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Reports of Trials for Murder by Poisoning; / by Prussic Acid, Strychnia, Antimony, Arsenic, and Aconita. Including the trials of Tawell, W. Palmer, Dove, Madeline Smith, Dr. Pritchard, Smethurst, and Dr. Lamson, with chemical introduction and notes on the poisons used cover

Reports of Trials for Murder by Poisoning; / by Prussic Acid, Strychnia, Antimony, Arsenic, and Aconita. Including the trials of Tawell, W. Palmer, Dove, Madeline Smith, Dr. Pritchard, Smethurst, and Dr. Lamson, with chemical introduction and notes on the poisons used

Chapter 18: INDEX.
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About This Book

The volume collects detailed reports of selected trials for murder by poisoning, presenting testimony, legal argument abstracts, and chemical analyses. It pairs medico-legal evidence with a chemical introduction and experimental notes that clarify disputed expert testimony, and organizes witnesses by their contribution, separating scientific from moral testimony. Essays explain the properties, detection methods, and practical dangers of various poisons and comment on regulatory shortcomings and risks from patent remedies and household substances. The editors generally refrain from judging verdicts, aiming to present evidence so readers in medicine, law, and forensic science can form their own conclusions.

INDEX.

ACONITE,

varieties (napellus, ferox), 568

alkaloids, aconitine or aconitia, 569

pseudaconitia, 569

aconine and pseudaconine, 570

extraction and tests—

taste, 572

physiological, 572

chemical, 573

extraction and texts—

taste, 572

physiological, 572

chemical, 573

history and preparations, 574

doses, fatal, 575

fatal period, 576

cause of death, 577

post-mortem appearances, 577, 581

treatment and antidotes, 577

remarks. Phosphoric acid test, 579

Use in dysentery, 579

Colour of aconitia, 580

Case referred to by Dr. Stevenson, 580

ALKALOIDS,

derivation, 3, 4

chemically and physiologically considered, 4

general process for extracting, 5-8

morphia, curarine, solanine, 8

Guy’s subliming cell, 9

general reagents, 10-12

ptomaines or cadaveric, 13, 14

ALLOYS OF ANTIMONY, 491

ALLOYS OF ARSENIC, 374, 381

ALMONDS, BITTER, 59, 60, 78

ANALYSIS,

quantitative, indispensable in cases of poisoning by antimony, mercury, and lead, 3

ANGINA PECTORIS,

Dr. Richardson (Palmer’s trial), 175, 289

ANILINE DYES,

arsenic in, 379

ANIMAL CHARCOAL,

reagent for alkaloids, 11

antidote, 12, 577

ANTIMONY,

symptom of poisoning by, 2

properties. Chap. IX., 490

alloy of, in different metals, 491

compounds of, chlorides, sulphides, 491

oxides, hydride, 492

tartar emetic, solubility, 493

composition, uses and occurrences, 494

doses and preparations, 495

fatal dose and fatal period, 496

physiological effects, 497

antidotes, 497

separation and tests. Reinsch’s, 498

Marsh, 500

preparation used, 502

quantity, 503

remarks (Pritchard’s case), 505

(Smethurst’s), 507

Addenda—bismuth, 510

grey powder, 513

ANTISEPTIC,

arsenic as an, 376

APPLE PIPS,

amount of prussic acid in, 59, 60

ARSENIC,

element. Chap. VII., 373

solubility of, 321, 375

taste of (Christison), 321-3

trioxide of, 374

uses and occurrences of, 376-381

steeping wheat—soap—antiseptic, 376

glass—for fur in boilers—candles, 376

wood preserving—sheep washing—paints, 377

wall papers—medicines, 378

horses—teeth stopping—aniline dyes, 379

rat and fly poisons—metal cleaning, 380

arsenic eaters—cosmetic—bronzing, 380

glucose beer—paper collars, 381

speculum metal—inhaling, 381

sulphides of, 381

orpiment (Burdock’s case), 382, and note

acid, 382

arsenates, 383

trichloride, Arseniuretted hydrogen, 383

extraction and tests, distribution, occurrence in soils, 384

modification of old process, 385-7

Marsh’s, 388

Reinsch’s, 390

doses, medicinal, poisonous, 391

physiological effects of, 392

treatment and antidotes, 393

presence in common articles, 394

attempted poisoning by forged prescription, 394

remarks on evidence of Dr. Letheby (Merritt’s case), 395

on Madeline Smith’s case, 395, note 396

supposed presence in sulphuretted hydrogen, 396

See trials of Madeline Smith, Pritchard, and Ann Merritt, Chap. VI.

