70 
Selected Articles. 
this labour— methylene, hydrate and hydrochlorate of methy- 
lene. 
The history of methylene presents likewise very remark- 
able cases of isomerie,* thus : 
Hydrate of methylene is isometric with alcohol; 
Carbonate of methylene with citric acid ; 
Formiate of methylene with acetic acid ; and the citrate 
with sugar. 
The authors propose to continue their researches upon this 
interesting subject. 
ART. XX— POISONING BY MORRISON'S PILLS. 
One Webb, proprietor of a tavern named the London Coffee 
house, was lately tried at the assizes of the city of York, 
accused of the crime of poisoning. Here are the facts. A 
young man employed at Webb's, having been attacked with 
the small pox, the latter, instead of calling a physician, ad- 
ministered to him Morrison's pills. This treatment com- 
menced upon the 17th June ; on the 20th Richardson was dead. 
An inquest taking place, examination was made, and the 
intestinal tube was discovered to have been the seat of a se- 
rious inflammation, which was attributed by the physicians, 
not to the disease, but to the nature of the treatment used. M. 
W, West, was entrusted with the making of the analysis of 
the pills; he found them composed of cream of tartar, gam- 
boge, tincture of aloes, and a small quantity of rhubarb; and 
several physicians, M. M. Allan, Mathiesson, Belcomb, and 
Walker, affirmed that in the state in which the patient was, 
they accelerated his death. The inventor being interrogated 
upon the nature of his processes, revealed the secret of his 
* Not being able, in translating the above, to give the corresponding English 
term, I have taken the liberty to supply its place by that of the French. Iso- 
rnerie is derived from two Greek words, tcroj, equal, and (ispt,$. part 
