similar to that of paraldehyde, it causes sleep with little depression
of the circulation and respiration. Larger doses produce variable
symptoms, mental confusion with nervous ataxic manifestations, stupor,
and insensibility; less frequently excitement and convulsions. Skin
eruptions may follow a large dose or from its long continued use. In
severe cases there is marked cyanosis, feeble pulse, and stertorous
and irregular breathing. Death usually results from failure of
respiration, or the urine may be suppressed and fatal coma supervene.
Albuminuria and hæmatoporphyrinuria are common features, especially
in chronic cases. The deep pink colour of the urine was attributed to
hæmatoporphyrin, and indicating extensive destruction of the red blood
corpuscles. It is a grave symptom. That the colour of the urine is due
to hæmatoporphyrin is questionable, for on removing the hæmatoporphyrin
the colour remains the same. The cumulative action is due to slow
elimination by the kidneys. A case published by Drs. Taylor and Sailer,
and reported in the _Lancet_, February 1900, was that of a woman aged
fifty-two years, unmarried, and presenting symptoms of hysteria. On
inquiry it was discovered that she had been in the habit of taking
sulphonal for some time, the dose being fifteen grains per diem.
She was informed of the evil results likely to follow the continued
use of the drug, and she discontinued its use for some weeks. After
this she resumed taking the drug, and began speedily to exhibit all
the symptoms of sulphonal poisoning: viz. mental confusion, marked
insomnia, difficulty of speech, and a peculiar sighing dyspnœa. The
urine was tinged a deep pink colour (hæmatoporphyrinuria), and a
stiffness and paralysis of both legs soon developed. The control of
the sphincters was lost. Cutaneous sensibility was not affected. The
paralysis spread rapidly upwards, and death resulted from cardiac
failure. Spectroscopic examination of both urine and blood disclosed
the presence of hæmatoporphyrin. At the necropsy the following
conditions were revealed: fatty degeneration was present in the heart,
liver, and kidneys. The spleen was filled with a greenish pigment, both
free and within the lymphoid corpuscles, the fibrous trabeculæ were
greatly increased in size, and the lymphoid follicles were extremely
well developed. Excessive pigmentation was found also in the lymphatic
glands of the body and in the lungs. No morbid changes could be found
in the spinal cord or brain.
_Fatal Dose._--This is very uncertain, depending upon idiosyncrasy.
Thirty grains has caused death in a woman in forty hours, while a
case is reported in the _Lancet_, January 1904, of recovery after the
taking of 365 grains. In many cases death has followed the daily use of
moderate doses (10-20 grains) for several months.
_Fatal Period._--May occur in a few hours, or days, or after months;
also after the use of the drug has been discontinued.
_Chemical Analysis._--Sulphonal is very stable, and is unaffected by
boiling alkalies or by concentrated nitric or sulphuric acids. From
its solution in concentrated sulphuric acid it may be recovered by
dilution. It is easily recovered from the body after death, as its
stability prevents its decomposition. It is isolated from organic
matter by treatment with alcohol, evaporation, and extraction of the
residue with hot water, evaporation and final extraction with ether.
_Tests._--1. Heated in a test tube with powdered charcoal, sulphonal
forms mercaptan, acetic acid, formic acid, and sulphur dioxide. The
offensive odour of mercaptan may be noted, and the vapours will change
blue litmus paper. Sulphur dioxide may be shown by its bleaching action
on a piece of filter paper moistened with blue starch iodide and
suspended in the mouth of the tube.
2. When melted with potassium cyanide, sulphonal develops a mercaptan
odour, and potassium sulphocyanate is formed at the same time. A
blood-red colour is therefore produced on the addition of ferric
chloride to a solution of the residue in water. Great care must be
exercised in the carrying out of this test, as it is somewhat dangerous
to the experimenter.
_Treatment._--The stomach should be washed out in order to remove any
drug unabsorbed. Diuretics, purgatives, and general stimulants given,
such as strychnine, hot coffee, &c.
TRIONAL AND TETRONAL
These compounds are very similar in both their chemical and
physiological properties to sulphonal, but both have a bitter taste.
Both have caused fatal poisoning, the symptoms being very similar to
those caused by sulphonal.
VERONAL
Veronal, a synthetic compound, is a white crystalline powder about four
times as powerful as sulphonal, very slightly soluble in water, more
soluble in hot water, and in alkaline solutions, and absorption takes
place from the intestine.
_Symptoms._--In moderate doses it produces sleep without subsequent
depression, and does not affect temperature or respiration. In larger
doses it may cause erythema and constipation, with alternating
semi-coma and delirium. During the last few years fatal cases of
poisoning have become rather frequent.
Details of a fatal case by Dr. Durrant reported in Taylor, p. 616, are,
briefly: A man aged thirty-three, a heavy drinker, to whom veronal
had been prescribed, in fifteen-grain doses, with chloral hydrate and
bromide of ammonium, had gradually increased the dose from 15 to 30
grains, or even 60 grains. Five weeks before death he had taken 100
grains, and had recovered in three days. Nine hours after taking 120
grains of veronal with 20 grains of chloral and 40 grains of ammonium
bromide he was found deeply comatose, with surface warm, respirations
32, pulse 102, pupils dilated, corneæ insensitive, reflexes absent.
Next day not so deeply comatose, he could be made to wince by slapping
the face, the pupils were still dilated, temperature 102° F., pulse
110, reflexes still absent. Later he was still constipated, and the
breathing impeded by mucus. On the third day he spoke when roused;
the temperature, bowels, and pupils the same. With slight remission
he became worse, and on the fourth day, in a comatose condition,
with muscular flaccidity and absence of reflexes, temperature 104°
F., respirations over 40, and the pulse 150, death took place.
_Post-mortem._--Nothing was found except intense congestion of the
lungs, liver, spleen, and brain, due, no doubt, to the asphyxial form
of death. The mucous membrane of the alimentary canal was congested,
but otherwise normal.
_Chemical Tests._--1. Heated dry with sodium carbonate, ammonia is
evolved. If held in the mouth of the tube red litmus paper turns blue,
turmeric paper brown.
2. A saturated solution acidified with nitric acid gives a white
precipitate with Millon‘s reagent soluble in excess.
_Treatment._--As for sulphonal.
CHAPTER XIII
NEURAL POISONS
CONIUM
The common or spotted hemlock, _Conium maculatum_ (_N. O.
Umbelliferæ_), is indigenous. It must be distinguished from the
_Myrrhis temulenta_, another indigenous, umbelliferous plant, which
has also a spotted stem, but which is covered with hairs--the stem of
the hemlock being smooth. Several cases of poisoning have occurred,
hemlock having been mistaken for parsley, fennel, asparagus, and
parsnip. The leaves of the plant have a peculiar mousy odour, which is
intensified when they are rubbed in a mortar with some caustic potash.
The poisonous properties reside in an alkaloid, _conine_. The activity
of the plant appears to depend upon the time of the year when it is
gathered, being most powerful in May. The ready decomposition of the
alkaloid by heat or age renders the extract of conium a very uncertain
preparation, the conine being converted into an inert resinoid matter.
_Conine_ the alkaloid is a colourless volatile oil, lighter than
water, with an odour of mice. It is strongly alkaline, soluble in
diluted acid, but its salts have not yet been crystallised. It has been
suggested that a ptomaine not unlike conine may be formed in the body
by the combination of one molecule of butyric acid and one molecule of
ammonia with separation of water, thus:
Butyric Acid. Ammonia. Conine.
2C₄H₈O₂ + NH₃ - 2H₂O = C₈H₁₅N
Conine is a deadly poison, killing all animals, death resulting from
asphyxia. Neutralised with an acid, its activity is increased, and it
becomes more soluble in water. Almost instant death resulted in a dog
from injecting two grains of conine, neutralised with hydrochloric
acid, into the femoral vein.
_Symptoms in Man._--The symptoms in some cases resemble those of
poisoning with opium; in others, the patient complains of dryness and
constriction of the throat, and drowsiness. There is dilatation of the
pupil, with closure of the eyes or ptosis, and loss of power in the
muscles of the extremities, so that the patient falls on attempting to
walk. The paralysis does not appear to be due to any direct influence
upon the muscles, but upon the motor nerves, and especially on their
extreme peripheral ends, and in this differs from Calabar bean, which
acts on the spinal cord. Gradual loss of power in the respiratory
muscles is the cause of death. Giddiness, coma, and convulsions were
the typical symptoms of two cases of accidental poisoning recorded by
Dr. Watson.
_Symptoms in Animals._--“Palsy, first of the voluntary muscles, next of
the chest, lastly of the diaphragm--asphyxia, in short, from paralysis,
without insensibility, and with slight occasional twitches only of the
limbs; and the heart was always found contracting vigorously for a long
time after death” (Christison).
_Post-mortem Appearances._--Congestion of the vessels of the brain and
lungs. The blood is very fluid, and of a dark colour, the fluidity due
probably to the mode of death--slowly induced asphyxia. There may be
some redness of the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal.
_Fatal Period._--The symptoms may come on in from ten minutes to an
hour, or more, after the poison has been taken. Death usually takes
place in about four hours.
_Fatal Dose._--Uncertain. Thirty grains of the extract carefully
prepared killed a rabbit in five minutes. A single drop of conine
dropped into the eye of a rabbit killed it in nine minutes.
_Chemical Analysis._--Conine may be extracted from organic mixture by
the general process for extracting alkaloids. The following tests may
then be applied:
1. The odour of conine, when diluted with water, resembles that of
mice. Harley states that a mixture of caustic potash with organic
substances may evolve a similar odour even when conine is absent.
2. On warming conine with sulphuric acid and potassium bichromate
butyric acid is produced, and can be recognised by its peculiar odour.
3. If conine be added to a solution of alloxan a reddish-purple colour
is produced in a few minutes, and white needle-shaped crystals form
on standing. These crystals if dissolved in caustic potash solution
produce a purple colour, and the odour of conine is given off.
_Treatment._--Emetics, stomach pump, castor-oil, followed by ammonia
and other diffusible stimulants. Artificial respiration should be
resorted to and kept up for a long time.
CALABAR BEAN
A strong emulsion of Calabar bean, _Physostigma venenosum_ (_N.O.
Leguminosæ_), is used on the West Coast of Africa as a test of
innocence in cases of suspected witchcraft. In 1864 some children in
Liverpool were poisoned by eating some of these beans, which had been
swept out of a ship from Africa on to a heap of rubbish. The poisonous
alkaloid is physostigmine or eserine.
_Symptoms._--Vomiting, giddiness, irregular action of the heart. The
mental faculties are unaffected. The eyes are bright and the pupils
_contracted_; in which latter it differs most strikingly from atropine,
hyoscyamine, and daturine, where dilatation of the pupil is the rule.
The late Sir R. Christison considered that its primary action is on
the heart, causing paralysis of that organ, and that the insensibility
and coma are only secondary. Dr. Harley considers that it is not a
cardiac, but a respiratory poison. Later experiments have shown that
the paralysis produced is due to the action of the drug on the spinal
cord and not on the nerve trunks. It appears also that death is due to
a failure of the respiration, for the heart in animals has been found
still beating for one and a half hours after death. The contraction
of the pupil, when locally applied, is probably brought about by its
paralytic action on the peripheral sympathetic nerve fibres of the
iris; and it is stated that when very large doses of physostigmine are
given, the pupils dilate, pointing to oculo-motor palsy. A few drops of
the extract placed in the eye cause powerful contraction of the pupil.
_Fatal Dose._--Six beans produced death in a boy six years of age.
_Chemical Analysis._--The alkaloid eserine should be extracted in the
usual way, benzene being used as a solvent in the place of chloroform
and ether.
Eserine gives the following chemical reactions:
1. If an aqueous solution of the salt be boiled and then strong nitric
acid added, the solution turns a yellowish-orange colour, changed to
violet on addition of caustic soda in excess; the violet is discharged
on acidulation, but returns on re-alkalising the solution.
2. A solution of eserine in ammonia solution gives a blue residue on
evaporation to dryness. Dilute acids produce a red-coloured solution
with it, which is fluorescent by reflected light.
3. Bromine water produces a red turbid solution with eserine, which
clears on heating.
4. The physiological test--eserine solution instilled into the eye of
an animal produces contraction of the pupil.