ASHLEY, Mrs.,

evidence of (Tawell’s trial), 19

AYRTON, Dr.,

evidence of (Winslow’s trial), 487

BABBINGTON, Dr.,

evidence of (Smethurst’s trial), 460

BALL, GEORGE,

trial of, at Lewes, 49-52

BAMFORD, Dr.,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 99-100

BANKES, ISABELLA,

case of, 448

BARLOW, SILAS,

trial of, 268-75

history of the case, 268

symptoms of poisoning, 269

medical evidence, 271

analytical evidence, Dr. Lees, 272

Dr. Bernays, 274

defence and verdict, 275

BARNES, LAVINIA,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 98-9

BARRETT, Mrs.,

evidence of (Tawell’s trial), 20

BARWELL, Surgeon,

evidence of, post-mortem (Smethurst’s trial), 456

BATEMAN, Mrs.,

evidence of (Tawell’s trial), 41

BEDBROOK,

evidence of (Lamson’s trial), 541

BELLADONNA,

insensibility, symptom of poisoning by, 2

dilates the pupil of the eye, 2

BERNAYS, Dr. A. J.,

evidence of (Barlow’s trial), 274

BERRY, Dr.,

evidence of (Lamson’s trial), 520

BIRD, Dr.,

evidence of (Smethurst’s trial), 455

BISMUTH,

potassio-iodide of, reagent for alkaloids, 10

subnitrate, arsenic in, 510

BLANC MANGE,

arsenic used for colouring, 377

BOILERS, FUR IN,

arsenic used for removing, 376

BOWERBANK, Dr.,

evidence of (Smethurst’s trial), 460

BRAMWELL, Baron,

charge of (Dove’s trial), 260-2

BRAND, Surgeon,

evidence of (Lamson’s trial), 524

BRODIE, Sir B.,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 117

opinion of (Smethurst’s case), 478

BROOKS, Mrs.,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 92

BRUCIA,

convulsions, symptoms of poisoning by, 3

whence obtained, 284

tests for, 285

BURDOCK, M.A.,

trial for poisoning by orpiment, 382, note.

CADAVERIC ALKALOIDS,

properties, 12-14

resembling strychnia, 291

in Lamson’s case, 550, 580, 537-8

CALVERT, F. C., Chemist,

indestructibility of strychnia, 149, note

CAMERON, Dr.,

evidence of (Winslow’s trial), 482

CAMPBELL, Lord Chief Justice (Palmer’s trial),

omission of Keeling’s evidence, 104, note

charge of, 220-31

CANDLES,

arsenic used in, 376

CANTHARIDES,

vomiting symptom of poisoning by, 2

CARBONIC ACID AND OXIDE,

sudden death in poisoning by, 1, 2

CASSAVA,

amount of prussic acid in, 59

CAUDLE, Chemist,

evidence of (Smethurst’s trial), 456

CHAMPNEYS, Surgeon,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 23-7

CHERRY KERNELS,

amount of prussic acid in, 59

CHESHIRE, Postmaster,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 188-9

CHLORAL AND CROTON CHLORAL,

insensibility, symptom of poisoning by, 2

CHLORINE,

process for obtaining pure, xvi.

CHLOROFORM,

solvent for alkaloids, 4, 5

antidote to strychnia, 290

CHRISTISON, Professor,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 147-8

(Dove’s trial), 248

(Madeline Smith’s trial), 315, 358

CHRONIC POISONING,

symptoms of by antimony, mercury, lead, 3, 497

CLARK, RUTHERFORD,

defence of Pritchard, 435

CLUTTERBUCK, Mr.,

details of case of (Palmer’s trial), 123

COCCULUS INDICUS,

symptom of poisoning by, 2

COCKBURN, Attorney-General,

statement and reply (Palmer’s trial), 84-94, 209-19

COOK,

murder of. See Palmer.

COOPER, Analytical Chemist,

evidence of (Tawell’s trial), 28-33

cross-examination, 33-9

discovery of prussic acid in apple pips, 32, 60, 64

COPLAND, Dr.,

evidence of (Smethurst’s trial), 460

COPPER,

preparation of pure, 498

CORBETT, Dr.,

evidence of (Madeline Smith’s trial), 323

COSMETIC,

use of arsenic as a, 380

bismuth, 510

COWARD, Inspector,

conduct of (Merritt’s trial), 369

CURARINE,

process for extracting, 8

properties, 277, 281

CURLING, J. B., Surgeon,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 111

