The strychnine that killed Mrs. Inglethorp was the
identical strychnine prescribed by Dr. Wilkins. To make that
clear to you, I will read you an extract from a book on
dispensing which I found in the Dispensary of the Red Cross
Hospital at Tadminster:
"'The following prescription has become famous in text books:
Strychninae Sulph . . . . . . gr.I
Potass Bromide . . . . . . . 3vi Aqua
ad . . . . . . . . . . . 3viii Fiat
Mistura
This solution deposits in a few hours the greater part of the
strychnine salt as an insoluble bromide in transparent crystals.
A lady in England lost her life by taking a similar mixture: the
precipitated strychnine collected at the bottom, and in taking
the last dose she swallowed nearly all of it!"
"Now there was, of course, no bromide in Dr. Wilkins'
prescription, but you will remember that I mentioned an empty box
of bromide powders. One or two of those powders introduced into
the full bottle of medicine would effectually precipitate the
strychnine, as the book describes, and cause it to be taken in
the last dose.
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