_Treatment._--The stomach should be emptied and washed out by means of
the syphon tube, or emetics administered. One-fiftieth to one thirtieth
of a grain of atropine sulphate should be administered hypodermically
and repeated until the pupils dilate. The tincture of belladonna may
be given by the mouth. Stimulants should be given and artificial
respiration carried out if required.
CHAPTER XIV
EXCITOMOTORY POISONS
NUX VOMICA STRYCHNINE
Some of the most poisonous known plants belong to the genus _Strychnos_
(_N.O. Loganiaceæ_).
The Java poison, Upas Tieuté, is a watery extract of _S. Tieuté_; the
basis of the poison used in Guiana, and known as Wourali, Ourari,
Urari, or Curare, is the juice of _S. toxifera_. _S. nux vomica_,
the Koochla tree, produces the nux vomica seeds of commerce; and the
bark of the tree has been accidentally substituted for cusparia, or
angustura bark, hence it is known as _false angustura_ bark. The
substitution is attended with considerable risk, on account of the
strychnine which the false bark contains. It may be known by its
being quilled, externally covered with white lichenous spots, and the
internal surface becoming _blood-red_ when touched with nitric acid.
This reaction, which depends upon the presence of an alkaloid, brucine,
_does not_ occur when true angustura bark is thus treated.
NUX VOMICA
_The Seeds of S. Nux Vomica_
The British Pharmacopœia contains an extract and a tincture. The
alkaloid strychnine is the active principle of the seeds and other
parts of the plant. Another alkaloid, brucine, is also found, and is
poisonous.
The symptoms and _post-mortem_ appearances and treatment will be
detailed under the head of strychnine. The brown powder of the seeds
may, in some cases, be seen adhering to the mucous membrane of the
stomach.
STRYCHNINE
Strychnine is very slightly soluble in cold water to the extent of one
part in 8300; in boiling water one part dissolves in about 2500. It is
more soluble in alcohol, and very soluble in chloroform or ether and
chloroform mixed.
It has a bitter taste, so intense, that one part in 70,000 of water
can be detected by the taste. Strychnine is not easily decomposed--it
resists the action of warm strong sulphuric acid, and is not altered by
putrefactive processes when present in viscera. It has been discovered
in the body 322 days after death in one case, 368 days in another.
[Illustration: Fig. 40.--Photo-micrograph of crystals of strychnine
sulphate from aqueous solution, × 50. (R. J. M. Buchanan.)]
[Illustration: Fig. 41.--Photo-micrograph of crystal of strychnine
sulphate from aqueous solution, × 50. (R. J. M. Buchanan.)]
Allen detected strychnine in the residue of some viscera from a person
who had died of strychnine poisoning, and which he had kept in a jar
for six years. Richter found the alkaloid at the end of eleven years in
putrid tissues which had been exposed to the air all that time in open
vessels.
_Symptoms._--Should the poison be in solution, the patient complains
of a hot and intensely bitter taste during swallowing. The effects of
the poison depending to a great extent on the mode of administration,
become manifest in from a few minutes to an hour or more after it
is taken. The earliest symptoms are a feeling of suffocation and
great difficulty of breathing. These come on suddenly, without any
premonitory warnings. Twitching of the muscles rapidly pass into
tetanic convulsions of nearly all the muscles of the body, which
are simultaneously affected. The head after several jerks becomes
stiffened; the neck rigid; the body curved forward, quite stiff, and
resting on the back of the head and heels. The face is congested, and
the countenance expresses intense anxiety; the eyes staring, the mouth
open, and the lips livid. The throat is dry, the thirst great; but
when an attempt is made to drink, the jaws are spasmodically closed,
and a piece of the vessel may be bitten out. During the intervals of
the paroxysms the intellect is usually clear, and the patient appears
conscious of his danger, frequently exclaiming, “I shall die!” He is
also conscious of the accession of the paroxysms, telling those around
him of their approach, and asking to be held. In the case of J. P.
Cook, poisoned by Palmer, those about him tried to raise him, but he
was so stiff that they found it impossible. He then said, “Turn me
over,” which they did, and he died in a few minutes. Intense pain is
felt, due to the powerful contractions of the muscles. After the lapse
of a minute or two, the spasms subside, a sudden lull takes place,
during which the patient feels exhausted and his skin is bathed in
sweat.
In poisoning by strychnine, the jaws are slightly, if at all, affected,
trismus is a late symptom, and occurs only during a convulsive seizure.
In tetanus the result of disease, the locking of the jaws is an early
and a marked symptom.
As death approaches the fits become more frequent, and the patient dies
from exhaustion or suffocation.
_Post-mortem Appearances._--There is no characteristic appearance found
after death. The blood is fluid, the heart empty, with some congestion
of the membranes of the brain. Absence of all cause for so violent and
sudden a death. _Rigor mortis_ is prolonged for some time.
_Fatal Period._--The rapidity in the accession of the symptoms and
fatal termination will, to some extent, depend upon the form in which
the poison is taken--_i.e._ in solution or in pill. In most cases the
symptoms appear in from three or four minutes to an hour or more after
the poison is swallowed, death following in from ten minutes to six
hours. As a rule, if the person lives for two hours after the onset of
symptoms recovery may be expected.
[Illustration: Fig. 42.--Photo-micrograph of strychnine sulphate, film
preparation from chloroform solution, × 50. (R. J. M. Buchanan.)]
[Illustration: Fig. 43.--Photo-micrograph of chromate of strychnine, ×
50.
(R. J. M. Buchanan.)]
_Fatal Dose._--A quarter to half a grain; but large doses have been
taken, followed by recovery.
[Illustration: Fig. 44.--Photo-micrograph of sulphocyanate of
strychnine, × 50.
(R. J. M. Buchanan.)]
_Chemical Analysis._--The poison may fail to be detected, and this
link in the scientific evidence may be wanting, as was the case in
Palmer‘s trial. In that case the strychnine had been administered in
_pills_; and when after death the stomach had been cut open, and the
contents lost, there was little hope of discovering the poison. The
non-discovery of the poison was made a strong point on the part of the
defence, ignoring at the same time the fact that the stomach had been
tampered with and the contents spilt. The alkaloid abstracted from the
tissues or contents of the stomach by the process generally used for
extraction of alkaloids, may have the following tests applied to it:
1. Scarcely soluble in water, but readily soluble in
acidulated water.
2. Intensely bitter taste.
3. Not affected by sulphuric acid; but when a little
peroxide of lead, or peroxide of manganese, or bichromate
of potash, or ferricyanide or permanganate of potassium
is added, a magnificent purple-blue colour, changing to
crimson, and finally to a light red tint, is the result. The
¹/₂₀₀₀₀ part of a grain of strychnine has been stated to
give this reaction.
4. The physiological test consists in introducing a small
quantity of the suspected substance under the skin of a
frog, and noting whether or not the animal suffers from
tetanic spasms.
5. _The Galvanic Test._--Place a solution of
strychnine, say one part of strychnine in 15,000 of water,
in a slight depression in a piece of platinum foil, and
allow the mixture to evaporate. When dry, moisten the spot
with sulphuric acid, connect the foil with a positive pole
of a single-cell Grove‘s battery, and then touch the acid
solution with the negative pole. A violet colour will be at
once produced, remaining permanent.
6. _Bloxam‘s Test._--To the solid alkaloid in a
porcelain dish a drop or two of strong nitric acid is added
and gently heated; on adding a small quantity of potassium
chlorate a scarlet colour is produced. Ammonia changes
this colour to brown and a brown precipitate falls. If the
mixture he evaporated to dryness it leaves a dark green
residue forming a green solution in water, changed to
orange-brown with caustic potash and green again with nitric
acid. This test distinguishes strychnine from any of the
alkaloids which commonly occur in cases of poisoning.
7. Potassium bichromate when added to a solution of a salt
of strychnine, produces a yellow crystalline precipitate
of chromate of strychnine: the reaction can be done on
a microscope slide and the crystals examined. On drying
the crystals and then touching them with a drop of strong
sulphuric acid, the purple colour changing through red to
green is produced.
8. Picric acid gives a yellow crystalline precipitate of the
picrate.
9. Ammonium or potassium sulphocyanate produces crystalline
precipitates.
10. Ferri-cyanide of potassium produces a crystalline
precipitate with solutions of salts of strychnine.
Strychnine may not be found in the body, even after death from
poisoning by it, for the following reasons:
1. Smallness of the quantity taken.
2. The time which has elapsed after taking the strychnine
until the symptoms commence.
3. If the careful preservation of the stomach and its
contents has been overlooked.
4. The alkaloid may have been eliminated from the body
before death.
_Treatment._--Evacuation of the stomach by emetics and the stomach
pump, under anæsthesia, and then the administration of animal charcoal,
iodide of potash, tannic acid, and tea; bromide of potassium in large
doses (half an ounce), and repeated in smaller doses. Chloral should be
given in five-grain doses hypodermically every ten minutes, until the
convulsions are subdued. Chloroform should be inhaled for some time.
Urethane is said by Anrep to be more useful than chloral, and should be
given in drachm doses.
BRUCINE
This alkaloid is present along with strychnine in Nux Vomica seeds
and the Ignatius bean. Cases of poisoning by it seldom occur, as the
alkaloid is but little known by the public.
_Symptoms._--It resembles strychnine in its action but is much
less poisonous. It produces death by convulsions when injected
subcutaneously, but according to Brunton does not so often produce
convulsions when taken into the stomach.
Differential Diagnosis of Strychnine Poisoning from
Tetanus, Hysteria, Epilepsy, and other
Poisons causing Tetanic Spasms.
+--------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Tetanus. | Tetanus from Strychnine. |
+--------------------------------+------------------------------+
| 1. The presence of a wound. | 1. Some solid or liquid |
| Symptoms have no connection | taken within a short time |
| with any liquid or solid | of commencement of symptoms. |
| swallowed. | Not connected with any |
| | peculiarity of constitution. |
| | |
| 2. Gradual accession and | 2. Symptoms sudden and |
| progress of the symptoms; | violent. All the muscles are |
| difficulty in swallowing; | affected at one and the same |
| stiffness of the jaws, neck, | time. Arms affected and |
| trunk, legs, and arms. The | hands clenched at the same |
| hands not generally affected. | time as the body and legs. |
| | Jaw only affected or fixed |
| | during efforts to swallow. |
| | |
| 3. Curving of the spine | 3. Opisthotonos an early |
| forwards not primarily | symptom, generally |
| present; generally comes on | appearing in a few minutes. |
| after some days of previous | |
| illness. | |
| | |
| 4. Symptoms may undergo | 4. Intervals of complete |
| abatement, but there is no | intermission. |
| perfect intermission. | |
| | |
| 5. Death after the lapse of | 5. Death usually occurs in |
| several hours or days. Direct | two hours, or even less |
| injury to spinal cord may give | than a quarter of an hour. |
| rise to tetanus and death in | Recovery in a few hours. |
| a few hours. Recovery slow. | |
+-------------------+------------+-------+----------------------+
| Hysteria. | Epilepsy. | Tetanus occurring |
| | | During the Action |
| | | of other Poisons. |
+-------------------+--------------------+----------------------+
| 1. Connected with | 1. Previous | 1. The presence of |
| a peculiar | history of | other symptoms of |
| constitution. | epilepsy. | poisoning peculiar |
| | | to certain poisons. |
+-------------------+--------------------+----------------------+
| 2. The presence of| 2. Presence of the | |
| known stigmata of | _aura epileptica._ | |
| hysteria. | The tongue bitten; | _Obs._--Arsenic, |
| | and insensibility | antimony, and |
| | lasting for | other irritant |
| | some time. | poisons may |
| | | sometimes cause |
| | | tetanic spasms; |
| | | but other symptoms |
| 3. The spasms | 3. Alternate | are present which |
| frequently | contraction and | point to the nature |
| convulsive, and | relaxation of | of the poison. |
| alternating with | the muscles. | |
| stiffness of the | | |
| muscles. Loss of | | |
| consciousness. | | |
+-------------------+--------------------+----------------------+
| 4. | | |
+-------------------+--------------------+----------------------+
| 5. Never fatal. | 5. Seldom fatal | |
| Recovery very | during first | |
| rapid. | attack. | |
+-------------------+--------------------+----------------------+
[Illustration: Fig. 45.--Photo-micrograph of crystals of brucine
sulphate, × 50.
(R. J. M. Buchanan.)]
[Illustration: Fig. 46.--Photo-micrograph of crystals of brucine
sulphate, × 50.
