The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-15

been best examined are very much more active
than the third. AS found commercially, aeon
itine is white or yellowish white powder,
either uncrystalized or lmperfectly crystalized.
This form of aconitine is used incidentally,
but sparingly and with great caution.
Quest-Was the quantity found by you in
the remains sufficient to cause DEATH
Ans-Taking the recorded statement as cor
rect, that one.fiftieth ola grain of aconitine
has been known to endanger life, the quanti-
ties of the alkaloid extracted from the contents
of the stomachs of Holoman and Adams, as
suming that they were in a state of purity
they were undoubtedly not far from pure
may certainly be considered capable of pro-
ducing fatal results.
Quest by Mr. Wayt-Is there not another
name for this alkaloid
Aus-ln common with other substances Of
this class, the name is sometimes written with
the terminal ane and sometimes ia, SO that the
names aconitine and aconitia mean the same
thing. Furthermore. special names have been
conferred upon The istnct aka loids found
in aconite root, to which | have already re-
ferred, but they are not in commercial use.
Quest-In response to a former question as
to whether aconitine is used to any extent me-
dicinally you stated that it is so used, but
sparingy Please state whether you mean
that 1t is used in small quantities, or that it is
seldom used by physicians?
Ans-Both.
Quesl-Coud you tell from the analysis in
what form the acontine was administered
Ans-No, sir. 1t might have been in the
form of the alkaloid itself, or that of one of
eparations-tincure, fluid extract, solid
extract, &c, OF the crude plant, root or leaf.
The symptoms, as J have heard them de-
scribed, accord fairly with the idea of death
having been due to poisoning by aconitine in
some form, but am surprised at the rapid
ty with which the fatal result was reached in
three OF the cases, including two OF the cases
chemically examined, VIZ: Holloman and
Adams.
From the contents of Adams stomach, gen
tie heating developed slight chloral-like
odor, which was afterwards observed in deal
ing W it'll the princi pal portion for alkaloids.
Heating, after the addition of caustic soda,
produced an odor like that of chloroform, and
heating with silver nitrate and excess OF am.
monia led to reduction of metallic silver,
but these indications, while marked enough
to attract attention, were but slight, and the
reducing action on the silver solution may,
taken as medicine. These tests indicated the
presence OF choral, but not in quantities suf-
fcient to amount TO anything material.
Quest-What else did you examine in con-
nection with the case?
Ans-In the first place the extremely small
residues left in the mugs used by Wilkins and
Adams, which gave the following results: In
both cases the singing and numbing taste
most distinctly. The residue in Wilkins
mug responded also to the tests with chloride
of gold, picric acid, iodine dissolved in iodide
of potassium and bromine dissolved Ii hydro
bromic acid This also gave most distinctly
the reaction for ferric IRON The residue in
Adams mug responded also to all four of the
chemical tests, but their value in this case is,
of course, impaired by the other alkaloids
present i'll the medicine. In this residue the
presence of sugar and of phosphoric acid and
ferric iron was verified, but strychnine could
not be tested for on account of the very large
amount OF sugar present in minute quantity
of the material available. l would state that
the very marked physiological effect upon the
tongue produced by the very minute portions
of residue from these mugs, taken as an indi-
cation Of the amount of aconitine present,
and considered in connection with the alb
sence of any dark color in the residues, or
any color other than that naturally arising
from the medicines themselves is sug-
gestve of the more probable use of aeon
any OF the usual medicinal preparations
from the crude root but ON this too much
stress ought not to be laid. The other mate
rial examinedsconsisted of a piece of cotton
sheet stained by matter vomited by another
patient. Joel Thomas The stained piece of
cloth, cut out, soaked in very dilute acetic acld
pressed out, and the solution treated by the
method for alkaloids, gave chioroform residue
yielding slight trace of aconitlne taste. There
was also some liquid matter vomited by the
same patient, Thomas, after whiskey had been
administered. This smelled strongly of whis-
ky and treated by the method for alkaloids
gave slight cbloroform residue yielding slight
taste ofaconitine taste, not much to be relied
on. The remains of the three medicines used,
viz muriate of iron tonic, Elixir of phosphates
of iron, qnnine and strychnine, and fluid ex-
trace of hyoscyamus were all examined, but no
signs of acon tine obtained from any one of
them. Finally few ounces of whiskey found
in a bottle in the pocket of Wilkins was exam.
ned and left much sugar on evaporation but
furnished no indication of aconitine.
Quest-Would any mistake in the quantity
of The med icine proposed to have been given in
the dose as administered in the mugs referred
to, account for the fatal result
Ans-I can hardly think so, taking into &C.
count the symptoms exhibited, and the speedy
deaths in three of the cases.
Quest-1s there any other point you deem it
necessary to state in this connection
Ans-None.
NOTES AND INCIDENTS.
The salts of aconitia or aconitine is known
to be one of the most expensive, as well as
one of the most deadly of alkaloids. Prof.
Mallet stated that Morson's preparation is
worth 81 .25 per grain, and owing 10 Its price
and the very limited amount used it is seldom
kept in drug stores. Mr.. J H. Wayt, drug
gist and member of the jury, sent to his
store and had brought over vial which
originally contained one-eighth ounce of the
alkalold Mr. Wayt stated that in an eXpe-
rience of eighteen years he remembered to
have used the bottle of aconilia but once, and
then in an ointment.
In speaking of testing the physiological eff
fects. of poison, Dr. Mallet related an incidentin
his experience as chemist. Some years ago,
whilst in New Orleans, the contents of q
stomach were sent to him for analysis. 1t
was poison case, the deceased having taken
the poison in food, whilst attending feast on
one of the Louisiana plantations. The doc
tor tested for number of poisons, one OF
which he thought had probably been en-