[Footnote 21:  An essential symptom of tartar emetic poisoning is purging as well as vomiting.  Dr. Williams of course knows this.  It is a singular circumstance that whilst Mr. Van Ness stated that his bowels were scarcely affected at all, Dr. Williams testified that there was frequent purging.  No remedies calculated to arrest purging were employed by Dr. Williams, however, during the illness of Mr. Van Ness.]

[Footnote 22:  Mrs. Wharton’s trip to Europe had been arranged and her passage engaged months before the occurrence of these events.  If the theory of the State of Maryland, that she poisoned General Ketchum, be true, by poisoning Mr. Van Ness she placed herself in the position of the criminal who voluntarily and without motive destroys his means of escape.  Either she was insane, or the asserted crimes were not committed.]

[Footnote 23:  It is well worthy of mention in this connection that Mr. I.G.  Moale of Baltimore testified that he went for Dr. Chew on Sunday morning, on account of the sick stomach of Mr. Van Ness, and that Dr. Chew told him that the vomiting was the almost necessary result of the remedies used the day before—­a truth which, previous to Mr. Moale’s appearance in Annapolis, the experts for the defence had insisted upon.  H. Clay Dallam also testified that Dr. Williams had told him on Saturday that the indisposition of Mr. Van Ness the day before had been a nervous attack from overwork.  This opinion also was in absolute agreement with the opinion expressed by the experts for the defence.]

[Footnote 24:  The detailed reasons for this opinion will be given in a medical journal at the proper time.  It is allowable here to state, however, that not one of the symptoms laid down by authorities as characteristic of strychnia poisoning was present in the attack of the 24th of June, and that not one of the symptoms which characterizes the natural convulsion was absent.  Further, there is a connection between the various portions of Mr. Van Ness’s illness which is inconsistent with the theory advanced by the prosecution.  Mr. Van Ness stated very positively that the attacks of the 19th, 20th and 24th of June commenced in the same way, with the same symptoms.  Yet, according to the theory alluded to, they were the result of poisons which act in precisely opposite methods.  On the other hand, the very simple natural explanation of the illness of Mr. Van Ness which was offered by the defence at the trial accounts for the unity and the diversity of the attacks, the basis of which, according to it, was over-susceptibility of the nervous system and of the stomach, produced by overwork and heat.]

THE SWEET WATERS.