(R. J. M. Buchanan.)]
_Chemical Analysis._--The alkaloid may be extracted from organic
admixture by the usual methods. Its reactions to special tests are as
follows:
1. If nitric acid be added to the solid alkaloid, or in aqueous
solution, a bright red colour is produced which changes to yellow on
heating. The addition of stannous chloride or sulphide of ammonium to
the acid solution after cooling changes it to violet; the colour is
discharged by excess of the stannous chloride. If the red acid solution
be largely diluted with water, a yellow precipitate falls, soluble in
dilute hydrochloric acid. If the filtrate from the yellow precipitate
be neutralised by ammonia and calcium chloride added, a precipitate of
calcium oxalate forms, insoluble in acetic but soluble in hydrochloric
acid. This reaction is peculiar to brucine.
2. With sulphuric acid and potassium bichromate a deep orange-red
colour is produced.
3. Sulphomolybdic acid gives an orange-red or purplish-red colour,
changing to blue.
4. _Blyth‘s Test._--If methyl iodide be added to a solution of brucine
in strong alcohol, circular rosettes of crystals form in a few minutes.
Strychnine does not give this reaction.
_Treatment._--Same as for strychnine.
CHAPTER XV
IRRESPIRABLE GASES
CARBON DIOXIDE
_Circumstances under which it occurs accidentally._--Death may
result where several persons are sleeping in the same room, and the
ventilation is imperfect; from the admission of the vapour of charcoal
into a room from an adjoining vent; or from incautiously sleeping in a
brewery close to a vat in which fermentation is going on. Many deaths
have occurred from this gas, due to the incautious descent into wells.
It must also be borne in mind that death may result from the presence
of this gas in an atmosphere which will permit the combustion of a
candle. For a candle will burn in an atmosphere containing 25 per cent.
of CO₂, whereas 5 per cent. will cause death. The burning of a candle
is therefore no test of security from danger in an atmosphere where
the presence of carbonic acid is suspected. Carbonic acid does not, as
is generally supposed, sink to the lower portions of a room; and Dr.
Taylor, from his experiments, states “that in a small and close room
persons are liable to be suffocated at all levels, from the very equal
and rapid diffusion of carbonic acid during combustion.”
_Symptoms._--When the carbonic acid is pure, that is, unmixed with
other gases, spasm of the glottis at once occurs, and the sufferer
falls down insensible, and death is almost immediate. When the gas
is diluted the early symptoms are a feeling of weight and fulness
in the head, accompanied with giddiness, throbbing of the temporal
arteries, drowsiness, palpitation of the heart, gradually increasing
insensibility, stertorous breathing, ending in death from asphyxia or
apoplexy. Sometimes the victim dies convulsed, at other times a deep
sleep quietly merges into death. The symptoms will, of course, depend
upon the quantity and purity of the gas present in the apartment.
_Action on the Animal Economy._--The opinions of observers vary
greatly--Berzelius maintaining that an atmosphere containing 5 per
cent. was not injurious to life; Allen and Pepys, on the other hand,
stating that 10 per cent. of the gas would cause death. Bernard
considers that it is not poisonous, as it can be injected into the
bodies of animals without injury, and that its action is purely
negative; it is irrespirable in the same sense as pure hydrogen or
nitrogen is--simply, therefore, causing death by suffocation. Whatever
may be the true explanation of its action, it is enough for all
practical purposes to know that death follows when it is breathed, even
when mixed with a normal amount of oxygen.
_Post-mortem Appearances._--The face may be pale and composed, or
swollen and livid. The vessels of the brain are frequently greatly
congested, and the heart and great vessels gorged with black fluid
blood. The blood in some cases, however, is of a cherry-red colour.
This may probably be due to the presence of carbon monoxide, which
appears to have the power of preventing the change of arterial into
venous blood, the opposite effect to that of carbon dioxide. The tongue
may or may not be protruded beyond the teeth; in most instances the
latter is the case. Animal heat is long retained after death, and the
_rigor mortis_ occurs as in other forms of death.
_Treatment._--Bleeding from the arm, cupping from the nape of the neck,
and the employment of cold affusion to the head. The patient should
be removed without delay into the open air. Artificial respiration
and galvanism have been successfully employed in some cases, and
inhalations of oxygen should be used if possible.
_How the proportion of Carbon Dioxide may be estimated._--The air to
be examined is drawn into a vessel capable of holding one and a half
gallons, to which is added a clear solution of lime or baryta. The
vessel, after being well agitated, is allowed to remain untouched for
from eight to twenty-four hours. The carbonic acid is absorbed by
the lime or baryta, and the difference in the causticity of the lime
solution before and after it is placed in the vessel gives the amount
of carbonic acid present in the air. A simple method of collecting the
air in a mine is by lowering a bottle full of fine sand, so arranged
that at any depth it may be turned upside down, and the sand allowed to
run out, its place being taken by the air of the mine. The bottle may
now be quickly drawn up, corked, and reserved for examination.
_How may an Apartment, Well, or Mine be cleared of it?_--Free
ventilation in the first case. In the case of a well, a basket of
slaked lime may be let down; but in mines a steam fanner or a jet of
steam must be blown through the mine. No one, of course, should be
allowed to enter the well or mine until it has been cleared of the
carbonic acid.
CARBON MONOXIDE
This gas is formed in a variety of ways, one being the oxidation of
carbon at a very high temperature in a limited supply of oxygen. It
is given off by iron stoves at a red heat. It is one of the chief
ingredients of the vapour of burning charcoal.
To this gas is due the suffocating quality of air in which coke or
charcoal is burnt. It is inodorous, hence the dangerous insidiousness
with which it produces its fatal results. It is said that 0.5 per cent.
will cause death, and even 0.1 per cent. is injurious. The vapours from
brick kilns and “burnt ballast” heaps are injurious to health, and the
owners of them may be indicted for causing a nuisance.
The fumes from burning charcoal are taken advantage of for purposes of
suicide, a method frequently used on the Continent, but almost unheard
of in England. The suicide generally shuts himself up in a room, which
he has closed against any ventilation, and in which he has placed a
receptacle containing burning coke or charcoal.
Poisoning by carbon monoxide occurs in two forms--_acute_ and _chronic_.
_Symptoms_: _Acute._--The first symptoms may be those of excitation,
which are quickly followed by intense headache, giddiness, throbbing of
the temples, and nausea followed by vomiting. Muscular weakness occurs,
sensation and the reflexes are lost, drowsiness and coma follow, and
in fatal cases convulsions often come on before death. The pulse
becomes imperceptible at the wrist. The conjunctivæ become hyperæmic,
the eyes staring, the pupils dilated and insensible. The voluntary and
involuntary muscles are relaxed, the skin cold and cyanotic, and the
lips covered with froth.
_Chronic._--The symptoms are headache, neuralgic pains, anæmia,
shortness of breath, and wasting; when advanced they are those of
peripheral neuritis and mental disturbances.
The less severe symptoms of chronic carbon monoxide poisoning are not
uncommon, and occur in those who occupy small and badly ventilated
rooms, in which there may be a heating stove, gas stove, or imperfect
gas fittings; the last are especially dangerous when water gas is used
for illuminating purposes, as it contains a high percentage of carbon
monoxide.
It is a very powerful gas, speedily causing death by acting chiefly
on the nervous system, the symptoms being those produced by a pure
narcotic.
The _post-mortem_ signs are redness of the face, with reddish patches
on different parts of the body. The blood--and this is chiefly
characteristic of carbon monoxide poisoning--is cherry-red, due to a
chemical compound formed by the action of the gas on the colouring
matter of the blood, thus paralysing the oxygen-carrying power of the
blood corpuscles. The gas is supposed to combine with the hæmoglobin
forming a fixed compound, the spectroscopic examination showing the
two absorption bands of the hæmoglobin nearer to the violet end of the
spectrum than under normal conditions. (See Blood Spectra, p. 103.)
These bands resemble those of O₂Hb, so their position must be compared
with a spectrum of O₂Hb, the two spectra being side by side.
There is another important difference, however, determined by the
action of a reducing agent such as ammonium sulphide. The bands of COHb
are unaltered, while those of O₂Hb are reduced. Death frequently takes
place before all the Hb has been changed into COHb, so that the blood
contains a mixture of COHb and O₂Hb, and on the addition of a reducing
agent the spectrum is a composite one of COHb and reduced Hb. Only the
broad band of reduced Hb is to be seen if the amount of COHb present be
less than 28 per cent. In an atmosphere containing a large percentage
of carbon monoxide death may occur before the blood contains sufficient
COHb to give the characteristic spectrum.
The _treatment_ consists in the removal of the sufferer into the
fresh air, artificial respiration, venesection, and the transfusion of
arterialised defibrinated blood. Oxygen inhalations should be given. In
two cases subcutaneous injections of nitro-glycerine were followed by
recovery.
WATER GAS
This gas is prepared by passing steam through incandescent carbon, and
is a compound of nearly equal parts of carbonic oxide and hydrogen. It
owes its dangerous properties to the first-named gas. When water gas,
pure and simple, is supplied for heating purposes, its leakage cannot
be detected, as the gas possesses no odour. When used for lighting and
carburetted, its escape is more readily detected by the smell, but
even then it is more dangerous than coal gas as the proportion of CO
is higher. Several deaths have resulted from the use of water gas for
heating and lighting purposes, and also for steel smelting in Leeds.
The symptoms of poisoning are those of carbon monoxide.
SULPHURETTED HYDROGEN
Sulphuretted hydrogen is a gas possessing a powerful odour of rotten
eggs. It is largely used as a test for most of the metals; and its
presence may be detected by filter paper, moistened with a salt of
lead, becoming black.
_Symptoms._--When the gas is moderately diluted the symptoms produced
are giddiness, throbbing of the temples, pain and oppression of the
stomach, nausea, and vomiting; delirium and convulsions sometimes
occur, together with laborious respiration and an irregular pulse. When
the gas is but slightly diluted, the person becomes suddenly weak and
insensible, and rapidly dies.
_Post-mortem Appearances._--Fluidity and blackness of the blood, loss
of muscular contractility, and a tendency to rapid putrefaction. The
bronchial tubes are reddened, and the internal vascular organs may
appear almost black.
_Treatment._--This will consist in the immediate removal of the person
into fresh air, and the administration of stimulants, together with the
respiration of chlorine gas evolved from bleaching powder by the action
of an acid.
COAL GAS
Coal gas is composed of several hydrocarbons, the chief of which is
marsh gas, together with free hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon
dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, and sulphides of carbon, which
give to it its peculiar odour. The poisonous properties of coal gas are
due to the carbon monoxide, 7.5 per cent. being present in ordinary
gas as supplied for illuminating purposes. It can be detected by
passing the coal gas through an acid solution of cuprous chloride,
which becomes black by the formation of a compound CuCOCl. A dangerous
explosive compound is formed when the gas reaches the proportion
of 1 in 10 of the atmosphere. Poisoning by this gas is, as a rule,
accidental.
_Symptoms._--Headache, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, ending in coma.
Stertorous breathing is noticed in some cases. Should the sufferer
be removed from the gas, the breath smells strongly of the gas. The
murderer Chantrelle tried to cover his crime by admitting gas into his
wife‘s bedroom, but the attempt failed. The pupils are, as a rule,
dilated before death.
_Post-mortem Appearances._--Cherry-red colour of the blood, redness of
the pulmonary tissue, and froth in the air-passages. The vessels of the
brain are engorged, and rose-coloured patches appear on the thighs.
_Treatment._--This consists in removing the patient into the fresh air,
artificial respiration, oxygen inhalations, &c., as in carbon monoxide.
COMBUSTION GASES
Toxic effects have been produced by inhalation of the gases caused by
explosives. The principal gases are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,
and nitrogen. Gunpowder yields a considerable amount of CO and
sulphuretted hydrogen. Nitro-glycerine, dynamite, and gun-cotton yield
a large amount of CO. Tonite yields very little CO, and roburite none.
Smokeless powders give off CO.
The manufacture of “roburite” and “sicherheit,” which contain
dinitro-benzine, is fraught with danger from this substance, causing,
in acute cases, cyanosis of the face or the whole body, headache,
vertigo, paresis, coldness, quick pulse, dyspnœa, shallow breathing
with long intervals, and coma. Vomiting may occur, and the blood
becomes a chocolate colour. A chronic form of poisoning produces
lividity and cyanosis, with gastritis, hepatic enlargement and
jaundice, paræsthesia, numbness, and cramps in the muscles, amblyopia
with concentric contraction of vision-fields, and central scotoma.
