The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-25
Close OF the COrOner's Invcs-
CATION.
Analysis Of The Post l0rtem Examination
Professor DOrrmus' observation-disclosures
Bile Discharge Of Mrs. Caller
Poison in Leaden CrOtOn Pipes.

OF Professor Doremus went strongly IN favor OF death
from natural causes. The contents OF the stomach
showed that the deceased had had administered to
hin acetate Of lead, but there were no indications
that showed 1t had been taken otherwise than in
medicinal doses
DR.. Wedekind who has been released on 81 500 bail.
will, therefore, be charged with Matchmaking Mrs.
Caller without havip. the slightest justification for
the imputation which he made.
The inquest was resumed yesterday before Coroner
schirmer and the following evidence taSen:-
MEDICAL TESTIMONY.
Joseph Cushman NJ. D., said:--I have made
post.mortem examination Of the body Of Micnael
Caller, at the Coroners autopsy iOon at Bellevue
Hospital. at O'Clock p. M, the 27th day Of No
vember, 1859, assisted 10y DR.. J. Q. Morton; there
were present Coroner William Schrmer Drs. r.
ogden Doremus s. J. Clark, Wilkinson, Shine and
Southack; the body measured five feet six inches in
length; decomposition was very far advanced; the
surface Of the body presented bllstered appear
ance, more marked on the chest and inner surface
of the thighs the head and face had mummy-ke
appearance; on opening the Uranium aud exposing
the brain it was found to be In scmi.nuid
condition; on opening the thoracic cavity the lungs
were found to be collapsed, shriveed and decom-
posed the pericardium contained no 1ud within Its
sac: the heart was shrvelled and weighed two
ounces seven and half drachms the valves on both
sides were in healthy condition; the internal sur
lace, of the aorta, at Its origin was OF a pinksh
color; on exposing the abdominal viscera the liver
was found OF blush, black color, smooth on Its
face and measured on its convex surface seven and
q hall inches in length and nve inches In breadth;
the right lobe at the Inickest portion measured one
inch: the left lobe mt the assure measured
half inch in thickness; the organ weighed fifteen
ounces one and half drachms; the right kidney was
too Tar advanced IN decomposition TO enable tile
distinction between the cOrtlcal and pyralnldal
structures; 1t measured three inches IN length one
and quarter inches III breadth at the middle, and
one-thlrd OF inch IN thickness at the middle, and
weighed one ounce, five Grachs and SIX grains; the
left kidney was in better state OF preservation.
aud cortlcal and pyram1dal structures could be
easily distinguished; 1t measured three inches IN
length, one ana half inches In breadth, and one
third OF an inch thick at the middle; weighed one
ounce six dracnms and scfuple; the bladder was
well preserved and contained about two drachms OF
mud; the large intestine contained a quantity OF
hardened f&ces; the lungs, heart, liver, Kidneys
stomach intesnes bladder and a portion OF the
muscular tissue Of the left thigh were carefully
In the hands OF DR.. r. Ogden Doremus; on
the Both uay Of November, 1869, at eight O'Clock
amined the stomach aud duodenum Of the de-
ceased In presence OF DIS. Dorenus, j. G. Nor
ton ane Wilklnson; the stomach presented
surface: the upper third was OF dark green color,
where 1t was in contact with the liver; the remain
der OF the organ externally presented variegated
appearance; 1t was then opened by incisOn along
the lesser curvafure from the pylOric TO cardiac
ori6ces 1t was found empty; internally the upper
lhiid coated with buIs-black viscid material;
the cardiac extremity presented an iron rust appear
ance, the vessels IN this vicinity being clearly OBJ.
servable the inner surface was washed with dis
titled water and critically examined ana no per-
forat on or liberation Could be discovered the duo
denum, which was also washed with distilled water
and carefully examined, was found free from ulce-
rations.
