Part 12 (2/2)
”Supposing that the drug were administered continuously, might it not occur, that instead of being absorbed, the morphine would be retained, stored up as it were, so that the quant.i.ty would acc.u.mulate?”
”Yes, the records contain reports of such cases.”
”Well, now, suppose that a patient had some kidney trouble, such as Bright's disease, would not morphine be retained in this way?”
”I have never seen such a case.”
”Never seen it! But you have read, or heard of such cases?”
”Yes, sir. That is the claim made by some authorities.”
”By good authorities?”
”Yes. Good authorities.”
”And these good authorities claim that morphine, administered to one who has Bright's disease, might acc.u.mulate until a poisonous dose were present?”
”Yes, sir!”
Thus was made plain the object of the line of cross-examination that had been followed with Dr. McDougal. It became evident that the defence meant to claim that if Mabel Sloane died from morphine it was because it had been stored up in her system, in consequence of the diseased kidneys. Satisfied with this admission from the prosecution's expert, Mr. Bliss yielded the witness, and he was re-examined by Mr.
Munson.
”Professor,” said he, ”supposing that in the case of this girl, morphine had been retained in the system, suddenly destroying life because a poisonous quant.i.ty had been thus acc.u.mulated, would you expect to find it, after death, in the stomach?”
”No, sir, I would not.”
”How long a time would be required to eliminate it from that organ?”
”Ordinarily it should be eliminated from the system entirely within forty-eight hours. Certainly after that length of time, it should not appear in the stomach.”
”And yet in this case you found morphine in the stomach?”
”Yes, sir.”
”So that to be there, it must have been administered within two days, and could not have been there as a result of acc.u.mulation beyond that time?”
”I should say that the presence in the stomach proves that the administration must have occurred within two days.”
Upon re-cross Mr. Bliss asked a few questions.
”On your original examination, Professor, you said that you found morphine in the intestines and in the stomach. Where did you find the greater quant.i.ty?”
”In the intestines!”
”If, because of kidney disease, morphine were retained in the system, where would you look for it after death?”
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