DEATH BY STRYCHNINE!

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 557, 23 October 1871, Page 2

DEATH BY STRYCHNINE!

ADJOUENED COEOJNEU'S INQUEST.

THE adjourned Coroner's inquest " tou°, n!?S the sudden death of the late Mr. Albert Ep iraiin Cohen, was hold this afternoon, vi tho Naval and Family Hotel, Pitt-street before Dr. Philson, Coroner of the district. Ail the jurymen who were in attendance on the previous occasion were present.—Dr. Hooper was sworn, and deposed that, together witli Dr. G-oklsboro', commenced the analysis lor strychnine according to Ata's_ principle. Strychnine being very insoluble in water, it is necessary to add spirit to dissolve it. i there digested a portion of the stomach ot tie ceased with rectified spirits of wine in a water bath—a portion of acetic acid having been first added. The mixture was treated with bicarbonate of potash. Having then shaken the whole well together the moisture was then filtered and evaporated. A small quantity of concentrated sulphuric aoid was then add-d to the residue, to destroy any organic matter mixed with the supposed poison. Peroxide of manganese was then added, but tho colours which ought to have been produced were imperfectly shown. .The result is attributed to the impurity of the chemicals. Ido not consider the tost mentioned demonstrative of t.ie power of strychnine. The filtered liquor, after being digested with alcohol, had an intensely bitter taste—even the smalje?!. firop. I then administered a small portion of tho contents of tho stomach, unacted upon by experiment, to two young kittens. 1.0 the first kitten, half a drachm of the contents of the stomach produced rigidity and spasms m less than three minutes, accompanied by twitching of the muscles, occasional spasmodic cries, violent prolusion of the claws, violent drawing back of the head, and death in about an "hour. Similar results wero obtained in the case of the second kitten. I took the remaining portion of the contents of the stomach, and forcibly administered about a wine glassful to a large sized dog. Certain symptoms wero produccdin twentyfive minutes. There was no vomiting. Death to -k place in an hour and forty minutes. The character,of the convulsions was very marked. From the various experiments made I feel! convinced that the deceased's death was caused by strychnine. The matter administered to the animals was taken from the stomach, and had not been acted upon by any chemicals. The matter .was administered to the kittens on Saturday and Sunday. No one had access to this matter but myself, and f:ie greatest care was used, ihe contents of the stomach having been sealed, when taken from the stomach, and never opened until it was opened in tho presence of Dr. Q-oldaboro'. When I first saw deceased the limbs were rigid. In ordinary cases of death rigidity does not usually set in until several hours after life is extinct. Poisoning by strychine is not usually attended by vomiting. I do not think deceased vomited" prior to death.—By Mr. MacCormick : I could not detect any signs of deceased having drunk any ale, but he might have done so, and yet have^ been absorbed. I am aware that strychnine is sometimes used by brewers. Half a grain of strychnine has been known to produce death. Such quantity would be detected in a stomach by adepts in analysing. Ike symptoms as those described in ny previous evidence were such as I should have expected to find in cases of poisoning by strychnine. The features after death in such cases are sometimes Quite placid. —To a jury-.-.*TT-T XT^JUUIIAg I7TTO SUI ULUILII6 ~VVn»~»-* I.l*l O. produced the spasmodic symptoms mentioned. The strychnine in beer would not have caused them, as a very minute portion of strychnine is sufficient to impart a bitter taste to several gallons.— The Coroner addressed tho jury, and expressed his opinion that deceased must have been poisoned by strychnine, but whether administered by himself or some one else, it was hard 1o say. —The jury then retired to consider their verdict, and had not returned when our reporter left.