Part 12 (1/2)
”We take an exception!” said Mr. Bliss, and sat down.
”Now please answer the question,” said Mr. Munson, addressing the witness.
”Under the hypothesis presented I should say that the minimum dose must have been three grains.”
”That is to say, she must have had three grains, or more?”
”Yes, sir; three grains or more.”
”What is a medicinal dose?”
”From a thirty-second of a grain to half a grain, though the latter would be unusual.”
”Unusually large you mean?”
”Yes. It would be rarely given.”
”Then would you say that three grains would be a lethal dose?”
”It would most probably prove fatal. One sixth of a grain has been known to produce death.”
”One sixth of a grain has proven fatal, and, from what you found, you conclude that three grains had been given to this woman?”
”Yes, provided your hypothesis as to the time of administration is correct.”
”Oh, we will prove the hypothesis.”
”Then I should say that three grains had been administered.”
”Three grains or more?”
”Yes, three grains or more.”
”You may take the witness,” said the a.s.sistant District Attorney, and Mr. Bliss at once began his cross-examination.
”Professor, as an expert toxicologist now, leaving a.n.a.lytical chemistry for awhile, you are familiar with the action of drugs in the human body during life, are you not?”
”Of poisonous drugs. Yes, sir.”
”Of poisonous drugs of course. Of opium and its alkaloids especially, is what I mean?”
”Yes, sir. I have studied them minutely.”
”Now then in regard to morphine. You said to his Honor, awhile ago, that this drug acts variably upon different individuals. Is it not true that it also acts differently upon the same individual at various times?”
”Yes, sir, that is true.”
”And is its action affected by disease?”
”It might be!”