The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-23 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

ARRIVAL OF THE EAGLE AND THE
INDIAN QUEEN.
LIVERPOOL, THUM DAY.
The clipper ship Eagle, Capt. Murphy (belong-
ing to Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co. of this port,)
arrived in the Mersey last night from Melbourne,
from which port she sailed on the 28th Feb., with
106 passengers, and 66,464 ozs. of gold, value about
265,8561.
The Indian Queen, Capt. J obson, of the Black
Ball line, arrived this morning from Hobart Town,
with 60 passengers, but no specie. She left Hobart
Town on Feb. 21, and has thus made the passage
in 90 days.
The Eagle brought 1,247 bales of wool, 94 bags
copper ore, 68 kegs paint, 14 cases of hardware, 4
casks spermaceti, 7 bales coburgs, 7 bales merinoes,
1 screw propeller, 117 bales rags, 7 bales sheep-
skins, 3 casks drugs, 2 bales cloths, 1 case saddlery,
4 cases shawls, and 1 case fine goods.
The Eagle passed several large icebergs, from
20th to 21st April, lat. 58 to 57 S, long. 400 to 76
W. April 9, lat. 38 S, long. 33 W, encountered a
very heavy gale; split sail, itc. May 12, lat. 43 N,
long. 42 W, saw another large iceberg. She passed
the Viscount Canning, from London to Port Philip,
in Hobson's Bay.
The dates by these arrivals are—Melbourne,
Feb. 28 ; Sydney, Feb. 23 ; Hobart Town, Feb.
23 ; Launceston, Feb. 23 ; Adelaide, Feb. 19 ;
New Zealand, Jan. 26 ; and Western Australia,
Nov. 16.
Gold at Melbourne was quoted at 31. 16s. 3d. to
31. 16s. 6d. per ounce, the latter figure having been
given in some instances for choice samples.
On the 25th of February the Beechworth gold
escort arrived, fetching 12,690 ounces and 13,9771.
in sovereigns.
At Hobart Town a bill to regulate public execu-
tions passed through the Legislative Council, and
received the assent of the governor. On the 19th
of February the first execution under its provisions
took place, two culprits being strangled behind the
gaol.
The accounts from the gold fields are favourable.
The Sydney Chamber of Commerce have voted a
sum of 2,0001. for the purchase and eutfit of a suit-
able hulk for the establishment of a nautical school,
together with an annual grant of 1,0001. on condi-
tion of a similar amount being raised by private
subscription.
The Government emigrant ship David Mclver,
from Liverpool, arrived at Sydney, Feb. 22, and
was ordered into quarantine, chicken-pox being
discovered amongst the passengers.
In commercial affairs iu Melbourne there was no
change to notice since the Ocean Chief sailed.
At Sydney affairs remained in much the same
state. There was more activity in wool. Tallow
was looking upwards in consequence of short sup-
! plies. The import market is quiet, but without
any material variation.

MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.)

CORN EXCHANGE.

The arrivals of English wheat this week, coastwise and
by land carriage, have been limited, and the show of sam-
ples in to-day's market was very moderate. For most kinds
we had rather a slow sale, yet Monday's prices were sup-
ported.
Only 2,100 quarters of foreign wheat have come fresh to
hand. Good heavy samples sold at full quotations, but all
other kinds were very dull.
We had a very slow inquiry for both English and foreign
barley, at Monday's currency.
Malt moved off slowly, yet prices wore supported.
There was a good demand for oats, at very full prices.
Beans, peas, and flour sold on former terms.
•amvsba THIS WEISE.
' Wheat. I Barley. Malt. Oats. ~ ;Moor.
Lnglish .. 1,870
1,930 1,520 20 i 1,4 0
[fish •• • • 3,050 1
Foreign I 2,100 1 1,630
I 11--aks
5,310 ; 8290 brls

THE RUGELEY POISONINGS.

TRIAL OF 7ATILLIAM PALIVIER.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT (THIS DAY).

NINTH DAY.