The blood is like that of pernicious anæmia, and the urine brown or
blackish.
ACETYLENE GAS
This gas has a peculiar odour of geranium. It is a product of the
incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons, and is formed when lamps or gas
jets are burned with insufficient air, _e.g._ a Bunsen burner which
has “lighted back,” also from the use of oil stoves, and gas cooking
and heating apparatus. It is used for illumination, and formed by
the action of water on calcium carbide. It forms a highly explosive
mixture with air. It is not a potent poison. Continued exposure to
it causes anæmia, malnutrition, and nervous symptoms. On animals it
produces narcosis. It does not combine with hæmoglobin, but acts as an
indifferent gas.
NITROGEN MONOXIDE, NITROUS OXIDE
This is known as laughing gas; it has a sweetish taste and smell.
When breathed in small quantities it produces tingling sensations and
induces laughter, hence its name. When breathed for anæsthetic purposes
the skin becomes livid, the blood pressure raised, and unconsciousness
follows. It acts first upon the higher nerve centres, then upon the
spinal cord, medulla, and heart. If pushed too far it causes death
by asphyxia. In ordinary use for anæsthesia, the latter is rapidly
produced, and recovery follows quickly when the administration is
stopped. It has peculiar effects upon certain people, who may not only
show the symptoms of hilarity, but, in some cases, become extremely
violent.
PETROL FUMES
Petrol fumes produce toxic effects upon those who breathe them,
comprising perverted taste, dysphagia, headache, giddiness, cyanosis,
insensibility, mania and imbecility. Maniacal outbreaks occur during
recovery. Peripheral neuritis may follow.
NAPHTHA, BENZOL OR BENZENE
This causes poisoning when swallowed or inhaled, _e.g._ glove cleaning,
waterproofing, &c. Death has taken place in either way.
_Symptoms._--In _acute_ poisoning there is excitement, flushing of the
face, cyanosis, dilated pupils, headache, slow breathing, stupor and
coma, with gastro-intestinal irritation.
Hallucinations and delirium may occur amongst workers in it;
idiosyncrasy plays a part. Women may become intoxicated, excited, and
hysterical. It may cause headache, vertigo, narcosis, and inability to
walk, with vomiting. Small hæmorrhages may occur. Rapid coma and death
may occur when the vapour is concentrated.
_Treatment._--When swallowed, the stomach tube should be used and ether
and strychnine given hypodermically. When overcome by vapour, removal
to the open air, artificial respiration, oxygen inhalations, and
restoratives are required.
SULPHUR DIOXIDE
This is an irrespirible gas with the odour of burning sulphur. It is a
preservative and bleaching agent, is used for disinfection, and occurs
in certain industries.
The inhalation of the fumes causes a feeling of suffocation, with spasm
of the glottis, and irritation of the nose, trachea, and bronchi,
producing sneezing and cough; opacity of the cornea, dyspnœa, cyanosis,
and convulsions may occur.
CHLORINE
The gas is used for disinfection and bleaching. In chemical works
chronic poisoning may occur causing anæmia, emaciation, gastritis,
dental caries, bronchitis, and emphysema. If concentrated, it causes
dyspnœa, violent cough, hæmoptysis, stupor, and syncope.
_Treatment._--Fresh air, steam inhalations, and the general treatment
of the lung conditions.
PHOSPHORETTED HYDROGEN
This is a very poisonous gas. Deaths have occurred on board ships
carrying cargoes of electrolytic ferrosilicate containing calcium
phosphide. It reduces the oxyhæmoglobin. It may produce rapid, followed
by slow and laboured breathing and convulsions.
INDEX
Abdomen, P.-M. exam., 58, 59;
enlargement of, 153;
in delivery, 156;
in pregnancy, 153;
in starvation, 132;
injuries of, 75
Abel, Prof., on arsenic, 284
Abercrombie, Dr., on apoplexy, 73
Abortion, criminal, 64, 76, 159 _et seq._;
causes of, 160, 161;
dangers of, 161;
definition of, 160, 164;
examination in, 162, 163;
in poisoning, 313, 317, 319, 322;
law of, 159;
R. _v._ Goodhall, 159
Abscess, in wounds, 84
Accident, death from, 2
Acetanilide (antifebrin), 363
Acetic acid, 262
Acetone, in starvation, 132
Acetylene gas, 401
Acid poisons, 231, 234, 246
Aconite and aconitine, 229, 234, 239, 348, 375, 376
Action (general) of poisons, 232-34
Acts of Parliament:--
_Arsenic Act_, 1851 (14 Vict. c. 13), 230, 275;
_Coroners Acts_, De Officio Coronatoris
(4 Edw. I, c. 2, 1275), 3, 4;
50 & 51 Vict., 1887, 3;
_Factory and Workshop Act_, 1901, 12;
_Fœticide_ (24 & 25 Vict. c. 100, sec. 58 and 59), 159;
_Habitual Drunkard‘s Act_, 226;
_Indictable Offences Act_, 1848 (sec. 17), 18;
_Infanticide_ (21 Jac. I. c. 27), 165;
(24 & 25 Vict. c. 100, sec. 60), 166;
_Lunacy Acts_ (8 & 9 Vict. c. 100, secs. 90 and 114), 195;
(16 & 17 Vict. c. 70), 224;
(16 & 17 Vict. c. 96, sec. 4), 207;
(25 & 26 Vict. c. 86), 224;
(53 Vict. c. 5, 1890), 210-219;
(53 Vict. c. 53), 207, 223;
(54 & 55 Vict. c. 65, 1891), 207, 223;
_Mental Deficiency Act_, 1913, 198;
_Notification of Births Act_, 1907, 12;
_Notification of Infectious Diseases_, 1889, 12;
_Pharmacy Act_, 1868, 228;
_Poisons Act_ (24 & 25 Vict. c. 100, secs. 11, 22-25), 228;
_Poisons and Pharmacy Act_, 1908, 229;
Additions to Schedule Order, 1913, 229;
_Rape_ (24 & 25 Vict. c. 100, sec. 48), 140;
(48 & 49 Vict. c. 69, 1885), 140, 141;
_Wounding_ (24 & 25 Vict. c. 100, sec. 18), 69
Adam, Dr., on croton oil, 318
Addington, on poisoning, 240
Adipocere, 52
After-pains, in delivery, 156
Age, ossification as a sign of, 33, 34, 174;
putrefaction, 50
Ague and arsenic, 274
Air and putrefaction, 50, 55
Albumen, as antidote, 300, 312;
in urine, 41, 258, 268, 307, 382
Alcohol, 40, 62, 114, 119, 120, 135, 226, 231,
232, 244, 348, 354 _et seq._;
amylic, 362
Alexander, on poisoning, 233, 238
Alimentary canal, 61, 271, 291, 297, 306, 310, 322, 346
Alison, on infanticide, 166
Alkalies, in poisoning, 231, 234, 262 _et seq._
Alkaloid poisons, 229;
mydriatic, 349 _et seq._;
putrefactive, 323 _et seq._;
vegetable, 335 _et seq._
Allen, Dr., on CO₂, 397
Almonds, bitter, 62, 229, 361, 373
Amenorrhœa, in sterility, 188
Ammonia, 264 _et seq._
Amos, on inheritance, 184
Anæmia, 132, 299, 307, 401, 403
Analysis, chem., in P.-M. exam., 57, 62
Anasarca, 41
Aneurysm, in death from wounds, 81
Aniline oil, 108, 361, 362
Animal poisons, 231, 322 _et seq._
Ante-mortem injuries, 79
Anthropometry, 24;
Commission on, 133
Antibodies, in blood tests, 105
Antidotes, in poisoning, 243
Antifebrin, 363
Antigen, in blood tests, 105
Antimony, 229, 234, 264 _et seq._, 280, 282, 292 _et seq._
Antiserum, in blood tests, 105, 106
Apes, in blood testing, 105, 107
Aphasia, 73, 226
Apnœa, 118, 121, 126, 128
Apomorphine, 243, 257, 300, 345
Apoplexy, 40, 73, 118, 121, 126, 136, 236, 241, 347, 397
Arborescent marks, 137
Areola, of nipple, 152, 156
Arterio-sclerosis, 307
Arthritis, in lead poisoning, 307
Asphyxia, 38, 39, 110, 121 _et seq._, 136, 139, 369,
375, 380, 397, 402
Assaults, 27, 68, 80;
Law cases of, R. _v._ Rosinski, 68;
R. _v._ Case, 68
Assize Courts, 5
Atelectasis pulmonum, 169
Atheroma, as cause of death, 73
Atrophy, acute yellow, of liver and phosphorus poisoning, 268
Atropine, 229, 244, 348, 349, 372
Auscultation, in pregnancy, 151
Aveling, Dr., on delivery, 157
Bacillus enteritidis, 329, 330;
botulinus, 329, 330;
typhosus, 328
Bacterial poisons, 323, 328 _et seq._
Bail, 4
Bailie, Justice, on medical evidence, 19
Ballottement, in pregnancy, 154
Banti‘s disease, and X-rays, 114
Barristers, 5
Baryta and barium salts, 234, 244, 248, 313, 315
Battery, 68
Beatson, on burns, 114
Becker, on blood-stains, 92
Beer and arsenic, 290;
and strychnine, 337
Belladonna, 229, 231 _et seq._, 349-351
Bentley, on fungi, 359
Benzene and benzole, and alkaloids, 337, 338, 402
Bernard, on CO₂, 397
Bertillon‘s method, 24
Berzelius, on CO₂, 397
Beverley case, 193
Bigelow, on wounds, 74
Bile, in poisoning, 233
Bilroth, on carbolic acid, 256
Biological tests, for blood, 105;
semen, 146
Birds, blood corpuscles, 96, 99
Birth--certificates, 12;
marks, 23;
precipitate, 177;
premature, 186
Bismuth, 314
Blackening, in wounds, 78, 87
Blackstone, on infanticide, 167;
on inheritance, 184
Bladder and putrefaction, 54;
in new born, 169;
in P.-M. exam., 62, 169
Blandy case, 240
Blisters, in burns, 112;
in infanticide, 167
Blizzard (Sir W.), on evidence, 20
Blondlot, on phosphorus, 269
Blood, corpuscles, 97 _et seq._;
crystals, 96-102;
cysts, 73;
films, 94;
in burning, 112;
cold, 135, 136;
drowning, 130;
heat-stroke, 137;
mammalian, 96, 105;
menstrual, 96;
P.-M., 62;
poisoning, 232, 247, 256, 267, 271, 319,
327, 355, 360, 362, 399, 401;
rape, 142, 143;
suffocation, 199;
stains, 79, 80, 89 _et seq._, 145;
vessels, 54, 81, 232
Bloxam, on arsenic, 284;
test, 393
