The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDO,N, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 19, 1856.

not experimented on the rabbits before I went to the in-
quest. Five of the rabbits were experimented on
25 years ago. I had a great objection. to destroy life ex-
cept in extreme cases. My last experiments were mad.
after the inquest. I don't consider a rabbit an unfair
test ; dogs are not so good. They are not so dangerous
to handle. I think the rabbits as good as any animal, as
the poison is retained and the effects are visible.
attended the inquest and suggested questions. They
were pet to the witnesses. I remember Roberts being
examined, but I only paid attention to the medical part
of the case: I did not hear Roberts say strychnia had
been bought, but I knew it had been bought on the
Tuesday from Mr. Gardner's letter to me, and it was
with that knowledge, and after hearing some of the evi-
dence, that I gave my opinion.
Sergeant Shee—l think, my lord, wa ought here to
have the witness's depositions read.
The Lord Chief Justice —Very well.
The Clerk then read the evidence given by Dr. Alfred
Taylor at the inquest held on Mr. Cook.
Examination continued—l returned to town imme-
diately after giving my evidence, and the r risoner was
committed for wilful murder. I tlrnight it my duty to
abstain from all discussion calculated to influence the
public mind. I wrote a letter to the Lancet contradict.
ing some statements that had been made.
The letter was here read. It was one complaining of
certain statements, and also misquotations that had
been made from his evidence.
The court adjourned for a quarter of an hour.
On the jury returning to their box,
The cross-examination of Dr. Taylor was then pro-
ceeded with. The last portion of the letter was strictly
correct, and it was still his opinion. The mode in which
the result of this trial will affect the accused is of miner
importance compared to the interests of 16 millions of
persons. He had no prejudice against the man, but he
had a duty to the community as well as to the prisoner
to perform. I never knew that a likeness or rather a
" caricature " of myself and Dr. Rees was taken for
the Illustrated Times. Ido not know anything of the
person taking the likeness. Mr. A. Mayhew called or.
me with a letter from Professor Faraday, and I received
him as I should the professor himself. He did not tell
me until after the conversation had taken place that he
tonneoted with the illustrated Times. I think the
information was obtained in a very indirect inenner.
After I detected the imposition I desired everything
connected with the Rugeley cases might be excluded.
I never said to a gentleman named Cook Evans, " I
will give them enough strychnine before I have done
with them." I never uttered anything so low or vulgar.
I most positively deny that I ever used the term, and
the person who has instructed you (Sergeant Shee) has
very much misinformed you. As regards the effect of
strychnia on the human frame, I don't think I ever
saw a single case, but I have a knowledge of the subject.
Cook was seized with tetanic symptoms after he sat up
in his bed. I cannot ref.r to any case in any book
were the symptoms exhibited by Cook are described.
The beating of the bedclothes by Cook would prove that
he was very uneasy from a sense of suffocation. The
tetanic symptoms occurred after the beating of the bed-
clothes. I have heard of one case of tetanus. The patient
had a fit like ague. I know of no case whine the patient
screnmed before the fit. I have never known a patient
scream when attacked by tetanus, but will in ordinary
convulsions. I cannot say whether a person affected
with tetanic spasms would be affected by the touch ;
animals would. I know of a fatal case from strychnine,
where a healthy young female had taken strychnine and
no effect produced for an hour. The case is reported in
medical Jurisprudence. She took a grain awl
a half. There is another case, not fatal, where
the patient was not attacked for two hour,
after the taking the strychnia. Dr. Ceristisson reports
a case where death ensued in three hours and three-
quarters after the ingestion of strychnia. lam of opi-
nion, that in that case the convulsions did not commence
until three hours afterwards. There is another caw,
where a female took a very large dose in a state of solu
tion, and was some time before she was attacked. Ido
not know of any fatal case whersetthe symptoms have
manifested themselves so lonk as ari4hour and a halt
after the ingestion of the poison. The recovery
of Cook upon the night of Monday may be
attributed to the nature and quantity of the
dose. Ido not know that he was well in so short a
time. In a case where half an ounce of nux vomica had
been taken, convulsions subsided in four hours and a-
half. It is not so strong as strychnine ; strychnine is
the agent.
Sergeant Shee—Have you known any other case
where, after strychnine has been taken, that the symp-
toms subsided so soon as they did in Cook's case ?—I do
not ; neither do I know any case where the paroxysm
subsided for so long a time as they did in Cook's case,
from the Monday to Tuesday. I do net think that
the dose upon Monday had anything to do with
the atttack upon Tuesday. Ido not know of a
case where the body hat been pliant after death.
The coloured tests cannot be depended upon unless you
get strychnine in a tangible form.
By the Attorney-General—l have det with cases in
my reading where the heart was found empty after death
in a human subject. I have met with three such cases.
I ascribe the emptiness of the heart to spasmodic action.
If the paroxysm were severe and shertl expect to find the
heart empty. The rigidity after death in the cases I have
seen always affected the muscles of the back. The dura-
tion of time in which the symptoms would first appear
would vary according to the constitution and the absorp-
tion. One of the earliest symptoms of death by strychnine
is the feeling of suffocation. I have no doubt but that that
which I produCed was antimony. Supposing antimony
was given to prodece sickness, some would be thrown
off during the vomiting. I suggested some questions
to the coroner, because he did not.put sect as would
enable me to form an crpreirOin It was not intentional,
but he did not appear to understand the medical bearing
of the case. I also observed that there was an omission in
taking down some of the answers. I referred to antimony
as the cause of Cook's death, as it was the only sub-
stance found in his body after death. I have been
misrepresented as to the possibilities of discovering
strychnia after death very much indeed. What I said
to the coroner was that strychnia absorbed by the
blood could not be extracted as strychnia.
Dr. Rees. lecturer at Guy's liospitel—l assisted Dr.
Taylor in the analysis. It has been very correctly
given. The antimony discovered might have been ad
ministered within a few hours or days of death. The
amount discovered was no test of the amounreinainistertl.
We failed to discover etrychnia. The stomach was pre-
sented most unfavourably for analysis. Tne stomach
had been turned inside out, the raucous surface rub-
bing against the intestines. The contents, had there been
any, must have been mixed among the intestines. This
being the state of the stomach it was very difficult to
discover strychnia. I agree with Dr. Taylor that strych-
nia is absorbed before it causes death. I also
agree that it is only the excess that is found.
I have seen the experiments of Dr. Taylor
with the rabbits, and I assisted in discovering
the strychnia after the death of the animals. We de-
stroyed four animals, and failed to detect it in three.
The symptoms of death resembled Cook's case; r have
heard the detailu of all the oases that have been detailed
during this trial, and they are anatagous to the experi-
ments I have produced in animal life.
Cross-examined by Mr. Grove—The etrychnia was
administered by pills. The animal is thrown on its
back, its legs secured by the hands, arid the mouth
opened and the pills introduced. In the four
cases mentioned there was no sickness. In the
fifth case, which I did not see, a portion was
ejected. There was no great putrefaction in the sto-
mach of Cook when it was received.