This morning the entrances to the court were densely
crowded as early as eight o'clock, and in a few minutes
after the doors were opened the Qourt became crowded.
The interest exhibited to-day decidedly exceeded that
of yesterday, and as the case approaches a termination
that interest becomes more and more excited and intense.
The bench was very fully attended, and among the not-
ables present were the Duke of Wellington, Sir J. Pak-
ington, and the Mayor of Bristol. _ _

The examination of the medical witnesses for the de-
fence was continued, tr4d the first witness called was
Mr. John Ross—l am house-surgeon to the Lon-
don Hospital. I recollect a recent case of tetanus. It
was brought on the 22d of March to the hospital about
half-past seven in the evening. It was a male, aged
about 37, and the patient had had a paroxysm in the
receiving-room before I saw him. • He had a rapid but
feeble pulse, his breathing was laborious, his jaws
closed and fixed. and an expressive anxiety about the
countenance. His features were sunken, arid he was
Unable to swallow. The muscles of the abdomen and
back were somewhat tense. He had another paroxysm
which lasted about a minute. He was then quiet for a
few minutes. He then had another and died, having been
in the hospital about half an hour. There was an
inquest held on the body, and a post-mortem examina-
tion took place, but no poison was found. I attribute
death to tetanus. There were three wounds in the
body—two on the back of the right elbow, each about
the size of a shilling, and one on the left elbow, about
the size of a sixpence. The roan told me he had had
the wounds from 12 to 16 years. They were old
chronic indurated ulcers, circular in outline, the edges
thickened round them, and covered with a:duty white
coating, without any granulation. I cannot say what
was the origin of the wounds. I have seen old dawn's
syphilitic wounds like those I have mentioned, but they
were on the legs of the body. Those wounds were the
only thing that would account for tetanus.
Cross-examined by the Attorney-General—Poultices
had recently been applied to the wounds a day or two
before the man was- briiught to the hospital, and the
application of.a. particular poultice had been objected to
by the patient. It was made of linseed meal. The jaws
were firmly closed when he was brought to the hospital,
so it was impossible to administer anything by the
mouth. The man said he had been so taken at his din-
ner, at eleven o'clock. Tetanic patients can speak,
although they cannot open the jaw. There were symp-
to ns of rigidity about the abdorrotal and lumbar
muscles. The man did not say bow long he had felt the
rigidity. Another medical man, I believe, had seen
the case before it was brought to the hospital. I
have no doubt that the disease had been coming
on the whole of the morning. They were ugly sores, of a
chronic character, and integument connected the two,
and they were confluent. There were no signs of heal-
ing, and they had the appearance of being old neglected
sores. They were near the ulna nerve. It is a sensitive
one, near what is commonly called the funny bone. I
believe the man had bad paroxysms the whole of the
afternoon before he came to the hospital. There was no
convulsion of the legs and arms. The particular tetanic
symptoms were spasm, lock-jaw, the muscles of the
abdomen and back being rigid, and pains in the stomach.
I did not hear the symptoms of Cook's case described.
Mr. Grove—Was not strychnine suspected in this
case ?—lt was.
Examination continued—The nerves of the tongue
are very delicate. I heard the case of tetanus described
yesterday, and am of opinion that it was idiopathic te-
tanus, arising from cold.
Mr. Mantel', house surgeon of the London Hospital—
I had the case just referred to under my care, as well as
Mr. Ross, and the description given by him is quite
correct. The patient died from tetanus caused by the
old sores.

Dr. Rightson examined by Mr. Kennealy—l was
pupil of Liebig, at Giessen, and am now an analytical
chemist at the school at Birmi❑gham. I have made
poisons my study, and amongst them strychnine. I
have been employed by the Crown in the detection of
poisons. I think most decidedly that strychnine may
be detected. I have discovered it in pure and compt
matter.

