104 -= The Post-Mortem Imbibition of Poisons, [| February, 
clusive evidence of ante-mortem poisoning are the symptoms 
manifested by the patient before death. Of little less importance 
is the revealing of the presence of the poison by chemical analy- 
sis in the interior of a large organ, as for instance, the liver; 
since it does not appear to be likely that a poison introduced after 
death could penetrate by imbibition even to the interior of so 
large an organ. That Professor Reese attaches much importance 
to the detection of the poison within organs will become evident 
by the following extract from the article before mentioned. Says 
Professor Reese; “ If the poison were found on the exterior of the 
organs only, and not in their interior, after a careful research, I 
should regard it as a true case of ‘ Post-Mortem Imbibition.’” 
In this connection a digression may be allowable relative to the 
impregnation of a dead body from arsenical soil into which it is 
sometimes unfortunately placed. In those cases, where owing to 
suspicions of poisoning it becomes necessary to disinter a body 
for legal purposes, it is often found that the coffin in which the 
remains are deposited has burst open, thus allowing the contents 
to come in contact and mingle with the soil (which in some rare 
instances contains arsenic). At the trial of these cases the counsel 
for the defendant, hard pushed for a defence, and whose only 
resource lies in a choice between “insanity ” and “arsenical 
impregnation from the soil,” in some cases selects the latter. 
The actions of lawyers in setting forth such groundless defences, 
being cognizant of the impossibility of the transudation taking 
place, a and living in the light of present scientific knowledge, 
might be looked upon as of doubtful propriety. Unfortunately, in’ 
order to show that such a course is frequently pursued, it is only 
necessary to search the actions taken by the Commonwealth in 
the trial of cases of this nature, when it will be found that along 
with a chemical analysis of the organs, there is made also a 
chemical analysis of the soil. Indeed, this mode of action was 
taken in a recent case of arsenical poisoning occurring in this 
city (Philadelphia), in which the prisoner, although twice con- 
victed, has not as yet been sentenced, on account of the existence 
of some of the so-called “technicalities.” From the following 
opinions of certain toxicologists who have made it a study, it 
will be seen that it is regarded as impossible for this contamina- | 
tion to take place. 
Professor Reese (Proceedings of College of Physicians and 
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