuuiitingi  (chalk  and  uingneala  given,  and  uaeof  alomacli-puoip  atteinptedk 

JZwtt/f,— Recovery. 

For  further  Ch»M  of  Poi»oning  fty  Oxalie  Atid,  we 

"British  Mfdlcal  Jonrnal."  Jan.  8,  1870,  p.  40.    (I>ralii.> 

" Medical  Tinoc»,"  April  18, 1846.  p.  4fl.    (Three  coaea) 

"  Medical  tloaettc,"  vol.  xxxvll,  p.  792,    ( Vomiting  of  a  colorless  liquid.) 

"Provincial  Journal,*' June  25.  1881. 

Taylor'a  "Medical  Juriaprudence,"  vol.  i,  p.  225.     (Perforation  of  aiomach.1 

(n.)    BINOXALATB  OF  POTASH. 

CASE  27.—"  Medical  Tlmei  an*!  (iastoltv,"  Oct.  IS,  1869,  p.  87*  (Dr.  Webb).    Male :  vl.  40.    A 
tcrof  a  tcafpoonful  oT  binoxiilate  <jf  potaeh. 

SymftHitfH, — lircat  tbtr^l  and  bunting  in  throat,  but  no  w«']|-mark>'d  abdominal  pals  ;  vomlll 
two  b"iir4 ;  loHK  of  pDWiT  In  iimb-i ;  hnul>ar  patna  and  cramps  aet  In  later  on  in  the  oast. 

ifMM/r-  Recovtff  r. 

CASE  ;;».—"  Mtdkal  Ga««'t»e."'  vol.  xavil,  p. 480.    Female:  »t.  20.    M. 

Sj/mjtUiiiit.—lt\  »u  hour  ami  n  half  was  found  in  a  atate  of  exhaustion  and  great  depnaaioft.1 
cold  skin,  a  clam tnr  puiac  nnd  »lii wring  ;  <%h&  bad  prevfoualy  vomited  ;  eouJuocUw 
■fid  piipilHdilati-d;  dlUiCiL'aaof  vUlon. 

JZwi/.— RecovcrT . 

CARE  21).-"  Medical  Timet  mmI GMette,"  Feb.  12,  t8S».  About  Sss.  (  -*  128  grain* ). 

(Bicarbonate  of  Mida  was  given  •*  an  anlidoie !) 

iifjm//.- Rfco  V  cry. 

CA>E  30.— Taylor'a  "Mwllcal  Juriaprudence/*  vol. »,  p.  229,  "  Jmim    l.  t  him    M*-.i  ,'  IMS,!^ 
Feiuiil<>:  adult,     im. 

S>pn>}A4jtni. — Pain  and  convulaiona. 

RemU.—VvHh  in  eight  mlnulea. 

CASE  31  -*'  Annalen  dc  HygtOne,"  IMO,  p.  102  (itChevalWer). 

JEwH^.— DiatU  in  ten  minutes. 

CASE  a2.— "  Pharmaceutical  Journal,"  Starch,  1872,  p.  700.  A  quanUty  taken  by  i 
■alta. 

jeertta.'Defttb  In  one  hour  and  a  half. 

CA.VE  S3.>'*'£dlnburKh  5funthly  Jottraal,"  July.  1002,  p.  92.    Apiwreotly  the  rasall  ofellf 
ionini;. 

JicaMi/.— Death. 


POISONING    BT    TARTARIC    ACID.  483 

CASE  84.—"  AnoBles  de  Hrgi^ne,"  1842,  vol.  zxtH,  p.  422.    A  teaspoanful  taken  for  three  succes- 
ilTe  niomings. 
Slfmplom*.—Sertn  Toroiting. 
IBmiiK.— Death  in  one  hour  after  the  third  doae. 


PYROGALLIC  ACID  (C.HeO,). 

This  acid  is  found  in  the  shops  in  the  form  of  -light  feathery  crystals, 
and  is  largely  used  by  photographers.  It  strikes  a  red  color  with  a  neu- 
tral ferric  salt,  and  a  blue  color  with  a  ferrous  salt. 

No  case  of  poisoning  has  occurred  by  it  in  the  human  subject;  but  2 
grains  have  been  found  to  kill  a  dog  in  sixty  hours  (Personne).  In  ex- 
periments on  animals,  fatty  degeneration  of  the  muscular  fibres  of  the 
heart  has  been  noticed  as  a  general  and  prominent  post-mortem  appear- 
ance. Urine  containing  this  acid  blackens  almost  instantly  when  renaered 
alkaline,  from  absorbing  oxygen. 

Turpentine  is  said  to  be  the  best  antidote. 

TARTARIC  ACID  (HAHA=  150). 

Tartaric  acid  is  the  acid  of  the  juice  of  grapes  and  of  other  fruits.  When 

?ure,  it  is  perfectly  colorless,  and  crystallizes  in  oblique  rhombic  prisms. 
t  is  soluble  in  five  or  six  times  its  weight  of  cold  water,  but  is  not  nearly 
80  soluble  in  alcohol. 

When  heated  it  fuses  and  burns  with  a  light-red  flame,  a  considerable 
charcoal  residue  remaining,  and  a  peculiar  odor  of  burnt  sugar  evolved. 

It  gives  no  precipitate,  like  oxalic  acid,  with  nitrate  of  silver,  but  a 
white  precipitate  (cream  of  tartar)  is  produced  by  potash  salts,  which  in 
dilute  solutions  is  largely  increased  by  active  stirring. 

Tartaric  acid  is  an  irritant  poison.  Fifteen  grains  will  kill  a  dog  when 
injected  into  the  veins  (Pommer).  One  ounce  has  proved  fatal  to  an  adult 
in  nine  days. 

The  treatment  must  consist  in  the  exhibition  of  alkalies,  and  in  produc- 
ing free  vomiting. 

Ca$e8  of  Poisoning  by  Tartaric  Add. 

CASE  1.— Taylor'B  "  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  vol.  I,  p.  280,  Beg.  r.  Watklnii,  Central  Criminal  Court, 
Jan.  1845;  alao  "  Unoet,"  1845,  vol.  i.  p.  18  (Mr.  W.  Seth  Glil).  Male.  st.  24.  2j  taken  by  mistake 
fbr  aperlrnt  salts. 

i8Jirav<MM.— Exclaimed  Immediately  that  he  was  poisoned,  and  felt  as  if  on  fire;  (alkallca  were  ad- 
mlniatered) ;  Touiling  set  in  and  continued  for  nine  days,  when  he  died. 

Amtt.— Death  in  nine  days. 

i^iit-aiorfsm.— Alimentary  canal  highly  inflamed. 

CASE  2.— "  Annales  de  Hygiene,"  1851,  toI.  11,  p.  432  (M.  DeTerglo). 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Alcohol — 8ymplom«,   etc, — TeeU— Tojtu'nlagicul    unalysis — Lint   of  cm*r^ — AmJit 
nUMhoi — M^tftylic   nleokitl — Nitrite  of  Atnvt — Amytfn*' — Bismol— S'U 
Syn»(»l*inis — Tn-ntinenl,  eUv — Ex|H'rim*i(iis  r»n  luiirnHt^s — TwU — T-»> 
hnhlvi^i^- — Li^t   of  otis«?8 — Anilin — Propf-rlif'S — ^Sytrnitotn^,   etc, — K\\"i  n^um 
on    Anlm(«U— Tt'^ls — List   ol'    ch>«'s— C#irAo/(>   /ifiV/~Pro|jertim— Stmjii 
♦'k'  — Artjim  «>n  AtiitiihIr— Tests — List  orcusifs^ — Jiinulp/tulr  of  Cnrh<,u — ^'O 
aud  Brumal — Symptoms,  rtc.  —  List  of  cn»v* — ( hUiroforyn — T*- 
Symptoms,  etc. — ToxicologicRl  unnly^is— List  of  citf-o* — Oil  of  D 
jJllric  Ethur — Syrii(ilom« — Krewtote — Biehtoritie of  MelhfUn& — CUti  A»«^iA*— 
yitiofftyeerin —  Turpentine. 


ALCfOHOL  =  C,HO. 

IHfjdraie  of  Ethyl  (C,H,).]  , 

(Sp.  gr.  at  15,5^  C.  =  0.7938— boil ingpoint  7ft.4^  C)  ' 

Ahmlute  nlmhol  is  prepared  by  distilling  pure  alcobol  in  a  retort  wiik 
its  owti  weight  of  quickiiine,  with  which  it  has  been  allowed  lo  rvmaia  in 
contact  for  H>me  days,  the  distillatliiu  bdng  conducted  over  dry  ptttJi^ 
earbotiate.     Pmuf  spirit  ( sp.  gr.  =  0.920),  \^  defined  by  law  a^  n  mixUirt 
of  water  with  4J124  per  cent,  of  aleuhol.     Every  0.5  y>er  cent,  of  jdwhol 
above  this  correi^poiHls  to  one  degree  over  proof.     MethyUU'd  ttjttrit  tsMiMKM 
of  spirit  mixed  with  10  per  ceot.  of  wood  oaphtha  or  nictbylic  alnobol    „ 
(CII/1),  a  litfiiid  formed  by  the  destructive  distillutinu  uf  vtotxL     Tk«fl 
niixlure  has  the  characteristic  smell  of  the  methyl  alcohol-      In   inngil  ol^ 
our  .'ipirits  the  absolute  alcohol  varies  from  51   to  54  per  cent. — in  nuf 
Btrtiiig  wines  from  12  to  17— iu  our  light  wines  from  7  to  9 — and  in  struu^ 
malt  liquory  from  5  to  6. 

Alcohol   h  a   volatile  colorless   liquid  having  a  pleasant   odor  and  i 
puiijierit  imW,     It  burus  with  a  blue  colorless  flame,  the  products  of  ttt 
coudni.-tion  btiiig  water  and  carbonic  acid.     W\U  vapor  be  mixed  willi  an 
iuyotficient  s^iipply  of  air  for  complete  combus^tiou,  and  paissstni  over  hot 
platiuum,  a  partial  combusiion  result.^  an  exceedingly  irritattuir  I  '""  '  ' ' 
compound  being  formed.     The  vapor  is  entirely  decomposied  by  ] 
through  a  red-hat  tube,  carbonic  oxide,  olefiant  ga.«,  marsh  ga»,  h 
and  other  hydrocarbons  resultiDg.     Alcohol  mixes  with  water  iti 
portions.     No  mineral   salts  that  are  insoluble  in   water  are  fsoluhh:  in 
alcuhoL .   Verv  few  efflorescent  salts  are  soluble,  and  very  few  deliquewnl 
aalts  are  insoluble  in  it.     It  dissolves  camphor  freely,  and  in  a  cer' 
extent  oxygen,  bydrogeu.and  nitrogen.     It  also  dissolves  the  fix»?<l  c.i:, 
alkalies,  the  mixture  becoming  oxidized  when  exp<we<i  to  the  air,  anti  lim 
color  changing  by  the  fonnatiou  of  a  so-called  resin  of  aldehyd  (William 
son).     By  dissolving  pota.-'sium  and  sodium  in  it,  a  ]>otassic  nr  so<lic  rthv- 
late  is  formed,  Ijydrogen  being  dii^engaged,  and  a  considerable  rise  in  ta« 
temperature  of  the  mixture  produced. 

Alcohol,  heated  with  sulphuric  acid  in  the  proportion  of  1  of  alcohol  ta 
2  of  acid,  ]u-oduceg  ether  and  water;  but,  if  the  mixture  be  made  in  the 
proportion  of  4  of  the  acid  to  1  of  alcohol,  then  olefiant  gas  and  water  «« 
the  principal  products. 


^M 


SYMPTOMS    OF    ALCOHOL    POISONING. 


435 


»hol  he  heated  in  a  tube  with  sulphuric  acid,  together  wilh  water 
le  of  mauganese,  it  will  be  auted  upon  by  the  uftHt'CHt  oxygen  set 
the  action  of  the  acid  on  the  tiiangaxiese  oxide  and  aldehyd 
i)  be  formed ; 


2CH„0 


+     O.. 


2C,Hp 


2H,0. 


AJtioboL 


Alti«hydL 


[jildehyd  rapidly  oxidizes  and  becomes  acetic  acid  ; 
2C^,0     4-     0,    =     2C,Hp^ 

Aldehyd.  Acetic  Acid. 

lol  acts  aa  a  true  poison ^  whether  the  vapor  be   respired  or  the 

swallowed  or  iujeciei!  into  the  cavity  of  the  chei^t  or  into  the 

tissue.     (See  Ou  Alcohol   Poifioninw,  **  MedintI  Times,"   Feb,   3» 

295  and  327,  and  al'*o  Man-h  17, 184i>,  p.  395.)     A  very  striking 

on  record  ("Laneet/'  Afiril  26,  1873,  p.  601)  where  an  infant 

d   from  convubioHH  and  other  symptonjs  cauiied  by  ihc  abns«  of 

1  in  the  uur*e.     The  milk,  therefore,  may  act  as  a  carrier  of  the 

S7/mptomJs,  Dose,  etc, 

i  usually  oomnience  in  from  a  few  minutes  to  one  hoiir»  acconling 
etrenpth  of  the  spirit  and  the  ouanlity  taken.  The  symptoms 
run  t*ome  such  course  as  this.  The  patient  complains  of  hend- 
id  woakne!*s,  a  feeling  of  sleepiness,  but  an  inability  to  sleep.  He 
iantly  moving  ahout,  but  walks  unsteadily — he  is  constantly  talk- 
t  bin  talk  is  a  dii^juinted  unintelligible  jabber,  and  he  i*ee-9  evcry- 
onble.  The  conjuuctivie  are  usually  congested,  the  skin  bathed  in 
)erspiration,  the  lip  blue,  the  face  flushed,  the  breathing  stertorous. 
|>il8  are  generally  dilated,  hut  this  is  by  no  means  constant.  In 
«ix  cases  wheie  the  stjite  of  the  pupil  was  noted  by  Dr.  Ugston,  it 
titracted  in  six,  and  dilated  in  twenty.  In  acute  poisoning  Mr. 
fiehi  thinks  that  the  prognosis  is  far  more  favorable  if  the  pupil  is 
fled,  however  intense  may  be  the  coma.  lu^^ensibirity,  or  a  profound 
Qoner  or  later  comei?  on,  from  which  the  pntient  may  never  rally, 
lig  the  stage  of  intense  coma,  convulsions  are  not  uncommon.  If 
Cmtiibitity  passes  off,  as  a  rule  the  patient  gets  well,  although,  even 
ihese  I'ircumstances,  the  prognosis  must  be  guarded,  as  several  cases 
retmrd  where  a  brief  period  of  seemingly  perfect  health  supervened 
death  and  the  active  svmptoms  induced  by,  or  traceable  to,  the 
A  free  and  active  attack  of  vomiting,  succeeded  by  a  sound  sleep, 
lly  if  accompanied  by  a  profu!<e  perspiration,  are  most  favorable 
ind  usually  precede  complete  recovery.  The  symptoms,  however, 
}\&  to  some  variation,  as  occasionally  they  have  all  the  character- 
a  true  irritant  poison*  Nor  must  we  overlook  in  cases  where  ileath 
rom  what  appeal's  to  be  alcoholic  poisoning,  the  possibility  that  it 
due  to  an  accident  whilst  the  patient  was  in  a  state  of  intoxication. 
^rtber,  there  is  oftet*  a  singular  similarity,  and  some  difficulty  of 
n»,  between  the  syniptoms  induced  by  alcohol  and  those  arising 
num  or  concussion  of  the  brain.  The  symptoms  of  alcolud  poison- 
I  vary  somewhat  if  the  patient  has  been  an  habitual  drunkard ; 
:h,  even  in  such  cases,  active  symptoms  may  be  induced  by  an 
€  debauch.    The  trembling  hands — the  busy  dellriuna — the  hallu- 


436    pos' 


ciuatians  of  siplit  nnd  hearing — the  suspicious  manifested  about  rtiff- 
tiling  and  everybiKly — the  moist,  furred,  tremulous  tongut* — the  daanj 
ekin — and  lastly,  the  strong  smell  of  alcohol  in  the  breath,  Idtve  littJe 
difficulty,  as  a  rule,  with  proper  ^are,  in  arriving  at  a  ctjrrect  dtasruwk 

The  frequent  repetition  of  saiall  quantities  of  alcohol,  accumulating, u 
it  uudonhtedly  does,  in  the  liver  and  in  the  nerve  ceutres,  notwithntaDdioi 
its  elimination  by  excretory  orgaui^,  such  as  tbe  lungs  and  kidueyj*,  pre^flt 
us  with  a  class  of  cases  of  chronic  poi^ouinf:^  with  which,  uufor' 
we  are  nowadays  too  farailar.  This  is,  moreover,  a  subject  d. 
considerable  attention  from  the  medical  jurij^t,  inasmuch  as  the  pka  [lui 
a  dipsomaniac  h  not  to  be  regarded  as  a  responsible  being,  is  constRiiilT 
urged  on  behalf  of  a  prisoner  by  counsel  who  have  no  otiier  groundi  of 
defence.  This  we  shall  discuss  elsewhere.  The  train  of  gYmplom=.  ibe 
result  of  chronic  alcoholism,  such  m  cirrhosis,  induration  <if  p«jrtiotw  of 
the  nervous  centres,  congestion  of  the  respiratory  organs,  thickening  of  the 
walls  of  the  stomach,  etc,,  are  utidoubtedly  to  be  regarded  as  the  r^ulu^ 
certain  morbid  changes  produced  by  the  poison.  A  question  of  stmie  im- 
p<jrtance  may  arise,  how  far  many  of  the  symptoms  found  in  tielirium 
tremens  are  due  to  admixture  of  fusel  oil  (amylic  alctdiol)  with  the  tlco* 
hoi  ^ethylie).  We  have  ourselves  noticed,  in  exjierinientiug  with  alcobul, 
the  constancy  of  convulsions  when  amylic  alcohol  waa  adminisiered,  aod 
their  rarity  under  the  iutliience  of  pure  alcohol.  But  tbis  is  a  subject 
needing  further  and  careful  inquiry. 

In  acute  poisoning  death  may  be  very  rapid  and  almost  instantaneou! 
either  from  shoek  f»r  from  apoplexy,  a  state  not  unlikely  to  be  indunjd 
under  the  action  uf  alcohol  in  a  iM?rsou  pre<iisposed  to  it.  Cst*»es  of  dt«lh 
alter  two,  six,  an<!  sixty-seven  hours  are  also  recorded.  As  reganls  dv^, 
a  child  Uet.  three)  died  from  drinking  a  mixture  of  a  quartern  of  run 
and  2  o7,s.  of  giu,  Flalf  a  pint  of  gin  has  proved  fatal  tx»  an  adult.  <)o 
the  other  bajid,  recovery  is  recorded  after  a  quart  of  gin  and  a  quart  of 
whisky  in  adults,  aud  afler  3  ozs.  of  rum  in  a  child  five  years  did. 

Treatment. 

The  one  great  indication  in  acute  poisoning  by  alcohol  is  to  get  n< 
the  poison.  The  stomach-pump  is  better  timn  any  emetic.  The  u:«e  of] 
the  catheter  is  indicated  if  the  bladder  is  distemled.  (.)l\en,  in  this  wayJ 
consciousness  may  be  immediately  restored.  The  cold  douche,  anti  initM.*t'] 
ing  water  into  the  ears  (Dr.  Ogston )  are  useful.  A  free  supply  of  ir 
air  is  e.ssential.  If  much  cerebral  congest i<ni  is  present,  venesection  ma} 
be  tried,  although  Dr.  Ogston  does  not  consider  it,  as  a  rule,  net^r^mry* 
If  the  patient  be  asphyxiated,  galvanism  Fnay  he  use*i  with  advantairt'-  If 
the  stupor  be  intense,  ammonia  should  be  given.  If  the  patient  be  thimf, 
there  is  nothing  better  to  give  for  drink  than  strong  coffee. 

Ca.ses  of  chronic  poisoning  must  be  treated  on  general  priociplett, 
several  symptoais  being  met  as  tbey  arise. 

Post-mortem  Appearances. 

In  a  ca.se  of  acute  poisoning,  the  stomach  will  appear  either  completely] 
or  in  part  of  a  deep  cherry-red  color,  the  congestion  extending  usually] 
both  into  the  gullet  and  into  the  intestines.     The  smell  of  alcohol  will 
perceived   if  death  be  rapid  and  the  qtiantity  taken  large.     The  mac 
metnbrane  of  the  stomach  is  frequently  thickened  and  sbrivellcH.     Somt-' 
times  the  brain  appears  perfectly  healthy,  except  that  there  may  be  seroui 
effusion  under  the  arachnoid  aud  into  the  ventricles.     At  other  ttfeoei  il 
will  be  observed  to  be  considerably  congested,  and  if  apoplexy  baa 


I 


TB8T8    FOR    ALCOHOL. 


437 


^e  cautte  of  death,  extra vasated  blaod  will  be  found.  The  lungs  are  Id- 
rariably  congeated,  the  blood  in  the  heart  and  large  vessels  beinj^  fluid  and 
of  a  dark  color.  Dr.  Vohoiriii  ("Medical  Tinife*  aud  Gazette,"  May  1, 
1858,  p.  457)  states,  as  the  result  of  a  large  experieuce,  that  he  has  uui- 
fbrmly  found  iu  alcohol  poisoniug  tlie  pulmouary  and  aortic  valves  of  the 
heart  of  »  peculiar  cinuabar-red  colur,  which  discoloration  cannot  be  re- 
Inoveil  by  wiping. 

The  p<»st-mortena  appearances  in  chronic  cases  of  alcohol  poifctoning  are 
**  the  gio-drinker's  liver,"  as  well  ascertain  morbid  changes  in  the  nervous 
ceDtre:$,  the  respiratory  organs,  the  stomach,  the  heart,  aud  the  kidneys. 

Tests. 

1,  (a)  Taste;  (b)  Smell  ;  (e)  Volatility. 

2.  It  burns  with  a  lambent  blue  flame,  which  doe?  not  blacken  a  piece 
of  white  pcjrcelain  held  in  it,  and  doen  n€*t  leave  any  residue  when  the  com- 
bui<tion  is  at  an  end. 

8.  If,  to  a  solution  containing  alcohol,  a  few  drops  of  a  solution  of  bi- 
chromate of  [>otash  and  sulphuric  acid  be  added,  and  heat  ap]>lied,  an 
emerald-green  colored  sfilution  is  produced^  aud  a  peculiar  fruity  udor 
evolved  i  Aldehyd,  CjH,0).  One  of  bichromate  to  300  ot  acid  is  a  good 
strength. 

4.  Heat  the  alcohol  with  oxide  of  nuuiganesc  aud  sulphuric  acid  in  a 
retort,  and  distil  into  a  we!l-cooled  receiver,  when  aldehyd  will  be  pro- 
duce<l  (C,H,0).  Set  the  distillate  aside  for  some  days,  when  it  will  be- 
come acid  to  litmus  from  the  production  of  acetic  acid  (CJI^O'/j,  the 
aldehyd  odor  liaving  disappeared.  Netitratize  the  acid  solution  with  car- 
bonate of  soda,  and  boil  so  as  to  get  rid  of  the  alcohol.  On  adding  to 
the  liijjuid  a  little  sulphuric  acid,  the  vinegar  odor  will  be  at  once  per- 
ceived. 

5.  If  it  be  a  weak  solution  of  alcohol  we  are  testing,  saturate  the  laix- 
lare  with  potassic  carbonatie,  when  the  alcohol  will  tioat  on  the  surface, 
the  salt  etfecting  the  separation,  owing  to  its  perfect  solubility  in  water, 
but  its  perfect  insolubility  in  alcohol. 

Tosticologieal  Analyst, 

In  a  toxicological  investigation,  the  contents  of  the  stomach,  the  brain» 
the  blood,  and  the  secretions  must  be  specially  examined.  X<jte  first 
whetlier  alcohol  can  be  detected  in  these  by  the  smell. 

Neutralize  whatever  you  may  be  examining,  if  acid,  with  carbonate  of 
poliish  ;  and  submit  the  whiJe  to  distillation,  using  a  Lie  big's  condenser 
to  eflcct  perfect  condensation.  The  distillate  is  then  to  be  mixed  with  car- 
bonate ot  potash  in  strong  excess,  and  the  supernatant  liquid  eitlier  siphoned 
oft'  or  drawn  off  with  a  pipette.  This  process  should  be  repeated  several 
times,  and  when  the  alcoiiul  is  sufficiently  concentrated,  the  solution  is  to 
be  teeied  with  bichromate  of  potash  and  sulphuric  acid,  in  ttic  manner 
already  de^icribed. 

Dr.  Taylor  recommends  conducting  the  vapor  from  the  fhisk  iu  which 
materials  are  being  distilled,  into  a  glass  tube  containing  a  few  fibi*es 

asbestos  moistened  with  a  mixture  of  a  saturated  solution  of  bichro- 
tc  of  potash  and  sulphuric  acid,  which  the  merest  trace  of  alcohol 
vapor  will  be  suRicieut  to  turn  green. 

If  some  time  has  elapsed  between  death  and  the  exhibition  of  the  poison, 
oo  trace  of  alcohol  may  be  discovered. 

Lastly,  it  must  be  remembered  that  alcohol  may  be  only  the  vehicle  ia 


^OISONINQ    BY    ALCOHOL. 


which  some  other  aud  more  active  poi«on  may  have  been  admtai 
therefore,  even  supp<wing  the  p^e^^ence  of  the  spirit  to  be  clearly 
the  necessity  still  remaius  for  the  further  exainiQation  of  the  Ti«GCffti 
of  the  contents  of  the  sttimach  for  other  poisous. 

CoMt  of  Pk/Uomit^  with  Aleohol, 

CASK  I,—"  UncH,"  M»y  4,  IB39,  |>,  931  < Dr,  Chowoe).    M»«et  at.  1,    Half  •  pHit  «f  (}». 

9^mfa»mi.—Cvmit\ft«  lukeuilbitity  iti  half  an  ttour;  pupUi  eooiraelcd ;  do  4iilMni»; 
C<»njunrtif «:  rnriTiiUJotiA]  death. 

BnuiL—liiiktU  lu  flxtf-^^TeD  bourtatid  •  halt 

JhtHmotirm—iio  paitlcttlju  poNMuortoiu  appraraaeea,  cjuscpl  thai  all  pMla  M<MH.<i  •) 
of  th«  »|»irU  0lia«rrabl«, 

CASE  2.—"  Laocrt/'  May  lA,  1839,  p.  314,  from  *' Jonrnal  de  Chlni^;*  Mareli.  109.  Mtit.  «Lt 
A  qiinutity  of  nilieil  cpiHt  (about  JiJ). 

dfmpftmt, — ltiitnt^ia(«^  and  pr^>fana<)  coma:  pupil*  Urir#lr  klilaled.  Tlteeoitui  ti<^au  l«4lMffar 
aA^T  tw«lvf9  huun,  but  It  «a»  aoflid  lime  b?fure  hi  was  well. 

f  ASK  3  — ■<  Uncei,"    Oct.  '^6.  1839.    p,  1«  (Or.  G.  Bird).    Hale:  adnll.    S  oca.  vT  alwM 
abuvv  prtytf. 

%a|p<(HiM.— Instantly  dmppcil  dowQ  votelnsi  tkin  cold  ;  lip*  Ulu»  .  atracwt  pnl*»l4«a.  Ia«lr«« 
hour*  anafn  hftcaine  Musihle ',  wrnt  u>  trurk  lh«  futluwinf;  day,  hut  fett  b<<av7  fnr  ^M^  Mid  mMmI 
nbjet^ta.  Afl«r  lhrr«  weeks  lurtht^r  bad  vymplooik  «rl  In,  bis  popils  were  4lllat«<l,  And  k«  ■lil^i  It 
a&MvrHtig  quvstidos.    The  tiioiloni)  w«r«  pllchliki*  In  appearance* 

MtMMlL — Recovery. 

CASE  4.-"  Laacet."  Oct.  29. 1MB,  p.  IM  (Mr.  Gregory  Smith).  Male:  mL  tC.  Tw»^Uda  af* pal 
ol  gio  at  a  draaffhl. 

S!^mpk>iM.^—SooD  bwonic  In^cnBlH*' ;  dilateil  pupils;  palseloML  Aflar  ttdrt«Mi  h«Ma  r«MMll 
hi*  aoDtct,  but  uerer  bod  good  health  aa«rward«. 

MetuIL — fitfcorcry. 

CASE  5.—"  Lancet,"  May  9,  IflM,  p.  !^9.    Two  male  adulti.    Drank  larxO  dona  of  rum, 

Sfmptonu.—Both  iHecaine  liiMUisible;  faces  bloc;  pupil*  diiatrd  aad  tnarnafblo  ;  iti  rtunjiufcniifc 
Id^.  Oae  vomfted,  the  ulherdld  nut.  (Slumafb-pump  uaed.)  Tbr  taao  thai  rottuitcii  fvcatanili 
two  days,  the  other  niao  died  ia  »ix  hour*, 

/Seoill,— RecoTery.    Death  In alx  hours. 

CASE  6.—"  Lancet,''  Jan.  27,  18.V>.  p.  S9  <Mr.  Hawk<«k.  Malu:  let.  TL  Lay  uti4«r  •  fMitni  * 
mm, Mid  let  ll  run  duwn  bia  tbruat. 

djpMptoau.'^Collapau ;  pupiU  dilated ;  Intenae  perapiraLlau. 

JUMU/.—Keco  f  ery . 

CAHE  7.—*'  Medical  Ttmn  and  GaaeU«,"  Sept.  8,  IMO,  p. ttC  (I^.  Rfla«>  XtUt  Wik^%  A  H1H1 
of  rum,  and  nbout  |ij  of  gin, 

^ympftrmt.— I ri»eneiblJlty  aei  Id  In  lea  mltiulca;  nu  ft*nor;  puplla  tmmenavly  costcMtai;  ife* 
liiulinl,  (viaetic*  were  given);  altera  abort  tliaa  the  poplla  bMSame  dilated  ;  cQurulalooatMitoaal 
dciah. 

JtoMir.— D«ath  In  two  boura. 

i>^#H>wrilem.^Post-mortrn]  In  elf^htecn  hours.  Mucoaa  BteDibraoe  of  stomftch  lnjaelwJ  ^  tatii 
eoogealad ;  laft  side  of  heart  full ;  MchkI  Auid ;  bruin  and  memhrunri  Intcnvely  con|«8C«<L 

CASE  )».—" Lancet."  8eptemU'r  »,  1»«0,  p.  238  (Dr.  ParkM>.  Male:  aUft,  Half  a  qaArttfS  dt 
rum  —  SiU. 

A^pfcrfM.— Coma  In  one  bout  and  a  bilf;  ni«e  ftuihed;  penplr&ttooa;  (itomaeb-puaiii  uaed  altf 
flv«  hour*). 

i^.mif.— Recovery. 

CASt^  9.— "Brlliah  Medical  Joomal,"  Feb.  4, 1871,  p.  123 (Dr.  Lyntta).  Male:  91.  19.  A  .jiiaridf 
whUky. 

i9ywt/«rfri*M. — Coma  for  twenty-four  boura ;  aAervarda  pulmonary  lesion  eat  in. 

/£"»»</.— lUjoovi'ry. 

CASK  lu^-'-Brmnh  Medical  Journal,"  Feb.  11, 1871. p.  144  (Dr.  KllbtooV    Malo:  CL  «L 

tSffmptamt.—iiecnnie  (julit-  ioaenslble;  pupils  contracted  (galvaoiaoi  wned). 

iU*ult.~^ltvciaveTy. 

VAS1£  II.—*'  UnccC  Mar«h  39, 1882  (Dr.  WllUbir«),  Mal« :  m.  65.  Ooa  pint  ami  a  half  of  Akwd 
gin  and  brandy - 

Hjfmtdcmu.—f.'om*  io  flfleen  mlDaiea;  pupUa  dilated  and  Inatinalble  to  llf^lil]  braathliaf  vfftmmt^ 

/B«#«#/l. — R«?co  V  c  ry . 

r  ASt:  12.-"  LMnret,"  March  29, 1861  (Dr.  WUlahlre).  Mate;  «L  38.  A  qiiaH  off  la  draakdvrlaf 
two  hour*  and  a  balf. 

<Nii|>frNMj.— Iniii'nalbllUy;   ptil«cl«aaiiaaa ;   pupils  contracted}   breathing  atertorvua;  ftkantay  ft 
t. 

I— -Hecufery. 


POISONING    BY    FUSEL   OIL. 


439 


AMYLIC  ALCOHOL  (C,H,p). 
(Fusel  oil — Potato  spirit — Oil  of  grain.) 

(Sp.  gr,  0,817.     Boils  at  LS'IO^  C.) 

Amylic  alcohol  is  much  less  volatile  than  ordinary  alcohol ;  and  hence, 
n   the'  dlt»tilIatiou  of  brandy  IVoni  potatoes,  or  bttrley,  or  rye,  it  does  not 
over — at  any  rate  in  any  cousjideriible  qimntity — until  towards  the  end 
the  distil latioD. 

It  is  a  thill  oily  fluid,  having  an  exceedinirly  unpleasant  odor  and  a 
burning  taste.  It  intlani&s  with  diHieulty,  and  then  burns?  with  a  blue 
lADie.  It  id  not  acted  u\xm  by  air  un<ler  ordinary  circMnistttrices,  but  is 
xidized  to  vtileric  iicid  (Cjil,„0.j)  when  warmed  and  droppt^d  on  platinnm- 
black.  It  is  insoluble  to  a  great  extent  in  water,  on  which  it  floats.  It  is 
not  very  wluble  in  chloroiormj  but  xm  freely  so  in  alcohol  and  in  ether. 
Heated  with  a  moderate  quantity  of  sul[jhunc  acid,  it  doCf*  uot  produce 
ether  like  viuie  alcohol,  nur  is  oletiant  gas  produced  when  the  sulphuric 
acid  is  added  in  greater  quantity.  It  decomposes  chromic  acid  similarly 
to  alcohol,  ether,  and  woud  spirit. 

Its  action,  as  a  poison,  is  probably  most  energetic  when  the  vapor  is 
breathed  ;  hence  arises  the  parannjunt  necessity  of  good  ventilation  in 
placei$  where  spirit  is  hiding  distilled,  lis  action  on  the  rej<piratory  organs 
M  marked  by  an  extreme  irritation,  by  dyspeptic  symptoms,  and  by  giddi- 
ness. Given  internally,  Dr,  Furst,  of  Berlin,  found  that  2  drachm>^  \xm\V\ 
"kill  a  rabbit  in  two  hours,  3  drachms  in  one  hciur.  and  1  ok.  in  four  minntes. 
lu  a  oi^e  of  poisoning,  one  would  expect  to  detect  lU  smell  without  diffi- 
euUy  in  the  breath. 

Tesis, 

In  organic  mixtures,  fusel  oil  may  easily  be  separated  by  ether,  in  which 
it  is  soluble.     It  n>ay  then  be  tested — 

1.  By  its  smell.  This  is  best  noticed  by  rubbing  a  little  upon  the  ^ands, 
and  holding  them  over  the  mouth  and  nostrils. 

2.  By  mixing  one  part  of  fu-^el  oii  with  two  parts  of  acetate  of  potash  and 
with  one  of  sulphuric  acid,  when  the  odor  of  the  essence  of  the  jargonelle 
pear  will  be  evolved  (acetate  of  uxide  of  amyl). 

3.  It  may  also  be  tested  by  mixing  it  with  bichromate  of  potash  and 
sulphuric  acid,  when  the  green  oxide  of  chromium  will  be  produced. 

METIiyLIC  ALCOHOL  (CH,0). 

(Wood  Spirit— Wood  Naphtha — Naphtha — Pyroxylic  Spirit) 

(8p,  gr.  0.82.     Boils  at  66.0°  C) 

Metbylic  alcohol  is  produced,  along  with  other  bodies,  by  the  destruc- 
tive distillation  of  wood,  Hut  never  as  yet  by  any  process  of  fermentation. 
When  WiXid  is  distilled,  a  t|uantily  of  tar  and  water  (coutainiug  acetic 
acid  and  W(-Mxi  spirits!  pa-^^s  over.  This  water,  after  being  neutralized  with 
lime,  is  again  distilledj  the  crude  naphtha,  together  with  a  little  water, 
coming  over  at  the  commencement  of  the  operation.  The  distillate  is 
then  partially  dried  by  distilhititm  over  quicklime.  The  body  thus  ob- 
tained is  that  usually  found  in  commerce.  To  prepare  from  this  pure 
methylic  alcohol,  it  must  be  mixed  with  a  strong  solution  of  caustic  soda, 
and  after  standing  for  some  time,  redistilled,  when  acetate  of  si>da  will  be 
left  behind  in  the  retort,     The  distillate  should  be  then  again  distilled 


riNO    BY    WOOD   SPIRIT. 

with  3  or  4  per  cent,  of  sulphuric  acid,  volatile  bases  (such  as  ammocii] 
and  certaJQ  impurities  of  the  wood  spirit  beiag  iu  this  manner  ref^  "•  I 

The  crude  *'  naphtha  "  is  a  yellowibb  liquid  having  au  unplea- 
and  a  burning  taste.     Pure  methylic  aleohol  is  pedectlj  colorltss.-.    r-^m 
of  wine  mixed  with  10  per  cent,  ot  wood  spirit  constitutes  ordtuttry  "mcthy^ 
lated  spiriti^/'  which   possesses,  even  at  that  dilution,  the  cbanicter 
nmel!  of  the  methylic  alcohoL 

Wood  naphtha  ditier»  from  eoal  naphtha  in  mixing  with  water  freeh 

is  soluble  in   ateohol   and   iu  ether  iu  all  proportions.      Some  tui    

reHult-s  when  ordinary  wood  spirit  is  thus  diluted,  from  the  prceipitattW 
lii|iiid  hydrocarbon.-*.  The  vapor  i^l  inllamniable,  hurning  with  a  i>alo  61 
It  dijjscjtlvea  potassium  and  sodium,  hydrogen  being  at  the  sjiinc  time  ift 
free.  The  properties  of  methylic  alcohol  closely  resemble  vinic  alwboL 
Hydrogen  acids  (such  as  HCI )  ftirm  with  it  water  and  methyl  co»* 
pounds,  the  radical  methyl  (C'Hj)  being  substituted  for  the  hydn>fro 
atom.  If  heated  with  four  times  iu»  weight  of  sulphuric  acid,  inelbvK 
ether  (€,11^0)  and  water,  together  with  other  products,  are  fonnecL 

Wood  naphtha  di.ssolvea  most  liittyaud  resinoid  bodies^  readily,  and  for 
this  reason  ig  largely  used  In  the  art^^  aa  well  aa  in  the  niauufaciufv  of 
varui!?he!*. 

Poi.<*oning  by  methylic  alcohol  is  rare.     Dr»  Taylor  relatee  a  fatal  cist 
that  occurred  in  1864.     We  have,  however,  seen  several  cas66  wh«re  ieiVl. 
symptoms  have  Ijeeu  produced  on  workmen,  in  manufactories  where 
largely  u»ed,  from  the  coritaininalion  of  the  atmosphere  ot*  the  wm 
with  the  vapor.     The  symptoms  are  those  of  a  narcotic  poietou.     The 
mortem  apj>earances  noticed  in  the  case  related  by  Dr.  Taylor  wef 
inflamed  stomach  and  congested  lungi*, 

Tiie  remarks  we  itave  made  on  the  treatment  of  poisoning  by  alcohiil 
(page  436j  will  equally  apply  here. 


NITRITE  OF  AMYL  (C^H^NO,). 

Kitrite  of  amyl  has  been  experimented  upon  by  Richardson  ("Brifnib 
Medical  Journal,"  Sept.  26,  18t>:3,  p.  356),  and  by  Aniez-Droz  ('Wrchivw 
de  Physiotogie,"  No.  5,  1873,  p.  467).     Great  uneasiness,  increas**  iu  tbr 
rate  of  the  heart's  contraction;;,  much  flushing  of  tiie  face  from  dilais- 
tion  of  the  bloodvessels,  and   irregular  respirali<»n,  with  paraly.Hij»,  wptt 
produced   by  small  doses;  whilst  convulsions,  the  involuntary  pawiiii^  of 
the  urine  and  ficces,  coma,  and  death  were  produced  when  the  uowai  weft 
large.     By  injecting  doses  of  7  to   10  grains  uutler  the  skin  of  mbbil 
Hotl'mann  lound  that  the  quantity  of  urine  voided  during  the  twenty-foBrl 
hours  wus  double  what  was  normal,  and  contained  from  1  to  2.5  per  t'tnL] 
of  sugar.     This  diabetic  condition  disappeared  iu  from  twelve  to  thirt] 
hours. 

AMYLENE  (C.Hj,). 

(Boils  at  35.0^  C.) 

Amylene  is  a  colorless  liquid,  having  an  unpleasant  odor.     The 
burni^  with  a  bright,  smoky  flame. 

It  was  suggested  by  Dr.  Snow  as  an  aniesthetic.  It  is  said  not  to 
complete  coma,  but  to  effect  a  perfect  insensibility  to  pain.  (6«c  " 
Times  and  Gazette,"  April  4  and  18,  pp.  332  and  3S1.) 


Si; 


FOISOMI»<]    BY    NITROBBNZOL.  441 


BENZOL— NITROBENZOL—AMLIN. 

BENZOL  (CJIj  or  (CJI^H). 

(Hydride  of  Pheuyl — Beuzine — Benzitie  Collas.) 

(8p.  gr  of  liquid  at  16.0-  C.  0,885.     Buib  at  8'i.O^  C.) 

(Freezes  at  4,45°  C) 

>]  i«  obtained  during  the  distillatiim  of  coal  naphtha.  It  is  a  color- 
isive-smelling  liquid,  giving  off,  whoo  heated,  a  vnpor  which 
li  a  white  flame,  aud  deposits  large  quantities  of  carbon.  The 
deoompt^^iiied  when  passed  through  red-hot  t«ilie:i.  Benzol  is 
itt  water,  but  is  stoluble  io  aleuhol,  ether,  turpentine,  etc.  It 
Ufe»jlve8  strychnia,  fatty  matters,  t'aontehouc,  giuta  perelia,  cam* 
p.,  in  the  cold  ;  aud  sulphur,  phosphorus,  and  iodine  when  heated. 
d  18  an  active  poison,  ^M^vere  narcotic  etfects,  accompaui^fd  by 
'Bymptoms,  have  been  noticed  when  the  vapor  has  been  inhaled. 
I  little  difficulty  in  detecting  it,  even  when  prei?ent  in  very  small 
;  ou  account  of  it^i  offeuHive  j^mell,  whilst  it^  insolubility  in  water, 
ftmability,  and  the  i>eculiarity  of  the  Hame,  aHbrd  addiiioual  tests 
euence. 

rtuation,  however,  into  nltrobenzol  and  anilin  at  once  supplies  us 

taoet  imporiant  test.     Heat  a  few  dropn  of  the  benzol  with  a  little 

nitric  acid  in  a  test-tube.     Dilute  freely  with  water,  when  ntVro- 

vill  be  found  to  separate  in  the  Ibrm  of  oily  drops.     Di«iolve  the 

uzc}\  thus  formed  in  ether,  and  decant  the  ethereal  solutiou.     Add 

t  mixture  of  equal  parta  of  hydrochloric  acid  and  alcohol  and  a 

inients  of  granulated  zinc,  when  the  nitrobenzol  will  be  reduced, 

Jiin  formed.     Potash  must  then  be  added  in  excess,  in   order  to 

i  the  auilin,  which  may  then  be  dissolved  out  of  the  mixture  by 

up  with  ether.     If  a  i*olutiou  of  chloride  of  lime  be  added  to  thii* 

flolution,  the  violet  tint  characteri:^tic  of  anilin  will  either  directly 

Very  short  time,  be  developed  (Miller).     (For  further  tests^  see 


Pitim/ning  by  wipor  of  Beruol  aftd  other  VolaUle  NydroeariotiA. 

IancM/*  Miirch  10, 18&SI.  p.  2\5  (Dr.  Gull).    Mule;  Bt.  H.    Lttbonr  Hi  «  gnft-tur  disUk 
bf  gi»iu9  '>'>^  "  dlMiM-*!  ur-tKiilcr  wherv  hfdroc*rbou>  vapor*  hod  acvuinulatMl. 
-TUIb  man  Hunt  iutu  tl^e  boiler  to  bel|>  a  mule  who  bad  falleii  dowo  IriNtrnAibte.  D«llr- 
I  00 ;  ptipil*  dilated ;  recovered  io  ivo  or  three  hour*,  uncun^ilouA  of  irhat  had. 


r«ry. 


NITROBENZOL  (C.H.NO,), 
iz\n — Artiiicial  Oil  of  Bitter  Altnoud* — Essence  of  Mi rbane.) 
(Sp.  gr.  of  liquid  1.209.     Boils  at  220.0"  C.) 

,  prepared  by  adding  benzol  to  fuming  nitric  acid,  and  warming 
lure,  when  1  of  the  hydrogen  of  the  benzol  is  replaced  by  1  of 
%e  nitrobenzol  is  purified  by  first  washing  it  with  water  and  then 
^ak  alkaline  .solution. 

;nzol  is  a  pale  yellow-colored  liquid,  heavier  than  water,  haviDg 
'  taste  and  a  strong  odor  of  bitter  almoudis.     It  must  be  rcmetn- 

20 


its 


^M-  mmt  euwjjuMikw  as  iIm  nstiinl 
of  tke  ijiiiiilii  or  Iiti 
aloobol  but  li 


^mn 


10  almoii 
inrae.  Bo5al  Sociecy. 


^« 


^Aift^a 


Bt. 


Iftii 


caodition,  pfvn 
n»e.     lu  «cu<io«  for 
k  prodnom  as  m  rait  Im^' 
dmUl     Tbc  iTBpor*  It  fi 
hkt^x  diluted  «itii 
r  Lhf  u^e  of  eoap 

lien?  bat  w»tef 


(Ae 


n*  «MBik  mtT  be  rnloKMi  ifDRMsdiate  ia  ill 
MMi  «AflB  i^  bj  a  |i«riod  of  lOAcUiift. 
«f  »itwibtMw>l  mad  piTiwio  mctd 
«r  m  periud  s.*f  ioactiou  of  at  li 

aiit  perfect  ib 

I  a  gmjMb  Woe  ditieuiomUMk  of  ite 

r  iJtrfud  ve  ooosidermble  dbltta 
be  mui>Ml  br  fluabiiigs  ikf  Uie  faot, 
<iibtal»im  ^>f  i  be  pu  pik,  more  or 
r,  aad,  oot  imfnr<|ueiitt v,  couruUinui 
to  vmlk,  nJk  ab«>ut  a&  It  druuk.  Tiif 
mi  la  tbit  awittar  a  most  importaot  diagawtic 
riovlr,  but  nofc  ofteo  it  mske^  iu  upprartDct 
svasag  ia  ialaaaitj,  death  usually  ukiotf  place 
five  or  fix  boon  froai  tbe  finS  commtuoamM  of  tbe  trmptouj^.  It  mnf 
fottber  be  added,  tbal  wbea  onee  oona  bas  set  in  there  is  but  a  very  tUj^ 
cbiiwe  of  aoj  aieaas  bdag  111111.1  iifid  in  reoovefing  the  paiieuL 

It  b  icaroely  poMble  mr  nkiobeittol  to  be  adoimbtere<l  utik' 
betaiiie  of  iti  strong  penutent  odor,  aod  the  great  dtscoioforf  m 
•alivatioo  generally  iDdaced  directly  it  touches  the  mouth.  J  ut' 

tba  potion,  too,  can  easily  be  detected,  and  this  will  iofalli  r-  r^ 

diitioguii^h  the  ^ympiotu?  from  apoplexy,  the  ooly  thing  with  which  liitft 
are  v«;ry  likoly  t^i  be  coufouuded. 


InaaC 
OUn^toowtbapnai 
MBcii  oftba  bmb 
MgB.  Com  may  eo 
onexpeetftdlx,  giadoaJly 


vill 


Treatm^d, 

In  thiM  thi*r€  mu.*t  be  no  delay.     The  stomach-pump  must  be  uwd  fiwtj 
of  nil,  iukI  tht*  i-"hujjcc*are  gomJ  if  it  be  used  at  once,  because  of  the  iiwolu-' 
bilriy  of  tlui  jMjmon  and  itn  consequent  slow  absorption.     Cold  iiHu^ifia  and 
amnionia  nrv   unelul ;  and    thes<\   with   stimulauLa   cautiously    but   firspiy 
adntii)ti*tcnd,  and  tite  usual  rc8toralivei<,  ntust  be  persevered  m.     Trastlu- 
Mioij  of  blood  ('J  lo  3  ois.)  la  Fecoraoiended  iu  bad  casce. 


BXPBKIMBNTS    WITH    NITROBSNZOL   ON    ANIMALS.  448 


PoAt-mortem  Appearances. 

[n  many  c&m»  a  distinct  color  will  he  noticed  on  the  skin,  or  at  least  on 
ftome  portions  of  it.  The  braiu  is  always  found  to  be  coni^ested  and  the 
ventricles  full  of  bloody  seniiTi,  The  vesi?eb  of  the  cord  are  also,  a*  a  rule, 
con^'e'sted.  The  bhmd  Ls  tn*ery where  black  and  thick,  hut  fluid.  The 
cavilic:*  of  the  heart  are  full  of  black  treacly  blood.  The  lungs  are  geuer- 
lly  dark-colored,  hut  ihe  stomach  is  invariably  normal.  The  rigidity  ia 
_  iuenilly  well  markieil  and  long  continued.  If  death  be  rapid,  probably 
the  .»tiiiell  of  the  poi;^uu  in  tfte  stomach,  brain,  and  luiii^:^  will  be  easily  per- 
eeiveil ;  but  if  death  be  delayed,  no  sioell  of  oitrohenzol  may  be  detected, 
nor  will  analysi;?  be  able  to  prove  hs  presence  j  but  auilin  (for  reajions  we 
sJiall  exphiin  further  on)  m&y  most  likely  be  found,  and  especially  in  the 
uriue  and  brain.  For  thoe  rea.soos,  in  suspected  ca^^es  of  uitri>beuaoI 
poiiauiog,  the  braiu  and  uriue  ijhould  always  be  particularly  examined. 

Experiments  on  Animah, 

And  here  we  may  notice  Dr.  Letlieby's  expcrimeotjs  with  nitrobenzol  on 
auimab.     The  effects  are  divis^ible  under  two  heada  : 

1 .  Where  ihe  pouon  wa»  epeedily  fatal. 

In  these  ease^  the  nervous  symptoms  set  in  rapidly,  with  more  or  less 
complete  loss  of  voluntary  power.  Every  now  aud  then  the  animals  had 
fit8  of  an  epileptic  nature.  They  u.sually  lay  on  their  ^ide,  auti  Dr.  Lelbeby 
remarks  that  their  le^s  ctmtiuned  in  con.stant  motion  as  if  tliey  were  running. 
The  pupili*  were  dilated,  the  Ijrcathiuj^  difficult,  aud  the  lieart  irregular. 
Suddenly  conui  set  in,  and  lasted  till  death,  which  occurred  in  periods 
varying  from  Iwenly-Hve  minutes  to  twelve  hours  after  the  adminiijtratiou 
of  tlie  poL!«on. 

2,  Where  eonsiderahk  time  t  lapsed  before  the  i^ympiomjf  i^et  in. 

For  8ome  hour.^,  and  even  for  some  days,  the  animals  walked  about  and 
luok  their  food  Jis*  U!?uaL  Suddenly  (hey  would  fall  down  in  a  fit,  or  have 
an  attack  of  vomitinp.  After  this,  mraly>*is  Wiiuld  set  in,  althougli  perfect 
Oi»n§ciou^nei^  might  he  retained.  Thia  state,  after  lasting  for  .*ome  days, 
might  end  in  recovery,  or  else  death  result  troni  exhaustion.  The  epileptic 
fit  in  these  ca.«es  (the  first  serious  symptom)  generally  occurred  about  the 
seeomi  day,  and  death  in  from  the  ftiurth  to  the  ninth. 

TcmjHjrary  s^alivation  in  all  ctu*e5i  was  produced  when  the  poison  waa 

administered.     Evvald  s^tate^  that  sugar  may  always  be  found  in  the  urine 

of  the  animals;  but  it  i^  to  be  noted  that  many  other  things,  such  as  chlo- 

•  roff>rm,  chloral  hydrate,  and,  indeed,  all   medicines  aflecting  respiration, 

produce  a  similar  rejauit. 

The  appearances  afier  death  were  tolerably  uniform,  and  did  not  vary 
materially  whether  death  was  slow  or  rapid.  The  turgid  state  of  the 
veetiels  of  the  bruin  aud  of  the  membranes,  the  black  Huid  blood,  the  dis* 
tended  gall-bladder,  ami  withal,  the  natural  and  uuiuHamed  state  of  the 
stomach,  were  the  chief  tiling.*  noted.  The  Bniell  of  the  poi/son  in  the  stomach 
anil  in  other  part*j  c(mld  only  be  discovered  when  death  took  place  within 
twentydbur  hours. 

The  following  is  a  tabular  statement  of  Dr.  Letheby^s  experiments. 


^^^^F 

144                                POISOXIKO    BY    iriTK0BKKZ01«.                 ^^^^H 

I 

Animal. 

IXM6. 

Syuiptmnc                  * 

P-.«,« 

1 

Cat. 

Saa.  all 

8on«  dlwomrnrt ;  frotb'd  at  mnutlt; 

Bri.                       i.MlcmM 

■ 

H 

P.M. 

al«ep;  fouud  dead  lo  the  momltig. 

hi                    .i.i    Mymrii  V 
normal .  aUruhmmH  «ai  ^ 
ftttltlA  fooftd  la  iiti—^      ■ 

1 

SttdlDoff. 

im. 

]d  on«   hour  vomited   and    b«<ain« 
»le«py.    next   moriilng    Bet'inrd   to 
liuvv  pri»rt?rfd.  aad  ate  wril  aU  day: 
tlic  foltowinit  uioruir>K  was  found 
liwri-iM.-.  lylittf  •«(!  Ii<.sld«,  it*  U>it» 
111  eoiisiiatii  molloii;  died  in  ihrre 
dayafiutii  vxliaui^Uoii. 

Ne«dororpolMa:«ianA    J 
oornal ;  a  tr«M  of  sattlL^  ^ 
but  no  nlimbrti«Hlft«4  ■ 

H 

tatiinog. 

^i. 

Saliviitlwn;    hi  ihirtr  luiDiito*  tliei* 
WB«  ininttlliitf  in  the  lliiitrt;  Ln  Are 
bmur*  ci»nvuUi«»[i« ;    In    nix    Uuun 

1 

^^^H 

ciitua ;    linilm    c^'tiatiitilljr    uifiviiig, 

1 

^^^^^H 

t><'Nlh  in  &ere(i  hour*, 

1 

I 

D«g. 

a». 

j^liviKtoii;  treiDMItigorilmlMln  one 
liuiir  :  MMin  rcM-nveri'd,  and  r<*inalni'«l 
w**ll  for  rorly-lfv«'  hounj,  whtMi  p»- 
ruJyiiis  cAiue  un  ;  tuy  mIi  ii»»idv  ;  Ivtf* 
ill  ixm-tuiit   iii'itiod.    I»ealli    fniiu 
••xiiiniHlion  afif^r  eikclit  days. 

StOfnath  nonnsi:  ••  lias 
of  poboQ  l^oad 

1 

v»t. 

^;iUvtt»i<m  ;  iu   two  niJaiii<a  nvrvnua 
•>y4ii}i'iuinn  si't  in:  in   Bve  mlnuli-a 
c<iiivuhli>n9  .and    coma.     Dt^ath   in 
iweiiiy-five  piinntea. 

Pont-mnrlcm  a*  lyfofr,  bI-  ■    "■ 

If,,,                          1                         \ 

braiu.                                       1 

^^H 

I«r«e  Dog. 

ni45. 

SahvatloD  :  (at  flftr-onij  honraaornrf^d 

^^^^^H 

well,  and   thfu  tia.l  n  i   mi  vuImn  >>  fit 

^^^H 

bimI  I'flrctlj'sis-,  r<  1  •                             ! 

J 

^^^^^H 

fur  a  wet^k.uitd  r< 

1 

■ 

Large  Dog, 

SJ. 

Satimiloo;   *'onilt4<i                              i 

Will    U't    nim'tn.ll     l|.-Ut=.    »vlirli     \JA- 

rnlyain  rel  in.  from  wliitli  it  .-uirvrtHi 
int  »i-v«rely  Ihitl  Ihr  dn)j  h»d  to  be 
dr«iwii^d  DM  Ihi'  (inh  day. 

No  AtilUn   or   ultral'tc.:      i 
fbund  in  the  atam»i 

J 

H 

1>01. 

1T145. 

Salivatluu;  renialii.-il    w<il   for  thnf 
days,   wh<'D    jjaruty^iit    4U|MTTetaH], 
frum  whuh  it  rcti/Tt-ivtl. 

jLtilUa  Jbnnd  In  tbevtlM. 

J 

■ 

Small  Dog, 

aii. 

8yniploni!«rominen -ed  iu  ten  minut<9; 
in  itiirty  iuinuti»  it  seuiiicd  lo  be 
drunk  ;  in  one  hour  it  had  litat  all 
iMiwt^r.    Killed  at  ihtr  end  of  twelve 
lioiirs. 

NltmWnitol  foood   la  «n 
paru.  and  anttlo  la  Urn 
DtotuAcb  ai)4  bfaJji. 

1 

^^^^^H 

■ 

■ 

Dog. 

mw. 

Pamlynis  in  forty-two  hours;   np  to 
ttil»   linn?  eivuit-d   quite   w«>U,    but 
IIjcu  suderwl  tfreail  pain.     Kill«^  ill 
iwrenty-uue     Itoura     after     Uktog 

■      1 

^^^H 

!■ 

^H 

pubuii. 

I 

H 

Tlie  results  of  these  ex  peri  men  ts,  conducted  as  they  were  with  confl 

^^^H 

BUmrnate  eare  and  ability,  are  remarkable.                                                     H 

^B 

Firiit.  They  prove*  that  a  poison  may  be  retaineil  in  the  eptem  tor  diyj 

^^F 

without  nnv  ill  effl-etg.    We  had  almost  knirut  to  regard  the  titorie^  offlwi^B 
poisoning,'^  and  of  poisons  remaining  for  a  short  time  inert»  but  able  af^^f 

^H 

^^1 

awhile  io  do  their  work,  il*  the  fanciful  inventions  of  the  novel •writCHH^H 

^^1 

the  marvellou^-inoiigi'r.     But  the  action  of  nitrobenzol  i<4  alraii«l  u^^^| 

^^B 

In  Dr.  Lethehy's  own  wordn:  **  It  may  he  jL^iveu  to-day,  and  if  ibe  cJo^^^ 

^^H 

not  too  large,  it  shall  not  rauiiifest  its  aetion  uiUil  to-morrow  or  tbft3^| 

^^H 

after  ;  aud  it  ^hall    destroy  life  by  a   lingering  illness,  which   Bbafl^^H 

^^H 

only  defy  the  skill  of  the  phy.Hic-ian,  but  also  bat!1e  the  rese-tircbc«  4^^H 

^H 

medical  juris^t."     This,  we  need  not  8ay,  is  a  rare  toxicological  cirnnih 

^H 

stance. 

^H 

Sfrondltf.  They  prove  tliat  the  poison  may  be  changed  id  to  aci  ^Qt^cB^fl 

^^H 

different   substance.     Nitrobeuisol    in   the  sptem  become?  aoilln.    Th^| 
change  is  a  reiluctioo  process ;  that  is,  a  turning  out  of  oxygen  ;  «  pwilj^l 
from  C^H^NO,  to  0,11^^.     This  reduction  of  nitrnbenzol  can  be  <4ij^H 

^^H 

^^m 

k 

*-  *h  by  ha  contact  with  decomposing  organic  matter,  or,  id  other  V(^^^| 

TOXICOLOGICAL    AKALYSI8, 


445 


[hy  the  influeuce  of  dead  tismw,  as  well  as  by  llie  living  process,  for  Dr. 
stheby  hat^  proved  auiliu  lo  be  preseot  in  the  urioe  discharged  from  the 
body  duriug  life. 

Aiid  this  question  here  force«  itself  upon  us:  Are  not  the  pobonlDg 
eflTects  of  uitrobenzol  really  due  to  auiliu,  or  to  put  the  same  quef*tiou 
diflferenily*  is  uitrobenzol  a  poiJiiiu  at  all,  imle.ss  it  becomes  ciianged  into 
ftnilin  ?  And  that  this  is  so,  is  coofirmed  by  the  fuct  tlisit  the  synipttmis 
of  anilin  poisoning  are  idenlicul  with  those  of  iiitrobenzuL  Dr.  Lethehy 
has  clearly  shown  that  this  in  the  true  explanation  ot'  why  uitrobenzol 
may  reranin  in  the  system  inert  and  powerle^rs,  whilst  it  i^  when  aniliti  is 
Ibnned  that  the  poisonous  pyniptoins  uf  the  drug  eusue. 

But  there  is  a  more  remarkable  cireumstauce  tliat  Dr.  Lethehy  has 
noticed,  and  that  is  the  eapabitity  of  this  anilin,  formed  by  thh  proce,^,f  of 
reduction,  to  undergo  a  further  change  in  the  hndy,  and  to  become  a  new 
material  by  a  process  of  oxidfiUon,     The  exhibition  of  anilin  or  of  its 

It*,  is  invariably  accompanied  by  the  mauve  and  magenta  tint  tif  the 

Ips  and  face.     Dr.  Davies  and  Dr,  Fra^^er  have  ^iven  casci*  illustrative 

of  this  in  the  **  Medical  Tinn-8  and  Chizette  "  ibr  1802  (p.  239).     But  it  is 

to  be  particularly  noticed  that  whilst  this  reduction  chauge  is  an  internal 

cbaoge,  the  oxidatiou  change  is  a  surface  eoe. 

1.  Odor,  consisting  of  a  powerful  smell  of  bitter  almond?. 

2.  To  di.^tinguish  uitrobenzol  from  es;«ence  of  bitter  almonds,  add  to  a 
few  dropy  of  the  nitrobeuzttl  on  a  while  plate  a  drop  of  s?iilpburic  acid. 
K«3euce  of  bitter  olmondjs  turns  a  rich  ciimsou  color,  with  a  yellow  border. 
No  change  is  pruduced  with  uitrobenzol. 

-H.  The  conversion  of  nitrobeuzol  into  auiliu  may  be  eifected  by  one  or 
other  of  the  following  processes: 

(a)  By  saturating  an  alcoholic  sohitiou  with  ammonia,  and  passing 

sulphuretted  hydrogen  through  it. 
(,9)  By  introducing  fragments  of  zinc  into  a  mixture  of  equal  parts 

of  nitrobeuzol,  alcohol,  and  hydrochloric  acid, 
(f)  By  the  action  of  acetic  acid  and  metallic  iron  (Beehamp).      Vide 

Anilin. 

Toxicological  Aaalysia. 

In  conducting  a  medico-legal  investigation,  bruise  the  matters  to  be 
analyzed  in  a  mortar,  and  acidulate  them  with  a  little  eulphuric  acid. 
Distil  them  in  a  gta.«s  retort,  saving  and  examining  the  several  portions  of 
the  distillate  from  time  to  lime,  to  discover  if  ijo^y^ible  the  presence  of  any 
unchanged  nitrobenzol.  Now  treat  the  materia]?!  in  the  retort  with  spirits 
of  wine,  w^hich  will  disMilve  the  sulphate  of  anilin.  Filter.  Treat  the 
filtered  alcoholic  solution  with  au  excess  of  subacetate  of  lead,  to  get  rid 
of  gum  and  other  impurities,  and  again  filter.  Remove  any  lead  in  the 
filtrate  by  a  slight  excess  of  a  solution  of  sulphate  of  srxla,  Filter ; 
evaporate  the  filtrate  nearly  to  dryness!,  and  make  the  solutiou  alkaline 
with  carbonate  of  soda.  Dissolve  the  anilin  out  by  shaking  with  ether. 
Add  Hufficient  sulphuric  acid  to  render  the  ethereal  solution  acid,  and  then 
having  distilled  oii*  the  ether,  examine  the  residue  for  sulphate  of  auiliu. 

This  residue  must  be  tested  for  anilin  as  follows: 

(a)  Dissolve  the  residue  in  a  drop  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  (1  to  1 ), 
and  place  the  mixture  on  a  piece  olcleuD  platinum-foil.     Con- 


P0IS0SIB9 

Beet  tbe  platiiMm  witk  Ibe  ponttre  pole  of  a  single  Grav^^  r^ 
mod  UMctk  the  Milotiott  witb  a  nkuiaoin  vire  cooodcted  iriili  tk 
oegBtife  pole  of  tKe  baltoy.  Imnaieduitelr  this  u  done  tkc  nit- 
tion  will  oecoBie  of  m  iMnocae  color,  cbangiog  to  blae  and  tkm  <■ 
pcrrple.    In  this  vmj  tbe  i»'»»ik  part  of  a  graio  can  mmlj  h. 

(fi)  Ihm  nlor  reactioDs  can  ako  be  prodoced   hy  addini;  a  tmt  4 


peivzide  of  lead*  or  red  imuMate  «»f  potash,  or  per 
gaoese  to  the  add  Uqoid ;  but  the  molta  are  Dot 


jdi- 


cate  Dor  are  ibej  so  eastlj  noted  as  with  those  pru<Juci:U  bj 
^Ivaoic  battery. 
(y)  If  ^ufficieoi  anilin  baa  been  obtained  for  a  further  test,  add  tn 
liquid  a  34)lutioo  of  chloride  of  lime,  wheo  a  mau%'e  oolor,  (wk| 
iDg  rapidly  to  a  dirty  brown,  will  be  formed. 

Am  regards  the  color  tests  it  is  to  be  remembered  there  la  some  »m- 
larity  between  the  result*  prwluce*!  by  aoilio  aod  those  produced  by  Klrrdi- 
nia.  If,  however,  the  play  of  colors  in  the  two  cai^es  be  examtue<i  .*ide  br 
vide,  they  will  be  seen  to  be  very  dlflereut.  And  further,  «ute  that  tbt 
laltfl  of  Htrychota  are  very  bitter,  wbiUt  those  of  atiilin  are  almtist  Ust(> 
leaii*  Organic  matter  and  U)o  much  amrnuoia  are  the  only  iropi»di«Kafeij 
of  noj  importance  to  the  action  of  the  color  t€st^. 


Case*  of  Poiaaning  by  NUroAmnU. 

cams  l— "  Jlenllcbr«  iDteingv^a^-BUtC  J*a.  9,  t«75  (Dr.  RruglocherX    MmUl  mH 
la  20Umc»  iU  bulk  of  spirit  la  part  «t2  a.k...  und  thr  r^*!  at?  m.). 

,  Sl^mplemt.—Ap^ATvnt  iotoxicnf  ion,  an«frirard«  clmwiiiim.^  add  (inatif  <^iep1ct«f  luMrtuniiHt).   11 
•JO C<mi|»(«i't*'  f»t%\y»l*  *el  In;  tktti  rywDutie,  aod  the  \i\m  lUUuhUir;  fiwrnnj  M  llir  OMwlk.  fm§tk'> 
inndrnit«-ly  dital-d,  luMiiailble  to  ll(bt;  arioe  tad  fleeea  fMuaed  ioTolafiuriJf.    <f 
toM  alTimluD  n«4<d.> 

Jlfwtt.^R^cnrrrf  In  Ihr«edaf8. 

CASK  J  — '*  Berliner  Kljolache  Woc1i#D9c1irift«''  Jaa*  4»  MT5  (1>f,  Rwsid).    f  I>  FctnAJr  i  m.tL  % 
ft)  FvIOhI":  ei.  19.    3il«» 

tSymfiomi^—i  I )  Fur  Ave  boan  maalnod  inaenalble;  eyAuoaia  well  marked, 

iUmit.— Recorerj. 

aym/i^onu.'-/2)  Twc|t*i  b*>ar9  lo«t>n«iblf ;  rTunrMf*  :  tnii*}!  of  poison  diwttncl  for  lbr««  dtfi  li  iht ' 
brr«ib  %uA  urine.    (Stutatacb-pump;  aubcutatieoas  lJij««iioii  of  cainpbQrJ 

itent^.— Recovery. 

CA8E  3,—"  AntUlT,  der  H^-ilknoat',"  18n,  p,  320  (Bahrdt);  "Wiener  MedUla  WochpaacH^  »a  a 
1975.    Mair :  kL  20.    Dniok  h  liquor  ooijlulnitn^  nilrobenxol. 

jSlyylWiu.— Vomiting;  noon  became  apeechleH,  rrom  whicb  atate  be  nerer  teroreKA, 

JSeaaM. — Pr«ib  Id  nine  bours. 

^ii# mdrtmwi    Bmell  of  potton  appanfnl  in  Htomacb,  bratn.  and  bonrt ;  all  »ttiM%  of  (be 
ft*t«4;  lun^  v«Tf  red;  rljfbtside  of  beari  full  r>f  dark  ibin  vcikmib  bl<j>oil. 

CA8K  4.— *'VJhr«»cbrift.;' vol.  tT^p.327«Dr.  Scheiiky.     1  ml.     XJJ. 

%m/jfoi*u,"Nu  offi'ctj  for  a  quarter  of  au  hour,  wbi?n  toi  .  t%em  «a 

billly,  vameon:  pu|^«  diUted -,  cjraoasia;  complete  cotnu  y,  i.< 
vlth. 

iltenilf.— Bocotery. 

CAMfi  5.—"  London  rTnspital  Reports/*  1905  (Dr  Lctbvby).    Malo :  au  4». 

^I^Mptomt.— ^yiupUima  sut  lu  after  alM>ul  four  hours;  patient  hccmt'd  &>  If  druok 
«lx  boun. 

il^vtiir.-'Doatb  In  ninebour*. 

i\»«r-wM>rrftn.—Fottt'mort«iii  in  sixty  boiin.    Surfacwof  IkjhJv  jr<llt)ir,  lUe  color  bein^  \^y 
rid  of  by  washlnij  with  water;  both  nltrobonmil  ;iui  auiliu  found  ou  at»4ly«iK 

CAt^K  «.— M^intloo  IlcnfilUl  Report*,"  I8ft.^  (Pr.  Uilioliy).    Male:  urt.  17     Suek.ni  a  lliUe 
bf  njuil  ttitu  the  iiKuilh  IbrouKh  a  liphon,  l>ui  imimiliatcly  spnt  It  ont. 

^m/>rom4.— Drowalofiia  and  coma  came  on  (o  one  hour  and  a  half;  TOOiltlug  ;  fonrulalooa  |« 
bourt. 

/EMitK.—Death  In  nine  boars. 

IW-mor<«M,— l*(wtmorlpio  after  four  dijr».    Odor  of  tiltrubenKul  weli-niarkrd;  aafllfi  and 
bvatol  fuuttd  oa  atialytla. 


i  ucy 


The  tuior 

hadai 


ANtLIN, 


447 


CASE  7.—."  LooUoD  Bospftil  Rcporis,"  18M  (Dr.  Georgo Greco,  Ramsey).    Male:  adult,  Ni»»  more 

Xynn^^tenix— A  f«cllnKor  ButfocMtioD  und  cujifuslon  f/Atnv  OH    Id  onn  Imiir;  ronviilt^iona  in  thr«}« 
ittr»  and  a  hulT;  rutiia  lo  »ix  hoiirn.    (€uppli]){  won  alLeuipUd,  but  the  yood  wu  ho  thick  lliat  it 
iM  oot  run  ;  lurp^'nline  eiiema^ 
-D»'atb  In  fiUwru  huiirs. 

.—Mauve  (.tslor  of  nutlK  wi'll-rnflrkcd;  bl«od  very  Mack. 
C1A8B  &.— "  I^ndnn  Hospital   Rffiorts,"  IH60  (Mr.  Ha.r1iitiii,  MtiidjilOQe).    Male:  art  13.    Menlj 
the  routPDlsor  a  buttle. 

jilMiw.— i<jr)upt<iiuji  set  in  urter  ^ix  hours;  Tomiliu);^;  inwoAibililf  In  avsva  hours  ttnd  n  liulf. 
\iL—Ui'*tli  ill  leii  huum  aiiil  u  hair. 
CASE  9,—"  Ix*  1.(1  OR   Ilf«pitftl  Hvports,"  ISfti  (Mr.  Burhuiu^  MaldHtoop).    Female:  adult,    Taated 

14*  Dif  n>h*-oxot  aud  itiftiiL-diatelf  >pat  it  out— «Bld  to  liitve  awoJldWtfd  mttie. 
^ympiinnj.— Voiuitn]  aflar  one  h.tur,  and  bi'cawe  luaenalbls.    After  reuorery,  for  aome  limit,  Lh» 
l»kln  uf  tbe  fart- aud  clic»t  wa5»  nturli  diiicohiiri'd. 
*,— Rtcowtry. 

ANILIN   (aH,N). 

(Phenylamin.) 

(Boik  at  182^  C.    Sp.  gr.  of  liquid  L028,  of  vapor  3,210.) 

ADilii)  is  pieparetl  from  iiitrolipnzol.  The  reiiuction  is  iiMially  eifected 
by  acetic  aci<l  antJ  metallic  irtm  i  Bechamp).  The  mixture  must  he  kept 
ftirretl.  conj^itlemUe  heat  being  evolved.  The  aiiilin  and  its  acetate  is 
tbea  distilled  over.  Tbe  acetale  is  rlecoiniKt-^ed  by  the  arlditii>u  of  au  alkuti, 
And  the  mixture  purified  by  dij^tillatioti.  There  are  several  other  waya  of 
preparing  it,  as  for  iustance,  by  the  aciioo  of  nascent  hydrogen. 


C.HNO,  +  3H, 


Nltrubenaol. 


N^      H 


-f    2Hp. 


Anlllii. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  formula  that  anilin  ia  an  amniDTiia, 
wberc  1  of  hydrogen  is  replaced  by  1  of  tbe  compound  organic  radical 
phenyl  (C^H.,),  and  hence  anilin  has  been  called  phenylatuiti. 

Anilin,  when  pure,  is  a  ci^lorless  li<iuid,  but  the  commercial  ^araplea 
will  generally  be  found  more  or  less  of  a  reddish-hrov^ru  color.  It  has  a 
burning  tasite  and  au  unpleasant  odor.  It  h  neither  soluble  in  water  nor 
chloroform,  but  ii*  freely  sohilde  in  aleuhol,  ether,  and  wood  spirit.  It  pro- 
duces a  greasy  Htain  if  allowed  lo  fall  upon  pajier,  but  the  stain  )*o  pro- 
duced rapidly  disapjK^ara.  When  expo!?ed  to  the  air  it  quickly  absorbs 
oxygen,  a  retinoid  maiis  being  formed.  The  vapor  is  combustible,  aud 
bnru.s  with  a  .^^moky  flame.  Anilin  is  a  true  base,  combining^  like  am- 
monia, with  acids,  but  it  ii(»e^  not,  like  ammonia,  change  tbe  color  of  red 
litmus.  Nearly  all  it.«t  stilts  are  colorlej^s,  crystallize  readily,  aud  are  st)]u- 
ble  in  water.     Substitution  proilucts  are  formed  by  the  action  of  chlorine. 

Aoilin  is  largely  used  in  the  preparation  of  the  numerouii  colored  dyea, 
formed  by  acting  upon  it  with  various  oxidizing  reageuU. 

Anilin  is  a  powerful  narcotic  poison,  whether  administered  in  vapor  or 
ins  litjuid  form.  We  have  no  fatal  case,  however,  recorded  from  licpiid 
anilin  in  tbe  human  sul>ject.  The  j^alt^  appear  generally  to  be  almost 
inert,  as  much  as  406  gmins  of  the  sulphate  liaviug  l>eeu  given  to  a  patient 
at  the  London  Hospital  without  much  effect.  On  the  other  hand,  cased  are 
recorder!  where  i*evere  symptoms  tiave  been  induced  by  the  external  appli- 
cation of  the  hydrochlorate  of  anilin  in  cases  of  psoria>His.  And  here  we 
may  notice  a  very  inter&«*ting  pa]wr  by  our  colleague,  Dr.  Morell  Mac- 
kenzie (*'  Medical  Times  and  Gazette/'  March  8j  18b2,  p.  239),  recording- 
a  series  of  cases  where  sulphate  of  anilin  was  given  in  large  doses  for 


r«i»  but  without  any  apparent  benefit.     SimiUr  fwl- 
*Irui?  are  slIso  recoHed  by  Dr.  SkiuDer    f"M* 
March  15,1862,  p.  280). 

Sfjmptornfi. 

Th«  KHiuirks  already  made  about  Ditrobenzol,  apply  equally  to  asDii 
(pi  442 ^  Ctiven  to  dogg  and  cats  in  doses  of  from  20  to  80  dmpa,  Dr. 
Lt^ibr-lity  »Mit»^d  a  rapid  hiss  of  voluntary  power,  touic  and  clonic  nmvoK 
nh  I pil:?,  difficult  breathing,  tnrauhuoiis  cardiac  at^-lion,  iuie!i« 

cti.  .      ,v  a  ill  from  half  an  hour  to  Lhirty-lwo  hours  after  adtuiuiHtn- 

tiuu. 

Post-martem  Appearane>e$, 

Tbo«e  described  under  nitrobeozol  (page  443)  are  equally  applk 
hero. 

Experiments  on  Animals. 

The  experiments  of  Dr.  Letheby,  and  of  others,  with  anilin  on  aoinuds 
9Ay  be  thus  tabulated  : 


Attlwal. 


gnmll  I>oi; 


(UUiebr). 


Rahhlt 
(Hc'liiKhHnlt). 

(Suhiicliiirdt), 

(Ur  TtirnbulW. 


Dose. 


SJ. 


Stt. 


mao. 


Ss*.  of 
■ulfibAte. 


8juipUinu. 


B;iU¥iit'loD  f minediiti' ;  vomiting  in 
oil*'  hiHirsnd  ten  n)l(Hft««  ;  couthI- 
>loii»  tn.  ftl\  houn;  in  two  lioun 
eon  til  not  sUiiid.  niifl  tM-i^Aino  i|ulli; 
iHiwtrk'fw  ;  Iwlt^hliiK  '»f  limbs;  la 
(wrnly-«lx  hfiure  bwame  hivii^iliii% 
urtd  In  live  hourn  »rriTwu.rd»  <Jk«<!. 

GrvKt  (lUtrniH  from  aalivall'in  ;  iiar- 
cutwni  iu  fivu  iiiinulL'ii;  a  Ql.  iu  1>'U 
miuutn's,  and  nfterwanlfl  lii>«auii«  iii- 
ftfn-^tltle,  iind  died  cumatose  in  fuur 

Si.llvtttiiiui;  io  tiv€  minuter  hvprn  Ut 
t!tnKiEt*r,  nod:  Itkd  a  5t;  Id  «di;ht 
uiiiiule*  bi-cnnin  insi-nsible.  Died 
Id  tbtrly<«Ight  iaitiuleit. 


Deatb  Id  alx  boun  and  a  quarter. 

ItL'ftlb  In  four  huiira, 

Vnniillnir  In  two  lioiini  and  a  half; 
lianttynU  iif  liitid  Ictf*;  in  fir*  h<nin 
lb<'  symptorus  abatL*d,  and  the  «ui> 
miU  recavcred. 


Puv 


Po«l-mnrt«m  «•  otMl;  ai 
lin  fuiind  In  lUMi 
bnUn,  liver,  ftoA  «dM. 


Odor    of    anliiii    araw  i 

Poiaon  diMToTvrad  aaif ff  I 
Iu  aJl  ibe  «|*&?rt 


Dr.  Kaenser  has  pointed  out  that  men  who  work  in  an  anilin  all 
phen',  ofieu  sutter  from  a  bronchial  euuj^h  and  from  ulcerations  about  li 
ncrotuin  and  extreniides.  The  aoilin  dyes  have  been  civdite«.i  a 
deal  with  produt-ing  a  ^kin  irritation  of  an  eezenmtoua  character.  In  auc 
tMMV»  we  huve  severul  time^  proved  that  the  niaterials  containeii  a  cott!*i< 
l^rahle  quantity  of  arsenic  acid  <"  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Aug.  1- 
18mi,  p.  20:J;  *»  British  Aledicid  Jmirtml,"  May  3,  1873,  p.  424;  uU>  Ft" 
27,  lHm>,  p.  191  ;  and  March  9,  im),  \x  214).  A  cade  \h  r<H.-ord< 
■evere  fwisoniup  symptoms  being  induced  in  a  boy,  a?t,  13,  enga| 
working  with  magenta  powder,  u.*ed  in  lithographic  prinliog  ('*  M 
TiiiicH  and  Gazette,"  Sept.  1.  18G6,  p.  222).  We  need  acarct-ly  add  thi 
Aoilin  dyu$  should  under  do  circumstauces  be  employed  for  ciicifectu 


TESTS    FOR    ANILIN. 


449 


We  have  seen  bad  results  from  the  use  of  mageota  iu  coloring 
For  the  treatment  {vide  Nitrobenzol,  page  442). 

Tests. 

1,  Ite  odor;  a  peculiar  tarry  smell. 

2.  It  is  combustible  ami  burns  with  a  smoky  flame, 
H.  It  turns  purple  and   ultimately  blaek  when  acted  upon  with  a  solu- 
tion of  chloride  *tt'  lime, 

4.  It  precipitates  gold  iu  a  metallic  form  from  a  solutioti  of  the  chlo- 
ride. 
^5.  When  heated  with  corrosive  sublimate,  it  produces  a  rich  crimson 

The  nascent  oxygen  testa  are  by  far  the  most  delicate  {vide  Nitro- 
I  benzol,  paj^  445). 

In  a  niedici>le»ral  investigation   the  process  detailed  at  length  under 
PoisoDing  by  Nilrobenzol  h  to  be  adopted  (page  445), 

Camet  of  PolHorthtfj  with  Anilin. 
ANILIN. 

CA9R  1.— "Mcdiral  Tim^'t  and  t;aRctte."  March  ft.  I842,  p,2.T9  (Tir.  Mncfcefude  a©d  Dr.  Lcrtheby). 
)f«I«:  at  tfi.    EngtiBf^  iu  olenuinu  Ihe  inside  of  n  rat  u^ed  for  ttuilto. 

j|rmK<"njL— Suddenly  wized  with  gitldini'Ks,  »rid  nei-itK-d  as  if  intoxfcatrd  ;  "body  pale  and  cold  ; 
«rmi<wiuibl» ;  Iip4  ttnd  nalU  of  i»  ikcp  fHtrpIn  ttil.ir;  puUe  warcelj-  pcrcfi>iili>li' ;  ironiitunK;  brwiith 
•■lHJ«>]  "f  the  poibOD.  IlowoTcrtd,  but  ibc  *klu  was  blue  Ibe  mxt  day,  nud  the  breutb  slill  BUitUed 
of  anUlti. 

JleM%kU. — KecorvTj. 

CASK  2  — "  Mt>dfc»l  Titupft  and  r.azrtl*'/'  .Tune  7,  1 W52,  p.  5W  Olr  Knapgul  Mai*- :  R^t,  39.  Engnfred 
iv  chouiic'tti  wnrkn.    Tlie  pnllfnl  tnhuhd  fiimofl  nrnnlli'm  from  n  brukt^n  i^nrb^y  oflbc  chi'iiik-a}. 

•J.— liilvnsw'  piTuplriKoD;  iflddEtieM  rnp!dly  sel  Iu;  nftJ^r  some  (Inie  the  fac**  and  bodjr  be- 
:0f  ■  U*ld  leiidcu   hue;  Hpa  M ulah ;  br«utJilng  ^osplug;  do  eoDvulaiotiB  j  quite  seiistbte;  soon 


JlM«l(.— Recovery. 


HTDROCHLORATE    OF  ANILIN, 

CASE  3  — "Mfdical  TiniM  and  Gun^lto,"  Jimp  21,  1S73,  p.  m')  [M.  Lailier).  Mole:  OBt.  49.  Extorna] 
AppUi-atUtn  for  ^i^orlasU,  in  .'»ohitiaq  diluted  to  om-tcath. 

Slgmf'iQinj.—  \*nniH\t\ii  stl  Iu  fn  odu  hour  aiid  a  half;  luc»fitliif*nc«^  of  urinie;  no  dlarrbcsa;  cjrafiost* 
mttcr  twrnlr>rour  houri.  On  a  »crcond  application,  ihtTQ  yrmx  great  drow»ilui-(t«,  itbivcriuK,  aod 
djapnisa  ;  ryaooM*  rerjr  fnark^l ;  voice  aluioBt  dliioppeared  ;  r<»coT«n?d  iu  iwetil y-four  hours. 

ifta*»»«.— -R^rovery. 

CASE  4.— "Mrdlcal  Time*  fttid  Gaai^tW  Jane  21, 1878,  p,  660  (M.  Lallier).  Male:»t  CiJ.  Exter- 
BAt  jippllcaibfii  fur  p9<iHa»iB,  wilitlliori  dihilcd;  to  iSm. 

J^m/«roiN<.— Interifiibiliiy  and  cyantmltt  iit  four  huurH. 

JSeauA.— ttccoTtry. 

CARBOLIC  ACID  (C,H,HO), 

Phenic  Acid — Hydrate  of  Phenyl — ^Phenol. 

(Sp.  gr.  of  liquid  1.065.     Boils  at  187.8^  C,     Fuse^  at  35.0.) 

Carbolic  acid  5a  prepared  from  coal-tar  oil  by  fractional  distillation  and 
bsequent  purificalioii.  It  is  met  with  when  pure  iu  iierfeclly  white  acicular 
crystals,  which  when  kept  for  some  time  exposed  to  the  light  a«!*ume  a 
reddish -magenta  tinge.  Tbe.^e  cry.«tals  when  exposed  to  the  air  attract 
moisture  and  liquely.  The  merest  trace  of  water  iu  coutact  with  them 
rapidly  effects  this  liquefaction  of  the  acid.  Carbolic  acid,  however,  is 
very  slightly  soluble  in  water,  but  is  freely  soluble  in  alceihol,  ether, 
glycerin,  and  glacial  acetic  acid.     It  has  a  liii ruing  taste,  aud  a  creasote 


8TMPT0U6    OF   GARBOLTO    AOtD    POtSOKllfO, 

odor.     In  a  liqiiefie*!  form  there  h  a  close  resemblunce  betwt>eu  atrlinKe 
acid  (CtjH,0)  aud  creasote  (C^H,/>,p,  a  wood-tar  product,  for  whirh  cw^ 
bolic  acid  i:j  often  substituted.    Carbolic  acid,  however,  boils  at  187.8^i~ 
and  doos  not  affect  a  ray  of  polartxed  li^ht,  whereas  creasote  dries  up  at 
teniperalure  oF  100*^  C.     Impure  or  crude  carbolic  acid  products  a  jellj 
like   mass   when   bhakeu   up   with   coltodioii,  and   is  freely   etdubU  la  i 
solution  of  pot{i>ih,  whilst  crety^ote  is  unaffected  by  collodion  Htid  ia  ia«r»lu* 
ble  in  a  potash  sntution.     It  is  a  powerful  antiMepfic,  ita  action   !• 
energetic  in  dej?troyiog  the  lowr-r  forms  of  or^nic  life.     When  • 
in  fever  rooms,  it  is  best  to  mix  it  with  about  40  or  50  limes  iL>  inu, 
water  and   thoroughly  saturate  a  quauiity  of  iiawdu.*t  with   the   mixn 
which  can  then  be  eouvetiieutly  fdaced  about  the  house  on  tea-tray*,    h 
this*  way  a  larp^e  surface  may  be  freely  exposed  to  the  air.     On  a.'<  >titit ./ 
it«  antiseptic  |>ro()ertier<,  moreover,  it  is   frecjuently   applied  t«> 
sores.     Carlxilic  acid  is  aUo  given  internally  with  great  advanta;:.:  .  l 
ffirms  of  gastric  irrit^itiou,  accompanied  with  %'un>ititig.     It  is  not  a  cumih 
lative  iK>i;son,  for  it  is  as  rapidly  excreted  im  it  is  quickly  absorbed. 

Sifmptorns,  Dose,  etc. 

There  h  usually  immediate  vertigo  and  intoxication,  accompaoied  by  IB 
intense  burning  pain  from  mouth  to  atomach,  occii*!ionally  with  vom;  : 
of  fnithy  mucus.  Vomitiug,  however,  is  not  common.  Tlie  mauui  • 
white  and  hardened  from  the  local  action  of  the  acid.  The  puf>ib  ore  in- 
variably contracted.  The  pulse  will  be  found  rapid  and  intermittent;  the 
breathing  difficult,  jerky,  and  sterlorou^^,  and  the  breath  smelling  «truogtj 
of  the  ncid  ;  the  skin  cold  and  clammy;  and  any  urine  passed  (for 
there  is  complete  suppression),  dark-colored  and  smoky,  a  change  due 
the  oxidation  of  the  acid  in  the  kidneys.  After  a  time,  perfect  ili«i 
biiity  passing  into  intense  coma,  ?n|vervenes,  convulsions  being  n  rare  boS 
an  occaj*ional  tsymptom.  Death  may  be  rapid,  that  i:*,  within  an  hour,  froia 
syncojje;  or  it  may  be  prolonged,  when  it  will  be  probably  due  to  apuia. 
Cases,  moreover,  are  recorded  where  the  patient  I'or  a  time  .seems  to 
from  the  active  symptoms,  and  then  has  a  relapse  aud  dies  sud 
Paralysis,  too,  is  occasional.  The  records  of  cases  show  that  the  cJ 
of  recovery  after  a  p<nsonoiis  dose  has  been  taken  are  small, 
usually  occurs  in  from  tliirty  minutes  to  four  hours,  ten  minutea  being  ifci 
ahortest  recorded  period,  aud  sixty  hours  the  longest. 

Dangerous  symptoms  mav  be  produced  by  doses  of  6  or  7  dt\>p«i, 
deaths  <m  record,  howevert  Lave  generally  been  caused  by  do»o9  such  us 
or  2  ouncej*,  which  of  course  are  tar  in  excess  of  what  is  needed  to  dc*l 
life.  Its  external  application  as  well  m  its  use  as  an  injectioti  H»i 
proved  fatal  (**  British  Medical  Journal,**  Feb.  1868). 

Treatment 

The  treatment  must  consist  io  the  administration  of  emetics  of  m\ 
and  water,  or  of  sulphate  of  zinc.  Owing  to  the  insolubility  of  the 
a  gomi  deal  may  in  this  way  be  got  rid  of.  Albumen  (uncooked  eggs) 
should  be  given  ml  iibUuni,  and  collapse  be  treate<l  by  the  injecti 
stimulantH.  A  mixture  of  olive  and  castor  oils  with  raagneaia  in  si 
aion  may  also  be  given  with  advantage  (.fee  "  Medical  Times  and  G« 
May  'M),  18G8,  p.  589),  Dr.  Hasemann  states  that  saccharate  of  lim^ 
antidote  to  the  poison  (/'Medical  Timci^  and  Gazette,"  Dec. 9, 1H71,  p. 

Dr.  SariMmi  advocate??  the  use  of  the  stomach-pump.  There  is  this  to 
laid  in  lu  favor,  that  the  cases  are  usually  so  desperate  that  the  only  be 
aeems  to  consist  in  very  active  treatment.  Still,  we  feel  bound  U>  io^idt 
the  necessity  of  more  than  ordinary  care  in  its  employment. 


TESTS    FOR    CARBOLIC    ACID. 


451 


I 


Pod-morietn  Appearances, 

The  Tiiouth  and  a»*phagu8  are  usually  white,  soft,  and  corrofled,  but 

isoroetimes  hardened   and  shrivelled.     The  braiu  is  generally  uormal,  but 

occasionally  C(lngl^'^tpd,  a  fluid  having  a  strong  araell  uf  the  nv'ni   hc'ing 

fouud  iu  the  vt-niricleij.     The  lungs  are  usually  gorged  with  bhjod.     The 

state  of  the  heart  varies.     Mik-jI  oi'teo  both  aides  have  been  found  empty  ; 

occasiionally  both  sides  are  full  of  dark  blixrtl,  and  at  other  times  the  left 

»icle  only.     The  stomach  is  mr^j^t  often  fouud  white,  contracted,  thiekened, 

and   shrivelled  ;  but  sometimes  it  is  intensely  conge*ted,  and  the  nuicoua 

merubraDe  destroyed  ;  wlriLst  occnsionally  no  abnormal  change  it*  noted. 

The  intestines  are  usually  more  i>r  less   thickened  and  CiUigested.     The 

^jnoutlis  uf  the  follicles  of  the  colon  are  said  to  be  often  abraded.     The 

>1adder  is  generally  quite  or  very  nearly  empty,  any  urine  present  being 

►f  a  dark  color.     The  blood  k  usually  more  or  less  fluid  and  dark-colored. 

Action  on  Atiimals. 

The  action  of  carbolic  acid  on  auiraals  is  curious.     Tetanic  convnlsiong, 

rhich  are  not  common  svrnptoms  in  man,  are  general  when  the  acid  is 

Iruinistered  to  animals.     Often  these  convulsions  are  followed   by  a  state 

'of  pinilvjiis  and  collafwe.     Local  and  general   paralysis   results  when  the 

acid  is  injected   Into  the  blood,  the  muj^eles  shrinking,  and  not  afterwards 

iffected  by  galvanic  j^hoeks.     Salivation  and  dilatation  of  the  pupils  are 

[usual  (Salskowski  and  Hop^je-Seyler). 

1.  Oilor;  this  is  the  most  delicate  of  all  teste. 

2.  It  does  not  redden  blue  litmus. 

3.  It  prirthices  a  transient  greasy  slain  on  paper. 

4.  It  coagulates  albumen. 

5.  A  splinter  of  wood  moistened  with  the  acid,  and  afterward  dipped 
Witft  nitric  or  hydrochloric-  acid,  turns  of  a  green isli-blue  tint  when  dry. 

6.  If  the  acid  be  oiixcd  with  ouedburth   its  volume  of  liij.   amrnouiie, 
a  trace  of  a  solution  of  a  bypoehlorite  added,  and  the  mixture  gently 

ed,  the   lir|uid  assumes  a  blue  color.     If  this  be  acidulated,  it  turns 
red  (Snl3<kowski). 

7.  Bromine  water  produces  a  whitish-yellow  flocculent  precipitate.  If 
this  precipitate  be  treated  with  sodium  amalgam,  carbolic  acid  is  set  free 
(Laudolt). 

Toxkohg ical  Ana (yj«rM. 

If,  in  conducting  a  medico-legal  examination,  no  smell  of  carlwdic  acid 
can  be  detected,  no  other  tests  are  likely  to  be  of  any  avail.  The  distilla- 
ttuu  of  the  organic  matters  mixed  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid  is  all  that  is 
ueceasary  for  the  recovery  of  the  acid.  In  exatuiiiing  the  urine,  it  in  pref- 
erable to  distil  it  without  adding  any  sulphuric  acid,  w*  it  is  staled  that 
sulphuric  acid  may  develop  phenol  from  its  action  on  some  bodies  exiat- 
iDg  Dornially  in  urine. 

Caxes  of  Poimning  with  CnrhoUe  Acid, 

CASE  1.— Huwmano'ft  "^Jiibrcfibericbt,"  1S72,  p.  523,    Adult,    Onoor  two  tablespooDfuls. 

JB)c««(lf.— t>catL  in  fifty  tuinutei. 

CA.«?E  2  — "  I^niwl,"  January  30>  l?fi9»  p.  170  fMr.  Atiat'mjii).  Male :  «;t.  M.  Sufforiinf  from  frao- 
turrd  f  hl)>h.  3J  uf  pure  acid  taken  by  inUtuku  for  luedlciDQ,  Taflte  not  riotk^cd  wbllat  it  «u  tu'Ing 
air»llownl, 

Sfrnpivm*. — Symptoms  »«(  In  after  t*"!!  mlimitcB;  iiKiuth   whitened,    luflrphouni  Ihera  wiw  prvat 
pftlo,  witb  convulMrr  twilcIiinKa  ,  (luplb  emitractcd  ;  tnlud  dear    After  dgtit  buura  seviutnl  a  lUtltt 
bctl«r.  and  in  tvilrv  houn  di«d. 
.— D«*th  in  twelrv  houre. 


4 


CAS^S   OP   POISONIKO    BY    CARBOLIC    ACI©. 


CASE  ».— "  Lftncet,"  Match  20.  IflflS,  p.  395  (Mr.  Swain).    Female  t  «t.  W.     31*^  <*(  »tn|«*r»  i 

Symptfmt.—TirAnk  th^acld  urilliout  iiotkhtg  it*  tanle.     IiuiueiikaU>  p»ia  ;  Up«  *ml  luwfu* 
whili",  tnM-nslliiilHy  Jo  «itfht  mlniUe^;  dt'uth  in  one  hour. 

i?M«/if.— I><'»fh  in  oae  hour. 

iW-mor/nn.— ^Stomach  t-oiiKeiited,  haTlnffn  Rretfuiih  alalo  ;  «mcll  oT  »cid  ftpp•l^f|(  >n  Ml 
orgHnii,  enprcUlly  in  Itie  liTtrr  sitlei-n,  and  kidueys,  and  iu  the  l[itf^»tirj'eh  as  (At  down  «•  tb«| 
of  the  Ihuiii. 

CASE  4.—"  [.nnci't,"  F^pU  18, 1S(K».  p.  404  (Dr.  Barlirw).    Male:  iet.60.    (T)  ProlMiMiy  •knat  Itt. 

Rttrult — t>i'ath  Iu  ti'n  niluutei. 

P\Mt-tnnrU!m. — Mutilli  whUi'snd  hardened  ;  brain  normnl;  heart  quite  empty  ;  ttrtin»rH«'>t 
coats  Ihirk'ni'd  ;  nutwus  nit^mhrnm'  in   fidgt.-5.  which   weru  white  uu  Ihc  ftuuimil,  tml  piukl 
furrows;  in((>Att(ir!>  nonnial ;  bhdiler  fniply, 

CA8E  5,—"  LuDcet;'  Jan.  4,  1S73,  p.  l-t  iDr.  Way).    F«mole,    Lwt  than  WU» 

Symyitimt  —\>t-Vk\\\,  without  a  ntrnKi<le,  from  syucopo. 

I^ut-titriftrrn.—M\  iDliTiin]  urgann  snu-lled  of  carbnlic  acid  ;  pylorio  ortflce  of  t/Umim 
the  fitomach  aiid  Afty  inches  of  the  iolestincs  wt?r«  thicktiited  aitd  of  a  bluish-whita  oilor. 

CA/SE  6.—"  Lanpef."  March  1.  lS7:i.  p.302  (Mr  Briib»nt)i.    Female:  «rl.  4«      3j  of  ituimrr  oiU 

.Syw/i/offi*.— Iritt-niti''  dy!«nQ<i!ii;  i:oiiia. 

Bf»fUt,~lim\\i  it)  l^fiy  rninut<>«. 

T^wl-nioff^m.— The  mucous  nicinhrane  of  (he  mouth,  stomneh,  and  o^ophaguf  "  ■     ■  i  ««i>m 

i bo V I",  mid  unclcTiicalli  bright  rpd  ;  n  ffw  {•oii:{c^ated  patchn  wt^^rt*  fouuij  uu  lb'  •.  ':  j  j  -olf^ 
blood  (liild  ;  iin  snii-ll  of  thi<  acid  nutlccd  auy  where  but  In  the  atoiuacli. 

CASK  7.—"  I.auci-t,"  Juac  7, 1R73,  p.  821.    Female.    Uoed  u  aa  lnJ«cUon  for  the  ▼aglfto. 

iSymp/enNJi.— :^«voro  •yuipioiiit. 

/jMwtt.— <?), 

CASE  8.—"  Limwt,"  June  21,  l«71l,  p,  87$  (Dr.  Russell).    Female :  wl.  7.    Sm.  of  mOA  mlMi 
water  nod  g]y<.'(*ria. 

<fiij)rmp.'t<»u.— IiiufDHlblltty  in  ten  mtnuies;  pupil*  contracted  ;  comA. 

Re«utt.—  l>iiiki\\  in  one  hour  and  a  hnlf. 

i\j/-wiOfVew*.— nioddLTCootuiuftJ  half  an  ounce  tif  urine,  andanitdled  alrongljf  of  t1i«  •H*l;  iiwtl» 
(iifii  ;  ri.  peculiar  t^prtvaraui^^  w^ire  noticed  In  tbo  iiiuMlh,<t!S<Hf)iJi«Mf  .atomncti.or  tw«  liwbMvfli^ 
deniim,  but  Oh'  wriitkll  in(e*tiiitB  for  Ihrei-  fetft  were  coft-rcd  with  a  white  eschar;  t|w  brain  «M«» 
gealt^.  and  sruitlod  of  tfii-  acid  ;  UlwMi  lluid. 

C^SK  P.—"  I^ncwt."  Nov.  9,  1872  iDr  Tayuo).    Male :  »l.  A%    (?J 
Symjitfrmi, — (Vmvmljitotis;  frothtug  at  mouth. 
ReiuiL—  Reco  v*ry . 

CAME  10— <■  Amtrican  PraclltioDcir;'  May,  1873  (Dr.  Cowling).    P^emale.    A  UbIeapMftM  tlfBi* 
acid  In  iwit-e  {\#  trniilc  nf  water. 
SyiHf4'>H4s.~ln  un  niinutej)  thtre  wa^  ttitMPQsiidlity ; pupliacootnict,ed .  moatb  and  Uirovl «bll<«ii> 

(Sloinactji-puuip,  whinky,  and  oxygen  gas  wuru  uavd  0 
J2r4ii/^—lH>iit1i  In  twu  hours. 

CASE  lI,-"Brlif»b  Medical  Journal."  Ftb.  4,  1871,  p.  116  (Pt.  OgnUtn).    Male:  mL 
crude  acid. 

JSi/mptom*. ^In»if mihWty  \  strrUjrous  brt^iitliing;  pupllit  very  conlmctod.  Bttunt  JitaV  *  Ua* 
■Hgllllj  eofiftciiJUH,     Dark-oolond  urine  paHsrd. 

Jtowt//.— Ileal b  in  tIdrteKn  iioiira  and  a  half. 

JPta/-m<?r/'i)».— ri»kt-ini>rlpiii  iii  thirty-lwo  hotirsi.  Mooih  MmdUsl  of  the  pui*Aii  .  mrmbraaM  ol 
bruili  ii'tiKi'sted,  and  ^entm  foniid  iu  the  TBiitriclca  which  tiOtMli-d  ufllie  fM>t»00  i  nioutJ^.  <brv»al,«»* 
gUll>  t  wliilr  and  ii<H)d<'ii  ;  stoumfh  nlmcKiL  norniai,  but  eovi-rcd  tu  Minir  |<«rts  with  haf<il.  r^MM 
clcTRU'd  ftjKits ;  inti:!4tint;»  natural;  bolb  aides  of  the  heart  were  full  of  dark,  cJolttrd  btoud  ;  bio«4 
•▼erywheri"  clott*d. 

CASI<:  12.— Vircbow  and  Hlrsch's  "  Jahreatjer.  F./'  1P7I,  vol.  (,  p.  :W  (Dr.  Zimm).     9$  of  cn»*»  tM 
by  niULake  for  cognac. 
JSitrul^.— Death  in  kiaty  bourn. 

CASE  Ul.-'-Britlsih  MedivaJ  .louroal,"  Jan.  21,  1874,  p.  IlO  <Mr.  Slock»).    F-".«^i"    »*   ^^ 
of  •troiin;  Impure  acid. 

JlettiU.^li-  »th  in  four  JKMim. 

PMt'mOrtrm. —in ttvtnif^  tneiubrine  di'Atroyed  both  In  the  mouth  and  lu  the  U|i>p4<i  pmi  stt  ii\^ 
nguk;  In  the  luwer  part  It  was  of  a  wblthh  euluf,  tnueuiis  uieiiibrano  of  »l'ininch  al«rv  rlrviroy^ 

CA.«E  14— "MedicMlTimi^ and  Gaaett«,'*  April  1$,  1871,  p.  428  (M«a»r»,  Jeffreya  aud  llaliii 
Malt ;  (Tt.  M.    V  rom  Sm.  lo  Jj. 

SytnfU(im*.—Xuvut,\h\\Hy  ;  pupils  contrajcted ;  retplrallon  labored  aod  Irregular. 

A'*w//.— T^eal b  In  tllty  niloute*. 

iV-«»(i«7rm.— Mouili,  lonuue,  and   '(saophagna  white,  firm,  and  corrugalM;  atnin*cli  wttti 
■hrltt'Ib'd  i  ri^hi  «ide  uf  tiM-  hi-art  empty;  the  left  stdeontiUinin^'a  Utile  fluid  bbMl  ;  allih*  t| 
floi|g«at«d;  the  arachnoid  appeared  opaque,  and  contained  a  quantity  of  fluid. 


CASES   OF    POISONING    BY    CARBOLIC    ACID. 


453 


'BHli&h  Medical  Juurnal,'  Fab.  10,   1872,    p.  169  (Mr.  Harlejr).    Hftle.     H  taken  hf 


Hfi  ii-giK>o  b«caro«  ooiUAt<v»e. 

Aaft.— imtb  In  fnnr  hours ^Atxl  a  h»tr 

J|#«»lr«.— ruiiKur,  moulh,  and  fuiicom  appr*rpd  whfte. 

tim  il.-*  HrUUh  M.dlcal  Joiirn*!.'  ¥vh.  tO,  1872,  p.  1G9  (Mr,  HariefV    Feruaje.     Stm. 

lHt<-t>nili  iu  two  liour»  muA  a  liatf. 

17  --  Mrdical  Tlioe»  and  UMvltc,"  April  25, 1868,  p.  468  (Mr.  Sultoo).    Female :  vei.  43.    Sj 
adr  acta. 

— I»>»»ft«»fhnily  In  fl?«  tutniitn;  pupils  contracted;,  r«ap(nillon  atertornaa. 
~i>  liour  aikI  ■  half. 

*>  t[  iuijiiil:i  wlilLn:  tnnKiin  <Iry ;  mucous  mpmhrooo  oralomaph  brown,  dry,  and 

>'  !'  ^  of  ihf  hf'srt  umpty;^  Ihe  iiiiioolix  taeiitUratie  of  the  stumach  rasily  peeled 

I,  wlib  vhtiif  patcbva;  ihM  diKjdtjtitru  in  a  similar  state:  brain  hunUlty. 
M.^iiaIJouniaV' Feb.  15, 1873,  p.  107  (Dr.Forrlerji.    Male:  set.?.    QuaulUy, 


tfibn 


,  <r;  ■tfiftoroua  breathing ;  eon tractrd  pupils',  aalira  flowed  from  tlw  moitlh. 
I  rlitht  lioun, 

tiu  liorniat;  sinuiws  tll>t«Mtdrd  wUU  dark  fluid  blood;  carbolic  acid  odor  in  tbe 
-  ,,.  .-  >  ...,.,. Jit  ,  Juuirscuiij|fi-«tcd;  heart  ciopty;  Vft  teulriclo  very  conlraclid;  tuncuuB  axtita- 
tMMuJ  ih*  Moulh,  IhnHtl,  (Cauph»Ki(a,  and  itloniBth  whEl«,  »iHtdt>ii,  uiid  ci>rrug:i(t-d  ;  stiivll  of  poUoD 
btlaeiat  far  as  (he  uypKr  |url  ol  the  jt^nnutu;  kidiieyit  ftuclled  ^IroDgly  of  the  acid;  aiao  the 
■fitcUil  Uctiutaluixi  no  alhutueit. 

*m  ti  -"BriiMi  .Mtf'liriil  Juurnal,**  March  1,  1873,  p.  226  (Mr.  Hamilton).    F«tn«Ie:  let.  45^. 
I  ipptlod  to  a  wouad. 
~4;Miiiplrt«  rotna. 
Aih  111  ihtta  buur«  aiid  a  half. 

-  ltntt«h  Mrilica)  Jnuriial,"  May  24.  1871},  p.  684  (I>r.  Hi'ardrr).   Male :  at  96.   About  U 

Mitc9  then*  WHS  Inttiise  pain,   gasping  rt^pJratii>D,  and  Atlompta  to  voiuit; 

'uy;  no  coDvul*ioQs,  tctauun,  or»lt»rtor,  but  paruty»bof  al]  the  vuluiitary 


kill  In  thirty  oilniitca, 

«  —Up*  «ii<l  <'hln  ex^corlat^rd  ;  tiratu  Ii«alt1iy  ;  diira  mater  muth  congested;  carltiefl  of 
<"  ku>i  lull  uf  dark  fluid  blood ;  mucous  membraue  of  (taopbagus  while  \  ttomftcb  aad  lotcattncn 


€*»KT1 


Journal,"  Miy  31,  1875.  p.  611    (Or.  Biddie).     Malo:B5t.72,    Sucked 


Vi^pftvu     — ■■^luitlng  not  produced. 

^^•.-^Itrttth  In  tour  hanra, 

^■wa-i.— Wiuiti  hvalthy;  mvitihranea  much  cosgnted;  pharynx  mod  flontaeh  aoflened  and 
•"<4al;  Um  odor  of  Um  pol«on  was  traced  aa  fkr  as  the  cwcum. 


FUMES    OF  CARBOLIC   ACID. 

CAI£q -"  HrUuta  Medical  Juurnai,"  Nov.  23,  itill,  p.  ^79.    Male :  adult.    Expoaed  to  ibe  fkimca  of 

nroUkMiii  Mttia. 
Boc*»»rry. 

DISTILLED  TAR. 

t^&-*'M«dlc»l  TIntM  and  Cl^Htf,"  Juno  'Hi,  lAOT,  p.  727  (Dr.  Watmough)     Male:  «t.  71. 
of  a  pint  taken  iiist^ad  of  Wfr. 
Vary  auuu  an«rwtrd«  waa  unable  to  eUnd :  aufTered  r«ry  little  pain. 
IB  ivohour*. 


Other  Oue*  *^  PoUtming  hy  CnrtHilir  AcuJ  are  recorded  n»JollwB a : 

*Mkh3MJcBl  Jwiratl,**  Feb  8,  1»7.%  p  151.    ( Death. » 

Feb.  a,  l»73.  p.  2fO.    'Death.     Female  ;  at.   10.) 
.L'T>i«MaMtna»rtl4^,*' Jun<<3n,  1A74,  p.  (I70.    ((Uvt-n  liy  mlatakc.) 
'  M..1;  .;  iMwiial  '  *.|.irit  ;ui,  1870,  p.  4.1:^.  troiwmliig  •yniptunis  froinaheorbinK  thu  pi>Ui>u.) 

,  J872,  p,  47'i.    (Coj*»ijl--U.ii(i;  lofMsnalbHllf.    ttecovory.ji 
Ju.>   1.  1*74,  p.  17. 
•  ■        fkri.  B.  1H70.    (Death  from  I'xKrnal  applti-QKon.) 

'^maeeutkmj  Jo«m«l."  July,  1*72.  p.  7«.     (Death  In  ihlity  minutes.) 
'*^Y*  lliBplial  Raporla,*^  tM7,  p*  'iU.    tDeaUi  lo  twelve  botin  from  taking  two  teiupoovfuhi  of 


4m 


POI80NINO    BY    BISTJLPHlDir   07   CABBOT^. 


BISULPHIDE  OF  CARBON  (CS,). 

(Sp.gr.  L26.     Boils  at  45^  a) 

Bisulphide  of  earbijii  is  prepared  by  burnitig  carbon  in  sulphar  irftparJ 
It  isi  iuMjliible  in  water,  and  freely  dl^ls^ilvefi  phosphorus,  .<tilphar,  inj 
caoulehijiic.  It  biirnn  with  a  pale-bltie  flame,  and  ^hes  <>fl*  at  nniinarj 
temfjtfraturesa  nau!<eoiJs  offensive  vapar,  which  produceje  iujiirioua  " 
on  tlie  general  health  of  the  workjjeople  expoj?ed  to  its  iDfluetice  0 
cal  Newe,"  May,  1^63,  p.  216). 

Chronic  Poimning. 

The  extensive  use  of  binulpbitle  of  carbon  iti  india-rubber  niJinu(«rtori« 
reodery  tiie  subject  t»f  chronic  poissoning  by  the  vapor  of  con^sideraMe  im* 
portance  from  a  hygienic  point  of  view.     The  princijjal  inve^tigationt  m 
the  subject  are  those  of  Delpech,     He  finda  that  it  causes  in  the  hr»t  in- 
stance headache,  vertigo,  and  a  great  excitenieat  of  the  uervoux  9yMrtB.< 
A^  the  case  progrei^se^  the  patient  talks  incesi^antly,  singa  constantlv.  vA\ 
langhsor  wei^ps  immoderateiy.     This  state^  if  not  actively  dealt  witt,  mtf  j 
proceeil  eveu  to  complete  lunacy.     Dr.  Delpech  couaiders  that  the  odjl 
method  of  preventing  the  evil  is  by  erecting  between  the  workuien 
the  work-table  a  gia^  screen  having  holes  io  it,  through  which  tb<^  arjnt* 
Uie  workmen  may  be  placed. 

Adlon  on  Aninmh. 

M.  Cloez  has  carefully  examined  the  effects  of  bisulphide  of  carboooo' 
auiumls.  Rats  atid  rabbits  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  vapor,  afl*?r  i  fr« 
minutes  of  cjnietude»  rushed  ab(»ut  with  great  violence.  ConvuLHiuiis  iIj«o 
set  in,  after  which  they  tell  on  their  side,  breathing  slowly,  ami  di«d 
usually  in  five  minutes  from  the  commencement  (if  the  experirnfut.  Tl» 
luugH  after  death  were  generally  congei>ted,  but  there  wai^  no  legion  of  the 
brain,  and  both  sides  of  the  heart  were  full  of  blood.  There  can  he  d«» 
di^culty  in  detectinf^  bisulphide  of  carbon  by  itt)  siugularly  nauaeow odai, 
and  by  the  great  inHammability  of  its  vapor. 


CHLORAL  (TRICHLORACETYLv  rC,Cl,HO). 

HYDRATE  OF  CHLORAL  (C,Cl,HO,  H,0). 

BROMAL  (CJ3r,HO). 

Chhrnl  Is  pcoduoed  by  passing  dry  chlorine  through  absolute  a1 
(C^H^Oj  to  8atu ration,  whereby  the  alcohol  first  Ioscr  2  atoms  of  hydi 
(CjH,0  =  aldebyd),  3  of  the  hydrogen  of  this  compound  being 
wards   repJawd  by  3  of  cbtorioe   (C,Cl,HO  =  chloral).     Hydro 
a(nd  is  liljerat45d  and  chloral  is  found  in  solution.     Bromal  is  eimi 
prepared,  bromine  being  substituted  for  chlorine.    Rabuteau  considern^ 
he  has  pre|»arefi  a  corresponding  iodine  compound,  but  of  this  th< 
some  doubt.     On  adding  to  the  chloral  solution  a  liltle  water,  the  hvdi 
is  thrown  down,  coui^iderable  heat  beiug  given  out  at  the  Nime  iim<v. 

Vhfora/  hydrate  is  a  white  cry!*taltine  9oli<l,  having  a  pleasant  i>loti 
an  unpleasant  taste.     By  heat  it  may  be  entirely  volatilixe<l,  and  dii 
unchanged.     It  is  soluble  in  water,  alcohol,  ether,  and  iu   bisulphide" 
carbon,  and  it  is  also  freely  dissolved  by  sulphuric  and  nitric  acids.     If 
trace  of  ixjtash  be  added  to  a  boiling  solution  of  the  salt,  chlorof<»rm  anJl 
formic  acid  (^formate  of  puiash)  are  produced.     (HX)  parts  of  hydrate  of] 


SYMPTOMS   OF    POISONING    BY    COLORAL. 


455 


pbloral  will  yield  S2  parts  of  chloroform,)  A  gait  of  copper  is  decom- 
N>?e<l  by  it,  tne  action  being  similar  to  that  of  gmpc-sngur,  whilst  a  salt 
if  silver  or  gold  is  reduced  vvbeu  boiled  with  it  and  pytjush. 

SyrnptomSi  Dos€f  etc. 

Chloral  10  a  "hypnotic,"  that  is,  it  induces  normal  sleep  ;  the  headanhe, 

o«ea,  nnd  constipation  of  opium  narcotism  not  occurring  as  alW  eHeut?. 
*be  puL«e  and  hre^ithing  are  not  afTected. 

t  chloral  amy  act  as  a  po'ison.     Wliat  dose  is  poisonous  is  hard  to 
Bad  symptoms  have  resulted  froto  doses  of  7  and  9  grains.     Death 
ag  followed  the  exhibition    of   30  grains,  whilst  150   and   IHO  gratna 
"  Laticet,"  Nov.  2G,  1870^  p.  742),  and  even  rtiueb  larger  fjuaiitities,  bav6 
D  taken  without  ill  effects.    Tliese  facts  prove  the  nettessity  of  care  when 
dilural  is  first  administered  to  a  patient.     But  more  than  this;  m  days 
hen  ladies  take  chloral  of  tlieir  own  accord  for  every  coureivalde  ailment, 
nd  when  young  ladies  are  known  *'  to  regard  it  as  an  agreeahte  restora- 
ive  after  the  excitenietit  of  a  ball-room,"  it  is  necessary  clearly  to  bear  in 

ind  that  small  doses  with  some  may  prove  a  risk,  as  witli  others  they 
nay  be  a  benefit.  It  must  not  be  played  with  iis  if  it  were  a  glass  of 
ihcrry. 

The  other  symptoms  that  have  been  noticed  in  eases  of  poisoning  are 
iolent  cramps  in  the  legs,  and  extreme  livrdity  of  the  face  and  hands. 
I'onvulsions  are  very  rare.  The  pupils  during  sleep  are  usually  contracted, 
)ut  to  no  marked  extent.  On  waking  they  dilate.  Often,  tr>o,  a  searlati- 
Dal  rash  more  or  less  general,  or  a  rash,  at  times  having  the  character  of 
urpura,  has  been  noticed.  The  patient,  too»  frequently  will  complain  of 
iharp  pains  in  the  head,  and  stinging  seusatiims  over  the  surface  of  the 
K)dy.  A  slight  amount  of  stimulation  of  the  salivary  glands  is  not  in- 
miuetJt.  Cases,  too,  are  on  record  showing  its  influence  on  cardiac  inner- 
ration  ('*  Ijancet,"  April  8,  1871,  p.  474].  The  cfmjunetiv*  often  appear 
^ery  red  and  the  lips  hard.     A  peculiar  falling  of  the  lower  jaw  has  been 

ore  than  once  noticed. 

The  time  of  death  varies  from  one  liour  to  three  days. 

The  fatal  result  is  supposed  to  he  brought  about  by  the  alkaline  state  of 
he  blood  converting  the  chloral  into  chloroform  atjd  formic  acid,  and 
there  are  good  reasons  for  believiug  this  view  to  be  correct. 

TVmtntetiL 

Dr.  Bence  Jone^  strongly  urges  strychnia  as  the  antidote  in  chloral 
poisoning  C*  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Aug,  14,  1869,  p.  203).  We 
ihould  rather  recommend 

1.  To  get  rid  of  as  much  of  the  poison  as  you  can  from  the  stomach  by 
l^metics  and  by  the  stonmch-pwmp. 

2.  To  dilute  what  may  be  left  by  the  free  administration  of  tea,  coffee, 
or  weak  rum. 

3.  To  restore  the  respiration. 

If  the  case  be  very  severe,  transfusion  of  blood  may  be  needful. 

Pod-mortem  Appearancet, 

Considerable  congestion  of  the  cerebral  vessels  has  been  noticed  in  post- 
mortem examinations. 

Toiricn  iogical  A  7m  tytfts. 
In  conducting  a  raedico-legal  examination^  render  the  contents  of  the 


CASKS   OF   P0I801 


stomflch  alkaline  with  potash,  and  lieat  the  niiiture  in  a  retort  by  lU' 
aid  of  a  water-buth,  tcstJug  the  vapors  for  chlorolbria  io  the  matiurr  dr- 

scribed  (page  459). 

The  physiological  action  of  bromal  hydrate  (CjBr^HO,  H,0),  (a  far  man 
onergeLic  drug  than  chloral  hydrate)  has  been  itivejiiigated  by  T*  ' 
SteiiiaufTj  and  Dougall.  Thret;  graiun,  the«^e  exjwrimeuteri?  n. 
cutaueoiisly  injected,  will  kill  a  rnbliit  iu  one  to  iwo  hours.  Ttjt  t\m^ 
toniii  set  in  after  from  three  to  four  minuter,  and  consist  of  an  extmonli* 
nariiy  profuse  secretion  from  the  raouth,  nose,  and  eyes,  together  w  ^ 
pirulysis,  convuUions,  and  often  opisthotonos.  Chloral  hydrate,  \i  uu^ 
be    noted,   rarely    produces  eouvnlHionti,  and   does  not   pp^  ri 

tjupillary  contraction,  as  bromaJ  hydrate  i»  found  to  do.     A      i         h! 
>romal,  fluid  \s  invariably  found  in  the  closed  sacs  of  the  body,  which  & 
not  the  ca^  with  chloral. 

(For   further  particulars,  see    "Edinburgh  Medical  Jouraal,"  Ju.. 
1M74.) 

Catea  of  PoiaoHxnfj  toith  Chloral  Hydrate, 

CASE  1.—"  Lanciit,"  July  13,  1872,  p.  fiS  { Dr.  Diver).    MjU"  :  juiult    9  gr»h)s. 

SjfmfjtfUHi.—titnia  bucnnit;  very  culd,  and  hJa  t««tb  bxed.    Kelt  tnortilag  h»d  »  palo  look^ 

Raiuit.—RvKiivcTf. 

CASE  2.--"  lancet,"  July  13, 1872,  p.  68  (Dr,  IMrer).    F«mBl«:  »t.  GS.    7^  grwlan. 

Sifmptot»4,—ln  twu  houni  vrokc  up  In  ii  aeml-cuuncious  attitti,  uud  alter  »iituti  b^d  tjfXffMtk  pMi 

iiteiiiW.— Kcco  Tcry. 

CASE  3.—"  Lancet/'  Dw.  7,  1872,  p.  826.    M»le;  adult.    400  gr»ia»  Uk«o  In  tke  <xmnm  •     • 

.<y^|iMm(.— Found  d«ad  to  hts  b^  ta  the  morning. 

ifema.— Uealh. 

CASK  4,— "Lancet,"  March  26,  1871,  p.  403  (Dr,   FuUerK    Male:  adult.    dO  fraltit.     ^tXint  mt 
HuflVrini,'  frum  hronchUi»and  anasarca. 

S^mptoaiM. — iJtellrlum  and  I'Xtrcmc  depreHlon. 

A  Recund  dosu  wn»  idiulnUtiiTcd,  taking  care  tlmt  no  alkaltnc  medldoe  was  admlnutenrf  f*^ 
Tioualy,  hut  lli«  »attie  ayniptoios  occurre<f. 

JleJtuU, — Recu  r  e  ry . 

CASE  S,-"  L*Qc<?t,"  March  26, 1871,  p.  403  (r>r.  Fuller^    Pemttto :  mLm.    M  gmlta. 

Symptimu. — Imtnediatc  excUement;  but   arLfrwarda  fell  aAltwp.    In   Ihr   morniu^  co*iii  SM  w 
roii«ed,  aod  waft  puls^Ieu,  and  algbing  beMvily.    StlmtilaiiU  were  adiulni«ter«<). 
never  returned,  and  the  pnileui  ncvor  moved  uaor  gutag  totlvcp, 

J^etwtt.— DfBth  iu  thirly-UTe  bounL 

CASE  fi.— "Lttucet,'  April  S.  1871,  p.  47.1  (Dr.  C  rich  too  Browne).  (1/  Feoaale:  ««.«.« 
three  Umt's  a  day.  (2)  Female:  «l.  46.  I."?  gmlua  tbreo  tlmoa  «dny.  (8)  Male:  aeLMi.  9 
QTery  iiLgh(  for  ten  months. 

Sjfmpbnn*.—-{i}  EryllitiiQatoaii  hluiih  ;  ti«d  Byraptoms. 

fiauU.—VLecowvrj. 

iSgrnpiamt, — (3}  An  vruptlon  like  purpura. 

itafwtf.— Death. 

Sjfmp^"**'—^^)'  Va»omotor  paralyaJa  luduced. 

CASE  7.-'"L»ncet,"  Feb.  18.  1871,  p,  226  (Dr.  Norria).  Female:  «L  U.  712  gnlm  lakaai 
nine  dayn,  Ibe  last  26i>  being  takoii  during  tlilrty-llire  hfwra. 

^^m^glomj.— Vomiting. 

Jbin/ji.— Death. 

/^Mrf-mor'(in.— Alt  tittues  v«ry  flrni,  brniD  not  congested:  no  fluid  foand  tn  the*«Qlrl<I« 
not  deconipOM^  ;  chloral  found,  iiiunLlj  ip  the  livor  aod  aiotuiich. 

CASE  8— "LanceC  ^pt.  30, 1871,  p.  466  (Dr.  Smlih,  Maryland).  Sereral  cmt*  6f  dm 
chlural  Irtkeu  medicinally. 

SympkMn* — In  two  cases  the  symptomi  were  in«Untaneoas.  and  In  one  after  three  ]u»ar&. 

CASt:  9— "Medical  Time*  and  Gtuette,"  AprU  1, 1871,  p  W. 
iee»w/t— Death. 

CASK  10.— ''British  Mcdlcul  Journal;*  January  11,  1873.  p.  43  (Dr.  Thompson).    Fcntlei  at: 
ISO  grain*. 
«^fiiy)/p»M.— Wild  delirium  after  twu  huurs,  hut  ending  in  a  quiet  sleep  and  JTMOVWJT. 
AmmA— acoovery. 


ON    POTSONlilQ    BY    CHLOROFORM. 


457 


CASE  |l.-''BfilIah  Mcdlp»l  Joumul/'  Fob. 26,  IBTl,  p.  103 (Dr.  Hunt).  Male:  at.  61.    QuauUty  (7). 

.— Pnat-iportf'ni  lo  nftr.rour  hours.     HeJirt  nonu«l  ;  luDgs  tieAltlij  :  fitoitmch  In  t>»rU 
;  InionUuca  tmlurai ;  membniue»  of  thu  bruin  coogenlvd ;  no  elfualuii  intu  Ihu  reiUricles. 
case;  12.—"  MvOiral  Tltut^8  :iu(l  UtWMtM,'*  Doo,  12,  1874,  |K  «71<Mr.  Hutk9j.     P«fQ»le:  «et.  23.  4  un. 
Af  ayruii  ufcbluroJ  bydrat«. 

jyiwf^wtf  — Sxm  brcatDc  )DaeDBlhle,  br«athinf  atertorouB,  puplU  conlnu^tvtl ;  br<>Hlhriitf  iit  U»t 
•o  fM<bl«  that  mrlifictal  res]>ir)ttlon  hod  lo  btt  reaotUid  to  (ittOinucb-putu p  uiiimI,  und  cuRt»e  lo- 
ll.   Ju  A^rtj'  mtiiutc«  (Kcuiut!  eunscluus.    AtUsrmi^  became  iosaue. 
-B«covcrf. 

CHLOROFORM  (CHCl,). 
( Boils  at  60.16°  C.    Sp.  gr.  of  liquid  1.497,  and  of  vapor  4.2.) 

Chloroform  is  prepared   by  (Ibtilling  chlorinated  lirue  with  spirits  of 

riue  diluted  with   10  time.**  itJ*  bulk   of  water.     The  distillate  may  then 

luritied  by  shaking  iir^t  with   water^  aud  ufterwanb  with  sulphuric 

b}'  which  means  various  hydrofarboiis  will  be  got  rid  of.     The  acid 

'mast  be  then  neutralized  with  lime,  and  the  water  removed  by  desiccation 

ilh  chloride  of  calcium.     Wood  spirit,  oil  of  turpentine,  aud  other  bodies 

f  aUo  be  made  to  yield  chloroform. 

Ihloroform  is  a  colorless,  very  volatile  liquid,  having  an  apple  odor,  and 
pungent  UUite.  Optically  it  is  highly  refractive.  It  inilames  with 
difiicuUy,  the  flanie  being  green  and  smoky.  It  is  very  soluble  in  alcohol 
and  in  ether,  but  very  sparingly  so  in  water  (1  in  10,000).  It  freely 
dbsolves  camphor,  wax,  resins,  caoutchouc,  sulphur,  phasphurus,  bromine, 
iodine,  and  some  of  the  alkaloids,  as  strychnia.  It  is  not  readily  attacked 
by  acids,  and  has  itself  no  action  on  metuls  or  on  organic  matter.  By 
paasiDg  the  vapor  through  a  red-hot  tube,  it  is  decompose<i,  hydrochloric 
«cid  being  formed  if  moisture  be  present. 

The  great  use  of  chloroform  is  as  an  amesthetic.  Accidents  from  its  use 
are  comparatively  rare  (1  in  2500,  Dr.  Kichardson)v  although  sufficiently 
common  to  render  its  use,  in  our  opinion,  unjustifiable  in  ordinary  midwifery 
aod  in  minor  opemtioas.  There  are  certa-iu  definite  rule«  to  he  borne  in 
miad  in  its  administration. 

1.  It  should  be  avoided  in  patient*  suffering  from  certain  cardiac  dis- 


2.  It  should  be  given  upon  nearly  an  empty  stomach. 

3.  The  vapor  should  never  be  more  concentrated  than  1  part  in  100  of 
air. 

4.  It  should  never  be  administered  to  a  patient  in  a  slitting  posture. 

5.  During  its  administration  the  eUecta  should  be  carefuHy  watched  on 
(«)  The  pulse  ;  and 

{^)  The  face.     If  the  lips  or  face  turn  blue,  its  administration  should 
b^  at  once  discontinued. 


A  question  of  some  importance  to  the  medical  jurist  naturally  occurs 
lirr*?.  namely,  whether  chhrujonn  can  be  admin idered  ffir  hnpropt'^r  pitrpoia;^. 
We  know,  however,  that  cf>niparatively,  the  insensibility  from  chloroform 
vapor  is  only  slowly  induced.  It  would  be  difficult,  therefore,  to  admin- 
iater  chloroform  to  persons  forcibly  and  against  their  \vill,  whilst,  of  course, 
the  stories  of  immediate  aujesthesia  produced  by  it  are  but  idle  fables. 
Btill,  it  might  be  administered  to  persons  asleep  without  much  difficulty 
("Lftticet,"  Oct.  5,  1872.  p.  514,  and  Oct.  12, 1872,  p.  549),  and  this  seems 
tlic  only  possible  condition  under  which  it  could  be  conveniently  used  for 
improper  purpoe^,  unless  considerable  force  was  employed  to  prevent  the 

30 


SYMPTOMS   OF    P0T80NTNO    BT   OHLOROPORIf, 

person  struggling,  which,  under  ordinary  ciccumstances,  would  b«  an  9\mm\ 

losunuuiiutable  tlifliculty  to  its  use. 

Te^U  of  Purity. 

Note. — The  purity  of  chloroform  h  a  matter  of  ^reat  IraporULoccu 
may  be  that  mttDy  of  the  uiifortuimte  accideuts  that  haye  oocurreii  bmi] 

it  are  due  to  irapuntie^  id  the  drug.     Note 

1.  It  should  have  no  action  on  litmus-paper. 

2.  Mixed  with  white  of  egg  there  should  be  no  signs  of  coogulatiQll. 

3.  There  should  be  no  precipitate  with  nitrate  of  silver. 

4.  There  should  be  no  bluckeuing  when  shaken  up  with  sulphuric tdU 

5.  It  fthonld  be  i^erfectly  colorless.     (When  kept  for  some  time  exptMl^ 
to  a  strong  light  it  undergoes  sixpotaneous  decompositioD.) 

6.  It  should  give  oH'  no  chlorous  or  Uiipleaisaot  odor  when  a  few  dtopi 
are  put  on  the  hand  and  allowed  to  evaporate. 

Si/mptomjf,  Dose,  ete. 

In  a  h'tptUf  form^  chloroform  does  not  seem  to  exert  a  verr 
actiou.     Deep  coina,  dilated   pupils,  slow  pul^,  and  cold  skio^  aitt  Cbt' 
ordinary  syniptotuy.     Sometimes  there  is  vomiting.     Convulsiooa  or  dt- 
lirium  are  not  rocorded,     A  draelira  is  said  to  have  proved  fatal  in  ihrtt 
hour.^i  in  a  child  tour  years  old.     Dr.  Collins  recordB  a  case  of  pojs«iaii!| 
ill  an  adult  by  about  1  oz.  in  eighteen  hours. 

The  action  ot  <'hlorojhnn  vapor  iti  more  iuijwrtaut  than  that  of  the  liqok 
Five  distinct  eflecta  are  detailed  by  Druitt  in  the  order  of  ibeir  - — -* 
aoce:   1.  Krhiiaration ;  2.  Di'fnvf*inem ;  3.  Profound  skep  with   r 
pupils;  4.  Perfect  inifenfiilti/liif ;  5.    thma,  with  slow  breathiog  au<J   iM.ii'-a 

S>upiis.  The  causes  of  death  after  (Lh  inhalation  for  operatioos  are  Tanoua, 
[t  may  be  due  to  the  yhnck  of  ihe  operation,  <ir  to  the  chloroform  \wui 
adminii^tercd  in  too  concentrated  a  form.  Impurities  in  the  ohK>rofun», 
or  want  of  due  care  in  its  admini.Htration,  may  account  for  sotut;  cajW9,  ami 
diiiieiL-e  of  the  brain  and  of  the  heart  !or  others.  Still»  there  nr^*  ttiv^^ 
death  that  we  cannot  account  for,  some  where  the  quantity  hx* 

l>eeu  extraordinarily  small  ^such  as  15  minima),  and  adrinr  :  «nh 

great  care,  and  others  where  iu  exhibition  has  been  discoDtiDued  forae 
miuut^s  before  the  tatal  result. 

Trc4itmeut, 

When  the  liquid  has  been  taken,  the  stomach  pump  should  be  at 
used.     In  poiwming  by  the  vapor,  the  treatment  should  consist  in 
douche,  frtah  air,  galvanism,  artificial  respiration,  and  in  the   aj 
of  ammonia  to  the  nostrils.     It  is  advisable,  moreover,  to  see  tl 
is  well  forward,  so  that  nothing  may  interfere  with  free  ac  ■  lii 

the  lungs,  as  well  as  to  avoid  giving  liquids  until  the  patieul  hu  iiurf/ 
recovered. 

Pod'mortem  Appearances, 

Generally  all  the  cavities  of  the  heart  are  di8tende<l,  whilst  exeeptionallv 
the  leftside  is  empty.  The  countenance  k  livid  and  pale,  and  puirefiio 
tioD  is  usually  somewhat  slow. 

Toxieologkal  AimlyaU, 

In  a  medico-legal  examination,  first  endeavor  to  detect  the  o<lor 
jKiison.    Chloroform  is  not  so  strong-smelling  as  ether,  and  is  much 


AHALTSIS    IN    CASES    OF    POISONING    BT    CHLOROFORM.      459 

VMlalile.  It  ia  more  rear! Ily  detected  in  tbe  luugs  ihnn  lii  auy  of  tlie  other 
TlH>*ra.  It  inu8t  not  Iw  r^upposetl,  however,  that  antiJy!*i^,  tiiiliiig  to  prove 
thrnwcijcc  of  the  poison,  justifies  us  in  coming  lo  the  coucliision  that 
4f«(h  wan  not  caused  by  it,  iDa^smucli  lu*  lia  absence  aiay  be  aecouated  for 
bTiwocin.-uni'itjuires,  (I)  its  ready  volatility,  and  (2)  its  eon  version  in  tbe 
Wj  mk»  funoic  arid. 

(atThe  ooutenl^  of  the  stomach  and  the  tissues  ahculd  be  placed  in 
A  fltt!«k  fitti'tl  with  tt  bent  hard  ^lass  tube,  dipping-  under  a  so- 
lutiMii  of  nitrate  of  silver  (Fig.  41).  Tbe  tube  phonid  thtni  be 
heated  in  the  centre  to  bright  redness,  after  which  heat  should 


Fi*v.  ♦!. 


bo  appli«xl  (o  the  fla«ik  by  the  agency  of  a  water-bath.  If 
vhloroiorm  vajHjr  be  present,  it  will  be  resolvtKi,  &»  soon  as  it 
cotueb  iu  contact  with  the  hot  tube,  into  chlorine  and  hydro- 
rhloric  acid,  and  thej*e  will  produce  a  precipitate^  with  tbuailver 
«alt. 

(^JjTeiit  for  an  acid  at  the  end  of  the  tube  with  litmus-paper. 

'^T^  Hold  at  the  end  of  the  tube  a  niece  of  paji^r  moistened  with  starch 
and  iodide  of  poia!»i*iufn.  This  will  be  turned  blue  if  chloro- 
form be  present,  froai  the  chlorine  setting  free  the  icxliue,  aud  its 
resiction  on  the  Hiarch, 


Cbjf-a  of  Po'uK/ning  with  Chlorofonn  [liquid). 
^^\.-^'nm\U^  T\n*rm  afid  Gtuctto/'  Mty  10,  1M2,  y.  478  (I>r.  Axel  Lamm).    Mule:  spt.  30. 

y^— t*"wt>  frnptnim^    rii|iU«  It  flntdilKt«Hl.  R«Milnn  wt  Id,  Kod  ftooo  Aftcrwsrdahcdied. 

•^*-|k»U»  in  iw.  I..    ii..„r«, 
^_    ^^^~>''  I,  «t4*mftcti  C'Mngt'aiUHl  towiir<lA  ll)«' i*iinllllL-,  l*ut  palf  lowjinln  Uu'   |>y- 

•^^i  nmur.i  ,f  |nt4^lr>«>4  paler  ttiAn  ubiikI 

^  1-- Ur*\\f»\  TUijr.  attJ  f;«wU^,"  M»r  »1,  IWH.  p.  577,    Male:  «i.  f50.    SIJ. 

t— 1^>^  «Hiiiia;  brralli  •in«llnl   alroflKljr  uf  ihu  |)oIjmio;  fHipl)»  dltM«d,  KQd  loMnslbirr; 
••d  ll^e  Mirfhea  of  tlie  twily  cold.     Ri-nuiniwl  iaMaslblt!  for  Mveti  huuni. 


■  •«!  TLoMi  and  GMCtt^,"  Jao.  IS,  lSM,p.SI<pr.  Colltot).    Il«l«:  Mk  tt.    Aboni 

pB^i->n  aHm  r>  I  udbUajr. 

*•*•.— Kfml II  14^:  ..^..  :  ..,  lU..  mrmbranii'*  rnn|fr*lc^  ;  hrarl  larRC  atiU  kufl— thu  loac«vlLl«a 
tW  f^llkl  aid*  fiiil  (il  dark  rnAMiilntiHl  Mo<mI  ;  tiing*  cnnKMt«Hl:  atOOIMh  «fli|nr,  aO»tr»«(cd, 
ilMai  lovarda  Ibc  cardiac  rud.     Tlii<r«  wkn  no  ainell  uf  tli«  polA<Mi. 


POIfiOHIKG    BT   KTHER. 


CASE  4,->"M«dicAl  Ttne»  and  G*s«lt«,"  Nor.0»  1864,  p.  507. 
iDternkliy. 

HfftHplittiij.—yiimltlag;  apeedy  and  canip]Ft«  ioaea»ilrilUf ;  puplli  vory  dn«l«4.    F«>r  tkf 
tb«  ca»t3  looked  hopi-leM,  liui  during  the  fuurth  Uour  the  pwUf  rallied,  imd  hi 
were  DotonvyUjooiordelirlam. 

RetulL — RecoTerjr. 

CA8E  5.—-  Medicml  Time*  mod  mxtlto,"  Oct.  10,  186»,  p.  378  (Pr.  WfN^Joiduj.    Mali 
oil  BTtd  chlorofomi— «botit  j|a»,  of  «ach. 

d^wp/enu.— Soon  beauao  excited,  U»«a  lowDaiblc ;  pupfb  contrkclcd. 


OIL  OF  DIPPEL. 
(Oil  of  Hartshorn.) 

Tbii;  U  aQ  oil  produced  as   a  product  of  the  disiillation  o 
tnatters,  aucb  as  boties,  bJood,  etc. 

When  re:?pi red  it  produfe;^  narcotic  gymptoiUB,  the  vap»r  I 
ofleu»ive,  and  very  irritating  to  the  eyes.     It  a<!ts  asa  violeti 
swallowed. 

Cnset  of  Povtomng  trith  Oil   oj   Lhpi*d. 

CASE  L—ChauBsler'a  "Toxicologic,*"  p.  .195,    I?)  adult.    A  lotupooarul. 
JtuttU.~t>c^ih  luiiDL'dinto. 

CASE  2.—"  Dictiouualro  de  6cl«oce  M6die»l<*  Tol,xsi,  p.  NU  (Oiliallion K    Fctn^i  wlkU, 
Alter  lAkJog  it  drowo«d  hmelf. 


ETHER  (C,H,P). 

(Boils  at  35.6^  C. :  sp.  gr.  of  liquid  at  lo.S'^  C.  =  0.7:v;,  i 

Preparation  and  Properties. 

Ether  is  usually  prepared   by  acting  on  alcuhol  with  strong  «*ulpbt 
acid.     Two  reactions  are  eaid  to  take  place, 

1.  Water  and  sulphetbylic  acid  are  formed — 

C^.O  +  H^SO,  =  H,0  -h  C,HcSO,. 

Aiuubul.      SntptiurJc  Acid.      Water.    Sulplit>th)  lie  Acid. 

2.  This  sulphethylic  acid  reacts  oo  the  excess  of  alcohol,  fortnlng 

and  sulphuric  acid — 

▲koboL  Sulpbevliyllc  Acid,  EtJh«r.  Sulpbu/iQ  AcU. 

It  wilt   he  noticed   that  the  sulphuric  acid  being  i  o 

quaivtity  of  the  acid  should  theoretically  convert  an  unli  ^lani 

alcohol  into  ether.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  the  power  of  the 
limited,  owing  to  the  occurrence  of  secondary  reactions  and  \\£  conl 
tion  with  the  impurities  of  the  alcohol. 

The  ether  is  collected  by  suitable  condensers.     The  water  whv-'"  >- ■-- 
over  with  it  separates  s{>oDLaneou{<ly.     The  sulphurou:)  acid  pre- 
ether  is  removed  by  wa:<hing  with  caustic  soda,  and  the  alcohul  iiy  \n 
ing  in  salt  water,  in  which  alcohol  is  more  soluble  than  ether.  The  wn 
ether  is  once  more  distilled  with  solid  chloride  of  calcium  aad  caufttic 
lime. 

Ether  is  a  colorle*»,  mobile,  highly  refractive  liquii 
taste,  and  an  agreeable  "ethereal  "  smell.     From  the  ra 


SYMPTOMS    OF    ETHER    POISONING. 


461 


evApomt6»,  it  ptwiuces  great  cold^and  consequent  local  anCBsthesia  when 
!        '"    1   to  the  gkin.     This  is  the  prioeiple  of  the  ether  spray  of  Dr. 

1 1  cratches  fire  easily,  burning  with  a  white  Inminous  flame.  The  ether 
rapor  is*  ab<:iut  two  and  a  half  limf:^  heavier  thiin  air. 

Water  disitolves  ahout  one-tenth  its  bulk  of  ether.     It  is  very  soluble  ill 

alcohol,  whilst  it  dissolves  fatty  bodies,  oils,  and  resins  freely.    Phosphorus, 

lodiDe,  and  sulphur  are  also  8i>hil>Ie  in  it.     Metallic;  salts  are  generally  less 

»tuble  in  ether  t^an  io  aleohoL     Itdis.soh-es  corrosive  sublimate  freely. 

Nitrous  et/ier  (C,HjNO,),  (sweet  spirit  of  nitre)  is  made  by  distilling 

ilcohol  and  sulphuric  arid  in  the  presence  of  nitric  acid  and  copper.   The 

[copper  serves  to  reduce  the  nitric  to  the  nitrous  radical. 

Symplmm. 

When  the  vapor  of  ether  is  inhaleii   in  sufficient  quantity,  complete 
uesthei^ia  results,  the  patient  passing'  thronghthe  stage  of  exhihiration. 
The   inhalation  of  a  p^iven  quantity  of  the  vapor  of  ether  prorhices  iar 
'more   severe  results?  than  when  a  similar  quantity   is  swallowed.      The 
symptoms  of  inhalation  may  be  described  under  three  stages — 

1*«L  The  face  becomes  flushed,  and  there  is  considerable  excitement,  with 
battened  circulation  at»d  respiration, 

2d,  StUfmr  succeeds  ;  the  breathine:  becomes  labored,  the  lips  turn  blue, 
there  is  general  livid ity  of  the  surface  of  the  body,  and  the  pupils  are 
widely  dilated. 

At  this  stage  the  patient  can  be  easily  revived. 

3d.  If  the  admitiistration  be  continued,  perfect  anresthesia  results,  ac- 
iN^nipanied  at  times  with  extreme  excitement.  If  the  administration  be 
prolonged  after  this,  it  causers  death. 

The  effects  produced  by  ether  in  the  liquid  form  require  further  iuves- 
ti^ation.  There  are  no  cases  on  record  of  poisoning  by  it  in  the  human 
subject.  Orfila  found  that  half  an  ounce  introduced  and  secured  in  the 
stomach  of  a  i\ng  produced  iusensibility  in  sixteen  miuutes,  and  death 
after  three  bourn.  The  action  t)f  all  the  ethers  is  undoubtedly  far  more 
energetic  than  that  <jf  the  alcohols.  ChriMtiiJon  relates  a  case  of  death 
from  the  vapor,  the  air  of  a  nM>rn  becoming  loaded  during  the  night  by 
the  breaking  of  a  three-gallon  jar  full  of  ether.  The  countenance  at  the 
prist-mortem  appeared  composed, the  lining  membrane  of  the  stomach  red, 
BO<i  the  lungs  gorged.  So  far  as  our  knowledge  of  the  symptoms  extends, 
they  are  very  similar  to  those  of  nleoliol  hut  more  severe,  although  more 
transient.  It  would  seem  also  that  persons  can  very  easily  become  hahit- 
tiated  to  its  use. 

The  remarks  on  treatment  io  alcohol  poisoning  (p.  43^1  equally  apply 
here.  Fresh  air,  cold  douche,  artificial  respiration, and  galvanism  must  be 
used  without  delay. 

1.  Its  odor. 

2w  Its  inflammability  (the  produeLs  being  U,,0  and  CO./). 

3.  lt«  almost  perfect  insolubility  in  water,  and  ujwn  which  it  floats. 

In  a  roedico-legal  investigation  the  contents  <if  the  stomach  must  be 
distilled  as  directed  in  alcohol  poisoning  (p.  437).  Of  course  if  any 
delay  occurs  in  the  examination  there  will  be  but  little  hopes  of  a  suecess- 
Itil  analysis. 


GABE8    OF  l»OTSONI!<)d    BY    KRBASOTff* 


KREASOTE  (C,H,A)  AND  OIL  OF  TAJt 

( C  reaBote.     C  reaso  1 .  i 

Oil  of  tar  owes  it3  properties  enlirely  to  the  krerL<Mt»^  mm  u  r-Kot 
Kren?ote  ii*  obtiiiiie<l  iluriug  the  deintructive  dihtillntinii  of  wcmkJ.    In 
Doerre  carbolic  acid   b  often  ftub"*tituted  for  it  (ri^f  p.  450>  heii 
gimilnr  l)i>th  iu  odoraud  taste.     It  is  entirely  volatile  »t  100^  C, 
carbolic  ncid,  possei'ses  great  pre^^ervati ve  and  autiiicptic  powLT**.    Tw< 
five  to  forty  drop;*  injected  into  the  juj^^ulur  vein  of  a  do^Jiilled  it  iu  itk»\ 
seconds,     'fhirty  drops  killed  a  rabbit  iu  a  minute.     The  naine  uua 
given  to  a  dog  [)roduced  convulsions  and  coma,  but  it  recovered  i  l>rJ 
mack  V.     Dr.  Pereira  ("  Element  of  Mat.  Med.")  refers  to  a  caae  of  tn' 
dnichnis  having  boon  swallowed,  death  reijulling  in  thirty-xix  hours. 

In  the  human  subject  the  efiecLs  are  those  of  an  irritant  poison.    Il» 
peculiar  odor  is  at  all  time:*  it:*  rao?t  characteriatic  property. 

The  a<lmiuisitratinu  i>f  albumen,  of  oleaginous  and  mncilagtooiKt  dfii 
with  artificial   respiration  if  neccissary,  constitute.*!   the   trcatmeat 
ailopted.     Inflammatory  .-^ymptom:^  must  be  met  by  UMUal  antiplilc 
meaaures. 

Cnxes  of  Poimning  by  OU  of  Tar  and  KreattoU, 

CASE  1.— Porelrn'9  "Materia  Mwllca,"  lS42,vol.  Ir.  p.  4)9.    SU- 

RfiuU.—VtcMih  ta  thirl jr-*U  hoora, 

CASF.  2.—"  Liiueet,"  lH3i-33.  vol.  H.  p.  598.    Mule.    Siv  of  oil  of  Ur  Iftkvn  hf  takUkw  ibrifMlit 

J2ef«/<.— Recovery  ;  aMe  to  ruiiuuie  lifn  work  lh«  D«zt  d^y.  • 

TASK  8.—"  lAUCi'l."  IftWi-.'M,  vol.  I.  p,  9<J2.    Mule :  lel.  t8.    Two  or  thrwi  drmorl^tiu    QtiMUty  ^i. 
jSym/VofWJ.— Symptnms  i»el  in  very  w>oii. 

Hf-ntiL — I>i'alli  iji  twcniy-four  himm.  • 

JV</-N*&rfoN.— Slomuch,  liit«slinefl,  and  bmln  nutiiral  ;  lungs  gorged  with  blodd  ^tmlMtfj 
odor. 

BICHLORIDE  OF  METHYLENE  (CH,C1,* 

This  was  suggested  by  Richardsem  as  an  ansestbettc  in  the  place 
chloroform. 

The  liquid  h  heavier  than  water,  and  but  very  slightly  solabiti  in  tk 
It  is  not  intlammable. 

Iti.'^eii.'iibirtty   if*   more    rapidly  produced   and   recovery  more   vrnpi^y 
efl^ected  by  it  than  by  chloroform.     As  a  rule  complete  anffistheeiA 
after  about  two  miniite«s'  applifalion,  and   recovery  in  about  thr«e. 
Morgan  ("Lancet/*  May  11,  1872,  p.  671 )  states  that  he  has  never! 
case,  although  he  has  administered  it  about  1800  times. 

Ca»,tM  of  Puiaoninff  with  the   Vnpor  of  BieMorid^  &f  Mrihytwne, 

TASE  1.—"  PItiirraaceuMcal  Journni;'  1871.  p,  *75.    M»let  «i.  40,    Glf^n  durinf  %jt 
tilt*  <'yr. 
Rtndi.—\i^nih  In  Avt'inlnuu^. 
P(tat-m<irtrm.—Q*iugvaiUin  of  lutiga. 

CASE  L—"  Pb«rmac«uUciil  Journal 

RrjniU—l>i-ik\\\  rapJd. 

Prut'ftMrtem.^Jio  spoclal  |xt«t-n>ortem  «pp<jftriinec». 

CA^C  3.—"  [«iinc<>t;'  Oou  23.  iar.9.  p.  Saii2(Mr.  Miii>)inll>.    Mal«'  r  mt.  m.    sIm.    Tlift  bmb  wm 
in  a  cb»ir  during  IIim  Ilm<>nf  lulniiiiUtraUon,  aoil  pri^pnrlu^  Uttmn  operattoo. 
Sym/rfOMj.— Piipili  »U|{htly  dilated  ;  dm  fli«rtor  ur  Itvidity  oreouiiUitiancu. 
lUMuU.—DtttAb. 

COAL  NAPHTHA 

Naphtha  !■?  one  of  the  product?  of  the  distillitnin   o  rn^i.     it  acu 
narcotic  poison.     It  is  insoluble  in   water,  and  floats  upon  it.     It  h 


1871,  p.  875.    Male.     luhnlod  .Mm. 


0A8BS    07    POISONING    BY    COAL    NAPHTHA, 


463 


ith  n  i?inoky  flame.  Three  uunces  have  proved  fatal  in  three  hours,  and 
tnom  tbttn  once  the  vapor  has  ucted  injuriously. 

It  produces  first  of  all  intoxication  aud  d^^liriiim,  followed  by  an  ioteoBe 
coma.  Stertorous  breathing,  a  cold  clnmrny  skin,  vnmitinfir,  a  glrt-*^-^y  state 
of  the  eye*,  and  contracted  pupils,  with  Ios.h  of  iniiscuttir  powtT,  are  !*ytnp- 
toniM  that  aro  recorded.  We  may  notice  hei\^  that  death  has  resulted 
from  drinking  a  wineglas^ful  of  pdroleian,  and  that  severe  symptoms  have 
been  produced  from  the  ingestion  of  one  pint  of  paraffin  oil. 


QuMf*  of  Poi.$onmg  with  Coal  Ifnphtha^  Peirolettm,  and  Paraffin, 
CASE  t.— -  L«nc«-t,"  Aug.  W,  1M«.  p.  230.    Mule :  rel.  \1,    Xifj  rnken  by  luWikp  for  beer. 


-IntoiicAtlon,  Willi  il<.ltriuiM;  aft4»nr»rd»  «"olliips*> ;  iilpr(or«»u»  bn>«lhln»c;  c«»li  clnmmy 
•kfti:  vnniaitit!',  bj-  which  ntioiit  on*'  uujive  was e jet: led.  I"'<<r  twi>  hours  h*  flppoar*'<l  bi-tt^r.  hut  col- 
lapec,  1ii^i)*iliiliir,  frt)tlilug  ut  luuitib,  caiht-  on  ;  cyiHs  hiH^anic  glassy  nnd  llxed,  |*u)«ilii  cnntrnctcd; 
liMB  of  tuuM-uUr  prjwer  ;  uu  coti  vubluUs  ;  cuuld  uot  tkWilU*.     Dtttth. 

jBiwIf.— iX'Kth  ill  Uirec  linur». 

#Wf-mnif«n.— The  smell  of  the  naphlha  wiw  notlcfd  at  the  po^tt-fntTtrro  on  the  fourth  day;  blood 
fluM  ;  rlftht  tiiii' tif  Ihv  heart  futi,  nnt)  the  1f>R  slUe  empty;  Uinga  p:ik>',  sloruach  Dut  lufiAOied  ; 
B»|tbihB  wu  iouad  Jii  the  coutcDta  ul  I  he  stnniuch. 

CASE  2,— " >f cdlcnl  Thuu  and  Gui^lle."  July  20.  IftS),  p.  71.    Male:  itt.  4.     A  drink. 

i^|n*i|>A>tM«.— Sti-eplEieM^  pauiu<  on  to  c^nnu  ;  rMiuitiog,  and  cuulructed  pupil*;  »(«emcd  to  he  "in 
artlcuiu  mnrtU,"  hut  aftenrardB  recovered. 

Metutt. — Recorery. 

r!A«<i:  3.— 'Mrdical  Times  nd  Qaietle,"  Sopt,  24,  1804,  p.  MC. 

«;ASE  4,—" British  Medical  Journal."   NoTemher  4,  1971.  p.  S33.    Female:  jet,  40,    A  glam  of 

i%tM;<<Ofat.— No  DKUsea or  TomlttQg;  great  paLo  id  theatomach.    Deatli  on  tho  tveutleth  day. 

Death. 
• 

TASB  5.— "Edinburgh  Medical  Joiirnal/' Not.  1»74,  p.  43S  (Dr.  GllrulhX  Female:  adult.  One 
Irfnt  ofparattn  oil. 

Sifmpioin*.— Ha  ruing  wiuaUon  Id  stomach  and  throat ;  body  cold ;  recovered  to  tvanty-fburhoon. 
<lDnDotI«  gireD.) 
RnulL— Recovery. 

NITROGLYCERIN  (C,H,(NO,),0,). 

(Glouoin — Blasting  Oil — Dynamite.) 

Itroglycerin  is  an  oily,  heavy  liquid,  soluble  in  water  to  the  extent 

about  0.25  per  cent,,  and  exploding  violently  when  struck.  It  ia  largely 
used  in  mining  operationy,  under  the  name  of  "blasting  oil,"  and  "dy- 
namite.** The  vapor,  which  is  far  more  powerful  in  its  etiects  than  the 
liquid,  acU?,  according  to  the  best  ohserveri?i»  as  a  true  narcotic.  When 
swallowed  in  a  litpiid  form,  m  it  has  been  i*everal  times  in  Sweden,  uar- 
ootiam  was  also  the  chief  .symptom  induced  ;  but  it  would  .seetu  from  the.se 
ca^«  that  a  very  considerable  quantity  is  necessary  to  prove  fatal,  De- 
liriuiD.  nausea,  vomiting  and  paralysis  are  also  recorded  .<ynjptom»,  whilst 
ooDgestion  of  the  brain  seems  the  special  post-mortem  appearance. 

Administered  to  frogs  by  the  mouthy  or  applied  even  to  the  unbroken 
skin,  il  cau^le:*  tetanic  corvulsioos,  then  paralvi^is  aud  death. 

Admiaisiered  in  cats,  nitr^jglycerin  prodtieeii  very  similar  effects  to  tbode 
t>f  hydrocyanic  acid. 

Dcmme  describes  «ome  expertmenU  made  upon  himself,  aud  upon 
patients  in  the  hospital  a!  Berne,  with  a  solution  consisting  of  one-ninth 
part  by  weight  of  nitroglycerin  in  rectified  spirit.  He  considers  it  el^ 
energetic  a  poi.son  as  strychuiw.  Ten  drops  of  this  solution  (1.1  grain) 
produced  a  smarting  pain  in  the  throat,  excessive  headache  and  vertigo, 
contractions  of  the  nni.^.setei's  and  temj>orai  muscles  (slight  trismus),  and 
twiichiugs  of  certain  groups  of  the  muscles  of  the  limbs.    The  effects  passed 


POlBOirrWG   BY   T€RP«ITTIHB. 

away  after  about  twenty  minutes.     Therapeutically  he  found  the  Arot 
marked  efficacy  in  those  forms  of  partiul  paralysis  in  whtrb  jptnrrhi 
iisoally  prescribed.     ("Sebwevtz  Zeitnchritl,"   vol.  i,  p.  156;  **Schi 
.Tahrh.,"  vnl.  f'xvi.p,  174;  "New  Sydenham  Soeietr'^  Year  B<>ok, 
pp,  17f>  and  465;  and  18G4,  p.  405;'  "Deutsche  Kllnik/'  1804.  p.  m.i 
To  recover  the  poisou  from  orgHntc  mixtures,  they  must  be  fhaketi 
with  ehlnroform,  ether,  or  benzol,  and  the  residue,  after  the  recovery  i 
the  ether,  or  other  solvent,  tried  on  a  frog, 

Ca«e^  of  PoiaoTtinff  %tnth  Niirttplyetrin. 

CASE  1.— "Sfd^DhniD  Soci«tf :  BleuuiAl  Betro»twct."  l«C7-68,  p.  •452.  .Male.    Soa 
with  a  Tew  drop«  (?)  of  nitroglyverio. 

.S'vmp/dirM.— Nftunea  and  Tomiting;  headaobe;  dltiloea;  UAeoofletouMoai ;  panlfit*  «•  M  i 
•oinr  timer. 

CASfv  2.— "Sydenham  Society:  Bieonliil   Rctrospecl,"  1867-e8,  p.  403.     Frmale:  rt,  ii     \*nsA 
■omc  nitn)^lycerio  from  a  tlaik. 

CASE  3.— "SfdutiUaiii  8<«?k>ty :  Bleutiinl  n«lrcie|i«:t."  t«fi7-<J8,  p,  «5.    Male  t  adnit,    A  dri«i 

^m;><om«.— Beoame  blue  Id  tite  fate,  and  Inveuaitik  ani.>r  out;  liuur.    LMIriura. 

jee«W/.— Death  io  tlx  bourtv 

Pott-mnrtrtn. — Brala  coD||;e«U*d,  luuga  ajdrtnatoaa. 

CASE  4,— "Sydeuliani  Society  .  Biennial  R«lrmp«el,"  1867-68,  p.  *S3.    Male:  adalt     Qsaatitr  n 

Eeitdt.^Deaih  iu  two  boura. 

See  a  Case  of  Poisoning  recorded  in  the 
**  LftDceS,"  Aug.  4.  IMW,  p.  124.    (D«alh  in  a  few  boun ;  insUnt  paio ;  bod j  dark  b1o«.> 

TURPENTINE  (C„HJ.  • 

(Torps;  Terebenthcne ;  Spirit  of  Turpentine;  Oil  of  Turpentine.) 

Sp.  gr.  0.86.     Boib  at  160^  €. 

Turpentine  is  an  oleo-resin,  flowing  from  incisions  made  in  the  wood  of 
most  couiferous  trees.  When  di:?tilled  the  essential  oil  of  turpentine, or 
turpentine,  as  it  is  often  called,  passe*  over,  "  rosin  "  remaining  in  tbeidilL 
When  purified  by  dis^tillatinn  with  lime,  in  order  to  saturate  resinous  adds, 
this  ej«*«ntial  oil  is  sold  under  the  name  of  mmphine. 

Turpentine  dissi(]ve.s  sulphur,  pbosphorusj  caoutchouc, and  fatty  mattei 
It  19  soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether,  but  is  insoluble  in  water.     Mix^]  wilfl 
litharge^  it  nipitlty  abjioi'bs  oxygen.     It  i«  readily  oxidized  by  niiric  mc'u 
oxalic  and  terebic  acid.%  etc.,  being  formed. 

Turjientine  acts  as  a  narcoti co-acrid   poison.     Great  irritiition  of  th( 
urinary  organ.^,  intoxication,  contracted  pupib,  stertorous  breath  if 
collapse,  and  tetanic  convulsions  have  been  stated  to  have  been  <m  j 

it.     A  criminal  case  of  poisoning  is  on  record,  where  it  wan  urj^i  in  de-j 
fence  that  it  was  given  for  a  cough.     (Reg.  v.  llodanbosh,  C  C.  C, 
1866.1     In  medicine  it  is  often  pre.scribed  for  hjemorrhages,  pui»rp 
peritouitis,  and  for  worms,  and  is  also  u.fed  as  an  injection.     Thus  one,  I 
and  three  oz.s.  have  been  administered  ;  but  some  caution   is  ut'wlcd, 
much  as  two  drachms  have  been  found  to  kill  a  dog  in  three  uitnutcii  wit 
tetanus  (8chubarth),  and  half  an  ounce  has  proyed  fatal  to  a  child. 

The  urine  acquires  a  vio!et4ike  smell  when  turpentine  bad  bc<ta  take 
internally. 

Caees  of  P(>U*'ning   unth   ThtrpeiUine. 

CASE  t.— "  Medical  Titnes  tud  Onwit^"  OcL  11. 18^1,  p.  3m  CMr.  Jobiwon).    Foaal*:  mi.  I 
tobli*s|i<>ui]fiii. 
Sfraqfttuns-^Pmln  voon  carae  on,  but  tbo  wai  ■ftorwariU  iootb«d  to  sleep ;  afttr  aom*  Urn*  * 


POISONING    BY    CANTHARIDS8. 


465 


eesTKblODCMt  lo.    lo  thT««  hours  ■he  btfcame  [nsetiiitbl« ;  brf>atfafiig  »tertnrouA;  pupUs  very 
katmrttrd  ;  cnavulsiTe  paroxyflmc,  wilb  opiBtboLuuos,  every  leo  to  firtaen  tuiuutes. 
It— RfWorery. 

CASK  i— Taylor's  "M«dlcaUuri*|)mdcne*."  vol.  i.paaa  (Mr.  MlallK    ^El.  14  weeks.    S», 
jyf>f<wu.— Inst;  nai  hill  ty  and  »l|ght  ['(mvul!ii'>rt^  in  utu*  hour;  pnplb  i-oQlractc.'d;  irix'gular  mod 
brc*ttiii»ir  (tltrve  per  mttiutoV;  pup1hcuntrucL<  d  ;  ptits^.'  ultau'ftt  iDi^Hnrcepliblt*. 
tmXf.—Dratb  (u  flAccu  (jour». 


CASE  S.— "  Piianniieeullciil  Journal,"  July,  l^Tl,  p,  70. 
for  pcpiK-nninl. 
MtlC— Dt'ktb. 


Mt,  6  monthft.    A  »po«iiful  Klvun  bj  mlfl- 


CASE  4  — HofD's  "  Vlerieljflhiwchrift,"  1866,  vol.  il,  p.  837  (Dr,  Thomson  J.  Female  :  tttHi,  Large 
^qnaiiUty  of  tramphitie. 

Sjfmpltmn. — Vomiting;  patn ;  purging  cArnc  an  rapidly;  wu»  tifvcr  eutlrrly  uiicnDscious;  t'oldntaa 
[ttlkd  bradacbe ;  papilx  normal ;  lacrfa<wii  quantity  of  uriut;,  which  ametied  of  rioluts;  certain  tierv- 

«■•  aynipiont*  occurred ;  recovered  In  eight  dayi. 


CHAPTER  XVI 


ANIMAL   POISONS. 

rlniecti — CanthariiieM — Expenmfints  on  Hnimals— Symptoms,  etc.— Toxi- 
Oolug^Tcnl  ftnnlysie — I^n/umoim  ff>o<i — Puirid  (m-at — Sniifrtgw  poison — Triehinn — 
Cyslieercjjs — TrfraNtodu— UnwhnleBomorioss  duo  t«>  tiie  improper  fcieding  of 
animnU — Disensed  m«^jit — Thu  tharftctfps  id"  g«Mid  meut — Cin^umaluncca  uadHr 
wluc'h  meul  $ljuiild  be  condemned — Poisonous  Fisli. 

ANIMAL  IRRITANTS. 

Several  injects  are  poiuonous,  Deaih  bus  been  caused  in  twenty-four 
hour^,  with  irritant  symptoins,  by  the  maiuwm  of  the  Gernmns  (Meloe 
proficarabicus)  {Fig.  48).  ("Rust's  Maf^azine,"  xviii,  p.  109.)  A  child 
b«0  died  from  the  eflecta  of  the  bombtix,  applied  externally  on  beet-root 


FlO.  42. 


y^ 


leaves  (Chrlstisou).  Spiders  have  also  produced  bad  effects  ("  British 
Medical  Journal,"  Aug.  8,  I860,  p.  IGO).  Similarly,  too,  the  |>oison  of  a 
toad  {•'  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Sept.  4,  1852,  p.  251),  and  the  sting 
of  a  waurp  on  the  t*>npue  of  a  man,  aged  Beveuty-four,  have  caused  death. 
( ••  Lancet,"  Sept.  6,  18T3,  p.  333.) 


POISOmilQ    BT    CAKTBAftlDKS. 

CAKTHARIS  VESICATORIA.    (.Fig.  43.'^ 

(Lytta  VegicaLoria. ) 

Inserta — Cole<)ptera . 

(Blister  Beetle— Spanish  Fly.) 

Tbe  Spanish  fly  is  found  in  Kaseia,  Sicily^  and '  Hungary,  and  is  an 
ins^k-t  of  about  eight  to  ten  lines  in  length,  having  6De  green  wingshealhs 
or  elytra.  They  are  collected)  chiefly  from  the  ash,  Hlac^  and  privet,  and 
are  killed  by  being  plunged  into  boiling  vinegar. 

The  bedle*  have  a  burning  taste,  and  a  nauseous,  dii^agreeable  ^melL 

The  po\vder  has  a  grayish  green  appearance,  and  appears  loaded  with 
shining  and  brilliantly  metallic  particles. 

Cautharidea  is  an  active  and  irritant  poison.  It  has  been  administered 
by  way  of  joke,  and  taken  for  the  pur|>o:*e  of  suicide.  It  has  been  given 
and  taken  with  the  idea  of  pmcuriog  abortion,  but  in  thijs  it  more  often 
failrj  than  succeeds,  and  if  successful  the  action  is  due  to  the  violent  con- 
stitutional disturbance  ]uduce<l,  rather  than  to  any  specific  effects  of  the 
drug.  It  has  been  given  frequently  for  lascivious  purpocee.  No  doubt 
can  exist  that  it  is  ca|mbte  of  inducing  venereal  desires,  but  there  is  great 
doubt  whether  they  can  be  excited  by  a  do$e  much  under  that  which  mar 
prove  hazardous  to  life.  And  here  may  be  noticed  a  matter  referred  to  by 
Taylor  (  Reg,  r.  Wilkins,  Liverpnd,  1861 ),  where  a  man  was  convicted  of 
the  administration  of  cantharides  with  the  intent  to  excite  the  sexual 
passion,  the  punishment  for  which  crime  is  not  prtivided  for  by  the  law. 

Nor  must  it  be  overlooked  that  cautharides  may  prove  injurious  by 
its   mere   external   application,  especially   in   debilitated   states  of  the 

FlO.  4^ 


/ 


eyBteni.  such  as  typhoid,  where  the  inflftmroation  produced  by  blister*  h$» 
more  than  once  passed  on  to  fatal  sloughing,  <>r  set  up  active  sjmptoins 
poisoning.  Cautharides  should  never  l>e  used  externally  or  intenjally 
when  there  is  any  disease  of  the  kidneys,  or  in  the  very  youug  or  very  old, 
or  in  debilitated  systems. 

Cantharides  contains  «eveml  peculiar  oily  and  &tty  matters,  but 
special  action  is  due  to  cantharidin. 

CANTHAKIDIN  (C.H.O,?). 

f  antharidin  is  a  neutral  body,  and  is  probablv  the  active  blislw  _ 
principle  of  other  insects  l>esides  the  Spanish  fly.  The  average  proportion 
of  cantharidin  present  in  the  6y  is  about  4  to  5  parts  in  lOfH),  or,  in 
other  wordd,  half  an  ounce  of  the  powder  yields  aoout  1  grain  of  can- 


SYMPTOMS    OF    POISONING    BY    CANTHARIDES. 


4ft7 


rtiMriHin,    It  cry!»tallize8  m  colorl«»8  pintes,  has  powerful  vesicfttinjr  prop- 

!  M(*?s  without  appareut  deoomposition  at  100^  C.  (21*2^  F.), 

uie.     In  this  respect  it  (titfei-s  from  vegetable  alkaloids, 

UvavH,  when  heated,  leave  behind  a  i-arbonuceou?!  mass.     It  h  in- 

in  water,  but  is  soluble  in  aU"oh<il,  ether,  chiorofonn,  and  oil.s. 

Nniher  hot  nor  cold  sulphuric  aeid  has  any  action  iipou  it,,  and  in  thi» 

rl  may  likewise  be  distinguished  from  active  vegetable  principles,     Xitrie 

leid  hu  also  no  action  upon  it. 


Experiments  with  Oantharides  on  AnimaU  (0 

rfila). 

Hoir  admlnlatered. 

Symtioma. 

RmulL 

3i»*  (,t  tn  nl«-iijr»- 
tum  lolutiun. 

Injected  into  juif- 
ular     vein      of 
dt'g. 

Injc»ct.-d  into  rto- 

TioU'nt  tfelanua. 

Dk-ath      in      four 
hours. 

5'>j  •»f    lincture 

Insensibility. 

Bfrtlli  in  twenty- 

■ml  8  gTnin*  of 

1 
^?r«trjf  of  now. 

SJ  of  jiowder. 

iiiHch,    and    se- 
cured  by   liga- 

lUfP, 

Given      by     the 

llXMlth. 

Plnwd  in  K  wound. 

Vomiting. 
Gr(»it  languor. 

four  hiuirs. 

Denth  in  fmir hours 

D.>iilh    in   thirty- 
two  hours. 

Tbete  esperimentj<  upon  animals  scarcely  agree  wiLh  the  symptoras  o-b- 
^IKved  in  the  human  subject. 

8ympio}m,  Do9e,  etc. 

"  1th  the  tincture  the  symptoma  are  u.^ually  rapid  in  their  appearance, 
""'  *ith  fhe  powder  they  are  sornewhiU  f^low. 

'i ,  throat,  and  gullet  .*ioon  hecmue  hot,  constricted,  and  irritable. 

<;in  neither  .<|>eak  Ufir  swallow,  but  at  the  game  time  seems 

f  tbirsL     Salivrttion  has  been  recorded.     The  beat  of  t!ie  mouth 

r.,at  i«  Ueiually  low*  severe  afler  the  powder  than  the  tincUire.     In- 

*wiiB  irnpinf;   pain,   increased   nn    prc-^-^ure,   fin?t   in    the   stomaeh,   but 

pdutlly  extending  over  the  whole  abdomen  ;  vomiting  of  blood,  or  of 

^^Ay  mueii«,  or  of  racmbranou.**  flake?;,  or  of  actual  jwrtions  of  the  mem- 

N^iMjs  of  the  gullet,  mixed,  if  the  powder  ha.*^  been  taken,  with  shining 

Pwtielw,  will   be  noticed.     There  m  usually  violent  straining  at  stool,  a 

■  '^v.p^of  bloo<l  being  all  that  h  pa8.«eil     Adwil  pain  in  the  loins,  with 

I  y.  an   iuccf^ant  and   uncontrollable  de.s«irc   to   pa«s  water,   with 

'        ih"  inability  to  do  bo,  or  at  most,  the  passage  of  a  few  drops 

are   e]iaracteni>itic  eymptoms.      The  genital    system    \» 

'  ltd.     So  great  may  be  the  inflammation  in  tlies*e  parts 

^^  •!  4'ven  to  gangrene.     Priapism  is  Ui*ually  severe,  and  no 

'■'''■  may  give  rise  to  aphrodiisiac  pro[ien*itie.*>.     The  breath' 

(fid  f)ainful,  the  pulse  t|uiek  and  hard,  and  before  death  it 

'uiikely  that  a   train   of  nervoui^  symptoms  may  .set  in — such  a« 

I'j,  coma,   tetanic   gpasniH,  and   eonvnl.'*ion».      A   Feeming   couva- 

*«*''M»ri»  i«  not  to  \)e  tniste<i,  a0  a  rehijw*e,  even  after  Fome  day?*,  baa  been 

•^"^  than  once  recorded.     Recovery  U  yeually  very  ^^low  ;  the  trouble  iu 

*'*»)UMritjg,  the  (ittin«  iu  the  kidueya,  and  the  difficult  micturition  being 

l*''>iMt'tJi  symptom!*. 


»TitrFeiiB  OF 


Thr»e  .iyttipinm^,  important  and  well  marked  as  they  usually  an*,  mwi 
not   l»«;   reiB^iiriJed  as  ao.aolutely  infallible  les?tii,  iuaHiDUch  as   pptipie 
biieu  t'hnrjfed  more  than   once  mth  administering  cantbaridf* 
exi«UMKt»  of  ttfrtain  symptoms,  such  as  inflammation  of  the  genital 
when   then?  was  no  evidence  in  support  of  the  charge,  and  the 
ili>elf  fould   not  be  found   by  analysis.     As  we  have  already 
dist'oviTV  of  a  poison   is  at  all  times  the  only  certain    evidei 
adniinibtratiou.     And   here   in   cautharides  poisooing,  it   i»  parliL-iji:Lnj 
nei'^-SBiary  to  reiterate  it. 

The  action  of  cantharides  is  ranch  influenced  by  idiosyncnwy.  A  am 
i«  recorded  where  a  boy  by  merely  j*melliug  the  tincture  bad  erertitm  mA 
involuntary  eniiiisions  (Christi.Hon),  whilst  on  the  other  hantl  f"* 
the  tincture  is  reported  to  have  been  taken  without  injury.  But 
tion  to  idiftsyncrasy,  the  vurying  ^ymptoma  produced  are  ofu*n  lo  be 
accounted  for  by  the  variable  amounts  of  cantharidin  preaeot  in  diii^mtt 
tttniplesi  of  the  fly. 

miat  mot/  he  regarded  as  a  virdinnal  do9ef  Thomson  s«ys».  1  to  Sgnin* 
of  the  powder;  Pereira,  1  to  2  grains  of  the  powder,  and  10»ne  incnswal 
to  5j  '>i  the  tincture;  Garrod,  5  to  30  niin.  of  the  tincture,  wbil^  the  Utt 
Dr.  IhfCf  stated  tliat  lie  was  in  the  liabit  of  giving  10  grains  of  the  powiW 
a»  a  medicinal  do*e> 

Of  the  do?e>*  that  have  caused  death,  24  gr«.  taken  in  two  dwte»  kiUrd 
Id  four  davH,  and  1  oz.  of  the  tint^ture  f  =  about  6  gr».  of  the  p<mder)  io 
eevenlern.  The  u^^e  of  cantharidee  ointment  ha^  proved  fatal  {^"  Lancet," 
Feb.  13,  1841.  ]).  733). 

Ou  the  other  hand^  recovery  is  recorded  after  1  oz.  and  6  OXI.  of  ibi 
tincture,  and  after  1  drachm  at  the  powder. 

The  action  of  caiithartdes  ii*  not  rapid,  twenty-four  hours  being 
shortest  peri<>d  on  record  in  which  it  haa  caused  death,  whilst  cases 
recorded  of  death  after  four  and  even  seventeen  days.       Frequently 
I)eno<l  of  convalescence  takes  place  after  the  active  symptoms  have 
away,  and  before  the  fatal  result. 


Treatment. 

In  every  way  promote  vomiting  by  adminiplering  emetica  and  thirk,^ 
warm  liquids.  It  h  doubtful  whether  oil  should  he  adrainiBtered,  a«  can* 
tlmridin  is  soluble  in  it.  Opiate  iiijectious  into  the  bladder  and  rectato, 
and  opium  suppositories  gbould  be  used  to  relieve  pain,  whilst  if  there 
much  iiifiamniatory  action  leeches  should  be  applie<l.  A  warm  bath 
often  very  comforting. 

Post-mortetn  Appearances. 

The  mouth  and  throat  are  usually  found   stripped  of  their  idii 
membrane,  whilst  intense  inflammation  is  commonly  noticed   throci|^ 
the  whole  of  the  alimentary,  urinary,  and  genital  tracts.     The  %if\i 
and  the  genital  organs  may  even  be  found  gangrenous.     The  brain«  liittgai 
liver,  and  Rpleen,  but  more  especially  the  kidneys,  are  invariably 
with  blood. 

Tojeieological  AnfdynU. 

In  conducting  a  meditNvlegal  examination,  look  carefully  finst  of  all 
particles  of  the  insect.     It  has  been  advised  to  blow  the  intestines  out, 
atter  allowing  them  to  dry,  to  search  i»  the  dried  gut  for  sjbining  pai 
We  regard   it  ourselves  as  preferable  first  of  all  thoroughly  to  wi 


ANALYSIS    IN   CANTUABIDE3    POISOKINO. 


469 


itestinest  out,  to  allow  the  sediment  to  collect,  to  siphon  oSl   the  clear 

iif]iii(),  and  then  to  searoh  for  particles  in  the  sediment.     It  is  stated  that 

isuch  fwtrtides  are  most  likely  to  be  found  in  the  great  inte8tiues,and  least 

jlikely  to  he  found  iu  the  stomach.     They  certainly  have  a  woaderful 

power  of  re^iFtiug  putrefaction,  m  much  so  that  they  may  be  discovered 

rannths  aftei  death. 

Any  particles  that  are  found  must  Imj  collected,  acted  upon  with  ether 
for  chloroform,  the  solvent  poured  i>tf,  and  evaporated  down,  and  the  extract 
BO  obtained  applied  to  the  car  of  a  rabbit  to  see  whether  it' is  capable  of 
producing  a  blister.  When  a  blister  is  formedj  the  rabbit  should  be  killed, 
aod  the  ear  produced  in  court  ajs  evidence* 

If  the  tincture  has  been  given,  of  course  no  particles  will  be  found. 
The  contents  of  the  stomach  s^hould  then  be  evaporated  to  a  thick  extract. 
This  must  be  acted  upon  with  alcohol  acidulated  with  acetic  acid,  evapo- 
rated to  a  thick  syru|i,  and  shaken  up  either  with  chloroform  or  with 
ether,  the  former  bein;^  a  better  solvent  for  cantliaridiu  tlian  the  latter. 
I>ecant  the  solvent,  and  a  How  it  to  evaporate  spontaneously,  and  lest  the 
residue  a*  to  its  vesicant  properties  either  on  one's  own  skin,  or,  preferably, 
on  the  ear  of  a  rabbit. 

Cases  nf  Poisoning  mUh  Cantharidea. 

CASE  1.—"  MedlcKl  Timea/*  Felt.  3.  1840,  p.  287  (Mr.  Saundera).    im.  ofpowdor. 
Mttmtt.—ltvatU  In  iwi'oty-four  hour*. 
.^  J^ta-mffrHfm.-~\f»»k]B  of  bntfn  Aill  oF  (lsrk-oo)or«d  blood;  lungs  engoTged;  gnllot,  stomach,  and 
tlnr*  much   infliiini>d,  purtiooa  oT  the  mucous  cont  of  slomach  beint;  dL'tached;  >aatbarldM 
|«r  found  ip  Muall  iaiestiiK*^;  Uver  engor|red  ;  gall-bladd«r  Tull  of  Mle;  spleen  aod  klduey*  coo- 
urvlers  taflkitucd  ;  htuddvr  empty  aud  cuutraru-d,  iulcrDal  aurface  bctog  pole. 
CASE  2.— OffiU'ft  "  Toxlcologle,"  vol.  II,  p.  3u,  fratn  "  GmeettB  de  fiwit*,"  Mftf.  1»19.    FemtVt.    U 
\n*  of  powder  Ukcu  in  two  di>%^,  at  ao  interval  itfotie  day. 

.— Atwrtlon  1  luiud  clear  to  the  lost;  d1lat«d  pupils;  «ouvuialoQai  urdlaary  sjrnipluma 


L— Death  In  four  day«. 

-Braio  gorged  with  blont);  omoDtum,  perlttitieutn.  giillH,  9toninch,  lnT«stliii>s,  Irld- 
O^jra.  tifv-ters,  Mid  the  tut«niaJ  purlaof  KeuL^ratiuD  liillam«d;  mouth  aud  (oogue  stripped  of  tbi-ir 
llDltiif  Hittmbraue. 

CASE  »-OrftJa'i  "Toxicologic,"  vol  II.  p.  28  (Mr.  BJptl^    Mal«.    Sj  of  powder. 

ii^fptptomi  ^Burniag  (n  throat  and  stomach  ;  io.one  hour  violent  pain  wrt  in  in  the  bowels;  great 
thtrst.  but  could  uut  swallow  without  Tioleotpaiu;  voice  fei'ble;  breathlug  laborious;  tonetuiuaaod 
«tni.UKury :  u  f4'W  dropn  of  blood  wtrrtf  passtMi  lK)th  by  the  boweU  aud  urethra ;  for  Mome  dayb  nufferttd 
from  prtapWiu,  diltieult  micturiLioD  and  heat  of  aliiueotary  caual;  for  some  loooths  there  waadtffl* 
euUy  of  •wallowing. 

iB«#»»/*,— lUcoTtry. 

CASE  -t.—'^Eii  In  burgh  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,"  vol,  xxxlv,  p.  214  (M.  Eouquayrol).  ]>gi«o(7). 

ASrm/<''"<in^— Ordinary  Aymptotiiit;  salivation  ;  on  the  aecond  day  a  cyhadrical  maw,  apparently  lilt 
lnn»r  aiembnin«  of  the  guUtit,  was  diflchargi>d  by  vumitiug. 

JSanil.— K«cti  V  err .. 

CAi»E  A.—" Christiaoo,'"  |k6l3(Dr.  Osborne).    Female.    !  probably  powder. 

^)rM|Vo(rw.— The  ilatial  aytnptoma  of  irritatioti  of  the  bladder  aud  bowi-h  lasted  for  thirtyaU 
hourii ;  for  lbr*re  dayn  after  thla  ^he  appeared  convule^cfDt,  but  on  ibc'  tifth  day  the  urinary  nyiup" 
UriDR  rL'tnrn«d,  with  pruitratloi],  feeble  pulse,  aod  diarrhoea. 

iEeautt.— Kticovery. 

CASE  r>.—-  Lancet,"  Aug.  17, 1S72,  p.  347  (Dr.  PaM). 

A^w^Mi.— A  Dumber  of  aoMiora  drank  th«  tiaeture;  no  cerebral  ajroptoins  occurrt-d :  great  pain 
Lo  blad'irr  aud  bow«ili ;  no  priapfjun  our  aptirodiaia ;  urine  albumluou«  la  evi^ry  c$mc;  auiiK*  of  the 
airn  had  paraplegia.    All  recovered.    (Cotetii^ut,  warm  batlia,  camphor,  and  opium  adminlBtered.) 

Reautl.— Itetovery. 

CASIfe:.— "  Medical  Times  and  Gaaette,"  Dec.  10,  1864,  p.  617  (Mr.  Sedgwick).  Female;  lel.  18.  A 
6paaUb  fly  put  into  a  jam  tart. 

iiifmt^m»u.—iu  half  an  hour  glddineaa  camv  on,  and  shortly  afterwards  {U5i)nnh>ll)t.y  ;  the  follow^ 
lag  day  the  Mtoiuach  und  vulvie  bf«ame  swoUen  aud  irritable;  there  waa  greiiL  bearlux-^l***")  pain; 
likiody  v.->niliiti;;  tcnuty  urine;  oti  the  »ecotiii  day  strangtiry  »(^t  in,  and  »h»  eoiiiplaliu'd  i»f  a  dl«- 
atfrv'rablr  amcil  )u  Lbe  OrOatrita;  on  the  nlnetwnth  day  epileptic  nt»  occurred  aud  liyslerlcal  !iyai|>- 
i<»ma:  |i>enitruatl<»u  cuacd;  after  9<.>von  months  timu  the  titadijiiappcarod,  and  ibe  again  iM^camu 


L— Eecovery. 


POISONOUS   FOOD. 

CASE  a.— *' Mt-dlctl  Times,"  Oct.  2.  \84\.  pp.  9  and  41  {Dr.  CInH»ni«»V     Fenialw.    ^of  lJti>l 

Symi>tom4, — A|>|ifl.ri*jil   luluxk'fttkiD  ;   great  pnio  ^  aUluiuou   br«?aiiic  very  ftWiillcn ,  pukt 
IHifcvpliblv-,  ddlriutii  iKUie  ou  in  twoDLjr>four  huurs;  iirtno  Imd  to  be  drawn  oft 

fUtuH, —^ecoyvry  iu  fourtt-en  dayi. 

CASE  9,—"  Mwlkal  (inzitU'/'  1*M1,  vol  i.  p.  63.    Female.    Sj  of  tincture. 

8sfTnptnmi.--Ap\wsiTeti  iiitoxlcMnl  dtrring  the  dajr .  iK-xt  day  llt«re  wn  grvrat  pata  la  Uw 
anxiuus  cmiuU-nauce  itfjd  diy  luut^uc;  In  tlir>  l>vi.miIii^  Ihire  woa  rHrittlon  of  ufiiic,«aali| 
culdDMSof  fxirfoiUk^  ;  dWirlum  c«tiiH  on  At  nlM:iit  ^^e  riNcovercd  ty  dt^rt-ea.  but  va* 
with  retcutiuii  of  urine  and  [luiui.  In  tbe  kidntya  Utr  Aunic  lixae. 

jff  e«»i^, — Rwo  very . 

CASE  10.— Taylor'B  "  Medical  JurUprudcDce,"  v^t.  i,  p.  X'I7  ;  "CbiistisoQ,"  p.  614.  Mali:  at:;  | 
of  tincture. 

%vt;V6f«M.— Ordinary  symptoms  ot'currcd  ;  afler  th«!  ftoooiid  day  tteaiipwared  ooiiral<ae»BlA«l» 
leva  day*,  when  sbWerloga,  cuovulaiuna,  and  coma  came  uu,  from  which  he  dkd  on  iJiairiiiii^ 
day. 

JtUHiL—Dlvii  in  aevcnteen  days. 

J'ud-mttriem.—'iiriilu  gorged;  »touiacb  »uft«0Pd  ;  ktduvys  much  Inflamed  ami  oingaatid 

CASE  11.— P«relru'»  "Materia  Medlca."  vol.  11,  p.  750.    Male.    SvJ  of  Ihieture. 

J^mp^/nu, — N<j  datigeruuniayniptuiua. 

MuvU. — lt«*cov**ry. 

CASE  12.— ♦•  Lancfi,"  Feb,  13. 1841,  p.  tu  (Mr.  Suow}.  F«BUile:  tet.  «0.  SviUloveds  fflMi«rt^ 
lerlng  pls^Urr,  the  al«;  uf  a  walnut. 

Sjpnptmu.—^ympxomi  Mil.  in  aPier  an  hour;  Yomiting,  strangury,  «le.,  VfA  ihrm  lifUd  ioftti* 
daya. 

iBanilL— Recovery. 

See  al»o  the  fpUotcing  Catt*  of  Poi^ninff  by  CtaiiharidtM : 

*'  Medical  Tlraci  and  GaxetU*,''  March  G,  \K}2,  p.  25G.    (Suspected  vuxf.) 
"Medical  Times,"  April  17,  ltM7,  p.  Hirt. 
*•  "  March  1,  1^45,  p.  463. 

"UritlAh  Mtdlcal  Journal,"  i»ct.  2H.  11^7],  p.  497. 

'♦F^inburj^h  Medical  and  Surgical  Jburnal,"  <X'l.  1^4,    (Recovery  after  iC  frslsa. |i 
"  Mfdical  Gajtelte, "  vul.  ilii.  p.  873.    (Recovery  afU-r  Slj  of  the  tliieture.) 

POISONOUS  FOOD  (Meat,  Milk.  Cheese,  Houey,  eic.j. 

Under  certain  circumstances,  meat  beconiesi  poisfmoua,     Sumetimtijs  tt 
in  the  case  of  pork,  do  caui*e  for  lhi.s  cao  be  discovered,  and  we  are  com- 
pelled toa;?sign  it  to  some  peculiar  idii)ijyncra!<y  iu  the  per^uu  who  ha*  per*] 
taken  of  H  ;  whilst  at  other  times,  it  may  as  certainly  be  traced  to  dcBtiita] 
changes  lU  the  meat  itself.     Some  of  these  we  must  consider. 

I.    Vnivholemment'^  in  vieai  due  to  putridity.     The  symptoms  indticrtij 
are  often  those  of  an  irrilAnt  poison.     Vomiting  and  purging  are  at  oiit^ 
both  the  syniptonia  and  the  cure.     Severe  rei>nlts,  as  unfortunately  in 
well  known,  are  often  produced   by  tlie  putrid  luoeulaiious  of  the  di'^sr^'t^^ 
ing-rooiu^  whil-^t  the  action  of  morbid  fluids  in  producing  poison*  • 
by  mere  contact  with  the  skin,  no  wound  or  abrasion  being  upj^. 
also  recorded  ('*  Lancet,"   Oct.  14,  1871,  p.  537).     But  we  are  ant  ^|n<itk< 
iug  now  so  much  of  this  foriB  of  pt)is*oning  as  of  that  produced  by  tbi*  in« 
gesitiou  of  putrid  meat.    And  there  are  several  cased  of  this  kind  reorirdcd. 
The  putrid  tlesh  of  horses  has  produced  gangrene  and  scurvy  (  F<Mlfr(?), 
Thirty-two  ]>erson.';  died  on  one  occasion  after  having  eaten  the  putrid  bmii 
of  a  walrus  (Czaut's  "  Greeuland  ").     Dr.  Taylor  tells  of  the  evil  effc 
arii^iug  from  a  putrid  hare.     The  meat  of  a  calf  that  died  of  distemper  pi 
duced  severe  symptoms,  ("Brititsh  Meilicul  Journal,"  Julv  7,  18*>i>,  p.  31 
Musty  bacon  ("  Lancet,"  March  14,  1840,  p.  302,  and  "  Mctlicnl    Tirow/ 
March  7,  184o,  p.  455),  decay  in  t^  mutton  (Ollivier),  and  mouldy  veal 
rich»  1839),  have  also  at  different  times  caused  bad  symptoms  of  poistoi 

And  here  it  may  be  well  to  consider  the  evil  effects  produced   by 
in  a  »tate,  not  vi'  complete  but  of  modified puirefaclion,  as  iu  the  cfl«e 


POISONOUS    FOOD, 


471 


IMcnown  Wurtemburg  sausage  poison.  Dr.  Letlieby  has  given  au  ac- 
eoant  of  an  outbreak  of  disease  iu  Loodnn  norfunately  ouly  oue  case 
proving  fatal)  caused  by  sausages  ("  Brit,  and  For.  Med.  Review/*  Jan. 
1860 L  It  has  been  stated  (and  it  is  remarkable  if  it  be  true)  that  the 
j>oi«4jQous  effect*  are  not  developed  by  the  Wurteniburg  sausages  when 
tbey  have  been  allowed  to  undergo  compffte  putrefaetion.  Hence  we  are 
led  10  believe  that  the  active  body,  whatever  it  may  he,  developed  by 

[Cf^  decomposition,  is  destroyed  when  that  decuniposition  is  perfect. 

^Tlieiiature  of  this  sau^tge  poison  has  been  a  subject  of  much  discussion. 

(a)  Some  hold  that  the  poL*onons  action  is  due  to  certain  raucid,  fatty 
acids,  formed  durini^  decay. 

(ji)  Others  consider  it  due  to  the  development  of  certain  pyrogenoua 
acids,  formed  during  the  proeesi*  of  drying  and  smoking* 

(jr)  Others  consider  it  due  to  the  production  of  a  poisonous  organic 
alkaloid. 

(^)  Others  (as  Liebig)  believe  that  what  is  called  a  catalytic  body 
is  produced,  which  is  capable  of  setting  up  in  other  bodies  a  simi- 
lar catalytic  action  to  its  own. 

('«)But  the  most  prubahle  theory  (that  of  M.  Vanden  Corput  and 
other?)  is,  that  the  poisonous  action  is  due  to  the  presence  of  a 
minute  fun";us  (J:?arciim  botiilina).  This  view  is  borne  out,  not 
merely  by  the  fact  that  a  well-marked  monldiness  ha.**  been  noticeil 
in  the  sausages,  but  likewise  that  they  have  been  found  to  be 
peculiarly  liable  to  act  injuriously  about  April,  when  such  crypto- 
gam ic  organisms  are  specially  developed. 

The  symptoms  rarely  commence  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours,  and 
often  after  a  still  longer  period,  terminating  between  the  third  and  eighth 
day  with  convulsioas,  or  if  the  case  gets  well,  by  a  very  prolonged  eon* 
valescence. 

Cases  of  severe  symptoms  from  eating  pork  brawn  have  also  occurred, 
vomiting,  purging,  and  cramps  being  the  symptoms  recorded  ("British 
Medical  Journal,"  May  10,  187^,  p.  5:«/and  May  17,  1873.  p.  5511). 
Aliio  from  eating  potted  meats,  in  which  no  poison  could  be  detected,  but 
which  were  evidently  at  tl»e  time  undergoing  inci[jient  putrefaction  (*'  Med- 
ical Times  and  Gazette,"  Aug.  5,  1854,  p.  152). 

A  rabbit  pie  is  said  to  have  caused  serious  symptoms.  The  poisououa 
effects  were  produced,  it  is  believed,  by  iti*  having  been  kept  too  long  after 
baking  ( "  Lancet,"  Sept.  13,  1862,  p.  297). 

11.  Trichina.  This  is  the  ova  of  the  Trichina  spiralis  (^/?<c,  a  hair),  a 
threadlike  worm,  varj'ing  in  length  from  the  ^th  to  the  -'^th  of  an  inch. 
It  may  make  a  home  in  the  flei^h  of  any  animal,  but  it  is  found  most 
frequently  in  the  pig.  Of  all  purt^*  its  must  favorite  seat  is  sait!  to  be  the 
miiBcles  of  the  eye.  Hence  the  Germ  an  sausage- nnikers  prafess  to  have 
these  muscles  specially  exanjined  by  an  expert  before  using  the  meat  of 
An  animal.  Trichinuus  pork  is  generally  darkcohmd  from  the  creature 
setting  up  iutlaramatory  action,  and  speckkd  from  the  cysts,  which  are 
small  white  bodies,  being  just  visible  to  the  naked  eye.  OUOO  trichina, 
each  containing  from  60  to  80  embryos,  have  been  said  to  be  found  in  1 
gramme  of  pork  (Dr.  Pietra  Santa). 

But  although  its  presence  is  special  to  no  one  aairaat,  its  terrible  eflTects 
are  believed  to  be  peculiar  to  mim.  The  history  of  the  trichina  is  eurioua. 
Chryaalisdike,  it  hides  itself  iu  the  muscle  of  some  animal,  seeming  to  do 
little  or  no  harm.     It  lives  a  life  of  inactivity.    Another  animal,  however, 


472 


POISONOUg    FOOD. 


eats  the  Irichinous  meat.  The  oTa  now  find  a  warm  ai)^ 
the  storoaoh  for  their  <leveloj>nieut.  The  gastric  juice  «]' 
in  about  six  or  eight  day??  their  developmeut  is  complete,  whtUi  in  liinse] 
or  four  more  each  female  will  give  life  to  over  lOOyouugone*.  Tht  worn 
being  now  set  loose  and  free  to  work  their  misiiion^  force  their  way  Lhmuiti 
intestiue  aud  atomaeh,  into  auy  and  every  muscle  of  iha  body,  uiuU  li 
la!*t  their  progress  is  stopped,  and  they  are  again  enveloped  iu  cvntrf,  naidf 
to  be  set  free  and  to  propagate  themselveii  in  the  next  atomftcb  UkU>  tih\ri 
they  may  find  entrance. 

In  the  human  subject,  however,  the  trichina   finds  a  peculiarly  roo- 
gepial  »oil,  the  terrible  symptoms  produced  by  it  in  man  uot  oceurna^'.  w 
we  have  s^^aid,  in  other  animals.     In  a  lew  days  alter  eating  the  tmnwaif 
meat,  symptoms  of  irritant  poi.soiiing  *tetin;  the  digestive  funetnma  &re 
interfered  with;  lassitude,  losty  of  appetite,  sickneiw,  [naiui*  in  the  uiujK'liM, 
and  especially  in  those  of  the  back  and  head,  vomiting  and  diurrhiMi,  atA 
swelling  of  the  joint.s  will   he  more  or  less  complained  of.      In  ^ven  of 
eight  days'  time  intense  lever  will  be  set  up,  whiUl  the  journeyings  of  tlw 
worms  in  making  their  way  along  mii?iclei>  will  give  riae  to  excrudmin^ 
paiu8  and  even  paralysis?,  from   the  deistructitjn  of  the  niuM'ular  fibtnoi. 
Probably  from  this  time  the  ca^se  will  progre^jii  rapidly  towanls  n  hiall 
termination,  death  resulting  eitiier  by  coma  or  from   the  setting  in 
aevere  pneumonia.     Nature,  however,  may  ouce  more  imprison  the  unioidLkj 
and   barricade  them   in  cyst^i,  and  ihu«  the  patient  ptirtially  or  whoUf 
recover. 

As  regards  post-mortem  apjiearances,  the  muscles  here  and  ther*?  will' 
be  found  speckled — that  is,  light  spoUi  will  be  Been  on  a  ^e4ldi^?h  grouaA 
Treatment,  there  h  none. 

Possibly  trichinouH  meat  may  have  been  the  cause  of  some  of  th<we  tD| 
terious  vn^^s  oecnrrtug  in  the  practice  of  every  loxicologist,  where  wf 
all  the  symptoms  of  death  l>y  an  irritant,  althougii  no  poison  can  be 
ou  analysis.     In  such  ca^ei*  it  may  be  advisable  to  examine  the  miuch 
ej<peciaUy  the  muscles  of  the  eye  and  trunk,  for  trichina. 

CiL^eii  arc  oecasiouully  met  with  in  which,  although  the  muscles  are  fu 
of  trichinaj,  no  symjjtojns  are  complained  of  in  life. 

Note  that  as  the  results  of  trichina,  however,  (1)  a  considerable  intitt 
genenilly  elap^ei*  between  taking  the  food  and  the   poisonous  efTect*;  (2) 
that  thti  vofnitiug  and  purging  are  uot  severe;  (3)  that  the  intense  patfi] 
is  in  the  muscles,  as  well  as  in  the  stomach  and  bowels ;  (4)  that  pnru< 
monia  is  almo.'^t  a  constant  symptom  ;  and  (5)  that  no  poisou  will  be 
covered  on  analysis. 

The  trichina  are  not  destroyed  by  salt,  or  by  Kmuke,  or  indeed  by  poti 
faction.     They  are  destroyed,  however,  by  thorough  cooking,  and  "for  ihii 
reasou  all  meat  for  the  table  should  be  well  done. 


The  following  art  a  Jew  recorded  Ctmen  of  outhrrnkn  of  Trichinouji  DiMoat . 

"  Aunalea  d'TIjrgi&De,"  Oct  1863,  p.  471.    Outbreitk  al  Planeu-'from  caUoK  pork,  to  ahtob  i 
cute*  of  lllncM  were  tmced— utily  one  died, 

"Brilinh  Mimical  Juunitt.!."  .Tni>.  10,  l^i^  p.  75.    OutbrcAk  ftt  tluUstidt    Ooti  butidr*4i 
|i«fsuii»  HtTcctt^l  with  I riol^inouA di«ctt»e  from rniing  Tried  MUMigea.    £i|;ht]r-fhro«  p»tmn» i 

*'  Annttlu  d'Hri^frne,"  April  1,  lHt!4,  p.  %21.    TwfOl/  pertMMU  partook  uf  Butut'  pork  •!  s 
Tvro  dl«^d.    TrlrhlD»  found. 

<■  HrlO«h  Medical  Jmtntsl,"  .Mxj  27, 1S65.  p.  MS.    SeTeml  penoiu  fttUcknl  ^tlmrmiiag 
iH»i>kt^l  Atnukedtricblnous  hsu).    Fuitrdlvd. 

"  Uucvt,"  1871.  vol.  I,  pp.  filS  uid  710.     Outbreak  Is  H«Mttcbiuetta.     On«  died.     Six 
mtiickiil. 

III.     The  cysticerats  has  been  found  in  all  auimals,  those  of  beef  and 


POISONOUS    FOOD. 


473 


being  smaller  tliuo  those  of  pork.  The  cysticerci  are  the  larvae  of 
tap^worim.  Miero3ci)pifuny  they  cooiiist  of  little  sho^,  imbe<i(Ieil  in  the 
fiuiuscles,  conttiiiiing  minute  auimals,  having  bladiler-like  tails,  <lisappeantig 
Iwheo  cooketl,  -ivith  ii  cruwn  of  hooks  at  the  head.  They  are  to  be  fouud 
itt  the  muscular  tissue  of  every  part  of  the  body,  and,  as  we  have  said,  of 
lUl  animals,  but  in  the  pig /J«»'  exceJlentf^  {meanly  pork). 
The  history  of  the  cysticercus  is  aa  follows: 

When  swallowed  by  a  human  being  (for  it  is  in  the  hitman  intestines  it 
becomes  fully  developed)  the  »ac  is  digested  and  the  animal  set  free.  It 
then  tixes  itself  to  the  intestines  by  it-s  hooks,  and  bit  by  bit  groves  into  a 
tapeworm.  Myriads  of  ova  creature  each  segment  of  the  worms,  and 
|h«8e,  pnased  by  the  bowels,  find  their  way  into  the  sewage.  If  this  be 
iplaced  on  the  land,  as  some,  with  their  vehement  love  for  irrigation  desire, 
the  ova,  along  with  the  food  grown  oq  such  land,  find  a  home  in  a  fresh 
supply  of  animals,  to  generate  a  fresh  stock  of  ta[)cworms  when  the  animals 
are  eaten  as  fooii. 

The  pork  cysticercus  becomes  the  Tenia  solium^  and  the  beef  and  veal 
rysticercus  the  Tenia  ineiliocanelinta.  It  has  been  shown,  too,  that  the 
Tenia  echinococcus  of  the  dog  develops  itself  into  the  hydatid  of  man.  This 
is  the  history  of  a  hydatid.  A  piece  of  diseased  oti'ml  is  thrown  to  a  dog. 
Tbe  dog  passes  by  the  bowels,  either  on  the  field  or  in  the  stream,  seg- 
oients  of  the  developed  worm,  cattle  and  sheep  swallow  these  segments. 
At  last,  the  animal  that  has  swallowed  them  becomes  the  food  of  man, 
aod  then  the  larval  tapeworm  becomes  a  bladder-like  hydatid.     In  the 

B,  it  goes  to  the  peritoneal  cavity ;  in  the  sheep,  to  the  brain,  producing 
iggers;'*  and  in  man,  to  the  liver. 

GcHxl  co<iking  is  our  only  safeguard,  for  the  activity  of  t!ie  echinococcus 

destroyed  by  a  sufticieucy  of  heat.     Raw  meat  should  never  be  eaten. 

Tbe  echinococcus  disease  is  aiarmiugty  commou  in  Iceland.  It  is 
aeeerted  that  one  out  of  every  five  deaths  is  due  to  it  (Dr.  Learedj,  Cer- 
tain facts  are  worth  noting.  It  very  rarely  attacks  the  lungs  in  man, 
whilst  it  very  commonly  d<Kis  so,  either  primarily  or  secondarily,  in  ani- 
ijnaU.  Jaundice  is  a  rare  symptom,  being  present  only  in  7  out  of  166 
iCaeeA.  Women  are  more  frequently  affected  than  men  in  the  proportion 
of  2.4  to  1.  The  disease  is  commoaest  in  people  from  twenty  to  thirty  years 
of  age  ("  Lancet,"  Jan.  16,  1869), 

IV.  FhkeSf  or  Trernatoda,  form  another  class  of  pamsitic  animals  ren- 
dering food  unwholesome.  They  especially  infest  the  livers  and  intestines 
of  men  and  of  herbivorous  animals  ( Liver- iluke). 

The  way  in  which  the  fluke  disease  is  produced  in  sheep  is  curious. 
Ova  are  passed  from  the  gall-bladder  of  inft-cted  animals  into  the  intes- 
tines, and  are  voided  with  the  excrement  upon  the  land  ;  finding  a  moist 
situation,  they  are  soon  hatched  into  ciliated  circular  embryos,  which  swim 
or  move  about,  and  ere  long  become  attached  to  some  mollusc,  as  a  small 
snail  or  slug,  when  they  change  their  condition,  ami  acquire  the  form  of 
a  small  bladder  like  hydatid,  called  a  cercarta-sac,  which  soon  gives  origin 
to  a  multitude  of  young  tailed  cercaria.  These  undergo  a  variety  of 
transformations,  and,  at  last,  under  favorable  circumstances,  become  pupas, 
which  are  buried  in  the  body  of  the  snail.  In  wet  weather  the  infected 
snails  crawl  upon  the  grass,  and  are  eaten  by  the  sheep,  and  then  the 
pupa  speedily  changes  its  condition  and  becomes  a  perfect  fluke.  When 
It  w  fouiifl  in  the  body  of  man  it  has,  perhaps,  been  drunk  with  water,  or 
eateu  with  some  aquatic  plant,  as  watercress,  etc."     (Lelheby.) 

V.  It  \xn&  been  remarked  more  than  once  that  meat  gometimes  becomes 

81 


^4 


ACTIOS   OF    DISEASED   HEAT. 


OB  an  animal  havio^  beea  excited  before  death  hj  over> 

or  hv  tnrture.    Thb,  however,  cao  ecareeljr  be  delenniiMal  bj  sm 

ot  the  carcass,  nor  would  it  be  allowable  to  coademfi  it  for  atieit 

Hares  killed  by  coorsing  are  fmid  orteu  to  undergo  very  rapid 

After  death,  severe  8vmpt4>m3  having  been  produced  wheo  tJtkSf 

1  ("  Lancet,"  SepL  27,  1862,  p.  347;. 

.  Occa^iooally  the  Aiod  eaten  bj  animals  has  been  the  cause  of  their 
proving  unwholewme.  Hares  fed  on  the  Rhododendron  chry-san- 
llbeiuuiu,  phttwints  on  the  laurel,  and  the  flesh  of  various  other  atitmaU 
Ted  on  the  lotU5,  the  wild  melon,  and  the  wild  cucumber  in  Australia, 
ivt'  caused,  when  partaken  of  as  forxl,  severe  syropioms  of  a  poiikjiiuua 
lura.  Other  illu!ftrati<ma  of  a  similar  kind  are  recorded.  The  miflc  oj 
has  produced  dangerous*  elf».'rLg;  in  one  case  from  the  goat-?  having 
fed  on  wild  herbs  ("  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Nov.  1,  18o6,  p.  45*>  i ; 
in  a  second,  from  their  having  fed  on  spurgeworts  (Euphoroiacew), 
("Medical  Times  and  Gazette,'^ June  31,  1863,  p.  113); and  in  a  third 
(and  in  this  case  a  death  is  rejKJrted  to  have  resulted)  from  their  having 
fed  on  the  ^Ethui^a  cynapium  ('•  6riti>«h  Me<Hcal  Journal,"  SepL  6,  1873, 
p.  295).  The  hi»tf)ry  again  of  ttie  Trebizond  honey  ia  another  case  in 
point,  the  plant  from  which  the  hone^  waa  gathered  being  the  untluubted 
cau^e  of  its  poii^ouous  and  intoxicating  properties.  Snaili  have  proved 
poisonous,  owing  to  their  feed.  For  this  re:ison  it  ia  customary  alter  they 
tave  been  collected  to  subnjit  them  to  a  few  days*  fasting,  before  ^rving 
lem  up  to  table  ("  Lancet,"  Sept.  6,  1873,  p.  340). 

Sale  of  DUtfMed  Meat 

In  our  courts  of  law  the  sale  of  diseased  meat  is  not  uncommonly  a 
matter  of  trial.  The  scientific  witnesH  irf  invariably  met  with  the  question, 
What  are  the  clfects  of  Buch  niewt  on  the  human  system ?  He  mum  be 
prepared  to  admit  tliul  no  rlnubt  diticased  meat  has  often  been  eaten  and  no 
harm  rcMilted.  Two  c'ao)*i?*i  may  be  asftigned  lor  this.  (1)  That  the 
?tomiich  harf  a  peculiar  protective  power  of  its  own,  evidenced  by  ihf  fact 
that  even  the  poi.soii  of  the  rattlesnake  has  been  swallowed  without  injury, 
and  (2)  that  the  meat  may  po.«.Hibly  have  been  rendered  more  or  less  safe 
by  cooking,  lie  niUf^t  be  prepared  to  admit  that  brnxn  mutton  h  not  uu- 
frcqueotly  eaten  by  the  S^colch  ahepherdj*,  as  well  as  the  desh  of  sheej) 
that  liave  died  inmi  '*  staggers,"  But  thc*e  are  surely  not  to  be  regardeii 
BA  arguments  to  prove  that  diseased  meat  may  be  safely  sold  in  our  public 
markets.  For  although  such  meat  may  prove  harmless  at  one  time,  terrible 
results  are  sometimes  produced.  "  1  have  often  hud,'*  says  Dr.  Letheby,"  to 
in vc.>*iigate  cases  of  my'«terious  disease,  which  had  undoubtedly  been  caused 
by  unbound  meat.  One  of  tbe^  of  more  than  ordinary  interest  occurreil 
io  the  mouth  of  November,  1860.  The  hii^tury  of  it  is  this:  A  fore- 
quarter  of  cow  beef  was  purchased  in  Newgate  market  by  a  fjaunage- 
nuiker  who  lived  at  Kingsland,  and  who  immediately  converted  it  into 
Musage-meat.  Sixty-^-ix  persons  were  known  to  have  eaten  that  meat, 
and  sixty-four  of  them  were  attacked  with  thickness,  diarrhteu,  and  great 
prostration  of  vital  powers.  One  of  them  died  ;  and  at  the  request  of  the 
coroner  1  made  a  searching  intjuiry  into  the  matter,  from  which  I  ttsccr- 
tained  that  the  meat  was  diseased,  and  thai  it,  and  it  alone,  had  been  the 
cause  of  all  the  mischief/* 

OamgeeV  experience  is  remarkable.  He  shows  that  at  a  cnuvict  estab- 
liiihment  of  1500  inmates,  where  diseased  cattle,  and  especialiy  cuttle  suffer- 
log  from  lung  <liseasc, are  eaten  in  large  quantities,  as  many  as  forty  or  Hity 


COARACTERISTICS    OP   GOOD    MBAT. 


475 


!  of  boila  or  t-arbuiicles  occur  per  month.    Dr.  Living»toDe  tells  U8 

ibe  South  African?,  who  eat  ihe  flesh  of  animals  dyin^  of  pleuro- 

muoia,  are  often  atfected  with  malignant  carbuDcle.  Dr.  IJetheby 
*  atteniton  to  the  fact  that  since  1K42,  when  the  plea ro-pDeu moo ia  of 
ial»  was  inifxjrled  into  thia  couiiiry  from  Holland^  the  Dumber  of 
hs-  from  ciirbuoclti  has  been  gradually  increasing.  The  8ame  fact  is 
i  by  the  HegistrarGeaeral  tor  Scotland,  i^ince  the  laog  dieease  in  ani- 
fc  was  intrmluced  iuto  that  country.  No  doubt  more  accurate  experi- 
ts  are  ni>eded,  and  it  has  been  propo^d  that  the  vendora  who  advert 

such  meat  is  whole^itome,  should  be  the  individuals  upon  whom  its 
m  should  be  tried.  A  priori  reasotiiug.  however,  must  eurely  be  suf- 
It  to  provt  that  di>4eased  meat  should  not  be  sold  to  the  public  Again, 
flesh  of  auitiiaU  at  the  time  of  or  immediately  preceding  or  succeed- 
ihe  giving  birth  to  their  young,  h  unwholesome,  for  the  uouridbroeat 
been  abijorbed  by  the  offspring,  aod  the  whole  system  is  in  a  state  of 
it.  If  not  in  an  aduully  morbid  condition,  certainly  such  meat  must 
u  a  very  perverted  state  of  oatural  health.  It  h  not  improbable, 
Btjver,  that  ^me  feverishuess  or  other  bad  symptoraa  existed,  which 
■litaCed,  and  was  the  true  cause  of  the  animal  being  killed.  It  will 
pin  th€*>e  cas^s  be  urged  by  couDSkel  that  the  animal  was  killed  because 
iuld  not  be  delivered,  Thi?,  however,  should  not  be  allowed  to  be  an 
ise,  becauae  parturition,  although  a  healthy  process,  is  one  where  all 
conditions  of  the  .system  are  for  a  time  changed,  in  order  to  bring 
ot  by  violent  action  (for  parturition  involves  poio)  the  separation  of 
ftjptus  from  the  mother,  ami  the  production  of  a  secretion  to  serve  for 
upport  and  maintenance. 
i*hat  are  the  characters  of  good  meat  ?    They  are  thus  Bummarized  by 

*etheby : 

I  is  oeither  of  a  pale  pink  color,  nor  of  a  deep  purple  tint;  for  the 
r  ii«  a  sign  of  disease,  and  the  latter  indicates  that  the  animal  has 
^en  slaughtercf],  but  has  either  died  with  the  blood  in  it,  or  suilered 
icute  fever. 

It  has  a  marbled  appearance  from  the  ramifications  of  little  veins  of 
poug  the  mu!^!tes. 

[t  should  be  firm  and  elastic  to  the  touch,  and  should  scarcely 
til  the  tinge r^,  bad  meal  being  wet,  sodden,  and  flabby,  and  the  fat 
ig  like  jelly  or  wet  parchment. 

It  shouKl  have  little  or  no  odor,  and  the  odor  should  not  be  disagree- 
ibr  diifeased  meat  ha:^  a  sickly,  cadaverous  siuell,  and  sometimes  a 
lof  physic.  This  is  very  di»<:overabie  when  the  meat  is  chopped  up 
Jed  with  warm  water. 

[t  should  not  run  to  water,  nor  become  very  wet  on  standing  for  a 
If  so,  but  should,  on  the  contrary,  dry  upon  the  s*urface. 
When  dried  at  a  temperature  of  212^  F.,  or  thereabouts,  it  should  not 
tliore   than  70  to  74  per  cent  of  its  weight ;  whereas  bad   meat  will 
lose  as  much  as  80  per  cent. 

It  should  not  shrink  or  waste  much  in  cooking.     Other  properties  of 

ore  retiued  character  will  also  serve  for  the  recognition  of  bad  meat, 

hat  the  juice  of  the  flei«h  is  alkaline  or  neutral  to  test-paper,  instead  of 

'indly  atid^  whilst  the  mut<cular  tibre,  when  examined  under  the 

i't^,  is  found  sodden  and  ill-defined. 

tiuay  next  inquire  what  are  the  circumstances  under  which  meat 
be  condemned  and  destroyed  as  uufit  for  human  food. 
M  flesh  of  all  diseased  animals  should  be  condemned,  e.  g.^  those 


ITS 


tkttS    OF    POrSOKINO    BY    MEAT- 


that  Have  safiered  from  earbuncular  disease,  pleuropneninoafa  (1 
wuttoii),  etc.,  etc. 

2.  The  tlesli  of  all  aoiniftls  to  which,  immediately  before  death, pli) 
bad  been  administered,  this  been  primn  facie  proof  of  il]ne««. 

ij.  The  Ae^h  of  female  autrimU  killed  iaiiiiediat^^lv*  before,  duno^i 
ttHer  parturition. 

4.  The  tte^h  of  fcBtal  and  very  young  animals  generaUj.     The  iMtliil 
tht'!*e  caj>ej*  is  sodden  and  unvshoUonie. 

5.  The  flesh  of  nil  auijijab  which  came  to  their  death  by  any 
other  than  the  butcher's  knife.     The  possible  exceptions  to  tbid  rule  afi( 
iWw  that  it  i:i  dangerous  to  admit  any. 

The  evil  effects  produced  by  tlie  milk  of  cows  suffering  frr»m  the 
and  mouth  distease  deserve  mention.     One  of  the  auibon*  has  t»ea 
aymptoms  induced  from   this  cause.      Further  cases   are   also 
("  British  Medical  Journal,"  Dec.  25,  1875)* 

The  occasional  poisonous  nature  of  cheeae  ia  well  kaowD.     We  litw 
ourselves  seen  more  than  one  case  where  alarming  symptoms  have  b«a 
produced  by  it,  ailbgugh  no  poison  was  found  in  the  cheese.     The  impnf^ 
nation  o(  the  cheeiie  with  copper  from  the  copper  vessels  used  in 
ha-H  been  suggested  as  the  cause  of  the  symptoms,  but  without  rt:i 

fornuitiun  of  peculiar  acids,  or  of  rancid  oils,  or  some  special  iunl  , 

fotjil  that  the  cows  have  eaten,  have  also  been  urged  as  expJ^ii 
{  Vide  "  Lancet,"  March  1,  1873,  p.  328,  ten  cases.) 

We  may  further  notice  that  a  g]andere<l  horse  may  give  tli 
a  man,  and  thut  this  may  prove  fatal.     ("  British  Medical  rl 
11,  1862,  p.  3d2j     Dr.  Newman,  of  Htamibrd,  records  a  inoet  n 
case  of  death  from  animal  poisoning  in  a  veterinary  surgeon,  frou^ 
a  p<}st-mortem  on  a  horse  that  died  from  the  etfeots  of  some  such  pya^tIau' 
condition.     No  symptoms  were  developed  for  a  week. 


12.    (Pulaonlng  by  CaaadUo  |ArtrM««M«a 

(Polioalng  hjr  iiiHl«  «tid  s&rdloflit.) 
(PuisoalQg  bf  putlrd  mota;  no  fniaao  tummt, 


Crtse^  of  Poisoning  by  Meat,  etc. 

"  Medical  Thnw  Mid  GwjetU,"  March  5^1*61,  p. 205.    (Lug  of  pork.    Twelve  *lUek*d; 
«lghly.    Nothing  found  ou  aualyvia  Ol^'ytcr^  "nd  aotbing  by  laicnotcupo  I  Kc«uvcti). 

*'  Medical  Tltiii-A  and  Gazette/'  Jh)C.  2Q,  \mi,  p.  669.    (Crotun  oil  given  as  a  rQ«llcloe  to  I 
plnclc  proved  polsoooua.) 

"  Medical  Times  aud  Gassltc,"  Sept.  13^  1B62.  p.  2 
Qvrtain  poiaooou*  berrit-^a.) 

"M«dlcal  TUhw  »Md  G«*eU«,"  Doc.  13, 18«2,  p.  64S. 

"Medical  Tinitsa  and  Guelte,"  Auij.  5,  I'iM,  p.  \S2. 
the  mealtt  were  uitiiurtfuini;  ioeipieiil  pulrffacUoii.) 

"  Brilkb  Medical  Jutiriaal,"  May  37,  1((7.1,  p.  5dU.    (Polmutog  from  pork  brswiki 

"Uritifth  Medical  Juurual, "  May  10,  l»7a,  p.  SSa.    (PuJiuuliig  frotu  porlc  bniwiu    VnwiU  \n  ivmm 
r«nd4*rvd  ill.    Vumillog  aud  purgltii;.; 

,  "  Mi*dicBl  Tlrufs  aud  liaxulle/'  Kuv.  1, 1SS6,  p.  4M.    (Polsoulng  froia  th«  mltk  of  (OMt  Jb4  «•  *tk 
berbs  in  Malta.) 

"Mnltcal  Times  aod  Gawtte,"   June  24,  )d71,  p.  728.    tT'^lT'tilriff  frnm  miiftnii.  ihi  ifcwf  im 
ikig  eaieu  wild  cuciuubrr  iwi  wild  oielou.  Avi^traiiaw 

"  Ltuc<>t,"5epU  13, 1H62,  p.  '1»7.   (Uabbit  pl<!  pr*»dui:«d  potaonooa  elfeclfl  from  tt*  belof  \mpt  too  tea| 
after  baking.; 

"  Laocel,'*  Sept.  37,  1863,  p.3A7.    (Pobonuiu  eflacta  from  harea  dua  to  the  ^^ll4  eluuiic^  Ift^ 
aodnrgu  aflAr  oouniug.) 

"  Mvdleal  TitDwa  and  Gaaette,"  Marcb  IS,  1871.  p.  %2d.    (A  ttirk«y  proved  fiolMmoua.    Kvyote* 
found.) 

"  Mimical  Tliu«,"  March  7.  lM3s  p.  4&S.    (Mr.  Toynb****  ca««  of  Ui«  bad  «r«:U  of  bMva.  «tn  >■ 
a  at  ate  of  decotupoiitluQ.; 

Hrltlib  M«dlcftl  Joumat,"  M&rch  ti.  ISM.  p, 


POISONOUS    FISH, 


477 


POISONOUS  FISH. 


This  h  a  subject  which  is  full  of  oHscurity.  Some  fish  are  found  at 
liine^*  li>  be  poisonmis  that  are  ordinanly  nutritive,  such  as  the  conj^er-eel, 
the  oyster,  aiifJ  the  nmf*5»el ;  mme  are  poisonous  to  one  person  but  not 
poii/>tious  to  another ;  whilst  there  are  other  fish,  especially  in  hot  climates, 
that  w?eni  to  be  always  poisonous,  such  as  the  clupea,  the  yellow-billed 
sprat,  etc.  As  regards  mussels,  it  is  well  authenticated  that  under  certain 
circumstances  they  act  a«  poisons,  as  few  ni*  ten,  eix,  and  even  one,  having 
caused  dangerous  symptoms.  The  theories  in  explanation  have  been 
numerouFi.  Some  have  accounted  for  the  poiportous  effects  by  the  peculiar 
food  eaten  by  the  fish.  M.  de  Beunie  suofgests  that  the  poison  of  the 
muRsel  is  due  to  their  feeding  on  the  spawn  of  star-fifhea,  which  is  irritant 
10  its  action,  and  causcfi  inteui^e  iuflammatton  wherever  it  touches  ("Jour- 
nal de  Pharm.  et  €*him.,"  1871,  p.  298) ;  others  suppose  it  diie  to  the  fish 
beln^  impregnated  with  copper  from  the  copper  bottoms  of  vesseiu 
(Bi'iuchardat) ;  otherw  that  it  is  due  to  their  having''  undercjone  a  process 
of  decay  before  they  were  eaten  (Burrows) ;  others  that  it  is  due  entirely 
to  the  peculiar  idiosyncrasy  of  the  person  who  eats  them,  which  in  some 
eaaes,  but  not  in  all,  is  an  undoubted  fact  (Dr.  Edwards);  whilst  others 
orpe  that  it  is  «lue  to  disease  in  the  fish.  There  is  little  doubt,  however, 
that  the  poisonous  action  is  due  to  some  definite  aniraal  poison,  of  what 
nature  we  do  not  know,  in  the  fish  themselves  (Dr.  CJoldstream).  The 
symptoms  may  show  themselves  either  as  soon  aa  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  or 
Dot  for  twenty-four  hours.  Sometimes  they  are  merely  symptoms  of  local 
irrtlation.  At  other  times  a  nettlerash  eruption,  with  violent  irritation, 
preceded  by  coryza  and  itchinjf  of  the  eyes  and  eyelids  occurs,  succeeded 
(thoujjh  sometimes  preceded)  hy  trouhlescime  asthmatical  symptoms.  At 
other  times  a  t^c^liar  condition  is  noticed,  consistins:  of  j^reat  muscular 
debility,  inability  to  stand,  numbness  of  the  limhs,  feeble  action  of  the 
heart,  coma  and  epileptiform  convulsions.  Death  has  occurred  in  three 
and  seven  hours,  but,  as  a  rule,  patients  recover.  No  marked  post-mortem 
appearances  have  been  t'ound.  Oysters,  eels^  crabs,  lobsters,  and  mackerel 
have  similarly  from  time  to  time  given  rise  to  dantrerous  symptoms. 

To  get  rid  of  the  poison  by  emetics  and  purgatives,  and  to  support  the 
patient,  are  the  two  great  elements  in  treatment.    Ether  seems  to  be  useful. 

The  foHowiAff  Ca»e*  are  recorded. 

1.  Orfilii "  To»leoloifl«'  Glin*r»le,"  thI.  W.  p.  44. 

2.  "(Mijf'B  Hosplijit  Bt-poria,"  Oct.  18W,  p.  213.     Severe  ftyraptoms  from  ealtng  two  mu»wl» ;  •ca.r- 
tftOnnl  <rru|>lton. 

S.  "  MinJiml  Tlmi^  hthJ  Gawlte/'  April  SW,  1BA4.  p.  496.    SeTern  iymptomB  from  one  miUMPl. 

♦.  "  lancet,"  May  S,  IB6B,  p.  4«2     Severe  •yioptiitns,  after  four  days,  frrjm  eatiug  fife  or  nix  cooked 


5. 


'  r^kCMrt,"  March  7, 1846,  p.  274.    Severe  lymptonia,  iaclodliiK  paralytis,  from  eating  about  flny 
mitaai-U. 

6.  ^'Medinil  TimeK  and  GaevtUr,"  Kov.  1, 1M2,  p.  47&.    A  family  taken  ill  from  eating  a  quart  of 
mUMW-l*.     Oti«:  ditnl  in  Oirce  houra. 

7.  "Mt-dtral  T]uj«sanUGaxeUc,"    July  28, 1860.    Tweoly-oae  persona  made  ill  hy  mu-vela.    Thrre 
chtldren  dlc^. 

«.  "  I^nci-i/'  Ffb.  t.-Jth.  and  March  1, 1S73,  pp.  247 an*  S29.    Three  boyi  dl«!  from  eating  muHelA. 
An  ikdolt  mMf  ill  trmrn  oaf  inc  a  quart. 
9.  Fod*T*.  "llAd^-citif  \^in\%"  to!,  iv^p-  85.     n*alh  from  tniiastla. 
JO,  •'  Ijinrrt,"  .lum-  ■i\,  1t»73,  p.  875,    Death  tw«Hjty-fiT<>  days  afli-r  eating  a  conger-eel. 

11.  "  IjiHcrt,"  .liity  1V\,  lft«l,  p.  1»2.     l>eath  mi  ninth  dny  from  paling  maok^ret. 

12.  **  Lancet,"'  Oct  27,  1864,  p.  482.    Three  d«?alh»  from  eating  Korwejglan  eraba. 


CARBOVtC   AC10  GAS. 


CHAPTER  XXJL 


GASEOOS  FOISONa 

Cnrbonie  Acid—Sonnt^  of— Sympiom*^  ctoL— tu  poimow  mrtimt  not  mpr*ly 
»e«riitivi* — (Quantity  mBtmmrj  l»  Acilfuy  Itfr — i^alhjr  nfdiawHIy  prv««>nt  in 
•  Hir — PerccnUfi*  In  air  ameeftmrt  to  eztittgituit  *  lAper — Urervn»wdt(i|^ — 
K^tc  of  diiTuMbilitj^lVftii — Vapor*  from  riisfmil  mn4  kUtt  ftirfiaew— Grr- 
6imic  OriiU'^  ProfiertJcs  mnd  terts — Ltd  of  pMaoMfne  c«M9 — C6mi  &«• — S\  mp- 
U*Tn»,  etc  —  Lt«t  of  poianaiiic  oMoa — iVKrott  Qs«tlf — T^tmm  of  nilne'  snd 
nitrous  nc\d^—Fkm^mttUi  0pirvfm'-StUmm0Ht^ 
y/i/'/ro9rii-~.SvmploaMY  •le.---Kzpena»nlft  ott 
SufpAurou*  Acid. 


CARBOXIC  ACID  GAS  (CO,  =  44), 

(Carbonic  Anhydride — Carbooic  Dioxide — Fixed  Air — Cboke  Damp  of 

Miners.) 

[8p.  gr.  1.529. — Onden^es  to  a  liquid  at  (T  C.  bj  a  pressure  of  35.4 
atiuos^pberes,  and  at  —25"  C.  by  17,2  atm«j^pheres,— Dendljr  of  tbe  liquid 
acid  at —20"  C.  =  0.9  and  at— 30" a  =  0.6. —Temp,  of  solid  carbonic 
acid  ^— 78"C.] 

Sources  of  Qnhonic  Acid. 

(1)  Reqfirtdian. — In  this  way  persood  may  die  asleep  in  a  crowded 
room,  and  be  supposed  to  have  been  murdemi.  About  14,000  grains  of 
tbe  atM«l  \&  believed  lo  be  di^harged  daily  by  the  lungs  of  an  adult,  and 
ab^jUt  60  grains  by  the  Hktn. 

(2)  FermerUation. — It  is  most  dangerous  to  put  tbe  head  into  a  vat 
where  fennentatioo  is  going  on.  or  has  been  going  on.  All  fermenting  vats 
ihould  have  a  hole  at  tbe  bottom,  capable  of  being  unstopped,  in  order  to 
allow  the  carb<^olc  acid  to  escape. 

(3  j  The  Burning  of  Lime  in  Kilm. — The  carbonic  acid  is  expelled  from 
the  limestone  ^carbunate  of  lime)  in  iramenj*  volumes  by  tbe  heat  applied. 
People  have  been  jMiixoncI  by  i^Ieeping  near  a  limekiln* 

ii)  The  Adion  of  StJ/Urranmn  fleat  upon  Limestone  in  Volcanic  DiMrieU, 
n  this  way  Urge  volume*  of  earljouicacid  escape  into  the  air  from  fiss^ures 
tn  the  soil,  charging  at  the  same  time  the  springs  of  the  district  with  the 
gas,  which  i^  ^nvf-n  MfflVtim  the  water  when  it  comes  to  the  surface.  (Ex- 
amples- r ,  Pyrmont,  Marienbad,  and  Tunbridge.) 

(5)   7/  'jehjthU  and  other  Ortfanic  Matters, — In  this  way 

spring  water  may  become  charged  with  carbonic  acid,  viz.,  by  tbe  oxida- 
tum  of  the  organic  matter  held  in  solution,  A  well-aerated  water,  cou- 
laining  organic  matter,  will  be  found,  if  kept  in  close  ves^sels,  to  ctmiain 
after  a  time  a  notable  increase  of  carbonic  acid  and  a  corresponding 
deoreoM  of  oxygen.  Spring  water  in  a  sandy  di.-^trict,  where  there  is  but 
little  vegetation,  usually  contains  very  little  carbonic  acid;  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  Apring  water  in  districts  where  vegetation  is  luxuriant,  gener- 
ally contains  a  large  quantity  of  carbonic  acid  and  a  small  amount  of 
oxygen. 


POISONINQ    BY    CARBONIC    ACID.  479 

(6)  ExploHoms  of  Fire-damp. — Carbouic  acid  constitutes  the  choke-damp 

(aAeivdainp)  of  the  miners.    This  id  the  chief  cause  of  the  fatal  results  of 

coal-mine  explosionfl. 

P^    Carbonic  acid  frequently  accumulates  in  pits,  cellar*,  welU,  and  in  old 

«iine«,  and  is  produced  iu  the:je  cases  by  the  decomposition  of  animal  and 

vegetable  matters. 

^^)  Whenever  carbon,  or  bodies  containing  it,  such  as  oil,  wo^kI,  coal, 
OT  ^llow,  are  burnt  either  in  air  or  oxygen,  carbonic  acid  is  formed.  The 
^f*^  of  Miicide  by  the  French  charcoal  chauffers  are  illustrations  in  point. 
^*0  caudles,  of  six  to  the  pound,  are  found  to  produce  about  38  litres  of 
^rbooic  acid  per  hour,  or,  in  other  words,  about  the  same  amount  that 
**  produced  during  a  similar  time  by  an  adult  in  the  process  of  respira- 
tion. 

Preparation  and  Properties. 

Carbonic  acid  is  usually  prepared  in  the  laboratory  by  the  addition  of  an 
acid  to  a  carbonate.  It  is  a  very  weak  acid,  and  hi  ex]>e]Ied  from  its  com- 
pounds by  almost  every  other  acid  that  is  freely  soluble  in  water. 

Carbonic  acid  is  a  heavy,  colorless,  transparent  gas,  having  a  faintly 
scid  taste  and  smell.  It  can  be  liquefied  at  ordinary  temperatures  by  a 
pressure  of  forty  or  fifly  atmoi^pheres.  The  liquid  acid  dijes  not  mix  freely 
either  with  water  or  with  the  fixed  oils,  but  it  is  very  soluble  in  alcohol^ 
ether,  naphtha,  turpentine,  and  carbon  disulphide. 

When  liquid  carbonic  acid  is  allowed  to  e^^cape  into  the  air,  it  freezes 
JDto  a  snow-white  solid.  The  gas  is  soluble  in  its  own  bulk  of  water,  but 
under  pressure  a  much  greater  (piantity  than  thi:?  may  be  made  to  dis:joIve. 
Carbonic  acid  gus  is  not  inflammable,  nor  will  it  support  combustion. 
This  proi)erty,  however,  of  extinguishing  flame  is  not,  it  must  l>e  remem- 
bered, peculiar  to  carbonic  acid.  Carbonic  acid  has  no  action  on  the  metals. 
It  is  freely  absorbed  by  any  of  the  alkalies.  Nearly  all  the  carbonates, 
except  those  of  the  alkaline  metals,  are  insoluble  iu  water. 

Symptoms,  Dose,  etc. 

The  symptoms  of  carbonic  acid  poisoning  vary  according  to  its  dilution 
and  its  admixture  with  other  gases. 

If  the  gas  be  pure,  it  causes  death  instantaneou.-ly.  Spasm  of  the  glottis 
18  produced,  none  of  the  gas  being  able  consequently  to  enter  the  lungs, 
and  death  is  immediate  from  apna?a.  When  administered  in  a  nomeichat 
diluted  state,  it  will  be  noticed  that  there  is  an  immediate  h^s  of  muscular 
power.  The  patient  sinks  down,  unable  to  make  the  slightest  exertion, 
the  head  falling  on  the  breast,  and  death  resulting  without  a  word  or  a 
struggle. 

When  the  acid  is  still  more  diluted,ihe  patient  will  complain  first  of  all 
of  irritation  in  the  throat,  of  weight  and  pains  in  the  head,  of  drow.-iiness, 
giddiness,  and  singing  in  the  ean*,  and  of  a  graidual  loss  of  muscular  ()ower. 
Usually  there  will  be  marked  lividity  of  the  countenance  and  of  the  surface 
of  the  body,  accompanied  with  a  vir)lcnt  action  of  the  heart,  a  hurried 

ipiration,  and  occasionally,  although  very  rarely,  convulsions  and  vomit- 


'% 


^hese  symptoms,  however,  sooner  or  later  dii>appear,  and  the  person  dies 
slowly  or  quickly  in  a  state  of  complete  coma. 

Several  important  medico-legal  questions  are  suggested  here — 
1.  la  carbonic  acid  an  act  nal  poison,  oris  its  action  (like  hydrogen  and 
nitrogen)  merely  negative  f    Tlie  negatively  poisonous  action  of  the  gas  was 


478  ■• '  ACID. 


(•-; 


•  \hn  statf  that  the  pi*  wi'.; 
•  in-r  the  skill  of  an  animal. 

-■  -tal)ly  that  carhonir  adi 
• — ni  in  jjutfifioiir,  or  in  m.ift; 

•  -i.  IWriianl,  for  in^tsince. 
I  riiixriirt?  ai'  crjuul  \v\Tt<  rtf 
i*nu>s|)ln'n'  »'nntainin>r  thr** 

•rdinarv  air  r-nntain*.  H^ 
'".n  an  atiiKwpliore  r'nn*i*iini 
"•"/•Ml,  and  (12.0  of  iiitr"2i^ri: 
.  '\-j:  7  |)<?r  ci'iit.  iiioro  oxyjrs 

:*  M.  folia  111  do  Marti^y. 
I  i  and  oxviri'ii,  ilio  nxyu'-t 
•■'.-■n,  pnnluctMl  faial  n'suli.-, 
■"  ;:i  ir. 

ii.id  i:s  an  actual  |>oi.»i.n. 
"  i.  T<roportioii  of  oxygen  l>: 

i     :  tntrr!*  the  hlood.    He 

:'  •  'li'"  arid   prt'-sont  in  ihe 

'-    iT-'.r  asphyxia  had  botn 

_•'•.  therefore,  thr  dilfi-r- 

•'.  :.  ••!'  fsirboiiii'  acid  ia 

••/■.  iind  fh*-  nr^ttir- 

'    •'•  parts  of  rarh«»ni«' 

.  ■   •  ".  .  .  ir.cn'asfs  during  a 

•  •'.-  diirinir  tho  iiiL'ht, 
:  "«    :'  uaiiT  tliaii  owr 

•  r«    it  i*  ^it-utiailv 

.'.  i:i  v<ry  nuw  ii.I 

'.  :>  a.M-d  ill   li(/u*cs 

•'     '//     »///■    hh     '•'.' 

.  •'»  ptT  ('•■nr.  I*-*-* 

:*.'iiii«l  that  on-. 

.    ,*   vrrc  fi««nd  and 

•    •      J  ill  tor  half  an 

"^    •  •    'lit.,  a  sparrow 
!*.  hut  it  arior- 

•  •     •  •.-.>    i];i:.l  hi.KKl. 
■    -        ••  i'"r  J'l.iir  Ii«Miri 

•••  '.'  t.,p.r.     A 
■     •■'•    ..-  .1  '..'U 

_•     ■.    '..-    ti^    ri..'lii:|l. 

;    .'■■  r  -•■•II  ,i-'ii  • 


POISONING    BY    CARBONIC    ACID. 


481 


»r  will  readily  t>iirn  in  air  containing  8  per  (^ent.  of  carbonic  acid,  pro- 
vided the  oxygen  be  present  in  normal  proportion.  With  10  percent,  the 
fame  is  very  materially  dulled  ;  with  12  per  cent,  the  taper  goes  out,  im- 
leift  il  be  burning  brilliantly  before  it  l^  introduceil ;  whilst  with  Ht  per 
cent.,  however  vigorou!<]y  it  may  be  burning^  when  introduced,  it  will  be 
excinguiKhed.  But  the  results  are  very  different  if,  at  the  same  time,  the 
oxygen  be  decrea.sed.  For  example,  if  '?  or  4  per  cent,  of  oxygen  be  re- 
moved (that  iB,  if  the  oxygen  be  reduced  to  about  17  per  cent),  and  a 
stiuilar  quantity  of  carhonic  acid  added  as  there  has  been  oxygen  removed^ 
we  ehall  find  a  taper  will  be  instantly  extinguii^hed. 

It  is  clear  therefore  that  an  atmosphere  may  be  dangerous  to  life  in 
which  a  lafK^r  will  burn. 

6,  The  luununt  of  carhonic  ncld  that  muM  he  prviteni  in  air  in  order  to  dc- 
Mtoi/  life.     This  que4?tiou  naturally  divides  itself  under  two  headd. 

A,  Where  the  cnrhonic  acid  ga»  is  produced  iy  combmtiou  and  respiration 
ol  the  expense  of  atmospheric  vxtfgen. 

Questions  of  some  difficulty  arise  here ;  for  we  have  to  deal  not  only 
with  the  ill  effects*  produced  by  an  increased  amount  of  carbonic  acid,  but 
with  those  rejsuking  from  a  deficiency  of  oxygen.  Th&se  twocircumMances 
coexii^tiug,  render  the  iiir  proportionately  more  dangerous  to  life  than 
either  caur^e  exiMing  separately.  A  pennon  dies  if  obliged  to  breathe  con- 
fined air.  But  it  must  be  particularly  noted  that  death  does  not,  in  such 
caset),  result  entirely  either  from  the  poisonou-s  action  of  an  excess  of  car- 
bonic acid  or  from  want  of  oxygen  ;  but  from  several  other  cirenms^tances, 
such  a*  the  perfect  saturation  of  the  air  with  moisture,  the  abnormally 
high  temperature,  and  probably  above  all  the  decoraposing  organic  mutter 
thrown  oH^by  the  skin  and  bings. 

Each  udu(t  requires  for  coiofortable  respiration  about;  20  cubic  feet  of 
mir  per  hour;  and  a  common  candle  will  vitiate  about  the  same  amount 
ID  the  same  time.  The  air  expired  contains  from  4  to  5  per  cent,  of  car- 
bc»nic  acid.  If  the  same  air  be  again  respired,  the  additional  carbonic  acid 
expelled  at  each  inspiration  would  gradually  lessen,  until  a  total  was 
reached  of  10  to  12  per  cent.,  and  then  no  more  carbi>uic  acid  would  be 
^iven  off.  An  atmosphere  under  &uch  circumstances  must  prove  fatal. 
But,  although  it  would  prolmbly  do  so  very  long  before  it  reached  this 
atate,  and  certainly  long  before  all  the  oxygen  had  been  used  up,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  draw  the  exact  line  of  demarcation  in  such  a  case  between  life  and 
death.  Nor  must  we  forget  in  these  calculations  the  ditfereot  8u»(;eptibili- 
ties  dependent  on  sex,  age,  condilioi»j  strength,  and  so  forth.  Experiments 
recorded  in  the  "  Lancet  "  (vol.  xxxi,  p.  201)  by  Mr.  Coathupe,  seem  to 
pn>ve  that,  even  with  ati  atmosphere  containing  2  per  cent,  of  carbonic 
ncid,  the  snrtering  occasioned  is  severe ;  whilst  D^*vergie  considers  that  the 
presence  of  5  per  cent,  of  carbonic  acid  would  ordinarily  be  sufficient  to 
destroy  life.  In  a  crowded,  ill-ventilated  room,  where  a  large  number  of 
persons  were  congi*ega ted,  and  the  atmosphere  almost  unbearable,  not  more 
than  1.18  per  cent,  of  carbonic  acid  was  found  to  be  present. 

In  considering  the  question  of  overcrowding,  and  the  number  of  people 
that  may  be  permitted  to  sleep  in  a  room,  400  culiic  feet  of  air  ought  to  be 
regarded  as  the  very  smallest  quantity  that  should  be  allowed  for  each 
person.  Mensure  the  length,  breadth,  and  height  of  the  room.  Multiply 
theee  iitgether,  in  order  to  get  its  cubic  contents.  Divide  the  number  by 
400,  and  the  quotient  expresses  the  number  of  persons  that  may  be  allowed 
to  ileep  in  the  room. 


482 


POISONING    BY    CABBONIO    ACID. 


Example:  A  room  is  10  feet  high,  16  feet  long,  and  10  feet  wide — 
10  X  16   X    10  ==  1600. 

1?^  =  4:  the  uumber  of  persous  that  may  sleep  in 
400  «  room  of  that  siste. 

The  foIlowiDg  are  the  requirenoenta  of  the  Poor-Law  Board : 

Cubic  Space  required  by  the  Poor-Law  Board  for  Dormitories. 
Cub.  Ft-*!. 

1200  Lying-in  cases  and  offensive  sick. 

850  8iVk. 

700  Infirm— same  room  night  and  day. 

500  Iiiiirm — with  separate  day-room. 

300  Healthy. 

B.    WJuTC  air  u  conttnninated  hy  the  addition  of  free  carbonic  add. 

The  results  of  experiments  hearing  f>n  this  question  are  most  conflicting, 
this  being  due  in  a  great  measure  to  the  fact  that  allowance  has  not  been 
made  for  the  air  present  in  lbelunfi:8  at  the  time  «if  the  experiments.  It 
is  rc^corded,  tor  example,  that  8ir  J.  Sirapsoo  used  an  atmosphere  contain- 
ing 20  per  cent,  of  carbonic  acid,  as  an  an«».*thetic,  without  any  bad  effect!* ! 
In  shiirt,  ft«  Dr.  Taylor  say?*,  with  astonishment,  a  man  may  hreatho  autl 
live  in  an  air  in  which  a  candle  will  not  bnrn  !  Withont  discussing  all 
the  experiments  in  detail,  it  may  be  broadly  ^stated  that  the  addition  of 
10  to  lo  per  cent,  of  carbonic  acid  to  air  would  render  it  poisonous.  Even 
in  an  atmo^^phere  containin|j  5  or  8  per  cent,  animals  often  die  after  vary- 
inf^  periofis ;  whilst  Dr.  Taylor  staleis  that  in  the  Cornish  mines  where  the 
air  contains  not  more  than  2  per  cent.,  the  miners  suffer  considerably,  al- 
though the  severe  effects  are  no  doubt  occasioned  by  other  circumstances 
than  the  mere  presence  of  carbonic  acid. 

7.  Several  important  medico-legal  questions  have  arisen  as  to  the  rate  of 
diffttsibUiiij  of  ifif  curhunlc  avid  produced  hy  combndion, 

Oa  this  matter  we  would  merely  state — 

(1)  That  there  may  be  part*  of  a  room  where,  fur  certain  reasons, 
the  carbonic  acid  U  for  a  time  in  nmch  greater  quaniiiy  than  in 
other  parti*. 

(2)  That  by  the  law  of  difTusion  even  a  heavy  gas  like  carbonic  acid 
will  in  time  diffuse  itself  efjually  throughout  a  room. 

(3)  That  the  specific  gravity  of  the  carbonic  acid  generated  by  com- 
bustion is  tnaterially  lessened  by  the  heat  that  produces  it, 
the  process  of  ditlusiou  being  thereby  rendered  more  rapid, 

(4)  That  once  the  difiusion  h  comjdete,  and  the  gaseous  mixture  per- 
fect, the  separation  of  the  gases  does  not  take  place. 

In  fimc,  rcmenly  and  brick  burning,  carbonic  acid  is  the  chief  poisiouona 
ga^  evolved,  but  it  h  mf>re  or  le^s  mixed  with  varying  proportions  of  other 
ga.*!^,  such  a*  sulphurnus  aciil,  CHrbonic  oxide,  etc.,  derived  from  the  ma- 
terial* used  m  fuel.  These  may  under  ceitain  circunujtauces,  theret*)re.  b^^ 
come  dangerous. 


VAPORS  FROM  BURNING  CHARCOAL. 


Post-mortein  Appmrancea  of  Carbonic  Acid  Poisoning, 

'They  are  generally  those  of  death  by  apnoia.  But  there  are  certaiQ 
cliaracteristit':^  whi*.'h  prove  carbonic  acid  13  a  specific  narcotic  poison,  as 
\reH  as  an  asphyxiating  agent.  The  membranes  and  the  great  vessels  of 
tfae  brain  are  generally  found  to  be  extremely  t-ongetited,  serum  being  ef- 
Ibaed  both  in  the  ventricles  and  at  the  base.  Putrefaction  after  carbonic 
acid  poisoning  is  slow,  and  there  i:?  a  great  persistence  of  animal  heat  and 
rigidity.  Froth  will  often  be  noticed  at  the  mouth  and  nostrils,  and  the 
tongue  18  freijuently  fonnd  protruded  and  grasped  by  the  teeth.  The 
body  is  often  very  swollen,  the  eyea  prominent  and  unusually  brilliant, 
and  the  blood  dark-colored  and  liquid.  The  abdominal  viscera  are  gen- 
erally much  congested. 

Treatment, 

This  must  coneifit  in  fresh  air  and  in  the  inhalation  of  a  small  quantity 
(«ay  about  two  quarts)  of  pure  oxygen.  The  cold  douche,  galvaniMra, 
artificial  respiratiim,  friction,  aud  perhaps  (if  there  are  distinct  apoplectic 
symptoms)  a  moderate  veneseetlon,  muj^t  be  resorted  to  as  required  and 
iiipgpsted  during  the  progress  of  the  case. 

And  here,  one  ur  two  questiona  bearing  on  preventive  medicine  suggest 
themselves,  to  which  it  h  our  duty  to  refer. 

1.  That  air  in  which  a  candle  will  burn  ia  not  neeemirily  fit  to  breathe. 

2.  That  charcoal  stoves  burning  in  the  open  air  of  rooms  are  dangerous. 
Accident*  have  not  unfrefjuenlly  occurred  from  this  cause. 

3.  That  if  a  man  in  descending  a  s^haft  is  seen  to  drop  down  insensible, 
it  is  folly  for  one  man  after  another  to  be  allowed  to  descend  with  the 
hopes  of  rescuing  those  that  have  been  suffocated. 

Teds  Jot  Carbonic  Acid. 

L  Blue  litmus  is  first  reddened,  and  afterwards  bleached. 

2.  If  the  quantity  of  acid  present  exceeds  12  per  cent.,  a  taper  isextin- 
^idhed,  unless  the  flame  be  burning  \'ery  vigonmsly.  If  it  be  above  16 
per  cent,,  even  a  brilliantly  burning  taper  will  !>e  put  out. 

3.  It  produces  a  white  precipitate  with  either  lime  or  baryta  water. 

4.  To  estimate  the  amount  of  carbonic  acid  in  a  given  volume  of  air, 
take  a  measured  quantity  (say  a  cubic  inch)  iJi  a  griuiuated  tube,  standing 
over  mercury,  and  introduce  into  it  a  solution  of  caustic  potash.  Note, 
after  j<tanding  for  some  time,  the  degree  of  absorption,  which  indicates  the 
amount  of  carbonic  acid  present. 

Vapors  from  Charcoal  Burning  and  from  Blad  Furnaces, 

In  l>oth  these  rases  carbonic  acid  and  carbonic  oxide  are  evolved.     Such 

mixed  atmosphere  is  more  rapidly  fatal  than  if  these  gases  were  present 
irately.     An  air  containing  j  per  cent,  of  cnrhonlc  acid,  and  0.5  per 

It.  of  carbonic  oxide,  will  fiermit  the  combustion  of  a  taper,  but  proves 
rapidly  fatal  to  animal  life  (Leblane).  Hence  the  taper  test,  as  we  have 
said,  is  not  infallible,  and  no  charcoal  stove  i^hould  be  allowed  in  a  dwell- 
iajr-room  Unprovided  with  a  chimney. 

The  proportions  of  these  gases  given  off  by  burning  charcoal  vary. 
The  quantity  of  carbonic  acid  is  l&ut  when  tlie  combustion  is  most  active 
(11  f»er  cent.),  and  mod  when  the  conibustion  is  least  active  (14  percent.) ; 
a^,  for  example,  at  the  iK'ginniug  and  at  the  end  of  the  operation.  The 
carbonic  oxide  evolved  is  usually  abt»ut  0.5  (ler  cent. 


484 


POISONING    BT    GARBONIO    OXIDB. 


The  poisoDous  effect*  of  burning  charcoal,  according  to  Mr.  Coatliupe 
("Lancet,"  vol.  i.,  1838-39,  pp.  2f52,  410,  418).  are  not  Hue  eo  much  to 
these  gases  as  lo  certain  noxious  effluvia  (mephitio  efHuvia)  given  offal 
the  same  time.     No  doubt  there  i.>»  a  certain  truth  in  this  statement. 

In  a  case  of  death  from  burning  eharcoai  two  ^jnestions  may  be  ik*ked  : 
(1)  Huw  much  charcoal  was  burnt;  and  (2)  Plow  much  charcoal  must 
be  burnt  to  cause  death.  The  first  of  the^e  que«tii>nf«  may  be  answered 
by  weighing  the  a»hes  lefl  after  ci>nibustion,  every  3  or  4  grains  of  which 
correftpouds  to  about  100  grains  of  WAHKl-charcoal ;  whilst  no  satisfactory 
answer  can  be  given  to  the  wcond»  w>  much  depending  on  other  circum- 
stance^, »uch  as  the  size  of  the  room  where  the  charcoal  is  burnt  and  the 
coniitequent  dilution  of  the  gas. 

The  injurious  effects  of  the  waete  gas  from  blast  furnaces  have  been 
studied  by  Dr.  Percy.  It  is  often  most  improperly  used  for  heating  steam- 
boilers,  lime-kiltip^  etc..  and  accidents  conseriuently  have  not  been  UQ- 
common  from  it.  Dr.  Percy  innisiJers  the  carbonic  oxide  is  its  active  in- 
gredient.    ("  British  Medical  Journal,"  July  9,  1870,  p.  46. j 

CARBONIC  OXIDE-CO. 
8p.  gr.  0.967. 

Preparation  atid  Propertie-fi, 

Carbonic  oxide  may  be  prepare<l  by  heating  iron  or  zinc  filings  with 
powdered  chalk  in  a  gun-barrel. 

CaCO^  +  Fe  ==  CaO  +  FeO  +  CO. 

It  may  also  be  prepared  by  passing  dry  CO^  through  a  red-hot  tube 

containing  charcoal.  It  is  often  produced  in  large  quantitiefl  during  com- 
bustion in  our  ordinary  stoves  and  fvirnacea.  Air  enleri^  at  the  bottom  of 
the  grate,  and  carliimic  anhydride  (CO./)  is  formed.  Thi^,  passing  through 
the  fire, takes  up  more  carbon,  carbonic  oxide  being  in  this  way  produced. 
It  may  otlen  be  seen  burning  with  a  light-blue  flame  at  the  top  of  the 
fire. 

Carbonic  (»xide  is  a  colorless  gas,  having  a  faint  odor.  It  does  not  sup- 
port combustion,  but  burns  with  a  pale- blue  fJame,  carbonic  acid  being  the 
only  product.  It  has  never  been  liquefied  by  cold  or  pressure.  It  18  but 
very  slightly  solutjle  in  water.     It  is  very  poisonous. 


Spnptoms — DoAC — Theory  of  Action- — Ejrpenmnifji  on  Animah. 

Carbonic  oxide,  when  respired,  passes  freely  into  the  lungs,  m  much  as 
4  per  cent,  being  found  in  the  blood  of  animals  exposed  for  from  ten  to 
twenty-five  seconds  to  an  atmosphere  containing  10  per  cent,  of  the  gas. 
When  absorbed  by  the  blood  it  combines  with  the  hfemaglobin.  M.  Gre- 
haut  point*  out  that  carbonic  oxide  is  eliminaled  from  the  lungs  •  the 
organs  tiirougb  which  it  enters  i  as  carbonic  oxide,  and  may  be  tlKH  dis- 
ting«iished  from  gases  that  undergo  combustion  in  the  organism  ("  British 
Midical  J(jurual,"  Jan.  14,  1H71 1.  Bernard  suggests  that  the  cause  of 
death  witli  turhmiic  acid  is  ihat  the  blood  cannot  become  nrttrmt,  but 
with  viirbonicf  o^ride  tliat  it  canuot  become  venoim.  With  carbonic  acid 
the  symptoms  are  transitory,  but  with  cartionic  oxide  they  are  aiugularly 
|iersistent. 

The  poisonous  action  of  carbonic  oxide  Wivs  noticed  by  Guyton  Mor- 
veau  in  1802,  and  by  Sir  H.  Davy  in  1810,  who  proved,  by  experiments 


POISOXINO    BY    CARBONIC    OXIDB. 


485 


I 


^bim^elf,  that  giddiness,  eiekness,  and  debility,  were  ordinarily  pro- 
as the  results  of  breath in|»  the  gas.  Its  iiijurioua  effect*  when 
"  into  the  vein^  were  originally  tried  by  Ny^^ten.  Mr.  Higgiiiis,  of 
)Iin,  Touixie?,  Leblanc,  and  Letheby,  have  alrjo  experimented  with  it. 
ies  proved  that  1  part  of  the  gas  i»  7  of  air  killed  rabbits  in  wveu 
in  15  ill  twenty-three  miiiutea^  and  1  in  30  in  thirty-seven 
i.  Lcblanr  nud  /Jhfimflj'*  experitijents  sihow  that  air  cootaining  1  per 
of  the  ga^  will  kill  a  dog  in  one  minute  and  a  half,  and  that  birds 
die  instantly  in  an  atmosphere  containing  5  per  cent. 
*r,  Leiheby  fuiind  in  his  experimentn  tliat  air  containing  0.5  per  cent. 
the  gas  kills  small  birds  in  about  three  minutes,  whilst  if  it  contains  1 
*''  (^eot.  it  provejj  fatal  in  about  half  the  time.  An  atmosphere  contain- 
^K  2  per  cent,  rendered  a  guinea-pig  insensible  in  two  minutes.  There 
*^'^  no  signs  of  pain — but  the  animal  fell  down  iuseu!*ible  and  died  at 
ODf^e^  either  with  a  slight  tiutter,  hardly  amounting  to  convulsion.-*,  or 
'^^<^iially  slept  to  death,  as  if  atJected  with  profound  coma.  Carbonic 
''"'^^Ic;  is,  in  jihorl,  a  pure  narcotic  poii*ou.  The  blooil  after  death  was 
^•^d  redder  tlian  u?aiil,  the  brain  a  little  congested,  and  the  auricles 
^'^^^'what  gorget!  with  blo<Mi.  Edu^iion  of  blood  in  the  brain  was  always 
*>d  in  the  birds  that  had  been  poisoned  with  it. 
-*^he  large  quaulJty  of  carbonic  oxide  (often  ;>4  per  cent.)  in  water  gas, 
Villi  render  its  employment  dangerous  as  an  agent  of  illumination,  Car- 
'*^ic  oxide  is  found,  too,  as  we  have  stated,  in  the  neighborho4)d  of  brick- 
-  *  to*  and  furoaces.  From  iron  furnaces  it  is  giveu  off^  lo  the  extent  of 
•.\^ni  2d  to  32  [>er  cent.,  and  from  cop|>er  furuaces,  frrtm  13  to  11!  per  cent, 
^  Uder  the  iuHuenre  of  solar  light,  Boufisingault  noticed  that  the  leave?}  of 
^^uatic  plauts  give  off"  carbonic  oxide.  May  not  this  be  the  explanation 
^t' the  unhealthiness  of  marsh  districts?  0*  L-aucet,^*  March  1,  1862, 
p.  219.) 

To  what  U  the  poisonous  adimi  of  carbonic  o>ride  dnet 

It  has  been  held  that  it  depends  on  the  formation  in  the  blood  of  a  new 
and  fixed  com p« mud  of  carbonic  oxide  and  haMuoglobin.  The  iK^lief  in  the 
fixed  nature  of  this  carbonic  oxide  haemoglobin  is  the  reason  why  Kuhne 
of  Berlin  a^^serts  that  in  carbonic  oxide  poij*oniug  artificial  respi ration  is 
useless,  an<l  that  the  only  chance  of  saviJig  a  patient  is  the  transfusion  of 
arterial  blood  ("  Medical  Times  and  Gazc^tte,"  June  4,  1804,  p.  G24.  See 
aha  a  guccessful  case  of  transfusion,  *'  British  Medical  Journal,"  June  9, 
1866,  p.  625).  Dodders,  however,  has  endeavored  to  prove  that  carbonic 
oxide  may  be  expelled  fnnn  the  blood  by  such  gases  as  oxygen,  hydrogen, 
and  carbonic  acid,  whilst  Zuntz  (Pffoger's  "Archiv  f  Physiol.,"  v.  584) 
•aeerts  that  it  can  be  separated  by  the  vacuum,  but  that  its  separation  is 
iiLful,  and  is  not  complete  by  a  single  exhaustion.  The  same  holds  good 
with  respect  to  nitric  oxide  iiDemoglobin  (Podolinski). 

At  any  rate  it  is  clear  that  the  compound  formed  is  somewhat  fixed  and 
stable.  The  persistently  reddened  condition  of  the  blood  is  a  special  |>ost- 
mortem  characteristic  that  will  be  noticed  with  carbonic  oxide,  whilst  a 
darkened  condition  is  characteristic  of  carbunic  acid  |>iiisoning.  Ssabinski 
regards  a  bloodless  condition  of  the  spleeu  as  a  usual  e(fect  of  carbonic 
oxide  poisoning,  the  brain  beiug  usually  congested  and  the  heart  gorged 
(**  Lancet,"  ltt61,  vol.  i,  p.  219). 

Toxicoiofflmt  A  naJysM, 

The  actual  demonstration  of  the  presence  of  carbonic  oxide  in  the 
blood  uliould,  in  medico-legal  caaes,  be  attempted— 


486      POISONING    BY    CARBONIC    ACID    AND  CARBONIC    OXIDE. 

1.  Wifh  Ihe  miero^prrtroAropc.  "  The  absorption  band  of  reduced  hemo- 
globin does  not  occur  precisely  bctweeu  the  two  btitids  of  oxyhicmuglubio, 
■ioce  the  absorption  of  ha'moglubiD  extends  further  toward'?  the  red  after 
reduction  than  before,"  This  te^it  cAnuot  be  rotied  on  if  the  bh)od  has 
been  long  exposed  to  the  air,  but  if  exchided  from  the  air,  tbe  spectro- 
scopic appearance  can  easily  be  obtained  four  or  five  months  after  death, 

2.  With  eaustit  M)da  (Hoppe  Seyler). 

(rt)  Ordinary  blood,  shaken  up  with  cflustic  ?oda,  gU^eji a  brownish-green 
precipitate — passing  into  ti  red  solution,  consisting  of  baimoglobin 
transformed  into  reduced  hiematin. 

(t^)  thrboim  oxide  hlood,  shuken  up  with  caustic  soiia,  gives  a  red  pre- 
cipitate, passing  into  a  red  FohitJou,  the  red  color  being  a 
combination  of  carbonic  oxide  with  hjematin,  or  "cnrhonic  oxide 
hieraatin,"  reduced  luematin  being  also  present.  Hence  we  have 
a  compounded  spectrum  of  reduced  hsvmatin  and  of  carbonic 
oxide  hsematin  (i^imiUir  to  carbonic  oxide  blood,  but  paler). 

CtiMs  of  Futmhing  u>Uh  Carbonic  Aeid  Hfui  Catbc/nie  Oxide. 

t.  Tfcylor'B  "Medical  JurUprudenrr,"  rnl.  II,  p.  iri3  (I>r.  Proctor).  Female.  Demth  in  ODO  bmir 
frutu  CikrKonir  «i'id,  M.*t  fro«  bjr  tii«  Kftton  tiT  uliric  acid  nn  wbitm^. 

2.  "  Liil)0<M,"  Nov.  12,  1»G4,  p.  552.  MiJt'.  laaliinliiurauB  dculh  from  ifoltig  into  a  mt.  Ttke  eandl« 
««B  found  to  liurn  iti  It, 

X,  Tiiylor'K  "  Mt^lral  Jtirbpnidenre/'  ruL  li,  p.  IVi.  JieaXh  of  seri-n  peraook  from  steeping  in  tlt« 
courtynrtl  of  a  houx?  wlier*'  ]lmt*»ionK  wii»hctitg  buritl, 

4.  "^uy'»  Il<r.fviwt  tt.'tHjri»/'  April,  l$.n».    -Mali*.     iKnih  from  !iijn*k(1n  vapor*. 

fl.  " British  MHiiTil  Jfournal."  hvb.  'W,  lH7n,  p.ju.     IX'aih  Umn  liiti«<kilii  vnpors. 

4.  THflor^H  "Mvdtcal  Jtirlnprudtiiirt'/'  vol.  ti,  p.  112.    Drutli  of  twt>  b»y9  from  brickkiln  raponi. 

7.  "Mrdli-al  (i«oUc,'*  vol.  xivli,  p.fiy3(Mr,  rotlutu  Ik-lli.  Male,  LkiilU  in  two  lumrs  from  efllsrU 
of  It  cliHn>ouI'<Jiih.    CapftcKy  of  eht»riib.-f.  Kwjf)  euliie  fool. 

8.  "  E(ji|iii<tin,eh  Mi-dlon)  Hud  8urgiciU  Jouroiil,"  vol.  t,  p,  Ml.  Tvodetlht  Id  priaon  from  9t&x\i  at 
burning  clinrcoiil, 

9.  (Jity's  ■•  Funoalc Mfdkfnp."  p.  em.  B«ooTei7, tfkr  lulug  In  an a(iooapli«ra  where chnrcoal  ra« 
burning;,  and  lu  whlcb  two  binif«dlerl. 

10.  "  Lancv't."  !>«!«.  '2-2,  19^11.  p.  491.  Multi:  Kt.fi6.  (€«•»  of  Jamrs  Trlckcy.)  Dvath  from  eharfual 
stuvc  at  SC.  MlrharrnCbtircb. 

11.  "  LaiK«i,"  March  29,  Id;i9,  p.  16.  Malo.  Di^ath  from  eff'^'Cti  of  a  cliarcval-dbh  In  a  tlilp's 
cabtn. 

12.  "  Ilritinh  M-dlcal  Joiirnnl."  July  ^,  1H71{,  p. 24  (Dr.  Driinon).  Two  ailulU.  Rcx^ov^ry  a/l«riererO 
■yoiptoni*.  ciiiim-d  by  bnruibg  charcoul. 

18.  "  Medieul  Times  and  UawjUtV  Jan.  5,  ias$.p/il  ( Df,  Aahl«y^  Two  fema]e^  adulla.  Recovrrj- 
from  effi'clsof  liurriitiK  cbarcoal. 

14    "  Hrillifli  MlnIicuI  Journul."  Mnrch  4.  1*71,  p.  238.    CoiubitstttiD  of  pf^at  In  clo«c  clialnber. 

15.  "  Brif  iflb  M-lli-ttl  .Journal,"  Nov.  9,  IW!,  p.  509. 

1«.  "  Mrdktii  Tinifi  M4td  <niC4*l.lo;'  MAirb  .11,  l»M,  p.  823.     Fonr  daalb«  from  burning  coal. 

17.  "Midical  Uax<  tlw,"  vol.  xaxvl,  p  9.(7. 

1«.  "  F.a*iJbiiirgb  M.JUlbly  Journal,"  IHfi'J,  vol.  I,  p,  fi42, 

It.  •♦  Dublhi  Mi-db  a)  Trfw."  Jan.  31, 1«I9.  p.  fi!». 

JO.  "MhIIcuI  TiMir*  and  <inAMt»-."  Apfil  8,  U«a,  p.  SSJI. 

91.  ** llcdbat  TiiMi-A  and  iiantw,"  Marn'h  31,  ]MM»,  p.  9-2». 

28.  ••  Annalei  d  Uy»c'^">i\  '  l'*^!,  vol.  U,  p.  Ill  (M.  DiiiVprtfln).  F*imal«r  and  male.  Th«  former  dM, 
and  Ihe  lail.  r  rvx.o»cii-^l  from  llie  cQVcta  of  gmic*  arising  from  a  9(oV(>.  and  grtliug  Into  a  mom 
ibrougii  flfwur***  In  «he  chlmnry 

23.  "  Mrdlral  (iaaeite,"  vol,  AltU,  p.  413.  Death  from  leakage  gf  gaaea  thmugh  an  impprfect  Jolnl 
In  a  rurnoct'  Hnc, 

24,  Taylor-  "MHlca!  Jurltprudenoc."  vol.  U,  p.  107.  Dcalb  from  vftpora  from  smouldering 
aKbe«, 

•iO.  '•  AnoAlr^  d'!ly^{^^n^»."  0<?l.  iMft,  p.  »9.    Death  from  the  fnmc«i  of  •rooiiM««'rfng  wood. 

M,  Taylor'B  "Medical  Juri4prudi'nci%**  vul.  il.  p.  111.    Two  deulbs  from  coke  lire  (SOtTX 

27,  "Edinburgh  MoniblyJr>urn»i;'  April,  ltH7,  p.  763  (Dr.  Daridwui).  Otatb  from  a  Ore  burning 
wHboot  a  fliir-  in  «  roi-ni. 

39.  "  UriOah  Mailtcil  Journal."  Jan  II.  imi,  p.  .1%  iDr  Ody).  Death  from  a  coal  nre,  burnt  on  tb« 
hcMth,  under  an  open  cblmnry.  in  which  ihere  wai  a  ilownwartl  ciirr«>nt.  «■ 


rOiaONING    BT   GOAL   QAS.  487 

:  *4i|.  li,  p.  53t.    Death  from  the  leakage  fh>in  a  ftirnaoe  through  a  brick 
^rudeBcc;*  vol.  ii,  p.  107.    Death  of  four  men  from  the  waste  gaa  from 

COAL  GAS. 

Composition. 

compound  gas,  and  varies  considerably  in  the  relative 

^1  ooniponeut  parts.     The  differences  are  due  to  many 

le  kind  of  eoal  employed,  and  the  temperature  to  which 

The  following  are  the  gases  present  in  coal 

>gen. 

mt  gas  aiKl  other  heavy  hydrocarbons, 
carbu retted  hydrogen. 
mic  oxide, 
)nic  acid. 

I u retted  hydrogen, 
lonia, 
^en. 
trogen. 

Ion  gas  the  amount  of  carbonic  oxide  varies  from  about  5  to  7 

light  carburetted  hydrogen  from  40  to  45  per  cent,  and  olefiant 

\  to  4  per  cent     There  is  little  doubt  that  carbonic  oxide  is  the 

(▼ely  poisonous  of  the  gases  present.     Indeed,  some  have  stated 

I  the  only  poisonous  body  (M.  Tourdea).     But  it  is  more  than 

,  as  Dr.  Taylor  suggests,  that  the  various  hydrocarbons  present 

0  a  noxious  influence.  It  is  curious,  however,  that,  in  a  very 
itate,  pure  carbu  retted  hydrogen  does  not  appear  dangerous  to 
oasmuch  as  the  miners  breathe  it  continually  without  any  ap- 

1  effects  resulting.  The  odor  of  coal  gas,  which  is  due  to  naphtha 
d  to  other  volatile  hydrocarbons,  is  its  great  safeguard  ;  and  this 
reijr  intense.  We  can  ourselves  detect  1  part  of  coal  gas  in 
!  air,  and  there  are  few  in  our  experience  who  cannot  recognize  1 
000. 

Symptoms — Experiments  on  Animals. 

imeots  on  animals  with  coal  gas  were  made  by  Dr.  Aldis,  and  are 
in  the  "British  Medical  Journal,"  Feb.  1,  1862,  p.  126,  and 
9, 1862,  p.  344.  Other  experiments  are  recorded  in  the  July 
af  the  "  Edinburgh  Medical  Journal,"  1874.  According  to  our 
mments,  an  atmo^sphere  containing  4  p^r  cent,  has  a  well-marked 
action  on  mice.  Two  mice  out  of  three  died  in  about  five  minutes 
loephere  containing  17  per  cent.,  but  the  third  one  for  some  reason 
Mr  recovered.  But  even  when  the  gas  was  present  in  excessively 
loantity,  a  mouse,  as  well  as  a  small  geranium,  became  visibly 
liter  exposure  to  its  influence  for  a  considerable  time :  the  mouse 
I  exceedingly  quiet,  dull,  and  heavy,  with  a  complete  loss  of 
iMfBy  from  which  state  it  took  some  time  to  recover,  whilst  the 
lalowlT  withered  and  ultimately  died. 

^penments  show  that  a  very  small  quantity  of  coal  gas  in  the 
may  ftod  does  produce  serious,  although  not  necessarily  fatal, 
ibering,  therefore,  the  enormous  leakage  of  gas  that  v 


486 


AL    GAS. 


*•.  •  -■     ho  atmr.ispJuTi-.  w.- an   Inl  :■ 

*?.'"'"■  •••  cjiu.se  nt'  iiiau  y  «a.-.-  .»r  iilu;:^ 

**"•'"'  .  ..     Tlu-  ^yiiiptniii-  .  r'  i.-,..iu  u'x- 

!^^'''"  ■  •-  ..i.'he  ami  L'i*!'!!!!*-?".  ili.-ii  v-jn/.- 

"*■"'  •     -      U  to  Ulir  iflMMull^ll*.-*.  w;:ii  f-'h- 

*^''*'l  .   i.ially  (••.m|>let»' asphyxia.    l»r. 

.-        Kilinlmri:!!  Mt«li«-a-  .|..:irrial. 

• 'V<-'<'ii  fi»:i]    ira^   |i  ,:•  .ni^jj  a^jj 

•   -iiat  in  apoph'xy  ilu-   ^yiuj-r-.r... 

.1    jas   |>oi.<oiiiii.Lr   iht-y  ri  ;"t  i.i.\- 

i    -iher  (lUf.uirairiiiir.      Hv  n..!(- 

■••ball.*  in  poirjoninL'^  l»y  ..-a:  ^r^.. 

i    :  :;ie  variations  may  p.»!:-iiNV  iv 

.-  i:  •MU'  time  ami  ont-  at  an..;^^•: 

*.  as  till*  ap|K'aran<.v>  ih.it  :i.:iv 

'..-r  i)lootl,  a  <li't  pcnol   rii.j.  !■: 

aiy  li»iu',  abundant  l:  --'it  -.u 

■   "I.  iHTV«»n>  sy.^trni.an-i  r-xrni;- 

•  !  irnn.  injfctt'il  stai».-    .:  ;:.- 

^.  .  ani  occa^innal    rn-t-i- -1 'n  : 


i  .ir}*ij«iiin,  .•*timnlan>.  an. 


•  r  oi  nt.  of  air. 


."!  i..rr......    i.  • 

:i"    r  :.:■:..     •  ; 


X.M  M.i 


1     '•-.»• 'I 


-lirliy.  <.iir   .I,.-*'.  . 


•■•■  \  »..rniii  |:...|  .i.'t.  r  f.ii-  Ii...-. 
>  t  !»  |Mi,i:i..j,:  t!|.  nur*..  »'i..  •^• 
..l■l>f:.  .i!i.l  a.-t;li.  :,.'  r. '.|.iri:.-.!i 

M.i.  •     .ft.  .-.-.        .'     M.i|,.     .i;    .-. 
;•:  .:■■       1  ii-.Mi«:":;iy.  »;ti.  »-i!*!;  «-  • 
\jcn  w«rf  a.ltuiiiiM'.  r«f.i      l;.-. ..».-» 


BFPE0T3  OF  INHALATION  OF  NITROUS  OXIDE.      489 

it.—'*  hunxt;*  Oct,  ^,  187»,  p.  iK>2  (Dr.  de  ChanmontV    d)  Female :  »t.  82.    '.i)  Fenmla :  let. 
m)  Mulct  Kt.  ■'is. 
f»jErfwMu, e/r— Lemkafe of  gu  from  tiphon  of  coinpfinr'a  timln.    One  recovered,  the  twooiban 

.—Dura  maler  In  both  vaanwM  mueh  eotigc^stod  ;  lauga  dark ;  bronchlAl  mncotiB  men- 
much  C'»>uge9t<<d  ;  ftiojuacb  liealtbjTt 
CA9E  7-—"  Lanctl."  Oct.  4,  187a,  p.  SOO.    Male :  child. 

,  «rr.— EHcBpe  of  ga«  litlo  bt^rooro.    Found  dead.    No  sfffn  of  stniggling, 

CAHE  «,— "  Lancet,"  Nov.  10,  1H66,  p,  523  (Dr.  Barcbf).    JiaK' :  tel.  13. 

ii^ayilBffu,  e^c— The  man  hnd  a  lit ;  nfter  recDVer^  fuiind   It  difficult  to  *pefek;  «eemed  n»  if  Intoxi- 
Oliifl  .  puitU>  nalunil;  vomiiiug;  cluulc  spa»m8,    Recorered  by  the  next  day.    Uriue  natural. 

CASK  ».— "  Uncet."  Nor.  lO,  1866.  p.  523  {Dr.  Barclay).    Male:  mL  28, 

SfrnptiTHu,  etc.— FHit,  but  without  loflaof  i»>D8ctonBD«(»;  uriuo  nattiral ;  loss  of  inemnry  and  speech  : 
flre<jfi"t]!  clootc  »pfi»tu«.    Itotovery. 

>.— ^-Lancpl,"  Dtfo.  10,  1*70,  p.  810(Mr.  Jeuop),    Maltp:  let.  24. 

<i.  e/c— W-'ijt  into  a  large  jf«*-pfpe  to  look  Tor  place  uf  ifakage,  stipposfng  afl  the  rim  to 
ha^vO'u  lei  off.  tmmedlale  ionensihlfity  ;  wan  founJ  and  taken  out  after  twenty  luitiutes;  con- 
TuUluiJ!.;  piipib  normal;  no  fonmlng  of  the  niuutb,  or  roiuitiug,  or  sterlorona  breuthhig.  Recovered 
tB  twadftj*. 

CiSE  J !.-*•  EdIoburKh  Medical  Journal,"  Jnly.  1974  (Dr.  Wra.  Taylor).    Male :  au 6a 

/!*•/■■■' '" -- glepl  all  ni^ht  in  a  room  where  c:oal  gna  biit!  bern  escaping  (not  more  tbiin  three 

per  .    present  In  the  aluvtwpbere).     Found   in  thi>  morning  unconstiQua ;  mouth  open; 

p%ti<  If  and  dllaUjd  ;  breathing  labored  ;  afUTward*  ciwvulsioDB  set  in ;  jawe  l*eciime rigid  ; 

brcabih  4»i*ptrguated  with  g:i».     (i^ild  douche,  artificial  reaplmlkin,  Uirpentinv  enemauced.)    .'teemed 
to  llaprure  for  a.  time,  but  died  the  next  day. 

CJkAB  12.—'*  Edifiburiith  Mwilcal  Journal."  July,  1*74,  p.  25  (Drs.  Maclagan  and  Flrle,  of  Dundee), 
^mploma,  flte.— Amati,  wife,  ami  two  tliildreii  fuatiddeiid  from  gas  itralca^e. 

CJkSE  1.1.— "  Kdioburgh  Mwilcal  Journal."  July,  1874,  p  27.     Male:  let.  14. 

g^fn^timtu^  etc—A  boy  ut  i^oblip  i^huo]  dit^d  from  the  gafteacaplug  at  night  Into  the  bedroom,  the 
liopcuck  not  baviug  been  properly  lurotMJI. 

NITROUS  OXIDE  (N,0). 
(Nitrogen  Protoxide — Laughing  Gas.) 

Preparation  and  Properties. 

[t  18  prepared  by  heating  nitrate  of  ammonia. 

H,N,NO,  =   2H.O    +    Np. 

itrouai  oxide  is  a  colorless  gas^  with  a  sweetish  smell  and  tai*te.  At 
0**  C  100  cubic  iudiejs  of  water  dit!.solve  130  cubic  iuehea  of  the  ga.>*,  and 
23.8^  C.  100  cubic  iuclies  dissolve  60  cubic  indies  of  the  g&i*.  It  can 
reduced  U)  a  lirjuid  by  a  pressure  of  50  atinoapheres  at  a  tcnipcralure 
1.05°  C.  The  gas  ha.s  about  the  same  specific  gravity  as  carbonic  acid 
(1.527).  It  is  a  briMiiiut  supporter  of  combuytiou.  It  has  neither  acid 
Dor  alkaline  properties. 

Effects  of  Inhdhtimh 

Sir  H.  Davy  was  the  first  who  pointed  out  that  it  might  be  breathed 
without  danger  for  a  short  time,  symptoms  of  transient  intoxication  being 
prtMlucwl.  These  effects  rapidly  disappear,  and  no  bad  afler-efJects  result. 
(If  lute  several  accidents  have  uccurred  Irom  its  use  as  an  an:c<thelic  in 
dental  uud  other  operation.^.  It  is  to  be  remembered  that  nitrous  oxide 
cnunol  net  as  a  3ub:*titute  for  oxygen,  aod  that  undiluted  nitrous  oxide 
actcs  speedily  an  a  poison.  Further,  if  any  hydrochloric  acid  be  present 
in  the  nitrate  of  ammonia,  a  little  chlorine,  wtiieh  will  prove  very  tnjuri- 
cm*.  may  be  generated  at  the  name  time.  It  is  generally  supposed  that 
the  fatal  eft'ects  resulting  from  it  are  duii  to  pure  air  not  being  allowed  to 
enter  ai  proper  intervals  during  the  exhibliioo  of  the  gas.     The  advantages 

32 


cAiKf  Of  roisoBiva  bt  rirmop*  wvmi 


•f  tk<!  gM  JM  fto  Mtmlmit  aie  fit  mpUky  of  action,  liie  aI 
wt0miiuig,B9d  tb^  mfidky  of  fcoMrnr.  Bat  it  nqmm  to  be 
virh  7r»mt  esre  daniif  ftdmiaiiCfmtioe.  It  k  fvpovtad  Ckftt  a  p 
>  r.  VM  kepi  MM  hiMtr  mod  thittf-foor 


tt-^oor  mil 
IMidd  JcMtfttO.**;     Dr.  M*n«i  ^iw  i 
oo  »  f«iM!Di  aiMler  die  gns  die  openuxio  Luting  fiftj-fiiar  nimitei. 
Colc««i»  M«tci  tkat  be  bw  adtDioMtetMi  it  67,4o^  ttmo,  and  oeirer  bad  aa 


i*'  Laiioti/*  Dec  t3,  1873.)     la  about  1  case  in  Im  ibere 
"  •  -  '       Aw  f«Mi  €>r  death,  ••Lancset,"  Feb.  15,  1873,  jx  *>-' 
A  p.  727;  *'Bntt»b    Meaical  Juarnal,"  April,  V 
otirg.  KefR.^  1^2p  pw  343.) 


siAJi   »«»f:«J. 


FUMES  OF  NITRIC,  NITEOUS  ACIDS,  ETC. 

HHrcm  acid  futnai  are  very  oflen^;  -ritaiiog,  and  In  lar^  (quali- 

ty deadly.     There  are  MTemt  man  cig  proceaKS  io  which  Mich 

imf»  art:  gt^tnnrtkitti  nnd  eNcafx;  itiUi  iht  ntr,  uiilteii  care  be  lakeii^    Soeb^ 
r.r  I  K^irif^it;,  HH^ ^uD-iuittou iiiJiuutactiirieM,  nud  places  where  bra»  buttoa- 
I  :iiUT'giJ<iiag,  aii(!  iuch  like  pruce9M»e«  are  carried  on,  a^  wtU  as 

a,  ,,.^.,.,  {fiorm^«'d  oil  of  vitriol  worku,  and  io  oxalic  acid  inaouiactori^ 
whcnr  th«'  Hfui  in  pro<iur'49d  by  the  action  of  oitric  acid  on  aacchanoe  mat- 
tnr».  In  luMitiou  lu  iheM,  nitnjUA  fumets  are  generated  by  the  muk^re  of 
tin  and  iron  lifjuom,  and  altu;  at  nitmlyeuzol  nud  picric  acid  work?.  To 
ftmefly  th(^  tmiMur*\  ihi:  op«*ratioii»  should  be  carried  on  io  closed  vessels, 
MkI  an  Apf»Hrittu<«  <  rnployrd  whrrcby  the  uiirousfume^  oiay  be  absorbed  by 
pamn^  rhtrii  cithrr  through  water  or  through  au  alkalioe  liquid  coutatuing 
milk  of  tfitM',  If  hahitimlly  hreulh^,  even  iu  very  j^mall  quantities,  and 
in  i^n^m  diliition,  ihcy  arc  hlccly  to  produce  bad  ch run ic  diseases,  and  in 
liiir^^"  r  qimnliticj*,  mujtc  iKyrnptoni*.  The  symptoms  arc  generally  a  great 
tiKiitiH^  in  the  chc«l,  with  n  dry  cough,  the  patient  calling  out  for  air  as 
if  dri^idiijg  woffoctttioii — u,  coiiMaiit  feeling  of  nauaea,  paiu  in  the  stomach, 
dynuria,  delirium,  and  death  in  or  after  convulsions.  Acute  iiitlammatory 
action  will  be  found  along  the  whole  of  the  respiratory  tract.  Au  active 
iiu|)*rrviition  of  lUch  manufucturies  is  \ery  neceaeary  to  prevent  eerious 
luinchief. 

Cn»4tM  of  PoUoninff  by  Nitf^ut  Fume*. 

CAMK  1  — "  {'•nrot,"  AprtllA,  |MA|,  p.  iit<>.    Mnlr*:  mIuU.    Kuiuie^  rnam  a  t»rokcn  e«rU)y  of  uttrle 
Mid  Mit|i(M»rk  ■<  Id*     liiliNd'd  (uw*  fur  «  ft**  miouira. 
^M/i4<«M.  —  No«lfWtop«rtlcutariy  Iarthre«liuun4vxcepicougiiiog.  after  whicb,  dtificultjr  of  bl 

lUintl  —lit'sth  In  (<l<'V(ui  liuiira. 

tSiUHtt^twm  ~<l'ungi'BiUiti  «iid  oiriialun  uf  blood  Into  the  bron«hlRl  Xnhm. 

CA^K:  *;-'*•  Iu'IiiIchI  Nh'Wk,"  Mnrrli  U.  IH<V3,  p   1.TJL     Miite:  uJult.     Dmke  «  Jifof  rillrir  nrul,  mA 
(nliKlrd  tliii  vMiM^r. 
4f|^ff»;<i'#it<Mi,--|ilfnfiillf  nt  lirf^ftthiiif  dUI  uut  ucrnr  fur  %n  buur  ur  two. 
i(«m^i— ItoHtli  in  Ivu  liuuni. 

t'AM«  X  — "  <  hfiinkftl  Nvwi/'  MARrh  N,  IMSl,  |i.  X'A'l.    Malu:  adiilu     Broke  »  Jur  of  oitcic  aciil,  «nd 
tMltiil-'l  Mm  tii)«ir, 
Aym>i(rjm«.— liiltn^iilty  of  hrral-tilng  did  not  occur  fbr  a  few  hour*. 
JUMfM,    l>gath  In  nrtiwn  huura. 


l»II<)8PH<mi:TTED  HYDROGEN  (PH,). 

(8p.gr.  1/24.) 

A  case  of  BUspoctCKl  poifK>ning  ia  recortlml  by  Brenner  ("  Sydenham  So- 
dety'ii  Biennial  Uotro«pci't/'  l«6o-6(),  p.  44:})." 


ilt7LPfiL  BETTED    HYDROGEN. 


491 


D  HYDROGEN    H^). 

1795. . 

on  ftleuJiieof  iron  or  uf  potassium  with  di- 
'  acid?^.     It  is  inteosely  poisouous.   Berz^'lius, 
litid  a  bubble  of  the  gas  uut  larger  than  a  pea 
'Hiell  UtT  several  hours. 


I  i:tted  hydrogen  h.s  . 

(Sp,   gr.   1.1912.) 

/  Cimani'fiiH'^rJit  under  ichicft  it  U  produced. 

kHi  iji  prtfiiired  by  adding  dilute  sulphuric  acid  to 

orn^bced  in  ^niall  quautity  when  »ulphur  i:*  heated 

|s.intiuj(    usly  whenever  a  soluble  sulphate  re- 

1)  iij^  Lirgaut'j  matter,  provided  the   amount  of 

a  aulphide  being  first  formed,  the  excess  of  oxygen 

•  yingorgauic  matter  (Na^SO,  —  20,  =  Na^S,  eic.,^. 

acid,  will  now  set  free  the  sulphuretted  hydrogen 

Na^CO,  +  H/?.».     It  is  in  this  way  that  the  Har- 

:ided  with  the  gas,  to  which  it  owes  it«  unpleasant 

iDt  didiml   pro|>erties,  whilst  by  a  similar  action  sul- 

in  geueraied  in  sewers  aud  cesspools.     The  occasional 

i  other  eflervescent  waters,  is  due  to  a  minute  trace 

>  ited,  owing  to  common  water  containing  sulphates 

U;iiJg  used  in  tbeir  manufacture. 

Properties. 

^Imgeo  is  a  eolorlesH  transparent  ga«,  having  an  intense 

Water  at  0^  C  dissolve;*  4.37  times  its  bulk,  and  at 

•  H  buJk  tjf  the  gas.     If  the  solution  be  allowed  to  stand 

iW  t»jcygen,  water  is  formed,  and  the  liquid  becomes 

^U«  deposition  of  aulphur. 

2H,S    +  0,=  2HP   +  S,. 
tphuric  actd  ia  formed  If  the  oxidation  takes  place  in  a  moist 

hydmgeu  ia  a  combustible  gas,  and  burns  with  a  pale-blue 

iing  water  and  eulpburoua  anhydride.     If  the  amount  of  air 

[wlphiir  will  l>e  dep4>aited.     Transmitted  through  tubes  heated 

[liUlphu relied  hydrogen  h  partially  decomiwsed  into  sulphur  and 

lij  the  presence  of  moisture,  sulphurous  acid  and  sulphu- 

fen  decoiupose  each  other.     It  is  also  decomposed  by  the 

Mils.     It  will  explode  when  mixed  with  one-half  its  volume 

i^  sulphur  being  deposited^  but  if  it  be  exploded  in  the  proportion 

ilphu retted  hydrogen  and  3  of  oxygen,  sulphurous  acid  only  is 

r*i*ure  of  ]  7  atnmspheres  reduces  the  gas  at  a  temi)erature  of  15**  C. 
'  jH  mobile  liquid. 

Symptoms, 

■V  of  poisoninff  by  sulphuretted  hvdrogen  vary  according  to 
*S  dilation.    If  very  eoncentrcUea,  death  is  immediate.    If 


POISONTNO    BY   SBWER   0A8BS. 


Hotne^vhat  diluted,  nausea,  giddiness,  cold  skin,  labt^rioim  breathing,  in^gnlir 
action  of  the  heart,  pains  in  the  stomach,  and  death  bv  coma,  or 
in  violent  convulsions,  with  tetanus  and  even  delirium,  are   not  ao 
If  in  a  fpreater  degree  of  diiutUm,  8leepine*s  merely  will  l>e  produced, 
which  recovery  is  easy,  it'  pro|>er  means  be  adopted,  but  may  oih 
teniiinate  fatally   without  sensibility   being  restored;  if  rei*ptre«i 
excetditigfy  dilute  form  a  train  td'  febrile  symptoms,  somewhat  re^m 
typhoid  in  their  character,  will  be  observed,  a  feelinjr  of  nau^ieA  pn 
beiug   the  first  syuiptoni  coruplained  of.     The  pupils  will  generally 
found  diluted, 

fljperlmeixis  on  Animah. 

The  results  of  the  experiments  of  Parent  du  Chalelet,  Barker,  i 
Lethel)y,  on  animals  with  the  gaSj  rany  be  thus  tabulated  : 


of  H^  in  1500  of  air  killed  small  bird*] 


290 

250 
IKOO 

210 
2000 

200 


Parent  du  Cbatelei. 


[  Dr.  Barker 
[  Dr.  Leibeby, 


rabbits 

horses 

birds 

dogs 

birds 

dogs 

Dr.  Letheby  considers  that  1  per  cent,  of  the  gas  in  air  would  he  dttfrW* 
tive  to  human  life. 

According  to  Dr.  Donovan^  even  the  mere  application  of  the  ga.-*  totlrt 
skin  is  dangerous.  It  is  intensely  fatal  if  injected  into  the  blood  or  ioto 
the  cavitiea  of  the  body. 

Sewer  Gase». 

All  the  cases  of  poisoning  by  sulphuretted  hydrogen  that  are 
have  been  accidental.     Indeed,  it  could  not  well  be  otherwise.     The 
cases  have  generally  happened  durin^^  the  removal  of  niglit-aoil ;  and 
the  less  care  tliat  is  [jrobably  tukeii,  tuch  accidental  caj*e«  Beein  to  beooaih 
moner  on  the  Continent  than  in  Euglund.     A  mere  feculen        "  do* 

necessarily  injurious,  nor  is  there  nujch  danger  to  be  appr*  unm 

gewers  where  the  supply  of  water  is  liberal.     Previously  to  empiyiug  ce*- 
pool^,  privies,  sewerg,  and  the  like,  they  should  be  well   stirred   ui 
otherwise  the  escape  of  noxious  vitpors  may  take  place  a.9  aooti  aa 
inoval  of  the  soil  commences.     It  la  not  enough  to  find  that  a  CAtil 
burn  ill  the  atino.iphere  of  a  ce&spool,  because  even  then  it  may  be 
gerously  charged.     Further  (and  this  is  also  true  in  tlie  ciise  of  va 
they  should,  before  eutrj',  be  freely  expo^jcd  to  the  air,  an  active  cotni 
tiou  set  u]),  and  chlorine  generated  in  theiii  for  two  or  tbrue  days  bttfo 
the  men  are  allowed  to  enter. 

The  sewer  gtis  h  generally  a  mixture  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  sulphii 
of  amuKinium,  and  nitrogen,  but  sonietiuies,  according  U)  Th^niird,  it  is 
mere  deoxidized  air  with  excess  of  carbonic  aci»l.     In  such  cai^ed  (and 
covery  is  more  hopeful  under  this  inlter  coudiliou)  the  want  of  oxvgcs 
the  true  cause  of  the  asphyxia  rather  than  the  amount  of  earbciQtc 
which  is  not  likely  to  exceed  4  jK?r  cent. 

The  accidents  in  the  Fleet  Lane  sewer  in  February,  1861,  were  cmrvfttti] 
investigated  by  Dr.  Lcihcby  ("Laucet,"  Feb.  23,  18t>l,  pp.  187  and  4o5jfl 
Sulphuretted  hydrogen  was  undoubtedly  the  cauae  of  the  deathti.  W«a  it 
due  (I)  to  the  discharge  of  some  liquid  into  the  sewer,  like  gas  liquor  jailO' 
rated  with  .*iu I phu retted  hydrogen,  or  (2)  to  the  escape  of  the  gns  from  xho 
disturbed  mud  in  the  sewer,  or  (3)  to  the  action  of  some  acid  liquor 


POISOSIMQ    BY    8BWBR    GASES. 


49S 


info  the  sewer,  upon  the  sulphides  contaiued  in  the  nmd?  Dr.  Lethehy 
believe^i  it  due  to  the  la^^t  i'iiu?!e.  The  time  of  the  arci(Jeut  coincided  with 
the  letting  into  the  sewer  about  100  gallons  of  acid  rn;juor  ("shnrps"}  from 
A  fottoder's  and  bra>fis-tio inhere.  This  acid  liquor  consisted  of  the  washings 
of  the  brass  after  it  had  been  »teepe<i  iu  nitric  acid.  Undoubtedly  acid 
liquor  should  not  be  allowed  to  escajje  into  the  sewers  at  all ;  but  there  was 
some  doubt  whether,  in  this  ca^,  it  could  be  traced  directly  to  it.  Dr. 
Licthebv  believes  that  all  danger  would  be  averted  by  the  men  at  work 

nng  charcoal  respirator:?. 

The  cona  posit  ion  of  the  air  of  the  city  sewers  is  thus  stated  by  Dr. 
Leiheby : 

Traces  of  aturaouia— marsh  gas — and  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

Nitrogen,  .......     79.96 

Oxygen. 19.51 

Carbonic  Acid, 0.53 

Emanations  given  off  from  dead  bw^ies  have  for  centuries  been  rep^arded 
with  3f)ccial  dreiid.  The**e  gaseous  emanations  are  cliietly  aniinoniu,  sul- 
luretted  hydrogen,  carbonic  aciil,  pin if^plm retted  liydrogen,  and  carbu- 
stted  Ijydrogen.  Necesisarily  putrefaction  is  deh*ye<l  when  a  body  ii^  buried 
in  lead,  but  the  metal  givcii  way  at  hi^t  from  its  conversion  into  a  carbo- 
Dftte.  The  removal  of  bodies  from  tlie  Lonrlon  ehurchcji  to  the  cemetery 
was  effected  with  perfect  safety  by  inclosing  t!iem  .separately  in  a  shell  of 
8ucl»  a  ^ize  that  there  wa;s  at  lea.st  two  iiiehe,><  between  the  coffin  and  tho 
shell,  this  <ipace  beint^  filled  uj)  with  a  mixture  yf  equal  parts  oT  charcoal, 
carbolate  of  lime»  and  tnirth.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the 
accounts  given  of  the  evils  that  have  arisen  froui  dead  bodies  are  much 
taggerated;  few  cases  are  on  record,  except  accidents  arising  from  the 
[humation  of  recently  interred  bodies  where  the  abdomen  and  other  inirts 
•re  distended  with  gases,  and  in  such  cases  as  the^se,  accidents  are  easily 
explainer!  in  other  wavs.  (Vide  "Lancet,"  Dec.  7,  1830,  p.  411,  and 
March  14,  1840,  p.  930.) 


Treatment  of  Sulphuretted  Hydrogen  Pmmnlng. 

The  trmtmtid  is  fresh  air  and  cold  affusion.  The  respiration  at  times 
of  air  containing  a  trace  of  chlorine  should  be  tried,  and  this  can  be 
easily  effected  by  making  the  person  breathe  from  out  of  a  b<ntle  con- 
taining a  small  «.|uautity  of  chloride  of  lime.  Hut  brandy  and  waier  may 
be  given  freely. 

Ptust-nwrtem  Appearances. 

The  poi^tmorieni  nppettrftn(*ef>  are  fairly  constant.  The  blood  is  fluid 
and  of  a  dark  black  color,  the  poison  being  actually  absorbed  by  the 
bl<KKl,  and  chemical  changes  thereby  eflecteil.  Tliere  is  a  general  disten- 
sion of  the  vist*era,  rapidity  of  putrefaction,  and  the  exhalation  fr<mi  the 
body  of  an  offensive  «Hlor,  The  right  side  of  the  heart  is  usually  gorged 
with  blood.  The  muscles  generally  are  dark-colored.  All  the  hirger 
bronchial  tubes  (and  this  is  a  very  characteristic  appearance  after  sul- 
phurette<l  hydrogen  poisoning)  appear  as  if  smeared  with  a  dirty-browii 
deposit,  which  can  be  wipe<l  off  with  the  finger.  By  this  means  there  Is 
no  difficulty  after  death  in  deciding  whether  the  fatal  result  was  due  to 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  or  to  carbonic  acid. 


TB6T8    FOR    &C!LPBt7RBTTBD    HTDBOdW. 


TesU, 
(a)   The  vapor  of  iulphuretted  hydrogen  u  knoum — 

1.  By  its  odor  of  rotten  eggs:  1  part  in  10,000  can  be  ea^l^  nnted 

by  the  smell.  ' 

2.  White  filler-paper  moistened  with  a  solution  of  aretctte  of  iead, 

any  other  !*ak  of  lend,  is  immediately  blnekenefj. 
Sulphuretted  hydrot^eii  in  soltitiuti  t>  similarly  koowD  b^*  lb«  hhik' 
euiiJg  etfect  cm  the  addiliou  of  a  lead  ^ult. 

(/?)  TJie  vapor  of  tsulphide  of  ammonium  U  kuoivn^  in  addiiion  to  CW 
above  iesttf — 

(1)  By  it-*  turning  turnierie-pai>er  brnwn. 

(2)  By  the  white  fumes  j^rudiieed  witli  hydrochloric  acid. 
(Ij)  By  a  eriitison  color  being  produced  with  nitro pruMide  of  ^odliOK 

Thi?!  may  be  expo*?ed  to  the  aetiuu  of  the  gas  on  a  pit*cr  uf 
filter-paper,  molsletied  with  a  holutiou  of  the  salt.  Thiii  laC 
produces  no  actiott  with  H,/?. 

Toxicological  Analysis. 