Professor X. o. Doremus being sworn testified as
foows:-On November u visited the Morgue at
and glass jars for the reception OF portions OF
the remains or body which had been requested to
anaiyze; witnessed the autopsy made by DIR. Cusl-
man and placed in the jars the stomach; tied IL as
two openings; the small and large ntesnes likewise
ligated the liver the two Kidneys, the bladder,
portions OF q muscular tissue and the Omentum;
these were removed TO my poison laboratory;
the stomach was opened by Dr. Cushnan ana
after careful washing artstically examined the
liver and kidneys were measured and weighed;
the stomach was empty, but black substance lined
the mucous surface; Tins removed with distilled
water and analysed, resulting the obtainment OF
small quantities OF lead: the black sulphde was
probably the cause oil the dlscoOraton, due TO the
decomposition OF the body forming the black sui
phide; traces VI morphia were also detected the
small mtestnes were empty, excepting ayellowish
layer, which lined the inner surface; the large lntes
tines were filed with thick yellow, pasty facial mat
ter weighing twenty Ounces portion Of the con.
tents, with part OF the tissue OF the tntestines,
Analysed resulting in the discovery OF small quaint
Ties OF lead ana traces OF morphla; the liver was
black IN appearance, ana an analysis revealed the
presence OF lead 10 the extent OF three and half
grains OF the acetate OF lead IA few samples OF
the tests were exnioted portion OF the muscular
tissue was also anayzed resulting In the attainment
OF lead, which # estimated the acetate of lead
found 10 the extent Ofone-tcnt OF grain to the
pound; this lead was found In the washings OF the
stomach IN the contents Of the lntestlnes, and as
aDsorhed lead in the muscular tissue and in tue
liver We're traces OF morpha in the wasnings OF the
stomach and contents of the intestincs; careful
search was made Tor other organic Doisons sucn
strychnine, but were found; the various acid
aud mineral polsons were also searched Tor, such
arsenic corrosive sublimatc, but evidence OF
their existence was discoveret: have still portions
OF the remains for further examination II deemed
necessary; was assisted by my able assistant, Mr..
LOew In the latter part OF my examination; II n
large quantity OF lead had been administered, sud-
Gent To cause DEATH the whole OF the f;uca matter
would have darkened, the result OF deconp
and the formation OF black sulphde OF lead; II lead
had been adminlster in small doses for length OF
time II would produce darkness OF the faces there
have been deaths from lead; but very large doses
have been administered and also puIposely taken,
without producing fatal result; the symptoms OF
poisoning by lead are very marked. so that II you
nave the testimony OF the symptoms or the deceased
! III your possession it would throw much light
on the subject; certain muscles are paralyzed;
| colic pains are very severe; lead VIII he found
| II administered in medicine; the ordinary dose
IS from one 10 three grams OF acetate OF
I lead, administered several times during the
| day: there was lead enough found to produce
death II the patient was low but IN an average
condition there was not sufficient to warrant the
conclusion that II was the OF death there
TWO extremes-a person in a very low condition
might be seriously affected py very small quantity
OF any poison; on the other hand large doses have
been administered without fatal result since much
or the Croton water Is partaken OF through lead
pipes here IL an avenue through which 1t does gain
| access TO the system beer and soda water taken
tToukl icuu pipes Will produce tue same symptoms,
Professor Doietnus gave number OF illustrations
| OF thls among which were lady who had used y
race powder with lead IN IT, and which powder had
the euphonous name OF the Bloom OF outh," hau
been treated by him Tor paralysis OF the face and
the paralys remained Tor considerable time and
was 10 slight extent permanent.
The testimony Of The physician who attended the
deceased was read to Professor Doremus who sa.ea
mat none Of the symptoms described the result
oil poison. There was certainly no ulcer which tha
| physician supposed to exist.
! Coroner Scnirmer said IN handing the case over
10 Tue jury he was sorry TO say that A. would be very
difficult Tor them 10 find the OF death IN this
particular case, Inasmueh the medical testimony
| was somewhat incomplete; iDasmuch as the body,
| When submitted To pOstinortem examination, Was
| decohposed. Professor Duremus was unable 10 ma
| any organic poison In the system, except small
quantity OF lead, and which may be accounted for
| probably by the testimony Of DR. Dupuls, taken at
| the former proceedings, OH the 27tn Of November.
i Mo inat rnfII