Chapter 9

Poisons  = chemicals that can harm the body if ingested, absorbed, or inhaled in sufficiently high concentrations  Can detect and measure small amounts in human tissue

History of Toxicology  Early 1700s – used chemistry to detect poisons  Dutch chemist, Hermann Boerhaave – arsenic has distinct odor when heated, but ineffective method in body  Others developed techniques to measure poisons in body  Early 19 th century – new scientific discipline

 France, 1840 – 1 st use in legal case – LaFarge murder trial  Marie accused of killing husband, Charles, with rat poison (arsenic)  English chemist, James Marsh – test to detect arsenic  Found traces of arsenic in food, but not body

 Orfila retested exhumed body  Found traces of arsenic in body, but not surrounding soil  So, not absorbed by body after burial  Marie LaFarge convicted of murder

Forensic Toxicologist  Concerned with legal and medical aspects of alcohol, drugs, poisons, and toxins in bodily fluids  Often works with pathologist  Analyzes evidence to determine if alcohol or drugs contributed to crime  Presents expert testimony