ARSENIC. 
§ 77 1 -] 
599 
So that he detected in the liver five times more than in the brain. 
M. P. Hamberg has also confirmed the fact, that more is found in the 
liver and kidneys than in the nervous tissues. See also Gautier’s 
researches (p. 586). 
Chittenden 1 found in a body the following quantities of arsenic 
estimated as arsenious acid :— 
Grain. 
Stomach and gullet ..... 0*158 
Intestines.0*314 
Liver ....... 0*218 
Kidney ....... 0*029 
Lungs and spleen , . . . .0*172 
Heart ....... 0*112 
Brain ....... 0*075 
Diaphragm ...... 0*010 
The whole arsenic present was estimated as equal to 3*1 grains of 
arsenious acid, viz. 2*628 grains absorbed, and 0*472 unabsorbed ; of the 
absorbed portion 8*3 per cent, was found in the liver. 
The whole evidence with regard to the distribution of arsenic which 
has produced death is conflicting ; it may, however, be confidently 
stated that the liver and kidneys will be found to retain a fair percentage 
of the arsenic which has been absorbed, and that practically all the 
organs of the body will contain more or less arsenic. It is also not justi¬ 
fiable to calculate from one small portion of an organ, say liver, the total 
amount in the whole organ, unless the organ has been first dried and then 
finely comminuted and weighed, and a weighed portion taken. This 
apparently has been seldom done, and accounts for the conflicting 
statements. 
With regard to the preliminary treatment of the stomach and fluids 
submitted to the analyst, the careful noting of appearances, the decanta¬ 
tion, washing and examination 2 (microscopical and chemical) of any 
deposit, are precautions so obviously dictated by common sense, that 
they need only be alluded to in passing. Of some considerable moment 
is the question which may be put to the analyst in court, in reference 
to the possible entrance of arsenic into the living body by food, by acci¬ 
dental and, so to speak, subtle means. A. Gautier and Clausmann 
believe that people take daily in their food only T wcr nigrm. of 
arsenic, therefore yearly 7*66 mgrms. ; so that should mgrm. of 
arsenic be found in the corpse there is a fair presumption of poison¬ 
ing. Other sources of arsenic are the inhaling of the fumes from 
the burning of arsenical candles, 3 and of emanations from papers 
1 American Chemical Journal, v. 8. 
2 From some observations of Fresenius it would seem necessary to test all glass 
vessels used ; for it is difficult at present to purchase arsenic-free glass. 
3 See a case of poisoning (non-fatal) of a lady by the use of arsenical candles, Med. 
Times and Gazette, iii. 367, 1876. 
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