Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-09-04
The Uncertainty of Decisions i'm Cases of
Poison-Nrs. Kinney, sc.

The Uncertainty of Decisions in Cases of
Psison-Nrs. Kinney, sc.
lneiation TO the charge Of poisoning her hu band
against Mrs. Kinney, woald remind her accusers
and the jury of the celebrated case of Laurent as
decided by that eminent chemist and prince of poi
sonanaysists, orhla
4 womln, name 4 Laurent, was accused of having
poisoned her husband ten days after their marriage.
The physicians ana officers of health, who had
opened the ,dy, had decided that Laurent, the hut
band, had been poisoned b. the white oxide of ar
senc. Two physicians, and an apothecary. not sa-
tisfed with the experiments made by the other per-
sons, received authority from the magistrates to dis
inter the body, and they were equally certain that
the man had swallowed no arsenic. On account of
these conflicting testimonies, it deemed neces-
,ary to sa,mt the suspected matters TO the exapi-
nation Of Nh vauqul.n, Barreui, and Orfa, persons
celebrated for their chemical knowledge, and they
came 10 the concH.on, that there no arsenic
to be found in the suspected fluids
The physicians who op ned the body said that
they roual in the stomach palouruitnt matter.
which being placed live Goals det0nnatea. burnt
rih lame and ggrf out odor of garlic; and they
did not hesitate to conclude that this substance
the white oxide Of arsenic. This conclusion is err
roneoas, because the arsenic does not de Ornate,
nor burn with a flame when placed on live Goals.
Now, although arsenic does give out the oder Of
garlic whcn exposed TO strong heat. vet there
other ia ags which do the same: an il l. probable
that some matters, dccnmposed in the stomach Gur-
ing ths process of digestion, may afford the
smell. The granular substance spoken of. should
have boon dissolved in boiling water. and then il
should have beea tried VIII ther green prec pitatc
would have becu throws down By the ssipiafs Of
aamoaiaeal copper, and gelo'c precipi,ate by rhe
hsdro,uipkaric arii which should he again RAPIDLY
soiable in ammonia.
Again The stomach of Laurent might contain
granuous matter. differing from the OXIDE vet pos
seSsisg the properties assigned il by the first
por,ers, and which they said arsenic. II is OBJ
served, under certain circumstances, that the ma.
cous membrane of the stomach aud intestines, is
studded with multitr de- of brilliant points, com
pose Of grease and slblmen; and those grains pac
ed on no. Goals, will crackle and dry ~, and such
cracking an inexperienced person might call de-
formation Many eases have occurred in which
those greasy aiba ninons points grain; have
been u.istakc en- for arsenic NJ. Orfls re lated three
cases in which such mistakes had occurred.
Again Laurent having died five days after having
eaten the Osietic inspected tn contain arsenic took
in the interim, many drink. which were prepared
who attended the patient s,ruck with the disagree
able taste of some barley water which ne abost
to- drink, cried ont. ' All that il very tau-ah
that j. bad hen which hal swallowed the
barley from which the drink was male. died the
next dav and a cat. which had eaten The intestines
~ the hen vas seiz "a with violent convu sions. IL
VA necessary "a determine how far these circum-
stances tended 10 prove thai the barley wa impreg-
dated with arsenic, ~ any other poison. VI Orh'a
made SOM experiments this point. and reasons
IN them thus :-lf arsenic put into the water.
and bsiled with barley IL would remain dissolved in
the huid. and the grain te consequently impregnaied
with the poison bat II the arsenic put into the
tsan, or drink after il had been made, and whilst
only warm, IL would not be dissolved, but would be
f,snd only inerusting the barley.
Ofthe Ieeehes which were applied Ia the epigas.
trio region ofihe patient, two died i'm after
ard the other the next day. Can any induction be
drawn from such a circumstance We all know
What ans yer any man in his senses would give Ia
that, from daily observation, yet VI Or6la took the
trouble to psisou dog. and apply leeches TO hi.
chest which Ieschss lived four days after their ap
plicaton.
Certainly the symptoms which Laurent presented
we're like those produced by the swallowing Vt ar
.epic but they are common also 10 a host OF othe
Affections bat as To the morDtd spPestsnces' VIVA
Inference. could be drawn from theml The bod!
as spotted over with blue, ivid. and leaden patch
e., and proafs Of Inflammation we're found in all tn
abdominal viscefa, qaite sufficient TO account 70
the mans death.
This case shows the danger Of deciding upon sue
an important point hastily; but the proper inter
ference ofthe two physicians, the widow mus, hsv
been exesuel. IL may also serve a caution {
magistrates, not 20 trust the analys Of funds foun
in the bodies of persons suspected TO be poisoned.
men who are not well verssd IN chemical experi
mcnts.
DrmocRaric N,NINArioss We earn frrI