THE 
AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
VoL. xx.— FEBRUARY, 1886.—No. 2. 
THE POST-MORTEM IMBIBITION OF POISONS. 
BY GEORGE B. MILLER, M.D.) 
HE subject is one not only of a highly interesting character 
to the scientific observer, but also an important one from its 
medico-legal aspects. Perhaps the questions which very natu- 
rally first arise, viz., What is its nature and what are its medico- 
‘legal relations? can be best answered by the following hypo- 
thetical case, which it is hoped will serve to illustrate the sub- 
ject in a manner best calculated to aid in its thorough compre- 
hension. 
Suppose a person dies of a natural cause, and is buried in the 
usual manner in conformity with the established customs of his 
country, the body to all external appearances not having been 
tampered with. Also, that, after the lapse of a few weeks, an indi- 
vidual who had previously introduced into the body, per mouth 
or rectum, a poison or poisonous solution for the purpose of ac- 
cusing an innocent person of a horrible crime, should quietly 
circulate a report that the deceased had been poisoned, and inti- 
mate that the crime had been committed by such and such a per- 
son. With what remarkable lightning rapidity does a report of 
such a sensational character as this travel from one individual to 
another, rarely ever finding the doors barred, the contrary being — 
the tule! This report would in a short space of time reach the 
tribunal of | justice, cognizance would be manifested by the 
Proper authorities, who would order the body to be exhumed, 
the various organs removed and given in charge of a reliable F 
expert, who would subject them to a ĉhemical analysis, which 
1 Inaugural thesis presented to the Faculty of the Medical Department, University -o : 
of Pennsylvania, A. D., 1885. 
VOL. atao, 11. A 
