644 
POISONING BY OXALIC ACID AND STRYCHNINE. 
that oxalic acicl was not used for killing vermin, and recommended to have a 
packet of Hunter's vermin-killer. This she accordingly purchased, but applied 
immediately afterwards for oxalic acid at the shop of another chemist. Upon 
being questioned as to the purpose for which it was wanted, and cautioned as to 
its use, she was supplied with an ounce of it, properly described and labelled. 
She adjourned to a neighbouring public-house, mixed the oxalic acid and vermin- 
killer with half a pint of ale, and drank the greater part of the contents. She 
went at once to her home and told her neighbours that she had taken an ounce 
of “ oxalic acid” and a packet of “ mice powder.” Her statement was at first 
hardly credited, but upon her assertion of its truth, another chemist was called 
in, who administered whiting and water, advising that a medical man should be 
sent for. Mr. Houghton, a surgeon of the town, immediately attended, and 
found her nearly pulseless with cold clammy perspiration, extremities cold, and 
every appearance of rapid dissolution. He left her with the intention of pro¬ 
curing his stomach-pump and antidotes, but upon his return, in the course of a 
few minutes, she was dead. The oxalic acid and vermin-killer, as nearly as 
could be ascertained, were purchased about eleven o’clock. The landlady of the 
public-house stated in evidence that it would be from ten to fifteen minutes 
after that time when she applied for the ale ; the chemist administered the 
whiting and water in certainly not more than twelve or fifteen minutes after the 
poisons were taken ; and death took place about 11.45, thus giving twenty-five 
to thirty minutes for the operation of the poisons to destroy life. She vomited 
slightly, and complained of soreness of the mouth, but did not appear to suffer 
much pain. Upon the post-mortem examination, the other organs of the body, 
excepting the stomach, were healthy. This contained from half to a pint of 
dark, grumous, bloody liquid. The mucous membrane was highly congested, 
and in one part a patch, of at least inches in diameter, had the appearance of 
being charred, and was so softened and destroyed that it peeled away upon the 
slightest touch. The evidence as to the cause of death appearing so clear, the 
coroner and jury did not consider it necessary for any analysis of the contents 
of the stomach itself to be made ; but feeling considerable interest in the case, 
and having been present at the examination and inquest, by the kindness of the 
■surgeon I obtained both for chemical examination as to the quantity of oxalic 
acid which was taken. From the evidence of the servant at the public-house, it 
would appear that something like a dessert-spoonful of “ salty stuff ” was left in 
the cup, but which unfortunately was thrown away. I do not think, however, 
it could have been less than half an ounce, probably much more, which was 
swallowed. I was also anxious to ascertain as to whether any symptoms ob¬ 
servable before death could have reference to the operation of strychnine in the 
vermin-killer. One witness only spoke as to a “ stretching sort of a fit,” but 
nothing definite could be ascertained. The stomach, as I have before observed, 
contained from half to a pint of dark fluid, together with a considerable quan¬ 
tity of a white chalky paste (oxalate of lime), all of which I handed to my son 
for examination. The fluid gave but a slight acid reaction with blue litmus- 
paper. The white chalky paste was washed and boiled in distilled water with 
carbonate of potash. The liquid was filtered, neutralized with nitric acid, and 
upon the application of the ordinary tests, gave abundant indication of the pre¬ 
sence of oxalic acid in very large quantity. From the extraordinary circum¬ 
stance of oxalic acid and vermin-killer having been taken at one and the same 
time, and the rapid destruction of life being more especially referable to poison- 
ing by oxalic acid alone , both my son and myself directed especial attention to 
the examination of the liquid contents of the stomach as to strychnine. As 
may be known to any one who has examined them, “ vermin-killers” are intensely 
bitter to the taste,—of itself almost confirmative of this poison being the active 
principle. The fluid p>art of the stomach was diluted with water, decolorized 
