310 
DEATH  FROM  AN  OVERDOSE  OF  STRYCHNIA. 
shown  nearly  as  large,  made  by  simple  deposition  from  a  warm 
saturated  solution. 
The  pharmaceutist  by  whom  the  prescription  was  compounded 
testified,  "  that  he  weighed  out  the  muriate  of  strychnia,  threw 
it  into  a  graduated  measure,  added  the  two  other  ingredients, 
and  stirred  them  up  with  a  bone  spatula  until  he  thought  the 
strychnia  had  all  dissolved,  as  he  could  see  no  undissolved  crys- 
tals or  solid  matter.''  To  a  question,  he  replied  that  he  noticed 
an  opalescent  appearance,  resembling  a  quinine  mixture. 
An  inmate  of  the  house  with  deceased  testified,  "  that  she  was 
sure  that  the  bottle  of  medicine  was  never  shaken." 
The  prescription  as  above  given  had  been  sent  to  several  prom- 
inent pharmaceutists,  and  the  compoundings  criticised  by  the 
jury.  In  some  no  chemical  change  was  discernible,  in  others 
crystals  readily  recognizable  as  iodide  of  strychnia  were  float- 
ing through  the  mixture  and  deposited  in  the  bottom  of  the  bot- 
tle. In  one  case  large  crystals  w^ere  contained  in  the  bottle, 
evidently  of  the  original  strychnia  salt  undissolved. 
The  jurj',  after  weighing  all  the  evidence,  returned  a  verdict 
of  "Death  from  prostration,  following  the  accidental  administra- 
tion of  an  over  dose  of  strychnia. 
The  jury  farther  find,  from  examination  of  the  assistant  phar- 
maceutist, by  whom  the  prescription  was  compounded,  a  want  of 
proper  attention  to,  or  information  in  manipulation,  which  they 
cannot  pass  without  notice  and  reprimand,  as  both  efficiency  and 
safety  may  depend  on  careful  manipulating  skill  when  potent 
remedies  are  prescribed. 
''They  farther  find  that  the  ingredients  of  the  prescription  are 
subject  to  such  chemical  changes  as  renders  the  strychnia  con- 
tained therein  liable  to  be  precipitated  to  the  bottom  of  the  bottle 
containing  the  prescription ;  and  if  the  bottle  should  remain 
without  proper  agitation,  an  overdose  of  strychnia  might  result." 
So  much  for  the  history  of  the  case.  We  now  wish  to  make 
some  remarks  on  the  chemical  and  pharmaceutical  character  of 
the  prescription,  and  throw  out  some  thoughts  on  prescribing  and 
compounding,  as  suggested  by  this  case. 
Muriate  of  strychnia  is  not  officinal  in  the  U.  S.  nor  British 
pharmacopoeias,  and  is  rarely  prescribed.   It  is  much  less  soluble 