Blue line, in lead poisoning, 307
Blyth, on poisons, 227;
tests, 350, 396
Board of Trade and electricity, 138
Body viewing, 4
Bones, epiphyses, 33, 34;
fractures, 56;
ossification, 33, 34;
poisoning, 238, 268, 271
Bonnewyn, on mercury poisoning, 304
Books, use of, in Court, 19
Borax, 91, 92
Bouchard, on leucomaines, 327
Bouchet, on signs of death, 33, 34
Boutmy, on alkaloids, 326
Bouvalat, on sudden death, 42
Bowels (_see_ Intestine)
Brain, 54, 58, 71 _et seq._;
in burns, 112;
cold, 130;
drowning, 130;
electricity, 138;
poisoning, 231, 233, 238, 256, 269, 291, 297, 345, 355,
356, 360, 364, 366, 375, 377, 378, 380, 384;
suffocation, 119
Brande and Taylor‘s method, in arsenic, 280, 281
Bravo case, 294
Breasts, in pregnancy, 152
Briand and Chaudé, on wounds, 75
Brieger, on alkaloids, 326
Bright‘s disease, and poisoning, 235, 244
Brodie (Sir B.), on cold, 135
Bromatotoximus, 328 _et seq._
Brouardel, on alkaloids, 326
Broughton (Sir T.), on poisoning, 374
Bruce, Justice, on dying declarations, 17
Brucine, 342, 388, 393, 396
Bruises, 115, 144
Brunton, Dr., on brucine, 394
Bryony, 322
Burgess, on opium, 345
Burnett‘s fluid, 165
Burns, 64, 110 _et seq._
Cachexia, in poisoning, 299
Cacodylic acid, 290
Cadaveric rigidity (rigor mortis), 46 _et seq._, 119;
spasm, 48, 78, 80
Cadmium, 281
Calabar bean, 231, 233, 348, 386, 387
Calcium chloride, 260
Callus, provisional, 77
Calomel, 301
Camel, blood corpuscles, 96
Camphor, 349, 352
Canadian partridges and poisoning, 236
Cancer and arsenic, 274
Cancrum oris and mercury, 300
Cannabis Indica, 232
Cantharidis, 229, 231, 234, 322
Caput succedaneum, 180
Carbolic Acid, 229, 231, 234, 254 _et seq._, 348
Carbon bisulphide, 112, 379;
dioxide, 231, 232, 397;
monoxide, 104, 112, 232, 398
Carunculæ myrtiformes, 148
Caspar, 21, 52, 70, 86, 113, 122, 123, 128, 130, 142,
149, 169, 170, 173, 177, 247, 319, 355
Castlehaven, Earl of, and rape, 140
Castor-oil, 321
Catalepsy, and rigor mortis, 48
Cat‘s bile, in blood testing, 98
Caustic salts, 231;
soda, 231, 262;
potash, 262
Cave, Justice, on dying declarations, 16, 17
Cell, Sorby‘s, 105
Central Criminal Court, 10
Cerebral concussion, 72, 356;
compression, 72;
poisons, 231, 377 _et seq._
Certificates of birth, &c., 11 _et seq._;
exemption, 191;
lunacy, 206 _et seq._
Cervix uteri, 153
Cessation of circulation and respiration, 43
Chalk, in poisoning, 244, 247
Chancery Court, 224
Chancre, soft, 143
Chantrelle, on coal gas, 401
Charcoal, in poisoning by CO₂, 121
Charpentier, on abortion, 162
Chastity, offences against, 140 _et seq._
Chemical exam., 98;
poisons, 231, 246
Cherry-laurel, 374
Chest, in infanticide, 168;
new born, 168;
P.-M. exam., 59
Chevers, on suffocation, 122
Cheyne-Stokes breathing, 41, 136
Children, weight and height of, 134
Chlorine, 232, 372, 403
Chloroform, 230, 232, 239, 244, 337, 348, 378, 393
Cholera, simulating poisoning, 241
Chossat‘s experiments, 132
Christison (Sir R.), 12, 112, 116, 118, 238, 240, 258,
275, 278, 305, 343, 344, 386
Chromium, 316
Churchill, on suffocation, 186
Cicatrices of wounds, 21 _et seq._
Cinnabar, 301
Circulation in poisoning, 255, 271, 291, 297, 309, 310
Cisterns, in lead poisoning, 305, 306
Citation of witnesses, 8 _et seq._
Civil rights in lunacy, 224
Climate, in putrefaction, 50
Clothes, cuts in, 71, 80;
in burning, 111;
stains on, 89, 91
Coagulation of blood, 78, 89, 112
Coal gas poisoning, 232, 400;
coal-tar, 254
Cobalt, in hydrocyanic acid, 373
Coca, 229, 230;
cocaine, 357, 358
Cocculus Indicus, 232, 354, 358
Cockburn, Lord, on poisons, 228
Code Napoleon, 185
Coke, Lord, on murder, 69;
on live birth, 167;
on inheritance, 184
Colchicum, 231, 234, 318
Cold, death from, 135, 136;
P.-M. appearances in, 135
Coleridge, Lord, on poisons, 228
Colic, in poisoning, 241, 242, 305, 306, 317
Collapse, in poisoning, 258, 268, 330, 333
Colostrum, in delivery, 156
Colour, in putrefaction, 51, 52
Coma, 39, 40, 135, 137;
in poisoning, 268, 276, 290, 310, 327, 333, 343,
349, 351, 354, 360, 377, 382, 399
Combustion gases, 401;
spontaneous, 113
Comminuted fractures, 74
Commissioners in lunacy, 208, 210, 213, 220, 221, 224
Committee of estate in lunacy, 220, 221, 224
Complications, in injuries, 81
Compression, cerebral, 40, 72
Concealment of birth and pregnancy, 166, 183
Concussion, cerebral, 72, 356
Confectionery and arsenic, 287, 290, 306
Congenital deformities, 23;
disease, 178
Conium, 231, 234, 385, 386;
conine, 385
Conolly, on mania, 200
Constitutional peculiarity, 51
Contre-coup in fracture of skull, 74
Contusions, 60, 61, 74, 84, 115
Convulsions, in poisoning, 268, 276, 293, 310, 327, 332, 343,
349, 351, 354, 360, 377, 382, 399
Cooling of body, 30, 45
Cooper (Sir A.), on gunshot wounds, 87
Copper, sulphate, 243, 280, 290, 300, 331, 332;
subacetate, 310 _et seq._
Cord, marks of, 123, 176;
spinal, injuries of, 74
Cornier, Henrietta, case, 203
Coroners, 2;
Act, 2-4;
Court, 2 _et seq._;
jury, 3
Corpus luteum, in abortion, 164
Corpuscles (_see_ Blood), 97 _et seq._
Corrosive poisons, 110, 112, 231, 234, 244, 246, 275;
sublimate, 229, 232, 341
Cotton fibres, 93
County Council, 2
Court of Criminal Appeal, 5;
Probate, 10;
Session, 10, 224
Cramps, in poisoning, 276, 293, 311, 401
Creosote, 254
Crepitation, in fracture, 71;
in lung, 170, 172
Cretinism, 197
Criminal abortion (_see_ Abortion);
procedure, 2 _et seq._
Cross-examination, 4, 5
Croton oil, 318
Crown Office instructions, 7, 56 _et seq._
Crying, in infanticide, 167
Cryptorchids, 187
Crystals, antimony, 292, 293;
arsenic, 282, 283;
blood, 96;
brucine, 395;
hæmin, 101, 102;
hæmoglobin, 96, 98;
meconic acid, 340;
mercury, 298;
morphine, 339;
seminal, 146;
strychnine, 389, 392;
Teichmann‘s, 101
Culpable homicide, 68
Cunningham, on electricity, 138, 139
Curator bonis, in lunacy, 225
“Cut the Bill”, 5
Cutis anserina, 128, 129, 355
Cyanide of mercury, 301;
potassium, 229 373
Cyanosis, 122, 361, 378, 401
Darling, Justice, on dying declarations, 17
Daturine, 349, 352
Day‘s test (blood), 100
Death, 43 _et seq._;
certificate of, 2;
from bruises, 116;
burns, 111;
suffocation, 108;
wounds, 80;
fœtus, 174;
sudden, 42
Deformities, 21, 24
Deeming case, 203
Degrees of burns, 110
Deliriant poisons, 231, 249 _et seq._
Delirium, 136, 205, 235, 320, 321, 330,
344, 349, 355, 366, 375, 380
Delivery, 64, 65, 155 _et seq._, 175
Delpach, on cicatrices, 23
Delusions in lunacy, 193, 196, 199, 200
Dementia in lunacy, 204, 205
Depositions, 18
De Quincey, on opium, 344
Deutsch, on blood, 105
Development of embryo, 35, 36
Devergie, on scars, 22;
on hair-dyeing, 26;
on putrefaction, 30, 128;
on rape, 144
Diabetes, sudden death, 41;
starvation, 132
Diachylon, in abortion, 161
Diagnosis of insensibility, 39
Diaphragm in new born, 168;
in putrefaction, 54
Diarrhœa, 277, 300, 325, 330, 333, 367, 374, 378
Dichroism of blood, 100
Diday, on chancre, 143
Diethylarzine, 288
Diethyl-barbituric acid, 230
Digitalis, 230, 232, 364 _et seq._;
Digitaline, 365
Dinitrobenzene, 361
Discharge of lunatics, 221
Dissection, P.-M., 58;
instruments, 56
Dobie, on antimony, 293
Docimasia pulmonum hydrostatica, 170;
pulmonaris, 173;
circulationis, 182
Doe, Justice, on insanity, 195
Donné, M., on rape, 144
Donovan‘s solution, 287
Dowzard‘s apparatus, 270, 285
Dragendorff‘s method (alkaloids), 337
Dropsy, 155, 355
Drop-wrist, 307
Drowning, 63, 127 _et seq._, 171, 176
Drunkenness, 72, 114, 135, 226, 235
Duboisine, 349
Ductus arteriosus and venosus, 182
Duncan, Mathews, on pregnancy, 153;
on superfœtation, 186
Dupuytren, M., on cicatrices, 23;
on fractures, 77, 87;
on burns, 111
Durrant, Dr., on veronal, 384
Dussant‘s method, 269
Duties of medical men, 79
Dyed fabrics, 91
Dyeing, of hair, 26;
and arsenic, 274
Dyer, Dr., on suffocation, 122;
mixture, 265
Dyes, in blood-stains, 108
Dying, declarations, 11, 16 _et seq._;
Law cases: Fagent, 17;
Forester, 17;
Holloway, 18;
Mitchell, 17;
Smith, 17;
Whitmarsh, 17;
modes of, 38 _et seq._
Dysentery, in poisoning, 235
Dysmenorrhœa, 188
Dyspnœa, 327, 375, 382, 403
Earth, poisoning, 279;
putrefaction, 55
Ecchymosis, 44, 63, 71, 115, 119, 122, 125, 137, 171, 176
Ectopion, vesicæ, 188
Elaterium, 231, 322
Eldon, Lord, on insanity, 192
Electricity, 110, 136 _et seq._
Elimination of poisons, 295, 327, 355
Elsässer, on inflation, 172, 176
Elwell, on wounds, 70
Embryo, 35, 36
Emetic tartar, 229, 243
Emetics, in poisoning, 243, 257, 270, 286,
289-300, 345, 365, 367
Emmenagogues, 163
Emphysema neonatorum, 171, 172
Enamel, as poison, 266
Enteritis, 241, 293
Enzemes, in poisoning, 329
Epilepsy, 41, 242, 327, 394
Epiphyses, 33;
table of, 34, 37
Epispadias, 188
Ergot, 229, 232, 319, 328
Erichson, on fracture, 77
Erlenmeyer‘s flask, 283
Erotomania, 203
Eruption of teeth, 33
Erysipelas, 70
Erythema, frost, 135
Eserine, 387
Esquirol, M., on insanity, 196, 197, 201, 203, 204
Ether, 232, 377, 402
