Cases of poisoning with arsenic / by James M. Adams.

  • James Maxwell Adams
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases of poisoning with arsenic / by James M. 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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    EXTRACTED FROM THE NORTHERN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE FOR OCTOBER 1845. CASES OF POISONING WITH ARSENIC. By JAMES M. ADAMS, Sukgeon, Glasgow. The subject of poisoning is never devoid of interest to either the medical or the lay public, but the fearful prevalence of poisoning with arsenic, as shown by the returns of the Registrar-General, as also by the frequent public trials and newspaper accounts of such occurrences, gives to this form of poisoning an interest of a more absorbing character than to most other poisons. From the fatal facility with which arsenic can be procured and administered, there is no lack of opportunity for observing its effects. It is yet, however, to be regretted, that so many examples of conflicting medical evidence are witnessed in public courts. The occasional record in our periodic literature, of cases winch even do not possess features of peculiar interest, are then, I con- ceive, of use, by refreshing the memory, or by awakening atten- tion, and so causing medical men to be at least familiar with the more prominent effects of this deadly agent. It is with this view that I select from my case-book a few instances, which I dare say will find parallel in the observation of most practitioners of any experience. Case—Jan. 3, 1840.—Mary R , set. 24, reported to be of good moral character, and of temperate habits. About six weeks ago, her father died, leaving her the principal support to an aged and infirm mother. Her brother, a young man of dissi- pated habits, had repeatedly ill used her ; and this morning he had beaten her and threatened another beating. She was heard to remark that she would put that out of his power, for that sooner than live in such misery, she would poison herself. No heed was paid to her threat, which was considered the hasty ex-