By the Attorney-General—The presence of antimony
was clearly shown.

Professor Brandt—l am professor of chemistry at the
Royal Institution. I was not present at the analysis
of the liver and spleen of Cook, but I had a report sent
to me for my opinion. I was present at Guy's Hospital
on the 3d of May. We then examined, in the first
place, the action of copper upon a weak solution of an-
timony. We found that there was no action until the
solution slightly acidified by the acid and heated. The
antimony was then deposited, and I am enabled to state

that the deposit was antimony.
Cross-examined .Mr. by Greve—The case which I have
just alluded to was one made of emetic tartar fur the
experiment. It is whit is called Rich's test in reference

to arsenic. I only know of three
.substances that are

thrown down. It was arsenic, antimony, and I believe
bismuth. Mercury will deposit without the application
of heat, as well as with its application.

By the Attorney-General—The tests applied were the
proper tests. I have no doubt but that antimony was
present.

Professor Christison, of Edinbarih University, said—.
I have, amongst other poisons, turned My attention to

etrychnia. In my opinion strychnia is absorbed in the
blood, and by its action on the nervous system proves
fatal. I have seen its action on the human body, but
not fatal—it was through an overdose being taken.
have frequently seen experiments en frogs, cats, dog.,
and one wild boar. I first direoted,my attention to thiS
poison (str3chnia) in 1820, in Paris; It was discovered
two years before that date, in that,city. .The doses iti
4iOA of ally experiments bxie been *.4y mill d0ie6,4144

