POISONING BY PRUSSIC ACID. 
87 
volatile constituents and in the oxidation of most of the fixed and the remaining volatile 
constituents. During the drying process the water in the cells is partly replaced by air, 
the influence of which upon the remaining constituents is intensified by the porosity of 
the dry plant. ...... , 
3. It is always advantageous to use fresh plants for the preparation of alkaloids and 
other active principles, and to employ as low a temperature as possible. 
4. The composition of the fresh plants is more simple than is frequently supposed ; 
thev generally contain, besides cellulose, the saccharine, starchy and albuminous princi¬ 
ples and the mineral salts, a volatile principle, either a carbohydrogen or aldehyde; a 
bitter or acrid principle, which is either an alkaloid or glucoside; a colouring principle 
and often fat. 
5. To reduce the injurious influence of the atmosphere, it appears advisable to hasten 
the drying and then compress the dry plants, as is the custom in North America.— J.M . M. 
American Journal of Pharmacy. 
POISONING BY PRUSSIC ACID; 
The lamentable case of poisoning of a whole family was investigated before Mr. W. 
J. Payne the deputy-coroner for the City of London, on Wednesday, June 30th. I he 
inquest was on the bodies of Walter James Duggan, Emma Charlotte Duggan, his wife, 
and their six children, who were found dead in their lodgings, at 15, Hosier Lane, 
Smithfield, on Monday, June 28th. The evidence adduced was to the following effect 
In consequence of a letter received at the Smithfield Police Station, Sergeant Evans 
went to the house, 15, Hosier Lane, and, having effected an entrance at the back of the 
premises, in the first room examined was found a one-ounce bottle and a Bible, the latter 
contained the names of all the family. The bottle bore the following label, with the 
word “ Poison ” legibly printed“ Hydrocyanic acid, of Scheele’s strength. Minimum 
dose one drop. N.B. This preparation is rather more than twice as powerful as the 
solution obtained by Vauquelin’s. process. It is necessary to be exceedingly careful in 
the preservation of hydrocyanic acid, otherwise the liquid becomes weaker, and at length 
almost inert, although it may still remain colourless. This change may be effectually 
prevented by keeping the vial perfectly closed, inverted, and in a cool place.” 
In the second room was found the deceased man, in bed, and on a chair close to the 
bed was another bottle, similar to the former, and labelled in the same manner. In 
another room was the body of the eldest boy, and on a bed in the same room the body 
of the woman with the two youngest children, and at the foot of the bed another child 
dead. The bodies of two more children were in a small bed. This evidence was cor¬ 
roborated by police-constable MWilliam. 
Mr. W.Vorley, wholesale chemist, 11, King Street, Snow Hill, stated as follows, ' On the 
24th of June I sold two bottles, similar to those, to a man I knew as Eearon, and he 
signed my book in accordance with the Act of Parliament. (It was stated that this 
signature bore a striking resemblance to the handwriting of the deceased man.) I can¬ 
not recognize the two bottles produced as mine. They are similar to those I sell, and 
every chemist in London has exactly the same kind. Prussic acid is generally sold in 
one-ounce bottles, and they are all labelled alike. The deceased is certainly not the 
man Fearon. I admit having told William Smith, a city detective officer, that I sold 
the bottles, but that was before I had seen the body. Fearon is a tmplater, and I believe 
prussic acid is used in that and the silver trades with cyanide of potash. If I knew the 
person applying for prussic acid was in either of those trades I should sell it him, as a 
matter of course, but not to a stranger. I should take that person’s word for it. 1 
generally take the name and address of persons to whom I sell poison, but 1 did not in 
C3(SG ^ 
It was explained that prussic acid was not used in the silver or the plating trade. 
The coroner observed that the evidence of this witness did not touch the case, as he did 
not recognize the buyer of the poison, but if the Act had been infringed he had no 
doubt the Pharmaceutical Society would take cognizance of it. , 
Mr Frederick William Wilson, M.B., of Farringdon Street, who was called in by the 
police, stated that he had made a post mortem examination of the bodies. Death m ail 
