On the detection of aconite by its physiological action : being notes of experiments made in connection with the trial of Dr. E. W. Pritchard / by Frederick Penny and James Adams.

  • Penny, Frederick, 1816-1869.
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the detection of aconite by its physiological action : being notes of experiments made in connection with the trial of Dr. E. W. Pritchard / by Frederick Penny and James Adams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    effects that no essential difference in the character of the pheno- mena can be detected. Having thus by clear and satisfactory evidence established the characteristic and essential differences in the effects produced on the rabbit by genuine Battley and Pritchard's Battley respec- tively ; and having found that tlie action of Pritchard's Battley in a fatal dose corresponded in every respect with that of aconite, either alone or when mixed with genuine Battley; and bearing in mind the peculiar and distinctive sensation communicated to the organ of taste by the above liquids—we had no hesitation in arriving at the following conclusions :— 1st. That Pritchard's Battley contained a poisonous substance. 2nd. That that poisonous substance was aconite. We may also state, that from a careful consideration and com- parison of the intensity, the period of access, and the duration of the symptoms exhibited in our trials with the mixtures of tinc- ture of aconite and of Battley's solution in known quantities, we were led to infer that the proportion of the former in Pritchard's Battley was from five to ten per cent. We disregarded the infinitesimal proportion of antimony discovered in Pritchard's Battley, being satisfied that it could not in any way influence the symptoms we witnessed. Our conclusions were confirmed by the fact of our finding no effects analogous to those of aconite produced by any of the other agents (veratria, strychnia, &c., &c.) employed by us in the con- current experiments already referred to, or by any other poisonous agent with the action of which we were familiar. With the medical aspects of the criminal trial our inquiry had no necessary connection, and we, therefore, purposely avoid any commentary on the peculiar symptoms manifested by Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Pritchard. Neither have we attempted to draw any analogy between the action of the poisonous agent as displayed upon animals and those produced on the human sub- ject. These considerations form sides of the case altogether apart from those which we attempted to uncover, and were otherwise dealt with by the special medical and general evidence. 1 hat the unfortunate ladies were poisoned was clearly proved, and the prisoner ultimately admitted that he did put aconite into the Battley's solution. The detection of that aconite was the ^m, u experiments were intended to solve; and although the confession of the criminal has no doubt aided the complete acquiescence of the public in the justice of the verdict, yet his admission or denial could not in any way influence our convictions, nor the conclusions to which we had already com- mitted ourselves.