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the conditions under which we obtained it in this case, except strychnine were present;
but we are not willing to state that we found strychnine where we could obtain no
crystalline residue, or any other reaction for strychnine.

CAPSULES. We found to average weight of the contents of five capsules to be 3.6
grains. The contents of five were digested with acetic acid and water, filtered, made
alkaline and shaken out with chloroform; the chloroform evaporated, and the process
repeated. The reside, mostly crystalline, weighed 0.067 grains per capsule. The
presence of both brucine and strychnine was established in this residue by the usual tests;
and we assumed that extract of nux vomica was a component of the capsules. In this
extract brucine and strychnine occur in approximately equal amounts, and on this
assumption the amount of strychnine in each capsule would be 0.033 grains, or
approximately one-thirtieth of a grain.

DOSE. We found one half teaspoonful of bicarbonate to weigh about 3.5 grams;
which at 0.14 grains of strychnine per ten grams, would contain 0.040 grains of
strychnine per ten grams, would contain 0.040 grains or one-twentieth; so that one half
teaspoonful of bicarbonate, and one capsule would contain one-twelfth of a grain
of strychnine.

In our opinion any bearing which the color that obtained from the contents of the
intestines might have on poisoning from strychnine in the bicarbonate is eliminated if a
capsule were taken at or about the same time. In other words, if a capsule were taken
alone and the person died shortly after from some other cause the same color reaction
would probably have been obtained.

Respectfully,

[R.A. Duncan, signature]
Food Commissioner.

[Edmund Shorey]
Chemist Hawaii Experiment, Station U.S. Department of Agriculture

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