"Of poisonous drugs. Yes, sir."
"Of poisonous drugs of course. Of opium and its alkaloids especially, is what I mean?"
"Yes, sir. I have studied them minutely."
"Now then in regard to morphine. You said to his Honor, awhile ago, that this drug acts variably upon different individuals. Is it not true that it also acts differently upon the same individual at various times?"
"Yes, sir, that is true."
"And is its action affected by disease?"
"It might be!"
"Supposing that the drug were administered continuously, might it not occur, that instead of being absorbed, the morphine would be retained, stored up as it were, so that the quantity would accumulate?"
"Yes, the records contain reports of such cases."
"Well, now, suppose that a patient had some kidney trouble, such as
Bright's disease, would not morphine be retained in this way?"