The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-03-17

prussic acid. Was present on Sunday morn
ing at post mortem examination OF the de.
ceased. Drs. Thayer, Plaisted, Noyes and
| Boutele were present. The head was nrst
opened. After the upper part OF the Uranium
wss taken off, and the brain exposed, there ap.
peared degree of turgescence OF the Dlood
vessels which witness supposed unnatural
The brain was taken out. and witness with
others smelled of it to ascertain it they could
detect any peculiar odor. Cannot say with
confidence that he detected any. The brain
was taken out and reserved for further examl-
nation. The stomach was re-examined. The
mucous coat was found very much sottened.
A portion of the interior of the stomach was
of very dark color-a heavy brown-nearly
black. The interior surface was very much
corrugated-the ridges appeared very high.
No part of it appeared as light as the natural
color of the interior of the stomach. But the
darkest part was only about two inches square.
The spleen was enlarged-it was not further
examined at this time, but reserved with the
brain, and also one of the kidneys, for future
examination. The liver was much darker
than natural. The blood was in fluid state
entirely. Saw no arteral blood, but others
may have seen it. The blood vessels were
cut. witness supposes accidentally, early in
the examination-has no doubt from the APP.
pearance that it was all vinous blood. The
lungs were all of very dark blue color, ex-
cept small part of the lobes. The anterior
surface was more uniformly of this blue color
than the part adjoining the spine. The dis
celebration extended through the mass of the
lungs.
On Monday, there was an examination of
fbo hroi ,f< -
and spleen. These parts had the same ap-
pearence as when taken from the body. The
spleen was softened so as to appear like jelly.
The lungs and liver were found as the day
previous. The kidney was opened in several
directions, and was judged to be in natural
state. The brain was much softened. The
blood vessels were not as full as the day be-
fore. The interior of the brain was nearly
white. In one of the venticles of the brain
there was slight substance, which if colored
would have been considered congestated blood,
but it was without color. When the thorax
was found, witness detected a peculiar color
not able at that time to say what it vast
resembled the color given by the contents of
the stomach. Witness has now no doubt it
was the color of prussic acid. Witness has
since witnessed the effect of prussic acid on
animals.
Mr.. Evans objected to this course of inqui-
ry, but the Court allowed it to proceed.
Witness stated that from his experiments
the effect of prussic acid in quantity in the
stomach is to produce death, in from three
seconds to fifteen minutes. A drop of acid,
containing the strength of fifty per cent. of
pure acid, placed in the eye of cat. produced
death in ten seconds. Could not say what
quantity would kill an adult person. Ami
mails, under this poison, sometimes utter cries,
and sometimes do not. In one instance, dog
of medium size, into whose stomach prussic
acid with brandy was injected, ran 10 feet, fell
with cry, and was dead when reached
When the quantity of poison is large, the
shrek, if any, is the death Shrek The uni.
form effects of this acid are to produce one or
more dark spots in the stomach, dark state
of the liver portion of the lungs blue, the
blood fluid, and usually all in the right yenti-
Gle of the breast. The blood vessels of the
pia mater injected in every case. In most in
stances, the peculiar odor of prussic acid is
discovered in the thorax and abdomen. sixty
hours after death-in some cases very strong,
but sometimes not discovsrable. Witness has
tested the contents of the stomachs of animals
killed by prussic acid, under similar circum-
stances, as to time very nearly with that of
this case, and has always discovered prussc
acid by the iron and copperas tests-has not
applied the nitrate Of silver but once, as it
takes some time, and the other tests were sat-
In the one case when applied, the
nitrate of silver showed prussic acid. Has
tested prussic acid with the same results.
Cross examined.-Has had but little expe-
rience in morbid anatomy previous to this case.
Has seen dissections at the Medical College in
Philadelphia. Did not personally know the
causes of the deaths of the persons whose
bodies were dissscted. Witnesses object was
to learn the natural appearance Of the vital
organs. Does not know the appearance of
bodies after death from ardent spirits. Never
saw any examination in cases of death from
apoplexy or poison. Looked at the bottle in
DIR. Plaisteds Office, before the contents of the
- 4 L.