TRIAL OF DR. PRITCHARD. 
77 
which mercury was detected. 5. That neither the stomach nor the contents of the in¬ 
testines contained aconite or morphia in quantity sufficient to be detected by known 
chemical processes. 6. That the articles subjected to analysis contained no other me¬ 
tallic poison than antimony and mercury, as reported above.” Nos. 7 and 8 were reports 
by Proiessor Penny on the articles found in the house of the prisoner. “ This paper pack- 
a ge [A] contained 2850 grains of tapioca. The presence of antimony, in the form of 
tartarized antimony, was unequivocally detected. Its amount was found to be equal to 
4h>2 grains in the pound of tapioca. Not a trace of mercury was detected. This bottle 
[]B] contained one ounce and five drachms of a dark brown liquid, having the odour and 
general appearance of Battley’s solution of opium. It was found to contain an appreci¬ 
able quantity of antimony in a soluble form. The amount was equal to 1*5 grain per 
duid ounce of the liquid. It contained no mercury. (I am at present engaged in ex¬ 
amining it for other substances.) The seven paper-packages [C], comprised in this pro¬ 
duction, were marked No. 1 to No. 7 inclusive. No. 1 contained a small lump of crystal¬ 
lized nitrate of silver, weighing 16‘5 grains. It contained no antimony. No. 2 contained 
132 grains of cummin seed in powder. Neither antimony nor mercury was found in it. 
No. 3 contained 143 grains of sugar of lead. Nothing extraneous were detected. No. 4. 
The contents of this package consisted of a mixture of mercury and chalk, weighing to¬ 
gether 6-5 grains, and it was evidently the medicinal preparation called “Hydrargyrum 
c. Greta.” No antimony was found in it. No. 5 contained a lump of opium, weighing 
110 grains. No. 6 contained 13‘5 grains of morphia, contaminated with a small quantity 
of nitrate of silver, which, from the appearance of the paper-package, had manifestly en- 
filtered accidently from without. No. 7 contained 1350 grains of a white, gritty, crys¬ 
talline powder, which was found to have all the physical and chemical properties of 
sugar of milk. It was carefully tested for mercury, antimony, and other substances, but 
the results were entirely negative. This bottle [D] contained 18 fluid ounces of ginger 
wine. No antimony or mercury was detected. This phial [E] contained 3'5 grains of 
a white powder, which was found by analysis to be tartarized antimony. The three phials 
[F], included in this production, were labelled respectively 1, 2, and 3. No. 1 contained 
one ounce and three drachms of tincture of conium. No. 2 contained five drops of the 
same tincture. No. 3 contained two and one-half drachms of the same preparation. 
This phial [G] contained nine drachms and a half of a light yellow-coloured liquid, 
having the taste and odour of cinnamon, and consisting of a mixture of medicinal sub¬ 
stances. It contained no antimony and no mercury. This cheese [II] was tested for an¬ 
timony and mercury, but no evidence of the presence of these metals was obtained. This 
production [I] included six small phials, which were found to contain as follows :—No. 1. 
Four drops of tincture of aconite; No. 2. Twelve drops of the same tincture; No. 3. 
Thirty drops of the tincture of conium ; No. 4. Fourteen drops of the tincture of conium ; 
No. 5. Empty ; No. G. Nine drops of the tincture of digitalis. This paper package [K] con¬ 
tained 1695 grains of tapioca. Not the least trace of either antimony or mercury was de¬ 
tected in this tapioca. No. 1. A brownish-coloured and turbid liquid, measuring three fluid 
ounces, contained in a glass bottle, labelled chloroform. It was tested for antimony and 
mercury, but not a trace of either metal was detected. It contained no aconite. No. 2. 
A white crystalline powder, contained in a small cylindrical wooden box, with screw 
cover. It weighed 15 - 5 grains, and was found to consist of a mixture of tartarized anti¬ 
mony and arsenious acid (that is, the common poison of arsenic) in nearly equal propor¬ 
tions by weight. No. 3. About ten drops of colourless liquid, contained in a quart wine- 
bottle. It was found to be an aqueous solution of corrosive sublimate. No. 4 (A). A 
white powder, contained in a circular red pasteboard box. It weighed 5 grains, and was 
found to be calomel. No. 4 (B). A white powder, weighing 35 grains, contained in a 
green pasteboard box, It was found to be tartarized antimony. All the productions 
containing the articles subjected to analysis were securely closed, and had sealed labels 
attached.” 
After the medical and chemical reports had been given in, Dr. Maclagan was cross- 
examined as to the processes used in his analysis, but nothing of importance was elicited. 
In re-examination, he stated that the quantity of antimony in the intestines, estimated 
by the portion submitted to analysis, was 5'712, or nearly six grains. 
Dr. Frederick Penny was then examined on his reports and experiments. In addition 
to the antimony found in the bottle of Battley’s solution, he had by further experi¬ 
ments discovered the presence of aconite. He detected it by applying an extract, oh- 