some cases a gixth of a grain. The poison has been in-
jected into the cavity of the chest by a small incision.
A. sixth part of a grain killed a dog in two minutes. I
.iave administered it occasionally into the stomach. A.
rabbit was used. The animal died, but I cannot now
recollect the time. I have seen one of the experiments
made by Dr. Taylor. He gave about three-
quarters of a grain, but a very small quantity
was not swallowed by the animal, and the
symptoms in those animals, were, speaking generally, a
:slight tremor and unwillingness to move ; then fre-
quently the animal jerks its head backward, and soon
afterwards ad the symptoms of tetanus came on that
have been so often described by previoas witnesses.
Occasionally there is a remission of the symptoms.
From the time of the giving of the poison to the coming
on of the first symptoms 12 minutes will elapse. Death
generally takes place in about 25 minutes. The jaws
and neck are affected first, and then the trunk
and extremities. I have observed differences in
,he same species of animals. Same die in one con-
tinuous paroxysm; but that is uncommon. I have
commonly found a resumption of the symptoms
before death, and the animals very generally die quietly;
the rigidity is gone, and the body is fleeced ; the ri-
gidity comes on again soon after death. I have
opened the bodies after death, and could never
trace any effect of the poison in the stomach,'
upon the spinal cord and brain. I never could
satisfactorily find anything to trace to poison. The
hearts of some animals I have not found empty, others I
nave. In cases of overdose by people, I have seen
there was a fixing of the retraction of the head, a
grinning expression, a slight stiffness of the
arms, great alarm in the patient, no convul-ions
.f the lower limbs. It would take longer in a large
than a small subject. In the case of the wild boar, it
was injected into the breast, a third of a grain ; it died
in about ten minutes. Nux vomica will sometimes
not take an effect for an hour; it would operate
:slower in the solid form, and protract the appearance
of the symptoms ; it might be mixed so as to protract
its operation with a resinous substance, er anything diffi•
cult of digestion. Some resinous substances are used for
,naking pills. Absorption would take place as soon as
the substance of the pill began to, be broken down er
digested. We cannot, with our present knowledge,
fix the precise time when absorption commences. When
we give it to an animal we take care that it has
fasted, that it may the more readily take effect, and give
it in a soluble state that it may soon take effect. I have
seen many cases of tetanus from both causes. Ordinary
tetanus and tetanus from strychnine do not differ, but
the course is different. Ordinary tetanus proceeds more
slowly, and in certain forms it proceeds without any
intermission. There are short ones in that from strych-
nine. I beard the description of Cook on Monday and
Tuesday, and I should refer it to strychnine or to the Ig-
natius bean, snakewood, and'two other plants of the same
class as nux vomica, all of whichyield strychninelAs long
as one can make any observation upon the sensibility it
remains in the animal up to the final spasm which de-
prives it of consciousness. In animals the heart will
contain blood, but it differs in the human frame, but
that will depend upon the circumstances of death. When

it is spasm of the heart it will be emptied. I
should not expect to find strychnia after death
unless the excess of the dose taken was great.
Vegetable poisons are more difficult to detect
than others. I know of one that cannot be detected.
Attorney-General— We will not hear it named.
Witness—l consider that the state of the stomach in
0-ok's case was not at all favourable to analysis, and
there mu't have been a good deal in the stomach to
nave found it under those circumstances.

Cross-examined by Mr. Grove—My first experiments
were made before the colourrd tests were used. I tried
,hem once upon the stomach of a man known to have
lied from strychnine, and the test failed;
Lord Campbell—When was that ?

Witness—ln 1851. I employed sulphuric acid and
oxide of lead to produce the violet colour. I did not
use bichromate of potash, or manganese. The man bad
been found dead upon a moor.

The witness not having any permanent knowledge of
the circumstances of the death the examination about it
was not proceeded with.

Cross•examination continued —ln my work I leave the
question open as to whether it is caused from spasm of
the heart or asphyxia.