If  the  body  suspecteri  to  have  been  poisoned  by  sulphuretted  bydmfea 
can  be  examined  immediately,  either  place  in  a  cut  made  in  a  (hidt 
muscle,  or,  better  Mill,  put  under  the  skin,  a  :«trip  *if  bripht  silver,  or  i 
piece  (tf  load-paper,  and  ni>te  the  chaogeis  that  restdt.  If  iiulphunettnt 
hydrogen  be  present,  the  ,«ilver  or  the  lead-paper  will  be  blackened,  Tliii 
t4»8t  will  be  of  mt  value,  however;  nnlcH-:  the  experiment  he  m»dn  \mnif 
diately  after  death,  beeausie  (1)  the  sulphuretted  bydropen  if^  uA 

by  the  ti.-isues  f<ir  a  short  time,  and  (2)  if  any  pntrefaetioti  pr<'-  h-m 

get  up,  tha  te.st  is  worthless.  An<l  this  will  further  ^how  the  iit-r^^iiT  in 
such  eases  for  special  examination  of  the  locality  where  the  accident  h«j»* 
pened,  a.s  reliable  evidence  of  poismning  by  sulphurated  hydrogea  CIB 
scarcely  be  obtained  from  an  examination  of  the  body  itself* 

Oi*««  n/  PotAoning  with  Sulpht*rftted  Hydrogtn^  Sfwer  Emanaiitm/t^  ^tc 

CASE  I.—**  AanalM  d'JIyitiBno.'*  July,  l%iM  ( M.  d'Arc^t).  Mftlwi  (») :  idiilt*.  Tbf*^  men  AI«A«»i 
co«iiitely  within  t  (ew  yi'Mn,  rmto  wwor  emanatiotie  c^volred  from  »  pl^  l«iftdlnc  trum  ihrpAfJ 
i0lo  lli()  room  vh^re  th^f  ItVMl. 

CASK  2.— Taylor's '*M'»d leal  Jurl^pnidonee,"  toI.  U,  p.  120,    Th«  in^ll  working  In    tb«  Th«ni« 
Tnnnpt  vfn  fouiid  i^  sMn.-r  ^i'vcrtly.    Several  dlwl.    Dr. Taylor  foiinJ  thie  to  be  due  to  fli«  air 
lalnltiEC  suiphurfttcd  hydroj^eo. 

CA8E;  3.—"  Medical  Times  and  Gajcfltr,"  July  1,  1871,  p.  9.    B««ri!r  gai. 

CASE  4.—**  MfdIcftI  Giitrll.'. '  vol.  xHU,  p.  871. 

CASE  6.—"  Lancet,"  Feb.  17.  1872,  p.  2«.    Svwer  gas. 

CAFE  6.—"  Lancet,"  June  29,  I87i,  p.  «»5.    Sevvr  gw, 

CASE  7.—"  Lancet,**  ApHI  15.  IStS,  p,  41S.    SL-wer  ftas, 

CASK  «.-'"Lauoet,"F.?b/2n.  lMl.p.l8T(Dr.U'tbebyan.lAlr  Boldrn),  M«1m(4V,  u  l-.u. 

CA8E  9  — Taylnr^fc  "Medical  Jurisprudence,"  toI  II,  p,  1!I1.    Six  prvnns.     All  -i 
containing:  a  minitle  Iracp  of  II^S.    Thr  coltaifo*  wpi*  hiitit  on  tlatt  f«n»Mlnlu(t  th^    ■ 
■od  culciuni,  and  tliuday  lH*f<>r«*  the  accident  llierf)  hjid  b«en  a  almqi  ihuwer  of  ralii.     d 
fattier  nud  maOiir  wtv  Tuund  d*^ad  io  the  mortilnf;.    tT!)  A  chtid  waA  found  Infern^lblv,  alNt 
tho  aft^riiotm.    (4)  An  adult  ali^pt  in  the  same  l>fd,  and  waa  drad  tflcr  an  lioar^    ^Saft< 
«blldn>n  aUo  died. 

CASE  10— Tflylor"*  "Medical  Juri9pnid«*nce,"  vn\.  II.  p,  124  (Mr.  K««rr OulMlbnTj,    ll«ltt 
From  lUanintt  out  a  unk  ii<tcd  a«  a  o<^p>u(.    The  lUAU  Mt  In,  but  waa  r^^A^nt^l  tn  I 
C<Jroa.     iVath  In  Iwenty-foiir  hnur^. 

CA^E  tl.— Taylor'9  "  M<YiirH|  JurUpnidf'nrp,"  rol,  iK  p.l24.    Mala:  adult.    Cleaaiasout  a 
in  which  oil  of  vitriol  had  tM^en  poured.    Death. 


CASES   OF    POISONING    BY    SULPHURETTED    HYDROQEN.      495 


«  ASE  12— "CbfUllioii," p.  810,    Twpn»y-t«ro  hoy*.    All  atUckcd,  and  two  dipd,  trem  the  etffecl  of 

9»*i^  rK^pinK  info  ttie  gurdea  rrom  d  rmpooK 

CASE  l.T— T*tlor'«  "M«tiic»I  .!uH»pnKl<?nrf,"  vol  H.  p.  IV'6.    Threw  men.    Died  from  brootlilog 
fpurm  irmanalJng  fruin  au  old  »ewer.    Two  mun  werf  nv»t\y  klllvit  in  niuleavoring  Ui  rearnu  l)u*m. 

CA»R  N.—"  British   Mcdlca)  Jonrriat,"  Ang.  U,  1819,  p.  1$.S.    Two  demtba  in  newera  at  DulitlD, 
i  f  Uiag  fr«ip  gaa  IJiuiii  belDg  thrown  lutu  the  acwer. 


SULPHUROUS  ACID  (SO,). 
(Sulphur  Dioxide.   Sp.  gr.  of  gaa  2.247,  and  of  liquiJ  1.38  at  16^  C.) 

Soureea  and  Properties, 

Sulphurous  acid  is  prod u red  by  Wiiriiinfr  sulphur  in  air  or  oxygen.  It 
»  hho  one  uf"  the  gaj^es  lan  wi'll  as  rarbonic  acid  uud  carbonic  oxide)  pro- 
duce<l  by  the  combu^tiiui  of  coal  and  coke,  and  derived  from  the  oxida- 
tion of  liie  sulphur.  The  atiiount  of  sulphur  iu  diOereot  Kpecinieni!}  of  coal 
and  coke  varies  greatly. 


Amount  of  Sulphur  in  different  varieties  of  Coal. 

Maxioium. 

MlBiJBIlllL 

AT«rag«. 

Wal« 

JCt'wcautlH,    ,    , 
r»rr«»y»hir«..  .    . 
l^iieiuhire,  .     . 
SooUand,  .    .    . 

11.07 
2.88 
\M 

i;s7 

O.HO 
OM 
0.33 

ae  exna.  1  47 
18      -"   1.14 

7  "      1.01 
28      "      1.43 

8  "     I.n 

The  amount  of  sulpliur  in  coke  h  generally  about  ooe-half  of  the  totol 
quantity  prej*ent,  in  the  coal  from  which  it  isi  prepared.  Sulphurous  acid 
18  alsti  given  off  freely  froni  the  craters  of  votcauoeK,  and  coiijiequently 
may  be  ordinarily  found  in  the  s^prings  of  v<dcauic  districts.  It  is  pro- 
duced al.^o  by  burning  ordinary  eoal  gas,  from  the  oxidation  of  the  sulphur 
com  pou  nd."*  presen  t. 

Sulphurous  acid  is  a  colorless  ga?,  having  an  intensely  ^uff<>cating  odor 
and  a  pungent  taste.  It  is  neither  cnmlm?*tilde  n«r  a  supporter  of  com- 
bustiftu.  Water  dissolvej*  about  forty  tiuief*  its  bulk.  It  ]>os.^es!*ej?  great 
bleachiog  powers,  but  it  does  not,  like  chlorine,  dei*troy  the  color,  proved 
by  the  fact  that  it  can  lie  again  restored  by  an  alkali  or  by  the  action  of 
a  Bironger  acid. 

It-9  usiCi?  are  uumeroui*:  amongst  other?*  for  bleaching,  as  a  preservative 
of  meat,  to  check  fermentation,  and  for  purposes  of  fumigation. 

Pfiimnoujt  Effects  of  the  Gas, 

Id  excess,  of  course,  sulphurous  acid  is  a  poison  ;  but  it  is  remarkable 
how  easily  animals  become  accn^lomed  to  inhaling  it  In  small  quantity. 
A  quantity  of  the  ga«  that  h  posit i\'ely  poisoiiousi  to  one  can  be  respired 
with  perfect  impunity  by  another  that  has  been  cautiously,  and  by  degrees, 
iujcustomed  to  its  action.  For  example,  we  placed  two  nnce  in  a  large 
cla»s  receiver,  in  which  we  burnt  0.5  grain  of  sulphur.  Tlie  effect  was 
immediate,  and  the  irritability  cau.sed  lasted  for  some  time;  but  bv  iu- 
CTCJising  the  amount  of  tlie  c^ulphur  grudually  day  by  day,  we  were  enabled 
to  burn  10,0  grain«  of  sulphur  in  the  Fame  vessel  without  anything  like 
the  irritating  effect  on  the.se  two  mice  resulting  that  U.5  grain  produced 
in  the  fintt  instance.     We  do  not  think  that  when  the  slight  irritability 


j.j-:t7j  poisosisa. 

;:.  —  .1  •mi-'.  .laDcitv  is  in  the  first  ii:-ui> 
:■  :-  •  -iM--  :L'i»i^.'f.i.  it  maybe  anii^-j.::-  .: 
-:-.:.  ^..     "^  rn-  v-ar-  ago,  when   Dr.  L-ihrrj 

...-  ^  .'irrj-.-in-i  Railway,  it  was  r^niarir; 
._:.'— -1     :i    nut  ^iiiT  -utftred  liitlt*  or  u>i  Id-'o 

.=  .1.1  »n'«^nr  in  the  air.  It  i^  v*  hr  re 
r:ii:i    nam?  '■'   r^rar  its  action  in  :hi-  r^Lii 

ii  »'.      v.  '.'fry  !Uii  "r.  •inalltT  tjuaniity  nf  ?:;- 

.auL  :nuu  is  Uiicb^-arv  tu  kill  a  small  auioLL 


-  .M  ■  «r   SnipiiKmna  Add. 

;:''"iLi:Jir  ■  'lor.    * 
i-     -Hir  with   -^tarrh  and  iixiic  acid.     One  pan  ic 

-i».'*:i»-u  '-v  :nis  M.'j*t. 


IIAPTER  XVIII. 

MP'-'UXD  POISOXIXG. 

.:,1  :"'"i:<«i[iiiiir  are  not  nnc^onininn.    ?s)meiiratf 

:..  ;:iati«iu  of  thosi^'  usually  rosiiltinj:  fnun  the 

::i-r  tiiih-s  the  symptoms  ot"  the  one  |K»i!«*>n 

-  vliii-h  is  pres*.'nt  in  the  Lrn-atest  «]uaDiit]r, 

.    -.r  I'.iinn  of  DthiT  iM)isnunus  IxhHo'!  with  whii'h 

--  I  :n:w  -it't   of  symptoms  are  produffd,  en- 

-•■.::.  ni^  jinxluecMl  hy  either  poison.      Al  "iher 

■  i.-Hin  -(M'ins  to  he  more  «»r  h*-s  coniplt^lely 

:.•    't«'iin<l.     This  is  notably  the  ca^e  where 

;■.::  ;i  :  iis,  for  cxaniph',  in  a  mixture  of'  i.pinm 

•  :.:.■:;:  in  all   eases  ot*  compound  poisoning' wiU 

<  ■  .  i:i>l  n»u.-t  he  siKM-ially  sugp'stod  by  ihet-har- 

.  ■:::  ■.■■ms. 

:  -  iiir  ruM's  of  compound  poisoning  that  areun 

'■  •ni.-.iiwi    Piiiftonituj. 
■-*'.;.."«•;.    ."iii""'.  "l"ai'"nitif  lini  tun- and  r.j  (if  cliliirtif-'riu    P.— 

\    .     .', '-"4.      T.iiiiiiK-iit  ■)r  atiiiiiiini.i.  nil.  iitiil   f:tiit!iari<li4.    U>- 

'. .    ■■<•">.  :i  VV).      \rHMiii*  :iiiil  |i)i'i!<|ili<irii4.     Rat  |hjI<»i|]. 
\\.'..  'A.'."''-,  p   ■'••>'*      .VrH.»riii' uiiil  :»iitliiii»iiy.  •, 
•«  I-. .  '  I.  '.<>*K  i>.  "■">.      r'-iicy-liiuiN  iiii'l  iiiari>;i>li|!>.  T^xyMih]  in  »aIi  r. 

t  i.i'i  ■'   ■"*'»■'>.  i>.  .""'       Pf.irh  frmii  anili'a  nml  f>|iiiiiii.i 
I    .,■-.1.1    ii|.(>i;<iw  iioiviriiii:;  iMii'.     Acoiiiti' ami  iauil.iniifii  ) 
I  .     ■.  '■<>'..  !•.  ■""■      -V  |M«-W'  t  <«f  viTiiiiii-killtT  with   ::  •Irai-hm*  ■»' 
.1   <i    -••i  jii'i  ijiita<>\     No  o'livuliiuii.t  or  twitrhin^n  <>f  any  kiii'i 

.1,  ■-•■.■■'.!».  ■•■"r      "iii-iifctitl  !«Ii»w  pol«()n{n>!    fri>iii   !iiilpli«l«  of 

■■wi7.   1.  ."'.      f.ar-.;*' ■!■>:«*  of  ruiiiphor  ami  ln'Ila<liiiina.     I>'»th.) 
■•>    ■•.    : nj>.  ii.  Ji' t.      Lii-iiiaiiuiii  and  i]>fcucuanlia.     Dviitli.i 


COMPOUND   POISONING. 

that  sulphurous  acid  pmduces  iu  small  quantilv  is  In  the  first  iostance 
overcome,  that  it  acta  injuriously ;  rather,  indeed,  it  may  h^  antigeptir  in 
it£  action,  and  poBitively  beneficial.  8urae  years  ago,  when  Dr.  Letheby 
was  examijjiiig  the  air  of  the  Underground  Railway,  it  was  remarked 
that  the  men  constantly  engaged  on  that  line  suflbret!  little  or  no  iucoQ- 
venieiice  from  the  sulphurous  acid  present  in  the  air.  It  h  to  be  re- 
marked that  we  have  failed  to  tniiu  plants  to  bear  its  action  in  the  same 
manner  a^  we  have  trained  mice.  A  very  much  smaller  quantity  of  sul- 
huroui)  acid  will  destroy  a  plant  than  ii^  necessary  tu  kill  a  i^mall  animal 
ike  a  sparrow. 


fi 


Te^s  for  Sulphnrom  Acid. 

1.  Its  intensely  guflbcating  odor.    • 

2.  It  produces  a  blue  color  with  starch  and  iodic  acid.     Oue  part  in 
3000  can  be  easily  detected  by  thia  test. 


CHAPTER  xvrir. 


COMPOUND  POLSONING. 


Cases  of  mixed  or  compound  poisoning  are  not  uncommon.  Sometimes 
the  HViiiptonhs  consist  of  a  conjbinatiou  of  those  usually  resulting  from  the 
several  poifion.i  taken.  At  other  times  the  symptoms  of  the  one  poison 
which  is  the  most  powerful,  or  which  it<  present  in  the  greatest  quantity, 
seem  entirely  to  overwhelm  the  action  of  other  poisonous  bodies  with  which 
it  may  be  mixed.  Sometimej^  a  new  i*et  of  symptoms  are  prodticed,  en- 
tirely differing  from  the  symptoma  produced  Ly  either  poison.  At  other 
times  the  intense  action  of  one  poi.'^ou  seeuiiJ  to  be  more  or  lens  completely 
destroyed  by  the  action  of  the  second.  This  ia  notably  the  case  where 
opiates  are  given  in  combination  ;  an,  for  example,  iu  a  mixture  of  opium 
and  oxalic  acid.  The  treatmcLit  in  all  caseu  of'  ctjmpound  pfii»oning  will 
depend  on  the  poirsons!  taken,  and  must  be  specially  suggested  by  the  char- 
acter and  nature  of  the  symptoms. 

The  following  is  u  list  of  some  cases  of  compound  poisoning  that  are  on 
record  : 

Cc/mvound  Poiaotnn^. 

"BHtinh  Mrdlrnl  JnurnaJ."  Jan.  22,  |S"Q,  p. 86.  (Sllw.  of  icooIUj  tincture  aad  5i  of  chlorofurni.  Re- 
covt'ry.     No  vomit Ikh  for  Ihrer  hours.) 
"MinllcAl  Tiujc-4  aud  Uiu!t:Uo.''*Nuv.  12,  ld$4.    (LtulipCDlof  «iuiiiunia,  oil,  nod  cantbKrtdci.    B«> 

*'M<'dlpal  TEma  and  Gii«<>tt«*/*  Dee.  1,  tf(33,  |>.  tW).    (Aneuio  itnd  [itiniphoraa.    Bat  polMm.) 

"Mcdii'al  Tlni<>t  and  GaMiUe,"  Aiidl  It,  IMTJ,  p.  »AS    (Arwnic  and  ntiiitnonf.) 

"M«>dical  Tiinea  and  Gi£^lti%"  9cf*t.  14,  18&U,  p.  iM.    (Poitpy-bendi  and  marigolds,  bolI«d  in  wat«r, 

f|T««n  to  A  oblld,  *et.  ^  wet'ki.    D<>aih.) 
"  .MtHlieul  Tlnu'»  and  UaxuUp."  Marcli  1^,  IHA^,  p.  299     (Dralli  from  arnica  and  opium.) 
"  l.aiici't,"  vol.  It,  18^,  |)p,  69,  79,  84>-!Ml  I'GlaHg^nw  pulisouing  eaao.    Aconiti'  and  laudanum.) 
*'  M<^]cal  TJmea  and  Unzctie,"  tM:.  S,  \SS7,  p.  AST.    (A  picket  of  venutn-ktlter  wtlb  2  draohtnii  of 

tlniiurv  of  opium,  and  }^j  a  drachm  of  rvd  proplpitato.    No  euoruUloaa  or  twftcbtnga  of  any  klud 

occurred.) 
"  Rrillali   Medical  Journal,"  JoD4*  24,  I^'Vt,  p.  (tS7.    (S««p«C((«d  slow   polftoalog   from  •ulpliale  of 

lTO»t  irnd  *Un*,> 
"  PfUMi  .MwUral.loarnal,"  Juir  IH,  l«67,  p.Kl.    {I^rge  dote  ufronuplior  and  Mladonna,     Dfalb.) 
IrHUb  McHllrai  Journal,"  Feb  2*i,    IMS,  p.  20 1.    (Laudanum  and  )|K'CHi:uauiiu.     Dvathj 


EXAMINATION    OP    HAIRS, 


497 


•*|^«ic«,»*   A«R.  no.  Ite6,  p.  24«,    (SIJ-SUJ  of  »ul|.hntc  of  Iron,  and  Svlj  of  eulftialu  of  copper. 
X|«*ll)  iu  fofty-vlKht  hour^.) 

••  Lancet,"  Felt,  o,  IhM,  p.  139,  f  Aconifn  und  morphta.    Di^ath.) 
^3lCTlici»-<.'hirnrglcttI  Ruffi'w/'  Jan.  1854.    (Clirixiiu-ytllrtir  and  ar*ciiio.) 
|)I««114^I  Timeii."  Oct.  a,  IMfi,  p.  AH.  (LttucUiium  aiul  »rst"ulc.  Narcoliwiu.  TValh  in  p{^)itroo  hrttirs.) 
^llrdicA)  Timvs  nmt  GaiwUe,"    l>ec     19,  JftfiJ,  p.  6^fl,    (At-elale  of  JemJ  and  arvituoolo-fbloride  erf 
merrury.) 

Lftnc^t.^IVc.  Vk  1871,  p.  907.    {Slrychjita,  red  preetpltNlo,  unc!  litudAtium.) 
"  LotK  ..f,"  Murcb  29.  1W".2,  p,  a2G,     (LttuJmntm  and  jjln.     D*  nth.) 
T;i>l"f'«  '"Medical  Jiiri>iprud»Mm',"  vul   I,  p.  42<T.     '  Artniiff  and  luorphln.     Di'ath.) 
"Alvdlcal  Tiojesand  Go«elt«%"  Nov.  3,  1W6.  p,  473.    dk-llndorinu  itnd  Mphiiu.) 
Tajlor's  "Medlciit  Juriaprudeiicti,"  voK  i^  p.  4,'Ui.    (Bt^liaduutin  and  oijIuiu.  ) 


CHAPTER   XIX. 


EXAMINATIOX  OF  HAIRS  AND  STAINS. 

Hairit — Fibrps  of  lirt^n,  cilk,  colton.  He. — Mi<Tom«»ler  moa.*ur^mf>nta— .^rwj'nffi 
NfoiUA— Te*U— MelljHtls  of  exH  mini  Mir  h  f-u^jinfledl  ftain — Miirnscojvic  Hp(n.'Hr- 
Hnce  of  ihe  t»i'ritiniil  Miiimnkuli's — FJodji^s  with  wln't-h  linn  mtiy  iHteunfoujicled — 
Blofuf'9tftinH — Nhkfd-f've  uppewfjincf — At'tion  of  cold  wultT — Chetttieal  tefitn — 
8tHii>»  likely  to  ha  iniplukt-n  for  blood-stiiins  by  ihe  ruiktd-fj't-  np|H'Hrniicu— 
SjM^riri'i^ci'fttc  tf^t — Ui>tory  o)  ilif»  u»>i — ClM*ini?try  *ff  th*^  blood-colorint;  ruMtter 

—  CliMni;t'!s  in  iIm*  coi«>r  of  blood-t^tuin* — Bli»od  .'Spectra — The  iniL'ro>pt"<'tro*i'opo 

—  EjtfViijinMlioh  uf  u  recent  *trtii>  «*n  n  while  fiil'irji;— Exnmijiulirm  of  old  ^lnin«, 
nnd  of  ^taini*  on  colun-d  fubrJcs—Exuiin nation  of  Binined  fnbric^t  thnt  liuve 
been  washed,  Jind  the  lrt*Hlin<'Ht  (o  b«'  itdnplfd  in  dt?lr>i'tiriii.j  h1o*id  in  th**  wiiter 
u^*d  for  WHiihing  thein — kxaminuiioji  of  kImih^  on  Imtttiur— 'ExmniimtioTi  of 
Mnins  on  PMrih,  and  on  i-lodn*)*  *oil<'d  with  I'orlhy  inHttiTii — ExMininnlion  of 
urine  for  bluod — Sub&lHncc.-  produtim^  *j»ec'trn  hk<*ly  ii»  be  misitnkf'n  for  Mood — 
Prt'CHUliooe  lo  b«  ob>*'rvi'd  in  I'onduittnjj  niiLTo^peclroiicopic  ob^orvji lions— 
Aticnaeftpie  fw^— Diffrrfrjftfs  in  (hi»  bloo^d-i'orpiisrb^s  of  difl'cri'iil  nnirnwl-t  — Mi- 
croMTopie  exnminrttion  of  a  b!oMd-^tl^in  — Kodies  likely  lo  be  mishikin  for  blood- 
corpUM'lt'i"  under  tbr  ijuero>c*<p»' — Dat/jt  ifttititK'um  renin  irst — Bfufd  cry^iaU — 
Tetchtnimn's  te^t^M^^lhods  suggc^U'd  for  dit«tillglli^!litlg  liuntun  from  olber 
bl(>od — Menstnittl  blood. 


Hoirt,  Fibres  of  Linen^  Silkf  Cotton j  etc. — Micrometer  Meamirements. 

BlmMJ-stains,  wounda,  scmiual  slains^  and  other  suspicious-looking  &pots, 
ofWii  roniain  hairs  fVom  men  or  other  animal^'*,  or  portions  of  some  fabricj 
worn  by  either  the  viclim  or  the  assailant.  These  substances  may  also  be 
found  up(»a  weapons,  and  are  alien  handed  to  the  niedieal  jurist  for  exatui- 
nation.  In  some  ca.*e,^  the  mterost'opic  exaniiiiatinn  uf  hairs  has  led  to  the 
conviction  of  a  murderer.  Dr.  Taylor  mentions  .surh  cas^ei*,  and  ihe  authors 
know  of  othen?.  In  one  case  a  woman  was  proved  to  have  spots  ni'  blood 
with  rabbit's  hairs  upon  her  clothing;,  and  as  lier  murdered  child  had  worn 
a  vielorine  of  rabbit^s  fur  annind  it.s  neck,  this  cireumstance  was  con- 
sidered to  be  a  strong  liuk  in  the  chain  of  evi<lenec.  So  numerou.s  are  the 
varieties  of  hair  used  in  furs,  and  so  ninny  are  the  vegetable  and  other 
fftbricfi  employed  in  article.*-  of  clothing,  that  it  is  evident  that  special 
knowledge  must  be  required  to  i»ettle  yuch  questions.  8<mietirae.'<,  indeed, 
it  may  be  impossible  to  give  a  definite  answer  to  tbequestiin},  '*  What  hair 
or  Hbre  is  this?"  It  is,  however,  very  easy  to  acqtiire  familiarity  with  the 
fibres  of  wool,  silk,  cotton,  and  linen,  and  to  di.stinguish  human  hairs  from 


BXAHtNATIOK   OF   HATR8. 

tboge  of  many  other  animals.  Theilld^trationsin  Plates  VI,  VII,  anj  VIII. 
are  all  drawn  to  one  ijculo,  and  the  hairs  have  all  been  »ubj€«cle<!  tu  tlip 
same  prorejf^,  t.  c,  they  have  been  steeped  for  some  time  iu  turpentiiitMiDd 
then  nionnted  in  Cnnoda  hal^am.  Siiuuenschein  ptj)t)t«  out  and  figuna 
the  adhe."^ion  of  sperriiatozua  to  hairs  from  the  peiiiral^  io  cskset*  of  ntpt;. 
In  ordinary  eases^  a  nnigndying  jHiwer  of  from  200 — 800  diameten  *iIJ 
be  f<juud  quite  sufficient  to  identify  the  varioiH  hail's  and  tibre*.  iSjch 
powers  are  prefei'able  to  higher  ones,  because  thev  iKTioit  the  \i^  of 
potariAGtl  light,  which  is  often  of  great  service  in  sucli  iuve^iit^tiuiM. 

Tho*^  who  are  uot  familiar  with  the  microscope  ofleo  find  grwil  diffi* 
culty  in  undersstanding  the  matiiiiliides  of  microscopic  objeclt*,  au*l  iht 
nieMMirtrnent  of  bhuul-dii^ki*,  hatrt*,  spi'rmat<»z()a,  etc.,  given  in  mwliaiJ 
bookfi.  The  fiy^nre  given  below  (Fig.  44  j  may  perhaps  a&:ii»t  in  exphiiaiiig 
the  principle*!  of  micrometry. 

The  i^eale  on  the  left  e<njtuiiiH  one  inch  fUvided  into  20  parts  or,  fey 
means  of  the  diagonal  line,  as  small  a  part  as  g^^jth  of  an  inch  n»jiv  l>? 
measured  off".     On  the  right,  nearly  the  isume  apace  la  divided  iiili)  mil' 


FUJ  44. 

I  Inch.  25  Mill M. 


(P 


& 


L 


m 


limetre,*!,  each  division  representing  2\  of  Ihe^e.  Let  us  suppiiee  n 
hair,  svhich  is  about  one  tivc'lnHidrcdlh  (.,00^  of  an  inch  iu  dfHi 
(e<iua!s  0,05  miUimeire),  magnitied  250  times.  The  H^  =  \,  It  wouk 
theref*>re  appear  half  an  inch  in  size,  ami  fill  up  two  of  tlie  lar^e  or  u 
of  the  small  diviHi<iiia  on  the  inch  scale,  and  five  of  those  011  lue  rigbt- 
hand  jiide,  or  l*2,o  njiUimetre.-*. 

But  the  blood-disk  of  a  sheep  is  tmly  about  juVo^^  ''^  ^^  '"^^^  *o  diam- 
eter;    so  that,  if  magnified  250  diamctei"S,  it  would  only  fill  ^^th  of 
inch,  or  one  of  the  divisions  on  the  left  of  the  figure;  whidj  etiuab  1.23 
millimetres,  or  just  half  one  of  the  spares  on  the  right-hand  side.     In  tl 
figure,  a  frog's  blood-di^ik  is  seen  filling  four  of  the  (r.'jjth  inch  )  spares  ou  ll 
left;    it  therefore  a])pears  ^th  of  an   inch  iu   length.     Now,  as  prrviot 
measurementj*  have  shown  us  that  the  average  length  of  a  frog's  red  blw 
disk  is  ab<Hit  ri'o^^^'  **^  '^^  inch,  we  know  that  the  magnifying  miwrr 
about  220  times,  tiir  |-,V(T  =^  h     ^''  *''*^  same  way,  the  rhv»mboidal  eryjitalJ 
ou  the  right  measures  two  of  the  >paces,  which  equal  2i  millimetres  rarl 
It  therefore  appears  to  be   5  milUnietres  in  diameter.     If  seen  with  tl 
same  power  as  the  frog's  blood-disk  above,  its  real  length  will  therefore 
about  77*1171*^^  'd'  an  inch,  for  n:]^  ^=  ^'^tb  of  a  mi lii metre,  or  xiW'^  of  aii^ 
inch  nearly. 

Hairs  from  diflTercut  parts  of  the  human  Ixjdy,  as  well  as  hairs  from 
diflerent  individuals  of  the  same  species  amongst  animals,  may  vary  con- 
$iiderab[y  in  size,  as  will  appear  from  the  following  table  (ehiefiy  takeilj 
from  Dr.  Ernil  Pfatf's  work  *'  Dm  MeDschliehe  llaar,  etc./*  Leipeic,  If"^ 


EXAMINATION   OF    HAIRS. 


499 


loUd  b?  8oonenschein). 
0  Eoglbb  inch. 


The  origiuala  have  been  reduced  to  fractlona 


to  Ai 


Lnhupn  (down)  from  ft  <«ucklimr.  ...... 

Lanugo  from  n  y»ninj^  uirl'i*  iii-<u,  ...... 

Lanugti  fruni  tli«'  uppi^r  lip  >.»f  u  wuninn,        ,         ,         ,         .  yAi* 

Waif  fn*m  ihi*  nrin  of  a  num,       .  ,         .         .         .         *  yAg  to  j|j 

Htiir*  from  the  pyolMshiis  of  ii   mnn,     .....  ^i^. 

Tr«tfi  UVt'in  thf?  eure), ifiy. 

Hi*ir  fri'm  woinHn'is  ho«d  (cMpilll), :y|y 

Hmr  from  mnn's  hcnd  <CM|)ilh),      ......  ^^j. 

Hair  fr«>ni  h.md  of  mun ^f^. 

\'ihrU*tiii  frtMn  DO«U'U^,  ......  jK. 

Mwlf  putw^,      ,  .  ......       y\j. 

F*'n>»1o  j.uUp*, yijj. 

Itilu"  (flr^t  down  of  b«urd), jj[,. 

£y«-bruws ^Ij. 

Mv*u*x  I ;miii<lMr'h<>>), rls  ^  tIt* 

Hwir?  frntii  nviHM, jlc 

Pfjj's  hrUtl*' jljf. 

ilur  ..f  *pi*ei««l  dog,       .         . yj^. 

"        TMbbit, ^Xy. 

'•       hof»*», ^U. 

'*  K""'  jjo- 

*•  f.'X,  ........ 

"  i-t.w, . 

*•  fill  low  dcM?r 

If  9t  ftiiAtyze  the  iibove  table,  we  find  that  human  hairs  have  a  diame- 
^r  varyuijf  from  the  f  ^^tli  to  about  the  :gT5T)-7jth  of  an  lin*h,  afToniinj^  to 
»^.  *cx,  find  >ituulion.  It  will  bi^  .seojr  that  hafrs  from  tlie  teinale  head 
*^*  V  tii>er,  «R  well  as  .softer,  Ion tjer,  and  more  iticlined  to  eurl, 

^'  t>,m  the  male.     Those  of  tbildren  are  al^a  softer,  miorc  mlky* 

^ikti  liiirr  than  lh«N4e  nf  ar]nlt.i.  But  there  are  exceptions.  Tlie  ^ttidpiit 
••x^oW  make  hiinf^elf  familiar  with  the  ap^-aranees  of  liorizotital  secHoris 
^f  ti»e  varjouft  hairs  likely  to  come  into  question  in  auch  matters.  Plate 
^  I  »liow8  such  sections  of  huniau  hairs. 

T1i«  qu(*]itioii5  reapectiDg  hairs,  etc.,  likely  to  be  submitted  to  you  are — 

1-  If  it  hair,  or  tome  other  fibre? 

2.  If  it  be  hair,  i*  it  human  or  that  of  some  other  animal  ? 
^  If  it  \»  human,  is  it  male  or  female?    And  from  what  part  of  the 
^*'**.^^'>»it  come? 
H^^*  HtN  the  hair  been  cut,  or  torn  out,  or  haa  any  artificial  coloring  or 
■•'^fHiiig  been  used  ? 

'         trtlH  the  first  question,  mieroscopiata  will  have  but  little  diffi- 
mrliojf. 

«1  or  Boiral  .♦structure  of  the  flattenefl   banfi?«  of  cod  on  :  the 

•  rm  nf  linrn  fibrfr*,  with  jointed  mnrkings,  at  nnoqnul  di.-itanfrea, 

-    "bn«»  t}i|M'rin>j  to  a   point;  the  cylliidrical    form   of  .^I'M-,  abnost  free 

"^  nKirkiiijr*  of  any  kind,  and   refra<'tint,''  light  most,  powerfully;    the 

'  ;:>ble  Mtrueiure  of  the  fihre.H  of  bant-mattini;  and  iA\ju1(%  nre 

''     ,  ..  .. nipniwd.      Wool  io  a  variety  of  hair:  it.*5  fibres  are.  irregular, 

I,  fni-^nml  (hieknem,  and   there  are   peculiar  markings  upon   it,     {See 

^n.  The  upcond  quMtion  ia  aluo  tolerably  easy  to  anawer  in  the  majority 

Knman  liair*  are  |>eculiar  in  haviri^  their  eortical  jiub^Jtann^  so 

>  thin,  and  mark«*d  more  than  that  of  atiy  other  luitmmalH  by  fine 

•^^Qircin  liua:  and  in  the  interior  of  those  from  tbo  head  there  is 


500 


EXAMINATION   OF    HAIRS. 


usually  nn  axis  band  or  eylioder  formed  of  spheroidal  cells.  Some  writers 
cousidor  that  the  medulla  is  defifient,  and  thi»  cortex  redundant  :  hut,  in 
our  opiuifin,  tliis  is  a  mii^nonKT  Many  auinmls,  }>articuIarJy  rodenti*  and 
the  carnivora,  have  very  pemiliar  huirp,  gome  of  which  are  well  shown  in 
the  fii,'urei*.     Seals  and  i^oine  others  have  two  widely  djfl'erent  kinds  uC  fur. 

III.  Thequej^tion  as  to  male  or  female  has  already  been  iu  part  answered 
in  the  prelim tnury  remarks?.  It  may  often,  indeed  almost  alway?,  be  ad- 
vi^ahlt'  to  compare  the  siispecled  hairs  with  others  (respecting  which  there 
is  im  doubt)  from  the  body  of  the  murderer,  or  of  the  victim,  or  of  the 
aniiiml  whose  hair  we  believe  it  to  be.  Female  hairs  are  g^enerally  sume 
T^W^^  "*■  Tj'itrt^b  of  an  inch  le.ss  in  diameter  than  male  ones;anfl  the 
root  of  the  male  haira  is  some  3:,',f,th  of  an  inch  to  j^fjth  wider  than  that 
of  femnle  ones.  Men's  hairs,  if  uncut,  have  also  a  broader  point.  Alka- 
liet*  afl'cet  iheiu  much  less  theu  they  do  female  hairs. 

The  qucH'tioii  tis  to  the  part  of  the  body  may  i^ojuetimes  be  settled  partly 
by  the  diameler?,  partly  by  the  general  ap[H'arnncc.  Thcise  of  the  eye- 
brows are  generally  tino  at  the  point,  smooth,  angular  or  oval  on  nection, 
with  a  fitoot,  knob-like  bulb.  The  eyelashes  have  spindle  sha|>ed  mota. 
Hair8  from  the  nose  and  ears  are  coarser,  and  have  stout  n>ots.  The  haira 
of  the  beard  and  mustache  are  much  modified  by  shaving  and  cutting, 
and  those  of  the  axilhi  by  persjilration.  The  shaft  of  the  latter  rises  irn- 
mediHiely  out  of  the  thick  root,  and  does  not  taper;  the  points  are  coni- 
cal but  not  sharp  ;  the  color  geiicraHy  light  from  the  perspiration.  The  hairs 
on  the  buck  ni'  the  hand,  ami  those  on  the  forearm,  are  often  much  modi- 
fied  by  friction  and  soap,  which  fray  them.  Their  roots  are  clnb-8ha|)ed. 
The  piduc  hairs  are  generatly  much  tiattcued,  and  often  present  consider- 
able riHighness,  tlirough  loosening  of  the  epidermic  scales  of  the  cortex,  so 
as  alunjst  to  ap]>enr  branf^hed  when  seen  un<ier  the  microscojw^  Their  roots 
are  knotty,  particularly  iu  the  male;  and  the  usual  rule  of  size  is  some- 
what reversed,  those  of  the  female  (see  table)  being  generally  rather 
broftiler  than  those  of  the  male.  The  root«  of  the  bair«  of  the  ^eriitum 
are  particularly  long  in  aged  adult:?}  ad  the  haira  are  deeply  imbedded 
there. 

IV.  HaM  the  hair  been  lately  cut  or  shaved,  or  has  it  been  torn  out 
violently  ? 

Hairs  which  are  cut  with  scissor's,  etc.,  retain  a  certain  smoothnenH  of 
peciiuu  for  many  days;  but  haii-s  violently  torn  out  by  force  ore  gencmlly 
crushed  and  somewhat  frayed,  and  the  hair  eheath  is  also  gcnemlly  loru 
out,  along  with  the  bulb. 

It  niUMt,  however,  be  uoted  that  haire  lost  after  fevers,  and  other  iicute 
diseases,  re>eud>]c  those  torn  out,  as  regards  the  bulbs  and  hair-Etheaihs. 
Epidermic  si^ales  from  the  skin  will  often  be  fuuud  along  with  thi>eii»  torn 
out,  and  there  may  even  be  blo<i)d  in  snudl  4(uantitie«.  Arsenical  and 
narcotic  poisoning  and  ringworm  will  cause  the  hairs  to  come  out  of  Uie 
head,  etc.,  very  easily.  It  iti  well  known  that  eyphUi$  bAA  the  Mine 
effect. 

V.  Has  the  hair  been  bleached,  or  dyed,  or  changed  its  color?  The 
sudden  bleaching  of  tlic  hair  by  grief  «»r  fright  ha>t  Ix-en  much  disputed, 
although  numerous  instances  are  rworded  (Mary,  (Jueen  of  Scuts,  Mariti 
Ant<unette,  etc.).  It  is,  however,  certain  that  the  hair  nuiy  slowly  chnngn 
its  color  from  these  causes.  As  a  rule,  the  hair  of  children  l}arkl^^s  gremiiy 
as  they  advance  in  life;  and  a  man  at  forlvfive  is  sometimes  grayer  th«o 
one  teti  or  fifteen  years  older.  Certain  soils  change  the  color  of  th<^  hair 
of  bodies  buried  in  them,  an  eflect  which  has  been  altribulLMl  to  humic 
acid  (l^linin?).  The  hair  may  be  bleached  by  cldoriue,  atid  chan^^  in 
color  by  chloride  of  gold  solution ;  the  exact  tint  dqiendiug  partly  on  itft 


BXAMTNATION  Of  BBMINAL  STAINS. 


501 


origiiml  cntor,  partly  oti  tlie  streogth  of  the  solution.     Acetic,  citric,  hy 
drm;hlorir,  auti  some  other  aculs  produce  siirailar  etfecta. 

Tlie  hair  is,  however,  generally  roughened  by  these  processes.  Alkalies 
proiJurc  similar  eflects,  though  they  generally  restore  the  color  of  hairs 
oleacheci  hy  acids.  Strong  alkaliej*  dtf<:<o]ve  hairs.  Alcohol  renders  them 
more  or  less  transpnreut,  hut  does  not  dissolve  thein.  Lead,  silver,  his- 
moth,  and  other  metals  whf)s*e  sal[ihides  are  dark,  are  often  used  an  dyes. 
ITsnally  speaking,  weak  nitrie  acid  will  dissolve  out  these,  without  destroy- 
ing the  hair.  Hairs  tinged  by  pomades  may  he  detecteti  by  using  ahnihul 
or  ether,  whieh  will  dissolve  out  these  pre|)arations.  If  a  prisimer's  hair 
has  been  dyed,  his  scalp  will  i^fVeu  be  found  tioted.  In  a  doubtful  case 
the  head  might  be  shaved,  ami  then  carefully  watched.  The  young  hairs 
will,  however,  be  somewhat  lighter  in  tint  ihan  the  ol<I  ones  at  first,  and 
aomi'what  darlei'  a  litlle  later.  Hair  re.*5ist.s  putrefaction  io  a  must  wouiler- 
ful  manner,  particularly  if  the  soil  l>e  dry.  Many  mumniiei?  have  most 
perfectly  preserved  hair. 

Workers  in  copper  may  have  copper  oxide  in  their  hair;  and  indigo, 
ebony,  and  other  matters  otlea  adhere  to  the  hairs  of  those  working  id  theiu. 


STAINS. 

•  There  are  few  things  the  medical  jurist  is  called  upon  to  examine  more 
frequently  than  slain?^.  Not  a  few  eases*  might  be  cited  where  a  verdict 
has  in  a  great  measure  been  decided  upon  the  evidence  of  the  nature  of  a 
Btaio. 

SEMINAL  STAINS. 

Semhtal  Mains  may  He  confouuded  with  stains  of  albumen,  such  as  from 
the  white  of  an  egg,  or  with  stains  relinking  from  any  gummy  material. 
In  each  case  the  fabric  is  stiffened  ;  and  if  the  aVdlii  he  upon  a  white  sub- 
stance, it  will  scarcely  show  any  color.  On  ca refu I h%  however,  comparing 
together  different  stains,  and  esiiecially  hy  transmitted  rather  thau  by 
reflected  light,  it  will  be  seen  that  a  seminal  stain  has  a  slightly  more 
marked  grayish -brmvn  tinge  than  stains  produced  hy  gum  or  albumen. 

Cas}>er  remarks  that  seminal  stains  are  usually  to  be  found  at  the  back 
of  the  shift  or  other  garment. 

Tcshjor  Seminal  Sfmm* 
A  spot  of  semen  may  be  know^n  as  follows ; 

1.  Warm  the  stain  by  hold  lug  it  near  the  fire.  It  will  become  of  a 
pale-yellow  tint  if  it  he  sennnal.  This  is  a  very  charaeteristic  ajid  con- 
clusive reaction,  happeidng  with  hardly  any  other  discharge,  healthy  or 
unhealthy. 

2.  If  a  seminal  stain  be  moistened  with  warm  water,  it  will  be  found  to 
evolve  the  odor  peculiar  to  the  seminal  fluid. 

3.  Cut  a  portion  of  the  sUiiu  out,  and  place  it  in  a  watch-glass,  with  five 
or  six  drops  of  water.  Leave  it  for  about  ten  minutes.  Having  removed 
the  piece  of  the  fabric^  squeeze  the  water  out  with  the  fingei*s,  or  by  meaus 
of  a  glass-ro*!,  iuto  the  watch-glass.  Place  this  in  a  good  light  on  a  pit^ce 
of  white  paper,  and  add  a  drop  of  nitric  acid  upon  a  glass-rod,  when,  if 
the  stain  be  seminal,  the  liquid  will  turn  of  a  yellow  color,  but  no  pre- 
cipitate will  be  produced. 

4.  Lassaigne  sugget^ls  that,  In  order  to  distinguish  between  an  albumen 
and  a  semen  stain,  it  should  be  moistened  with  a  solution  of  oxide  of  lead 
in  liquor  pola^^e,  aud  dried  at  68^  F.     If  it  be  an  albumioou^  stain  (that 


502 


MICROSCOPIC    APPBABANCB   OP   TBE    ZOOSPERMS. 


ifl,  If  it  contain  sulphur),  it  turna  of  a  yellow  t-olor;  but  if  it.  be  seminal, 
Uo  chaijge  U  appiirent,  unless,  aa  aometiines  happens,  the  semen  be  diluted 
with  some  albuminous  siecretlon* 

5.  In  pure  seminal  stains  the  guatacum  test  gives  uo  blue  reaction. 

The  above  te^t^^,  however,  are  renf]ered  practically  worth !eH.5j  if  the 
garment  on  whirh  the  stains  are  fontid  is  dirty  or  colored.  Uudor  ^uoh 
circuinstaiiivs  we  must  rely  entirely  on  microseopic  exuniinatiou ;  audit 
\b  to  be  further  noted  that  we  should  not  he  justified  under  any  circum- 
8lunee4  in  prunouocing  a  stain  to  he  seminaj,  unless  the  results  of  the 
niieroticopic  examination  were  conclusive. 

Microsropie  Examination  of  a  Seminal  Stain. 

Thi?  consists  in  the  search  for  the  minute,  but  v^ery  ehunietcrisitic*  bodies 
known  HS  the  seminal  animalcules  U'ifH^rmatozoa,  zoosi>enii*j,  which  exist 
in  the  s*^meti  of  thitse  who  have  arrived  at  puberty.  We  are  aware,  as 
Camper  provod,  that  semen  and  sUiius  of  semen  have  been  found  and  may 
exist  without  any  t^permatozoa  bein^  discoverable  with  the  inicroaeo|>e; 
but  we  consider  that  it  would  be  unwise  to  veuture  on  giving  evideuce  as 
to  the  senMiial  nature  of  a  given  stain,  unless  we  were  able  to  tind,  without 

doubt,  rentaios  of  the  seminal  spermatozoa. 

« 

To  Eljcamine  a  Suspected  Setninal  Stain  Mieroseopically, 

Carefully,  and  with  as  little  handling  as  |>ossible,  cutthe  stained  portion 
out  of  the  fabric.  Place  part  of  it  in  a  perfectly  clean  watch-glas.s,  with 
two  or  three  dropg  at  most  eitlier  of  e<dd  distilled  water  or  of  a  2  f>er  cent. 
atiueous  solution  of  salt  or  sugar.  Other  liijuids  are  recommended  by 
otlier  authorities  for  the  purpose.  Grohe  sngj^csts  the  use  of  a  solution  of 
magenta,  which  colors  tlie  content*  of  the  spermatozoa  a  deep  red,  whilst 
the  use  of  a  s<»luli<»u  of  ammonia  is  also  recommended.  We  sliould  advise 
using  uo  other  reagent  for  acting  on  the  ^^tained  cloth  tlian  pure  water 
Move  the  stained  fabric  about  in  the  water  with  a  piece  of  glass  rod  flrawn 
out  to  a  blunt  point.  Having  alltjwed  it  to  soak  tor  about  ten  uitnutei», 
sr|ueeze  the  water  out  with  the  tingers,  or  with  the  end  of  the  glass-rod, 
and  examine  several  specimens  of  the  licjuid,  and  ei^peeially  any  dei>o«it« 
that  may  form,  under  the  microscope,  using  for  the  purpose  a  quarter-inch 
power. 

The  microscopic  appearance  of  the  zoosperms  is  most  characteristic 

They  are  excee<lingly  minute  bodies,  their  entire  length  often  not  being 
more  than  the  gio^'*  ***  ^"  inch.  It  is  well  to  remember,  however,  that 
not  only  is  there  a  great  variation  in  their  magni- 
tude, but  that  there  is  an  c<jnul  variation  in  their 
multitude.  Hence  you  should  never  conclude  the 
absence  of  sjunmatozoa  until  you  have  submitted 
several  drops  of  the  solution  to  examimitiou. 

The  human  spermatozoon  has  a  tlaltened  and 
almost  oval  head,  with  a  long  slender  filamentous 
tail.  The  entire  length  varies,  according  to  Mr. 
Curling,  from  the  ifjoth  to  the  qI^^iU  of  an  inch.' 
Some,  however,  are  to  be  found  that  do  not  exceed 
the  7o'oo'''  of  an  inch  in  length.  The  tail  is  usually 
five  or  six  times  the  length  of  the  head,  which  is  abiuitfl^fj'ipfl*^^'  '"^'^  *" 
diameter,  and  nuiy  roughly  be  regarded  as  about  onethird  the  site  uf  a 
human  red  blood  ^corpuscle.     The  shape  varies  in  different  auitnahs. 


Flu.  45, 


Qt. 


SEMINAL    ANIMALCULES. 


503 


Fto.  4I'k 


Fig.  46  representfi  the  shape  of  the  spermatozoa  of  the  sheep,  and  Fig-  47 
those  of  several  other  aoiniaL*.  lii  fre;"li  semeQ,  as  well  a»  often  in  Bemen 
takeo  from  a  botly  some  hours  after  il^ath,  an<l  very  fre- 
ijuetuiv  in  semen  for  .some  hour:*  after  emtHgiou,  the  vibratile, 
uiululatiug  motioo  of  the  auirualcule,  principally  executed 
with  the  tail,  bet(jketi8  lite,  A  case  is  on  record  (in  *'  Beule'rt 
Archives")  in  which  spermatozoa  were  found,  ><tili  capable  (*f 
movement,  In  muru;*  taken  from  the  vagina  of  a  little  girl 
fourteen  days  after  the  rafjc  she  had  suHered,  Buteveo  wlieu 
they  are  dead,  and  the  staiu  is  dry,  they  are  easily  discovered 
and  distiiiguijihed  by  their  peculiar  shape.  We  have  more 
than  once  ween  them  in  stains  wix  tnoiith-i  old  ;  whilst  Bome 
have  a»^*e^ted  they  have  been  able  to  discover  them  after  five 
or  Hix  years  (Ritter  and  liayanl).  They  have  certainly  a 
remarkable  power  of  resjj*ting  putrefaction,  having  been  ob- 
served by  several  microseopists  in  i*enien  that  had  hicinne 
putriii.  Their  movemeotH,  when  alive»  are  not  cheeked  by  admixture 
with  other  secretiont*.  They  are  stimtilated  in  their  movemenU  by  alkalie*, 
but  arrested  by  weak  acid^.  A  temperature  above  120^  F.,  however,  kills 
them  in  a  very  short  time. 


With  what  mar/  ihene  Seminal  Anhnalctdes  be  confounded F 

L  It  is  possible  to  mistake  mhitde  fragments  of  linen  fibre  washed  out  of 
the  fabric  under  examination  for  the  tails  of  the  spermatozoa.  Hence,  it 
h  a  safe  rule  to  admit  nothing  to  be  spermatozoa  unless  one  or  more  com- 
plete s^permatozoa  are  tbuud.  The  characters  of  linen  and  cotton  tibre, 
however,  are  sufficiently  weli-nnirked  to  prevent  any  possibility  of  mistake 
by  the  careful  observer  (page  4i^y), 

2.  Granules  are  to  be  found  in  ail  semen,  which  might  be  mistaken  by 
a  careless  observer  lur  the  head  of  an  animalcule-  The  granules,  how- 
ever, are,  as  a  rule,  much  larger  than  the  heads ;  and  if  the  rule  we  have 
laid  down  be  ob^jcrved^  of  allowing  nothing  to  be  proof  of  the  existence  of 
8|>ermatozoa  unless  the  complete  auiraalcule  (.head  and  tail)  is  found, 
these  grtmules  will  prove  no  tallaey. 

3.  M,  Donn^  discovered  and  described,  in  vaginal  mucus,  an  animal- 
cule, m>t  unfrecjuently  tbuud  where  cleanliness  is  a  secondary  consideration, 
called  by  htm  **  Trichomonag  Fc/^raiYf." 

Note  these  differences,  however,  between  the  trichomonas  and  the  semi- 
nal animalcule.  f«)  The  heads  of  the  tricbomonads  are  at  least  three 
times  the  size  of  the  heads  of  !*periiiatozoa.  (,?)  Internally  the  tricbo- 
monads are  granular,  whereas  tlie  heads  of  the  spermatozoa  are  perfectly 
transparent  and  structureless,  (y)  From  the  boundary  wall  of  the  head 
of  the  trichoaaonada  several  ciliie  are  apparent,  whilst  from  the  spermato- 
zoon there  are  none. 

4.  Certain  futif/l  are  said  very  closely  to  resemble  spermatozoa.  Dr. 
Beale  hits  figured  some  of  them.  In  the  fungi  the  apparent  tail  is  much 
chinibier,  they  refract  light  ditferently,  and  they  may  be  seen,  under  favor- 
able conditions,  to  grow  on  the  glasd  slide. 


Lastly,  we  would  say,  under  no  circumstances  admit  a  stain  to  be  semi- 


504 


blood-stain: 


Dal,  unless  you  discover  tomplete  spermatozoa.    The  other  testa  are  to  be 
regarded  as  atrougly  confirmatory,  bot  not  as  primary,  evidence.     And 


Ft.-.    ♦?. 


I.  FfO»-«,  B««l;  *.  Body;  <".TttU.    3.  TrUun.    a.  Finch. 
4.  Ftekl'iDoiMe^    8.  Hedge bo^.    0.  Slii'>«p. 

further,  the  presence  of  complete  spermatozoa  Iea.ve^  no  doubt  whatsoever 
but  that  the  atain  is  semioaL 


BLOODSTAINS. 

When  you  are  called  to  examine  suspected  blood-stains,  note  in  writing: 

(1)  their  exact  f>0£*ition  on  the  guriiient  or  iiiistrument;  (2)  if  Uf>oD  a 
fabric,  the  side  of  the  fabric  on  whivh  they  occur;  and  i''\)  the  number, 
size,  and  exact  phape  of  the  f*pc>t  or  spots.  It  ip,  moreover,  advisable, 
whether  the  stains  be  upon  fabrics  or  uiion  instruments,  i*uch  as  knives, 
axes,  hamraers,  etc.,  for  the  medical  jurist  to  place  upoji  such  articles  a 
private  mark  by  which  he  may  Ijc  able  to  recognize  them  readily  in  the 
witne^-box  ns  the  ariick^  submitted  to  examination,  and  upon  which  the 
etaio  or  stains  were  found. 


Naked-tnff.  Appearanees  of  Bhod'Stains. 

Considerable  variety  will  be  noted  in  the  naked-eye  appearances  of  blood- 
Btaina.  They  may,  of  c<iurse,  be  mere  arnears,  and  withimt  character;  but 
more  frequently  they  are  found  m*  smalt  circular  gpot«,  having  well-de- 
fined margins.  Should  the  blood,  however,  have  been  splashed  on  the 
sulwtance  obliquely,  the  spot  will  then  very  probably  a.«6ume  a  comet-shaped 
form  ;  that  i?,  an  oval  head  with  a  long  pointed  tail,  the  extreme  end  of 
which  is  more  or  less  bulhous.  If  the  sfxits  be  up<in  a  colored  aubstaoce 
of  any  kind,  they  are  bc^t  distinguished  by  artificial  light. 

The  color  of  the  stains  will  dejveud  on  various  causes;  such  as  (1)  upon 
their  age;  (2)  ujwn  their  thickness  ;  (3)  upon  the  amount  of  moisture  and 
the  temperature  to  which  ihe  hliKid  luw  l>eeu  subjected  ;  and  (4)  upon  the 
kind  of  material  up(in  which  it  han  fallen.  If  the  stains  be  upon  poluhe^i 
b(xlie8,  such  ns  metals,  they  generally  appear  a.^  dark  shining  spt)ts,  ea*y 
of  removal,  with  cracks  radiating  from  the  centre.  If  upon  cotton.  ^Ik, 
or  linen,  etc.,  they  have  usually  a  !<tifl*eued  feel,  like  a  fip<U  of  drieil  gom. 

And  now  exmnuta  Uie  spoU  with  a  larffe  inaffnij^ing  yliiM,    By  thii?  meaoA 


PR0PERTIB9    OF    BLOOD. 


505 


yoti  may  be  able  to  disscovef  clots  or  coagula,  which,  if  the  stiiiii3  are  upuu 
fkbricii,  will  be  more  or  less  mixed  up  with  the  fibres  of  the  materiuL  Thi$ 
h  a  e^trong  argument  iii  favor  of  the  i^taia  beiri^'  blood,  but  vou  must  Dot 
be  satisfied  without  further  examioatiou.  It  is  well  to  rememoer  that  there 
is  a  close  similarity  between  v\oi^  and  small  partieles  of  some  substances, 
each  as  kim>.  Kino,  however,  may  be  ea^^ily  dlstiusgui^bed  by  the  green- 
ish-black color  produced  by  the  actiou  of  a  j>ers«alt  of  irou  upon  it. 

Phyuml  and  Chemical  Properties  of  Blood, 

We  need  pay  little  respecting  the  identification  of  blood  wben  in  quan- 
tity. The  spi>utaDeou»ly  coagulable  tibriu,  the  coagulability  of  the  serum 
by  heat  and  nitric  acid,  and  the  several  testj?  we  have  now  to  describe, 
render  the  iuvestigatiou  under  such  circunistauces  perfectly  siuifde.  We 
may,  however,  note  iit  passing,  that  Dr,  Leiheby  has  f-howui  the  almost 
perfect  absence  of  filtriii  in  i*ome  samples  of  menj^trual  blood.  Tlie  ^same 
has  been  noted  in  f»ome  cases  of  purpura  hiemorrhagica. 

Human  blood  is  a  reddis!),  vii^eid  fluid,  having  a  Bp.  gr.,  ou  an  average, 
of  1U55,  varying  in  colur  according  as  it  Hows  from  an  artery  or  vein  ;  m 
the  former  cas-c,  in  health,  it  is  of  a  bright  red,  and  in  the  latter,  of  a  darker 
or  purple  lint.  The  color,  however,chiefly  d^poiuls  (as  will  be  t^h own  under 
Spei'troscopy),  on  the  oxidation  of  the  coloring- matter  of  the  corpuscles. 
Hence,  in  certain  di.*eai*e.s  and  in  cashes  of  sulfocation,  blood  from  an  artery 
may  be  dark  ;  whibl  on  the  other  hand,  blood  escrt|)ing  very  slowly  from 
a  vein,  and  becoming  cxpoj-ed  to  tiie  air^  is  of  a  bright  color,  (iSee  Wounds.) 
When  venous  blood  is  examined  in  thin  layers,  it  exhibits  what  is  called 
dichroism,  or  double  coloration  ;  for  it  is  deep- red  or  purple  by  retlccted 
light,  btU  as!si|mes  a  greenish  hue  when  examined  by  transmitted  light. 
There  is  a  peculiar  odor  of  an  animal  kind  about  blood  which  has  beeu 
treated  with  sulphuric  acid.  8ome  experts  claim  that  they  can  thus  deter- 
mine by  their  nose  to  what  animal  and  to  wliich  sex  the  blood  belonged. 
Such  nice  discrimination  is,  to  say  the  least,  rare.  In  the  living  animal, 
the  blood  is  made  up  of: 

Fibrin      ^ 

Albumen  ^  In  solution,  forming  the  liquor  BaDguiois. 
8alts         ) 

lied  and    white )  j  *       •    al      t.        t 

corpuscles.       J  ^"  auspeusion  in  the  above  liquor. 

But  soon  after  deaths  or  after  its  escape  from  the  body,  the  blood  coagu- 
lates or  cloti-,  and  the  arrangement  in  cougulated  blood  is  as  follows: 

red  and  white    '  ^^'*"^»%'  ^^^  crassaraentum  or  clot ;  always 
,  [       entangling  some  serum  in  il«  meshes, 

corpuscles.       }  »     «? 

and 
Albumen  and    |  Remain  in  solution  and  constitute  the  serum. 
salts,  j  The  sp.  gr.  of  aerum  is  about  1U30. 

The  firmness  of  the  coagnlura  or  clot  depends  chiefly  upon  the  amount 
of  fibrin  preijent,  which  varieis  somewhat  in  healthy  people,  and,  as  has 
been  shown  by  M.  Andral,  varies  still  more  in  disease.  In  some  kinds  of 
purpura,  scurvy,  and  putrid  fevers,  there  is  not  only  le^  fibrin  than  in 
health,  but  there  is  scarcely  any  at  all,  an<I  the  blood  will  hardly  coagu- 
late or  clot,     lu  other  diseases  of  au  infiamraatory  type  t^acute  rheuma- 

S8 


m 


I 


tism,  pneumoDia,  etc)  the  quantity  of  fibrin  may  reach  10  or  even  20 
parts  in  1000;  ihe  blood  thu^  tends  to  coagulate  whiht  cirtmlating,  aod 
often  does  so.  i,Se^  EmbulisTn,  in  any  modern  work  on  Medicine  or 
Pathology.)  In  health,  however,  the  averaj^e  eompoisition  of  human  blood 
(the  mean  of  many  analyses)  may  be  taken  to  be,  in  1001)  parts;  Water, 
784;  red  corpuscles,  130;  albumen  of  serum,  70;  salts,  6;  extraclivea 
and  fat,  including  gases,  » ;  fibrin,  2.  The  iiiiucipal  salts  found  in  ih© 
blood  are  chlorifia^  of  sodium  and  potassium,  tribasic  phosphate  of  sioda, 
carbrmaie  of  soda,  sulphate  of  !«uda,  phiwphates  of  lime  and  magjnesia, 
xide  and  pht>sphatcs  of  inm  (0.05  of  iron  in  lOOO  parts).  Flaylair  and 
B4>eckmann  have  found  that  the  blood  of  the  ox  (which  closely  approaches 
human  blood  in  composition )  ii*  almoi?t  identical  in  percenta^je  conif)osi- 
tion  with  the  tle^h,  ami  may  be  representwi  by  the  formula  C^',Hjj,N/3,j,. 

It  baa  been  ?aid  that  the  frmnfm  of  the  clot  mainly  depends  up<m  the 
amount  of  fibrin  in  the  blood,  the  rule  being,  the  more  fibrin  the  firmer 
the  clot.  The  same  circumstance  modifies  the  color  also,  which  nminly 
depends  upon  the  rapidity  with  which  the  clotting  takes  place.  If  the 
clot  form  slowly  (which  is  generally  the  case  where  there  la  much  fibrin, 
as  in  intiammaiory  blood ),  the  red  corpuscles,  whose  sp.  gr.  is  abtnit  1088, 
sink  tc»  the  bottom,  and  as  the  white  corpuscles  are  less  heavy,  tliey  are 
entangled  in  the  clot,  which,  by  shrinking,  acquires  a  cupwd  or  concave 
surluce,  and  assumes  a  ituffy  axtt  or  color.  If  it  set  rapidly,  it  will  have 
more  red  corpuscles  and  be  less  buffy.  Coagulation  of  blood  is  hastened 
by  the  following  circumstances: 

(1)  A  tenii>erature  of  lOO''  to  120°  F.  (=  37.7-  to  4S.8°  C). 

(2)  Rest  favorable,  but  not  esj^entlal ;  for  coagulation  is  promoted  by — 

(3)  Contact  with  foreign  matters,  esjiecially  multiplication  of  jwinis  of 
contact,  as  iu  beating  blood  with  a  whisk  to  coagulate  it.  For  the  Fame 
reason,  probably,  blocrd  is  found,  after  death,  to  coagulate  quicker  in  the 
r»)ugh,  uneven  heart  than  in  the  smooth  arteries  or  veins. 

As  regards  spots  of  blood  i'miu  a  wound,  there  will  be  more  clotting  on  a 
rough  cauvas  or  woollen  shirt  than  cm  a  smooth  stone  or  deal  floor. 

(4)  The  ready  and  free  access  of  air;  hence  blood  coagulates  better, 

(5)  la  shallow  vessels  or  thin  layers  than  in  deep  or  tall  vessels  or  in 
mass. 

(6)  The  addition  of  rather  less  than  twice  its  bulk  of  water  favors 
coagulation. 

(7)  Venesection  is  said  to  favor  clotting,  i.f.,  the  la«t  blood  which 
escapes  clots  more  readily  tlian  the  former.  Attention  to  this  nmy  some- 
times  aid  us  In  determining  where  a  wound  was  iutlicled  by  C'Artiful 
examination  of  the  blood-stains. 

The  Codfjulotion  of  the  Blood  t'ji  retarded — 

(1)  By  cold.  It  is  said  that  below  40°  F.  (4.4"*  C.)  it  will  not  coagulate 
at  all.     But  frozen  blood,  if  thawed,  coagulates,  th'jugh  baflly. 

<2)  A  heal  above  48.8^  C,  which  either  retards  or,  by  coagulating  the 
albumen,  prevents  the  tbrmatiou  of  a  clot. 

(3;  By  the  addition  of  more  thati  twice  it«  bulk  of  water. 

(4)  Contact  with  living  tissue**  relurdd,  but  does  not  prevent  coagulation 
(tede  Aneurism,  Embolism,  etc.). 

(5)  By  alkaline  and  earthy  salts  in  2  to  3  per  cent,  solutions,  or  itronger 
[especially  the  sulphate  and  chloride  of  sodium]. 

(6)  By  want  ot  aeration,  as  in  suflbcation  ;  also  by  a  thin  layer  of  oil  or 
varnish  on  the  surface. 

Certnin  infiammatory  states  retard  coagulation,  though  the  blood 
firmly  (.see  above). 


TBBT8   FOR    BLOOD, 


507 


The  above  excellent  suramary  is  chiefly  taken  from  Mr.  Moraiit  Baker's 
•*  Kirke's  Handbook  of  Physiology."  As  regards  lightning  and  some  other 
foims  of  sudden  death,  see  the  chapter  on  thone  sulijeets.  See  also  page 
44,  for  the  remarks  of  Hir  Jaraea  Paget,  as  to  the  pasitioii  of  the  red  layer 
iu  the  clot  in  the  heart  and  bk>n(h*e>fieb  after  death  as  iodicating  the 
position  of  the  body.  The  reticulated  or  uettike  apf>earance  of  some,  old 
blood -stains  is  chiefly,  if  not  entirely,  due  lo  the  eoagnlation  of  the  fibrin. 
This  has  been  poiuled  out  <^ partly  with  reference  Uj  fos&il  Ivlood  of  ^reat 
antiquity)  and  figured  by  Dr.  Juhn  W.  Op:Ie.  ["  Brit,  and  Foreigi^.  Med.- 
Cbir.  Review/'  July,  1865,  pp.  201-2.]  This  network,  as  has  been  shown 
by  Neumann,  differs  with  the  blood  of  fliflerent  animals,  and  in  this  way 
it  is  sometimes  pos4<ible  to  tell  the  source  of  the  blood.  [See  description 
and  plates  in  '*  Die  Erkennung  des  Blutes,"  von  Adolph  Neumann,  Leip- 
x\g,  1869.] 

Aciion  of  Cold  Water  on  Biood-stauts. 

Let  us  here  take  particular  note  of  the  action  of  cold  water  on  hlood- 
etains. 

(a)  If  the  stain  be  of  recent  date  and  upon  «»  inert  siMancey  that  ia, 
upon  a  body  incapable  of  combining  chemically  with  any  of  the  blood 
conptituenti?,  it  will  be  easily  and  rapidly  di^-jolved  when  acted  upon  with 
cold  water,  the  solution  being  of  a  rich  red  or  of  a  brownish-red  color. 

{(i)  If  the  stain  be  notfresh^but  ^tiJf  comparattifefy  rt^cetttf  it  then  ussniues, 
more  or  less,  according  to  ita  age,  a  brown  tint,  and  is  less  easily  and  leas 
rapidly  dissolved  by  water,  the  aoluttou  not  being  red,  but  of  a  dirty- 
brown  color. 

(j^)  If  the  stJiin  be  wn/  oid,  it  will  then  be  greatly  altered  in  appearance, 
and  be  perfectly  insoluble  iu  water,  the  soluble  coloring- matter  being  com- 
pletely changed  into  an  insoluble  material  (hiematiu). 

Ch0hical  Tents  for  Blood-Mains. 

All  our  tests  for  blood  have  special  reference  to  the  reactioDa  of  seTeiul 
reagents  on  the  peculiar  coloring-matter  of  the  blood. 

1,  (a)  If  the  sitaio  be  upon  a  fabric,  «uch  as  cotlou^  linen,  eifk,  c/c,  cut  a 
a  portion  of  it  out,  and  mix  it  with  a  little  cold  water,  in  a  test- 
tube. 

(i5)  If  the  stain  be  upon  porous  bodies,  such  as  wood,  bricks,  etc., 
scrape  off  the  stained  portion  for  some  depth,  reduce  it  to  a  flue 
powder,  and  digest  the  powder  lor  some  hours  in  cold  distilled 
water. 
In  either  case  (a  or  <5)  filter  the  liquid,  preserving  both  the  mat- 
ters on  the  filter-paper,  as  well  as  the  filtrate,  remembering  that 
in  some  cases  the  blood  coloring-matter  may  be  present  in  a 
combined  and  insoluble  form. 

(jr)  If  the  stain  be  upon  iron  or  steel,  dry  it  thoroughly,  when  possibly 
it  will  peel  ofl',  but  if  not,  it  must  then  be  scraped.  These 
scrapiogs  will  consist  of  a  mixture  of  blood  and  iron.  Digest 
them  for  a  considerable  time  in  cold  distilled  water,  rendered, 
slightly  alkaline  with  ammonia;  or,  if  this  fails  in  effecting  a 
solution,  a  trace  of  citric  acid  may  be  usetL  Now  filter,  when 
the  blood  solution  will  pass  througli  the  paper,  and  the  imn  be 
lejl  on  the  filter.  It  is  well  to  remember  that  the  coloring- 
matter  of  blood  is  rapidly  changed  from  the  soluble  into  the 
insoluble  form  by  the  action  of  the  hydrated  oxide  of  iron. 


TKST3    FOE    ttOOI^. 


m  Jt^  ditkatni  afoeafmaoe  t*  ooe  on  the  kitdt,  thomglk  both 
were  prodoeed  «t  t&e  Mae  time. 

2.  Divide  tbe  solatiuB  oblirawd  irom  «,  ^,  or  jr  into  seretml  parts,  aod 
tot  tlieoi  bj  tli€  seTen]  mednA  ncm  to  be  described — 

A.  To  one  porttoo  u  ft  int-Uibe  add  m  dres  of  a  fcrv  wmk  mhiitm  el' 
If  tJie  rad  Kqmd  be  Uood»  tte  color  vill 
or.  If  rbinged^  be  fligbcly 


If  too  amcfa  ftrnmook  be  added,  or  tbe  aoloa 
red  liquid  will  becoae  of  •  broim  tiot. 
'  eitber  lo  froM  {m 


osbelooilr 

Boltbered 

oloMCAUtbo 


M  wteei 
wnk  tbo 


«  nearer  tmmn^im  etifter  lo  fi 
of  red  frnits  woold  be)  or  lo  crimmm  (i 
odor  bwm  eodlioeoJ,  logvood,  Braxiloood,  ondder-ruui,  etc  v. 

B.  Heai  oJMtf4er peffioo  m  u  iett^dke  to  o6otil  tS"  C  (US'"  F.>.  Noie 

with  ft  blood  fololioo  three  reiaJt^:  (1)  Tbe  red  ouJor  is  eam- 
pletelj  dettrojed  ;  (2)  Tbe  eoltttioD  k  cnftgtthited :  (3)  A  Ibick 
bfooro  pfoctpitftte  w  prxidooed,  tbe  ftoiooot  of  which  depeadtoo 
tbe  strenj^tb  of  the  sotutioo  noder  exomhialJAfCL 

C.  If  thi*  bfoim  precipiuie  be  to  eolEcieat  quaotity,  eolleet  it  opoo 

ft  fiiter,  drjr  ftod  hum  urith  some  vcak  ftiwooift,  in  wbirb,  if  it 
be  blood«  it  will  he  fuuod  soluble,  the  eototioo,  if  iulBcieiiilj 
itrung,  ftppeenog  dark-g^reeo  by  reflected  and  red  br  irftitS' 
mitred  ligbL 

D.  To  an<ither  portion  add  a  drop  9/  o  mhiHam  ^f  dUSsrMe.    Tbe 

colunug*fUiiil«r  of  bluod  will  be  foond  ecarceljr  at  all  aflbeted 
by  the  cblorioe.  A  b1r>od  eolation,  it  maj  be  noted  fiinber.ii 
not  ea^ly  bleached  by  a  tohiion  0/  wlpkmrwu  add, 

£.  To  auotber  portioo  add  Mome  strong  mtrte  oeuf.  Tbe  r^  coloring* 
nmtter  of  blood  will  be  coagulated,  and  tbe  snlation  beeooie  of 
a  dirty  brown  color  If  tbe  coagolaled  mass  is  in  solBcient 
quantity,  beat  ii  with  ^ome  «trt^g  nitric  add,  when  a  dear  jet* 
low  solution  will  be  obiaiued. 

F.  A  red  prfcipitate  is  prtxiucred  on  the  addition  of  a  little  tinrhtrt 
0/  galU,  Thin  n-aciion  ia  important,  a*  all  red  coloring-mattew 
due  to  iron  yiebl  11  durk  blue  or  blut^hgrven  precipitate. 

3.  Blood-fttains  are  insoluble  cither  in  strong  alcohol,  ether,  chlorofonn, 
or  oila. 


StainB  likely  to  be  mUiaken  for  Blood-daina  by  the  Xak^  Eye. 

1.  Madder  mixed  trUk  Albumen  (suggested  by  Raspail). — ^The  ctilur  in 
this  case  is  not  destroyed  by  heat,  wheivaa  that  of  blood  is.  On  tbe 
addition  of  a  solution  of  alum,  it  i&  changed  yellow ;  whereas  tbe  red 
color  in  a  blood  iolutioo  will  be  merely  diluicil. 

2,  finnrfuinttria. — The  Tfd  color  \^  decolorized  by  ammonia. 

3,  Ifrazi/ttwMx/.— The  red  color  ii*  turiieil  critu*«>a  by  aniraooia. 

4.  Logwood. — TheiMjluiioM  \b  reddeued  by  ssulph uric  acid  and  blackened 
by  sulphate  of  irou. 

6,  CamrtxHHl  and  Red  SaundfTS, — These  colore  are  insoluble  in  cold 
water,  and  very  soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether.  They  are  both  turned 
crimson  by  amiuooia, 

6.  Archil,  fruit-*tnifUf  fiower'aUnns  are  all  turned  either  blue  or  green 
by  the  action  of  amtnotiia. 


'^mimTR< 


R0800PI0  TBST  FOR  BLOOD. 


609 


Iron. — ^Tbe  red  color  is  destroyed  by  ammonia. 
I'lie  color  is  soluble  in  water,and  remains  unchanged 
—    -     ■■Ilia.     It  is  decomposed  by  sulphuric  acid,  and  an- 
*>t!?  for  iron. 

Ifir  is  soluble  in  water,  and  is  not  changed  by  the 
It  turns  dark- blue  on  the  addition  either  of  sulphuric 

),  Rlmtanyy  and  Kino, — These  bodies  are  soluble  in 

;ered  by  the  action  of  ammonia.    All  three  contain 

t  become  black,  and  the  third  a  greenish-black,  on 

of  iron. 

^  Hed  Paint  made  from  Iron. — These  are  not  soluble 

ijfli  tfai*y  are  soluble  in  hydrochloric  acid.     (Care  must  be 

|tie  Hind  itaelf  is  free  from  iron.)     This  solution  gives  a  char- 

li'btiie  with  ferrocyanide  of  potxuaium^  and  a  bright-red  with 

)n  uf  poittmum,  provided  there  is  no  great  excess  of  acid.     In 

&  «tain   is  believed  to  be  due  to  an  iron-mould,  you  should 

iiiiue  the  dye  of  the  fabric,  to  prove  the  absence  or  the  presence, 

tifiron  in  the  dye. 

of  Rit^i  o/i  Steel  Inatruments. — The  rust  spot  is  insoluble  in 
joruughly  act  on  the  spot  with  distilled  water,  and  filter;  the 
ir  rust,  will  be  uncolored.  If  there  is  any  precipitate  on  the  filter- 
ill  probably  be  soluble  in  dilute  hydrochloric  acid.  (Do  not 
tlui  blade  wilh  hydrochloric  acid,  but  merely  with  pure  water.)  The 
♦hliirir  avul  filtrate  can  then  be  proved  to  contain  iron  by  the  ferro- 
urid  by  ^ulphocyaiiide  of  potassium. 
.  Spoh  qf  Lerfmn  or  Orange-juice  on  Steel. — In  this  case  a  citrate  of 
is  Itirmed,  which  is  soluble  in  cold  water,  forming  a  light-colored  yel- 
low-tinted solution,  having  an  acid  reaction.  The  color  is  unchanged  by 
the  action  of  ammonia  or  by  boiling.  It  is  known  to  be  an  iron  salt  by 
the  tests  described.     {See  8  and  11,  above.) 

14.  Stains  of  grease  on  dark  fabrics,  and  spots  of  pitch  and  tar  on  the 
clothing  of  sailors,  riggers,  and  others,  who  have  to  handle  these  mate- 
rials, have  been  mistaken  for  blood  by  those  unfamiliar  with  the  subject. 
The  use  of  a  pocket-lens  will  usually  distinguish  these  from  blood-stains; 
but  the  former  (t.  e.,  grease-stains)  may  be  easily  detected  by  putting  a  bit 
of  white  blotting-paper  over  the  stain,  and  pressing  a  hot  iron  over  it, 
and  also  by  their  ready  solubility  in  ether,  benzol,  and  chloroform.  The 
latter  (tar  and  pitch)  have  an  odor  sui  generis  when  warmed,  and  are 
readily  soluble  in  turpentine  or  alcohol,  neither  of  which  solvents  have 
much  effect  on  blood-stains. 

In  all  these  fourteen  cases  the  microscope  will  prove  the  absence  of  blood- 
corpuscles  in  the  stain. 

Spectroscopic  Test. 

There  are  no  tests  for  blood,  however,  upon  which  the  skilful  manipula- 
tor may  rely  with  more  absolute  certainty  than  upon  the  different  spectra 
produced  by  the  blood  coloring-matters. 

History  of  the  Spectroscopic  Ted. 

The  black  bands  of  the  solar  spectrum,  discovered  by  Wollaston  in  1805, 
and  rediscovered  by  Friiunhofer  in  1815,  were  proved  by  Kirchhoff,  in 
1859,  to  be  due  to  certain  gases  and  vapors  in  the  solar  atmosphere,  hav- 
ing a  power,  peculiar  to  themselves,  of  absorbing  definite  parts  of  thfr 
spectrum,  the  rays  which  the  gas  or  the  vapor  absorb    being  the  very 


510 


BPECTR08C0P1C  TEST  FOR  BLOOD, 


rava  that  the  body  producing  the  gas  emits.  Similarly  oertain  colored 
Bofiitions  were  found  to  p<>Si«e^  alike  power  to  gases  of  ab^orhiiig  defiuite 
p<jrtujns  of  the  gj>€ctrum.  Jyet  as  the  knowing  the  porti«)n  uf  the  spectrum 
that  a  given  gas  ab8ort>a  becoraea  a  test  for  that  gas,  so  in  the  case  of 
liquids,  the  discovery  of  certain  absorption-bandi*,  known  to  be  peculiar  to 
a  given  body  when  in  soUitiou,  becomes  a  test  fur  that  brtdy.  Blood  in 
this  respect  is  very  remarkable,  ll»  ahsorptton-bande  proviug  a  method  of 
analytical  investigation  far  more  delicate  and  certain  than  all  chemical 
tests.  The  peculiar  spectra  of  hlood  were  first  noticed  by  Hoppe  in  1862, 
and  were  suggested  by  him  as  a  means  of  medico-legal  research.  Stokes, 
io  1864,  and  Sorhy  and  Letheby  since,  have  added  largely  to  our  knowl- 
edge of  the  subject. 

The  Colorlnff-matUr  of  Blood, 

It  will  be  advisjable  before  describing  in  detail  the  various  spectra  of 
blood,  to  examine  the  chemistry  of  the  coloring  matter,  it  being  the  active 
agent  in  producing  the  distinctive  bands.  It  is  most  im[»ortant  further  to 
understand  the  changes  that  thi:;*  colnring-matter  undergt^e,"*  by  keeping, 
inasmuch  as  the  alterntiuus  brought  about  by  time  furnish  us  with  nu>st 
important  evidence,  necessitating,  moreover,  different  methods  of  working, 
depending  on  the  changes  thus  etiected. 

The  coloring-matter  of  blood  was,  in  the  fir^t  instance,  described  by 
Lecanu,  and  named  liy  him  htrmatin ;  but  Professor  Stokes  proved  that 
the  hiemaltn,  describeil  by  I^ecanu,  was  a  different  body  to  the  coloring- 
matter  contained  io  fresh  blorjd,  Stokes  mime<l  this  coloring-matter  of 
fresh  blood  cruorin,  and  proved  that  it  was  capable  of  existing  in  two 
states  of  oxidation.  The  deoxidized  form  (such  as  is  present  in  venous 
blood)  he  called  purple  cruorin;  (he  oxidized  form  (such  as  is  present  in 
arterial  hlood)  he  called  acarlet  crttoriu.  The  spectra  obtained  from  these 
two  varieties  of  cruorin  were  fumiil  to  be  very  dissimilar.  His  experi- 
ments, moreover,  suggested  that  the  coloring-matter  of  the  blood  was  in- 
timately concerned  with  the  phe(i<injena  of  respiration,  owing  to  the 
remarkable  facility  it  possessed  both  of  absorbing  and  emitting  oxygen. 
This  cruorin  we  now  called  hamofflolnn,  wbicli  term  for  the  future  we 
Bhall  employ.  It  is  perfectly  soluble  in  water  ;  and,  according  to  W. 
Preyer,  nearly  the  whole  of  the  iron  iu  the  blood  is  eoutatued  in  it  as  an 
essential  ingredient. 

There  are  some  reasons  for  believing  that  there  is  an  essential  difference 
In  the  haemoglobin  of  the  hlood  of  different  species  of  mammalia,  the 
crystals  of  the  body  obtained  from  dilfercnt  animals  varying  much  in 
their  solubility  as  well  as  in  their  crystalline  form  ("  Bint  Kryslalle,"  W. 
Preyer,  Jena,  1871).  But  of  this  at  present  we  know  very  little  for 
certain. 

We  must  now  examine  the  products  of  the  decomposition  of  ha;Qio- 
globin.  If  the  dry  blood-stain  be  expo.'-ed  for  a  time  to  the  air,  a  new 
»ubslarice  of  an  albuminous  naturw  is  prodticed,  originally  called  by  S<trby 
brown  cru</rt»,  but  now  generally  known  as  vieihirmo^jlobin.  This  substance 
eeems  to  occu[)y  an  internvediate  position  belwecri  hiemoglobin  aud  the 
haemalin  of  Lecanu.  By  the  action  of  reagents,  such  as  acetic,  tartaric,  and 
citric  acids,  etc.  (but  not,  it  should  be  noted,  by  the  action  of  hydrocyanic 
acid),  the  bright  red  of  fresh  blood  becomes  change*!  in  color  to  a  hrownuh- 
red.  The  hitmofffobin  has  thus  become,  iu  fact,  Lecanu'a  htzmniin.  The 
change  is  chemical  and  permanent ;  for  you  cannot  restore  it  to  the  original 
condition  by  neutralizing  with  au  alkiili.  The  same  change  of  the  bajmo- 
globiu  iuto  hajmatiu  lakes  place  wheu  ilie  hlood  Iuls  been  kept  for  a  long 


SPECTROSCOPIC  TEST  FOR  BLOOD. 


611 


time.  The  fresh  blnod-stajn  is  bright  red  (haemoglobiu ),  the  old  stalo  is 
bivjwn  (lutmatiii).  This  hiematiii,  whelher  produced  by  age  or  by  the 
action  of  at-ida,  is,  like  ha^mogltibii],  capable  also  of  existiug  in  two  states 
of  oxidation,  each  state  having  its  owu  special  8|>ectrutn-baud». 

Changes  in  the  Color  of  Bhod-stmm. 

It  will  be  well  here  briefly  to  consider  the  chtinges  produred  on  a  blood- 
stain by  time,  a^  well  as  by  various  other  circumstance*,  capable  of  ejecting 
alteratiiuis. 

The  blood-stain,  when  fresh  (if  upon  a  white  fabric),  havS  a  bright-red 
color.     The  eoloring-niatter  is  h(emogf<}bin  (C^nHwwNj^^FeSsO,^). 

If  the  stain  be  kept  in  a  very  damp  place,  the  hitMiioglobin  k  rapidly 
changed  into  hfpmatlu^  or  both  hiemoglobin  and  hiematin  may  be  decom- 
po.«ed. 

But  if  the  stain  be  kept  dry,  it  becomes,  in  time,  of  a  brown  color.  This 
cohvring-matter  is  mefhrmofjlobin.  Horby  regard*  this  body  as  hiemoglobin, 
loosely  combined  with  an  extra  supply  of  oxygen  [peroxidized  haemoglo- 
bin). This  change  from  hiemoglobin  into  methaimugh»bin  varies  according 
to  circnmstances.  Mr.  iSorby  found  that  in  the  centre  of  the  town  of  Shef- 
field, for  example,  the  change  was  brought  about  at>er  a  few  hours,  whilst 
at  a  distance  of  six  miles  t'rotii  the  town,  and  awiiy  from  houses,  it  required 
at  least  a  week  to  produce  auy  appreciable  alteration.  Further,  the  lime 
necessary  to  bring  about  the  chauge  is  much  influenced  by  keeping  the 
stained  material  indoors ;  and  again,  the  alteration  is  rendered  very  much 
more  rapid  by  it^  exposure  to  an  atmosphere  in  which  coal  gas  is  being 
burnt,  the  presence  of  a  very  minute  trace  of  >iulphurons  or  other  weak 
acid  teuiHug  very  greatly  to  accelerate  it.  Again,  the  change  is  very 
rapid  when  the  stained  labric  has  been  or  is  worn  next  the  skin,  the  altera- 
tion in  this  case  being  hastened  by  the  action  of  the  weak  acids  of  the 
pen* pi  ration. 

This  rule  is  a  safe  one:  1/  the  color  of  the  hkmii-ttain  be  brujht-red,  it 
19  a  proof  that  (he  Main  is  recent;  but  if  it  be  brown,  it  in  ni^ proof  that  it  14 
ofd. 

After  a  long  but  variable  |>erlod,  the  whole  of  the  coloring-matter  will 
become  converted  into  haenmiin  (C«H^N„Fe,PiJ. 


TJie  Spedra  produced  by  Blood, 

Let  us  now  examine  the  pecnliarities  of  the  several  spectra  produced 
by  the  coloring-nmtter  in  the  various  states  we  have  described.  (^See 
Plate  V.) 

(1)  Represents  the  solar  spectrura,  the  position  of  a  few  of  Frtiuuhofer's 
Hoes  being  marked. 

(2)  77ir  spectrum  of  »earlet  of  oxidized  hwmoghbin,  the  coloring-matter 
of  arterial  blmtd. 

CharttrterM  of  Hpertrum. — The  blue  end  is  darkened.  Two  absorption- 
bands  are  visible  jnst  below  Friiunhofer's  line  D  in  the  yellower  half  of  the 
green.  The  baud  nearer  the  violet  end  is  about  twice  as  broad  as  the 
other  band. 

(3)  The  (fpedrum  ofpurjyk  or  deoxidized  hcemofflobin,  the  coloring-matter 
of  venous  blood, 

Charadera  of  speetmm. — The  bJue  end  darkened,  but  somewhat  less  so 


512 


SPECTROSCOPIC  TEST  FOR  BLOOD. 


than  in  the  previous  case,  a  single  broad  absorption -baud  beicg  visible  \n 
the  gr^en. 

(4)  7%ti  spei^lnnn  of  blood  after  a  short,  ejpomrr  to  air. 

Charnrttn*  of  npectrum. — The  blue  euH  ajipears  darkened.  The  two 
bands  <jf  oxtilized  hasoiogtobin  are  much  weakened,  whilst  a  third  baud 
IB  visible  iu  the  red. 

(5)  The  gpeetrwn  of  blood  after  prohnged  expot^ure. 

Charncterif  of  itpnvtnuii. — The  blue  end  in  tiitith  darkened.  The  hand 
in  the  red  i»  nnich  more  hitenee,  whilst  th«  banda  in  the  gre^n  are  le^^  m. 

(6)  The  gpcrirum  of  blood  of ler  prolonged  cjrpoirnrc,  with  the  addition  of 
a  little  ammonia. 

Chnntrters  of  s}t^iintm,— The  hand  in  the  red  disftpp<»ar8,  whilst  the 
bands  in  the  green  are  strengthened. 

(7)  The  specintm  of  amd  hfFmfttin, 

Chararfei'fi  of  apfrtrum. — The  blue  end  appears  nrnifh  darkened.  A  verr 
broad  band  will  be  found  in  the  red,  a  second  band  in  the  green,  whilst  a 
third  exceedingly  faint  band  may  he  occaiiioually  aeen  in  the  blue. 

(8)  The  ^eefruni  of  reduced  or  deoxidized  hinnntin. 

Cftnrarteri*  of  t^j^eetruvi. — The  blue  end  is  durkened.  Two  well-defined 
ban<ls  are  seen  in  the  grc^en,  Init  somewhat  nearer  the  violet  than  those  of 
oxidized  haemoglobin.  The  band  nearer  the  red  is  the  narrower,  but  it  is 
intensely  bluek,  and  haa  exceedingty  well-defined  edges.  The  l<>wer  band 
(that  nearest  the  violet)  is  nearly  double  the  width  of  tire  other  band,  but 
the  edges  are  somewhat  lesis  difitinet.  This  hand  possibly  may  not  V»e  K-en 
in  a  very  weak  solution. 

Let  us  n(jw  proceed  to  consider:  (1.)  The  iiiBlrumentf*  with  which  these 
Spectrum  investigations  are  to  be  conducted;  ami  (2.)  The  %'anous 
Bttethoda  to  be  pui-gued  under  different  circumstanccit  in  the  iuvestigaiiou. 

Apparatus  for  Mivro^pectroscopic  Anaiyfn^. 

The  iu8trument  usually  emjdoyed  is  that  suggested  by  Mr.  Sorby  (Fig. 
48).  It  eonnists  of  pri.-;nw  fp)  arranged  for  direct  visiim  contained  in  a 
tube  (Fig.  49),  capable  of  being  removed  at  pleasure.  For  examining 
bl(n>d  ^[leetra,  pn^oiH  are  to  be  preferred  with  a  inoeh  lower  di8|ier^ive 
power  than  ihoi»e  ordinarilv  Ui*ed  for  examining  incandescent  ga.«»es.  For 
aecurate  work,  it  is  atlvi.sable  to  have  several  eycpiecea*,  containing  pri:*ms 
of  different  degrees  i*f  di^persiou  ;  hut  we  are  **onvinced  that  a  coni[)am- 
lively  slight  di^persitm  is  tnat  best  suited  for  blood  analysis,  as  well  as  for 
the  examination  genenilly  <if  organic  coloring-imitters.  Below  the  prisms 
\»  an  achromatic  lens,  the  focus  of  which  can  be  adjusted  by  rackwork. 
The  width  of  the  slit  is  regulated  by  turning  a  6ne  screw,  so  that  the  beat 
effect  may  be  obtained  during  ihe  examination  of  the  s<»lution.  It  \» 
absolutely  neee.*sary  in  the:*  investigations  that  we  j^hould  be  able  to  com- 
pare ftjMjctra — aay  a  spectrum  of  a  known  with  an  unknown  bmly,  side  by 
aide;  and  for  this  purpose  the  instrument  is  prtpvided  with  a  stage  having 
an  adjustable  slit,  so  that  a  second  .spectrum  may  be  obtained.  The  pro- 
duction of  this  second  spectrum  is  effected  by  a  right-angled  prism,  m 
contrived  that  the  light  may  be  reflected  through  half  the  main  plit. 
Below  this  is  the  field-lens  of  the  eyepiece.  The  instrument  fits  un  the 
microscope,  like  an  ordinary  eyepiece.     A.h  a  rule  we  use  a  low  power,  so 


SPECTROSCOPIC  TEST  FOR  BLOOD. 


513 


as  to  pet  plenty  of  liglu.  The  object  to  be  examined  is  placed  on  tlie 
ordiniirv  mi€ro!*cope  stage,  and  illuminated,  if  traasparent  (as  blood  is), 
by  the  p|ajj;*^*mirror,  su|iplemeiUed  in  some  case^  with  a  condeni<iri^-lens. 
It  IB  advisable  in  working  with  the  mlcroMpectro.-icope  to  u^e  a  very  steady 
binocular  miiTO!sc<ipt\  so  that  the  tube  not  in  use  for  the  :?pectroscope  may 
be  eiiipl<tyed  for  adjusting  the  object.     It  is  well  to  notice  that  each   part 


FIQ.  4S. 


Fifi.  49. 


fl     A 


¥ 


of  the  spectrum,  differing  as  it  does  a  little  in  refrangibility,  may  need 
accurate  focusjiin^^  if  delicate  bands*  or  liuci*  are  to  be  seen  perfectly. 

T!iis<  tnrm  of  apparatas  has  very  recently  been  in  nninv  respects  mnch 
improved  hy  Mr.  Sorliy,  aided  by  the  praclieal  skill  of  Aiessr;*.  U.  and  .L 
Beck,  the  eminent  niicro^ope  ina'kerri.  The  microi?pectroscope  constructed 
by  them  tit.-*  on  to  the  microscope,  not  at  the  eyepiece,  but  where  the 
object'^'lai»s  is  ordinarily  placed »  We  s>lr<mgly  recommend  this  form  of 
snectro.^cojve.  The  management  of  the  light  is  much  more  sim]>le,  whilst 
tbere  is  no  difficulty,  as  there  is  with  the  other  form  of  apparatus,  in  ob- 
taining two  similarly  illuminated  f*|>ectra. 

We  purpoj^ely  abstain  here  from  giving  any  description  of  the  various 
methods  that  have  been  suggested  for  measuring  the  position  of  bunds, 
believing  nni'St  strongly  that  in  all  medicodegail  investigations  we  sboidd 
nf>t  rely  on  such  methods  of  measurement,  but  on  comparison  spectra,  or, 
in  other  words,  in  comparing  the  unknown  solution  side  by  side  with  a 
known  one. 

Aiitl  now  let  us  proceed  to  coneider  the  methods  to  be  pursued  in  the 
exaniiuatioi]  of  blood -stains  with  the  spectrum  microscope. 


514 


SPECTROSCOPIC  TEST  FOR  BLOOD. 


Examination  of  a  Recent  or  OomparaHwfy  Recent  Bfood-stain  on  a  White 

Fabric, 

If  you  can  detach  a  portion  of  the  blood  do  so;  but  iftbis  is  impo!«sible, 
cut  out  a  small  piece  of  the  stained  fabric,  and  goak  it  for  about  ten 
minute**  in  a  few  drops  of  cold  distilled  water  in   a  wutch  glaa*.     Then 

Flo.  ao. 


squeeze  the  colored  fluid  out,  and  stand  it  on  one  side  for  a  »hort  time,  so 
that  any  iuHoluble  matters  maybe  deposited,  After  this,  introduce  the 
solution  with  a  fine-drawn  pifH?tte  into  a  email  glaas  cell  (Fig.  50),  madd 
of  barometer  tubing,  about  half  an  inch  in  length,  and  having  an  interna] 
diameter  of  about  the  one-eighth  of  an  inch.  One  end  of  the  cell  is  to  be 
carefully  cemented  with  purified  ^utta-jjcrcha  upon  an  ordinary  micro!»cof>e 
slide.     "  It  in*  a  ^reat  advantage,"  say:*  Mr.  Siirby,  "  to  iii!*ert  between  the 

{>late  and  the  cell  a  diaphragm  of  platinum-foil,  liaving  in  it  a  circular 
)ole  about  twothirdA  the  internal  diameter  of  the  tube,  and  fixed  so  that 
\tA  centre  nmy  corressptjud  to  that  of  the  c«ll.  This  prevent*  any  light 
that  ham  ntjt  penetrated  through  the  whole  length  of  the  sfdution  passing 
upward."*,  which  i^  very  imjwrlant  when  using  direct  concentrated  sunlight 
to  penetrate  through  turbid  or  very  opaque  liijuid.-*."  It  h  well  to  till 
several  tubes,  if  you  have  aufficient,  with  the  blood-solutiou.  Proceed  now 
as  follows : 

I.  Allow  one  of  the  tuhe,«i  to  remain  for  a  few  minutes  in  a  horizontal 
position,  so  that  all  suspended  matters  may  subside,  and  the  field  of  vision 
in  thia  way  not  be  obscured.  Place  the  tube  on  the  micrasfope  stage,  and, 
after  arrangiug  its  poMitiou  accurately,  carefully  focus  the  top,  or  a  little 
under  thetop,  of  the  lixqoid.  If  the  blood  be  tolerably  fret^h,  the  spectrum 
of  oxidized  haemoglobin  (Plate  V,  2)  with  itjs  two  well-defined  absorption- 
bands  in  the  green  will  be  apparent.  If  &nch  a  sj^Hictrum  be  obtainea,you 
are  in  a  position  to  iiay  that  the  stain  is  tolerably  recent.  Bui  if  you 
obtain  the  gpectra  indicated  in  4  and  5  with  iti*  fainter  bands  in  the  green, 
and  the  extra  band  in  the  red,  it  indicates  that  the  stain  has  undergone  a 
change.  Be  careful  in  siuch  a  case  not  to  fix  any  age  whatsoever  to  the 
fttaiii,  inasmuch  as  the  changes  the  blood  has  undergone  are»  as  we  have 
already  pointed  out,  largely  influenced  by  different  circumstances.  If  you 
obtain  spectra  4  and  5,  add  a  trace  of  ammonia  to  the  solntiou  in  the  tube, 
stirring  it  in  with  the  platinum-wire,  when  you  will  obtain  spectrum  0. 

II.  To  a  second  tube  of  (be  su.'ipected  solution  add,  first,  a  very  little 
nmmnnta,  and  then  a  small  quantity  of  the  double  tartrate  oj  potash  and 
mdn  (R<ichelle  j^alt).  This  is  found  to  be  a  most  convenient  reagent  in 
preventing  the  precipitation  of  oxide  of  inm  in  solutions  containing  free 
ammonia.  With  this  no  change  will  l>e  produced  in  the  fipectrum,  the 
ordinary  bands  being  vif^ible  as  before.  Now  add  to  the  liquid  in  the  cell 
a  piece  (^ay  about  the  :f*,^th  of  an  inch)  of  the  double  fulphate  of  protoxide 
of  iron  and  avimouia;  stir  the  solution  slightly  with  a  piece  of  platinum 


SPECTROSCOPIC  TBST  FOR  BLOOD, 


515 


wire,  80  99  to  mix  the  iron  salt  thoroughly,  but  with  a«  little  exposure?  to 
air  as  possible.  Now  cover  the  cell  over  with  a  piece  of  thlti  gla.H!*.  The 
two  bauds  seeti  previously  wilt  now  have  disappeareti.  anil  will  be  replaced 
by  a  single  intermediate  baud,  fainter  but  broader  than  either  of  the  other 
two.     This  is  the  spectrum  of  reduced  hfemoglobin  (3). 

The  8j>ecimens  of  bajmo^ijlobin  thus  reduced  may  be  again  and  again 
oxidized  by  exposure  to  air  and  by  vigorous  stirring  with  the  platinum 
wire.  They  can  theo  be  again  deoxidized  by  a  further  addition  of  the 
iron  .<alt. 

Tbi-s  deoxidatioQ  and  reoxidation  of  the  hiemnglobin  is  a  very  charac- 
teristic reaction,  and  serves  to  dij^tinguish  blood  from  raoet  other  sub- 
stances. 

Mr.  Sorby  originally  used  for  this  experiment  ammonia  and  proto- 
sulphate  of  iron.  The  reagents  we  have  previously  mentioned  art%  how- 
ever, in  every  respect  infinitely  preferable. 

If  a  solution  of  blood  be  merely  covered  with  a  thin  piece  of  glass,  and 
kept  for  K>me  time  in  the  ct^ll,  the  reduction  of  the  htemoglobin  will  be 
effecteil  spontaneously,  and  without  the  addition  of  any  reagents. 

A  (juestioa  here  mav  poissibly  ariae  wlielher  this  spectrum  can  po!<sibly 
be  <lue  to  the  iron?  The  question  is  at  once  answered  by  the  fact  that 
other  bodies,  such  as  protochloride  of  tin,  hydroiiulphate  of  ammonia,  or 
indeed  any  deoxidizing  agent,  will  eJfect  the  same  action  as  the  iron  salt, 
only  somewhat  more  slowly. 

III.  Add  to  the  suspected  liquid  in  a  glaps  cell  a  minute  fragment  of 
citric  ncid^  stirring  thoroughly  with  a  platinum  wire.  I  For  purposes  of 
convenience  it  i*  well  to  have  the  platinum  wire  Battened  at  one  end,  and 
turned  up  square  in  the  shape  of  a  small  hoe  (Fig.  51}.) 


Fio.51. 


I 


The  acid  will  change  the  hainioglobin  into  ha-matin.  If,  previaus?ly  to 
the  addition  of  the  citric  acid,  the  bands  of  the  oxidized  haemoglobin  were 
visible  (Plate  V,  2),  they  will  now  disa(»pear;  whilst  if  the  solution  be 
tolerably  stroug,  a  faiot  band  will  be  visible  in  the  red.  Add  now^  an 
excess  of  ammonia.  This  is  best  done  by  dipping  the  platinum  wire  into 
the  aniraonia  solution,  and  stirring  the  moistened  wire  immediately  into 
the  liquid  in  the  cell  containing  the  Huid.  The  band  in  the  red,  if  present, 
will  now  disappear,  the  original  bands  either  not  being  at  all  restored  or 
only  restored  to  a  very  slight  extent.  This  is  a  most  important  change  to 
note,  since  it  shows  that  the  acid  has  etfected  a  permanent  change  in  the 
original  bhwid  coloring-matter.  Add  rjciw  to  the  solution  in  the  cell  a  y*iry 
small  particle  of  the  double  sulphate  of  iron  and  ammonia,  and  cover  the 
liquid  over  immetliately  with  a  piece  of  thin  covering  glass.  Remove  the 
excess  of  the  liquid  with  blotting-paper,  and  in  order  to  exclude  air,  it  is 
advisable  to  fix  the  glass  cover  on  the  cell  with  gold-size.  Turn  the  cell 
over  and  over,  again  and  again,  for  a  few  minutes.  In  cold  weather  the 
prof.*ess  of  deoxidatiou  is  slow,  and  even  a  quarter  of  an  hour  may  elapse 
before  it  is  complete.  By  this  means  the  hienmtin  will  be  reduced,  and 
the  excessively  well-marked  spectrum,  [lerfectly  unique  under  the  cir- 
cumstances (Plate  V,  8),  will  be  seen,  having  two  bands,  the  one  at  the 
red  end  l>eing  the  first  to  apfiear.  If  the  solution  be  very  turbid,  the 
precipitate  may  be  allowed  to  collect  on  the  side  by  keeping  the  tube  for 
a  short  time  in  a  horizontal  jxisitiou.  Preserve  and  mark  the  specimen 
for  further  examination,  if  necessary. 


516 


OLD    BLOOD-STAIKS    ON   COLORKD    FABRICS. 


By  exposing  this  solution  of  deoxidized  hiematin  to  the  air,  as«i8le<i 
by  vigorous  stirring,  we  may  often  succeed  not  only  in  bringing  buck 
a^ain  the  oxidized  biemaliu  band,  but  also  the  bauds  of  oxidize<l  hiemo- 
globin. 

IV.  Lastly,  add  to  pome  of  the  liquid  under  examination  a  small  ouan- 
tity  of  boric  acid.  If  the  Kiluiiuti  bii  blood,  no  itniuediate  change  will  be 
observed  iu  the  positiou  of  the  bands. 

8ome  of  the  above  sfjeetra  niny  l>e  obtained  by  merely  drying  a  little  of 
the  blcKid'Solution  on  a  piece  of  flat  gla«?s,  and  examiutug  the  dried  spot 
wilh  the  8pectroK"ope,  the  light  being  tran.>^mitted  through  the  dried  spot. 
We  do  not,  however,  advitre  lbit»  methiMi  of  inve^tigaliou. 

The  proeetsa  we  have  now  de?«*ribed  ia  that  applicable  to  recent  or  to 
couiparaiively  recent  stains,  occurring  either  upon  articles  generally,  or 
U|u)n  white  fabric?,  or  upon  fabrics  where  thei*e  tj*  but  lillle  coloringnmtler. 
It  will,  however,  need  modilication  under  certain  circumstances,  and  these 
we  mut^t  now  consider. 


Examination  of  Old  Blood-stains,  and  of  Blood-dalnn  on  Colored 

Fabrics. 

If  the  blood-stains  be  old,  the  coloring-matter  will  probably  be  found 
to  be  scarcely  at  all  acted  on  wiih  colU^  water.  Pltther  citric  ttci<l  or  atn* 
monia  iini^t  then  be  u?ed  for  dii^solvingit.  If  the  fkbric  be  a  white  one, 
ammonia  should  be  employed  iu  preterence  to  citric  acid  ;  but  if  it  be 
ct>lore<l,  tesl  ^rst  of  all  which  of  these  two  reagents  has  the  leA!»t  action  ou 
the  dye  coloring-mat ler,  and  u»q  ibat  one  for  the  purpofse  of  dipfjolving  the 
bbwnd  which  act.*  least  on  the  color  of  the  cloth.  To  determine  thin,  all 
that  is  nece:*gary  is  to  place  a  little  piece  of  the  fuhritr  iu  two  wutch-glais^e?. 
Bud  to  act  on  the  one  with  a  little  ammonia,  and  on  the  other  with  a  little 
citric  acid  solution.  There  can  be  llltte  doubt  that  ammonia  should,  if 
po8"fible,  be  used  iu  preference  to  the  acid;  but  in  the  ca^e  of  red  fubrics 
generally, ammonia  will  befoyod  to  di^i^olve  90  much  of  the  dyestutf  that 
the  atler-inve^vtigalion:?  with  the  colorefl  i^olution  are  reudere*!  iutiuiicly 
more  trouble.-tome  and  complicated.  Hence,  if  the  stain  be  found  on 
scarlet  cloth  or  on  other  red  material,  citric  acid  should  be  ns*e<l  as  the 
blood %«ol vent.  Further,  if  the  stain  be  found  insoUdde  both  in  amujonia 
and  in  citric  acid,  then  it  should  first  t»f  all  be  acted  ufKui  with  ammonia 
solution,  and  a  moderate  heat  afterward;^  applied.  Proceed  then  with  the 
eolulions  in  the  manner  already  der^cribed,  examining  them  with  the  ?pee- 
ln)Scope  both  before  and  after  deoxidation  with  the  iron  salt. 

The  age  of  a  ^tain  is  no  impediment  to  the  spectroscopic  test.  No  doubt 
htematitr,  although  n  very  permanent  body,  does  untlergo  certain  changes 
by  age,  which  changes  at  present  are  but  ill  uuderMood.  They  are  not, 
however,  of  any  great  practical  moment,  inasmuch  as  Mr.  8i»rby  atatef«  he 
has  been  able  to  discover  hiematin  with  the  spectroscope  after  forty-four 
years;  whilst  Dr.  Letheby  and  one  of  the  authors  have  obtained  all  the 
rea(;tions  from  stains  at  least  thirty  year*  old. 

The  pre!?eiice  of  mordants  on  various  materials  may  necessitate  an  oc- 
casional alteratioD  in  our  proceedings.  More  particularly  this  will  be  the 
case  if  l!)e  stained  fabric  has  been  afterward:*  wette<i,  and  the  blomi  by 
thi'*  means  to  a  great  extent  removed.  What  blood  remains  on  the  cloth 
is  theu  very  likely  to  be  incorporated  with  the  mordaot,  lo  such  ca*€:»  a 
process  f^uch  as  the  following  should  be  ftdopt»?d  :  Digest  a  portion  of  the 
stained  ch^th  in  dilute  ammonia,  and  afterwards  squeeze  out  the  liquid. 
Deoxidize  the  thick,  turbid,  unfiltertd  sohdion  io  the  ordinary  manner,  and 


BLOOD-STAINS    AFTER    WASHING. 


617 


examine  it  for  the  deoxidized  haematin  bandf?,  using  concentrated  sunlight, 
or  the  limelight  if  iieeeiij*ary.  It  iii  to  be  remembered  that  iu  the  vnae  we 
are  supposing,  the  hiemutiii  is  probably  eherairally  coinhiTjed  with  the 
mordant;  hence  filtration, or  the  allowin*'  the  deposit  to  subside,  is  e*juiv- 
alent  to  removing  moi^t  of  the  blood  coloring-matter,  and  so  Irwing  the 
spectra.  The  turbidity  of  the  liquid  most  be  overcome  in  such  causes,  not 
by  removing  the  deposit,  but  by  increasing  the  intem*ity  of  the  transmitted 
light 

Examinatimi  of  Stained  Fabrics  that  have  been  Wanked  ajfer  Staining,  and 
the  Treaimeni  to  be  adopted  in  the  Exumiftatian  of  the  Water  that  was 
vsed  for  Waahiitg  them. 

Hiemaliu  is  a  very  insoluble  body.  Probably,  therefore,  after  an  article 
stained  with  blooti  has  been  washed  iu  water,  provided  a  suffiHeut  time 
has  elap.xed  Jbr  the  change  of  the  hiood  coloriti^'-matter  into  luematin  to 
be  etfected,  enough  will  be  left  on  the  ytuined  elotb  to  pnKluce  the  ijipectra 
necessary  i\>r  its  iilemifieation.  But  it  mast  be  remembered  that  if  the 
s«taiu  be  perteetly  recent,  that  i**,  before  any  of  the  hicmoglobin  t.s  converted 
into  hiematin,  the  whole  of  the  blotnl  may  then  be  wa^shed  out  by  rins- 
ing in  cold  wnter,  and  no  trace  be  afterwards  fuund  oii  the  stained  material. 
Hot  water  will  not  etTect  this  removal  of  the  blood  like  cold  water,  owing 
to  liH  further  action.  Hence,  if  in  a  criuiinal  ca*e  there  \»  proof  that  an 
article  ha»  been  washed  in  ct/ld  imfer,  evidence  as  tu  the  ab.sence  of  blood- 
stains is  of  little  value;  whilst  if,  alter  staining,  the  article  was  washed  iu 
hot  uxtterj  the  probability  is  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  satisfactorily 
proving  the  real  character  of  the  ^tain.  Iu  maoy  ca-ses,  after  a  stained 
i'ahric  has  been  washed,  the  blood-slain  will  be  found  spread  over  a  con- 
siderable surface,  Uuder  such  circumstances  a  large  (uece  must  be  cut 
oyl,  and  digested  with  a  proportionately  large  «juautity  of  ammonia,  or  of 
citric  acid  solution,  concentrating  the  liquiil  afterwards  by  eva|>oratiou  at 
a  gentle  heat. 

The  water  used  for  washing  such  materials  may  have  to  be  examined. 
This  can  be  done  by  concentrating  the  liquid,  if  necessary,  and  examining 
it  in  the  usual  manner.  If,  hiiwever,  it  is  f<iund  that  there  is  any  deposit 
in  the  water,  it  should  be  carefully  collected,  acted  on  with  ammonia,  and 
beat  ap^ilied  if  the  blood  be  insoluble  hi  the  cold  solution. 

If  the  recently  stained  fali-ric^  however,  be  washed  with  map  and  water ^ 
hamoglubiu  will  be  rapidly  converted,  by  the  action  of  the  alkali,  into 
hfemntin.  Soap  and  water,  therefore,  really  set^  the  stain,  and  the  px*ob- 
abilily  is  that,  after  wa.'^hing,  there  will  be  little  difficulty  iu  detecting  it 
on  the  liibric  itself  by  the  ordinary  means.  It  may  be  necessary  sometiroea 
to  examine  the  soap  and  water,  to  see  if  it  contains  blood.  This  may  be 
done  as  follows:  Agitate  the  soap  and  water  with  ether,  and  allow  the 
mixture  to  stand  until  the  ether  has  completely  separated.  Remove  the 
ether  with  a  pipette,  and  again  and  again  .<hake  the  liquid  up  with  ether 
until  the  aqueous  solution  is  pertectly  clear  nnd  free  from  soap.  This 
liquid  must  then  be  couceutrated,  and  examined  as  usual  for  blood. 


Eximiination  of  Stains  on  Leather. 

BlfXKi-sUiins  on  leather,  or  upon  any  body  containing  tannic  acid,  re- 
quire sjM?cial  management  from  the  precipitation  of  the  coloring-matter 
which  is  certain,  more  or  less,  to  result.     Proceed  as  follows: 

(d)  Cut  oflT  a  fine  shaving  from  the  stained  portion  of  the  leather,  bo 
that  there  may  be  as  much  blood  and  as  little  leather  as  possible  on  the 


518 


BLOOD-STAINS   ON    LBATHBE»  IN   BARTH,   ETC. 


Bhaving.  Bend  this  shaving  so  that  the  eide  that  is  stained  may  be  hrouglit 
into  contact  with  a  little  water  placini  in  one  of  the  experimental  cells, 
whilst  the  leather  «tde  of  the  j^having  is  not  wetted.  lo  this  niariiiert  niIu- 
tion  of  the  blood  will  probably  be  etfecled,  aod  enough  cM)lonug-raatter 
obtained  for  experiment. 

Mr.  Sorby  points  oot,  however,  that  when  a  drop  of  blood  full?  on 
leather,  the  serum  soaks  into  the  leather,  and  leaves  the  blooil-forfmscles 
on  the  liurfaee.  If  the  leather  be  then  washed,  it  wtjiihl  jirobubly  be  im- 
)M>pi}4ible  to  obtain  the  blood-s^pectra  by  tlie  method  just  described.  The 
following  process  is  then  recommended  by  Mr.  SSorby,  which  the  authors 
have  found  to  work  satiafactorily  : 

((f)  Dig^t  for  a  considerable  time  a  p(3rtion  of  the  stained  leather  in  a 
mixture  of  one  part  (by  mea.*ure)  of  hydrochloric  acid  and  50  of  water. 
This  will  cHecL  a  solutioo  of  the  mixed  compfjiind  of  the  blood  coloring- 
matter  and  tannic  acid.  Pour  the  acid  liquid  otT,  but  do  not  tilter  it. 
The  solution  may  apfjear  almo«it  colorless,  or  t»f  a  ?ilightly  yelhnv  tint. 
Add  to  this  an  e\ce^  of  nmmoninj  when  the  color  will  become  either  a 
pale-purple  or  a  neutral  tint,  the  tint  shade  being  considerably  intensified 
on  the  addition  of  the  terrous  salt  and  double  tartrate,  which  are  now  to 
be  added.  The  solution  is  then  to  be  examined  in  an  experimental  cell, 
using  a  sufficiently  intense  light,  fc>uch  as  the  lime-light  or  direct  sunlight, 
to  penetrate  the  turbid  solution.  Uuder  these  circumstauees,  the  spec- 
trum of  deoxidize<l  hiematiu  will  be  seen.  If  the  liquid  be  too  turbid  to 
allow  even  a  direct  ray  from  the  sun  to  be  reflected  through  it,  allow  the 
cell  to  remain  for  a  few  minutes  in  a  horizontal  position,  so  that  a  little  of 
the  deposit  may  subside,  althiiugh,  if  this  can  p^^ssibly  be  avoided,  it  is  de- 
sirable to  do  so,  because  it  will  be  found  that  the  removal  of  the  deposit 
at  the  same  time  destroys  the  intensity  of  the  spectrum,  proving  that  the 
greater  part  of  the  htematin  under  these  circumstances  exists  as  a  com- 
jK>und  insoluble  in  dilute  acid. 

Before  commencing  the  experiment  with  the  stained  portion  of  the 
leather,  it  is  advisable  to  make  out  clearly  how  large  a  piece  of  the  un- 
stained leather  may  be  treated  with  a  given  quantity  of  the  acid  without 
producing  too  dark  a  solution,  and  to  take  care  aiterwurtis  not  to  employ 
a  larger  piece  of  the  stained  portioo  of  the  leather  than  is  justified  by 
the»je  trial  experiinent*. 


Exaintfviiwn  of  Bloodstains  on  Earth  and  on  Clothes  soiled  with  Earthy 

MfiHern. 

The  stained  earth  is  to  be  carefully  collected  and  digested  in  a  coosid- 
erable  qimntity  of  ammcmia,  Thi.«  is  to  be  poured  off,  concentrated  by 
evapomtion,  and  the  spectroscopic  experiments  conducted  as  usual  on  the 
turbid  solution,  using  an  iotensie  lightj  such  as  the  lime-light,  or  direct 
sunlight  for  the  purpose,  in  the  manner  already  described.  A  similar 
process  should  be  adopted  in  examtniug  stained  fabrics  soiled  with  earthy 
matters.  This  is  important  to  note,  inasmuch  as  the  coloring-matter  in  a 
solution  of  blood  will  be  found  to  be  completely  carried  down  by  earthy 
matter  when  shaken  up  with  it. 


SPECTRA    RESBUBLINO    BLOOD. 


519 


Exatnination  of  the  UHne  for  Blood. 

The  urine,  if  turbid,  should  be  filtered,  care  beiog  taken  that  the  mat- 
ters on  tht-  filler-paper  are  afterwards  thoroughly  washed  with  cold  (listilled 
water,  olherwiise  red  cyrpu«ieles  may  l>e  ]o!*t.  Either  examine  this  latter 
filtrate  by  it**e]r,  or  el&e  add  it  to  the  filteretl  urine.  The  urine  should 
then  lie  phu'ed  in  a  glass  tube  six  inches  long,  having  an  internal  diameter 
of  about  a  qtmrter  of  an  inch,  and  eloi+ed  at  both  ends  with  little  pieces 
of  white  gla.'-!*.  The  litjuid  ia  tben  to  be  diluted  until  the  green  of  the 
gpectrurn  i^?  dbtinctly  seen  by  the  micros [>e(?Lro!!icope.  Ooe  drop  of  blood 
in  a  pi[»t  of  urine  can  in  this  way  be  easily  recognized. 

Suhtances  prodiiciny  Spectra  likehj  to  he  mistaken  for  Stood. 

It  may  here  be  asked,  do  do  other  substances  give  similar  spectra  to 

thoHc  of  blood  ?  Of  the  oxidized  hiemoglohin  i*pectriim  Borby  says,  "  I 
do  not  know  of  any  thing  that  giv^es  exactly  the  mime,  but  there  are  some 
ibings  whif.'h  give  bands  so  tar  similar  as  to  show  the  importance  of, study- 
ing Lheefitela  of  the  different  reagents.*'  It  may  be  well  to  give  an  instance 
or  two. 

The  colonng-raatter  of  the  petals  of  the  red  variety  of  Cineraria^  a. 
variety  of  chlorophyll,  gives  two  bands  which,  though  perfectly  dirvHlmilar 
in  rebitive  width,  are  similar  in  position  to  those  of  oxidized  haemoghjbiu. 
But  there  can  be  no  mi:ftake  after  you  have  adde<l  ammonia,  the  bauds  in 
blood  remaining  unchanged,  whilst  those  of  the  Cineraria  solution  are 
completely  altered. 

Again,  a  solution  of  eothineal  in  alum  produces  two  baud^  somewhat  like 
those  of  blood,  though  easily  dis^tiugui^ihed  by  the  practiced  eye.  Now 
add  ammonia.  In  both  cascM  the  bauds  are  rendered  more  inteui^e.  Add 
now  exi*e>.s  uf  boric  acid.  With  cochineal  the  bands  immediately  e^hift  to 
the  blue  end  of  the  si*ectrum,  whilst  with  blood  they  remain  unchanged. 

The  othrr  reds  likely  to  be  confounded  by  the  unpracticefl  eye  with 
blor>d  are  fftc-dyt^alhinetfinatlder'-rfd,  and  muttjeet,  dissolved  in  each  case 
in  ahi/it.  But  it  will  be  at  once  apparent,  if  the  spectra  be  carefully  ex- 
amined gidc  by  gide  with  blood,  that  the  bands  produced  by  these  bodies 
are  not  the  ^ame  either  in  jKjsition  or  in  character.  None  of  them,  further, 
will  i-tand  the  action  of  ammonia,  whil;^t  they  are  all  bleached  with  sul- 
phite of  potash,  which  has  no  action  on  blood. 

In  the  examination  of  o  mixture  of  mugenta  and  bhod,  the  magenta 
band^  may  be  found  entirely  to  mask  thosie  produced  by  the  blood.  The 
various  blood-spectra  may,  however,  be  easily  obtained  uu mixed,  by  add- 
ing to  the  solution  a  trace  of  sulphite  of  iii>da,  which  completely  removes 
the  magenta  coloring-matter,  but  leaves  the  blood  untouched. 

All  the  !*upposed  fallacies,  however,  at  once  break  down,  if  we  aucces- 
sively  obtain  the  various  blood-spectra  with  the  several  reagenls  aa  already 
described. 


General  Pi'ecrtution«  to  he  obnerved  in  mnduding  Mieronpedroscopic 

Observations. 

We  now  add  a  few  words  of  general  advice  and  a  few  precautions  neces- 
sary to  be  observed  in  examining  blood-ataius  by  the  spectroscope. 

1.  If  the  fabric  on  which  the  bhMjd-staiu  occurs  be  colored,  always  ex- 
amine the  spectrum  produced  by  the  coloring- matter  alone,  taken   from 


620 


MICROSCOPIC    CHARACTERS  OF  BLOOD -CORPUSCLES, 


uodtaincd  portions  of  the  fabric.  Further,  it  is  well  to  jiut  a  tittle  hlood 
ou  ftu  uustaiued  portioD,  and,  when  dry,  to  examine  itM  aj>ectra,  and  thtia 
fully  determine,  before  comnieucing  experiments  un  the  t^taiiied  portion, 
any  p«iS5fil)le  interference  in  the  blu<>d-spectra  resukiDg  from  the  pre«eur^ 
of  !«uch  coloring-matter. 

2.  On  uo  account  decide  that  an  observed  spectrum  from  a  suspected 
stain  is  due  to  blood  unless  it  exacthj  coincides  with  baudsj  produced  by  a 
known  soUition  of  blood  of  equal  i^trength  treated  in  a  dimiiur  manner, 
and  examined  side  by  !*ide.  It  i?  advi-^able  to  have  several  lubes  of  de- 
oxidized hfenmtin  of  different  strengths  for  purposes  of  comparistm.  They 
are  bes«t  kept  in  hermetically  sealed  tabes  so  aa  to  be  iu  readiness  whenever 
they  are  needed. 

3.  Iu  all  eases  exumine  the  spectra  both  by  daylight  and  by  artificial 
light.  We  prefer  artificial  light  for  general  vvork,  but  in  every  cvise  it  is 
advisable  to  try  both  means  of  ilkuiiiuation.  Direct  concentrated  sun- 
light, or  the  limelight,  should  be  tried  whenever  the  solutiou  is  thick  and 
turbid, 

4.  Never  be  content  with  observing  a  single  s|>ectrum  of  bloofL  Re- 
member, furtlier,  it  is  often  im|M>ssible  to  obtain  the  unaltered  blotwl- 
s])ectrunL  Hence,  never  satisfy  yourself  that  a  stain  is  not  blood  until  you 
have  failed  to  obtain  all  the  spectra  produced  by  the  action  of  appropriate 
reagents, 

5.  If  the  liquid  under  examination  be  too  strong,  too  much  light  will  be 
cut  off  by  the  solution,  and  the  absorption  bands  be  in  this  wsiy  obscured. 
If  the  solution  be  ho  weaA-,  the  bands  will  be  too  faint,  and  so  likely  to 
be  overl<H3ked.  Practice  in  this  matter  to  obtain  the  happy  medium. 
Never  (if  possible)  be  salif^iied  with  a  single  examination. 

6.  Use  excessively  minute  quantities  of  the  several  reagents.  Hiematin 
produced  by  an  acid  is  not  very  soluble  in  a  strong  solution  of  citrate  of 
ammonia.  If  you  aild  Uut  much  protosulphateof  iron,  the  precipitate  pro- 
duced so  obscures  the  licM  as  to  mask  the  absorption-bands. 

7.  Adjust  the  width  of  the  slit  during  the  spectroscopic  examination. 
All  absorption-bands  are  best  defined  when  the  slit  is  very  narrow,  whilst, 
if  the  bauds  are  very  faint,  they  will  often  be  best  seen  at  the  very  momeot 
that  the  slit  is  being  completely  closed. 

8.  Keraember  that,  with  our  present  knowledge,  the  sj)€ctrum  micro- 
6cope  atfords  no  information  whatsoever  as  to  whether  the  blood  is  from 
man  or  bea^t,  nor  from  what  class  of  animals  it  is  derived  ;  nor,  if 
human,  does  it  enable  us  even  to  hazard  a  conjecture  as  to  the  locality  of 
its  origin. 

9.  Lastly,  unless  the  stain  i«  bright- red — an  appearance  which  can  only 
be  noted  on  white  or  nearly  colorless  fabrics — never  venture  an  opinion  as 
to  the  probable  age  of  the  stain. 

Of  ilie  certainty  of  this  method  of  research,  Mr.  Sorby  says  ('*  Medical 
Press  and  Circular,"  May  'il,  1871),  **  I  unhesitatingly  say  we  can  distin- 
guish bh>od"  ibi/  the  uiicroftptdrmrupe)  "from  all  other  animal  and  vcge- 
table  coloring-matters."  Dr.  Letheby  says,  "There  are  no  real  falhtcies  to 
the  test."  Our  own  somewhat  extensive  experiments  confirm  the  opinions 
expressed  by  these  investigators. 


MICROSCOPIC  TEST. 

Microscopic  Characters  of  Blood'eorputeUa, 

We  now  proceed  to  investigate  the  microscopic  characters  of  blood  and 
the  applIcatioQ  of  the  microscope  to  blood  analysis. 


MICROSCOPia    CHARACTBR8   OF   BLOOD-CORPUSCLES, 


521 


The  re<i  bloo<I-corpuscle  (Fig.  52)  is  a  nearly  transparent  cellular  body 
of  a  slightly  yellowish  tint,  Halteued  in  shape,  having  a  distinctly  circular 
outline.     Its  appearance  differs  largely  with   the  p^^  j., 

liglitj  the  focus,  antl  tlie  iibjective  eniployei!.  Gtrn- 
erally,  the  blood-corpusulas  appear  as  dis^ka,  hav- 
ing concave  sides  and  a  central  bright  ppot,  which, 
by  ft  slight  change  ttf  focus,  will  appear  shaded. 
We  should  adviiie,  however,  in  medico- legal  cases 
that  all  suspected  mienwcoprc  specimens  should  be 
examined  by  comparison  with  ktiowu  bluodcor- 
pugcles  placed  under  exactly  einiilar  conditions  of 
light,  etc.  If  the  red  corpu.-^cles  be  treated  with 
water,  they  will  be  tmind  to  swell  up,  and  uhi- 
mately  burM,  whilst  they  will  .shrink  by  the  action 
of  tt  strong  syrup.     They  are  dlaaolved  by  a  weak  solution  of  ammonia 


Hutiifttt    BI<KKl-con>H»- 

if  —  rolorli.'M,  or  »i>-L'all»sd 
ljrtnph-corj>fl*L'lB, 


Differenetes  in  th^  Blood-mrpumles  of  Different  Animals. 

The  diagram  cFig.  53)  represents  the  varying  size  and  shape  of  the 
blood-corputjcles  of  ditierenl  animals. 


Flo.  63. 


^  * 


>r»d  blood-corp«9cle»^iifter  Wflj<ner>— I.  Hunmei;  2.  Cnmcl ;  8-  Dove;  4,  Frotciin;  *.  Water  aa]*- 
mander;  6.  Frog;  7.  ColjiUii;  ».  AmuiocivLua,    a,  Vtewi  to  profile;  b.  Views  from  edge. 


In  man  and  in  all  mammolia  (excepting  the  camel  tribe)  the  blood* 
oorpuBcIes  are  circular,  and  apparently  without  nuclei.  There  is  some 
reas^JD,  however,  to  believe  that  a  nucleus  is  really  present,  as  may  be  seen 
by  examining  them  with  high  powers  on  an  opaque  ground.  (See  Dr. 
Roberts's  papers.) 

In  Hie  mmet  tribe  the  corpuscles  are  about  the  ^ize  of  those  of  other 
mammalia,  without  apnarent  nuclei,  but  of  an  m'a/ shape. 

Id  bird^y  rrptiie.t,  and  jfjtA  the  corpuscles  are  also  oval,  but  are  distinctly 
nuclejited,  generally  of  a  larger  size,  and  especially  in  the  reptilia.  The 
diameter  of  the  blood-corpuscles  in  man  varies  from  the  nyVo^^*  ^^  **i 
inch  to  :i-5'7nr''h,  j^Vi^^^  being  an  average.     They  have  an  average  tbick- 

34 


522 


MEASUREMENTS   OF    BLOOD -BIBK8. 


Defls  of  the  t^Wv^^  ^^  ^i^  inch.     The  blood-corpuscles  of  embrjouic  life 
are  usually  cousideralily  larger,  and  sometimes  nearly  double  ihe  size. 

The  following  measurements  are  taken,  by  the  kind  permission  of  ^[^. 
GuHiver,  from  his  extensive  tables  in  the  *' rroceedings  of  the  Zoological 
Society  of  London."  The  blood  was  allowed  to  dry  in  a  thin  layer  on  the 
slide;  and  the  measuretuenta  are  all  io  vulgar  fractions  of  an  English 
inch,  and  expre^  only  the  average  diameters  of  the  red  blood -corpuscles 
or  their  nuclei.  The  enumerator,  being  invariably  one,  is  omitted  through* 
out,  and  the  denominatora  only  are  printed.  Of  the  corpuscles,  the  long 
diameter  is  denoted  by  L.  D.,  the  short  diameter  by  S.  D.,  and  the  thick- 
oess  by  T. 

Vertebraia  ApyrenamtUcL 


■ 

SEir    MAJIlfALIA. 

Humnn, 

8,200 

Leopard, 

4.319 

"        .        .        .        ,        T. 

12.400 

Fux,       . 

4,177 

"        fcBtua  (6lh  mo.), 

8,000 

Dolphin, 

a, 829 

Lemur, 

8,976 

Whale, 

nsm 

'••.... 

4,003 

P'g,       . 

4,-J30 

**        .        . 

4,4-lU 

Elephant, 

2,745 

Monkey,                ', 

8,3G8 

Hor»e,   . 

4,6U0 

**        .        . 

8,34.! 

II 

T. 

18,422 

**..,. 

8.412 

A&8, 

4,000 

Ape,      .... 

8,610 

Ox, 

4.2«7 

<i 

8.602 

N 

4.671 

Bat,  ;    :    ;    : 

4,404 

Sheop, 

6,046 

4,0»X) 

Gont, 

6,800 

"    .    .    .    . 

8,880 

Deer, 

7,060 

M.^i€,  ; 

4,747 

Camel, 

L   D 

8,123 

PoUr  bear,    . 

8,870 

n 

S.  D. 

6,87G 

Bruwn  bear, 

8,71,1 

tl 

T. 

16.210 

L\ODt       .... 

4,822 

Dromedary, 

L.  D. 

3,264 

c«^ 

4,404 

n 

.     8.  D. 

6.921 

**....         T, 

16,000 

*< 

T. 

15,837 

*<        foetus  (1  inch  long)» 

2,228 

Hure,     , 

3,5«0 

^'         nucleus,    . 

4,600 

Rabbit, 

3,007 

Hvsena, 

8,786 

Mouse,  . 

8,814 

D<'>g 

8,642 

Ral,       . 

8,764 

Tiger 

4,419 

Vertebrata   PyrtnfEtnata, 


\ 

PIBCK8. 

Perch,  . 

.     L.  D. 

.     8.  D. 

2,099 
2,824 

Common  «el, 

, 

L.  D, 

1,745 

*« 

T- 

8.700 

(.1 

. 

8.  D. 

2,842 

*'       nucleus, 

.        .     L.  D. 

0.000 

Conger-eel,    . 

. 

L.  D. 

2,286 

4«                        M 

.      8   D. 

8.000 

'• 

. 

S.  D. 

3,000 

Sharks, 

.     L.  D. 

1,148 

Sprat  and  herring, 

L.  D. 

2,666 

41 

.     S   D. 

1.000 

u                u 

S.  U. 

3,666 

'*         tiudeu«, 

.         .     L.  D. 

8,000 

Salmon, 

L.  D. 

1.624 

t<            it 

.         .     S.  V. 

4.000 

" 

S.  D. 

2,4fiO 

**            fcBlUB, 

.        .     L   D. 

J. 000 

Carp,     . 

L.  D. 

2,H2 

««                   It 

.     8.  D. 

1,333 

M 

S   D. 

8,42a 

Ray,       .         . 

.    L.  D 

970 

*« 

T. 

8,000 

.     8.  D. 

1,465 

♦*     nucleus, 

L.  IJ. 

6,400 

Tortoise, 

.     L.  D. 

1,262 

4(                        ii 

«.  D. 

8,000 

" 

.     8.  D. 

2.216 

Cod, 

L.  D. 

2,188 

Turtle,  . 

.     L.  D. 

1.281 

♦I 

8   D. 

8»6o.j 

«. 

.     8.  a 

1.882 

Sole,      '. 

L,  D. 

2,400 

"     nucleus. 

.     L.  D. 

4,000 

t< 

8.  D. 

8,200 

•*             u 

.     S.  D. 

0,000 

MKASURBMENT8    OF    BLOOD-DISKS. 


523 


^^^                  BATRACHIA. 

ATES. 

Engle,    . 

L.  B. 

1,812 

Amphiumfl  tridactyluin, 

or 

^* 

S.  D 

3.832 

Cungo-lieard,     . 

L.  D. 

363 

Falcon, 

L.  D. 

1.9  Hi 

II        it          ti 

S.  D. 

615 

•  1 

S.  D, 

8,862 

"        *«    nucleus, 

L.  D. 

1,143 

Crow,     , 

L.  D. 

1,961 

ti        (t          It 

S,  D. 

2,000 

** 

S.  D. 

4,000 

FrotetiB  an^uinu9f 

U  D. 

400 

Song  thrusb» 

L  D. 

2,305 

U                          tl 

S   D. 

727 

U                        11 

8.  D. 

4,13a 

'*     nucleufi, 

L.  D. 

l.fiOO 

il              *l 

nucli-Ui?,    . 

L    D. 

4,000 

II           ii 

S.  D. 

2.(5fi"J 

M                       II 

tt 

!^.  D. 

9.(100 

FroK.     . 

L.  D. 

1,108 

Purrot, 

L.  D. 

2,029 

"... 

S.  D. 

1,821 

u 

8.  D, 

3,Rf>2 

n          ^          ^ 

T. 

7,112 

Pigeon, 

L.  D. 

2,100 

<'     nucleus, 

L.  D. 

3,114 

** 

8.  D. 

3,512 

U                1  i 

y.  D. 

6,237 

Pheasant, 

L.  D. 

2,213 

Tttdpole{Jmehlong). 

L  a 

1,098 

11 

H   D 

8,615 

li 

S.  D. 

1  ,»J50 

Peacot-k, 

L.  D. 

1,886 

Toad,  ;    ;    .' 

L  D. 

1,043 

It 

S.  D. 

3.589 

**    .    .    . 

8.  D. 

2,oi>a 

Cummon  fow 

1.       *.         1 

L.  D. 

2,102 

"... 

T. 

6,fiz7 

II             It 

8.  D. 

B,4m 

'*     nuoleuB, 

L.  D. 

2.802 

il                 u 

nucleus,  . 

L.  D. 

6,400 

tl          11 

S.  D. 

&,2<il 

<(              (1 

t* 

S.  D. 

4,000 

Partrldgo, 

L.  D 
8.  D. 

2,875 
3,728 

^^                        HKPTILIA. 

Ostrich, 

L.  D. 

1,049 

w 

u 

S.  D. 

8,aK) 

BOH  constrictor,     . 

L.  D. 

1,440 

u 

T. 

9,106 

u              *'            . 

S.  D 

2,400 

"     nucleus 

L   D, 

3,200 

Crocodile,      . 

L.  D. 

1,231 

(1           t* 

S.  D. 

9,16fi 

It 

8.  a 

2:im 

Duck,    . 

L.  D. 

1,937 

'*        .        .         . 

T. 

8,000 

u 

S.  D. 

8,4J4 

Oval  corpuscles  may  he  made  globular  by  the  addition  of  too  much 
water.  For  other  details  and  measurements,  reference  mui?t  be  madti  to 
SoDiienscheiu  (Handbuch  der  gericht.  Cbemie),  who  quotes  *Schmidt  (die 
Diagoostik  verdilc;bliger  Fleeke,  etc.),  to  the  Micrographic  Dictionary,  to 
numcrouM  works  on  the  Microscope,  and  on  Phy^-^rology^  and  to  papensi  by 
Fleming,  Woodward,  and  others,  in  the  "  American  Journal  of  Medical 
Science,"  18o7  to  1876. 

As  many  of  the  foreign  raeasurement^,  not  only  of  blood  corpuscles,  hut 
of  hairs  and  other  microscopic  objects,  are  iu  millimetres,  the  following 
table  for  the  conversion  of  foreign  into  English  measures  may  be  fouDd 
usiefui.     It  is  taken  from  the  Micrographic  Dictionary. 


Minim«trf»  into 

Old  Piirift  littM  lata 

Pnisslan  Hum  Id  to 

EngUsb  iDcbefl. 

English  lucbtis. 

EDglbb  iQcbe*. 

j038^0 

jmfiis 

.085,817 

.078.741 

.177.MO 

.171,833 

.118.112 

.3MI,440 

.2fi7,450 

.157.M3 

4199,260 

.a4«,2«7 

.1M,S53 

.444.078 

.429,083 

.230.224 

.882.890 

^14.900 

.37«,5»5 

.821.705 

.000,717 

.114,966 

.710.520 

.688,592 

.!»4,.W7 

.799,390 

,77.!,850 

In  using  this  table,  the  decimal  fraction  to  be  converted  into  parta  of  an 
Euglisli  inch  must  be  broken  up  into  its  decimal  parts,  and  each  valued 


5S4 


MICROSCOPIC    EXAMINATION   OF    BLOOD. 


M|>arately  from  the  table. 

BU  Kuglidh  inch : 


Thus  to  convert  0.75  mm.  iato  a  fraction  of 


0.7    mm.  =  0.0275595    1  «    .  n 
0.05  mm.  =  0.00196853  f     -^  ^*'^^®- 
0.76  mm,  =  0.02lJ52«03     Eoglish  inch. 

Great  atteution  is  required  iu  placiug  the  dec! aial  point. 

Mlcroswpie  Examination  of  a  Bhod-stain. 

In  the  micr()S(3omc  exajnination  <jf  a  blowJ-stain  proceed  as  foUowa: 

KiiluT  (lit  out  the  Htiiiti,  or  else  take  a  smatl  fragiueiit  uf  the  ^iupposed 
dot  Jiiid  place  it  i)ri  a  nikToscope-glaa*.  Moieteo  it  with  a  mixture  of  seven 
p»irt»*  of  water  and  one  part  id*  glycerin  (i,  r?.,  a  solntinri  having  a  speciHc. 
gravity  ol"  UKIO).  Prot'eH?or  Fdippo  Pacini  recommend*,  itj8tead  of  the 
glycerin,  a  *»olntion  of  chloral  hydrate  (1  to  10  of  water),  which  he  states 
softens,  without  dissolvnig,  the  b I twd- corpuscle,''.  Cover  the  sjM^cimcn  with 
a  thin  covering-glaA^^  and  examine  it  with  a  |th  inch  power.     Measure  the 

»r(>iiAcN\s  with  a  micrometer. 

ICxamine  with  great  care  any  structures  aysociated  with  a  blood-atain. 
The  disrovcry  of  Tmir;^,  uf  dittcrent  forma  of  epithelium  (pavement  epithe- 
lium from  the  viigiua  being  very  generally  found  iu  menstrual  bhjod  i,  the 
prcx'ucc  of  biliary  or  of  feail  nuitter,  of  brain  tixsue,  of  spermatozoa,  or 
of  numerous  other  "little"  matters  (an  they  are  often  called),  may  tend 
very  materially  to  elucidate  a  ca^e  submitted  for  your  examination.  I'os* 
sibly,  too.  by  noting  the  varioua  matters  mixed  with  the  blood,  gome  clue 
may  bo  found  to  determine  iU  source. 

Bodies  likely  to  be  Migiaken  for  Blood-mrpuicles  under  the  Microswpe, 

1.  t^nrrh'tsirpm^kfi  sometimes  simulate  blood-dinks.  A  careful  attention 
to  their  ghajve,  external  markiug^,  and  behavior  with  polari/cfl  light  will 
easily  distinguish  them.  A  solution  of  iodine  will  also  be  found  to  turn 
them  of  a  blue  color. 

2.  The  ^H^ntlfs  of  reriain  fungi  closely  resemble  idood-discs,  but  they 
wfract  light  more  strongly.  The  application  of  iodine  or  magenta  will 
generally  bring  out  a  real  rmcleuj?,  anti  wiib  warmth  and  moisture,  they 
will  bo  seen  actually  to  grow  u{Kin  the  sHile.  Dr.  Kicbardson  states  that 
a  solution  of  sulphate  of  swla  often  contains  such  fungi. 

X  Tfte  di^fh  found  in  coniferoM  u^oods  (.deal,  cedar,  etc),  find  other  g}fm* 
nrnperntA,  simulate  closely  the  blmKl-iiisks  of  many  mammals.  The  double 
ring  which  tmrrounds  their  pits,  their  forma!  arrangement  in  rows,  the 
presents  of  woody  fibres,  and  a  careful  attention  to  their  size  will,  in  most 
instances,  prevent  the  experienced  microscopist  from  making  a  mistake. 
Their  refraction  of  light  is  aUo  di  tie  rent. 

Dr.  Day*9  GuoMeum  Resin  7W. 

We  muet  now  speak  of  Dr.  John  Day's  beautiful  test  for  blood,  a  reac- 
tion de|>endiDg  on  the  oxidation  of  guaiacum  resin. 

8chonbein  discovered  that  peroxide  of  hydrogen  (H,Oj)  formed,  as  he 
sup{HK>HHl,  of  water  and  antosone,  was  decomposed  in  the  presence  of  blood, 
the  antozAUie  being  converted  into  oxone,  Niiw  the  precipitated  resin  of 
tincture  of  guaiacum  is  found  to  Ik?  strongly  acted  upon  by  ozone,  being 
changed  in  color  by  it  to  a  bright  sapphire  blue,  whiUt  it  is  not  acted  on 
by  sntoione.     Hence  it  becomca  a  Ittt  ibr  Mood. 

Proceed  thus:  Make  jour  Utk^ure  at  Qtmiafmm  fn^  ^n^h  tlm^  unu  r^^uirm 


BLOOD-CRTSTALS. 


525 


it,  the  old  tincture  being  useless.  Wash  the  tears  first  with  a  little  alcohol, 
and  third  dis'solve  the  pure  iiimxitlized  giiaiafiiiu  resin  by  shaking  up  with 
a  litlie  fresh  spirit.  Wet  tlie  slaiu  with  this  guuiacum  tinelure,  which 
ehoulri  not  blue  it  by  It^self;  and  then  adil  either  a  small  tiuantity  of  an 
ethoreal  solution  of  peroxide  of  hydrogen  f  rtiiuiufaetured  by  Rohhius,  in 
Oxford  Street),  or  ozonic  elher,  or  a  watery  iiuJutiim  of  11,0^.  If  blood  be 
present,  the  guaiaciuii  will  be  mpiilly  oxidized,  and  anf^uire  the  rharaeter- 
istic  bright-blue  eolor.  If  the  material  tha^.  is  s*taineJ  lie  of  f=«rh  a  eolor 
as  to  objseure  the  reaetion,  add  tluj  sieveral  reaj^eiit^s  and  pres.H  the  stained 
fahrie  between  two  pads  of  white  blotting-paper,  when  the  blue  eolor  wilj 
he  absorbed  by  the  blotting-paper,  and  he  at  on  re  apparent.  By  repeating 
the  pnitTHS,  a  number  of  inipressions  may  in  this  way  be  obtained. 

Dr.  Day  has  further  applied  the  guaiacuio  teat  to  the  detectioo  of  mucus, 
puH,  and  .naliva. 

Prolessor  Falck  has  suggested  the"  use  of  stri])s  of  paper  dipped  in 
tinetnre  of  guaiaeuni  whieh  has  been  freely  exposed  to  the  air,  as  a  pre- 
liminary test  for  blood-Htains.  Tliese  papers  are  not  alieeted  by  red  lead, 
cinnabar,  the  corainou  dyestuff-,  eariuine,  logwood,  alkauet-root,  the  red 
anilin  dyes^  or  the  juiee  of  cranberries  or  whortleberries.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  juice  of  cherries,  currants,  and  raspberries,  as  well  as  of  certaiu 
fungi,  instantly  blue  it. 

In  our  opinion,  although  the  condoned  use  of  ozonized  ether  and 
tincture  of  gtmiacum^  as  sugge-^ted  by  Dr.  Day,  is  a  very  neat  and  beau- 
tiful test,  it  should  never  be  relied  upon  by  itseff  ulone,  as  a  ()ositive  proof 
of  the  stain  being  blood.  (Ste  Kejnarks  on  Single  Tests  unrler  Poisons, 
Claws  V.) 

Guaiacnra  is  known  to  be  easily  blued  by  a  great  number  of  substances; 
and  atnongst  others,  the  following  may  be  named,  viz.:  gluten,  as  in  the 
cut  surface  of  a  raw  potato,  or  a  mixture  of  wheaten  flour,  or  of  gum 
anibic,  with  cold  water;  milk,  the  fresh  juice  of  various  roots  and  under- 
ground stems  t horseradish,  colchieum,  carrot,  etc.);  nitric  acid,  s|)irit.  of 
Bitrous  ether,,  ozone,  rhlorime,  hypoiiitrour«  elher,  t'hloridei*  of  iron,  mer- 
cury, copj>er.  and  gold,  and  alkaline  hypochlorites;  a  mixture  of  hydro- 
cyanic acid  and  sulphate  of  copiK-r;  pus,  saliva,  and  mucus,  if  mixed  with 
carbolic  acid,  or  creasote,  etc.,  etc. 


Another  test  for  blood  consists  in  the  characteristic  crystals  of"  hiemo- 
globiu  it  may  be  made  to  yield  (Fig.  54).  It  is  unfortunate  that  the  value 
of  this  test  IS  so  much  impairetl  hy  the  necessiiy,  in  order  to  produce  them, 
of  examining  fresh  and  unaltered  blood.  Tlie  crystals  obtained  prove 
there  is  some  diflerence  between  the  haemoglobin  of  ditfereut  species  of 
mammalia,  inasmuch  as  crystals  have  been  notined  behmging  to  tv^'o  di.s- 
tinct  crystalline  systems  (rhombic  and  hexagonal),  and  dilft»ring  both  in 
their  secondary  forms,  as  well  as  in  their  solubility.  Wldlst  some  day 
these  facts  may  present  us  with  a  means  of  proving  from  what  animal  a 
given  specimen  of  blood  was  derived,  Preyer  concludes  that  at  present  it 
cannot  be  relied  upon  as  a  means  of  distinguishing  human  blood  from  that 
of  other  animals. 

The  crystals  such  a?  are  given  above  may  \ye  obtained  from  a  portion  of 
a  clot  a  day  or  two  old.  It  muft  first  be  diluted  either  with  a  little  chlo- 
roform, or  spirit,  or  ether,  and  placed  on  a  microscopic  elide,  then  covered 
over  with  a  thin  glass,  and  put  aside  to  crystallize.     Sometimes  you  get 


526 


H^MIN    (blood)   crystals. 


these  crysUits  to  form  easily  and  rapidly,  whilst  at  other  timee  the  experi- 
ment  is  uot  m  succesaful.  The  crystals  from  human  blood  are  prismatic 
and  flatteoed. 


Fie.  M. 


Blood-cryatiiia;  a.  Huai*n  blood  crystals  IpristnalJc) ;  6.  Hnminn  blood  cryaUH  f?),  hxmln  ;  c.  Hu- 
man blofld^rynUU,  hyilrochlorat«  of  hivmaiiu;  d.  Gufnes.pig'a  blood-cfysUlu ;  e.  Ut)ntt(r);  btit 
WMnetliaM  human  Uke  nm«  ftliftpe;  /.  Cty,Ul»  trom  squirrel'*  bIoo4> 


Teichmann^a  Tedt  as  modified  by  Neumann  and  others. 

The  red  stabs  suspected  to  be  blood,  whether  oo  textile  fabrica,  w« 
stone,  or  metallic  instrument.*,  are  to  be  first  dissolved  in  a  small  quantity 
of  cold  distilled  water.  If  the  stain  be  on  a  fabric,  or  on  wood  or  stone, 
it  is*  well  to  cutout  or  chip  otf  the  spot  from  its  surroundings.  A  little  of 
the  watery  extract  m  then  to  be  mixed  with  a  few  drop.^  of  glacial  acetic 
acid,  aud  cautiously  evaporated  on  a  gloiw  slide,  over  a  spirit-tamp,  till  tb( 
fluid  runs  together  in  globules, and  begins  to  soIidify,^ 
Fio.  58.  Then  after  rapidly  cooUng  the  slide,  we  immediately 

observe    under  the  microscope,  using  a  one-fourth 
iuch  objective,  a  multitude  or  small,  brownish-black 
rhomboids  (Fig.  55),  amongst  which  crystals  may 
be  observed,  wliieli  present  the  form  of  St.  Andrew's 
cross  (X),  in   consequence  of  two  of  the  crystals 
cro.«sing.     It  is  sometimes  necessary  to  add  a  small 
quantity  of  a  weak  solution  of  sodium  chloride,  or 
of  ammonium  chloride^  or  else  solution  of  the  salts  may  be  used  in  the 
first  instance  for  the  purpose  of  diss<ilviDg  the  stain.     In  this  case  cubical 
crystala  may  often  he  seen  mixed  with  those  of  hiematin  aud  hydrochloraie. 
Itiebreich  says  this  hicmin  or  htematia  crystal-test  ia  one  of  the  most 


IS   IT    HUMAN    BLOOD  ? 


627 


rertaio.  He  suggests  that  luurexide  crystals  (purpurate  of  amiDODia,  of 
Prout)  might,  however,  \ye  tnistaketi  for  them.  By  burning  them  on  pla- 
tinum, and  testing  for  iron  (which  m  alweut  from  murexide^  but  present  in 
blood-crystals),  we  should  be  able  to  detect  their  true  nature.  Murexide 
crystals,  al&o,  look  green  by  reflected,  and  purple-red  by  traudmitted  light. 

Methods  m^gestedfor  duting^mhing  Hvmanfrom  other  Bit>od. 

Again  and  again  the  question  has  been  asked,  "€'an  we  distingiiish  hu- 
man from  animal  blood  V  Much  time  and  much  learning  have  been  spent 
in  attempting  an  answer.  Hiematolloscopy,  as  suggested  by  Taddei,  of 
Florence;  the  various  reactions  of  phosphoric  acid,  as  suggested  by  M. 
Casanti ;  the  ditferent  eflects  of  iodine  water,  as  suggested  by  Bertazzi,  are 
some  of  the  fntile  attempts  at  reply.  M,  Barruel,  in  1829,  suggested  that 
the  blood  of  diflVrent  animals  contaiued  special  and  diflerent  odoriferous 
principles,  and  the  odors  were  develoi>ed,  he  eoumdered,  sufficiently  well 
for  recognition,  on  the  addition  to  tne  blood  of  strong  sulphuric  acid. 
Although  there  is  a  shadow  of  truth  in  this,  we  coniiider  it  far  tini  doubt- 
ful a  test  to  be  of  any  positive  use. 

Profes??or  J,  G.  Richardson  (of  Pennsylvania)  first  proposed  the  use  of 
high  powers,  such  as  the  j'^th  and  ^th  of  an  inch,  magnifying  with  a  mi- 
crometer eyepiece,  1250  and  3700  dtametera  res[>ectively,  for  the  purpose 
of  distinguishing  human  blood-disks  from  those  of  many  other  mammals. 
("  American  Journal  of  Medical  Sciences,"  July,  1869/Nq.  CXV,  p.  50.) 
Under  the  j^^jth  inch  human  blood-corpuHcles  appear  about  g  of  an  inch 
in  diameter,  whilst  those  of  the  ox  and  the  sheep  are  about  |  of  an  inch 
only.  It  appears  from  a  subser|uent  paper  in  the  same  journal,  for  July, 
1874,  No.  CXXXV,  p.  102,  that  he  has  suctieeded  in  identifying  the  three 
kinds  named  above,  with  no  other  clue  than  his  own  measurements.  He 
scrapes  the  blood-stain  with  a  kntfe^  puts  the  scrapings  on  a  slide,  covers 
with  thin  glass,  and  adds  a  I  percent,  solution  of  common  salt  His  meas- 
urement of  100  red  corpuscles  freshly  drawu  (from  five  diflerent  persons), 
gives  an  average  of  ^^g  of  an  inch,  whilst  the  measurement  of  20  cor- 
puscles for  one  of  these  dried  in  a  thin  lilmupon  a  slide,  gave  a  maxinuim 
of  2flVff»  ^  minimum  of  ^qqj*  ^^^  *  mean  of  ^j^rj  of  an  inch.  Dr. 
Wormiey  measured  seven  red  disks,  with  an  average  of  j^Vg  of  an  inch, 
whilst  Dr.  Richardson's  average  of  the  measurements  of  the  same  disks 
was  Yii'^gth.  There  was  thus  a  difference  of  only  3-5-3^^^  of  an  inch.  He 
argues,  reasonably  enough,  that  his  experiments  prove  that  tlie  red  blood- 
globules  of  the  pig  (733 ^j),  the  ox  (^2^7)*  ^^^  ^^  deer  { ^'j^),  the  cat 
(Ti'ft?).  the  horse  (ifgW)'  the  sheep  (^ijVti)»  «««!  the  goat  (^jf^^g  of  an 
inch),  being  all  so  much  smaller  than  even  the  ordinary  minimum  sire 
of  the  human  red  disk,  enables  us  to  distinguish  positively,  by  the  aid  of  high 
powers  of  the  microscope,  under  favorable  circumstances,  stains  produced 
by  human  biood,  from  those  caused  by  the  blootl  of  any  of  the  animals 
just  enumerated,  even  af^er  the  lapse  of  five  years  from  the  date  of  their 
primary  production.     (See  the  Measurements,  p.  522.) 

The  rest  of  Mr,  Gulliver's  careful  micrometric  measurements  of  blood- 
corpuscles  from  various  animals  will  be  found  in  t!ie  '*  Proceedings  of  the 
ZooJogicid  Society,"  No.  CII,  and  in  his  edition  of  the  *'  Works  of  Ilew- 
son,"  Sydenham  Society,  p.  237.  The  following  meusuremeuts  of  Schmidt 
(made  under  a  power  of  5(t0  diameters)  have  been  reduced  from  mil- 
limetres to  fractions  of  an  English  inch :  They  represent  freshly  dried 
specimens — human  blooil-corpuscles  ^tjiji  to  jaVs*  *^'^K  ^  sto^«  rabbit's  ^xy^nf* 
rat's  luVtJ.  pigs  ^Jg^,  mousL'  ^-j\,j,  ox's  ,5',^^,  cat's  ^5'^^,,  horse's  ^^\s^ 
sheep g  5fi'64,  domestic  fowls  ^^^^^  broad,  and  j^'j^j  long,  and  those  of  the 


528  EXAMIVATIOV  OF  BLOOD4TAI5B. 


fng  tA«  *w«>^  bf  ri*  *<»«»-  ^«  «uiiioC  again  enier  into  the 
ooaticMi  of  mieroaeoiNe  nauorencnta;  but  tome  idea  of  the  flabjcct  maj 
De  gained  br  referring  to  the  figare  on  page  4d8.  An  object  meararing 
jjn  of  an  'inch,  teen  with  a  power  of  2o0  diameten,  woold  occnpr  Ore 
of  the  diripKjM  on  the  left,  or  ^  inch,  becanae  f^  =  ^.  But  a  ra\>bit's 
f fresh  dried;  blood-disk,  meararing  onlr  :f^  of  an  inch,  »en  with  the 
aame  power,  woold  onlr  occupr  -fm  of  an  uch,  or  ^  of  ^,  eqniTalent  to 
one  and  a  half  of  the  ifnea  on  the  left. 


Method*  ntggeded  for  Didmguiaking  Mauhnal  from  oiker  Biood, 

Can  we  distinguish  meostnial  from  ordinarr  blood  ?  We  urge,  in  replj, 
the  neoessit J  for  great  caution.    It  is  stated— 

(1)  That  menstrual  blood  contains  no  fibrin. 

(2)  That  menstrual  blood  is  acid,  owing  to  its  admixture  with  vaginal 
mucus;  and, 

(3)  That  menstrual  blood  will  invariably  be  found  associated  with  the 
pavement-epithelium  from  the  vaginal  walls.  Further  than  this  it  is 
difficult  to  go ;  nor  in  the  present  state  of  science  should  we  be  justified  in 
venturing  a  positive  opinion  in  the  case  of  a  stain  as  to  its  being  menstrual 
or  otherwise. 

Lastlj.  Having  proved  conclusively  that  the  stain  is  a  blood-stain,  we 
venture,  at  the  risk  of  being  accused  of  needless  repetition,  to  add  a  word 
of  caution.  You  will  probablj  be  asked  three  questions  in  the  witness- 
box — 

(1 )  Was  the  blood  human  ? 

(2)  From  what  part  of  the  bodv  was  it  derived  ?  and, 
(3;  What  is  the  probable  age  of  the  stain  ? 

To  thefle  questions,  as  a  rule,  you  had  better  coofess  your  ioabiHty  to 
reply.  Never  venture  rash  answers.  The  replies  can,  save  in  a  few  ex- 
ceptional cases,  be  little  else  than  guesses ;  and  it  is  dangerous  in  the 
extreme  to  guess  in  the  witness-box. 


EXPECTATION    OF   LIFE. 


529 


CHAFTEE  XX. 


Life  insurance — The  normal  iriRn— The  Pre-umptian  of  dentliand  of  gurvivorship — 
Cttuaed  of  dtiiillj,  uud  mudca  of  dying. 


Of  late  years  life  insuraiit'e  or  aj?.*!! ranee  has  a!*9iimcJ  vast  proportions. 
All  sound  and  reputable  officer  now  select  the  lives  offered  to  thenit  and 
the  duty  of  this  selection  or  choice  of  *'  lives"  resta  with  medical  men.  It 
haa  been  well  remarked  by  Mr.  Babbage,  that  "  nothing  is  more  uncertain 
than  the  duration  of  life,  when  the  maxim  h  applied  to  the  individual ; 
but  there  are  few  thin^rs  lesis  subject  to  fluctuation  than  the  duration  of 
homati  life  in  a  multitude  of  individuals,"  In  other  words,  the  writers  or 
the  reader  of  this  do  not  know  how  long  they  shall  live — whether  only  a 
^»w  dayi*  or  a  few  years.  But  if  we  take  1000  [lersons,  or  still  better, 
10,OOU,  of  the  Jiame  ati^e,  we  can  predict,  with  almost  absolute  certainly, 
the  number  who  will  die  within  any  giveii  period.  Thia  k  the  principle 
of  aiJfiuities,  life  ini^urance,  the  Tontine,  etc. ;  and  were  it  otberwiRe  it 
would  be  impo.^'rihle  for  any  nuch  inatitutions  to  succecfL  8ome  reader« 
may  hot  uumuu rally  ask,  "  Why  do  the  assurance  companley  make  large 
prnfits,  and  declare  bonusej*?"  The  explaiuition  ie  very  simple.  These 
officer  make  their  charfjes  on  the  tjcale  of  either  the  old  Northampton 
tables  of  mortality,  1780,  or  from  the  Carlisle  tablea  of  1816.  Recent 
experiences,  drawn  from  larj^er  numbers,  such  as  those  of  the  seventeen 
life  (ifficea  published  in  1843,  of  government  annuitants,  and  of  twenty 
life  oflicea  collected  in  18b8,  i^how  that  the  average  of  mortality  ia  lea* 
than  was  assumed  from  the  smaller  numbers  of  the  first  tables.  The 
lirait,s  of  this  work  forbid  the  discussion  of  this  topic  at  any  great  length. 
We  must  therefore  refer  the  reader  to  the  articles  on  these  subject**  in  the 
principal  EQcyclopaHlias ;  to  the  reports  of  Dr.  Farr  and  the  Rej^istrar- 
General  ;  to  "  Popular  Tables,"  by  C.  M,  Willich  and  M.  Marriiitt»  Lon- 
don, l8o7  ;  to  '*  Medical  Statistics  of  Life  Assurance,"  by  Dr.  J,  G, 
Fleminif,  Glasgtnv,  1862;  to  the  "  Etude  Medicod^gale  sur  le^  Assurances 
sur  la  Vie,"  Paris,  1866;  to  the  statistical  works  of  M.  Quetelet ;  and  for 
a  brief,  but  excellent  summary  of  the  subject  by  Dr.  Sieveking,  entitled 
'*  Tliie  Medical  Adviser  in  Life  Assurance,"  Churchills,  1874;  and  to  Dr. 
Brinton's  "On  the  Medical  Selection  of  Lives  for  Assurance/'  *2d  ed.,  1856, 
The  Manuah  of  Forensic  Medicine  of  Drs,  Taylor  aud  Guy,  more 
■cepeciaily  the  former's,  also  contain  good  summaries  of  the  medico-legal 
aspect*  of  this  subject.  Two  such  tables,  however,  appear  to  us  to  deiierve 
a  place  in  our  pages.  The  tirst  includes  all  classes  of  life,  and  is  aa 
fallows : 


iM 


■xracEATws  mw 


Jaxul  to 


Dckahov  or  Humas  Litk  js 


#«— .  Emr^  n  <i« 


X«aa 


fm  Ti 


!:       ^  t       •:      S 

III!  11 


MTcKS. 


i      S       f      i      i 

«  B  &        S  • 

a    £     <    £    z 


TifciMi 

1 

imTfHca. 

I 

< 

ill 

• 

41 

• 

a 

M 

» 

37 

31 

« 

22 

21 

22 

72 

i 

1 

47 

47 

40 

0 

37 

M 

31 

« 

21 

21 

22 

73 

7 

1 

* 

■0 

» 

S 

M 

M 

37 

39 

2X 

31 

21 

74 

7 

I 

St 

M 

m 

S7 

m 

m 

m 

n 

» 

» 

a» 

7» 

7 

4 

» 

» 

9» 

2S 

3S 

u 

m 

33 

» 

U 

3i 

7» 

• 

S 

» 

»» 

M 

2» 

34 

34 

31 

SI 

19 

1« 

» 

•  • 

« 

» 

4» 

M 

JH 

34 

'  s 

31 

M 

If 

17 

U 

7S 

7 

« 

« 

9» 

n 

31 

32 

34 

J5 

17 

17 

I» 

79 

• 

• 

4A 

4» 

sz 

3Z 

» 

33 

St 

17 

u 

17 

» 

* 

48 

4S 

41 

s 

3Z 

31 

32 

37 

1« 

IS 

16 

« 

14 

47 

47 

40 

M 

31 

3i 

32 

Si 

IS 

IS 

IC 

«  . 

11 

47 

4« 

47 

s 

30 

3i 

31 

Si 

U 

14 

IS 

« 

It 

«( 

4S 

4f 

31 

30 

29 

30 

«0 

14 

14 

14 

M 

13 

4S 

45 

Pi 

17 

29 

29 

30 

«I 

18 

13 

14 

!« 

14 

44 

44 

45 

38 

2» 

28 

29 

« 

13 

12 

13 

W 

15 

44 

43 

44 

» 

28 

27 

» 

«3 

12 

12 

13 

«7 

14 

43 

43 

43 

40 

27 

27 

29 

64 

13 

11 

12 

&* 

17 

42 

42 

43 

41 

2S 

» 

27 

65 

11 

11 

VI 

*» 

18 

42 

41 

42 

42 

K 

25 

2« 

66 

11 

10 

11 

90 

19 

44 

41 

41 

43 

25 

25 

26 

67 

10 

10 

10 

91 

20 

40 

40 

41 

44 

25 

24 

25 

68 

10 

9 

10 

92 

21 

«0 

» 

40 

45 

24 

23 

24 

69 

9 

9 

10 

93 

2    1 

22 

m 

an 

39 

46 

23 

23 

24 

70 

9 

9 

9 

94 

2 

23 

38 

38 

39 

1 

47 

23 

22 

23 

.  71 

8 

8 

9 

95 
96 

•• 

^ 

•  • ; 

For  this  table  we  are  indebted  to  Smithes  Visiting  List,  edited  by 
Seymour  Haden,  Esq. 

The  next  table  18  taken  from  "The  Mortality  Experience  of  Life 
AMAurance  (Jompaniei*,  collected  by  the  Institute  of  Actuaries,"  C.  and  E, 
Jjayton,  1869.  It  is  the  experience  of  twenty  oflSces,  but  differs  from  the 
other,  in  being  the  result  of  selected  lives. 


^^^^^^^B 

631       ^^B 

Table  of  Expectation  of  Life. 

^M 

€ 

s 

4 

H 

8 

tf 

d 

d 

1 

> 

k 

.  >  5 

.—  a 

> 

>■   . 

.  >  s 

*  ^  s 

1 

1 

'1^ 

S 

1 

iJ: 

•^3 

1 

Ye»ni  of 

Year,  of 

Y«nn  or 

Ywireof 

Yenni  of 

Ypars  of 

Yenn  of 

Yeare  of 

■ 

Life. 

LUe. 

Ufe. 

Lif*!. 

Llffl. 

Life. 

Life. 

Life. 

^H 

0 

58.43 

Mft-I 

57.64 

M.56 

50 

2(l.'10 

21.60 

2051 

18.29 

^H 

1 

57.4a 

54.53 

56,6-1 

64  56 

51 

I9,fit 

2-),  94 

19.84 

17.73 

^^^^ 

^^ 

3 

M.43 

SJUia 

53.64 

5356 

52 

18.97 

2018 

19.17 

17.13 

^^^^^^M 

■ 

S 

MSI 

62.53 

35.09 

62.66 

M 

1K.29 

1960 

lfi..vy 

16.52 

^^^^^H 

■ 

4 

S,V8l 

53.04 

54-8:4 

51.56 

54 

17.60 

IS  86 

I78t 

15  93 

^^^^^^H 

■ 

S 

54.SI 

62  04 

63.83 

50..% 

55 

llly'l 

18.17 

17.14 

16.45 

^^^^^1 

H 

R 

M.:a 

51. IH 

53,08 

49.56 

5G 

16.32 

i:.53 

16„'J3 

14.H4 

^^^H 

f 

7 

53.13 

5tt.U0 

52,67 

4S.5fi 

67 

lfl,fi& 

18  88 

15.90 

14.20 

^^^1 

6 

5213 

49.90 

51.67 

47.36 

68 

IS.ili 

16.11 

].'i26 

1^1.74 

^^H 

9 

51.13 

49  IS 

50  80 

46.56 

50 

14  44 

1.5  vW 

I5.ft4 

13.2ri 

^^^1 

]0 

50.29 

4».18      I 

49.69 

■iSM 

60 

13.80 

14.85 

1«.99 

12.62 

^^H 

11 

59.69 

47  78 

4U..38 

44.56 

61 

13.23 

1421 

13.42 

12.19 

^^^1 

12 

48.09 

46.78 

48  38 

43.56 

62 

12.66 

13.5(1 

12.8.'J 

1160 

^^H 

13 

47.88 

45.78 

47.50 

42..^6 

63 

12.09 

1/92 

12  26 

11.09 

^^^1 

14 

47  08 

44.78 

46.60 

41.56 

64 

11.54 

12.K8 

11.72 

10.64 

^^^1 

15 

4fi.24 

44.27 

45.WI 

40.56 

fW 

11.01 

11.78 

1L17 

10.26 

^^H 

16 

4n'U 

4y.8"i 

4.'I.I4 

:»9.'S6 

m 

10,49 

11.24 

1U.65 

9,*5 

^^^1 

^_ 

n 

44.31 

4311 

44.23 

39  09 

67 

9.98 

10.63 

1012 

9.% 

^^H 

■ 

18 

4.^3.1 

42.20 

4339 

88  00 

Gft 

lt.4(J 

10.10 

W.fil 

8.H9 

^^^1 

■ 

19 

42.79 

41.42 

42.64 

a7.os 

m 

8.99 

9.  0 

9  13 

»M 

^^H 

■ 

20 

42.(K> 

40.87 

41  98 

36.80 

"0 

8.54 

9.12 

8.G8 

816 

^^^1 

■ 

21 

41  »3 

40.17 

41-23 

S6.16 

71 

8.02 

8.61 

816 

7.67 

^^^H 

■ 

a 

40.1(2 

39.40 

40.51 

35.73 

72 

7,52 

8.09 

7.65 

7.18 

^^H 

■ 

n 

3».87 

3«6l 

39.84 

35.  IS 

73 

7.12 

7.58      ' 

IM 

6.77 

^^^1 

■ 

24 

89.18 

87.95 

39.15 

84.84 

74 

«C9 

7.27 

6.8:{ 

6  32 

^^H 

■ 

2A 

88.44 

37.40 

38.44 

34,01 

78 

6^42 

699 

6. =56 

6.10 

^^^1 

■ 

M 

37.M 

96.80 

37.65 

33.47 

78 

603 

6  57 

617 

590 

^^H 

■ 

27 

38.90 

3*;.2I 

36.93 

32.87 

77 

0.09 

6.29 

585 

5  69 

^^^H 

■ 

■28 

30.14 

ai.69 

*il8 

32.36 

78 

5,33 

59: 

.1.48 

8.38 

^^^H 

■ 

20 

S542 

85.07 

3.5.47 

31.64 

79 

6,00 

5.8fl 

6.22 

6.21 

^^H 

■ 

M 

94M 

84.55 

34.75 

KI.U3 

80 

4.71 

S.,^6 

453 

4.98 

^^^1 

■ 

Zl 

t^M 

33.90 

34.04 

30.46 

81 

4.40 

5.17 

4.61 

4.60 

^^H 

»i 

83.21 

33.27 

3:1.30 

29  81 

82 

4H 

4.91) 

4, .16 

4  52 

^^^M 

as 

1I3.4« 

82.75 

32.59 

29.18 

83 

3.90 

4.:« 

4.04 

417 

^^H 

M 

31.75 

32.04 

31.86 

28.43 

84 

3.79 

3  92 

3.84 

3  52 

^^^1 

8S 

81.03 

81.43 

81.11V 

27.78 

85 

8.51 

8.71 

3^8 

8.01 

^^^1 

B$ 

8038 

30.M> 

:io.4i 

27  It 

811 

:i..H4 

3.62 

344 

■i.87 

^^H 

»7 

2».55 

30.21 

29  69 

26.51 

87 

U.)3 

3.ri 

3,26 

2,69 

^^H 

«8 

ZBJ3 

2».65 

28.97 

25.75 

88 

2.»7 

3.40 

3.05 

2.99 

^^^1 

88 

28.12 

38.88 

28.27 

25,13 

89 

2.81 

3.14 

2.9  i 

2.78 

^^^1 

40 

27.42 

28.24 

27.57 

24  49 

90 

2.85 

SS.-! 

2.68 

4.03 

^^H 

^^ 

41 

28.«9 

27.59 

2«.85 

23.  «2 

91 

1.91 

8.8S 

2.48 

3.05 

'^^^1 

■ 

42 

26.96 

20.97 

2«14 

23.15 

92 

1.5.5 

8.72 

2.25 

2.90 

^^H 

■ 

43 

25.24 

26.30 

2542 

2251 

93 

14» 

8.71 

2.34 

3,50 

^^^M 

■ 

44 

24.60 

25  08 

24.69 

21,80 

91 

2.21 

3.25 

2,90 

2..'i0 

^^1 

■ 

45 

28.79 

24.96 

23.98 

21.11 

95 

1.21 

2.25 

1.90 

1.60 

^^^1 

■ 

4t 

28.08 

24  36 

23J7 

20,95 

96 

.50 

1.-2.5 

1.06 

.50 

^^H 

■ 

47 

22.87 

23.68 

22.57 

20  26 

97 

— 

1  no 

l.no 

— 

^^1 

■ 

4A 

2iM 

23-02 

21,89 

19  57 

08 

— 

.50 

,.50 

— 

^^H 

■ 

4d 

20.96 

22.31 

21.20 

18.92 

H 

If  we  exclude  alt  under  *25,  and  all  above  75,  from  our  eaknila 

ttonSy  we       ^^^^1 

ehall  find  that  the  ibniiuk  of  Willich  U  not  far  froni  the  truth. 

It     as      ^^M 

■        follows: 

^L                                       [j  ^  expectation  of  life,  a  =  age] 

^^^M 

P                                                     ^  =  il  (80  —  a). 

^^M 

For  example — T^et  a  man's  a^re  be  30  years,  then  80  —  30  =  5 

^^H 

H        of  50  =  33.3  years.     By  Dr.  Farr's  table,  the  expeftntion  is  33  i 

rears  for         ^^^H 

H        rnulej),  and  34  years  for  feiaale.4  at  that  age.     By  the  experlenc 
H       twenty  offices  (^Table  11),  the  expectation  is  34.68  for  the  forr 

Q  of  the              ^H 

Der,  ntid              ^H 

532  EXPECTATION   OF    LIFE. 

S4.55  for  the  latter.  Again  i^uppose  the  age  to  be  65,  then  by  ibis  for- 
mula— 

X  =  f  (80  —  65)  ^  10  yeare. 

Now,  by  Table  I,  the  expeelatioii  ta  11  yeara  for  male$,  aud  12  years  for 
fcmnio**,  and  by  Table  II  it  m  10/26  years  for  diseas<Hi  lives,  and  11.17  for 
healthy  male  aud  female  live?.  De  Moivre  gupfjosed  that  out  of  86  persons 
born,  ime  dies  every  year,  till  ihey  are  exiiuct.  Therefore,  accordiog  to 
him,  the  decrement  of  life  y^  '!^'"  ^  \W?i  throughout  life^  Theo  the 
pnvitil  vjilite  of  an  aunuity  of  £1  to  be  eoutiiuied  during  tlie  life  of  an 
indivldiml  of  a  given  age,  allowing  compouod  intercut  for  the  money,  18 
(iiuppoaiog  n  to  be  the  number  of  years  which  any  individual  wants  of  86) 

n—  1.  r  —  n-h   —  _ 

'. =  (if  p  be  the  present  value  of  an  aQouity  of  £1 

r 
1  , p 

to  continue  certain  for  n  yeare)  »    ' 

r  —  1 

But  although  the  principles  of  calculation  are  similar,  Dr.  Young's  for- 
midtt  ft»r  the  deerement  of  life  (*ie<*  "Euevclopiedia  Metri>politanu  "  and 
**  Phil.  Trans.,"  1826)  \s  certainly  fur  ueartT  the  truth.  This  is  iy  being 
the  numhtif  of  deaths  among  100,000  persinis  in  the  year  that  completes 
the  age  x)  in  an  abbreviated  form,  and  lor  the  middle  jyortiou  of  life — 

y  =  368  +  10  X, 

YoT  example,  let  x  or  the  age  be  40,  then  of  100,000  persons  of  the  age  of 
40,  we  shall  expect  that  7(58  will  die  befurt'  the  y^ir  is  out,  the  actual 
number  in  Dr  Young's  Talde  (referred  to  above )  being  785,  Most  trea- 
tij*e*»  on  arithmetic  now  contain  tables  of  the  values  of  £1  at  different  rates 
of  comfiound  intereist  for  a  given  number  of  years',  aud  those  conversant 
with  arithmetical  and  algebruic  calculations  may,  from  the  data  we  have 
now  given,  calfulale  the  prctbable  value  of  an  average  healthy  life,  and 
the  [)rci*eut  value  of  an  annuity.  Huch  ques'tiouF  are,  however,  in  our  courts 
of  Inw,  very  properly  put  to  actuaries,  and  oot  to  medical  men.  Aa  a 
coroUary  to  these  remarks  on  the  ExjjecMion  of  Life,  we  may  quute  the 
following  table  from  Dr.  8outhey  (which  is,  we  believe,  found,  in  j^ub^tance 
at  least,  in  Hippocrates)  of  the  ExjKdaiion  of  Sicknem  at  dilicreut  ages: 

Age  in  Ycmri.  Day*  HI  yedrly. 

20, 4 

20—80 6—6 

•»r>, 7 

60, fl— 10 

65, 12— la 

60 .16 

Cf), :n 

70, 74 


If  we  take  the  ages  of  20  to  60,  we  nhall  find  the  average  nuniber  of  days 
of  sickness  to  be  a»  nearly  as  possible  tlrven  dayi<  in  a  year.  Dr.  Dick.¥on  s 
experience  in  the  Cu>.toma  agrees  with  this.  Owing  to  a  variety  of  causes, 
it  is*  Hcart'<'ly  pcts^ible  to  a!4*iigu  any  such  number  of  days  for  infants  or  very 
young  children.  The  quesitions  which  you  will  be  a!*ked  in  your  medical 
capacity  are  really  far  more  difRcult,  an<l  cau  only  be  answered  with  even 
Approximate  correctneas  by  ihwe  who  have  carefully  studieti  their  prtH 
SisioD,  not  only  theoretically  but  practically  (that  is,  clinically).     The 


PRB6DMPTI0K    OF    DEATH 


633 


f>nQcipal  questioua  of  this  kiDtl  which  yoa  will  have  to  answer  are  as  fol- 
owa: 

I.  Ii*  the  life  «f  the  proposed  assurer  [male  or  female]  a  healthy  one? 

II.  If  not  a  healthy  life,  how  many  additioual  years"  prejiiiaiius  will 
cover  the  probable  risk  ? 

III.  Are,  or  were,  the  habits  of  the  assured,  or  inteudiug  a^i^urer, 
such  ag  lend  to  shorten  life?  Or  has  his  occupatioD  any  tendency  to  the 
same? 

IV.  Supposing  death  to  have  oceurre*!,  was  the  disease  acquired  since 
the  insu ranee? 

V.  A  puliry  may  he  claimed  when  there  is  no  actual  proof  of  death, 
and  the  question  may  be  raised — is  it  to  be  prcijumed  that  the  insurer  is 
dead  ? 

VI.  If  a  body  be  found,  how  long  has  it  been  dead? 

VII.  I5  the  body  that  of  the  assurer? 

In  order  to  save  usc4es9  repetitioiw»  we  shall  take  some  of  tliese  qupstions 
in  the  reverse  order.  The  last  question  is  clearly  one  of  personal  identiiy, 
and  belongs  to  the  next  chapter. 

Question  VI  is  one  of  extreme  difficulty.  In  the  Wmnwrighi  Trials 
Dr.  Bond  was  reported  to  have  sworn  that  the  body  supposed  to  be  that  of 
Harriet  Luue  hafi  certaiuly  been  dead  a  certam  number  of  months.  In 
Chapter  III^  under  the  headings  of  Adipore^re  arid  Pntrefadwn,  you  may 
gain  .H>nie  hinti*  as  to  how  tiiich  a  question  may  he  answered.  It  is,  how- 
ever, far  better  to  *!tate  the  facts,  and  to  decline  mere  guessing,  when  the 
circumstances  of  the  case  are  such  as  to  preclude  your  really  forming  a 
well-grounded  opinion. 

Question  V  is  that  of  presumption  of  death  or  mirvtvorakip.  For  con- 
siderable detail  and  many  curiou^^  cn?es,  we  must  refer  the  reader  to  Beck, 
Taylor,  and  Guy^  contenting  ourselves  with  juj^t  indirating  the  genera! 
principles  which  must  guide  our  judgment.  Dr.  Taylor  istates,  on  the 
authority  of  Best  ('M)n  Presaraption  of  Law  and  Fact'*},  that  **  when  a 
person  goes  abroad  and  has  not  been  beard  of  for  a  long  time,  the  pre- 
sumption of  the  continuance  of  life  ceaj^cs  at  the  expiration  of  seven  years 
from  the  period  at  which  he  was  last  heard  of.  The  ?ame  rule  hold;*  gen- 
erally with  respect  to  a  person  who  has  gone  away  from  his  ursuitl  place  of 
re-sort,  and  of  whom  no  account  can  be  given  ;  but  the  presumption  does 
not  extend  to  the  tiwe  of  bis  death  :  i.  e.,  whether  he  died  at  the  beginning 
or  at  the  end  of  any  particular  period  of  the  seven  years."  We  may 
remark  iueidentally,  that  this  rule  is  generally  acted  upon  in  cases  where 
a  husband  deserts  his  wile  or  vice  ver»d^  or  if  either  married  person  go 
abroad,  m>t  intending  to  desert  the  other,  and  have  not  been  heard  of  tor 
^ven  years,  it  is  not  consi^iered  bigamy  if  the  one  lei\  behind  marry  again. 
But  this  is  not  strictly  a  medico-legal  question,  the  fact  of  death  of  any 
person  once  known  to  he  alive  is  a  matter  of  fact  to  be  determined  by  a 
jury  in  n)Oi?t  cases.  Where  the  decision  has  rested  with  our  judges  (as  in 
the  Court  of  Chancery),  the  question  has  sometimes  been  left  open  where 
there  was  no  evidence  as  to  dt^ath.  In  Waimn  v.  Enyland^  the  absence  of 
any  news  of  a  female  who  left  her  father's  house  thirty-four  years  before, 
wa^  not  considered  by  the  Vice-Clianccllor  as  proof  of  her  death.  Uest 
(quoted  by  Taylor)  remarks  that  the  Court  of  Queen's  Bench  said  that 
they  coul<l  not  iLssume  judicially  that  a  |>erson  alive  in  the  year  1(134  was 
not  alive  in  1H27I  (op.  cit.,  p,  ItKJ).  Absurd  as  thl;?  may  seem,  cases  are 
ou  record  in  which  men  who  had  been  aliseni  from  their  bonnes  many  years 
have  suddenly  returned.     In  Church  v.  Smithy  a  husbaiid  who  had  deserted 


584 


PRESUMPTION    OF   SURVIVORSHIP. 


his  wife  fourteen  years,  and  had  not  beea  heard  of  for  twelve  yeare,  walked 

into  court  just  as  his  wife  wa«  puiug  to  be  deemed  a  widow.  In  the  ca^^es^l 
of  h>st  and  missing  ships',  aceideuu*',  etc.,  after  which  no  tidings  arrive  for^ 
many  years,  law  and  ctjniinou  sense  are  ou  the  same  side,  Insiiraoce 
offices,  too,  utiually  pay  policies  after  the  lap^^e  of  a  year  or  two,  when  no 
news  can  he  gained  of  the  life  insured,  ihm  piuch  case  has  been  ve 
recently  tiecided,  as  regards  a  tailor  who  lived  in  Cheltenham,  and  who 
life  had  been  insured  for  £500.* 


Premimptton  of  Survivorttkip, 

There  appears  to  be  no  definite  law  in  England  as  to  the  presumption 
of  gurvivori«hip.     In  other  words,  in  any  accident  or  mode  of  death  com- 
mon to  several  iudividuaU  f such  as  shipwreck,  fire,  suffocation,  etc.),  our | 
law  suppo!»es  that  all  died  at  the  same  moment,  unless  there  be  evidence 
or  rea*ronable  pro<tf  to  the  contrary.     For  example:  in  the  cases  meationed 
by  Dn  Taylor,  the  hi^t,  in  which  General  Sianwix,  his  wife,  and  daughter 
by  a  previous  marriage  were  snpposed  to  have  peris<l»ed  at  sea  in  176G,  no 
decision  was  given  as  to  s*urvivortihip,  and  a  compromise  was  effected  on 
the  recommendation  of  Lord  Manr^fitdd.     In  another  case  mentioned  by 
the  same  author  {fo*".  n/.,  voL  i,  p.  169),  a  woman  aged  forty-two,  in  feeble 
beallh,  a  slout,  healthy  daughter  of   twenty,  and  a  son   aged  six   were, 
drowned  on   the  coast  of  Norfolk.     Here  the  me^lical   probabilitiea  were, 
that  the  daughter,  aged  tvrenty,  survived ;  but  Dr.  Lushington,   in  the 
absence  of  proof,  ruled  that  they  all  perished  together.     In  another  case, 
of  death  by  fire,  the  marks*  of  burning  on  one  body  were  evidently  pro- 
duced during  life,  on  the  other,  after  death  (see  Burns,  Scalds,  etc.),  and] 
Dr.  OUivier  therefore  inferred  that  the  former  body  was  that  of  the  on« 
who  lived  the  longest.     A  number  of  cases  are  given  in  Taylor  and  Beck, 
bnt  tiiey  all  confirm  the  statement  above,  as  to  the  practice  of  our  Euglishi 
conrts.     As  tlie  question  is  one  of  some  general  interest,  it  may  not 
amiss  to  state  the  Roman  law,  that  of  the  Code  Napol6(>u  and  the  modern 
Prussian  law.     In  the  old   Roman  law,  according  to  Reck  {loc.  cit.,  pp» 
358-1^),  when  jwrsons  of  difierent  ages  died  in  l>attle,  those  under  puberty 
were  deemed  to  have  died  first;  but  if  a  father  and  a  son  who  had  attain«\l{ 
his  majority  died  together^  the  son  was,  very  properly,  considered  to  hmvQ. 


*  In  connection  with  thi?  matter  of  presumption  of  dcaLh  or  survivorship,  a  v<*Tf  { 
iinporiant  cnso  Ims  recently  hevu  tried   nt  Croydon  (July  j?8lh,  1875),  b«if«»re  lb«J 
Ij«»rd  Chief  Buron  Kelly — the  ciise  of  Edmonds  v.  The  PrudftntiMl  A^surttnce  Co(n< 
putty  {nrf  Add«*nd»,  at  end  of  this  volum**}.     Thn  pl^HintifT  lued   to  recovor  on  m\ 
|H»liev  <>f  X/j<XI  "n  the  HfV?  of  Robert  Nuit,  n  Iwilor,  who  w«s  Ix.rn  at  Choliftihanii 
on   lioveiiitjir  *iUl,  1833,  led  a  Mmn-what  dissolute  Hfe,  left  CheUenhrtm  in  MiiT, 
1867,  und  liud  not  hii*tn  hetird  of  for  eight  yi-rirs.     In  fitet,  the  jjii'-i  lime  »i^m« 
have  iiven  in  Auj^ust,  I8G7.     Thero  ww  aunK*  conflict  of  evidence  on  this  point,  th< 
h»'ijt;^ht  xnd  fierfuntd  HppeHr«nce  beint;  v»'ry  difTerently  giv^tn  by  diflerent  witn* 
The  rerdict  wftif.  for  the  dt^fLTidnnt-  (The  Hru<lenl)Hl ),  on  th<*  gruunil  of  <«  in-^ufficieol 

troi^l  of  deuih  "  Mr  Eduiortd^  hns  kiitdly  infornii'd  n»  in  h  note,  thut  he  h*»  ill 
ill  of  cxc«'ptionp,  signed  by  the  judm»,  HjjjHinst  thi^  ruling  (piirfunht  to  18  Edw.  I,j 
*l«l.  1,  cup  HI),  which  will  be  h»ard  before  the  Judgei  of  Appcid,  when  he  bi)(M!«] 
l<»  ftutxnevd  in  g*«Hing  n  new  irinl,  on  the  ground  thnt  the  judge  wrongly  direoi 
the  Jury  in  ti'llint;  tticm  thnt  they  niu»t  tind  for  the  defendantA  unless  ihey  wort] 
•i4ti«>fied  the  niitn  hud  nipt  been  heMrd  of  for  ^cvcn  yeura,  but  thut  they  should  bav« 
'  fur  tht?  pinintiir,  th*r«*  b^inj;  no  '*Bufficienl  nnd  evident  proof"  of  his  boin^, 
-fouired  by  ihe  fetntute  of  Ml  C»ir,  11,  cup.  6.  Should  the  n«w  li"  "  "  ' 
I  n  v»'rdlct  found  on  this  ground,  the  remnrk?  in  the  text  mufll 
l»    JH   ii«uul,  however,  for  iiisurjirice  ofBce*  to  pny  similnf  ^1 

I' I  reMSoii  to  i>u^pect  frnud  or  collutiion,  witbln  u  sbort  period  («txl 
I  -I  nfler  tlie  supposed  death. 


PBEStJMPTION   OF    SURVIVORSHIP. 


535 


mrvived  the  father.  This,  io  time,  was  extended  to  all  cases  where  the 
pnem  time  of  death  was  uokaowD.  In  the  case  of  hasbaod  and  wife, 
iKi  Iraebaiid  was  esteemed  the  survivor.  Beck  quotes  the  foliowiog  frotn 
the  ** Digest,"  lib.  XXX iv,  tit.  5,  «/e  rf.lnm  tlnbiii*:  "  Cum  pubere  tilio  raater 
oaufrm^ii  periit,  cum  explorari  qou  jKJSbet,  uter  prior  extioftus  sit,  huruanus 
t0t  crwiere*  filiiim  diutius  vixtsse.  8i  raiilierrum  tilio  iinpiibere  iiaufragio 
n»  riit.  pnurem  iilium  necatuni  ee^e  intelligitur,"  etc.  The  deciaiojis  given 
!iias  atid  the  older  writers  were  esseotially  founded  oo  the  same 

i-f- 

The  French  law,  as  contained  in  the  Code  Najjolton,  is  as  follows; 

**lf  isi'veral  persons,  natural iy  heir.*  of  earh  other,  |>ertsh  by  the  same 
er^ui,  without  the  possibility  of  knowing  which  died  first*  the  presumption 
iito«irvivor^hip  shall  be  determined  by  the  circumstaoces  of  the  case; 
tad  in  delault  thereof,  by  strength  of  age  and  sex. 
/IfthoKwbo  perishcMl   together  were  under  fifteen   years,  the  oldest 

11  be  presiumed  the  survivor. 
>*lf  they  were  all  above  sixty  years,  the  youngest  shall  he  presumed  the 
ivoL 

If  Mme  were  under  fifteen,  and  others  above  sixty,  the  former  shall 
Wpfcsnmed  the  survivors. 

If  tho^e  who  have  perished  together  had  completed  the  age  of  fifteen, 
ml  were  under  sixty,  the  male  !!;hall  be  prei<umed  ihe  survivor  where  ages 
werjttal,  or  the  difference  dines  not  exceed  one  year. 

'   •  hey  were  of  the  same  *ex,  that  presumption  shall  be  admitted  which 
he  succesflion  in  the  order  of  nature.     Of  course  the  younger  shall 
•  iere^l  to  have  survived  the  elder." 
,1  i^cu  from  Foder6,  vol.  ii,  p.  221 ;  Beck,  p.  361.) 

^  The  Prussian  Common  Law  (Part  I,  tit.  1,  §  39)  and  Civil  Code  (Arts, 
*20,  721,  722),  quoted  by  Casper  (Dr.  Balfour's  Trans.,  vol.  i,  p.  14), 
•I*  identical  in  spirit,  though  not  in  the  precise  wording,  with  the  Code 

Welwlieve  these  rules  to  be  fairly  correct,  although  children  have  been 

known  to  .<^urvive  long  journeys  and   voyages  better  than  adults.     The 

Mtflcr  roost  from  coid,  the  aged  from  heat.     In  death  from  starva- 

f^9  who  have  the  frees^t  access  to  water  will  probably  live  longest, 

V necks  we  may  prei?unie  that  u  man  is  more  likely  to  be  able  to 

m  a  woman.     On  the  other  haml,  a  woman  may  be  buoyed  up  by 

ho«;  she  may  faint,  and  thus  life  may  be  preserved;  and  rather 

pie  often  float  better  tliau  thin  ones.     They  are  also  supposed  to 

rvation  better.     For  other  physiological  and  medical  reasons,  for 

,  lion  of  survivorship  we  must  refer  to  the  works  of  Beck  and  Guy; 

itarking  that  in  the  rare  case  of  a  woman  and  iufaut  both  dying, 

.i..,ui  wttU'Mses,  in  chiblbirth,  most  medical  writers  are  agreed  that  the 

^ti^n\  probabilities  are  for  the  survivorship  of  the  mother.     It  appears 

^u«  that  nu  general  rule  could  be  safely  laid  down,  as  a  living  child  may 

**•  Urn  8 tier  the  death  of  the  mother.     The  mother  has  the  risk  of  h:emor- 

f^i^ — no  light  risk;  whilst  the  chief  dangers  to  which  the  child  would 

whmirily  he  exfxjsed  are  suff<K"ation  and  cold. 

T'     iiif«tiou.  "  h  this  a  healthy  lite?"  which  is  in  fact  the  meaning  of 

ill  examination  of  persons  about  to  insure  their  lives,  is  one  which 

tt  mtm^nd  fkr  too  carele>»sly  by  many  medical   men.     There  can  bo  no 

IWUnnible  qne^tion  that  a  careful  ticler'tion  of  lives  is  one  of  the  first  ele- 

mrotM  o(  .    in  an   offire.     The  **  KurojHjan,"  "  AII>ert,"  and  other 

i>/fi*v«  \^L._„     _:r  careless  in  this  matter,  stton  came  to  an  end,  although 


586 


MEDICAL   "LIFB    BKP0BT3, 


DO  doubt  there  were  other  aources  of  failure.  Most  Life  Offices  propose 
to  iDtendiug  assurers  a  series  of  questions  relutiug  to  their  personal  and 
family  history.  The  medtcal  referee  ^ho  has  a  similar  paper  to  fill  up. 
Of  these  we  have  selected  that  of  the  Sovereign  Life  Office  for  an  example  : 


SOVEREIGN  LIFE  ASSURANCE  COMPANY. 


•  Sipnattirr  n/  the  \ 
person  ej'amirted  J 


f  To  ht  Miffftrd  in  the  pre»^nee 
\      uj  the  Medical  Jirferee, 


Priwiie  and  Cbftfideniufl  MEDICAL  REPORT  mnde  to  the  DirectwK  re»peeting 
the  hrntfh  of  the  nhore  named. 

1,  J*  Uie  piirly  to  be  t^XHrninptl  porsniiiilly  knrvwn  ttp  yoii  7  iind  if  so,  bow  Irtnic? 

2.  Hms  IIm«  AphlicMfil  I'vur  hwd  SuihII-jiox,  or  l»een  VHCfiiiiiU'd,  or  lirtd  Mi'AkIcs, 
H(x»pi«ii:<H)U£jh»  ticwrlel   Fever,  Typhus,  Intorinittetit,  or  ft»rv  other  kind  ofF^'Vcrt 

*3.  I:i»*^  Applicunl  over  hnrl  (iour,  Ap»|»l'"xv',  Rhttiiru  iti-'tn,  Dropxv,  Livor  (.'i»m* 
pluint,  Fi»tulH^  Irwanity,  H»biMi;i1  Ctviijfli,  A<<thir]ti^  LIa»tnopry!«is,  Uornia,  Pileij 
Slriclure,  or  uny  I)l^*,•nse  of  tbu  IJriiiury  Urguns? 

4.  Are  there  nny  indications  of  Phihimt  f 

5  Ums  ApplieHTil  ever  hfcn  under  M»^dieal  or  8urj[jip«l  Trpntinent  for  nny  nlf«c« 
tion  sjK'citb'd  or  not  in  Ihe  iibovflquealion,  and  htu  recovt-ry  Leon  complete? 

In  the  cfue  tff  a  married /rmait,  plmte  inqtiift  aitolhe  efmmtter  (^  h*r  an-oueheuvmtM,  i/any. 

*6.  Arc  ihe  Apnlicuiit'd  Piirunts  living?  If  nut,  ul  whiil  ugcis  and  of  wbut  d!«* 
ord«sr=s  did  lh<?y  ale? 

*7,  Uow  niutjy  of  the  Applicant's  Brnthora  or  Siiilcrs  aro  living?  At  what  aget 
aod  of  what  disord'T*  bHve  nny  d'wd  ? 

8.  What  i*  the  Apfiliewnt'i*  Personal  ApppJirnnce  jia  to  Age,  Weight,  StAtum, 
Complexion,  TemperMmont,  and  Goni^ral  lJevt«lopnient  of  the  Head,  Nock,  Cbe«t, 
Knd  Abdomen  7 

9.  After  Htpthoscopic  rxaminntion,  ploiisn  e^ive  ymir  opinion  ns  to  the  stat^  of  thtt 
Tlufrneie  Orgaoa,  specifying  the  cunditiou  of  the  C'ircalation,  Itespirution,  nod  iVe- 
quoncy  oi  PuUo. 

10.  AppHrent  r«Ute  of  Dijje^tive  Functions? 

11.  I"i  tb<'r0  nny  ttppfireiit  predi-po>itioii  to  Boreditary  Disease,  and  havn  Gout, 
Cancer,  Apoplexy,  Innnnity,  or  Phlbisift  existed  in  lb«»  t»iniily  ? 

\'2.  What  is  yuur  opinion  of  the  Applicant's  habits  of  life ;  temperate  or  otktrwiat  ; 
active  or  sedentaty  T 


t  PfeojK  ^nquir^  whtU  nnumrU  of  titmutant  is  umuiJijf  (etken  prr  diem. ) 

13.  Do  you  recommend  Iho  Directors  tu  accept  the  Applicant  aa  a  firat«clnfli 
Life  or  »»*  a  fair  Averagw? 

( //  ttehv  tU  AtfroQf.j^fitM  **nte  if  an  athlUion  to tlm  Prtmtmm  w^uld  mat!  the  cam,  and  if  *o,  A*ir  many 
f«art'  ttddttitm  wtmltt  you  ruggtul. ) 

f  hrrehy  certify  nud  declare  ihnt  the  Anewerg  given  6y  me,  a  Sftdieal  E^nmineir 
acting  fiifT  the  Company ^  in  relnfi^m  tu  the  p/xr/xtsed  AsJturttnee,  are  ihe  result  nf  n  per* 
aonul  rjcnminatiuu  of  the  ahove-named,  and  that  they  are^  according  to  the  be»t  of  n%y 
kjuiwUJye  ami  judyuunt^Jaithful  andjuBt,  and  made  after  a  ca/e/ul  cunaideraiiuH. 


Esamintd  and  dated  thia, 

( %nfti) 

Remimg  at 


Medical  ntU. 


Inxtiah  of  B;mminer^. 


In  the  Great  Britain  Mutual  Life  Assurance  Society  there  are  some 
additional  queries,  such  as — **  Ha.-j  he  recently  lost  or  gained  in  weight  f* 
"  Has  he  the  appeamooe  of  a  healthy  an«l  temperate  per*«>n  ?"  "  Does  his 
pen^iirial  ap[>earance  lead  you  to  apprehend  a|>oplexy  T'  and,  under  **  itespi- 


♦  Plenso  inquire  into  the  accuracy  of  tba  replic 
of  the  propoaaL 


given  to  Questions  11, 12,  and  18 


S38 


EXAMINATION   OF   "LIVES* 


practical  physicians  and  our  own,  that  many  cases  of  valvular  disease  of 
the  heart  may  altaiQ  to  a  good  age  if  their  ^urroundiugs  are  favonihle, 
and  they  are  carefuL  But  the  remaining  twu  thirds  of  the&e  ca*es  bore 
out  the  general  idea  as  to  the  great  ri^ks  involved  in  disea-se  of  thii*  centre 
of  life.  Thujii  these  diijeases  constituted  14.*i02  per  cent,  of  all  the  deaths 
(800  in  5fi3.'^)  during  that  period^  aod  tliey  amount  to  about  one  in  twetity, 
or  5  i^r  cent,  of  the  deaths  from  all  cau^ei*  certified  to  the  Registrar-Gen- 
eral. (InfnnLs  under  one  year  are  not  iuuludeii  in  this  number.)  lu  form- 
ing an  e^ti^uateof  the  condition  of  the  heart,  the  following  are  the  chief 
data:  The  pulse  should  be  regular,  not  too  compreti.sible  nor  hard  (hard- 
ness indicating  disease  of  the  artery),  nor  jerking;  its  number  should  be 
four  or  five  to  each  respiration  ;  and  in  the  case  of  adults*,  sitting,  ifhould 
Eot  be  below  70,  nor  above  80  or  85,  per  minute.  (Exceptional  CA<»es  of 
very  slow  pulse,  and  very  rapid  pulse,  with  gcK)d  health,  are  met  with,  but 
they  are  extrentely  rare. )  There  should  be  no  intemii^ision,  and  change 
of  po&ture  should  not  make  more  than  about  teu  l>eat.H  {M?r  minute  differ- 
ence.  The  sounds  of  the  heart  i  well  imitated  by  "  lubb-dupp,  lubb-diipp  '*) 
should  be  clear,  and  nut  attended  with  any  murmur  or  blowing  sound,  or 
rubbing  (bruit  or  friction).  The  fir^^t  !?liouId  be  somewhat  the  hnuier, 
longer,  and  lower  pitched ;  the  second  sound  !?Mimewhat  shorter,  sharper, 
and  higher  pitched,  and  not  quite  so  loud.  The  t^econd  sound  should  not 
be  {^napping  or  flapping  in  character,  nor  should  it  be  accentuated  or  more 
marked  than  the  lirst.  The  apex-beat  of  the  heart  should  be  1}  inch 
within  and  about  the  same  distance  below  the  left  nipple  (in  the  filYh  costal 
interspace) ;  aud  the  impulse,  while  plainly  perceptible,  must  not  be  jerk- 
ing or  too  widely  ditlbsed. 

4,  The  DigeMu'e  SyM^i, — Although  it  may  be  quite  true  that  "  creaking 
hinges  last  a  long  while,"  and  that  people  with  very  feeble  digestions  live 
a  very  long  time,  yet  the  importance  of  this  system  is  i^rtainly  very  great; 
as  might  be  ex{:>ected,  since  the  vital  forces  cannot  long  be  maintained 
without  supplies  from  without ;  and  scarcely  any  of  these  supplied!  can  be 
utilised  in  the  economy  unless  previously  digested.  Those  who  have  good 
digestion  will,  ciHtTi^  paribus,  live  the  longest,  bear  most  fatigue,  and 
st&ud  the  risks  of  tropical  climates  and  exposure  to  contagion  Ivest,  It  ia 
in  this  direction,  too,  that  habits  of  intejuperance  (chronic  alcoholism) 
nnike  themselve^s  most  felt.  The  principle  points  for  investigation  here 
ure^ — the  state  of  the  tongue  and  raucous  membrane  of  the  mouth,  appetite, 
r^^ular  action  of  the  bowels,  and  the  presence  or  absence  of  symptoms  of 
dyspepsia;  the  size  of  the  liver,  the  color  of  the  skin  and  cuojunctivsD, 
the  presence  or  absence  of  alxlorainal  tumore,  etc. 

♦5,  The  GcnitO' Urinary  Stjitan, — A  sample  of  the  urine  of  twenty-four 
bours,  and  a  snrnple  pasised  at  the  time  of  examination,  should,  if  possible, 
be  examined.  The  following  are  bad  indications:  Puthuess  of  the  eyelids, 
backs  of  hands,  aud  dorsum  of  the  foot ;  oedema  of  the  sfnitum  <or  vulva) 
or  prepuce;  nocturnal  micturition;  morning  sickness  (apart  fnmi  preg- 
DAOcy) — this  symptom  is  very  common  in  dram-drinkers;  lumbar  pains; 
dysuria ;  the  presence  in  the  urine  of  albumen,  sugar  (except  in  the  roost 
minute  traces),  pus,  blotwi,  phosphates,  uric  acid,  urates,  and  oxalates  in 
any  quantity  or  perstisteatly  (constituting  gravel  or  minute  calculi);  bile 
pigment,  epitheJial  and  other  tube-casts  from  the  kidney  ;  cancer-cells,  and 
a  very  high  or  very  low  s|)ecific  gravity,  with  any  marked  increase  or  de- 
ereajie  in  the  quantity  of  urine.  (The  sp.  gr.  of  healthy  urine  i»  from 
1015  Uy  1025;  the  daily  quantity  about  40 — 00  oz.,  which  should  coutaio 
from  400  to  500  grains  of  urea  in  the  whole  quantity ;  the  color  should  be 
pale  amber ;  the  reaction  acid,  but  not  too  strongly  so ;  the  odor  peculiar, 
animal,  but  not  disagreeable.     It  should  deposit  only  a  slight  cloud  of 


INFLUENCE    OF    OCCUPATIONS, 


539 


Hiftfter  standing  ten  to  twelve  hours,  and  should  be  tranBpar4?nt,  not 
4])lJciC(!Sit,  «hen  |>assed.)  As  ro«:ftKls<  the  generative  organs,  &exuiil  inca- 
jidty  in  malt's  i.-  an  early  ^'ynlpto!n  of  diabete.s  and  i>f  many  mniroscs. 
Itnuiit  be  rt'inenib^^'retl,  too,  as  regards  femalei*,  thiit  the  uterus  and  nvaries 
ifi>  fnvorite  Beats  of  cumeer  and  eystic  dbea^c  res|jeetively.  In  the  male 
itv  of  the  urethra  muHt  he  regarded  as  an  element  of  danger.  It 
^  ,  kriMwu  that  albuminuria  and  granular  or  contracted  kidneys  are 
wri''  I  iM-  prognostics  for  the  succesij  of  operations,  or  for  recovery  from 
•cchitou  and  diseases. 


Summary. 

larxnmining  for  life  in?!uranre,  carefully  examine  your  patient's  gen- 
cnJ  Appranuice,  inijuire  into  hid  family  bistory,  au^cultiite  heart  and  lungs, 
ooool  rnn  pultMfs  and  rewjiirationsi,  take  his  tempemture  (if  there  be  any 
KoMof  skill),  examine  the  urinej  look  at  the  tongue,  and  inquire  iuto  the 
digcstiTe  functions,  habits  of  life,  and  amount  of  stimulauta  taken. 

in.  In  reply  to  the  question  as  to  the  intlnence  of  occupations  and 
M^it*  of  life  on  health,  we  cannot,  in  this  place,  do  more  than  give  gen- 
«til  in»wer8.  In  the  first  place,  it  is  generally  allowed  that  outdoor  occu- 
|MUinD»,  pnividcd  tiie  man  is  temperate,  are  more  favorable  to  heaHh  and 
Mttgvrny  than  sedentary  one«.  It  would  appear,  however,  from  the  long 
}^ui  liicrarv  men,  clergymen,  and  lady  annuitants,  that  the  great  uior- 
taliiy  of  clerka,  tailon*,  hhoeniakerd,  and  others  of  sedentary  life,  is  to  be 
^"-'^  T»'d  rather  to  working  in  bad  air,  or  to  other  unhealthy  couditions 
diau  to  the  mere  fact  of  their  occupations  being  sedeiitary.  The 
i*V'^  which  arc  cout>idcred  hiK-cially  riwky,  and  liuble  Ui  early  death,  are: 

A.  AU  thfjMc  ufunfc  occuijiitumii  txpom  thein  h  rivka  of  pmmning, — Amongst 
|»oi»oiiii,  Alrohoif  or  rather  the  beverages  which  contain  it,  appears  to  hold 
tW  fimi  plaw ;  for 

(1)  Many  insurance  offices  decline  tho  lives  of  publicans  and  hotel- 
kecpcr»  altogether  (unlei«  specially  certified  as  to  their  sobriety), 
barmen,  pijtmen,  brewers'  draymen,  aD<l  other  servants.  Dis- 
tillers' men,  cellarers,  and  all  employed  to  the  manuiiicture, 
iale,  and  distribution  of  alcoholic  beverages,  are  iuLduded  in 
tlii:*  class.  »S<ldier»,  sailors,  bulchersj  waterman,  the  police, 
auctioneers,  and  other*  are  liable  to  special  temptalious  to  drink, 
but  are  also  exposed  to  other  risks  from  the  nature  of  their 
callings. 

f2)  Th<iae  engaged  in  chemical  luaDufaetures,  or  works  in  which  lead, 
ar»«nic,  cooper,  mercury,  phosphorus,  aud  the  nniieral  acids  are 
either  roaae  or  employed,  are  subject  to  special  riskd.  {See 
\hi»e  poisons  in  the  toxicological  part.) 

(8)  Tbwe  !■  a: posed  to  sewer  gases  or  emanations  from  decomposing 
animal  and  vegetable  matters  ;  scavengers  ;  the  makers  of  blood 
manures,  etc.  Intemperate  habits,  however,  piay  a  great  part 
here 

B.  Tha»e  exjiosed  to  risks  from  gunpowder  or  other  explosives,  to  the 
*"ii»?  itj  of  rocks,  earth,  eU.-.,  and  in  part  also  to  poi84jnou8  gases ;  miners 
«'  iJi  mirt> ;  quarryuieu  ;  excavators ;  workers  iu  gunjwwder,  nreworks,  dy- 
Mfljiti",  etc.,  etc, 

(V  Th<mf  wlittse  work  is  very  dusty  ;  millers ;  those  employed  in  grinding 
ratier?  and  hanlware  ;  millstone  dre^isersaud  stonentasous  :  coal-niiucrs,  etc. 


raSBAVTST 


D.  P«mI»  «r  fliitatHj  lal^  «h»  vwk  a  hfti 


«B^ 


•n 


ss* 


M  C&wiUe,''  aftd  lo  Ike  cfenCcr  on  the  mImcC  n  Dr.  Aitkea^ 
mm!  PnecieeonfcdiaiM.'*  h  mml  it  mt  l»  wd  t^At  wmi  «r  Eaim. 
KartJi  Aawrici,  isehidnp  tfe  iCortiMni  put  of  tks  Uailcd  SlaAav  M 
Koct^  ^  Am,  govdbmi  AMtalm.  Kew  Zeaknd,  tke  Ckpe  GoIobt,  the 
iMifb  «>f  Bmitii  AjBcnea,  aad  bmbI  idaiidi^  «re  frSHj  kaltkj ;  excrpC  dw 
hmAjmg  flvtrictv,  opeeially  ao  the  wlwwi,  utd'tbe  cstiHmee>  of  large 

.  1  St  Lneipool — BttnhT  ftad  mdmloed 
tad  eert^ii  ipecial  loemlitia,  m  the  CwpsfDaef  Italy,  Ihe  Isfauii 
Walcberev,  certaio  diilriete  in  the  AJpf  lenofrned  Ibr  gokre  aad  «•- 
tiSMn,  etc^  etc  On  the  other  haii«l,  wint  aivcoKnlhr  knoini  as  the 
Tf9fin  <hi  other  votdt,  the  district  between  Sf*  29^  Kl,  aad  the  noM 
diftaaoB  &  oT  the  e^uatar)  are,  with  lev  ezeepCMi,  Ihr  man  tmheal^f 
thfts  won  tnipenie  otsci^  firoai  the  pfenJeace  oC  pla{[iie»  TeUoir  vBWtfg 
eholen*  djwnterj,  MBall-mi,  Iqirosf ,  aad  nther  dinasea.  Indeed,  this 
PBanrfc  maj  be  eztcsdtd  dctobo  the  tree  tfoptca^  sad  acarij  the  whole 
4artfici  hetweea  2b^  ef  aortb  hditade  and  Sd*"  of  ■ooth  ktitode  mniC  he 
OQondered  ruk  j.  Here,  too,  exoeptiaat  anut  he  made,  ae  some  parts,  e>> 
pectally  the  hill-eoimtrT  of  Hltidailao  aad  eofae  paiU  of  Pma  and 
Africa  are  not  anbealthj. 

Wheo  the  cause  of  death  »  quite  unknown,  whal  are  the  prohahilities 
of  any  given  mode  of  death  ?  b  a  queetton  rather  curiottn  tun  practiiail 
in  the  preeent  state  of  our  knowledge.  As  fi^r,  howerer,  as  the  United 
K--  ' '  -Ti  goea,  the  labors  aod  recearcbes  of  the  RegistiaMjenefal,  and  e»- 
j  r  Dr.  Farr,  have  enabled  bim  to  calculate  tbe  mathematical  prob- 

aiiiiii)  ot  death  from  meet  of  tbe  recogniied  causes.  Tbo«,  for  example^ 
in  tbe  year  1871,  after  deductiug  the  number  of  deaths  of  children  under 
one  year  old,  which  amounted  in  1^71  to  125,865,  the  uumber  of  other 
deathtt  io  that  year  amounted  to  389,01 4,  or  IT.C^  per  tbousaud,  thu.4  giving 
tu  the  liihabitantH  of  England  and  Wales  who  escape  death  in  their  first 
year,  au  average  lifetime  of  58.51  year*.  Tbe  following  table  is  compiled 
frum  the  deathj  from  each  cause  in  187I»  the  deaths  in  that  year  being 
within  0,2  per  thom^nd  of  tbe  avenige  of  tbe  34  preceding  yean. 


^42  TSS  VeUIAL  MA3 — »KSTITMX. 


tlrt:  voric  hsi  Usn  ftrmmBr  4itm^  a»d  b  of  refx  ^^«i  ^«i5nr.  aad  she 
ftvaiW '/  f9M»  k  rn>t-    Psrwu  kAhk  io  alkv  iImst  tkoMvm  t»  he 

9^>^  iJUr  «fljMr  i^jr  ofcwtnKting  s  pnUie  rMcsna:/^  ia  ks  vork.    IV  iaei 

mmr  Ur  nfieau^  aA<l  hart  Inn  is  kmbc  csms  a  d^ms  « 

Thm  '»  v^tii^  ia  tbe  A<et^  r^haixig  to  TMxiiiaiSao  {x^ETvatiatr 

flM«  vW/  are  wk  f#ab]3c  Yaflcioaton  frvin  malrin|:  spetaml  eoatiac^  10  rae- 

CUMM;  tirt;  Mldno  *A  ^<e\\^fr^»  pareotF,  vbo  deanr  tbcir  childm  to  be 

ramsmtufd  br  tb^ir  «va  mMcal  aucndaiitfi. 


THE  NORMAL  MAX. 

It  i»  ckarir  ikH  vitbio  the  foope  of  a  haodr-book  like  this  to  ester 
kirfelT  in  detail  ioto  <|oeEtioof  vbicfa  can  oolj  be  aosvered  br  a  thorouch 
fcDowCbdge  of  phjek^logr.  Tbere  are.  boverer,  a  fev  matters  to  ftroo^r 
aflaeUo^  the  qii«^ioo  of  penonal  ideotitj  tbai  it  ccemsdearable  to  iodudie 
them  bere,  pAftlr  becmiUK;  some  are  matters  of  interest  or  importance  in 
regard  to  life  aMfarance,  and  p^rtlj  because,  both  in  life  and  death*  joa 
najr  often  be  ai^ked  questions  in  regard  to  vbicb  it  is  desirable  to  luiTe 
bandjr-book  of  r&renoe. 


(1)  Of  DemtUUm. 

Ai  long  ago  as  1837  Mr  Edtrin  6aander«,  in  his  pamphlet  "The  Teeth 
a  Tetft  of  Age,"  called  attention  to  the  value  of  the  teeth  as  a  method  of 
raptm^zimalelTy  ascertaining  the  age  uf  children  who  were  to  be  certified 
as  nt  for  Uetory  labor.  It  is  well  known  that  haman  beings  have  two 
periods  of  dentition.  The  following  tables  show  the  nomber  and  position 
of  the  Ufftih,  relative  to  each  other,  in  each  set,  and  the  relation  of  tboee 
of  the  tempf>niry  to  those  of  the  permanent  series,  and  the  average  periods 
of  their  eruption.* 


t 


1 


jf 


(Upper,  .2        1        4        1         2  =  10) 

Temporary  Teeth  ^  -  =  20. 

(Lower,.  2        1        4        1         2=10) 


c 


—     "^      rf  tS         d      £     "^ 

e  (.-S.     S  ?  "      ^  t"?. 


go2*a  S  a       g^^^ 

^.     a*    ea    u       -       C     c    a    ^. 
(Upper,  .3      2      1       4      1       2      3  =  16') 

Permanent  Teeth [  =  32. 

(Lower,  .3      2      1      4      1      2      3  =  16) 


*  Th<*  flr»t  two  of  th(»ti  tableg  aro  taken  from  Wilxon  and  Buchanan's  Anato- 
niint'n  Vmln  Mocum,  which  almo  contains  a  fi:oo(l  dcxcription  of  the  individual 
chHriict#»n«  of  oarh  kind  of  tooth,  p.  84-92.  See  also  '*  Duntal  Surgery,"  by  J.  and 
Churchills. 


THE   NORMAL    MAN  —  DENTITION. 


543 


PcrioiU  of  Eruption  pf  Temporary   Teeth. 

6th  or  7th  month,  two  midHle  incisors. 
Ittli       *'       two  liiti^ral  jocwore. 
riih       "       first  molars. 
IHth       "      canines. 
24th       "      two  last  molars. 


Tfie  PerioiU  for  the,  Pemvineni  Teeih  are: 

6th  or  7th  year,  first  molars. 

7th* 

8th 

9th 

10th 

11th  to  12th 

I2ih  to  Kith 

1 7th  to  21st 


two  mi<ld!e  mcisora* 

two  latenil  incisors. 

tirst  bicuspids  or  priemolars. 

second  bicusptda  or  prscmolars. 

cAdiueH. 

second  molars. 

last  molars  or  "  wisdom  teeth." 


Ai  rtfard*  the  molnr  teeth,  we  may  asntme  the  seventh^  fourteenth  and 

hnifjini    yenrft  as   the    porioils  at  which   the  1^/,   2f/,  nml    Zd   inohirs 

fn^wiy  unit  have  been  rid\  in  the  vast  majority  of  cnusefj.     Every  one's 

o«n  f xj>erienco  will  have  furni.sh€*d  him  with  instances  of  the  wisdom  ieeth 

*inirci)l  late  in  lift^.     Other  irregtilaritie-s  in  dentition  are  aI:*o  familiar 

**' ill  who  have  studied   the  subject.     iSupertiunjerary  teeth   are  not  uu- 

kntmn.     We  lately  .*aw  a  lady,  aged  70,  who  wa^  cultiojr  a  canine  tooth. 

•rtM  are  not  wanting?  of  dentition  at  a  mnre  advanced  period  of  life. 

'  I'l-  III  ihe  German  Ephemeri<k»  (dec.  ij,  ami.  8,  p.  67)  it  i«  stated  that 

•nin  118  years  old,  cut  a  complete  front  set  with  excruciating  pain,  aod 

''•♦•wn  alive,  two  years  after,  at  Clives,  in  lG*iR.     Even  a  complete  third 

•it  bail  been  mentioned  f  John  Hunter,  **  Nat.  Hist,  of  the  Ttieth  ").    »See 

•W  the  •*  Philosophical  Trani^actions."  "Mason  GoikI's  Works"  "Van 

^*ieteti*$  Comnientaries,"  and  the  "  Dictionnaire  des  Sciences  M6dicales» 

■*1  Ctt8  rare**."     On   the  other  hand,  children  are  sometimes  born  with 

**''ih,jjeDerally  the  yp|M?r central  incisorw.    This  wa.^  the  ease  with  Dentnttt^, 

^ho  was  coo«ul  with  P.  Cornelius  Kiifinus,  B.C.  290.     At  certain  a^es,  how- 

^yer,  the  jawe  may  normally  contain  more  teeth  than  the  full  number  even 

•"52.     Fur  iu!»tance,  between  six  and  seven  years  of  age,  the  jaws  may 

Unin  4>*  te«th,  20  of  the  tempr>rary  set  itt  a  perfect  state,  and  28  of  the 

I***'  -el  more  or  les»  develo|>ed,  and  placed  behind  the  temporary 

^  fi  they  are  to  replace.     Mr.  Snundery  gives  the  following  as  the 

^Mer  of  Ihe  permanent  teeth   (which  will   be  Bceo  to  clotty  cor respaod 

^U>  the  Uble  above) : 


At 


the 


7  yean  of  age 
••      8  " 

••      9  " 

«       11 

"    12  to  12i  " 
•*    l24to  Hyeiire 
»■  making  28  teeth  at  the  latter  age. 

•Vl  uitif  yearn  of  age  there  would  generally  be  12  (wrmanent  teeth,  viz.» 
inciMf^,  4  molani.     At   l.'i  years  28,  viz,,  M  incisors,  4  canines,  4  l*icu3- 
tad  4  m<dan!i.     In  examining  104fi  children,  whose  ago,H  were  known, 
Ir.  i^itindere  found  that  389  uut  of  708  of  9  yearn  of  age  had  the  full  de- 
ftkifRsent  for  their  age.    But  on  the  principle  urged  by  him  that  wfio'e 


anterior  inolars. 
central  Inelmrn. 
lateral  inc.imri*. 
an  te  r  i  o  r  />  inmp  Uh. 
posterior  htrmptfU, 
cuspidnti  or  eaninrj*. 
posterior  mofars. 


XORMAL    HKtOHTS    A^Ti   WBIOHTS. 


-V  *«<?  ***'^  ^^*  /wV/y  devehped,  (hose  of  the  other  side  nhould  bn 
\S\>  came  up  to  the  standanl  Of  the  remaioder,  none,  jiiilged  by 
,  would  have  varied  more  than  a  year  from  the  standard — and 
vji  by  dettcieney. 

,  of  388  children  of  13  years  of  age,  no  less  than  294  nt'ight  have 
Vv-*4t  j^tvauuitieed  with  confidence  to  be  of  that  age.  Of  the  reinaiiitng  44, 
f^  w«>uld  have  been  considered  as  in  their  13ib  year,  and  8  near  the  eom- 
pMii»n  of  their  12th  year.  [Mr.  Saunders's  pamphlet  contains  all  the  data 
im  whu'h  the^e  decisions  are  grounded.  Unfortunately  onr  space  precludes 
ihoir  rejuddicutiori.]  In  connection  with  the  teeth,  two  dir^eases  are  worthy 
of  special  note.  Jiickeh  retards  the  developmeutt  e^jpecially  of*  the  first  set. 
Many  rickety  child  reu  reach  11  or  12  month?  of  age  without  a  tooth  in  their 
hond.  Snjthiiiyi,  on  the  other  hand,  causes  certain  peculiarities  in  the  per- 
muncnt  Uu'th,  which  have  been  puiuted  out  by  Mr.  Hutchinson,  and  are 
now  generally  quoted  in  medical  and  mirgicai  manuals.  Syphilis,  unlike 
rickets,  rather  hastens  the  eruption  of  the  teeth,  particularly  of  the  tirst 
act.  As  regards  their  decay,  the  wisdom  teeth  are,  as  the  Lord  Chief 
Jutitice  Cockhurn  remarked  in  the  Tichljorne  trial,  "the  lasit  to  come, 
the  firxt  to  go."  The  iuciHor  teeth,  from  their  situiitioo,  are  most  exposed 
to  injuries  and  accideuU,  and  the  bicuspids  and  Ut  molars  are  aho  espe- 
cially liable  to  decay. 

HEIGHT  AND  WEICxHT  AT  DIFFERENT  AGES. 

The  subjoined  figures  are  reduced  from  the  French  weights  and  mea«ui 
given  in  (^uetelet's  "  Aiilhropom^trie"  (Brufsielf*,  1870).  They  are  thk 
arithmetic  means  ( average^)  of  a  very  large  numl)er  of  observations,  chiefly 
on  inhabitants  of  BruaseU;  and  although  they  are  probably  a  little  under 
the  mark  as  regards?  P]ngli,sh  boys,  girls,  and  ailults,  they  are,  on  that 
account,  better  adapted  for  medieo-legal  purposes,  in  which  it  is  desirable 
to  avoid  all  ap|>earance  of  exaggeration. 


MALES. 

FEMALES, 

Ar« 

Height  in 

Weight  iD 

Age 

Height  in 

Weight  In 

Ib  yt-ari. 

lncb«rs. 

pound*. 

to  ycwn. 

loebM. 

pounds. 

Birth 

19J 

OS 

BMb 

193 

68 

1 

27^ 

ly.s 

t 

27. 

18.9 

2 

SI. 

M.S 

3 

80.7 

24J 

8 

S4.2 

27.a 

S 

38.8 

27.2 

4 

He.* 

H'S 

4 

8fi.» 

SOS 

6 

8SJ 

S49 

S 

AflJI 

»:i.fl 

« 

412 

89.1 

fi 

40,7 

»r..7 

7 

4».4 

43.a 

7 

42,9 

891 

« 

4S.7 

47.5 

A 

4A.5 

41  fl 

1           » 

4S.1 

61.7 

« 

47.4 

4f;.2 

10 

fiO.4 

SUA 

10 

4d.2 

.10.8 

11 

K15 

S9A 

It 

K0.8 

JW.1 

12 

HJS 

SSS 

12 

S2.7 

6S.8 

13 

96.4 

72,8 

.15 

(tS.8 

71  fi 

U 

B8.6 

81.8 

14 

88.1 

79.8 

IS 

ai. 

W.8 

IS 

589 

88. 

1« 

«3. 

d».8 

18 

09.8 

9rK7 

n 

048 

10».) 

17 

811 

\fri9 

i« 

«.2 

IIM 

18 

81.8 

Kw.r. 

19 

e."i.8 

12fi.7 

19 

618 

114.6 

20 

en.s 

im.9 

90 

82. 

117.          1 

21 

•fin.5 

134.8 

21 

$U 

119.4 

22 

•<irt.2 

l»f)3 

22 

120. 

28 

•66.2 

141.t 

IS 

i» 

121.4 

24 

•WJ 

24 

♦' 

211 

•M.n 

145.8 

£■» 

•• 

laort 

27 

•W.4 

144.9 

27 

II 

121.2 

80 

«6.S 

m.4 

ao 

" 

121.6 

*  file  heigbtt  with  Mterlkks  ftre  from  l>attMa. 


EFFECTS  OF  FACTORY  LABOR. 


m 


ivpirt  of  Dr.  Bridge*  has  fihowa  that  the  result  of  factory  work 
t1?  lo  deteriorate  the  height  and  weight  of  the  workers  and  their 
Ou  coiiijiaritig  this  table  with   the  former,  the  (li.-*crej>!incv  of 
(Ttigbt  is  fijore  apparent  than  that  of  lieight.     It  is,  we  think,  U>  he  ex- 
by  Dr.  Bridgeji'  weights  including  the  clothcis.     The  first  table 
lOmly  to  height: 


A$». 


Ftftory  olifMroii 
of  fnfiorjr  parepu. 


M»1c.     . 
Feuifcle, 

Miil«,     . 
FeniAle, 

Male.     . 

Feiuair, 

Mal«.     . 

I-Vnittiii, 

Male.    . 
Fvmftle, 


Itichi'fl. 
.    46.48 

.    41 M 


61,44 
50.su 


62.83 
68.18 


Nou-factiifjr 
ThiMn^n  in     chUiron  of  mun- 
nou-iaciiTjr      flic  lory  (mrciibt 
diiilrii'is.  In  f»ft«iry 

diiirlcu. 


4«,r;6 
49.21 

moo 

50.07 


54  .OS 
54.41 


Inchet. 
4rt.7'2 
47.40 

49.09 
49.37 

91^ 
49.7(1 

5167 
52^ 

63,89 


following  table  is  a  similar  one  for  average  weight 


Ag*. 


Factory  cbildreQ 
of  ttuiUyrj  iNiraiilA 

Mule,    . 
F«m»ln, 

rotlMn, 
.     .    M.flO 
.    .    6U.73 

F«mtle, 

.    .    96,41 

JUJe,    . 
F^miJe. 

.    .    62.14 
.    .    50.75 

lUJe.     . 
FeiBak, 

.    ,    67  22 
.    .    MM 

Mtla.     . 

.    .    70.74 

ChtHriMi  In 
Q«m-fac(ory 
tlUtriuU. 


PcuindB. 
RnoH 

00,03 
6(i.53 

t5.29 
91.19 

71.01 

75.00 
7A.1M 


Non-fkctorj 

t'hlOrJrft)  (if  iion- 

fartfiry  fHin>nU 

In  fa<'tnry 

diaitrleU. 


6U.40 
57.79 


C3.7A 
60.78 


70  22 
68.97 


70.04 
70Ji5 


>«f  remiirk  that  factory  boy«,  of  factory  parents,  are,  on  the  average, 
ttyrars  old  nearly  one  inch  shorter  than  those  of  either  of  tlio  other 
and  at  12  thoee  of  non-factory  distnei.*^  have  gained  another  half- 
*D  height  over  the  factory  boys.  With  girJs  the  .-yune  re«iih*?  appear 
"••  ''"sv-r  dcgroe-  As  to  weight,  the  factory  boys  titart  ahead  of  both  the 
t*,  hut  at  twelve  years  old  those  of  nou-fuelory  di?<iriicti^  exceed 
^^  .  by  m^me  ^  lb. ;  while  the  girls,  who  start  2  lb.  behind,  lose  nearly 
HtaHore  a«  comparcfj  with  Cla88  2. 
^■^ATticularM  a»  to  the  height  of  8kekt<juj»,  etc.  will  be  found  under 

^K»  to  w< 


mtity,  in  the  next  chapter. 

in  Ae  "  London  Medical  Record,*'  ihu.?  summarizes  the  chief 


to  weight.     At  birth,  hoyf*  weigh  a  trifle  iliore^  girl."*  a  trifle  leas 
poilli<u»     For  the  fint  12  years  the  weight  of  botli  sexes  ia  nearly 


616 


DWARFS    AND   OIANTS. 


equal,  after  tins  the  male  is  id  excess.  Thus  male^  at  20  weij^h  od  an 
average  14'J  lbs.,  ami  females  only  120  lbs.  Meu  attain  their  grealest 
weight  about  35,  women  go  on  gaining  weight  up  to  5n,  their  niejin  weight 
at  thia  age  ht'ing  about  128  lbs.  In  ad va need  age  both  gtexes  weigh  about 
15  time*  their  weight  at  birth.  Men  weigh  from  abont  108  Ibf*.  to  229  Hw». 
Women  ^S  lb*!,  to  207  lb;*.  The  mean  weiglit  of  all  ages  and  all  ranks 
and  both  gexe^s  i;*  about  100  lb:*,  per  i>en4on.  The  weight  of  grown-up 
people  is  usually  ej»tiniated  by  the  Monc  rtf  14  lbs.  Thus  a  man  of  140  lbs. 
weight  is  suid  to  he  a  man  of  10  dmie  weight.  Stout  people,  of  course, 
often  exceed  enormously  the  weight^ given  above.  Thus  when  the  claimant 
to  the  Tieli borne  estates  was?  incarcerated  iu  Dartmoor  Jail,  be  weighetl 
392  lbs.  ( 28  stone),  but  this  weight  has  been  often  exceeded.  The  tbllowiag 
table  gives  the  average  weights  of  very  young  child  reu. 


lbfl.<»<. 

lb*.  OK. 

At  birth,     . 

6  8 

7  months,  . 

.     13  4 

1  rntrnth,     . 

7  4 

8 

,     H  4 

2  month:},    . 

.      8  4 

9 

.     15  8 

8        •*         . 

.       9  6 

10 

.     16  8 

4       "         .        . 

.     10  8 

n 

.     17  8 

6       " 

.     11  8 

12 

.     J8  8 

8 

.     12  4 

Dtvarfa  and g'lanU  being  admittedly  htnts  nafurfr,  scarcely  come  within  the 
limits  of  a  work  like  thii*.  It  may,  however*  be  remarked  that  Quetelet's 
estimate  even  of  thes»e  is  generally  true,  ihat  f/m»/ji  are  iiehltmi  more  than 
half  ai^  much  again  a*?  the  average  height  (1|  tinjes),  au<l  dwarfs  are  sel- 
dom less  than  half  the  Uj^ual  height.  Excluding  the  aecounla  of  giants  in 
Scripture  and  in  ancient  writers,  the  following  are  modern  iustaneea  of 
great  heights: 

J.  Midlflloton,  born  in  1678, 
V    Mun.-tiT  ( MNnovcriun],  diod  in  lft76, 
CitjuiiiiB    (Swede,   exhibitc?d  in    London    in 
1742),     ....... 

C.  Byrnp,  diH  in  1783,         .         .         .         , 
Col  Ion  O'lirirn  (contympnriiry  with  iibove), 
PetfP  Tuthnii  iPohen),  diet!  in  1829,     . 
ArmH  Swum  (living),     ..... 

Cnptiiin  Butes  (dittn), 

Chnng-wu-gon  (Chine«e  giant — living},. 

The  fol]o\Ting  may  be  mentioned  as  celebrated  for  their  dwarfi-shneas: 

Jeffrey  Hudson  (King  Charles  First's  dwarf),  said  to  have  been  only  18 
inches  at  the  age  of  30  years,  afterwards  grew  to  3  feet  9  iuches.  Count 
Bonislavski,  died  in  1837,  was  35  inches  at  25  years  of  age.  Bch4  (dwarf 
of  Stanif*las,  of  Pcdand),  33  inches.  Wy brand  Lolkes,  born  in  1730,  was 
ODJy  27  inches  high  at  60  years  of  age.  Madame  Teresia,  the  "  Cursican 
Fairy,"  was  born  in  1743.  8be  was  only  34  inches  high,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  remarkable  for  beauty  and  esprit. 


9  teei  3  Inchet. 

8     "    6 

ti 

9    «•    0 

8    «'    4 

8    »•    7| 

8    '«    7 

8    *•    0 

8    «•    0 

7    ••    9 

RELATION  OF  8T.\TURE  TO  RESPmATORY  CAPACITY. 

Dr.  Hutchinson's  beautiful  research^  on  Respiration  (*'  Tran>*act«ons  of 
the  Royal  Med.-Chirurg.  Soc,"  vol.  xxix)  led  him  to  the  couclu.'*io»  that 
the  vital  mpaeitif^  in  other  words,  the  <|uantity  of  air  which  can  be  expelled 
from" the  lungs  by  a  forcible  expiration  (after  the  deepest  inspiration),  is 
225  cubic  inches  at  a  tcra^jeniture  of  tJf)^  F.,  for  a  man  5  feet  7  inches  in 
height.     For  eyery  inch  above  this  standard  the  capacity  is  increased,  ou 


TUB    PDL8B    AT    DTFFBREyT    AGKS. 

Iji  STfTji^T'  hy  aboat  S  cubic  iDches ;  for  every  inch  below  this  hei|^lu  it  is 
di  V  the  «ime  amount.     For  some  reasons,  not  easy  to  explain, 

ll'.  .  u.^  of  the  chej-t  itself,  and  the  weight  of  the  b«jdy,  <lo  not  seem 

ftrr  gretuly  to  atiect  thih  vital  capacity.  Women  are  gaid,  by  Bmirgery, 
to  hive  only  half  the  capacity  of  breathing  that  men  of  tlie  same  age 
lHlTt»but  eome  of  out  prima  donnas  would  »eem  to  disprove  this.  Phlhisis, 
'•"•'^'  t  ma,  chronic  bronchitis,  and  other  diseajsea  of  the  chei^t,  greatly 
I  the  vital  capacity. 


THE  PULSE  AT  DIFFERENT  AGES. 

Tti«  jiuLic  of  an  adult  iu  the  riiiddle  ages  of  life,  when  ouiet,  varies  from 
"  ar80  per  minute.     This  is,  of  course,  much  aflected  by  exertsse  and 
..    But  bv  few  things  more  thuu  age,  ikH  in  ^eu  in  the  fuUowiog 
Ubk: 

Pt'T  tulnutfl. 

In  the  fmhrvo,  the  average  nuiiibi?rof  puleationa  is        \'0 

S'M>n  Mfler  birih  *♦  1-10— lao 

During  Ihe  in  yi>nr  '*  130_]|5 

♦'        2d      •'  ««  iijV-lfM> 

••        ad      ♦'  "  100—  m 

About  the   7th    *«  *»  90—  85 

*•       Jllh     "«  **  85-  80 

In  •dtilt  IJfo         •»  «  80—  70 

In  old  «e«^  "  ••  70—  flO 

In  dtforepttud*     »  •*  76—  65 

hi^taid  that  the  female  pulr^e  ia  naturally  a  little  r|nicker  than  that  of 
^•eiaak  [See  the  fine  article  by  Dr.  Guy,  in  the  **  Cydopredia  of  Anat- 
'*ttiy  iind  Phy«iology/*]  The  authors  have  met  with  several  instanwa  of 
*Wi(«ry  fhw  pulse,  without  olivious  disease.  lu  one  instance  a  gentleman, 
J"™  nearly  70,  hai*  had  a  pulse  of  only  24  per  minute  ever  since  puberty. 
Wouj  scarcely  be  doubted  that  there  may  be  idif^syncnieies  of  rapid  |)uj8e 
•<A(mt  di<«eft^.  But  the  rule  iij  that  a  rapid  pulse,  especial  I  v  if  above 
1^.  in  an  adult,  indicates  disease,  and  in  many  instance^?,  phtlripiji,  or  at 
*»*t  %  tendency  to  it.  [See  aUo  Dr.  Guj,  **  Guy'a  Hospital  KeporU,"  Nos. 
*»  wxi  ¥ii. j 

PREGNANCY  AND  CHILDBEARING, 

.  WnVf  a**  our  sketch  of  life  insurance  ii*,  we  cannot  di^riii;*.M  it  without 

)f^  alluding  to  the  inip<ir1ant  jiubjecte  of  pregrianey  and  childbearing, 

'«7  f'*'*  married  women  die  wliilf»t  aetually  pregnant  (only  'i-i  deaths  of 

^J»ft»it  women  were  regiwtered  in   Ktiglaud   and   Wale^  in   IHJlj.     It 

t,  however,  be  haf^tily  assumed   that  pregnancy  w  any  j^hield  from 

ioy  longer  period  than  that  of  aetual  ge.-tation.     About  1  in  every 

-■    ^'MM*n  ?iill  die  in  childhe<l   throughout  the  country,  though  in  the 

'"-      !.««♦•*,  troro  the  year  1820  to  1835,  only  1  in  12tl5  died  thu?*.     Dr. 

^  lertH  table*  from  a  number  of  obHtetric  authoriticH,*  which 

_ly  how  much  greater  risk  i.*  run  by  primipanc  than  hy  multi- 

I'  •^.     Thus  of  lf>,:582  women  confined  for  the  fir^t  time,  158, 

' .  .„  ,^,  ij  H2,  died  ;  whilst  of  2G,394  multiparje,  only  213  died,  or  1  in 

'^  124.  'Rctfluced  to  f>ereentage»,  the  risk  wduM  stand  ihusi  To  primi- 

^T,  rHI2,  to  multipara-,  flHOfJ.'     We  feel   it  right  to  remind  you   that 

tit*  i:rt>ormore  of  niidwivei^and  of  .«ome  me*ltca!  aecoucheurw  i^  to  blame  for 


•  BviimitiAtions  for  I*lfe    Io*utHUce,"  by  J.  A.  Allen.  M.D.  (N«w 

Tmt,  liJ72;,  p   170. 


648        MEDICO-LEOAL    QUESTIONS    IN    DISPUTED    POLICIES. 

much  of  this  mortnlity,  the  great  bulk  of  which  ought  to  be  prevented!. 
As  regard!?  life  insiiraooe,  it  is  however  a  mrapie  fact,  which  cannot  be  left 
out  of  calcuhitiuus  on  the  subject. 

Habits  Injurious  to  Life — Medico-terjal  Qnestiom  in  Diluted  Policies, 

There  can  gcarcely  be  any  room  for  doubt  that  habits  of  exce^ive 
drinking  teiul  to  shorten  life.  The  questioo  will  generally  be,  wli ether  the 
assurer,  or  the  life  a^isiired,  was  aware  of  such  habit'*^  or  gave  way  to  (*uch 
habit?  at  the  time  the  life  was  insured.  This  was  the  question  in  J<ry  v. 
The  Gresham  Life  Ai*surant*e  Companif,  m  which  the  defendaat^^  ivs.'^ifrted 
that  Mrs.  Jay  was  interaperate  at  the  time  the  doctor  insured  her  life* 
Some  collateral  l-ssues  were  raised,  but  liiis  waj«  the  chief.  The  qnestJoti  of 
opiffm-f^axlu!^,  or  the  habitual  uae  of  ojiicim,  has  also  been  raised.  We 
think,  althou^di  many  opium-eaters  undoubtedly  achieve  longevity,  that 
it  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  habitual  u>ie  of  any  narcutic  must  lend  to 
injure  health.  We  therefore  agree  with  Dr.  Taylor  in  this  mutter.  It 
sliould,  however,  be  noted  that  opium  haHUuti-periodic  qualities,  and  there- 
fore in  malariouf*  diBtrict*  might  tend  to  prolong  life.  The  iuw  of  tolerance, 
previously  mentioned  in  our  remarks  on  poi^sons,  must  not  be  forgotten 
here.  If/however,  opium  be  dang€»rou<,  the  far  too  common  coustaut  us6 
of  chloral  hydmte,  ehloroforra,  and  ether,  must  be  regarded  a^  fraught 
with  far  more  danjcrer — for  the  danger  here  is  of  sudden  death,  which  can 
seldom  happen  to  the  habitual  opium-eater,  as  a  direct  consequeoee  of  his 
indnli;ence.  Other  questions  ari.«e,  a.s  to  suicide,  the  reality  of  death,  etc., 
wbiclj  must  generally  be  settled  on  their  own  merits— the  consideration 
whieh  underlies  them  all  iu  Life  Assurance,  beiEig  that  Life  Insurauce  is 
a  covenant  or  agreement  biuding  both  parties,  which  is  void  if  the  parties 
insuring  do  not  strictly  com()ly  with  the  conditions — oue  of  whieh  is  to 
disclose,  at  the  time  of  insuring,  all  matters  pertinent  to  health  and  life. 
Our  space  does  not  allow  of  more  than  a  tabular  reference  to  the  chief 
cases  af  interest  iu  this  matter.  We  must  confess  our  obligations  to  Dp. 
Taylor  for  raost  of  these,  aud  many  of  the  detJiik  will  be  found  iu  btfl 
work  (loc,  cit,). 


N«mBAaj  Plttintiff^  tind  i>i^^m«bMte.— Hlornt  A  Drew  v.  fiMilwtij  pMseogen*^  laiursiice  Coni|M,D]r. 
Amount  Iruured.—i^M. 

Reagoni  ffirmfor  tiiMputing.—Ou\j  clothes  Touad.    Body  found  160—100  mUei  from  Brighton.  OMtU 
pot  br  (douUfli'd. 
Ihit<  (^  A<ii(m.~F.\chf:<\MiiT,  Guildhall,  Feb.  \m% 
Veniiet.—.} u  ry  cou Id  Dot  agree.    No  Terdlcl. 
.Acnwrif.— W«8  •  txinkrupt,  tDd  had  iojiurfd  hln  lite  in  i>(«veral  officfs. 

Nams*  of  Fiaimiifft  a%d  /A^flttianCi.^ExecutorB  qf  Fowkr*  i',  The  Manchester  A  London  Aa5uritnc« 
CooifNinf. 

Amount  /nranrf.— £1000. 

JUitMttu  fivim  for  ditpiUinff. — Alleged  coneealmenl  of  goat. 

Ihtfe  tif  Actim.—lXii.  1WE2.    (Lord  Chief  Ju»tlce.) 

IVrt/l*'/.— For  r^lainOirh,  with  poioi*  ro«ervol, 

JUmarkt.—Hi»  life  hud  been  spproTcd  by  the  medieaV referee  of  K&other  ofllce,  tmi  not« 
he  dwlarfd, 

Jhrne-M  of  PtnMiff*  and  A/<n»daj»Ci,— Sweet  v.  F»ir1le,  Globe.    (Life  of  odb  Abrahnm.) 
AmouHf  fiuun-il—lHOOn. 

HaatonM  girt*  for  dUputimff. — Coneemlmeot  of  gout. 
Ihie  t^Attfm  ->P«b.  20, 18)18. 
VtrdUL—Fot  plftlntUb. 

JinMt  ^riainiiffi  ihd  D^tHdanU.—\i»u  Liudeoau  r.  Dnborougb.    (Life  of  Duke  of  SaxeHQotbft  la 
AllMOdke.) 

A  WfewA/  /tt4  mfd—  £320«. 

MMMtm  ffttvH/or  t/'tjiWi^n^. —Cno^Mlinent  of  eercbral  cymplotn*. 

Ifatg^Aeitan,—Oi.t   ISJ»     (Ix)rd  Tetatrrden.) 


550 


DISPUTED    P0LI0IB8, 


Kamu  «/  FtaimHffk  cm^  />c^9»i48iiAl— Soiithcomb  w,  MerrlmAn. 
JtfU^am  ffifrnPrr  »f«*pW/nj;.— Int'-miMTjiucf  of  iiuurcd. 
/i»<4><i/^4rfitin,— Exftcr  SprtDg  AsflifJ!?*,  lM"i. 
Vrfitd.—Vm  ijlninliffjt,  bui  a  rule  fur  ucw  Irinl  obtalDod. 
i?rn«irib.— Twrlve  wltnusMa  uroTi-d  hiin  uj  hBTe  beoa  very  t0tap«r4te;  21  thai  he  !«•  tlitrmil^ 
yuntci  of  PlaintiffM  and  />r/enrfc»Ri«.— Wiggins  r.  Urcsham  Life  Office. 
S^ittOHM  givfnfitr  if/jpu/^in^.— InteiapeniDce,  and  supprewiou  of  disease  of  laogl. 
/Au/c  o/  ^dioM.— Bristol  Suiuiutfr  AHBixeii,  1873. 
VrrtiicL—^oT  tbc  otBce. 

Kemark*. — <Jri  the  ground  of  jiuppreasloD  ofrimierlal  facto. 
Samea  f/  PInintifft  and  DffendanU.—B^Uj  v.  Imperial  Ajauranee  Company. 
AntMirU  InMurrd. — OtlO. 

Rii.uom»  ffitfnj'ar  f/ui/>rUiM^,— Alleged  c<iQccalinrQt  of  phthUlcal  syntpUmiit. 
thite  i'S  .^ctioM.— Oxford  Circ,  July,  1M». 
l''ert/<rt.^A(faio»t  tijfice. 

B4m\rk.\.—V\\\v^if  uu  [jie  gTovnd  tltat  their  own  oxaminlng  medical  mao  failed  lo  r«<cog«>l•<f■^ 
ttituauf  plithbis. 

AuwuM  0/  PoiitU'J'i  and  t><\feiul<iMU.^Crt\s  v.  F*"nn.    (Caae  of  Hon.  H.  G.  TallwL) 
tix4tJKmJi  giv^njur  ditfnUing, — On  Llie  ground  ol  lut«mperauce  being  coucealcd. 

Unit  </  /IC/UIM.— DtfG.  |J!4l. 

Virtfirf.— Fur  ilio  offieo. 

ilonnrikj.— No  auawt-r  IwIdk  rvliirned  to  iju«atioo  aa  to  tenaperale  habita,  tbn  oAe«  ck»T|*i  > 
higbir  prL'niiiini ;  litit  il  wa.<-  held  tliat  the  bnbilii  uf  the  dreeaaed  ought  to  have  hmt  uM  ihiiB. 
A'amM «/ PiainJifTn  and  J^erufaato— Mutton  p.  Waterloo  Life  AaaoeiatioD.    (Aclluu  by  •Idu*,! 
vfmoNnl  JftMurrd,—S,'i!H1li. 
Jicatttiu  sfiten  fur  dUputing.— Concealed  iateaiperate  habllA.    All«i|[ed  cODoealoieiil  of  ^M'riMP*- 

■MM*. 

/iMie^uielftM.— Qutf!eii'«B<!nch,  l>ec.  1859. 
r«r((irl.-Matulj  f»rd»«fi-nd«nts. 

Itemiirlu. — Company's  own  medical  mnn  da^erlhed  him  aa  a  **f)rat-c1aM*'  Itfe. 
.  Aanu'.f  0/  PiaifUiffi  and  />>imdan/i.— Wht-elton  f .  HurdJsty.    (Life  of  Mr.  Jodretl.) 
Amonni  IiuuTtd.—K  Urge  amount. 

JteoMOfu  i/it;^  for  dM^m^ta^.— Concealment  of  tnteuiperate  bablu  and  of  iUiriitm  trtm«%i. 
iMtt  nf  AcHQn.—i^wna'i  Bench,  Dec,  1856. 
VrntM.—Vat  di'ft'odauts, 
iifffnar  Aj.— <.'oiii|iany'«  own  medical  examinor  certified  him  aa  A  "fint-clu*  "  life. 

A'atna  <it  Pfainiiff»  and  DrJauUtnU. — Rawlings  v.  Beaboroui^i.    (life  of  John  CocbtaD<r.'' 

Atitount  /u)(r«/.— £-1000. 

JiejiMfjMji  givm/or  dUpuUng.—Cimcenleii  babita  of  IntecnpefUDCO, 

/>(«!•  0/ Jc/tufl.—Qiieea's  Itencb.  before  Lord  IVnman,  Dec.  IM7. 

Verdtrt. — F»r  pluinillf:  a  muiiou  for  nt-w  trial  madeation  aAer. 

Memiu*M.—1hv  life  bad  been  deeUotJd  by  Mr.  Travers  for  oneofliee  oo  ground  of  illNr*M  i^** 
Lonl  Denman  9aid  a  propt^sed  insurer  was  not  hound  to  Tolunteer  Atatementa  of  all  aorta  uf  Ik^i^' 
but  he  WM9  tmnud  to  coDceal  uothing  when  asked,  and  to  aoawer  aU  queationt  truly. 

JWiiwuM  f^  PiaintiJ'i  and  De/endanU.—PfAt  v.  Rogera.    {On  life  of  Peter  Cochrane.) 
Jifiuant  giituJorditptUit^, — Cunceal<tdl  Intemperance,  alleged  to  be  the  cauae  of  bydttllMtfA* 
which  he  diwi. 
Dat9  ((/^r/#ofi.— Before  C.  J.  Tladal,  Feb.  IftiO. 
Verdiei—Viit  pi  a  In  It  If. 
i?rfmjrJb.~See  rtmarlca  of  Solkitor-Oeneral.    Taylor  {tot.  dU.,TOl.  II,  p. «tf>. 

^'ameM  uj  PlainUff*  and  Dtt(rmt<intt,—ihti%io\.\  r.  Shawe.    (Life  of  Col.  Greairokl.)    Eagl*  O** 

AmoHHt  /.fji/r«/.— X.5WKK 

JU-ttntntgifftifor  rli^jN^tM^.— Alleged  concealment  of  Intemperaace  and  dtiirium  trtmtm. 

J)ale  o/44<"<.ri«.— Eitthequer,  July,H).t5, 

Ferd^,— For  plRialllT 

Jtemorkt^—i'urloiiA  medical  erldence  oa  to  cause  of  death.   Taylor  (fue.  ett ,  tupray 

Samet  of  Hnintiji  and  J>^«T»iianrt,— Walters  e.  Rarker.  _. 

i?r<Mo«*y*«ii^rd«r/>ujtrnjr.— Couceahucnt  of  jMfr«fy#i*,  alleg«>d  to  hire  eatated  fmo*  t  •w?*'^* 
»ge. 

Datm^  Actitm.—\loT\m<ii^\h  Summer  A(tei«e»,  1844. 

Ferd/c/.—  For  plftinlilT. 

Jtenntrki.—iio  medical  evldenrc. 

Nomrt  of  PtninsiJ't  and  DffendanU.— French  case,  In  which  there  bad  been  hrtnlpl«i{i«  I'*  '** 
from  apoplexy,  and  death  fruru  the  latter  disease.    The  Steur  Fried  (raaidlog  at  .Sinubur(>. 

RraMnH*  punt /or  <Kipwf<»t^rj.— CotJC^ahocnt  of  hniiipleKia. 

Vfrdirt.^-^^oii&ivling  opinions  gWen  by  the  tuedii  &l  ref«reea  concerned  in  the  eao*.  ^- 

JtrtHarkt.—SKe  Tardicu  (/oc.  eU.)  and  Klstelhucbcr'a  "  Rapporta  et  ConaulUllona  d«  i^*^ 
lOgal.-." 


&S2 


DISPUTED    POLICIES. 


i^mHqfPlaimHjrtmd  D^ttidanU,—EvAntv.Cox.  r Brit ijh  Com in<>relR]  Ltfe  Office,)  Life  of  Ann 
ElMWortby. 

Ame»tnt  AfMntH— «2Rno.  sIk*  ano  io  QIob«. 

JtmmaiiMf*fmJi^  lUtfmtinff.—CoDcieaimitni  of  intemperate  li«hlU  nnd  (if  prcTloui  cfaolrra. 

DttteoJ  Adit>n.—K\ng'^  Beoch,  F«!b.  1831, 

Verdict.— ¥oT  |>iititililf,  but  Lord  Tenterdcti  granted  a  frt«ih  trkt. 

ffamfjt  nf  Plain'fffi  timt  JyrfmdanU  — lA-fi'f  rp  r.  Boyd.  (Two  brotbers  Uftmed  ICdwanla,  loduccd  Ji09 
L]rdtASin>p«on,  thoir  half-^iMicr,  to  insurt-  hiyr  llftj,) 

Amount  futHird.—lKVI  l«.  fid.,  bnt  a  miii'li  lRr»f<T  sura  insiintl. 

JtfOMMis  ffir^»/or  duj/uting. — CoDCvalmeut  of  pregnaucy  nud  of  birtb  of  rbild,  wUn  illi'd  «Uh  «]rmp- 
toiut  of^yphilia,  Agrd  two  tuootUs. 

ZMmf  Action.— lBi\ng'^  Bencb,  1831.  (Dr.  Paris  cx&lniat^d.)  Ml^dfc:at  evldcnctt  that  tbe  pregQAO^y 
WM  mattffUl  uude^r  the  ctrcumsUocvB. 

Verdtd—VoT  ploinllffif,  e,,  for  offlctj). 

Remarlu.—'^Xw.  waa  pregtiaiil  by  W,  Ruid  EilYrarda,  her  balf-brother ! 

Hama  of  I^ainiiffs  and  iiM/mtfaiOi.— ftoM  «.  £rad6bAW.  <Cu«  of  Sir  Jame*  Bom,  wounded  lo  loia* 
iu  bnttlf  of  La  Kddl,  io  174M 

AmotuU  /fwureiJ.— iDstired  fur  cue  yfar,  and  a  warranty  gUeo. 

ileiMMM«^M>^di^u/tii^.— Alleged  fraud  In  coneealiug  partial  paralysis  and  loctintlneneo  of 
uHbcs  ele. 

IHte  qf  AetUm..—»c»  I  Bl»  312,  btfon*  Lord  Mansfirld. 

Vfirtiitt,—Vitr  plaicitiff,  bccau'^e  a  a'lrraiity  had  bcvD  given.    No  fraud  proved. 

Remark*. — liud  Incuutiocucc  of  uritie  and  faet'ea,  whlcb  was  uot  tueULioaMl. 

Nttmet  iff  PliiinHjfM  antS  />/en«/afi/ji.— WiJIls  v.  ro<de.    (Life  of  Sir  fiitueou  ijlurt.^ 

ReoMtnt  ffivrn/M'  disputing.— rmtcvnhuvut  uf  goul. 

DhU  of  A<:tian.'-^^fWB  I-ord  Mansli*  Id. 

r«nUV<.— Kur  plutntifl"(i.e.,  ai{aiii»t  ntlice). 

Stmarkt.—t Mrd  Siuii»flvld  said:  "Sufh  a  warraDty  ean  never  mean  tbataniau  has  not  iu  bliu  the 
««<>ds  ofsamedifMirdef.  We  are  all  horn  wilh  (he  set^s  oCinorluHly  in  u».  A  niwn  eulijeet  to  Ihe  gttut 
la  ft  life  capable  of  being  luaurtsd  If  be  ban  no  akkno««  at  (be  time  io  ntake  it  an  unequal  oootnct,'* 


Other  Cases  of  Disputed  ClaimB  on  Life  Offices, 

Jay  V.  GreAhnm  Life  Assurmwf^  Oimptuii/  [merit ioijed  page  548],  Leeds 
Assizes*,  August,  1874,  before  Mr.  Bai'MU  Ainphiett  [£:iOOOJ.  Verdict  for 
pluiutiti^. 

Bathe  f executrix)  v,  Nirkoi^on  nnd  Oihera  (Universal  Life  InsuraDce 
Company)-  Trieil  before  i^lr.  liarou  Pi|»i>lt,  to  recover  £1000  insured. 
Verdict  tor  plaiutiif*  for  full  am»njiit.  Kule  nisi  obtaiucd  aud  atlerwarde 
rule  absolute  for  new  trial.  Disputed  by  the  Uuivereal  ou  the  ground 
that  the  iiis^urer  died  by  his  own  bauds.  Widow  coutended  that  he  wae 
under  an  insane  delusiou,  so  as  uot  to  kuow  what  he  was  doiug,  or  what 
would  be  the  conserjueucc  of  his  act.  [He  came  by  h  18  death  by  throwing 
himself  in  the  way  of  a  puAsiug  engine  and  train  at  Battersea  Station.] 

Case  related  by  M.  Tardieu  (Ann.  dHygi^ne,  1^66.  %  p.  410),  of 
Johann  Peter  IloHstedt,  insured  in  a  French  ottice.  Had  trieil  to  hang 
himself.  The  man  who  ussured  hi^*  life  a^ireed  t<i  give  hini  spirit**,  nd  lib,^ 
if  he  look  no  other  uourwbment.  This  man,  it  wa^  supfrosed,  gave  Hoif- 
Btedt  arsenic — bnt  suicide  was  suggested.     Decided  in  favor  of  office. 

Case  related  by  Dr.  Taylor  of  a  umn  found  ileud  from  piutol-sbots,  prob- 
ably murdered  by  a  medical  man  who  had  insured  his  life  heavily.  Loc, 
cil,,  vol.  i,  p.  ()72,  vol.  ii,  p.  G4U 

Dr.  Dt  la  }^ommerai»  case.  He  insured  the  life  of  a  woman  named 
Panw  for  £22,tM)0,  and  then  poisoned  her  with  digitalis.  [Consult  Tardieu. 
"Sonnen^ehein"  {loc.  cit.),  p.  2t>9,  etc.;  and  the  article  DiglUdis  in  this 
work,  p.  361,  where  other  referenccj*  are  giveu.] 

8ee  also,  "Jones  on  Annuities,"  Library  of  Useful  Knowledge,  vol.  li 
(1844). 

The  case  of  Edmonds  v.  The  Prudential  Life  Office  (note  to  page  534), 

When  you  have  carefully  examined  a  "life,"  you  will,  perhaps,  have 
discovered  signs  of  disease,  or  deviations   from    the   normal   staudanl. 


i9i  »SATfl  MPBI3S1J>  AT  TSK  MBAm  MSB 


taKxifc':^  dbjft  mml    He  ipafa-  4^  dsatk  kzaaiBr  at  the  Aa 
ifce  kemUmm^  datk  kfboiB^'ai  the  i 

hw<  be  ■■'Jg-  so  aila|t  i 

TWft  «!»'>  vitk  2«>  ^  a  decfcr  wi^t  !»:«>  ik»  jam 
tWs  p»4  dbfr  cki^KflC  <*Wpcer  ss  Dr.  Watsiw'^i  - . 
0t  Vkm*^    Jjuamnt  V,  t^L  i,  pfk.  -5^75  .  ia  v^iehhe 
■■if  1 1  r.    F«r  tJbe  purymt^  h^jmrrtr.  M  ssKcciBf  J^v  ji 
mtj^  wt  will  pTt  a  bnef  «BiBnkafT  of  these  ihK«  n^Je  o£  <ljiBS. 


or  ka»  pn>feai>«i :  exievDal  iMptgaw-^o*  appar  to  be  ao 

Stttd  lij  the  djing  ana,  or  are  lecogaiaed  bat  feehlT :  tbii  los  of 
Ihj  aad  crAieiooiiiea  deepens  iato  death.  The  brfathiag ' 
•knr.  irregular*  acd  dokt  surtarrjat}.  aad  ail  TtJaaianr  cootral  over 
fCcpiratKA  v>  I'jst.  Yet  for  a  time  thk  faDcti*M  k  imperfeetlTcarrMd  oa ; 
at  Utfi  thii  fiiik  al«o,  and  the  chest  i§  do  looker  expaaded,  the  blood  ii  bo 
longer  aerated,  aod  the  pr«t-niortcni  appearaace?  ia  the  thorax  difier  hot 
ililEhilr  fr&m  tbo^e  in  dath  be^Doioz  at  the  Inog?  .death  br  apocea  aod 
ac^Txia  .  Tbb^  h  the  mude  of  deau  in  OMk«t  CMsa  of  injaries  and  dit- 
ouuTof  the  braio ->.  ^.,  corapremoo,  apoplexr.  h jdrocephaloe) ;  in  pot- 
•oniDg  br  narcotics  opium, and  mast  of  the  vegetable  alkaloids^;  in  tome 
caff«»  of  min<rnil  poiiou  hariom,  areeuic,  etc.  ;  and  in  some  eases  of  kid- 
ner  and  lirer  dkem/^  f  aramie  poisoning  •. 

^r.  Whaieler  ("Medical  Ohatrratinns  and  Inqotrieiv''  toL  ti),  quoted 
bj  Dr.  Watson,  menti^jos  a  case  in  which  artijieiai  re^nUam  prorra  son- 
eemful  in  restoring  a  patient  who  had  swallowed  a  large  qoantiij  of  opiam. 
Bir  Benjamin  Bruidlie  proved  the  same  in  animals  poisoned  br  wooiaia. 
And  the  anthors  hare  resorted  to  the  same  expedient  in  some  cases  of 
edamfHia. 

II.  iMath  hfyinning  at  th«  henrt.  When  there  i«  a  want  of  due  blood- 
rap]  !y  to  th<r  hfrart,  we  get  what  is  called  death  br  aii'nnia.  This  is  the 
mo^leof  death  ia  uterine  and  o:her  hstmorrbage?.  I  fan  animal  be  killed 
in  tbi-  way  i.  t.^  by  d^^fUiion  ,  and  the  hrart  be  quickly  examined,  it  is 
foohd  ti/  tie  ^mfrofi^d.  In  «j!hvr  word«.  it  has  g*>De  on  working,  and  only 
tlUtin  at  laj*t  becaa-e  no  more  b!<>:»d  eonie^  to  it.  The  resultjt  of  trans-fu- 
sion of  h\t)iAj  of  fraline  injectiims  into  the  vein^,  and  the  efiect  of  stimu- 
lants and  nourishment  in  a  fluid  form,  may  be  reganled  as  exjieriments  in 
a  revert^  direction,  but  proving  the  same  thing.  In  this  mode  of  death 
we  get  '*  a  mortal  paleness  in  the  cheek,"  especially  seen  in  the  lips,  which 
may  be  slightly  dunky  in  some.  There  are  cold  sweats,  dimness  of  vision, 
dilated  pupil;*,  vertigo  (or  giddiness;,  a  slow,  weak,  irregular,  or  fluttering 
pul<<e,  and  insensibility  soon  sets  in.  There  may  also  be  nausea,  or  even 
vomiting,  restless  movement^  of  the  limbs  (jactitation -,  transient  delirium, 
frequent  hallucination;!!  of  the  sense  of  hearing,  with  flashes  of  light  be- 
fore the  eyes ;  the  breathing  is  irregular,  with  si;;hing,  and  at  last  gasp- 
ing ;  there  may  be  hiccough ;  convulsions  generally  come  on,  and  may  be 
repeated  once  or  twice  before  death.  This  mode  of  death,  besides  occur- 
ring in  obrttetric  practice,  and  on  the  battlefield,  and  in  accidents  where 
much  bhxxl  is  lost,  may  occur  from  the  sudden  rupture  of  an  aneurism. 
As  regards  this,  it  is  proper  to  mention  that  very  large  losses  of  blood, 
whether  external  or  internal,  sometimes  prove  as  suddenly  fatal  as  any 
•hot  from  a  pistol  could  be. 

There  is  another  mode  of  death,  said  to  begin  at  the  heart,  termed  dea<4 


556 


CAUSES  OF  SUDDEN  DEATH. 


ID  life  (sense  of  suffocation,  strugfflea  to  breathe,  vertigo,  general  convul- 
«ioiis,  with  loss  of  coiLsciougness,  and  relaxation  of  sphincters ),  and  the  same, 
or  very  similar,  po-^t-mortem  appearances  (desenhed  above). 

You  will,  from  a  careful  study  of  these  three  j^rent  classes,  draw  the  con* 
elusion  that  a  very  large  number  of  deaths  may  be  referred  to  the  itervoiu 
tn/ntrm,  and  ^)  our  fir!?t  division  might  he  widened  by  saying  instead  of  head, 
death  bej^inuing  at  the  nervous  system.  You  see^  too,  that  the  lungs  are 
the  point  of  danger  ia  death  by  coma — that  some  forms  of  death  are,  or 
might  be  ineludeti,  in  all  three  classes— and  you  might  at  first  be  tempted 
to  draw  the  eouelusiou  that  any  study  of  the  causes  of  death  was  lost  time. 
To  do  Sf>  would  be  very  rash.  For  example,  the  condition  of  the  right 
Kefirt  and  lungs  iu  Class  III  will  enable  you  positively  to  state  that  de«th 
did  not  oecur  by  syncope.  And  again,  if  you  found  a  large  clot  of  blooii 
in  the  lateral  ventricles  of  the  braiu,  although  poison  nughl po^jiibty  have 
been  taken  as  well,  or  fatal  violence  have  been  employed  towards  the 
deceased,  yet  a  sufficient  natural  cause  of  death  has  been  discovered,  and 
nothing  but  positive  proofs  of  the  poison  or  violence  ought  to  be  admitted 
as  material  evidence  iu  such  a  case. 

Sudden  Deaths. 

A  few  words  must  bo  added  on  the  subject  of  eudden  deaths,  A  few 
years  ago  it  used  to  be  said  that  all  sudden  deaths  (except  such  as  were 
due  U)  violence  or  poisons  like  prussic  acid)  were  deaths  from  diseased 
heart.  Many  coroners,  even  now,  and  some  medical  men,  appear  to  think 
that  a  post-mortem  examination  is  unnecessary  in  ca.scs  where  a  person  is 
seeD  to  die  suddenly,  without  being  shot,  or  stubbed,  or  taking  poison  I 
We  owe  to  Dr.  Francis  Ogston,  of  Aberdeen,*  a  great  obligation  for 
jK)inting  out  the  large  number  of  CAUses  of  sudden  death  which  are  revealed 
oy  post-mortem  examination. 

Amongst  the  common  causes  of  sudden  death  (excluding  violeuce  aud 
poison)  we  may  mention — 

1.  Diseases  of  the  heart,  especially  fatty  and  brown  degeneration,  angina 
pectoris,  aortic  regurgitation,  interstitial  abscess,  rupture  of  the  heart  or 
of  its  valves,  and  dijseases  of  the  pericardium. 

2.  Diseaj^es  of  bloodvessels,  esf>ecially  aneurism  and  thrombosis;  the 
aneurisms  most  likely  to  end  thus  suddenly  are  intracranial,  iutraperi- 
cardial,  abdominal,  aud  pulmonary. 

3.  Large  effusions  of  blood  in  the  brain  or  its  membranes,  apoplexy,  and 
meiiingeaT  apoplexy. 

4.  Pulmouary  apoplexy  and  hiematothorax. 

5.  The  sudden  hunzting  of  visceral  abscesses,  as  in  the  liver,  brain,  etc. 

6.  Ulcers  of  the  stomach,  du(jdenum,  or  other  partes  of  the  alluieutary 
canal. 

7.  Extrauterine  foetation,  peri-  and  retro-uterine  hsematocelea,  apoplexy 
of  the  ovary,  rupture  of  the  uterus. 


•  HiB  papem  will  be  found  in  the  '•  British  and  Fnroinn  Me<Jico-Chfrurj^tc«il 
Beviow,"  vol.  xliv,  p, 4ti2,  etc. ;  and  the  *' Edinburgh  M»>dicul  Journal  "  (under  vnri- 
ous  tilles).  He  de£>eril>CiS  tbruinbityis  of  the  heart  und  ^reut  v<>$$uls  as  prusml  in  1Q 
p««r  cent,  of  hia  cases  of  sudden  death.  See  also  Beck  {loc.  cit.,  p.  610).  who  gives* 
,numtTou»  references,  includini;  Dr.  Christison'*  paper  on  Latent  Disea»«'«,  in 
"CycMopucdia  of  Practical  Medicine,"  vol.  iv;  and  Hurrich  and  Kopp'a  *' Der 
[pto'uliche  Toil  au6  inneren  Ursachen  "  R'^^^ensberp.  1848  Quoted  by  Dr. 
Tavlor,  who  also  refer*  to  M,   Devergie,  '♦  Annaleii  d'Uygidne/'  vol.  ii,  p.   H6, 


LIMITS    OF    VISION. 


557 


t  Rupture  of  the  urinary  or  gall-bladder,  or  of  some  other  viscus,  from 
WTHhnUl  violeuce. 
'A  Cholera,  and  some  xymotic  diseases,  kill  very  rapidly. 

10.  Lftq^e  draughts  of  erdd  water  wheu  lieated  (large  quaDtitiea  of  spirits 
Bjoumlerthe  head  of  alcoholic  poisoning). 

11.  Mrutal  emotions  (fear,  grief,  joy). 

12.  Foreign  bwlies  accideiiitilly  swallowed,  e.  y.,  a  large  bit  of  meat  may 
Ik  found  blocking  the  pharyux  and  obstructing  the  glottis, 

th,  Guy  (  foe,  tit.,  p.  2i)2)  quotes  Ferrario  and  Sormoni  on  sudden  deaths 
«curring  iu  Milan  as  follows: 

^^  1*>4<^  mddeu  deaths,  879,  or  about  4  iu  5,  were  from  the  If^'ad  (in- 
:ipoplexy»  eerebral  coneuiwion,  vertig<i,  and  coma);  150,  or  about 
'  '"(.were  from  the  Heart  (itieluding  heart  diseaj?e^,  angina  pectoris, 
itjeurUm,  and  ha'morrbage);  14,  or  about  1  in  IT),  were  fnnu  the  Lun^s 
•  imiiMJinj;  a«phyxia,  siiffiicative  catarrh, and  pulmonary  apoplexy);  whilst 
5. or]  in  210,  were  from  difbeult  labor;*!.  These  figurei^,  of  course,  refer 
llniftsi  entirely  to  adnltj*.  lo  young  cliildren,  laryngismus  stridulus 
»«|itt»mfKlic  croup),  alelecta.«is  pulnionuni,  sudden  collapse  of  luug  (iu 
c*[*tllnry  broDchitis),  pneum<^niic  consolidation,  nipiil  sierous  etfuHions,  par- 
ticularly into  the  pleura,  uimI  pulmonary  apoplexy,  are  chief  causes,  apart 
fn»m  Mitfiif-ation,  and  wald.n  of  the  glottis.  See  I>r.  Guy  {he.  cii.,  p.  25:{), 
sill  11  In  ture  by  Dr.  W e^t  **0n  Sudden  Death  in  lufaot Children,"  Medical 

I  ltd  Gaxette^  Nov.  26,  18o9. 

ly  1    per  cent,  of  the  case^  of  death  certified   to  the   Regij^trar- 

^ki^n\  may  be  conjiidered  as  **sndileu  death.<*"  (3843,  or  1  in  109  for 

till  iliv  year*  1852-50,  bei*idej^  the  violent  deaths.     Upwards  of  one-third 

^udden  deatlis  occur  In  iu  fancy.     For  these  figures  we  are  indebted 

"  u\  Guy,  Awr.  cU.^  pp.  252  and  253). 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

"•liinlUof  distinct  vl»ion — Atidibl©  sound?— P^rfmnal  idootitv  ^n  tho  dead  and 
in  Ihtf  living— ^K — Ago — Per*on«l  i*pp<'»rwnee — SpL-uial  rrnirks. 


f^tw  vubjecis  present  so  many  difficulties  to  the  medical  jurist  as 
•nal  identity.     There  are  several  reasons  for  thin.     We  need 


that 

only 

two  f»r  threo.     For  in.slance,  the  fact  that  the  great  majority  of 

|de  not  trainiMl  to  minute  oK-<ervHtion,  so  tliat,  in  all  good 

-wear  to  statementi^  as  to  height,  complexion,  ami  habit  of 

htcb  ifivulve  discrepancies  of  a  foot  in   height,  of  several   stone  iu 

and  the  inconj'istcncy  of  the  hair  being  both  light  and  dark  at  the 

fie.     Again  the  changes  wrought  by  lime  in  wjme  people  are  far 

tbao  is  generally  supposed.     Criminals  al^o  are  great  adepts  at 

I  disgvisemeDt ;  and  in  cases  of  assault,  robbery,  murder,  and  th« 

fim  harpen*  that  the  criminal  is  only  seen  for  a  moment  or  two, 

by  the  light  of  the  moon,  or  by  that  of  a  IhiKh  of  lightning,  or  the 

a  pistol  or  other  weapon.     Ai^  thin  subject  is  pre-eminently  one  for 

"ul.  it  is   much  to   be  regretted   that  there  are  not  more  accurate 

ou  rw:ord.     One  of  the  first  questions  which  arise  is,  What 


558 


LIMITS   OF    VISION  —  COLOR -BLINDNESS. 


are  tlie  liraitsof  Dorraal  vision  or  healthy  eight,  unassisted  by  instrurueiits? 
As  regards  myopia  or  short  sight,  hvpermetrdpia  and  presbyopia,  and 
other  varieties  of  iiuperl'ect  sight,  it  in  flear  tliat  these  must  either  \ye 
assisted  by  leuses  (spectack'ii) ;  or  else  alhnvauees  must  be  made.  The 
shape  of  the  earth  sets  a  certain  limit  to  vision,  even  as  regards  very  large 
and  lofty  ohje<:t-,  as  will  he  tjeen  fratn  the  following  table  (from  Carr'* 
**  Hynopsjia  of  Practical  Philosophy  ")  : 


Jhbte  showing  the  D'Mnnee  in  M'tfeft  of  the  farthrjtt  VukibU  Point  thnt  cnn  be  teenft 
the  Top  of  a  Gicen  Height^  taking  into  account  the  Kjfccl  uj  Rejfrncliun, 


s 

ti 

« 

s«f 

a 

S^ 

£ 

tt 

u 

|1 

II 

P 

il 

?i 

II 

|i 

m 

o5 

n 

fi5 

£ 

£5 

;   m 

o5 

s 

2% 

60 

10.25 

500 

W.R 

s.ooo 

H,0 

10 

il» 

70 

ll.l 

'tm 

3*0 

6,(XKJ 

102.0 

15 

6  12 

too 

1S.2 

lOtrfl 

41.8 

7,0CMI 

110.0 

81 

fiill 

IfiO 

lit/2 

i.-son 

51.0 

s.ooo 

118.0 

25 

fi.fi  1 

ioo 

18.7 

2fK»0 

att.o 

1     ftODO 

1410 

ao 

72fi 

2W 

20.0 

2500 

660 

1  IO,<M)0 

1.12.0 

40 

ftS? 

SOO 

'n.9 

!H>00 

-JO 

'  15.0(10 

16J.0 

M 

»^ 

400 

att.4 

4000 

B3.0 

1  20,000 

1H7.0 

It  follows  from  this,  that  a  man  of  ordinary  height  can  be  seen  on  level 
ground  at  a  distance  of  Iwn  lo  three  mile.s  on  a  clear  day.  Tbi.s  is,  however, 
very  dillerent  from  reeogmfion  of  the  person,  so  as  to  secure  persona!  identity. 
As  regards  the  ttmnlleni  ubjeets  recognizable  by  the  unassisted  sight,  there 
has  been  much  discrepancy  of  opinion.  Carpenter  states,  apparently  ou 
the  aiifhority  of  Ehrenberir,  that  the  amallesi  stpiare  magnitude,  black  or 
white,  which  can  be  seen  ahine,  on  a  ground  of  the  rever*«  color,  is  about 
the  ^^th  lo  the  j^lfyth  of  an  inch.  Hut  particles  which  powerfully  reflect 
the  light,  such  as  gold  duBt  of  yi'^.^th  of  an  inch,  could  be  seen  with  the 
naked  eye  in  common  daylight.  The  delicacy  of  vision  is  far  greater  for 
linei  than  for  mere  points,  since  opaque  threads  of  ^^^i^i\\  of  an  inch 
(about  J  diameter  of  silkw^nrm's  fibre)  may  be  discerned  by  the  naked 
eye  when  held  towards  the  light.  Bergmann  found  that  black  and  white 
che^^uera  of  ^.'^ih  of  an  inch  square  could  be  di.Hcerned  at  such  a  distance 
that  the  retinal  image  of  each  square  could  not  have  exceeded  half  the 
diameter  of  one  of  the  cones  of  the  bacillary  layer  (these  cones  are  said  to 
have  a  diameter  of  ttW*^  "^  "'^  inch).  Volkmauu  (quoted  in  Funke's 
"  Lehrhuch  d.  Physiuh>gie  ")  considered  that  parallel  black  lines  could  be 
«een  when  only  j^j^oT^th  of  a  millimetre  apart  =  ajVc^'^  '^^  *°  inch.  Dr. 
Vincent  De  Gueret  (of  Creuse)  in  •*  La  France  Medicale"  (No.  57,  for 
1875  \,  states  that  objects  to  be  seen  at  ail  must  have  a  diameter  of  from 
•VriF^''  to  sAn^h  of  an  inch.  One  of  the  authors  f  who  is  myopic)  can 
see  the  red  corpuscles  of  ^lieep's  blood,  which  are  not  more  than  srfuoth  of 
an  inch,  when  held  up  to  a  bright  light,  without  any  lenses.  At  a  foot 
distance  the  object  must  be  T^ylh  of  an  inch  at  least,  in  he  seen — and  the 
,«ze  must  increase  with  the  distance.  Dr.  De  Gui*ret  justly  says  that  the 
following  conditions  must  be  present  fur  the  recognition  of  an  object  at 
the  average  distance  given  :  (1)  Normal  or  erametro)»ic  vision,  or  ahnor- 
malilie*  must  Ik;  compensated  j  (2)  sufficient  light;  (^^)  sufficieul  siz^e  in 
iht-'  object.  As  regards  the  furmer,  the  eye  must  be  normal  as  to  color,  as 
well  as  in  other  respects.  Co  for  blindness,  nr  Duftonimn^  has  been  the  cause 
of  many  railway  accidents,  owing  to  the  colored  lights  or  sigiiats  not  l)eiDg 
rec^>gnized.     Even  in   war  a  red   uuiforiu    has   been  confounded  with  a 


IBCOQNITION   BY    FLASH    OP   PISTOL. 


659 


IT.  and  thus  rrieiitld  bave  been  fired  upoa  as  if  thej  had  been  foes,  or 
I  ^'oized. 

uf  a^^e  upon  the  acuteuess  of  vision  is  considered  by  Dr.  De 
Gmm  bj  be,  on  au  average,  as  fallows : 

The  iiculencss  of  vision  ttt  50  veare  is  diminished  !" 

'•  80        ^'  i 

In  other  wonls,  if  a  man  of  forty  could  distinguish  and  recognize  an 
"''"■•■'  ,it  UH)  feet  distance,  at  sixty  years  uf  age  lie  could  not  recogniste 
I*  object  further  oH'  thau  If)  feet.     The  recoj^nitioo  of  persons  seen 
••  uranT  or  greater  distances  is  by  their  sfntitrt;  their  r/re*w,  ffnit,  or  action, 
■»fte,inl'4  the  body ;  and  sis  regards  the  ln-aiJ,  its  Jik'tpe,  wlieiher  ronnd  or 
lor  and  ftirni  of  the  hair  or  headdreM,  such  circumstances  as 
very  promitioiU  nose,  etc.,  the  color  of  the  face,  and  at  near 
irkings  on  it,  the  cohjr  of  the  eye*,  etc.     From  experiineata 
II,  he  conclude*-  that  llie  he.«.t  kuown  person:^,  even   those  pos- 
-i»me  per^*onal  pK'culiaritio?!,  eau  often  be  recognized  only  with  dif- 
in  broad  dnyJight  at  liHJ  nuMres  (328  feet,  or  a  little  over  109 
Beyond  loO  metre"*,  or  at  lt>4  yards,  this  is  perfectly  impossible. 
'>wn  and  le»s  remarkable  people  may  be  recognized  iu  broad  day- 
♦10  to  100  metres  (65  to  109  yard.><) ;  people  who  have  no  pei-sonal 
itieH,  and  almost  strangers,  at  25  to  30  metres  (27  to  33  yards); 
'iOi»e  seen  for  the  first  lime  can  only  be  reeogiiized  clearly  (as  to 
,  etc.)  at  from  15  Iu  20  nuitres  (=:  Uj  to  22  yards).     The  l>est 
].eMitD  cannot  he  reeoguized  further  ot!'  than  15  to  Ki  metres  {IG  to 
"  );jrii^)  by  the  clearest  motudight.     The  light  of  the  moon  is  very  vari- 
^k.    By  marlight  only,  the  best  known  person  must  not  be  further  oflT 
■  to  4  metres  (10  to  13  feetl.f     The  light  of  &  fliuh  of  lightning 
:  ji  Indy,  on  her  passage  home  from  Indiii,  to  see  distinctly  the  fea- 
a  man  who  was  robbing  her  trunk,  in  the  cabin  of  a  vessel  on  a 
rk  nighl.     She  was  able  next  day  (o  identify  him.     fMonfgomerv, 
\'^m  of  Pnictieal  Mediciue,"  art.  Identity,  tpioted  by  Guy.)     Yon 
a»ked  :  "  Does  the  light  given    by  tlie  jiaah  of  a  piM  or  (^nn 
me  to  s<re  clearly  the  faee  of  the  ]H*rson  firing,  if  seen  for  (he  firet 
In  May,  IHUH,  the  Sienr  Lalibe  was  riding  ah>ng  the  highroad 
widow  Beau  jean,  wlien  the  servant  ot\  the  former  was  wouudeil  in 
id  by  a  gun  fire<l  through  a  hedge  br»rdered  by  a  ditch.     Both 
ind  servant  swore  that  ihey  recognized  the  assassin  by  the  light  of 
"I"  i4i<r  Otiy, /<?<*,  ciV.,  p.  7,  and  Taylor,  for.  rit..,  voh  i,  p,  684 ),    The 
ig  sentenced  to  death  on  this  evidence,  appealed  to  the  Court 
and   many  exj^eriments  were  made  by  Guiueau,   Dupuis, 
1  i»thcn»,  which  seemed  to  negative  this  fMissibility.     The  sen- 
ersed,     Fod^ri?  afterwards  contested  this  decision,  and  a  sub- 
.    '•onfirined  by    the   experiments  of  Desgranges.  of  Lyons, 
"ulily  of  HUch  a  recoj^iiition.     Our  own  experiments  force 
Ue  possibility  of  such   recitgnitions  in  the  majority  of  in- 
land, sifnihir  evidence  ha*  been  received  in  several  cases. 
lif'ff.  V.   H'hltr,  (Croydon  Antumn  A.ssizes,  183!h,  the  ho- 
'  quitted.     In  lieff.  v.  Stfipfaj^  Lrewes  Lent  Assizes,  1862,  the 
*^        ,  >.  a  gamekeeper,  who  identified  hia  assailant  by  the  tksh  of  the 


and  flnpllGTi  >tiy  A  only 
-  D>/  i'u«'Ui*vt*  vlu  1h  viiu  pour  It's  t;randi<a  dislHnces,*'  pur  le  Dr,  J, 

lf*-M»M.H«.i*  ••  «**.>.      fW      1H75,  p.   171. 


560  VBLOCITT    OP    SOUNDS — PERSONAL    IDKNTITY. 

guo,  was  received,  and  the  prisoner  convicted.  In  Parii^  and  Foublanque'a 
c«.i*e  (Bfx  V.  Haineji),  the  evidence  of  a  jjolice  uffittT,  who  deposed  that 
in  1799  a  highwayiuaii  rode  a  durk-browii  horse  al*  remiirkahle  hea<l  iind 
ghoiiMer?,  aud  had  on  a  rough  bn*\vn  ^reatrnat,  was  received  as  satisrac- 
tory,  though  these  facts  were  made  out  hy  the  fla^h  from  his  pistol?.  He 
stated  that  lie  had  .sinee  ideulified  the  liorj^e  io  a  stable  in  Loudon.  Dr. 
Taylor  also  agree?*  in  this  po>sihili!Y,  [mi  deetde**  against  the  reeoguilion 
of  an  assailant  by  the  subjective  sensation  of  flashes  of  light  (vulgarly 
***?e«MT)g  sparks")  produced  by  a  blow  on  the  eyeball.  He  refers  tt>  M til- 
ler's *' Physiologv,"  and  to  8ehilbneh  auil  Knlgelstein  in  Heuke'a  **  Zeil- 
Bchrifi  der  S.  A.,'"  1842»  1,  197,  and  1845,  :i,  172.  In  the  present  state  of 
our  knowledge,  it  is  not  pos-sible  to  admit  this  evidence  as  of  any  scientific 
▼ttlue,  since  such  sensations  are  not  nnconmionly  felt  by  those  who  are 
totally  blind. 

Yim  may  be  asked  questions  as  to  the  dUUince  at  which  munfh  (such  tis 
the  report  of  a  pistol  or  gun)  conthine  to  he  nndihle.  There  are  no  data 
which  enable  us  to  give  a  precise  answer.  Very  much  wotdd  dejxenel  upou 
the  direction  of  the  wind,  ihe  amouut  of  watery  vapor  io  the  atnuysphere, 
the  presence  of  other  disturbing  sounds,  the  intensity  of  the  original  noi.se, 
the  configuration  of  the  room  or  surrounding  country.  The  velocity  of 
sound,  according  to  Parry  and  Foster's  experiments  at  Port  Bowen,  wa^ 
1035  feet  per  second  at  a  temperature  of  17.72^  Fahrenheit  (nine  experi- 
ments). Lieutenant  Kendall's  experimeutii  at  a  tempemture  nf  i).14* 
Fahrenheit  gave  lOfiD.^H  per  second.  But  lllKJ  feet  per  second  is  often 
fitated  on  the  authority  *d"  Millington  and  Lacaille.  Flanistead  and  Halley 
ga%"e  1142  feet  per  secnud.  Mr.  (roldjnghani'a  experiments  at  Madraa 
gave  an  average  of  11.35;  and  he  concludes  that  for  each  degree  (Fahren- 
heit) of  the  thermometer,  1.2  feet  may  he  allowed  in  the  vehieity  of  snund 
for  a  second,  for  each  degree  of  the  hygrometer  1.4  feet,  anrl  for  ^f'nth 
inch  of  the  barometer  9.2  feel.  He  cuuriudes  that  10  feet  [>er  sec<uj((  ia 
the  difference  of  the  velocity  of  sound  between  a  culm  and  in  a  Trioderiiie 
breeze;  and  2H  feet  in  a  second,  or  1275  in  a  minute,  is  the  dtflerence 
when  the  wiu<i  is  in  the  direction  of  the  niotiou  of  sound  or  op|io.H-d  to  it. 
("  Philosophical  Transactions,"  1«23.) 

This  is  about  13  miles  a  minute.  Or  4J  seconds  maybe  reckoDe<l  on  an 
average  for  every  mile. 

Pergonal  Mentiiy  in  the  Dead  and  the  Livinrf. 

Notwithstanding  its  logical  correctne.ss,  we  doubt  if  jiny  practical  pur- 
pose be  served  by  the  separation  of  the  question  of  pei'sitnal  identity  into 
that  of  the  dead  and  of  the  living,  as  has  been  done  by  Dr.  (luy.  It  doea 
nfit  require  a  large  amount  <\\'  anatoniical  or  medical  knowledge  to  (Us- 
tinguish  between  those  methf»ds  of  examination  which  are  possible  in  life, 
such  as  the  determination  of  height  and  weight,  and  those  which  are  only 
possible  after  death,  such  as  the  determination  of  the  points  and  degree  of 
ossification  in  a  long  bone.  The  principal  means  of  identification  are: 
(I)  Sex.  (2)  Ag^.  {Z\  Stature.  (4)  Personal  ap|>earance,  individual 
peculiarities  and  respnd)lnncps,  markings  and  cicatrices,  \  5 )  Certain  habits 
or  gestures.     (5)  llundwriting.     We  will  take  these  in  order. 

Discovery  of  Remaitti  supposed  to  be  Human, 

When  either  a  whole  skeleton,  or  portions  only,  are  discovered,  par- 
ticularly when  murder  is  suspected,  the^  questions  may  be  put  to  you  : 

"Are  these  bones  human?  or  thcxse  of  stmie  other  animal?" 


562 


MALB    AKD    F£MALE    PELVIS. 


ho<\y\  lej^s  or  rather  shorter  on  tlie  head.  In  the  male  the  poimim  Adami 
18  more  developed,  and  the  laryux  larger.  The  stveriige  iimie  head  is 
larger,  and  the  brain  heavier  than  in  females.  The  bluud  is  said  to  be 
richer  in  red  corpiiselepi.  In  the  ffmale  the  hips  arc  broader,  the  thighs 
sliortur  and  bigger,  and  tlie  tuberosities  of  ihts  isthia  and  the  ueetahula  ar« 
wider  apart.  The  breasts  (particnlarly  the  true  breasts  or  tnaniniary 
glandi?)  are  more  developed.  All  ihef^e  diB'erenee.s  of  t^utirse  relate  to  a<iult 
malee  and  females.  Before  puberty  there  is  far  less  difTereuee  beiweeu 
the  general  characters  of  the  sexes,  althouj2;h  in  the  masit  the  male  usually 
has  the  advantage  of  heiijht,  weight,  etc,  over  the  female,  Conitnun 
experience  will  t-how  uh  that  the  voiee  is  not  a  trnstworthy  mode  of  ditt'ereii- 
tiation.  It  is  ^\d  that "  the  female  M^rt//is  sjiialler  than  the  male,  more  ovuid, 
more  bul«^ing  at  the  sidei*,  and  larger  behind  the  foramen  magnum,  the  face 
more  oval,  the  frontal  !?intisie.s  le,ss  strongly  marked,  the  iKKstril:?  more 
delicate,  the  jaws  and  teeth  smaller,  and  the  ebin  ler»s  prominent.  The 
cheM  of  the  female  is  deeper  than  tliat  of  the  male  [?],  the  sternum  r^horter 
and  more  eonvt'x;  the  eiinform  cartilage  thinrier  and  ossi[i<r'd  later  in  life; 
the  ribr?  -smaller,  and  the  eartilage:^  longer,  The  verkbnil  i:olitmn  is  longer 
ami  the  iMHiie.s  of  the  vertebrie  are  deeper  in  the  female  than  in  the  njale  " 
(Dr.  Guy,  he,  cii.y  p.  21).  As  regards  the  elavieles,  fcapnhe,  anti  bones 
of  both  upper  and  lower  extremitie.^,  partieularly  the  hands,  those  of  the 
female  are  tjcueraUy  smaller  and  lighter  than  those  of  the  male.  Exeep- 
tious  are,  however,  so  nuiiierouB  that  we  can  generally  only  be  justified  ia 
stating  that  the  bones  are  piobabitf  those  of  u  female,  unless  we  can  examine 
the  jielvU.     We  subjoin  the 

Differential  Characten  of  the  A  fate  and  Female  Pelvis. 
(Taken  from  Ward's  "  Osteology.") 

The  ma/^  pelvis  preseuti*  a  narrow^  deep  exnivation  with  small  aper- 
tnrefl.  Its  bones  are  thiek,  hs  muscular  impressions  are  well  marked,  its 
angles  are  abrupt  and  prominent,  and  hs  general  appearance  is  that  of  a 
strong  framework,  adapted  tu  atibrd  leverage  to  powerful  muscles. 


Fio.  57. 


f-rrN.. 


iv\ 


■\ 


Miio  pctvift  witb  ibtgh'^nca. 


The  femalr  pelvis  i«  not  bo  deep  as  that  of  the  male,  but  exceeds  it  con- 
eiderabiy  in  the  transverse  and  antero-posterior  dinjensions.  Its  cavity  is 
more  capacious^  its  a|)ertnres  are  larger,  its  walls  are  less  massive  tind 
rough,  its  general  contour  h  le^s  angular  and  abrupt.  The  ahe  of  the  oasa 


a64 


DIMENSIONS    OF   PELVIS  —  AGK. 


^    si  ^    i 


The  tpanfiverae 

"  oblique 

**  anlcm-posVorior 
The  tmnsvene 

'•  oblique 

'*  ttnlero-po«lerior 
The  lriin«v«r»e 

•'  tit)lero>p(>eterior 


dinmnter  of  the  tibdoniiriMl  strait  of  the 
true  polvift,  .         ,         ,         . 


diameter  of  the  cavity  of  the  true  pelvis, 


dinmetor  of  the  pp>Hneal  fttrMit   of  the 
true  i>elvi«f  .... 


a   8 


The  general  charactere  in  the  two  pexes  will  also  be  aeen  from  these 

figures. 

Ill  the  recent  trial  of  Wainxaright  for  the  murder  of  Harrid  Lane,  the 
qutistion  of  personai  identify,  a*  repards  the  body  supnosed  to  be  that  of 
the  murdered  WiHuuii,  turned  chiefly  uu  the  medical  evidenctas  to  whether 
the  woman,  whose  body  was  foujid,  had  ever  ha«l  a  child  or  not.  The 
me<lical  evidence  was  somewhat  coijfli<'tioj^.  The  lineiE  alhitumtfui  and 
pur(vli8h  cicatrices  found  were  somewhat  indij^tiuct,  and  as  remarked  in 
the  chtipter  ou  pregnancy,  mipbt  have  been  due  to  oiher  causMi's.  Then 
the  qiu'Htiun  waa  raised,  It*  ihe  uterus  found  that  of  a  woman  who  has 
had  children  or  not?  The  weight  of  medical  tej^timony  was  in  tbeaffirm> 
ative,  hut  at  a  sub^quent  discus^sion  at  the  Obstetrical  Society,  it  was 
admitted  that  the  quei«tion  was  one  of  some  difficulty^  We  mu«t  refer  to 
the  chapter  on  Pregnancy,  and  the  section  headed,  *'IIa8  thi»  woman  been 
pregnant  or  not?"  for  figures  and  mcaMircnients  of  the  uterus.  For 
reports  of  the  medical  evidence  in  Wainwrij^ht's  ca«e  see  the  medical 
journal.a  ;?a^#im,  and  especially  the  "  Briitf^h  Medical  Journal,"  December 
n,  1875  (No.  780). 

II.  Age,  Personal  identity  naturally  depend.**,  in  many  casei»,  upon  the 
age  of  the  person  concerned,  or  of  the  body  ♦^r  portions  of  a  body  dis- 
covered. It  is  often  a  matter  of  extreme  difficulty  to  fix  the  age  of  living 
perscms.  The  art^  of  the  toilet  will  often  render  it  diflicull  to  do  more 
than  give  an  approximate  pue^^B,  Tlkc  t€?eth  ittee  page  542)  will  often  give 
us  some  idea  <»f  the  period  of  life.  If  the  hair  have  been  dyed,  it  may,  in 
the  case  of  prisoners,  be  t&sted  as  mentioned  in  the  chapter  on  hair:*.  lo 
the  case  of  children  or  young  persons  we  can  generally  gue^s  the  age 
pretty  fairly  by  means  of  the  teeth,  height,  weight,  and  general  develop 
ment.  It  is,  however,  to  be  noted  that  some  cases  of  congenital  or  hererti' 
tary  mfphUls  exhibit  a  reiftrdid  jntbcrty,  and  although  their  features  look 
somewhat  old,  yet  the  general  apj>earance  of  either  Hex  at  twenty-two  or 
twenty-five  may  rather  be  that  of  ten  or  twelve  or,  at  the  moj^t,  fifteen  yeare 
of  age.     Usually  speaking,  it  is  the  middle  periods  of  life  that  give  us  most 


566 


DEVELOPMENT    OF    THE    FCETU8. 


The  following  table  of  ibe  development  of  llie  foetus  h  drawn  from  a 
Dumber  of  pouri'es.  It  is  Miffuient  to  mention  Dr.  W.  Carpenter  nnd 
Beaunis  and  Bouchnrd  (quoted  in  Gray's  "  Anatomy."  EdiieJ  by  Mr. 
Holm^) : 


irrek. — Tlu»  rtrimilivo  aorlM  iliviillcs  inln  prvnii(ire  Rortu  nnd  pulnionnry 
it  of  Miliar  and  tji'tiitdl  glnnd.     ()*/>iri<'al!»tn  *»r  clnvick"  «ndl  lower 


Eful  r.f  nrcond  M^eek. — Formntinn  of  the  ntiinion  iind  uinliiltt-Hl  vesJde*  Chcirdu 
d(/r8i4li»  Hnd  mi'diillHry  gr«>ovt«,     Ui^Mi-i 

HeginntHQ  of  Ihird  trerk  — The  viiollino  nn'ml»rHnc»  hn*  pntirely  dl'^Mpprftrrd. 
Pri>l<«vei'telirMl  disks.     First  jihuryngi'ttl  arch.     Bucciil  dcprepsiun.     Primitivi?  cir- 

End  t'f  third  iPtek.—The  iilliintoi&  «nd  Wdtlfflnn  bcidy  Hpjn'ar.  The  nmnion  la 
closed.  Cerf^brnl  Vfiiick'i«.  Priinilivo  nciilnr  und  rnKtiiury  vehicle*  Ct»nU"#*M»r>oe 
of  th<^  intVrior  inHxiltury  prittuWruitci'i^.  Livur.  FurinitLion  of  tlitJ  tbrvt^  lust 
phnryrvgrni  Mrchfj*. 

Ltntiyyt,  */  three  fo  four  werk%,  h)is  thu  form  of  a  serpent;  is  thren  t<>  five  lines  in 
k*nt;tl>  i  tt#  hfHd  is  IndirHli'd  liy  n  j'Vit'llijipf ;  iU  ciohhil  oKir»<mity  (in  wlitch  is  ^ei'ti 
M  wliiiL*  line,  indicHtiiig  tho  L'onliriiiHliorj  ♦>r  lb*'  rnrMJuiln  >>|)iriiii1i'*)  *lfiidi?r,  und  tcr- 
iiiiiintint^  ill  the  umbtliotl  cuid  ;  ihe  rmmth  ind'i.-iil<-(i  by  ii  L*t(;ft,  lh«  t-yvhhy  Iwu 
hlrtt'k  pi>iiit:^;  niPtiibci-g  ln»|j;iu  to^pp^'Mras  nippk-Hke  pr<<tiilH*rHni'(»8  ;  livi«r  (Kruiiic^i 
the  whole  itbd*. mo n;  the  bladder  «-<  very  Urge;  ihu  uliorion  it*  villous,  but  iu  vil- 
lu^ilii'ti  arc  fUll  tlilTused  ttynr  ihn  wliolf  htirfrtee 

iirtery.     Conduit 

JMW,  *  CMi'liliig«*  of  Meckel  (from  wliicb  tlif  mulliiiv  und  inru«  nre  f«  rm»>d/. 

E'nhryu  uj  mx  icceka  — Its  It-n^lli  Iroin  7  to  10  lines  ;  weight  trt>m  40  to  7')  jrriiin*; 
face  distinct  from  eriir>ium  ;  HptTlure--*  of  ij*»e,  tnoulb,  ♦»yes»,  und  enre  perceptible; 
head  dti>tincL  front  thurtix  ;  hitnds  iind  loreiirms  in  the  uiiddje  of  the  U  nglh,  tinif^ra 
dlfttinet ;  leg*  und  fm-t  i-ituMjed  n<'*«r  tlie  nniij* ;  clMvieto  (ind  inferi<»r  mHxilUry  bone 
present  U  point  of  os&iUcMtion  ;  dir-lmcl  unibilteut^  for  iitlHelintent  of  cord,  which, 
Hi  ibift  lime,  coHi'is'la  of  the  ompbHlo-JiH'i-eriiio  vef*il.*,  of  n  portion  of  the  urnchus, 
of-M  |«nrt  of  the  InlestinHl  liil>e,  nnd  of  the  ttlnmeniA  which  represent  the  umbilical 
V«t«ek.  The  platenln  begins,  to  be  forim'd  ;  the  chorion  «ltl{  sepivraled  frtun  tho 
amnion  ;  ihr  umbilieal  vesicle  very  birije.  In  iho  sixth  week  the  phurynyi'ul  elefU 
di«Mpp<'ur.  The  verlebritl  cotumn,  priniilivo  crauiiinn,  und  rib«  »ssunn«  the  earti- 
biginuUft  condition.  Pofclerjor  roots  of  the  nerves.  Mfinbrnne*  of  the  nervous 
ctfnire*.  Bladder.  Kidne3s.  Tongue.  Luryux,  Thyroid  glnnd.  Oorni'sof  t«»«'th. 
Genitiil  tubercle  and  folds. 

