582 
ACCIDENTAL POISONING EY STRYCHNIA. 
ham, Dr. Smyth, and Mr. W. Harris, I applied to a portion of this residue the appropri¬ 
ate tests for the detection of strychnia. These were four in number—1. Bichromate of 
potassa; 2. Ferridcvanide of potassium; 3. Permanganate of potassa; 4. Binoxide of 
manganese. These tests were severally applied to the residue moistened with strong sul¬ 
phuric acid. In each case a brilliant change of colour was produced, passing through all 
the colours of the spectrum, from deep blue through violet, purple, orange, and red, to a 
pale flesh-colour. I applied these tests repeatedly with the same result, and in every 
respect they corresponded in appearance with strychnia; and I know of no other sub¬ 
stance which, after such a process of purification, would exhibit any of these reactions. 
I dissolved a portion of the same residue in acetic acid, and administered it on Thursday 
afternoon to two frogs and a white mouse, in the presence of Drs. Nottingham and 
Smyth. I administered it to the frogs by inserting a few drops under the skin. To the 
first frog I applied it over the upper portion of the spine. In six minutes the frog was 
thrown into spasmodic convulsions, which precisely corresponded with the physiological 
effects of strychnia, and continued for about four hours, when the animal died. To the 
second frog I applied a few drops of the same solution under the skin of the thigh, and 
convulsions of a similar character commenced in three-quarters of an hour, and termi¬ 
nated fatally about five hours afterwards. I administered a few drops to the mouse by 
the mouth. I observed no effect for three hours afterwards, except general uneasiness, 
a raising of the fur, and occasional palpitation of the chest and laboured breathing. It 
was put aside in a quiet place for a few hours, and when again observed, appeared 
drowsy and unwilling to move. After taking a little water and being thoroughly 
roused, it fell into a tetanic convulsion of a strychnoscopic character, and shortly after¬ 
wards had a series of similar spasms, with short intervals during half an hour, and died 
about eight hours after administration of the poison. I repeated these experiments in 
the presence of Dr. Nottingham, Dr. Smyth, and Mr. Harris, on Friday, with the more 
perfectly purified residue then obtained, upon two frogs, with a similar result. From the 
above experiments I have no doubt that the contents of deceased’s stomach contained a 
fatal quantity of strychnia. A second portion of the contents of the stomach, treated 
with acetic acid and the solution tested with a persalt of iron, gave the reactions of me- 
conic acid in small proportion, which is one of the constituents of Dover’s powder. An¬ 
other portion of The same solution, treated with pure hydrochloric acid, was boiled some 
time in contact with slips of copper, for the purpose of discovering the presence of anti¬ 
mony, one of the ingredients of James’s powder; but no deposit could be obtained. A 
second portion was similarly treated, with a like negative result. One-half of the inso¬ 
luble portion of the contents of the stomach was then dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and 
tested in the same way for antimony; but none was discovered. I tested a portion of 
James’s powder obtained from Messrs. Clay and Abraham’s dispensing bottle; y of a 
grain of the powder gave in a few minutes a characteristic deposit of antimony upon 
copper by the same process; and I also tested another portion, and found it quite free 
from any trace of strychnia. I have commenced the analysis of other portions of the 
body, for the detection of absorbed strychnia by a similar process; but the quantities in 
these cases being extremely minute, the operations are proportionately tedious, and will 
probably extend over several weeks, but will not materially add to the value of the pre¬ 
sent evidence, as far as the purpose of this inquiry is concerned. 
In reply to a question, Dr. Edwards stated that he was not prepared to say what was 
the cause of death; that was a question for medical men. Dr. Edwards said he was well 
acquainted with the arrangements of Messrs. Clay and Abraham’s establishment, which 
he considered to be exceedingly good, and he knew that elaborate pains were taken to 
have the prescriptions checked; but it was proved that the bottle containing the strych¬ 
nia, although bearing a conspicuous label of the word “ Poison,” was kept on thd same 
shelf as the James’s Powder, and separated from the latter by only one other bottle. 
It appeared from the evidence that the prescription was made up by Richard Poole,, 
who stated that he believed that he dispensed it correctly; he had no doubt in his own 
mind that he used James’s powder. He had been about two years in the service of Messrs. 
Clay and Abraham, during which time he thought he had made up between 50,000 and 
60,000 prescriptions. After hearing the whole of the evidence, which had occupied the 
court more than five hours, the coroner summed up the case, and the jury returned a ver¬ 
dict to the effect that Mr. Lingard came to his death by the culpable neglect of Richard 
Poole in making up the medicine. In reply to the coroner, the foreman said their ver- 