Lord Campbell—Let us know what you mean by
asphyxia ?—Suff,cation ,my Lord.
Cross-examination continued—ln animals there are
found blood in the right cavity of the heart. My
book states that the effects continue twelve to sixteen
hours. That was written a long time ago, and we have
learnt more since. I have known the effects even
in a much shorter time in animals operated upon.
The touch, unless very slight indeed, brings on a return
of the spasms. It has been said by the gentleman who
discovered the poison that one part in 80,000 would be
enough to impart to the whole a bitter taste. The sub-
stance of the pill might not he found in the stomach. It
might pass off through the intestines and not be found.
Re-examined by the Attorney-General—That would de-
pend partly upon the dose. The case of the man referred to
was in Scotland. The man had been missed for four
days, and was found dead. His hands were clenched,
his head and body thrown back, and in his pocket a
paper of strychnine was found. I found in the stomach
indications that he had taken strychnine. I heard the
coluured test spoken of by Dr. Taylor, which failed. I
do not consider we can rely upon the coloured tests for
finding strychnine, especially if it be impure.
At this stage the case was adjwurned, and the At-
torney-General, in answer to Mr. Baron Alderson, who
sat during the after part of the day, said that the pro-
secution would close to-morrow.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMO—NS—(This Evening.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
—Antrim and Coleraine Roads; Banbridge Junction
Railway; Dewsbury, Batley, and Hecktnondwicke
Water ; Eastern Union Railway ; Glasgow Ciurt
Rouses and Oifices, and the Glasgow Paving.
SLIGO ELECTION CO AIMITTEE.
The members elected to serve on the Sligo Election
Committee were called to the table and sworn.
MILITARY BANDS' IN THE PARKS.
In answer to a question from Mr. OTWAY,
Sir B. HALL said that a few days since he received
orders to di-continue the playing of the bands in the
parks on Sunday, and that was ad he knew of it.
Lord PALMERSTON said he received last week
a letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury, containing
reasons why it was desirable the playing of tlie bands in
the parks should cease. He replied that he concurred
in the arratigem3nts made for the playkig of the bands
in the parks, and that his opinion was, a,,1 is, that it
afforded innocent recreation and ainimment, to the
inhabitants of the metropolis—(hear)—hut Swing the
opinion of the head of the Church, and that of others
was against it, he was led to ask himself whether the ad
vantages to be derived from it would compensate for the
evil of running contrary to the religious feelings of so large
a number of the people of this country, and he was bound
to believe it would not, and therefore he gave orders for
the discontinuance of the bands playing on Sundays,
Mr. orwAy gave notice that on the first opportu-
nity on the house going into supply he should move for
copies of the correspondence alluded
THE DEFENCE OF- KARS.
In reply to a question from Mr. OLIVEIRA,
Lord PALMERSTON said that, with regard to
granting pensions to those offisers who defended Kars
with General Williams, there was no precedent for ex-
tending such marks of distinction to them.
ASSAULT ON MISS ARCHER.
In reply to a question from Mr. PEACOCKE, relative
to the assault on Miss Archer, on the day of the pro-
clamation of the peace, by a policemen of the D
Sir G. GREY said that every inquiry had been made,
and every facility given to Miss Archer to identify the
policeman, but she had not been able to do so,

THE PARKS AND THE BANDS.
Mr. ROEBUCK asked the Prime Minister if it was
true that a deputation of the Scotch members had
waited on him with reference to the discontinuance of
the playing of the bands on Sundays. (Hear, hear.)
Lord PALMERSTON said that no such deputation
had waited on him. (Hear, hear.)
Major REED asked if the order for discontinuing
the playing of the bands on Sithdays would extend to
garrison towns.
Lord PALMERSTON said it related only to the
playing of the bands in the parks on Sundays.

THE FIREWORKS.
In answer to a question from Mr. LINDSAY,
Lord PALMERSTON said the fireworks would com-
mence as soon as the
e, light and darkness " would per-
mit—about 9 o'clock. With regard to the illumination,
that was only a private matter, resting entirely with in-
diviunals.