In  ihe  jiecmth  tctek  the  muscles  begin  to  be  perceptible.  Points  of  o^ftiAcntion  of 
the  rib^,  seHptiln,  shufls  of  hnrneru:*,  femur,  libin,  interniaxillftry  tum^f  pHlHto, 
upper  JMW  {U^  tir^t  four  poinU<). 

Etiibnju  uj  tit)it  tuoHths  {c.'ujht  wfeki*). — Length  from  16  to  19  linw  ;  weight  150  to 
3lX)  gmirs  ;  elbow?  jin^l  firing  delHihr<i  m-m  the  trunk  \  heels  iind  knees  uko  •=*olHled  ; 
rudiments  of  the  no»e  and  of  the  liiis;  pulpehrni  circl*^  b*»ginning  to  show  it-elf; 
clitorib  or  penii^  iippHfent ;  nnus  mttrUifJ  by  •* dark  spot ;  rudiments  o(  lung»>,  ^pleerit 
and  Riprnrentil  ciip^ules;  ctecum  plnced  behind  the  unibllicus;  digestive  ciinuj 
wtlhdriiwn  into  the  abdomen;  urMchus  visible;  osseous  ptujits  in  the  frontul  bone 
and  in  the  ribs.  Chorion  commenring  to  toueh  tho  iimni<<n  Ht  the  point  opposite 
th<3  iui^ertion  of  tho  pluccntH  ;  plHcentii  begins  to  uHKume  \U  regulur  lorrn;  umh||i. 
cnl  vessels  commence  twisting.  In  the  eighth  ntul  ninth  tufrkn^  wceording  to  Uetiuntft 
and  Bouclmrd,  there  is  an  HppeurHnoe  of  uitenligiiril  cU-ft.-;  the  CHps-ule  of  ihi»  leni^ 
and  [tupillnry  membrane;  completion  of  the  intervi  lUriculur  and  commencement 
of  the  interuurtculiir  septum.  Sulivury  ghinds;  the  larynx  begin*  to  b«A.'ome  ear- 
tilttginoua.  All  theTerlebral  bctdie^  ht*-  CKrtilHginoiui.  Points  of  o^iiiHejitiuti  from 
the  ulnuj  radium,  flbula,  ar.d  ilium.  The  two  hulven  <d"  the  bony  palrtic  unitit; 
ftympulhetic  nerve;  iorpus  atriHtum  ;  |>ericttrdium  ;  distinction  between  the  ovary 
and  ti'ftieic  (?).  OH»eoU¥>  nuclei  of  vertebral  bodiea  and  urehi"*,  Vomer,  tiiMlar  bone^ 
^halts  of  inetacarpKl  and  meti»tHr>Ml  b<ine»  and  phHiMngeji  ;  gall-bladdor. 

Embryo  of  three  m'jnthn. — Length  *2  to  'JJ  inche*  ;  weight  1  to  Ijf  oz.  troy  =  <80 
to  i*JO  grains;  head  voluminous;  eyelids  in  contact  by  their  free  margin  ;  mem- 
brana  pupillaris  vittible;  mouth  closed  ;  fingers  ci>itiplelely  ?eparat^"d  ;  inferior  eJi- 
tremitlc«  of  greater  length  than  rudimentary  tail  ;  clitoris  and  peni^  very  long; 
ibymut^  as  well  a^  fuprnrenal  cap^ulci  |ire«ient ;  cu?cum  phiced  below  the  umt>)lir:u«  ; 
cerebrum  5  lines,  eerebi'Uum  4  lincK;  medulla  oblongaiit  1^  litter,  and  tnr>dulU  «pU 
nalia  J  of  a  line  in  diamelKf ;  two  vrntride*  of  heart  di*tiirct.  The  decidua  reflexa 
and  uierlna  in  contact ;  funJN  contains  umbilical  vesael.*,  and  a  little  of  the  gehiiin  of 
Wharton  ;  plucenta  eunipletcdy  isolated ;  umbilical  vesiclo,  allnntoU,  aud  om]dialo> 


568 


CHANQES    IN    THE    LOWER    JAW,    ETC. 


amhtHcni*  or  n  litlle  bHow  it.  [Tn  the  ninth  mouth.  **  Additionnl  points  Tor  th« 
third  ^Hcritl  vertpbrn ;  liiltTrtl  p**inla  for  Ihe  fiUh.  O^setMis  |>*»inl  f«»r  the  nnd<H« 
turhiriHt*^  httne ;  for  b^^Jy  nnd  gri-at  cornu  of  tho  hyoi'd  ;  for  the  weond  tmd  third 
piorcB  of  the*  body  of  ih**  ^ternufii  ;  o^^iiQi-Htioti  of  the  bony  iMtiiiuH  hpiralis  ufid 
axis  of  ihi*  cochlea.     Opt^iin^  of  tho  vyelid:*.''     fi.  and  B  ] 

£xc«ptiou8  occur  to  most  of  the  factj^  in  the  tables,  as  wc  shall  have  to 
meutiou  in  the  chapter  on  Infanticiile.  Thet^e  exceptions  will  usually  be 
fouud  to  consist  in  backwardDe^s  of  development. 

Points  of  Ossifieation — Wormian  and  Sesamoid  Bone*, 

Great  stress  is  justly  laid  upon  the  points  of  ossification  in  the  cartilage 
of  diHereiit  boues,  and  upon  the  periofl  at  which  this  proocf*s  is  completed. 
For  minute  delails  reference  muBt  be  made  to  special  worlds  and  pa[)ers  on 
Anatomy  and  Osteology,  and  tlie  development  of  the  Ibetns.     Araougat 


Fio.  89. 


fbefiut^moHifiiA 


\f  ^ 


A  ^ 


^ year0 


the  former  Hyrtl,  Cloquet,  and  Quain  and  Sharpey^  may  be  mention< 
The  latter  are  too  numerous  to  particularize.  In  acbiition  to  the  fa( 
mentioned  in  the  table,  the  following  facts  regarding  Gasification  are  men- 
tioned by  Dr.  Taylor  a?  deserving  sf>eciat  mention  (Aic.  ctV.,  p.  148,  vol.  i). 
At  one  ijear  of  age,  o^HificatioM  Ijcgins  in  the  lower  extremities  of  the 
humerus  and  ulna,  in  the  heads  of  the  femurand  hnmeru?,  and  in  the  upper 
cartilage  of  the  tibia  ;  at  one  and  a  Imff  yenm  the  anterior  fontanelle  should 
be  closed;  at  hco  j/far^,o*sifiration  tAkcis  place  in  the  lower  cartilage  of  the  m- 
dins,  and  in  the  tibia  and  fibula;  at  two  ftnd  a  fiaff  yenrfi,  in  the  greater  tuber- 
osiity  of  the  head  of  the  humerus,  in  the  patella,  and  in  the  lower  ends  of  the 
four  last  metacarjial  bones  ;  at  three  years  in  the  trochanters  ;  al  fourtjrar^  in 
the  second  and  third  cuneiform  bones  of  the  tarsus  ;  at /oar  and  a  half  yeaart 
in  the  graall  tuberoj^ity  of  the  head  of  the  humerus,  and  tl»e  upj>er  C4irtilaee 
of  the  fibula;  at  sijc  year9  the  descending  ramus  of  the  puliis  meets  tnc 
ascending  ramus  of  the  ischium  ;  at  from  right  to  nine  years  the  upper  cms 
tilage  of  the  radius  becomes  ossified  ;  at  nine  years  the  ilium,  ischium,and 
pubis  meet  in  the  cotyloid  cavity  (acetabulum)  to  form  the  pelvis;  at  ten 
years  ossification  begins  in  the  cartilaginous  end  of  the  olecranon  ;  at 
twelve  years  in  the  pisiform  bone  of  the  carpus;  at  thirtem^  the  three  por- 
tions of  the  OS  innominata  (ilium,  ischium,  and  pubis),  though  nearly 
united,  can  be  separated;  the  neck  of  the  femur  is  ossified;  at  fourteen^ 
or  about  puberty,  there  are  added  some  fourteen  additional  centre**  to  the 
sacrum;  at  ffl^cn  year*,  the  coracoid  process  is  united  to  the  sc:apul«; 
and  between  fifteen  and  sixteen  the  olecranon  to  the  ulna.     From  eighteen 


570 


JUVENILE    WITNESSES    AND    DELINQUENTS. 


peroneiis  longu9,  tibialis  aDticus,  aod  t.  f  asticus;  outer  head  of  gaatroc- 
tiemiu!*,  psoas  and  iliacus,  bie«pf^  eubiti,  gluteus  niaximus,  tendous  about 
'wikle-joint,  etc.,  are  example:^  of  the.se. 

In  rheumatoid  urihrith  (^  disease  very  common  in,  though  not  confined 
to,  advanced  lire)^  the  boues  may  be  heavier,  because  they  consist  of  a 
dense  poreellatie<ni«  lis-^ue.  Old  bnne«  are  yellower,  and  more  brittle  thao 
younger  ones.     The  Havereian  systems  are  Ie*s  perfectly  formed.     Dr. 


Fin.  61. 


# 


A^ei/, 


^ 


Taylor  cautionns  us  {ht,  dt,  p,  149),  a^aiost  being  too  dogmatic  as  to  the 
age  of  a  ekeleton.  He  ?aya  that  in  1851  portions  of  a  mutilated  body  were 
found  in  Norwich,  and  the  medical  evidence  was  that  the  bones,  etc., 
belonged  to  a  young  adult  female  between  ^sixteen  and  twenty-six  years  of 
age-  Eighteen  years  after  a  man  named  Bheward  confeSx*<ed  that  these 
remains  were  those  of  his  wife,  wham  be  had  murdered  (Norwich  Lent 
Assizes,  1869,  Reg.v.  Hhcwani).  It  ap|>eare<l,  however,  that  the  wouiau 
was  in  her  fitYy-fourth  year.  Moral, — Be  satisfied  with  stating  what  you 
Jmaw — as  in  this  case,  that  the  woman  was  au  adult,  and  do  not  guess  at 
what  you  do  not  know,  viz.,  the  exact  age. 


}ft;dio(hleffat  aspecU  of  Atje — Minurity  and  Majority, 

In  law  any  one  under  twenty-one  yearn  of  age  is  an  infant  or  minor. 
Before  that  age  he  cannot  alienate  his  land^,  goods,  or  chattels  by  deed 
or  will.  He  cannot  be  calleil  u|>on  to  serve  on  a  jury  before  thi:?  age.  At 
fourteen  years  however,  a  male  is  considered  to  have  arriveri  at  years  of 
discretion.  By  the  *'  Royal  Marriage  Act,"  passed  in  the  reign  of  King 
George  III,  the  deaceudnnts  of  King  George  II  were  prohibited  from 
marriage  before  the  age  of  twenty-five,  without  the  consent  of  the  king  in 
couuciL  Eighteen  years  of  age  is,  however,  fixed  as  the  majority  of  princes 
and  princesses  for  other  purposes.  This  gave  rise  to  many  j^icular  remarks 
at  the  time.  The  age  of  twenty-one  is  generally  adopted  in  Europe  for 
majority,  though  in  particular  countries  and  at  s[>ecial  times  other  ages 
(eighteen  and  twenty-five)  have  been  and  are  custiimary.  The  law  has 
fixed  no  age  for  competency  as  a  wifnens.  Hence  in  trials  for  ra|>e  or 
murder,  the  evidence  of  very  young  children  is  often,  and  we  think  properly 
taken.  The  custom  of  the  courts  is  to  ascertain  that  such  witnesses  know 
the  nature  of  a  lie  and  the  importance  of  truth,  and  are  acquaint€-d  with 
the  rudiments  of  natunil  and  revealed  religion.  Nearly  all  the  judges 
(notably,  Justices  Earle  and  Keating)  have  held  that  up  to  the  age  oi'  seven 
yeare,  the  law  presumes  that  a  child  cannot  distingutsh  right  from  wrong,  so 
aa  to  be  capable  of  crime ;  and  evidence  is  inadmissiye  to  show  that  such. 


672 


MODEL    HKIQHTB    kfiD   WEIGHTS. 


HEIGHT  IN  RELATION  TO  PERSONAL  IDENTITY. 

Stature  of  Skeletons. 

Thf>  average  height  for  males  in  Eng^laud,  brought  up  under  favorabl 
cirou  en  stances,  is  said  to  he  5  feet  9J  iaclies,  lor  females  5  feet  2  irichesi 
According  to  Dr.  Sieveking,  the  weight  should  be  in  the  following  pro- 
jKirtion : 

Model  Heights  and   Wei ff his. 


TbR  Hpi| 

K^t 

iK^ing 

Iho  Wei 

iijht 

should  be 

6  I'fBl 

:  1: 

inch. 

8  titone  4  lh«. 

2 

9 

tt 

0 

11 

3 

9 

•1 

7 

n 

4 

9 

(< 

13 

a 

6 

10 

ft 

2 

i( 

6 

10 

ti 

5 

n 

7 

10 

1*. 

R 

tt 

B 

11 

IC 

1 

41 

0 

11 

it 

8 

it 

10 

12 

a 

1 

II 

6 

11 

12 

•t 

6 

H 

6 

0 

12 

(1 

10 

H 

It  18  a  familiar  fact  that  we  are  all  a  trifle  taller  in  the  morning  than  in 
the  evening.  The^e  staliBticH,  u»id  th<jse  at  page  o44,  under  the  heatliog 
of  the  Normal  Man,  help  us,  however^  but  little  in  the  detL'rmitmtioti  of 
personal  identity.  The  practical  qnestion  u.^ually  ij*,  given  the  lengtfi  of 
oue  or  two  bones,  or  of  ihe  limlw,  tu  determiuc  the  height  of  the  entire 
skeleton  or  body.  Cue  or  two  general  laws  of  proportion  are  more  curious 
than  actually  useful.  One  of  the«e  is,  that  the  height  of  the  bt>dy  is  aliout 
the  same  length  as  from  the  tip  of  the  second  finger  of  one  band  to  the  tip 
of  the  second  finger  of  the  otfier  hand,  when  both  arms  are  extenile^i  hori- 
zontally, to  their  ntjiiost.  In  other  wonls,  if  a  line  be  drawn  parallel  with 
the  base,  or  ground  line,  but  passing  across  the  summit  of  the  head*  and 
perpendiculars  are  let  fall  touching  the  lips  of  the  fingers  when  the  arms 
are  extende<l  to  their  utm«st  horizontally,  the  figure  described  is  as  nearly 
a.*  p>ssible  a  square.  If  the  legs  be  then  extended  so  as  to  form  an  equi- 
lateral triangle  with  the  base  hue  and  the  arms  raised  till  the  tips  of  the 
tingers  are  in  a  line  with  the  top  of  the  head,  and  in  this  position  a  circle 
be  drawn  from  Ibe  umbilicus  as  a  centre,  the  wlmle  body  will  be  included 
within  this  circle  ( Warti's  "O.^teology'*), 

Quelelet  has  noticeii  that  the  height  of  the  ear  is  just  half  the  distance 
from  its  opening  to  the  top  of  the  bead  ;  that  the  eye  is  to  the  mouth  in 
the  proportion  of  two  to  three;  and  that  the  length  of  the  eye  is  measure<l 
five  times  in  the  temporal  diameter  of  the  head,  and  seven  limes  in  ita 
autero-posterior  diameter.  The  common  rules:  "Thrice  round  your  thumb's 
ouce  r«juud  your  wrist;  thrice  roon<I  the  wrist's  twice  round  the  neck; 
thrice  round  the  nwk's  once  round  the  waist,  etc.,"  are  not  far  from  the 
truth.  Other  curious  proportions  will  be  found  in  R.  D.  Hay,  *' t)n  the 
Proptrtiuus  of  the  Human  Figure."  The  proportions  of  the  n»>se  lieing 
one-third  of  the  face,  and  the  head  one-eighth  of  the  total  height,  are  now 
pretty  genenilly  adopted  by  artists,  and  will  be  found  in  the  best  (Iroek 
and  modern  statue;^.  Of  late,  Millais  and  some  other  painters  have  given 
us  figures,  especially  of  femules,  whose  lengths  are  out  of  all  proportion  to 


574 


PROPORTIONS  OF  THE  SKELETON. 


T/k  $ntne,  I'olnced  io  a  Mcate  of  100. 


Eurnpean,  .  . 
NfjrrM,     .    .    , 

1<tliit 

OHrrnrMSfl. 

2  lmi'h»»,  .    . 

IrixbCiiuniari. 

d  llicll«*«,    .      , 

Sicilloit  r«rasl« 
nt  lUyv)irs,2fl 
inciii^ti,  .    .    . 

miW!>  nt  23  (or 
S.  Perry), 3  ft. 


» 

o 

a 
-^ 

a 

i 

3 

s 

1 

Si 

tnoM 

MA5 

KIJM 

1954 

H.tS 

11.M 

imno 

.11.13 

ai^4 

1962 

l.'..tH 

!2.4^ 

im.m 

S1.48 

»e.29 

ao. 

15..17 

11. n 

imM 

:m.2i 

2]k68 

21X10 

15.43 

r.».28 

100.00 

80^1 

31.96 

17.85 

1S.2C 

10.41 

too.oo 

trSM 

d8.gs 

1II.S6 

\%3a 

10,1 

ino.cxv 

SL 

75. 

17,50 

18. 

n. 

100,  (X) 

22-?S 

1S.« 

27  51 

?7.40 
27.78 
28.07 


2«.89 


J 

FelTliL 

fl 

il 

55 

=  * 

fi» 

^  -: 

•-a 

2218 

ie.os 

a. 

a.61 

23.2:1 

17  90 

T.42 

«61 

23.RJI 

ta.7s 

«15 

6.48 

21.92 

14.96 

8.94 

6.W 

2143 

12.75 

€.94 

6.33 

2IJ.90 

11J57 

^^ 

4.4& 

i7.no 

U. 

7. 

7.5 

lfl.« 

'•• 

6.67 

MeatitremtmU  at  dlfffreni  age*  {in  inches), —  Dr.  Humphry. 


1 

1 

n 

m 

B 

1 

8 

a 

a 

i 
1 

t 

1 

« 

1 

PtlTlS. 

II 

^1 

Athlrth.   .    .    . 

19 

7. 

15. 

iUt 

2.6 

SI 

4.S 

11.5 

8.5 

1.3 

18 

a  ^cufh'  av«rraga. 

27 

85 

17.7 

4.7 

S.fi 

3J 

6.2 

5.1 

8.6 

2J 

2.2 

4ioA»ver«K<%    • 

85 

118 

IS. 

6« 

4.8 

4.1 

9.1 

7.1 

5.1 

2,5 

2.5 

8  to  12  BTBraff*. 

43 

12.9 

18.8 

Aji 

«. 

5.1 

11.4 

9.4 

6.4 

3.1 

».t 

i«  1  F«ittiil«,     .    . 
fe^MnK    .    .    . 

RS 

17. 

19. 

10  8 

7. 

5.8 

14.8 

11. 

7.8 

4. 

8.6 

54 

lUJt 

19. 

10,5 

7JJ 

56 

15,0 

UJ5 

S  lAT».r»|fe.  .    . 

54 

16.& 

10.« 

10.4 

7.4 

5,7 

14.8 

11.0 

8. 

9.8 

36 

m  .  t  Ffoiale,     . 

59 

19 

19.6 

11. 

8.2 

6.5 

Ifi. 

12.8 

8. 

5. 

4.H 

SC^Miile,     .    . 

59 

17.6 

20.4 

11. 

a.5 

6.8 

15, 

1«. 

8. 

ZJ$ 

88 

5»^U'er«g«,   . 

00 

185 

19JI 

114 

8.8 

6.6 

13,8 

18^ 

84 

4.7 

13 

Average  measurement  at  di^erettt  age*^  reduced  to  a  *eaie  of  \00. 


'S 

IVlvIc 

i 

i 
* 

\i 

1 

i 

1 

J 

1 

i 

1 

0  I 

H 

h 

ffi 

"^1. 

^ 

HO 

Birth.   .    . 

CMMIO 

517 .0 

79. 

18.5 

18.2 

16  8 

22.6 

!fl.B 

186 

68 

A.8 

2 

:  ■    no 

81.48 

65  55 

17.40 

isaa 

1148 

22,W 

IN.RR 

tans 

814    ; 

8  11 

4106,    . 

.  i  'IMI 

!B71 

51.42 

l«,8.i     1.HJ1 

1171 

2H.i« 

20  28 

UM 

7  14 

714 

«tol2,.    . 

Ju.i.Oil 

29.76 

43.72 

I9.:k»    14.W 

118A 

afi.-si 

21  IW 

I4.W 

721 

7.21 

15 

100.00 

30.74 

W.70 

19  2.1 

M70 

Ift./W 

27.40 

21.48 

14.81 

7.03 

«iM 

18  tn  19.    .    .    . 

100.00 

30.83 

81.00 

19.«HI 

14.13 

11. It 

2fl.;KI 

22.t« 

\Am 

7.83 

7.50 

Adult 

100.W 

8415 

»1.54 

19  54 

14.15 

U.23 

'1;M  1  22.15 

16.08 

8. 

Ml 

Orfiltt*.«<  measurements  show  remarkable  difFereiK^es.     Dr.  Guy  C/oc  «i^., 
p.  11-13)  has  criticized  them  somewhat  severely.   They  are,  however,  often 


MBASUREMENT8  OF  SKELETONS. 

He  also  ^ives  the  followiug  as  the  measureincats  of  bones  of  the  arm  of 
a  well-formed  soldier  whose  stature  was  about  six  feeL 

Totnl  length  of  Arm  29.5  inchei 
29.5  X  2         =         69  " 

Clftvides         =         12         " 
St<jrnuiii  {width)         \^  " 

Humerus,  12J  iochea ;  radius,  J^J  inches;  ulaa,  lOJ  ioehes ;  clavicle,  6 
inches;  liand  from  wrists  7j!  itiche>;  and  the  followiug  measurements  of 
deta<'he<l  bones  useil  for  deiiiou.^'triitioii :  (Male)  Femur,  18  iiicheai ;  tibia, 
15i  inches;  fibula,  15  inches;  humerus,  Ti*  iuches;  ulna,  lOi  iuches ; 
radius,  9J  inches.     We  quote  from  the  same  authority  the  following: 


StHliire, 

Feniurf        .        ,        ,        •     1'} 

Tibia 9| 

Fibula 9] 

HurnuruB 8| 

RKdiufl,         ....  6 

XTIdm,  ....  Of 

Clnvicle,       ....  4 

Hiind  from  wrist,  .         .  6 

Arm*  fCMfh), 
Measurement  aero**  the  chest. 


MoJe  Skeleton  bi-twrtni  10 
■.lid  12  yi'HT&or  age. 

,     46  iiicht^a. 


Mature  Child  *t  0  montb* 
ut'Oro.j^cAtfttioo. 

.     103  inchc*. 


The  subjoined  table  of  measurements  h  taken  from  Barthesnnd  Rilliet's 
well-known  book  on  the  diseases  of  infants.  It  is  founded  ou  measure- 
ments of  thirty -seven  well-nourijshed  and  wcll-growu  children; 


Hetifht, 

LrnKth  nf  ••l^irnuTn, 

Li-UKtli  of  d>'r*nl  ^Trtttrrte.    ..... 

RoiiDcl  Itvorax  undt^r  nrmpits  durlug  iimpiriL- 1 

tiiin  whilftt.  ft^'iitM, I 

Kf^tind  tborai  under  nifipli's  di«rlng  laiplnb- 1 


8^  to  5  fv%rt. 


32.8  ti.  :i8 
4  4  li.  ft, 2 

fi.2  lu  6.8 
30.4  to  24.4 

22to2S 


6  to  10  yean. 


38  If.  W».8 
ifi  to  « 
7.2  to  10.4 
0  to  8 

«L4tn2$,f 
22.4  to  2&.i 


11  io  15 : 


Inehes. 

n<i  t»  A2.8 
6  U»  7.2 
9  2tMlI« 
7.6  to  lOJi 

27«StoaM 


: ~ 

Although  referring  to  the  liTiiig,  some  of  the  details  are  applicable  to 
dend  bodies  and  to  skeletons. 

In  calculating  the  ataiure  from  a  skeleton,  it  is  usual  to  add  from  |  an 

inch  to  1*  inch  for  the  soft  parl.«».  Some  additional  proportmiA  ore  given 
by  M.  de  8.  Luca  (^' Cosmos."  Oct.  2,  1803,  p.  386\  which  we  take  from 
Dr.  Tuylor  Hoc.  cit.,  p.  15fi).  He  takes  the  average  male  heipht  for  the 
adult  to  be  6*]  inches,  or  160  centimetres;  of  an  adult  woman,  ^'gth  less, 
»r  about  5  feet.  Of  this  the  head  =  ^th,  divided  into  two  equal  parta 
jmmediately  below  the  eyes,  the  nostrils  beini;  midway  l^etween  eyes  and 
chin.  In  a  vertical  :seciion  of  the  body  the  pubis  is  a  central  point  between 
the  two  extremities.  When  thearm.s  are  raised  vertically  above  the  head, 
the  navel,  which  is  1  metre  (39.37  inches)  fnrm  the  sole  of  the  foot,  then 
becomes  the  centre  of  the  length.  He  divides  the  arm  into  five  partfli,  of 
which  the  hand  is  one,  the  forearm  and  arm  being  two  each.  Afuliiplv- 
ing  the  length  of  the  hand  by  five  we  get  the  length  of  the  arm  (say  5,'i2 
by  5  1=:  'iti.lO).  The  oar|»al  and  metacarpal  bones  represent  half  of  the 
length  of  the  hand.     The  first  phalanx  of  the  middle  finger  ^  jth  of 


IDBNTITT    FROM   RACE. 


577 


iiihd;  its  \wi  two  phalanges  are  together  exactly  the  length  of  the  first, 
TWImi  ^ihatanx  in  ju»t  halved  hy  the  tuiiL  The  sole  of  the  foot  is  one- 
tbif»1  lon^'er  than  the  ptilm  of  the  haud,  but  the  back  of  the  foot,  or  iuHtep, 
■  o(tho«atne  length. 
H'  ^'utrt'  of  <frtjvittf  of  thr  human  htfdy  (according  to  Weber)  in  the 
1  hori/x)Mtal  positions,  is  only  a  fraction  of  an  itidi  alwve  the  proai- 
HiN,  Mt  ibe  sacrutii,  so  that  in  fact  it  traverses  the  lunvbo-sacml  artic- 
ulitioo,* 

Identity  from  Rare. 

chief  differences  in  the  skeletons  of  men  itf  (lifirerent  races  will  be 
ill  the  eikull.     The  figures  in  the  text  (taken  frowi  Dr.  €*arpenter) 


Fio.e2* 


Fin.  63. 


^> 


:•■ 


3 


(C3 


A 


% 


rV 


^  ■koll  df  ITcf  ro— ProAlt. 


8liuU  of  Negro— B«w. 


ikull  (profile  and  base)  of  a  negro;  in   the  profile  the  prof/na- 
I  »re  clearly  !i5e«u  ;  the  jpyrum m/ij/ skull  of  an  Esquimaux  (trout 


X 


Plo.«4, 


Ftii.  firt. 


^r 


y. 


ThMMilSkail  <rf  £aquinaaui— Front  View. 


Kii4|tilinaux— i^H*  of  Skull. 


■Jd  1hm«I  Tietr«),  and  the  oval  skull  of  a  Enropenn  f Indo-European  or 
pwrn).     In  Movf/oiinnn  the  malar  bones  are  very  prominent.     In  the 

•tMti<«  the  wi»i(5ht  "f  &  porftH't  rnulu  *k«*lftoii  iit  10  lb».  6  •>«*  ,  nnd 
_  .  \.i.,:v  At  8  IIm.  18  usKA  ;  Iwjlh  wore  oompU-lly  dry,  Hi?  give*  lliu  ftpocitlc 
<4  Ikuinan  hono  Ml  2.01  m  coui[iitrt»d  wttli  water 


578 


IDENTITY    PROM    RACE. 


negro,  befiides  the  characters  of  the  skull,  the  feet  are  very  wide  aud  flat, 
and  I  he  os  calcis  renjarkuhle  for  its  backvvanl  projectiou.  For  the  general 
characters  of  the  ditferent  racea  of  niaukind,  we  inuat  refer — 1 1 )  for  a 
brief  account,  to  Dr.  Ciirpeuter's  '*  Principles  of  Htuiuku  Fhysinhj^y,"  ch« 
xix,  p.  925  of  Tth  edition,  and  to  the  article  Ethuulu^y;  uud  the  f>lutes  in 
••Tlic  Popular  Cvclopte<iia;"  (2)  to  Dr.  Priclmrd'^  **  Physical  History  uf 
Mankind,"  5  vo'b,,  1849,  and  "Natural  HiHtory  of  Mum  "  (]84:ii;  (3) 
and  to  the  Trausuctiooa  of  the  Ethuulogical  and  Geographical  Societies. 


Fro.  66. 


T 


s 


v-4 


£uru|»ear 


^aUkuU. 


Clotjuet,  Cruveilhier,  and  some  other  anatomists  have  stated  that  the 
eapacily  of  the  skull  is  uhoiit  the  same  in  difTerent  races.  Tieileniaim, 
Ward,  and  later  writers  have  (ailer  ex|>erinient)  coine  to  very  differeot 
conelusiuus.     Thu8  Ward  gives  the  following  table  [toe.  rit.  p.  61). 


French  I  ^ 
Chineie  '!  ^ 
Scythian  |  1' 


Wetgtit  of  tliaU 

wJthoui 

Weight  of  mUlHieed* 

lower  Jaw. 

euutalueU. 

.     26.0     ox. 

avoir.      . 

.     42.5     oz 

11  voir. 

.     20.0       " 

.      81.6      *• 

ii 

.     S46      '• 

.     87,26    •• 

ti 

.     27,0      •' 

.     8»25    " 

n 

.     40.25    " 

,     84.0      " 

»l 

.     32.0      ♦• 

.     36.75    •• 

it 

In  the  musenra  of  the  London  Hospital  there  are  skulls  of  different 
races,  which  might  easily,  both  for  size  and  capacity,  be  taken  to  be 
Euro|>ean,  though  not  so.  Hence  extreme  caution  most  guide  you  m 
drawing  conclusions  m  to  race  from  bone«  only.  The  .*ikin  of  the  oegro 
and  that  of  other  dark  races  is  peculiar  in  the  great  depth  of  color  and 
thickness  of  the  rete  nmcosiim,  or  stratum  Malpighii.  The  hair  is  alao 
well  koowQ  to  be  modified  by  race. 


IIL    Pergonal  Idrntittj   from  Person  at  PecuHnrifus,  Scars  ^  Marks  of 
Fracture  and  IHt^loration^  IjOtus  of  Limbs^  etc. 

Thh  part  of  our  subject  may  be  divided  ioto  two  parts — (I)  Personal 
peculiarities  which  are  congenital;  (2)  Those  which  are  acquin*d.  In 
regard  to  the  former,  the  factis  of  hereditary  tranrtmi.ssioo  of  peculiar  fea- 
tures are  too  well  known  to  need  more  than  simple  mention  here.  We 
may  remind  you  of  the  remarkable  likeness  of  successive  generations  in 


LAWS   OF    HEREDITY. 


579 


»im  and  the  Austrian  ri>yal  farailies.     Not  only  the  featnre,i,  but 

wVUnf  manner,  modes  of  speeoh,  handwriting,  leit-handednejis,  an<l  the 

lilt  :irr  handed  down  from   father  to  sou,  though  ocaisionally  they  s'kip 

ion  (atavism).     A  remarkable  instance  cif  tlds  kind  it*  known  to 

..'Tf*:  A   man  who  i*hot  with  the  left  hand  never  wiw  h«r*  son,  and 

ihr  «oo  grew   up   in   entire  ipnoranfe  uf  his   father  and  of  hi>*  father's 
"  '^    '    t  lihouting.     He  also  wa.<  a  left-handed  shot,  both  being  excellent 


50.  H, 


,  and  nasvi,  and  polydartylism  irfpe  2  Sam.  21 :  20;  and  1  Chron. 
Rre  aliw  trannmitteMl  thn>n^b  many  generations.  So  are  iiueh  pe- 
•  a*  hy[i<jspadias  {*ef  chapter  on  Monstrosities).  Gout,  eonsimip- 
1  ^yphiliH  are  familiar  examples  of  hereditary  diseases.  Of  the 
)»iAkU  we  tuay  aay,  io  the  language  of  Byron, 

♦'Son  wUhI  Ihy  enilty  lnvf»  htiB  dortf?, 
Kepmid  thee  with  tou  like  a  sou.*' 

Kftwlera  of  Horace   do   not  need  to  b«  reminded  that  this  po^^t  haa 
■Itvtclml  the  main   facts  of  heredity  in   the   fourth  ode  of  his   fourth 

"  Forte*  cronntur  fortil>ii«  H  b<*nis  : 
K»t.  in  jiivericiH,  I'stin  o<)uiH  piitruiu 
Vrrlu*:  nrc  imlH>il<»fri  ffrncoji, 
Prog<*nerttnt  wcjiiilie  col um bum." 

It  ba<»  jrenerally  been  held  that  the  mnh  parent  transmits  the  characters 

w  ihf  akeleton,  ihe  conforroatitm  of  the  limbs,  of  the  brain,  and  of  the 

JJ>ir>~in  other  words,  the  animal  cfmracters,  or  orpioti  of  geusori-niotor 

w:  NhiUt  the  Jrmalr  parent  is  s*iipp<ised  to  transmit  the  constitntion  and 

•fil  orpuns,  particularly  the  chylopoietic  viscera,  or  the  organs  of 

life  and  the  sympathetic  trervfrns  system.     This  may  be  mainly 

the  exceptions  are  so  nnmernus  that  the  rule  is  iiseies*»  in  a 

.:il  j>»n*nt  of  view.     That  the  jwirent  whose  age  is  in  exce.«s  will, 

\  determine  the  sex,  is  now  generally  admitted  by  breeders 

•allle.    One  caution  is,  however,  necessary.     Likmr^  or  re- 

,  hofvcvfr  *lrf/ng,  ilo^^  not  ntc^nsarUy  prove  poierniiy,  taken  bfj  it^^lf^ 

,.'r.,Hut  of  oUi vljfm,  ami  purtly  bt'CfWM  it  u  eriremfiy  probahle  that 

'i/;m  itmde  upon  the  mothft't*  mmd  mny  detennine  rvjieinblancea, 

v>t^ii-knowD  case  of  Jacobs  rods  and  speckled  sheep  and  goata, 

:\%  nd  fin, 

j'artictilarly  hairy  ones,  are  sometime*  transmitted  through  sev- 

(jiiiuns^     Kitvi,  or  mother's  marks,  are  far  more  common  than  i» 

»upfM «*«?().     Kveu  when    thej»e  have  been  removed  by  surgical 

a  |iermanent  cicatrix  will  be  left,  except,  perhaps,  in  the  case  of 

M  or  rariilhiry  xwkvx.      One  rye  fins)  iJ*  mnwUmen  of  n  difftn-ent  hue 

''mt.     Thl«<  is  rare  in  the  human  subjef^,  though  pretty  common  to 

r  animals.     Such  evident  malformations  as  harelip  or 

arrely  e?<cape  attention  ;    though,  especially  after  the 

u-'he,  the  traces  of  thefie  deformities,  after  surgiciil  skill 

J  often  veiy  slight  indeed.     A  double  or  l^ifid  uvula  is  a 

that  run*  malformaticm  Mow  than  1  in  10,(^HK)k 

hail  ofu^n  http|>encd  that  the  bum  of  onf  or  ttco  fingrrn,  or  of  a  whole 

I,  liM  led  to  (he  irlentiGcation  of  a  criminal  or  of  a  bfMjy,     The  prrjh 

or  tA^ener  of  trrth,  and  estjeciallv  of  nriifirtnt  treih^  ha«  wveral  timea 

•  litming'point  in  quettionn  of  penonal  identity.     One  i>nr^h  ca«w. 

Dr.  Taylor,  \»  excessively  curiou*.     Briefly,  thii  caac  it  a«  fol- 


MISTAKEN    IDENTITY  —  CABB8. 


lows:  Elhnbeth  Eo$«  was  tried  at  the  Old  Bailey,  in  December,  1831,  for 
the  murder  of  OiroNue  WaMi.  The  mtinlered  woman,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, was*  traced  to  the  prisonerV  room.  Ross's  son  deposed  lo  hi,s  mother's 
cilffocatitig  the  old  woman  Walsh,  an<l  then  going  out  with  siomething 
heavy  in  a  sack,  (The  hif,di  price  and  seareity  of  anatomical  suhjects  at 
that  time  rendered  sn<*h  murders  profitahleO  The  evetiinfr  of  the  day 
following,  an  old  woman  called  Caroline  Welsh,  also  an  Irisliwornan,  wa^ 
fonnd  in  a  oeighbonng  street  in  an  exhausted  and  dirt?  condition,  with  a 
fraeinred  hip,  and  taken  to  the  London  Hospital,  where  she  afterwards 
died,  an<l  was  buried.  Ross,  the  prisoner,  as,serted  that  this  was  the 
woman  she  was  accused  of  murdering.  Notwiihstunding  the  son's  evi- 
dence, the  defence  was  a  phiusible  one,  but  after  examination  of  ab<mt 
twenty  witnesses,  it  was  proved  that,  though  both  were  Irish,  yet  \V<tl»h 
came  from  Kilkenny,  Welifh  from  Wuterfurd.  Wninh,  who  was  munlered, 
was  eighty  four,  tall,  willow,  had  gray  hair,  and,  strange  to  »i\\\ptrfcd 
inn'sor  trtih.  ITfWi,  whti  died  in  the  Londmi  Hospital ,  was  about  sixty, 
tall^  dark  as  a  muhitto,  and  had  no  front  teeth.  One  metlieal  witne.s^ 
swore  that  the  ahmiar  cuvitiej*  hfid  been  ohlilrrufed  for  a  couitiderabJf  time. 
The  jaw  was  brought  into  court,  but  not  produced.  Lastly,  two  daugh- 
ters of  Walsh  swore  that  the  body  of  We!sh  was  not  that  of  their  mother. 
Some  other  resemhlances  (of  dress  and  of  baskets)  were  proved.  But 
Walsh  was  healthy,  clean,  and  neat,  and  in  fair  eoudition.  Welsh  wag 
dirty  and  much  emaciated. 

On  the  trial  of  PrnJ'e^or  Wehter  for  the  nmrder  of  Dr.  Parknian,  at 
Bftslon,  Uiiitefl  States,  in  1850,  the  evidence  of  the  dentist.  Dr.  Ki3ep,  who 
supplied  him  with  sets  of  artificial  teeth,  in  blocks  for  each  jaw,  four 
years  before,  was  of  great  importance.  Afthough  an  attempt  had  been 
made  to  destroy  them  by  fire,  vet  enouijh  remained  to  identify  them.  The 
very  heat  used  to  melt  the  gold  had  given  a  pink  color  tt?  some  of  the 
teeth,  thus  proving  the  use  of  gold.  One  of  ihe  blocks  fitted  to  a  great 
natural  irregularity  in  the  lower  jaw  of  the  murdered  man. 

In  the  Tichhorne  trial,  very  juuch  depended  upju  the  following  fact<»: 
1st.  The  lobes  or  lubnles  of  the  real  Ri>ger"s  ear's  were  very  badly  devel- 
oi>ed,  and  continuous  with  the  face.  The  claitnant  had  well-marked  lobef) 
to  his  ears.  2d.  The  real  Roger  hud  an  isj^ue  in  one  ann.  kept  open  a 
long  tinie,  which  was  almost  certain  to  have  left  an  indelible  nuuk  or  sear. 
Some  said  he  had  a  setou,  also.  ,3d.  The  real  R(>ger  had  been  bled  fre- 
quently in  both  arms,  both  ankles,  and  one  temple.  4th.  Tht^re  was  con- 
siderable evitleU'ce  to  show  that  he  had  also  been  tattooed.  5ih.  The 
claimant  asserted,  or  a  witness  called  Bniwn  for  him,  that  he  had  u  brown 
mark  on  his  side.  It  did  not  appear,  however,  that  the  real  Roger  ever 
had  a  simitar  mark.  In  regard  to  the  operations  mentioned,  note  that  in 
the  vast  majority  of  cases  the  tnarls  uf  veufuvdum  are  veiy  penmment  and 
evident.  The  authors  have  seen  marks  of  bleeding  performed  twenty-six, 
thirty,  and  even  fifty  years  ago,  and  cupping-marks  of  equal  anti<|uity. 
The  scar  of  the  lancet  (if  bleeding  have  been  done  pro|w'rly )  is  oblique. 
It  is  usually  at  the  bend  of  the  elbow.  Yet  the  authoi-s  have  known  ca!«e8 
of  t^imilar  marks  i'm  young  persouij;  disiippeuring  in  less  than  twelve 
years.  Remend>er  that  aiJ  ricafriet'ii,  no  tnafter  what  their  original  mhape,  grt 
modified  by  h'wtt,  and  the  voit  majariitf  of  them  become  more  and  morf  linear. 
In  relation  to  tattooing,  the  authors  have  examined  some  hundreds  of 
tattoo  marks  on  persons  of  diJfering  age??,  sex,  and  nationality*  and  the 
re>ult  of  their  examination  Is  that  in  an  overwhelming  prnfiortitm  of  cases 
these  marks  are  i)racticttlly  indelible,  except  bv  such  means  as  de<stroy  the 
«kin  also;  **  they  fade,  but  do  not  disappear,'^  if  the  operation  has  been 
efiiciently  performed.    This  permanence  is  particularly  the  character  of 


MISTAKEN    IDENTITY — CASES. 


This  list  ie  not  put  forward  as  exfmiistive.  Most  aoiite  inflatnmatinns, 
such  as  heijatitis^  gastritis,  etc,  will  exljibit  i^igm?  familiar  tu  the  |mtli*>l* 
o^ist,  if  the  patieoC  dies  in  the  attack  ;  but  if  fie  recover,  and  die  at  a 
Buliserjuent  period,  do  certain  sigo  of  the  previous  diKeast^  may  be  round. 
As  re»^anl.-i  ttfphuft  fever,  the  ras*h  re,*«einblitig  tlie  [letechiie  of  purjjura  might 
be  tound  after  dfulh  within  the  first  fourteen  days,  aloij;^  with  a  dark  fluid 
state  of  the  blood,  which  is  said  to  i)e  dehcieut  in  fibrin,  antl  general 
congestion  of  all  the  internal  organs.  In  ttfpfioid  or  enteric  fever  idoih- 
inenteritia)  Peyer's  patches?  in  the  lower  end  of  the  ileum  should  be  ex- 
amined; no  rash  on  theskiw  will  be  found  after  death.  Alter  nn*aslea  and 
eearlet  fever,  particularly  the  latter,  the  Rkin  may  be  found  tiesquamatiug, 
and  the  urine  will  probably  be  albumtnong.  In  most  infective  di.seasies, 
the  spleen  will  be  found  enlarged.  For  the  special  signs  in  hanging, 
drowning,  and  suflTocatioti,  we  refer  you  to  the  special  chapter  on  thei^e 
suhJL'et.H.  [See  Delafield's  '*  Handbook  of  Post-tntirtem  ExaniioatioU!* ;" 
JoneHand  Sieveking'*  **  Mannal  of  Pathology  "  (ChurchillV,  KijulHeisch's 
**  Fathjd.  Anatomy"  (Dr.  Baxters  translatiou,  New  Sydenham  8ueiety); 
Wdks  and  Moxou'*  "Handbook  of  Pathology.'*  The  bibliography  ut 
tike  end  of  *'  Hindfleiach '*  gives  a  copiou.-*  [hi  of  larger  W(>rk^  and  mt»no- 
graphs,  by  8ueh  men  en*  Audral,  Billroth,  Cruveilhier,  Lebert,  Morgnjjui, 
Kokiuiusky,  Virehow,  etc.,  etc.]  The  eiiecis  of  time,  disease,  trouble,  truaess, 
and  artistic  skill  on  the  color  of  the  hair  have  already  been  noted.  {See 
page  5yi.) 

1\^,  iliihih  and  ge^tureji  have  occasionally  led  to  the  arrest  of  criminals, 
and  the  ivcognition  of  relatives,  in  our  opinion,  it  woyld  be  iinwi.se  to  lav 
too  grent  stress  upon  ihei^e,  except  in  conjunction  with  other  imruistukabfe 
marks  of  identity.  How  easy  it  is  to  make  mistakes  is  shown  by  tli«^  ease 
of  Martin  Guerre,  brought  before  the  Parliament  of  Toulouse,  in  1560 
("  Fodere,"  vol.  i,  chap,  2,  from  the  Causes  Celt^bres,  par  Mfjau  ).  ^lartin 
Guerre  had  been  away  from  home  eight  years.  An  adventurer,  called 
Armand  Dutille,  who  ajjpears  to  have  exhibited  the  closest  posr-ible  re* 
semblance  in  teaiturea  and  |)erson  Uv  Guerre,  passed  himself  oH'  as  the  man 
himself;  was  accepted  as  her  husbanrl  by  Guerre's  wiiie,  who  bad  children 
by  him,  and  took  pos,*essioij  of  all  his  property.  He  lived  three  year»  in 
the  family,  with  four  sisters  and  two  brothers-indaw  of  Guerre's,  without 
exciting  their  suspicions.  At  last,  his  claims  were  disputed,  but  when  the 
matter  c-ame  to  trial,  ooly  the  reappearance  of  the  real  Martin  <  ruerre, 
and  the  full  recYignition  of  the  true  man  by  the  brothers  and  sisters  led 
the  judges  to  pronounce  Dutille  an  impostor.  Foder6's  book  meutions 
several  other  curious  cases,  most  of  which  are  quoted  by  Beck  {he,  ri/...  p. 
37iit  etc.).  One  more,  that  of  Baronet,  is  worth  quoting.  He  was  born  in 
1717,10  the  diocese  of  Kheims,  and  Icll  his  home  at  twenty-five  to  get 
his  living  as  a  domestic,  and  he  returned  home  after  twenty-two  years 
to  claim  a  little  profierty.  His  sister  bad  spent  this,  and  persuaded  a 
neighbor,  named  Bubillot^  to  claim  her  brother  as  his  son.  He  did  M}  at 
first,  but  recantetl.  However,  as  his  sister  denied  him.  Baronet  was  fteut 
to  the  giilleys.  After  a  few  ye^irs,  public  ojnniou  changed,  and  the  Parlia- 
ment of  Paris  was  aj^pealed  to,  Atnongst  others,  Ij^ujis,  the  great  surgeoo, 
was  consulted.  He  inclined  to  iiaronrf^  side,  and  the  man  was  restored 
to  liberty  and  his  legal  rights.  Amongst  i>ther  dilfereuces.  Baronet  was 
sixty,  Bubilhjt  only  forty-six  ;  the  latu-r  had  a  mrmm  on  hU  thiyk^  accord* 
ing  to  old  Brtbillot  the  father,  whilst  Baronet  bad  no  such  mark. 

Dr.  Guy  {lor,  cU,,  p.  2)  mentions  the  case  of  a  barber's  apprentice,  named 
Mall,  who,  in  1772,  was  trieil  at  the  Old  Bailey  for  robbing  a  Mrs.  Hvao. 
He  was  pitsitively  identified  by  the  witnesses,  and  the  whole  court  adjut^ged 
bmi  guilty.     But  on  referring  to  the  books  of  the  court,  it  was  pcuve<l  that 


I 


I 

I 


IDENTITY    FROM    HANDWRITINO, 

bad  ink,  or  bad  paper,  will  all  greatly  alter  the  general  stylo;  and  heD< 
the  same  person,  at  ditterenl  ages,  and  even  at  diHereut  times  of  the  iianie 
day,  may  write  (his  name,  fur  instance)  very  difftreutly  at  one  time  to 
what  he  doe^  at  another.  Yet,  allowing  for  all  these  ditierences  of  the 
individual  from  himself,  it  may  salely  be  said  that, — 

2.  Every  person,  male  or  female,  gentle  or  aim  pie,  has  a  style  of  hand- 
writing of  hii»  or  her  own;  and  no  two  writiuti^a  are  quite  alike,  unless  one 
is  purpo^ly  imitated  frura  the  uther,  or  traced  from  it.  In  order  to  learn 
what  the  t-tyle  of  the  persou  whose  writiug  we  are  studying  really  is,  we 

should  next, — 

3.  See  as  much  of  the  writing  as  possible,  and,^ — 

4.  Examine  it  with  a  lens  as  well  as  with  the  naked  eye.  Erasures,  and 
difiereut  kind^  of  ink,  and  the  effei-ts  of  reagents  can  often  be  better  seen 
in  this  way. 

We  should  study — (ti)  how  he  makes  his  capitals,  and  (b)  his  small 

lettei"!* — the  latter,  in  the  opinion  of  mo:^t  experts,  are  the  more  important; 
and  (c)  how  he  joini?  his  letters,  tiud  if  he  joio:*  words;  [d)  the  eoutrat'tious 
be  employs;  ie)  his  method  of  jmnotuation,  and  the  way  he  begins  and 
end*  bi«  letter:* ;  (/)  tiie  way  he  nmke!5  his  tigurej*;  {<;)  purtieuiar  methods 
of  spelling,  or  mistakes  (leaving  out  a  letter,  etc.),  which  frequently  recur; 
(A  J  the  use  of  particular  phrases,  uud  the  general  style  of  eomp<isiitiou»  as 
for  example,  if  the  style  be  Htudiously  correct,  or  free  and  colloquial,  if 
classical  or  poetical  quotations  are  introduced,  and  the  like. 

The  following  extracts  from  Air.  Chabot's  evidence  in  a  trial  of  a 
shipowuer  for  forgery  and  perjury  in  September,  1875,  will  explain  our 
meaning : 

"  The  letter  m  in  the  word  management^  was  commenced  somewhat  dis- 
tinctively. Defendant  frequently  commenced  his  w's  similarly,  as  appeared 
in  several  of  his  letters  ..,,...  There  was  no  distinctiveness  in  Mr, 

D 'a  g,  but  there  was  in  the  defendant  s  in  numerous  iustances  which 

corresponded  with  ihe  g  \n  the  disputed  words;.     In  the  letter  r  in  another 

letter  of  Mr.  D s  thtre  wa*  not  a  shoulder  to  it;  there  was  in  the 

letter  r  of  the  disputed  words;  and  in  the  defejidant's  writing  there  w&s 

fret|uenily  that  shoulder  to  liis  /8.  .......  Mr.  D always  begau 

his  letter  t  with  a  thick  stroke,  and  the  letter  t  in  the  disputed  words  and 
his  letters  were  very  much  alike." 

In  a  disputed  will  case,  the  will  of  a  blind  lady,  the  same  witness  spoke 
of  *' the  singular  way  in  which  CGof>er  (one  of  the  prisoners)  wrote  the 
word  Queen.*  There  was  no  i^,  but  two  u's,  and  .this  appeared  in  the 
alleged  wilL  There  were  other  peculiarities,  such  as  a  small  a  for  Adol- 
phus,  which  the  det^eased  wa^s  never  guilty  of  writing."  Many  words  were 
misspelled.  Photos  of  the  writing  were  produced  in  court.,  and  Mr. 
Chabot  had  to  undergo  a  searching  crossexamiuation.  He  !iad  no  reason 
to  alter  his  opinion  of  the  various  modes  of  writing  ;  and  sf>ecially  pointed 
out  the  way  in  which  the  deceased,  during  the  last  mouth  of  her  life, 
joined  ail  her  words  t«>gcther,  for  she  was  so  blind  that  if  she  took  up  her 
jxn  she  knew  she  could  not  place  it  down  again  ou  the  same  sp<»t.  He 
could  Dot  say  whether  he  could  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  will  was  a 


♦  The  prboncr  wrot©  it  lo  several  times  when  naked  to  write  the  word  "  Queen." 


STMPATHBTIC    AND    OTHER    ISKS. 


68ft 


r,  withoat  reference  to  the  small  letters.     Mr  Cliabot  was  also  a 

ID  the  gi'eat  Tich borne  ciise. 

U  may  be  well  to  explnin  here  that  the  raediral  term  **  aprapluu  "  (h>eH 

pan  total  inability  to  write,  but  is  analogous  to  "aphasin,"  *'upliemia,** 

■milar  terni8,  U8ed  to  express  loss  of  fo-onlinatin^  power,  or  hms  of 

r»for  certain  word^  and  certaio  combinations  of  letters  or  ^ords. 

V^rifiuff  Inks — Siffitpatheiic  Ink§ — Forged  DocumenU  and 
Vrifptogrnphtj. 

ftuT  titf  tune  of  Ovid,,  who  taiifrht  lovers  to  use  lemon- jiiire,  and  warm 

il.  milk  to  be  rubbed  over  with  noot,  ami  other  method.s  of  tJC^TcL  writinjtr, 

vrnpathetio  or  iiivi^iiliie  inks  have  been  ioventcd.     Borne  of 

Mted  orj  the  followiuj;  table. 

Hfi   Kc^kuian'g    '*  Hisitory   of   Inventions"    (Leipzif^,    1780-1805;    5 

ildk^    A  tmnshition  af>peur?  in  2  voU.  in  Bohn  8  itenes.     Article  "8ym- 

tic  Inks.**    S^^  al»u  the  various  eocy el  opted ia«. 


Isk. 


iir.Triif.iti  uf  pnmUte 
rfKrymltJdt  of 

•i  iDiqitk  rr* 
•u  Ml. I  liiiiti^^rlilo- 
rOf  of  Kitwlt  Cu"  CI*. 

)>riilM  of  cotmlt 


iflnn  of  KoM  ind 

•  1,  or    tllT^r  (li- 
.NU^  in  dUUllcd 


DeT«lo|ier. 


DIUil«  si»hitf<)n»  afprutoaiil- 
jih.itK  rf  iroit.  1. 1  little 
■  litin  Iniprort  4  \M%.) 

A*  ■'•uvc^,  or  <lilut<'  iM-Tchlo- 

fido  of  ilntl  HilutlOtl. 

B'UI  lo  the  firt*  atid  hooted, 
SI)  •»  To  Ih>  aiihy«lrou».  (A 
hut  kruD  tuny  Im  UHrd.} 

Treated  «»  abore. 


Color. 


Dftrk-broirn  nt  bl*ck. 


Rich  blue. 


Blue.  (Fkdp*  scAln  n*  it 
cooh  ill  It  ii>nl»l  ■linii»> 
phtTf.y    f'jtii  be  reuderud 

Gn'f'n.  K«d«'ft  r*  »Ik?  one 
alxfvi.'.  Mild  atKulM  apfniars 
wllb  hrsit. 

Browiii»h-blac1c  or  purple 
tint.  (Mui.1  Ub  Iri-iil  lu 
djirk  till  it  is  to  be  ntaU.) 


Xfirlr  all  the  common  black  writing  inks  contain  gallate  or  l annate  of 
in«,  held  in  suspension  by  gum.  Gulli*  contain  gallo-taniiic  acid  and  |»ec- 
toi?,wji*lly,  which  converts  the  pallo-tanuic  acid  into  gallic,  by  ex|-Kw*ure 
^•ir.  Jhiit  gives  a  deeper  black  wiih  ferric  salts  than  gaUolamtic  acid 
tft  cijnwdered  best  for  part  of  the  oxidation  to  take  place  t>n  or 
Hence  the  ink  i;«  bottled,  and  acids  (Bulphuric,  commonly) 
to  delay  the  oxidali<m.  Cloves,  carbolic  acid,  and  other  anti- 
are  Add<*d  to  prevent  it.**  becoming  mouldy.  The  following  tal»le 
Watta's  "  Dictionary  of  Chemistry  "  ehowii  the  coiiip<j«ilion  of  several 


• 

k 

l«7. 

• 

4 

• 

/ 

f 

* 

i 

i 

k 
•0. 

i 

m 

A-- 

in. 

Itt. 

cs. 

11. 

M. 

.174. 

» 

44. 

n. 

Ti 

71. 

«. 

& 

ss. 

SI. 

19. 

S2. 

117. 

i«. 

SO. 

n 

11. 

^^K  •  • 

It. 

U. 

M. 

It. 

IS. 

A. 

•. 

a. 

47. 

10 

i«. 

iij 

i: 

:i 

•• 

•  * 

; ! 

•  • 

•  • 

MS*. 

xm. 

100. 

ID. 

21. 

*  • 

iiigrpdienifl  are  calculated  for  1000  parta  of  water;  a,  h,  e  nro 
too  firoog  for  oomnoo  use ;  <  e,  j  are  very  good  ;  g  U  rmlber  too 


586 


IVti  —  DETECTION  OF  ERA8URB8. 


pule.     J,  k,  K  are  copying  inks,  containing  as  tliey  do  sugar,  which  caus 
the  ink  t«  adliere  wlietj  <lry,  so  that  u  copy  may  he  taken  oflri)y  presiding  a 
moistened  isheet  of  unsized  paper  upon  the  written  paper. 

The  fio-rnlled  Alizarin  inks  coniuin  a  little  free  acid,  and  generally 
?onie  i^nlphfiie  of  iuditro.  Such  inksi  h»^i'ome  very  hlark  hy  c\po)«ure  to 
aniiiKiniacnl  funie.«s.  Extract  of  lopjwood  niixeci  with  potai>»inni  chroinato 
nuike.s  a  'jood  bliK*k  ink,  which  dues  nut  fn*»iild  ;  it  is,  huwcvcr,  apt  t*)  j^et 
viM'id  arifi  ;;i'Iaiinous.  Nearly  all  the  ink^  nieuiiuncd  can  be  reni<ivcd  \\y 
chlivrinf^,  oxalic  acid  polution,  or  dih>te  bydrucldoric  acid.  In<iian  inks 
a«lded  to  them  prevent  this.  Truill*s  indelilde  ink  is  prepared  byili.ssolv- 
in^  wheat  ^luleu  h\  vinegar  of  .*ip.  ^r.  lO.o:^,  after  steeping  it  24  to  86 
huurs  in  water^  and  rubbing  up  tlie  ii»iui<l  with  Indian  ink  or  larnjiblack. 
Ani»ther  indelilde  ink  is*  formed  by  niixinji  flfTovfion  of  tjulU  with  vumfi/ote 
of  (Dnviotn'it,  Chluriiio  destroy!^  the  bhick»  but  does  not  remove  the  ink* 
Acid»  turn  it  blue.  Some  of  the  ^i/irr  inks  (permanent  marking  inks;  are 
aln^Mt  indelihh',  but  cyanide  of  potansiyjo  dis^solves  tliem. 

Aniliii  Idack  and  other  aniliu  iuk:^  nreriiiw  often  asted. 

Bfur  hih,  Prussian  bhie  30  pans,  oxalic  aciiJ  4  part.*,  water  1000  parts. 
An(*ther  contains:  Prussian  blue  12.5  parts,  oxalic  acid  2u  partn,  water 
lOdU. 

h'f'il  Lif:*.  1  part  of  good  carmine  dis.«ulved  in  120  of  caustic  ammonia, 
H  irnm  Arabic.  A  cheaper  one  =^12  |»arl>i  of  powdered  eochincal,  4  parl« 
am m<»nia  carbonate,  .S2  partA  of  liot  wuter.  Di^jeKt  and  decant.  Another 
by  boiling  2  Ibt*.  Brazilwood,  and  H  lb.  Kui>el  or  Koch  alum,  and  2  gals,  of 
good  vinegar.     Boil  to  half. 

Yelloio  and  Green  Inh.  The  former  by  decoction  of  saffron,  the  latter 
by  indigO'carniine,  mixed  with  picric  acid. 

PriiiitrH  ink  is  cFk^entially  carbonaceous,  containing  boiled  linseed  oil 
(first  clarified),  yellow  s'<»!ip,  drying  ingredient.**,  Buch  ai*  borate  of  mau- 
gane-sc  and  lampblack  OO  jicr  cent,  of  tlie  oil  adilcd  and  stirred  up). 

Vermilion,  ultramarine,  and  lead  cliromate,  are  used  lor  red,  blue,  and 
yellow  ink?;,  instead  of  the  lampbhick. 

Erofimr-'<  can  be  detected  in  variouj;!  ways — with  a  lens,  or  fsonietlmes  by 
merely  bidding  up  the  pajjer  to  the  light;  Mrjmetimef;  by  wetting  it  nn  a 
plate  of  gliifis,  when  the  liquid  will  be  found  to  be  more  greedily  absorbed 
at  the  erasure  than  ebewliere.  The  use  of  paraifiii,  of  turpentine,  or  of 
benzol,  ha.i  al*f J  l»een  recommended  when  the  paper  is  very  thick.  The 
character  of  the  original  (laper,  whether  hand  or  mtichine  made,  whether 
glazed  on  the  surface  only  or  all  through,  de:*erves.carcfy|  study.  Forgers 
often  UhC  .^ome  gnn>,  varnish,  or  glaze,  over  the  spi>t  they  have  scraped  or 
era2«ed.  Size  and  other  anima!  gelatine  are  browned  by  weak  iodine  so- 
lutions. Starch  will  turn  blue  with  the  j^nnie.  Gum  will  be  soluble  ia 
water,  and  precimtated  again  hy  abjohol.  Resinows  bodies  are  soltible  in 
alcohrd,  and  will  ho  precipitated  by  water.  But  in  the  vn!*t  nnijority  of 
instances,  the  u>*e  of  a  f^olatiou  or  tincture  of  galU  will  reveal  the  remaius 
of  the  iron  ink  which  formed  the  original  writing.  If  acid:*  have  been 
UBcd  to  remove  the  original  ink,  their  presence  nniy  generally  be  detected 
by  the  use  of  lirmn*i'paper,  unlei!i.«i  they  have  been  neutralized.  Modera 
papen*  coloi-ed  with  ultramarine  are  so  changed  (the  blue  into  yellow)  by 
acidi*,  that  these  are  scarcely  likely  to  be  U'^ed.  Sujall^  and  Berlin  blue 
admit  of  acids  as  bleaching  agents.  To  detect  the  bidden  eran^d  writing, 
pencil  first  with  weaksohition  of  ammonia,  then  with  the  pi\h  solution. 
The  ferriK\vanide  of  pota^aium  solution  sometimes  givea  good  results,  bring* 
ing  out  the  blue  color  of  iron  ink;?,  but  in  this  ease  no  ammonia  t«hould 
be  used.  When  cldorine  or  hypochlorite?  have  been  applied  freely,  almost 
all  inks,  except  those  containing  carbon,  are  destroyctl.     The  ammonia 


1 


BUHAN    MONSTERS — DEFORMITIES. 

5.  A  man  accused  of  unehastity  may  allege  that  he  is  sexually  inca> 
pable. 

6.  A  husband  or  wife  desiring  heirs,  may  consult  you  as  to  the  wife*8 
caparity  fur  chihU>earing. 

7.  Mothers,  who!>e  dau^rhters  suffer  under  some  real  or  fancied  malfor- 
mation of  the  sexual  org:iiit8f  will  consult  yuu  as  to  whether  their  daugh- 
ters should  or  may  marry. 

8.  You  may  be  ctiut-ultfld  on  llie  possibility  or  probability  of  an  heir  or 
heirs  laAnfj^  barn  to  an  estate  when  one  or  bdth  marritd  persons  are  ad- 
vanced in  life. 

The  fir?t  question  is  briefly  answered  in  mogt  works  on  forensic  medi- 
cine, and  we  think  justly.  Mr.  Lowne  remarks  that  al!  deformities  known 
tf)  uj*  may  be  clas-^ed  uodor  either — ( 1  )  Variation,  ur  (2)  I>uf)liciiy*  or  (3) 
Kxec'ss  of  growth,  or  l4)  Arrest  of  growth,  or  (o)  Arrest  r>f  dtfvch>pmeiit, 
ur  {♦>)  lyu^a-se.  The  great  majority,  if  not  all,  may,  however,  be  indmled 
un*k'r  three  headiiijL:-^ :  (A)  Congenitiil  deliciencics  of  sitriR'ture,  with  ar- 
rejsted  or  defective  development  and  growth  of  parts  [ac^ju/ut/otw,  or  head- 

Fig.  07. 


Z!^' 


"^^ 


."^ 


^, 


-A 


less;  aneneqfihahm,  or  brflinles.*;  (iranVieif,  or  heartless  monsters,  together 
with  the  almost  endlejsij  varieties  with  deficient  fingers,  toes,  limbo,  eyes, 
ears;  deficiency  of  abdominal  walls*,  harelip,  eleft-palate,  etc.,  etc.,  may  all 
be  reckoned  here].  (B)  C^jngenital  redundancy  of  parts,  including  l!>e 
union  of  two  or  more  embryos.  People  with  six  or  more  fingers  and  tcK?8, 
Hupemumerar>-  nipples,  llie  "Hiamer<e  twins,"  "Two-headed  Nightingale," 
and  •*  Hungarian  .*iisters;"  and  many  other  examples  are  properly  ranged 
here,  and  will  readily  occur  to  the  mind.  (C)  Acquired  dctormities  and 
diseased  growth.  Goitre,  clubfeet,  paralytic  and  spastic  conditions, 
spinal  delormitie'?,  loss  of  limbs  in  uteni,  or  afterwards,  hypertrophic, 
warty,  or  semi-malignant  hypertrophy  of  clitoris,  penis,  scrotum,  etc., 
belong  to  this  class.     The  subdivisions  of  united  or  divided  parts  may 


Iw  referred  to  one  of  the^e  three  classes.     A  careful  eoDsideration  of 

ifcf' ^fnviraeiii*  iu  our  museums,  or  figiirt-d  in  works  ou  the  j^ubjert,  has  ron- 
TU|(tii  us  that  very  few,  if  uuy,  of  the  bumaii  niuiii^ttrs  who  are  coptthfe  of 
!■»  to  adult  age  (>»n  fuirly  be  denied  some  humao  sbupe.""  llowever 
PRifuI  l()  free,  or  uDpjlea?-aiit  1*)  have,  merr  want  of  limbw  can  scarcely  be 
lallifd  monstrosity,  A  recent  meiuljer  of  Puriiunient  wa*}  borti  almost  eu- 
iMk  iimblesfi,  yet  by  nieatis  of  nieehanical  uontrivanc'ei*,  is  gaid  not  (Hily 
^Bb  p^A  ^bot  and  a  bold  iiorsemati,  but  nl^i  to  be  able  to  write  and 
^B pictures.  Deformities  it\'  tbe  sexual  ur^'aus  require  more  careful  con- 
jHitton,  and  may  even  acquire  political  importance,  where,  as  in  the 
pwi»'d  Slates,  the  right  of  voting  is  given  to  all  adult  male.*,  and  eagerly 
muifhl  for.  The  s?exual  organs  ui  nialca  and  iemaied  may  be  cla.-vsed  ha 
Analogous  and  homologous  parts  io  the  two  sexes  are  arranged 
it^  oDe  another,  as  far  as  po^sftiblc  : 


Ixtcrnal  orgaos,  so  called  Qon-eaaeutial  or  less  essential 

IfALK. 


•myy  portion  of  urethra. 


FBMALK. 
Afo»nw<B. 

Vrr.thrn. 

Labia  majora  and  minora. 


IL  Middle,  or,  especially  in  the  fetiiale»  more  essential  organs. 

MALK. 

I    ind    spongy    portion    of 


ip'Tularit, 
drfi«rrniiii,   eJHCulatory  duct*,  unrl 
H'Mni  null's     from      Wolffiarj 


Itff  Morgftgni. 
iiNculum  ieitii. 


FEMALE. 

Duvernay's  or  BHrihulini'eglnndB. 
Vagina,  roUh  bofty  and  cervix  rj/*  uieru». 


Parovarium  or  orgnn  of  R<iift<*ninuller. 
Fnllitpiioi    tuln's  »md    u|«|ior   portioa    of 

iiteru-  frnm  Mulk-rV  ihicta* 
Ruund  liguaitint  of  ulcrua. 


luteroal  or  essential  organs. 


MALK. 


PKMALK. 


Otraria, 


\^t>  following  table,  from  T)r.   W.  M.    Bank's  prize  thesis    "On  the 
*'f>lftiari   H<Klie!4  iu    the   F<etu?!,  and   their  Ilcmains  iu    tbe  Adult,"  etc., 
'rd  by  Dr.  Carpenter),  gives  clearly  the  origin  and  homologies 
•ral  partji  of  the  uro-genital  system  in  tbe  two  cases: 


III  TBI  rKMALB. 

^Atiiry    tulM«  mitl  <>HnMlicu1es  in 
iburho*td  of  pnrovaHuni, 


The   Wolffian  Bothj  liseff. 

IN  THI  MALS. 

Orgfln  orGiruIJo*  and  vMsa  nbemntli. 


'ffroy  St.  IliJMirc,  *'  Hislnifp  gen<&rHle  et  p»rticiiliSro 
^  L  n  chcK  THomiHo  et  b*«  Animaux/'  ForftUT,  •<  Dio 
!  nM'heii."  Bir  Jiime«  8iin|»»oinV  MTtk-li^  on  EIprmHphnkdisinri 
iin  i«f  Annt.  and  Phyi.."  Vrtdik  in  -Ith  vul.  "  CyLlopiiHliii  of 
uvt  Mftd  ttUo  h»i  *•  Vrucht  vmi  dt*ri  M*Ti!'ch  ♦  n  vuu  dc  ZMOirdii-rfn."  Dr.  AUen 
iin  4in  Doiibli^  Mimi>t*?Mk,  **  Lmidon  iind  Kdi(itiijr(;ti  Mnn(hly  ■Itnirniil," 
B.  T.  l^^'wnf^  ••  Di'iTiptivft  CNtMl<ii;tjp  of  th«  Tfrnlolo^'injl  8iTi«i»  in  the 
im  of  tho  H*>yn\  CVkllfir<^  r,i  .Surgnons  of  Kn^Uuid,  1H72,"  and  ih*t  "  EdinbarKh 
itiil/'  arvd  other  mediisal  periudicHlt  f«r  lh«t  Itiat  half  cunttiry  |  British 


500 


DKVELOPMENT    OP    DRO-OKNITAL    SYSTEM. 


New  Structure  on  Summit  of  W'olffian  Body. 

IN  TBIL  FKUALE.  IK  TUE  UAJLE. 

Parovarium.  I  Olubufi  mujor. 

Muiler'a  Duct^. 


Ampiilln  Torms  fimbriated  end  of  FnUo* 

f  11)111  ttidc. 
From  H«ri|itilU  t*)  rmitid  llgami'nt  forni!* 

tht)  Fullopiitn  tube  ibielf. 

From    round  ligiimont  to  genital   cord 

furnis  the  cormm  uteri. 
Whufi   uiiJleil  in   m*niUil  word  thejr  furm 

the*  uteru)»  und  vitgiim. 


Ani|»iilta  forms  hydatid  of  MorgftgnL 

Prom  rimpulln  to  gubfrnneuUim  form* 
sinnti  i\>,i>  rutmin^  ricmi  hvUiitid  of 
Morg^M^oi  down  sidy  of  e]iidi<lvini!i. 

From  giibornHL-uUrm  to  g>-nitii1  cord 
forinii  cornuii  «f  oriCwn  of  VVt'hor. 

Whnn  i>nii<'rt  in  ♦ji'nitiil  cord  tlipy  form 
the  orgun  of  WeU^r  (veaicuU  prt^btnt- 
icB). 


Excretory  Ducts. 


GrtertTior'*  e«naU  (in  sow,   etc.,  not  in 

hmnan  Jemule). 
Dii'tTliLiila  in  the&e. 


Vtis  dvft^ren-,  body  and  globus  minor 

ejntJuJ\  (iJiH. 
Brond   )i(hI    sacculated  end  of  the  viua 

dolcrentja. 


Clitoris. 

Tarx  lntr>rmedia. 
Lnbia  niHJorii. 
Bulbus  vt'^tibuli. 
La[j}u  minora. 


External  Orgmis. 


Ponis. 

Cor[m«  epongiosum. 

Hi'r<»luni. 

Bulbs. 

?  Culnneous  covering  of  urethra. 


Vc^libnlum. 
Vagina. 


Sinu»  uro-ffcnitalis. 

IMi'MibrjinoUf?  portion  of  urelfira  nnd  a 
htuuU  part  of  Um  proftntic  portion. 


There  may  be  flight  clifferenoes  of  opinion  a!<t  to  the  development  of  gomo 
of  the^e  parts,  but  as  regfirtliis  those  printed  in  italics  in  Table  I,  there  la  a 
general  agreement  amongst  phys^iulogist.'*.  [See  Fig.  GH*  exptaiued  iu 
fo«>tnot<\]  What  we  know  of  twins  in  the  hiimuu  subject,  and  a  priori 
reasoning,  wonld  lead  us  to  believe  llnit  true  Iiermajihrodism,  or  the  eoin- 
plete  nni<ju  of  both  ^exes  in  one  b<jdy,  i^  not  only  possible,  but  probable. 
Van  are  aware  that  both  male  antl  female  organ.'*  are  unite«l  in  the  vast 
majority  of  flowering  plants,  althougii  even  here  self-imtiregnation  appears 
to  be  the  exception,  one  set  of  organs  usually  maturing  before  the  other 
get.  Many  of  the  inferior  tribes  of  animals  are  exajnple?^  of  the  .wme  thing. 
Thus  every  main  re  joint  of  a  tapeworm  has  both  male  and  female  organs 
of  generation,  internal  as  well  a,s  external,  perfeetly  formed.  So  have 
Kings,  iinail;*,  and  many  other  raollusca  and  animal;^  included  in  Cnvier*« 
Uadiata  and  Arlicnlaia.  When  we  come  tu  verttbrate  ain'mals,  parlieu- 
larly  the  nianimalia,  we  freijuently  get  mixtures  of  the  ebaracters  of  both 


*  Fig.  68  is  a  diagrnnt  of  the  Wolffian  b"HJi»'!»,  AJailorian  duclfi»  and  ftdjnc«nC 
pnrl.*,  previous  to  *exmil  dislinciion,  m  »een  from  biTori-  [from  tiaainl.  The  HgurM, 
lo  HVMid  ronfu*ion,  are  *tingle,  whi^t  miwt  of  the  orgnn^  ar«  ieon  to  be  doubl©,  i  e  , 
prosonl  on  bolhaidvs:  1  Supra^rt^md  b«)dv;  2.  Kitlney  ;  3.  Common  blastema  of 
ovary  «ir  t«>«tifi  =  g**nital  gland;  1,  Wolffl-in  b.kly;'6.  VVoltliMn  duct;  0.  Mdl- 
^lerinn  duel;  7.  Gt*nilai  cord  [=Siniis  poculartn  in  adult  ninle,  and  vngina  and 
lteru»  in  adult  female];  8.  Sinus  uro-genitali«]  9.  Intestine,  termiuating  in 
fcluaca. 


nERHAPBRODITES. 


S91 


MM  which  Bt  fjrKt  sight  oppeiir  to  be  true  examples  of  heriuaplirodism. 
Tbu.««ht*ii  II  row  has  twins  apparently  ^>t'  ^ipf-iosiite  sexes,  the  bull-rrtiris 
grmmlly  all  right.  The  eLUv-mlt*  h(>wever,  never  pri»pHf;ute,H  itn  kind, 
«|ip«ir»  lo  have  qo  jiexuiil  in.stincls,  ^rows  larger  than  eilher  bull  or  cow, 
■oj  fattrnii  better  To  stirh  the  name  of  Fret'tnarilnj^  is  given.  Some  of 
thop  have  testes  in  lie«  of  ovaria ;  jfiittuetinies  both  tester  ami  ovaria  ap* 
peiinHl  lo  he  [>rej4ent.  The  rest  of  the  oro;ans  of  these  animal.^  pre.seut  a 
ntilure  of  the  characters  of  both  }«exes.  In  some  cases  tt  is  probable  that 
Uie  ¥»ie»he  serninales  were  inisUiken  for  either  tei^tes  or  r»varia.  {See 
John  Htinttr's  "Oljservations  nn  Certain  Piirts  of  the  Animal  I^eotiomy," 
p.  55;  "  Fhiloiiophical  Traosiictiona,"  vol.  Ixxxix ;  "John  lluuier'a  Works,** 

Fio.  68. 


".rilr:.-! 


no.  41.42.]    In  vol.  xlii»  of  the  **  Medico-Chirurgical  Tran^ac- 

Hr.  \V,  8-  Savory  degcribes   and  figures  a  herniaplirodite  tsheep, 

!*  rcjfariied  a«  a  ewe  ilurinj^f  life,     lu  external  genitals  rew^nibled 

'^r;  the  external  ori fire  led  into  a  vagina  three  inches  looK 

l#*ngth),  beyond  which  wa«  a  twohorued  uterus,  two-thifna 

ptfA*.     In  place  of  the  ovaries  were  two  teste.'*  (eai.'h  .Hurniounted 

lidytni*  a  quarter!  he  ui^ual  ^ijte).  There  were  well-forni«*d  Menuoal 

hut   DO  *permato7/»a.     This  animal  wai?,  therefore,  truly  a  male, 

;;r  many  female  eharacters,     The»e  gtrange  beings  are  well  de- 

by  Atttonius  in  tb(a»e  irord« : 


ril-n  j^,    MT' 


A      ly  Ovid: 

'*  N«*c  Uu«»  sunt,  Mfrd  forma  duplex,  nee  femlnn  did, 
|i«c  pucrut  pouit,  neuirunique  ci  utrumqu«  vidctur  " 

*U  KiBtiA  of  chin  work  will  not  permit  of  more  than  one  or  two  illii»- 
'tlAQi  wf  meh  clmai  of  hermaphrodtte§.     But  altentioa  to  thcve,  and  care 


592 


BERMAPDRODITES  —  ANDROOYNI 


in  examination,  will  prevent  your  making  any  serious  raistakes,  as  io  any 
doubtful  vmti  it  will  be  better  to  su^peufJ  your  jml^ment.  Whenever  you 
aitoml  u  lui>or,  or  whenever  any  abuurninlity  in  cbiklreo  excites  your  at- 
tention, you  shoulil  at  once  examine  carefully.  In  the  case  of  such  an 
infant  (lying,  a  pojit-inortem  examination  sbould  be  made.  Dr.  Taylor 
|u»lly  pniiMs  nut  that  this  may  be  of  legal  couse^ueiice,  since,  in  what  ia 
ealleil  tenannf  liif  curUjfy,  **  a  man  marrying  a  woman  seized  (or  nos^sessed) 
of  an  estate  of  iaheritaoce,  and  having  by  her  iiJsue  born  alive,  and 
capable  of  inheriting  the  estate,  holds,  on  her  death,  the  Inwh  for  hia 
life,  as  tenant  by  curtesy."  But  elearly,  if  entailed  on  heir:*  male,  or 
vice  verm,  and  the  ii*»ue  were  neilber  male  uor  ft-male,  or  of  the  wrong 
Bex,  he  ctjnld  no  longer  sustain  his  i-iaim.  Acfording  to  the  preponder- 
ance of  mule  or  f<emale  eharacteri!*,  the  names  of  Audrogyu*,  or  womani'^h 
men,  and  Anrlrogyntp,  or  manly  woiufu,  Imve  been  given.  Lord  Coke 
state.'?  that  arTordtng  to  Engli.-h  law,  *'  a  hermaphrodite  may  be  either 
male  or  female,  and  shall  sut'ceed  according  i^i  the  kind  ofaex  which  doth 
prevail."  It  will,  however,  be  ^eu  from  the  cat^ei*  cited,  that  the  deterrni- 
natioD  of  the  prevalent  charactei*s  is  ot\en  extremely  difficult,  for  you  may 
have  to  give  an  opinion  before  puberty  ;  and  even  after  puberty,  the  char- 
acters ot  both  sexes  may  be  strangely  blended, 

I.  The  case  of  manly  women  (Androgyme)  is  the  simplest.  The  com- 
mon forms  are  (1)  EidargemfHi  of  the  clitorij* ;  this  may  be  congenital. 
There  is  a  very  goud  example  in  the  Londoji  Hospital  moseam,  pre.sented 
by  Dr.  RMrasbotham.  Dr.  Hills  ("  Lancet/'  vol.  i,  p.  121),  for  1X7:))  re- 
cords a  case  of  a  tlrcssmaker,  aged  i'2,  in  the  Norfolk  Asylum,  with  bruad 
shoulders,  undeveloped  breasts,  thick  mustache,  and  a  i'uM  beard.  The 
clitoris  was  very  large,  with  a  distinct  prepuce.  There  were  no  signs  of 
testicles,  and  she  had  menstruated  three  times,  though  imperfectly.  The 
lower  part  of  the  body  was  feminine.  Be'jk  gives  numerous  references  to 
congenital  and  acquired  malformation  of  the  clitoris.     l-SVe  also  Home  on 

Hermaphrwlites,  "  Philosoph.  Trans.,'*  voL 
Ixxxix,  p.  157.)  (2)  Besides  the  development 
of  hair  resembling  the  male,  as  in  the  case 
above,  there  may  be  entire  nbseui'e  or  imprrfeet 
dtTtiopint'nt  of  the  ovaries  or  utentjs,  or  both. 
There  are  several  cases  on  record  in  which  no 
truce  of  either  could  be  found  on  the  most  care- 
ful examination,  aud  we  have  ourselvee  seen 
such.  Note,  however,  that  a  beard  and  whis- 
kers may  be  present,  and  yet  the  general  con- 
formation of  the  body  may  be  fen/mine  ;  uterus 
and  ovaries  may  be  present,  and  the  person 
may  give  birth  to  children  (aa  in  the  ctise  of 
Julia  Pastrana).  (-1)  Velpeau  suggests  that 
prolapj^e  of  the  ovarie-^  may  sinininte  te^tej*  (*'  M  id- 
wifery,"  American  edition,  p.  81  ;  iiecalso  "Lan- 
cet," vol.  ix,  p.  W3).  (4)  Loss  of  one  or  both 
ovaries  will  produce  a  more  or  lea*  manly  ap- 
pearance, changes  in  the  voice,  etc.  (5)  Pro- 
lapse  of  the  iderus  (or  rather  procidentia)  could 
scarcely  deceive  any  one  conversant  with  midwifery,  though  in  1603,  Mar- 
garet Mala u re,  suffering  from  this  disease,  exhibited  herself  aa  a  herma- 
phnrtlite  in  Paris.     (Fig.  69.) 

11-  The  case  of  womanish  men  CAndrogyni)  is  generally  more  obscure, 
but  may  often  be  detecte<l  by  careful  examination.  The  common  formfl 
are: 


Fig.  69. 


MIXBD  AND  COMPLEX  UERM  A  PHBODISM, 


598 


]«  ImperTect  development  of  the  peols,  generally  combined  with  a  cleft 

■  fltTotum,  and  olteii  with  uoti  drsffiit  uf  ui  It'ust  one  le^tJM.  The 
penis  18  gejierally  ^hurt  and  cJitoriislike,  ot'len  bound  down  on  its 
anterior  (or  lower)  nurfaue,  and  more  ar  le?»  completely  ioijmrturate. 

kU  the  ofiening  of  the  uretbra  is  interiitr,  such  eaMJS  are  called  byp- 
OApadiana.  If  the  uivlhra  or  bladder  opens  above  or  on  the  nfiper 
side  of  the  penis,  the  cai^e.sare  t'aJled  epi^pailians.  In  extreme  eaaes 
even  the  anterior  wall  of  the  bladder  may  be  wanting.  (On  this 
•ubject  see  the  remarks  on  ^teriiiftf  in  the  male,  p,  5^.1 0',}  Of  hypo- 
spadias, by  far  the  most  efont^on  tiirm^  Dr.  Grahiim  a  case,  fj noted 
^n  by  Dr.  Ilatidyside  in  No.  213  of  "  Eilinburgh  Medical  dournal,"  \s 

^P  a  good  example.     Jameis  C ,born  at  I'ortCila.^gow  in  Ibori,  was 

wuppojkMl  to  be  a  girl  till  sixteen  years  of  age.  There  was  a  very 
i«hort  clitoroid  penis,  with  bypo!*padias,  a  cleft  Sicrolum,  willi  one 
twiis  in  the  right  half  or  labium  ;  tlie  other,  4;U|)po«e<l  to  be  a  rup- 
ture, was  in  the  left  groin.  (Gottlieb  Gottlieb,  born  in  Saxmiy  ia 
1708,  wa.s  baptized  as  Marie  Roi^ine  G.,  was  empbjyed  as  a  female 
KTvant  for  tjome  years,  and  his  truejsex  was*  never  isuspected  till  the 
spring  of  1831,  when  he  fractured  his  left  lemnr,  and  was  admitted 
into  A  hospital  at  Dresften,  At  tbid  time  tin^t  the  left,  then  the 
right  tesitiii  descended,  and  being  accompanied  with  a  s^^trangulated 
hernia  on  each  occ4ii»ion,  the  o|)€rations  led  to  the  cliscovery  of  the 
ti'i«ttj^,  and  hence  of  the  true  »ex.  His  semen  had  spermatozoa.  He 
a  hypo.'^padian  with  elefi  fcrotum.  Thepeni.swas  <mly  oneand 
iilmtf  inch  in  length,  and  imperfonite.  {S*'e  the  excellent  account 
%y  Dr.  Handyside  in  Ko.  123  of  I  he  **  Edinburgh  Medical  and  Snr- 
gic*l  Journal.'' J  The  general  a|>jK'ar[ince  wa*  masculine. 
[One  or  both  te-^te*  may  be  undescended,  and  if  atrophied  before 
puberty,  the  ap|jearance  may  be  very  feminine.  Early  castration 
may  produce  8iinilar  changeii.  If  the  Turkish  meth<Ml  of  nuiking 
euuucht)  by  a  clean  sweep  of  the  genital  organs  be  followed,  a  hasty 
ini»pectiou  will  give  the  imjtre.^sion  of  a  female. 
^Mere  adheaiou  of  the  [>enis  may  deceive  the  parents.  Mr.  Brand, 
in  177y,  ofH?rated  on  »uib  a  case  in  a  i>oy  of  .seven,  regarded  as  a 
girl  [w<f  BreW8ter'»  "  Etlinbnrgh  En<'yt'lopailia,'*  article  Hermaph- 
rwliust].  It  haj*  been  said  thai  a  similar  nheratlon  has  occurred  to 
the  mule  organ  of  a  R.nppo»ietl  girl,  whilst  jumping.  Such  case^ 
are  related  by  Livy,  Shenkius,  Montaigne  [E.ssais,  1,  20],  and  Am- 
brune  Par^  [caae  of  Marie  Germain]. 

Ctt«es*  of  mixed  and  complex  bermapbr(»di.sm  [which  are  called 
merd^  when  the  external  organs,  of  a  mixed  or  doubtful  type,  are  asao- 
"  wilh  raale  organs  on  one  side,  and  female  organs  on  the  other  side 
median  line,  as  regards  the  middle  and  dee])  or  internal  organs]  are 
puzzling,  and  sometimes  almost  impossible  to  class,  either  in  lite 
Mr.  Savory's  sheep  (mentioned  above;  is  almost  eclipse^l  by 
ird  Home's  bull  [*' Phib  Trans."  1791)],  who  had  begotten  five 
puw^^med  onliuary  male  organs,  bad  the  general  appearance  of  a 
Loept  in  the  tlanks  and  hind  fiuarters,  but  bad  an  udder  and  teata 
!  milk,  and  a  small  vagina  capable  of  admitting  the  male  organ, 
of  I^frtrt  [**  Dictiounaire  des  .Science*  MCHlicaie*/*  art.  Herraajph- 
^puzxled  some  of  the  best  anatomists  in  Paris  and  London.     The 
iiod  ixtremitlea  were  covered  with   hair;  the  breasts  were 
perfectly  formed.     There  wa«  a  small  clitoris,  with  an  im* 
Below,  lave  ^mall  openings,  through  which  urine  paaaed, 
xvTcaled  •oioetbiug  like  a  vagina,  and  she  was  seen  to  menstruate. 


594 


tlERMAPHRODISU — CASE3. 


She  was  supposed  to  have  one  ovary  and  one  teetw.  Catharine  Hohn>anu*a 
ca^e,  lately  exhibited  in  the  capitals  tif  Eurofie,  is  supposed  to  be  ii  I  rue 
instwrit'ti  of  lateral  hermaphrodism.  [*'?^v;  Vin-how's  *' Archiv,"  vol.  xlv, 
for  1MG8,  ihe  "Archives  Cen^niles  "  ihr  March,  18^59,  and  the  '*  Medical 
Times  and  Gaxetle/'  IHl'A,  ]i.  691.]  This  person,  whom  we  have  ^een 
ourselvegt,  is  certainly  aJi  odd  mixture  of  the  sexe^.  The  bony  skeleton  is 
masculine.  The  larynx  large — the  voice  is  auid  to  have  been  feminine  till 
the  age  of  twenty-*<ix.  The  bretti*ts,  even  at  the  a^e  of  forty-three,  were 
exeeeilifigly  well  formed  and  femitiine.  There  is  a  pcois,  measuring  nearly 
four  inchei^  with  the  glann.  It  is^  imperforate.  There  is  hypospadittti,  and 
the  scrotum  is  split ;  the  riirht  half  con tain.-^  what  all  agree  ir*  a  well-ilcvel- 
ope<J  testi,«,  with  epididymJ-»  and  vus  delcrens,  and  a  cremaster  nniscle. 
At  the  bottom  of  the  left  hull'  of  I  he  scrotum  \^  a  hard,  ill-definetl  majS8» 
which  may  be  a  degeneiated  tesli*i.  In  the  left  groin  in  another  body, 
which  is  probably  a  hernial  .«!ic.  A  probe  pa.s^ed  into  the  short  urethra, 
instead  of  always  reaclting  the  bladder,  nl'ten  passes  into  a  sac  like  cavity 
behind  tfje  ureilira  (uterus?).  In  examining  per  rectum,  some  exauiiners 
have  found  a  bo<ly  like  an  ovary.  She  or  he  seemed  to  have  double  sexual 
iQStinctj).  The  seminal  emissions  containe*!  spermatozoa.  From  about 
the  age  of  ten  yeare  there  has  been  periodical  menstruation,  which  was 
verified  by  Profesisor  Franck.  As  an  instance  of  the  difficulties  offered  by 
eome  of  these  eases,  and  of  their  forensic  relations,  t4ike  the  ciune  of  Levi 
Suyiiam,  related  by  i>r.  Burnj^  in  the  '^American  Journal  of  the  Medical 
Sciences,"  for  July,  1847.  In  the  spring  of  that  year,  Snydam  presented 
himself  first  as  a  freemcivj,  atvd  tlieu  to  vote  in  a  contei*te<i  electiim.  Dr. 
Barry  having  found  an  imperforute  penis,  with  a  depression  in  the  site  of 
the  male  meatus,  a  short  urethra  ojK^ning  underneath  the  penis  (hyp«.ispa- 
dias)  and  a  cleft  scrotum,  with  a  smull  Imt  periect  testis  in  it«  right  half, 
pronounced  him  to  be  a  male,  and  entitled  to  vote.  Dr.  Tieknor,  who  ob- 
jected at  fir>t,  came  to  the  snme  cmichision.  A  few  days  after,  it  was  dia- 
covered,  by  his  sister's  and  his  own  confession,  that  Suydara  regidarly 
menstruated,  and  bad  done  so  for  years.  His  tigure  was  feminine,  tbe 
breasts  were  well-develoj»ed,  and  on  passiug  a  sound  into  the  urethra,  in- 
ste«d  of  reaching  the  bladder,  it  passed  into  a  cavity  like  a  vagina  three 
or  four  inches  dee|>.  It  wa-saiso  ?aid  tliai  this  urethra  had  been  made  for 
hitu  by  the  accoucheur  who  attended  at  his  birth.  Dr.  Taylor  justly  ob- 
jects to  the  removal  of  two  imperleetly  developed  testes  in  the  case  of  a 
girl-like  b<iy  whom  Dr.  Gross  castnited  {^viiic  **  Taylor,"  loc.  eit,,  ii,  p.  28»5]. 
Inst^mces  of  double  vagina,  double  uterus,  two  distinct  penes,  and  three 
testicles  are  also  lui  recor<i ;  but  as  there  is,  so  far  as  we  can  find,  no  per- 
fect instance  of  both  male  and  iemale  (external)  organs  of  gene  rat  ion 
combined — we  mean  a  }>erfect  set  of  each — the  c*asc.s  mentioned  a))pear 
only  to  intensity  the  sex,  or  to  be  curiosities.  The  double  or  two-hurutid 
uterus  may,  however,  account  for  cases  of  snperftetation. 

Amongst  the  curiosities  of  douhtl'ul  or  concealed  sex  may  be  noticed 
the  case  of  EHza  Edwards  [*'  Medicul  atid  Phys.  Journal,"  Feb.  1833, 
p.  lt>8J,  who,  although  a  male,  piissed  for  a  feiuiiic,  and  had  been  nllendecl 
by  an  eminent  physician,  in  his  last  illne-^s,  without  any  susfiicion  lif  the 
truth.  Indeed,  the  body  was  sent  to  Guy*  dissecting-room  as  a  feinale. 
Dr.  Jftvtt'^  Barry,  late  iStaft' Assistant  Surgeon  and  Inspector  of  liospitJiU, 
who  had  ^rved  many  years  in  the  army,  and  even  fought  at  least  one 
duel,  was  a  female. 

The  celebrated  Chevalier  d'Eon  was  undoubtedly  a  male,  though  long 
believed  to  be  a  female,  and  wearing  feminine  apparel  for  many  yeat^  by 
order  of  Louis  XV  of  France.     The  records  of  the  army  and  navy  supply 


596 


IMPOTETfCB    AND    8TBRILITT, 


more  common  formerly  than  of  lat«  years.  In  ihe  reign  of  King  James 
I  of  Eji^IuihI.  llie  Ear]  of  K??ex  was  siitd  by  Inis  touniefs  for  divurte  on 
tlie  prouuil  tliat  lie  wa^*  impotent.  »SIiil'  claimttl  to  bt^  a  virr/u  ud'ida,  but 
b  i'ttid  to  have  ^ubeitituted  one  of  her  toaitls  for  hei-st^lf  wljeti  exuaiJiHui. 
Tlie  larl  appears  lo  liave  aJmitleiJ  tl»o  cliarge  as  regunk  the  LMJuntess, 
although  be  denied  it  quoad  otht!rs.  The  case  is*  uompJicaltHl  l)y  her  guilty 
pat^ioti  for  Koche^it'er.  (Hargrave'a  ".State  Triali*,"  i,  p.  315.)  II.  Im- 
poieiJcy  i-"*  frequently  allfged  as  a  ground  of  deffuce  against  afcusations  of 
raptor  indecent  a«*ault;  for  the  iiio?t  part  fal.<ely.  HI.  Impotence  in  a 
bu-hand  may  be  produtH?d  as  a  proof  of  the  bastardy  or  i Illegitimacy  of  a 
chiUI,  or  chihlreii,  and  siniultaneousily  as  a  proi»f  of  uiichastity  in  u  wife. 

Caj«p«ir  justly  remarks  that  in  examining  persitus  t*nppoiM?cl  to  be  impo- 
tent it  is  as  nnnccc-srtry»  and  indeed  uj*€»le!i*s,  aj*  it  i^  in<iecentf  to  attempt 
any  testing  of  the  virile  powers  by  manipulation.s  of  the  genital  organs. 
If  the^  are  well- farmed  and  healthy,  ami  the  general  health  be  good,  we 
ought  to  assume  that  there  i.s  capacity  tor  sexual  intercourse  "  with  the 
iLsiial  limit  of  age."  A^  he  i*aysi  "the  pomenttwH  of  virile  and  prorrtaiive 
power  nniher  requires  to  be,  nor  can  be,  proved  to  exitii  by  tuiij  phijfdcian** 
hut  is  rather,  like  every  other  normal  fnnrtion,  to  be  supposed  to  exist. 
From  ihe  13th  century  to  the  year  li>77  the  biws  of  France  and  some 
other  European  countries  allowed  of,  and  uveu  ordered,  methods  of  ascer- 
taining sexual  capacity,  which  are  now  kuowu  to  be  as  useless  as  ihcy  were 
disgusting.  The  complaining  parties  were  examined  minutely  by  wit- 
nes.ses  who  were  al^o  judges  in  the  ease,  and  the  husband  had  then  and 
there  lo  prove,  if  be  ctjuld,  his  disputed  capacity  {vide  article  **Congr^j" 
in  the  "  Uictionnaire  des  Sciences  Medicales").  It  seems  to  have  been 
aboliiihed  in  conseijuence  of  a  Marquis  de  Lungley  having  failed  to  prove 
his  powers  in  such  a  congrepsi,  but  getting  seven  children  by  a  second  wife, 
after  his  divorce  from  the  complainant.  The  distinction  between  mental 
and  physical  causes  of  sexual  capacity  does  not  appear  to  ua  to  bo  well- 
fonuded,  at  least  in  tiie  cla.ss  of  cases  likely  to  come  to  trial, 

1st.  The  absence  of  the  usual  signs  of  puberty,  in  other  words  extreraft 
youth,  must  be  regarded  as  a  cause  of  im[K)t€Ucy.  Our  law  recognizes 
fourteen  iu  the  maJe  and  twelve  in  the  female  as  the  earliest  age  at  which 
marriage  can  be  contracted.  The  age  of  fourteen  for  both  sexes  is  the 
ecclesiastical  law  of  both  the  Eastern  and  Western  churches.  Eighteen 
for  males  and  Hfteen  for  females  was  fixed  by  the  Code  Napol6m.  Twenty 
and  sixteen  years  respectively  are  fixed  by  the  New  German  Civil  Mar- 
riage Bill.  Although  puberty  for  both  sexes  may  be  taken  to  commence 
Bomewhere  about  fourteen  in  both  sexes,  yet  physi<»logists  know  that  there 
are  many  exceptions  to  the  general  rule.  Puberty  is  often  deferred  in 
both  sexea,  whilst  occasionally  it  Is  atUinpaifd,  Instances  of  retardation 
are  familiar  to  every  medical  mao  in  practice,  whilst  very  singular  in- 
stances of  precocious  puberty  may  be  fonnd  in  medical  authors.  Two  of 
these  may  be  quoted  from  the  "  Medico-Chirurgical  Transactions."  The 
first  (from  voL  i,  of  these,  pp.  270-285)  relates  t^  Philip  llowarth,  born 
in  1H(>*^,  who  attained  to  puberty  iu  his  second  vear.  The  case  is  carefully 
reported  by  Dr.  White,  assistant  surgeou  to  Westminster  Hospital.  The 
virile  changes  involved  the  larynx  and  musculature  as  well  as  the  genital 
organs.  Older  writew  give  still  more  wonderful  cases,  but  these  are  len 
reliable  because  less  detailed.  Dr.  Mead  speaks  of  a  boy  achieving  puberty 
*^hen  only  one  year  old.  (See  also  *'  Phlegon,  de  Mirab.,"  cap,  xxxii^)  Ifl 
the  second  vol.  of  the  same  "Transactions,"  p.  116,  etc.,  Dr.  Wall  writes 
to  Dr.  Mattliew  Baillie  an  account  of  a  girl  who,  when  scarcely  two,  waa 
us  dc'velo|M'd  as  one  of  eighteen  would  ordinarily  be.  Hhe  first  menstruated 
at  nine  mouths  of  age;   the  mammse  were  well  developed  in  her  second 


5^8 


IMPOTENCE    AND    STERILITY. 


Curling  states  that  in  roonorcliids  he  hR8  nnly  found  spermatozoa  in  the 
fluid  *it"  the  testis  which  had  descender!.  Mr.  Piirtridfje  and  others  con- 
ftrni  this  hy  a^^ertiny^  the  aKsrnce  of  ppernuUtizoii  tu  all  eases  of  erypsor- 
chid«  exurtiiued.  (Consult  M.  Godurd's  *'  Kttides  .Mur  la  Moitorehidie  et  la 
Cryptorcliidie  chez  rHi>mnie,"  Hvo.,  pp.  HU,  Paris,  1H57  ;  iilao  Review  of 
ditto  iu  '*  Ameriean  Jijiinml  of  Me<li<{il  Scieoces,"  Jan.  18o9  ;  also  Me^rs. 
Goubaux  and  Follin's  i^Ienioir,  "  Siir  la  Cryptnrehidie  vhet  rHomme  et 
le*  prioeipanx  Aninianx  dome.stiques  ; "  and  "Ohjjervatious  on  Sterility  in 
Man,"  by  T.  B.  Curling,  F.  R.  8.  (who  quotes  nine  ea«*s  of  abjsenee  of 
*[>«?rmat*»zoa  in  human  5?enjen  isctise^  of  retained  testes);  nl^JO  "  British  and 
^Foreign  Medieo-Cbirurgieal  Review,"  April,  l^^tU.)  On  the  other  hand, 
i«per  found  spermatozoa  in  the  semiiiai  Huid  of  a  cryp?iorchid.  And 
althongh  John  Hunter  cnneeived  that  such  bein^  were  ntM*e.H.>iarily  sterile, 
yet  hulking  at  the  facts  of  conij'aralive  anatomv,  we  think  the  (jue^tiuu 
may  be  summed  up  as  JoHow.s :  The  majority  of  tho^e  whose  testes  are 
lM4h  i»nde?ceudcd  are  sterile,  but  not  inipi>tpnt,  wliilut  there  are  some  who 
are  not  either — or  in  other  wi>rdsi,  are  [jerfeetly  virile.  SuptTniim*'rtiry 
iff<t€s  (of  which  there  wems  scarcely  any  authentic  instance  in  njodern 
linioB),  and  supemunierury  pene^*,  are  do  bar  to  sexual  intercounae,  though 
the  latter  may  increase  its  difficulties.  In  a  recent  ease  exhibited  iu  Ltin- 
don  tliere  were  two  penes,  but  two  testes  only.  (C)  Adixtnced  dUttute  of 
llitf  trsticJe^t  or  prnU,  whether  syphilitic,  canceroui=,  tuberculous,  or  of  any 
other  nature,  may  of  coui'se  be  a  bar  to  sexual  intercourse,  or  a  cause  of 
sterility  in  the  male,     ( .SV^  Cautions  at  eml  of  this  section.) 

3.  Complete  paraplegia  might,  an^l  probably  wotdfl,  also  hinder  f^xual 
iutercourrie  takini^  place  or  proving  fruitful.  Instance^  are,  however,  on 
record  of  partial  jtaraplegia,  and  of  hemiplegia,  in  which  sexual  intcr- 
courise  occurred  noiwithstainling.  In  the  case  of  Legrje  v.  Kilnutudn,  heard 
before  the  Vice-ChaDecllor  in  1854-5,  a  postlmm<jns  child,  }x»rn  four 
nitHUhs  after  the  death  of  the  reputed  father,  wlio  had  been  attacke<l  with 
conja  and  Hght^sided  hemipleLiia  two  months  before  the  snp[X)sed  dale  of 
conception,  xvas  adjudged  logiliinale,  thouffh  there  were  some  very  sus- 
picious circumstances  in  the  ease,  and  no  child  had  been  born  f<»r  eight 
years  beli>rt?.  I>r,  Tuylor  otmsidcred  the  paternity  ])ossJble  hut  im- 
probable. Drs.  Guy  and  Semple  strongly  mjiiutained  the  possibility  and 
probability.  Locon^otor  ataxy  and  other  nervous  diseases  are  also  kuowQ 
to  produce  this. 

4.  Injuries  to  the  head  or  tfpi'ne  have  produi*ftd  impotency.  (See  Curling 
Ojn  **  Diseases  of  the  Testes,"  2d  edititjtt,  p.  ?1(V2.) 

6.  Very  advancefi  disease  of  almost  any  kind»  and  extreme  physical 
weakness,  may  produce  im potency  and  sterility.  Diabetes  is  usually 
Rccontfjanied  with  irn potency.  On  the  other  hand,  the  authors  know  of 
cases  of  advancedi  heart  and  lung  disease  (phthisis),*  In  which  coitus  (fol- 
lowed by  the  bir^h  of  a  child  resembling  the  father)  took  place  only  a  few 
hours  before  death, 

H.  The  mere  fact  of  old  age  does  not  in  itself  involve  tterual  iruyipaeitu, 
though  it  renders  the  occurrence  of  paternity  far  less  probable  than  in 
earlier  life.  Mr,  Curling  has  found  spermatozoa  in  the  semen  of  very  agecl 
men.  Cas[>er  once  in  the  case  of  a  man  ninety-six.  The  authors  also  have 
two  or  three  timea  found  them  in  the  seminal  fluid  of  men  over  ninety, 
M,  Dien,  of  the  Inviilides,  staler  that  in  lOo  autopsies  of  men  between  64 
and  107,  there  were  no  spermatozoa  in  61  per  cent.  Old  Parr  was  believed 
to  have  begotten  a  son  when  he  was  140  years  of  age,     Iu  the  celebrated 


♦  SpcrnrmloEOR  were  deficient  in  twclTo  cmps  of  phtiii^i*  examined  "by  Mr.  Cup- 
linu:,  wbilo  Dr.  Dnvy  found  Ibem  m  the  veeiculie  seniinales  in  «ottie  c«fl«t. 


600 


UNNATURAL   CRIMES. 


**2.  Afterations  in  the  coverings  of  the  ovary  may  interfere  with  the 
€8ca|»e  (tf  the  ovum. 

**^i.  The  ova  may  escape  fi-ora  the  ovary,  but  raay  not  be  grasped  by 
th«  fimbria'.  They  generally  perish ;  or  if  impreguated  we  get  extra- 
uterine lalalion. 

"4.  Alteraiions  in  the  Fallopian  tubes  may  obstruct  the  passage  of  the 
ovum  into  the  uttrus. 

**  5.  Alterations  in  the  n tern 3,  or  in  the  vagina  or  external  organs,  may 
prevent  impregntition  of  the  ovum  (1  i  by  preventing  acce.<9  of  the  f*[>enna- 
tozoH  to  the  ovum;  (2)  by  destroying  the  gpermutoxoa  by  admixture  with 
abnornml  flnidp*,  or  (3)  in  i*onie  other  way  iutertering  with  the  phy^jical 
conditions  of  fecutnlatiou." 

Under  this  fifth  heading  he  enumerates :  infer  aliU — 

^    %     .        nxr     '        (    Bv  adhesion  of  labia. 
Oecdustou  of  v  agma   '     „•  •         ^     .    i 

"  (    liy  iinperti)rale  hymen, 

Disea-se-s  of  the  Vulva  (  Eezcmii.  IIerpe?j,  etc.). 

Hyperavthesia  and  anie?*lhesia  of  the  Vagina. 

l>isea."*ej*  of  Recldnn^  Urethra,  and  Bladder. 

Ruptured  Perineum, 

Vaginal  and  Uterine  Leucorrhcea. 

Diseases  ami  dinphiremenlj^  of  the  Uterus. 

Contraetiou  ol  the  O;*  and  (Jervical  Canal. 

Foreign  borlies  and  tumors  in  the  uterine  cavity,  including,  of  course, 

Cancers,  Polypi,  Fibruidr*,  etc, 

Ni>\v  it  will  be  seen  at  once,  that  a  very  large  proportion  of  these  causea 
are  <ai ruble,  or  not  likely  to  exist  ah  initio. 
Paruph-gia  iu  the  female  does  not  always  prevent  either  impregnation 

or  delivery. 

Unnatural  Crimes — Sodomy — Pcsderasijf. 

The  references  to  these  gubjectf*in  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  in  the 
Ifunihetikon  or  Admonition  uf  Phorylidej*,  and  the  piems  of  Martial, 
Catullus,  and  other  annent  writer^s,  ?how  that  in  every  age,  es[>ecially  in 
populuiis  place.*,  aberrations  of  the  sexual  pa*<ion  of  the  most  horrible 
kinds  have  been  mrue  or  less  prevalent.  As  however  only  two  of  these, 
6<Mlomy  and  P;e<Jera8ty,  are  known  to  English  law.  we  shall  only  treat 
[loriefly  of  these,  esfKicialiy  as  Tribadism,  Irrumation,  Fellation,  Cunni- 
lingus,  and  Coprophagia  leave  no  certain  signs  on  the  body  of  either  of 
the  guiky  jmrtie*.  The  authority,  indeed,  of  Parent-Duchatelet  ha^  been 
cited  to  prove  that  the  so-called  Lesbian  love  produces  eidargement  of  the 
elitorii*  and  other  changes  in  the  female  genital  organs.  The  authors, 
however,  know  of  none  which  are  characteristic;  in  other  words,  natural  con- 
formation, disease,  wantof  eleanliue8j5,  and  st'lt-abuse  may  produce  clianges 
of  similar  characters  to  tho:*e  described.  With  regard  to  8otlumy  and 
Paxleiayty,  they  are  punished  with  death,  according  to  the  statute-books 
of  this  and  most  civilized  countries.  Owing,  however,  to  the  dittieulties  of 
proof,  and  the  fact  that  worthless  characters  sometimes  accuse  iunoceot 
persons  of  these  crimes  in  order  to  extort  money,  this  extreme  penalty  is 
•eldom  enforced.  We  think  it  right  to  re^ieat  the  caution  of  Beck,  which, 
indeed,  applies  to  many  other  nnitten!* — that  a  medical  witness  .should  not 
state  that  such  and  such  a  crime  has  been  committed,  but  should  liepose 
tr)  the  factij  of  certain  appearances,  etc.,  and  slate  whetlier  they  are  coa- 
sistent  with  the  commission  of  ibe  crime. 


602 


PRBOl^AirCT. 


the  real.  They  generally  affect  the  society  of  those  of  their  own  flex,  and 
a«  UMially  hate  that  of  the  female  sex.  Their  pose  is  often  statuesque,  like 
ihaluf  thoge  addicted  to  niasturhation. 

2.  The  parts  of  generation  are  generally  much  relaxed,  the  scrotum 
penduIouH^  the  pcuis-  elongated  (an<l  it  is  i?aid  lliat  the  glans  is  more  than 
usuuUy  hiill>uU9  and  oojiical,  and  the  uretlira  twiiiied??).  The  natural  folds 
about  tilt'  miius  are  said  to  be  obiilcratwl,  g^iving  the  skiu  of  that  part  a 
smoolfi  appearance,  and  there  is  a  huni'like  or  funnt'l-like*  dep^el^iJion  of 
the  ualt'S  towardrf  the  anus.  The  anus  itself  is  often  gaping,  the  sphincter 
relaxed  i  thtre  may  alsi>  be  fi^tuhc,  pile^^,  and  procidentia  or  hernial  pro- 
trusions— but  of  cuur-Hi!  thej-e  are  mere  accidentals). 

3.  There  may  also  be  excoriations  on  the  parla  of  generation,  and  at  the 
verge  uf  the  anus,  uud  primary  or  secondary  syphilitic  lci«ioufl  may  be 
found  there.  As  regartis  the  latter,  wtr  have  so  often  found  mueoUM  tuber- 
cles and  other  specific  lesions  of  the  anus  associated  with  here<litary 
eyphili?!  in  young  subjects,  that  we  think  very  great  care  is  necessary  in 
distinguishing  the  nature  and  duration  of  supposed  gyphiruie  chancrea  in 
this  »iLualion. 

Summarif, — It  will  be  seen  that  there  are  no  very  certain  signs  of  this 
crime.  Casper  and  Tardieu  rely  most  upon  the  funnel-shaped  ileprc.*sion 
between  the  uate^,  and  the  smooth ne^,^  of  the  skin  about  the  anus.  Both 
admit,  however,  that  these  may  be  absent,  even  in  criminals  like  the 
notorious  Count  Cajua.f 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

Pregnancy — Period  of  Utcro^ostjition  — Si^ns  of  recent  delivery  in  the  livings 
and  in  ttie  dond  budy. 

Some  great  authoritie-'?  gtato  that  the  quention  of  pregnancy  in  the  Iivio[ 
is  one  that  seldom  comes  within  the  domain  of  mediral  jurisprudcuce. 
This  may  be  so  as  regards  the  Superior  Courts,  but  ourcxj)erience  is  nither 
the  reverse,  as  regards  criminal  proceedings  and  actions  for  raalaj»raxis. 
Your  opinion  may  be  asked  in  the  following  cases: 

Ist.  A  woraau  who  is  condemned  to  death  for  murder  may  plead  that 
she  is  with  child,  as  Miss  Kdmonds  did  in  the  Brighton  poiwuing  case. 
8he  was  not  so,  but  cases  have  unfortunately  occurred  in  which  a  preg- 
nant woman  has  been  hanged.  This  issue  is  generally  tried  bv  a  "Jury 
of  Matrons,"  but  usually  a  medical  man  is  consulted  in  addition,  and 
properly  so,  as  there  is  no  subject  on  which  average  women  display  more 
ignorance  than  on  this  question. 


•  Cupper  I'ftlU  it  *♦  trumpel-shiiped." 

f  6tH'  Also  KoAcnbuum.  '•  Die  Lustsucbe  im  Alterthum,*'  HsUe,  1889, 8%'o. ;  Dobrn, 
"  Zur  i*hre  v.  d.  Pederastiti  in  Ca^per'«  Viorteljulirschrifl,"  Bd.  iv,  s.  19S ;  Cn*- 
por*&  "Forensic  Medicine,"  N.  Syd.  Socieiy'ii  lrMnj>lation,  vol.  iii ;  Tardieu, 
*'  Ktudo  Mcciicod^gnlo  Bur  lea  Atlentals  aux  Mceurs,"  6  ed.,  PMri».  I87!i  {p.  *iQO  of 
this  curiUtin«  other  rftftrronees  to  books) ;  Taylor,  ♦'  Principlei  and  Practice  of 
Jiedical  JoriBprtni^nee,"  vol.  ii,  p.  472,  and  2d  edition;  Beck,  *' ElemeiiiA  of 
Ifedieal  JuriMiriidonce,'*  6tb  ed.,  p.  110  (referencefl  in  footnote  to  *' Znccttia*," 
Foder^,  and  Mahoa). 


DIAaNOSIS    OF    PREGNANCY. 


603 


U.  A  Udy  may  assert  that  she  is  pregnant  with  ao  heir  to  an  estate, 
bftf  hu*h(ind  being  recently  ilearl. 

U,  A  girl  whf)  has  beeu  seduced  may  assert  her  pregnancy  as  a  reason 
l^iiKfeai^  damages. 

^h,  A  married  woman,  to  please  ber  husband,  or  for  some  other  motive, 
tee  n  i«ttiiilur  a^sseriiou.  The  svaiue  siatenieuL  may  be  made  by  a 
►r  religious  impostur,  like  Joanna  Southrote, 

oih,  The  plea  of  pregnancy  maybe  (rightly  or  wrongly)  set  up  as  an 
ttru«!  tur  u*«Datlendance  at  a  trial.     Will.  4,  cap.  22,  s.  6. 

8ih.  An  accusation  of  pn^gnanry  may  be  madeaguinst  a  single  woman, 
ttidow,  or  a  married  woman  Jiving  sepamte  from  her  husbaud.  This 
fliiy  furnish  grouurls  for  an  action  for  libel  or  blander,  or  fo/  proceedings 
in  the  Divorce  (Vmrt. 

7ih.  Arcu.'<aiions  of  malaijraxis  may  be  made  against  a  medical  man 
or  oiher  p(»n»i»nj*,  on  the  grouud  that  he  or  they  have  mistaken  pregaaucy 
for«>mc  other  condition,  or  attempted  to  bring  on  abortion. 

Iij  the  ca*c  of  a  dead  body,  the  question  of  pregnancy  may  be  important. 

l»t.  As  furnij?hing  a  motive  for  murder  (case  of  Tawell). 

2d.  XatJi  probable  motive  for  suicide. 

M,  The  quesiioD  r»f  hei^?^hip  may  arise,  because  a  pregnant  woman, 
Bftder  certain  circumstances,  may  be  less  likely  to  survive  than  one  who 
'•Dot  with  child. 

Cautions  (Uf  to  the  Diafnmu  of  Pregnancy. 

Tberi!  18  probably  no  subject  in  the  whole  domain  of  medical  practice 
'**bich  po  many  mistake;*  have  been  made  as  in  the  diagnosis  of  preg- 
oiflfv,  For  the  nni^t  part  the-se  mistakes  are  easily  avoidable  by  attcnd- 
"ig  In  ibc  following  cautions : 

!•*  Sever  rely  on  a  single  symptom  ;  not  even  on  so  marked  a  sign  as 
luUof  the  fcelal  heart.  The  auditory  nerves  may  be  deceived  as 
he  optic*  It  is  seldom  safe  to  prutiouoce  on  the  authority  of  lew 
<^'  or  four  of  the  supposed  s^ymptoms. 

11  the  majority  of  cases,  it  is  not  iJOs.«ible  to  be  absolutely  certain  of 
•nee  of  pregnancy  before  the  6th  (tr  7lb  month  of  utero-gestalion^ 
1  you  may  often  be  correct  at  a  much  earlier  date, 
"ver  be  sali.'<6ed  to  give  an  opinion  without  a  complete  and  care- 
Ination  of  the  caj*e.  In  any  doubtful  case,  as  when  pregnancy 
L*e  are  combined,  it  is  better  to  seek  and  obtain  a  second,  or  evea 
pinion. 

No  reliance  (for  legal  j>iirpO!^cs)  is  to  be  placed   upon  the  feelings 

*  of  the  woman,  nor  on  the  accounts  given  you  by  herself,  or  by 

da.     Your  reliance  mu»^t  be  upon  **  physical  signs/'     The  saying 

\\  that  •*  Women's  bellies  and  not  their  words,  are  to  be  believed, ' 

■'■f  coarec,  is  but  simple  truth;  since,  however  honest  their  inten- 

J^^JTif  dfc^  tJicy  may  l>e  deceived.     Ke^^fiectable  married   ladies  who  have 

**<!  m»ny  children  often  deceive  them.selves.     What  wonder  then,  if  a 

•jn>tn  who  has  never  had  a  child  should  make  a  mislake,  more  especially 

^[j^lbg  may  have  moht  terrible  temptations  to  induce  others  to  l)elieve 

^^pwiMuit,  or  the  reverse? 

,^*th.  Let  your  examination  be  thorough,  and  if  possible,  in  the  presenoe 

•  wimaB.     Observe  great  geutteness,  and  as  much  delicacy  as  you  can. 

"ictl  mea  sometimes  forget  thai  they  have  no  right,  merely  l>ecause 

ITe  a  medical  f|ualiticatioD,  to  examine  a  woman  nffaiust  her  own 


confirvt,  merely  on  the  verbal  order  of  a  policeman,  or  even  of  a  _^_ 
trnie;  uor»  indeed,  even  on  a  wriUeu  order,  except  in  the  case  <if  a  prisoner* 
It  is  seldom  that  the  aceuBed  person  will  refu-HC  to  undergo  such  an  exam* 
inatton,  if  lier  rontieiit  be  asked,  but  we  have  known  a  rou^^h  and  hasty 
examiniitJou  ibllt)wed  by  an  action  for  damages,  because  a  rncdiral  man 
forgot  the  uecestiity  of  thty  nrecaution.  This  remark  applies  equally  to 
cases  of  riifK",  erimioal  as8auU>,  and  alleged  delivery. 

The  priijcipal  symptoms  of  pre^iiauey  are  ( 1 )  Cessation  of  the  catame- 
nia  ;  (2)  Morning  iiickness  ;  (H)  (Jhan^c^  in  the  breasti^;  (4)  Enlargement 
and  other  tibdomioal  symptoms ;  (5i  Changes  in  the  uterus  and  vagina; 
(6)  Symptoms  belonging  to  the  l<BtU8  and  placenta;  (7)  Alterations  in  the 
aecretions,  such  as  salivation,  changes  in  the  urine,  etc.  As  these  symp- 
toms are  by  no  means  of  equal  value,  or  equally  ea.«y  to  recognize,  we 
shall  diijcusg  them  separately, 

I.  Of  the  C&i9<itwn  of  the  Oifame.nia.— The  rule,  of  course,  is  that  you 
will  find  the  calamenia  suppressetl  for  as  many  montldy  periods  as  the 
woman  U  mouths  "gone  with  child."  But,  remember:  First,  that  a  wo* 
man  may  have  perimJical  haemorrhages  all  through  pregnancy,  an<l  that 
these  are  very  common  in  the  earlier  months  without  any  placenta  [inevia 
in  the  true  sense  of  the  term  t  Second,  that  some  women  conceive  without 
ever  having  been  *' regular"  or  "  poorly"  at  all,  and  cases  are  recorded 
in  which  women  never  had  anv  afipearance  of  montlily  discharges  except 
when  they  were  pregnant.*     llemember  alno  that  the  catamenia  may  be 


*  The  ciiUimeniH,  moiijn»s,  "  mnnlhrHW,*'  or  ••  poorly  tim<»?,"  usuHlly  occur  from 
tbo  p<L<rl<i>d  of  puberty  till  the  cer'SHtiiun  nt'ticlivo  hcxuhI  life,  in  lb?  vast  niujority  of 
ibe  IVuihIl*  sex,  iil  pretty  regular  intrrvftl*  of  one  lunar  mf»nlb,  or  28  finyi^,  rofUunud 
from  ihe  b^ginninjc  of  on*^  Kuch  hsemnrrhiiifL'!  In  thf  bejiiiirong  of  HnoHierj  nnd 
coin<  idp  physiolitgicftlly  with  iby  di^cburgo  o\'  uniniprvgnHicd  ovm  rr<t!n  npened 
UrHHliHii  folliclos.  The  cntamoniHl  di.-chHrije  is  for  the  rnoftt  part  blu.>d  but  little 
ttUerrd  in  com po«i lion,  thuui^h  Dr,  Lt?theby  and  otliera  ii«fl*»ri  Ibnt  the  filirin  ta 
gretttly  louened  or  nk^ent,  Ihus  uccounliog  i'or  tbo  rarity  wilb  wlu(*h  it  formi!  ft 
0rm  coaguhjm.  It  is,  however,  generully  nlterod  in  color,  from  ndmixluro  with 
lh«  »f*cr««tinns  i>f  tlo>  VM^jfnii,  and  luorf  or  less  inixed  with  epilhtdtiil  ^ctitoti,  «nd 
other  mutter*  from  the  uterus,  vngirm,  or  exlernwl  [jarts.  In  some  w<»rnen  there  is 
A  compete  *'  ciipylt,"  recO]tifniz«ble  by  the  rnieroscope,  from  the  whole  of  the  urim*- 
genilal  tract.  This  flow  may  vary  >n  <|uafiiity  fnvm  a  few  drops  to  many  i^uneee, 
from  four  to  einbl  ourieca  being  very  comtui-n,  wnd  it  mivy  last  only  u  few  hour*  or 
several  day»,  from  three  to  four  and  a  hu!f  days  being  a  common  *«  period,"  The 
apparent  iiitei-ral  tHnni;  thus  only  25,  20,  or  even  le*«i  days.  Some  women  are  iaid 
lo  menfitruat4>,  or  "  bo  poorly/'  or  *•  hnve  the  flnwerin  "  at  intervals  of  only  fourleon 
dav8  and,  very  rarely,  «f  only  seven  day*.  Many  eau-e*  may  retard  their  flow  by 
a  day  or  two,  or  may  cause  it  to  be  antieipated.  Mr.  Kobertaon'e  rtaiearcbea  have 
shown  thai  the  ttvprage  fur  the  coramen*^'*'m»int  of  menstrualion  i*  16  2t)lyeart, 
Our  own  experience  pives  14  3(i  year^,  whilat  Mr  Whitehead  found  ihal  in  Man- 
che-iler,  in  a  large  number  of  ca^'j^,  it  wa>  not  «■stMbli^bed  till  the  iClb  year  ;  whilst 
e»*ei  are  on  record  of  ciiildron  born  with  tb*'  sinns  of  puberty,  and  men««lrualin^ 
when  they  were  nine  months  olil  (*'  Med-Chir,  Tran^jtc,"  vol*  ii,  p.  110).  Nutner-^ 
oiu  ca^es  of  retarded  menstrualioo,  not  bcgoming  till  lbe20ih  or20lh  year,  or  even 
Iftttir,  are  al«o  od  record. 

Many  of  ihe  supposed  cases  of  early  or  precocious  menstruation  are  undoubtedly 
spurious,  and  all  <'aHes  in  which  the  otn<*r  s1|l^ih  of  puberty  are  absent  must  be  re- 
garded ft!  doubtful.  M.  Bri^re  de  Boismoni  f»»und  the  mean  ageof  8r>t  men».trua- 
tion  in  Pari»  lu  be  14  years  and  6  mouih«,  whiUl  in  tniall  towns  it  wast  14  yearn  0 
inonth.'^,  and  in  the  country  14  year^  10  niDnlbs  It  is^  generaUy  tiupj>«>sed  to  occur 
earlier  in  lown&  than  in  the  country,  and  in  hot  climates  than  in  cold  ones.  I)f, 
NorRiaD  Cbet;Vfr«i,  however,  do*.'^  m»t  hold  ihi;*  to  be  generally  true  aa  regi,rdj  In- 
dia,^  except  when  tlie  dexuat  [ta^sion  ha>  been  unduly  Btinnulated  at  early  ages.  The 
catamenia  usually  ceAAe  fnmi  the  42d  to  tho  48tb  year;  but  this,  like  the  period  of 
their  ooannencement,  is  very  variable. 


hfm^B.k.F.  ^)j,o  ibat  Hlnius  upon  clothes  or  bedding  may  lye  due  to  other 

1,  a*»,  for  itintaiKf*.  JVoru  piles,  ami  tlml.  hitMndrrhngGs  may  also 

II  |H>lypt)i<J   or  fibrous  tu Dions  of  llie  niealua  tiriuarius,  from  n 

,  or  ihi'  like. 

ill.-  j.fiii  tu'al  coiiL'liisiiHi  yon  will  draw  from  all  this  U,  that  the  pre^once 

•^talH^uee  ttf  the  cutariieriia   is    in   itself  of  very  Utile  value  in  the  diag- 

'*"*<"'  *»f  prejrtjtmrv,  alrhongh   tak»*rk  with   other  .syinptoni:',  their  ah-jence 

"'*,♦  aiflist  UiH  ill  ihc  dia;riio>ip.     We  ha%'e,  however,  tlwelt  at  some  length 

•^•M  thin  t<»pic,  becaudu  it  b  of  imporiance  in  other  ways. 

n.  Mornhuj  SirkncM, — PreiL'nancy  is  otlen  accompanied   by  many  de- 

'**»lCMiioutj!}  of  the  di]i;e«tive  organ:*.     From  tiie  i^eroiid  to  the  sixth  week 

'^'  I'tion   is  the  mos't  common   |>eriiid  at  which  these  occur,  and 

^'  ly  decline  about  the  fntirth    month.     '' Miirnin^  «irknet*ji  *'  is 

^^  t)Uu»>L  uufiortant  of  thejie  in  a  ditiguostic  jK>int  of  view.    Thi!%  gttuerally 

.^^r*  only  on  first  ri>iiij|i;  in  tliL^  morning,  or  un  assuming;  an  erect  piwi- 

/****,  and  ij!  very  often  limited,  ai  the  ii:tni»^  implies,  to  the  raoriiin;.;  Innirs. 

^}*^  rulr^  the  general  health,  appetite,  und  nutrition  are  but  little  affected, 

^'«*«j«jrlj  in  exce|)tionaI  <'use?<  lile  itwif  may  he  imperilled.   It  i?<  intpurtant 

*^im*mber  that  renal,  gastric,  cerebral,  and  cardiac  dii^cane  may  give 

tu  imit^a,  voitiitttig,  an<i  other  dyt*jjeptic  symptoms.     '*  Morning -ick- 

in  also  common   in  dram-drinkers.     80  that  taken  by   iti»elf,  this 

|)Com  al^)  y  worth  very  little,  bul  in  young  and  heulthy  primiparteit 

jTofUo  jfive  valuable  indications*,  t^ikcn  in  coajnuciiou  with  other  *ymp- 


'  ir.  Mnmmary  Chnnrjrj^,, — The  brea.'*ti%  grow  larger  and  heavier  concur- 
t-lr  with  the  gmwth  and  d<*velopmeiit  fd"  theovnm.     Part  of  this  in* 
sijDc  ii  doubtless  due  to  {idi[)oec  tissue,  but  the  mo^^t  cbaracteriatic 


606 


6TMPT0MS    OF    PRKGNANCT. 


changes  are  the  increased  size  of  tlie  true  breast,  or  gland  tissue;  and  the 
moat  marked  visible  sign.-*  are  the  change  of  color  in  the  areola  of  the 
nipple,  and  the  increased  size  of  the  follicles  in  that  areola.  At  the  sante 
time  the  veins  become  enlarged  and  prnniinctii.  All  these  changes  are 
moi*t  conspicuous  in  a  first  pregnancy,  and  are  Iw.^l  seen  in  women  with 
clear  complexitnj.s,  with  a  niodcrale  amount  of  pigment  in  the  j^kin.  The 
iinoral  impressioo  is  better  conveyed  by  the  i^olorod  illustration  than  by 
my  verbal  description.  If  ymi  wish  to  exaininu  the  breasts  fur  medico- 
legal purposes*,  it  is  very  important  to  look  at  them  first  bef<«re  touching 
them.  The  whole  bosom  should  be  uncovered.  The  changes  about  to  be 
described  begin  with  the  beginning  of  pregnancv,  but  are  clearly  per- 
ceptible at  the  end  of  six  weeks  or  two  months.  There  is  then  a  decided 
darkening  around  the  nipple.  You  must  not  forget  tliat  there  is  aUvuys  an 
areola  or  cohtre<l  circle  varying  frotn  a  pink  in  very  fair  women,  to  brown 
or  almost  bhick,  in  darker  f>eople'— but  its  size  is  greatly  increasetl  by 
pregnancy — it^  diameter  ranges  fr<»m  one  half  to  two  or  three  inches. 
Upon  this  dark  ground  there  is  a  double  or  triple  row  of  follicles,  or 
tubercles  of  the  areola,  which  are  in  reality  miniature  nipples.  Their 
Hghler  color  strongly  contrasts  with  the  dark  ground  on  which  they  lie — 
their  number  varies  from  twelve  to  about  twenty^and  their  size  is  much 
incre^ised  by  pregnancy,  Besiiles  this,  towards  the  end  of  geritjiiti<m,  there 
are  small  whitish  .**pots  on  the  outer  part  of  the  areola,  presenting  an  a|>- 
pearance  an  if  the  rolur  had  been  discharged  hv  a  shower  of  drops  falling 
ou  the  part.  (Secondary  areola  of  Dubois.)  Dr.  >fontgomery  attributes 
great  importance  to  lhe.se  as  a  sign  of  pregnancy.  The  nipple  becomes 
more  prominent  and  turgid,  and  olU'n  has  branny  scales,  froru  the  drying 
up  nf  a  milk-like  Huid  which  now  begins  to  be  secreted.  The  breasts 
become  firmer,  larger,  and  more  knotty  in  feeling.  Care  must  be  taken 
not  to  hatidle  the  breasts  much — or  the  observer  may  easily  be  deceived 
by  tlie  physiologiciil  conger^tifui  thus  produced.  It  is  the  first  impression 
given  to  the  touch  which  is  of  value.  Blue  veins  (at  least  in  fair  people) 
are  now  very  distinctly  seen,  espfctally  in  the  later  months,  and  the  origin 
of  the  nipple  has  often  a  moist  appearance.  Milk  i^  very  often  present  iti 
the  tubes,  and  may  be  stjneeze*!  tVom  the  nipple.  Numerous  cases  of  milk 
in  the  bretL«ts  in  single  and  not  pregnant  women  are  ou  record;  one  of  the 
earliest,  Baudelwcjue's  ("Art  d'Accouchement,"  torn,  i,  p.  188,  1822),  was 
in  a  girl  only  eight  years  old — and  the  authors  themselves?  are  acquainted 
with  others?,  "  L.  H.  Reports,*'  vol.  i.  Authentic  instances  of  milk  in  the 
male  breast  (not  to  be  coufounderl  with  cystic  disease)  are  also  recorded 
by  Hmnboldt  and  others.  The  first  intimation  receiver!  by  the  woman 
herself  of  this  secretion  is  probably  a  little  moisture  ou  the  chemise  or 
under-giirment.  It  fretjuently  hapt»enj?  that  true  milk  is  not  secreted  in 
any  (juantity  until  after  delivery,  but  at  the  fifth  or  ?ixth  month  we  shall 
nearly  always  be  able  to  distinguish  the  elements  of  that  fluid  by  the  aid 
of  a  i  inch  objective,  if  the  tluid  from  the  nipples  be  placed  on  a  glass 
«lide.  Dr.  Ltiroley  Earle  has  nnted  the  occurrence  of  silvery  streaks  (like 
the  linejc  albicantes  to  be  described  afterwards),  which  are  seen  b>^ slightly 
gtretching  the  skin  of  the  breast  between  finger  and  thumb.  These  of  com 
are  best  seen  in  multipara*.* 


*  During  men!«truiitiun,  in  ovurinn  di:»caso,  ur  by  the  mind  being  much  diroeti^d 
to  thtj  sofjjtfcl,  §ini;lt*  nnd  non-pre^nunt  w<»Jn«n  m»iy  cxbibtt  mnny  of  thu  tr»«m- 
miiry  *ynipluiHi«  die*crilK*d  atwivt" — es(KfeiHll3*  oolnrjfi'inrnt  of  the  lir«'M>U.  VVn  cim 
lh«Tt'for<*  !iciiri'(*ly  \*f  ltw>  c^nuinuf^  in  ft*rnong  otir  judgno^nl  upon  ihii^  fjoint,  fi^jM*- 
cirIIv  hs  n'wlly  pregtuoil  worai^n  ot'cu*iunHlly  *huw  llttli}  cbwnge  in  the  bren^ts  until 
■fler  delivery. 


608 


QUICRENINO. 


Biid  at  full  term  it  can  scarcely  be  saM  that  there  is  any  appreciable  tn 
lo  the  uterus.  At  the  ^arae  time  the  foIlioIeK  about  the  os  uteri  become 
very  |»**rc<*ptible.  The  os  uteri  is  directed  luure  biu-kwards,  and  there  is  n 
p€cu]iur  velvety  feel  about  it,  well  known  to  experience*!  ob:<letriciani*.  It 
18  filled  with  a  plug  of  gelatinous  mucus.    The  uterine  muffle  {bruit  placen- 


Kio,  73. 


Fro.  7*. 


0«  and  ceirix  at  etghih  luobtb. 


Oa  aod  cerrix  mt  Iho  fall  t4«rio. 


tairc  of  some  authors)  can  generally  Vie  heard  after  the  fifth  month  (?iom6 
have  heard  it  earlier}  citfier  by  aiK-^cullatiou  over  the  uterus,  througli  ihe 
abdominal  wall<,  or  by  means  of  the  metroscope.  This  soufMe  i*  a  bh»w- 
ing  sound,  either  hoarse  and  harsh,  or  sofV,  whii^lling;  cooing,  or  musical. 
It  is  synchronous  with  the  radial  pulse.  It  i?*  best  heard  near  the  usual 
i-ite  of  placental  attachmeut,  and  has  therefore  been  ascribed  U)  the  pla- 
centa. It  i^,  however,  heard  even  after  delivery  i'or  a  few  days,  al.*o  in 
CJt^e?"  of  fibroid  tumors  /  wilhout  pregnancy),  and  'm  therefore  of  very  slight 
diagnostic  value.  It  is  almost  cert4»iijly  an  arterial  bruit,  but  venous 
bruit,*'  are  also  heard  over  the  gravid  uterus.  The  vagina  is  generally 
somewhat  relaxed,  it5  artery  pulsates  more  strongly  (Osiander),  an*!  it:* 
mucous  membrane  is  considerably  congested,  giving  it  a  violrt  tlurjf^ith'ircd 
by  the  iuner  tturfare  of  the  ndva  <Jacquemin,  Kluge,  Parent-Duchjifelet). 
This  being  simply  a  pressure  symptom,  is  of  little  value  by  it«elf.  French 
irgeous  attach  considerable  importance  to  a  means  of  examination  termed 

ffoHement  or  repercussion,  of  which  there  are  two  kiufis,  externa!  and 
int-ernaL  It  can  scarcely  be  applicable  except  between  the  fourth  and 
aixth  or  seventh  month.  To  practice  internal  ballottnieut,  the  woman  mu*t 
either  stand  upright,  or  lie  with  the  trunk  in  a  semi  recumbent  position, 
to  bring  the  uterug  as  low  down  ae  possible,  and  make  iti*  axis  coincide 
with  a  line  passing  perpendicularly  from  the  fundus  uteri  to  the  gmuud* 
One  or  two  fingers  of  one  hand  must  now  be  ititr«Mlucffl  into  the  vagina, 
and  applied  to  that  pan  of  the  os  uteri  which  is  most  anterior.  The  other 
hand,  or  the  hand  of  an  assistant,  should  nmintain  stearly  pressure  un  the 
abdomen,  and  the  [>aticnt  should  take  in  a  long  breath.  Whilst  she  holds 
her  breath,  the  fingers  in  the  vagina  must  make  a  rapid  jerking  push 
against  the?  uterus,  and  then,  if  the  jx^rioi!  of  pregnancy  be  favorable,  a 
hard  body  (the  ftetiis)  will  be  fell  to  rerede  from,  and  fall  back  agahi  on 
the  tips  of  the  fingers  (rising  and  falling  in  the  liquor  amnii).  Exleriial 
bailntfejDcnt  is  a  similar  mauanivre,  which  is  best  done  by  having  the 
vronnin  on  her  side,  with  tlje  abdimieu  projecting  beyon<l  the  edge  of  the 
bed  or  couch.  Whilst  fully  satisfied  that  this  is  a  useful  method  of  <liag- 
nnsis  in  some  cases,  and  fairly  free  from  fallacies,  the  practical  difficulties 
and  the  limited  period  during  which  it  is  available,  greatly  detract  from 
its  %'filue. 

VI.  Sf/mptomjt  due  to  the  Fcci\i*—Qmrkcmng^  and  AiiM'uKaiion  of  ihe 
Ftrhd  Heart, — Women  in  almost  all  ages,  the  older  writers,  even  li*gal 
onas,  have  attached  great  Importance  to  the  first  recognition,  on  the  (wirt 
of  tho  mother,  of  ftutal   movement*,  or,  in   other  wortU,  "quickening*" 


BOUNDS   OF  7(STAL   HBART. 


609 


occurrence  is  very  variable;  and  living  children  have 

MTU  Without  the  inotber  having  pt»reeived  any  movements  at  all.     It 

p^r,  fTilly  *H'»  urv  about  the  middle  of  preg^nancy,  from  the  sixteenth  week 

1(1  fhn'  twenty  luurth  ;  but  it   niuy  be  postf»>ned   much  later,  or,  an  i*aid 

*In»vi?',  he  i»lni)ji?iher  wanting.     As  far  as  we  are  eoneerned,  as  meiiieal 

.:'"''»''.  it  may  be  either  a  subjective  or  an  objective  symploin.     In  other 

(he  i^Mtient  may  tell  tm  of  such  movement.'*,  which  nuiy,  however, 

to  other  cau!*ei»,  or  we  niuy  feel  them  ouj-selves  thnnijyih  the  abdtvmi- 

oai  pariete?",  in  which  case  we  must  be  cureful  not  to  mistake  contractions 

'a)  of  the  tthdomiual  muscles,  or  (^5^)  of  the  uterus  itself,  for  the  niove- 

tarct?  of  the  f«ptU9.     Very  active  movenietitj*  on  the  part  of  the  infant  iu 

oi*|l»  (St.  Luke  1  :  41)  can  scarcely  be  mistaken  for  anything  else.     The 

iputKU  of  the  fo'lal   heart   may  sometimes  be  heard  as  early  as  the  fifth 

tnoDlh^  and  guppoeiinp  life  to  continue,  may,  of  coun?e,  be  heard   up  to  the 

pcriixl  of  delivery.     The  spot  at  which  the  stethoscope  should   he  placed 

a*  best  to  hear  the  tic-tac  of  I  he  foMal  heart,  varies  wiih  the  child's 

lion  in  utero,  etc.     As  a  general   rule,  however,  it  may  be  said   that 

tnic]<l]e  of  a  line  drawn  from  the  anterior  snperior  spine  of  the  iiiuni 

tA  ihf  umbilicus  on  one  side  or  the  other  is  alxmt  the  best  spot.     This 

Vilutihtc  ud<lition  to  our  means  of  diagnosing  pregnancy  was  discovered 

in  l^'l?*  I>y  M.  Mayor,  f>f  Geneva.     Tliese  beats  of  the  f<eial  heart  vary  iu 

iititulier  from  120  to  160,  130 — 150  being  most  common,  the  uuml>er  be- 

iiil*  i.Tiftlei'l  in  females. 

lames  Gumming  f*  Etlinburgh  Medical  Journal,"  1875,  pp.  327- 
-^  uvf,  "For  the  same  pulse-rate,  the  male  infant  at  birth  iibould  be 
kwiTiirr  than  the  female,  in  the  propurtion  of  20/i  to  It);  or,  if  the  temale 
iQfaut  eqtnil  the  male  in  weight,  the  female  pulse  will  be  the  higher  one." 
Frankeiihauwr  ("  Monatschriit  fiir  Crfbiirtskunde")  says,  "that  the  iivtal 
hmn  of  the  male  ib  slower  than  the  female ;  and  that  pulsations  under 
I44  ni*y  be  tiiken  to  signify  that  a  male  infant  is  iu  utero." 

"'      sdiuuhl  not  be  mfnrhrotHHiH  tvtth  the  mothrr'f*  pul^e.     If  we  find  them 

>,  we  have  every  reas(tn  to  sn>pect  that  we  have  not  heard  the  lietal 

twaifi  at  all,  but  otdy  the  nntthers  apex-beats,  couveyed   Ihnmgh  some 

•olid  or  enlarged  organ,  such  as  the  liver,  or  even  by  (he  walls  of  tlie 

•tWoiiien.     There  are   really   two  sounds  of  the  fu^al   heart;    in   other 

^on!*,  the  nund>er  of  sounds  is  from  240  to  320;  but   in  coimting,  we 

**«*kt>n  only  the  second  or  loudest  sound.     The  fcetal  hejirt   may  cea^e  to 

be  hranl  for  a  time,  even  when  the  child  is  alive;  and  its  total  absence 

do«  uot  prove  the  absence  of  [jregnancy,  l>ut  makes  it  highly  prifbable 

thin  lite  infant  is  dead,  even  when  other  signs  of  pregnancy  exist.     Stjme- 

1  "(Mailflt?"  !!<  heard  from  the  funis  also.     The  so-called  placental 

-.*.,,  [,as  been  already  mentioned. 

V*IL  MiM-rUautauif  Sifju^  of  I^egnannj — Kif»iiny  f^c— Alterations  of 
I  of  character,  strange  an  ti pat  bias,  voiiicious  or  ])eruliar  appe- 
^''^  an  increased  secretion  of  >aiiva,  iriitabilily  of  the  bowels 
.i«ldi  r,  ami  (leculiar  pigmented  patches  on  the  face  or  arms  (Dr, 
,  Mtj.'i'mta  of  the  optic  disks  arjd  retina*,  causing  transient  amauro- 
■<•  (I 
[itnl 


It 

•ibii 


I'rtita  ot  tlie  optic  (li!- 

(the  ^o-ciincd  '*te»t"  of  Beccaria  was  intetise  pul.-^atiug  pain 
region  f,  tendencies  to  syncope  and  vertigo,  convulsions, 
•^^'iaunoria  or  saccharine  urine,  very  great  increase  of  fibrin  iu  the  blood, 
vl?*-rtrophy  of  the  hi*art  i  some  degree  of  which  is  normal  in  [)regnancy), 
^vifig  rise  to  a  «itrong<'r  pulse  than  u.«nal.  All  these  have  been  imticed  iu 
f^tiant  women  again  and  again  ;  btit  none  of  them  are  diagnostic,  Si» 
h,  however,  hfiA  been  mude  r)f  the  so-called  kiestin  or  gravid  in,  that 
notice  of  it,  though  utterly  worthless  as  a  sign  of  pregnancy,  seema 
I  for.     It  waa  eai^l   by  its  discoverer,  that  after  the  first  month  of 


610 


MINOR    SIGNS    OF   PBEGNAMCT. 


pregnancy,  the  urine  of  the  pravid  woman,  left  to  stand  from  thirty  hours 
to  ei^ht  day**,  g:ather8  a  pellicle,  like  *•  the  fatty  seurn  of  cooled  broth,** 
and  with  a  checr.y  odor.  This  pellicle,  when  examined  by  tests  and  the 
mieroseope,  ^hows  fiiugi,  triple  phii.'^phatej*^  fat  glabule?*,  and  sioinetime:*  a 
peculiar  form  of  albumen,  Uu fortunately,  men,  young  women,  and  very 
old  women  may  furnish  urine  of  similar  eharaeter;;,  so  th:it  it  is  no 
te^t  of  pregnancy.  It  h  m'u],  however,  with  great  pntbability,  that 
lime  palls  (phosphates)  are  considerably  diminished  in  the  urine  of  preg- 
oancy. 

NoU  on  Minor  SI (j rut. 

Enlargement  of  the  thyroid  body,  evidently  known   to  Catullus   (de 

Nnptiii*  Pelei  et  Thetidod,  line^  37H-7  :  "  Non  illam  nutrix  orienti  luce 
revisens  Hesterno  rollum  i>oterit  eireumdare  filo")  'i»  another  minor  s'igo, 
let4*»  perhaps  of  pregnanry  than  of  sexual  excitement,  asi  pointed  out  by 
Dr,  James  Heid.  Another  very  pf>pular  one  is  known  as  "  inroing  out 
the  lLH'>,*' alluding  to  the  net'essily  tV>r  securing  a  wider  ba'^is  to  ^upfiort 
thf  iijcrea-^ed  weight  of  the  gravid  uterus.  For  the  same  reason  the  womau 
walks  more  upright,  with  ihe  abdfmien,  as  it  were,  pushed  before  her  It 
18  also  frefjuently  noticed  that  she  UtoVs  '*  ridiculou!«ly  well."  It  is  obvious, 
however,  that  these  '•  signs  "  are  of  little  forensic  value. 

Summary, 

The  extreme  difficulty  of  dtagndJ^ing  |>regnancy  in  the  earlier  and  sonil 
timcH  in  the  later  nKinths*,  shiiw.s  phiinly,  as  tlo  nurueroua  recorded 
how  nutnilly  tTimiiml  it  h  to  intrust  the  ditormioatiou  of  the  sUite  of  a 
womau  Condemned  to  death  to  a  jury  of  matrons  without  any  special  ex- 

ferience,  and  [jerhaps  casually  selected  from  the  spectators  of  a  trial !  J 
u  the  vast  maj»»rity  of  casies  we  «inni»t  be  certain  of  pregnancy  till  be- 
tween the  seventh  or  eighth  months,  however  pnjbable  it  may  be» 

The  signs  of  pregnancy  can  scarcely  be  Mummed  up  better  than  in  the 
wordri  of  Uoederer  ("  Eleni.  Art.  Obstetr.,"  p.  51  j : 

**  Ex  supra  dictis  sequentia  corollaria  eliciuntur: 

"  Imura.  Ante  lUium  menj<cm  certum  graviditatis  piguum  non  facile  datur. 
Pri)bHbi)ia  Uintuin  criteria  sunt:  orificii  uterini  de-scensus,  ventris  conj- 
planatio,  ineusiruorum  suppre^sio,  tumor  mammttrura,  symptoraata  a  eup- 
preA*inriie  hac,  vel  a  tmvt»  stimulf)  inducta. 

**  Ildutn,  A  'Sti.o  (ifi  ^ytum  mittJ*rm,  exploratio  ttlKlominalis  recte  insstituitur. 
Ad  quaui  si  accedit  suppressio  menstruonrm  cootinua,  succes^iva  symjjto- 
niatuni  morbosorum  remissio,  mammarum  tumor  erei*eeus,  lympha  lacteis 
striiy  dii?tineta,  orificium  uteri  cra.*tsiu*i,  mollius,  spongiosum,  molus  em- 
bryonic, etc.,  de  graviditate,  admodi  certi  e^^se  posjturaus. 

**  Ilium.  Pod  ^tum  menxenif  status  oriticii  uterini  omuium  minime  fallit : 
precedentia  recensita  signa  si  continuantur  et  augentur,  nullum  plane 
graviditJitis  dubiuni  est  relifjuuai.  Simul  etiam  eervicia  tumor  tunc 
tangitur. 

"IVlum.  Sid)  initiiim,  medlumque  li  mcnm,  caput  plerumque  tjictui 
offerlur.  Uuam,  duas,  tres,  quiu  quatuor  ante  partuin,  hebdomadea,  uteri 
ora  inferior  teuditur,  aperatune  jielvis  aup»>riori  apprimitur,  et  caput  pone 
i^tam  oram  hiereus  presjsioui  in  alt  urn  resist!  t/' 

Sigrn  of  Pregnane^  in  the  Dead  Body, 

In  the  dead  body  of  a  pregnant  fennile  there  tnight  be  sevenil  of  the  signs 
we  have  just  described  in  the  living,  though  of  course  the  subjective  phe- 


612 


TRUE  AND  FALSE  CORPORA  LUTBA 


Fl».  76. 


"  Before  this  apposition  has  occurred,  the  fibrinous  clot  has  heen  decolor- 
ized, or  converted  into  fluid,  and  in  either  ca.*e  abiK>rbed,  The  tuKstaiu'e 
of  the  corpus  luteuni  is  soft,  fleshy,  and  friable,  and  is  permeated  with 
numerous  vessels  from  the  external  surface  of  the  ovisac,  so  that  the  true 
corpus  luteuni  admits  of  being  injecte<l  from  the  vessels  of  the  ovary,     la 

size  and  jiha{)e,  the  true  corpus  luteum,  that 
which  follows  upon  impregnation  (Fig,  76  i, 
resembles  a  small  bean,  and  projecti*  from  the 
surface  of  the  ovary  a.s  a  mammillary  bndv, 
occtipyingfrom  ouc-tjuarter  to  one-half  of  tfje 
entire  superficie??  of  the  organ.  It  is  largest 
in  tlie  early  weeks  of  pregnancy;  and  after 
the  third  month  it  slowly  decreases  in  ^i»e» 
until  the  time  of  parturition,  when  it  rapidly 
re^troprades  and  at  leuj^th  becomes  a  mere 
scar/*  (Tyler  Smith.)  "  At  the  end  of  eight 
or  nine  weeks  it  has  become  so  altered  that 
its  color  is  oo  longer  diiftinguishable,  and 
only  faint  traces  of  its  convoluted  structure 
are  to  be  discovered  by  close  examination. 
These  traces,  however,  may  remain  for  a  h>ng 
period  afterward,  more  or  lejss  concealed  iu 
the  ovarian  tissue.  We  have  distinguifihed 
them  so  late  a-^  nine  and  a  half  monthd  after 
delivery."  (Dalton.)  The  authors  have  frequently  found  them  four  to  «ix 
months  after  delivery.  In  twin  pregnancies  we  find,  of  course,  two  corpora 
lutea  in  the  ovaries;  but  these  are  iireeisely  similar  to  each  otlier,  and 
beiniij  evidently  of  the  same  date,  will  not  give  ri!?e  to  any  confusion.  If 
two  corpora  lutea,  of  similar  size,  etc,  are  found  with  only  one  f<ptus,  one 
of  them  belong?  to  a  blighted  ovum.  It  is  now  quite  certain  that  the  ujere 
presence  of  a  corpus  luteum  is  not  in  itself  a  sign  of  pregnancy  ;  for  a  full 
explanation  of  which  we  must  refer  to  '*  Ddlton's  Human  Physiology," 
chap,  vi,  5th  edit.,  from  which  we  extnict  the  fjlluwing  table  of  the  char- 
actei*s  of  false  (or  virgin)  and  true  (or  inj]>r»^gtnited )  corpora  lutea.  It 
will  be  *!een  from  this  table,  that  the  latter  differ  from  the  unimpregnated 
in  not  disapf)eanng  so  quickly,  by  their  further  development,  greater  site, 
and  yelhiwer  hue,  a^s  well  as  by  their  stellate  structure.  In  a  doubtful 
case  we  fhouhl  distrust  all  very  red  bodicti,  and  especially  if  we  found 
several  in  ditlerent  sta^res,  inasmuch  as  pregnancy  sus|>euds  the  prrjcess  of 
ovulation,  and  since,  wlien  more  than  one*  fietus  is  formed,  the  corpora 
lutea  fi)rmed  at  the  same  time  are  of  nearly  eijual.size»  and  of  siuular 
ap|iearance : 


Section  of  humRn  ortirj  stiow- 
InK  th«  Grtnfinii  vesicle  at  third 
montb  of  g«»tation.  (Dr.  Tyler 
Stniih.) 


*  For  further  dctaiU  on  true  and  fnlAO  corporn  luten,  refereacei  must  be  mndo  to 
work*  on  OI»st«*tric  Mt'dieJne.  Thn  snl'jw^t  is  tr«*Hted  Hi  •onrjt?  ImglK  fn  Kiims* 
botJmm's  "  Ob*t<>tric'  M«*dioirve,"  Dr.  M«»ntsjfim pry's  work  nlrcady  quot«Hl.  nod 
Cy«l«»|»<'d.  Prnci.  .Mt*d.,  **  Pri*i;n»»ncy,"  p.  4J«i :  aUo  "  Edinhurgb  iMnnihly  Juur* 
mil,"  JunuKry,  1845.  p.  68;  do  vnl.  o«.  p.  49;  *'  Medical  Gnaclt©/*  Doc.  22»  p. 
48;   ibid.,  vol.  86,  p.  443;  Taylor,  he.  eit. 


rSEIOD   OP   UTBRO-aBSTATION, 


CttlcHlatiug  the  Period  of  Utero-Gaaiaium. 


KOB  Camjuhoam  Uowtaa. 

TSH  LrNXft  UOHTIOL 

rmm 

TO 

D«y.. 

From 

To 

D.yi. 

J«n.     I 

Sept,  30 

27S 

Jan.     1 

Oct.     7 

2S0 

Vvb.      I 

Oct.    81 

273 

Feb.     1 

Not.    7 

9W 

M»r.     I 

Not.  m 

875 

Mar.     1 

I>.?C.      6 

280 

Aj>rU    I 

Dm.    81 

275 

Aurll    t 

Jan.     fi 

280 

M.y      I 

Jau.    81 

278 

M.y     1 

Feb.     4 

a«o 

Juue    1 

Feb.   28 

378 

Juno    1 

M*r.    7 

280 

July     1 

Mar.  81 

274 

July     1 

April   8 

280         1 

Aug.     1 

Apr.   :H) 

273 

Aug.     1 

AUy     7 

280 

8rpt.     1 

Mity   31 

273 

Sept.     1 

Juue    7    , 

280 

Ocl,      1 

Juue  i» 

27:i 

Oct,      I 

July     7 

280 

Nuv.     1 

July  at 

273 

Nuv.     I 

Aug.    7 

2S0 

Dee.      t 

Aug.  81 

274 

Dec,     1 

Sept.    6 

280 

The  above  obstetric  *' R€»dy  Reckoner,**  oonsiets  of  two  columns,  one 
of  caleridHr,  the  other  of  liitmr  njontbs,  luid  may  be  read  a??  follows;  A 
palicnl  ha.i  ceased  In  rnedstruale  on  the  Ut  July — her  confinemeut  may  be 
eX|>coted  at  iioonest  about  the  ^ilst  March  (fhfi  etnl  of  nin^  calendur  inonffuf) ; 
or  at  late?*t  on  the  6th  A|iril  {the  end  af  ten  Iwmr  mtmth-»).  Another  has 
cea«-cd  to  men.^lruate  oq  the  20th  Jannary — her  coriHuement  may  Ije  ex- 
pected ou  the  3Uth  September,  plun  twenty  days — (fhe  end  of  nine  coktidar 
months)  at  .mionest ;  or  oo  the  7th  October,  plus  twenty  days  {the  end  of  ten 
lunar  monthftjui  latent. 

BrittHU  de.s  f iardefl  (quoted  by  Montgomery)  states  that  the  old  Englii 
code  sfifcilied  forty  weeks  a.**  the  limit  of  legitimacy.  Dur  statute-books 
now,  however,  coiiterit  themselves  by  referring  in  **  the  usual  periini  of  gejj- 
tation,"  *'  the  course  of  tmtiire,"  "  the  law.s  of  nature/'  and  similar  vupue 
phrase,**.  Mine  mlendar  months  or  forty  weeks  being  said  to  be  the  *'  usual  '* 
jKTtcid — or  '' If'ffithnnm  tempm  parivndL"  Bfack;*tone  says  ("Commen- 
taries," vol.  i,  p.  4.'>0),  "  From  what  has  Ijeen  f^aid,  it  appears  that  all  chil- 
dren born  befure  matrimony  are  bastards  by  our  law  ;  and  so  it  is  of  all 
children  born  so  long  after  the  death  of  the  husband,  that  by  the  usual 
enuffie  of  ffeMtitioii  they  could  not  be  begotten  by  him.  But  this  being  a 
matter  of  uncertainty,  the  law  i.s  not  exact  as  to  a  few  days."  The  con- 
8e(picnce  is  that  in  this  country,  and  in  America  also,  whenever  a  question 
of  legitimacy  arises,  the  matter  is  made  a  subject  of  discussion,  and  skilled 
witne*8es  are  examined  at  the  time  on  this  very  question.  One  or  two  of 
thcsie  cases  are  so  remarkable,  that  contrary  to  our  usual  practice  we  miwt 
briefly  allude  to  them.  Before  doing  so,  we  will,  however,  give  the  ordi- 
nary modes  for  eomjiuting  the  duration  of  labor,  and  the  period  at  which 
birth  shfiuld  take  place  according  to  some  of  our  best  authorities. 

J)r.  Montgomery,  quoting  several  classical  authon? — includiDg  Hippoc- 
rates and  HtTodolus — as  well  as  the  Apocrypha,  tinds  that  they  all  agree 
in  the  common  reckonitig  of  280  days — even  the  passages  which,  at  iirsi 
sight,  would  seem  to  contradict  this  opinion  serve  to  contirra  it  when  ex- 
plained. 


DURATION   OF    PR«0!TA1?0T, 

yoiuerr  himstelfis  very  strong  on  280  days  being  the  unmil  period — although, 
tt»  wUf  be  set^u,  his  ca?es  do  not  do  more  than  render  this  probable.  Dr. 
Miitlbewiai  Duncan,  who  has  given  great  attention  to  thi.ssnbject,  givea  the 
following  rule :  "  Add  275  days  to  the  day  on  which  the  culaineniu  disap- 
peared—then  add  three  days  more,  and  this  278i]i  day  will  be  the  day  of 
tiefii'enj/'  Or  in  common  language,  any  nine  calendar  mouths  adiled  to 
the  date  of  iusemiualioii  +  three  days  (or  if  February  intervene,  five  days) 
will  give  the  date  of  delivery^  accoring  to  Dr.  Duncan — ur  at  least  the 
middtr  d'ly  of  ihe  fnrtmtjhf^  during  which  delivery  is  almost  sure  to  lake 
place.  Dr.  Knhert  Btirues,  whose  authority  in  the^e  matters  i*  deservedly 
very  high,  states  that  273  to  278  days  is  the  mof«t  common  period — 275 
bein^,  he  think;;,  normal,*  Naegele'c.  metluxl  of  calculating  was  :?ot«ewhat 
peculiar.  He  added  twelve  calendar  months  to  the  time  when  menstrua- 
tion ought  to  have  occurred,  and  then  deducted  three  month.-i  and  eight 
days.  rhus»  supposing  a  woman  ought  to  have  been  poorly  on  Jvdy  1st, 
1874,  add  twelve  month.<  =^  July  1st,  1875.  Deduct  three  months  and 
eight  davij,  and  we  get  March  2^d,  1H75,  u»  the  probable  date  ot  delivery 
=  266  days  only — ^a  period  which  wc  think  to(j  little.  The  authors  have 
collected  eight  causes  in  which  the  date  of  coitus  was  fixed  by  reniarkabU 
circumatiitices^  and  fiud  that  all  agreed  in  the  280th  being  the  day  of  d< 
livery.  Dr.  Tyler  Smith  sunis  up  the  result  of  his  and  others'  ex[)erieu< 
thus:  "In  a  practical  point  of  view,  we  may  consider  that  the  avei 
duration  of  pregnancy  is  about  280  days  from  the  <late  of  the  last  cuta- 
meuia,  or  about  274  or  275  days  from  the  time  of  coitus*  when  this  can  be 
ascertained.*^  8<j  there  is  a  pretty  general  consent  amongst  the  best  ob- 
stetricians as  to  the  general  duration  of  pregnancy — the  extremes  being 
from  266  days^  or  thirty-eight  weeks,  to  280  days,  or  forty  weeks.  Th<^ 
question  whether  this  period  can  be  shortened  is  also  sufficiently  answered^ 
from  common  experience,  seven  mouths*  children  beingsntficienrly  common. 
Dr.  Muntgoinery  mentions  a  case  of  a  child  born  at  200  days  (six  months, 
eighteen  days),  who  lived  to  be  thirteen  years  old.  Dr.  Purdon  mentions 
another  born  at  six  and  a  half  months^  who  lived  two  years.  Dr.  Outre- 
poiit,  of  Banjberg,  speaks  of  one  born  at  six  calendar  months,  who  lived,  at 
all  events,  till  he  was  eleven  years  of  age.  In  the  famous  Jar(imf  c«se,  the 
parish ]<jnei*s  of  Kinghoro,  in  Scotland,  brought  an  accusation  of  inconti- 
nency  against  the  Kev.  F.  Jardiue,  who  was  married  to  his  wife  on  March 
3d.  1835,  and  on  the  24th  August  (hve  calendar  months  and  twenty-one 
days,  or  174  days  atWr  marriage)  a  daughter  was  born,  who  survived  till 
20*ih  March,  1836.  The  inquiry  lasted  fn^m  1835  t^  1830,  and  in  the  end 
the  ecclesiastical  court  (General  Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scotland)  pro- 
nounccd  the  libel  "not  proven,"  thus  deciding  in  lavor  of  the  legitimacy 
of  the  infant.  The  French  law  decides  that  children  born  after  180  daya^j 
or  six  calendar  months,  are  legitimate  and  viable.  The  Scotch  law  alloi 
six  lunar  muutlis,  or  168  days  (less  than  Mr.  Jardines  infant  by  six  days) 
to  be  both  viable  aud  legitimate.  An  older  case  of  a  similar  kind  is  re- 
jK>rte<l,  in  which  the  Rev.  Thomas  Elder,  minif?ter  of  Whithorn,  also  id 
Scotland,  was  deprived  of  his  clerical  functions  in  consequence  of  a  living 
infant  having  been  born  within  four  muutlis  after  marriage  (about  the 
year  1710).    This  seuteoce  was  atlerwards  reversed,  partly  on  accouut  of 


♦  In  the  cflpbr«t€*d  MordAunt  divorce  chs<s  Dr.  Spinka  (counsel  for  itie  p«ti- 
liontT)  Bppenred  t»»  ti»ke  U  fur  grunted  llmt  frutti  'i74  to  'i8U  dnye  whs  ihn  nvtrngft 
jriod  of  pn'gnnncy.     Tliero  whs  ati  entry  ht  Lndy  Murdwunt's  diary  of  ihe  8d  \  ' 
.pril  Mguin«t  the  27th  June  =  280  diiys ;  bad  tiii!»  wms  deeoied  tin  evideoce  of  li^ 
gudtt 


PROTRACTED    GESTATION.  617 


9TfontA  characl^r,  partly  on  account  of  a  certificate  signed  by  the 
nici]  Doctors  Piteairn,  Preston,  and  Drnraniond, 


^Hnutctl  Doctors  Piteairn,  Preston,  and  Drnraniond,  wlicj  declared  **  that 

|Hmd  bom  io  the  beginnitig  of  the  sixth  lunar  month  may  l>e  alive  and 

cnDtioue  in  Jife,  which  is  contn'fftent  with  our  i^bj^ervrttiou  and  experience," 

»«rgh»  May  P2,  1710.     The  Parliament  of  Pari}*  in  the  ca.se  of  Cai*- 

liichelieu  decided  "that  the  infant  at  tive  months  pfx^ses.*«d  that 

of  living  to  the  ordinary  i>eriod  nf  human  pxistenee  whirh  the 

Jicc  required  for  establishing  it>?  title  to  inheritanr'c."     The  Cmle 

mentions   180  day?*,  or  six  calendar  mouths.     Dr.  R<vdraan  of 

mH  with  a  case  in  1H15,  in  which  a  child  8iirvive<l  Un  twenty  one 

rhose  mother  believed  she  had  carried  it  only  nineteen  weeka. 

twenty*oae  days  old,  the  child  measured  thirteen  inches,  and 

friglied  1  lb.  13  ozs.     The  mother,  therefore,  in  all  pruhaliility  made  a 
,  mi^Uike.     Mr  Barber's ca^e  (of  Bnxer)  reported  in  the  "  U»»lcutta  Medical 
'Ti«»/'  voL  i  (1*^25),  ia  probably  one  of  the  most  authentic  of  early  via- 
bility.   The  child  was  born   at  6i  mouths,  and  after  fifty  days  weighed 
only  1  lb.  13  OZ8.     It  wa8  then  fourteen  inche.s  long,  the  head  measured 
10  X  i>,l  iDcheti;  and  it  is  stated  that  it  trucked  freely.     Dr.  Barker  (of 
^Daiufrie* )  reported  a  cai=i€  in  the  **  Med,  Times  and  Gazette"  (Heptember, 
lUl^p^  259,  and  October  1*2,  p.  392),  in  which  **a  female  child  was  born 
^Ae  lo^th  day  of  gestation,  or  lwerity4wo  week*  and  lour  days  (5^ 
^Hi^s)  after  lutercouh^e.     Hhe  weighed  1  lb,,  and  meaj^ured  eleven  inches, 
HPl  not  Buck  properly  for  a  nnjntb,  did  not  walk  till  nineteen  niunths 
nwf;  when  3i  years  old,  i^he  was  healthy  and  thriving,  although  small.'^ 
lUmual,  therefore,  be  eoueeded,  althongh  such  cases  are  rare,  that  chil- 
l^ft  bom    very  much   tntfnn    the  ordinary  linitts  of  gestation   may  live. 
P^ttidtf  our  judgment  in  snrh  cu^es,  we  may  »uninuirize  the  fartn  as 
toHovij*:    (1)    8uch  children  will  be  much  smaller,  shorter,  and  lighter 
thc)8e  liMim  at  full  lern»  or  near   it.      {2}    Their  general  develu{>' 
purtirularlv    a^    regards    the   cutaneous   system   (hair,  skin,  and 
will  be  far  behind  uuniial  iulants  (consult  for  this  the  table  given 
&<iJi  to  56(5  of  the  development  of  the  fcetus).     (3)    They   will 
extreme  care,  both  as  regards  the  maintenance  of  bodily  heat, 
regards  outritiou. 


Protraeted  Gedaiwn, 

\x  opinion  is  far  more  likely  to  be  asked  on  qucj^tions  of  prt>tracted 
inn.  As  a  samfde  of  such,  we  quote  briefly  the  chief  facts  of  the 
Ued  Gardner  Peerage  Ome.     From  reasons  which  are  obvious,  the 

in  fuch  cases  are  usually  posthumous,  but  sometimes,  as  in  this 

,  the  husband  and  wife  are  separated  from  one  another.  t*aptain 
rard*  Lord)  Gardner  married  Mis^  Addcrley  in  179G.     They  lived 

M  man  and  wife  until   January  *iil,  1802,  on  which   day  Mrs. 

pttlted  from  her  hnshaml  i»n  board  !*hip.  Shortly  after,  he  sailed 
West  indices.     He  returned  to  England  on  July  11.     Before  and 

!:  hi»  alwence,  Mrs.  (mrdner  carried  on   an  adultcnms  liaisijn  with 
wiry  Jadi».     On  her  busbancrs  return,  she  was  found  with  child, 
liDg  to  be  delivered  in  clue  time,  she  made  no  gecret  of  this. 
parsing,  she  professed   to  I>e — and  was  considered^ — dropsical. 
of  December  she  was  secretly  delivered  of  a  son,  iu  the  pres- 
tbrae  witnessee.     The  existenr-e  of  this  chihl  wa-n  concraled  from 
Gardner,  who  only  discovered  his  wife's  adultery  in  1H03,     They 
divorced,  and  he  married  again  in  1809.     But  in  the  year  180H  he 

40 


OABDI^ER    PlfKRAOS    CASE. 

succeeded  to  the  title,  and  died  in  1815,  leaviog  a  son  by  hid  second  mar- 
^xiage,  who,  in  18*24,  petitioned  the  king  to  be  entered  on  the  PaHinnieut 
roll  wi  a  uiiiinr  peer»  The  Mjn  of  the  first  and  divorcer!  wife,  who  claimed 
to  he  the  eldest  son  of  Lord  Gardner,  tht»ugh  he  went  by  ihe  name  of 
Henry  Fenton  Jadi^^,  and  wan  born  312  days,  ur  ten  euleudar  mutiths  and 
nine  days  afit»r  Captain  Gardner  left  England,  m  mentioned  before,  now 
opposed  the  claim  of  the  &<»n  of  the  second  wife,  and  claimed  ihe  peerage 
tliimiaelf.  The  Committee  of  Privilege*,  who  conducted  the  inquiry,  called 
before  them  sixteen  of  the  moat  prominent  obstetricians  in  London.  Fire 
of  these  maintained  that  the  j>eriod  of  uterogctslation  was  a  fixed  one— 
from  270  to  2»0  days  ( Drs,  Gooch,  R,  Biegboruugh,  I>avis«,  8ir  C.  M. 
Clark,  and  Mr.  Pennington ),  and  discredited  j)rotracied  gesiation.  Eleven 
including  Dr?.  Granville*  Conrjuei^t,  Btundell,  Merriman,  Power,  Ilopk'int*, 
'fittbine,  etc.)  advocated  the  possibility  of  prutracteil  ge**tation.  Dr.  De- 
wees,  the  late  Profest^ur?  Hamilton,  ^(.  Velpeau,  Dr.  Lee,  Dr.  W.  F.  Mout- 
gomery,  the  illustriou.^  Harvey,  Siiiellie,  Dr.  Aehwell,  Dr.  Jame)>  Ueid, 
Bir  James  SlmpHon^  and  other  eminent  names  may  be  adde<l  aa  antbori- 
ties  on  the  same  aide  of  the  que^timi,  although  not  in  this  particular  case. 
This  celebrated  case  was  not  decidetl  on  its  own  merits,  at  least  as  regards 
the  protracted  gestation,  but  on  the  gromids  of  the  wife's  adultery  and  the 
cuucealment  of  the  birth  of  the  fimt  child.  [Dr.  Taylor's  large  work  on 
Medical  Jurisprudence,  and  Dr.  Montgtmiery's  un  the  Signs  and  Symptunis 
of  Pregnancy,  contain  fuller  account*  of  this  trial — the  medical  evidence 
on  it  was!  published  in  extentto  by  Dr.  Lyall,  in  1827.]  In  a  recent  caae 
(Itenonf  v.  Eden,  Queen*9  JJench,  Feb.  1870),  Drs.  Tyler  Smith  and 
Robert  Barneo,  being  asked  as  to  the  jirobable  Jegitiiuacy  of  a  child  b*im 
307  days  (nearly  44  weekf*)  after  the  departure  of  the  defendant,  stated 
that  they  believed  it  to  be  highly  improbable  that  tlie  period  should  ex- 
tend to  3(X>  days,  although  they  would  not  declare  it  impossible.  Drs. 
Tanoer  and  Clark  deposed  that  they  had  known  cases  of  207  or  300  days, 
and  that  cases  etill  more  protracted  were  on  record.  Of  these,  the  luoet 
authentic  (when  proof  is  impossible)  seem  lo  us  to  be  Dr.  Reid*s  293  duyt| 
Dr.  Merriman's  of  303  and  309,  Dr.  Blumlell's  287,  Dr.  Beatiie's  291,  Mr. 
fskey's  293,  Dr.  AsbwelTs  300,  Dr.  Mcllvan's  203,  Sir  James  BimpMu'fl 
300.  Still  longer  periods  are  meotioned  in  American  books*  Most  of 
these,  however,  really  rest  upon  the  testimony  of  the  mothers,  and  are, 
therefore,  not  indisputable.  Tl»e  argument  from  analogy  must  undoubt- 
edly have  some  weight.  Thus  M.  Tessier  found  that  in  cows  (whose  natural 
period  is  286  days,  or  very  close  to  that  of  the  human  fenwile),  20  out  of 
160  went  300  days,  and  5  even  as  far  as  308  days,  whilst  50  went  270  to 
280  days,  and  68  from  280  to  2f>0  days — the  extremes  were  67  days  apart. 
He  observed  similar  facts  in  mares,  who  go  300  days.  Out  of  102  mares, 
21  went  360  to  377  days,  and  one  as  far  as  304  days.  The  late  Earl 
Bpencer  made  observations  on  this  point  in  764  cows,  the  result  of  which 
Vi'AB  that  the  average  perifnl  was  284  or  285  days,  whilst  the  longest  period 
known  was  313  days.  Similar  observations  have  been  made  in  sheep, 
pigs,  rabbits,  and  other  domestic  animals.  We  think  the  argumeutA  on 
ooth  aide8  may  be  summed  up  as  follows: 


That  it  is  quite  certain  that  in  both  the  human  female  and  other  mam- 
mals, the  period  of  pregnancy  may  be  slightly  protracted:  there  is  con- 
siderable evidence  to  show  that  cases  have  occasionally  occurred  in  which 
41,  42,  or  j^erhaps  43  weeks  have  elapsed  since  impregnation,  before  the 
birth  of  the  child,  but  that,  whilst  it  is  not  impossible  that  e%»en  44  weeks 
(308  days),  or  even  longer  periods  of  gestation,  might  occur,  there  are  no 


620 


SIQNS    OP    RECENT    DELIVERY. 


1.  Tlio  pulse,  iti  all  probability,  will  be  a  little  quickened,  and  lit  all 

evenU  ssoft  aud  compressible  (pul.'^e  of  aMheiiia). 

2.  There  is  geuerally  a  peculiar  expre^sifju  of  counteoance,  and  a  pecu- 

liar ndor  abiiut  the  hodx  well  known 
Tio.  7a. 


First  milk,  with  coJ<M>tmm  corpusclr*. 


to  all  vvtioareprnciical  obstetricians. 
There  ii$  often  a  dark  areola  under 
and  a  roll  lid  the  eyes, 

3.  The  breast"^  vviil  almost  always 
cootaid  milk  ;  they  ahow  tlic  areola, 
pigmfntatiow,aMd  follicle,'^  described 
under  pre|^iiar»cy;  they  are  turgid, 

o"  o  wa^  o    '      o  '^  '"W  "     ~  "¥       ^*''"'*-'^t  ^"*^  knotty,  aud  the  uipplea 
^Oa'.ofc  .  ^?  o.-n  oOr?**x:ia"o'^t!«      are  more   than   usually  |*r««oiineDt 

(there  are  exceptious  to  this  state  of 
nipples  J.  The  first  milk  or  colcis- 
trura  is  yellower,  richer  in  sall^,  and 
of  hij^her  5i]>ccific  frravity  than  later 
milk,  heing  a^*  1072  to  WA2,  and 
contains  an  enormous  number  of 
granular  corpuscles  (like  so-called 
exudation  ctjrpuscles).  With  refer- 
ence to  the  gilvcry  Rtreakii  on  the 
breasts,  whilst  we  believe  thera  to  indictate  pretjmincif,  or  at  all  events,  a  pre* 
vious  disUnsiont  we  cannot  admit  that  they  indicate  recent  delivery. 

4.  The  skin  is  usually  moist,  soft,  and  relaxed.  On  the  abdomeo,  in 
particular,  it  is  (|uite  flaccid  or  flabby,  and  eveu  thrown  into  folds  in  many 
women  ;  aud  numerous  shiny  strenkis  (linete  albicantesi*)  or  cicatrice*  may 
be  seen  there  and  on  the  thighs;  the  dark  line  around  the  navel,  and  from 
that  to  the  pubas  will  be  seeu  as  in  pregnancy;  s^imetiuiet*  the  mu?icle8  are 
Beparated  in  the  median  line.  On  passing  the  hand  downwards  and  press* 
ing  firmly  over  the  lower  or  pubic  region  we  can  feel  (5)  the  eidurgetnent 
of  the  uteru!),  which  is  often  as  large  as  the  head  of  a  acwhorn  child  for 
some  three  or  four  days,  and  a^  large  as  a  cricket-ball  fnr  a  considerable 
time  after  pregnancy.  \^  health  the  complete  involution  of  the  uterus 
takea  from  fourteen  to  twcuty-eight  days.  In  some  cae^  (subinvolution) 
many  weeks?  or  months  are  required  for  this  process.  You  will  oflen  find 
the  womb  rather  on  one  side. 

6.  By  a  vaginal  e.xaraination,  we  feel  the  os  uteri  to  be  gaping.  We 
may  be  able  to  pass  two  or  three  fingers  into  it  with  ea-oe,  and  ilB  margins 
will  be  found  fissured  or  torn,  especially  if  the  .ipeculum  be  used.  By  the 
uterine  sound  we  can  ascertain  the  increased  depth  of  the  cavity,  aud  alno 
that  the  tumor  felt  ah  cjcira  is  really  the  uterus.  We  may  also  find  ex- 
uding from  it — 

7.  The  lochia,  at  first  colored  like  blood,  then  nearly  colorle«s,  brown 


*  On  thi?  ^ubjpct  of  the  tinea  albirantts  or  cicatrices  of  theHbdornon,  ihiifhs,  eio.| 
M^o  Shrm-drr's  ^'Lehrbuch  der  Geburl*hu!fe,"  Bntm,  1872,  Hhd  tin*  irMiixlHlioo  by 
Dr.  C«ruT— "  A  Manual  of  Midwifery,  etc."  London,  1873  He  cUto  th»l  Ihey 
MP**  uroi^frit  ill  th*'  t^rcut  maj'»rily  of  th««e  pregnMnt.  (Crode  »Hy^  llicy  uM'  MtjKt*al 
in  10  p**r  ct'nt  ,  IJcckor  in 6  per  cent.)  Hp  considfrs'  thi'Tn  us.  hy  no  meHn«  diittsnoft- 
lir  tt{  pri'gnHney — only  of  proviuusdi.-^tnn^ion.  8uhult7.e  found  th^•IT^  on  thrttiighi 
of  80  p4<r  ccMit.  of  women  uho  hnd  noverhad  children,  und  in  6  p«r  cent  of  m^n. 
Hi'  tbinks  tln«  diffprcnce  <>xpliciible  by  the  grejitor  d»*vclopta*^nt  of  the  hips  at  pu- 
bt«rty  in  lb*?  fMmido  sex  Schri>od»T  rt-fcre  to  t\u-  thrcft  iiiubors  qu^lfd,  vut .  Cnnl^, 
H<H.k«*r,  and  Si'hult?;^,  he,  dt.,  p.  G6,  note.  When,  howiiver,  Ihi-re  is  do  hi»torr  of 
Hwt'itos,  ovarinn  dropsy.or  other  unu<»nal  distention  of  tho  atidonioii,  rlc,  lhi>  aitthofs 
atill  b4*lirve  (hut  pr»|;nancy  at  Kune  previous  (>ori<Kl  may  ftiirly  bv  ini'errnd,  provided 
other  appearanoca  do  not  couotisrlndiuate  this. 


622 


SIZI    AND   WKIOHT    OF   UTERUS. 


by4f  in  breaflth,  and  3  inches  in  the  anteroposterior  diameter,     lU 

pjirietes  are  1  /r,  lo  I  inch  in  thickness."  "  At  the  end  of  a  week  the  organ 
bfls  tllniiML'shed  to  between  5  aud  6  inches  in  length,  and  wei^ihs  almiit 
IjlS. ;  after  a  forttiight  it  does  not  exceed  five  inches  in  lenpth,  and  it« 
weight  is  reduced  to  about  three-quarter*  of  a  pound,  or  a  little  le^ ;  it* 
vascularity  is  diaiinished,  atid  the  t hick iies^s  of  its  parietea  i«  reduccMi  about 
one-third  ;  their  density  is,  however,  increased  in  a  like  proportion,  ^^  that 
the  orifices  of  the  ve^seli*  are  much  less  distinct,  and  the  color  of  the  nniscu- 
lar  Hubs'tauce  has  become  much  paler.  But  it  must  ever  be  taken  into  ac- 
count that  the  dimensions  of  the  uterine  tumor,  after  delivery,  will  depend, 
firsts  on  the  activity  of  the  contraction  and  abi^orption  which  take^  place; 
aecondly,  on  the  interval  of  time  elapsed  ;  and  thirdly,  on  the  period  of 
ge,*talion  at  which  its  contenti*  were  expelled  ;  ^o  that,  for  example,  if  de- 
livery occurred  in  the  sixth  month,  the  uterus  would  be  found  ^a  small 
two  or  three  days  after  delivery  as  it  would  at  the  end  of  two  or  three 
weeks  aHer  parturition  at  the  full  time."  Dr.  Montgomery  gives  several 
ca^es  in  illustratioD. 


Aaihority. 


Uuoigoiacry, 


•nd  Prof.  ) 


hkI  Prof. 
IkiDkK, 


Hat*  of 

d«ath  mfter 

d«llver]r. 


mftrr 
twluft. 


H  daja. 


4th  day 
jifler 
twiu». 


Period  of 


[Length 
^  incti««. 


Full  Uarm. 


Till  Tuntitb. 

]ll^  UDOlttllB, 

A  m  nil  I  ha. 
(Kfid  of 
-      6lh 
(  tduuth. 


5  monlb*. 


5  moutlu. 


Brawlth 
in 

iDcbes. 


Antero- 

pMtrrior    ThlcknsM. 
uit^Mune  I    of  valU. 
in  lHCb«». 


4 
NotgUen.  Kotflren- 


^ 


^ 


m 


iJikil 

7-«  ilDOU 


7-«    " 

Po4t4»rior 
waU  very 
tbU'k,      I 
double       ' 
ttiai  of 


Welirbt  Of 

utMrtw^ 


one  e»fpm 


Id  addition  to  the  weights  above  ^ven,  the  following  may  be  qaoted : 


Aotbority. 

Dftt«  of  tl«fttb  after  de][T«ry. 

Welichl  of 
utenti. 

Dr.  R.  H««;li),     .    . 
Dr.TyletSmUh,*    '. 

Tfniii.^Uto1y»fl«rdoUTery.   . 

'     '"W.  CMW, 

layt,   '.    '.    \    I    '.    '. 

]  ii«  wc-tk*.    . 

Two  inuuthA, 

Ju»t  »fier  dellTftry,     .... 

1  tb.  A— 8  ox. 

J  t».  !5— 7  »t 

1  th.  3--5  0», 

to  to  1 1  OA. 

"Ha«  thiji  woman  ever  had  a  child  or  not?  or  ever  been  prejjnant*" 
A  husband  who  FuspectH  his  wife's  chastity  or  fidelity  either  before  mar- 
riage or  <iurinp  hoig  absence  from  honje — a  lady  whose  character  is  aiMailed 
—  may  both  put  this  question  to  you.  It  is  an  imp«'rtant  matter  in  sMMiie  ca»e8 
of  disputcfl  iHentity.  It  was  rair*ed  in  the  trial  of  lVainwri(^ht  for  the  mardef 
oi^  Jlfinid  /y'<n/%and  to  this  instance  the  uterut?  itself  wasi  the chiel" topic  of 


StXS   ASP   WEIGHT   OF   UTBftirS. 


matmml  9mi3Lt  Movfkkj  vfaich  ccmmmdw  uk»  plac«  afc^r 
Mwfcfi  gM«  tlie  wdpbt  of  tke  naiiipAnNU  ofgAn  ai 
harfcis  ^d  tlM  ■ralttpftroo*  at  bo  oaoee  aod  a  balf. 
•p^  «  Bole  mdor  tke  mutk, —AidlkinJ]  IV  tlwinetefB 
n  tlie  ■MUipanMnoriEaa.    Tbe  mferwr  of  tlie  uterus  also 


F^  u. 


rmt,n. 


Esters*]  riew*  of  Bttlliparoiu  ftfld : 

ftoe  remarkable  differeiicea  in  the  two  ofgans.  The  cavitj  of  the 
Wiy  of  the  niullipan^u^  womb  la  cr^nsidembly  eolaqjed.  The  its  uleri 
iniernum  b  leas  d'ttftiuct,  and  ihe  caoa)  of  the  cerrix  U  shorter,  the  peii- 
ttifitrm  rugie  beiug  to  Mime  extent  obliterated.  The  cavitj  of  the  bo<ly 
hecN^oies  di^itioct,  leas  distinctly  triangular  in  shape,  the  angles  into  which 
iht?  Fallopian  tubes  enter  being  less  marked.  These  change  ar^  not  with- 
out practical  importanee.  Their  consequence  b  obvious  in  a  niedico-lpgal 
point  of  view.  A  few  rears  ago  a  lady  of  family  and  her  maid  were  burnt 
to  death  together  in  a  hotel  at  the  Wert  End.  The  bodies  were  so  muti- 
lated a.-*  to  render  any  recognition  by  e.xternal  signs  impoestble ;  but  the 
ludy  ha<l  borne  a  numerous  family^  and  the  identity  of  her  body  was 
ascertained  from  the  ctjndiliou  of  the  uterus."  Two  conditions,  known  to 
obsietricans  aa  hyper  and  mbtnroititwn  of  the  uterus  may,  however, 
greatly  atfect  these  appearances.  Like  the  heart  and  other  mu^icles,  the 
M'ulb  of  the  uterus  may  be  found  either  thicker  or  thinner  ailer  much 
exertion.* 

Beck  (foe.  cif.,  p.  161  j  gives  the  following  measurements  from  Velpeau 
and  Madame  Botvin : 


KutUpMoos  otenaa. 

MaUipuoos  tttorua. 

TMal  l«»(flh, 

24  to  2S  liDML 

8  to  JO  Mum. 
1«  liti«^ 
BU*  lOllDc*. 
1,4  to  2  cMimna. 

Ungtii  ..f  liodr 

TtttckovM  •><  ut«HiM  wall*,      .    . 

C(.r»i.  al  watl. 

Bfti.                    w    . 

Tl..                       .It, 

Toui                 .tbimiftpptiKtifai. 

11  riiiM. 

1  lino*. 
1     1   ..r.iiiifBoirin).  seo 

*  The  work  of  ibo  utenia  and  other  inuK'les  in  Ubof  i»  reckoned  by  difl'oront 
^l  from  iBfiy-rour  paundd  lo  a  qunrter  of  i^  too  I     Tliere  ia  no  duubi  it  is 


626 


UNPROFESSIONAL    CONDUCT, 


CHAPTER  XXIV, 


MALAPRAXIS,  OR  MALPRAXIS. 


Unprofessional   conduct — Fracturps— Dhlrtontions — Obatutric   cases — Mcdico-li 

bearings  <if  uypbilb. 

The  charge  of  malpractice,  or  in  other  words,  of  improper  treatment 
of  a  cai*e,  may  be  made  ajj^aiiial  yourselves,  or  other  legally  qualified  med- 
ical raeu,  agaiust  a  midwife  or  uurse,  againi^t  mediral  students,  or  assist* 
antj>i,  or  chemit<t8,  and  others  having  partial  knowledge  of  medicine  and 
surgery,  a*  well  as  against  quacks  and  pernons  totally  ignorant  of  medical 
science,  practicing  from  real  or  assumed  motives  of  benevolence.  Con- 
siderable misapprehension  of  the  actual  :«taie  of  the  law,  as  adminigtere<J, 
existj*  in  the  minds  of  many  medical  men  and  (»thera  on  the  subject  of  un- 
qualified practice.  It  i^  often  thought  that  any  person  practicing  physic, 
surgery,  or  obsitetrici*  without  a  legal  qualification  or  diploma,  incur-  thereby 
the  penaltieri  of  the  law.  This  is  by  no  mean.-*  strictly  true.  Ou  the  con- 
Irary,  as  the  law  is  admiuii^tered,  such  a  person,  should  he  have  the  mis- 
fortune to  kill  or  permanently  injure  anybody,  usually  fare*  somewhat 
better  than  a  legally  qualitied  practitioner  would.  The  law  aa  it  exists  in 
our  statute-books  may  be  briefly  stated  thus: 

"Registration  is  not  compul^>ry  upoti  medical  men,  nor  can  any  penal- 
ties be  inflicted  upon  an  unregistered  pei"i*on,  who,  having  obtained  a 
qualification  in  meiiieineor  surgery,  practicejs  according  to  such  qualifica- 
tion. No  unregistered  perHon,  however,  can  recover  any  charge  in  any 
court  of  law,  for  any  medical  or  surgical  advice  or  attendance,  or  for  the 
perforniaiice  of  any  operation,  or  for  any  meilicine  which  he  has  both  pre- 
scribed and  supplied,  whether  he  he  qualified  or  unqualified.  Neither 
may  any  unregistered  person  hold  any  appointment  either  as  a  physician, 
surgeon,  or  other  medical  officer,  either  in  the  military  c^  naval  service, 
or  in  emigrant  or  other  ve;<aels»  or  in  any  public  institution  not  supfxirted 
wholly  by  voluntary  contributions  (this  iucludei*  asylums,  parochial  ap- 
pointments, friendly  societies*,  and  public  health  offices).  N^o  certiti'"'*" 
signed  by  an  unregistered  practitioner  is  valid.  A  tjualified  but  um 
tercil  practitioner  may  therefore  kwp  an  open  surgery,  and  do  a  ri-!i*iy 
nmney  business,  but  he  is  debarred  fri»m  recovering  any  fees  or  charges?', 
and  may  be  proceeded  against  for  penalties  by  any  of  the  medical  or  sur- 
gical cor(K»rations  whose  jyrisdictiou  he  may  infringe  by  not  having 
obtained  the  necessary  diploma  or  license.  These  rights  have,  however, 
rarely  been  exercised  of  late  years,  except  sometimes  liy  the  Society  of 
Apothecaries.  A  penalty  of  £20  may  be  inflicted  for  every  such  oflence 
for  practicing  as  an  a|)othecary  in  Etjgland  or  Wales,  without  the  license 
of  the  Society,  and  a  penalty  of  £5  for  every  such  offence  upon  any  person 
acting  as  aHj^istuot  t^o  an  apothecary  to  ct)rupound  and  disfM>nse  medicines 
without  having  obtained  the  certificate  of  the  Society.  The  Pharmaceu- 
tical Act  does,  however,  cover  a  great  deal  of  irregular  practice.  But  the 
Apothecaries'  Society  can  affbnl  do  protection  against  bonesettcrs,  un- 
qualified inidwivee,  and   the  like.     Any  person  who  wiffuUy  and  faUeJy 


UNUNITED    PBACTURES- 


V,  Erysipelas,  or  untoward  results  of  operatious,  may  be  ascribed  to 
your  t'ault. 

Ununited  Fradures. 

The  following  are  the  aremge  periods  at  wbirb  simple  fracture?  of  the 
long  boDe;s  unite  with  tolerable  finuiiesw;  but  there  are  numerous  excep- 
tiuos : 


Thiffh-boni^  usiiiilly  unites  in  . 
Lof^.bon'-s         *'  "       "    . 

Bonce  itf  llif  arm  or  forfurm  . 


6,  6,  or  8  weeks. 
4,  5,  or  (i      »* 
a,  3,  or  4      '* 


What  are  culled  contpound  fractures,  that  is,  wheu  there  18  a  wnnnd  or 
wounds  leading  down  ti>  the.  broken  bone^  and  fractures  complicated  with 
injury  of  i?Hift  parti*,  although  not  cuni|xi>uud,  may  be  far  more  tedious,  even 
if  recovery  takoj^  place. 

A  comviinnted  fracture  (one  when  the  bone  is  very  much  broken  >  need 
not  iieeessttrily  take  longer  in  uniting,  but  such  accident^,  will  alnjo!*t  nec- 
fo^arily  be  severe.  There  are  some  ernes  where  tlie  tbiMi  or  the  blood,  or 
perhaps  both,  are  wanting  in  calcareous  ?ah,«^,  and  in  lliese  the  Ixinct*  do 
not  unite^  or  only  after  very  long  perii>dA,  Certain  di!*ea»e9  (as  rickets, 
moiiities  o*.*ium,  cancer,  ^a-scurvy,  tubercle)  and  pregnancy  have  been 
said  to  retard  bony  union.  Our  own  ex()enence  is*  ofiposed  to  this,  except 
in  the  case  (jf  i^ea  scurvy.  The  great  cause  of  nonunion  of  fractures  ii*, 
a«  stated  by  Mr.  Syme,  a  want  of  accurate  adaptation  of  parts,  and  too 
great  mobility  or  play  being  allowed  to  the  friigTii«.'ni#  ;  absolute  immobility 
being  the  dei*ideratum  in  these  cases.  The  movement  of  the  broken  bonei< 
may  not»  however,  be  the  surgeon's  or  the  nur<eV  fault.     It  fi  1y^ 

o<'cursa!  sea  from  the  tOK«ing  of  the  vessel ;  on  i^hore  from  the  i«  51 

and  unmanageubility  of  the  patient.  In  other  ca?^es,  delay  or  tuilure  iu 
union  may  be  dne  to  some  of  the  yoft  parts  getting  between  the  fractured 
eods,  or  to  the  bloodvessels  being  much  damaged  at  the  time  of  the  orig- 
inal injury.  The  position  of  the  nutrient  artery  in  relation  to  the  seat  of 
fracture  has*  much  to  do  with  the  time  taken  in  repair.  Surgeons  are 
sometimes  blamed  for  not  **  netting"  a  fracture  directly  they  are  culled  to 
it.  Provideil,  however,  that  rare  be  taken  to  put  the  litid)  in  an  easy  posi- 
tion (say  on  a  pillow),  and  to  prevent  further  injury,  no  harm  is  done,  lu 
a  simple  fracture,  by  waiting  a  few  hours  before  pulling  it  up  in  splints  or 
other  apparatus.  No  bony  matter,  even  of  a  provisiotml  kind  (^o-called 
**  provisional  callus  "),  is  thrown  out  for  a  period  of  three  to  six  days  after 
the  fracture. 

Some  b^mes  (the  {)ate1la,  olecranon,  and  neck  of  the  thigh-bone)  usually 
unite  by  ligamentous  union,  that  is,  by  firm  fibrous  tissue,  in!*t*?ad  of  Ixjue. 
Provided  the  spliuls,  or  oilier  apparatus  used  instead  of  them  (as  pl«stc;r 
of  Paris  lmn<lages,  paraffin  bandages,  leather,  patjteboard,  hooks  and  screws 
Rt^  in  Malgaigne's  apparatus  for  fractured  patella,  double  inclined  plan< 
pillows  and  straps,  the  "jacks,'*  pulleys  with  weights,  and  the  like),  keep 
the  lindis  in  good  position,  and  the  fractured  endsi  or  fwirtions  of  bone  in 
cb>se  proximity  to  each  other,  very  great  diversity  of  appliaucea  may  be 
used  by  difl^erent  surgeons  with  equal  success. 

Great  care  should,  of  course,  be  taken  to  prevent  bedsores,  or  sores 
forming  on  the  heel,  malleoli,  and  other  prominent  parts.  But  no  amount 
of  care  will  always  succeed  in  very  debilitated  and  cachectic  subjects. 

It  is  not  possible  to  say  how  often  a  surgeon  should  see  a  case  of  fracture, 
whether  simple  or  compound,  so  much  must  depend  upon  the  cireunislances 
of  each  case.   But  except  in  severe  cases^or  compound  fractures  with  pro- 


630 


MALAPRAXIS    IN   OBSTETRIC    OASES. 


thetics  if  necessary.  Of*  course  some  cases  raay  present  too  much  shock 
or  exhaustion  to  permit  such  examinatioo  at  tirst,  b«it  if  the  patient  live, 
it  sliould  be  made  as  early  as  possible,  beoaiine  swelling  of  the  injured 
pHFt*  supervenes  rapidly,  and  often  renders  a  thorough  examination 
,^^^dittieult,  if  not  impracticable,  ikrond  caution:  It  is  nut  possible,  after 
^»orive  weeks  or  months,  to  .^ay  definitely  in  certain  ca^ej?  whether  such  and 
•Wch  injurieii  have  occurred,  as,  particularly  in  the  case  of  dislocation*,  all 
tracci*  uf  the  original  accident  may  rapidly  disappear  Profe^ioual  njeo 
should  therefore  be  cautious  not  to  judge  their  brethren  uufairly.  It  is  a 
disgrace  for  a  surgeon  to  say  six  nionlhs^  after  an  accident  that  no  disloca* 
tion  existed.  Yet  such  things  have  been.  The  surgeon  called  in  to  any 
ca^e  of  this  kind  shuuld  therefr>i*e  make  note*  lor  h\»  own  credit's  i*ake. 
It  18  also  well  to  make  ineasureraents  in  case  of  disluciitiuu,  Booe^'ttei 
on  the  other  hand,  are  notoriously  fond  of  making  out  dislocation!*  whei 
none  exist.  A  certain  amount  of  shortening  and  deformity  may  be  un- 
avoidable in  ciMes  of  fracuire.  And  a  dislocated  \imU  issoUlom  as  strong 
A8  uite  uninjured.  A  fractured  limb  may,  however,  be  stronger.  It  is 
important  to  remember  that  rheumatic  gout  (arthritis  deformans)  is 
epecially  prone  to  attack  limbs  and  joints  which  have  been  ijijured  by  at»y 
accident,  even  by  sprains.  Such  limbs  are  also  mure  subject  to  oHleiuft 
and  utber  discomforts  than  sound  ones. 


Malapraxis  in  Obdetrlc  Cn^es. 

XL  As  regards  midwifery  cases.  Death  occurring  during  or  soon  after 
labor  is  justly  regarded  an  an  event  which  ought  to  be  exccedii>gly  rare. 
But  the  relatives  or  friends  may,  and  often  do,  blame  the  attendaut*«  when 
they  are  not  responsible.  Death  may  occur  from  strictly  natural  or  un- 
avoidable causes — as  from  shivck,  exhaust irtu,  profuse  bleeding  in  persons 
of  llie  hiemorrhagic  diathesis,  from  convnIsif>Ds  and  coma,  from  previous 
disease  l^f  the  lungs,  heart,  or  kidneys,  from  ap>plexy,  from  coagulation 
of  blitod  in  the  heart,  lungs,  or  limbs  (thrombosis  and  embolism),  causing 
gangrene,  from  zyjnotic  diseases,  or  from  rupture  of  the  uterus.  No 
metlical  man  or  midwife  is.  however,  justified  in  going  on  attending  « 
when  there  is  reasonable  proof  that  he  or  she  is  conveying  the  poison 
puerperal  fever  from  one  case  to  another.  It  may  be  well  to  remark  that 
the  term  *'  puerperal  fover  "  is  one  used  for  several  distinct  contagious  and 
infectious  diseases  attacking  women  in  childbed.  The  original  cause  may 
be  scarlet  fe%'er  in  one  case,  typlius  in  a  second,  and  erysipelas  or  necrotic 
poison  in  another.  When  a  surgeon  has  taken  a  retaining  fee  in  any  case, 
he  is  bound  to  attend,  if  it  be  in  his  [x>wer  to  do  so,  unless  he  be  infected 
as  described,  or  otherwise  incapacitated.  In  such  a  case  he  should  give 
due  notice,  or  provide  a  suitable  substitute,  and  he  cannot  claim  the  fe« 
unless  he  attend,  provided  due  notice  be  given  him  when  labor  supervenes. 
Owing  to  the  uncertainty  which  attends  the  exact  period  of  labor,  au'l  the 
numerous  claims  upon  the  time  of  medical  men,  it  is  both  custon>ary  and 
proi^ier  to  give  due  notice  of  the  commencement  of  labor  to  the  mediculj 
attendant.  Except  in  rare  cases,  it  is  not  the  custom,  nor  is  it  necessary  J 
for  an  accoucheur  to  remain  in  continued  attendance  alJ  through  the  early] 
stages  of  labor  Ho  should  not,  however,  absent  himself  for  any  bjng' 
period  of  time  in  any  case  when  labor  has  really  set  in.  Nor  should  he 
leave  the  house  when  it  is  over,  without  ascertaining  that  the  uterus  i,s 
properly  contracted.  He  should  visit  the  woman  a  Tew  hours  after,  and 
ascertain  for  himself  the  al>sence  or  otherwise  of  haemorrhage  or  other  ua^ 
favorable  symptoms.  The  state  of  the  woman's  bladder  should 
ascertained  on  the  first  visit,  or  the  next  day.     It  is  also  usual  and  proper 


e32 


MALAPRAXIS    IN    OBSTETRIC    CASBB. 


however,  acquitted.     (Ab  regards   the  indudion  of  premaiHre  labor, 
Abortion  nud  Infantiride.) 

Diameters  of  the  Pelin^  in  Relatian  to  Ohdetrvc  Opercttmn^, 

We  have  elt^ewhere  stated  that  in  strict  law  iio  deformity  of  the  pelvis 
justitii^s  a  medical  man  in  indiiHiig  premature  labnr.  Ei^iiiiy,  however, 
ralherihan  law,  rules  the  pnulice  <it'  the  courts  iu  tlii.H  rfj^fject,  or  perhape 
we  tihould  j»ay,  would  rule  them.  For  we  have  been  luiable  to  fiud  a  case 
ill  whifb  a  Burgeon  or  accoueheur  has  been  trietl  i'or  the  induction  of  prem- 
ature labor,  when  the  object  hati  been  to  save  liJie.  Judges,  however, 
fretjuently  make  the  distinction,  when  addresising  the  jury  in  abortion 
cases  of  a  criminal  kind.  The  follftwing  tiiblen,  taken  from  Dr.  Earner  on 
"Obstetric  Of>t'ration»  "  (p.  90  ,t,  and  from  Dr  Kamsbothaiu»  will  secure 
the  pretty  general  approval  of  the  profesdioo. 

Scheme  of  Relations  of  Operaitmi^  (o  Dtyrf^n  of  Pelvic   Contraction  under 
Labor  at  Seven  Months. 

Conjugate  diameter  reduced  to — 

Ist  degree,  4  to  3J  inche«,  admit»  spmitaneoua  fwbor. 

2d         •'      8}  to  S         •'  •'  of  forcep*. 

3d         '•      8|  to  IJ       "  •«  of  liinimg. 

4lh       "     belpw  U       *'  "  of  iTHiiiutoniy. 

CkBmrian  Section  is  unnecesmiry  at   Seven  Months, 
At  the  full  term,  according  to  Dr.  Ramsbotham,  there  are  four  classes, 


I   inches    an tero- posteriorly   by   5^  1 


Class     I. — PelvM 

inches  lr»ni*v€rscly  and  upwards  admit  of 

Class  II 


Pelves  below  the  standard,  and  as   Inw  iti 

3    incheii   ant«ro- posteriorly  by  4  inches 
transvePhely  admit  of       ,         .*        . 

CL48a  III. — Peivt^  bdow  CInss  II,  und  as  low  n»  1| 
inches  antero-jKJSilerlorSyt  by  3J  invhej! 
tntnsverAely,  or  IJ  influ'u  wntcru-puste- 
riorty  b}*  3  inches  tranavorsejy 

Class  IV.— All  below  the  liist  nccecisitate 


Natural  labor. 

The  child  beins^  born 
alivu  by  mean!!  of 
turning  {voniionj  on 
long  foroep*,  etc 

Only  admit  of  cmnioU 
orny,  cephatotripayf 
or  somo  other  tneaat 
of  ombryujcia, 

CftiiiHrian  section. 


Dr.  Barnes's  table  mainly  agrees  with  thig»  and  h  as  follows  : 

Scheme  of  HchUiom  of  Operations  to  Pelvic  Contractiontt  Labor  at  Temu 
Conjugate  diameter  reduced  to — 


lat  degree,  4  to  Z\  !nche8|  admits 

2d  degree,  8f  to  3  inches,  admits 

8d  degree,  8|  to  1|  inches,  admits 
4lh  degree,  below  \\  inches,  admits 


!Th<*  fori'cps,  opnofed  10 
the  bipHrt<*tttl  diame* 
ter  of  ^\  to  4  inches* 
)Of  turning,  oppo»ed  to 
the  bimustoid  dianiK- 
lerof  3  inchi?*. 

{Of      erwniototny      and 
ccphalotripsy. 

Of  CKsarian  section. 


Gordell  is  said  to  have  delivered  a  child  weighing  8  lbs.  6  oz.  (living) 
through  a  pelvis  whose  conjugate  diameter  was  only  2.82  iucheti,  by  turn* 


634 


HEREBITART    8YPU1LI8. 


what  are  really  syphilitic  symptoms,  we  nppeiid  the  fullowJng  table  of 
principal  Icnioiis  met  will)  in  uonstitutiunal  syphilis. 


Ijjriy  or  Secondary  Sfpnptornity  Six  Weehs  to  Six  ^fon^h4. 

1.  Sorr  throat,  nlcers  of  tonsils,  etc.     2,  RoMoolar,  papniar.  an*1 
rnshfH.     3.  A  fever  nf  characteristic  type  tf.  *' Clinical  Society 'i  Trai 
tiun?«,"  vi)].  iii,  and  "  Das  Syphiliti^^che  Fioher,"  von  J.  E.  Ganu,  I>eipwj 
IHT^l,  and  Wunderlich  on  Temperatiuv  "  New  Syd.  Society,"  p.  404. 
Indurated  jrhindn,  .small  and  bullet-like,  not  .«iii[)purating.     5.  Iritis  ai 
Other  eye  aiiectious.     6.   Los.i  of  hair.     7.   Patche*  and  peelin;;  » 

and  other  miicons  niemhraiies,  mueous  tiibfrcle.**.     8.  Whitlow 
1^.  Patchej«i  between  fin^jers  and  toen,  calltnl  rhntjndeH.     10.  Siiperliciai  -Hjrtjt 
of  H|)readin^^  typ<^'.  with   puriched-tnH  and  uiidennined  edge*.      II.  KfO-i 
ralgic  ftnd  rheumatoid  pains.     12.  Warty  growth*  and  condyiomiiia. 

letter  or  Tertiary  Symptojns, 

1.  Node?  in  the  J^kin  and  coiujective  tii*sue  («^uQmiata).  2,  Do.  in  iiiitf- 
cles  ( muscular  mxU»s).  'A.  Di».  in  perioateum  of  long  bone?  ( periosliti*.aftiU 
and  chronic).  4.  (Mitis.  5.  Gummata  in  organs,  snch  as  liver,  lun^ 
spleen,  heart,  kidneys,  brain,  etc,  0.  Scaly  sjkin  diiiease^,  e«pe<'ij»lly**« 
pahns  and  sole:? — p^oria-sis.  7.  Hiipia  and  ecthyma.  8*  Troiil»Jr«tiie 
deep  ulcers,  genenillv  on  one  extremity— ^n  both  tonsil?,  pharynx,  luryn^i 
iutt*.*ttne8,  etc.  9,  Warty  growths.  10.  Ozcena.  11.  Iritis,  optic  iwiuriti* 
and  atrophy,  choroiditis  and  retinitij?.  12.  Exudntiou  of  lymph  in  id 
around  blond veA-sels.  hence  pares*\s  the  di?«tribution  of  which  '\^  o(Wu  wfj 
bii'.atTe.  18.  Alopecia.  14,  Severe  and  deeji^eated  pains,  in  ihe  llttilw 
other  parts.     15.  A  peculiar  kind  of  phthisis. 

Iferedltart/  Si/philis. 

In  infanta,  more  particularly  in  tho^se  who  »nA<^rrt  syphilig,  w^cTt*n"fil* 
thrush  occurring  a  lew  weeks  after  birth,  sore-**  abt>ut  the 
betwcfH  fingers  and  toes — and  an  uged,  ]>recociou8,  premali 
The  cliild  (cutting  its  teeth  cariy  >  has  an  ai>pearance  of  b. 
it  is  during  the  first  few  moDthi*  of  life,  afterwards  growth  an  i 
are  retarded.     The   advent  of  puberty  ifi 
Fig.  83.  po9t|>oned  for  years.     The  ccutnd  prrtnaff"f 

A.  nhort,   J>eggy.  of  bad  color,  and  havt!  ti 

e^tpccki/ltf  in  the  upper  row,     (See  Fig*.  8l>  ai 

these  cases  there  will  generally  be  found  ftympinW* 

the  parents^-or  the  history  of  such — iiielu  V  =n»# 

premature  or  stillbirth.^,  or  both.     For  '^ 

jifKjr  ntJM^n).         reference  mn«t  be  made  to  the  books  ouou^l  ubuv-. 

IV.    Medical    men    may   he   charged   with    neglect  lor   not  ark'nilinf 

Bufliciently  often,  or  sufficiently   long,  in   an   acute  or  cl^-  '*l^* 

These  dii*piitev«  generally  arise  where  there  ha.«  been  r^ome  vcf  '* 

or  at  least  understood  or  implied,  a^r/'fm*^^/ to  attend  uuiii  rxn-vtwrt.*" 

some  other  termination  of  the  vn^  exi-<*.    '•" 

yto.  fiA.  custom  of  difierent  districts  differs  wtdeirtf** 

B,  the  length  of  attt-'udauce  in  obstetri  -  ra-?*.    »■ 

some  parU  of  the  country  an  aec*  '^f 

poi?ed  to  atten<I  for  a  month,  if  oect-«.  .      ^ 

original  fee.     With  the  present  Tftlue  of  m'JP*^ 

L<.wef  incisors.  this  agreement  could  never  be  n?i«uner»u^'"  ^ 


>Q<u>or 


BBSULTS    OP   TREATMENT. 


considered  as  decided.  Iii  other  words,  ig  it  better  to  operate  at  oiiee,  or 
to  wait  till  ihe  phenomena  offhock  have  givem  place  to  reaction  ?  In  civil 
practice,  the  rcsulis  of  primary  amputations  ( t*.  r.,  done  withiQ,  tweuty-four 
jiours  after  the  accident)  are  W)mewhat  more  fatal  than  i^tcottdnn/ (those 
done  at  a  later  period),  whilst  in  military  practice,  the  reverse  ap|*ear?  to 
told  good  (see  "  ErichsenV  Surgery/'  etc.,  i)p.  2*i,  27,  28,  etc.).  The  effects 
of  meutal  depression  were  well  shown  lo  the  late  Danisili,  American,  and 
Franco-German  wars,  the  mnrtality  after  injuriej*  and  accident  being  in- 
variably greater  on  the  Icsiug  side,  even  where  other  tilings  were  eoual. 
lu  anipntatious  the  nrortality  is  always  greater  the  nearer  to  the  tronic,  or 
to  any  large  joint.  Overcrowding  is  a  great  caii-je  of  fiirgical  mortality. 
Certuin  atmospheric  oonditionp,  Buch  a**  northeast  windt*,  are  believed 
greatly  to  conduce  to  the  prevalence  of  ery.'iipelas.  Want  of  cleanlinex«  in 
the  nurses  or  other  attendants  is  anotlier  means  of  infection.  Even  flies, 
notably  in  the  ca.se  of  malignant  mii<lule  (charbon,  niilzbrand),  have  been 
the  carriers  of  contagion.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  there  are  many  cir- 
cumstances over  which  a  surgeon  has  but  slight,  if  any,  control,  which 
modify  the  results  of  operations.  On  the  other  hand  he  can,  and  will,  if 
careful,  prevent  many  disasters  by  proper  precautions  and  prudent  fore- 
thought. 

It  may  be  said,  referring  to  malapraxi^  generally,  that  no  me<iical  man 
fihould  give  an  adverse  opinion  on  the  conduct  or  practice  of  a  professional 
brother,  without  having  all  tiie  tacts  of  the  case  before  him  ;  and  whatever 
opinion  lie  may  give  at  an  inquest,  or  in  a  pfiHce  court,  he  shouI<i  be  pre- 
pared to  justify  before  the  higher  tribunals,  as  well  as  before  the  "whole 
medical  profession.  It  has  hap|wned,  though  we  hope  rarely,  that  a  med' 
ical  man  in  cooderaniog  the  [jmciice  of  a  brother  profesaional,  bnii  only 
shown  his  own  ignorance  of  the  progress  of  science  in  general,  and  of 
medical  science  in  particular. 

VI.  The  question  of  malapraxia  may,  and  often  does,  arise  in  connec- 
tion with  the  propriety,  or  the  reverse,  of  a  special  line  of  treatmcDt*  or 
more  specifically  you  may  be  askc<l,  wiu-^  such  and  such  treatment  pro|>er? 
Do  you  approve  of  such  and  such  medicines,  or  of  the  doses  employed? 
It  IS  proper  to  remark  here  that  however  we  may  difti^  from  homieopathy 
or  hydropathy,  thei'e  systems,  deficient  as  they  uniioubtedly  are,  have  ac- 
quired a  certain  recognition  from  the  public,  and  it  is  not  to  be  expected 
that  adverse  verdicts  shall  be  given  merely  because  the  raedical  attendant 
pro  ietnporti  j^racticed  according  to  these  systems.  On  the  other  hand, 
Mesmerism,  Coffinism,  and  Morrisonianism  have  never  acr|uiret]  such  a 
status,  and  are  never  likely  to  do  so,  Notwithstanding  the  remark  made 
above,  it  is  obvious  that  no '*  system,"  not  even  the  "  expectant  "  one  of 
nihilism,  can  be  reasonably  held  to  justify  treating  a  strangulated  hernia, 
or  a  compound  fracture,  or  dislocation,  or  a  case  of  placenta  pr^iijvia,  or 
hiem(>rrhage  from  a  divided  artery,  by  inefficient  means,  such  as  billionthd 
of  a  grain  of  charcoal  or  any  other  metlicant.  On  the  question  of  doit^ 
again,  even  in  orthodox  medicine,  very  considerabfe  latitude  must  neces- 
sarily be  allowed,  ^iuce  ex'en  our  best  |>osological  tables  somewhat  difTer. 
But  here  again  common  sense  must  be  consulted,  and  it  may  be  said  tha* 
no  experience  and  no  theory  could  be  held  to  justify  giving  an  infant  of  a 
month  old  J  grain  doses  of  opium  at  frequent  intervals  as  a  dental  sedative, 
or  ^ -grain  doses  of  strychnia  as  a  tonic.  The  remarks  on  dose-i  under  the 
heading  of  poisons  niav  be  consulted  on  this  point.  Pr<d>ably  the  best 
arbitrary  sfatifiiird  of  <loses  Anther  things  beinu' equals  will  be  found  in  the 
wt^iffhf  of  ihe  AWy,  some  deductions  bein  '*        '  '"       s'tishtSi 

corresp)nding  to  the  lesser  ages.     Thus, 
(140  lb.)  can  very  safely  take  15  grains  nt  >> 


INDECENT    BXP08URB. 


coiiatjlted  on  oases  of  this  kind,  unless  actual  viiilenee  lias  been  offered. 
Ytni  must  remember  that  i^yphiliji  might  be  cnmmuriieatcd  by  a  ki-ssi. 
When,  bowever,  a  rafie  has  been  comrnilied  onifteinptet],  medical  evidence 
is  almost  ^ure  to  he  demanded.  Before  enleritig  on  the  consideration  of 
this  subject,  we  must  <levote  a  moment  or  two  to  the  consideration  of  lh< 
subject  of 

JndecetU  Ktjxtgure. 

M.  Devergie  (*'  Mi$declne  legale,"  3nve  ed.,  tora.  i,  p.  342)  justly  remarks 
that "  the^e  eaaea  are  generally  determined  by  the  evidence  of  tlie  bystamiers 
who  furnish  the  ueces;!iary  jiroofe<.'*  For  this  reason  it  is  rare  for  medical 
eviiience  to  be  a.«ked  for  in  auch  case*.  We  believe,  however,  that  in  a 
very  large  majority  of  the^e  case**,  the  accused  would  be  found,  on  careful 
examination,  to  be  suffering  from  gome  form  of  unsouudties.^  of  miu<l — in 
other  wortl^^  fri>m  mental  disejuse.  We  would  not  wish  to  l)e  misunder- 
stood. Undoubtedly  there  are  seoundrelri  who  itilewt  our  parks  and  other 
placc'-s  of  public  amusement  who  richly  deserve  all  the  punishment  the  law 
intlicti^.  Hut  it  is  very  remarkable  that  in  this  country,  as  in  France,  not 
only  are  nearly  all  the  accused  of  tlie  male  sex,  but  ihey  are  usually  of 
advanced  age — over  seventy  years  for  the  mosst  part.  They  are  generally 
oY  no  occupation,  having  either  retired  from  butiineAo,  or  from  the  profes- 
sioui^  or  have  private  means  of  their  owu.  (See  Tardieu,  "  Etude  Aledico- 
l^aie  Bur  les  attentats  aux  Ma^urs,"  pp.  3-8.)  The  figures  given  by  M. 
Tut<tieu  for  France  are  very  remarkable.  In  the  twelve  years,  1858  to 
\>'^V-K  the  numben*  accused  of  outrages  against  public  decency  were  res^pec^ 
tivtdy,  3153,  2905,  2823,  3351,  3389,  3225,  3222,  3248,.  30.50,  27G3, 
3084,  and  3019;  ligure>*  which  give  a  mean  of  3102  for  a  single  year.  If 
the  patient  be  a  female, — ha  in  the  ins^tance  of  the  young  girl  mentioned  by 
Tardieu  itoc.  dt,  p.  (i),  who  exposed  herself  t«hamele8.»!ly,  and  openly  so- 
licited iotereourse  from  all  the  men,  and  even  boys  she  met,— ?hc  will  prob- 
ably be  found  either  imbecile,  or  attticled  with  hysterical  mania.  Extreme 
aexual  pasaian  is  called  erotomania  in  both  Bexe^^,  nymphomania  rn  the 
female,  satyriasis  in  the  male.  The  subjects  of  puerpenil  mania  sometimes 
display  this  form  of  insanity.  Epileptics  of  both  sexes^  iml>ecilea,  and 
general  paralytics  are  ajost  prone  to  this  peculiar  and  disgusting  form  of 
sexual  aberration.     Pope's  well-known  line,  that— 

•♦  Want  of  decoDcy  is  want  of  aenso," 

is  literally  true.  If,  therefore,  you  should  be  consulted  on  any  ca<e  of  thtt 
kind,  it  would  be  your  duty  to  make  a  strict  inquiry  into  the  sanity  oi 
the  reverse  of  the  accused.  The  law  is  very  properly  strict  in  rc^^uiring 
full  proofs  of  such  a  defence,  Tliere  are,  however,  one  or  two  conditioDR. 
apart  from  insanity,  which  sometimes  lead  to  innocent  men  being  accused 
of  indecent  ejtposnres.  These  are  (1)  very  studious  or  busy  |>eople  are 
often  subject  to  what  is  called  *' absence  of  mind,'**  and  such  persons  ollen 
forget  to  "adjust  their  dress"  on  leaving  public  conveniences.  (2)  Cer- 
tain diseases  may  cause  the  frequent  application  of  the  hand  to  the  sexual 
organs  or  their  vicinity.  Of  these  the  chief  are  inrtfe  scrotal  and  othtr 
hcrnia^^  pntrUu4  o/u,  eczeina,  impeiiffo,  and  other  diseases  in  which  itching  h 
a  prominent  and  painful  symptom  ;  prolapAus  or  irroctdentia  aui^  |>erhaps 
varicoctk;  hydroctie,  and  other  scrotal  tumors;  an<i  in  the  female, />ra//i/j'*^ 
of  the  utenUf  and  diaeaaes  analogous  to  those  of  the  male  just  mentiooi  ' 

*  ••  Abpcncw  of  iiiiriil  "  i»  oflpn,  in  reality,  a  "  »tatu»  epilepticui  "  or  form  of  *•  la 
potil  mal,"  of  which  "  le  grand  mal  "   I*  epilepsy. 


l-OSISHMBNT    OF   RAPE. 


609 


Widi  (hi«  renmrk  we  must  dbiuiss  a  very  unsiivorj  subject,  and  proceed 
h  ihv  cun^iderAliou  of  rape. 


Bapf^Oeneral  Qmmderatiom  and  Qnediom  conned^  with  Virginity  and 

Deji^trfttiofi. 

A  great  number  of  queatiotis  in  cotiuection  with  this  subject  may  be 
vknl  uf  the  medical  jurist.  Tardieu  ilotr.  cit.)  gives  tweiUy-four  qut-j^lioua 
OD  this  topic,  of  which  the  most  HJi|iorlaot  are :  1.  Are  tlu're  any  Iracea 
of  ihe  crime?  2.  Are  the  phy^ieal  sigjKs  the  re.sult  of  bud  luibitsS*  3.  la 
ihvdiftcharge  preaeut  tlie  ret?ult  of  coutagiou  ?  4.  Has  there  beeu  actual 
fifllatioD?  fi.  What  i«  it^  date?  6,  Is  the  iajur}^  iufiicted  by  the  male 
fexuftl  (irgau,  or  due  to  aet-ideuts?  7.  Li  dtaih  due  to  the  violation?  or 
(^),  did  iiiun^ier  preeedo  rn]>e?  9.  Can  a  wtmiiiu  l>e  delitnvered  whilst  un- 
OMMCiou^.  as  iu  Hlwp,  i)r  to  magnetic  tratice,  etc.?  IQ.  Can  rape  be  fol- 
luwwl  Uy  impregtialiun?  11.  In  rape  [lossible,  if  the  woman  resif^t,  nnloss 
ajfsisted  ?  12.  Of  what  nature  is  the  dii^eair*  ol' the  victim,  and 
-  date?  l^.  Is  the  disease  nf  the  accused  of  the  same  kind? 
U,  iVre  there  any  [jhy!*ical  impossibilities  precluding  the  actnsed  from 
wmniiltiiigthi!)  crime.  15.  Ih  there  any  p(tpnlar  notion  tliat  cxphiinM  the 
ftttemptB  otteri  tnade  i>n  yoong  girls.  16,  Can  a  man,  during  sleep^  have 
•riual  iotfrrourse  unconsciously?  17.  Does  the  aecus»-d  present  any  {>cr- 
•Miml  peculiarities?  18.  Of  what  nature  are  tlie  Mains  on  the  clothes  of 
tlii*  victim  or  of  the  aceu^*d  ?  UK  Can  rajre  be  siumlatcd  ?  Without  ad- 
bfritig  utrieilv  to  the  exact  order  of  thei^e  questions,  we  hope  to  answer  them 
•II  w  far  as  the  pre^nt  stale  of  science  allowa. 

Tbe  legal   definition  of  rape  is  **  the  carnal  knowledge  of  a  feiaale  by 

force  tad  against  her  will,"  but  in  a  very  large  pro]M)rtion  of  the  casea 

*ni  fur  trial,  the  attempt  is  made,  or  supposed  to  be  made,  on  the  persons 

'•'  Iiddren.     There  are  several  reasons  for  thiss.     One  is  the  populur 

..  alluded   to  above,  that  if  a  man  suflering  from  gonorrhiea 

litticoui^se  with  a  pure  virgin,  he  h  HUpposed  to  be  cured  in  conse- 

We  need  Imrdly  .sav  there  is  no  truth  in  this  notion.     There  can, 

I   no  doubt  that  it  is  very  widely  prevalent,  and  dijigusting  as 

•  (,  it  i»  DO  h^H  a  fact,  that  old  women  doctressey  not  unfrequently 

^r«iicnb«  thi^  criminal    attcfiipt  to    young  men   who  consult    them   for 

■i^lhml  dii*eharges.     Another   reiufou  is    doubtless  to  be   found  in  the 

fe^blrncM  of  children.     For  reasons  which  will  be  stated  hereafter,  many 

r.Up  accUBtttions  relate  to  children,  who  are  often  terrilied  into 

-e  fltatetiientiL 
<  rirne  of  rape  was  formerly  punished  by  castration  by  tbe  laws  of 
■■^iiy  counlricfi.  Dr.  Taylor  quotes  Dr.  GiitKths  to  the  dfeet  that  io 
"  !)ia  and  Mi«s<iuri  thin  is  still  the  legal  punishment,  if  a  black  man 
•  a  white  woman.  Death  wjh  formerly  the  punishment  iu  England, 
"titji  by  the  24th  and  2oth  Victoria,  s,  4>*,  penal  servitude  or  imprison* 
B^^tit  mm  substituted.*  It  is  said  that  since  this  alteration  in  the  law,  the 
jrinj«  has  enormout*ly  incrtjised  {**^1  i>er  cent,  iu  lour  years,"  "Law 
4tb  January,  1845  :  "90  per  cent.,"  according  to  the  statement  iu 
'  io  1847-8,  See  Taylor,  /or.  cU.,  43i>j.  The  Jewish  la\v  t"Deu- 
j/  22:  23-25)  punishes  the  rape  of"  1  betrothed  damsels  with 
•••^th ;  iif  not  betrothed,  the  man  was  to  pay  a  tine,  and  marry  the  girl 

**  yf\um>9Htr  ohnJI  Im»  convicie<l  of  ih«  crime  of  rape  thiill  be  guilty  of  felony, 
•'*^.  U  ir.<.  ,...n..  i,  ti.ri    ihfreof,  «»hMn  bo  li«l»)e,  Ht  ih©  discretion  of  llio  emirt,  l«   be 
'«  for  life,  or  fut  any  term  not  Ii»«6  tbun  three  y^iirp,  or  to  \m 
'it\  nt/l  exceeding  two  year*,  with  or  without  hard  Ubor." 


T 

I 


V    •  r.   that   for 

■  '.ril  nt'  niar- 

■  ::.■■   law-   of 
:  which  an* 

.'■.':•  \\\iu]<  rapt; 
•■■^::m  "h-aih,  or 

-•;!.:  in*' i.  Tlu; 
'  ■:  i-'lM«.  mipiias 
."  -Aa-  tlmij^'ht  ii 

■  :::  »i|»lat,  altera 

:.      Fiiii's.   ini- 

■  •;    I'K^    i)t'  cyrs 
■-•',  LT*  ylHuind, 

••  •       :  i<-.  and  inipris- 

'  ■    "1     We  III  « (i  imt 

'  -      r«'t,  ill  all  thi-ir 

■■•  -I   all   civili/.i-d 

-'  a-i  «-apiral  piiii- 

•  •  r.i.'-c  (,t"  iiiiiiiit'r, 

v"i/..'t|   iiafi!.n>  in 

•.  a  viry  hiirh  value 

■ '  i.«l  and  >«'<Miri(v  of 

.i!i'l  nm>t  intimati'Iv 

_'tiry  of  >tat«-.     FoV 

•.>:>-i[  wlu'ii  :!..   vi.-tini 

:Ik'  latter.      1-  -^  ,,.. 

-",  vi/.,  tilt   \  i  •    ii  or 

— a:y.     A-.   I.-  v..  ver. 

■■   :  •  <»neirur,  a«((.nl- 

.•  -   •r"  late  year-  liave^ 

■    I  Ilie.lie:il  !•  -li- 

-        •■•:    KnLl  =  >l.    ah.l 

n  t!.'    part 

■    ■  .  -.  ♦!:'..  pi....i  ..i" 

:  -id.  'ali-n 

.i-.i    Pavne, 

■•.  '.  n  :  I  eini- 

■■.:i:iu  the 

:"  •    t  lime. 

V'-  Ml  the 

:.  ■■  .  i-  a- 

•  -■.  4rj. 

..   -     ■    '.  •    <  a.-e  ot* 
.  -      K  :::  '.in-h 

-      -      •       ■       ■■    iv    l.Mi»d 

■...-!;•>  of  a 

..     -      •.    !•  ViiUth, 

.   :.:  iii-  tnlly 

-  ■■:   u..:ild    he 
'■    ---of  Very 

-  •  :i   >evi  ral 
-  •  -.■•«:.'  ••  of  the 

..-.  i    inipi.ty  of 
'»  •  />',  lu-foro 


642 


TYPICAL    FORMS    OP    HYMEN. 


and  in  the  adult  Uflually  conceal  the  leiiger  labia  or  Tn/mpha;,vfhich  are  inter- 
mil.  There  are,  however,  many  exceplums  to  this.  At  birth  the  le.-§er  hibia 
are  generally  external.  It  is  said  that  sexual  exeitement,  and  repeated 
irritation  by  touched,  etc,  are  fre<]uent  eausea  of  byjKMtrophy  of  the 
uympha?.  The  varying  size  of  the  larger  and  Je.sser  labia  is  the  chief 
cause  of  the  variety  of  appearanee  ju!*t  mentioned. 

The  ciUorijt^  a  miniature  and  imperforate  \\ema,  varies  greatly  in  sizd. 
Sexual  exce^es  are  believed  to  cause  hypertrtjphy  of  tlii:?  organ.  The 
authors  have,  however^  frequently  seen  a  small  clitoris  in  women  who  wero 
hetiiirpB, 

The  fourchcttjf*  and  fofi^a  mwirnlitrin  are  namein  given  rci^pectivoly  to 
the  posterior  or  lower  border  of  the  vulva,  just  within  the  posterior  com- 
mUmrc  or  meetinij;  of  the  greater  labia,  and  l«>  a  sort  of  tul-de»tic  of  a 
'boatlike  form,  which  intervene?^  between  the  former  and  the  hymen. 

If  ihi^  fourchetlc,  which  forms  a  kind  of  bridle,  §tretched  in  front  of  the 
vagina,  and  the  foma  inivkulurim,  do  not  disapjjear  in  con.'^e^juence  of 
detioratiou,  they  are  pretty  ?<nre  to  do  jso  in  the  hr»t  labor.  After  thih  the 
vulva  retiiaint*  more  patent  below  and  hehitid  than  it  i^  above  and  in  front. 

The  hfpinn  or  majdenheiui  (Buetoni  \t*  a  thin  mend>rane,  which  is  in 
reality  the  proloogutiuti  and  terminutiou  of  the  vagina  in  the  ve.itibn]nm 
of  the  vulva.  It  is  vitfible  at  birth,  but  i«  very  deeply  placed  in  very 
young  girl>^,  and  can  only  be  seen  by  very  widely  lijeparatirig  the  thigha, 
ttud  at  the  ^Hlue  time  opening  the  greater  labia  widely.  It  is  then  found 
at  a  depth  of  nboiit  jih  i*v  Jd  of  an  inch  from  the  oritire  of  the  vulva. 
At  a  later  period  of  life  it  becomes  more  superficial,  and  more  readily  seen. 
As  the  aign  pur  exre^irnee  of  virginity  in  a  jKbysical  sense,  it  de^serves 
special  couf^ideration.  Modern  auatotniail.s  and  gynjefologirft.'i  can  scarcely 
understand  how  it  wa**  possible  for  ancient  iiuthors  to  deny  the  very  exist* 
ence  of  an  organ  which  i:^  not  nnly  foutrd  iti  the  human  female,  but  iQ 
other  niammalia.t  Devilliers  found  it  in  ]'lii  caifcs  in  a  special  inquiry  on 
the  subject  (**  Revue  Mc'dicale,"  IH-IO,  toni.  t );  Orfila  in  200  cjisen  r*Trailfe 
de  Medecine  legale,*'  4  e'dit..  Pari.*,  1848,  [om.  i,  p.  l^ioi;  and  Tardieu  in 
more  than  600  cases  {foe,  ait,,  p.  29 )  never  failed  to  find  this  merabmne  or 
its  debris.  The  authors  have  been  able  to  verify  the  existence  of  the 
hymen  in  nearly  1U<>0  case**.  The  exceptions  in  modern  times*  to  this  rule 
(of  tioding  either  the  hymen  or  it«  remains)  are,  for  the  mo^t  part,  either 
badly  re|K)rleil  or  have  been  disproved  by  8ubi?equent  investigations. 
Cai*pdr  records  several  cases  in  which  medical  men  denied  the  existence  of 
a  hymen,  which  was*  nevertheless  not  only  existing  but  sufficiently  evident 
on  pnmer  examination. 

M.  Tardieu  mentions  five  typical  forms  of  the  hymen,  to  one  or  other 
of  whicli  all  the  varieties,  which  are  numerous,  may  be  referred.  Th<!??*e 
tire: 

A.  The  primary  form,  most  common  in  iofant^i,  and  often  met  witii  op 
to  the  period  of  puljerty.  is  what  we  may  call  a  A//y»"«/ arrangement  of  the 

.inembraue,  with  a  vertical  .nlit  commynicating  with  the  vagina.  Thw 
'^>rm  reesemblej*  the  cloac*  or  anus  of  a  pullet     (Fig.  85.) 

B.  In  a  gt'i'ond  form,  the  hymen  forms  an  irregularly  circular  diaphnigrn, 
pierced  towarfls  its  upper  thiixl  by  an  oj>eniug  of  more  or  lej^s  ^ize,  and 
situate:  at  somewhat  varying  height.  M.  Koze  found  one  in  the  Anatomi- 
chI  Museum  at  Slrasburg,  in  which  the  opening  wa.'s  on  the  right  side  of 

*  Th«  potterior  oommiisurfl  of  the  InbtH  is  «onietimc»  called  fourch6tt». 
t  Amont^.at  those  wbi>  denied  ILa  existence  were  AmbrcMo  Pmr^  and  the  cele> 
brftted  Uuffun. 


TYPICAL   FORMS    OF    HYMEN. 


643 


r  VtLrl  of  the  hytnon.  This  second  type  is  more  com  moo  tliRn  the 
>e.     .Fig.  86.) 

9  ihird  i'orm  is*  really  circular,  and  the  orifice  central.  [Annular 
Krt^ltr*h  authors.  Fig.  87.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  artist  has 
IS  rather  too  oval.] 

the  fourth  I'orm,  which  MM,  Devilliers  and  Devergie  seem  to 
^  with  most  commonly^  the  hymen  torma  a  semilntiar  diaphragm, 
in  of  a  crr«!enl,  the  concavity  of  which  'i6  superior,  and  its  etlges 


Fio.  M. 


PlQ.6fl. 


:A< 


HH  more  or  less.     The  extremities  or  horns  of  the  crescent  are 

le  uyntph;e.     [Fig.  88,] 

rtly,  the  hvmeu  sometimes  consists  of  a  simple  circular  or  serai- 

m<l,  or  fillet,  ultached  to  a  sort  of  tV»ld  or  fringe,  eoustituting  a 
|d«»uhlf  nympluis  arid  varying  from  ,Vth  of  an  inch  in  very  i^inall 
Jthsor  |d  of  an  itn"h  in  adults.  Boinetimes,  ucrurdiiig  to  Tiirdteu, 
[«  sort  of  rim  or  collar!  ike  ring,  sKghtly  raised  ahove  the  level  of 


Fm  ftS. 


orifi/>e.     Tbeie  peculiar  forms  are  probahly  prespnt  in  many 

ift^  where  the  hyroen  has  been  snpjwjjtfd  absent  [MM.  Tardieu 

rlniotirhf'],     Other  peculiar  forms   have  been  noted  by  Clo<|uet, 

li,  and  others,  s»c\\  iis  n  hymen  like  a  curtain,  loofjcd  np  on  each 

to  have  two  lutcrul  oj>eiiings.     Itoze  Ims  described  such  under 

of  **  biperforatc,"     Fubrice   de  llildcn  has  described  a  "  cribri- 

fFicvelikc  hymen,  (»ierced  with  h(4es.     Some  of  these  forms  nro 

the  result  of  hiceratioup.     I/antly,  obstetricians  know  that  the 

be  "  imiK-rforate/'  completely  closing  the  vagina      [The  oper- 

of  this  has  not  infreijuently  been  fatal.]     The  hynuu  may 


644 


THE    CARUNCULJE    Id YRTIF0RMB8. 


also  be  double  [red u plicated].  Various  changes  take  plnt^  in  the  hymen 
a?  yt^are  go  on.  [Tanlieu,  he.  nt.,  p.  82.]  It  jiometimes  becomes  cxtremly 
tough,  or  it  may  even  undergo  libr<Hi?s,  cartilagtnuus,  or  almost  osseous  de- 
generation— and  become  so  re^int^nt  m.  to  enable  Diernf  rbroek  to  jiiiy — 
**Adeoque  firniam  inveuiiuu:*,  ut  ciijuslibet  arietautis  viri  inipetum  sine 
diferuptione  sustinere  potuiffset!" 

The  cnrunculir  myrt'iforme9  vet  hyvienales,  three  to  six  in  number,  are 
now  generally  rej^ardcd  as  the  remains  or  debris  of  the  bvmen,  although 
it  is  |Kissible  that  two  or  three  of  them  may  belong  lo  the  ridges  of  the 
vagina.  Little  polypi^  warts,  vegetations,  etc.,  may  sometimes  be  mis- 
taken for  I  hem. 

Little  need  be  said  of  the  orifice  of  the  urethra  {mrntnif  urinarim)  or 
tlie  bulbs  (bulbi  vestibnli},  except  that  the  bulbous  structure  beneath  the 
urethra  is  »onietimes  prolonged  into  and  rompltteja  the  upper  part  of  the 
hyfuen,  and  thi3  explain.s  the  exee.-sive  ha*morrhage  which  sometinies  ac- 
companies* the  destruction  of  the  hymen  in  the  first  coitus,  of  which  the 
aniliors  have  seen  two  instances  wtiich  almost  proved  fatal.  (8ee  Kouget 
in  the  "Journal  de  la  physfiolugje  de  rhtimme,"  Paris,  1858.) 

The  puffina  is  the  membratuju^*  niu^icular  tube  between  the  vulva  and  the 
uterus,  intended  for  the  receptiuu  ot"  the  mule  organ.  There  are  great  di- 
versities in  the  diuiension.s  of  the  orifice  in  the  hymen  according  to  age 
and  development.     In  the  very  young  infant  the  orifice  of  tlie  hymei 

Fto.  Ha. 


Retatlom  of  th«  un{ni(^rvi;n»t«>d  utpnts,  Yaginn,  ovurtft, 
FnllopUu  ltibe»,  und  round  ngHtui;ti(Et<. 


barely  admits  a  goosequill ;  towards  puberty,  perhaps  the  tip  of  the  little 
finger.  Even  in  adult  femaleii  it  rarely  atlmit.s  more  than  the  tip  of  the 
index  finger,  unless  it  has  been  previously  dilated.  It  is  impt)rtant  to  note 
thi;»,  as  more  or  less  dilatation  of  the  hymeneal  orifice  of  the  vagina  may 
furnidh  evidence  of  attempts  against  chaatity.  In  the  virgin  the  vagina 
iti»eH'  is  narrow.     This  is  partly  due  to  it.'^  muscularity. 

Lastly,  the  skeleton  in  young  children,  owing  to  partial  development  of 
the  pul)ic  arch,  is  often  a  more  complete  ob:*tAcle  lo  the  complete  intro- 
duction of  the  male  organ  than  any  conformation  of  the  soft  parts. 

Fig*,  89  and  90  may  further  ai*8ist  in  the  comprehension  of  this  chapter, 
and  of  tho.se  on  abortion  and  infanticide,  etc.  In  Fig.  89,  1  is  the  bo*iy 
of  the  uterus  ;  2,  its  fundus ;  3,  its  neck  or  cervix  uteri ;  4,  the  os  uteri ; 
5,  the  vagina,  showing  it^  rugie ;  6,  the  broad  ligament  of  the  left  side; 
7.  the  lefi  ovary  ;  H,  the  finibriated  extremity  of  the  Fallopian  lube;  8,  the 
round  ligament  ;  9,  9,  the  Fallopian  tube.s  ;  11,  the  other  ovary;  10,  the 
fimbriated  extremity  of  the  right  Fallopian  tube. 

Fig.  ^0  is  a  side  view  or  section  of  the  female  pelvis.  1  is  the  symphysis 
pubitf ;  2,  the  abdominal  wall ;  3,  the  mous  veneris ;  4,  the  bladder ;  5»  its 


Ui 


THE    CARUNCUL^    MYRTIFOHMBS. 


also  be  double  [re<Iuplicaled].     Various  changes  take  ]jlace  iti  the  by 
as  years  go  on.     [Tardieu,  he,  rrV.,  p.  32.]     It  sometimes  becomes  ext 
tough,  or  it  may  evt-n  undergo  fibrous,  cartilaginou.*,  or  almost  Of«": 
generation — and  become  so  resistant  ns  to  eoable  Diemerbroek 
•*Adeo<iue  firmam   inveidmus,  ul.  eiijuslibct  arietanti^  viri   im|»i 
dlsruptione  sustinere  potuii^set  !'* 

Tlie  cumnmlve  myrtl(orvte9  vtl  hynienaks,  three  to  six  io  n 
now  geDerally  regarded  as  the  remains  or  debris  of  the  hvrnn 
it  is  possible  that  two  or  three  of  them   may  belong  to  the  f 
vagina.     Little  polypi,  wart#,  vegetations,  etc.,  may  som* 
taken  for  them. 

Little  need  be  said  of  the  orifice  of  the  urethra  (m«ifM 
the  bulbs  (bnlbt  ve*tibuli),  excefit  (hat   the  bulbous  stnj' 
ufi'thra  is  sometimes  prolonged  into  and  fomplet4?8  thr 
hymen,  and  this  explains  the  exce^Sisive  hiemorrhage  w!i 
companies  the  destruction  of  the  hymen  in   the  firet 
aulhora  have  seen  two  instances  which   almost  prov^ 
in  the  "  J<»urnal  de  la  physiologie  de  l'li(uume,**  Prr 

The  vufjiua  is  the  membranou:?!  mu}<cular  tube  f 
uterus,  intended  for  the  reception  cd'  the  male  i^ 
versities  in  the  dimensions  of  the  orifice  in  tin'  i 
and  development.     In  the  very  young  infant 


Flo.  «9, 


B«litton»cf  !))• 


*^«^  HIS 


barely  admit*  u  gooi^quni 
finger.     Even  in  ncJnIi  * 

HI 


f^5  l^' 


krrow. 


648 


Slavs   OF   DEFLORATION. 


are  only  diiigranmiatic — in  real  cases  there  would  usually  be  mora  iujury 
to  tin*  rest  of  the  vulva,  and  especially  its  lower  part^  i  fourchetie,  etc.). 
Fig.  94  is  the  result  of  repeafed  iutroducLion  of  foreign  bodies  of  some  kind 
or  other.    Fig.  91  ia  the  eommone»t  form  of  laoeratioo.   The  others,  though 


Fio.  M. 


Fio.  94. 


A 


r^> 


i>i 


X 


le«8  eommoD^  are  sufficiently  frequeut.  If  no  fres^h  attemptfiiat  violation  or 
introduction  of  foreign  bodies  be  made,  the  floating  folds  of  torn  hymen 
may  last  for  raany  mouths  (Devergieaud  Ta rd ieu,  ^oc.  ei/.). 


Other  Si^ns  of  Violation, 

(1)  There  may  he  blood,  as  previously  stated,  in  the  vulva. 
(2>  All  the  vulva  may  be  swollen,  red,  hot,  and  tender. 

(3)  There  is  mucopurulent  dii<charge,  if  the  violation  occurred  tVonT 
two  to  four  doyi^  previouj^ly.  (Id  one  ca.*e  the  authors  saw  pus  formud  in 
twenty  four  hours.  It  wa^a  genuine  case  of  rape,  spermatozoa  being  found 
in  large  number?*,  and  there  was  no  pus  until  the  period  named.) 

(4)  Dr.  Taylor  states  that  the  vagina  may  appear  dilated.  In  really 
recent  cases  our  exi>erience  is  that  the  swelling  makew  it  ap[K'ar  more 
contracted.  You  must  be  very  careful  not  t»>  nii.*take  infantile  leucorrhn»a, 
noma  (or  gangrene  of  the  pudenda),  and  chronic  gonorrhtea  or  syphilis. 
On  each  of  these  we  shall  make  some  renmrkf*.  Owing  to  the  pain  candied 
by  the  disproportitm  between  the  penis  of  an  adult  male  and  the  genital 
organs  of  a  email  child,  there  h  usually  resistance  on  the  part  of  children 
of  tender  yean*.  You  will  therefore  examine  for  scratches,  bruiriC.'*,  and 
other  eigns  of  injury.  These  are  most  likely  to  be  found  (a)  about  the 
thighs  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  genital  organs,  ib)  on  the  arms,  li'g«,  and 
front  of  the  body.  In  the  case  of  females  after  puberty,  you  may  Inive  to 
consider  the  po*<ibility  or  probability  of  the  injuries  being  iieff-injUrtfd,  us 
the  accusation  of  ra|>e  h  one  often  made  from  motives  of  sfute,  or  to  ex- 
tort money.  Such  voluntary  injuria*  are  generally  ui'  a  slight  nature,  and 
in  jmrb*  ea.«ily  reached  by  the  hands,  such  as  the  vulva,  inside  oi'  the 
thighs,  etc. 

(6)  If  the  caruneuftr  mifrtiformeshe  present^  this  is  a  sign  not  of  recent 
but  of  previous  defloration.     The  ?ame  may  be  s^aid  of 

(6)  A  ilihited  condition  of  the  vagina.  In  re^i^nnl  to  this  we  hold  thiu 
the  condition  of  the  vagina  i*  of  very  slight  value  in  a  forensic  point  of  view, 
m  instances  are  known  in  which  women  who  have  had  repeated  sexual  in- 
lerc<»un^.  and  even  had  children,  have  presented  a  uarrownes®  of  the 
vagina  exceeding,  or  at  least  equalling,  that  of  the  virgin.     It  can  srarotdy 


BiaNa   OF   DEFLORATION. 


640 


to  inform  those  of  you  who  are  familiar  wilh  anatomy  uud 
tioliigy,  that  ^A«'  hymen,  onc^?  dfntroyed,  u  n^ver  reiwwcd ;  8i>  that  the 
_yaaue  id  which  virji^inity  can  be  said  to  be  renewed  is  in  the  narruvrnesa 
Aihlluvhiiy  touicity  of  the  vagina  and  ex.tenml  partes.  We  jneution  this, 
m»  •  well-known  pasBaj^e  in  lioci:aceio  apfn^ai's  to  teach  a  dilterent  doc- 
Uine.* 

|7*  The  condition  of  the  breaMs,  again,  thongh  affecteil  by  lactation, 
mjtA  bv  frequent  nianipulatiuns,  id  scarcely  atftjcted  by  the  mere  fact  of 
•ciual  intercourse. 

i«i  The  ftigos  already  given  of  previous  chihlbearing  [aee  p.  61J),  etc.], 
tiouj^h  proof  positive  of  the  abaence  of  a  virgin  condition,  are  seldom 
mniiahte  in  a  ca»e  of  this  kind. 

^y  I  The  virgin  or  niilliparoua  state  of  the  08  and  cervix  uteri  (see  p.  603) 
is  liule  ntfecied  by  sexual  iiitereourae  simply,  only  by  the  pregnant  cou- 
dition.  Certain  tumors  and  diseases  may  simulate  the  chauges  induced 
t>j  I>regn»jjcy. 

Pnofa  of  Violation  from  Stains  in  Clothing,  dc,  etc. 

Wf  nin«t  refer  you  to  the  chapter  on  eerainal  staius  for  the  description 

/oa,  and  the  meauii  tif  detecting  ibem.     Again  reminding  you 

'  t  to  examine :  ( I)  The  clothes  of  the  victim,  if  you  eau  get 

>ru  at  the  tinte  of  the  allcgi^l  rai>e.     You  will  often  find  ihey  have 

•'A<t/;  but  this  tnui^t  be  regarded  aa  a  auspicious  cireunistauce,  since 

QooipJaiiit  ought  to  be  made  ut  once  in  a  genuine  case ;  (2)  Examine  the 

tiMi.,,)  nuicMM  for  8p<'rmat<)Z<ia.     Do  not  mistake  fungi  or  trichomonades 

j«minal  animalculet*.     The  sexual   hairs  of  older  females  t^honld 

-.-,,►.■  rxamined  (Casper),  as  fipermatojeoa  often  adhere  to  them  ;  V'\)  The 

•bin  »nd  drawers  of  the  accuned  should  als^o  be  examined,  if  tlie  rharge 

jit ;  and  his  person  for  signs  of  syphilis  or  gonorrhiCii,  especially  a» 

I  IT  often  turnishes  a  motive  for  the  erime.     The  di,!*t'h  urges  in  .such 

-purulent ;  but  there  are  tio  very  definite  m»cri>scopi(?al 

■  l^uirthing  venereal  islain.s  from   tho.se  of  simple   uretbritia 

lew.     The  abseivce  of  blood,  or  other  »taiua  on  the  clothe^**  of 

i#  nor  always  a  proof  of  innocence;  see  case  fj noted  by  Dr, 

'it,,  pp.  444-5),  in  which  the  boy  was  examined  Ijcfore  he  had 

!!ge  his  clothes.     IVcfsuniing  you  have  founri  injuries  about  the 

f  old«r  female  examined,  you  cannot  say  that  they  actually  were 

d  by  the  jJ«?UM,  since  the  fingers  or  other  instruments  might  pro- 

'lilar  injuries.     In  the  cti»e  of  an  infant  aged  eleven  months  (named 

'dicr  named  Hume,  wfio  was  drunk,  is  Haid  to  have  inflicted  the 

-  with  hi»  tingern.     Tliis  is,  however,  in  real  truth,  as  much  vio- 

To  tl  II,  "Is  rape  or  vit^etU  ne^tual  intercourse  often  fatal f"  you 

OmilutihtsiiaLjngly  answer,  "  Yes."     The  case  above  (juoted,  the  famous 
■•tof  Amofr  Omnieood,  to  be  pri3!i*«*titly  mentioned,  and  numerous  cases 
Tinlieu,  C*as|)er,  Taylor,  and  others  known  to  the  authors,  show  that 
Dot  unfrecjuently  results*.     This  may  be  a  eonseijucnce  of  shock,  of 
rrhage,  of  the  arter  effects  of  wounds,  and  in  the  nise  of  females  at 
fHiberty,  of  a  general  state  of  erethism,  or  extreme  eougestion  of 
itiaal  organs,  and  of  the  brain  and  spiiml  cord|  which  may  lead  to 


liw,  cno  con  wlln  uomini  forge  diccf  milin  vulte  giftciutH  vm,  hIIhIo  n  lul  (itl 

(i«,k..i  .*  iMirkd  iH?r  piik'fllii,  o  foc«'gliele  crt'dert%  cho  mrA.  fw^e ;  u  Koina 

|.oj  pjii  tomjH)  vi»ie;  o  purciit  si  diwe:  Boccm  bMncialA  iioh  perd« 

curnu  fit  lit  lunu.'* 

42 


650 


DISBABBS    SIMULATING    VIOLATION. 


hsemorrhages  in  nervous  matter,  to  arrested  circulatina  in  the  1 

aptjplexiei*  of  th<;  ovary,  aod  to  eflusiion  of  blo<xJ  iuto  the  peritooe 
other  cavities.     The  authors  know  of  several  unpiibli^heu  cose^i  of 
kinfl.     That  t!ie  rimle  organ  of  a  vigorous  mule  may  inflict  frightful 
juries  u|>(>u  a  young  and   immature  female^  is  ahuudautly  t^howu  by 
Norman  Clieever*  {loc.  eli,),  from  civil  pracliee  amongst  the  Uindno«, 
is  also  within  the  experience  of  the  authors,  even   in  cases  where  th 
was  no  criminal  intent.     The  vagina  ntay  be  torn  through  into  the  hUd 
and    rectum,   the  perineum   quite   dei;troyed,  and   the  perituDeal  cairi 
opened  by  tbe  force  of  the  male  organ  only. 


Dueasea  Swuilalinff  the  EffecU  of  Viohfion. 

The  first  fact  with  which  you  should  be  familiar  is  that  very  youm 
females,  in  fan  t^i,  and  young  children  are  subject  to  iuflammatiou  of  Uw 
vulva  (vulmtu)  and  viigina  {vaginitis),  giving  rise  to  what  \»  called  infan 
tilt  hHcorrlnra.  Tli  read  worms  (oxyurides  and  trichocephali  flieftarw^ 
commonly  called  asca rides)  are  a  frequent  cause  of  this.  But  lu  wr^fii' 
loue  and  delicate  children,  dentition,  catarrh,  loaded  bf*wei8,  ami  otlifi 
causes,  produce  similar  effect.'*.  See  an  able  paper  on  ihL*  t«ubjeci  by  tli4 
late  Sir  W.  Wilde  C*  Medico-Legal  Ubfrervations,*'  etc.,  Itioo).  Thefub- 
ject  is  now  treated  of  by  most  okstetric  author?*,  and  in  m^wl  worlw  oil 
diseases  of  children.  (See  Meig^,  Pepper,  Steiuer,  West,  and  oilier 'IktisI 
authorj*  on  this  subject.  See  ali^o  an  excellent  chapter  in  ' 
"Diseases  of  Women,"  pp.  57-ti4.)  Mr.  Kinder  Wood,  of  ^l 
showed  that  a  severe  form  sometimes  prevails  m  an  epideioic,  aud  l«niii' 
nates  in  nomcr,  to  be  mentioned  prettently.  ("  Med.-Chir.  Tranwact.,"  v4 
vii,  p.  84.)  The  At^/ory  of  the«  ca^es  is  all-importaoL  Any  tliacliaiigt 
that  wajs  noticed  immediately  after  the  alleged  rape  is  probalbly  of  M 
date.  In  any  case  8ome  day  or  two,  or  at  the  very  least  twenty-tour  hoiin 
18  refpiire^l  for  the  fbrniation  of  purulent  disJcharges.  In  a  nie<luN>le|;» 
point  of  view,  Dr.  Churchill  very  ju,'5tly  remarks  that  no  importaottj  i>W 
be  attached  to  statements*  elicited  from  a  child  by  threats.  It  is  ooly  «b«l 
the  child  makes  the  first  complaint  that  her  evidence  is  likely  lo  Iw  vilu* 
able.  In  too  muny  cases  the  mother  or  friend:^  seeing  a  discharge, nuii  U 
tJie  conclueion  that  it  is  due  to  violence,  and  bully  the  child  into  •cctlsin^ 
some  lodger  or  acquaintance.  It  '\»  to  be  feared  that  too  many  of  the* 
charges  are  made  merely  to  extort  money.  In  a  caj!*e  known  to  ou€  of  tb« 
AUthoi^,  the  accused  was  driving  the  magistrate  who  tried  the  can*,  altl"^ 
very  time  alleged  by  the  prosecution  ns  the  time  of  the  crime.  Tb 
was  ali^o  confirmed  by  the  evidence  of  a  washerwoman,  who  had  »efn 
on  the  child's  clothing  for  some  days.  iVoma,  a  deatructivc  and 
oua  form  of  ulceratiau  of  the  pudendum,  and  unlike  the  diwa 
same  nume  in  the  mouth,  may  also  be  mistaken  by  a  careless  ob^ei 
the  rcsultjj  of  attempted  violation.  On  this  point  consult  Dr.  Tay! 
<n7.,  p.  445 ).  Kememher,  however,  that  a  ravisher  may  sel 
ingly,  a  child  already  diseaiwd  as  his  victim.  This  was  |vroba< 
with  Amos  frre^nwood  (Liverpool  Winter  Assizes,  1857  i»  wh 
Wilde  thought  unjustly  accused.  It  was,  however,  pnjved  to 
tion  of  the  court  and  the  barristers  present,  that  be  had  inflicted 
on  the  sexual  organs.  [Acute  eczema  could  only  be  miatiikeii  by  a 
ignorant  medical  witueae.] 


662 


SUMMARY    OP    PACTS,   ETC. 


Summary  of  Medico-Legal  Facts  and  Opinions. 

1.  All  cases  in  whioh  the  charge  is  iimHo  name  weeks  or  months  after  the 
alleged  crime  are  cloubtrul ;  and  medieal  evidence  can  seidoiii  throw  much 
light  on  the  question. 

2.  The  discovery  of  spermatozoa  on  the  clothes  or  person  of  the  victim, 
and  of  recent  si^ns  of  violence  and  of  defloration,  are  the  only  reliable 
tnediciil  proofs  oi  the  crime. 

8.  The  simultaneous  existence  of  disease  in  prisoner  and  complainant 
may  be  corroborative  pn)ofs,  provided  the  dates  agree. 

4.  The  eflects  of  various  diseases  may  simulale  violence. 

5.  The  crime  is  p«)stjible  in  deep  sleep  (of  married  women,  or  those  used 
to  sexual  intercourse),  and  under  nareotii's,  or  anie^theiics,  or  during 
syncope,  or  with  consent  induced  by  terror.  Great  caution  is,  however, 
necciitfary  in  deciding  such  casea. 

6.  Severe,  and  even  fata,l,  injuries  may  be  inflicted  by  the  male  organ. 

7.  There  are,  however,  no  medical  proofs  which  bhow  that  unly  the  male 
organ  has  been  used. 

8.  Pregnancy  may  follow  rape, 

9.  Many  of  the  charge,**  are  false,  probably  nine  out  often. 

10.  A  medical  witness,  in  forming  his  report,  should  keep  fndit  and 
opinions  separate. 


On  the  twwa/  Defence  in  eases  of  Aeeumtion  of  Rape, 

The  medical  witness  ought  to  be  aware  of  the  line  of  defence  likely  to 
be  adopted  by  or  for  the  accused  in  cases  of  thia  kind.  The  usual  argu* 
ments  are 

1.  That  the  accused  is  impotent^  or  incapable  of  committing  the  allege*! 
crime.  This  may  be  really  true  in  regard  to  very  fdd  or  very  young  males 
thus  accused,  or  in  the  ease  of  those  laboring  under  certain  disetiscj?.  ( Dia- 
betes, some  forms  of  paralysis,  elc.)  We  must  refer  you  to  our  general 
remarks  on  Impotence  and  Sterility,  p,  595,  etc.,  for  the  general  principles. 
If  a  young  and  vigorous  girl  alleges  that  she  was  forcibly  raped  by  au 
aged  and  feeble  man,  her  evidence  ought  clearly  to  be  receivt'd  with  great 
caution.  The  authors  were  consuhedl  in  a  case  of  ihis  kiii<l,  iu  which  a 
domestic  alleged  that  her  master,  who  was  very  advunceii  in  life,  and  so 
paralyzed  as  to  be  unable  to  move  from  a  chair  without  ussi»tutice,  had 
forcibly  violated  her — she  being  a  strong  and  healthy  young  adult.  We 
need  scarcely  say  what  our  answer  was.  Ou  the  other  hand,  real  criminals, 
with  perfectly  healthy  and  well-formed  genitals,  will  frequently  allege  that 
they  are  impotent,  and  often  assert  that  their  sexual  organs  are  abnormally 
small,  when  this  is  not  the  case.     S^e  the  illustrative  teases  at  the  end. 

2.  The  accused  will  sometimes  assert  that,  although  not  imp<>tent,  or  in- 
capable towards  others,  they  could  not  have  cnmmittetl  the  crime,  beeause 
there  is  a  great  disproportion  of  size  between  their  sexual  organs  and  that 
of  the  child  concerning  whom  they  are  accuse<i.  In  a  medicolegal  point 
of  view,  such  a  defence  is  worthless — because,  although  the  disproportion 
may  prevent  complete  or  perfect  intercourse,  it  does  not  prevent  the  attempt^ 
which  is  now  justly  held  to  be  the  essence  of  the  eriine.  Again,  it  is  pre- 
cisely because  of  this  disproportion  that  such  frightful  injuries  are  olYeu  in- 
dicted— either  by  the  male  organ  or  by  the  hands — or  some  other  instru- 
ment being  used  to  dilate  or  widen  the  female  parts. 

3.  An  a7i^»,  or  evidence  of  being  elsiewhere,  if  substantiated,  is,  of  course, 


ILLU8TRATIVB   CASKS. 


653 


^iftteaotiftl  defence  quoad  the  particular  person  accused.      It  caooot, 

-,  weaken  medical  evidence  of  tire  special  signs  of  recent  iiiid  inrc- 

!  »ratiun.     At  most,  it  can  ouly  prove  that  the  particular  persim 

*litl  not  commit  the  crime.     In  tht>>e  easci*,  however,  \a  whieb  the 

^  evidence  pointjs  to  disease,  an  alibi  mudt,  of  necessity  greatly 

ktrrijfftheu  such  evidence. 

i  h  limy  be  proved  tliat  the  alleged  crime  >vas  sworn  to  m  having  lieen 

perpci ruled  in  ^ome  place  or  at  some  time  iu  which  it  wain  only  nece^-^ary 

lor  an  outcry  to  be  made  in  order  to  secure  assi.stuiK'e  against  the  supposed 

mvi<iluT.     The  Jewish  law,  a;*  we  have  shown,  fully  recognized  tliis?,  and 

"    '     '  evidence  is  scarcely  admissible  here,  exrcpt  as  to  the  distitnce  at 

"iind?^  may  be  heanl  {see  page  560).     You  might  aljto  be  a^ked 

fright,  syncope,  or  narcotics  might   prevent  such  an  outcry,  and 

wer  must  clearly  be  that  this  is  possible. 

ileuce  as  to  churnrfir,  as  regards  both  accuser  and  accused,  is 
'  rt  legal  than  a  medical  nature. 

e  as  to  mm'ttf,  thotigh   almost  purely  a  medical  question,  is 

light,  since  a  criminai  hiuatic  is  liable  to  be  detained  during 

>^ty's  pleasure,  and  barristers  are  therefore  reluctant  to  raise 

lice. 

T.  \VV  have  before  stated  that  the  question  as  to*e(/'infiiction  of  injuries 

11"  «lu  r,„fj,>r,jj^^  Qi-  yp  ather  parts  of  the  body  of  the  female,  niiay  be  raised. 

vor  to  this  will  depend  not  only  on  the  nature  and  site  of  the  in- 

it  on  the  age  of  the  female — for  example  in  HumeH  case,  au  infant 

It  months  would  never  have  inflicted  sueh  severe,  and  as  it  proved, 

'■»«!  injuries.     Indeed  ronid  not. 


liimirative  Case». 


Ill, 


^yi 


iiln)o<4t  imiKK^nilile  to  do  justice  to  this  suhjecl  without  rjuoliug  a 
'-.     You  will  tind  a  good  juany  in  B^Mjk  and  Taylor^  also  in  Casper, 
.  aud  Tardieu.     Our  limits,  however,  and  the  general  plan  of  this 
>\y  allow  US  to  give  the  following: 


CjL^R  I. — lujanlih  Lf'urnrrhfro^At^rtiMntioJi  of  Rnpe — Acqititial  of 
Ancii^edy  tphn  eM'thiiKhed  rm  aiibi. 


I      A|prl«aged  thirteen,  was  brought,  iu  1864.  to  one  of  the  authors,  with 
r  iL. -.-.  .^y^yi  ji^jjj  jp,|  ^^y^  previously  a  cabman  had  forcibly  violated  her 
'».     The  child  was  rather  under  the  average  wize,  weak,  thin,  and 
She  appeared  rather  weak-minded.     There  were  no  signs  t>f 
All  her  clothes  had  been  washed.     The  clitoris  was  large.     The 
"  -.and  thighs  were  filthy,  stained   with  onlure  and  dig- 
itated.    There  was   mucopurulent  di>trharge   from  the 
Hymen  still  present,  annular,  but  had  a  slight  lacer- 
Tfie  fourchettte  had  also  been  Ia<?erated  at  some  time, 
the  torn  parts  were  ealloUH.     The  eolor  of  the  parts  wa« 
re«l.     The   discharge  was    first  tiotieed,  and   soreness    com- 
r"  by  iho  child  ten  dayw  before,  hut  it  was  only  after  the  parents 
I  h.-r  all  Bort*  of  quustions,  and  threateiie*!  to  heat  her,  that  she 
.ibman,     {^he  pointed  out  a  man  with  a  white  horse,  who  was 
parent*.     It  was,  however,  clearly  proved  that  the  man  was 
<m  the  place  at  the  time  the  suppose*!  ra[H»  was  said  U^  be 

ii)»,|.     In  this  cawe  there  had  very  pnjbnbly  been  attempts  at  sexual 

*oi*n'our^»;  at  fc>ome  lime  or  other,  but  not  at  the  date  mentioned. 


091  ILLUSTRATIVE   CA8B8. 

Case  II. — Jiap<^  of  an  Adult  Female  hy  a  Single  Jfaw,  without  AeMtnpUefH. 

This  case  will  be  fouod  in  Casper,  vol.  iii,  p.  311.  A  man  pen^uaded  a 
girl,  uized  iwenty-fivf.  to  accompany  Mm  to  ti  public  garden — in  the  (iark 
— threw  \wt  down— ufif  r  trying  in  vain  to  accoiimlij^h  his  purp<»*e  a^^ainHt 
a  tree — and  then  violated  her.  The  p4_»]ice  testihed  iHrI  the  ground  waa 
frojsen  hnrd,  eu  that  the  fall  proliahly  occa,sioned  considerable  pain.  The 
man,  when  found,  wa?*  still  in  a  t'onditiou  of  aclnal  satyriasis.  On  exami- 
nation of  the  woman,  nine  days  after,  the  entrance  to  the  vagina  was  still 
reddened  and  dilated,  and  painful  when  louche*!  The  hymen  was  ct>m- 
pletely  torn  and  bright  red;  caruucuhe,  still  hlightly  swollen,  were  visible  ; 
the  fricuulunk  or  fourcbette  still  existed. 

CA8E  \l\.^ Alleged  Rape — Virgin  Condition  of  Genitah  found  on 
Exumination. 

This  is  Ca>*e  LIX,  of  Casper.  On  examining  the  girl,  aged  fourteen, 
who  coinf>laiued,  he  "found  the  genital  organ?,  perfectly  uninjured,  and  in 
their  virgin  state ;  the  examination  gave  no  pain»  the  entrance  to  the  vagina 
was  narrow,  the  hymen  quite  entire,  and  without  a  tra<:e  of  laceration, 

either  recent  or  cicatrized."     A  Dr.  E had  certified  that  *'  there  were 

two  small  lacerations  in  the  hymen!"     There  was  do  trace  of  seminal 
stains  or  spermatozoa  on  the  girl's  clothes. 

Case  FV. — Cme  of  Mary  Afhford  (Warwick  Assizes,  August,  1817). 

This  case  is  remarkable  as  being  the  last  in  which  "wager  of  battle," 
allowed  by  the  (»!d  Engli>h  law,  was  claimed  by  the  prii*oner,  Abraham 
Tliornton.  The  act  permitting  this  was  abolii-hcd  in  18n^  as  the  prisoner, 
who  was  doubt  less  guilty  of  the  murder,  escaped  harmless  because  the 
brother  of  the  murdered  girl  wa>*  a  mere  boy.  The  jury  had  acquitted 
him  on  the  faith  of  an  alibi,  which  was  pro!«ibly  false.  The  dead  Iwdy 
oi'  Mary  Aj^hford  was  foun<l  in  a  pool  nf  water,  with  duckweed  and  water 
in  her  ^.tomach.  The  genital  orgiins  were  lacerated,  and  covered  with 
coagulated  blood.  She  was  menstruating  at  the  time.  Thornton's  shirt 
and  pantalcpons  were  also  bloody.  He  confessed  the  connection,  but  dented 
that  it  was  forced,  alleging  the  consent  of  Ashford.  {tSee  Beck,  Ivc,  «X, 
p.  93,  and  Cummin's  Lectures,  "Medical  Gazette,"  xxi,  p.  386.)  In  thifl 
case  there  was  an  evident  impression  of  a  human  figure  on  the  grass,  and 
coagulated  blood  in  the  middle  of  the  impression. 


Case  V. — Attempted  Rape,  Snicidc  of  the  Vir^tim,  Mnrh  of  Violence  on  Ker 
Body  and  that  of  the  Accused, 

This  is  Case  XXTX  of  Tardiea  (loc.  eit,,  p,  155).  The  woman  commit- 
ted suicide  by  tJirowing  herself  out  of  window.  Besides  injuries  due  to 
the  fall,  there  were  scratches  on  the  nose,  and  evident  marks  of  nails  in 
the  front  of  the  neck  and  throat.  '^Tliere  were  bruises  on  the  arms  and 
legs  of  doubtful  origin,  with  marks  of  nails  on  the  lower  part  of  the  belly ; 
and  inside  the  thighs  were  bruises  like  finger-marks.  Examination  showed 
that  the  hymen  had  long  been  destroyed.  The  accused  had  bruises  on  his 
forearm,  especially  the  left,  resembling  the  forcible  pressure  of  rc^initing 
hands.  He  admitted  that  he  had  **  t^nichcd  *'  the  deceased,  and  partially 
introduced  the  penis.     He  denied  violence. 


INDUOTION   OF   PREMATURE    LABOR. 


^5 


(VsK  YT. — Rnpf,  mfh  Complete  D^fl^fration — Marks  of  Fingers  after  Three 

M  -t  case,  loe.  cU.,  p.  171/)     The  victim  was  ap-ed  17tj  years. 
1-  lorn  almost  t<>  the  pcrioeum.     Three  weeks  after  there 

'  ii  •   lifiL:  r  like  bruises  *m\  the  riplit  forearm,  and  two  such  oo  the  out- 
'  ;iijii  iiiMije  <>(  the  left  arm,  juwt  above  the  wrist. 

Case  Wl.—  Motatwn,  followed  by  Pregnancy,  ut  the  age  ofV2\  years. 

This  18  Tardieu*)*  35th  ca^e.  The  girJ  became  a  mother  at  a  trifle  over 
ihifteeii  years.  For  other  cases  of  pregnancy  following  rape,  see  Tardieu, 
^*«33,  34,  23,  and  several  cases  In  Taylor  (/oc.  dL,  p.  463), 

Oft  Adult  Females  habihudefl  to  kSerual  Intercourse — Abie7ie€  of  all 

Sigtu*  of  Vmltnce. 

All  the  authors  quoted  give  numerouH  htstances  of  this— doubtless  due 
titlur  to  partial  couj^ent  or  to  the  woman  being  so  held  by  accomplioes 
ihttUhe  aet  of  coitus  hteame  en^y  to  afcornpli«h — or  to  the  crime  having 
Winloue  whilst  the  woman  was  unconscious. 

Eape  of  Males  by  Females. 

CiL«per,  TapdieUt  and  other  foreign  writers  give  instances  of  this,  fol- 
It'ti'il  by  conviction  and  punishment.  Akhouji^h^  a^  Or.  Taylor  says,  there 
wn  b«  tn>  doubt  of  the  crime  being  often  eoiurnitted  by  grown-up  women 
«« amull  boys,  yot  it  appears  to  be  unknown  in  the  English  courts*  of  law. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


*W  !«(]„,,,,,„  ,,i  promuluro  iRhiir— Ahrirlion  from  disoaso  or  neoidont — Criininnl 
tlwirihm— xM»'<lir<»  l»'iri(l  pmofs  ♦»(*  ih<>  crime  — IriOinticide — Proofs  of  )iv**  birlh 
^DooimttAiii  j>ulmum»u— Coijcettlmunl  ol  birlh,  etc.— Logitimacy  and  &uppr- 

OK  have  elsewhere  stated  that  oiir  laws  do  not  recognize  formally  the 

"»«lti'lif,n  of  premature  labor.     The  distinction  has,  however,  be<?n  made 

'>terand  over  again,  by  the  judges  engaged  in  trying  prisoners  for  criminal 

'"Jftion.     It  is  sufficient  to  quote  the  names  of  Lord   IJfenman,  Baron 

"tmwdl.and  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  (Cockburn).     We  ourselves^  in  the 

*J**of  Simpson  v.  iJuvn/  'see  page  634),  heard  the  latter  judge  explain  to 

we  jury  that  medical  men  were  morally,  if  not  legally,  justified  in  iuduc- 

"''    i-miirure  lalior  with   the  ubjoct  of  saving  the  lite  of  the  mother,  or 

t  both.     The  first  general  nn>dical  Hgreement  upon  this  question 

^  to  have  been  about  the  year  ITt^G,  in  which  year  Dr.  Kelly  iu- 

1  Dr.  IX'uraan  that  '*  there  was  a  eonsultation  of  the  most  eminent 

'^ '  '•  It  tli!it  time  in  London,  to  coii^ider  the  mural  recfthifle  of,  and  the 

•^'"^  t'ljivM  -  which  miglit  Im*  expected  from,  this  practice,  which  met  with 

r»^«ral  appri)bnlir»n.''     (Denrniio'H  *' Intivwluction  to  Midwifery,"  p. 

u  ed,;  Jter  aA«o  ChurehiirH  '*  Ma»juul  uf  Midwifery/*  and  "  liesearchea 

f^p^rative  Midwifery,"  and  a  papi-r  by  I*r.  Barnes  in  the  Obstetrical 

'»eiv'.  "Transactions,"  vol.  iii,  1862.)     The  only  objeotious  which  cau 


ttmfvtivw  #r  Ftnirrsv  1,11 


0t9^ 


Mi4  vfcoi  tl»  open 

9Codcd  toi«d«ceynBntsfeblwr  are,  (1.)  CSms  of  aoi«  «r  k»  entcBe 
asfrovififf  of  Um  pdvvc  bm  (««  tike  DonBal  daactees  cf  Um  pelvii.  sad 
•dMiM  of  abaonBal  ilitto.  ml  page*  ^1»S3  sad  632).  la  tkoe  cats  of  da^ 
iurmkf  vbefa  sd^Mr  fcnioa  aor  fiif«|»  at  fittl  lena  earn  mooBti,mMU 
WMf  qIUb  W  borm  villi  perlfeci  adietj  10  tbe  Bwcher,  aad  ioaeii«e»  afif«, 
attrrf—lli  AarqaidilhertatiittcBofoadicaiatv^ 
HK  of  wiMdi  oieirt  M&efadM«  AomIi  oalj  ibm  »m 
6oialJb9  0|imlM.  F%HCTaonllartadg0«ie8.mitli«»di 
Dr.  HarflHM  famil  mH  534  ^smv.  ia  dinty-ftnr  of  viuck  tbe 
hftil  hoeo  ffpeiu^  three«  lb«r,  or  more  timet.  lo  373  of  iImk,  ISO  dul* 
drt'fj  w^re  born  alire,  aod  123  dead  («m  CburcliilU  iSte.  at).  CL^  fa  toii 
euei  of  obrtiaalo  vonhiag,  or  of  pRgnaocjr  eotaplkatod  with  diaeaiet  of 
tjh0  alaraa  or  oilier  omw  ^iiich  to  eaacer,  fibrvos  ntaior,  etc.),  tbe  eana 
#|itntioa  M  iodlcateoT  (3.>  In  cases  of  placenta  pcwria  or  otber  iumo 
ll— lOiihigm,  (4.)  lo  case*  of  ntpture  of  tb«  aiecML  (h.)  Ia  cams  of 
narruwiag  of  tbe  lolt  ptmrn^n,  cintrim  of  the  fagma*  ale.  It  is  cbMjr 
io  tbe  ilfM  daai  of  eaiot  that  the  operatioD  is  to  be  defended.  M.  Ftgaetm 
givea  tbe  followioi^  table  of  the  dianieteri  of  the  feeUl  bead  at  diifefeat 


Agrvttaim. 

aifwH^fal 

dUoivtcr. 

0«lpilo-fro«Ul 

Ocrtpllo^iry 

a  ■ 

9      *• 

^      "         I     *• 

a     "       2   « 
1      -        4    '* 

ilnelMiiiaMiu 

9      -        •     " 

9      -      10    •* 

4      ** 
4      ** 

ltaei«»aMa 

a     -        I    * 
•     •        f   - 
1     -        4    - 

Kit^oD  ^vefl  a  table,  founded  oo  the  mee^uremeDla  of  the  pelvis. 
myw  tiiat  lalkjr  may  be  induced  at  the — 

'2dl\\  wiw'k,  wIm'ii  Ihc  ciinjugntu  di«nii*ter  of  tb«  pelvii  \b  2  inchei    7  line*. 
jlOih      •'  •*  •'  "        2      '•        8    •• 

Slul         <<  t<  •<  it  ^         X  9      *t 

SAtll      **  »•  »♦  •«         2       »•  10     w 

aiith      •*  •«  •'  ••         2      •*  11     •* 

37Ui     *•  "  •'  "        S      '♦ 


He 


Tlu^i^  t4iblrj<  art'  not  quite  identirnl,  but  tbe  child's  head  varies  80i 
whiu,  and  in  romfiroj^ihle  to  some  extent  (aee  CburcUill,  Im.  cit), 

Tho  o|MTution  has*  been  performed  in  a  great  variety  of  way»:  it  will 
b*"  )»utHri«'nt  to  rn^-ntion  the  rhief  of  thet<e,  as  the  priuciples  iovolve^l  are 
in  all  ('«w«x  ximilnr,  yh.,  to  net  nf>  uterine  action  in  some  way  which  §hall 
bo  aM  jiafii  nn  po^iblr  for  tbe  niothrr,  und  in  most  casea  for  the  child  also. 
It  ifl  nut  for  U6  to  decide  here  on  tlieir  relative  merits.     Tbe  chief  niethuda 


ess 


TUB   PLACKKTA    A5P   FONTS. 


human  embryo  (after  Looget,  from  Huxley)*  The  placenta  begins  to  be 
formed  at  a  very  early  peritKl,  but  i»  distinctly  visible  about  the  third 
month.    Ita  structure  aud  cunueetious  with  the  fcetus  and  uterus  will  be 


Fio  96, 


tU 


ol 


€K. 


«m: 


understood  from  the  figures  in  the  text.     Fig.  97  shows  the  placenta  with 
the  umbilical  cord  or  funis  attached.     The  free  cut  end  of  the  latter  gbowB 


Pig,  97. 


UmbUtcfll  cord,  and  aul«r  xurrace  of  placfciu.    Thr  chorion  mud  unnlna  raised  fron 
ofcr-portion  of  pl»c«nt». 


the  two  arteries  and  oneveio,  of  which  the  funis  is  chiefly  conipojiHl.  The 
figure  shows  r)ne  of  those  knots  which  often  form  spontaneously.  The  next 
figure  (No.  98)  shows  a  i*ection  of  the  human  placenta  and  the  uteriue 
wall.  It  ift  (Sufficiently  explained  by  the  lettering.  The  larger  openings  , 
in  the  wall  of  the  uterus  are  the  so-calle<i  utrrine  jtimnten.  Whilst  ihe  h 
fcBtu»  18  in  utero  it  breathes  in  the  nhyif^l'>gienl  sense,  iu  other  word«»  it  H 
gets  its  blood  aerated  by  niean.s  of  tne  interchange  which  takes  place  be-  ^ 
tween  ita  blood  and  that  of  the  mother,  by  means,  at  first,  of  the  tufta  of 


THE   PLACENTA    AND    FUNIS. 


659 


tbechunoD,  auti  afterwardi*  by  those  of  die  placenta,  which  are  really  the 
lopnieiit  t>f  the  former.  Before  it  can  lead  au  indeptriilent  life  of  its 
J,  fvrtaiu  chaiigt's  must  take  place  io  its  lungs,  heuri,  ami  its  vaseular 
•wieru  must  be  fairly  dcvelopeil.  Tliepe  ehaugeB  will  be  better  uiider- 
MinA  when  we  speak  of  the  proofs*  of  live  birth.  At  present,  ihe  jMvint  we 
h»ye  tti  cunsider  is  this  :  Por  a  child  to  be  viuble^  in  other  words,  capable 
of  living  after  its  birth,  it  must  have  attained  a  certaia  decree  of  develop- 
oeDt  tu'  well  as  growth.     Intrauterine  lite  in  the  mammalia  is^,  in  fact,  a 

ries  of  halchinj^.  Just  nii  the  ejj^^  of  a  fowl  rcqnireri  warmth  lo  hatch 
younp  chick,  so  warmth  ia  retpiired  by  the  human  ovum,  to  hatch  the 
foturt?  man  [homo].  Hence  a  child  born  prematurely  rccpiires  more 
wtrmth  than  an  infant  born  at  full  time.  Htm^  soon  a  child  i.^  viable  ia 
not  a  riiailer  of  theory,  but  of  practice  or  experience.  We  have  already 
Vp*H?^  fiU>)  recorded  some  ca-*e*  of  infants  born  at  very  early  periods 
of  utcrfKgestation.  Seven  mouth.H'  children  and  those  boru  at  eight 
aioothit  are  *ufficiently  common.  The  cases  quoted  above  were  one  of  Dr. 
Mootgurnery's  at  Plymouth  TiOO  days),  living  til!  thirteen  VMan*.  The 
&aiouti  Jiinline  case^  o  monthn  and  21  days  [174  days].  One  by  Dr. 
Outrep<iii|  of  Baml>erg,  burn  at  6  nnnitha  [200  day.*],  living'  tilt  he  was 
II  years  old.  Another  Scotch  ca.««e  [Elder  of  Whitetbeirn'^  child],  at  five 
moalli*,  i*,  perhaps,  more  doubtful.    So   u  Dr.   Rodmau'd   case,     Mr. 


Fig.  98. 


B 


'^WUk<sl  cnnl;  B,  Chnrfon  ;  C,  Fcettil  ritii  neparnttnl  hj  proccMPS  of,  l>,  thi*  cnreriKiiu  docJdua ; 
E,  K,  O,  W«n  of  uterui.    ^AUer  Kcktr.    »Olh  wi'«k  of  pre^iiMUcr  } 

J*'»^rV  c*jij»e,  honv  at  6i  months,  weighed  only  1  lb.  13  oz.  fifty  day**  after 

. '^Ii-    II  wa*  then  only  14  inches  long,  and  the  head  measured  10  x  9,1 

Dr.  Barker  give.s  a  case  of  a  fcnmle  born  at  158  dnvH  i'y\  monlha), 

_'licd  I  Ib,^  m<'asnred  11  inches,  and  could  not  suck  pro]>erly  for  a 

did  not  walk  till  10  rnnnthH  old,  and  was  healthy,  though  small  at 

r<  of  age.     The  F'^rcnch  law  allow.«»  children  born  at  H  calendar 

(l^^O  days)  to  lje  vitible  and  legitimate.     The  Scutch  law  allows 

I    monthn,  or  168   daysi.     The  I'arliameut  of  Paris,  in   Cardinal 


BGO 


INFANT    VIABILITY. 


Richelieu's  ca«j,  decided  "  that  the  infant  at  5  monthB  possesseil  that  caj 

bilitv  of  living  to  the  ordinary  period  of  hamiin  existence,  which  the  law 
of  France  rectuired  for  es^tablishing  its  title  and  inheritance,"  The  gen- 
eral charactei-s  of  immature  children  are  given  at  page  617.  Dr  Guy 
gives  the  following  additional  casc^.  Mr.  Tliomson's  [quoted  by  Bee^k],  in 
which  a  5  months'  infant,  a.s  was  supposed,  lived  3J  honrs,  Christison's 
[evidence  in  the  Jardiue  case],  one  of  167  days  lived  8i  hours.  Bucholtz 
('*  Beitrage,"  ii,  104),  one  of  189  davs,  lived  2  days  atler  birth.  Kopp's 
(••  Jahrbiich;'iiiJ28),al  1 82  days,  lived  4i  days.  Fleishmann'i?("  Henke*8 
Zeit^chrift,"  vi,  12),  at  108  days,  survived  8  days.  Belloc  and  CapuroD 
wention  instances  of  children  surviving  at  6  and  61  months.  S^jme  other 
c*tse6  are  given  by  Beck  {foe.  cit.,  pp.  190-193)  and  Taylor  (he  nX,  250, 
etc.).  As  regard;^  the  English  law,  this  quej<tiou  of  tmbifiiy  docs  not  arise 
either  with  regard  to  inheritance  (tenancy  by  curte-^y)  nor  in  infanticide, 
nor  in  criniiual  abortion.  It  is  only  raised  as  a  sub-t^isue  in  castas  of  dls' 
puted  legitimac-y.  Although  this  j<ubject  will  be  briefly  considered  again, 
one  or  two  of  Dr.  Taylor's  cases  are  remarka!»le  erough  to  deserve  quota- 
tion. Thus  a  case  is  quoted  by  him  from  the  **  British  and  Foreign  Medico- 
Chirurgical  Review  "  (vol,  li,  p.  2*^6),  in  which  a  child  was  born  living  as 
early  as  the  4th  month  of  gestation.  Of  another,  in  which  M.  Maisoo- 
nenve  saw  an  infant  who  had  been  born  at  4^  months  in  the  membranea. 
On  opening  these,  2  J  hours  after  the  birth,  he  found  it  living  and  breathing. 
It  died  6  hours  alter.  Carter  (of  Richmond  j  saw  a  five  months*  foetus 
breathe,  and  heard  it  cry.  Other  cases  of  similar  early  births  by  Davies 
of  Hertford,  8my  the,  Ruuth,  Rittel,  Annan,  and  others,  are  mentioned  by 
the  same  authority.  (St'e  also  Dr.  Montgomery,  loe,  c(f.,  p.  513,  etc.)  The 
pructiful  conclusions  are  as  fidk>ws  : 

L  Children  born  at  seven  months,  eight  monlha,  and  intermediate 
peri«>ds  up  to  term,  not  only  may  live,  but  constantly  do  so, 

2.  Life  is  also  possible,  though  less  probable,  at  six  to  seven  mouths. 
A  few  survive. 

3.  Children  have  been  born  aliireas  early  as  four  to  five  months.  At 
the  latter  age,  or  a  few  days  more,  one  or  two  have  survive<l, 

4.  Although  from  the  first  moment  of  impregmition  the  ovum  is  a/ive, 
yet  previ(Uis  to  the  fifth  month  there  ie  no  p<ieaibilitv  (so  far  as  we  know) 
of  their  being  reared,  aud  before  six  or  seven  mouths  it  is  very  improba* 
ble. 

Having  thus  cleared  the  ground  of  some  difBculties,  we  proceed  to  tab- 
ulate the  principal  causes  of  what  we  may  call  natural  abortion  in  contra- 
distinction  to  erimianl  abortion.  These  are  well  stated  by  Dr,  Barnes  iu 
his  work  on  "  Obstetric  0|>eralious"  (p,  385,  Ut  ed.),  in  the  following 
table : 


Poisons  circulating 
in  the  mother's 
blood. 


Maternal  Caturs  of  Abortion. 

a.  Introduced  from  without:  as  fevers,  syphi- 
lis, various  gases,  lead,  copper,  etc. 

)?.  Products  of  morbid  artion  r  as  jaundir^, 
albuminuria,  carbonic  acid  from  as{jhyxU.  and 
in  the  moribund. 


II.  Diseases  degrad- 
ing the  mother's 
blood. 


Ausemiai  obstiDate  vomiting,  ovcr-lactatioo. 


CAUSES    OF    ABORTION. 


661 


III.  Diseases  disturbing  the  circulation  dyDamicallj  (QiechaDically)  :  as 
liver,  heart,  and  lung  disease. 


IV.  Closes  acting 

thmugh  the  ner- 
vi>us  system. 


Y.  Local  disease. 


a»  Some  nervous  diseases :  as  chorea,  etc. 

^.  Meutal  shuck. 

Y,  Diven^ioo  or  exhaustion  of  nerve-force :  as 
from  obstinate  vomiting. 

a.  Uterine  disease:  as  fibroid  tumors  (poly- 
pi), iuHammatiuns,  hypertrophy,  ctc.^  of  uterine 
miicoua  membrane. 

,5.  Mechanical  anomalies  :  as  retroversion, 
pressure  of  tumors  external  to,  uterus,  etc. 


VI.  Climacteric  abortion. 
VH.  Abortion  artificially  induced. 


B.   The  Fcdiil  Cnmr^  of  Abortion. 

L  Diseases  of  the  memhrmies  of  the  ovum,  primary  or  secondary  upon 
dtieaecs  of  the  maternal  structures  or  blood,  as : 

Fattv  degeneration  of  the  chorion  or  placenta. 

Hydatidifurm 

Intiammation,  congestion  "  " 

Apoplexy 

Fibrtjus  deposits  "  " 

il-  Diieafies  of  the  embryo  itself: 

a.  Malformation. 

^.  IttHamination  of  serous  merabraoeB. 

jr.  Disease}  of  nervous  system. 

9,  "  kidney,  liver,  etc. 

I.  Mechanical,  as  from  torsion  of  the  cord  or  funis. 

*u  ihort,  anything  causing  the  death  of  the  embryo.     The  causes  are 
T****  cnmpiicated,  arising  partly  from  the  maternal,  partly  from  ibeftvtal 
**'^*;  iuiH   it  IS  often  difficult  to  unravel  these,  or  to  discover  the  efficient 
y***?.    Abortion  haa  a  great  tendency  to  become  a  habif.    Whether  from 
••^Wifle,  or  prtnluced  artificially,  there  can  be   no  doubt  that  tbia  event 
P***^  ihe  previously  gravid  female   in  ronsiderable   danger.     In  other 
•**rti,  th*»  »»fi flier  the  periwl  at  which  the  uterus  ib  emptied  the  greater, 
'.»,  are  the  rij^ks.  We  need  not  seek  far  for  some  of  the  causes, 
ull  terra,  the  uterus  is  a  collection  of  povvertul  muscles,  able 
'-  *^uinict  firmly  upon  its  contents,  and  when  these  are  expelled,  up(m  its 
f*piog  and  blee<iing  vessels.    At  earlier  periods,  it^^  puwers  of  contraction 
f^  fur  more   Itmitefl,  and   hence   the  ri:*k>*   of  hajmorrhage  are  almoflt 
'^noitrly  greater,    liut  haemorrhage  is  not  the  only  rii^k  ;  the  gaping  sinuses 
^*^  «)«orb  all  sorts  of  gaseous  (volatile ),  liquiil  and  solid  poisons.    Henoe 
f)^  *t>roan  is  exposed  to  zymotic  and  septic  diseases  (fevers,  and  pyaemia, 
IRg^trBi  peritonitis,  etc.). 

j[^j^g«ice  we  strongly  urge  upon  young  medical  men.  and  indeed   upon 
^"^'eml  men  of  any  age, — 

•  -*•   Not  to  induce  premature  labor  or  abortion  without  the  fullest  con- 
^•^tioii  of  all  the  circom!<tauc<-^  of  the  case. 


LAW    OF   CEIMIl^AL    AB0BT109. 


Bt^in 


i.  ir  pooailiie,  te  get  » 

X  In  moj  oue  to  bare  tiie  fall 
niMfid  or  gnmnHaii. 

We  hare  koown  Hm  opermtioD  pefftknMd 

the  pelient. 


flOBH  #Bv  sBd  ezpeneoced 


wrida^  if  possabfe,  of 


m  of  cboTM, 
arbeiiirbeiie6i 


disetM,  pbUiis(i«r  aimI  the  Hhe,  when 

mu  io  a  far  wofw  ooodttioiD  after  the  operaiincu 

Aj  regards  rrnataa/  ohoirtiom^  u  is  jacdj  reckoned  a  fiiomy  in  Engliah 
law.  Tbe  lena  o&orfioa  ia,  medicallj,  UMiaJlT  luaited  lo  procunng  the 
ezpoJjioo  of  the  eooteiita  of  the  womb  hejvrt'lkc  nxUk  MaaiA  a/  ^ati&n^ 
The  law  makca  iio  Mch  dtniodioo  of  time.  If  a  vooiao  dies  afler  Che 
attempt,  the  criiae  k  usuaJJ  j  oooBidered  as  mnnler,  althoogh  the  aoeused 
nav  not  have  in«aiit  to  dcstroj  life.  The  law  was  thos  laid  down  by  Baron 
BnuDweU  lu  Htadimubler's  ca^,  LiTerpool  Winter  Amaes^  ll<58 :  *'  If  a 
maa^  fur  an  uulawful  parpoee,  iti»ed  a  daogeroos  instmnieBt^  or  medicine, 
or  other  means,  and  thereby  death  ensoed,  that  was  murder,  aJthough  he 
njight  not  have  intended  to  cause  deaths  althoogh  the  penon  dead  tutgbt 
have  couseiited  to  tbe  act  which  terminated  in  death,  and  atthiHigb  po^«i- 
hlf  be  might  very  much  regret  the  termination  that  had  taken  place 
cuutrarj  t<j  hi^  hupee  and  expectations.  This  was  wilful  murder.  The 
learned  caonj<el  for.  tbe  defence  had  thrown  on  the  judge  the  task  of  say- 
ing whether  the  case  could  he  reduced  to  man.<taughler.  There  was  such 
a  {K)«i»ibility,  but  to  adnpt  it  wouM,  he  thought,  be  to  run  counter  to  the 
evidence  given.  If  the  jury  should  be  of  opltiioo  thai  the  pri:«oner  used 
the  iostrumeut  not  with  auy  intention  to  denroy  life,  and  that  the  ii 
roent  was  not  a  dangerou.<»  one,  though  he  u^d  it  for  au  unlaivf'ul  pur 
that  would  reduce  the  crime  lo  manslaughter.  He  really  did  not  iluuk 
that  they  could  come  to  any  other  conclusion  than  that  the  instrument 
was  a  dangerous  one,  if  at  all  uj>ed.  Then,  if  it  were  so  u^  by  the 
pnwjner,  the  ca^  was  one  of  murder  ;  and  there  was  nothing  for  the  ca^ 
but  a  verdict  either  of  murder  or  acquittal.''  (Taylor,  /oc  cit.,  p.  18L) 
The  legal  relations  of  this  crime  have  been  exceedingly  well  put  by  Dr. 
Taylor  (loc.  cU.,  pp.  198-199,  etc.).  We  may,  however,  summarize  them 
as  follows ; 

The  nature  of  this  crime,  and  the  proofs  required  to  establish  it,  have 
been  more  explicitly  stated  than  fornieriy,in  the  statute  for  the  consolida- 
tion  of  the  criminal  law  (24  and  23  Vict., chap.  100,  §§  58  and  59).  By 
claUAo5H(in  attempts  to  procure  abortion »,  it  is  enacted  that  *' Every 
woman,  being  tnth  child,  who  with  intent  lo  procure  her  own  miscarriage, 
shHJl  uidawhilly  uilminister  to  herself  any  puii<ou,  or  other  utwiaiu  thinyt 
or  shall  uulaHluily  Uj^e  any  instrument,  or  other  means  whatsoever,  with 
like  intent,  aud  whosoever,  with  intent  to  procure  the  miscarriage  of  any 
woman,  whether  slu  be  or  be  not  with  child,  shall  unlawfully  administer, 
etc.,  shall  be  guilty  of  felony.*'  Thus  a  widow  woman,  called  Wurbot/,  was 
eonvicle<l  at  the  tJentral  Criminal  Court,  August,  1863,  as  au  accessory 
before  the  fuel  lo  the  felonious  using  by  one  Morgan  of  a  certain  instru- 
ment u|»on  hcre^i'ir  with  intent  to  procure  miHcarriage.  The  latter  portion 
oi  clause  ^)^  makes  it  immaterial  hu  fur  as  another  person  in  concerned, 
whether  the  \%«>mau  is,  or  is  not  with  child,  in  accordauee  with  the  decisioa' 
of  the  judges  iu  Jieg.  v.  GoodhaU  (1  Den.  C.  C,  p.  187)  and  R^ff.  v.  ^ood- 
ehild  (20.  <S  K.,p.  293 j.  Clause  69  is  to  the  following  effect :  **  Whosoever 
shall  unlawfully  !<upply  or  procure  any  poi^fon  or  other  noxiotu  thluy,  or  oriy 
instrument,  or  thinr^  wfuutsoei^er,  knowing  that  the  same  is  intended  to  be 
unlawfully  used,  or  employed  with  intent  to  procure  the  miscarriage  of 


MODES  or  ABORTtOir. 


hii 


AJikoo^i 


rwkmi  Ettnm,  wti  Bfwimt  Vi^iam.  mphgtd  m  a  OtmmU  Mmm- 
btcfin^andtberepemtcd  use  of  Tery  boC  aad  ¥tttj 
p^WMlMBdhere.  Bolh  these  mcunrw  OMiidljr 
it  M  AloMtl  Mlf^iTidcBi  ibat  excoMfe  Uoocfii^  auMl  be 
19  ttie  mommm^  Iwhb,  yet  MAonceaa  (**  Ohnnratiaoa  Mir  ki 
«ft  rAiLiMihiMfrt  det  FeMMs, '  Pans  16M*  F  1^)  i«bu»  tbe 
CM  of  t«i>  Pfta  «^  ««tt  adcly  «kIiTered,altboagh  ooe  bad  beeo  bM 
fem-«i^t  ttBiei  d«nag  ber  pwyiBf y,  and  ibe  oth^r  had  beeD  blooded 
no  MM  tboB  siaety  liflMs!  (Taidiev,  £>e.  ctCj  Otb«r  cajet  of  nmyer 
kiwi  ai«  kaowiB  io  ai'O^^nk  tioMo^  In  Mtcb  ewei  3roa  woold  find  amxiu  of 
1^  bill  (Tim,  teMb«r  ia  ibe  beotk  of  tbe  dbovs,  hodu  of  tbe  beadi,  or  an 
tb*  HKlWw  ttebfe*  or  tomt  oiber  flpst  wbei«  tbere  are  wperficial  miUL 
Akbosfb  ^  trace  e^  be  Ibeod  of  betbe,  tbe  &et  imgbl  be  esUblisbed 
bf  dbatvycoceof  emenoi.  Wowea  will  ofteo  take  eyUmordinarily  loeg 
«ilki^  nil  de—  bill,  tbrev  tbemaelrei  doinwIaiiB  or  out  of  windov,  or 
tabait  te  be  rollad  orer  and  orer,  to  be  laced  in  witb  cxtreeie  ttgbtoeas, 
or  cfva  te  be  tnuapled  itpoti  and  kieked  oo  tbe  abdoaaen,  ia  order  to  get 
rid  9i  tbetr  bvrdea.  Tardieu  ( "  Etode  M^ioo-I^le  lor  {'ATOftemeni^** 
|k  ST)  ■mtiPBB  tbe  IbUcmiDg  case,  io  wbteh  ooe  ecarcely  kaowv  wbetbcr 
MOBK 10  pity  tbe  wobhui  or  to  execntie  tbe  man  ( ?) :  to  tbe  Asixe  Conrt  of 
ibe  liotre-fofiNieare,  it  waii  proved  that  a  peasant,  vbo  bad  ledoped  bis 
aerraot^  and  wisbed  tu  make  her  Hlxirt,  rouuoted  oo  a  strong  bocve,  aod 

Sit  the  girl  oo  the  iaine  hun»e,  ttieti  giilhipcd  wildly  bitber  aod  thither, 
Kwiog  lier  down  on  the  ground  whilNt  iu  full  gallop,  aad  this  repeatedly. 
Uaving  tried  tiii^  twice  without  HUcoeM*,  he  conceited  tbe  horrible  idea  of 
aji{UyiDg  to  her  ttornach  bread  junt  taken  from  a  rery  hot  oren.  Tbt* 
mm  Till  £i&iled  like  the  furmer,  aud  the  pi>or  victim  gave  birth  to  a  Itriiig 
and  well-formed  child  at  U^rm.  ( Hrillauil-Laujardien^,  '*  De  rATortenent 
provoqu^,"  Pari«,  18G2,  p.  279.  j  Dr.  Guibttut,  io  1859,  quoted  tbe  eaae  of  j 
a  youug  lady  from  Muuich,  living  in  Culifuniia,  Becoming  pregnant,  abe 
wikhe<l  to  go  to  Muuioh  to  be  delivered.  In  crossing  tbe  Istbraiii  of 
Panama  she  wa8  subjected  to  a  railway  culH^iou,  In  consequence  of  this, 
lalwr  pains  set  io.  In  npiie  of  them  she  embarked  for  Portsmootb.  She 
bad  a  horrible  paaaage — with  fr«»h  accideut*.     In  spile  of  ih  »ins 

subsided  each  time.     8he  again  eniburked,  but  on  reaching  Par    ,  rom 

the  top  to  the  iHiltom  of  ih^f  hottd  Hiitirs!  Again  she  waaaeized  with  pains 
like  thase  of  labor.  .She  wa*  then  eight  mouthd  pregnant.  Next  djvy  she 
departed  for  Munich^  and  wan  not  cimHned  till  some  days  after  her  arrival 
iu  that  ciiy.  In  one  of  the  cajies  menlioned  by  Tardieo  there  was  a  swrt 
of  stays  mauufactured  and  worn  for  the  purpose  of  abortion,  whi<*h  only 
measured  sixty-two  ceutimetre«  (a  trifle  over  twenty-one  incheii),  whilst 
toward  the  end  of  the  «ixth  month  the  abdomen  of  a  pregnant  wonuiu 
would  meat^ure  from  eighty  to  ninety-nine  eentimetrea  (31  i  to  39  incbei). 
II.  Amongst  the  tvholic  or  (ibortijacifnt  drugs  which  are  u^ed  by  tboao 
who  wish  to  procure  aburtion,  we  might  include  alma«t  every  known  par- 
gative,  and  almost  every  drug  or  herb  which  ho^  medicinal  properties. 
The  following  commonly  u;^  aubstancei^,  squills,  sarsaparilla,  guauu  ~ 
a/oe<r,  balm  [melis^a],  horehound  [marrubiura  vulgare},  camomiie,  m 
woodf  eaffruu,  borax^  roatricaria  [the  commou  camomile],  mu^wort  rtfflA*^' 
misia  vulgaris],  and  juuiper,  are  considered  by  Tardieu,  Teichmeyer,  Boelh 
ner,  Foder6,  and  others,  to  be  perlectly  httrmlei«s  iu  thia  respect*  We 
think,  however,  that  those  marked  in  italics  may  sometimes  poeeees  indi* 
rect  ccIhjHc  pro(>ertie9.  All  poi«on8  may  act  thus,  but  to  produce  this 
effect  they  must  be  given  in  doses  almost  neoeasarily  fatal.  For  the 
symptoms,  properties,  and  testa  of  these,  referenoe  must  be  made  to  tbe 
first  part  of  thii^  w  ork.     Arsenic,  mercury,  sulphate  of  copper,  cantharidea, 


66G 


MODES   OF    ABORTION. 


