Have you examined the bodies of soldiers, or of any description of persons, who have died of that complaint?—Yes, I have.
What would be the state, with respect to inflammatory appearances in the stomach, of those subjects?—We generally find the coats of the stomach red and thick; we very often, but not always, find it where there is no reason whatever to suspect inflammation.
Have you applied yourself to the study of chemistry very much?—Not very much; but I have attended chemical lectures.
Do you happen to know whether the chemical test through the medium of nitrate of silver, or lunar caustic, is an infallible one or not, as to shewing the presence of arsenic in solution?—I conceive it not to be so.
Do you recollect who it was that first proved this test?—I don’t know who it was that proved it first; but the first time I ever saw it described was in a medical publication by Dr. Marcet, lecturer in Guy’s Hospital.
Do you happen to know whether there be any thing else, besides arsenic, which, if submitted to the lunar caustic, would produce the same result as it would with arsenic?—I do.
What else?—If there be any alkaline phosphate, it would put on the same appearance, and throw down the same yellow precipitate.
Do you know whether phosphoric acid and salts be contained, or abound in the human frame?—I have been led to believe so.
Did you hear Dr. Edwards give his evidence as to the test also of the sulphate of copper?—I did.
Have you made any experiments as to the sulphate of copper?—I have.