CYANIDE OF POTASSIUM,

symptoms and post-mortem appearances, &c., 80

DANIELL, Dr.,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 119

DEATH, SUDDEN,

evidence of poisoning by sulphuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids, poisonous gases, carbonic oxide, arseniuretted and antimoniuretted hydrogen, kakodyl, strychnia, oxalic and prussic acid, 1, 2

chloroform, sometimes, 2

DE MEAU, French Consul,

evidence of (M. Smith’s trial), 338

DEVONSHIRE, Surgeon,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 109, note—134, note

DIGITALIS,

insensibility evidence of poisoning by, 2

dilates the pupils of the eyes, 2

DODD, Chemist,

evidence of (Lamson’s trial), 544

DOVE, Mrs.,

evidence as to her case (Palmer’s trial), 124

DOVE, WILLIAM,

trial for murder of wife—early life, 233-5

history of the case, 235-9

symptoms—Ann Fisher, 239

Mrs. Witham, 240

Mrs. Wood, 241

Mr. Scarth, 242

medical and analytical evidence (Mr. Morley), 242-8

(Mr. Nunneley), 248

(Professor Christison), 248

(Mr. Hobson and Mr. Teale), 249

(Mr. Richard and Mr. William Hey), 250

prisoner’s actions and statements (Ann Fisher), 250

(Gray, Hicks), 251

(Harrison, Jenkins, Scarth), 252

defence—letter to the Devil, 253

evidence of insanity (Dr. Williams), 254-7

(Dr. Pyeman Smith), 258

(Mr. J. Kitchen), 259

judge’s charge, and verdict, 260-3

confessions of, 263-8

DRAGENDORFF,

process for alkaloids, 4

DROPS AND MINIMS (Ball’s trial), 50-1

table of relative proportions of, 81

DUPRÉ, Dr.,

evidence of (Lamson’s trial), 538

EDWARDS, Dr.,

evidence of (Winslow’s case), 484

EGGLESHAM POISONING CASE (Agnes Montgomery), 52-3

ESSENTIAL OILS,

vomiting symptom of, 2

containing HCN, 60

EYE,

action of poisons on the—opium, morphia, calabar bean, aconite?, and strychnia, contract the pupil; belladonna, henbane, tobacco, stramonium, digitalis, and hemlock, dilate the pupil, 2

