In conclusion, it has been obviously impossible in the limited space to explain elementary facts or principles. These may be ascertained from any of the standard textbooks.

C. G. S.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
Prefaces[v]
Addenda:Differences between Strychnia and Morphia[xv]
”Process for obtaining Pure Chlorine[xvi]
CHAPTER I.
Chemical Introduction.
Summary of symptoms exhibited by various poisons: (1) Sudden death—(2)Insensibility—(3) Vomiting—(4) Action on the eye—(5) Convulsions—(6)Chronic poisoning. Alkaloids, chemically and physiologically—Processesfor their detection—Necessity for keepingthe extracts separate—Dragendorff’s process—Dr. Guy’s sublimationprocess—Effects on animals—Doubtful value of this test—Preparationand effects of reagents: (1) Mayer’s—(2) Potassium tri-iodide—(3)Sonnenschein’s test—(4) Bismuth—(5) Phosphotungstic acid—(6)Picric acid—(7) Animal charcoal—(8) Platinic chloride—(9)Tannin or Tannic acid—(10) Phospho-antimonic acid—(11) Silico-tungsticacid—(12) Auric, palladium and mercuric chlorides—Ptomainesor cadaveric alkaloids; difficulties raised by their discovery—Principlesto be observed in analysing[1]
CHAPTER II.
Trials for Poisoning by Prussic Acid[16]
(1) John Tawell (Slough Case), March, 1850.
(2) George Ball (Lewes Case), July, 1860.
(3) Peter Walker (Egglesham Case), Dec., 1857.
CHAPTER III.
Hydrocyanic or Prussic Acid.
Nature of—Strength of different preparations of, English and foreign—Wherefound—Tests, preliminary: (1) Odour—(2) Silver—(3) Prussianblue—(4) Sulphur—(5) Guaiacum—(6) Uranium—(7) Picricacid—(8) Cupric sulphate—(9) Cobalt chloride—(10) Mercuric oxide—(11)Peroxide of hydrogen—(12) Mercurous nitrate. Test apparatus—Saltsof hydrocyanic acid: (1) Potassium cyanide—(2) Mercuriccyanide—(3) Cyanides of the heavy metals—(4) Doublecyanides—(5) Sulphocyanides—Oil of bitter almonds—Antidotes—Fataldose—Symptoms—Post-mortem appearances—Drops andminims—Period after death at which hydrocyanic acid can be discovered—Formicacid to be tested for—Processes[55]
CHAPTER IV.
Trials for Poisoning by Strychnia[84]
(1) William Palmer (Rugeley Case), May, 1856.
(2) William Dove (Leeds Case), July, 1856.
(3) Silas Barlow (Vauxhall Case), November, 1876.
CHAPTER V.
Strychnia and Brucia.
Contained in St. Ignatius’s bean—False Angostura bark—Nux Vomica,&c.—Properties of strychnia—Facility of detection. Tests: (1)Microscope—(2) Taste—(3) Color test; ditto in other alkaloids, inbile, and in resinous and saccharine matters—(4) Physiological test(Marshall Hall)—(5) Bichromate of potash—(6) Picric acid—(7)Sulphuric acid and sodium nitrite—(8) Mercuric chloride. Preparationsof strychnia: Vermin killers—Battle’s, Gibson’s, Miller’s,Marsden’s, Barber’s, Hunter’s, Keating’s—Brucia—Igasuria—Igasuricacid. Doses of strychnia: medicinal, fatal, recovery—Nuxvomica. Fatal period for strychnia—Symptoms in man, commencementof symptoms, if given in powder, in solution, in pills. Explanationof symptoms: by hysteria, tetanus, epilepsy, grittygranules on spinal cord—Angina pectoris. Post-mortem appearances—Treatment—Antidotes—Dr.Taylor’s evidence—Ptomaine—DidCook die from morphia?—Granular preparations at St. Thomas’sHospital[276]
CHAPTER VI.
Trials for Poisoning by Arsenic[294]
(1) Madeline Smith (_Glasgow Case_), June, 1857.
(2) Ann Merritt (Clapton Case), March, 1850.
CHAPTER VII.
Arsenic.
The element (arsenicum)—The oxide (white arsenic)—Arsenicum—Arsenicumtrioxide. Forms of: (1) Crystalline—(2) Amorphous—Solubility.Uses and occurrences: (1) Steeping, wheat—(2) Preservationof skins—(3) Antiseptics—(4) Glass making—(5) Fur inboilers—(6) Candles—(7) Preservation of wood—(8) Sheep washes—(9)Scheele’s green and emerald green as pigments in sweets (case ofFranklin and Randall), wall papers, toys, &c.—(10) Medicinal—(11)For horses—(12) Tooth-stopping—(13) Aniline dyes—(14) Fireworks—(15)Rat and fly poisons (case of Maria Gage)—(16) Forcleansing metals—(17) Arsenic eaters—(18) Cosmetics—(19) Forbronzing metals—(20) Beer brewed from glucose—(21) Americanpaper collars—(22) Speculum metal—(23) Inhalation for asthmaand bronchitis—(24) Mineral waters. Sulphides of Arsenic: (1)Orpiment (case of M. A. Burdock)—(2) Realgar. Arsenic acid—Thearsenates—Arsenic trichloride—Arseniuretted hydrogen—Methodsof extraction—Tests—Modifications of old processes suggested—Marsh’stest, distinction of results in arsenic and antimony—Reinsch’stest—Doses—Antidotes—Physiological effects—Remarks—DidL’Angelier commit suicide?[373]
CHAPTER VIII.
Trials for Poisoning by Antimony[397]
(1) Dr. Pritchard (Glasgow Case), July, 1865.
(2) Dr. Smethurst (Richmond Case), August, 1859.
(3) Thos. Winslow (Liverpool Case), August, 1860.
CHAPTER IX.
Antimony.
Properties of the metal—Alloys—Compounds—Chlorides, sulphides,oxides, hydride. Tartar emetic—solubility, composition, uses andoccurrence—commercial, veterinary, medicinal. Doses and preparations—fataldose, fatal period. Physiological effects—Antidotes—Separationsand tests—(1) Reinsch’s—Presence of antimony; purityof the copper employed, how to be secured; different stains resultingfrom presence of arsenic, antimony, mercury, bismuth, tin, silver,gold, platinum, palladium, sulphur compounds—(2) Dr. Maclagan’stest in Pritchard’s trial—(3) Marsh’s test—Remarks on Pritchard’strial—On Smethurst’s trial—Dr. Taylor and Mr. Herapath—Arsenicin bismuth—Antimony in grey powder[490]
CHAPTER X.
Trials for Poisoning by Aconitia or Aconitine[514]
(1) McConkey—Dublin.
(2) G. H. Lamson (Wimbledon Case), December, 1881.
CHAPTER XI.
Aconite, and Aconitia, or Aconitine.
Plants: Aconitum napellus—A. ferox. Alkaloids: aconitia—Pseudaconitia—otherbases—Decompositions—Proportions in the plants.Commercial aconitia—German aconitia—English aconitia. Separation—Tests,chemical and physiological. History—Preparations,official and non-official. Physiological effects—Causes of death—Post-mortemappearances—Treatment and antidotes—Remarks[568]