Arsenic is not a normal constituent of the human body, nor is it found in the soil in a soluble state, and hence there is no danger of a dead body imbibing this poison after burial from the surrounding earth. Yet in cases where bodies are exhumed there is danger of some of the earth being sent with the portions selected for analysis, and consequently in these cases the chemist should call for a sample of the surrounding earth from the place of burial if death is suspected by poison.1

Reese states that arsenic is not a cumulative poison.

Arsenic possesses a strong anticeptic power, causing the preservation of the body for a long period, and thereby rendering it possible to detect the poison after burial for a long time. In one case it was detected after fourteen years. This power in arsenic is not always exerted.

The first symptoms ordinarily appear in half an hour to an hour, but they have been immediate.

Fatal dose. Two grains, but recoveries have taken place after doses of one to two ounces.

Fatal period. The majority of cases end fatally within twenty-four hours, and these generally within eight or ten hours. One death is recorded by Dr. Taylor in twenty minutes from a large dose.

1A case occurred in Ontario where strong suspicions of poisoning by arsenic were created by the discovery of that poison during the analysis, but an examination of portions of earth from the grave-yard in which the body had been buried at once allayed these suspicions. Care, however, must be taken not to confound arsenic communicated by the soil to the body with arsenic communicated from the body to the adjacent soil.

Chloride of mercury or corrosive sublimate. The symptoms come on immediately, or after a few minutes, the poison exerting a chemical or corrosive action on the animal membranes. A strong metallic taste is perceived in the mouth, a sense of constriction of the throat during the act of swallowing, amounting almost to choking, and a burning heat in the throat, extending to the stomach; shortly a violent pain is felt in this organ, and over the whole abdomen, increased by pressure; frequent vomiting of long, stringy masses of white mucus, mixed with blood, together with profuse purging, the evacuations being of a mucus character, and sometimes streaked with blood; pulse small, frequent and irregular; tongue white and shrivelled; skin cold and clammy; respiration difficult; intense thirst; and death is commonly preceded by syncope, convulsions and general insensibility; urine often suppressed; salivation is sometimes produced in a few hours, but more generally only after the lapse of some days, if the patient survives so long; sometimes the mucus membranes of the mouth are uninjured, and pain on pressure is occasionally absent. When taken

in small doses at intervals, colicky pains, nausea, vomiting and general uneasiness are produced; the salivary glands become painful, inflamed and ulcerated, the tongue and gums red and swollen, and the breath has a peculiarly offensive odour ; difficulty in swallowing and breathing. Salivation often occurs, but this may be produced in some persons by very small doses of calomel, Calomel

occasionally acts as a poison, even in small doses, apparently from the idiosyncrasy of the individual. Excessive salivation and gangrene of the salivary glands may be produced.

A bluish line is sometimes found at the edge of the gums as in lead poisoning.

Fatal dose. For an adult three grains.

Fatal period. Generally from one to five days, but death has occured in half an hour.

Salts of Lead. Acetate and carbonate of lead produce colic and constipation of the bowels; the vomiting is commonly not very violent; pain in the mouth, throat and stomach are commonly observed; sometimes dragging pains in the loins, cramps and paralysis of the lower extremities, are produced. The symptoms often remain for a long time, returning again and again. The carbonate is not so poisonous as the acetate, requiring large doses to produce any very serious effect; but when swallowed in small quantities for a length of time, it produces the usual symptoms of lead poisoning (painter's colic). The pain in the stomach is generally relieved by pressure, and has intermissions. If any fæces are passed, they are usually of a dark colour. A peculiarly well marked character in cases of poisoning by lead, especially when the poison has been gradually absorbed during a considerable period, is a clearly defined blue line round the gums, where they join the teeth. Occasionally purging is produced, and sometimes the symptoms reappear after the patient has apparently recovered. Chronic poisoning by lead may

occur among persons exposed to the powder of many preparations of that metal, especially white lead, and may also be caused to a certain extent by the continued use of some hair-dyes. Even handling articles containing lead may, under some circumstances, produce paralysis. Chronic poisoning may also be caused by the use of certain waters, when kept in leaden cisterns.

Rain water or water from snow should never be kept in leaden utensils, or used when drawn through leaden pipes.

Fatal Dose. Uncertain. An ounce has been taken without fatal effects, but a less quantity may occasion alarming symptoms.

Fatal Period. From a few hours to several days.

Copper. Poisoning by the sulphate or acetate of copper (blue vitriol and verdigris) is not common, owing to the colour and strong taste of these salts; but serious effects may be produced by the use of pickles and other culinary preparations made in copper vessels.

Even water drawn from a copper boiler may be dangerous to use.

When a considerable quantity of either of the above salts has been taken, the following symptoms are usually observed :-Metallic taste; constriction of the throat; griping pains in the stomach and bowels; pain in the abdomen, increased on pressure; increased flow of saliva; purging and vomiting, the vomited matter being generally of a bluish or greenish colour, and that from the bowels greenish

and tinged with blood. Prof. Tidy states that jaundice is the specially diagnostic symptom of copper poisoning.

When the poison is absorbed, the breathing becomes hurried and difficult; quick pulse; weakness; thirst; coldness and paralysis of the limbs; headache; stupor and convulsions. A green paint made of the oxychloride of copper (Brunswick green) has sometimes caused death when taken into the stomach; and articles of food containing salt, if left in copper vessels, are apt to become injurious. When chronic poisoning ensues from the after effects of a large quantity of some preparation of copper, or from the gradual assimilation of small quantities, excessive irritability of the alimentary canal is established, with tenderness of the abdomen, and colicky pains resembling dysentery; frequent tendency to evacuate and to vomit; loss of appetite; prostration and paralysis.

Fatal Dose. Half an ounce of verdigris has proved fatal, and an ounce of the sulphate, but larger quantities have been taken without fatal results.

Fatal Period. From four to twelve hours.

Antimony. Although several of the preparations of antimony, especially tartar-emetic, are largely used in medicine, and occasionally in large quantities, they may at all times, and under peculiar circumstances, act as poisons; children, for instance, having been frequently killed by comparatively small doses of tartar-emetic. When a large quantity has been swallowed a metallic taste