Eversion of wounds, 86
Evidence, in Court, 4 _et seq._;
of poisoning, 235 _et seq._
Examination, in abortion, 162, 163;
Court, 4 _et seq._;
insanity, 225;
malingering, 190;
rape, 143, 148;
blood-stains, 89 _et seq._;
P.-M., 56 _et seq._;
stomach contents, 244
Excitomotory poisons, 388 _et seq._
Exemption certificates, 191
Exhumation, 3, 4, 56, 66;
period of, 66
Expenses, Court, 8
Exposure, in infanticide, 178
Extraction of alkaloids, 325, 335 _et seq._
Eyes, in drowning, 128;
hanging, 122;
identity, 25;
poisoning, 276, 291, 325, 343, 346, 348, 377, 385, 390;
starvation, 132
Face, in drowning, 127;
P.-M. exam., 63;
suffocation, 119;
in poisoning, 276;
wounds of, 74
Facts, in lunacy certificates, 209, 210
Falls, in fœticide, 177
Farnum, Dr., on rape, 146
Fat, in poisoning, 238
Fauvre, M., on asphyxia, 130
Feeble-mindedness, 198, 225
Fees, medical, 8-10
Feet, in drowning, 129
Feigned diseases, 190
Ferric chloride test (Hcy. acid), 371
Ferrier, Dr., on carbolic acid, 256
Ferrocyanide of potassium, 312, 313
Finger prints, 24, 25;
marks, 125;
nails, 124
Finny, Dr., on opium, 345
Firearm wounds, 78
Fishes, blood corpuscles, 96, 99, 100
Flaccidity, 49
Flannagan case, 278, 279
Flattening of muscles, in death, 45
Flaudin, M., on arsenic, 274
Flax fibres, 91
Fleitmann‘s test (arsenic), 286
Florence‘s reaction (semen), 146
Fluorescin test (death), 44
Fœticide, 159 _et seq._;
fœtal heart, 15, 154
Fœtus, 161, 166, 174, 185;
size of, 37
Fontanelles, 33
Food poisoning, 62, 290, 306, 328 _et seq._
Fool‘s parsley, 321
Foot-prints, 25, 26, 79
Foramen ovale, 182
Foreign bodies in trachea, 42, 61, 175
Forms of subpœna, 8, 9
Fowler‘s solution of arsenic, 286
Fractures, 74, 76, 77, 120, 129, 176
France, and CO₂ suicide, 121
Fraser, on cacodylates, 290
Friction, in burning, 110
Friedenthal, on blood tests, 105
Frohde‘s reagent (morphine), 341
Fruit-stains, 108
Fungi poisoning, 359
Fusel-oil, 362
Galabin, on superfœtation, 187
Gallard, on abortion, 162
Galvanic test (strych.), 392
Gamboge, 231, 320
Gamgee, on blood tests, 98
Gangrene in poisoning, 301, 320
Ganttner‘s test (blood), 92
Gases, irrespirable, 232, 397
Gastric inflammation, 241, 268, 277, 352, 374, 401;
ulcers, 274
Gay-Lussac, on hydrocyanic acid, 368
General paralysis, 204
Genital organs, 76, 130, 156
Geoghehan, on poisons, 238
Georget, M., on insanity, 195, 201
Gerrard‘s test (belladonna), 350
Gestation, 76
Glaister, Prof., on blood-stains, 96, 97, 100
Glass as vulnerant poison, 231, 265
Gloucester, Countess of, 186
Goadly, on lead poisoning, 309
Goeldner‘s test (cocaine), 357
Gonorrhœa, in rape, 142
Goulard‘s extract, 305
Grand Jury, 5
Gross, Prof., on lung inflation, 172
Grünbaum, on blood tests, 105, 107
Guaiacum test (blood), 100
Gull (Sir W.), on combustibility, 114
Gullet, 59, 247, 263, 278, 294, 301, 330
Gums, in lead poisoning, 307;
copper, 311
Gunshot wounds, 80, 85
Guttman, on caustic soda, 263
Gutzeit‘s test, 270, 285
Guy, on poisons, 231
Habit, in poisoning, 235
Habitual drunkards, 226
Hæmatin, 90, 103, 104, 360
Hæmatoporphyrin, 382
Hæmin, crystals, 101, 102, 256;
test, 92
Hæmoglobin, 91, 96, 98, 102, 103, 135, 315, 399, 403
Hæmorrhage, 38, 42, 73, 75, 80-84, 139, 143, 178, 268,
307, 320, 327, 330-332, 343, 353, 402
Hair, dyeing of, 26
Hale, on rape, 140
Hallucinations, 199, 200
Hamilton, on carbolic acid, 255
Hands, in drowning, 129
Hanging, 63, 117, 121 _et seq._;
accidental, 123;
homicidal, 123;
judicial, 126;
suicidal, 123, 124
Haslam, on evidence, 20
Hawkins, on secrecy, 20;
poisons, 228
Head, in new born, 180;
injuries of, 40, 72 _et seq._;
P.-M. exam. of, 58
Heart, disease, 42, 81;
drowning, 129, 130;
electricity, 139;
fœtal, 151, 154;
infanticide, 167;
poisoning, 231, 232, 256, 258, 263, 291, 325, 327, 355,
364, 366, 368, 377, 380, 382, 386, 397, 402;
P.-M. Exam., 60;
putrefaction, 54
Heat, death by, 136;
exhaustion, 136, 137;
prostration, 137;
stroke, 136
Hegar‘s sign, in pregnancy, 153
Hellebore, 320
Hemiplegia, 73
Hemlock, 385
Hernia, 75, 242
Hewett, on head injury, 73
Higgins‘ case, 278
High Court of Justiciary, 6
Hildebrandt, on leucomaines, 327
Hippocrates, on pregnancy, 152
Hoppé, Seyler, on carbolic acid, 256
Hume, on rape, 140
Husband, 73, 157, 175, 227
Husman, on antimony, 293
Hutchinson, on suffocation, 122
Hutin, on tattoo marks, 23
Hydrochloric acid, 252 _et seq._
Hydrocyanic acid, 229, 231, 232, 239, 261, 367 _et seq._;
Hydrogen peroxide, 90, 92, 101, 372;
sulphide, 233
Hymen, 28, 142, 143, 148, 155, 188
Hyoscyamus, 231, 348, 351;
hyoscyamine, 349; hyoscine, 349
Hysteria and tetanus, 394
Icard‘s (fluorescin) test, 44
Identity of the dead, 28, 66;
of the living, 21 _et seq._;
Law case: Parkman, 28
Idiocy and imbecility, 141, 142, 195, 197, 224
Immaturity, in fœtus, 175
Impotence, 187, 188
Incised wounds, 83
India, and drowning, 128
Indictable Offences Act, 18
Indigo, in arsenic, 275, 315;
sulphate, 254
Infanticide, 64, 133, 165 _et seq._;
Infanticide, Law cases in: Colmer, 165;
Enoch, 166;
Hewitt, 165;
Poulton, 166;
Reeves, 166;
Senior, 167;
Turner, 166;
Inflammation, 72, 110, 164;
in poisoning, 234, 237, 278, 300, 360
Inflation of lung, 121, 172;
and P.-M. staining, 45
Inheritance, 184, 185
Inorganic poisons, 231
Insanity, 129 _et seq._;
circular, 204;
classification, 197;
continuous, 196;
definition of, 192, 193;
delirium in, 205;
delusions in, 193, 196, 199, 200;
hallucinations, 200;
drunkenness in, 205;
moral, 194;
procedure in, 206-222
Insanity, Law cases in: Arnold, 193, 194;
Beverley, 193;
Ferrers, 194;
Hill, 224;
Nottidge _v._ Ripley, 222;
Offord, 194;
Shaw, 195;
Treadway, 195;
Wilkins, 223
Inspection, medical, 7, 56
Instantaneous rigor, 48
Instructions (P.-M.) of Crown Office, 7, 56 _et seq._;
Intestines, 54, 61, 176, 181, 232, 259, 275, 279, 291, 294, 297,
300, 306, 311, 325, 327, 330, 333, 360, 369, 375
Intoxication, 72, 114, 135, 226, 235
Intussusception, 241
Iodide of potassium, 272 _et seq._, 393
Iodine, 231, 271, 335, 371;
test for hydrocyanic acid, 371
Ipecacuanha, 243
Iron in arsenic poisoning, 289, 313;
in testing hydrocyanic acid, 371;
in morphine, 341;
muriate, 313;
sulphate, 313;
stains, 96, 108
Irrespirable gases, 121, 397
Irritant poisons, 231, 234, 240, 267, 317
Jacquemier‘s test (pregnancy), 154
Jalap, 321
Jaundice, 268, 311, 315, 319, 355, 378, 401
Jörg, M., on infanticide, 169
Judicial authority, 207, 215, 220;
factor, 224
Jury, coroner‘s, 3
Justiciary Court, 6
Justifiable homicide, 69
Keiller, on suffocation, 120
Kellen, on trichiniasis, 333
Kidney, in new born, 169;
poisoning, 233, 238, 256, 269, 278, 291, 297, 300,
319, 322, 327, 355, 378, 382, 383;
P.-M. exam., 62;
putrefaction, 54;
rupture of, 45, 75, 116;
in suffocation, 119
Kiesteine, on pregnancy, 154
Kingston, Duchess of, case, 20
Kleptomania, 202
Kopf, on phosphorus, 267
Körber, on fractures, 74
Kratter, on electricity, 139
Kundrat‘s test (aconite), 376
Labour and fœtal death, 176
Laburnum, 321
Lacerated wounds, 84
Lamson case, 239, 375
Landolt, on carbolic acid, 256
Larcher, on signs of death, 44
Larynx, in hanging, 120, 122;
poisoning, 262;
P.-M. exam., 59, 63;
strangling, 124;
throttling, 125
Law cases in--_abortion_ (crim.), Goodhall, 159:
_assault_, Case, 68;
Rosinski, 68:
_dying declarations_, Fagent, 17;
Forester, 17;
Holloway, 18;
Mitchell, 17;
Smith, 17;
Whitmarsh, 17:
_identity_, Parkman, 28:
_infanticide_, Colmer, 165;
Enoch, 166;
Hewitt, 165;
Poulton, 166;
Reeves, 166;
Senior, 167;
Turner, 166:
_insanity_, Arnold, 193;
Beverley, 193;
Ferrers, 194;
Hill, 224;
MacNaughton, 193;
Nottidge _v._ Ripley, 122;
Offord, 194;
Shaw, 195;
Treadaway, 195;
Wilkins, 223:
_malpraxis_, Butchell, 190;
Williamson, 190:
_medical evidence_, Patmore, 19:
_murder_, Cornier, 203;
Deeming, 203:
_poisoning_, Blandy, 240;
Cramp, 228;
Flannigan, 278;
Garner, 240;
Geering, 240;
Helson, 240;
Higgins, 278;
Lamson, 239;
M‘Cracken, 278;
Marsh, 294;
Maybrick, 277;
Newton, 278;
Palmer, 238, 390, 392;
Port, 274;
Pritchard, 19;
Spink, 294;
Wooler, 240:
_pregnancy_, Gloucester, 186;
_professional secrecy_, Kingston, 20;
_rape_, Barrett, 141;
Castlehaven, 140;
Cockcroft, 140;
Fletcher, 141;
Groombridge, 142;
Hattery, 141;
Hodgson, 140;
Holmes, 140;
Mayers, 141;
Pressy, 141;
Russen, 140;
_somnambulism_, Milligan, 206;
_survivorship_, Underwood _v._ Wing, 189;
_will case_, Tichborne, 23;
_wounds_, Briggs, 69;
M‘Laughlin, 69;
Warman, 69
Lead, 260, 304, 305 _et seq._
Leather, and blood stains, 93
Leblond, M., on abortion, 162
Legal criminal procedure, 2 _et seq._
Legitimacy, 185
Leishman‘s stain, 95, 146
Lemons, oil of, 260
Letheby, on poisons, 229
Leucomaines, 323, 326, 327
Levinstein, on chloral, 380
Levy, M., on copper, 311
Liability of medical men, 12, 20, 148, 222
Liebig‘s test (hydrocyanic acid), 371
Liebreich, on neurine, 324
Ligature, in infanticide, 65
Lightning, death by, 110, 137, 138
