Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-10-21

Remain In the Victim Indefinitely.
Poisons In Novels and Plays.
a recent newspaper article" said a
physician, called attention to two
curious facts, or rather, alleged facts,
about poison. First, that it is so sell
dom resorted TO by murderers, and,
second that its use is almost invaria-
bly, followed by detection. One might
answer both statements with the ques-
ton: How do we know? How do we
know that the few clumsy cases that
come 70 light represent the sum of that
kind of crime?
cit is undeniably true that there are
certain drugs which, if administered
with skill, would be almost impossible
10 detect Their symptoms are practi-
cally identical with those of familiar
diseases, and a little while after death
they decompose, change form and dis
appear.
1T would be possible, too, to innocu-
late victim with the germs of some
deadly malady. He would then go to
his grave with n real case of consump-
ton or pneumonia or lockjaw, and
there would be nothing to arouse the
shadow of suspicion. 1 believe firmly
that such crimes are committed and
never discovered, but / believe also
that they are very rare. The real safe
guard of a community lies in the fact
that so few murderers possess the req
uisite skill.
Educated people seldom commit de-
liberate MURDER" continued the doctor,
land the uneducated mind instructive
A. fNVn H.
stances-arsenic and strychnine. They
are the deadly drugs most familiar to
the public, and fortunately they are
easily detected. Murder by arsenic is
infinitely clumsy. To begin with, the
symptoms are marked and peculiar;
being a metallic product, its traces re-
main in the body an Indefinite time.
Last summer woman in BARGE
Iona. Spain, confessed that she had
poisoned her sister with arsenic 10
years before. The grave was opened
and the coffin found to contain nothing
but dust and ashes, but 4 chemical test
showed Enthusiastically the presence of
the drug.
Mrs Maybrick was accused of kill
ing her husband with arsenic, and the
test revealed it plainly not only in the
remains, but in certain medicines. The
demonstration was so conclusive that
she finally arose in court and admitted
giving him white powder but insist
ed that she followed his own express
directions.
zone of the most ingenious cases of
poisoning 1 ever heard of occurred
some years ago in another state. a
young physician plotted to kill
wealthy farmer. He knew the latter
was taking quinine for a cold and,
meeting him one day, asked to see
What size capsules he used. While
pretending to examine them, he Slip
ped in one containing strychnine. The
farmer happened on it nearly a week
later and died in commissions. An au-
topsy revealed the poison. but the af-
fair was Il deep mystery until the doc
tor committed suicide, leaving n writ
ten confession.
The poisonings that occur in novels
and on the stage are usually very
amusing to n student of toXicology,'
said the physician in conclusion. Il
remember in 'Sam'l of Posen,' which |
was produced with such success by NJ.
b. Curtis. the drummer hero was tenn
porarily knocked out by n poisoned CT
gar. He took two or three whiffs, and
over he rolled. 1 would like very much |
to know the name of the drug that |
would produce that sort of effect.
Nearly oil the poisoning in fiction is |
equally surprising. There is n we'll |
known English romance in which the |
heroine inhales the fragrance of a |
bunch OF roses and instantly falls dead. |
Needless to say, the poisoned perfume |
is wholly unknown to science.
Another story But l could keep |
on citing instances all night. History |
isn't much better. Most of the yarns |
of the Borgias and Medicis are pure |
moonshine, especially those about poi
soned gloves. poisoned tapers and 9th
er applications of drugs or things that
are touched or handled.
The tale of the book which was
anOinted on the margins with some |
deadly substance that killed the per-
son who moistened his fingers to turn
the leaves has possibly n foundation in
truth, but, l confess, l would be puZ-
Zled to know how TO prepare such a
volume. Almost anything that might
be used would instantly betray itself
by its taste.
lin the middle ages powdered glass
Is said to have been a favorite material
with which to doctor food, and you'll
find some interesting data on the sub
iect in the autobiography of Cellini,
the goldsmith. 1t is occasionally used |
by negroes right here in the south. OF
course, powdered glass isn't a true
poison. 1t sometimes kills by setting
up internal Inflammation. Oftener it
has no effect at all" - New Orleans
Democrat
Dog story.