Saturday 14 Jun 1845 (p. 2, col. 8 – p. 3, col. 3) Part 2 SUSPECTED CASES OF POISONING. ----- APPREHENSION OF MR. JOHN GRAHAM. – IMPORTANT INVESTIGATION. [continued] Thomas ELLIOT, Surgeon, was next sworn—I have made a post mortem examination of the body shown to me in Mr. NORMAN's barn on Tuesday last. The jury were all present when it was shown to me. I was assisted by Dr. JAMES, Dr. CARTMEL, and Dr. TINNISWOOD. We have since made an analysis of the contents of the stomach, the substance of the stomach itself, and some gritty particles found in the gullet, stomach, and intestines. I produce our report, it is the joint report of the medical gentlemen who made the post mortem examination. Mr. ELLIOT then read the following report:— FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1845. Post mortem examination of the body of Mrs. Margaret GRAHAM, of Kirkandrews, who died on November 27th, 1844. Grave deep—soil dry—coffin made of oak and quite perfect. The nails not rusted, and the inscription on the plate very little erased. The words were—Margt. GRAHAM, aged 45 years, 1844. The winding sheet was marked with the initials M. H., with the figure 1 below, and was damped with a yellowish fluid. It was also completely covered with mould, which presented the appearance of fine cotton wool spread over it. On removing this substance from the face, the latter appeared of a yellowish brown colour, and the skin almost of the consistence of shoe-sole leather, except over the gristly part of the nose where it was soft. The upper lip was shrunk, and the teeth projected beyond those of the lower jaw. The eyelids were soft, moist, and much depressed; the eyeballs collapsed, but their different textures quite distinct. The hair was of a grey colour, long, and very easily pulled out. The integuments of the chest were of a dullish green colour in front, and the cuticle peeled off with the slightest rubbing. The integuments of the belly presented the same appearance,—they were soft and elastic. INTERNAL EXAMINATION. THE HEAD.—On removing the upper part of the skull, a large quantity of air was found distending the outer membrane covering the brain. The different membranes presented nothing particular in appearance. The brain was very soft, but its component parts could be easily distinguished by their difference in colour. There was no appearance of any disease discovered. CHEST—LUNGS.—Their surface was of a pinkish grey colour, and healthy mottled appearance. Air was effused here and there between the lungs and pleuræ or membranes covering them. The lungs crepitated under pressure, floated in water, and after being well squeezed, could not be made to sink. They were healthy internally, and free from adhesions externally. About a pint of bloody serum was removed from the two cavities of the chest. HEART.—There was no fluid in the pericardium, the interior of which was of a redder colour than natural. The heart itself was soft and flabby. The interiors of the two cavities of the right side of the heart were of a deeper red colour than natural, and contained a small quantity of fluid and clotted blood. The remaining two cavities of the heart were empty, and presented a healthy appearance. ALIMENTARY CANAL.—The soft palate in a great measure deficient. THE GULLET.—Its internal surface was much redder than natural, with a number of small transparent gritty particles adhering to it. About two inches from the stomach we found a transparent crystal, about the size of a raisin stone, firmly adhering. THE STOMACH.—The end where the gullet joins was of a dull dark red colour externally, where in contiguity with the spleen. The other end of the stomach presented the same red appearance. There was slight venous congestion along the small curvature. INTERNALLY.—The contents of the stomach (not more than three or four table-spoonfuls of fluid,) were collected. The internal surface presented great redness, corresponding in situation to that seen externally, numerous gritty particles—some yellowish, others transparent, were seen in the mucus, and firmly adhering to the lining membrane of the stomach. On the posterior surface a small yellow spot was seen, about the size of a split pea, at a short distance from where the small bowel arises. THE SMALL AND LARGE INTESTINES were found nearly empty. The gritty particles, such as had been noticed in the gullet and stomach, were seen in great numbers along their whole length, in the mucus, and adhering to the lining membrane. In some places, the bowels were found much reddened, with here and there patches of a greenish yellow colour. The remaining viscera presented no appearance requiring special notice. It is worthy of remark that the whole of the body, with the exception of the brain, was in a wonderful state of preservation. CHEMICAL ANALYSIS. THE CONTENTS OF THE STOMACH. On careful analysis, no traces of any poison were obtained. MUCUS OF THE STOMACH. A portion of this was carefully scraped off, washed in distilled water, and allowed to settle. A crystalline sediment was deposited, carefully dried, and heated with black flux. A characteristic metallic ring sublimed, bright and shining externally, dull and granular internally. THE STOMACH. Was cut into small pieces and boiled with an ounce of water and half an ounce of Muriatic Acid. Several bundles of copper wire were successively introduced, and on their removal presented an iron grey appearance. On heating one of these bundles in a test tube, a white ring very slowly sublimed which appeared distinctly crystalline to the naked eye. Under the microscope it showed octohedrons with equilateral triangular facets with remarkable distinctness. THE INTESTINES. These were cut in pieces and carefully washed in distilled water. This water, being allowed to stand, deposited a crystalline sediment, which was carefully removed, washed and dried. This was then heated in a test tube with black flux, newly dried at a red heat,—a broad, characteristic, metallic ring was then sublimed. The part of the tube containing this ring was cut off and inclosed in another tube. On the application of heat, the metallic ring sublimed in the form of a white crystalline ring. A pocket magnifying glass distinctly showed the Octohedral crystals and triangular facets. A few drops of distilled water were boiled in the tube containing these crystals, and divided into three parts— The first of them gave a yellow curdy precipitate, with a solution of the Ammoniaco-Nitrate of Silver. The second gave a green precipitate, with a solution of the Ammoniaco-Sulphate of Copper. The third was exposed to a stream of Sulphuretted Hydrogen gas, and gave a beautiful yellow precipitate. REPORT. >From the circumstance of our having detected arsenic in the gullet, stomach and bowels, in considerable quantity—from the remarkable state of preservation in which we found the body, and from the appearance observed on dissection, we are of opinion that the deceased had taken arsenic in sufficient quantity to cause death. THOMAS ELLIOT, Surgeon. RICHARD JAMES, M.D. GEORGE TINNISWOOD, M.D. JOSEPH CARTMELL, M.D. Dr. JAMES—I concur in the evidence given by Mr. ELLIOT. I have nothing to add. Dr. TINNISWOOD—I entirely agree with the report, and have nothing to add. Dr. CARTMEL—I also agree with the report, and have nothing to add. CORONER (to Mr. ELLIOT)—I am requested to ask you whether there is any doubt that the substance found in the stomach is arsenic? Mr. ELLIOT—Not the slightest doubt in the world. [to be continued]