Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-06-12


upon the assumption that the metal had
been uniformly distributed throughout the
liver, three-tenth $40 of a grain Tor the
whole liver. The stomach was next exam
med. 1t was minced and placed in a sau-
Ger. and heated to dryness over water
bath. then placed in a retort, and water
and hvdrochloric acid added. This was
distilled and the distillate was caught In
vessel containing distilled water. This
distillation completed, hydrochloric acid
was again added, and distillation repeated.
The two distillates were then united. A
portion of this distilIate was put in a Marsh
apparatus. A portion of the tube through
which the gas Of sulphuretted hydrogen
passed was heated by Bronson burner,
and a bright metallic mirror of gray-steel
color was secured. A portion of this mir
ror was resublimed, and crystals of arseni-
ous acid we're observed under the micro
scope. The gas, which passed over, was
received into solution OF nitrate OF silver.
The silver was deposited as metallic silver,
and to this liquid was added common table
salt to remove all nitrate of silver The
LIQUID was then filtered, and through it was
passed washed sulphuretted hydrogen,
yielding bright yellow precipitate, which
we believed to be the ter-sulphide of arsenic
thus making the two extremes meet
We believe that the result obtained, COM
mencing with the sulphide of arsenic and
| the confirmation of that sulphide by it's
metallic reduction, it's resublimation, and
the production Of octahedral crystals of
| arsenious acid and the results Of the hypo-
chlorite of soda could not have occurred
with any other substance than arsenic.-
There are some metals which form subli-
mates, but none which, when resublimed,
will give the characteristic octahedral
crystals.
Cross Examined-The quantity of az
senic required to cause death depends very
much Oil the constitution OF the person.
have known single dose of Fowler's So
luton to produce the symptoms Of poison
ing. 1t is hard tc say precisely what poi
sonous dose is. AS a general thing arsenic
does appear in bismuth in it's crude state,
but it is purified before making sub-nitrate
OF bismuth. In the Lloyd poisoning case,
where 20 grains of bismuth was given, the
quantity Of arsenic found in testing was
very minute. OF course bismuth may be
improperly purified. Anthony would
produce mirror something like that now
produced, but there is nothing that, resub-
lined, will give the octa hedral crystals.
A mirror can be produced from calomel,
but it will show globules of mercury that
can be detected by the naked eye. The
arsenious crystals have no color, and are
white and sparkling. Their octa hedral
form is their popularity. Another metal
might be discovered might have been dis
covered yesterday, that we know nothing
of, but if it produced these octa hedra
crystals by the same process [ have de-
scribed, it would be arsenic. Chemists
term the metal arsenic" while by others
the white arsenious powder is known by
that name. The supposition of new and
undiscovered metals are. intangible theo-
ries which you present me, and can only
be speculated about l present you the
tangible result of the analysis, which you
can practically examine. The amount of
arsenic gotten from the analysis, shows
that enough was taken to cause death. and
doubtless if we had tested the kidneys and
even the backbone, we should have found
arsenic in them. We tested samples of
the jar of bismuth, from which Mr..
Trout sold DR.. Crawford, and could find
no arsenic in it. / might have been be-
wildered by the symptoms Of the case as
DR.. Crawford was [ remarked myself at
the inquest ON hearing the symptoms de-
tailed that it looked like case of strych-
nine. The difference between strychnine
and tetantic commissions is that the former
are followed by perfect relaxation, while
the latter exhibit continued rigidity.
DIR. VIM. HAMILTON,
of the Western Lunatic Asylum, testified
that he made the analysis with Dr. Faun-
tleroy, and agreed with his statements.
EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFENCE.
Mr.. Courtney A. Roller, of Mount Sid
ney, recalled for the defence, testified that
he lived about p miles from the deceased,
and knew him well. On the Sunday after
his death he met Dr. Crawford at the Old
Stone Church, and asked him if Allen
hadn't died rather suddenly. The Doctor
replied that he had, and that he was suf-
fering with gangrene in his foot which
had attacked his stomach. Was quite cer-
tain that was the Doctors reply. Allen
was poor man and supported his family
by daily labor He had couple of horses
and farmed a little.
MR.. JOHN H. PARKINs
testified that Allen lived about 300 wards
from his house, and he knew him we'll.
He was luiet man, and he had never
heard that he and his wife didn't live hap
PLY together. He was delicate man. and
about the 18th of June had an attack SIM
liar to the one of which he died, and wit
ness had to cut his harvest for him, Was
with him in his last sickness. from a half
hour after he was. taken, up to his death
off and on. Witness described the position
he found Allen in similar to that describ-
ed by DR.. Crawford. His body was affect
ed with jerking movement, which was
chiefly exhibited in his wounded ankle.
that limb being sometimes jerked entirely
off the floor. His wife was rubbing one
arm and his sister, the witness thinks, the
other. He was rational and answered
questions without difficulty, and told wit
ness that he had no pain, but was only
afraid OF those jerks comingo on again. He
wanted to be rubbed, but witness didn't
think the rubbing gave him any relief.
Dlo not express any sensitiveness
to the touch. He said nothing of
the cause OF the attack. After being
carried into the next room he said
he felt better. After Dr.. Crawford oovo