Treatise on Poisons: In relation to medical jurisprudence, physiology, and the practice of physicChristison, Robert, Sir
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Treatise on Poisons: In relation to medical jurisprudence, physiology, and the practice of physic
Christison, Robert, Sir
Medical jurisprudence; Toxicology
be discovered in the house except a corrosive-sublimate solution which
the prisoner used for a gargle; and none could be traced into her
possession. A variety of circumstances of a general nature, which are
passed over here for brevity, as not strictly appertaining to the
present view of the case, threw very great suspicion over the prisoner.
The medical witnesses deposed, that poisoning could alone explain the
medical circumstances; and Dr. Geoghegan was of opinion that death was
owing to some vegetable poison, although he could not specify the
particular substance. He suspected, however, that it was monkshood. In
these views, when consulted by him before the trial, I entirely
concurred. Considering the taste observed by the deceased at the time he
ate the greens, the rapidity with which he was taken ill afterwards, and
the very peculiar symptoms, unlike those of any natural disease with
which physicians are acquainted, and agreeing with those which are
produced by monkshood,—considering also that another individual, who
partook of the same dish with him, was similarly and simultaneously
attacked, and with a severity proportioned to the quantity he took,
while other persons who ate the same food from a different dish, did not
suffer at all,—it appears to me that poisoning was clearly established;
and I also think that the general evidence brought home the charge of
administering the poison to the prisoner. She was condemned and
executed, and confessed before execution, that she did poison her
husband, and that the substance she used was the powdered root of
monkshood, which is well known as a poison to the peasantry of Monaghan
under the name of Blue Rocket.
It is scarcely necessary to add, that great caution must be observed in
applying the general principle here inculcated. But the opposite
doctrine, that no charge of poisoning can be established without the
discovery of poison in the body or in the evacuations, appears to me a
great error, though upheld by no mean authority. Under that doctrine few
criminals would be brought to justice, were they to resort to a variety
of vegetable poisons, which in certain seasons are within the reach of
every one.
SECTION IV.—_Evidence from Experiments on Animals._
Evidence from experiments on animals with articles supposed to contain
poison is more equivocal than was once imagined. But it may be doubted
whether some medical jurists have not overstepped the proper limits,
when they hold it to constitute little or no proof at all.
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