FIREWORKS,

arsenic in, 379

antimony, 492

FISHER, ANN,

evidence of (Dove’s trial), 239, 251

FISHER, ISHMAEL,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 191-3

FLY POISONS,

arsenic in, 379

FORMIC ACID,

to be tested for in supposed cases of poisoning by hydrocyanic acid, 82-3

difference from sulphocyanide, 70

FORSTER,

supposed case of tetanus, 177-8

FOULNER,

evidence of (Pritchard’s trial), 431

FOWLER’S SOLUTION,

arsenite of potash, 378

dose of, 391

FRANKLIN,

trial of (arsenic in blanc mange), 377, note

FRESENIUS,

process for arsenic, 385

GAGE, MARIA,

trial of (arsenic in rat poison), 379

GAIRDNER, Dr.,

evidence of (Pritchard’s trial), 399-403

GAY, Dr. JOHN,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 179

GILLETT, Mrs.,

evidence of (Merritt’s trial), 368

GIRDWOOD, Dr.,

evidence of (Smethurst’s trial), 472

GLASS MAKING,

arsenic used in, 376

GLUCOSE BEER,

arsenic used in, 381

GRANULES, GRITTY,

on spine (Palmer’s trial), 171, 292

GRAY, MARGARET,

evidence of (Dove’s trial), 251

GRAY, R, E.,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 177-8

GUY, Dr.,

process for subliming alkaloids, 9

HADLER, Mrs.,

evidence of (Tawell’s trial), 41

HAGGART, C.,

evidence of (Madeline Smith’s trial), 340

HANDYSIDE, Lord,

judgment in Madeline Smith’s trial, 361

HARLAND, Dr.,

evidence, post-mortem (Palmer’s trial), 105-9

HARRISON (the witchman),

evidence of (Dove’s trial), 252

HART, Mrs.,

history of (Tawell’s trial), 41

HAWKINS, Sir H.,

remarks on Poisons Acts (Lamson’s trial), 544, note

charge of (Lamson’s trial), 555

HEHNER,

tin in canned provisions, 504

HEMLOCK,

symptoms of poisoning by, 2

antidote to tetanus, 293

HERAPATH, Chemist,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 163-6

letter to the Times, 165, note

and Dr. Taylor (Smethurst’s trial), 507

HEY, R. and W. Medical men,

evidence of (Dove’s trial), 250

HICKS, MARY,

evidence of (Dove’s trial), 251

HOBSON, Dr.,

evidence of (Dove’s trial), 249

HOPE, Lord Justice Clerk,

judgment on L’Angelier’s diary (Madeline Smith’s trial), 359

charge (Madeline Smith’s trial), 352-5

HORSES,

use of arsenic for, 379

HOSPITAL, LONDON

case of tetanus at, 178

HOSPITAL, ROYAL FREE,

case of tetanus at, 179

HOWARD, Mrs.,

evidence of (Tawell’s trial), 28

HYDRIDE OF ANTIMONY, 492

HYDRARGYRUM CUM CRETA (grey powder),

composition of, 513

HYDROCHLORIC ACID,

purification of, xvi.

HYDROCYANIC ACID,

synonyms and properties, 55

variations of strength of, 55-6

British Pharmacopœia (HCN), 57

sources of, 58-61

poisonous doses, 59, 79

the quickest poison, 2

quantity in apple pips (Cooper), 32

(Thomas), 40

(C. G. Stewart), 59-60

tests for detection of, preliminary, 61-3

odour test (Tawell’s trial), 24, 34

smell-blindness (Stewart), 63-7

silver test, 67-8

Prussian-blue test, 69

sulphur test, 70

guaiacum, uranium, picric acid, cupric sulphate, cobalt chloride, potash and mercuric oxide tests, 71

peroxide of hydrogen test, 72

mercurous nitrate test, 72

apparatus for the silver, Prussian-blue, and sulphur tests, 72-3

salts of, 73-8

potassium cyanide, 73-4

mercuric cyanide, 74-5

cyanides of the heavy metals, 75

double cyanides, 75-6

sulphocyanides (Pharaoh’s serpent), 77

in the saliva, 78

oil of bitter almonds, amount in, 78

antidotes to, medicinal uses of, fatal dose, 79

symptoms of poisoning by, and post-mortem appearances, 78-80

how long after death discoverable, 81-3

HYDROGEN, SULPHURETTED,

death by, 1

supposed presence of arsenic in, 396

reagent for antimony, 501

IGASURIA and IGASURIC ACID, 285

INGLIS, Dean of Faculty,

defence of Madeline Smith, 342-52

INGLIS, Lord Justice Clerk,

charge at Pritchard’s trial, 445

INHALING ARSENIC,

in asthma and bronchitis, 381

INSANITY,

plea of, evidence in support of (Dove’s trial), 254-60

affidavits in support of (Lamson’s case), 561

INSENSIBILITY,

symptom of poisoning by morphia and opium, henbane, stramonium, nicotine, darnel, hemlock, fools’ parsley (doubtful), water hemlock, Indian hemp, woody nightshade, berries of potato, lobelia inflata, foxglove, cocculus indicus, some fungi, chloroform, chloral, croton chloral, amylene, methylene dichloride, sulphuretted hydrogen, carbonic oxide, belladonna, 2

not in strychnia, 288

IVORY, LORD,

judgment on extracts from L’Angelier’s diary, 363

JONES, Surgeon,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 101-4, 190

JULIUS, Dr.,

evidence of (Smethurst’s trial), 453

KEELING, MARY,

evidence of (Palmer’s trial), 104

omitted by Lord Chief Justice, 104, note

KERR,

evidence of (Pritchard’s trial), 431

KILLERS, VERMIN,

composition, 283, 379

KITCHEN,

evidence of insanity (Dove’s trial), 259

LAMSON, G. H., Dr.,

trial for murder of brother-in-law. Chap. X., 514

history of the case, 516-20

evidence of medical attendants (Berry, Little), 520

post-mortem (Little), 521-3

(Bond), 524-6

analytical evidence (Dr. Stevenson), 526

(cross-examination), 532

(Dr. Dupré), 538

previous acts of (J. L. and W. Tulloch), 539

(Bedbrook), 541

purchase of poison by (C. A. Smith), 543

(Dodd, Shilling), 544

remarks on Poisons Act by judge, 544, note

surrender of prisoner, 546

defence (Montagu Williams), 547-53

reply (Solicitor-General, Herschel), 553-5

judge’s charge (Sir H. Hawkins), 555-60

verdict and sentence, 560

affidavits in support of application for inquiry into his sanity, 561

L’ANGELIER,

poisoning of. See Madeline Smith.

extracts from diary, judgment on, 342-59

did he commit suicide? 395-6

LAWRIE, Dr.,

evidence of (Madeline Smith’s trial), 325

LEAD

process for alkaloids, 7, 279