THE ROYAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 
15 
with nature, it is more important in regard to the microscope than to any other 
instrument of philosophical research to conceive clearly the aim of our re¬ 
searches, and to give a right direction to our exertions: otherwise we shall 
ensure mere amusement, or perhaps only fatigue, instead of success.” 
Combined, intelligent effort is of infinite value in all research, of which our 
learned Societies are a proof, being only Committees on a larger scale. 
The first Committee named was one for the purpose of investigating the 
structure of shells both recent and fossil; a sum of £5 was voted for expenses, 
and the members were Richard Owen, T. Rymer Jones and John Quekett. 
Here we come upon a mention of the microscope as applied to Chemistry. Mr. 
Wariugton investigated the nature of the changes in colour which occur when 
the scarlet biniodide of Mercury is subjected to the influence of heat and sub¬ 
limed. The result seemed to show that the yellow crystals formed upon the 
application of heat, are owing to certain separations of the laminae of the crystals 
from each other; and he found that when the scarlet colour had been resumed, 
the yellow might be again produced by a rapid application of heat. 
Little advantage would be derived from crowding these pages with a summary 
of Papers contributed from time to time by members of the Society to their 
Journal and Transactions, but man) 7 - Pharmaceutical readers might be interested 
in a case of poison detected by means of microscopic analysis by Mr. Henry 
Deane. 
Moreover the facts seem not to have been recorded, but were merely alluded 
to in a Presidential address. 
William Coles, an infant seven months old, died ten minutes after swallowing 
its physic. 
The parents lived at Emborough a small village situated between Bath and 
Wells, where on the 1st of March, 1865, an inquest was concluded before 
J. Wybrants Esq. M.D. coroner for the county of Somerset. 
In January the mother bought a packet of Steedman’s powders from a 
chemist of the name of Habgood—one was given and produced relief; a month 
afterwards a second was mixed in some moist sugar, a little nursemaid admi¬ 
nistered the dose, and in the brief space of time already mentioned the child 
was dead. The remaining powders were examined, five were untouched, but from 
the sixth paper the original powder had been removed and about ten grains of 
corrosive sublimate inserted. The same substance on a post mortem examina¬ 
tion was found in the child’s mouth, removing all doubt as to the cause of death. 
The natural suspicion was firstly some dire mistake on the part of the manu¬ 
facturer, secondly sophistication at the wholesale house, thirdly that the packet 
had been tampered with while at the Chemist’s. 
The first idea was shown to be without foundation or poison would have been 
distributed throughout the country; the second and third impossible as the 
packet had been delivered whole. Whereupon Mr. Deane was summoned from 
London as a microscopical analyst. 
The so-called Steedman’s powder placed under the Microscope turned out to 
be corrosive sublimate, the crystals soiled and stained in a peculiar manner con¬ 
taining particles of hair or wool and other fibrous matters all much rubbed. 
The corrosive sublimate examined presented the same characteristics. Subli¬ 
mate is not soiled when coming from a Druggist’s shop, usually it is carefully 
wrapped up, sealed and labelled. Chemists are exceedingly careful in its sale. 
“I do not think” (it was continued in evidence) “ there was any difference in 
the quality of the two powders. I am satisfied as to the identity of the dirt. 
I have had much experience in microscopic science during twenty-three years’ 
practice both on my own account and that of professional men. 
u It requires considerable practice in the study to avoid fallacies. The particles 
of wool seemed to be broken up and ragged at the ends in both packets. There 
was no essential difference between the two.” 
