The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-06

| ton OF DR.. A. W. Shepard, OF Brooklyn who made
the post-mortem examination OF Mrs. CANDLES body
on the l4th Of August last, a. published in full In
! yesterday mornings HERALD. Professor r, Ogden
Doremus was called the stand at Justice Bogert's,
Manuel, Rockland county, and gave his testimony
Of the analytical labors Of six weeks on the stomach
and intestines OF the deceased woman.
TESTIMONY OF PROFESSOR B. OGDEN DoREMUs.
My name is R. Ogden Doremus reside In the city
of New York; am professor OF chemistry and toxo-
cology IN the Bellevue Hospital Medical College,
professor OF chemistry in the College Of the City Of
New York; have been professor OF chemistry
since 1s49; visited the deadhouse, Brooklyn.
August IA, 1868, for the purpose Of receiving
personally portions OF the remains OF Mrs.
Gamble with q view to their examination for
poison; there were present at the deadhouse Coro.
ner Flavin, DR.. Shepard 1.-THE last witness and three
or four other persons; Mr.. Daily was there the door
was locked when arrived there; when we entered we
found pine box, which, on being opened, revealed
to us coffin, with Mrs. CANDLES name upon 1t; this
con conn ~ was opened s, and the body removed
not been disturbed; the post-mortem examination
was then conducted by Dr. shepard; received the
two extremties the small and large inteftines also
tied; portion Of the liver one Of the kidneys, the
placed in new and clean glass jars purchased by my
self and washed with distilled water; the mouths OF
these jars were covered with paper and with metallic
atory, not leaving them until 7 deposited them
there; they were under my sole control;
opened aa the jars which Contained the re.
mains purpOrtng to be those OF the late Mrs. Gamble,
sd the
acn the semi-nmd contents, amounting to three and
half fuid ounces, were removed; the stomach was
washed with distilled water and the washlngs re-
served; the small intestines were then opened; six
nuid ounces OF brownish-yellow semi fuid pulta-
ceOus substance denser than the contents Of the
stomach were found; these small intestines were
also repeatedly washed with distilled water and the
washlngs reserved; the large intestines were then
opened and four ounces OF yeowish fetal matter
were obtained; they were then washed and said
washings reserved there was no odor OF any Of the
volatile posons; examined for the various organic
and inorganic poisons; found none excepting NOR
phine and mec0nc acid, which Is the acid associated
iaudanum; ifmorphia purely had been administered
Ishould not have obtained the reactions for meconc
acids; Its presence indicates that the pure akalod
given, but other Of the preparations Of opium;
/ discovered these in the contents Of the stomach
large intestines were employed for examining for
the mineral poisons without previously testing
tine ed day Of july Mrs. took
sixth OF gram of morphine, on the 23d OF
July none, on the oath and 25th Of July none,
the 26th OF July nOne the 27th OF July Onethrd
OF grain Of morphine and one grain OF opium, and
on the LIST Of August three-fourths Of grain OF
opium, and assuming that she died about two O'Clock
on the morning OF the I'd Of August, and
adding together these quantities. making in all one
@ o 81 Rpc are ene to
Q q grain OF morphine, extending over eleven days
1t is barely possible that the contents Of the stomach
and small intestihes would AFFORD reactions for
morphine or mOrpa, but not at all probable, because
1t is easily absorbed and eliminated from the sys
tenn simply from chemical standpoint am led TO
believe that she died from the effects Of opium its
compounds. have already stated that the medi-
and poVers powdersMnsying been p given in the
period OF two months, no chemical tests would
probably reveal their presence, had these alone
Cross-ex amlnation-I have only found SUFFICIENT
morphia thus far to give reaction; cannot give the
by estimate one-fftieth but not by weighing; can
not testify positively however by the analysis thus
70 aSs caused DEATH about SIX
weeks engaged in making the analysis; II alcoholic
stmulants were used BY the patient there would DO
cessive use Of spirtuous liquors innames the
digestive organs; the more drinks the these
grains at time; person in intense suffering cum take
an enormous quantity with safety; laudanum, from
would be in extreme cases; OF morphia from one
sixteenth OF grain up to One.half grain, depend
whether by the stomach or the skin; from one to
three grains is the point at which 1t becomes poi
minstered in some GASES without fatal results; more
has been given with favorable and good results In
cases OF great pan in opium poisoning before death
first exCiteS the nervous system producing marked
effects upon the brain; secondly Affecting all the
secretons OF the body, especially the skin; II pro-
duces pr0fuse perspiration IN many cases; person
is "bathed In sweat" as they term it; tendency to
sleep and impairment OF all the senses, such as that
n sous e pup IS o.
but rarely the person Is aroused with DIFF
nculty, but may be made to respond to questions
immediately after relapslng into stupor; congestion
Of the blood vessels, very marked; stertorous
breathing terminating with death; the eyes are
the face Is swollen; the pulse in the early stages
would be quicker, and later slower and slower;
caused death might be aroused within an hour be-
fore death by galvanlsm, h0rsewhpping, walking
riding in carriages; have known persons to be
aroused; II would depend on the amount Of the
poison and the sensibity OF the person. extreme in
sensibity or stupor precedes death; can
person per ny thus aA aniicted within an p'' hour Of
death; the pulse 10 gradually reduced to
or e %
OF opium Is from fourteen, the normal NUMBER and
1t might be reduced down to five and three, and
even requiring some minutes for single respira-
tion the muscular structure Of the bladder Ia gener
ally contracted in such cases; the opium has made
marked appearance on the stomach or tntestines;
their condition would throw no light on the ques-
ton whether death resulted from opium or not; by
tnas ,, mt their % would no: DC
condition OF the stomach and inestnes as 1t really
occurs, would rather CONFERENCE.-The That IL topium)
had been the cause OF death; the condition ordi-
nariy win be the same where death results from
opium, as where death does not result from
intestines are ordinarily rather empty; although
there Is no marked or very marked
difference; there is no percepnbie difference the
tween the lungs and liver being congested and
gorged Is that In the FIRST case the blood would be in
the most dependent part Of the lungs, whereas in
the second condition 1t would be more uniformly
d1used; both conditions existed IN Mrs. Gamble;
the hyposatical condition was more marked than
the enlargement; the brain was 50 far decom-
posed that the condition OF its blood vessels could
not be determined: the neck and part Of the
back gave indications Of decomposition from the
color, softness and odori the cuticie was
removed from the forehead the outer cuticle Of the
forehead had commenced to be decomposcd; the
whole head was In quite an advanced stage OF de-
composition; softening Of the forehead, decompos
ton Of the whole head and face had commenced;
attributed the peeling of OF the skin OF the forehead
to decomposition, but the latter IL produced more
speedily In some cases by opiates
VIM. A. Hammond, late Surgeon General United
States Army, followed DIR. Doremus, but merely
elaborated his ideas.
OBITUARY.
William r. Richie.