Having made this statement, let me add, in justice to myself, that the sole motive for my investigations has been the good of my fellow-creatures.
"'I have been anxious, in the first place, to enlarge the list of curative medicines having poison for one of their ingredients.

I have attempted, in the second place, to discover antidotes to the deadly action of those poisons, which (in cases of crime or accident) might be the means of saving life.
"'If I had been spared for a few years longer, I should so far have completed my labors as to have ventured on leaving them to be introduced to the medical profession by my successor.

As it is--excepting one instance, in which I ran the risk, and was happily enabled to preserve the life of a poisoned man--I have not had time so completely to verify my theories, by practical experiment, as to justify me in revealing my discoveries to the scientific world for the benefit of mankind.
"'Under these circumstances, I am resigned to the sacrifice of my ambition--I only desire to do no harm.

If any of my preparations, and more particularly those in the medicine-chest, fell into ignorant or wicked hands, I tremble when I think of the consequences which might follow.

My one regret is, that I have not strength enough to rise from my bed, and do the good work of destruction myself.