306  mch  cases  were  n?fK>rte{l  in  {he  Madras  Presidency.  150  oflewlfri 
were  Hpprehendetl,  and  119  <if  ihem  convicted.  In  America,  an  e%inn 
of  t'ottmnvotid  is  ll^'ed  for  mmUiT  purposes.  Aden  rocewio^a  and  b'nj\lall$ 
are  reported  to  be  abortilUcieiiU^. 

III.  A  Variety  of  htdrumcHts  and  3fechanical  3fmn9  hwe  been  ujyd  h 
Procure  Abortion. — A  {guarded  Gillette  (or  trocar  and  eatiula)  is  \\w  fAitA^ 
B8  pointed  sticks  ami  wooilen  skewers  are  perhaps  the  gimpWL  ll 
scurccly  seems  necessary  to  dwell  upon  this  subject,  except  to  rfnark 
thnl  iu  ca^es  of  this  kind  there  will  frequeiitly  be  traces  of  violence 
found  on  the  ovum  or  t<rtu.«,  and  iu  the  utcnij!  or  other  organs  uf  the 
woTuun.  Most  friglittVd  iivjuries  have  been  intiicted  by  these  niraw  it) 
the  hands  of  iguonint  or  ra^h  manipulator?,  and  the  death  of  the  womb 
is  by  no  means  an  uncommon  event.  One  or  two  of  the  ilJustrnfive  casfs 
will  phow  the  lesions  we  may  expect  to  find.  Syringes,  and  lung  tubrt 
attached  to  reservoirs  of  Mater  are  somewhat  favorite  means,  as  tfilcrabk 
safe,  and  leaving  no  marks  except  those  common  to  all  casci*  of  ahortiuD. 
Tlic  ut^e  of  sponge-tents,  laminjiria  tent;*,  and  pe>*sarie9  of  %*ariou*  kinds  i» 
not  very  utjcmnmon.  Ualvanism,  whilst  it  sometimes  guccce<ls«,  liaa  rhu*- 
limes  entirely  failed.  A  hmg  knitting-needle  has  bt^n  used.  The  auihon 
have  seen  steel  claws  intended  to  he  worn  on  the  fingers,  so  as  <  it  i*  p^ 
Slimed  J  to  peoeirale  the  membranes,  or  fwrhaps  so  to  tear  tJie  eadiryo  H 
to  insure  its  death.  The  human  ha tid  al one  has  sometimes  bivn  the  io- 
strum  en  t,  atjd,  horrible  as  it  mny  seem,  has  been  iise<J  with  such  vi(»lfiM* 
as  even  tty  drag  away  the  intestines.  Ilureau  de  Viileneuvc  ni 
singular  instrument  used  by  the  Chinese  (**  Theses  de  Paris,"  1"' 
which  is  best  described  in  his  own  words  (we  quote  from  Tardieu,  J'xri\ 
p.  54): 

"  Je  ne  puis  nianquer  de  d^^crire  un  in.'itrument  oomm^  ArrwBon.t* 
ploy4?  par  la  lubricit*!^  des  maris,  et  dont  I'usage  amene  les  plus  >IM"^ 
rabies  r^sultats,  car  il  est  une  cause  tr^s-frequente  d'avortemeut-  n^' 
nactrm  pcuKie  ans^erinie  b  rev  in  re  Imrba  confectus  eat.  Hsec  barha  [i»*flW 
caule  evulsa,  iu  annulus  barbillnts  birsutas  extrinsecus  pra?beulei*  volniaj". 
AdduIo  elauso,  fila  xylina  argenlo  texta  singulain  barbillara  ah  Alii* 
sejjarant.  Iiistrumentum  tunc  simile  est  niillo  aut  collari  elavia  fr(«{i« 
munilo.  Hie  aunulus  liiivutus  in  suico,  qui  glandem  el  pni'pwttuffl 
interjacet,  iuseretur.  Frictiones  per  cnitum  productiu  magnum  *  "•'■-'" 
membrame  vaginalis  turgorem,  ac  simul  hujus  cunicuii  ctiar 
tarn  maritis  salaeibus  quicritatam  afftvrunt.     D'apres  les  con-    '  "■ 

donne's  aux  jeunes  epoux,  cet  iurtlnimcnt  ne  doit  pas  Olreesi  -'\^ 

la  temme  est  enceinte,  car  hi  tnrgescence  de  la  muqueuse  aiueu*;  la4'.H'i»' 
ment  des  h^morrhagies  nuisiblef*  an  produit  de  )a  conception.  Mat.s«>'** 
trairement  a  ce  siugulier  avis,  ce  moyen  est  frequemroenl  employ^  |W 
prod ui re  ravortement  dans  un  but  coupable/* 

The  uterine  mrmd  has  been  known  to  cause  abortion,  when  U!*d  ifl  ^ 
ignorance  of  pregnancy.     Young  medical  men  should  be  cartful  never  •■ 
use  the  uterine  souud  without  first  ascertaining  that  the  woin:-  -  ""^ 
pregnant.     Dr.  Taylor  also  cautions  again!»t  the  use  of  th«»  xy 
women  who  are  enceinte.     Irt  Beg.  v.   Grijjin  and   Venn  (Kxeor 
Assizes,  1854 ),  the  accusc<l,  IVwri,  a  surgeon,  was  charged  with  fidoul 
using  an  instrument  with   the   intent  to  procure  the  misr  . 
prosecutrix.     The  defence  was  a  lingular  one,  namely,  that  \ 
a  speculum,  once  in  a  coppice,  and  once  in  a  field,  toascprtaii 
were  pregnant  or  not.     Though  acquitted,  Dr,  Taylor  justly  f  < 
medical  practitioners,  in  the  lawful  exeret^  of  their  prof«B»ioii,  <!«  ^ 


ilv  use  a  ppeciilum  in  open  fieldiJ,  etc.,  for  the  piirp>se  namwl,  and 

well-known  Itttt  llmt  a  speculum  is  not  required  for  determining  tlie 

uu  of  prejrnancy  at  all.     riiis  ciL^e  eonvevs  a  ^lertrmscautiou  t<i  iiifim- 

Jbta  uf  \Ui*  nie4Jical  profes*iion,"     We  thiuk.  however,  that  the  speculum 

be  CAUtiouiiiy  us*ed  without  any  fair  of  abortion. 

Duties  of  Medical  Experts  in  Qise^  of  Su^pedtd  Abortion. 

ifou  raay  have  to  examine  either  the  living  woman  or  the  body  of  a 
m\t.  Unless  examination  be  made  within  a  few  days,  or,  at  furthest,* 
ihrre  weeks,  it  may  be  difficult  to  find  any  proafH  of  delivery  at  all. 
fi'S  610  to  62.'>,  Ibr  the  signs  of  pre^'nancy  and  of  recent  delivery  in 
id  and  living.)  At  very  early  neriods  of  utero-gestation  all  ibe 
even  io  the  dead  body,  except,  ]>erhupj',  the  fioding  ot  corpora  lutea, 
'oroftt  ceirpiw  hitetim»  will  be  very  t^li^iht.  Dr.  Sbortt  mentions  in  the 
Irving— "  A  relaxed  condition  of  the  vulva  and  passages,  fiatuloUBue^  of 
llit  u»  uteri,  atid  in  the  early  stage  the  presence  of  the  lochial  secretion, 
"  A  white  mucous  secretion  in  later  cases,  with  that  characteristic 
41  cnmnion  tt>  women  in  the  puerperal  state.  The  distension  of 
*l«»  flow  of  milk  uu  pressure,  or  tlie  fulness  and  knotty  feeling  in 
for*  short  time  after,  are  al.^o  observable  ;  whilst  the  general  aniemie 
imncc  and  sunken  eyes  will  be  noticed  by  the  ohijMt'rvant  physician, 
thfttanding  the  darkitet^  of  eompk'xion  of  the  patient  (he  i:<  s^peuking 
ittirhH)(i),  There  wa.s  aUo  that  peculiar  excitement  of  the  puliie,  with 
j4grin?g»  of  skin,  invariably  present  in  such  cases.  In  niuUiparous  women 
wa*  found  more  patulou;*,  resembling  a  loose^  fiiibby  bag,  and 
r&is  not  diHcernibte;  but  in  primipHr^e  the  iis,  although  patulous 
II  extent,  Htill  had  the  neck  protuberunl."*  A  i^pcuium  will  be 
flee  the  lacerations  in  the  o:^  uteri  ;  and  they  may  be  felt  by  the 
the  examiner.  In  mnkiug  a  pot^t  mortem^  he  verif  careful  how  you 
and  lay  open  the  titenm^  as  counsel  or  opposing  medical  witnesses 
jggeett  thai  you  yourself  produced  the  wound.  The  specimen  should 
iuch  n  charge.  Makf,  clear  note«,  with  meajniremeulSy  at  the  time.  It 
alwayi)  potssible  to  diiitiiiguij^h  the  results  of  violence  from  natural 
»utJiueous  ruptures.  But  it  is  generally  easy  to  do  so  in  the  dead 
For  the  characters  of  natural  or  spontaneous  ruptures  of  the 
the  chapter  on  that  subject  in  Ban»e«'s  "Obstetric  Of>eration8;' 
t.  320-^'i75.  Peritonitis,  when  the  result  of  violence,  iri  generally 
liwd  than  when  it  i.*,  «o  to  gpeak^sponlaneoua  in  piieqteral  cases 
The  mnrh  for  which  you  will  look,  e.>*pe<rially  in  the  dead  body, 
of  pundurfi*,  laccraiimn^  and  incittioni*  in  the  utenn-  and  contiguous 
Thi"»e,  particularly  the  punctures,  are  often  multiple.  **  11© 
rae  three  or  four  limes,"  is  a  ii>ual  rennirk  of  the  viclira.  It  ia 
pot  difficult  to  distinguish  wouud.^  made  before  death,  because  these 
ciciitrizcd  or  be  coated  with  lymph,  or  pus,  or  bUmd,  (See  the 
on  Wcninds.)  The  hist*»ry  of  the  case  will  womelimea  help  us. 
of  the  uterus,  when  it  occurs  sfiontaneously,  there  is  usually  a 
itiuu  of  {Miius.     Artiticial  injuries,  on  the  other  hand,  bring  on 


to 


of 


loeal 


koie 


Luru 


ni  may  have  U)  report  on  substances  expelled  from  the  uterus,  and 
on  IxMiding  and  articles  of  wearing  apparel. 

the  heading  of  Concealme?it  of  Birth,  we  shall  fneotion  some  of 
litiuo^  likely  to  be  coufoundcni  with  pregnancy  and  its  products. 


of  ihiM  tymptoBS  miiy  he  •imulaied  by  roentlrunlion.    See  reniftrk*  bj 
flof ,  toe  «t/. 


668 


ILLUSTRATIVE    CASKS. 


The  sudden  niptiire  of  an  ovarian  cyst,  hjdalids  of  the  uteru?,  mnlw, 
fibroids,  and  same  other  condiLion?!,  can  only  be  mentioned  here.  Allenlmn 
to  the  cimractcrs  of  the  ovum,  given  at  pp.  565  and  657,  will  save  jfou 
from  mistaking  blttod-clots,  and  the  like,  for  a  fa'tns.  It  does  not  turn 
possible  to  diatinguijih  the  liquor  amnii  (nomnionly  cttlle<i  *'  the  ioi/m"| 
from  other  weak  5'okiti<in9  of  albmuen.  (See  "  Aiinales  d'Hvgiea»',"etc., 
1852,  2,  p.  414;  ibid.,  185(i,  1,  p.  156;  and  Tardieni,  ioe.  eit.]  p.  J)0.)  lU 
od<ir  18  Ufjually  sperinatir,  Its  eohir  of  a  lemon-yellow,  or  slightly  gre€niili, 
rarely  brown,  or  red  from  admixture  of  blood.  It  general  I  ?  defxwit*  no 
Standing  a  cheeky,  yellowish  s^ub^stniJce,  occas^ionally  of  u  darker  verrnilinn 
tint.  It  is  alkaline,  contains  chlon<les,  and  iU  albumen  varies  with  the 
period  of  gestation  from  10.77  per  cent,  at  the  fourth  months  to  7,67  pff 
cent,  at  the  tilth  month,  6,67  at  the  sixth  month,  and  only  0.82  at  llninioth 
raonlh.  The  8]>eeific  gravity  is  about  1008,  but  varies  considerably,  hi 
early  periods  of  gestation  it  n)ntain8  sugar.  At  full  term  many  ohierW* 
have  found  urea.     Scherer  gives  the  following  analyses: 


Water, 
Solide, 

Albumen  nnd  muctis, 
Exlmoiive^, 
Suits,  . 


975.  i*4 
21  16 


At  Term, 

901.474 

9.6:£t{ 


7(W 


The  stains  of  this  substance  slightly  stiffen  linen,  etc,  Hobin  aud  T«^ 
dieu  ('*  Annale.^  d'Hygit^ne/*  etc.,  2me  s^rie,  t.  liii,  p.  434,  Paris  IW 
show  that  fwial  hairs  may  sometimes  be  found  on  clothes  thus  stdoed, 
along  with  much  pavement  epithelium,  having  granular  nuclei. 

The  foehifif  disciiarges,  or  green  waters,  or  cleanings,  are  sure  toomttW 
blood,  and  the  remains  of  decidua,  along  with  vaginal  epithelium.  Tbrt 
have  an  odor  "sui  generis." 

III.  You  may  have  to  report  on  instruments  found  in  the  p<i8*e!4iiin  m 
the  accused,  and  on  drugs,  supposed  to  be  the  naeans  used  by  th«  crimio*!' 
The  remarks  we  have  made  on  the  means  of  inducing  premature  \ti^ 
will,  we  hope,  aid  you  in  drawing  your  coaclusioiis. 

JUtxdradxve  Case», 

Case  I.^ — Hincho  Female^ Abortion  bv  Met^hnnical  Violence.  (Df.Sbaftl, 

loc.  cit.) 

Dr.  Shortt  examined  the  body,  and  found  the  base  (or  fundus)  ff*^ 

uterus  perforated  in  three  places. 

Case  II. — Durham  Amzes,  1781.     Qttokd  Z^y  Beck.     Ahoriirm  pr>^«f^ 
by  Wooden  Skewer». 

Margaret  Tinckler  was  indicted  for  the  murder  of  Janet  ' 
inserting  pieces  of  wood  into  her  womb.     Deceased  took  to  ; 
2d  of  July,  and  from  that  period  said  she  must  die.     She  died  nti  ih*j 
of  the  month.     The  dying  woman  declared  she  was  pregumit  *l 
or  six  months  by  a  married  man.     She  went  to  the  prisoner,  a 
who  took  her  round  the  waist  and  violently  shook  her  five  or  ail 
and  tossed  her  up  and  down,  three  davs  before  she  was  dclivervd. 
child  was  born  alive,  but  died  instantly,  on  the  10th  of  July.     Theit" 
no  marks  of  violence  oo  the  child.     On  opening  the  womb*  of  the 
there  were  two  holes,  caused  by  wooden  skewers  1 


tfTii  iLLVsrK\rivs  cases. 

iuhfostMl.  Milk  wrt*  tvMui.l  '.«  :he  ?:*--**  brvai^t?.  A  domiciliaiT  ri«t  le- 
vi-ahil  ii  imrkot  ot*  »lrv  SttI^  r\-;.»LT:t\i  i>.»;:itacieiit8),  a  siileue,  iwo  knii- 
liii)(  ihM'tlIrs,  hih)  two  silvor  uuri-o  >.;ui>l<.  oue  of  which  wad  atlmittcd 
to  huvo  Ihvii  usisl.  Wv>rttA,\\L  sa.'f  ^  :u  aud  mugwort  had  preTiuu«Ij 
lu'fit  ad  til  ..)^U'I^^1. 

Cacjk  Vlll. — .-IV.'-ri-vH  ^'rv:'..  v:'  5v  Mi'i'r'.'ittQus  with  a  Kniiting-needtt^ 

Tanliou'*  twenty  slxrh  .'^xikTVAVv^n.  l'*  i  vVtober  3d  Tanlieu  wa?  a^ked 
to  jseo  a  totna'.o  prs^ruT.  w'ro  aN»r:td  .»:i  Si^ptomber  l»l,  by  the  aid  of  a 
inidwitV.  Tru*  wiiiwirV  ha  i  stvi'ral  t:-.u*s  iistsi  a  knit  ting-needle.  Tar- 
dii-u  >:ili  r'-.i:id  sic^is  o:"  i.  !:vory.  .^:*  tuo:riti<.  but  not  of  any  puncture. 
The  a:^^y.'3irau.v#  won?,  hv^wv-wr.  ^v::>i*:o:it  with  the  woman's  statenienL 

CA*t  IX. — -1>.  T.'o-j  r:ri>.;*i--- :*  :.*  1 5  M --rh-i,  b'/  Violent  Means — Perforation 

.:••:•  11./*;'      /V.r*A. 

T:.  -  L-i  T:l^l:t;l'^  ihir.y -</vou:b    vM-k*.  :\ij«1    i?    taken  fn»m   Devergie. 

M  .-  -  rf .  a|^s-»l  twt-Mty "ix.  prv';;n.\-:  4v  months,  consulted  an  offieierde 

hi  .••■  i*.  !•>  A.M..  .V.X  Fihuirv  '1\\\\,  l< >■'.  wirh  all  the  appearances  of  good 
h--!»  "...  The  -la-u'  dny.  :i:  4  r.M..  >hi'  t«.^»k  a  bath,  another  the  next  day, 
a:  ]1  A.M..  ri-ji  :  •vv.inl'i  'J  r.M.  un.lorwoni  an  (tiK'ration.  Thirty  hours 
a^.rr  -'•.-  ii-i.  .>ri  :he  ovouin^  ot'  tbo  *Jt»:!r  At  the  jMist-mortem,  tfie  neck 
of  ih-  w  .:n'i  wA-i  latvr.it^^i :  and  in  it.-*  tundu-j  thore  was  an  opening  4  to 5 
ctij:i'ij^;!v*  f  11  to  2  inohtv*  loni:.  in  \\h\A\  wore  fr'.ginent*  of  placenta, 
lu  tfi-.-  i^nT'inrrjoi  wa.-»  a  va^t  quantity  ol*  blv»nd,  aud  signs  of  comnieuc- 
iu^'  ]*eri:Mn:ti.*. 

Ca*e  X. — Ah-frfi.\n  h'l  \'l,\\'ut  }ffin* — U'imm/-*  0/ the  Uterwf  and  Internal 

I  'i-ir  A  r**'ru — Kit : /  ILrm <  1  rriuuj*'. 

Tjii- i-j  Tarl;  u'-  f.«r:if:h  i':i>.\  Takof.  r'r\M»i  l>r.  U:iynard,  "  Amorican 
Journal  •>:  M  'li  -ul  S  ;,n.'  ■*."  l'i'«:\  p.  77.  flu-  il.vt':isi>d.  ajfod  thirty-six, 
wa-  -Ix  m-. :.:::-  i.r-_':;:i::r.  Sij.-  wi'ii:  [.>  ;i  .|'.i;i.-k.  \\\v^  t»}>erate<l.  Slie  die<i 
in  tw-ivv  h-.'jr-.  F-mr  ':ir_',o:i<  \w\.U  ilu'  n.^-si-iiiorti'rn.  The  body  was 
blj-'lN:--,  th-  ar»l.i:n:u;il  i';ivi:y  tilUti  with  bl.».iil.  p:irtly  roajrulated.  The 
pi-'»:ri'/r  wail  •,{  tfi-  iittru-:  h».i  an  ojvniMi:.  the  ;»ize  of  a  common  sound, 
wiii«;:i  «-xi»n'i'-.l  iri*..  the  ri^'lit  intenuil  iliav*  artery,  which  was  perforated 
ii»-ur  it-  ori:.';rj :  :h.-  f»p»»iiin::  in  th«'  vos<ol  would  a«lmit  a  go<)se«iuill. 
Tijp-«-  <.th«-r  \t\-i''  jr—  f'xi-'TtMl  in  tlie  i::i'rn^,  no:irly  in  the  .<ame  direction. 
A  pp/b«r  intr.'l;'  »1  |,y  rli-  v;i-in:»  oa-ilv  t'.)ll.«\vt.'tl  their  din^ction.  Xonc 
oJ  tl.<-i'  hri'l  {;.ri''r;ir.'d  thi*  ovum,  riio  nioiiibnines  won»  intact,  and  so 
wa-  *A  '-'rjr-*:  rli»'  J'lf-'rj-. 

Further  il/>i.tf,,t,,.'  t^tty.^  will  Iv  tonn  1  in  RM-k.  Taylor,  and  Tanlieu. 
Tr.v  !;iV«T  ;;iv»-  ii'irii'-pm- rit***?!  ot' abortion  t'rorn  inioclions  into  the  uterus. 
A  '-iri'^rj.  »-;i-<:  .\,,.  (]  i^  t|,j|t  of  a  w.>tn:in  intrinlnciny:  a  needle  into  her 
w»riil».  arj'i  n-zt  \n:\\vj:  ahlf  t,i  withdraw  it.  it  svi  up  an  absc*e.<s  in  perineo, 
and  w.'i-  i\\'r\MXTui\  tV'im  this  some  weeks  after.  She  rei^overetl,  which  was 
ni'iH:  than  -h»r  had  a  ri«:ht  to  expect. 

Ill  (.'a-«-  .>1,  a  brutal  hu-ban«l.  to  make  hi-*  wife,  who  was  seven  months 
pnL'naiit,  abort,  artually  tore  away  throuiih  a  tour-inch  rent  of  the  vagina 
ami  uti-Tus,  not  only  part  t)f  the  uterus,  but  nearly  all  the  womanV  small 
int«>tin«'s.  The  child  was  found  bt»tween  her  lej:-?,  aud  had  evidently 
breathe*!.  In  another  civte  1  N'o.  ;VJ,  of  Taniieu's),  the  vulva,  perineum, 
vagina,  uterus,  urethra,  and   rectum,  had  all  beou  cut  or  dragged  away 


$n 


KBSPIRATrON    A3ri>   CIRCULATION. 


tumor  noted,  as  well  u  its  feel,  and  other  pbrsical  st^a.  No  garment 
•hould  cover  the  alKlorneu  iu  any  ca^  of  difficulty.  Had  thi?  rule  t>eeo 
observed,  the  chastity  "f  Lady  Flora  Uastiu^^  had  not  been  impugned  ; 
(3)  All  the  circumstaDced  of  the  cao^e  should  be  anted  aod  duly  i^tiiuaied 
— the  age,  general  appearanre,  appearances  of  brea^^t^,  abdominal  and 
uterine  iijmptom?,  particularly  the  iiize  and  dimension:^  of  the  uterus,  the 
state  of  the  pube,  nature  of  the  discharge!*,  condition  of  the  vagina,  and 
external  genitals*,  etc.  A  knowledge  of  your  jirofeasiou,  careful  examiua- 
tiou,  and  strict  regard  to  truth  will  geuerally  lead  you  right.  In  a 
doubtful  case,  if  pregnancy  be  pleaded,  report  the  doubt,  aod  ask  for 
exten«(ioo  of  time. 

In  caACs  of  ^uppof^  delivery,  if  really  doubtful,  it  would  seem  right  to 
give  the  accused  the  benefit  of  the  doubt.  Do  not  a^unie  more  than  you 
know.     Keep  facts  and  opinions  separate. 

Proof «  of  Live  Birth  in  relation  to  Child-Murder  mid  Hrirnhip. 

jfore  considering  the  subject  of  cbild-murder,  it  is  necessary  to  make 
le  preliminary  explanations  in  regard  to  the  changes  in  circulation  and 
respiration  which  take  place  at  birth  or  soon  after,  aud  to  mention  the 
principal  differencess  between  the  fuetus  in  uteroand  the  child  who  has  freely 
respired,  and  is  severed  from  its  mother. 

Preliminary  Remarks  on  Circulation  and  Respiration. 

You  will  remember  that  the  thorax  or  chest  is  chiefly  occupied  with  thi 
heart  and  lungs.  Fig.  99  shows  the  relation  of  these  to  one  Another,  to 
the  windpipe,  and  to  the  large  bloodvessels.  17  is  the  windpipe  or  iracheji, 
dividing  into  18  and  ly,  the  right  aud  left  bronchus,  almost  concealed  by 

Fhi.  99. 


'^¥ 


tlie  bloodvessels.  1  is  the  right  ventricle  (»f  the  heart,  giving  o(f  5,  th€» 
pulmonary  artery,  dividing  into  6  and  7,  the  right  and  left  pulmonary 
arteries;  9  is  the  aorta,  sh<»wing  the  first  and  ^coud  portions  of  its  aruh ; 
13  an<l  15  arc  the  right  and  left  caroti<l  arteries;  11  is  the  innominate 
artery;  1*2  and  14  the  innominate  veins  of  right  and  left  side;  Hi  th» 
brouchial  veins;  10  the  superi4jr  vena  ctiva;  the  iuteroal  jugular  veil 


ADULT    CIRCDLATION. 


673 


by  the  side  of  the  carotid  nrtcriea;  20,  20»are  right  and  left  pul- 

veiUB;  21,22,  23,  the  lobes  of  the  right  lung;  24  aud  25,  those  of 

lung.     The  rt'lalions  of  the^e  parta  to  each  other  are  sfaowu  by  the 

MsciioD  of  the  thorax  (Fig.  lOU).    The  letters  refer  as  follows: 


Fio.  100. 


fV? 


^^«r<^. 


,~xWV*M 


'm^ 


V 


dorsal  vertebra,  in'?lo!ing  aseclion  of  the  spina!  cord  ;  R  V  is  the 
'enlricle  of  the  hetirt ;  R  A,  its  right  auricle;  PA,  the  pulmonary 
7;  A,  the  aorta;  C,  tho  vt^nn  cava  superior,     1  is  the  uiil«?rior  medi- 
;  2  ftiid  Zf  the  Iriaugularis  stern i  muscles  aud  internal  mammary 


Flu.  101, 


'^At 


and  5,  the  phreoic  nerves ;  i'\  pneimiofragtric   oervefl ;  7,  the 
;  8,  vena  nzygos  major  ;  'J,  deareudiiig  aurta,  llioracic  diict  close 

pathetic  nerves. 
art  of  an  adult,  and  of  a  child  who  hus  broiuhid  for  some  time 

the  mother,  cor>«i.Ht«  of /«wr  rhtttnbtrSf  all  aepanite  from  each 
to  fapeak  mort  properly,  of  two  hearts — a  right  or  pulmonary 


Kvmi 


frum 


674 


ADULT    CIRCDLATION. 


heart,  com^iMting  of  two  chambers,  the  right  aurkk  or  upper  chamh<»r.  inf.i 
which  outer  the  superior  ami  inferior  veiiu  cava,  rifturniug  th«  l' 
the  lieuil  iiud  upfnT  extreiwiUes,  ami  from  the  trunk  ami  lower  •  \ 
re!*jiet*lively,  uhifh  <ij>ens  l»y  mt^aii!*  of  the  {rirnffp'td  valve^  T,,  in  Fiir.  J<ll, 
into  the  right  ventrieie,  or  lower  chamber,  from  which  the  blrMMl  ii*pumpd 
by  the  puhuunary  artery  all  over  the  lungs.     The  openiog  of  thi*,  P,  i>  fllw 

guarded  bv  three  semilunar  or  pi^finntd 
^'"-  '^'-  valves,     'f he  blood  returning  from  th« 

f^  lung^  flows  into  the  left  auridf,  orupf«r 

chamber  of  the  left  or  in/itcmic  AmH, 
through  the  pulmonary  veins  (thritprti' 
iug  is  sometimes  single,  ^4)riK!Utnai 
double)"  from  thence  it  IIo\v>  iliruugfc 
M,  ihe  mitral  or  bicuspid  orifift,  iuw 
the  left  veotricle  or  lower  clmmlwr  at 
the  left  heart,  which  pumps  it  bvHieaw 
T  If   V  V  ^^       ^'     of  the  aorta  all  over  the  bo'ly  (etceft 

r  f  AN:^      *J     the  lung;*).     The  orifice  of  the  aofttii 

guarded  by  a  triple  valve  lA),  calW 
atirtic,  sigmoid,  or  semilunar  v«iv« 
All  ihese  valves  are  nearly  oo  tlnpsiiw 
level,  as  seen  in  Fig.  101.  (Uuforto* 
Dutely  thLii  figure  \a  reveriv^d  as  to  nght 
^     ,j  and  left.) 

Y  j  j    I  The  course  of  the  blooH  in  the  «AJl 

y    11    I  and  indepeudcut  child  18  tbewfow* 

^  M    t  follows: 


t^-.''i 


t 


V 


8 


Left  ventricle  to  oorta,  nftrin  to 
head  and  neck,  ami  upf>er  i 
(thiiH,bhiud  returns  by  r<?na**/) 
to  ri(/fit  nuricft),  and  trunk  and  ln#*f 
extremities,  and,  in  fact,  all  over  twif 
except  lungs.  The  blood  from  the bw^ 
extieniities  and  trunk  returns  by 
of  the  vena  cava  inftrior  to  the  HI 
AURICLE  where  it  meeLi  the  blood  fi 
upper  extremities  and  head,  etr 
turned  by  r^na  cava  superior .  Bl 
goes  from  right  auricle,  through  thicusi»ii>  valve,  to  ttir.HT  VB>' 
CLE,  and  Is  thence  pumped  through  pulmonary  orUn/  into  the  (fig 
left)  lunfjH,  From  llic^e  it  returns  (when  aerated)  thn>ngh  the^iJi 
Veins  into  the  left  At'HlCLE.and  piis^s,  by  nieaus  of  the  miinil  ml 
the  LEFT  VENTHKXE,  whcre  we  first  met  with  it,  Tljere  an*  5*'>m<» 
liarlties  in  the  cerebral,  pulmonary,  renal,  hepatic,  and  im 
lions,  and  in  thai  of  the  heart  itself,  for  which  we  mu.«t  refer  \ 
on  physiology  (  Dr.  Crtrpenter's,  Kirke's,  Huxley's,  Buuuett'e,  l>aJto«i 
other  more  recent  works  j.  These  do  not,  however,  artect  ihegeneml 
of  what  is  called  the  adult  circulation.  The  only  pecuUantittt  m 
mention  are,  that — • 

Ycnons  or  denxygenaifd  blood  is  met  with  in  the  piilmonftiy  ttrtm>,t*j 
arterial  or  oxygenated  blond  in  the  pulmonary  veifui.     There  is,  huwewf^. 
no  mixture  of  the*ie   two  kinds  of  bloo<l.     lu  the  ffrlal  circuUtiuu 
fa'tal   heart   this  admixture,  however,  does  take  plnce,  and  thtc 
course  of  this  circulation  will  be  best  understood  liy  a  aircful  ri'fttreooe 


076 


FATAL  cimcrLATioy. 


tw 


cbe 


and 


tke  MfMrtV  «fiM  CM  ID  tkm  bioht  acvicul  TIus  bfoedL  lwn€i»r,  iloci 
not  pan,  Uk^  thni  tsummg  tnm  cIm  placcntk,  tknH^  the  imaMai  ofmk^ 
iMlgMitifsii^t on inco tb« kioiit rxwrwaoM dlki^  hcAit, tiii«Qgb  Ike 
^wiyirf  mUm  (T  in  Fig.  101).  Tlie  BtaBTTEsrtmcLE  pampi  it  by  mwmm 
of  tAe  fmim&natj  artery  tovArds  th«  loB^  but  tiwy  cmn  l«k«  oolj  m 
nwU  fmn  of  it — diat  wm$X\.  pan  we  iuiTe  almdj  foHowol  in  iu  rmnae — 
tlia  |rc*lrr  |»n  goci  ihroiurfi  tli€  dmdtmM mrienmmB  <7  in  Fig.  Ui3  u  [kiKMni 
<Mi  UM  Ci»ociueDl  u  ibe  oactfiM  BMtUH^  froni  tbc  ■ftme  af  it»  diMorererJ 
iBto  ibe  ttyrfd,  and  frtjm  this  u  dcaonMlt,  mking  viib  a  partioB  of  tbe  bkwd 

6oa  tbe  leA  reolrkle  (wblcb  haa  aot  gone  lo  ibe  bead.  ei<-.\  \r  '^ V 

■ad  loarer  pxtremitiea.  Arrir^d  at  a  tp>t  a  liltfce  below  ibc 
portios  of  tt  fctnrM  by  tbe  Iqpo^miirit  or  MwAiBeai  arteriet^  to  ine  lunis, 
aad  oo  to  tbe  plaeeola,  brui^^tag  bark  impure  blood  lo  tbejifaeeNto,  wbicb 
retuni*  it  a|:^a  bj  laeaiia  of  tbe  tmMimi  tria  (whence  we  started  >.  Part 
of  tfi<^  UUnyd  goei  OB,  bowerer.  to  tbe  lower  exti^enitieB,  aad  when  it  has 
r  tf]«  feel,  tara§  back  agaio,  aad  is.  fiually  returned  bj  the  rriM  covo 

where  it  mceta  tbe  pure  Mood  cooimg  from  tba  plaeeoia  thn^ogb 
tfa«  r^fuitij)  tenotu$.  It  irlll  thcia  be  eeeo  tbat  Uie  fceial  circuJatioo  pfeaeala 
the  fuliowiag  pecoltajitits^ : 


1ft,  Part  of  the  blood  from  the  placeota  is  delayed  in  tbe  Itv^r,  ti 
of  reaching  the  veoa  cai'a  at  nutx.  Henoe  the  liver  '\m  ao  imp^trtaiit  ftroe* 
lure  10  the  fcetua,  and.  as  might  be  rappoi<ed,  is  of  large  aiie  cocDpar»* 
lively*  Ultimately,  however,  this  blood  goes  ako  iiitA  tbe  ¥eiia  cam 
(iflferior)^  aod  reaches  the  heart  like  the  other 

2d.  Tlie  umbUieal  vein  and  ductus  rencmui  aod  dudUit  arterumu  (or 
ditctUii  B<j(alliu  are  all  peculiar  to  the  fteius — the  two  former  c<»ii- 
ititutiug  the  routid  ligament  aod  6brou8  coni  of  the  fiftiure  of  the 
ductua  venotUM  of  tbe  liver,  and  the  latter  an  «ii>>«lete  6hroU8  e«>rd  be- 
tween the  aorta  and  pulmonary  artery  io  the  fully  developed  child  aod 
adult. 

3fl.  The  foramen  ovale  is  also  peculiarly  a  ftBtal  siractiire,  being 
cIommI  by  a  membrane  at  or  some  time  after  birth.  [Foawi  ovalU  of  adnll 
hearl.]  ' 

4lh.  Th<?  %tmbiiifial  nr  hypogadrit.  arteries  are  n\m  fcetal  structure*!,  cbn- 
«ti luting  the  mtftcrior  vc^at  arterie*,  and  anterior  irtte  ligametUt  of  the  bUid' 
der,  in  nfter  life. 

5ih.  The  Eiisiachinn  m/tv,  which  is  far  more  evident  in  the  fcptal  than 
io  the  adult  heart,  ^rve^  to  guide  the  blood  from  the  inferior  vena  cava 
through  the  foramen  ovale  into  the  left  aurirle. 

6ih.  We  need  scarcely  remind  you  that  the  plaeenta,  or  afterbirth, 
and  tho/ditiV  or  cord  are  dispensed  with  as  soon  as  the  infant  has  brvathed 
pri>f>erly. 

Oh  the  Legal  Meaning  nf  Live  Birth. 

There  v\\t\  he  no  doubt  that  in  order  to  acquire  civil  rights,  such  aa 
acct»<r*ioii  to  property,  an  infant  must  be  completely  born — that  i^,  its  body 
and  all  its  parta  nluat  be  completely  in  the  world,  or  external  to  the 
mother  The  infftiit  must  also  manifest  some  signs  of  life,  if  it  is  to  be 
reganh^tl  us  born  alive.  The  same  entire  extrusion  is  demande*!  in  order 
that  a  cdnvitiiim  for  infanticide  may  be  obtaine<L  It  is  not  necci«ary 
that  it  should  be  completelv  ^' pa  rated  from  the  mother,  or  that  the  pla- 
centa or  afterbirth  nIiouM  be  separated.  Very  »li(?ht  movements  of  a 
child,  nUL'h  oi*  the  twitching  of  the  musdee  of  the  lips  or  of  one  leg,  are 
held  to  be  evidences  of  life  tufficient  at  least  for  civil  rights.     It   is  not 


I 

1 


678 


LIVE    BTKTH    IN    THK    LEGAL   8KN81 


Baron  Gumty,  in  Rex  v»  Simpson,  ai  Winchester,  in  March,  1SS.5,  rtorvpd 
the  case  ac*  eooii  as  the  iiiodiml  witni">s.  -stated  that  tlio  lutig^  uii>fhl  have  In-ii 
inflated  cluriiig  the  binh.*  In  »\\\le,  however,  o!"  what  ha»  bet-u  v&ul  n\i\m\ 
crying,  t\m  act  alfme  is  not  nertss:irily  a  pnutf  of  live  birth  in  the  l(^ 
«ens4\  since  a  child  may  cry  \u  utcro  it  air  can  get  in  \^mu/itiut  utrriuuil 
which  can  only  nappcn  afleir  the  rupture  of  the  nteitdimne;^ — wliiU  ohil' 
dren  often  cry  wht^ii  otdy  partially  bom.  In  the  vti^e.  of  Brwk  v.  Ktsllj, 
heard  belore  Vice-Clmutellor  Stuart,  in  April,  l^(jl,  pnf tuition  in  ihrnn 
or  fujuiH  was  justly  hi.  Id  to  be  a  f^ign  of  life — -since  the  pulealion  wouIJ  ht 
in  the  und)iliiCHl  ar  hy[>'>ga.'' trie  arteries,  due  to  the  action  of  the  chiWi 
heart  [w<?  Fietal  CircuhitiMu].  The  of>inion  of  the  Hceou(  hcnr,  Dr.  Frw- 
mar»,  wasienpportcd  by  Dr  Tyler  Smith.  Drs,  Lee  and  Kuin»lM»ihiim  gmv 
it  as  their  opinion  that  there  was  no  jtruof  of  breathing  having  lakco  plflice, 
and  that  imlhing  lesi*  ihan  breathing  could  estftbli!^h  the  fact  of  livebirllt 
But  we  hold  ibat  these  iliirtingni-bcd  accoucheurs  were  not  only  \ipi\\j  ' 
wroti'j^  which  tri  certain,  Imt  also  physiologically  so,  sint*e,tut  Dr.  Itiyl^fW- 
iiiarkK,  contractility  of  the  heart  mnseles  is  *|uitc  aa  good  u  proof  cit  lite  M 
eoutraetility  of  the  intercostal  niuscles  or  <liaphragin.  The  Vicc-CliHUCfl* 
lor  took  thi»  view  of  tile  case,  and  decided  that  proof  of  breathing  was  DOt 
necessary,  atid  held  that  there  was*  sufticieot  legal  evidence  of  lit'-  «ft''' 
the  birth  in  the  pulsation  observed  by  the  accoucheur. 

Tenmicy  6y  Curtesy, 

We  have  incidetjtally  alloded  to  thii:  in  the  preceding  puragraph,    Wt 
married  womim  possessed  of  estate  die,  the  estate  passes  fr«)m  her  hu*liaJ»4 
to  her  heins-atlaw.  unley.M  there  has  been  a  child  bora  alive  or  living,  uTj 
the  marriage,  in  which  case  the  husband  acquires  a  life  iutere»Jt  id  lh<'pp»p  ' 
erty.     Blackstone's  **Coin.,"  vol.  2,  p.  42B,  explains  that  the  terra  mnin*  j 
a  tenant  by  the  courts  of  England.     Dr.  Taylor  gums  up  the  legal  mwdi* 
lion^  of  this  tenancy  as  follows:     (1)  The  child   must  be  boru  alivc—oo 
this  point  we  have  already  dwelt.     lu  the  ea^  oi'  Llewef!  '    '"<rf 

(Statii>rd  Lent  Assize^*,  1814)  and  Gardiiter  v.  IJewelfyu  (Si  u<r 

Assizes,  1806),  it  was  sw<*rn  by  the  plaintilT  and  hij*  sister  "•' 

turely  boru  child  cried  twice.     There  was,  however,  no  nn-'  iWt 

and  the  jury  disbelieved  these  interested  witoe^se^,  as  thei;  ** 

quite  unsupported  by  the  other  facts  of  the  cape.     lo  the  .-  JJ* 

medical  witness  deposed  that  a  chtbl  born  at  the  fifth  mouth  couid  Htnthf* 
breatlie  nor  cry  I  On  conimcnlingon  this  ignorant  assumption,  Dr.  TflW<* 
remarks  tlmt  one  of  the  grentcst  difticulties  lawyers  have  in  geitmK  »i 
medical  truth  is  the  tendency  of  medical  witnessts  to  act  u|M»n  a  ion^'wo* 
couelnsion  and  to"iix*'alI  natural  events  by  an  exclusive  refenptt '« 
their  individual  experience.  (2)  The  child  must,  it  would  appear,  IxIj^t" 
whilst  the  mother  is  living.  Lord  Coke  and  most  legal  authorities  fpiW 
a  case  decided  against  the  husband  about  three  centuries  ago,  becatwetbe 

*  Dr.  Trtylnr  hits  di^-cusBod  this  mihjit'l  with  great  clenrrn^*  nnd  nt  cno«>«Ip'»'''* 
length.     Whildt  n'ferrinK  to  Inni  for  lire  dcUiU,  we  ihink  ihe  rrf<»n-iice*  ^iini't*' 
pfrvG  qnotfttiiKi      Soe  3Jiitihi»w'»  **  Digrsi.  Sup.,''  25;  ArchlM»ld's  "  I'f        "  ""' 
lni:,"  !iH7  ;   lb»*  face  of  Rfx  v.  Hrnin ;  Krx  v,  Sellia  [Norfolk   Sirring  Cr 
bot'ori'  Justice  Co] tnirtn] ;  Ctmrge  of  Huron   Parke  u>  GrKhtl  .lurvHi  li 
Afipistes,   1841    {i*fie  "  Guy 'is    H<ln\v,    Kt'iKHU""  lor  1842).     In    H^g^  v     ( 
Dorset  LfiH  Asfixes,  lJf4:»,  Eiirlc,  C.  J  ,  dn'W  u  dif-tinclion  hriwein  m' 
fciiOogifiil)  iii»d   Irffal   tifo.     "In   Itiw  Ui«   birth  ut  ih**  child    iiiu*l  ktv 
'•  PruV.  >Ii'(lii"Ml  .Journal,"  April  2^,  184.5;   Rttp,  v.  Stj^nn,  B«ron  A»«1' 
lurid  Circuit,  I85H.     In  /?cy.  v.  Tnyfnr  ( Herwfonl  Summer  Ai»^izi**, 
wu!*  ht'tird   lo  cry  before  b«ing  fully  born.     The  pri:*i»nor  wna.  hi**^ 
Beck,  und  Dr.  Uuji^'«  well-koowri  work  on  the  ftinti*  ^ubjivt. 


CSAl 


\n9w. 


M.      ll»lf 


t  ^ttadvta^M.  ^^<^*«^^^ 


af««Q&d,«iKi  are  kept! 
i«M  M  llie  air.  mm!  Ibt 


an  ntel,  wW  ««l3rlnJ[  m 

oCTmrdiMi  (Jk.<^>   ^ 
llMciBrl6llirfr«itW 


acaaein  mhkk 
ir  a  iioiFe;  Ike 
Ind  fi««d,  bat  iIk  put 
■dbeea  kcsl  notelnr 
alwlikik  Ibe  o»td  lalb 
mod  Ml 


jnCM  n&iiits  a^rw  witB  i 
It  wtMild  appear  tkat  is 

fr(ianiiioj)  of  the  fitBk  oocan 

ftmail,  aod  imiiiaitu«. 


i^lar^aod  «f&lbinBed 
rmpidlr  tkaa  ia  tbo^e  wlio  aiv  fveble, 


u 


IL  CI«ii^MjA«ftM<iiM«i»ar<erMMi;«atfitefavi«Mmii.i^ 
g»iMrqlcwir»ga^lt#tMraiirfiia— €hiig)aafifctf  The  rooiii«ot 

hreatlilfig  b  (bllr  attabllAwi^  a  S*^?*^?  iacwaged  qaaatitf  of  blood  gtM 
lo  the  luDgs.  Th«  ooaiw  of  the  clmuatioo  at  onca  beeiat  to  re^mble 
tbat  of  the  adoll,  betag  bow  doable — L  t^  paljaoaie  and  tjvlemic  {tiec  p. 

ff74\  atui  tbit  resenblance  becomes  dosef 
f^'  *•*-  daj  by  day  antil  perfKt  identity  in  the 

ocMifse  of  tbe  drralatioo    m  establUhcd. 
Fig.   IH   frocB   Dr.    Tajlor,  sbows  Uiej 
e&Mure  of  theimroamen  ot^«,  adTmttocd  80  (kti 
that  ooly  a  Terr  miauie  aperture  U  IpA  at 
tbe  upper  part.     Here  d  sbows  the  mem- 
bfaoe,  aimoet  doetng  tbe  fofameu  or  open- 
log  e  between  tbe  right  and  \e\\  auricles ; 
/,  opening  of  superior  vena  cava;  y,  o[>eii* 
ing  of  the  inferior  ditto;  1  is  the  suf*eHof 
vena  eatra;  2,  the  inferior  vena  cava;  3, 
3,  tbe  right  pulmonary  vein:*;  4,  trunk  of  i 
ibe  pulmonary  artery,  with  its  two  hratiche?: 
5,  the  rights  and  6,  the  Ief\   pulniuuary 
artery ;  7  is  the  ductus  arierio^u^ ;  8,  the , 
aorta.     At  vfry  t*arly  periods  of  fcetal  life  no  membrane  or  valve  \»  Beea,| 
but  iiboiit  the  12th  week  it  begins  to  appear.     As  a  general  rule  the  closure 
of  thc^  ftiramen  ovale  by  this  membrane  has  advanced  so  far  in  mature! 
children  as  to  be  nearly  closed  at  birth,  and  completely  so  soon  afl^r. 
Like  Dr.  Taylor  and  all  the  practical  writers  on  thb  subject,  the  authors 
have  met  with  numerous  exceptions.     It  is  sometimes  never  clowed,  con- 
utituting  one  form  of  the  disease  called  eyanmf.     Some  children  do  not 
set  iltfloeed  till  about  their  second  year.     When  patent  there  is  generally 


-       ■  -r    ■■—■1  -Jl.il  M:lE 

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.      .  ....'-..■-..    .:-u:::>:  JD 

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yj) 

il*^ 

T 

'.K^  oa« 

:  ■ 

:ra-r  fi  1 

*■      . 

■j-i.- 

-  ^:  0-7  J 

>.      \ 

•  ..- 

:  weni'  jk' 

»  ^^  .:     ».  ^-.r  of  I  lie 

x«*     i  -*:>:.  ..-:i:i.»n  ih:in 

•  ;  '  :  *  '      'A  :  "  'C  bivatlie 

'.1 ;  -i  .:•.'  A    :  rX{)aii<1e<] 


ATELECTASIS    PDLMONUH. 


688 


or  piolc  hue,  which  is  often  called  vermilioD.     The.  coh^r  variea 
(he  nmouut  of  expnusiim  and  aeraliou.     If   breathing  has  been  itii- 


be 


led  a  In 


Llie  anterjur  surtueea  and  margins, 

I  light-reti  being  mixed  wiih  tlic  livid  fceral  hue, and  the>se  patches 
t.uly  raisied  above   the  general  surfaee  of  the  itrgans.     "The  right 

lung,  wpeeia I ly  the  edges  and  concave  surface  of  its  upfjer  lobe,  admits 

t  rendify ;  it  h  here,  llierefitre,  that  first  elfectji  of  inflation  or  re.*- 

ou  mu*l  l>e  looked  for."  {(iuy.)    The chu-J  differ enre  in  hftn/if  irhich  have 

rd,  M  that  /Ap  af>-rT/^<«  <aIveoii,  air-ve^iek'^)  tire  now  viaibfc  fv  the  futked 

eyr.    Harely  a  len;*  of  very  hj\v  power  may  he  needed,  bnt  hardly.  If  the  ex- 

trotuiT  hiw  uormal  virion.     Thes^e  air-eelU  are  in  groups  often  symnietrical 

fTi»«p*uf  f4>ur,  they  are  angular  or  polygniml.  though  from  their  small  size 

ifceyofifn  look  almost  cirrularjike  little  beads  or  globules  of  milletfleeds. 

If  ihe  lungs  are  fre^ih,  an*l  contain  a  good  deal  (d*  blood,  their  color  is  very 

Mghu     If  le*  frerth*  or  lesH  full  of  blood,  the   color  is   proportionably 

fiWf.     You  *hould  make  yourselves  familiar  \vith  the  appearance  of  the 

^lil^cellf,  as  it  in  almost  imposjsible  lo  convey  it  well  in  a  woodcut,  though 

jJtrnr...  , riven  l>y  Dr.  Cf  uv  < J).  84)  Is  a  |)reHygoo<l  representation.  Tardieu 

•  red  views  of  lungs  whieb  have  ami  have  not  breatlied,  which  are 

I  — '  tnifiv  true  to  nature.     Any  *me  who  has  once  seen  the  air-eelb  of  the 

Ifeul  lung  would   Hcurcely  confound  them  with  i^pots  of  blood  or  of  pig- 

If  -         *  <■   melum)tic  ji[)oi.«  of  authors).     Air  blown  into  the  snbplenral 

•fbular  tissue,  or  the  gan  derived  from  putrefactittu,  may  be  known 

I  1j)  iLc  larger  sfize  and    circular  f*ha[>e   of  the  bubblee*,  by  their  varying 

Imnr-h  rnorv  iu  size, and  by  the  fact  that  the  air  or  gas  follows  the  pressure 

"  tgcr^  whilst   n<i   |lrei^tsure  will   efface   the  air-vej?icles.     The  lung 

-  brL'alhed  uiay  uot  contain   m<ire  blood  than  the  one  which  has 

he  hl(MKi  it  di»e8  contain  will  be  frothy.     The  developed  air-cells 

uud  in  lungs  which  have  been  artihcially  inflated,  whether  before 

wtllrr  dt<»(h.     They  do  nnt  theretbre  prove  re^|)jrat)on  so  much  as  aera- 

tm»    Kut  the  lung?,  if  well  expanded,  in  other  words,  if  breathing  haa 

Wd  well  done,  now  till  the  che^l,  the  chest  il^^elf  becomes  more  rounded, 

l*«*Mf  the  heart  and   thymus  gland  will    be  uncovered,  or  visible.     The 

>«ll  Hiipi>rtant  change  produced  is  that  the  lung  which  has  breathed  will 

i|||fl««t,  al  all  events  thoi«e  portions  in  which  the  air-veyicle-s  have  been 

^^pmled.     When   both   lung^  have  been  well  expanded   by  tlie  act  of 

P«lhing,  the  two  lungs(  together  will  not  only  float  them&elve^,  but  will 

Ikiiv  up  the  heart.     TliiB   buoyancy  con>;litute«  what  is  called  the  hydro- 

'  *  which  \b  profurly  not  a  te«t  of  live  birth,  buta  tCcHt  of  re^ipiraiton. 

I  ..  h<»wever,  return    to  the  subject  again.     Note  further  that  no 

|>mi>uiii  of  pre^nure  i*hort  td"  that  v^hirb  wtiuld   destroy  il8  structure  will 

fn\w\  thr>  air  from  the  lung  which  has  breatlied.   Like  Ca?<per,  the  authors 

II  applied  the  weight  of  the  body,  and  stamping  upon  the  Jung, 
Lit  pro|)erty,  hut  yet  the  air  remained.  On  the  other  hand,  the  air 

Vjpift  (Joe  lo  putretkction  can  he  w|ucezt'd  almost  entirely  out  of  the  lung, 
ilit  it-,i...M..f,f,  in  the  interenU  fd'  truth,  to  bear  iu  mind  lliat  premature 
•1  ihJreU  may  live  fur  a  considerable  time  with  their  lungs  only 

|tni.,i,^.  uPi-td  vt'ry  partially  expanded.  This  condititm  i^  known  by 
*li*'mirn»^  of  ttt'  h rUmna  pHlmonmn:\  TJiia  was  flrst  pointed  out,  at  least  iu 
*><diL'm  iinu:!s,  by  JorgiDie  Fotn.-ilunge,  Grim  ma,  1 1^35).  Longcttntinued 
Jftaiufe  on  iJ»e  ehild't*  head  i.s  ^aid  to  be  a  cause.     Dr.  Taylor  iptoUj?^  a 

*T1^c  tpaetllc  gravHy  of  thn  lungs  i»  »uid  to  be  into  lu  1050  befom  rMpiration, 
JW»T  Wing  1000)  nnd  uidy  S»40  n/tcr  rt'^piraiton  [nr  1  04  lo  LU6  before,  Htid  0.U4 

Xnr^,  itnpcrfect, /xro^rc,  expiintion.     (Miivnti'a  Lexicon.) 


TBI   STOMACH. 


i  ^oa^  ift  tikick  a  cbild  lived  &ve  nveks,  aod  yet 

,  »mi  M»  ^Hrtiaa  of  them  floBlcd.    Oiker  cmim  mvB 

i  «iMcb  dliMfvn  lived  for  le»  eztcoflcd  ntfind^  mik 

}§m  ftlm  gives  ^^ev^eral  cans  is  widch  life  h&s  been 

..  .ii.*4k£ii  sad  even  davd,  with  oomplele  vmnt  of  expsn- 

im^Ibm  aitloctftijtg,  a^  it  Ua«  been  crtoaeowly  called. 

f^MM  nse  in  *'  Vtrehow*^  Arrhir,"  Bd.  66.  Heft.  3, 

'  tlinihiiry      A  woman  gave  birth  to  tbrw  children  at 

aAii  lioBtatioD.   One  vtm  boru  dead.  Two  mere  alive, 

jJl^a»t(»  be  heard  in  an  acijotning  room.     They  died 

le  wbol*  of  the  lungs  of  one  rhiJd  sank  in  water,  aod 

i«  utker;  ouly  a  very  >i*matl  portion  of  the  ed^  of  the 

Ih^i^e  tun|^  were  deu^,  bluish,  aud  quite  aadlMieiided*  j 

.^rker  ^niore  livid)  and  colder  than  44keni,  and  their  , 

Dr.  Taylor  quotes  a  case  froiB  Mr.  Hurd«  of 

curd  oea»ed   to  pulsate  eight  minnftes  befurv  birth. 

v»fu  ayyareatly  dead,  and  tbe  ^mt  ugn  of  lihs  vaaaAer 

:irnfic4al  respiration  au<i  a  warm  hath.     The  re8|iiiBtioa 

.M\i  three-quarters  of  an  bour  before  it  ooold  breatha  IStfj 

ctts€r»  have  occurred  to  the  autbor«v.     lo  one  caoe  nf  0r« 

-e  than  half  an  bourV  artificial  respiraikMi  was  fcii|aireil 

*  !irl%  beyond  wanoth  and  slight  twitchiae.     iZerf  i^potf- 

ir  fung*,  pulmonary  apopiejy,  e«>ifjFeiiHMla««r»  (cancer, 

luHffif,  together  with  eoodeo^ation  or  et4ia|Me  froia 

^\i>uld  all  cau^  the  lung^  to  dok  in  water,  aod  pre- 

:<-6cribed  as  normaL    All  thew  are,  bowcirer,  laie 


tfich,  eir. — Id  a  child  which  ha#  lived  a  few  hoan 
til  .      r«  be  found  food  of  i^ome  kind  \  milk,  bntSFT,  aad 

Ml.  Kv^ui!*  ur  »t«rchy  foml,^,  and  sometimes  medicines  (castor  oil, 

()it.  .'-y  Atoumch  or  ^mall  iutestinea.     Muetis  will  be  fboad  even  ia 

atilibuffn  infants,  uud  is  therefore  of  little  value.  The  praenee  of  air- 
habKi«>«  iu  the  mucus  of  the  stomach  may  poesibly  be  dae  to  artificial 
ii^lhikiton.  but  is  nmre  ol^eti  due  to  the  rolling  laoveaseata  af  the  toagae, 
j^^  . ; I  ,,'■'•  etc.  Tanlieu  thinks  ten  or  fifUen  minates*  life awj geamllr 
bi  frt.mi  this  frothy  i  air-holding)  rouciM.    The  mioteoope  wtUl 

ikiK\i  iiiiiK,  »tart*h,  and  other  kinds  of  food.  Iodine  tarns  ftarea  blae. 
i^^HkT  niav  l>e  ilctectwi  by  billing  with  cupric  nilpbate  and  potash  apla- 
\wi\  vfamtKar  to  students  in  testing  diabetic  urine).  A  solntioo  of  eaaa* 
»ugar»  however,  requires  boilwg  with  dilute  sulpharic  or  soaie  other  acid, 
MK>rv  trying  the  copper  tesC  ifaeuamiai  or  first  f«oes  (kaovn  by  choles- 
tvriu  crystab,  greenM  ovoid  or  globular  maflsei  of  bile  pigaienU  epithelial 
celU,  aud  mtaoous  gimaiiles  and  corpuscles >  and  blood  may  also  be  swallowed 
and  touud  in  the  etoauieh  very  soon  after  birth.  Having  now  giveo  thie 
general  sketdi  of  the  ebaoges  produced  in  the  fcHos  by  birth*  we  aiBil 
IMPOoeed  to  deal  aeparately  with  the  medtco>le|^  qoestiona  arising  oat  of 
ihe  crime  of  iafiuittcide.  first  giving,  from  Tardieu  (/er.  eiL)^  the  following 
rhitwtS  of  theofdiaary  time  ret^uireil  for  the  ohaages  we  have  Bkenttooed, 
Gamier,  Taylor,  and  other  good  authors,  agree  in  the  main  with  this  itata^ 


Jl  ttn  iiiitiiii««  to    Tli6  stomnt-h  contHtn^  ri  frothy  fluid,  and  tt  clot  forou  in  th« 

um**  h'iMr«,  vp«>ii«U  t\(  thn  umbilicwl  cord. 

After  fix  hours.       i  Obliternlirm  of  niiibibctil  jirLerios? 
Ati*f  tht*  t»l  «liiy.    ,  Tlie  ford  t^  hoffhinins;  U>  sepHtHte, 
AlW  iho  'id  <t*i>;.    I  Thv  r<pT<j4'rnti>>  begins  to  oxfoJintL", 
AfUrth**  lib  duy.    Iti*^  (Ntr.i  fulfil  ..ft*. 
frrtB  dlh   to  iDlh    Tb<t  ftpliil  o|tpnm!j«  bifonip  nblitorntpd   (i-  e.,  ductus  venosus, 

ity.  (liii'lus  iirU'riot^uii,  iirnl  fxriunen  ovnb*). 

IftiTlhe  lOih  dnj'.    Thf  iK-smtiH  ronln;  nf  tin*  ti'iii<»rKl  eniphv^ist  is  more  thufi  5  to 
I      6  mm.  in  ditinu'tcr  (Jth  io  Jtb  uf  wn  incb). 

Qmeral  Oonsideration^  on  Infant ieitJe,  and  Qft^sthns  likely  to  he  asked  of 

Ml?  Medical  JurUt  or  Ejrpert, 

We  do  not  propose  to  offer  any  statistic  to  prove  the  freqiieocy  of  the 
crime,  A  ^lanci^  at  the  (hiilv  newspafiera  will  ."^how  that  it  is  far  too  fre- 
«|tt«»m,  even  in  Eoghiinl.  Whilst  severe  seai^oii.«,  times  of  fmnine  and  the 
likf,  nmy  have  iheir  influence,  the  eriine  h  ii^Jimlly  tomtiiitteil  to  save 
iIm*  reputatiun  of  the  niothc^r,  and  hence  the  greatjer  unniher  of  these  cai»e8 
WTUf  in  ille;:itimtite  children.  As  our  lavvs,  from  fiiolives  of  prudence, 
Iwl  very  unjn:<tly,  throw  alnio^Jt  the  whole  cost  of  the  child's  nniiutennnce 

,w  the  mother  at  a  time  when  nhe  is  least  tit  to  maintain  it,  and  as, 
HUlty  this,  the  woman  suffers  the  pains  of  childbirth,  and  is  too  often 

■fcireH  and  wronged,  hoth  judKt"«  mid  juries,  nTend>ers  of  the  har,  and 
titAei«f>«.  are  nil  reluctant  to  ennviet  a  woman  of  infantieide.  Dr.  Guy 
wpp<K«'s  that  ihe  extreme  severity  of  a  ftirmer  8trt(ute  (21  Jne.  I^  eap.  27, 
on  which  8ir  Walter  Seott  founded  the  chief  incident.^  of  "  The  Heart  of 
MiiM/dhian**),  which  virtually  visited  the  ronceulnient  of  shame  with  the 
|HJiit»liaient  of  (nurder,  hm  a  j^^ooil  deal  to  do  with  this.  We  do  not  think 
aiHT*>-jiry  to  ^(\  hack  so  fur.  The  causes  are  ralher  to  be  sought  in  the 
wmplrx  state  «if  modem  society,  and  in  the  workings  of  conscience.  In 
tW.l.the  law  of  intiinticide  was  iiltere*!  by  a  statute  which  puts  infanticide 
•0  liic  »*aiM6  f(K>ting  a.<*  ordinary  murder,  but  proves  that  if  ac(]|nitred  of 
infiintieiiJr,  a  woman  ma}"  be  tried  f<jr  concealment  of  the  birth,  and  if 
fwinii  guilty,  )>uni.<iheil  hy  iiiiprisonmeut  for  a  term  not  exceed in^^^  two 
yi«r».  An  act  pa.<*ed  in  June,  1828  (J)  George  IV,  cap.  31),  confirms 
wi«,and  aUn  pn^vides  that  it  ^hall  not  l>e  necessary  qtmad  concealment  to 
prtin?  whcfther  the  child  died  liefore,  at,  or  atlter  it-*  birth.  The  Ojn.-s^dida- 
lion  Ari  (24  and  25  Victoria,  cap.  100)  iidopts  and  extends  these  pnivi- 
inn**  The  section  i  GO)  a-s  to  Ontceallnf/  ihe  hlrth  of  a  child ^  is  to  the  fol- 
wtitjjr  rtf«*ri :  *'  If  any  woman  sluiM  be  delivered  of  a  child,  every  pen4oa 
(iiui  thij*  inclmh'^s  doct4>r  or  midwife  or  uun-e)  who  .«halt,  hy  anv  .secret 
11  of  (h<"  rlcad  body  of  the  said  child,  whether  !*ucb  chd*!  died 
.  or  ftfYer  Hj^  birth,  endeavor  to  conceal  the  birth  thereof,  »ihall  he 
^uiity  *»f  a  nii«4]emennor,  and  being  convicted  thereof,  nhull  be  liable,  at 
till-  tliiM>retion  of  the  cfiurt,  to  he  imprisoned  for  any  term  not  exceeding 
t*ti  year*,  with  or  without  Imrd  labor;  provided  that  if  any  fier^jon  tried 
^t  the  murder  of  any  cidld  hhall  he  ac(juittcd  thereof,  it  shull  he  hiwful 
ttir  ilio  jury,  by  wh«»^e  verdict  such  perstm  >*hall   he  acquitted,  to  find, 

C'^'vifled  it  eliall  so  appear  in  eviiience,  that  the  child  had  recently  been 
'HI,  and  thai  ^ueh  person  did,  by  some  m'cret  dis^po'-iilion  of  the  dead  biHjy 
«f  tuch  cldld,  endeavor  to  conceal  the  birth  thereof,  and  thereup<in  the 
^rt  nmy  p«*t»  such  M»ntenee  as  if  kucIi  jierHtui  had  been  convicted  upoa 
■•  mdictmeot  for  llie  concealment  of  the  birth."  [We  have  taken  this 
•mmftry  of  the  English  law  ahnoist  verbatim  from   Dr.  (Uiy.     In   Beck, 


CONDITIONS    SIMULATING    PREGNANCY, 

the  reader  wilt  find  a  summary  of  the  laws  of  various  nations,  ancirat  aq 
lucHern.] 

If  yonropiuion  be  asked  on  a  case  of  wnwn/m/'rt/  of  births  you  mayhti 
either  (1)  to  examine  the  woman  ini-'pet'ted,  or  '2)  to  tfsaminp  what  i*  «u( 
po«ed  to  be  au  embryo  or  fflptiis*,  or  (*})  to  report  on  rertain  pyinpiMii 
supposied  to  be  itidipative  of  pregnancy  or  delivery.  The  ikjtied  fbeeft 
bed<Htig,  artk'les  of  clress.  or  discharges,  n»:iy  als<»  be  »eiit  to  you  fur  n 
Bmiiiatioii  uiiti  report,  The  remarks  alre-ady  iniult*  oij  the  diagn«»»ip<i 
prt^t^naiK^y  and  recent  delivery  (pages  603  and  619 \  and  thot»e  on  ill 
character  of  the  ovum  ( (iai;e«  56G,  567),  and  on  the  marks  of  bloud  aoi 
of  the  liquor  amnii  ( pajjes  5(t4  and  008)  will,  we  think,  save  you  iroi 
making  auy  serious  errors  on  this  subject.  For  the  sake  of  cuaipl^ieafl 
we  will,  however,  remark  that  fire^tvaucy*  (or  delivery,  as  the  ca*  m^ 
be)  may  be  simulated  by  the  following  couditions: 

].  Corpulency.  2.  Flatulent  distension  of  abdtjmen,  or  tyrapaniti 
3.  Dlseauses  or  habits  indueiiif;;  raorniog  siekne.ss,  hie:norrhagej«,  oreol&rg 
fneiu  of  abdomen — such  a^?  kidney,  liver,  anii  heart  disea?ie,ii:M'it<«*,  ovarii 
and  other  tumors  springing  from  the  pelvis  or  the  pelvic  or^u-.  > 
Hydatid.s  uf  the  uteru!^  i  the  eumm<jn  variety  being  doe  to  inipreffmiUDn  an 
fsuksequent  disease  of  the  chorion,  etc.).  5.  PUy.stonetra.  H.  Menorrhxd 
and  metrorrhagia.  7.  Hypertrophy  of  the  breast*!,  and  milk  iu  lh«( 
organs.  8.  Contractioua  of  abdominal  musclei*-  9.  Movements  frv»i 
within,  due  to  uterine  contraction,  the  presentee  and  movement*  of  giMl 
and  perhaps  intestinal  worms.  10.  A  men  orrhoea,  and  particularly  reW 
lion  of  meujses  by  imperforate  hymen. 

The  substance  most  likely  to  be  mistaken  for  an  embryo,  fcetu«,  or  cliili 
are  blood-clots  or  coiignhi,  fibroid  or  [Hdy|>oid  tumonf,  which  are  «nneuiiu 
apootaneously  expelled;  hydatids  of  the  uterus  or  vagina,  truly  ^o-ealll 
(see  page  671 ),  dysmenorrhteal  cantn  of  the  uter«3  or  vagina*  and  tii*t»<l 
rectum  iu  membranous  proclitic*.  Remember  that  except  by  the  diK^>v«f 
of  I'ueta!  hairs  or  efiithelium  in  qnanlity,  or  of  meconium,  and  the  f*wulil 
amell  when  fresh,  the  stains  produced  by  liipior  aninii  eauuot  be  pHitivd 
©worn  to.  And  although  uu-nslruul  blood  usually  cuntain*  bllle  fibril 
yet  it  sometimes  eoagulute?*  freely;  and  blood  loH  from  luraon*  of  i^ 
uteruj*  is  by  no  means  dettcient  in  tibriu. 

Return iug  to  the  aubject  of  infanticide,  it  may  be  said  that  the 

QiteMions  Ukdy  fo  art^e  in  eases  of  Infantkide 

may  be  all  arranged  under  three  heads,  viz.: 

I.  Was  the  child,  whose  body  is  found,  mature?  and  in  it  t^^w 
In  other  words,  Do  mother  and  chi!(i  €orrei?pond  to  one  another? 
IL  Was  it  born  alive,  and  if  so,  how  long  di<l  it  live? 
III.  Was  it  murdered,  and  if  ao,  how  and  when? 


*  Dr.  Montsiom*^ry,  in  his  "Signs  and  Sympt<»ni9  of  Prruimncr,"  nfl*'r*«' 
fiummrtry   of    ihfs<^  eondUinns,    jfivoi    lh«    full<»wifiiy   rofi-n-nces  •     R-i.i^i^.iiUii"! 
*'  Pruoticnl  Oliserviilion.*,"  Tun  II,  p.  887;  GtJOi'lj  nn  *■*  l>i*fMH*'H»  of   } 
226;    Perfe<>t'6  **  Ch**'^   in    MHlwifr»Ty."    vnl.  t,  p.  *29.S  ;   Aloxtrndcr    h 
'*  FemHlo  ComplHiiil!*,*'  p.    125;   Bhjad*tll,  "  PriaiM|>ltJs   of  OUti'triry, 
Schmitt,    7t!i,  Btfi,  13lb,  and    I'.Hh    c«*e*,  1st    divi»ion.  And  '»  CrHk'nl    I 
linn,"  p.  44  ;  Gnrdfon,  •*  Traile  d<»%  .\ocoiiL*br>mnh*,"  torn,  i,  p   54:'     i 
ch.  viii,  "  De  In  Fnti^se  Gro?8p!si»o,"  p   47;  **  F«>tlicrglirs  Worlk»,"  by 
p.  4r»4;   '«  MMurireim,*'    oHs.  27o  iind   666      WV  niMV  (udd   tn  th»«f>  T«<r.i 
pendii  to  his   "Etude  aur   I'Avortement,"   Sieme   Mi,  18G8,  and   itunl  onj 
works  on  Ob«telric«, 


PtHSNSIONS,   BTC,   OF    MATUBB    INFANTS, 


«87 


We  hive  omitted  asking  by  whom  the  murder  was  committed,  as  except 
to  rufw  of  pucr|)eral  mania,  and  the  like,  this  is  rather  a  legal  than  a 
il  quetftion. 


I.  SIt/n$  of  Maturitif  in  a  Child. 

do  not  purpose  to  repeat  the  general  characters  of  the  ovum  at  dif- 
fcfwit  t(2^,  which  were  pivt^i  at  pnge  5fi6,  etc.,  and  m  the  chapter  on  H^e, 
t)Inrilni  wc  pi]rp<»fHe  ^Hviiii^  the  tables  of  measurements  in  exieitso,  on  vvhttih 
l)>* following  particulars  are  founded: 

On  the  qtiestion  of  nmuirity.  Cn,«per  relies  on  the  following  :  1.  A  cer- 
ttin  ^*ncrul  hnhiUi!^  familiar  to  experts.  2.  The  color  is  paler  (in  general) 
iko  that  nf  h»iJs  nmfnre  iii^tiises,  and  the  skin  iisimlly  tenser  and  more 
firm.  3.  The  dQwn  (hinup»i  has  to  a  great  extent  dt>*appeared  ;  and  4. 
Tlieif  i<»  more  or  less  hair  u\\  the  Iiead,otlen  f  of  an  inch  or  more  long.  6. 
'rb<'ikku[MK>nes  are  not  very  movable;  the  large  anterior  fontaiielle  aver- 
t  tf»  1  inch  in  length.     6.   The  average  hugth  of  the  body  iu  247  ma- 

ildren.  in  b^ilh  i^exe?,  was  18J  inches. 

Iu  130  wfl/e  children,  19,^     " 

"   nifemaks    **  Ul     " 

the  pnme  children,  the  average  weight  of  both  sexes  wa?  7^^  prmnda, 
I  be  l.'^O  malf»,  l\         " 

Ml  female*,  6 J 

Timmn  Itinjth  was  22  inch^,  the  minimum  16  inches.     The  maxi- 
ipriffht  10  pDUud-s  mininmm  u'l'tr^ht  4|  piiund.**. 
Iu  207  nmtnre  children  the  avtraf/e  rliamiters  if  the  head  were  transversely 
^  itirhc«i,  longitudimdly  4}  inches,  diagoually  4J  inches.*     The  average 
<li«rtiHcr  iuxow  (he  ahoulderH  in  117  mature  chihlren  was  4|f  inches. 
The  average  diameter  acrom  the  hip»  m  117  mature  children  was  Z^ 

Qnelelet,  iti  his  "  Anthmponi6trie/*  givea  the  following  as  the— 


Height  or  Length  of  Newborn  ChlUlrtn. 


Boy*. 

GIrto. 

Hflnmeim, 

Ii«]!|««, 

MininflrM. 

Inehet. 

Minliuum, 
Avtragi', 

SOO.fiK 

80.97 
17. 24 

1!>72 

42i7.63 

21,87 

I7.Z4 
19  54 

And  he  states  the  average  weight  at  birth  as?  ^.1  kilogrammes,  or,  6.3 
[P^ujul*  for  boys,  and  -i  kilogrammes,  or  6,6  pounds  for  girls.     Dr.  Taylor 
l(i  to  21   iuchet*,  and  .">  to  9  pounds,  but  mentions  cas&<^  of  childrea 
liug  these.     Mr.  Owens,  in  the  "Lancet,''  December,  1838,  mentions 


|rdi<cti  *AyA  tbiKJh  too  Ntnull.     Ho  f;ive8  oocipito-fruntHl  4}  to  4^  inchc«i,  bi* 
1*>  3 i  hi I'h*'* ,     i  Srr  I .« so  ft M. ) 

I  who  winh  fitr  thi*  ifnMinrN  uf  tho  nilon  Inid  drtwn  will  find  exton«iV0 

- '•  M«'<iicHl  Jurt«ipnj!l«<ncp  "  ( iJr.  UMlTotir'ii  trwn*lutton  i,  v«0    tH, 

"  Elurlf  ftur  lI'InrMnlifMric/'  pHris,  18^18,  p.  2t<  In  :i9;  Dr.  Gov't 

>i    !         .  '  pf>.  70  iind  71,  lid  ediiiun,  »nd  in  the  terinU  dcvottjd  lu  ihia 


688 


SIQNS    OF    MATURITY. 


a  child  at  delivery  weighing  111  pounds,  and  measuring  24  inrh«*.    Dr. 

Meadows  reported  arinther  case  in  the  ** Medical  Times  and  On/^ttc,** 
August,  4, 1860,  in  whifb  u chUd  weigbtid  18  pctutidj*  2  <Minc6!^and  nieastirwi 
32  inches.  Dr.  Taylor  memtion^  a  male  child  measuring  22  inrhesi,  unci 
weighing  12^  pounds.  Dr.  Rainsbotham  speaks  of  18  pounds  as  ornirriog 
once  or  twice  w  hU  practice.  One  of  the  authors  met  with  a  chilii  wbo 
weighed  20  pounds  two  days  after  birth.  Dr.  Matthews  Duncan  sayslhe 
length  and  weight  of  the  child  vary  according  t*i  the  age  of  the  inutiier. 
being  greatest  when  the  mother  is  from  twenty-five  U:)  twenty-nine  Vftreof 
age.     See  EIIsasi?er,  in  "  Henke's  Zeitschrift,"  1841,  vol.  ii^  p.  2.*Io, 

It  is  popularly  supposed  that  heavy  ntid  tall  children  have  l>ern  re- 
tained longer  than  usiual  in  utero.  Tbi.s  does  not  seem  to  be  prove*!;  in- 
deed it  was  not  so  in  the  cases  named  above.  Tardien's  average's*  are  18 
to  20  inehej^,  and  G  to  7  pound.*.*  But  smaller  children  may  he  l>)ni  at 
term.  Dr.  Guy  has  sumnuirized  the  various  French  and  Enj^lish  ^tnte- 
raeuts  as  follows:  1st.  With  regard  to  length  :  Greatest,  20  incKe*;  \v»^ 
17  inohe«i;  average,  19  inches  (but  Dr.  Mea<htws's  case  waii  32  inch®)- 
The  weight,  which,  he  says  is  derived  from  20,000  observations,  ip»p  foN 
lows:  Greatest,  14  lbs.;  least,  2  lbs.  6  oz. ;  average,  6  Ib^.  II  02,  (hut  a* 
njentioned  above,  larger  weights  have  been  met  with  I.  He  says  th"'  ''^  * 
general  rule,  xiUlhurn  childrtm  are  heavier  and  longer  than  thme  f> 
maie^  Ihnn  fcmaieit^  mngfe  chiMrai,  caferU  pnrihu»,ihan  iwiui^  uhu  i«t*- 
than  iripkfis.  This  statement  is  followed  in  the  original  with  tableiuflbe 
greatest,  leiist,  and  average  weights  and  lengths  of  the  fcctua,  fuuu(l«d  ou 
293  and  271  observations  respectively. 

Casper  goes  on  to  show  (8}  that  in  mature  child reu  the  naiUfeel  liorar, 
and  reach  the  tips  of  the  fingers  (never  those  of  the  toes) ;  (9)  the  carhk^ 
of  the  eai*s  and  nose  feel  tolerably  like  cartiliige. 

But  above  all,  (10)  the  (^eittre  of  onaifimtiou  of  the  inferior  femorat rfiiphy 
nji  uis  pointed  out  by  Bc^chird,  Ollivier,  and  Wildner)  is  pre?.cnl  in  th* 
mature  child,  in  the  second  half  of  the  tenth  (lunar)  month.  Ci^jter  b»-' 
made  ob^eervations  in  125  cases,  the  rc;^ults  being  as  under: 


In  Ihf.  7th  (polnr)  motrth 
*'     8th        '*  '" 

"     9th        *'  •* 

"    niHture,   . 


JJo.  of  ctifhlreo 

otjAerveil. 

.   31 


0  to  2  linn. 

1  Ui  4    " 


"To  find  this,  make  a  horizontal  incision  through  theskio  and  «i(»^«^* 
cial  tissues  over  the  knee-joint  down  to  the  cartilages,  remove  ihe  pakll*? 
and  make  the  end  of  the  femur  protrude.  Then  remove  the  horiwiot* 
»ectiotis  from  the  cartilaginous  epiphysis,  at  first  boldly,  but  soswoi^  * 
colored  pi^int  is  observed  in  the  lust  section,  then  very  carefully,  layrr  *^  ^ 
layer,  till  the  greatest  diameter  of  the  osseous  nucleus  is  attained.  Tl^  '* 
appears  to  the  naked  eye  as  a  more  or  less  circular  blood-red  i*|)Ot  in  t  ^ ' 
midst  of  the  milk-white  cartilage  in  which  vascular  convolutioD*^  can  heT 
tinctly  recognized."  If  there  is  no  visible  trace  of  this  tlte  fiHiisfii 
be  more  than  3r>  to  37  weeks  old.  If  the  size  of  a  hemfiseed,  or  th*" 
of  ttu  ordinary  fly  (half  a  line),  it  corresponds  to  37  or  88  wet*k«t  if  stiW 
When  i  to  3  lines,  it  indicates  a  uterine  age  of  40  weeks.  If  moretl»< 
lines,  the  child   has  probably  lived  after   birth.     Ollivier  d'Aogjn 


*  or  41(H  inrNtitJ  at  ihe  MoternitS.  Mndnme  Alliott  fonnd  9NS  w«ifbin$ 
d.6  to  7.7  pv(iii<l». 


m              690                                 FCETUS    AT    DIFFERENT    AGES.                                      ^^H 

I             It  mny  lie  much  lonjrer,  ftoH  eometimes  shorter.     This,  and  the  posiliou  of      H 

I             the  nttv<*I  til  the  r.niire  of  the  length,  thduj^h  iiscua),  are  liable,  like  matiy       H 

I             cither  *iignii  of  maturity,  to  exct?pti«»na  so  numerous  a*  to  deprive  them  of       H 

I             any  fort- nsie  value.     The  subjoitjeij  table  from  Tardieu  coDtraHts  the  f<rtu«       H 

^^^       at  varioti-  iKiJods;  aud  nearly  all  tuodern  writers  agree  in  the  main  facta,  ^^H 

7\»6^#  ffi^'<i.ff/  ihe  CtmracUi'  »/  lAe  Ftzta*  at  different  Agtt  of  IntmaUrm*  L*J«. 

1 

f ieoenl  devetopmeot  of  body. 

1 

1 

Aon. 

l>nr«*  to  «hli-H  0^ 
StMe  of  the  %Wn,  etc.        •iflc«tioii  ho*  aJ- 

■ 

~ 

BelghL 

Welifbt, 

T*ac-cd. 

From  T  rrnmrh 

1  %  \o  K  or  an 

]  15  to  46  gn. 

. 

Ccn«rt>sor  ««9slftni^ 

Fnmi  0^  i<)  2 

liah. 

^Inqniietinncpar- 
rill,  uf^a  itiirphah- 

tbtn    ftrrhivlctea 

%U>1  Inche*. 

77  to  ISS  •• 

nn  '  '    -    -   :-i»r, 

^^ 

tuautli**. 

nA  (N.Ior  wiih  no 

A|  1                   '  n- 

■ 

from    the    2i1 

1  to  4       " 

Svj  toll^OC 

trtKe  of  It  Bin  ub 

1                   Lib* 

■ 

tM      til©      *l 

1(. 

fnrruw        m       the 

ttionlh. 

1 

,      lowt-r  Jaw 

Frutii    lliu   »t| 

4  to  i       >* 

IJ4o«.to4«4o« 

Detr^lnpment        of 

Cenifi"  of  o*«lfi'^^- 

In     tlio     itii 

iiiMs,         Apfwar- 

Uon  in  iacbiutu. 

^^ 

roonib. 

IUM1J  of  niHiriit  tit 
Mtici. 

1 

Tt^m  the  4th 

<  to  8       " 

6  to  a  OB. 

uu    lJt«»    rnrt-bi'iLcl 

Onlflmlion    (if  oa 

to     (he     5tli 

calil!.. 

^H 

itiMMlh. 

and  t'yr brows. 

^H 

Ffuiii   lite  Slh 

10  to  12     " 

*  10  12     *• 

*  llitir«  tppcaroD  th« 

OlWHVIM  r*»ntrrf  for 

^H 

to    ihf     nih 

limb*. 

*9lia4«IuBau4o« 

^1 

m^oih. 

pul.i». 

^H 

From  llic  Gth 

12  to  14      " 

15  to  aa    •' 

Haini  on  hands  and 

Tbr«^  nr  four  na. 

^H 

lo    the     71  h 

feet.      M-itihr«nft 

aroiif  c4Miim  la 

^H 

tuimtb. 

totlli>a(»p<'ftr. 

atortium. 

m 

From  ihrt  71  h 

14  to  1«     " 

2  ton  pounds. 

SkUi    lia<t    lost    itj 

OwiUoitlonof  low- 

^^1 

^a 

t«    the    8tii 

(rRn«ftnn«nrr.  Kpl- 

er  Trriebtw  of  a». 

^L 

moath. 

arrinU       iliMlntt. 
r.,|..r  j.>.l.-).ink. 

t:rutn. 

J 

iFr*>ra  i>i«f  AiJi 

IS  to  18     " 

3  to  5       " 

Skill  J4ri>v4-nHl  wilh 

. 

14)    the    9tli 

iieWa€«uii!<  mntcrU 

^^^^^H 

tnoiilb. 

■  Ift.     (Veriiix    ra- 
Kei>aa  t    The  nails 
<!•■  Mof  reach  tip* 

of  fiflK'T*. 

■ 

At  t«nn  (uft- 

18  to  »}     " 

«  to  7       '• 

Si'liarfous        c<it<»t» 

ADO«i<ioii5tiiicbii« 

tur«). 

fnu   Hill   lhick«r. 
Nalln  <j»i.'rlap  fin^ 
|<>ers.      M«:>iubr«tia 
pu|41l»Hi)          has 
qniliM)lHMpp«ar<'d. 
Nav.  r  11  lJtiU»  ».«- 

fn  the  rMiitlyliiid 
<'pjpliv«i»    «>f    tv- 
liitir     Tilt'  bI»h>- 
lar    pr<Pi:*^«ea    i»f 
till-  l<*w«ir  Jrt»  ar« 

1 

hnw        purfertljr 

li»«  uildilK'  of  en- 

dUiiiicl. 

^H 

tire      length      af 

^H 

• 

body. 

1 

Tardieu  pives  the  following  weights  for  the  vls<?era  of  mature  children 

1 

■             (iiifanis  at  term):                                                                                                   ■ 

^^L                      RifflU  Iting, 609.52  grains.               ^^H 

^^L                     L*n  Itin^', 440  04       "                     ^^H 

^^^^                                  ........                                           ^^H 

^^^^H             Thvmu«  gland, ^^^1 

^^^^H                                                     •'                    ^^H 

^^^^^P             HrNin«  (including  cerebellum,  etc.),     .                          lo)    otincos.               ^^^H 

^^^^^             8plcen .     1.31  24  gmini.               ^^H 

^^^^m             Kidneys,  each, ^^H 

^^m       In  28,  ho  fotind  it  1««m  thnn  17}  inches;  in  112,  from  17|  inches  Ut  2B}  inrb««;  tn       H 

^^M       24  CAJM>ii,  M  litttc  tt'u  ibnn  27  inches;  in2cAicfl  It  was  muro  thyn  i»  tnt'lre  (3t«|        ■ 

^^B                                                                                                                    ^^^1 

692 


EARLY    BtRTH. 


mid  Dr  Falok,  of  Berlio,  li(»tli  agree  iu  this,  the  proportlonB  giveu  by  the 
latter  being  ^&  nialej?  to  44  females,  or  127.2  to  100.)  (3)  A  large  s»ize  of 
the  hett<J,  ni<>i*t  common  in  male;*,  this  rendering  the  labor  a  lingering  one 
at  best,  (4)  IVpinatiire  birth,  *«e  remarks  on  Infant  Viability,  pagew  659» 
eto.  (oi  Inherited  diseaj»es  and  malfnrmatinny  are  selfevidenl  c^m.^ea. 
Dr.  Taylor  »tate8,  on  the  authority  of  the  "  British  and  Foreign  Metlical 
Review,"  No.  7,  p.  2-1^,  fnim  etatistical  tables,  embracing  eight  millions 
of  binb.^,  that  1  in  18  to  1  in  20  of  all  births  are  Atiltlfoni.  Dr.  Lever 
found  tlie  [iroportirm  of  1  in  18  amongst  3000  births.  So  noiorioiM  is  it 
that  the  hirger  nnndtcr  are  illegitinjate  au«J  first  births,  and  tliat  a  very 
larpe  number  of  thet^e  deaths  could  be  averted,  that  the  Society  of  Offieens 
of  Health  in  the  metro|>f)lis  iitrougly  urged  on  the  late  Government  to  fuisa 
a  bill  to  render  the  registration  of  stillbirths  compubory,  and  to  provide 
that  all  children  whose  bodies  weighed  not  lesks  than  twa  poutHlft,  the  amatfe 
betwreu  the  ^irih  and  seventh  months  (^t'e  table,  p.  50."}  i,  i^hould  not  be  buried 
without  registration  and  medical  examination,  giuc«  at  thi^^  age  the  chil- 
dren are  viable. 

Tlicre  are  many  causes  which  affect  the  unborn  foetus,  the  child  in  birth, 
and  the  newly  born  child.  To  separate  the  very  few  which  are  peculiar  to 
each  period,  would  be  to  be  needle.^^ly  diffuse,  regard  being  had  to  the 
&c*opo  and  funciiiiiis  of  this  work.  Nur  will  the  term  "  newly  burn  "  rerjuire 
lengthy  discupslon  here.  It  is  a  term  on  which  Continental  lavvp,  and 
j«ri&con,sulti',  legal  and  medical,  have  differed,  and  perhaps  will  difler. 
As  it  bus  not  (8o  far  a.^^  we  are  tiware)  given  rise  to  any  di.Hcu.'^ijiou  in  our 
court*',  we  shall  assume  that  it  is  s-utficiently  well  understmMl.*  One  of 
the  mo.st  obvious,  though  not  most  common,  cauues  is  congenital  nmlfor- 
niati<»n?? — ^ueh  as  iho?*  of  the  heart  (leading  ti>  cyanosis,  etc.) ;  lb<»so  of 
the  alimentary  canal  at  either  end — for  the  gullet  or  the  anus  muy  be  im- 
pertorale  [atresia  [>haryngi*^  vel  ani) — or  the  canal  may  be  obstructed 
towardv^  the  rtiiddle,  the  duodeniiin  being  impervious  for  an  inch  or  n»ore. 
(**Med'tcul  Gazette/'  vol.  xxvi,  p.  542).  Aenrdiac  or  hearlles*?  monf^lers 
may  at  lea.-^t  live  s«)n»e  hours.  Monstrous  children  are  usually  very  feebU 
though  acephalous  orie^  have  lived  some  weeks  or  mouths,  ami  dife/jhaim 
ones  grow  up,  as  in  t!ie  case  of  Mdlle.  Christine.  (2,)  The  ftd lowing  con- 
ditions of  the  lunffM  may  prove  fatal  in  very  early  life:  lied &nd  gnttf  heim- 
tization,i'rmi\  intrauterine  or  acquirefl  pneumonia;  pulmonary  npupffrt/: 
tubercle^:  udemn ;  and  Devergie's  ffiiem/*  lardariforme;  a/<r/ec^w»V  and  «>/• 
lapse  af  iuiiffn  from  fluid  in  the  pleura?,  (3.)  In  the  brain  and  i^pinal  cord  or 
marroWj  softening,  apoplexy,  and  effusions  of  aerum  or  other  fluids  (such  a« 


*  A  Brut-^l*  court  refused  to  csll  the  murtb^r  of  Mn  vnfnnt  fourtfl<Mi  days  "M 
infanttridtf      In   Bnlljmy  »  jury  wulti  not  nUow  ii  cliitd  ttlV'en  dnys  <«id  to   be 
CHlli'd  newly  tjorn  (nf>uvi'riu-tK').     TIig  Frvocli  Court  of  CiU'Mntiou,  in   DiH.M«mb<?f, 
18S.'>,  wtiiild  not  fXTMiil  itiis  niiniR  to  t»p  givi-n  to  h  thiki  forty  dwys  old  "  Htlend 
qun  Ih  |oi  rrw  fU  en  vuodnns  I«»  rrinu^  d'infnnti<_'i*1*^qiio  rhomiridt*  Vitl4>ninirr  i''»mrni#* 
eur  on  cnfiHit  an  tnt/ment  <n)  U  virnt  d*-.  nnttrr,  *>h  ttans  loi  tcmpit  (rH-mpjtror/ti  tie 
etluntf  InnnixHttnef!."     Ul1ivii»r  d*Ar>gers  tliotii:lit  thu  Urin  ?teirli/  (torn  n|tprofiriMUs 
onlv  lM*tVtn»  Iho  full  of  tht-  nav^l  *^lrir.(f.     TMnliHii  (ioc.  rit.)  aay*  lliwl  Uob«Tt  Frorirp, 
of  Bf^rlin,  would  rrivrrt  t<J  th**  t**rms  of  the  old  H>tmftti  law^t :  *•  Infnnintnnffuiftutrnttui 
erurn/ntn.0,*'  H\M  MiiN-d  with  blood.     In  Bavnnh  a  '•newly  horn  "  thild  i»  on*'  noi 
more  Ihiin  llm^o  dHy«  old  (h^gwl  d'flnition).     In  Brunswick  nnd  S»xi<ny,  iwnnty- 
four  hour.-*  isthe  ti'i'm.      Wernor  »ind  Gnns  dfflne  it  thin:   "It  wiijt.  nrwborn  fco  lon| 
n*  it  WH.«  n<iili"T  fed  norclgd,  while  the  niolhfp  t-lill  li»J>ore<l  und**r  tho  imm«*di?it 
conf«<*qiii'nc4ts  nf  the  drlivpry,  and  while  no  ono  beside*  hyr»tdf,  her  pHr<'Ht^,  Had  i1 
frtlhi«r,  kii»*w  4»f  ilA  t»irth."  , 

TliH  Uoinan  Ihw  (Sfcl.  2,  Cod.  df  pHtribiw,  etc.  IV.  48^  speuk*  of  "  tirmrn,  fiii«ra»#3 
tanfffdnolrfitus ;*'  und  Jovcnul  (Snt.  vii,  lin.  \W\)  of  e  oowborn  child,  *' a  matrt 
ruhenttm.'^    Cesiter,  loc.  ett.,  vol.  ill,  pp.  8,  9,  eU:. 


694 


DEATH    BY    BTRASOULATIOH, 


of  iofAfiticide.     1,   We  mil  fir$t  take  the  different  fnrmM  of  death  6y  tfpt¥m, 

or,  aji  it  U  roinmoidy  called^  osphyxia.  Of  ihe**;,  by  far  the  cvmin«M)t>l  is, 
(1)  mffomttion,  lotaiitj^  ju*t  b^iru  can  l>e  ver}*  easily  kille<!  io  this  way. 
Even  lying  lace  downwards  on  a  soft  pillow  u  quit*  ^ufficieot  to  dei»lroy 
life  at  tin*  early  age.  So  are  aiufling  the  bedclothes  closely  amund  the 
newboru  child,  placing  a  wet  cloth  over  \i»  mouth,  or  stuffing  a  rag  ioto 
the  niouthf  or  thruBiiug  the  head  into  feather*,  wool,  ashe^,  du«t,  straw^,  or 
soft  ra^.  Dr,  Taylor  6peak«  of  death  from  the  vaptrs  of  a  privy  or  of 
buruiug«Bulphur  (SO,),  and  of  chloroform  vapor  and  other  anesthetics. 
These  lumlee  of  death,  however,  thouj^h  much  re^mbling  6ufl^K*atioin  are 
more  titrictly  akin  (o  |M>iHouing.  Particles  of  food  may  obstruct  the  wind* 
pipe  and  block  up  \l*  afjcrture  fgloitii*),  and  thu8  induce  f>u0^>catioD« 
Kvcii  jiiilk  ntay  ha  curdled  in  the  stomach,  and  regurgitate  into  the  f»harynx 
and  larynx — a  mode  of  death  which  might  be  purely  accideniai — or  the 
child  might  voniii,  and,  lying  on  its  face,  might  draw  the  vomited  milk, 
ete.«  into  the  air-paj$!<age!$,  in  an  efjuully  accidental  way.  Thiis  happened 
to  a  child  one  nn»nth  old,  reportetl  liy  Mr.  Ilossi,  of  Guildford,  to  Dr.  Tay- 
lor {pte.  cit„  p.  :i^l ),  It  has  been  fuggested  that  the  pressure  uf  the  vagin 
on  the  child's  client  during  birth  might  suHixfate.  This  ap|>ean<  to  u@  rati 
hypitthetical. 

After  or  during  birth,  pressure  applietl  for  a  few  minutes  to  the  throat 
or  chest  would  certainty  de:stroy  life.  The  blood  of  the  mother,  or  foetal 
matters,  *uch  as  meconium  fnmi  the  child,  niight  al#o  be  .sucked  into  the 
aif'poi^Aageg  mum  after  the  birth.  iVhen  ufhifd  i*  bom  with  the  manbraue* 
entire,  or  with  part  of  the  memhraties  over  tlie  face  and  head,  which  is 
called  bt^iiifj  bom  with  a  cnul,  uulej-t?  timely  aid  be  at  hand,  the  child  mu8l 
die.  The  authors  have  met  with  caHeii  in  which  the  merabranei*  were  too 
tough  to  be  torn  by  hand,  and  required  iuci:^ion.  Mr.  Blenkin^-^op,  of 
Warwick,  in  June,  18G2,  told  Dr.  Taylor  of  one  such  case  in  which  a  child 
waa  Mi  born,  and  those  present  at  the  birth  would  not  interfere.  The 
coroner  held  that  ai^  the  evidence  f^howed  it  had  mvK  breathed,  it  never  had 
any  legal  exijttence,  a  ''tkuninung  up"  which  we  have  before  j*hown  to  be 
incorrect-  In  Cormack's  Journal/  Feb.  1845,  Dr.  En^ton,  ol"  Glasgow, 
report«i  a  caj^e  in  which  mud  had  evidently  been  forced  into  a  child's 
throat  and  mouth,  and  was  found  in  the  gullet  as  well  a^i  in  the  air-pas* 
sage^.  Strnum  have  MjmetimeA  been  founti  in  the  stomach,  etc.,  as  io  the 
cajie  of  Mneiutifre  f  Glasgow  Autumn  Circuit,  1829  I.  Dr.  Littlejohn  re- 
ports a  ca^ie  of  death  from  dough,  or  bread-pulp,  forcibly  impacte*!  in  the 
throat  and  larynx  of  a  chihl— ^Ar  moitA  mi*  aceurnUl)/  moulded  to  thf  partg 
("  Edinhurgh  Medical  Journal/*  Dec.  18.jo,  p.  521).  In  a  ca^e  reported 
in  the  *  Annale»  d'llygi^ne,  etc."  (18G3,  2,  895),  a  plug  of  fla\  wajs  found 
ill  the  rnouih.  Foreign  »ub^tatK'e^  thus  found  in  the  interior  of  the  child's 
body  .slmnld  be  <arefullv  exaujined  ;  as,  in  one  case  related  by  Dr.  Dohru 
(♦'llurn'fs  Vierle]jahrsc!iril"l,''  1867,  2,  i*8,  and  Taylor,  ^f>r.  ct^.,  p.  094), 
such  an  examination  led  to  the  mtjther\«  ac<juittal,  as  the  truth  of  her  ac- 
count wa^  thus*  substantiated.  The  child  rauy  be  suffocated  by  being  thrum 
ioto  a  sniuil  box  or  trunk,  or  prematurely  buried. 

If  a  child  fall  into  a  mass  of  liecal  matter,  a?  in  a  privy,  or  similar 
public  convenience,  or  even  into  the  pan  of  a  water-closet,  the  caune  of 
death  is  generally  Hutfocatiun,  pure  and  8imple,  and  not  drowning  pro|>erly 
so-called,  as  the  quantity  of  water  i.^  generally  («mall. 

(2.)  Surtbcation  by  Mrangulation  is  a  very  common  mode  of  infanticide. 
Oae  of  the  conimone^^t  meana,  because  alway-«j  at  hand,  i^  the  use  of  the 
navel  string.  As  remarked  at  page  <>93,  this  may  happen  nnturtdhj  from 
the  funiH  being  coiled  round  the  neck  in  utero,  and  the  child  being  so 
born,  no  skilled  abaistaoce  being  at  hand,  diee,  and  the  suspicion  of  child- 


I 
I 


7BACTURBS   OP   TUB   8KULL, 

survived  its  birth  some  days,  such  a  defence  is  at  once  invalidated.  For 
ihU  mode  of  defeuo^  to  be  e^tablif^hed,  it  ought  to  be  proved  either  that 
ihe  |H?lvis  was  very  large,  or  that  the  child  was  very  »mall,  or  the  final  art 
delivery  very  rapid,  and  that  the  mother  lost  cou^ciousues*.  It  would 
ippear  I'rom  Taylor  (aod  this  agrees  with  our  owo  experience)  that  the 
cooditiou  of  the  fuui^,  or  itinbliical  cord,  wUi  very  often  settle  the  truth 
or  faliiehijod  of  such  a  defence  at  once. 

IL  The  Infant  may  have  died  from  Wminds. — We  need  scarcely  point 
out  iliftt  the  dii4c«>very  of  punctured,  incised,  lacerated,  or  contn^d  woutida 
must  always  lead  to  the  gravest  dUj»picion  of  murder.  For  alihou^^h  the 
use  of  oh>letric  instrumeuta,  the  s-cisiHjrs  used  to  divide  the  cord,  and  broken 
utensili  miglit  all  iutlict  Mieh  wound*,  yet,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  except 
from  the  ibrmer  cause,  <uch  injuries  are  almost  uokuowo.  The  marks 
of  forceps  or  of  craniotomy  instruments  are  too  familiar  to  piacttcal  men 
to  need  detailed  description.* 

The  only  accidental  injuriee  produced  by  a  careleai  division  of  the  funis 
of  which  we  have  pergonal  knowledge  happened  to  the  fingers  io  one  in- 
stance, and  to  the  penis  and  the  to^  in  the  others. 

For  the  answer  to  the  question,  "Were  these  wounds  inflicted  whilst 
the  child  was  alive  ?"  we  must  refer  to  the  chapter  on  **  Wounds." 

Lingering  labors,  especially  when  there  is  much  difficulty  in  the  pa.<)^ge 
of  the  child's  head,  produce  a  puHy  and  bIo(>diutihrated  swelling  of  the 
child's  scjilp,  known  as  caput  sttccedaneum  cephafhtrmutoma,  which  is  familiar 
to  all  practical  accoucheurs,  and  even  to  mid  wives. 

III.  Fnidure^  of  fhc  Skuil  and  other  Bonert. — The  boneg  of  the  skull, and 
particuhirly  the  parietiil  bones,  are  most  likely  to  be  broken,  both  by  acci- 
dents, and  by  violence,  employed  with  criminal  motive.  It  is  true  that  a 
clumsy  midwife  (like  the  one  who  said,  "I  always  breaks  the  child's  legs 
in  these  cross-births")  or  accoucheur  might  fracture  the  bones  of  tlie  arms 
or  legs  by  dragging  down  the  former  across  the  ehdd's  back,  or  by  undue 
force  applied  to  the  latter.  It  is  hoped  that  such  cases  are  now  ex- 
tremely rare.  In  any  ease  this  injury  is  hardly  likely  to  be  immetliately 
fatal.  Fractures  of  the  skull,  and  of  other  bones,  such  as  the  ribs,  or 
those  of  the  upj>er  or  lower  exiremities,  may  happen  accidentally  in  two 
ways,  via. ; 

(1.)  Arciderds  happening  to  the  Mother  before  the  Birth  of  the  Chihl  may 
produce  Intrauterine  Fractures. — A  fall  downstairs,  kicks  on  the  abdomen, 
or  violent  blows,  may  fracture  the  child's  skull,  ribs,  or  limbs  whilst 
unborn.  The  aulhoi-s  have  known  this  to  occur  in  the  sow,  bitch,  and 
doe-rabbit,  as  well  as  in  the  ewe  and  the  female  cat,  from  their  being  run 
over.  A  mare  in  foal  fell  over  into  a  quarry,  and  the  colt  with  which 
she  was  heavy,  was  born  dead  with  a  fractureci  skull.  A  costernv 
kickefl  his  donkey,  who  was  near  her  time  for  foaling — the  young  du. 
had  a  broken  foreleg,  and  symptoms  of  fraclured  skull.  Dr.  SluneUi 
(**  Gazette  des  Hopilaux,"  November  7,  1840,  p.  r)2»l)  states  that 
pregnant  wi>nian,  five  days  before  the  expiration  of  her  full  term  of  prej 
nancy,  fell  whilst  running,  so  that  her  belly  struck  sharply  against 
jagged  stone.  Four  days  after  she  was  delivered  of  a  dead  and  pvitrid 
child,  and  she  herself  died  in  an  hour.    The  child's  head  was  greatly 


*  Usually  eponking,  the  mark  of  one  forcepB  blnde  is  in /ron^  of  one  enr,  Hnd  thaftj 
of  tho  oihf  r  blnde  t^tkind  the  corresponding  frtr.     Stmnge  ms  it  may  i^eom,  wo  h»i 
known  the  rinif*»ned  psthologist  (of  h  inrgo  hospiUil)  lurgetlul  uf  Ibo  uppwHrnn* 
iMually  produced  by  crniitolorny  d(»ne  with  Knii^or»  und  crotchet     He  de»vrii>cHl 
nftpcAmnces  u  resembling  the  ravage  of  n  curnivorous  animnl. 


698 


IMPAKTIOIDE    FROM    POISON. 


be  pretty  easily  fevered,  aod  may  sometimes  be  left  behitid  in  utero,  in 

bretcli  and  fuotling  ca?es.  TIk^  aiiiliors  themselves  know  of  i«in'h  cases, 
aud  ilifv  ar«  meuiioned  In  most  obnielric  wuik^.  A«  regards  the  traolion- 
|M)wer,  it  is  well  ktiuwu  that  a  man  oi  10  ntuiie  hiii<  repeatedly  (xdled  with 
all  lii»  might  without  thii!!  reiftuU;  and  Hlthougii  only  a  porliun  ut  hits  mus- 
cular lorce  and  a  portiun  nf  his  weight  (.'ati  be  Hupposetl  to  act  in  a  straight 
line  with  the  neck,  there  can  be  no  doubt  the  torce  employed  is  often 
enormous.  Jfl  the  fracturejt  of  the  ifkutl  to  nfitrft  we  have  juM  athided  are^ 
as  a  rul^f  tnudi  »Hghter  and  /c^x  marked  than  (hone  produced  hy  inttniional 
tioltmce.  This  is  true  even  of  the  foreepd  c■a^ies,  and  of  those  produced  by 
lall^  i'rom  a  height.  As  regards  the  pojisibiiity  ol  a  woman  being  deiivere*! 
in  the  upright  position,  besides  the  munerou!?  aise-s  related  by  Ca-^per  and 
oihen*.  the  authors  can  add  their  personal  experience.  One  huch  ease 
happened  suddenly  to  a  lady  who  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  have  a 
living  child,  having  had  several  dead  ones.  It  is,  however,  ycry  seldom 
that  t^ncli  falls  prove  tatal  Lo  the  child  ;  if  it  dies  there  is  generally  some 
other  cause  of  death.  Besid*'s  fracture  of  llie  sktdl,  such  a  suddcu  birth 
and  fall  nmy  cause  the  curd  or  funis  lo  be  suddenly  broken  oti*(this  is  not 
always  so,  much  depends  u[)on  its  !ei*glh,  as  well  as  istrength) ;  premature 
separation  of  the  placenta  uiih  its  residU;  coiicussioQ  of  the  brain,  and 
hypericmia  of  and  within  the  skulU  or  actual  cerebral  biemorrhage  in  vari- 
ous situations;  riouccjuet  says  dislocalioti  of  the  cervical  vertebiai  (?)  and 
pcjssibly  other  fractures,  as  of  the  limbs  or  ribs.  Frndures  of  the  fikull 
Jrom  violence,  purposely  intlicled,  are  usnally  far  more  severe.  The  skull 
is  often  battered  to  with  fearfid  viuleuee,  and  it  is  seldom  that  tlie  seat  of 
iDJury  is  conliued  to  any  one  snot.  There  are  usually  several  Iractures, 
and  other  signs  of  violence.  We  need  scarcely  caution  you  against  mis- 
taking natural  dcticieiicies  in  ossiHeaiiou  for  the  etIecLs  of  violence* 

IV*  Pouion  M  somtiimes,  thowjh  rarefy,  cmpiui/ed  to  destroy  the  netebom 
\thUd*  Opium  is  most  likely  to  be  employed  iu  this  way — either  in  the 
form  of  syrup  of  poppies,  or  laudanum,  or  some  of  the  *•  soothing  syrup," 
tot)  mu(*h  ust>d  to  quiet  infants.  Tardieu  remarks  that  thi^  mode  of  iulanli* 
cide  is  very  rare.  In  a  recent  ca«e  of  suspected  iidaulicide  near  Finsbury 
Efiquare,  it  was  stated  that  an  overdose  of  syrup  of  poppie*"  had  been  given 
^by  ndltnke  <I).  As  the  body  of  ihe  child  had  been  boiled,  it  would  have 
ilbien  difficult  to  detect  this  poison.  Sliogenberg  t"  Dissert.  Medic,  forens. 
de  InliinlicitU"  Groiiiugen,  1834,  p.  1)1*),  i|Uoied  by  Tardieu,  states  that  in 
one  case  known  to  him,  orpimenl  was  given  lo  the  newborn  child  by  the 
molher  to  kill  it;  and  in  Mtioiher  caie  verdigris.  Tardieu  mentions  two 
very  young  infants  who  were  destroyed  by  ihe  introduction  of  j^ponges 
dipped  in  nitric  und  hydrijcliiorie  acids  resf>ectively  into  their  mouths. 
This  crime  would  appear  (Ironi  Taylor  and  'lardieu's  reportMj  lo  be  more 
frequent  in  France  than  elsewhere.  There  is  no  special  diHiculty  in  de- 
tecting poison  in  the  b<jdies  of  young  infants — and  iu  any  doubtful  case, 
it  would  be  your  duty  toexanjine  tor  evidence  of  this  sort  of  deatb. 

V,  Nctvly  born  rhildren  may  be  killed  by  cold  and  expoi^urr..  This  is,  of 
course,  most  likely  to  happen  iu  the  winter  months.  The  evidence  must 
be  chiefly  circumstantial.  It  is  wet!  known  that  a  young  child  requires 
more  warmth,  ab  extra,  than  au  older  child  or  a  young  adulu 

VI.  Defith  may  hm>e  been  caused  by  tttTrmtion.  A  healthy,  mature  child, 
if  kept  warm,  will  generally  live  two  or  three  days  without  food,  or  with 
very  lirtle.  If,  therefore,  death  occurs  from  this  cause,  it  will  be  alm<>st 
certainly  of  set  purpose.  The  empty  condition  of  the  alimentary  canal 
would  be  the  chief  medical  proof.     See  the  chapter  ot»  Starvation. 


700 


MEDICO-LEGAL    KEPORTS. 


(2)  The  condition  of  the  organs  of  circulation. 

(a)  The  foramen  ovule. 

(b)  The  tlu€ti»s  arterio:<U9,  \ls  dimensiona  and  shape. 

(c)  The  ductus  veno»us. 
(rf)  The  state  of  the  umbilical  vessels, 
(e)  The  condition  of  the  heart  and  its  cavities  (this  must  he 

noted  first). 

(3)  The  condition  of  the  abdominal  organs, 
(a)  The  liver,  its  weight  and  size. 
(6)  The  slomflch  and  intet^tiues  ;  particularly  the  large  iutes-j 

tiue*i ;  as  to  the  presence  or  absence  of  ffxid^  mecouium,  el 
(c)  The  etate  of  the  urinary  bladder  and  kidneys, 

(4)  The  condition  of  the  bruii]  and  i^piual  marrow,  the  crauium 
having  been  tirat  examined  for  Iraciure,  etc, 

In  opening  the  boily  of  sueh  a  child,  Beck  reromnienda  that  an  open- 
ing be  made  from  the  mouth  iJowiiwurdji,  and  ilmt  the  i«ymphy6i.s  of  the 
lower  jaw  should  be  divided,  or  portiiiua  taken  out  sn  as  to  get  a  clear 
view  of  the  throat  and  numth.  It,  however,  the  mi>utb  be  forced  oj)en, 
and  the  plan  i-ecoinmended  at  page  3r1,  for  making  post-mortems,  be 
adopted,  it  will  sehitm  be  necessary  to  divide  the  lower  jaw. 

III.  A*  regards  the  rj-aminaUoti  of  ifu-  tiwthfTf  or  we  should  rather  mj 
of  the  woman  suspected  of  having  given  birth  to  the  child,  we  have  little 
to  add  to  what  has  l^een  alreatly  sniil  of  the  .^igns  of  recent  delivery  in 
the  living.     Should  fhe  be  dead,  the  remarks  made  at  page  621  will  apply. 

IV.  You  may  be  called  upon  to  e^ravihie  bedding,  articiea  of  wearuir/  ap- 
pardt  ao<l  perhaps  «tmnit  on  the  jlwjr  of  a  room^  or  wtiter-chnct.  The  |K'CU- 
liar  smell  of  u  lying-in  mom,  the  disc(>very  of  ftetal  hairs,  meconium,  and 
perhaps  fragments  of  decidmi,  or  portions  of  placenta  and  of  the  tnem- 
branca  will  be  almost  the  only  Mgn;*  on  which  you  can  place  ab^^olute 
reliance.  For  bhtod  might  ari.^e  from  mcnorrliagia,  uterine  hydatids, 
metrorrhagia,  from  ti braids  or  polypous  tumors  of  the  uterus,  and  tlie  like  ; 
or,  as  in  a  cai^e  which  occurred!  a  tew  years  ago,  from  a  "sheep*:?  i>luck 
procured  to  represent  the  placenta! 

Oil  Medico  legal  lieparU  in  Cajses  of  Infant  tcidt. 

Most  authors,  on  the  subject  of  iutantici<ie,  give  examples  of  the  kind 
of  reports  which  a  medical  witnesjs,  or  witnesses,  should  draw  up  in  such 
cases,  Although  our  uwn  opinion  is  that  an  intelligent  medical  witnei!i8 
will  generally  tind  but  little  difficulty  in  writing  dtiwu  the  faet^  he  has 
dii«covered  in  his  examination,  we  think  the  subjoined  furm  may  prijve  of 
advantage,  becaui^e  it  enables  un  to  repeat  some  of  the  principal  facts  on 
whieh  our  decisions  must  be  fnuuded.  We  have  chosen  a  case  of  a  newly 
born  infant,  who  had  survived  it.«i  birth  ^me  days,  and  bad  been  sutTo- 
cated. 

I  [or  wel,  the  undersigned  [John  William  Smith  and  Thnmag  ^rotra], 
Doctor  of  3Iedicine  [or  Meniber[s]  of  the  Ki>yui  College  of  Surge<ms,  and 
Licejitiate[s]  of  the  .Society  of  Apothecaries],  residing  at  [fi2lj  Citij  Jioad, 
JV.],  and  practicing  as  Pliy8ieian[e]  [or  Surffiwi[nJ],  hereby  declare, 
witness  my  [or  Our],  hand[s]  and  seal[s],  that  being  reqnc^^ted  to  examint 
the  boilv  of  a  mate  intiant,  tound  on  the  20th  July,  iHTti,  in  [a  goodji-ahed' 
of  the  Loudon  and  Northwestern  Hail  way  Company],  I  [or  wv],  accord- 
ingly did  so  on  the  [21st]  day  of  [July,  1876J,  ami  that  the  following 
account  is  a  true  statemeut  of  the  facts  of  the  case  : 


702 


MEDICO-LKGAL    REPORTS. 


•klot  etc.,  of  ibe  belly  or  abdomen  wa«  reUxerl,  flabby,  and  wrinkled.  It 
was  marked  with  mimemua  t^hiny  streaks  (Imeie  albifuntes)  and  purplish 
marks;  these  were  also  foutul  on  the  thighs.  A  hmly  in  ihc^itiiatioo  of  ibe 
uterus;  could  be  felt  throtigh  the  tthd*mii(uil  wulls,  as  Inrge  a**  a  fri<ket'ball, 
or  somewhat  larger.  There  was  milk  in  b<»th  breoj't««.  and  a  dark  circle 
(areola)  mund  each  oipplc,  in  which  luimeroiis  and  larje  follifles  ci>ulH  Iw 
seen.  The  perineum  was  torn  for  about  half  an  inch  towards  the  ami?«, 
but  not  exteudiog  into  it.  The  vaf^ina  was  mvich  relaxt*cl^  and  had  a 
brui:M»d  and  dark  appearance.  The  uterus  felt  lar^^e  an*!  heavy.  The  os 
uteri  was  wide  o(>e»»  and  admitted  two  finger?,  prei^ented  three  or  four  dis- 
tinct lacerations  or  tears.  A  .sound  could  be  passed  tn  a  depth  of  nearly 
5  inches.  The  under-linen,  boddinp,  etc.,  were  stained  with  bh)od,  and 
■he  had  a  greenish  yellow  {^lochia!)  discharge.  From  these  appearances  I 
lor  tvc]  conclude — 

1st.  That  this  woman  has  been  recently  delivered,  and  that  probably 
within  a  week  or  ten  days. 

2d,  That  looking  at  the  lacerations  of  the  perineum  and  os  uteri,  the 
child  of  which  she  wa5  delivered  was  in  all  probability  mature  and  of 
full  size. 

3d.  That  it  is  therefore  probable,  as  she  will  give  no  account  of  her  own 
child,  that  the  body  found  is  that  of  said  child. 

lu  witness  whereof,  I  [or  we]  have  hereunto  set  my  [or  our]  baDd[8] 

this  [21st]  day  of  [July],  187l6]. 

In  drawing  up  such  reporUj  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  following 
particulars: 

(1)  All  measurement  and  weights  and  statements  of  size  should  he  io 
plain  terms,  and  a.^  far  as  possible  in  standard  measures  and  weights — or 
comparison  made  wiih  well-known  objects. 

(2)  Dates  and  places  should  be  plainly  stated,  and  also  names  of  per- 
sons where  such  are  known. 

(3)  The  conclusions  or  opinions  should  be  kept  distinct  from  the  facts. 


CquUo*i«  as  i4}  the  Docima«la  Fittmomtm  or  Examination  of  (he  Lunpi, 

Although  we  have  before  stAtecl  that  breathing  or  respiration  is  not  the 
only  proof  of  life,  yet  there  can  be  no  dimbi  that  the  examination  of  the 
lungs  is  the  chief  means  of  establishing  the  fact  that  a  child  has  had  se] 
rate  life.  It  is  therefore  very  necessary  that  we  should  have  clear  ideas  oo" 
this  subject.  We  therefore  recapitulate  very  briefly,  iu  a  tabular  form,  the 
characters  of  lungs  which  have  and  have  not  respired  or  breathe<i  : 


Lungs  wbleh  ta«re  nol  breathed. 


I.  Dkrk  iu  cnhtt  {btack-Mii«,  mmwD,  or  pur- 
ple).   Tlu«y  resHflHile  U^vr. 
'2.  Air-reslclM  aot  tlnibli*  to  naked  eyo. 


3.  Du  not  oreplUt«  or  crackle  when 

or  ciil. 

4.  Ctinuio   but  UttW  blood— therefore  UlUe 

0Kn|ie5  run  wwlloD. 

5.  Thli  hUmtd  b  Dui  frolhf,  unlew  there  la 

EKiirvrapiiun, 
vsj  aluk  in    wat«r,  Moleu  putrid,   aitd 
ulteQ  eveu  then. 


7.  Tine  bubhlt^  of  gM  arising  fnin  putrefae- 
tian  can  be  »que^wd  out. 


LuofB  which  hav«  bimilicd. 


1.  Li^bl  !n  color  rr<w-jiitik,pnlvr  pink, UghU 

nnl,  or  frini«'«n>. 

2.  Alr-vi'sldrw    lURlhicUy    rialblv    to    imkWI 

eyi',  i>r  lu  lrn»  of  tow  powrr  (t*j  ■  lwi>. 
Ittch,  or  cnmmikn  rvtuWug-nltiM), 
S,  Thf'y  cri'pliiaii'  ^r  rraekle  fr«vljr. 


ronriiln  a  itoKnl  dt^l  o(  blood, 


which  ••• 


A.  ThU  Ikliwtd  U  fffMi-ly  mixed  «lth  air,  ■04 
tbi'r*-for.'  frothy, 

6.  Tb«'y  tloui  In  w»i«*r,  or,  ai  »U  mTnti*  tJia 

tiirls   whii'b     have     fwrn     eX|»Krttl«<d    Of 
uve  breothrMl.     If  fnlly  rxp««ded  Ih^y 
will  vvvn  buuj  up  the  hcArL 

7.  The  air  caoool  be  wtueeaed  out. 


704 


SIGNS   OF    PUTREFACTION. 


proofe  of  survival  of  birth  from  the  condition  of  the  cord  or  navel,  or  of 
the  stomach  and  ahditmen.  Ou  the  coiiirary,  this  accumulation  of  proof 
18  exactly  what  a  medical  witue!*s  in  this  couiitrv  want«;  to  he  "armed  at 
all  fK»iiit!<,"  ao  a&  to  be  perfectly  unshaken  in  Iiis  evidence  by  any  legal 
subtleties. 

Si<pi8  of  Putrefaction  before  Birth, 

Dr.  Guy  (who  has  done  good  work  on  the  ayestion  of  infanticide,  and 
especially  in  regard  to  the  examination  of  hvlAl  Iuni5a,and  the  imfmrtnnce 
of  hioking  for  the  air- vehicle**)  descrribes  at  pajj^es  81  and  82  of  hh  Medical 
Jurisprudence  the  symptouis  of  intrauterine  maceration  of  the  fa?tus,  and 
gives  a  figure  of  a  fuHus  in  which  this  soaking  in  the  womb  had  p:one  j*o  far 
as  as  to  loosen  a  great  part  of  tUe  skin.  He  objects  to  tbe  term  piitrofac- 
tion,  because  in  many  of  these  case^  there  is  little  or  no  smell.  We  think, 
however,  that  the  smell  hn;*  been  ibcre,  and  that  the  term  putrefaction  is 
fitili  applicable.  We  therefore  lake  from  Cu^pe^  his  graphic  tle-icription  of 
these  changes  (Dr.  Balfour's  trauj-lation,  p.  91,  vol.  iii).  He  says:  *' It 
is  iinpo^J^iUf  to  7ni:itakt'  the  nppenrnnvt'  of  a  child  born  putrid.  The  swollen 
ciiti»,  the  vesicular  elcvuti(»u  of  the  cuticle  or  its  coujplete  peeliuj^  otf,  the 
pray i>ih -green  colornlit^n  of  the  body,  the  putrid  navel-string,  the  well- 
known  stench,  etc.,  do  not  constitntc  the  diagnosiji,  since  every  child,  even 
when  born  alive, undergoes  ihc^se  putrelactive  changes  in  their  turn  at  the 
proper  time  after  its  death.  Ou  the  contrary,  most  of  these  characteristicftare 
not  exhibited  by  a  cliild  born  putrid,  and  the  putrelactive  maceration  ia 
the  warm  liquor  amnii  U  so  very  dillereiit  iu  it^s  operation  from  putrefac- 
tion externa!  to  the  nteru<,  that  il  producer  ao  appearance  sio  specific  a^^  to 
be  unmistakably  recognized  whenever  it  has  been  once  or  twice  seen,  Iu 
the  fii^t  place,  a  child  born  putrid  ia  remarkable  for  its  penetrating  s*tench, 
which  cannot  be  conceuled  by  a  thin  coffin  or  che.st,  etc.,  and  which, 
though  Po  repulsive  and  indestructible,  is  odt  yet  the  usual  well-known 
irtlor  of  fiutretying  bodies,  but  has  sumcthitig  sweet IsIj,  stale,  and  indescrib- 
able about  it,  which  inake^  it  all  the  more  unendurable.  The  difference 
in  the  general  color  of  the  skin  in  the  two  classes  «>f  cliihlreu  i§  still  more  re- 
markable. A  child  horn  putrid  has  not  a  sha<le  of  green  upon  its  skin,  but 
b  niore  or  less  of  a  coppery-red,  here  and  there  of  a  pure  tlesh  color.  Peel- 
ing of  the  cuticle  is  never  absent,  but  close  to  recent  patche.s  of  thi«  char- 
acter older  ones  are  fimnd  upon  the  body,  the  bases  of  which  are  already 
dark  and  hardened.  The  excoTiate<l  patches  are  moist,  greasy,  and  coutin- 
ually  exude  a  stinking,  sero-sanguinoleul  fluid,  which  «oaks  through  all 
the  coverings  of  the  body.  The  general  form  of  such  bodies  is  as  remark- 
able as  the  color.  Whilst  every  highly  putrefied  corpse  preaervci^  ft»r  hmg 
the  roundnesaof  the  contour  of  the  body,  though  its  form  is  disfigured  and 
distorted  by  intumescence,  it  must  strike  every  one  when  a  chihl  bom 
putrid  is  placed  before  him  how  great  a  tendency  is  displaye<l  by  it  to  flat- 
ten out,  and,  as  it  were,  fall  to  pieces.  Thorax  and  abdomen  lose  their 
roundness,  their  contour  forms  au  ellipse,  from  the  soft  parts  sinking  out- 
wards towards  both  sides.  The  head  itself,  the  bones  of  which  are  h>0(se 
anil  njovahle  as  in  every  child's  b<i*ly,  becomes  flattened,  and  the  face 
thereby  repulsively  disfigured,  as  the  nose  is  flattened,  and  the  cheekd 
fall  to  opposite  sides.  It  is  impossible  accurately  to  describe  the  appear- 
ance of  such  a  child,  and  it  is  not  worth  while  to  append  an  exact  repne- 
seniatiou  true  to  nature,  since  the  sketch  here  given,  aa  accurately  as  possi- 
ble, ia  sufficient  to  characterize  a  child  born  putrid." 

Lnnff  mnrenition  in  a  wirm  *ind  weak  safinc  ftufd  (the  liquor  amnii  at  a 
teniiwrnture  of  37°  or  38""  Centigrade  I  is  the  chief  cau^e  of  the«e  appear- 
«Doed.    Jf  a  newborn  ehild^  body  be  boiUd,  a«  in  the  case  of  an  infant 


708 


OASEB    OF    INFANTICIDE. 


tious  of  excoriated  cutif>,  and  a  precisely  similar  patch  upon  the  occtpita] 

protiiheratice  (c»n  the  Continent,  forceps  are  often  applied  so  as  to  corn- 
preii.*'  the  childV  hejid  antercvpoiiieriorly)^  There  wm  an  extravasation  of 
oltNjd  heneatli  the  occipitul  aponeurosis.  Tlie  ve:it*els  of  the  pin  mater  were 
mufh  ennire>ted^  and  the  whole  of  the  bcuiU  eranil  had  a  layer  of  dark, 
Irearly  bliM>cl  s^pread  over  it,  which  is  ceriainly  a  rare  appearance.  The 
right  lung  was  of  a  hrig'ht-brown  colnr,  with  redtlish  patche*onit;  the 
lelt  lunp:  wa.s  of  ofte  uniform  tjurk-hrown.  On  inci?<ing  the  right  lung,  a 
fiiiut  sound  of  crepitationi  was  heard,  and  a  little  hloody  froih  escaped; 
there  was  nothing  of  the  kind  seen  or  hean!  on  cutting  into  the  left 
one.  The  right  lung  floated  perfectly,  all  but  a  few  pieces*,  which 
sank,  aud  compression  umler  water  caused  the  usual  pearly  vesicles  to 
ascend;  the  left  lung  siink  completely.  It  was,  therefore,  evident  that 
the  right  lung  alone  had  commenced  to  respire." 

Case  IV. — Partial  R&fpiratinn — Enriu  Apoplexy,     (Casper,  No. 

CCCLV.) 

"A  mature  female  child  (with  an  oa^oiis  nucleus  of  two  lines)  wm 
found  one  evening  in  spring  lying  dead  upon  the  fliwr  of  a  htnne.  Three 
days  subsequently  it  was  placed  U|k*d  our  di.sjjectitig-table,  already  grayi^-h- 
green.  The  diaphragm  was  placed  between  ilie  fourth  and  fifth  ribs. 
Gaseous  bullse  were  scattered  through  the  thymus.  The  lung*  were 
retracted.  The  left  was  of  a  uniforni  brown  color,  the  right  of  a  bright 
ro*iy  red,  wiih  a  few  bluish  marblings.  When  the  yet  unseparated  heart 
and  lungs  were  laid  upon  the  surface  of  the  water,  they  sank  hut  wlnwly. 
From  this  il  was  to  be  expected  that  individual  portions  of  the  lungs 
would  lloftt  when  they  came  to  be  separated.  The  weight  of  the  right 
lung  wa?i  4110  grains,  the  left  31)0  grains.  When  separaleil,  the  right  lung 
floated,  but  when  depressed  beneath  the  surface,  it  ro-e  unusually  slowly; 
the  left  lung  sank  at  once  to  the  bottom.  When  further  divided  into 
lobes,  only  the  upper  lobe  of  the  right  hing  floated,  while  the  others  slowly 
Bank.  The  two  lobes  of  the  left  lung  sank  slowly.  Finally,  when  cut 
into  little  pieces,  only  alxiut  a  quarter  of  the  right  lung  was  found  to  be 
buoyant,  and  only  three  pieces  of  the  left  lung.  No  other  organ  floated. 
The  lungs  were  not  in  the  smallest  degree  putrid,  atid  the  right  lung 
crepitated,  and  gave  vent  to  a  small  quantity  of  bhmdy  froth  wheu  cut 
into;  the  left  one  did  neither.  Evidently  the  child  had  made  a  few 
attempts  to  breathe;  a  small  amount  of  inspired  air  ha<l,  as  usual,  got 
into  the  right  lung,  while  a  still  smaller  quautity  had  also  got  into  the 
left  one,  and  an  apoplectic  attack,  the  traces  of  which  were  distinctly 
yifeible,  had  ended  its  life  immediately  after  its  birth." 


Case  V. — Artificial  Hetpiration — Difficulty  of  Diagnosis  fropt   CoinpUi, 
Horn.     (Casper.  CCCXLI 1 1 . ) 

"This  was  an  extremely  intricate  case.  An  illegitimate  female  child 
wafi  born  in  the  eighth  month  (wiihont  any  osseous  nucleus  in  the  fen>ur). 
Acconling  to  its  mother's  statement^  which  scH?med  on  this  point  a  little 
hajty,  it  bad  never  cried.  Shortly  afterwards,  a  (very  little  known)  phy- 
eiciau  was  called  in ;  he  f»mnd  the  child  apparently  lifeless,  and,  holding 
it^  nose,  attempted  to  iujinte  its  luufjA  by  blowing  with  his  mouth  directly 
into  the  child's.  The  dk«ection  pnived  that  this  air  had  not  got  into  the 
stomach.  The  diaphragm  was  placed  between  the  fourth  and  6fth  ribe. 
The  liver  and  vena  cava  contained  much  treacly  blood.  The  right  lung 
dliiended  the  thoracic  cavity,  the  left  one  was  retracted.     BotJi   luogi 


CASES   OF    INFANTICIDE 


VII.—  CMM  ialen  &ul  of  n  Mffhtchrtir—DenfA  by  Fall  at  Blrth^Body 
mude  away  with  for  eeonomicai  reatous.    ( Ca^iier'a  CCCLX  X  X 11 . ; 

**The  body  of  &  mature  nevborn  boy  was  found  ia  a  Qight-chair^  with 
a  plaoeota  weigbbg  11  oz^.;  the  child  Wfighed  GJ  lb&,  and  wa«  \6  ioches 
in  lengthy  but  the  diameters  of  the  head  and  shoulders  were  ^maJl 
(^i  X  4  X  4j  iuches  for  the  head,  4J  for  the  i^houldens).  The  [HirtinD  of 
the  funis  attached  to  tbe  eliild  wu8  14  iLches  long,  torn  acro8i».  with  mggeii 
edge«,  and  tied<  Beneath  the  pericranium,  ou  the  left  {tarietal  bone,  there 
were  a  tew  iwjlated  ecehvmoses;  no  other  trace  of  violence  was  to  l>e  found, 
either  internally  or  externally.  The  body  was  perfectly  fre*h.  Death  had 
been  caus^^d  by  cerebral  hypersemia,  not  by  suHbcaliou.  Respiratory  life 
was  iudubitable.  The  plateuta  heiug  found  along  wilh  the  child,  the  t^m 
funi^,  the  small  diameters  of  the  head  and  shoulders,  and  the  secret 
delivery,  were  all  in  favor  of  the  sfrUppoitition  of  a  precipitate  birth;  and 
tbe  eechyujo^es  on  the  parietal  bone  made  it  also  probable  that  the  child 
had  fallen  on  ltd  head  at  \u  birth.  A  fall  could  not^  however,  have  had 
eff»cl  if  the  birth  had  taken  place  upon  the  night-chair,  and  the  child  had 
fallen  ufXiU  the  »ofl  feniitluici  (in  May)  msiSi  of  excrement;  and  in  this 
case  al^o,  di^th  would  have  been  cau^d  by  ^nffocaiion,  and  not  by  cere* 
brsl  hypera;mia.  Accordingly,  it  would  be  ^uppo^cd  that  this  viable  and 
live-born  child  had  died  H.H^n  after  \U  birth  fr«ira  cerebral  a]i«>|»lexy, 
pj-oduced  by  falling  up»>u  some  hard  floor  at  \t&  birth,  and  that  alter  its 
death  it  had  been  Hung  into  the  night-chair  to  save  the  expense  of  burial, 
and  more  completely  to  conceal  it*  birth." 


Case  VII  L — Injury  of  Carotid  Artery  and  Spinal  Cord  of  a  Newtn^n  Child. 
(Camper's  385th  ca**e.) 

"An  unmarried  maidservant,  pregnant  for  the  second  time,  brought 
forth  her  child  secretly  in  a  cellar,  during  the  night,  and  firi^i  killed  it 
by  repeated  sitabs  with  a  table-knife,  and  subsiequenily  inflicted  many  ex- 
ternal injuries  on  it  wiiibt  dying,  with  a  spade,  with  which  she  buried  it 
in  the  sand.  The  right  carotid  was  punctured  within  the  thorax  by  one 
stab,  another  completely  severed  the  spine  and  spinal  cord  between  tbe 
fifth  and  jjixth  cervical  vertebraj.  The  medico-legal  decision  of  the  case 
wa«  consequenLly  ea^y.  On  the  other  hand,  the  following  circum<?iance 
shows  how  important  it  U  to  proceed  with  the  utmost  carefulnc8S  in 
making  a  legal  {wst  morteiu.  The  accused  staled  that  after  the  child  was 
born,  and  while  it  was  *till  connected  with  her  by  mean*  of  the  funiw,  ^he 
went  into  the  adjoining  room  to  fetch  a  table-knife  \iith  which  to  cut  the 
umbilical  cord  ;  and  that  she  then, /or  the  ftr^t  time,  with  the  knife  in  her 
hand,  and  overwhelmed  with  fear  and  terror,  wajj  suddenly  seized  with  the 
idea  of  killing  her  child,  which  she  carried  out.  Thia  view  reduced  her 
crime  in  the  eyeti  of  the  criminal  jurit<t  to  a  mere  act  of  homicide.  Of 
coun-e,  at  the  dissection  of  the  b<:Kly,  when  no  one  could  gueas  the  9ub§e« 
(|iient  C4>nfes8ion,  the  condition  of  the  edges  of  the  remains  of  the  umbi]i> 
cal  coni  had  been  carefully  examined,  and  we  had  a*icertained  indubitably 
from  the  irregular,  serrated,  and  denticulated  edgCM,  that  the  umbilical 
cord  had  not  been  severed  by  a  sharp  lUBtrument,  but  had  been  tora 
across*.  The  inntrumeut  employed  by  the  murderess,  and  ^ub*^e(piently 
recognized  as  »*uch  by  her,  was  a  very  ghnrp  knife,  she  herself  having 
6harf>ened  it  but  the  day  before,  along  with  the  other  knives  of  the  lumse, 
therefore  we  were  forced  to  maintain  our  original  supposition  in  eptte  of 
this  fitatemeut  of  the  accu^^ed.     Her  crime  thus 


Tit 


ILLUSTEATITI   CA8I8, 


hu  8ttl)  aflTurded  proof  that  the  lungs  coDtained  iio«iie<itr,  though  only  in 
trifling  quaDtiiy,  and  consequ^nilv  the  te^uli  of  but  oDe,  two,  or  three  ia- 
gpiratioos^  Huce  there  k  do  other  probable  ?ource  tor  the  air  in  thid  case. 
IhiA  proof  ouiiMst£  in  the  p)06ition  of  the  diaphragm,  the  brighter  patcbe* 
in  the  luogs,  the  bloody  troth,  and  the  liue  air-bubbler  which  aBc&kitd 
tVom  the  cut  |M)rtioDs  of  the  luDg»  wheDM|iieesed  uuder  water.  Thiii  oaae^ 
tberet'on^,  like  maDV  eitnilar  onesi,  prvvea  the  great  tUlieaty  and  ejcc<ilemm 
of  the  doeimatia  putm^arUf  which  has  here  detet-ted  a  respiratory  life,  tb&t 
htks  eudtrd  almuat  aa  eoon  as  begun/*  lie  then  (without  attaching  undue 
iojportauce  to  the  pudlion  of  the  loogue  between  the  teeth)  aa>crd>ed  the 
death  to  eutfbcntion.  "The  child  must  thus  have  fallen  into  the  fluid 
fstam  alive,  and  mu^t,  of  course,  have  been  drowned  therein,  and  death  trum 
drowniug  is,  in  a  large  proportion  of  case?,  death  from  8uflix*ation."  In 
reply  to  the  inquiry,  it'  the  death  of  the  child  were  intentional.  Camper  ^howa 
that  the  appearances  all  agreed  with  the  woinanV  statement,  that  it  was 
accidental ;  and  though  the  placenta  was  not  found,  it  appeared  that  the 
man  who  found  the  child  did  not  know  anything  about  the  atterbirlh,  nod 
never  looked  fur  it.  Other  similar  cases  are  to  be  found  in  Cai^per,  who  i$, 
next  to  Tardieu,  the  be^t  authority  we  have  on  these  subjects.  If  we  were 
to  criticize  him  at  all,  it  is  for  being  sometimes  a  little  too  positive  in  regard 
to  ca^es  where  putrefaction  was  advaoced. 


Case  X. — Infanlidde  hy  StfceaUon,    ( Tardieu 's  No.  1.) 

The  accused,  Marie  Anasta^e  P.,  was  aged  27  years,  and  single.  8he 
quitted  her  place  of  service  at  ArzilU^res  early  in  March,  1H54,  in  an  ad- 
vanced state  of  pregnancy,  which  she  c«jncealed  and  denied  to  all  who  a«ked 
questions.  She  went  to  Paris  and  t04>k  service  there.  Her  new  mistreaa 
suspected  her  condition,  but  did  not  charge  her  with  it.  But  oo  the  girl 
keeping  her  bed  "  for  a  cold  "  on  the  24th  March,  her  mistre^,  after  ntany 
denials  on  the  girl's  part,  at  last  got  a  confessgioo  that  she  "  betieviHi  *'  she 
was  pregnant^  but  only  admitting  six,  or  at  the  most  eight,  moutli!^'  gesta- 
tion to  be  possible.  Early  next  morning  her  master  asked  her  how  she 
was*,  and  the  girl  said  she  was  **no  better."  At  a  quarter  to  eight  the^jime 
morning,  ber  mistress  on  entering  the  room  was  informed  that  she  had  had 
colic,  then  that  it  was  a  miscarriage.  Next  the  &er\'aut  said  that  at  six 
oVIock  she  had  gone  to  theolo^e-stool,and  the  infant  was  born  and  tuiulded 
into  the  pan,  that  it  had  only  cried  once,  sighed  once  or  twice,  and  then 
died.  Then  she  said  it  had  fallen  on  the  ground  and  not  inti3  the  pan.  The 
master  and  mistre^  sent  for  M.  Lebreton,  their  own  medical  man,  who 
found  the  child  still  warm,  but  dead.  There  was  no  trace  of  external  vio- 
lence, but  it  was  wrapped  in  a  petticoat,  which  closely  covervd  it  all  over 
He  considered  the  child  viable,  but  could  not  determine  whether  negli^reuce 
or  crime  was  the  cause  of  the  suffocation.  M.  Tardieu  was  consnlttii,  and 
states  that  the  inlant  was  a  girl,  strong  and  vigorous-looking,  21)  inches 
long,  and  weighing  6  lbs.,  the  osseoue  nucleu;*  well  developed.  The  funis 
was  torn  and  not  tied.  There  was  no  putretaction.  The  head,  neck,  and 
upper  part  of  the  chest  were  of  a  deep  violet  color,  presenting  no  s^lgns  of 
excoriation.  On  the  surface  of  the  scalp  there  were  a  great  manv  little 
extravasations  of  blood,  distinct  fnmi  the  caput  succedaneum.  No  frao^ 
toree.  The  lungs  floated,  though  not  buoyantly;  they  were  got^ed  with 
blood,  and  presented  a  dull-retl  color  on  the  surface,  with  a  number  of 
punctiform  ecchymoses  on  the  under  surfiice  of  the  pleura,  which  were 
blackish  in  color.and  gave  the  lungs  an  ap|>earance  of  granite.  The  larynx 
and  trachea  contained  f^angnineous  froth.  The  surface  of  the  pericanlium 
covering  the  heart  was  also  ecchymoeed.    The  heart  contained  oulj  fluid 


DEATH    FROM   SUFFOCATION, 


718 


blood.  The  abdomiDal  viscera  were  normal,  but  the  stomach  was  distended 
bv  a  larg«  <:juaDtity  of  bloody  mucus.  M.  Tardieu  coDciuded  :  1.  That  the 
infant  «ras  mature,  vigorous,  and  viable.  2.  It  had  lived  aod  breathed. 
3L  The  death  was  due  to  suffocation,  the  air  having  been  hindered  fordbly 
fbm  eatenng  the  air-passages.  4.  There  was  no  reason  to  attribute  death 
10  any  accidents  of  imrturition,  or  to  any  feebleQess  on  the  part  of  the 
bfint'. 

Ill  Tardieu *g  second  cape,  also  due  to  Buffiication,  there  was  some  dispute 
oo  ihe  tneauiug  of  the  facts.  The  accursed  stated  that  the  presenlatioo 
WM  pfidalic,  and  that  the  child  was  cold  before  it  was  born.  This  last 
•tau-ment  whs  inconeiatent  with  ihe  time  of  year,  the  color,  etc.,  of  the 
ikin,  and  with  the  fact  that  the  docimasia  pulmoiium  had  shown  that 
rwpinitiou  waa  fully  established.  There  was  nothiog  to  coaBrtu  the  ac- 
cused'a  atatemeuts  as  to  the  preseotation. 


Case  XL— (Tardieu 's  6th  case.) 

Id  thi^  case  the  vigorous  and  mature  male  child  of  a  siogle  woman  was 
ad  in  a  tub  of  bran.     This  infant  weighed  6  lbs.,  the  osseous  nucleus  of 

femur  was  well-marked.  The  cord,  not  tied,  was  broken  at  fourteen 
tW  from  the  navel.  All  the  body  was  covered  with  a  fiue  dust  (of 
lui.  The  Dose  and  mouth  were  filled  with  the  same.  In  the  luogs, 
lidi  were  mottled  and  very  large,  there  was  much  emphysema,  and 
'sleural   ecchymoses.     They  floated,  both  entire  and   in  fragment*",  but 

huoyautly.     The  trnchea  contained  bloody  froth,  aud  some  bran-dust. 

benrt  was  empty.     The  stomach  contained  bloody  mucus,  other  abdom* 

organs  normal.  Condu.^ions:  1.  The  infant  was  mature,  viable,  and 
2.  It  had  lived  aud  breathed.  3.  IX-uth  was  the  result  of  suffo- 
4.  Thia  was  not  due  to  the  birth,  but  to  the  bran. 


Xll.^ — Infantwide  by  Suffomtion — Infant  ihut  up  in  a  box.  (Tardieu'a 
7lh  case.) 

1it«  was  a  female  itifatit,  mature  and  well  formed.  The  cord  was  cut 
twi  lied.     The  postmortem  symptoms  were  those  of  suflTocatioo.     The 

Id  hiid  clearly  lived  and  breathed  well.  Death  was,  however,  not  due 
l)ox,  for  the  lower  lip  was  turned  inside  out,  and  flattened,  its  mucous 

ibmne  resembled  parchraetit,  and  bore  the  marks  of  a  woven  fabric, 
ptirtions  of  which  adhered  to  it     The  tongue  also  had  some  flufFon 

It  bad  clearly  been  suffocated  by  a  liuen  cloth  applied  to  the  mouth. 


Ca.se  XIIL— (Tardieu's  10th  case.) 

Farts  of  the  child  of  a  single  woman  were  found  in  a  small  tub,  which 

^Mitaiood  six  pieces,  the  head  and  one  foot  were  missing     The  trunk  bad 

t>ot  been  opened.     It  was  much  putrefied.    The  cord  was  broken  off  at 

%hout  *2|  inches  from  the   navel.     Osseous  nucleus    large.     The  lungs 

tuarked  with  subpleural  ecchymoses.     The  mutilation  was  done  by  some 

l>Jaot  inrtruraent.     The  sexual  organs,  one  foot,  aud  the  head  were  want- 

lD|f*     The  condition  of  the  lungs  showed  death  from  Huffucatioo.     A  head 

mm  discovered  seventeen  days  after,  whicli  corresponded  to  the  dimensioDs 

^  the  body.     There  were  marks  uf  compression  at  the  &ides  of  the  nose 

•ikd  iairtde  the  upi>er  lip.     These  confirmed  the  conclusion  that  the  infant 

beeo  yioleotly  sutfocateil. 


•r   IHFAyTICIDE. 


fr%>m  SmfomtHon  hy  a  Paper  Ping  in  the  Moulh^ 
^TaniieuV  lUh  case.) 

^    ,  «i  tbe  Pkira  Morgue,  an  iDfaot  was  examiue<i,  who 

•t^  M  4  iMOtMic  iM-ivt  (I'ueev  d'abaiK-e),  aud  whtise  irututh  was 

Ik !»  |pi«c#  «ii'  paoer.     It  was  of  abmut  8  j   inoitth.^,  small,  and 

-.-       .1    4MW.     It  was  ut>t  tmirh  putrt^fied  (tiveor  six 

Conl  cutir*?,  attaclieil  to  placcuta.     No  sig08 

I1i<cv  wen*   iKwtmortfm  suiu*  ou  the   kuces  and  IVodIj*  of 

L  niih  dfcMigurt'd.     Tbf  htn^  pal«  red,  very  large,  aud  had 

Mtfil^i      Tber«  w«?rv   :  '  $ubpleural  ecchjiuu!i«$.     Heart 

.J  biood.     rVcua}|Hj^  !  ill  the  slornach.     Death  clearly 

■liinm  by  iht  paper.     Tbrowu  toto  the  privy  after  deaUi." 


Vk. 


\V.—  k^Hmdf  h^  #V0flhirv  of  Shtll.     (Tanlieu's  20tb  case.) 

<jif  ihie  body  of  the  Newborn  Child  of  a  Sbgle  Woman 
called  ChardoD. 

k;U  ^n*  a  male,  lC>i  inches  long,  and   3J  lbs,  iu  weight.     The 
k<»u  at  6i  iDches  from  the  uavel.     No  oeieeous  uucleus 
.  .  iiher  femur.     At  the  neck  and  on  the  koee  there  were 
.  aud  the  epiphyses  of  the  bfuie^  were  brokeu  off.     The  s<*alp 
V  -.  a  thick  layor  of  fluid   blood,  particularly  on  the  right 
v\hole  right  parietal  boue  was  broken  ioto  many  frag- 
ile mater  torn,  and  the  brain  Biibstauce  escaping.     The  lungs 
vrry  large,  floated  and  eontaiued  air  all  over.     Stomach 
VUdomiiial   viscera  nornial.     ConcIusiioDs :    (1)  The  cbUd  had 
.t^ht  months  of  intrauterine  life,  it  was  well-formed,  viable,  and 
fii.  r2^  It  had  lived  and  breathed,  (-3)  It  died  from  the  fracture  af 
.  causetl  either  hy  a  very  violeut  blow,  or  by  a  fail  from  a  great 
4  '  Till!)  fracture  was  uot  accidental,  any  more  ihao  the  iujurica 
tiln.     It  did  not  happen  in  the  birth. 


Ca^  XVI,— /^</<"''<c/(ff  by  crmhiny  of  the  ShiU.      The  injnnt  hid  iu 
hiU  uot  breaihcd,     (Tardieu's  2l8t  case.) 

11.  Tardieu  was  asked  to  give  an  opinion  on  the  facta  elicited  by  Dr. 
T  i\  careful  examination  of  a  female  and  her  infant  fr«mi  Gtignac 

k-Iultrieure).  As  regards  the  woman  it  was  certain  that  she  had 
Kvu  recently  delivered.  The  infant,  dug  out  of  the  ground,  weighetl 
B»*arly  5i  Ibe.,  and  was  full  20  inches  long.  There  wa«,  however,  no  di*- 
liiu't  osA'ouB  nucleus  in  either  femur — only  well  marked  Tiucularity.  Iq 
^ther  respects  the  Uxly  was  well  developed.  It  was  much  deconipcMed. 
(The  luugs  floated  at  first,  but  on  the  bubble?  of  ga.«  being  pressed  out,  thev 
lauk  completely,  and  were  of  a  dull  red.  The  head  appeared  Huitcne^l, 
And,  as  it  were,  crushed;  the  bones  of  the  *kull  were  brokeu  in  ratiny  parts, 
•od  into  many  fragment*.  One  of  these  had  perforated  the  hairy  scalp. 
The^  fractures  extended  from  one  &ide  of  the  head  to  the  other,  ami  in- 
eluded  both  parietal  aud  the  two  temporal  bones,  aud  were  acr  —'-• -fti 
with  a  very  circumscribed  effusion  of  blood,  coagulattid  at  the  vtTrj  r 

U  had  escaped.  There  was  also  ^anguiueous  intiltraiion  of  the  u^sm  -,  re- 
sisting repeated  washings  and  rubbinp,  and  extending  all  over  the  hairy 
iOalp  covering  the  fractures.  MM,  Tercinier  and  Tardieu  conclurled  that 
ifant  was  not  mature,  but  was  very  nearly  so ;  that  it  had  not  breathed. 


7X6  A'  IJF15T   13   BOILID. 

br  -he  Tniice.     T^**  '^^  -  -  •**  'ir-abtlew  dead  before.  a.«  then?  war*,  no  marks 
oi"  bruianjt       ^    I>ia:i  »«  docbileas  due  lo  criminal  viownce.* 

f'^E  y^ — J"*  J''"'^!*   T^rcvn  J/ur  i/>?o  a  Prim.      Txni"eu*i 
49th  ca=e. 

AJtnn?^-  -J^^iniAT  ^*-  *^-^-  Length  20V  inche*.  of  whioh  13  im.'hes 
frnm  leka  :»i  3Ut-i.'  Wci.-h:.  olbr-.  1«;  om.  :  diameters  or  htrad.  4-^^  inches 
tTi>uu^»ci'inii^.  "Tt  t.faHrtal.  Cord  torn  off.  not  cu:.  a-.c  ::nii.  Xo 
DUireiat'iinii.  -■'•■<'  H'^m-^i. '>i  Jf  fecal.  The  examinarioc  leii  c.-'  '.he  tol- 
lowin!:  -Vufiiw  Ba;  '^  Thi*  male  inrant  wa«  mature.  r-Tn  a;!Te.  an«i  viable. 
•*'  L:  .iv»Hi  laii  '■.•rti:hei.  3.  Death  resulte*!  from  initnervi-.a  inche 
nriv^  +  riie  ua"cn'.ijz  of  the  head  aad  the  e.vhyra-.s^sj  on  ::*  mt»t 
i)n»mi"*'nf  "*"*'-  '"'■*  '-'^"*^  pre>sure  wa.*  exertel  to  ti.in.^  it  :c:o  the  jpnrj, 
auii  hat  :t  ii'i  -■  c  z-t:  there  by  acrid»;nt.  .  ■  o..  The  stare  of  :ne  Ijdzs  ajid 
the  iiiauiirv  if  rjetfr?  in  the  Atomach  -how  that  the  child  wa.-  thr.wn  alive 
iuto  tne  nrVv.  la  Tanlieu'*  next  ca.-e  CSo.  o<)  the  iur'an:  wa*  thrown 
aiive  into  a  'i:^in.  L-iit  waa  re^40uetl  livinjr,  and  made  a  jr-:-*!  reo^Terj. 


C\ffE  T^ — Ji  I'^f^nt  h'tfl^d  by  Wonnd^  injlitrt^d  by  a  Pjir  of  Srt<*jr». 
^Tard leu's  54th  ca.'»e. 

Aiit"P#v  aiade  at  the  Morzue  on  the  16th  Januarv.  Ho!?,  on  the  child 
of  a  siiiirie  woman  calleil  Carlet,  born  at  the  seventh  mi-uih.  Weight 
0|  i,ji.  I:  wxs  covered  with  blfK)d.  The  cord  had  been  cut  bj  a  doctor 
whu  arriveii  ju.-t  a*  the  child  was  dead.  At  the  t»ip  ...f  the  head  was  a 
wound  iu  the  shape  of  an  M,  with  it.*  edge*  somewhat  brul?eii.  certainly 
made  with  soissor*.  certainly  not  canseiJ  by  a  fall.  Blt^.J  infiltrateti  and 
L-oajjuiuted  beneath  and  aniund  the  wcund.  B«>De:!  and  brain*  uninjured. 
Laiiip^  iu  the  futtal  ?tate,  not  expanded.  The  heart  ointainril  bk-jd.  The 
iufaut  had  been  iK^rn  alive,  but  rej<piration  wa'*  utjver  e^tabIi^hed.  It  was 
.liivr.  but  it-s  life  wa*  intrauterine;  wh*rn  it  wa-  w.iundrrti  -.vith  the  <ois-=«jr«, 
:iiiu  :it  --•?  child  wa-  pp:rriatiir»*,  thi-  w.jutid  wa*  'iwite  -rv^:re  eii-'-.jh  to 
.-Ail'!*'  -i'rath.  Th*'  w«riian  ha-l  milk  f^ver.  s;i::_-.:;iie';'U-  i-.-.i'.ia.  UtcfU* 
-liil  'nrz^.  a"d  ni\f^tr  trace.-  of  a  very  r»^;cent  •i*.'llvr:ry. 

C\.r»i:  XXr. — IhOnifi/^ifh — Ihfch*  h't'»ht1  h\  /,'...  ^^/>/^  1*1/'  it.*.:.  Pi^:***:*,  nnd 
ijur  htti,  a  Birr*:-^  of  Viifytr — Mtdk-'j-^r-j-i!  <^i/»>''"".c.« — Ex'tiuinntijii 
J  r"  L  V  iig"-     '  Ta  rd  i f- u  '^  'jo  c  h  ca.-e.  ; 

On  the  3'>th  Au^'Urt,  1>*I.").  at  M—anjrer,  about  4."^»0  a.m.,  Jeanne  Lt'V«!"«:jue 
wi;ut  to  the  room  of  her  .-♦■rvant,  a  iri.'l  calltrd  L-ft^uvr*.-.  and  a.-keJ  her  to 
make  her  a  cup  of  blark  cff^ti — whrn  the  servant  retum«r<.i  ?he  saw  her 
mistres*  ••toopinfr  in  one  conjf-r  of  a  cabinet  optrnm^  into  the  ri>>ni.  At 
S  r.M-  .-he  wa-  r.und  lyin;;  in  the  servant-  hed.  There  wa.-  bl«-».Nl  on  the 
tio«..r.  and  on  li»:r  -abot-.  ^he  -aid  .-he  had  t'-'tharhe  and  pain  at  the  heart, 
that  r-he  had  >[iat  blrn^d,  and  that  h»;r  ni^rfc  had  blcil.     She  had  for  rsome 


*  Tti**  /-.j.i.ni'.frKf,  htA  f>X.\.fiv  •■h-V'tric  in.-trum^nt:^.  o:i:-'^  iT'i-hinsr  «>:"  the  hf-ad 
in  'J.*-  iri:,ir.i.-  to  w^.Mfrj  ih-y  ht-  u«»-d.  Th"?~o  who  h«vi'  -"t-n  -uoh  w.«:il.j  cii«ily 
rt»i->"L:r.iz','  iti**  apj-^^nrnrK-*'.  W  w  in  ^och  a  ra^»^.  thopo  wk-.i'iI  pr-'hjiMy  l-e  dvf'»rnuty 
ofiri»*  njiith«T'i  ji-Ivi- — f<-r  :n:\iii  Wic  i-  t.-^j  ''n-iily  d«*-tn>y»'i|  f  r-nd-^r  it  prt»bMbie 
that  •Mth'T  a  rnidwi:'**  or  tiia!»'  HO';«>uih'.':ir  w<»iild  tiik-  th"  tri'ul«K'  lo  iTU-h  the  h»*ad 
ol"  an  inl'iiht  wh^n  ;h"r«^  w:**  ri"  d'>|'ri'{.'irti'>n  bolwi'-n  th-  h»\id  and  ih*'  polvi*.  The 
pi.»-iiM',ily,  howfV'.T.  -houid  not  b<;  for^ot^-n.  (Guy"-  Hospital  Museum  and  that 
of  ill*'  ()b-t*'trical  S<jci»:ty  ci'ntMin  <'irn*^  CH.-t-  <»f  ^uch  hpad*.  See  alao  a  pap«r  of  Dr. 
Braxton  Ilicki  in  the  "Obstetrical  S'Xrietv's  Tran9aclionj."y 


AW   INFANT    BDBNKD. 


TIT 


-uppoped  to  be  preg^niint»  through  her  brother-in-law,  and  the 

uvaat  did  uol  doubt  that  her  niisLress  hiid  been  delivered,  though  the 

hrfttr  «till  dented  it  vigorously.     But  when  she  was  medically  cxaruiued, 

M  be  DO  doubt  of  her  con<litJon.     Hhe  theu  recollecUA  that  fni  the 

August  she  had  given  birth  to  a  male  child*     She  preteuded,  how- 

I  at  it  had  never  cried.     She  had  covered  it  up  iu  a  counterpane 

up  iiiro  four,  and  carried  the  corpse  into  an  enipty  bed  in  another 

m.    Her  sister  caine  to  see  her  at  11  l\M.     She  told  her  siister  slie  had 

iKMhitef)  hltjKxl,  and  fctilt  denied  the  birth.     The  domestic  buried  the  child 

at  10  P.M.  that  night,  in  the  high  road  four  milee  oC     At  4  a.m.  she  dug 

;.  ,.„  .,^jjj^^  and  threw  it  into  a  caldron  of  boiling  lye.     After  some  time 

led  it  \x>  pieces  with  her  hands.     She  divided  it  into  small  moreela, 

n  put  it  into  a  barrel  of  vinegar,  through  the  bunghole,  which  wa« 

\n  two  inches  in  dianieter 

>  'hvithslanding  all  this  Ixiiling,  etc.,  is  was  possible  to  recognize  parts 

rf  nearly  all  the  organs.     Thus,  bones  of  the  head  and  face,  part  of  the 

I,  the  pelvis,  tongue,  liver,  inteatine,  heart,  and  lung,  were  all  recog- 

ibk      They  clearly   belonged   to  a  mature   child,  well   forrued   and 

ilihy.     The  examination  of  the  lungs  made  it  probable  that  the  child 

breathed  for  a  few  j^ecoiidn.     These  remains  were  afterwanls  submitted 

iDf.  Thoinnet,  who  was  able  to  recognize  all  the  parts  named,  and  to 

)lish  that  they  had  been  forcibly  torn  apart.     The  Hesh  was  sodileo, 

iBfl  foow!  from  the  bones ;  the  skin  was  gelatinized;  ihe  crystalline  lens 

hite  and  solid  bead  like  a  fill's  eye  when  boile<l.     The  spine  had 

b«ru  divided  by  some  cutting  instrument.     Tlie  heart  had  been  cut  in  two 

-*"    If  of  these  pieces  one  lobe  of  the  right  lung  was  attached.     The 

•ue  was  reddijih,  it  crepitated  under  the  finger."*,  but  no  ga**  escaped. 

*"'  iiiuk  water,  it  sank  slowly,  and  remained  su?<pended,  or  resting  on  one 

"fitj  corners  at  the  lujitom  of  die  ve^^sel.     Other  fragments  of  darker* 

<*Ivr  lank  at  once.     Before  reporting.  Dr.  Tlioitinet  tried  a  comparative 

ttf¥»rim*»nt  on   the  lungs  of  a  young  calf,   which   he  boiled  in   lye  till 

hiv  cooked,  till  they  had  the  same  color  as  those  of  the  child. 

tfie  animal  had  lived  some  days,  the  lungs,  after  the  comhined 

t'  the  boiling  lye  and  the  viQegar,  showed  the  same  results  as  those 

I  hild  of  Jeanue  L^'veque, 


^AHE  XXII. — An  Inf(t  Tif  hu  rn  fid —  Exa  in  in  a  i!mi  of  th  e  Remn  Tn  jr.    (Ta  rd  ieu  'a 
r>lith  case.)     (By  Messrs.  Ch.  Robin  and  A.  Tardieu.) 

Thif  report  is  of  great  interest,  but  very  lengthy.  The  careful  exarai- 
")u  of  the  cinders  and  other  remains  proved  that  one  packet  sent  to  the 
tern  was  the  hones  of  a  young  pig — another  packet  contained  a  uiira- 
i»f  fjiTtJil  Imnes,  nmre  or  less  perfect,  from  an  infant  at  term.  The 
iw  of  phosphiirns  and  calcium  was  determined  in  the  ashea — also 
toimal  fat.  In  another  packt^t  there  were  only  portions  of  earth,  mould, 
tad  nthi-r  mineral  nrul  vegetable  matters.  A  handkerchief  sup|>osed  to 
be  0fn]vd  with  hloo^l,  was  proved  to  be  free  from  this. 

Tiirdicu's  .^>7th  and  o8lh  cases  are  also  those  of  remains  of  infants  at- 

l«SBpttHl  lo  be  destroyed  by  fire.     The  latter  is  known  as  tlie  **  Affaire 

I^miNnt"     The  medical  wiines.**e«  found  great  difficulty  in  idenlilying  any 

[Miiridiial  bones.     A  portion  of  one  orbit,  some  remains  of  vert/^bne,  atid 

iH  of  the  right  frontal  bone  were  most  evident  in  this  case.     These  me- 

loirv  fthould  he  consulted  in  the  original  by  all  who  have  cases  of  such 

dilfioully  and  delicacy  to  determine. 

U  may,  however,  be  stated  in  general  terais,  that  no  matter  what  the 


718 


DISPUTED    PATERNITY. 


violence  to  which  an  infant  has  been  subjected,  in  order  to  destroy  it,  there 
will  usually  be  found  pome  means  of  determining  its  ai^e,  and  whether  it 
were  horn  alive  or  not.  In  those  rare  cases  in  which  fire  hai^i  been  used  to 
conceal  the  crime,  some  portions  are  likely  to  remain  iHM'oiisunied,  and  ia 
any  case  cheminil  and  iniero?copic  examination,  combined,  will  be  ahnust 
sure  to  throw  some  light  on  these  dark  passages  of  human  hij^tory  and 
crime. 


LeGITIMACT  AWD  SuPERFO^TATrON — DISPUTED    PATERNITY. 

The  genetic  portion  of  our  subject  would  be  incomplete  without  soint 
reference  to  tw  >  subjects,  wbtcli  are  often  diarusj»ed  in  our  court^^  of  law. 
The  House  of  L'>rdj<  \b  generally  compelled  to  di-^eUAji  the  •:|iie:*tion  ot  lej^it- 
imaey  when  a  peerage  is  claimed,  and  the  tiue-lion  is  often  raised  in  other 
courts  when  the  suece*,-siori  to  estates  \^  dij«puted.  In  a  medieu  legal  genne 
jutiernUy  and  leglttmnry  are  almoist  idetitieal.  Someiinici^,  liowever,  the 
fact  of  a  woman'!*  having  had  more  hu^bandrf  than  <»ne  renders  the  ques- 
tion of  palernity  le^<s  rtimple.  *Siit>erfiflnilon  is  a  sort  of  comllary  to  the 
curious  question  of  le^itimucy.  You  have  already  had  the  faet!*  of  some 
celebrat^l  ca.se.s  laid  l>etiire  you  in  the  yeetion  tm  the  duration  of  preg- 
nancy i«ee  pages  616,  etc.,  for  aecount^  of  the  Jnnihtr,  Elder  of  Whithorn, 
and  Gardner  Peemye  eajieri).  Speakinjj:  broailly»  the  law  re^rds  all  ehil* 
dren  born  in  wedlock  aa  legitimate,  unless  good  rea^^onn  caj)  be  «ihown  to 
the  contrary.     The  fuliowing  are  common  caae^  of  ditr-puted  paternity  : 


I.  A  child  (or  children)  may  be  born  after  the  husband'!*  death.  (Such 
children  are  styled  piislhumous,  from  the  Latin  prnth nmux) ,  or, 

II.  A  child  may  be  born  a  Ittlle  l)efore  the  death  of  the  htirjband.  his 
health  having^  failed  for  some  months  previoui*,  either  from  dii«eaj9«  or  acci* 
deut.     In  such  cases  you  will  probably  be  asked — 

(a)  Was  the  f*npposed  father  capable  of  begetting  a  child  within 
the  (leriod  named? 

(6)  Does  the  child's  size,  weight,  and  development  agree  with  the 
mother's  statenicnt  as  to  the  period  of  gestatitm,  or  with  the 
facta  oblaine<l  in  evidence  from  others? 

(c)  What  is  the  normal  duration  of  pregnancy?  Can  this  be  pro- 
longed, and  if  so,  how  much  beyond  the  usual  period  ? 

III.  A  woman  has  a  child  in  the  absence  of  her  hui»band,  orvery  shortlj 
after  her  marriage.     In  the  former  case  you  will  probably  be  asked — 

{d)  Does  the  period  of  gestation,  as  inferred  from  the  sixe  and  de- 
velopment of  the  child,  agree  with  the  facta  as  to  the  pOBSi- 
biliiy  of  marital  access? 

la  the  latter  cage  the  question  will  probably  be^ 

(c)  What  is  the  earliest  period  at  which  a  child  is  vuihU^n 
ble  of  living  if  due  care  be  taken  of  it? 

IV.  After  giving  birth  to  one  (probably  immature)  child,  the  woman, 
after  a  short  interval,  gives  birth  to  a  second  (mature)  child  (or  the  tiicts 
as  to  maturity  may  be  vice  verm\  and  you  will  be  asked — 

(/}  Is  this  an  instance  of  tntp f rfcei/ii ion  f  or, 

ig)  Were  both  children  the  i^itiue  of  a  single  coitus  t 


720 


LIMITS    OP    PRUITFULKBSS. 


age  of  sixty,  bore  a  »on  called  Volueius  Satuminua.  The  late  Dr. 
bothntn  met  with  a  ca**e  of  pregnancy  (known  als^o  to  the  authors)  in 
Woman  aged  fifty -eiglit — her  age  being  pnived  by  the  [)an!^h  register^ — 
whilst  her  appearance  was  that  of  a  woman  at  least  ten  years  older.  She 
was  not  only  pregnant,  but  was  duly  delivered  at  term  of  a  vigorous  and 
well-fbrined  chihL  Haller  (quoted  by  Briand,  "  Manuel  coinplet  de  MlhI. 
legale,  p.  137)  records  two  cases  in  which  women  at  si  xty-three  and  seventy 
bore  ehilflren.  Dr.  Da  vies,  of  Hertford  (*'  Me<1tcal  Gazette/*  vol.  xxxix, 
p.  r>oO),  writes  of  a  woman  who  nieii9truate<]  up  to  the  time  of  her  last 
pregnancy,  and  this  child  was  born  when  she  was  fifty-five  years  of  age. 
Dr.  Taylor  (piotes  ihe  following  table  from  Nevermann.  Out  of  1000 
cases  (in  10,000  births)  he  found  that  436  children  were  borne  by  females 
mt  the  ages  respectively 


Of  41 

ypurs. 

101 

M  42 

jt 

113 

"  43 

(« 

70 

'»  44 

(< 

68 

•*  45 

•« 

43 

(4    4Q 

it 

n 

M  47 

«( 

13 

or  48  years,  8 


The  Registrar-General  for  Scotland  (February,  1862)  reports  two 
women  as  becoming  mothers  at  fifty-one  years  of  age,  four  at  fifty  two 
year^f  and  one  woman  was  registered  as  iu  the  fifty-seveolh  year  of  her 
age  when  she  gave  birth  to  a  child.  On  the  ground  of  Vice-Chaucenor 
Kindersiey's  decision  in  Foriy  v.  Forty  (February,  1853),  Dr.  Taylor 
state.^  that  a  woman  who  has  passed  the  age  of  fifty-three  is  presumed  ia 
Jaw  to  be  past  the  age  for  childbearing  (*'  Medical  Times  and  Gazette/' 
1871,  voLii,  p.  114). 

Go  the  other  hand,  there  are  numerous  cases  on  record  of  very  young 
mothers — Sir  Eardley  Wilmot  gave  Dr.  Taylor  particulars  of  a  case  (lie^. 
V.  ('Itfittawnyt  Coventry  Summer  Assizes,  1848 J  in  which  a  man  aged 
forty-five  was  convicted  of  ra)>c  on  a  girl  aged  eleven  years  and  eiifht 
moiith.".  When  12  J  years  old  she  was  iu  the  lH-*it  mouth  of  her  pregt 
Be<k  mentions  a  case  in  which  a  girl  menstruated  at  one  year,  and  bi 
a  mother  at  a  little  over  ten  years  of  age  (ioc.  cit.,  p.  368).  On  the  I^OlU 
April,  1834,  this  female,  aged  ten  years  and  thirteeu  days,  was  delivered 
of  a  female  child  weighing  7f  lbs.  This  occurred  in  Hickman  County, 
Kentucky,  and  is  related  by  Dr.  D.  Rowlett,  of  Waisborough,  in  that 
State.  (** Transylvania  Journal,"  vol.  vii,  p.  447).  Another  became  a 
niniher  at  twelve  years  and  eight  months  ("American  Journal  of  Medical 
Science,"  Oct.  1840,  p.  547).  Riittel  gives  a  case  of  a  girl  of  fourteen 
pregnant  by  a  boy  of  the  same  age.  He  also  quotes  three  other  cases 
where  one  girl  of  the  age  of  nine,  and  two  of  the  age  of  thirteen  became 
pregnant,  (Henke's  *'  Zeitsclirift  der  S.  A.,"  1844,  p.  249.)  Dr.  Wilson 
("  Ediid)urgh  Medical  Journal,"  Oct.  1861^  mentions  a  girl  of  13]  aa 
giving  birth  to  a  full-grown  child.  She  must  therefore  have  become  preg- 
nant at  l^J.  Mr  Roberton,  of  Manchester,  mentions  a  factory  girl  who 
became  pregnant  iu  her  eleventh  year.f  A  girt  under  thirteeu  who 
became  pregnant  at  12^  came  before  a  magbtrale  at  W^andsworth.  i^p- 
tember,  1871.  (Other  cases  will  be  found  in  Dr.  Norman  Cheever's  work 
on  **  Indian  Medical  Jurisprudence,"  and  iu  Dr.  Montgomery's  "  Signs 

*  Dr.  Monte^mery^s  tablo  for  the  Mancbetter  Lying-in  Hospital  is  very  kimilar, 
{toe.  cit.,  p,  315), 
f  '•  £a»ay»  nnd  Notes,  «to.,  on  Midwifery/'  p.  29, 


722 


IMPOTENCE    AND   8TBRILITT. 


between  the  fiAh  and  ^ixth  months,  yet,  generally  speakiogr.  &  child  u  Dot 

viable  iHJtil  the  seventh  month  of  utero-geataMon. 

D.  All  answer  to  the  <]uesti()n  aa  to  impoh-nre  or  sterility  *houM  n^wr 
be  given  hastily.  The  facts  whii.h  form  a  basii*  for  nuch  replift*  will  hft 
found  at  pHj^ei?  595  lo  5*^9.  I m potency  and  sterility,  on  the  part  i>f  ^'ithff 
male  or  female,  should  never  l>e  assHtned  without  very  strong  evidpDi^ 
Very  old  men  may  be  fathers,  for  8permainz<>a  in  a  lively  ?tale  are  ofi«B 
found  in  ihfir  semen.  P>ven  panfpfetjin^  though  it  pat?  diffirullir^  in  iht 
way  of  rof>ul>ition,does  not  always  prevent  inseinination  (Curlinp, '*Or»lh« 
Testis,**  p.  H71 ),  It  ii*  not  ueee!*<<ary  that  a  fiian  i^hould  have  both  le*rKK 
nor  even  the  whole  of  one,  jiince  a  very  small  quantity  of  the  Sfcreting 
structure  or  jiemen  stored  up  in  the  vesiculte  Rnninalej*  (which  laay  Ivethe 
case  for  a  time,  even  after  castration )  will  Huffiee  for  the  frtfuemtive  Mt 
Lingerijuj  dixraseH  U(*ually  destroy  sexual  vigor  and  capacity.  Din^n, 
locvmntor  ottiTif,  ivrmtiutj  panift/xiM,  and  other  forms  of  severe  or  ohmnic 
neurosis  are  generally  aceomfmnied  with  lo?a  of  «exual  power.  Phl{ii«i 
has  been  popularly  suppi>s<ed  to  be  an  exception.  The  authon;  kn«wofflni 
cai*e  in  which  a  palient  stifferiug  from  phthi:!(is  of  tubercular  orisfinbli 
c<innection  on  the  very  day  of  hU  death,  and  the  wife  wa.s  deliverwlofa 
child  on  the  280th  day  after.  This  fact  dues  not  rest  simply  on  thestttfr 
luent  of  the  wife.  On  the  other  hand,  $exnal  capacity  niay  he  ali*Bl 
where  there  is  every  appearance  of  bodily  vigor,  although  such  etstf  irt 
rare.  One  of  our  modrrn  Nimrods«,  who  was  tiill  and  athletic,  was  HilAlly 
impotent.  In  forming  our  juxlgraent  in  cases  of  disputed  legitimacTW 
shouhl  not  lay  too  much  strcs:*  on  exceptional  ca<ea.  A  very  agrd,  b«l- 
ridden,  diseased,  and  bclples.-*  man  may  be  the  father  of  n  stmntr,  st'''^^ 
well4brmed,and  vigorous  child,  hut  it  i«  not  prob.ible.  Very  I n rir**  li •*'"'*• 
prolapsui*  ani  when  severe,  cy'titlj»,  and  large  or  numeron-  '^i 
Dla<hJer,  dnipssy  when  far  advanced,  gout,  and  arthritis  d*  '^^ 
very  severe,  and  fractures  of  the  pelvis,  spine,  and  some  oth»  'i'" 
all  render  sexual  intercourse  very  difficult.  On  this  deii  ,  ^^ 
auth*ir?  would  i^ay  (from  facts  whiih  have  come  under  their  eopniaDf^l 
that  it  is  far  belter  to  state  frankly  that  such  and  such  condition* n>a* 
render  [or  have  rendered  )  sexual  intercourse  venj  dij^rufl  or  fcfft-wigk  !•* 
possjbl^^,  rather  than  to  slate  absolutely  that  it  is  or  was  impo^>«i-ih1c. 

E.  As  to  the  fif'vdnjnnent  of  the  ^hild,  and  ih  mntHriitj,  we  have  &\m^} 
given  you  details  and  references  at  pp,  563  and  687.  The  length,  wei|:fcti 
condition  of  *^kin,  and  the  measurementJ3  of  the  skull,  shouhler*,  «nd  !*«? 
bone^,  with  the  diraens^ions  of  the  osseous  uucleuis  of  the  lower  eml  «»ni"' 
femur  and  oilier  bones,  are  the  principal  points  on  which  you  nnwi  f*i"'"^ 
your  ju<lgment.* 

F.  The  answer  to  the  question  whether  a  pregnant  woman  e«n  eonerfft 
again,  whilst  one  child  is  in  utenv  iuvolve<s  the  quejstion  ot  ''^ 
Ancient  medical  writers  nhnostall  believe  in  the  po!<sibilitv  '^ 
fpiotes  Brassarolus,  to  the  eHect  that  he  had  seen  eftidrmic^  of  '™^ 
Zaccbias  ("Consilia,"  No.  G6)  states  that  J.  N.  Bobrejus  In  '«* 
quarrel,  leaving  his  wife  cuceitdf..  Eight  months  after  his  •  ^'^ 
birth  to  a  defonneri  child,  which  died  in  partu.  The  abd«>!,  •'™ 
large.  One  month  and  a  day  alter,  she  gave  birth  to  a  i»erfect  livi 
Its  legitinuicy  was  suspected.  Zacchias  argued  that  there  ntM-t  i  ,  .  ;  -  " 
two  conceptions,  on  the  ground  of  the  long  interval.  He  c<  '"•" 
ever,  thai  ih^  jird  was  the  product  of  the  superfretation,  auo  i.M,i>tv«d» 
month  alter  the  other.     This  opinion  eAtabHahe<i  the  legal  righiAof^ 

♦  S<?e  hIho  Anihropomptrieiil  OlwervatloM,  by  Dr.  P.  Bcnillon,  ••  Briu«h  1 
cal  Journul,"  Murcb  4,  1876.  p.  280. 


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atiii-  iik-:.-— '.  r  ■:  : .■;!:. •rij:::»-i  «:-:-■>  -r  ■■■ri»r  :-vMli:ir::"»"".  il*-  ii"i 
uecu-sariiy  ii'>pr..vv  j«a*.»:rr.::y  i..r  Irji'-i^a-y.  Tli»-  :a  T-i  knowi]  To  i>r.y*i..l- 
uid  i-aiLi'iujriars  LLdt-r  ihe  naraeuf  'i:'iif.-/*j    German, /4u<'.v*'-.V'.i7 


AFFILIATION    CASES. 

ihr  father  might  develop  itself!  Dr.  Taylor  justly  says  that  both  should 
have  contributed  to  the  child's  eiipport.  The  paiiie  author  quotes  this 
curious  cii4*e  from  the  **  Laucet,"  of  March  13,  1847,  p.  336:  Two  meu, 
A-  and  U.,  had  intereiiurse,  unknowu  to  each  other,  writh  a  younjr  woman 
iu  deltottte  health.  Tliir*  went  on  lor  Roiue  yeun»,  when  she  was  delivered 
of  a  ienmle  child,  279  days  after  iulercoun^e  with  A.,  aud  271  day,'*  after 
intercourse  with  B.,  thus  there  were  eight  days  between  the  twi»  acts  of 
coitus.  8he  did  not  menstruate  in  the  interval,  and  is  believed  to  have 
had  no  other  intercoui-se.  8he  went  her  full  time,  the  child  was  mature 
aud  healthy,  and  she  suckled  it.  When  she  died,  the  two  men  became 
aware  of  the  mixed  intercourire,  and  both  refuseil  to  maintain  the  child. 
The  child  was  remarkahly  like  the  mother,  but  showed  no  special  ret^em- 
blauce  to  either  supposed  father.  It  is  pretty  clear,  a*  Dr.  Taylor  re- 
mark:^, that  there  were  no  medical  grounds  for  affiliating  the  child  to  one 
rather  than  to  the  other,  as  botli  pcrifKJs  were  within  the  ordinary  range 
of  gestation.  Thi*  must  be  still  more  patent  when  two  more  men  have 
iulercuurse  with  the  same  womau  on  the  same  day,  or  at  very  short  inter- 
vals of  time,  it  has  recently  been  decided  {act  Taylor,  loc.  cit.,  p.  276) 
that  the  place  of  intercourse,  in  other  words,  the  country,  where  the  seduc- 
tion or  coitus  occurs,  ia  no  bar  to  paternity,  in  a  legal  sense.  This 
seems  reasonable,  for  the  8ame  writer  remarks,  intercourse  might  take 
place  in  Scotland,  conception  in  England,  and  the  birth  in  Ireland,  in 
these  days  of  mpid  travel.  In  the  ca*e  of  postfrnmom  chitdrcjit  where  a 
second  marriage  occurred  soon  atler  the  death  of  the  first  husband,  the 
second  would  legally  he  held  to  be  the  father  unless  there  were  very  stroiig 
prooik  from  the  development  and  sixe  of  the  child,  or  of  non-access  on 
the  part  of  the  second  husband,  to  relieve  hitu  from  the  duty  of  maintain- 
ing the  child. 

We  have  already  noted  the  question  whether  a  woman  could  liave  sex- 
ual intercourse  unconsciously,  and  conceive  without  knowing  it  (p.  Gol). 
A  similar  question  may  arise  as  lo  the  delivery.  *'  h  it  pomhlejor  a  mjinun 
to  be  delivered  in  a  Mate  of  unroniiciowneiM  f  "  Both  published  cases  anci  the 
authors'  own  experience  oblige  them  to  answer  this  question  in  the  affirm^ 
ative.  These  cases  are,  however,  very  rare,  and  the  woman  would  not  be 
long  ignorant  that  something  unusyal  had  happened  to  her,  unle^^,  indeed, 
she  were  the  subject  of  puerperal  mania  or  some  other  form  of  insanity. 
(See  next  chanter.)  Reminding  you  that  several  cases  have  been  alreadjr 
given  under  their  several  headings,  we  proceed  to  quote  a  few  more. 

lUtidrcdive  CaBe$. 

Case  L— 77w?  Douglass  Peerage  Ca^,  1767-9.     (Taylor,  vol  ii,  p,  273. 
Beck,  loc.  ciL,  p.  270.     We  quote  the  case  chielly  from  the  latter.) 

Lady  Jane  Douglass  was  married  August  10,  1746,  to  Colonel  Stewart. 
She  became  pregnant,  and  this  fact  was  notorious  in  January,  1748;  and 
on  the  10th  of  July,  174^,  being  in  her  fiftieth  gear,  she  was  delivered  of 
twins  at  Paris.  Of  these,  one  named  Sholto  did  not  survive  to  manhood ; 
the  other,  Archibald,  did.  Lady  Jane^  after  their  birth,  miscarrieih  lu 
proce»*  of  tm»e  both  the  father  and  mother  died.  Their  positive  declara- 
tions bad  convinced  the  Duke  of  Douglass,  and  he  lell  his  dukedom  aud 
other  estates  to  his  nephew  and  their  son,  Archibald,  who  was  the  appel- 
lant in  the  cause.  The  Duke  of  Hamilton  appears  to  have  conducted  the 
proteccutioo,  aud  at  all  eventjs  the  claim  was  opposed,  on  the  ground  that 
they  were  supposititious  children.  The  cause  came  up  for  final  adjudica* 
tion  in  the  Uoase  of  Lords  in  1769,  when  Lord  Chancellor  Camden,  and 


728 


PROTRACTED   0B8TAT10N. 


with  woolly  hair.     The  husband  and  wife  were  both  light.    This  peculiarity 
fixed  the  paternity  od  the  black  defeiidaot.* 

Case  VI. — Protraded  Gisstaiioih 

(The  Commonwealth  v.  Horner^  tried  in  May,  1846,  in  the  United  State&j 
Reported  by  Dr.  Taylor,  p.  '2H9.)  The  allegeii  duration  of  pregnancy  wai' 
313  <lays.  The  lui5t  intercourse  was*  alleged  to  have  been  on  March  23, 
1845.  The  child,  a  large  healthy  male^  wa«  proved  to  have  betni  bora 
on  the  30th  January,  1846.  'fhe  medical  evidence  was  conflicting. 
Twelve  obstetric  physicians  were  examined.  The  court  decided  that, 
although  unusual  and  improbable,  this  length  of  ge«lattou  was  not  im* 
possible,  and  the  jury  returned  a  verdict  that  the  defendant  (the  suppfi«»e<l 
father)  was  really  the  father  of  the  child.  ("  Dublin  Med.  Pre»i/'  Nov/ 
4,  1846,) 

Case  VII, — Protracted  Gelation — Dymn  v.  Dyaon. 

(ViceChancellor's  Court,  Feb.  18,  1852.  Repcirted  by  Dr.  Taylor. 
See  aI:^o  "  Legal  Examiner,"  Feb.  21,  1852.)  In  this  caj*e  the  husbaDcl] 
left  hiu  wile  iu  Madeira  in  February,  1841);  she  retunied  to  Eugland  next 
Augu:»t.  The  child  whose  legitimacy  was  disputed,  was  born  on  January 
8,  1850.  In  this  instance  the  perioti  of  gestation  was  alleged  to  be  3*^6 
days.  The  V ice-Chancellor  having  referred  to  the  Gardner  Peerage  cote, 
declined  to  make  a  decree  in  favor  of  the  legitimacy  of  the  plainti^. 

Case  Ylll.^ProtraeUd  Gealation, 

Ln»comhe  v.  Preffm'ohn  (Exeter  Bummer  As«izes,  1840\  This  was 
action  for  damages  for  seduction.  The  child  was*.  U)ra  on  the  5th  DeceraU^.,- 
1838.  The  last  meeting  was  299  days  before.  On  this  ground  the  defend- 
ant disputed  the  paternity,  and  the  judge  sumtncd  up  in  his  favor.  The 
jury,  however,  did  not  concur  in  this  view,  and  returned  a  venii<'t  for  the 
plaintiff,  tlius  pr^mouncing  an  opinion  that  the  defendant  might  have  been 
the  father  of  tlie  child,  although  forty-two  week-!!  and  five  days  had  elHt>«>ed 
since  the  la*t  access.     (*'  Lancet,"  August,  1840,  quoted  by  Dr.  Taylor.) 

Case  IX. — Protracted  Gestation— The  Cov^monwealth  v.  Porter 
(Cambria  C-ounty,  Pa.). 

The  defendant  was  indicted  for  fornication  and  bastardy.  The  pi 
cutrix,  aged  twenty-three,  stated  that  she  had  had  intercourse  with  the 
defendant  on  the  24th  September,  1842,  and  with  no  other  person  before 
or  subsM?que.ntly,  She  was  delivered  of  a  child  on  the  7th  August,  1843, 
i.  e.,  after  317  days',  or  forty-five  weeks  and  two  days'  gestation.  She 
swore  that  the  defendant  was  the  father  of  the  child.  The  men.*es  ceased 
about  three  weeks  after  intercourse,  and  only  appeared  again  slightly  about 


•  R*'ft«rrini?  I  he  reader  by  way  of  CHUtion  to  the  remarks  on  Atam*m^  and  on 
XrUMiJi  natuioi,  at  p.  726,  we  quote  the  following  from  Titua  Andronicuf,  Act  V 
Sc«nd  1  : 

'*  IVace,  tawny  vlave^  half  me  and  half  thy  daml 
Di<l  not  ihy  hue  betray  whti^o  brat  thf»u  art, 
Had  DMlure  lent  thee  bul  Ihy  mother 'f^  look. 
Villain,  ihou  mighUtt  have  iMsm  an  t-mpororl 
But  whero  the  bull  and  cow  are  bt^h  milk- whit*. 
They  aever  do  beget  a  coal-black  calf." 


«iB  wverMw  FiiiiAot  case. 


.VfSJS 


1864)  Vk?e-ChancclIor  Kmder^Iej  said 
I  mprmA  Jaeie  tegitimate. 


Cw«  XlL-il  Em 


hmm  OUU  ^fAmudkgr  Wamun  palmed  tiptyn  him 
iFttm  Dr.Tmylor,  W.  of.,  233.; 

mmd  mjk   (Ceotml  CnrnmaJ  Court,  Februarj, 

~      ^.^ebmiipedwilheott-  •ieeeiveaniancal]<^l 

-A-orin^  tliai  his  wit.  u  birth  to  a  ftfinale 

vvK  li%»<i:>itle,  mbu  had  beeu  married  ttU>ui  uiue  months,  was  io 

vol  ti  tlie  prifioofra.    Sbe  and  they  s>it  tlie  child  of  another  wo- 

BMitt.  aiMi  tW  MUrwsol  a  **»htfep't«  pluck''  to  repr«tetii  (he  atterhirth, 

%l»l.h  ihtt  aft«r«mrd«  barnt !     Dr.  Taylor  jus^tlv  sars  ihai  mediail  men 

:  c<o«i«idcr  all  ftaioa  on  beddiug  or  Diark<  of  hhjtjd  ia  a  riMtju  as 

vv!     In  hb  charge  to  the  jurj',  Justice  Bylea  remarked  «o  the 

V   i\f  the  crime — when  large  e^tatejs  and  the  right*  of  It^^timate 

•ivM-  «i^  iv  cuiic«rue<l.     He  thought,  however,  Mrg.  Irooside  did  it  mainly 

l\»  pUsi»e  her  httbaud  I     The  pri»ooers  were  convictcU. 

CA«i£  XII  1.-^-4  Supfmsiiitious  Child  drierted  by  the  Awrne,  nnd  the  Moth^ 
UtirHed  hif  n  Mtdiad  Kratnination,  {  Reported  bv  Dr.  Taylor,  p.  25J3.) 
Jie^,  V*  J/ary  i/a//  (C.  C,  C,  December,  1870). 

The  prisoner  conspired  with  a  woman  to  make  it  appear  that  she  had 
Ve«>ti  drlivored  of  a  child.  The  nunie  wa«  nut  allowed  to  be  pr»eol  during 
the  nllcj^tnl  delivery,  the  prisoner  acting  a«  midwife.  The  Dnrse  was  thea 
called  ill  and  shown  by  priwjner  the  u-*utt!  murks  of  a  recent  deii very.  On 
prtH-eiMling  to  wa^^h  the  child,  tihe  found  thi^  had  already  been  dune,  and 
that  it  wait  not  a  newly  l>orn  unwashed  child.  It  was' proved  that  the 
prisoner  on  this  very  day  pnxnired  the  child  of  another  wonan.  On  thb 
point  a  medical  nian  gave  evidence.  Dr.  F.irre  said  he  atteodetl  the  Wo- 
man after  the  alleged  birth,  and  from  what  he  saw  he  was  ^urp  ihiit  she 
had  never  given  birth  to  a  child.  He  then  charged  her  and  the  prisoner 
witi)  fraud.     The  prisoner  was  cx>avicted. 


Ca8£  XIV.—  The  Wirl/tAv  Peerage  «Me.     (Committee  for  Privil 
April  1.  1870.     lle|Jorted  by  Dr.  Taylor.) 

The  title  and  estates  of  the  Earl  of  Wieklow  passed  at  hts  death  lo  his 
brother**  i4««ue  The  tin*t  iu  tiuece«sion  w»s  GfMjrge  Howunl,  who,  after  a 
career  of  dissipation,  had  diid  in  Octol>er,  18G4.  He  had  Ih'CU  marritdin 
February,  J^G3.  to  Ellen  Uichard-nm,  a  coHchmau*s  daughter.  In  default 
of  iKfUe  the  estates  devolved  on  his  brother  Charles,  the  second  iu  succrs- 
Bion.  Ellen  Hi»wani  <ne^  Kichanls^n  ),  produced  a  male  child,  whii,  she 
alleged,  was  b<irn  on  the  Itilh  May,  18*)4,  and  who,  if  such  were  the  case, 
would  1m.*  the  s^ju  of  ber  hu^bund,  Ge4>rge  Howard,  and  the  rightful  earl, 
Mn*.  Howard  was  at  that  time  in  lodgings,  and  the  lodging  hou«!  kerjjcrs, 
Mr.  and  Mr^.  Bloor,  and  a  sister  of  the  latter,  one  H«>mi  Dny,  were  the 
prinei|ial  witnesses  in  favor  of  the  claimunL  Mr?.  Hoimni  was,  or  prrj- 
nased  to  be,  taken  soddeuly  ill  at  the  dale  ntentioued.  Mr.  Bloor  went  ftir 
a  doctor,  who  was  not  at  home,  atid  ou  returning,  he  was  told  that  Mr?. 
Howard  had  been  confined,  and  he  .-aw  an  infant  in  Rosa  Dav  s  amtjc 
This  was  the  whole  of  the  evidence  for  the  child's  parentage.  The  Lord 
Chancellor  observed  that  the  evideo«-e  was  ;;tveti  by  the  witnesses  with  a 
firmness  of  demeanor    and  an  ab-ence  <if  i    which   wcmld   have 

imanded  cre*ience,  unless  it  had  k»een  con  i  by  all  the  surround- 


reOUNDNBSS    OF    MIND, 


781 


uijf  cireuiu.^tADces.  No  medical  man  and  u*>  ntir-;e  attcndcr]  Mrs.  Huvvanl, 
ihiiough  il  wain  her  liniC  ci>ufitttMi)e)it,  uiul  tla^  iufniit  woicitd  have  lic>t<t)  a 
^wi  rn'tfitlis'  child.     It  was  never  rt^st-iert'd  anri  iK'veT  ha|»ti/,»Ml.     Tliore 

■ strong  evidfiiee  tljuL  kIk^  hud  imt  Uu\uv  a  rliiJd,  and  tliut  the 

<  I  she  had  produced  us  lier  hhii  wa.-*  ubtaiiK<i  l»y  hor  m  Aagu.««t, 

l"'!,  iruin  a  girl  wlm  had  Innni  reecMilly  delivond  iu  tfio  liivt^rinuil  work- 
Ji'U't.  Mr^.  Howard  wan  t'leurly  iih-utiHcd  a^*  tlii'  jxTSoii  wlio  imd  taki'ti 
Bwayachild  Iroiu  ihe  wurkhoHfie  at  thii*  liuie,  Iltratury  vvii»  tfius^  fH-ovwl 
Uibt  falite.  The  Ilimsti  uf  Lordi*  deiided  ti^aiti^t  the  claim,  aud  caiite  to 
ibe  t.-ouclusion  that  the  wiuieji^^j  had  Ueen  guilty  td*j>erjnry. 

la  the  case  of  Gedfiey  v.  Smith  ( KollV  Court,  Noveiabtr,  18<i4),  for  div 
till* of  which  we  must  rt'ter  in  Dr.  Tayl'ir  (lor,  eit,,  p.  2*i4),  out*  int'dical 
Quia  with  his  wife  apjjears  M  have  a.■».'*i^ltd  iu  the  fraud,  and  auoiluTwlio 
Ml  caHed  ill  aj>pi'ars  to  havt;  bfcn  i  xtrejuily  i^yperhiial  in  hin  exaiuiria- 
for  although  he  wa^aUendiii^  Mr.<.  fieduey  <ora  rtTL'til  etMifcjjii'metjt, 
ar»  from  the  5>iib.>*eijueiit  piwAl-ainrlem  exaiaiuaiJutJ  t  tinir  yi-Jin*  niUT) 
lU;  .die  had  never  beeo  pregiiaut  at  all !  Ue  thoruugli  in  your  examtua- 
ti&a«! 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


Ubinutitln«>«^    f>f  ininH.  eonsenitnl  srtd  ifqiiirfvl — II*  \*Hri"tlM  unci  m<*d)co>lA|tiil 
••I"  '        in«d  iii^jinily — l>ir«M!li(tn«  for  fxnmining  ronl  nr  »ijpiM»jii»(|   )unntii« 

•i<i*l  '  viiig  thi'ir  etindittiiii — Keijifried  Jij*«N««'i  aiiij  iiitiltMjjjcriiig^ — The 

ai|ttcnv  ir«  utiik«  r  wiU^Directiona  fur  witUmnkiug. 

Tbxee  is,  perhap?,  do  subject  in  legal  medicine  iu  which  mMlical  men 
■ik*  fo  poor  a  figure  in  the  witness-box  a^  that  of  insanity.  Thin  ouglit 
M  to  Up,  becauw  their  daily  practice  should  make  them  more  conventual 
tilh  the  varied  phenomena  of  mind  than  the  member*  of  any  other  pro- 
ftnoo*  Tbey  have,  a«  a  body,  acce^  to  all  clasaes,  at  all  hours,  from 
liilli  to  borial,  and  amidst  a  variety  of  circumi^tances  which  ought  to  t^ive 
then  a  va^t  advantage  over  mo^t  other  observers.  Several  realms  might 
bciveD  why  their  evidence  «o  often  appears  at  a  disadvantage  in  courts 


The  fint  reason  which  occurs  to  lis  will,  thankfl  to  the  improved 
of  ftzamiDiog  bodies,  shortly  be  only  a  matter  of  hij»tory.  It 
§t9miff  dajTi  so  few  medical  students  studied  iu^^uity  at  all. 

•  gbiiaf  imtapce  occurred  in  their  practice,  they  tiimply  Miit  it  to 
!•  ^ikfclj  aa  ponible,  and  ditimi^ttted  the  subject  from  their 

,)  A  Hcood  tmmm  (aUo,  we  hope,  aooo  to  be  a  relic  of  the  pMt)  ha* 
h§  ^ejdtnt  preluuioary  education  of  many  meoiU^nt  of  our  prol^ 
y^  iNily  hU  lo|pc.  as  a  formal  »tudv,  been  entirely  imiittad  &wn 
CBflj  iCa&i  of  ooi  a  few  medical  meu«  dut  their  mioda  were  not  even 
hf  Mudiei  (like  botany  or  chemistry)  which  would*  by  their 
ly  ansageacttla,  bave  oooetitiited  a  good  mental  d'iiici|ilijie.    Even 
and  anatottiy,  which  mi|rht  have  fAriialiy  nipplM 
1  often  merely  teaniea  by  rote,  or  ilarred  over  io 


.were  too 


(X    Alki 


lOit  be  ibond  in  the, 
itoffmeral  ai 


Ity  of  the  m\h 
1^  thorn  wbo  bftft 


732 


VikBISTtSS   OF   MtHD. 


stuilietl  tt  moBL  A»  we  shall  presmUj  see,  the  boundiirY  lioes  betweeo 
D>et)tal  t^ounditesg;  afitJ  itjsanttv  are  often  exireinely  thiir^  atid  incapahle  of 
prt'cise  defiiiilioii.  Fifligioujt  fervor,  ihe  fire  of  gt^nius,  and  the  ewef^gy  of 
anihiiiuu  are  ull,  at  tiiiics,  jm)  near  an  a[>prunrh  lo  maclues?^  that aoioe gffnt 
authorities  have  pmimutieed  all  men  «>f  geniii.«,  and  uearly  all  stiicmsfid 
cotiquerors,  to  have  been  niadmen.  Nor  is  the  notion  ?o  utterly  wild  ms  i% 
might  at  Brat  Hght  ap(>eur.  The  great  Napoleon  had  spectral  iIltt.«ioas, 
Yina  subject  to  epileptic  fii.",  and  t^  attacks  of  !*nch  extreme  mental  depres- 
§ion,  that  even  now  it  may  well  be  double<l  if  he  were  not  at  time?  tQi^ane. 
Turner,  the  great  painter,  behaved  like  a  madman  in  regard  to  hi*  maacj, 
and  was  m  indifferent  to  many  of  the  deeencie?  of  life  a^  any  luuatitv 

(4.)  In  the  fourth  place,  if  our  profe^ion  has  been,  ami  !?titl  i.s  too 
.ignorant  &9  to  mental  pheiiomenH,  there  can  l>e  little  doubt  that  the  genenil 
public,  and  a  great  many  members  of  the  l^al  pn^fessioD,  even  in  hf^h 
place?,  have  l)een  ,¥till  more  wj, 

(5.)  Even  if  judges  and  e<>un.«el  are  competent,  by  their  knowleilge,  to 
fonn  just  decisions  on  the  oiJ*e»  brought  before  them,  we  mast  rememl>er 
that  in  many  ca^^  they  have  no  choice  but  to  administer  the  law  as  it 
gtaudft.  And  our  erimitial  law,  especially  on  the  point  of  legnl  n.^^Jponsi- 
bitity,  does,  no  doubt,  bear  with  extreme  hardness  on  the  act-Uiie<l,  whilst 
as  regards  property,  there  is  often  extreme  laxity,  at  least  in  the  interpre- 
tation of  the  law,  le8t  what  are  termed  "  the  liberty  of  the  siuhject  *'  and 
•*  the  rights  of  property  "  should  be  interfered  wiih. 

(6.)  Thoi*e  who  have  made  a  special  study  of  insanity,  are  s^ometimes 
a  little  too  prone  to  a  sort  of  scholastic  hair-splittings  and  too  reudy  to 
admit  the  insanity  of  those  wh(»  perpetrate  crime,  as  if  it  were  an  admitted 
legul  maxim  that  all  crime  U  insanity,  and  as  if  it  were  ttlvvay5  and  incr* 
itably  true  that  all  the  ottispring  or  relations  of  a  lunatic  are  in^arje.  On 
a  subject  so  va.*i,  we  can  do  little  more  than  give  a  few  hint>,  caution*",  rind 
directions,  by  due  alleution  to  which   you  will,  we  tru?t,  be  -  m 

making  any  serious  mistakes.     As  an  introduction  to  the  legal  n  "( 

the  subject,  we  must  make  a  few  general  ubiervations,  aod  lay  down  a  few 
pro[Misitious. 

I.  Our  first  proposition  is,  that  there  may  he  ffrmi  and  tmpfniant  tUfftr- 
ytncfA  bchcecn  one  mind  and  another  without  cousfittiting  inmttii^.  Whole 
nations  and  races  may  thus  differ.  The  logical  mind  of  the  old  Greeks, 
of  the  mwiern  Germans,  and  lowland  Sct)tch,  must  n<Jt  be  looked  for  either 
in  the  average  Engiithman,  or  in  the  va^t  majority  of  (_^ltic  or  l^itiu 
rac€9.  Yet  ancient  Komans,  Frenchnjuu,  Italians,  and  Englishmen,  have 
all  distinguished  theniselves  in  logical  studies.  This  difference  may  be 
intensified  by  education  and  habits.  Great  classical  scholars  may  bo  igno- 
rant of  almost  the  rudiments  of  figures.  A  great  matheniatician  may  bd 
iiK'a|jable  of  classical  studies.  The  great  anatomist  ami  physiologist,  Joha 
Hu liter,  fxiuld  not,  or  at  least  never  did,  learn  to  sjiell  i»ro|»erly.  And 
great  bankers  and  financiers  are  not  all  like  Rogers,  equally  vci^^'d  in  the 
principles  of  poetry  and  painting, 

H.  Whilst  it  i^  quite  true  that  the  majority  of  criminals  present  a  low 
^standard  of  mental  develtjpment,  and  a  still  lower  standan.1  o^  mental 
'mcquirements,  when  judged  by  what  is  called  **th€  etlucatitmal  test,"  it  ia 
by  no  means  so  clear  that  these  two  circumstances  stand  in  the  i-elation  of 
cause  and  effect.  It  is  a  fact  that  in  France,*  ^o  per  cent,  of  those  accused 
of  the  crime  of  infanticide  fmm  1826  to  ]8oD,  and  7i'  per  cent,  in  the 
fifteen  years  subsequent,  were  almost  completely  illiterate.     It  does  not 


734 


FORENSIC    RELATIONS    OF    INSANITY, 


innkin^  a  will  and  the  like,  he  should  be  compared  not  only  with  the 
general  standarrl.  which,  iu  a  mixed  population,  i^Ufh  a^?  that  of  onr  lar^ 
cities,  must  be  sutnewhat  vaj^ue,  but  also  with  what  he  wa«,  and 
perhaps,  in  some  iiii^tances,  with  what  he  might  have  been,  had  eireiim- 
EtutifeH  Ihi'L'n  favorable.  In  uther  words^  the  niau  must  be  com[)ared  wiih 
hinijiflf. 

Remember  that  mental  unsoundne^  on  one  point  or  subject  doe^  not 
8hvay!t  au<i  invariably  mean  insanity  on  all  p^iiuts.  Whethtr  law  makers 
or  law  admiiH.itraton*  like  it  or  not,  it  is  perfectly  certain  that  lliere 
is  such  a  tliiiiij  as  mon<miania,  which,  in  certain  cases,  take<!$  the  furm 
of  moral  iosanily.  lo  other  word.-*,  a  man  may  be  perfectly  capable  of 
n»anu>:in^  businnsy*,  hi.>^  brain  may  have  all  itj?  iiitflleciual  vigor,  and 
yet  he  may  be  raarally  unsound — he  may  feel  unreaai>niible  bate  townnia 
those  be  ought  to  love — and  this  moral  iinsouuduesg  may  lead  him  into 
crime. 

VI.  We  must  not  forget  that  a  very  large  number  of  lunatics  have 
what  are  cjvllid  "lucid  iiHervab."  It  is  tlm^  possible  for  a  crime  to  be 
committed  in  a  moment  of  madne.<s,  whiUl  the  prisoner,  when  tried,  nuiy 
be  at  that  moment  perfectly  sane. 

VII.  If,  however,  we  carefully  investi^te  every  ca-se  on  its  own 
merits,  and  keep  the  fact*  observed  by  us  di}*liiicl  from  our  opinion?, 
our  cre<lit  as  witnesses  will  not  be  impaired,  and  our  opinions  will 
usually  eooimtitid  respect,  provided  that  they  are  founded  on  the  facts, 
and  couched  m  Mtch  language  aa  a  well-balanced  mind  wuuld  naturally 
choose. 

Before  giving  a  brief  summary  of  the  various  forms  of  mental  uosoutid- 
oeas  known  to  the  profession^  we  will  briefly  notice 


T7t*  Medk^Ugal  Queglionf  arising  out  of  Insanity, 
These  are  briefly  as  follows  : 

A.  A  man  or  woman  makes  a  will,  and  after  the  death  of  the  testator 
(or  testatrix  I  the  question  arises,  *'  Was*  he  (or  she)  of  sound  mind,  and 
capable  of  managing  his  (or  her)  own  aflkirs,  and  disposing  of  his  (or  bep) 
pn»|)crty  by  will  ?" 

H.  A  man  or  woman  is  rightly  or  wrongly  considere<l  a  lunatic  by  hU 
friendt*.  and  you  are  usked  to  sign  certificate?,  in  order  to  place  him  or  her 
it>  an  a.«y]um.  Here  note  that  the  friends  are  otten  reluctant  lo  admit  the 
insanity  of  their  relatives,  and  that  the  first  step  toward*  injuring  the 
safely  of  the  in^vane  and  of  their  friends  must  not  infrequeutly  l>e  Uken 
by  the  medical  attendant. 

C.  You  will  be  con!*ulted  by  parents  and  guardians  as  to  the  mental 
condition  of  their  children  or  wards.     The  hein?  to  large  estntea  may 
feeble-minded,  and  questions  may  ari}*e  as  to  their  cjipncity  tor  learninj 
and  a?  to  their  ability  and  BtnesR  to  manage  their  own  affairs. 

D.  A  criminal,  convicted  of  some  crime  agiiinst  property  or  pcnioDa, 
may  be  defended  by  his  counsel  or  friends  with  the  jilea  that  he  (or  si 
is   of  unsound    mind,    and    therefore    uot    responsible    for    the    actioi 
which  have  led  to  the  arre:?t  and  trial.     Thi^  defence  has,  of  late  yeai 
been  so  frequently  made  lo  the  ctise  of  flagitious  criminals,  that 
judges  and  juries  are  now  very  cautious  in  admitting  it  without  very 
reasons. 

E.  Persons  about  to  marry  sometimes  consult  you  as  to  the  risk  incurred 
from  the  existence  of  what  is  called  *'  hereditary  taint/' 


VARTBTIEB    OF    UNSOUND    MIND. 

Btanding,  rb  he  that  is  drunken.  "Lord  Hale,  in  recognizing  a  dl••tiD^ 
tion  between!  generahor  total  and  partial  ULisoundne!^,  majbesaid  toju^lifT 
the  ^eparaliuu  of  tnmifjinania  fvatn  inmi'ta.  If  thi*  be  s^o,  we  Ai^W  find 
good  legal  authority  for  at  leattt  four  forms  of  uiin^undueM:  Wwry, 
dementia,  mania,  ami  monomania.^'  {Gyy,  ^oc.  eit.,  p.  161- j  Dr.  Guy.flO 
this  as  a  ba^i^,  propoi^es  to  jrroup  idiocy,  inihecility,  and  eretinisni  unrlw 
the  term  of  amentia.  Utider  demeidia  he  would  compri«»e  tlie  acute  »Tid 
chrouic,  or  primary  and  secondary,  forms,  as  well  as  the  peculiar  sUtt 
known  as  general  pnralynii.  And,  lastly,  viania  must  be  made  tiictunprw 
not  only  aiTections  of  the  intellect  hut  also  those  of  the  erndtioo*.  lud 
mu^t  include  both  a  geneml  and  a  partial  unsoundness.  The  ftillowiitg 
tabular  arraugeraeut  represeuUj  at  one  view  the  fulfilment  of  these coa* 
ditioDs : 

Unmundtie«8  of  Mind. 


A  mentis. 


*2.  ImbeciUty. 
a.  CrcttbUni. 


Deu<.'titi». 


I.  Arute,  or  pHiimry. 
•2.  CItronic   or   8«coiJ- 
dury. 

3.  S.-n{l>'  rlf'mrnria. 

4.  UutiiTtil  pnraljAiiiaf 


Miiuia. 


1.  QpnoniK    {Ravta^/ 

Aerence, ) 

2.  tnt«Ui>ctUAL 


S.  Moral. 


(}«ner*l. 


Dr.  Guy  only  adopts  this  as  a  eouveuicDt  arrangement  (loc,  ciL,  p.  1^2). 
Eaquirol's  elassiHcatiou  h  simpler,  and  more  nearly  corresponds  witb  il»(^ 
given  by  Li>rd  Coke  and  Sir  Matthew  Hale.  It  is  as  follows:  1.  J/^'»*^ 
2.  MoHOJiiania.  3.  Dementia.  4,  Idiocy  (amentia).  We  shill  pnKU' 
cally  follow  this  arrangement  for  the  sake  of  convenience,  Bc^**" 
pkett'bing  these  typical  forms  w'e  reproduce  here  the  cla>J*ifi('atioii  »« 
Laurent  (in  his  "Etude  M^dino-l^gale  Kur  la  Simulation  dc  U  F'll"?* 
Pari*i,  18G6,  a  monograph  to  which  medical  jurists  are  greatly  mi*'^^ 
for  clear  views  of  this  subject). 


A  R^m&  of  Oie  Pr-lncipal  Forms  of  Unsoundness  of  Min4, 


I. 

Slmiile  fi»rms  of 
m^riinl  II  n- 
•uundness. 


L  MAniftCiil  formt. 


1.  MHiiiiK*iil  excitement. 

2.  AontP'  mimiii. 

8.  Siihacute  rnani»opHCut«d<^lii"^**' 

4.  Chronic  munta. 

1.  M*Oiineli(>liH  deprcNHon. 


{I.  MHiinehoiiH  deprcNhon. 
2    M«*lHriolM>1in  proper. 
3.   Mt'lancholiA  with  rlupiiiiljr. 

Z.  Ob«>€urative  form.        Imbecility  or  stupidity. 

4.  Allernating  form.     {  Alli^rnftlinij  mHni*.     Tntcrmt 


5.  Sy8U>miiti>.ed  form. 

6.  Enf«»eblpniofit, 


»o-cuilt*<l  circulnr  mtkdnciA. 
MoDotnania*  of  difTervni  kind*. 


Snf«»eblpniofit,  or  f  1.  Simple  priaiitire  d^mralia. 
nndiliilutidn  :>f  in- '  2.  Di«m(<niiM  con«ocutiv0  to 
tellec't.  I  fornu  of  mtiid*. 


CAUSES    OF    INSANITY. 


737 


1.  Nf'urotic  or  lliy|»*H'hundriflCftl  mania, 
9.   Epileptic  tiinniu. 


I.  Gfneral  pftralvfi^  (of  the  insan**)- 
l  2    Toxic  <»p  «innMfli!  ftjrfns  of  iriAjifiity, 
8.  CH«*hi'ctie  m*M]iit\% 

4.   In*iiniiv'  8yru(»l«"inHLfc  iif  loculized  lesions  of   more  or  le« 
(everily  and  importunoe. 


GtnmU, 


entering  on  the  descriptive  sketches  of  the  commoner  forms  of 
We  will  reprtidiice  frurn  pajjje  9G  of  Marce's  "  Traits  Pratique  ded 
Bleutaleii  "  his  excellent  lable  of  the 


GauHes  of  Inmnitif. 

CivilixMlion. 
Hf>hi;iitti4  notions. 
l*««liiicHl     ev^fiits    (or 
idi'H^i. 

Uftfi'diLHry  (i.  e.,  de- 
fi*ri«  i«r  InsinliilUy 
barnlpd  down  from 
«nee^tu^s). 

ClimHtn. 

ProffjiH^n. 
Education. 


mo 


fndividuaL 


Of    moral 
kind. 


CfpfiyHirnl 
nnttire. 


'  1.  Emolu>ni«.|>«wion8, 
diA»ip|Hiiriln>fnU. 

2  TmHutioii. 

8.  ti«dilnry  eon  0  no- 
men  t. 


1.  Local. 


2.  General. 


8.  Phyfliologlcal. 


4.  Spec! Da 


1.  Arfintj    rftrer.fly    in    the 

bi'ttht  {{arff. 

2,  Acting  nl  ti  dinfnnct  and 

itympafhelicntiy, 

1 .  Anxmin*y  rarftexifr,  n^nt- 

2.  Dinthfnia,     t/tn'trrg     (or 

er'ipffOff),  ThtufTtnfinftf 
iyphMH  frvrrti  intermit- 
tent Jer  era  ^  tie. 

Afenatitifttion^  preffttancy, 
tietivery,  lactatton^  ft-e. 

Poimminft  {Uad^  mti'fury, 
opintn^  Indian  hrmp, 
htittiulnnnn^  otkfr  wi" 
»onout  HtlanaceiM). 


I 

bo  K«n  that  travmntir  cmmes  are  only  indirectly  inclndcd  in  this 

Wr©  ij»,  however,  ubun4lant  evidence  that  injuries  to  fht  hmti, 

fconwqucnt  results   to  the  brain  and  nervous  system,  are  %'ery 

^redUpouiDg  and  sometimca  exciting  causes  of  nieulal  disease. 


738 


CAUSES    OF    INSANITY, 


It  IP,  however,  provable  that  every  surh  case,  If  carefully  lUvi'jtii/sW, 
woulfl  -.hnw  other  causes,  such  as  liereditiiry  otie?,  or  iufenipeniuct%a<  i* 
well  known  to  be  the  ease  wiili  a  large  majority  of  the  instanct^s  in  whicb 
there  \fi  a  hiii*tory  of  an  ftceuient. 

('{rUizatiim  h  indiretHiy  a  tMiuse  In  more  way**  than  one,  a*(l)bTlh# 
keenuez-s  of  llie  strupple  for  existenre  In  popnloiis  commtniitie^:  [i)\lt 
the  severity  ijf  eoriipeLltive  exiifnlnathms,  or  the  eaprerne.^sof  the  coranrtl' 
tion  for  phiees  of  honcir  in  exiimination  I'lti*,  and  fi>r  poj«t8  of  profit  of 
(liytinetion  in  the  |3r(>fessi<ms ;  (3)  by  the  diffiieultles  in  the  way  «»f  early 
marringe^!,  and  the  tittciul  viee>^  thereby  encouraged.  Orani^m  aiifl  othfT 
sexual  exfess^ex  prove  (iLnnhly  injiirmns,  beeanse  there  U  not  onlv  (ilifiir*! 
exhaustion,  but  alw  lu  most  case.-?  fieree  strujri^les  with  con*i'i<'tm*.  ^ 
terrible  l^  thi?  stru^tilt*  'hat  many  of  the  victims  elect  to  be  iiii'«px<*<i  Hjr 
ca^^tration  and  the  like)  In  the  vain  hopenf  gretting  free  from  the  bondatf 
of  sensuality  by  such  means;  (4^1  by  encouraijin^  social  emnlmioii  iiMh« 
way  of  expensive  dress,  costly  baiTpiers,  and  ruinous  exp<'ndi»nrv.  ft!  io 
hori^e-rnclnp  and  other  forms  of  gambling,  including  the  Stock  Exchioge, 
ami  other  ways  too  ivumerous  to  mention. 

lielnpfm  ia  enumerated  by  nearly  all  writers  on  insanity  as  a  «HK- 
Whilst  true  piety,  or  the  posweft^^ion  of  that  "  p^^ace  of  Gid,  which  if  hiehef 
than  all  niider>taiiditi^,"  has  a  far  different  effjet,  tending  to  tmnqtiHl»» 
the  mind  amidst  ''  the  wreck  of  matter  and  the  crash  of  world?/*  all  •!>' 
have  watched  what  are  called  *' reli^iou^  revivals."  cannot  ha vo  fail)?'!  to 
nniice  thai  i»ot  a  few  feeble  minds  are  thniwn  off  their  baJant'e  al  Kiefc 
periiids.  8ueh  was  the  ea!«e  in  the  Crn'^ade^.  Not  children  onlv, ImU 
crrown-up  persons,  started  for  the  Erist,  not  only  without  prf»panitir-nofinf 
kind,  but  without  even  inqulnntr  wliich  way  t'>  travel!  The  prea«')iin;"« 
Rowltuid  Hi! I,  of  Whitfield,  the  Wesleys.  and  of  other  more  nv^liTti  n"* 
vlvtilists,  though  useful  to  the  whole  nation  in  arou^in^  il5  dormant  Jipintnw 
life,  sent  not  a  few  to  the  asylum^.*  It  hps  been  noticed,  too,  that  *mi\\ 
religious  e<mimunltles,  j;uch  as  the  Society  of  Frienda  (eoram*»nly  ulc*' 
named  QuttkrrM),  send  a  disproportionate  number  of  their  pmfe^or*  ta 
asylums,  compured  with  larger  reli^ioup  bodies.  The  explanation  i«  pivl** 
ably  to  be  sou-jht  in  other  cau-es  than  their  doctrines,  InU'rmarria^ 
in  a  limited  society,  the  keen  pursniis  of  mercantile  enterpri:<e,  nw\  IM 
virtual  prohibttion  of  musical  and  dramatic  etifertainmei»is  <>f  ^^'^  ''"* 
arts,  aud  of  dancii^ji  and  other  so-called  "worldhy"  amusements a»  w*' 
as  that  habitual  repression  of  the  eniutlona  which  was  the  hnhit  »f  V* 
earlier  Friends,  mav  possibly  be  the  true  faetors.t  Alfhiiujrh  nerttto 
forms  of  reli^iiMiH  thouirht  and  relitrjous  emotion  thu3  tend  U*  pm*liK* 
mental  ilisejise,  all  who  have  carefully  watched  the  treatment  nfth**  i"**^' 
in  well-r^i?nlated  asylums  will  CHrroborate  what  (iriesinger  |  Rft\>»  I'M"* 
traufpiillizinof  effect  iFf  appropriate  religious  eserci9€«  and  fiiini»tnit»«** 
amotijrst  the  Insane. 

As  to  politics  and  political  excitement  we  need  simply  refer  to  iJiegrfrt 


■*  The  outhor<i  tru<.t  iliHt  no  on^  will  mi^undrr^tiind  thitlr  fnr*Mniai;.  Th....-  •b" 
wjfh  for  I'xnnipli's  shnuM  rend  •*  Heek«T's  Ri'liitiniis  E|»id«>fntc*  of  lb"  M<«1<n» 
Atf<»»  "  Tln^<y  "  l»y-prnfliu't>  "  uf  r*»lii»;iou-i  rovivnU  i!inci:*^"«t  cnution  U^  t*"^^  *■*' 
oritjinnti'  soul  cfinJiiut  sm:h  movuinenla;  but  tliey  do  not  ^»rovo  iho  rorivJ"  l*i'»" 
selv«'«  fo  lift  oviU. 

t  The  Kni:li*li  Hri«locnioy,  Rtid  thnt  r»f  other  onnnlriM,  i^tid  the  J#«l'*k  iJ^ 
mnnity,  r^l^oi^xhibU  the  SAino  dUpropurtiamite  number  of  lanittlcs compaf*!  •»* 

X  •'  M«rUttl  P«ith.»loirv  nnd  Th<»rnpr*niip.«."  Tr«n«!Utod  by  Dr*.  Lttckban  Rft^i**^ 
son  iind  ItuliierftirJ,     Now  Syd<nhHm  Society,  p.  490. 


740 


SIMPLE    FORMS    OF    IKBANITY. 


The  influence  of  the  citnt  tftale  and  profn»mon^  or  oeeupation,  deserves 
more  8l«dy  than  has  yet  been  given  to  it.  Whnt  are  commonly  called 
pro('e<J»i4uis  ( elm rel»,  urmy,  navy,  law,  phy.iic,  etc. )  f«nii*«h  many  inmates 
to  asyiunijs,  on  account  of  the  keen  competition  for  advancement  and  pro- 
motion, diMiippointed  hopes,  and  a  scale  of  livinj;  disproportionate  to  tlieir 
nieiitis.  Biill  more  fr4Hn  the  use  of  alcohol  and  narcotics  to  stimulate  or 
re^l  overtiretl  and  overworked  brains.  Agricultural  pursuits  afford  an 
undue  proportion  of  lunaLies  to  public  asylums.  It  would  almost  seem 
that  mental  i^tagnation  is  worse  than  overexcltement.  The  real  reason  is, 
perhaps,  the  same  which  leads  to  the  prevalence  of  sedentary  ocfupations 
in  the  list  of  the  employments  of  those  who  l>ecome  insane.  The  overr 
crowdinjfj  of  some  avocations^  as  in  the  case  of  governesses  and  female* 
employthd  in  teaching,  is  very  likely  the  reason  that  so  many  become  in- 
sane. Sexual  excesses,  remorse,  and  alcohol  combine  to  render  in&inity 
common  am<mgst  prostitutes. 

EflHcdi'uni  lias  been  supposed  to  conduce  to  insanity.  No  doubt,  over* 
stimulation  of  the  intellect  in  early  childhoix]  hai^nri  injurious  effect.  There 
are,  however,  no  trustworthy  statistics  on  this  point. 

If  we  now  turn  to  the  ioimeiliate  ocensionintr  causci^,  those  of  the  moral 
order,  eiiKifionJi,  puMioKM,  dimippoiufmt'iitji,  hnittitton,  and  the  efleclsof  WiVary 
confinement,  need  not  detain  us,  as  their  inHuence  is  either  self-evident  or 
too  familiar  to  need  iHustratioo,  The  last  cause  named  is  clearly  a  ci>m- 
plex  one— solitary  confiiiemenL  has  an  injurious  effect  on  the  general  health. 
and  thtMse  who  undcr^'o  it  ure  uj^naHy  either  j^reat  criminals  or  unsncccsg- 
fnl  ]»i»HtiiMniis.  The  physical  causes  enumerated  in  the  table  also  need  no 
lenpthy  discussion  here,  as  some  are  obvious,  and  others,  such  as  the  in- 
fluence fd"  puerperal  causes  and  the  effects  of  poisitns  (lead,  mercury,  opium, 
etc.)  will  again  be  metttioned  under  the  different  fnrrns  of  lunacy  or  un- 
s<mr»d  mind.  We  therefore  prttceed  to  sketch  briefly  the  ebaracters  of  the 
diflerent  forms  of  insanity,  enumerated  in  the  table  at  pape  736.  For 
these  woni  pictures,  or  rather  ?*ketches,  we  are  greatly  indebted  to  the  ex- 
cellent work  of  Dr.  Arniand  Laurent,  previously  quoted,  whose  classifica- 
tion we  sul)**tantially  adopt. 


I.  Of  simple  forms  of  insanity. 

A.  Vnri^ie»  of  Mania. — In  general  terms,  it  may  be  said  that  when  we 
speak  of  mania,  unless  we  qualify  it  by  such  terms  as  melancholic,  or 
speak  of  monomania,  or  in  some  other  way  qualify  the  term,  we  imply  ex- 
citement. For  obvious  rea«toinis,  if  we  exchide  itliocy  and  cretinism,  forms 
of  insanity  with  exciten»ent  will  cbieflv  prevail  amonjjst  the  younirer  in- 
mates of  asylums.  In  mania  (from  ftaivuftai^  to  raj^e)  the  reason  in  jr  fticuhy 
is  not  «renerally  lost,  but  disturbed  and  confused;  ideas  flow  lhrou>;}i  tli© 
mind  with  incon<'eivable  rapitlity  ;  thev  are  abundant,  erroneous,  abi^urd, 
wandcrinj,%  and  not  under  control.  Yet,  as  M.  Falret  has  obsi.*rved,  the 
incoherence  is  far  more  apparent  than  real — ihoupht  is  m<ire  rapid  than  its 
manifestation,  and  there  is  often  a  connecting:  link  between  what,  at  6rst 
sight,  appear  the  most  incongruous  ideas.     Just  as — 

♦*  Tb<»  ptw»t'i  «'ye,  5n  n  fine  frenKV  rfttlinK, 

Wanders  from  earth  to  heuverij  from  heaven  lo  earth  :'^ 


60  maniacs  dart  from  one  subject  to  another  with  bewildering  rapidity. 
Ijinorant  doctors  and  magistmtes  have  even  been  known  to  reirard  the 
languaffe  of  ?ome  of  our  great  poets  and  ilramatists  as  evidences  of  insanity. 
You  must  be  careful  not  to  mistake  the  enthusiasm  of  genius,  or  even  sim- 
ple occentricitj,  for  mania.     An  actor  rehearsing  bis  part,  a  barrister  or 


LVrffW  «i>«   LOKATICS. 

OV4.  iigM%/ ^rA  co^mvingRt  etc.;   a  *  Concordant 

^  AUH,;  fHMe  other  religions  liooks:  a  lale  'Gihi^ 

MnUr**  GuzettecT,'  ric'WH|iapei-8»  nmj^a/Jnw,  al- 

lr^)^ical  in.-'trinnt'nt*  aiul  mti^ic;  tar^^e 

■  1  many  other  work?,  coHclmling  with] 

,  ^tJut^i  oyslert?,  money — everylhing  filling 

l^  ID  ihret)  days,  or  you  go  to  hell.     1*.8. — 

.tkUMMTT,  and  a  dressing-caj^." 

>  *\et  put  iuto  hts  hatids  at  the  gate  of  the  Loudon 
«'  rvligioiiij  munomaniac.     She  addressed  it: 

atlemen  of  the  London  Hospital "  («V\  and  it  was 

^toD  "  (^Proteslaut).     It  begins  by  a  rambling  titate- 

->>v*,  and  g(X?!.  on,  "ihroo  them  meiiy  nien  are  niarle 

ad  lu  8ay  so,  the  way  thiti  is  don,  the  way  thi^  ia 

4ii  imle  made  in  the  purs,  and  by  means  of  homoparti 

H  druned  of  it^^  contence,"     After  a  quantity  of  ranibiing 

'Miod  is  love,"  and  "a  prmleiilon  "  being  written  acroaa 

-everal  oilier  place?*,  she  ends  wiih — "  they  raused  my 

\  well  all  loarlei-ed,  and  oiy  moiher  the  granddaughter 

uv,  an<l  njy  father  the  graiulj-un  and  son  of  one  of  the 

-  v»l  hiticheittfr,  and. I  have  had  u<itben,  but  people  to  try  to 

iii>>j  away  to  leve  me  in  di.Mtre;?s  and  pLiverty,  and  keep  me 

.  ;irv  kept  out  of  property  in  gemakerthat  brought  in  thirty- 

I  I'lr  yer. 

"  Yours  affect,  A.  P ." 

Aotum  tbe  page  was  written^"  You  must  make  thR  medical-men  of  the 
1  .uainted  with  this,  as  there  is*  a  good  deal  of  property  at  stake  of 

u  of  ihf  royal  navy  a  grate  huncie." 

I  hi.  pei-^Hcution  ttlludetJ  to  was  saiil  to  be  "  to  sati&fy  a  ^t  of  infti Hated 
iriih  |HH>ple  hoo  thought  to  get  up  a  better  breed  of  people  than  engliah  I" 
lu  another  place  she  says,  "  Yuu  mu>t  exousie  the  spelling,  as  I  Oaonot 
aparv  lime  to  correct  it  on  a  Count  of  giving  ?*o  much  away." 

ill  M»  Tardieu's  "  Etude  M^dico-l^^gale  sur  la  Folie,'*  there  are  a  number 
■Jae^MWiife  letters  from  lunatics  of  different  kinds;  some  of  ihes-e  are  very 
irious.  But  some  example?  will  be  found  in  most  works  on  insanity. 
Mpnomania  is  no  medical  novelty.  It  has  been  recognized  fn>m  the 
wrliesi  times,  as  might  easily  be  proved  by  references  to  iIk*  writings  of 
the  cla^o^ical  author*  of  almost  every  country.  It  is.  however,  more  tu  our 
purpixic  to  note  that  Zacchias  ("  Qujestiones  Medico  legales,"  lib.  ii,  tit.  1, 
j^uo^^t.  'i)  wrote  "  Non  omoes  demeutes  circa  omnia  crrare,  t|Uut4dam  enira 
circa  omnia,  quondam  circa  plum,  alios  ven>  circa  pauca  quiedam  dolum- 
mod*>  errare  constat.  Itno  ex  iV/wr  nonnulH  sttnt^  qui  in  tiuUu  r<r,  n  anum 
tuttltim  t\rclpias,  errant,  ttfd  omnia  pruiienter  vet  ttt  ejr  nvtur^i  r«o*  «•/,  operant 
tur,''  and  he  give^  the  following  case:  One  who  wished  to  e.vamine  for 
himself  the  varieties  of  insanity^  went  to  a  hoepital  where  there  were  luna- 
tics and  tieeing  a  man  of  intelleciuul  app^iarance,  he  souke  to  him,  and  v%- 
pluimnl  hifi  wishes.  The  man  took  him  all  around  the  building  an<l  ftointed 
out  one  inmate  at\er  another,  commenting  on  their  delusions,  and  explaining 
everyihinj:  with  great  clearnega  and  pn>pHety,  At  la»t  they  came  to  ii 
man  who  wil?  sail  anil  thoughtful-looking.  The  stranger  asked  his  guide 
from  wluU  kind  q(  madncs**  this  man  suffered*  Then  said  his  j 
*•  This  man  is  deranged  in  many  ways,  for  he  thinks  that  he  is  the 


744 


MORAL    INSANITY 


the  impulse  has  not  been  so  sudilen  as  it  seems  at  first  sight  to  be,  l!  will 
often  be  louml  tlint  the  filicide  or  iiiriuus  njurderer  has  tokl  HOineoneof 
his  iiUfUtiiui  lon^  before,  or  has  maiiilesteii  Hotne  aberration  of  iutelleotof 
einotiotis  before  the  last  hoTTible  uft  of  the  tragedy.  We  t«l>atl  nrufto 
this  in  discussing  the  quest  toti  of  rexjtoimbUHtj  for  crime.  Btiieide  «fip».ui> 
nuij^t  coriiiinHi  anio[igst  ediiraled  people.  The  proportion  ^(  wtiirijw  Id 
England  and  Walec^  to  tlie  popithiliuii  has  inuintaiued  u  pretty  niinilMl 
ratio  since  1858,  when  the»e  deaths  were  made  a  separate  rUi*'  iu  ibe 
return*  of  the  Regisirar-Geiierul.  In  that  year  1275  gueh  de«il)#  wm 
returned.  In  1874,  there  were  1592  in  England  and  Wale?.  The  annttil 
number  was  67  |)er  1,000,000  persons  living  in  the  three  niiin<|UfntiiaJi 
1864,  1809,  and  1874.  In  1873  the  proportions  were  65  jier  mtlli«joi  f'»r 
rural  di^uieLi,  anil  83  for  London.  The  1592  deaths  by  suicide  iu  lJf74 
inebidfd  1204  of  niales,  and  o88  of  females ;  aiMl  besides  133  fnMU  vnrioni 
or  ill-defined  causes,  there  were  from  hanging  597 ;  from  iueu«uij  wautw!* 
(chiefly  cut  throat),  340;  from  drowning,  280;  from  jmison,  Hii;  froo 
gunshot  woimd^,  1)3.  In  Wales  there  were  only  'VJ  Miieides  to  tin*  million 
(''British  Mu'dieal  Journal,"  June  10,  1876).  '(8)  Moral  iit*itnt|v,  »l»ic* 
as  yet  luij*  bten  scarcely  admitled  by  any  of  our  judges  \sa  a  detrutf  io 
regard  to  crimes  such  ad  murder,  does  yet  umioubtedly  exi«l.  Iti  Lilsrin? 
instaneei*,  when  no  legal  Isisue  depends  on  it,  it  will  otten  Ik*  a'! 
othera  than  s]>eeialtsii<.  Iu  this  form  of  madnest^,  whilst  the 
appears  to  be  unuffeeted  iu  all  other  matters,  "  there  is  a  |M*rversi(in  Mflll 
naluru!  Jeelings  and  atleetioos  of  temper,  habit-^,  and  moral  dis|»*«itloii,* 
as  Dt.  Tuutter  well  says.  A  dnoghfer  hate**  a  most  aflectionate  nmllit'f  fof 
uo  reas(ui  at  all  (though  she  will  s«Huetimes  give  many  supposed  n'U!H»o>). 
A  husband  all  at  once  or  more  gradually  begins  ti»  hate  )m»  wife  aod  chil- 
dren eau*ele!<*ly,  A  previouj^ly  moral  inau  becomes  a  debauchee.  Iti* 
seen  at  once  that  to  distinguish  between  sin  and  madness  is  very  rlilii^:''''* 
in  some  of  the^'  cases.  In  many  of  them  alcoholism  and  the  uw  of  llll^ 
coticH  may  partially  explain.  Iu  some  cases  of  moral  insanity  otlwf 
neuroses  are  combined — hysterical  and  epileptic  fits  may  be  fouuil  cti^J* 
isting  with  the  so-called  moral  insanity,  by  careful  inve-itiLratiin,  {^\ 
Pifromunia  {7^'jf>,  fire),  or  the  tendency  lo  }^\  tire  to  houses  or      '  rty, 

is  a  iiionomanui  diHicult  to  class.  Kickburning,  and  the  a  ,  «* 
dwelling  houses  on  fi re  are  ollen  the  acts  of  preeotriouj*  ehildreo,  or  ot  y^^H 
|w^o|)le  of  both  sexes  about  the  age  of  puberty,  or  within  a  few  yean*  wf 'i> 
(Fmnt  teu  to  twenty-five  years  of  age  beittg  most  common  iu  these  rtiJ^^l 
C  Mtiianrholia,  or  lypemauia  (X'J'jnj,  grief),  though  ranked  with  otktf 
forms  ut  mania  or  acute  insanity,  difiers  from  them  in  many  i{J1p^^rt»Ilt 
particulars.  Ills  seldom  so  sudden  in  its  onset,  unless  when  tln^^^ 
of  souje  profouutl  mental  or  moral  shock.  In-itead  of  li^-ing  a  !>tal«  ^ 
mental  exaltation  and  excitement,  it  is  one  of  intense  depreKjioij,  Hi* 
state  lias  bi-en  variotisly  divided  by  systematic  uosologists.  The  dfjjHt*' 
forms  hardiv  amount  to  insanity,  and  are  called  melnnrholic  HepTnf*^ 
All  the  idt-as  are  gloomy,  but  there  are  few  delusions,  if  any  a!  «l!  «** 
there  is  a  loss  of  energy.     The  subjects  of  il  are  unable  t-  ^"'' 

iu  anything.     They  seek  to  be  alone,  their  appetite  is  dimiM  '""' 

is  slow,  coustipation  is  generally  present,  their  slei-p  Is  un:  ' 

they  are  generally  weak  and  aniemic.     Gr^at  actors,  public  " ' 

others,  who  undergo  great  fatigue  to  amuse  the  public,  are  subject  l«»  tl'* 
form  of  depression.*     The  poet  Cowper  suffered  from  il  at  tb«  very  tiflw 

*  '»  Hi*  rnnkns  his  h*'i«rt  »  prey  U>  ItUck  dt**pHir ; 
lie  cuts  not,  drinks  not,  slccips  not,  hri»  no  uio 
Of  Mnything  tujt  thoui^ht;  or,  if  he  Ulk«, 
'Tie  to  hiinseir.'*— DttYOBN. 


746 


ALTEENATTKG   MANIA, 


because  when  played  the  Swiss  rleserted  iu  numbers  tn  retuni  to  iHeir 
native  hills  and  valley:?,  or  died  of  grief  if  unable  to  do  »o. 

Lii>!tly,  melancholia  m»y  be  combined  witli  a  torpid  or  wlupid  i»Ute,in 
which  the  will  apijenr.'*  entirely  in  abeyance,  (M.  Delaj^iauve  iu  \k 
•*  Journal  de  M^tlecine  Menlale/*  tome  I.) 

I).  Alternating  mania,  ihe  go  railed  circular  or  rotating  nmdne«^i«t 
peculiar  form  of  ineunity,  speciully  dej^cribed  by  M,  Falrei^  Ju  s^\\\t^ 
period:*  of  oxeilement  (or  mania)  alternale  with  perioib  of  de|irttitiAii 
(niehmeholia),  with  occa.*?iojjnlly  perfectly  lucid  intervals.  This  h  t*»cr 
ally  included  under  mania  in  Knglii^h  bo^iks  on  the  Hubject.  The  authnf?, 
however,  I'mm  iheir  own  experience,  consider  tjjis  a  welbmarked  cHNial 
variety  of  insanity.  They  know  itjsiances  in  which  the  initrval  tua»loof 
Vkn  two  or  three  months.  Take  the  following  eai*e  as  an  example:  **Mf.B. 
entered  the  navy  as  a  ruidshipmau  in  the  rnerchant  service,  OirtlieiH«i4 
of  Africa  he  had  a  sunstroke,  and  after  that  «onie  kind  of  tropi<ml  fi'wr. 
Ill  his  delirium  he  insulted  \m  captain,  whi>  firjtt  struck  him  on  the  hold 
with  au  iron  bar,  then  put  him  into  irons,  on  deck,  in  the  Iropie?*,  »lill  «• 
pojied  to  the  ?un,  and  kept  him  on  bread  and  water  ftir  a  fortuighL  At 
the  end  of  this  time  he  wa«i  seen  to  bo  ravinj^  mad,  and  was  then  twitwi 
aij  such.  I"]ver  since  (though  then  only  filleen,  and  now  forty-five)  hf  Ui 
been  subject  to  fierce  paroxysms  of  maniacal  excitement,  followed  bvJ«^ 
preissinn  ;  and  thene  attack;:?  by  a  long  lucid  interval,  which  ha.s  wjiiiHimA 
been  as  long  a.-5  six  mouths,  though  more  often  only  si.^  week;*.  In  tbe 
intervals  he  is  fond  of  and  trotted  by  and  with  children.  He  is  wrellwlo- 
cated  and  acconqjlished.  In  his  paroxysms  he  geems  raon?  like  a  tk^vil 
than  a  man.  Hardly  any  cell  can  contain  him.  He  i^  violent  a»d  ^^^ 
structive.  He  knows  when  these  attacks  are  coming  on,  and  so  do  ihtf* 
accustomed  to  him." 

E.  Under  the  names  of  stupidity,  dementia,  and  the  lilcc»  are  irM:lu«W 
cases  in  which  there  is  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time  (weeks,  months  i>t 
yeans)  a  state  in  which  the  intellectual  powei's  or  faculties  are  tc»Tj|x>niriljr 
suspended,  wifhout  marked  melunrholy,  though  there  i?  «omctinjca«a  wrt 
of  sadnesi*.  The  head  seems  swidlcn.  the  whole  attitu<|p  \^  gtupiil,  ih«?  ^J^ 
lack  lustre,  the  counteiuir^ce  is  pule  and  fJull,  the  attitude  tixe<h  EsctiTOil 
stimuli  and  noises  make  little  or  no  im]>re?sion.  Si»n*ibiHty  is  l»luut«l. 
urine  and  freces  pass  involuntarily,  saliva  drihhies  from  the  mouili,  l^>* 
will  is  iu  abeyance.  These  patlent,s  neither  Imnger  nor  thirst :  th'V  't»a< 
be  led,  dressed,  put  to  bed,  etc.  All  their  waut^  ar<^  aui  •  '  iH" 
stinctive.  Except  for  obstinate  ciinstipation.  digesti<in  i-  ,  *'^- 
Borne  few  emaciate,  but  most  are  tolerably  well  nourished.  The  i-atj»in»-fl»» 
in  females  are  generally  su-^pended.  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  !hc«?(«**« 
when  uncomplicated  by  pnralysi-*,  or  organic  diseases,  in  other  word*  wl*"* 
acute,  usually  recover,  cither  suddenly  or  slowly. 

F.  Chronic  mania^  or  systematized  insanity,  is  that  state  which  «up^ 
venes  upon  the  acute  form  when  that  is  not  cured.  The  bodilv  •  ■  •  ■>  -iTf 
swjmewhat  improved,  the  mental  powers  are  less  fiercely  <  '^ 
there  is  still  the  same  confusion  of  thought,  the  wime  want  oi  ^i  ii »  'mti'Ii 
but  less  rapid  How  of  ideas  than  we  meet  with  in  acute  mania.  Thi*«uw 
is  unhappily  but  seldom  eure<i.  It  subaidea  into  dcmontia,  orioine"lh«r 
chronic  form  of  mental  feebleness. 

G.  Simple  dcnu^ntia  {de,  privative,  w^j»,  the  mind  )  i^  v  tMO^**** 
tive  to  mania,  or  melanchulia,  though  Hometimes  pn^i  tnw»* 
and  mental  sh»K'k.  It  is  a  condition  of  which  weakne«»  ot  ^  ** 
the  most  prominent  feature.  Very  extreme  age  is,  we  li  •'/ 
coniidered  to  be  one  of  the  causes.  Dr.  Tauner'ii  de**cripti'  '''^ 
be  surpassed:  **  The  mind  is  altogether  feeble,  tl»e  id.H!<  cuu  .:          r^** 


748 


EPILEPTIO    MANIA, 


by  turoa  calm,  furious,  Tnelaneholv,  Icxquactoas  damb.  stupid,  a  prey  to 
hulluciuation^,  po*3essc»d  of  the  devil,  erotomaniac*,  feeble-iK  '  '  i[v 
tive,  libertines,  iliievish  I     (Laurent,  loc.  cit,  p.  191.)     In  f-  ,  n- 

erally  Htid,  as  M.  Dela-^iauve  insists  so  strongly,  some  disorder  gl  jwcLiHruv 
tion  (amenorrlnta,  dysiiienorrhcea,  menorrbugia,  metrorrhagia. etc).  Hp 
tericiil  mania  bus  prevailed  epidemicatly  at  various  time^.  One  itf  the 
most  recent  t'pidenjics  was  at  Mor/ine,  in  Savoy,  described  by  Dr.  Coa* 
staiit.'* 

Young  medteal  men  can  scarcely  be  too  much  on  their  g;Qani  ia  the 
treatment  of  female  patients  sud'ering  from  marked  fomw  of  bysleria, 
especially  when  there  are  any  .tendencies  to  erotic  mania. 

Epileptic  ynania  {i-i,  upon;  Xatj,iidvo}^  I  seize)  is  another  mixed  form.  U 
is  well  known  that  frtMjuerit  tit^  of  epilepi*y  have  a  leudency  to  wtakcQ  4e 
intellect.  To  [jresen'C  llie  moral  and  mental  faculties*  unin)|>airvd  atW 
many  epileptic  x*eizure«,  it'  not  imijic»s.sible,  is  yet  extremly  mre.  Tli«  io^ 
stances?  of  J  ulius  Cavsar,  Napoldou  llocaparte,  and  ihe  Duke  ot  Welliugton, 
sometimed  quoted,  do  not  dif*prove  ibi.-*  rule,  a»  their  attacks  were  !»eparRT<d 
from  each  other  by  long  intervals.  Napoleon  only  saw  thomme  rua^ton 
the.cvo  of  his  great,  buttles.  According  to  Huetonins  most  of  Cie«r# 
attack:*  were  what  we  should  call  (e  petii  mai,  and  only  some  two  of  them 
real  epileptic  fits.t  M.  Morel  divides  epileptic  nmnta  into  three  perjixk 
The  tirst  is  one  of  extreme  irritabiliiy  and  impatience  of  contradiction,  wjoe- 
times  greatly  to  their  own  disadvantage.  There  are  fears  as  to  thuirnta 
health,  unjust  recrimiuatioos,  strongly  pronounced  venereal  tendeodn* 
There  is  a  peculiarly  daufferotts  charader  in  these  disordered  conditions  ot 
epileptics.  Their  general  health  is  more  affected  than  that  of  only  hypo- 
cliondriacal  or  hysterical  patients.  In  this  first  period  the  disonientof 
digestion  and  circulation  are  often  severe,  and  it  is  very  cunnnon  for  the 
patientjj  to  be  troubled  with  hallucinations  of  the  senses.  They  often  b»« 
tendencies  to  suicide,  homicide,  and  incendiarism.  In  the  w^'ond  pfritxi, 
they  are  generally  to  be  tound  in  asylums,  their  rage  and  irriubiliij 
having  pas-^ed  ordinary  bounds>  A  word  or  a  gesture  is  enough  toirriW 
"ictn.  They  can't  bear  even  to  be  looked  at.  There  is  great  r€Uou*w30' 
festion,  the  eyes  are  brilliant,  and  sparkle  with  anger,  \el  a  single  •'•nl 
will  often  calm  them  again.  They  will  come  to  ihediKJt^jr,  or  vii*ilor,*»*f 
they  had  sojue  great  secret  to  communicate.  It  is  nearly  alwayt  ■  roro* 
plaint  or  invective  against  some  one,  often  marked  by  the  most  omnij|[w)i» 
falsehood  and  exaggeratiou.  They  are  timid  and  cowardly,  and  \\hm^ 
they  seem  ready  to  tight  at  any  raomeut,  nothing  comes  of  it.  Fnr  »( 
punishment  leads  them  to  retire  ahme  to  make  their  complaiot^  i^ 
titter  their  threats,  perliaps  gesticulating  wildly  in  some  lonely  il'«7* 


♦  A.  ConslHUt,  "  KcUtiun  sur  une  ^pidemin  d'tiy^tero'deiuiinopni  ** 

I8fil,"  Paris,  1803.  Con^ult  on  tin's  |M«iin  Hfikjr's  "  Epidonic^,  . ;.  ,  ^.i  ^ 
CMlaifil,  "  D(?  lit  Fnlie  con*lder^  s<>ys  It-  piniit  tlti  vuv  l*Hlli»»l«ii;iqi«t*,  I*hil(i^ti|ilii<|tl*. 
Hi.-Uiitijut*  ei  Judkiiiiri'/'  eie,  ;  M.  TnrUifii,  /<>r,  rl^,  p.  \-tit ,  Lvt^mmi  dn  l^oi^ 
•'  Kiude  Medic-(»  Lff^wle  cur  I  Hv^toi  it^,*'  etc. ;  **  ti4ixrtiti«  d*.»*  Ud)iitiiiix."  iUrti*wl*^« 
18JL>,  p.  No;  Morwi,  *'  Triolo  dc  Mnliidio*  .MfntnU-.s"  \mo,  u.  bWl  ;  Mwfv»u,  "D» 
Tovira  L'l.Jon  Medkulo,"  1866;  tiuiurd,  **  Thfij^idw  .VI.»jn|H.*lb»T,"  l^S;  LwA*>*^» 
•'  The6*v»  dv  Puris,*'  1H57  ;  l)«ln»iuuv«',  "  JournHt  de  MeJictiU*  M»*nt««l«/*  l"«»  '^- P- 
24*2.  Dr.  (Jueaiineiiu  de  Alus.-y  has  «hown  thut  the  children  of  gfUty  |i»rv«W  *" 
pHriii'ulnrly  pnmu   to  nt.*urt»i»i'fc, 

t  ♦'  VsliHudinn  pro-p«rH:  nifiquod  tempore  ex tremo,  rr-  -  •  » : ' ■'  'i"!** 

etiHiti  per  somnutii  exterreii  solebnt.     Cumitiali  ifuoo'u  '* 

e<.rrr;>/«.«tc«r."-C,  iScET.  Tkanq.,  lih.  i,  0,  4'J.     The  Eti»i  .     ^  "JJ 

'«  Lite  of  Cjeaar,"  coiiitmt«i  tlie  ideii  that  these  were  epilf*pnc  tit* ;  bul  nw  ii**'^ '" 
hH8  nut  estttblijthed  tiuy  gmid  ri^adon  for  duubtirig  the  ixitnmun  oplniuo. 


750 


OENKRAL    PARALYSIS    DESCRTDBD. 


eaid  he  was  going  to  marry  the  Euipress  EuniMile  (her  hu$banc}  waMheo 
alive),  but  five  minytcs  afterwards  he  had  resolved  to  marry  (|uwn  Vic. 
lorlii  instearl.  In  a  ftnv  tuinutes  more  he  intbrmtMj  us  that  he  j>ro|H>wl  lo 
lake  pi)Rse>k>5i()P  of  the  seraglio  of  the  Sultan.  The  nieraory,  rcii?<»iiiri| 
powen:,  und  hjgical  st'use  are  prMfoutidly  impaired  in  thej?e  ca*e<,  Tber 
Willi  tjgly  give  up  I  heir  opinions  if  contradicted,  par«si  from  one  idra  loao- 
othtT,  are  sad  and  guy  by  turns,  forget  tlie  faUe  ideas  of  ye^ienliiy,  »t»d 
wlien  asked,  mingle  the  real  ovuni*'  of  their  past  life  with  their  dcliw<io*, 
with  no  sipnse  of  inrongruity  or  of  the  sliofkiug<^ontrudietioU4  of  thi'if  w^ 
count.  Some  of  thorn  livp  in  an  iinnginary  heaven  of  iheir  own,  their  ft«- 
tent[nent  is  aflecred  by  uolhing  that  happi'n.-j.  They  pretend  tobegrttt 
WTJIers,  great  poet^,  statesmen,  lo  be  the  strouife'*t  men  alive,  etc.  Bui 
sometimes  mehindioly  ideas  are  mingled  with  these  notions  of  gminK'ur 
and  riches.  Aud  liypOL-hondriacal  ideas  may  also  be  ii>--ociated  with  the 
mclnnrholy. 

The  mu:^cnlar  system  affi>rds  very  valuable  indications.  There  are  little 
ehuddej  ing  or  ^biveriug  movemenls  of  the  facial  tnu^ele^  Th»*n^  i"  adilB- 
cully  of  nrticulatj(ni,  ]mrtienlarly  as  regard;*  labials  ( P,  B,  F,  .M,<*.U!.i, 
owing  to  the  tremor  and  irreirular  eontraeliori  of  the  rn uncles*  of  thclifw, 
tongue,  face,  and  lower  jaw.  If  atfked  to  (told  the  tongue  out  of  the  mAUtli 
this  tremor  is  very  evident.  This  embarrn?se<l  speech  i«  most  nurkd 
when  they  are  excited,  alter  eating,  during  menstruation,  etc,  Thoro  are 
automatic  movements  of  t!i«  miisrlc!;  of  the  mouth  and  lower  jaw.  The 
pnpils  are  generally  uneipial  (M.  Baillnrger).  The  inu-scles  of  the  wpper 
and  lower  extremities  ar^^  aJfected.  Thi**  paralvs^i?  h  Projrres«iv»%  Iiiotm- 
plete,  General— hence  the  letters  P,  I,  G^  have  been  adopted  as  an  hm!  U» 
the  uiemf)ry  (Dr.  Down).  There  i*i  one  form  in  which  there  w  p:iraJy»i3 
of  thin  kirnl  without  marked  delusions  { pnrahflic  form),  Fn  tk  roa* 
geijtive  variety  the  general  jiaralysig  ?>eem:^  to  sup^'rvene  on  ot>j<cur*  HW- 
monitory  t^yraptoms  by  cerebral  eotigeation  resembling  apoplexy.  Wh«8 
the>:e  acute  symptoms  pas;!  off,  maniacal  excitennuit  and  ambitioiw  id^w 
make  their  apptaranee.  There  is  sometimes  apparent  retHtverr.  lail  th* 
intellect  is  enfeebled,  and  ha-a  lo?it  its  clearncfis  and  vigor.  Thii*  nriflfj' 
progresses  by  fits  and  startiJ.  There  is  a  |>ocutiar  physi«*gni»mT.  Tw 
capillaries  are  dilated,  almost  varicose,  ami  the  face  is  red,  HWoHen.iad 
fiery.  In  the  second  stage  the  pat ienr^  live  in  a  constant  btat*»  of  tli^hl 
excitemt^nt,  alternating  with  irregular  paroxysms  of  more  vioUiit  %^^' 
tion.  The  excitement  is  automatic.  Meanwhile  the  troubles  of  witililitr 
increase.  Sometimes  there  is  spasmodic  contraction  of  certain  M?t*  « 
muscles.  Whilst  jilrength  is  diminii^htrjg,  ditrestiou  seems  to  go  on  *wli 
and  the  appetite  is  often  ravenous.  Thev  will  seir,e  their  fiMnl  with  th*" 
fingers.  In  the  third  stage  they  get  very  stxuit,  and  the  quantity  <if  ^"^ 
tak»'n  iiugments  the  risks  t»f  cerebral  congestion.  The  rectum  aJul  lilft'l*'*^ 
become  paralyzed.  There  is  first  retention,  and  then  ioconlim*mc  of 
ImuIi  urine  and  fioees.  In  the  later  stages  they  are  troubled  with  nni*li- 
patinn,  diarrhwa,  retention,  oedema  of  extremities,  troublesome  llt'*'^ 
boils  and  bed-sores,  sanguineous  tumors  in  the  ears  (ha.*matotnatJ»  »nn*'' 
The  patients  fall  into  a  state  of  marasmu*^,  unless  cnrrie*!  otf  by  g^njf'*''* 
apoplexy,  or  sume  intercurrent  complication.  Tlie  paralysii*  i«  l'^**  *" 
muii  h  mere  want  of  force — it  is  want  of  coordination  and  "v  -n'  •■<^'  nt'i*' 
cular  sense.     The  muscles  do  not  generally  undergo  fatty  "' 

and  they  usually  retain  their  electric  eontnictility  even   in  ti»e  n  ■un'.j'.O' 
Aubatiel  divtinyuishes  several  form:*  of  cerebral  eongestion,  a*  (1>  iif'*Jf"* 
forru  with  excitement ;  (2)  a  maniacal  form;  ('iui  con  vol  ' 
a  hcniiplegic  form;    (/ii  apoplectic  or  htcmorrhagic ;  ((5) 
intermittent ;  (8)  au  irregular  form  with  alteruatioDs  of  these  VAnu"'  -}  '*]" 


IDIOCY    DESCRIBED. 


fillip  in  cooiiequence  of  a  colliaion.  Seven  of  the  foreigners  were  lodjt^iis 
one  room  of  the  little  inn,  and  all  were  sleeping  peacefully  in  the  villajre, 
when  smlileiily  a  great  outcry  jiro^^e  from  the  room  of  the  Itarmn*  The 
landlfirti  wpiit  t»>  the  rhior  of  this  room,  and  opened  it,  to  find  six  of  ibe 
eeafnen  hifl'in^  under  htnis  anil  boxes  from  ti)o  fury  of  one  of  iheir  uumli^r, 
who  was  brauflishing;  a  longf  knite,  and  endeavoriup  to  kill  them.  'IV 
door  was  no  s»ooner  open  than  he  made  a  ru>*h  at  the  landlord,  who  tunwJ 
the  key,  and  went  for  Hssi<tunce,  returning  with  two  coastguard'*.  Wl»n 
they  opened  the  door»  the  furious  Italiao  darted  out  and  fitabl»e<l  oncfif 
the  coastguards  in  several  places,  ri>lling  downstairs  with  his  victim.  Rimini 
to  his  feet,  the  maddened  creature  sprung  from  the  hfuise,  ami  ru^hw 
dmvTi  the  village  street,  meetinjj;  the  wife  of  the  very  man  he  had  jn»t 
stabbed,  and  inflietinp  fearful  injuries  upon  her.  Still  furiously  ruflDtng, 
he  came  to  the  cnastp:uard  station,  and  when  the  door  wa«  upwiwl  io 
auiiwer  to  his  knoek,  he  pfuineed  upon  a  sailor  living  ihere«  on  whom  hit 
inflicted  twelve  separate  wounds.  This  i>ajlnrs  witi?  came  to  hi»  ft»irt* 
ance,  and  he  struck  her,  and  would  probably  have  kille<l  her,  hul  thai  bf 
this  time  the  knife  was  blunted.  The  son  of  this  couple  rrnippl^l  with 
him.  and  flung  him  over  a  wall.  He  then  tried  to  make  his  «»<*»f< 
Three  sailors,  with  cutlasses  and  lanterns,  pursued  him;  he  fltin^  liinudf 
upon  them  once  more,  ajid  was  kept  off"  by  a  sword-s-tick.  AiTttiii  li*" 
duslied  at  them,  when  their  officer  came  up :  but  at  last  he  was  killeil  in  ih* 
mek>e.  It  was  said  that  he  was  always  violent,  and  that  od  thi«  occaiiop 
lie  was  maddened  hy  drink.  It  is  said  that  peflagrti^  a  ^kin  disease ooii' 
mon  in  Italy,  sometimes  induces  this  fury,  at  other  times  acoodiiion  iDon 
like  delirium  tremens. 

L.  Lihry  I  i'tiflir^c,  unskilled  or  private,  because  unflt  for  intrnjoow 
with  the  world  )  differs  from  the  conditions  we  have  juat  de>cribed,  lit^*'* 
it  is  either  conj^enilal,  i.  e.,  born  with  its  subjeet,  or  nidueed  by  diseiwe^cif 
accidents  happening  in  very  early  periods  of  life.  ^Whereas  the  m»oi« 
or  the  demented  have  been  rich,  and  are  poor  in  mental  gift";  the  iilM»lw 
one  wim  never  has  been  rich.'/  Of  the  causes  iif  idiocy  we  eanuoi  pfHtikat 
any  great  length.  Marriages  of  consanguinity,  accidents  and  dix**** 
(lurini^  gestation  ajid  purturilinn,*  and  di.'^ease.s  of  early  infant  l»fe(ni']i»t^ 
f*yiibil(s,  tul)ercu!osis,  strunia,  convulsions  in  dentition,  etc.,  ete.),  an«i  itt* 
tenjp<*ninee  in  the  parents,  especially  as  regards  the  father  (Df.  Du** 
iu.-ists  greatly  on  this),  are  all  consideretl  predisposing  cause*. 

In  the  idiijt  the  mind  is  not  developed.  There  are  no  ideJis,  or  bolf*'- 
The  countenance  is  vacaut,aod  void  of  intelligence  ;  the  manners  chiMiA, 
with  occa^i()nal  gusts  of  passion;  the  gait  and  articulatinn  areuftfoiio* 
perfect.  Much  has  been  done  of  late  years  in  tmining  idiotj?,  at  i^rtittt* 
lions  like  Earlswood,  or  those  of  Dr.  Dt>wn  in  England,  8c*g^io  ^" 
America,  and  Goggenbuhl,  and  the  Abb^^  Sicard  in  Euro}>e.  Oceau«ion»lly 
idiolii  recover  alU'r  accidents  to  the  head.  Dr.  Pritchard  .^jiejiki*  of  ihtw 
boys  who  were  idiots.  One  received  a  severe  injury  to  the  head,  an<l  b* 
improved  so  much  that  he  became  a  barrister.  The  other  twu  coDti''Ow 
idiots.  Van  Swieten  speaks  of  a  girl  who  was  idiotic,  till  trephiuo4  ^»f  • 
fracture  of  the  skull.  She  recovered,  and  became  intelligent.  Halirriiwl 
others  report  Mtniilnr  cases.  Dr.  Forbes  Winslow  mentions  the  carf  « 
Father  Mabillon,  who  was  said  to  have  been  idiotic  till  twcttty-«ii'  ^ 
then  fractured  his  skull  against  a  stone  staircase  by  a  fall.     He  vti^^ 


♦  Seoji  paper  by  Dr.  Little,  ••  On  tl«o  Influence  of  Abnormal  Pun 
the  Mentiil  and  P'hysical  Con*liliilion  of  the  Child,"  vt>\.  Hi,  *' Uh-i..-..-..      1iy 
TrMn^Hctii^ns/"  p.  2U8,     Dr,  Mitchell  attritmtea  much  SuvUiih   idiocy  lotto* «*•' 

Ihu  forceps. 


754 


CRETINISM — THE    AZTECS. 


able  powers  of  memory  and  imitative  faculties,  so  as  to  draw,  painty  carve, 
make  s^hips  etc.     Many  can  sing,  who  cannot  talk  plainly. 

M.  Cretinism  (supposed  to  be  derived  from  cretiHn,  old  Italian  for  a 
poor  creature),  is  endemic  in  aome  part*  of  Switzerland,  the  Tynil.  nnd 
other  mountainous  parts*,  such  as  the  Carpathians*,  the  Cordilleras,  Him- 
alayas, etc.  Strictly  8jM?akin^,  it  is  rather  the  inhabitants  of  the  valleys 
than  iha'^e  who  dwell  on  the  hills  who  suffer.  The  poi>r  freiins  are  gen- 
erally both  deaf  rthiJ  duml>,  or,  at  all  events,  speech  and  heario);  are  im- 
perfect. Si^ht,  smell,  and  touch  are  also  badly  developed,  or  impaired  by 
diseHs»\  They  present  nearly  nil  the  symptoms  of  rickelw.  ami  tlie^e  are  ac- 
companied by  (foitre,  or  bronchoeele  (an  exuupreratiini  uf  the  liij^euMe  called 
Derhy>*f>{re  nrrk  in  Eti^lan(i),  ihe  enlarged  thyroid  bndy  forming  a  tumor, 
which  sometimes  attains  enormous  pro|><frtioiiH,  and  iilmusl  reaches  the 
middle  of  the  body.  The  head  is  generHlly  dispnipoftirnately  lar^e  <  ma- 
'Croct  phalic),  the  features  old-lookinp,  the  body  small,  ibicksel,  anrl  Hlmost 
childlike;  tije  lips  thick,  the  eyelids  pufty,  the  nose  larjt;e,  and  deeply  im- 
pressed at  its  base;  the  bndy  is  of\en  swollen  aii<l  fMifIy-h»okiM>ir,  owing  to 
]iyf>ertrophy  of  the  skin  and  subcutaneous  celhikir  tissue;  the  l>elly  e^jH*ci- 
afly  is  big;  in  the  higher  degrees  lliey  scarcely  resemble  human  creatures. 
Their  mental  life  has  altogether  the  eharucter  of  apathy  an«l  torpor;  they 
are  sometimes  inclined  to  outbreaks  of  savage  anger.  Ktisch  and  Virchow 
want  to  tmiike  monstrosities  of  these  ;  but  Griesinger  ha**  shown  that  it  fre- 
quently does  cot  comnjence  till  alter  birth,  and  that  in  its  moderate  degrees 
it  iscujmble  of  some  degree  of  improvement.  We  have  seen  broneboeeles 
of  enormous  size  in  the  South  of  Engfaiid.  The  snmller  (joHrtA  met  with 
in  lids  country  d<»  not  necessarily  inipsiir  the  ijitellevt.  It  is,  however, 
to  be  noted  that  such  patienti*  are  always  extremely  nervous. 

T!ie  Aztt'i'n,  formerly  exhibited  in  this  country  hs  remants  of  an  extinct 
American  |K»ople,  were  scarcely  idiots  in  the  common  sense  of  the  lerrn. 
They  hjul  extremely  snuill  heads  (microcephalic),  with  nqtiiline  noses  and 
|iroiit»Jith(»us  features,  but  their  bodies  were  small  and  well  projH»rlioned, 
and  their  movements  active.  Their  intelligence  was  undoubtedly  small, 
but  ihey,  ami  others  like  them,  are  lively,  happy,  clever  up  to  a  eeriaia 
p<imr,  capable  of  atlertion,  but  jwissess  little  or  no  capacity  for  business. 
Gintiolet  has  shown  that  there  is  premature synot^tosis  of  the  cratiial  anh, 
whilst  the  basis  crauii  often  remains  cartilaginous.  The  spinal  brain 
(eeivbelbini,  medulla,  pons,  etc.)  is  developed  out  of  all  proportion  to  the 
convolutions.  (Griesinger,  /or.  ciV.,  p.  379.)  The  ex!ra()rilinary  resi*m- 
blances  presented  by  the  weak-minded  to  certain  birds  and  nmmnuils  htiB 
attracted  at'ention  from  almost  time  immemorial.  These  Aztecs  resemble 
birds  ;  and  Piuel  gives  a  case  of  an  idiot  girl,  aged  eleven  years,  resem- 
bling a  jiheep,  in  the  form  of  her  head  and  in  her  desires  at»d  capaciiies. 
She  ate  only  vegetable  food.  !»aitl  he  ma  taute,  using  no  other  wj>rds.  When 
quarrelling  with  other  children  she  butted  them  like  a  sheep.  Her  buck, 
shoulders,  and  loins,  were  covered  with  a  kiud  of  soil  black  hair,  one  to 
two  inches  hmg,  resembling  wo<d ! 

We  have  already,  at  page  646,  partly  described,  under  the  names  of 
dcmnttia,  nmeutia^  imbrtrifittf^fatHitfj,  and  the  like,  those  terminal  forms  of 
mingled  mental  and  bodily  weakness  into  which  all  tlie  othi*n«,  if  not 
cured,  or  the  sufferers  released  by  accident  or  other  diseases,  lapse  in  the 
course  of  time.  It  is  said  that  occasionally  we  meet  with  causes  of  simple 
primitive  dementia,  in  which  there  has  been  no  other  form  of  madnt>i>.  or 
unsoundness  of  mind  antecedent.  A  curable  form  has  been  de^<Tibrd  at 
page  74B.  arwl  i-eally  belongs  to  melancholia  (with  stupor)-  Dementia 
may  follow  diseases  of  the  circulatory,  respiratory,  and  secreting  organs, 
degeueratiou  of  tissues,  and  other  diseases  of  the  brain.    Griesinger  quotes 


756 


VARCBTIE6   or    DBLIRIOM. 


i«  often  some  excitement  The  subjecta  of  it  have  always  been  feeble- 
minded:  Horace's  "  Garrulus  senex,"  and  Shakspeare'a  'Mjeflr"  and 
**PoK>niuH,"  offer  examples  of  this  stage.  In  others  it  is  the  last  infirmity 
of  noble  miudi;. 

2.  It  mperveves  on  otkn-  fornw  of  imanihy.  Thus  acute  demoulia  on* 
cured  becomes  chronie,  and  the  maniac,  monoma?iiac,  melanchoUc^  hysteri- 
cal, epileptic,  or  general  paralytic  patient  beconiea  demented.  **  Second 
childi^hne^  and  oblivirni  "  overwhelm  him.  In  the  later  stages  (no  mat- 
ter what  the  antecedentj^)  we  get  extreme  bodily  weakness,  general  or  par* 
tial  paresis,  iricominence  nf  i\vfe»  and  urine,  inability  to  move  from  one 
position,  even  in  bed,  or  to  feed  themselves,  Bed,sure9  form  ;  thoy  get 
boils  and  carbuuctes.  Blond-tumnrM  form  tn  the  ears  ( hfttnatomata  nwrniwi), 
IM  iu  general  paralysJis.  They  lose  ^^iiiht,  and  hearing,  and  every  olher 
sense,  and  l>ecome,  in  some  cases,  ob!ivi*»UH  even  of  painful  seni^ations 
(apathetic  dementia).  In  these  the  tem|>eratnre  is  often  very  low. 
Sugar  ia  often  found  iu  the  urine.  Cataracts  form.  The  m<->de«  of  death 
Are 

(1)  By  gradual  exhaustion  or  starvation  f  asthenic  mode). 

(2)  By  pulmonary  congestion;*,  geiiernlly  liypot^tases. 
{3 )  By  af)op!eetic  auacks,  hjeutorrlmges  into  brain,  etc.,  or  serous  efl\i- 

eion  into  its  cavities  or  membranes. 
(4)  Coma  from  uriemia,  or  other  causes,  may  set  in. 

On  DdiuionSy  Illu^wiUy  HaUuciiiatiom,  and  tome  other  Terms  tued  6y 

Putfrholof/iftfj!. 

We  have  endeavored  to  giire  you  most  of  the  synonyms  commonly 
used  for  the  various  forms  of  insanity.  There  are,  however,  a  nunilier 
of  terms  used  in  describing  these  mental  states,  which  require  a  brief 
explanation. 

Detlrium  Oh\  from  ;  lira,  a  ridge  or  furrow*)  signifies  the  wan<lering 
condition  fi>und  in  fevers  and  other  acute  diseases,  iu  a  few  chmnic  ones, 
in  exhausted  or  weak  conditions,  sucli  as  anaemia,  cachexia?  (ranceroua, 
tubercular,  etc^ ) ;  the  effeeta  of  some  accidents,  losses  of  blood,  starvation, 
injuries  purposely  inflicted,  and  (lie  like.  Delirium  i*  a  lemporary  Mttdi- 
Hon.  Whilst  it  lasts,  it  ineapacitates  the  person  atfected  for  business, 
making  a  will,  and  the  like;  but  in  the  intervals,  the  delirious  person  i^ 
not  to  be  regarded  as  insane.     Delirium  may  l>e 

(a)  Acute  and  fierce  (ferox),  resembling  mania;  and  is  met  with  in  the 
early  stage  of  typhus  fever,  iu  acute  rheumatism,  and  ins<datiou  when  the 
ten>)>erature  is  very  high,  in  tntfuical  fevers,  acute  alcoholi^-m^  traumatic 
fevere  after  wounds,  etc.,  in  mental  excitement  from  very  bad  news,  ia 
scarlet  fever,  meningitis,  etc.,  etcf 

(^)  Suhatuie  or  miid :  the  "night-wandering,"  and  what  dclirinm 
there  is  by  day  in  most  cases  of  enteric  fever,  is  of  this  character. 
So  is  that  of  many  other  exanthems,  in  people  of  mild  disposition  ;  also 
in  tuberculosis  and  other  exhausting  diseases,  etc.,  chronic  traurontic 
fevers. 

(V)  Ta)w  and  muUerinfj:  later  stages  of  typhus,  exhausting  diaeaMt, 
and  those  accompanied  with  hectic  iu  iheir  later  stage4<,  in  ur$enua,  el/C, 
etc. 


*  To  mnk(^hii)k«>  in  pl«tiighing;  t.  r.^  lo  wttndnr  from  ihtt  sutgwt  in  bund, 
f  The  d«'ltriiiiti  uf  pobuiu,  e^ptxially  ibat  produced  by  ibe  vnguuble  nureolicf,  U 
often  of  A  AvToo  kind. 


758 


f>aftAilS    AND   SOMKAMBDLtSN. 


brain  ;  and  iffusion  to  designate  a  real  sensation,  exaggerated  of^t*u*n4\ 
by  tbe  same  opemtit)ii,  siirh  m  the  "Mirage,"  tir  ih«  "Six**' 
Bnxken."  (.)tlier  writert^j  however,  do  not  muintnin  ihi*  »l 
Nicolai,  a  Berlin  btwikseHer,  vvns  tor  year?*  tronbktl  with  *reeitij:  ut»rt«jJ 
olijecls  (ypectral  'dlusi<jus),  and  sonielimes  by  hearing  unreal  j^^oumK 
dill  not,  however,  believe  in  them.     These  Uhuioti*  of  hi»  were  ihenrfcN 

The  celebrated  Pascal,  after  an  aecident,  always  believed  he  eaw  a 
pice  on  his  left  hand,  and  had  a  chair  plaeed  on  that  bide  to  prevcall 
falling  over  it     With  biin,  therefore,  it  \va.-  a  dflu>ion. 

To  make  tins  Ftill  more  clear,  we  will  quote  I)rs.  Biicknill  and  Toke: 

**  A  dvinstoH  iita  belUJ  in  the  vxintcure  ijj'  thingm  which  hnve  no  rxlM^uttiA 
reullUj,  or  an  tTroutuu»  percvpiittn  of  the  nnfurf  oj  thiufjH,  or  of  f/c 
to  eath  othtr^  occasloited  by  ttnlro-mcnhd  di^ftf^^  f  or  again  (a>- 
iiill  dttine>  it),  '*  An  inttf/trttuii  error  caifiied  bij  the  pulhohghal  * 
thr  tHiud,  ftml  (tiixplmjinfj  ihfff  in  fotae  ^enmtton,  prrreption.  or  O'  ■ 
iliimion,  hit/iHcinmtiou,  or  (h/a.^ioti  proper*'  (op.  ctt,,  Jil7).    Whether  a  jwuiui; 
be  deceived  by  the  illusions  of  the  senses  which  arc  preekcntcd  tn  htm  rn«T 
deptnd  in  seunie  cojies  on  (he  cU'sme^'f*  of  the  image,  di&ii 
8(tund,  elc,  in  others,  and  hy  far  the  greater  number  of  r       .    ^        i. 
integrity  of  ids  powers  oi' refitclion,  c:oraparison,  judgment,  etc.     lifM-^-in^f 
slatc!*  that  diHtingui.«hed  and  highly  intelleclnal  men  and  women,  e.-|vci»tlf 
tho^e  of  vvnrjii  and  lively  inuigintition?,  are  mo8t  likely  to  have  hultuti- 
nations  or  illusiona.     "  Nothitnj  tmttbi  he  more  erroneotat  than  to  etuwthti 
man  meittnUtj  ilmfni^ed  becauj<e  he  had  hall uainut ions"  {loc.eit,^  p.  iMl).    \t^ 
it  is  quite  certain  that  these  phenoujena  are  most  comraoo  when  th»'  Wily 
heahli  is  slightly  impaired.     Luther's  visions  w-re  wljt-u  sufferini;  fr»iu 
solitary  conhntraent.     Pascal^  *' abyss"  apia^are^i  after  a    '  '  '' 

from  the  brid^aot  Neu illy,     Spinoza,  was  half  starveil.     P> 
are  specially  subject  to  illusions,     The  namej*  of  Sir  Walter  S^ou,  J^aa 
Paid,  Benvcnuto  Cellini,  Goelhe,  and  many  others  ndght  be  quot'^H*^* 

There  ha?,  been  much  diacujision  on  the  subject  of  drrmn*  nnd 
It  seems  now  pretty  generally  ugreed  amongst  physiologists  t!i 
occur  between  sleeping  and  waking,  or  at  all  events  in  di>tiii 
Also  that  they  are  very  often  the  result  of  slight  di^lurbanoe^  ^ 
such  as  indigestion,  extreme  fatigue,  etc.     Or  ihey  are  the  result  n[  wry 
strong  impressions  made  upon  the  mind  when  awake,     A  «i'>re  head  bw 
been  known  to  result  in  a  dream  of  being  scalpeti  by  the  Indians.    Tlie 
slamming  of  a  door  has  suggested  the  tiring  of  muskets  or  the  ni«r  ^ 
artillery.     What  is  called  the  nifjhtmarc  is  more  than  rocfc  dreaming^ 
there  is  generally  a  sense  of  suftVveation.     The  dreams,  on  awaking  fr»o» 
which  the  ilreanier  is  seized  wiih  fury,  and  attacks  those  aroimd  hmuftw 
probably  epileptic  states.     Those  who  are  truly  sane,  wb«^  i  '"' 

sleep  either  torget  their  dreams,  or  know  that  they  have  di 
fully  couseious  of  the  unreality  of  the  visions  of  sleep.     ^^  ^ 

penler  has  culled  itncmtsviomi  certbrafion,  in  other  words,  < 
tinning  to  utirk  whilst  asleep,  will  partially  explain  the  acixtunu  *i  ' 
of  difficult  mathematical  problems  being  solved  in  sleep,  and  ofp«    * 
being  comjwsed  in  the  same  condition.    Coleridge's  "Khubta  Khu"  '^  ' 


♦  Consult   Er-quirol,  "  Traiie  d'AH^nntion,"  and  several  tkrliclM  Intit'-'i^ 
tionmore  drs  tHirnces  Metlicttle*  ;"  Bhyle,  ••  R^vue  .M^ioale,"  j«n   '♦"  '     "'W 
••Oil  AppsrUiunB;"  Sir   D.   BrewHef'g   ••  Loiters   t»n    NHttiriil    '■  M 

Scoll'*.  *'  Demonology  Hnd   WucliLTMfi;"  Brierre  dw  B<»i*nioot, 
thms,"  Pupts,  IRW,     Odier  referencM  will  b«  found  ih  Grio»liig«r  ^^  nit>J 
and  ulbi^r  sy^lcmjitic  writen. 


760 


PRODROMATA    OF    INSANITY, 


closely  allied  condltione,  catalepsy  is  not  InsanitY  or  un8nnnr]npi«of  nin 
in  the  h^gal  ?ens«  of  tlie  t^rni.     The  expression,  **hv>  of  mUd'*\ 

is,  as  Dr.  Taylor  remark*,  rather  a  legal  thao  a  me<!  e<**     It 

however,  an  Kngli^h  eqyivaleiii  f«>r  insanity.     Luiuietj  Urv  l'*^! 

iufluence  of  the  moon,  Luna)  is  auother  terra  of  similar  ii^  uaHl 

in  HiR-h  expreasioDS  aa  the  writ  "rfe  lunatico  itujuirtutJo.'*  An 
"  lucid  Itilvrvfkh,"  is  clearly  derived  from  ItLt,  I fieiti.  Uglily  tH'\ 
those  periods  in  which  an  inriaue  person  is  free  from  hi?i  iunanity  or  dflii* 
Bioii!*,  A  reniis=sioii  i,^  a  mere  abatemetit  of  ctyiiiptom.-^.  In  a  lucid  ioUnnl' 
the  fiiadniai)  h  no  longer  iiind.  lie  la  tlierefore  capable  of  ntakiug  a  vUl, 
and  is  re.«ipon.«ibJe  for  his  acLt,  These  intervals  may  be  lunger  or  fthoner, 
varying  from  a  few  bonn*,  or  even  les^s,  to  many  mouihs  or  vearK  lolhe 
latter  insftance,  the  insane  person  would  be  «aid  Uj  be  cure<i.  Mauijiwid 
raonomnniu,  meiuncholia,  and  gvneral  paralysis  are  moBt  likely  to  exiubit 
lueid  intervals.  For  idiocy  and  demeutia  are  generally  peniiaiieot  cob* 
dilionti. 

**  Non  compos  mtntu  "  is  another  legal  term,  equivalent  to  *•  iaaanitj." 

Premonitory  SijmpioviM  of  Insanity. 
Before  a  previously  healthy  person  becomes  insane,  we  shall  generally  find: 
(Ij  AtieraUvm  oj general  health.     For  the  most  part  these  are  degeum- 
tioDs  of  tissue. 

(2)  There  are  altered  or  perverted  senMotiong.    The  eight,  smell,  heannjir, 
ta.«te,  and  other  senses  are  either  impaire<l,  or  their  aensitiveuew  gn^  l^ 
iucreaiied.     Thuis  &»  regards  eighty  we  get  diplopia,  chroraalopsy,  seiirati  u 
of  sparks,  or  bright  light,  mn.seie  voliiantes,  or  amblyopia,  hemio|>ia, itid 
the  like;*  and   objeets  may  appear   inordinately  large  or  iiiordiuaiMf 
email.     The  Hon.  Mr.  Perceval  (who  wrote  the  book  culled  "A  Per»«>nftl] 
Narrative,"  etc.)  J*ay3  that  at  the  comniencen>eot  of  his  inMinity  a  boiW 
fowl  first  apj>eared  very  large  and  plump,  then  !*uddenly  gmall  aiKJ  mfajf«. 
afterwardss  of  twice  its  bulk.     He  al«*o  mistook  a  re<l  pilk  handkcrcliief, 
for  one  s^iaked  in  blood.     Some  patient*  see  other  men  uncommntdy  \*tp\ 
(like  elephant'),  or  #«mall  (like  fleas),  or  "as  trees  walking.*'     Or  iiii*g«* 
of  unreal  objects  are  im  pressed  npon  their  mind^.     They  hear  unreal  y<')«,  | 
eoraetimes  urging  them   to  commit  crime?;  or  the  *light<*sf  '     *m«i 
torture.     Others*  perceive  i*trange  smells,  or  are  strongly  atl  vto 
pleasant  |ierfumes:  hence  the  phniae,  "  Die  of  a  rose  in  ;;                 '»■ 
These  gniells  are  not  always*  illusinns.    In  some  ca^es decay '  ^^* 
cranium,  or  elsewhere,  has  been  ionnd  after  death,  when  I                  "^ 
been  complained  of  in  lite.     Sometimes  there  has  been  inseti-               i-"'** 
or  the  slightest  touch  ba»  l>eeo  torture,  whilst  a  6rm  grasp  is  not  \iiiM 
{Aigejfift), 

(3)  In  sorae  caaes  there  is  loss  of  muscular  power,  as  in  general  panl.*** 
of  the  insane. 

(4)  There  is  often  sleeplessness. 

(5)  Great  irritabiliiy,  alterations  of  temper,  exciUibiUty,  tendiiocft^ 
laugh  or  cry ;  suspiciousna'^,  without  adequate  cau>4e ;  unreaaatiaitlc  Itl* 

and  dislikes;  sometimes  intense  self-coticeit  (Dr.  RadclifTeX  1^      '' '' 

coufusiou  of  idean,  inability  to  think,  write,  or  t$peak  ' 


*  A»  regnrds  perception  of  colare,  we  must  not  forget  thnt  Dnlf' 

tivi»  porc-ofition  of  eiTUiin  col<»rs,  i»  a  eongeniml  dpf**ct  h-  '^  ••" 

most  [iiirl  n?d  wnd  grevn  are  eonfuunded.     In  »on)e  thr 
affect  tJio  fierc«ption  of  whutnre  CHlU-d  "  primnry  colore 
but  unly  uitsceii,  »ectindwry,  or  impure  colors.     8uch  h  oondiii 
of  inortj  tban  one  rAilwMy  accidoot  and  collision  al  »ea.     Set  ,■> 
Totume. 


ihf 


7(52 


EXAMINATION    OP   LUNATICS, 


tliao  insanity  in  a  pftrent  and  an  uncle,  or  io  a  bn>lW  an'i 
ei.ster  as  well  as  parent.     Insanity  on  both  sides  is  o\  ■ 
\'a,-*t  importance,  but  less  so  wlieii  only  occumng  jreaj 
birth  of  the  peri^on  examincii.    This  kind  of  insauitr  »i  nlsn im- 
portant, as  puerperal  mania  in  a  mother  need  not  necessarilr 
affect  a  son.     Insanity  of  cuu.sins  Is  not  at  present  considenij 
of  much  importance.     (Dr.  BucknilL) 

(Jb)  If  no  iasanitj  be  found  hereditary,  inquire  a»  to  other  ntHirws, 
Buch  a?  epilepsy,  hysteria,  chorea,  puralyjfiis,  migraine, 
etc.,  in  the  supposed  lunatic  or  his  family. 

(c)  Ascertain  if  there  has  been  any  change  of  habits  or  di^fjoriitinn, 
any  recent  or  more  remote  seriout*  accident  or  il!ne>».    Injurit 
to  the  head,  syphilis,  fevers,  sunstroke,  etc.,  are  obvinuslj*  im*] 
portant.     So  m  the  existence  of  renal,  pulmooary,  and  cjirtlr 
disease.  (See the premonitonj »ymptomAJu?t mentioned,  pag«'760^ 

(f/)  In  the  case  of  a  criminal  lunatic  you  will  probably  havo,  wliJii 

called  on  the  Continent,  the  *^ prucvM  vrrbal"  op,  in  Englt^hJ 
"  the  depoMtiovA"  or.  at  all  eveut^^,  some  account  of  the  pri*»nef'i 
crime.  You  should  inquire  as  to //rer/ow^  ry)/irtr/iiiiw,  if  afifJ 
As  regards  the  crime  itself  (murder,  violence,  theft, etc.), 
\vjI1  have  lo  consider  the  mode  or  manner  of  it:  Was  iinud^ 
den?  Did  it  (i/>/>'?ar  premeditated,  or  the  reverse?  Ditl»nj 
quarrel  or  provocation  precede  it?  How  did  the  prisoner 
have  aflerward.s  ?  Did  he  attempt  to  conceal  the  cri me,  tir  htm- 
self?  etc.  (We  shall  revert  to  this  in  dealing  with  the<ju« 
tion  nf  rej*})oniiibilUtj  of  criminals,) 

(e)  The  leHera  or  other  writings  of  the  supposed  lunatic,  if  any,  fchwuli 
be  examined.    {We  have  before  referred  to  thia*) 

B.  As  regards  the  tlt'reet  examination  of  the  supposed  luoitic*  it  wilii*j 
found  to  include  an  examination, 
(ct)  Of  his  physiogiu>niy. 
(^5)  Of  his  attitudes  and  gestures. 
(y)  Of  his  words,  manner  of  speaking,  and  writings. 
(9)  Of  his  physical  condition,  as  to  sensation,  muscular  power, fliw| 

organic  functions  (digestion,  etc.)» 
(e)  Of  his  mental  condition,  as  testeil  by  careful  interrogations,  m 
should  be  directed  (as  Guislain  well  saya)  in  the  directioo- 

(1)  Of  anmtory  itieas. 

(2)  Of  religious  ones. 

(3)  Of  ideas  of  property. 

(4)  Of  ideas  of  an  ambitious  kind,  and  as  to  hb«U€<x«ibl 
(»)  As  to  .ideas  on  social  aubjeota,  and  00  Qatiimal.  lluofj^^ 

and  artistic  progress. 

The  physician  will  interrogate  the  various  faculties  of  the  iiiiell«t 
will  ask  the  patient  to  give  hira  his  own  ideas,  to  reason»  iiw  bi^ 
and  calculate.     He  will  test  his  memory  as  deeply  aB  possible 
address  the  imagination,  the  will,  and  ihe  attention.*  , 

You  must  not  be  frightened  by  all  this!     Dr.  Jiucknill  h.i=  rerf'*' 
Buraraarized  the  matter  in  the  following  excellent  rule^ 

(1)  Learn  at  thoroughly  as  possible  the  anteoedcnU  ana   m^^'Tj  ->J  ^ 
patient  (or  criviinnl). 

(2)  Aiicertain  if  ihere  have  he^n  any  cfiange  of  hahii  or  ditpofiiutfu 

*  Quululn  (de  6and),  "  Lemons  Ornlos  tut  Im  Pb reaopathUs,* '  iocn.  itp'  ' 


764 


ACTS   KBLATiyO   TO  LVKAOT. 


licMi  of  a  prifvl* 
viMiet 


one  vlio.  ar 
order  for  liie 


MtMOl 

ftlher. 


iaU»  mnj  lioeiHed  or  other  bouae ;  nor  nuij  anj 


bfocber. 


eon,  partner,  or  ueist&Dt,  shall  eigD  the 
recniioB  of  s  patknt  into  ad  asylum  si^  the  certificate  fur 
tbe  recefitioo  orUMMBemuieal*  Mecitcal  m^o  diguing  certificates  con* 
trarj  tu  any  of  Uiote  ewwrwimw  are  liable  to  beavy  penalties.  AVA  iim>i/i- 
eo/  aMnanikt  mpaanmffnm  ike  ttdk^rw,  have prrmuallif  fjrjunitted  thf^  pertom 
l»  vAofli  tki  tefHfieait^  filmed  by  kim  reiatm  nnt  more  thm  *n^cn  day^  pre- 
fiVaify  i»  <4f  ftnftw9m  if  mnek  permm  uUo  Ote  house  or  hospiud.  It  be  be 
HOC  Atwfied  with  kis  ova  pennaa]  examitiatioii,  be  is  bound  to  make 
further  tiM|«iri€S  before  aigiiiBg  tke  certificate,  Tbe  certificate  need  not 
be  dated  oa  the  d«j  of  esuniBation.  Any  person  falsely  Mating  or  certt- 
frii^  aiif ihliif  ia  fUck  oertificaie,  and  any  person  not  bemg  a  phyt)tetati« 
cttf]gtMfi,  or  apuibecary,  sigaiog  ad  such,  b  guilty  (tf  a  miHlemeaoor.  A 
aiedicml  man,  uoreuver,  signitig  aay  such  certiticate  which  it*  untrue,  with- 
oot  taking  due  care  and  making  due  inquirieB,  is  liable  to  an  action  by 
the  person  injured  by  the  oooseqnences  vbich  may  en^ue.  He  m  only 
liable,  however,  where  be  baa  wilfully  signed  a  fal^e  ccriificale,  or  where 
be  has  been  guilty  of  gnis»  negligence  in  conducting  the  esaniinatiun.  If 
the  certificate  be  digued  maliciouslyt  and  without  readonable  or  probable 
cause,  it  may  ali$o  be  treated  ae  a  libel.^ 

<The  principal  actfl  relating  to  luuacr  are  1  and  2  Vict^ch.  14  (1838); 
d  and  4  Vict.,  ch.  54  i  IH40) ;  «  and  9  Vict.,  ch.  100  ( 1»45) ;  16  and  17 

ict.,  ch.  70  ( l«i>:i) ;  IG  and  17  VicL,  ch.  96  .;  \^»:\) ;  16  and  17  VicL,  cb. 
'97  (1«5,3):  IH  and  19  Vict.  ch.  105  (lS5o*;  %i  and  24  Vict.,  ch.  75 
(1860):  25  and  2«  Vict.,ch.  »6ClK62) ;  25  and  26  Vict.,ck  111  ( lH62)r)t 
Bedides  the  Coiumi(»ioncr*  in  Lunacy  (office,  19  Whitehatl  Place,  Lon- 
don, 8.W.),  thei-earetwo  Medkal  Visitors  of  Lunatics  appointed  from  time 
to  lime  by  the  Lord  Chancell(»r  Every  candidate  roust  be  a  phy^ietau  ia 
actual  practice,  and  must  not  have  been,  within  the  two  preceding  years, 
intcresttfd  in  any  house  licenced  for  the  reception  of  lunatics.  The  ^lary 
is  t'l  >OOperaFiijum.  They  are  debsirred  from  practice  during  their  tenure 
of  ap]X)iutment.  Travelling  and  incidental  expeu^a^  are  allowed,  and  the 
Lord  Chancellor  may  order  u  ^upfTauuualion  altuwance  to  any  visitor 
who  has  served  for  twenty  year^,  and  ia  above  sixty  years  of  age,  or  who 
is  disabled  by  |>ermauent  infirmity. 

Under  sect  ion  10,  ch.  96  (16  and  17  Vict.),  Noprrmn  can  he  rteeiwd 
itiio  any  registered  ho^piUU  or  licnuftd  fiouse,  or  €Uf  a  inngU  patient,  under 
any  eertiji^aate  which  purports  to  be  founded  onhj  upon  fads  eommnnie>nir<{  by 
other*.  A  medical  ceriific^ate  may  be  amended  if  incorrect  or  defective. 
No  mrdieitl  man  cttn  receive,  a«  a  bomder  in  hi/a  koiutc^  nnif  inmnc  perton, 
tvhether  for  medieal  treatment  or  otherwiite^  un/ejix  He  ha^  '  d 

a  tieense  from  the  Commismoners  of  Lunaey,  and  one  ct\  { 

by  two  other  mediml  men. 

In  January,  1H61,  a  medical  man  waa  convicted  of  misdefoeaoor  for 
thu8  illegally  receiving  a  patient  (Jiefj.  v.  AW/y,  CCC.  January  29,  1861] 
He  pleaded  ignorance  ot"  the  law,     Thii*  was  not  a  le^il  defence.     (*'  M< 
Times  and  Gaz.,"  Jan.  28.  1861,  p.  105;  "Lancet,"  Feb.  U,  1861,  p.  151.) 

There  eeem^  to  be  an  idea  in  the  minds  of  medical  men  that  they  are 
allowed  to  take  idiots,  epilentits,  or  other  feeble-minded  paticntit,  without 
a  license.  Thiat  is  not  so.  If  the  mind  be  uuHouud,you  are  no  more  war- 
ranted in  taking  the  patient  into  your  liou^e  wtthoni  a  liceune  than  you 
would  be  in  keeping  a  large  establiahment  for  the  inaano.     In  any  doubtful 

•  LuoRlic  Asylums  in  Irolnnd,  3ft  iind  ^9  Vict  ch.  67  (1876). 
t  ••  Aiwtmct  of  Iho  principHl  laws  atiTc^ctin*  lh«  medical  profession.'*    By  R.  O. 
«i-na,  LL.B.,  Barristcr-ut  Lnw.     (Cliurchill's  '*  Modicitl  Directory.") 


1 

4 


i 


766 


GOOD    AND    BAD    CERTIFICATES. 


(2)  Put  the  addresit  of  tlie  patient  as  well  as  your  own.  Mr.  Jiijitw 
Oik'ntJfi^e  proijnuniefl  the  L-ortiticrtte  of  ait  allege<l  lunatic  (r<*  Greanrmi) 
which  i_*amelH^tore  hiiu  *m  a  hnbe'iJii'or  thi^  di^-charjieof  saitl  allegtitl  luunlk", 
it»t'ormal^  ami  therei'ore  lie  set  it  aside  (Feb.  1855)  because  the  late  S^rjttml 
Wilkins  toiik  objeetinn  that  the  uumber  of  the  hoUMC  aod  name  ol  tk 
street  where  the  exmniniition  took  plaee  were  not  inserted. 

(3)  Comply  with  the  rules  ils  tu  datca.  In  Hall  v.  Semplc  the  certifirtrte 
was  informal,  mid  the  commissioners  ordered  him  to  he  di:ichttrged,  becatt?* 
liull  was  udmitled  inlo  iin  iisyUim  on  July  31st  by  rcrtificnte  dated  tiolhe 
29tb>  but  the  visit  and  exatninalion  were  made  on  June  I3lh,  wheni*as  the 
act  only  allows  itn^en  tiayx,  (^Queen's  Bench,  Westminster,  Dee.  1861) 
Hall  recovered  £loO  damages  from  one  of  the  medical  men  who  had  »^ 
tififd,  because  this  phvVician  bad  eontided  too  much  in  the  stalemeiili of , 
the  wife  and  other  irUere;ited  person.s.  Hall  wtw  a  very  bad-lefaf«fcd 
man,  but  it  was  not  found  that  he  was  really  insaoe. 

(4)  Remember  that  your  certificate  may  some  day  become  the  fabj«t 
of  legal  inverili^alion.  Even  in  tlie  cawe  of  a  peniiifesa  pauper,  «omewli» 
or  other  may  be  found  to  ehauupiou  his  cause,  Aud  it  is  enough  f»»r  you 
to  act  bamififh\  and  to  be  ri^ht  in  your  motives.  The  certificate  yoofiw 
should  be  such  vla  you  would  not  be  ashamed  to  defend  in  any  court  of 
law. 

Dr.  Millar,  io  his  **  Hints  on  Insanity,"  remarks  thati^oroe  medical  Of* 
fill  up  certificateis  with  vagm  otid  irre/cvniit  fiwlji,  such  as — 

(1)  "Obstinate:  has  the  manner  and  appearance  of  ad  iniWinc  ptfrsoo; 
conipluined  td'  her  head ;  refui?ed  her  food,  and  would  not  go  flowostain: 
melancbtd}^'* 

(2)  "  Hid  countenance  ia  expressive  of  great  anxiety  aod  reitl»iirt*I 
his  pulse  exceedingly  feeble^ — he  appears  to  have  been  bled;  hesawtll 
the  public  houses  in  Lundoo  beluug  to  hitn  ;  also  thai  be  is  goiog  to  inofir 
the  Queen." 

(3)  '"  8ho  is  suspicious  of  her  husband  without  cause  ;  say*  he  keepb^d 
company  ;  hhe  is  most  irritable  and  jealous,  aud  takes  stimulatiag  driob 
to  a  dangerous  and  exciting  extent/' 

(4)  **  His  unrea^uiable  ami  inconsistent  conversation/* 

(5)  "That,  being  a  married  woman,  recently  confinetl  of  her  fir^trhiW, 
she  persists  that  she  is  not  married,*  and  is  un<ler  delusions  that  sbcl»* 
committed  some  great  sin ;  she  is  melancholy,  seldom  speaking  wheu  gp)k«fl 
to,  and  aluiosl.  totally  rel'using  her  food»  and  constantly  attempting  to  boil 
herself,  reijuiring  to  be  kept  under  restraint/' 

(6)  *'She  is  very  good  tempered,  but,  day  and  night,  the  t*lk<  alni<i<J 
idcessantly,  occasi<malIy  sings ;  she  says  she  corner  from  OtaUeite,  Wil 
relates  stories  of  those  aroniiii  her  doing  absurd  things/' 

(7)  "The  patient  has  old  bronchitis,  and  is  very  weak  ;  her  tMWOtJ^ 
alntost  lost;  she  believes  her  mother  is  still  alive,  and  gives  roe  loes*!**! 
to  |>er.sons  long  since  dead;  at  limes  she  is  tioisy  aud  excitable, and  lAfi^f^' 
erally  very  loquacious/' 

But  Dr.  Millar  quotes  worj^e  still,  from  certificAtes  which  could  ^^^ 
received,  and  were  therefore  sent  back  to  be  amended,  because  ihm  f^ 
offer  nu>  evidence  of  humanity. 

(8)  "  Refuses  to  take  her  medicine,  and  resists  io  every  w.ny ;  cXosfi^ 
teeth,  and  threatens  to  strike  any  one  near  her;  obliged  to  use  tb««*^'^ 
waistcoat/' 


*  It  turned  uut,  nflerwnrd.^,  that  this  woman  wm  rettllj  oot  vaAt^tA. 


768 


WHAT   C0KSTITUTE8    INSANITY? 


It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  some  me<lical  men  have  i^ndered 
themselves  ridiculous  by  assigning  as  symptoms  of  in;jaoity  such  things  a^ 
"keeping  a  corkatoo,"  "  revukiug  at  wliist,"  "  a  great  dt^ire  to  exrt^l  as  a 
musician,"  "  inability  to  repeat  the  multifiliration  table/*  "  not  knowing 
how  much  money  is  in  his  pocket,"  aiid  I  he  liki'.  No  mere  loss  of 
memory,  no  want  of  book-learuing  or  of  acconiplijihniont^*!  make  a  muo 
inline;  and  a  man  or  woman  may  he  very  eccentric  without  imag  non 
compos  mcnii^  in  the  eyei*  of  the  law.  Mere  had  temper,  again,  is  not 
insanity  in  a  legal  seiLse.  In  H*iH  v.  Scmpk  it  wan  proved  that  the  quar- 
relsome husband  of  an  equally  quarrelsome  wife  had  been  confined  a»  a 
lunatic  at  the  instigation  of  the  wife,  and  that  for  some  years  she  had  been 
unsuccessfully  endeavoring  to  obtain  certiticiites  of  bis  insanity  from  medi* 
cal  men,  who  had  very  pro|ierIy  refused  ti>  fiign  them.  In  this  carte  ti)e 
judge  remarked,  "A  man  mipht  dete8t  and  hate  his  wife  very  much^  and 
be  guilty  of  brutal  conduct  towards  her,  and  yet  not  be  in!<ane."  And 
again,  "  A  delusion,  of  course,  dnet*  not  mean  a  mere  mistake  »»f  fact. 
Hundreds  of  people  may  have  notions  that  their  friends  hav«  injured  them, 
or  their  wive^  deceived  them,  not  founded  on  fact ;  and  yet  the?>e  are  not 
delusions,  as  we  now  use  the  word.  By  delusions,  we  understand  idea* 
fixed  in  the  mind,  without  anything  to  lead  any  rational  being  to  entertain 
them.  Thes*  delusions^  often  accompany  insanity,  and  so  are  taken  to  b« 
indicia  of  insanity ;  and  in  this  case,  no  doubt,  it  u  extremely  important, 
when  so  much  stress  is  laid  on  (lelyHiou:^,  to  make  up  our  minds  fin?t 
whether  they  had  any  real  foundation  in  fact.  Now,  I  should  very  much 
doubt  the  case  of  the  defeudant  if  it  rested  on  his  examination  of  tiie 
pluiiUitT  alone.  It  was  a  very  ^hort  one,  and  he  himself  said  it  led  to  no 
certain  conchisions ;  and  what  took  place  at  it  is  doubtful,  as  the  plainiitf 
and  defendant  gave  contradictory  evidence  about  it.  It  is  agreeil  that  he 
was  not  there  above  ten  minutes.  You  will  consider  what  took  place  on 
this  occasion;  but  what  strikes  me  is,  that  at  the  end  of  it,  the  ditrfcndant 
states  he  wa.**  not  satisfied  and  had  not  made  tip  his  njind.  It  w(»uld  be 
culpable  negligence  on  his  part  if  he  did  not  make  due  inquiries." 

