The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-02-15

Il
ticnt, the brain congcsted, blood vessels
cngorged, q bloody serum at the base Of
brain, and lungs were healthy. what would
the facts show as the cause Of bis death?
Ans. Ishould call it alcoholic poison.
Ques. 3. If in addition to the facts
stated in questions l and 2 you further
learn that the patient within from to
hours to your visiting him, had taken q
usual dose Of morphine. what in that case
would you say to be the cause Of his
death?
Ans. Alcoholic poison.
Ques. 4. If in addition to the particulars
you further learn that the patient within
from 5 to 5 hours previous had taken NOR
plline within without your learning what
quantity, what in that case?
Ans. Alcoholic poison.
Cross Er. Don't devote much time to
practice Of medicine for last IL months.
Rest Of the time to dealing drugs and
medicines. Sell alcohol in the form Of
whiskey, gin, &C., at retail. Have not
not seen case Of alcoholic poison for 2
years. Ny main business is not the sale
of alcoholic liquors. Proposed several
questions to Mr.. Fairfield in the presence
Of the Court. proposed the question to
ask If the lungs was in healthy condition
next in regard to condition Of the brain at
autopsy, next to know whether sweating
was copius in general; next, condition of
pulse. Said nothing about "anti or ante
mortum." Assisted counsel for only a
few moments. Questions not mine. Did
not dictate those questions. Never sug-
gcsted anything like them.
Alcoholic poison requires to be exhibited
in large quantities in general. A small
quantity Of morphine is fatal to person
Of susceptibility. A much greater guam
tity Of alcohol is necessary to poison than
than morphine. Never knew a case Of
alcoholic poisoning when prominent SYM
toms, tottcring gait and vertigo were not
present. Excitement is present generally
before stupor in alcoholic poison. Can
detect alcohol in breath. As long as the
symptom last, the alcohol will continue to
pass of by lungs, In death by alcohol
the oder can be easily distinguished by
breath. If not, the presumption is not
done from alcohol. Ordinary men would
be killed by 3 grs. Of morphine. Should
not want to give gr. under ordinary cir
cumstanccs. 90 grs. would be fatal. Large
doses of poison may be expelled from
the stomach by the overdose.
Is not alcohol ono of the poison which
when in the form Of liquor requires 70 be
exhibited in large quantities, and is not
morphine one Of which very small quaint
ity Is fatal? Yes.
Did you ever know case Of poisoning
by alcohol when there was no "inability
to stand or walk tottering gait and ver-
tigo" before unconsciousucssp No:
Docs not alcohol when "dclutcd" as in
spurious liquors, generally produce ex-
element before stupor"' Generally.
In alcoholic poison, cannot alcohol be
easily detected by the odor Of the breath,
and as long as the symptoms in such case
last wllnot the alcohol pass of by the
lungs /? Yes.
II there is no pcrccptiblc odor Of any
alcoholic liquid, is not the presumption
that the symptoms arc not due to intoIica-
tionP Yes. =.
When tee alcoholic odor Is perccptible,
may the symptoms not still be combined
| with tho effects Of morphine? Yes.
In such case can they bc cleared up
|
case? Yes, by chemical analysis.
In poisoning by morphine do not the
symptoms come on more gradual than by
alcohol3 In form of spirituous liquors
arc they not marked by stupor, passing
into complete lcthargyP Yes.
When poisoned by alcohol is there not
either very great excitement some time
before the stuporp Docs not this stupor
come on suddenly, and is not the patient
in a state of deep conner few minutes af-
ter taking It? Yes.
In poisoning by morphine is not the face
pallid; is il not more commonly flushed
and the pupils greatly contractedP
In poison by alcohol docs not tho pa
ticut frequently recover his senses, yet die
subsequently, Yes.
Will not the odor Of the breath lead to
q diagnosis? Yes.
In chronic poison, by q person taking
alcoholic liquor for long period. is there
| not irritation OF stomach and intestines.
vomiting, scirrpns OF the stomachP Yes.
PyrosisP Yes.
Are not dropsy, diabctis. paralysis, de-
m-tremens, and insanity, symptoms
and in such case aftcr death arc not NOR
bid changes disccrniblc in various or
gans? Yes.
Is not the liver especially effected, and
arc not the kidneys in state Of granu-
larP Yes.
Is not the liver commonly enlarged and
OF a lighter color than natural? Yes.
Is not such q condition Of the liver
known as the mulncy or drunkard's
liver? Yes.
Pulse 10, normal if it had been opium,
been irregular. Pcrspcration about the
head indicates alcohol. In opium, all over
the body. Autopsy in alcohol not in
opium.
DR. ALLEN SWORN. Reside in Saco.
Practiccd medicine for ~ years. Have
seen some cases Of poisoning Of alcoholic
poison. Symtoms, acceleratcs pulse, stu
nor, depressing of the brain, and the pulse
become slow and feeble. Usually find
profase local perspiration. this not always,
pcrpiration about the head and face. Al.
ter coma ensucs stupor continues till death.
The ordinary symptoms Of opium before
death are very similar to alcoholic poison.
Pcrspiration in opium is more profdse and
general than alcoholic poison; pulse quick
in either case, but would look for opiates
acting spasmamadically y and consequently
pulse irregular. Alcoholic posons would
pulse he accelerated. In post mortum
examination for alcoholic poison the
| brain would be congcstcd. lf bloody &C.
rum were found at base of brain il would
generally indicate poisoning. Lungs in
opium poison more or less congested. In
cases Of acute poisoning by alcohol, lungs
generally normal. Have examined five
cases Of alcoholic poison.
Should not expect to find the lungs con-
gcsted or bloody serum at the base Of the
brain In morphine poison. In alcoholic pol.
son the perspiration 10 more general. In
accutc poison the symptoms are found In the
brain; in chronic the viscera u affected. AL
coholic poison affects csrrellum more Than