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ON THE DETECTION OF ARSENIC. 
treme cases in poisoned animals, by acting upon a certain 
number of muscles, or one of the viscera of the animal econo- 
my, previously dried, especially when these viscera are very 
vascular: but it is preferable to act upon the entire corpse, or 
half of it at least, as the proportion of acid absorbed is very 
small. He says it may likewise be detected in the blood ex- 
tracted by bleeding, when it amounts to several ounces in 
quantity. 
In reference to the detection of arsenic in bodies, exhumed 
a long time after death by this poison, M. Orfila says: 
That it is possible to prove the presence of arsenious acid, 
mixed with animal matters, even after the lapse of several 
years. 
That if the arsenious acid has been employed in a solid 
state, it is possible to perceive, after long inhumation, here and 
there particles, which, being detached with the point of a pen- 
knife, presents all the characters of this poison.* 
He says that there is no doubt but that arsenious acid, after 
some length of time, is transformed into arsenite of ammonia, 
more soluble in proportion as the animal substances produce 
the ammonia; so that after the lapse of several years it might 
be difficult to detect the presence of arsenic, from its forming 
a soluble compound with the ammonia, and filtering into the 
earth, during an advanced state of putrefaction of the body. 
M. Orfila has himself proved, by experiment, that it is pos- 
sible to find again this acid in the remains of a corpse, after 
seven years inhumation. (Jour, de Chimie Med. vol. vi.) 
It is of the highest importance for every one to know what 
are the phenomena which give rise to the suspicion of poison- 
ing by arsenic, and the proper means to employ as an anti- 
dote. The symptoms, occasioned by a large dose of arsenic, 
commence about a quarter of an hour after the poison has been 
taken. The patient at first experiences pains of the stomach, 
accompanied with anxiety, then a burning heat of the stomach 
* And to be convinced that these grains are really arsenious acid, no 
means offer of conducing to more certain results, or of easier execution, 
than their reduction to the metallic state. 
