The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-22 00:00:00

SUMMER ASSIZES.

NORTHERN ClRCUlT.—Liverpool, Aug. 20.
(Before the LORD CHIEF BARON.)

William Anderson, a surgeon, practising at Manches-
ter, was indicted for the manslaughter of Jane Ford, by
the administering of improper medicines.
Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Mark conducted the prosecution;
the prisoner was defended by Mr. James.
Mr. Wilkins stated the case.

Catherine Foley, examined by Mr. MARK—I am the
wife of William Foley. My maiden name was Ford. I
was married to my husband, Philip Foley, after the
birth of this child. It was six weeks old at the time of
its death. It was in good health on the morning of the
29th of May. I fed it about ten o'clock on boiled bread
and milk. It ate heartily. It took the breast well. In
the afternoon it was seized with a fit of crying. I searchd
its clothes to see whether anything hurt it. I could not
find anything. I took it to a druggist's in Newton-lane,
near my house. He told me to take it to Surgeon An-
derson's. I did so. I showed him the child. It was
not then crying. He asked what was to do with the
child. I said it was bad in the belly. He asked if I had
fed it. I said I had. He asked me if it was with new
bread or old? I said with old. A woman who was
there asked if it ever had fits? I said no. He felt the
belly of the child. It did not cry when he did so. He
looked up in my face and laughed. I told him I had
given it a teaspoonful of castor oil. He asked me if it
drew up its legs. I said, " No, it was rather inclined
to stretch itself out." He asked me for a bottle, and I

fetched one. He filled it from two b Ades in the shop. I
paid ad. for it. He told me to give the child a teaspoon-
ful every four hours, one dose to be given as soon as Igot
ho me. He did not tell me to go back to tell him how
it was going on. I gave it a teaspoonful of the mixture
about seven o'clock. It cried a little but not much. I
gave it another dose about eleven o'clock. It slept very
heavily, but awakened partially when I took it up. I
had no difficulty in opening its mouth, but it hiccupped
and moaned. Its feet were cold, and the legs drawn up.
I straightened them, but it drew them up again. About
four o'clock in the morning I gave it another dose. I
got up about seven o'clock. I went to Mr. Anderson
about half-past seven. The child was then sleeping very
heavily, and I did not attempt to wake it. When Mr.
Anderson came down I said, " Mr. Anderson, the little
child I had here yesterday was very poorly in the
night, and hiccupped very much after I gave it the se-
cond teaspoonful of the mixture. It draws up its legs
and moans very much." He asked me if it had slepC?
I said it had. I had taken the bottle with me. It was
half full. Mr. Anderson filled it up, and told me to
give it to the child as before. I gave it another dose
about eight o'clock. It was not moaning then. It was
in other respects the same as before. About twelve
o'clock I gave it some more. It was very cold, and I se-
veral times took it to the fire to warm it. I then took it
to Mr. Taylor's, the druggist, and he desired me to
take it to the infirmary. 'l'bis was after four o'clock in
the afternoon. The child died about half-past one on
Friday morning. After its death I went to the prisoner
and asked him what was his reason for giving such me-
dicine to my child to kill her ? He said he thought
there was something sour on her stomach.
This evidence having been confirmed,
Edward Tomlinson, a surgeon at the infirmary, stated
that the child was brought to him on the 31st of May,
about fire o'clock. It was then labouring under ym p-
vims of narcotic poison. The skin was cold, the pulse
small, the pupils contracted and fixed. There was a
slight consciousness. The bottle delivered to witness by
Mrs. Foley was given to Mr. Braithwaite. Witness
smelt it. It contained opium. The child was put in a
hot bath, and other means were used to rouse it. Does
not think that opium should ever be given to an infant.
Half a drop should, at all events, be the largest dose.
Would expect two drops to produce death in from seven
to twelve hours. After twelve hours there are usually
hopes of recovery. Four drops would probably pro-
duce death in from seven to twelve hours. Could not
say nearer. Six drops in five hours would probably
produce death sooner. An overcharged stomach fre-
quently produces symptoms similar to those produced
by narcotic poison.
Re-examined—The symptoms produced by an over-
loaded stomach would be apoplectic. In apoplexy the
pupil is dilated, not contracted. The strength of lau-
danum varies very much.
John Braithwaite, the apothecary at the infirmary,
stated that he saw the child about nine o'clock in the
evening. It was then comotose. The skin was cold,
the pups contracted, and there was great difficulty in
rousing it. In apoplexy the patient cannot be roused at
all. Received a bottle from the last witness. It smelt
strongly of opium. Ordered strong coffee to be adminis-
tered. The cure, however, seemed then hopeless. Wit-
!less made up a mixture, containing six drops of lau-
danum to three drachms of water, which he gave to
Mr. Watson, the chemist. The child died on the Friday.
Examined the body the same day. • There were several
bluish patches on the surface of the skin. The brain
was congested. On cutting into its substance found
several spots of dark coloured blood. Took out the
stamach and havels, and gave them to Mr. Philipson,
the Coroner's officer. The body presented the usual ap-
pearances of death from narcotic poison. The stomach
was not distended. There was no smell of opium, but
the child might still have died of opium, as it would be
absorbed. Infants are peculiarly susceptible of the effects
of opium. Would not administer as much as half a drop
to an infant six weeks old.

Cross •examined—Would suppose a dose of two drops
would produce death in from six to eight, ten, or twelve,
or more hours. It is impossible to speak definitely.
Several doses of two drops each would probably cause
death !sooner, but not so soon as if all were administered
together. After two dropi the infant would probably be
in a comotose state in four hours.

He examined—The effccts of opium are different in
different constitutions.

H. B. Watson, chemist, tested the contents of the
bottle received from Mrs. Foley, and the mixture made
up by Mr. Braithwaite. Added a solution of the sulphate
of the peroxide ofiron and compared the colour. The mix•
ture received from Mrs. Foley was stronger than that made
up by Mr. Braithwaite, viz., six drops to three drachms
of water. Diluted a portion of the former until the
colour, when the solution was added as above, approached
that of the latter. Thinks the mixture received from
Mrs. Foley was at least twice as strong as that made up
by Mr. Braithwaite.
It appeared froin the evidence of Mr. Beswick, the
constable, that on the 6th of June he went to the house
of the prisoner. A young man who was in the shop
shut the door, and refused him admission. He got in,
and going down to the cellar found the door shut. Some
one opposed his entrance from the inside. On getting.
in he found the prisoner and two females there. He
spoke to the prisoner about the child. lle said he knew
nothing about it. Ile had no such name in his books.