st have had three grains, or more?"

"Yes, sir; three grains or more."

"What is a medicinal dose?"

"From a thirty-second of a grain to half a grain, though the latter
would be unusual."

"Unusually large you mean?"

"Yes. It would be rarely given."

"Then would you say that three grains would be a lethal dose?"

"It would most probably prove fatal. One sixth of a grain has been
known to produce death."

"One sixth of a grain has proven fatal, and, from what you found, you
conclude that three grains had been given to this woman?"

"Yes, provided your hypothesis as to the time of administration is
correct."

"Oh, we will prove the hypothesis."

"Then I should say that three grains had been administered."

"Three grains or more?"

"Yes, three grains or more."

"You may take the witness," said the Assistant District Attorney, and
Mr. Bliss at once began his cross-examination.

"Professor, as an expert toxicologist now, leaving analytical
chemistry for awhile, you are familiar with the action of drugs in the
human body during life, are you not?"

"Of poisonous drugs. Yes, sir."

"Of poisonous drugs of course. Of opium and its alkaloids especially,
is what I mean?"

"Yes, sir. I have studied them minutely."

"Now then in regard to morphine. You said to his Honor, awhile ago,
that this drug acts variably upon different individuals. Is it not
true that it also acts differently upon the same individual at various
times?"

"Yes, sir, that is true."

"And is its action affected by disease?"

"It might be!"

"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 quantity would accumulate?"

"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 accumulate 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
defenc