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.
- Frederick Penny
- Date:
- 1865
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.
28/34 page 24
![Kidney.—The kidney yloldcd about the same quantity of antimony as the heart. It gave a marked quantity of mercury. Rectum.—The rectum gave antimony, but no mercury. Blood.—In the blood, antimony was detected in rather larger proportion than in the heart. No mercury was detected. Dried Contents of Intestines.—In the dried contents of the intestines, antimony was found to the extent of -583 parts in 1000 parts by weight. It was partly present in a form soluble in water. No mercury was detected. The said con- tents were also carefully analyzed for aconite and morphia, but no evidence of the presence of these poisons were obtained. From a careful consideration of the results of the analysis and examination of the above-named articles I am clearly of opinion that they are conclusive in showing:—1st, That all the articles subjected to analysis contained antimony. 2nd, That the dried contents of the intestines contained the largest proportion of antimony; next, the liver and stomach; then the blood, and in less quantity in the heart, kidney, and rectum. 3rd, That part of the antimony in the con- tents of the intestines is in a form soluble in water. 4th, That the kidney was the only article in which mercury was detected. 5th, That neither the stomach nor the contents of the intestines contained aconite or morphia in quantity sufficient to be detected by known chemical processes. 6th, That the articles subjected to analysis contained no other metallic poison than antimony and mercury as reported above. To the truth of this report I hereby certify on soul and conscience. Glasgow, dtJi May, 1865. Fredekick Penny. Beport of Analysis of certain Articles referred to in tJie case of Dr. Pritchard. Andeesonian Univeksity, Glasgow, VJth May, 1865. On Thursday, the 13th of April last, Alexander M'Call, Superintendent of Police, delivered to me, at my laboratory, the following productions, having sealed labels attached, referring to the case of Dr. Pritchard:—A glass bottle, labelled Battley's Sedative Solution, [B.] A bundle of seven small paper packages, [CI A quart wine bottle, containing ginger wme, [D.J A small ilass vial, containing a white powder, [E.] Three small vials, two corks, and one stopper, securely tied together, [F.] Six small vials and six coi^s, attached with string, ri.l On the same day and occasion, John Murray delivered to me a paper package, having labels attached, marked A, and contammg tapioca. On Friday, the 21st April last, Alexander M'Call delivered to me a small glass phial, with label attached, marked G, and also a piece of cheese, marked H. Un Thursday, the 11th inst., John Murray delivered to me a paper package, with label attached, marked K, and containing tapioca. In accordance with mstruc- tions received from John Gemmel, Esq., Procurator-Fiscal, 1 have ^^de ^ c^ eful analysis and chemical examination of the contents of the P^f ^w^n^ above enumerated. My experiments and investigations gave l;^.^ r<5sults which, for the facility of reference, are reported in alpbabetical order This paper package [A] contained 2850 grains of tapioca. The P-sence f antimony, in the form of tartarized antimony, was unequivocally detected Its amount was found to be equal to 4-62 grains m the pound of tapioca. Not a trie 0 mercury was detected. This bottle [B] contained -nee and five drachms of a dark brown liquid, having the odour and general appearance ot Bamev's solutSi of opium. It was found to contain an appreciable quantity of Tntiionv in a soUle fon The amount was equal to 1-5 grain per fluid ounce S^ hTuqu d. confined no mercury. (I am at present engaged .e---^ ?foi other substances.) The seven paper packages [C] comprised m this pro](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21468084_0028.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