been completely paid up. He afterwards stated
to the house a plan for funding area millions
on Exchequer Bills, which had taken effect, and bad
been successful. Since that time the balance sheet for the
years 1855-6 had been laid before Parliament, and hon.
members had seen the receipt and expenditure of last year,
and he should recapitulate but little of it to enable them
to understand it. The expenditure was 88,428,0001.,
the revenue was 65,704?000/., leaving an excess of ex-
penditure 22,723,0001, exclmive of the advance of a
million on loan to Sardinia, and the redemption of heri-
ditary pensions to the amount of 213.0001. The total pay-
ments beyond the revenue had been 23 936,000/. To cover
that there was raised by loans on Consols 19,501,000.,
Exchequer Bonds, 977,7551., and Exchequer Bills
amounting to six millions, making 26,478,0001, and he
had therefore to account for 2,542,0001., which was an
excess in favour of the Exchequer. On 81st March,
1856, the balance was 5.600 0001., and on 31st
March, 1855, was 3,949,0001., subject to the
deduction of one million of outstanding ways
and means, which had been advanced in anti-
cipation of the revenue of the succeeding year—
leaving, therefore, in 1856, the sum of 2,949,000, which
was the real balance. If they compared that
with the balance of 1856, they would find the in-
creased balance of the latter year was 2,651,000/., and
a further sum of 100,0001. beyond what he bad
to account for. The total expenditure for the two
years of war, includin one milion advanced to
Sardinia amounted to 155,171,0001. The expenditure
for the two previous years of peace, 1852-3 and 1853-4,
was 102, 032,0001., and if they deducted that from the
two years of war, they would find the excess of expendi-
ture was 53.088,000/. The revenue from taxation for
the two years of war had been 108,018,000/., and the
increase of revenue from taxation in the two years of war
was 17,182,000/., to which was to be ad led 33 601,0001.,
money borrowed, which gave a total of 50,786,0001. as
compared with the two previous years of peace.
To that' amount must be added the surplus of income
over expenditure of 5,985,0001., so that the total
amount of the expenditure for the past year had
been 56 772,000/. If they made a similar eaten-
laion of the estimated expenditure of the pre-
' sent year with that of the year of peace im-
mediately preceding the war, they would find an
excess of 24,500,0001, and by adding the actual
expence of the two years, and the excesss of expenditure
on this year fairly attributable to the war, they would
arrive at a total expenditure of 77,588,000/. on the three
years. By the advancement of science they had
been able during the war to greatly reduce the
expenditure consequent on a state of war, by being ena-
bled to compress matter into a small compass as regarded
time and other matter. The American war lasted sue
years, and added 124 millions to their debt. This war
the actual hostilities had lasted but twe y ears, and they had
had to add but forty-two millions to the national debt,
funded and unfunded, the principal additions being to
the unfunded debt. The country at the commencement
of the late war was unprepared at its beginning for
so great a struggle, but from the manner in which the war
bad been conducted, the country was now in possession
of a larger amount of materials than at its commence-
ment, and it was not, therefore, to be supposed that
the expenditure had been for a temporary pur-
pose, much of it being in a temporary form.
In considering the estimate for the expen-
diture and the revenue for 1856-7, the pre-
sent year must be considered for all practical circum-
stances, and, to a great extent, as a year of war
expenditure, and they must not expect to reap
the full benefit of a retu' n to the blessings of peace
till another year. The original estimate for the army
was 34,999,0001., and the reduced estimate presenter! to
the house a short time since was 10,747,0001., showing
a difference of 14 251.0001. The original estimate for the
navy was 19,876,0001., and the reduced estimate
16,568,0001., making a difference of 3,308,0001. The
total of the arigiiial estimates, therefore, for the army
and navy was 54,874,0001., and the reduced estimates
37,315,000/., making a difference of 17,559.0001. The
right hon. baronet next adverted to the treaty between
this country and Sardinia, by which we were to ad-
%ance to that country during the war two millions. One
million had been paid, and the other instalment of a
million had become due since the signing of the
treaty of peace. He had no doubt but that he
would carry into effect the spirit of the treaty en-
tered into wi'h Sardinia, and w, uld authorise the ad-
vancement of that sum: Including that payment the
estimated expenditure for the year 1856 7 eat—
funded debt, including new loan, 27,635,0001. ;
unfunded debt, 1,250.000/. ; consolidated tend,
1,750,0001., the army 27,747,0001., navy 3,568.000/ ,
and the civil service 6,800,0001„ making, with the
charges for collecting the revenue, 75,525,0001. That
