Report on the investigation of cases of real and supposed poisoning.

  • O'Shaughnessy, William Brooke, 1809-1889.
Date:
[1841]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the investigation of cases of real and supposed poisoning. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Poisoning.* In this paper there are given, first, a brief summary of each of the poison cases referred to me within the last twelve months; secondly, a general, but minute des- cription of the processes followed in their investigation; thirdly, an account of Marsh’s remarkable process for the detection of arsenic, with an explanation of the fallacies to which it is liable, and the precautions necessary in its practice; fourth- ly, a description of an original process for the detection of the lal plumbago rosea), the root employed so extensively by the natives to cause abortion; fifthly the official reports are appended, containing the details of the cases of which a sum- mary is given in the first section. Lastly, I add some practical hints, which may prove of value to inexperienced persons on the use of antidotes, and the general treatment of those labouring under the effects of poisons.* The first was a man named Mahmood Alee, who after a quarrel with a fellow ser- Cholero proving fatal vant, was suddenly taken iU, and died in eleven hours; the under suspicious cir- . , • • • . , ,, cumstances. symptoms being vomiting, purging, cramps, and collapse. The stomach and intestines shewed no marks of inflammation, but were coated with a creamy fluid. This was alkaline to test paper. Examined by the processes hereinafter described, there was no indication of any metallic poison. On destroy- ing the intestines by nitric acid, evaporating the solution, and expelling the excess of acid, a large quantity of crystals of the nitrate of soda were formed. These experiments sufficed to shew, that the changes in the blood and intestinal fluids, now well known to be occasioned by Cholera, had taken place in this case. The serous portion of the blood had passed into the intestinal tract, which caused the alkaline reaction on the test paper; and with the soda of the fluid, the nitric acid formed the crystals of nitrate of soda, obtained in such remarkable abundance. On this evidence the Coroner’s Jury returned a verdict of—Died by Cholera; which disease was at the time prevalent at Calcutta. Case 2d. This was a case of very deep interest. On the 26th of June, 1S40, I received by late package, containing the stomach and intestines of M d- Captain P., a distinguished officer, and the representativgjaP'''^*'”” i Suspected deatli bv Government at a native court. Susnicions havinff.«rtsen as \ SECTION I. SUMM.^RY OF CASES. Case.