Chapter XV: Of Poisoning with Copper

Poisoning with the salts of copper was not long ago a common accident, in consequence of the metal being much used in the fabrication of vessels for culinary and other domestic purposes, or ignorantly resorted to by confectioners and others to impart a good colour to sweetmeats and preserves. Such accidents have been materially diminished in frequency since the poisonous qualities of the metal, and the circumstances under which it is acted on by articles of food, have become known. Nevertheless they are still frequent enough. The diffusion among the common people of the knowledge of the properties of copper has also naturally led some persons to have recourse to its preparations for the purpose of self-destruction. Poisoning with copper has seldom been caused by the wilful act of another person; for the deep colour of its compounds and their strong disagreeable taste render it a difficult matter to administer them secretly. This, however, though difficult, is not impossible: whatever may be swallowed accidentally, may be also administered secretly. In 1795 a woman Inglis was tried at Aberdeen for administering sulphate of copper with intent to poison; but the charge was not proved.[1047] In 1842 an attempt was made at Béziers in France to poison a young woman by dissolving this salt in her coffee; but the first mouthful caused such a sense of constriction in the throat as to apprize her of something deleterious being present, and she escaped after suffering from soreness of the mouth, vomiting and cramps.[1048] A case of imputed poisoning with sulphate of copper has been related at page 76.