The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-13 00:00:00

is highly volatile, and of peculiar odour. Whilst it is vola-
tieing, a strong odour perceptible to any one is emitted. The
contents of Sarah Hart's stomach were exposed to a boiling
heat of 212 fur several minutes. During that time we all
tried to'catch the odour, without discovering it. I don't
know that I ever saw prussic acid distilled before. There
was no odour from the few drops of blood I drew from the
deceased. I don't feel competent to say that epileptic
patients would be more easily acted on by prussic acid than
otheis not so afflicted. The case to which I have alluded, in
which 7-10ths of a grain was fatal in Paris, was that of seven
ep?leptic patients, to whom by mistake a dose containing
7-11 Mis of a grain was administered to each, and they all
died, some within a few minutes, others after three-quarters
of an hour.
(A debate here arose as to this case, it being reported dif-
ferently in difl'erent books. Mr. Baron Parke referred to
the original book, in which it was found that one died within
15 minutes, and the rest at different periods to the last, who
lived three-quarters of an hour.)
Cross-examination resumed—The odour was, in some
cases, found eight days after death. After the froth had
subsided from the porter I poured on the drachm of acid,
I perceived the smell strongly. Hydrocyanic acid exists
many substances—in apples, and many fruits, for in-
stance. I agrea with Christison, who says, at page 756,
that hydrocyanic acid is formed in numerous substances,
where it was nut previously supposed to exist. The prussic
blue of commerce is obtained from the blood and horns of
animals. The chief components of prussic acid are 62.12
carbon, 12 of nitrogen. and lof hydrogen. It is said to exist
in the human saliva; but not as pussic acid. It is called the
sulph. cyanide. It exists as hydrocyanic in cherry stones
and other fruit kernels. There was no smell at all during
the tests of the deceased's stomach for the other poisons, and
we then Caine to the conclusion that there must be prussic
acid. The process through which the stomach and contents
were then pout would produce prussic acid from apple pips or
other fruit kernels. When we obtained the prussic acid it
had no smell. Down to the last experiment, in which we
obtained a certain large quantity of prussic acid, I perceived
no smell at all, after the first odour I perceived on opening
the body. We did not burn any of the substances produced.
By .Ar. Baron PARKE—We did not try to burn the cyanide
of silver.
Cross-examination continued—The first thing I did when
called in to Sarah Hart was to feel her pulse. I thought at
first I perceived a slight pulsation—a throb or two ; but
Row I imagine I did not feel any. When I put my hand
upon the region of the heart there was no pulsation at all.
I felt satisfied the deceased was dead when I tried to bled
her. I thought it better to do so, atone of the usual means,
merely in order to leave no means untried, as in cases of con-
gestion of the head.
Mr. KELLY—Do you mean to say that you did not open
the vein for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of death?
Witness—l may have tried to see whether the blood con-
tained anything to account for death,- said I wished to satisfy
wr. the persons present that nothing was left undone. I took
out the contents of the stomach eighteen hours after death.
The vessel into which I put them was perfectly clean. It
was a broad mouthed pickle bottle. I did not wash it out,
but I held it up, and locked through it, and saw it was clean
and quite (.10% That is the bottle (produced).
The witneee was re-examined by Mr. Sergeant BYLEs, at
very considerable length, upon the subject of the qualities,
&c., of prussic acid, and with regard to the cases of the seven
• epileptic patients in Paris.
The Court adjourned at seven o'clock, till Thursday (this
morning), at nine.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12.

The Sub-Comittee on Stand►ng Orders No. 1, present Mr.
Strait, chairman, Mr. Forbes, Mr. V. Stuart, Mr. Compton,
and the llon. Mr. Clive, sat at 12 o'clock to-day.
A paition from
TIII3 DUBLIN AND DROGHEDA RAILWAY

Company for a Bill to run a branch from the above line to
Howth. near Dublin' and to alter and improve their previous
Act, will be reported as being in compliance with the stand-
ing orders. Imigth of branch, 3* miles; estimate, 40,0001. ;
engineer, Sir J. Macneill ; agents, Messrs. Hayward and
Dorrington.
HARROC.'ATE AND RIPON JUNCTION
RAILWAY.

The promoters of a Bill for the purpose of running the
above line from the Great North of England Railroad at
Thirsk to Harrogate and Ripon, with a branch to Richmond,
were declared to hare complied with the standing orders.
The line, including the branch, is 20 miles long; estimated
cost, 338,900%; engineer, Mr. J. Stephenson; agents, Burke,
Prat-, -arid Veuables.