drank about two-thirds of what was filled out, and went away. Frances Eaton drank the rest. Mary 
Whaley went to another shop, and in about a quarter of an hour after she had drank the water, she com- 
plained of a violent disorder in her stomach. She was carried home, and from that time she lost her spirits 
and died in about an hour, without vomiting, or any convulsion. 
"The shopkeeper, Frances Eaton, sent word to her sister, Anne Boyse, of what had happened, who 
came to her and affirmed that it was not possible that the cordial, as she called it, could have occasioned 
the death of the woman ; and to convince her of it, she filled out about three spoonsful and drank it. She 
continued talking with Frances Eaton about two minutes longer, and was so earnest to persuade her of the 
liquor being inoffensive, that she poured out two spoonsful more, and drank it off likewise. She was hardly 
well seated in her chair, when she died, without the least groan or convulsion. Frances Eaton, who had 
drank somewhat above a spoonful, found no disorder in her stomach or elsewhere ; but to prevent any ill 
consequences, she took a vomit, and has been well ever since. 
Mary Whaley was buried without being examined by any one that I can find, except the coroner. I 
went to see Anne Boyse about twenty-four hours after her death, but could not prevail to have her opened. 
She was about sixty years old; her countenance and skin appeared well coloured, and her features were 
hardly altered, so that she looked as one asleep. Her belly was not swelled, nor had she any other ex- 
ternal mark of poison. 
" This accident brought into discourse another of the like nature, which happened about four years 
since in the town of Kilkenny. A young gentleman, son to Alderman Evans, mistook a bottle of laurel- 
water for one of ptisan. What quantity he drank is uncertain, but he died in a few minutes, complaining 
of a violent disorder in his stomach. The affair was not much regarded at that time, because he laboured 
under a distemper, to which, or to an improper use of remedies, his death was attributed by those about 
him.” 
Then follow Dr. Madden’s experiments on animals; and the same volume contains also a narration of 
Dr. Mortimer’s. 
Foderd states, that "when he was attending his studies at Turin, in 1784, the chambermaid and man 
servant of a noble family of that town, stole, for the purpose of regaling themselves, a bottle of distilled 
laurel-water, which they mistook for an excellent cordial. Fearful of being surprised, they hastily swallowed, 
one after the other, several mouthfuls of it : but they soon paid a fearful price for their dishonesty, as they 
expired almost instantly in convulsions. The dead bodies were carried to the university for examination. 
The stomach was found highly inflamed, but the rest of the organs were in a sound state.” 
A very interesting trial took place during the last century, from a supposition (well grounded we con- 
ceive) that the distilled laurel-water had been administered. As it is often referred to by medico-legal writers, 
we think it right to give the account, which, with some remarks of Professor Beck, are quoted from his 
valuable work on Medical Jurisprudence ; the pamphlet, containing an account of the trial, taken in short- 
hand by Mr. Gurney, being so scarce that we are unable to obtain it. 
"Sir Theodosius Boughton was a young gentleman of fortune in the county of Warwick, and nearly 
arrived at the age of twenty-one. His mother and his brother-in-law, Captain Donellan, and his sister, 
(Mrs. Donellan,) resided with him. In the event of his dying before the period of his majority, the greatest 
part of his fortune descended to his sister, and Captain Donellan would thus become entitled to a life-estate 
in it. Sir Theodosius was labouring under a slight affection, for which he was attended by Mr. Powell, of 
Rugby. His general health was, however stated to have been good. On the 29th of August, 1780, Mr. 
Powell sent him a draught to be taken on the next morning. The bottle containing this was placed on a 
shelf in his bed-room. He returned in the afternoon of this day from fishing, in good health and spirits. 
In the morning, a servant awoke him at an early hour, for the purpose of obtaining some straps for a net. 
He arose, and went into the next room for them. Even now he appeared in perfect health. About seven 
a. m. Lady Boughton got up and went into his room, as he had before desired her, to give him the medi- 
cine. He desired her to reach down the draught which was labelled "purging Draught for Sir T.B.,” and she 
poured it; into a cup. He had not, however, swallowed more than half of it, w T hen he complained that 
it was so nauseous to the taste, and disagreeable to the smell, that he did not apprehend he 
should be able to keep it on his stomach. This remark induced Lady Boughton to smell the draught. 
She found it very peculiar in this respect, and observed to him that it smelt very strongly of bitter almonds. 
He ate some cheese in order to take the taste out of his mouth, and afterwards washed his mouth with 
some water. In about two minutes after swallowing the draught, he appeared to struggle very much, as if 
to keep it down, and had a rattling and guggling in his stomach. These symptoms continued about ten 
minutes, when he seemed to Lady Boughton to be inclined to go to sleep, and she left the room. She re- 
turned again in about five minutes, and was surprised to find him with his eyes fixed upwards, his teeth 
clenched, and froth running out of his mouth. He died in about half-an-hour afterwards, never having 
spoken since he took the draught. Captain Donellan was tried and executed for the murder, on the pre- 
sumption that he had put laurel water into the draught : recent cases have cleared up much cf the mystery 
which hangs over all those which we have quoted. 
