Report of the trial of Madeleine Smith : before the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh, June 30th to July 9th, 1857, for the alleged poisoning of Pierre Émile l'Angelier / by Alexander Forbes Irvine, advocate.

Madeleine Smith

Date:: 1857

Credit: Report of the trial of Madeleine Smith : before the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh, June 30th to July 9th, 1857, for the alleged poisoning of Pierre Émile l'Angelier / by Alexander Forbes Irvine, advocate. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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$3. Liver. 4. Heart. 5. Lung, fi. Brain. These articles were taten direct to the laboratory in the Andersonian Institution, and were there delivered to me by the parties before named. I have since made a careful analysis and chemical examination of all the said matters, with the following results :— 1. Small Intestine and its contents. The portion of small intestine contained a turbid and reddish-coloured liquid, which raeasui'ed four ounces. On standing for several hours in a glass vessel, this liquid deposited numerous and well-defined octohedral crystals, which, on being subjected to the usual chemical processes for the detection of ai'senic, were found to be arsenious acid. Arsenic was also detected in the small intestine. 2. Large Intestine. This organ yielded arsenic, but in less proportion than in the small intestine. 3. Liver, Brain, and HeaH. Arsenic was separated from the liver, heart, and brain, but in much less proportion than from the small and large intestine. 4. Lung. The lung gave only a slight indication of the presence of arsenic. Conclusions. \. That the body of the deceased Pierre Emile L'Angelier contained arsenic. 2. That the arsenic must have been taken by or administered to him while living. All this is true on soul and conscience. (Signed) Frederick Penny, Professor of Chemistry. Examination continued.—The actual quantity on the second occasion was not ascertained. It was not necessary to determine this quantity. The presence of arsenic in the brain does not enable me to say when the arsenic was taken. I can see no physiological reason why the arsenic should not make its appearance at the same time in the various textures of the body. To the Lord Justice-Clekk.—Purging would account for a smaller portion of arsenic being found in the large intestine. By the Lord Advocate.—When my analysis was completed, on the 11th Apinl, I removed the portions of the body to Edinburgh. [Shown No. 20y of Inventory].—These articles were delivered to Dr Christison. They were, powder from contents of stomach, fluid from contents of stomach, fluid from stomach, portions of small and large intestines, liver, heart, lung, etc. They were in my custody till delivered to Dr Chris- tison. They were portions of L'Angelier's body. I was asked to make an investigation as to arsenic purchased at the shops of Mr Currie and$