In  reference  to  the  important  questinn  of  medical  responsibility,  the 
following  obsi^rvations  were  made  by  the  same  juilge:  **  The  true  ground 
of  complaint  is  the  neglij^ence  of  the  defendant,  and  the  want  of  due  care 
in  tlie  discharge  of  the  duty  lhrt>wn  upon  him  ;  and  I  think  that  if  a 
person  assumes  the  duty  of  a  medical  man  under  this  statute,  and  ^igns  m 
certificate  of  insanity,  which  is  untrue,  without  making  the  pro|H?r  exam* 
ination  or  inquiries  which  the  circumstance*!  of  the  case  would  re<)uire 
from  a  metlical  man  u-ring  proper  care  and  skill  in  such  a  matter;  if  h« 
gtatcs  that  which  is  untrue,  and  damage  ensues  to  the  party  thereby,  hf?  ta 
liable  to  an  action  ;  and  it  is  to  that  I  desire  to  draw  your  particular  atten- 
tion. In  point  of  law,  if  a  naMlical  man  assumes  under  this  statute  the 
duty  of  signing  such  a  certificate,  without  making,  and  by  reason  (»f  not 
making  a  due  an<l  pro|>er  examination,  and  such  inquiries  as  are  nece;s«ftry, 
and  which  a  medical  man  under  such  circumstances  ought  to  make,  and  is 
called  on  to  make,  not  in  the  exercise  of  the  extremest  possible  carx\  but 
in  the  exercise  of  ordinary  care,  so  that  he  is  guilty  of  culpable  negligence, 
and  damage  ensues,  then  an  action  will  He,  although  there  ha--<  been  na 
spiteful  or  improper  motive,  and  although  the  certtHcate  is  not  false  to  hU 
knowledge," 


no                              TRUE    AND    FEIONBD   1NSANITT. 

jret.     The  works  of  Laurent  and  Tardieu,  previously  quoted,  with  iHi 
5yi*temnlic  trcaHj^es  of  Esqniml,  BiickDjlI,  and  Tiike,  Conolly.  Win^'it, 
Blnndfiiid,  Corn  he,  Brierre  de  Boiiiinont,  Delasiauve,  Grie8inger»aii(loth<i^ 
[juntccl  in  the  *'  Bibliography,"  will  all  affunJ  you  valuable  as?iHiao(>s  ia 
tlii-^  direction.     The  following  table  may  give  you  some  useful  hials: 

True  Innnitr. 

r*l«iied  iMBt^.                1 

1.  Almost  h*rtdiUtry, 

2.  U»iinny    pr«Ml(Hl    liy    well-marked    pre- 

nnnjitory  »fm|>k»m.'*, 
or 

5.  ir  siK^den,  lina  an  ad<?qriato  or  I'lilUcIt'nt 

CN(iM\juch  iw  arcld>-iit,  niMl<leu   ]<!«■♦  of 
f.frtutJ"?.  hudily  Jbuun-,  luaac*  of  Uluixl, 

A,  U«ujillv  MtlUcrc!*  to  rertalo  typet  (u  de- 
scrllHtl,  Yp.  740  to  IT^,)* 

6.  Thp  rt'nl  luimlic  i*  ofti^n  ignorant  of  hi* 

CMiidit  inn.  unil   ii>ia];fue«  hiiiiHL<lf  hant*, 
or  jiiKt|oniiiit«'»  for  hJn    cotidiiioo  mU^n 
conwioHi*  <if  if. 

6.  Tlu'   1  riMiliMtl    lidiRtto    »rJiUmi    »*?ekB    to 

VKii-ntK'.    Iff  In,  UAUully  miinifwltiil  !i4>hcri'd 
by  tlv  nliiu'— If  h\'  !w  foiiHtiitu*  of  it 
lie  on  tin  aftirm*  that  Iip  wtw  |mj«-||«.i|  to 

ir,  Ih^ll   hi-  CnUlrl   not  Ih-Ij.  II.  etc. 

7.  MMhH  J'-af  tt<iJ  4loin1i  this  is  ii<*imnr  con- 

)*<  tiltal  or  uiMjuiri'U  hiT<irp  lh«  vHi'im. 

8.  Tnif  Inimrii's  jjpnMrftlljr  chmisji'  iht*if  b»«- 

hiiviitr   hut    litilo    hi    t1«'    |jrt*fiice    of 
iiii-dic'itl  meu  iir  of  ulh«*^r  »|H:;ctHU)r.i, 

9.  They  HP'  «t*mTnl!y  initiir.Tfht  to  daiiffer, 

ur  1u  the  cuuaL'querict^s  of  llivtr  a<,'tioQji. 

10.  AUhnst  rv»TT  form  of   Insanity   ha*  ft? 

vh\imc\tr\ni\c  JtKriitl  ftprrjunvH,  K»it,  and 
liC(.-i>miiiin>  jiit;  coijipKeatlMna  i|>uralyi*i9, 
cunvulsloM»,coD8tJti«lloD,  iDcuailDHacv, 
etc.,  ttc). 

1.  Ev(d.>ni>c  cif  hr^redlUry  tT»BMil«lok  «al* 

ttig  or  wujik. 
'L  Coiin'H  on  Middi'ntr  trithmit   ir»rnli«f— « 

with  ^vtj  slight  prtioonitory  *jm^mt- 

3.  Uft«  no  9iif!iel«>nt   drlvrmlnlas  ctttw.  «»• 

\i'vs   lh«  fear  of  punLtlitnent  U  »)  »* 
gKrdvd. 

4.  Th»'  nympioms  ure  Infoncrowu*— n<»t  irpi* 

t'Jtl— ^yinpKiinn    rr»     ^.^•Ai'    rtiyinw  Mw 
mlXod  wKh  idir..                                 !o, 

5-  Th<*  Impostor  ncari                        «f>«btfi4to 
ctHiviijii' you  u{  L.„  .„  j„..j,,  and  »••• 
ii>  glory  in  it. 

«.  t\%f  l»nfio»»or  who  h»*  f-Ai..,i.irhs1  X  .Tiurt 
trh's  l<i  •■!K-ii|W'— whwji  i 
wem  niorf  mwl  than   ' 

ally  d'-nir!*  iho  -r , 

iMjiUttI  r>i*-*ttn*  n- 

7.  lK*af-«liitiihn<'*fl  at'  i                       nl,  Ht.  ••» 

said  to  corin-  on   t             .   ,   _..    r  thr  (f^W^ 

8.  Imiiwi'stor*    n>ii      ill,      .>^^■nf^   th'lr  |«<t, 

■.ltd   si*«.>in    '     "          '    Khoa  Ih'^f  •»* 
thfV  •"'■•  " • 

9.  Tl...   in                                                             1  t» 

htvr:                                                               ty 
da»i^'. 

10.  Exrrpi  ih.'                                            •*« 

hu  carofiil                                               iM 

inv{K#..r( ^-  -  „...,.-.,.--'«►, 

(cult,  Kc,   will   b«   wauUnp-w  ftdl  th* 
coinplicfttiuuB. 

^^1 

^^1 
^^^B 

^^^^H 

No  doubt  this  table  might  be  extended  ron^iderably,  but  vre  fearnmi 
prufitHbly.     A  very  slight  experienee  of  true  insanity  will  whj«  couviace 
\'\m  that  no  very  hard  uod  fuj^t  lines  can  be  laid  dowo  on  the«  j'uhjKt^ 
Whilst  deprecating  violent  means,  we  must  owu  that  the  um  of  ihrtnts 
the  exhibition  of  >inrgical  instrument*,  and  the  electric  sh<X'k  froto  «•»!»« 
^orm  of  battery,  have  often  proved  useful  iu  unmasking  tlni-w  wlio  |'T^ 
teuded  to  be  deaf  and  dumb. 

On  the  Re^pomihilUy  of  Criminals  in  a  Median- Letful  Sef»ic^  t^m/^^ 
regard»  Imaiiity  and  Allied  Condition*, 

Dixjf  mttte^  were  formerly  classed  with  idiot?,  and  therefore  premo*^ 
Dot  to  be  responsible  lor  their  actions,  nor  admissible  m  witness*?!*  A»r^f 
a^inst  others.     This  is  very  properly  no  longer  the  case.     We  kti<iwth»* 
many  rleaf  miitea  (the  majority  of  whom  are  boru  so)  ure  p<is»^*^  ^ 
S'ery  fair  iMtelli^ence  ;  and  they  can,  therefore,  when  able  to  oonvcr»ef^5 
«igns,  the  "  MmouhI  Alphabet/'  and   the  like,  be  admitted  as  wiin«<* 
funle.ss  blind  aL<o),  and  are  held  to  he  resjwnsible,  uulei;^  ihcy  iirr*fao«* 
to  be  imbecile  or  otherwise  of  unsound  mind.     lu   Rrgirui  v.  f7W»»«* 
(Stafford  Summer  Assizes,  1841)  a  deaf  mute  was  sentenood  to  iiiipri*^' 

^^^^H 

♦  Yoti  mll^t  not,  however,  expect  nil  cas<"«  nf  true  tntiiinity  t,»  conforui  •irlf*'j'*" 
rule  or  In  ili,t  tle.*crinii(m  (»f  nt>MilMjTiiitft.     Niitiir«  h  nut  to  be  ibiu  tjrmii|»wl    "*' 
will  titiy  given  chso  be  likely  to  exbibit  nil  the  fuutures  of  iti  type. 

772 


RESPONSIBILITY    OP   CRIMINALS. 


Only  hebetude,  or  extreme  degrees  of  the  other  forms,  cornbiDed  with 

iimbility  t«  write  iutelligenllyj  or  to  convey  the  re<|iiisite  ideas  hy  other 


makiiiiT  a  will  which  would  be  myn*\  iu  law.     The  safest  rul 


rora 


modes   {!*ueh  as  sifros).  would   necessarily    iu  validate  the  sufferer   t*i 

lowever. 


^^o 


is  to  disrej^mrd  the  paralytic  coudition,  per  /te^  and  to  tej*t  the  intelli- 
gence in  other  ways,  notinjr  the  general  eonduet  and  behavior,  and  the 
etfect  of  f![>eaking  to  and  reading  to  the  patient. 

Acl*  romvulfed  in  the  ile/irlvm  of  dUfont  m'  ncMejiU  if  criminal,  would 
fn ff  info  the  *at«e  category  as  the  acts  of  lunatics.  In  the  case  of  Ruicide, 
this  is  generally  met  by  the  verdict  of  temjKirary  insanity  in  the  coroner's! 
c'cmrt.  SniddCf  althuugh  a  criniiDal  act,  is  not  held  to  be  a  legal  proof  of 
ins*ntiity. 

We  are  now  emoing  to  one  of  the  most  difficidt  part^i  of  our  subject. 
We  cannot  conceal  rmr  conviction  th«t  leij;al  opinion  an<l  practice,  an  re- 
gards the  responsibility  of  criminaLs  for  their  act,**,  are  not  in  accord  with 
the  teachinifs  of  medical  science.  Nor  can  we  deny  that  medical  wit- 
nesses themselves  are  greatly  to  blame  for  this  discre|iancy.  Instead  of  a 
clear  statement  of  the  fact*  of  the  case,  and  a  clear  expression  of  scientific 
opiiiimi,  they  have  often  jninbled  together  fm'ts  and  i>pinious,  Hiid  treated 
the  courts  tfj  exhibitions  of  metaphysical  subtleties,  equally  foreign  to  law 
and  common  sense,  or  to  still  more  painful  exhibitions  of  their  own  ignor- 
ance. The  plea  of  insanity,  too,  has  very  often  been  raised  on  the  most 
trivial  grounds  by  counsel,  in  order  to  appeal  to  the  sympathies  of  jury- 
men, some  of  vvh<mi  may  have  insane  friends  and  relatives.  We  would  not 
blanie  an  a'lv*H'ate  for  <loing  his  best  to  screen  the  criminal  f«ir  whom  he 
pka<ls.  We  do,  however,  bin  me  the  members  of  our  own  profestsion  for 
ajjpearinEf  as  partisans,  whether  in  civil  or  criminal  cashes;  and  we  wish 
you  ti»  clearly  understand  that  you  are  not  justified,  as  scientific  or  skilled 
witnesses,  in  pronouncing  any  man  insane  in  a  criminal  ea^e,  itrdess  you 
roold  e^iually  assert  his  insanity  were  the  issuers  of  the  trial  euiirely  in- 
diti'erent  to  btm.  Th*-  rvkhvre  for  the  inmnity  of  u  criminal  (apHrt  iVoin 
thrise  rare  cases  in  whi^h  crime  itself,  or  the  mtinner  of  its  execution^ 
afford  almost  ermclusive  evidence  of  insanity)  nhouhi  be  ximihr,  if  not  iden^ 
tical^  in  chtracfer  wiih  thai  required  for  rendering  certificatfS  of  iimutity  vnli  '" 
in  von-aritninnl  rttJtrs,  In  other  words,  as  mtdirai  witneitMef^  dismiss  fnji 
your  minds  entirely  the  nature  of  the  penalties  to  which  the  |>ris<mer  is 
liable,  except  so  far  as  they  may  make  you  anxiouf^,  in  the  interests  of  jus- 
tice to  the  supposed  criminal,  not  to  overlook  any  discoverable  proofs  of 
hi»  irresp<msibility. 

Before  commenting  further  on  the  subject^  we  will  take  the  interpreta- 
tion of  the  law  as  it  stands  by  our  judges. 

Mr.  Justice  Brett  (trial  of  George  Blomfield  for  murder  of  James  Catt 
in  dockvard  at  Chatham  t  ]\Iidsummer  Arizes,  1875) ;  vide  *'  Lancet,"  duly 
31,  1875  >  said:  '*  The  man  may  be  mad.  I  a^uurae  that  he  is  w)  in  the 
nieflical  sense  of  the  term  ;  but  the  question  here  is,  whether  he  is  so  ma<l 
as  to  be  absolved  from  the  conserinences  of  what  he  has  done?  He  is  not 
so  absolved,  though  he  is  mad,  if  he  be  not  so  mad  as  not  to  know  what 
he  was  doing,  or  not  to  know  that  he  was  doing  wrong."  In  the  trial  of 
Hadfield,  in  18(M),  for  shooting  at  King  George  III,  in  Dniry  Lane 
Theatre,  Lord  Kenyon,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  rei?t  of  the  judges  of 
King's  Bench,  interrupted  the  defence,  and  said,  that  "  with  regard  1^ 
the  law,  as  it  has  Ikx'U  laid  down,  there  could  be  no  doubt  whatever.  If 
a  nmu  be  in  a  deranged  state  of  mind  at  the  time  of  c<Jiiimiiting  an  act, 
he  is  not  criminally  answerable;  the  raaterial  part  of  the  cas«*  is»  wheth< 
at  the  very  time  his  mind  was  sane,"  (Here  the  distinction  between  r 
and  wtx>og  ib,  we  think,  very  properly,  lost  sight  of.)     Lord  Keiiyon  I 


774 


OPINIONS    OF   JUDaSB. 


nature  and  peculiarilips  of  each  case  might  surest  and  require."  In 
answer  ti>  Qufstitm  III,  "  lu  what  terms  might  tlii*  tjue^lion  to  be  left  to 
the  Jury  us  to  the  prii^oner's*  state  of  mind  at  the  lime  when  the  act  was 
coniMiitteil?"  they  gavt*  no  aiiswur,  lu  reply  t<»  Question  IV,  "  Whether 
delusions  excused  ott'eneesy"  their  answer  was,  "  //'  the  thlwnon  urre  only 
partial,  tht  party  accused  wan  tijunliy  Haftte  with  a  permn  of  ^ane  mind.  Ij 
tilt  afcitited  kiiffd  another  in  Melj'-dejenet',  h^  wotdd  he  entitled  to  an  acqaitinl ; 
hut  if  the  erime  were  committed  (or  a  KUppotted  injurtj,  he  would  then  he  iiahfe 
to  the  panii^hmtnt  awarded  by  the  laws  to  hi»  crimed  The  jud^eg  were  fur- 
ther qnesiiDned  as  U\  the  propriety  of  exjimining  experts  (who  never  saw 
the  pri::«oner  previou;*  to  his  trial),  and  aitkitig  them  as  to  their  opinion  on 
the  s^taie  of  the  prisoner's  niiml — antl  here  the  opinions  were  not  quite 
unaniiuoiif* — hut  most  thought  that  interrogatories  eould  only  he  put  after 
the  fucL?  were  proved.  Mr.  Justice  Maule  dissented  from  this  view*  ( The-^e 
questions  and  answers,  in  ejctfuno,  are  conlaioed  in  Dr.  GuyV  "Principles 
of  Forensic  Medicine,"  p.  207,  note.) 

If  we  analyze  these  ojjiniuns  lliey  come  to  lliis^  that  the  tnajorily  of  our 
judges  consider  a  man  with  a  fnictional  lulelligenee  i*  to  be  treated  pre- 
cjjsely  (as  regards  the  acLs  coiumilted  hy  him)  as  if  his  intelieetual  jjowers 
were  in  their  inlegrily,  or»  to  put  the  matter  in  a  nH»re  hiniiliar  h)rui,  thai 
a  lunatic,  who  may  have  less  than  half  hi?i  intellectual  powers  in  a  healthy 
state,  is  to  be  punished  for  the  acts  he  commits  precisely  as  if  he  had  the 
use  of  the  whole  of  his  brain,  unless  the  witnesses,  and  especially  tiie 
medical  witnesses,  are  prepared  to  state  that  at  a  particular  moment  he 
did  not  know  right  from  wrong.  In  the  case  of  Geor<je  Virlor  Totenlnj^ 
Derby  Winter  Assizes,  1803,  arraigned  for  the  murder,  by  atahbing.  of 
Miss  Goodwin,  a  young  lady  to  whom  he  was  Ui  have  haeu  married.  Baron 
Martin  said,  commenting  on  the  medical  evidence  (which  was  somewhat 
weak  in  regard  to  actual  delusious  on  the  part  of  the  prisoner,  although 
evitlence  of  insanity  in  his  grandmother's  family  was  adduced),  "I  shall 
tell  the  jury  that  although  there  might  have  been  disease  of  the  miud  to 
8ome  extent,  yet  if  the  prisoner  knew  that  the  act  he  was  committing  would 
probably  cause  death,  and  thai  the  doing  of  it  would  subject  him  to  legal 
punishment,  there  was  criminal  responsibility."  Connffelfor  the  prijtonrr. — 
"  Many  men  have  been  acquitted  with  ap[)roval  who  must  have  been 
convicted  under  such  a  directi<»n."  Baron.  Martin. — "I  have  drawn  that 
up  from  a  summing  up  of  Justice  Le  Blanc,  which  has  been  much  approved 
of,  and  from  a  decision  of  Lord  Denmau,  and  autJther  of  Lord  Lyndhurat, 
and  I  believe  it  to  be  a  correct  stiitemeut  of  the  law.  I  have  put  aside 
from  my  congideration  the  ruling  of  the  judge  who  Lrie*l  Bellingham^hevHtise 
that  has  been  (objected  to."  The  jury  returned  a  verrlict  of  willul  munler. 
And  Its  regjirds  this  particular  case  we  think  not  unjustly.  The  prisi^ner 
was  sulj»sequeutly  examined  by  Commissioners  in  Lunacy,  and  by  various 
medical  men,  respited,  scut  to  Bethlehem  Hospital,  afterwards  sentenced 
to  jKoal  servitude  for  life,  removed  to  a  convict  jinson,  where  he  8ul 
quently  committed  suicide.  Dr.  Taylor  {he.  ci7,,  583-589)  gives  ihiu 
in  considerable  detail,  and  Baron  Martin's  charge  almost  in  er/c»Mo  hs 
relates  lo  this  point,  with  a  number  of  references,  of  which  the  most  im- 
portant are  Eetf,  \\  Johnstone  ("Med.  Gaz.,"  vol.  37,  p.  421),  Itcff.  v, 
OverMnn  ("Journal  of  Phy?jiological  Med.,"  1848,  p.  193),  Reg.  v.  Brough 
(Guild  ord  Summer  Asi-izes,  1^^54).  ('^Jour.  Psych.  Med.,"  1854,  p.  GO'Jj, 
Beg.  V.  Chrke  (Norfolk  Lent  Assizer,  1851),  lieg.  v.  Monkfwme  (0.  C. 
G)urt,  Dec.  1849),  Beg^  v.  Arnold  (Aylesbury  Lent  As&izes,  1850),  Beg» 
V.  Battera  (Shrewsbury  Summer  Assizes,  185^1),  and  the  following  wurku: 
** Mayors  Clinical  Facts,"  1847,  p.  193  ;  "Crooniau  Lectures,"  *'Meil.  Timea 
and  Gazette/'  1853;   "Leltsomiao  Lectures  by  Dr.  Forbes  Wioalow," 


PBT8I0AL   BASIS   OF   INSANITY, 


mt^  to  be  aasiioilated  to  that  of  Fraace — "  II  n'y  a  m  crime  ni  delit  lors- 
^•t  le  pf^veuu  ^mit  eu  ^tat  de  d^meooe  au  tempe  de  raction/'  lo  tbb  we 
pael  tborooghly  agree. 


In  all  cases  of  crime  committed  by  supposed  lunatics,  be  very  careful, 
cautious,  and  slow,  in  fomiiog  yoor  opiuion.  When  there  h  much  doubt 
it  is  better  to  state  the  fact^g  sl»  you  find  them,  aod  uot  to  give  aoy  opinion 
uule)^  the  tactn  fully  justify  it.  There  should  be  clear  evideuce  in  the  I'ut- 
luwing  pi>ints: 

(1)  Of  hereditary  tendencies. 

(2)  Of  sufficient  predisposing  causes,  such  as  severe  accident  or  disease^ 
lofii  of  fortune,  overwork,  and  the  like. 

(3)  Of  weakness  of  the  intellectual  powers,  delosioos,  or  of  epileptic  fita^ 
and  previous!  insane  actj§. 

(4 )  The  conformation  of  the  cranium,  and  the  state  of  the  general  health, 
as  well  ii?<  the  habits  of  the  accu^d,  should  be  carefully  inquired  into. 

(5)  The  prorh-vtrbal,  or  disp^isitious,  should  be  carefully  f<iudied  as  to 
the  nature  of  the  crime,  it«  mode  of  perpetration,  it*  suddenness,  the  exist- 
ence, or  otherwiije,  of  provocation  and  po^ible  motives — the  time,  place, 
etc.,  ami  tho  hehavior  of  the  criminal  afterwards,  when  first  arrested,  or  on 
giving  liifti^ojf  into  custody.  These  hints  will  be  best  understood  from  ex- 
ampler.     ^V.c?  Illustrative  Cases. 


On  the  Pfiynicnl  Basis  of  Insanity,  and  on  the  ^forhid  Changes  found  in  (he 
Brain  and  in  other  organs. 

Under  the  heading  of  Idiocy  and  Cretinism  (page  752),  we  have  givep 
some  of  the  physical  characters  of  the  cmnium  and  other  bodily  organs  of 
those  v»^ry  deficient  in  intellect.  Whilst  in  the  descriptions  of  mania, 
general  puraly»i«,  etc.,  other  physical  conditions  have  been  noted.  Many 
of  the  textUxtkK  give  pictures  of  the  facial  expression  of  many  typical 
t'orniii  of  mi.Mouiid  mind  (Bucknill,  Guy,  Taylor).  These  are  generally 
drawn  from  rather  extreme  coses  (glaring  instances),  but  in  minor  dej:re^ 
the  same  characters  are  y>re.sented  by  the  features  of  all  who  have  either 
been  long  insane  or  suffer  from  severe  farms.  8orae  nionomaniai*:*,  how- 
ever, prej^f  Lit  no  very  special  physiognomy.  Although  the  hijA^ric^it  dia- 
the.-is  i.H  well  marked,  cpilefjity  re(|uires  to  be  of  some  long  standing,  and 
the  Ht«4  to  he  freijuent,  before  the  "  faciei  epileptica  "becomes  recogni»ibIe. 

1.  Still  it  may  be  said  in  general  terms  that  thf  great  majority  of  persons 
of  unsound  mind  have  a  pecaliar  physiognomy.  The  principal  dittereuces 
prescJited  are;  (1)  Either  unusual  smoolhoe^ss  of  the  features,  due  to  f>a- 
ralywis  of  tiie  facial  muscles,  and  degenerative  changes — giving  a  want  of 
expreWion  and  feeble  look  to  the  face* — this  is  often  combined  with  (2) 
Tremulou.s  movements  of  the  lips,  tongue,  and  other  muscles,  and  convul- 
sive movements  of  the  lower  jaw,  etc.  ('?)  In  mania,  monomania,  melan- 
cholia, etc ,  wo  ofUo  get  the  facial  lines  unusually  marked  (or  a  direct 
contrast  to  Nos.  (1 )  and  (2) ).  Opposing  muscles  are  in  action  at  one  and 
the  same  time,  as  the  occipito-fron talis  and  corrugators,  etc.  ( 4)  The  star- 
ing, gfaring,  fixed  or  rolling,  and  fierce  or  dull  expression  of  the  eyes  of 
the  insaue  is  a  matter  of  common  observation.     (5j  There  may  be  special 

*  Sir  JftDiev  Paget  hsa  fthown  thm  chnngAt  in  the  fplnsl  cord  and  other  parlc  of 
the  nervuua  »yflteni  give  a  peculinr  flniooLbne«8  to  the  akin  of  tlie  flhgcra  and  olh«r 
part«. 


TtS 


CHANGES    IN    THE    BRAIN. 


Cancer*  and  semi-maligDant  tamors,  and  iatestinal  worms,  by  the  pnio 
and  annoyance  they  inflift,  may  aid  in  the  genesis  of  inanity. 

Autrmia  is  very  eofnrnou,  especially  atiiougst  female  lunatics — in  puer- 
peral mania,  etc.  Iliematomata  or  blood  tumors  (especially  in  the  csmi, 
erysipelas,  gangrene  (of  the  .skin,  limbs,  luug*,  etc),  and  l>edsore:*,  are  ftll 
common  towards  the  clo&ing  scenes  of  chronic  form^  of  insanity. 

Ecxenia  and  psoriasis  are  moderately  common.  It  has  bee-o  noted  [n 
think  tirst  by  Dr.  Brown  Se<|uard)  that  very  pemdiar  and  emitic  fomttf 
skin  dineuAe  oft^ii  accowpany  or  precede  tteiiroses  and  irisanitff. 

Sfjphiiij<  undoubtedly  plays  a  large  part  in  the  production  of  cQoditinoi 
of  mental  unsoundness. 

As  regards  the  puljte,  respiration,  and  temperature  of  the  ioaaoe,  do  gen* 
eral  rules  ciin  be  very  safely  laid  down.  We  may  admit  that  except  in 
acute  mania,  and  in  the  presence  of  complications,  (he  tempcraiurf  i*  Qfner- 
alJtf  kurr  in  the  insane  than  in  those  of  sound  mind,  but  we  sbalJ  BimJ 
many  exceptions.  The  rt-yiiratiom  will  often  be  (luicker,  owing  to  tuber- 
cular <leposit,  or  lung  cuniplicatiim,  or  the  violent  exertioDs  of  manita, 
but  this  is  by  no  means  invariable,  while  iht  puUe  is  very  variable.  In 
acute  mania  and  conditions  of  excitement,  it  is  quicker  than  io  liwllb. 
The  presence  of  tubercles  also  will  often  have  the  same  e8ect.t 

The  bowels  are  usually  constipated.  The  skin  has  an  unpleasant  oAxK 
in  a  large  number  of  the  insane.  They  often  bear  such  large  d'jt&d 
narcotics,  emetics,  and  purgatives,  as  few  sane  persons  could  safely  take. 
They  can  dispense  with  sleep  for  many  days,  go  without  food  forftloor 
time,  often  seem  indifferent  to  pain,  bear  a  strong  light  with  inipuaitT,lDd 
in  other  ways  differ  from  healthy  persons. 

III.  The  most  important  deviations  from  health  in  the  iD6aDearefMii>d 
in  the  cranium,  and  more  especially  in  the  brain.  We  have  already  alhhle^l 
to  premature  ossification  (d*  the  skull,  and  to  a  want  of  symmetry  in  li* 
two  sidcis  of  the  head  and  brain,  and  to  congenital  absence  of  part«  \^ 
especially  under  Idiocy,  page  753). J  Very  little  importance  ij  no* 
attached  to  the  mere  size  of  tite  head  or  absolute  weight  of  the  brain.  We 
have  already  seeu  that  we  may  have  a  very  large  or  a  very  small  bead, 
even  araougst  idiots.  Hydrocephalus  may  cause  the  head  to  enlarge  io 
adult  life  or  old  age,  as  in  the  case  of  Dean  Swift,  Foville  has  «howo  tW 
insanity  and  brain  diseases  are  especially  common  in  Gascouy  and  N«^ 
mandy,  where  children's  heads  are  artificially  compressed  into  an  duDgatnl 
pointed  cylindrical  form.     Eft|uirol  confirms  this.§ 

1.  The  cranial  hone^  are  often  thickened.  G reding  found  io  216a«topi«i*» 
167  iostancesof  thicken iog,  38  of  abnormal  thinness  of  the*e  bones.  Tbrt* 
are  exostoses,  epiculie,  etc,  in  some  casej?,  especially  syphilitic  ones, 

2.  The  dura  nuii^'  and  other  membranes  are  often  grcaUtf  tkidupd- 
What  is  called  pachymeningitis  is  particularly  common  in  the  iottsh 
perate.  The  arachnoid  is  very  often  opaque.  All  the  membmoei  >*■ 
hyperiemic. 

3.  The  bloodtfessels  of  the  membranes,  and  of  the  brain  it"<*ir  tiwi^ 
normal  (from  disease)  in  a  vast  number  of  the  insane.  If  to^ 
inequality  of  the  jugular  forumina  from  contraction  very.  -  <^ 
insane. 

Atheroma,  calcareous  changes,  deposit  of  lymph  outside  venel«,  pl«f 
ging  inside  them  (embolism ),  and  great  tkickeoiug  of  the  connective  tivart 


♦  Cancer  is,  however,  suid  to  be  very  mre.     Only  iix 


\D    SM  AUUllI 


the  Vienniii  Afiylutn  [Grh«*»i tiger),  or  ItsAs  itian  2  per  cent. 
f  See  remiirka  by  Dr  Guy  in  a  note  to  his  MunuAl,  p.  218, 


Se«  Dr.  Mil4.'heirh  reiiiHrka  «>n  Ihe  use  of  the  forcepa  under  Idiocy  (p«J«  '^ 
Meningeal  apoplexien  or  baeoiiirrhage*  are  vory  comaioo. 


BRAI5    DtSBASB    IH    IKSAKtTT. 

The  pprrifxr  fprwnl^  of  the  bmia  ia  said  by  Skae  aod  ^nkej  to  be  gcoer- 
^  io  thoee  of  uDMUod  mind.     Dr.  BuckoitI  simces  ibe  rerefse. 
i  o  a^  the  specific  gnirity  of  average  AraltAfbimtn.    Dr.  Saokej 

1.041  for  white  matler,  l.O^M  for  gray  io  health.  Dr.  Aitkeo  giv«ft  ibe 
iblloviing:  Central  ganglia  LCMO  to' L047  ;  cerebrum  1.030  to  1.048: 
cerebelluiu  1.038  to  1.049.  All  tbese  resulu  are  rerj  closely  a|>proxiimil«. 
Thf  (utu/tint  of  Uood  in  the  In'fiin  emuet  discrepancy  io  fiital  ca«e»  of ' 
Our  methods  of  taking  the  specific  gravity  are  abo  aomewhai  is 
Solutioua  of  oommoD  i«lt  are  generally  employed.* 

We  mav  gel  gurainous,  hydatid,  cancerous,  and  other  tomors  io  tbe 
brain.  Also  abecew ;  but,  of  course,  all  iheee  may  exist  witboot  ifuaoity.t 
^jGriesingier^s  coocluaioo  may  be  quoted  here  In  an  abbreviated  ibna  (sea 
ioe,  eit,,  p.  432,  etc). 

JL  In  Acute  Intanity. 

(1)  The  brain  may  be  found  apparently  quite  healthy,  as  far  as  ovF 
pres*enl  knowledge  extends.     It  is  to  be  noted  that  the  micro- 
tcopic  chaDgee  now  often  founrJ  have  only  recently  attracted 
attention.     Yet  skilled  observers  have  failed  to  find  disease  in 
SKime  ca^es  of  ver}'  recent  insanity. 

(2)  Auiemia  with  eerous  infiltrations,  or  hypersemia,  especially  of] 
matter,  is  common. 

!3)  The  membranet}  are  often  thickened. 
4)  There  is  no  constant  anatomical  distinction  between  mania  and 
melancholia. 

(5)  The  brain  !;>  more  often  found  healthy  in  melancholia  than  in 
mania.     Yet  in  melancholia  it  is  very  often  anaemic. 

(6)  There  i^  xumally  i^ome  anatomical  change  in  mania. 

II.  Chronic  Insanity. 

(1)  There  is  nearbj  atmiys  some  anatomical  lesion — hypenemia  and 
tbickentug  of  the  merabranee  are  common. 

(2)  So  are  atrophy  of  the  brain,  e.^pecially  of  the  convolutions, 
chronic  hydrocephalus,  ctfustou  into  the  subarachnoid  spaoe, 
pigmentation  of  the  cortical  substance,  extensive  and  prolbund 
aclenjsis  (conditions  not  often  found  io  acute  casesj. 

(3)  There  may  be  softening,  but  more  often  pigmentation  of  the  su|)er- 
ficial  layers,  superficial  induration,  and  adhesion  of  the  pia 
mater  in  various  degrees. 

(4)  The  ventricular  walls  become  inflamed,  granular,  and  adherent 
in  many  cases. 

(5)  Hypenemia  is  rare  in  chronic  cases,  unless  it  be  hypercBmia  ev 
vacuo;  sometimes  the  more  or  less  atrophied  brain  ifi  anauie 
and  oedematous. 

(G)  In  profiitind  mental  weakness  (dementia)  there  is  generally  oon- 
tiiderable  atrophy  of  the  brain. 


♦  fTnallhy  brnin-mnttor  will  tink  slowly  in  good  beer  or  in  millt  of  ^ood  quality. 

t  The  optio  diiku,  retinae,  and  other  pari*  of  the  oye  will  •ometirae*  di»€los« 
tivuriti>«,  o|iiic  Hlruph^,  and  other  ocular  ehangM  when  llic  v.y^  is  exiitninvil  with 
tbo  ophthiilmoncope  in  CMSita  of  brain  diteatc.  Tiie«e  changw,  however,  do 
imply  insanity,  altbuugh  tbcy  may  coe&ist  with  it. 


THB    FACIAL    ANGLE 

have  been  made  at  p.  578  on  the  rapaeitj  of  the  craoium  in  different  races, 
M  te«ted  by  milletseeds.  In  jtidgiug^,  however,  of  this  point  in  the  living 
vuhjec't,  it  is  clear  that  other  methods  must  be  adopted.  The  calipers  are 
oAen  Ui*ed  for  this  purpose.  The  "Transactions  of  the  Anthrnp<»logical 
Society,"  the  *•  Comptes  Kendus,"  and  the  works  on  anthnijxjlogy  pre- 
Tiouslv  referred  to  (page  •'iTS),  all  contain  numerous  roea.su  re  men  I*  of  the 
tkull  in  different  races.  For  practical  purposes,  the  authors  recommend 
the  following  method:  Meajiure  from  the  root  of  the  nose  to  the  junct'toQ 
of  the  head  with  the  neck  (ouiero-pottterior  measure);  take  the  circmnfer- 
ence  of  the  head  at  the  most  prominent  part  of  the  forehead  (eireumfer' 
ewv);  take  the  measurement  across  the  top  of  the  head  from  ear  tu  ear 
(&anwer«e  meofturenienl).  Tlie  facial  angle  has  fallen  into  some  disrepute, 
probably  because  its  importance  was  overrated.  Without  entering  into 
the  que>>ti(jn  of  prioritv  of  discovery,  we  may  state  that  it  was  first  brought 
into  notoriety  by  P.  Camper.*  This  angle  is  the  intersection  of  a  line 
drawn  through  the  centre  of  the  meatus  auditoriu!<  externus  towards  the 
floor  of  (he  nostril,  with  a  perpendicular  let  fall  from  the  mo^t  prominent 
part  of  the  forehead.  Some  draw  the  first  line  level  with  the  intermaxil- 
lary bone.  It  can  be  most  simply  determined  (as  0)liu  suggests)  by  a 
pair  of  corapa-^ses  with  the  legs  extended  so  as  to  correspond  with  the  lines 
mentioned.  The  angle  can  then  be  easily  traced  on  paper,  and  subse- 
quently measured  by  a  protractor  or  otberwi^.  The  angle  U  thus  given 
by  Cuvier: 


Edropeaa  fnAinl, 
ttduU. 
]>Mn'f>lt  ditto, 
Adult  U»(^q, 
Frflule  BoqcnaAo, 


Olber  uiuiia. 


Yoang  ourmo^-outatig, 
Otd  ditto. 
Dogs,     .       .       , 
Fox,      ... 


Colin  gives  the  following  for  domestic  animals  (see  the  original  fc^r 
others) : 

Hor8<»  flywir*  oldl, 14** 

Vi-rv  old  horse  I  English),       . 13"* 

D^vnkpv,  .    ' W 

BuH  (ttduU), I'Oo 

DnwiU'durv, 15" 

Oont.      .  ' L'"** 

Newfoundland  dog,       ........  :i*i** 

P*P I'i" 

Rnbbit, .  2*.«'^ 

Domestic  cat, 4 1  ** 

For  other  modes  of  estimating  the  capacity  of  the  cranium,  such 
Daubniion*  nngk  (founded  on  the  position  of  the  foramen  inagnnm),  the 
measurement  of  the  face  compared  with  the  skull,  and  the  like,  we  must 
refer  to  the  sources  named  in  the  footnote.     All  these  methods  rather  refer 


•  *»  Dwcrtation  Physique  nur  les  difTSr^noot  r^ellet  qu«  pr^^entent  1p*  tm!t.<  da 
VfcaKT."  etc.     Par   H,  Cumper     Utrecht.  17!«1,  p.  84,  ntc.     Sc«  alsr.  '  -'t 

*•  Physiology,"  pp.  24  »nd  '2h\  Colin's  "  Trnil6  de  Phy«irtlugiG  Cun)pHt  li- 

maux  Dom«?atiqiios,"  torn,  i,  p.  168;  Ciivi'*r'*  "  Anatomin  Compwr«[M',  jii  f^ni., 
torn,  it,  p.  1«4;  Ward'*  *' O-Hoolojiy,"  p.  142,  Htn.,  l»t  edition;  Durer,  A., '*  De 
fiymnietnA  Parti  urn  in  liecti^  Formis  Humanorum  Corporutu,"  1653. 


OAPACITY    FOB    MARRIAGE. 

2.  Every  will  must  be  signed  at  its  fiM>t  or  eud  by  the  l€»taUir,  or iy 
Fome  other  iicrsfui  iu  hia  preseuce,  at  his  dictation,  and  by  hia  dirM'tim. 
Whatovpr  is  written  hfhnt  this  sitruature  is  of  no  force  as  a  will.  Thclo* 
tator  may  make  a  murk  if  unable  from  any  cause  to  write. 

3.  The  separate  Rheet.%  if  ihere  are  more  than  one,  should  be  at  leul 
iniiififf^d  by  the  testator  and  witnesses. 

4.  Two  at  least,  or  more  witnes^ses*,  must  sign  at  ibe  same  time,  in  the 
pres^ence  of  the  testator.  They  t^hould  be  iu  such  a  position  ih^t  he  [or 
she]  can  see  them,  and  they  pee  him  [nr  her]. 

5.  No  lepaey  to  wltnes^s  is  valid.  A  legacy  may»  however^be  left  int 
separate  codicil. 

6.  An  executor  may  witness.  If  he  do  80»  however,  he  c4inDot  iah^nt, 
except  as  mentioned  under  last  paragmph. 

7.  All  nlterafiayiA  must  be  attested  by  initialling  or  otherwise. 

8.  St>  must  all  codicils. 

9.  Ill  drawint]^  up  a  will,  those  who  are  not  members  of  thi»  lei»«l  m- 
fes«i«m  should  use  the  plainest  language  they  can,  and  carefully  avoiil  »il 
ambijjyous  terms.  It  is  better  to  repeat  nanies  and  description*  tlmu  t^ 
pertnit  any  doubt  as  to  the  meaning  of  a  pronoun  or  other  woni  u«<i  to 
indicate  tho^e  who  arc  to  benefit. 

ID.  The  will  should  be  read  over  to  the  testator,  if  drawn  ap  by  iiootber, 
before  he  affixes  his  t^if^imturc. 

11.  His  hand  should  not  be  guided.     It  is  better  for  hira  [or  hit ^ 
sign  in  a  shaky  hand  than  to  allow  it  to  be  ^aid  he  or  she  was  fuavJ 
to  sign. 

12,  Medical  men  cannot  be  too  careful  for  their  own  reputation,  nwifnT 
thai  of  the  profession,  to  give  no  occasion  to  relatives  or  friends  Ut  *J 
thai  they  have  exercised  undue  influence  over  their  patients  iu  ord*fV> 
eet'ure  for  themselves  the  pr(ti>erty  of  those  whom  they  havti  aitendwiifi* 
nie<l»cal  capacity.  Our  courts  of  law  look  with  just  suspicion  on  all  »ill> 
which  leave  very  large  sums,  or  the  bulk  of  a  testator's  pn)|>ertr,  to i 
medical  altendaut  to  the  prejudice  and  injury  of  lawful  heir*.  Il  \f.Wi 
dotibt,  ofteu  ju8t  and  proper  that  grateful  recognition  of  merlical  sJcill  ■"*! 
kindness  shovild  be  made,  but  it  is  by  no  means  desirable  that  the  j>uWif 
should  be  allowed  to  think  that  medical  men  ahuse  the  great  InflueDC^tbcir 
peculiar  position  gives  them  for  their  own  personal  aggraudisemeiit. 


Of  the  Capacity  of  Lunatics  and  Permiu  in  Advaiicai  Staffrs  of  liiMW  yff 

Marriaffe* 

Mutatia  mufntidia,  what  we  have  said  about  wills  applies  to  marriiiff- 
The  law  considers  ins-anity  a  civil  impediment  to  matrimonv,  bcciB* 
there  must  be  in  lunacy  an  absence  of  that  rational  consent  whicn  i^tiecrt* 
Fary  to  the  validity  of  a  contract.  The  mnrrxafje  of  a  hinatie  Itihtrtj^ 
void,  ab  iuitio.  If  it  be  alleged  thnt  the  parties  were  marrieil  dunfi^  • 
lucid  interval,  strict  proof  of  such  lucidity  would  be  retjuire*].  Fnrtn» 
reason  the  marriage  of  a  lunatic  was  dissolved  at  his  own  rwiue§t,«i»* 
he  recovered,  iu  the  case  of  Turner  v.  Miners  {**  MeA.  Gaietle,"  t<J.tid, 
p.  4Hl).  See  also  the  case  of  Baldry  v.  EiU«  (Norwicli  Summer  Ai«lf^ 
1851).  A  lunatic's  estate  may,  however,  he  taxed  to  supply  a  wife  »iw 
necessaries,  because  this  is  fulfilling  a  rational  contract  nm<ie  whilst  h<*»** 
■ane.  (Reed  v.  Legard  (Court  of  Exchequer,  May  30,  1851) ;  and  i^<* 
y.  Ade^ck  ("  Journal  P.'^ych.  Med.,*'  1851,  p.  297).)  S*-e  nl^  the  ilMrt- 
tive  cases.  Beck  states,  in  a  note  to  p.  42.1,  loo.  ciL,  **  thai  in  ihe  ^^^^ 
Ohio,  the  having  carnal  intercourse  with  an  intsaiie  woman,  nut  ii>«  ^ 


788 


BAD    TEMPER   NOT    IKSANITY. 


Illustratim  Case^, 
Case  I. — Mr.  Edward  Dmnes'  Cwe. 

(Abridged  from  Beck  {toe.  cit.,  p.  420,  etc.).    See  aho  "Quarterly  Review," 
vol.  xlii,  p.  354;  "Lancet,"  vol.  vi.  N.S.,  p.  214.) 

Mr.  Davies  was  of  low  birth,  and  imperfectly  educated.  At  achtxd  he 
was  thought  shy  rather  than  stupid.  As  a  tea  dealer  he  amassed  wealth, 
and  dij^phiyed  great  industry,  but  he  was  habitually  rtervous  «nd  auxiuuM, 
BO  that  the  uight  before  the  great  tea  sales  at  the  India  Houae  he  could 
not  fileep.  He  was  dyspeptic  aii<i  hypochoiidriaca!.  He  read  a  great  deal, 
and  was  fond  of  reciting  aloud  (**8pi>uting").  He  would  gesticulate  whibt 
reciting  Byron  and  »Shak^peare.  His  mother  treated  him  aa  a  child  when 
he  was  twenty-seven,  never  allowing  him  any  control  over  his  time  or  his 
money.  She  prevented  hitii  from  freeing  perr^ous  of  the  female  !«ex.  He 
began  to  be  impatient  of  this  ceaj»ele««  vigilance  and  control,  oflered  her 
money  to  go  away,  and  consulted  Mr.  Lawrence,  Dr.  Burrow^s,  Dr.  Lalliam, 
and  other  medical  men,  who  thought  liirn  suffering  from  mouoiuama, 
especially  aa  he  often  n^ed  threatj*  against  his  mother  and  thone  who 
thought  him  insane.  He  was  H>on  after  confined  in  a  private  madhou^iC. 
An  application  wae  made  for  hiB  release.  Seventl  phyaiciana  examiued 
him  (Sir  George  Tuthiil,  Dr*.  Munro,  Macmichael,  and  Sutherland;,  and 
the  majority  being  of  opinion  that  he  was  iijHane,  a  commission  wa^j  ap- 
pointed by  the  Uhuneellyr.  The  testimony  adduced  was  chiefly  what  has 
already  been  .stated.  His  feelings  against  his  motherland  big  having  pur- 
chatted  property  at  an  extravagant  rate,  were  alleged  against  him.  He  ex- 
pressed much  indignation  at  his  coufinenjent,  but  was  calm  and  correct  iu 
tia  conversation.  It  appeared  that  at  the  very  time  that  he  was  just  about 
to  be  confined,  he  not  only  gave  seuFible  directions  vls  to  bin  bu^iuescj,  but 
was  consulted  by  the  very  perjion?*  who  put  him  in  the  asylum  a^  Ui  the 
management  of  the  bustiness.  The  res^ult  of  the  commi.s^ion  waw  hi*  rewtom- 
tiou  to  his  liberty  and  prof)erty-  As  Dr.  Gooch  remarked,  Davies  always 
was,  flud  probably  always  would  be,  a  person  of  weak  mind;  but  he  had 
suffiricnt  capacity  for  making  money,  was  inotfeu.sive  in  his  habits,  although 
eccentric,  and  had  abj^olutely  no  kuowu  delusion,  unless  we  oon<^ider  liia 
antipathy  to  hh  mother's  conduct  as  such.  As  Dr.  Coombe  says.  "  The 
irxie  fftandnrd  u  tht  paitetU'sown,  natural  c/tareu^ter,  and  not  that  of  the  phy- 
eician  or  the  philosopher." 


Case  IL — Supposed  Danenlia  or  ImbecllUy, 

(Quoted  from  Tardieu  (*' Etude  Medicodegale  aur  la  Folic,'* 

pp.  241-251.)) 

On  the  28th  of  August,  18(>!^,  the  Civil  Tribunal  of  the  Department  of 
the  Seine  issued  a  commission  to  try  the  sanity  of  Mdlle.  Stephanie  de  S. 
<^,  It  was  alleged  that  from  infancy  almost  she  had  been  incohercDt,  and 
her  conduct  outrageous  and  extraonlinary.  She  wa:*  said  to  grow  woi 
as  she  grew  older.  In  1808,  she  was  reported  to  have  been  violent,  ai 
from  this  time  showed  uo  regard  or  respect  for  her  mother,  whom  she' 
abused  in  no  measured  terms,  and  had  even  struck  upon  one  occasion. 
Her  mother  had  sent  her,  in  March,  1851),  to  a  convent  school.  There  .nbe 
ao  pestered  her  mother  by  letters  that  after  fifteen  days  she  wa*  taken 
home  again.  It  was  said  that  she  had  threatened  her  mother,  her  teachers, 
servants,  and  even  a  priest,  aged  eighty.     Those  who  flattered  her  couJc 


700 


MR.   WINDHAM    S    CASE. 


judgmeut  nor  reaconiog  power.  Dr.  Oordoti  did  oot  consider  her  capacity 
lo  exceed  that  of  a  child  of  seven  years  of  age.  Several  n«>n-inedical 
witiieK^eti  wlio  had  knuwn  her  from  infancy  spoke  of  her  exiremfly  pas- 
sionate and  occasionally  indelicate  cnnduct.  On  her  examination  before 
th^  Conimi^sioners  her  answers  were  p«.*rtinent,  and  given  in  a  proper 
manner.  No  indelicate  remark  escajicd  from  her.  Drs.  Morrison  and 
Hatilam  were  not  disposed  to  cont^ider  her  imbecile  or  idiotic.  She  con- 
i^Med  her  ignorance  of  arithmetic,  but  eaid  that  her  grandfather  sent 
excuses  when  &he  was  at  Bchoo],and  begged  that  t*ho  might  not  be  piess*ed. 
The  jury  brought  in  a  verHict  that  Miss  Bugster  had  been  of  unbound 
mind  !*ince  November  1,  18'^0  (the  trial  was  in  1832 j,  and  the  marriage 
WUM  cousequently  dissolved.  "London  MmJiral  Gazettt'/'  vol.  x,  pp.  019, 
fi53,  and  London  **  Atlas"  new!»papir,  July  8  and  15,  1H32.  Thi*  verdict 
'^eems  to  the  authors  to  liuve  been  uu reasonable.  Dr.  Morrison  very  justly 
8Aid  that  he  would  undertake,  in  ^ix  monthj^,  to  teach  her  arithmetic  and 
the  life  of  money.  *'  A  deficiency  of  education,"  he  &aid,  "  would  accuUDt 
for  all  the  appearances  observed  in  Mi^  Bagster." 


Case  IV.— TA^;  Earl  of  Port^nouth's  Owe. 

(Beck,  not-e  to  page  423.) 

In  the  suit  for  the  dissolution  of  the  marriage  of  the  Earl  of  Portsmouth, 
on  the  ground  that  he  wasof  Myv((%  and  afterwards  of  n;iwu»i<f  mind,  it  was 
proved  that  his  servants  were  his  playfellow!*,  that  he  was  fond  of  driving 
carts  loaded  with  dung  or  hay,  that  he  was  occasionally  extremely  cruel 
to  his  horses  and  his  domei*ties,  breaking  the  leg  of  his  coachnmn,  who 
was  lying  with  it  already  hrokeu.  He  had  a  great  desire  to  bleed  fjer- 
80  n?,  carrying  lancets  with  him;  would  follow  funerals,  etc,  I  The  Com- 
mission found  htm  of  unsound  mind,  and  the  marriage  was  subsequently 

i^dissolved.     Hagganl's  *'  Ecclesiastical  Reports,"  vol.  i,  p.  355. 

As  regards  erudty,  not  to  refer  to  Nero,  or  to  the  tyrant  of  Syracuse  in 
ancient  times,  or  to  the  police  reports  of  the  present  day,  the  reader  may 
consult  with  advantage  the  "  Merkwiirdige  Criminal-Iiechtsfdlle  "  of  Dr. 
P.J.  A,  Hitter  von   Feuerbaeh ,  2ter  theil  (Giessen,  1839)  art.  Andreas 

\^ichd^  the  girl  slayer,  and  art.  George  Rede.  It  is  extremely  likely  that 
the  wereuHtlven  and  vampires  of  the  middle  ages  were  lunatics  with  the 
mania  of  cruelty. 


Case  V.— J/r.  IF.  F,    Windham's  Case. 

(December,  1861,  Taylor,  he,  ciL,  pp.  543-547.) 

The  questioo  raised  here  was  similar  to  that  in  Miss  Bagsler*«  caae. 
Fifteen  relatives  petitioned  for  an  inquiry  into  the  stale  of  Mr.  \Vindham*t 
mind,  on  the  ground  that  he  labored  under  congenital  deficiency  of  inteU 
le<^t.  On  the  other  side  it  was  argued  in  his  favor  that  his  mental  condi- 
tion, if  below  the  normal  staiidanJ,  was  entirely  owing  to  the  results  of  a 
neglected  education.  The  in(|Uiry  lasted  thirty-three  davs,  and  140  wit- 
neases  were  examined,  fifty  for  the  petitioners,  and  ninety  for  Mr.  Wind- 
ham. The  evidence  was  very  conflicting.  His  whole  life  and  conduct 
were  inquired  into.  He  had  been  sent  to  Eton,  but  learned  little  there. 
As  a  Iwy  he  was  wholly  unlike  other  boys ;  and  when  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority, in  1861,  his  conduct  was  extravagant  and  wild.  But  he  was  oot 
entirely  deticient  in  business  matters  ;  for  it  was  proved  that  his  uncle,  one 
of  the  petitioners,  bad  shortly  before  negotiated  with  him  for  the  aale  of  a 


ATTEMPTS    AT    RBOICIDC. 


a  maniac,  wlio  prophe?ied  that  tbe  Messiah  should  proceed  from  his  mouth, 
and  told  Hadfield  that  the  only  obstacle  was  the  King,  who  must  first  be 
dii^Datrhed,  They  both  became  te nan ts  of  Bedlam  fur  life.  Iladfield  was 
fitill  alive  in  1828,  au<l  may  be  at  present  (1836).  At  the  time  now  re- 
ferred to,  he  did  not  evince  any  symptoms  of  insanity,  but  his  impatience 
of  confinement  had  soured  hir*  temper,  apd  he  was  constantly  grumbling 
and  dij^contented.  He  was  cleanly  and  regular  iu  his  habits,  and  made 
bandnjme  straw  basket£f  which  he  sold/'  "  Sketches  iu  Bedlam/*  London, 
1823,  p,  18. 

Case  VII.— i?cyi»ia  v.  Pate. 

The  prieonerwas  indicted  for  an  assault  on  the  Queen  (Central  Cnmi- 
oal  Court,  in  1^50,  Taylur,  io<\  cit,  p.  561).  It  was  provetl  that  he  wa« 
guilty  of  strange  and  eccentric,  and  even  of  that  which  some  might  c-all 
iDfaue  conduct,  but  there  was  no  evidence  to  hhow  that  he  had  not  a 
rational  control  over  his  actiune.  Dr.  Conolly  admitted  that  the  prisouer 
waa  laboring  under  no  delusion,  that  he  knew  the  distinction  between  a 
ncht  and  a  wrong  action,  but  he  was  subject  to  sudden  impulses  of  paa?<ion. 
I^  attributed  his  act  to  some  sudden  impulse  which  he  waa  quite  unable 
to  rcftist.  The  late  Baron  Aldcr.«ioii,  who  trieil  the  case,  observeil  in  charg- 
ing the  jury,  **  That  it  wtu<  not  becuusie  a  man  was  insane  that  he  was  un- 
punishable, and  he  must  say  that  upon  iht:^  point  there  was  generally  a 
very  grievous  delusion  in  the  minds  of  medical  men.  The  only  insanity 
which  legally  excused  a  roan  for  his  acts,  was  that  species  of  delusion 
which  conduced  and  drove  him  to  commit  the  act  alleged  against  him. 
They  ought  to  have  proof  of  a  formd  diaea-^e  of  the  mind  ;  a  disease  ex- 
isting before  the  act  wa5^  committed,  and  wliich  made  the  person  accused 
incapable  of  knowing,  at  the  time  he  did  the  act,  that  it  was  a  wrong  act 
for  him  to  do."  The  jury  convietetl  l\w  priwner,  and  he  vras  sentenced  to 
transportation  ("  Med.  Gaz.,"  vol.  46,  p.  152;  "Journ.  Psychol.  Mod.,'* 
1850,  p.  557).  Dr.  Taylor  remarks  thut  **  here  the  defence  of  instiuity 
was  advanced  upm  very  weak  grounds.  Had  the  prisoner  assaulted  a 
policeman  instead  of  the  Queen,  ht  would  have  been  tined  or  imprisoned, 
and  nothing  heard  of  the  plea,  alihough  the  rank  of  the  person  assaulted 
can  make  no  diJierence  ra^pecilng  the  existence  or  ncjn-existeoce  of  a  dis- 
eased state  of  mind"  ("Journ.  Psychol,  Med.,"  1859,  p.  445;  remarks  by 
Dt,  Forbes  Winslow). 

Francis,  who  sihot  at  the  Queen,  was  convicted. 

Oxford,  who  did  the  same,  was  acquitted. 

Arthur  O'CoDuor  made  an  attempt  on  the  life  of  the  Queen  in  1872. 
Hereditary  taint  and  feeble-miudedness  were  proved,  but  the  court  wai 
not  satisfied,  and  he  was  convicted.  We  believe,  howe%'er,  that  his  Bea- 
tence  was  afterwards  commuted  to  ileteutiou  iu  Broadmoor  Criminal 
Lunatic  Asylum. 

N.  B.^ — The  frequent  attempts  made  on  the  lives  of  kings  and  queens, 
prime  ministers,  and  eminent  persons,  may  almost  be  held  to  constitute  a 
species  of  insanity  by  themselvea.  Apart,  however,  from  strong  political 
feelings,  and  the  desire  of  revenge,  which  arc  sometimes  the  motives,  there 
cao  be  little  doubt  that  many  of  these  crimes  are  committed  for  the  same 
reftsOQ  which  led  to  the  buruiyg  of  the  Temple  of  Diana  at  Ephesus,  by  He- 
rostratus,  and  of  York  Minster  by  Martin, — the  foolish  love  of  notoriety 
in  weak-minded  persons, 

'<  The  fond  attempt  to  give  a  deathleM  lot 
To  ntimeB  ignoble,  born  to  bo  forgot  t"* 


m 


MASKED    EPlI 


Oaseb  X,  XI,  and  XII. — Mashed  EpUep/nj — Homicidal  Manin. 
(Dr.  Guy,  lac.  ciL,  p.  2l*>.) 

A  shoemaker,  subject  to  epilepsy,  was  often  furious  for  gome  time  after 
the  fits,  btit  iiensible,  amiable,  and  inriustriou?  in  the  iotervaU.  Ooe  <i»)', 
when  ill  the  glmmiy  and  morose  state  of  mind  that  olteu  precede*  a  fit,  be 
met  the  guperinteudenl  of  the  asylu'i^t  to  whom  he  was  much  aitatW, 
and  stahbi^d  him  to  the  heart.  He  had  not  had  a  fit  for  three  wefkp,  but 
the  uiirlit  following  the  homicide  he  had  a  severe  fit,  and  for  Mine  lime  I 
attack  continued  to  be  ircqnent  and  severe. 

A  peoi^ant  suffered  frimi  epilepsy  from  his  eighth  to  his  r 
year,  when,  instead  of  epileptic  attacks,  he  was  seized  with  an  i 
impulse  to  kill.  He  felt  the  ap[>roacli  of  his  attack  sumetimei  tor  dajfll 
beforehand,  and  begged  to  be  restrained.  **  When  it  seizes  lue,*'  he  «id, 
**1  must  kill  some  one — were  it  omly  a  child  I"  Before  the  attack  he  wa»l 
very  weary  and  depressed,  could  not  t^leep,  and  had  slight  cuuvulsionsof  tli^j 
limbs.  Quoted  from  "Marc,"  by  Maudsley  ("  Physiology  and  Patholugy 
of  the  Mind,"  p.  301>). 

8ee  also  the  cases  in  Trousseau  referred  to  at  page  749. 

The  "  Fttishury  Spiare  Murder"  wasi  committed  by  an  epileptic  ^a)t<*, 
who  iraagiued  thai  he  batl  "killed  the  devil."  He  made  no  uttemptal 
escape,  and  indeed  was  the  first  to  infurtn  others  as  to  the  inunier. 


Cases  XIII,  XIV,  XV,  XVI,  and  XVIl  —  ifomiWrfo/ 3/rmio. 

(Abridged  from  Beck,  toe.  cif.,  pp.  435-443.) 

Robert  Dean,  a  young  man  of  weak  intellect  and  strong  animal  pawing 
became  warmly  attached  to  a  female  s^uperior  iu  statiuu  to  hini^lf, anJ 
was  rejected.  This  caused  ungoveroalde  feelings  of  revenge. and  he<^ek^ 
mined  on  her  murder.  He  had  at  the  .«iame  time  some  religion?  icieatt",  il 
occurred  to  him  that  she  was  unprepared  to  die,  hut  the  impulse  t«>  f^ 
blood  had  taken  irresistible  possession  of  birn.  There  was  a  child,  ol'  which 
be  was  very  ibnd,  and  whom  he  had  often  caressed,  who,  he  concluiloi.hiil 
fewer  sins  to  answer  for,  and  this  he  determined  should  be  the  victim.  H« 
murdered  it,  and  then  gave  himself  up  to  justice.  He  was  tTittJ,  prw- 
demned,  and  executed  in  the  county  of  8tirrey»  1819.  The  net,  itself  • 
sufficient  proof  of  insanity,  was  strengthened  by  insane  notious  and  icUoi«» 
and  absolute  raving,  even  on  the  sea tf old. 

John  Howran,  aged  forty-five,  a  sturdy  beggar,  but  formerly  n  pfUy 
peddler,  was  tried  before  the  High  Court  of  Jn^ticiary  iu  Scotland,  Defwn- 
ber  31st»  1H31,  for  the  murder  of  a  widow  called  Geddes,  on  the  'Jdofthil 
month.  When  taken,  he  denied  all  knowledge  of  the  munier.  H*  <h«i 
not  rob  her,  although  he  might  easily  have  done  so.  Drs  Spcni  »o'J 
Watson  visited  him  several  liuies  in  jail,  but  could  discover  no  i^igw  of 
insanity.  He  appeared,  however,  to  be  of  low  and  weak  intellect,  aivd  W 
be  possessed  of  much  cunning.     A  woman  who  knew  him  'I  "   i    ^' 

trial  that  of  late  his  habits   had  altered;  he  had  become  i  f*^ 

and  peculiar  in  mind.  He  was  solitary  and  silent,  living  alotn.  wiilj  a  ™^ 
and  li  child;  salting  his  bed  and  head;  wearing  a  Bible  round  hi?  ««i>< 
or  round  his  head;  sitting  for  hours  brushing  away  imaginary  ttits*, »»'* 
possessing  an  insatiable  appetite,  eating  half  a  peck  of  potatoes.  w]ih  «d« 
or  two  pounds  of  bullock's  liver,  alrnost  raw  and  generallv  i  '•" 

pennyworth  or  three  pennyworth  of  bread  at  one  meal.  lie  ..  -  "'*' 
his  hands,  wrists,  aod  arms  with  needles  and  pin.s  and  would  t-in'k  tk* 
blood.     When  asked  why  he  ate  his  meat  raw,  he  said   Mv^  kLwI  tbi 


PISPCTVO    TCSTAMKSTAIT    CAPACITT, 

self  ia  tlie  Seise,  bot  wt  | Nil.     E»fltf,ift  «w  j 

ftir  bet  to  OctslKr.     On  tlie  faorth  aT  SUvember  ikt  iMk 
Ital  efcild  of  s  DOflabury  •  yd  aged  MMen  mtmOn^n 

■ud«**VottrdMldliiie»L"    A« iW  wudber W«(4  her «» 

Icoffieue  tlirew  tht  had  iala  tW  itrBet.  Wkoi  ainHuJL  «l»  «w  fiipwd 
^ttmg  oo  a  diair  bcv  tW  body  of  tW  cbfld.  poap  mt  ic  mk  tbe  hkoaAf 
kmle  br  Im-t,  «ttd  Wr  Uad»  a*4  eiatba  owj^d  vitk  blool  So  lar  horn 
dtn  vine  or  ezranv  ibe  craacv  *be  OMfeacd  k.  aad  mud  vitb  larfiftiitB, 
-1  iBUpdiii  l»  ^  tbe  rbtld."*  JCIL  AMoB.  Ei|nral,  a»d  U««IMi 
OMild  fi»d  DO  poii^ve  pfvoCi  •/ waaitj*  b«K  «U  Ml  desy  die  »Kbt  be 
iHUe.  8be  vw  oocUmd  to  tbe  &ap6tJHa«c  bM  cbe  ftfttinl  ezwniiM- 
iMf  •f  tba  pbfRdaiM  da  sot  appou*  la  bave  led  iban  to  mmj  deiske 
opiuMiirbcrnMMilf.  lWAdMBifr<Sc9Ral.ailbe  tnaMR«tBd  iba 
fuN*^""  ef  MCWMBaw*  a«  a  aitfe  ftutcr,  Miiakd  te  ibe  fimiiuic  t/ 1 
||pri^  Ibe  bsadi  «r  JMtiB.  Tbejurr "ftimd  bgjprikyef 
ool  DNSHOilaled  HMnvId*  cot  vas  ecnlBMeH  la  (KVpefiiHl  miirooBBflBt 
vilb  baid  labor,  sad  to  be  bimaded.    8be  bcani  ibeaaneooe  witbovl 

OMM  Biigbt  be  BHiltipfied  alal  iadiiaaily.    Dn.  Pricbafd 
ml  i^rte  tbai  boiviicidal  or  andiojibaaig  itoaaity  afisn  ibe  fid* 


bare  |;HKsall j  been 
ed  IB  tbe  ooodaet  of 


1,  Tbe  b<MBktdaJ 
by  iiiber  atrikimg  pec 
diTidaaU,  ofica  by  a  total  cbasfO 

2.  Tbcy  have  aftm  btmi  dkoovend  to  have  citber  a 
m  to  bave  ennand  a  viib  lor  dealb,  or  to  baf«  ef«a 


intiUed  tutcade 
ibed  to  be  exe- 


jfeleaL  or  ia  Ofppotttioo  to  tbe 
nan,  msuamn 


VB  iaflaoMxs  of 
to  be  leaderiy  ittafbfd  to  ibem,  mar^ 
a  molber  dceUoyi  ber  laCiat ;  (or  tbe  victtma 


3,  Tbeir  acta  are 
all  bamaa  moiivei,    A 
den  hU  vif«  And  diitdreta 
tkr2  perieitii  «tnLngera/« 

4*  Tbetrsubmiiealeoodiuscitcbaracteristie;  Ibey  (Kldom)  seek 
b  flight,  eten  deliver  Ibeniielvei  up  to  jiieiiee,  aeki>o«led|^  tbeir 
doKrribe  tiieir  ttate  of  miiKl,  nr  remaio  ftupe&tid  and  overeoine  by  (be 
rible  oooseiottioeB  of  the  atrucioutf  natuie  of  tbetr  deed. 

5,  The  (ordioarT)  murderer  bai  generally  aoeooiplke«  in  vice  and  criine 
tbere  are  awignable  inducemenU  lu  lead  to  tbe  ooaiaikMon  of  tbe  murder 
— ^motive^  of  »elfiutere«t,  of  tvveoge  diitplayiag  preaMdilatisd  irickedoeA, 
Th<»  a<ru  of  the  roadman  are  in  tfume  iogtaneee  of  tbi*  cbaimcter,  but  tbe 
prcoicditatioD  in  peculiar  aud  ebanicteriatic 


Ca«£s  XVIII  sod  X\X,—  Gue»  of  the  Dwkm  of  Mmnekeder  and 
Dj^rr  So /fibre — TettaMiaUary  Ci^Mtitf, 

(Duke  of  Manekeder  X,  Bennrti,     K'logsinn  Lent  Aariiea,  1854.     Taylor. 

for.  eif.,  p.  55L) 

The  duche«6  had  made  a  will,  which  was  dtsputcd  on  tbe  groaiid  tbat^ 
from  UMlily  itlne^  and  mental  infirmity,  !*he  was  oot  at  the  time  omnipo- 
tent Uy  di^pr»«ie  of  her  pr(>[>erty.  In  1843  she  made  a  will,  beqacsatlimg 
her  properly  to  her  children;  \u  1848  *he  made  another  w»Il,  revr»kiiig 
tliaf  of  1843,  and  beciiieathing  the  absolute  cooirol  of  her  property  to  her 
ind.  the  duke.  Thi«  »eeijnd  will,  which  waa  executed  oa  or  aUmt  the 
,L.i  October,  1848,  waa  the  eubject  of  diApuie.     It  appeared  from  ibe  cvi- 


799  IV8A5ITT    IHD    8PILBP6T 

wfl«  to  h^  aaif)  8^  to  the  publication  of  «  book  by  tli«  decettsed,  odleii  tbe 

''  h  t4>jk  place  very  shortly  afterwardi^,  and  which  niit*! 

Ii  ^ration  when  the  will  and  tridiriJ  w*!^  exprnt^Nl?     U 

CDUtaitied  t^tatemeutic  which  §^huwed  that  (he  decea^  been 

of  Bound  mind  when  he  comp«ised  it.     Under  the^  >  x>ui 

could  CDflue  to  no  other  conelu>»ioD  than  that  he  labore<l  under  im^ine  d 
jUMioutf  in  1843,  and  that  he  continued  to  entertaia  them  when  the  pa] 
pn>p<»unded  were  executed." 

Tlie  court,  therefore,  pronounced  jiid^meot  a^in<^t  the  will  and  cudictL 
la  (hie  case  the  delu:«ion^  htid  never  been  entirely  eradicate^!  fntni  the 
mind  of  the  testator  There  i,«,  however,  a  difference  U^fweeu  uuaouoi 
neikt  of  mind  represented  by  incompetency  to  manage  affaire,  and 
ftci  of  mind  which  deprives  a  man  in  the  legal  6ense  of  the  pnwer 
di»pMting  of  his  properly  hy  will.  A  mind  may  be  clear  enoujjh  tor  the 
perrormauce  of  ^ime  of  \Vi  function^,  and  yet  not  clear  eufiUi!;h  for  the 
perfoniiauce  of  others.  A  man  may  give  clear  and  reasonable  direeikMli 
for  the  preparation  of  a  will,  and  even  i^ign  it  in  a  natural  manner,  but  he 
may  Imj  goveroe^i  by  caprice  and  pa^ion,  amouruiu)/  to  insanity,  in  the 
di>*{fo«i(tou  of  hid  property.  It  )ia«  been  well  remarked  that  **  $fi  lotif^  as 
huMian  nature  i^  the  myHteriou.-^  phenomenon  that  it  i.«,  and  the  empires  of 
rea.*on  and  unrea$<jD  bonier  >*j>  closely  on  each  other,  we  ma*t  expect  often 
to  err.  wheo  we  try  to  discover  whether  a  man,  alternately  the  subject  of 
boih,  wa>»  in  or  out  of  his  mind  at  any  given  moment.  A  dispo^ng  |mwpr 
may  exii*t  in  the  mind  of  a  person  not  legally  competent  to  manage  his 
affairs.  The  criteria  applied  are  different,  and  the  existence  of  guch  a 
f)ow«  r  must  be  a  matter  to  be  proved  by  evidence  in  each  particular 

N.B. — These  two  cases  are  taken  almost  vrrbniim  from  Dr.  Taylor,  whc 
large  work  (^ontaios  a  number  of  other  will  case?,  remarks  on  eccentric 
m\U,  aud  other  illustrations  of  the  medico-legal-  relations  of  ioaaQiiy. 


CkBTS,  XX. — Inmnity  and  Epilepsy  Frlgnfd  by  a  Primner. 

(Ca^  reported  by  Dr.  Lunier,  of  the  Blois  Asylum,  Laurent's  Elirhteenth 
Ca.w,  /oc.  cil.,  p,  258,  etc.) 

Bimbinet  Conj^tant,  aged  twenty-nine,  vine-dresKer,  married,  aud  of  goo 
constitution,  wa.<  udbitied  to  the  asylum  on  January  t5,  18G0,  the  phy^ 
rian  of  a  prijM>u  having  cerlified  that  he  was  suffering  from  acute  mania. 
His*  f^ymptoms  geemed  to  cxjnfirm  this  at  first.     There  wa,*?  a  hUtory  of  an 
►ident  to  hift  head  five  or  !<ix  years  before.     Thi*  wa*»  not  confirme«l  bj 

lift  sister-in-law.  He  complained  of  being  tormented  by  ctniiig**  idc: 
which  made  him  sit  up  many  houn^at  night.  In  the  day  he  ki^pt  talking 
about,  making  the  ?ign  of  a  cro-i*.  and  striking  his  breast,  turning  hi**  eyes 
ti^ward.s  heaven.  Ou  January  17,  he  wa^  found  lying  lo  the  courtyani, 
with  his  face  lo  the  ground,  two  or  three  yanls  outride  the  wall.  The 
keeper.-*  thought  he  wanted  to  ejM-ape,  and  did  not  notice  anything  |ieculiur 
^bout  him.     On  being  iniern)gate<l,  he  said  he  felt  giddy  and  faint.    There 

rerc,  according  to  him,  no  warning:*,  aud  no  iie(^uel:e.  He  prene«led  no 
aigiis  of  a  recent  severe  fit.  On  the  visit  of  iheti.id  the  doctor  fouiiil  him 
in  tears ;  he  wa;*,  he  said,  **  agUUed  bif  a  great  deMre  to  nm  fuj*  Ultte  children.** 
The  keeper  had  4)ffcTed  to  write  for  him,  but  he  refused :  **  for,"  aaid  he, 
"  thr  director  vtight  (hen  hcv.  that  I  am  quite  in  my  right  mind.'* 

On  the  30ih,  after  the  iiidi<'lment  IhkI  been  read  over  to  him,  he  was 
Attacked  with  another  of  his  fits.  On  the  doctor  being  called,  he  found 
hitn  with  convulsions  of  the  face,  limbs,  trunk,  and  eyeballs.  Tin*  [JUplU, 
?ver,  contracted   readily,  and  appeared  normal;  he  did  not  foam  at 


800 


0A8KS   OF   FBIGNED    INSANITY. 


couoted  thu8  :  1»  2,  4,  6.     Asked  how  many  two  and  two  made,  »he  said, 
after  some  hesitation,  air.     Other  quesstions  aad  answers  were  tuA  follows : 

Q.  How  iTiaiiy  rhiMreti  have  you? 

A,  I  believe  1  have  nine.     (She  had  seven  really.) 

Q.  How  long  haa  your  husband  been  dead? 

A.  About  ten  years.     (Five  years  was  the  truth.) 

Q.  What  did  he  die  of? 

A,  He  was  ill  for  more  than  a  week.    (In  reality  he  was  killed  instantly 
by  a  fall.) 
'  Q.  Do  you  know  this  daughter  of  yours?     (Her  daughter  Catherine.) 

A.  Ye». 

Q.  What  is  her  oarae  ? 

A,  Ba bulla. 

Q.  Have  you  any  other  rehitions? 

A.  Ye«*.  I've  a  gister,  Barbara.  She's  married  to  a  man  called  Prince. 
fiend  for  her,  for  she  never  comes  to  see  me.  (Her  sister  had  long  beou 
dead.) 

Q.  What  year  is  this? 

A.  I  don't  know. 

Q.  How  lonj^  is  it  since  Christmas? 

A.  I  don't  know. 

Q,  Have  you  bought  a  house? 

^l.  I  dojj't  know.  Tve  got  one  house;  why  should  I  buy  another? 
There  are  folks  who  want  to  buy  my  house, 

Q.  Where  do  you  live? 

A.  I  don't  know. 

(^.  What  use  do  they  make  of  the  monastery  at  Eberback  ? 

A.  There  are  monks  living  there,  (There  had  been  none  for  filly 
years.) 

(/.  Have  you  eaten  anything  to-day? 

A.  No.     (She  had  just  done  80«) 

Q,  What  did  you  eat? 

A,  Potatoes.     (She  ought  to  have  said  poup.") 

Q,  What  sort  of  wine  dj^l  last  year's  vintage  afford  ? 

A,  Very  good  indeed.     (It  was  really  very  bad.) 

(/.  What  is  yf^ur  eleryfyman's  name? 

A,  Ohler.     (It  should  have  been  Muschka.) 

Q,  Do  you  know  the  Ten  Commandments?     If  so,  tell  us  the  first. 

A.  •'  I  am  the  Ijord  thy  God/'  etc. 

(/  What  «H  the  second,  then  ? 

A.  '*  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God.*'  etc. 

Q.  What  is  the  third  ? 

A,  I  don't  know. 

Q,  The  fourth? 

A,  I  don't  know. 

Q.  The  fifth,  then? 

A,  "Thou  shalt  not  honor  thy  father  and  mother," 

From  this  fencing  with  the  questions,  the  experts  decided  that  she  was 
feigning.  The  witnesses  for  her  were  condemned  for  perjury.  She  was 
condemned  to  the  House  of  Q>rrociion,  for  deceit  and  exciting  to  perjury. 
After  this  sentence,  she  gave  up  her  shamming,  and  no  longer  simulated 
iDsanity. 

(M,  Laurent,  loc.  eiV.,  gives  many  other  cases  of  feigned  JDsanity^  It 
18  noteworthy  that  ia  some  cases  the  prolonged  feigning  appeared  to  imjiair 


80ti 


thi  castbkbcet  kiots. 


h^  Uvmed  aod  oooked  htniidt  Hm  doctor,  H.  Momei,my%  **  tku  idea  of 
betn^  polmncd  entirely  doaiiMited  him.^ 

Like  all  reasootog  miMiaiiimntmcB  be  sniaglit  for  ptoah  of  Kb  kiea*. 
Marie  Richard  eajft  tliAt  be  ibomd  ber  ibe  yelloir  stains  on  His  Itttea, 
due  to  perspiration,  aa  prm>&  uf  pouon;  aod  his  waabervAman,  Marie 
L^iu.  9Ay^  (hat  he  bade  her  Ofdire  the  reddish  stains  under  the  am^piijy 
prtwiuceii  hy  perBpiratina,  &»  the  re$iilt$  of  the  poijton  which  he  f«td  was 
[ffiven  him  liy  the  woman  Miaille.  Jti^ph  Duvnur  states  that  he  showed 
him  one  of  his  testiclef^,  alleging  that  it  furnished  proofs  of  the  same 
woman^  attempt  to  poisrio  him.  Fmra  1861-1863  he  had  illus^ions  of  the 
•en^MTA  of  xight  and  hearing.  He  heard  and  saw  imaginary'  petiple,  and 
ifancied  that  real  persons  were  in  the  honse,  talking  together,  plotting 
^JigatOKt  him,  etc,  when  they  were  really  not  so.  At  the  fame  time,  most 
Bof  the  wiirK'i«»>ie«  defhired,  that  in  other  respects,  except  lhe<e  delusion;}  atid 
this  nionomanta,  he  seeme<I  a^f  intelligent  as  ever.  Amongirt  those  he  .«i»- 
ETctcd  w*^r€  a  priest  and  many  re?*pertable  person*.  In  the  will  be  lefl 
rierre  Miaiile  his  sole  lejralee,  in  order  that  this  child  might,  "  hy  bis 
mttachnient  to  hini,  enable  him  to  bear,  with  les.«  bitterness,  all  the  Qiiriftif!§ 
and  iomtrnh  whirJi  pt^ople  dcti^ltted  to  injiifi  upnn  him,*''  He  ordered  Ht.MK) 
francn  Xu  lie  invested  for  the  rejMirs,  etc,  of  his  tonib.  If  this  shotild  not 
•uiiice,  Pit-rre  M,  mu?t  piiy  the#nrplii«  from  his  owij  share.  But  he  adds, 
**  in  ca«»e  any  bad  people  should  cau"»e  P.  M,  more  expenses  than  the  legacy 
could  (lefray,  then"  (say*  M.  Biron  in  the  will)  '*  he  shall  not  he  com- 
pelleil  to  re(>air  my  tomb!**  It  was  clear  that  he  fancied  that  his  enemies 
("the  con-piracy  of  prieste  and  women,"  of  which  he  talked)  might 
rava^'c  and  devastate  his  tomb! 

The  conclu>«ton  from  these  facts  is  obvious:  the  reportera  considered  the 
monomania  clearly  proved. 

A  nuinlxf-r  of  atiHlr>^ous  cases  are  contained  in  M.  Tardieu's  valuable 
bo<»k.  Tl»o*e  in  which  polities  played  a  principal  part  are  of  great  in- 
terest, though  less  common  in  our  own  country. 


CaaE  XXV.— JoArt  Thorn,  the  Fnnaiic.^The  Oinierhury  RlaU.  (We  take 
this  case  from  the  **  Modern  Newgate  Calendar."; 

(Maidsume  August  Assise**,  1S38.) 

In  the  ypar  1838  a  fanatical  person,  who  called  himself  Sir  William 
Gjurtenuy,  a  knij^ht  of  3Iulia,  arrived  in  Canterbury,  and  ti»k  up  bis 
quarter'*  at  the  Ito*«e  Inn.  He  wa^  supposed  by  the  populace  to  be  gifted 
with  niifHrulou!?  powers,  and  many  deluded  peri4i»ns  in  Kent  believed  him 
to  be  of  Divine  origin.  He  ofieu  harangued  the  farm  laborers  and  others 
on  the  bounty  of  Providence  and  the  cupidity  of  man.  The  simple 
peasantry  ItHiked  on  hin)  as  a  prophet  sent  frutu  God,  to  nmke  bread 
cheaper,  and  to  redress  poor  men'si  wrongs.  Hl*  offeretl  binnelf  as  a  can- 
didate to  represent  Canterbury  in  Parliament,  but  waei,  mean  while,  arrested 
for  |>erjury,  trivd  at  the  Muidftoiie  Asiijiea  in  July,  1833,  fur  this  crimo^ 
and  condemned  to  iinpritiuiititent  and  tmusportaiion.  Tiru»  i^entence  was 
comrnnted,  ah  he  was  proved  to  l>e  insane;  and  he  wa.s  couBned  in  a  lunatic 
asylum.  Tliei*e  he  seemed  rulional,  and  after  four  yeai-s  wa?*  liberated. 
He  look  Icitlgings  at  FairbnM>k,  neur  Broughion.  **  Th'm  phirt,''  said  he, 
•*  U  very  cuuvrnietit,  for  the  minU  ctn  untrch  quickly  on  Canterbury  and  ^ive 
the  cathedral  to  the  Jiumc^  if  Kitrh  be  the  decree  of  the  armed  unyel  of  heavciiJ'* 
He  then  begun  to  |treach,  and  finally  succeeded  in  raising  a  large  mob, 
armed  with  all  sorts  of  weapons.  He  first  fired  on  one  ciin»table»  killing 
stabbed  another  with  a  dagger.     He  declared  that  be  was  Christ 


804 


LADT    MORDADNT   S   CA8B. 


trie<J  ui  <;=    i 

In  aoflwcr  in  J 
?ome  p»inuof  I 
¥n  up  ifia  (T^  I 
II V  con(ii»c«l  to 


like  in  its  repetitions.  The  only  skilled  witness  called  f  Dr,  Tyl 
declined  to  accuse  Lndy  MoiHimnt  of  feigning.)  On  the  other  -ttlf. h 
Wfts  provefl  by  the  evi<leiR'*' of  tliree  female  tiltendants  (from  May  iVtliUj 
Augii.sl  ♦Slist)  that  Lady  M/s  haUits  had  beeonie  filthy,  and  f|iiitR  incdn- 
sistent  with  sanity.  She  de.strfnerj  her  clothing,  and  waj*  iinclt'jin  m  hrt 
perj*i>n.  Drs.  Priestly,  Tiike,  Sir  Janie.«  Alderson,  Sir  William  Oull,  ami 
Sir  James  Sinipstm,  all  ^aw  her  at  varicu.s  times,  most  of  them  rcp<"»te«lk, 
and  all  airreed  as*  to  her  menial  condition  being  one  of  insanity.  Mo*iof 
tlieiM  considered  it  to  be  pyerpcrul  insanity,  and  to  have  tcrtninaHitt 
dementia.  They  aUo  agreed  (or  nearly  all  of  thera)  that^ir>accu>ati 
of  uuL'ha?ftity  were  not  uncommon,  were  imleerl  almost  the  rule  in  ^f\i 
cases.  (This  the  authors  can  abunrlantly  cnnBrm  from  their  own  eJp^ 
rience.)  Dr.  George  Burrows  and  Dr<  Rus.-sell  Reynolds  arrived  at  Mmilar 
conclusions.  Althouj^dr  the  latter  i*aid  he  could  not  arrive  at  any  roinlu- 
sion,  **  he  thouj^ht  there  was  either  extreme  disease  or  extren»e  pharnn  i; : 
and  after  all  he  had  seen,  he  thim^dit  the  tlirmer.  He  lrie<J  ui 
simulation,  but  never  f?aw  any  breach  in  her  demeanor." 
the  court  he  said,  *'Itis  an  unusual  case,  and  there  are  some 
contrailicti<m  in  it,  such  as  the  amuunt  of  intelligence  show 
tain  point,  coujjied  with  the  uncleauliness,  which  is  geuerall} 
extreme  casei*  of  dementia.  8he  can  play  an  air,  and  stometinies  euww*/ 
sensibly  on  common  things,  and  can  write  letters.  It  wa*  thij»  incoo* 
gistency  which  for  some  time  made  him  duubtfuh"     TRep.  p.  18,) 

Dr.  Wonti  said,  "  h  is  impossible  that  any  human  being  should  biTt 
carried  out  such  a  system  of  deception  as  that  hug^csttd  by  tbe 
petitioner,  Lmly  MonluurM's  conduct  was  invariably  cousisieot»  «h<*ni4 
the  most  practicrd  artist  would  have  been  tnarayed  into  tripping.  Sinia* 
lation  would  have  been  betrayed  by  iuconsistcncics.  Pnerpi'ral  \ni<&n\lf 
may  occur  daring  pregruuicy,  at  continement,  or  during  lactation,  Iq  th« 
nuijiirily  of  cases  h  is  tnore  or  less  progressive.  It  is  pi$sih|e  that  Lwlf 
Mordaunt,  tboutjh  sut!ering  from  m«iiia»  was  sane  at  the  time  of  uiidaftif 
her  canHnemen^t."  The  verdict  of  the  jury  was  to  the  effect  that  uo  the 
3Ulli  April  the  respoiideuit  was  ti>talty  unHt  to  iustruct  her  atTorticy,  »oJ 
had  been  unfit  ever  since.  "The  learned  judge,  lu  his  irislructiom  lotht 
jury,  fiut  asi<le  all  the.«e  conflicting  mediial  opinions.  He  did  not  kB«»* 
a  more  difficult  definition  to  express  iu  words  than  that  of  insanity.  Tb<»i 
was,  be  thought,  n^  much  variety  in  n:ient«l  as  tu  physical  disorder,  Ittrtmd 
oi' asking  them  to  say  whether  the  lady  was  mad  or  insane,  he  would  «i«l» 
them  to  cousi<Ier  whether  she  was  or  was  not  iu  such  a  state  of  meiitii 
disorder  as  to  prevent  her  giving  instructions."  The  Jury  found  (w*« 
have  seen)  in  the  affirmative.  The  petitioner  (who  seemed  dctenniued  h» 
get  rid  of  his  wife)  appealed,  and  tne  case  wai?  carried  to  the  lfou*rof 
Lords.  It  was  decided  that  the  case  should  be  tried  by  the  ('ourt  of 
l>ivorce,  (piite  irres[)ective  of  the  insanity  or  sanity  of  Lady  M"rd«unt, 
"that  it  should  be  tried  on  its  own  merits."  It  was  so  trie«i  aud  f^»* 
number  of  co- respondent^  reduced  frotn  four  to  one.  On  th"'-  trt-il,  wluci 
took  place  in  March,  1875  (see  *'8tandiird,"  March  IL  1  !"/7 

decided  tliat  the  adultery  was  proved,  and  the  court  doclan  i  "'*• 

The  case  was  again  referred  to  the  House  of  Lords^  who  oootirmed  tiK 
decree. 

It  is  thus  seen  that  insanity  is  no  bar  to  a  decree  of  divorce,  n  prindp'* 
whiclj  seems  to  us  far  from  being  a  safe  one.  In  a  case  of  murder  ibee^ri' 
deuce  of  other  persons  or  circumstantial  evidence  may  he  jjufficicnL  W 
the  relatinns  of  husband  and  wife,  it  seems  hard  to  punish  llie  wifV  ^^^ 
she  is  unable  to  defend  herself.  At  all  events,  if  the  principle  be  a<lra'*^» 
it  K-enjs  unjust  that  a  poor  laborer  should  have  to  pay  towards  the  ^ii|«i*>rt 


CASS  OF  MAJOR  MITCUILL  —  CASE  OF  OEOROB  REDE.   805 


of  an  Insane  wife  in  Colney  Hatch  or  Ilaowell,  and  be  liable  to  a  prose- 
$Um  UtT  bigamy  if  he  marries  attain,  whilst  a  wealthy  baronet  escapes 


ftC'Ot  free,  and  may  marrv  a^'aia  if  he  choose. 


I8t  XXVII. — Oise  of  Major  Mitch  Hi  tn'ed  far  wounding  and  maming 
a  bmj  eight  j/«?ar*  ofd, 

(Beck,  loe,  eit,  p.  448,  "Boston  Mod.  and  Surg.  Journal/'  vol.  xi, 

p.  404.) 

Major  Mitchill,  aged  eleven  years,  was  tried  before  the  Supreme  Judi- 
CViurt  of  the  »^tAte  of  Mtiine,  U.  S.,  Novecnber,  1834.  Hi:?  virtim  w»i8 
David  F.  Crawford,  and  was  only  eight  yeurr<  old.  Mitchill  iii- 
ihe  younger  boy,  by  thrents,  to  go  and  gather  flngn  with  him.  He 
began  to  whip  the  l>oy.  In  this  f*port  he  was  slopped  by  a  neii^bbor, 
tho^eni  CVawford  home.  ^litehill,  boivever,  intercepted  the  child  on  hid 
**y, and  after  various  thi-etilrf  carried  him  into  the  woods,  ihrew  liim  into 
llir  Ijiinhes,  then  eiirried  him  to  a  pond  nod  throsit  him  in,  took  oJI'  his 
cJotbe?*,  tied  hisi  hands,  und  theji  whipped  him  severely  with  withes.  Fiiiully, 
iftiHjlc  a  piece  of  sharp  tin,  and  cut  out  one  of  liis  testicles.  Alter  all 
Jtf  he  btal  him  again  !  On  the  trial  it  was  said  by  his  counsel  tlml  Major 
litcliill  had,  in  early  infancy,  received  a  dangerous  hurt  on  the  top  of  his 
id,  and  that  a  striking  malformation  of  that  part  now  existed.  The 
iretit«  did  not  appear  to  prove  the  injury,  but  Dr.  Mighels,  of  Portland, 
OM^d  that  tiiere  was  an  unusual  appearance  in  tlie  construction  of  the 
1,  a  {mlpable  depression  on  the  cranium,  and  that  the  boy's  right  ear 
loner  than  the  left.  His  schoolmaster  de|)osed  that  he  did  not  learn 
l«jil  as  the  others  did,  but  made  improvemeut.  "  He  was  more  .^ly  than 
ffher  boys;  he  would  watch  me  narrowly,  and  was  raiscliievoas  ill  inrned 
**if  back.  Punishment  inHnence<l  his  conduct.  I  <lo  not  cousider  him  so 
Ongbt  as  otbens,  but  far  from  being  a  fonl."  He  had  been  punished  for 
f^ry  "  ^  The  jury  found  the  prisoner  guilty,  and  he  was  sentenced  to 
ti  hard  labor  in  the  State  prison. 

f.Uis,  an  attorney  who  published   an   account  of  this  case,  justly 
^.  "that  many  ai-e  of  opinion  that  uuer  tiituity  in  thin  convict  is  in- 
h  -t  from  the  very  circnmstance&  of  the  case,  as  made  out  upon  the 

tfi  :  hy  the  manner  and  terms  of  the  hoy's  conversation  in  reference 

tt>  V.  >     .  .lilting  subject  of  his  crime;  and  lastly  by  his  present  appearance, 
tsi*  j'l-i  Ill-lory,  and  his  peculiar  phyj^ical  conformation." 

Andrea*  Birhel,  who  murdered  young  girls  fur  the  sake  of  their  clothes, 
%Ati  opened  their  bodies  fronj  curiasity  to  see  what  was  inside,  and  actually 
%te  ib€  raw  and  yet  warm  and  quivering  Ho^h,  was  in  all  probability  a 
Itmutie.     (  Feuerbach,  im.  eit.,  '2**  Tbeil,  s.  1-17.) 

Ca»e  XXVIIL — George  Rede^  the  Langhtng  Murderer, 

<  Feuerbach  s  4th  case,  loc.  cit.,  2"  Theil,  pp.  58-^0.) 

G«>Tgc  liede,  aged  fifty,  married,  with  four  children^  was  the  terror  of 
\ik»  wife  and  family  and  iieighb*irs  for  many  years,  by  reason  of  liis  cruel, 
and  evil  disjsi>-ition.     He  was  passionate  in  the  extreme,  and  u»ed 
throatH,  Bometimes  r»-*(iortiug  to  violence.     He  hud  had  some  dis* 
r,  kindly  m1(J  man,  who  was  commonly  willed  the  Kat- 
*»  Andrean  Kau-^cher).     On  June  *i3,  IHOii,  at  H  a.m., 

SUdts  i.  !d  mao,  who  was  Imytnaking,  put  a  pitchfork  to  Ins  breast, 

ibi        I     i  Lu  kill  him.     The  old  man  guarded  bimsulf  with  a  scythe, 


ACTIONS    AQAtNST    MEDICAL   MBR. 

aDci  dn\  not  strike  bftck,  hut  euocefided  in  wresting  the  fork  from  Rede's 
hund.  Ueile  ran  back  in  a  rage  t+i  lii:*  haii^,  called  hi*  wile  and  two 
dayghters,  armed  his  wife  with  a  big  eabl)ag»vknift%  one  daughter  with  n 
dung-fork,  the  other  with  a  hoe  or  haek,  and  hinist-lf  with  a  scytl»e.  Wife 
and  daughter  tried  to  keep  him  l)ack — in  vaui — he  rushed  on,  ibey  fol- 
lowed. He  then  went  to  the  old  man,  and  rut^htd  at  him,  cutting  him 
about  the  head  with  hisscvihe.  After  ihiw  hetook  the  dung  fork  froni  his 
daughter,  and  struek  and  !!ial»bed  tfie  old  man  with  tltis.  The  nnirderer*« 
wife  rati  away  horrified  with  her  duughterjj,  and  he  continued  to  .-irike  the 
old  rnnn,  whui^e  corpse  exhiliitt'tl  sonie-  eight  t^evere  wounds.  When  he  had 
killed  him,  he  ran  home  laughingp  delighted  that  he  had  struck  the  old 
fellow  in  the  mouth  ! 

At  the  trial  he  coolly  confew*ed  his  crime,  and  neemed  to  glory  in  it,  and 
only  grieved  because  the  jjcythe  was  danuiged  I  He  also  aaid  that  he 
thought  he  i^hould  deserve  hcnvcn  by  what  he  had  done!  It  appeared 
also  that  when  little  more  than  fifteen  he  look  a  violent  dislike  to  his 
mother,  threw  her  good^  out  of  dc tori,  horned  her  b<K>ks,  etc,  and  wni  w> 
violent  and  outrageous  that  he  was  obliged  to  be  put  into  irons,  After 
this  he  was*  bled,  which  produced  some  change  lor  the  better,  but  it  was 
uecesi^ary  to  confine  him  for  a  whole  year.  After  bis  condennintion  for 
the  murder  he  became  demented,  and  seemed  to  have  lost  all  bifj  rncnxtry 
and  all  his  intelligence.  He  was  therefore  not  executed,  but  contiued  us  a 
luoalie. 

It  would  be  easy  to  multij)ly  eases  of  criminal  tuuatiea,  but  it  is  unnec- 
essary in  a  work  of  this  KiruK  The  flnthoriliei?  quoted  above  contAin 
numerous  examples.  The  **  Edinburgh  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal  '*  also 
contains,  in  iijs  back  volumes,  mtiny  well  recorded  cases,  with  commouts. 


On  Adiona  a^ainM.  Medical  Men  on  acrnmif  of  their  havihg  ai'ffned 

Ccrti/irateji  of  Lunacy. 

We  had  originally  intended  to  devote  some  space  to  this  subject.  In 
speaking  of  certificates  (page  767)  we  have  quoted  one  such  eniie,  and 
spoken  of  the  caution  reijuired  iti  sjigning  them.  But  an  action  nuiy  be 
brouglit,  and  su!*tained,  too»  in  some  ra8e.<,  when  medical  men  have  not  only 
acted  boriu  fide^  but  skilfully,  properly,  and  (o  the  manitest  benefit  f>f  the 
lunatic  or  sufferer  from  dfUrium  (rtmetitt  confine*!,  8uch  instances  of  in- 
gratitude are  not  uncommon.  We  may  refer  to  the  cases  of  J/r«.  Arni*trnng^ 
quoted  by  Dr.  Taylor  {he,  rit.,  p.  59^',  Queen's  Bench,  February,  1858,  as 
illustrating  some  of  the  difficulties  cau«ed  by  dipmnimuitcji — to  the  euses  of 
Synim  v.  Frazer  and  Aitdretm  {  Queen's  Bench,  Dec.  l^Go  \  as  showing  that 
"  no  care  or  precaution  in  the  performance  of  tlie.»*e  responsible  duties  will 
always  suffice  to  prevent  a  medical  man  from  sutfering  a  large  pecuniary 
loss  in  order  to  vindicate  bis  professional  character  an<i  conduct  in  regara 
to  the  in.-ane.  PiaintitTwas  a  woman  who  gave  way  to  habits  of  drinking; 
she  hud  au  attack  of  delirimn  tremtus  iwo  years  previously  to  the  trial. 
The  defendants  attended  her  prolessionally.  At  her  own  request  attend- 
ants were  provided  for  her  by  her  medical  advisen*,  and  these  (necessarily) 
put  her  under  a  certain  amount  of  restraint,  by  the  authority,  or  at  least 
with  the  consent,  of  her  physicians.  Although  the  verdict  was  for  tho 
medical  men,  yet  their  exjwnses  were  heavy."  RnberU  v.  ffaddrn^  in  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Victoria  (*'  Australian  Medical  fT(>urnal,"  Nov.  1^:^73), 
illustrates  the  same  point.  Damages  were  laid  at  £;itH)0,  "in  that  be,  the 
defendant,  assaulted  and  beat  the  plaintiff",  and  gave  him  into  the  custody 
of  a  warder  or  attendant  at  the  Yarm  Bend  Lunatic  Asylum,  and  cam 


ON    FEIGNED   BPILKPST. 


iiMT  a  real  case  of  disease, 
follawii 


To  the&e  canooB  Mr.  Hutchinson  added  tlie 


liug  reojarks 


"The  importance  of  this  rule  can  scarcely  be  exaggerated  io  it«  applica- 
tion to  the  casualty  room  of  large  hospitals.  It  is  far  better  to  allow 
aioeteen  knaves  a  temporary  success  in  their  schemes  than  to  refuse  relief 
to  one  really  urgent  Butferer.  Cases  come  very  freouently  under  my 
notice  in  which  great  hard^^hip  would  have  been  iwfllcteJ  had  the  suspicion 
of  nialiugeriug  been  hastily  acted  upon.  This  rule,  however,  muf^t  of 
course  only  be  allowed  to  apply  to  mild  measure*  of  treatment.  Malin- 
gerers of  a  certain  class,  ei»[)ecia]ly  hysterical  women,  will  often  submit 
with  eagerness  to  most  painful  measures  of  treatment,  or  even  lo  those 
which  email  permanent  deformity.  In  all  such  the  surgeon's  duty  to 
wiilistand  the  imporiunity  uf  hh  patient  is  clear.  A  man  is  at  present  in 
one  of  the  surgical  wards  who  hoA  had  his  forearm  amputated  for  injury. 
He  now  complains  of  a  painful  stump,  and  avers  that  the  pain  is  such  as 
to  wholly  prevent  his  rest  night  and  day.  He  is  mo^t  desirous  that  another 
amputation  should  be  performed.  He  is,  however,  about  to  be  diAmift?<ed» 
in  the  belief  that  he  is  intentionally  exaggerating  his  symptoms.  The  fol- 
lowing reason:^  sujtpirt  this  view:  1.  He  has  "not  the  slightest  as[>ect  of 
sutfering  or  of  want  of  rest.  2.  He  complains  of  pain  in  the  muarcles>  of 
the  rmrt  removed,  not  in  the  skin,  and  whenever  his  stump  is  examined 
he  always  puts  the  remaining  portions  of  muscle  below  the  elbow  into  con- 
stant action,  alternately  rehixing  and  contracting  ihcm  in  a  manner  which 
Ciiii  be  no  other  than  voluntary.  3.  He  has  never,  ou  any  occasion,  given 
a  correct  gut*ss  as  to  the  dislrihyti(»n  of  any  one  of  the  sensory  nerves  of 
the  forearm,  but  is  obliged  to  refer  the  pain  to  the  '  whole  hand  and  wrist.* 
It  is  i»nprobal»le  that  the  metlian,  radial,  and  ulnar  should  all  be  neuralgic 
at  the  same  time. 

"  His  case,  however,  confirms  the  remark  that  most  formsof  malingeriog 
are  based  upon  some  real  loss,  and  often  upju  fome  real  disease  still  ia 
existence.  They  are  intentional  exaggerations,  rather  than  fictions  pure 
and  simple.*" 

We  therefore  refer  you  to  the  works  of  Galvin  Milroy  and  Dr.  Hutchin- 
Bcn  on  **  Feigned  Dii<ea*e8  and  Malingering,**  only  briefly  alluding  to  some 
cases  which  oiier  a  little  special  difficulty. 

Feifjued  ijiMitiUij  has  been  spoken  of  at  p.  7G9,  etc. 

Ftigned  epihpay  is  sometimes  difficult  to  delect,  because  real  epileptics 
offer  considerable  varieties  in  the  character  of  their  seizures ;  one  attack 
being  a  mere  momentary  loss  of  consciousness  (Je  peiil  ma(),  whilst  another 
may  aflord  the  most  vittleut,  gnjtesque,  and  prolonged  convulsions  (le  fjrand 
mat).  It  is  true  that  no  single  tit  or  paroxysm  may  last  for  more  than  a 
few  seconds,  or^  at  most,  a  ermple  of  minutes  or  so,  but  they  sonieiimee 
succeed  each  other  so  rapidly  that  the  intervals  are  scarcely  perceptible, 
and  then  seizures  may  be  pntlonged  in  this  way  for  hours  and  even  days. 
The  convulsions  may  begin  and  be  confined  to  one  limb  (au  arm  or  leg), 
or  one  aide  of  the  body,  or  may  involve  the  head,  trunk,  and  all  the  ex- 
Lremitieji.  Impostors,  however,  usually  feign  the  severe  typical  form,  with 
the  peculiar  cry,  falling  down,  struggling, lividity  (done  by  holding  their 
breath;,  an<l  trothing  at  the  mouth  leHected  by  soap  or  some  saponareoQ« 
iwa  in  the  mouth),  etc.  They  otleu  omit  to  feign  any  of  the  sequeUe  of 
true  epilepsy,  and  may  sometimes  he  detected  by  this  and  the  fact  that 
their  puJH:",  re^piralious,  etc.,  are  little  atfected  by  their  exertions — in  other 
wordii,  they  an?  not  much  the  worse  forthera.  Many  such  eai««  have  l>cen 
unmarked  by  tbreatB,  or  by  quietly  bringing  something  sharp  or  hot  iu 


ON    FEIONBD    PARALYSIS. 

is  often  a880<>iated  with  valvular  diseases  of  the  heart.     It  must  he  noted 
here  thut  it  ia  sometimes  very  difficult  to  di.>tiiigui8h  tetomu  an*ing  nUM^j 
ally  from  that  produced  by  ji-xxi't/i'w*,  sueb  as«trychnM  ibcc  Xtw  IW»<«,«t(% 
pp.  74  iukI  o03). 

Thr  temptrnture  is  raiined  in  a  large  nuniber  of  neuros^es.  Even  id  hviUm 
thf  I  wo  BJdes  of  tlie  bidy  are  often  uneqiuvl  in  vvannth. 

Paratyifi-tt  is  ofieu  ft'i^ued,  Htniif/irtjia,  fmr^tphfjM^&wl  parlial  pan^t 
may  one  or  all  be  asi^unR^d.  Our  limits  forbid  u^i  lo  givt?  any  esten<lfl 
rules  for  the  dett*ctitui  of  these  inip<i»tures.  The  following  chanu'ten»  will 
be  met  with  iu  most  ^uuiue  cases  of  paralysis,  whether  i^pinal  or  cerebral : 

1.  The  temperature  of  the  purnlyzed  ilmbg  ntarly  alwnyn  differ* from  fhd< 
the  i*Qund  one^.     It  is  |:fenenilly  h»wer  in  cerebrHl  ctu^et^  {aAer  apopj^ir^ 
etc.),  and  in  some  spinal!  ime.*.     There  are,  however,  eajte^t  of  spiual  ptf»l) 
%h,  t»?pecially  after  jjijury  of  the  cervical  vertebra*,  in  which  the  temjwii*^ 
lure  i«  greatly  raised. 

2.  Pnrohjzfd  fltnb>t  nre  generally  wn*teA,  Henoe  their  ri  nt  i» 
le«fs  compared  with  the  sound  ones.  This  remark  applies  ;  ^^ 
the  mmvlcj*.     The  lovv«r  limbs  in  paraplegia  often  set'm  e\ 

rule,  but  their  size  (which  i:^  sometimes  increased)  is  due  fn 
©r  to  fat,  or  increased  connective  tissue,  and  not  to  the  musclesw   In  ytt^ 
hypertrophic  paraly.sis  the  muscles  are  enlarged,  but  this  iBdueluBiipedBi 
of  de«rcneration. 

3.  Tkeir  elecfrical  contractility  is  generally  lost,  or  at  lea-<t  altered.  It 
gtatiug  the  re^^ulLs  of  trials^  it  in  well  to  mention  the  kind  ofappanitu^  u^^l, 
aa  it  sometimes  liappens  that  musclea  will  rej»pand  to  Furiulttation,  ainl 
not  to  other  forms,  and  vice  ver^d.  Electrical  contractility  is  in^  Ji  fukj 
enlireJy  lust  in  lead  |H)isoninjf,  in  pamlyHs  of  the  p«irtio  dura,  :»    ' 

the  facial  parnlysi:*  met  with  in  the  u:?ual  forn»s  of  (cerebral)  ii 
Dor  in  rauscnlo-spiral  paralysis  (Panaa'  and    Duchenne'i*  paraly«i-  . 
number  of  cells  jihould  be  noted  in  the  case  of  the  conntaut  currertr 

4.  Sensation  is  more  or  IrM  impaired  in  paratyzed  Umbit.     Dr.  ) 
Jackson  has  shown  that  in  the  ordinary  form  of  hemiplegia,  a  > 
across  the  akin  of  the  paralyzed  side  can  be  felt.     TliiK,  howev*  > 
fihow  that  tactile  sensation  is  as  ^ockI  as  ou  the  oppof^ite  aide,     i 
seldom  is  8o.     In  traumatic  injuries  to  nerves  jieusation  ia  sometime  cob* 
pletely  lo^t  (ame'tthesia ),  whilsit  in  spinal  caae«,  sensation  whilst  loeturtv* 
paired  on  one  side  may  be  increased  or  exalted  (hypenBithesiA)  oo  the 
opposite  side.* 

5.  The  nutrition  of  the  muscles  and  other  parta,  such  as  the  ekin  iwl 
nails,  is  affected  and  impaired.  The  mu^le^  are  either  flibby,  w  ■  '-  -*  ^ 
hard,  and  shrunken,  m  that  the  fingers  or  toes^etc,  are  luuallv  <- 

bly  flexed  or  extended,  or  limp,  Haccid,  and  powd'Hess.  The  ij:ii>  i*^'' 
brittle,  and  porous  or  pitted,  or  thickened  like  calloAities ;  and  llir  »kiD  « 
either  very  smooth  or  shrivelled  and  dusky. 

6.  Tke  mohilityofthe  linibs  w  impalred.Aod  in  eiome  caaesthat  of  tHptmnk 
muscles.  liep.x  movements  may,  however^  citntinne  in  ihtir  i  ^^^ 
18 especially  so  in  spinal  cases,  particularly  in  paraplegia.  -  .  •'i«»' 
times  forget  this,  and  because  a  mau'w  muscles  contract  when  ilw  ■it'"" 
tickled,  or  because  the  legs  "  move  of  themselves/*  as  the  ^ihraae  i»,«iif«* 
the  man  to  be  malingering. 

7.  OccasionaUy  tfiere  are  peculiar  eruptiOM  or  WiitaitoM  and  vim  ra 


•  An  fn«triimpnl  with  the  lerRnd  name  of  (c^thesiomi»tnr  U  «omelt&i*»  k^-t-i - 

A  pair  of  corofiHSAi'3,  with  moJ<'r«ti'ly  tino   points,  or  even  a  c<»upl«  of  |»io*  **^' 
foot  rule,  or  niettsure-tapef  wrill  ijervo  hb  wcil. 


B12 


ON   FBIQNED   DISEASES. 


8.  Digestion  and  nutrition   may  be  disturbed — heaoe  there  mnj 

wastinjr,  consii|mtion,  etc. 

9.  Sloeple8s»es8  may  be  induced. 

10.  lu  sunie  ciL^(^s  tlie  urine  may  be  aflTected.  (Sug:ar,  ;  mi 
albumen,  with  blood,  are  most  probable.)  Bee,  on  this  hm  ^  i  ' 
to  page  260. 

11.  The  color  of  the  hair  may  be  changed,  as  remarked  UDder  Pcr^ni 
Idfntiry. 

12.  Mc^re  rarely,  abacesse?,  aneurisms,  and  cancerous  or  other  lumftH, 
may  be  d«veKij>ed  or  favored  by  the  sh<K'k  of  the  collbion.    Frtcuif 
are,  of  course,  tou  obviuus  to  be  likely  to  escape  observation. 

In  speaking  of  neuroses,  merlical  men  often  Ui»e  words  endine  in  hnk\ 
or  old,  such  a.^  epilepti/>rm,  epilep/of'c/,  choreijonn,  und  I  he  like.  AJdiimgl| 
Biich  expreji^nions  almost  carry  their  own  meaning,  it  may  be  ti%  v<41  W 
explain  that  they  are  generally  used  when  the  i^ymptom*  in  a  given  {Tl%\ 
though  presenting  cloiie  re.se mb lancet*,  differ  from  the  typical  forma  of  diid 
ease  described  in  textbooks. 

Caiahps^y  may  nndoubte<lly  be  feigned  by  a  very  clever  and  couraj 
criminut.     It  is  not  very  il'tflicult  to  distinguish  it  from  death  by  the 
given  in  Chapter  IL     Hut  the  getiu'me  disease  is  so  rare  thif 
medical  man  in  a  thousand  has  seen  it — and  ec-^tatic  states  lir; 
Lonise  Lutcau  leave  somo  doubts  in  the  mind  of  clever  ob»*orve("^  iiKr  uiej 
lat^  Dr.  Day  (who  believed  in  the  genuineness  of  that  example)  nnd  ^^f 
chow  ( who  considers  L.  L.  an  impostor,  or  at  best  a  self  deceived  h> 
maniac), 

Leadpahij\s  accompanied  with  a  blue  line  on  the  grunii* — thi«  Hue  i» 
dotted,  aud  consists  of  cubical  crystals  of  lead  Hulphide  ijj  the  cjipjlli'y 
loops. 

True  deaf-dumhnfm  only  occurs  in  conrjfmilal  cases.     The  AbW  HIc 
is  said  to  have  detected  one  impostor  by  noticing  that  hi*  spelling  of  *^£* 
ten  words  was  phonetic.     He  wrote  "Ma  mer  d  ne  en  iVauiri^,"  tfl^' 
"  Jean  porfe  en  core  les  maTqne.***' 

The  further  tests  applied  to  this  man  may  be  seen  in  Beck%  **  >r-^''*' 
Jurisprudence/*  p.  25. 

A:*  regard.^  diseaiies  of  the  eye,  and  pretended  /o*»  or  imperftciion  <  /  > "'  • 
often  feigned  by  unwilling  recruits,  and  others,  it  is  to  be  reniarkM  ti»i 
a  thorongh  knowledge  of  ophthalmic  niedi<'ine  and  snidery,  ai»*l  t^ 
Bcquninlance  with  optica,  are  ueces^sary  to  detect  sorae  of  lhe!»e  clciref »»' 
posters.  If  simuhition  be  su:ipected,  ej:amute  the  ttfcji  <w  ijou  tVQuld  in  ft" 
of  reai  dwen^e  or  iinperferflon.  The  ophlhalmosicope  will  reveal  mn*l  *" 
the  niorbid  changes  invisible  to  the  UDa."Ssi8ted  eye,  whilst  the  Kome  in*tru- 
meiU  will  detect  all,  or  nearly  all,  the  anomalies  or  flisorders  of  r«»frT»rtifla 
(myopia,  hypcrmetropia,  a^ligmalism,  etc.),  by  the  sixe,  place,  or  un'tK"** 
of  the  images  seen  under  certain  conditions.  It  is  generally  ne***ary'*' 
paralyze  the  accommorlation  by  atropin  or  belladonna.  It  will  lUto  t* 
foMCul  that  the  pretender  to  mt/opia  (or  near  sight)  cannot  see  thr  I'-^t  DT*' 
at  thti  right  distances  with  emtrare  lenses,  which  would  soil  th**  rejil  Milfn^* 
In  a  similar  mtuuwr  conve,F  looses  nmy  be  used  to  detect  jirfttrndrnUthj^ 
metropla  «tnd  pre.'^byopia  (or  long  sight). 

Fcitjned  dmdde  vmon  may  be  detected  in  most  cases  by  oilorwl  g'*** 
and  the  nse  of  prisms.f 


*  As  if  nn  EngliiiliinHn  wrote  **  Mi  mulbur  woa  bnwrn  In  OHrwati, 
kftfn'f^  Ihop  tiinrx  f«v  it  «tli." 

+  Dr    WilliAin  Tlnnnpnon  (upplyin?  a  di«cov*rv  fl-*l  cnnd*  fcgr  8rh«"«»<^' "IJ 
ell  own  tbiii  Hitunmlies  of  retriu.aion  in  the  eyo  mny  be  discovcr«d  »nd  roeB^^  ' 


814 


OTHER    FEIQNED    DISEASES. 


called  amaurosis)  ?uch  as  that  from  vhich  the  poet  Milton  «ttffered,  the] 
eye  kmks  as  bn^^htaDd  beautiful  as  before,  although  vision  may  heeotiitij 
losr.     (  Heuce  tlie  term  gutta  ^freua.) 

Preleii'lfd  btindness  ojotfe  eye  may  often  be  detected  by  a  prism  riUm) 
with  il6  Uaf^e  upward:*  or  dowDward:?!  before  the  sound  eye;  the  (Jouhle 
vision  proiiyeed  tiirnii*hiiig  the  required  pro<if.  Al^o,  a?  ^laval  rcmarb^ 
by  the  simple  expedient  of  barring  the  vision  of  the  sound  eye  hy  r  r»nlJ 
or  (wocii,  Hj  aa  not  to  appear  to  hide  the  objects,  aod  then  ai>kii}g  Ui*" 
tender  to  read  or  explain  certain  marks. 

We  must  reief  you  to  vv"i>rks<  ou  the  diseases  of  the  eye,  nucb  » 
of  Sotiberg  Wells,  Laweou,  Macnamara,  Hayues  Walton,  and  other  i 
autliorities. 

^(jine  eases  of  pretended  Mhtdness^  as  well  as  feigned  drnfutM,  m»f] 
aonietitriest  be  detected  by  a  ruse.     Some  startling  statement  may  be  wrii 
and  sliiiwQ  in  the  one  ease,  ur  whimpered  in  the  other,  and  theci>unt*ri 
puUe,  etc,,  of  the  {*up|n»N_^d    pretender  watched  all  the  while.     Id  tat 
deafness,  do  not  forget  that  chocks  or  vibrations  nmy  bejWIi  wheti  ibev" 
no  longer  be  heard. 

Pretended  Pain  and  TendernesB. 

It  may  he  sard^In  geuenil  terras,  that  real  sufferere,  if  intelligent  pwplfj 
cau  generally  describe  accurately  the  direction  ed'  paint^i,  and  ihesK;  will 
correspond   to  defiuite  nerve-truct«  in  some  cases.     (The  dof't4)r  shouW 
therefore  know  his  nerves!)     Very  rarely  pains  are  diffu^d  over  vert 
wide  HuHlaces.     Pain  usually  furrow*>  the  face,  causes  loss  of  !«le*!p, lua 
wasting   (loss  of  body-weight),  feverish nessi,  indigestion,  and  other  xytnp- 
toms  well  known  to  medical  men,  if  the  pain  last^  for  any  length  of  Dm^ 
What  are  called  neurn Igkts  {pmn  in  certain  nerve-iract*^ — ^generally  in  tin  j 
hysterical  or  highly  nervous  de^sceudants  of  gouty  or  arthritic  pArvQti)i 
occasiuimlly  oHer  excej>tion9  to  this  rule,  particularly  in  young  m 
A  parallel  isotfered  by  the  haemorrhages  occurring  in  similar  ca^es.    K«d| 
paiui*,  too,  for  the  most  part,  are  relieved,  if  not  cured,  by  the  apprwpnaW'] 
antwlyucja.     Long-eontiuued  or  very  severe  pain  is  nearly  alwavt^  awocf**' 
panied  hy  other  and  well -marked  symptoms  of  disease,  which  r*o  Iw 
meiisured  by  iuslrumeuts  of  precision.     (Thus  ihe  pulse  is  affected, MXt 4 
very  often  the  temperature.)     Pressure  nearly  always  increases  leodeflMM, 
except  in  the  case  of  colic,  and  of  some  forms  of  pleurisy,  etc,    Ewflio 
neuralgias,  when  there  may  be  no  toss  of  flesh,  appetite,  or  ileq'.  it  •* 
usual  to  tiud  some  definite  spot  of  tenderness  (often  nerve-ejtits  <»r  nerrt- 
divisions]  well  known  to  practical  physicians,  but,  perhaps,  tna<lvt-<il>l^ 
to  name  here,  for  obvious  reasons. 


Of  other  Feigned  Diseases,  such  as  Cancer, 

{^urmtion  will  be  treated  of  in  a  separate  chapter.) 

Cancer  has  been  said  to  be  imitated  (in  the  breast)  by  a  piece  of  W 
animals  spleen  or  liver,  covered  with  goldbeater's  skiu  !  l'  Proltip***^ 
by  a  piece  of  gut  introduced.  Bhddtr  disease,  we  have  knowu  ftlpra 
by  a  wotnan  pretending  to  pass,  per  nrHhram,  a  pig's  bladder,  previrt«wly 
macerated.  HydattdA  of  the  womb,  etc,  have  been  siinulaled  hy  whita 
currauLSj  mistletoe  berries,  or  artificial  imitations  made  froai  the  into*' 
tines  of  unimals.  An  experienced  surgeou  would  almost  ioaitautlv '^***'* 
such  impostures.  (Edenui  may  be  produced  by  Ug<itare«.  ^V^e  l^** 
knowti  pretenders  so  overdo  their  parts  as  to  bring  ott  j^greoe  i»  •■• 
arm  or  leg ! 


816 


DEATH    BY    APNCBA. 


menu  of  tnusclefl  »nd  limbs,  whi^^h  are  probably  due  to  the  stimulus  of 
venous  blood  (iwijwjned  with  CO,)  on  the  motor  centre  of  the  brain  and 
spinal  cord.  The  veins  Jjeconie  turgid,  the  pulse  is  at  first  full  and  rom- 
Lpre«i.Hible,  but  gradually  becomes  more  feeble ;  there  may  Ije,  and  often  ij», 
TToihing  at  the  mouth;  this  froth  may  be  tinged  more  or  less*  deeply  with 
blood;  blood  may  et^cape  from  the  nostrils,  anu*,  vagina,  or  other  mucous 
membranes;  nntK\  fasces',  and  *emeu  may  be  discharged  involuntarily. 
Abortive  etfort^  at  respiration  are  made  for  awhile.  Finally  the^^e  cease, 
and  the  heart  uo  longer  beaUi.  This  kind  of  death  is  more  or  le^  rapid. 
Fn»ui  two  to  five  minutes  is  the  u.^oal  time.  In  the  wise  of  drowning  ap- 
parent exceptions  are  explicable  by  the  occurrence  of^yucope.  We  s>hall 
return  to  this  subject  again.  At  the  post-mortem  examluatiou  we  shM 
find  in  all  of  these  deaths : 

( 1 )  3Iore  or  less  Hvidily  of  the  lips,  extremities,  and  general  surface,  as 
has  been  described  in  lite.  In  drowning  the  face  is  otlen  pale,  sometimes 
it  is  so  in  hanging. 

(2)  Hypostases  or  postmortem  ttaintng$  nf  darker  color  than  in  »jme 
other  fortns  of  death.  (In  some  cases  of  drowning  these  are  not  visible 
externally,  for  reasons  which  will  appear  sul»sequently.) 

(3)  The  renoti^ff  MtfMem  (veins and  sijiuses)  all  over  the  body  will  generally 
be  found  gorged  with  blood  of  dark  color.  The  arteries  will  for  the  mi>st 
part  be  empty,  partieulariy  in  young  subjects. 

t4)  The  riglii  mtle  of  the  hcmt  will  generally  be  found  full,  correspond- 
ing with  the  venous  hyperaemia  aud  the  state  of  the  lungs  about  to  W 
des(!ribed. 

(5)  77ic  langm  will  be  found  gorged  with  blood  in  most  eases,  resembling 
the  condition  known  as  red  hepiitiziiliou,  only  the  blood  is  of  flarkcr 
color.  The  mucous  membrane  of  tlie  bronchia!  tubes  will  l)e  found  in- 
tensely injected  with  extravasati^ms  of  blood  (see  No.  0),  and  the  tubes 
themselves  will  be  found  full  of  frf>thy,  bloody  nmcus.  In  yom^Q  mid 
hvMy  eubjectm^  partteulartiji  children,  it  will  ofitu  be  found  that  ilw  bhod- 
veAfitU  of  the  lungn  have  emptied  tliem^telveM^  after  the  henrt  hfis  (xtmed  to  beat, 
^he  tnngft  will  therefore  in  mtteh  ca^e/i  be  comparativfdy  bloodlem^  but  from  tl 
^violent  eftbrUs  made  to  breathe  will  be  highly  emphyaematoit*. 

(tJ)  Extravasatioiw  of  blood ^^ome  minute  and  stellate,  others  of  irregulaF 
form,  aud  many  of  bright  color,  will  be  found  on  the  mucous  and  serous 
membrancis  (pleurie,  |)ericardium,  peritoneum,  membranes  of  brtiin>  nod 
liniug  membranes  of  it^  veuiricles,  the  conjunctiva*  and  the  muiHJua 
merubraucs  of  the  respiratory,  digestive,  and  geuito-urinary  tract*).  M. 
Tardieu  attributes  great  importance  to  these  in  cases  of  infanticide,  as 
he  believes  them  to  be  present  only  tn  cases  of  suffocatiou  (see  page  602 
for  reference). 

(7)  The  membrnne->t  of  the  brainy  particularly  ita  veins  and  sinu«e«,  will 
be  found  gorged  with  blood  in  mo^t  case^^  and  numerous  puncta  cruenta 
or  bloody  spots  apjwar  ou  slicing  the  brain. 

(8)  Serum  w  extravasated  intoseroua  cavities  (pericardium,  pleune,  peri- 
toneum, ventricles  of  brain,  etc.). 

(9)  The  mucous  membranes  generally  are  very  turgid*  (8ee  above,  Xo. 
6.)     The  trachea  and  larynx  especially  so. 

(10)  Higor  mortis  is  mid  to  set  in  slowly.  But  the  muscles  become 
tetanized,  and  remain  fixed  in  that  condition.  lu  hanging  and  other 
violent  deaths  the  genital  organs  are  often  turgid  and  erect,  mi  that  we 
get  priapism  in  the  male  and  an  analogous  condition  in  the  female.  In 
drowniogi  the  penis  is  retracted  and  the  scrotum  shrunk,  unleis  distended 
with  gaaes  from  putrefaction.    The  bladder  is  sometimes  filled  with  blo<Ki- 


818 


DEHSITT    OF    SBA-WATBR,   BTC. 


cease,  the  bodv  ttoks  to  the  bottom,  aod  bubbles  of  air  are  fore^  from  the 
che^t  by  tbe  elastic  reactiou  of  its  parietes.  The  greater  part  of  the  wai 
which  has  eatered  tbe  inouth  6Dd9  ita  wajr  into  the  stomach,  the  re^t  iol 
the  luDgB ;  aod  this  reatdue,  mixed  with  the  secreiiona  of  the  mouth  aud 
air- parages,  and  frothed  by  the  air  inspired  and  expired,  fona»  the  f*>am 
ar»  cooi<4aotly  met  with  in  persoos  who  have  perbbed  in  this  way,  hi  fa«e« 
belottging  to  thiit  claas  we  may  expect  tu  fiod  the  appearances  proper  to 
death  by  apmea  coupled  with  those  of  the  medium  in  which  the  death 
takes  place.  Id  tbe  case  of  the  swimmer  death  may  take  place  by  ex- 
bau:<tioa^  with  leie  distinct  signs  of  dt;ath  by  apnosa.^*  (This  excellent 
description  is  taken  verbatim  from  Dr  Guy,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Dote.) 

The  mode  of  death  may  vary  owing  to  drunkenne)^  or  from  striking 
the  head  agaiuiit  a  rock,  or  post,  or  stone,  or  even  against  the  water  or  mud 
at  the  bottiim,  which  may  cause  fracture  of  the  skulj  and  concussicm,  or 
the  blow  may  be  felt  in  the  chest  or  at  the  pit  of  the  stijrnach,  or  ^ome 
other  fjart  of  the  abdomen,  when  death  nmy  be  due  to  shock;  or  there 
may  be  fright,  as  in  hysteria,  when  death  niuy  result  from  syncope;  or  an 
epileptic  fit  may  happen  at  the  moment  of  striking  the  water;  or  there 
may  be  extravasation  of  blwMl  or  serum  during  the  struggles,  producing 
ap«iplexy;  or  death  may  happen  from  the  heart,  owing  to  the  c%Ad;  or 
fmm  spa<«m  or  paralysis  of  the  muscles  of  respiration.  It  is  even  said  that 
cataJep*y  oiay  occur  at  the  moment  of  immersion.  Reviewing  these  causes 
and  modes  of  death,  we  see  that  besides  apn(Ea,  or  death  beginning  at  tbe 
luttg^,  we  may  get  coma,  or  death  beginning  at  the  head ;  and  gyticftpf.  or 
astheni/i,  or  death  beginning  at  the  heart;  which  la*t,  indeed,  is  generally 
to  be  referred  back  to  the  brain  {&ee  page  554).  Further,  owing  to  the 
gu.>«pen.sion  of  the  heart's  action  in  some  ca.^es  both  of  fright  aud  drunken- 
Des!$,  (>ersons  may  be  drowned,  or  completely  immersed  in  the  water,  aud 
yet  not  dead.  We  must  remind  you  that  the  specific  gravity  of  sea-water 
IS  about  1.028  at  60^  F.  (15.5^  C).  Distilled  or  raiu*water  being  1,  aud 
river,  well,  and  pond  water  varying  between  the^wi  two  in  proportion  to  the 
amoiiut  of  saline  constituents,  probablv  seldom  exceeding  1.005,  except 
in  the  ease  of  strong  mineral  springs.  Ice  is  said  to  have  a  specific  gravity 
of  0.0175,  water  in  freezing,  expanding  by  about  ,'flh  of  its  volume*  The 
human  body,  on  the  other  hand,  hat  a  specific  gravity  ttiyhtly  grc^iler  than 
Uuii  of  umt^r.  Dr.  Tiiylor^s  remarks  on  this  subject  deserve  ijm>tiog.  He 
says:  "The  specific  gravity  of  the  human  body  in  the  living  healthy  statfi 
is  made  up  of  the  combined  specific  gravities  of  its  different  parLs  an  that, 
as  in  all  heterogeneous  solids,  it  is  a  very  complex  quantity.  In  iho  fir>t 
place  about  7*2  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  the  body  consists  entirely  of  wate^ 
hence  the  question  of  specific  gravity  cau  refer  only  to  the  r^miainiug  2 
per  cent,  of  dry  solids.  The  only  part  of  the  body  which  is  lighter  than' 
water  is  fat  The  specific  gravity  of  this  is  0.92,  aud  it  is  calculated  that 
the  proportion  offal  in  an  adult  is  about  5  per  cent,  or  one-twentieth  pal 
>f  the  weight  of  the  body.  The  specific  gravity  of  muscle  is  1.0sS5,  of  brail 
.04,  of  the  soft  organs  generally  1.03,  of  the  lungs  containing  air  0.1 
id  of  bone,  the  heaviest  part  of  the  bo*ly,  2.01.  The  lightness  of  the  fS&t 
portions  is  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  weight  of  the  skeleton  (aboi 
lOj  lbs.  in  the  male,  aud  0  lbs.  in  the  female),  go  mat  the  naked  human  6o</j 
ptawd  OH  water,  h'lA  a  sligfd  tendency  to  sink.  This  tendency  diminishi 
just  in  profMjrtiou  to  the  quantity  of  the  body  immersed,  because  all  the 
parts  Hliirh  are  out  of  water,  not  being  supported  by  water,  become 
much  additional  absolute  weight  to  the  portion  immersed.  Hence  thi 
frequent  cause  of  death  by  drowning.  An  inexperienced  person  exhausts 
'<6elf  by  exertion,  raises  hi*  arms  continually  out  of  the  water,  aod 


RICOTBRT    OF   THB   DROWFBD, 

of  fourteen  minutes,  and  from  the  ''American  Journal  of  Mdical 
Sciences,"  April  22^  lH/i3,  p.  34^^  the  recovery  of  a  woman  after  twHitjf  | 
minutes'  submersion.  M.  Gu^rard  quotes  a  case  in  which  a  young  man 
faid  to  hare  recovered  after  entire  submersion  for  an  hour.  The  < 
said  Co  have  occurred  in  1774,  but  the  evidence  as  to  time  h  rather 
("Ann.  d'Hygi^oe."  1850-2,  p.  306.)  It  is  very  likely,  that  in  these 
as  in  »<>me  known  to  the  authon*,  the  whole  of  the  body,  especially  the 
fiice,  wa«  not  under  water.  £ven  in  the  longer  authentic  periods  of  a 
quarter  or  half  an  hour,  syncope  had  probably  occurred.  Yet,  a?  the  cir- 
cum»tance8  of  the  case  are  often  uncertain  as  to  time,  it  may  be  well  to  try 
to  restore  animation  in  any  ca.«e  where  the  body  is  taken  out  of  the  water  J 
within  a  few  hours  of  the  accident,  or  when  it  is  perfectly  fresh.*  The! 
author!  know,  from  personal  experience,  that  two  or  three  hours'  e0orta 
may  sometimes  be  neconary  to  completely  restore  the  circulation. 
The  indicatious  for  treatment  are  : 

(1)  To  reHtore  animal  heat. 

(2)  To  stimulate  the  heart  to  action. 

(3)  To  carry  on  artificial  respiration,  until  the  natural  process  is  n^ 
sumed. 

(4>  To  roujBe  the  nervous  centres. 

(5)  Tu  combat  the  tendency  to  death  from  inflammatory  ar  otber^ 
sequeUu. 

The  popular  methods  of  hanging  up  by  the  heels,  rolling  on  carikft,  and 
other  rough  processes,  are  to  be  o^udeniued  in  tvto.  Treatrueul  t^huuld  be 
ooramenced  at  once  on  the  ;^pot  in  the  open  air  whilst  blankets  and  dry 
clothing  are  ^enl  for.  In  order  to  get  rid  of  water  in  the  mouth,  etc.,  the 
body  niuy  l>e  placed  for  a  few  tetonds  with  the  head  a  little  lower  than  the 
feet,  and  the  head  downwards,  the  mouth  being  open,  and  the  tongue  drawn 
forwards,  then  turn  the  luxly  on  the  back,  and  raise  the  head  and  shoul- 
ders slightly  fou  a  board  forming  an  inclined  plane,  if  pot-^ible,  a  door  or 
shutter  will  j^rve  very  well).  Draw  the  tongue  forward^  and  fix  it  by  an 
tndia-ruhlMfr  band.  The  feet  should  be  fixed,  and  theu  Dr.  .Sylveeier*^ 
metho<l  of  artificial  respiration  should  be  commeucied.  This  will  Ix*  best 
Qt)der><t(Hid  from  the  diagrams.  Grat^p  the  arm»  at  the  elbowi*,  draw  ihera 
above  the  head,  and  keep  them  so,  on  the  stretch  (a*  iu  Fig.  110)  for  about 
two  or  three  seeondw,  theu  reverse  the  mana-uvre  tor  alxiUt  the  same  length 
of  time,  presbing  the  arms  firmly  against  the  ^ide^  of  the  chest  (a$  in  I<ig. 
111).  This  twofold  or  alternate  movement  »houKl  be  repeated  u^mjui  filleen 
or  sixteen  timed  a  minute,  till  a  spoutaueouu  etfori  at  respiration  occurs 
Young  operators  are  apt  to  make  tliese  movements  rather  too  rapidly. 
Meanwhile,  or  at  all  events  after  a  few  minutes,  the  bystandei-s  or  assist- 
ants can  remove  the  wet  clothes,  place  hot  buttles  or  tins  to  the  feet,  hot 
flanneU  over  the  przecordial  region,  or  put  hot  briekt*  wrap|)ed  up  in  lieu  of 
hot  bottlea,  here,  in  the  armpitt^,  etc. ;  cover  the  body  lightly  with  blanket*, 
chafe  the  lower  extremities,  etc.  In  some  cases  resipiration  may  be  pro-^ 
moled  by  smelling-salts  or  ammonia  to  the  nose,  tickling  the  thrtj<it  witb' 
a  feather,  dashing  hot  and  cold  water  on  the  face  and  che^t,  and  galvaniz- 
ing the  phrenic  nerve.  (One  pole  or  rheophore  shoultl  be  applied  lo  iho 
epigastrium,  the  other  to  the  nape  of  the  neck,  or  just  above  the  middlei 
of  the  clavicle,  where  the  orao-hyoid  crosses  the  stenio-ma^toid  muscles ; 
some  advise  both  rheophores  to  be  applied  above,  one  on  each  aide  of  the 


•  In  Paris,  from  1821  to  1626,  out  of  676 


of  dri«wtiing,  480  were 


822 


POST-MOBTEM    APPBARANCES 


of  air,  20  cubic  inches  beinf^  an  avernge  quantity  in  natural  refpimlirm; 
Dr.  HiillV  [inK-es}*  only  frotri  at  most  8  to  15  cubic  inches;  and  tV  prv^- 
sure  meUn»d  (with  .10  fHniiiidst  pre}=i*u re)  either  by  bauds,  or  by  ft  cmi«*e(i 
baiidnpe  imly,  IVoin  5  to  ll\ciibic  inches.  Life  haj?  been  saved  by  all  thflw 
meihod.'*^  but  the  authors  have  known  the  gall-bladder  ruptured  by  prc»- 
surt>  with  tilt*  hands. 

When  respiraiion  is  established  pretty  fairly,  and  the  heart's  action  sq4 
warmth  repsitjred,  you  may  wiffly  1^'ave  the  patient  for  awhile,  prtividrd 
the  lip*i  atjil  I'xtremitie!*  are  of  good  cnlor.  But  do  not  forget  that  ihm 
may  be  a  relap.»?e.  8or!te  one  should  iherefore  watch  the  palieui.  Doalh 
may  ensue  from  piieumonm,  nbofk,  and  other  caui^ed,  directly  due  tu  ll>« 
submerHioij,  some  days*,  or  even  weeks,  after  the  accident, 

P&«t-moriem  Appearajie&s  specially  due  to  Droitning* 

The  special  phenoniena  found  in  the  dead  body  in  this  mode  of  (ImiK, 

in  addition  to  the  general  nigns  of  apnipa  previoudy  mentioned  'pM^^^lfiV 
which  Deverfrie  Ptatcs  ocrur  in  2f>  per  cent,  in  a  well-marked  mauueriod 
in  87  per  cent,  in  a  n^Klitied  form,*  are  as  follow: 

1.  GotmeJih'n,  or  cii/r/f  amertna^  is  met  with  in  many  cased,  jel  it  boOl 
really  pitih<ignomonic  of  ilrowning,  being  met  with,  es()eciaily  in  the  luifef 
classcii,  in  other  violent  modcB  of  death. 

2.  A  livnf,  ^ra^ijih  blue  rWfjr  nf  the  hartd/t  and  feet  ^  like  the  eholern  had, 
or  washerwnmun'H  hand;  the  .^kin  i.-*  wrinkled  and  corrugated  a*  well  M 
cyanotic.  This  symptom  iiet?ds  twelve  to  twenty-four  hours'  gubtaersiuu, 
and  mjiy  occur  io  bodies  thrown  into  the  water  after  death.  ("Caepef, 
loc.  rit.\  trunslation,  vol.  ii,  p.  235/) 

3.  ihutrarfion  vf  the  pen  Im,  tiith  ret  ruction,  m  that  the  peuJs  4pi»e»p  in- 
ordinately small,  even  in  men  of  lar^e  stature. 

4.  iStfMt/,  fjfntvef,  Tuudy  etr.,  m-tfj  beJoHnd  undir  the  finfjer-naih  nfOi^h^^^ 
The^eare  not  uiways  preiM:?nt,  but  when  found  may  be  olimportance,  ^'i^ 
tinie«  fragments  of  !<ea  or  fres^h-water  weed^  may  be  found  in  the  hamU, » 
well  as  in  the  stomach  and  lun^.  They  may  be  diaU>ni(«,  8mall  shfillvW*' 
other  object.^,  which  may  help  to  determine  the  spot  where  Uie  death  tfl«V 
place.     Microscopic  examinutions  should,  th*^refore,  not  be  neglectwLt 

5.  Exruriiitionj*  ur  uhruMionn  vf  the  finders  are  very  mmmon.  \n  n^f*** 
the  condition  of  the  eye;*,  iheae  are  sometimes  wide  open,  **drcadfuly  *ta^ 
ing,  thro'  muddy  impurity"  (T.  Hood);  sometimes  half  open  nml  W'^ 
times  closed.  The  face  i«  d4miewhat  bl<iate<l,  often  pale,  sotin^what  rw*^ 
biing  the  condition  i-(unn»oii  in  thrctnic  Hright'i^  dis^ease.  Martin)  i*'''* 
Bextus  with  havinj^  the  face  of  one,  "sub  u()ua  iiatantis"  (Kpijf.,  hh-  *' 
No.  87),  which  the jjpmmeii tutors  explain  aa  "^ubpallidam  et  tumidat** 


♦  D<»vergie'*  flguree  (>'M^.  I^gHle,*'  vol.  ii,  p. 

AB  under  : 

.  25.0 


»,  ua  given  by  Dr.  Tavlwf. 


f7« 


Asphyxia,  ptirft 

"         Mild  i«yncof>o,      .        .  >  gq,  -  V  A»pbyKi«,    . 

'•         unci  ctTebr»l  con^e^tion,  j     *    ) 

Syncope,  apoplexy,  or  concusaluiit t3.5 


100.0 

Dr.  OirMon'fi  resuUi  are  vory  ^imihir,  "  M«»d.  Oti7.»<ltP,*'  vol.  48,  p.  yi        ^* 
TiwH'swnd  Gnzi^Uf,"  187li;  Dr.'  LoffliO",  «♦  Hi*nkc*f«  Zrit^tibrifid^r  S.  A., 

t  III   re^iirtt  lo  this  puint,  il  liit*«   lu^yn  wi'll  ^Hid  thnt  wu  must   tint  : 
HHrhfuJot's  siinci  «nd  dther  fureign  matoriHls  are  UMd  for  biilUst,  aad  lanjf  i*     ^ 

cliur^eU  in  u  home  pwrl. 


824 


8I0NS   OF    DROWNING, 


half  the  right  cavities  contained  most.  In  only  one  case  did  he  find  the 
left  quite  empty-  It  does  not  appear  that  the  brain  \s  u^lmlIy  very 
hy|K?ra?inic.  Indeed,  CWper  and  Taylor  think  the  reverse  condition  more 
conimun.    On  the  other  huod,  the  fuUowing  symptoms  are  pretty  constant : 

1.    Wfttfr  or  other  foreign  fluids  in  the  Momarh.     Casper  warns  us  that 
water  may  siometimes  have  been  drank  just  before  the  drowning,  as  in 


the  cas^e  of  a  little  boy,  aged  two  years,  whose  iHirs«  harl  jnst  fetched  him 
water  from  a  spring,  left  him  a  momi^nt,an(l  found  hi^n  drowned  in  a  river 
on  her  return.  (Casper's  ti92d  case. )  Kanzler  and  Kiedell  (rjuoted  by 
Casper)  often  found  this  symptom  absent  in  cat^,  even  when  the  mouth 
was  kept  o|>en  or  enlarged.  It  seem?^,  however,  tii  be  pretty  c«instant  in 
the  human  Kuhject.  Again,  it  is  highly  improbable  that  very  dirty  water, 
liquid  nnvnnre,  or  mnd,  would  be  voluntarily  taken  as  a  drink.  Yet  tbe^ 
are  often  fi>und.  Fitultng  about  half  a  teaspoonful  of  liqui«l  inud  in  the 
sloniadi  of  a  man,  whose  boiiy  had  been  four  or  five  monlhs  in  the  water, 
nmile  Casper  pretty  nure  that  death  had  resulted  from  drowning,  in  Case 
CCCXI,  <p»oted  by  him.  Human  ordure  in  substanee  is  s<imetimes  found, 
parlirulariy  in  ca.<ep  of  infanticide  in  privies  and  ce^^spools  (('rts[»er,  /oe» 
cit.;  and  Miirklin  ;  Casper's  "  Vie rteljahrsseh rift,"  1850,  bd.  xvi,  s.  2(5). 
The  pre-icnce  of  gret-n  runffrviF,  or  duekweed,  of  minute  shelU,  or  diatoms^ 
wouhl  be  addilional  contirrtiatiou.  It  does  not  appear  that  much  water 
get*  into  the  stomach  in  bodiei*  thrown  into  the  water  after  death.  Fluids, 
etc.,  found  in  the  stomach  should  be  examined  with  a  microscope  or  strong 
lens. 

2.  lVnifr,or  other  foreign  liquids,  in  the  luuf/s  and  air-passages,  particu- 
larly if  th<ise  fluids  are  like  lho.<e  mentioned  aboveJi<p(id  manure,  or  other 
dirty  matters,  is  another  contimmlory  proof  of  denlh  frotn  drowning.  For 
where  the  lungs  and  air-passages  are  full  of  frothy  fluids  it  is  generally 
evidence  of  struggles  Ki  breathe.  Ciu*[mlt  mentions  one  lUfk*  in  which 
camomile  tea,  which  had  been  vomited  by  an  adult  into  a  pail,  wa*  thus 
found  in  the  stomach  of  an  infant.  Here,  again»  the  micro.«*(H>pe  should 
he  used  to  examine  the  fluids  and  foreign  bodies  found.  The  volume  of 
the  lung«  is  generally  increased  in  tlrovvniog  frotn  hyperajraia.  Their  ron- 
dition,  and  that  of  ihe  bronehial  mucous  membrane,  has  been  describwl 
at  the  commencement  of  this  chapter.  Remember  the  lungs  may  snrae- 
limes  be  aiucmic  and  emphysenmtons. 

.3.  The  hiynx  nuti  tmchrd,  be-^idcj*  containing  frothy  fluiil,as  mentioned 
above,  arr  often  dcephj  conrfcattd.  The  color  is  Ufiually  cinnabar  or  ver- 
milion, darker  shade?*,  as  chocolate,  being  usually  due  to  putrefaction. 
There  may  also  be  evidences  of  emphysema  in  and  around  the  winilpipe. 
The  froth  is  sometimes  bloodstained  ;  it  is  in  small,  lender  bubbles,  which 
are  easily  broken    • 

4.  The  fluidity  of  the  hhod,  from  want  of  oxygenation,  and  %i«  dark  (H>lttr, 
though  not  peculiar  to  drowning,  are  scarcely  ever  absent,  when  death  haa 
taken  place  from  this  cause,  ami  therefore  deserves  .special  mention,  A 
few  instances  of  coagnlatecl  blood  in  the  heart,  etc.,  arc  mentioned  by  Ortila 
and  others.  The  tongue  will  probably  be  found  pushed  up  against  the 
teeth,  and  marked  by  them.     lu  rare  instances  it  is  bitten. 

Putting  together  ihe*^  varinus  sytnptoms,  we  may  theretore  : 
that  you  will  in  general  ( Devergie  says  99  cases  of  KX))  be  quii 
in  faying  lhnt  dvath  ha*  taken  place  by  drowning,  when  you  jp)t 
lowing  exlernahip|>earances  :  Skin  shrivelled,  bluish-grny,  ¥r  ' 
appearance  (cutis  anserina),  with  contraction  of  the  peii'* 
coriations  on  the  fingers,  with  weeds,  sand,  gravel  or 


826 


SIGNS    OF    1MMBR8I0H, 


interior  part  of  the  thighs  (see  before,  pp.  44-/)0);  the  ab^lomeu  \sgmi\i 
dist»?ii(led  by  gases  from  putrefaction.  As  yet  the  muscles  are  not  mm 
altered  in  color. 

A(  ihr<re  and  n  ha!f  months, — The  scalp,  eyelidf!,  and  noee  are  so  destrortil 
as  to  make  recognitior*.  even  of  aj^e,  (liffit'ull  or  imposeible  from  memii' 
spection.  The  s-kio  of  the  breast  is  generally  of  a  greenish  bniwu,  the 
centre  of  the  abdomen  of  an  opaline  color,  and  scattered  wiih  wnall  ulce^ 
ation8,  caused  by  the  water.  Large  ero.'iions  are  found  in  other  pufUof 
the  body.  The  hands  and  feet  are  quite  bare  of  skin  ;  the  lutig*  n«i  lunger 
fill  the  thorax,  but  leave  a  space  between  them  and  the  pleura  coeliilis, full 
of  re<idi8h  serum. 

Atftmr  and  a  half  moniAj*. — The  face  and  scalp  are  bo  destmyed  ti  to 
leaw  the  tknll  bare;  the  remains  of  the  face,  neck,  and  interior  |iarla of 
the  thighs  are  entirely  converted  into  adt'pocere ;  and  small  enii»pm"wjt»* 
dicating  the  commencenn^nt  of  calcareous  incrustation,  are  ob*ervMl  ytt 
the  pruminent  parts;  the  brain  presents  traces  of  adipocere  in  its  autfrtor 
jMirt.     Further  than  this  Dovur^ie  hu^  not  clajsifiefl. 

These  changes  may  proceed  more  rapidly  in  very  hot  weather,  or  in  fPfy 
putrid  iH)iih  and  ponds;  more  >'luwly  in  mil  water,  in  very  cold  wwiW, 
and  when  the  body  is  cloj^ely  invented  by  clothing.  But  the  general  onfcf 
of  factri  remains  the  j^ame. 

The  only  illustrative  eases  we  shall  quote  are  one  or  two,  in  which  tlifrt 
were  some  special  circuiMstauues  «»f  iiuosual  interest.  They  Are  mortly 
taken  frum  Beck.     {Loc.  clL,  pp.  602-608.) 


Case  I. — Droumin^,  supposed  to  be  Murder — The  Dead  Body  J(fwi 

floaiinff. 

Tu  1699,  V.  Spencer  Cowper,  Esi|.,  an  English  barris^ter^  and  thrrt 
olhen?,  were  tried  at  the  Hertford  A^jsizes  for  the  murder  of  Mr?.  Jit/*ut 
It  was  alleged  that  there  wa^s  a  criminal  intimacy  between  Mr.  C"«|*^ 
and  Mns.  Siont.  About  ten  p.m.  b«ith  were  mist?ed  by  the  8erv»D:fr»n»» 
room  in  which  she  had  left  them ;  awd  ut-jri  munthitj  Mr^.  StutU  ir*i*jnttd 
quih'  diritd,Jl(ifdiu(f  on  ivater  of  about  Jjvf  fret  in  depth.  Her  IxwJy  wn*  "l^i^ 
five  or  six  inches  under  the  water,  although  i^ome  of  her  clolhefi  wtre^ai 
its  surface.  Mr.  Dimsdale,  a  surgeon  called  in,  found  lx:)th  side*  *if  ih* 
neck  swelled  and  black,  and  the  ^kiu  between  her  breantg,  up  lownnbtH^ 
collar-bone,  also  dark-colored.  The  left  wris«t  waj*  slightly  bruised-  THJ* 
bruise  was  afterwards  a,'^eril»ed  to  some  slakeii,  which  may  have  hml  th'-ir 
share  in  preventing  the  body  from  sinktug,  although  it  U  likely  that,  Mp- 
Stout  being  sojuewhat  corpulent,  her  specific  gnivily  did  not  miicli  Ji'^  '^ 
from  that  of  the  water.  A  little  froth  issued  from  her  mouth  and  mvu^'' 
when  fir^t  seen.  No  further  po??t-mortem  examination  waj»  uiaiie  f»»f»^* 
weeks,  when  the  body  waa  dininterred.  On  examining  it  no  wttcx''* 
found  in  lunga  or  stomach,  ati«l  it  was  said  to  be  so  deeoinpt^<Nj  th«tlitll' 
evidence  could  be  given  as  to  the  bruises.  This  trial  is  chitrBy  remark*^ 
for  the  extraordinary  opii»ions  of  some  of  the  witn^ses  as  to  dead  hwd'^ 
floating.  Most  of  tho.se  examined  (some  of  whom  were  8ailar»)  ainrcu/ 
explained  the  floating  of  ilead  bodies  to  be  usually  due  U*  piiffffBrti""' 
We  have  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  stout  bcwiies  do  ^  '^  "s^' 

though   this  is  usually  in  iialt  water.     On   this  trial,  I)rg.  '"^' 

Morley,  Widlasttm,  and  Orel  I,  with  William  Cowper,  the  <-  'iit 

omist,  were  all  examined.     Mr,  V.  S.  Cowper  deposed  t<»  a  ['■  •^■* 

rhuly  state  of  mind,  and  the  jury   brought  in  a   venlict  oi  nm  iv*^/"* 
ViCiitU,     Mr.  Cowper  was  brother  of  Lord  Chancellor  C^ow^^r.  niid  InxW 


lO 


"v 


Jr<9< 


wiUi 

Ttt^iiving'iniiwning;  and  of  ai 
—  *7nm  iUuwiiitig,  only  the 

lajrinr  <'&».  «£.,  vol.  ii,  p.  23» 

•  •"     Arril,  1^1). 

-.      •♦»    /-.   -J.    Staifbrd  Lent  Arises,  II 
'■>:i>c-,  j^^li.     (Medical  eridciMS 
'.ju  jI'  Lh<?  murderer,  though  object 

Lrnt  A-^izKs  1.S61). 

r  A^:iize«,  1843t.     Laxatios* 
-     ,  '  i    1  re  of  its  ligameDts.     A 

-L  tike  Iktber  of  the  dec^sc^^  a  bojr  who 

•  Ji  Xjeot  Aanaes,  1841).     A  wornau  bohb  an 
•oAiBT  far  m  dfoe,  then  withdraws  it,  and  U  died 

Vcd  OurW  Fenmri,  in  order  to  sell  bi'^  body  for 
inink  and  hanging  him  up  bj  bia  heek,  wilb 

iiea!  Jorispnidence  for  India/'  1856»  n. 

;■  »  ebtld.  whose   right  airtube   was  ticblly 

rt«  pmwing  ia  the  tauk  where  the  dead  bodj 

tbe  woman  who  found  thti'  body  to  ooe 

e^l  It,  to  gratify  spite,  to  another"  tank  in 

1  it- 

- -^y,  Xorraan  Cheevers,  and  espcdmlly 

of  atDgular  and  difficult  casea  of  bodi« 
._     ents»  micidee,  and  murders.    Our  space 
Ami  fiirtber  under  couiributiun. 

DCATU   BY   HaXOINQ. 

lii«lg,ao  in  hanging,  death  does  not  always  take 
>mmj.  Whilst  aaphyjia  or  apmea,  death  bcgil 
WBaon.  death  by  cerebral  hifperti^mia,  or  death  U^ 
a  iUfittcoaiblning  theise  {asphtfjcia  ititk  apojj^ej^ 
death  fn>m  injury  to  the  spin^  cord,  auri  v<igu 
litjrtte  death),  are  al«>  met  with.  According" 
"      '--^  by  Dr.  Taylor,  the  proportions  are 


.     68  G2 

.88  "86 

aivotWii  tbiM  eooditioos  in  speaking  of  tbe  post-moi 


SA> 


LiSiZya, 


V^'jr 


-:    .   :    ^:i*-r  :  •  fv-  {'i.rmitie<l. 
•--    .-■  J"'"^-  '>^  in*f:Hltalu-n^lslv 
.-    i.1  :  ii!-..'.viiij  a  tall  uf  at  Iea>*t 


-s.   Trr^.r:. 


.V  care  ahoiihl  l>e  ex- 


'^  rri::.i:»!t»s  woro  ailopted 

-  "  ars  rhr  •Iratli  was  «»trf*ii 
"ir.  :-r^  .  irrau''*!  f'v  \vai<*h- 

1 .  . .    ■ :  J  ri  1 1  i  »*  Iriylt  m  f  th  „ti^ 
:'  >.  :r.ir:i:y  atui  tvrtaiiity. 

-  T.-  :a  -It'.     It  is  >aiii  that 
.•:  :  :  ■-  i-owt-rfiil  a  ji-rk, 

■:-    i.^\<e.     Dath  fmiu 
-i   i     V-.  i<  saiil   to   have 

■  I-  J-: .J  ).y  the  «vlfl)ratf<l 
*..i:..  at  txiviiiiriiis  l)v 

^  ■  :  .-  a  vi.iifut   nualnrv 

-: :  •":  was  turnnl   dff: 

"  ■  "      A'"'     pruct'.'.s  1)1*  tlie 

>    :'.  d:  :hv  -pinal  cnnl  or 

^j.;  -.  :La:  t«>  M'-uro  thi.s, 

■- .:.  ai.  1   pnilnihly  rmi- 

•    T— ...  r'.'iirnl   tins  only 

i   pPKvss  is  mure 

''^    :  A  .■■)  riMiiark*.  in  liis 

--•  ^i.r  *ur  It-;?  Luxations 

.\-- >  ;-.a:ijriian.  wlio  waj; 

■  -'  -.Z'T  -i-t'kri.it  iu  Ir.int. 

I :  -  r  jtir*-.  in  ilit- 
v    .'  :i.-r  i;..rviial 


.^' 


^^\ 


V 


> 


•?i 


■  •"  :i:  or  the 
...  IV' <I  J.  .1.  in 
:  ■  par:  ..r'rlM- 

■  :   i:  a.l'..iii^  l^. 

■■'  -ir«.-ii-ln> 
".'<   ilir  ar<-l>. 

-     7.  !•»  till-  left 

::i*.'  ix.rij-iial 
r:.i  ■..'  i>  ..n  i\,e 
a:[a<-hrni>nt  of 


K7 


i»  m- 


^ft 


XII— A 


nNMi  Jllf.  HflfC^  EiMiflVl»l,  Jl 
•d  «CWaL     TW  >l— Ml  are  ■« 


>«;^ 


•!*)• 


T«(*l, 


asi 


Dc; 


ti»  » 


Tftjior  Slid  K.  TanKeii  omoIioo  Mvenit  csm«9  (Tbj 
dira,  Ik.  rif.,  p.  r/1 !.  Out  ««•  a  litiJe  girl,  wmm^m^  m  a 
wba  Mcsdisislhr  cMi|{lil  b«r  week  in  tite  ihmm»  of  a  cafd  ml 
pidiflf  Q«4  lo  html  cIm  bodifli  of  ibeep  JMl  kilM.  8hr  «w  ^baa  sw- 
pMMW  ftl  ft  fPtat  baifht  iHl  dead.  A.  bi>j,  aged  lo^  «v  aka  k9W  bf  m 
efi«><#  ««f4»^  liii  mA  wtiilat  Mrbgfag.  In  1S96  m  gj— uart,  ia  pdirat^ 
n  hw  bediviom,  wa»Tmmg«'d  by  it^  iJxjmgh  to  feet  nrmaifd 
'  ar  llAV«rr<mli»c»t  th^y  |K>ib(  iMit  m  fpot  vhefe  a  aMM  hsf 
dmrn  to  **e«rp,  atta/rliini^  the  mpe  by  whtdi  iw  «as  Icadn^  a  «keep  bi 
liad  Holitn  Ui  lib  ivyrk;  whibt  b«  iil«|H  ib«  »bc«fi  paDcd  tb»n»|«vaad  ibof 
fUaiiclMl  hicn.  I>r.  Taylor  mentioitN  another  caje  of  a  lad«  ag^  liMtricvo, 
wbo  bad  witneMtid  an  execation  at  Xottin^bam,  aod  deternibwd  IB  tfj 
urbat  ilMaaoMSioo  was  like.  Tb«  Jiam<^  dny  be  vas  fnofid  dead,  liai%wd 
frf^rr-  -•  «f^"'  fttioilar  caMt  are  known  to  tbe  autbora,  chieiy  oeeurriiis  ill 
b<ih  i)oU^ 

N  Ml. ,  mi-  Amimcan  diver,  wa«  in  tbe  babit  Tsay*  Dr  Taylor)  of  raaking 
public  L*ifMinru4*nU  in  banking*  and  bad  freqtiputly  gone  ibrongb  tbeiv 
«itb()Ut  dangrr,  hut  in  .Tttnimrv.  1^^-40,  he  died  during  one  of  hi*  j)crf«>nn- 
aiic«ie.     It  k  probiihic  that  a  Mfigbl  ahifliug  of  tbe  ligature  from  under  ti»e 


■wiAt  — I     a  i     Til 


bvfW 


T^ 


TW 


THw  ffic  MM  kcm  JBttBCBBB  jiHi  skow 
10/40  CW  %M«f«  99§  rtlMttd,  awl  sIm  tke  n 

Ito4  Ml  tMt«  k4«rad.    iWe  l>wl  Wf>    iTTioffu    At  nj9 

•  rifiilsr  pvkaliiMi  m  «liierT«d  is  dbe  rigbt  «ilMlsv«a  vmb.    0«  ap- 

\yimt  f  li«  AHf  t/>  tfi*^  riKvt  tlri»  «••  fand  to  depead  «b  tW  bcsn,  vUeb 

I  ?i«hmI  i>«  h^i  eifi^tjr  tii»«»  fitr  miirate.  Onfr  oae  mmi»4  was  ImkiC 
liir  an/1  HMiioct,  afioonpaoKd  vitb  a  venr  *Jlg)iC  ua|Mil«L  TIms  Ibt 
'  -  "^  f  •  op4'fiM|«  aihI  Ibe  heart  Iai4  haf^.  mlioat  iftopiiia^  tf»  BoreflMttla. 
^J  «uri/'i^  rv»titr»ru^  ai>d  dilaini  m'lth  tmtffj  aM  NsgnWit/.     At 

i  (h«  paUalMKra  vera  fbfty  per  aiwatfe    Al  IM  tlwr  «tf«  ooly 

f  imita.    Al  2,49  MoolmMOiif  BOfcawDta  eeaaed  alUigtlber*  bel 

irrfr..i>ijiiy  f<»nii«ud  ttll  3.18  pjc^  mon  ihuk  Ore  iMMtn  after  tli«  iMUigta^. 
AltlMiii^h  l>r  CUrk  doet  aoi  aar  ao,  it  it  eztmMly  pfobable  tim  tba 
und  di»'"ov*Ted  hy  •tiM'i illation  before  the  opeoiup  of  th*  rh«i  wa«diia 

tlie  atirirle*  nilh*'r  than  Ui  ihe  ventricles  t  see  pag«^  3^>.  Tb^  ambrr*.  in 
|iioiiiit(  fbfii  caM»,  do  Dot  arUb  to  be  understood  a-  c^ 

the  c'be*t  before  death  was  certain.     It  doe»,  i  ;« 

heart,  or  a  {Kirtion  of  it.  retains  life  long  after  it  mi^iit  be  ^uppoiDed  lo  ba 
extirt^iiiiih^'d,  and  therefore  encourage:)  wa  lo  eontiuue  etforta  at  revival.  ID 
all  fftwe^  of  liUffpended  animation.  The  principUs  of  trratment  are  eaeett' 
liiilly  the  rame  in  ftran^ulalion  and  suffocation,  no  matter  the  exact  form. 
^■»(v  in  aome  of  these  it  may  be  Deoenary  either  to  loosen  the  ligature 


IKTBRNAL    APPEAKANCES    IN    DEATH    BT    HAKOIKO. 


^•M  hrirf.  and  tbe  ligature  «oft  and  eiupple,  there  may  be  scarcely  any 
mtak  nt  nil.  More  often  there  is  a  groove  or  furrow  (Si  If  on,  Lul.  mlctu*)  in 
Altf  tu'ri;  which,  in  81  per  cent.,  will  be  between  the  chin  and  the  larynx, 
or  Hpper  part  of*  the  windpipe.  This  may  he  oblique  in  direi'hori,  and  the 
Itiark  is  often  interrupted.  This  furrow  is  single  or  double,  niid  rej^ular 
or  irregular  like  if^  cause.  A  5*inple  rope,  etc.,  going  twice  rouud  the  neck 
would  leave  a  double  mark;  these  tnark.<«  are  not  always  parallel  when 
double,  Qrtila  justly  insists  on  this.  A  large  single  thick  ?<ewcHl  leather 
thong,  pre^i^ing  only  by  itjf  borders,  would  leave  a  double  mark.  (Tardieu, 
"from  observationa  in  the  prison  of  Mazai*.)  The  furrow  may  not  quite 
corres|>ond  to  the  size  of  the  ligature.  In  general,  the  narrower  the  liga- 
ture or  cord,  and  the  longer  the  hiitiuiug,  the  deej>er  the  furrow.  In  cases 
of  short  ijUi-|)ension  the  color  may  be  ipiite  natural.  S^i,  aU»^  when  the 
blofd vessel''  and  *.kin  are  young  atid  healthy.  More  oftcn^  indred^  j«ome- 
i'lmff  tiftrr  ouhj  short  gunpt^uAion,  the  furrow  uiideryoe^  a  *ori  of  dfjtir^ntion, 
and  becomes  iike  parchment.  As  noted  by  Ollivier  (d* Angers)  and  Caused 
(tfM/ft/),  above  and  below  the  borders  of  the  furrow,  which  are  slightly 
Tai.«ed  in  most  cai*es,  the  «ktii  is  usually  violet,  due  generally  to  conges- 
tion. Uemer  explains  it  by  extravasation,  and  this  may  perhaps  occur 
8ometiine?«.  Rarely  there  are  slight  excavations  in  this  furntw,  and  small 
superficial  ecehyfooses.  Thtre  may  aim  be  fiigermarkf,  even  in  ro*€S  of 
suicide.  Note  their  direction,  nize,  nnd  number.  If  the  furrow  bo  cut  into, 
blood  yiometiiues  escapes.  The  Mate  of  the  genital  organs  is  often  one  of 
turgegrence^  .«o  that  i»  males  tlie  penis  is  more  or  less  erect  or  large,  and 
there  is  an  emission  of  .eometliiug  like  seminal  fluid,  which  is  really  proe- 
tatic  in  moj*t  case*',  and  may  be  mixed  with  blood.  In  the  female  there 
may  be  an  erect  clit<»ri5,  and  there  often  is  a  sort  of  spurious  menstruation. 
There  is,  however,  no  reas^oa  to  believe  that  any  pleasurable  feelings  are 
connected  with  this  (Brierre  de  Boismont,  Rouget,  and  other*,  quoted  by 
Tardieu,  he.  rii.  pp.  3>^-9j. 

The  special  internal  appearances  met  with  in  hanging  are: 

(1)  Rarely  fracture  or  dislocation  of  cartilages  of  larynx — most  prob> 
able  in  elderly  people. 

{2 1   The  some  lesions  in  the  o»  hyoides  or  tongue-bone^  also  very  rari\ 

(3)  Amusisat  and  others  (first  in  1828)  noticed  that  the  middle  and 
inner  eoois  of  the  carotid  artery  may  be  divided. 

(4)  There  may  be  di:*locatioii  of  the  cervical  vertebra*,  especially  frac- 
ture of  the  odontoid  process,  aud  rupture  of  it.%  ligaments,  with  dialocaiiun 
of  axis  and  atlas  <  •i**e  page  8.S0,  and  figure*  explauatoryj, 

(5)  The  larynx  is  nMJully  deeply  congested  (red  but  not  violet^  the  tatter 
tint  being  due  to  putrefaction ).  There  will  generally  be  some  blood-tinged 
froth  here  ami  in  tiie  bronchi. 

(6)  As  regards  lungs  and  heart,  the  conditions  will  vary,  according  at 
death  hiL**  occurre<l  from  syncope  or  asphyxia,  etc.  (see  page  555).  Tar^ 
dieu  denies  punctiform  ecchymo6e«,  or  apoplexies,  unless  there  has  been 
suffocation^ 

(7)  The  stomach  (as  pointed  out  by  Yellowly,  Chevere,  and  Taylor)  It 
oftrn  congeMed  m  much  a*  to  resemble  the  rffecU  of  irritant  poisoning.  Gay*l 
fli>spihil  Mui*eum  contains  some  fine  specimens  of  this. 

(<8)  There  is  rarely  any  ap<»plexy  in  these  cases,  or  much  c»'  of 

the  cerebral  ve^i^els.     It  has  been  found  that  opening  the  windj  re- 

hand  l>elow  the  ligature  prolongs  life  for  some  time.     A  dog  no  iwnltd 
lived  three  hours  suspended. 


DR.  OGSTOD    8   CA8E8< 


837 


Hanging  or  Sugpenaion  after  Death. 

Tlound  in  hia  experiment*  that  if  a  body  were  handed  immedi- 
tti'UT  dettlh  (say  williiu  one  or  two  hour-ij  the  H,}){ieiinuK"cs  as  to  the 
of  ihe  eord,  etc.,  were  jii>t  the  ^lUIle  as  it"  deiilb  hud  takeu  phiee  by 
n^.      Ill   one    case  seventy-two   boura   liad   ehijjsed  1      ("  Kliiiisehe 
Icn,"  18<j:J,  p.  4^9.)     These  rerm»rkis  a(»ply  abin>jit  exclu?ively  to  the 
c  ot"  the  behiy,  and  to  the  neek  in  ]»irticular,     Casper'y  coueluHons 
ire5«rai*whal  coutradlutory  Id  regard  to  liit^  ex  peri  men  L^i  at  different  times. 
I  Bui  Taylor  and  others  adopt  his  ounebisionfi,  lu  the  main,  as  we  alno  are 
bound  T(i  do,  m  far  as  that  ii'  the  tii^siies  preserve  a  certain  annmnf  of 
ily  the  cord  will  pnxiyce  marks.     The   blood,  however,  would  prob- 
be  le&»  fluid,  and  there  wcmtd  not  be  extraviU«satioiis  of  lilood, 
our   answer  to  the   tjiiestiau,  '*  Wn*  death  cauf'f'd  fry  hau^inff*"  can 
•tldom  \w  positive  ad  regardss  the  medical  evidence  ahine,  since  we  have 
that  there  is  no  one  .sicrp  pectdiar  to  banging  I'unHtutttly  met  with, 
e  se<'onil  qnesiion,  "  MW  death  ifiticld'if  or  homin'ttui .*''  ranst  also  de- 
pwd  on  a  variety  of  drcun».«tatice8,  and,  likt  the  Jormer,  can  i?e!doinj  if 
ever,  bf  answered  nierely  from  poet-mortem  appearaoces.      Yon  mttJ*t  care- 
fidiy  notr  the  mrrounding^i — the  absence  of  all  sign;*  of  ttru^^jj^iiMtTt  the 
ihwnce  of  marks  of  injury  on  the  body,  the  [ire v ions  history  of  the  de- 
funct, the  time,  place,  and   manner  (»f  the  hanging,  will   all   aid  you,  if 
^)ded  by  common  sense,  to  franje  your  answer.     Do  not  pretend  to  super- 
humau  sagacity !     It  is  often  erroneous  to  »ay  that  the  feeblest  people 
I  take  their  own  live:*,  fur  experience  h  against  thi^  tbeoretic  view. 
lule  invalid  or  valetudinarian  can  do  wonders.     Dr.  Taylor  hat* 
cases,  in  which  suicides  first  wounded  themselves,  and  then  Ii  nibbed 
»elf-tiiaugbter  by  suspension  !      Si^e  aUo  Casper  ("  Gerieht  Lfieh. 
"   vol.  ii,  p.  89/ and  "Aniialeft  d'lIyj^n^ne,"   1848,  1,  444.)      Where 
wounds  of  the  hearty   throat,   fff.,   hnife  been   iujiidedf   fhretttenintj 
e  Jrom  hmi  of  blood,  we  mtiMit  u,^nalfy  KUMped  mttrdt;r.     8o  al*o  where 
ore  other  marks  of  violence  on   the  botly,  or  the  furnitnre  of  the 
..-.,  or  other  fjurroundin^?^,  sliows  irace.s  of  severe  strn^;i;li(jg.     If  botb 
'^TWips  nnd  windows  are  found  fastened  from  the  in-'^ide,  suidde  wouhl  gener- 
nrolmble.     But   this  tact  is  scarcely  medical  evidence.     Siill,  a 
b.Mcrver,  8ucb  a»  a  medical  man  is  &uppi>aed  to  be,  ij?  wrojij^  to  over- 
'  -c  things,  and  leave  them  all  to  the  police  to  discover.     Remember 

II  have  been  given  beforehand,  and  the  bady  hanged  to  avert 


'IiUpI  lho»e  i>iige«  were  being  pHntod,  Dr.  Og>ton,  of  AlwrcWn,  published  the 
ring  in  th«»  "  Medicnl  Time*  wnd  OuzuUe  "  for  Ni»v    11,  IBT'l,  ns  \\w  resiult  of 

itiMl  rxftiniiiMti'm  of  forty  bodii*s  ot  jutsotis  whf>  were  either  liHngeil  by  olhi^rs 
ll««ti  or  uiurderud)  or  hMtiged  iheiiisi'h'i'ft  (^-uicaJal  cH»>e¥) : 

Ifrpnly-one  (or  62  6  (»er  ei'nt.)  tlio  ffntur*^^  were  vnhn  Hindi  phi  (id.      In  on?  {% 
iJiu  rX|irc«!>iori  wna  extremely  itnxioui*,  mid  tlie  ey*'b«ll>  v**ry  pn»niin**f*l. 

iirty-nin*!  (or  117.6  per  cenL)  i\\M  pupiU  were  d tinted ;  in  only  tine  fiist!  were 

ibtruet^d. 

\H  cMfti;  thn  extornni  nndilory  cunul  on  both  f>ides  wnoi  Full  of  blood. 

•urUvn  c»<ne*  {i*t  3.*i  per  cetil.j   the  tvutfur  tfat  prvtrudcil  or  maikedby  the 

tltro«onty  was  there  froth  »t  th«  tips,  nnd  in  one  nl  the  n'»"trih. 

lor  *ir»  (HT  feril),  «»r  |  of  th»>  c»-e«i,  iherc  wero  aigns  f1$€xcittment  of  the 
Tlir  pt?ni«  wm«  erect  in  s<5ven,  Mun) -erect  in  f<jur;  in  eight  there  were 
uf  pruMtiitic  fluid;  of  urin«  in  fi>ur,  of  blotKl  in  two  (one  male,  one  fe- 

^«spamtMM^  tAt  neek  tht  only  uniform  appwranw  wm  tht  gruott  dir  furrow  l^i 


838 


CASK    OF    MARC    ANTOINB    CALA8. 


JlhtMrative  Ca»es. 

No.  I. — Suicide  mpposed  to  be  Murder— PoptUnr  Prejudicf^  on  the 
Ground  of  Religion— The  Case  oj  Mare  Antoinc  CaUu — Erronctms 
Medi&il  Evidence, 

AVe  quote  this  case  because  many  of  the  English  versions  ("even  thiit  «jf 
Br.  Taylor)  are  incorrect  in  8ome  rictails.  (Sw  Vollairc'a  "  Trait6  put  la 
toU^rauce  k  I'occasiriD  tie  la  mort  de  Jean  Cains;"  "Nonveaiix  rii^lrtii^es 
Philosophiques  Hi,Htoriquc.«,"  etc.,  lime  partie,  ^ditiou  de  1772  (t.  xxxii, 
p.  oO),  containing  the  **  Pieces  originales  coucernaDt  la  niort  de  Sieurs 
Calas;"  and  Tardieu,  loc.  c»'/.,  p.  67.  etc) 

Jean  Calas,  aged  sixty-eight,  was  a  Protestant  merehaut  of  Toulouse,  of 
excellent  character.  His  wife  and  family  were  ali  Protestauts,  exoej)t  ooe 
son  (Louis  Gala-)  who  had  become  a  Catliolle.  One  of  hi«  f'uvorite 
vantu  was  also  a  Catholic.  One  of  the  sons.  Marc  Antoine^  was  a  man  oi 
letter?,  but  conpideretl  to  be  of  a  turbulent  disposition,  gloomy  and  violeol. 
Having  no  taste  for  bu^jiness,  and  being  hindereil  from  the  practice  of  the 
law  on  aeconnt  of  \m  Protestanti:*m,  he  res^olved  to  end  hh  life,  communi- 
cated the  idea  to  one  of  his  friendj«,  and  read  all  he  conld  fin<!  In  bi»ok!<on 
the  subject  of  guicide.  At  last,  on  the  I'Uh  October,  1761,  having  lost 
some  nioijey  by  gambling,  he  deiernruied  lo  carry  out  thii*  project.  One 
of  his  friends  supjU'd  with  him  and  other  members  of  the  family.  After 
supper  they  went  to  another  room.  Marc  Antoiiie  dii*appeare<l  wlien  the 
friend  was  about  to  take  his  leave  ;  the  brulher  Pierre  (Calas's  second  son) 
went  downstairs  with  the  friend,  and  found  Marc  Antoine  han^in*;  in  his 
shirt,  from  a  stick  or  billet  of  wood  placed  across  folding-doors,  partly 
open,  which  led  to  the  shop.  His  other  clothes  were  folded  up  on  the 
counter  ;  his  hair  was  neatly  arranged  ;  there  were  no  marks  or  signs  of 
lujury  of  any  kind  on  the  body  {suuie  slight  marks  were  afterwards  caused 
by  carelessnt^  in  carrying  the  body  to  the  town  hall).  The  criejn  <»f  the 
unfortunate  family  caused  a  great  crowd  to  assenible.  Some  fanatic  cried 
out  that  theuld  man  liad  murdered  his  son  by  hanging  him,  out  of  hatred 
to  the  Catholic  religion.  The  mob  took  up  the  cry,  and  some  said  the 
friend  ^Lavaisse)  hail  helped  to  haug  the  deceased.  The  whole  faniily, 
their  friend,  and  even  the  Catholic  servant,  were  put  in  irons,  Improb- 
able  as  it  was  that  the  old  man  alone  could  have  hanged  this  youth  of 
IwcDty-eight,  he  was  condemned  to  death  (to  be  broken  on  the  wheel).  A 
surgeon  named  Lamarque  declared  that  the  remains  of  food  found  in  the 


hff  the  ligature.     This  mwrk,  if  ^ini^lp,  w«s  not  contiououB^  owing  to  Ihc  prumincnce 
of  tht?  iiir-lubt?,  und  of  the  *tortifi-Tnn«toid  miisclpi. 

In  twi'iuy-i^veji  (or  67.6  jk-T  ci-ni.)  the  knioni  of  thU  furrow  wn*  whUi*h. 

In  thiriwn  (or  82  o  percent.)  it  whb  pwri.hmyn(<«d,  dry,  broMrii,  nnd  homy.  In 
five  il  WHS  nbrnded.  In  two  rcddcntHJ.  There  wih  u>urtlly  h  white,  «ilverv,  and 
dry  alrenk  Ht  th*»  points  of  j^rent^^fil  jfPf»sji»»r«.  Then*  wn*  lnj*«cti<»f»  of  th»»  •■kin  nt 
IholMiltmn  of  ihp  grcHivc  (HcchymoFos  «»f  cr'rvjcul  vi'nn1«r>)  in  tivo  (in  1^.7  j  —  ■  *  S,\ 
A*  Holed  by  Ne\djng  iind  Bromme  (*'  Annulet  d  Uyi;it*ne/'  etc.,  No.  Tin,  \ 

Tlicff  viH-  r«lin'ss  of  the  nna-oun  mLunbrniiH  ol  the  trache»  in  ^.^  y*  \  .jr' 

14  out  of  40)      Dr.  Ogston't  wolUknown  chnructer  as  ii  careful  obAcrv«r  reudon 
these  remltf  vwlunSle. 

AUIum^h,  tht'Tcfori*.  Tnylor,  Tardii^ii,  Dev*»rgie,  «nd  tiithfr!»,  ndniit  lh»l  wh  hm 
no  Kbsokuely  certiyn   pn^i  nnortem   signs  of  dpiith  by  hiinging,  nio»t  mi'di(^<»-l«»tfM 
ftdniit  thiit  it  is  v«tv  *t*ld<mi  the  medical  wilnn*«  will  renljy  huve  nua-h  A 
ihu  vMU»«  of  deHih  Jf  h«  bu  careful  lo  laok  for  and  note  the  combinnlion 
of  iho  ]i*«iiun'^  ntimt-d,  together  with  the  tnitrk  or  furrow  on  the  neck,  whhlh   wn) 
Aoldimi  indt!i*d  b«  nhsont-,  iind  to  note  nt  thu  flniue  tiine  the  :)urrounding>»  wf  lh« 
body. 


840 


BUIGIDB    MISTAKEN    FOR    MURDER. 


from  it.     The  vagina  was  bloodr,  her  linen  stftined  with  blood. 

evaeutttec!  and  flattenetJ.     The  right  arm  raised^  quite  &li(f,  ami  und 
cloak.    A  physician  (who  knew  from  hers»elt'of  her  preguancy  \  wil» 
ID, aud  iucHoed  to  the  idea  nf  suieide.     Bhe  was  burietJ,  but  exhum 
days  after,  otv  account  of  suspicions.     Further  medical   exaininuif< 
vealed  parch  men  tjit  ion  of  the  furrow  in  the  neck,  l»ealfhy  tstomacij^' 
gorged  with  black  blood,  ahdomeo  livid  and  discoloreil  (they  do  uofri 
of  Huger-iiiarks).     The  other  appearances  noted   by  the  women  thtij 
firtii»  esfM:;eittlly  as  to  the  grass  stain.     The  yterus  waa  examinedt  \ 
fcEtus  Ibund.     The  membranes  were  entire.     The  foetus  weighed  fiv 
antl  measured  eight  inches.     It  had  neither  nails  nor  hair.     The  a 
date  of  cntieeption  wai*  30th  of  August;  the  last  catamenia  Augujil 
Dctttli   tcjok  place  on   December  20th.  '  A  question  was   raiiied,  Wki 
most   probable,  that  a  foetus,  aged  only  three  mouths  and  twenty 
shouhl  he  !so  large,  or  that  she  menstruated  after  conception?    <See 
5G4  and  Ii04.|     On  the   26th    of  January  the  body  w&»  again  exafl 
but  fruitli\s.sly.     A  man   called  Avery  waa   tried  for  the  murder 
female.     Whiljit  it  seems  certain  that  death  wa.**  caused  by  strangu 
or  apnofa,  there  are   many   difHcultiea  connected    with  thi«  ca«. 
authors  coufei^  that  the  clove  hitch,  and  Hjme  other  circumstances,  i] 
them  to  the  idea  of  mtirder  by  some  person  or  other. 

The  cai^  of  the  Prince  of  Conde,  Duke  of  Bourbon,  father  of  |h? 
lunate  Duke  d*Enghten,  has  been  mentioned  at  page  831,  Both  T 
Beck,  and  Tardieu,  give  this  vaac  at  some  length. 

Many  years  ago  a  tailor  named  George  Heboer  was  found  hinjj 
the  top  of  a  bedstead  in  the  garret  of  a  hou-se  of  ill-farae,  kept  by  a 
named  Hughes,  in  Dean  Street^  London.  HU  hawU  ifWf  tied  behii 
bftckf  his  handkerchief  drawn  over  his  face,  and  the  rope  around  hU 
was  Jadcned  by  a  mifor»  knot.  These  circumslaoces  led  to  the  arr«i 
conviction  of  a  sailor  called  Ludmun,  who,  w*ith  Mrs.  Hughes.,  wa« 
guilty  and  executeil.     Beck,  he.  cit.,  p.  566  ;  Parid,  vol.  iii,  p.  44. 


Cases  IV  and  V. — Sutddal  Hanging  mttstaken  for  Murder, 
(Taken  from  Tardieu,  lac.  dt,  pp,  73,  74,  etc) 

In  the  first  case,  a  married  woman  of  loose  morals,  who  had 
brought  on  abortion,  and  was  nearly  always  drunk,  was  found  I 
husband,  hanging  in  a  crouching  position  by  a  rolled-up  handki 
attached  to  the  key  of  her  chamber  door  (the  keys  are  often  large  ii 
mandy)  at  a  height  of  only  ninety-eight  centimetre^!,  or  little  man 
three  leet  from  the  ground.  He  trie<l  to  conceal  her  mode  of  d«al 
(on  medical  evidence,  which  M,  Tardieu  j^howa  to  be  quite  errouooui 
sentenced  to  the  gatleya,  wdiere  he  died  within  about  a  year.  As  e 
of  the  medical  errors,  take  the  denial  of  the  possibility  of  death  by 
suspension,  the  deacriptiou  of  the  marks  in  the  neck  (produced 
handkerchief)  a.4  done  by  hands,  and  the  further  denial  tiint  blocM 
comes  from  the  nose  in  cases  of  hanging! 

The  second  case  was  one  in  which  a  hudbaud  w«8  aoottsed  of 
stmugled  his  wife,  aged  forty-eight,  who  was  found  in  a  loftorgraail 
a  sitting  posture,  propped  up  against  some  planks,  below  n  K^aral 
which  ft   broken  rope  still   hung.     The  rope  had   broken   I  i 

The  husband,  who  found  her  at  ^.30  a.m.,  nrst  carried  her  t  i 

only  sent  for  a  doctor  aume  time  after,  who  arrived  at  11.^. 


6TRAKQDLATI0B    BT    ACC1DX5T* 


•M,  and  tnuiaiU  muiandU  in  iiifiiote),  to  tlmafmlA  Uian  to  J 
l^rclbre.  fmngintj,  except  in  the  case  of  tjotemhatu^  or  of  tKe  bodioi 
mI  pcst-nioriem. /or  /A^r  mfui;  parf  m^tr j 8t;icn>s^ to  ilmifiiMoii. aoct- 
^e:l copied, /or  the  moAt  part  meauA  MURDER.  Let  as  ex|>t*in  vlist  we 
I  bv  acx'iileni.  The  cnae  referred  to  at  page  832,  of  a  maa  l>ang«d  by 
Bp'naa  more  pro|^»crly  strong^ulation,  or  would  have  been  so  if  lia  inere 
;oa  level  gn^und.  Again  Dr.  Gi>rdi>ti  Smith  tell^  of  a  lad  vho  naed 
a  heavy  weight  ftu«peoded  fmm  his  neck  by  a  string.  Doe  daj 
him/quite  dead,  (titling  in  a  chair.  He  had  probably  gone  to 
•bc^tko  weight  had  slipped,  aod  drawu  the  cord  tight  round  his  Deck. 
D^^^f^lor  rtK.'ordi!i  ihc  l^iuhj  of  a  girl  who  carried  fi§h  iu  a  basket  at  ber 
bscit»  Wipendeil  by  a  leather  f^trap  paii»<iug  round  the  froDt  of  her  neck,, 
tJ^»o  Imt  ahoulih'ra.  She  wa«  found  dead  (lu  Jutie,  1839j  sittiug  oo  a 
4tafti«*U;  tbe  basket  had  «lip{»ed  oH',  probably  whiUt  ^he  was  re0ting«aiMl 
IimI  |4m  laiMHl  the  fitrup,  which  had  forcibly  and  fatally  comprea^  her 
H^M^^ilMib  Dr.  Tuvlor  kiw  a  cn^  in  Guy's  H(M<pital  in  Noveatber.  1^(64 
flfeiMa  ia  hb  work.  vol.  ii,  p.  V*(V)  of  a  buy,  "aged  fourteen  yeare,  mboiM 
vKvMktiit  knoitrd  u[iil  ti^ditly  tvvi^ted  round  his  neck,  waa  caught  in  tlie 
ImmIvJ^  an  engiiu*  and  lii^  uerk  druui)  down  ugain^t  one  of  the  revolviog 
if^Jktk  Hu*  tierk  wu^  thus?  eoinpre>.oed  about  one  minute.  There  waa  a 
4K^c«ivitUr  dt'pivi<8ion,  three-qimrtir:»  of  an  inch  wide,  all  round  it.  The 
Vtirk  **»  twelve  inches  in  clrunmfereuce,  while  the  inner  circumference 
^^  \3k»  haudkert-hief  uhich  cumpri^sed  the  neck  was  reduced  to  eight 
ilKlb««!  He  Invanie  black  in  the  tace,  aud  blood  es^caped  from  bis  luuuth 
^Hvl  ^nw  For  *ix  or  tieveu  nnnu(4>a  afler  the  ligature  had  been  removed 
^  «aa  iaaeiioibte.  He  then  revived,  aud  was  able  to  speak,  but  cotild 
«t)i  IMU  up  hiN  head.  When  tirought  to  the  hospital  stton  afterwaniti  he 
MJ,  jamihlr  :  hiN  face  waa  pale,  bi»  lii>s  were  livid,  his  eyes  suffufed,  aod 
^^  vHMi^ac^tivie  injeetiHl.  lie  breathed  witluiiit  difHcuky,  and  only  com* 
t^  \'S  |viin  wht-n  he  moved  ]it»  head.  The  btiy  tuld  Dr.  Taylor  that 
9.  %iwv\*i  tito  aicideiit  hi'  fell  no  [min  ;  he  had  a  sense  of  choking,  and 
^i^caun'  iu)*rn»iible.  For  <(!  ku4ft  one  minrdi'  no  air  entered  hi»  lungs. 
I^WkViNV4t,  and  let!  tin;  hudpital  in  aliuut  eighteen  days/' 
IV  *i\ivh»r  very  properly  advirnfH  u  photograph  or  drawing  to  be  made 
ki  ..*»k.A'  i»i  ihr  |Hvotion  of  the  body  and  surrounding  objects  This  advice 
,^\«  ♦  and  M »  appliew  to  all  caT^ea  of  bodies  found  dead  und^r  <ieajht- 
_,  ,  ,  ....k,.iiiiuvi*.  Although  */rofir^u/o/mn  uj^uaify  meuns  7WHr</rr,  certain 
^i^i-i  lid  iruiriilc  by  thh  vwthoii  are  known  to   medical  jurist*. 

V|i[<hKv«%'  ..,.,,*  i»//fi»yf r»  AI.DNK  are  present  to  explain  the  death,  we 
Iglia4  M^HH't  mimler,  lor  ihe  pressure  applied  by  a  would-be  suicide,  by 
^m^*^  Huown  Hiig^'ni,  would  be  relaxed  as  soon  as  he  or  she  IxH^ttme 
liul  I  he  melhmlti  of  jxtriial  hanging,  deeicribed  at  pages  831-2, 
ii  |t»  utrnngulatidii,  aud  determined  suicides  either  lighten 
1  a  fitii'k  iiis  iu  the  case  re|>orted  by  Mr.  Thorp  in  the 
>,"  tVtol>er,  18")1,  and  iu  the  ca.se  of  General 
(  use?*,  Xo.  V) ),  or  by  a  rough  con!  |Hts««d  tww 
find  lightened  by  each  hand  ("Guy's  Uo^p. 
.y  ont^  foot,  or  both  lower  extremities,  have 
I  he  knot;*,  by  twisting  them  in  loops  iquwd  Mirrups),* 
knot  ha«  sulfice«l ;  or  a  double  knot  has  been  tried* 
m*e  of  a  yiHing  woman  of  Monlevrin,in  the  Cantoo 
.:;44d  iu  U\),  lying  on  her  face,  with  a  woollen  garter 
d  \wt  nm.^'k,  ms.'\itcd  iti  fnint  by  two  simple  knots,  strongly 


\  |v>  (jkAlrvy  ltiro*«)r  ihut,  bum  timely  dii€ov«ry  |i«rmltt«d 


844 


TREATMENT    OF   STRANGULATION. 


The  principal  diflfciTuces  between  homicidal ttrangulation  and  hangtog 
will  probably  be:  fl 

Ist.  That  the  mark  of  the  rope  or  iiyature,  fhov^k  perhaps  Umi  derp  than 
in  hafiffittgt  w  more  covip/rte,  that  is,  it  is  Uhually  eireul»r,  and  goes  all 
round  the  neck,  more  horizontiilly  than  iii  hatiging.  There  are  ^eitsr- 
alltf  other  jnarku  of  xnoienrc  on  the  tirrk  nad  other  parti*  of  th*'  hody.  In  easet 
of  throttling  and  gurotting  there  n'ill  be  market  nf  finger  a  and  thumbs,  The«e, 
in  iDf'anl!^  and  very  young  persons,  or  very  thin  persons,  may  be  confii 
to  the  front  or  side^i  of  the  vvitidpipe.  Such  marks  phoidd,  if  p)6sible, 
photographed,  at  all  events  isketched,  and  mfa>?ured  on  a  aimie  of  lin 
milljmetree,  or  mme  filmWut  division.  Bruiwes  and  scratches,  perhapel 
more  serious  injuries,  will  be  found  on  the  body.  Do  not  forget  to  exami 
the  genital  organe  and  their  vicinity,  particularly  in  female*. 

Ctt^per  slatt's  that  these  murks  can  only  be  produced  a  very  few  h< 
after  dealh,  certainly  not  after  six  hours.  On  this  s^ubject  aee  the  gen< 
remarks  in  the  next  ihiipler  on  wounds  and  other  injuries.  When  ll 
marks  are  prtKlueetl  in  a  duid  boily  we  t'hould  probably  find  other  cat 
of  death,  and  the  internal  appearances  would  be  ditferent. 

It  is  paid  that  when  soft  materials*  (such  r.-^  cambric,  muFlin,  or  cashmere) 
are  U!*ed,  no  marks,  or  very  sJigbt  mark.s^  are  seen.  The  Thug»  aresnppoMxi 
to  operate  thus  artistically.  The  authors  believe  that  the  riddle  is  solvj 
by  suffocation  being  adJeil  to  slight  preliminary  constrictiou  of  the  thi 
The  tongue  is  ofleu  proiruiled  or  bitten. 

The  deeper  parts  of  the  neck  are  often  injured  severely,  and  fractt 
of  the  hyoid  bone,  of  the  cartilages  of  the  larynx,  etc.,  together  with 
jnriea  to  the  cervical  vertebrae  and  to  the  btoodvessels  and  nerves  of 
neck,  may  all  be  met  with  in  homicidal  cases  ;  though  perhajis  less 
quentiy  than  in  hanging  when  the  .suspen,siou  has  been  accotripiinied  b] 
tall.       ^         _ 

2d.  There  is  more  congcjstion  of  iheiargnx^  trachea^  and  air-poMtigfJt 
u  iwial  in  hfiitging;  and  frothy   nenrltj  (dmty.i  bloodstained ^  is  int*^ 
present ^  according  to   Tnrdieu.     Remember,  that  if  called  to  a  body 
warm,  some  of  these  marks  may  not  have  had  time  to  api>ear ;  they 
most  evident  in  persons  on  whom  strangulation  has  been  attempted, 
who  have  more  or  less  recovered*     The  after-effects  oi"  such  attempts 
often  very  serimis.     In  addition  to  the  convulsionSj  and  swelling  of  thj 
and  neck,  and  lower  jMirt  of  face,  and  upper  part  of  chest,  met  with  in 
these  cases  at  first,  there  may  be  subseijueut  pulmonary  and  larynj^ 
troubles,  paralysis,  the  formation  of  abscesses,  and  bedsores,  and  ilekilij 
«  period  .wmewhat  remote  from  the  attack. 


The  Treatment  of  Strangulation. 

From  what  has  been  said  it  is  quite  evident  that  our  principles  of  ti 
meut  must  he  the  same  as  those  given  for  hanging,  viz.,  Kenioval  of 
constricliun  from  the  neck,  artificial   re,spirali<in,  and  (if  the  body  be 
cold)  cold  affusion;  perhaps  galvanisui,  ^tiuiulants  to  the  uoetriU, 
alcoholic  stimulants  and  light  nourishment  by  the  mouth,  or  per  recti 
if  the  lH)dy  be  cold,  liot  buttles  and  chafing  or  rubbing  the  limlis, 
drowning,  and  sometiuies  venesection  should  be  adopted.     The  eubseiji 
treatment  must  be  guided   by  the  usmil  principles  of  medicine  and 
eery^  and  depen<ls  on  the  symptoms,  whether  pneumonia,  or  the  local 
juries  lo  the  neck  and  other  parts,  or  the  effects  of  shock,  etc.,  have  to  I 
combated. 


846 


MURDER    SUPPOSED    TO    BE    SCICIDE. 


cretion  of  the  court,  to  be  kept  in  penal  servitude  for  life,  or  for  any  term 

not  less  than  three  years or  to  be  imprisoned  for  any  term  not 

exceeding  two  years. ''  As  the  intent  in  cases  of  'jstrotimg  is  usually 
robbery,  it  ie  provided  by  Seetion  21,  in  order  to  check  this  crime,  that, 
**  Whoeoever  liball  by  any  niemns  whatsoev^er,  attempt  to  ch>kt\  unfforfttjp,  or 
ttruftfffe,  any  other  person,  orslmll  bt/  ant^  memts  cahnlntfif  to  choke,  »ujfhcaU^ 
or  stranfjte^  attempt  to  render  any  other  person  insensible,  unconscious,  or 
incapiible  of  resistance,  with  intent,  tii  any  of  such  cases,  to  enable  himself, 
or  any  olher  person,  to  commit,  or  with  intent  in  any  of  such  ciwai  thereby, 
to  ojswist  any  other  person  In  committin^^  any  indictable  offence,  ^hall  be 
guilty  of  felony,  and  bclniK  convicted  thereof  shall  be  liable,  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  court,  to  be  kept  in  pena!  servitude  for  life,  or  for  any  term 
not  Ic-ia  than  three  years or  be  imprisoned  for  auy  term  not  ex- 
ceeding two  years,"  etc. 

We  do  not  agree  with  Dr.  Taylor  in  his  regret  that  the  hx  tnlloni*  ig 
not  more  resorted  to  in  such  cases,  as  we  rcp^urd  even  the  use  of  the  la«h 
as  a  return  to  barbarism.  What  we  believe  to  be  essential  is  that  the 
pnnishnj<^nt  of  such  crimes  should  be  not  so  mutrh  severe  as  certain,  and 
not  so  much  a  mockery  as  a  life  sentence  becon»es  when  the  criniiual  is 
let  off  with  a  ticket  of  leave  after  a  very  short  term  of  imprison  men  t. 

Iflrvstrative  Cff*<v«. 

No.  I. — Supposed  SuiHdal  Hanging — The  Ligature  {or  tape)  in  found  too 
weak — Further  eznmination  reveals  Severe  Injuries  to  Neck  and  Throats 

(Dr.  Taylor,  for.  «V.,  vol.  ii,  pp.  71-2  ) 

"In  Reg^ina  v.  Pinckard,  Northampton  Lent  Assizes,  1852,  it  was  proved 
that  deceased  was  found  in  a  sitting  poslure  in  a  corner  of  her  ri>om,  on 
the  floor  with  a  mirrow  tape  round  her  neck  hunji  h^osely  and  singly  over 
a  smull  brass  hook  about  three  feet  above  her  head,     ller  chithes  Were 

Elacied  smoothly  under  her,  and  her  hands  were  opcm  an«l  strelchcd  out  by 
er  sides.  (Dr.  Taylor  gives  a  sketch  of  the  room  and  bmly.  in  position. > 
There  was  a  severe  bruise  over  the  ri^hteye,  and  there  were  innrks  of  blood 
on  the  tape  as  well  as  on  the  floor  and  wall  of  the  room  at  a  di*lunee  from 
the  body.  There  was  a  stain  of  fresh  blood  on  the  knot  of  the  tape  where 
it  passed  over  the  huok,  and  there  was  no  blood  on  the  bancU  of  the  de- 
ceased. The  windpipe  for  about  Ih  inches  was  lacerated  loufjitudinally 
io  its  riu|fjs.  there  was  a  deefj  ctrctilar  mark  round  the  neck  in  the  course 
of  the  doubled  tape,  as  if  either  from  great  pressure  applied  by  some  person, 
or  from  the  weight  of  the  suspended  lnwly.  The  latter  hypothe^'ts,  so  fur 
aa  the  tape  round  the  neck  was  cor>cerned,  was  untenable.  The  hodjf  of 
the  deneoAed  did  not  weigh  prohabhj  lr»n  than  120  poundu^  whilftt  the  tnpt 
found  round  her  nrek  broke  with  a  weight  of  fi>rtg-nirte  poundtf,  hence  tnt 
deceased  couhi  not  have  been  freely  suspended  by  it,*  Apart  from  thU 
the  injuries  to  the  paru  about  tfie  neck,  including  the  lougituilinal  fraclure 
of  the  windpipe,  were  not  such  as  the  tape  couhl  have  produced  na  a  result 
of  partial  suspension  in  the  |M>sitinn  in  wliich  the  deceased's  brnly  waA 
f  mnd.  The  nor»se  had  been  so  placed  that  the  greatest  pressure  was  on 
the  back  of  the  neck,  and  the  least  in  front,  where  the  greatest  amount  of 
mechanical  injury  was  actually  done.  The  deceased  had  been  8tran|^lt?<l 
probably  by  manual  violence  in  the  first  instance,  and  afterwards  by  the 
use  of  a  ligature  drawn  tightly  by  the  hancL    The  body  was  then  looped 


♦  In  thiscMW  the 
that  tt  rope  miiy 


ibroken.     Some  of  Tdrdk'u'i  cusps  •♦♦em  to  show 
*ttr  eaosing  death,  in  chso*  of  banging. 


i4B 


GENERAL    PICHEORP    S    DEATH, 


the  eyes  bloodshot.  And  Mr.  Lain?by,  a  sor^eon,  deposed  to  the  marka 
on  the  Deck  a^  being  very  distinct,  with  a  swelling  above  and  belove  them. 
It  is  urged,  lu  opfwjsition  to  these  striking  facts,  that  Sir  E,  Godfrey  wa« 
of  a  melancholy  tcmperaun-nt,  and  labored  under  a  great  depression  of 
spirits:  that  be  prrtbably  destroyf'd  hjriiself  under  the  operation  of  this 
f€<ilinp,  and  that  the  mark  aroiJiKi  the  neck  mi^du  be  owing  to  the  lijL^ht- 
new  of  the  collar."  Beck  cnnnidera  this  case  as  rme  of  homicidal  ?t  ranclinjj, 
and  we  tbtok  properly.  The  sword  wounds  were  doubtle^  tuflicteil  at^er 
death. 

Cask  IV,^ — Deputed  Sui(^ide  or  HomicUle  hif  Straiujulaiion. 
("Ann.  dliygi^ne/*  1829,  2,  447.  Taylor,  loc.  ciL,  torn,  ii,  p.  76.) 

A  servant  girl  was  fonnd  dead  in  her  bed.  Her  body  was  rigid  and 
lying  in  a  cou>traiued  position  with  the  face  turned  to  the  right,  and  there 
was  a  handkerchief  i^o  firmly  tie(J  rtrotind  the  neck  that  it  wa*  with  some 
difficulty  retnoved.  A  ipiantity  of  froth  and  bloody  mucus  escaped  fn)m 
the  nostrils  and  mouth.  The  knot  in  the  handkerchief,  which  was*  lie*1  round 
the  neck,  was  on  the  left  aide,  as  it  ia  ciii^tomary  to  find  in  left-handed 
people.  The  decea.-sed  was  not  left-handed,  and  there  was  no  reason  to 
auppos©  that  she  meant  to  commit  !*(iicidi* ;  .-^he  went  to  bed  the  night 
before  in  her  usual  health  and  &pirit5.  There  vras  m*  mark  of  violence 
externally,  but  there  were  large  patches  of  cadaveric  lividily  jscattered 
over  the  skin,  and  a  deep  impre^sKju  of  a  necklace  ou  the  ?ikin  of  the  neck, 
which  had  reiiulted,  it  was  suppo^d,  from  the  force  with  which  the  hand- 
kerchief had  been  lied.  The  neck  appeared  swollen,  pailicniarly  on  the 
right  side.  On  opeuitig  the  head,  the  vessels*  of  the  brain  were  found  dis- 
tended, especially  on  the  right  side,  ami  on  this  pide  about  half  an  ounce 
of  blo(iHf!  wa.*  found  extra va.«ate<1.  The  tongue  was  pushed  again.««t  the 
teeth.  The  lung><  were  gorged  with  blood.  The  examiners  attribtJte  death 
to  strangulation,  and  in  their  judgfnent  the  act  was  not  suicidal.  One 
reason  wa-s  that  the  handkerchief  was  lied  in  a  donbfe  l*;tof,  and  another, 
the  ab.se nee  of  all  motive.  The  college  of  Brunswirk  being  apjiealed  to 
by  the  legal  authorities,  concluded  that  deceased  died  from  apoplexv,  and 
they  assigned  n«  a  rea.Non  for  ibis  the  absence  of  a  mark  on  the  nec\,  but 
in  this  they  were,  as  Dr.  Taylor  remarks,  probably  wrong — yet,  after  all, 
he  concludes  that  the  act  was  probably  suici<lal,  because  there  were  no 
signs  of  vioience  or  of  flisarmuirement  of  dress.  But,  in  our  opinion,  the 
girl  ma^  have  been  suff5>cate<l  fir*t,  and  the  handkerchief  tietl  afterwards, 

Tardieu  iloc.  cit.,  p.  Ifll ),  gives  a  ca^  on  the  authority  of  M.  A.  Ri»ndu 
("Ann.  d'Hygi^ne,"  Ire  serie,  18'13,  t,  x.,  p.  152),  in  which  a  girl,  who 
had  lost  the  use  of  her  right  hand  from  an  old  burn,  strangled  herself  in 
her  bed  with  a  kerchief  or  shawl  rolletl  into  a  cord,  going  round  the  neck 
two  and  a  half  times,  and  fastened  on  the  left  side  by  two  knots,  the  first 
of  which  was  tighter  than  the  second. 


Case  V. — Case  of  General  Picheffru. 

(Chauwier,  p.  279;  Beck»  ioe.  ciL,  p.  579 ;  Tardieu,  loc,  ctV.,  p.  159.) 

This  dislingnished  soldier  was  confined  in  a  stale  prit*on  in  the  Temple 
(Paris).  On  the  f)th  April,  1804,  he  was  as  well  as  usual,  and  at  10  l*..'U. 
the  keeper  locked  the  cell  and  lfK>k  the  key.  The  general  was  heard  to 
cough  during  the  night,  but  at  7  a.m.,  when  they  came  to  light  the  fire,  he 
was  found  dead  on  his  bed.  A  coinmlaeion  was  appointed  to  exatninc  the 
body,  including  several   medical   men.     They  found,  twelve  faouns  after 


VXkTS  XT  MTTTOC ^TtVm* 


«MB6M^we«rtkeO 


mwiAkifb^ 


ttMdL  iIm«»  li^kEk  tied. 

cn^fa,  Aag.  iM2i, aod  &ilt.  irBtdjrcirHpMiiiWi ii  I  %  I  TBI.  ia«; 

And  te /Ar.CnyMT^  <sm;  in  v^idi  tbcfe 
k«7Bz,adi4  OMi^to  tbeUumt  ti  ma  M  an 
iBeir  fmtwumr  iwtBf  were  cMBfir  pPBOooeB  B]r  ■ 
yrimma,  «i  Aanf  iiAirf  it  IAtmt  «  «li 
BBa»  WmrrtT,  me(|atCtf«l,  altknn^  bit  sMer  mpotv  to 
M»MBtofbcri»t4mmtlMdc)i»rBn«r.    6oemlao/>r.lu>dbr*«cMc,  ^EdiB. 

Ill  Qoe  of  tbe  ottc*  raooirded  tl»«9v  «t«ft  «il j  tbe  Mfis  «f  «m  AvaiA  «■ 
llw  tbrtias,  aad  U»e  nnrdervr  mftervsids  oonfcvBd  thm  to  bsw  Km  tbc 
mtam.  Bcai  <(dc  e<  pu  5M1  f  give*  tWcMeirf'sadflradiHa,  Avrf^sai 
X«.  r«r^,  vba  «ra»  •  drofikarvl.  mod  fcHiiid  4cBd  is  tbe  Mter«  vikii  is  Mp 
yoied  lo  Imi  Te  been  ^trmmfkd  Ay  ite  fijifcfuftt  ^  4it  •mb  iuH  taOmr^  TImr 
irara  maHui  of  a  tlMi»b  aad  tktm  fiaeen»  triBdi  do  ooc  mcbi  to  iBve  b«B 
aoai|iBf«d  witb  tlw  iMBd  of  ike  4&tetmd^m  thtw  «baold  Iwve  bem. 

Some  of  CbfMr'fl  cMn  (ooolraed  lo  v«Ln«€f  Dr.  Balft>iir'«  umMklMB) 
•bim  thitt  tatermiim  rf  ike  mniid*  wtmf  he  jrndweed  w  ike  **fmimmriaC 
if  Uu:  (/fM*riKUir  tBe  aiiY  fbroe  in  ptacbtair  tbe  Artcfr,  eilber  witb  feroe|B  «r 
fioj^ni.  To  avoid  thi»  tbe  ti>eaih  ^ouM  be  carefallr  opeofd,  tbe  ailerj 
•eirttted  above  aud  below  by  a  febarp  uutrumeiiK,  aad  them  laid         *      *^ 

OflMl. 


Death  by  Sufpocatiox. 

Tbii  U  a  very  aocipDi  method  of  mwrder. 

An  example  will  be  fouod  in  tbe  eigfatb  cbapter  of  tbe  second  b( 
Kinfn>,  verw  fifleea^ 

**  A  t)d  it  came  to  paai  oo  tbe  morrow  that  he  I  Hazael  \  took  a  tbick  rJotb 
and  dipi^/d  it  in  water,  and  spread  it  over  his  <  Ben-hadad's)  fane,  so  that 
he  dieii:  and  Hazael  reigned  in  his  8tea<L"  Beohadad  betog,  as  we  are 
informed  by  the  context,  already  very  ill  and  not  expected  to  live.  Feeble 
p<Twjn^,  young  fjer^on?,  very  ^>uDd  sleepjerp,  and  epileptics,  may  (occa- 
sionally) l)e  suffocated  accidentally  by  very  ?oft  pillows,  or  iu  the  ra^  of 
epileptics,  by  falling  on  eoft  mud,  heaps  of  fciilherp,  hay,  rag«,  and  r'imilar 
tKjfl  hi»bi»tance«.  The  «ame  might  hap^jeo  to  a  drunken  man  or  woman. 
A  great  many  caaee  of  accidental  surtbcation  in  young  children,  orrur  oo 
Saturday,  Sunday,  and  Monday  nights,  or  more  rarely  on  public  holidays. 
The«.'  itifantH  «lt»cp  in  the  same  be<l  as  their  father  and  mother,  who  gen- 
erally Htalc  that  iney  woke  up  and  found  ihera  dead.  It  is  to  l>e  feared 
that  in  too  many  of  these  cases  the  parents  are  drunk  on  retiring  to  resL 
In  a  few  It  id  to  l>e  feared  that  no  caret  is  taken  to  prevent  such  an  accident, 
but  that  it  i»  rather  welcomed,  as  such  children  are  sometimes  found  lo  be 
entered  in  two  or  three  dmtk  (or  rather  hnrial}  flub*.  The  pressure  of  the 
mother  or  ollicr  parent's  body  is  usually  the  cAUse  of  death.  We  have 
already  warned  you  not  to  expect  great  congestion  of  the  lungs  in  some  of 
tbeM  cases  (see  p-  810).  Sometimes  the  child  slips  down  under  the  bed- 
oioth«s.  Burke  and  Ilure  u.eed  pitch  plasters  over  the  mouth,  in  order  lo 
gel  subjects  to  sell  to  the  surgeons  f<ir  dissection  I  But  these  means  were 
Huppleniented  by  pressure  on  I  he  chest,  compression  of  the  nostrils  and 
throat,  etc.  Tbe  taking  of  plaster  of  Paris  casts  of  the  face,  without 
iniierting  tubcK  iuto  the  nostrils  has  several  times  nearly  proved  fatal 


8$S 


TREATMENT    AND    POST-MORTEM    SI0N3. 


was  said  that  the  top  of  tlie  pepper-custor  came  off,  so  that  about  half  an 
ounce  (if  pepper  had  fouad  its  way  into  the  child's  throat,  etc.  Tlie  pris- 
oner wa^  convicted  of  man!*laiij?liter. 

As  to  the  time  reqiiiired  to  kill,  the  e  x  peri  men  ta  of  MoDsrs.  Faure,  Cas- 
per, and  of  the  Me«lico  ChirMr^iral  Society,  as  well  as  others  relate<l  by 
Tardieu  and  t>ther  authorititaj,  make  it  probable  that  death  occura  in  from 
two  to  five  minutes  on  an  average.  lu  dogs  (some  oiue  experitnent,s  are 
related  in  ihe  "  Med.Chir  Trans.,*' 18f)2,  voL  xlv,  p.  454)  it  was  found 
that  respiration  ceased  altogether  in  about  four  mioutea  five  ^econtlsi,  the 
heart  coittiuuing  to  bt^ni  mme  three  minuh»  jxftvfn  seconds  more.  This  waa 
when  all  access  of  air  was  excluded.  The  longest  fjeriod  afler  which  re* 
covery  took  place  was  complete  stoppage  <»f  respinitiou  for  three  minutes 
and  fifty  seconds.  When  a  little  more  than  l\nir  minutes  (less  than  five) 
were  so  spent,  no  dog  recovered.  The  sooner  air  was  readmitted,  the  mure 
rapid,  naturally,  was  the  recovery. 

Prinnple^  of  Treatment. 

The«e  must  be  identical  with  those  previously  mentioned  under  Hang- 
ings Drowning,  and  Strflngnlalion.  <See  espcciaily,  p.  833.)  The  delails 
only  diifer  j^omewhat.  Y^mr  first  care  must  be  to  explore  the  nuuith,  etc., 
and  to  <'lear  the  airpa.^tiages  and  pharynx.  Introduce  your  finger  into 
the  month.  Sometimes  suction,  by  some  instrument  like  the  Higgin^on's 
syringe  adapted  to  a  tracliea  tube,  might  be  ailvantageously  used  (as  ia 
the  pepper  cArsc  just  raentituied),  or  you  might  endeavor  to  excite  sfieexiug 
by  irritating  the  nostrils  (by  snutt*  a  pin  or  needle,  ammonia,  etc.),  or 
conjrhing,  by  irritatiog  theglottii* ;  cold  ntfusion,  and  artificial  respiration, 
perhftjis  galvanism,  or  veiiesectiou,  chafing  the  limbr*,  the  appli(*ation  of 
neat,  stimulants  cautiously  given  by  nunnh  or  rectum,  one  and  all  may 
find  a  place.  It  ia  natural  to  suppo-^e  that  o.rijgmi  gju-i  wouhl  be  a  gwia 
remedy  for  what  is  e^seotially  a  poisduing  f)y  COj,  or  want  of  oxidation. 
But  pretty  as  is  the  theory,  it  is  seldom  found  practical.  Oxygen  gas 
takes  time  to  prepare,  while  atmospheric  air  One- fifth  of  which  is  oxygeo) 
18  nfmiffg  af  hmuL  Further,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  it  is  uot  always 
8afe  to  use  oxytren  pure  and  undiluted.  The  authors  know  of  one  ca:*e  in 
which  apoplexy  api>eared  to  be  induced  by  it,  in  a  case  of  cardiac  disease. 
Whatfver  eUeiiondo,  9ce  that  there  are  itu  nbntnele^  in  respiration.  In  the  cajw 
of  f'oreisru  bodies,  or  in  dyspnoea  of  doubtful  origin,  it  may  be  necessary 
to  do  tracheotomy  or  laryugotoray. 

PoH-mortem  Appearances. 

These  are  (par  excellence)  those  of  death  by  apncea  (asphyxia).  See 
p.  81.1, 

There  may  be  patches  of  lividity  and  dotted  or  punctiform  ecchyinosee 
oo  the  skin  (Tardieu,  loe.  cit.,  p.  254,  etc.,  anil  "  Ann.  d'liygi^iie,"  1866, 
2,  346).  There  is  lividity  of  the  lips  and  extremities;  tl»e  face  may  be 
pale  or  violet ;  it  is  oflcn  placid,  especially  in  accidental  ca!*es-  The  cyo8 
are  congested.  There  is  a  mucous,  Sfunetimes  bhrndstained,  frt»th  about 
the  mouth  and  nase.  The  lungs  and  heart,  especially  its  right  side,  may 
be  gorged  with  dark  fiuid  blood.  But^  as  stated  elsewhere,  the  lung«  of 
young  fterson?!  and  chihlren  may  be  comparatively  small,  ahnoM  btof^fiUm^ 
ami  mort'  or  Icnj^  emphyAeinatoui*^  the  air-vesicles  being  broken  ilown,  one  into 
the  other.  M.  Tardieu  (supported  by  M.  Causse  d'Albi  and  othcr>)  lays 
very  great  stress  upon  the  existence  of  pnucti/orm  ^Mbpleurxil  ecrhtfmo*e». 
He  has  figuretl  these  iu  colored  plates  at  the  ead  of  bis  work  ou  Death  by 


su 


CASKS   OF   BCTRKIKO. 


al^me,  wbiirt  in  LiveqKjol,  io  18^,  it  appeared  that  oat  of  960  ioqai 
there  were  143  on  infaDts  and  3'oung  cmldiro  who  had  been  soflbciledy 
chiefly  between  the  l^turday  and  Monday  of  each  week. 
•  The  aatbors  are  of  opinion  that  whenever  a  verdict  of  death  by  this 
meaiM  i«  recorded,  and  there  h  and  can  be  no  proof  of  intent  to  murder, 
some  puoishment  in  the  shape  of  a  iiue  or  a  public  censure  should  be 
inflicted  on  the  parents.  In  order,  also,  to  chef'k  the  temptation  to 
Rinrder  in  this  way,  they  think  that  it  should  be  made  illegal  to  enter 
infants  or  children  under  ag«  in  any  death  or  burial  club,  and  that  life 
insurance  should  not  be  allowed  to  commence  until  the  age  of  twenty-<»oe. 
The  horrible  crimes  of  Burke,  and  Hare,  and  Macdonaid^  and  of  Bishop 
and  Williams  (1828  to  1831,  in  Edinburgh  and  Loudon),  done  u*  get 
money  for  the  bodies  of  the  victims  by  selling  them  for  diasection,  led  to 
the  paasiiig  of  what  is  known  aa 


77i«r  Anaiomt/  Aet^ 

In  1832,  by  which  the  unclaimed  bodies  of  persons  dying  in  hf)fpitals, 
workhouses,  and  other  public  institutions  may  be  utilized  f<>r  anatomic^al 
purposes.  By  this  act^  an  Inspector  of  Anatomy  \a  appointed,  uuder  the 
control  of  the  Secretary  of  State»  and  in  the  hands  of  this  inspector  are 
placed  the  charge  of  giving  licenses  and  of  pnjvi<ling  for  the  decent  inter- 
ment of  the  remains.  For  an  account  of  the  horrible  events  which  led  to 
the  pacing  of  this  act,  see  Taylor,  vol.  ii,  p.  94-97 ;  Bet*k,  p.  58.">.  and 
elsewhere;  Guy,  foe.  cii.,  p.  283,  and  most  enc) clo^nedias,  Art,  Burking; 
aW>  the  medical  and  general  jonniaU  of  1826-1832. 

We  have  given  several  illur^trative  cases  of  the^  under  Infanticide,  p^ 
710  to  71fj,  and  shall,  therefore,  not  take  up  more  s»nace  by  quoting  others, 
but  simply  refer  to  one  or  two  caj^es  of  some  i>peciai  interest. 

In  reference  to  the  ca*e  of  CampbeU,  for  who.*ie  murder  by  etifl^x^ation 
Burke  was  condemned  and  exerute<l  in  1828-9,  Dr.  Christison  remarked 
*'  that  the  lungs  were  remarkably  free  from  infiltration,  aud  although  the 
blood  in  the  heart  and  great  vessels,  as  well  a*»  throughout  the  body, 
was  fluid  and  black,  yet  the  conviction  in  the  public  mind  that  a  well* 
informed  raerlical  man  should  always  be  able  to  detect  death  by  fuSvcs* 
tion  simply  by  an  inspection  of  the  blxly  and  without  a  knowledge  of  col- 
lateral circumstances  is  erroneous,  and  may  have  the  pernicious  tendency 
of  throwing  inspectors  off*  their  guard  by  leading  them  to  expect  stnjngly 
marked  appearances  in  ^v^ry  ca.se  of  death  by  suffocation.  That  such 
appearances  arc  very  far  from  being  always  present  ought  to  be  dis- 
tinctly understood  by  every  medical  man  who  is  required  to  inspect  a  body 
and  give  an  opinion  of  the  cause  of  death."  ("  Ed.  Med.  and  Surg.  Jouf* 
nal/'  vol.  xxxi,  p.  239.) 

In  the  case  of  <7ar/o  Ferrari^  suffocated  by  Bishop  and  Williams,  the 
lungs  were  not  conge^sted,  and  the  heart  was  small,  contracted,  and  empty. 
See  also  the  case  of  Beg.  v.  Xorman,  C.  C.  C,  July,  1871,  quoted  by  Taylor, 
loc,  eit.,  p,  94,  in  which  a  girl  aged  fifteen  was  tried  for  murdering  four 
children  by  8ufllx»ation.  One  boy,  a  lad  often,  was  heard  to  cry  out,  and 
thi<i  caused  her  crime  to  be  discovered  ;  she  had  just  killed  one  child  aged 
fifteen  months. 


I 


DE.\Tn  BY  Poisonous  Gases. 


Buicide  by  burning  charcoal  '^generating  a  mixture  of  carbon  monoxide 
and  carbon  dioxide,  CO  and  CO,,  according  to  the  amount  of  air)  is  a 
favorite    method    of  self'de«tru«tioD    in    France,      Death    by   gaeee   ia 


i 


859 


THE   SPREAD    OF    CONTAGIOST. 


and  other  adjuncts  to  artificial  reftpiratioo,  and  the  injection  of  stimulants 
into  ihe  ledum,  with  valine  injection  into  veiu>*,  or  tmuMlusinn  of  hl<K>d 
in  cai*e8  where  tnuch  bh)od  ha«  been  lost,  have  alJ  their  udvocaLes  and 
their  advantages.  (See  the  last  voluoie  of  Ziemssens  "Cyclopaxlia  of 
Mudieine/'  on  Foisous,  etc.) 

I7te  EffecU  of  Impure  Air,  Ochltdic  PoUon — The  Spread  of  Conta^iom 
mid  Infectious  Dueagea, 

Some  of  the  effects  of  impure  air  have  been  considered  under  the  head- 
ing of  /*om}noius  Gase?.  Sec  cjipecially,  pp.  48Q  (o  496.  At  jiage  482  the 
re<juirt'njciijj*uf  the  Puor  I^iw  ihmn]  are  stated  m  to  cubic  ^pace.  In  hoa- 
piluU  iiir  ronlagious  dl^«ea-H.^*  uuthing  !ess  than  2000  cubic  feet  of  space  for 
each  piitit^ut  can  be  considered  ^ufficiL'nt.  800  cubic  feet  prr  vfiifd  is  de- 
manded by  the  Educational  Department  lor  Stthools.  This  jiubjecit  is 
rather  a  branch  of  what  h  willed  Hygiene  or  Preventive  Medieine,  than 
of  Forensic  Medicine,  pmperJy  so  called.  Yet  the  rue  and  other  herha 
still  laid  before  the  judges  at  a^t^izes  te*«tily  to  the  necessity  of  preventing 
overcrowding  in  jails  aud  elsewhere,  since  the  neglect  of  this  precaution 
caused  typhtm Jex'er  to  bo  j<.o  prevalent  in  old  limes  that  there  was  scarcely 
ever  an  assize  but  the  fever  had  \u  victim*  amor>gst  the  member.s  of  the 
legal  profession,  and  the  herbs  were  thus  placed  with  the  hope  of  warding 
ofI*cotuagi«tn.  The  ganes  enumerated  (earbonic  oxide  and  dioxide,  hydro- 
gen sulphide,  sulplinrouM  acid,  eU", }  are  by  no  means  the  only  gases  found 
in  the  air  of  crowded  rooms.  There  are  sublle  animal  poisons,  some  of 
which  are  only  recognizable  by  their  ef}cct^"«;  probably  compound  ammo- 
nias aud  eyauogen  connwuiini-  which  tend  to  generate  andsjiread  disfcmses. 
The  term  OeJtfcctic  (Ironi  *J/i^itti  to  di^iturb  by  a  mob  or  crowd,  or  from 
o;<^oc  a  crowd  iu*elf )  has  been  iuveuted  aa  a  general  term  for  these. 

The  massing  of  numbers  of  people  together  also  lends  to  the  spread  of 
other  zymotic  diseases,  such  as  scarlet  fever,  whooping-cough,  mcaji«lee, 
small-pox,  etc.  liecent  legislation  has  made  the  trans]>ort  of  sutlerers  from 
known  contagious  or  ioieetiou^  diseases  in  ordinary  carriages,  ami  the. 
letting  of  lodgings  recently  oceupied  by  such,  unle.ss  thoroughly  disinfectody 
misileuieanors  punishable  l>y  fines,  the  withflrawal  of  licenses,  etc. 

All  these  subjects  are  treated  of  in  manuals  of  Hygiene.  Vou  may, 
however,  be  asked  two  questions  on  these  points: 

1st.  Hate  in  the  contwjion  or  infeviion  propngated  f 
2d.  How  lonfj  doe^  the  contagion  or  infect  ion  ht«t  f 

In  answer  to  the  former  you  must  reply  that  for  most  of  the  so-called 
zymotic  diseases  there  are  several  ways  in  which  the  disease  is  spread  from 
person  to  person,  as  for  example : 

(1)  By  direct  personal  contact  with  the  living  or  dead  body  of  od« 
already  diseased,  as  in  the  case  of  children  or  adults  sleeping 
together,  or  nuraes  handling  the  sick,  or  (in  some  cases)  by 
medical  men  using  the  manipulations  necessary  for  treatment 
or  diagnosis. 

(2)  By  contact  with  the  excreta  of  the  sick,  including 

(«)  Particles  of  the  epiderraiH  or  cuticle  (scarlatina,  measles,  ery- 
sipelas, etc.). 

(>9)   Particles  of  moist  or  dry    pus,  "matter/*  or  "scabe"    and 
"  crusts." 
^Porrigo,  variola,  vaccinia,  etc.) 

(/)  Portions  of  coughed-up  or  expectorated  matter. 


r 
I 

I 
1 


858 


IMPURITIES    OF    WATER, 


Iniestitwl  teorm«  are  propagated — (1)  By  the  use  of  tank,  v/eW,  or  river 
water  which  has  (by  the  admixture  of  feail  matter  or  sewage)  been  made 
to  contain  tlie  otvi  of  tbese  parasites.  One  joiut  of  a  tapeworm  ha«  been 
eaicl  to  nmiain  more  than  70,000  eggs. 

(2)  By  the  use  of  raw  or  iniperlectly  cooked  raeat  containing  the  ova, 
or  irnmtitiire  forms  of  the  pai-a^ite  {meanly  pork,  saus^ages,  etc.). 

f 3)  Possibly  by  the  use  of  waterch»sels  and  privies  being  common  to 
tlio^e  muttering  from  worms  and  to  healthy  persons. 

(4)  Raw  vegetables  (salad*,  watercress,  et<?.)  grown  on  sewage  farms,  or 
Qontamiuated  by  animali*,  and  im|)eriectly  wiu^hed,  are  supposed  to  spread 
these  para-sites,  and  very  probably  do.  The  popular  notion  of  w«rt/^<;  fruit 
{per  se)  spreading  iheni,  is,  however,  untenable. 

Of  the  Imp¥riiie«  met  with  in  Watetf  and  their  Corueqitences. 

This  subject  again  relates  rather  to  Hygiene  than  to  Forensic  Medicine, 

but  may  be,  ami  often  is,  the  subject  of  legal  proceedings,  as  in  the  tuuse  of 
paper  mills,  dyeing  and  bleacbiiig  establi^hment8,  chemical   works,  etc. 

Vou  are  al'ready  iiwiiie  that  except  in  the  case  of  water  prepare*!  by 
Bynlhesir?  from  ehetuicutly  pure  materials  •'^"^^"b  a  thing  a.'?  absolutely  pure 
water  is  quite  uuknfjwn.  Even  di>tilled  water  and  fresh  rain-water  con- 
tain some  ammonia,  ciirbonic  ar'id,  and  other  matter;?  which  detract  from 
their  juirity,  whilj^t  iIk*  best  river,  well,  pond,  lank,  and  other  waters,  oon- 
tAin  a  large  numlier  of  chemical  compounds,  chiefly  salts. 

For  prttctic4iJ  medico-legal  purposjes,  however,  we  may  divide  the  Im- 
portant impurities  of  water  into  two  or  three  categories,  as  for  instAnce : 

I.  Impurities  which  detr-act  from  the  uue  of  water  for  washing. 

On  this  subject  we  must  refer  you  to  special  technic4il  works.*  You 
should,  however,  know  that  very  hnrd  tiuUtrf  particularly  ij  th*'  hardness  be 
p&myinent,1f  is  wasteful  (as  regards  soap}. 

II.  lot  purities  which  maice  water  disagreeable  r&ther  than  dangeroua 
when  used  for  drinking  or  domestic  pur{>osea. 

Under  this  lie^iding  chalybeate,  sulphurous,  and  most  medicated  or  min- 
eral waters  would  nauirally  be  included. 

II L  Impurities  which  make  water  dangerous  or  undesirable  to  be  uted 
for  drinking  or  domestic  purposes.    Of  these  we  have^-^ 

(1)  Certain  mineral  imjuirities,  such  as  a  large  proportion  of  chlorides, 

nilrit^j^,  nitrates,  etc.,  whicb,  though  themselves  not  specially 
harmful,  may  indicate  contaniiuaiiou  with  sewage  or  decaying 
aniu:njil  and  vegetable  matters. 

(2)  Poisonous    mineral   constituenti^;   lead,  arsenic,  antimony,  and 

barium  compountk  arc  the  most  probable  of  these ;  derived  from 
nianufactures,  or  from  the  constitution  of  the  soil  through  which 
the  water  percolates, 
(8)  Decomposing  animal  and  vegetable  matter  usually  indicated  by 
the  smell,  color^  and  taste,  or  by  permanganate  of  potash  and 
other  reagents. 


•  Sheridan  Mufpmtt's  ••  Chef»»i§try,"  Buttons  "Volumetric  AnNly«it,"  Uni'i 
and  WMtt'a  Cbi'micHl  and  nilifr  DiclioriHriff,  Ein-yt-UipipdiMn,  ••u-, 

f  A  hntd  wiittT  i*  one  c«>ntuininsr  inurh  niin<Tnl  nintii^r  (chi<*fly  lim*  »*U«),  which 
eurdUn,  nn<l  wwste*  iUk  sonp  u^ed  m  wn»liini;  with  i»r  testing  it.  Dr  CiMrk  (of  Ab- 
erd<M»n)  (levisetl  a  strnp^O'^l,  thi?  d«'gr*'e*  of  hwrdn^w  bt'ing  moafured  hy  th*  quan* 
tity  n-qtiired  lo  niiikt?  a  p^rrmuiont  lather  Trmpornry  hurdnn^*  i*  ihMl  dup  ehkflv 
to  bk'nrbniiHl<^  of  cHlciiim  in  ^iluliun,  and  \&  rLiiii4»ved  by  boiling;  pnrtnarteni  bard- 
new  u  due  chiefly  to  calcic  sulphate,  etc.,  and  i»  not  removed  by  boiling. 


860 


▼  AR1BTIE8    OF    LIGHTNING, 


are  now  in  a  g^reat  measure  obviated  by  tbe  use  of  lightning  rad«  attaebed 

to  buildings,  the  erectiou  of  which,  however,  demimid^  a  number  of  pre- 
cautions, not  always*  miderj'toott  or  iitteiide«1  to.     The  ma^tij  of  ^hip^^  may 
be  guarded  in  like  manner  by  metal  conductors.     Bir  W.  Snow  Harris  haaj 
dcvif*ed  a  moi*t  ingenious  plan  tor  the  purpose,  which  w  now  adoijted  with 
con»(ilete  success  in  the  Royul  Navy,"     {Lof".  cif.,  pp.  9«>-6.)     Thunder  is] 
a  Found  due  to  the  sudden  disturbance  of  the  air  produced  by  a  lightning 
discharge;  the  long  rolling  effect  is  perhaps  due  to  echoes  from  the  cJniids, 
perhaps  partly  to  theie  Mug  a  number  of  discharges  at  different  dijitancea 
from  the  observer.     Sound  travelji  at  about  1100  feet  per  second,  whilst, 
the  passage  of  light  is  almost  inflautaneons  :*  therefore  the  thunder  iai 
beard  some  time  after  the  flash  is  seen.      Thr  iutervid  in  ferondji  divided  by\ 
5  or  4.8,  givr9  the  di^tttince  to  the  place  of  discharge  opproximattly  in  mile** 
Lighiiiing  itself  is  the  ^park  or  tia>h  ob&erved  during  a  sudden  dti»chargo] 
of  aimoepheric  electricity.     It  may  be — 

(1)  A  diffused  reddish-white  or  violet  flash  (sheet-lightning),  seemingly 
spread  over  a  considerable  extent  of  the  sky ;  perhaps  due  to  a  discharge 
inside  tbe  cloud,  the  light  suffering  rcHectioji  and  diffusion.     The  rohr9f\ 
Oie  lightning  varit^  with  the  state  of  the  atmosphere;  in  elevated  regiona, 
where  the  air  is  rare,  the  spark  has  a  violet  tint. 

(2)  A  zigzag  line  of  light  (forked  lightning) ;  the  path  taken  by  ihe 
electricity  in  a  discharge  between  two  clouds,  or  between  a  cloud  and  the 
e»rth,  is  distinctly  seen  to  be  made  up  of  straight  lines  and  sudden  benda. 
It  resembles  the  discharge  from  the  prime  conductor  of  an  electric  machine  ;J 
it  is  the  path  of  least  resistance,  and  seems  to  start  from  the  positively] 
electrified  body ;  the  light  is  very  white  and  very  brilliant. 

(3.)  Heat  lightning,  as  it  is  called.  It  is  unlike  U)  and  (2)  in  being! 
unaccompauied  with  thunder  ("silent  "  or  "summer  *'  lightning),  it  seema 
to  be  the  reflection  from  a<jueous  vapor  and  clouds,  of  a  discharge  iKTUr- 
fing  beyond  the  horizon,  or  it  may  be  due  to  a  discharge  at  such  a  great 
elevation  in  the  atmosphere  that  the  thunder  cannot  be  heard. 

Sometimes  during  a  thunderstorm  firehtilU  are  seen.     No  exact  obset^' 
valions  of  these  have  yet  been  made;  they  are  said  to  fall  slowly  <in 
ftbout  ten  secouds)  from  the  clouds  to  the  earth,  often  relxjunding  once  or 
twice,  and  exploding  violently.     It  seems  diffieult  to  explain  them  on  tbe  fl 
Bupposition  that  they  are  of  electrical  origin.     When  the  light  of  a  lamp  W 
illuminates  a  rapidly  moving  carriage-wheel,  the  spokes  cannot  be  dis- 
tinguished.    This  is  due  to  the  impression  of  an  image  on  tbe  retina  of 
the  eye,  lasting  for  j\i\\  of  a  second.     When  tbe  wheel  is  illuminated  by 
a  lightning  lia>h,  it  appears  to  be  motionless,  therefore  there  is  no  percep- 
tible motion  during  the  time  of  the  flash.     Exj>eriments  with  a  revolving 
disk,  with  black  aud  white  sectors,  show  that  a  Hash  of  lightning  certainly 
does  not  last  longer  than  y^i^^th  of  a  second.     Water  is  a  good  con- 
ductor, dry  air  a  bad  eonduetor  of  electricity.     Clouds  consist  of  particles 
of  water:  these  particles  seem  to  owe  their  electricity  partly  to  evu^Kfra- 
tion  and  the  friction  produced  by  winds,  and  partly  to  other  causes;  their 
electricity  is  gmtralhj  positive.     The  internal  particles  discharge  into  one 
another  when  they  get  condensed  enough  until  the  electricity  reaches  the 
outer  part  of  the  cloud.     The  ^peetr^nn  of  lightning  shows  the  presence  of  I 
incandescent  nitrogen,  oxygen,  hydrogen,  and  sodium.     It  may  be  one  orf 


*  The  velucily  of  li^ht  ip  reckoned  at  about  186,000  mile*  per  feoond.      \Vb«»t- 
ftto««  found  lh«  Vflm'Uy  of  wleetrlcilv  through  copper  wire  t»i  be  abuut  288, 
mili'fi  per  second^  wbilt^l  in  the  Atlantic  cable  of  186^  it  whs  fuuud  (o  Iteonly  A 
■lilee  por  second.     ("  PopuUr  EnuyclopndiA.") 


862 


DR.   KIOHARDSON   S    EXPERIMENTS. 


altogether  destitute  of  the  power  of  conducting  electricity.     It  is  a  questioD 
of  degree. 

Muny  mistakes  have  been  made  as  to  death  by  lightning.  Thus  even 
John  Hunter  uppeara  to  have  been  deceived  by  the  transient  and  early 
pijst-morLem  ngidity  in  some  of  theie  case.-^.  Htftice  he  a^werted  ihat 
eadaverie  riyidky  was  absent  in  death  from  lightning,*'  We  naw  know 
(and  on  this  point  the  author?  have  personal  exjierience)  that  rigidity 
does  occnr,  and  that  the  h!o«id  doe^*  coaguh^te.  thi)ii^li  the  latter  phenom* 
enon  is  often  jslowly  developed.  ConHderable  light  has  been  thrown  on 
the  phenomena  of  death  by  lightning^,  hy  the  experiments*  of  Dr.  B.  Ward 
Rirliard?i!on  ^ure  **  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  Mhv  11,  1870)  and  Dr. 
Bedj;w"u'k,  with  the  large  indoetiini  coil  at  the  Polytet'lmif  Inntiiution, 
The  battery  consit^ted  of  forty-eight  Bun^sen's  ('ell^^  and  wa?  eonnecte<l 
with  an  in«lurlion  coil  of  enormou-!*  size,  weighing  15  ewt.  Its  primary 
coil  was  3770  yards  lung,  the  secondary  \vir<«  \\m  150  uiile.'*  in  length, 
with  a  centra!  core  or  case  of  soft  iron  wire  hve  feet  long,  fonr  inches  in 
diameter,  and  125  [XHinds  in  weight.  With  this  three  kinds  of  sparks 
were  obtained  : 

1st.  When  the  secondary  wire  was  simply  charged  from  the  primary 
wire  and  discharged,  a  spark  of  twentynine  inches  long,  andof  eome  thick* 
ness  was  obtained.  It  bad  two  flame:^ — a  line  of  thin,  blue,  tens«  ilame, 
surrounded  by  a  thick  burning  flame;  the  latter  could  be  blowu  aside  by 
bellows. 

,   2d.  When  the  break  or  vibrator  was  used,  they  obtained  a  spark  t€n  to 
fifteen  inches  loojr,  blue,  intense,  forked,  arid  almost  continuous. 

3d.  When  a  Leydou  battery  (of  forty  tiquare  feet)  was  charged  from 
this  cell  by  three  discharges,  a  most  dangerous  and  fatal  kind  of  artificial 
lightning  was  obtained.  As  regards  the  effect*  of  the  ditferent  sparks, 
Dr.  Richardson  showed  that  the  fird  kind  seldom  injures  much,  it  only 
singed  the  feathers  or  fur  of  pigeons  and  rabbiti?,  and  prrxiuced  ana'-xthesia 
after  several  discharges.  Thus  a  frog  t*Mjk  twenty-five,  a  pigeon  filleen, 
and  a  rabbit  thirty  di^eharges,  without  being  killeil.  It  may  even  be  sent 
right  through  the  body.  The  second  kind  of  spark  is  also  pretty  harndess 
if  made  on  the  outride  of  the  bcjdy,  but  the  contraelion  of  muscles  induced 
is  more  or  less  permanent.  Ifpa-*ised  through  the  interior  of  the  botiy, 
the  effect-?  are  more' powerful,  but  death  is  sehhmi  pnxluced.  When  the 
third  kind,  from  the  charged  Lcydeu  jars,  is  used,  one  nr  two  dtsehargea 
are  found  to  be  fatal  if  the  current  pa&^  through  the  botly,  and  is  not 
stopped  by  feathers,  etc.  He  notes  that  Franklin  wrote  thus  in  1748: 
"A  thin  glass  bubble,  about  one  inch  in  diameter,  weighing  only  six 
grains,  half  full  of  water,  partly  gilt  on  the  outside,  and  furnishe<i  with  a 
wire  hook,  gives,  when  electrified,  as  great  a  shock  as  a  man  can  well 
bear."  But  even  this  kind  has  two  effects,  one  nonfatal,  on  voluntary 
motion  and  common  sensation  ;  the  other  fatal  (to  respiration  and  ctrcula- 


♦  Hunter,  like  mnny  othor  sdf-tmmht  mon  of  iri^nio^,  wh*  too  apt  to  Jiidtre  fntixi 
pgrmmnt  ♦•xperirnoe  t.nly.  Yol  it  is  record*-*!  Kfiforn  hh  lime,  in  •  letter  of  Pop« 
to  Ludy  Miiry  VVortlfy  MimlHCU,  that  in  July,  1718,  two  iilfiimerd  IoVith,  Julin 
UewMtl  and  Snmh  Dr»'W,  wi^r«  ^tnit:k  d**#id  t>y  liMluiiifii^.  Th«*  bvslModtTM,  Hm  fiiy*, 
"  tirhl  8HW  H  litlle  dmi^ke,  und  after,  this  r»Utiful  pair,  John  will]  on**  nrm  iiUmt 
hix  Snriih'g  nf'*'k,  and  the  othcT  held  ovtT  fnir  fHCi",  an  if  la  sw-'tit^n  h«T  fnim  tho 
lightning.  Tht'V  w«ro  fltrui^k  dead,  nnd  nln'ttdy  (jn>*on  Miijf  <itui  r»./«/  in  ltii«  inndrr 
po«liirfi.  There  was  nn  murk  or  di'>ei>lcirins;  on  their  t»»Mli*M,  only  tlii»t  HHmh'ii 
eyobrow  wha  a  little*  »inij»*d,  Knd  a  smiill  i»pot  bc3fw**on  h«r  brt»M*t*.  J<*hn  wn*  ft 
WelUi94^l  niiin  atniat  flv^and<twpniy,  Hnrfth  a  bruwa  woni»o  of  i;igtjte«ii,"  (L^idl/ 
MonlNgu'fi  ••  Letters/'  vul.  li,  No.  57,j 


DEATH    BT    LIGUTNINQi 


863 


of  livlog  animals).     Dr.  RiehardsoQ  ('ouc1u(ie<<,  as  to  H^htoino^:    Ist. 

i  the  kiud  of  c<iverinjj8  with  which  the   hmly  is  fyruislied  mnkea  a 

I  difference.  Fur  ami  feathers  are  protective.  Lightuin)^  kilb  by  an 
shock  like  that  of  the  Lt^y^ea  jat^.     There  are  two  kiru!*^  of  t<hj>t^k, 

produces  temporary  contrurtion  of  muscle:*,  ami  intelligibility  uiiues- 
tK<»ia«  ftiid  a  s<»rt  of  coma),  and  recovery  i-^  po^sibte.  The  other  kidd  kills 
(Hitnght.  Liphtning  may  or  may  not  disfi^rure,  (jr  burn  the  clolhea.  John 
Hunter  y,'a»  wrong  an  to  post-mortem  rigidity  beiui^  absent  in  death  by 
lifi^tuing.  Bot  lightning  does  make  the  blood  coagulate  shiwiy  in  the 
budy.  There  h  a  fourth  kind  from  Leydeii  jan*  connected  with  po-itive 
tnd  nejrative  wires,  which  always  kills,  loH  doe's  not  murk  the  h^nly  :  it 
kill*  in  the  !!*ame  attitude  as  in  life  !  (See  the  note  ti>  last  page,)  AnimaU 
m»t  killed  have  laKsitude,  mufcnlar  wa:*tiNg,  great  >*nsceptihility  to  external 
mutioa'4,  irregularity  of  movemeuU  (ataxia),  and  i^iovv  convalet»ceuce.  Ue 
Mata  that  the 

Si^Tis  of  Death  from  Lightning  Shock 


(I)  Absence  of  all  fudicstions  of  movements  of  the  heart. 

(2(  AWticc  of  reflex  action. 

(.'ii  I)*-rreik<e  of  the  temperature  of  internal  cavities  (chest,  abdomen, 
Itc.)  to  the  ti'mj>eraiure  of  water  left  expired  to  the  surrounding  air. 

(i)  Absence  of  color  in  semi-transparent  structures  (seen  in  hand,  etc., 
by  strong  transmitted  light). 

i5}  Rigidity  of  mnsclea, 

(6)  Omgulation  of  blood  in  veins. 

(7)  Decomposition. 

Tl»e  following  marh  of  injuries  from  lightning  have  been  recorded : 

A.  Mitrku  of  huniing  of  the  akin. 

B.  I)itt(t  of  the  hair. 

C.  ImpreJ!^nmi»  of  metallic  mbntarnuia  o»  the  body  (coins,  ornaments,  ijeala, 
hfatlft,  criR*.*es,  huttonn,  etc.). 

D.  KreJiynUfnen  or  vivid  bftif  ^poti^  with  ejrudatton^  of  hhnd. 
K.  ArboreAccni  mark*  { treelike  imprcMiornf),     We  shall  mention   these 

•gain. 

F.  Jj04S  of  hair f  not  immediate  burning,  but  coming  on  aflerwarda. 

Hi»  experiment*  lead  him  to  In^lieve  that  the  hlood  i»  a  better  enndttrtor 
than  u^ttrr  or  mnnele  or  nerve  matter  (whether  gray  or  white),  so  thiit  the 
eoitrte.  nf  the  itf/htmiiff  &iu\  f»f  electrical  force  through  the  bo<ly  of  an 
anitnal  i«  preferentiitHy  by  the  tdood. 

ConelmioiM. 

1.  The  fatality  of  electrical  or  lightning  ehocka  is  in  proportion  to  the 
hdrrutiiy  of  the  shock. 

2.  In  thote  who  are  not  kilh^l,  the  reception  of  the  shock  is  not  remem- 
\...r,A    accurately  at  leant)  owing  to  il««  inrttantaneouHne*w.     It  is  therefore 

the  mod  paiiiU*s  of  deaths.  ( He  advocates  '\\a  use  instead  of  haug- 
4MK  « ■  loiinals,  atfio  to  kill  animala  for  the  table.) 

S.  Thiwe  diHcharge^t,  which  by  their  intensity,  kill  most  readily,  leave 
lasat  mark?!  of  dij'tortlon  or  of  external  injury. 

4.  After  what  apjtears  to  be  general  death,  the  heart  may  continue  to 
best  i%^x  aeveral  miuutee. 


864 


BfFECTS    OP    LIGBTNINO. 


The  ooncltisions  Dr.  Kichardson  draws  as  to  marking  and  gigns  of  dtatk 
have  been  j^riven  above. 

Dr.  Richardi*i>ti  remarks  that  thin  chains,  etc.,  maybe  melted,  and  thus 
mark  more  than  tbieker  oues.  Tbe  most  noticeable  yequelws  are  i  1 )  Reactive 
fever,  or  fever  of  reaction.  (2)  Apoplexy.  (3)  CunvuUions  and  epilepsy. 
(4)  Paralysisandanii^thesia  or  bypersesthesia.  (5)  Catalepsy.  (^>)  Blind- 
neas  or  injury  to  sight.  Tbe  pupil  may  be  contracted  ou  the  side  of  the 
shock  and  dilated  on  tbe  other  side. 

It  is  but  rarely  tbat  this  mode  of  death  or  injury  to  property  cornea  be- 
fore our  law  courts.  Dr.  Ttiylor  raentiousa  car<e  tried  iu  France  in  Octo- 
ber, 1845,  in  wbich  medical  evidence  respecting  tbe  cbanicier  of  wounds 
caused  by  electricity  wa^  of  cousiderable  importance.  In  Angu^it  of  that 
year  some  buildinjis  at  Malauuy,  near  Rouen,  were  destroyed  by  u  thunder- 
fltorm  isaid  one  side),  or  by  a  wblrlwiud  isaid  the  other).  A»  the  persona 
whose  property  was  dejitroyed  were  insuretl  ai^ainst  lii^btuiug,  they  »oughl 
to  recover  da muce^  accordingly.  The  cvidKUce  a*i  regards  electricity  con- 
flisteil  (1)  in  llie  alleged  carbonizeil  appearance  of  tbe  leaves  of  >*ome  of 
the  Ireea  and  ,'<brob'*  grtiwing  near ;  and  (2 )  iu  tbe  characters  of  the  wouuda 
on  the  bodies*  of  several  pcrsjoos  who  were  injured  «t  the  time.  M.  LesauvagO 
deposed  to  the  occurrence  of  dark  Ftain*  scattered  over  the  b«Mliei»,  and 
that  tbe  survivors  suflered  frcnu  impor,  pains   in   the  limbs,  an<l  piirtial 

faraly?iis  of  motiim.  lie  al^o  observeil  that  those  killed  speedily  putrelied* 
u  one  ca^e  tbe  mii?clefj  were  torn  acro>\s  in  a  ragged  manner,  and  some 
small  arteries  divided.  M.  Funel  deposed  that  tbe  face  and  neck  in  j*ome 
of  the  dead  bodies  were  bloated  and  discolored,  as  if  tbe  death  bad  oc* 
curred  from  asphyxia.  M.  Ponillet  described  liie  sttirm,  but  althongb  he 
did  not  deny  that  there  may  have  been  thunder  and  lightning,  he  thought 
tbe  trees  and  buildings  were  sintply  overthrown  by  the  wind.  But  as  Dr. 
Taybir  remarks,  it  is  nnu?;ual  lor  yotnig  and  green  trees  to  present  auy 
marks  of  combujJti<ai  about  the  leaves  or  trunk  ( i>t'e  the  "  Comptcs*  Rend  us,  * 
6ept.  184')).  The  Royal  Cotirt  of  Koueu,  without  deciding  the  exact 
mode  of  the  occurrence,  condHoined  the  insurniice  company  to  pjiy  the 
amount  claimed^  {Sec  "  Law  Times,"  March  14,  1841),  p.  490,  and  Taylor, 
loc.  ciV.,  p.  i;i5.) 

From  the  nature  of  their  avocations,  an  overwhelming  majority  of  th« 
deaths  from  lightning  are  in  the  male  sex,  and  hapfNen  out  of  door».  It 
is  rare  for  persons  to  be  struck  dead  indoors,  but  the  authors  have  kuowu 
ODe  or  two  railway  signalmen  and  telegraph  clerks  struck  by  lightning  in 
their  offices.  Tke  following plamn  and  things  are  notutidered  dangerom  during 
ifiunderstorms :  Trees,  mast^,  high  poles,  and  lofty  buildings  uuprol4*cted 
by  conductors,  as  for  example,  a  spire  or  steeple,  water,  stovepipesf.  walls, 
bell-wire^,  and  bell-baudles,  shutter  bars,  iron  patisadej,  crowds  of  people, 
or  droves  of  sheep  or  cattle,  metal  oruameuta  worn  on  the  person  ;  um- 
brellas or  walking  sticks,  with  ferrules,  tools  of  ir<m  or  other  metal,  par- 
ticularly if  pointed.*  On  the  other  band,  open  places  are  safest,  and  a 
man  is  less  likely  to  be  struck  when  b»s  clothes  are  well  wet  than  other- 
wii*.  In  addition  to  the  hnrrnt i\nd  imumh  produced  by  lightning  (the 
latter  lacerated  punctures  like  wounds  from  a  blunt  dagger).  Ambrose 
Far^  and  Fouillet  speak  of  fraoture*  of  the  skull  and  other  parta.  These 
are,  however,  very  rare. 

Careful  study  of  tbe  foregoing  remarks  and  of  the  appeude<i  casc^  will 
•eDable  you  to  answer  most  of  the  questions  likely  to  be  asked  as  to  death 


♦  The  following  number*  expr»^i*  the  coaducting  power  of  tbe  metals 
Juisiid,  1 ;  ifun,  2.4;  riiic,  4;  copper,  12. 


LESIONS    FROM    LIQHTNtNG. 


r  ot)i€r  iDJuries  from  lightning.     Occasionally  the  passage  of  the  electric 

rurrent^  whfo  t!ie  ten?*  ^purk  ha*  frone  right  through  a  limb,  will  be  f'oujid 

bttVe  drillc'cj  holt?8,  just  ds  paper  is  perrurated  at  the  Pulyiechnic  by  the 

tneaus.     There  may  be  burns!,  anrl  hentre  blisters,  when  the  fl:iine  is 

fierce.     The  following  cases  and  reierences,  chietty   from   Btxk  aod 

kvlor,  will  fully  illustrate  the  yubjeet. 

Sir.  Boddington  ft«id  his  lady,  both  stnirk  by  litrhtriitis^.     The  injuries 

ived  by  ht^r  were  act  mil  iraumh,  whilst  hifi  were  only  bttrutt.     Beck, 

eit.y  52*2,  *•  Londor]  and  Ediiibnr^^i  Fhilo!io|ihicttl  Mtigazine,"  vol.  i,  p. 

91.     Another  vu^e  with  very  fxtenrnvr  intriht  ami  hiUttred  akin,  *'  Edia- 

rj?h  Medical  and  Snrgical  Jtnrrnal,*'  vol.  xii,  p.  493.     Que  French  and 

woOt'rruan  ca*e8^,  in  the  latter,  one  with  Ihid  gireah^  and  one  with  exteu- 

ivH  huru/t,  **  Lancet,"  N.  8.,  voL  vi,  ]k  910,  vol.  vii,  pp,  2f**^>,  44o.     C'a-^e  by 

rntt->-or  Stevens  with  exteniiive  wjn'ration,  "  New  York  Medical  ar»d  Sur- 

liegisler,"  p.  55.     Dr.  MHcanley  reiH^rt-j  three  ca8e.H,  one  followed  by 

/-ry,  and   two  by   e/^/A/wy,  *"Ediii.  Med.-Chir.  Tran?*.,"  vol.  i,  p,  360. 

itVey,  "London  Med.  and  Pliy^,  Jonrnal,"  vt»l.  xlvii,  p.  3U9,  tells 

lor  struck  dumb  and  blind.     Beck  states*  that  rfm/Vufw  and  ptirohfKis 

iniuoD  result**.     The  pupih  were  dihifed  iu  cases  reconlcil  l>v  Drs. 

^  and  Steveu8,   "Aruerican  Journal   of  Medical  Sciences,"  \u\,  xiii, 

Beck  refers  to  various  vtda.  of  the  "  Phih»sophical  Trausaetion<"  for 

rdaof  cn^ej*  {lor.  r.U.,  footnote  to  p.  522 ^     In  vol.  xlix  <d'  these,  (j.  Gl^ 

re  \»  an  account  of  the  death  of  Professor  Richrnan  at  8t.  Petersburg, 

1753,  whilst  exjicrinienting  on  aliuoi^pheric  electricity.     On  the  left  side 

f  the  forehead,  where  he  Wiw  Btrurk  by  the  electric  current,  there  was  a 

lund  rifhtjmofifd  f^pot.     There  were  ei<rbt  4ither  jMitches  of  ecehynnysis,  of 

ariable  >ize,  frorn  tiie  neck  to  the  hip,  chietlyonthe  left  side,    Sijniewere 

pmrh  of  f/uiipoiv(icr  di?charped  in  contact  with  (he  &kin>     The  lel\  i*hoc 

torn  opt  n  at  the  buckle,  without  being  ^inged  or  burned;  Init  the  skin 

ntuiid  vva«  i-li^btly  ecchyHJosed.     Inlennilly.  a  qttntifiiif  dJ  Uoml  iv'fjt  J'mtHd 

fiifMiHmihd   in    the  wind(Upe,  the  lunp-,  and    the  layers  of  the  omenmni. 

The  omnttnin  itppi^und  tn*  if  grtfitly  hrnUaL     Dr.  Taylor  refers  to  Mur- 

mcH'h  "  Encykhtpiiiiie/'  article  Bidz,  and  Henke's  "Zeit^^elirift  tier  S,  A.," 

1^44«  voh  i,  p.  PJii,  for  further  account*^  of  this  case.     A  case  by   Lomo- 

Ktwiotf*  icf  mentioned  Ijy  Dr.  Granville  ("Travels  to  St.  Peter>*biir^,"  vol, 

[i,  p.  1J2),  iu  which  lliere  was  only  a  red  »p<ft  on  the  forcht'ad,  the  legs  were 

»and  onetthoe  uun*  torn,  bn(  not  burtwd.  In  a  nonfntai  c*i*€,  the  persoil 
»itou  uiXer  the  lightning  stroke  was  ff»und  laboring  under  the  follow- 
RVniplonis:  utsenAibiiitr'^  detp,  jtfow,  interrupted  breathing,  rthundion  of 
pit  the  7nuHcies,»hw  ttoft  pnlAC^  dihiied  pnpih,  the  bitter  senitibU'  to  litjht  (  Dr. 
Taylor,  from  **  Medical  GazeiU',"  vol.  xiv,  p.  654);  in  other  words  the 
lymptonis  of  conrnMioH  of  iIk;  brain.  Slight  shocks  stun,  N*n>*cs  in  the 
tarty  pfir^dtfMt^  and  other  nt^urotte^  suuLM-ed  severe  (strokes  (**  Medical  Tirne»," 
July  15.  1H4M).  Inmntttf  u  sukl  to  have  resulted.  (CiJiiolly'H  Kffiort  of 
Hanwell,  1839.)  In  another  case,  three  days  delirium,  &iul  t'itt ire  Iom  of 
ury  ttllerwnrds.  ("  Lantjcl,"  Aug.  3,  1839.)  A  boy  a^red  fiMir  had 
U4 after  n  lightning  stroke^  and  died  in  four  hours.  (''Medical  Tidiea 
<itt3t*?tte,**  May  26,  1855).  Frontal  heudiiche,  and  toxs  of  sitjht,  which 
itie  total,  occurred  to  an  old  man,  whi»  felt  a.H  if  a  viviil  Hash  had 
k  him  in  the  face,  whiliit  8tundiug  uuder  a  tree.  (Ibid,  July  24, 
) 

A  M  tijntnUy  immfdiate :  if  not^  recovery  is  tlie  rule.     But  Dr.  Taylor 
ve*  injotances  of  death  from  the  severe  lacerations  or  burns  indirectly 
uccU.     Aa  in  a  came  in  Lourltm,  in  July,  1838.     The  same  author 
Pbiionit   that   three    ftersorm  were  struck  by  lightutng.     One  of  thetn» 
^1  twenty<«ix,  an  hour  aud  a  half  after  the  atroJte,  lay  completely  ti««en- 


see 


TREELIKE    MARKINQS. 


»ible,  RS  if  apoplectic  ;  hia  puUe  «vm  hehw  ffffty,  full  and  hard,  pupiii 
and  iiiHnti*fihlt',  rfjtpirntiun  >fiforin{f.      Tlifimh*  iwd  jnwA  jirmhf  jised. 
ivfjs  of  anui*  lunl  hiiudti,  then  nevcre  ^fja^)tt«^  uuth  the  body  drawn  to 
9idt\     He  wan  ailervvHrtls  hied  nml   blislered,  and   cold  to  the  H* 
siuapjsin:*  to  rlie  letr--  applitvi.     ^uitiulaiit  euemata  and  Diiiuni  wt^rw 
He  reeuvenn]  consciim^nes*  i»  tweiity-faur  h<mr^,  and  sewtn  gal  <|ui6 
Tlie  only  extevmd  mark  was  i\  rrd  i^trenk  tix  brond  ag  a  jinfjer,  from  U 
temple,  exlendiiip;  over  the  nerk  and  chesil,  dtKappfaring  completely 
lew  tlayi?.     ("  Brili.'*h  and   Foreij^ri  Medical  Rt?view/'  Oct.  1842.) 
red  silreiiks  or  marks  sonietinips  ivfjeinUle  In^es  or  veins.     See  cu»e 
Horstmiinti   in  Casper's  "  Vierie!jtdir8s<-hritt,"  April.  1863,  p.  3()8, 
another  in    the '*  Aii:*traliau   Medical  Journal,**  September,  1H70, 
**  In   this  case  a  youth  was  killed  by  lighiuin^,  and  there  were  «^"I| 
on    his   left    stide,  which  wan  exivfrndif  rigid      Hi.*>  Ivack  hair  W'U  htd 
Biiik  pttjtifii  teerr  diiaicd.     Hia  nose  bled  from  the  feft  no/^tril.     The  » 
whcj  examined  liim  stated  that  he  noted  oa  the  ifkin  of  the  rheM  thr 
imprrAKifm  of  a  jpung  tree  inrerted^  of  a  dark  coltir,  as  if  tattooe<l. 
met  like  the  trees  which  grew  near.     When  struck,  he  had  two  of 
layers  of  wtxillen  chilh  hiiitoned  over  his  chest — his  rap  was  torn  in 
The  frawiferj^  on  the  IrJ't  side  were  rcttt  frfftn  the  hip  to  thr  fttrtcking—ihQ 
and  ihe  boot  were  torn  open.     He  died  from  injury  to  the  brnin,** 

Bodies  often  preserve  the  attitude  oit^mmed  Jtut  before  death.  See 
pflfre  862,  and  also  "Medii-al  Time^  and  Gazette,"  Febniary  18,  W 
167.  There  are  general ly  niarks  of  the  entrnnee  an<l  ejrU  of  the 
fluid  or  eitrreitt ;  either  a  severe  laeerated  umund,  or  a  eouttuion,  or  an 
aive  eeehipnosiif,  or  Honietimej<  a  hole,  drilled  or  puneJied  in  apptana 
like  the  siUibsi  of  a  biunt  du^ger  (Taylor).  Meyer  say*  ecchymoestj*  h 
common  on  the  back.  Srverat  eaj*e4  are  given  by  Tavlor  and  t^lhen^ 
ejrtental  nmrkg.  (*SVt  *' Medical  Times,"  May  3,  1845,  p.  82,  for 
Atm^riean  cases.)  The  clothes  are  neurit/ alwrtyn  font,  and  pufilyi 
mtelUng  of  fre — sometinK-s  they  are  rolled  up  and  carried  Ut  s  dk 
Met  at  buttottfi,  efe.^  are  often  nmlted.  Str^l  ihingi<  bteome  mngneih^ 
Wejit  told  Dr.  Taylor  that  he  was  called  to  a  ca^  tu  which  m  !«( 
eighteen  wan  killed  bv  li^htnitijj;,  and  his  poekftknife  had  arquirtd 
mngnetic  poltiritif.  Hi"*  bootx  {fall  of  hobnailj*)  were  torn  to  pie-r^Jt^  I 
feet  appeared  tJtiinjared.  A  friend  of  Dr.  Taylor's  saw  a  man  \nd 
neously  killed  by  lightning — there  ivfm  a  hole  in  his  cap,  hi*  hair  wn»i 
hi«  trowmra  torn,  his  nhoes  burst  open.  The  woodteork  of  the  buildii 
merehj  Mjdit,  and  there  was  uo  inark  of  burning.  Dr.  Taylor  remarll 
trees  generally  appear  to  be  simply  rent  by  the  mechanical  fore*. 
authors  however,  know  of  a  rick  burned  by  li^hfninK,  of  chiirchw 
fire  in  the  same  way,  and  of  an  old  tree  (dry  and  ilcad  many  year^) 
V{Rs  fired  by  lightning.  In  a  non-fatal  ease,  the  wound  in  the  ibig 
Dr.  Taylor,  was  ho  deep  as  almost  to  bare  the  femoral  arfery;.  Th 
was  oprotng  an  umhrdla,  a  praciire  of^en  dangerous  in  sneh  cirmmi 
Dr.  Markintoflli,  of  Liverpool,  wa.s  called,  in  Mhy.  18G4,  Uy  see  thn 
sons  who  were  struck  twenty  miuures  before  (Taylor,  (oe.  rit,^  p 
"  Luneet."  July  30,  1804,  j>,  118 ».  They  had  taken  nheluir  under 
Rtflek.  whieb  had  been  ^et  on  tire  by  the  same  fltvsh.  No.  1.  A  boy 
had  difficulty  in  moving  his  le^s  at  first,  pain  in  lower  part  <»f  ab< 
red  .^irenks  in  chest  and  *dHlumen ;  recovered  in  about  lour  days. 
Age<l  eleven  years,  had  epHeptifonn  sgmptoins,  and  similar  red  streaks^ 
his  hair  wa^  singed  at  th-  back  of  the  head  and  neek  i  he  becanif  eul 
in  five  hours,  and  rapidly  recovered.  No.  3.  A  man  a^ed  forty-i 
killed  iin  the  j^pi>t — he  was  slitting,  and  had  not  moved.  Rij^fiditv 
fourteen  hours  afYer.    He  had  a  large,  Itioerated  wound  of  tfve  9calp^ 


868 


HEMIPLEaiA    FROM    LTQHTNfKa. 


I 


uninjured.  HU  left  ear  vKts  severely  lareraied.  Black  longiitidintil  line$ 
were  foitntl  on  the  min  of  his  uhdomeii^  an  ecrhtjnio^eil  ^pot  on  thf  skin  of  th€ 
left  (ttikfc,  find  a  deep  wound  on  tliefoof.  The  whole  of  the  left  hemUph*'re  of 
the  hrtiin  wfta  dimrt/unhed  uud  liquefied,  except  tht*  oorpus  striatutn.  There 
leere  iujurten  to  the  left  lumj.  Mr.  Clurk  of  Farnliain  re|MjrtH  the  case  of  a 
man,  aj^e4  t*evciily-four,  who  tiurvived  his  injurie:^  two  days  (**L!incet," 
1872,  vol,  i,  p.  77,  and  Taylor,  ioe,  cit,,  j>.  133  L  Wliilsl  statnlUij^  under  a 
fir-tree  he  wa.<  struck  by  lightning  during  a  ulornu  and  suddenly  llirowu 
on  Im  fiicc.  When  seen  soon  afterwards  he  wa^  vwnninff,  and  (juile  un- 
A^ottHviouH ;  hi^  lefff  were  paralyzed,  the  urnm  pnrtinfly  ho.  His  hat,  ja«'ket, 
waibtcout,  lro\vi'er»,  andone  tH)ot^  were  rent  and  ripped  open.  Blood  flowed 
from  a  ser ruled  tvouud  on  hin  rtfjld  temple,  from  several  annill  won ud.^  In  hia 
heacJ  and  ^iice,  and  from  his  (lacerated)  mouth.  The  wountls  were  neither 
ecchymo:*ed  nor  contused.  He  passerJ  a  re.«tle8s  ni^ht,  glill  inoaninjr:  pulse 
eighty,  weuk,  irregular,  anil  iuterinittenl;  his  breathing  deep  and  hurried, 
and  he  was  nimble  to  apeak.  The  bladder  wan  paralyzed.  Al\er  Iwenly- 
aeven  hours  his  symptoms  were  wurse;  be  was  very  violent,  and  much 
eechyoiosis  ajjpeared  round  the  right  eye.  The  hair  of  his  bead,  eyebrows, 
eyelashes^  wbisken*,  and  pubes  on  the  right  side  were  burnt  off,  or  singed; 
and  hia  cuticle  completely  cinirred  in  places.  Some  blood  oozed  from  the 
month  and  uose;  his  palate  seemed  charred  and  black,  the  mouth  drawn 
a  little  to  the  left  side,  the  tongue  dry  and  brown.  He  pas*«ed  anotlier 
restlesi*  night ;  twitchings  of  the  left  ntuscles  came  on,  with  facial  pamlysis, 
and  he  died,  without  recovering  conscioi»sness,  fifty  seven  hours  after  he  had 
been  struck.  Much  blood  was  iound  etTiised  between  the  scalp  and  skull. 
A  fine  frad lire,  1|  inch  lonff,  urM  found  in  the  aquamoiu*  portion  of  the  tem- 
poral bone^  teritiinalirjg  at  the  suture.  There  was  auother/rnc/air  at  right 
angle:^  to  //<»>,  the  included  jKjrtif>n  of  hone  l>eing  black  and  charred.  '1  he 
tempiiral  bone  wh.«»  tbrced  out»  and  raised  above  the  level  of  the  other  bones*. 
There  vvas  on  effmion  of  thick  blood  mi  the  dura  mater  correiipondintj  to  tin* 
frartnrr.  The  brain  and  ifjs  ntemhranen  were  both  lueernted.  On  the  orUttal 
plate  of  the  frontal  bttue  a  (barred  spot  was  seeti,  through  which  the  elec- 
tric (iuid  harl  passed.  In  the  "  Ann.  dTIygi^-ne/'  1H71 , 1,  478.  M.  Tt»unl<»s 
relates  the  following:  "In  1869  three  soldiers  sat  under  a  tree  during  a 
etorm.  They  were  struck  down  by  lightnings  anrl  two  were  killed  on  the 
spot.  There  were  loftier  trees  in  the  neighborhood;  a  lightning  conductor 
was  not  far  off,  and  an  iron  railway  bridge  and  a  river  were  near.  The 
electric  fluid  8truck  the  liwer  tree,  and  passed  through  the  bodies  of  the 
men,  in  place  of  bc*ing  carried  off  by  the  surrounding  conductors."  As 
further  examples  of  what  some  would  term  the  vagnrie«  of  lightning,*  tiike 
the  foil  owing  from  Dr.  Taylor:  "  lu  June,  1871,  a  coachman,  whilst  driving, 
was  killed,  during  a  storm,  whilst  the  fimtman,  sitting  by  his  side,  escaped 
uninjured.  The  electric  fluid  had  struck  the  coachman  on  the  head, 
destrnyed  his  hat  and  rent  his  clothe^?.  It  passed  through  his  body,  tore  a 
large  hole  in  the  cushion  whereon  he  was  sitting,  and,  except  the  shattering 
of  the  glass,  did  no  injury  to  the  carriage,  nor  to  those  who  were  inside. 
At  about  the  same  time  three  men  were  mowing  in  a  field  during  the  same 
storm.  They  put  down  their  scythes  and  sought  shelter;  but  as  they  were 
leaving  the  field  they  were  all  three  struck  to  the  ground  by  liijhtning. 
One  only  was  killed.  It  teas  found  that  he  had  been  ntruek  on  the  right  side, 
wli^re  he  wore  a  steel  chain  with  a  wateli.  Thus  (?  the  watch)  \m*  broken  to 
piecei.     In  another  accident,  occurring  at  the  same  date,  a  mau,  aged 

•  Whi'n  liehtning  Htlnrk-*  ibf  c'<»inmon  birch  \Httuia  nfba),  itisMJil  ihiit  it  hnvrr 
runs  Mlornr  ilh*  sIimii,  l*tii  t'oiit1n<'H  iu  I'lrMkc  (o  ih**  l»»p  uU>ii«'. boating  offtho  bough* 
in  i;v<jry  dirvclioo.     (Goud'it  ^'titudj  ut'  M<xltcine,"  iv,  p.  <K>5.) 


EFFECTS    OF    IlGHTNINO* 


869 


>ur,  was  struck  whilst  stantling  under  a  fir-tree,     He  was  taken 
'6/<?,  and  *onn  died.     There  ivom  n  Jagged  wound  over  the  right  eye^ 

»td  a  great  part  of  the  tturface  of  the  body  un9  burnt,  iuchtding  the  hoir^ 

w/tUkrrM^  ryrbrowft  and  eyehu^h^x.     The  boots  were  burnt  off  the  fed^  and  the 

hat  and  trowner^  were  torn  to  pieces." 

Il  is  jtaid  that  in  the  Uiiiu-<l  States,  in  1870,  there  were  202  deaths  from 

li{^hinin<T  out  of  500,(K>0  »leaths;  of  these  only  54  were  feiiuileK,  or  in  the 

Eroportion  of  26.7^^  per  cent.  This  comparative  immnnitv  uf  feniHles  is 
orne  out  by  Britisli  case?.  Thi.*,  of  Citurse,  depend}*  to  a  large  extetu  ou 
the  other  fact,  that  a  very  lar^e  prnpurtiKn  of  the  deaths  occur  *jnt  of  doors. 
I  Yet  Bugge  {*'  Deutsche  Klinik,"  June  20,  1874)  inention-s  the  ruse  of  a  deli- 
cate girJ,  struck  by  lightning  in  a  room.  Ai  iirsit,  he  say;^,  hIiu  only  had 
headache,  dilated  pupils,  dyj^pncea^  and  palpitation  ;  then  she  had  f^y.^tolic 
land  diastolic  bruits  over  the  heart  after  twelve  days.  In  six  dnVH  more 
right  hemiplegia,  and  on  the  thirty-third  <lay  death.  There  whs,  unfurtu- 
oat«]y,  no  post-morlem  examinatioo.  Eulenburg  records  a  very  (^nrioua 
cue  o\  hemiplegia  with  snk<eqnent  recovery,  from  the  effects  oj  fi(/htiiing* 
The  patient  was  a  points^nian,  aged  foriy-two  ;  and  on  the  night.-*  M'  August 
4--5,  1^73,  was  just  windijig  up  a  ch)ck  in  the  signal  ilepartmenl  of  the 
|3«!riiu  Stettin  liailway.  He  had  only  jtisi  insprted  the  key  with  his  left 
bftod  (aiwayg  used  by  him  In  his  workj  when  a  i\m\\  of  lightning  Wfw  ah>ng 
the  telegraph  wire  into  the  dock,  thence  to  the  key,  and  thence  to  the 
left  halt  of  his  body.  He  lo«t  coustciouj«ne!*H  at  once;  and  tlii^  state  la?*ted 
for  a  full  hour.  On  recovering  this,  he  drugged  liimi*e]f  into  a  waiting- 
room.  Next  morning  medicjil  examination  showed  total  Ima  nf  mntnr  power 
in  left  nnn  and  leg^  and  vmmdernblf  lf>tt«  ofporumon  Hftimtifm,  and  of  the  Inaili- 
^tiuu  of  ituprewiou.'!!.  Ilrfiduehe,  in/iomnio,  vertigo,  !*tight  muj»ftiiur  trtTnorSt 
litoititHition,  and  retention  of  urine  were  felt  tor  a  few  dayn,  nnd  then 
Hved  otf.  Aher  ten  tnouthn  the  teg  imjiroved,  but  the  ariri  riMnnined  in 
tiaiu  fjun.  It  hung  down  quite  limp,  and  all  movement  .-eeined  aboIiMhed, 
except  in  the  lingers  and  thumb.  The  nutrition  of  hath  li/nbi*  wns  nfm  muck 
imfMiired.  Under  treatment  by  the  constant  current,  etc,  he  gradntilly  im- 
pruved,  and  at  the  end  of  seven  months  more  wan  nearly  an  well  a-  ever. 
Dr.  Barnes  (see  the  Doathn  from  Lightning  at  Ewell,  in  the  "Medical 
iTiinej*  and  Gazette,"  June  20,  l.Ht5r*S,  p.  H71)  tiarratca  a  caHe  in  which  a 
Utfod'cht  uKu  found  in  the  l<rft  cerebral  heiutj^phere.     The  man  wjm  wiruck  by 

Sbtning  wbiiHt  ou  horseback.     There  wat^,  however,  a  bare  potftiibility  that 
9  haemorrhage  was  due  to  a  fall  from  bin  horsK?. 

If  we  analyze  all  the  csu^eA  reci>rded,  we  *-hall  find  that  there  are  variouH 
imodes  of  death  from  lightning.  In  «>lber  wurd^,  death  and  other  aceidenUi 
ftucD  lightniug  oc^rur: 

(1)  Like  any  other  thoekf  protincing  §yncof>e,  concuwion  of  the  brain 
ami  apinal  cord,  etc. 

(2)  Bv  burrtu :  like  an  intense  and  fierce  heat,  netting  fire  lo  iIjc  hair, 
fkin,  auii  cluibiug  oflxHiies,  alis^j  to  bay^itacki},  Uiildiug*,  etc.,  and  inelling 
I,  metal  lie  articles. 

I  (3)  By  expUmon^  like  gunpowder  or  dynansite,  {See  the  chapter  on 
I^Wounda;"  aectioD  on  '* Firearms  and  Explosive  Bubwtances.")  Tli« 
ilighcotiig  splits  trees,  and  shatters  htri^e  slones,  reods  and  team  clutb* 
ing,  bursting  even  leather  boots,  breaking  booev,  and  producing  mggad 
ida. 

^««B«rUn<*r  KlinUcb«  Wodw^aidiHft,'*  No  17.  April  2«,  \fnf»;  unci  ••  Li}ndon 
Risord,"  roi.  Hi,  No,  136^  p.  8:M^  May  26,  1976. 


870 


SXTRBtfK    HEAT    ATiD    COLD. 


(4)  By  acting  like  a,  drills  or  mttittff  instrumeat;  it  stabs  and  piei 
the  flfsh,  perftjratee  hats,  etc. 

(5)  By  acting  rhetniatUtf  on  the  biocxi,  producing  [lecoliar  modiRcations 
of  that  HuUl,  and  making  it  duw  to  coagulate ;  also,  tn  eome  dues,  retard- 
ing po^l -mortem  ngi<1ity. 

(6)  It  acts  mngneticfiliy  upon  eteel  knives,  key?,  etc,  inducing  powerful 
magnetic  rhilarity,  m  that  the  blade  of  a  pocket  knife  may  become  a 
uiagueL  It  may  aUo  derange  and  destroy  ibft  magnetism  of  pocket-com* 
pas:*e:«  and  telegraph  apparatus,  atop  watches  and  clocks,  etc. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  although  (as  in  the  cajie  of  death  from  rrinrt^ 
thock^  when  there  may  be  no  injury  to  the  clothes,  or  marks  on  the  body) 
it  may  ^Huetime?  he  difficult  to  find  prijofs  that  death  has  resuUed  froia 
lightning;  and  although  in  other  ea^es  the  severity  of  the  injuries  might 
lead  to  the  suspicion  of  criminal  violence,  yet,  in  a  very  large  number  of 
deaih;^  from  this  cause,  there  is  sufficient  evidence  from  the  surroundings, 
and  from  the  appearHuces  of  the  clothing,  and  of  the  dead  body,  to  war- 
rant us  in  attrihutijig  death  to  the  action  of  the  electric  current.  Nmw 
that  pi>wcrful  galvanic  batteries  arc  becoming  eomnion  in  scientific  insti'^j 
tutions  and  privtite  laboratories,  it  is  by  no  raeiins  unlikely  that  soi 
deaths  (accidental  or  otherwise)  may  happen  from  the  sudden  dischar| 
pas>ing  through  the  hutnun  b<idy.  If  called  to  such  a  case,  make  at  ou( 
a  careful  examination,  sketch,  and  memorandum  of  the  tJtnH  pom'tton  of 
Jthe  body,  as  well  as  of  the  nmrkings  oJi  it.  Xoie,  also,  its  proximittj  and 
lation  to  the  hditery ;  and  the  nature  of  the  battery,  with  the  arrangement 
if  ita  wires,  commutators,  conductors,  etc. 


EXTREMFS  OF  TEMPERATURE. 

Death  from  tjreai.   Cold  or  great  Heat, 

The  human  body,  in  health,  has  an  average  or  mean  temperature  of 
37^"  C,  '>H.tj''  F,,  or  29.6^  JU^aumur,  in  the  axilla,  and  nearly  the  same,  in 
the  moulh.     In  the  rectum  (or  vagina)  the  lemj)erature  is  a  trifle  higher; 


perhaps  T  to  T  C.  = 


to  1^^°  F.     The   fluctuatiou  or  daily  range 


(excursus  I  of  temperature  in  health  doe-s  not  exceed  about  I'^C  (=i  1.8^ 
F.J  in  either  direction, above  or  below  the  37^, or  abimt  2^  C.  (3.5^  F.)  in 
all.  In  other  words,  the  temperature  in  the  axilla  may/«//  to  about  97° 
F.,  or  rfV  to  100 '  F.,  without  colhtpise  on  the  one  han<l,  or  frvrr  on  the 
other.  Even  in  chihlren,  whose  temperature  is  very  mobile,  these  limits 
are  seldom  exceeded.  Most  diseascjji,  accidents,  and  injuries,  cause  the 
temperature  to  rise  or  ikll  beyond  these  limits.  On  this  the  use  of  the 
thermometer  in  medicine  and  surgery  is  founded.  The  scope  and  purport 
of  this  work  do  not  ftermit  of  our  doing  more  than  mention  these  general 
facts,  and  referring  the  reader  to  such  works  as  th<ise  of  Wunderlich  (a 
translation  ot  whf>8e  work,  "  Das  Verhalieo  der  Eigenwiirme  in  Krauk* 
heiten,"  Leipzig,  1870,  is  published  by  the  New  Sydenham  S!k»ciety). 
Seguiu  ("Medical  Thermometry,  and  Human  Temperature,**  New  York, 
1><71);  and  H.  Roger  ("Del  a  Temperature  chez  lea  Enfant*,  etc./ 
Paris,  1844).  Fron>  the  invej^tigations  of  medical  and  wientific  traveller 
it  Would  seem  that  tiie  \w&l-regiilating  powers  of  the  human  body  suflit 
in  health,  by  the  use  of  appropriate  lbo«l,  clothing,  and  other  means, 
pre-serve  the  btidily  temneralure  within  these  limits  or  narrow  rang< 
Age,  sex,  condition  in  lite,  and  the  season  of  the  year,  make  far  less  dil 
ference  than  would  be  supposed  from  a  priori  reasoning.  Aa  might,  how- 
ever, be  suppofled,  few  things  are  more  trying  Uy  the  body,  even  in  healt] 


HIGH  AND  LOW  TEMPER  A  TUKES. 


871 


sudden  or  rapid  changes  of  temperature,  whether  in  the  upward  or 
Icriuwtiward  direction.  Mltj  can  Isve  and  thrive  hcjth  in  the  tropins,  niid 
■lu  the  extreme  North  and  South  ;  hut  those  seasons  and  places  iti  which 
Kbtiro  la  a  very  great  diversity  of  temperature  between  dttfercnt  hoiire  of 
ishe  same  day,  must  be  cou.sidered  as  uuhetilihv.  We  may  mention,  as  a 
prorollary  of  this,  tliat  the  one  eireurnstatice  Id  which  the  various  *'  liealth 
ireuorts,"  recommended  for  consumptive  patieutjj,  agree  (and  they  agree  in 
.Jiolhiug  else)  is,  that  the  daily  fluetuati<nia  of  temperature  in  jiuch  places 
^<corae  of  which  are  very  warm,  others  very  eoM)  are  very  slight.  In 
London  or  Paris  the  night  temperature  often  differs  from  that  of  the  day 
by  30"^  or  40^  F.;  but  »uvh  changes  are  very  trying  to  invalids,  Torquay, 
I  Madeira^  Egypt,  Australia,  and  the  Kugadine,  have  a  far  more  etr/i  tem- 
perature. It  is  difticiili  to  place  any  limits  to  the  degrees  of  cither  heat 
or  cold  (i*hort  of  being  absolutely  frozen,  burnt  or  melted  to  death),  which 
may  be  lempirarily  borne  by  the  human  body.  Captain  Nare?.  and  lua 
officers  and  men  lived  for  sonie  week*!  where  thermomelera  marked  100^ 
IF.  (==  — 65,5*  C*)  of  froHt.  Chabert,  the  "  Fire  King,*'  was  in  the  habit  of 
Icotering  an  oven  whose  temperature  was  from  40lJ  to  600'  F.  <205^  to 
315°  C),  whiUt  Chan  trey's  work-people  were  exjirised  to  ainmst  as  intense 
«  degree  of  heat  for  a  f^hort  time,  for  the  floor  of  the  oven  wa*  red-hot, 
aud  a  thermometer  in  the  tiirytood  at  350^  F.  {=^  176. G"  C. ).  But  in  the 
CMC  of  extrenie  degree's  of  heat,  the  expoj?nre  i.**  but  brief,  and  the  '*  spher- 
oidal »tHte"  as^mmed  by  water  under  certain  condititins  probably  causes 
the  per»piratioii  to  pr<itect  the  skin.  We  know,  again,  that  ceriuin  acci- 
denta  aud  diseases  lead  to  very  high  internal  or  bt*dily  lemperattireii  in 
aome  caM*!*,  and  to  very  low  ones  in  ollierj*.  Thm*  108^  F.  ia  jjretty  com- 
iinou  in  severe  ague;*  aud  in  neuroses;  ll.j^  F,  has  lieen  attained  in  scarSet 
I  fever,  and  122^  F.  in  a  case  of  Mr.  Teale'si  (of  Si'arborougb),  after  fracture 
lof  ribfl  and  other  injuries  by  a  fall  from  a  horse  'Meeting  of  Clinical  Society, 
'Feb.  20,  1875).  Very  high  temperatures,  aiid  sometinicit  very  low  ouea, 
I  occur  shortly  before  death.  Very  acute  dii^eases,  eapeeially  neurones  (sneh 
BB  t«tauus,  etc.),  and  fevers,  including  cholera  aniong!«it  the  latter,  are 
kuown  to  exhibit  great  heat  ju.st  before,  during,  aud  soon  after  death  inee 
p.  38);  whilst  one  caj»e  of  alcoholinim,  with  exposure  to  a  eold  damp  atmod- 
Iphere,  brought  the  origmal  temperature  as  low  as  78.8'  F.  (2G^  C.)  ac- 
cording to  Maguau. 

Dr.  .1.  J-  licincke*  (police  surgeon  in  Hamburg)  record**  the  case  of  a 
man  ageti  thirty- Jour,  picked  up  at  midnight  in  a  i^tate  of  intoxic4ition. 
iThc  temjH^rature  of  the  air  viji8  30"^  F.  At  8  a.m.  the  man'*  temj>eraiure 
liu  the  rectum,  was  only  75^  F.,  in  two  huurd  it  had  riiseu  to  77^F.,  at 
[twdve  noon  it  had  reached  82^  F.  Reaction  then  set  in,  and  it  iH>on  bec4ime 
rabove  n(»rmab     He  recovere<i  ()erfectly. 

'  But  thc^e  eases  are  exceptional.  The  high  temperatures  of  fever,  etc., 
Ijnay  be,  and  often  are,  tcderaled,  and  recovery  Inke^  place,  because  there 
are  intermiA«<ionj',  or  at  leaal  rfi/nWmHx.  Many  con.sumptivc  patients  live 
'»i>me  wc^k-"*  or  niontliM  with  temperatures  greatly  above  uornuil,  becauAe  at 
#omc  hour  of  day  or  night,  if  not  every  day,  at  leant  every  other  day,  their 
IlKKiily  heat  fallH  either  to  normal  or  very  war  it.  But  as  a  general  law, 
\mc  may  uke  the  following  a?  a  correct  etatement  of  fact: 
I  IVhen  the  tartperature  {in  the  rectum)  of  a  uMinn-bif/nded  animal  (mam- 
tnai)  is  rained  hj  amj  mcnuM  W"  or  VA"^  K  (=  6.1°  to  7,20'*  C.)  above  its 
heat,  the  animal  dieji  if  tkU  increased  temperature  per$ieis 


Urklih  and  Foreign  Mcdico-Chtrurgicul  Kevtew,'*  April,  1676. 


872 


EFFECTS    OP    GREAT    OEAT. 


for  any  length  of  time.  (De  la  Roche  and  Berger,*  Bernard  Wal flier, 
hJEclward.'4»  Chos?at,etc.  Bee  aUci  "  Lecture  anti  Ex|i^rinimits/'  by  IJ.  Ward 
Richardsnu,  **  Medical  Times  and  (lazette/*  Jan.  9,  1H6J).)     BerDar<l'5<  ex- 

rLTimeiils  show  that  eveu  7"^  to  \)^  F,  plui*  the  normal  heat,  if  couiiuued, 
iJli*  most  animal**.  Codav<*ric  ri[)i<iit}j  »rAn  in  rapidly  in  such  cme* :  it  is 
tfcrtj  fttraughj  marked,  and  it  IiijuIm  a  louif  time.  Dr.  Kirhard.-^on  made  siome 
ejtperimeuu  in  which  animal  subsLaneea  were  exi*(«ed  to  very  high  tern- 
peraturcii  (340^  F. ),  with  little  or  no  air,  indorsed  in  |>Iaf'er  of  Paris,  etc. 
8ome  very  curious  results  were  ohtained,  for  ihe  details  of  wliich  we  ruust 
refer  to  the  page  iu  **  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  quoted  above.  It 
would  appear  that  hlood  and  the  pigment  of  the  eye  resii^ted  great  heat 
better  than  almost  anythini;  eUe,  After  long  ex|K>.«iure  to  heat,  fur  abi)ve 
boiling-point,  blood  was  Htill  easily  rect)gnizable  by  it^*  chemical  characters. 
Bones  and  the  scaly  coverings*  of  animal.^  were  next  in  power  of  re.-^ist- 
anee.  Shells  of  fi^^b  and  e^^j^H,  and  the  feathers  of  birdd  even,  left  well- 
markeil  traces  in  the  planter,  etc.  These  facts,  and  the  oxaminalion  of 
caldne4l  renniins  of  bone?*,  etc.,  recorded  by  Tardieu  and  Robiu  ("Atfkire 
Lecuoine,"  57th  ami  58th  ca'^Ois,  loc.cit.,  **  Infanticide,"  see  on  p.  717),  and 
several  ca^es  recorded  by  l>r.  Taylor,  are  encouragemeot^  to  explore 
thoroughly  the  ai^hea  and  other  debris  in  cajies  of  fire,  especially  where 
there  is  reas<m  to  j-nspect  intentittual  ar^on.  Again,  WaltherV  exfieri- 
nientri  show  thni  death  is  itteritnUv  if  a  wmm- blooded  animal  be  kept  lontj  in 
told  no  int^fiKC  thU  iU  nanmd  tempt  rahire  w  depressed  about  10"'  t/r  15'  C, 
(=  18'  to  21'-  F.),  Indeed,  rabbits  flied  as  soon  as  their  tern  pern  lure  fell 
9'  C*  (16.2^  F.).  Artiticial  reripiraiion  re-^tored  some  of  thotte  which  had 
not  been  quite  #0  much  cooie<l,and  enabled  them  to  regain  their  original  ani- 
mal heat.  But  uuleiid  artificial  rej^{)iratiou  were  used,  it  wa»  tbund  that  long 
exposure  to  cold  prevented  their  getting  warm  again,  even  in  a  warm 
attuonpliere.  In  men  and  strong  au'trnab,  reaction  h  apt  to  set  in  alter 
intense  cold,  so  that  eveu  febrile  teinf»erature8  are  reached.  Yet  experience 
ehowii  a  wonderful  Ittw  of  tolerance  a^*  regards*  not  only  extremes  of  iem()eni.> 
ture  as  bonie  liy  diHerent  nations,  but  variations  of  temperature,  as  borue 
by  aeronauiji  and  iravellers,  Arctic  explorers,  etc. 

Y*>u  might,  in  order  to  settle  nome  quei*tion  of  frurvtrornliip,  be  a«ked 
whether  yotituj,  middle-itfjed,  ur  old  people,  and  U'hirJi  teXy  bear  extrenirn  nf 
heat  and  raid  bed.  Your  answer  must  be,  so  far  as  experieuce  aud  experU 
meotti  allow  us  to  formulate  an  aut^wer,  tis  folhtws: 

1.  Infants  and  very  yoimtj  children,  and  very  old  people  of  both  ««c<yt,  have 
limifed  poteer/i  of  heat-production.  They  therefore  hear  extreme  cold  badly. 
Older  cJiildren  and  young  adults  bear  cold  better  than  either  their  Seniors  or 

juniors,  and  young  males  better  than  females  of  the  same  oge,f  Some  have 
said  that  females,  being  fatter,  l)ear  cold  better.  This  ig,  however,  not  true 
before  puberty,  and, as  a  general  rule,  males  will  liear  all  hardships  better, 
being  more  accustomed  to  expos^ure  from  their  outdoor  avocations. 

2.  The  young  are  said  to  bear  extreme  heat  belter  than  middle-aged  or 
older  j)eoj>le.  i  Beck  i^tates  this  on  the  authority  of  Burckhardt,  as  re- 
gards the  Nubian  deserti".)     But  this  point  requires  further  confirmation. 


•  **  Ei|>i'rienrc«  ^ur  le*  EflVl*qij'one  forto  Chnleur  produit  tur  i'KcunomIe," 
PNrix.  18<)6;  "  Joiirntil  dn  FhyMque,"  I.  68,  71,  nad  77. 

f  H*'«t-prodiK-linn  in  ihe  Imninn  Ufdy  i*  h  complt'X  problMn.  Much  pf  i%\n 
derivHl  fron>  tif*ue  change-*  nnd  the  dec<iTnpo*ition  of  nulrilivc  •'Ubf^tMnt^r*.  If  wo 
admit  thnt  very  mucb  of  it  is  prnduoed  by  muftcular  rauVfrriLMiU,  nnd  «*M|in<'iii]|jr 
lh<f*e  of  tbf  veriincl«>*  of  the  h*nirt,  the  left  vi-ntriele  cspeciwily ,  this  vlrw  will  ex- 
plain Ihe  stalemint  in  the  text.  The  work  of  the  left  ventricle  i«  itiitrd  by  Bu- 
chuniih  lo  bo  equal  tu  42. a  fuul-lun&  in  twenty-four  bouri. 


ON  DEATH  FROM  ORBAT  COLD. 


87S 


%ianj  of  the  victims  of  sunstroke  are  yonng  people,  ami   one  of  the 
fctrlit^l  recorded  cases  (2  Kings  4 :  18  and  19)  was  in  a  child. 

In  the  alfi*cuce  of  detiiitte  experimeulit,  or  eai?es  hearing  on  this  point, 
'^f  funnot  do  better  than  fall  back  on  such  general  rules  as  those  of  the 
till!  Ji'oiimn  lau\  and  of  the  Code  Napol<:4)n,     (See  pp.  534-536.) 


EffccU  of  Eitremc  Cold — Frostbite ^  Deaf h  from  Expomtre,  ek. 

Accordiog^  to  the  repirt.^  of  the  Regiftrar-Generfll,  some  141  deaths  in 
3870t  and  114  in  1874,  occurre^l  from  exjJO!*ure  to  cold.  Few  winters  pass 
IWithout  fiich  cases.  The  raajorily  are,  utifortiinatelyA'*"»pli<^"ated  by  pre- 
Wiout  starvation  or  mch  privatioiif*  ay  have  d«?stroyed  the  pr>wer  of  reyii?t- 
nee  to  cold  p<j88eKsed  by  healthy  bodies.  The  bennmbiug  etTects  of  cr)ld 
ire  Dot  familiar  to  mos^t,  from  the  exi)erieDce  of  severe  winten?,  but  have 
11  further  exemplified  in  the  experience  of  whalers,  and  Arctic  ex- 
t>rer»,  and  in  the  disastrous  retreat  from  ^loscow  of  the  French  army  in 
S12.  Tlie  painful  feelings  firt^t  produced,  and  the  purple  lividity  of  the 
in,  which  i»  not  seldom  vesicated,  are  succeeded  by  numbness,  auies- 
esia«  pallor  of  the  skin.  Stiffness  of  the  limlw,  chiefly  due  to  the 
•Je*,  succeeds;  then  torp<^r,  and  a  condition  of  coam,  from  which  the 
r  can  be  roused  only  with  dithcuhy.  Lastly,  complete  suspension 
lion  and  of  the  heartV  action  ensues,  and  the  victim  perishes, 
lar  regions  it  is  considered  fataJ  to  go  to  sleep  whilst  marching, 
ntard  lourid  that  the  blood  absorbed  less  oxygen  at  a  low  tempera- 
(Le<;<)ns,  1851),  p.  114. i  Delirium,  vertigo,  and  even  symptoms  of 
tlDxicaliou  have  l»een  u^iticed  by  the  Arctic  explorers.  Dr.  Hartshfjrne 
Aniericaii  Journal  of  Medical  Sfienee,"  Oct.  18tU,  p.  4^^2f,  quoted  by 
r,  Taylor,  gives  a  case  of  deatli  on  the  third  day  after  exposure  to  rohl^ 
lb  headache,  drowsiness,  vomitiug,  high  temperature,  hard  and  quick 
In*,  and  delirium.  In  fact,  the  symptoms  were  not  unlike  those  of  sun- 
e.  It  has  before  been  noticed  that  extreme  heat  and  extreme  cold 
rise  to  very  similar  symptoms, 

rrftt  fatigue,  exhaustion  trujm  want  of  food,  mental  depressifm,  habits 
tutoxicalion,  or  the  previous  ingestion  of  a  targe  quantity  of  alcohol, 
fious  iilncr<<,  great  age,  early  infancy,  in  fact,  anything  which  tends  to 
the  physical  j>owers,  will  prerlisnnse  to  the  severe  or  fatal  ctfeets  of 
[ij.  iMmp  cold  (such  as  wet  clothing,  a  cold,  damp  atmosphere,  or 
rtial  in»mersion  in  water  during  cold  weather,  as  in  wrecks  j  m  far  more 
ifprtumintj  and  dantjerouA  than  dnj  cold.  (See  Wunderlich  on  **  Tempera- 
tBPe,**  New  Svdenham  Society's  transhitittn,  pp.  lliM,  322,  etc.  etc. ;  Horn's 
f*  Vierteljahraschcift,"  mm,  2.  44  ;  "  Ann.  dTlygi^rie;'  1838,  1,  43H;  Cas- 
per** *•  V'iertcljahrsschrift,"  iHfJa,  2,  140;  "  Medical  Times  and  Gazette," 
Jut?  21,  1^560,  n.  Bl  ;  "  Annnlc^^  d'HvgitMie,"  1h;)1,  p.  2t)7  ;  Beaupr6  on 
*'lfUlJ'  Ijarrey  8  ** Surgical  Memoirs, '  translated  by  Dr.  Cleuclenniug,  p. 
jl>r.  K  el  lie,  *'  Ivlinhurgh  Mctlical  and  Surgical  Journal,"  vol.  i,  p.  a()2  ; 
njfgh  Medico-Chirurg.  Trans.,"  vol.  i,  p.  H4 ;  Dun  lop's  "  MS.  l>ec- 
Medical  Jurisprudence,"  quoted  by  Beck,  toe.  cif.,  p.  517.)  In  a 
to  page  519,  Beck  collects  a  numl)er  of  cases  of  huddeu  death 
drinking  cold  water  when  heated.  We  believe  these  ca.«es  do  not 
ly  belong  to  the  etfecis  of  cold.  They  are  far  tnore  akin  to  keat 
\rtf,  of  which  we  shall  treat  presently. 

my  people  when  very  hot  drink  tVeely  of  the  ctddeM  drinks  and  take 

with  almost  piTfect  impunity  (se«  Beck,  he.  eii.,  p.  oIH;  also  "  Penny 

L^ine/*   1834,  p.  348).     And  although  when  the  use  of  iee^  first  be- 

oummou  io  Ainerica  and  England,  there  were  many  dreadful  prog- 


tikfUl, 


$n 


EFFECTS    OF    GREAT    COLD, 


nosticatioDi*  of  the-evil  efTecU  which  would  result,  we  believe  that  theee 
pretliciions  have  tbr  ihe  most  part  been  fnl«ified.  How  then  do  we  explHin 
the  cases,  which  undoubtedly  flo  occur  from  time  to  time,  of  su«lcleti  neaih 
after  the  injre.^tioo  of  a  large  quaatiiy  of  cold  water  when  the  body  ia 
beatet]  ?     Our  auawer  mudt  be : 

(1,)  That  in  most  of  them  there  has  been  extreme  fatigue,  and  the  body 
has  been  hubjecied  to  a  great  heat.  Death  ha8  therefore  ensued  from  syn- 
cope, exhauiition,  or  solar  apiplesy  in  many  of  the  cases. 

(2,>  Oihers  nmy  perhaj>i*  be  exjiiaiiied  by  the  ingestion  of  a  larve 
quantity  of  this  fluid  causing  the  red  bl*M>d -corpuscles  to  swell  inordi- 
nately,  and  thus*  produte  blocks  or  embolisms  aud1::ougestion,  in  the  capil- 
laries of  the  lungv  and  (»ther  organs. 

(3.)  A  k'W  muy  |Mj;^i^jbly  be  due  to  the  shock  which  the  feJl  of  terapem- 
ture  produced  by  the  cold  litjuid  has  caused  to  the  heart. 

Amongst  the  minor  effects  of  cold, chilblains  and  sores  on  the  extremiti 
which  are  slow  to  heal,  may  be  meutioufd.  In  what  is  called /mi/A//*^,  tl 
part  wliich  at  lirst  wa:*  livid  and  cold  utul  numb,  becomes  almost  bloodies, 
of  a  livid  tallowy  paleness,  perfectly  insetisible,  and  much  reduced  in 
bulk.  The  nose,  ears,  or  extremities  are  the  parts  mo;*t  likely  to  suffer. 
In  the  case  of  rabbits  and  poultry,  John  Hunter  and  others  showed  that 
the  ears  of  the  rabbit  and  the  combs  of  cocks  may  Ije  so  frozen  as  to  be 
quite  hard  and  brittle,  and  yet  recover  vitality  with  proper  care.  Ajid 
some  of  the  lower  animals  may  be  frozen  entirely  and  yet  recover.* 
Wonderful  stories  of  the  recover)'  of  frozt-u  men  have  been  told  by  authors ; 
yet  if  the  whole  body  be  frozen,  we  have  no  authentic  case  of  recovery. 

If  the  frozen  parts  be  warmed  tim  suddenly,  gangrene  is  very  apt  to  set 
in.  Huron  Larrey  {**Med.  «le  Chirurg.  MiliL,"  torn,  iii,  p.  60)  swys  that 
•during  the  French  camjmign  in  Poland  in  1HU7,  for  a  tew  days  before  and 
after  the  battle  of  Eylau  (the  Tih  and  8th  of  February),  there  was  m<j«t 
inleufse  cold,  ranging  from  10^  to  13^  below  zero  of  Keaumur  (=^  20"^  to 
55"  below  the  freeziing- point  of  Fahrenheit),  iSnow  fell  during  moal  of 
the  battle.  Bui  though  the  troops  were  day  and  night  exposed  to  thia 
jiiost  inclement  weather,  and  the  soldiers  of  tlie  Imperial  Guard  in  par* 
ticular  were  nearly  motionless  for  twenty- four  hours,  there  were  nt>  com- 
pittiiils  of  its  eHects.  Hut  on  the  night  of  the  Uth  of  February  a  gurldm 
thatr  eommnictui,  ami  imriwdtatelj/  a  grent  nwnber  of  mldiert  presenUd  thrm- 
teJvi-n  td  fhe  *■  am6u/*i/<rr;»,"  n^m plaining  of  severe  numbness,  pain  and 
j)ricking  of  the  feet.  8cmie  had  merely  symptoms  like  rhilblaiu^,  others 
irostbite,  but^iany  had  gangrene,  and  the  toes  had  already  become  dry 
and  black.  In  tins'  manner  the  toes,  and  iu  some  the  entire  foot,  jH'rishe<i. 
Mr.  Solly  mentions  a  similar  case  in  the  arm  of  a  tanner  (South'* 
^'Chelius;,"  voL  i.  p.  128;  Drultt's  "Surgery,*'  p.  156,  chap,  v. ;  Millers 
"Principles  of  Surgery,"  p.  275.) 

Cotd,  when  uerv  ^i^ere,  invariahiy  increases  the  general  rale  of  mortality, 
Dr»  Carpenter  in  his  '*  Principles  of  Human  Physiology,"  7th  ed.,  p.  407, 
quotes  an  interesting  table  from  Quetetet*s  "  t^ai  de  Physique  Sociolc," 
torn,  i,  p.  l!*7,  in  which  thi.s  fact  is  strikingly  j^hown  by  the  mortality  *t 
Brussels  for  various  ages,  in  the  diflereut  months  of  the  year.  This  is 
particularly  the  case  in  early  infancy,  and  in  advanced  life.  MM.  Vii- 
lerme  and  Milne  Edwards  have  shown  the  same  fact  as  regards  the  mor- 
tality of  children  in  French  foundling  hospitals ;  and  the  weekly  returns  of 

*  Bee  some  experiin4»ot«  on  icMds,  in  the  '*  London  and  Bdinburgh  Journ«)  of 
Medictil  8cienc«,"  Feb.  1848. 