Lime, in putrefaction, 55
Lineæ albicantes, 31
Linen, in rape, 144
Littlejohn, on use of books, 19
Live birth, in infanticide, 166 _et seq._
Liver, in poisoning, 238, 256, 268-271, 278, 280, 291, 297,
310, 319, 327, 355, 365, 378, 383;
P.-M. exam, of, 62;
putrefaction, 54;
rupture of, 116
Livingstone, Dr. David, 28, 66
Lochia, in pregnancy, 156
Locomotor ataxia, 76
Lolium temulentum, 359
Lord-Advocate, 6
Lucid intervals, in insanity, 196
Luff, on poisoning, 229, 231
Lunacy, 291 _et seq._;
Acts, 206, 207, 223;
certificates, 206 _et seq._
Lungs in drowning, 130;
new born, 169, 174;
poisoning, 23, 233, 238, 256, 327, 345, 355, 365, 377, 378;
P.-M. exam, of, 63, 65;
putrefaction, 54
Lush, on rape, 141
Lustre of eye, in death, 43
MacCormac, on gunshot wounds, 87
Macdonald, criminal law, 18, 194
Mackenzie, Dr. C., on saponification, 53
Maclagan, Prof., on poisons, 231
MacNaughton case, 193
M‘Weeney, on blood tests, 107
Magnesium method (lead), 309
Magnus test (death), 43
Malignant disease, 132
Malpraxis, 82, 189;
law cases of, R. _v._ Van Butchell, 190;
R. _v._ Williamson, 190
Malum regimen, 82
Mammæ, in pregnancy, 152
Mammalian blood, 96, 105
Mania, 200 _et seq._, 235;
in poisoning, 379, 380, 402
Mann, Dixon, on combustibility, 114;
on lead poisoning, 308, 309;
on meat poisoning, 330
Mansfield, on prof. secrecy, 20
Manslaughter, 69
Marks of the cord, 123, 176
Marsh‘s test, 269, 280-84, 289, 296
Martin, on poisoning, 240
Matrons, jury of, 151
Maturity, of infant, 66, 174
Maudsley, on insanity, 193, 194, 195
Mauser bullet, 87
Maybrick case, 277
Mayer‘s reagent (alkaloids), 335
Measurement of fœtus, 36
Meat poisoning, 328
Meconic acid, 339-43
Meconium, 64, 179
Medical certificates, 11, 208 _et seq._;
evidence, 11 _et seq._;
liabilities, 12, 20, 148, 222;
report, 12
Medicines, in abortion, 171
Melancholia, 203, 204, 380
Meningitis, 110
Menopause, 189
Menorrhagia, 188
Menstruation, 152, 161, 189;
blood in, 96
Mental unsoundness, 192 _et seq._
Mercury, 230, 231, 235, 298 _et seq._;
salts of, 302 _et seq._
Mesentery, in putrefaction, 54
Metal, stains on, 92
Metallic poisons, 231, 245, 331
Metalloid poisons, 231, 267
Metchnikoff, on blood stains, 105, 106
Methæmoglobin, 102, 103
Metzer‘s test (cocaine), 358
Meyer, on pregnancy, 150, 154
Micro-organisms, 50
Microscope, 90, 94, 95, 145
Milk, human, 106, 177;
poisoning, 233, 333
Millar, Dr., on lunacy, 208, 209
Milne, Dr., on pregnancy, 187
Mineral acids, 246;
poisons, 231
Minute of P.-M. exam., 14
Miscarriage, 160
Mitscherlich‘s process (phosph.), 269
Modes of dying, 38 _et seq._
Modifying causes of poisoning, 234
Moisture, in putrefaction, 50
Molecular death, 43
Moles, in abortion, 162
Moncrieff, on insanity, 195
Monomania, 194, 201, 203
Monorchids, 187
Monsters, 184
Moral depravity, 194;
evidence, 239, 240;
mania, 194, 198, 201, 202
Morgan, Dr., on pulse tracings, 126
Morning sickness, in pregnancy, 152
Morphine, 244, 337, 339, 341-43
Mortal wounds, 70
Mosso, on leucomaines, 327
Mouth, in poisoning, 247, 259, 263, 278, 291, 293, 297,
299, 307, 311, 322, 330, 369, 375;
starvation, 132;
suffocation, 119
Mucous membrane, in poisoning, 233
Mummification, 53;
of cord, 182
Murder, 68, 69;
law cases: Cornier, 203;
Deeming, 203
Murrell, on cacodylates, 290
Muscles, in poisoning, 238, 310, 327, 390, 399
Muscular spasm, 47
Mushrooms, table of, 359
Mydaleine, 325
Mydriatic alkaloids, 349
Mytilotoxine, 332
Nævi materni, 21, 28
Naphtha, 402
Napoleon Code, 185
Narcotic poisons, 40, 72, 231, 242, 276, 343 _et seq._;
Nausea, in poisoning, 277, 293, 299, 330-33, 349,
360, 364, 374, 399
Navel, in infanticide, 64
Necrosis of jaw, 268
Needles, as vulnerant, 231, 265
Neglect of duty, 189
Neill, on gunshot wounds, 86
Nelaton, on chloroform, 378
Nervous system, in poisoning, 255, 263, 271, 276, 277, 286, 288,
297, 307, 310, 326, 349, 351, 376,
377-386, 399, 402
Nessler‘s reagent (ammonia), 264
Neural poisons, 231, 385 _et seq._
Neurine, 324
Neuritis, optic, 307;
peripheral, 277, 402
Nicotine, 365
Nipples, in pregnancy, 156
Nitric acid, 250 _et seq._
Nitrobenzene, 360, 361
Nitrogen monoxide, 402
Nitro-glycerine, 363
Normal saline solution, 90, 94, 106
Nose, in arsenic, 391
Notes, use of, 19
Notification of births, &c., 12
Nottidge _v._ Ripley (lunacy), 222
“Noxious thing”, 228
Numbness, in poisoning, 375, 401
Nunneley, on hydrocyanic acid, 370
Nuttall, on blood tests, 105
Nux vomica, 229, 388
Nymphomania, 203
Occupation marks, 29, 30
Œnanthe crocata, 352
Ogston, Prof., 72, 101, 114, 128, 130, 135
Oil of bitter almonds, 62, 373, 374;
lemons, 260
Omentum, in putrefaction, 54
Omission, in infanticide, 178
“On soul and conscience”, 7, 11
Opinion, reasoned, 13, 14;
written, 12
Opisthotonus in poisoning, 369, 390, 394
Opium, 41, 62, 229, 231, 235, 343 _et seq._, 356
Oral evidence, 18
Order, coroner‘s, 4;
lunacy, 207, 210-13, 215-20
Orfila, on vesication, 112;
on mercury, 301;
opium, 344
Organic poisons, 231
Organs, order of putrefaction, 52 _et seq._
Orpiment, 288
Ossification, 34, 64, 65, 174, 177
Otto‘s method (alkaloids), 337, 338
Oxalic acid, 229, 257 _et seq._
Oxygen, in poisoning, 398, 400, 402
Oxyhæmoglobin, 103
Pacini‘s solution (blood stains), 90
Paint stains, 108
Painter‘s colic, 305
Palmer case, 238, 390, 392
Pancreas, in putrefaction, 54
Paralysis, 72, 137, 138, 202, 204, 276, 306, 310,
330-33, 344, 351, 355, 378, 380, 382, 387
Parkman case, 28
Parol evidence, 18
Paterson, on ammonia, 264;
arsenic, 278
Patmore case, 19
Pauper lunatics, 220-22
Pavy, on mercury, 301
Penalties, 36, 11
Pencillium brevicaule, 288
Penetration, in rape, 140
Penis, absence of, 187;
erection of, 122, 128;
P.-M. exam. of, 63;
retraction of, 128, 130
Penny, on arsenic, 275
Perforation, in poisoning, 237, 242, 259, 278, 300, 333
Peritonitis, 110, 242
Peroxide of hydrogen, 92, 93, 101
Petition, in lunacy, 207, 210-13
Petty jury, 5
Peyer‘s patches, 327, 330, 331
Pharmacy Act, 228
Phenacetin, 363
Phenazonum, 363
Phenol, phenic acid, 254
Phlyctænæ, in putrefaction, 113
Phosphomobylic acid, 335
Phosphoretted hydrogen, 403
Phosphorus, 231, 239, 243, 267 _et seq._;
Phosphotungstic acid, 335
Physiological test (strych.), 392
Physostigmine, 244
Picrotoxin, 229, 234, 358
Pinel, on mania, 201
Placenta, in infanticide, 178;
souffle, 151, 154
Plaster, stains on, 92
Plouquet‘s test (lung), 174
Pneumonia, in poisoning, 299
Poisoning--law cases: Blandy, 240;
Cramp, 228;
Flannigan, 278;
Garner, 240;
Geering, 240;
Helson, 240;
Higgins, 278;
Lamson, 239;
M‘Cracken, 278;
Marsh, 294;
Maybrick, 277;
Newton, 278;
Palmer, 238, 390, 392;
Port, 274;
Pritchard, 19;
Spink, 294;
Smith, 275;
Wooler, 240
Poisons and poisoning, 51, 61, 62, 176, 227 _et seq._;
Acts, 228, 229;
action, 232, 234;
administration, 228;
chemical analysis, 237;
classification, 230 _et seq._;
definition, 227;
diagnosis, 235;
evidence, 235 _et seq._;
experiments, 239;
modifying causes, 234;
P.-M. appearance, 236;
sale of, 228;
schedules, 229, 230;
symptoms, 235
Polypus, in abortion, 163
Poppies, 230
Possessio fratris and patris, 184
Post-mortem examination, 3, 4, 7, 10, 45, 56 _et seq._;
Potash, caustic, 262, 263
Potassium salts, 314, 315, 325, 393
Precipitate, red and white, 230
Precipitins, in blood tests, 105
Precognitions, 6
Pregnancy, 67, 76, 150 _et seq._;
Diagnosis of, 155;
duration of, 185;
in poisoning, 229 _et seq._;
in rape, 147;
signs of, 151-54
Premature birth, 186
Preyer, on blood crystals, 96
Primary flaccidity, 45, 49
Pritchard case, 19
Pritchard, on insanity, 195, 201, 203, 205
Private patient, in lunacy, 210-13, 215-17, 220
Procurator-fiscal, 6
Professional privilege and secrecy, 20, 21
Prosecution, 4
Prosecutor, public, 4, 6
Prussian blue test (hydrocyanic), 371
Prussic acid, 62, 122, 239. (_See_ Hydrocyanic Acid.)
Ptomaines, 231, 232, 323-26, 365, 385
Ptomatropine, 332
Puberty, 188
Pugilistic attitude, in burning, 111
Pulse tracings (in hanging), 126
Punctured wounds, 74
Pupils, in brain injury, 72;
poisoning, 233, 234, 330, 343, 348-52, 364-68,
377, 378, 380, 384, 386, 399, 402
Purging, in poisoning, 242, 258, 263, 268, 276, 311, 313, 320,
330-33, 344, 355, 360, 364, 366, 367
Pus, 71, 93, 106, 113, 143
Putrefaction, 49 _et seq._;
in drowning, 128, 131;
infanticide, 167, 171, 172;
in poisoning, 269, 278, 294, 323, 330-33
Pyrites and arsenic, 290
Quarter Sessions, 5
Quickening, 151, 153, 186
Rabbit, in blood tests, 105, 106
Rachford, on leucomaines, 327
Rape, 140 _et seq._;
age at, 142;
definition of, 140;
in England and Ireland, 141;
examination for, 142;
in Scotland, 141;
signs of, 143, 148
Rape, law cases in: Barrett, 141;
Cockcroft, 140;
Fletcher, 141;
Groombridge, 142;
Hattery, 141;
Hodgson, 140;
Holmes, 140;
Mayers, 141;
Pressy, 141;
Russen, 140
Ray, on insanity, 195, 197, 202, 203
Realgar (red arsenic), 289
Reception order. (_See_ Order.)