Mr. Kennealy—What class of corrupt matter?
Witness—Bilious matter and putrifying blood. I
have turned my attention to the tissues, and have found
it there. 1 found it in a cat poisoned, and in the blood
of a dog poisoned by strychnine, and also in the nerve
of another dog poisoned by strychnine. lam of opinion
that strychnine does not decompose in the act of poison-
ing, or in entering the circulation ; in that opinion I
am decided. It might possibly change into a substance
in which it would still be able to be detected. We
have had such cases. The most minute portions of
strychnine might be found, upon an analysis, in the
case. Where it was found in the blood of the dog two
grains were given. When found in the urine of the
dog. one grain and half. A grain was tried to be given
to the cat, but a great portion was lost. I should have
no doubt in saying, generally, that strychnine given to
a man should be found upon analysis.
Mr. Sergeant Shea—You say generally. Have you
heard the discussion of the particulars in the case of
Cook ?
Witness—l have ; and from that description, should
say certainly, that if strychnine had been taken, it would
have been found upon an analysis.
By the Attorney-General—lf the entire dose taken
be absorbed is it finally deposited in the blood or tissues
upon reaching the point at which
,it kills ?—I cannot
say.
Attorney•Gieneral—lf the whole was absorbed in to
the blood would you expect to find any in the stomach !
—Certainly not, unless some clung to the coats of the
stomach. I should search for it in the blood and tissues,
and I should expect to find it in each of them supposing
a minimum dose had been taken and absorbed in the

systems.
Re-examined by Mr. Sergeant Shee—lf I had known
a man had had strychnine administered to him one
hour and a half before death it could have been detected
in the stomach ; if administered in the shape of pills
I cannot say if it would have been all absorbed by that
time. Not knowing the dose administered, and the
power of absorbation, I cannot say, with absolute cer-
tainty, if it could have been detected in the coats of the
stomach, but I should think it probable. I cannot give
any decided opinion as to the quantity of strychnia that
muse have been administered to cause death in an hour
and a half after the first paroxysm.
Lord Campbell expressed- his admiration of the man-
ner in which this witness had given his evidence.
Witness recalled—By Mr. Baron Alderson —I cannot
give an opinion as to the exact effect of strychnia on the
system before it kills. It ought to be found in the
blood.
Mr. Partridge, examined by Mr. Grove—l have been
many years in practice as a surgeon, and I am Professor
of Anatomy in King's College. I have heard the evi-
dence of the symptoms in Cook's case, and as to the
post mortem examination, The spine should be exa-
mined shortly after death. Granules, such as I have
described would be, in my opinion, likely to cause in-
flammation of the membranes. I have no doubt such
inflammation, if it existed, would have been found on
an examination of the of the part shortly after death.
Cases of granules producing tetanic convulsions are on
record, but I have never seen such a case. Meningitis
inflammation of the anachroid produces sometimes con-
vulsions and sometimes not. I cannot form any posi-
tive opinion from the evidence I have heard of the cause
of Cook's death. No conclusion as to the cause of death
can be drawn from the contracted state of the body after
death. If I found a body dra en back and c irved after
death, I should be inclined to attribute it to the con :ul-
- form of death. There are a varieties of degrees of
rigidity which succeed a natural death. The clenching
of the hand and the arching of the feet is not unnatural.
Cross-examined by the Attorney-General—l under-
stood the granules were on the inner surface of the spi-
nal cord. The granules are not generally found. They
can exist with health. Arachnitis producing convul-
sions never came under my observation. This disease
would not affect the brain by sympathy before death.
Where granules have produced arachnit s they save
varied in size. I never knew of a singlecase of arachnitis
where a patient died of convulsions. Icannot say whether
it would affect the general health. I do not t'unk a man
would be well between the intervals of.cenvulsions. I
should expect that there would be pain ; the muscles
would be unusually convulsed. I should not expect
freedom from pain and convulsions 24 hours before
death. I do not think the symptoms exhibited by John
Parsons Cook before his death arose from arachnitis. I
never knew a case where the hands were so firmly closed
from natural causes that the fingers had to be vio-
lently forced open. The arching of the feet is
common in death. I have not known them to be
so much arched as Cooks. I have no doubt but that
from the position in which Cook died that death was
occasioned by tetanus. From the description given by
Jones, and the evidence I have heard, some symptoms
are consistent and others are inconsistent with death
from strychnia. I am of opinion that from the convul-
sions of the. muscles, the throat and legs, the bending of
the body into a bow, and the difficulty of respiration,
that those are consistent with death from t etanus. I
have never known traumatic tetanus terminate in death
in less than three oe four days. I have never known, in
all my experience, such symptoms as those exhibited by
Cook to have resulted from natural causes.
Re-examined by Mr. Grove.—Sickness before death is
not consistent with strychnia. I also consider the beat.
ing the bed clothes as inconsistent, and also the want
of sensitiveness, the sudden cessation of convulsions,
and apparent complete reo,very, silo se very apparently
an absence of muscular agitation making it irreconileable
with strychnia. Convulsions arising from injuries to
the spine are very various. I know an intermission of
symptoms does sometimes occur in traumatic tetanus.
The granules described are more unusual in young than
in old. I cannot say whether it is more indicative of
disease. I should not feel myself justified after so long
a time in stating that the spine was not free from disease.
I do not think that after nine weeks the spine would be
in a sufficiently /perfect state to arrive at any positive
conclusion as to the absence of disease.
Dr. John Guy examined by Mr. Gray—l am.a fellow
of the College of Surgeons, and for 18 years surgeon to
the Royal Free Hospital. I had under my care a case
of traumatic tetanus in a boy. That was in 1843. The
boy was 8 years old. He was brought into the hos-
pital July 23, and died upon the 2d of August. The
accident bringing it on had taken place one week
before. He had great pains and stiffness about the
neck. Could not open his mouth. Upon the first night
he started up convulsed ; and this occurzed upon tl.e

