Amador ledger., 1907-02-22


home at the time, and took several
jars of the beans. Those that were
perfectly covered by the liquid we're
apparently edible. One jar seemed
to be in state of fermentation. The
liquid did not reach within two
inches of the top. The beans not
covered had turned black, and Shiny
coating covered them. He had for
warded this jar to Professor Thos.
Price of San francisco, for examina-
tlon, who reported that he found the
same in high state of fermentation,
and gave his opinion that they were
poisonous.
The report of the chemist on the
analysis of the stomach and contents
was then read as follows:
San Francisco, Feb. II, 1907.
G. z. Vicini, Esq, District Attor-
ney, Amador county, jackson CAL
On January Oath of this year, re-
ceived from your, through Wells
Fargo express, box containing
glass jar with four sealed labels, one
across the top, marked. "Niece,''
all the labels also marked, &c and
f." dated January 81, 1907.
| found the jar to contain the
stomach and its contents, spleen,
portion of liver and kidneys, as per.
letter to me from Drs. Gall and Endi-
colt, dated January q, 1907. The
doctors stated that these materials
had been removed by them from the
body of Erminia Cottlni.
Following your Instructions as per
Your letter of January 24th, l made
careful chemical analysis of the
stomach and Its contents, the spleen,
liver and kidney, and found that all
the parts we're free from mineral,
organic or vegetable poison, made
special examination for bella donna,
arsenic and tormie acid, as Drs. Gall
and Endicott considered from the
symptoms that these poisons might
be present. they also stated that the
symptoms pointed to ptomain poison
ing,
Following the examination for
poison, made an examination for
the presence of ptomalnes, and was
successful III separating ptomaines
from the contents of the stomach and
fluid contents of the glass jar. | did
not make search for ptomaines in
the other parts sent me for the reason
that the parts removed from the body
by the physicians had not been kept
separate, but had all been dumped
together with the blood and fluids, so
that all the parts had become thor
oughly soaked and saturated with the
blood and fluids.
The symptoms as described by the
autopsy physicians In their letter to
me point most strongly to fptomain
poisoning. Their. description is as
follows: "DizzIness and partial loss
of sight, constitution, latter followed
by paralysis of the muscles of the
throat, being unable to speak or
swallow, dying apparently from
paralysis of the respiratory centers;
the hearts action continuing in one
case six minutes after the respiration
had ceased; the temperature was
normal or sub-noImaI, no vomiting.
except that caused by medicines ad
for that purpose; patients
conscious almost to the last; no con
pupils dllated; no membrane
or spots on the throat; DO enlarge
ment of the glands.
The symptoms of ptomain poisoning
vary considerably in it's action on
different persons. It' also varies in
accordance with the character of the
material from which 1t has been
derived-vegetable or animal
The following may be considered
as the general and we'll marked symp-
toms of ptomain poisoning. The
seeretions are much diminished or
the mouth, tongue and
pharynX are dry, and neither saliva
perspiration nor tears are secreted;
the pharynx is intamed or liberated,
the voice is hoarse; difficulty in
swallowing, great muscular weakness ).
the patient complains of the derange
ment of the vision and of attacks of
suffocation; in some cases suif ocation,
with or without preceding convuls-
times suffocation due to the entrance
of PARTICLES of food into the air pass
ages: consciousness is perfect, almost
up to the time OF death.
The effect of ptomain poisoning may
he prolonged for many months, and
has been known to have terminated
IN total blindness.
THOMAS PRICE.
A separate letter bearing on the ex-
of the contents of the jar
of beans, read as follows:
San tIaucisco. February II, 1907.
q. z. V1cini, Esq,
District Attorney Amador county,
jackson, California.
Dear Sir:-On the End of this
month, received from Wells, Fargo
" Co. box containing jar of beans:
on the following day, the 3rd inst,
your letter of January 30th was re-
caivnd ihstrn nctino me To make an eY-