ABSTRACT
Palmer’s trial was notable for the number of medical and forensic witnesses called. The staggering total of 103 medical men were subpoenaed, and a couple of dozen actually gave evidence. Amongst the questions that had to be grappled with were the following: were Cook’s symptoms consistent only with strychnine poisoning, or was there some other possible medical explanation? Notably, could his symptoms have been consistent with the disease tetanus? Had the three post-mortems revealed any signs attributable to some fatal disease? Why had strychnine not been detected in the stomach contents; how quickly did it disappear from the body before and after death? The trial served only to point up the current lack of scientific knowledge about the alkaloid. Palmer did not give evidence. The accused was not entitled to do so until the Criminal Evidence Act of 1898.
