522 
MISCELLANEA. 
ammoniaco-magnesian phosphate. All the phosphoric acid is not precipitated by this 
first deposit, and if we add to the filtered fluid sulphate of magnesia saturated by sal- 
ammoniac, a new deposit of the ammoniaco-magnesian phosphate occurs, and continues 
to increase. All vegetable solutions do not precipitate this phosphate when treated by 
ammonia, but they always do so when sulphate of magnesia saturated by sal-ammoniac 
is added. M. Terreil concludes from these facts that vegetable infusions and decoctions 
owe a portion of the action they exert on the economy to the phosphoric acid and phos¬ 
phates they contain, the phosphate of lime of the bones proceeding from the soluble 
phosphates.— Bull, de Thfrap., vol. lxiv. p. 29. 
Suicide by Prussic Acid.—Mr. C. J. Carttar, coroner for West Kent, held an in¬ 
quest on Tuesday, October 27, at the Ashburnham Arms public-house, Greenwich, on 
the body of Jean Baptiste Boussion, aged 57, who committed suicide by swallowing a 
quantity of prussic acid (Scheele’s strength). From the evidence taken, it appeared that 
the deceased was a native of Marseilles, and occupied an office at 13, Crutchedfriars, City, 
as a shipbroker. Five months since he engaged furnished apartments at Greenwich, for 
himself and a young woman, whom he represented as his wife, but who admitted that 
she was not married to him. On Sunday afternoon, October 25th, he sent this young 
woman, accompanied by a female servant, to London, instructing her to look at a house ; 
and on their returning to Greenwich in the evening, and proceeding into the bedroom, 
the unfortunate man was found lying on the bed, quite dead. A small tumbler and a 
phial, the latter of which was labelled “ Scheele’s prussic acid, poison,” were found. 
Mr. Scott, surgeon, of Greenwich, deposed to making a post-mortem examination, and 
said that death had resulted from the swallowing of prussic acid. He had known the 
deceased a short period, from the fact of his bringing a young woman, whom he repre¬ 
sented to be his wife, to his surgery, and he prescribed for her. The deceased on those 
occasions informed witness that he had originally been educated for the medical profes¬ 
sion, and named the medicine he (witness) prescribed. On Sunday, October 18th, the 
deceased again called at his surgery with the young woman, and on leaving asked wit¬ 
ness to supply him with some prussic acid, which he said he wanted for the purpose of 
experimenting upon insects, and which witness supplied him with in the bottle produced. 
The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict, “ That the deceased committed 
suicide while labouring under temporary derangement.” 
Accidental Poisoning by Arsenic.—An inquest was held at Kinnisid, Enner- 
dale, Cumberland, on Wednesday, February 24th, upon the bodies of Andrew Palmer, 
aged 10 years, and Anthony Fletcher, 14 years of age, who took some sheep-dipping 
powder in mistake for sulphur, and died on the following day. The deceased lads were 
farm servants, living at the house of a farmer named Proud, at Swinside. On Monday 
night they asked a servant girl, named Coulthard, to get them some treacle and brim¬ 
stone to take. The girl, having obtained the keys from her mistress, took out of a cup¬ 
board a bottle which she thought contained brimstone. The boys took some of the 
compound mixed with treacle, and soon afterwards were seized with sickness. As an¬ 
other servant who had taken a little of the powder also became sick, the inmates of the 
house became alarmed; a doctor was sent for, and he found the two lads suffering from 
the effects of arsenical poison. They both died next morning. Mrs. Proud said the 
powder had been put into the bottle by herself on Monday under the impression that it 
was brimstone. She took it out of a brown paper parcel which was not labelled, and 
which she had had in the house for upwards of twelve months. It now turns out to 
have been a sheep-dipping powder, composed of sulphur, potash, and arsenic. The jury 
returned a verdict of “ Accidental death.” 
Poisoning by Aconite.—An inquest has been held at Northampton, on the body 
of Mr. George Woodward, late partner in the firm of Harris and Woodward, Chemists, 
Gold Street, who died from the effects of Fleming’s Tincture of Aconite. It appeared 
from the evidence that the deceased said he had taken the aconite by mistake for ipe¬ 
cacuanha wine; but as the former was kept in a cupboard at the back of the shop, and 
the ipecacuanha wine in the front shop, it was thought this could not have been the 
case. As a motive for taking the poison, it was shown that he had become very intem¬ 
perate in his habits, in consequence of which it had been determined by Mr. Harris that 
the partnership should cease, and this had caused a good deal of annoyance. From the 
nature of the medical evidence adduced, it was clear that the deceased had died from 
the effects of aconite, and the Coroner pointed out to the Jury that the question they 
