The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-09

twenty-five mlnlm syringe tWo-thirdS
filled had been injected into the pa
tient after she had been i'm a state OF
coma for a long time. lie replied that
under ordinary conditions the dose
would have caused death, but that in
a case of profound narcosis it would
have had very little effect. He furth-
er stated that at an ordinary temper
allure only one-fifth of a giaIu %
~strychnine would have been taken I'D
by h water that was n the syringe.
OTHER DISEASES PRODUCE SIM
LIAR EFFECT.
in reply TO the hypothetical question
as TO whether any diseases might not
have caused death with symptoms sim
liar to those described by the witness
DIR. Petree stated that cerebral hem
orrhage might have caused the convui-
sions described, as we'll as the other
syptOms. ~Idiopathic OR traumatic
tetanus and uremic poisoning might
have the same effect.
1t was DR.. Petree's opinion that an
autopsy might have revealed the pres
ence of strychnine Or a clot in the
brain, had the patient died of strych-
nine poisoning or apoplexy, the symp-
toms Of which were similar. He said
that the presence Of poison in the sys-
tenn could be detected by examination
of the blood, the kidneys, the stomach
Or various parts of the anatomy.
On cross examination DR.. Petree ac-
knOwledged that the case was very
complicated and that his testimony in
any case would be theoretical.
DIR. Petree was then asked to state
whether, if he had been called to a pa
tient suffering as Mrs. Matthews, and
had remained in the room with her for
nine hours as Drs. Brooks, Turner and
Farrar had in the case of Mrs. Mat
thews, he could have told the difference
between strychnine poisoning and
apOplexy. He replied hat it would
have been very difficult.
He was then asked whether under
the same circumstances he could have
told the difference between strychnin-
and uremic poisoning. He replied that
this would be simple owing to the OdOr
in uremic poisoning, and added that
from the facts stated alphabetically
by Major Stedman the disease of ure-
mic poisoning was shut out Of the dis
cussion.
Whether or not the witness could
have told the difference btween a clot
resulting from apOplexy and strycn-
nine poisoning if he were in the pa
TENTS room for nine hours was then
asked, and the reply was that he either
might or might not.
The witness was treated to a little
hot cbnf st fhiC iIyncf1ro Gn1iaifnr
Brooks inquired of him whether, if he
could not tell the difference between
strychnine poisoning and apoplexy in
the space Of nine hours. he considered
himself expert enough to tell the diff
ference between strychnine and NOR
phine poisoning. He replied that in
SOME circumstances he might be able
to do so and under others he might
not.
WHOSE OPINION BEST?
DIR. Petree was then asked who he
thought could tell most about the case.
three physicians who had been with
the patient nine hours, or a doctor
called to the stand two months after
ward to give an opinion. He replied
that as far as physiological observa-
ton went the doctors present would
be better qualified, but that as to the
knowledge the doctors pres
ence would make no difference.
DR.. Petree then went into the differ
ence between the symptoms present Id
apOplexy, uremic, morphine,
and strychnine poisoning, reiteratlng
his former declaration that the case
under discussion was not a typical case
any of these, as there were con-
symptoms. He stated that
IL a patient had been made unconscious
by morphine and then been given
the mind would not have
and the commissions might have
followed. He affirmed that under Or
binary circumstances a person taking
the dose of strychnine alleged by DR..
to have been taken by MIS-.
would die in anywhere from
three minutes to three hours.
WRONG TREATMENT FOR
STRYCHNINE POISONING.
It was affirmed by the witness thai
the administration of morphine alone
which DIR. Matthews stated that he had
to his wife as a remedy for thel
ne alleges ueI w HdNc ioh0h
would not have been the proper treat
ment, but that a stomach pump or an
emetic ought to have been used first,
followed by the use of chloroform,
ether, or choral. The morphine would
nave been beneficial in addition to
.hese, as it would have deadened the
pain and lessened the irritation of the
nerves which is the cause OF
commissions. |
DR.. Petree stated that he considered
he treatment to which Mrs. Mat
news had been subjected by the three
present to have been eminently
It was affirmed by the witness that
hough the commissions coming on
within twenty minutes otter h inJeC- |
ion given by DR.. Matthews, and caus-
the death of the patient, appeared |
o indicate strychnine poisoning ne 4,
.ould not say it was the result of the
asst injection. He would also say that
t was questionable that the last In