What is the smallest quantity you can discover?—The fifty-thousandth part of a grain.
Have you actually experimented so as to discover that quantity?—Yes.
W. M‘Donnell
You have heard a theory propounded in the course of this inquiry by Dr. Taylor—I mean the destruction by the supposed decomposition of strychnia—to your knowledge has any scientific man of eminence ever propounded that theory at all?—I never heard of it until mentioned in this Court. In my opinion there are no well-grounded reasons for that theory. I have proved that that theory is false by numerous experiments. I have taken the blood of an animal poisoned with 2 grains of strychnia, about the least quantity which would kill an animal, and have injected it into the abdominal cavities of some animals, and have destroyed them, with the symptoms and post-mortem appearances of strychnia. It should not make it any more difficult to detect if the strychnia is administered in the form of pills. If the pills were hard, and not readily solved, you would find it much easier, because you might find some remains of the pill. I do not agree with Dr. Taylor’s opinion about the fallacy of colour tests. I believe a colour test is a reliable mode of ascertaining strychnia. I agree with Mr. Herepath that it is found in urine that has been ejected. I have found it invariably.
Does it first pass into the blood and then into that watery excretion?—Part of it may be drawn off by that means. It is not true that strychnia can be confounded with pyroxanthine. In these animals which I have killed with strychnia I have generally observed an increased flow of saliva; that was a very marked symptom. The animals were very susceptible to touch. A stamp of the foot, a slight touch, or a breath, or a sharp word, would drive them into tetanic convulsions. We recognised them by the straightened condition of the muscles.
Supposing that a dose of strychnia sufficient to kill a man were administered to him, do you think he could bear to have his neck rubbed?—I think it would be very likely to throw him into convulsions before the paroxysm came on.
By Lord Campbell—As soon as the poison is taken into his system?—No. It requires a certain time. You must have the first symptoms of poison developed. It would be after the first symptoms.
W. M‘Donnell
Examination resumed—What would be the effect of a man pulling a bell violently if he was poisoned by strychnia?—I think it would be extremely probable, if the dose had been sufficient, to destroy life, provided the symptoms had made their appearance. I quite agree with Mr. Herepath that, if a sufficient dose to poison has been administered, it can and ought to be discovered. I have heard the medical evidence that was given in this case and the evidence as to the symptoms. The symptoms I attach very little importance to as the means of diagnosis, as you may have the same symptoms developed from many different causes. There is one principal reason I have, which is this—a dose of strychnia sufficient to destroy life in one paroxysm would hardly require an hour and a half or two hours. The cause of death was from convulsions, epileptic convulsions with tetanic symptoms.
Does the interval of repose from the Monday night to the Tuesday at all operate on your judgment in coming to that conclusion?—If my opinion that it was of an epileptic character were correct, it would.