44 Report of the Chemical Examiner to Government, 



The Shamshoo was found to contain a small quantity of an intense- 

 ly bitter substance, resembling a vegetable alkaloid, which produced 

 numbness and partial paralysis, when applied to the tongue in 

 extremely minute quantity, and was presumed to have caused the 

 symptoms detailed. It was most probably aconite — one of the most 

 virulent and deadly of all known poisons. 



Case \0th. — Certain substances found on the person of a suspi- 

 cious character. Portions of bish, or the root of the aconitum ferox, 

 were discovered, which is known to be a dangerous and destructive 

 poison. 



Case Wth. — Sent by Colonel McLeod, commanding the Nag- 

 pore Subsidiary Force, in which nearly three hundred persons be- 

 longing to the Artillery at Kamptee, suffered severely from bread 

 issued to them. 



In many cases, the symptoms closely resembled those produced by 

 arsenic, and were attended with great danger ; although from prompt, 

 skilful, and active treatment, none proved fatal. 



The most careful examination, repeated in every way by Mr. 

 Robertson and myself, failed to detect any of the known poisons. It 

 might have resulted from a diseased state of the wheat or rye from which 

 the bread was made, or from the introduction (possibly accidental) of 

 some narcotico-acrid vegetable poison ; but as no means are yet known 

 by which such substances may be identified when in a state of divi- 

 sion, it is impossible to form any decided opinion on the subject. 



Case \2th. — A packet of powder, which had been administered to 

 several persons, and caused insensibility. Sent by Mr. Mytton, the 

 Magistrate of the 24-Pergunnahs. Found to be a mixture of vegeta- 

 ble substances, which could not be identified in so minute a state of 

 division, but probably containing datura seeds powdered, and perhaps 

 aconite. 



Case 13th. — A portion of bread, which had caused the death of a 

 person who had partaken of it, and was supposed to contain arsenic. 

 Sent from Dacca, by Mr. Taylor, Civil Surgeon. It appeared to 



