404 
POISONING BY STRYCHNIA. 
As we concur with the remarks made by the coroner, when 
summing up the evidence in this case, having witnessed 
similar effects in the horse, ass, and dog, we give them : 
“It is, however, very satisfactory to find that, as regards 
poisoning by strychnine, there are some unmistakeable and 
distinguishing features upon which all men of science are 
agreed, and these are the symptoms during life. It may be 
difficult to say how little strychnine will cause death, what 
proportion will cause a defined amount of spasmodic action, 
and how soon after taking it the spasmodic action will come 
on, and how long it will continue ; but its effects during life 
are well marked and settled. The symptoms commence ge- 
nerally from five to twenty minutes after the strychnine has 
been swallowed. The patient is suddenly seized with tetanic 
symptoms, producing spasmodic contraction of the whole 
muscular system — the intellect is clear — the body becomes 
rigid, the limbs are stretched out, and the jaws so fixed that 
considerable difficulty is experienced in introducing anything 
into the mouth — the muscles of the chest are fixed by spas- 
modic contraction — the body assumes the state of being bent 
backwards — the lower extremities are extended and stiff, and 
the soles of the feet are concave — the skin becomes livid — 
the eyeballs prominent, and the pupils dilated and insensible. 
After several attacks, increasing in severity, death ensues 
from spasm of the muscles of the chest, producing suffoca- 
tion. That these are the symptoms during life produced by 
strychnine all men of science are agreed.” 
Adverting to the colour-tests, Dr. Letheby says : — “ As 
to the so-called fallacies of the colour-tests for strychnia, 
these also are fallacies only when the tests are improperly 
performed ; but, to do away with all possible sources of doubt 
and fallacy from the action of external reagents, I may state 
that the putting of a little strychnia with sulphuric acid, on 
a piece of platinum foil, then connecting the foil with the 
positive pole of a single cell of Grove’s or Smee’s battery 
and touching the acid with the negative pole, terminating in 
a piece of platinum wire, the violet colour so characteristic 
of strychnia is instantly produced. 
“ This mode of experimenting was suggested by the fact 
that the colour tests for strychnia are due to the action of 
nascent oxygen ; and so delicate is the galvanic test that it 
will discover the presence of the 10,000th of a grain of 
strychnia ; and beside this, its very nature is such as to do 
away with all possible sources of fallacy.” 
The plan to be adopted, so as to separate this poison, ac- 
cording to Messrs Rodgers and Girdwood, is the following : — 
