Sir James Lubbock, the Home Office Analyst, was the first witness to be
called at the resumed inquest. He stated that he had made an analysis of
the contents of the stomach and other organs of the deceased, together
with vomited matter obtained from the bedclothes and elsewhere. He had
also analysed the remains of a dish of mushrooms and other articles of
diet found on the table.
“From the stomach, the vomited matter, and from the unconsumed portion
of the dish of fungus,” said Sir James, “I obtained by analysis a
considerable quantity of a substance known as _muscarine_, which is the
poisonous principle of a fungus, _Amanita muscaria_, or the Fly Agaric.”
Sir James added that, estimating the amount of the poison which had been
rejected from the body in the course of the sickness, he came to the
conclusion that deceased must have consumed a very large quantity of the
poison.
Sufficient to cause death?—Certainly. Muscarine is an exceedingly
deadly poison.
What would be the symptoms of poisoning by muscarine?—They vary in
different cases. Generally speaking, a sensation of acute sickness would
be experienced almost immediately after the meal, followed by violent
vomiting and diarrhœa. There might also be a feeling of suffocation and
dizziness, sometimes accompanied by blindness. The victim would suffer
acute distress and intense depression and fear of death. Unconsciousness
might supervene, or there might be violent convulsions and prolonged
delirium. Death would probably ensue as a result of respiratory
paralysis.
Will you explain that more simply to the jury?—The poison would
paralyse the muscles of the throat and chest, and the victim would be
unable to breathe and would die of suffocation.
You have seen that Dr. Hughes mentioned in his evidence that the pupils
of the eyes were slightly contracted when he first saw the body. What
conclusion do you draw from that?—I cannot definitely say. Myosis (that
is, contraction of the pupils) is characteristic of the effects of
certain poisons, including muscarine, but the contraction usually
disappears at death, though, curiously enough, in the case of eserine, a
pronounced myosis has been found five hours after death. I should regard
a slight degree of contraction as consistent with muscarine poisoning,
but not, in itself, conclusive evidence one way or another.
Have you ever seen a case of muscarine poisoning?—I have seen perhaps
half a dozen cases in my own experience, mostly among children who had
eaten the Fly Agaric in mistake for an edible mushroom. One case, I
remember, was brought to the hospital too late for anything to be done,
and the patient expired in convulsions after a period of
unconsciousness. Three or four were treated by the injection of atropin
and recovered completely. Another case was not brought to my notice till
after the symptoms had cleared up of their own accord; in this case the
amount eaten was very small.
Such cases are not always fatal?—By no means. If the proper treatment
can be given immediately, the prognosis is favourable. Without such
treatment, however, and where a large quantity of the poison is
consumed, recovery would be less likely.
_The Coroner_: In your opinion, what was the cause of death in the case
of Mr. Harrison?
_Sir James Lubbock_: I have not the slightest doubt that he died of
poisoning by muscarine, taken in the dish of fungus submitted to me for
analysis.
Sir James further added that the Fly Agaric, _Amanita muscaria_, was
frequently found in woods and sheltered places, and was liable to be
eaten in mistake for another member of the same family, _Amanita
rubescens_, or Warty Caps, an edible fungus which it very closely
resembled.
Reference was made to the Government publication, _Edible and Poisonous
Fungi_, and to the book _Neglected Edible Treasures_, written by the
deceased, and pictures of the fungi in question were passed round among
the jury.
Questioned with regard to the eggs, bread, coffee, whiskey and other
articles of diet found in “The Shack,” Sir James said he had subjected
them all to careful analysis, without discovering anything of a
deleterious character.