Witness—Yes, I am able to form an opinion.
What is that opinion?—That the arsenic was assuredly not taken by the patient himself.
The Judge—What is the usual dose of Fowler's Solution daily—that is to say, take the whole?—About five drops three times a day, eight drops twice a day, or something like that. You may take it fifteen drops a day average treatment.
Mr. Wilkinson (to witness)—Can you state the largest amount there is any experience of having been given in solution?—-Some medical men, in treating such diseases as malarial fever, have given doses of ten or twenty drops at a time, stating that in the fever such doses can be borne with impunity. My experience does not agree with that altogether.
The Judge—How many doses of that strength per day?—I presume three doses per day, while larger does have been given, ince half-an-ounce would cause death naturally a smaller quantity than that could be given without serious consequences.
Mr Wilkinson—Is it the experience that persers taking arsenic continuously take it in increased doses and that increased doses are called for?—In medical practice I am not aware, from the many records there are, of such cases. In the treatment of obstinate cases of skin disease where the arsenic is given for a long period it is not the custom—certainly not the custom—to increase the dose but to keep it steadily at such a dose as I have mentioned—four or five drops. Since this case has been going on I have heard of men making the wildest statements as to the quantity of arsenic they have taken.
Are the symptoms of arsenic poisoning and poisoning by acetate of lead similar Acetate of lead in its administration would have to be given in large quantity it you are to get a case of poisoning-Bay an ounce. No an ounce is not satisfactory: an ounce and a half of two ounces. An ounce has so frequently failed. That poison is freely soluble in water or the juice of the mouth, the saliva, and would have a very strong powers fal sweet taste and astringent action in the mouth and throat. On the other hand, arsenic is practically tasteless, without any effect on the throat. You find in books, Burning of the mouth and throat," but that does not matter. It is without any effect on the throat in swallowing. If I am asked whether these poisons have a similar effect, I say "no, as poisons." The vomiting that is produced by arsenic is the most striking of its effects. So with the nausea. Sugar of lead in large quantities will cause vomiting more or less—sometimes less and sometimes great and painful, with great nausea. here come on in the arsenic cases very marked throat symptoms, these symptoms being sensational rather than structural. There is a sensation of great pain, great constriction in the throat, great pain in swallowing, and all the while no great change in the throat—no ulceration, no white deposit. But lead may or may not cause severe throat symptoms, but they are essentially those caused by' the poison passing over it, which does not occur in the case of arsenic, Where a large dose of lead or of arsenic, or of any other irritant poison, acts overwhelmingly on the patient there will be rapid collapse. That is different from the depression that I have mentioned in the case of arsenic. The collapse may be the effect of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.