ON POISONING BY ARSENIOUS ACID. 
327 
Marsh's apparatus and substances not containing arsenic, 
they could obtain spots similar to those from arsenic, and 
affording all the reactions of arsenious acid. Before examining 
these three propositions, M. Orfila stated it to be desirable, 
that the first two assertions should be cleared of all doubt — 
that thence would be avoided in future, the objections so 
frequently repeated by legal advisers, objections drawn from 
the fact of arsenic naturally existing in the human body, and 
the earth of cemeteries. This problem resolved, and which 
has for its object to demonstrate the presence of arsenic in 
all the viscera of persons thus poisoned, it can no longer 
suffer the least opposition on the part of the contradictors. 
On the first point, M. Orfila expressed himself thus: 
Jlrsenic cannot be obtained from the human body. As far 
as the viscera are concerned, M. Danger and Flandin have 
only repeated what M. Orfila had already established. In 
addition, he also assumed that the bones do not contain it. 
Without any further explanation, M. Orfila stated, that on the 
third of November last, he had placed at the command of 
the Academy, a sealed note, which is in the hands of the 
perpetual secretary, and which contains his opinion on this 
point. 
M. Orfila never said that the earths of cemeteries were all 
and constantly arsenical; the title of his third memoir would 
prove to what extent he reserved himself on this point — the 
title is: On the earths of cemeteries — on the arsenic which 
they may furnish, and upon the medico-legal deductions 
which should be drawn from the possible existence of an 
arsenical composition in these earths. M. Orfila reported 
in the same memoir, experiments made upon three specimens 
of earth taken from the cemetery of Villey-sur-Tisle, near 
Dijon, and he proved that only one of these afforded arsenic. 
The same fact was established with regard to the cemetery 
of Mount Parnassus, he having extracted arsenic from one 
portion and not from another. This diversity of result is 
perfectly explained, by calling to mind that these earths, when 
arsenical, contain this metal under the form of insoluble 