COLD    AS    A    MEAKS    OP    MURDER. 


876 


Itie  Registrar-General,  show  that  instead  of  a  weekly  average  of  1100 
pr  \2iH),  ilie  deaths  rise  to  1600  or  1H(I0,  cir  more,  when  ihc  mean  lem- 
KHrniture  remaitiif  t«ix  or  eight  degrees*  bt^low  ihe  freezing- point.  This  Ikll 
•if  temperature  affects  even  tlie  well-to-do  classes,  as  is  showQ  by  the 
•*  Deaths"  column  in  the  "  Times,"  In  the  winter  mouths. 

TVeatment  of  Frontbite,  and  of  Per^oum  tx}wfttd  fo  Ejirnne  CokL 

We  must  refer  to  medical  works  for  details,  bwt  the  principle  is  to  re- 
Mtom  gradually  ihe  warmth  of  the  part,  and  to  avoid  very  Ptiddeu  changes 
of  temperature.  To  do  thiH,  the  part  should  be  rubbed  well  with  siuow  (nr 
iced  water) ;  alter  a  time  cold  water  may  be  subHtituted,  then  dry  friction. 
^v  lire  ahould  be  in  the  room,  if  a  small  one,  or,  in  a  large  nrnm,  the  per- 
8(10  f'hould  be  at  a  distante  from  ihe  lire;  the  limb  should  afterwards  be 
mpped  in  cotton-wool,  or  some  ssimilar  non-conductor.  Ve^icKtions  should 
treated  with  some  stimuiating  ointment,  a»  re^-^iu  cerate.  Ulcers  and 
lough*  may  require  poulticing.  If  the  whole  body  be  nuich  chilled,  the 
ieut  should  be  put  to  bed  in  a  r<H>m  of  in<jderrtte  temperature,  ammonia 
"weak  wine  and  water  administered.  Dry  friction  used,  or  t*timu]ttting 
lions,  Gnngrene  shouhi  l>e  treated  much  as  senile  ftr  dry  gangrene 
general,  fur  which  we  must  refer  yuu  to  works  on  surgery. 

Cold  CM  a  Means  of  Murder. 

This  is  happily  rare.  One  t^nch  case  is  recorded  in  the  *'  Annales 
'Hygii^ne/'  vol  vi  (1831),  p,  207  {»et  alno  the  **  Medical  Times  and 
te,"  July  21,  1H60,  p,  61,  and  Beck  and  Tiiylor,  mi  rem.).  The  ease 
ated  by  Dr.  Oxauam  of  Lvons.  A  man  ami  his  wife  were  tried  at 
yoDs  for  the  manslaughter  of  his  claughter  and  her  stepchild,  a  girl  aged 
even  years,  whom  the  brutal  woman,  after  a  long  cour<^e  of  siarvalion 
d  Ul-lreatment,  comfiellcd  to  get  out  of  bed  on  a  cohl  morning  in  Dccem- 
r,  Bud  forced  to  enter  a  barrel  tilled  wilh  cold  water,  Although  e.xtri- 
t^  by  a  servant  after  some  time,  bhe  was  agiiin  replaced  by  the  brutal 
other,  atid  in  it  she  died.  On  the  trial  for  thit*  crime  the  woman  was  con- 
mued  to  imprisonment  for  life.  There  wa.s  here  neither  submersion  nor 
lion,  but  the  child  d<Hihtle.«s  died  from  the  effects  of  cold  a<hied  to 

revions  ill-usage,*     In  Regina  v.  Lovfll  {(lloucester  I^ent  Assizes, 

853),  a  woraun  was  convicted  of  the  nuinf*langhter  of  a  child  aged  only 
ur  years.  Tlte  child,  already  diseased,  wa>i  put  under  the  spout  of  a 
ktimp  iti  Cold  Jannan,'  weather,  and  the  water  jHim|)ed  over  her.  Although 
he  tuetlical  witness  did  not  think  this  accelernted  the  detith,  the  jury  (aa 
He  think  rightly)  did,  and  found  the  prisoner  guilty.  The  late  Justice 
^aUunnl  remarke«l  tbut  the  verdict  was  bawd  on  common  dense  and  reasou, 
lltiiough  against  the  optnion  of  the  medical  witnesB ! 

P(}si'mortem  Appearances  in  Death  by  Cold. 

Theae  are,  unfortunately,  not  very  distinctive.     Rigor  mortu  generally 

Jowly,  but  Ia«lii  for  a  long  time.     You  must  not  nnstake  the  mere 

of  C«dd  for  this.      The.  »k'tn  in  geueral/g  pule,     AH  the  viscera  of  ihe 

and  ahdomtn  and  tht  brain  are  VMtialltf  found  amge^itd.     The  venoim 

Mpcciailij  fnlL     In  two  cases  examined  by  Dr.  Kellie  of  Leith.f 

petiotiii  had  died  on  the  night  of  the  .3d  November,  1821.     The  ex- 


*  Dr.  Oxunam  wies  the  word  ansideration  in  ri'fcrunce  to  cuid  tuing  tho  CAUte  of 
ttb.     Il  U  equivnlrnl  lo  cmr  word  *' Comoro itiinl." 
**Idiobnrgh  Medico-Cfairurgic^al  TraQsactiuaD,"  vnL  i,  p.  94. 


THK    EFFECTS    OP    EXTREME    HEAT. 

tfemal  ftppeanince»  were  not  remarkable.  The  brain  and  its  ineinbrBnes 
were  coDge6te<l.  In  the  veiitrkvles,  nml  at  the  ba«e  of  the  brain,  three  or 
four  ounces  of  gerum  were  I'ounH.  The  stomach  was  of  a  pale  color,  and 
the  small  intestines  were  retiilenerl.  The  liver  also  was  congested.  A  raae 
of  recovery  from  the  effects  of  cold  is  given  by  Dr.  Kollie  in  the  "  Edia- 
byrgh  Medical  and  Surgical  Jonnial/'  vol.  i,  p.  tW2.  He  quotes  a  jwst- 
mortem  by  Qtielmiily  in  tlie  sixth  vol.  of  Haller's  '*  Disputatioues."  Here 
the  vessels  of  the  brain  were  turgid  with  blood,  and  serous  lyraph  waa 
effused  into  the  ventricles  of  the  brain.  In  Casper's  '*  VierteljahrsschrifV," 
1865,  2,  140,  there  is  a  case  occiirriog  to  Dr,  Hilty  of  Werdenberg,  in 
which  a  man  aged  fifty-seven  died  from  exposure  to  cold,  in  a  state  of  in- 
toxication. In  his  case  the  congestion  of  the  internal  viscera  was  atill 
more  marked,  and  the  bladder  was  distended  with  urine. 

When  aisked,  therefore,  if  death  has  resulted  from  cold  in  a  given  caae, 
your  answer  must  be  fimnded  on  common  sense  rather  than  on  f>pecia] 
phenomena.  Yon  must  consider  the  absence  of  other  signs  and  canses  of 
death,  especially  the  absence  of  signs  of  violence,  the  sea^ion  of  the  year, 
the  place  and  circumstances  where  and  in  which  the  body  was  found,  the 
externa]  temperature,  etc.  The  surface  of  the  body  may,  in  some  case*, 
show  patches  of  redness  (frtst  erythema),  as  in  the  case  quoted  above.  It 
is  much  to  be  wished  that  more  accurate  accounts  of  post-mortem  exami- 
nations in  such  casesi  were  on  record. 

A  few  more  reterences  will  l>e  fnund  in  the  articles  on  Cold,  in  "C^pe- 
land's  Dictionary  of  Practical  Medicine."  Dr.  CojKdand  calls  special 
attentiMU  to  the  injurious  eHects  of  a  cold  bath  when  the  body  is  much 
fatigued  by  must^ular  exertions,  sexual  exces.Hes,  and  the  like.  For  want 
of  knowing  or  attending  to  this,  Alexantler  the  Great  nearly  lost  his  life. 

Our  space  does  not  [lermit  our  giving  directions  bow  to  guard  against 
cold.  The  use  of  non-conductors  (furs,  flannels,  etc.l  as  clothing,  and  of 
a  tolerably  libera!  diet  and  exercise,  and  artificial  warmth,  are  the  chief 
means  at  our  command.  We  must  not,  however,  otnit  to  remind  you  of 
the  uses  of  cold  in  surgety,  with  which  the  name  of  Iv march  is  Chpecially 
connected.  Those  not  convcn-ant  with  the  medical  art  are  apt  to  wonder 
why  heat  and  cold  should  both  be  u^ed  for  the  treatment  of  inflammations. 
It  is  not  posvsible  to  give  a  brief  and  categorical  answer.  Both  have  been 
proved  to  be  useful,  and  the  key  to  this  appareut  paradox  may  perhaps  be 
tbund  in  the  fact  that  the  eflcets  of  extreme  heat  and  extreme  cold  in  the 
human  body  and  on  other  mammals  are  very  similar  in  nmuy  respects. 
As  an  example  take  the  production  of  blisters  or  vesications  iu  the  limbs. 

The  Effects  of  Extreme  Heat, 

We  have  already  noted  i  p.  871 )  that  when  the  lera])erature  of  a  warra- 
blooded  animal  is  raised  much  above  the  normal,  it  soon  dies.  Thii*  me 
may  be  caused  partly  by  raising  the  temperature  of  the  surrounding  medtft, 
and  partly  by  preventing  the  giving  oil'  of  heat  from  the  skin.  Hugmr- 
hoUiH.'iS,  engine-rooms,  hothouses  used  for  growing  plants,  and  factories  i>f 
various  kinds,  as  well  as  Turkish  baths,  are  often  heated  to  an  intense  de- 
gree, and  the  air  is  so  saturated  with  moisture  that  there  is  but  little  evapo- 
ration from  the  skin.  In  the  engine-rooms  of  steamers,  Dr.  Taylor  states 
that  the  tempertiture  is  often  14.1^  to  150°  Fahrenheit  in  the  tropics.  In 
Turkish  baths  from  180^  to  200'  Fahrenheit  ha.?  sometimes  been  attained. 
Deaths  iu  both  of  these  situations  have  not  unfrequently  happeu«*<!.  One 
or  two  of  the  children  of  the  late  Mr.  Ur<|uhari  died  in  this  way.  The 
first  ertects  are  to  accelerate  enormously  the  action  of  the  heart,  to  cau^  a 
feeling  of  giddiness  and  suffocatioi],  and  unless  sudden  death  resulta,  to  end 
in  coma,  Teverishueae,  and  congestion  of  the  lunge,  etc.    We  have  here 


OQOP    BE    SOLEIL. 


877 


ttines  Budden  dentli,  as  in  the  cases  given  above,  and  in  another  re- 

bv  Dr.  Taylor  (loc.  ciL,  p.  138).     lie  says:  "  In  July,  1861,  an  in- 

wa-s  hehl  in  Loudon  on  the  body  of  a  stoker  of  an  AUerdtn^n  sleum- 

ip.     He  had  been  by  tnidt  a  grocer,  and  wa^  nat  afcu'it«)med  to  exce^- 

Ive  beat.     While  oCL-npted   beiore  llie  en;;iue  furuace,  he  was  ob'^erved  to 

11  suddenly  on  the  floor  in  a  state  of  iniiensjbillty  ;  when  carried  on  deuk 

Wfcs  found  that  he  was  dead.     All  that  wan  diseovered  in  a  post-nmrlem 

effu*i<<n  of  sernni  into  the  ventriides  of  the  bmio  ;  death  bad   been 

ll»ed  by  sudden  apoplexy/'     It  is  probable^  as  Dr.  Taylor  t^ays,  that  ex- 

ive  heat  generally  art^  by  prodycing  apoplesy — heat  itpaplexy.     When 

iMpd  by  the  heat  of  the  ?»uri,  or  extreme  hot  weuther,  this  is  called  emtp 

it  mtri/.     During  lH7t},  112  death's  frum  xnostroke  oceurred  in  Knglimd, 

nd  in  1874»*iome  ninely  deaths  were  registered  from  ihiri  cau.-^.     In  New 

i'ork  of  lute  years  the  liot  summers  have  bei'tj  marked  by  an  almost  ap- 

■tililjg  uimilxT  of  deaths  from  this  can>e.     The  prevali^nt  praetiue  of  ex- 

|Hri;ve  ingestion  of  Kpirittion.s  liqnors  in  that  city  hai?  probably  ba<l   its 

mire   iti    the   mortality.      Sunstroke  aliHt  attacks  troops  on   the   mnrcb, 

Skcept  when  abwlotely  nnavoifJable,  as  on  the  eve  of  or  in  a  battle,  it 

j^ught  to  be  an  ftxiimi  with  comoianilers,  that  troops  ought  not  to  ni/irch 

durtug  the  hottest  buura  of  the  day.     The  weijrht  of  ibe  soMierV  knaj>5^aek, 

md  tight  artirl^'s  of  dres,*  around  the  neek,  contribute  to  the  fatal   re8ult 

n  thi?*  ca>ie.     The  f^ymptonis  in  life  are  weakne!?ji,  vertij^o,  headnche,  con- 

bdoD  or  (temporary)  loss  of  si^hi,  flu^ihi'd  faee,  ^reat  difficulty  in  breath* 

ijg,  stii|x»r,  and  coma  in  bad  ea?<e.*.     The  i^kin  is-hnt,  sometimes  pderUm^ 

\T  Hjxu-*  like  th'ise  of  typhus,  appear  on  it^  and  the  tenjpemtnre  'm  very 

ligh  ( 104^  to  110'  F.  or  more).     In   mild  eases  there  may  be  only  a  mo- 

liMitary  loj***  of  eonsfion8ne!»s,  f(dlowe<l  bv  drowsiness.     In  bad  «>nes  there 

imy  be  profound  coma  fitr  sonje  days.     The  f)U[)ils  are  penerally  dilated 

D  tbe  earlier  slujLres,  and  rontrfiftni  to  a  fine  poutt  iu  tlie  later  one*.     The 

ortaibty  is  not  tar  from  50  per  cent.,  and   those  ea*es  which  recover  are 

mble  to  catalepsy,  epilepj«y,  insanity,  paralysis  and  other  neuroses.     (See 

^vick's  "Remarks  on   Runstmke,"  in  the  "American  Journal   of  the 

ieal  Science*!,"  v«»K  xxxvii,  January,  1859,  p.  44.     A  good  account  of 

lease,  which  is  also  called  Insolation,  will  be  found  in  Dr.  Aitken's 

ee  and   Practice  of  JlMdicine,"  vol  ii,  p.  380.     .SV*^  afMo  "  Annales 

nvv'Jene;*  IHtJT.  1,  42>\;  and  the  **  Ltincet"  for  1872,  vol.  i,  p.  464,  vol. 

*  Xii^,  and  ihiU,  for  1870,  vol.  i,  p.  423,) 


7Veatmf;td  of  Heat  Apopltry. 

Tbe  cx)vering8  round  the  neek,and  any  tight  articles  of  drew,  should  be 
mmrdialely  lnoseneil  or  removed.  The  person  nbould  be  carried  to  a  cool 
laoe  anil  laid  on  the  ground,  or  on  a  bed  or  Ciiurh,  in  a  recumbent  pfK-*!- 
OD.  Then  all  cintliing  but  one  thin  garment  (such  a**  a  shirt j  and  all 
f  berlrlothe?*  shun  Id  be  removed,  a  "tingle  f^heet  being  Hufficient.  loe 
d  be  applied  to  the  head.  In  l>ad  case^,  the  boily  also  s«bould  lie  rub- 
with  ice  or  iced  water.  When  be  can  swallow,  stimulant?^  and  ainnio- 
Bis  may  be  administered  along  with  light  nourishment  (milk  or  beef  tea), 
pod  a  iul!  doite  of  quinine.  Sulineii  and  mild  aperients;  ntight  be  given 
plWrwards.  The  general  opinion  is  against  bleeding,  but  it  ia  probably 
bfeful  in  some  cai*ejj.  BtimulunUiihould  t»e  given  in  very  wniall  iiuantiiies 
i>t  a  time.  Quietness  in  eviential.  Omnterifritant.«*  may  be  Upeful  in  M)nie 
eaaen.  Tbe  aAer- treatment  rauist  depend  on  the  symptoms  which  develop 
iiMlves. 

PoM-moriem  Appearancet, 
vick  bB«  ^oWQ  (op,  citf  tupra)  that  these  are  almoft  identical  with 


MODKS   OF   PKATB    FROM    FIRB. 

those  of  typbus  fever,  petecliiiil  or  sjxittetl  typhus.     He  gives  the  appear- 
nnces  of  eacb^  side  by  siiie,  in  a  table.     None  of  thc^e  are  ahsolntely  du 
tittftive.     Dr.  Aitken  t-bowa  that,  as  in  hanging  find  <lrownin^.  dpath    ma] 
orcur  in  sstitistrnkw  a]?Hi  in  tw<i  ways*,  by  mjncnpe  and   by  a.-fphtjxm.     SuniL 
of  tbesnddeu  deatb.s  would  probably  be  syncope.     (See  modest  »>l'  Death,  p. 
553/)     Iq   the  majority,  however,  particularly  when   life   bas  been    pro-| 
lonjred  some  houn»,  we  should  find   as   follow?*:     Rlffor  mortii  eomej!    on 
quickly;  putrefaction  aet-n  in  very  rapidly;  livid  spot:*  aud  peterhur  are] 
often  found  on  the  hudy  ;  the  brain  aiul  iB  membratiejs  are  eongt^ted  withj 
numerous  piinrfa  rrncrita,  and   jHrhapa  there  la  serum   in  the  ventrich 
Tfif  l(tfui>ii  ore  itpfriaffif  dnrk  and  iujfdfd  with  f/hod,  pHfilcnhtrlii  the  rrnlrat\ 
ami  pmtitior  partfi,  and  at  the  bttfte/*;  there  are  nlteti   lur^je  and  nnmerou»| 

!>ulmonary  aiioplexies  or  extra  vasalioii??  of  blood;  the  heart  is  filled  with 
i(]uid  blood,  etipeeially  the  ri^jht  heart;  and  the  veinn  are  also  greatly 
contrested.  The  blood  coa^julute.?^  badly,  and  U  very  dark  in  color.  la 
Bome  caises  neilher  heart  nor  brain  may  present  any  special  8yinptoniii.j 
The  liver  and  jspleen  may  be  large  and  dark. 


Dkath  by  Fire,  Blrns  and  Scalds,  Spontaneous  Combustion. 

From  the  reports  of  the  RegiAtrar-General  it  would  appear  that  there 
18  an  annual  lo«w  of  life  from  fire,  including  burn^  and  fucatd**,  of  nearly 
300l>  lives.  About  J^OO  of  die,se  are  in  London  alone,  and  aliout  three- 
eighths  are  children  under  five  years  of  ago.  Many  of  tlie  tires  occurring 
in  dwi?lling-houses,  a«  lliey  occur  in  snspicimis  numbers  about  the  quarter 
days  when  ihe  rent  is  due,  or  after  the  di>icbarge  of  unfaithful  servants,  or 
on  the  eve  of  a  bankruptcy,  must  be  attribuied  to  wilful  and  criminal 
wickedne3»s;  a  great  many  are,  however,  due  to  accidental  causes,  such  ad 
fire  spreading  from  a  chimney  to  the  wall?*  of  a  dwelling-house  (there  are 
many  chimneys  into  which  the  rafters*  or  l>eams  actually  protrude);  the 
fooiijih  practice  of  throwing  lighted  pieces  of  paper  and  smouldering 
matches  on  the  floor;  sparks  from  the  fire,  and  hot  coals  falling  out  where 
there  i?  no  fireguard,  children  playing  with  fire,  and  other  cau^ej*  of  simi- 
lar kind,  too  nuJiicnHH  to  racntiott.  CaU  and  other  domestic  anintab  are 
Buppoi^d  to  caujie  pome  fires  in  the  night  by  their  habit  <d'  creeping  under 
the  grate.  If  startled  by  a  hot  coal  falling  on  their  back  they  rash  out, 
and  the  coal  may  lall  on  a  wooden  floor  or  on  a  heap  of  shavings.  Like 
the  lodging  house  cat,  the  domestic  variety, /c/w  domenttcn,  h  thui  made  a 
8ca|)egoat  of.  Smokers  are,  however,  far  too  careless  as  to  fuscA,  matches, 
and  cigar  lights.     The  carelessness  of  servants  is  proverbial. 

Dr.  Guy  justly  remarks*  that  in  firea  occurring  in  dwelling  houses*  the 
causes  of  death  are  manifold,  as  for  example  : 

A,  Some  of  the  victims  are  si mplv  ^w/foraf erf  by  the  sraoke»or  rather 
the  gasea  and  vapor*  ari}*ing  from  the  burning  materials.  Of  this  our 
ho.<»pital  experience  affords  uss  exam}>les,  as  it  doea  of  resu^wiitation  from  ap- 
parent death  by  this^  tnean.'«.  For  the  ^symptoms,  post-mortem  appearancr^, 
and  treatment,  see  the  chapter  on  Poisonous  Gases  fpp.  47H-9),  an<l  on 
death  hy  apno*a  (pages  815,  854 >.  It  h  well  !o  remember  that  a  current 
of  cold  air  h  often  met  on  the  floor  of  a  room, 

B,  A  few  die  of  shnrk  nr  fright  (me  On  Mi»dea  of  Dying,  p.  558).  VetT 
old  persons,  young  children,  and  nervous  subjects  are  most  likely  to  die 
lu  thi8  way. 

C,  Blows  from  falling  bricks, stones,  or  other  materials  of  the  hunung 
structure  may  cau.^  instant  death,  or  death  at  a  later  period.  The  late 
Mr.  BraidwoiKJ  met  bis  death  in  this  raaaner — as  many  firemen  have 
done. 


fifit  sercR  iajvfj  to  tlie  ■rrm 
verr  ^imlar  to  fhr  limlh   fvM 


•TcW 


tikelT  to  kiil  itaL    W««bai  ncur  to  iKb 


patn  At  ini»ft 

P.  Mao?  of  the  ie 
wbidi  eoMw  ofter  Im 
b  finei- 

NeorlyallcOMof 
I  Vb*7  imrclj  M«rtilai  chooiO  iKift  OMilo  of  deotli ;  mod  08  vo  lMiT»  WM 
iDiis'  fltrmneiilauoo  (eoae  of  tbe  Coaotiataf  Ckterliis.  and  oaotlitrqiKiltd 
'  bjr  Dr.  Taylor  from  Dr.  Scbuppel  of  Tubin^eo,  p.  WSV,  oMtfti^r  U  3«mii0< 
time*  ttttcmpttd  to  U  eomeeakd  b$  )ir«.  There  are  abo  a  few  caM«  in  which 
wutrder  by  fart  dbae  km  htm  aUempltd  or  pmpdmkd.  The  pr^n^Oi  in  thraa 
I  caws  Dit»«t.  however,  in  general  (unless  in  caM^  of  praviou^i  iujuriM, 
iftfang:tilatJous  etc.),  reet  on  other  ihau  medical  t?viileuc^ 

The  questions  Hkely  to  be  submUted  lo  yau  arv  ihe  fuUowlog: 

1.  Are  the  mark:*  oo  the  hrwly  those  of  hiirDii  or  scuhl*  ? 
I     2,  Were  they  inflicted  before  or  after  death  ? 

3.  If  before  death,  wen?  they  «ufficiently  severe  to  be  fatal. 

4,  Are  tliere  marks  of  any  disease  or  injury  which  mi^hl  acixnuil  for 
death « 

The  last  question  must  be  answered  after  reference  to  our  cIm}ttor  on 
Wounds,  etc. 

The  other  queations  mny  be  conveniently  taken  here.  In  ortlor  toaurtwor 
the  firstt,  we  must  enter  on  some  genemi  questions  rehitiu^to  tUcrto  iujurlei  i 

As  in  the  pnf'e  of  acridcntttl  death,  if  the  siiWcnT  din  within  n  «/nir  nmi 
a  day  (mm  thr  r^rrpftou  of  the  Injury,  ait  impirMt  m  nhnofutrttf  mAentinl.  In 
all  ciu*e!*.  in  which  there  is  a  clear  nexuArnu*nliH  hi^twccn  the  injury  and  the 
death,  9\uA\  art  inquiry  it*  desirable.  Mcdiful  iiini  nrr  wnmij  in  iMnlitivnr* 
ing  (ii<*  they  snmetimcf!  do)  to  hinder  an  iiiquni*!.  No  mutter  wfml  lh« 
rank  of  the  siilffrer  Truiv  be,  these  inquiries  arc  n?*i'ful  to  otlii>r>*,  NtMloiiUt 
an  inquest  is  often  u  dinni^roeabk*  tux  on  tlic  time  of  ii  |»ndlwnMioiml  umn, 
but  w  i«  serving' on  a  jury  (from  whieb  you  are  excm|ii)  t«>  a  tmdr?.uuui. 
But  both  are  jmhlii'  diitiCH. 

We  nuiHt  first  define  our  termH  :  A  burn  is  said  by  Mayne  to  he  **ii  le«ion 
of  some  part  of  the  body,  of  jjriniter  or  lenw  extent,  cmn*ed  by  ll»«'  a]t|"lieu- 
tioD  of  ikcat;"  but  thin  ilefinition  is  defective,  for  it  wouhl  include  Ht'ahU 
and  eioup  d^  ml^iL  That  ^mvl-u  by  Dr,  Taylor  ih  far  better,  vi»„  "a  hum 
|Mn  injury  produced  by  the  a^^plicatiun  of  n  heated  HubMtaiiee  to  ihu  Mur<* 
Bfe  of  the  biM]y."  The  rli-atti  of  Kin^  Kdward  II  and  of  uthrnf  from 
ffielted  lead,  to  lie  mentioned  fircM^ntly,  hIiow  that  tliiH  definition  aUo  orni 
in  unin);  the  wonln,  *'  to  the  mirfnrt***  A  m^tthl  U  naid  to  be  "  the  re-ult  of 
the  application  of  a  liquid  at  or  near  \\a  biHliui^  |»<»iut,"  either  within  the 
body  (ax  by  drinking'  it)  or  oui?<tde  iu  iJr.  Taylor  jmitly  remark^  thai 
I  tbofOteemi  no  real  diMtinctiun  between  a  burn  and  a  Mcald,  aa  l4i  iho  eflttoU 


880 


MELTING-POINTS    OF    METALS. 


produced  on  the  body,  &!t^fipt  in  (he  ense  of  hoiUnrf  tmier,  which,  all 

fatnl,  never  eniJBe«  i^iich  great  dest;rvit'tif)n  of  pftrts,  a**  may  iv-julr  fpi 
or  i"ri)m  mi^lLetl  metals.  Bailing  mprciiry,  melted  lead,  und  thelik**,! 
CAu»e  injwrio.s  which  might  be  dewcnbed  aa  either  bur»«  or  st-nld*  ul 
Burc.  A  goddiMi  state  of  the  ?ki«i  i?  produw<J  bv  severe  watery 
whilst  slighter  degrees  can  with  difficulty,  if  at  uU,  he  distitigoi^hed 
burn?. 

The  imjnrien  from  corromre  !tfjtti(h,  ?iich  a«  oil  of  vitriol    ({in[>uv 

Ebiirie  acid),  aqtia  fortis  (impure  nitric  acid),  spirits  of  suits  'il 
ydroehlorie  acid),  aqua  reg'ui  (or  nitroliydrocliloric  acid),  ciiustic  | 
or  ^odu  lye  (or  lees),  carbolic  acid,  or  other  corrosive  liquids  !»rl 
BurnptV  fluid,  or  acid  chloride  of  ziuc),  caustic  lime,  etr.»  are  p»p^ 
termed  burrui,  and  are  ho  de-iignated  in  the  Klatutes.  This  crime  < 
oue  time  very  prevalent.  By  (lie  24  and  25  Vic,  c,  100,  s.  20,  {\\h  a 
isapeciully  mentioned,  and  punij<hmput  provided.  It  is  ^*aid  that  tor 
a  priB<mer  escaperl  the  churjie  of  li»lony,  because  it  could  not  be  prol 
law  tluit  .sulphuric  acid  would  jiroduce  a  wound  !  (iSee  Taylor,  loci 
697-8.)  We  tkney  few  medical  men  would  deny  its  wounding  j 
However,  this  statute  does  not  detiiie  a  wound,  but  mentions  the  nal 
the  fluid  thrown  as  "any  corronive  fluid,  or  any  destructive  ?uVwtt 
which  would  include  dynamite,  nitroglycerin,  etc,  <For  ih*i  t 
etlects  of  eorro^nive  liquro's,  we  must  refer  yon  to  pages  227,  26'^,  the 
eral  Acids,  etc.,  and  to  pa^e*i  86,  104,  L"!!,  and  pages  V^i\,  221,  etc) 
Taylor  mentions  a  viisa  in  January,  183:^,  of  a  man  (?)  pourins^aqu 
of  strong  nitric  acid  into  his  wife's  ear  while  asleep.  She  had  a  i*ar 
eymptoms,  including  ri|^ht  hemiplegia  and  convulsions,  and  dieil  af 
weeks,  the  ear  and  brain  both  being  extensively  injtircd,  and  the  p 
bone  carious.  ('*  Medical  Tinier  and  Gazette,"  vol.  Kvii,  p.  Sy.) 
etase  at  Aberdeen  a  woman  poured  oil  of  vitriol  down  her  htHoaod'*! 
whilst  asleep  with  his  mouth  open.  In  a  recent  caj?e  a  strong  *^ihit 
corrosive  sublimate  was  used  in  a  like  way.  Both  these  eases  were  tl 
as  cases  of  poi^onin^.  Those  in  which  an  eye,  etc.,  has  been  hrtt.l 
ali-o  he  treated  as  cases  of  malmlnff.  (See  next  chapter.)  In  gener 
color  of  the  skin  will  show  the  kind  of  corrosive  used — vellow  frum 
acid,  dark  brown  from  oil  of  vitriol,  white  or  pale  ye  [low  from  ll 
chloric  acid,  etc, ;  hut  for  special  symplom*  refer  to  the  !»ul)6lan<J 
which  reference  has  been  made  above.  In  order  to  burn,  some  i»ub0| 
must  be  healted  nearly  to  redness,  or  beyond  it,  or  they  must  be  in  a 
or  boiling  conditioo,*  but  metals  will  produce  rednesd  and  v&iicalioi 


^^ — , ^ ^^ , —       ^ 

*  Th«  rafOiinsT  and  lutilintr  points  of  different  meuU,  nnd  other  fub»tiiiirvi 
rpjitty,  H>*  is  shown  by  lli<*  I'nl lowing  tabic  from  Fownes'*  Chi?iiiutry.  fTbo< 
ro  CVntit^rHde)  : 


SuhilaDco. 


%n'rcMry,     , 

h-ii.l.    .       . 
Hii]|>luir, 

Cailniluiu,    . 
Ttfi.      .        .       . 

SUVLT,    . 

Zinc.     . 

Ctik  lum  chloridn, 

Autltnriiiy,  , 
(irnv  cuftf-iroOf  . 
St.«i'l.    . 
PlmLuunt,    . 


MelttDg-i»oiiil. 


laoo  to  imip 


Kiher 

HlHul|thfde  0(  c«rb«B, 

Aletihul, 

W«U>r. 

I.UiM'f'd  oil, 

NItrIf  Hctfl  rirtmmii,  . 

I  Ml  of  t*iq>eulloe,      . 

Mercury,     , 


BoUlufi 


m« 


WHAT   BURNS    ARE   DAKOBBOUS, 


Dupuytren'e  first  degree  ir  produced  by  the  momentary  contact  of  a  hot 

body,  *»r  by  water,  etc.,  »ome  decrees  bflow  boiliiigiKiint,  aod  leave*?  iio 
mark  afier  n  few  hourp.  The  sM-ond  iloj^ree  implies  a  longer  criiituct,  or 
litjuuls  at  the  boiIing-p«>ii]t,  Alilit>ugli  there  may  be  some  i»uppiiriilion  i»f 
the  veyicleij,  it  sehium  leaves  |)ermatietit  marks,  except  in  {M?rson!<i  of  a  Imd 
etmstiimioii,  or  weakened  by  prt'vious*  disease.  The  third  degree  iuviiriahly 
markti  by  a  .'^hining  while  eieatrix  without  contrartion  of  the  neigh b<iritjg 
pttH?.  In  time  this  may  wear  out.  Ocra«iimiiIly  the  cicatrix  ititeif  cou- 
tracti^  cun.siderably,  and  as?*ijmes  a  ehefoid  condition.  The  authi>rs  can 
pot^ilively  sJate  from  their  <»wn  id>!»ervatiun  that  it  is  not  pos^sible  a  few 
weeki»,  iiHJOlbf,  or  years  after  the  accidetjt,  to  distinguish  the  marks  left 
by  some  burns  from  those  ttf  seald?*. 

In  the  fourth  and  fiflh  degrees,  there  are  not  only  cicatrices,  but 
generally  considerable  deformity,  and  the  contraction  of  the  skin  and  of 
the  deeptT  tii^sues,  thus  the  head  is  oflen  tied  dttvvn  to  one  side,  unless 
great  and  unotiuul  eare  he  taken  whilst  h^'aling.  Even  then  it  \»  not 
always  piis^ible  to  prevent  the  deformity.  The  arm  or  teg  aIj=o  may  i>e 
contracted  itito  a  bent  and  almost  n.«jele.>is  position,  the  fingers  being  tied 
down  or  united  together  by  webs  of  ^kiu.  Most  works  on  surgery  now 
contain  methods  of  preventing  or  curing,  as  tar  a^i  possible,  the--*e  ugly 
and  inconvenient  nequelie  of  burns  and  sealdi*.  Very  oilen  limlw  have  to 
be  amputated,  in  wh<de  or  in  part,  on  acc^uiut  of  tfie  de>itrnetion  of  skin 
being  too  great  to  albnv  of  repair  or  even  of  plastic  opemtitjn*.  The 
authors  have  seen  very  aged  patientj?  bear  these  am|)utatiori-(  ex<^eedingly 
well  after  burns  Here  the  question  of  amputation  being  primary  or 
aecoudary  might,  and  probal>ly  would,  arise.     (See  Mahipraxis,  p.  Olio.) 

It  ha«  been  found  by  experien<'e,  that  the  danger  of  a  hum  or  tcafd 
deprndi*  far  ieAx  vpitn  Ha  fiererihf  (or  the  degree  iu  which  the  tis'iuei'  are 
implicated  a^s  to  depth)  thnn  upon  the  amount  of  Murffjcc  of  the  hodij  lum/ped. 
In  other  words,  thf  dnnifer  of  these  Qrcldrui*  w,  other  thinrjit  hfint/  rqnnl^  in 
proportwn  to  the  number  of  aqiuire  inrhes  of  ^urfure  burnt  or  maided.  It  ia 
true  that  injuries  to  the  lindw  are  usiially  k^s  fatal  than  those  to  the  trunk. 
The  esplauatiun  may  probably  be  found  partly  in  the  greater  imjdicatioQ 
of  sensory  nerves*  iu  extensive  burns,  and  partly  in  the  fact  that  8o  murh 
of  the  skin  is  no  longer  able  to  do  its  work  ryf  excretion  and  heat-rcgula- 
tioti.fur  it  is  known  that  if  we  simply  varnish,  or  paint,  or  coat  with  >»ome 
impermeable  material  like  gutta-percha  or  india-rubber,  any  considerable 
portitm  of  the  skiit,  the  animal  beeome.s  i;reatly  incouveniencfd,  and  if 
some  ihree- fourths  or  more  of  the  btniy  be  thus  treated,  the  animal  usually 
dies*  This  *'  law  of  square  iriehesi."  a**  it  may  be  called^  \»  not  only  verified 
by  the  experience  of  all  who  have  witnessed  many  cases  of  burns,  but  is 
strikingly  shown  by  a  seri«*»  of  eases  with  measurements,  recently  |»ublished 
by  Inspector-General  Dr,  Win.  Sntari  of  Haslar  Il«tspital,  in  lii«s  remarks 
on  burns  by  gunpowder,  and  sealils  \\y  steam,  founded  on  his  exfierience  iu 
the  China  war^  and  in  the  recent  explosion  on  brwini  H.M.  S.  Thnndrrer, 
treated  at  Haslar  ('' British  Medical  Journal,"  Sept.  23,  1876,  p.  389). 
The  nmjority  of  the  latter  had  from  20D  to  5tM)  squarednches  of  ttcaldt^i 
surface.  One  man,  however,  who  had  some  766  square  inches  (or  nearly 
one-third  oi  his  superficies,  calculated  at  *2300  to  2400  square  inches)  re- 
coverwL  His  scald  was,  however,  only  rjf  the  fir>>t  degree.  A  scientific 
observer,  who  had  beeu  witness  to  the  eonsequetwes  of  two  great  maga/tne 
explosions,  remarked  that  if  as  much  as  80  square  inches  of  .**kin  were 
damaged,  there  was  always  a  degree  of  secondary  fever  present  involving 
danger  to  life.  Dr.  Smart  consiiler«  that  S'^O  square  inches  thu§  injured 
places  lite  in  the  greatest  jeopardy,  gunpowder  being  worse  thnn  j<t4itra. 
The  other  eiTecla  of  explosive  substJincei*, 


gunpowi 


pi  crate 


THE    EFFECTS    OF    BURNS. 


tnsh,  and   the   like,  will    he  specially   mentioned    under   guDshot 

md8,  etc,  in  the  next  rhiipler  on  wouudH,) 
The  tjeneral  effects  of  buru>'  nmi  i>r(fi(h  an  difs(iiiigui.*hed  from  the  piir^Ij 
local  eflect)*  ju8t  mentionerl,  aresqnjetimes  called  rrmntttuflonai  elfi^cts.  The 
fint  eftect^  are  great  coiiap/te  or  stn-ere  shiK-k  U*  the  nervtuiH  f»y!*tt^m,  The 
nirfai-o  of  the  bu^Iy  is  pale,  the  extremities  cold,  the  pulse  c^iiirk  and 
f^ble ;  there  are  repeated  and  severe  rigors  or  shivering,  ami  tlit>  patient 
often  enmplains  bitterly  of  h^-ifjnr  c*)]t\,  though  all  the  while  the  ihcrniom- 
tter  may  mark  a  ristiug  aod  febrile  temperature.  In  jiome  cn^es,  however, 
the  lentperature  ia  really  subiKirmnI,  ft**  i"  eultape  prt>i>er.  In  futal  cn^es 
the»*e  symptoms  are  soon  s^uceeedi'd  by  laborious  brrarhing,  ronm,  and 
perhaf^is  eonviil?iioMf*,  particularly  iu  young  children,  and  denih  ;  in  ofhers 
db«olution  is  preceded  by  a  jrw^rirHl  of  im|>erfeet  reaeti<jn,  with  ilelirium 
ind  ^harp  jerking  pulse.  Mr.  Ericliseri  Htales^wilh  great  cftrretinej*-,  that 
the  fir>4t  period  M'  deprr.i.tion  and  eottffi'JtttoH  oceiipies,  as  a  rule,  some  forty- 
eight  hours.  Bf'fore  rmetton  sets  iu  there  is  U!*ualSy  an  interval  (d'  fjuiet, 
dtiriDg  which  the  child,  or  older  sufferer,  n»ay  die  coniatix-^e  from  conges- 
tioD  of  the  braiu  and  its  meud>nine!H,  and  from  effusion  into  the  veutrieles 
of  the  brain.  The  mncous  niend>raues  of  the  stomaeh  and  inte.«*tines  are 
fijufid  greatly  congej^ted,  even  at  thi.s  early  period.  Di'rtth  s^nnetimes 
ooctirs  from  a  gort  of  passive  wdema  or  tlropsy  of  the  lungs;  and  ntore 
farely,  the  Herou.«?  cavities  ( pteiira,  peritoneum,  etc.),  become  the  scat  of 
enpioue  and  fatal  effuwitm.  /Vom  the  serontl  dfttf  to  the  f*f*fond  w*'ek  wo  get 
the  period  ofreaftimi  ami  inff'dmmfttion.  We  have  irritative  fevf^r  attended 
with  thoracic  and  abtlomiiml  eomplieations.  We  get />«fMmoj*m  (f)erhapfl 
p(fnruiy)  or  hronrhili^,  i>r  eompnmds  of  all  three;  and  ir)  SM>nie  ca?*e»  ente- 
ritiit  and  prrtfonitiM.  The  tiuthors,  from  a  pergonal  examimition  of  many 
filial  ea.se.s  of  btirnc«»,  ran  cojifirm  Mr.  Curling's  fttatement  that  prrfimdiiiff 
ulrrrn  of  the  dundrnum  are  pretty  common^  particularly  in  children  and 
voung  f>eofde,  in  whom  Bruoner's  glandi^  are  very  active.*  Mr.  Murray 
Humphrey  has  observed  ihat  the  lower  part  of  the  o^*^o|)hagu<*  \^  sometimes 
nlccrated,  and  the  authors  have  noted  that  Peyer's  patches,  and  in  fact, 
the  «)jirary  glands  generally,  are  4iften  greatly  inflamed,  and  woun  tlniiea 
ulcerated,  in  such  injuries  to  the  skin  as  severe  burns,  scalds,  larije  bli-^tere 
Igpm  4Spani.Hh  flv,  and  the  burn  inflicted  by  strong  curbtvlic  acid.  Inlus- 
Kl^plion  of  the  small  intestines  is  also  very  commonly  totted  after  death 
mill  burnn,  but  it  is  protmbly  only  a  phenomenon  attending  the  death. 
The  ulcers  denerilied  may  set  up  peritonitis,  or  fatal  hiemorrhage,  by 
prrforating  the  peritoneuin  or  a  large  artery.  It»  tins  way  blood  nuiv  be 
vomited  or  parsed  by  wtooL     Th*'  firM  uvrk  fV  the  mo«f  fiUit  pterlod.    Thus 

Ifty  fatal  t-ases  of  burns  noted  by  Mr.  Erichsen,  there  died  : 

B  ulliers. 
8      " 


n  the 

1  first  four  diiy*, 

ti 

u      ,»i^ht   " 

ti 

pocnnd  wi»ekj 

II 

third 

u 

foiirtli     " 

u 

fifth 

11 

»ixth       •* 

iO 


The  jr/wpryr  nr  Mwa  produced  by  burns  and  scalds  may  lie,  and  has  beeD» 
mistaken  for  opium  potMtnintj.  Mr.  Abernetby  once  gave  evideuce  in  a 
tuM".  where  a  tmrgeon  was  charged  with    the  manslaughter  of  a  child  who 


*  **  Mi'diefr'Oiiirtiririoil  TranMctiontp* 
lal,"  Oct.  19,  18d&. 


▼oL  3txv;    Humphrey,    *•  A»<MK'inti<»n 


884 


CAUSES  OF  DEATH  IH  BUBKS. 


had  been  peverely  Bcalded,  because  the  child  died  comatose,  and  lhi» 
ast-ribt'd  to  ei^hl  dro[>e  of  hiudanuin  piveu  at  onoe,  and  ten  drops  two 
hoiirt*  aftf  r.  Tlie  surgeon  wa'-i  acqiiitled,  to*  Mr.  Abeniethy  deposed  not 
only  iImiI  the  practice  was  ii>iml,  but  that  the  doj*e  vfos  a  proper  one.  Dr, 
Dri'wilt  ftiatew  that  be  gave  a  ehibi  of  three  years  ^id  ten  mhiiniA  of 
Bftiitey*  mlulion,  in  divided  do?«ej^  every  night  for  a  fortnight,  he^ide^  ad- 
tniniHteriu^  chloroform  every  day  when  the  scald  (a  severe  one)  wa« 
drf^xt'd.  The  authors  cannot  concur  in  Dr.  TaylorV  recomincndation  tu 
withhold  opium  from  burnt  (hildrcii.  It  muM  not  bf  forgotten  that  rjrtrnne 
patfi  mny  he,  and  ojlen  {m,  jhfttl.  The  late  Sir  Rol)ert  FVel  in  all  probability 
die<i  of  the  pain  from  his  fractURMJ  ribs,  rather  tban  IVimi  any  o(-her  result 
of  the  accident.  Tfttinus  may  snperveuc  on  hurun  aud  Hcaldti,  We  thus 
see  that  death  may  be  due  (l ),  to  syncope  or  tiuffiication  at  the  time  af  the 
fii*e;  i2},  to  collapse  or  f'hiK'k  very  jsoou  after;  (3),  tn  corna^  couvulHioua, 
tetntius,  or  other  symptoms  referable  to  the  brain  and  nervous  system  ; 
(4),  to  bronchitis,  pneumonia,  or  «pdenia  of  the  lungj*,  and  other  thoru<iic 
cau.^es;  (5),  to  enterilii*,  or  peritoniti:*,  or  h:euiorrha^e,  due  to  al)dominal 
lesiims ;  (6  k  to  exhaustion  frrim  ionjr-conlinued  and  profuse  suppunilirm  ; 
(7*,  t(i  )B;angrene,  cryHpelai*,  pyiemia.and  other  hospital  diseases;  and  (8), 
eometimes  to  other  causes. 


I 


Posi-mortem  Appeurance^, 

No  matter  how  much  the  remains  are  charred,  it  will  generally  be  p«ia- 
tihle,  unlcKg  mdy  a-hcK  are  left,  to  dislinjrui^h  some  particulars  of  ap*,  sex, 
or  other  matters  which  may  aid  in  e7itablishin>;  personal  identity.  Cu*i>er 
and  Dr.  Giiinbuiini  i«eelnc.  cii.,  A.  H(»rn'ii  "  Vierteljahrsvchrift,"  Oct.  1864) 
have  been  able  to  determine  the  sex  in  remains  considerably  charred  infe 
refereni^es  under  Personul  Identity,  etc.,  p.  5f>l,  and  Tardieu's  cases*  of  In- 
fanticide, p.  717).  Bones  often  retain  their  form  when  burnt,  m<»re  than 
would  be  supposed  frfmi  a  priori  reas^vning.  Even  ai^hes,  suppoised  \n  be 
human,  should  first  be  examined  far  for  fit  rjn  hndiejf,  of  metal,  etc.,  such  M 
rinp'«,  studs,  false  teeth  <ir  the  gold  mounts  of  such  (as  in  the  case  of  Dr. 
Parkman),  aud  next  by  chemical  analysis,  (1)  as  to  their  compo:^ition,  and 
(2)  as  to  the  presence  of  nrseoir  and  other  p(jL«*ons.  It  has  been  stated  that 
arsenic  acid,  As/J^,  or  tribydrogen  arsenate  II^A'O^,  will  replaee  pho^ 
phoric  acid  in  tlie  bones,  but  we  are  not  aware  that  thi.s  has  ever  l>ecQ 
ptv>ved  iti  human  beiujLjs,  Off^ajiinnnHii  no pfcuUar  appenrnucf^s  at  filJ  mny  ht 
fmmd  i»  the  intrritw  of  bodies  di/intj  from  burn*.  If  death  have  regufl4Ml 
from  sitffortitimi,  no  marks  may  be  found  out.side  the  body.  But  nsuallj 
we  shall  find  in  deaths  from  burns  the  appearances  described  by  Dupuy- 
tren  {jtfr  alu^ve),  or  suppurating  orsluughing  surfaces  due  to  these.  S^tm 
tCfV/,  in  mont  ca«cx,  be  fouud  in  nfl  the  /*cr«N^  {•juntieft  in  abnormal  quantity 
(ventricles  and  base  of  brain,  plcurie,  pericardium,  abdominal  cavity,  etc.). 
The  muroujf  mnnbrunes  of  the  bronchi  aud  alimentary  ratuil  will  grneroVy  be 
maeh  rtmffeAted.  8o  will  the  lungs,  aud  very  often  the  liver  and  kidney*, 
and  even  the  pelvic  organs.  The  duodenum,  oesophagus,  and  ileum  should 
be  spet'ially  examineil.  Dr.  Taylur  refers  to  cases  in  the  *' Me<iical  (ia- 
»ette,"  vol.  XXV,  p.  743,  and  vol.  xxxi,  p.  551,  to  the  "American  Journal 
of  Medical  St-iences,"  January,  18G1,  p.  137;  "  Lancet"  1863,  vol.  i,  page 
•60  iDr,  Buzzard's  case ),  Dr,  Mendel's  cases  in  Horn's**  VierteliabrH»chrift," 
1870,  2,  p.  1>3,  and  Dr.  Wilks,  in  **  Guv's  Hosp.  Rep.."  I860.  No.  «.  p. 
146,  for  accounts  of  post-mortems.  The  subject  is  treated  of  at  aome 
length  in  *'  Holmes's  Hystem  of  Surgerv,"  and  in  most  works  on  surgen*. 
See  also  the  medical  journals  pasnim.  With  regard  to  the  ap|:>earance  on 
the  skin  in  case  of  burns,  it  is  generally  conceded  that  a  line  of  redneM 


BUaKS    BEFORE    AND    AFTER    DBATH. 


885 


iiHarratttitjinip^  the  deud-wbite  of  the  fkin  of  the  biinil  part  h  &  *:ign  that  the 
'bum  WHs  iiitiicted  during  life.     Thia  red  line  is  iint  to  be  coiifounrletl  with 
^e  diHiived  redHcss,  which  <lisapj>far»  alter  deatli ;  that  iji  a  capilfiiry  vtm- 
Biiion  or  erythema,  but  this  line  of  redtn'.-tif  h  like  that  seen  in  j^jufifjrrt-ue, 
^Rlne  of  demarcation  between  the  living  and  dead  tis.«iies,  and  i.s  tseen  after 
death.     The  experiinenLs  of  Sir  K.  Christison,  Dr.  Taylor,  uml  others, 
ihowed  that  it  could  not  be  produced  more  than  a  few  minute??  (le."*»  than 
I  le«)  after  death.     M.  C'ham[juuillfjn»  indeed,  Mfv^erti  that  he  ha?*  produced 
il easily  in  dead  bo«iiej*%  hut  he  descrilH^s  a  much  slighter  and  nmre  super- 
ficial reduesB.     The  true  line  i^  the  result  of  vital  reaction  {ffr  I  he  "  Ann. 
i^^Tgii^ne/'  vol.  i,  p.  442).     The  presence  of  ^rannlations  (exuberant  itnes 
Hi  called  "proud  fleyh  "),  pu.-*,  gangrene,  and  the  like  in  the   burnt,  [xir- 
n^^ns  of  the  body  wouhl  bi^  pro(/f  poitiiire  thai  the  sufferer  from  the  buro 
[.had  lived  for  son>e  lime  after.     Mr.  Curling  foutid  the  ulcers  previoo^ly 
l^erihed   about  the  tenth  day  in  m<i!*t  ea.ses^at  all  events,  in  the  becund 
^^K.     You  may  be  a^ked,  in  the  course  of  au  iuq^ue^t  or  trial, 

jSn  Veticatumtj  or  BlisierBt  be  produced  in  a  Dead  Body  by  Fire^  Bt}ilmg 
\  Liquids,  or  Hot  Metah^  tie.  f 

It  is  usually  supposed  that  the  presence  of  vesications  is  a  pro(»f  of  the 
having  occurred  during  !ile,  and  in  ninety-nine  ca.«ea  out  ^A'  a  huu* 
Nred  it  is  so;  henee  hot  waling- wax  has  been  [>ropoHed  as  a  ie^t  for  death 

{tee  |>age  40,  Minor  Signn  of  Death).  Scalding  liquid.-*,  flame,  liot  metals, 
,  tud  other  means  which  do  oot  destroy  the  »<kin,  caijse  the  exudation  of 

Mnim,  sometimes  in  a  moment  alnnMt,  at  either  time^  in  a  few  minuter  or 
! after  some  hours.  The  mtuui  exndetl  frtim  the  blood  raises  and  distends 
UJie  cuticle,  but  owitjg  to  the  delay  juat  mentioned,  the  sufferer  may  die 
Ihefore  the  blister  rir^eH,  The  qiiez^lion  iiMked  above  confuses  itomah'c,  or 
Igcneral  death  of  the  Iwdy  or  of  the  im^lvidual^  with  the  de*tth  oj  thf  ilAnnes^ 
or  particular  parts  of  the  ftrgatiii?^m,  which  may  be  (and  ofien  i?.)  delayed 
(for  n  time.  Sir  R.  Christi?*on  wa^^  nue  of  the  fii-j^t  to  give  us  facts  on  this 
iubject.  He  trierl  the  effect  of  a  hot  iron  on  the  outside  of  the  hip  joint, 
•in  a  young  man  c*»matose  from  opium  ;  and,  Imlf  an  hour  after  i\w:  youth 
'died,  a  red-hot  poker  was  applied  to  three  |>lafe:*  on  the  inside  of  the  arm. 
Up  both  eases  blisters  formed,  but  ir»  thn'^e  pntdiiced  during  lifln  there  was 
HBm,  10  those  cau!*ed  after  ii**uth  there  was  only  «ir.  He  ali»i>  experi- 
pHlted  on  an  amputated  leg.  Half  an  hour  after  it  was  cut  of]',  no  blisters 
icould  be  gi^t  from  it  by  using  a  hot  iron;  but  ten  minutes  afier  amputa- 
'lioii,  blistera  containing  air  were  formed  easily.  Chrij-tison  therefore  eon- 
^ude«  that  scrnm  in  a  blister  indicates  its  formatitm  in  life,  whilst  air  in  a 
htMole  means  that  it  wiis  cau»e«l  after  death.  Dr.  Tavlor,  Otiivier,  and 
■bti  Uoc.  dL,  p.  m\K  and  "  Ann.  d'HygiLVue,"  1843,  i,  p.  383),  both  tailed 
K  get  bli'iters  eighteen  and  twenty  hours  after  death.  In  the  boily  of  a 
ilnao  ju^t  dr(»wued,  out  into  a  hot  bath,  Dr.  Taylor  found,  be-'^ide-i  the  skin 
•eparatiiig  easily,  that  lliere  wt^re  aevend  bliMerji  i  Vit^wxahm^)  filled  with 
bloody  I'cnun  pr^sJuced  especially  on  the  legs.  Chauipouillon,  Leuret,  the 
late  I>r.  Wright,  of  Birmingham,  and  others,  all  state  that  ihey  have 
easily  produced  lhei<e  blijiter;*  in  dead  bodies,  even  fu  long  as  iwenfyfour 
fhaura  nfttrr  death.  Hut  Dr.  Taylor  notes  that  mod  of  these  were  droptiirat 
0uhje€tjf;  on  the  boditu  had  preji^rved  their  wirmth,  tutd  were  diU  «nppfe  and 
fiexxUe.  Liman  extJerimcjifed  on  three  dead  bmlies,  and  could  only  get 
mir  or  gas  in  the  blisien*  produced.  More  recently  Dr.  Chambert  haa 
•made  many  experiments  on  bmh  the  living  and  dead  bodies,  up  to  twenty 
'Jioara  afUr  death.     He  concludes  that  within  that  period  veaicatioua  or 


POST'MORTBM    SIGNS    OF    BURNS. 

bliMere  may  usually  be  produced  on  tlie  dead  body,  and  at  even  a  lower 
teriiperalure  than  in  the  living,  but  that  il>e  serum  eontained,  instead  of 
bt-iiig  thick  aivfl  stroi»gly  (*migulable  by  heat  or  uitnc  acid,  lik«  that  of 
['l)]it<ten4  formed  in  lite,  in  thip,  watery,  and  ticaroely  coagulable  at  all, 
turtiiug,  |>erhap8,  a  little  milky. 

The  authors  experimented  on  some  Iwent}'  to  thirty  bmlies,  from  one  or 
twa  hours  to  five  or  six  days  after  dtath  ;  aUo  on  several  ampiit-ated  limbs. 
In  the  latter^  blisters  could  hardly  evtr  he  fihtaineii  longer  than  from 
twenty  to  thirty  minutes  after  amputation,  probably  owing  to  the  nipid 
eooling.  In  the  dead  btjdies  they  never  j«ULceeded  i»  getting  any  vesiea- 
tion  or  blistering  after  the  fii-st  eighteen  hours,  rarely  atler  twelve  hours. 
They  conclude,  therefore,  as  follows: 

lat.  Ill  the  great  majority  of  cases,  blisters,  or  vei»ications,  are  pro- 
duced during  life — at  all  events  no  authentic  instance  is  known  of  ihevf 
occurring  on  the  secoml  day  ailer  death — in  other  words,  if  not  formed 
whilst  the  pen*on  was  alive,  titey  inurtt  be  formed  during  the  life  of  the 
tii^uea. 

*2d.  The  probability  of  the  bl»f*ter?i  having  been  formed  in  life  ii*  enor- 
niou.sly  increased  if  we  find  them  containing  thick  !*e.rou8  fluid,  ricli  in 
albuoieo-  On  the  conlniry,  if  they  only  contain  air  or  ga5<,  or  a  very  thio 
tluid^  ]>oor  in  albumeo,  ihey  have  in  all  human  probability  been  formed 
after  death. 

When  tltere  are  npvrrnl  burn^nn  n  dead  body,  yon  may  be  as'ked,  *•  Were 
aJf  thc^c  hiirti.'*  iujiirted  nt  one  and  the  mmv  ihnef'^  To  answer  this  <|ue»- 
tion,  you  must  notice  it  any  of  them  have  begun  to  j^uppurate,  or  slough 
(become  gangrenous  i,  or  cicatriswi,  or  yhow  any  other  of  such  change*  os 
indicate  vital  action.  But  burns  inflirted  at  the  j*ame  time  may  not  all 
heal  with  equal  rapidity,  owing  to  their  degree,  or  to  some  peculiarities  of 
eirculalioD  or  innervation,  the  Httuatiou  of  the  buru  or  scald,  and  ita 
extent,  and  i^ometiines  to  the  mode  of  treatnient.* 

Dr.  Guy  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  badly  nourished  people  (suf- 
ferers from  phthisis,  starvation )  may  present  blisters,  etc.,  on  the  bo<Jy  J>r 
extremities  not  unlike  those  produced  by  Hre — without,  however,  any  fire 
or  boiling  liquid  having  been  applied.  Such  blisters,  and  sores  left  by 
them  (rio-called  '*  burnt  holes")  were,  alan,  too  common  in  the  great  Irish 
famine  due  to  the  potato  blight.  Mr.  Curling  met  with  a  case  which  be 
conimnnicated  to  Dr.  Taylor,  in  which  the  dead  bwly  of  a  burat  child, 
aged  two  yeat^,  had  wounds,  which  were,  in  fact,  gaping  hole^,  on  both 
knee«!,  which,  at  first  sight,  it  seemed  unlikely  could  have  been  caused  by 
fire  alone.  Bui  careful  examination  id'  the  wounds  made  him  attribute 
them  to  the  llames,  and  not  to  auy  other  cause.  The  action  of  the  muiK*les 
had  no  doubt  assisted.     (Taylor,  loe.  cU.,  p.  696.) 


*  On  the  qiierlion  of  burns,  etc,  In  the  di*itd  body,  and  tho  pritduciton  of 
ves'ic'le*,*<'eClmmtc?ri  (*•  Annnles  d'Hygi^np,"  April,  li3o9) ;  Cbristi»on  |"  Rdin* 
tiir-gli  Mi'diiriil  Mild  SurgivHl  ■Iiiorintl,"  vol.  xjrxv,  p.  820);  Letii^t  f*^*  Annwlp* 
d'll>gicni'/'  l83o,  2,  HbT);  ChMmpouiUnn  (**Animlos  d'HygiOto',"  \Si(\,  l.4'2l)j 
"V*' right  ('*  PHttjnIouiciil  Re>e«relie*  on  Vitnl  Mnd  t*o«t-morU'm  Burnirn;,"  IHiV3|; 
"  AnniiV'^  irUyizi^ue,"  18u0,  1,  342?  CnspMr  ("  Vii.rli-lJMhrmhrifl,"  I87;i.2l.  a»l7)  j 
CN»|H*r  ("Dr,  HMllVor'^  TrunhlHtttm,"  Vi^l.  i,  p  29H,  Ptc);  Dr  8Utr>*>'9  (Mf  Bo-ton) 
rvfH»rt  of  ihc  trirtl  ol  Dr.  Wpl>-.ter  for  tin-  murder  fit  Dr  Parkmun,  l8/»0;  tht*  trUl 
{/iff/,  V.  iVirWon)  Tiir  oiMlricide,  Ht  thts  8lirew»ljurv  Lent  und  {!:$umai(*r  A-ntm^ 
184U;  and  the  Ry.*ieniiilic  works  of  Heck,  Twylor,  Guy,  »tid  other  writen,  on 
lledicii)  Jurisprudence. 


BOtLTNS    WATER    tJSBD    TO    UURDBR. 

house  in  wbich  they  lived.    On  the  body  of  the  father,  however,  a  fracture 

of  the  skull  was  found;  and  in  con;:>equeace  of  a  bed  from  the  up|)^r  roi>[n 
fulling  on  the  mother,  her  bmiy  \va&  m>  far  uninjured  as  to  exhibit  three 
ioetsed  wounds,  one  of  them  penetrating  the  stuniac-h." 

The  murderer  was  detfcted  by  iiudingun  liini  article^ofdresa  belonging 
to  the  fauiily.  Other  vixst»  i»f  tlie  kind  artf  meiiti^ined  by  Heck  and  Taylor. 
From  the  latter  (loc.  cli.^  p.  692,  etc.)  we  extract  the  fullowuig  reference*: 

Case  of  Dr.  Prince  of  Uckfiehi,  March,  1848.  Two  persons  were  charged 
with  murder  of  a  newborn  child,  who^ne  body  was  also  burnt,  Drs.  Prince 
and  Taylor  coucluded  the  cliild  had  been  burnt  alive.  The  woman  con- 
feHt»ed  it  was  ho. 

In  Mr.  Paas'»  case  {liex  \\  Guod)^  and  in  that  of /?<?<7.  v.  Good^  and  one 
at  Leedij  iu  January,  lH4:i,  the  murder  wa^?  probably  cuniiniiied  hi-st,  the 
buniirig  done  after.  So  iu  Dr.  Parkuiau'ti  case;  see  reference  iu  tbotnote 
tti  i>.  m^. 

In  Huff,,  v.  Taylor  (York  Lent  Asiiizes,  1842),  the  deceased  had  marks 
of  strangulation  on  her  neck,  and  her  clothes  were  much  burnt  from  the 
wai.Ht  to  the  knees.  8he  wa.s  lying  acmsij  the  hearth.  The  medical  wituesd 
denied  that  there  could  be  burn^  witlmut  vesication  following! 


Case  X. — Attempted  Murder  hj  Jhirmng  ivith  Peiroleufiu— Death 

on  the  iStrond  Datj. 

(Dr.  Taylor,  toe.  cit.,  p.  695.) 

*'  Id  Re^.  v*  Gmt«keli  (Carlisle  Spring  Assizes,  1872),  the  prisioner 
convicted  of  mauslaughter  under  the  follawiug  circumstances:  He  j>oui 
a  quantity  of  petroleum  over  the  chiihes  of  the  decea^^ed,  and  by  accident 
the  vnpi»r  caught  tire,  and  the  burns  [iroduccd  caused  the  man  «  death  on 
the  fullowing  day,"  Although  it  i*  Miid  the  clothe:*  caught  fire  by  accident, 
it  h  well  known  that  much  olthe  ffoealled  petrofeum  or  Amenmu  JiW.'koil^ 
will  cioit  a  \'apor,  Hriiig  cou^iderably  under  100*  F.  (  =  li6°  C.  nearly  >, 
iSee  Petroleum  and  <ilher  inflammable  8ul>staaces,  under  Sponlaneoutt  Com- 
bustion,  at  the  cud  of  this  chapter. 

Case  XI, — Suicide  attempted  by  means  of  Fire, 

(Taylor,  loc.  c//.,  p.  095.) 

*'  A  caae  of  this  kind  occurred  iu  Newgate  iu  December,  1871.  One  of 
the  prisoner!*  wtis  found  in  his  cell  with  his  clothes,  and  part  of  the  bed- 
clothe-s»  much  burnt,  and  with  some  severe  burns  on  the  body.  The  gu»- 
light  iu  the  cell  was  so  placed  that  no  accident  could  account  for  the  lire; 
but  all  the  liictd  concurred  to  show  ihatthe  man  had  done  the  act  dejiber- 
ately.  He  gave  uo  alarm^  but  a  moauiug  was  heard  in  the  cell,  aod 
thi{»  caused  the  warder  to  enter  and  make  the  discovery  in  lime  lo  smre 
him." 


Cases  XII  to  XV. — Boiling  Waier  tised  mth  iniaii  to  Murder  (f), 

(Taylor,  he.  cit,  p.  697.) 

'*At  the  Liverpool  Summer  Assize*,  1847,  a  woman  was  convicted  of 
throwing  boiling  water  over  her  husband  with  intent  to  maim  him  {Jiry, 
V.  King).  In  another  case  {Reg*  v.  Blewitt,  Worcester  Summer  A»i«izi3t, 
1847),  prisoner  waa  convicted  of  the  manslaughter  of  h\s  wife  by  pouring 


S90 


BXPL08IVB   OASES    AND    VAPORS. 


not  iitilike  fermentation.  Hayricks,  and  ricks  of  corn,  and  other  cereals, 
notsieldom  fire  in  this  way.  Fre-h-ljurnt  lime,  wljeii  moisitetied  witli  water, 
slakes  with  great  violence,  evolving  heat,  and  crumhlmg  tu  a  soil  white 
bulky  powder,  which  is  a  hydnite  containing  a  ningie  molecule  of  water; 
the  latter  can  be  again  expelled  by  a  re<l  heal.  This  hydrate  has  the 
composition  CaO,H.p.  So  great  is  the  heal  evtdved  in  ihe  lime-carts  by 
a  shower  of  rain  thiil  they  not  seldom  catch  fire.  Spoulftueousroiubusiion 
of  a  qimntiiy  of  hemp  ii*  fiiid,  but  not  proved,  to  have  been  the  cause  of 
the  recent  terrihlc  fire  in  Tuolt-y  Street;  whilst  t>hipy,  laden  with  coal  im- 
pregnated with  iron  and  hulphnr  in  the  form  of  bi.<ulphuret  of  iron  (iron 
pyrites)^  are  s^aid  to  catch  tire  by  the  accesfs  of  moisture  (especially  in  the 
tropics)  occasion iug  such  iuteobe  heat  as  to  cause  the  combus^tion  of  the 
coal,  especially  when  air  is  adinitled  by  upeuing  the  hatches.  Several 
fires  occurred  both  in  warehouses*  on  shore,  and  in  the  Russian  navy,  towards 
the  cloi^e  of  the  lai*t  century,  which  were  at  the  time  attributed  to  the  acta 
of  iuceo<iiuries.  It  was  fdib-secpiently  discovered  that  they  were  owing  to 
the  spoutaneous  beating  and  ignition  of  large  qutintities  of  flax  and  hemp 
impregnated  with  oil  or  greusu.  Jute  is  another  subiftance  liable  to  this 
kimt  uf  thing.  Experiments  were  made  on  the  subject  on  a  large  i^ealo  by 
the  InijieriaT  Academy  of  Science,  and  the  result  was  to  ^atis^fy  the  in- 
quirers not  only  as  to  the  pos*ibility  but  of  the  actual  fvccurrence  of  spou- 
taneous  combustion  (Paris  and  FonblanijueV  **  Medical  Jnrif*prudencei,** 
vol.  i,  p.  410.  See  also  the  "  Ann.  d'Hygi^ne,"  IMl,  1,  364).  The  ereat 
fire  in  rlymonlb  Dofkyan:!  in  1^40.  say,<  Dr.  Taylor,  was  supposed  to  nave 
originated  frtmi  a  similar  cause,  though  others  attributed  it  to  design.  He 
also  slates  that  au  iujnuctiou  was  lately  sought  against  certain  roerchanta 
for  the  stowage  and  drying  of  jute  on  premises  in  the  vicinity  of  which 
there  was  much  valuable  property,  for  a  similar  reasou.  Some  gases,  such 
as  the  .filicide  of  hydrogen  (silicuni  hydride),  or  silicated  hydrogen  (SiH^), 
and  pliosphu retted  hydrogen  (PHj),ali*o  fire  tipontauefjn.«ly  on  exprisure  to 
air.  The  latter  is  said  by  M,  Paul  Th^iiard  to  ari.>e  from  the  presence  of 
the  vapor  of  a  liquid  hydrngen  phosphide  (PHj).  This  substance  forms  a 
colorless  liquid  of  higti  refractive  power,  and  very  great  volatility.  It  di»e8 
not  freeze  at  U  '  F.  ( — 17.8^  C. ),  but  in  contact  with  air  ii  intlumes  instantly, 
and  it^  v^por  in  very  stuall  quantity  comjimnicjites  epontaneous  indammu- 
biliiy,  not  ouly  to  pure  pho-phu retted  hydrogen,  but  also  to  all  other  io- 
flammable  gasej*.  The  U'lV/  o'  th^  Wi^p  is  jiujqjos^ed  to  be  formed  of  this 
gas.  Many  other  gases,  when  tnixed  with  air,  form  easily  exploded  and 
mflammable  gases.  Mdhane,  or  marsh-gas,  light  carburetted  hydrt>g*Ji, 
firt^daurp,  arc  all  names  given  to  Cli,:  it  tornis  a  frightfully  explo^^ive  gai 
when  mixed  with  t^o  voTunies  of  air  or  two  volumes*  of  oxygen  ;  which  hiu 
been  the  cause  of  almost  innumerable  accidents  in  cullieriea  and  other 
mines. 

Coal-ga^^  which  has  been  alre^idy  explained  to  be  a  mixture  of  several 
gases,  the  chief  of  which  arc  light  and  heavy  carburetted  hydrogen,  and 
carbon  monoxide,  is  also  very  explosive  when  ndxed  with  air.  So  are 
many  vapors,  particularly  those  of  ether  and  bisulphide  of  carbon,  and  the 
vapors  given  oti'at  various'  tem[>eratnre8  from  diflcrent  kimia  ot'  paraffin  oil^ 
petroltuin  Olid  utfuT  rack  oiU*  It  U  found  by  t'Xperienc^  thut  it  in  not  m/e 
to  use  partiffin  oil  which  will  take  fire  on  the  appUcntion  of  a  rtuitch  and  burn 
eoniiHUOtiJity  at  a  tiiupendure  btloxv  100^  K  (37.7 '  C).  (See  Fow  ncs's  Chi*m- 
iatry,  pp.  54.j-5.52,  and  Thorpe  and  Young  io  the  "  Berichie  der  Dcul^btn 


*  A  grcHt  number  uf  nutneft  are  given  to  thirse.     Keroi^rHtU  th«>  omnecomtnonljr 
given  in  Au&tntliu  and  tbe  Sttttes  to  petroleum,     Peiroliritt  is  Huoilier  (vnonym. 


692 


PROPERTIES    OF    GUNPOWDER. 


for  which  it  is  ueed  ;  a  large  grain  is  adapted  for  large  and  heavi 
and  for  purposes  of  blafdiug.  PcUd  powcier  is  in  F-miill,  short  cyliud*?rsor 
peljets,  wiili  a  cavity  at  one  end  to  easily  catch  flame.  Pcbblr  pi>uder  vb 
at  fii>t  in  ^mall  eubes,  which  have  ilieir  corners  rounded  (»U'  by  Irielioo. 
All  powder  is  Anally  duHted  and  glazed.  Service  p4>\i'der  is  c]ai¥>iHed 
according  to  the  i«ize  of  the  grniu,  the  letters  L.G,,  F.G.,  R.L.G.,  K.F.G., 
aignifying  large  grain,  fine  grain,  large  riHe  grain,  tine  rifle  gntin»  etc^^ctc. 
It  powder  in  heufied  up  in  the  open  air  and  then  inflamed,  ii  detonates 
with  little  repcirt  or  eflecl.  Placed  loase  in  a  room,  a  tfniuli  quantity  fired 
merely  blows  out  the  windtms,  but  the  i^ame  quantity,  when  coniiued  in  A 
bomb  in  the  t^ame  cliatnber,  and  influiiied,  tean^  in  pieces  and  j>e(^  on  Bra 
the  whole  house.  In  one  of  Ovunt  Kuinlord*«  experiment*',  he  took  less 
ihuu  a  <)nu'hni  of  guupowrler  (about  ^^ih  of  an  ounce)  and  loaded  a  mortar 
with  it,  placing  upon  it  a  tweniy-Juur  pound  cannon,  weighing  K(WH1 
pounds;  he  then  clothed  up  all  the  openings  aa  perleclly  as  po.*y«.iblc,  and 
tired  the  charge,  which  burst  the  niorlur  with  a  treniendou.s  exploi^ion,  and 
raiipied  up  \\\\&  enormous  weight.  Mr.  Kobin:i«,  Engineer  General  to  tho 
East  India  Conijmny,  calculated  from  hiis  ex|>erinieiJtH  that  the  weight  of 
the  vap<>r  of  gunpowder  was  ah<mt  j'fjlh  of  the  weight  of  the  powder  yield- 
ing it,  and  244  times  ita  bulk,  when  allowed  to  expand  to  an  elHJ«iicity 
equal  to  that  of  the  atmosphere.  To  this  expauriive  force  of  the  ga« 
evolved  from  the  powder,  we  inuiit  adtl  the  effect  of  the  he4it  raised  dunog 
the  eonibugtion,  which  will  at  the  very  least  increa^'  elasticity  lour  time«« 
making  the  elastic  force  lUUO  atnio,'*phcrei»,  in  round  nuuibera;  which»  at 
the  ordinary  prei«sure  of  the  atm*«jphere,  will  niake  the  force  of  the  gaa  uf 
confmed  guni>owder  a  pre*v<ure  oi  about  ^ix  and  a  half  tons  to  each  »i|uare 
inch.  There  are  a  number  of  complex  chemical  decompositions,  and  it 
was  formerly  supported  that  when  gunpowder  is  fired,  the  whole  of  the 
oxygen  of  the  potassium  nitrate  was  traui^terrcd  U\  the  carl>ou»  forming 
carb<jD  dioxide,  the  i*ulphur  combining  with  the  potassium,  and  the  nitro- 
gen  f>eing  set  free,  TJiere  i**  no  doubt  that  this  reaction  doe*  lake  place  to 
a  considerable  exteutf  and  that  the  large  volume  of  ga8  thus  produced, 
and  still  further  expanded  by  the  very  high  tem[K;raiure,  bufticieutly 
accounts  for  the  explosive  effects.  But  recent  investigations  by  Buniiten, 
Rarolyi,  and  others  have  shown  thai  the  actual  prtjducUi  of  the  explo«ioo 
of  gunpowder  are  much  more  complicated  than  thi»  theory  would  indicate, 
a  very  large  lumdier  of  products  (including  compounds  of  nitryi,  or  NO^ 
Bee  Gun-cuUmt)  being  lormed,  and  a  tou^iderable  portion  of  the  oxygt^a 
being  transferred  to  the  potaifsium  sulphide,  converting  it  into  eulphale, 
which,  in  fact,  constitute.^  the  chit^f  portion  of  the  solid  residue  and  of  the 
smoke  formed  by  the  explosion,*  {^c  W'aiu**!*  "  Dictionary  of  Chcmii^try/* 
vol.  ii,  p.  y58.)  Besides  saltpetre  or  nitre  KNO,  (=^  NO^(Olv)  )  other 
[>ota^ium  salts,  m>  the  chlorate  (KCiOj)  and  the  picrate  (C^HjK(NO,),0), 
are  very  explosive,  the  latter  being  used  for  Onsiui  bumbai,  etc.,  the  former 
for  lucifer  matches.  Time  J'ti«es  are  generally  made  of  string,  pfl)>t!r»  or 
other  materiftla  strongly  imbued  with  naltpelre.  The  sale  and  storage  of 
gunpowder  have  been  regulated  by  acts  of  Parliament  ever  since  the 
time  of  King  Charles  I.  The  various  laws  have  been  ct^ni^iidated  by  23 
and  24  Vict.,  cap.  cxxxix,  2«th  August,  18G0,  by  which  former  acta  were 
re|>ealed.  The  sale  of  fireworks  without  a  license,  or  to  persona  under  six- 
teen yeard  of  age,  and  the  throwing  of  fireworks  in  public  thoroughfareti, 
are  also  prohibited,  under  penalty  of  £5.  No  dealer  is  to  have  more  than 
200  lbs.  of  powder  at  one  time,  nor  other  person  more  than  50  lbs.  in  any 


*  It  requires  •  tempemture  of  about  525°  F. 
btution. 


278.a«  C.  for  0(>ffiplet«  com- 


894 


NITROOLTCEltl!^    AND    DTNAMITB, 


8,  The  cotton  roust  be  steeped  in  a  fre^h  strong  mixture  of  acids  afler 
its  first  immersion  anfl  pariiul  cotiverston  into  g:uu-cotton. 

4.  Thij*  steeping  should  coutittue  for  forty-eight  hours. 

5.  The  gun-cotton  thus  far  made  mu*t  be  thonnj;jhly  purified  aiM 
cleansed  from  every  trace  of  free  acid,  by  wa^shing  the  product  in  a  »treaoi 
of  water  for  geveral  weeks.  Sub^equenlly  a  weak  soluliun  of  pota»h  is 
advised  by  some  to  be  iij^ed  ;  but  this  is  not  really  iiecesp*nrT.  The  leas 
highly  nitrated  compound,  dt8s*>lved  in  alcohol  (with  the  addition  of  worae 
ether),  i«  called  collodion.  It  \h  used  in  surjrery,  a.-*  you  are  all  aware; 
and  largely  used  by  photographers,  as,  on  drying,  the  evaporation  of  th« 
alcohol  and  ether  leaver  a  thin,  tran»iparent,  adhesive  membrane  on  the 
g!tt!i^,  which  is  in  fact  a  species  of  paper. 

Gun  cotton  has  already  cauned  »ome  deaths  bv  the  explngion  or  corobua- 
lion  of  the  manufactured  product,  surne  of  which  were  due  to  igonmuceof 
the  varieties  above  named.  Oo^  such  occurred  to  the  great  private  manu* 
facturers,  Messrs.  Prentice  of  Stowmarket ;  and  two  of  the  Hrm  met  their 
own  death  by  endeavoring  to  prevent  an  explosion.  Gnn-eoUun  has  about 
four  times  the  exploitive  power  of  gtinpowdrr.  By  the  application  of  de- 
tonating force,  gun-cotton  can  be  made  to  explode  when  quite  wet,  and 
therefore  incapable  of  being  fired.  In  short,  when  wci  it  U  quite  mfc  from 
fire,  and  i/et  ready  fr^r  irork  ni  a  moinenVf  notice, 

Nilroyhfcerln,  which  has  been  mentioned  at  p.  4B.^,  amongst  the  pnisooa, 
may  lie  regarded  a^*  glycerin  in  which  the  three  hydrogen  atoms  of  the 
OH  groups  are  replaced  by  the  radical  of  NO,,     Tbo:*; 

C,Hj(OH  >,  =  glycerin^  whilst 
C,H/ONO,)j  =  uitrogiycerio. 

It  ia  a  yellow,  oily  licpiid,  heavier  than,  and  insoluble  in  water,  btit  din- 
golved  by  alcohol,  ether,  and  other  (iolvents,  which  precipitate  it  ou  the 
addition  of  water.  It  i:*  made  by  adding  to  350  part*  by  weight  of  glyc- 
erin, 2800  parts  by  weight  of  a  C4>oled  mixture  of  three  part*  of  sulphuric 
acid  of  1.767  Hp.  gravity,  and  one  part  of  fuming  nitric  acid.  Great  care 
inust  be  taken  by  means  of  ice,  or  freezing  mixtures,  to  avoid  rise  of  tem- 
perature during  the  operation.  The  liquid  is*  poured  into  five  or  six  times 
lift  bulk  of  cold  water,  when  the  heavy  nitroglycerin  pinks  to  the  b«»ttom. 
When  violently  i*truck,  nitroglycerin,  or  r//oN*>m,  ex nhMh«»,  being  re*i>lved 
into  water,  carbonic  acid,  nitrogen  oxide.-^,  and  niirogt*n  gati.  The  volume 
of  gas  prcwiiiced  ia  about  10,000  times  the  initial  volume  of  the  nitro- 
glycerin. The  detonation  seems  to  be  due  to  the  fjiid<len  IranHformntion 
of  the  motion  of  the  ittriking  body  into  heat;  before  this  heat  can  be 
equally  distributed  throughout  the  ma-JS  of  nitroglvcerin,  it  i»  able  to 
raise  some  of  the  particl**s  of  that  substance  to  the  teinperature  (190°  C* 
=  374*^  F.)  at  which  they  sutfer  deconiposilion,  the  shock  of  this  partial 
decfHU  posit  ion  is  pmpagated  to  adjacent  particle?,  from  which  it  i«  con- 
veyed to  others,  and  so  (»n.  The  Fame  effect  may  l»e  produced  by  heating 
a  portion  of  the  mass.  Its  explosive  force  is  about  thirteen  timea  that  of 
gunpowder.  If  a  little  acid  has  been  alhtwed  to  remain  in  it,  it  will 
undergo  deeompoiiitton  spontaneously.  It  has  lately  come  largely  into 
u.*e  in  (juarrying,  mining,  and  erigineering  operations,  such  as  tunnelling, 
blowing  up  wrecks',  and  also  in  torpetloes.  Difunmit^  yxm^  patented  by  i. 
Nobel  in  1867 ;  it  consists  of  a  ftilicious  earth  from  Oberlohe  in  Hanover, 
known  as  Kie«elguhr,  impregnated  with  7o  per  cent,  of  nitroglycerin. 
The  ailicious  matter  is  of  diatomaceou.s  origin,  extremely  friable  and 
porous,  and  has  a  considerable  absorbent  power.  The  mixture  remains 
unchanged  for  any  length  of  time,  and  ia  not  exploded  by  mere  shock,  but 


FULMINATES    AND    PBHCUSSION    CAPS. 


I 


lire*  to  he  exploded    by  specJally  prc^pared  fufminfiUng  taps,     (See 
nnn  mp/t.)     Thmwn   into  n  fire,  it  burn.-^  with  a  britjlit  flame,  but 
lit  explaHiofi.     It*)  explosive  power  is  ret'kcjued  as  about  eight  times 
t  puupjwder.     It  U  aUn  tnore  ooneentrntcML     It  h  superior  to  blaj<t- 
vHf>r  in  miueft,  heeau:*e  not  atfeeted  by  damp,  beiy»  more  crormmical, 
off*  no  smoke.     Various  substitute?*  for  this  stilieiouH  eartli,  «ueli 
I,  Mind,  and  sawiJust,  huve  been  adopted.     That  made  at  Paris 
(ianng  the  recent  siepe  is  said  ti>  have  eou?i8ted  of  25  per  ceui.  of  nitro- 
glycerin, and  75  per  cent,  of  buruetl  el  ay,  from  the  glai*»  and  brick  fur- 
naces.    It  was  used  with  great  etfect  in  lireakin^  up  the  accimudations  of 
ice  on  the  Seine.     (See  Dt/namite  in  *' Pitpiilar  Enclylopa3<Iia."  i     From 
ite  great  dinniptive  p<iwer,  woiiihI-^  caused  by  dynamite  will  probably  be 
fery  rugp>fd  and  severe,  as  well  as  often  appearing  c<mtu?e<l.     A  prepared 
»i«du«<t.  probably  a  variety  of  pyroxylin,  m  now  used   by  nport.'^meu,  iti 
)i«u  of  ^'unfutwder.     When  wec\  in  the  Hj/ht  proportions,  the  gun  i;*  said 
not  to  '*  kick."     Ill  other  words  the  recoil  h  slight. 

t$M«{on  rffpn,  whether  used  for  large  or  i^riiall  firearms',  or  ftir  firinj^ 
ve  ebarges  in  mine**,  etc.,  are  now  nearly  always  composed  of/w/im- 
Hiiie/f.  iSiQie  few  may  contain  chlorate  of  |M>ta!*b,  suji^ar,  sulpluir,  phoa- 
pbofun,  and  other  ingredients  u^ed  in  ntakinp  matches,*  but  tin*  vast 
majority  are  eompivsed  of  ekher  f aim innt*i  of  nit^rrur if  nr  fulnnnntr  of  stiver ^ 
Of  some  of  their  com  pound;?.  They  alt  eontain  fufmititc  «c»V/,  which  is 
bibiislc,  and  reprcj-ented  by  the  formula  C,N,HjO,,  or  C,(N,0,H„0, 
which  is  polymeric  with  cyanic  and  cyauuric  acid:*,  and  originatea  iu  the 
peculiar  action  exercised  by  nitrous  acid  upon  alcohol  in  the  presence  of  a 
Mlt  of  Kilver,  or  mercury,  et<i. 

Silver  fulminate  is  prepared  by  dissolving  forty  or  fifty  grains  of  silver 
m  iibout  til ree -quarters  of  an  ounce  by  measure  of  nitric  acid  of  sp.  pr, 
1.37,  with  the  aid  of  a  little  heat.  To  the  hiifhiy  acid  solution,  while Ptill 
lii>t,  two  ineasurt^d  (Hinces  of  alc<jhol  are  added^  and  heat  applied  until  re- 
action commences.  The  nitric  arid  oxidiiej<  part  of  the  alciilifil  to  ahlehyde, 
and  oxalic  acid,  l>ecomin^  it^^elf  reduced  to  nitma*  acid,  which  in  turn  acti 
Upon  the  alcuhitl  in  such  a  manner  a^j  to  form  nitrous  ether,  fulminic  acid, 
and  water;  1  molecule  of  nitrousi  ether,  and  1  molecule  of  nitrous  acid 
ontitaiuing  the  elements  of  1  molecule  of  fulminic  acid,  and  2  molecules 
of  waicr ;  thus — 


C,H,NO. 


Nllruu*  KtliL'r 


HNO, 


C,N,H,0, 


NItrmiB  Add. 


Fulminic  Acid. 


2H,0. 


Water 


I 


Th*"  *iilver  fulminate  slowly  separates  from  the  hot  liquid  iu  the  form  of 
finntl,  brilliant,  white  crvstailine  phitci*,  which  may  be  washed  with  a  little 
ci>ld  water,  and  dried  cautiously  in  a  warm  place.  The  only  perfectly 
nfp  way  of  keeping  it  i.4  to  immerse  it  iu  water.  It  Ik  soluble  in  thirty- 
•il  p<irlj«  of  boiling  water,  but  nearly  all  crystallizes  out  on  cooling.  It 
it  one  of  the  most  dangerous  fubstances  known,  cxplodinjr  vvith  fearful 
TloleDcc  when  strongly  heated,  or  when  rubbed  or  struck  with  a  haril  body; 
Af  when  tonehM  with  concentrated  sulphurii-  acid,  the  metal  ia  reduced, 
tnd  A  large  volume  of  ganeons  nuitter  suddenly  liberalefl.  Strang©  to 
itjr,  when  very  cautiously  mixed  with  copper  oxide,  it  may  be  burned  Id 


•  Tht«  fiilltiwiii);  U  «iii«l  1o  hfi  \\\i*  "  roinpo«Uion  *'  im»t  rnilrlH'"  Hf"  iit|tfim1  into: 
**  Fh>»phonL»  (*ny),  \  [mrl*  ;  nilr^,  nr  cblnnitc  of  pntntiiKiuiM,  10  purt*:  flnr*  clutf 
<pnrU  ;  tt^  «irlirn,  or  ri>d  N'hcI,  h  parU* ;  und  AmMlt*,  2  pftrtu/*  In  «ri/r/y  nuit^4% 
Wm  pho«|)boru»  x*  on  ttj«'  b<>x. 


S96 


OTHEB    EXPLOSIVE    BOI/IES. 


a  tube  with  aa  much  facility  a^  any  other  organic  substance.     Its  compo- 
aition   thus  determined  is  expressed  by   the  formula  Ag,C,fN,OjO,  or 

There  is  a  silver  potnmum  fufmin/tte  =i  AgKC^N/l^.  which  alwi  deton- 
ates by  a  blow.  Corresponding  sodium  and  ammouiuiii  compounds  exist. 
If  a  silvor  fulrainate  he  dige^sted  with  water,  and  eop|>er  or  zinc,  the  silkier 
is  displaced,  and  a  fulminate  of  zinc  or  t*c»pper  produced. 

There  is  a  zinco-haric  fuhninate  ==  Zii"Ba"(C',N,0,),.  And  a  mcrmtrie 
Jufmiiiate  ^g"C,li^p.j,  which  is  prepared  hy  a  process  very  stmilHr  to  the 
one  given  for  the  silver  palt.  (See  FowtieV  "  Cheniietry/'  pp.  862-4.)  Its 
pro[>erlies  are  very  similar  lo  the  silver  fulminate.  It  exphides  violently 
fcy  friction  or  percunslon,  but,  unlike  the  silver  mlt,  merely  burn*  with  a 
sudden  and  ulmo.«t  nuiBele.s.'*  flji:-^!i  wlien  burned  in  the  open  air.  It  iw  nianu* 
factyred  on  a  large  Bea\<^  tor  the  purpose  of  cbarging  percuMian  lyipa; 
sulphur  and  potassium  chlorate,  or  more  often  nitre,  are  adde<l,  and  ihe 
pow<ler,  pressed  into  the  cap,  is  secured  by  a  flropuf  varnish. 

Aurtim  Julminmin  (which  Beckman,  in  bin  **  Hisfory  of  Inventions,"  sayi* 
was*  known  to  the  older  alchemists)  is  saiil  hy  Berzelius  to  have  the  com- 
position of  Au,03,4NH3,H,O.  It  is  formed  by  digesting  auric  oxide, 
Aijjjjj  in  ammonia. 

Tlie  nxiiie.  of  silver,  and  its  oxnJntf,  and  other  silver  and  mercury  salts, 
are  capable  of  sometimes  detonating  with  cimsiderahle  force.  The  oxide 
of  silver  i^  particularly  prone  to  explode,  when  prepared  from  the  nitrate 
and  precipitated  by  ammonia. 

Tlie  kriodkh  of  nitrogen  fNIJ,  prepared  by  putting  iodine  into  am- 
moniii;  and  the  terchloride  of  uftrogen  (NC1^\  pre^mred  by  insr*rting  a 
jar  of  chlorine  into  a  F<>lution  of  nitrate  or  chloride  of  ammonium,  are 
very  dangerous  and  explosive  .*ub!*tancea.  The  latter  explode!*  Iietween 
93^  and  105^  C.  with  mo,st  fearful  violence  (^  199.4'  and  l!2r^  P.).  It 
is  a  deep  yelhiw  and  very  v«>lrttile  liquid,  wh<»se  vajwr  irriiate-><  the  eyee. 
It  ha^  asp. gr.  of  1,653, and  may  be  dit^tilled  at  IV  C.  (160'  F.),  though 
not  without  extreme  risk.  Contact  with  almojJt  any  combustible  matter, 
such  as  oil  or  fat  of  any  kind,  determines  the  explosion  at  common  tern- 
perutures.  It  is  now  believed  to  contain  some  hydrogen  (in**tcud  of  NCI^ 
It  may  be  NHCl,  or  NHjCl).  As  may  be  imagined,  its  analysis  ia  not 
easy. 

The  former  also  is  supposed  by  Gladstone  and  others  to  contain  KIII^ 
or  hy  Bunseu  to  beNI,,NHj.     But  its  corap^K^ition  probably  varies. 

BertholleVtJxdin muting  silver  is  formed  by  digesting  argentic  oxide,  Ag,0» 
tn  ammonia.  Whilst  moist  it  explodes  only  when  rubbed  with  a  hard 
body,  but  when  dry  the  tnueh  of  a  feather  is  sufticieut. 

There  are  other  explosive  bodies  known  to  chemists,  but  those  named 
are  most  commonly  met  with.  We  are  thus  brrmght  lo  the  conviction  that 
there  are  a  large  number  of  substances  whose  component  elements  arc 
looM.dy  combined,  and  ready  to  f(trni  other  compounds.  Yet  there  are 
many  reasons  which  make  scieutitic  w(tne.^5c«  unwilling  to  l>elieve  in  the 
ep^uitaneous  wcurrence  of  combustion  In  the  case  of  large  fir*^,  such  as 
that  of  Lond<in  Bridge  in  1861,  attributed  to  the  spontaneous  combustion 
of  jute  in  its  ordinary  state,  for,  as  Dr.  Taylor  says,  this  jut«  had  already 
borne  a  long  sea-voyage.  Again,  in  the  City  Flour  Mills,  in  Thames 
Street,  in  November,  1872,  Captain  Shaw  stated  that  although  the  fire 
was  supposed  to  originate  in  the  heating  of  damp  sacks,  aevei-al  of  these 
were  bumei]  on  the  oiifslde^  and  not  in  the  raiddle.  It  was  also  found  that 
a  number  of  idle  persons  were  on  the  premises  that  afternoon,  and  one  of 
tht'jn,  who  ha<l  a  box  of  lucifer  matches,  was  intoxicated. 
Again,  Dr.  Taylor  says,  the  heat  is  not  likely  to  reach  1000^  F.  ^537.7**\ 


DANGERS    FROM    LAMPBLACK,   ETC. 


897 


liole^  large  quantltiea  are  aeciimulfttod*  The  autbora  know,  however,  of 
"nf»tan<*e,  in  a  private  i«urgery,  where  there  was  no  reason  to  sii.'spect  a»y 
»f  arvon,  in  which  the  coh tents  of  a  drawer  cons^isiting  of  only  a  few 
nolleu  and  cotton  rags  tainted.  Yet  Dr.  Taylor  ri?ninrk"*,  althouL^h 
tie  true,  asChevallier  sttites,  in  the  "  Annates  d'Hyf^ii>tie"  f^^r  1841, 
'i76-309,  etc.,  that  wood  which  ha?j  decayed,  and  is  then  dried  in  an 
is  as  inflammable  as  a  pyrophorut*,  and  that  pine  or  other  resinous 
j:  lonp  exposed  to  tcmperatnres  ahiK'e  that  of  boiling  water,  betvime 
ly  comhu)*tihle ;  yet,  on  the  other  hand,  it  has  never  h^een  nrrtvefi  that 
ibey  will  take  fire  below  iheir igniting  temi>erature  in  air  ( 1000^ F.  ^  51^7.7° 
*"'  Dr.  Taylor  says  "he  has  ex(Ki.«ed  the  thinnest  deal  shrtvini?^  in 
et  with  iron  pipes  at  temperatures  varyiufr  from  150^  to  200  '  F. 
65.5^  to  93.3°  C.)  forborne  week«  wiihont  combustion,  torrefaetinn,  or 
tny  change  approaching  either  condition.  In  the  patent  de?<jccatins:  pro- 
Cf>-»  for  timber,  joi«t«  and  beams  are  exp^^ed  ftr  many  days  to  temperatures 
of2<X)'  and  3(>0^  F.  (^93.3°  to  148.8^  C.)  in  heated  air  without  eom- 
bui^ion.  The  most  irtfhunuiable  deal  may  he  plunged  into  meltc<l  leai]  at 
620^  F..  and  zinc  at  770'^  F.,  and  retained  there  withont  igni  tin  jr.  (Thej^e 
tpniperature.**  ei|ual  326J>^  and  382.2^  C)  The  wood  is  simply  charred 
hj^O  it  touches  the  molten  metal,  hut  does  not  burn.  The  dried  wood  is 
^^h  condition  to  burn  fiert»ely,  but  not  to  ignite  spon ta neons! y;  or  no 
WWling  house,  locomotive,  or  sleurn  vessel  would  he  vjife  for  r  sioLde  day.'* 
fe«H>  al^'o  a  paper  by  ChevaMier,  in  the  "  Anrjales  d'Hyg  erie,*'  1H43,  1,  p. 
W,  for  instances  of  stifiposed  spontaneons  combuption,  in  which  th**  ignition 
of  combustible  substaures  was  csiu<ed  by  the  friction  of  wheels  or  miirhinery. 
Many  Hres  in  house.a,  churches,  workshops,  etc.,  arc  due  to  the  fiiulty  con- 
struction of  flues  and  chimneys,  or  to  stovepipes  being  so  fixed  as  to  heat 
Eiork. 
nph/aek,  and  other  similar  thing^,  3iieh  as  charcoal  finely  divided,  fn 
anil  perhaps  mixed  with  a  certain  pniportion  of  oily  matter  (hydro- 
ri\  appear  nrone  to  spontaneous  combustion.  See  a  case  of  fire  on 
b<>anl  a  *«h]p  sailing  from  Porlsmonth,  containing  Ittmffhhrk,  rep<irted  by 
Dr.  Taylor  Hoc.  eit.,  p.  709)  and  Liebig's  acconnt  of  the  plient)mena  in  his 
••Organic  Chemistry  Applied/' elc,  paire  2fi3.  See  also  the  *' An»iales 
1841,  l\  343.  In  July.  186-5,  a  fire,  which  i>ccurred  at  Don- 
oiKtcr  mllway  8t4ition,  was  attributed  to  the  spontaneous  corabusjtion  of 
{amph/nelc. 

M.  Aubert  a  French  engineer,  ("  Annates  de  Chimie,"  1831\ha8  fonnd 
that  charcoal  free  from  oil,  in  a  state  of  fine  division,  develr*p«  great 
l»r*t,  but  it  ret^uiresi  to  be  in  masses  of  about  i^ixty  pounds  ;  and  the 
ffmite«t  heat  w&a  iti  the  centre,  or  about  five  or  six  iuchesi  below  the  sur- 
wc>p. 

I>r.  Taylor  give>»  an  account  (p,  710,  Aw.  cit.)  of  two  trials  a*  to  phtps 
laid  to  have  been  fired  by  coals  ctmlaitHug  iron  pyrite.s.  Mlfelwll  v.  Gi/icsplef 
p.  P.,  lHr>0.  is  one  of  these.     The  other  occurred  in  185rt. 

Dr*  Franklarjd  showed,  in   the  "Chemtcnl   News,"  1862  CvoK  vi,  p.  3), 
that  a  full  re4i  heat,  viwible  in  daylight  i\UW  F.  or62<^.6'' C.)  is  required 
e  ignition  of  the  gas^'s  derived  from  coal. 

e  jiyrih*,  which  most  readily  undergfj  (his  change, are  th'me  conlnininif 
protosuiphide  ccjmbined  with  the  bisulphide  of  iron  (Duma'^,  **  Traitd 
e  Chifnie,"  vol.  iii,  p.  59  n     Bisul(jhide  of  carbon  is  said  t(j  fire  as  hiw  as 
F.  i^=  148.8^  ('.).     But  coal-gas,  the  vapors  of  alcohol,  etiier.  oil  of 
rpeoiine,  and!  benzole,  require  a  full  red  heat,  visible  in  dstylighi  i  IHIO^ 
..  or  92C.()*  O. ) ;  hut  all  these  substancei*  evolve  vapors  of  lovvrr  teuipcra- 
uit*,  even  Ixdow  lOO'^  F.  (37.7^  C.)  or  at  a  little  above  bloc»d  lu-at.  and 
me  accidentally  kindled  by  conlact  with  some  larated  ur 


CASES    OF    ALLEGED   SPONTANEOUS 

ignite<l  body-  Pho^phorujt  (nee  page  8.*»)  has  been  known  to  melt  nnri  fire 
ap<»ntanetni>;|y  when  touched  in  the  air  of  a  room  whose  temperature  vtim 
about  70^  F:,or  even  leKs  (=  21.1^  C).  At  120;  F,  (48.8'^  C.)  it  inelta 
and  burns  readily.     Dr.  Taylor  ^tatt^rt  that  the  ordinary  lucifer  match  com- 

J>osition  fires  at  nearly  the  same  teinp^»ralnre  (120°  F.  or  48.8'^  C).  Hence 
tir^e  (|iiantities  of  matf-heji  may  fire  in  the  :?uiTimer,  more  e^-pecially  vl^  they 
beeume  luininou."*  in  the  dark  in  very  hot  weather*  Red  or  alh^tropic 
j)lio.«|>honis  ( u>c<l  in  wax  niatehcj*,  and  now  in  most  of  the  bci-t  kinds) 
rec|uirei*  a  heat  of  159-  to  200"  R,  or  70,5^  to  93.3°  C,  to  ignite  it,  even 
when   mixed  with  chhriate  or  nitrate  of  potas-sinm. 

Otdon  u^i^ie  mixed  with  oil  is  known  to  be  prone  to  fire.  In  186d»  at 
the  Manchester  Auiiunn  A'^size*,  in  Knowles  v.  North  British  luMurnnce 
Vompftinj,  the  verdiet  was  returned  in  favor  of  the  defendants,  who  alleged 
that  fihii mitts  liad  allowed  cotton,  lubricated  with  greiise  and  oil,  to  be 
mixed  with  the  ordinary  cotton  waj»te,  hence  causing  the  fire.  Mr.  Gal- 
letly  <"  Pharmaceutieai  Journal;'  September,  1872,  p.  225)  found  this 
change  rapidly  produced  wlien  flrying  oils  i  linseed,  etc.)  were  mixed  with 
cott'tn  wuj^le ;  with  boiled  linseed  oil,  less  than  two  hour?  Mere  rer^uired; 
with  raw  oil,  four  to  five  hours  only  ;  with  rape  oil,  ten  houra;  with  olive 
oil»  five  or  *ix  hours;  castor  oil  ref|uired  two  days,  lard  oil.  four  hours; 
&pernj  (»il  iHd  not  char  the  cotton  waste,  but  seal  oil  produced  iguitioii  id 
100  minutes. 

Mr.  Seanlaij  (**  Records  of  Science,"  A ugvi»*t»  1835)  found  that  wuody 
fi.bre  impregnate<l  with  turpentine  iij  liable  to  «iponlaneous  ignition. 

Dr.  Taylor  gives  one  or  two  instances  of  ships  apparently  lot-l  from  ibid 
caui^e. 

We  are  led,  from  a  corapariejon  of  these  facts,  to  conclude  that  aUbaugh 
human  agency  is  often  concerned,  or  the  vapon*  of  inflammable  substances 
are  brought  into  contact  with  highly  heatea  bodies  to  produce  the  elfect, 
Vt't  (hill  tiniiouhieil/tf  ;itpnntnufOU9  cinuhtintiifn  m  poMihle  in  n  vnrirttf  nj  nvb- 
Mancfji  from  the  mineral  and  vet/dah/e  klntjdoms.  We  will  now  ciime  to  the 
vexed  quetttion  of 


Sponlaneoui  Cmnhimiion.  in  the  Human  Body. 

Tliere  is  no  subject  in  the  whole  range  of  Medical  Jurispru<lence  on' 
which  jto  much  romance  has  lieen  built  as  upon  this.  Nearly  ull  popular 
u<ivel«sts  and  great  writers  have  embellished  their  works  by  the  intro- 
duction  of  some  story  of  this  kimi,  or  amused  themselves  by  telling  or  re- 
telling some  of  the  current  legends  on  this  subject.  The  disupppiipjince  of 
the  rag  and  bottle  dealer  in  Dickeiis^'s  "  Bleak  House"  is  perhaps  one  of  the 
bi\st  of  these.  Dickens,  however,  did  more  than  merely  use  the  incident. 
He  ihoroUL'hly  believed  in  the  possibility  of  the  occurrence.  And  in  '*  Ail 
the  Year  Round  "  he  collected  a  number  of  supposed  authentic  cases** 

Different  writers  on  Medical  Jurisprudent*  have  treated  the  matter  fn>m 
various  points  of  view.  Some,  like  Beck,  just  mention  the  subjet't,  and 
give  illustrative  case",  scarcely  expressing  any  opini<ui  as  to  the  poiM^ibiliiy 
or  otherwise  of  the  event,  feome,  like  Casper,  cotitempluously  reject  it, 
and  offer  as  argiimenis  against  it,  that  a  f(Tetus  soaked  a  long  lime  in  spirita 
WMuld  not  burn,  and  that  the  French  ai-e  morecre<lulous  than  the  Germans. 
It  is  true  that  this  iiuthor  also  quotes  Liebi^jV  statement  as  to  the  human 
btKly  containing  75  per  cent,  of  water.  Others,  as  Taylor,  combat  the 
theory  of  s|)ontaneouscr»mbustion  in  a  more  scientific  spirit.  On  a  can-ful 
conBideratioii  of  the  whole  case,  we  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  thn-e 
is  tw  authentic  cum-  oh  rtcfird,  or  nt  Iritut  re  ran  Jind  none^  in  whi^-h  truly 
**  tyoiduneoiu  "  combuntion  vf  iht  human  body  ha«  occurred :  but  that  tlicre  in 


M^ 


CA8BB    OF    ALLEGED    SPONTANEOUS 


and  was  consumed  in  the  nighttime,  @o  that  next  morning  no  part  of  her 
was  found  except  the  skull  and  the  extreme  joints  of  her  fingers;  nil  the 
rest  of  her  body  was  ?aid  to  be  reduced  to  ashes.  Again,  the  €^>iinte« 
Cornelia  Hmuli,  of  Ccsena,  in  Italy,  aged  sixty  two,  w/w  wan  acrn.«tomr(l  to 
haihe  nil  her  htultj  in  mmphoraied  /r/jirih  of  wine,  fell  asleep  one  evening,  her 
maid  retuiiinlng  in  the  room  nntil  her  mistress  slept  When  tbe  girl 
l^turni'd  in  the  morning  ^he  found  nothing  but  the  remains  of  the  bmly  in 
the  n«o!*t  liorrible  condition.  Four  feet  from  tlie  bed  was  a  benn  of  a^hes, 
in  which  the  leg!»  and  arms  were  alone  untouched  ;  between  the  legs  lay 
tbe  head  ;  the  brain,  together  with  half  the  posterior  part  of  the  i^kull, 
and  the  whole  chin  had  been  coujsunTed  *,  three  nrigers  were  found  in  the 
slate  of  a  coal,  and  the  rest  of  the  body  was  reduced  to  ashes  which,  when 
touched,  ]ci\  on  the  fingefs  a  fat,  feliil  moisture,  A  ftmatl  lamp  on  ihr  flxtr 
VNM  covered  with  (n^heat,  iwtt  cmiinined  no  oil;  the  tallow  of  two  raudlej*  wsis 
melted  on  a  table,  but  the  wicks  still  remaine<l,  and  the  feet  of  the  candle- 
sticks  were  covered  with  moisture.  T/te  tttnte  oj  the  beddiny  *ufjgeAied  that 
alie  had  tjoi  out  of  bed.  It  was  not  damaged,  though  tbe  furniture  and 
tapejjtry  were  covered  with  a  moist  kind  of  s<Jot  of  tbe  color  of  iidhe«, 
which  bad  penetrateri  into  ihe  drawers  and  dirtied  the  liiieu"  (  Biancbini, 
quoted  by  Beck.  See  al»o  Lair,  and  the  *'  Philoaopb.  Ti*au»./'  vol,  xliii, 
page  447.) 

In  tlie  "  Philosoph.  Tran«.,"  vol.  xliii,  page  463,  it  is  recorded  that 
*'Gra(^.  Felt,  tbe  wife  of  a  fishmonger,  of  8t.  C'lement'a,  Ipswich,  uMrd  to 
^o  dnwn>tiidr»  every  night  ha  If- dressed,  to  tunnke  a  pij^.  Ou  the  IHh  of 
April,  1744,  i-he  got  up  from  her  bed  as  u^ual.  Her  daughter,  who  *lept 
with  her, did  not  perceive  that  her  mother  was  absent  till  next  morning 
when  ^he  awoke.  Siion  after  thi.*  ?he  put  on  her  clothes,  and  going  down 
into  the  kitchen,  found  her  molher  stretched  out  ou  her  right  i«ide,  with 
her  head  near  the  grate.  The  boily  wa*  extended  ou  the  hearth,  with  the 
legs  on  the  deal  floor,  and  it  had  the  ap|>earance  of  a  log  of  wood  con- 
sumed by  a  fire  without  apparent  flame.  On  beholding  the  spectacle,  the 
girl  ran  in  great  haste  and  poured  t^ome  water  over  her  mother's  body,  to 
extinguish  the  fire.  The  fetid  oilor  and  smoke  which  exhaled  from  the 
b<Kly  almost  siuffocated  some  of  the  ncighborsi,  who  had  hiwtened  to  the 
girl'*  as-^islance.  The  trunk  was  in  some  measure  incinerated,  and  re* 
sembled  a  heap  of  couk  covered  with  white  ashes.  The  head,  the  arm8« 
the  leg^,  and  tlie  thighs  had  al^o  participated  in  ihe  burning.  Thi»  fcoman, 
it  is  said. /I'l'/  drank  a  lurge  (immtity  of  Hpiritnonj*  Itfpwr,  m  consequence  of 
being  overjoyed  to  hear  that  one  of  her  daughters  had  returned  froio 
Gibraltar.  There  was  no  fire  in  the  grate,  and  the  candle  bad  burnt 
entirely  out  in  the  socket  of  tbe  candlestick,  which  waa  dos^e  to  h«r. 
There  were  also  found  near  the  conf!»imed  body  the  clothes  of  a  child,  and 
a  paper  f^creeu,  which  had  sudtabed  no  injury.  Her  dreaa  cousifited  \%f  s 
cotton  g(>wn." 

Another  of  I>e  Cat's  cas^,  quoted  by  Beck,  was  given  him  by  M.  Boin- 
neau,  cure  of  Plurguer,  near  Do!.  It  occurred  in  1749.  '* Madame  de 
Boiseon,  aged  eighty,  a  great  spirit  drinker  for  many  years,  «vm  iiifting  in 
her  elhow  ehnir  before  the  fire,  while  her  waiting-maid  went  »jut  of  the  r(M)m 
for  a  few  niomenii?.  The  maid,  tm  her  return,  seeing  her  miatrcjo  on  fire, 
imrnediutely  gave  an  alarm,  and  ^onie  pers<ms  having  come  to  her  aid,  ona 
of  lliem  tric<l  to  extingui!*h  the  Hames  with  his  hand,  but  they  a<)here4i  to 
it  A!?  if  it  had  been  dipped  in  brandy  or  oil  on  fire.  Water  was  broughi 
and  thrown  uu  her,  yet  the  fire  appeared  more  violent,  and  was  not  ex- 
tingui>hcd  till  the  whole  fieeh  had  been  consumed.  Her  skeleton,  exceed- 
ingly black,  remained  entire  in  the  chair,  which  was*  only  a  little  sconrh^; 
one  leg  only  and  the  tMo  hands  detached  themselves  from  the  rti^t  of  the 


*"  i: 


.     _-      ■     ■:;■'•-. .'Oe  was  fi 
V     J.      Tie  -.'hainlK^r 
i  ..  "  - — .    -,    .:a:    le  ^aw  a  siiii 

j  ,  -        -t.~-*.  vaii.'h  recedi»d  j 

-      .  .      -i  -       -r.a-s*  were  aliti<>> 
I  -..-..VI.         -r- .ic:Ie  ot'the  b<)(i 

i  •.■..«/.-..;.'  p'H'kft^  find  a  ho\ 

'  -':-  s.-n  aD(]  liLs  wifi 

....   _-   M;i?^.'Q  was  ironiiiii8.«<io 

•r  ii:: '.'rnla  are  said  to  ha 

,  ...■...-    ■■.:r '^cr-.ii    " Gazette  M^'iiici 

•-  '.'--.  .     T:i»r  -iame  theory  f'oiiii 

.  ■  .:.    T  v:;.,R^  miinler  JohinStnuJ 

:  ir..  >-"".     Thi?  cage  ha**  Ikjcii  i 

^ii^fTfi  in  Dr.  Taylor's  liook. 

r.    i-r-r  i.;?^'ive»  us  from  (juotin^  it 

--^j"    ?•    :;:i;    r"  a  woman  mw^h  given  U 

•.,r?*.     •.Ml  tht?  Itft  of  August,  18< 

t:,     «t«;r.'um  about  5  p.m.     Two  hti 

..-J.       u..a  :ae  d.jor  very  hot.     He 

'   .1    vaa-  -uiJ^red  by  the  window.     Th 

..  ?v       -w.T\ti:i"n -^n  entering.     The  dea< 

_    .  .-.   :  •  r  -Hriween  the  bed  and   the  h 

•    '>£<:  ijii  the  le;rs  acm-^s  the  hearti 

.-.    .I    .n.'  *±s  d  »wn.     The  fl«>or  on  \ 

.:-.   .:a^  ojrai:  uu  it  were  found  fraj 

>^  -..  ..  i.  1  >^nie  a-ho.-.     The  head,  i 


LilH    FROM    STARVATION. 

_   r  -     *n.  .:'  the  «uppo:^ed  cases  of  ^pontane'm* 

.  _■  .r>.  :u  which  the  culpritsi  hope*]  !•■  i'«iin.val 

--^      Ex(>eriniei]ts  ou  the  c«'tnihu?nhi]iiy  uf 

^        -^«  ?:iii  wautiiig  to  give  detiuiivQca«  to  uur 


■      1     ly-rlFFICIENT     NoURI?aiIMEXT — C'aSES     OF 

.    »>i-  Fklt ENDED  Fasti x<i. 

■■:  ^■.  .r^ivd  on  the  following  cases: 

i«>  -  employers,  may  l)e  charged  with  giving  their 
..  ..>.  ?^rvauti<,  or  np[)reiiti(-e?<  in^uHicimt  nourisih- 
-  ^  :?.-?r  dtath  or  danger  of  death  to  the  victims. 
>«  •:  «Liai  quantity  of  nourishment  is;  requireil  t<i  main- 
:>a<>  -f  children  and  young  ]H>n«on3  in  schotil.'*,  work- 
w»  re*,  or  of  older  perjKju:*  in  jails*,  barrack*,  camp^, 
u   AT  in?titutions). 

•<,:t:«.i  ca.<es  of  prolonged  fasting  may  be  subroitteti  to 
■J.    r  the  conduct  of  jK^rsons*  concerne<I  in  such  ca>t^  as 
■M:inj  girl  may  l>e  called  in  question,  and  your  opinion 
.■  ^uide  your  opinion  we  niu:it  commence  with — 


Some  General  Ob^ermtion^  on  Food. 

..»^f  or"  Holy  Writ,  that  "man  cannot  live  by  bread  al.-nr," 

.;  ::vrally,  true.  Variety  of  food  is  an  absolute  e!s«?niial  to 
iv  nly  food  which  by  it.-elf  is  capable  of  ^us^taining  lite  for 
xri'HJ.  and  building  up  the  tisi«ues,  is  milk — which  has  often 

i  [i^rfect  type  of  what  fotxl  ought  to  be,  and  is,  in  truth,  a 

.  X  tluiil. 

-.-...Ill,  in   different   mammals,   is   thus  given   in  ('ar|)*'Ui».-r's 


W'liiiafi 
>iiii..ij  , 

■Siiii->ti.. 

•  .■■:ii. 

-val 

u^;:;'- 

Siiuini'. 

1.. 

s            .         .         .         , 

IM 

14'i 

1  .: 

U4 

5-C 

11.' 

l.-Nj 

l<hH» 

llKHJ 

1 

li^m 

].... 

— 

._    : . 

---     -: 

-  ._     -= 

.-.-■-     - 

- 

_..     III!  «xtra(  tiv-. 

\   k\  ■•.llf-. 

2."i 

.    ■         '1 

:t;t 

1 

4i 

4.1 

12 

If  we  analyze  thi:«  constitution  of  milk,  we  find  the  following  kinds  of 
■iutritious  material: 

1.  A  largt-  proportion  of  im/'.T,  amounting  in  the  milk  of  all  these  ani- 
'.nals  to  Slime  '^O  to  TM)  per  cent.  Kxjx*rience  shows  that  f«»r  an  adult  some 
iwo  to  throe  pints  of  liquid  of  some  kind  (of  whi<'h  the  essential  ingre- 
dient is  water  J  are  requin-d  for  health,  ;>'/•  di*m  (of  twenty-four  hours 'i. 
t^roni  one  to  two  pints  of  liquid  are  required  by  young  infants,     (irowing 


906 


liBE    ECONOMY    OF    FOOD. 


fata,  are  more  or  leaa  mixed  id  their  composition,  and,  as  we  have  sbown 
above,  such  mixture  \s  essential  to  heulllK 

We  do,  however,  kuow  that  an  avenige  adult  daily  loaea  about  4501  to 
4600  jTrtiiui*  of  carboo,  and  about  300  of  uitrogcn,  or  very  near  11  ounces 
of  solidd,  which  are  thus  disposed  of  as  excrelti;* 

By  tlie  tungs,  ftbuut  S2  |>«r  cOlit, 
"'     *♦    «kiii,        ♦♦      17       •♦ 
•*     "    fjet-es,      *'        4^     '• 
•'     "    urine,      "      4«j     " 

If  a  man  were  to  live  only  on  alburaiiious  articles  of  food,  as  the  pro- 
portion of  carbon  m  these  is  about  3,5  to  1,  he  would  be  taking  al)out 
nl\een  times  as  much  nitrogen  as  he  wants,  in  order  to  get  enough  carbon. 
Hence  the  use  of  other  articles  of  food,  of  the  aniylaceous  or  starchy  kinds, 
&»  diluents. 

Again,  as  the  proportion  of  carbon  to  nitrogen  in  bread  is  about  30  to  1, 
if  a  man  eats  enough  bread  to  give  him  all  the  nitrogen  he  wants,  he  will 
take  about  twice  as  much  carbon  as  he  really  wants.  Or,  to  put  the 
matter  in  a  very  practical  .shajK%  if  the  man  is  to  live  on  butcher's  meat 
alooe,  he  would  want  45,000  grains,  or  nearly  6f  pounds^  containing — 

Carbon, 4500  grains. 

Nitrogen, IB-^O      " 

Excess  of  nitrogen  above  that  required,  150O  grains.  Or^onaiiread 
diet,  some  30,000  grains,  or  nearly  4^  pounds,  containing — 


Carbon,    ....... 

Nitrogen, 

i£xce«s  of  carbon  above  IhA  amount  required, 


9000  grains. 

dO<i     '* 

4nOi>       •* 


But  a  combination  of  bread  and  meat  would  far  more  economically 
supply  his  wants. 

Tbuu  I&,0<H)  grains  of  bread  {or  rather^ 

more  limn  two  pounds)  contHin,  | 

6(K)0  grfimi)  of  meal  (or  about  |  pound)  ] 


contain, 


Carbon. 
4500  gralnt. 

600       •' 


Kltrugfti. 

150  gmini., 

IfjO 


6000 


800 


This  is  almost  the  same  estimate  as  that  given  by  B^clard  in  his  '•Traits 
El<5njentaire  de  Phy**iologie,"  p.  570,  etc. 

Here  the  waste  la  comparatively  trifling. 

In  practice  it  is  found  that  some  people  take  rather  more,  and  others 
rather  le.ss,  than  the  amount  ciilculated.  This  depeofis  rather  on  habits 
of  life  and  con:*titution  than  on  mere  body  weight.  For  the  experiments 
which  have  led  to  these  conclusions,  s^ee  Carficnter's  "Physiology,"  SOi 
ed. ;  Kirk's  ''Physiology,"  or  Daltoo's,  or  any  mwlern  treatise  on  the 
same  science. 

In  German,  Funke's  "Lebrbuch  der  Physiologic"  deals  very  fully  with 
this  subject. 

Growing  children  and  young  adults,  those  who  lead  an  active  life, 
pregnant  women,  and  those  much  in  the  open  air,  require  and  take  more 
lood  than  older  pen*ons,  or  those  of  more  sedentary  habits.  The  aboeuoe 
of  what  some  might  consider  luxuries,  ;^uch  as  fresh  vegetables  and  fruit, 
have  over  and  over  again  led  to  outbreaks  of  scurvy,  of  winch  we  shall 
speak  again. 

Special  works  oo  diet,  such  as  those  of  Pereira,  Lethcby,  anrl  Parv, 


See  Payvn,  «  Des  Sutwtjinves  Alimenuirda."     ParU,  1^64. 


908 


QUANTITY    OP    POOD    REQUIRED 


The  fuliowing  table,  from  Dr.  Letbeby,  ia  one  of  great  value 

Table  III. — Nutritive  Value  of  Foods. 

(Ill  this  table  carboniferous  mutter  is  cttlculated  as  starch,  ten  of  Alt 
being  etjual  to  tweuiy-four  of  starch. ) 


il 

i 

^ 

.^ 

8UBSTAKCB8. 

1$ 

If 

!i 

,- 

t 

a 
1 

1 

H 

(100  parU.J 

^ 

£f 

1 

Pt* 

<S! 

g 

ia 

^ 
^ 

1 

5 

» 

^ 

IIiiiTmn  milk,      .    *    . 

89 

3.5 

4.2 

JJ,o 

02 

11.4 

^JS 

11.9 

Cu*  *  ruilk 

tui 

4.5 

a.o 

4,1 

0.7 

14.8 

4.5 

19.1 

Skiiiiiii'iitiiUk,  .    .    . 

87 

4.» 

fi.O 

2,7 

0.7 

11.5 

45 

160 

llutu-riiiflk 

ts7 

4.S 

aj> 

OJS 

0.7 

no 

4.5 

10..^ 

]*«•«■  f  mid  iiiutioo,  .    . 

7« 

Ifl.O 

— 

ft.O 

2.0 

12  0 

19.0 

ai.o 

\>*| 

77 

19.0 

— 

1.0 

o.fl 

2.4 

IV.O 

21.4 

J'.»tillrj- 

74 

21.0 

— 

3.0 

1.2 

7.2 

21.0 

2»-2 

HarcMi  Ifjil),     .    •.     ,     . 

20 

.8 

— 

70.0 

IJ 

imo 

0.8 

ll|!«>6 

(«kliuiii«d),.    . 

96 

2».0 



300 

4.5 

72.0 

2»,0 

101* 

44 

4.^0 

..> 

a.o 

a.o 

14.4 

45.0 

4».4 

ButU-r, 

19 

— 



fciO 

2.0 

lOS.O 

— 

199J0 

WhuV'of  ♦'git,"    .'    ,*    *. 

74 

\\A 

-I.. 

)0J5 

1J5 

2S.0 

140 

.19.0 

T8 

a».u 



l.« 

2l»0 

20  0 

Y».lk..f      ^-        .    .    . 

M 

MvO 

_ 

8o!o 

.l.« 

72-0 

1«.0 

88.0 

Whilvfl^L. .    .... 

TO 

le.o 



1.0 

IJ 

2.4 

tuo 

21.4 

.SHltllUt 

78 

17jO 

-^ 

4.0 

1.4 

»« 

17.0 

26.6 

K,'t 

BO 
iff 

10.0 
11.0 

70.0 

BO 
2^0 

iJf 
l.T 

19.2 
74,8 

10.0 
11.0 

29.2 
85^ 

Wbi'ut  flour 

Marti-y  riuKl.  .... 

15 

tl».U 

70.0 

2.4 

2.0 

70  8 

10.0 

*&^ 

UmI  u»«-»l,   ..... 

16 

I'i-a 

6J0 

6.0 

itU 

76.4 

120 

M4 

fty«  lui'H),  ..... 

15 

y<i 

rtfl.o 

2.0 

l.« 

7o.a 

00 

79,l» 

liMliiiri  iuv«l  (maiK),  . 

14 

9.0 

ft-iO 

».o 

1.7 

84.2 

9.0 

M.2 

tike . 

7.0 

76,  i» 

U.S 

0.S 

76.7 

7.0 

li;i.7 

tluilrut.       ..... 

2S.0 

4A,0 

HO 

H.d 

B2.2 

23.0 

75.2 

Pe*,*, 

±2.0 

66.0 

2^ 

8.0 

62.8 

22  0 

M.8 

Jt<<)in5, 

24.0 

44.0 

1.4 

S.I 

47.4 

24.0 

71.4 

Uf.Ul-                       .     . 

2S0 

44.0 

l.fl 

2.3 

476 

29.0 

76.e 

W  !,<■;.(    I.r^ua.        .     .      . 

44 

W.O 

4!*.l» 

1.0 

2.3 

AI4 

9.0 

«0  4 

l:\.    Nr.  ,i.i,            .     .     , 

40 

ri.o 

40.  I> 

1.0 

1.4 

4S.4 

B.a 

M,7 

iviiit..,-^    ,    .    .    .   ; 

74 

20 

2»0 

0.2 

0.7 

2S^ 

2.0 

a»4 

Uneti  vc»^'vt»bl«,  .    . 

m 

2.0 

4.0 

0.fi 

0.7 

A.0 

2.0 

7.0 

.^rruwriMil 

IS 

■^ 

#2.0 

*■" 

""■ 

820 

*" 

W.0 

A  pimilar  table  from  Budge  ami  Mole^ehott  will  be  found  at  p.  77  of 
Carpooter'i*  "  Physiology/'  7th  edition.  AJthoygh  poiiievvhat  mort!  pre- 
tcDtious  aod  leftrned  looking,  it  is  not  »o  haudy  for  use,  ami  does  uol  differ 
esaeutially  from  llie  oue  givt^ij  above. 

You  may  be  a*ked,  "  How  much  food  ought  a  healthy  man  to  con- 
sume daily  T 

We  have  already  given  you  the  elements  of  calculation  for  this,  intcnde<J 
for  a  man  of  about  nine  or  ten  stone  ( 12(J  to  140  pounds),  viz.,  that  about 
two  ftuuiidi*  of  bread,  and  three-quarters  of  a  pound  of  meat  will  be  suffi- 
cient for  hi»i,  along  with  from  one  and  a  halt"  to  three  piuta  of  fluid.  You 
will  liud  r hat  authors  differ  somewhat  in  their  estimates*  Thus  Dr  DiU* 
ton  C"  Physiology,"  1871,  p.  101)  states  that  rather  less  thau  two  and  a 
half  pounds  of  .sjlid  food,  and  niiber  over  three  pinta  of  liquid  foo<i  are 
required  by  a  man  in  full  health,  and  taking  free  exercise,  which  he  ap- 
])ortioDs  as  fallows: 

Rviiirdupoit. 


Bread, 

Bmtor  or  flit, 
Water, 


Ifi  OB.  or 
15>  oz.  or 


1  00  IbB. 
1,19  " 


34  ox.  or  0.22 
62  fluid  o%.  or  8  Sd 


Vierordt  ("  Grundrisz  der  Phya.,"  1860,  p.  192)  considers  the  adult 
be  well  nourished,  if,  with  moderate  exercise,  he  receives  daily  about  4 


910     QUANTITY    OF    FOOD    REQUIKKH   TO    MAINTAIN   HEALTH. 


that  of  tlie  adult  per  pound  of  body  weight. 

about  3  ^raint*  t^f  vrcn  i  JJ,  or  nearly  half  of 


Similarly  the  adult  excretes 

which  is  nitrogen)  perpouml 


of  body  weight,  w  hi  l^t  the  iufaut  excretes  about  5  grains  per  pound  ot  Wndy 
weight.  Ill  other  words,  a  mau  of  10  «lone  pets  rid  of  ahout  an  ounee  of 
urea  in  twenty-tour  hours,  and  un  infant  wcifrhki^  24  pounds  only  will  gel 
rid  of  about  j  of  an  ount-e  of  urea  per  diem.  Dr.  Edward  Smith  give* 
ihe  following  diet  scale  for  a  man  in  gowl  health,  with  good  appetite  and 
moderate  extfrei;**! : 

BrmkJiiM :  J  pint  of  milk,  \  pint  of  water  with  tea  or  coffee;  bread,  4 
to  6  ouneei*;  hutler,  J  ounce;  HUgar,  j  ounce;  haeon,  3  ounces  (or  eggji,  4 
ounces,  2  to  3  eggs),  or  cooked  meat,  3  ounces.  Dinner:  Cooked  meat, 
4  to  G  omiees  ;  potatoes,  8  cmnces ;  bread,  3  to 4  ounces  ;  pudding,  8  ounces; 
cheese,  i  otince;  soup,  fi  ounces ;  water  or  beer,  J  pint.  Tea :  Water  with 
tea,  J  pint;  Fu^ar,  J  ounce;  milk  or  cream,  2  ounces;  bread,  3  ounces; 
butter,  i  to  I  ounce.  Supper:  Milk,  J  pint;  oatmeal,  1  ounce  ;  anci  hread,  • 
3  to  4  outices;  or  egg**,  4  onucej*,  or  cooked  meat,  3  ounces,  and  bread,  3 
ounces;  butter  or  cheese,  J  ounce;  water  or  beer,  i  pint. 

We  may  therefore  safely  ^ay  that  in  order  to  maintain  health  and 
vigor : 

Ul  Fond  must  be  sufficient  in  rjuantity,  or  from  2o  to  30  grain<i  of  car- 
bon tor  every  jHUind  of  body  weight;  and  from  1  to  Ingrains  of  Ditro^eo 
fcjr  every  pound  of  body  weight  in  adults,  nnd  more  of  both  fiir  infanta 
(see  above).  You  may  be  ar*ked  how  much  milk  an  infant,  fed  wholly  [hB 
youn^  ha  lues  who  have  no  teeth,  or  only  one  or  two,  should  be)  on  milk» 
retjuires  per  diem  t 

The  answer  will  he  from  1  to  3  pint**  according  Uy  age. 

2d.  The  food  should  be  of  good  quality.  {iSee  the  next  section  on  Ergot- 
ism, etc.) 

3d.  It  f*liouId  be  properly  cooked.  Utiderdone  food  may  ^ive  worms. 
Overcookeil  iijod  is  diffieuk  to  digest,  unpalatable,  and  often  proves  in* 
juriouft. 

4th.  Tliere  miiMt  be  variety.  (See  the  remarks  on  Scurvy  and  other 
di^H*e«  in  next  .*et'tion.)  Not  only  must  there  be  sufficient  carlnin  and 
Ditrogen,  but  some  2(X>  to  600  jfraint*  of  mineral  matters,  and  mmie  5  to  6 
pints  of  water  in  all,  or  from  2  to  3  pint8  besides  that  containeti  in  the 
articles  of  food,  of  which,  as  we  have  «een,  pome  fifteen  per  cent.,  even  of 
dry  tiour,  and  fsome  90  \)er  cent,  nearly  of  human  milk  are  com(><i}<ed. 

5th,  The  inlervaltJ  of  feeding  must  not  be  to<»  long.  Whilst  the  very 
young  and  new  burn  infant  may  require  the  breaat  every  two  hour;*  or  f»o, 
and  tdder  chihiren  require  food  about  every  three  or  four  hours  during 
the  daytime,  few  adnlts  can  di.-^petit^e  with  three  meals,  and  mo.st  do  better 
with  four  meal.^  per  diem.  Those  who  eat  onlv  once  or  twice  a  day,  a« 
Fome  savages  do,  and  a  tew  medical  men  (like  the  eccentric  Dr.  M>iun«ej) 
have  done,  are  apt  to  overload  the  i^tomach  when  uoce  they  «it  down  to 
their  meal. 

Blh.  The  food  must  be  diyt^diblc.  Although  the  **  darn  ilia  mftutorum"* 
may  extract  nutriment  from  the crudetst  of  berriesf,  the  fattest  of  bac(m,  and 
the  toughest  of  cheese,  whibt  salt  juuk  as  hard  as  a  board  may  be  di- 

♦  N"  vi'ry  MccurMte  tf«tSa\HUi*  have  tn^-n  mudi*  of  ihe  qiinnUty  of  milk  Mi*r«iNl 
by  hiirn>*t)  lj«'liii:!*  duifnir  Inottttion.  LmT)j»rrrn?ry  obtninwl  Hb«iut  im«»  kll«vi;rr<niino 
of  Holk  in  tw<Mav-fi<i]r  hours  (p«|«in1  In  ^o  iHjriCHi^  npHrly),  or  nhoiit  Tl  grtirnni*-*  tn 
envh  kiloLTiimmf'  of  lH»dy  w«'i^hi.  This  Hffr»'f»  nenrlv  with  M^  (iulUoiV  f>*iimf«tii 
of  32  ii'  04  niiricr*fi.  fouTKhnl  on  thi>  enmpttrntiin*  wrjght  of  ibQ  infunt,  before  nnd 
nfLer  luctHtiun.     Se«  "  L'Uu'iou  MedtCMle,'*  1802  (Nu.  10). 


I 


912 


LUXURIES   AKD   6TIMULAST5. 


Om  the  Use  of  Ten,  Coffee,  Cocoa,  and  AlcakoUc  Liqwn^ 

Althoa^  the  exact  vnlue  of  none  of  these  can  be  lUtad  is  i 
vortU,  yet  there  can  be  little  reasonable  tloubt  that  mil  of  them  i 
or  les  u  food,  in  other  words,  are  digested  and  decompodcd  to  *  oertaiii 
extent  to  the  bod>\and  help  either  to  replace  Lij»ue  or  to  preTenl  its  wear 
and  tear. 

Tea  and  roffee  have  a  very  similar  compo»tioiif  wfaich  b  laid  to  be  ai 
follows,  in  100  part8: 

Water 6  . 

Thein  orcuffvin,    ....  8  . 

C««M.in 15  . 

Gum 18 

Twnnic  i*ci«l.  .  J  ;  J'»  . 

Arurnutic  oil,  U  Tj  . 

Fibru 20  . 

rdilorophylK  I 

Hineral  «ul»tiincf«,        ...     5  ....      6.7 


. 

11 

. 

17S 

It 

9 

r.  5 

1 

(iJKVi 

»oO*d 

Uii  ana 

1" 

Paiinitin 

In  making  tea  or  coffee,  the  casein  is  not  generally  dissolved  unless 
little  soda  he  added  to  the  water.  The  alkaloid  ihein  is  almost  identical 
with  that  found  in  mat^  or  Paraguay  tea,  in  Gurana,  and  in  erythroxvUm 
coca,  anil  otlter  plants.  Its  cornpoi^itiou  is  ti<aid  to  be  C^H^N^O^  Theo- 
brotnin  (C\HgN,0,)  is  of  very  similar  nature,  but  is  foun<i  in  cocoa  and 
cho<*(»late.  Their  restorative  properties  are  well  known.  They  art!  alightly 
nutrient,  and  are  Ijelieved  by  t^onie  to  lent^eu  the  excretion  of  urea  and  the 
disintegration  of  muscular  ti:4.«uea. 

The  common  constituent  of  all  the  so-called  intoxicating  or  alcoholic 
liquors  is  alcohol,  which  exiwta  in  varying  proportions.  Beer  and  pt)rter 
generally  ^^'oniain  from  4  to  12  per  cent.  The  ligiit  wines  of  France  and 
CTermaiiy  12  lo  20  per  cent.  Sherries  and  ports  more  than  this,  from  19 
to  2o  per  cent. 

The  following,  according  to  Mr.  Brande»  are  the  average  ({uautities  of 
alcohol,  sp.  gr.  0.825  at  60*^  F.,  in  some  kinda  of  ardent  spirits : 


100  parti  (hy  roeiuure)  of 

BrAFidy  contniD 
Rum  " 

Gin  '• 

Bcotch  whUkv  contain 
IrUh  *' '  ** 


Aleohol  (by  mvaRurcX 
6689 
fiSAB 
51  60 
64.32 
63.W 


Or  in  common  language  they  may  be  paid  to  be  about  half  alcohol  an< 
balf  water.  Ab«(olute  alcohol  has  a  sp.  gr.  of  only  0.7938  at  60^  F. 
(15.5^  C).  Id  other  words,  the  gallon  weighs  lejis  than  eight  p4>unda, 
whereas  a  gallon  of  water  cotitattii;  ten  pounds  weight.  In  triaU  tnvolvinff 
habiU  of  inteinpfTQHce  it  sometimes  becomes  a  question  of  how  much  beer 
ur  wine  is  equal  in  strength  to  so  much  spirit.  So  far  an  the  perceutage  of 
alcohol  is  concerned,  the  above  data  will  enable  you  to  stale  that 

One  "glass  "  of  fipirils  is  about  equal  to 

Fi>ur  or  five  winegla-*ses  of  p<^ri  or  sherry,  or 
Seven  or  eight  ditto  of  light  wine,  or 
Two  or  three  tumblers  of  ale  or  «tout» 


H*-^ 


9m\j  tw4.  yearn  After  tkm 
ID   1740.  ill  IB  ci»«»— — 
iff^l^iu]  €rewi4,     Afid  au: 
llie  whole  Channel  flrti    .t 
«Mvfab«0i.     AlllMMigh  it  i8  now  practirmlir< 
~  \  iBBnuiiijcates  still  nccur  iti  the 
fart  cm  Scarry"  io   thia  iiervirt-  h 
BHCtiif  tlii«  Hl^eane  were  al 

ettj  flBTiUD  that  the  abwtr 
■ess  &««  iW  di«t  ifl  the  (>r: 

is  gyrrreotin^ 
tW  gpyuamiit  laad^  the  ok  of 
ife  aBTT.t    It  ii  mil  je(  knavo  bifw  th»  prevoi 
•  wad  other  fresh  Te^Cabl«e,  ofwdkllr  th« 
p«  s  «i»tlar  p»«er    They  all  cootaui  rjtric  m 
calric  oxifle;,  nagBena.  liclik,  aoda,  and 
rf  croa.    Fresh  meat  aJone  it  aoi  omH  j  so 
r  chemical  fab«taooes  just  naamd  cither' im«« 
ril  of  ihcm,  hawever.  pfove  beoelicia 
iltftrait  formt  of  troo^X    A  Mwllar  Oiaeaae  to 


^  Umr  tiff*  ««re  loirt  in 
h»«  it  »|ip«tr>  ihut  (h*  rmh 
•ail,  tlM9«for*fT  the  fact  dota 


ib«  l«ie  Arvtie  eajviKliM 


«.rif7«^ 


r««]lj  iflivaliiUta  1^^ 


aim 


••> 


it  th«  joioc  of  lh#  CUrit«  timttia^  »hil«t 
■ma.  Of  Imooo  tr««.     4J|Imioc^  \h 
propi»nM»,  it  b  i|«itti  a'^ 


aJbtiT—  vllieh  te  koown  ■•  the  liin«>  ** 

•  9aoiMttf:«aItV  reM'Archcn  (" 
1^  mmmxml  <tf  iron  ct<nlaiii«<d  in    ' 

%n4  frr«h  meat  own  mtich  m|  th 
Tb««,  whiUf  f'iOs;r«mm««  of  fr- * 
W  teoo  ia  a  n>c!i»i  un  f^ua)  bulk  < 

«kaU»  whfotvn   br  the  Mine.  |Njt>' 

^(NM9axai>t«t  OiM^rr  jm  (um  white  Ii'mvm      T 
%fmt*  po«tain  miirw  iri>n  than  blanchM  on^       ^\ 
«ifataia«  p^r  »'-''>    '-r  di<<rm)  0  ch**?!  ij^titrTt, 
tH^diH^far  '  naf  vy '*   wotW- _'     t 

k««*.  Bccordi'  ^  i    Ga«tMriti  uid  it 'u-'ir.^r.i 


Total  of  tnetallie  iron, 


rsiqiaa.*'  Di«^  t«7ff)  «a 

-  wf  ».^ri.c  lr«a, 

\i^xt^  nf  ^%}iWfa 

»ad 


/^  Su 


SatMUar^ 
Broad,     . 
M»*al, 
PototOW, 
Boer,      .        .        . 

AaumnL 
.     24    ounco*. 

.     70         •* 

.    O.QiO 

OOIM 

0  0080 

I  if  a 


eo»i2 


016 


EFFECTS    OF    IMPROPER    FOOD. 


propagation  and  development.  Let  there  be  but  a  small  failure  io  the 
ussubI  imp<^rfect  siiip|>!v  of'  fu<»<],  and  the  lurking  seed*  of  pestilence  are 
ready  to  burst  into  iVipbtfuI  activity.  The  fftmine  of  the  pre^tent  century 
is  but  a  too  forcible  illustnitiou  of  this.  It  fostered  epideinicj*  which 
hatl  not  been  witne.si^ed  in  this«  ^vneralion,  and  ja:ave  rise  to  eocenes  of  de- 
vastation and  misery  which  arc  not  surpassLHl  by  ilie  most  appalling  epi- 
demics of  the  middle  ages.  The  principal  form  of  this  scourge  wa»*  known 
A8  the  enntfttfiouft  famine  fevt^r  Mvphns),  and  it  spread,  not  merely  fr«im 
end  to  end  of  the  country  in  which  it  hail  originated,  but,  breakiit«^  through 
old  boundaries,  it  crossed  the  broad  ocean,  and  made  il^^elf  |>iiinfnllv  mani- 
fest in  localities  where  it  was  previously  uiiknown.  Thousands  fell  under 
the  virulence  of  iti*  action,  for  wherever  it  t-ame,  it  struck  down  a  seventh 
of  ihe  people,  and  of  tho.se  whom  it  attacked,  one  out  of  nine  pen.shed. 
Even  those  who  escaped  the  fatal  influence  of  it  were  left  the  miserable 
victims  of  scurvy  and  low  fevers.  Anoilier  example,  not  less  striking,  of 
the  terrible  consequences  of  what  may  be  truly  called  famine,  was  the 
LHindition  of  our  tmops  during  the  early  part  of  their  sojourn  in  the  Crimea 
in  1854,  With  only  just  enough  of  food  to  maintain  the  integrity  of  the 
system  at  a  time  of  repose  and  of  onlinary  temperature,  they  wt-re called 
upon  to  make  large  muscular  exertions^  and  to  ^sustain  the  warmth  uf  the 
system  in  the  midst  of  severe  cold." 

In  this  gradual  form  of  starvation,  there  is  not  generally  much  hun^rr^ 
or,  if  present,  it  soon  disappears,  and  may  be  succeeded  by  loathing  of 
food.  The  cliief  symptoms  are  those  of  defire^ion  of  the  nervous  system. 
Languor,  despondency,  listlessness,  slowness,  hebetude,  and  iuciihcreticy  of 
thought,  sometimes  hyperiesthesia  and  extreme  tendency  to  start  at  noises, 
bright  light,  etc.  Therfe  are  vertipo,  syneopc,  delirium,  [jerverletl  and 
weakened  sight,  and  epileptiform  or  apoplectic  tits,  ending  in  coma,  which 
may  be  fatal.  The  bov^els  are  costive  in  some  cases,  relaxeii  in  others. 
The  temperature,  perhaps  slightly  raised  at  first,  becomes  lower.  There 
is  often  distressing  palpitation  with  tinntitis  aurimn,  and  temporary  blind* 
uees,  with  ocular  spectra.  These  symptoms  will  be  detailed  iit  some  of 
the  illustrated  ctL^&. 

Food  of  bad  fjunlUij  may  proflure  actual  symptitms  of  acute  poUnning, 
(See  Sausage  Poison,  Poisonous  Fungi,  etc,  pp.  470-477.  and  pp.  281  to 
287.)  The  poisonous  etfeets  of  erf^nt.  iuervoiiA  erffntism  and  (fajiffrenoMt 
ergotism)  have  been  described  at  p.  28'i.  (iiiee  also  Aitken,  toe.  cit,,  pp. 
764-8;  and  the  *•  Medical  PrcKH  and  Circular,"  June  5,  1872.)  Ot>iifT  is 
supposed  to  be  due  in  part  to  bad  water  (a  recent  theory  being  that  the 
water  contains  sulphides). 

S^ime  forms  of  vetch^  used  m  food  (Lnth/ruji  mtiviut,  and  L,  c^wci), 
appear  S4mietimes  to  cause  paraplegia.  They  are  said  to  be  injurious 
only  when  they  form  above  one- twelfth  part  of  the  food,  and  pnMluce 
paralysis  only  when  at  le^at  one-third  of  the  food  is  compose*!  of  these 
vetebesj.  (Aitken,  foe.  eit.,  p.  800  ;  Vlimoriu,  "  Ann.  d^Hygi^oe,*'  April, 
1847,  p.  469.) 

Fdlagni  (Mai  Rosso,  Male  della  Vipcra,  Risipola  Liirabarda  ;  M*il  de  la 
RfMii  in  Spanish)  is  a  red  eruption  attended  with  great  dchiliiy,  nervous 
exhaufJtion  and  melancholia;  and  g<iing  on  to  cramps,  convulsions,  vertigo, 
rigidity  of  muscles,  thickening  and  pigmentation  of  the  skin  (hence  Dr. 
Mason  Good's  name  of  Elephmdimiji  It^iim),  which  are  succeeded  by 
murtismus,  and  colliquative  diarrhoea,  or  dropsy  ;  or  death  occurs  from 
some  acute  inflammation^  or  from  successful  attempts  at  suicide.  It  is 
believetl  to  be  caused  by  the  sp<.>rules  of  a  fungus  (the  s[)orisoriuin  maidis) 
attacking  mai^e,  the  chief  fitod  of  the  j>easants  in  Loml>ardy.  (Ser  Pro- 
fessor Mayr's  article  in  Hebra'a  *'  iSkin  DiK'ases,"  vol,  i,  p.  293,  New  Syd. 


THB  SYMPTOMS  OF  STARVATIOK. 

made  for  the  amount  of  Ouid   iDgestetl  during  that  time,  and  for  the 

3UHntily  fia^sed  off  by  the  urine  and  hy  cututieous  trauspirntion.  Dr. 
urin  affirms  that  he  a^certniucd  un  iiu*rett.Me  of  18  ouucea  to  have  taken 
place  during  a  night  passed  in  a  ooul  nnmi  alter  a  day's  exi^itencc  in  ahsli- 
nenee.  It  is  stated  by  7>r.  Watiton  thai  a  Jrtd  at  Newmarket  having  lK«eu 
almost  starved,  in  order  that  he  mijjht  be  reduced  to  a  pniptr  weight  for 
riding  »  mutch,  was  weighetl  at  9  a,m.,  and  again  at  10  a.m.,  and  he  leat 
Jou)ttl  to  have  gained  ntarttf  30  ounces  in  wei^fU  in  the  course  of  ihi4  hottTf 
Uiaugh  he  had  drunk  only  haJf  a  fffannf  of  ttiiw  in  tiie  initrim.  A  parallel 
iustaurc  was  relate<l  to  the  authors  by  the  inte  Sir  0,  Hili,  then  Governor 
of  St.  Vincent:  a  jockey  had  been  for  simje  time  in  traiiujig  for  a  race,  io 
which  that  gentleman  was  much  interested,  and  had  been  reduced  to  the 
proper  weight ;  on  the  morning  of  the  trial,  being  much  oppres!*cd  with 
thir>?t,  /<t'  iook  one  cup  of  tea^  and  ifhortli/  nfUrwardA  Am  weight  vms  found  to 
have  increased  G  poinuU,  »o  that  he  was  incapacitated  for  riding  .  .  ♦  .  Io 
a  case  of  ovarian  dropsy  recorded  by  Mr,  Ford  it  was  observed  that  the 
patient  during  eighteen  days  drank  692  ounces,  or  43  pints  of  fluid,  and 
that  she  discharged  by  urine  and  paracenles^is  1*2^8  ounces,  or  Ml  pint*, 
which  leaves  a  balance  of  *j(Hj  ounces',  or  3i<  pints,  to  be  similarly  accounted 
for."  Should  such  a  matter  become  grtuuid  for  medical  evidence,  in  con- 
nection with  racing  motter^,  you  would  expect  to  find  (in  addition  to  the 
evidence  of  credible  witnej*es,  which  ie  rather  a  matter  for  the  court  than 
for  you)  the  following  condiiitms: 

1st.  A  previous  course  of  privatitm,  exercise,  or  sweating,  »o  as  to  pre- 
disjM>.«e  to  absorption. 

2d.  It  should  be  shown  that  the  air  did  contain  a  considerable  amount 
of  watery  vapor.  In  ihe^e  (lays  of  mL-tenrolitgical  reseaccbes,  such  hygn> 
metric  observations  are  eus^ily  to  be  obtained. 

You  may  be  asked  how  much  it  is  possible  to  eat  at  one  mejil?  It  is 
ditJicuk  to  place  a  limit  to  the  rapacity  of  gluttons  and  lunatics  with  in- 
ordmate  appetitei>!  Captain  Parry's  K-^quimaux:  devoured  no  less  than 
35  jjouuds  of  various  aliment*,  inchuling  tallow  candles,  in  twenty-four 
hours.  A  Hindoo  is  said  to  have  eaten  a  whole  sheeji  at  one  time.  Sir 
John  Franklin  states  that  the  half-hret^d  iv^yiyrur*  of  Cannda  are  very  dia- 
eoniented  when  put  on  a  short  allownnce  of  8  pounds  of  meat  a  day,  thetr 
usual  consumption  being  from  12  to  2U  pounds!  The  wandering  Coasacka 
of  Siberia,  according  Io  Cantain  Cochrane,  are  not  much  less  heurty ! 
(Carpenter,  he.  eit.^  p.  85.  We  must  refer  io  the  eame  pages  for  a  de- 
Bcriptron  of  the  diet  and  methods  pm()loyed  by  the  celebrated  trainer  Jack- 
eon— footnote  to  page  b<),  lor,  rit,)  Having  thus  stated  the  general  prin- 
ciples of  dietetics,  and  the  general  consequencesof  diminished  or  improper 
food,  we  shall  proceed  to  discuss  iu  detail  the 

Syinplomn  and  Proofs  of  Startntion  in  (he  Dead  and  in  the  Living. 

If  Bulwer'e  hero  had  ever  completed  his  '*  History  of  Human  Error," 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  hs  chapters  must  have  been  the  one  which 
treated  of  belief  iu  iniip<ietor8  who  pretendeiJ  to  fast,  and  diwhelief  in  tvnl 
c&HOn  of  long  abstinence  from  food.  The  t^pirit  of  incredulity  has  extendetl 
80  far  as  to  deny  the  tasting  of  Mosej<,  Elijah,  and  the  founder  of  Chris- 
tianity,* whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  the  populace  has  believed  iu  a  ttiz 
years  fast  {/)  by  Aune  Moore  of  Teibury  (14507),  and  iu  the  divine  taiaaioo 


*  It  is  to  be  noted  Hen'  thut  the  Scri|tturi'  nnrrHtivcs  nnwh*'re  clnim  th*^**  facU 
ai  nnraculoui,  Mllhuugb  supenmluriil  evejils  uuiy  bttvc  precistied  ur  MUtwvti  lhem« 


LOSS   OF   WBIOHT    IN    STARVATION. 


I 
I 


919 


Elixabeth  Squirrel,  the  go-called  "Shoitisliain  Angel,"  of  Woodbridge, 
Suffolk;  and  its  credulity  iu  tlie  ca^e  of  the  Welsh  Fasting  Girl,  Siirah 
^Jiicoh^  led  to  the  deatli,  tine  had  altiiost  written  murder,  of  tliii^  poor  girl. 
We  shall  return  to  these  eases  pra^etitly,  aud  menilon  the  priucifwil  general 
phenomena  of  starvation.     These  are: 

1.  The  temperature  iW  luwered  in  caseat  of  tftarvailon.  Cho?=.Hiit'a  experi- 
meDts  will  be  found  in  his  "  Kecherehea  K  x  peri  men  t  al  es  f>ur  I'lnanition/* 
a  memoir  prejsented  to  the  Academy  of  8c'ieiu'e«  in  1843.  For  other  ref- 
erences, »ee  Wuuderlit'h  (in  "  Tem[)erHture/'  Ntw  Syd.  Sotu^«  tnmsilatinn, 
p€>.  135-^,     If  foofi  be  taken  after  fiisting  the  lenij>eniture  will  be  raised. 

I  oa  must  not,  however,  except  jnst  before  death,  expect  to  find  very  low 
or  oollnpee  temperature*.  The  general  defuression  is  rarely  more  than 
from  i  lo  2  degrees  F.  (=  OAi°  in  1.1"  Cent.).  Not  knowing  this  led  jiumo 
of  llie  tnedirA)  men  wrong  in  Sanih  Jtwob'e  case.  It  i*  very  probable  that 
fo  some  stages  of  faulting  there  in  a  slight  increase  of  temperature  (slight 

f pyrexia).  The  losj*  of  temperature  in  m<»!^t  remarkable  on  the  laj*t  day  of 
ife,  when  it  jionHtimes  amounl^  to  several  degrees  (collapse)-  Dr.  Car- 
penter shows  that  in  Cho:s*at's  experijnent^  the  daily  variation  or fludiuUion 
of  tenij>erature  was  greatly  increaj*ed. 

2.  The  puke  w  affeded.  At  first  it  is  a  little  quickened  ;  afterwards  it 
becomes  slower,  and  then  on  the  appriiaeh  of  diinger  it  becomes  greatly 
quickened.  On  this  p<ii(it  Dr.  Fowler*"  reniar|<:s,  **  A*iuming  the  average 
pult^  of  Caaper's  prii^oner  to  have  been  70  to  To,  as  it  ordinarily  ia  at  that 
age,  we  get  on  the  fifth  day  of  absolute  i^tarvatiou  a  riae  of  from  13  to  18 
beaUs  |>or  minute,  which  on  the  eighth  day  is  ougmeuted  by  S  more,  or  in 
all  ab«mt  21  or  2G  beats  over  and  above  ita  natural  rate.  On  the  second 
day  of  the  fasting  Sarah  Jacob '«i  pulse  hail  increaj^ed  14  beats  ;  on  tlie 
third  2t5  beats,  on  the  fifth  54  beats,  and  on  the  j^evenih  day  74  beat*  iu  ra- 
pidity.    Sex  and  temperament  may  have  something  to  do  with  thisdissim- 

'iiy."     Dr.  Fowler  then  proceeds  (pp.  244-5)  to  account  for  the  appar- 
llly  normal  rate  of  70  on   the  tenth  day,  in   Casper'a   prisoner,  aj*  it 

apneani  he  had  then  taken  some  sugar  and  water* 

Iu  the  case  of  the  pitman,  to  which  we  shall  presently  come,  the  atraoa- 

pliere  of  impure  gases  may,  he  says,  have  contributed  to  the  hIow  pulse 

mte. 

3.  7^  hody  hues  weight.  In  the  ca,^  of  the  fasting  woman  of  Tetbtiry, 
Anne  Moore,  this  led  to  the  detecti<in  of  the  itnpusture.  The  average 
kios  of  weight  iu  warm-blooded  auimals  experimenfed  on  by  M.  Chossat, 
betwt.*en  the  comraencement  of  the  period  of  inanition  and  its  termination 
by  citaith,  waa  40  |Mjr  cent. ;  but  he  met  with   considerable  variation  in  the 

j|ktrc!me.«,  which  seemed  to  depend  chiefly  on  the  amount  of  fat  previou?*ly 
Mtmulaied  in  the  body ;  those  animals  losing  most  weight  iu  which  the 
fil>t  had  been  moet  abundant,  w  hich  were  also  those  that  lived  the  longest. 
Taking  40  per  cent,  as  the  mean,  M,  Chossal  obtained  the  following  curious 
n»ult*^,  tt«  regards  the  relative  diuiinution  of  the  several  tissues  and  orgauij 
of  the  body,  those  which  h^t  more  than  the  mean  being  distingu tithed  from 
ifaove  which  lost  less  : 


•  *•  A  ConiplAifl  Hbtorv  f»f  the  Cafe  ot  lb©  Wi'Ub  FMtlnij  Girl  (Snmh  JMob), 
•lie,"  by  RvbiTt  Fowler, 'MD.,  Edinburgh.     H.  Renstiaw,  London,  1871. 


920 


BAD    SMELL    IN    STARVATION, 


ParlB  which  lose  mort  ihtkti  40  per  tfnt. 

Fill .913 

Blond 75  0 

Spl»?en, 71.4 

PHiicreaa, »>4  1 

Liver, 52.0 

Heart 44  8 

Inle»tin(^, 42.4 

Mu«cltig  of  locomotion,         .  42,3 


FnrU  which  late  U^  tbn&  40 1 
Musculsr  cojil  of  siomiich, 
I'hnrynx  und  ocfsophugus, 
Skin.      ... 
Kidnt?ys, 

Ki"-- pirn  lory  apparatus, 
()-»eou>  syntcm, 
Eyes,     . 
Nervou*  sysU'cn, 


The  general  accuracy  of  these  observations  is  admitted  by  moit 
critit'jf.     The  ibllowing   are   perhaps   open  to    more  objection, 
fouuded  on    birds   (.turtle-doves),  who»e   ages  were  edtimaied 
weights : 


kgv%. 

in.  UjOO  purtA. 

DurBUnn  of  life 
in  dajF* 

0.  Young>  .    .     . 

/3.  MiUale-ftged,  . 
7.  Old,  .... 

0.081 

o.05y 

0.035 

3.07 

6.1-2 

13.36 

We  shall  mention  the  qnestion  of  age  further  on.  Emaciatiiin 
more  marked  in  cases  of  pniloiigetl,  chronic,  t»r  semi-starvation,  i 
marked  in  cuses  of  deulh  from  ui-ute  starvation^  or  entire  absence^ 
The  waut  of  eraftdaiioii  was  made  much  of  in  Sarah  Jaoob'*  fJU»e. 
wai!,  however,  no  doubt  thai  she  lost  flesh.  (See  Dr.  Fowler'*  work, 
etc.)  In  the  case  of  Aiiue  Moore  of  Tetbury  Mr.  Fraurb  Fui 
BUggeated  that  she  and  her  bed  should  he  placed  on  a  weighing  n 
This  detected  the  daily  loss  of  weight. 

Tke  table  given  bij  tis  at  prifje  544  will  guide  you  as  to  what  owfki  I 
wciffht  at  a  given  age.  In  usiog  it  you  must  allow  for  prematura  h 
congenital  !^yphtli.s  (which  has  a  great  tendency  to  retard  growth, ( 
raeut,  and  puberty),  aud  for  the  existence  of  any  disea!«es,  such  a?  j 
tabes  me&entericu,  or  recent  attacks  of  fever,  which  wouM  all  tend 
duce  a  leiss  weight  than  the  average  of  normal  healthy  cases.  1 
trate  our  meaning,  Lake  the  following  cajse  from  a  re<?ent  daily  |->ap« 

"The  Alleged  Cruelty  to  a  Niece,— Mrs. Sophia  B ,». 

good  position,  residing  in  a  fashionable  suburb  of  Bristol^  wa«»  »0 
committed  for  trial  for  neglecting  to  supply  sufficient  fomi  and  cfol 

Caroline  H y  her  niece  and  in  her  charge.     The  defendant  is 

to  have  kept  complainant  without  food.  The  complainant  is  »Xtd4 
of  age,  but  only  weighed  sixty-eight  pounds.'' 

Referring  to  our  table  at  p.  544,  we  find  that  the — 

Normal  w«ii;ht  of  fomjiUs  at  sixteen  year?  of  age  h  95,7  ])Ouadt| 
Whilst  the  comphiinanl'*  Wfighl  wa*  only      .         .     68.0        *• 
Thore  waB  thottifore  a  defieieuey  of        .        .        .     27.7 

or  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  hundredweight,  a  deBciency  which,  un 
plained  by  some  severe  disease,  such  as  phthisis,  etc.,  wa:3  in  it4*l] 
JoHe  evidence  of  insufficient  food  having  been  gives.  In  uniug  tb 
i-ead  the  remarks  on  page  545. 

4th,  A  fetid  odor  is  ea:haled  from  the  «Hn  and  monift,  Wr,  T 
noticed  in  nearly  all  the  cases.     In  the  case  of  the  Wel»h  Faetii 


tlllB   OF    DEATH    IN   STARVATION. 


921 


Strah  Jacob,  the  "sister"  Nurse  Clinch,  "  first  perceived  a  strange  sraell, 

1  iJetuliar  smell,  abtnit  the  bed"  on  the  sixth  day  of  the  watching  and 

«lir^  ahrilint'ijce  froui  fuoil ;  she  mys,  *'it  uus  not  like  the  usual  smell  of 

^uI\k  and   I  caonot  describe  what  it  was  like.*'     It  was  not  urine,  uor 

ffum  the  feathers  of  the  new  bed,  fur  "  after  the  bed  was  changed,  I  stiil 

prpctived  the  smell."     Berk  ealls  it  "a  fetid,  acrid  smell,"  Dr.  Dfmnvan 

(speaking  of  the  Irij^h  famine;  calls  it  "an  offensive  odor,"  some  authors 

•»y,  "  an  odor  mi  generis."     In  some  eases*  (especially  chronic  starvation), 

thc^kin  beeoinej?  covered  '*  with  u  brownish  fiJthy-luoking  coatiog,  almost 

U9  indelible  a^^  varnish  "  (Dr.  Don(>van).     The  skin  somt'ttmi'S  adheres  to 

the  bones;  it  is  alnioi<t  always  hai^h  and  dry,  particularly  so  in  ehronJc 

starvation.     Graziers  and  horsekeepers  are  familiar  with  the  condition  of 

iiilegument*  known  m  "  hidebound."     The  skin  may  hanp  in  loose  folds. 

The  Uiues  are  prominent.     The  orbits,  the  neighborhood  of  the  zygfjma, 

•ad  the  neck  and  thorax  soon  show  thia  starved  appeanmee.     Old  nureea 

and  dtvoions  are  IJamiliar  with  the  fact  that  the  nates  exhibit  emaciatioQ 

more  than  some  other  paria,  as  in  Horace's  shameful  caricature : 

'♦Mii'tque .  intBr  aridas  nate« 

Po<l«?x,  v«lut  crudiG  bovis." 

5th.  Minor  itiffnif  of  starvation  are — Wild  and  glistening  eyes,  glassy 
anil  fierce-looking,  generally  with  dilated  pupils  i  the  mouth  dry  and 
[lareljefl,  with  thick  temiriouss  saliva  ;  the  breath  sometimes  hot,  bnt  on 
llir  npjiroach  of  di.sMihitioo  t[tiile  cold  ;  this  is  sometimes  so  as  long  as  a 
*ef  k  before  death ;  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  outlets  ( anW3,  vujffina, 
Uffi'thra,  uoslrils,  etc.)  becomes  red  and  inflamed  in  some  eases.  There 
ly  be  delirium  and  convulsions.  In  a  few  cases,  chietiy  in  shipwrecked 
Ifiin?,  there  bus  been  violeul  excitement.  Dr.  Taylor  ascribes  this  to 
either  n  tropical  climate,  or  to  the  drinking  of  wine^  spirits,  salt-water^  or 
of  their  own  uriue.  He  refers  to  Ilostnn  and  Orlila,  "  Cours  El6mentaire 
d*!Iygiene,"  vol.  i,  p.  283,  etc.,  an<!  *'  Mc^^lecine  Legale,"  i,  p.  415,  and  to 
l»f.  Martyn,  in  the  "  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,"  March  30,  18(>1,  p.  344. 
There  may  or  may  not  be  intense  pain  in  the  stomach,  relieved  by  press^ure ; 
though  this  is  generally  felt  at  first,  and  the  feeling  of  intense  hunger  soon 
goeM  away.  Intense  thirst  is  a  more  lasting  symptom  in  cases  deprived  of 
water  or  suitable  drinks.  There  is  always  great  muscular  weakness  in 
chronic  starvation,  and  in  the  last  stages  of  the  acute  form.  There  is  a 
feeling  of  intense  coldness  all  over  the  bi>dy.  The  voice  becomes  weak, 
and  the  intellect  dull.  There  is  drowsiness,  and  this  merges  into  coma  in 
fauil  ca«K*s.  The  brnvt^h  are  comtrpatfd ;  or  if  ficces  are  discharged,  they 
are  #mall  in  tiuanlity,  dry,  ao<l  dark-eolorefl ;  the  uritie  is  8cantif,  high- 
fiotdrredf  and  turbid  on  standing,  i.  c,  c<mcentrated.  In  a  few  cases,  f»etechia;, 
or  purple  extravasations,  have  been  noticed  on  the  skin.  Urtila's  **Cour8 
^\lM.  Ix-gale,"  p.  41o. 

You  may  be  asked  to  answer  the  *]uestion, 

ff^'v  Uni'j  does  starvation  takf  to  frittf 

i  he  answer  will  depet»d  U[»on  a  careful  consideration  of  a  number  of 
fiictnrs.  The  average  period  for  death  in  compiete  primtion  of  fi}od  would 
*esm  to  be  from  itei'eti  to  ten  dwjn  (Urfila,  Casper,  Taylor,  Guy,  Fowler, 
«te.)»  But  much  will  depend  on  the  svirroundings,  on  sex,  age,  and  pre- 
noua  heiilth ;  and  it  is  uuanimou.^ly  agreed  thai  when  those  starved  have 
mooem  to  fresh  water  and  other  liquids,  life  is  prolonged  much  more  than 
irlien  thint  is  added  to  hunger.    The  dictum  of  Hippocratee,*  that  '*  the 

•  BrIIutl'A  IfMnaltition,   "  Aphorianw,"   Lib.   I,   No.   18:    ^^  TfftnvTe^  iv^p^rnra 
ffirrciip'  i^iunmi'  dtirtpov^  6t  K,atitari}K6Tf^  ^Ktara  fittpatua'  rrAvruv  M  /irtXierra  nrotdlo* 

60 


flOS  TmmsfMwmA  ov  viBnivATiav. 


M  bwtkevaM  rf  ■gtiifcfl  Ae*erf;  Act  wfcohaw  iHiiii  1  tfce 
»Mfe  perM  of  fife  the  aof  »  ^^m;  tkote  who  kaic  JM  anmi  at 
psbenTmre  Hill  te  aUe  to  cMi«e  it ;  Imi  of  all  ago,  «Uldhood  b  the 
Lnf  apaMe  of  ■amiaiig  hauler;  aad  of  cfaiMna.  tlw  sofa  lin^j  am 
tWfautf  trnprnUeraeam  iMna  oat  both  bj  ezperioMse  aad  the  cspcffi- 
MeateofCVMataadocbaiL  OkrlUwpfcuf  endL^r  MrwatvOr^ev 
prmfMo  i^a^eit  8arali  Jacob  »  "a  plamp  cbild"  Mm  tba  feial 
vaidbiog  bc^uL  Tbe  Boivcr  pic  vac  abo  a  fiu  oac^*  The  Gude  GSM 
iill  OB  tbe  14ib  of  DcccBbcr,  l§ia  Tbcre  kcw  little  rmob  Id  doabc 
tbat  pecoliar  oMotal  or  per cbioU  ttalci  enable  partial  aad,  pcrbapi^  OMa- 
wftfe  privaiioo  of  Ibod  to  be  bone  loagcr  tban  it  woald  be  la  bcali^  ( ro- 
bnoot  eoflasf,  hriteriav  cataleper  or  trance,  aad  iMsaity);  vararfii'  m 
abo  capaMe  of  taking  tbe  pbeo  of  Ibod  to  tone  limited  extent.  The  pAe- 
0f  kibermalwm,  #r  tke  dgnmami  tiaie  met  with  in  the  donnonae.t 
mot,  bcdgebqg,  jerboa,  frog^  ■erpenta*  liaudc^  and  a  few 
(cfaiellf  rodeati^  a^ong  tbe  mammalb},  bear  aome 
with  caace  of  etanratioa  in  bomaa  bctngBL^ 

Tbe  longest  antbcntie  period  nf  total  deprivation  of  food  in  hni 
ingB  appeaiB  to  be  about  fix  weefciL    {See  lUnstfative  Caeca.) 


PaeUmertem  Appeanmeet  im  Oaeee  &f  DeaA  from 

Tbew  are,  for  tbe  moct  part,  derived  from  tbe  ehronic  cipce.  For  tbb 
icacoo  we  bare  given  tbe  poK-mortem  examination  of  Sarah  Jaeob,  aa 
aeule  cue,  aepantely. 

1.  Tke  hodff  ii  remarhahbf  Ught  ($ee  above),  and  »  ■bnmken  and  eaia- 


2.  The  skin  is  dry  aad  AriveBed;  has  a  disagreeaUe  odor  {see  bdore)^ 

ibh-lib 


and  u  free  from  fiu;  cometimci  there  u  a  kind  of  brown,  vamiah-like 
ooatiog  over  iL  It  »  difficult  to  separate  the  skin  from  the  soljaoent 
mu>»cle«>,  etc. 

3.  The  mtudejt  are  mwih  wiMed^  tofl^  and  devoid  of  fat 

4.  Tfu;  utomaeh  and  inteHine^  are  generaVy  found  collapfed^  contraeUd,  and 
empty f  and  (heir  mueous  membrane  m  thin,  and  almod  or  quite  transparent^ 
so  that  Dr.  Donovan  was  oDce  able  to  ;see  a  bit  of  raw  green  cabbage  in 


•  ••Th«T*f  i*  ft  well-known  »hm  of  a  fat  pie  whk-b  was  buried  in  it*  fty  f^r  l»iO 
davfl,  un'liT.^O  fe«t  of  th**  chnlk  of  Dorer  cliff,  which  wa«  due  out  alive  at  th«»  end 
of' that  time,  reduced  in  weight  from  IQO  pounda  to  40  fK>unds,  or  no  le«)  than  75 
percent."  (■*  Tran«>actioni>  of  Linnmn  Siicii*ty,"  vol.  xi,  p.  411  )  ThiA  extranr- 
dinarr  proloni^atioo  of  lifn  may  be  attributed  to  the  retention  of  the  heat  of  the 
bodv  \ty  the  non-conductini;  jK>werof  the  chalk,  and  to  the  retention  t>f  iu  moiMure 
by  the  »atu ration  of  the  air  in  '\Mt  immcdifite  vicinity,  and  the  restriction  of  ito 
movi'mt'ntt.  fCarppnler'u  ♦•  Physiology,"  nuie  ti  p'94;  Horn's  **  Deacription  of 
Vitvar,''  'M  ed.,  1819,  p.  24.; 

f  *'Tota  mihi  dormitur  htem»,  et  pinguior  illo 
Tempore  fcum,  quo  me  nil  ni!>i  mminu*  alit." 

Martial,  Lib.  ziii,  Ep.  5X 

J  Thu«:  fl)  Animal  heat  w  diminished  (from  20'  to  40^,  or  5ff*  P.  in  some),  yet 
St  IS  hIwhv**  higher  than  the  temperature  i»f  the  atmojiphere  in  the  winter  mt>nt'hs. 
(2)  The  pvfae,  auH  euTU^ipunily  the  heart-beaOi,  are  grenily  diminiahtid  (fn>m  115  to 
16)  in  the  hamster.  Ke»pi ration  is  also  much  slower.  Some  seem  to  lie  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  without  breathing — seldom  breathini:  more  than  once  in  a  minute  on  aa 
averaue.  (3j  Not  tmly  is  Uif/ention  in  abeyance,  but  tfie  nervous  system  is  in  a  singH' 
larly  torpid  «tate,  fo  that  tbev  seem  alm<»rt  ini>ensible  to  pain,  and  can  imly  be 
rou»ed  with  difficulty  from  their  eomatofe  state.  (4)  The  weight  it  diminished,  iioi- 
witbtttauding  Martial's  epigram,  quoted  above. 


fSki  Ittirif  RATITB  CAISS. 

4  3B*  MMMMV  41  «Be  «f  nwm,  Mr. 


.fit  -^mm  .wiiwo.    tb» 
l0itwnii& 
iicsi«  9IJMI&. 
*ii  OAnc  :^eiaaiiijiiif  £i»^  3 

UkcbiwhImb  jw%td  that  the  fin 

c&  man.    Tbe  liTer  was  » 

mk  bile,  tbe  kidnejs  and 

'  tmptr.  Oa  loukiag  at  the  girr* 
.  dM  rifle  ibonliifr  «««  faaaJ  to  be  much  more  ^. 
aiW'Xhv,  ifaMarMpdAeMf  «efyMlMr,«t{jEeien%«o  lo  cm 
.  ..  ^t  >4rv!f-  Dr.  F.'»ler  bad  giT«i  his  opioion,  when  he  first  _ 
1^1  _ifci  j«  ^jri  was  a  nijrfit-fewitr.  and  thi:  the  parcntH  were  theniAehv 
io.-..'"C  i^  3.->c:  a>i  afwrnrarde  di'-rs^jr^niiz  that  viHitore  gave  ni<iik*:. 
v;>.    i2i^  -^-c  '^ii^o^  rould  be  made  pr^fiiab]^,  thej  were  tempted  !<>  car**^ 

V  vsB  IL — J^mSf  Starvaiu/n — Lhoih  on  tks  Thirteenth  Day  of  Compt>tr 

A  iMin^ntK, 


"■  In  Febraarr  of  1862  a  man.  tfairtr-ftix  rears  of  age,  wae  dwcov 
ia  A  <cack«  near  Morpeth,  driog  from  curvatioo.  Ali  attempts  u>  1^7- 
biot  &u€d,  and  he  Qltimatefj  died.  He  aas  ao  iotelligeot  man,  and  nac 
b«ea  editor  and  prr^prieUir  of  a  f«euDT  jiMimal  calico]  the  '  Falkii^  'Lit- 
tral.*  A  dianr  wu  found  in  fai«  po««esi^ion,  containing  entries  cif  bi»  cmt- 
ditioo  from  tbe  8tb  to  tbe  25tb  of  Febnianr,  from  which  it  appeared  iba: 
daring  9K!wmiMn  dart  he  Lad  twioe  laeted  a  piece  of  bread ;  bat  fur  ibe 
iKt  thirUen  dajri  he  bad  been  entireJr  without  food.  During  tbe  fask  m 
davj)  of  tbe  thirteen  he  was  able  to  obtain  water,  but  on  tbe  e£nmt&  dar 
be  f'»und  hie  legs  were  oselea,  and  he  loti  oU  motor  power  in  tbe  lower  cx> 
trernitiei,  so  that '  one-half  of  his  bodr  appeared  to  be  dead.*  ^ 

The  cmse  is  of  interest  to  tbe  pathologist  as  showing  tbe  Icogtb  of  tiae 
during  which  existence  can  be  maintained  if  water  alone  be 
(Aiiken's  "  Soeoce  and  PiacL  of  Med.,"  p.  744.) 


::-  -    a.  ;:s  i- 


.."'-^       L'/C     _£. — , 


*   ;  '>.'^    '/.,  »j/«*/J      /f*    ,,*/j    ,  ;j:y,^  \z.  -L.*   *arr:  I,:-   <i4::-:T:t»  as  res. 


w«'' ».'  i.  «'  #*  ff««  f,      h  w%0  rumortvi  thai  of.*  v««  on-  rAghi  f<ma4  wrr«««  ai  kvt 


C»mt^f,^00mm  ^titm^  ha^mif,  "  Mm^m\lm^»  Hmgi./*  A)m\,  1871.  fr^lt 


«||»4fWH.  HU^.iWiMi/  ll»y  <i,  1«71. ) 


^0..     ;.>:.rw/>    «»wi    '.!«*    «it»fS>:'iiyy    >**    /»#>«*     »%.-*    »*■•*    villi  |||t||  Attf     HI 


r^l  ui  u)l.  iiiiii  aT-i*er.«     i 


'.    I  fkt.i-  iiti*    fh 


•'TVft**.       _»■ 


r 
^f     Ovr     >,    M^»    «/^     #«y)    f/,    hut*     \thf\    «^llll|f.'IUt%L    ICT"^*. 


#><!,    *  ,w  r    ,-,/v'r        7A>if    •>^,J^.ir«   Jf^*-»    •<*    ff*-!^j)    lh»1  tin-   4:iiiiteS    -Sr 

tfrttftt Hti*M  tUt-  fo*-tn>Mf  or  tfttH  ofiU*i  numfm,  m\tt\AM  U>  \Muxih  or  c«  r«i  «f 
nUiiiUtu  nu*\  htli*'f;  nh't  Im^tf  tut'tirrtnl  tUtt  UnUi  of  fiiftlevoi<9S~ 
fhttf  Mtt  lUtnuHTitjij  \%  m\*\  to  Umyts  »liirv«^l  m»me  of  ber 
nil.      It  uiHy,  ihi'W.fmf.,  Ins  ii<Jo|;U:fJ  mm  a  roesns  of 


TIMl  9I1KDKD   FOR   OI0t8TI0> 


Difoiitm  of  Food'—yiMimrt  ^  Cmtads  aT  Sbi»itdk. 

Hmt  Umy  U  U  simee  a  w^eti km  hmm  Isien/**  b 
•iked  IB  medko-legat  r«aea.    The  nedml  wiCMa*  ««&  «»kcd 
ft  is  the  BheHmm  mvrtter,  in  vliidft  a  kaifdreaMr  kill«d  and 
m  Hole  girl  exiled  Hulland. 
«f  wmr  ktitfvtedge  4>f  d^««tiaii  if  deitTed  fimo  Uie  ejrpeniii«t>u  of 
oo  Ales'f*  ^.  Martin,  a  CanrtMiien,  who  bed  a  ^i«4ric  fistula 
of  a  ^'  uod.    IW  experiiiieivtt  of  Dr.  G<aMe,  and 

af  IV.  Rawiix  \  ^  Spii  Versqeli  ober  dac  VerdaaaonfaieltiA,'' 

l^iliii^  1^5 ;  ami  \V«bfr's  "  Die  Klnfmcht  NabmogsnitteJ,**  Bns»bo, 
V^^S;  and  0r.  A.  C4tmb^'»  repriut  of  Dr.  6««Q]aont*i  "*  ExperimcaU  and 
Otwuitlnnii  ootbeGaatric  Juice,  etc,**  Ediobur^h,  1)!i3^.*  Dr.  Beao- 
SMMl  cDCHtnitled  a  uhle  tbowiojf  the  tiaM»  raqaired  fur  tbe  *?  r.^  <  n  of 
stt  ibe  nMal  artirJca  of  fotid  in  St.  Mania *«  stuinarb,  aad  it  c 

iaad  taken  from  tbe  fitooiaeb.     Anir*Qg  tb«  ^iib^eaoccB  most  fi- 

paud  were  riec  and  trtpt^,  boih  of  nhidb  were  rbjrmificd  tji  oa  '  s9, 

nuliann.  troai,  applet,  and  TeniMin,  were  digested  ia  an  komr  onu  n  n-jif; 
tapocw,  barter,  milk,  liver.  fi«h,  Uaik  abunt  two  homn:  tarker.  laotb, 
paiBUia.  pie,  in  ttn  hmm  and  a  haff;  beef  aod  nu  !  fn»fii 

Itmv^  komrt  lo  three  kovn  and  a  haif;  aod  both  were  :  than 

tikI;  fowls  were  like  niutloo  aa  re^nb  their  digf^ttbUuv. 

A#  a  rale,  animal  mib^taoces  were  cjuv^rteii  intu  chrme  mrtre  qtdekljr 
tbaa  Ttgetablea.  Dr.  Rawitzutfed  tbe  fnit*nMcupe  to  examine  tb«  pro- 
doda  of  artificial  digest  too.  and  also  tbe  f«cei  after  natural  dtgt-^tjita.  He 
fraud  ibal  tbe  fle»b  of  animals  fir»t  bne«kj»  up  into  tbe  cmmlitacnt  fasrieali 
of  Biitaealar  tiseoe;  tbete  then  divide  transver^lr,  gradually  t!iv  (niu»- 
ver^  Asisb  becrime  indij>tiDct  aod  disappear.     La^t  of  all,  tbe  ^  ia 

aeesss  to  be  di«i>lved,  and  scarcely  any  trace  of  the  tissue  i&  .^ ...  I  ^b 
and  barea  d^eit  very  rapidly;  poultry  and  other  aniawb  metre  flovlT. 
Tbe  cell?  of  cartilage  and  fibnvcanilage  (except  tho*?  «»f  (l-h  \  pasa  umfi- 
ge^itnl  thmagb  tbe  stomach,  and  are  roaD4)  in  tbe  fiece^  Kla»ljc  fibres 
are  unchanged.  As  regardi»  vegetable  ^uh^tanees,  spiral  reisrls,  ccJl* 
membranes,  rhlon>phyII,  or  green  coloriug  matter,  and  starvb-^la»  oHeo 
appca-r  unchan^!  iu  the  fasces. 

In  general  lenn.«  it  may  he  said  that  from  three  and  a  kmlf  tofimr  homn 
§r  more  are  tutwdly  required  for  Uie  diffeMian  of  a  meal  ef  mij-^d  fmrd.  In 
some  cades  some  six  ur  eight  hour^,  or  more,  may  be  raquinrd.  It  will  be 
nrmeniK«Ted  that  the  medical  witnesses  examined  in  the  case  »»f  Oihu, 
rrciirtled  at  page  838,  mislfK^k  the  lime  required  for  digestion.  FUb  and 
some  light  arliclf*  of  diet  mav  be  digi'Med  in  about  an  notir. 

In  lh«*  <^Ti*e  of  the  WtUh  /airfiny  Girl  it  wa*  aseumefi  by  Mr.  GiiCird, 
one  of  the  counsel,  that  Mr.  John  Phillips,  a  medical  wttne^  ought  to 
bare  known  whether  the  fragments  of  bone  found  to  tbe  fan't^  w^re  lb<cwe 
of  a  6j^h,  liirrl,  or  mnne  other  animal.     He  also  a;BSumeii  that  ptjlariaed 

light  ought  Ut  have  lieen  u^  in  the  examinatioQ  of  the  starcl;       ~!ca 

found.     We  d«)  ntii  blame  barriitlers  fur  doing  tbe  hwt  they  fu  ir 

clients ;  but  wc  wi»h  to  caution  y(»u  against  pretending  ti>  n 
than  you  nally  huve  in  the  case  of  animul  or  vegetable 
the  contents  of  the  stomach,  and  the  like.     It  is  oJ\en  p<  r- 

fectly  isure,  for  in.'^tance,  that  you  have  iMne,  from  tbe  pre**  i*- 

corfnijtrlfs  figured  at   page  oGl,  or  of  Havem-ian  cana)$  i  to 

re<'()griize  the  spiral   ve^lselJi»  or  ^tomata  of  plants,  the  >  nf 

aninml  •Jtruciun's,  and  similar  substances,  and  yet  not  t  ty 

sure  uj?  lo  the  exact  animal  or  exact  plant  from  which  the  i  it> 


932 


DEFINITION    OF    A    WOUND, 


remark*;,  that  Wiseman'fl  defiaitioo  would  include  ruptores  of  ii 

organs,  .«iich  as  tiie  liver  and  spleen,  acd  burns  and  8cald}»,  a? 
8im[]le  fmctureji  and  dii<ioeatioDs.     Ou  applying  to  three  eminent  tiui 
he  obtained  the  three  foUcwing  definitions: 
"A  wound  is— 

1.  "A  iiolution  of  continuity,  from  violence^  of  any  naturally  coo! 
parts." 

2.  "An  external  breach  of  continuity  directly  occasioned  by  viol 

3.  "  An  injury  to  the  organic  textures  by  mechanical  or  other  vio 

The  want  of  a  legal  definition  formerly  allowed  the  oollar-bou 
broken   l>y  a  barniner  or  otherwise,   provide<l  the  skin  were  not  b 
and  similar  injuries  to  be  intlit-ted,  and  yet  the  prisoner  to  e:*<'aj>e 
this   wiLs  not  L'oiisidert'd   a  \vi»uud.     (Jify.  v,   HooJ,  Matthew's  ** 
p,  415.)     Now,  however,  lhe,«e  lesions  would   be   included   in   the 
clautie  of  the  setiteiice,  **iihtill  by  any  means  whatever  wound,  or  r^i 
grivvotfi  hudUy  hnrm  to  any  pemou,^*  **  and  by  any  means  other  thai 
Bpecified,"  etc.,  etc.,  "wilh  or  without  any  weapon  or  iustruraent.' 
the  Arts  1  Vict.,  e.  85 ;  U  &  15  Vict.,  c.  fOO  ;  and  §§  11,  15,  and  3 
&  25  Vict.,  i\  100.)     Some  niedicul  witneti.*es  have  held  that  thirn 
wournl  unless  the  ykin  be  completely  divided  (as  in  the  cai*  trieil  i 
at  the  Central  Oimiual  Court,  in  which  a   nwin  struck  the  prwtH 
severe  blow  un  the  tt}tn(de  with  a  heavy  stone  bottle,  which  was  bn 
the  blow,  but  fuile<l  to  divide  the  skin  completely).     The  skin  is  ^ 
ahont  i  t<»  H  Hue  in  thiiknc-^.-*.  or  from  ^^th  lo  ^th  of  an  inch. 
and  Sharpey,  Kolliker,  etc.)     Mr.  Justice  Talfourd  held  it  ab^unl 
po8e  that  »o  ihin  a  thing:  as  the  j-kin  could  be  broken  internally 
external  wound,     Analo^^y  was  against  him,  in  the  ca.se  (»f  the  inn( 
of  urtenex,  etc.     Yet  it  h  not  our  wi.>sh  to  insist  upon  undue  refinfl 
It  would  be  Ikr  better  to  accept  the  continental  definition,  that  **« 
iuciiKle.^  any  perisonal  injury,  suddenly  arising  from  any  kind  of  y 
apfdied  externally,  whether  such  injury  is  external  or  internal." 
other  hand,  all  ?;ur>!;eons  are  agreed  that  a  division  of  the  true  fti 
wound,  whether  it  Ideeds  or  does  not  bleed.     Wiseman**  detinitiM 
dentiy  includes  the  innrous  membrane?,  for  very  serious  injuries  m 
and  have  been,  inflicted  on  the  inleri<)r  of  the  bo«ly,  a*  in  the  rectui 
vagina,  in  the  throat,  mouth,  atid  nostrils,  etc.     But  simple  fractu* 
the  Iike>  and  the  rupture  of  internal  organs,  are  still  in  a  dnubtfi 
gory  as  to  being  wounds  or  not.     Yet  Loril   Denmau'ts  deci-^ion 
Queen'«  Bench,  in  November,  1847,  includes  them  by  implication, 
this  case  an   application  was  made   to   the  c<>urt  for  a  new  trial, < 
ground  of  misdirection  on   the  part  of  the  Chief  Baron.     An  acti 
brought  against  a  medical  practitioner  for  negligence  in  the  treati 
a  Jiimpte  diifhcatiim  of  the  arm.     The  words  of  the  declaratioti  wei 
the  jjtaintiif  hati  employed   the  defendant,  who  was  a  surgeon,  '* 
treatment  and  cure  of  certain  ivonnd^y  fractures,  bruises,  complaiui 
disordfi-s,**     In  the  application  it  was  submitted  that  none  of  tbw* 
applied  to  the  injury  in  quej*tion,     L*ird  Deuman,  however,  refm 
rule,  saying,  '*  It  [»  rat  her  .strange  that  the  pleader  should  have  omit 
moFt  appropriate  Avord;  but  we  iliink  the  Chief  Baron  was  tjuite 
Webster  definei^  a  wound  as  "a  hurt  given  to  the  body  or  animal  fn 
Yiuience:  an  injury  ;  a  cut ;  a  gJash  ;  laceratioD."    So  Aliltou,  of  I 

"  Enrth  felt  ll»e  \onuntl,  and  Nnturo  from  h*»r  M»iil, 
Si'iihinj;  ihroutrli  nil  ber  work«,  giivo  ftgns  of  woe, 
Tbutall  wus  lost." 


BLBMENT  OF  TIME  IN  CASK  OF  WOUNDS. 


933 


We  believe  it  would  not  be  diffiouU  to  nmltiply  quotations  from  the 
to  i*how  that  the  wtin!  tmnttd  i.i  generally  used  in  ibe  sense  of  a 
BSioii  or  injury.  Aud  altljouij^b  in  arijijilt?  fraclureji,  the  judges  formerlir 
eJfl  that  these  were  not  wounds  (as  iu  Hex  v.  Wimi,  quott'd  ahovi%  4  (1 
t  P.,  p.  3H1),  yet  several  recent  decisjioiis  of  the  judicea  (Chief  Justice 
!>enrDau,  Justiee  Parke,  etc.),  in  Fityina  \\  iSntith,'^  Regina  v.  Wnnnnn, 
nd  mhff  eases,  have  overruled  this,  and  held  (raeiures  of  the  lower  jiiw, 

ull,  eUv,  without  blood.'^hed,  to  be  vvonnd.^.  "  There  must  be  a  wound- 
ag  ;  hut  if  there  be  a  wound  (whether  there  be  t'lliij^iou  of  BIoimI  or  not), 
\  10  within  the  statute,  whetlier  the  wound  in  Interunl  or  extenuiL^*  (Justice 
Ifcrke,)  So  that,  a.s  Dr.  Taylcjr  remarks,  it  may  be  reasonably  su|>[»oseil 
Hit  rupture?!  of  internal  or)^aiiH,  as  well  a**  i^iniple  fractures  and  di>loca- 
ioiiH,  will  be  considered  as  wouridn.  Archbold  di-fiucj^  a  wounding  to  be 
rhen2  *'  the  vi(d*'nce  is  so  great  as  to  draw  b!o<rtl,  by  striking  or  Htabbing 
rilh  a  sword,  knife,  or  other  instrument,  or  by  i*liooiing,  or  .«^triking  with 
\  cudgel,  the  fist  or  the  like,"  whilnt  "a  wound  inclu<b'S  inri.^d,  puncinred, 

ccmt^'d,  eontu^ed,  or  gtntuhof  wounds,"  (*'  Pleading  an^l  Kvidenee  iu 
^riratual  ('ftj*es,**  loth  ed»,  by  Widnby,  pp.  667,  o72. )  In  gunshot  wounds, 
we  shall  presently  see,  there  is  ofteu  uo  hwaiorrhage ;  at  leaiit  at  the 


^H  On  the  Efement  of  Time  in  I^elation  to  Woundi  and  other  Injuries, 

^ihe  Jj^mdon  and  Northwestern  Railway  Company,  who  were  held 
liable  in  the  En^li^h  court?*  fur  danm^^^es  in  rt^peet  to  the  di-iastrous  col- 
lisfion  at  Wi|^in,  in  187:^,  have  latelv  defeated  an  action  brou;ilil  aj^^ainet 
\hem  in  the  Seoteh  Court  of  Sestiion,  by  (he  widow  of  a  nnnnvenial  trnvel- 
lfir»  wht»  wa«  anion^ct  the  panHengers  killecl.  The  court  upheld  the  cotn- 
iMUiy'^  pleu,  that  the  eaUHc  of  action  having  arisen  iJi  ICngland,  the  action 
puijtt  abide  the  Enplii^h  law,  under  wldcli  xurh  acfiottM,  to  br  HuMniuabUst 
mvirf  he  brought  within  u  yenr  and  «  dat/  of  the  denth  of  (hf  pn-mn  kilted, 
Thp  widtiw  i;*  therefore  «lf«ied  conjpenftalion  Jbr  the  lo^s  of  her  hui*band. 

An.'hbiild  Mates  (p.  345).  a«  regardB  the  |KM'iiKl  at  which  a  |K?r*on  dies 
from  a  wound,  that  the  awailant  shall  not  be  adjudged  guilty  of  homicide 
linb^t^  dtath  ttikfM  place  within  a  yenr  aud  a  day  aftrr  the  ittflirtion  of  a 
loofjn//.  Although  in  pmetice  ibis  rule  may  generally  work  well,  there 
cnn  Ik*  no  doubt,  as  Dr.  Taylor  say*,  that  its  prineiple  is  erroneous.  He 
quoten  a  cn^e  from  Dr.  Iveid^n  '•  I'hysirdogieal  KeMearche.*/'  p.  523,  in 
whi<'h  a  man  died  from  diaphnignnitie  hernia,  frtini  a  slah  received  fifteen 
tnonthn  previoui^ly.     Other  ca.^e'?!  are  recorded  of  death  long  after  injuries, 

KdinM'tly  traceable  to  them.  Thu*  Sir  Af-llry  Conpcr  gives  a  vme  of 
ih  frt)nj  an  injury  to  the  fund  two  yenrn  befure.  Hoffbauer  niates  that 
|m»  knew  a  case  in  whieh  the  faial  injury  to  the  brain  was  eleren  yeart 
b^ore  tleatb.  ("  Uebcr  die  Kopfverlet/ungeii,"  1842.  p.  57.)  Bulleta  may 
liMilin  for  more  than  a  fpiarter  of  a  century  in  the  lung  or  Home  other 
|8nt  of  the  body,  and  it  is  (juile  po.«=Mble  that  the  ball  might  be  the  cauae 
of  death  even  at  tlds  n  mole  period.  Dr.  Taylor  stattw,  that  amongat 
medico- legal  cai»e8,  the  hmgfMt  interval  at  which  a  conviction  has  taken 
plac*r  from  indirectly  fatal  consequences,  was  nine  mantlkM.  It  waa  the  case 
of  lit'ffinn  V.  ValtiSt  Devizes  Summer  Awize«,  1847.  The  prisoner  bad 
maltreuU'd  thedeccfL»ed  in  September,  1846.  After  this  her  health  jjulTered, 
and  »he  died  of  nhthi;*)!*  in  the  following  May,  The  phlhisia  wa«  recog- 
oijtcil  in  t^eptemter.     On  examining  the  body,  two  medical  men  found 


•  8  Cutritigton  A  Piiyne,  p.  ITS.    8m  aIm  1  Denlaon,  C.  C,  p.  188* 


934 


DIFFERENT    KINDS   OF    W0UBD8. 


three  fractured  ribs,  which  had  evidently  not  been  atteode^  to,  and  ther 

thought  that  this  probubiy  led  to  the  developmeut  of  the  conduropCicMl. 
The  jiul^e  left  this  iiiie.-iiioti  to  tlie  jury,  whether  the  eon^umptioil  m^M 
cauf?tid,  or  the  death  of  ih«  deceaatKl  hastened,  by  the  violence  af  Um 
priMijier.     Thii  jury  found  him  guilty. 


3fcdico-L€ffal  Questions  in  the  Cafe  of  Wounds  or  oiKer 

Lenom, 


Utekamitai 


Taking  the  word  wound  in  its  wide  sense  of  injury,  we  shall  find 
these  queniiuns  iu  practice  are  mostly  as  follows: 

1.  What  is  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  wound  or  other  injury? 
In  other  words,  k  it  au  incised,  lureniied,  couiuaed,  punctured,  or 

wound  ?    Or  if  any  other  kind  of  legion,  what  i.«  it  ? 

What  i^  it^  size  (dimen^ion^),  i.  c,  its  length,  breadth,  depth,  and 
directioo  ? 

2.  lit  this  wound  or  injury  mortal  ?  or,  if  there  be  more  than 
wound. 

Which  of  the  wouoda  or  injuries  do  you  regard  as  mortal  or  daogero' 
to  life,  and  why  ? 

3.  Was  this  wound  (or  wounds)  inflicted  in  life? 

4.  Was  the  wound  or  injury  (or  the  wounds,  etc.)  accidental,  or  lelf- 
infiicted  uuicidal),  or  purposely  inflicted  by  others  (homicidal)? 

Here  we  must  state,  in  limine,  that  if  a  man  commits  a  mortal  wound 
with  intent  to  rob  or  commit  a  felony  of  any  kind,  he  is  g^uilty  of  murder, 
although  he  may  not  have  meant  ia  kill.  Wounds  inflicted  in  ^Ifniefence 
may  b*.'  held  as  juastifiable  homicide  or  as  manslaughter,  according  to  cir* 
cum.'«tauces. 

Gefveral  Outraciera  and  Definitions  of  Wounds, 

An  intised  wound  is  known  in  common  language  as  a  •*  cut."  So 
define  it  as  "a  solution  of  c<mtiimity  without  loss  of  substance,"  and  as 
pnwluced  by  a  weapon  (knife,  sword,  Jk'is^r?,  scythe,  reaping  or  bill- 
hook, etc,*)  with  a  more  or  less  t^hurp  or  thin  edge,  Mr,  Luke,  in  his  lec- 
tures, was  accusioraetl  to  "^ay  that  the  cutting  edge  must  be  the  junction  of 
two  ^idt's  at  an  angle  of  less  than  90^.  Yet  we  have  known  the  edge  of  a 
four-tiided  or  square  poker  produce  very  clean  wounds.  Even  the  flst,  or 
a  blunt  bcniy,  when  it  impinges  on  a  sharp,  bony  ridge,  such  as  that  of  tbe 
orbit,  the  zygoma,  etc.,  will  oflen  province  a  very  sharply  cut,  gaping 
wound.  For  all  practical  purposes  the  wounds  pnxluceti  by  broken  glan 
are  often  Inri^ed  ones,  Aud  the  edge  of  a  quart  pewter  pot  often  produc 
similar  wounds, 

PuncturfU  wounds  are  caujsed  by  the  penetration  of  some  pointed  wea- 
pon, or  other  substance  with  a  »harp  point.  A  narrow  or  thin  cane,  a 
tobacco-pipe,  broken  gla^,  scissor- points,  daggers,  penknives,  puui»ni«  of 
diflerent  kinds,  arrows,  darts,  sharp  stones,  aud  the  like,  may  all  inflict 
puuctiire<i  wouuds.  They  are  considered  dangerous  aud  troubl 
cause  tl)e  ejcteraal  wound  may  heal  over  Um>  soon,  and  pus  be  con 
damage  may  be  iuHicteil  on  nerves  and  bloodvessels  in  the  deeper  parta 


*  Toil  know  that  nmny  niinir«  Hrn  giren  to  Burt;irHl  kniv4?«,  a«  hittoiiry,  JMrAl(«cl, 
Unc<fi,  l*'n»»U)nj*».|»i»rjiei,'ric.     Similarly,  miltlarj'  weapon*  uf  a  cutting  tiaiuro  n»- 
TuMi  dtf>i|^iiiaUone,  a»  cutlH>«.  ctayRiore,  brvndtword,  baul<''axe,  jav^lio, 
etc. 


986 


WHAT  WOUNDS  ARK  PANQEROUB. 


Many  twyuucla  are  of  a  mixed  character.  This  w  pariicuUirltf  the  case  with 
woumU  from  firmrmf.  Itj  llie  use  ot*  a  kuife,  al>o,  oue  part  of  the  wuutid 
nmy  be  cleanly  cut  or  incised,  another  part  hacked  or  lacerated,  and  a 
diHercnt  directtuti  or  force  being  given  to  the  point  of  the  knife,  may  cause 
the  wonnd  to  U?  a  punctured  or  pointed  one  at  one  end. 

J^UoHCii  uouuffif,  from  weapons  p)oj>erly  so  called,  are  now  only  mot 
with  in  barbarous  conutrici?,  fiwh  us  the  Ea^t  and  West  India  Inlands, 
New  Guinea,  etc.  The  use  of  ihe  juice  of  the  upas  tree  (Antiaris  t^jxi- 
caria)  in  Java,  that  of  the  manchineel  (Hippomaue  mancinella),  and  of 
other  tuphorbiaceie  in  the  West  Indies,  8ouLh  America,  and  AlVi<'a;  and 
of  animal  poison?,  such  as  that  of  the  rattlesnake  (Crotalus  horriduj?*,  and 
other  eroialidic,  although  denied  by  a^ome  modern  travellen?,  wai*  und(»ubt- 
edly  common  tome  yeai"s  ago  in  many  parts  of  the  world,  and  the  authors 
have  t*een  such  poisonous  weapon?*.  The  bites  of  poisonous  gerpcnis  (of 
which  the  adder  seem*  the  only  one  in  Kugland  i,  and  of  animali?  atilicted 
with  hydrophobia  (cats,  dogj*,  badger.^,  foxes,  rats,  etc)»  must  al^o  be  m- 
eluded  in  tliis  category.  The  j*tiitgs  of  twwp«,  6ee«,  hornets^  and  the  like, 
are  aliio  pousoned  pun^itured  u^ounds. 


Of  the  Danger t  or  other\vi»e^  of  Wounds, 

Beck  has  divided  wounds  into  ttfight,  dangeronSf  &ud  mortal.  This  clajw- 
ficatiiui  i^  convenient,  although  a  very  slight  knowledge  of  purgcrv  will 
ahow  us  that  we  muj^t  not  too  rigidly  adhere  to  such  a  definition.  Ko  in- 
jury is  so  slight,  that  it  may  not  cau.-e  death,  in  certain  condition.*  of  kM»dy, 
and  under  certain  circumstances.  A  latealmouer  of  the  London  Ho::<pitaI 
Samaritan  Society  only  scratched  his  linger  with  a  nail  in  hanging  up  a 
picture,  but  die<i  from  the  effects  of  it  in  le^s  than  seveuly-two  li<»ur*.  We 
have  known  death  tcj  happen  from  the  cxiraclion  of  a  u»oth,  au<l  from  a 
slight  cut  of  the  finger,  and  from  a  (seH-inHicted )  bile  in  the  tongue,  in 
persons  ol  the /i/rmorr/mi^^iV*  dutditmA,  C*  HiTmophUltt**  Dr.  Wit  k  ham 
Legge  has  given  a  good  account  of  this  dialliesis  in  a  little  book  with  this 
name.)  lU*mend)ering,  however,  how  serious  even  a  trifling  wound  iu«y 
prove,  we  may  yet  avail  ourselves  of  this  classification. 

A  slight  mmnd  or  injury  is  oue  then  in  which  there  are  no  parts  injured 
that  are  important  to  carrying  on  life,  or  any  of  its  functions,  and  who^e 
uniform  course  is  to  heal  quickly,  and  to  leave  no  lesion  or  deformity  he- 
hind  it.  A  dattgerotts  wound  is  one  which,  though  not  necessarily  mortnl, 
is  still  not  exempt  from  danger,  and  presents  more  or  less  of  difficulty  iu 
its  cure*  A  mortal  tvound  is  one  whose  consequence  and  effect  is  death.  In 
this  sense  only  (says  Beck)  is  a  wound,  in  legtil  me<licine,  mortal.  It  nmy 
be  so  in  itself,  or  it  may  be  mortal  by  accident.  Accident  or  trifling 
causes  may  prevent  a  wound,  in  itself  mortal,  from  proving  so,  at  least  for 
a  time.  Thus,  as  Bohn  and  Beck  mention,  a  small  portion  of  omentum, 
or  of  the  fat  of  the  intestine,  may  so  place  itself  in  the  mouth  of  a  wounded 
bloodvessel  iu  the  abdomen  as  to  prevent  a  h:emorrhage,  which  W4)uld  b* 
fatal  but  for  this  obstruction.  Thus  Bohn  ip.  31)  mentions  a  case  io  which 
the  right  iliac  artery  was  found  wounded,  and  life  had  been  prolonged  for 
thirteen  days,  evidently  from  this  cause.  The  same  author  remarks  thnt 
the  precise  identity  of  cases  that  recover  and  cases  that  are  fatal  cuonot 
be  demonstrateii ;  l>ecause  post-mortem  examinations,  absent  iu  the  cmam 
which  recover,  continually  demonstrate  some  peculiarities  in  the  &U1I 
cases,* 


I 


I 


'»  'h^  rMntru,  MT^turr*.  -utuuur.  mai^  feniiuu.  iffAin  a  nuue  joii  rvcoBiCL 
in*pntt    tt^r-Vf   u**t  tmrf^  .a.  "h^  ^soMke:. 

'i^h  £;.'«<i^ir«»  ^rMioc  tr  iitier  .iiiiiiTe»  in  ^vnidi  die  'mil  •«-  >ctaer  ma^ 
«ft«?  'i>i(*9  »  ivfi^  uut  *:rKUUvnm  vmis*^  lui  TOimro  me   ir  sure  iHMOb. 

•r>f#ff  -ky  ftprJ*  •  fl/»,  -sr;,  ^.  -ili-L*     am  rrm*\  .mmiww.     The  aiac  -:ijB»  ^»«- 

^nnt^HM  sr  Mf  vkTji  ^raixigp»\Mi$f  '^\  \r  TKmBeA  :ii  iHeae  widiiiiic  (Minis  a0eem- 
mvrAf  '.nrit^Ai.     i.i  :hw  zitatm  atu  -mi-ii  voiinii^  j»  aiay  'iiacrmr  -A*  «<i]ir  it 

tM^,  vhi^  -^rjant*  Aif  «»&fii>;  m  dae^  atuM^  noiicn.  -iars,  esc  W-ttu»ti»  iiruiiu^ 
A^nr^j^.  <wv  ««  '^  ■'te^cmy  aie  ntrt/iw  »r  t^jK^rj  3o«r<>»  ir  die  parr*  •Hxppiie't  ly 

iifr,  K»ir  imptir.n^r  '^<'  in^croyimr  dn»  r»w(n«iui!n^r&  pifiien:.  ^ir  impeviintr  -Jie 
urt  '/  ^r»ir.M ;  W'Min^R  ■\r  injiini>3»  prMtu<*iatc  ^nmm  •>r  thfauun^  -ifieiiintf^ 

'Vf  wf^-fK-j^vu^'i  tiMCiibt,  ^cii^  «t«.;  ;  wotiotif  -Mf  the  Abii>RuiiAl  onibeUs-.  pre- 
4i*rpii«fingf  r/»  ventral  h^miat:  ail  «*>aiwk  prxlucin^  ;r^ac  *£8ti|£urenieac : 
fra/'^.j}r'3«  f$t  fK«  <»i*Tutie  aaW  jC«nifinB>.  ami  'iepreatHun.  <>f  die  xipbiuii  isxrur- 

fJk&M^k  n/A  m^/rf/U  ia  <!4<faMie/v<9,  4^%?a  ^r99>f  /^ita^  aiHi  in  wiiK&,  'Hi  Chls^  ai> 
tfmtit^  n  f(t,iifdM  pr<'#srn<M»  m  alwaj^t  Qt>f!«s«&rT.  la  thi»  are  ioclwiieii  ( lit^t 
AH  jf^ff^f^ti'Tifj  ^tmA pnnrtnrid  vr/Hfld*,  althoa^fa  rhere  maj  he  ni")  'law'^n?!!* 

tii^A  n\,\  '■f,"f'ij'^/l  vv/>/Y»//y,  xri'=;th«rr  jf  ;.»^i"l.  ••h'*^c.  or  ar>i'>ai*ru.  ■  r  •'--T^'fi- 
/■///►<,  ^v!.  A.,  'itiu'p,  .':i\  jrinnT*j>  'twi  'l'^'.<A'.'i*inn.A  <^r  luxati«ja*.  a.- 'h-rT 
«r<'  */,'^.■^ '.',<•*  'A.i'-H;,  f^irti'.uiarij  ::'  :hrr  icj'jrv  h*r  at  -'r  n-iar  a  j-;Lt.  an«: 

ar*'l  f»*-f.  ar.'l  rh*-  kn*:*-  ar*r  x^\  ,uk<\  rlar./srrou*  part*  to  wound.  W.fun.l* 
of  fi'-rvf-  ari'J  f<nHor*-  ar*-  -upfyr^ri  to  *r,^r  particularly  obnoiioua  to  *V^l/*^i.«. 
r-^ofiri'-al  'Arit^r-*  »faf>;  that  althouj^h  tetana-,  or  l»X"ked-jaw,  etc.,  aiav  b*: 
f'ft>i^*'\  \,y  vi.'f\\wU  ari'J  *:xt*;mal  irijurie??  of  event-  description,  it  is  e>p»?i.i- 
ally  t'i,uiUi'>u  aft>r  hx/MrAuA  and  punctured  wounds  of  the  hands  and  feiei. 
itiur  i/i»fi-hof  Hound.i,  comfK*und  fracturw,  ccjmpound  disl«x»tiou  uf  the 
lliurnh',  and  woutid^  irritated  by  foreign  matters*,  or  in  which  nerves  are 
*'%\ni**'\.  Mr.  Morj^an  ''ouoted  by  Dr.  Druitt;  knew  it  even  caused  by  a 
blow  wifli  Ji  '<cbooInja'»t>;r  M  ferrulf?,  but  it  in  very  rarely  caused  by  clean, 
*.'Mu\Af  in/i-io»H,  Ft  may  corner  on  very  fjuickly,  but  the  most  common 
jHTiod  \a  wfi«-n  ih(!  wound  '\n  nearly  healed.) 

^  )u  \\\f'  r,th«r  hanfl,  we  may  consider  as  dighf  wounds  or  injuries,  in  them- 
wlv»-*  ol  I  if  lb-  dan^«!r,  and  not  likely  to  produce  permanent  injury  or  de- 
fonnit  V  in  licaliliy  couHtitutiouH,  and  under  favorable  circumstances,  with 
projur  tr«atm«rit:  (\ni.)  All  simple  fractures  or  dislocations  (<(c«page  628). 
('Jd.)  \Vonnd«  td'  nkin  and  muHclcH  in  which  the  division  is  clean,  and  in 
Ihr  dinrtiiMi  of  their  fii>res,  and  where  no  tendon  or  aponeurosis,  no  large 
n<'rv<x  or  blood vrHMcJri  of  any  magnitude  are  injured,  and  in  which  there 
lijiH  brin  no  Mrvcre  Nhock  to  the  hystem.     Buch  wounds,  in  good  constitu- 


940 


QUESTIONS   OF    MALAPRAXI8. 


or  a  Brodie?     If  we  come  to  nurses  and  friends,  we  shall  »ee  the«l 

ofexpeetiug  them  to  |>os^i4C'&?  any  great  umouut  of  anatomli'iil,  m«!i( 
8urgi<*al  skill.  Aud  in  the  ca.He  of  medical  men,  the  Lord  Chief  i 
Sir  Alexander  fJockbyrn,  expressly  deelaretl,  in  the  case  of  Sin 
Uovey  (relerred  to  at  p.  (Jo3,  on  Malnpnixis),  in  his  char^  to  the  ju 
patient  is  not  emitted  to  expect  the  highest  possihie  medical  *•! 
knowledge  in  his  medieiil  attendant;  all  he  can  legally  deninud, 
and  competent  average  i>ikill  and  knowlwlge — that  his  medical  mart 
know  what  all  properly  etlncaled  tnedieal  men  onght  to  know  of  tl 
fei!!.sion,  and  that  he  slionhi  .'i}>ply  that  ordinary  aud  average  kw 
and  j^kill  lo  the  treatment  oi"  ihe  particular  case."  Lord  I)cuii)al 
Jusitiees  Kelly,  Puik,  and  others,  have  expre«ied  them>elvc«  in 
term^  on  many  octaHon;*.  If,  then,  we  consider  the  ease  of  a  man  ve{ 
perhaps  at  nighl,  either  in  the  country  or  in  some  great  city,  wb 
haps  he  may  he  a  litrahger,  we  nnisit  !<ee  at  once  that  it  is  abi*nrd  u 
that  the  tir-t  comer  whit  Huds  him,  v.ho  may  he  an  nnleiiered  lab 
niale  or  JiLinale  jjcrvanl,  sfhould  possei^i*  medical  knowle<lge,  or  even 
knowle<.Ige  of  any  high  order.  For  tbi»  reat^on  our  opinion  iP,  I 
little  weight  should  he  given  to  the  quei^lioQ  of  skill  or  no  »kill,or 
edge  or  ignorance  on  the  part  of  any  atten«lanl«  on  the  wound«xi,  \ 
medical  or  otherwise.  As  thij*  involves  the  qn6*tion  of  MafirprtU 
right  to  obijerve,  whilst  referring  you  to  that  section  for  other  matt4 
considerable  differences  of  opinion  exii^t  (from  want  of  t^ufHcienT  *fl 
real  knowie<%e  on  the  part  of  the  whole  niedical  profession  )  on  (h« 
iiig  points:  Ou  the  treatment  of  some  wuimds  (and  especially  of  i 
tions,  gunshot  wounds,  and  fractures),  a>*  to  joWw*^ ry  or  ^'  4 

tiouji ;  the  expediency  of //<///< ////fij?  or  trepnuuing  \n  eonj  * 

head  and  spinal  cord ;  on  the  opeii*air  or  (mtinr/Aic  treatment  **(  H 
on  the  cuuse6  ami  treatment  of  pyntttin ;  on  the  question  of  whut  i 
hofffihtiiHtu^  or  the  propriety  of  i^ermanent  hospitals,  and   the  vi 
excessive  mortality"  ;^m\  the  questliou  of  early  or  late  search  fork 
other  prttjecliles;  on  the  respective  merits  of  amputation  and  ex< 
joints  in  certain  eases;  on  the  relative  danger  of  diflerent  aitii^theu 
as*  ether  and  chloroform  ;  on  the  treatment  of  traumatic  delirium 
Jirinm  tremens;  on  the  best  melhodis  of  dealing  with  wounilc<i  arl 
certain  contingencies^;  as  lo  the  necessity  and  usefulnetis  of  uan:ol 
alcoholic  ntimulants  in  certii in  diseases;  the  rej^jiectlve  meritjsand 
of  craniotomy  or  the  Caesarian  section  in  sonie  ca>eti ;  on  the  pn»p 
usijig  the  Ibrceps  early  in  obstetric  cases ;  the  re»|x?elive  merits 
merit*  of  lithotomy  and  tithotrity  in  certain  caws  of  st»me  in  the  I 
the  propriety  of  paracenle^is  (by  as^pirator  or  otherwise)  iu  certain 
diseases,  as  empyema,  dnipsy,  etc.;  the  l^e^t  treatment  for  w^ne  i 
burtKs  and  acute  rheumatism  ;  the  propriety  of  veneaeclion  in  a 
and  some  acute  disease.'^,  and  in  cardiac  disease ;  and  an  lo  the  use 
cury  in  ^^f*?iK/ory  syphilis,  and  in  some  skin  disea^ies;*  the  pn>p 
ligaturing  veins,  of  excising  and  suturing  nervcB;  hn  to  the  best  tn 
of  gangrenous  intestine  in  cases  of  strangulated  hernia;    aud 
metho<b  of  dealing  with  large  fibroids  of  the  uterus,  an*!  exir 
fu'lations — each  and  all  of  these,  atid  a  few  other  things,  arr  sli 
mate  grounds  of  diHei-euee  of  opinion,  and  consefiuenily  of  trealmd 
amongst  well-informeil  members  of  the  profession*     Quol  komiue$i 


♦  Until  vory  lately  the  profession  w«*re  fur  from  un«inJtnoui»  m  to  theoi 
cury  in  primary  i»yj)bjli«.  Now,  howevor,  wo  bvlk'Vo  thut  nearly  nil  whoK 
are  ol  uny  weight  in  th«  profe#*ion,  iidinit  that  iha  uae  of  m^jriurj'  !•  { 
deslrubW  \\\  cft««ia  of  true  tnfc<ctin|g  ubnncre^ 


^  -  ■  .: ';■   i_     -   1".    -x.  III""''".    :'"«-:   x-^  :; 

•:•      .— .:-  ...      —    1  ^.  ^-   i«». — ^la"   i.-«!i.— «:i. 

-^■--.  —    .lu..  -"    .   .       T  ■-■     "•  iir';'.  •    1.-SI ;  "^ 

— -^      ■-—- .     i::       T   "  ":ti  =■  L  n:i:     •"  "} -ti 

..    ■  "?.:    .i      ii:  :  -  i**-r    :•  ci     i   ii  jii 

-  .  1.        .    .    :*-- ".     v.--..   r 'i-  *    •• 'h- 

-        •■    .  --.i..  —    :ifH-T   .1   T--::i"  ■      L^c 

..     .    :.-  V...IMI1.  nut  .i:  :  :■-  ■'i:i."ii"-fr 

...  ...    .;_..  n,„i  iDsiDili'nfii  :.--;■.;  iii-  tr* 

.   --         ;.u    ii-i    iiaati:  'Mcizeiiiss  :     La  *  ■    .ii-ir 

•?-        •■»>»?.  i>.*  itr^rii/iijt   '/.'.»-•.•-:     fj/ir   vir- 

-  -i^-    :■  ""   :.-j,i:  ii.v  .rn»-r  ■*:' t!i»;  rau-se- »r  :.i  •-  ki.ti*-: 
•    —  -  r   vt-.i  .i;i«  'vr.  :r.at  •♦-r';  ';•#•//■_:  •••.■•-    ,    :»-f.- 

",        .■ —    fji     *:..?-»«    !^  •I.'.",    »■.  r;   '•lM''--,4-    :■■  ■■■/ 

.    iL        •••*»-.   L"?  ■**-..  ;i-  'I'ltiic  -frA-.':--.    >:^    • -r' 

■i--«-  i.iv;ini-»r«i  1::*- th«rr'r  i-  !'r#-'^urr.:  j  i  "*■;-:  ■ 

•:   :r.-    .rl-.rr  I'.aii'i,  b'lth  r;hiIr]riF-L  am   -•—     •: 

..  ■  '..'■    mm— i!a:r  -h-j^k  of  an  a^-aui:     •   !•      .-i:^ 

.*    i.vr-r-    r  r'TV".x"»':ry.     The  milhor- havr  »_:■  w    r— i 

^  ,.  ,-.-   -i^-xr*  • :'  :i^'-.  ^'iriit  !*<j  -*i'vt:n*]y  a-  :     .i— — •a:-; 

•    -::•  ai'i»Tr     r  :hrr  ku*^.  whil.*it  it  wa.-  (Jiffi  -.:  ■;    j*-:  --s  i 

-  iii:"'-.  i::«j  vr:  th»-y  have  inaMc  a^<M«l  re-  -.--ry      >(  < 
tiuii:':!*:- o  a:  th*r  lii{i  joint  lh«*y  kni>w  iiv^    :•— :     - 

Li*.r.-r  .r!.y.  ajaiii,  i-  aInio!<t  unif'»rr«!T  -..  ■— ~- .     2 

till   d.Ti'!'"  :l-   unit'^rnily  fatal   in  v<:ry    . '.  i   t»-=-i-      '  :: 

II     r  :r.-  k  -k.-y-?  i-  pr-ihahly  thf-  exp!ar&:i  -.    :--■:■-- 

:i,-  '1  irji.    ■r'-ij'-  -ae  rnn-t  nrter  yr.ii  to  our  ari-l-rs    .":  >[i.a- 

J     ^'^  .'i*  :t r--  ■ -i. .-  1    ■'  ■  '  .•'i-C'tAit A,  f,r  h'-'"''         ■-■ 

*.  '■\'\.   r  ■■'  r  J-:  !'.i.  -  r  a'-'jii:r-ii.  ■:*:.:.::  -    •     j-  i'   ■■ 


-  •■    •-  ■  ■   .■.-/.,•■'    -,rj,»-:;rtii-*   '-a.,.-!  "fuj,ff.^      \  t    ■-_--■    . 

*  --  .  i  -:.*  ■:'  '\i-  ;i:i'l..r-.  \.:v\  lii-  i.»-:irr  ..ti  ir,..-  r:_v  -!  ■-        f  -: 

-    -:   -  ■-■l.:ir:'i   ■'  ;:ii''l  tIi*-  I^-r'r   l»y|#  .•■r.-.ii'lri:]::.   ■•.■-".■■      H. 

-        t'    ■  i-r-   *ij.'t:.    'rji-   rn»<l!'-il    iiiiiii    h:i'l    pr--[»>*->i  :      '.±-    :    .«• 

. '.^  ■    •  ;i".  •  T.'i :<;..«  .■i«:i !      Ir  i-  "nir  r<»   Hrit'-li   jird'-ti'.i  ■:.->  ;     •^v 

-,    J-    ■!■■:■:;  «i!'l  ii'.t  r»-i«U'  in  ili-  ['riit«-l  KjiijMi.ni. 

'•■    •    ■■  .IV  ii'-  :i'.  irr*  f/'if'ir  f/t.''frihiiti',n  o/* /»/■.«/•/•  •j'j«»-/;t.      S'lni'^-     ?"  *'  ■  "^ 

I  ra'i!"  i"r-jii»-:ify,  and  an-  familiar  r«i  rri'i-i  ^iirj-ons.     T*.  .». 

»    ■  -%       t    I  •'  ry  ::;:iy  <lj\ifj«'  v«-ry  }ii::li  iiji  irit'i  twn  larj«-  v»^m.'1s.     A«-»  l. 

^  -i     -  .\'''ry  i-  u-iially  -aid  to  ariM-  fri>rii  tin-  anteritir  inink  •  :  ::." 

.,         i  .  :■  :*   r'r-|!i<-iitly  il',<--  -i   fniin   th»'   pM-torior.      fir-nj  rniiark' 

V  .1       i  •  .*    f.  -J-'i    "that  in  tw'i  «.iir  of  fvfry  tlin***  cji**»s  ihf  nl^turati^r 

j»^-    ■■   ■■   •i:<;  iiit' riial  ilia'*:  in  f»n«-  '-a-**  in  tlin-e  ami  a  lialf,  fnwn  the 

.       H     -N    Wiv-  ..r  Win  l-..r,  "  A.  t  I.  <■■'  n-  1. 

L-  '   !    !     M'"i"ji!    U-<-..r'l.      u-r     1»;.  lf»7»',.  p.  447.  tli'T"  i- nr,   m'-TmiI 

.      ..       -     ■     Ii  .M'.  "fi  f.i-   »«if';- '■:.  Ir..i|.    »}i*'    Miinu-h    "  A^r:*  ic/'fi    lii'.       i:>  i /.- 

»..       N    -    "-4  mil''..  Is7»'i.  «  "i.i.iii.in.'  «   ii-h-riiMi-   |{iMiiii:ni|-iiy.     S.-  m.»  ■  tl.f 

_  ■   ,1   :    ^I■  :t:ii  K'lnrJ,"  S''|u    1  •'),  1h7'*.  Ii»r  fuMj.-.  by  Dr.  Sc-lifuli'.  wilti  r";«-r«-iu'i'> 


■:i:;-":    v:  i 

aid     ■z'r^r'.i     > 


948 


FORENSIC  RELATIONS  OP  PREOKANCY. 


Cftlled  Htinter*»  (aw  by  some — that  one  severe  disease  excludes  anothe 
is  ouly  partially  true,  and,  besides  this,  scarcely  afTect^  our  jmiut,  wlnen 
i?,  that  wounds  not  necfsaarily  mortal,  or  eveu  very  dangerous,  may  l>e 
rendered  so  by  ibe  jirevalenee  of  cantagiotiJii  disease*.  This  is  thti  place  U) 
remark  that  Beck  seems  to  draw  a  di.stiiiction  between  trauinutic  and 
idif»pathic  erysipelas,  which  i?^  by  no  means  j^eiierally  admitted  nnwndaya. 
We  refer  !n  his  statement  as  to  the  way  in  which  erysipela.s  commerjees. 

(")  Jntempcmte  hnhiU  on  the  part  itf  the  wounded  or  injured  person  are 
a  frequent  caii^e  of  death  from  apparently  slight  injuries.  Beck  cit«^  a 
number  of  ea^es,  but  the  records  of  our  pidice  courts  and  hospitals  will 
furtiif'h  U8  with  an  ahiiost  unlimiled  iiund>er  of  similar  eases.  A  man  and 
his  wife  quarrel^perhaps  both  are  drunk — one  gete  the  upper  hand,  or, 
as  the  phrase  is,  the  best  of  it;  and  either  strikt-s  the  other  a  heavy  bbjw, 
aud  knock*  him  or  her  down.  Such  a  blow  in  a  tem[>erate  person  might 
do  little  permanent  damage;  in  the  case  of  a  drunkard  or  habitual  sot, 
the  effect  is  to  rupture  some  large  bloodvessel,  very  likely  one  in  the  brain, 
and  the  injured  ihtsou  either  dies  on  the  split  or  very  soon  after  Now, 
as  the  principle  of  English  law^  is  that  drunkenness  is  no  excuse  for  any 
act  committi'd  in  this  state,  it  might  \m  said  that  it  is  not  fair  U*  attribute 
the  results  of  drunkennef^s  lo  the  striker  of  the  bltjw.  In  reality,  however, 
we  shall  find  that  habits  of  intemperance  are  so  (.-xceedinglv  comrnoD^ — in- 
temperance, we  say,  by  which  we  njeun  the  habitual  excessive  use  of  alco- 
btjlic  stimulanl^^thai  we  canm»t  fairly  hold  that  ignorance  of  the  effecia 
exculpates  the  person  who  struck  the  blow.  If  I  set  fire  to  a  siugle  houxe, 
the  coiiflttgratioa  may  extend  to  a  whole  city.  This  would  be  far  more 
likely  to  occur  in  a  city  like  Chicago,  mainly  built  of  wood,  or  with 
Wooden  shingles  instead  of  tiles  to  the  ro«>fs.  Yet  we  suppose  few  would 
Bay  that  the  preponderance  of  wood  in  such  a  case  was  an  excuse  for  the 
incetidiary.  Rather  the  reverse.  However,  these  are  not  matters  of 
opinion  merely,  either  ours  or  youi-?,  fur  tht?  dictum  of  Lord  Halt?  will  ap- 
ply to  this,  as  lo  most  of  the  conditions  we  have  just  been  describing. 
**  It  i.-*  sufficieul,"  sail!  he,  "  to  prove  that  the  death  of  the  f»arty  waa  aecd- 
rraifd  by  the  malicious  act  of  the  pri.^oner,  allhrnigh  the  Ibrnier  labored 
under  a  mortal  disea^se  at  the  time  of  the  accident." 

This,  says  Dr.  Ony,  applies  to  cases  of  very  young,  feeble,  or  aired  per- 
sons and  pregnant  women,  as  well  as  to  the  other  case-s  above  uieiiii4>ui«d. 

We  rnay  pause  for  one  moment  here  to  consider  some  medicolajid  vela- 
iioni  of  prcgmiHcy  omitted  in  our  chapter  on  this  subject.  First,  as  regards 
epidemic  disease?*  i  small-pox,  typhus,  etc.),  it  would  appear  that  prt«guant 
women  are  somewhat  protected  by  their  comliljon,  but  that  the  loss  of 
blond  and  the  detachment  of  the  placenta  from  the  walls  of  the  uterus, 
leaving  of>eu  sinuses  (ouly  closed  by  perfect  contraction  of  that  organ) 
which  occur  in  delivery,  wdiether  at  full  term  or  before,  are  favorable  to 
the  absorption  of  the  conta*;i<m  aud  (4*  animal  [loisons  in  general.  So  that 
a  Woman  recently  delivered  is  more  thau  usually  exposed  to  danger.  The 
majority  of  such  case*?  probably  die,  the  difficulty  being  to  separate  thcae 
•cashes  from  those  of '*  puerj»erar*  fever — as  iu  almost  all  of  them  there  i« 
peritooitis.  Next,  pregnant  women  are  liable  to  abort  as  a  result  of  com- 
paratively slight  injurie^s.  We  have  seen,  when  speaking  of  criminal 
abortion,  thai  some  women  may  be  almost  killed  and  yet  no  separation  of 
the  ovum  take  place,  and  no  abortion  or  premature  labor  set  in.  In 
othei-s,  CD  the  contrary,  the  mere  excitement  of  a  quarrel  is  sufficient  t*i 
bring  about  a  miscarriage  or  untimely  birth.  This,  in  itself,  may  Iw  dan* 
genms  from  the  mental  sh(M?k,  from  the  loss  of  blood,  and  other  causes; 
but  still  more  so  by  opening  the  way  to  contagion  from  erysipelaM  and 
otber  contagious  diseases.     Ii  would  seem  that  erysipelas  aud  a  low  form 


I 


948 


MODE    OF    RBPAIR    IN    WOUNDS, 


traction  of  arteries.    This,  however,  ncctire  so  lortg  as  the  tissues  have 
any  life.     (See  our  remarks  <»n  wounrlt*  ijiflicted  after  death.) 

If  the  imund  hnn  been  tnjUrted  mme  f/ov-^,  it  may  cjchihit  either  tign^  of 
tfpnir  or  ^itjtiJi  of  titsinielion  or  denik  of  (iMUiim.  A»  regards  the  re|mir  of 
clean-cut  woiuitls,  we  must  retuind  you  that  several  mode^  <jf  repair  jire 
poiJsihIe.  (rt)  A*  fir:*t,  if  the  parts  be  very  afcurately  brouj;j;ht  together, 
wounds,  and  particularly  ^niall  clean  ones  of  no  great  de[»Lh,  may  >;row 
together  at  once,  by  coaleacing,  williont  tl»e  interveuti4m  of  hlintd,  or 
lymph,  or  pus.  Thin  is  the  '•  iim'on  btj  fird  iHtenli'tm^'  of  Hunter.  Siune 
eurgeons  call  \\.  si mple  tidhimmi  or  coalejtccncf^.  John  Hunter  thought  thai 
blotxl  ftjrmed  the  bond  •)f  union,  but  Dr.  Macartney  hn*  shown  that  this 
isi  not  so,  and  gave  the  name  of  i*»iim"fi/<i/e  union,  8lr  Jan»e»  Paget  n)eD- 
tions  a  case  of  amputation  of  the  breast,  in  which  there  waa  such  perfect 
union  that  on  the  patient  dying  of  ery.sij>elaj»  three  weeks  nfter,  it  was  im- 
poj^sible  to  ^y,  even  with  the  help  of  the  microscope,  that  there  bad  been 
any  inflammation  or  any  exudation  of  matter,  ib)  In  the  lower  animals, 
.ftnd  sometime,'*,  tliongh  nirely,  in  human  beings,  a  a'yinW'Ar  perfect  ad/u^ifm 
tijki.n  place  under  cover  of  a  mub  or  cnutt  of  dried  hair,  blood,  ete.»  ^^hich 
forfn^  an  air-ti^ht  covering.  Burgeons  now  imitate  this  by  the  use  of  liut 
di|>pe<l  in  blood,  or  "styptic  colloid,"  or  some  other  kind  of  collodion,  or 
by  tiome  modification  of  Lister's  antiseptic  dresjsings.  Subt'nhnt:o^isiv<fnnd», 
as  in  tenotomy,  repair  in  a  somewhat  similar  way.  The  **  nucJeated 
blastema"  which  forms  the  rcpanitive  material,  not  being  considered  an 
inflammatory  prinluct.  (c)  What  i:*  now  commonly  called  "wh/om  by  tlie 
ffrd  intentiont*^  or  by  oilhesive  itijfummation  C' primary  udheMon,'-  of  .Sir 
Jante.^  Paget),  consists  in  the  union  of  parts  by  means  of  pbrntic  iymuh, 
or  the  fibrin  of  the  liquor  sanguinis — chair  coulantif.  of  the  French.  The 
wound  fir^t  become*  glazed  by  this  tirjuid  fie^h,  then  beside*  the  fibrin  in 
solution  some  k^ucncytcs  are  fount!,  and  probably  the  nuclei  of  eoiyiective 
tisa^ue.  Theate  become  organized  into  fibrimucleated  tinsue,  which  a<Mjn  lie- 
comes  vascular,  and  after  awhile,  even  nerve-tubuleii  shoot  into  it.  To 
secure  this  mode  of  union,  all  bleeding  must  have  ceased,  and  there  mixat 
be  DO  clot  between  the  opposed  >iurface!«.  Hence,  in  amputations,  the  6aps 
are  sometimes  uot  united  by  sutures  or  otherwise,  until  eunie  hours  have 
elapsed,  so  as  to  secure  complete  absence  of  haemorrhage.  It  is  generally 
admitted  by  surgeons  that  a  certain  amount  of  inflammatiou*  j»  necessary 
to  secure  this  mode  of  union — if  this  inflammation  go  too  far,  we  gee  cither 
suppuration  or  some  of  the  destructive  changes  to  which  we  shall  pres^uitly 
recur,  {d)  Union  by  granulation,  which  involves  #tijD/>iira/iV)H, is  the  com- 
mon method  in  wounds  ex|x>»ed  to  the  air,  when  there  is  much  disturbance 
of  parts,  or  where  anything  interferes  w^ith  repair.  Surgeons  call  this 
tinion  by  the  aecond  intention,  and  it  has  been  subflivided  into  union  by  gnin- 
tilatiou  proper,  and  the  adhesion  of  granulating  surfaces,  which  is  called 
"secondary  adheVion."  In  this  mode  of  repair  the  grtinulntioTut  called 
*' proud  flesh,"  when  excessive,  are  really  lymph,  covered  with  ntis,  or 
leucocytes.  The  microscope  shows  them  to  be  composed  of  cells,  heaped 
up  without  much  order,  and  ouDuected  by  but  little  intermediate  sub- 


1 


♦  JnJtammatioH  wn9  formorly  hold  lobe  explained,  or  «tleH<*t comprised, in  ihn  four 
words,  jiiiin  rwhn-«s,  IhmiI,  uiul  *wplliDg.crtrr<sp<indin;i:  to  thi?  incn-MM-d  vw^-nlnrity 
or  ineri>H-«i*d  fjiuiiitiiv  ofblood;  the  imT»'asi»d  sonsMtitun,  andnihcr  m-rvoim  fthennm^ 
enH  ;  th*?  rnUfd  temruTiiturc,  due  pwrtly  to  rh«nT)i<'ttl  nctioii  ;  nnd  tht*  eKudntion.  cmu*. 
Injf  hw«llm*;,iirvdulh»'rrllinnir«'«dni'  in  j«re»<iur<»,  Thisdoet  nolfX|>litin  l\\v  rhnncr^  »a 
non-VMiculHr  pnru  whon  ind>*m»^d.  For  modem  views  nf  iritlHmmHtion,  wp  rniMt 
tffer  vou  to  ilio  Hriloh's  by  Dr  Druitt.  in  hlf.  •'  Surjjwm'n  Vjidr  M«M*um/*  KMh  etii- 
tion,  Sir.  Simon  in  Holmo^'s  "  Sy^ttfra  of  Surgery,"  And  thv  Hrticleim  Ku%»oll  Hey* 
buldji's  **  System  of  Medieino," 


950 


TRAUMATIC   GAKORENB    DESCRIBED. 


nearly  allied  to  the  change  called  mnvnmfieati<m,  to  which  we  hnvei 
in  our  second  ihapter  But  trutwintic  or  afute  gangrene,  follow 
woynda  and  other  itijuries,  b  UMially  moist.  It  luay  be  confiued 
gkin^  or  &ott  parts  at  or  nt-ar  to  and  generally  below  the  w<mnd,i 
involve  a  whole  limb.  Sphncdm  h  anothrr  name  tor  the  worst  I 
ih'm,  mortijit'atwii  being  a  juipufar  dtFignalion.  Druilt  ?uy^  **  w^ 
^animation  is  about  to  terminate  in  niortlHcation  its  rednega  gn 
assumes  a  darker  tint,  and  beeomes  purple  or  blue"  i>r  greenish 
and  mottled. — Authors);  "the  beat,  sen.«ibilily  and  pain  diminish, 
swelling  often  increa.'^es,  in  eon^ipqtience  of  the  continued  effus-ion  of 
serum,  which  not  unfrerjnently  exudes  through  the  £>kiu,  and  elcv^ 
cuticle  into  blisters  (or  vejficles).  If  the  gangrene  pnjceetl  to  gjthatei 
goes  on  to  complete  death  of  the  part)  the  color  becomes  dirty  b| 
Black  ;  the  parts  become  soft,  flaecifl,  and  cold,  and  they  crepitaf 
pres8id,  and  enrit  a  cadiivcrous  odor  from  the  ga^es  that  are  fsvol 
incipient  putrefiietion.  Whilst  gangrene  is  spreading  the  dark  ( 
difiui^ed,  and  insensibly  lo.^t  in  l)ie  {surrounding  j'kin  ;  but  when  its  ^ 
18  arrei^ted  a  heahhy  circulation  is  re-e?itabli.shed  up  to  the  very  ml 
the  sphacelated  portion,  and  a  bright  red  line  of  adhesive  inflani 
(called  ihe  line  of  denMrrfidon)  !ie()arates  the  living  partj  from  lb< 
And  the  appearance  of  this  line  is  mo.-*t  important  as  a  means  of  pn 
because  it  tihows  that  the  mischief  ha.s  ceased,  and  that  there  is  m 
sition  to  repair  its  ravages."  He  mentifms  as  causes  of  niortifica! 
gangrene  (1)  Mechanical  and  chemical  njuries,  particularly 
wounds,  compound  fractures,  burns,  the  injection  of  urine  into  tin 
lar  tissue,  as  in  ruptures  of  the  bladder  and  urethra;  the  appli 
irritants  to  constitutions  weakened  by  previous  disease  (as  bv  Mi 
children  after  mea^Iea  and  scarlatina},  Iong-continue<l  pre-  t 

gores,  tight  bandages,  etc.).     (2)  An  injiujinod  tnippty  of  '■  7j 

from  injury  or  ligature  of  a  main  artery,  disease  of  the  ci>ate  of  lJi€ 
and  its  blocking  by  fibrin  or  calcareous  matter,  as  in  ^etide  gai 
sloughing  of  the  nose  alter  large  losses  of  blood,  pr?a»«iire  (m  blo« 
from  the  eflua^ion  of  serum,  etc.  (3)  Ifnpediment«  to  tht^  rrtttrt*  of 
bhod,  no  mattjer  what  the  cause.  (4)  Injuns  or  divmon  of  nervtrK 
the  cornea  has  been  known  to  slough  after  divi8i«>n  of  the  fifth 
horde's  loot  after  the  operation  of  nerving,  etc. 

There  is  a  peculiar  white  gtn^grcne  of  the  Mn,  whoi»€  true  caijit 
yet  not  known.  For  the  varieties  and  treatment  of  gangrene 
refer  you  to  surgical  works.  To  repeat — If  fhf  tvo^tnd^  h(tt*r  hmi 
9ome  days  avd  heaffhy  n'jHtir  h<m  btru  cht'ckid  by  any  meaoii,  or  fnj 
cause,  we  shall  get  either  jtrnfufHf  AuppHnditm  and  ab.sces*,  or  s«itn< 
iiuheahhy  form  of  local  inflammation,  with  Htoitghmg  or  ulceration,! 
mortification  or  gaugrcne,  that  is,  death  of  the  part;  and  this  ag4 
be  checked,  and  we  may  get  a  /inrf  of  dtmnreution. 

On  Tramnatlc  Fever  and  Deliriinn,  Uertic,  EnjnpdaB^  aftd  l\fCBl 

The,«e  being  all  general  afiections  deserve  a  special  notice,     Oa( 
do  not  permit  us  t<j  do  more  than  briefly  notice  and  define  them, 

In  addition  to  the  fii'^t  or  primary  effect  of  nhock,  whi'*     ■  ■ 
produce  death  by  syncope,  or  sonieihtug  like  it  (probably 
neart'a  action,  on  which  life  depends),  or  a  glower  death,  Iiko  -iv/j^ 
ro///i/w«,  or  both  united ;  almot*t  every  wound  is  followed  by  more 
traumatic  fever  ur  surgical  fever.     The  best  acf^ouiit  we  know  of  ( 
to  Ije  found  in   Billroth's  " Hurgical   Pathology"  (first  published 
"  Arphiv  t'ur  KVuuseVw  V.'V\\twy^w  "  vol.  li).     He  wy*  slight  wooiM 


952 


ERYSIPELAS    AND    PYEMIA. 


Copland's  "Dictionary  of  Medicine,"  art.  Delirium,  and  Gravett's  "  Clitiical 
Med  ill  ne,"  p.  452.) 

Hectic  fever  mean?  habitual  fevfr.  The  paroxysms  usually  occur  at  ni^ht, 
or  in  ihe  early  nioniiiipj.  It  is  a  Intr  result  of  wounds  or  other  injuries, 
and  usually  uct'urs  when  there  are  largo  ah-jce**es  or  large  and  pmru^^ely 
suppurating  wounds,  such  as  compound  frufture*.  gunshot  wouuds,  ainpulM* 
tit>u>i,  or  resections.  It  is  often  a.'««<K*iiUfd  with  the  iubemdon*  or  phthijfi' 
tat  diathesis,  and  is  thus  met  with  in  scmriduus  and  scnrhutie  palienUs  and 
those  who  are  consequently  often  the  subject  of  joint  di.seasej*,  or  cariesi  of 
the  spine,  etc. 

Erympelas^  sometimes  called  phlegmonous  inflammation,  **  St.  Anihony'* 
jlfre"/'  or  "the  rose,**  is  an  unhealthy  form  of  inHummaiion,  which  getjemlly 
commences  with  a  rigor  or  rigors,  attacks  first  the  skin,  usually  in  th« 
neigidmrhood  of  a  wound  or  sore  of  some  kind  ;  spreads  into  the  connec- 
tive tissue  beneath  the  s^kiu;  and  may  fiaaJly  tnvolvc,the  eonnective  lisau© 
aud  fasciie  of  musdcs  aud  other  deeper  structures,  and  invade  the  perito- 
neal or  pleural  cavilies;  or  in  the  head,  die  meiuhranes  of  the  brain,  and 
the  sheaths  of  nerves.  Il  hangs  about  old  hospital  wards,  old  workhouses, 
and  ancient  ships,  aud  is  the  seotirge  of  camps  and  fleets  in  time  of  war. 
It  infests  lyiug-in  hospitals  chiefly  in  the  torm  of  pucrpcrnt  perilonitii«, 
with  which  it  seems  iuterchangeable.  Old  sponges,  dirty  dressings,  dirty 
towels  and  bedding,  and  the  unwashed  hands  or  dirty  nails  of  surgeons 
and  dressers,  of  midwives  and  nurses,  a])pear  to  be  active  in  spreading  it. 
Under  certain  circumstHUces  it  apf)ears  to  change  into,  or  be  exchanged 
for Jioapit^tl  ganffrene.  On  the  other  band, some  new  hospitals  where  every 
precaution  is  taken,  appear  infested  with  it.  In  a  few  cases  the  proximity 
of  drains,  sewers,  or  of  a  dead-house,  have  been  shown  to  be  associated,  if 
not  chief  factors.  Some  old  hospitals  again,  such  as  the  Gloucester  Infir- 
mary, where  the  boards  are  dry-rubbed,  instead  of  being  scrubbed,  are  re- 
markably free  from  it.*  It  is  sometimes,  though  less  frequently,  met  with 
in  private  practice  when  all  the  surroundlugs  are  favorable.  One  form  of 
this  disease  wanders  all  over  the  body,  and  is  then  called  erratir.  If  ery- 
sipelas be  slight,  aud  almost  contined  to  the  skin,  it  is  called  simpir.  or 
cutaueotut.  The  severer  and  deejier  forms  are  known  as  cefln/orutanrvu^ 
or  phlefjmonoua.  Overcrowding,  ynhealthy  situations,  a  large  number  of 
extensive  aiul  open  suppurating  wounds,  dirty  dressings,  aud  foul  sponges, 
want  of  cleanliness  in  oiher  ways,  the  presence  of  f^ejttir:  poimuj^^  ana  as 
Borne  say,  of  bacteria,  micrococci,  aud  fjther  germs  in  the  air,  the  prev»* 
lence  of  certain  winds  (as  those  from  the  northeast),and  other  circumslancef, 
have  been  allegcil  as  the  true  or  proximate  causes  of  this  disease.  It  is  well 
known  to  be  both  a  dangerous  and  uuceriain  disease  as  regards  its  ter- 
mination. 

Pyctmia  again,  which  derives  its  name  frr^m  the  supposed  presence  of 
pus  in  the  blood  (Koui^^  pus,  alfia,  bloftd),  also  spelled  pyoha?mia,  i»  ft 
dis€»iised  state  of  the  bloody  doubtless  caused  by  the  presence  of  septic  or 
unhealthy  materials  in  the  bltMnl,  which  cause  the  coagtdation  of  fibrin, 
and  effusion  of  this  and  of  blood,  as  well  as  stasis  and  arrest  of  the  red 
blood  di?ks,  in  various  organs  aud  cavities  (such  as  the  lungs,  liver,  heart, 
etc.),  and  in  the  interior  of  joints.  Thus  Hfrondary  or  metastatic  absceaMft 
are  formed  iu  various  parts.  Usually  the  immediate  wound  (whidi 
generally  involves  the  cancellous  tissue  of  some  bone  more  or  leiB  im- 
mediately) suppurates  less  freely,  or  even  becomes  almost  dry,  and  tlie 

*  Thift  staloment  refert  to  some  lix  or  seven  yettn  ngo.  The  autliori  btve  no 
recent  stalistici  on  this  point. 


954 


FLOGGINa    FEMALES    ILLEGAL 


sari/}/  the  result  of  contused  woutid$.  Yciur  auswer  must  be  thxt  il  I 
but  uot  iuvHriubly  f*i».     The  uuth(>rs   Imve  knowu   the  kidney,  b 
spleen  sevcniUy  runlured  by  contusiong.  which  Jel't  noextenml  nm 
laj  and  Ctt!*per.  mul  others  recttrd  ^imilAr  ettses.     (See  Jnjurif$  to 
This  k  the  pluee  tu  make  some  remarks  ou 

Corporal  Punhhrnent^  especiaiiy  Flogging. 

Allhough  ilug^hifT  with  the  fit  o'-nhie-tnih,  and  whipping  in  \ 
18  ijow  happily  barii:*lied  Irom  both  army  niuJ  navy,  except  in  i!OTn( 
eased,  this  mode  tA'  puui^htnent  U  still  retained  tbr  garotling  nl 
other  crimes  of  violt-noe.     Magistrates  are  alM>  em|>owered,  in  th 
young  'jHenders  of  tlu^  male  nex,  to  order  a  certain  number  of  bli 
a  bireh  rod,  not  exceed ijig  twelve,  or  at  the  rno.st  twenty,  at  any  <i 
Female:^,  un  matter  uhut  iheir  age,  are  now  very  properly  exenifyl 
thiis  punishment  in  ali  prisons,  workhou^c^,  retbrmatorie»,  and  other 
nieni  or  parochial  iJistitutiou??.     Tl>e   use  of  the  birch,  iti  *Mne 
another,  yet  Itugers  in  many  public  and  private  Um' jschools*,  and^ 
private  ."ichuols  for  girls,     Tho.'.e  who  are  curious  in  aueh  matter?, 
Mceount8«  of  the  use  of  Hugcllation  in  various  w'ays  by  Greek  and 
nutate rs  and  mistroscft  to  their  slaves  in  l^otter'n  *•  Grecian  Aniii 
(Dunbar's    ed.,   vol.  i,  pp.  &),  1^3,  etc.,   Kdinburfrh,   1818*),  au( 
notes  lu  Juvenal,  PlaulUH,  and  other  Dolphin  dassiic?.     The  ind 
ami  HbsurditieH  of  the  Huj^cllants  in  the  thirtet*nth  century  will 
dcf^crilKHl  in  lleckcr':*  '*  Kpidemi*-!*  of  ilje  Middle  Agei«,"  and  in  M 
*•  CuriotjiticH  of  Mctlicnl   Experience."     Even  ?o  late  as  the  end 
century  and  the  beginning  of  the  present  one,  tlogginj^  wa«  on 
comuMvuest  pimi'siimeuts  for  almost  every  dejscriptiou  of  crime  nnci  ( 
lu  Kusisia  the  knout  is  .«aid  to  be  stilj  one  of  the  cotntnonest  vV  ihuuj 


•   ♦  Th«*  f I'Vfnil  ways  <»f  ti-rtiiriii^  eliivc,*,!'^!*)*  ArchbUhop  Poiu-h,  m--  imiJ 
J»ri»eLl  in  itie  folluwing  verses  nf  Ari*.tt»phMties  (*'Frtigs/'  At-l  II,  Sr^'nc  V 

2 AN©,      Buadvt^e  yhfi  rhv  nnh^  mtfTuvi  Jta^Jwt*, 

AIAK.     Km  rrui  jiuaavia<tf\ 

6t/CfK^  HfKfidcac,  Vitrei xif^i  ftatntyitVy  Hpuy^ 

*  PL>r«Mi,js  refusing  to  phwl  to  imliclinciil*  were  roioiorly  punUhrdln 
mnnn'M"  in  Kiit;liin«l, 

t  Tilt!  r>'jjul>iii»ins  «f  the  Pt>or  L«w  Donrd  ex|irc**ly  f»rtiid  o<»nv»rHl  fiok 
(fl.^gafiiii:.  c'Hnlii^;,  «Lc  )  u>  hn  ittflictt^l  on  nny  rt'oml**  cliiJd       F"i  *l 

ruji'  iiy  ill'*  rnHtrun  o\  iho   B»«rriE>li>y  Uninn  in  July  liut  { ISTK 
itiqiiiry.  uiol  stnn-  ctrn^urc.  ultliotigb  il  iit<l  n<>i  Mp|ieiir  ihiil  thf  i^in-  1 1 n 
WMH    i»i'V''iii»'i;Mi,  ih4t  oiluT  rigtiieeii  y»*Hr-i  nf  n*;**)  wi're  mittorinlly  1inj«» 
Hltfiijo^h  (I  riiH»t«^r  or  oii.-^trf'M*  is  fntiiU-d  to  '•  nifKlrTiit+'iy  c>irr«ct ''  »  ».-" 
prt*hljti*,  hy  hiicumU  ?tiitmi-*,  yyi  luorc  recent  i^ductuifML;  li«»o  r.< 
lu  lit*  iti<lii;l(Mj  tar  its^itiiiL.      A  piiieiil  is  nX-  libnrly  U*  corrucl  a  ci 
pMiiiriliot'-til  he  de.-«i*rvfd,  HOd  in  iiol  iiiiiiiodi'rnle,  or  dt4prM}H]rii«jiiiHi  Im 
*t3j<"  <«r  utrt'Oijlh.     How  fur  n  !t«'hnc»tm;i*iiT  mp  *fh«»ilnn-i.lri«4  »lnrt<U  m  tutn 
ill   ihe  nb^t'iu'e  uf  hiiv  fXpreriK  or  wrillHii  to.;rr'i<rni«rtt,  st«€Mn»  t*"  be  vert 
8«iojH  KclhM>linJi»ler«,  otc,  g»'l  irilo  trouble  (o^ioilly  troin  oxcei'^iw  puoi 
Wbii^t  iithHPs  liri' Hu.iiiiLLod  by  m  i^i-^traiiv*.     Tli**  fltij^jfuii^  *»'    — ' 
own  fhildn^n)  by  mtilc  ti^Hrittir:?,  ^aiirilJMtiA.  or  mu-l^^r-*,  h  I 
not  Hs  tt  eonnnon,  but  us  ito  iH'kctnt  as^ulL     Looking  nl  L:j  _  . — 
fjDow  Hii  opposite  rule,  wo  uru  not  di^ijiosed  to  ubjuot  to  such  miigUleM*! 
of  the  Ihw. 


956 


FLOGQINa    OF   QAROTTBRS. 


modes  of  death  as  in  burns.  The  amount  of  tLmte  kil1oi1«  and  t) 
of  ^kin  ni»t  only  injured  but  put  out  of  work,  0iu»t»  as  in  btirni» 
iuto  curisiilcrHlioii. 

The  ftoy^lug  block  used  at  Newgate  is  said  to  "  resemble  a  b<| 
high  bttck.     Tlie  lid  and  one  ^lide  are  of>ened,  and   the  man  i 
phicing  his  heels  in  iiutches  cut  out  of  a  phmk  piirullel  to  the  but! 
a  few  ludies  above  it;  his  toes  go  under  the  plank,  and  when  th< 
aide  are  shut  his  le^  are  firmly  Hxed.     He  then  phu-e*  hi«*  hand;*  J 
like  those  in  the  slocks,  made  in  the  hark  of  the  nuichine.     Com 
all  movement  beeonifs  impossible.     No  intimruion  is  given  as  to 
punishment  is  to   takf  plaee,  and  a   mania   iherefore  kept  in  i 
ignorance  us   to   boili  day  jwkI    hour   till   8onje  fifteen   minute  h 
titoe.     Tiie  punishment  is  very  severe,  though  the  nufnber  of  la»«hi 
exceeds  thirty,  ft>r  the  'eat'  has  a  larger  hnndle,  and  is  made  oj 
cord   than   the    *caL'  used    iu    the  army.     Besides,  the  exeeutia 
atrorig  men,  and  not  drummer  boys."     Mr.  Gd)son,  the  ex|HTiei 
geon  of  Newgate,  ha-*  kindly  informed  us   that  tio  untoward  acci 
oeeurred  trum  flogging  at  Newgale,     He  is  careful  to  examine  I 
before,  and  frum  time  to  lime  during  tlie  punishment.     On  the  oth 
he  has  never  known  exciiemeul  of  the  genital  organs  pri>du<>'d, 
beeause  the  punishment  falls  chiefly  on  the  shuuldera  and  up|je 
the  back. 

Tijere  is  usually  lillle  difficulty  in  recognizing  the  raark^  of 
flagellation,  nil   nmiter  what  ilie  in-iirum(ini.     There  are  eicatrl 
these  often  undtrgti  a  rhtlouhif  thickening  and  coniniction.     A 
ago  ]>liotograph8  of  matks  proiiuced  by  tlie  flogging  o(  a  ruua 
wei-e  !-old  and  exhibited  in  tno^tof  the  pnnl-shojw. 

Governor  Wail  was  tried  belore  the  I^ord  Cliief  Baron,  some  [ 
for  causing  the  tleaih  of  a  man  by  excessive  imnishineuf,  by  Hug 
The  defeuce  was,  that   the  deeeaNed  had  destroyed    himself,  hr 
nioderate  use  of  spirits:,  while  under  treatment  iu  the  hospit-al.     t 
laj<l  it  down   that  no   man  was  entitled  to  place  another  in  lo  p 
predicament  as  to  make  the  preservation  of  his  life  depend  mere 
own   prudence.      He  further   remarked    that   the  long  continua 
severity  of  pain   (in   tlagellalitju)   may  be  productive  of  as  fat 
quenees  as  if  instrutnents  or  weapons  of  a  destructive  kind   ir 
Some  year»  ago  (Lewes  Autumn   Assizes,  1860)   a  schoolraastcl 
Hopiey  was  tried  for  causing  the  death  of  a  youth  of  sixteen  (a 
and  somewhat  weukminded  tad  j   by  beating  him  most  severely  f«i 
two  hours  with  a  rope  and  a  stick.     The  skin  was  little  injured, 
muscles  exhibited  greiit  bruising  and  laceration,  and  there  were 
ecchymoses.     There  were  marks  of  blood  on  the  prisoner's  clotbir^ 
he  tried  to  conceal.     In  general,  unless  the  number  of  blows  l^e  t 
give,  some  idea  of  the  instrument  used  may  be  formed  by  the  h| 
mark^.     But  a   broad   Bat  sort  of  paddle,  used   by  the  plantcft 
8oulbern  St^ites,  was  said  to  leave  hardly  any  marks. 

Ill,  Lacerated  icon  nil  H,  as  we  have  just  seen,  maybe  caused  by 
particularly  with  th<mgsor  whips,  as  well  as  by  the  other  roeana  ii 
at  page  !)3o.  They  are  ofteu  associated  with  considert^bU  Atrfl 
They  are  said  to  be  specially  prone  to  mj^ipeloA,  and  to  other 
forms  ol"  inflammation.  They  are  ne4irly  sure  to  ituppumU  profuA^ 
anus  ami  pt/ttmia  are  also  more  likely  to  follow  lacemted  wouudl 
attack  clean  incisions.  It  need  scarcely  be  said  that  the  cicatrU  oi 
Bted  wouud  will  be  less  regular  and  less  liuear  than  that  of  ai^ 
one. 


r  i^F :.:??£:    /ftef.    itate 


■.  :-  intii'-:-':  ■•;.■ 
■'--.n::..y  'l:^"-.:. 
M-    A -I'll.  K-1 


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-    •:              -•<*•- '.M!  iij-aTi.;        7           .     .    -- .  i-»Tier  :;  i-- •! 

;     -:  \^  .  irj  i  wii-  Mini-    .■    :■-  -•,,.-      :;,^.-.   fra- '■..!;•!  f 

-.  •  .  ii!.-l  !fii-  a'i  ;..-    ::--.,r   r-  ■:-.  .-  :  .    ;r.^-.  w:j, i,.. 

.  .'  -^'-i/vliii'-  i.  .ur-  :.  T'-«:    -x;:-.  ma--  r.  -n  .nr-'  ib. 

-v.  r-'i.      'i'lt-r*    ij:f..  :      «-v--     T..-r..  .JVi-  :ii»r^i::!: 

•   :-i'  V.  .Mh.i.      \Vj,.i.  :.:.:::  ....    .-    t^a-  -j^.j..  7^,,  „„,.,/, 

.    •   ...-'.   •iJ.jj-'-.     iJiiji:;":   :w^:,:;..-  ...    .   -..j^,  ^y^^^.  ^^^ 

-  ■"■■■•"'  ".'   ?l"'  W'Mii.M.      K..-.     ',.-        -   -.>,..    >,.„,r,  na. 
:    ^- •.;:«:!.. !.  ili'-n-  wv-    n-v--  :-  -     -     -^    Tr.-.uijt    ^  l::r, 

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V     —   vMj.  jin    lumiiiiif  M  II,  j<  >---ri!  ■':--.    ■  xriri:  ri:!- [  m.  wi; 

■    -.-..•ui.'J  '.'-l.ii,.  rnii-'-i-.  .-i-..  w.-:    :.av^  I.,'-.-    r-iLitrn 

:  v:..-i;  \\<— |..!.k.      \V.  u:.    ::i-.!v:..f.   %^ii-m?:i.i  ~  r.  >m"  h 

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i»     i.'i:   ip.i'iil  lik«'  lli'i-*    ii;  l;v:h;:  :>-•»•-.  1:1-  '■    .11..-     ;^...  ..      ..- 

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;    / 


WOUNDS   BEPORE    AND    AFTER    DEATH. 


VI10U8  vein,  or  an  artery  containiog  fluid  blood.  See  the  case  of  Sir 
£(Irnundl>urv  Godfrey,  p.  847,  etc. 

ff  ponj*ihlr  fhf  dre^if  nhnuid  he.  examined  aho  for  blood.  Whether  inflicted 
^etbre  ur  after  death,  ^iword-wimtnl:*,  or  similar  injuries,  tni verging  the 
VkmIv  (»«f.>  pa!«siug  coiiiptelt'ly  ihnHi^h  it},  gem^rally  hiive  a  Inr^je  depro^sed 
iOrificp  <»f  enfruuce,  and  a  snmll  and  raised  orifice  of  exit.  {See  alsoCJiin- 
*  nl  Wounds.)  Tht  anioutit  of  hit'iQorthae;^  in  the  case  of  stab,<  depeiHls 
#iitirh  on  the  sharpries^s  of  the  weapim.  With  a  blunt  aword,  spear,  etc., 
^ere  may  be  very  littte  bh>od  lontj  even  in  life. 

The  fthnrp  endj*  nf  a  fractured  bone  mmj  he  thnutl  thrnuffh  the  ttfcin  bfj  mus- 
liar  aeUoHy  or  in  aUcmptlntj  to  walk,  aud  thus  simulate  a  punctured  or 
penvt rating  wound. 

It  w^riis  convenient  to  sum  up  the  genera]  re*»ults  of  tliese  experiments 
mnd  experience's  in  a  tabnlar  fcirm.  In  u?ing  the  table  remember,  however, 
^hat  there  are  exfeptions,  and  the  charaeters  in  the  tahle  tnust  be  regarded 

her  a»  verbal  averaged  or   meam  thau  as  atriclly  true  iu  all  individual 


Table  of  Characters  of  Wtjnuds  Inflicted  in  Life  and  after  Death. 
I. —  Of  Jnctifed  Wotindu, 


A. — \s  THE  Living. 

1.  Efltrft-  !»hftr|»ly  <'<it  »rv<l  tcfrleU,  tb«  skin 

Mtiil  iiiUiH'lv^  being  riMriieti'<l. 

2.  BU*«"ling  copious,  mid  gericTHlly  nrie^ 

rml. 
%.  TUtirv  are  cloti  ar  cougiiln. 

4.  Th«'rr«  in  M  {rorwl  iflf»Hl  of  ptniniiitf  <«r 
litru-^i'tn  »>t'  liUxid  in  th"  im)!^eulur 

Itllll  CiHUlMlM  JVl*  tl^-'lU'S. 

&.  Afl'T  S4»fii«  h'MtrH.  <ir  drtvs",  Ih'-fK  will 
bp  signs  "f  rrtHtir  nr  uf  iufiammn' 
tv*H.  (  PiiMiHl  or  roiMfilriH  uni<<ii, 
nils,  ^mnulMtionfl,  eryti|ielH«,  iimrti- 
flcMtiun,  etc.) 


B. — Ik  thk  Dkap. 
Edges  clo»e^  nnd  not  uv«rt«»d. 

BlfM^ini^  jifrtnly.  or  Mb^fnt,  nnd  i;on- 
rnilly  prnoK»  wh*'ii  iljr»r«»  i-*  Hny. 

ThMri'  wTv  no  finis  or  eoHLMihi  in  niost 
cii^-e^ ;  Afimi'tiinMss  n  fi'W  .•^mnil  rUils. 

Th'Tr  !•*  v«»ry  liiile  nr  no  >tniinnj»:  or 
ditl'itHian  of  )<1<H>d  in  Uit*  (issucA  of 
tti(*  wound. 

Tlu-fi*  will  ln>  noHtlomjitnt  rfpuir,  nnd 
n"  K'mnH  ol  inJliiinnniiion.  TInTS 
imiy  bft  wilh<'rinif  or  fnirchm^nltttttm 
of  ih«  edges,  und  bigns  i»r  putr«jfi*c- 
lion. 


\\,—  Cmdu^ed  Woundt, 


A, — Iff  THK   LlVJNO. 

TlwT"   ha   ►wi'ltin*;,   nnd  tifter  i*    fvw 

hoiirtt,  or  H  ffw  d»>>  if  di**'p^eHH?d, 

tb»t  tkin   clnin^***   (:<ilor— not  liJm**, 

hut  violi't.  greinif'ti,  or   yi4low>»li, 

pHTilfulHriy  wi  tlie  (clsjiti*, 
TloTf«  i*  i'ir(i*i<»«  of  li<[ui*l  li|<Hid  mid 

lymph  ill  ihu  dee|i«r  puru,  and  cu- 

a&rulii  fortri. 
Tht)  ?wrllintc  M<b»»d4'i»,  Niid  ihw  colum 

fi«di*  Nlu-r   toiiiv  dMys,  or  in   w>mo 

OHiit'M  wei'lk*. 
Ahwr»w»»    Timy    fortFi,    or    nlt**riilfon 

nnd  fkloiiifhifig  ((ochI  gungreuc),  or 

«r]rsi|)ttU»  «(«t  in. 


8. 


B.— In  tub  Dkad. 

Thi'r^  \»  very  liults  swelling  or  chnnge 
of  color. 


Very  little  blood  is  eflrii*M.  Thero 
nrc  hnrdly  uny  cluts  or  eonguhi. 

Tln*rfi  iirr*  no  mlnbow-likc  or  pri^mnuc 
chun;j^vi  of  eoiur. 

No  HhifccoMon  form,  ntid  no  <»ry»ip»dA- 
ii»UK  or  gungrviiuu*  uhMngos  Are  met* 
with. 


--       ir   \l    *.5-l     rrZTX    3£ATB, 


I  —  -  — n.  Tm..  "t. 

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I,  -  — 

.-I  T    :•-   l:-  •■    .-L. 


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C0N€KBNIKO    DYING    DECLARATIONS. 


96S 


Titber  to  the  gallon  on  malaprnjth,  to  which  we  must  refer  you  for  the 
general  priuciples.     {See  page  626.) 

Yuur  medico*legal  duties  must,  however,  be  briefly  pointed  out,  Theta 
are: 

1ft.  A  careful  examination  of  the  wrmndetl  person,  of  his  fir  hor  dreea 
and  f»«rTouridinp<»,  and  of  the  wound  lt!*eir,  as  well  a."^  t»f  the  weaf><>n  or 
weapons  where  praetir^hle.  In  some  cn&»»s  you  may  a|j*o  have  to  examine 
tlie  ](*'r»nn,  clothes,  and  weafKins  of  tlve  ^iippoj^etl  or  actual  a<«Ai)ant. 

2<i.  You  will  lye  exfK*c(i'd  to  nrnkc  iioter»,draw  up  a  n'[M>rt,and  pmbahly 
afterwardni  l«»  attend  at  either  (he  police  ctiurl,  inquest,  or  superiur  criiuiiml 
court,  and  ^ive  evidence.     \Vhili«i  in  ?ionie  ca^es 

3d.  Y'ou  may  have  to  receive  what  are  called, 


Dying  Deelnrationt  from  the  Wounded  or  Injured  Persomt, 

For  obvious  reaisom*,  chiefiy  those  of  spare  and  simplicity,  wo  will  take 
llif-**  tminti>  in  revenue  order,  and  l>cgin  with  dying  dechiraiionri.  Tho  act 
'AO  inii]  31  Vu\,cap.  xxxv,;«ec>i.  6  and  7,  r-oritoiins  eiinclmenf*  with  regard 
to  dying  derljiraiion«,  and  ninkr's  pr(>vi>inn,  amongst  older  thin^-*,  for 
prisoners  being  present  when  tlicy  arc  nmflc.  Theone  cf^scntial,  ncmrding 
tn  the  ruling  of  our  judges  in  a  vnst  nujnher  (►f  capci«,  being,  (hut  the 
wounded  or  injured  per?<m,  male  or  female,  slmlS  believe,  or,  at  all  event,*!, 

{)rore>>*  to  believe,  that  he  or  i-he  is  in  actual  dnnfxcr  uf  death*  Such  dec 
arationf?  are  admitted  a^  evidence  both  in  Egland  antl  Scotland.  It  i^ 
allowable  for  a  medical  (or  other)  witness  to  give  jutroi  (or  by  word  of 
mouth)  evidence  of  a  dying  cleclaruiiotK  but  nvore  weight  it»  altaclied  |o  it 
when  taken  down  in  writing  in  the  pre?=ence  of  witnesi«e**.  These  witneM^ee 
fthould,  if  puM.-ilile,  Htgn  the  paper.  If  a  magistrate,  or  other  Jeyal  func- 
tionary, be  pre.-ieut,  ihe  mtnlrcai  man  iji  cliurge  of  the  case  ,«fiould  of  eonnm 
Uoi  interfere  further  with  the  deeluralion  ihuu  by  giving  htu  opinion  as  to 
the  ht>peles!4nes8  of  the  eaf^e,  or  of  the  stale  ui'  the  dying  peryon's  mind, 
Iti  the  ctt>«e  uf  stabs,  gun>hnt  wontids,  aruJ  some  other  severe  injurie;*,  death 
is  «>ntetimea  so  su<luen  that  there  is  n*i  time  even  to  pem-il  dnwn  the  wonls 
of  the  dying  man.  Shc^nld  u  medieul  man  be  pri'sent  he  .--honld  (whilot 
endeavoring  to  prolong  lil'ens  long  as  po>sihte)  lislen  ipiietly  to  sueh  «tate- 
n3cnti«,onIy  interrupting  when  he  does  not  hear  or  understand,  and  suggest- 
ing nothing.  This  done,  he  should  write  th>\vn  the  wonts  at  »ince  jm  soon 
a«  he  can  get  at  writing  materials,  and  il"  others  have  heard  them,  rent!  over 
what  he  has  written,  anrl  thus  get  it  attested.  In  fineh  caseH  there  will 
rarrly  be  any  doubt  in  (he  minds  of  either  the  hystandi^m  or  of  the  dying; 
perM^>n  «n  to  hi«  real  eonditton  of  injfH'iiding  di-ath.  But,  remember,  it  li 
the  dying  person'*  convietion  that  he  or  nhe  is  dying  that  is  inii>ortant. 
The  law  presumes  that  in  hi  solemn  a  erisis  no  (»ne  would  wi!li»tgly  leave 
tbip  worhi  with  a  lie  in  their  nxnith,  and  that  if  at  mwU  a  moment  an 
aecucation  is  made,  it  is  at  least  sirieere.*  In  the  case  of  Jt^uklnti  (Crown 
Ca^e«  Ue«erved,  April,  18(»9!,  a  statement  Mas  rejeeted  because  the  dying 
per^'on,  iu  using  the  expresj«>iou,  "  I  have  no  hope  of  my  rec*»vi  ry,*  ro* 
q^urntetl  that  the  woni«  "at  present"  should  Ih^  added.     And  in  Jtet/itia  v. 

•  ft  may  b^  p\uoor^  wiittout  Wmjf  true.      Dr.  Tnylnr  cUt**  (jt.  IftR)  tlle  chm  rtf  a 

dvitiir  W)>tiM*n,  iti  St.  Th<  mn-^V  Jlo^pjoil,  who  lui  tiMil  m  mnn  of  Hik*ioilltnt;  i"T  r>n 

t^t  i}nint;0>n  ('••rnnn.n,  with  other*.     U««  Wn«  r<'iin«l  cuilty,  undj  t-xwiU**!!      A  yn.r 

(ifli'f  to»  <•»•  t  iiiinii  ih)«  n'»l  mtir«l4T«T«  w*'r*»  ()iiMi>VHritd,  iftd  bU  InaiK't'itco  ojiub- 

•  ti»lK'd.     A  tlnv  MrgumiTit  (vr  ciipiml  puniahmi^nt ! 


MA  emrcsBSiva  »t»«  »bclabat» 


fTork  Lnt  Amm,  1871)  Mr.  Ji 
IK  iMcmiiwtlieevidcfKttvcDti 
drii^  veiBtli  Mid  be  thought  he  dioald  not  get 
•it  Mfpmnmdj  djmg  pcnoa  recofver,  tb^ 

sapw^  dciuh  OMIT  ftill  he  and.  "  It  v,"  »J>  I>r.  Tajlor,  *  the 
4if  tbfr  itfM  of  impcodiiig  dknlatioii  which  determiiM*  hs  adaiMibi 
Chiff  Jastice  Erie,  in  Setoo's  cue  (JZ^'m  t.  fpi.  Haato  Lnt 
IMS),  Aid,  "The  Imw  adniit*  these  deelanuioiie,  boI  beeaow  wetwnwj  it 
ihefe  ii  in  the  mind  of  the  penoa  ■■kiag  theflt 
ewTictioo  d  appmai-faing  death.**  The  oiedical  aritaca^  laji  Dr. 
Taylor.  ibfioM  not  be  ollicioat  ia  rztractinft  iaformatioB,  hot  ihoald  cob- 
Kat  hiRfe«clf  with  what  is  voimmiarihf  iMend^  and  shoiild  write  dowa  the 
wienHraf  mrd*,  aod  noC  hi»owo  iaterprctatioD  of  theoB.  Dr.  Gar  ihe:.  A, 
latmloctioo,  pu  xzrii )  eipmeet  the  fame  meaoinii^  ia  Terr  rimilar  tenaa. 
Beck,  oo  th«  lame  nib|ect,  refer*  to  Suriiie  oo  *'£TidcfMse,^  toI. ii, p.  -MO; 
Rjan,  p.  301 ;  Paris  aod  Faiublaoi|oe,  toL  i,  p.  166j^  aad  jpvee  the  fol- 


rane:  "Oo  the  trial  of  Mr.  Chrirtie  and  Mr.  Trul  fiir  the  murder 
af  Mr.  J.iho  Soott,  the  ediror  of  the  'Loodtio  Ma^unae,'  and  aothor  of 
^ariiMU  works,  io  a  doel.  Dr.  Dsriiog,  who  had  atteodnl  the  deceased 
after  he  hsd  received  his  woood,  depoMd  that  he  heard  Mr.  Scott,  on  bis 
deathbed  pst — 

"  Mr.  Jwiiee  Bai%.— Did  Mr.  8cott  at  that  time  thiok  bimoeir b  daoger ; 
did  be  give  op  all  hopes  of  rec^venr  t 

"  i}r,  Ikaimg: — No ;  to  the  last  he  eotertained  hopes  of  reooverr. 


**  Mr,  Judiee  BaUejf, — ^The  declaratioo  made  hy  a  dyiog  maa  caooot  be 
receiTed  as  evidence  aolem  the  party  at  the  time  of  making  it  were 
satisfied  that  recovery  is  imposrible  **  (p.  970). 

All  regards  vour  duty  iu  drnwiog  op  a  formal  report,  orgiviogevidenee 
ia  the  coroner's  or  anv  other  court,  we  have  little  to  add  to  oar  recommen- 
dations already  given  in  Chap.  I,  pp.  27  and  28.  In  making  a  post-roortam 
examination,  the  advice  given  yoo  in  Chap.  II  (pp.  90-35)  will  assist  3ma ; 
whiUt  in  giving  your  evirlence,  or  in  drswine  up  a  formal  document,  the 
data  piven  from  pp.  542  to  584,  and  687-691 ;  and  the  model  reports 
under  Inranlicide  and  Insanity,  p.  700  aod  pp.  762  to  768,  will  serve  to 
show  the  Htyle,  at  once  simple,  clear,  precis,  and  natural,  which  you  should 
foll(}W.     You  need  not  aim  at  imitating  legal  phraseology.     If  you  do. 


*  The*  folliiwini;  rflftw.  quoted  hy  Tnylnr,  mHV  b<»  refprr<Hl  to  on  thit  point: 
(1)  C'liifff  R>in>n  PolltK-k  ruled*  in  lieg.  v.  Rtileif  (Exrh<><)uor  Chiim)>er,  Jan. 
IS.**?  ,  that  nlthfn]i;h  Iho  Kurir^m  hnd  given  ^tme  hope  to  the  dyin^  p€T.*<»n  b«'fore 
the  derlHriitinri.  hii«  derlHralion  nnii;ht  he  taken  n.s  evidence,  bet-aU'-e.  in  ^pite  of  hit 
»UTfz*Htu,  hi*  }N>lieved  he  i^hiMild  not  reeover.  (2)  B^g.  v.  Harvey  ( Exeter  Summer 
A'i'ir.e*',  IK54),  .liHtice  Wichlmnn.  (3)  Regina  v.  Wnnntrll  (Leed^  Autumn  A§- 
pi»'M.  IW;0,  and  /leg.  v  I^JtingUl,  C  C  C,  April,  1872i,  Baron  Cleashy  ruled  that 
the  dyini;  person  muflt  either  ex fiect  death,  o.^  death  he  imminent,  even  when  a 
mHiji^trMte  ha*  taken  the  deposition.  (4)  In  Rrgina  \  Borreff  iheodn  Lent  .\t* 
t\r.fn,  18ft9)  Karon  Cleashy  ruli'd  ac;ainvt  a  de<'larati«m  bet^auf^e  the  )»tr<inj(eiit  statA- 
ment  wa»  that  '-Bhe  tlioutrht  ^he  should  n«»t  rinrover."  (5)  In  Retjina  v.  Q**nlter 
(Stafford  Lent  A^izeA,  18.>4)  the  ftur^eim  wax,  ail  we  think,  unjustly  blamed  for 
the  eK'apH  of  the  criminal  through  a  te<rhnicality  of  this  kind. 

See  aUo  the  cane  of  John  ('lark,  tried  in  D^HM^'niher,  1783,  for  •*  killins;  «nd  mur- 
dering ThntnnM  Johnaon  hy  stahbing  him  In  the  belly,"  etc.  "The  declarations  of 
the  deceaMHl,"  raid  the  Judge,  "  after  receiving  the  death-wound,  are  alway*  o«in- 
tidered  aK  admiH^ihle  evidence  in  ca«e!<  of  n)urder,  though  nothing  hefor«>  that 
Wound  I*  conMid«'red  in  that  light.  The  man  ig  in  health  ;  he  receives  his  death- 
wound  ;  he  d-elaren  hirt  own  idea  of  it  that  it  will  be  mortal,"  etc.  ("Select 
Criminal  TriaU  at  Justice  Hall  in  the  Old  Bailey,"  vol.  i,  Appendix,  p.  82,  etc., 
Edinburgh,  1803.) 


UURDEK    OF    KINO    BDWARD    It. 


965 


lien  you  bave  studied  law,  the  result  will  probably  be  a  ridtciilous 
lilur*?.     Iij  any  vtk^  ilie  |)iulixuy  allowable  in  a  legal  dofuroent  h  quite 
of  platH?  in  a  nifilicok'j^al  re[n)rt. 

ft?  are  tberefore  brouij^ht  Imck  to  the  consi(lcrati(m  of  your  duties  in 
ir!4l  point,  uj  mak'iiit/  a  efitefui  examinaiiou  oj  the  wounded  permn^  of  each 
of  their  ctothent,  of  th(^  aurrQundiufji^^  (i.  «;.,  the  place  where  they 
und,  ot  articles  of  furniture,  et«r.),  of  awy  wenpnn^  or  art  idea  w/tirh  might 
UMfd  a«  ffur/i,  or  form  jmrti*  of  weiipous  i  biillel!*,  portion?*  ">i  fireHrma, 
Etriiki'n  knives,  portions*  o(  liliidgeons,  hanimers,  axes,  etc.,  would  till  roine 
under  ihirt  ealegory) ;  as  well  an,  in  mine  rnsfji,  a  pttrtful  exmniuatinn  of  the 
frUoner,  or  vintpfcli'd  pfr»on  or  /itt'^oni^,  of  his  cfotht'S,  and  of  uraf/omt^  etc^ 
jx  \n»  pos'*es>iori,  or  ssupjHi.^ed  to  belong  to  bini.  We  shall  try  to  illustrate 
B»cb  of  the>e  points  in  suceeM-ijon. 

A.  It  M  vert/  ueces'ianj  to  ctirtfuflt/  examine  the  usiunded  person^  been  use 
I  <  I )  There  may  be  more  wound;*  thaD  one.  Tliere  u>!ually  are  in  utteinpls 
|o  inunk'r,  except  iu  stmie  eases  where  tirearttii  are  u.-ed.  Even  liere,  as 
Ite  »hull  jiee  furiher  on,  one  bullet  may  pmdoce  two  wounds.  Tliere  were 
Inore  lljau  thirty  wooiids  in  the  ease  of  the  l>Ljeheri«  ite  Prasslin  (uolieed 
(by  U5  at  prtge  SIGO).  Mi\  Btirffjff,  niur<!ered  by  Miiller  in  a  earriage  on 
Ihc  North  London  Railway  to  July,  18(j4,  hud  several  wound.'*  on  his  bend. 
There  was  a  transversie  jajrged  w*iund  aero?is  the  left  ear,  and  above  thiii 
Ihere  wa.'*  a  scalp  turnur,  unil  two  di.stinet  wotiMd,-^  of  the  scalp  with  etJU- 
•ioD  of  blcH»d  beneath,  and  eorre*pouding  fruetures  in  (be  boue:^,  Mvjf, 
Cjtardncr,  the  sweep't*  wife  {fi^'fj.  v.  Gnrdnn\  L\  C  C,  l>>ti2),  had  numerous 
cutj*  on  her  hitods,  but  died  from  the  WMond  in  her  throat.  In  a  case 
tried  nt  New  York  in  Septeinher,  IS'AW,  the  poor  wonmii  who  wa?  murdered 
)iod  eleven  wonnd.s:  eij^bt  stalw  in  and  about  the  k^ft  side  of  the  thorax, 
^oe  uf  which  hud  penetrated  the  pericanhum,  jifhI  divided  the  piilrnonary 
Ittery  Dear  its  origin  ;  the  nther^  were  on  the  back,  near  the  lelt  scainda. 
I>r.  I'roclor,  of  York,  found  /(/>//'"•'■  wounds,  many  of  them  severe,  on  the 
body  of  a  woman  murdereil  liy  her  lnl^band,  who  killed  her  in  a  tit  of  de- 
lirium tremeriH.  In  the  lV*tff>^worth  Mtmr  Murdrr  of  Bethel  Parkinc«ou,  by 
Joseph  .Shephent  (York  A^-iite-,  March  15.  IN.jHj,  Mr.  Howard,  a  t?urgeon 
•irho  examined  the  btKly^  found  thirty-four  inei!<ed  wouiidn,  five  hmken  nhs, 
^od  the  hkull  **  literally  ^manhcd  and  battered  in."  Upon  the  votU  there 
%tXTe  found  iu^nty  four  cut ji,  twtitijjive  upon  the  miititcouf,  and  thirty  upon  the 
^itt.  If  it  were  neeej*j?ary  to  multiply  ra>es  of  thin  kind,  we  might  <piote 
Igaiu  the  murder  of  Andreas  UuUftcher,  to  whom  (ieorge  Uetle  inre  page 
805;  j^ave  eight  ivouuds  on  tlo'  head»  IjebidCvS  othei-ft  eUewhere.  Feuerbaeh 
(**  Merkwurdige  Criminal  Iteeht^lalle  "j  give^*  many  others.  A  j»erusa]  of 
il»e  police  reports  in  the  daily  uewepapers  w«mld  furoi:<h  examples  id  great 
litimberH. 

(2}  There  may  be  no  wound  at  all  on  t!ie  surface  of  the  body,  and  yet 
life  may  W  imi>erined  or  destroyed  by  serious  injorie**.  We  have  before 
ffcmnrked,  that  the  kidney  and  other  viscera  nuiy  be  ruptured  by  exieroal 
violence,  without  anv  noirk  being  found,  at  lejust  al  the  lime,  on  the  sur- 
|iu,*e  of  the  liody.  'the  murder  *d*  Kijig  Kdwanl  II  at  Berkely  Castle  is 
iaid  t4i  have  been  perj)i*trated  by  first  introducing  a  hollow  horn  (a  sort  of 
rude  tpectdum  ani,  made  of  cow's  horu)  into  the  rectum,  and  then  ptis^iug 
through  this  the  red-hot  blade  of  a  kind  of  sword;  they  still  show  a 
WrarKMi  which  might  very  well  iiavc  served  for  the  purpose.  Under  usounH* 
©y  the  rjcnital  organs  we  shall  menlioTi  other  cases  in  which  ninrder  has 
been  i)erj»etrale<J  l)y  wounds  through  the  vagina,  uterus,  etc.  The  brain 
toay  be  fatitlly  injured  through  the  ear  or  the  no.strils,  etc.;  and  there 
may  be  fatal  injuries  to  the  carotid  arterie.*,  and  other  important  struc- 
turiw,  through   the  mouth,  or  rather,  throaU     Again,  a  careful   ius^ec* 


BlfFTrBI   or   ASTCBIOE  CCftSBKAL   A&TEZT« 


IIm  «f  ike  Iwirj  aemlp  U 

imm  dbe  tiaj  bnllei  of  m  to?  piiCol,  vlucfa 

hiin  SB  exmdtiBgljr  auoaie  opeoiag. 

(3i  Hicfe  ukMj  be  oo  vnoml  mt  3l^  eilber 
oHiuary  fcoie  of  Uie  wrjcd«  sad  yei  tlcAtli  mmr  nmii  fnMB 
kaoe.  We  ■nut  rBniiid  ftm  timi  a  mAdetk  blov  in  dM 
piovcd  fiual,  a*  if  mippoaeii  frotn  injiiry  to  tbe  loiar  pIcKML  Demth  ottj 
rmakt  ftwa  fin^t  iaJiMrtsg  tyt>ca»pe,  or  entiapee  ffnoi  cliodi ;  iir  iImc«  aia? 
be  mtemai  eiciiaTaaatioiw  of  blo«iifl«  as  to  tht  brain  or  ila  HM«al»raAea»  aod 
daenbeie  al«o«  ao  event  «peeiaJJj  liaUe  to  bnjipen  in  dnuUtani*,  M. 
pople,  and  tbow  MtflevUig  from  dtgcne rations  of  UoodvcMek.  Or  ite 
Mtvrtf  itneif  natr  be  rttpcnrcd  hj  strong  exdtentent  wben  itt  wallt  are  mj 
tbto,  or  wbeu  they  hare  oiidergooe  fiiCij*  ealemeooa,  or  branra  (fibtuid) 
degtmnnuoo;  eo  that  **a  broken  beart  *'  h  eomettmei  a  liletal  iaec 

(4)  Agaio,  there  may  be  wounds,  aod  wounds  of  some  te verity,  mad 
yei  death  ituiy  not  be  direriJy,  or  Botnefioies  in  any  way,  dne  tn  tbete. 
Ifo^c  writers  un  M«dical  Juri^pnidenre  quote  eases  to  eridenee  of  ibia. 
At  for  example:  fieck  cites  tbe  fnlluvriug  fruto  Mr.  8haw*$  **Manital  iff 
Aoattiniy,"  vol.  i,  p.  46«  **  Aa  itidui-triou:*  workman,  reluroio^  b«Mne  AmuuI 
bis  boose  empty  of  e%'erything,  hh  bed  aud  tbe  tools  of  bis  tnd«  Mikl  Ibr 

S'n  by  his  wife,  whom  be  fouod  to  a  giii^np,  drtuktog^  aod  daneiim. 
e  brought  her  home,  and  in  the  passage  of  hi;t  boui»e  struck  ber,  and 
ordered  her  to  ^o  upstairs.  She  refused  ;  he  carried  her  up  upoti  bia 
ftiouldcm,  aod  the  cooteotioa  cootinuiog  up^twrt,  again  slrut-k  her. 
There  having  been  do  one  e}*e  present,  we  have  only  ih^  hii«bni>d*a 
account  of  her  death.  He  said,  that  whiUt  sitting  on  her  chair,  she  fall 
down,  upon  which  he  threw  her  on  the  bed,  conreiTing  she  was  in  a  fit« 
»ucb  a^  he  had  i»een  her  in  formerly.  8ome  of  her  neighbors  «o<oini;  to 
hfr  found  her  dead.  Sir  Charles  iiell  examineil  the  bctdy,  and  deposed  aa 
follows*  on  the  trial.  There  wa$  nothing  very  remarkable  on  either  thorax 
or  abflomen,  except  a  quantity  of  gio  in  the  stomach,  and  a  blush  of  red* 
0(119  about  the  pylorujs  and  duodeouin.  Oo  tbe  head  there  were  i«re«ml 
bruineif,  but  the  bone  was  not  hurt,  and  there  was  no  extravasation  under 
iL  Tbe  ves«*eU  of  tlie  pia  mater  were  empty,  as  if  from  pre^ture.  Ui>der 
the  arachnoid  there  was  cxtrava^tioo  of  serum,  aud  the^ame  in  the  reo» 
tncloit  i»u(^'b  as  is  common  in  (^r^Q§  who  die  of  intoxication.  Oo  tbn 
surface  of  the  brain  there  appeared  to  be  spots  of  extravasated  blood,  bal 
these  could  be  traced  to  ruptured  vessels  at  the  base— the  base  was  coverad 
with  extravasated  blood,  in  which  all  the  roots  of  the  nerves  wereiovolvad 
(»ee  diagram  of  base  of  brain  at  page  78t>.  The  blocni  had  pci>etrated 
into  the  ventricle  (?4ili)  by  perforating  its  floor.  And  on  removing  the 
brain  and  tracing  the  ve*8eb,  the  anterior  cerebral  artery  coming  ott'frifm 
the  left  internal  carotid  was  found  half  torn  acro«<@,  and  from  tbi»the  blood 
had  come.  Now  this  rupture  had  l>een  the c^use  of  death  ;  a8  to  thecau/*e 
of  the  rupture  iteclf,  Mr.  BeU'e  opinion  coincided  with  the  be«t  authorities 
in  pathology,  thai  there  h  a  ^tate  of  the  vessels  in  which  an  external  in- 
jury or  i?h<A'k  is  more  apt  m  produce  rupture;  and  drunkentioM*  may  be 
suppijHed  to  be  the  artiHcial  Htate  of  excitement  which  nio^i  rcHL^mbles  this 
state  of  th^  vessels,  lieing  a^^ked  whether  the  blows  were  the  cauHC  of  the 
rupture,  he  said,  he  conceived  it  very  likely  that  a  shock  would  rupture 
tbe  ve^el ;  and  being  then  asked  whetlier  he  conceived  that  this  woman 
was  more  likely  to  have  a  vessel  ruptured  from  being  in  a  state  of  intoxi- 
cation, he  replieci  that  he  was  of  opmion  that  intoxication  aud  the  struggle 
(together)  were  likely  to  produce  such  a  degree  of  activity  of  the  circuln- 
tiou  in  the  head,  that  a  less  violent  blow  might  proiiuce  rupture,  than 
S  in  other  circu instances,  might  have  proved  fatal/"     The   man  waa 


I 


POISON    AND    VIOLENCE    COMBINED. 


967 


iiequitUid.  Mr.  Shaw  mUh,  that  in  an  ulmnf^t  preei?te1y  eiimilar  ease,  a 
^uku  firii»  cnndeinited  upuii  clear  evidetK-e  of  his  iji(tMiU<>i»  li»  t'tuiHriit  mur- 
der. Bill  Beck  goe.s  ttt»  to  say  {tholnute  to  page  017)  ihata  [yamllel  wise 
|o  tlie  one  in  the  text  is^iveii  iKun  a  French  sonree,  in  the  "  ftled.  Chirurg. 
Review,"  vol.  iv,  p.  U(>U,  in  which  a  drunken  timirrfUer  feif  dead  withuttf  a 
^ou^t  miii  on  disseetiou,  eHarmouit  txtravoimiion  Mxmfftuiid  in  the  brain.  He 
lera  fo  the  article  i>ii  drunkenness  {Ivreme)  xn  the  *' J)ietii>iH»tiire  dtis 
ieiire^  Medicaler*."  Tlie  autliura  know  ot  s-everal  siniilar  cases*.  Whilst, 
Be«*k  remarks,  there  are  other  ca*e:5  iu  which  the  evitlcnce  of  direct  ia- 
ury  to  tfie  brain,  produced  by  Idowr;  receivetl  by  drynkeii  |ier:ji)ni»,  has 
n  clear,  unmistakable,  ami  not  to  be  gainsaid,*  And  ajiam  Uiere  are 
riL««^  in  wliich  cj-ienutl  wonmh  nrejomtd^  but  on  pnitt  moi-tnn  t.rmundtion 
Utid  nnati/nU,  there  are  cU'nr  ecaleitceM  of  poinon.  Dr.  Tuylor  i|iifite!4  Irom 
Wi/dberg  a  ca:**,  in  which  a  girl  died  whilst  her  father  was  ciia.-4ti!*iug  her 
ftir  i^teuliug.  Wildberjj  examined  the  Uofly.  JLmy  marki  of  blow.s  were 
futind  on  the  arm;*,  shouidcrri,  and  hack  ;  under  f*ome  *d"  them  there  wa^ji  a 
[giMMl  deal  of  blood  etJuNed.  He  llKtught  the  injuries*  j<earcely  severe  en<aigh 
lo  cauK^  death,  and  proceeded  to  examine  the  interior  nf  the  body.  On 
tiprning  thf  stomach  he  Jo  and  it  muck  injlHmed,(iHd  (iurd  until  ti  whitf  ptuvde.r, 
which  proved  to  be  umtuif^.  It  turned  out  that  on  (he  ihctt  l>einj:  detected, 
tlic  girl  had  taken  a ri?eiiic  from  fear  of  her  father*^  auger;  she  vomited 
liuhug  the  flogging,  and  died  in  slight  convulsion:*.  Upon  liii^  Wildberg 
imputed  death  to  the  ar!*«-'uic,  and  the  man  was  dischaijjed.  The  late  Dr. 
Oeoghegau  told  Dr.  Taylor  nf  a  case  iu  whieih  o  grntleinan  took  eleven  ffrain^ 
9/  ^rtfehtiin,  and  thtn  threw  hunfftff  out  of  a  windou\  tind  mtj^iained  great 
Sodiltf  injury.  The  surgeon  tiudiiigso  mnch  spa.-m,  made  inquirie.'^,  which 
led  to  hid  pationt'i«  confessing,  and  be  also  got  evidence  of  tbn  jmrchase  of 
the  poiAon.  Dr.  Taylor  reters*  to  some  good  .sugirestioiis  on  this  poitii  in 
Bclloc's  "Conrs  de  Medeciue  L^ale,"  p.  Hx,  a  buok  from  which  we  have 
^uoti^l  oti  some  other  tupics.  1  .NVf  als*:*  l!ie  remarks  in  our  early  chaptera 
oil  poisons,  pp.  52  to  7(>.;  The  liuding  of  ibod,or  the  opposite  state  of  an 
^nipty  (»tnmacb,may  also  prove  the  truth  or  falsehood  of  a  [Jrisorier'a  state- 
ment. iVs  in  the  ease  of  Ifeg.  v.  Spicer  {  Berks  Lent  A'^^iz.es,  1^J4G),  where 
ihc  pris<»ner  said  he  heard  bis  wife  fall  just  after  they  bad  ibeir  dinner. 
Mr.  Hoi>per,  the  medical  witness,  fuynd  her  stoniach  quite  empty,  thus  dis- 
proving the  prisoner's  story,  as  there  waa  no  evideuce  of  violent  vomiting. 
Aiu^tipit  therefore,  examine  the  ntomarh  aud  its  c<uiteuts  in  miking  n  post' 
ptorirm.  Do  not,  however,  aftrihule  every  redness  to  the  action  of  poison. 
Chapter  H,  and  the  chapter  on  [Kiisons,  quoted  above.)  In  living 
>fM  who  are  uK/tinded,  you  should  biok  (after  attending  to  the  wimnd?) 
r  »igus  of  present  or  past  diseases,  and  diseased  comlitions  i examination 
o(  thoracic  organs   bv  auscultation  or  percusstun,  examinanoii  of  unue, 

). 
JJw  Id  the  next  place,  exftmine  carefufft^  earh  individual  ivound.  Aa  re- 
ihe  living,  yon  wouhl  cd"  cours*^  do  h<i,  in  »irder  to  treat  the  woundfl 
y.  A#  we  shall  see  when  treating  of  gudshot  wounds,  (here  is  some 
iflerence  of  opinion  as  to  the  propriety  or  otherwise  of  probing  certain 
ik'oundrt,  vix.,  those  riitming  a  deep  and  perhaps  circuitous  cijurse.  but  more 
especially  (ho«e  which  either  certaiuly  orprtjbably  involve  either  the  braiQ 
or  i»pinal  cord,  large  bluod vessels  or  important  organs  and  viscera,  such  as 
the  ksye,  tiar,  heart,  lungs,  liver,  spleen,  bladiler,  and  the  like.  Iu  our  judg- 
ment, »uch  questions  would  liardly  ever  arise  if  all  surgeons  remembert-*d 
ivhat  Ur,  Blundell  calls  "  the  golden   rule  "  id*  obstetric  medicine — '*  Arte 


«  Ste  Mr.  WMleon'f  chm>,  •'  Bd.  Med.  Rnd  Surg,  Journal/'  vol.  iXEviif  p.  07. 


968 


HOW    TO   EXAMiyB   WOUNDS. 


uon  w."  "  It  18  force/'  says  he.  *'  not  the  forceps^  that  kilU  !^*  Anr! 
would  my — it  it*  iKit  ll>e  prohr  which  injure?,  it  id  the  forcible  priMhiny  tfi? 
pml>e,  where  it  would  not  8pontnneouj*ly  go.  In  rnith,  u  probe  ^hoiihi  Im? 
held  lightly,  thougli  finiily.  Ifof  metul,  it  !»hoLild  he  of  either  port- silver 
or  of  Bomendt  nietiil.  and  it  should  be  regurded  as  n  mere  len<,'Thriuug  ot 
thu  surgeoirrt  Huj^er.  In  some  catiC8a  fiiu^  bougie  or  catheter^  or^onieihiug 
made  oi  viilcuniie,  or  of  linen  covered  with  a  composition  of  wftx»  etc.,  or 
catgnt  may  take  ihe  place  of  a  metal  probe.  Used  gently  and  with  jodg- 
menl,  ihe  probe,  of  whatever  kind,  will  give  valuable  indication?!,  nnd  do 
no  harm.     In  examining  a  wound  for  inedico-legal  purp4jse9,  lofik^ — 

(a)  To  its  f<U}K;rficial  dimensions  and  \\»  situation.  The  length  aod 
breadth  of  a  wound,  if  at  all  considerable,  or  likely  to  be  a  matter  of  triaK 
should  always  Ix;  men»urfd  in  inches  and  parts  of  an  iuvh.  It  you  like  to 
use  French  measures,  by  all  mcao!*  do  so,  but  remember  lo  translate  or 
ex)>hiiu  them  by  their  Knglish  equivalents  when  giving  your  evidence,  or 
in  written  d<K'ument8.* 

In  general  very  extensive  and  deep  wounds  are  supposed  to  be  homi' 
cidai  or  t«j  indictiie  murder.  If  very  nunierijus,  they  probably  do  an,  but 
tbair  depth  Hud  direelion  must  be  uuutiidered.     We  have  ourselvea  known 


•  Tlie  lidile  Mt  pngo  rj23  jrivesthe  relHtiofi's  "f  EntfriKh  inchff  Ut  n»llim**ir«Hi,  old 
pHfb  Im**^,  urtil  l*ru*>iun  line*.  Th**  lollowing  meinornntdn  nmy  bu  M««iiil  i.*  you 
in  reading  wurka  uii  Forensic  Medieintt,  |iMrLiviiljii-ly  t»roigh  i>u<m  : 

English  Menttum  of  Lr.nglh. 

12  linf*.  or  S  harloycorns,,  pquul  1  inch.  (On  ewriK'ntpr*'  nnd  olhnr  ruU*  iln-  inch 
is  id»*f»  divided  itiln  qii«rt<'^r«f  (»it;hth»*,  lenlh-,  nnil  •i.tlfenllii',  hc  w«ill  a-  twinha. ) 
12  Jnrb<»*  =  1  UhA.  3  Wk'X  (3<i  uuhc*)  =  1  yard.  4  irvclio*  =  1  bnitd  (u^'-d  in 
nieMMOinLT  lii>r««**«).  3  invliut  =  1  pjiliii  H  (minis*  (9  itichi**)  =  I  finnn  h  r«M*i  s_^ 
1  piK'H.  f)  te*-!  =  I  fnthum.  5^  yHrdsi  (16.)  !WM)  =  1  (M-reli  or  \\»\v<  Rnt;li,>-)i.  7 
yurd*  (21  foef)  =  1  Irish  jvonh.  4ii  jienfirt*  iGUUtVt)  =  1  furlong  Kmfli.h.  % 
Xy\r\Mi\»it  (ur  17tiOyHriJ&,  or  6280  Ivft)  =  I  niile  English.  II  Irxih  milt^  —  14  Kng- 
lith  un<*«. 

French  Meaiturra  o/  Lmgih, 

1  millimetre  =  0  03037  ireh  Enji:li*l>,  10  milliniotres  or  1  oenlimetre  =  0  ^0371 
inch  En^li^h.  10  ccntiniftrcii  Dr  1  dwmi^-tre  =  8  {♦.'J 708  inches  Knirli^h  Indc- 
cimotrfs  t»r  I  niHrP  =  3!».H7071»  inches  En|;li^h.  nr  1  yiird,  in  int-hcf,  nut\  ,V*»*^*'  "'^ 
«n  inrh  nt'url}*,  10  tin'iree  or  1  dwHmnro  =  lO.'.iiiOS-'Jl  yurda,  10  «ii<<'HTn>>iri*«  or  I 
hcct«»ni»tr«j  =  l<'9.Hi«38l  yrtrcis  H»  hfctometres  or  1  kilometre  =  I01<8.t>:i3l  y«rd*. 
Or  I  inch  ^  2  5BU1«54  cenlimt^lrof  ^  1  fool  =  3  0479440  iii:c)iuc9lrc^«;  1  yiird  =^ 
0.91438348  metrti;  Mnd  I  mile  :=  1.601>814i)  kikirnvtre, 

Oerman  Metuntre.^  nf  Leni/ih. 

12  Austrian  punkte  make  1  iinie  =  0.08G4  inch  English.  12  linlcn  =  I  juiJI  or 
inch  =:  ]  0371  inch  Ent^rrHli.  12  xoU  uniKe  1  lui^s  =  12  415  inehMs  Engli-h  Th«t 
elle  16  8U.»j6  inche.*,  or  2  5!J6  feci.  The  Au««t  rlnn  nnle  i*  82t*7  y«rd*»  or  4,7 142  ndios 
£ni;)if»h.  In  Hnnover  12  linien  ni«k<*  1  koII,  or  0.95 inch  Kntflit^h  ;  Hhd  th«  fu-!»  «if 
12  «oll  pquwU  only  11  46  inehe«,  or  0-!ln42  tool  EnijHsli.  In  Prui<j.i»i  12  ^eruind  ss 
1  )ini<^,  or  0.08U  inch  English  ;  12  linien  ;=^  1  xoll,  or  I  03  ineh  Ei)gltt.h.  The  iWb 
(Khcin-fu!-*.)  iii  ihereJor**  J2..'J57  inoho,  or  1.02V8  fo«ii  Engli*.h  ;  mikJ  thi'mile  <(iieihM 
is  8288  y*ir<J<t,  or  4.6807  mile*  Eii;;li''h.  In  Uuden  (GiTiiiauy)  10  (iiinkie  nttik""  i 
Iinie  =  I.M18  inch  Erl>!ll^h.  10  hnien  =  1  X'<11.  or  1.181  inch.  10  7,<*ll  =  1  fuM, 
or  11  8U  incht'*  or  Oi«842  f<iot  En;;lihh.  10  lut-s  ^  I  rulhe,  or  f).M4i.S  tVi-i  Enzb»h. 
=  3  FrHneh  rnelre*.  In  JSuxonv  10  linien  mnke  I  «o|l  s:  0.i)29  inch  Eni;U«h.  12 
jioll  =  1  fus?,  or  11.148  ini'b«  HJngli^h  =  0.1»2'*i  foot  EnglUb.  The  mcUo  ^mik)  U 
7432  yurd?,  or  4.22:^7  milt». 

VoT  the  measures,  ele.,  of  other  ennlinenlnl  iind  foreijErn  etMtPI,  $(fr  •*  The  WrighU 
ftnd  MeasuriM  of  nil  Nntions,"  by  W.  S.  B.  Woolhouse;  £»q.,  F.K  AS,  in  WelllD^l 
Series. 