sum would cover the eiltire estimated servicee for the year,
but inasmuch as it was diffioult, not to say irnpee
giblet to make a correct estimate of the expenses that
'night be incurred in bringing home the army and de-
-1 fraying what expenses that might arise, he should pro•
pose at a later period of the session, as a matter of pre.
caution, and not from any anticipated increase of the esti-
mates, to take a vote of creditfor two millions, which would
meke the total estimate including the two millions for Sar-
dn'a 77,525,0001. He then alluded to the total revenue
fur the year—confining himself to those taxes, the
rates of which had been increased. The inc ,metex
for the year at 16d. in the pound, or 6/. 13s. 4d.
per cent., he estimated would return a net
produce in round numbers of 16,000.000/. I will now
pass to the war duties on tea and sugar. The duty on
tea now is le. 9d., and it will continue so until
1858, when it will be ls. 3d. per pound, and after that
year it will be ls. per pound, and it was not proposed to
interfere with these arrangements. It was gratifying to
know that during the war there has been a steady in-
crease in that article. The spirit duties were
never in a better state in the United / Kingdom
than at the present time both with respect to the draw-
back in malt for distillation, and they thought they
were justified in getting as large a return as
possible frees spirits, provided illicit distilation
was not increased. The right h inourahle gentle
man then read an authority on the subject, bear-
ing out the above view. The war duty on malt will
very shortly cease altogether, as the term from the ratifi-
cetion of peace will fill in the July of the present quarter.
The war duty was at present 44. per bushel, but alter
July next it will remain at 2s. B,td., and it was intended
to allow a drawback on the entire stock in band, which
will amount to nearly 1,000,000/. Tne hon. gentleman
having stated the amount of the gross income and ex-
penditure of the United Kingdom, said it had beet, re-
solved to keep taxation as it at present existed, and to
resort to a loan of 5,800,000/. Teat loan had been bid
for this morning at 1081. fur every 100/. in Consols,
being a trifle higher than the reserve price, which was
set 'lowa at 107/. 10s., and the whole had been taken by
the Nlesers. Rothschild. It was an exceedingly ,atisfactory
thing, Foal was also gratifying, as it eh° wed the coefi•
ience with which great operations were entered into in
this country. Toe Ale are. Rothechild, this ruorbing,
had on hand 4,000,000/., the whole sum eeing transmitted
to them either in Bank of England notes or gold, and
this sum, taken at 10 per cent., represented a capital of
40,000,0001. The committee, therefore, in examining
the 1 ian that had been effected this morning,
dud that the terms were as high as herMajesty'eGoverii-
inent expected on the one hand, an., on tile ()trier that
it had been so arranged as to offer a fair remuneration to
those parties who had comae forward to lend this capital.
The luau will not cover the deficiency for the year,
chat being 6,873,000/. ; there will, therefore, re-
main 1,873,0001., which might be called two mil-
lions, and it was proposed to ask the committee to
confer upon the Government power to borrow that sum
on Exceequer Bonds, if the necessity for such a pro-
eeedieg should arise, and thus the deficieney would oe
covered. It was proposed teat Exchequer Bonds
should be the securities, in preference to Exchequer
Bills, as the Exchequer Bill market was not at
present in such a state as wouid render it desir-
able to raise that sum on those securities.
the right bon, gentleman then referred to the extinction
of the national debt, and said the best course to pursue
was to raise a surplus by taxation, and apply it to that pur-
pose in preference to relying upon theachetnes of financier,.
Parliament applied the principle of the extinction of
loans to all large bodies except itself, by calling on then,
to provide a sinking lurid. It was a mistake to consider
that because the annuities were perpetual the debt must
be permanent also. There appeared to be an im-
pression that 'in our transition state from war
to peace we ought to consider our fiscal system,
but before entering further upon it, he ativerteo
to the revision of those duties that took place in 1842,
1846, and in 1853, when all prohibitory and excessive
duties were swept away, and the only protective duties
left were those of foreign spirits and hops. Stamps
were revised in 1850, and that referring to bills
and receipts in 1853, and the newspaper stamp
last year. The window tax was abolished in
1851, at a loss of 1,170,0001. to the revenue, and the
assessed taxes in 1853, at a loss of 290,000/. Tue laud
tax afforded of no reduction. For the income tax a plan
had 'been suggested for its commutation, but
which he hoped would never be carried out. (Hear,
hear.) Tue excise duties had for late years
been under constant reduction ; alterations had taken
place in the duties on bricks, soap, hackney carriages,
&c. The reduction of taxation was a matter which

