On the detection of aconite by its physiological action : being notes of experiments made in connection with the trial of Dr. E. W. Pritchard / by Frederick Penny and James Adams.

  • Penny, Frederick, 1816-1869.
Date:
[1865]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the detection of aconite by its physiological action : being notes of experiments made in connection with the trial of Dr. E. W. Pritchard / by Frederick Penny and James Adams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    had been found in Mrs. Taylor’s pocket, was tested for mercury, antimony, and various other metallic poisons, and the results showed the presence of antimony in a soluble form, in the propor¬ tion of one grain and a half of tartarized antimony to the fluid ounce. The discovery of an extraneous admixture directed special attention to this Battley’s solution, which we shall hereafter call u Pritchard’s Battley,” and led to its chemical examination for the leading organic alkaloids, other than those existing in genuine Battley. After a fruitless search for the presence of strychnia, veratria, conia, and hyoscyamia, a small quantity of the liquid was evaporated in a watch glass, and the soft extract applied to the tip of the tongue, when there was felt quickly supervening upon the taste of genuine Battley’s solution a pecu¬ liar benumbing and tingling sensation, increasing in intensity for a short time, and persisting for some hours. In numerous com¬ parative trials with genuine Battley’s solution, obtained from various sources, it became very clearly evident that there was a something characteristic in the taste of the Pritchard Battley, and suspicion turned to the probability of an admixture of aconite. Observations made with an evaporated soft extract of Fleming’s tincture of aconite, with and without a mixture of genuine Batt¬ ley, gave sensations so perfectly corresponding, that strong pre¬ sumptive evidence was now obtained of the presence of aconite in the suspected fluid. By Stas’s well-known process, and by other chemical means, more distinct indications of aconite were obtained; but the unre¬ liable and altogether inconclusive character of all known processes in chemistry for the detection and unequivocal identification of certain vegetable poisons, especially when contained in organic mixtures, and also the necessity of husbanding what remained of the suspected liquid, were sufficient reasons for determining that no time or material should be wasted in further chemical analyses, and a series of experiments upon animals was therefore deter¬ mined on and planned. It was at this stage of the investigation that Dr. Penny, find¬ ing that he would not be able, unaided, to overtake so extensive an inquiry, owing to the limited time at his disposal, and having a part of the analysis still on hand, solicited the assistance of Dr. Adams. Ere this date, however, the list of witnesses against the prisoner had been closed and served, and hence Dr. Adams was precluded by the statutory limitations from appearing in evidence at the trial. In publishing the notes and results of our observations and experiments, we wish it understood that we do not claim for them the character of a scientific or complete physiological investiga¬ tion. They are intended simply to convey to the medical profes-