Register of death, 2
Regulations of Crown Office, 7, 56
Reinche‘s test, 280, 283, 284, 296, 303, 304
Relaxation (flaccidity), 45, 49
Reptile blood, 96
Respiration, in infanticide, 167 _et seq._;
poisoning, 246
Rete mucosum, 23
Reynolds, on combustibility, 114
Richter, Max, on rape, 146
Rigidity, heat, 111
Rigor mortis, 46 _et seq._, 136-38, 390
Ritter, on arsenic, 290
Rodger and Girdwood‘s method, 338
Roman law, on legitimacy, 186
Roussin‘s solution (blood stains), 91
Roux, M., on gunshot wounds, 86
Rupture of organs, 242
Salicylic acid, 353
Saliva and salivation, 93;
in poisoning, 233, 235, 272, 276, 298, 299,
301, 304, 317, 322, 364;
in pregnancy, 152
Santa, Dr., on arsenic, 277
Saponification, 52, 53
Savin, 229, 231, 317
Scalds, 110 _et seq._
Scammony, 321
Scars, in identity, 21
Scheele‘s acid, 368;
green, 287, 288
Scherbler‘s reagent (alkaloids), 335
Scherer‘s test (phos.), 270
Schönbern‘s test (blood), 100
Schweinfurt‘s green, 287
Scopolamine, 349
Scorching, of wounds, 78, 87, 111
Scourging, marks of, 116
Scurvy, and contusions, 115
Secondary flaccidity, 49
Sedative poisons, 232, 364 _et seq._
Semen, 106, 122, 140 _et seq._
Sepsis and septic poisons, 74, 79, 80, 112, 164, 232, 323, 334
Sex, 31, 51
Sheep wash (arsenic), 275, 287
Shell-fish, poisoning, 332, 380
Shock, 38, 75, 81, 112, 139, 234, 366, 375
Sickness, morning, in pregnancy, 152
Signs of death, 43 _et seq._, 118, 127;
delivery, 155, 156;
pregnancy, 151 _et seq_.;
rape, 143, 148, 149
Silk fibres, 92
Silver nitrate, 260, 265, 280, 283, 288, 370;
test (hydrocyanic acid), 371
Skeleton, in identity, 31, 32
Skin, in burning, 111, 112, 115;
drowning, 129;
hanging, 123;
infanticide, 167, 179;
poisoning, 232, 233, 255, 274-77, 286, 288, 291, 293,
297, 306, 310, 330-32, 344, 349, 355, 368,
369, 374, 375-380, 382, 384, 399, 402;
putrefaction, 55;
strangling, 124;
throttling, 125
Skull, fracture of, 32, 176
Sleep, in insanity, 206;
poisoning, 235, 348;
rape, 147
Snake venom, 232-34
Sneezing, in poisoning, 320, 367
Snuff, in poisoning, 366
Smith, Madeline, case, 275
Smokeless powder, 87
Smothering, 63
Soda, caustic, 262, 263
Sodium theosulphate, 373
Solanine, 352
Solicitors, 5
Somatic death, 42
Somnambulism, 206
Somniferous poisons, 231, 343
Somnolentia, or sleep-drunkenness, 206;
law case: R. _v._ Milligan, 206
Sonnenschein‘s reagent, 335
Soot and arsenic, 275
Sorby, on blood stains, 93;
cell, 105
Souffle, placental, 151, 154;
uterine, 43, 151, 154
Spasms, in poisoning, 293, 320, 325, 344, 366
Spectra and spectroscope, 102, 103, 112, 136;
in poisoning, 234, 320, 360, 362, 382, 399
Spinal cord, 59, 74, 231
Spink case, 294
Spleen, 54, 62, 238, 278, 305, 330, 378
Spontaneous combustion, 113
Spermatozoa, 95, 144-47, 187
Squill, 231
Stains, acid, 249, 251-54;
blood, 79, 89 _et seq._, 145;
metallic, 108, 282;
seminal, 145, 146;
vegetable, &c., 108
Starch granules, 125, 179
Starvation, 132 _et seq._, 178, 243
Stas‘s process, 319, 335, 337, 350, 365, 376
Stature, in identity, 31
Steam, scalding by, 110
Stephen, Lord, on insanity, 223
Sterility, in female, 188; male, 187
Stertorous breathing, 368, 377, 397
Stevenson, on poisoning, 294, 332, 338
Stokes (Sir W.), on wounds, 87;
fluid, 103, 104
Stomach, in drowning, 127, 131;
infanticide, 168;
poisoning, 232, 233, 237, 242, 246, 256-59, 263, 268, 275,
278-80, 288, 291-95, 299-301, 350, 355, 366,
369, 375-78;
pump, 243, 244, 257, 269, 272, 286, 300, 307, 310,
322, 330-35, 345, 366, 386, 393, 402;
putrefaction, 54;
starvation, 135
Stramonium, 349, 351
Strangling, 63, 124 _et seq._, 176
Strangury, 322
Strophanthus, 230
Strychnine, 229, 231, 238, 244, 337, 342, 348, 380, 388 _et seq._, 402
Stupor, in melancholia, 204;
in poisoning, 319, 349, 354, 356, 364, 366, 402
Styrian arsenic eaters, 287
Subpœna, 8
Sudden death, causes of, 42 _et seq._
Suffocation, 63, 118 _et seq._;
infanticide, 176;
poisoning, 243, 246, 330, 368, 390, 402
Suggillation (_see_ Hypostasis), 45
Suicidal monomania, 203
Sulphonal, 230, 282
Sulphur, test in hcy. acid, 37;
dioxide, 402
Sulphuretted hydrogen, 273, 280, 285, 295, 308, 312, 400
Sulphuric acid, 231, 247 _et seq._, 261
Summons, Court. (_See_ Citation.)
Sunstroke, 136, 137
Superfœtation, 186
Surgical operations, 81
Survivorship, 133, 189
Symptoms, general, in poisoning, 235
Syncope, 38, 72, 118, 121, 127;
in poisoning, 364, 366, 375
Tables--_acids_, colour of stains from, 254;
symptoms of poisoning by, 261;
_aconite_ v. horse-radish, 375:
_alcohol_, brain concussion and opium,
distinctions between, 356:
_alkaloids_, characters of, 342:
_antimony_ and arsenic, reactions of, 296;
symptoms of, 297:
_arsenic_, in liver, 238;
precipitates (and of cadmium and tin), 281;
symptoms of, 291:
_bruises_, date of, 116:
_caustic potash, and soda_, distinctions between, 263:
_children_, height and weight of, 134;
maturity of, 174:
_corrosive and irritant poisons_, distinctions between, 234:
_dead body_, examination of, 71:
_diseases_, simulating irritant poisoning, 240-42;
narcotic, 243:
_embryo_, development of, 35, 36:
_epiphyses_, union of, 34:
_fœtus_, death of, 181;
measurements of, 37:
_insanity_, classification of, 197:
_lead_, symptoms of, 310:
_leucomaines_, 326:
_lunacy certificates_, 208-19:
_meconic acid_ (and morphine), reactions of, 341:
_mercuric_ and _mercurous salts_, reactions of, 302:
_mushrooms_, 359:
_new born_, age of, 180, 181;
respiration in, 170:
_ossification_, centres of, 34:
_osseous nucleus_, dimensions of, 37:
_poisoning_, evidences of, 241:
_poisons_, actions of, 234;
causes modifying, 234;
classification of, 231;
diffusion of, 233, 234;
schedules of, 229, 230:
_pregnancy_, signs of, 151:
_ptomaines_, 323, 324:
_putrefaction_, order of, 53, 54;
time and indications of, 55, 128:
_rape_, age in, 142;
examination in, 142;
signs of, 148:
_rigor mortis_, time and causes of, 49:
_suffocation_, death from, 121:
_teeth_, eruption of, 33:
_tetanus_, diagnosis of, 393:
_uterus_, size of, 157;
weight of, 157:
_wounds_, types of, 84, 85:
Tamassia, on veins, 25
Tannic acid and tannin, 93, 365, 393
Tar, oil of, 254
Tarchette, on blood stains, 105, 107
Tardieu, on digitalis, 364;
hanging, 122;
tattoo marks, 23
Tattoo marks, 21, 23
Taylor, 52, 69, 70, 113, 164, 165, 194, 227, 231,
233, 238, 339, 368, 382, 397
Taylor, Bessie, case, 294
Teeth, 25, 33, 246, 259, 268, 299
Telangiectasis, 115
Temperature, body, 30, 45, 50, 132
Tests: acetanilide, 363;
acetic acid, 262;
aconite, 376;
alcohol, 356;
alkaloids, 335 _et seq._;
ammonia, 264;
aniline, 362;
antimony, 295 _et seq._;
arsenic, 280 _et seq._;
barium, 315;
belladonna, 350;
blood, 90 _et seq._;
biological (blood), 105,
(semen), 146;
brucine, 393, 396;
carbolic acid, 256;
carbon disulphide, 380;
caustic alkalies, 363;
chloral, 381;
chloroform, 379;
chromium, 316;
cocaine, 357;
cocculus indicus, 358;
conine, 386;
copper, 312;
death, 43 _et seq._;
digitaline, 365;
eserine, 387;
ether, 378;
hydrochloric acid, 252;
hydrocyanic acid, 370;
iodine, 272;
iron, 314;
lead, 308 _et seq._;
lobelia, 367;
lung, 170 _et seq._;
meconic acid, 335, 341;
mercury, 302 _et seq._;
morphine, 335, 341;
nicotine, 366;
nitric acid, 250;
nitrobenzene, 360;
oxalic acid, 259;
phenacetin and phenazonum, 363;
phosphorus, 269;
potassium salts, 272, 314, 373;
semen, 145;
strychnine, 392;
sulphonal, 383;
sulphuric acid, 248;
veratrine, 367;
veronal, 384;
zinc, 265, 313
Testamentary capacity, 225
Testicles, in drowning, 112;
infanticide, 64
Teichmann‘s blood crystals, 101
Tetanus, 64, 70, 235, 390, 394
Tetronal, 383
Thorpe‘s apparatus, 282
Throat, 59, 132;
and poisoning, 232, 246, 259, 276, 293,
294, 306, 330, 332, 379
Throttling, 117, 125
Tichborne case, 23
Time of death, 30
Tidy, on infanticide, 170;
starvation, 123
Tin, chloride of, 265, 281;
tinned food, 331, 332
Tindall, on malpraxis, 190
Tobacco, 234, 365
Tongue, in drowning, 129;
poisoning, 259, 276, 299;
starvation, 123;
suffocation, 119
Toxalbumoses, 329
Toxicohæmic poisons, 232, 334
Toxicology, 227 _et seq._
Toxins, 232, 329
Trachea, in drowning, 130;
poisoning, 247, 402;
putrefaction, 54;
suffocation, 118;
tracheotomy, 244
Traill, on bismuth, 314;
croton oil, 318
Treatment (general) in poisoning, 243, 247
Trichiniasis, 328, 333
Trichomonas vaginæ, 144
Uhlenhuth, on blood tests, 105
Ulceration of bowel, 294
Umbilical cord, 174, 177, 180, 182
Underwood _v._ Wing (survivorship), 189
United States, and murder, 69
Unsound mind, 192 _et seq._ (_See_ Insanity.)
Uræmia, 40
Urethane, in strychnine, 393
Urine, in poisoning, 238, 239, 246, 256, 258, 276, 291, 293,
297, 305, 309, 311, 349, 370, 382, 401;
stains, 96, 106
Uterine souffle, 151, 154
Uterus, contraction of, 154;
double, 186;
in abortion, 76, 162, 164;
in burning, 112;
delivery, 156;
impotence and sterility, 188;
poisoning, 242, 319, 322, 377;
pregnancy, 76, 153;
injury to, 76;
P.-M. exam., 62, 65;
putrefaction, 54;
superfœtation, 186;
table of size, 157;
of weight, 157
Vagina, 142, 143, 156, 188
Vaginismus, 188
Vagitis uterinus, 170;
vaginalis, 170
Van Gieson, on heat-stroke, 137
Vapour, arsenical, 286, 301;
tests in hydrocyanic acid, 370, 371
Vaughan on, food poisons, 328, 333
Vegetable alkaloids, 335 _et seq._;
poisons, 231, 239, 317;
stains, 108
Venesection, in electricity, 139
Verdicts, 6 _et seq._
Vermilion, 301
Vermin-killers and arsenic, 275
Vernix caseosa, 64, 179
Veronal, 383
Vesicules, in burns, 110, 111, 113
Violence, in infanticide, 161, 178
Violet powder and arsenic, 275
Virchow and Zenker, on trichiniasis, 333
Virginity, signs of, 144, 149
Vital poisons, 231, 267;
reaction, 45, 61, 79, 112
Vitalli‘s test (belladonna), 350
Volatile poisons, 244
Vomiting, 241-244, 258, 263, 275, 276, 277, 280, 292, 293,
295, 297, 299, 300, 306-11, 313, 320, 330-33, 360,
361, 364-68, 374, 378, 399
Vulnerant poisons, 231, 266
Wagner‘s method, 337;
reagent, 335
Wall-papers and arsenic, 287
Warmth and putrefaction, 50
Warrant, coroner‘s, 4;
Procurator-Fiscal‘s, 7
Wash, sheep‘s (or dip), and arsenic, 255, 287
Wassermann, on blood tests, 105
Water, gas, 400;
lead in, 305, 306;
and putrefaction, 53-55
Watt, on arsenic, 278
Weed-killers and arsenic, 275
Weight of children, 137;
lungs, 174;
uterus, 157
Wendt, on infanticide, 174
Westbury, Lord, on insanity, 195
Whitehead, on abortion, 160
Wightman, on survivorship, 189
Wills, drawing of, 191
Wills, on dying declarations, 18
Wilson, on note-taking, 19;
lead poisoning, 305
Winslow, Forbes, on insanity, 192;
test of death, 43
Witnesses, 3, 6, 8, 18, 19, 223
Wolffe‘s bottle, 283
Womb, in infanticide, 176
Wood, blood stains on, 91
Wool fibres, 90
Wormley‘s test (belladonna), 350
Wounds, in abortion, 163, 164;
causes of death in, 80, 81;
definition of, 69;
in drowning, 129;
examination of, 60 _et seq._;
infanticide, 175 _et seq._;
varieties of, 70 _et seq._
Wounds--law cases: R. _v._ Briggs, 69;
M‘Laughlin, 69;
Warman, 69
Wredin‘s test (live birth), 174
Writ of Court, 8;
lunacy, 224
Wynne (Sir W.), on insanity, 196
X-rays, 77, 110, 114, 115
Yew, 321
Zinc, chloride, 265;
sulphate, 300, 313, 331