The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-20
poisons and
Che mistry

This Is a broad statement for any
man to make. There was a time not
many years ago when 1t would have
been laughed at. In the time of the
Borgias, when the famed aqua fontana
was utilized for the removal of OBJ
noxious persons. nobody but the man
who concocted the stun knew how.
why or when it worked. Neither did
anybody, the maker included. know of
any antidote. Once inhaled the victim
was as good as dead. although he
might finger a few days, reluctant to
leave the earth. But in the end he
died. Scientists, novelists. historians
nave written books by the score all to
show hat man might destroy man and
leave no trace of his devilish work to
convict him.
All agree that of all crimes tina of
the poisoner is the most vicious. MUIR
der in the heat of conflict. with the
blood boiling under a sense of injury;
he staying of a rival or someone OBJ
J~ectionable whose actions have reused
the evil passions. may have possible
justification. Even IL II has not, the
hot blood Is an apology to the world
for the deed done while the
ture was above the normal. But he
who kills by poison deliberately and
with devflish GOODNESS plans the taking
on OF his fellow man. He who Stays
by the insidious and often family
marked agency of poison has a heart OF
ice and a brain equal to that OF the
arch fiend himself. Hence the state
ment made on authority that the work
or the poisoner can be detected after
he has lulled himself into a feeling of
absolute security will be received by
the right-minded portion of the worlds
population with e%xultation.
IL Is not many years & that the
men OF science were forced to admit
| nat nothing the hnnko tanoht Ar 49,
iments revealed would protect society
against all of the toxic materials in
nature. In fact. not a dozen years ago
1t was freely admitted by the most
eminent of the Psychologists of this and
other lands that there were organic
and inorganic poisons which might be
administered and leave no trace of
their deadly work behind them. Now
the sentence with which this story
opens Is the deliberate statement of a
ma eminent in toxicology, an expert
In chemistry, whose sayings are re-
ceived with respect and confidence.
This statement means even more
than appears on the surface. But as is
the case with everything in a science
by no means defined to certain limits.
II cannot be received absolutely with
out qualification. When DIR. Walter s.
Haines made the statement to a report
er for the Chicago Chronicle he did not
e'SNit - "iiIout DTODtT |
He did say that under proper condi-
lions as to time n quantity. no poi
son could be absolutely lost by exhibit
ton in the human system. He meant
that the man who seeks life by toxic
materials is never safe. He can never
hug himself and be sure hat his work
is beyond the discovery of man.
1t means that chemistry can reveal
and does reveal the presence of poison
when the cadaver also exhibits symp-
toms OF disease which in itself would
nationally account for the death. 1t
means that the most deadly agent
known to man. prussic acid. which in
lts enects produces a characteristic
heart leson which might be due to or
ganic disease, can and often is detect
ed in the corpse by means of the inno-
cent-looking and delicate test tubes OF
the analyst, even after time sufficient
has elapsed to permit of total evapor-
alton of the poison. 1t means that
even the volatile and transient liquid
acid which disappears i'm its own mist
may de detected in spite Of every pre-
caution taken by the criminal to pre-
vent Just this thing.
All this can be accomplished in spite
OF the blunders of men who first have
the opportunity OF examining the body.
IL can be done even IL these blunders
assist the prisoner by helping
to destroy evidence of his handiwork.
1t can be done when the body presents
poisons OF putrefaction scientifically
known as ptomaines. poisons which
cause death after being taken into
the stomach. which may partly or
wholly originate before taking or may
never develop unless taken into a sys-
tenn ready for development. These poi
sons of putrefaction may come from
tainted food. They may be deadly be-
fore taken into the stomach of the vic
aNa -. sLA1.
to some systems and deadly to others. q,
But they do not conceal the presence of
other poisons in fatal doses
Few scientists have given as much
and labor TO this topic as DIR.
Haines. Holding the chair of chem ,
lstry in Rush Medical college. he has {
employed his leisure moments i'm ex- +,
oeriments in toxicology for the benefit !
IL his clesses as well as for mankind {
n general. No man in the United I
states has more examina- ,
ions of human viscera for the purpose ,
n settling the question of the presence
herein of poisons. His writings on the g
are authority. recognized the }
world over. Here is what he has to saw !
m the possibilities of analysis: y
There Is no known poison which can a
'ause death which cannot be detected =
n the human cadaver by chemical {,
analysis" was DR.. ain beginning. >
That is a very broad statement. and \
lot many years ago would be received !.
With fncredulity. II must not be taken 3
Without qualification. as the science of =
and medicine is not yet alb =
olutelS definite. But il is sufficiently h
rue to mean just what Il saws. Time =
5 an important factor in many cases. -
quantity Is another. but given an op- n
to make the examination -
7ithin reasonable limits after death =
with a sufficient quantity of the u
nXtn material 10 81 49,. .
'hoi Is faithful and careful will find IL. ~
n an article like this technical terms 81
re best avoided. but some must be =,
sed in order to tell what Is meant. -
tut defined so the people will under =,
them. they will aid rather thar .,
ewilder the understanding. -
II begin. poisons are generally cIas- -
Lhed into two Rrnuns the nrranin anA -