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after standing in water for a couple of days, and therefore is in poor condition. When 

 exhumed, both coffin and case containing itwerein perfect condition, and the soil was 

 a stiff blue clay. I can not myself account for the presence of these flies, except that 

 the adults were hibernating in the coffin when used, or else the larvte were in the 

 stomach of the person when death took place. I have never met these flies before. 

 Please let me know what you make out of them, and your idea of the manner of their 

 first securing admission to the corpse.— [F. M. Webster, La Fayette, Ind., February I, 

 1890. 



Reply. — Your letters of February 1 and 4 have come to hand, together with the 

 specimens. The fly bred from a corpse belongs in or near the genus Conicera of the 

 PhoridiB, although no species of this genus has before been mentioned in this country. 

 The species which you have sent, however, has hairy eyes, while the European 

 species are described as having naked eyes. Little is known of the habits in Europe, 

 although Schiner says that C. atra breeds in rotten radishes. The experience which 

 you relate is a most interesting matter and perhaps its publication may bring out 

 further experience. 



A number of cases of insects found on or breeding in corpses are on record in Europe. 

 P. M6guin, in "La faune des tombeaux" (Comptes rendus de I'Ac. des Sciences, v. 

 105, No. 20, Nov. 14, ld87, pp. 348-351) gives a summary of what is known, from which 

 it appears that on exhumed corpses from two to three years old the following insects 

 have been observed : Diptera, CalUphora vomitoria, Cyrtoneura staiulans, Phora (Trin- 

 eitra) aterrima, Anfhomyia Byt.; Coleoptera, BhizopUagus parallelocollis ; Thysanuridae, 

 Achorutes armatus, Templetonia nitida ; Myriapods, Julus sp. 



The two first named Diptera cease to work after the lapse of two years, and since 

 they have occurred only on such corpses as have been buried in summer, it is evident 

 that the eggs must have been deposited before burial. 



The Anthomyia, Phora, and Bhizophagus are found, on the contrary, on corpses buried 

 whether in summer or winter. Corpses buried two years have been found covered 

 with myriads of the pupie of the Trhieiira aterrima, and the larvae o( Bhizophagus have 

 also been found in large numbers. The eggs of both insects are deposited on the 

 ground, and M^gnin concludes that these larvfe work their way into the coffins 

 through nearly seven feet of ground (2 meters). It is finally stated that the Phora 

 prefers lean corpses, whereas the Bhizophagus has been found only on fat corpses. 

 In your case it would seem the more probable supposition that the eggs were depos- 

 ited before burial.— [February 10, 1890.] 



Second Letter — Glad to hear about the corpse-infesting flies. From the fact that 

 this matter is likely to figure in a supposed murder case, I shall have to ask you to 

 publish nothing for the present. A few additional facts I will, however, give you 

 now, and shall probably get nearer to the bottom later, when I will furnish you with 

 a note for publication. 



The person in life weighed about 165 pounds; height, 5 feet 9 inches; age, sixty- 

 two ; male. Death accompanied with congestion of lungs, indicating pneumonia, 

 pains in abdomen, and frothing at mouth. Died January 21, 1888. Coffin practi- 

 cally air-tight, constructed of whitewood, and inclosed in ordinary pine case. Under- 

 taker stated at time that he had embalmed body, but now states that it was not em- 

 balmed. Substances used in embalming, arsenic and corrosive sublimate. 



Body exhumed January 29, 1890. Case and coffin in perfect state of preservation; 

 the latter appearing to be air and water tight. Face, abdominal thorax, front walls 

 of abdomen portions of all abdominal organs, and the less solid part of ribs eaten 

 away. Posterior portion of stomach and body not eaten. Analysis of stomach shows 

 14 grains arsenic. Larvae, pupae, and adults alive at time of exhumation. 



With the criminal and legal features of the case I have nothing to do, but how 

 could these larvae live in a body containing either arsenic or corrosive sublimate ? 

 (The chemist is searching now for the latter and I shall know results in a day or so.) 

 If the man was not poisoned could the larvae have killed him? It did not at first seem 



