Detecting laudanum post-mortem

[MacGuffin]

Hi Michael W Richards,

Originally Posted by Michael W Richards

There are techniques used in combat that can incapacitate quicker than any drug, within a second or two, and are virtually undetectable later. Since there were no traces of any kind of substance used to knock the women out found by the medical investigators, perhaps it would be wiser to only consider methods that do not leave a trace?

Cheers

There appears to be some confusion here, as the original post of this thread was inquiring about possible substance use and detection (specifically laudanum), not in theorizing the Whitechapel murders, but as a plot device for fictional work.

Regards,
MacGuffin

[Michael W Richards]

Originally Posted by MacGuffin

Hi Michael W Richards,


There appears to be some confusion here, as the original post of this thread was inquiring about possible substance use and detection (specifically laudanum), not in theorizing the Whitechapel murders, but as a plot device for fictional work.

Regards,
MacGuffin

The thread title prompted the response, since its been batted about before here, sorry for the interruption.

Cheers

[Ausgirl]

Originally Posted by Michael W Richards

There are techniques used in combat that can incapacitate quicker than any drug, within a second or two, and are virtually undetectable later. Since there were no traces of any kind of substance used to knock the women out found by the medical investigators, perhaps it would be wiser to only consider methods that do not leave a trace?

Cheers

Victorian era tox screens were foolproof, apparently.

[Errata]

Originally Posted by Ausgirl

Victorian era tox screens were foolproof, apparently.

Well not foolproof, but we are talking about opium here, which is not a subtle drug. Frankly if you dump out stomach contents into a jar and take a whiff you can smell opium. So while there were scientific tests, there's sort of an equal chance of being detected by some dude with a decent sense of smell.

[Batman]

Dr. Saunders tested stomach contents for poison or drugs in the case of Eddowes.

Saunders said: I received the stomach of the deceased from Dr. Gordon Brown, carefully sealed, and I made an analysis of the contents, which had not been interfered with in any way. I looked more particularly for poisons of the narcotic class, but with negative results, there being not the faintest trace of any of those or any other poisons.

[MacGuffin]

Hi Michael,

Originally Posted by Michael W Richards

The thread title prompted the response, since its been batted about before here, sorry for the interruption.

Cheers

No apologies needed whatsoever, just clarifying that some of the discussion includes potential fictitious scenarios.
I agree with you that the Whitechapel killer(s) most probably did not use anything more than lethal force to subdue the victims.


Regards,
MacGuffin