following night. The muscle of the neck and back got
stiff during the night, and those of the face were in
state of great contraction ; and upon the third day were
in the same state. Upon the morning of that day the
muccidar rigidity relaxed, and later was able to
open his mouth and speak ; and later felt quite
recovered. He had no return of the spasm till half past
five the following day. He then asked the nurse to
change his linen, and as she was about to do so A
violent spasm came on, and he died in a few minutes.
About 30 hours elapsed between the last convulsions of
which he died and the preceding one. The last
paroxysm continued two minutes. The rigidity before
that had been completely relaxed. I gave the patient ori
the second day a small dose of tartar emetic, containing
antimony, which prodeced vomiting. I increased it i 3
quantity on the third day, but I did not repeat it after
that day.
Cross-examined by the Attorney-General.—The teta
nue arose from a stone falling on the mdddle toe of the
patient, completely smashing it. The wound had be;
come very unhealthy. I amputated the remaining parte'
the toe. When I saoe the boy the wound was almost
closed. The jaw was closed when I administered tartar
emetic to him. On the 29th the rigidity relaxed ; the ,nor
cles of the chest, back, and abdomen continued rigid. Puri
ire; the time there were no convulsions whilst
administered tartar emetic. I have no doubt the rigidity
of the muscles of the chest and stomach would go 13r r.
prevent sickness. I suppose the boy would
vomited but for the rigidity of the muscles. I expect,'"
he would have done so from the large dose I adrailpe.
tered. The symptoms began to abate on the 4th daY;
and gradually subsided for some time. The syniptsul;
were reproduced by the nurse setting the boy up in be
The cause had not entirely gone before that irritatiesi
roust have been set up in connection with the sPin3d
cord, and the original seat of the wound that produce
spasms.
Re-examined by Mr. Gray—The causes of irritatieu
producing spasms may be various. Supposing death
occurred accompanied with tetanic symptoms, and the
medical man had no knowledge of the cause except th,e,
irritation of the spinal cord, I think it is extreme')
difficult—probably impossible—for him to ascribe it t°
any particular cause.
Dr. 111`Donald said—l am a licentiate of the Esl;
College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. I have been Jr/f
practice for a number of years, and have had cases e,
traumatic and idiopathic tetanus. I have seen two ceee;
of idiopathic. I have also made experiments. Tetaell'
will proceed from slight causes. Any internal alter 34.
tion of the secretions will produce it. Exposure to CO'
would produce it. Mental excitement will also cause
tetanic convulsions. Sensual excitement will produced
tetanus. Graeules in any part of the body connate.°
with the nervous structure might produce it. Tetal,,,
causes are produced by means yet undiscoverable
human science. These is some obscurity about t"„
disease. Many post mortem examinations have take;
place in cases of death by tetanus, and no cause of disea,a,
has been discovered. Strychnia is easily discoverab'':
In the case of Catherine Watson I was fortunate to cur,
her, and she is at present in court. [The witl3lo
here read the minutes of the case which he had ta3a.
at the time]. In that ease there was a lock jaw ;i5
bis
cuffed about the middle of the attack, but she vies 11i1
to speak. In acute idiopathic cases it is a late Wolin;
is
have had a patient, named Copeland, who had
~w:ro
attacked with idiopathic tetanus under my care ; tua
was no external cause. Death took place in soraecem'of
less than half an hour. I have made a nurnhera
experiments on animals with respect to stryes"to'
puisine, and have found the post mortem examiastlS)
very generally to concur. The membranes of the ht'a
