Put aside for the moment the fact of his having the wounds that would lead to that inference; what were the symptoms that manifested themselves previous to, or concomitantly with, death which you would call tetanic?—The tetanic symptoms there are the lockjaw and the muscles of the abdomen and the back also being rigid; and he complained of pain in his stomach, just over the stomach. I did not hear the account given of the symptoms of Mr. Cook’s death.
Re-examined by Mr. Grove—Strychnia was suspected in this case before the body was examined. The nerves of the tongue are very delicate ones. There are very delicate nerves at the throat and fauces.
Were you here yesterday when a case was described of an injury in the throat—a sore throat that caused tetanus?—I was.
Are you of opinion that an irritation of the nerves of the throat would cause tetanus as well as the other nerves?—That was produced by exposure to cold; it was therefore idiopathic.
Would any injury to any delicate nerves be a cause of tetanus?—Decidedly.
F. Wrightson
Dr. Francis Wrightson, examined by Mr. Kenealy—I was a pupil of Liebig. I am an analytical chemist and teacher of chemistry at the School of Chemistry at Birmingham. I have studied and made experiments in various poisons, including strychnia. I have not found any extraordinary difficulties in the detection of strychnia. It is detected by the usual tests. I have detected strychnia pure, and I have also discovered it when mixed with impurity, such as bile, bilious matter from putrefying blood, after having separated it from the impurities. Strychnia can be discovered in the tissues. I have discovered it in the viscera of a cat poisoned by strychnia, also in the blood of a dog poisoned by strychnia, also in the urine of another dog poisoned by strychnia. I have heard the theory propounded by Dr. Taylor as to the decomposition of strychnia by the act of poisoning.
Are you of opinion strychnia undergoes decomposition in the act of poisoning?—I am of opinion that it does not. If it were decomposed in the act of poisoning I should say it would not be possible to discover it in the tissues. Portions of strychnia can be discovered in extremely minute quantities indeed. In the first case I mentioned of the detection of strychnia in the blood, 2 grains were given to the dog. One grain was given to the second dog, in which we detected it in the urine. Half a grain was attempted to be administered to the cat, but a considerable portion of it was spilt.
Assuming that a man was poisoned by strychnia, and that his stomach and a portion of his tissues were sent within eight, or nine, or ten days after death for analytical examination, do you say you could discover the poison of strychnia in his remains?—I should have no doubt whatever in saying so.
Cross-examined by the Attorney-General—Suppose the whole of this poison to be absorbed, where would you expect to find it?—In the blood.