ARSENIC. 
§ 758.] 
579 
There was a small shallow ulcer in the mucous membrane of the larynx at the back 
of the epiglottis. The free margin of the epiglottis was rough and eroded ; and on 
the posterior aspect of the cricoid cartilage there were two small red patches. In the 
stomach were from 5-6 ozs. of brownish fluid. At the cardiac end there was a large 
vermilion-red patch, interspersed here and there with small dark ecchymoses (spoken 
of by Dr Humphreys as a flea-bitten appearance) ; to this followed a non-inflamed 
space, and near the pyloric orifice, and extending 2 inches from it, was another red, 
inflamed portion of mucous membrane. In the small intestine the mucous membrane 
was red and inflamed, from 3 inches below the pylorus to about 3 feet downwards. 
About 18 or 20 feet lower down, i.e. a little below the ileo-csecal valve, the mucous 
membrane was again inflamed to a less extent over a space of about two feet; the 
lower end of the rectum was also red and inflamed. No arsenic was found in the 
stomach or its contents, or in the spleen. Arsenic was present in the liver, in the 
intestines, and in the kidneys. The quantity separated altogether amounted to over 
0-1 grain. The liver weighed 48 ozs., and from 12 ozs. of the liver 0-076 grain of 
arsenic, reckoned as As 2 0 3 , was separated. 
The whole course of the symptoms and the post-mortem examination showed that 
the deceased died from an irritant poison ; and from the fact of a small quantity of 
arsenic having been found in the body, there can be little doubt but that the poison 
was arsenic. The symptoms were somewhat anomalous, but not more so than in 
other recorded cases of undoubted arsenical poisoning. The facts that tended to 
connect the accused with the death were as follows :—On the night of either May 
9 or 10 Mrs Maybrick was observed to remove from the table an opened bottle 
of Valentine’s meat juice, and take it into an inner dressing-room, and then 
replace it—the acts being surreptitious. In replacing it, she was observed to take it 
either from the pocket of her dressing-gown or from an inner pocket. The lining of 
this pocket was found to be impregnated with As 2 0 3 . The juice was found to contain 
0-5 grain As 2 0 3 , and the liquid was of lower gravity than commercial juice ; it had 
probably, therefore, been diluted. 
The following is a list of things containing arsenic :— 
1 . Mrs Maybrick’s dressing-gown. 
2 . ,, apron. 
8 . A handkerchief wrapped round a bottle. 
4. Packet of arsenic “ for cats ” (arsenious acid mixed with charcoal). 
Tumbler containing milk, with handkerchief soaking in it ; at least 
20 grains of As 2 0 3 in the tumbler, mixed with charcoal. 
5. A portion of a handkerchief. 
6 . A bottle containing a strong solution of arsenious acid and several grains of 
undissolved arsenious acid. 
7. A bottle containing from 15-20 grains of solid arsenic and a few drops of 
solution. 
8 . A saturated solution of arsenious acid and some solid arsenious acid. 
9. Valentine’s meat juice. 
10. Price’s glycerin ; f grain in the whole bottle. 
11. A bottle containing 0-1 grain of arsenious acid. 
12. A bottle from Mr Maybrick’s office containing a few drops of medicine pre¬ 
scribed by Dr Fuller (decidedly arsenical). 
13. Jug from the office with remains of food. 
14. Sediment from trap of w.c. and lavatory drain containing As 2 Q 3 . 
Mrs Maybrick was convicted, but afterwards the death sentence was commuted to 
penal servitude for life. 
§ 758. Poisoning by Arsenical Beer.—The mass poisoning by arsenical beer, 
due in the first place to the use of arsenical glucose, which occurred in Lancashire 
and the Midland counties in 1890, gives excellent material for the study of the 
effects of chronic poisoning by arsenic, the more especially since the doses were small, 
but continued daily for months ; it may be objected that the symptoms and patho¬ 
logical changes cannot be ascribed entirely to the effects of arsenic, but are mixed up 
