Note 418 — PHARMACOLOGIA. (continued 2)

In consequence of a report having arisen that a young woman had died after an illness of forty-eight hours, and been hastily buried at Madron, the magistrates of that district issued their warrant for the disinterment of the body, and requested my attendance at the examination. It appeared upon dissection that the immediate cause of death had been inflammation of the intestines; the stomach was found to contain a considerable portion of liquid, which was carefully collected and examined; no solid matter could be discovered in it. It appeared to consist principally of the remains of a quantity of penny-royal tea, which had been the last thing administered to the deceased. This was divided into several portions, and placed in separate wine glasses, and submitted, in the presence of the sheriff and other gentlemen, to a series of experiments, amongst which the following may be particularized, as bearing upon the question at issue.

1st. A few drops of a solution of sub-carbonate of potass were added to the liquid, in one of the glasses, when its colour, which was before of a light hazel, was instantly deepened into a reddish yellow; the sulphate of copper was then applied, when a precipitate fell down, which every one present immediately pronounced to be of a vivid green hue, but in pouring off the supernatant liquid, and transferring the precipitate upon white paper, it assumed a blue colour, without the least tinge of green; the explanation of the phenomenon, and the fallacy to which it gave rise, was obvious: the yellow colour, imparted to the liquid by the alkali, was the effect of that body upon vegetable extract, and will generally take place on adding it to the infusions of vegetable substances.

2nd. To another portion of the liquid, the ammoniaco-nitrate of silver was added; a slight turbidness arose, but no yellow precipitate occurred.

3rd. After adding a fixed alkali, the surface of the liquid was touched with a stick of lunar caustic, but no yellow precipitate was produced.

4th. The liquid was next assayed in a watch-glass, for a phosphate of soda, by endeavouring to form a triple salt with magnesia and ammonia, as suggested by Dr. Wollaston; the result proved that phosphate of soda was not present. It is unnecessary to pursue the relation of the experiments; I conceive that sufficient evidence has been adduced to establish the truth of the explanation. I have frequently repeated the first experiment, substituting for the gastric infusion, a decoction of onions, and with similar results.