Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-03-04

mine was found in the body. Traces OF
Istrychnine were found. as stated. He
lhad an opinion as to what quantity
There was in the body, but didn't know
icertainly. There wasn't enough in the
viscera examined to state the quantity.
He believed there was more than the
one-thousandth part of a grain. He
looked at the matter with microscope
of 1000 magnifying power, but could
not separate the strychnine crystals so
as to distinguish them. The micro
scopic test is one that is often applied.
Did not know that il is the best test.
There has been much progress in the
science during the last 20 years, but
all new theories are not to be depend
ed upon.
| PtOmaIne Poisoning Suggested.
Mr.. Nader said there are no other
lpoisons which give exactly the same
colors as strychnine upon the color
test. He knew what ptomaine poisons
are. They are organic poisons from
animal sources; they arise in a great
measure from the putrefaction of the
human body after death; has expert
mented with this poison, but made no
definite analysis; did not know that
ptomaine poisons take on the symp-
toms or simulate strychnine or other
alkaloidal poisons, although believe
| they do, but how far or to what extent,
don't know. He also made chlorine
test with ammonia. Did not make a
| physiological test. Did not make a
quantitative analysis OF the contents of
tho Thnrn oh h
stance 10 make such analysis Didn't
| find any aloes in the stomach or salt
petre Didn't look for any. 1t might
have been present. Strychnine is not
easily soluble in water The strych-
nine adhering to the tumbler had been
dissolved. The acid in the saltpetre
would aid its dissolving. Sulphate of
strychnine is more soluble than aka
| lOidal strychnine. That in the tumbler
was the former. Boiling water would
aid in the process. The time it would
take would depend on conditions. Many
authorities were cited by Mr.. Searle
to sustain his position as to many of
! the claims made by him relative to
the various tests for strychnine poi
| sOning, which the witness either dis
claimed were authority, claimed that
/ the authority cited sustained his posi-
ton or frankly admitted that he was
not acquainted with the writer or text
| book cited
- Undertaken is Recalled.
P. c. Freytag, the undertaken of
Reynolds was recalled by the state
and testified that the embalming fluid
with which he embaimed the body of
| the deceased was purchased from the
| United States Chemical company in
two quart bottles, that part of a
bottle from the same consignment as
that from which the fluid was taken
which was used upon the body of Mr..
Johnston was turned over to the coro-
ner for analysis.
Morning of JOhnston's Death.
| DR.. l.. c. Moore, of Reynolds, the
attending physician of the deceased,
testified that he had known the de
ceased for perhaps 20 years; had been
called to see him a few times prior
to his last illness and treated him.
Was called to see him three or four
years prior to his death and was called
there in July prior, which was the last
time he saw him professionally until
the 9Th of September. Was with him
the morning of his death. Arrived
there about 1870 or 7:40 in the morn
ing. Was called there by his daughter
and went Immediately to the house.
Johnston lay there on a cot, in a very
nervous condition, twitching and jerk
ing and went into a CONFUSION very
soon after the witness got to him +;
don't remember just how many con
WILSON'S he had. Thinks there were
four They lasted for about 20 min
> utes in all He would have a convul-
sion and would come out of it and
quiet down for few seconds perhaps
and would begin to twitch and jerk
again and in a very little while would
go into another CONFUSION. 1t con,
tinued about that way until the last
CONFUSION he had and that he didn't
come out of. Outside of the convul
sions the doctor didn't notice any
other symptoms except the twitching
He complained of shortness of breath
a smothering feeling; he had that from
( the CONFUSION. and a little while af
forwards. and then respiration would
| S1aT1 up again. ne COuluH say DIS
to9the retraction of the head. His po
sition on the cot was such that it was
! hard TO tell about that; there might
have been some.
| Medicine II Refused.
After the first or possibly the second
commissions the doctor prepared some
medicine and asked him if he thought
he could swallow it. He said he was
afraid not. He went to give him some
and just as he got the spoon to his
lips he went into a CONFUSION. AT
ter one convulsion he asked if there
was any mustard in the house. He
istepped in the other room and was
given some. He went back TO give il
TO Johnston TO cause a vomit and he
was in a CONFUSION. Mrs. Johnston
was in the room once, possibly twice
She came in the room with a sacE
of SaltDetre in her hand and asked il