(By Mr. Justice Abbott.) In proportion as the strength and flavour is diminished, so is the strength of the juice diminished?—Yes, my Lord.
(By Mr. Sergt. Lens.) Do you mean to say that that mode [the test by evaporation] is absolutely an infallible mode of detecting arsenic?—I speak by the practice of all physicians, both at home and abroad, that it will be positively detected by that mode to be present; but I don't mean to say that Dr. Edwards's experiment won't do it also; but the phosphate of soda will produce the same thing.
Of course, if necessary to inquire as to the fact of its presence, whether it be pursued by one or the other of these modes, you would inquire into collateral circumstances?—Certainly; but if you speak chemically, I should conceive none decisive, without the reproduction of the metal.
In your judgment, this is the best test that can be resorted to?—I don't speak from my own judgment merely, but from acknowledged experiments.
Is there any considerable portion of the phosphate of soda in the bile?—Phosphoric acid exists in all the fluids of the human body, in the blood and other fluids; I cannot say to what degree it may exist, but it certainly does exist in these, and in the bodies of all animals.
Does it exist to such a degree in the human bile, as to produce this effect?—I have not made the experiment.
You have not made any experiment, either in one way or another?—It is necessary that I should mention that a French chemist, named Denard, has published on this subject.
Mr. Justice Abbott.—We cannot take the fact from any publication; we cannot take the fact as related by any stranger.
(By Mr. Sergt. Pell, through Mr. Justice Abbott.) I wish to know whether Dr. Neale, in the course of his practice, has opened many bodies, the stomachs of which were in a state of inflammation?—I have, a great many.
