222 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



The young woman's symptoms soon passed off, and she refused' 

 admission to hospital. The post-mortem examination of the body 

 of the old man revealed the usual signs of poisoning by carbon 

 monoxide, as well as other points, which it would be out of place 

 here to detail. The blood was mostly uncoagulated, bright cherry- 

 red. Suitably diluted, it gave an absorption-spectrum hardly 

 distinguishable from that of normal blood, but differing from the 

 latter in the persistence of the bands after treatment with 

 ammonium sulphide sol., and warming. The dilute solution 

 had a characteristically pink colour ; and, on being tested by 

 Haldane's quantitative method, it yielded a result corresponding 

 to 73 per cent, saturation of the haemoglobin with carbon 

 monoxide. 



Inspection of the premises. — Gas not laid on, and no fittings. 

 Lower room, 19 ft. 4 in. by 16 ft. wide, and 9 ft. high ; small 

 window and fireplace. Upper room (where the fatal case occurred), 

 18 ft. by 15 ft., with a sloping roof, rising from about 5 ft. to 

 7^ ft. above floor. The three windows, nearly on floor-level, 

 measured 3 ft. 2 in. by 2 ft. 10 in. each. There was also a sky- 

 light, 2 ft. 1 in. by 1 ft. 5 in. There ivas no fireplace. All the 

 windows were found shut when the room was entered by the police. 

 The skylight was open when I visited the place, and there was 

 some doubt as to whether it had not been found partly open at 

 the time of the fatality. It was situated nearly over the head of 

 the stair, and far away from the bed. 



Explanation of the occurrence. — The premises, on being entered, 

 smelt strongly of coal-gas, as did also the next house, occupied by 

 a man, his wife, and six children, who do not appear, however, to 

 have suffered any ill-effects. Examination by the officials of the 

 Gas Company showed that the main-pipe in the street was broken 

 about 18 inches beloiv the surface. The fracture was recent, and was 

 ascribed to the weight of some passing vehicle. The surrounding 

 earth smelt strongly of gas, which must have found its way through 

 the soil into the house where the fatality occurred. The sewers 

 were examined, and found staunch. It is interesting to note that 

 though the gas entered below, its effects were most severely felt 

 in the upper room. This is accounted for by the existence of an 

 additional means of ventilation in the shape of a fire in the lower 

 apartment. 



