Cross-examined by Serjeant Ballantine.—“As you say you really did not measure it, can you tell us how much prussic acid you really did give?”
Witness.—“I cannot say to a drop. I am sure he had fifty drops. I consider a ‘drop’ and a ‘minim’ synonymous. I gave him about the quantity, but when prussic acid is dispensed by a medical man, he is, of course, careful as to the quantity he uses.”
Chief Justice.—“We have been told that a ‘drop’ contains two ‘minims,’ and this witness says he looks upon them as synonymous.”
Serjeant Ballantine.—“If you were told to give a patient so many ‘minims,’ should you give him so many ‘drops’?”
Witness.—“Certainly not.”
Serjeant Ballantine.—“Can you tell us the strength of the prussic acid you sold?”
Witness.—“I don’t know what the strength was—I should suppose about four per cent.”
Case for the prosecution closed.
The Chief Justice called the attention of the Jury to the evidence and observed, that the fact of the cork being broken in the bottle and defective was certainly an important matter for their consideration, as it admitted the possibility that the prussic acid might have escaped from the bottle accidentally, and then there was an absence of evidence that an excessive dose had been administered by the accused.