are highly congested, the sinus gorged with blood; 3130
in one case I had hemorrhage from the nostril. I,l°a
out through the substance of the brain and founa,he
nserous red spots ; these are the general results. 'O.
lungs of those animals had been either collapsed or e°
gested, the heart invariably filled 'on the right side 31:4
very often on the left. The liver has been tonnes
tal
and the kidneys normal ; the spleen in a paetti:ss
condition. The vessels of the stomach I re,
also found congested on the outside suriiiitli
On the mucous or inner side I found them filled 'l'ol
I blood, the vessels of the membrane of the spinal into
congested, also with sometimes red points cutting
the spinal cord. The appearances of post mortem etb,
minations are always a true test of the cause of d°,,,b,
I have experimentalised in a great many cases of stri,na
nia. If you kill an animal with a pain of strye," its
you may discover traces of it that is evidence ("till
presence. The 50-1000th part of a grain ac'
kill, and. that can be found if in the body. I 110°,4,
tually experimented so as to discover that Ousu''re
The theory of the decomposition of strychnia, asp
pounded by Dr. A. Taylor, is quite new. The first
I ever heard of it was in the Court. There is no el
founded reason, in my opinion, for such a thearPbei
have proved it by numerous experiments. I hair° rt, of
the blood of an animal poisoned with two gr,s4.nbrol
strychnia, about the least quantity that would ue'liefe
it, and have injected it into the abdomenal ',ll
of smaller animals, and have destroyed them wiitbabil
the symptoms, and post mortemappearances of as'-old
by strychnia. It would make no difference, I 611°ed,
think, in finding strychnia, how it was admirds,''e ale
If the pills containing it were hard, and not visa jt,
solved, it would be easier to find. I differ from D.,l** 1,0
Taylor relative to his colour test.. I believe theaild
be reliable tests for finding strychnia. I have fc),,ai•
it invariably in urine that has been ejected by the "ty
mals that have taken it, part of it is thrown off hYdd
watery excretions. Strychnine cannot be confouero
with salacine or anthyne. Au increased flow of r.olcil
is a very marked symptom, so is susceptibility of Word
in all cases. A slight touch, or a sharp oir
will produce violent convulsions. They are Woe
nised as chronic convulsions, a stiffenieg
arms. A man who had taken strychnine, 133 ois,
his neck rubbed before the paroxysms caul? 03
would be likely to be thrown into convule'sed,
the first symptoms of poisoning bad cornmenverf,
It would not give him any relief. I think ft of
improbable that a man under the influelsseweb
strychnia, could pull a bell violently. I agree
Dr. Herapath that strychnia could be foun,4d,
have heard the symptoms in Cook's case dese4so
but do not attach much importance to them, as t does
seen symptoms developed from other causes. Id set
strong enough to destroy life at one paroxysm vgdle., rot
take an hour and a half to manifest itself. -1.-v/iP
opinion death arose from epileptic convulsions gill
tetanic complications. The post mortem appearasc;oo
Cook's case being so different from those which ~,
pot
observed in cases of strychnine poisoning that I .ope
suppose that a dose sufficient to destroy life Jneleo
paroxyism could not, so far as I am aware, requilpoose,
an hour to manifest its affects. The ir.terval 1.70'
from Monday to Tuesday was, in his opinion, i(uP,•°„ al;
as to the epileptic nature of the convulsions, as 'boo'
lepsy the recurrence of the fit generally comes on spore
the same hour. Any of the causes which I bay% the
heard described, such as cold, the excitement uPd-oce
race course, and the vomiting, might have pr° ed
the symptoms and death which has been describ
Cook's case.
The Court here adjourned.
Upon the re-assembling of the Court, esS.
The Attorney-General cross-examined the W lt°-p
[The witness was under examination when we uris
press.]