SHAPE    AND    DIRECTION 


WOUNDS 


Beck. 


r 

^WUiM  inflict  very  terrible  wounds  on  themselves  (see  Illustrative  Ca.<es). 
"^  Ciwp*-»r»  (jiiy,  ami  Taylor,  and  mas*t  French  and  Oerriiau  authors, 
Willi  ihid  8tatenieut.  Whiljst  reeocumending  y»»u  to  be  exact  m  the 
turement  of  wound«i,  we  do  not  advise  you  t<j  state  ihern  to<j  miiiritely 
ID  your  evidence.  A  jury  would  underfiand  y<jn  far  better  if  you  said  a 
wouutl  wae  about  fottr  iueheit  long,  than  it'  you  stated  it  as  3,9-1  iiiche^i. 
Far  in  general  both  vulgar  and  decimal  fracLiuusnre  but  little  uuderntood 
by  tbermpulace. 

(6)  The  sUiuitmn  of  a  \vound  is  often  of  considerable  inif>ortanco.  There 
sre  ionie  part«  of  the  body,  as  all  who  have  been  accustomed  either  to 
g}'mnaMnci4  ur  ablyliotis  with  cohl  or  hot  svaler,  can  testify,  whitdi  are 
either  not  capable  of  being  reached  at  all,  or  reached  only  with  extrctne 
ditjicully.  A  uniridal  tvcnnul  is  tliercf'ore,  in  general,  on  the  front  nf  the 
hijd*f  ami  in  parts  whitfi  trre  reached  with  enjte,  TJius  the  throat  or  chest, 
the  torearni!^,  and  the  thighs  or  groins  are  favorite  seats  of  suicidal  woutida. 
But  luurderers  may,  and  often  do»  *ielect  the  same  s*ites.  Dr.  Gi)idoo 
Smith  ("Forensic  Medicine,"  p.  802)  i*  very  ra.sh  in  paying  that  if  a 
bullet  or  >hot  wound  is'  made  from  within  the  mouth,  we  may  "  Lake  it  for 
fV^nted  that  it  is  not  made  by  another,"  and  therefore  suicidal.  Because, 
#•  Dr,  Taylor  justly  niy.",  a  cool  and  calculating  murderer  may  ea>*ily 
attack  a  sleeping  or  feeble  victim  in  this  way.  Htill,  we  may  certainly 
admit,  if  other  evidence  docj^  not  j>oint  to  murder,  that  finding  wounds 
ID  an  ex|x>aed  and  anterior  region  of  the  body  ia  in  favor  of  their  being 
suicidal. 

(c)  The  fhape  or  form,  and  depth  of  wound»  sometimea  pointa  to  the 
hand  of  a  murderer.  Fur  exiimple,  in  a  midland  county,  some  ye«ref  l)ack, 
a  iiiriuer  Wfu^  fouttd,  with  lii^'  throat  cut,  tying  on  a  highroad,  with  bi8 
pocket*  rifled.  On  examining  ibe  wound,  the  f^urgeon  discuvered  that 
the  knife  had  l>een  entered  dee|ily  jn!*t  below  the  ear,  and  that  t!ie  carotid 
and  jugular,  with  tlie  throat  auil  windjoiM?,  had  been  cut  from  bebiud  for- 
wards ;  the  fhallowest  pail  of  the  wound  being  at  the  point  of  exit.  lu 
fact,  it  waf  done  jn.'^t  as  a  butcher  might  cot  a  i*heep's  throat.  The  pri*- 
ODer,  who  waa  8ub*eiiuenlly  tried  and  executed  for  this  crime,  had,  it 
appeared,  been  a  bntchtT.  {See  Guy  and  Taylor.)  Orfila  quoted  a  case 
io  which  the  body  was  divided  into  two,  between  the  third  and  fourth 
lumbar  veriebne,  just  as  butchers  divide  anitiiat^,  an«l  thi^  led  to  the 
arreat,  trial,  and  condemnation  of  a  butcher.  Sometime!^  the  neat  way,  »o 
to  y^teak,  in  which  joints  arc  dinarticulatefl,  or  a  boiiy  otxineil,  or  decapi- 
tated, hai*  Ifd  to  the  »*U!»piciun  tliat  ihe  perjietrator  of  tne  crime  wtu  au 
aJiatumUt,  or  a  MUrgeon,  or  at  Ica^t  a  medical  student.  It  should,  how- 
etrcr,  t)e  borne  in  mind,  that  many  lads,  e^^iM^cially  in  country  villager  and 
•mall  towns,  are  fond  of  watching  the  manoiuvre:*  of  huicher.i.  AUo  that 
in  medical  !<choo!»  and  lio:*pitalH,  where  there  are  Faculties  of  Artd,  Law, 
TlK*oh»gy,  etc.,  others,  besides  n»edical  students,  often  witnena  diksections 
and  o|>eralionfl  on  both  the  living  ami  the  dead  «ui>ject.  The  depth  of  a 
wound  may  l>€  conveniently  taken  by  means  of  either  a  nrobe  or  a  j^mall 
bougie,  cxjmparing  it  with  a  meivsuririg  rule  or  tape ;  thi«  should  he  genlly 
iDfiinnated  umler  the  edges  of  the  wound,  and  llien,  if  we  are  making  a 
poet  mortem  exaniiuatiou,  we  may  snrrouud  the  wound  in  thin  manner 
l\  )  by  a  couple  of  semilunar  incisions  j  and  thus  preserve  the  relation, 
of  the  external  parts,  ekin^  nHii<>cle8»  etc.,  to  the  deeper  portiofift  of  tbe 
wouml. 

(d)  A*  ragards  the  nature  of  (he  wonndj  we  have  before  explained  the 
pnDei|XBd  characteni  of  wouudtf  of  different  kinds,  iuciMKi,  lacerated,  coo* 

62 


970 


OaSTON    ON    PECULIAR    WOUNDB. 


tu^ed,  penetrating,  etc.     We  need  not,  therefore,  repeat  what  we  said,  but 
pR.**»  »in  to  notice  thai — 

(e)  The  tlirecfwn  of  a  wound  is  ronaidered  by  many  writers  on  this  sub- 
jer  t  o  hf  of  very  great  importance.  Thus  suicidal  wounds  of  the  (hroat 
gpneralty  run  from  Jefl  to  rij^ht,  when  iofltcted  by  persons  who  are  rjght- 
haiHled.  Suuh  [)en50u.>i  cut  pretty  ."^iraighi  acrou**,  and  often  very  high  up, 
ju!»t  Ixjtween  the  hyoid  bone  and  the  lliyroid  and  cricoid  carlilagcs.  The 
larynx  or  vvuiilpipe  (orgtm  of  the  voice  >  is  thus  wounded  an<i  cut  acnx-s*, 
but  the  carotids  and  other  large  vessels  often  escape,  parliculnrly  if  the 
kuile  be  somewhat  blunt.  A  itjt  handni  pemon  would  of  course  cut  in  the 
reverse  direction.  It  ha;*,  therefore,  heen  recomtnended  to  plaeea  kiitfe 
or  razor^  the  very  weapon  tuunil,  or  one  that  is  capable  of  inflicting 
a  gijuilar  wound,  in  the  right  hand  of  tlie  deceased  (or  vice  ver»d  in 
the  left  hrtinl),  and  see  if  the  inelsiou  could  have  been  easily  nuide  id 
Buch  a  direction.  It  has,  however,  been  renuirked  in  answer  to  ihis.  that 
if  a  murderer  went  behind  his  victim,  he  wuuld  inflict  a  similar  w<iund  in 
the  throat  na  the  person  himself,  according  to  which  hand  he  used.  In 
some  casfs  it  might  be  fiHind  that  the  Imtul  (if  ihe  murdered  perstm  wns 
incfipHhlc  of  reaching  the  wonudeil  part.  You  must,  of  course,  in  nutking 
audi  an  experimejit,  o%"erc()me  post-mortem  rigidity,  if  present,  by  forcibly 
beudtug  the  limbs,  fingers,  etc.,  backwards  and  Ibrwards  a  few  tinie», 
Situilarly,  a  stub  or  punctured  wound  inflicted  by  a  suicide  is  commonly 
from  right  to  left,  and  from  above  downwards,  since  this  ii*  the  eiuiesi  way 
to  make  it.  Suicides  are  sKiuetimes  very  iugeuioua  in  contriving  odd  M-ays 
of  injuring  ihotiiiselveg.  We  have  known  a  lunatic  fix  a  kuife  in  the  chink 
of  a  floor,  and  another  place  one  in  a  carpenter's  rtrc,  and  then  the 
wretched  meu  impaled  iheniselves  upon  the  weapons  they  had  thus  (ixed. 
In  such  a  case  the  stab  was,  of  course,  from  below  upwards.  One  of  the 
authors  knew  a  man  who^e  hands  were  partially  disabled,  who  fixed  a 
string  to  the  trigger  of  a  pistol  which  he  held  between  his  teeth,  and  pulled 
this  with  his  feet.  Soldiei-s,  and  some  sportsmen,  who  commit  suicide  with 
a  rifle,  musket,  or  fowling-piece,  placing  the  further  end  of  the  barrel 
inside  their  mouth,  adopt  a  similar  mauteuvre,  because  in  such  a  po«!ition 
the  trigger  (if  the  gun  be  a  long  one)  is  out  of  reach  of  their  hands.  They 
also  make  use  of  the  ramrod  to  fire  the  gun.  The  remark  made  l»efore 
about  cut  thrcmts  a])plies,  in  part,  to  slabs  and  punctured  wounds  done  by 
murderers.  That  is,  if  the  murderer  goes  behind  his  victim,  the  stab  may 
very  probably  be  fnjm  right  tr)  left,  and  frtun  below  upwards.  If,  on  the 
contrary,  be  attacks  his  victim  from  the  front,  it  h  rao»t  likely  that  be  will 
Htab  in  an  upward  direction,  and  from  left  to  right.  Again,  "  homicidal 
iDcisions  in  tbetliroat,"  as  Dr.  Taylor  justly  remarks  (p.  48H),  '*are«iften 
proiuuged  deeply  into  the  soft  parts  behnv  and  behind,  the  gkJD  lonning 
the  angles  or  extremities  of  the  wound,"  Again,  **  oblique  wounds,  paaie- 
ing  Irom  above  downwards,  are  common  to  homicide  and  suicide,  but 
those  which  take  an  oblitpie  course  from  below  upwards  are  generally  indic- 
ative of  homicide,  for  it  is  extremely  rare  that  a  person  bent  on  8uicu1e, 
unless  a  lunatic,  thus  uses  a  weap<  n."  Suicidal  wounds  of  the  throat,  etc., 
are  rarely  deeper  in  the  soft  partj^  than  in  the  ?kin,  U'jually  "  they  termi- 
nate gradually  in  a  sharp  angle,  and  the  skin  iuself  is  the  farthest  point 
wounded,  the  weapon  is  not  carried  either  behind,  below,  or  l>eneath  it,*' 
Dr.  Ogston  ('*  Med.  Times  and  Gazette,"  January  20,  1877)  calls  attca- 
tion  to  the  fact  that  a  single  thrust  or  stjib  from  a  weapon  which  U  with- 
drawn with  a  twist  of  the  wri-nt,  will  inflict  a  wound  with  a  «ort  of  tail  or 
oiliboot,  like  a  Greek  gamma,  thus,  ^,  so  that  we  might  almoht  suspect  that 
there  liud  been  two  stabs.  He  also  point*  out  that  cylindrical  weapons, 
auch  as  some  bayonets,  etc.,  will  sometimes  inflict  wouudjs  with  two  sharp 


EXAMINE    THE    SURBOUNDINOS. 


971 


ungles,  almopt  like  a  narrow  blade.     (See  our  remarks  on   the  fitting  of 

weii{K)»s.}  It  ii*  ii  very  <iltJ  ubj^ervntioii  tlint  tlie  murderer  may  use  one 
'weapcju,  and  then  Kulistitute  iiiiotCier  lit'lutitritig  to  the  iiiurdert-d  inau  or 
'ifoinan,  which  lie  purposely  Htaitk*  with  hJood,  in  onlt^r  to  couvey  the  im- 
pr««i<iou  ol  isuicide.  There  were  many  wlio  siiftpot^ed  this  to  have  been 
done  iu  the  eaj^e  of  the  alleged  suieide  of  AIkIuI  Assiz.  the  late  uuhappy 
Buhan  of  Turkey.  It  was  .miid  that  his  veins  were  divided  by  a  sharp 
ffuroifjll  knde  or  lancet,  and  then  the  scissors  worn  by  him  were  stained 
with  bhwKl,  as  if  he  had  dtme  the  deed.  We  shall  retiiru  to  this  case 
presently. 

C,  Yoii  should  carffuffjj  examine  the  ilreAs  of  the  wounded  or  murdered 
person.  Where  possible,  and  in  ibe  cas>etif  a  corpse  you  can  always  impure 
the  lime,  examine  the  <nuer  clothing,  and  each  successive  layer  of  dress 
iiret,  beti»re  cutting  otT  or  otherwise  removiog  the  coat,  shirt,  or  other  article 
of  drcec.  Prci^erve,  if  p09*<ible,  all  the  holes  indicative  of  stabs,  cuU«,  or 
Other  use  of  weapons,  either  by  not  destroying  the  clot  lies  at  all,  or  by  slit- 
ting ihem  Uji  remote  from  the  tear  or  ofjening  in  the  dre.<^s.  Iti  si>me  cases, 
a«  of  gunsliot  wounds,  ihe  s^everal  layers  might  be  removed  together,  by 
ttittilig  round  and  outside  the  openings  in  tin*  various  articles  of  dotliiiig, 
'by  a  similar  niaiueuvre  to  that  recooimended  in  the  case  of  w<mnds.  in 
the  i!k*hlc8wig  Holsiein  war,  Mr.  L.  S.  Little  found  a  Dane  wounded  by  a 
bullet  through  seventeen  ditft-rent  layers  of  as  many  garments.  The  poor 
mttU  bad  ap[>areiitly  worn  all  bis  wardrobe,  just  as  the  lather  of  the  poet 
Coleridge  is  said  to  have  worn  the  relays  of  shirts  with  which  he  was  fur- 
xitsbed  by  his  wife!  The  clothes  sbonbl  be  (ureservetl  under  lock  and  key» 
with  an  uppropriale  label  or  inscription.  Iu  the  case  of  Kynwick  or  Ken- 
wick  WiUijuos,  tried  in  July,  1790,  well  known  by  the  af)pellation  of**  The 
Monster/*  for  assaulting  Anu  Porter,  spinster,  the  indictment  ^ei  forth  that 
he  iJid*"  tear,  spoil,  cut, and  deface  her  garmeuts,viz.,  one  silk  gown,value20j»,; 
M  pair  of  stays,  value  5j«,;  a  silk  i>etticout,  value  5.^.;  one  other  |>etlicoat,  value 
b*. ;  a  linen  petticoat,  value  5^. ;  and  a  shift,  value  on,**  It  would  appear  that 
Muss  Porter  received  a  wound  on  her  bip,  ior  Mr.  Totnkin»,  a  surgeon  who 
attended  her,  deposed,  "  that  the  wounrl  was  made  with  a  «harp  instrument 
which  apjM'ared  to  be  the  same  that  had  injured  the  clothes.  He  had  ex- 
ainineci  the  clothes,  all  but  the  shift;  the  first  part  of  the  wound  was  only 
through  the  skin,  the  nnddle  part  wa.s  at  least  three  or  four  inches  deep» 
and  then  it  ran  about  three  inches  more  through  the  skin  only.  The  whole 
length  of  the  woutid  was  between  nine  and  ten  inches.  Part  of  the  blow 
wiu»  l)€low  the  bow  of  the  stays,  if  not,  it  wrjuld  probably  have  pierced 
even  the  abdomen.  The  blow  or  wuund  must  have  been  with  great 
violence."  It  h  somewhat  strange  that  the  prisooer,  who  was  tried  a  little 
later  for  eight  other  similar  assaults,  and  coiivicttnl  on  four,  should  not 
have  b**en  tried  for  the  wounding.  The  object  probably  wa-s  to  save  hia 
life.  He  was  tried  under  an  act  passed  in  the  (5th  of  King  (fcorge  I,  against 
cutting  and  defacing  of  garments,  etc.,  and  Mr.  Justicu  Buller,  though  be 
tttid  this  was  the  first  case  tried  under  the  act,  said  also  that  ii  waa 
I  notorious  tucli  cases  were  very  common, 

h^,  B. — Although  a  shot  or  knife  wound  must  usually  traverse  clothes  to 
|ch  a  covered  pari,  yet  fatal  injuries  may  be  inflicted,  and  leave  no  mark 
i  the  dress.     (<Str  jjluslralive  cases.) 

D.    Tfus  mirruuinlinfj»  uj  the  wounded  person  ah&uld  he  eurefidhj  examirnsd. 

We  have  before  adviM-d  you  t*j  nnike  a  rough  sketch  of  the  po«itionof  the 

I  b<**iy  in  the  case  of  n»urdtr.    {Set:  Fig.  1.  page  IjO,  and  Taylor,  tor,  cit.,  vol. 

'  i,  p.  401.)    But  if  called  to  a  wimnded  t)ers<in,  even  if  you  have  no  time  lo 

make  a  sketch,  ytju  sluiuld  nolf  carefully  the  position  in  which  he  is.     If 

ihej^e  are  byatanders,  inquire  if  the  per»on  or  corpse  have  b«/&w  ivv\y4<e4. 


972 


BE    MINUTE    IN    EXAMINATION. 


I 


Examine  the  surroundinp  furniture  and  the  floor  for  niarkff  of  a  stni|^_ 

(disordered  or  broken  iurDiturt )  and  tnr  spaf*  of  lilood.     It  might  be  well 
in  many  ciu^ejj  to  rut  out  tht*  murks  of  blood  with  a  sharp  knife  if  on  wtMid, 
and  to  scni|>e  ihein  otl'or  dig  iliem  op  if  on  stone,  briekn,  or  earth.    If  the 
stains  aro  on  bidding  Hineti  hheelsi,  or  blankets^  towel:*,  etc.),  these  arliclea^ 
should  be  taken  away  entire  and  examined  at  leisure.     In  giving  evi<lenoifl 
on  Biueh  niailers  it  if*  be^^t  to  eoiifine  your^elvei*  to  simple  matters  of  facL™ 
In  an  instance  recorded  by  Dr.  Taylor,  a  medical  wiiuefts  itai<l  tliHt  there 
were  evidences  of  a  nt^vfrv  drut/^/ie.     On  being  era'is-exMniined,  however,  it 
appeared  that  a  broken  gltu^  and  an  overtorued  duiir  were  almoHl  th» 
only  facts  on  which  be  based  this  a*3erlion.  In  the  cn^t'  of  fit g.  v.Gnrdttcry 
the  sweep's  wife  Imd  numerou?'  cut,H  in  her  fingen-*  (figured  at  p.  4tV2  of  Dn 
Taylor's  btiok),i-ucb  aw  would  be  caused  by  a  pereou  taking  hold  of  » 
knife  in  order  to  wrest  it  from  her  a^i^ailant. 

The  im|KirMu  ce  of  noting  minute  circumttancen  ia  well  j^bown  by  a  ca 
reconled  by  Dr.  F.  Og^Jion  of  Abewleen  ("  Med.  Times  and  Giizetle."  ,lan 
uary  20,   1877;    aee.  aUu  Taylor,  loc.  cit.,  p.  f)04,  vol.  i ).     Tlie  prisouo! 
I/avid'ion  was  tried  for  murder  before  the  Al>erdcen  Court  of  Juslicinrr, 
April,  1855,  and  the  origin  of  ceriain  wounds  on  the  bead  of  the  tlecea;* 
turned  on  tike  ipiesiion  of  the  presence  or  abi«ence  of  nails  at  the  head  o 
a  bed.      Lord  Dea?*,  the  judge,  remarked  :  "A  medical  man  when  hr  ures 
dead  body,  nhoutd  notice  evtrythiug**     Tliere  was  reitstm  to  believe  that  thi 
uaild  Imd  been  driven  in  after  the  infiiction  of  the  vicdence,  and  even  ail 
the  p>8t-mortem  examinatitin ;  and  although  some  medical  evidence  wen 
to  show  that  the  wuumb  nnghl  have   b<'en  accidental,  yet  Dr.  Og^to 
showed  that  there  was  no  blood  on  the  bed-stock  where  the  nails  were  !*ai 
to  have  been,  as  on  the  ihetiry  of  the  defence  thei-e  sliould  have  Keen, 
Again,  the  di?*tance  of  the  nails  from  one  another  and  the  diintance  of  th 
wounds  <In  not  seen)  lo  have  coincided.     It  does  not  appear  that  there  we 
any  actual  measurements  of  the  diniance  between  the  wound.s     Dr,  Ognto 
juHtly  aays:  Not  ouhj  mm^un'  the  woundu  them^efvcs,  \nn  also  the  di»tan 
apartf  when  ibcrc  (ire  two  or  more  imundn  on  any  one  region  of  Oi*^  f/otly, 
Had  there  been  sutfirient  altentiuu  to  the  state  of  the  bedsteiid  the  prisone 
would  have  been  convicted. 

You  may  be  a?ked  in  some  of  these  cases,  how  far  could  a  person  witb. 
sach  and  such  a  wound,  whether  suicidal,  accidental,  or  hotmcidal,  run  " 
walk,  or  crawl  after  the  reception  of  the  wound  ?     We  wi>idd  8Uggt«l 
you  not  to  be  too  dogmatic  on  such  a  point.*     We  will  give  two  ca^eu 
illustrate  the  need  of  caution  in  framing  your  reply,    A  yuutig  woman 


*  We  can  Pc«rocly  do  be'ttor  here  than  quolP  the  *on»U»Ie  jind  mniil y  ndvirH  i 
Sir  Wiliium  BhiiHrcf,  formerly  surgeon  !<»  the  Lomlort  U<>s|tinil.  Hf'i«Mi(J  to  h 
pupiU,  *'  Be  the  plnillo^t  men  in  lh«*  wt»r!d  in  h  court  of  ju4lic«* ;  nt'vcr  h»irb«ir 
thought  that  if  you  do  not  Nppwr  pf>?^itiv»»  yi\  must  nppoar  liitlt?  nnd  t!»»'nn  i>vb 
after;  niHny  old  prHClilionera  hHV«  erred  in  itii*  rcwpwl.  Give  yoar  ♦^riflenr-o  i 
as  concise,  p1«in,  and  yet  clear  h  mfin»»T  «s  pos^ihto  ;  bt»  intolljiffnt,  cHndid,  pUir 
and  ju*t,  never  Himing  at  ttppenrini?  unnefe.A-iHrily  ftcirnliflc;  slHie  hII  ihM  »ouri 
by  wlitih  you  huve  ^aint'd  your  inrormuitiou.  If  yon  cnn,  mnk**  your  t'vidi* 
iolf-fvidt*nl  truth;  Ihuft  ihtMigli  th«'  court  may  ul  lh»'  lime  hnvo'loo  giM>d  or  U 
meiin  nn  opinion  of  your  judgment,  yet  they  must  deem  you  nn  honnsl  mwn  ;  ni'Vfl 
lh«'n  till  dogmalic,  or  set  yi>ursi*}v»«!i  up  forjudge  und  jury  ;  t«kc*  no  «ide  whulcvo 
bo  impHrtini.  wiid  vou  will  be  honest.  In  court*  of  jiidioHturc,  you  will  fr<Hjur»nt1r1 
lieMf  the  loiinj^elltrrd  cornplnin  when  n  «urj;<Ktn  gives  his  opintuti  with  nny  koid  o 
doubt,  tlmt  he  doeis  not  »peMk  clt^nrly  ;  but  if  he  19  loud  nnd  pcMitivi;,  if  ho  i«  tech 
Ijicnl  und  dogmatic,  then  he  is  iillowed  to  be  cienr  and  ri«ht!  1  nm  »orry  to  biiv 
it  to  observe  tbiit  this  i*  too  fr**qijently  th»'  cnse,"  '♦  Londim  Mndn-nl  undPtvy^io 
J<mrnal,"  vol  xxi,  p.  40.'J.  Quoted  in  h  note  to  Bock,p  »6l.  Sir  Witli«m  Binu 
WHS  juatly  considered  one  of  iho  first  surgeons  of  his  any. 


EXAMINATION    OP   WEAPONS. 


973 


the  neighborhoorl  of  Uxhridge  is  confined  of  a  child  at  or  near  term.  8he 
Io*et«  N>  mufli  hhmi]  tlmt  htr  own  I'lotlips,  a  number  of  towel.-*  ami  sliitU, 
and  the  bet!  and  bedding,  atid  fli>or  of  Uuf  room,  are  soaked  with  it  She 
contrivej*,  however,  to  drop  from  a  bt^droom  wimlow,  a  heij^Kt  of  twelve  or 
fourteen  feet,  to  walk  at  lt'a.*t  a  fouplf  of  miles  (for  she  was  IrackcHl  by 
ihe  blood  9o  far),  tt»»d,  it  is  l>elici'tMl  also,  to  wulk  all  the  way  to  London — 
•ome  nine  or  ten  miles  at  least — and  when  seen  by  one  ol'  the  atrihors  four 
daT5  affor,  8pf)eared  litile  the  worse  for  it.  8beal.<o  mrried  a  bundle.  It 
is  (xhs^ible  iftlie  niHV  have  bad  a  ride  in  a  niarket-cjirt  part  of  the  way, 
Apitn.a  man  ii*  wounded  in  the  ^koll  (ptirietal  rejrioii)  by  a  bolt  u:*ed  in 
riveting.  The  force  of  the  blow  stuns  him,  fractures  his  skull,  .«o  as  to 
expose  and  lacerate  the  dura  muter,  and  allows  a  portion  of  the  brain  to 
esM^aj)*.  There  wa*  considerable  haonorrhagc.  Yet  as  invm  aa  he  recovered 
coii.scioU-*!nef«  (in  about  a  rjuiirter  of  an  hour)  he  walked  a  distance  of  more 
than  two  mileji  to  the  Ltrndoti  tlt*i$pital,and  told  his^  own  ^^tory.  This^  caae 
iMfurred  in  Mr.  Curling*;^  practice,  but  was  seen  by  one  of  the  authors. 
The  nnin  recovered,  too,  in  spite,  first  of  erysipelas,  and  then  of  hi>!*pital 
gnnj^renc* 

E.  A  ny  weapong  that  are  mhown  yoUf  or  which  mmj  he  found  m,  or  wpon,  or 
near,  the  hodtf  ofthf  wotnided  permn^  nhoufd  nrxi  be  mrrfuffy  examined,  and 
if  f»u.<sible  compared  with  the  wtiurul  or  wounds  then  an<I  there.  In  the 
case  of  a  dead  bfxly  tlu8  is  of  course  easy,  ftfnriy  discussions  have  ari)«ca 
as  tn  what  constitute!*  a  treapon.  Webster  defines  it  a-*  ''an  insitrunient  of 
fifoee;  fJomethin^jT  with  which  one  is?  arnicHl  to  kill  or  injure  auotlier,  as  a 
eword  or  musket,  etc/'  Formerly  there  wan  much  lepil  discUNsiim  on  this 
p>i|jt.  There  could,  of  course,  he  little  douht  as  to  inHtruments  of  warfare  ; 
f4»  that  all  projectile  thntwer^,  s!in»::8,  arid  b<iwsi  and  arrows,  firearms  of  all 
kiudd  and  !*izet^,  boili  kr^e  and  f^inull,  and  pUiu-bored  or  rifled  ;  swords, 
upean*,  javelins,  battle-axes,  bayonets,  diigijers,  etc.,  were  clearly  included. 
Kor  was  it  easy  to  i«ay  that  a  common  axe  or  a  fur^ical  knife  were  not 
wea|M»D«.  But  exception  was  lakcn  to  including  BU^ncH  and  brickbat*, 
iharp  tool?,  such  as  awlt*,  or  chi**eli?,  or  augers,  or  hammer!^  used  in  peaceful 
tmdcit,  mjd  in  one  ca^e  to  an  iron  hook  iit  the  end  of  a  wooden  arm,  used 
1>v  a  one-armi<l  man  a»  a  wenpon,  and,  as  it  turned  out,  a  very  fatal  one. 
^ouare  nol  likely  to  lie  much  tnuilded  vviih  thej*e  subtleties  of  law  and 
pbilolotfv,  itt  h'a-*^t  in  Ivu^hind,  for  the  words  of  the  («lalute  are  now  plain: 
*'  \Vhoj«K*ver  shall,  btj  ntttf  jiftitnn  whuiffottrr,  wound,  or  cause  any  grievous 
b<Mli]y  harm,  to  ii  person,  etc."  Yet,  as  Dr.  Taylor  remarks,  the  use  of 
•hv  weapon,  that  !•<,  of  any  addition  lo  what  may  he  called  the  natural 
weapon?  or  meanif^  of  defence  ( the  fist^  or  feet ),  is  considered  an  ag^ravatioo 
i>f  the  priH>ner'^  crime,  and  I  he  more  deadly  the  W4'apon,  as  for  example, 
H  »harp  and  twisted  stiletto,  or  a  many -chambered  revolver,  the  greater 

•  Th*»  fnllowintf,  from  B-ck,  i*  a  en-*'  in  poirvt  At  iU**  WwrwH-k  A«pijw««  in  1R82, 
J'tftn  ihtnkx  WMh  lrii«<l  \%>r  tii«»  iininl»'r  nf  Mnty  fir^en.  After  *.'<<nviftMm  hr  t.*nnf«'*<tcd 
that  h**  i-iit  iK'r  thr  tit  with  a  kiiif«<  if»  it  liovoL  The  wxaiui  wm^  7  iiiuhrB  luni;,  8 
&¥€'p.  divfdinir  lln'  trunk  *•(  l\ui  rnvtitui.  mid  nil  ttit»  prinf]|iiHl  brnnehi-*  of  th«*  ex» 
tvrnii'l  cnnaid  Hitd  jiiirdtHr*  ;  y«*l  in  Umm  kUIo  it  npprnr«  Ibiit  »t>o  rnti  '28  yufdt, 
bi'fido*  cronoirji;  n  t>Hr-t:riti',  ^fturi  10  inrh^'ii  hiuh.  At  Ihin  diNtiifii't!  mi  Ittiul  ^lo'  wh« 
fM«ind  nn*\  tliH  rriitiinitl  Ui  the  Init  dfriied  ibnt  hi^  liml  tii>urtM'«l  hnr,  ex<^«pt  in  the 
h"V«*1,  when*  h««  h'\'\   h'T  for  tU'wl.     A  «<*nlli'njiui  went  civ^r  lite  ground  nfUT  the 

^irUl,  And  it  took  him  ulin'Ut  thirty  soroiith.  Si-wrt-ply  wny  hhnnJ  wm«  uh-.*p%'0(|  in 
lb*«  trili«rrm'iii«lo  «ipHc«>,  nnd  llii*  i*  4>YtilNini'd  hy  "uppfmimf  ihwl  ••im  oln^f^  th« 
Vfun«l  with  )o*r  cnp.  Hnd  iiImh  by  bntding  i{<»wn  hrr  Ih'H<1,  Mu<h  bluod  hud.  how- 
i'%*T.  flowfd  down  her  hn*H«!t»,  and  luduml  MtMMjl  the  pube*.  hi  tho  hovol,  »Uo, 
»  l»fK»'  (pmiitiiy  wiu  ol)«»erved.     ''  Londun  Mfdicnl  Oaxetty,"  vol.  x,  p.  183.     Btnik, 

,  p   631. 


COTS  FROM  GLASS  AND  CHINA. 


the  ofTonce.  You  mny  consult  Heiike*s  "Z'Mtachrtf>.  dovH.  A. 
67,  (|U(*ted  hy  I>r,  Taylor;  Fuiler^s  mul  Orfilti,  unrl  *ome  of  tb 
writers  thai  with  this  |io*mt at  some  lenjith.  The  rhiiractew  we  havi 
ill  the  ititroihirtion,  <>f  itu'beil,  lacerakMi,  and  other  wouikI-.  will 
in  fonuhig  a  juil^MDeiu  a^  to  the  kind  of  weapon.  tnrUfd  immj 
instance,  will  u?unlly  bo  iiiHifted  by  weapons  with  nh^rp  edges, 
knives,  swords,  two  edged  cutla*?e.s  and  the  like.  A  razor  i*  a 
knife,  and  so  are  most  mir>;ical  injatrument*  used  in  cutting;.  {S«f 
note.)  A  xhnrppoiuteiinml  n'trroti^  iuMrument  (l(in;.^bladod  knife,  h 
ftpear.  ywinial-d,  rwj)ier»  eie.)  will  prndvire  dnbm  or  punctured  tcoua 
the>ip,  if  they  travenie,  a:»  remarked  before,  the  aperture  of  entry 
erally  larger  than  the  aperture  of  exit,  and  )V*  edt^e*  ar»»  Aomoiinii* 
(although  the  eoiitrary  mij^ht  be  !<iip|n>-ed,  and  does  jMnti  ) 

the  withdrawal  of  the  weapon,  Nvheri  done  rapidly,     h  i  «| 

ihtt  uvmnih  from  brotc^'n  tjfttAn  cunuift  he  rlenn  cat  iuf'tAiotut^  itttd  tuiut  fli 
broken  (jlnitA,  The  authurn  kn<»w  that  tlii-*  i*  not  alwuys  trne.  It  iii^ 
ever,  in  general  correct  to  say,  that  Wfuttdif  from  broken  gbis*  and 
china  or  eaW/ifVneare  are  trenerally  churactt^rlzeti  bij  their  tjreU  irrtgt 
and  the  untfvennem  of  their  edffcjt,  h'^i\\\\^  pundnreA  from  n  flint  of 
glfnte  arc  generally  birerated  and  irregnlnr.  The  antliorHi  know  of  a  ( 
whieh  a  y+uing  lady  suddenly  sat  dowu  on  anti  broke  a  criuolina 
which  penetrated  the  vulva  ami  vagina  to  a  eon!«iderable  depth,  thi 
duciu);  a  laceraiefl  external  wound,  and  a  deep  puncinre<]  iutemi 
with  copiou'*  and  alarmin^i^  h.^etnorrhtige.  Fortunately  her  fath** 
wad  a  medical  man,  wa.^  eliKse  at  hand.  The  ea!4e'<  pven  by  Dr. ' 
at  pp.  471  and  472,  were  dearly  not  at  all  likely  to  he  (>r<Mluie<i  hy  I 
gln?'^,  for  one  was  a  elean  cut  five  inches  lonjr  and  t>ne  inch  dwp, 
bare  the  carotid  artery;  another,  a  rlean  cut,  like  that  (irodufvd  by 
knife  (and  one  was  found  »in  the  prisDuer),  about  twn  inches  loni;  lU 
deep-  But  the  authors  know  of  a  ca.*<e  in  which  a  cheuii:*t'8  apprel 
cleaning  a  window  cut  hi??  wri;*!,  and  se\'ered  his  radial  artery  con»| 
The  w<tund  was  not  very  ru;^ged,  and  it  looked  at  fir^t  as  if  it  migl 
been  done  by  a  knife.  l?ijt  there  were  other  and  slighter  cut*  on  I 
ger:*  fr,orn  the  broken  glass.  They  alj»o  know  of  a  c^-e  in  which 
got  WiA  head  rij^ht  throu":})  a  pane  of  gla»«  (\\'  iar^e  size^  aDd  thoii^ 
throat;  some  broken  gltis.^  was,  however,  found  in  the  wound.  . 
Wurcei*ter  Summer  Assizes  in  1838,  says  Dr.  Taylor,  a  ea^  wa*  [ 
whieh  the  <leceased  was  said  to  have  died  from  a  small  pitaeiuftyl 
of  the  chest,  supposed  to  have  been  produced  by  a  snmll  ^kewvl 
near  the  spot.  The  wouuH,  five  and  a  half  inclu^  deep,  had  etiifl 
traverseii  the  right  ventricle  of  the  heart,  and  had  led  to  d»»ath  I'n 
of  blood.  The  defence  alle«^ed  that  the  wouml  was  produce^i  by  fnl 
a  n:»il  projecting  from  a  tub.  TJie  surgeon,  however,  iwiid  that  tht^i 
was  a  clean-cut.  one»  whereas  if  done  by  a  nail  it  woidil  have  h-'iui  i 
The  24th  and  25th  Vict.,  c.  100,  which  we  have  inentiooeil  n 

medical  witnes-ies  from  any  very  spt-eial  re-^poiLi^ibiruy  a**  to  t  i 

of  ()r«Mhiction  of  woumd.-*.  But  y(»ur  nwu  credit  ai  "iurifeon!*  nod  I 
observera  i.s  at  stake,  and  you  may  sometime.'*  be  able  to  pn»%*c  llM 
cenee  of  one  prisoner,  <»r  the  guilt  of  aufither,  by  a  careful  examine 
a  wound.  Thus,  says  Dr.  Taylor,  Mr.  Haneoek  was  able  by  ihii» 
to  di J* prove  a  charge  of  malid<iusly  wounding  made  again.tt  inuo(H*ut  | 
in  .January.  1853.  A  little  girl,  whilst  Niiting  on  or  over  an  inm  | 
was  said  to  have  been  wouuiled  in  the  private  parU?  by  »*)me  yt% 

(>crsni)s  pushing  a  toasting-fork,  or  some  pointed  in^ttniment,  thrv>i| 
>ars  from  below.  There  were  uii'  marks  of  puncture*,  as  there  shoiil 
been  with  aueVi  &  \\\&Iot^ ,  Wv.  otkV^  ^uwi  slight  lacemtiou  of  the  pad 


TAB   EFFECT   OF   TENSION. 


075 


le  might  easily  have  got  liv  falling  oi»  the  eil^^e  of  the  grating,  Thore 
were  alwK  to  coufirjri  this  view  of  rlie  case,  some  bruises  on  tlie  thijih. 
Although  the  reirmrk  more  properly  bt^htng«  to  the  section  r>f  wounds  on 
the  ^enilals,  it  is  perhaps  ijot  atiiis**  to  remurk  herp,  that  the  iu"ri<h^ii1rti 
brettkin;;  of,  mui  falU  on  pofjt  de  vhambrf,  not  ^^L'hJfml  iuIViet  somewhat 
severe  woimd!«  on  the  female  jxifnllals.  It  irt  *)flt'n  diffinilt  to  say  wlicther 
the  fij^t,  or  a  .«lone,  or  pome  hjunt  insitrument  have  itiflieleil  laceratril  and 
cnntUM'il  wounds  on  the  .seaip.  Sotnt'timeA  a  fall  on  stones,  gnivel.  etc., 
may  infliet  injuries  wliieh  mity  afipenr  to  have  been  eansed  by  a  It  low. 
Gravri,  mud^  mud^  or  fi'w/mfnh  rtf  tji'mts^  /niivdttfit,  Wr.,  foitwl  in  ft  u^tntndf 
maif  throw  light  on  thi:>i  (pusrion.  We  have  lit^inre  remarked  that  whtM 
thr  skin  t«  (ett^e^  rompnrntlvifhj  bfunt  thiutjfi  (ed^ie  of  a  pettter  jiot,  edjje  td'  a 
feiidrr,  the  knuekle,«,  etc.)  wiil  ctntj<e  a  fohrabhj  tlemt-ctit  votrnd  in  fome 
t'ifwtiinun  fe<lge  of  orbit,  zygoma,  i*itle  ol'  head,  etc.).  The  tension  and 
elttj<ti('i(y  of  the  skin  will  ia(»dify  iht*  shape  of  I  he  wound.  Hence  (he  wound 
of  a  bayonet,  dagger,  or  bullet,  etc.,  often  loiiks  .smaller  than  the  weMpnn  ar 
misfile  wiiich  produced  it.  The  at  t  ftf  Parliatueut  referred  to  above  imrkes 
it  immaterial  whether  the  wound  wa?i  produeed  directly  by  n  weafjon  t)r 
iodireetly  hy  any  violenee  on  the  pttrt  of  the  assailant.  We  ni'sin  im- 
material as  regards  the  wuivictiou  of  the  prisoner,  for  aa  regardi*  his  kmi- 
fceace,  it  is  a  very  ditiereut  thing  whether  the  prisojjer  merely  pu>hed  the 
dewa*ed,  ?o  tliat  he  or  she  sustained  a  fatal  iall,  or  whether  he  aimed 
direct  at  the  dead  man  or  wonmn  with  a  five  or  seven  ehamhereil  revolver, 
and  fired  otiee  or  several  titneiis.  In  Rrfj.  v.  Dodd  (Shrewsbury  Summer 
AxsizeiJ,  1853),  Juf»ticf^  (.'tileridge  held,  that  if  the  prisoner  kuoeked  the 
de<'ea!*ed  down,  that  it  w<iul<l  make  no  ctifferenee  whether  the  deceased 
died  fninj  the  fall  on  a  ntone  tUnor,  or  from  injury  directly  produc<^d  by  the 
•tcHie  whirh  was  thrown  at  him.  The*  death  took  place  a  week  after  the 
injury,  from  inHammatinn  of  tlie  brain  cimseijuent  on  fraeture  uf  the  skull. 
Do  oot  be  too  p(li*itive  that  the  knife  ttT  other  weapon,  even  though  it 
fits  the  wound,  is  (he  identirftf  weapon.  Be  8alts^ed  with  sayintr,  '*  i*tirJt  a 
knife  (or  other  weapon)  mitjhi  have  prodttcfd  ih*:  fidal  injanj."  Taylor 
give?*  the  following  ease  froni  Sehworer  ("  Lehre  von  <lem  KindermtU'di  .*') 
**A  man  stabbed  another,  huiI  a  knife  with  perfectly  entire  blade  was  pro- 
dueei)  H»  circumstantiul  evidence  ugainsi  him,  the  Htirgeon  stating  liiut  the 
wcHin^i  was  caused  by  thtu  knife.  A  year  after  an  abscess  formed  where 
the  Wound  was,  and  the  broken  point  of  the  rful  weapon  was  discharged 
from  it.     Hence  tl>e  kniie  ?hown  tn  court  coulil  oot  have  b<*en  the  weapon 

When  a  weapon  is  brought  to  you  do  not  wipe  or  cleanse  it.     Reserve 

it  for  further  examination  (for  hhiod  in  the  (*ase  of  ktnves,  and  other  cut- 
ling  or  stabbing  instruments,  see  chapter  on  bldodstains,  pp,  5t)4-528); 
and  for  evidence  fls  to  recent  discharge  or  ollierwii-e  in  the  «'ase  of  firearms. 
Note  particularly  the  maker's  mime,  or  any  marks  or  nninibers  in  the  ease 
of  knives,  and  other  wcn[)f»ns.  Make  a  tracing  on  pajwr  with  a  pencil  of 
fhr»  »hape  of  the  wenfjou,  meiisore  it.  In  the  case  of  Hrearms,  handle  them 
di>fn'vtly,  find  do  not  point  them  ni  nuy  one.  Many  accidents  have  ttn.<!en 
from  inattentii)!!  to  this. 

In  Jlfff,  v.  SkrftQii  (('arlisle  Spring  Assizes,  1858)  an  old  man,  it  was 
prm*rd,  died  from  frartur*"d  skull.  On  the  left  sifle  of  the  crown  of  the 
Dead  there  was  a  S(|uare-shuped  depressed  fracture,  about  ihe  size  of  a  half- 
crown  piece,  the  bone  beiug  de[iresf.ed  ht  driven  in.  In  tlie  prisoner's 
house  was  a  hammer,  with  a  square  face,  the  corners  being  slightly 
rounded:  it  Htted  the  wound  described.  The  other  end  of  the  hanimer 
fitted  another  smaller  wound.  There  was,  however,  no  blood  on  it.  Oa 
AD  angular  stooe  found  near  there  was  blood,  and  one  white  human  hair. 


W19 


RIGHT    AITD    LEFT -HANDEDNESS. 


The  prisoner  was  acquitt^cl.  It  was  suggested  tbat  the  "calk"  or  pq ware 
piece  of  iron  at  the  heel  of  a  horseishoe  might  have  produced  the  lujiiry. 
There  was»  however,  no  trace  of  any  other  part  of  the  hor^.shoe.  We 
have  known  the  edge  of  a  horseshoe  produce  a  scnip  wound  which  re- 
uentbled  a  dean  cut,  except  that  the  edges  were  more  rounded  ami  less 
sharp.  Fracture  has  also  oeen  brought  about  in  thi^  way.  As  we  stated 
before,  teeth,  hands,  and  feel  are  not  usually  considered  weapons  in  law. 
At  the  Nottingham  Assizej=,  in  1832,  it  was  sought  to  put  artificial  arms 
and  ligrt  on  a  similar  legal  footing.  The  pritioner  had  ui^ed  an  iron  h<Mik 
on  a  woo<len  arm.  The  ohjeeliou  was  overruled.  But  in  the  tiimilar  case 
of  Benson,  tried  at  the  Central  Criminal  Court  for  a  ferocious  as'i'ault,  in 
November,  1871,  the  Depuly  Recorder,  in  parsing  sentence,  said  :  "That 
having  the  hiH)k  screwed  to  hit?  deft)  arm  the  a^rsault,  though  very  brutal, 
was  leiv^  luhiovi  than  if  it  had  been  done  with  a  knife  procured  for  the 
purfHJw?/' 

In  the  event  of  finding  hair^  an  ipcnpons  (which  w  a  pretty  common  (hs- 
currence,  nte  Taylor,  pp.  476-7,  509,  etc.)  vou  should  examine  them  care- 
fully to  ^ee  if  tliey  are  human  hairs,  or  thoRe  of  j*ome  domestic  or  wild 
aniujal  They  .should,  if  liuntnn,  be  compared  with  hairs  from  the  victim, 
and  ajpo  with  thoji^e  of  tfje  a.««ijailaut'»!  head,  etc. 

Hairs  and  portions  of  dreg's  from  the  murderer  or  af*^ilant  are  often 
found  in  the  hamh  of  the  victim.  A  {similar  examination  and  compari- 
Bon  fuust  be  made  here. 

The  (ipcdment*  should  l>e  cleansed  in  turpentine,  and  mounted  in  Canada 
bal^rtIn  ;  so  prcj^erved,  their  dimensions  and  appearances  are  little  alterei), 
aud  inicrometric  nieasiin^ments  can  be  eaaily  made  and  verified.  Careful 
attetitnm  to  the  caution  given  in  the  chapter  on  bloodstains  will  prevent 
your  mistaking  rust  ppttls  or  greasscfor  the  latter. 

Many  autliors  on  IVIf dual  Jurisprudence  (inclu<ling  even  Dr.  Taylor) 
enter  into  dcfinltioos  and  explaualionsi  as  to  direct  evidence  (or  that  from 
witnesses  who  have  seen  the  deed,  or  heard  the  words,  cries,  etc.),  and  rir^ 
etimiftaittiftl  evidence,  j-uch  as  that  afflirtliHl  by  the  wounds,  bliKnlf'tainjK, 
dress,  weapons,  etc.,  or  the  prffmmpthf  evidence  founded  on  all  thei*e.  We 
do  not  propotie  to  IncunibtT  our  jjages  with  these.  Nearly  all  the  evidenco 
givtn  by  medical  witne!*8es  in  the  cas^e*  of  wounds  in  trials  for  murder 
beli>nga  to  the  latter  claj^^es.  You,  as*  medical  wit uei»ses,  depose  to  the  facta 
or  circumj*tiincei*  ot  the  case.  It  'm*  for  the  judge  and  jury  in  (n<i*t  ca^e*  to 
draw  the  conchisions.  Yet  yuu  mu}*t  not  omit  to  guide  their  deci«ionf»  by 
pointing  out  >iuch  ohvioui*ly  striking  factH  a?  may  at  once,  fn»m  their 
nature,  weigh  heavily  for  or  against  the  accused.  For  instance,  **  it  \s  re- 
corded in  the  life  <d'  that  ^rejit  surgeon,  81  r  Aetley  Cooper,  that  when 
called  to  see  Mr,  Blipht,  of  Dt^ptford,  who  had  been  mortally  wounded  by 
a  pintol-shot  in  the  year  180(3,  he  inferred  from  an  examination  of  the 
localities  thot  the  shor  nnigt  have  been  fired  by  a  left  handed  man.  The 
only  lol\-hauded  man  near  the  premise!*  at  the  time  wa.<»  a  Mr.  PatoH, 
a  particular  friend  of  the  deceased,  who  wtts  not  in  the  least  suspected* 
Tills  man  wa>*,  however,  subsequently  tried  and  convicted  of  the  crime, 
and  made  a  full  confession  of  hiin  guilt  before  execution/*  (Taylor,  foe.  rii^ 
p.  f}ih'\ ;  fiee  aUo  ibid.,  p.  4iKi.)  In  the  case  of  SeUi«  (we  illui^trative  caj^ea) 
the  prisoner  was  found  to  be  ambidextrous.  So  in  other  ca»e$.  Dr.  Taylor 
mentions  one  a  wood&trvar.*    Although  you  bad  better  generaUy  leave 


♦  Ttjo  ovidt'noe  m  to  rujht  or  Ifft-hntuifrlnr/i*  in  a  ^ivon  indivirliml  mu«t  !n 
(frn^Tut  be  a  rnntUT  <«f  t^stimotiy  nf  th<)<ic  wIhi  know  tlip  |)<>r*nn  Dr.  Striitl)(»r« 
( ''  A»iJitoinii-Hl  afij  Pliyjiiolo^irni  (>tis<»rvMlion«,")  obi^fTves  that  llii*  vbc»-rn  \n  tho 
rigtg  hnlf  uf  ibo  body  ure  tieavier  thnn  lUot>o  o(  the  left  tudf,  Hnd  Oratiolvt  My*  the 


PROOFS    OF    RESISTANOB. 


977 


itnilbs  and  armoren  ti>  enter  info  technical  details  regarding:  weapons 
*u!i  which  they  are  lamiUiir,  we  ndvise  y«vu  to  learu  all  you  cay  as  to 
*6npf»u*  in  any  piven  cas*»  id  wbicti  ymi  are  roncenie^l.  As  we  jslmll  show 
Tjku.  under  gunshot  wound",  iind  ii»  the  anectlote  above  proves,  the?  canvic- 
^on  or  acquittal  of  prirtonery  ol'ien  turns  on  purely  technical  uiatters, 

F.  A."  rejjardi*  the  pernou,  drexi*,  and  nnipon^  of  the  Ktu^ptrh'ti  awM/Ani/  or 

WMr(/tr*r,  (hf  mme  priiiriplen  jiiuft  (fiii<ie  ijon  in  (fic  exuminotiou  as  are  laid 

(ii)wti  jhr  tpmr  guidnnre  in   the  cxnmiiKitioit  of  the  virtimit.     On  the  pei'wn 

iikftre  may  be  marks  of  injuries  inflicted  in  the  strntrgle^  when  the  |>ers()n 

iIIhI  ha.^  ma<le  re-^i^tance.     So  that  a  murderer  may  tw  cut  almnt  the 

httinU  or  face,  or  stabhcd  in  Fonie  part  wiih  the  ."anje  knife  or  other  weapon 

«e  haw  u^ed  to  attack.     He  may  even   huvc  gunshot  or  huUet  wonnds,  or 

••'•en  firinj^  very  close,  nmy  be  blackened  witfi   the   powder.     MunJerers 

~»*hc>  wij*h  to  pratify  revenge,  or  who  are  actuated  by  jeoloiifv,  and  lunatics 

^h«-k  first  murder  and  then  commit  suicide,  often  shoot  or  slab  thems*^lvea. 

[*  Mriih  patriots  and  cotjspiralnr^.     Yon  remember  Mart ialV  epigram  (xiv, 

i)  about  Arria  the  brave  wife  of  Pzeius  Ceciuiia  of  Padua. 

•*C«'it«  "^tio  irh»fHHm  rhm  trH*ler*H  Arnn  Pjeto, 
Q*i*ni  rlt^  \'isi'iTitiijs  trnxiTJit  ill-ill  sui- ; 
»Si  *\u{i  H<1*'H,  vulnus,  qiMid  Cori,  n-m  *Juh>t,  inqnil: 
Sod  qu^nl  tu  iMcies,  lioe  niihi,  Pwto,  dolet ! " 

_Tn  modern  lime«  there  are  many  examples  of  combined  nnirrler  and 
To  «iUote  one  only  at  prcfsent.  In  April,  1799,  the  ^Kev/)  J'wtea 
'ft  w'KH  indicted  at  the(\*ritral  Criminjil  Court  for  the  wilful  murder 
[Mi«i»)  Martha  Ii*ftf,  by  f-hooliiipr  her  wifli  a  pij^tnl  juwt  outside  Co  vent 
len  Theatre,  after  the  play.  She  died  almost  in^tnntly,  "Her  wound 
fiu  received  in  front  of  the  hear],  in  the  centra  coronalii*,  anrl  the  ball  was 
i^W'har^l  (ciime  out)  under  the  left  ear."  No  sooner  had  be  done  thirj, 
^nn  he  shot  hini«»elf,  also  in  the  head,  with  another  pislol.  HLs  wound, 
Itiiiu^h  *«evere,  was  not  mortal,  thoU]^h  he  bled  very  much-  He  recovered 
sufficiently  to  be  tried  in  a  few  <lays.  (It  hapfjened  on  the  7th  A|n'il,and 
the  trial  wa?*  in  the  same  month.)  No  sooner  had  !*e  lione  the  fatal  deed, 
limn  the  ''frenzy,"  as  he  called  it,  was  over.  From  a  kltttr  he  wrote> 
antl  hi;*  ronft^sioij  at  the  trial,  it  would  ftp[war  that  jealousy  was  the  motive. 
He  was  sentenced  to  death. 

A  careful  exanunation  of  the  fUrerti/in  of  the  wound^s  is  of  course  ini- 
^portttnt  here.  The  nnirderer's  hand?,  face,  nr  wnie  other  part  of  the  body 
bear  the  marks  of  nails  and  teeth.  These  should  be  carefully  ex- 
Inrd  and  mea-eured.  It  is  very  often  a  go<Kl  plan  to  take  a  wax  or  clay 
mrtuld  of  the  teeth  and  nail?'  of  the  deceased.  Ordinary  beeswax  (still 
better  if  with  some  oil  or  tallow),  modeller's  clay  or  plaster  of  Paris,  or 
even  gutta-percha  sofVned  in  warm  water,  will  do  for  this.  Sometimes  the 
Ticlim,  tu-  mentioned  bifore^  has  grasped  hairs, or  bits  of  skin,  from  bis  or 
hcT  Rfvailant.  These  must,  of  course,  be  carefully  examined  and  compared 
(fee  l)«foref  and  chapters  ou  exarni nation  uf  hairs,  etcj. 


t«»rt  brtiii)  is  b««tn*r  dev»*lo]>cd  T\w  ninjority  'if  mankind,  i»ither  by  in«linct  or  edu' 
eiitinn.  nro  rtflA/-hHii*ir«l.  In  -.uch  iku  nui'.cli'fl  of  tlif  rii:hl  ujipiT  cxtn'mity  uro 
y«th«r  hK'tK-r  titivi-loped  ihun  iho*.»*  *>(  tlni  Ictl.  The  rii:ht  olic^i  i*  nimt  biK;{**r,  In 
•(imt*  fpw  left-hundc^d  p*+rfti»n«  th<'re  'n^  trHr)*ftositinn  uf  llin  vi-:c«TB  (tlm  t*onver)»i*  !• 
iif»t  mlMTHya  Iruo).  in  m**.*!  llic  Ipfl  iiftf»i>r  i^xlrcmity  nnd  th**rHX  nro  m'»r(»  fnii*«'ulHr 
(hsM  lh«'  rltrbl  »rm  Hrtd  cht^st.  In  unun  <*H»e»  of  /'^<^tl»^nd^'du^**.  thti  riuhl  hnlf  of 
th(*  brnin  bntt  hor-n  i^Hir)  to  \h\  mitrh  tiir|{<T  lUnri  iIm*  1<*ri.  AmhidKstrout  pi'MoriA 
lfn***'Ut  tl»«'  >;r<iii<'*t  diffitiihy.  Tl  ere  M'^^ms  iim  |>ri'<tf  o(  11 1  pp<M;r«t«'  ii*«»<.*rtioo 
th»(  woiiH-n  nrn  awer  uiubidextruuit^rHthur  the  «.-o]itrtry. 


TABIBTIBS    15    FIREARMS. 

la  ^mt  CftK,  tbe  murderer  dropped  a  toothphU  to  the  scuffle*  Mid  by 
pecttliar  make  of  this  aiul  it.^  fit«  lie  wa^  diKovered. 

Of  the  careful  exaiuinatiou  of  u^enponA  we  have  spoken  b^fi>pe  (p,  97 
■tod  ahiill  return  to  the  Hubjert  under  Gun^hut  \V%iutid«.  Whilst  *peakii 
K«iier»lly,  however,  the  foHowinir  case*  from  ihnnrfUf'Jiein  {"*  Hnttdhi 
der  Gerichilkben  Chf^mie,"  p.  379,  etc.)  are  very  in^trocliTe,  Th<?  fii 
is  as  ftiUow^:  '*  F.  H7,  ^^y.  A  buckshot  was  extracted  from  a  voaod. 
missile  had  not  only  the  prvcii<e  nhn  of  («veral  «>ther«,  found  id  the 
6MM1  uf  a  woundit)  ;K'n$oii,  but  uIm*  the  precii^  chemical  compostttcici 
these,  whirb  ma.s  h)  inr  remarkable,  sm  not  only  was  there  lead  hot  a  venf 
llDHsoat  cjuaniily  uf  aiilirmmy  in  the?e  shdtet/'  Again.  *' G,,  183,  66.  A 
poacher  shot  at  a  gnmekeej>er  or  forest  bttilifiT;  the  wad,  or  ratlter  f^^pirr, 
in  which  the  shot  was  wrapped  was  found,  and  coa^isted  of  a  rart  of  red 
blottingpa|>er  of  peculiar  make.  In  gcarchlng  the  jK«ic'her'«»  h«xiifa  ». 
quantity  of  i^imilar  paper  was  found,  which,  with  other  evt 
the  case,  and  the  poacher  waA  convicted."  0:her  cases  ar* 
which,  in  the  pri^^tner's  pocket^t,  or  at  hi«  Iod<;ing$,  a  torn  Dev«|iaprr  has 
been  founds  corresponding  with  the  paper  u?ed  a*  wadding. 

Tfw  dr^tts  of  the  ?U8fjectetl  perj^fjn  mu-st  be  carefully  examined  fur  hUm\ 
«tain«^  {Sec  the  chapter  on  that  subject,  pa^e  504.)  In  the  recent  Hi 
gerford  murders  of  police,  Drs.  Tidy  and  Miijor  found  that  the  poarhi 
who  were  ^u:^peeLe<I  hud  not  only  watihed  the  bhio^Utalned  pan.«,  but 
covere<l  ihem  oirr  with  red  lead.  TUh,  althimgh  it  increai<ed  Dr.  Tidj 
difficult  icif,  did  not  pre%'ent  the  discovery  of  the  blood,  nor  even  ih^  »p| 
cation  of  the  s|iectrotc<ipic  le«l».  Even  so  simple  a  reajr*'nt  a«  dUtilti 
solY  water  would  dn-^Ive  the  blood-coloring,  and  not  affect  the  n-d  li 
except  %'ery  sligluly.  It  nuiy  not  be  amii^  to  mention  here,  timi  the  _ 
of  s«>an  or  alkalies  (as  in  washing  bhjocUtain^)  does  not  really  preveiit 
even  tne  use  of  the  guuiflcuDi  te^t  of  Van  Deen  and  Day.  For  if  «• 
find  no  reaction,  or  that  soap  has  been  used,  it  is  sufficient  to  acidulate 
with  lemon  juice,  citric  or  tartaric,  or  acetic  acid?*,  when  the  t<upphire  bloe 
comes  out  almost  m  well  a:»  when  no  »oap  has  been  used.  In  sottie  csaet 
quite  as  well.  It  does  not  seem  e%en  that  red  corpuscles  are  ^'meatial 
this  reaction.  If  the  serum,  fibrin,  or  leucocyte*  are  present,  the  reacti< 
is  obtained.  Y<iu  may  test  this  by  filtering  out  the  red  corpu-idea,  ar 
too  »mall  fur  this,  letting  them  subside,  and  testing  the  aerum,  or  wm»l 
coaguium. 

Footprint*  must,  of  ctHirse,  be  carefully  examined  and  compared  with 
the  feet  or  boots  (as  the  case  may  l>e)  of  the  !4U>pected  person  or  prrMi 
[See  page  587.)     In  the  Hungerford  case  wax  was  used  to  take  the 
pre!^H«tn.s,  but  we  think  stearin  or  f)tiruffiu   better.     Examine  prtsuuer 
right  or  lelt-haudeduess,  also  his  dress,  etc. 


Or  GUX8HOT  WouNiw*.  OR  IyjrRii=yi  from  Firearm**,  FiRKwai 

AND   fJTHER    WEAPONS,    MlSStLErt,  AND    EXPlXWlVEa. 

Of  the  Weapons  them^eh-eM,  and  of  the  Qmer*%l  Theory  of  ProfeHlUs  m 
bearing  upon  Practieal  Points. 

Although  the  laws  which  govern  the  flitrht  of  projectiles  in  rtteuo. 
tolerably  stintple,  being  founde<I,  as  we  shall  presently  see,  upon  the  Nei 
tiirrian  Inws  of  motion  and   the  effects  of  gravity,  yet  the  coosequenres 
••**  re<*ii%lat)ce  of  the  air,  of  differences  in  the  shape  and  weight  of  the  nil| 
•r  |iroje<'tiIe,  of  ihe  amount  of  gunpowder  or  other  sub^tanc^  whi< 
uii'^h  the  impelling  or  propelling  power,  and  the  effects  of  the 
aud  amount  of  riding  of  the  bore  of  the  weapon,  as  well  as  of 


980 


OLD    WEAPONS    DESCRIBSD. 


pow<it'r  maj^zines  and  other  erections,  they  nre  genernllj  fill 
explosivt*  niuterials,  small  shelb  which  fspliuter  in  explrxliog,  aud 
coiiihusulile  Mil)jJtnuce«,     The  iojiiries  inflicted  hy  them   on  pen4| 
be  (a),  biirng;  (h),  lacerated  and  conttij^ed  wonnds;  (^),  penrtra 
perforating  wounds.     Tliei*c  will  Dot  materially  differ  frnin  ihti^  I 
oy   firearms  proper.     Ti»"sides  these,  there  are  lij'e-rocl'H^t  u^   ^ 
line  to  a  «hipaiid  estalilish  communication  between  wrcckcnl  ships! 
in  danger  and  the  shore,  and  su/nul  rockets,  filleil  with   colored  .*tl 
other  contrivances  for  givin^f  notice  of  their  presence. 

Tnrptdftex  are  causes  filled  with  explosives,  so  contrive*}  M  lo ' 
when  .-struck  by  a  j^hip's  keel,  or  at  a  given  s*ignal  by  a  time-fu!»e,  (j 
eleciric  spark.  Essentially  dewtraciive  weapiui?,  they  are  adapter! 
for  d<  fence.  They  have  been  little  u«ed  in  actnal  warfare.  The; 
the  Br€merhaveu  tj-pfnKion,  !o  l>e  nieniioned  presen I ly,  showed  alflj 
boliral  in^^ennity  in  adapting'  clockwork  to  the  atrocioiii  piirp'we 
etroying  a  pn>ipenger  ship  and  all  her  cargo  iti  order  to  gt:'t  the  truaj 
If  a  torperlo  did  not  ntterly  des^troy  a  ship's  crew,  the  injuries  W(»d 
sii^t^  a»  in  the  case  of  rockets,  of  burn^ ;  lucerale<i,  contu?e<1,  and  pill 
wounds,  which,  as  in  the  ea!*e  of  %ooim(h  from  firctcork*  and  e> 
generally,  are  aggravated  in  many  cases  by  foreign  btwiiei*,  pari 
gunpttwder,  or  of  the  esphtsive  composition,  bits  of  paper  and  past 
pariiclc!*  of  \\\mi\,  or  of  clothing,  etc.,  etc.,  which  tend  to  irritate  th« 
to  promote  unhealthy  inflammation,  and  retard  (hehealiog  pnjcw**.' 
enlt  the  article.s  "Rocket"  and  "  Tt)r|>eilo,"  in  the  *' Euglbl 
"Popular/*  and  "  Chaml)ers's'*  EncyclopawliasO 

Returning  to  our  fir^t  divifiion  nt'  jfirearjiut  proper,  these  may  bl 
niently  divided  into  en«iily  [vnrtable  or  hand  weapons  (pisltdi*,  it 
carbincf,  mu.^kets,  rifles,  fowling- pieces),  and  arfitlt^ry  or  larger  t 
ui-cd  for  ship}*,  fortification.-*,  atid  field-gervice,  which  require  wvei 
or  hor?ei*  to  carry  them  fnun  place  to  place.  (Guns,  cttntiona,  j 
howitxern,  etc.) 

In  the  fir«t  class,  or  weapon?  carried  in  the  hand,  we  have  in  I 
may  be  called  a  body,  and  a  wnd  or  essential  part.     The  body  c<l 
a  f*tock,  and  in  many  military  weapon:*,  of  a  bayonet,  and  of  nundi 
poriej*.     The  soul  C()n.<ii«!ts  of  the  tubf,  which  holds  the  charge,  anil 
lock,  trigger,  and  other  contrivances,  for  discharging  the  mif<^)eA 
tube  may  be  only  from  three  ffr  four  to  six  inchei*  long,  aa  in  manj 
or  it  may  vary  from  two  feet  to  ^six,  or  in  some  very  old  weaptiii^, 
or  eight  feet,  as  in   carbines,  rifles,  guns,  etc.     The  interior  of  I 
maybe  a  ".smooth  bore,"  or  it  may  be  yroocn/,  as  iu  the  comi*  a 
and  in   the>e  weapon.'*,  in   modern  times,  the  gnmvee  do   not  runt 
but  are  curved  in  a  spiral  form,  making  from  h  to  f  of  a  turn  to 
compiele   turns  in   the  course  of  the   length  of  the  tube.     This  i 
iw itf ted  arrangement  of  the  yr*><)tv».<  is   called   rifling*     It  giveft  t! 
to  the  pjdield,  Mini<!^,  WhiLworth,  and  other  rifle«,  and  gives  gi 
cision  of  flight  to  the  bullets.     The  bore  or  shape  of  the  tube  nny 
or  less  riirular,  as  in  old  guns ;  eilipticol,  a^  in  the  Lttmsuitr  n 
cannon  ;  hexagonal,  as  in  the  Whiixtarth  rifle;  or  irregular,  a»  in  n 
and  badly  made  weapmis.     As  regards  the  method  of  londiug — in 
times  all   weapons,  whether  sporting  or  military,  large  or  8nia| 
loaded  at  the  tmnzfe,  or  further  end  of  the  lube  <  |>oi«t  of  exit) ;  « 
a  very  large  number  of  firearmti  are  what  is  called  breecktonden 


*  Tlip  kp'iren  hffttren  the  groovt^sure  culled  Inrtd* — these,  in 'Major  Ntilll 
have  rouoJfd  ktiiuuib  edges. 


OLD    WEAPONS    DESORIBED. 


981 


large,  which  uow  generally  consists  of  a  cartridge  of  some  kind,  eou- 

liu^  t>i>ih  powtler  uud  ball.  Is  put  ni  at   the  iJt^tir  L-nd  of  i\\M  lube;  ia 

Hher  word."?,  lu  a  long  gun,  near  to  tlie  sbouldtr,  und,  of  ooyti*t\  (do*e  to 

fllie  l(xk  uud  tri^:^er.     'fhe  abovp  remarks,  us  to  i?mooth  and  riHid  btjrcs, 

Hid  a^  to  muzxle  and   breethltiuderd,  apply  to  both  large  aud  anmW  ."ixes 

>f  firtfftrms,  to  pIsitijlB  as  well  as  to  eatiiiou  of  enormous  tiize.     As  regards 

mode  of  firing,  the  most  atirierit   weapons  were  matchlockif.     A  light 

first  obtained,  either  fruni  flint  and  steel,  or  from  a  torch,  or  in  Jbrta 

»bips  from  a  fire  kepi  Imrniiig.     A  .^^ulphur  miiteh  lighted  from  this 

used    to  <li:4oharge  the  weapon.      Akbough  ftitdioch  were   used   in 

ice  as  loujtr  ago  as  1030,  it  doea  not  ajipear  that  the  Englij-h  adopted 

until    1677,   or  thereabouts.     A   few   weapons  of   this   d^^sc■^iption, 

wfly  long  duckguus,  or  aneienl  earbiiies,  are  still  to  be   met  with  in 

uutry  placed.     Such  gniiii  are  .sorueiimeii  giwn  to  hojd,  eru[dt»yt'd  in  bird 

«g.     Accident*  will  Kitnetimes  happen  from  too  much  pow^ler  being 

for  the  priming  of  sueh  weapons. 

At  the  beginidng  <d"  this  presMzint  century,  the  weight  of  the   English 

mutiket  ami   bayonet  was  11   pnyndi*  4  ouneei*.     The  bullet.'i  u:sed  were  16 

lo  the  poun<l.     The  charge  of  psiwiler  (F.  IJ.)  6  drachm:?   avdirthipoia  (i 

Otoince).  and  the  diameter  of  the  bore  wai*  .75*^  inch.     The  butleta  were,  of 

Gounfe,  spherical,  and  the  locks  were  fitntloeks.     In   1807,  the  Rev.  Mr. 

Forsyth  took  out  a  patent  for  a  priming  with  afulojinating  cumpo.^ititm, 

l»hirh   ha*  been  ituperseded  by  the   percu^^iuu   q\i\\^  now  u?efl,  in    whieb 

luintinate  of  mercury  or  some  other  fulminate  U  UHeil,  as  well  a.'*  chlomte 

of  potaslt.  gntund  glass,  etc.     The  snf>criority  even  of  the  (ir>*t  percUAiiou 

|Bill«ket«  was  strikingly  shown  in  the  trials  ijj^tituted  in  l'S:i4.     Six  ihou- 

pftild  rounds  were  fired  from  six  ^pecimen^  of  each  description  of  arm,  and 

tlie  eiperimeuU  conducted  in  all  weathers.     Out  of  6000  rounds  from  the 

Aitii  locks,  there  were  \)2'1  nu5ilire.><.  being  1  in  6^,  whereas  Iroin  the   per- 

fcpBon    musket  there  were   only  'M   misses  in  HOOO  rounds,  or   1    in  166. 

Bnudei^  that,  the  precisiun  of  tire  was  greater.     The  success  of  nimlern 

|MrreUv>iou  caps  is  still  more  striking.     The  percussion  ca[)»  j)ermitted  also 

^f  le-^  (Kiwder  being  used,  the  6  draehms  being  at  imce  reduced  lo  4i. 

The  pull  of  the  (rigger  was  also  reduced  from  12  or  13  pound*  Ut  has 
beeti  knowu  to  be  nearly  27  ptinuids  in  some  old  weapons)  to  5ome  7  pounds 
ipr  Irffl.  In  1800  the  95(h  (  British)  Regiment,  now  known  as  tlie  Rifle 
^Brigade,  were  armed  with  a  rifle,  which  weighed,  with  the  sword,  about 
lOi  |MUindM,  or  !*i  witlmut  it.  Thoy  were  sighted  for  from  100  lo  200 
vanU,  and  the  barrel  had  seven  groove-s,  which  made  a  (juarter  of  a  turn 
Id  the  length  of  the  barrel  (2  feet  6  inches).  The  entire  length  of  the 
nfie  («t«>ek  and  all)  was  3  feet  10  inelie.^,  diameter  of  bore  Jj23,  The 
Jook»  were  very  well  made,  and  provided  with  detaul^  to  prevcut  the  nose 
feftplieifear  from  catching  at  half-cock  ;  they  had  also  bok^i  to  preveut  them 
P^ni  going  off  accidentally.  The  ball  was  spherical,  and  rammed  in  with 
a  mallet  in  Itjadiug ;  this  waa  allerwards  dispensed  with,  and  greatsed  patches 
^troduced.' 

[  fi*k«r,  the  maker  of  these  rifles,  admitted  that  200  yards  was  the  great- 
est imnge  he  could  fire  at  with  any  certainty.  "1  have,"  he  says,  *'Sred 
Tery  well  at  limes  at  300,  when  the  wind  baa  been  calm."  The  Hnuimolck 
fifle^  introduced  in  1836,  weighed  11  pounds  5  ounces  with  bayonet;  it« 
barret  want  2  feet  6  iuebes,  bore  .704  Inch.  It  hail  two  deep  spiral  grooves, 
ipletiug  one  turn  in  the  length  of  the  barrel.  The  buHet  was  ,fpherical 
oelted ;  its  diameter  .GlHi  (or  j^'oo^^  ^^  ^"  i^^'h  less  than  the  bore), 


9B2 


MINIS    AND    ENFIELD   RIFLES. 


ite  weie^lit  557  grains.  The  ball  was  wrapped  in  a  liuen  patch,  dipp^) 
great*e ;  the  bullet  and  eartridj^e  were  llius  obliged  to  be  kept  ^eparal 
This  wi-a|Kin  rpjidily  fouled  after  a  few  times  firing.  The  belts  on  the  bi 
were  object iniiulile,  from  cauHUg  too  much  titictinn  in  passing  thn^ngb 
air.  Tlie  Enfield  CVtrnmittee  reported  that  all  Hripg  beyond  40IJ  yard* 
tCMi  wihl  to  give  a  correct  angle  of  \u  elevation.*  In  1844  it  wa*i  cod* 
dertined  at  Antwerp  a**  the  W4>rst  of  all  tried  on  that  occai*ion.  But  lo 
184*2  the  majorily  of  our  British  troops  were  armi.^d  with  a  nmch  wonie 
weapon,  tlie  "  old  Brown  BeKs/'  as  it  was  called.  This  had  a  smooth  Ikji 
.73*-J  inch  iu  diatneter^  throwing  a  spherical  ball  490  grains  weight. 
wa8  tolerably  elective  up  to  lot;  or  200  yardsi,  but  its  shooting  wa^  vel 
wild.  In  Irtct,  although  very  deadly  when  fired  close  to  a  person,  aJrm 
all  <dd  tl rearms  in  common  us«e  by  troojw  were  very  defective.  *So  thi 
Colont-1  SchlimmbHch,  of  the  Fru*<ian  Artillery,  calculated  that  during 
the  wars  of  the  first  Nafxdeon,  a  man's  own  weigiit  iu  lead  (iun!<ket  fire), 
and  leij  linics  his  weight  in  iron  (caniiouade.«<),  were  coueumed  for  eacU 
individual  placed  horg  de  combat.  At  Vittoria,  ou  June  21,  1813,  ^<>(Qfl 
3,675,01  KJ  ball  cartridges  were  i*<8ued  to  the  British  trm/fw.  Now  ouly  80ilH 
out  of  yu,O0U  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and  woundeil.  So  that  ooly  one 
niusket-*'hot  in  4o9  tfxjk  ettecl,  if  we  exclude  the  0570  rounds  from  the 
pieces  of  artillery.  Including  these,  probably  ouly  1  iu  800  of  the  bulb 
took  eflect.  With  "  Brown  Be*^**  at  the  Cape,  in  August,  1851,  a  pati 
ex|>endeil  80,000  ball  cartridges  in  killing  or  disabling  tweuty-Hve  naki 
ravages,  or  3200  rounds  to  each  Kaffir!  (Hans  Bui«k,  "Tire  Kifle, 
H<iw  to  Use  it,"  pp.  17,  18.)  The  Minie  (calletl  alter  lU  inventor,  Capii 
Mini^)  wa8  a  great  improvemeut  on  the^se  rifiew.  This  had  a  cyliudi 
couoidal  bullet,  with  a  sfjuare  base,  and  two  deep  gnmves  above  th] 
There  was  an  iron  cup  or  pbig  introduceiJ  at  the  base,  to  cause  cxpansi* 
and  prevent  the  gases  escaping  through  the  lend.  The  ball  weighed  on 
half  niore  than  thtjse  usetl  by  our  soldiers.  There  were  four  shallow  grr»o^ 
iu  the  rifle,  and  2j  drachms  of  powder  were  ample.  Captain  Mini^  hi 
self  i-ould  hit  a  man  with  it  at  1420  yards  three  times  out  of  five  shot 
The  l>ali  enlered  with  the  point,  and  at  1500  yards  would  penetrate 
inches  deep  into  jvoplar  wood!  Colonel  Thouvctiin  invented  carbine  A  tii 
or  piilar-nrie,  with  a  deeply  grooved  balL  Wiicn  this  bull  was  dropp 
in,  it  received  several  sharp  bl(»ws  with  a  nimrml,  which  effaced  the  groov< 
and  fittefl  it  closely,  thus  diminishing  the  windat/e.'f  As  the />i7/tir,  jui 
mentioned,  supported  the  ball  iluring  this  operation,  the  jK)wder  could  not 
get  cakefl.  At  1000  yanjs,  with  1^  drachms  (avoirdupois)  of  |x»wder,  ttij 
bullet  from  this  would  penetrate  six  or  seven  inches  into  heart  of  oal " 
However,  this  and  the  use  of  the  iron  plug  in  the  bullets  were  found  awl 
■ward,  lead  being  letl  behind  in  the  barrel.  Our  space  will  only  allow 
to  describe  wry  briefly  one  or  two  other  well-kuown  and  celebrated  wea] 
ous.  Two  rifles  have  been  known,  since  1853,  as  the  "  loug"  and  "*«hort^ 
Etifield  rijieji.  The  former  had  ihree,  the  latter  five  grooves  in  the  inn 
The  ioHf/  Enfield  had  a  barrel  of  30  inches;  its  bore  was  .577  inch  ;  weial 
4  iwunds  2  ounces  (with  bayonet,  9  pounds  3  ounces) ;  its  length  nltO£ 
<i  leet  1  inch)  or  without  bayonet,  4  feet  7  inches.     The  regidatiou  ct 


•  The  angte  of  eterntion  l»  !»«}d  to  be  "the  nnglo  whtob  ihp  Nxi»  of  ttie  pi« 
mnki'K  wiOi  the  iilftnt;  upon  which  it  re^U.''  We  *hull  we  pn-sfrtUy,  i\m%  it 
nr«e8.*«ry  l'>  Ilr»?  '»i|f?l»i  '"  order  to  overct»me  the  coni^lunt  ti?ndt?ricy  ofgrnvitnlii 
ti>  uvrrcnine  the  iriilinl  force  of  the  bullet. 

t    Wifir/nffc  it  llie  apMoe  or  interval  left  betwwn  tlio  bullet  *nd  Ibo  «idc  of  tl 
bftrrol.  or  tube.     It  cHti^es  una  tend  in8«)4,  by  allowinic  the  gUMS  to  etcnpc;  iil<»li| 
of  iho  ball,  Mnd  giviug  the  lutter  m  wobbling  movcmttnt. 


JACOB   8    AND    WHITWORTH    8   KIFLES. 


983 


of  powder  2J^  drachras,  F.  G»  Weight  of  bullet  530  grains ;  of  60  rounds 
of  fttimiiiuilion  5  pouudtt  3  ounces  11  drachm?.     An  ordinary  nmrksman 

an  make  gootl  practice  with  it  at  Hili)  yards,  but  in  skiNed  hand:*  8till 
irreater  raii^«§  are  adaituible.  The  Inirrel  of  the  t<h«>rl  Eiifit'Id  wus  only 
feet  y  iuehea,  Its  trujecLory  Jbr  8'JO  yards,  2"  o7' ;  for  1850  yards, 
10^  50'.     In  a  range  (*(  500  yards  il8  tnijectory  ha.s  been  paid  l<i  be  of  the 

»eiglu  of  15  feet,  or  abtnit  double  that  uf  the  Whitirorlh  ritle,  but,  atrord- 
lig  to  others,  the  tnijectory*  of  the  Kufithl  has  been  sliown   tu  be  1501 

r»et,  that  of  Whitwortb'.^  1318  feet.     The  elevation  of  the  Eufield  being 
°  8'/,  that  of  the  Whitworth   1°  15^      The  three  grooves  of  the  long 
SIuHeld  are  .115,  or  a  little  more  thau  yVo^''*  ^f  **'•  i'**^"^  '"  deprh,  and  a 
hlle  le»?i  than  i  inch  in   breadth.     The  rifling  in  the  bmjj  Euti«  hi  makes 
lif't  one  half  turn  from  lucet'b  to  intizzle.     The  Prus'.'iiau  Zitudna(it/-(/cu't;kr, 
>r  needk'gun,  >vas  rt-njarkabJe  lor  using  a  sharp  needle  ( wliich  often  either 
kent  or  broke  in  usej  Ibr  penetrating  and  tiring  the  fulminating  mixture 
D  the  cartridge.     Its  ammunition  wha  dangerou."*,  and  the  old  weapon  ia 
ot  likely  to  be  much  longer  u^-ed.     The  earr ridge  ca^-^e^^  were  consumed  in 
thi?,  as  also  in  the  French  Chm^f^ejmt  rifle,  in  wbieh  a  shorter  and  stouter 
eedle  wa8  used.     The  Chassepot  was  lighter  hy  nearlv  4  pound.*)  ihan  the 
German   needlegun   (which  weighed  about   VI  pminds).     It  had  a  long 
■  nge,  and  low  trajectory,  and  in  the  war  of  1870  the  Freneh  were  ofieu 
1>le  lo  open  an   etfeelive  fire  at  1500  paces,  whilst  the  needlegun  was 
rffectivc  oidy  at  from  400  to  500  paces.     The  Freneh  dragoons,  hussars, 
ud  cha;»«eur8  are  armed  with  this  weajx)n,|      The  ammunition  is  also 
ighter  ihau  even  that  of  the  Mitrtlni-Henry^  to  ht^  mentioned  presently, 
k>  rouuda  of  the  ehassepot  being  only  6  pounds  9  ounces^  whilst  the  same 
umber  of  the  Martini-Henry  weigh  9  pounds  5  ounces.     Gcmrnt  Jucob*ii 
ew  double  rifle  in  thus  described  by  him  :  "  D*iuble,  32  gauge,  4  grooved. 
3eep  grooves  of  breadth  equal  to  that  of  the  lanijs,  lo  take  frbs  of  a 
urn  in  llie  length  of  the  barrel,  24  inches  long;  weight  of  pair  of  burrela 
Joue  6  pounds,  vot  len«;  the  ends  of  the  lau<ls  to  be   rounded  oft'  at  the 
3Uz/de;  patent  breech,  no  siile  veuis;  hrst  sight  r*rad(t/ ;wr«/Wtii  the  bore 
other  details  as  to  sights,  etc.,  follow],  exact  diametttr  of  bore  in  ^^'^^jtha 
f  an  inch,  .5211;  of  shell  or  ball,  .524;  charges,  2i,  2J,  Z  drachms  of 
H)wder."      It  can    be  fired   either  with    percussion-tubes,  and  complete 
uirtridge,  or  in  the  ordinary  way.     "  In  April,  1^5(5,  in  a  public  otticial 
,ria!  at  IJionbay,  it  was  Ibuud  that  at  300  to  12U0  yards  the  flight  of  the 
thell  was  always  point  foremost,  and  the  elevation,  at  the  extreme  range, 
DCiiUHideritble.     Very  good  practice  was  made.     A  box,  filled  with  ik>w- 
ler,  was  explotled  lii  300  yards.     At   rilM)  yanls  the  shells,  on  exphKiiog, 
;ore  out  large  fragments  of  the  wall." 
Htwcial  constrnclion  of  the  tfiffhf/f  is  one  of  Jacob's  peculiarities. 
Whituurik'if  rifle  ha-  a  polygonal  bore  (six-sidefl  or  hexagonal)  of  gauge 
amber  about  4H  (.472  luchj,  length  of  barrel  3!l  inches,  pitch  of  rifling 
Mie  turn  in  20  inches,  or  nearly  two  complete  turns  in  the  length  of  the 
rrel  Un  ^>me  of  his  rifles  he  hi*s  made  six  or  seven  cum|»lete  turns). 
The  precisitin  ui'  Mr.  Whitworth's  machinery  is  well  known,  fi(J'(Jo^^*  "f  an 
jjch  being  most  accurately  gauged.     His  larger  guns  are  made  with  equal 
even  sn[»erior  accuracy.     At  Hythe  the  superiority  of  his  rifle  to  the 
i^nfield  was  reckoned  as  nearly  2(J  to  1,     At  1*80  yards  (120  yards  over 
mile)  it  drove  it-*  bulletA  into  the  target,  whilst  the  Enfield  failed  to  hit 
,  1440.     The  Whitworth  at  1100  yards  wait  almost  on  par  with  the  Hn- 
»ld  ai  500;  au<l  when  both  had  a  range  of  500,  the  superiority  of  the 


•  Tho  triij«ytory  Is  th«  patli  of  th«  buHet^  or  Hno  of  in. 
f  '^  Po|.iilnr  EneyeiujMiKlift,"  Article  ChtuMtftdt. 


MARTINT-HEKRT    RIFLES. 

Whitworth  was  nearly  3  to  1.    With  the  regulation  charge  of  powder  it 

j)nt|>elk>(i  n  bullet  throuu^h  33  half-iDch  elm  planks;  and  the  mi<^ile 
oiilv  bloppefl  by  a  solid  block  of  oak  behiud.     The  Euticld  under  Bimil 
oirtMimj^tnnce^  ouly  penotrnted  twelve  of  these  plunk'?.     Id  186<3  the  m 
jorily  oi'  the  KuHeld   rides-  in  our  army  were  cotiXTrted  into  Sniff  erf, 
breechloaders,  in  which  the  cock,  and   indeed  the  whole  of  the  old  ai 
wao  rendered  available,  except  a  small   piece  of  ihe  breech  end  of 
barrel.     Us  atnniuniliou  h  the  "  Buxer  central  fire  metal  cartridge." 
i*i  deadly  at  fair  ranges;  but  the  bidlet  is  carried  rather  wide  in  a  hl| 
wind.*     In  jwnetration  it  spreads  and  tears  il^f  open. 

The  Lancaster  rifle,  like  the  gun  on  the  hame  principle,  has  an  eUipl 
bore.     The  "iwtat"  which  answers  to  rifling,  ia  one  turn  Id  32  iocM 
The  bore  he  advij^es  is  .40>i,  length  of  barrel  32  inches ;  whilst  an  eceei 
triciiy  of  .01  of  an  inch  in  half  an  inch  is  found  tiutiiclent  tocau^  the  bullet 
to  spin  on  its  axi.*  to  the  extreme  verge  of  \t»  flight.    The  bullet  i»  cylindi 
.conaidal ;  and  the  length  which  was  found  to  answer  best  is  one  2^ 
ameleri*  in  length,  with  a  whithtge  of  four  or  five  thoui^andlhi^,  that  iis  to 
juft  sufficient  to  allow  of  \i»  being  rttrnmed  home  with  very  thin  grej 
|iaper.     It  is  sliglilly  cup|>eii  at  ilie  lower  end.     The  hreechloadinjc  pril 
ciple  has  been  adapted  to  the  Liincai*ter  bore  in  both  rifles  and  large  gui 

The  Mortini- Henry   rifle,  with  which   the  British   army  is  to  be  fu 
Dished  in  the  future,  is  a  breechloader,  with  remarkaltly  eomplrle  ni 
rapid  action.     It    \i   described   and  figured    in    ihe  "  Popular   EncrnI 
piedia,"  article  Miutket,  plate  cxxiv,  Fig.  13,  etc.     The  amniunitiou 
this  arm  is  the  Boxer-Henry,  or  General  Boxer's  ^hort  chamber  case  (F^ 
15,  same  plate),  and  Mr.  Henry's  bullet  (of  lead  and  tin)  of  .45  in< 
diameter,  and  480  grains  in   weight.     The  bullet  i:*  cylindrical,  with 
conoidal  summit,  has  two  gro<ive»  running  round  it,  and  is  furni»hc<l  wit 
lubricators.     The  cartri<lge  or  casw?  has  a  small  anvil  and  percussion  rap. 
To  act  on  this  anvil  there  is  a  small  piston  striker^  which  expl(Kle<(  the 
tridge  by  the  force  of  a  strong  spiral  spring.     The  firing  is  very  rapi 
Twenty  five  rounds  in  a  minute  (without  taking  aim)  huving'been  fir< 
The  practice  is  good.     It  is  less  affected  by  wind  than  the  Suider.     Al 
its  penetration  is  very  great.     Its  weight  is  altogether  about  nine  poum 

Another  Mr.  Henry,  an  American,  has  ininxluced  another  Henri/  ril 
a  repeater,  which  allows  of  still  more  rapid  firing.    Mr,  Pritchett,  CV»loi 


*  The  force  of  tln«  wind  amy  bi'  a  question  i«i  uUjor  rnedico-li^gal  inquiries, 
following  iMblt*  givej)  it  npproxitiiut^'ly  : 


MiloB  per 
hour 

Force 
In  pimD4lann 
equ«re  f>iOU 

Chartcter. 

• 
10 
15 

l» 
3S 
40 
4A 
00 
40 
M 

100 

O.IJ 
0.49 
IM 

X-sr? 
4.49 
HM 

7JJ7          , 
9M 

16.71 
81.49 

40.20 

Gentle  breew. 
lAUrbkgale. 
Verr  brisk. 

jut^h  wlDdtt. 

j  Verf  high  vioiU. 

A  sit«rni. 

A  mr.  n\  *t.->nn, 

11 
/A                    >iiAt  tetra  uptrewi, 
I                          Mttll  iMlerelL 

This  toble  w»s  originally  drawn  up  by  Mr.  8tnp«tnn,  and  pubnah*»d  In 
''  Philo^phicai  Tran«aelion«  "  in  1757.  It  will  be  found  in  mwt  works  on  M<*l 
ologj. 


THE    SHAPES    OF    BULLETS. 


985 


ttbnll.  Colonel  Colt,  Westley  Richardst,  Prince,  Terry,  Leetch,  Daw, 


mnd  other  luakers  or  mveuior.s  have  all  nuiditied  more  or 


the  lock. 


'bullet,  cartridge,  hiirrel,  or  sights  of  the  rifle. 

I      What  are  willed  cnrhineji  are  **liort  guiii*,  either  smooth-bored  or  rifled, 

•  Sir  William  ATmairoitg  has  applied  the  priuciple  of  rifling  so  gucce*»fully 

[to  the  large  field  gutiii  whirli  bear  his  name,  that  they  |70!<.se«is  a  range  of 

9000  yards,  or  b\  inilei*.     But-  this  h  a  digrejision.     To  return  to  weapons 

irhich    may  be  carried  \u  the  hand,  the  moM  portable  of  all  are  ]n»iois. 

We  must  beg  y«»u  to  remetnber  that  a  tiny  hnllet,  weighing  only  a  few 

'ffrain?,  it  fired  at  i'Io>e  range,  with  a  >nfBcient  charge,  i.n  capable  ol  inftict- 

ling  great  damage,  and  ol  at  leai*t  destroying  an  eye,  if  not  taking  life. 

|£veD  the  toys  made  to  tire  a  tiuy  (.sparruw->hot),  with  a  percui^sion  cup, 

WftTe  been  known  to  damage  the  eye.     Pbtola  are  now,  however,  made  so 

pa  to  be  quite  formidahle  weapon?.     A  CuU,  Ad<im»,  or  Daw's  revolver  or 

l^peater  k  no  toy.     These  weapi>n9  are  furnij^hcd  with  from  two  to  twelve, 

or  more,  chambers*;  so  that  so  tnnny  ^uecesaive  t'hots  may  be  tired  without 

reloading.     In  Colt'?*  original  weapon  the  ball  was  rammed  tJown,  by  a 

peculiar  compound  lever,  home  on   to  the  pt>wder,  and  there  was  no  wad- 

aine  or  pa|)er  of  any  sort.     Tlie  hammer  at  full  coek  formed  the  sight. 

In  nifi  cavalry  pistols  the  barrel  was  7|  inehei*.     A  little  wax  over  the 

aipple  protected  the  charge  from  water,  and  after  lying  in  ibe  water  some 

days  it  has  been  tired  wilh  good  etfeet.     A  stock  is  supplied  with  some, 

vbicb  at  ouee  convert*  iliein   intu  a  earbine.     In   the  aetiun  futight  in 

India  on  June  18th,  1858,  a  body  of  lUll  Imssam,  provided  with  revolvers, 

Reeled  tremendous  execution    upon   overwhelming  masses  of  the  rebel 

«rniy.  beaded  by  the  Kanee  of  Jhansi.     In  a  few  minutes  ihey  left  400 

ead  u|^M>n   the  field.     "The  wound,"  gays  Hans  Bus*k,  **  whieh  a  conical 

Met  Ircun  one  ol  CoU'h  revolvers  inflicts,  in  terrific,  driving  before  it,  as 

does,  a  cylindrical  plug  of  muscle  nr  bone ;  the  hiemorrhuge  or  shock  to 

e  *^y^tem  is  so  great  tliat  death  in   the   majority  of  instances  usually 

lues."     iSimilar  renuuk^  apply  to  the  Minie,  lr^llider,  and  other  modern 

lleta.     The  revolver.*  of  A<tarnri,  Deane,  Daw,  and  others*,  are  little  in- 

rior,  if  at  all,  to  C<>!onel  Colt'fi  weapm.     One  of  Daw's  charged  with  a 

oerterof  a  drachm  of  powder  (ahtaitiseven  grains  avoirdupois}  wij]  send  a 

pllet  (of  50  to  the  pound,  or  14(*  graiua  weight),  through  a  fir  j)lank  one 

nd  n  half  inch  thick.     Mt^it  nf  thcj^e  pistols  are  now  made  breechloaders, 

the  cartridge  is  complete  in  itself  in  many  of  them,  8o  that  no  cap 

is  oocessary.    The  length  of  the  barrel  varies  from  G  inches  (or  le»* ! ), 

tlie  i^loon  or  |wckct-pist*»],  to  18  or  even  24  inches  (  Ik dster- pistol).     It 

raid  that  so  hjng  ago  a^  iri44  f reign  of  Francis  I)  pistols  were  made  at 

ta,  or  Fistoria,  twenty  miles  northwest  of  Florence.     The  "  dag"  waa 

sort  of  clumsy  ^pi.«tol,  mentirmed  by  Elizabethan  authors.     This  weapon 

straight  at  b<»th  ends. 
The  hand  weapons  we  have  described  are  now  almost  invariably  for 
ililary  purposes,  and  ah-o  wben  used  to  murder  or  rnaitn,  loaded  with 
oJIets.  Small  shot,  in  which  a  number  of  little  pellets  (half  an  ounce, 
r  more  or  le*«)  are  used  in  one  charge,  is  now  almost  exclusively  used  for 
IU)ortiog  purposC'5 — small  birds  and  the  like.  At  very  short  distances 
kotifore  the  shota  have  time  to  scatter)  these  may  act  as  a  single  bullet 
would,  as  wff  shall  presently  see.  Except  for  the  trouble  they  may  give 
Iti  picking  them  out,  they  are  not  of  much  importance  to  us  in  a  medico* 
legal  jToint  of  view.  We  shall,  however,  notice  the  wounds  caused  by 
fllirm  in  their  place. 

\     We  niust  nauHe  briefly  here  to  notice  the  various  form*  of  butldi*.     You 
ave,  in  reaaing  the  last  few  pages,  noticed  thai  sonte  were  spherical,  and 

68 


986 


DIAMETERS    OF    BULLBTS. 


some  of  Other  figures.     For  the  hexagonal  bore  of  the  Whitworth  riflf, 
hexBgooal   bullet  is  used.     The  various  shapej?  which   have  beeu  actually 
tried  are  very  numerous.     Two  platt'B  in   Hans  Bu^k't)  "  Uan<lbuok   tofj 
Uythe,"  plates  viii  and   ix,  give  6U  varieties.     Of  ihuae  aetunllv  useil  w| 
may,  however,  slAte  that  the  following  are  common  forms :    (a)  I'he  ^phrt 
ical.iu  old-fashioned  rifles,  "  Brown  Bess/'  etc.     Thiu  has  1>eeu  variously 
grooved  and  belted,     (h)  Cylindro-conoidal  or  conical  top  cylinder^i  (iicoi 
like),  Enfield,  Snider,  Boxcr-Hti-ury,  etc.     Thij*  was  variou.«ly  grrM>ved  ati< 
modiHed    Uy  MiiiiC,  the  Zouaves,  Cl»ai*i*eurs,  etc.     (c)  PolypamI  one*, 
which    Whitworth's   hexagonal    is  the  be:*t  type,  and  Wc^tley  Richard*! 
octagonal,     (ri)  Flaskshaped  aod  other  fancy  ones.     (Bersaglicri,  Nc8»lefJ 
and  obiH^iete  Austrian  ones.)     In   practice,  it  has  been  i'ound  that  thi 
grooves  cause  too  much  friction  in   pas^sing  through   the  air;  whilst  th< 
elongated  hnllet  is  far  sufierior  to  the  spherical.     In  General  Jacob's  ex- 
periments he  found  that  both  the  cylindrical  and  cooojdal  purtiona  of  th4 
bullet  shiHild  be   Ij  diameters   long,  so  that  the  entire  bullet  will  then 
3  diameters  long.     The  Enfield  is  Jjttle  more  than    1^  diameters  long,  ihl 
Wbitwurth  rather  more  than  2J  (some  of  his  *i  to  3i  diameters  long}.     li 
too  pottite<l,  the  centre  of  gravity  is  thrown  too  far  back.     In  small  hboti 
and  in   bullets  not  spherical,  or  not  all  of  one  metal  of  known   fpefifi< 
gravity,  if  you  want  to    know   the  weight  you  must  weiyh  them.     The 
weight  should  be  ascertained  in  grains.     If,  hoxvevcr,  no  bullet  can   be 
found,  an  approximation  to  the  weight  may  sometimes  be  obtained,  esjH?- 
cially  in  spherical   bullets,  by  taking  the  bore  i>f  the  barrel   and   allow* 
ing  a  few  thousandths  of  an  inch  for  windage.     The  folluwing  tnblt*s  mat 
give  some  assistance  in  this  matter.     They  are  (quoted  from  Mr.  Bu^k^ 
well-kuuwti  works  ou  the  rifie  : 


Table  L — Small  Arm  Cartrid^et. 


Nature  of  cartridges. 


Blank  for  aH  arm*.    , 

Lnrtnift^T.'lliplIc  rifle,     . 

r  r:  ■    J  if.jiiliirQ.  |R.'53).    . 

(  ii  iiiue  borej,     . 

Platol  (cArbiu«  bore}, 


Chnrgi!  In 
drMcJiius. 


MitintMror 

Piantvtor 

Dlam«4«r 

l>iill*'ta  Ut 

»r  iMtiiwi 

•  pound. 

111  luehML 

_ 

_ 

^^ 

10 

.» 

.» 

JU.'SO 

.Ao 

.4n 

i:i.60 

JBfA 

A 

20 

.mo 

M 

14JW 

.«M 

*, 

A19 

'— 

For  lubricating  purposes,  bee^jwax,  or  wax  with   j'.^^''   P^"^^  o'"  P**^' 
leum  or  mineral  oil,  or  (a^  formerly)  a  mixture  of  five  parts  of  wax  un( 
one  of  tallow  (kept  at  a  uniform  temperature  of  230^  F.),  whil-'i  the  cui 
tridges  were  making,  are   employed.     Of  course,  the   weight  of  mi.'^ib 
varies  mnterially  with  their  form.     For  whilst  a  spherical  bullet  for  a  Mi 
of  24  gunge   weighs  some  2V»1   grains,  a  solid    projectile  of  the  cylin<lrti 
conical  form  wniild  weigh  754  grains  for  the  same  barrel,  or  7  grains  mo 
than   a  ball   fitted  for  a  12  gauge   barrel.     As  reganis  the  ipiantity  « 
powder  required,  it  is  said  in  theory  ("  Young's  Nat.  Philosophy")  tbj 
Jth  or  ifth  of  the  weight  of  the  half  is  the  best  charge;  for  battering,  i( 
A  24pounder,  with  16  pounds  of  gunpowder,  at  an  elevation  of  45^  rungi 
20,250  feet,  about  i^th  of  the  range  that  would  take  place  in  a  vacuum.    Th^ 
resistance  is  at  first  400  pounds  or  more ;  and   re<luce8  the  velocity  iti 
second  from  2000  to  12O0  feet  in  the  first  1500  leeL 


SAPID   FLIOBT   OP    BCLLKTS. 


at  2()0,  to^   of  ai 
BBfeMt  ttttttneou 


tocb,  at  400.   to 
are  made  ao  ihiB 


poioi.     Cftt>Um  Tharkenr»  lor 
that   die  height  of  ao   infaotiy  aoldWr  at  325 


lib  of  an   iDcfa,  and 
ipla 

is  2  feet,  or  tnon*  than  Jd  of  hb  actual  ^ize :  but  thU  cert^nlT 
correcL  Colonel  Wilford  eayt,  fwioi  actual  tmK  *'  At  50  rank 
could  uaroe  auy  man  in  bin  own  reg:iment«  aa  at  tbk  diMaoce  tb«re  w 
fdeU  identifictttiftn,  for  the  sge«  coniplexioo,  height,  aod  fi^re  of  a 
cao  be  deu-rmitje*!"  Compare,  ou  ihi*  poiot.  the  rvinarlu  ■»  to 
identity  at  pp.  5*58  and  559,  where  al»o  will  be  found  n*ma 
jud^iug  of  dijttance  by  the  /Uifh  of  a  ^tm,  tte.^  and  fke  fnund  of  iU  rrpqiri 
(tee  al»o  p.  860),  aod  oo  fAe  rreognition  of  an  tutaUant  or  mvrdaxr  Af  fA« 
fUak  of  a  piMol  w  ^m,  which  we  think  can  tio  longer  be  coMideff^  aft 
doubtful.  Of  course,  normal  sight  is  preeuppoaed,  or  correctioo  of  ni 
etc.,  by  Ien»ea. 

Id  order  to  judge  of  dustaoce  in  taking  aim.  numerous  instntmenci 
been  devised,  with  the  names  of  teleometer,  :^iad)um,  etc.,  etc.     They 
to  o«  to  have  had  but  little  importance  in  regard  to  medico-legal  matten^ 
except  a  question  aroee  as  to  recognizing  a  man,  or  the  poe^sibditv  of  ai 
ing   at  or   hitting   him   at  a  certain  distance.     Messrs.  Holtzapffel  ( 
Charing  Cross)  and  most  gun«mitht«  aod  opticians  V^^r,  ^nrh  in«(nimeoi 

The  question  might  be  rallied  :  How  long  does  a  '  fake  inint 

lingt     In  other  word^,  what  time  is  ^pent  in  at<iu.*ii  >  iiiiog  the  ehi 
HanH  Bu^k  ^p.  65,  of"  The  Rifle,  and  How  to  Use  it  '*)  gives  the  result 
some  ex})erimeoti»  with  shells  2J  diameter*  long,  24  gauge,  wei^hinj* 
grains,  with  a  charge  of  *2j  drachiim  of  powder.     We  select  the  nam 
of  greatest  interest  to  us  ad  medico* legists. 

Time  in  Second*  and  Thoutandlks  of  a  Steom/d* 


»roptM 


.936 

QOO 

.«50 

7U0 

,97.> 

8'*0 

1  3«»0 

0(K> 

1.625 

1000 

8«<^a4a^ 

r     ■ 

1  y7d 

2  3.00 

1  -J'  "> 

1^"'J0 

l.'HK) 

8.1  no 

1800 

8.«00 

'200(> 

With  a  four-grooved  single  rifle,  No.  8  gauge,  weighing  14  pi^njods 
ouDce!^,  and  with  nhelis  of  similar  ^hape^  but  weighing  i  ounce;  8  iJrachi 
(avoirdupois),  and  with  a  charge  of  4  drachrns  of  f»owdef,  the  lime  of 
flight  wa^  tm  follows: 


YaMs. 

itoi?oiMiiw 

Yiiftla. 

Seconds. 

y«H«. 

SwoDdi 

700      . 

.       2.380 

1000 

8. 820 

iy<«» 

7  IKIO 

»)0      . 

.       STS.'i 

1200 

4  570 

:;iK>o 

{»  120 

900      . 

a.'208 

1600 

6.140 

"  From  these  tables  we  deduce  that  the  average  rate  at  which  a  rifll 
ball   travels  is  about  7^  miles  \h?t  minute,  or  supposing  it  capable  of  ui 
diminished  continuance,  about  450  milefl  per  hour.    During  the  !»aiue  ii 
lerval   the  earth  travels  68,000  mile-ji,  so  that  the  velocity  with  which 
fly  through  space  is  rather  more  than  150  times  greater  thao  the  bighc 
speed  we  can  give  to  a  rifle-baJl." 

When  well  made,  a  rifle-barrel  will  stand  a  tremendous  strain.     One 
Daw*8  four-guinea  rifles  is  said  by  the  same  author  to  have  tttood 
enormous  strain  of  itvo  regulation  charges,  and  a  9pa^e  of  foitr  clear  ti 
between  the  apex  of  the  first  and  the  basis  of  the  second   buUrL 
barrel  stood  the  trial  without  any  injury  beyond  a  slight  bulge,  ant 
;ptible  externally,  and  scarcely  the  joW^^  ^*^  ^^  '"^^  ^^  ^^^  P*^**^  ^^^i 


JflTRAILLEUSS    AKD   0ATLIN6. 


989 


second  bullet  wa«  placed  !  So  well  made  are  Colooel  Ci»lt*9  weapons 
it  oulv  one  in  nearly  3000  burst  when  being:  proved!  Many  of  the  ac- 
cidents from  fireamia  (bursting  of  Hp<irting  weapons,  etc)  ari.He  from  tlieir 
not  liaving  been  proved.  It  sihould  he  cltstinctly  known  that  a  guumaker 
has  no  ri^jht  (by  law)  to  sell  a  firearm  to  any  one  unleiis  it  has  been  tes^ited 
in  London,  Birniinghani,  or  elsewhere^  as  required  by  statute.  Thoee 
by  government  and  rejected  are  marked  with  something  like  a 
ble  R,  or  two  R's  back  to  back. 

achine  guns,  whether  worked  by  steam  or  hand,  are  as  yet  almrxst 
laities  fo  far  as  Englii^hmen  are  concerned,  though  the  Mitrailfeuse  did 
e  service  in  the  Franco-German  war  of  1870.     In  general  the  size  of 
the  bullet  is  nearly  like  that  of  ordinary  infantry  rifle*.     These  monsters 
may  W  ?ilence<l  by  artillery,  but  are  ver>'  serviceable  in  such  situations  as 
j,  the  head  of  a  bridge,  or  in  a  narrow  defile,  or  in  a  breach.     There  are  two 
Btod^.  at  least;  viz.,  the  intermittent,  in  which /mr</  ttitd  hnding  are  suc- 
Bfclive,  or  alternate  operation*,  as  in  the  MoniignyCUrif^toiihe  3fitrnil/etuie; 
Hmd  the  <yjrttintiotu^  in  which  firing  and  loading  go  on  mmnltaueoui^ly,  the 
barrels  beinc  fed  in  turn  a*  they  pass  a  certain  point  with  cartridges,  as 
in  the  Guilir^g  arm.     This  has  been  preferriMl  for  the  British  service.     In 
tlM*  trial  at  8hoeburynes$,  the  Galling, of  42-incb  calibre,  on  one  o^vasion 
dincharged  'tyhl  rounds  in  two  minutes,  whilst  the  Montigny,  of  .577-inch 
^^^re,  delivered  370  rounds  in  the  same  time  as  its  maximum, 
^^ffhe  bulletii  may  l>e  made  to  carry  close,  or  with  a  little  dispemion.     It 
PKaid  that  one  poor  German  soldier,  living  tn  1871,  had  been  struck  by 
ihirty-two   mitrailleuse  bullets!     This,  whilst  showing  a  novelty  In   war- 
fere,  waa  clearly  a  waste  of  metal  as  far  as  the  purfx»ses  of  war  are  con- 
cerned.    ("  Popular  Encycloptedia,"  arliele  "  Mitrailleuse.") 

II.  As  regards  the  construction  of  cannon,  or  fields  fort,  and  fleet  guns, 

iijwd  on  shore  or  at  sea,  we  need  not  say  much.     The  details  are  usually 

leM  complicared  than  those  of  rifles,  though  like  these  they  are  divided 

ioto  hrrfth  and  mut2f€  loaders,  yet  the  kK-k  is  dispensed  with  in  all  except 

curious  weapons  not  actually  used  in  warfare.     The  cannon,  or  gun, 

»ually  mounted  on  a  carriage;  its  bullets,  or  rather  balls,  are  u.«ually 

of  iron,  and  are  either  solid  or  hollow  (shells).     The  interior  of  the  guo- 

tohe  is  called  its  bore,  as  In  the  rifle.     It  may  be  smooth  ttr  grt>oved.  and 

,  if  the  latter,  is  usually  rifled — that  is,  the  grooves  run  in  a  spiral  direction, 

yy  the  bore  it^lf  is  twisted,  as  in  the   Lancaster  gun.     The  solid  metal 

Bphind  ia  the  breech^  terminating  in  the  button.     The  tr^muionA  ate  the 

Fpfojections  on  each  side,  about  the  middle  of  the   cannon,  forming  the 

pivot  on   which  it  tunis,  on  being  elevated  or  depre*s»ed.     The   ^m^  or 

'  kttekkofe,  is  the  part  through  which  the  fire  b  introduced  into  the  bore 

Lta  discharge  the  gun.     A  »um\\  lube  (  fridion  tube)  is  made  of  copper  and 

Mfed  wiUi  fwwder.  and  this  is  introtluccd  into   the  vent  to  fire  it  in  land 

^Kvic«.     At  sea  a  sort  of  towmatch  is  oAen  used.     But  |>ercussion  fuses 

'  11*  now  often  substituted  in  breecbbwiders.     Cannon   are  generally  made 

rf  iron,  and  cast.     But  of  late  wrought  iron  with  steel  linings,  and  bniae, 

gitn-metal  'ten  parts  of  copper  to  one  of  tin)  cannon  have  been  much 

Some  of  the  most  ancient  are  a  kind  of  bra^.     As  regards  their 

)0i  iron  guiia  now  average  about  £21  a  ton  of  their  weight;  Arm- 

iDi,  built  up  and  lined  with  steel,  £100 a  ton;  Kmpp'a  steel  guns, 

FtoD;  whilst  the  gun-metal  ones  menliooed  above,  co^  from  £187 

'  ppflon.     The  name  of  cannon  was  pmbably  derived  from  eanna, 

m  reed.     Strange  as  it  may  seem,  cannon  have  been  made  of  wo<m]  (wrKxl 

liofd  with  roetaJ  waa  pretty  common  in  the  early  da^-s  of  artiller}' »,  lead, 

Slid  •v<eti  ic«  (St.  Petersburg,  1740;  balls  of  many  pounds  weight  were 

llrad  viUioiit  injuring  tlieie  ioe-cauooiij.    Li&rge  guna  ar«  OAmed  either 


990 


CA5N0K  AND  MORTARS. 


from  the  weight  of  the  shot,  a«  6  pounders,  12-pouQder8,  etc.,  or  from  lh«?ir 
own  wrei^ht,  a«  a  2')-ton  giiii,  a  354rin  ifiui,  700  pnumlor  gun,  etc.,  f»r  .<poi 
ivoly,  a«*  ihe  **  WiMilwich  Iiifani,"  "Qnoen  Bess'^  Pocket-pistol,"  *'M«i| 
M<'lir,"  ^t<^'.     One  Ht  Bois  le  Due  is  iniimorl  the  "Devil!**     The  foHowii 
niinies  are  ohsolete :  cannon  royal,  or  rarihniins  (48-pound  shot);  huHtni 
cnnnoti,  or  }  and  h  carthotiiii*   (3(>  anrl   24-pouriders);  whole  culverij 
(18  iMHiriders);  demi-culveriiid  (9  pouinler^) ;  falcon  (O-poinuk^rsi ;  j*ak< 
(5,  fl,  '(r  M-putinders) ;  basilisk  (4H-pounden») ;   serpentine  <  4-fjnnuderi1 
ai'pif',  2;  dratron,  G;  siren,  GO;  falconeis,  3.  2,  and  1 -pounder!?;  niDvensJ 
ball  of  10  or  12  ouuees ;  rahinets,  a  IG-ounra  or  l-pounder  ball. 

Mortars  are  very  short  guns,  or  ciinnon,  made  wilh  a  very  wide  Iwi 
and  now  always   fired  at  a  great  elevation  (by   theory  45°  in  vaeuo, 
practice  about,  43^  i.*     They  nre  ehiefly  us^ed  for  throwing  sA^//,  i.e.,  hoi 
low  8hot«,  ronj^tructed  so  an  to  explode.     They  are  also  used   to   throw 
rwketii,  and  sometimef»  for  srdid  nhot.     Originiilly  it  would  appear  th< 
were  int(*nded  to  throw  red  hot  «>hot,  and  large  balls  of  stone.     Heuee 
Gerninny   the  cfllihre  i.«  estioMited   hy  the  weight  of  the  Mtone  the  nittrt 
will  throw.     In  Denmark  nml  Russia  it  is  named  after  the  weight  of  tl 
iron  hall  which  tits  it.     [ii  Fnioce  and  Great  Britain  it  ia  ujiual  to  ?pe« 
of  a  mnrtar  hy  the  diameter  of  the  hore.     Like  other  large  guns,  they  mi 
be  rifled  or  bored  eceentrically,     Somptimes  bag?  of  grupeshot  or  ohail 
8hot  are  thrown  froFo  them»  and,  from  the  facility  of  loading,  all   mann^ 
of  ihingM  can  be  ftied  in  this  way.     Owing  to  the  great  elevation  of  tl 
fire,  thp  shells  are  said  to  "search  behind  cover,"  and  their  moral  effect 
probably  greater  than  their  destructive  powers.     Owing,  however,  to  tl 
shells  being  furnished  with  time  fuses,  and  the  fact  that  great  accuracy 
aim  is  not  yet  attained  in  this  system  of  firing,  it  no  happens  that  o\ 
soldiens  are  but  little  terrified  Uy  shells  when  there  is  plenty  of  ro'»ra 
.Hutficienoy  of  water  ou  hand.     But  if  th^y  fall  amongtit  masses  of  men, 
hojipifftln  ami  barraeki*,  or  among^^t  fwwder  or  inflammable  materials,  the] 
often    work    fearful  havoe— selling  buildings  on  fire,   exploding   [niwderp 
splintering  granite  anrl  other  Mone  defences,  etc.     At  Se«la«  the  FrentiM 
dead  were  fminil  torn  into  niasjieH  of  "flesh  and  rags"  by  PrU'j<iao  9he|]f| 
It  is  generally  thought  that  the  Gerniaos  invented  mortars*,  and  that  they 
were  uj^ed  at  the  siege  of  Naftles,  in  1435,  by  Charleys  VIII.     It   is  more 
certain  that  sheHni  were  thrown  out  of  m^trtars  at  the  siege  of  Wachteflfl 
dotik,  in   15^8,  hy  the  Count  of  MansfJehb     The  name  is  no  doubt  fn»aV 
the  Italian  mortaio  (a  mortar  u.«»'d  with  a  |)estle),  or  the  Latin  word  mor- 
tariiim,  wilh  the  same  meaning.     The  bomb'*,  or  j^hells  thrown  from  mortar^^ 
are  filled  with  a  variety  of  eorapositions.     The  following  i»  very  cornmonGH 
utifd  :  A  bomb  of  sevenlyfour  pounds  conlHinH  from  five  to  eight  yioun^P 
of  gunpowder,  and  <me  pound  of  rumpnuition^  eoostisling  of  equwl   partj^  of 
pulfthur  and  nitre  with  s<jme  mealed  powder.     In  10  pound  bombs  a  poui 
of  gun[)owder  and  two  or  three  ounces  of  the  eompohiticjin  are  u.*ed.     Bi 
pirrate  of  potash  and  fulndnjiting  powder,  aud  even  Greek  fire,  have  b* 
used  ^  Paritnian  conspiratorH  againsit  Napoleon  III,  and  siege  of  Charh 
ton    in    the  Atneriean  civil    war).      Howitzers  are  chambere<l   pieces* 
ordnance    or  short   length,   intermediate   between   eannon   and   mortal 
They  may  be,  and  are   now,  grooved   and   rifltni.     They  are  n8e<J   to  lii 
shells  (  which  can,  however,  be  fired  by  ordinary  guns) ;  aud,  like  mortal 
their  fire  i»  almost  vertical.     The  chateau  of  Hougoumout  at  Wnterli 


*  A  **d«'£frfM^,"  in  thi*  *pnsi»,  cqunU  the  :^(l')th  pnrt  of  h  circle  |4(H>lIi  fmri.  *»n  U 
otd  FrffM'h  M'«tem) ;  hvnro,  00°  Hre  k  t\\*\\1  nnglo  ^,  or  corner  of  n  squnre,  m 
h^lf  of  ihi^  is  equMJ  t<>  itt'^.  A  degree  hw  t50  minutes  {'),  and  thii  minuta  ' 
■econds  ('<'), 


TOE    WOOLWICH    INFANTS. 


991 


waa  burned  by  the  shells  of  Jerome  Bonaparte.  And  in  ibe  sie^  of 
Slrasbur^^.  m  1870,  tbe  Pnissiun  engineers,  by  cntcultttion  nn«l  testing, 
suri-eedt^d  in  do>?troying  the  hid«l*M»  slui^e-ji^nte^  to  llif  ditrh  of  Stntfiburg; 
this  Wflj*  justly  deemed  a  very  skilful  achievement.  Twelve-ponndei^  and 
tweiity-fourponnder*  are  common  ^izes.  A  f/rr-imr/r,  sometime,'*  mn  fused 
with  a  bomb,  ii*  of  !*mftller  t^iio,  bein^  n!*n«lly  about  2J  inches  in  diameter. 
It  i.s  made  of  iron,  and  hollow,  so  as;  to  contain  explosives.  They  may  be, 
and  have  Iveen,  thrown  from  tmirtar**,  though  the  pruetice  is  considered 
very  dangeAnjj*.  Tht^v  have,  sneces^sively,  been  made  of  jjlaas,  paper, 
bn>iize,  and  iron.  Ynnhan  estimated  them  highly.  They  u«ed  to  be 
thrown  bv  hand — hand-grena<lea  giving  the  name  to  our  Grenadiers. 
They  are  (iltle  u.-^ed  now. 

Perhaps  the  greatest  achievement  of  gnnnery  in  modern  tune**  was 
achieved  hy  the  .'il-tori  gun,  of  twelve  inches  calibre,  teroied  the  "  Wool- 
wich Inftint,"  with  a  charge  of  110  pounds  of  pebble  powder,  and  a  700- 
pound  "Palliser  chilled  shell."  This  shell  drnve  iU  head  through  18j 
inches  of  solid  \nm  and  1*2  inehcj'  of  teak  wiiod  !  This  wa.«snfficieTit  to  pene- 
trate the  thickej^t  armor  of  such  shifis  ns  the  British  Dn'n>ff^tiif>n  or  Hnssian 
Peter  (he  Great  at  short  ranges!  Of  course  a  whole  line  of  nicn  would  be 
kno<^ke«1  down  at  once  by  its  mere  impact,  and  if  it  burst  it  might  destroy 
a  whole  regiment!* 

The  following  rules  (founded  on  the  specific  gravities  of  lead  and  iron, 
which  equal  11.3  and  7.7  respectively )  have  been  given  for  estimating 
the  weight  i)i sphtrim!  bulls  made  of  these  tnetals: 

1.  To  firjfl  the  weight  of  a  leaden  ball  from  its  diameter. 

Multiply  the  ruhe  of  its  diameter  by  2,  and  divide  by  9,  and  the  quotient. 
will  give  the  weight  in  pounds. 

E.  g.  The  weight  of  a  leaden  ball  of  five  inches  diameter  is  required. 
Then  5  .  5x5=  125  =  cube  of  diameter.  Then  125  x  2  -*-  9  =  250 
H- 9  =  27 J  lbs. 

2.  To  liutl  the  weight  of  an  iron  ball  from  it«*  diameter- 
Cube  the  dian^eter,  mnliiply  by  9,  and  divide  by  (>4 ;  the  result  is  the 

feonired  weight  in  pounds. 

Kequired  the  weight  of  an  iron  ball  of  5  inches  diameter? 

5  ^  5  K  5  =  125;  and  125  x  9  -4-  64  =  17|J  IIj«. 

The*te   rules  do  not  apply  to  elottgnted  sh<it   (cylindro-cimoidal,  etc.), 

which  arc  oow   chiefly  irnvd.     For  example,  a  4J-()Ouijdcr  gun  will  fire  a 

9-pourider  shot  on  the  ni*w  prin<*iples.     The  weight  depemls,  of  course,  on 

how  many  diameterH  I  he  balls  are  in  length.     8ueh   questions,  however, 

I  jiridom  enter  into  medical  jurisprudence. 

•  Bincn  writini;  ihw  Hbcivo  th»-  hn*  boen  grfutly  oxciMMj'^i  by  the  nc*w  Woolwich 
InfMht,  Hn-t/*n  jrun  TK«*  turttet  hml  u  lotui  th^-  k»i<"N  i»f  47  uu-tM'*.  iMHiKi-lidi*  of  4 
•rrfh^r-ffrtlo*  nf  irun  uf  i\\f  flnost  r|iirt1Uy,  ewli  8  iin 'ln:s  thick  l<»r  32  inchf'K  nt  solid 
iron  I,  wnri  IT*  ijnln'o  of  fjik  lirn'nT  (r»  iiirh-«i  hrtwer-ti  ewu-h  |iImU>}.  Tbis  w«» 
furlhi'f  •trcntrlhr'ni'il  hv  pr>>p«  mnd  pn»>H  h««hirict  wrid  IjmIow 

TJii?  rhnrtfr  wiia  .'170  |MMiiif|-  i>f  f>c>l4il«»  fi»»w<trT,  th*'  ftmjifrtite  b  Pntti<^i'  «hc*lK  filtwl 
Willi  CfpiiMr  ifM-H'liftk,  wr-ii;hiriJ  with  17tW)  fK<ur«<i«t  of  tmnd.  and  filtiRir^nl.  It  miid«i 
Mti  iifsTlnrc  17}  ifH'h't*  by  lf»J  ;  Iti"  N'ttil  b-nifih  tif  lln»  pri>pcctil<*  wn*  42  ifH'h<««, 
and  ihU  would  givr  h  fn'n"tr«li<.n  **f  -17  oirhc«  cm  lJi**  Uitwl  lhi<'krii».'is  i»f  thi*  tiirKet, 

If  tliMihol  liNcl  nnl  t n  <1  ati'junl  Mnil  t>uli;<«d  outwards.     A*  it  wh»,  lh«'  rrtip  filntft 

•H"  liiilifod  «'U»wnrd-«  V*  lh«*  ^'Xli-nl  >*(  of  7  irn"tj«'i*.  In  m  rnm|>n«»wM|  forni  tin?  pro- 
jtfiili'  V/HK  rtiinc  Imi'lt  40y«r<lK  Inwiirdnthr  pun;  <*nc  frnKnu'iU  flew  3(>«l  vwrdH. 

Tb»'  vi'liM'Uv  M«  it  ri'fulM'fl  lhi»  |j»rn«'t,  wh*  \4*M  tMut  ^yi'T  jiwodd,  <>i|uhI  to  nn 
i»nr'rtf  y  of  L'C>.  |(M>  fiMit  lon-«,  or  027  tool  Um»  per  invb  of  lb«  ibot'»  circumfurofic*. 
Thi'  rtn  oil  warn  nctirly  4'(  tVrt  (iji  uri  inchno. 


W2 


TBBOBT   OF  PROJECTILES, 


We  ^ball,  therefore,  before  eoterinjr  od  the  ooDsiderKtion  of  the 
I,  and  other  wounas  from   firearmf^  proceed  to  di 


liantic«  of  gui 
briefly— 


The  General  TTirory  of  ProjectU^s,  and  the  Praetieal  Lqicm  of  (run 

We  rnu!>t  premiso  that  a  bullet  in   motion  is  subject  to   the  onrioiii 
laws  of  gravity,  to  the  ree^tstance  of  the  air,  and  to  what  are  of\en  ca)U 
the  NetftonUtn  law?  of  motion,  from  their  being  found  in  Book  I  of  tl 
•'Principia."  (They  were,  however,  contained  in    ffrs   OirteM    "I*nnt»i[ 
Philosophifc."  part   ii,  pp.  38,  39,  and   40,  published    before  Xewtoni 
"Principia/")     Briefly  slated,  these  laws  are  a*  follows: 

Law  I. — Every  bodif  perseveret  in  iOt  titate  of  reM  or  uniform  motinn  (in 
itraight  line  >,  uuJejtA  it  t»  rompeiled  to  change  (hoi  tinU  by  JorrrA  imprt^ 
thrremu  Hence  a  ball  from  a  cannon,  or  a  bullet  from  a  gun,  would  nt 
deviate  from  its  first  direction,  or  tend  to  the  earth,  if  the  action  of  gnivitj 
and  the  ret^iHtance  of  the  air  did  not  alter  and  retard  iti^  nrH>tion,  Tl 
iame  may  be  ^aid  of  an  arrow,  of  a  stone  thrown  from  a  sliog,  of  tl 
booint^ran^  ut«ed  in  Australia,  of  a  spear  thrown  by  hand,  etc. 

Thii*  first  law  i«  sometimes  called  the  law  of  inertia,  and  expre«Ae9  l1 
entire  indifference  of  matter  to  motion  or  ret^t.     The  idea,  however,  that  al 
matter  has  a  tendency  to  reat  appears  to  be  a  common  ernir.     For 
vacuo  mud  our  vacuums  are  never  perfect)  a  pendulum,  only  reeif»tet1  b 
the  fitifrnej*s  of  the  thread  which  su-spend:*  it,  will   swing    ail  day;  atirl  a 
top,  retarded  only  by  the  friction  of  ib«  point,  will  spin  for  houn«,     Hnw 
long  the  plnnPtary  moiic^n.^  have  continued  we  can  scarcely  hope  to  knnw, 
though  Sir  William  Thompjion  believes  that   for    our  solar  system   the^ 
matter  admits  of  being  determine<l  with  at  lea.<t  approximate  accuracy) 
and  that  it  is  far  from  being  the  eternity  of  ages  which  some  materialisi 
as*«ert. 

When  a  body  is  moving  uniformly — that  is,  when  it  passes  over  e<^uj 
spaces  in  e*|ual   times — we  may  define  its  velocity  or  speed,  as  the  sp«i< 
passed  over  in  one  second  (of  ordinary  time).     The  law  may  be  writi 
in  the  form  of  F=  *  when  »  is  the  space  or  distance  moved   over  uni 

formly  with  the  velocity  F"  in  the  time  t.     The  law  is  true,  no  matter  hoi 
short  the  time  mav  be;  thus,  if  a  body  movers  uniformlv  through  the  spat 
of  0.24  fool  in  0.001  secnjnd,  it^s  vehicity  is  0.24  ^  0.001,  or  240  feet 
second.     Now  the  initial  velocity  of  a  sh<»t  variee  from  about  1500  to 
feet  per  second.     If  unresisted  W  the  air,  and  by  gravity,  the  shot  mei 
tioned  at  p.  9«8,  instead  of  taking  nearly  two  seconds  to  do  600  yai 
Would  do  the  distance  in  about  one-quarter  the  time,  or  one-half  second. 

Law  II. —  The  aUeration  of  motion,  or  the  motion  ^enernted  or  degti 
in  nnif  body,  i$  proportional  to  the  force  applied,  and  m  made  in  the  dirt 
Hon  of  thai  tttraight  line  in  which  the  force  aWx.  Thus,  if  anv  motion 
generated  hy  a  given  force,  a  double  motion  will  be  prf>duced  by  a  doublt 
force,  a  triple  motion  by  a  triple  force,  etc. ;  and,  considerinff  motiol 
as  an  effect,  it  will  always  be  found  that  a  body  re<'eives  its  motion  in  lh< 
same  directir)n  with  the  cause  that  acts  ui>i>o  it  If  the  ciiust^s  i>f  moiini 
be  various  nnd  in  difll^rent  directions,  the  body  ncted  u^mui  must  tak< 
an  oblicjue  or  compound  direction.*    Hence  a  curvilinear  motion  cannot  b^* 

•  Mnny  <>f  you  ure   fumilinr  wilh  whnt  i*   palled    th(»  pttm/ffhpprtim  nf  tf>vr^M 
f Newth'd  "  El**nn»nte  of   M«M*l»Mnic»,"   elc,  cliap.  ii,  p.   fi).     "Iflwo   .  tj 

(AO  mid  BOj,  Ncting  upon  n  point  are  reprew^nted  in  magnitude 


LAWS   OF    PROJfiCTILBS. 


993 


prodtuvd  hj  a  »!mple  atttJte,  but  mnM  arise  from  different  eauaei  ading  at  the 
mame  ituitant  upon  tht^  hotly. 

But  Ni-^wton'.-i  Tbir<l   Law  of  Motion,  explains  what  is  called  the  recoil 
of  fireanuB,  or  the  ki^ik  of  H  cumnion  guti.     It  ia  as  follows : 

JUaw  III.^ — To  every  adloit  there  i»  alwayn  appmed  an  equal  renrtton, 
or  the  mntual  actiojiat  of  tivo  bmiH'n  upmi.eavh  other  are  alwayj*  filial  and 
directed  to  contrary  polufM.  "  If  wo  tiiideavor  to  raise  a  weight  by  aieaus 
of  n  k'ver,  we  shull  find  the  lever  press  the  hands  with  the  sanie 
fitnre  which  we  exert  iip^in  it  to  rai^^e  the  weigjht.  Or  if  we  press  one  seale 
f  A  l>Ht)ii)ee  ill  order  Ui  raise  a  weight  in  the  other  wate  or  pan,  the  pres- 
!^  j^aiimt  tlie  tinker  will  he  erpml  to  tliat  i\*rce  with  which  the  other 
IMI  endeavors  to  de?eend/'  When  a  caiition  is  tired,  the  iiupelliiig  force 
of  the  powder  a<*ts  e<pijilly  on  the  breech  of  the  cfiiuKHi  aiifl  od  the  bull ; 
•o  that  if  the  cannon,  with  iti«  earnmj^e,  and  the  hall,  wxTe  of  cpml  weij;;ht, 
the  t'arriage  would  recoil  with  the  same  velocity  n«  that  with  which  the 
liall  issuesj  out  of  the  cannon.  But  the  heavier  any  body  iji  the  less  will 
it0  velocity  be,  pri»vided  the  force  which  coninuinlcates  the  motion  coq- 
tintJes  the  same.  Therefore,  !*o  many  time*  a.*  the  cantion  anrl  carriage  are 
heavier  than  the  bull,  juf^t  »o  nniny.  times  will  the  velocity  of  the  cannon 
be  leas  than  that  of  the  ball.  Advantage  is  taken  of  this,  in  Mi)ocriert"s 
and  some  other  gun*carria|res,  the  (i\m  being  brought  nearly  back  to  the 
pl«re  of  lirin^f  after  di?<charfre  by  the  recoil ! 

We  now  come  to  the  Laws  or  PkOJKcrriLEs  which  are  applicable  to 
»h«»t  and  <he]l  of  all  s*iw*,  fired  from  guns  of  all  kinds*  (from  pistols  to  ean- 
noni;i),  and  even  to  rockets  and  fireworks.  Some  of  them  are  also  appli- 
cable to  stones,  darls,  arntws,  and  the  like.  When  a  brKiy  is  thrown 
v<?rtically  upwards  or  downwards,  its  moti<m  continues  to  be  reeiibnear 
<firwi  law  of  motion).  If  a  stone  be  thrown  verliwilly  up,  or  a  bullet  be 
fired  in  the  »amo  direction,  it  goes  on  till  its  initial  fort*e  is  counter- 
balanced by  the  resistance  of  the  air,  and  the  attraction  of  gravity, 
in  other  words,  of  the  earth  s  mass.  If  the  stone  or  bullet  be  thrown 
horizontally,  the  body  will  inove  in  a  curved  path,  beciiuse  Heaving  out 
of  account  the  resi^^tance  of  the  air)  It  r^-tains  unchanged  its  horizontal 
vehK'ity,  hut  it  tails  faster  and  Caster  toward-s  the  ground.  Wkai  inveMi- 
(jnttd  hy  dynnmirA  the  cnrrnd  path  is  foninl  to  be  a  parabola,'*  A  body  f>ro- 
jected  (ihliqueiy  (e.  fj  ,  a  shot  fire<l  frr^m  a  gun  w^ith  a  certain  elevation)  has 
actually  ft  certain  horizontal  velocity  and  a  certain  vertical  velocity.  Now 
it  rct4iins  iiii  horiz-uital  vehicity  unchanged,  but  its  vertical  velocity  is  altered 
by  theforceof  gniviry,  and  weaijjiin  find  the  curved  path  which  it  follows  to 
be  a.  paraho/a A  With  a  yiven  vt'focifyihe  fp'ftjtijtt  ranfp:'  tjf  obtained  by  projfr.i- 
irtff  Jit  an  angle  of  45''  with  the  verticHl  (the  cross  bar  of  this  N  is  ne/irly  45^), 
{brf  remarks  under  Mortar,  p.  J+W,)  Very  accurate  aim  is,  however,  next 
lO  impossible.     We  have  supposed  the  air  to  ofl'er  no  resistance  to  the 


tum  Ky  the  lw»  fid4M  of  h  piiritH«'h>ijrani  (O  A  D  B).  ihrtn  will  l)i»Mr  r<»«oltiinl  also 
h*»  pi'pntonU'd  In  •nHsrniiuth*  nnd  rfirpclion  hy  the  diHconsI  drHwn  through  the 
lfW«*n  iHJinl  (Oj  "  T1i»»  '*  frinnj^ta  nf  fntren,^*  ttnd  ihn  ^'' jv,hff)fm  uf  forcrtiy^'  are 
fminH<i><l  on  th**  ««rnf«  hiw  of  motion  (>f»«w<im*4  II«f,  i;iv*m  nbovi*  in  th*»  i**x\)  This 
law  KPciiily  «knnihtl»*6  iln.  >tu<ly  of  Kini'lir^,  for  it  ^h«•w»  u#  how  to  r»'di»to  ii  nmn- 
^••r  mf  U^riH'%  (M  orii*  i*ini;lo  001%  whi«'h  i«  (.'ull^d  tti««  r*nnlinni.  VVh  nhiill  |»r*<»t«nlly 
pep  thnt  thf  trfi/rrtory  of  h  hnWH  ia  the  rcftultnnt  of  the  force*  of  gunpowder^ 
Ufiivliy,  and  ihi'  rM^iisUnicM*  uf  ih»(  iiir. 

•  A  purubnlrt  \n  ihiil  Nn«;ti<tri  nf  h  riijlil  e*m<i  whicli  is  avuh^  pHrntiol  to  «  tlnnl  Mde. 
Wtiifr,  from  it  ptiHi|»  or  witUrr-enrt,  or  txH'nping  from  tiio  «idn  of  n  dMkr  iM*umot 
Ihi"  ciirv«, 

t  TKc  i»icfM*rifriHn»iiI  prtHifd  nrt*  very  clwrly  given  in  Mona.  E.  Burat'ft  "  PrAoit 
do  M(k'nniqu<3."     Pwris,  ltt«9. 


9H4  MOMENTUM    OR    ENER07    OP    FALLTSa    BODIES. 

motion  of  the  projectile,  but  iu  gunnery  this  resbtaDce  h  of  vi 
imporlanw,  because  uf  flief  exceotling  j^reai  velocity  of  the  bulIt'M 
and,  indeed,  iu  pructiee^  the  aliove  theory  is  liot  of  very  jrrent 
it  h  the  best  we  bavi\  and  the  path  of  the  bullet  or  ils  fra/r<?<or|/ is 
vvithiij  the  pAmbohi  of  the  theoretical  projectile,  iind  beiice  it#  | 
much  Ies8.  For  example,  when  the  velocity  i^  2000  feet  per  8t*rfl 
resistance  of  the  air  is  ab(»ut  100  times  the  weij^bt  of  the  hn 
the  greatest  runtje  which,  according  to  theory,  shouhl  t>e  23  luilei*, 
than  1  mile"  *"  Popular  Encyclofiiedia  " ).  Burat  ^Hys»,  "The  flighl 
jeetile,-!  oflFers  us  an  example  of  the  traiisformnlion  of  work  into 
and  of  vis  viva  into  work  agaiu.  Wliilst  the  bullet  weighing  P,  ii 
gun,  it  is  subject  to  the  pressure  of  the  giis  from  the  gunpowder;  if 
the  mean  pressure  of  this  gas  on  a  great  circle  (kf  the  bullet  F, 
length  of  the  barrel  /,  the  work  of  the  powder  will  be  F  x  /, 
initial  velocity  V  will  be  proportional  to  these  quantities  thus  : 

2  F ; = r  X  V". 

When  the  bullet  penetrates  mRfwinry,  this  vis  viva  ^V*,  will  hi 

formed  into  work  again,  atid  if  we  call  the  mean  resistance  R, 
actual  penetration  e,  we  shall  have: 

if 

if  we  disregard  the  vibration  communicated  to  contiguous  parts, a! 
air  around"  (fon.  cit.,  p.  170). 

The  MOMENTUM,  or  energy  of  a  body  fnlling  through  the  atmo^f 
the  mass  or  weight  multiplied  by  the  square  mot  of  the  heighl 
fallen  through,  muUiplied  by  8.021.  Tha<»  a  one  ounce  ball,  fallif 
a  height  of  40Q  feet,  would  strike  the  earth  with  a  momentum  of 

1  X  (20  X  ».021)  =  160.42  =  hK0'2ii, 
or,  in  it3  fall  of  400  feet,  the  ounce  has  become  equal  to  tea  pouod 


♦  QpHVily^  nr  thf  fittiHrtiftn  of  the  Pnrth,  or  lur^p  rn»s«,  f.»r  th^  hull#i 
or  bjill)  ur  ih**  einii!1*'r  mn=:*,  hn*  bo^n  ^o  frMqiwriily  montjohi^-l   Mhov**,  IH 

Itlk-HlKOi  tf»  thi'  ciiso  of  fnllinQ  hwlUn  inil*l  bi*  bru'flv  m»'Titi>norl  \\vri*.  (I) 
un\\  UM*  (fpom  ri»i»l)  it  ucqoin's  n  v«*l'X'ity  of  jAhcjut  82.2  ftw»t  pof  m^cond, 
jtliirhtly  with  the  loi-olUy.  At  the  end  nf  five  w'^'ond*.  ih^Ti'forH,  !h<»  Wm 
bf  faiind  movinij  nl  tli^e  rate  of  6  x  ^-2,  thnt  \<  1HI  ft««»t  p«T  M'Hmnd  U 
forriMila,  v  =^(j  t,  the  v^'iUHMtviHjdniU  urNviiy,  or  82  2  liM-t  midtiplii'd  hv  iV 
iocmd*.  (2)  The  ppiitH' fMllen  tbpr.u.ih  in  ihr  flr*t  srt'i«nd  U  hull' itf  3Jj 
feut,  Hfid  the  sprtfe  fnlK'n  throuijh  in  nny  j^iv^-n  limo  i«  f^nmd  by  mutlipJ 
sqiuire  of  the  numhiT  nf  !-t»i«tnM'i^  hy  IH  1,  Thu«,  In  thro*>  it(«cN»n'1>  n 
9  X  1''  1  ff^^'l.  '^f  144.0  feet  The  f<»rmiilrt  here  i*.  /«  s=  ^  tj  /*,  A  (n|itnllin£  I 
fet't,  wnd  /  time  in  si'condH.  If  wo  tnkr  tin*  n  ion  her  hi  h*  h  verv  vh**^  apl 
lif»n,  th"  nuinb-r  of  Ketvinds  ihnt  •»  bf>iiy  fnlla  lhpcMij*h  hi  n  civni  ti»««  U 
the  ?(jtmre  mf  the  nitrnh'T  of  quiirter  sectMuls  Thu-,  in  thii  <*h<m*  ju^t  e»v 
seconds  eqoid  twelve*  qiiurtcr  gpcondft,  imd  lhi«  M.|<iHr»  of  12.  <«r  111  U^n 
iiiimhor  of  f(«+M  frtllfn  tliroutjb.  IWide*  it"  Mpplicrttion  to  pri»jertilr»,  th>'  ( 
iut»  in  the  followinir  eiiftes  8uppo»e  wo  wi«h  to  Hi»c<'ruin  ihf  depth  >*f  { 
minn,  or  to  know  whnl  Innjjth  tif  ropn  is  reouirwl  f»*r  It,  or  to  rcMch  li»  ill 
of  n  cTPVHHRP.  With  s*'fond«-wtiteh  in  hunn,  ni«te  the  lime  n  »«nf»>iH  p»*bltl« 
dtrike  the  ^iirfiiee  of  water,  or  the  IxtUiim  of  th<>  rr»'Vu*.4*».  rio.  L«»l  u*  *iipi 
to  be  flv*>secon4i*.  Then  A  =  j  7  X  '»  X  '»  =  1^  X  ^•'*  =  400ffci.  or,  ni'»r**  ai 
1«J  X  -6  =  402.5  feet,  (3)  r'=  2  A  x  JJ2  2.  Thu*.  ff  a  h.»<ly  f«l|,  nin 
gel  t*  =  IS  X  32.2  ti»  =^ 57U.6  feet.   Then-fore^  v  =  y/Sfutl,  or  24. t»  foct  n> 


WHEWELL  8    FORMULA. 


995 


Id  ihe  case  of  projectiles,  fired  either  horizontally  or  obliquely,  the  mo- 
mentum equals  the  mass  or  weight,  multiplied  by  the  velocity. 

Whewt'll  gives  the  fullowiug  fortnula  for  the  range,  altitude,  and  time 
of  flight  of  bodies  projected  along  plaoes  iDclioeii  to  the  horizon  i  in  a 
vacuum). 

I.  Let  r  =  range:  A  ==  greateAt  aliitude:  t  =  tinie  of  flight ;  v  ■=  ve- 
locity of  projection ;  h  =  heij^ht  due  to  ihi^  velocity;  a  =  angle  of  pro- 
jection above  tJie  horizontal  plane ;  i',  equal  ele%mtion  of  the  plune  above 
the  horizon;  ff=  Z2k  feet  (or  gravity^ ;  theu  we  have  the  following 
equtttions: 

2  r«    sin,  («  —  ijcm.  «             *in  («  — «)  coi.  « 
r«^.    __=4A * 


9 


A  = 


tin  ■  («  —  /) 


^A 


co«,'i 
*in.»(«— j) 


f  = 


2v    Bin.  (*  — 4)       v/2~A    2Mn.  («  — i) 


9 


COS.  I 


Greiilc*t  rfioge  ^ 


2  A 


1  X  »^'n-  ' 

2.  When  t  =  o;  r  will  be  the  horizontal  mnge;  and  the  above  equa- 
tions will  become: 

r  =z  — .  Bin.  2  «  =s£  t2  A  »in.  2  « 
9 

A  =  — -.  iin.  *«  =  A  ein.  •* 
^9  _ 

2  0  y/2K 

*= — .  »>n  *  = .2siQ.  «. 

9  9 

Orenteil  rnngc  s  2  A. 

8.  The  curve  d««cribed  by  a  projectile  is  a  parabola,  the  prinoipal  parm- 
meter  of  whicb  =  4  ^cos.'  a,  and  the  velocity  at  any  point  is  that  acquired 

tlmt  ■  hndy  In  fnllftii;  nin<?  fi**»t  ncqiiircs  n  TPlncitr  of  21  feel  por  nccnnd.  (4)  Wlieii 
A  ht--iy  i*  [iriijo^tt-u^d  vrtirully  upwiird*  with  n  <fiv«'n  vrl'^city,  it  ootilinu***  t<»  m«« 
durini;  «  numl'HT  "T  ».i«oikn>1*,  loiinil  hy  «Itvifliri(f  Ihn  tinmb«r  th*il  J-xpro***!!*!  the 
vuliioiiy  of  |jr«ij««cti»»n  hy  82 'i  ;  Htirl  it  n«i»*  ti»  h  hH{;hl  f«»anrj  liy  dividing  the 
iquuro  uf  lh»l  numlx*r  by  2  x  ^«  *<^*  "*c  O'l-^-    '^^i^  n^i^y  ^^  expri'^itKl  lliu«  : 

r  »• 

^^^  If  ==     —  when  f  oquals  time  in  tccondi,  and  A  =  — -  when  A  equjils  height. 

^^Br,  «*  Z'l  1  rquiiU  gruvity  (ftce  Rbove),  these  nre  ofU*n  wrilton  Ihun: 

^m 

^B  f  s  -,  nnd  A  »  — . 

^^B«jppo#i»,  Ihrn-fnrn,  H  biilU't  is  flr**d  verlirntly  tipwurdu  with  n  forr»«  of  2000  fc«t 
jMiT  tecond,  then  (di^rrjrnrdtng;  ihv  rr^itUticc  uJT  iht>  nir,  ^nd  frNetions) — 

20Q0 
f  =        - ,  or  126  »econds  ;=  2  tninut#«  5  MNrondtt 
82 

and  11  will  rite  to  »bHiehl  of  02.600  fn*(,  or  IIJ  mil***  Thi*  i«  in  vmmo.  la 
|»facLic«  it  t«  only  »bout  2U20  fe«t,  or  a  Utile  mor«  thHti  hiitf  &  mil«. 


-  ■    7  :::..   "■  ••■- '  ■-'  1  •:  T 

•  =  1...  :=  i/} 

~      "    =      ^'  •  '        ■    J*  ■'■.".-     r-"'.'.      "'   L     -'.    •'.     .-     Ir'i..""'     A*     Z.Z-i 

J.:.'    V  >-:-     -.'.r'r   i.v    .:   ■.-._.--?    :  "1-. -■  "X.   _:i  :>   :.  i^i.  _i 

-.   T.  ,:-:-    ;  x::-  -.n...     ;  .".-  :  i.nr'.-.'' 
V  =    'jv  .1  ♦  -.  .-  :. 

.  -— ..'M-  '^  ."■  :;.■:  i.  7  '...  iiT  -ri..     -  --  -v.":  >. 


=  ■;.  (^■-=» 


II      ,11 


/     .•    « 


.4     V.    .  ■%■ 


A    .■i-'iirjit:-'-  '-'■j'ja*.:'".':j.  fr-vi  'Ari-ri'.--  ■  nmy  r»r  T"-':r:'i. 

Lj-iri.jf.''    -T'.ra'j  :r  tj  rn-;    :  1  [r..!j:..i  :r--  :frr:.;i.dl  vr:--:::y  =  244  :V»:-: 
ri.-r  ■rt-   -T^J  [''''i:.'!-.  it  i-  4-"»i. 

r"'.  'I  f.«-  r  .'.»■  a-  f.  irsrui'-'A-l'-r  }ia*  ':••— m  i:iv»^n  Jit  p.  HS»\  It  K^jir*: 
"T:.'.-  :»'-•  '  ■'.■irj..  f,:"  p  .w  j.-r  i-  r-.'. . ;:  ^'li  -r  .^th  'if  the  wcijrht  >.»:'  liir  hMll. 
etc."'      >'•■'.  V-'iii::'- '•  N.'iruni:  I*'rjil"S  ft-liy." 

♦  MiifiV  a-"/.' r>.i'-  ntsi:-  th  i*.  ::.•■  r-- *•..::..••  i«  u  hur-irv-i  li::.'.-*  iLfw.:-!;:  o: 


_...  .....,.■.  •-.-.  2  r.  -.1-  -- *--.i::.>e  of  tl 

.....  ■  —    -     ■      '■-."". ..I.    ~T.  M'~.     Hrrji*e  t^ 

..;,,.  .  -  "-  1  :  r.    •  j-v-rf  :    :::f  line  i 

y,.^  :-.-.  —  -.      7:-:^^'-:     r  inijvi-im 

I  ,  •-.'.■:.--'  r-.tL:-.  iL-i  ihvu  (i< 

,.^^.  .  »    .       -        .     V  .,-.r^.  '.r.-r   .  L-r     :  -iirht  cii 

-  i      :"  -■'"  T::r.  j.   r  j.ar  luillei 
.     "-'-4-  :r  i:-.:: ':-4"  yar:«  wiili  llj 

,  -    .  .-    :  ~-^  ir.  wr.:  ■;.    ti.-   tnijei 

.   -       * .  —  1--   .' ic  :ii].'A  p  .-.lir.-lilanl 

-—         7     ..- .  •-  «:r:k:L  J  an  ".''jc*:  wi'.lii 

."     :   '.^r  ■jljj'.-i.t   i>  ti-.y..iiii   ih 

7.  ■  -.?:•:>  .:  3.  high  w-'/i'./  I?  «.iiie  «. 

■   ■-■..-.   :::i-  -.K  lirjr  or  #mall  :  sruoDili 

1.       i    ■...-    rr-.uzzjt:.     There  is  a  ran 

..-     *  .;  :   >    .L  :he  latter. t'lir  rannning 

^  -        .         -:    :r.  ere.     It  may,  or  ma 

' »    • ".  j.::aoht:il.     Its  wt-i^rhi  ma 

:-.  --      A-  r  ..-anla  the  diarL'e.  ihi-re  i 

~  *  ,.    -    ■■.  :-.  "T  j)rejiare<I  >a\v<iust.  o 

.     -    -       .-       1      Tiie  Ijullet  or  >hi>t  is  u^u 

■  *     -    :     .:'  inm,  if  of  lar^re  >ize :  i 

-   *     :     *.      'ive  Milj-<tances.    Tiie  {HMvile 

.  .  •■    .       .-  li'pt  apart  by  means  of  wa«1 

^        ':   -  L- wadding  and  no  caririiigt 

^  a  >  •     •  :  d*!fboard.     In  some  weajMiu 

^  ^  ::"-••.    .^ririiige  ii*  of  metal.     In  Hrinj 

7.:    .?»rrridge  may  contain   its  owj 

-«  :   •  •■      *.:.j  n  blow  from  th<!  mechanisn 

.-*.   ij-ciij),  or  by  a  ne«dli'  in  (In 

-  .•    »  rjiflinie:'  tiri'd  l)y  nnilrhrs  n 
^-        ■     ."^  >.  ihe  lube  or  gun   may  xttni- 

'      .  .  :.  .'  nii-sile  may  <iin<t    its  owi 

*        :  ::.v>L-  weapons,  and  wnundi  <1  \t\ 

..:    ■.  :i»  ri-erivc  the  chargi'  from  i 

.'  :..     ■•<  ;atling,"or  the  Milraiileu-t 

;.■  -  .1  !'•  give  the 

'r  .  ■.»/«»•?  Wiiundi*. 

^>»         •    .     ■    .''/"'^  and  Incffntfd  rhiififtrr 

X      •  ,  a:.d    never  healing  iuit   i»y  tiu 

,    «  .::'  an  imuKHliate  result  :  partly 

>.^  .    T'Wrr.   as    in   other    e«inru-»iiiH'. 

-■  arfi-ry  be  direetly  imp!i«atfd. 

:.-ive.  an<I  arteries   <if  M'Uie  eiwi- 

:;■.■  re  «»r  less  woundrd.  dai:i:iT   i"! 

:..  :riim  the  form  of  wuunii.  l>t!iv 

i.:e:ni)rrhage  is  advaiiciiiL'  iu  t:i« 

-:  'IK.     A  ball  Fuay  nur*  ly  ::ra/' 

».■;  or  it  may  irnping.-. -.«  a-  :■ 

,^     ^    ,      .  ,  ...t    integument.     It   may  iiirtr  .t 

j^^      .     .       ,       'i.     i    .••■:•.*  le  perforation.     A   limb  :ii:»y  • - 

>n  :  or  it  may  be  poun>ieil  ai:;-.>?: 


»«^ 

\ 

.1 ' 

1 

" 

\'.-. 

1  ' 

.1 

t 

..i 

^ 

•. 

■\ 

V.i 

• 

•..■ 

.• 

:■.;. 

^ 

■• 

*.;: 

i 

.• 

;•■ 

'■'  ,K  'i 

t  ■ 

M 

:a; 

:;.>! 

1000 


WIND    CONTUSIONS    UNREAL. 


impeded  utterance.     He  laid  his  svtord  upon  a  stone  bL  liia  side,  as  gentlj 
as  if  its  steel  had  been  turned  to  gla&«,  and  almost  immediately  sunk  d< 
u])on  the  turf. 

*'  At  one  time  it  was  supposed  that  a  shwk,  eufficitnt  to  cause  doal 
might  he  sustained  from  nit-re  concussion »  produceil  by  a  large  shot  pahaii 
by,  with  great  rapidity  and  closenei^g,  yet  without  actually  touching  t1 
body;  and  that  laceration  of  muK'les  and  arteries,  with  fmeture  of  booi 
might  be  produced  in  a  similar  way.     But  it  is  now  well  yndens^tood.  thi 
theije  are  not  the  etiects  of  mere  wind  contimimA,  as  they  are  termed, 
are  produced  by  fpeni  balls,  which   have  really  ytruck^  yet  with  bo  lit 
quicltiiess  or  force,  as  to  nierely  bruise  without  inflicting  an  open  wounc 
An  internal  cavity^  as  of  ihe  cranium,  may  Kuslaiu  even  a  fatal  euncU"*i« 
by  the  contact  of  a  i-pent  fhtut,  without  any  signs  of  an  outward  bruil 
but  usually  the  signs  of  contusion  are  both  apparent  and  exten>.ive. 

"A  cannon-ball,  when  first  projected,  pasties  in  a  straight  course,  b| 
soon  assumes  a  curvilinear,  parabuloirl  direction,  and  at  the  .same  tnn** 
rotate*  on  its  own  axis  ( jMirticularly  when  from  rifled  or  grooved  weapons), 
this  rotation  increai^iing  with  the  increa.sed  distance,  and  the  diminished 
velocity.  Sweeping  or  penetrating  woundjt.  art*  likely  to  follow  oh*itrucii<  " 
to  the  tirst  part  of  it«  course,  while  in  its  last  stage  it  may  merely  re 
round,  or  over  the  part,  as  a  wheel  passes  over  a  limb.  Attention  lu  tl 
circumstance  tends  to  explain  the  occurrence  of  such  latent  injuries,  as  w( 
as  to  account  for  the  extraordinarily  circuitous  routes  BometimeH  taken 
musket-bullets  which  perforate.  The  course  of  bullets  is  at  all  limes 
certain.  A  very  slight  ob^itacle  ^niiice«  to  eau&e  diversion  from  the  reel 
linear  direction,  as  evinced  by  the  rebounding  of  round  shot  from  wal< 
*A  button,  a  watch,  a  book,  or  a  handkerchief,  has  been  the  means 
preserving  life'  from  the  mut^ket  bullei.  And  a  succession  of  such  obsl 
cles  (including  tmnes,  aponeuroses  of  muscles,  etc.)  may  occasion  a  mc 
devious  track.  The  aperiure  of  fjcit  inutj  be  found  vfry  c/otte  to  that  of 
trance,  and  yet  the  bidlei  vuvj  hove  nearhj  rompltted  the  circuit  of  the 
Or  a  ball  may  strike  the  forcheuil,  and  emerge  at  a  point  directly  opposil 
in  the  occiput,  m  if  it  had  |)erforatod  ihe  cranium  in  a  straight  line,  whil 
in  truth,  it  has  never  been  deeper  ihun  the  integuments  (in  other  w«^rti 
it  has  skirted  rouud  the  skuJI,  and  not  entered  it.  lu  the  same  way  a  bi 
nniy  go  all  round  the  ribs,  under  the  skin,  wrthoul  entering  the  clii 
The  authors  have  ^e&tt  cases  of  this  kind  in  civil  practice.).  In  such 
the  superficial  track  is  marked  by  a  discolored  elevation,  sometimes  slightl 
emphysematous.  In  deeply  penetrating  wounds,  the  course  may  be  equall 
unexpected,  bone,  muscle,  fascia,  proving  the  causes  of  diversion.  A  bi 
has  entered  the  breast,  and  lodged  in  the  scrotum  ;  a  ball  may  |>enctral 
at  the  upper  part  of  the  breast  in  front,  and  hwige  near  the  j«pine  at  a  anK 
lower  plane.  '  In  one  io!«lance,  which  occurred  in  a  soldier  with  his  ai 
extended^  in  the  act  of  endeavoring  to  climb  up  a  scaling  ladder,  a  hal 
which  entered  about  the  centre  of  the  hnmerus,  passed  along  the  limh 
and  over  the  posterior  f)ari  i>f  the  thorax,  coursed  among  the  alMhiminl 
muscles,  dipped  deep  through  the  ghitci,  and  piesented  imi  the  toreparl 
the  opposite  thigh  about  midway  down/     (Hennen's  'Military  Surgerj 


*  In  th«  "  Medical   Tiaiw,"  St^ptember  8.    1856,   J     Drlnirun,  IU|  ,  »urir« 

Jt.  N.  writea  friini  S<*bafto(ntI,  iHhI  "  h  shut  rtco^hrffrti  wiili  j^rt'Hl  furct*  i»vi*r  on© 
(he  pNrn|ir>u,  CHrryint;  nwjiy  n  cup  from  h  **»«m'Mrs  h<"H'l  Th"  nmri  w»t>  *  litll 
iiuniM'd,  but  no  furthrr  mi-chii-f  **n!»iie<i  Whon  his  f«p  whs  pifki-d  up  h  coniMtrii 
a.  Iinndful  of  hMir,  which  hud  lM'«?n  ^hnrpd  from  his  ^cuip  l»y  the  *h<>t.  Thi»  W"ul 
hdvi*  h«*«*n  n  nf>«er  for  the  old  •  wind  conluisioniata.'  "  Quoted  in  Druitt's  "{Jul 
gcon'*  Vade  Mecuna." 


tiAm 


«rtbt 


Mm 


Aim 


«ra 


Aim 


Hirnm 


It.  ▼«€ 


2,^ 


»  «llCf«d.  tbe V   OMIT 

~  l  LcttdMi  pclkli  ftDd  InallHi 
I,  mmj  Mgv  ta  a  IMit  pMi 
woond  eiwB  m  tbe 

tlitt  iQfV^gitt  body  MO 

iQHr^aiid  bmt  tkei# 
illy  IWvn  pUc«  to  |il»e«; 
cmu»>ing  b<it  ltttl«  BUf  aiaia,  except  during  mtinu»pli«nc  rl 
iwin^  »ciii>e  of  vfrtglit,  and  gcaerml  diiooaifurt  in  the  pmri  arv  up!  lo 
0Qine«iiuit  of  a  baromeirie  cbamder!  Bharp,  irregubu'  bodiMi^  lMW9V«r^ 
mr»  fieUlom  m>  trariable ;  tbe  BuirooBdiiig  pftrt«  will  nut  tolerate  tbeir  pra^^ 
eooe ;  supparatioo  b  prui'u^  aod  coatiiiued  ;  t»fljinini«aury  reai^rvst^ioiM 
mn  firraaeot ;  nature  b  constantly  reitenting  her  eHoru  at  rxtnisiiMi,  a»d 
<|«ielode  and  cloitire  are  not  Qbcained,  until  the  tidemltog  .^uUtance  Kae 
been  dnlodged  aad  taken  away 


viiliotat  efcaiiag  monk 

way.  and  pe>bapi  sbeM  tbe  ocdiaafT  tiBW 

ruofideii  Itr  an  adrentilkiM  eyilof  a 

ripiYiaiD  t«>r  T«ars  undiit«rbed,or 


Leept  du 


Sumetimes  iudammation 


tbe 


r.  lik*  ultrMiiny^,  i«  <>f\rn  left 
Siuh   mark*  nro  hot  uncora- 


•  Wh«>n  it  ihiu  penctmtai,  ■  bluUh-bliick  •tNinn 
lirblnd  ('T  rniin>  y««i>,  if  nut  for  &  wbut#  Uf«timp 

mon  in  q     ---  — i 

f   Dr     1  tea  Dr,  Liirh^*i»  PxpiTim«"iit*  tm  diMid  b«Hlip«,  which  •how  thiii 

in  ordfT  :  ,  .  e  with  »niiill  khot  n  round  oj>#ning^  »«>nK»whiit  rMcmhIiim  ihnt 
prtKliiCfd  by  «  bulkt,  Ih*"  di«ch»rgH  »li..uM  t*«ke  f»lni*«%  fniuit-htniik,  Ml  ihn  i|i«ti«now 
of  nt>l  more  lb«n  l«n  or  twelve  inrhi^  from  thv  Piirftif**  of  th»<  UhIv  At  12rlH 
incbr>i  ll»i»  <»p«jnn)i5  tiiti<t<»  whs  irri^j^ulwr.  wnd  iU  biirdor«  nuub  l!M>rri»l»Hi,  At  M 
ilicb^**  *  central  o|»r>ninu  wn*  tnitirclv  lo*l»  nnil  lliH  surftiv^  «!  \hv  [hniy  wmh  oovorvd 
with  Mntti-ri-d  *hui.  The  ••ffrct  nfior  ihi*  d"pond*\l  on  di*lar»r«'.  ih«»  ch«rijr,  kmd 
of  ffun,  rtc,  hut  the  ►tiot*  with  jjcnfrwlly  much  fcnttfrrcd.  ("  Ann  d'HvijiAiiM/' 
\HW.)  lie  qu.tfs  /fe;j  v.  Cknf>mtin  ^Oxford  L^^nt  A»*1»m,  IH<:U|,  Hrp'y  Hnil 
(Uxf«>rd  Saminff  Amjac**,  ISI'm,  und  /?f<?-  v.  Kmdmr  (York  \Vinli«r  A'»u»*»,  I?'I4|, 
M«  Wiinn^  OM  Hhd  coMdrmmt;  thi^i  vii^w.  On  iho  othor  hMnd^  Dr.  Lowe  tirrd  h  now 
irun,  with  lh<«  tiiunt  chMri^c,  nl  n  ebwl  of  |iHp<?r  pinccd  hI  tW  pm'*»»  di«lRii<«n ;  ihn  r»' 
•lilt  WM  «  <  irciibr  holo  in  the  centro,  thruuffh  wbirh,  nppHrvnll^,  evyry  •h.«l  linil^ 

CmMfd,     T\if  hoto  wnt  'li^httx  JH«^^id  Hi  th<^  od^c«,  but  othi«rwii*o  likt*  n  bulUl  lUttrk. 
>r,  Lowe  ihlnkft  n*'W  ^un*,  highly  p'tli»h«.'d_,  thniw  tho  «hot  c|uiii>)v. 
J  In  w»rfHri',  wht-n  »hf»rtuf  nmraiinition,  nil  kind*  of  ihinj^»,  nalU,  Rrnvnl,  ttrtn©*, 
etc.(  Htv  tomi'tinioB  u«ed,      Wo  huvi«  known  a  murderer  I'md  ti  gun  willi  tin  tiii-k*> 
aadMMil  nmili. 


Kjtj'l  EFFECTS   OF    BULLET -VOCSPS. 

wi.uij*!  norne^^  ms^  the  discfaaufe  diminisba :  j-es.  a  sbib 

Diuu.'.-u.i.ajr  «i:b  tbe  foreign  ImmIt,  as  if  iDdiciuiiig  mnd  «mJtiBg  fvr  in 

DHeea;^^  'j-civank.     lo  thia  CAse  Umt  bolkt  has  an  cmv  ~ 


pHeea^  ':<c:«ank.  In  thh  cast  the  ballet  has  an  env^opt  of  a 
^Ktfr  ■v£^r&».ter.  but  D44  sbut  and  «enMi«-like,  a$  in  tbe  foiBMJ  ca«r ;  raxba 
m;:<jv-'^.  aiid  vith  an  outlet.  ClodiiDg  owt  eitber  pRxcst  the  hmlW  tm- 
tnii*.^.  or  euvtr  and  l<jdge  alcAg  vith  it.  A  portion  of  sbiit  or  kaadker- 
cLicf.  for  example,  mar  be  earned  beibre  a  balltt,  vitli  its  oootuoitjr 
anbrx'ken,  and  Ut^ume  impActed  in  the  vouimL  On  palling  oet  the  inva^ 
iiiai«d  portion  of  dreee,  tbe  bullet  vill  rx>U  oat  frMa  its  interior;  or  tbe 
CioiKiug  mar  be  cut  up,  and  driren  invards  in  pinions,  and  these  aic 
liktrlr  to  }«jdge,  whilst  the  ball  mar  perfonie  and  escape^  Other  ft»ntiga 
budi^.  t'.*o,  or  Hibstances  which  come  to  enact  the  part  of  «ach,  maj  kidge, 
and  untowardlr  comfJicate  the  ir<iand,  a»  portkuks  of  ««rth,  iCooe,  vood, 
and  s^piinters  of  fractured  booe.*  Portione  of  the  clMthing,  accoatrementa, 
and  ev^n  of  the  h(jdj  of  one  soldier,  mar  be  im^/Acted  in  the  voond  of  hii 
eomrade/*  •  Thus  far  ve  have  quoted  almost  verbatim,  except  the  notoi, 
from  ^liller^s  ^  Pnnciple§  of  ^rurgery,**  pp.  671-675.  as  it  nemed  dificoit  to 
better  so  clear  and  coucii«  a  de&cription.  We  xhaJL.  however,  make  a  fern 
adilitiouf,  referring  tbe  reader  fur  further  details  to  Bcek,  Gov,  and  Tav- 
lor  on  guii^hot  vounde ;  to  the  articles  vith  this  tstie  in  Oioper  s  **  Sargacal 
Dictiouarv,^  vhich  gives  a  bibliography,  including  must  of  the  older  vorki 
of  importance  on  this  subject;  to  the  more  uK^em  article  in  Holmtf*! 
^  8%>tem  of  Surgery ; "  and  to  the  chapters  in  Krichxs,  Dmitt^  Bryant, 
and  c»lher  vriters  on  surgery.  > 

Bon**  may  be  fractured,  and  the  fracture  may  be  simple,  eomminoted, 
or  cooipound.  Sometimes  bones  are  only  fissured  or  splintered — at  ochei 
times  tbey  are  perforated.  In  other  cases,  the  bones  are  timpif  brmited. 
Biit  bruises  of  bone  are  often  trouble^me,  and  may  be  folloved  by  necro- 
sis, <»r  other  ill  efiects.  Pyseniia  is  very  likely  t4i  follov  theee  injaries  o( 
boue.  Joints  may  be  opened  by  gunshot  vounds — and  foreign  bodies  (in- 
cludiog  bulletsy  may  be  lodged  in  them.  Surgeons  cannot  alvays  $ay  al 
ofi'-t-  il  a  ball  or  other  forti^D  body  ha?  es^-aptd.  M.  Nrlatou  «>»uIJ  not 
at  nr-i  'i'lermiDe  the  prc^enc-e  of  the  bullet  in  <_ruribal'Ji's ankle.  It"  ih^rre 
ijf  <.Liy  >Amk:  aperture,  it  i?  natural  tu  ^ullJ.-l^e  the  bjllei  has  lodgeri  :  but  i: 
Diay  iia\>r  en.raj^J.  a:?  iu  the  c-a.-se  deai<.r2{«etl  abjvtr.  >.'!  a  bullet  rolling  out 
nhvij  iLvat'ir^aied  cloth  iu;:  is^  drawn  uut.  <  >r  thtr  bail  may  have  rnadr  a 
cijriij'!»rt»'  rircuit,  ainJ  coiue  <jiii  again  whtrre  it  truiered.  This  ha^  s^'me- 
tiiu—  iia['j^ii<:d  in  the  h^raii.  Wht-n.  h'.'Wtvtrr.  there  are  two  plain  «.»{itn- 
in;:*.  aiiJ  tiie?r;  l>eur  lh«:f  charatttTij  "Jc^.-rilKni  above,  one  &maii  with  in- 
verted ♦  ilj^e.-,  and  out  iar^t.-  with  everted  eiigw?,  and  the  two  are  nt^arly  iu 
a  -tra*;.'iit  line,  or  in  ••uoh  reiatii»n  to  trach  uiher  as  to  render  their  oouec- 
tiou  j>r"ifabie,  by  a-^uming  a  circuituu?  cour?e,  it  i<  most  pr»>bable  that  the 
bul.rt  ha.»  es'uped.  Yet  here  we  may  be  wrung,  f«»r  it  may  have  berrn 
haiv*  d,  a-  noticed  al^jve,  by  impinging  on  bonr.  etc.,  and  only  one-halt 
have  e-ca|ieij  a*  yet,  the  other  hair  being  there.  Or  ttco  ap^riurr*^  nearly 
ID  a  line,  i/iay  both  b^.  'tpt^rturK^  oi Kntrawr,  mid<i  bu  tuyo  di^ind  b-ilh,  b«»th 


♦   Ifi  v.»..  IX  1  f  ih»'  ••  Tr:in-aci:<»r.>  of  lb**  Fhi.a>i>-tp:<:ji  C«»IIej:e  of  Priy#Jcijin*. 
D".  .^    \V»-:r  Mii«[ji-i;  rec'Tii-  v.*'  ■■ji-<»  of  a  Kui^'t  ;mN-J.ii;.:r  «  j'it-c-J  of  tK»n*?  \u  ;fc<f 

]J-\  •i.x'ii  Ji  ••  M'.-d  -thir.  '[' THU"M\'.  ri-."  v..»i.  iv.  y.  48  h»*  r«»rd*»<i  a  ca*«'  of 
s^v^rc-  ri«- .r».j^:;t.  'T  nitti-rr  tic  d<-j..>jr'-ui.  fp»m  iht?  ittdcuient  of  a  «^miili  bit  **i 
bij.Ivi  in  Um- ;'/'/■«/ riervfr  <^'i<.»i»-i  bv  wril»^r  of  Af-t.  "Gun$hv»t  \V.»und- "  in 
C.-  jer  -  ••  Divti'-nnry  of  .Surgery."  p.  *1(X*7.  On  rt-f.-rrinji  i«>  the  origionl  it  ap- 
p-aff  th:it  It  wa?  in  a  -oldier  of  tb»r  o"Jd  K^'giim.-nt  wounded  at  the  storming  of 
Ba-Jaj'^z.  -\prii  ♦;,  \>>\'2. 


oTtlM 


It  eBftMifl  frnniof  k  tkepmk^asd  •emt— ^ 
li»e  corre  «iC  tbe  li«tiiirk«,  ti  rvrft  *«mT  m  tux* 
ne  wiiu     ( I>r«iu  #  "  Sman  ■  VmIt  Maesw?  p^  1^  t 

ao  a^sliimi^  tboagli  boM>  umj  be  b««A«»,    tV  miidmf 
If  «kA^  redi£it,  aiMl  olKa-  exflnmrts^  hm  aln^dj  hem  all«M  la. 
^BMidii  frw  tbejw  m^  tapggd    i»qcf»ied >  ia  the  guranw    i 
iUljr  awiiiipd.    Bmia  mn  thmi  m  the  €nmm»  «mr.  ihs  Ivaliif  cf* 

■UMrk's  **  NoCa  of  an  Ambalaiics  Sargeoa  '^  for  odier  casw*  uid  tbe  **  Bloe 
Books  "  of  tbe  army  departmeDts  alter  tbe  Crimean,  Franeo^seriBan,  and 
American  cirii  wan.)  Mr.  £rid»en  (/be.  eiL,  p.  112)  dravs  attentioo  to 
the  fiut  that  p&wder  alone,  maj  not  ooIt  prodace  fiital  ctmemmmm^  wboi 
fired  eloie  to  the  heart,  for  instance,  but  maj  actnallj  prodoee  a  roond 
hole, like  that  from  a  bull^as  in  Dapnrtien's  case,  when  a  fowling^pieee 
was  diseharged  at  a  distance  of  onlj  two  or  three  feet  froa^  the  abdcineM, 
He  notes  also  that  suicides  sometimes  forgfi,  to  pot  the  bailee  in,  bat  fright* 
hd  lacerations  of  the  month,  cheeks,  glottis,  etc,  maj  be  prodnccd  bj 
powder  and  wads  alone.  When  weapons  are  fired  Terj  dose,  tbe  bairand 
ikin  may  be  singed,  homed,  and  hladoemed  from  the  baraing  powder.  This 
must  not  be  confounded  with  the  blackening  doe  to  sloughing,  which  is  m 
later  phenomenon.  Paper  pellets  and  a  kid  gloTe  fired  from  a  gon  have 
been  known  to  kilL  (Tlie  first  proved  iatal  toa  girl,  tbe  aeeood  to  a  man.) 
A  single  pellet  of  small  shot  has  been  known  to  destroy  tbe  eyeball,  to 
kill  by  wounding  the  femoral  artery  or  vein,  or  by  lodging  in  the  heart. 
Mr.  Ericfasen  gives  a  case  in  which  small  shot  fixMn  a  pistcM  adiially  pene- 


that  the  ctatraient  in  tbe  text  is  inaccurate.  Mr.  Bvron  Blewitt  trib  ns  that  this 
VB»  due  to  tbe  wretched  guns  with  which  tbe  I>uie«  and  Pmsiians  were  fumbbed. 
In  tbe  Franco- German  war  the  majority  of  the  conical  and  doagated  bulhdta  par- 
forated,  th<j>ueh  when  nearly  spent,  or  at  long  ranges,  thej  would  lodge.  To  avoid 
risk*  from  imperfect  closure  of  the  breechblock,  orders  were  giveo  to  many 
*«  to  flre  from  tbe  hip. 


BULLET-DBTECTORS. 


1003 


of  whifli  huve  Imlged.  This  is  not  only  prnbuhle  in  warfare,  but  am(»ngst 
civiJiuus  wbeneVfTtt  revolver,  or  double- barrel  led  gun  or  rifle  or  pistol  has 
been  iiiM^'d.  "  Atjain  a  phiralUy  of  openintj^  docs  itot  ncc^marUy  imply  a 
pinraiittj  nf  buUtfti^,  for  the  s^ame  bull  bii:*  bet^u  knuwu  lo  go  in,  come  out, 
I  and  enter  and  perturute  agiiin  I  or  al'ier  p«rtoration,  it  may  be  i»ubdivided 
iulo  two  or  more  fragments,  and  each  Imve  its  separate  aperture  or  exit." 
(  In  order  to  detect  the  [>rei^encti  of  bullets  in  a  wuuiided  jyer^ion,  many 
ingenious  contrivances  have  been  proposed.  Tlie  ordinary  probe,  or  the 
bullet- J'oreep.-*,  may  at  onue  delect  the  pretfouce  of  mefal,  but  when  these 
1  fail,  M,  Nelalon  ba>i  propot^ed  a  porcelain  [)r<«be,  which  vvoutd  be  stained 
by  the  bullet — in  fact,  it  would  rub  ofl'  a  tmall  bluish  portii»n  of  lead. 
8mall  instruments,  like  gimlets  and  cheerf.e-liL!4terrt»  have  been  devised  to 
Bcnipe  or  screw  out  a  bit  of  the  bullet.  And  must  ingenious  of  all,  as  it 
is  applicable  to  iron  or  any  kind  of  metallic  ball  or  foreign  body,  is  an 
electric,  or  rather  galvanic,  "  bullet-detector,"  which  rings  a  small  bell  va 
6000  aa  a  circuit  i?  formed  by  the  Indict  connectiug  the  poles  of  the  ap- 
pamtus.  The  late  Surgeon -Major  Wyatt  published  a  paper  on  the  detec- 
liou  of  bulletin  in  the  "  British  Medical  Journal  "  for  1870.* 

The  best  treatment  of  gnnshot  wounds  is  not  within  the  acope  of  a  work 
like  thiji.     Incidentally  we  may,  however,  mention,  thnt  the  cold  ivater  trc<U- 
ment  of  the    Vtd  de  Orde^  Hospital  of  Paris,  in   1848,  the  us©  of  tee  by 
I  K^march,  anil  Stromeyer — fretpieut  irri tjfdt on ^timl  a tdiseptie  treatment  ap- 
\  pear  to  be  most  in  favor  with  military  surgeons.     The  dangerti  aj  gumhoi 
I  ufounds  are,  however,  sirictly  within  our  province.     We  cannot  always 
judge  of  these  at  first.     They  may  of  course  prove  instaotly  or  rapidly 
fatal  by  hiemorrhage,  shock,  syncope,  and  the  like.     But  the  chief  danger 
is  when  suppuration  has  been  established.     The  silougha  become  detached 
and  involve  the  whole  track — though  generally  most  near  the  einrance, 
where  there  has  been  motst  hruiitinf/.     When  these  sloughs  gepurate,  bones, 
joints,  arteries,   cavities  and   canals,  and   nerves,  ntay   be  exposed  which 
previously  were  deemed  unimpiicated.     **  The  accidents  which  are  likely 
{rtHVn  Miller)  to  occur  during  the  progress  of  cure,  are  many  and  formida- 
ble; excess  of  intlammation  ami  of  inftammntory  fever  j  erysi|>elas;  al)- 
j   8(*ej8  after  abscess,  by  intiamimitory  reaccestiion,  probably  connected  with 
I   the  hMigmeot  of  foreign  matters;  diffuse  purulent  infiltration;  inflamma- 
tory action  in  veins,  either  in  hard  or  soft  textures,  perhaps  of  the  diffuse 
and  suppurative  kind;  untoward  extension  or  recurrence  of  sloughing  ; 
haemorrhage  on   the  separation  of  sloughs,  or  by  subse^pient  ulceration; 
L  gipcession   of  sloughing  phagedena  (or  bosfdtal   gangrene) ;  non-union  of 
Mpftcture;  uetTosis,  caries;  exhaustion   by  hectic ;  tetanus;  pytemia   (and 
1  septicemia) ;  [taralysia;  impairment  of  intellect;  and  los-4  f>f  sexual  and 
niU9iHilur  auri  mental  power,  or  sorne  of  these  dangers.     The  conical   Imb 
I;    Iet»  ni*ed  lu  Minie  rides,  and  the  elongated,  couuidocyliudrical   bullets  of 
the  Kntiebi,  Cha*!iiiput,  needlegun,  Martini  Henry,  ♦Snivler,  and  other  wea- 
pons, are  far  more  destructive  auil  murdenjus  than  the  old  spherical  ones. 
j    In  the  Crimean,  Franco-German,  and  other  recent   wars,  they  have  been 
found  to  go   thntugh   not   otdy  two,  but  as  many  as  three  men,  perhaps 
lodging  in  the  boily  of  the  third.     They  deviate  from  their  counse  far  less 
than    the  old  ones.     They  generally   jwrforate ;  in  some  cai»es  drilling 
through  bone — in  others,  completely  smashing  and  comminuting  it.  They 
do  uot  so  often  lodge  as  the  old  ones^f  for  they  generally  strike  the  aiuall 


*  The  sufKcon's  finger  U  vfUsn  the  b««t  butlt^t^vtector,  wh«n  tbc  wound  admits 

of  lhi«  lK'bl|r  ii»<*d. 

t  Mr.  L  8.  Hule  (K.^parl  on  th©  Wnr  in  Sch!rt*wi(j.Holiit*if»,  "  Litnd    Ho»p. 
RApurtt  *'jf,  and  tuinu  JmIit  wrilcrii,  »ny  tlmt  coiucmI  bul(ut>  very  ofteti  ludg*.*,  ittid 


1004 


PAPER    PELLETS    MAY   EILL. 


end  foremoet.     Sometimes  they  channel  a  long  groove  in  a  bon6« 
did  the  globular  ones.     But  boih  the  old  spherical  and  the  mod«i1 
atcd  bullets  areolteu  flattcued  out  into  the  queerest  of  shapes,  pffi 
very  sharp  angle**,  which  rend  and  tear  terribly,     (See  remarki 
Coil's  Revolvers,  Mitrailleuse,  etc.,  p.  999.)     The  injuries  from 
shot  are  ^oulething  like  those  from  round-shot,  but  leas  severe.     M 
iu  his  "Military  Hiirgery,"  London,  1852,  ^ays  that  "  the  cannon-^ 
the  first  500  or  600  yards,  grinds  to  powder,  and  destroys  everyihii 
opposes  iti^  hissing  eourse."     If  it  strikes  a  limb,  it  either  Hma^hes 
pletely,  pulpifyiiig  all  the  tii^ut't*  it  meets,  or  it  may  carry  the  limfc 
otf'     A  man  may  he  decapitated  by  a  cannon-shot,  or  have  both  leg 
clean  off.     The^e  thitig^s  are,  however,  lei»s  matters  for  legal  medicil 
bullet-wounds.     In  the  Crimea,  though  severe  hseraorriiage  was  rai 
cannonballs,  it   sometimes   happened    that    the  fcinoral    artery  ' 
wounded  in  lhi«  way  as  lo  eau:<e  fatal  haemorrhage ;  and   oecaaiol 
round-shot  will  produce  effects  more  like  th<Dseof  a  bullet.    This  hil 
in  the  case  of  a  private,  working  in  the  treucht?8  befure  Seba.Hlopo!, 
ling  np  some  earth,  with  hi;*  body  bent,  and  hii*  right  hand  hold! 
handle  of  the  shovel,  low  down  in  front  between  his  legs.     In  this  I 
he  was  struck  by  a  rouud-ahot  from  a  large  gun.     It  shattered  hi 
leaving  it  hanging  only   by  the  integurueuus ;  and  pa*?iug  beiwl 
thigliM,  at  their  upj>er  part,  it  tore  away  from  each  of  them  a  lurj 
of  the  integumetitii  and  mui^cle?*,  and  laid  hmv  the  femoral  artery 
side.     It  carried  in  front  of  it  the  peni?*,  and  scrotum,  and  anus,  and 
by  ihe  curve  of  the  buttocks,  it  swept  away  a  larj^e  portion  of  tb< 
of  one  side,     (DruittV  "Surgeon's  Vade  Mecum, '  p,  132.)     The 
sometimes  uninjured,  though  buncs  may  be  broken.     The  mischief 
by  tfhe/fa,  rockets,  and  other  explosives,  has  already  been  alluded  U 
wounds  from  the.se  are  ragged  i  lacerated)  iu  theextrerae^aud  often 
fully  contused.     Druitt  says  that  in  the  Crimean  war,  the  buniting 
howitzer  she!)  caused  ten  admissionji  into  the  hospital  of  the  li^th  He 
and  of  those  admitted,  seven   lost  either  an  arm  or  a  leg.      (^Sw? 
mack's  "  Notes  ol  an  Ambulance  Surgeon  "  for  other  rases^and  the 
Books  "  of  the  army  departments  after  the  Crimean,  Franco-Germ 
American  civil  wars.)     Mr.  Erichsen  (foe  cif.,  p.  112)  drn\v>t  atteH 
the  Ikct  that  powder  alone,  may  not  ouly  produce  lata!  co/jrK*«iVmj 
fired  close  to  the  heart,  for  instance,  but  may  actually  produce  i^ 
bole, like  that  from  a  bullet,  as  iu  Dupuytreu's  case,  when  a  fowlin 
was  discharged  at  a  distance  of  ouly  two  or  three  feet  from  the  abi 
He  notes  also  that  suicides  sometimes  forget  to  put  the  bullet  in.bul 
iul  lacerations  of  the  moiithf  cheek.s,  glottis,  etc.,  may  be  prodw 
powder  aud  wads  alone.     When  weapons  are  fired  very  close,  the  d 
akin  may  he  singed,  burned,  aud  bfaclcened iwm  the  burnin.  '  1 

must  not  lie  confounded  with  the  blackening  due  to  sh>uglii  <\ 

later  plieufmienon.     Paj>er  pellets  and  a  kid  glove  fired  fru»u  a  ^ai 
been  known  to  kill.     (The  first  proved  fatal  toagirl,  the  second  lo 
A   single   pellet  of  small  shot  has  been  known  to  destroy  the  eve 
kill  by  wounding  the  femoral  artery  or  vein,  or  by  Io<tgiDg  io  lh€ 
Mr.  Erichsen  gives  a  case  in  which  small  shot  from  a  pt^ioT  actual 


that  the  stutement  in  the  text  ft  intccuratc.     Mr.  Byron  Blewiti  ti>IU  im  ( 

vfa-i  due  to  thi?  wreirhcd  guns  wilh  wbicli  the  DMneo  himI  Pni 
In  ihr  Fintu'ii  O^itniMn  w»r  lb<^  iimjorily  of  the  Lvitiiiul  iind  % 

foraO'd,  ihuuyh  whtMi  nt^urly  spent,  or  at  long  rnnge*,  tht»y  w....,^  ...  .^.        C 
r^>■l^^  frtiijj  intpf  rli'ci  rlusure  of  ibe  breechblock,  orders  were  given  to 
munl»  to  lire  troui  llie  hip. 


EFFECTS    OP   SPENT    BALLS. 


1005 


tmted  the  bcxlies  of  the  vertebrae.  Bad  pertnimon  capi,  in  exploding,  often 
rplintcr,  and  uKtund  the  rlfjht  rifehaU,  Tliis  accifleiit  c(>rnmoD]y  oecm/*  to 
itttdiers,  volunteers,  and  niillliamen,  but  nmy  be  met  with  in  tittle  hoys 
ifrbo  play  with  toy  pi8tul8,  ur  in  civiHaua  who  use  guns  for  sporting  pur« 

Mr.  Erich?ien  vtry  projxrly  I'alls  utteiitioti  to  the  length  of  time  which 
muy  elapr^e  before  the  etiects  of  a  gunshot  wonnd  are  recovered  from  or 
cftn^  death.  General  Bnn  required  to  have  a  build  removed  by  Liston 
from  the  external  rmuiyle  nf  bis  femur  nineteen  ycar^  ftffer  it  Jirsf  lodtjed 
(here.  Marnhid  Mouey*  died  frvm  the  rfftirtA  of  a  gunshot  wound  received 
forty  ytfirg  before,  A  sohiier,  wounded  in  the  sti>rming  of  the  Redan,  in 
the  Crimean  war,  died  two  and  half  years  after,  of  exhna?*tion  from  a 
lur^e  lumbar  ahsces**,  caused  by  a  bullpt  enterinp^  the  left  side  of  the  che^t, 
wonndiiig  the  lung,  traversing  the  diaphragm,  notching  the  spleen,,  pa^j*ing 
between  the  kidney  and  suprarenal  bmly,  and  [jerforatin^  the  spine.  It 
lay  eneiip^ulrd  on  the  ri^'ht  side  of  one  of  the  vertebra?,  pre:*^in^  upim  the 
right  renal  ve^Hel*.  It*  irritant  effeet^  and  ihose  of  the  9eque?:tra  frotn 
the  injured  ^pine,  rau,^ed  tfie  ab«eet».s  wbieh  led  to  hij^  death.  We  have 
gaid  above  that  in  the  heat  of  aetion  scddiers  are  sometiiues  unconseiims  of 
having  been  wounded.  But  after  a  severe  ^nnshi^t  wound  there  may  be  a 
Ftate  of  torpor  and  ludifTerenee,  which  is  often  a  i«ie^n  nf  impending  death, 
and  may  be  accompanied  with  ganj^rene  of  the  injured  limb.  Thus 
Rteherand  ("  Nwographie  Chirurg.,"  loin,  i,  p,  221,  ed.  2)  says:  "  C'eat 
dnns  cet  ^tat  que  roonrut  le  chevaul<5|^er,  doot  parle  Quesnay ;  I'^tat 
d'h^lt^tnde  ^tait  tel,  que  cet  individu,i\  qui  Ton  proposa  ramputatiou  de 
la  jambe,  r^pvmdil  que  ce  netait  pus  mit  aff'tire^f 

To  >*how  what  serious  results  muy  oceur  with  but  slii;ht  external  in- 
juri»**t,  Ijarrey  relates  the  following  eases:  "At.  the  i«iegje  of  Rii!<a.s  two 
cannoneen*,  having  nearly  Himitar  wnuiids,  were  bn»nglil  from  the  trt^nr^hes 
to  the  ambulance,  which  Bunm  Larrey  had  jKisied  ai  the  village  of  i*ahiu. 
They  had  been  .-struck  by  a  targe  -shot,  wliich  iiimirdH  (he  trrmirMlioit  of  iU 
eourae  had  gra/cd  p<>sterior]y  both  shoulder,*.  In  oue  Larrey  perceived  a 
alight  ecchyniofti)*  over  all  the  hack  part  of  the  trunk,  without  any  np- 

irent  solution  of  contitiuity.     Ee.ipiration  hardly  wont  on,  and  the  min 

It  up  a  large  quantity  of  frothy  vermilion  blowl.  The  puUe  was  small 
and  intermitting,  and  tlie  extreniiliea  were  cold.  He  died  an  hi>ur  after 
lh<?  aecrdeut,  as  Larrey  had  prognoHtieated.  The  body  wa-*  opened  in  the 
pre.'^ence  of  M.  Dubois,  Inspector  of  the  Military  Hospitub  of  the  Army 
of  the  Eastern  Pyreneesi.  The  nkin  was  entire;  the  mur^clcs,  aponeurosies, 
nerves,  and    vessels  of  the  ehouldersj   were   ruptured  and   lacerated  ;  the 

qjube  broken  tn    pieces ;    the  spinous   process^ei*  of  the  eorreep^mling 

»r!*al  vertebric  and  the  posterior  extremities  of  the  adjacent  ribs  were 
fractured.  The  i*pinal  marrow  had  suffcied  injury  ;  the  neighboring  part 
of  the  lungs  was  lacerated,  and  a  cun?<iderable  extravasation  had  token 
place  in  each  cavity  of  tiie  che.st.  The  second  cannoneer  died  of  similjir 
»yn»f>tom.-i  three-quarters  of  an  hour  after  his  arrival  at  the  hospital,  (in 
f)|>ening  the  body^  ihe  ^ame  s^trt  of  mij^chief  wa«  discovered,  as  in  the  pre- 
ceiiin^f  example."  ( Article,  "  Gunshot  Wounds,"  in  C*M>per'a  "  Dictionary 
*f  Surgery,"  p.  577. > 

If  tt  «h«ji  has  been  fired  in  a  room,  or  near  to  a  bou»e,  wall,  or  fcoce, 


1^  Dr  Tnylor  tnyithiit  Marvbnl  Mulson,  one*  of  NspntiH>n's  Jtonnraiii,  diftd  In  the 

'  Uf«  niHrmiT 

♦  Th<t  n^ht  cuvjilry  *cjl(li«^r  nf  whom  Qin**nfty  tHUs  (\i^d  in  thU  <»t»te  of  tf»rpor. 
9^  fltotkl  WN*  ht»  ifidilf«'r4'rif«i  htmI  NppMrt'nl  liltqiiijitv,  t(iHl  wh^n  to*  wn»  told  that 
bU  leg  ought  to  be  niiiputatod,  lio  ri*piiod  that  that  wa»  no  buaintaa  oj  hUl 


1006 


MEDICO-LBGAL    QUESTIONS, 


do  not  forget  to  examinf)  the  walls  or  fenne  for  biillet-raarks.     Both 

and  pmall  sliivt  are  often  l^wlged  in  snrh  sitimtions. 

We  will  iHiw  proceed  to  consider  the  fitie^ioiu?  reUtiug  to  fire&ri 
gunshot  wounds  which  are  likely  to  be  referred  to  you. 

These  are  briefly : 

1.  la,  or  wa?s,  the  wound  for  wound.*)  in  qiic:itioti  inflirted 
arms?  In  other  words*,  is  it  a  gunshot  wound  with  which  w« 
do?  ^      ' 

There  will  ristmny  i>e  but  little  difficulty  in  answering  thii  cy 
if  you  have  carefully  read  over  the  jirecedingj  de^icripiioo.  Ii 
that  frajifnionts  of  ^helb  and  occasionally  a  small  butlel.  niovin*  I 
and  coming  from  a  distance,  may  inflict  what  look  like  iiicired  f 
But  in  general  the  character*  of  gunshot  wounds  are  well  n 
And  even  some  of  the  doubtful  one.«,  when  probed  or  examine4 
fuily,  exhibit  di^^tinctive  characters.  IK  v«>u  di(<cover  fm^fn* 
powder  or  wa<hlinf:,  or  the  bullet,  or  portions  of  lead,  or  other 
or  bits  of  the  dre.-^s  carried  deeply  into  a  wound,  you  will  be  sill 
certain,* 

2.  You  may  bp  asked,  "Was  the  shot  fired  close  to,  or  at  wJ 
tauce  from,  the  injured  persfon  ?**  We  niu!*t  ajraiu  refer  you  to  the  i 
tion  ^iMen  of  the  character  of  these  wound:*  for  an  answer  In  tH»«  qi 
If  there  be  nngeing,  or  burning;,  <»r  clear  marks  of  powder  fgii 
powder  imbedded  in  the  wound  or  in  its  vicinity),  you  may  be 
certain  aa  to  the  cloiienes'a  of  the  shot.  Wadding  is  «>metime»i 
further  than  we  might  suppose  from  a  priori  reasoninjr-  Even  pa|l 
letK,  or  bniwii  paper  prefixed  together,  with  a  large  clmrge  ot  poK«l< 
hern  known  Ifi  j^roduce  hole:?,  like  shot  or  like  a  bullet^  at  a  <lij<tl 
two  or  three  yartls, 

Dr,  Mackintosh,  of  Dowuham,  had  a  ca«ie  of  this  kind  (R^g.  v. 
Norwich   Autumn   As,iiize5,  1W^7).     The   f)risoner  firnd  M  a   boy 
gun   loaded  with   brown   paper  pressed   together.     Ffe  wa^  then  at 
tance  of  two  or  three   yanis  from   the  boy.     Dr.   Mat-kiitti>Hb    fl| 
wound  in  the  che;^t  the  ?ize  of  a  shilling.     The  margiu  of  ibe  woi^ 
jagged,  and   had   a  bluish-black  or  mottled  appearance,  aud  the  i 
one  of  the  rib^  was  hiirl  bare.     The  paper  pellet  look  a  course  dowi 
m  a  re-^uJt   of  a   deflection  of  the  projectile  by  ihe  rib.     A  qua] 
brown  paper  wi\s  removed  from  the  wound,  and  the  boy  ultiitmtelf 
ercil.     Dr.   Mackintosh's  first  exjierimenis   failed   to   produce  a 
re^-^nlt  at   the  distance  named.     But  with  more  powder  he  not  ont 
trated  the  buy's  jacket  with  a  Himilar  paper  pellet  at  three  yar«i»,  b 
penetrated    H    inches    beyond.     Dr.   Swift,    who    iailed    at    great 
tances  than   6  inches,  prohablv  used  loo  little  pjwder.     (Taylor,] 
p.  H84.) 

3.  You  may  be  asked,  Wun  the  ^an  or  pintnl  lomltd  with  hulff 
We  have  already  i*een  that  at  close  ranges,  pu|x?r,  small  !*lmU,  c( 

even  powder  alone,  will  produce  a  hole.  Bui  it  is  not  po^-^ible,  fr 
mere  examination  of  ihe  weapon,  to  be  sure  on  this  ixuut.  Afl 
found  adhering  to  the  groove,^  of  a  revolver  or  rifle  nee<i  not  ue<l 
hove  been  from  the  last  discharge.  The  report  is  .«aid  to  be  Ia| 
sharper  when  the  weapon  is  ]ojid<?<l  with  ball.  The  sharp,  wbinzir^ 
or  hiss  of  a  rifle-shot  is  not  ea.sily  forgotteu  by  those  who  have  h 
posed  to  danger  from  it.     If  there  were  auy  wall,  or  tr«>e,  or  feoom 


*  Mr.  WMrd,  <|iinled  bv  Br,  THyI<»r,  rwonl*  h  ctnn*  in  which  h  r< 
flicleet  II  yu-rfontting  woimd  ,>f  ih'..  f^kull   aowrly  linlf  itn  inch   in 
reytMnbWiig  n  buUot-vjuuwd.     C^"  Med.  Gwzelie,"  vol,  Jiciv,  p,  707  ) 


HOW    TO    EXAMINE    THE    OON. 


1007 


ihe  person  fired  at.  the  hullpt  or  Imll  might,  an<l,  indeed,  probably  would, 
ttrikf  thb  and  he  iinbidded  in  it. 

4.  Ynu  may  be  ankt-d  the  rhuracter  of  the  wound.  In  other  worda, 
h,  or  n*nj*,  tt  tnortul  or  dfinfferuujs  to  life,  or  calruhited  to  i\o  **  fj/rienms 
bi^dily  hartn  f  The  laltiT  ex|»»eft^ion  Cdvers  all  those  cas^^s  of  injury 
to  the  eye,  ear,  n<i?e,  or  other  or^an  of  sense,  and  injuries  to  th<^  limbs, 
or  generative  organs,  which  rurnMit  he  dif>c'riii>e(l  as  dangerous  t«>  life, 
and  sitll  lef»8  as  mortal.  It  aJ^n  iriflude?  tlmsc  rases  in  whirh  tfiere 
\»  eoni*iderable  disfiptirenipnt  of  the  fare;  or  in  Jadieii,  of  the  shoultlers, 
arinf*,  and  tho^e  part;*  of  Jhe  bust  which  are  uncovered  in  evfMiing 
dret».  Mutilation,  again,  of  the  fin^^ery  or  t4>es  must  eoine  under  this 
<ltf»eription. 

6.  You  may  be  a.«kefl,  Hmv  foon  nntttd  mtch  and  ^nch  ttnnind/t  kUlt 
Or,  how  long  would  the  wounded  per!<on  take  to  recover?  It  is  elear 
from  what  we  have  already  said,  that  yiuir  ansi-wfr  mtnt  de|>end  on  ihe 
»f>eeial  t•t^rum^*taneeB  of  the  ease  in  rjueytion.  We  have,  a«  eaeh  p)nriion 
of  the  subject  wa^  considered  in  turn,  met  with  ea>e.H  of  Jn!*tafit  death,  of 
death  after  three-rjuarters  of  an  hour  or  an  hour,  and  of  death  ailer  a  year 
or  two ;  whilat  m  other  case;*,  suffering  has  been  protracted  even  forty 
yearsi. 

Questions  of  suniiwrship,  if  two  or  three  persons  are  concerned,  must 
be  answered  on  ifeneral  [irinciples,  such  as  those  given  at  p.  5I»4. 
Stniitar  o  nest  ions,  afrtctiiig  only  the  wnuntled  nmn,  or  woman,  or  child, 
can  only  he  answered  by  a  careful  conHderiition  of  hiti  or  her  injuries  and 
snrroundiijtr.*.  Sonic  of  these  qnestiou''  will  be  dealt  with  under  "  Wmioda 
of  Sj)erinl  [legions  and  Orgaus."  ("  Injuries  to  the  Head,  Chest,  and  Ah- 
domen,**  etc.) 

You  may  be  a?ked,  a.a  to  a  gun,  pistol,  rifle,  etc.,  Hm  this  Wf-npon  been 

fired  lately  f     It  is  not  always  easy  to  give  a  definite,  and  at  the  huhic  lime 

true,  answer  to  this  iiuextion.     Guneottoiij^  prepared  sawdust,  and  sutoe  (»f 

the  patent  cartrid^e^  with  gunpowder,  leave  scarcely  any  residin*  bcliind, 

the  comhustion  biing  perfect.     But  with  gnnpowder,  and  especially  in  sui- 

Lcidal  and  honjicidal  cas.es,  where  the  |RT?4on  who  loads  the  gim  or  pistol  is 

npHirly  Bure  to  put  some  excess  of  powder,  there  mav  very  likely  l>e,  and, 

Plndei^l,  often  is,  somewhat  incomplete  combustion.     Dr.  Guy  Fays  ( p,  204), 

"  When  the  condmsti<m  of  the  powder  is  im|>erfeet,  the  finger  introduced 

into  the  barrel  is  blackened  hy  the  uiiconsumed  charcoal,  and  the  residue 

iu  f«mnd   to  consist  of  this  unconsumed  charcoal,   mixed  with    sulphide 

of  |K>tassium.*     But   when   the   combustion   is   (verfect,  the  finger  is  not 

blackened),  for  the  residue  cor*sists  of  the  wliite  sulphate  and  carbotuite  of 

i   pitash.     After  an  interval  of  some  days,  varying  with  the  quantity  <d'su!- 

I   phur   in   the  atmos[ihere.  the  mixed    residue  f>f  charc(»al  and  ."ulphide  of 

p(»tnHsium  becomes  c<inverled  into  sulphate,  which,  after  a  still  longer  in- 

ler%*al,  may  be  found  blended  with  the  rust  of  iron."     This  account  is  not 

only  eomcwiiat   hmse  in   its  cheniiciil  phraseology,  but  gives  us  no  direc* 

lion^  how  practically  to  examine  firearms.     Nor  is  Dr.  Taylor^s  account^ 

givou  at  pape  ^If),  fio  complete  as  might  be  wished.     He  does,  indeed,  wiy 

that  i»nlpni<le  of  |^M>tiw*sium  forms  an  alkaline  solution  with  water,  evolving 

R  *niell   of  hydroiren   fiulplii<le   (like   rotten    eggs),  and    blackeninjj    th© 

acetate  of  lead.     He  also  states,  correctly  enough,  that  the  white  sulphate 

of  p<»tash  forms  a  neutral  solution  with  water,  ami  give--*  a  \*hile  preeipit4ite 


•  Th#old  ktpar  UHlfiftHvip,  thrt  tlvcr  of  sulphur,  a  brownf«h  or  rrddi-h-vf-Uow, 
fMtil  »m<*l1inir.  i<«|M*<'iii)ly  if  iImihii, '>id>«tHtiL'M  of  vHrinUN  eom(Hi«ilKin  :  KS^,  '^r^t* 
KgS,,  K,;^<  K-Sj.  al^^o  ti  Milp!iv<lrHl<«  II  KS  ThfrM  i-  vi-rv  oftiMi  Ottrbtomtr  nfHJ  nuU 
jhnU'  of  poltt^  In  it;  ihu*:  *-f(K,Hj|  -|-  K,S,0,  ^  K,CO,.  etc 


I 


1008  HAS    IT    BEEN    PIRKD    LATELY? 

of  sulphate  of  lead  willi  plumbic  acetate.  He  nlso  refers  to  the  "Ann. 
d'Hyfii^ne"  (1834,  i,  p.  4oS.  ibiil,  1839.  i,  p.  197,  and  1842,  u  p.  368), 
and  <|U(>tc8  the  case  of  M,  Dnjnrrier,  whose  death  was  carefully  iiiveeti- 
pat«'d  ill  France.  The  tiuestioo  aroi«e  on  this  trial,  whether  hy  the  mere 
dischur^e  of  powder,  siieh  a  depoj^it  of  powder  or  charcoal  UmV  plaoe  at 
the  tnouih  of  the  piKtot  as  to  (ntW  the  finger  when  iittro^luceti  three  houni 
after  the  alleged  discharge.  M.  Buntigny's  experinientr?  were  adven«e  to 
this  view,  and  he  considered  (lint  the  i^^ylphate  and  carbonate  of  ptitanh 
were  formed  so  rapidly  thiit  all  the  charinal  was  consumed.  But  the 
facts  proved  ou  the  trial  overruled  hi.-'  experiments,  and  it  seems  clmr 
that  the  r|UHntily  of  puwder  used  has  murh  to  do  with  the  question. 
So,  also,  have  its  perfect  or  imperfect  combufition  and  the  quality  of  the 
powder  ils^-lf,  the  amount  of  charcoal  in  it,  and,  perhaps,  the  fineness  or 
coaj"scuess  of  the  grain.  (In  firing  larg^e  guns,  jsuch  as  the  Woolwich  In- 
fant, little  cakes  or  euhe»  of  pnwder  are  eniphjved.  A  small,  finejrrain 
powder  would  never  do.  **  Ann.  d' Hygiene,"  1848,  i,  392. )  Snnnrnvhrin, 
III  his  "  Handhuch  der  pcrichtlirheo  Chemie,"  goes  more  minutely  into 
this  matter  of  exan»iniijg  firearms.  He  admits  that  a  determination  of 
how  lately  a  given  firearm  lias  been  diML-harged  is.  often  imposfr^ilde.  Yet 
we  can  often  make  a  cIokc  npproxtmation  to  the  truth.  Unles.«  you  have 
leisure  to  exanjiue  the  gun  nr  piMtd  at  once,  you  should  rover  the  end  of 
the  barrel  and  wrap  up  the  weapon  in  cotton  wool.  In  exaniining  it* 
begin  with  the  outj^ide  first.  If  one  of  the  old-fashione<l  flint  and  ,«teel 
weapon!*  {aud  a  few  such  survive),  you  j«hould  examine  tlie  priming  pan  first 
vilh  a  lens.  H  the  weapon  is  loaded,  the  charge  f^hould  be  cautiously 
Urithdrawn.  If  there  be  a  percussion  cap,  remove  this  at  once;  and  the 
same  applies  to  cartridt'^e*.  .Sive  the  cap,  the  cartridge,  the  powder,  and 
the  f^hot  or  bulieij*.  Weigh  the  latter,  and  make  drawings  and  nif-a^urc- 
ments  of  the  bullet.  Count  i^mftll  shots  ajji,  well  us  weigh  them.  Wrap  np 
each  ariiele  J^eparately  and  labtd  carefully.  Seal  them  Uf>  and  keep  under 
lock  and  key.  Examine  the  bore  of  the  weajxm,  and  other  dimcnsioui. 
Weigh  it  alno.  Mea-sure  its  diameters.  The  bullet  or  mhots  may  require 
analysis  in  some  cases*.*  Examine  the  r>iutro<i,  if  there  be  one;  al(*o  the 
lock,  crmstruction  of  the  weapon,  the  pull  of  the  trigijer,  etc.  Look  very 
carefully  at  any  paper  or  other  materialtj  used  as  wjid«  :  also  at  the  greii«y 
matter  med  to  lubricate.  Newspapers  may  be  u-^ed  for  waddii>g.  Now 
wa?h  ilie  ban-el  thoroughly  with  diritilled  water,  and  filler  the  wanhings. 
Test  llie  filtrate  tor  sulphuric  acid  (by  bnrium  chloride),  for  alkaline  f^ub 
phid*^  (by  lead  goIution\and  for  iron  J»altj?  (by  ferrocyanide  of  ferri- 
cyanide  of  poiaejtium ).  If  it  be  found  ihtt  the  bore  of  the  barrel  fi*ui  a  btuUh' 
biiU'k  t'olor,  nnd  contains  no  ffrren  cryMah  of  farroujt  i*nfptutte,  ami  no  rtuil; 
but  the  solution  hiu  a  pnfr  yellowijJi  r^lor,  AmefU  of  htjdroyen  (tiUphuif^  tstid 
ffivfs  o  black  precipitatt  with  acetate  of  had  mfution,  this  indifntfrjt  (hat  not 
morf  thou  tu*o  hoHr$  have  ehpurd  Jtlnre  the  gun  mut  fired.  If  the  barrel  is 
}&K^  durk,  and  no  rust  or  crystal  are  ffiutid.  but  there  are  faint  trace**  of 
Ful[)huric  acid  from  the  barium  chloride,  then  more  thnn  two,  but  not  i^u 
than  tiventyfour,  hourm  have  elnpned.  If  there  are  numtrmiM  spotjt  of  riutt  in 
the  barrel,  and  if  there  are  very  ci4^ar  reaction*  of  iron  in  the  rinsinp^,  then 

*  Lf^nd  U  gonprnlly  mixed  with  abmit  ♦^^^th  r»f  nr»4*nic  lr>  tntke  miibII  ^hoi  Ft»f 
bulU^t*,  it  is  profcrrt'd  puro.  A  r*ist  bulli.'i  li»^  a  (.mull  hollow  in  it»  c»'nir^.  A* 
nicritionc't,  one  of  8f>nn<'n5oh*'in'ji  cHt^e*  Ion!  t»  litrtjo  qii*«nlily  of  unlimony  in  tlit 
m»'ti»l  of  which  tho  bulU*u  wi-n*  m»d<*.  Tin,  hi*mulh,  and  other  int<tHl*  htv  •oiii^ 
tiiries  Hddtni.  And  •ouielimcK  people  ni'^t  pnwti*r,  Mtirl  »oldt*r,  nnd  nitiiilnr  ndx^^l 
motnU  to  mnka  biilliitJH  vf  them.  Ihusc  uH^a  in  the  army  ure  now  punuhMl  out  or 
,prei»cd,  nnd  not  cujit. 


HOW    TO    BXAHINB   THE    ODH. 


tow 


Dried. 

Not  drl<d. 

OncdByaflcr,  .    .    ,    .    . 
Two  uitbreedsfK  after.  , 

Fatirdaj^  after 

Fivo  or  more  dajTB,    ... 

Pftlo    yt-lluwii.h-ri'd. 
A  litilu  darkur. 
Redder. 
Emtj, 

Yellow  lah-trrwn. 
lleddlsh-brown. 
BwJdfr 
Rurty- 

lea9t  itpentff-foiir  hours  have  elapsed,  and,  perhaps,  et^en  fiiw  or  six  d(tl/i» 
The  |iinj>er  the  weapotj  lias  been  diisehar^Hl,  the  more  crystHl.H  uf  ferrfnis 
((ulphate  we  ?hall  obtain.  //'  tliert)  lit  a  (food  dtaf  of  nw^  but  tin  iron  reac- 
Uoiut  in  the  rinmngi*,  it  hna  been  fired  some  ten  to  fijttj  datfu.  (At  the  least, 
t^ti ;  at  che  moHt,  about  fifty.)  If  the  gun  has  been  Umdetl  iujme«litttely 
after  firing,  without  being  t'leat»ed,  tlie  pluj^  or  raniiro<l  show*  a  gray-blaek 
color  for  the  first  four  days  in  the  cyliiKirieal  part;  after  that,  say 
twelve  to  fourteen  days,  the  color  is  grayi*h-yellow,  ami  the  rinsini]^^  of 
the  banil  show  cleur  reaelions  of  jinlphurir  auid.  If  the  barrel  has  beea 
cleaned  before  being  again  loaded,  the  plup  i»r  ramrod  i.n  light-re<l,  or 
ochre-yellow  after  one  or  two  davt*;  after  that  a  darker  red,  ami  after 
twelve  to  fourteen  tiuys  it  is,  and  remain!*,  |^rayif*h ;  the  }x>wder  is 
coloreii  redd(.*h  by  the  iron  rust;  no  reactitju;*  of  sulfduirie  acid 
aui  he  obtained.  If  loaded  ajscain  iinmeiliately  after  firing,  llie  plug  or 
rnntriHl  i*  greenish^  but  ^^oon  a.s:?urnps  the  darker  color  dei^eribed  before, 

[     If   the    barrel    be    rin^efl   with  whilinjj,   this   aequiresi   a    reildi.-b    color. 

I     The  following  appearances  are  presented  by  the  dried  or  undried  barrel 

I     rra|ie<:lively: 

P«(M?r  containing  alum,  or  plaster  of  PariH,  doea  not,  when  pimply 
nmcerated  in  water,  give  the  reactions  of  «ul  phuric  acid.  These  phein  unena 
can  only  be  vcnfie<l  when  ordinary  gunpitwder  bar*  been  iir<ed.  With  ffun- 
coW/»M,  the  barrel  \s  much  corroded,  im^l  the  ramrod  svill  fhuw  a  iiiJnt  acid 
reaction,  and  sometime!*  varidusi  combinations  of  nitrogen  ^  nitratcf,  nitrites, 
etc.  I  may  be  detecttMl  by  analysis.  If  chlurute  of  pota.'^h  ndxed  with  s«*ime 
cyanide  (or  fulminatei  ha.*<  been  used,  tliere  will  bIho  be  a  gotnl  ileal  of 
Corro.'iien  (»f  the  barrel ;  and  the  products  of  decora  position  of  thesie  chemi* 
cajpi  noiy  bo  detected  in  most  cases, 

♦5.  Jf<m  thr  charge  {btdlt-i  or  s^hofn)  bfrn  deftevted  in  its  eonrnr,  or  has  it 
taken  it.i  onliuary  course  (frnjectory)  ?  We  have  befivre  alluded  to  those 
Cftiieii  in  which  a  bullet,  striking  a  rib,  or  ^lorne  teniae  muscular  aponeu- 
fonh,  etc.,  it)  deflected,  and  only  skirts  a  cavity.  Diipuytren  met  with  one 
^get  in  which  a  ball  t^kirted  but  did  not  peitetrale  the  abihrmeii.  Aber- 
fi^thv's  case  of  a  bullet  s<iing  nuind  the  j^kull  without  j»ienMng  it,  has 
alto  oeen  noted  before.  But  sometimes  we  can  only  answer  this*  question 
bj  a  careful  examination  of  Riirrounding  buildin^M.  Dr,  Taylor  quote8  a 
ca.«o  from  Mr.  VVaUon,  occurring  at  Ayr  in  IHHI,  in  wliich  w^veral  .shots 
had  l>een  maliciously  fired  into  a  church.  Hnme  of  the  bullets  traversed  a 
wiuduw,  making  hole^  in  the  gla2*s,  and  .struck  ttgainnt  a  wall  on  the  other 
Hide  of  the  church,  a  fact  plainly  indicaterJ  by  the  uiark:^  left  by  ihem.  A 
line  wa?*  <Jrawn  from  thet*e  two  punt^*^  through  the  window,  and  reached  a 
window  on  the  utber  wide  of  the  wtreet,  from  which  it  was  afterwards  ajMjer* 
taine^l  that  the  shot^  had  been  fire<I. 

In  a  ca.He  tried  at  the  Kingston  I^nt  Afwi/en,  1862,  a  similar  piece  of 
evidcnee  rlearly  showed  that  a  gun,  loaded  with  a  bullet,  had  l>een  mali- 
cion<»ly  discharged  with  a  design  to  kill  one  of  two  persons.  The  prow;- 
cutrix  and  her  mother  were  sitting  by  candlelight  near  a  window  in  their 


' 


1010 


DEATH    or   CHARLBS   XII. 


house,  one  evening,  so  that  their  ^harlaws  were  on  the  blind ;  a  hiillct 
pa&fit'd  through  ihe  window,  and  struck  the  opposite  wall.  A  line  tiniwn 
between  these  points  wa.i  about  hitlf  an  inch  nbove  the  head  of  ihe  pro*e- 
cutrix,  and  about  one  inch  below  the  level  of  her  mother'?  head.  Ntilher 
wiiti  hurt.  Cireum^tantirtl  evidence  tended  to  criminate  the  prisoner.  The 
defence  raised  by  bis  counsel  was,  tliat  he  had  gone  out  ^in  the  eveninj;) 
to  shoot  birds  fwith  bullet^;),  and  the  ^un  went  (iflT  by  accident  t  The 
judge  directeil  the  jury,  very  pnvperly,  to  consider  with  what  intent  a  ?>hot 
couid  have  been  fired  !=o  clnsc  a.H  to  come  within  half  an  inch  of  the  head 
of  H  peniou.     The  prisoner  was  convicted.     And  no  doubt  justly. 

Sir  Astley  Cooper  was  able  {^te  page  970),  by  considering  the  line  of 
fire,  to  fix  the  crime  »d"  homicide  on  a  left-handed  person.  In  the  same 
manner  the  death  of  Chnrks  XI f  of  Sweden  was  ju<li^jd  to  be  from  his 
own  .«ide,  and  not  frctm  the  enemy.  On  the  night  of  December  11,  171S, 
the  kiug,  who  wa.s  besieging  the  fortress  of  Frederickshall,  whilst  exaruin- 
inir  tfuj  wtuks,  clariilK?red  u[>  a  mound,  facing  the  enemy's  batteries  and 
witluu  reach  of  the  fire.  Several  n<>blemen  were  with  him  at  various 
di.^tanees.  Suddenly  the  king  gave  a  deep  sigh,  and  fell  rlead  on  the 
parapet,  with  his  face  towaril«  the  rortre-«sS,  A  ball  harl  struck  him  in  the 
right  temjile,  traver>ed  the  bruin  from  right  to  left,  and  forced  the  left  eye 
from  it«  s-ocket.  The  <lirectit»n  itf  the  wound  tended  clearly  to  prove  that 
the  king  was  not  .struck  by  a  ball  from  ihe  battery,  which  he  wa-^^  facing, 
but  that  this  had  been  fired  from  some  |jersonon  his  right  hand.  Suspicion 
fell  on  a  M.  Siguier,  who  was  then  in  attendance  on  him.  Whether  this 
was  true  or  not,  there  was  little  doubt  that  the  king  was  asiia>«(inate<i. 
(Taylor,  he,  dt.,  p.  <>G9. )  He  imtti  Jnund  dead  in  the  pmiiion  in  uhtfh  he 
uxtJt  struck,  hi^  fumd  on  kin  sword.  In  his  pocket  was  a  portrait  of  Gus- 
tavus  Adofphus,  and  a  prayer  book. 

7.  WttH  the  ahof  accidental,  tfuiridid,  or  i^om tciWa/ (murderous)?  It  is 
impossible  to  lay  down  any  absolute  ruK^  by  which  you  may  an.«?wer  ihes* 
questi«ins.  Every  case  must  be  studied  *»n  its  own  merits.  In  general  if 
you  fiu<l  several  wounds  (tlie  contents  of  several  barrels,  or  of  one  fired 
rejTeulcdly),  you  may  assume  that  the  case  wa»  one  of  murder.  But  you 
must  remember  ( 1 )  that  bulb  barrels  of  a  gun,  or  rifle,  or  two-barrelled 
pistol,  or  even  more  barrels  in  a  many-chambered  revolver,  may  go  off 
aceidentally  ;  (2)  That  one  bailei  hns  been  known  to  produce  firr  tmiinfU, 
(I lirec  of  entrance,  and  two  of  exit* j;  (3)  That  a  suicide  may  i^and  itt» 
deed  suicides  havt  done  so)  fire  not  once,  but  twice,  and  even  three  tim^^ 
in  ihe  altempt  to  ttike  his  owu  life.  In  general  both  accidental  and 
suicidal  wounds  are  inflicted  at  close  quarters,  but  so  may  a  shot  intended 
to  murder  be.  *-!  nuicide  is  mix«t  likely  to  hit  the  front  of  his  body,  to  fire 
at  bis  lungs,  heart,  head,  etc.  But  some  suicides  have  fireil  at  the  back 
of  the  head,  or  purp<isely  arranged  strings,  etc.,  to  pull  a  trigger  to  shoot 
them  from  behind.  We  have  previously  explained  how  ingeniousily  sui- 
cides fire  a  long  gun  with  their  feet  or  with  the  ramrod.  The  murdrrer^ 
however,  more  ollen,  unless  furious  with  passion, /r<"/«  nl  the  back  or  nide  of 
his  victim. 

In  IVytel's  case  ("Ann.  d'llygidne."  1843,  i,  368),  the  mUitiiry  wil- 
ncisses  asserled  that  the  two  wounds  were  from  two  diflerent  pistols.  With 
all  deference  to  their  t>piiji«ui.  we  iliiuk  it  not  im|^M)ssjbIe  that  the  difler- 
encc  in  the  size  of  the  wounds  was  caused  either  by  two  bulletJ*  of  ditferent 
size  in  the  same  pistol,  both  fired  at  one  shot,  or  by  differetiL  ch&rgea  of 

•  111  ft  eai»e  or  Dupiiylrpn'p,  n  bnK  Btnielc  the  ridjfP  ef  the  liWw  i[1rif*t>rtn<*),  nnd 
i\\v\tiid  il'rlf  into  iwn  puriji;  ImiIIi  u(  wh'uh  trnvrr*od  Jhn  lulf  of  itmi  li»|r,  nnd 
penHriitf'd  the  upp<»biie  c»lf|  lodging  there;  thus  tnHking  the  tlvo  wound*. 


THE    DIRECTION    OP    WOUN) 


1011 


|»nw<ler,  or  different  distances  and  liei^'ht,  so  that  the  ranpe  and  velocity 
difl'ered,  The  prisoner  alleged  that  the  servant  had  only  fired  one  pistol; 
bind  ihe  military  evidence  being  against  this,  the  defence  was  overthrown. 
ijf.  t^llivitir  supported  the  theory  of  two  bullet'*  in  the  one  ehar^e.  In 
1*S34,  a  tithe  collector  was  chart,'ed  with  niurderitijr  a  man  by  !?hwiting 
liim.  The  proHecution  a.ssymed  that  he  took  a  deliberate  aim  from  a  dia- 
tatice.  The  dead  man's  snn  swore  to  it ;  a  priest  swore  that  the  tlying 
ItintJ,  on  hi:*  deathbed,  declared  this  to  l>e  true.  But  on  disinterring  the 
body,  a  surgeon  was  al»te  to  swear  pa^iitivety  that  it  was  fired  close,  as*  there 
H|b^  marks  of  burning  and  of  pnvder  on  the  wrist,  flence  the  pi-^tol 
probably  went  off  in  the  scuffle,  ha  the  tithe  t'4>lleetor  alleged.  His  istate- 
itient  wai*,  that  Ijeinp:  on  horseback,  the  deceased,  and  twi*  or  three  more, 
trieii  to  drag  him  otT  his  horse;  and  that  to  frighten  them  he  drew  the 
pi^tul«  when  the  trigj^er  was  accidentally  pulled.  He  was  act  pi  it  ted,  and 
the  <aher8  ci>n  victed  of  perjury.  Mnt,  Pearcc,  a  surgeon's  wife,  whose  insane 
hu>band  shot  at  her,  had  her  drej^a  burnt  and  her  skin  blistered  by  the 
pihtol  l>eing  fired  »l»  chwe  to  her.  (Central  Criminal  diurt,  1840.)  Mr. 
Marshall  givt^  the  ca'^eof  a  Ciny:alese  sentry,  who  shot  himself  iu  the  calf, 
Ui  get  his  dijicharge  from  the  army.  His  mtatement  that  he  wat*  shot  by 
the  enemy  was  disproved  by  the  way  in  which  his  leg  waa  binckened  by 
rhareoal.  The  calf  was  greatly  lacerated  and  peforated  also.  Ki  member 
tlmt  (ht  same  bore  of  weapon,  and  tht;  name  hz€  of  bullet,  will  prcnbtce  tvunndt 
vj  diffeveut  tdze  at  dijf'erent  dlMance^,  and  tviffi  varying  tfmrge'S  of  powder, 
t^oD^quently  with  ditfereiit  velocities.  Beck  mentions  the  following  cases 
^p.  537).  The  first  from  a  French  eonrce.  An  old  nian  was  fired  at 
Tr»m  ft  deep  ditch  on  the  roadside  during  a  thick  fog,  and  killed  on  the 
Kpot.  A  near  relative,  who  was  succcsisor  to  his  property,  and  whose 
menaces  and  conduct  for  pome  titne  previous  were  of  an  alarming  nature, 
vrji*  ^n.*(lected  of  the  murder,  and  arrested.  It  was  proved  that  a 
few  minutes  before  the  murder  wa^  committed,  he  wm  seen  very  near  the 
&tal  spot  with  a  fowlingftiecie  in  his  band.  On  inspection  by  the  ^nrgeons, 
it  was  found  that  death  had  been  occasioned  by  two  balls,  one  of  which 
cut  the  aorta  across,  and  the  other  passe*!  through  the  ileum.  The  hole 
in  the  ileum  was  perfectly  circular,  and  wheu  accurately  measured,  waa 
found  to  be  eigld  linei?  in  diameter  Tlie  calibre  of  the  prisoner  s  fowling- 
piece  flhc  only  weapon  in  his  possessimi)  was  found  to  be  only  6}  line^  io 
diameter.  This  circumstance  at  once  set  the  prisoner  at  liberty.  But 
some  time  after  this  an  old  officer  committed  ^suicide  by  means  of  a  cavalry 
^phttol.  The  ball  perforated  the  parietal  bone,  traversed  the  brain,  etc. 
The  hole  where  it  entered  was  perfectly  circular,  and  when  accurately 
meaiiured,  wa.s  found  not  otdy  greatly  to  exceed  the  calibre  of  the  piHitoI« 
but,  in  fact,  to  admit,  withi>ul  much  force,  the  barnd  of  the  pistol  iti»elf. 
X»  regards  the  direction  of  the  wonini,  the  usual  rules  as  to  the  diameter 
of  the  entrance  and  exit  wounds  will  usually  guide  us.  In  one  of  Beck'il 
CftMK^,  given  by  Dr.  Gorditn  Smith,  p.  'J9U  (xee  aUo  "  Cyelopiedia  of  Prac- 
licftl  Me<liciue,"  art.  "  Persons  Dead  from  Wounds,"  vol.  iv,  p.  oOl ),  the 
<|uesition  aroM*,  whether  a  person  in  company  with  .smugglers  was  killed  by 
hix  own  gun,  which  went  ott*  accidentally  when  his  foot  tripped,  or  by  a 
•hot  firetl  by  a  coa^tguanl.  A  navy  surgeon  fi>und  the  wound  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  groin  much  smaller  than  in  the  lower  part  of  the  but- 
tock,  antl  fragments  of  btme  were  felt  at  the  hinder  oiK?ning,  but  none  tn 
front,  //c  therrfnre  gnve  it  as  his  opinion  that  ihr  btdl  had  entrred  in  front ^ 
and  therefore  came  from  the  ci>astguard.  Again,  Rirhard  Annrjdey  wan 
tried  fi)r  (he  nntrder  of  Thomas  Englfiftnne,  a  jKmcher.  The  prisoner  wan 
in  comjHiny  with  the  gamekeeper,  and  he  asserted  that  his  gun  hud  gtme 
^  accideutaJly  io  attempting  to  seiuire  ihe  deceased.     It  aj)pearcMl  from 


1012 


CASK    OF    DOVER    STATIOV-If ASTKR. 


H'   i  'ly  the  fowl ioi.' 

1  Jit  in  a  verdi' 

FariM.  vmI.  ii.  p.  r2H.)     In  a  Wti 


that  the  direction  of  ihs  wound  mx 
"I  not  been  lev  "" 
'•e-metUey.     ("        _ 
I,  foijjjht  at  P*ri«»  m»  1827.  wiiii 


I 


UiejfrrMon  kilUH  ttmsmuch  Uilhr  fhnn  hitantjtgoui$t,  yet  ike  moHal  ii 
ohf'uturjij  dou'tiu^ird*.     Sii«f>ici(>n  wa*  excit^,  an<i  an  toire9tlf^ttoii 
by  iire/M;tK'r.  Deni^,  and  Presn^t.     TV  Wi  »^w  /oM/i(/  to  hate  drutk  ik* 
efmirlr  obli*]nfly^  and  in  consetfuenee  of  itJi  rejfintonf^  to  have  tha*  deri^dfd. 
They  a'M»^d,  in  their  rep^^rt,  that  they  had   witnei^e<i  many  anaf 
ca«ert.     (B Hand,  2d  edit.,  p.  2118;  Beok,  p.  »537.)     H»>w  widely  a 
will  deviate,  we  have  already  seen.     It  is  well  exemplified   by  ih 
qut>ted  from  Dr.  Henuen,  where  the  baH  struck  the  breaat,  and  Ic^iged 
the  r«crr>ttim,  the  man  «tandin^  erect  in  the  ranks. 

Proftwor  8t«ii;:hl<»n  N^unted  by  Beck)  comments  on  the  mtarr 
inipurt('<l   tf)  rifle-bulle!i(,  i'au-^iiijf  them  to  make  lar^r  ami  more   raj 
oj>tJjin^x  than  those  of  bulletii  from  smooth  bores.     This  b  e?r>ecially  true 
of  i'phencttt  buUei-i,  which  are  now,  however,  seldom  iwed.     The  teoai\d 
tfie  rtolhpA  ii<  (ifni'mlly  Jtmaller  than  that  in  thf  jie«h. 

The  aw'-uilant  or  mLird*^r»*r  may  loie  a  wftpon  bthnging  to  thr  victim. 
ivftMHo  in  lief/,  v.  lllhon  ^Shrewahury  Autumn  A<^izes,  1870],  when  a  m 
ical  student  was  eharge<i  with   shoutinjf  at  \ua  father,  who  wa«  a   meilic 
mart.     The  father  wa.s  waked  by  two  ghot^  (two  bullets  were  af^erwa 
extracted,  one  frrjm  the  eye»  the  <»ther  from  his  head).     On  jfn>ping about 
he  found  hi«  own  revolver  on  the  flcmr.     The  son  tried  to  make  out  th 
the  father  *<hot  himself,  but  the  wounds  were  evidently  made  from  a  d 
tan^e.     The  question  of  suicide  or  murder  h  sometimea  much  com  plica 
by  the  discovery  of  motives  or  circumr^lance.*  which  might  be  motives 
tl»e  ("rime.     It  wuh  m  iu  the  case  of  J{i«k  AlUth. 

Arridc'titnl  wounfls  are  generally  near  ivound/t,  but  so  again  may  hoi 
cidiil  oiic«  be.     In  the^hootinj^^ea^Mm  many  accideulai  occur  from  carel 
n**?**  with  iiuUH  in  iijetting  over  hedger*.  etc.     A  Cambri4lj;e  profea^wor  ( 
M  P.  If  stjite<i  to  have  lost  both  eyes  from  the  acciilental   di*charv:e  of 
doubti-'burrcllcd  fiuu,  carried  by  his*  father  (who  wuij  before  him).    Pe** 
nft»:n    kill   ihcinsclvei*  in  this  way,  when  the  muz/le  points  towar<l.«  thr 
In   Ktirh  ji  iH-o  the  wounds  may   be  behind  if  they  pull  or  draa:  ^  loa 
ffun  ihrotj^rh  a  hcd^'c  or  pip,  or  over  a  stile.     How  the  accident  hapi 
in  wmie  undouljted  cu-hcn  of  misadventure  u  not  always  known.  Dr.  Tayb 
^ive.'*  the  cii^c  of  a  Scotch  barrister,  who  lay  down  to  sleep,  the  muw.le 
his  ^nn   hiHu\:  close  to  the  back  of  the  calf  of  his  left  leg,  ptiinting  i 
«lant(ug  direction   downwards.     S^mjehow  the  gun  went  off  iu   hi*  »1 
and   pr<»duced  a  large  irregular  wound  of  all  the  fleshy  part  of  the  1 
there  wa;*  no  round  hole  n:i  u>iual  wi[h  nmull  t^hot  at  close  quartern, 
leg  of  the  IrowHcnB  was  much  burned  a.*  well  aa  torn.  *  Sometimes 
phot  ie  thus  carried,  en  muMe,  into  a  wound. 

Another  case  is  quoted  by  Dr.  Taylor,  of  the  station-master  at  Do 
(3/r.  WMif),  shot   by  a   man  caile<l    Wells,  in  May.  1><(>8.     The  bul 
traversed  tlic  heatU  liud  entirely  dewtroyed  the  no-^.     Tht:  entrnnfe  nptrtii 
WHH  Ku  liirgf  a*i  Ui  admit  three  or  fuur  fingerH ;  it  passed  out  bidjind, 
ting  the  occipiral  hone,  ntid  wa^  found  in  the  nuim  with  a  stain  of 
and  Home  huir-^  on  it.     Tlie  hyllet  ordy  weighed  250  gmius;  it  was 
fore  grtmllcr  ihiin  a  Mini^,  thcmgh  of  the  game  pattern. 

8.  You  may  be  aske«l —  W<ni  the  wound  iujiifUd  during  life,  or  on 
dead  hody  f 

In  ca»i*»  where  no  large  artery  is  wounded,  the  appearanf*e3  of 
wound,  if  inflicted  soon  after  death,  nuiy  be  almost  identical.  In  the 
tence,  however,  of  any  other  fiuflicieut  cause  of  death,  a  gunshot  wou 


BLOODVESSELS    AND   NERVES    OF   MBCK, 


1013 


penetrating  any  important  repioo,  must  be  judged  the  canse  of  death,  and 
iberefore  iutlicted  in  Ihe.  When  there  is  much  hfliMiiorrhage  we  shall  of 
i-coiirse  decide  thut  the  nuurided  pt^rsun  was  alivr,  hy  finding  rlutn  of  co- 
igula,  hy  the  ^tainjog  of  the  tit*i*ut'?;,  and  bv  the  blood  lotfl.  Alter  death 
le  bullet  will  have  to  travfr^e  a  large  veiu  to  cause  luenujrrhu«;e  of  any 
mornenL  Yoii  will  reinendjor,  too,  that  the  living  hkin  ami  uiuscles  are 
more  elastic  and  resilient  than  dead  ones.  Here,  for  the  prefjeui,  we  must 
clcwe  our  remarks  on  gun^^hot  wounds.  A  few  additional  eases  will  be 
iouttd,  along  with  histories  of  other  wounds,  in  the  illustrative  eases  at  the 
end  of  the  chapter. 


Wounds  of  Special  Regions* 
We  shall,  for  the  sake  of  simplicity,  divide  these  into  four  classes,  viz.: 

I.  Wounds  of  the  head,  and  neck,  and  spine. 

IL  WouiidH  of  ihe  chest,  ii)clydii)g  thone  of  the  lungs  and  heart, 

III.  Wounds  of  the  abdomen,  including  injuries  of  the  ehylopoietic 
viscera,  pelvic  organ!*^  and  genitals. 

IV.  Wounds  of  the  limbd  (arms  ami  legs). 

Wounds  of  the  spinal  cord  and  its  membranes  have  been  taken  in  the 
first  class  as  a  matter  of  obvious  conveuienee  ;  because  itt  this  way  injuries 
of  the  nervous  system  are  nearly  all  arranj^ed  in  one  group,  ihe  exceptions 
being  injuries  of  the  syniputhetic  nerves,  which  have  us  yet  but  small 
bearing  i>n  forensic  reed icine.  The  first  point  that  occurs  to  one  in  injrtriea 
of  lite  hffnd,  and  nevk,  ami  Hjjitie,  is  the  immense  importajiee  of  these  rt-^ions, 
not  only  to  life,  which  they  share  with  olhcr  parts,  but  to  all  that  renders 
life  valuable  or  enj<tyahJe.  In  the  brain  we  have  nearly  all  the  organs  of 
sen^ition,  the  nerves  for  sight,  smell,  taste,  and  hearing;  and,  if  we  iudude 
the  neck,  not  only  the  nervet^,  but  most  of  the  apparatus  for  vocal  speech. 
Adding  the  spina!  cord,  we  get  the  sense  of  tcjuch,  or  common  sensation, 
id  the  power  of  lociunotitm  ;  and  all  the  marvellous  endowments  of  the 
ilntnan  hand  are  derived  Jrom  the  brain  and  spinal  cord  as  centres.  A 
reference  to  Figs.  107,  lOM,  and  109  f  pp.  782-3),  will  show  most  parts  of 
the  brain,  including  the  cranial  nerves.  The  figure  in  the  text  1  Fig.  114, 
p,  1014 J  gives  a  good  idea  of  ihe  important  strnctiires  contained  in  the 
neck.  The  clavicle  or  collar-bone  <  15}  is  sawn  through  in  two  places,  and 
turned  to  the  right,  so  as  to  reflect  the  clavicular  part  of  (13)  the  sterno- 
cWidomojitoid  muscle. 

(1)  Js  the  oeripiffil  artertt :  (2)  The  facial  vein;  (3)  Spinnl  dhhion  of 
the  fpitiul  arc€9fttjri/  Htrtv  (part  of  eighth  pair),  giving  branches  to  the 
Bterno-niastoid  and  trapezius  muscles;  (4)  The /<w?m/  arterj/:  (5)  The 
internal  jiigrUar  vtin  (see  Illustrative  Cases  for  an  account  of  a  case  in 
which  this  was  lied);  (6j  Htfpo*jfomU  ucrve,  or  nerve  of  motion  to  the 
tongue;  (7)  Cbmmunicans  noui  nervf;  (8)  Littgtual  urtrry  to  the  tongue; 
(9)  I' HfHmvgaiitrie f  i/f  vagus  nerve ;  (10^  Superior  laryngeal  nerve;  (11) 
Phrtnie  nert'e,  or  mottir  nerve  of  diaphragm  ;  ( 12)  Superior  thyroid  arte-ry; 
(I3j  .Slfrrwo-ma/f^otV/ muWc,  turned  back,  see  above  ;  (14)  (Jam man  carotid 
artery  i  i'rxmx  which  the  rxftrnal  and  ittttTnal  curottdii  Are  tlerived)  ;  (15) 
C/mnele  vr  collarbone^  UiriK'd  back,  Hce  ahuve;  (H>)  »S^frnO'hyuid  tnu^le; 
(17)  iSuhcluviuji  inuM'le  ;  (18|  Omo  kyoid  viU'trle :  (19>  Thyroid  turin^  from 
subclavian  artery ;  (20)  Middle  certHeal  gaitglion  of  the  sympathetic 
oerve;  (21)  Subclavian  artery.     (This  drawing  is  by   J.  T.  Gray,  and  is 


For  the  sake  of 


Injuries  to  the  Head^  includmg  Concvmon  and  Comprearum  ^tike . 

As  the  two  last-named  eouditions  are  commoQ  to  many  forms  of 
injury,  and   may  be  assMjkclftted  wiili   woumb  and  fraciurest,  or  exi 
pendent  of  any  external  marks  yf  injury,  it  will  be  couveiiit'ot  u 
theni  before  describing  the  other  lesions.     We  will  begin  with — 

1.  Concumon  of  the  Brain. — This  is  liable  to  he  confused  with 
catiuu,  v/ith  conii>rej»?ion  of  the  brain,  with  opium  {wijjoning,  i 
coma  ffjHn  varioiw  conditions,  sunstroke,  etc,  etc.  It  i:§  a  very  c 
result  of  sudden  injuries  to  the  head,  i?uch  as  a  violent  blow,  or 
which  the  head  i.s  j^truek.  There  need  be  no  external  wound 
eymptoms  are  n<it  unlike  those  of  a^or^'  in  injury  to  other  orgau*,  or  < 
only  ihnt  in  concussion  consciousness  either  is  or  upm^ars  la  be  i 
lost  at  fir^t,  and  suspended  for  a  considerable  time,  The  ayinpun 
come  on  immediately,  and  generally  do  go.  In  other  ca«4cs  there  is 
interval  between  the  accident  and  the  supervenliMii  i*f  lb* 
Draitt*  makee  two  degrees  of  it. 


Surgeon's  Ynda  Meeuifl,* 


CONCUSSION   OP   THE    BRAIN. 


1015 


"(1)  In  ordinary  ca^es  the  patient  lies  for  a  time  motionless,  tiucim- 
fl>cioU9»  and  injieusible.  It'  niused  and  qiiejitimied,  he  ans^wera  liii«tily,  and 
again  relapi^ez)  into  in»en.<iijiiiiy.  Alter  a  time  he  moves  hid  liml^i^^  an  if 
in  uneasy  sleep,  anil  vamitsi;  and  tVec^ueutly  recx>vers  hi^  seu^^es  iuslantly 
atterwarda;  remaining,  however,  giddy,  c<jnruse<l,  and  sleepy  for  mine 
buuni. 

"  ^2}  In  the  more  severe  degree  the  patient  ia  profnuudly  insensible, 
surface  pale  and  eohJ,  the  features  ghastly,  the  pufse  feeble  and  intermit- 
lent,  or  [x-rhaps  insensible,  and  the  breathing  slow,  or  pGrfornitd  only  in' 
a  feeble  sigh,  drawn  at  intervals.  Vomiiing  is  an  importuut  symptonh  It 
ia  Dot  pre^ent  in  very  slight  cases  nor  in  very  severe  ones;  and  ita  oeeur- 
rence  \&  mostly  an  iudiention  of  ajjproaehing  recovery.*' 

ThU  condilion  miifj  tennhittte  J'dufli/,  after  a  few  hours,  or  after  stome 
day^  It  really  means  conUmon,  as  Mr.  Prescott  Hewelt  and  Dr.  Druilt 
inaidt.  Dr.  Briglit  long  i\%o  poiute<i  out  niinute  eechyniotses,  the  isize  of 
piw*'  heads,  in  faiul  cases  ot  ihi.s  kind.  There  is  also  more  or  It-sj*  lacera- 
vion  of  the  braiti-subslance  ;  and  injuries  of  the  spine,  and  of  other  organs, 
SHch  as  the  heart,  are  often  found  asisociated  with  it.  Or  i/ttre  may  be 
rceovery^  with  but  little  damage,  except  headache,  and  slight  fever  tor  a 
few  (lays.  Or  prohinjf'd  utMeitKihitity  may  hist  for  many  duyn,  the  patient 
lying  ii»  if  asleep  ;  but  when  excited,  (lie  carotids  pulsate  rapidly,  the 
pulse  beating  140  or  I'jO  ;  and  if  roused,  he  may  answer  (juestions.  Some 
of  lbei»e  patient-**  nuiy  re-Mcrnhle  sonjuambylists;  ibey  will  gel  out  of  bed 
to  make  water,  or  go  to  the  eloset^  or  they  will  htih  the  door,  shave  them- 
selves, take  food  in  a  mechanical  way  (when  fed,  or  when  the  foud  is  close 
to  them ',  yet  still  a|>|>ear  insensible  to  ull  around  them.  One  of  the 
autltorH  knew  such  a  ci^ndition  to  lust  twenty-one  days  in  a  quarry  man, 
who  ultimately  recovered  perfectly,  with  no  paralysis  or  impuirnu'ut  of 
brain  functions.  Or  recovery  may  be  imperfect,  loss  of  memory,  an  imbecile 
constitution,  or  stale  of  demetilia,  or  fnleeided  intellect,  loss  of  sexual  and 
btnidy  power,  and  ini|iaired  sight,  hearing,  and  other  nervous  functions. 
nmy  l>e  llie  ^e^ults.  The  consecjueuces  of  concussion  of  the  brain  greatly 
dejjend  on  the  mode  in  which  the  injury  is  inflicted.  A  sudden  vitdent 
*hock  may  stop  the  heart  al  onee,  antl  prove  latal ;  i>r  intiict  injuries  un 
the  brain,  which  may  be  irremediable;*  whilst  a  more  gmdual  and  le.-s 
viidcnt  injury  may  be  far  better  tolerated.  Mayo  shovve<l  that  if  y«)u  surl- 
denly  crush  a  very  small  part  of  an  tmimars  brain,  the  heart  stiip-*  at  nuce, 
wlulsl  nearly  the  whole  braiti  nmy  t»e  gently  sliced  away,  wiih  liiilc  or  no 
effect,  except  h»ss  of  special  function"'.  Mr.  Guthrie  (in  **  Injuries  of  the 
Head,"  etc.,  I^ndon,  1842,  p.  H>  .strongly  deprecated  any  very  active 
measures  in  the  rjeatntent  of  concussion.  The  patient  should  iw  left  quiet 
to  recover,  in  most  cases,  though  triction  and  warmth  to  the  feet  some- 
timew  seem  useful.  (One  of  the  authors  has  used  ariiHcial  re*»piration  in 
a  few  ca/bei*)    Advantage,  as  Miller  well  says,  should  be  taken  uf  this  con* 

♦  Dr.  Druilt  ndds  n  fnotfinto  to  ttii*  r-fTivt :  "  Th«  bluiil,  hi'Mvy  drni;n.in  awnfd 
of  III*'  Ki»^Ji»b  will  iiol  pt-nelriilo  ihe  iM-nd-dn'na  of  th'-.Sikli  or  Aijjlntn^  y^l  th*« 
enrniy  i»  ii»««*tly  ImiiUhi  fnnti  lii*  Jiori***,  ntul  fn-qucrnliy  killed  by  thn  vi.'lt«oet' of  tho 
*h*iik.  Till'  trvnt  hioit  bUdeoflho  Hikl*.  wi*'liJ*'d  t»y  n  »tr<>nir  iiino,  witl  rui  ilinmgh 
may  U*'nt\\>it'v*',  hiuI  |ivrt)H|M  htiry  ii«olf  in  ttio  brtiin  ;  nnd  yet  y<Mi  Itnl  no  >viii|)- 
U»tiiF  •♦f  iMfirodnitui  or  rorupn-^iori.  In  th<?  furmitr  PXHrnplf,  ihe  solcjirr  i*  ••If.'clu- 
ftlly  duttblH,  often  kilb^d  outright;  in  ihi^  lMUi<r,  itioii^lt  iiiorinlly  woondtnl,  bft 
niHy  b<»  iil»l«  U>  cornitUi<>  tbw  tiglil,  nnd  fVrn  to  kill  bi»  »nUj;oni»t,  iM'Torn  hn  hiiUMnif 
fiilU  di^nd  or  dyin^?  hotu  bi^i  h«»r«e ''  ((Jolt's  '^  Fiidd  Pmclie*'  in  Indim,"  p.  45. 
Srf  ntti,  M  viTv'iibb*  pnpcr  by  Dr.  K.  C.  Willinm*  in  tbe  "  BrltUh  und  F««roi]^n 
i^UHflvrly,"  Jnutmry,  IHW) 


1016 


COMPRESSION   OF    THE    BHAlW, 


ditioD  to  examine  for  other  Injuries,  such  as  broken  boDca,  dbl 

and  wouud:*, 

C()iK-iis!»ion,  especially  wheu  the  brain  or  its  membranes  are  mu 
ated,  may  be  followed  by  metiin^itis  and  eneephaliiiw.  For  the  ny 
of  these,  and  the  after- trt>a l men t  of  concu^iiin,  we  must  refer 
article?!  on  ttiis  siil)ject  in  Eri(*hi*eo's,  Millers  iVniit'g.,  Pirrie*&,  aa 
ant's  "  Manuals  of  Surgery,"  to  the  articles  on  *'CoMCU»*ion  and  I 
of  ihe  Head,"  in  CViijer's  ''Dictionary  of  Surgery,"  anil  H«>hue*'| 
tern  of  iSurgery,"  and  to  the  motiographa  of  Prescotl  Hewett,  il 
Sharp,  Hilton,  and  oihersi.  See  a\^i  the  opinion  of  Chii»Kaignac,  li 
and  Koherl,  (pjuted  in  Ea»kinj('s  "  Abj*traet,"  vols,  ii  and  iii.  \ 

Connu<t/<i()n  may  prove  fninl  at  the  momeitt.     Thus  a  man  niay  fall 
pavement  froni  tripping  his  foot,  and  l>e  picketl  up  dead.    Set*  al^tj  i 
CheUufi's  *' Surgery,"  vol.  i,  p.  408.    Tiiis  may  depend  entirely  on  n 
ahock.     fcfinldeu  death  occurred  in   the  case  of  Hftjtua  v.  BurgtM  ( 
pool  Lent  Assizes,  1845).     Cunsci<m.>'ne.ss  is  eometimes  present,  wb< 
po^etl  to  be  absent.     Dangerous  or  fatal  .symptoms  may  come  <m  i 
days,  or  even  weeks,  or  perhap.>«  mnnths,  alter  the  concussion  and  i 
jury.     (Dr.  Taylor  refers  to  '*  Medical  Times  and  Gazette,*' June  ilO 
p.  645.)     The   authors    knew  a   case    in   Ton|uay,  where   some 
attacked  a  gardener  on  his  return  fn>ra  market,  and  knocki'd  him 
the  head.     He  did  not  s^ufler  any  serious  &ymploraa  from  it,  but 
work  for  six  weeks*     He  then  began  to  get  ill,  and  die<l   from 
about  five  weeks  more.     An  absce-ss  of  the  brain  wa^  caused  by  the 
In  such  vase»  it  is  often  alleged  for  the  defence,  that  there  must  li^ 
intervening  cause,  or  some  second  injury  or  violence.     The  exp« 
however,  of  practical  surgeons  quite  contradict*  thia.    (Sec  Rcyuux 
peTj  Lewes  Summer  As*;ize5*,  1871  ;  also  T^lver^'^l  *' CVmstitutional 
tiou,*'  p.  445;  Holfbauer,  "Leber  die  Kopfverlet/Aingen,"  184*i, 
Taylor,  p,  617;  and  the  work^  quoted  above.)     lu  *ome  of  ihe 
cases  of  concussion,  the  spine  or  the  base  of  the  brain  may  be  t 
injured.     In  the  Duke  of  Orleans'  case  the  ba^^e  of  the  brain  w 
tured  by  a  fall,     (*'  Med.  Gazette,"  vol.  xxxvi,  p.  3G8.) 

We  shall  return  to  the{|ueation  of  diagnosiii,  after  reviewlDg  tb 
toms  of  cumprci^sioD. 

2.   Cumpresifwn  of  the  brain    is  the   result  of  either  extrava*j 
blood,  or  blood  and  serum,  withitt  tlie  brain,  with  or  without  fraa 
the  Hkull,  or  of  the  presi?ure  of  depressed  bime  in  fracture*,  and 
contusions,  or  of  suppuration  occurring  within  the  cranium.     Tliis 
toms  are  e8.<»entially  tlume  of  ftptipkxy.     There   ia   in^eunibUUjf  {{ 
paratysift,  either  onesided,  or  general ;  diUtied*  and  iusen^ibU  pfifi 
pupils  are  often  unequal ) ;  sfoiv  laboring  puUt ;  mkin  oj'tat  hot  andprn 
retention  oj  urine,,  or  involuntary  evacuation  of  this,  and  of  fuices,  I 
paralysis  of  the  sphincters  ;  sttrtorotiJi  breathing  (due  to  paresis  of  (b( 
pendulum  paUdl).     There    may  be    cotivuUionn   or   tmichingn^  ft$ 
paralysis,  and  usually  on  the  opposite  side  to  the  paralysis.     The  p| 
may  involve  the  muscles  more  orle?;*  deeply,  or  may  U*  coufiue<i  to 
nerve-tracts.     Thus  we  get — (1)  Hemiplegia,  with   paralysis  of  <j4 
of  the  face;  (2)   Facial  paralysis  alone,  or  with  aniestheeia  <  h>*8  ul 
tton,  due  lo  the  fifth  nerve;  i\\Q  portlo  dura  of  the  seventh  pair  pn 
the  facial  paralysis);  (3)  We  may  have  paresis  of  the  ocular  ti 
ptosis,  or  dropped  (upj)er)  eyelid,  with  vurioue  forms  of  squint 
fourth,  and  sixth  nerves);  (4)  There  may  be  complete  paralyFis  f 


♦  Thft  fiiipib  jirt*  poniftirne*  eontnicleti,  e»peoiii1lj  in  larg««xtrftTastttioii»,< 
about  vhe  n»v»ns  «i,i\d  tuurth  ventricle. 


THE    CASE    OF   GEOROB    CLARKE, 


1017 


I 


t 


the  body  (double  heniiplegia) ;  or  (5)  Paraplegia,  {mralynid  of 
iiwer  extremities;  arid  (6)  Of  ilie  sphincters, 
Cmupre»diou  generally  c^mes  on  after  .«yniptom«  of  oonruswion.  In- 
4erd,ai'ier  the  tir^t  ^hoi  k,  ibe  patient  often  nillie.s  for  a  time.  Botnetlmes 
iveti  for  *ome  hour?.  Then  the  symptonis  describe*!  vmnc  dw,  ut  finit  like 
ap*»plexy  vt  the  ingraveacent  form  ;  the  injurerl  man  seems  dt(>w^y,  ami 
WMXita  to  i^leep.  The^e  symptoms  njay  be  mirilaken  for  poiwuiing  by 
opium  aud  other  narcotic8,  lor  drunkennesi*,  and  fur  aj>op]exv.  No  8ur* 
geoxi  «who  has  studied  at  a  large  hospital,  ought  to  tMufotituI  thexi  with 
iroticutteioD,  except  in  a  lew  rare  cases?,  where  the  sympiomH  are  cquirocul. 
The  extra  vacated  hhiod  may  be  (1)  Between  the  nkull  and  the  dura 
iiKf^er;  (2)  Between  ilie  membranes  ;  Mr,  Prescott  Hewett  says,  ex  Ira  va- 
satiito  into  the  cavity  of  the  arachnoid  is  very  common  in  injuries 
of  ihe  hkull.  Hence,  perhaps,  ara/7t/ir/<V,  a>*  Mr.  flutchinf«on  has  phown, 
t»  one  of  the  oommoheht  iorms  of  meningitis ;*  (3)  The  extravasation 
may  be  iu  the  aulwiaiice  of  the  brain  it**ell*.  Some  eminent  ^urgeonn 
Jlftve  objected  to  the  une  of  the  term  votnpremon,  and  doubted  if  ^nch 
fft  thing  really  exif*led.     We  cannot  do  njore  here  lliau  reJer  to  the  ex- 

g?nmenLs  of  Dr.  Keliie,  and  ibe  later  and  more  accurate  ones  of  l)r. 
urrows  on  the  quantity  of  blood  in  the  cranium.  The  former  will 
be  found  in  the  "London  Mi^<iical  Gazette/'  for  May,  1H13;  the  latter 
\n  Dr  Burrows's  work,  "  DiM>rders  of  the  Cerebral  Circulation,"  184*^. 
Most  manuals  of  physiology  contain  abstracts  of  these.  For  some  ex|M»n' 
meiJts  ot  Dr.  Browu-iS^piard  bearing  on  this  point,  see  his  •*  I^cturcj*,"  in 
the  **  Lancet,'^  and  other  medical  jotiruals,  since  1858.  All  wc  can  well  say 
here  is,  that  both  clinical  experience  and  experiments  tend  to  show  that 
the  quantity  of  blood  in  the  cranium  may  vury  considerably.  Ju  any  case 
the  term  "compression  "  is  a  convenient  tenn  for  the  group  of  symptoms 
des4Tribed  above.  If  the  bloodvessels  of  the  brain  arc  found  rli^eased 
eroma,  or  mineral  degeueraliou),  the  objection  may  be  raised  that  the 
is  one  of  apoplexy.  The  following  case  (given  by  lieck,  in  a  f<M>inot6 
to  p.  625)  is  ai  least  curious ;  he  ?ays,  that  "  amongst  Sir  James  Mackin- 
tosh's books  was  a  pamphlet,  entitled, '  An  Appeal  to  the  Public,  t<»uchiug 
llic  Death  of  Mr.  George  Clarke,  who  received  a  Blow  at  JJrentford  on  the 
6tJi  of  December^  of  which  he  languished  and  died  on  the  14th.  Jty  John 
Fooi»8urgeon,  Loudon,  1709,'  3Ir.  Clarke  wa*  «iruck  on  the  head  by 
Edward  McQuirk  during  some  election  riotn,  the  weapon  u*i*i  beinj^  a 
bludgeoD.  The  wound  ble<l  profu^ly.  On  his  way  home  l>e  fell  faint, 
and  luok  some  brandv.  He  went  to  bed,  aod  his  symptoms  gmduully 
beuuoe  aggnivaie<L  tie  wai»  bled  on  the  lOih,  but  without  any  improviv 
tueiit.  On  the  Pith  an  afjothecary,  called  iu,  found  him  in  a  violent  fever, 
with  delirium.  He  upphed  remedies;  and  on  the  next  day  Mr.  Bromfield, 
ll  31.  was  sent  lor,  but  duta»  not  apfjcar  t«i  have  prewribed.     Clarke 

di  night.     Mr.  Foot  wa*  calh-d  uj  to  examine  lh<5  bfsly  U?fore  ihfl 

eoruiM;r»  jury.  He  d»ind  the  aid  of  Mr.  Bri»ndielfl,  whr»  refujtcjj  t/t  come, 
"btoiiae  lie  apprthendi'd  it  might  Ut  au  Old  Bailey  hijHinrwi,'  Th*'re  was 
mo0fittt>cd  wound  on  the  head,  by  Uiesid*  of  the  imgittnl  suture,  ufsm  th« 
figitt  |sinetal  liune;  the  scalp  was  elevated  tor  a  considerable  rliMlance 
afuuiHl  llie  wtxiod,  aiwi  tbe  {icncraiiiufn  was  much  inflamfMi,  and  Mqraratmfl 


m 


Tke  nwmiaiKei  «*r  the  btain,  (i>  (yHtrr  wof4«.  lU  mr^mhr^n*^,  Wka  iImmk  oI  ih« 

Wat  ntni.  are    lkrrttC(fld«>(«^  Tb*  c/uro   mni^r     ut    nit^riml    Rfiooi*    llifl^    f  n,i\  j 
\l  hmiid,  vt  iby  »»r'*u«  mmX,  !>»»' 

r»|  tj  hkHb  lh»  d«r«  »»«irr  ssd  '  r        , 


from  the  sk'ill.  On  reraoviog  the  calvana,  the  dura  mater,  tmmediateir 
uuder  the  part  where  the  itijurv  vns  iuflicted,  was  tbuti<3  greatly  inflamed^ 
and  detache<l  from  the  bone.  Between  it  and  the  pta  mater  wa^  a  quau« 
(itj  of  coagulated  blood.  The  pia  mater  wa«  inflamed,  and  8ome  of  tu 
verisela  ruptured.  There  was  no  frncttire."  Mr.  Foot,  therefore,  o^ncludtHi 
the  wound  waa  the  cauj^e  of  death.  It  appeared  at  the  trial  that  Clarke 
wa.-*  a  healthy,  temperate  youtjg  man.  Mi-Quirk  was  found  guilty.  8000 
atter  this  the  cas«  was  referred  to  the  Court  of  Examiner*  of  the  8ur- 
geous*  Company,  on  the  ground  that  neither  Mr.  BromiieM  nor  the 
apotheairy  had  been  examined,  and  that  Mr.  Foot  only  gaw  bifu  after 
death.  The  court  (without  assigning  any  reason?)  gave  a*  their  opinioo» 
that  Clarke  did  not  die  of  the  blow.     Mr  Quirk  receiver!  a  full  fiarduo, 

Percival  Pott  was  a  rapuiber  of  this  court;  and  Mr.  Fool  refutes  thia 
dictum  from  Pott's  own  Memoir  on  the  nature  and  cousrqtintce  «/  Mf*W 
injuries  to  which  the  head  i>  liable  from  exiernal  vioktttt.  With  Fovl  aod 
Beck  we  fully  agree,  that  the  firvt  verdict  was  the  right  one. 

The  various  iujuriesi  of  the  head  referrerl  to  will  be  better  uoderrlood 
by  the  following  scheme  of  the  difterent  layers  fri>m  without  inwardsi. 
There  are,  in  tact,  three  complex  layers,  viz. : 

A.  The  Older  layer,  or  hairy  9cafp,  containing— fa)  the  hnir  and  akin, 
with  itj*  epidermia.  rete  mucoi^um,  and  corium  {*ee  p.  95'S)  ;  (6)  the  nntMcJea 
of  the  i«ealp  (ocoipitofrontali^,  coniplexutii,  temporal  niuaclea^  etc.) ;  aud  (p) 
the  pericranium,  or  external  layer  of  periosteum. 

B.  The  bony  »huU,  or  cranium,  consisting  of  the  frontal,  two  parietal^ 
two  lemfxjral,  and  occipital  b(jiies,  with  the  sphenoid  bone,  each  b<>ne 
being  made  up  of — a)  an  otder  table  of  compact  btme;  (A)  intervening 
diplve^or  spongy  cancellous  bone,  very  vaj^cular,  absent  in  young  children, 
and  in  very  old  people;  (e)  the  inner  table,  or  tntreoiut  plate,  of  compact 
bone,  very  brittle  and  glaswlike. 

C.  The  membranes,  consisting  of — (a)  the  dvra  mater,  or  external  thick 
fibroUB  membrane,  which  is  reiilly  the  interna)  perio*teuin  or  pericraiiiura; 
(6)  the  arachnoid  or  serous  membrane;  (cl  the  pia  uudtTy  ur  vascular 
membrane,  dipfjing  down  deep  between  the  convolutions  of — 

D.  The  brain  ii^wlf. 

The  spinal  cord  has  similar  membranes,  and  is  inclose*!  in  a  bony  cam, 
formed  by  the  verlebraj.  Outside  this  are  muscles,  and  then  c<»nies  the 
akin.  In  the  brain,  however,  the  gray  matter,  or  true  nerveccll  layeri» 
are  on  the  ouuside  chiefly.  In  the  /spinal  cord  most  of  the  gray  matter  in  io 
the  interior  of  the  cord.  Tlie  brain  and  epiual  conl,  though  ceutrt« 
for  seu^ation,  are  themselves  almost  devoid  of  feeling.  The  differential 
diaynoiiis  oj  compression  of  the  brain  from  apoplexy,  h  almos-l  entirely  de- 
pendent on  the  history.  In  the  latter  there  i»  no  accident,  and  no  marks 
of  external  injury;  whilst  in  eompresiiiou  of  the  braio  there  is  generally  a 
history  of  accident,  and  marks  of  external  injury.  Yet  cabeii  are  con- 
stantly occurring  in  which  the  compre»<^iou  depends  upon  fracture  of  tKe 
skull,  which  can  only  be  detected  post-mortem,  there  being  no  exiernal 
signs  of  injury.  Such  fractures  of  the  skuU  are  ustially  of  the  base  of  tlie 
cranium.  In  some  of  these  cases,  besides  the  history  of  an  accident,  and 
the  symptoms  of  compression  just  given,  we  have  a  diwharge  of  cerebro- 
spinal fluid  i^ofteu  containing  sugar)  from  the  ear,  extravasation  of  bhuMl 
into  the  conjunctiva?,  and  iut«>  the  tiessucA  of  the  orbit.  There  may  be  free 
bleeding  from  the  ear  on  one  side,  the  blood  coining  fiom  the  diploe, 
through  the  lacerated  or  absent  mcmbrana  tym|)ani.  Deafneisd  will  point 
to  the  auditory  nerve,  facial  paralysis  lu  the  poriio  dura  ;  as  does  inability 


: 


k 


DRUNKENNESS    RESBMBLES    COMPRESSION. 


1019 


ID  close  the  eye,  etc. ;  loss  of  i^enpatioQ  in  the  face  and  tongue  to  the  fifth 
iiervo  ;  flrubismus,  ptofiig,  um\  tiiliiteij  pupil  to  iho  third  iit^rvc;  inability  to 
move  ihe  tongue  tu  the  iiiiitli ;  diffiiully  in  swallowing  and  sterloroua 
breathing  to  the  eighth  pair^  ett-.,  etc, 

Chinprt^wion  ig  very  like  dntttkeuue^.  TI)ore  are  some  cases  in  uhjth  it 
is  not  iKissible  to  diMitigui^h  one  fnmi  the  other  at  ivrlain  wtaj^'o^*.  Cun- 
niMiion,  also,  re^tnbles  the  elft'ct?  ol  alcohol.  The  man  wliose  brain  is 
injured,  or  \vhoi*e  i>kull  may  be  fractured,  may  have  hud  brandy  given 
him,  and  \m  breath  niay  ^nicll  of  it.  Again,  the  bruin- It'.-sicjn  may  involve 
both  HuU^.  The  same  ditiicuky  is  met  with  ».«*  rtf^ard^  «iJupkxy  and 
dru  Liken  ne«ii<,  and  ifoine  furniK  (d"  opium  poison  in  j^.  The  toll  uvvi  tig  higns 
may  make  u?  tuAptd  lliat  we  have  to  do  with  aJeohulic  rucna,  or  dead 
drunkinneins,  and  nnt  with  apoplexy,  or  compre&siun  of  the  bmiu,  viz. : 
The  tt'mperature  being  greatly  lowered  ;  io!<tead  of  98.6^  F.  <o7  '  C),  we 
get  115=',  or  y0^o^  87"  F.  (35^,  32.2^  30.0*^  C);  the  l.>ssof  power  (paruly 
sifi),  and  lo«*  of  sensation  (ana^thei^ia)^  instead  of  being  unilateral,  are 
syn^metrica),  t.  ^.,  on  both  t«ide»,  and  a]nl<H^t  total ;  the  bladder  is  generally 
full  of  limpid  uriut,  uf  low  specific  gravity,  almost  c<dorle4«,  and  Itirni^h- 
ing  on  distillation  a  large  amount  of  spirit.  A  single  drop  gives  a  bright 
gre«D  with  the  bichromate  solnliou  (300  of  sulphuric  acid  to  1  of  pnitas- 
siuin).  There  if  generally  k>*  slertor  than  in  apttplexy  or  fracture  of  the 
akull.  The  pupils  are  sometimes  contracted,  ttud  wmetimes  dilated.  On 
the  other  hand,  all  these  ^<yn)ptonll^  may,  though  rarely,  be  met  with  in 
apoplexy  and  tractnre  of  the  hlcuM.     iMufdfvi  cag&f  of  ihU  kind  ott^hl  not 

j  to  be  irjl  to  the  diatjno)*in  or  treatmnii  of  po/ircmen^  or  s^hut  uj)  in  a  jmlire  rcU^ 
as  *o  many  have  been,  with  uhiiod  certaitity  of  death.     All  ca.sea  of  coin- 

\  plete  unconscioU8ue?.<!  ought  to  l>e  caretully  examineil  by  a  medical  nnin, 
and  to  be  treated  in  ho*ipital,  nule,«s  jskilled  a.'*»intatK'e  can  be  had  in  their 
own  homea;  for,  although  medical  men  may  not  he  able  to  make  a  ceitaio 

'  diagnosis  at  the  monient,  yet  in  a  «^hort  time  B.ymptom8  may  N.*t  in  which 
will  not  only  nettle  the  nature  of  the  cai^e,  but  give  indications  fi>r  treat- 
ment. And  in  n  large  numlier  of  eayet"  a  skilful  medical  man  can  make 
a  diagno-^ij*;  whereas*,  the  policeman  relies  solely  upon  the  one  tet»t  of  the 
»mell  of  alcoholi<'  liquor,  which  we  have  shown  to  be  fallaciouM.  ►Scarcely 
a  week  elaf)^ed  without  a  cane  of  apoplexy,  or  injury  to  the  brain,  being 
mistaken   for  druukennef^,  and  locked  up  in  a  |)oliee-cell  ;  where  such 

^rairfn  nmtdlr  die,  utdena  the  authuritieH,  becoming  alarmed,  reinuve  them, 
VAWB  too  late,  Uy  Home  h<»spital.  In  canes  of  opium  poisoning,  and  death 
fruffl  chloral  hydrate,  and  other  narcotici^,  the  symptoiiH  may  l>e  very  Htmi- 
lar  to  thotte  (if  a[K>plexy  of  the  |H>n'i  varolii,  or  of  a  large  extravaaation  of 
blood,  prefif^tng  on  iMiih  '^ideM  of  the  brain.  In  all  theM^  ca^s  the  pupiU 
are  contracted;  we  get  almost  ab<4olute  lo»<^  of  motor  power  an<i  of  iteusa* 
ttoD,  with  stertor,  conia,  and  other  HymptomH,  common  to  all  theHe  condi- 
timis.  An  examination  and  anaiyt^it^  of  the  vomited  matters,  or  of  the 
cuutentii  of  the  stomach,  or  of  the  urine,  may  siunetimcM  nhow  uh  the  na- 
ture of  Uie  ra!H\  And  Si'meiimes  the  breath  by  itn  ixlor  will  reveal  the 
poison,  a»  in  prumic  acid  }K)iM»n]ng,  and  iti«  compoundt». 

Blood  may  he  extra fxts'ded  (m  n  teguft  of  excitemend,  without  any  blow  or 
injury,  i^c  o.  Wtl.  i  Many  other  cases  are  given  in  Tavlor  (foe.  cit-,  p. 
6^4,  etc.  J.  Where  one  or  tuore  blow*,  are  also  struck,  anfi  marks  of  vio- 
lence are  visible,  it  it*  not  always  pii^sible  for  a  medical  witnua  to  mf 
whether  the  excitement  or  the  blow  caused  the  extravaiiation.  If  the  in- 
jury be  very  severe,  it  ta  not  unreasonable  to  blame  the  violence;  wheresA 
if  the  injury  be  slight,  and  ttie  excitement  great,  the  latter  pnihably  de* 
serves  tJie  blame.  The  bhjodveM^eU  will  generally  be  bmnd  very  diseased 
tu  sucb  cttiei.    Granular  kidney^*,  hypertrophy  of  the  left  veuiricle  of  the 


1020 


THE    DATE    OF    INJURIES    TO    BRAIN. 


heart,  and  diseased  bloodvessels  make  a  trio  of  very  comraoc 
io  [nlvanced  lifi? ;  fitid  here  we  have  all  the  rondilione  for  :;  '^ 

geriuus  results  Ihim  blows  atid  trucUires.     We  ruay  ^omelim  r 

a  pij»!it-nn)rlen»  exiiniiiuilitm  thai  (he  fxfravu nation  of  bloody  r»r  tttrum^ 
lymph  effused,  ara  of  older  dtdc  than  the  aileyed  injury.     The  Iduot-d 
hiive  btjeotne  paler;  irs  pigment  may  have  cryjflallized.     We  ral 
cholesteriii,  we  may  find  au  adt'enrilious  cyst  or  sac  ntunil  the  I 
rhage,  or  there  may  be  cicalriees,  and  coDtraelion  of  the  brain-.sul 
orsiflteDiug,  ur  tlie  fyniph  may  liave  become  partly  organized — allc 
whith    require  lime — many  d«ys — us^ually  several  wt'eks  hehij;  ne^ 
lu  Rtij.  V.  Phippn  (Gloucester  Summer  Asfsizes,  1845),   Mr.  JuHtu 
tesou  said  thai  if  two  men   were  fighting,  und   blows  were    strua 
one  fell  to  the  ground  and  died,  and  afterwards  injuries   were  fcM 
ternally  corre^pttnditig  to  the  external  inarkr*  of  violence^  no  p<w 
earth  could  persuade  him  tliat  such  blows  were  not  the  cau?«!  of 
The   pris-otjer  was   ibun<t  guilty.     He  had  struck  the  der*eased  m 
blow  under  the  left  ear,  and  a  recent  extrava^aliou  of  blood    wai 
at  a  currejrfKinding  part  inside  the  skull.     Although  the  judge *» 
may  have  been  too  absolute,  yet  a  medical  witness  ought  to  have 
rea.-ons  for  attributing  death  to  other  causes  when  there  is  »uch  a 
ajipettranre  of  cause  and  effect.     Be8i«le8,  it  seems  to  us,  that  tti^ 
meiit  pro<lu<ed  by  a  struggle  is  just  as  rightly  attributed  t<i  the  a 
(in  most  ca.-^cji)  a?  the  result  of  a  bl(>w.     His  cauN*  may  be  the  ji 
but  the  blow  also  may  be  given  in  self  defence  (justifiable  homicide 
Taylor  quotes  from  DrJ.  Reid's  *' Physio]r>gical  Kcsearchei,**  pL 
case  of  a  womau  aged  seventy  throwing  herself  from  a  window.     * 
one  days  after  the  injury  s!ie  died,  arKi  in  the  brain  the  extra vasato< 
was  l)rnwnif^h,  or  cliocol«te-bniwn,  in  one  part;  almost  black  in  a] 
lu  the  legs  iind  chest  the  bltnul  extravasated  was  still  blackish  und 
luuking.     The  fracture  of  the  sternum  luid  united.     This  and  uthel 
should  make  us  cautious  in  a.^^igning  dales  to  Buch  extravasations. 

The  aknll  may  bt;  fntctured  rrithout  uvmtd  of  nkiii.  (Jiet/,  v.  Wan 
Court,  1841.)  //  mni/  be  fradnrcd  from  iudireet  violence  ( fracture  by 
mnp)^  as  when  the  base  is  fractured  froni  a  hlovy  on  the  summit* 
pai  t  of  the  skull  from  a  blow  on  another  part,  or  the  base  from  tl 
dyles  of  the  lower  jaw  being  violently  forced  up  against  the  glenoid 
of  the.  temporal  bones. 

One  table  ovhj  may  be  fractured^  or  a  small  punctured  wound  of  tin 
table  may  cause  great  depression  antl  splintering,  and  extensive  fi 
of  the  inner  table.  This,  wliich  seemed  very  marvellous  to  our  aitt 
is  simply  dependent  on  ordinary  mechanical  principles,  for  when  iU\ 
is  ap[ilied  fntm  wilhin  (as  by  a  bullet  shot  through  the  mouth  ),  lb 
outer  table  is  most  splintered,  and  its  wound  is  the  larger.  Be  oart'^ 
io  vii/tlah'   Wonnimt  bone4^  or  nntund  tsutureA^  for  fracture. 

The  brain  may  be  wounded  without   fracture.     Mr.  Xeodhnm  li 
us  of  a  case  of  Mr.  Ilivingtou's  in  wliich  the  stem  of  a  ciny  tulwia 
was  forced  though  the  orbit,  passed  along  the  sphenoidal  fissure  ^1 
cavernous  sinus,  and  lacerated  the  brain,  pniduciug  abscess  of  the  hi 
about  a  fortnight.     Sir  Astley  Cooper  mentions  a  girl  who,  in  ph 
on  a  pair  of  scissors,  and  one  point  fractured  the  orbital  plate  of  the  \ 
and  lacerated  the  brain. 

The  celebratetl  comedian,  Macklio,  was  tried  in  1735  for  having 
the  death  of  Tbonuis  Hallam  by  thrusting  a  stick  into  his  eye. 
recently  a  major  in  the  artillery,  in  defending  himself  with  hb  ui 
against  some  street  roughs,  thus  caused  the  death  of  a  man,  a^ed  I 
one,  by  tVie  uin\:>Tft\\a,  \vq\uV  ^qw:^^,  vVvtovv^b  the  orbit  iDto  the  bra! 


RESULTS    OF    BRAIN    LESIONS, 


1021 


exonerated  hy  the  jury  at  the  iDniiest.     Macklin  was  found  j^tiihy  nf 
liilftughter.     Hoffbaiipr  (**  Ueber  dip  Korifv[Tk'tzun<rPiu"  184!,  p.  49) 
itioiis  arujther  tohafeivprpo  case.     Dr,   Taylor   (p,  6I1H  )  gives   many 
others.      The  orbit  and  tuighborhvod  of  thti  ti/e  are   iherrlorL"  dtin^eroiis 


ih  the  h 


*f  111 


d  or  the 


ci*ion,  ♦in  acf'ormi  oi  yjt»  natural  o})tii»»Dgf 
thtrniesEi  of  the  bones.  The  ncifjhbnrhnod  of  the  ears  \s  danyferou-?  fttr  a 
similar  reason;  and  ea^e.s  of  suthien  death  frum  blows  ill  tins  situutirm 
mi^ht  be  quoted  in  considernble  numbers. 

HVun^.'*  of  fhe  eye  and  mr  are  not  only  (hiiig'erAus  from  the  proxitnity  of 
the  brain,  and  tlie  n>*k  of  inenini:itii*,  cerebral  nliseesj*,  etr.,  but  ibey  are 
linble  to  he  followed  by  hi.<»  id*  sight  or  la->*s  of  hearinp*  Loss  of  tii<rht  ID 
one  eye  often  fiHecU  the  eye  of  the  <vtber  sifle,  syinpathetieally,  uide-tH  the 
whole  eyeball  lie  renioved.  Womtdtt  of  the  tiose  mny  cuvii^e  injury  to  the 
brain,  and  are  considered  ej»periully  liable  to  erysipelas  ami  teturjus; 
wounds  of  the  faee  may  produee  great  tleformity  ;  and  injurie.-^  to  the 
atUnim  of  High  more  in  the  uiiper  jaw-bone  may  implicate  the  brain. 

As*  regards  the  special  sipuptom^  due  in  hijnries  of  pdrticnhr  parti*  nf  the 
braiu^  we  nm?*t  refer  you  to  tlw  wt.wkfi  on  injuries  to  the  head  previouf^ly 
mentioned,  and  to  numerous  papers  by  Dix.  Brown-8e(junrd,  0;^le,  Broad- 
bent.  Hui^hlin^s  JackiJon,  and  others  in  ihe  medical  jtiunial:*  of  the  last 
fifteen  yran*;  to  the  works  of  Claude  Bernard,  Fi^rrier,  Charcot,  antl  Hit/Jjf ; 
and  to  an  excelleut  sumtnHiry  of  these  by  Dr.  R.  Lo^pine,  entitled,  "  Dj  la 
bx^lij-atiou  dan.s  les  Maladies*  C^rebrales,"  Pari}*,  1875.  Recent  leeturea 
by  Dr.  Brown  S^quard  at  the  Lond*ui  and  Dublin  C^dleges  of  PI»y*iriaDfl 
(set*  the  medieal  journals  for  1876)  render  it  necessary  for  us  to  speak  uiih 
extreme  caution  on  these  pointH,  Almo?it  ail  that  we  can  safely  say  is  that 
in  many  easels  the  injury  to  ihe  brain  is  on  the  opposite  Biile  to  the 
paralysis;  that  ittjury  to  the  corpus  striiitttm,  optic  thalamus,  and  itdjacent 
parts.  19  n!»ually  followed  by  hemiplegia;  that  h><s  of  speecli  isnno^t  com- 
mon in  lesions  of  llie  thiril  tVontal  convolution  and  thereabouts  ("  Broca'» 
Ri'jfion,"  Kir  p.  7^3) ;  and  that  Jbe  purt^  naftied,  and  the  medulla  oblongata^ 
p>n8  varolii,  and  third  and  fourth  venlncles,  are  regions  which  eaniiot  be 
injured  without  tlie  greate?!it  rij'k  to  lif",  the  centre.s  of  re,spiration,  deg- 
lutiiion,  and  the  regulators  of  the  circulatitin  being  situate  in  and  about 
the  medulla  oblongata  and  floor  of  the  fourth  ventricle,  this  region  being 
termed  the  vitfit  kuol.  S*)  that,  animals  may  be  killed  in.stantly  by  pithing 
or  stabbing  this  region  between  ihe  lant  vertebra  and  the  skull.  Injuries 
of  thi8  part  h-ad  alnj  to  glycosuria  and  diabetts*.  Vomiting  in  a  frcqueut 
synii^fom  in  all  brain  lesions,  esp^MiHally  those  of  the  eerehellura. 

)yhtn  th*'  sptnfti  rtjrd  w  cut  ficn>^«  or  (dherwljte  dmntfffed^  we  get  the  fol- 
lowing Myn>)»ioni!*,  one-half  tjiily  of  the  cord  (in  a  horizontal  direction) 
buing  iiuppohed  to  be  cut  acr<iii8  or  injured  : 


Oiiih* 


th«  Injurf. 


Utm  of  motor  poirer  (piirtltl  nr  comptrM}. 
VfiU'imMhmAm,  or  iricreai^  of  Ri'iiutloo. 
T«fii(i#raiur«  nlM^l. 


Ott  lit*  O|»|ioiiite  ftltl*. 


1yj«i  uf  wiitatiDti   (fiartiiil  or  coinplk-te). 
VdtuMtAr^  mnHoti  nrarlj'  tiormaL 
Tviii|KnUure  dliiilntabed. 


It  Jb  ttnderptood  that  Ihe  peelion  ih  below  the  decuwation  of  the  motor 

Hbfein  at  the  anterior  pyninii<ls,     AH   part.'ri  /Wore  the  Hection  are  aflT^^cted. 


ruipo-m   IS  a  common  s^vmnfof*^  in  injuries  <d' the  cord.     Injury  in  the 


neck  and  chei't  cau-ic?*  difficutty  in  hreathing,     Pain  and  reflex  movements 
may  p♦^^^i^t,     And  the  sphincters  are  u^uaily  paralyzed  at  the  game  time. 


1022 


LESIONS  OF  SPINAL  CORD. 


The  aiitlmrs  have  known  the  spinal  cord  completely  cut  through 
with  a  knife,  whtoli  parsed  oblitiuoly  from  a  dkstance  of  more  i\u 
iufht^s  from  the  Hpinal  rolumn  iaee  "  L'liiHoti  Hospital  RenortM,"  ^ 
piiirtvs  ,'i24-I^'">r>,  and  ibid.,  vol.  i,  page  374 ;  *'  London  Medical  Rt 
Jttmiarv,  1877). 

The  fipinal  cord  may  be  oomprejtsed  hy  dislocation  of  the  v«*rtebra 
or  without  fracture.  The  ligaments,  however,  are  usually  broken  if 
cnses.  Till!*  accident  may  happen  (I)  in  railway  collisions  (Bn 
Sonthemtern  Jtntlivai/  Co,,  Exchequer  Court,  February,  1859;  Wtl 
V.  Loiuion  <t  Brighton  Co.^  Guiltilord  Summer  Assizes,  1862). 
vi'ilent  straggle-s  by  the  forcible  bcndioi^  buck  of  the  head*  et 
Kiiij^*!»  case,  uf  GhissgDW,  reported  hy  Dr.  Tayhir,  p,  622).  <3)  By  I 
of  heavy  bodies  from  above  uccidetilally.  The  authors  knew  a  cm 
miller  from  a  sack  of  flrmr  falling  on  his  head.  {Sc^.  also  Ta.yIor,  i 
p.  GS-'l)  (4)  By  ignorant  bouesetters,  etc.,  forcibly  twi.sting  the  iii 
in  the  case  of  torticollis  reported  in  the  '*  Ga7*ette  M^dic»le,"  Novi 
IK42.  {Sf-e  }»].«o  " HenkeV Zeii**chrift dcrS.  A.,**  1840,  2.  407,  and  " X 
d'llygiunc,"  1?^71,  1,  138;  2,  110.)  Other  conseqniMiccs  of  injury 
spirml  cord  and  bmin  will  be  found  mentioned  at  pages  811-14. 

Friif'tufes  of  tlic  ntktiU  may  be  i<hnpfe  (L  c,  without  cominunir^ti 
any  wound  \,  mmpound  lor  commuiiicating  with  a  wound  ),  Cffmminnt 
broken    into  fragments \  deptrjfAed,  etc.  etc.     If  produce*!    by  a 
cut  descending  perpendicularly,  musket*sht>tg,  blowi^  with  poker*, 
weiifums,  [mrticnlarly  the  .small  end  of  a  hammer,  or  pickaxe,  th 
tnhfe  nmy  be  injured  far  more  than  the  outer,  a?*  remarked  at  pair< 
Wi;jit  i.s  known  as  "  P<ttl's  puffy  tumor"  (^ctr  difigram  and    '        '    t| 
"  Miller*M  Practice  of  Surgery,"  p,  34)  is  a  swelling  of  the  *•■  i<| 

of  su(j|mrati(jn  between  the  ^kull  and  the  dura  mater     But  the  null 
been  occa^ioiuilly  misapplied   to   the   immediate  eff^fct   e>f  a   blow  < 
»calp,  without  fracture,  where   there  ix  sudden,  somewhat    circom 
fewclliiig,  and  thjn'cmoti  in  (he  ceulrc,  which  an  incautious  observer 
take  for  a  deprejwi<m  in  the  bone. 

Ihriiia  {(irfuHguA)  cerebri  is  the  proirosiim  of  a  granulating  po 
briiiii  through  a  fractured  ?ikull,  which  may  hapjien  during  the  ci* 
such  a  ease  as  that  mentioned  at  page  972. 

Tor  the  treatment  of  iheAe  injuring  of  Uui  head  we  must  refer  yott 
works  nlriiidy  rpmted.     Opinions  difler  as  tt>  the  propriety  of  trt^ 
or  trepanning,  in  certain  cases  of  fraetureil  skull.    The  majority  of  a 
snrgt'MiKH   hesitate  to   dit   this  in   the   case   of   very  young  rhildrc 
fractured  ^knlL     It  is,  however,  doubtful  if  the  risk}*  are  much  id 
by  the  operaliou  itself  when  the  fracture  is  compound. 

As  regarcis  kmeratiitn  af  the  scalp,  i^ud  contujted  and  inciurd  iCound» 
same,  without   fracture,  there  is  no  don!>t  that  the  risk^  are   greatcfl 
tho^c  of  woiiuds  of  the  skin  in  many  other  part?.     There  i^  not  «>tily' 
riwk  of  er^Mpehu,  but  there  is  always  more  or  le«g  danger  of  injury 
Urtdn  i^upervening,  if,  indeed,  it  do   not  accomixioy  the  original 
Yt  t  hundreds  of  scalp-wounds  are  treated  at  our  large  hoapitals  ever 
H'hi<*h  never  give  rise  tn  very  serious  sympUmis. 

BiMdcs  injury  to  the  *pinal  cord  in  the  neck,  which  wc  have  jui 
considering,  there  is  risk  to  the  farytu;  or  organ  of  the  voice,  and 
phrnnic,  iw/(w,  jfymprtlkdic^  and  jifth  tierves  by  forcible  compre*!eioD 
uerk.     Pressure  on  Ihe  c^irotids  (such  as  is  produced  bv  the  well- 
polic*>man'.sgrip,  by  in.'ierting  the  ti^t  inside  the  collar  an<^  preasing  i 
the  throat  with  the  knuckle-*)  may  proflgce  tem|x»rary  insensibility 
prolonged,  ileath.     The  explanation  is  pirtly  the  interrupt^*]  bhMMl 
to  the  cranmm,  aud  i^&t\\^,\\q  AkimV^V, l^«  ^jressure  od  the  vagud  and 


SUICIDAL   WOCNDS    OF    THROAT. 


1028 


nervw  shown  in  Fig.  114.  The  inner  coat  of  the  artery  may  be  injured 
by  forcible  kHuekluttj. 

The  most  Sf  lious  injuries  to  the  neck  and  fhroal  are  prndnced  in  what 
are  <-alk'(l  ctttihroat  casv*;,  Bolh  puicides  anil  murderer-^  iiitliet  the  nnxJt 
frigblful  injuries  an  ihh  part  oi'  the  body.  Tht-  wt-ajwus  cuininonly  em- 
ph»yed  are  f'harp  table  and  larvtu^-knive}*,  rawtr!!,  penkinvet*,  and  **  bowie" 
knivc'i:.  A  woman  was  admirii^d  to  the  Lotithm  Huspital  in  1861,  who 
had  eiit  her  thnial  with  u  labll^knife  t^a  sevfrely  a.-^  lo  euL  tbt-  wiiidfiipe  en* 
lirely  through,  and  wonnd  the  pharynx  and  re.s(>pha«jn.s.  She  i-nt  ihroujjh 
the  iiiUj*rles  covering  ilie  nptne,  and  iiit  deeply  into  the  iritiTVLTlc-bral  s»ub- 
i'tanre  of  three  or  tour  o!*  tlie  lower  cervical  vertcbae.  Thtire  wan  fright- 
ful hieniorrhape,  bul.  the  knife  being  a  little  hlnjil,  had  pushed  the  jngu- 
lara  or  earotld;*  hack^ir  to  one  i^ide,  .«o  that  otdy  one  earoiid  wus  wounded, 
and  that  i*lightly.*  The  authors  know  of  another  suicidal  case,  in  which 
a  lunatic  nearly  .nevered  hh  hf^nd  from  the  body. 

In  such  KuicUhd  uoun(h  of  the  (hrout^  thr  deepeM  part  la  u»uaUy  th**  begin- 
ning of  tilt  waiind,  liiid  consequently  uo  the  left  Aide  in  right-lianded  peo- 
ple, and  the  wound  fiiii>he!^  oH"  by  a  lail-etnl,  involving  little  tuore  thuii 
the  «kiD.  Very  often  the  la.'^t  part  of  the  waund^  or  tfiat  to  the  right, 
nrestfutji  several  gai»hes  or  jagn.  Sir  Everard  Hutne  thought  that  regubirity 
in  u  wound,  L  e.,  its  being  clean  cut  and  even,  pointed  to  suicide.  The 
authorj*,  from  their  own  experience,  cannot  agree  with  this  view.  Dr. 
Taylor  remark??  that  the  \vonnd  in  the  throat  of  Lord  William  Russell, 
who  was  murdered  by  Conrvoisier,  in  1H40»  "possessed  all  that  regularity 
which  haj!«  been  ,^o  itnproperiy  regarded  at*  cbaructeristic  <»f  suicide"  (/oc. 
eiV.,  p.  485,  voK  ii  t.  How,  then^  hhall  we  judge  whether  a  wound  in  the 
throat  or  neck  be  homicidnl  or  not?  The  ansrwer  f^eems  to  us  to  be,  not 
from  the  mere  wound  il^elf  i except  wlipre  a  right-handed  pennon  hai*  in- 
flicted a  Icfldjanded  wound,  or  vice  vcrifa),  but  from  the  prej^ence  or  ab- 
aeaee  of  other  irijurie.*, — jj^r  example,  fractured  ribf*^  or  cuts  oji  the  hands* 
and  wound*  in  other  parts;  fnmi  evidences  of  a  Rtrnggle  having  gone  ou, 
such  HA  torn  clothes,  diJ^ordered  furniture,  blood-spot?*,  or  marks  on  the 
gfotind  indicating  a  body  having  been  dragged  ft»r  pome  distance,  bain* 
being  torn  Iroiti.  ibe  head  of  tlie  injured  person,  or  front  the  bead,  beard, 
or  whiskers  of  the  a^stiilant,  marks  of  coutusiuuii  in  either  j>ersou,  and 
other  similar  eircnmKtances. 

Kxeept  from  broken  ^lais,  wiHUids  of  the  throat  are  not  very  often  purely 
aeeidenial.  Btit  if  a  prrMin  has  an  o{)eti  knife  iu  the  hand  and  another 
Muddenly  dopes  with  hitn,  j^nch  a  wound  might  occur.  In  the  case  of  the 
Karl  of  K.-*iex  iMrr  illu>.lrative  cases),  the  fact  of  the  Wound  IU  the  throat 
beiug  smooth  ainl  ckan  whilst  the  blade  of  the  razor  lying  alongside  wan 
very  notched  and  irregular,  gave  ri^^e  to  the  suspicion  of  murder. 

lint  a  ddfjnnittfd  mnieidf  unty  hiJiiH  tnurf  iuJurU'n  than  ont\  Pr,  Taylor 
(p.  501)  meulious  !i  i'ttse  which  liiipj»ened  near  his  house  in  April,  1872,  in 
which  a  man  stabbed  himself  will)  a  rort  of  dagger,  and  then  threw  hini- 
jwdf  Irom  a  window  forty  feet  fioni  the  ground.  The  weujjoti  was  still 
sticking  in  the  Wi>und,  which,  iu  tins  case,  was  in  the  cbesi.  The  author* 
kiniw  a  ca.se  in  which  a  lunatic  lii^t  cut  his  throat,  ami,  failing  thua 
t4»  kill  bimaelf,  shot  a  pistol  through  hiis  mouth,  the  bullet  entering  \m 
brain. 

Dr.  Guv  mentions  a  eaAe  in  which  an  officer  nearly  severed  his  head 
fnim  his  b«Mjy  with  a  razor,  but  the  razor  uni»  found  tightly  groKptd  in  his 
hand,  just  a*  iti  the  case  of  (lajUain  Wright,  who  was  touud  dead   iu   the 


1021 


WOUNDS    OF    THE    UEART. 


Temple,  vvliere  he  had  been  imprisoned  with  Sir  SiclmrT  Srail) 
Wright's  case  tJiere  wa$  a  suspicion  of  murder.  But  ur,  Gu] 
another  undoubted  case  of  suicide,  in  which  a  mudoi^ri,  afler  in 
a  j'evfre  wiuiud  on  liis  ihroiit,  had  bath  titue  and  streiiglh  to 
wilh  a  luaid-ijervaut  bel'ore  he  fell  dowu  dead.  (Guv.  ioc, 
306-7.) 


II. — Ltjurici  of  the  Chf.d^  involving  the  Henri  and  Lunq* 
ingSf  the  Large  BloodvemteU^  efr^ 


ntl    thftr 


These  wounds  \vill  be  better  undf*rst(»od  by  a  reference  lo  Figs, 
lOO,  pp.  672-3.     The  first  figure  i<[iows  the  heart,  i^tid  lutigH,  ani 
Vea»el!-,  partly  dive'^ted  of  (he  pfeufie  And  pericardium   and  taken 
the  ebest.     The  seeonfi  figure  is  a  transverse  section  of  the   ches^l 
level  of  the  root  of  the  \\.n\^^.     Fig.  101  fallows?  the  valves  of  lb« 
Under  the  name  of  rhest  or  thorax,  we  iiu-indeall  the  piirls  from  ill 
to  the  level  of  the  tivtphrugm^  or  muj'eulo-menibrannus  partition  l 
the  ehe;<t  and    the  belly.     The  diaphrairm   is  the  chief  brtnihing 
The  cuvily  of  the  ehe>«t  or  thorax  is  iuidmed  iti  a  lon^  cose  fonne^l 
don^al  vertebras  and  the  ribs  antl  Htenviim.     But  the  intercof^tal  sp( 
intervali*  between  the  ril)s  aUow  of  wounds  from  knives»  du^rgers,  e| 
bullelH:,  and  some  other  weapons  tnay  either  wound  in  the  surae  inti 
or  (nicture  or  pi-uetrate   the  botjy  coverings.     In  the  che*st  we  h 
followirrji^  important  structures:  (1)  The  /<mr^  and  the   hag  it  w 
the  pericardium;  (2)  i\\q  aorta  an<i  puimonnrij  nrlertf  aw]  their  bn 
and    the  large  veins   (.superior  and   inferior  vena   cava,  pulm<iQ 
azytrop  veins,  innominate  veins*,  etc.);  (3)  the  tranhen  and  hronrhi : 
amphugm  or  gullet ;  (5)  the  lang«,  with  their  pleiirto  or  coveriO; 
the  thmicio  dud:  (7)  the  pneumngfutric  and phrrnic  Hn*i'«y»,  the 
ami  poMerior  pulmonary  pk-xu^eji,  and  the  itplanchnir  and  cardiac 
eU*.,  etc. 

Any  of  tha«e  structures  may  be  wounded  by  all  sort*  of  ins^ln 
We  will  firsit  mention  the  general  caunef!  of  death  in  rhe*t  woumU, 
are  <  'i )  hirmmrhtjge  in  wound.-  of  the  large  ves-^d^,  of  the  heart,  an< 
and  even   from   the  iiit^'rcof*tnl  arteries*;  {(i)  shock.     Thin  is  due  e 
direct  injury  to  the  nerves,  or  to  the  reflex  action  of  injurif?^  to  im 
Mructures;  ijr)  inf^jmvmtion.    PJeurijiy,  pnenmonra,  bronchitif*.  pcric 
etc.,  may  all  result  from  che^t  wounds.     Emjnjfmn  is  the  name  g 
collections  of  pjw  in   the  pleural  cavities;  (ft)  ex  ha  ua!  ion  niaj  g^p* 
on  long-contiiined  suppuration,  or  protracted   pain;  {e)  gtfjrvtitinm 
possibly  result  from  injuries  to  the  of?*ophagus  or  thoracic  duct>  otf 
occasionally  from  the  growth  of  tumors,  etc. 

We  shall  notice  first: 

A.  Wound»  of  the  heart.  For  obvious  i*ea3ons,  these  are  most  ci 
from  woundB  on  the  left  Bide.  On  the  right,  an<l  in  the  middiv  li 
heart  is  pretty  well  covered  by  lung  and  by  the  sternum. 

As  a  ruk%  a  u^und  of  the  heart  itt  Jalal^  aud  generally  proves  so  I 
from  the  copious  hyemorrhuge.     But  Bell  (''Principle*  of  Surgery,' 

f).  4<>8;  Guy,  loc.  eit^  p.  308)  gives  the  ciu^e  of  a  soldier,  wiKui'd 
ong  and  slender  swoni  in  the  apex  of  the  heart,  who  liv<?d  twelrst 
eacli   beat  of  the  heart  bad  caused  a  siMght  bleeding,  till    the  quaj 
bliMul  accumulated  filled  the  chest,  an<l  stopped  his   heart  and  n»|» 
In  a  wound  of  the  coronary  artery,  two  hourd  elapsed  Iwforc  death 


WOUNDS    OF    THE    LUNG8. 


1025 


Btd  complete  recm^ery  may  take  pJfwe;  or  in  other  wor<1i»,  sometimes, 
I  though  very  rarely,  ivouijtb  of  thf  \wmt  tuny  not  prove  fntiil.  In  such 
(rare  ca.ses*,  the  wuuufl  is  either  iiitli(te<!  by  a  small  narrow  iusiniment»  and 
lihe  wourni  chKs<»^ ;  or  the  missile  or  weapou  doe?*  not  ojien  the  ravitlK^  of 
'the  heart.     In  Fournier  anrl  Maiisou's  rase,  a  hullt't  wn^  f'ouori   imtM'dded 

i'  jn  the  heart  six  years  after  tlie  man  wiis  ?hot.  He  die<1  from  another  caUf«e. 
lt>  twenty-nine  casjes  i)\'  woimd?;  of  ihf^  envities  of  the  heart  eolleetcd  by 
6«nson  and  Ollivier,  only  two  were  fatal  ivithin  forty-einht  hours,  the  rest 

in  periods  varying  from  four  to  twpnty-eight  day?.     uSfc  I>t*vtT>fie*s  "M6d. 

L^ale,"  vol.  ii,  p.  253.     A  numhfr  of  other  reference.^  ar**  driven  hy  Dr. 
S  Taylor,  vol.  ii,  pp.  637-9.     ^See  "  M<"<l.  Giizette,"  vol  ii,  p.  721  ;  ibid,  voL 

xii'i,  p.  r.f»2;  vol.  xvii,  p.  82;  and  "  Aniiales  d'Hypieue,"  1846,  1,212.) 
The  htnrt  inny  be  rnpfured  without  any  ejeternal  n^ouitd,      (1  )  From 

nteDtttl  einolion,  fright,  etc.,  when  h»  walls  are  very  thin  and   dist^a^ed. 

In    this  caN\  it   is  u.^nally  the  ieff  side  of  the  heart,  and    |»nrtiriTlarly  the 
I  lert  ventricle  (Dr.  Hope  I.     {See  Dr  QnainV  caj^e  f"Med.  fJ>*zt^tte,"  voK 

xsxviii,  pp.  774  and  8o7),  one  by  Mr  Marshall  f**L!incet/'  Ft'bruary  1(5, 

1857),  and  others  in  the  '*Tran^nctiori8  of  the  Pathological  Sucioly,"  and 
i  in  the  medical  journalsO     <2)  From  accident,  wh^^o  the  riffht  ;«ide  of  the 

heart,  near  the   ha.-*e,  ^renerally  gives  way    (**Med.Chir.    Revit'W,*'   vol. 
I  xxxi,  p.  252).     Dr.  Gardiner  mentions  &(uch  a  vn^e,  where  a  cartwheel 

piiMe^l  over  a  child,  and  thun  caused  death.     Dr.  Taylor  gives  another. 

The  rib«  were  not  bnikeo.     The  anthors  have  seen   two  such  cases.     In 

one  there  was  not  even  any  outward  bruijse-niark. 
'       Dr.  Taylor  rfnmrks  that  it  18  potficient  for   the  injury  to  the  heart  to 
I  involve  one  of  the  coronary  arteries;  it  need  not  ojx^n  the  heart'i*  cavities* 
B.    H'oiimh  of  the  kirtjt  vesseis  (aortii,  etc.)  are  geuerulty  from  bullcta, 

or  from  stabs. 
■I      Dr.  lleil,  of  Bamlierg,  reports  a  case  of  recovery  from  wounds  of  the 
IMQendui^  aorta.     (Hcnke's  *'  ZeitschrifV/'  1837,  bd.  2,  p.  459.)     The  caiue 
n^  however,  rather  doubtful ;  and  >uch  woutvd*  are  generally  considered 
f  mortni,  nod  rightly  J-f>. 