rested on the requirements of Government, and
not with the Parliament ; and, unfortunately, they
were so situated that they could not do without rais-
ing a large revenue for the expenditure of the Govern.
ment, and so long as that necessity existed, he feared it
would be impossible for them to avoid imposing
certain taxes, and maintain them at rates higher
than they would wish. He found that in 1852
the amount levied gave 11. 19s. 4d. co,tribut, d
by every individual in the kingdom, according to
the population, but if they deduc ed the national debt
it amounted but to 19s. 5 In 1854-5 it amounted to
21. 9s. 4d. per head, and deducting the nati inal debt to
I/. 9s. 9d Last year it amounted to 31. 55., and
ituout the national debt to 21. 54. 41. Amongst
the re suctions which it would be destrab.e
to effeot ;'cif the finances of the country
would pz:ruiltvotild be that on C..}baccu, cu Fredch

Cross-examined by Mr. Grove—l did not see the
patient during any severe attack. In the animals touch
produced the symptoms in a marked manner. The pa-
tient was at no time that I saw her in a state of insen-
sibility. On the post mortem examination the lungs
were much congested—a small quantity of bloody
serum around the pericardium and pleura ; the
eeuscles generally were dark and soft ; there
was a quantity of blood suffused on the brain ;
serum, slightly tinged with blood, was in the men,-
brane of the spinal cord. The large spinal vein was
much congested, as well as the membranes of the spinal
cord. I opened the head first, and a great quantity of
blood flowed out—part of it might have flowed from the
heart, which rendered it uncertain as to what quan-
tity was in it at the time of death. I have
examined the hearts of many animals that have been
poisoned by strychnine ; the right side is generally found
to be full. I have seen animals attacked from one to
two hours after the application of pure strychnine. I
discovered strychnine by all the tests I applied
with more or less distinctness. In almost all the
cases of animals to which it has been adminis-
tered I have detected it. In one or two cases
I did not. One I had my doubts about. We knew
strychnine-had been administered, but we doubted if it
had reached the stomach. I Have detected strychnine
nearly two months after death, and after decompssitien
had set in to a certain extent.
Re-examined by the Attorney-General—l have given
to a dog from a grain to two gea,ins. Strychnine, acts on
the nerves, and is also partly taken up uy the blood and
acts on it. It acts partly on the nerves immediately on
its getting into the system. It is abserbed. Wnen
animal is innoculated with it, it is found under the skin.
When taken it is found in the stomach; teat is the excess
which has not been absorbed in the system. That
absorbed in the system has the effect of poisoning suffi-
cient to cause death. I speak the facts not theoreticaly.
I am not quite sure strychnine will not remain in the
stomach and act prejudicially without being absorbed.
Suppose the minimum dose that would cause death to
be administered I should expect to fail iu detecting
it in the system. The phenomena after death would be
different in a patient that bad taken a eerie, of minute
doses than in one that had taken a full one.
By Mr. Serjeant Shee —I am not quite decided in opi-
nion whether the unabsorbed portion in the system would
be changed. I have.nce fact to show it can be changed by
any decomposing or fermenting qualities. I don't think
it would. I don't know that strychuia, after produc-
ing poisonous effects, has beau found in the liver and
blood as strychuia.
Mr. E. Moore, a surgeon, said—l attended with Dr.
Chambers a gentleman, named Clutterbuck, for para-
lysis, about 15 years ago. I had been giving him
some small doses of strychuia. lie left me
and went to Brighten, but returned and informed
me he had taken stronger doses of strych-
nine. In consequence of that I gave him a stronger
dose than I had given him former y. I made up a dose
of three draughts, a quarter of a grain in each
draught. He took one, eel I was present when
he took it. He told ms he had taken three.coarters of
a grain at Brighton. After he had taken the draught I
memained with him for some time, and I left him as he
said he felt quite comfortable. In about three-quarters
°fan hour after taking the draught I was summoned to him.
When I got there I found him stiffened in every limb,
his head drawn back, and screaming violently that we
should turn him and rub him. (Sensation.) I tried to
give him ammonia, and he snapped at the spoon.
He suffered about three hours altogether before
I left him in safety. He survived the attack, and (lur-
ing the whole of the time of the attack he was perfectly
conscious.

Cross-examined by Sergeant Shee—Efe was about
three hours in recovering from the effect of the spasms.
The rigidity of the muscles remained for a considerable

time. When first attacked with the spasms his head
and feet were drawn bank. After he recovered ho
thought his paralysis was butter. 11,1 had been taking
strychnine for paralysis in mall doses.

By the Attorney General —Strychnine excites the
action and gives muscular motion.

At a quarter past 5 o'clock the learned Attorney-
General stated that his next witness was Professor
Taylor, but as his examination would occupy several
11,,urs he wished to know if their lordships would sit on
or adjourn
Lord Csuipbcll gild the Court woqld tidjortn.