NL*.  The  lumjs  mtit^  be  woun^tied  ty  ttfubi*  (with  knife,  dapper,  ?»word, 
yonet.  or  any  f*liarp  in^trun«ent ),  «r  b(f  a  buUei  Cm  which  ctiMc  boih  lungs 
\y  lie  invcdved  ,  ur  by  frartured  emln  iff  ribit  penetrntlnt/  them.  The  duo- 
gere  are — il)  from  hienmrrha^re ;  i2i  Ironj  ?hoek ;  (3)  from  emphysema 
I  (see  p.  Oo7  K  *"d  (4)  frt>m  inflanimiilion  ([jteiirisy,  pneumonia,  broncho- 
I  po4*iimonia,  etc.),  which  nmy  terminute  in  ganiprene,  or  empyerntt,  or  both 
combined,  a^i  pyopneumothorax^  or  in  prolonpetl  suppuration,  with  hectic 
{  and  phthisical  »<ymploms.  Ah  in  the  raf*e  of  other  vi.«ccra,  the  lunps  may 
J  be  rufitured  from  external  violence,  without  any  fracture  of  the  riby,  and 
without  any  other  injury;  and  wometimeN  there  muy  be  no  marks  at  all 
on  the  cxterie>r  of  the  body.  Dr.  Taylor  reports  the  ca^^e  of  a  younp  man, 
who  fell  from  Ihh  horye  on  bin  left  arm;  for  five  hours  he  complaine<l  of 
DO  pain;  after  twelve  hours  bloi^d  came  from  his  mouth,  and  in  a  few 
davH  he  died.  After  death  there  were  no  external  i^igns  of  injury,  but  the 
ri^fht  lung  waH  ruptured  j>oKteri(trly  ihron^hnut  itn  length,  nnd  much  bt(»od 
had  been  effbKcd.  l**  Lancet/'  November,  1842.)  Mr.  Jardino  refiorlj*  a 
»imilarcaj«e  in  the  "  M»Mlieal  TimcH  an<l  Gazette,"  Deceml>er  31,  1853.  A 
lad  of  fourteen  yean^of  age  fed  twenty  ffet.and  broke  his  coltarbouc,  but 
not  hiM  ril».  He  died'  in  about  th ret*  hiuir?*.  There  w aw  n<>  external  mark 
of  injury.  The  ripht  luu]^  was  founil  ruptured  to  the  extent  of  four  inche« 
of  its  depth.  (Sre  ibe  iMime  journal  for  ►lanuarir  19,  18<il ;  anrl  July  24, 
1851,  p.  9H.  I  In  .auch  vif^*t*  there  U  generally  bfeediup  from  the  mnuth  ; 
the  blood  is  frothy  ii.  e,  minpleil  with  airj,  very  bright  or  (htrid  iu  nilor; 
«od  when  there  \n  a  wound  there  is  generally  cough,  as  w«U  lu  hiBmo^tYftU* 


1026 


WOrSDS   OF   ISTSmCOSTAL 


Air  aUo  escapes  ftnm  th'»,  mixed  vith  frotb  j  I 
log  be  l^rg^  eorm^  Bot  in  maoj  aua,  ai 
danger,  the  blood  eacapn  into  the  picaral  a 
preapiD^  the  long.*  Tbe  pbTskal  fign»  of  thb 
thf0e  of  emprema,  or  pleoritic  effiMOD.  We  i 
pereu^on,  which  will  change  iu  lerel  with  pi 
qaite  full,  absence  of  breath  and  Totce-soaodi^, 
spinitiou,  and  the  heart  u  poshed  OTer  toward;* 
fo«  that  when  this  occari  on  the  left  side,  the 
Ken  and  felt  to  beat  in  the  right  axilla  in  si 
can  onlr  lie  oomfortablT  on  the  side  of  the  r 
rhag^  mar  occur  in  some  of  these  cases,  parti 
Hemui  of  the  lung  is  sometimes  met  with ;  in 
lung  ma  J  protrude  through  the  wound.  Mr. 
turning  it,  as  he  thought  it  acted  as  a  good  pli 
the  pleura.  It  seems,  however,  more  natural 
external  opening,  unless  the  lung  itself  b  mi 
(fke  Guthrie's  **  Commentaries  on  Militarr  Sui 
Dr.  Eraser's  work  on  "  Penetrating  Wound*  o 
is  scarcely  dangerous,  if  prnperlr  treated ;  by 
.variety,  mentioned  at  p.  957.  The  danger  o 
mously  increased  by  the  presence  of  foreign  boi 
dress,  of  wadding,  splinters  of  bone,  etc  Bits 
portion*  of  shell,  have  been  met  with  in  woui 
It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  wounds  of  the  ii 
the  haemorrhage  contndled  by  passing  a  wire 
by  means  of  a  curved  needle. 

Beck  records  the  case  of  Sergeant  Vemey, 
at  the  battle  of  Niagara  Falls  received  a  shot  i 
and  a  half  to  the  right  of  the  sternum,  which  < 
same  dihtance  from  the  spine  ;  both  lungs  were 
air  ot'iipffl  from  lK)th  ofK-niDg*.  He  <]\d  not  <\ 
in  a  forfnight  wa.«  reni<.ve<l  to  Xew  York,  and 
rerov<?rv.     (Beck, //xr. c//.,  p.  633.  note.} 

Mr,  Maiden,  a  j«ijrgeon  practicing  in  E-^sex, 
shaft  r-ornpletely  tran.Tfixe^l  the  thorax.     The  n 
anrl   the  s(>^cimen    i.«  in  the  London  Hf)«pital 
brnly  pnr«hed    the  vi.'»c"era  on   one  side.     In  pri; 
the  che^t  n»ay  h>e  .severely  contused.     Rupture 
and  inflammation  or  iiijnrie«  of  the  heart,  may 

In  general,  irhnufh  of  (he  lung^  muM  he  coimd 
although  not  uniformly  fntnl.  In  a  few  cases  b 
lie  harmlcr^Iy,  and,  as  it  were,  dormant,  in  ei 
lun^f,  for  many  years. 

I).  Wounds  of  the  diaphragm  must  be  held  U 
Not  only  is  the  diaphragm  a  principal  muscle 
fore  conjitantly  in  motion,  but  in  this  injury  be 
may  be  involved.     Either  pleura?  or  pericardia 


*  Thf*  jiN'urae,  p<Tic«r<liiim,  p'Titonfum.  and  othp 
fiflCj*,  whi<h  invc-t  th«  orKHrn  to  which  th<*y  belonjj 
liko  H  (loijlilf  niijhUuf)  rloo-  lh«*  head  The  ^[>mc-o  b«^i 
lavfr,  or,  in  thf  <-k««»  of  th*'  ploiirae,  l)<?tWP('n  the  lunu 
b*'  lh<'  «<'Hl  of  <-ff'u-i«»n.«,  ha>rnor^hH•Jp^,  etc. 

t  Kxc<-fit  pprhnp«  clfMC  to  the  spine,  or  Rt  the  iif 
In  thir,  fiiuation  there  may  be  altered  voice-sound 
aejopftunic,  in  fact. 


WODNDB    OF    TIIK    ABDOMEN* 


1027 


I 


)ufig9,  or  the  peritc.meum  below,  with  the  liver,  stomach,  spleen,  or  intes- 
tine?»  or  even  kidneys,  may  be  involved.  Then  there  is  a  risk  to  the  large 
bloorl  vessels  ;  and,  on  reojv^ery,  there  ia  a  ri!?k  of  what  is  called  diaphragm- 
atif!  hrruia, 

Such  hemiae  may  contain  any  of  the  abdominal  viscera,  which  protrude 
into  the  chej*t.  They  are  mo&t  comnnm  on  the  left  side.  Dr.  Gordon 
Smith  (''Forensic  Mf'diciue,"  p.  270>  mention;*  a  case  in  which  a  man 
seemed  to  recover  from  a  wound  of  the  diaphragm  from  a  ftharp-pointod 
weapon  ;  but  three  months  after  his  etomach  got  strangulated  in  tht}*  new 
oj)eninp,  and  he  died  fnmi  ibis  hernia  (which  receiver  tlu"  name  of  pkrt^tiic 
from  8orae  authors).  Dr.  A.  T,  TlionjpM>n  ("  Medical  Gazette,"  vol.  xl, 
p.  584)  relates  a  case  of  dcHth  from  strangulated  diaphragmatic  hernia, 
containing  14  inches  of  colon,  ihe  original  wound  in  the  dta[)bragm  hap- 
pcniiig  a  year  before  from  a  fall,  breaking  two  rib.s.  Dr.  T.iylor  (lor.  eif, 
p.  64*^)  gives  a  ca^e  of  a  mau  staijhed  in  a  riunrrel,  who  dird  from  this 
kin<)  of  hernia  fifteen  monihs  afterward-*.  He  refers  also  to  Dr.  Reitrs 
"  Physiological  Researchcif/'  p.  -5lJl.  Devergie  (op.  ciL,  vol.  ii,  p.  250,  etc.) 
draw8  attention  to  rw/^fjir*.*  of  the  diafihragm  from  vitilent  blows  on  the 
epigaHtrium.  etc,  such  aj*  kicks.  They  generally  occur  during  ini*pimtion, 
thi«i  n)u>icle  being  then  on  the  stretch.  He  «ays  it  i^  generally  the  central 
tendintius  portion  which  h  aHeded,  or  where  it  jitins  the  left  miiscuhir  p>r-« 
tion  above  the  crura.  The  diaphragm,  tike  the  m  uwie^,  ii*  sobject  lo  fatty  and 
brown  degeneration^  a*  well  an  to  calcification,  and  frthor  disiease^  of  niu«5cle. 
Taylor  (i^ff  Hcnke'a  *•  Zeit.^chritY"  f<.r  18.%.  and  Taylor'.*  work.  p.  (>44) 
cauiioo}-!  us  that  we  should  pnii  attent Ion  to  the  obtitptittf  of  iht;  rihs  in  dp^rrih- 
ing  tfouttdit  of  th^  chest.  This  causes  a  dilFerence  of  level  lietwtK^n  the  an- 
lerior  and  posterior  portions  of  the  ribs*.  Thus  a  st might  line  touching 
llie  upper  m^rt^  of  the  .sixth  rib  bebtud,  would  be  (»ii  a  level  with  the  up|>er 
edge  of  the  thinl  rib  in  front.  Tliu?«,  in  a  given  case,  a  pellet  <d'snmli  f*hot 
travcrpied  the  che.*'!  from  before  backward*,  entering  between  the  first  and 
f€cond  rib.s  in  front,  anil  traversing  the  lung,  caused  death  by  wnuudtng 
the  intercostal  artery  (tf  the  t^ixth  rib.  Due  medical  wilne^**  de,Hrribe<rthi3 
wound  as  j»/j*  iurheA  iotier  posteriorly  than  in  front.  In  fact,  when  nlhtw- 
ance  was  made  for  the  oblir|uity  of  the  ribs,  it  was  only  H  inches  lower, 

Ins  the  corres»[)iondiug  npot  behind  w^iuld  lunch  the  upper  borricrof  the  fifth 
rib.  Dr.  Taylor  says  that  Cy/.  FnuTdt,  killed  in  a  duel,  had  a  bnllet enter 
the  right  side  of  the  che:*t.  fracturing  his  seventh  rib,  and  after  traversing 
th©  back  of  the  long,  it  hxlgeil  lu  the  ninth  dorsal  vertebra,  the<e  parts 
being  on  the  Mime  level.  Thus  a  wound  below  the  jiternum,  or  breast- 
bone,  will  involve  the  abdomen  in  front,  the  diaphragm  in  the  middle,  and 
llMicbttt  behiDd. 


I 


III. —  Woundu  of  (he  Ahdmnen,  involving  the  Stomachy  Liver,  Spleen,  Kid- 
finjH^  Large  and  Swa/i  httedlned^  Pmicrea*^  dc,  and  WQiind*  of  ffie 
Genital  Organ*  and  Bindder, 

Tn  the§e,  b<^ides  the  danger  from  shock  and  haemorrhage,  we  get  the 
danger  of  exlruvasatit>n  of  blrMml  and  urine,  or  the  encafK*  of  thecotitenta 
of  the  stomach,  bowelh,  and  iM>rha|>M  uteruj*  into  the  prritttnral  cavity.  The 
figure  at  p.  700  (Fig.  10(m,  givcf*  a  giMid  idea  of  ibc  rcfiexiont*  of  the  peri- 
toneum, of  the  |xi"«itinn  of  the  abduminal  organs,  aud  of  the  uteru*  in  the 
female.  The  male  prlvtc  urtpim,  and  eMernal  organs  of  generation,  are 
well  »hown  in  the  figure  Hubjoiued  {Fig.  115). 

lieti' — ( 1 )  is  the  )ttfmphyitin  pubis ;  (2)  the  pmmotitory  of  the  aaentm ;  (3) 
the  ^Wc/#T,  diwtendi'd,  or  j'ull  of  urine  ;  {4  Mt*  summit,  or  npe;r  ;  (5)  i<»  the 
trigmie  of  the  bladder,  into  whicb  (<i)  the  right  ureter  is  emptying  ilaelf ; 


1028 


RISKS    OP    PERITONITIS. 


(7)  is  the  neek  of  the  hladder;  (8)  the  viwvni/  tnyer  of  pehie  ftm 
ih^  proMatf  glnud ;  (12)  (  owper' *  tjUmd  ;  iXZ)  hnlbom  \iorx\inM4  i 
Urcihra  :  fl5)  the  cruA  pcnin;  {16 )  ihe  glenoid  ^exure  of  colon  ; 
21,22)  the  rtrtum  ;  (23)  the  ohi/^,  with  its  tiiusde^;  (19)  the 
mmiuniU  of  tlje  right  siiio ;  (20)  vaJi  drferenjo,  cross^iug  the  bhidder 
veJiictiia  i*f>jnhtnh\tf  on  the  inner  sidt  of  the  ureter. 

IneUed  wonud*  tif  llie  ttli(Jomiual  mu.srles  are  not  more  dnttjC^ 
themdt'.lves*  than  those  of  other  parts;  but  they  may  give  rise  to 
euHcd  a  veitlritl  hernia,  by  weakening  the  abdorninal  wall,  parlicu 
the  wmind  is  of  any  i?iiM?.  Thi?*  risk  surgeons  aud  obstetricianji  arc^ 
to  run  in  i)(>eri»ti<m8  (or  the  relief  of  intestinal  obHruction  (rare^ 
ligature  of  the  iltue  artery,  in  ovariotomfj/\n  the  Cesarean  »ecti«in, 
gHslrotoniy  fur  ulertne  fihroidy^  or  for  eslniuteriue  foplation,  ett 
Tiik  cau  be  Jeiv&eutd  by  the  tiae  of  a  suitable  belt,  or  abdooiiual  U 


Fio.  U«. 


The  operatroij?  fi^r  inguinal  and  femoral  hernia  are.  open  to  thei 
jection  ;  only  that  it)  these  the  na tic nt  is  always  told  to  H-eair  m 
least  till  the  parts  are  coaaolioaled,  as  in  the  radical  cure  of 
(Wood's,  Wiitzer*!i^»  Davis's,  or  other  operatt^ris*  meth<wljs)»  Both 
aud  punchired  wounila  may  be  dangerous  from  haemorrhage,  a*  ^ 
epiffimlric  artery  ii^  wouudtKi ;  still  more  so,  if  they  f>euetnite  the 
tial  cavity,  or  any  of  the  viscera.  Very  sdj^fii  wounds  may  prove fi 
in  dti  ri  n  fj  per  I  ton  it  is. 

In  July,  18Gl,a  Mrs.  Cuihrey^ied  from  a  penetrating  wound  d 
a  table-knife  being  thrown   at  her.     The  point  penetrated  abo 
(|uarter^  of  an   indi    within   the  abdomen,  and   the  small    inte^^t 
elightly  perforated.     She  died  of  peritonitis.     On  the  other  baud, 
known  a   lonatk'  cut  a  ga.<h  sieven  or  eight  inrhr^fl  \tti)j,  thrMMi*^ 
nearly  all  tlie  intestines  pmtnidiML     They  were  •' 

carefully  f<t it ehed  up.     On   the  i^econd  day,  the  u 
the  W(>un<l    again,  but   recovered  after  all,  means  being  taken  not 
chi.'^e  the  wdurnl,  but  to  [irevent  his  interference,     lu  mf>st  of  I 
animal.--  the  rtl»domcn  may  be  laid  open  without  much  ri^k*  pmvi 
be  taken  to  exclude  dirt,  or  blood,  or  decompo»iing  matteri,  ami  I 
be  carefully  closed  again,  and  the  access  of  air  hindered.     In  tlitt 
subjeel,  UowiiV^T^  Xb\4  catimot  be  done  without  great  risk.     Ueuce 


RUPTURES   OF    LIVER,   BPLEKN,  ETC. 


1D29 


prefer,  when  possible,  to  operate  on  hernia  without  opening  the  sac,  which 
IS  funned  of  ptrihneum,  and  to  open  the  coion  {a»  in  Amusss^at'.-*  operation  ) 
when?  it  is  not  coveiT^i  by  f>eritoneuiii.  But  in  ovariotomy  and  other 
Opemtiods  just  nameO  above,  this  risk  rou«t  Ije  rnu.  These  operatiijoj*  are, 
however,  nearly  as  fatal  as  arnpQtatiou?^  at  the  hiji  juint.  In  other  wurda, 
about  80  per  cent.  die.  Severe  bimvi*  or  rofit  14^*1  ona  of  the  abdomen  are 
often  fatal  without  any  external  wound  ;  blow;*  in  iho  epigastrium  are  es- 
pecially so.  A  kick  here,  or  a  blow  from  running  again^^t  a  po.-<t  or  pro- 
jecting ^iiaft,  etc.,  had  often  proved  fatal,  and  simietimes  ^nddvoly  and  in- 
etanianeuut<ly  so.  It  is*  supposed  that  the  sohr  plexus  or  rt4*uiilunar 
ganjfliiui  oi  ttie  sympathetic  is  injured  in  these  easels.  But  other  fiortions 
of  the  abdomen  have  proved  equally  dangerous  when  bruised.  Suth  in- 
juries are  eommon  in  prize- fitjhlt*,  and  siand-up  fightji^,  |>ollioU8e  brnwls, 
etc.  {Stv  Taylor,  pp.  045-(),  IIW>r«>rt  on  H«miiei<le,  p.  75,  ele.,  and  the 
Works  of  Travers,  Cooper,  etc,,  "Surgieal  Diitiouary,"  and  Alison  ;  also 
Beck  and  Guy,  ad  rem,)  In  Rejr  v.  Jotten,  Warwick  Sutnioer  Aii.«i»e«, 
1831,  a  case  of  alleged  maushjughter,  the  pri^un  r  was  charged  with  hav- 
ing Btruck  deceai^  Peveral  blows  on  the  breaf*t  and  on  the  pit  of  the  stom- 
ach, by  which  he  instantly  ffll  down  sent^eless  and  expired.  On  dissection, 
no  morbid  af)pearanc€s  were  found.  The  prisiiuier  waj*  convieted.  80  in 
Ht^fiwi  V.  Siyerii,  C.  C.  Court,  AngUFt,  1841,  a  man  received  a  blow  in, 
the  st<imuch  and  fell  dead.  The  jury  thought  he  niu^t  have  hatl  apoplexy, 
^nd  aeipiitled  the  prtsfmer.  (See  niao  Rtf^iua  \\  Luwh,  Norwich  Lent  As- 
iixes,  18o4.)  In  thet^e  and  other  caiies,  the  juries  .»«eemed  to  expect  that 
there  should  he  some  visible  cau^e  of  death.  But  we  know  that  f»eople 
have  expire*!  from  sinjply  hearing  bad  new}»,  aoil  u  blow  ou  any  portion  of 
the  liympathetic  nervous  system  i.s  probably  enough  to  i;au>»e  death  if  sud- 
den and  *icvere,  8uch  blows  may,  however,  and  otlieu  do,  caU'ie  pcrltoniliji. 
In  the>*e  casea,  death  is  lej^s  rapi<l,  retjniriug  some  hours,  and  generally  a 
few  daya  to  be  fatal.  WatMm  records  numerous  cn^es  in  his  treatise  on 
**  Homtcide."  Several  eases  are  quoted  by  Tiiylor  (pp.  64(>-7).  (See 
Jiegimi  v.  J/nHiw,  C.  C.  Court,  1^<:^9;  Re^^  v.  Smil/i,  ilauchesler  Lent  A?- 
ffizet*,  IttTl,  and  numerous  cases  in  the  meiiical  journals  of  the  last  thirty 
years.)  Hometimes  ihh  peritomtim  w  aceompaninl  bff  pieitrUy.  At  the  time 
when  the  fin*t  case  of  the  kind  was  noticed,  the  communicant  ion  0'/  means  of 
iymphatirj!  of  the  difiphnjfjm  bdiveen  the  fJioraeir  and  abdominal  caviliee,  DOW 
generally  admitted  by  anatomists,  wa.s  unknown. 

Though  usually  very  fatal,  wme  crurjt  of  traumatic  prrHonitU  recover. 
Some  years  agtj,  in  France,  a  youJig  woman  fell  from  a  rick  on  to  a  hay- 
knife,  which  penetrated  her  vagina  an<l  forced  its  way  into  the  abdomen. 
^lthi>ugh  she  had  frightful  haemorrhage,  she  quite  recovered. 

Injuries  to  the  nbdontm  may  enusr  rupture  of  the  mlid  vtJieera.  Thus  the 
/itrr,  ittplrcn,  and  lidnnfri  may  be  ruptured  without  any  external  wound  or 
even  signs  of  bruising.  A  case  of  this  kind,  in  whtch  the  right  kidney 
wa»  torn  across,  waa  »een  by  one  of  the  authors  anfl  Dr.  Fauh,  «>f  St.  Mary 
Church,  in  18tt4.  (See  p.  960.)  Mr.  Carter,  now  ol"  <'helm^fo^d,  when 
house  surgeon  to  the  Ltmdou  Hospital,  admitted  a  boy  whi^se  liver  waa 
rupture<l  by  a  wagon-wheel  going  over  his  abdomen.  There  were  uo 
f»arkf4  uf  external  injury.  Sxiu  after  a  man  who  had  been  kicked  in  the 
belly  wan  admitted  iotii  the  game  hospital,  and  hid  ttpleen  waa  ruptured* 


*  Atniut  R  yenr  atfo,  n  Ccw»lip,  In  Cpvlon,  wm  itt)|«ertiiipnt.  nnd  llm  plnnlatkin 
ffupcrititoiulftil  irfMivd  hint  viol^'ntlv — kk-king  bim,  no.  Ut»  dud  «l»mh«t  itiimrdi- 
Utrly,  iV'Mii  ruptnte  of  the  nptr^n,  TId*  i^rirnri  wn«  Ihijcm  Mnd  iiofi,.  H<*  bud  hud 
f«v<>r  M  lillle  whilf  b<'l.ir««.  Tho  itbdomon  wii»  fuH  ot  tduod.  It  Wn^  ntti'mpUMJ  lo 
be  proved,  Tor  lln>  dtlVittM',  ih«t  ll  w«i   nut  uru'tmiinuii   for  thii  «|ik<i«n   to  tu|ituf« 


1. —    ::  t:.,  -:    :.- 


.-.    —     -     ■•  — .    :".-':.—    \--ii:t~    m-    :.   .  t.-'\    -t-    - 
■  ■-:.    ■    ■  ■  —     -.■.-•  i.M  ■ -;>-  .--.If..-..    .  J,  ■..'■, 

-     .    .    ;.-    .*.:-•:■       '  —      >:i  '■■'•.:,'       1 :   "i      -  *-:   i-H:!^'-     ■     ■ 

,    .      -:   .r";.-.       .-'-i:»--~i.   '  ■  :»-i *   "..    ' ".-  "  .l:i:--  .-  :..— :   r   .i   i. 

.       •••  ri :     '    . "   "       ."    ::.t '     tr   :—  — ~i  —        :a.-^   i     ■».    :•- 

.  -        1-..   1.    '■■-:  :  i'-:  '•-^ .  !•»-:   :    v   .u--    .>-    :■•    •:   t  ^..: 

_-    .        n-ii    ■•  'i:  I    ■».•-     :'  '  .  .-•  i  :  :      "'-.-.    i.--:      *■"*   --  — 

-"     -    '.■  <"    'I.'     ".    .- •  -    i    -i  -.    -  '1-    i:.-v-:*    u-  i:  .■  ■: 

"-.  V  .-'.'.'-'•    '.-.    \   . 'rt  :•-''-•*.    .-  7ii  ■• -:.  *"  ■.      li  -  ir.i- 

.    ...    i:t.--.-::    : -1  :       r  •    ■.    i     -v    ..:.—  ■    — ---i.    :■.:.- 

-  .  i  •-:  ,'.■  "..•  -  ■■*  I  •:  \:-r..  _-  Llm-:  ::■••:  .: :  "  Jl~ 
:-.  '  -  ..  z  zz~  :  "  ■'  :-  ■:.•  t  •i.««r  ■  •"*.•/  •-:  .•'•.  ■•  '.  ■■'  ■-  ^ 
-.-:  ■     I-'.    .    '.  \  .ir.     •    ■ .  '.i      :_■     .'.    ■'  '•-:   v  -  :  x~-i  —  ■   --■.■ - 

lir    :•'■:    .:   ---     \  ■  .•     :■-■-_■::.«:•-      I :-  ri.       .i 
-4.:"  ..•-•:    I.:-:    i   ..i"/'  ii    •":   '.-  vi.-  -.!.:■:    :  --..■:  —  ~- 1:    ; . -^ 
/•  :.i  ■  T  -  V  .     :  :a  *—  •  :  -■ •  a:    v  ;  - :-  ^i.     .  1 ;  .-.t  t:  .*■ .--:     - 
i:..--:— •■:    .:.    4--     ^     :— ;-i--  :    >- -    -:.-:    :/  .  :-■- :-i.   -.- 
..    .i--  *.-:  r~^- ■  •    :   i:     --•:-:    *     •;     "■  "  m.     7':'r  •' 


_"■_-'--'*■    » 
"«    .'  >  "v 


WOVN0S    OF   THK    BLADDER,   ETC. 


1031 


tulous  openings  into  either  the  large  or  sniflll  intestine.  Simon  publ inched 
eevt^rul  such  cases  in  the  **  Berliner  Klini^cbe  Wochenzeit."  M»Ast  writers 
on  injury  to  the  stomach  ugree  that  rupture  of  ihe  sioinacb  is  must  Itkely  to 
occur,  H!id  niO(?t  tiiial,  when  the  stomach  is  full.  The  risk  of  [H-riiouitig 
from  dccompoeiiig  lood  in  the  peritonea]  cavity  is,  of  coun*e,  intrcHj*ed  in 
the  cuae  of  a  full  stomach.  Beck,  /or.  «"/.,  p.  6J6,  records  a  great  diversity 
ol  medical  opiuiou  iu  pa^it  times,  as  to  the  fatttlity  of  wound:*  <il  the  ^Uim- 
»ch»  etc,  Motit  moileru  surgeon?  are  agreed  thai,  though  generally  fatal, 
mch  injuries  are  not  nect*#arily  sio — this  being  prtjved  by  numerous 
exNiupies.  (.'Sec  ••  North  American  Medical  atiti  Siirgii^l  Jounml,"  vol. 
it,  p,  199;  Mr.  Breton,  in  "  Transactions  of  the  Medical  and  Physical 
Society  of  C'liJcutta,"  vol.  i,  p.  59;  Sir  Ajstley  Coo|>er*s  Leclure**,  vol.  iii, 
p.  155;  Dr.  Beaity,  in  "  Cvclopatlia  of  Pract.  Med.,"  art,  **  Death  from 
Wouud*,"  Vol.  iv,  p.  556.  Kumerous  references  are  also  given  by  Taylor, 
loc  rit^  pp.  653-6. ) 

"S.B. — The  ftomach,  though  ^metiraes  popularly  used  to  signify  the 
belly  or  alKlomen,  n)t>ans,  to  medical  language,  the  bag  in  which  the  fiMKi 
goes  when  swallowed,  and  where  the  albuminous  or  uitrogentm?  tcK>d  i» 
chiefly  digested.  It  has  a  carfiiac  or  iv^iHiphageal  end,  a  greater  and  leawr 
curvature,  and  a.  pyforie  end  or pyhnm,  a  fref|uent  peat  of  cancerous  »tric- 
lure ;  the  stualt  intestine  is  divided  into  the  duodenum^  the  eight  to  ten 
inche*  next  to  stomach,  the  jrjunum,  Jihs  of  the  remaining  small  intestine; 
the  rVf-i/wi,  the  remaining  fths ;  the  large  intestine  is  divirltd  into  the  ctrcum, 
aaoeuding,  transverse,  ami  descendiug  colon,  $ig^noul  ftexarey  aud  rectum  or 
•■taigbl  gui,  terminating  at  the  umut. 

The  putter eti4  and  thoracic  duct  have  once  now  and  then  been  wounded, 
generally  by  bulleUj.  The  nbdomiimi  norta,  vcun  ram^  and  the  Hinc  and 
Oilier  aUlominal  arteries,  have  over  and  over  again  been  wounded  by  stab* 
and  bullct-woundt)  leading  tu  fatal  btemorrhage,  or  rarely,  to  slower  death 
by  iJcntonilis. 

U'ounth  of  iht  bladder  are  generally,  though  not  invariably,  fatal.  This 
jpdue  to  a  iatal  torui  of  peritonitis,  with  sloughing  and  gangrrue  induced 
Vf  the  extniva«ated  urine.  Lije  may  aometimc^  bt  mvtd  by  free  iuritions 
in  thr  perineum.  The  bladder  may  rupture  spontaneously  in  ciim»  t»f  re- 
tention of  urine,  from  calculi  or  tmra  stricture  of  the  urethra.  But  if  a 
man,  pn  viouely  in  gtK>ii  health,  gets  a  blow  on  the  lower  fjart  i»f  the  abdo- 
men, when  hw  bladder  \»  lull,  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  his  s{»eedy 
death  is  due  to  the  accident.  Very  strong  evidence  of  previous  disease 
^WiMld  be  necessary  to  shake  such  a  conclusi(»n.  Careless  mid  wives  or 
iiteuucbeurs  sometimes  allow  a  woman's  bladder  to  get  distended  in  par* 
turition,  and  thus  the  child^s  head  may  burst  it.  Borne  have  been  fotds 
enough  to  put  on  the  forceps  or  use  other  instruments  without  fir^t  ascer- 
tftioiug  the  condition  of  the  bladder!  A  retroverted  gravid  uterus  may 
lead  to  this  accident  of  rupture  of  the  bladder.  But  the  majoritv  of  caeei 
we  tfvumatic,  due  to  kicks,  violent  blows,  or  gunshot  wounds.  Yhe  ctam 
hvn  bullets  are  said  to  live  longer  than  those  produced  in  other  waye. 
Dr.  Taylor  records  twenty  days  in  one  fatal  case  of  this  kind  Mr.  Byr(^»n 
Blewitt  informs  me  that  the  tension  of  the  abdomen,  which  was  induced 
by  a  full  bladder,  was  enough  in  many  cases  to  cause  bullets  (pmbably 
Dcsarly  spent^  to  deflect  their  eourf«,  and  go  round  the  ab<loroinat  wall  to 
the  oppusile  aide,  without  perforating  the  abdomen.  Many  of  the  soldiers 
io  the  Fraucf^-dermau  war  of  1870,  to  which  he  refers,  fire<l  from  the  bip 
(such  were  the  orders;,  to  avoid  the  danger  to  sight  from  the  imperfect 
of  dio  breecbbiocka  of  the  guns.  The  recoil  or  escape  of  powd«r» 
iM  IIm  breech  ira*  the  cau»e  of  iimiries  to  the  lower  part  of  tlie 
ftod  to  the  bladder^  hip, etc.     In  Heyina  ▼.  Eoelet  (Lancaster  Lent 


WOUJrOt  or  TOS  GIVITALS. 


Amaf»,  1836),  the  jodfgB  hm  been,  a«  we  tbtak, 

Aliorleii  lo*ft  ftUl  Uadder  MMtfh  wnre  ma  extenomting 

Taylor  remark*  that  it  in  u  oatiira)  to  the  bbdder  to  be  •ntBecin 

It  M  to  the  uteraa  tu  be  tnoednics  j^rarui,  and  iodc«d  aiore  tu. 
eancy  vuulJ  not  be  rci^rded  aa  ao  exteavuuing  dretmivtAiicc^ 
kicked  a  woman  with  diild  to  deatb.  <For  Dunierocta  tauum  Mfi  mp^ 
the  bladder  br  extenjal  violence,  «ee  the  '^Nortb  Americaa  Iffdical 
Burgieal  Jimrual/*  vtiK  v,  p.  231  ;  &od  the  '*  Edtnbar^  Medical  aod 
ffical  Journal/'  vol.  xxx,  p.  86 ;  and  the  ^*  American  Juumal  of  Mo 
DCieoce*/'  vol.  xii,  p.  535.  Other  refereace§  will  be  found  io  Tinfiar 
dLf  p.  6^7 1,  and  Dt|tnerou»  ca^es  in  the  medical  joumaU  fur  '  ' 
riAr*.  &!r  a/iio  WutMin  t>n  **  Uijoiieide,";  Dr.  Taylur 
blaiider  may  be  ruptured  by  an  accidental  fall,  and  qooCei 
3Ir.  Hynie  of  a  womiiu  falling  over  a  tob  ("Edinburgh  J 
Surgical  J<iurnal/'  Oclolief,  18^^>i,  aud  two  in  drunken  failoTi 
Bpencer  WclU'n  rep'jrLs  ( '*  Medical  Gazette/*  vid.  xrxvi.  p  6*il '. 
neuce  of  urine  may  be  the  result  of  injury  to  the  ne^ 

H^rjiiiuLi  of  the  yenifal  orgnn$  may  be  accidental,  - 
pnecJy  clone  by  others*.     They  may  l>e  produced  by  bl*i»^  kick*,  cnl 
we«fx»Q^  »tJib<,  or  buDet-wouodi^.     They  are  dangeruw*  tl)  frooi 
rhiige  \u  Ixnh  scxe*^  particularly  iu  female?;  (2;  fn»m  shock;  (3) 
after  con^M-njuencea — rfuch  as  ery*ipela*,  py»mia«  etc. 

But  be:*ide«  the  danger  of  deatb  or  protracted  goffering,  tbei 
further  danger  of  impotence  and  fiierility  in  the  male  sex,  and  of 
iu  the  female.  Thfjie  UHtund*  may  be  ite/f-inflieted  in  mme  rases. 
following  from  **  Lloyd'*  Newi»/'  of  September  12,  1875.  ' 
Wednca^lay  nioming  a  foreman  iMjiler-mater  employed  at  Messn.  Li 
WorkN,  Birkenhead,  went  home  after  drinking  to  a  ci>njHdenible  extci 
a  public  hou«e.  Home  wnrdf)  passed  between  h'u  wife  and  himself  in 
bedroom,  and  the  man,  exclaiming,  *  You'll  repent  thl*  as  long  ~~ 
live,'  went  to  a  drawer  and  t«x»k  out  a  razor,  with  which  he  inf 
t»liookiiig  wound  upon  hie  abdomen,  a  large  portion  being  almost 
cut  away.  He  was  conveyed  to  the  Borough  H<jj*pital  in  a  cab.'* 
caM-',  the  man  amputated  both  the  p<'niB  anJ  scrotum,  with  both 
In  a  jtimilrtr  ca»e  rep«>rte«i  in  the  "  British  Medical  Journal "  of  i 
1870,  by  Mesars-  Francis  and  Grant,  .Surgeonf*of  Murket  Harboroc 
patient  cut  off  the  peuia,  mo^t  of  the  scrotum  and  both  testicleaij 
blunt  ru>i(y  pair  of  i*ci^orsi  He  ate  one  testicle!  He  bail  been 
from  dtiiiriuni  treinena,  had  been  worried  by  arguments  againtji  Roi 
and  waM  Hepitrate<l  from  hie  wite.  In  a  similar  ('a>«,  which  wa^ 
to  the  Ijoiidon  Ilo^^pital,  a  >iimilar  extensive  mutilation  wan  done  bi 
tf>  hirn.<«eU,  with  a  hluiiL  talile-kutfe.  This  patieut,  like  the  one  all 
both  tcxticic}< !  In  Iiih  ca.Hf  there  wa«^  delirium  tretiietH,  and  there 
nri^'umenlis  abt>ut  religion.  Other  ca»e8  are  on  reiord  in  which  eii 
wife,  oriMmie  other  female,  generally  a  paramour,  ha?*  luflicied  thia' 
tion  fniro  jealously  <ir  from  revenge.  In  the«je  ca!H**i  the  man  haj* 
been  either  dead  drunk,  or  haii  been  fimt  bound  to  a  bcdisttsad  i>r 
wipie  [>revented  from  struggling.  The  bluutue««  of  the  wea|Kin  ha»^ 
prevented  a  fatal  rescult.  But  the  dorsal  artery  of  the  j)eni8, 
spermatic  arteries  usually  ret^uire  ligatures.  We  need  warcely 
total  impotence  and  sterility  must  be  the  result.  Occaiionally  onetj 
eflca|)eri  by  retrac'tiou  within  the  inguinal  canal.  In  the  ca^  of  fl 
munlerers  sometimes  »eem  to  think  that  the  injury  will  be  ascribe 
natural  causef*.  such  as  menstruation,  or  flooding  from  'he  uteruia., 
from  Mr,  WntiKjn  ("Eilinburgh  Medical  and  Surgical  J(' 
LXvi,  p.  85)  two  cases  of  such  injuries,  in  which  tlie  munlei 


WOVXDS   or   TBI   6BK1TALS. 


IM3 


tbe  fiiM  to  oaQ  fer 

viin  ■  tiJttwc 

titllr   »-*4  :;^ 

by  fit'Iiti 


D  A«bt  for  tlu$  Jtmstm.    In  bnUi  tH^  l«M 
JIas  of  difr  Totva,  act  ^  641  >  Kud  bcwn  iDoine^ 
omW  o  koifc  or  m  imaftr.    I^aaUi  ^Jowvd  in 
Tbo  BOftftfcr  iTM  ooBTicteil  in  o«i«  co^  Aod 
ii€  other*  becooM  iht  iMiiic«l  witoac^tB  Mated  thnt  it  w«a 
B^r  upprUttMe,  ikit  the  fioaiid  loiclic  luiv«  U  *  o<l 

(ftt  gittft  or  o  A^r^  hoAx,    Ai  ikt  wooM  wm  o«h  hi  .  t^* 

T  oontufted«  ii  is  clt^r  thai  (be  Icmale  minn  ha\'«  mi  <lowa 
-..„.»,  ^jpce  of  gia$«»  when  quoding  erect,  tMd  hw  doihw  nui*!  hnvi* 
oat  of  iKe  war,  as^  ibey  were  not  ciiu  All  this,  Ux\  mu^i  lm>"t^  hup 
pesKtitJO  a  i«ir  «f  stAir^!  {Btrk,  note  tu  p,  642:  *«^  ibid.,  jv  <^4l,  ti»r  ilw 
IblViwiDi;  cnt**.)  Dunlop  stalest  tlinl  a  mc^lieal  frit'tul  i>f  hU  wa^  oitU<Hl  lf> 
H-i-  Ums  wile  *t(  a  i«rg««nU  who  had  recvivcd  a  slab  in  lh<?  »'\tU\  with  a 
kijifr,  «u4mdliip  the  utrrus,  8he  wa*  iht'ii  <nghl  niimlb»  pr*^i?HAlil.*  T« 
«.t*<  iid  abe  «aid  »be  had  fallen  on  Kip  t>f  a  kx\\U\  hut  thr  i/i>v^ 

turn  f«i#  from  ahof>e  doumwani*,     SIh>  iit>i*r\^Mni.<«  tui^i  »mm0 

womuu  t^r  it  Mi:  that  ht*r  htir«hiuul   iiitVH't<*tl   tiio  wouimI.     It   wiu 

kfi«»wfi  that   1  1  uuhnp[iily  lui^cthor.     Sht*  tlietl ;  but  tho  hu"luind 

«ma  only  uonvictvii  of  mun.>laii);htrr,  intrtly  luH-nviMt'  the  doctor  wiid  tha 
irouud  was  uoi  ntfftt'urily  ni<»rt}il,  nrid  |mrily  hivmi^r  llif  jury  vt\M  iioi 
agree  In  ihf  f*everrr  vrnlict.  Such  ustundt  /«  the  t/rui'ii/  tt(rru/i  iirr  ^rtMT* 
oi/y  in«r/rj/,t  bt-^'an-Ae  pertt<»niii.<  ij»  wf  n|>,  cvrn  ifllu'  juilVnor  n'tMivrr  lh»m 
tbi  fin?l  hipfnorrhage.  Dr.  Tuyh>r  givt^  iht*  rnw  o!'  n  rhiUI,  n^'i!  i»ljt 
year?*,  who  fell,  with  legs  wuh*  iinnrt,  trorn  r*  Inv  Aw  hnd  rliuilHMl,  on  to 
ofthe sharp  shtMit^ot  the  triH?  nolo w;  (he  wn<Kl,nhoul  hiilrMii  ineh  litiek, 
i  hf^r  vn^rina,  and  pas:>in|r  lhn)iigli  itx  ixtMlorior  wall,  hroko  Ml.  A 
lan  rornovtHl  the  slick  with  nonn)  dit^icuhy.  In  twenty citfht  hniini 
iod  l*n>ni  perilonitiei,  (**  Lunt^'t,"  1«7I,  vol.  ii,  \h  74. i  A'ieA*  t»«  thf 
tjeuitth  will  sometime*  e«ii»e  pnil\ii*e  liieniorrhnj(i',  Orii*  ttf  llm 
orv  taw  «  polioenmn  ^ive  u  wonuvn  two  Hoveri*  kiek«  Irtini  hehind  I  In 
'iu^it>(e<i  on  the  Momun,  who  bled  proCiitu'lv,  hein^  taket*  in  H\  Mjrv'n 
ll^x-pital  :  but  che  died  within  two  day-      Mr.  (Jntiei  '  i.** 

C)<»l.  lU,  1840,  p.  47Hi  Miw  rt  won*nn  w[»o  had  lieen  kii  I mI, 

whii»t  i^toopinij:.  and  lost  fhret^  ur  tmtr  \s\\\\n  o(  dlood.  hhe  liinl  iii  iilioni 
|ID  hour.  There  wh>4  h  wound  i\l  (he  idK<'  of  ilie  vitlvu,  e%tendio|<  Inini 
ibe  pubenalon^lhe  rainnttof  (hat  hone,  aliont  1  ineh  lon^,  and  f  ol  an  Ineti 
deep.  The  left  crun  rlitoridU  wa^  eoinpleiety  eni«hed,  and  fioni  ihiM  ihi* 
bleeding  had  proct^eded.     The  heart  and  htr^e  viMiiMd«  '^mrn^  IdondleM, 

It  \»  Minietitnet  *ald  I  fiat  ihr  iujutiiH  vtrr  iiittiHftl  nffrr  tirnlh.  In  iiirh 
H  CAM*  there  would  he  far  li^n  hieuiorrhii||e,  ani)  other  ehara'tem  of  wouhila 
^dieted  iu  life  mmld  hti  wanting.  {Stf  p,  \H\\^  r>t  trt/  }  KallinK  on  irmfg- 
tnenu  nf  broken  fMittery,  the  hfirn  of  a  ^oiit  ftrr  )i  liMli,  «har|t  i»tnk««, 
rrin  '  Ik,  ete,  have  all   hern  Itnowti  (o  in(l»  *//*  /m 

i/ir   !  nituh,      Iu  (general    iIhth  w\\\    he    jIi  nei*   Ut 

prove.  Uu*.     Such  w<mn/li»  an-  iHfm 

WaliMin  on  "  Uotnieide,"  \i>^  I  nrid 

the    follfiwinjf    »»pe«'itil     refer*  fee-  *\  \ 

nn  V.   Ling,    reiKortt'd   in  fh'   "  '  i       oli# 

blood  and  hair  wvro  fo<>  f^*li,  ohioli  '  M  I'l  lb« 


*  During  th*  later  i»«m|l»«  '•(  | 
rbv»  vat  »r  Um  p^vla  IwiwiMPiit 
in  aocouat  or  Iu 


Df  MeCUhbork  («^  IC«i41i«l  TImi^/  Mat  I  A.  iNlTi  t»-fmfi§  BMm  wi  fmunff 
*m  «  c'vntuM^  wfAttk'i  u  ((,«  |i«i?i4a4#j  irHN  a  knnffwrnnt  lo  #  pifimiMol  OM«Mia. 


103-t 


CIECUMCtSION    IS   SOMETIMES    FATAL< 


wound.     Yet  one  medical  witness  attributed  the  death  to  the  bm 

a  vari<'n!?e  vein!  **LatJcet/'  l'S71«  vol.  ii,  p»  74,  "Oli  Wouuti 
Mule  GL-nknli?;''  "  Aim  ales  d'Hygiiine,"  IHGJ^,  2,  11(3,  by  Touli 
ibid.,  1«4»,  1,  443;  aud  l>^G-j,  1,  loli;  "Medical  Gazette,"  v«»l. 
*13 ;  cHf*e  ui'  Jiet/hin  v,  Cnwfetj,  Liver|x>ol  Winter  Assistew,  18-17  j 
ciaiion  Meiliftii  Journal/'  by  Mr.  Barrett,  June  28,  18  50,  p.  o«^.) 
Though  rarely,  death  liuiiptii^  now  aud  iheu  iVom  ci'rciiinriW<i 
author.s  kuuw  of  one  urtwo  ea^i^  in  Hebrew  uhildren  :  and  at'  u 
ill  cast's  done  for  surgical  reawonn  in  ycmng  iulunts.  Thene  child 
from  ni'gU'cted  haMuorrbage.  Dr.  Schwartz,  of  Vienna,  repoi 
others  in  infants,  eight  duye  old  (aUo  Hebrews),  one  of  whom 
dav»,  the  olber  tweniy-five  daysn  after  the  oj>eration,  both  of  phl«*j 
intuin»rimtiou.  8«ch  caaes  are  prolmbiy  not  met  with  more  than 
about  4i>00  or  5000  cnavn.  Uenieniber  that  besidej*  ordinary  luuoi 
may  be  injury  intticied  on  thegeniinl^  from  misijiter(>reiatiou  ol  .S 
or  in  religious  frenzy.  Origen  castrate*!  hini^telf  for  the  formcf 
The  iS'/''>/j/j<i,  a  Rusi^ian  sect,  entirely  niutilale  both  mixes.  No  stt 
justified  in  perfornuug  cimtruliun  for  ina^tnrltation  or  epile|i.-iy,  up 
other  reasiou,  except  incurable  disease  of  the  testicles  or  tcrolutt) 
cancer),  because  it  ha$  been  abundantly  prove<l  that  the  i^exuftl  A] 
not  destroyed  by  this  operation  ;  a^  Terence  ^ays  of  eunuchs : 

'*  At  pol  ot;o  HTiuitores  niiitirrnm  t."^sc»  nudiomm  etts  inaxuintic, 
J5rd  nihil  jiiiU'*?e." — EunuchuM^  Act  IV,  Sc.  ?t, 

IV.  Injuries  tn  the  extremities  (the  arms  and  leg^)  roav  he  6^ 
to  life — il)  From  biemorrhuge;  (2)  From  tetanus;  (3>  Prom  el 
gangrene,  and  other  nniowanl  se<]uel:e,  such  ad  pyieinia,  and  bett 
when  joints  or  bones  are  involved;  i4)  From  aht)ck.  But  apt 
danger  to  life,  there  it*  the  j>ermaneut  datnage  which  may  accrue, 
either  the  man  or  woinanV  enjoyment  ot  lite,  or  their  means  t>f  p 
a  livelihiHjd,  arc  destroyed  or  impaired.  Incised  or  lacerateiJ  won 
cause  fatal  hiemorrhage,  or  Mauujt*  may  ^u|>ervene,  or  i«yplii|ii(, 
or  previous  discatie  of  any  kind  may  cause  the  wound  to  uUx*rat« 
or  ^npimnite  profusely  ;  or  erysipelas  may  set  in.  An  iiitere«iiii 
thi»*  kind  came  beilire  the  Justiciary  CV»urt,  in  the  Autumn  Ci 
Glasgow,  in  the  year  1822.  A  man,  named  Puc^,  gamekeeper 
Blaniyre,  wa.s  tried  for  the  murder  t>f  a  poacher,  whom  he^bot  so 
in  the  left  arm^  that  it  was  found  nece^s^ary  to  amputate  itabovtrti 
The  man  died  of  phlegmonous  erysipelas  in  the  right  leg;  and 
lion  on  the  trial  was  whether  the  ery!!«i|>elaj}  was  brought  on  by  tin 
^)r  not.     On   this  the  medical  men  differed,     Mr.  John  1'  \\ 

eminent  surgeon  in  Gla8g<iw,  gave  it  a!<  \m  opinion,  that  ti 
by 

BO 

reeei 

Dighti<,  and  had  slept  without  shelter;  that  he  bad  then  '  ^ 

and  that  he  aK-^o  had  a  foul  ulcer  in  the  leg.     It  waw  theri  :i 

the  aotiph logistic  treatment  he  received  in  connequence  i-i  a 

the  be.'^t  thing  possible  for  the  leg.     The  jury  acquitted  the  g»iii 
Nowadays  many,  perhaps  most ,  surgeons  would  adupc  n  Atiniul 
ment  in  this  kind  of  erysipelas!     {See  Beck,  note  lo  p.  643.     Th 
taken  from  Dun  top.) 


nuient  surgeon  ni  viiasg<iw,  gave  it  n.^  tits  opiULon,  iiiai  tii  j^ 

y  the  wound  broyght  on  the  disease  of  whicli  he  die<i.  Dr.  John  j 
m,  of  Eiliuburgb,  was  of  opinion  that  it  was  brought  on  Ion;:  h| 
K^eived  the  wound.     It  appeared  that  he  had  been  out  j  j 


*  l)unlii]>  ftntes  ihiit  h  wuund  iif  the  nbducnir  tiiiificln  otLhw  thmiib  (tl 
dnch  lie!*  ill   ihc  pittni  of   'htOoind)    more   IVM^utttly  brings  un   Iw^-kJA! 


injury  of  e'f^UttV  e\le\A\.  ^^u^)  v. Uvir«  else. 


TREATMENT    MUST    BE    REASONABLE. 


1035 


Reck  also  gives  the  following  case  from  the  **  Edinburgh  Annual  Rftjis- 
r,"  vol.  vi,  part  ii,  p.  Til :  "J.  Denton  wa^  indicted  in  September,  l.SL% 
the  Old  Baijpy,  for  the  mnnler  of  C.  Denton.  He  hud  8truek  her  with 
koife,  und  she  lived  a  month  thereafter.  The  medical  testimony  stated 
tit  the  wound  had  nearly  divided  the  arteriej^  of  the  ami.  It  mortified, 
^%d  iJie  tiled  in  comequenvt'.  He  was  condemned,  and  executed."  Gangrene 
r  mortiHeation  is  mot^t  likel)  to  occur  when  the  arteries  are  degenerated 
r  tlisMraired.  {See  pp.  943  mid  950.  j  Wnindf*  at  or  near  join Lj*,  wounds 
tivolving  the  periosteum  ul  hnig  bunt^,  and  tbo^sein  which  there  is  a  great 
"e«tru<'tii>n  of  tkin.  anrl  bruising  and  laceralion  of  the  soft  ti&sued,  are  the 
iintVfst  likely  to  be  dangeronc. 

i  Omipound  Jmcitire^  and  disloralwjis  are  of  coiir?e  more  dangerous  thaD 
Mmple  ones;  and  if  two  or  more  limbs  or  jt/ints  are  involved,  the  daugef 
^  prtpportiooately  heightened.  Again,  the  nearer  the  injury  (fracture  or 
;w«»und,  etc.)  is  lu  the  trunks  the  greater  tlie  danger  in  general.  (On  these 
t|Kvint5,  and  on  the  que^-ition  of  (he  Hurgieal  treatment  of  such  ca^s  gee  the 
Khapter  on  Malapraxis,  pp.  (120,  filiT  K 

I  Ah  h'gard.s  Muy  particular  rntihod  of  frentment  in  a  given  case,  we  hold 
^Strongly  that  it  is  not  necessary,  in  order  to  constitute  proper  and  skilful 
(trpatment,  tliat  the  plans  aduptel^  should  he  ftvthionaUe.  But  it  is  right 
I  nnd  proper  t!mt  the  given  treatment  should  be— (1  i  Either  such   as  hajs 

•  been  generally  rccognizL'd  by  the  tnedical  profession  <such  ass   the  use  of 
opiates  to  relieve  pain,  the  amputation  of  a  liopelessly  damaged  limb,  the 

*  Use  of  mercury  in  pyphilis,  etc.);  or  i'2\  That  it  should  have  been  recom- 
I  mended  by  eminent  aiithorities,  e.  y.,  the  use  of  chlor<»form  in  ohslelric 
'  practice,  by  Sir  James  Sintpson  ;  trephining  in  iujurtei«of  the  head  ( Astley 

^^^►per,  Guthrie,  Ilutchiiisou);  or  ('j)  That  it  shoulri  in  itself  be  reason- 
able, and  foun<led  upon  some  wellknowo  or  generally  adnaitted  facts  or 
uatund  laws;  fur  instance,  Hunter's  operation  for  aneurisms;  the  ligature 
€)f  arteries  for  hiemorrhage,  etc.,  long  before  they  became  popular,  were 
thujf  rtiimnahle  ;  uT  (4)  Though  the  moduji  opemndi  of  the  treatment  may 
ti(4t  lie  susceptible  of  a  patent  or  easy  explanation,  yet  it  may  admit  of 
numerous  proofs  of  it*  cfKca<'y,  t.  tj.,  the  use  of  qniniue  for  a^ue^  or  of  iodide 
pf  pottm^ium  for  t^ifphilitiefnftr,  would  eo»ne  under  this  category. 

Tlir  tntnj  of  air  into  vtiiiJi,  thtmgh  nmre  cnmmon  in  the  neck,  in  opera- 
tions ou  that  region,  might  possibly  cause  death  in  operations  on  the  linilis. 
The  frothing  of  the  bloinJ  llius  induced  slops  the  circulation  in  the  lung?. 
Air  i»  Kaid  in  thcjic  cases  to  enter  with  a  hissing  noise,  and  death  happens 
nlmo^t  in>mcdiately.  l^ome  of  the  leciuded  casci?  were  probably  due  to 
mnrrtpr,  Uut  )t  ift  certain  tluit  uninmiN  can  be  killed  in  this  way.  Dr. 
Willi**,  of  Barnes,  met  with  this  accident  iu  introducing  a  seion  tnlo  the 
Jipck.  A  »maM  vein  imly  wiis  fjunctured,  not  the  Jugulars,  whicli  have 
gciKTully  been  imptieated.  (On  this  subject,  ^e*^  Erichsen's  "  Trine jp1e» 
nnd  I'uictice  of  Surgery,"  p.  185;  HoUnes'«  *' System  of  Surgery,"  ad  rem, ; 
a.od  TavlQr,  lor.nt,,  \h  *»41,  who  refers  to  the  ibltowing  cases  and  authuri- 
tte»:  ""iledical  Gazette,"  vol.  xli,ji.  1.108;  ibid.,  vol,  xliii,  p.  1098;  ibid., 
vol.  xlv,  p.  927,  an  article  by  Mr.  Lane  ;  Claude  Bernard'y  "  L*H/)ns,"  p. 
163;  Fer^usmm'rt  "Surgery/'  ]),  444;  and  the  "  Ass<KMation  Journal," 
January  28,  1853,  p.  91.j 

Ilememlier  that  hmes  may  be  broken  by  mwruAir  action  oidy.  The 
put^'lla  often  \h  so.  We  Imve  now  given  you  no  many  eases  and  referencesj 
in  the  text,  on  the  subject  of  gunshot  and  other  wounda,  that  it  will  ouly 

uece**arv  to  give  a  lew  additional 


1036  THE    DEATH    OF    ABDUL    AZIZ. 


Illustrative  Cases. 
Casb  L — The  Alleged  Suicide  of  the  Ex-Sullan  Ahd^d  Am 

(This  event  happrnod  in  June,  1876.     See  '*  Britisl*  MeHi^'«l  Jouni 
June  10  aud  June  17,  ibid;  an<l  the  daily  jouroaU,  jyoMtMi. 

The  medical  report,  signed  by  nioeteeo  phypcians,  stat4«  ihi 
*'  found  the  boriy  Jyiui^  on  u  mattre.'*i^,  placed  on  the  floor.  The  ba 
covered  with  a  rn^w  .-heet.  Having  removed  thii*  ciiverintf,  we  eec* 
ex-Sukiiu  ALmIuI  Aziz.  All  tlie  pjirts  ofthebody  were  cold  aod  bU 
pallid  jiad  «i>vered  with  coai^ulated  blo4»d.  There  wiw  do  jx*il- 
rigidity.  There  wore  limpid  i^ireuk^  of  bbK»d  U|>on  the  Hnii»  and  I 
iiiiie  below  the  bend  of  the  left  arm  a  sulution  uf  cumiuuiiy  wiu  U 
centimetres  in  depth  (=2  inches),  Tlie  edges  of  this  wound  were 
and  irregular ;  the  ilireeiion  of  the  wound  wa^i  from  utM)Ve,  aud  fnm^ 
the  veindof  tbid  region  were  cut;  the  eulutal  (i'.  t.,  radial)  artery, 
the  point  of  emergeuee,  was  open  for  threeiuurtht*  of  iu  diameter. 
bend  of  tlie  r  ;;ht  arm  we  found  a  slightly  oblique  wound,  al^>  adi 
the  extent  of  2  centimetres  {-^^^  of  an  inch),  and  li  eentimeirea  (J 
inehj  in  depth.  On  thii«  tside  we  found  a  lesion  only  of  the  siaikii 
tl>e  arterie^j  were  iutacL  We  were  hhown  a  pair  td*  hCKs^ors,  ' 
timetrea  (4  inches)  iu  length,  very  sharp,  and  of  which  one  of  the 
had  a  .small  iatenil  knob  near  the  extremity.  The  scissor*  v$ere 
with  blood;  and  we  were  told  that  it  Viixa  with  the  aid  of  tht«  Una 
that  the  ex-Sukan  had  iullicteil  upon  hinij^ielf  the  wuuudr*  a]H>vc  del 
From  what  precede*,  we  are  unauimounly  of  opinion  :  (I)  That  tbi 
of  the  ex  Sultan  WHy  mcHsioned  liy  ha;morrha>^e  from  the  ves^U 
bend  of  the  arms;  (2)  That  the  iu.>rlrument  (the  scisaors)  shown  ui 
precisely  produce  those  wouncU;  iH)  The  direction  and  the  nalurv 
woundi<,  u«i  well  a^  the  iu.<^trun]ent  which  was  84iid  to  have  producc< 
caused  u«  to  come  to  the  conclu!?ion  that  the  ease  h  one  of  suicide." 
follow  the  eigmitures.)     The  medical  prejsH  in  England,  Fr^n  '  q 

and  America  regarded  this  case  with  grave  8Ue'pjcion:s  as  i  i^ 

hiurder.  For  (1)  there  waif  no  internal  p<ist-mortem  exaniinaiiiA>ii ;  A 
description  of  the  wound-s  etc.,  is  a  loose  iine;  {'i)  There  i*  no  •I'-'tj 
the  quantity  of  bhiiul  lost;  (4)  The  bv>dy  had  been  moveil  1 

before  the  doiloit*  were  t»unimoued  at  all.     Dcjith  irom  tJi 
would   probably  take  some   lime.     The  autlmrs  have  known   a 
Dearly  halt    a  mile   alter  similar  injuries  to  th*j!»e   des^Tibed  ; 
attempt  seems  to  have  been  made  to  :*top  the  bleeding;  (H)  No  arc 
given  of  the  state  of  the  room;  (7)  The  large  uund>er  of  medica 
lure?  to  ao  loose  a  docuniieiiL  Vins  itself  tiUMpieious;  (8)  The  body  Wl 
hurriedly  buried  ;  (9)  There  ia  nothing  iu  the  direction  of  the  wouoc 
their  nature  to  prove  ihem  suicidal.     A  suicide  would  more  likely 
throat,  or  open  the  iernoral  artery,  or  stab  himself  Id  the  I 
the  other  hand,  Dr.  Dickenson  alleges:  (^1)  That  the  ex  :- 
Slate  of  melancholia,  and  addi€te<l  lo  tirink  ;  and 
of  Turkey  were  going  badly  ;  he  had  juat  been  ii 
and  was  in  fear  of  torture,  or  a  di^graeeiul  death  ;  i  ^ 
always  carried  by  him  (for  trimming  hi»  beard?).    Oi. 
is  said  by  some  that  they  were  embroidery  scissor*,  lent  iiirn 
(3)  There  was  bloi>d  enough  lost  to  account  for  death  ;  (4)  i  i 
self  in,  therefore  ho  help  could  be  given  him. 

Reviewuvg  the  case,  without  any  biu^j  one  way  or  the  ot}»»*r  »<» 


DUKB   OF   CU3IBERLA5D   S   CASB. 


10S7 


Kut  Ihink  the  circumstunces  of  the  ca^e  *tr«ujjly  8U);j2<estive  of  R^ML««iQa- 
liMO.  ruther  than  «uici4le.     B^nh  in  Turkey  Jiivl  Ru&^iii  violent  m«'tlu»«N  of 

Eltinu  n(\  vf  UDfK^pular  w»vereijcn8  *!ill  remnin  iti  vdjruo,  ructh.MlH  winch 
oglanii  ha£  aliandnnfd  since  the  death  of  King  ClmrUrs  I^iitui  Fmiici» 
siiic«  that  of  Louis  XVL 


Cabk  U.—AUempied  Murder  of  the  Dnle  of  Cum^erfand,  and  Suieid$  rf 

hu  VcUeU  SfJii*. 

(.See  Beck,  p.  540,  who  refers  to  the  **  Eilinbnrph  Annual  Uoiri»tiT ."  vol. 
vi,  part  li,  p.  19;  Grjrdun  Smith'*  w<»rk.  p.  284;  Vnr'iH  "  MimI.  .lurJM- 
pnidence."  vol.  iii,  p.  xxxii ;  L«jiidon  **  Alius  '*  newspap^T,  Jutii'  24, 
1832.) 

Ii»  1813  ?4>me  excitemeut  waB  caiits*^  in  Enpland  hv  th<»  j«iiH«1<'h  «lrtnh 
of  Seflij»,  a  §orvani  of  the  Diikf»  of  CurnbcrlanH,  an»l  the  »imiiltnin'oiia 
injurY  rvoeiveil  hy  hin  Royal  lli^hius*.  Sir  Everfinl  Mom<^  wiy» :  "I 
visiteil  the  Duke,  and  fonrKl  niy  way  from  the  ^reat  hull  to  bin  a[>artinent 
by  the  traces  of  blood  whi<h  wtTe  left  on  the  pHK'*a:r»**«  nnd  »»tRiroaj«4\  1* 
ibutid  him  on  the  bed,  still  bh*»^ding,  Ihh  shirt  d«ln;^'Hd  with  b)oo<|.  nnd  the 
colore*!  drapery  above  the  pill<iw?<  ntjtritikled  with  bloixl  frnin  a  WfmridocI 
artery,  which  put  on  an  appmraixc  whi(  h  cnrnutt  bo  miMtnken  by  tbo>*0 
who  iiave  fttan  \l*  This*  r<nild  n*«l  hfive  happenrd  ha<l  not  the  h«*ail  lK»en 
lying  un  the  pillow  when  woundcil.  The  ni^'ht  riband,  which  wa^  wadded, 
the  cap,  j*<^lp,  and  fkull,  were  obliiptdy  divided,  so  that  the  piil*ati«>n«  of 
lh«»  ari«?rie9  of  the  brain  could  Ik;  diMtinjriii><hed.  While  dre»*inK  lhn»0 
wuuniU  a  report  camo  that  -StZ/m  wasi  dtjuL  I  went  to  bin  apartment*, 
found  the  body  lying  on  its  auW  on  thi?  b»d,  witlmut  hi?*  coal  or  nerkcNith^ 
the  thnmt  cut  .«o  eticctuiilly  that  he  c<Mild  not  have  Kurvivid  a  njiouto  of 
two.  Thn  length  and  din'cti<m  of  tlir  M«nind  wim  jmrh  a*  Icll  no  doubt  of 
|t«  J>citij;  piven  by  hi.^  own  hand  ;  titnf  utrnijfjif  untuld  futvf  mndr  it  irrr^ntitr.^ 
He  had  not  eveji  chan;rcd  bin  po<*ition  :  bin  hiind«  lay  a*  lln'V  dt>  in  a  j>irf 
ion  who  haa  fainted  ;  they  had  no  niarki*  of  viub'nci'  upon  them  ;  hi«  roat 
liun^  upon  a  rhair,  out  of  rea<'h  of  blo^id  from  thr  Iwd  ;  the  i»hM*v«%  rnim 
wri«t  to  the  shoulder,  «C'i*  itpnukftd  with  himd.fjuite  dry,  nndnttt^  from 
ndfti  nrf^rjf.X  and  from  Fucb  kir»d  of  sprinkling  th*»  arm  of  the 
n  of  the  Duke  of  Cuinberl^mi  could  not  escape.**  (  Wiir»  '*  ('ircum- 
ihI  Evid^nw,"  p«  89  )  WhiUt  di^putint;  wjinti  of  th«  ground*  on 
!^ir  Everard  Horoe>  opinion  wasgrnuncjci!  wnln  not  dispute  lita  r<in- 
cla«ions,  for  a  careful  review  of  the  whole  caMt  l<sadii  to  lk«^  imwe  coticlu* 


*  MuN-alar  inoveiii«aiU  tomtfUmm  ovum  v(»iimi«  bt««(Ml  to  fiActtpfi  la  jiil«  fr«rfn  a 


f 
4»l 


u<d  \>y  thU  dirtn^m  M  HIr  R.  Hum*-'!  Ml  y*^**  Mn\      kf  Nriy  Pit\v\» 
<H|«uin»  tiv  whi>ti   v«Mi  M<«ik   t"   l^lwKlfv  ti  \*f\**tnnr  nft*  ml 

rt  |>l4Mid«t«iQa.)     11'*  >^  "J 

to  A  coaiDJOA  ilv>cn*vlk-   Ut^\^  wlikb   w*^*  at  ir*t  Mi{if»'j*Md  Vu  b« 


1038 


EARL    OF   ESSEX'S    Ci 


Case  III. — Murder  or  Suicide  of  Arthx 

(Sef  Beck,  p.  MO-2.  who  refers  to  "The  T\ 
preave's  "State  Trials,"  vol.  iii,  p.  85^ 
Earl  of  Es^ex'ij  Iimoc-enre  and  Honor 
^99-934;   "The  Uepiihllc   of  Leilei 
Burnet,"  vol.  ii,  p.  212-234;  "Oorrl. 
Howell's  "Smte  Trials/'  vol  ix,  p.  1229; 
History,"  etc.)  Jt 

We  quote  Beck,  with  a  few  verbul  changes. 

"  Arthur,  Earl  of  E^isex,  wftA  cormiiVueil  fo  1} 
lfi83,  during  the  reign  of  Chjirles  II,  when  Jan 
of  York ),  was  8Lipp(»fe<i  to  liftve  jj^reaL  iiitiueiitH 
the  ]:'th  (ihe  day  of  Lord  William  Kos^eirj* 
the  Eiirl  was  found  dead  in  his  diarnber,  with 
et»ro«er'8  jury  saw  it  the  Earl's  body  was  tal 
«trifiped  of  its  clothes;  they  were  carried  awn 
and  when  one  of  the  jury  insisted  on  seeing  ^ 
sent  lor  into  another  moro,  and  n]ion  ht?i  return  h 
hud tf,  and  not  his  rlothei^,  thfu/  were  to  mi  upon ^ 
aud  Andrews,  depoj^ed  as  to  the  wound.  •S'Arrii 
as  lie  phrased  it,  the  nrffria  attpera,  an  old  m 
the  gullet,  with  the  jugular  arteries  {nic)  wer 
'Tiiat  the  throat  waw  cut  from  one  jugular  to 
windpipe  and  gullet  into  the  vertehrje  of  th 
heinjr  divided/  The  verdiet  <»f  the  coroner's  ju 
the  l*]arl  of  Es?ex  gave  himself  one  mortal  vn 
to  the  other,  aud  by  the  a^pera  arteria  and  win 
of  the  neck,  both  the  jugulars  being  thorough 
died/  '* 

One  Lawrence  Bradtlon  soon  after  fornraed  t 
murder,  accoiupli>!ted    by   individuals   who  we 
Eurl's  keeper?!.     These  murderers,  he  bupposer 
of  York,  afterward.-?  James   IL     He  wius  iri 
auborning  witnesses  to  prove  this,  and  fined  £2 
in  1690,  he   published   the  pamphlet  named  a 
aays,  about  3  feet  2  inches  wide,  aud  there  wa* 
floor.     The  instrument  was  a  French   razor,  4 
had  DO  spile  or  tongue  at  the  end.     Hence  it  tt 
blade,  and  it  would  seem  difficult  to  inflict  i-o 
surgeon  is  said  to  have  sugge-sted  to  the  jury  tl 
were  made  by  my  Ijt^rd  agahui  his  ne^k-bouet 
was  righthanded^  and  the  razor  lay  ou  his  i^ft 
that  the  neck  of  his  cravat  was  cut  in  three 
cuts  on  his  rit(ht  hanil.     Bishi>p  Burnet,  who 
of  suicide,  affirmed  that  the  tnichea  was  not  c 
surgeons  affirmed  that  a  suicide  could  not  cut  t 
to  cut  his  own  vertebrje  !     In  thin^  we  kiH>w  the 
cases  besides  that  in   the  mite,  prove  that  suic 
The  Committee  of  the  Lords,  who  took  ihi^ 


•  A  l«hl*»knifp  u«*'d  hy  a  wiiiid**  who  inflicted  aim 
WHR  «n  notcln'd.     8h**  ImmI  cut  iifHtupt  two  or  three 
altuiided  ibi&cuM,  itnd  heurd  her  cuiifesA  it. 


MURDER    OP   JANE   NORKOTT. 


1039 


Hume  and  Hallam  Rscnbe  it  to  suicide,  the  first  hecaiise  the  Earl  was 
subject  to  fil8  «>f  <\vep  me]iinrhiAy ,  and  atrustomecl  to  dt^feiifl  the  lawJ'iil- 
oesH  of  Fuickle;  the  latter  beriiur-e  he  wil!  not  think  i\w  kin^  and  hii 
bn»tber  cmuM  he  guilty  of  a  crime  from  which  ihey  had  iiothin^r  to  gain. 
Carolul  readers  of  the  above  account  will  see  several  jiyjsjiiriouH  t*imirii- 
stantve.  ("hau(*sier  i|U<>t«*f»  two  ra>e>*  from  Andimse  Pare,  one  of  an  Kog- 
li*«hman  mhbt^d  and  wound  id  with  a  dajiijt'r,  uivd  tt-ft  for  dead»  at  Vin- 
eennoH.  Ho  was  found  itt  hi;*  >hirt,  with  the  trat-hea  and  oi^snpha^'U!?  rmm- 
pleiely  divided,  Fur^  bnmght  thf  woundiHl  parts  lo^etlur,  8«>  that  he 
was  able  to  sjk'ak  ;  hf  named  lii^  murderpr^*,  whi>  were  taken  ami  executed, 
ajid  he  died  three  days  after.  In  the  other  vm^e  a  maniar»  in  the  niybt, 
in  hiaovvn  rootii,  ent  hh  throat  in  (be  came  way»  besides  8labbinji  him!-eJf 
m  wvoral  plaeeti.  He  was  found  thus  iu  the  moruing,  an«l  bi.<^  servant 
arrented  on  s'U^pirion.  He  alsio  was  so  far  recovered  as  lu  be  able  to  cod- 
1^  that  he  had  di>iie  it  hiiusidf. 

•  In  anotluT  ease  c^uoied  by  Berk  (p.  543)  M?n«  hfoody  footpriuh,  which 
amuHtii  jtiiMpicion  in  a  nuieitlul  rriMc,  were  proved  to  have  been  viade  by  an 
iUjrti  phy/tirintt  affitpinfj  into  tfw  hfood  / 

Hrek,  Taylor,  Deverpie,  and  F\Hler<'*  give  numerous  casesof  cut  thrtiats. 
We  wiJl  tjuoie  one  more  from  the  tbruier. 

Ca8E  I  v. —  Thp  Murder  of  J<me.  Norkoii,  in  Hrrifnrd»}nrr.^  from  thf  NMea 
of  Sir  John  Mmjnnrd^au  Emineni  Knplif<h  Lawyrr — Ji  w  daied  htj  him 
in  hnvr  happrutd  in  (he  Fomfh  Year  of  King  Charles  J — The  Body 
bteed«  ajter  Deaiii. 

(Beck,  Iqc,  cK.,  p.  543,  etc. ;  Hnrgrenve's  "State  Trials/*  vol.  x,  Appendix 

No.  2,  p.  xxix.) 

'•Jane  Norkott  wa8  found  dead  in  her  bed,  her  throat  cut,  ami  the  knife 
kicking  in  thefioor  Two  femah*?*  and  a  man  ^lepl  in  the  atljotnin^  nifim, 
and  thry  difMHed  that  the  night  before  fhe  went  to  bed  with  her  rhild»  her 
hu»iban<)  being  absent,  and  that  no  |»erj*«tfi  after  that  eame  into  tlie  houwe. 
The  coronerV  jury  gave  a  verdict  <A\feh-de»e  (suicide).  Bnt  a  su-^piciotl 
being  excited  again>t  tliese  individuals,  the  jury  desired  that  the  bmly 
might  be  laken  up  Uheir  verdict  not  being  yet  drawn  u])  in  fortn^  and 
accordingly.  thirUj  dnyn  after  her  death,  ^lie  was  laken  up,  and  (he  jury 
chnrgrd  them  with  the  murder.  They  were  tried  at  the  Herllbrd  Assizea, 
and  Bcipitlte*l»  but  so  much  against  evidence  that  Judire  Ilrrvey  let  (all 
hii«  opinion  that  it  were  lietter  an  np|H'aI  svere  brought  than  so  foul  a 
murder  sh'udd  escape  unpunished.  Afcordinirly  an  appeal  was  made  by 
the  rhild  againM  hin  fafhtr  f^rftudmothfr,  and  hrr  hu/ihfuid^  Olmuiu,  Th<S 
evidenee  addureil  was,  *  that  she  lay  in  a  coni|)(»Hed  manner  in  her  IkmI,  the 
bcdclotheK  not  at  all  disturbed,*  and  her  ehild  hv  her  in  bed.  Her  throat 
WM»  cut  from  ear  to  ear,  and  her  neck  hrtiken.  There  wa--*  no  hlooil  in  the 
bed,  wiving  a  tincture  of  h!o<id  on  the  boNter  whereojj  her  head  lay,  but 
no  ?iul>^tanee  of  b|o*«I  at  all.  Front  the  bcifs  head  there  was*  a  stream  of 
blood  on  ihc  thior,  which  ran  alonsr  till  it  pondeil  in  the  btndings  of  the 
flnor.  It  wa«  n  very  great  <piantity,  mid  there  was  also  another  j»lream  of 
blood  at  the  bed's  foot,  which  yvmded  also  on  the  Hmvr  to  a  very  great 
quantity,  but  no  continuance  i>r  communication  of  blorid  of  either  of  tbcj*© 
two  placet}  from  one  to  the  other,  ueitber  upon  the  bed,  ao  that  «be  bled  in 


•  Srr  H  ^tmi'Mf  CHS**,  rHrttofl  \>y  Dr  Swinhorn«».  of  AlhMny,  U,  8.,  w1mt»^  the 
l^^flrlitih***  wf^Ti'  fmin\\\  ^iirnoih,  tind  (lUted  r»untinuod  lo  ooxe  for  twenty-four  hourg 
aflAtr  dfnth.     Tuylor  {loe  ^i^  i,  vol,  ii,  p.  &20. 


W¥ 


WOUNDS    BLBID    AFTER    DEATH, 


two  {?everal  places,  aad  it  was  deposed  that  on  turniog  up  thn  mat 
bed,  there  were  clots  of  congealed  blood  in  the  straw  of  the  mat 
neath.     The  hinody  kuife  wa»  foiiud  iu  the  morning,  sticking  in  th< 
a  goofi  dir-tance  from  the  bed ;  but  the  pjiint  of  the  knife,  as  it  ^tn< 
towards  the  bed,  and  the  bafl  from  the  be<l.     Lant/y,  there  mijf  tlir 
a  tkumb  and  four  fintjers  of  a  left  hmid* 

"Sir  Ni'rholti*  Jlyde,  Chief  Justice.     *  IIow  can  you  know  the 
a  right  hand  from  that  of  the  left  in  such  a  ca!*e?' 

"  Wifnesjt.  *  My  Lord,  it  is  hard  to  describe,  but  if  it  please  the  hfto 
able  judge  to  put  hi»  left  hand  upon  yotir  left  band  you  cannot  [wjahi 
pla^'e  your  right  hand  in  the  same  posture,'  which  being  done,  aud  a] 
ing  ?o,  the  defendants  had  time  to  make  their  defence,  but  gave  no  e^ 
to  any  purpose." 

The  jury  brought  in  all  guilty  except  Okeman,  and  th^y  were  ex< 
but  nia<ie  no  confession.     Another  remarkable  event  is  deiniled 
John  Maynard,  who  say?*:  "An  ancient  and  grave  |>en*ont  bci'ufj  n 
to  the  parish  u^here  the  fact  vnn  romntitted,  being  sworn  to  ^ive  evi 
according  to  riL^tom,  depvsed,  that  the  body  being  taken  up  out  of  the 
thirty  days  after  the  party's  death,  and  lying  on  the  grass;  and  tl 
defeiidanU  being  prejseiit,  were  required  each  of  thera  to  touch  th< 
btjKJy.     Okenian's  wite  fell  npon  her  knees,  and  prayed  God  to  hhow  tol 
of  her  innorency.     The  appelhuit  did  trmch  the  dead  body,  vvhereujvoo 
brow  of  the  dead,  which  before  was  of  a  livid  and  carrion  color  fin  I 
minis,  the  verhnt  erprejtAi'on  of  the  mtnt'^s),  began  to  have  a  dew  or 
sweat  arise  on  it,  which  increased  by  degrcfe*  till  the  sweat  ran  d< 
drops  on  the  face;  the  bn>w  turned  to  a  lively  and  fre«h  color,  ai 
deecasod  opened  one  of  her  eyes,  and  ^hut  it  again,  and  this  open! 
the  eye  was  done  three  several  limes.     She  likewise  thrust  out  the 
marriage  finger  three  times,  and  pulled  it  in  again,  and  the  finger  di 
blood  troni  it  on  the  grass.     Sir  yirholoM  Hyde,  Chief  Justice^  seemj 
doubt  the  evidence,  asiked  the  witness,  *  Who  saw  this  besides  you  ? 
ne^.  *I  cannot  swear  what  cjthers  saw;  but,  my  Lord  (said  he  t  1 
lieve  the  whole  company  saw  it,  »\iid  if  it  ha<i  been  thought  a  doubt, 
would  have  bern  made  of  it,  and  many  would  have  attested  with  fl 
Then  tlie  witness  remarking  some  admiration  in  the  auditor!4,sriake  furthi 

•  My  Lnnl,  I  am  a  miuister  of  the  parisib,  and  have  known  all  the  parti 
but  never  had  any  occasion  of  di^plea-«ure  against  any  of  them,  nor_J 
to  do  wiih  them  nor  they  with  me,  but  a*  I  was  minister  the  thii 
woinlcrluf  to  me ;  but  I  have  no  interest  iu  the  matter,  but  as  I  am 
u|Hin  to  testify  the  truth, and  this  I  have  done.'     (This  witness  was 
revcnnd  f>erH)n,  as  I  guessed,  of  abc»ut  seventy  years  of  age»     Hit 
raony  was  delivered  gravely  and  temperately,  to  the  great  admirtil 
the  autlitory. )     Whereupon,  applying  himself  to  the  chief  jusiii^,  \u 

*  My  Lord,  niy  brother  here  present  is  minister  of  the  next  parish  odj 
and,  I  am  sure,  saw  all  done  that  I  have  affirmed/    Therefore  that 
was  sworn  to  give  evidence,  and  diii  depose  in  every  point  '  the  sweat! 
of  the  brow,  the  change  of  the  color,  thrice  opening  the  eye,  the 
motion  of  the  finger,  and  drawing  it  in  again/    Oulv  the  first 
addeti,  that  he  himself  dropi^^ed  liis  fingers  in  the  bhwxl  which  canw 
the  dead  bmiy,  to  examitie  it,  and  tie  swore  he  believed  it  was  blo^xi. 

In  the  trial  of  Htan^fielu,  for  the  munlor  of  his  father  (says 
eimilar  charge  was  brought.     It  is  stated  that  when  the  son  was  &6 
in  iitVing  the  body  of  his  father  into  tlie  coffin  it  bled  afre-h,  and  deff! 
all  his  hand.     ( Ilargrtive,  vol.  iv,  p.  2H»l. )     The  opp<jisite  lawyera  as^jj 
as  a  cause  of  the  bleeding  that  (he  surgeon  made  an  incisiou  abo 
neck,  and  the  motion  of  the  body  in  removing  it  caused  the  fret^h 


THE    SnOOTINO    AT    DRAYTON. 


1041 


rhnge  from  ibe  neck.  The  New  Engliiod  Pilgrims  firmly  believed  in  thia 
bk'i'dinjif  of  tiead  bodies,  &&  they  did  in  witches.  (Tbat^^her's  "  Indian 
Hinjrrit|jhv,"  vt)l.  i,  |>.  158.  See  Mftzjifer,  p.  328,  and  Valeutiiie's  **  Novelise," 
Ai>|>.  3.  l)e  .siilliridio  sau^uini'*  in  humiiiis  violenter  occi«i  cadavere  con- 
rotrtis  an  sit  suttifiens  prfe-^eiins  homicidie  indicium?") 

(Wliilgt  we  may  freely  admit  that  the  movemenls  of  the  eye  and  finger 
re  imaf/ined,  and  that  in  mme  of  these  caseM,  reii  fun^-i,  or  water  impreg- 
nated  with  iron,  may  have  heen  mistaken  for  blood,  yet  the  number  of  such 
reronled  ea'«e(*,  and  some  mo<lern  instances,  force  us  to  conclude  timt  a 
blfMHl^'laiiiied  fluid  (prol>ably  a  stjlutiou  of  blood  coloring)  may  flow  from 
a  «)e«d  body  a  long  while  after  ilcntli,  or  even  atk'r  burial.  ^<r  note  to  p. 
968.  In  any  case  whicli  may  betvnfier  occur  it  is  much  to  be  wijuhed  that 
the  ^uppojsed  blood  should  be  exauiiue*!  chemically,  niicruBCopically,  aud 
by  ibe  »peciroi*cope. — ALrrnoRs.^ 


Ca8E  Y. —Rupture  of  an  Anfuri^m — Death  supposed  h  be  due  to 

Violence, 

(Thb  case  was  given  us  by  Dr.  Corfe,  from  the  records  of  the  Middlesex 

Ho?^pital.) 

Jjinc  ^^^ ,  a  married   won^an,  aged  t  wentyeigbt  years,  plethoric  and 

intenipenite,  wa<<  violently  struck  by  her  liushund  six  wetk^  before  her 
death.  Three  weeks  after  the  bhiw  j^he  had  hiemoptyHia,  and  Anally  died 
from  a  fatal  bleeding  in  the  street.  The  coroner's  iufjne^t  brought  in  a 
rdiet  of  inausluyj^hter  aguins^L  the  hn>b!ind,  D /alh  was  proved  to  have 
tilted  fnun  the  bursting  ftf  an  aneurism  of  the  aorta,  the  size  of  a  pul- 
l'»  egg,  in  the  dentiemliug  part  of  the  arch,  itij*t  about  the  hifurcation  of 
ibe  bronchi.  It  bur^t  into  the  left  jdctira.  The  medicMl  wiin«-Hs  drpusing 
Uiat  ttUeurinm  wjis  generally  due  to  atheroma,  the  bcncb  stitpped  the  Ciise, 
remarking,  **  It"  previous  di.'*ea§<^  in  -worn  to  I  munt  Mo(i  the  cas*e/*  The 
mari  wa>  therefore  acqiiitteil.  This*  law,  however,  ii«  iiicojiJ*isicnt  with  re- 
neulcHl  decisions  of  uur  judges.  {See  p,  D4(i,  where  the  dictum  of  Lord 
Hale  ia  4Uuted.) 


Cabk  VI. — 17ie  Attempted  Murders  ai  Drayton — Shooting  with  Ldent 

to  Murder. 

(From  the  "Oxford  Journal;'  Jan.  13,  1877.) 

"At  the  County  Bench  ou  Monday  last  Benjamin  Marshall  was  brought 
up  on  renniud,  churgi'fl  \\\lU  sbuotiiig  at,  with  intent  to  murder,  Jumeii 
Bee«ley  and  Kllwibeth  Bioley.  at  I)raylon,  on  the  3Uth  I)»'ccuil>er,  187(5. 
Jamrx  Bee>lev  dep<»Hed  that  the  prisoner  had  been  courting  hi*  daughter 
Eli/al>eth.  She  broke  it  olf  about  Cbrintmas.  The  pritsoner  made  his 
appcHnmee  again  Hrst  the  day  utter  Chri^lmii**  day  ;  hia  dauglitcr  told 
htm  ahc  would  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  him,  atid  went  out  of  \m 
way.  On  Wednesduy  and  Thnrsdiiy  he  cu,llc<i  again,  and  tliere  waj  i'ur- 
thcr  conversutiem  on  the  wtme  ^nbjfct.  On  Friday  evening  he  wanted  her 
to  have  a  drop  of  drill k.  On  the  Satardav  he  »bot  at  both  talher  and 
dauiihlcr.  The  surgecHi,  Mr,  Shide  Inues  liaker,  ile(>o«efl  that  on  going 
to  ih«'  hoiijie,  he  fuuud  Mti^n  Bee^ley  v<'ry  faints  sitting  on  the  mti'a,  sup- 
ported by  two  women.  *  There  whs  blooil  on  the  outer  garment,  and  a  fsniall 
hole  in  it,  e-uch  w<  would  be  jtrfMluced  by  u  bullet  pa^**ing  throu^li  it.  I 
lound  a  correnponding  hole  in  the  inner  garment.  After  taking  (»rt"  her 
f  l.,rltpd  I  fuyiid  between  the  eighth  and  iiinth  nb^  a  ^mall  o|»ening,  which 


1042 


TBK    PtMLICa    MURDER. 


w&$  ble<H^Tng  a  little.     P probed  the  wnund.  and  found  it  pas^  in  n\ 
one  aiiri  a  half  iiirhe^  ditwiiwardrt  and  outward?.     I  could  Dot  detect  anj 
bullet.     I  Think  the  bullet  h  ionw^here  in  her  body.     She  is  at  pna»en( 
ijiMking  Miti^fat•^»ry  |>ri»^iv?*9.     The  bullet  cuiild  uot  have  coaie  out. 
aflerwarflf?  e.^amitied  Mr.  Bet^^ley.     I  found  in  his  trowservi  on  the  ri^hl 
groin  a  mark  of  Mo^cing,  and  a  i^inall  hole,  kucIi  aa  would  ^)e  made  Viy 
bullet,  and  a  mark  on  the  »ikin  »ueh  as  wnuld  be  produce*)  by  a  bulh 
glaneinjr  off*  a  hard  object.     There  were  aL^o  mark-  through  the  fub,  a^  ot 
a  bullet  i^uL^in^  through  it.     The  mark  (jatised  ctownwaniii  and  outnartlj 
There  waf*  ni»  ahnt^ion.      The  tiext  morning  when  f  mie  him  n^ain  ih^re  wt 
a  conjiiilerubk  bruise,  sihowing  the  violence  with  whifh  he  had  been  -truck,^ 
There  it  vo  dotibt  that  but  jut  (he  watch  the  shot  ^vottld  have  proved  j'atat^  om 
it  xetmki  have  penetrated  the  bowela,' 

"A  ^ujimakerV  tt>tiif>iant  dt-posed  to  the  primmer  trying  to  buy  a  oU^sap 
revolver,  but  objecting' to  f>ay  seventeen  shillings. 

"Mr.  Veuable*,  a  jj^unniaker  at  Oxford,  depose«l  to  selling  the  priiioci< 
a  revolver  for  eij^hteen  shilliti;;^,  and  fifty  cartriflgt^a  for  two  j^hillin^. 

*'  -l/r^.  Tarry  <lt!|H\sed  to  seeing  the  prisoner  fire^  and  hearinjr  the  pi,'*to 
fired  five  times*.     She  also  t»aw  the  prijicuier  struggle  with  Mr.  Bt-e^'ley* 
Another  witne*^  depended  to  hearing  five  !fh«>tii.     There  was  some  rt-a^m  t< 
believe  the  prisoner  to  be  insane.     On  the  next  heariuji,  however,  hit«  ihuh 
duct  was  rational.  -  Superintendent  Hedgei*  proved  finding  a  bnllel  in  tin 
piano,  one  which  had  struck  a  case  of  stuffed  birds,  aud  a  bullet-mark  ii 
a  glazed  adverti^menC  in  the  E^hop,  though  that  bullet  could  not  be  lound. 
This,  with   the  one  in   Mips  Beesley'e  body,  and  the  bullet  found  by  th< 
fireplace  (pndvably  the  one  which  glanced  off  Mr.  Beesley),  accounted  lol 
five  ^b.lt»t.     Examination  of  the  weapon  showed  that  only  fi%'e  chambei 
had  been  loaded,  and  this  agreed  with  the  uuinber  of  cartridges  mia^iug^ 
from  the  box  which  had  held  fifty, 

•*  The  prisoner  wiim  iormally  committed  for  trial.'* 

In  the  i*imiim  Murder^  lor  which  Frederick  Treadnway  wa<»  condemns 
to  death,  the  prisoner  first  fired  at  John  Collinr*  in  the  neck,  who  died  ii 
etanlly,  llie  bullet  penetrating  the  j»pine.  He  then  fired  at  Mrs.  Colli 
the  wile,  and  the  bullet  struck  her  behind  the  ear  (it  could  not  he  fmtn< 
for  a  few  dayfi,  but  wa*>  alterwaidd  extracted,  and  she  gave  eviden<'e  at  th< 
trial,  less  than  two  months  after).  Failing  to  kill  her,  he  9tru<;^di*d  witi 
her,  and  beat  her  hen<l  on  the  ground.  In  this  case  the  gunsmith  dep^i 
to  making  j»|ieciHl  cartridgei*  for  the  revolver  which  a  pawnbroker  ndd  th( 
prisoner.  The  ball  protbiceil  was  the  jsarae  size  as  those  in  the  c:*- "i'  '"^' 
given  to  the  prisoner.     For  the  defence  it  was  alleged  that  the  | 

Grandmother  wa.«i  paralyzed,  and  f|uite  childii»h  i«everal  years  bn 
ied.  One  of  her  daughters  died  in  llanvvell  Asylum.  Another  ndatioi 
yim  confined  in  an  a>ylum,  and  he  twice  attempted  suicide.  Another  ?i«le 
of  the  grandmother  was  also  quite  imbecile.  Several  other  members  oi 
the  family  bad  died  in  lunatic  asylums,  and  one  of  them  fell  into  the  fii 
in  an  epileptic  fit.  The  prisoner  him^ielf  had  a  kind  of  epileptic  fit  duri«| 
the  trial.  Hin  father  «nH  that  once  before  he  had  ha<l  something  like 
fit*  (*'Ll.»vd'8  News/'  Feb.  11,  1877;  aud  "Dailv  Telegraph/'  Feb. 
and  8,  1877.') 


.^■4 


*  AftiT  the  triul  he  \\hA  other  Hl^  of  undaubtud  epiiuptic  cbiirucler,  and  lltit  ipri 
tence  uf  denth  was  uob  vjxttcutvd. 


BXP1.08I0S3  OP  OCHFOWDBR. 


Cast  VU.^lkaA  firom  m  fUbyPV^  Win. 


19^ 


^^^to  ^fnrrh.  1876,  Dr,  H&rdinofco  opeoed  u  inqwoot  At  th«  Comnern 
m  C}burt,  I>lin«^'ton,  »>n  rh*  4*fith  of  Williaiii  StofWW^  »Rt4  thirfT-iiit»»»  wbo 
«m»  mortal  1 V  wi'  e  gal«  of  ^  h  5«b>. 

Ilappeami  that  jg^aneiuj  u'^th* 

lior>ep.     lie  wa»  tim  *ie  Ik»x  wi 

dowD,     On«  of  the  v^  r»ox,  and  t 

}iu  tlmmt  cut  from  ear  to  <»ar  '     A  p(4ioeiiuia  proirfd  to  duiiui^:  ib« 
teli'^rniph   wire,  !*htrh   ba«l  muirht  det^eaaed  bj  ibe  uefk.     l>f.   ^ 
found  I  he  head  oearlj  *««verfd  fnvm  the  UmIv,  uoly  alt»ch«Hl  bv  ti 

All  ihe  arteries  nud  vetEw  were  exifHiwd.     liie  cut  wa»  abuve  the  »*,. 

and  hu  expOM^  the  lotii^ue.     Dfath  niu^t  have  been  altiitxt  iu«tanrao««>tta. 

Thrre  wa.«  a  larpe  pno)  of  blood.     OihtT  wilu««ir«  dep««ed  to  ihe  brvakinj^ 

of  the  wire;  aiuJ  oue  i^aid  that  a  ^iitleman  had  tied  it  nmod  !>i>io«  miih 

hope  of  preveniin;;^  the  accident.     But  the  t^»utrary  j*»f<^«iwf*i  ta  b# 

Suow  wm  iailing  at  the  time."     ("  Dailjr  Telegraphy"  Miitrk 

1876.) 


Ca48K  VlU.^Faial  Erplmion  nf  Gtinpowder  ai 

Kit. 


Dt^finm 


("  Daily  Telegraph,"  Nov.  4,  1874,  and  following  dary.) 

•*  Ycwterday  afternoiiD  a  Ahfwkiug  at-videot  happentnl  at  Mtw>n«.  Curlia 
and  Hurvpy's  Guiifiowder  Mill-,  iitar  Hoiiuelovr,  hy  whith  four  meo  ii«M 
killed,  niu\  a  iiiau  and  a  hoy  itijureii.  Aiuoii^t  the  numerous^^  badiliu^ 
it  a  hriik  »r»d  slaled  !*triieiiire,  ealle<l  *lhe  iiiixiug  hoiMC  wberv  ibe 
ing^rtrdienrti  of  the  jxjwder — charcoal,  ^alt|>etre,  and  briiiiAtone — arv  mff^ 
lately  brttught  to  ()e  mixed.  For  that  piir|K>!*e  they  are  vmpli^Ml  ftvai 
aniall  hogw  iuio  a  cylindrical  machine,  or  Imrrel,  called  'the  mt»uk/  «»d 
ihen  Hlirred  until  they  are  ihonui^ddy  annil>;atualed.  The  next  pHK-e**  ta 
raking  the  compound  from  the  mixer,  and  placing  it  in  bap*,  for  the  piir- 
p<»e  of  it*  being  <"onvevrd  into  I  he  intorpuraiinjf  mill.  It  wa*»  in  doiofg 
thin  the  men  lo^t  their  live*.     The  l«w  mily  alloww  iwelv*  oflit^y 

putiudK  each,  to  be  mixed  at  one  tmrr  in  the  Iniiltiiug;   \  .  a^  the 

men  were  engaged  in  removing  the  mixture  Irom  the  muuk  tu  u  tart  mit' 
side,  and  when  eiglit  charg(*«*  remained  in  the  hon»e,  by  (iome  inean»4,  at 
.preterm  unknown,  imr  of  (hem  eiioght  fire,  tind  the  re^t  being  ignilisl.  a 
terrific  conflagration  en>»tiefl,  (roni  tlie  tficeiti  of  wliich  aitil  the  denK'  and 
detdly  furne>t  tlien*  whm  no  eM4'ik|H*.  Tin  rf  mm  no  rj-pln/iitm,  but  a  gradual 
burning  of  ihe  mixture,  aeeumpunird  l>y  cIomJM  nf  .HuHocating  ^mMke,  ami 
Diyrrad;*  of  sparks.  Fnur  u(  ibc  (tour  IcIIowk  were  sufTocaled  and  literally 
rtiAsied  bt'lore  ttr«'ir  hndicn  ciinld  be  extricated.  The  builditi^  waa 
thontughly  lined  with  woimI,  in  onler  that  no  igniting  HulMiance»hould  gei 
pr^npitatcil  on  to  the  fluor  Tlii^  rharcoiil  had  been  made  nix  weeks.  Tbo 
machinery  was  eop|Hir.  The  place  wji*  nwept  twt>  or  three  iUnm  liniea 
a  day.  The  men  wear  I*'iuher  apmn^.  and  *ewn  Mboti*,  made  of  leather, 
Bod  pegged.  ThesM^  nhoew  are  only  worn  in  the  work.  The  plalform  onl- 
mde  IS  kept  matterl  1'he  (ire  took  loiU'  an  hour,  at  leiict,  Ut  extiu^'uixb. 
A  large  [Hirtion  of  tin*  naUpclrc  and  briniHtune  did  not  expbMle.  and  waa 
tvept  into  the  water.  TliN  waM  the  miin<  »«ingular,  nn  the  Door  wiu  mo 
thoroughly  charred.  No  light  waM  ihniwn  on  the  cauf«e  of  tlie  ticcidiiit 
br  ibe  in«|ne,>«i  held  on  thi^  b«M|j>^.  All  the  ininali^  of  the  building  diud« 
ao  tbat  Mo  one  could  give  uvidi^nee  id  what  look  place  there," 


1044 


W005DS  OF  INTERNAL  JOaULAR  VEIN. 


"A  fatal  explopion  of  a  substance  ctilM  matmidie  (fur  more  diOj 
than  (lyunmite,  (itkofmcteur,  or  ijonite^  but  like  the^e  ninde  frocii 
fffyeerin)  look  place  lately  at  Fort  Lormont,  near  PortnrlitT,  Frnuo 
18  >nid  to  he  iniinufacluretl  in  iSwitzHihiinL  Its  explosive  energ:y  I 
or  five  times*,  Ht  Itnist,  that  of  ^'Uiipowtler.  It  exploded  with  such  fn 
to  de^itroy  the  fort  almost  entirety,  and  to  throw  down  the  barrnck 
upon  the  Portarlier  Railway,  which  it  blocked  up." 

Case  IX. —  TJnmfcidnl    Wound  of  the   Throat — 77j^  Tuteruoi  Jut;iti*tf 
cut  obfiqucJif — Ligature  oj  the  Ve(n — Hecovery  uf  the  ihiiitnt, 

(Case  reported  by  Mr.  John  Womlmanjn  the  "British  Me<licJiI  JoU 

October  18.  1873.) 

*' On  Anguist  14,  1873,  between   five  nnd  six  p.m.,  Mr.  Worxlmni 
hurriedly  culled  to  see  the  matron  <»f  the  Exeter  City  Workhouse; 
about  thirtv.     One  of  the  inmateH,  Thoinaa  Soelgrove,  was  rnught 
act  of  nearly  killing;  her.     Bhe  was  seated  in  a  chair»  her  dothet^  9«t 
with  blood,  her  hf*ad  sup])orted,  and  [nessure  beiog  made  over  ihe  v 
with  an  apron.     The  hti^morrharre  had  temporarily  ceui*ed.     Mr. 
mun  had   her  taken   upe^tairs,  and  found  six  wounds  on  the  neck 
slitjbt   cuts  on  the  face,  and   three  cut??   on  the  fingers  of  the  right 
caused  in  the  struggle.     All  these  wounds  were  such  ns  would  be  in 
by  a  razor,  the  in-trnment  said  to  have  been  used.     Ot  the  wounds 
Deck,  two  were  slight,  three  .severe,  but  not  dangerous,  whilst  the  pri] 
one  was  situated  two  and  a  half  inches  below  the  left  ear.  and  exl 
three  inches  across   the  throat  to  the  corner  of  the  hyoid  bone.    \ 
sutures  wei'e  being  put  to  the  other  wounds,  an  alarming  gush  of  \ 
blood  came  fnmi  the   larger  woumi,  which   Mr.  Wo<idmao  ctuiind 
his  fingers.     He  felt  sure  the  internal  jugular  vein  was  wouttdtHi. 
the  meantime,  whilst  waiting  for  as.*iistance,  examined   the   Wiunn 
found   that   the  external  jngnhir    vein,  auricularis    niagnus  uervfij 
sternu-nuistoid  muscle,  were  compteiely  divide«i,  and   the  anierior  % 
mnsrh'ri  exposed.     On  the  arrival  of  Mr.  U<»per,  Mr.  Wooiin  ;fl 

his  finger,  and  so  great  was  the  hiemorrhage  that  it  was  exin  I 

to  find  the  exact  source.  It  was  at  last  discovered  to  be  a  slit,  jth»m 
an  inch  lung,  in  the  direction  of  the  course  of  the  vein,  ami  td  t\ 
ufiff/e.  ffi  the  ejrt(*rn(it  imitttd.  The  descen<lens  noni  nerve  was  movinl 
(he  way,  and  ihe  lips  of  the  woun<l  iti  the  vessel  being  held  by  1 
forceps,  Mr.  Woodman  and  Mr.  Ko|>er  succee<1etl  in  tying  the 
siniullaneonsly,  above  and  below  the  wound.  The  htemorrhag*'  wi 
stayed.  There  was  a  little  surgical  fever  on  the  fourth  day,  whirl 
sulisided.  On  the  fourteenth  day  a  ligature  round  a  small  arterr 
away,  and  on  the  nineteenth  and  twenty -seventh  days  the  lower  and 
ligatures  on  the  interna!  jugular  vein  came  away.  On  the  fort} 
day  the  wounds  were  all  healed  ;  and  her  recovery  soon  aOerwnrd*  b 
so  perfect,  that  she  sufiered  scarce  any  inconvenience,  except  the  I 
the  scar.  It  is  singular,  that,  although  very  faint,  the  patient  never 
lost  consciousness.  The  (tperation  <»f  ligaturing  the  internal  Jugul 
is  eompuralively  a  rare  one.  Mr.  Brynnt,  of  Guy  s,  and  Mr.  C«Hil 
the  London  Hospital,  have,  however,  published  eases,  and  there  ma 
few  more  on  record.  The  direction  of  the  wound  in  the  vein  is  of  in 
as  showing  that  the  razor  must  have  been  turned  iu  the  wound.  Six 
her  lite  first  to  the  pressure  made  by  those  who  first  riiu  to  her  a* 
and  next  to  the  skill  of  her  medical  attendautB.** 


MUKDBR    IX    A    KAILWAY    CARRIAQS.  1046 


Cases  X  and  XI. — Xaniem  h^icnd  bit  we»t/w  of  Hats  worn  by  ViviitH  and 

Pruoner  rtfifpectivtly. 

(For  the  fir»t  case,  see  Dr.  Taylor,  vol.  ii,  p.  518  ;  tor  tho  jit'isnit)  •*  The 
M'xierD  Xewj^ate  Calemiar,"  pp.  201-221^  ami  the  Kii^lUh  n«w«- 
papers  tor  July,  15<>4.; 

In  Befjhm  v.  Wat^m  and  Mlfir  '/Xolt*  Lent  Assizos,  lsr»7\  ihtt  prifoiieni 
were  chan^l  with  the  munter  of  a  mau  iiaiut^l  Htt/ntr.  llo  wum  nimmi 
gDin^  to  their  hou^e,  and  about  two  iiourH  atU'rwaiiU  his  dmd  hoiiy  wild 
found  lying  acn^is  a  line  of  railway  ht'low  it.  Twruty  iiiiiiutc<i  licforr,  a 
person  pa.'^sed  the  spot,  and  the  ImhIv  wan  not  thru  thriv.  Tlio  UMMliml 
eTiden<.*e  ^howeii  that  death  resulted  fntiu  inauuni  ^iiHii^ulaiioii.  Tliitru 
were  raarkii  of  bruises  about  the  h*wl.  The  faiH^  was  ftiui'Uirtl  with  blood, 
and  bloKl  had  est'afMxl  from  the  no>t',  but  ihrrt-  wut  no  iiiri;^t'd  wound  mid 
no  injurj-  to  any  large  bloiMlvo.*Jn?l.  A'<>  hat  conld  he  found.  Th«Mii  w«'r« 
mark;»  oi  dragging  between  the  rottiigi'  and  iho  ruilwav,  ttml  at  oiir  part, 
in  the  soft  clay,  the  impre:}iiioii}*  citrn'opitinhMl  lo  (hn  bmitn  witrn  by  lliu 
male  prisoner.  There  were  luarkM  of  blntid  mi  ihr  Inji  biir  ul'  liiti  ^al<;. 
On  searching  the  house,  nn  iron  rulr  mnm  j'unml  fumnitt d  hm  u  hIhIj.  Thia 
was  given  to  Dr.  Taylor  for  cxaniinat ion.  A  nmlriN  ntibniHun-,  looking 
as  if  it  had  uu<lergone  fusion,  udlii  n-d  lo  onr  nid  ol  it  <  iii  limling  u  por- 
tion, the  fmell  of  burnt  nht-lhtc  wn*  tmiftni.  \\\  arlin^  nu  ii  uiib  ub-oliol, 
a  rcsfinous  solution,  like  that  of  Hlu'llai',  wa-t  obiuiiii-il  ,  aiol  on  niiiioaropi<: 
examination  of  t^ome  fibn'-bxikinp^  lliiiiijn  piiiiaialt-tl  hoiu  iln-  ab-.obolii: 
solution,  they  turned  out  to  \h-  lUo  hnim  nf  Roini-  aniniiil  ol  iln:  nidtni 
tribe.  There  were  also  flakir^  of  ri'<-in.  (I)r.  Tavloi  (i^niivi  thr  Imn,  |<'t^. 
107  of  his  book.)  On  burning  it  Riimlar  i*oii.  ol  hal,  ilo:  i  iiiilny  u^li  ^iivu 
similar  results.  And  it  up|H'ur<'<l  iliai  lit*'.-!:  Iiui.-  m:ii-  hi.nli:  ol  li:li  I'lom 
rabbifit  and  hnrt)*  Jur^t:ttui\i\u*'t\  wiib  .-licllui-.  'XUr  umIi-  loi^nni  ouiil  Uk 
had  use«l  the  rake  to  cbrar  out  a  riwji'/ol  iln-  day  b-  Ion  ili«-  iiionb:!.  'I  In: 
theory  of  the  pro-^icution  wji-  that  ili'-  pri<on<-i  liiivio;/  \um»\i  fii  I  In  loan, 
hoped  that  a  train,  tb<:n  d(j<',  W'^nlJ  bav-  '/'tu-.  o><'  >  Inoj  Itui  thi  fmin 
teas  /////',  so  that  tbo  fftrUrf  f'yun'l  fl*"  bvJy  b- f-yi*  i«.-  .nn,ui  J  ]*•  Imi 
was  probably  brft  l><rbin'i  in  ib-r  /  ''.ra/*-.  '1  1.m<.  '  aii  b>  J.i>]t  <r/<il/(  idu 
prisoners  burnt  it  Vj  trv  ai.'l  *'Ai*'-^\  ii,*-l/  't.u.'  'i»-'/  "y.M  yi;»  wt 
8atisfuct<»ry  H'.'L'j.j.:  '/f  U.»:  rakv  vf  vt  ii.*.-  Ka'.  'A  •!.•  '1  '■;*•' «1,  i.-,i  'J.<t 
it   apjtear   tJial  •h'-*!a.'.  a;,d  las^/'-  t\.f   vm-i«    •,.-*•:  t',»   n-.,   \^,;':t,i    p.^r- 


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1046 


THOMAS    S   INFBRNAL   MACHINE. 


wounds  oil  the  scalp.  "  I  think  as  many  as  four,"  said  Mr.  Toulm 
Burgeon.  On  the  crown  of  the  hea<l  an  incised  wouihJ  tlirec  inehe 
There  wa-*  ertusi^/Q  of  blood  between  the  scalp  and  the  skulL  Thi*  \ 
and  Mr  Breartou,  the  other  surgeon,  both  attributed  the  wi»und< 
blunt  instrument.  The  stiek  carried  by  de«^eased  was  a  stout  one. 
at  one  end,  and  was  a  tbrinidable  weupmu  The  prisoner  sold  the  el 
the  deceased,  and  it  would  appear  that  he  either  altered  the  hat  h 
or  had  it  done.  Mr.  Digauce,  the  hatter,  identified  the  hat  a8  li 
cue  sold  to  Mr.  Brings,  and  made  by  him,  except  for  the  alterati| 
attempt  was  made  to  prove  an  <iUbi\  which  was  unsuccessful. 
when  executed,  said,  **  Ja,  ich  habe  es  gethan"  (Yes,  I  did  it. 
be«n  su^ijested  that  trephining  might  have  r&stored  consciousm 
Briggs",  but  this  was  au  ex  post  fatio  idea,  and  must,  therefore, 
rjither  a-  a  hint  for  the  future  than  a  subject  of  regret  or  ceusi 
past. 


t 


Case  XII. — Identliif  eMahl'mhtd  btf  a  Fintfer  bitten  off  in  the 
between  a  JSurgeon  and  Two  RobherA. 

{Dr.  Taylor,  loc.  cit.,  p.  525,  vol.  ii.) 

**  Mr.  Smith,  a  gentleman  who  formerly  attended  my  lectui 
nicatcd  to  me  a  singular  case  in  wliich  identity  wits  estjibr^hr 
rodni'tion  in  evidence  of  a  portion  of  a  finijer  belonginff  to  the 
1834,  two  men  were  charge<l  with  having  assnnlted  the  prt 
surgeon,  with  attempt  to  ri»b  him.  The  prosecutor,  whilst  wa| 
at  night  along  a  lonely  road  in  the  country,  overtook  three  men 
strnngers  to  him.  One  knocked  him  <lown  by  a  severe  blow  on 
and  held  him,  while  another  put  his  hand  np<jn  his  mouth  to  pi 
giving  alarm.  The  prisoner  contrived  to  get  his  finger  into  the^ 
tor's  mouth,  and,  during  the  struggle,  the  hUter  bit  off  (he  end  (*ou 
between  the  nail  and  the  firtft  joint.  The  men  then  ran  away.  Tht 
of  finger  was  given  to  a  constable,  and  in  the  course  of  about  eight 
he  ibund  one  of  the  prisoners  with  his  hand  bandaged.  On  e^ 
the  hand,  the  tip  of  one  finffrr  was  miMiutj.  The  pri-^^oner  accqf 
this  by  saying  that  he  had  accidentally  eni  it  off.  This  statnmc 
found  to  be  false,  and  he  made  several  other  inconsistent  statement 
compnring  the  piece  of  finger  with  the  injured  finger  of  the  pri 
band,  they  were  found  to  correspond  closely.  The  portion  of  \u\n 
prcT-crvcd  in  alcohol  for  the  trial,  and  upoo  this  clear  prm>f  ot"  iden 
and  his  companions  were  convicted.  (Other  cases  of  the  kind  \ 
recorrl.  Beck  gives  one  or  two.  And  in  a  recent  police  crturt  en 
assuihuil  was  identified  by  the  Ior9  of  the  tip  of  her  nume^  which  her 
had  bitten  off  and  preserved.)  Dr.  Taylor  gives  another  cive  in  w 
wonnd  of  the  knee,  productKi  by  the  recoil  of  the  breech  of  a  gun* 
cneaua  of  identifying  an  assailant  {he,  eit,,  p.  525). 


Gabb  XIII. —  The   Bremerhaven  Kxphmon — An  hijcnuti    .M<iel 
luted  by  Clf>ektcork  explodes  before  itif  Time. 

("  Dover  Standard/'  Dec.  25, 1875;  "The  Watchmaker,"  fy 

1876,  etc.) 

A  man,  called  Thomas,  whose  nationality  was  disputed,  cont 

horrible  idea  of  blowing  up  a  large  steamer  of  the  value  of  sex^em 
dred  thousand  dollars,  and  a  great  number  of  passengers,  in  ordi 


1048 


THE  wniTECHAPEL    TRAGBBT. 


to  be  quite  ignnnnit  of  his  plans,  anci  always  thought  him  a  eooi!-hwirt< 
kind>  ami  puna  rnnu.  It  is  m\d  that  the  explosiuu  waa  heard  at  Olde^li 
in  HoisteiH,  more  timn  a  !minlre«l  milea  away. 


Cases  XIV  and  XV. —  7'he  Murder  of  Hnrriri  Lane,  hio%tm  a^*  fhr  If  nit 
Wright  Chttc,or  Wlutechanel  Trafjedy — The  Identity  of  a  iHinnnnbrr* 
Bodff—Kvidenre  froin  tnr  Hnir  and  Tedh —  I'he  Uierut  donttt/tUl 
MnUiparo\tJi —  The  *'  Thame*  Mystay  *'  unmlved. 

In  November,  1875,  Urnry  Wmtiwrifjht  \\m  tried  for  the  murder  of  77u 
riet  JjUHe^  a  woman  with  whtim    he  cohabited.     Hi^  brother  wa«  lrie<i 
an  acct«H)ry,  and  a  daimpu^e  of  their  acqtmintance  was  arrested  on  t»n*| 
cion,  but  di^cliarged  without  any  imputation  of  guilt.     Henry  was  af'tel 
wards  executed.     He  wa*  a  bru^shinakf  r,  of  good  education,  and  hu<)   l< 
a  moral  an<l  uj^eful  life  for  man}^  year;^,  until  a  few  months  befi»rc  the  crim 
for  which   bo  auH'ered.     He  murdered  bis  vietini  by  shooting  her,  tor  V 
bulletH  were  found   in  her  brain,  and  a  third  amongst   her  fmir,  HntteiK 
out  against   the  skull;  and  he  also  cut  her  throat,   through  one  ranaij 
artery  down  to  the  cervicHl  vertebrie.     The  crime  was  discovered  br  oi 
of  his  wtirkmen,  who  noticed  a  mtHilttted  hand  protrmliug  fn»m  a  imiUj 
smelling  bumlle  wra()|>ed  in  American  cloth.     The  pri.soner  was  reniovii 
thin  and  another  bundle  in  a  cab,  tind  he  war:  smoking  to  hietc  the  odoi 
The  dtntjiense  referred  to   wus  in  the  c:ib  with  him.     When  a  policemj 
could  be  found  to  stop  the  cab,  it  wa.s  discovered  that  one  fmrcel  contaim 
the  decoroptjiied  trunk  of  an  adidt  female  body.     One  side  of  the  parc« 
disclosetl   the  hand  mentioned.     The  contents  of  the  sei'ond  bundle  di 
closed  the  head  of  a  female,  ao  covered  with  lime  (and  chlorinati^d  lim< 
that  it  was  difficult  to  gue«>  her  age.     The  anna  and  legs  were  aU*  in  tt 
parcel.     In  the  Whitechapel  premises  a  new  ^pade,  soiled  with  lime,  et< 
and  a  grave  under  the  thM>r,  with  di.«infectants,  were  discovere*!.     Tl 
poor  woman  bad  disappeared  nearly  twelve   nn)nth8  before   ^Sepleml 
1874).     8he  hud   had  two  children.     The  b<Miy  had   been  cut  into 
dittlerent  pnrtif,     It  was  identified  partly  by  t*ome  jewelry  found  on  tl 
premise*.     The  body  was  partly  muminitied,  piirtly  converted  into  adi| 
cere.     The  ten  parts  were,  head  an<i  neck  and   two  hands,  two  ariJiM,  ui 
trunk,  two  thighs,  two  legs  and  feet  connected.     It  was  very  roughly  di 
membered,  so  thiit  there  were  part^  of  the  pelvis  with  the  thigbp^.     Tl 
medical  witnes^w^j?  supposed  her  about  twentydive  yean-  of  age  (fnjiu  tt 
wisdom   teeth),  and  five  feet  high.     There  were  two  distinct  fractureit 
the  skull,  due  to  the  two  bullets.     Mr.  Larkin,  the  medical  witnef»i*,  fii 
called,  Faid  very  properly,*  "One  of  the  bullets  bad  certainly  enter 
during  life,  the  one  behind  the  ear."     (^tcMion.  "  What  led  you  to  thi 
conclusion?'*     Armefr.  '* The  extravasation  of  blood  underneath  the  hcaU 
for  a  considerable  diatancte  around  the  woumi,  having  a  diameter  of  aboi 
two  inches,  and  al^^o  slightly  within  the^<kull.  following  the  directioD 
which  the   bullet  luid  gone."      The  Attornfy-Gemrtil.    "  Would  either 
those  shoti^  produce  deaths"     Atufwer.  '*  Yei«,  not  necejfisarily  in^lau(Jin4 
ously.*'     He  a\m  deposed,  that  owing  to  the  extravatiation  of  blood  in  at 
about  the  parts,  the  throat  mu8t  have  been  cut  either  ju^t  l>efore  or  inmi 
diately  after  death.     Evidence  was  given  aa  to  her  t^eth,  and  also  as  lo 
«CKir  on  the  right  leg,  by  which  her  parent*!  recognized  her.     **  It  wa;* 
elongated  8car  aa  big  as  a  sbilliug,  but  the  puckering  or  drawn  ykiti  wi 


♦  The  whole  nf  Mr.  L^rkin's  evidence  wa^good,  iind  wii»  mostly  AupitorUti 
thnt  of  Dr.  Bond.    There  whs  no  rebutimg  mudicjil  evidenco  of  any  value. 


SKX  TSj 


0»  Xft.   WtiiM.      t^ 


•AliliMIrt  vutci^uw   IlilV*  ^i»9ti  ji.>i«c  (>1|( 


i»ti»Mli^  lUUf^i 


11. 


IHni  Ai  lljijui 

TIm  legs  kftd  b««ii  divi^M  ittio  t 
bad  foot;  the  two  feK,  cttdi  ^  indKM  W* 
ihm  otlier  pafu.    The  ikmMtn  bud  W< 

yide  adiI  MmpaJm,  and  vt r»  tak«o  bv  ibt* 
~  been  dtrkied  into  three.     Hm  9C«l|)v' fiicHv 
kft  bres8(s«  the  left  half  of  the  pelvK  ttu 
•epamtely.    The  mutilatioQ  whj  Jvioi)  n 
were  cleftrly  cut  through,  oihi^r  |Mii'tA  wrn^  "itv^ 
were  smears  of  tar  on  sonit?  |i.irU  i>l'  tUo  hody. 
ke  it  probable  ibat  the  wotntin'A  n^  wnn  nhoui  i\Hi\ 
on  the  left  breiw»t»  3   inchi's  by  -,  u  liglil  browu   niulv 
e  of  the  right  nipple,  u  huiuH  nn>lo  ut»  tltt^  riuhl  "i  i 
large  vrouu<l  on  the  right  t<'?upli'  «'4IUwmI  hy  ii  nbiiii 

rather  uhort  black  hair  on  thit  hi'»i<l  (K  or  I)  bi<4iuii  Itiiigi^  ntiil  h  iIiIh 
mustache.  Tht:re  wtiH  h  htr^'r  bniiM^  on  thu  lV<ml  of  (liit  ngiil  lli||jli  ; 
ere  were  blbterB  prolmUly  fi'<»rii  Iniil  ii«hI  «liiroinpo»il)iMi,  Ihi  ihu  liniit 
und  inoer  surface  of  the  ri^'ht  iirni,  nntr  tint  (HUow,  ih^rti  wiM  h  »iMiitl  •(»f, 
but  uear  the  right  knee  ri  Itu'^o  whitti  Mnr,  two  iiirhrji  In  (li»iin«i(i<i  '1  h« 
surgeon  who  exuniinrd  ihiu^i'  rrmiiinN  ruinti  lo  lh«t  rourluMiidi  Ihdl  iIim  b'lily 
iiaa  boen  cut  up  whilst  f^till  wunu,  uimI  ihttt  (hi)  bruUu*  ¥ittfu  lM(lh!Ui( 
during  life.     The  height  wax  iiljotil.  /i  fi1i^^  -'i  ini  hun. 

It  might  have  been  thoiitrht  thut  lhi*M<i  urtkit  and   nn/l 
■Miiis  of  identification.     11 
Hn  verdict  of  "  wili'ul  mu 
Hnetitroed.    The  tar  matk  mviu*.  ihw^k  u  ■'. 
^Bptotben  ii)augbtth«  ia«  Nfiw  if^imi^'^i  h> 
fit  could  not  be  attribatHl  wiil^ 
it  iia«  tn  tbe  netm:  and  a;' 

A»  Or.  Ta|Wi  btwk,  ¥tA. », , 
tlie  «?TenJ  pajla  of  X>r.  PadtiiMMJ  t  ilMid)r.> 


Tliiira 


witrti  aiti^ilii 


T. 


iiMl'/y^  Mini  '^ifayj^if. 


iMMil  JKMMjfy  4*Vk4ii|^ 


••«>i  ^v 


_>^%nr.     v(^ 


-»r 


1050 


UTILATION~MAYHBM< 


bead  anJ  body  in  a  sack,  with  flints  under  each  armpit,  and  a  hi 

chief  full  of  stones  tied  to  the  cord  that  fai^teued  the  wiok.  The  ja! 
thw  left  temple  were  driven  in,  as  Lf  with  a  pistol  muzzle.  Ther« 
«hot  wound  in  the  right  cheek-bone,  two  deep  cuts  half  through  the) 
vein  on  the  left  side  of  the  neck,  behind  the  ear,  and  another  wmi 
the  right  side.  A  red  handkerchief  was  tied  round  the  neck  of  the 
as  if  to  etaiich  the  blood.  Probert  was  afterwards  hanged  for 
Btealing.  We  notice  this  ease,  because  we  have  here  an  example  ( 
Compound  injuries  which  sometimes  puzzle  medical  wimeaaea  whea 
which  wound  was  inflicted  first,  lor  here  there  was — (1)  A 
wound;  (2)  A  severe  contused  and  lacerated  (battered)  wound 
jaws  and  temple;  and  (3)  Two  or  three  wounds  on  the  neck,  of 
tho^e  on  the  left  side  were  enough  to  cause  death.  So  that  thel 
three  injuries,  any  one  of  which  might  have  been  fatal,  and  the  U 
the  abiience  of  skilled  assistance,  must  necessarily  have  been  ahi 
stuntly  so.  The  amount  of  blood  lost  might  have  aide^i  us  in  coi 
a  ct inclusion.  It  is,  of  course,  most  probable,  in  cases  like  this  a 
of  Harriet  Lane,  killed  by  Wainwriglit,  that  ihe  shou*  were  fired  & 
the  throat  cut  after.  The  battering  in  of  the  temple,  etc.,  was  pi 
intermediate.  In  reality,  when  any  one  of  two  or  ihree  or  more 
would  cause  death,  it  is  ui'  little  moment  which  was  inflicted  firvt 
whether  important  or  not,  circumstantial  evidence,  and  the 
blood  lost,  with  the  appearauctvs  of  the  wounds,  etc.,  will  ufleu  ea 
to  docide  this  point. 


Mutilation  or  Maiming  ;  op  the  Crime  known  as  "  Mavbi 
Engush  Law;  and  of  Helf-infucted  Injuries. 

The  ancient  Jewish  law  of  equitable  punishment:  "And  if 
chief  follow,  then  thuu  shalt  give  life  for  life,  eye  for  eye,  Umtb  fiji 
hand   for  hand,  foot  for  iVioi,  burning  fur  burning,  wound   for 
81  ripe  for  stripe*'  (Exodus  21:  *i3-2tiji,  was  doubt lena  intended   I 
cheek  to  the  nnmetiJiured,  savage,  and  in  tact  brutal  nfaltniivn  for 
which  prevailed  amongst  the  heathen  nations  surrounding  the  Je 
of  which  professedly  Christian   nations  still   furnish  examples,  mh^ 
glance,  shelling  or  bombarding  a  whole  town  or  island  fur  the  mil 
one  or  two  white  men  I     The  French  Code  of  ITl'l,  Hud  the  Code  N< 
even  as  modified  in  1824,  established  a  scale  of  punish  men bt  for 
juries  "as  although  not  mortal  are  still  incurable,  and  either  Ira' 
nmnent  deformity,  or  weaken  or  destroy  one  or  more  of  the  fund 
the  body."     *'  Whenever  ajjy  one  was  so  hurt  as  to  l>e  unable  to  do 
labor  for  the  space  of  forty  days,  the  criminal  wa^  directed  to  t»u 
years'  imprisitimient.     If  arm,  leg,  or  thigh  was  broken,  three  y^i 
appointed,  and  four  years  for  absolute  loss  of  sight  in  one  eye,  a  e( 
loss  of  a  member,  or  a  mutilation  of  some  part  of  the  head  or  bu 
was  extendet.1  to  six  years,  provided  there   waa  absolute  biindocl 
total  inability  to  use  either  both  arms,  or  both  legs."     (IJeek,  p.  G4J^ 
FoderiS,  vol.  iii,  p.  427.)     The  present  code  (art.  309,  see  I  | 

does  not  eont^iin  these  distinctions,  but  leaves  a  discretinni  r 

judges  to  vary  the  terms  of  imprisonment.     But  it  i»  }  \ 

aince  it  prescribes  imprisonmerU  generally  against  wli 
by  wounds  or  blows,  injure  a  person  so  that  he  is  ill,  or  i  i 

for  the  space  of  twenty  days  thereafter.  And  this  imprisc^i.,  „, 
terms  of  five  to  ten  years.  By  the  act  of  1824,  the  court  mar 
this  puulghmetit.    Haard,  Orfila,  and  othens  justly  urge  that  t2ii« 


OKIEVOUS    BOPILY    BABM. 


1051 


of  twenty  days  la  too  short  and  too  arbitrary.  (Orfila,  Le9on?,  ii,  422  ; 
Beck,  /oc  dt,  |>.  64y,)  Oue  rinnilatiou,  viz,,  t'otttration  {^ee  p.  51)7),  siib- 
jccl»  the  crimiual  to  harij  labor  tor  life,  and  if  the  castrate  die  within 
forty  days  the  caslrator  is  to  suffer  death.  (Art.  316,)  Some  exceptious 
arc  made. 

The  term  mayhem  is  applied  to  this  class  of  eases  iu  Euglii^h  law.  Our 
woni  maim  \»  clearly  derived  from  thia  (from  mehaigtter,  old  French  me^ 
like  mnl,  badly,  aud  hairfner,  as  if  haiuei\  for  hair,  to  hate  or  be  inimical 
to.*)  Black2*tone  ("C«>«nmeutaries«/'  iv,  pp.  205-207 )  detines  it  as  "the 
▼iolcntly  depriviog  atiothcr  of  the  u«e  of  such  ot  his  members  us  may 
render  him  the  less  able,  in  fijij^h ting,  either  lo  deleiid  himself  or  annoy  his 
•dversjirj'.  An<l  thereloix*  (he  culling  off,  or  dtsabliug,  or  weakening  a 
man's  hand  or  finger,  or  striking  out  hi^  eye,  or  foretooth,  or  depriving 
him  of  thiieje  parts,  the  loss  of  which  in  animals  abates  their  courage,  are 
held  to  be  mityheuu.  But  the  cutting  off  his  ear,  or  nose,  or  the  like,  are 
Dot  held  to  be  mwyAcwM  at  common  law,  because  they  do  not  weaken,  but 
only  dthtigure  him."  By  the  common  law  also  mayhem  hn^i  fur  a  long 
time  been  only  punii*hiib!e  with  tine  and  imprisonment,  uuk^-sst^  perhaps, 
the  offeoce  of  nmyhera  by  castration,  which  all  our  old  writcj>?  litld  to  be 
felony  :  and  this,  althuuirh  the  njayhem  wtis  comojitted  noon  ihe  hi^hei«t 
ppin'ix'aliou.t  After  j^undry  changes  in  our  English  Jaws  came  the 
**Covntiry'*  act,  in  the  reign  of  C'harlea  II,  no  called  from  itj*  being 
ocituiioncii  by  an  as^ianlt  on  Sir  John  Lk»veutry  in  the  street,  and  flitting 
bU  Uijwe,  in  revenge,  as  was  suppo^^ed,  for  some  ohnoxiuua  words  ^pitken  hj 
him  in  the  House  of  Commons.  This  ordains  ifiatif  anyone  **of  malice 
aforethought,  and  by  lying  in  wait,  unlawfully  cut  out  or  di.--able  the 
tongue,  put  oni  au  rye,  slit  the  nw*e,  cut  <df  a  uttse  nr  lip,  or  cut  off  or  dis- 
able any  Umb  or  member  oi  any  other  person,  with  an  intent  to  maim  or 
diMJifjure  him,  he  shall  be  deenu'd  a  tclori  without  hetiejii  of  clerfjy.**'^  Bj 
A  law  pai^sed  in  the  43  George  III  {Lord  Elleuhonmyh' »  Art  {f\  )  alt 
wilful  and  malicious  maimiiuj,  stabbing,  or  cutiing,  ivith  intent  to  murder» 
rob,  maim,  di/tjigurr,  or  dimtibte,  or  to  do  dome  **  (/rireons  Oodi/y  harm,*'  is 
de<darcd  felony.  By  a  law  parsed  in  the  9  George  IV,  chap.  Jtxxi,  it  ia 
enarted  "ihal  if  auy  porsou  shall  maliciously  ghoot  at  another,  or  cut,  «tal>^ 
or  wound,  with  intent  to  maim*  disfigure,  or  disable,  or  to  do  some  other 
•grievous  bodily  harm,' it  sliall  be  deemed  felony  in  all  cases  where,  if 
death  had  ensued,  it  would  have  amounted  to  murder."  (Lorfl  Laos- 
downe's  Act.  |  This  act  \»  »&\d  to  have  originated  in  an  attempt  of  one 
H<iWttrfl  to  raunlcr  with  a  Idunt  weapon  I 

In  1721  J/r.  f  o^v,  u  barrister,  and  Mr,  Woodhurne,  were  conviHed  and 
futntff'fl,  ihe  one  for  hiriufj  and  abrtfioff,  ihe  other  for  aetunlly  itliitintj  the  no^e 
ni  Mr.  Crijtpe,  Coke's  brother  in-law,  Cttke,  with  great  etIVontery,  ^d 
Uiftt  hid  aim  woa  to  munler^  and  when  found  guilty,  asked  ii*  the  nose 


,  •  Blount  (•' OltwpogrMphJH  '*)  d*?rtvc«  It  from  tbf  Lntin  mantug, 

I         f  Mi-ck  givi**  the  loUowing  iijrUm.«  mrift"  fn.m  Oic  old  Atiglo.8«xon  Uw«  ("  EdJn« 

burgh  Kni-yeloji  ,"'  vol,  li,  p.  IM,  Am»:*ric«»i  fdiliun  ;  BHrk,  toe  at,,  p.  MiO,  niil(?) : 
I     •♦  C  V.  rquiiU  rurntni  vmIuu  in  O'ln   uf  prt'sont  d»y.     Lch»  of  We  «r  t'y**,  60  ihil- 

Hngn,  <!.  V^,  £*2'Ai ;  h  wound,  ('i»u»iin;  l»mcn»'»«,  iiO  »to(i|ir»Kb,  C.  V.^  £\'A> ;  dillii, 
'  deultu'«8,  25  ^hillirlK^t  C  V  ,  JtJUo;  nt»e  yun-iui^,  U  rliiilingH,  C,  V'.,  £40;  n  fronl 
I  UhAh,  U  »J»illiiig*,  C.  v.,  i:30;  tin  «-ye  looih,  4  fhilting*,  C  V.,  X'JO."  (Money 
j      WM  in  IhiiM*  dHVA  t>uv  hundffd  tin}*-*  n»  vnltiHlilit  h>>  iiuw,  Ht  liMii^t. ) 

1  A  privil*  jufi"  of  (Irr^iyiuMfi,  i<t«<Mtfitiirtj{  th**m  fr«jin  iIih  Jjin-dtrijtin  of  Ihv  Iribu- 

n«T«.  A»  »ll  who  oould  ii-'Hd  wtrt?  tHlIrd  cle/  ka,  mufiy  luymitu  bcnftittnl  tiy  tbU  ;. 
I      but  •«  M  tayiiiMh  WMM  Mill  Miltrweii  111  ri'Lciv*.'  llki^  hcnvtHl  twirtt,  Uv  wiu  on  eitiiming 

it  branded  with  h  hot   imn  on  (hi<   left  thumb.     In   Englnnd  thin  (»tily  iijiplk*d  U>- 

Iviouy.     Jjuncllt  of  otorgy  wuii  Hbulii*hcd  by  7  i&  8  Gt-urgc  1 V,  c.  xiviii,  t.  t$. 


I     iviutiy. 


1052 


OK   BBLF-INPLICTKO   TNJURIBS, 


could  l>e  gaid  to  be  elit.  wUIiId  the  meaaing  of  the  act,  when  tJie  edee  of 
it  wa-?  tiot  eut  through?  To  thia  the  Lord  Chief  JuHtic^.  Sir  Peitr  KI  ^^ — 
replied  :  **  It  iss  true,  the  edge  of  the  uo»e  wa*  not  filit,  but  the  cut 
athwart  the  nose,  which  cut  »ei>arated  the  tieeh  of  the  ooae,  and  cut 
quite  through  the  Dostril.  This  I  take  (he  added)  to  be  a  slitiing  of  tl 
nose,  and  iii^  nunjtoti  nwore  the  nose  ukm  sHt,'^  (Hargrave,  vul.  v,  p.  211, 
Beck  givers  uuiuerous  decii^iouA  on  technical  points  conuectcd  with  th< 
acti*.  {.See  he,  cit.,  p.  651.)  Ooe  WiUinm  Lee  was  tried  iti  the  Old  Bciilej 
in  176'i,  fur  attempting  to  cat  hU  wijts  throat  with  a  mxur  while  tL4e«j 
The  wound  was  three  inched  long,  but  did  not  prove  mortal.  Thii*  wi 
decided  not  to  be  au  offence  within  the  Croveutry  Aetl  It  would  now, 
course,  be  held  to  be  "grievous  bodily  barm.*'  (CJeorge  111,43,  or  IV^, 
Dr.  Taylor  states  that  the  late  Chief  Baron  Pollock  statetl  on  one  oe^ 
siou  tliHl  *'  "t/riemu^  builili/  harm  *  would  rta^omtbly  apply  to  ^*«.'/i  an  injui 
ae  u'vuhl  render  medical  trerdmenl  necessary. *^  Again,  in  Hftf  v,  H'tyn 
Central  Criminal  G>urt,  Sept.  1847,  the  judge  held  that  **  llie  uttant 
the  prisoner  wa^  to  be  consideivtl  by  the  jury.  It  was  not  becaui<e  seriui 
injury  was  the  re-ult  of  a  prisoner';?  act  that  they  were  thereft»re  to  tuf<4 
hk  intention  was  to  do  that  injury."  The  prisouer  had  kicked  a  girl 
ihe  lower  part  ot  the  abdomen.  The  surgeon  described  the  mjury  an  jnu 
serious  ;  at  one  time  he  considered  the  life  of  the  prosecutrix  whs  indan|^ 
and  iihe  would  s^utfer  from  it  all  her  life  in  all  probability.  Yet,  in  cona 
quence  of  the  iudge's  ruling,  the  pri.^oner  was  only  found  guilty  of 
common  assault!  On  the  other  hand,  in  Reg.N.  Davus  (Chelnit^foi 
Autumn  Assizes,  1871),  a  half  drunken  prisoner  in  a  quarrel  had  sudden! 
stabbed  the  prosecutor,  whose  life  was  in  danger  for  a  fortnight,  and 
was  laid  up  for  a  month.  Baron  Bramwell,  in  commenting  on  the  dcfeii< 
that  prisoner  had  no  intent  to  produce  grievous  b(>dily  harm,  said,  "Tl 
jury  might  satisfy  themselves  on  that  point,  by  hioking  to  the  circumstances 
of  the  ease.  Could  a  man  inflict  such  a  wound  a^  this  without  huving  an 
intetuion  to  inflict  grievous  bodily  injury?  The  prisoner  was  not  so  drunk 
but  that  he  knew  what  he  was  doing,  and  all  the  circumstances  showc 
preme<lilation  and  intention,  the  nature  of  ihe  wound,  ihe  weapon  used,  a i 
the  part  of  Oie  body  struck,  where  an  injury  was  so  likely  to  lie  dangerous 
The  prisoner  was  found  guilty  of  the  intent.  {See  also  Reg.  v.  Mivi/it 
Devices  Summer  Assizes,  1838.)  Dr.  Taylor  justly  remarks  that  the  inlrj 
is  usually  proved  by  no/imedical  evidence.  But  there  may  be  dyii 
declarations.  {iSee  hejort.)  (Taylor,  p.  456.)  Beck  adds  to  his  chapt 
on  this  subject  of  maiming  a  resume  of  the  laws  of  most  of  the  Unti 
Stales.  By  the  statutes  oi  Delaware,  North  Carolina,  Counccticut,  Pen! 
sylvania,  Tennessee,  and  Vermont,  caMmlion^  or  cutting  ofl''  all  or  any 
the  genitals,  is  felony,  Uiud  in  the  two  first-named  Stat^  punished  wil 
death. 

We  mud  remenU^er  that  many  minor  injuries  are  Mlf-inflicted,     In  coui 
tries  where  conscription  is  enforced,  it  is  customary  for  young  men  to  rau" 
tilate  their  lingers  and  thumbs."^     Even  severe  injuries  are  sometimes  pur- 

*  PttUroun  18  8«id  lo  be  derived  tbui*:   From  ;»o//«:,  m  thumb,  niid  <rM«uo«re,  to 

cutoff",  becauw!  the  cowards  (vf  rnicbnt  dny?  u>»6d  ihu*  to  di»obf»«  ;' '-  - 

Pi/tnian  hnt,  given  uft  the   tnllowint!::  '^  A    llu-^gijin  cunMT)j>t   wn  wi| 

huring  the  drum  of  his  ear  (uiwiulininH  tjmpHni),  t«i  ».vic«p«  riuliUnj,  .         Tl 

Accu'^itlion  wiu  supported  by  medicHl  i*vid<'noe.  It  wit*  referred  io  li  con:ira»ii»U 
Including  >L  Poiiiinin  who  found,  on  CMr^fiit  exnminntion,  tbttt  the  uptTtui 
b*<«ide4  reitenibling  thoae  mndn  by  ()ideiu«o,  whs  in  the  lowttr  part  of  t)t*«  m»ii»hrat 
New  MS  ihu  riuMitUfi  iiiidit^vrius  ^  xtt^rnus  hiiH  n  biickwnrd  nnd  upwnrd  direction, 
•rtitlciiil  opening  would  mo-t  prohnbty  h.ive  tx^eri  in  tho  middle  or  up|M;r  pkrc 
•acmbrnnc;  u  was,  however,  «t  ibe  bolu>m  of  it.  On  lb»j«e  griiuudi»»  thv  mi 
«itl«d," 


*t?!--:"'  ii-iifT'--:  •»!   :)»"nT*".  ■'■■*'  '■   ■■~iniiij».>  i-i*-    ..  i...   i  >;»    •      y.    .    . 

.z'-^a*  '•   11  I'^.'f- ■   I. in     '•    ?.  '*'•■•  .   ^  «i  :\%i-   .1     •      »'     ■    ■••         ■ '»  , » 

wit     •".: — U'  ■.!-!i~-i    r    nvit^*^  \*      -i-*  "i     :?<  ■*•■*    •♦     »..  ■••  •     >  • ».     »■     » 

&  £Z  '".  '     ivdj.*   r  I 'rti!i-*     M       *'••'  *.i  •;   \-«'f   i     ♦■  v  a-  v, •    » 

•'.T--^:!    ".!•-'.•  ■ji.".     N  .  iiifr'i.s      ..•«. -1   •■■■x  .■     .        ,  r.-'i.    ,. .,  .  .  .. 

iC'i    :r-:»*'>i.      '."i*^  -i^'S   ."HS*;  's  z"''-''    "^    «^'     ^l  *  '      ■•■'»•       \  >  • .    ..    «  'l» 
rirr.-r. "  V'.      .  -.    'i'T       r'V;Sf    ■    V"'t  .>     ,■•*■    t    ■    ■■■i*\     •    •  ■■      .« ■■  .  « 

simiUr  £-.".•:  ■:  v:-^  ■:  rv"^;.':  v-  i-i-v-*  .  V  '^  »■«•*•  ■  ..  .<  ., 
w"..':i'l   *#*t-':i.     r"  r*:3'!«f7».T^ '":■■■•''*'' r"  >»•  '"i-N'-i.  »••    ■  «  «  ■!>■ »  -sv    ».     ■•  •••• 

hU  jru'.ir::i!r.  :  rrlcll'ir'i  :o  '.'.iV<;"  ':!;*'.  .■*  'vi::'',:"  !,,,>•■'■.•   «■   '.    ...  ..      .      Kt 

«in:i.  airh'Ujh   n?  «.i^ea>.i  b-xi:*"s  ^^»u■vi  Iv  t-itsui      U*  '•*■.».'  w  «.:  «■■  ■  •  i  ^< 
loDiT'.cu'iindiiy  !>>  she  ex:t'iu  i>r  »K»ui  ■"  ■  "■••».  i"-*  mi  »J«tv,  ■...!  ii....^      •  .. 

n'fjht.     <  >[ilv  the  iMte-jTUiiu'iits  wt'r\'  i{i\ii(^\{       M  '.!in    «»   «'!'  i- 'i   ««  <       .k 
for  ni=^rly  'Ar-v  itirh-'.^,  h!uI  in  h  dir>vti»'ii  f'lom  ...»..•       y     ...  ...  i.  .., 

net  an«l  a  .-iik  h:iiuikorohii*f',  wliirli  lir  w\»l^■  ^\n^\^•i  Im  )•  n  »  >  »•..» 
«i!vid»?«l.  So  pi>wert"iil  a  bl*>w  m^  \o  ilivi»li'  nU  jln-.-.  ;i>  .  !»■  "Mi.,  i.  .ni ) 
have  iiiflicTel  a  less*  suiHTtioinl  K'<iin»  on  tlir  b»-«.l  IIh'  Kmi;.  m  I  t.,  ii«ii« 
"in  killinsr  the  as.-ia.ssin  "  li;iii  h  iliirk  rovninr  »»i  M..  .J  ■«<  ••  .l.n.i..  I  -h 
Had  lu^  H'ally  usi'd  it  to  sttili.  llif  rl«i|lt«-i  mid  rl><  It  (.•>•  »,>nl,|  li.t«  mM.,.,! 
otf  siinie  of  the  hlmni  in  willidniuin^-  it.  imd  \tl«>il  nitKiiu.  .1  u  xil  I  I.,  in 
longitudinal  .<(ri:e.  Dr.  Man*  dmni'il  ihi«  »licli>  .  •!  n*  pn  ii<it.|i  il  ■ '-  •'  ■< 
no/  f^trrt'/iftouilintf  vufh  fhr  fin-rf  ♦•/'  thr  iMni/ni/  .  m? 

A<i  Na{Mih'iin  was  (»nc  rvi-niiii;  ill  lhi<   ruil,   ni  >:i    i  I I   ••    ,  ■•m,.    • < 

rushed  towards  him  with  tin*  rrv  nl" "    Im»si.»i.i  '      Sn-    //.     / ..  *    i   ...  .  •  ■ 

He  i'fll   m'ar  the  ^roup  whirh  Miiiiuiiiidi  i|    hiii>i|i<Mii    •iml .nu 

tion.  he  wa^  found  to  havi*  two  winindc,  Iimmi   i\tii.  1.    I.I I    il  ...    |       ||,. 

ascribftl  tlif.-^*  to  con^iiirutori,  liMl  nniiii  ■  >iiili|  )•■     i I    il l.   «!■     ..■•i...i 

were  rhi>tM|  jilrnoot  iiHtantly.      riH'«  n  v'««'    ■•I'-  «  ■■«•  I     '•  ■  - 

the  wounds  wrrt' .<^rif-i  II  flirt.«-d.     'I'i'li,|i    ::.       \ I  If.-,. 

p.  !''<>*.)' 

It   i^   Riit  'inly  [K'i>M.i?ilf>,  hnr.  proliiM'-    ili>t(    t.  ,•  /  .i  • 

det'orni i I V.  f-rr..  produced    hy  »" hI'miI,  •, i  -.j i i  ,•  i. 

the  mnomit  nj  nnnj»*'.itA'ih*,ti    ft,    \,i-    ,t !■  •!    I  .■      ■■   >.    (..,..- 

i."oni{iarii»-' 'ifrpfi  p^-f^in-vt  riicdniil  nu  ••  '<•  li  .■  'I..       ■  >.  ■#•.,. 

join?  To  rrjil  f  arnl  •■rnril'.  "T' ■•(■  I  ii.'.i .  .1.1- 1 r.  ..  i. 

aid  ■■t'rh*-  -ijr_'*ri»ii  N'.  -n-/   v!.  i.'  "i..i   .r  i..  ...        i-  ■ .   m.     #  ■  ■ 

or'.rht-r-  wli-i  -.:iv-  m-i-;.  :i' < -.ji  ■.'.!. '.  ;   ...,  ..    .1 ., 

in»^:!r..-i.  ..p   ."iV   '/..Ml'   «T»i,.-."       .\     I.,..., I.    .,       ■:..,'     i:  .. 
lar^"--  ri    •  ri'-*'   :.  vi»i     i-. <«.'..!;    :'..■     ..      .    .  i.      '"  • 

b.lii    ■/»-":i   :lrr-:i;.'rj-.j       •     jii*     ,i|       ,•     i     .-  •.       .      i..         .■     -      '"    i      ,■ . 
d'.    :l«i'   "A  IW   '.Ki:     .ii'T"   i.--    ■■un-.    •.■     ...      i       i      I'    .'" 
•vii'-M    V',11  i|     y.i'f*    V  1.1    /•III'.  I      I  .■■   .     •  ;    .    ■        1   . 

•fj     -ilI'M       !».■-•  .V       l.il!      ■.■l»|i,#'-.l"M.  .'.'.      /.    •   ■-.      ...■.•!  /.    ■  ' 

fj*'.'    -r   ■,1-    x.iiil       •    'I     nu.*      ■    r.i  ■    I     »■••!     i     '.  ■ 


1 

rl,.,l 
1      .  • 

1 1 

"";:. 

1'..' 

'  ■'  •/ 

'.  .• 

'  / 

'.      ^ *'i.*"    •■;  ,!■-,. f>     I  .i'. 

iii*a..ii':      \f-i  '  .1.    •     I.  /  •  .1 
*:i  ■,   i.i>;    I.       -.-I-'  '..,.    -     ■■. 


1054 


L    ENVOI. 


2.  The  elAtion  tn  life,  mental  chAracterii^ties,  f^eoeral  intellij^e 
afquirempnts,  and  the  occupation  (if  any)  of  ttie  injured  person 
all  be  cHrefully  r<msi«lere<i,  Id  the  case  of  a  cbiM,  the  rank  or 
must  be  fixed  by  that  of  the  parents  and  guardian*.  To  ao  arl 
Jir^i-t'lasB  mechanic,  a  slij^hi  damage  to  one  eve  or  a  finger  may  be 
more  consequence  ihan  the  loss  of  a  whole  leil  limb  might  be  to  a  la' 
man. 

3.  The  previous  *'earninp*,**  or,  at  all  events*  previous  condition 
injured   person   must  be  taken  into  account  along  with  the  malterl 
tiuned   ouder  No.  2.     A  prima  donna,  a  first-class  actor,  a  fa^hi 
phviiiciiin,  or  a  succe#i«fid  author  may  be  earning  their  £10,0(M 
beftire  tlie  accident.     Therefore,  do  not  look  only  to  the  nam<?  of  ih 
fessinn  or  trade. 

4.  In  the  case  of  females  of  almost  all  ages  and  raok»,  and  in 
men,  we  iiiUf?t  not  forjret  that  defonniftf  is  a  serious  iietrimenl  to  sua 
life.  It  may,  in  the  former  case,  either  prevent  marriage  or  cuushj 
be  less  fortunate;  and  it  may,  in  both  sexes,  be  a  bar  to  employiil 
to  guccess  itii  lnifiine.<«.  Even  such  a  pkin  disea-ie  as  eczema  Uui 
kiKHvn  to  make  people  commit  .suicide  from  the  difficulty  i>f  getti 
phiyiiif nt.  A  noseless  peri^oii,  unless  fitteil  with  nn  artificial  suU 
could  ^('iircely  hope  to  get  any  but  the  most  menial  employment, 
case  of  the  eye,  do  not  forget  that  injury  to  one  eye  is  apt  to  cause 
to  the  other  (it  k  said  by  ^sympathy ) ;  in  any  case,  the  fact  hai!  h^ 
often  noticed  to  be  denied.  Unless  the  UHeless  eye  be  entirely 
and  soujeLimes  even  then,  ihe  healthy  and  unhurt  eye  will  often  bl 
ache,  and  liiil,  and  show  other  signs  of  suffering. 


L'ENVOL 


Dark  and  devious  as  arc  the  ways  of  crime  and  crimtnaU.  «4eali 
secret  as  are  the  steps  of  the  poisoner  and  aA^iaAiin,  yet  there  are  fei 
of  crime  on  which  the  science  of  Forensic  Medicine  cannot  throw 
of  light.     Although  snmeof  the  subtler  alkaloids  and  rarer  p--    •••- 
difliculties  in  their  detection  which  severely  tax  the  highest 
toxicidt)gi?t — whilst  questions  of  personal  identity,  or  the  onL:ii»  '>r 
appearance.*?  in  the  dead  body,  may  prove  no  leas  puzzling  to  the 
mcdirO'legist — yet  no  medical  man,  engaged  in  actual  practice,  can 
tain  thiit  he  may  not  be  called  upon,  ere  the  day  is  out,  to  decide  « 
of  the  questions  we  have  discu.ssed.      To  attain  spcoial  eminence 
department,  requires  special  study,  but  every  medical  practitioner 
to  know  the  general  principles  of  forensic  medicine.     And  other 
being  equiil,  he  will  be  the  best  medico-legist  who  brings  to  his  work 
ough  practiral  acquaintance  with  his  art,  a  keen  eye  to  obi^erve, 
partial  mind  to  reHcct  and  to  decide  upon  the  facts  of  each  ca^e;  and 
first  aim  is  not  to  di>tingui?ih  himself  in  the  witnejw-bojt,  or  in  the  c 
of  the  daily  pres.*,  but  to  discover  and  confirm  truth.     It  is  truth  i 
aiifl  truth  in  words,  wlvich  will  on  the  one  hand  lead  to  the  eunvio 
the  guilty,  and  oo  the  other,  which  is  surely  oo  less  importaot, 
acquittal  of  the  innocent. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY. 


AMnnUi  H'  ffr/ff'inf  P^ihfiquf  ef  ^fllf^!f■ine  l^fffrttc—MM.  Adi'lon,  Andrttl,  BMrruel, 
D'Arf<n»  Chf»vit11ipr,  Vcvt^r^'w,  E-qiiir<»l,  GnuUier  de  ClHuhrir,  KMrnuflrew,  Lpurot, 
Mhix,  Orfilft,  Ptirent  DiahaU-let,  Villorm^,  etc.,  elc.  PariB,  A.D  18*29,  to  present 
dale. 

Brcti,  T.  Ji.  ami  J.  B. — "  Elempnls  of  Mt»<3ieal  Jurisprudence."  7th  edit.  Lon- 
don, 1842. 

BfHof,  J  J.—**  Coure  de  Mfedwirve  LejjfMle  Thi»orique  et  Pratique,*'  etc.,  ©to.  2*" 
Mil.     pMTis,  1811. 

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ADDENDA. 

Edmonda  v.  The  Prudential  Attauranee  Company. — Mr.  Edmonds  has  kindly  in- 
formed U8  that  on  the  16lh  May  last  (1876)  the  Supreme  Court  of  Appeal,  consisting 
of  the  Rt.  Hon.  the  Master  of  the  Rolls,  the  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Coleridge,  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  the  Common  Fleas  Division,  and  the  Hon.  Mr.  Baron  Pollock,  set  aside 
the  verdict  of  the  jury  at  Croydon,  on  the  ground  of  the  misdirection  of  the  Lord 
Chief  Baron  ;  thus  establishing  Mr.  Edmonds's  case,  and  confirming  the  statement 
made  in  the  note  to  page  684. 

Mr.  Haynos  Walton,  writing  to  the  Timea^  under  date  January  8,  1877,  says, 
that  although  color-hlindness  is  generally  congenital,  it  may  be  acquired.  One  rail- 
way accident  was  due  to  the  engine-driver  having  been  thus  affected.  His  sight 
had  been  tested  some  years  before. — See  Remarks  on  Color' Blindness  or  Daltonism, 
pages  760,  812. 


1060 


INDEX. 


Albamen,  aoiion  of  bydmohlorio  aoid  on,  256 

action  of  snlphurio  aoid  on,  2»& 

Motion  of  nitrio  aoid  on,  247,  252 
Aloobol,  434 
.    absolute,  434 

(amylic),  439 

analysis  in  enses  of  poisoning  by,  437 

oases  of  poisoning  bj,  438 

obronic  poisoning  by.  436 

diagnosis  of  ptiiraning  by,  436 

ethylic  (mm  aloobol),  434  ' 

fnUl  doses,  436 

how  far  opiatn  may  be  administered  in 
onses  of  poisoning  by.  336 

roethylic  (M'^tmHhylioalcobol),  439 

mistaken  for  rffrotn  of  opium,  335 

post-mortem  nppearanoes,  436 

properties  of.  434 

quantity  present  in  winei  and  bear,  434. 
912 

state  of  pupils  in  poisoning  by,  485 

symptoms  of  poisoning  by,  435 

testn  for.  437 

treatmentof  poisoning  by,  436 
Aloobolism,  ohrnnio,  436 
Alcoholic  mnnia,  751 
Aldebyd.  435.  437 

Alltali  works,  nuisances  arising  from,  253 
Alkalies,  action  of,  lu5 

general  tests  for  the.  106 
Alkaline  earths.  m<*tals  of.  120 

tests  for  stilts  of  the,  123 

metals.  104 
Alkaloids,  notion  of  onld  and  hot  sulphuric 
aoid  on  certain,  320 

systematic  analysis  for,  81 

action  of  nitric  aoid  on  vegetable,  247 
Alkanet,  spectrum  of,  519  , 
Almond  (bitter).  413 

(sweet),  413 

flavor  (Me  oil  of  bitter  almonds),  413 
Aloes.  295 

case  of  poisoning  by,  296 
Aloetic  ncjd,  2»6 

powder.  2y.'> 
Aloe  vulgaris,  295 
A  loin.  2yfi 
Alum,  no 

cases  of  poisoning  by,  112 
Aluminia,  presence  in  nitric  ucid,  244 
Amnnitin,  284 
Amiirylliduceae.  N.  0  ,  265 
Anihidextrous  pec>ple,  976 
American  ash.   108 

helleboie,  '^2t^ 
Ammonia,  f>esqui  carbon  ate  of,  117 

solution  of.  1 15 

aoiilypia  after  poisoning  by,  117 

cases  of  poisoning  by,  118 

fatal  doses,  1 1<^ 

fatal  quantities,  1 16 

gas,  symptoius  produced  by,  116 

post-morlem  np|>earunces  after  poisoning 
by.  116 

solution  of,    percentage  of  nmmonia  in 
solution  of  different  gravities,  115 

symptonis  of  poisoning  by,  116 

tests  for  frcf  and  combined,  116 

treatment  after  poisoning  by.  116 

use  in  poisoning  by  prucsic  acid,  406 
Ammoniated    mercuiy   (se«  mercury,    ammo- 

nious  chloride  of),  208 
Ammonium,  115 


Ammoninn 

chlorid 

Bulphid 

tetra  n 

Amnion,  tb 

Amygdala  i 

Amygdnlin, 

Amygdalus 

Amyl,  aceti 

nitrate 

Amylena,  4 

Amylic  alei 

physiol 

tests  fo 

Anaoardiac 

Analogies  c 

Analysis,  c< 

evident 

evideni 

68 
evident 

65 

in  eas4 

pois( 

system 

oaset 

Annroirta  c 

Ancuth*4ia 

Anatomy  a 

Anatto,  sta 

AndrogynsB 

Androgyni, 

Aneurism, 

Anemone,  c 

bepatit 

borteot 

nemerc 

pulsati 

patens 

Angle,  the 

Angustura 

Anilin,  441 

action 

cases  o 

cases  t 

of.  4 

dyes,  I 

experii 

medici 

oxidatj 

mag 

post-ra 

prepar 

proper 

relntio 

ing  ( 

syropt< 

tests  f( 

treatm 

Animal  bo< 

on,  ; 

charco 

64 
poison) 
Animnls.  vi 

on.  6y 

Antiarin.  2 

Antinris  to 

Antidotes, 

deftnit 

mecha 

physio 

Antimony, 


IMl 


UM»lbr,  t» 

■ii»lvtai»<tM 

«MM  iC  I  lllll  t  %y.  114-t« 

4^<  ii  I  iMM  ry  u  imnf  iin,  117 
U*nk  •  i«it  ^,  UL  t«f 


•e  11$ 


£Si' 


fcf,l 

•  S«i  fv.  IM 

Ua»  vT  4Mlfe  mJIv  frf«— lag  br, 

I  IT 
tfftotaMt  in  pMMiiaf  hy,  I3T 

Apn« ..  <lM«b  ^7.  ^46.  8t» 
Afiwrjiitcr*.  B.  Ol,  fM 
Apono'iikla.  SXl 

Apoplvxj.  4«>tia>ii>M  b«l«ee«  vjiBploBa  of 
p(HM>f iac  ft»d«  1T4,  1*J8.  I«i9 

in  ifcfMC  TO  7 

•lat*  vt  papiU  Ib,  435 
Aq««  aaHBimUi  (jor  afoaioiiiA.  MlBlios  of). 

n& 

Aqaft  fortl*  (i.^  itit7i«  meU),  %iZ 

A'ltts  rej{U,  2tt} 

Aqoiroln.«r>,  N   O.  Mft 

Afochi*  li]rpo|;»4  SM 

Ar«hH  •Ul»,  508 

Ar«««  M^bili*.  Ml 

Ar^^l*  U)  jrtvgtHUifljr,  ti06,  014 

Argul.  )(iy 

Am.  ia^««qrpm«i)ta  nf  U»»>  5Tft 

Afmy.  4irt«r7  uf.  Vtl 

Aroidrv,  N   o  .  2Art 

ArMniiU*,  arlton  uf  alkaline.  1&T 

eatea  of  poUooiDj  bj  atkstin*.  185 
Anwaie  Moid,  ti>7 

qu.ir>UUtire  Mtiioation  of,  158 
"U»  autii).   M7 
.-.7 
;*ti  •^>Dio,  aulphiHe  oO>  I^S 

Arieoie-«iit«rf,  UO 
ArMoioul  candk*.  UT 

Nherp  «»ii»b.  157 
whent.   1^7 
ArMBicuiu,  prfi|>«rtic*  of,  l^<f 

ah*l]r«i«  nf«rr  pf»t»oninf(  by,  16tf 

obloridf  i..f.   l:.J?.  as? 
Cnm |Hfiyi4li!  of,   l;tfi 
•xbvriinrnla  on  aninaia  irllti,  159 
ii.aide  of.  )6P 

pukt  luorUiQ  It |>pe*raDO«t,  150 
•aijihi'if  »t  1-^H 
AraaniuttJi  mcU,  or  wbit«  arMAlo,  13T 

anatjriij  Id  oa«M  *>(  pMivoDinf  by. 
153 


kbv.  Ml 


1«1 


•C  tM 


lU 


iMri«MMw  lit 

i*  Ma  «r  Bi^iurt^  tti 

lUiah'ttMC   ion 

ft»t  ft  Mr«.l  «aWlltoaM  «#lte  U^ 

«T.  155 
fliyaiaal  in^Mtfao  <  tit 

i^atti»M«a.  Ill 
I  ia  aai— Mt»l  a>ffir,  IT? 
tmtmtm  !•  M&n*  aa^  Im 
r>a««i«  <  la  lb«  Ml  «■  «r  •  Ubtvr« 
153 

raMM  sC  l^vgar  mmd  flawlla  Ibr 
itOMtiiM  <  I*  «rimai0  li<|«M% 
15« 
rieiaa  of  Frraa«ii»»  aad  V«a  Baba 
Car  da«a«iiMi  •(  ia  <MMikli«  Iii|«t4«» 
lU 
mm*  ti  <MT!fff  for  dt»<tfoit  of.  Ui 


loiMok'. 


SebMlo'a  ioal.  H« 

MporatKm  of  oiO'enrT  horn.  JOt 

aolobitUy  in  v<i^  t*  nf.  IM 

ajnif4onAi  of  ]»  tS9 

aysplaMf  etv»i|.<;r..   wi.ii   thoaa  of 
eorrooiT*  •ahiironu,  SOI 

totiaforool.d.  la 

t*9t«  in  »(ii|uiii«tn,  I4A 

tiisa   of  (l«3tb  aAor  p6|«oiitnf   bjr, 
140 

UcftimrDl  afWr  polMnfnf  by,  UI 

«aM  of.  IIT 

ura  of,  by  cf^Mina,  19T 

UM  in  quaeh  ttUli;  ISS 

aae  of.  m  pluftnc  birttii,  13T 
Araniiou    aobydriUr    ia»«    afttniuqa    m)4)i 

137 
Ancoita  of  copper,  aborilva  oetion  of.  157 

poifooiof  by.  I5A 
Araanitaa  cif  toda  and  potaab.  155 
AratoaraUod  bydroRon.  I^^ 

caaaa  of  polaaoinif  by,  165 
ArtamUia  abfinibum,  3rt4 
Artrhf  R,  lint  (vf  prinoipjt).  03T 
Arttflcinl  tl«i««ri,  araanle  io,  150 
Arti6oiAt  r*«H|.(rrtt«"H,  810 
AriocArpftcfffi.  N.  0.,  200 
Arum,  3(M 

mAfiulatain   3AS 

eaaa  of  polfonlog  by,  260 
•aicaioQVi  3rtO 
Avai^na  ofllolnalia.  3)9 
At^fof'i,  Mttry^caiia  nf,  A.M 
Aiipbjrxia,  iM*Uoiki  lliut  pruUufi*.  02 
Afibaoia.  dvath  by,  fi&^ 
Alatacliuiiii  piiltiiunum,  ARS 
Atavitui.   "i'li 
Airopa  b'Ua*li>nna  f  jr<^  alrapia)^  ^^t 

obaraoUf*  uf  plant,  ^103 


»MX. 


■t  ta  IMMMinif'liyt  Mv 
Atr*>(lB  (watf«|te>.  MS 
Au'.  latotiM  in  Hfe  iMwraM,  itf 


ififBlkw  JMiDt  biimJm;  Sit 

tit>j4Mi«fOf««,Szt 


Aif 

A< 

Ainn<  Mid  (M  aiuto  Mi«,  SM 

Attach  thft,  7M 


B*d  mM  la  iMrv»iioB,  •!• 

Bit^^Jtr,  mm  ui  Mb*.  Wf 

BfkrbriioM  abM.  SM 
Btrb^r't  ifolmnmi  vkaat^  SS7 
BAdrai.  ISt 

aevtoto  of,  eaiwa  gf  pnjwiif  >y,  1S# 

cMbmMteoClSI     • 

OMM  af  MiMstaf  V>  IM 

«hlorid«  ot  tSl 

aM«0  «•!'  pwtaoalaf  bf  ,  IM 

( oapMBda  oi;  IM 

bTdnt*^  ISO 

oilraU  oC  ISl 

rawtof|iotooitebf,  IS4 

■■Iplwta  fit  ISl 
ISbrnif*  on  dorstioB  4»f  pragoMMj,  616,  •!• 

on  nteras,  62ft 
Bfirilln,  114 
UfiryiM,  120 

»nnlj8ifl  in  ens^t  of  poisoning  bj,  123 

vxpcrimentii  on  nnimalf  with,  122 

futal  duven,  121 

|H)iit-inorteai  app«ariino«fl,  121 

iLnd  iU  Bults.  Bjrmploms  prodaoed  by,  121 
Utftsfor,  123 

treatment  of  poisoning  by,  121 
Sarmtet,  etft  of,  582 
BiirUiei  and  Rilliet,   meMnrementi  of  obil* 

dren,  575 
Bjtttley'fl  solution,  382 
BntiJe's  ▼erniin-kiiler,  302 
Baynalt,  114 
Bp»rded  dnrnel.  287 
DA4*r'B  foot,  HbS 

ffrrrrt.Ul's  teSt.  609 

Bter,  adulteration  with  ouocalas,  328 

method  of  eztmoting  piorotozin    from. 

Beetle  wafers,  187 

Belladonna    {tfe    atropia),    experiments    on 
animals  with,  363 
-tate  of  pupils  in  poisoning  by,  334 
$^e  atropia),  cases  of  poisoning  by,  366, 
370 
Bflvcrrager,  composition  of,  912 
ll«Dt.kne  {sre  brnsoi),  441 

I  ollus  (sMbeuiulj,  441 
B»i]iE>l.  441 


1 

I 
41 »' 


Bite.  Mi 


ntb. 
•daib 
oTI 

aUral 

« 
e 


BiMlphtd 

« 


BIttMralH 


mmkhry 
BlMk4f»f 


ntgliti 

Bladder-|K 
Bladder,  i 
Blast- furn 
Blasiing  o 
Bleaobed 
Biracbing 
Bleeding. 
Bleeding  I 
Blende,  2'. 
Blindness, 
Biisler  be^ 
Blisters,  s 
Blood,  art 
aotioi 
actioi 
bodie 

cbemi 
coagu 
colori 
exam 

troi 
exam 

wil 

spe 
exam 

of 
guaia 
and  I 

BOO 

meth< 
oth 


14«4 


ISDBX. 


Cmfmaty  la  mm**  %wuL  TH 
a.  S2 


rjtm 


Car%«4ie  aeid.  44« 

*eu<i«  4a  MMxmmJk.  451 
»aaij<flM  is  caM«  •€ 

4il 
asti«ryrie  mCm*  cC  4J4 
caM«  Af  pai—iaf  by.  461 

Ai* 
£feX«I  •!<»•««.  4i« 

f4t4!  ^r\A    4>^ 

pr*p.-tr»ti4D  of.  44y 

U-f.  f.r    I  SI 

tre-ttrnebt  it  ea.««a  of  pobooia;  by. 
4.>-/ 
C»rV.n.  b)*i  prii'i*  of,  AlA 
Cftrl>'<iii<;  •'ill.  47'j 

iSMv*  of  p'/i'oninz  Hj.  4^ 

d.ffi'iM.ifj  of.  4-!2' 

j/'»i*or.oa<  41;. oo  of.  479 

f<'*pir  .lioo  of   4"!* 

pr'.p«!rti««  of,  47^ 

qaantity  n«c*^*»rj  to  be  pre«eot  id 

tb»  bi'jr^d  to  cau*«  death.  450 
ri'iAriritj  pr«»«ot  io  air.  4^i) 
quant iiy   in   »ir   nefreuary  to  extio- 

gui'h  a  tap«r,  4'5«) 
qonntirj  in  air  necessary   to  eaase 

4«>.-itb.  4';  I 
source*  of,  47S 

•yuif.ioni'  of  poisoning  by.  479 
l»fti»  f'.r,  4'i:{ 
lre«tai»-nl,   4'i3 
Carbonii  anhyflride  i«#^  eiirbonic  acid).  478 
diozi'J*!  iM^^  earbobic  acid;,  478 
oxide,  4n( 

anaiv'i"  in   casefl  of   poifoning    by. 

4S5 
can««  of  poisoning  by,  48(J 


lava 

Cmtmlmfty 

C 

Cataaka.  «aiaa  oC  itf 

Caaaca  af  ^MCk,  Ml.  iU 

(Umatie  <mt  tUwm,  aitrala  al).  SI* 
po<a«b  (jw  paCaaMaa  hyirml«).  1 
■ada  (jar  aa4wai  ky^r^la).  iU 

Cayaua  payyai,  2t7,  37S 

CaiMdiaavlVi 

CasMt-BMUac.  g«aaa  art  fraa  a.  481 
j  Caaira  of  gravity.  S77 
CapkMlia  ifeeaeaaaha,  MT 
Cariaa,  aeciaa  of  tW  aalU  «<;  ItS 
CanifteaCaa  af  iaaiaily,  744 
Orana;  185 

Ckah^,  tka  irv-Uag.  871 
CA^/^oc.  Mr,  «Ti4caea  oC  584 
Ch.Lnf««  prxiaced  by  birtb.  ^79 
Cbarcoal  bomiag.    gaSM   pr<>daeed    b 
4-54 

mephitie  eflavla  gireo  off  by,  48- 
Chastjty.  physical  sign*  of,  641 
Qit9*«.  po'MQoofl  action  of  479 
C3<«%er«.  Dr.  Norman,  on  abortion,  • 
Cbe^ii  ionium  glaaciam.  395 

miju4.  3V5 
Cb«iiit>.*al  coatbioatioo.  action  of  poitoi 

if*<i  by.  »6 
Cherry  kernels,  hydrocyanic  letd  in,  • 
ca.«e<  of  poisoning  by.  42  J 

laorel.  415 

oil  of.  415 

diftillad  watar  frooi.  415 
Chest,  how  to  open.  33 
Ck^ca't^  ff  G>H,  594 
Coilbliiins,  .^74 
Child  marder.  modes  of,  (^94 
Cbili  sallpetr*.  114 
Chloral.  454 

hydrate  (t^^  chloral),  454 

analysis  in  ease*  of  poi.<oning  by. 

cases  of  poisoning  by.  456 

cause  of  death  by,  455 

fata!  doses,  455 

fatal  periods,  455 

hydrate  as  an  antidote  for  stryehi 

post-mortem  appearai>ces,  455 

properties  of.  554 

symptoms  prodaced  by,  455 


1062                         ^^^V             INDEX.                                                    1 

A»ropl«,  m'i 

Beniol.  «Mei  of  poi*o(iiAg  by.  411 

■  nuly^ir'  In  oriMS  of  poi*oning  by,  3fl5 

prepjtrwtiofi  of.  44 1 

a^  nu  nritiilntfl  to  npium,  :il37 

;yujptouii  proUoeml  by,  441 

ciipes  nf  |K>ifi'>tiing  by,  ."JOW,  370 

teit«  for.  44  1 

fritttl  duflr^.  :<W4 

Benioyl,  hydride  of  <m»  oil  of  bU4«r^ 

fiilnl  periodft,  8^4 

41  :< 

povt-iuort^-iii  iippenranoes,  Sfi6 

Bertk'.li   Ibe  prieet,  901 

Bl.jtU  of  pupiU  ill  pui*ouing  by.  .H[i4 

Biuhroiiiil(«  ufpotacb  (««  pula»h,  dt« 

fymiituLuii  i»f  pviiiuijihg  with,  3^3 

otj.  my 

^^^^^^^■l 

Bikb.  »50 

1                                          trrntment  in  poisoning  by,  305 

Bile«tiiin9.  45 

Atropio  (jre  «tro|.i.t>.  »rtS 

Binux'iliile  of  ^ 

Aufcultittitiii  ill  lifcf  iti!>un)r»ce,  &37 

ecte^                      •  by.  4«J 

in  (iUfpected  tleiilh,  .Ifi.  37 

Biiiinaib.  eomj                 .  U7 

of  loeUl  heiirt,  «t>8 

ftdttUvmtiuo  wiih  arseDio  atid  a 

Amttrnliiiij  inxrcl  powdttr,  2V1 

of  leud.  1A7 

Autumn  crouH,  :VJ| 

IniiKit-teiy  of,  1«7 

AeoIic  <4(*»(i  (.in;  nit  rid  Koid},  243 

Dtlriite  of,    \f,1 

Altec?,  the,  754 

ticlion  on  Anituala,  167 
C4«»e«  of  poisoning  by,  1A|$ 
oxynitrute  of,   l«7 

Bnby  fnrmi'nt;,   029 

pr'>periir«  of.  167 

Biionti,  uiiwbi»li»'i*iinie.  47l> 

le-CH  for.   IDS 

Bnd  »(ut)U  in  stjirv.tion,,  920 

tri^nitrite  ut,  lfI7 

Bng*trr,  t>>*i^  ut  Mus,  78\> 

Bisulphide  of  carbon.  4M 

BatUa,    \\\  M.,  on  9<MU»t   orgnn»  of  r<elti9« 

cbronio  puieuning  by.  454 

urn 

rjipt-nnirnU  oa  aniuiata.  44 

Biirb4idocs  nlo9M.  2W5 

Bitter  altu..nd.  413 

B*fh,f  $  poisuiiea  wheat.  327 

uriifidal  oil  of  (w  nitfobei 

BaHuiii.  ii:o 

eMffhlial  oil   of  («##  oli  nf  ! 

ftortiHe  of.  oiMPB  of  poiBooing  by,  124 

lilond«>.  41^} 

caibunnt«  ut,  121 

Bitter  attn  <nd  WMt«r.  ^99 

cMeea  uf  puisoDiog  by,  124 

apple.  275 

chJoiiile  i>r  121 

CAAMva.  aV9 

I'jifii-P  ..f  pi/moning  by,  I2jt 

■wcci  (4rar  *uUnin),  382 

cnrnponnJii  of,   I2U 

Bl'd.nuH^  t  (iieta.  387 

bj-drHte.  \'li\ 

BiHck  biyony.  270 

Dilnile  of,   121 

Blaukdrop    AAl 

ea.*e«  of  poiiootng  by.  124 

Black  helUbore.  »67 

BdlpllUttf  iif.    121 

n.ghi«h-.de.  382 

Barftes   on  dur«iii»n  of  pregnancy,  <^16,  619 

prpp«r.  ;i7l 

DQ  uterus,  625 

Bladdei  po<Med  lobrlia.  3M 

^H                                                  BnrllU.  114 

Hludder,  wound*  of.  Kdl 

^■^^                                    Biiryut,  I2i> 

Uliiir  furniic«i,  gkiMa  pr>jduee>4  by.  4 

&n»}y><i:fl  iQ  ea9*B  of  pninoning  by.  123 

B4a«Mni<  oil  ij-»r  nitroglyoefln).  45J> 

ex|i«>ninfni0  on  unimul*  with,  122 

BlrMCljo.l  hiar.  uOl) 

fiit.'il  duKfi.  1^1 

Blraobing  powder,  98 

pO!<t-ujur(iiiM  uppearanosR,  121 

Bleeding,  scare  of.   S80 

Aod  it4iKuii{i,  «t>tuplumBprudue«d  by,  ISl 

Bleeding  f^oin  u  «or(iae.  1040 

iffU  fur.  123 

Blende.  22(1.  222 

treatment  nf  poisoning  by,  121 

Blindneii».  leigned.  812 

Baronel,  o«.xe  of.  3H2 

B.istor  beetle  (mv  ««ii^baHd««>.  4<* 

Bartbei  and  Rilliot.   mQasurvineQU  of  ebil- 

Bil*t«r«.  auiioi)  of,  400 

dren.  67B 

Blood,  arterial  and  veoowt.  948 

Biittley  tBoluiion.  .V{3 

iieiioD  of  hot  and  cold  *»t«rflfl 

Balila's  vvruiJR- kilter,  3(^S 

aciioD  uf  soap  and  wa.i«ratt,  il 

BayAuIt.  114 

bodirs    prodociof  epeOtPA   MlM 

Bearded  dnrnel.  287 

iiii>>t4ben  for.  519 

Bear's  foot.  U% 

cbemical  teet  lor.  5U7 

JWeavi'i  test.  fl09 

cvugutnliun  of,  ^00 

Beer,  tidu Iteration  with  ouccdliis.  S28 

ooloritig  matter  of.  5tO 

method  of  ejttmctiDg  pierotoxiu    from, 

exam  III  at  ioQ  of  urine  by  Lb«  fl 

:m 

Iroscope  for,  &I9 

Beetle  waferB,  187 

exiiniiutitinn  of  eUiin*  on  elotl 

B#tladnntia   {tr^    atrnpia).    txperimento    on 

wiih  *nrttiy  t)iatt«rt>,  wilb  l| 

aninala  with.  3rt.t 

(ipeoirt>eco{>«.  5|^                 . 

atnte  of  pupij»  in  puiBonInK  by,  Ui 

oxaiutiitUluD  witb  tbe  mi«raff« 

^^^^^H                                              (#^«atropitO,  onses  o(  poia<ii)tng  by.  8M, 

of  diitin*  on  eiirtb.  518 

370 

guainc<»m-rMin  te»l  for.  524 

^^^^^H]                                     B«verage>,  coaipnsUina  of,  912 

and  uiM|:<i'niii.  leparaUon  uf,  Ca 

^^^^■«                                            BvOtiDfl  («Y  brticol), 

ecopio  re>i«.irch.  61 W 

^^^^^H                                             collua  [»(!0  bvuKut;,  441 

foeihod    it(  ditilngoiebiiig    b«| 

^^^H 

otber  blood,  527 

^^^^^                           immmK.                         ^^106»^^H 

1     Bkod,  mtlliod  of  dlrtii««i«kisf  aeMtnftl, 

BHokBokiiig,  DM  of  bottaoboM  biM*  is,  !»            ^^| 

■                618 

Bfif(§*,t»»»of,\^i^                                                    ^^H 

1               Hi^VWMIMtortflir.kSft 

Brit*^  midwifa  of.  631                                                     ^^H 

■           ea  Mittoa,  1iara«  tte.,  &0T 

Bfmk  T.  K^fy,  ATS                                                         ^^H 

■           fhjficul  uod  «bMii«aJ  propOTliM  of.  Si5 

Bromal  bjdrato  {**t  brtimal).  454.  454                         ^^H 

K            «peclnMFopie  Uii  ibr«  MW 

pbyaiolojrtca  (  act  ioo  of,  1 54                            ^^^1 

^^H      tp*«lr«,  51 1 

Bromine,  caM>9  of  poiMiniaf  bjr,  100                             ^^^H 

^^H    fcrum.  ledon  of  falphnrie  ftfiid  «i»  13ft 

pbjfiologiciil  aelioo  of,  lUO                                      ^^^H 

^^B     fUinr,  504 

pre»eDce  tn  bTdroeblorie  acid,  2ST                          ^^^H 

V           wlion  of  iBordsBts  ma  mwrotfeciroaoop- 

^^^H 

ie  t«»L.  518 

BroDiinit  powder,  219                                                    ^^^H 

a«tioo  of  cold  wntrf  00.  507 

Brx>wo  BoM,  982,  98T                                                       ^^H 

•ge  of  »u in.  no  impedio>«Dt  to  mierooeop. 

Broeia,                                                                           ^^H 

ic  tMt,  5I« 

a«oo«iated  wiib  atrreboio.  Ml                               ^^^H 

ehonprrt  ia  tfa«  eolor  of,  511 

tTtDploaia  of  pukeoning  bj.  819                                ^^^H 

iuierci0(i««trMf«itpio  C'Xoikiiiiotion  00  tiotor- 

teaUfar,  3iy                                                                     ^^^1 

Hi  fAbrie«,  Mft 

toxical agical  analytU  319                                          ^^^H 

Blood  eluo,  505 

Braifrsi.                                                                                   ^^^1 

Blood-corpu»clM»  bodita  likely  to  b*  miatakaD 

Bryonia  diuica,  274                                                           ^^^^| 

for.  bU 

Brjunin.                                                                              ^^^1 

haiiiiin.531 

Bryonj.  274                                                                        ^^H 

meiKnirroeala  of.  SZS 

e»MM  of  poitfooing  witb.  274                                      ^^^1 

of  diffrrvDt  •oioi.al*.  531 

Boeton  o«  bymeo.  042                                                   ^^^H 

Blo»a  cr^iiKlt.  525 

Buffy  ewil.  5Mt                                                                   ^^^1 

ofdiflVivni  animalft.  MH 

Bui  lata,  VSI-V98                                                                      ^^H 

•x<  met  ion  of  bi'Mxi  from  «o«p  ood  woUr 

and  booea.  98A                                                            ^^H 

u*«-t|  for  wn»bin|r,  517 

how  d«(0«te*l,  1003                                                         ^^^H 

Blood- priDtf)  c<f  b«M«.  tio.,  M7 

rapidity  of  ii>gb^  988                                            ^^H 

Blood  ^Ui in*.  Witched,  VtH 

Borkinir.  H54                                                                             ^^H 

eiaminnliuii  of  ■  rr«*nt  rtaio  oo  a  whiU 

Ihtna,  Miaa.  M9                                                               ^^H 

Ubrtc  b/  tbr  ^pectroMopie  lent.  514 

BurtM  and  aeatda,  878                                                      ^^^H 

•xaittiaiiiiun  with  tbe  mierofptetroaeopa 

poniaortemappeAraDoao.  884                                ^^^H 

of  •fain  tn  Iraibrr,  5)7 

deftrees                                                                               ^^^H 

vxaalnalion    uf  waubvd    fabrtea    by  tbe 

opialet  in,  8H:}                                                              ^^^H 

inicr»-«preirMi>cnp#,  6 17 

wbeo  faLMi,  883                                                             ^^^H 

HaminiitDn    of  water  used  for  «a»hing 

Burying  alive,  35                                                                    ^^^H 

fabrb*  by  tb«  microipM  trove  opt.  517 

Builer  ■  «r«rmin.kin«r.  302                                         ^^H 

mieroicopic  aiaittiDatinoof  a,  iU 

Buttercup,  M58                                                                      ^^^H 

Biicru»()«ctrii9c!o|iic    exatoioiiiiuQ    of  old 

Bat  lor  of  attttoionj,  133                                                  ^^^H 

b|.K>d  fiato*.  h\fi 

^^^^H 

>iakr«l  eja  w|:ip«aranee»  of.  604 

^^^H 

^^K    on  iron  and  »taal.  5ci7 

Cadmlufli.  acUoa  of  tba  aalla  of.  168                           ^^H 

^^B   tbapr  of  *pi>4ft  Htid.  504 

Ctr^tuo.                                                                               ^^^H 

^"     HatnR  likely  lo  b«  tdistnkcn  for,  50» 

Caffein,  U!ta  in  opiam  poisoning.  3ST                             ^^^B 

Bine  onpprrHa  {M*  eofper,  •ulphale  of).  173 

Cklabar  bean.  2V2                                                                       ^1 

oinimrnl,  200 

OM»M  of  poianniDg  by,  295                                         ^^ 

pill.   2(H» 

oxperimeutr  on  animali,  293                                   ^| 

rocket  (It  aoonfia).  S49 

ftate  of  pupil»  in  pniaoning  by.  .^34                        ^| 

oiooc  (*  •  oopprr,  valpbata  oO.  17S 

aymptomv  prudueed  by,  294                                     ^| 

Tilriol  (#'#«uppar.  iqIphaU  of),   17.1 

treattnaDt  of  poieooing  by,  295                             ^| 

fieilllk(.pol»laof  uila,  rle  .  M8I 

Calamin.  220.  221                                                           ^^H 

BoBbjrx,  pni..<*n«'ti*  wction  of.  4l^5 

Oth$.  M^rc  AdI^^b*.  8t8                                            ^^H 

B«BaaBajd«t«rDiina  peraonal  IdeotilT.  5A0- 

CalaiMia  (^i>  liioe),  124                                                        ^^H 

^t^ 

eblurile        V8                                                            ^^^H 

^^■^  Bioroaoopieat  eboraetora  of.  661 

bypocbtorite  of,  itS                                                    ^^^1 

■Snao  eampbMr.  tm 

Caltndar  fur  pregnancy.  AU                                               ^^^^H 

B»n,4f*ti0  V    Hn^ttt.  T&9 

Calf.  ttDwholetouianaaa  of  tha  B*«t  of  •.  470             ^^^H 

htioiM,  imprlQii  of,  587 

Calomel,                                                                               ^^^H 

Bottle  glNH.  eecape  of  hydrotfhlorif  acid  faa 

praaeoce  of  eorrotif  •  aablimatc  Id,  398                ^^^H 

in  tbe  manofitotare  af,  253 

reaoliuna  of,  2418                                                              ^^^H 

'     BnMtdi$m.  75V                                                               ' 

Caltba  puliutri*.  2AV                                                       ^^^H 

Br%in.  haea  of  tha.  781 

C*»mpl^i,  oa«a  of,  8^4                                                      ^^H 

potton*  •iTirellnt;  tb«,  54 

444                                                                   ^^^H 

weight  of.  479 

Caoipbora  bornto»  S88                                                ^^^H 

Braaa,  221 

latirel.  288                                                                  ^^H 

B<a<j  muttoo.  474 

offioiDaroB.  S88                                                      ^^H 

»r»BilW(H>4  •lain*.  bW 

Canpbur,  288                                                                     ^^^1 

Broad,  action  of  nitrio  add  on,  247 

at  an  aiitldnte  for  alryohola.  306                            ^^^H 

BvooftJi.  abaofse*  in  the.  A05 

Qa»e*  of  pni»onlng  by,  289                                         ^^^^H 

BfOBOrhoteO  e«p|».ion.   1040 

oxumiunllun  of  cuoienla  of  atooMob,  18t              ^^^H 

BH«lioi>deaine)it,  buroiog,  oaltaneaa  arlainc 

etperiiDOOta  on  aniuaU.  289                                   ^^^H 

from,  253 

fHUi  doaea,  288                                                          ^^H 

BrlekBahlag,  faaea  mI  frao  xn,  482 

poal-BOfUiQ  appaorooeao,  188                              ^^^H 

1064                                                         INDBX.                                                       1 

Camphor  .lyniptoiaB  of  poitoninf;  by,  288 

Carbonio  oxida.  •xparimrata  on  aBloA 

treat meDt  of  poifonbj^  by,  28^ 

484 

Onmwood  8tHin^  608 

fatal  doaei.  4^5 

Oftneram  oris.  204 

prepttnitioti.  484 

Candlra,  amenioal,  13T 

pruperlies  of.  484 

Gune  9agAr»  aotiuD  of  bydroeblorie  a«id  on, 

quantity  in  eoal-fai,  487 

255 

sympUiuia.  484 

CKnellaburk,  295 

lefU  for,  468 

CAnniibM  iQ'Uon.  :(9e 

Ibeory  of  aotioo.  484 

Cai<»i«e.  Bliciibetb,  V27 

trentni«nt,  488 

CAonoD.  98V 

OaroHna  pink.  SMT 

CmodOD-irhot.  wouoda  from,  1004 

Carotid,  injury  to  ib«,  7J0 

Caotorbury  rioU^,  8U3 

VarfofU'h.  eaae  of  Priaee,  SIT 

Gaotbaride*.  4^ 

C  jMUTa  plant,  279 

aotioa  in.  produeintc  abortion,  40f( 

C<i8»el  yellotr.  186 

%paly0i8  In  oiuoKof  potsttniti;^  by,  468 

Va^taifig.  trial  of,  334 

onftBH  of  pui«oniog  by.  4<S* 

Caetoroit  ptant.  279 

«xp«rtmttiit«  on  aqIiU'iU,  4A7 

oa«e8  of  poitoning  by  Iha  | 

medicioiil  and  poiaonou*  dos**,  4fl8 

tbe,  280 

po«t  innrtem  nppetirancc^,  468 

tymptoma  of  poiaoblnf  by  tl 

vymptoma  of  puisoniog  by,  467 

of,  280 

limes  of  dealh,  408 

Caatratioo.  effectf  ot  599 

treatment,  468 

Inws  ounu«roing,  II5I-IQ5S 

CftDtbaridin  i.tf«  oiinlhftride«),  4<V6 

Catalepsy.  759 

CnnthAfis  vuMiciitoria  (.fj^  ciintharidat),  466 

Calaineoin,  604 

Cupucity  to  taiike  a  will,  785 

Catechu,  atatoa  of,  509 

Cape  herb*,  .11*6 

CAMvtt  of  deatb.  541,  5AJ 

CapiUl  obarge,  evidenoa  aeeauary  bo  tiutaiD 

Ciiu>4tio  (aw*  ailTcr,  nitrate  of>,  216 

a.  52 

potatfb  («M  poiaeaiuia  bydrat«i«  1 

CaprifoliaaeB.  V.O.,  267 

Boda  {M0t  aodiuiD  bydr<iie),  lit 

Oapflicin.  ;^70 

Cayenna  p«pp«r,  Z97,  ;i7& 

GapfliouEO  faniigintuiD.  370 

Celflodine.  .1v5 

Carbolic  acul.  44U 

Cvrueot'burning,  nataauoex  arising  tt 

aoUon  on  aoiniatB,  451 

Ceuieot-coaking,  g^iaee  a^t  frea  in,  48l 

analyaia  in  oases  of  poisooing   by, 

Centra  of  grarily,  577 

451 

Cepfanetia  ipecACUanha,  267 

aDliitPptio  action  of,  450 

Cerium,  aotiim  of  tbe  fatta  of,  IM 

caaeB  of  poisoning  by,  451 

CerliScNtea  uf  inaanity.  Tfti 

diitJDction    between    eraaeote    and, 

Oeruae.   1H5 

451) 

Chjitm-t,  the  fire  king,  871 

ffttrtl  doMi.  450 

Ck'»^,  Mr  .  erldeoee  of.  5^ 

fnUl  period.  450 

ChJtngea  produced  by  birih.  A79 

pofit-uioriem  nppenranoea,  451 

Cb&ftsoal  burning.    ga9««  prudaeeA  1 

prepu ration  of,  441> 

484 

«ym plume  of,  450 

niepbitio  elluvia  giveo  olTbj,  49 

tttt  for.  451 

Cbastity.  pb.valpal  «ign«  of.  441 

traiilaieal  in  aoaaa  of  poiaoaittf  by. 

OlieeM,  poiflonnua  action  uf,  476 

45U 

Cheevara,  Dr.  Noriuan,  ub  abudiott,  1 

Carbon,  binalpbide  of,  454 

Chrlidoniuui  Kiauucium,  A^b 

Carbouio  Hotd,  478 

majua,  att5 

oiiBen  of  p<»i«oolnj?  by,  486 

Cbamical  combination,  action  of  pelai 

dilTusibiiiiy  of,  482 

ile<l  by,  56 

poiaotious  uctioo  of.  47ft 

Cherry  liernala,  faydroeyania  a«ii  li^ 

portt-morleiu  appearaooes,  483 

oaaea  of  poiaoning  by.  421 

prepiir  «tion  of.  47M 

laural.  415 

properties  of.  47U 

oil  of.  415 

qoantity  neoesiiary  to  b«  present  in 

dIatiUad  watar  tt<tm,  411 

tbe  blood  to  oaune  dewtb,  480 

Cbeat,  how  to  open,  33 

qiifkntity  present  in  nir.  480 

Ck^tMi/i^  4  &tH,  594 

qu.'inhty  in  air  necoMary  to  ettfn- 

Cbilblaina,  874 

gui^b  a  tap«r,  480 

Child  murder,  nadea  of,  694 

quantity  in  air  neoeasary  to  eatua 

Chili  aaltpetrv.  114 

demb.  481 

Chloral.  454 

Bouroet  of,  478 

hydrate  (««»  chloral),  454 

aympiom!^  of  poiaoaiog  by,  47ft 

Boalyaia  lo  daaaa  uf  |Mii«nning  hf^ 

U*l«  f..r,  483 

eaaea  of  polaoniDg  bv.  466 

Irentmrut,  483 

cauae  of  denth  by.  435 

Carbonic  ttuhydrido  (mo  earbonie  aeid),  478 

futal  d»»#-   4*5 

dioxide  (/ivw  oarbobic  aoid),  478 

f,     ,■    ;      ■■     .  '.       r--. 

oxide,  484 

idoU  for  atryek 

aaalyala  in  ease*  of  poiaooiDg    by, 

',-                      ,,  •uraDoea,  i*i 

485 

prfrpertim  ut\  tia4 

oaMi  of  poisoniog  by.  480 

iyujpi«ma  pr<>duocd  by,  45J> 

^^^^p                                                                       ^^H 

Cklorftl.  trtfttment,  455 

Cobnit,  action  on  aoiiDah,  171                                       ^^^H 

Cblurbydric  aord  {sur  hydrochloric  arid|.  362 

^^^1 

CbJuride  of  Iim«.  nuissocea  nri»ing  frura  mun- 

Cooeului  IiidtcQ^  327                                                      ^^^H 

ttf»clor«  of.  Va 

c)iHf»  of  pniKfining  by,  329                              ^^^H 

Cbturiiratrd  Podw,  98 

futiil  dust-«.  328                                                   ^^H 

Chlorin*.  e8-«9 

f«»tiil  periods.  »28                                                 ^^H 

CasM  of  |>oisoDiii((  by.  98 

poiit-D)orteDi  nppearnooap,  328                           ^^^^| 

pby>iologicftl  notion  of,  «8 

pyDipiomi  proiiuced  by.  H28                               ^^^^H 

pmrr>c«  in  bydroflblorio  iicld,  257 

toxioulo|riottl  Hoalyais,  .H29                             ^^^H 

pr*i»n«ffl  in  nitric  wcid.  244 

■«ea                                                                   ^^H 

trrntmrnt  in  cami  of  poitoning  by,  96 

Cnebiine»|  In  alam,  cpcotriiDa  of,  5t9                            ^^^H 

u»  of.  98 

Codeia.  ni.  332                                                             ^^^M 

ti>«  in  poiionin^  by  pruerio  aetd,  4110 

ColTee.  aVA.  {»12                                                                       ^^H 

CbloriMlyne.  3U 

Cufliiiixtu,  237                                                                    ^^^H 

flnsve  of  poifloniog  by,  349 

Coke,  qunntity  of  »u3{ibur  prrflent  in,  495                    ^^^^| 

€hlarurorm.  467 

CuAr,  Lord,  un  bertniipbrmjitcfi,  5iil2                             ^^^^| 

ftDol^fif  in  a«Mf  fif  pmitoning  by,  458 

Cu/<ri,  dvNih  from  itrent,  87U                                              ^^^^| 

^iiSfH  of  jvoimining  by  liquid,  4i»9 

B«  A  ineano  of  murder,  87i>                                      ^^^^H 

eiiuM*  of  denth  frum  inb*t(ttion  of,  468 

Cnlohioia,  A2H                                                                        ^^^M 

ftiUI  doMi.  458 

Cnlohiainiti,  322                                                                      ^^H 

preparAllon  of.  457 

Colohtoin.  322                                                                       ^^^1 

proper! ii^t  of.  457 

Culobicum.  321                                                                  ^^^H 

poMibilily  of  bfine  MdtQiniiitcred Tor  ini' 

.auiumnale  (m«  eolehleum),  331                            ^^^^| 

prMfjf-r  piirp.ii^!',  457 

eftse«  of  poitoiiing  by.  323                                      ^^^H 

post  niortt-tn  npyeiiruni'ei*,  456 

eypericnetiti  on  auiiqals.  with,  3SS                         ^^^H 

^^    *ymp»ttui»  (.r»MJqc<*d  by  liquid.  458 

fuUl  do)ie0  of.  322                                                          ^^^1 

^^^k  lyioi'lniuw  iirnduerd  by  lb«  vnpor  of,  458 

fiitnl  pMioda,  322                                                    ^^H 

^^^P  WaU  f<ir  puriiy  of,  4&K 

I^Oiii'inurtaiD  tppeamnoea.  823                               ^^^H 

^^^    tranimrnt  tif  iKjison  by.  458 

qrinptuinfl  of  poi«r>ning'by,  323                              ^^^H 

Cbftke-dmup  of   ininerB    (*-w  carbonic  *eid), 

Colion  pi'lnouni,   tV5                                                          ^^^1 

178 

Ci41iip^e  deu.th  by,  555,  1^30                                         ^^H 

Obtdem,  ai^tion  of  poi«oD0  tioialiiLed  by,  78 

Colooyntb,  375                                                                     ^^^1 

CboHuri,  the,  ^57 

cn«e»  of  poiMtnlog  withf  375                                ,^^^H 

ChriKtiQ^ii  ^.•r,  :i57 

Onlooyntbin,  275                                                               ^^^H 

Chrvtuiuuj,  IfiK 

Colored  aooki  and  wearing  apparel,  157                        ^^^H 

oomp'Mindu  of.  Jft9 

Colored  liquenra.  157                                                         ^^^^H 

Iratiifnr.  170 

Color«.  action  of  bitric  noid  on  regetable,  246            ^^^| 

CVc^f'trvj  j{f*»w  linear.  580 

Culoriog-mattera.  vegeUble,  15A                                   ^^^H 

Cioau  tt.|U-tiort.  38* 

Color- bliDilneM,  558                                                           ^^^H 

TifuFii.  :i8<\ 

Comii,  dvatb  by.  554                                                        ^^^H 

ctti**  of  poi«oDin(f  by.  387 

CuiiibUfttioD.  *ponlAO«otit.  880                                         ^^^H 

liiiuptntuK  of  pitliJUDitig  by^  S69 

in  huiunn  body.  898                                           ^^^^H 

Cicalin  («^c.>niA}.  3H8 

Common  hemlock,  nal                                               ^^^H 

CtnchniiK  hnrk*.  'i^'H 

•alts*  HO  nntidote  foritryohnia.  .ton                      ^^^^| 

rinch.micrw.  N  0.,  2fl7 

{ft  f  tod  turn,  obloridf  of),  114)                         ^^^^| 

Ciorriiria,  fprcirum  of.  519 

Corap«nSi*tion  fof  injuriei,  1053                                     ^^^H 

C inn* bur.  inv 

CompoaiiflB.  }i.O..  368                                                      ^^H 

OireuMion.  nduK.  A74 

CompouDd  poiooniog,  490                                               ^^^H 

of  l)i«  (cetttn,  A  75 

ComprMaloo  of  brain.  lAi<l                                            ^^H 

Clroutneii>tO(i  »utueti«n««  fjitnl,  1034 

reMDsble*  drankeiin«0«.  1019                         ^^^1 

Citrto  acid.  425 

CAnclD»iona  to  be  drawn  frotv  aoAlyaia.  67                  ^^^H 

Ciradie  arid,  S23 

Ct>nauf>ion  of  brain,  ini4                                                         ^^M 

Cf'srt^',  0*org#,  nitrder  of,  1017 

CoH,fe.  Print*  4*.  laicide  of,  Ml                                  ^^M 

CI«*iiO<iiiii<in  of  p<itoon«,  76 

Cundnciorp  nnd  Don  oondaelorf,  801                            ^^^H 

Cl»iD»ii»  vitnlt  t.  .1t>5 

Conein  {«^  ooni*),  388                                                  ^^^H 

C/.«<"^,  Dr  .  drath  of.  847 

Confrcltonery,  areenie  in,  156                                      ^^^H 

OlimAt*-*.  urihralthy.  540 

le»d  io.  189                                                                    ^1 

CHtoria,  rnl«irg«d.  b\t2 

Cooia.  im                                               ^^H 

Clo*urr  vf  ronituen  otalm^  SSO 

aoal)*!*  in  ««»«•  of  fM>l*ooing  by,  393                  ^^^H 

Clnv«-bilch.  tbr,  K.nv 

ea^rf  of  poieoning  by.  39.1                                     ^^^H 

ClUAtvr  Aberry,  416 

experiiueot*  on  animalg  with,  390                            ^^^^H 

Coal,  MiDoutit  of  sulphur  in  different  MOiplet 

fktNl  da«e«,  38W                                                               ^^^H 

of.  495 

poNl  mortem  appearancea  after  poiraolng              ^^^H 

Coalg.**,  oompoeltion  of.  487 

^^H 

«X|i*riinMntR  on  aniioalu  with,  487 

retalinn  between  oientin  and,  389                             ^^^H 

fiiial  pri«i>4>rtiuni  in(xi»d  with  ftlr,  487 
■            bydrnoiirboni  in.  4'<7 

liale  of  pupilt  in  polaoning  by.  334                          ^^^| 

aympt'tiD*  rif  poi»oning  by.  380                               ^^^^| 

R            P^m-iBtiftem  flppeiirancfa,  488 

4«*l»                                                                                 ^^H 

Hut.      prf'poriioii  of  carbonic  aotd  in,  487 

treiitiuent  of  pnlloniDgby,  989                                     ^^^H 

Hibftloaphlbn,  462 

Conicloa  M^oonia),  388                                                       ^^^H 

r                 diftiftoiion   b«tw*eo   wood  naphtbft 

Coiiiferw.  NO..  269                                                      ^^B 

1                       Md,  44a 

Cuniia  acid,  387                                                                    ^1 

1     C«b«Jt,  17 1 

Conin  {m  codU),  S86                                                   _^^ 

1 

.^H 

1                       1066                                          index!                              ^I 

Ooniom  nncalatniii,  SdT 

Corronra  BMbltntiile,  201 

[                                    Coniuni,  :i87 

nilfr*,  202 

ConlUHed  MrtiUTnl^t  U5.S 

eiwpeH  of  poiMoning  hy,  21 

Gonvolulinnflut  Wrnltit  7118 

ctlriittrril  |iro|>«riivii  »f<,  X 

(                                   ConvulvulrtcerB,  NO.,  172 

exp«nnienlj»  on  animaU  « 

*                                       Cnavolviilaa.  '27'A 

fatal  di>«e».  202 

ionintiioae<«,  272 

po«L  ni'TUni  npp«&TBnc«| 

Cunvul«iunfl,   a)-iii|ploui9  of   poi»ouii  thut  pr»- 

solul)tliiy  of.  2<ll 

due*.  ft:i 

•^mpiKUifi.  uf  i<oiiM>nir<g  h« 
symptijuifl     u[     ar^entval 

Copppr,  172 

«utupar*d  witb  iboa«  w^ 

•crioh  of  netd  folallnnt  on,  176 

liflu  lor.  204 

ftclinn  of  water  tin,   I7A 

tlUtet  of  dent b.  202 

unuly»ie    iifler   euM8   of    poisooing    by. 

troHlmeni  M.  2o2 

180 

Corrofivtri.  o.iImi«  of  death  frOm.  1 

^^K                                                             •xp«*riin«nU    on   aiiiiBali  with   aallt  of, 

cbi^nerR  ol  o<'lur  pruduced   ijt< 

^^^^^H 

dlJforen*,  71 

1                                           fatal  di>»o#  of.  174 

difTrrrDoc  brtire*litba  action 

1                                         niethfvd  «f  proving  Kb  frfedom  from  nrt*- 

and,  rtl 

"                                               nio.  172 

dueii»r»  that  nmul«tc  poboal 

\                                          Bonnnl  oon«titiienrB  of  pinnti   mad  ani. 

gtintrntt  MrupttituH  oC  i^l 

mills.  IhO 

port.uiurtetn  Nppritraneef,  Tl 

'                                       iifai  11  umurnl  oonMitaeot  of  bo4j,  08, 

C«t«ofi-fihr..i.iwUi»d,  4VV 

tbtn 

Cotiou  wacte   »!*8 

pM^onotifi  pf»ctt  produeed  bjr  fuctngsino 

CopdrsolHI,  S77 

•inrt.  17& 

Curifpy,  Imaii^y  by,  678 

poil  miiriptn  iippp&rufHieii,  174 

C«»«ba(i«,  :tMA 

pr*MTio«  «>r.  in  UhiUImI  fwt«r*,  17* 

Coui»r  r.  SprttCfr^  826 

prr.-rBC(»  in  pickleH  »ti«l  iti  ulher  uriiel** 

Cream  of  in i  tar,  Wi 

of  f..od.   (75 

CreAPnl  1M0  onracote) ,  463 

'                                              prpfencp  in  mineral  witars,  17S 

Crea«t«le.  4112 

proprrlieB    of  cupper    uod   (b«  siltfi   of. 

(jb^oiulogieiil  a<iion  of,  462 

171 

CreepiMjc  sickucBc,  2*2 

qnantiUittve  efirimnlioti  nf.  17» 

Cipuiiittun.  HVU 

ebruni*  poisuDing  bj  eopper  und  salti  of. 

Crrtini^m,  754 

176 

Crvv«*r«,  dvptli  of.  994 

on»e)i  of  cbronJff  poijonin]?  by,  ISl 

Criii}in«l  HMnalii.  6:iT 

ayiiipi^'iuB  of  chronic  puhomng  by.  177 

Cri'p-,  ea«*  of.   105 1 

trr^itmi^Ht  nf  chronic  poiti*>nin|(.  177 

Cjuiun.  oil  uf.  276 

s>m|l!>ui!>  of  iicut*  poiBonJnir,  J  7-1 

cii0r*  o(  pfMtoning  with,  J7T 

lime  uf  dcHth  after  piM^nniDg  hy,  174 

Crolon  licHuoi.  276 

ireatuient  in  puUoniDg  by,  174 

Crotonic  ncid.  277 

Uet»  fur.  177 

Cruwavy^f.  299 

^ 'k 

Br»«n»leof,   165 

Crowfoot,  .X&8 

^^^^^^^^H                                                       tti»m        (Hvifontng  by,  104 

Ci-iiorin,  ti-ri^io^  form*  of.  610 

^^^^^^1 

CrystFili.  of  bwioin.  J26 

Ncetnteo 'if.  17:^ 

bnrooglobin,  &2A 

briickniide».f,  173 

Cobio  nilrc.  114 

Ottrhoniile  of,  I7S 

Cuekotvptnt,   2rt6 

citrate  at,  I7H 

Cucwiai-  eoN.oyiitbJi  {m  eolo«yBt1 

ri-d  oJtideof.  173 

Ciu-url»li»%Mr«,  -^74 

iiilphiit«Mf.  1T:1 

CMmtmi,>H.t.  Dttke  of.  1017 

o<iji«8  of  pitiannlng  by,  160,  Iftl 

CupHti  »alpbal«i  ITS 

InbnIatioD   of    Biihydrou*    tulpboto    of^ 

Currtri.  .^00 

175 

Cunirin.  JJOO 

^^^^^^H                                               •alphnU  of,  jttft'trKit  uf  iLr!<«{ii<!  ib,  173 

CuppiiJK,  tunrk^  of,  Ml 

^^^^^^^H 

Cut  Ihro'^ts.  1i){6.  ln44 

Copperiijs.  blup,   I7.H 

Cutob.  9tain«  of,  5119 

wbite  (jiMxioo,  salpbnte  ot),  21'^ 

Cnthrry,  ci«irof  Mn.,  1078 

gr«n,   Iti2 

CjAiiatr*,  41H 

Cord  fan*  oflF.  «79 

Cyiioio   noMl.  418 

Coriuriiiei-a).  NO.  27.^ 

Cyanide  of  mtrcnry,  S10„  416 

GoHariu  tnyrtlfoKft.  273 

pota^iiluin,  416 

o«8ej«  of  poisoning  by,  27-^ 

c'i!i«<  of  poifoitinff  by.  43] 

ru^cifolin,  3U6 

ofnilvfr  (««•  •ilvtrtolnitnat,  { 

«»rtneDtt)8B,  273 

Cy»r)og«n,  3^7 

Cork,  uspaof,  81U 

prppnrnlion  of,  JI9T 

CtjriifU.  Sarab  M.  839 

pbytiotoKioal  •«ilna  of,  S99 

Coronrr*  court,  ib»,  2ft 

flhiorid*  of.  in 

Corpsr  onndiM,   ]M 

CyAtto»i»,  681 

CrtrpUfl  luteuut,  fill 

Oy»tic«rcu«,  4*2 

Oorpfirn  lutfu.  true  aod  fal«e,  613 

Cytisiri.  291 

Corrvsion,  63 

Cyliaua  iabaraun,  391 

2X9 


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EeU>i(>na.  2S& 

EfdiaraT.  t-ae  avj  f«W.  $IM 

aai>M  t,f  ma«'k^i.  7f4 

ftala  4tf  f.a|<i:>  in.  SU 
E^lrf^ir  saaia.  74> 
Era»Bra4.  h. «  <lai«da4.  S9t 
ErfM  <»f  17a.  2>1 

axpariaasw  «•  aai»al»,  291 


1008                                                        INDEX,                                        ^H 

Bigot  or  rje,  symptom!  prodoced  by,  282 

Fish.  QABeBofpoiioniag  by.  4T7 

BrgotiD.  281 

cnueei  of  poisonous  aelioa  ofj 

^^^^H 

Br){otHiu,  282.  die 

poi»onouK,  4  77 

^^^^^ 

Broluiu«nU,  «i:i8 

Ft  ah  V.  Pitlmtr.  677 

' 

Bry»ipfU«.  ftS.'i,  1034 

Fire-finper  root  {m  opnentbe  crofl 

Baenn,  2V;i 

Fixed  nir  i^-o  carbonic  noid),  479 

flBl«  of  puptti*  in  poiBonlng  by.  3H 

Flwndin,  pruceM  of,  84 

^^M                 ^'                                    Bttencv  of  Mirbitue  {»fe  oitrubeaxolj,  441 

Fluf^b  of  guQ  or  piaiol,  reeogiiiti< 

^K               1.                                    B«srriun.  2U^i 

y8« 

^V                                             Emtx.  Eitrl  or,  losa 

Firet  L«ne  Bewer.  493 

^^B                 J                                  Bttter.  nniil^«ii«  in  e«.««a  of  poi»oaiDg  bj,  i(ll 

Plight  of  bttlktf,  088 

^^^^                4                                           prepuruliun  of,  4^0 

Plugging.  05.1.  <*5rt 

preipertipfl  of.  4ftO 

Floor,  iioiiof)  of  iiitHe  acid  on,  24 

«yiDptoiii8  produced  by  the  action  of  the 

1          notion  of  flnlpburie  H«ld  on,  1 

^V 

titporof,  4fil 

Flowor  #»*idB,  508 

Iwta  f.ir»  4fil 

Flaliei.  473 

nitrous  4fll 

disen»e.473 

Btbyl.  iicrtate  of.  424 

Floorin.  103 

bjdMle  of.  434 

Fly  powder  (note),  136 

Etb.vlic  itOifhol  {Kf  nlcoKuI).  4M 

water,    165 

Kuphurbiaoroj,  N.  0,,  27« 

Foptnl  head.  diaOiaUr,  «5(1 

Eupburbitt   tiiibyrif,  irajiefl  of  poisoning   by. 

heart.  ft75 

278 

Foctaf.  derelcipmvnt  of   {Beaainil 

officin.iruin,  oniies  of  poitoning  by.  27S 

obard).  5flrt 

p"jilus,  c.iMs  of  poijfoaiHfS  by.  278 

Mr.  Ciillcnder'e  nieaeuremed 

KvJdeucf.  how  lo  give,  27,  2H,  V72 

eexaal  nrgnn*.  5HV 

r^•^^u^«iLe  in  e»»e8  of  denib  by  poison,  5S 

Food,  composition  of,  904 

1                                    Einggcpniioiw  to  bo  Hvoidcd.  28 

influence  on  eclion  of  poiaool 

Exciifui^iit,  »yui(jtoini  of  poiaooi  that  pro> 

uiu<<l  be  varied.  liU4 

duce.  fi2 

qurtoliiy  requirtfd.  »09 

Ezbttfiiiiticn,    pointn   to    be    retaembered   iti 

rtruitttuf  of,  deiec^eJ  by  xaXati 

^^P                                                               Ctt8<rs 

teblcj,  0U4-0I2 

^^H                                                     Bxogonium  jiurgn.  272 

pnlMonoUB,  470                                J 

Sxpevtaiiun  uf  life,  twenty  offices,  531 

UliWholeeoinenen  of  animals  4 

Ejcpl^sloii.v  1*14  rt 

474 

ExpdflttieR    iniJecenl,  6SH 

Fool*  parBley,  385 

Extravasftted  bloiHi  without  wound,  !0I0 

Foot  nnd  tnoutb  ditease,   the  n| 

1 

Kxtremilies,  injurieft  to  tbe>.  \»'.H 

BulTrring  frofn.  4Tft 

Bxtreiuiliefl  ^^C  teinpcnilure,  870 

Fuoletepa,  laaritB  of,  587 

1 

Bye,  ohiingri-  in,  n  «ign  of  deuth,  37 

Fnri«iDen  orale,  676 

feigns  J  iliseaseji,  812 

Foroep*  may  fracture,  fl07 
Forged  writtngA,  58X.  566 
Fowler's  solueion.  145 

Fioe  pitiDt.  bi^malb.  IA7 

Fojtglov*.  (,«  digitftlUi.  SS9 

M 

F»»ctorie«.   r«cAp*  of  bydroobloHo   acid  gas 

i'l'tnihn'M  expedition,  028 

frum.  2,'. 3 

Fraulurrs  in  newborn.  691 

Faeiu)  iitigk,  7ft4 

ofi-kull.  ll'2n.  14)22 

Fttclory  lubor,  eflfecta  of.  546 

time  reqairrd  to  uidt«,  629 

Faetories,   oui^aocei  aiieiiig  from    nulpbuHo 

ununited,  «28 

aeid,  228 

Frofllbile,  »7;i 

Fulae  dccuguliune  of  polfontng,  7.'S 

Fre»iiiu«  tind  Von  Babu,  pri*e«««  i 

/•urr  f.  Dr.  VViili^itn,  Jifetj«hle,  biQ 

Fruit  etains,  bm 

Fartbrst  visible  poiot,  558 

Fuioiinetef,  ^05 

Fn^l.tD^;,  re>il  aud  pretended,  904 

Fuming  4|iirit«  of  nitre  (%•*  nllria 

Fecunilitj.  721 

Fung-iles,  N.  0..  281 

Feen  pu>;iLle  to  medical  witoesseB.  2V 

Fungi,  aetire  prinoiptea  of  poieooii 
oaMa  of  poiaoning  by  rarioi 

Feigut^d  iliHeiu-ee,  807 

indanitv,  7nU.  770 

285 

Stlitv-iivuti/,  358 

circutnataoeffi  modifyipg    tbi 

Fertuflutuiion,   earbotio   acid   produced    b**. 

pi>i.'.)fiooi,    2H5 

478 

ex.^ukinAiinn  nf  «to(Da>oh  la  a  i 

Ferrari,  Carlo.  854 

9>jniug  \ij  poieonoua,  28S 

Ferric  chloride,  182 

poiwjinoua,   2?^2 

Ferrocyanide  of  pot««jiium,  417 

piiflt  uiurtpui  nppearaito^e  afl« 

Ferroa«  sulpbnte  (mk  iron,  sulphate  of),  182 

by  ptiisonnu!..  3H5 

Fetter-wort,  ^:>8 

rOBUitS  uf  CoitV;*--      "  '-■• -^ 

olimete. 

^^^^^^H                                      F<i*r«r, 

^^^^^H                                   Fibres,  di>ttueiiuii8  balireco  hairs  •nd,  409 

idioeynar                               t, 

^^^^^H 

0ea»un  rtm  i 

^^^^^H                                     Finger  bitten  off.  I04« 

weather  ■                               i 

^^^^^^V                                     Firc»nii«,  woumlii  from.  078 

lytT—' -;-    lu...  ..%   |i-.,...« 

^^^^^H                                               holt  to  frXttuiiDe,  1008 

ttv                  ;  liaomng  by,  2S| 

^^^^^H                                    Fir*-duiiip,  expJotiuDi  of,  470 

•I""-    ■ 

ZFi'in: 


2^. 


»l«liwnT7"X      li:f»ir    «r 

Fwr?  ni    -.mt  urra*  ■mm 


(fofcwsa  T*»a  HV  ir  »io«u    12- 


ka-in.    aa»  €;    »£ 


ftuibfcr 
Ganrmt 

>- 

^ 

4»uC  T--       •:—■.■.• 


•*-•    f         ,1     1«  .T 

ll    -  .-..  -       .              **• 

*»-      '       -        r       ar        1..-  ,■     i.«wt>M^ 

44 

:.^     .^  ,      ^ 

«r'    -.    .     :.-..-.►     '- 

I--  ■     -If    -•»■."    '•'•nui*- r    ;ji- 

<»-»t  ••i««^                        K' 

..■#•    -    "t*^     '. 

*»-•        .      "I ■        --■• 

1—-.             •■  ^.»->*    ■'    BT   "■    '      '  ■••t:    S* 

«»-V1'    -        --T     t.     . 

i-T-     '--        •!— rm- iir  I    *■"■■ 

.   ■••,-     '        ^r 

•«■*■     uiv      1.1-     tUW-      »lj'r.-S.       .1:      i? 

■;i^-'i*          .■i>(d«     i*tfv;    •» 

ri- 

.-r     »     - 

Gr«a»    •    -  lb 

..^  -,>    •►•rc    •     * 

«»-!      l^.r-       -^      Ifti..      -* 

-.■.i-,-»-    •           "-r     ■     «rril.     -\ 

'»T«-.f      ^,.         - 

.-..i.t .     ■  "  ■.«..  I"-        ■.■ 

•#?-«■      ,:-^^      f'—-!..     •         .^ 

»    ■••li        v«i.^l     '       tb*j          '"^ 

b*  ■^^•t-       '/ 

f*"-       *-  ■        ••  n.    ib«vii*'      :"' 

1^.      .'.# 

«^.^^^»       Jf 

«■   •-.          .»■. 

*,•»  -^».«-.-.f   yHiftwi»r>"'-M    -■" 

Cr»...     *.— ■     ..^  .■     r. 

!>-.-».    -.«..     .-.- 

Crr— :«.^'<       -w      #<« 

|«*.f.      ».i     ••.«;*     K    ■.i%»^-r     -^^      **- 

^'•«<«*-«M^        ^MMtf         MW>      «'       «,« 

f<fi««««    '•■9'  *    *«•■/      -• 

■ 

1070                                                         INDEX.                                                      1 

B«ifbtor»ke1*ton,  iio.,  57.^1 

Hydroearbonn.  poboning  by  tba  ve^ 

And  weii^htn.  U^le  of  model,  &72 

volatile.  411 

Hellebore.  Aomrioan.  326 

HydroobtorSc  ueid,  253 

of  ilie  (inHcnta,  a&8 

action  on  oTj^ni<>  bodlM  of. 

bUck,  :i57 

enalyi>i8  in  ot\»tt  af  priiMoniag 

green.  32« 

boiling  r">inti  of,  255 

■tiuking,  .358 

Ci*>»6s  nf  pni'^onitig  by.  Wl 

f  Winn  p.  H2ft 

futdl   a. .;<«<,   2f)S 

trup.  8  .-^8 

tinparitie*  of.  2.^6 

whU*'.  H>5 

nuifannes  nri*ior  from  e«ea^ 

B«ll?horiid  roxidof,  S«8 

pr«pt ration  of.  J52 

wijrtff.  :^57 

pr^pttratir^n  of  pur#,  ;S7 

cn>oti  or  |>ai^fining  witb,  95T 

prewnor  in  |f*«»tr«<J  fln-l  of. 

wricntHli*.  .S5S 

prt'seaceofnoid  io  arliie«fui 

Tiridiit  (»y  verntnitYl  vtriJe],  326 

ing  bv.  260 

H*mlnok  (pijtnrnon)^  ."^87 

propertiw  of.  258.  154.  255 

(fiv^^^lrav*-*!  w.iter>,  394 

qu'tntitatire  vNtiiontinn  <tf.  ! 

(le-ftrr),  ;i.«l5 

rpeciBo  gravity  of  •lilfvrrnt  m 

(Pfiolt^(i>    :i87 

of   254 

(Wittor).  .H8r( 

ttdinti  produo^d  by.  360 

nnntvMiH  in  o^Mrn  nf  pnivoning  by.  SOS 

aympliima  «f  p*a»onlfl|g  by,  i 

OMCfl  of  pol^oninjf  by,  3U3 

teftU  for  25K 

©hur'toteri*  nf,  ^87 

limeeofdMth.  258 

«xr«riiuBntn  on  mniniab  with,  3V0 

Hydroeyunic-  acid.  i-JyS 

fulitl  ilo^P^,  H8U 

ttni%Jy»i»  in  ei»#r#  of  poisonlm| 

pofU mortem  »pp«ar«ne«a  after  pniitoniag 

ftiibydftiUB.  SWR 

by.  '^W 

ernes  of  poi Skill inif  by.  41%,  { 

i>yinvt<ira«  nf  poisoninig  by,  38B 

enu««  f»f  the  «hrt>>k  i<i  iMtii*ti 

to«i^  (or.  .'{»! 

oircuiufitjineeii   undrr  whi''h 

treatment  of  potBonInu  by.  ^M 

«i5cur»  in  poi-ooifiK  hir,  411 

ifiil«T   dropworl  {ire  anitnlhe   crooaU|, 

eircutii<rianerii  which  miy  r« 

3^t 

rrcorrry   of  the  acid  aftal 

Benbfino  (*«  bynmsyamaf),  374 

iuipoMlhle.  411 

Herb  m^'tcury.  :tW5 

eircuiuttancM  iind»r  whlffh  \ 

Heredity    A7fl    ftU 

miiy   Jttn     pro<la'>«i     witi 

Herirtitsiry  «yphiliB,  634 

bt-inif  the  eAU*«  nf  death. 

Heristioii.  (If* 6 

convoliionf  in  poiiooing  b« 

H^rinnphr-xHten,  591 

diMill..tion  for.  70 

Htrnin.  neilon  of  potion j  eIraalaUd  by.  74 

ext.teiice  of  A  nbriek  in  poiM 

Hernin?   vi^ntr.ji,  l»28 

4114 

dhi|)}iiA«ni  itia,  1027 

exttertCDenti  on  nninitl*  «Hll 

Hib*rn(ifinn,  V»22 

ritiii  dotrs  i>n  aniioM'ft   401. 

HictA  pi^ni.  2U& 

filial  do'e4on  mm.  4«»1 

Rippomtine  10  tncin^tU  |nr  tninxiininii),  3T8 

freedom  of   parifif^l  nit  eC  1 

Bn*uf«tnu.  oonH'ulu*  in<lioii»  ua««l  tor,  iJ27 

mnnds  from.  414 

ffohmttin,,  CnUierine,  594 

bow  bmjc  nfter  denth  mmy\ 

Hv»y.  2ft.') 

be  diioofered,  413 

berrie*.  cine  of  poisoning  by,  W5 

ioiporUnce  to  b>  ettNC^beJ  • 

lIoTy  hiitr-r.  295 

action     of    the     rnnleala 

Kudiipidnl  imnm.   793 

jtoiO'ifh  afifr  dit'ith.  41 1 

IIf!itnalon^{<<:<  i»r«eKn  i1  orj^ans,  580 

in  oil  of  bitter  Alntotid*.  4t4 

U'rtoti.  c.i(i*  '^•f.  57  t 

invotgotary  rvtKiiation  ef  «i 

llont^T.  unwhoki<Dtiifln«ra  depsndonl  on  food, 

fwvpff  in  p>ii*nnine  •»▼    ♦•*t 

^^^p^^^^ 

474 

Hor«rrridi«h,  di«'t(n<;ii<>o  betw««ti  th«  root  of 

['                                            A 

aeonito  jind  of.  350 

poipHiooan  ii4fl|nn  n|'  tti»  Titpn( 

Home'?  ten  for  arinjnio.  146 

HuiohinMiD   Dr.  on  rc^plrrttion,  5lrt 

poMibihty    of    tb»     perf«ruit 

Mr.  J.,  on  flvphiltfio  notobed  Uetb,  634 

volnnier)'  aete  mUtt  pote>i| 

on  n)n1inir<*rinjK,  807 

403 

HydaLidn,  471 

pr>!.t-inor1nn  appearances.  II 

of  nienis.  671 

PruMiiia  blue.  l*«rt  for.  4H8 

Hyd.  e,  er-tii.  2i)ft 

pffparnlion  of 'liinf*.  S9(» 

HydfAte  of  hroiniil  (*«-  broraul).  456 

qunnlilnltre'  .                        .if.  ^ 

ofrblor.ij  (^<M  ohiofrti).  4i>4 

Schoobrin'j.                         ' 

of  plKtiyl  (fff  cttrhollc  rujid).  440 

itreii,5lh  of  >i;..    ,.        .  ^  \tM^ 

• 

Hydri«  iiitrAte  (*»  nitric  noid).  243 

fTuip("oia  of  poiavoiag  by,  { 

•O'lio  enrbrtoBle,  1 14 

t6<ii*  for.  407 

time  nfd«.«l!.                                  .J 

flydrid<p  of  benioyi  {set  oil  ofbiUer  AluioodiJ, 

4r:i 

lime  when   •                             ■ 

of  pljpnyl  {UT  l>«n>o1K  441 

pm.unin,,                                      ,., 

HydroearbuoB,  aoUon  of  nitro-aulphario  Acld 

lime  <*                                )«i4 

^ 

on,  2fi2 

poi«'M.        i,; 

^^^^^^^^^^^tSS^^^^^^^^^ioT^^^H 

ByHroojsDle  acid,  treatment  of  |H>lroning  bj, 

Iodide  of  potaxdiani,  lcrt«  fnr.  1<^2                                ^^^^| 

4(ii 

troHtinenl  of  poisoning  by,  Ifll                       ^^^H 

Hydroflaorio  ncf'l.  2fil 

Io<t$nc,                                                                               ^^H 

entr  of  piMsuniog'  lijt  '^^ 

aanlynlf  in  tumep  of  poltoning  by,  101                   ^^^^| 

Hyoseyntaht,  374 

en»et  of  poisoning  hy.  |il2                                          ^^^H 

Hrnvoyiimiii,  suto  of  pupils  in  poHoaiog  by, 

chroni«  |mi(!nniti)^  by,   100                                          ^^^^| 

3H4 

fiitel  dojicfl.                                                                      ^^H 

HycMwynintu,  .H74 

pnxi.- Qiortem  appenriincea  afiiir  pofionlnf             ^^^H 

•ntiljfi^  In  eMM  ofpolffoning  by,  37* 

^^M 

ettM«  of  poisoning  by.  'tTS 

pr«i«ence  in  hydrochlnrie  ncid,  257                        ^^^H 

•Jtperiroent*  oo  uniinnls.  375 

preienca  in  nilrto  &eid,  244                                   ^^^H 

po«t  luortam  Mppe'intnecp. '"tTS 

■oarcesof.  inu                                                             ^^M 

iyinptcMus  of  pninfmlnn  hy,  37S 

nt  248                                                             ^^H 

tre'llmvnt  of  puioontog  by,  375 

•yinptumq  of,  100                                                      ^^^H 

•Ihuir.  374 

trantincniof  poiaouingbj,  iOI                               ^^H 

•urruH    »74 

lodisro,  100                                                                     ^^H 

niif^r  («''<•  hynveyamnsK  374 

Ipecncn&n.  2R7                                                                    ^^^^| 

phyMloiJ*-*    a74 

Ipeencunnha.  2^^?                                                                  ^^^| 

•capr.|iii.   .'{74 

notion  OQ  opium.  iS^                                              ^^^H 

Hypbolom*,  285 

rridium    182                                                                         ^^M 

Hypnntinm.  75H 

182                                                                               ^^M 

nvp<H*lil<. rites.  98 

analvjiis  in  on«e4i  of  polaoniag  after  tba           ^^^^H 

H>»*'»«blorlt«  of  lodft,  eft»w  of  poimning  by. 

]H                                 ^^H 

vo 

in  nriicl«>K  of  food,  914                                           ^^^H 

Bypoeblorou«  Kotd    tt8 

pyrites  807                                                               ^^H 

HyiD«n,  T(»nnm  form*  of.  H2 

fat.ll  4<i^fti.  \fin                                                   ^^H 

tMoerniion  of,  fl47 

«bluri.fe  of.  183                                                        ^^H 

Hyf»oefaof)drrMi»,  745 

presence  in  nitM«  »cid.  244                                    ^^^H 

Hypiwpudtna  IrfttmuUtcd,  fr7Q 

qttantitntive  rHiinritinn  ■»€.  183                               ^^H 

HyposMKM,  44 

te<*t5  for  ihp  xalte  uf.  18H                                          ^^^H 

ByttariMi  mutila,  747 

trcatnii'nt  of  poinonlii;;  br  aalls  of,  IBS                 ^^^H 

a«e  nf,  as  %r\  nliortivf*,    [81                                           ^^^^| 

aytnptornfl  of  p<«i-«inini;  hy  Matin  nf,  1K2                  ^^^^| 

Identity.  p«r>onnl.  5fl0 

esspfl  of  poijiuniug  with   perabluride  of,              ^^^| 

from  Mitra,  578 

^^M 

Idiocy.   752 

oxi>le  of,  frnia  ffai  worka.  238                                ^^H 

Idi't»yncrii«y.  Influence  on  action  of  puisoni. 

fvlph'ile  of.  ir;                                                    ^^H 

5H 

^^H 

[tJiofynorMieR,  (r42 

ptnins  of  citrnle  nf,  509                                               ^^^^| 

Ijfflfurin.  :<ni 

itntiiaof  i»Lilphoevanide  of.  609                            ^^H 

Il«x  ju,ulfu)iuia,  3A5 

IrritiiiU,  nniinat.  4i^h                                                    ^^^H 

Illul;ot•^  757 

anouinhitM  Hviiipiom*  produced  hy,  81                  ^^^H 

Impotence.  .Ml>5 

Onujicfl  of  death  frnro    >^  1                                              ^^^^| 

Inoifted  woande.  9H4 

dioeiiKHM  fliiunlnltnj;  pr»i'onin<x  by.  4'i                     ^^^^| 

Indecent  eipocurfM.  A.1B 

diffiHTencea  brtneen  tba  aoilon'of  «orro«            ^^^| 

Iddeoetiey  uftrn  in««uity.  6S8 

^^^^1 

Indian  nut.  270 

polKonn.    diMiincUon   between  Ihe  nyrnp-            ^^^| 

poke.  32fl 

toin^  pro>iiioed  by  tricbio  t  urul,  472                  ^^^H 

lobaoco,  2ttA 

m«>ohnnicii|,  62                                                              ^^^^| 

IndiKo.  .alphiito  oC  ^^^ 

poflt  inorteiQ  ■■ppe«>raooaa  of,  72                            ^^^H 

Indiieiion  of  prvmntute  li«bnr,  A&S 

oy  tap  lone  of,  61                                                     ^^^H 

Inf»innii«  oontliiot  in  iir«<f«i*»innftl  men.  M7 

^^^^M 

lorinis,  ttieM.<arKtQ«nl»  »r  newburn,  tt87 

^^^^M 

Infii>tioWJ«.  rtJS5 

J.rvh,  Barab.  923                                                          ^^| 

InGiQlile  l^QOnrrhtsa.  (V50 

Jaei»h*  rifle,  98:1                                                                   ^^H 

iDfl'tmniAtion.  54 

Jalap.  272                                                                            ^^H 

and  it*  '«qt(elfe.   9^3 

^^H 

Inberiied  *^plik]ip,  11.14 

Jiilapie  acid,  273                                                                  ^^^^| 

Inks.  eotnpotttloD  of.  686 

Jalnpln.                                                                                       ^^H 

iynpfttbella,  AB6 

JamrHtoirn  wai-d,  371                                                          ^^^^| 

^       Ioai«.  %n 

J»/-i/i*'e  ea»e.  AIA                                                                  ^^^^| 

Inqueatir,  211 

JiMinine,  yellow,  29B                                                     ^^^H 

origin  of.  2fl 

Jatropba  eareaa.  27tf                                                      ^^H 

InMnnily.  7.11,  SOfi 

caeei  of  poiNoning  by,  279                             ^^^^| 

act*  rel<«tiii|t  to,  784 

nanibot,  27W.  SVU                                                ^^H 

,                  OJiuae*  nf,  7.'i7 

onaea  nf  poUoning  by.  279                            ^^^H 

1                  vufitftiee  ftf,  734 

multiflda,  379                                                        ^^H 

1n»#ri  powder  Auftrnrmn  »nd  PertUn,  219 

^^^1 

ludliie  at  politnluto.  anjily»lii  uflef  d*iilb  by, 

Jaw,  Inwer,  ohanrep  nf.  nt  dilferanl  aga«.'60A            ^^^H 

102 

./"V  V.  Gr*»ltam  Li/*  OJlrv,  548                                    ^^H 

eiuei  of  poUoninft  by,  1 03 

^^H 

pf«t>Ariiiiun  (if.  Itil 

Jockay*  Knin  weight  from  nfr.  918                             ^^^H 

•y»l*tOBi»  of  poi»ooitig  by.  102 

Joniperaa  aabina  (Me  Mvio),  2A9                                 ^^^1 

h 


1072 


J«to.4M 


l^p,  114  _ 

Kemalff  of  tmiUn  hydrtf^ftiilo  mM  Ib,  199 

KIdMy  bMoa.  S9ft 

KidMya.  roffMir*  •£  lOSf  ' 

KiMlf  n  in  prvfOftMj,  A09 

ExtMUriMod  on  nodi*.  950 

Kbio.  italM  of.  609 

KliwhwMMr,  hydrotfjaaio  Mid  la^  999 

Kaot*  on  fiinioi  693 

ta  raciMotod  mnider.  817 

potitiMi  of.  in  hn^tof.  891 
Knonl^  «h«^  9M 
Krouoto  {m  otmsoU),  48t 


Labor,  prtnwtiiro,  999' 

L»banittm.991 

wa*%  of  poitoning  by,  S9| 
•xporioMato  on  nnlvnli  vitli.  9M 
tynptonit  prodoeod  by,  ttl 

Ino^dye,  •poetrnoi'Ot  919 

LMoratod  wonndi,  999  * 

LMtoril.  189 

LnotaenriVM,  99t 

LnoUon  nUifw,  199 


IVBIIK 


I««tnel».199 

£«*/bf«;  o«M  of,  999 

J^m,  Barriot,  699.  1948 

Lapis  Intomaiii  (ai»ai)var,  aitrata  •(),  119 

LariMpar.  967 

Lataral  banaapbrodiau,  699 

Laadaaaai.  991 

eaiat  of  poifoaiag  by,  94t,  949 

LaaabiaK  aaa  {m  altroaa  oaida>,  489 

Laanw*s.R  0.189 

Laar^aaai|ibor,189 

watar.  eaaet  of  pof ooning  by^  419.  414 

hydroeyanio  aoid  io,  309 
ronen,  396 

Lead,  184 

action  of  aeido  on,  195 

aorion  of  water  on,  193 

action  on  nnimnls  of  Ibe  wits  of.  188 

analysis  after  cams  of  poisoning  by.  197 

articlrs  of  food  contamlDated  with.  189, 

100    . 
oanfei!  tnnnnity,  751 
ebronio  poisoning  by,  189 
eao0«8  of  chronic  poisoning,  189 
not  a  nntoral  ooostitaent  of  tbe  body,  68 
palxy,  192 
poi>t- mortem  appearanoei  after  poUoning 

by.  195 
presence  in  commercial  tin,  176 
qaantitatiTe  estimation  of,  198 
symptoms  of  ebronio  poisoning,  191 
treatment  of  ebronic  poisoning.  19.3 
symptoms  of  aoote  poisoning  by, 
treatment  of  acute  poisoning  by, 
tests  for,  196 

to  test  its  presence  in  water,  194 
compoands  of.  185 
acetate  of,  187.  188 

cases  of  poisoning  by,  198 
cbemicnl  properties  of,  187 
fatal  doses.  188 
time  of  death,  188 


189 


ciii=*fl  of  poipnntfl^fby  aarbonata  < 
Phltirid*  of.  !AJ> 

Qtirnmiil«of,  1if1>,  l(i6  ^ 

\M\^U  of.  t8fl  ■ 

tiilrftte  ot  197  ^ 

Olid*  of,  ISfi 

QMJii  U  j^VnHs  nnd  earth  en  WS1 

fiiftttirp,  18^ 
a«e  Hn  fin  nhortire,  IRft 
nfi>«  for  nddtnv  lo  Miur  winn 
<inse*  nt  poiponlrig  by,  IV9 
ovyob1nrli1#  or,  1^1^ 
ti>>*f'*  nt  ^iA*un\fi%  b?  ^ed,  199 
m'tti-d.  u.««in  k\n.  mt 
8uh«c*fiile  of.  1ST.   l*tB 
cinvri    of   priifioning   by   eahao* 

\W 
suirnr  af  (jm»  it'itd,  aoetat*  of)^  I 
.  eitlpbAfc*  of.  IM 
■alpbida  of;  189 
wbita  (load,  earboaata  oO.'tii' 
Laadaa  watar  pipta.  188,.  194 
L*aan  dajarella,  98 
£•  a*/>  oaaM.  999 

LWbr»*«  diiiBft«tia«  flaid.  187 

LagamiaoMB.  NO.,  199.  998 
Leiaoaa.  easa  of  poimaiag  by«  489 
anaatial  oalla  af  {m  Wa«alai 
aab).  499 


Ltfitittaoy.  718 
Lessor  bamlook.  989 
Lattara  flroai  laaaliao.  741  , 
Lattaoa,  ordinaiy,  199 

•lroaR>aoaatad.  199 
Laaoorrb«t  sismialas  nfa»  898 
Lavaat  aafc.  917 
Libavias,  spirit  of;  119     • 
LlaMg's  tarts  fbr  bydraayaaio  aaii,  < 
Life  Insataaoo.  priaoiplatai;  918 
Llghtaiag.  death  by,  899 

barns  from,  869 

marks  from   8A5 

signs  of  death  from.  863 

way  in  which  it  kills,  869 

▼agarics  of.  868 
Litcnstram  vnlgare.  .329 
Likeness  an  inlieritnnce,  579 

sometimes  not  hereditary,  579 
LiliaoeiB.  N.O..  295 
Lime,  120.  124 

chloride  of,  98 

cnse  of  poisoning  by.  114 

nuisances  arising  from  mannfs 
chloride  of,  98 

tests  for  the  salts  of  125 

kilns,  enrbonio  acid  prodooed 
482 
Linese  albioantes,  620 
Linen,  action  of  nitric  acid  on,  247 

action  of  sulphuric  acid  on.  235 

action  of  nitro  snipharicaeid  oi 

fibres,  499.  50.3 

fibres,  jointod.  499 
Lipowitt,  method  of,  in  oases  of  poia 

phosphorus,  93 
Liquor  ammoniss  («ss  ammonia,  sols 
115 

amnii,  668 

ferri  perohloridi.  182 

opti  sedntivus,  332 
Liquorice,  396 


1014 


INDEX, 


»i 


«rlM 


i>V  siiibli- 


l««iUttr*  *#il»*tl(»D  of.  20d 
•  tfvi  r^r.  I^t 

BM*  Iff    199 

Fs»id«  «r  31  A,  lie 

(br  nlu  of.  2U4 
lie  wtltf,  |ife*«no«  tn  hjfdro«lilorlo  wld. 

s»e 

•Kttolt,  set  Ion  fif  pul|>buric  MUd  odj  SH 

«f  tha  tilkrtlUa,  t04 
lltllMUmQtfU^biii,  591  ^ 

IMIijrt  Alrohot.  4X4 
M«lhjrl'<i'!U  p'pmt,  4:1 1.  440 
lt«tk>y1(-n«.  hi«hl«ir1rr«  ot  'IAS 

OMWof  |>vi«ontn3|  bj  tb*  rufMif  of,  483 
Metbjlto  lai-tthitl,  |»r«p>Lri)tiun  of,  43W 
SR4 

of  |>i»i>on{a^  by.  SH5  "  . 

ii«r  m^iinuranjpnui,,  4ttB 

•eiii#M,  im.  bn 
meroKrnfkjc  ohJcMtti.  lung^ltitdii  of,  498 
IMI  fur  hlirttd,  53n 

llimrotiMKitroocnn;,  &t3 

gcnrrnl  prfpuuiioD:!    to  bt   abifmed  In. 

]|i«ro»pt'«iram!opto  i^xK^iiii  iiKllftD  nf  «  r«o«iit 

MMMitotn  i^n  n  white  fjtbrla,  &U 
|lllbM>k  r<-nii^riUiir;.  015 
llilk*iili<N)rpTinn  oT  opiam  bf,  311 
to  bre]iHtj<,  A  20 

•OnrbuJrMiriiiiriiei^  d«p«ml«nt  an  rood,  474 
oTi  dtflCflBf  tif  'Ooir»,  47tt 

]|to«r»r  aoid*.  nj 

J«llfi;r,  18A 

poinms.  85 

r;irt«mAtlo  aiiftljtla  for,  80 
Minlain.  187 

Minim».  rehtlon^bip  b«twefrii  drops  and,  401 
Minor  M^nv  *tt  dtitb.  40 

si^n* '»f  pi^«itn  ifit^j,  Aid 
Miooritj  anfl  mujortty,  570 
Mirbane.  ft*A:;Dce  cif  {tie  nitrobtntol).  441 
Mistleroi*  bitrrbr.  nW 
MitMhorli^b,  iiit>thiid  at  reenTering  phinpbo- 

ro8  in  €iwt  oT  i^oijiioDiag,  93  * 

Modes  or  death,  hh.i 
Moles,  oien,  rta.,  57fl 
Molybileonin    314 
Monksbfiod  (#«<■  H^oiilte),  !t49 
MoDotnAUii^    741 
Monster*.  BluflkHone  on,  AST 
Mftora,  Annf,  of  Tutborj,  OS* 
Morninie  i^Leknfii,  60A 
MorUn.  ROft 
Morpbftt.  3»2 

aiiAlyaiff  in  DMfws  of  polsfminj^  bf,  390 

eare^  of  fiuifftiitnAt  b^,  34A.  440 

•siiimitlnn  of^  In  of^itim^  A^^S 

fiiil(ir-«  in  df tfftUDg  BfUr  d«atb,  340 

fat«1  dnies.  335 

faUil  pHriod*.  336 

poHt-mrfHvDi  appearanoef,  %^t 

propernrii  fif,  S-t!t 

solubititj  in  different  liquid ji.  S32t 

St»it«  of  pupi||^  in  pni»oTiing  by^  JiS4 

syraptoini  of  poisoning  bj,  333 


trtfntuient  at  [iniNfi'ntag  by.  3S8 
iuc«4»nrt'te'  of  ,h;<3  , 

MnrrMrtti's  pilli.  2V5 
M'iMte  i^old.  a»B 
Jifoth-r"*  iDnrks.  ftlB 
MoUnn,  hi«i«  &f»  003 
H  <Qntn.if}  Aih.  4tb 

beirrirs.  lOfl 
Mo«Diu  tOfiabrina^  aolton  of  ^jMm\ 
itrid  on.  25A 
not  ton  i»f  salpliQrio  acid  on.  S3 
metabMt^ejN,  nrLiou  *>f  niti-ie  aiji'l  tfi 
•pplincttthin  of  poii^ans  1 1,  bl 

Munlfriind  fluiflule oumblQid,  077 
MfiEQinltficiiiiua,  40 

M  induli.  lUl) 

MiinJf>Hi,  api>ntrQin  nf,  Slt^^  *'^BW«- .* 

Mu'Ltiia  aeil  (m  bydrc«blorift  wH),  1 

M liAMkrin.  3S4 

MijJW«]or  unmrruJi  mf  uterit4,  ftfl7 

M>i*hrt»Mmi.  |x>i<fln.tMi«  ^diI  «d)b>r,  tBA 

Mil  Mel*.  pfiknriMUi,  477 

MMiiliti'in,  tlJiO  ,     '^ 

M'lliUrion*  idtfttity  frotn,  ^79'^^, 

M  ittim,  unwhirtes'Mue,  4*0        ^, 

Myrtlfitflaved  iiiiiiaob.  £7S        m 


i 


Nut  Is.  rnii  nf  groirth,  OAS 

Nii|«tHn».  S;»a 

NHpbihA  (ernril),  4A2 

flii8«ii  tif  poi zoning  by,  4AS:,J 
wood.  4:iV  ^ 

(.kflf  mj-thrjie  nlaohftil),  438^ 

Njiirdetn,  notiuO  nf  hotandeold  sQlp>mH< 

on.  ntii 
Kii^ls/^us  po^qdii'Diireiisuit.  SA5 
NuroutiD;!,   diieasrs   ihiat  fllroulAts  palin 
hy,  7$ 

and    nBr^aottoo-aetidt,    poit'iaDrteiii 
pear* new  (Kf,  73 
■jiiiptont»  of,  S3 
Nnreolln,  3-11,  34S 

Natarnl  ean<ituenU,  haw  far  poitoiiA  «i 
Nnvigators  est  \nrg*\y,  Olt 
Ndtj,  fiiud  UMd  in.  Oil 
K»rt,  mnkA.  ate.,  579 
Nepenthe,  Tin 

taw*  of  p«ii!i«rting  by,  340 
Nerluoi  oleander,  2A^ 
NerTe-linsue,  npplioatUn  of  poison*  Lo^ 
N**rras.  lb«  eraniiil,  7dl 
Ni'qnilinH  330 
NipkH,  314 

Nieoljtl*  tfe  nIooMn),  *Tft 
Niootitt  (#w  nkotin),  STfi 
Kiootlii^na  tHbaoatn  (vi^  tobeoeoK  3Tfi 
NiQotin,  state  of  pupils  in  {tofsooiag  by 

tests  for,  '177 

At  an  antidote  for  stryehela,  SOS 

easel  of  polsooicK  by,  3^1 

propertirs  of,  376 

telntioti  beiireen  «oi;a%  and,  380 
Fiaotina  (dw  aieattnK  ^l^ 
Nt<*oly)ia  {an  nioottn},  nU 
NiyUrisom,  on  poit-mortein  rigidity^  10 
NightJhi^de,  bUok,  3S2 

^■rdeo,  M2 

woody,  383 


^V                                                                       ^^H 

I     Nitrat«>f.  properli#fl  ot.  348 

17at«*ne«fl,  ▼Afiout  trude,  253                                       ^^^| 

■     Niirf,  108 

ATM/f.  Uobert,  C4»e  of.  5»4                                            ^^H 

I     NUriA  acid.  213 

Nux  TOinic*.  399                                                            ^^H 

■             Wiii  nitrous  neid».  funiM  of.  Am 

en/ier  of  poi^onini;  by.  ^17                               ^^^H 

H            Beid,  nelion  on  Tr(;<riiihl:f  ni  titers.  24A 

al«te  of  pupiN  in  poiMooini;  by,  •t>^4             ^^^^| 

K                     aetinn  on  nnifnul  aub^tiincr!*,  1N7 

toxicolnglciil  e\i<rainr«ti'in  to  cnr««  of               ^^^^H 

^^^1             anatysit  in  ctt^et  of  uoiaxning  by. 

poi-onin^  bv  thn  ^«t^M  ff  tbe,  2\J0              ^^^H 

^B 

Nv»>«n,  on  puot  roorUm  ricidiiy.  iilV                               ^^^H 

^^^1            brtiling-pointB  of,    244 

^H 

^^^H            CAWM  of  poiManinjc  by.  2!Vt 

^^^H           conKr«1inK>|»<ihviB  of,  X4Q 

0bj6«U,  m»tbn<1f  of  in«A»tiring.  613                            ^^^H 

^^H            c-tiitmliiiti  <ir  'i50 

Ob.-<le(r(c  CAli^ndur*.  514,  615                                             ^^^1 

^^H            ffitiil  iUifvf.  248 

0  hlHte  poi'on,  86rt                                                          ^^^H 

^^H           impiiritt»i<  of,  244 

(Eniintbe  erocAtit,  :i94                                                      ^^^H 

^^M            Llrbien  trst  for.  240 

pott'iaorlrm  nppenrnnca*,  394                           ^^^H 

^^^H            l&ixturf!>#  of  WMtor  nri«i,  2l(t 

•ymptotiis  of  |)oi»<inio)(  bv.  .'iVil                      ^^^H 

^^^H            po^l  murtrin  npfwnriiucifa,  24S 

trenlinent  uf  poitfunlnf;  bv,  'A\il                        ^^^H 

^^^B            prepiirNlinn  'if,  '2ili 

^^^H 

^^H           prnpfriipn  of,  344 

01!  of   bttt«rr  ;ilinoni]«i.   oirruin«iJinoe«  under              ^^^^H 

^^H           purifir-niion  t'T,  244 

which  pr -tlueed.  4I<^                              ^^^H 

^^H           »pe- ifi{*  j^rNvitieii  nf  MinOnn*  of  dif- 

cnnei  of  poisoning  by,  420,  423              ^^^^H 

^^H               f«r«nt  ii(rpnie<hs  cif  3tj 

flit  n  1  d  081*11,  414                                            ^^^1 

^^H            •lAina  pro«1uewf  by,  248,  2&I 

^^H 

^^^H           Pjmptnniii  nf  p»lfli>Dinj|  by,  348 

iiympLoujR,  4t4                                             ^^^^| 

^^m                   340 

Oil  of  DippH.  im                                                            ^^^1 

^^P           tim^»nrf|«,.iti»ner  poisoning  bj,  348    Oil  Dr^niin  {uv  Hmrrie  Al^nbul).  i-i'i                           ^^^B 

■                     Tnri«iIe*of  244                                         Oil  uf  tikrUborn,  4'V»                                                         ^^^H 

1      KHrob#i>««n  (*«•  nitrobcoioO.  441                        OH  nf  Xm  (»«»  ore0*nt?).  4fiJ                                           ^^^H 

■      HUrobrnxol,  441,  .412                                              Oil  of  larprniine  <jt^  (ar(H>nlin-)    4M                           ^^^H 

I             •nnlynifl  in  <>(i«e<«  uf  poisoning  by,  445        1  Oil  uf  vuti'A  (#^^fiiilphurio  rfoid),  227                             ^^^H 

■              0*  en  nf  pr.{«cininff  by,  44rt                                 Ol-iiOf »    N.O  ,   829                                                                ^^^| 

H            enn(<lu*i<»nii   lo    b«  tr-i«irn    frtiin  axperi* 

O|i«rntionii  Irnre  tiiark«,  580                                            ^^^H 

■                 menlii  nn  itnimnl*  wilh,  44-1 

r«(oiti9                                                                       ^^^H 

■             •ffreto  of  Minp  nacnteil  with.  442 

Ophin  {»rt  iu««r|<bin),  %^^                                                   ^^^H 

H             •ztHfrimrnln  on  Mniinnlii,  4(.1 

MS  wn  aniidoU  for  liryobniA.  305                            ^^^H 

^^^      pow't-moriein  Jippennineea,  443 

^^^H 

^^K    prvpnrAtion  of,  44  1 

»atinK  m  iif'  InaufMne*.  548                                   ^^^H 

^^H    relniinnNhip    hi-twrcn    anUIn    poiiooing 

and  till  prrp-ir^Hnn*.  !l-'1fl                                         ^^^^H 

^^^         buJ  pf»S»rtninjshv.  444 

nbiiorpiion  by  ih«  milk,  ,141                                      ^^^H 

pyrn(.iiim<  of  p.jiai>oiijj<  by,  4(2 

ootion  inchMlrvn.  ;j:(5                                             ^^^H 

tfl'-U  Ur,  44 & 

^^^H 

trvAtuirnt,  443 

in  oMen  iif  potjionioit  by,  339                         ^^^H 

NitroKrn  prntoxMi*  (m<  nitrnoa  oxidp),  489 

QMmB  of  poijtnninf;  by,  :{4I                                          ^^^H 

Nltroirlyi^erin.  2fi2.  4ni.  9W4 

ooa<cft4  insrinity.  7M                                                 ^^^H 

ftn>ily>i*  in  cj»i»p«  of  poisoning  by,  4fi4 

ftilupc  in  drtroiing  after  dentb,  ii40                     ^^^H 

Cn»«»  of  piiig'ihinK  by,  464 

fttial  dofps.                                                                ^^^1 

experim<>nt»  UD  Htiiiottli,  4A3 

faUl  periods.  »:<5                                                               ^^^H 

pr«piirnlion  of,  4rt3                                           ' 

bow  r«r  modiil'd  by  use  of  nieohnl.  388                ^^H 

•ytnpiorn*  of  H<)iii<t  And  vaporotif,  4ff3 

roJitiik-tt  r>r  rir.cU  of  i«l«Mbol,  .TiS                         ^^^1 

NUroliy<lroi7h'f>rlp  .i<-»d.  2rt2 

ninrphin  prt-M^nl  in.  XVA                                               ^^^^H 

nelion  in  tiirioufl  budi«»,  203 

pbitniiiic<»t^iii  pi«pirittlona  of,  331                       ^^^^H 

l««lr2«,M 

P<mL  iiii»rt*in  npp«iirMnoM.  •t-'^7                                    ^^^^H 

Nilrofulph.iHo  ncU.  2«1 

poinontno;  niuiuljiteJ   by  tirntnto   p•^iion•              ^^^H 

•otu.n  In  orjfiMih  bodUi,  2*1 

^^H 

propertitfi- of,  2*1 

•tttie  of  pupilH  fn  pniw.mini;  by,  ^34,  335               ^^^H 

UtU  for,  2«3 

vyroptorun  of  poisoning  by,  3^^                              ^^^H 

NUrooa  «lh«<r,  4A1 

Ueu                                                                                 ^^H 

NUrou*  tiiftatp,  e«*«ii  of  poinoning  by,  400 

ireatinenl  of  poiM>ntnK  by.  338                              ^^^H 

Nitron*  oxH»,  4H9 

Or«ng«-jiiioe  «lninioi  •tc«l.  500                                      ^^^H 

fftr.-eLi  of  inhnUttnn  nf,  4S0 

l>rd«al  brnn  {P*f  oitli*biir  (iwnn).  2U3                                    ^^^H 

prrp«nition  of,  4HiV 

Order  of  titcn*  of  death.  50,  b\                                         ^^H 

propvrtien  nf  4HV 

Oi  flU'»  tabl*it  of  heiffbt,  575                                                ^^H 

NoniPi  toictAkrn  for  rap»,  •50 

Orptfti^nt  {u*  Araeoio,  •alphide  of),  158                        ^^^H 

Nou-invrruriiil  pliitM  p«iird#r,  4lfi 

O'luia  Jioiil,  215                                                                       ^^^1 

Nnrdhniifcn  •ulpburiij  lufid.  328 

OiiM)tum.                                                                                     ^^^1 

Sarlotf,  JuriM,   lOitO 

OMiAoitiinn,  ii#f«ctlre,  700                                               ^^^H 

NoM,  »littinr.  CHM  nf,  1051 

puinu        5ifA                                                           ^^^H 

Noi*t  not  to  ho  ri»nd.  3A 

0*«ri««,  dl#<>ii«e  of,  592                                                     ^^H 

writrvn.  m%j  h*  priHlocud,  2ft 

^^^H 

!fulrknooi»rl«ii)gfromnii*nuri<»tur*ofbl«Mb* 

Orercrowdioff,  4<^1,  A5A                                                          ^^^H 

inic  tH»wd«f ,  »1» 

0*kim,  dv'iKiripiion  of,  <1S7                                                ^^^H 

iDtinufR«tur«  of  •iip«r> 

OK*iiAt«  nt  p'irA«h  (binoxAlau  afpotaih^,  430             ^^^H 

pbofpbaU.  101 

OxiiJia**      urine,  nh                                               ^^H 

I07« 


innxi 


m 


V 


OntetM,  toftt  Ibr  alkftliae,  4IB 

uMl jfb  In  OMM  tf  polMiataf  Igr,  4» 

e«M«  of  poiMnlaf  bj,  4St 

dtal  d(WM.  437 

|MWi-Morl«ai  ftpp«M»MMM,  4S8 

proimrttet  of;  4M 
Ondk  Mid,  prtpuKliM  of.  4U 
fyreMM*  la  rbabai^.  4S7 
qvmtltotlT*  ctftivNUiott  oi;  4M 
fUfM  BfOdaotJ  bf ,  4M 
«yBpt»a»<»fp«iiMiii«l3r.41t    • 
teittfor.  4S8 
tTMUMttt  of  potoMrfiff  Vj.  4S7 

MM  OC  4fi 

OiyiroB,  fslmNtlMi  of;  M  •  iMBody  fcr 
MfyoluikipoitMilBft  M4 


ito  of;  1M4 

PiMlorMty,  ••• 

FilHHriai,  poiMia  oC  SM 

PMm.  protomlMl,  814 

Polkuiitta,  S16 

Pftlttatod  l«rlu>p»r.  Mr 

FipotorMtM.  K.Om  SSt 

Phpiv«r  tonnifbrsB  (m  Ofrfstt),  tit 

FopOTerin.  MtUm  of  hot  oad  mM  M^«ite 

aetd  on.  Ut 
Popor,  aollon-  of  silile  mM  ob.  S4T 

Miion  of  MripMorle  mM  Oft,  tit 

bwiflDSi,  onwaitrlat  Itt 

OrMODM  is,  ttt 

pdlHt  mmj  kOI,  lOtt 
P^pior  mnuo  157 
Pteoflo  ttoolt*  of  booUMTln,  987 

oil.  4M,  888.  81M 

•ftfoof  poiaonlBK  1»jt  4tt 
Pompleffio.  698 
Fonijwis.  fononil,  749 

«rao«adf»lM,  899  * 

BinbaMntatInn  (mi  wovodt,  oto.),  tS 
Paregnrfe.  331.  348 
Parents,  share  uf  male  and  female,  in  heredity, 

679 
Parsnip  (wild)   30(1 
Pasque  fli>wer.  3&7 
Patagoniao  misnionaries,  928 
Patt,  ease  of,  7U2 
Patent  yellow,  186 
Pauper  I  ana  ties,  7A5 
Pauir,  poiiione<l  by  digitalis,  3A1,  562 
Peaobnut  kerneK  esNenoe  of  («m  oil  of  bitter 
almonds).  413 

oil  («M  oil  of  bitter  almonds),  4 IS 
Peach  plunts.  415 
Pforoek,  Rfg.  ▼.,  <I3I 
Pearl  white  {$re  biimath,  nitrate  oOi  167 
Pearlasb,  104,  108 
Pearson's  solntion.  157 
Pedloularts  palustrii,  395 
Pellagra.  yi6 
Pelvis,  diameters  of,  564,  632 

female,  organs  of,  645 

male  and  female,  562 
Penalty  for  not  attending  sammons.  29 
Penetration  need  not  be  complete.  640 
Pennyroyal.  666 
Pepper,  black.  371 

case  of  poUoning  by,  371 
Pereossion  cape.  895 
Perforation,  causes  of,  other  than  by  eorro* 

sive  poifims.  72 
Peritoneum,  reflezioni  of,  706 


Ponwii  uMnoi  povMiv  Stt 
PoiooMi  IdoBUty,  ttt 
Potrolosm,  4tt 


474 

Pbtellaodriatd  nqunHcniA,  ^^4  1 

oiiHi  of  puUdiilni?  by,  ii9l 
Ph«fiic  add  (««<  carbi'lie  aelHl,  449 
Pb«t<ol  {Mr,' tsurhalie  meU}    i4\t 
i'htftiyl,.  bydride  of  {*rf  berit'At,  III 

hy<lriit(<  of  (Miii  varbc^litr  lioiil)^  Ml 
rhi'D,vlniiiin  i»fr  ftniltuK  41?  fl 

l*hn<9phtiretl«ij  b^-drng^n.  4W  ^^ 

PbuHphmrg.*,  iilintru^tin  ftiirm*  uf.  At 
.  aQtion  of  dtffi*r*nt   jfii<»iJH*-l  ra] 

.  cbfohmjf  ibe  luttilii"iTH' J  ttf  B6 

annlyiii  in  catep  of  p<*1ii«inlog  by, 
'         burns  nrinitig  frora,  Hfl 
I         OMnee  uf  puiioniiniE  b;F«  'Cl^ 
chronic  poiiatiitig  hy,  iiit 

•ir.  86 
IktaldoMiktt 
pliy«iologl«ola«tio««Ctt 
poet  norloor  iapoMSMMsftwrM 

by.  89 
pffoptrtieoof;  87 
qvaiititloc  vormlHr  tMUi4  la  dl 

avinial  niida  mi  flalt^  M 
•oimbllity  of.  87 
lyMptoao  prod— tt  >h^  poiMMJa 

tMlafbr.tt 

tnatwrat  of  MOM  «f  pllMalaf  ftg 

Miyalo  Bvik  179 
P^iaol  boils  of  iBMMita;.  Tft 
eondttloB.  aotiOB  of  poiaoB 

56 
Physostigma  Tenenotum   (see  oalabar 

2V2 
Physostigmia,  203 
Pbysostigrain,  293 

state  of  pupils  in  poisoning  by,  ii 
Piefte^H,  General,  848 
Picroiuzin.  328 
Pirtekard,  Rftgitui  ▼.,  846 
Finkroot.  397 
Pi  peri  n,    aotion  of  hot  and    eold  to 

acid  on,  320 
Placenta,  the,  658 
Plate  powders,  non- mercurial,  417 
PIntinum,  216 

tests  for,  216 
Plonoquet's  test,  682 
Plumbum  oorneum,  186 
Pneumatosis  of  retinal  ▼eins,  38 
Poison  and  violenoo  combined,  967 
Poison,  iry,  265 

oak,  266 

of  sausages,  471 

sumach,  265 
Poisoned  wounds,  936 
Poisoning  cases,  systematic  ohemleal  i 
in,  76 

compound,  496 

general  symptoms  of,  61 

treatment  of  cases  of,  63 

symptoms  of,  produced  by  nnwh< 
foods,  69 


H               ^^^p                                     ^^^^    ■ 

PcHionoQi  ^*h,  477 

Pol«ih,  diobromnta  of,  p^isoolng  by,  treat-       ^B 

n)«nt,  IA0                                            ^B 

^H 

«niily!iif>  after  puiKoning  by.  170              ^^H 

PoiiOfiK.  •hafM].th.n  of,  6* 

experim^nifl  on  nnimals,  tfiV                      ^^| 

mcliui)  of,  aH,  flfl 

poHt-moi-teru  np)M!ti.rnno«ii,    H^9                    ^^| 

^L                 of  (1-fid  lind  living  ttivue  on  poitont, 

bydriodiUe  of  (*«f  iudido  of  potii^aiuoi),       ^H 

■                          341 

101                                                                  ^H 

^^^^         modified  by  do»tt.  &f( 

nitrnteof,  108                                                   ^H 

^^^B                by  pbyi<ionl  ornte,  &A 

oases  of  puinnnin^  by,  1 1 1                         ^^H 

^^^P               by  (he  (jurt  tu  »btcb   it  i«  tp- 

Potaiita  fuan  {u*  putniiHium  bydratci).  104             ^^| 

^^^                    l»a^d.  57 

PuUftsio  earbunnie,  1410                                            ^^| 

H         iipimiil.  4<^5 

niiraie.  lOH                                                          ^H 

^1         OMU^i-fr  i>!  Tiiilure  in  d«t«oUng  poltoni  by 

Polai«j>io-«nlimonioua  tttrtrnte,  109                         ^^ 

■              »n>ilyBi^  m 

PoUauiom,  Hi4 

^m         «b«-u)irtt]  combiDntton,  &7 

atum.  110 

^M         c\reitmt>lnwf^B  [i>n.ixng  to  thi*  lUfliiioion  of 

bromide  of,  99 

^m              tbr  i«>liittiii»Cr'ttion  or,  5^ 

cyanideof.  4in.  422.  424 

^1           eliuixtflcuUim  n(,  76 

ferrocyanid*  of,  410                                           ^ 

^H          df  fintlititi  uf,  62 

hydrate,  104                                                             H 

^^         dtt^-itui^  »iiDttlHUngaoHon  of,  Hi,  7S 

Mnalysie  In  emea  of  poisoning  by,          ^H 

^B          vliiuiniilitiu  uf,  by  ibe  9Xrrrlioi)fl,  «(& 

1U7                                                              H 

^H          •tidrncc  Vj  tip  deri^fd  frucn  Ibe  abteneo 

Oaj>rs  of  pnttnning  by,  110                            ^H 

^*                of  poiauns  on  nnalyBii.  68 

fatal  du«eff,   106                                               ^H 

bovr  far  namrnleooflitueiJU  of  the  body. 

(grMviiy    of    aolutloni    of    different         ^| 

i\l 

BlreiiKtbi*),   1114                                              ■{ 

K          In  uifiintiride,  69H 

Impurilie*  of,  105                                            ^ 

^1         iatluriicr  of  b'ibit  on,  57 

po^t  morie^o  ap(>«aruiieei  after  poi-               | 

^B                   idiojiyutfrdoy  on,  68 

foning  by.  Hi 5 

^H                futid  ixn  kctioD  of,  69 

iympiomj  «tf  poiioning  by,  106 

^H                   brnlth  oti,  58 

ImU  tnt,   lUti 

^M                  »ler[jh  oil  nclion  of,  SQ 

time  of  death  after  poisoning   bj, 

^H           looni  Moltob  uf,    63 

106 

^P         (ualici'iur  ititiodueiton  of,  int<^  body,  OS 

IrentiD^ot  of  puiHoning  by,  106                  ^h 

H            lii.<  h  oiKvkl  iiM.ttiire.  57 

iodide  of  {irf  iodide  of  polaeeiuui),  101             ^H 

^B           tuellMidx  hy  wlilob  Ibry  Duty   get  out   of 

sulphide  uf.  no                                      ^H 

■             Ihe  budy,  U 

salpb(»cyaDide  of,  4lfl                                       ^H 

^m         r«raot«  Hotioo  of,  S4 

le»ta  f«jr,  417                                                   ^H 

tnriiiliiiT)  in  («yiaplni»ii  of,  AS 

Potato,  382      ^                                                                "^1 

viii]uu»  tut'tbiidfi  nf  ndtDinittnitioD,  52 

•pirtt  («w  amylio  aloohol),  439 

Pollfll*-*.  .IU|.iitpd,  ItBtof,  64H,  553 

PregriHoey,  extrnaierinH,  flIU 

^LPoibt*  oro«#l6cAtioD,  &AB 
^■roljdnoiyliom.  57U 

«atiti4ina  n«  iu,  A0:( 

medico  iegikl  reUliuos  of  60^) 

^B^t«cr(B  a.o.,  :tVA 

previon*.  054 

^^MmWi,  i>>ruv  '>f<  '''•'^ 

ri-k*  of  547 

■i^fqp^/v//  AV^.  v.,  6.11 

•igne  of,  604 

^VP^rH,  pui^unuiir  letloD  of,  470 

tabal,  019 

H            iQi^nKly,  47:i 

oaaea  of  eiirly.  032 

Portland  i^ARr.  VAS 

Pramalure  ebildren,  OlO 

Fw^tmoHtfi,  Rjiit  nf,   700 

latKir.  055 

H         rigidity,  '.MS 
^f          •iMkntiiK,  44 

Premiamii.  additional,  boir  to  calcalale.  653          ^ 

Preaunipiinn  ofdeatb,  633                                          ^1 

PrlVttl,  329                                                                       ^H 

riiiijiixHiionB  in  cawM  of  poisoning.  70 

oa4>  R  «>f  poisoning  by,  330                                ^H 

PolMh.  Ii)4.  \m 

Profetw^iiinnl  aecrei«,  28                                                |^| 

trtti  for.  H»ft 

Projectilee,  W7tJ,  9V3                                                      ^ 

qunniiiritive  rutiniatinn  of,  lOR 

Prolapneof  utei^e,  692 

«4.Md  oxjiIb  i«  uf  (binoMluto  of  potuBb).  430 

OTariee.  592 

«r>«ntt«'  of.   155 

Pro<.f  ipirit.  424 

cjtM'ii  uf  poinoning  by,  1A4 

Proof*  'if  rrapirnlion,  70:i 

blchKimai*- (^  dichroB»»tf),  170 

Pn.p4.rti<>n«  of  human  figure.  670 

OH**-*  of  poisoning  by,  113 

Prunui  Inurueeraaus  (ms  aha rry  laurel).  416 

tlnar^enat*  uf,  J 57 

pr^dui,  410 

K          bin.iKaliit«  or  (Mi  biootaUU  of  potMb), 

■            iMi,  i:io 

^          blaulpbiite  of.   IW 

Prtmtian  blue,  teat  for  bydrncynnic  acid,  409                | 

PruMic  aeid  {ttt  hydro«yunl<9  nrid),  ;i98 

ae  an  untidute  for  fUychniia,  305              ^_ 

eii»vii  uf  pai*otiing  by.  162 

Pudenda,  the  female,  de*erib«d,  041                      ^H 

bltnflmte  of,    |0V 

Puerperal  inaniii,  741                                                  ^^H 

K          MrbouKleuf.   iOH 

Pull  of  iHggrr.  981                                                     ^^n 

^1                  e4i0««  uf  poiioning  by,  1 1 1 

PuIm.  above  \m  generally  indl«ata*  diaaaaa. 

^B           4l«broiBM«  nf,  am»w  n(  poiiinning  by,  1 70 

647 

■                 ebronic  pol*«>ning  by,  lAV 

at  dilTiTanl  ng<>a.  table  of  Ibe,  647                             1 

^K                 tyiBpiou*  ofpfdMoing  by,  109 

Pano  lured  wouada,  944                                      ^^^J 

Pli 


'  h 


107S 


PiipU«,  otifingo*  in  th*  »t«t«  fit,  endir  tb«  »o* 

tM*ii  lil  different.  (•i>i|i(vn*,  HM4 
fflffiiiQitliirHAH  hj(1utfi>ci.pg  «tat«  of,  'S34 

Purgitiir  em*.  3T«J 

Puffl**  foxglo^*  (»»'  tligUtili»),  ftSi 

PulrefiH'tUni,  bun  fpit  lutetemul  bj  lb«  AoUod 

(tbiiii|ir]i.  mii'T  lit.  44,  4fl 

ber^re  blilb,  IM 
Pulrldilj,  oitwbol«?umf^nH«  of  tvaA  4n*  to, 

471* 
Pliily  pftwdrr.  3t* 


QtilBoliiln,  j^ul^hiitfr  of,  iiMi 


RfibMt  |>if ,  ]Hi!iKiritkiii  utiMi  of  ft,  4?1 

iUt*  ift  ( nidlR  in  pnlirQiiiiTg  bj  pIftDii 
balt^fkitl tif  lo  tbe  Older,  <^^i 
R»hOTi.c«itJi>  '■tfiii',  34* 

0illUiltlUlll,  ilMl 

Us  Pii»v|}«  Abl 

Mtiiviiniap  Cm! at,  A49 
B«t  pKffei.  8?,  IBT 
RHUltitar  (Mr  itFRrnloiv  neld),  1ST 
Mnj^Hur,  tiidider  uf,  JU4A 

EtrQJ'gtiiLlaD  bjr  flH*h  of  (>i«t«lf  «!«.,  j650 

lit  H  dij»tj<M't,  b&H 
Eftd  ftrfftni«.  l^H 

latid.  Iti7,  2At» 

P^pIi  t,  r-u*inp  cit,  £00 

Ihboi^lpbxH  tin,  H^ 

piati|>itj|t«,   £419 

iiwit»  uf  polioDiiiK  by,  tit 

BnuDd^rsftiniiiD,  &ti8 
Ikgjptrn  DticHlieH)  men  thou  Id,  SSA 

letif/f/'A'A  ivnt  fur  jira*fii«,  161 

w«rcu  J,  1*2 
Kpiijilrin  &iid  titfHnit;^  7 SB 

B«portl<  of  piilfOltiDg  OBHfl,  •OggMtiOQI  M  t« 

driiwiniE  u|i,  7.^ 

B«f|>t'Oi>ibHiij  iiF  ofiminab,  770 

Bn[>{rittiHiT,  ertJj»Moia'  of,  a  ci||ii  of  d«atb,  i)7 
Biutitirit  of  Ak  neccftfUTj  for,  4H1 
ftirboitic  udd  prodBctd  by,  47S 
iff*^cU  of  oo  the  iu flint.  683,  7*) 8 
poLionf  ufTeotiDg  organt  uf,  $4 

Reiulti  ofAnaljTiie,  kv]d«Dfl«  ariiiog  fros^  %h 

RbMnliy,  nUintof^  £09 
KbeMRjiiUiid  nribritii.  S70 
Rbodlum.  lai 
ttbui  rndioMriKp  SA^ 

tovieoilendron,  36fi 

VfiroiXt  ji4)A 
RUAft,  meai^UFFrrenti  otuttroi,  ItH 
Hicittud  (*(i(aiDuDli,  279 
Biflei,  varioua  forma,  980 


B^^bt  and  l«ft  hnndodi^fii*,  970 

Ji*jf}nii»'i  grvt'n,  171 

'*  Bigor  in<»ftt#, "  4U 

Rifka  an  piguiriK  Iqpfkej  MrtiAefttvt, 

R.K'ktCj'.  U79 

timfftrrr*  i  ror  f  ■  liar  lei.  %  \  ft 

RiiiDiiii  iiitriul  (Mv  ei'pi^pr,  Mlpbat*  ^f), 

]{(»j>0,  It  l<»Mg  rtqjuircd  f<^r  bftUfivg:,  $il 

it<>»n<>«ia.  N    O..  4)fi 

Hum  »  |ibo«ptioru«.  85  « 

RiMlfi,  ifti 

Bmt,  l£liiMb»tb,  580 

Bii|itur»  uf  utafvii,  it^tl 

then  »«p^rt>ri,  Ibidn^yii,  cLd  ,   lOKI' 
ftubitllum.  121) 

«n«e#  tif  pubonifif  bf.  th%,  ^%  K< 
Ropture  of  iiriii««ra,  aoUoo  uf  poUonf" 

Ut»ii  bj,  T4 
Ru*t  ii|jiiti.  AiiV 
Hatn«.ie,  'S.i^.,  U% 
Rut  a  gruvaubot,  ^66 


Bab«dllli»,  SSa 

E^nbndiilw.  tir  oevailtlta,  9tB 

Sat  niuhjiinW.  HH 
t^itt  lie  •Jimbiiii.  109 
l!iill  |jipl,<{rcl]>rv»l,   iUV  • 

8al  pru'hptl^,  H>8  • 

Hill  vu^fiiilo,  117 

SnU  ««f  dim^MPcd  inaitl,  474  ^M 

B«ilJcia,  iifliluQ  or»ul|.ihiiiH'9  aolil  on,  SS 
ti4it  nod  culd  j)ijl}jibfirk'  acid^^ 
galiiaUnn,  onuqirii  uf,  3U>J 

lllt';ri<'UHj4l,   20^ 

BaIM  nf  p'orr^l  (je^  biDoxalaU  f^f  tMit**b) 
Banbuouii  edului,  207 

nigrii,  2H7 
Batidar^fcha,  l&S 
Safig^uinaria  sUioj*.  &0B 
Santonitu  Aiini larky  to  atiTiibaia,  3dt 
eareioii  baiutmit,  4?I 
8«iiiug«  poiMin.  471 

tbauriei  lo  ocooQiit  for,.  471 
Bavin,  tm,  t>U,  A59 

oit^enf  of  poffoning  by,  37<^ 

exp<riai«nu  on  auijjiala,  20ft 

fiital  dot»«,  27U 

oil  of,  no 

fHifUinorlFm  appcarnneas.,  370^ 
■7iD|>toiD0  of  poiiuniiig  bjr,  fTO 
toafcolo|tioa|  aoaij^ig,  37* 

6«Ald».  878 

Seatobinnto,  372 

So«iiii!q«riy,  373 

fiearlet  rtinnar  baaiu^  IM 

Soars,  Idf&tirj  from,  576 

Sthraft'B  gr«eD  («tti  copper,  arp*iiat«  o(), 
t*at  f**rarf*oip»  H^ 

Se/ioHtNiH'M  trvt  for  bjilriKjanii}  aoid,  4 

Srhrtrifi^  *  pbt^pboriijfi,  1^5 

Sektvminfittl  Kr#«n^  1 50 

Seiltiiin,  im 

Secileh  aedit,  113 

S«4>tiit.b  Widowi'  Lira  Offioa,  rxparlfBe 
437 

BerotihulaHaeoB,  K.  0.,  lb% 


UTPXX. 


1«7» 


Semrrr.  wa,  fl4 

E«eafo  ef^nivt-ain  '^mr  'PivrnS  of  Tyr\,  SI 

8ceo«4iir7  vrminfiKt.  It:-i4 

8*ereU.  vruff'anaBaL  Sfr 

S«ed«  <if  DBS  viiMina  2y> 

SvleBBrrtu^  inran^m.  4*1 

8elf  iafliru^  ii.jitrm.  3lti2 

8«mi»ii]  «<:atBK.  M>1 

Lwwair«w>  t<«l  fnr.  W\ 
ntiC'fffotifiir  I  niii— Tiiiii  at  MS 

!'««  iur.  iiM 

8«r(»mff  ntttiiuTMiMB,  apnlteiit.nMi  uf  ynitmlifc. 
57 

Srsamcnd  buof*.  Mfi 
Saver  ;.■•(«.  41*2 

Cttnw  ftf  |iMi«nnnip  bjr.  4M 
Severe.  e-w<»NHik.  rm^jitif  ut  419 

r^4B}*f>*-i>  iim  uf  tiM-  itir  uf  U»  oicf,  4BS 
Sex.  drirt'iuitiMtttiii  iif  ^'l 
SrxBsi  o'cait*  eimipai«d.  U9 
Shak'itr  ?<">',v.  2%:: 
Sheef..  m»ii  uanred  by  a.  iCS 

«a>-i    ariN'tiie«l.    1ST 

viiMj«*'.  nterrunikl.  3M 
Skork-.  iMMmiuf  Tltnt  nill  tif    CS 
Sb<^k  ti'  fpib»(  ODTil.  fcJi 
Sirkbr**.  uiiimiiiK.  5lt5 

Stiicun.    «iniftBuridr  uC,  in 
Silk.  41't' 
Btl««r   rif' 

euiiiyMioi><lr  <if.  2 If 

rTbtiidr  Iff  t«er  MlT«r  poImIjmiK  41f 

W^  li>r  rTMfiiil*  «1,  *V7 

blLrutr  uf.  2JC 

kiiii'jMM  IB  BMMf  vf  fioiaaaiBf  %;. 

2.^ 
enHTf  ttf' fMiiwunnif  W  21(1 
exv^iaNmi*  ub  aoitBiam,  21€ 
fMJKt  luirtfiB  BfiyirarKtiDeA.  217 
t|Uiif>f  tt«tf««a«iBl/aM.  2i7 
fiVB.pi.mM.  21« 
tr**;!.   217 
ipi-iiifccwl.  217 
Bolutitii..  r«i«i|iiiaftioB  «C  41f 
fttiii'Tf>i«  iir.  4  If 
eiK^  14"  yMiiHuniuir  by.  421 
p.iiiip<*ai»  |iriKluoe4  br.  417 
Stm^'ii  ■■tiS  -i-Jf  V   Z^ '■mf,  CI^{S.  €U 
S'mf»v*i  I  r»i  p»  Ir,   11(7 
f^iUU.    •bElIl'iiUIB.   OMi 

Sk^'itn^rtit   triijctb»  «if.  (32 

Fkifi   aiiiltfittiui)  tif  |M>iiKiB  t<*.  57 

Kk  t    I.Boifi..  (i«-«rili*4.  VM 

f  kul.  f!  iunti*   C5C.  7(»» 

B.4^«.uf*-tt«itf  uf.  57t>  fM,  687 

^•ri»-'»e»  ul,  577 
Slac}..  11  fii»n«e*  vb  BfOtMiB  of  poMva.  5f 

«Tai|iUfSMp  fruAaeai  kjr  pwiewp  tkat  pr»- 
bwt>r.  €2 
SbiaM  iibuL  iMMtfvLigB  <  IM] 
^ai«l<r    171 
^mr\  tt^Mltf,  117 

ftBalif.    BDvku* 

474 
6o«f>.  efl*tl#  «r.  •eanliBi  viCb  ■itriikwMiil,  442 

konl   ii> 

>BM.    J 11 


Bw^  vnfl.  IM 
S<«<itm«  bIiw&,  295 
Sodk,  1)4 

nubiaurir  oC,  114 

caMci  %4  TMiiKniifig  ky.  114 

bbh*  iif  iMMnm^  ^7.  1*4 
kaoBTkinuii*  f£.  114 
Sfidsr  eai  kiiiittLc  {am  M»da   rarbfaiBSe  «f ),  114 
Sudinm.  Ml 

etiiundr  <iL  114 

flBm  f«r  }MMiiux«  ky.  115 
kydri^te.  112 

CMiM»  of  proBODhif  ky.  115 
frarhjep   uf  Miluuiav   uf    fiffsrBBt 

lArt-dim^k,  lis 
-lefa»  fm,  IIS 
kxpicLHtrit*  «1  Vk 
liAruie  «f.  114 
Bi»miMi«  of.  21V 
«B-f«mdr  ui.  114 
S»dii»y.  CMiD 

B.lfl  MMfk.   i  14 

SidBtiBe^    S.  0     lf;2 

•Lui«    ti  T>B}dl*  iB  pm«»iuiir  ky  plBBti 

Sal«n'ta  i#«  •M^iuiui).  lteU( 

BTtivii  ul  faM  Bxid  Bo}d  fvlfborir  acM  «a, 

ea«wi>  uf  |)oiB<itixnp  ky.  SM 
«'&.|irrittj«'|ji»  ftL  iLDiB>»t»  vitk.  S6S 
fMNO-  Bt«>rtfliii  B.fi|«arkaoeB,  SSS 

lnit»  f.«.  Xtv£ 

inrBiflti^it  ill  cBnar  of  pfn«oB'iiic  ky,  SSI 
SoUsiBai  OBieaaiara  i«Br  imlBsiiw.  2t(2 

ewM^  of  pttiMttiiy  \t% ,  JiM 
sifraai  i*^  «MilaBii>).  SH2 

Cmfr*  uf  p4iilMiBiBr  ky.  SM 

ImkrriMiBiB  (•'T  MilaaiiBi.  Jtt<2 
raur*  111  |NiiB<«iii»^  by.  XM 
SolB^ility  i^pinmti»,  rfieet  an  eoanDcnoMMMl 

uf  p}mtiuniia..  f  J 
5olatiit«  «f  ajDiDuaia  <anr  aa]Boui&.  apisxiia 

«ir..  ii5 

SiilBtive  vBi«r  {mt  aitrie  acidi.  241 

Scrkut  Mcirapa'-iA,  415 

5<irrrl   ai.h*  «>f  ifl»  kittaxal«tc  uf  paUfk> .  4M 

^•••Bijd.  i«-i(irit3  ««f.  5W» 

Sr^t^-'Atr*  lrf«  fiSee.  5M 

^)«lJlllb  fly  .ott  cavlbaaiArf).  4M 

r>|«oira  til  t)u  id.  ill  1 

frfmrira*  BBblyma.  af^mrmtm*  Smt.  512 

6|MrtrviNmi|ur  Icia.  kiAuiy  uf.  Mt 

l«r  kioud,  5M 
SpermatiiBua    Mr2 

kiidirff  vi'k   wbiek  tkcy  vay  ke  9am- 
f.^bded   5111 

kaoiaa.  ii4(2 

of  ulkrr  aiiiBalB.  5U 

pfiwrr  uf  ramti^  pttrtikcticm.  kfiS 
Fpkaeela*.  1>54 

Sfrtdrn   fKiiMiDPBf  aetioB  nf.  44^5 
rifiittkl  eu'd.  yunr-uitf  afiiBrtiaie  tkc.  54 
S^nU«fkibrUikuraiMPUBaoiji&.  mdatiiaof), 

J]5 
Sfnriu  of  Mit  ,iM«  bydrnrkk>nr  arid).  252 

uftarppBtia*   «r  tarpmuaei.  444 

BfUBTMCf.    It2» 

bfltm^mfllut  c«D»kB«iia«,  kdV 
Spatted  kamluek.  M7 


»t»>lri«««i.  |#«P  «i4  etiii.  ill 
itlMv«l4li«a.  *M«  ill 

ilMii«ik  «r  i»aill«  fftbHca.  S4* 

lIlllO.  «lMllilB»(tnil   ot   »1^ 
|Mm.  •%•»  «e4  bMi  to  W 

by,  j*n 

e*jw«  mF  fifAioBli^g  lij<  Srs 
<hBr«ri«^f»  of  plant,  Ull 
«a|r«Hi«irtjLj  vn  mniinhti  villi,  S7S 

*jm4'iiu*  fjf  poiioDii»g  hj.  pITS 
irfnltnprgt  pf  fMintfuing  b^,  373 

IICfonii«ak,  t^A.  1M 
Bkriii#  i'f.  1X4 

8lTri|i'hii(i<ti  tiiirijido*,  39A 
g|fj«bnU,  ^"1 

Asalyvtt  «f  ilan««b  liW  pntiantng  bj» 
9utt 

•«P»t  of  piolMDiltg  hy,  Atl 
ebftiil^dl  |jr>t|i«rtl«i  of,  903 

e<}ati9«n^*ts#nt  of  tjr&iptoBii  in  fipOiftoOtOg 

bj,  m^ 
ttt'ilur*  ill  ttti  dftvction  •fWr  dcalb^  311 

ftn^iiiritiii*  nf    :i^'3 

Marvbaii  kinti  b  iiok%  uO  frogp  tor,  oQT 

poifoniog  tbroagb  tbe  mediom   of  the 

milk.  304 
pott  mortem  eiipearaDee*,  304 
■olubiliiy  in  different  liqaida,  302 
aymptoms  of,  301 
teatM  for.  200 


l«M«  for.  4f  4 
irMinttti  44L  4t3 
SalpbiHt  atid.  ST 

■«tinn  Oft  MffAl* 

•S  flit  J  far  «rator,  St4 

ftbatjpie  ■Jt*r  |iBii»>in^  bf ,  3St 

•n«I ytl*  of  ■UiM  is  *««i  Mid  «l 

lug.  240 
builiiDg  ipoini*  «f,  XS). 
miftm  af  pninniBg  by.  341 
«b«i[iitcftl   propcffirf  of,  $0 
fji«tori«Hi,  3S8 
f»Ul  dtivN^  2M 
beet    «pd    eoodenMliM    f««al 

froQi  adii)Utai«  erf  vsiMr  mnd. 
impurilifti  of  229 
mwrnnw  of  'iijliagiiiiibli|^  fr«e  I 

e9mbio»4.  2^ 
meibodj  «f  purifyinf^  £11 
Bslpuierf:  KriB^LQf  fri^ta  i^i^ptw 

of,  2£d 
fibyneal  pTOp*rti**  of,  Hi 
|N>ft  jaortrm  nppesreoccfl  after 

*4blng  by,  2.lfi 
prvpeTmli4iD  of,  22iT 
pTMenee  In  by<lro«b1arie  aeld«  3 
prtwtift*  ift  niiri'  h<*h1    2<i4 
quatiiiiatiTw  csiimsivs  vf,  «4i 
quantity  preeent  in  ariae.  24# 
strength  of  Tarioae  Mlatioas  of. 
symptoms  of  poisoning  by,  236 
twits  for.  237 
time  of  deatb,  233 
trealBMOt  of  poisoning  hj,  233 


^^^^^^^^^^m                                                ^^^^m 

^ 

^■Bttlpbario  aoid,  varieties  of,  2.^1 

TbaUium,  218 

Salpharous  acitl.  495 

TJtamu  myitcrif,  1040 

oxpenmrou  on  anvmiilB  with.  495 

ThfHitrd"*  pboppborut.  85 

^^                  pqi«onoui  effect*  of,  496 

Thorax,  organ*  of,  672 

^L               preB«nc«  in  lulpbario  sold.  S29 

Thorn  apple,  .'{71 

^m               teiU  for.  406 

Thornton.  Abrwbnm,  654 

V                a«e«  of,  495 

Throat,  piiicidHl  wound*  of.  1023 

^HU|»rpbo»p}iiil»,  manufAOtars  of,  UVi 

Thinu(ltin<t  HtiHf,  1049 

^n«0p«elad  poitooing.  method  to  h«  paraued 

Thyuielencete,  N.0..3S4 

■^  in  •  eii0«  of.  «3.  tfO 

Tioana?,  300 

^Paddao  dcAtb,  &5rt 

TieJihortu  trial,  580 

H^uffoentloo,  deiitb  by.  093.  850 

Tin.  218 

H^       pojt  mortctc  tigsi  of,  8&3 

anatysifi  in  eases  of  poisoning  bjr  salts  of, 

^H         treatment  of.  852 

220 

_^H 

^^parrirorsbip.  534 

ease«  of  poinoning  by  ehloride  of,  220 

^^H 

^HSummont  to  inquest,  30 

cotnponnds  of.  219 

^^H 

^B        auperior  coort».  28 

experimantA  on  animals  with  salt  of,  219 

^^H 

^Mop^rior  court*,  the,  2S 

tests  for  unlu  of,  219 

^^H 

^V6ttp«rf9>tMtion,  718 

prepare  liquor.  219 

^^1 

■  SiippoaHitiotia  ohildraD.  72) 

Tissues,  (iction  different  in  poisons.  341 

^^H 

V^'^W^'"''  L«vi,  hU 

Titanium,  220 

^^^1 

Swamp  hrll«bore.  »2() 

Toad,  poiecnous  action  of,  46d 

^^H 

8w9et  aluinnvK  413 

Tobttceo.  376 

^^^1 

ffpirits  uf  iiilre.  461 

pipe,  deaths  from,  1020 

^^^1 

SHffH*^.  en^e  of.  651 

action  of  maoufacture  on  workpeople,  390 

^^^1 

Syneafie,  deiith  by,  555 

analysis  in  oases  of  poisoning  by,  380 

^^H 

Sjpbilii  frotu  aceoucb«ur^  M$ 

experimenta  on  anitnals  with,  377 

^^H 

intjubiilinn  of.  ft;i3 

fut.il  doKes.  379 

^^^1 

Sjrup  of  poppies,  :i:i2 

faUl  periods.  380 
post-mortam  appoaranoas,  379 
smoking,  379 

Tamtii  ooromunit.  27i'I 

stale  of  pupils  in  poisoning  by,  334 

TiitiQio  ftetfl,  actiuQ  uf  Bulpharlo  itoid  oo,  235 

symptoms  of  poisoning  by,  378 

TnDbin  H»  an  untijtjte  for  «tr;eboiii.  "lOd 

treatment  of  poisoning  by,  379 

Tan-y.  :m 

Tolerance  of  drags,  58 

oil  »r,  307 

Tolu  plnnl,  396 

Tapeworms,  473 

Toot  plant.  273 

Tftploni*.  279,  399 

poiaon,  3Wrt 

Tar,  nil  of  (Mff  creniolel,  492 

Torpedoes,  WHO 

pntr  <if  piii»nuin|(  by.  40S 

Torture.  unwhorle^omenesB  of  tha  flesh  of  kni" 

Tardiru  on  bunginir,  831 

mnh  killed  by.  474 

on  •offocwtion,  853 

Toxl«  insanity.  751 

T«rtHr.  orvam  of,  IdO 

ntvHhy,  Viotor.  774 

^B         troelie   (i«r   nntiinony,  potaiBlO'tnrtrite 

Traction  borna  by  child '•  neck.  ft33 

■            of).  109.  12d 

Trndes,  tbota  which  shorten  life,  539 

^T*rtarl«  Hoid.  4:}.1 

Traiioes.  759 

TnrtMriced  ntitiiuony  (jre  MCtimooy,  potAMlo- 

Traumatic  deliriura,  950 

Urtfftte  of},  |2fl 

fever,  950 

Tartrate  of  uutimouy  and  pot«*h  (if*  atitU 

modes,  1035 

.^ 

mnny.  pfitn««io.tartrate  of),  I2A 

Treroatodtt.  473 

Ta«t«ir«<*  ai;ae  dritp,  155 

Triobina  trpiralis,  471 

Tnttooing,  mnrku  of.  580 

Trlobinoas  diseaiie,  471 

Taxiw  b»coata.  271 

fatal  cases  of.  472 

Taylor.  Dr  ,  a)»a«ureuenta  of  akeletona,  577 

simuUting  Irritant  poisoning,  472 

Tteniw  rcbinncocoui,  473 

Trichomonas  vaglnw,  603 

soliuiQ,  iVA 

True  hellebore,  358 

oiediooanellata.  173 

Tung»t«n.  220 

T««lb,  a  text  of  Hge,  543 

Turner'*  yellow,  180 

syphilitic,  «;14 

Tarpentfne,  oil  of  {t*t>  tnrpertilne),  464 

lemporary  and  pcroidnent,  542 

spirits  of  {tt*  tnrpeniiiie),  464 

Tfichmuttn  t  t«»l,  52tt 

action  in  phosphorus  poisoning,  89 

Telrgrapb  wife  cut*  a  hand  off,  1043 

oaaas  of  poisoning  by.  404 

T«ui{>eruture  fulU  aHrr  deiitb,  :tH 

fatal  dossa,  404 

•omelimrf  rl>e»  nfter  death,  38 

preparnllon  of.  404 

Tntatiry  by  rurtfty,  592,  fl78 

prnpertlr*.  464 

Terabembene  fjn-  lurpenUne),  464 

phy?io|ogi«?nJ  nplion,  464 

Tertiary  lyraptomti.  '^31 

Torpelb.  loitierMl,  309 

Teitca/abiroce  of,  5V:i 

enM>«  of  pr>iiioniDg  by,  218 

nondfpcent  *>t,  593 

Tarps  (n»  turpentine),  464 

Telaftui.,  di»titiotioii  between  Idiopathic  tat- 

anai  and  that  from  the  effecte  of  atryob- 

tJ leers,  4l«tinctlon  between  those  from  dtaease 

nia,  74 

Olid  those  produced  by  the  action  of  pol- 

7tlni<Batiiyl  of  anmoDtuia,  US 

soot,  73 

. 

^^^^V               ^^^^^^^^1 

Uwb»mf«r».  NO..  385 

VtiaJ  f<iparitf  of  lang*.  646 

0(nta  of  pupils  in  poifloning  byplnnUbe' 

Vitriol  («or  jTulphurio  neid).  337 

lunging  (n  tiie  order,  3.14 

oil  of  \»r*  8ul|iliufit;  ncidi.  227 

Umbrella,  faUl  injurj  from,  1020 

npirit  or  «<»coee  of  {tu  aulphai 

Unwbole»ome  food.  470,  »14 

227 

Uimnturftl  criin**.  000 

qf  cop|>er  (*v  copper,  aalphatet 

Unprofewtonal  eondacl,  027 

Volatile  poisons,  recovery  of.  from 

UnuoundnMB  of  mind.  731 

lent?  of  the  sliimi»rh.  78 

Upai  antinr,  2ff(( 

Votunttiry  uots,  how  fiirpowibl*  aft 

tree.  396 

ing  by  hydrocyanic  acid,  403 

lieut«,  267.  300 

Vomiting,  methods  of  eifeotiog,  6A 

etL$en  of  poisoning  by,  3J8 

Urwmic  poisoning  eitDoUiing  opium  poison- 

ing, :m 

Wafers,  arsenic  in.  166 

Uranium,  220 

Wager  of  buttle,  654 

Urari,  300 

Wahiwiiirht.  cnte  of,  564.  104« 

tfrin®,  obani<?t«r«  of  henltby,  538 

Wolii*,  Rfg.  ▼.,  665                  ^H 

H                                             ozalatea  in,  425 

Wulfh,  Ciiruline,  580                  ^^^H 

^^L                                         pretenoc  of  hj'droehlorio  aciiJ  in,  2i\t 

M'lifhing  soda,  1 13                       ^^^H 

^H                                           ralpbaric  aoid  in,  210 

Wnjips,  slinga  of.  465                    ^^^1 

^H                                   Uterus  and  ovurie*.  A44 

Water,  notion  on  copper,  176     ^^^^| 

^H|                                                     raginii,  ohaiigos  in,  607 

action  of,  on  lend.   193                  ^| 

rapture  uf,  (\'.il 

bent  andcondensslion  retultin^^H 

sue  Hi)d  weight  of,  622 

mixture  of  sulphuric  acid  an^H 

wound  of  the  grurtd,  1033 

dropwort  {tee  cenanthe  erocala),^| 

Uterine  sound.  e«6 

hemlock,  3^6                                  ■ 
impurities  of,  858                           ■ 

^^P 

Wattlir  gum.  396                                   H 

Vicolnallon.  fees  for,  541 

WnUon  T.  Enshitd,  533                   M 

1                                           laws  on,  541 

Watton  and  uifi,  1045                         ■ 

1                                           protects  against  ftaill-pox,  541 

Whx  casts  of  bootmarks,  etc..  567    ■ 

^fe                                   VugVna  violet  in  pntgcacey,  608 

Weapons.  973                                       M 

■                                   Valeric  acid.  43U 

Wfur^,  murder  of.  1049                     ■ 

■                                 VaQillH.  :^u 

Wffiat^,  Professor,  cose  of.  580          ^ 

^H  .                              Vapor  of  bydroojftnio  Aoid,  poimnous  aetioa 

Weight,  summary  of  facts  on,  545 

of,  402 

Weights  of  Jnfunts,  546 

Vapors,  tbeir  power  of   cheeking  the  iuiui^ 

of  brain,  779                                  H 

nnsity  of  pbosphorns,  86 

of  viscera  in  adults,  34                ^M 

Viireo.  114 

of  Tisoera  in  oewburo,  690          ^| 

Veal,  UDwholesome,  470 

Weigh lof  machine,  use  of;  9t«          ■ 

Vegetable  aoids,  424 

Welt,  to  flod  depth  of.  994          ^^H 

bodiM,  action  of  hydroeblorlc  acid  on. 

TIVAA.  Ciiroline.  580                  ^^H 

255 

WthU  fasti njf  girl,  023                ^^H 

coloring  matter,  150 

Wetnarse  may  give  svphitts,  fiSI^^^H 

poisons,  lijt  of.  2«3 

Wheat,  arsenic  in.  H7                        ■ 

Vernlrin  (nw  yerairia),  S30 

White  arsenic  (sai  arseoious  acfdl,  |^| 

Veralria,  320-326 

bryony.  274                                 ]■ 

oases  of  poisoning  by,  321 

oopperas  (sre  line,  sttl{>hate  <»n,H 

experiments  on  animals  with,  321 

hellebore,  325 

properties  of.  320 

easel  of  potsonlog  with,  336 

^^                                      reaclioiifl  of,  320 

lead,  185 

^K                                    trealtQ«tit  in  oases  of  poisoning  by,  32 1 

tests  for  purity  of,  1*^5         ^1 

^V                               Veratrum  album   (see  wblte  hellebore),  320, 

preeipitule  (4««  morcnry,  amuii»l^| 

■                                            325      . 

vitriol  (s^  line,  sulphate  of),  Jjj^^ 

viride,  320,  32t) 

Wkttfrhni>rl  Iriigeay.  10*8 

cases  of  poisoning  with,  327 

WhttitrurtfiM  riflp.  a83                           ^ 

Veratroidia,  326 

Wild  cucumber,  275                             ^ 

VeratriA,   action  of  hot   and  cold  fulphnrio 

pnriDip.  396                                   ^H 

acid  OD,  320 

274                                 ^^H 

Verdigris  (natural  and  artifloial),  173 

Wili.l-flower.  357                         ^^H 

Vermilion  lift  mercury,  tulpbide  ofj,  ?0» 

WitutowM  soothing  syrup,  8IJ  ^^^B 
cares  of  poiaoitiog  bjr.^l 

oases  of  poiHoning  by,  212 

fatleft  fMter  ib»n  Uropbljuik,  581 

Wilherite,  121                                        ■ 

Vermin-killerp,  )a7,  sOJ 

WtcUoM'  peerage.  7.10                         ■ 

Viburnum  opulua,  267 

WillA,  capticity  to  make,  785              ^| 

Violation,  signs  of,  t^47 

the  making  of.  785                       ^H 

Violenofl  and  poisi^n  combined^  Mf 

Wittich'»  formula  f*ir  expe«tattoQ  Qf^| 

Virginity,  what  constitutes.  641 

WiitJttam,  cute  of,  790                          ■ 

Virgin's  bower,  395 

Wind-force,  table  of,  985                     ■ 

Viridio,  326 

Wire,  death  froro  a  telegraph,  I04JI  ^M 

Viscera,  weights  and  sites,  34 

IKijwmaH,  ease  of,  601                          ^M 

1                                     Villon,  limits  of  distinct,  557 

Wolffiiiu  bodies.  589-50]                       ■ 

acQtenesi  of.  55i» 

Wolfsbane  (»i*  acooilei,  849       ^^M 

INDEX. 


1083 


Wood,  action  of  nitric  acid  on,  347 
of  5iilpharie  acid  on.  234 

ftatnf  of  ralpharic  acid  on.  240 

naphtha   n*  mcthjHc  alcohol),  43ft 

di«tinctton    between  coal    naphtha 
and.  440 

!>|)irit  ^^tf  methjlic  alcohol).  439 

tar.  action   of  nitro-#alpharic  acid  on. 
262 
AV.i'tdj  oighuhade  ijm  •olanim,  383 
Wool.  499 

action  of  nitric  acid  on,  247 

cloth,  action  of  tnlphnric  aeid  on,  335 
Woollen  fibre?.  4«9 
Woorali.  300 
Woorara  poi*on.  399 

phr^iologieal  action  of.  300 

state  of  popilc  in  poi«oning  by,  334 

PoppoMd  composition  o£  300 
Wormian  bonM.  5<(8 
Worm  loiengey.  208 
Wormwoods.  2ft8 

Wormwood,  caae  of  poisoning  bj  oil  oC  268 
Woandf  and  mechanical  injoriea,  931 

after  death.  957 

applications  of  poisons  to,  57 

complications  of,  943 

inflicted  in  life,  947 

of  i^pecial  regions.  1013 

relative  danger  of.  930 

shape  and  direction  of.  909,  970 
'table  of  characters.  961 

time  of  infliction,  933 

varieties  of.  934 

what  are  morUl,  937 


Yellow  arsenic  \.$t*  arsenic,  sulphide  of).  158 
jasmine,  29S 

ease  of  poisoning  with.  298 
Yew.  271 

tree  tea.  271 

cases  of  poisoning  by.  271 


Zaffre   171 
Zinc.  230 

aceUte  of.  222  , 

analysis  in  eaaes  of  poisoning  by.  224 

and  copper,  poisonous  effects  prodaead 
by  fusing.  175 

carbonate  of.  221 

chloride  of.  221-224 

cases  of  poisoning  by.  224 

compounds  of,  221 

cooking  utensils,  221 

experiments  on  animals  with  salts  of.  223 

fatal  time  after  poisoning  by  salts  of^  223 

inhalation  of  the  fumes  oC  221 

oxide  of,  221 

post-mortem  appearances.  223 

quantitative  estimation  of,  224 

symptoms  of  poisoning  by  salts  of,  232 

tests  for,  223 

treatment  of  poisoning,  223 

sulphate  of.  222 

eases  of  poisoning  by,  226 

sulphide  of,  222 

white,  222 
Zoosperms  (sef  spermatosoa) ,  502 

microacopio  appearance  of,  502 


J^ 


i.  v^.  ^^ 


ft 


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