The republic., 1851-07-07
Ffom GaIignani's Messenger,
M. Orfila ON Nicotine.

At the last sitting of the Academy Of Medicine,
at Paris, M. Orfila's report nicotine read
This report, which confirms facts already known,
contains many new observations of interest to che
mists and medical jurisprudence, relative to the
properties of the poison, and Of its traces after
death
According to this document, nicotine was dis
covered in 1909, by Vauquelin; and is to be found
in different kinds of ncotiana, in various proper
tions Havana tobacco contains two per cent; that
of the Nord, six; Virginia nearly seven, and that
of Lot, eight. Smokers, by inhaling the fumes of
tobacco. introduce into their system certain
quantity (though small) Of poisonous matter
Pure nicotine has the appearance of an oily trans
parent liquid, of pale yellow color, which, after
exposure, turns to brown. 1t is very hot to
the taste, and it's acrid smell slightly resem-
bles that of tobacco; but when volatilized by
heat it throws out characteristic vapors, which
oppressive that breathing becomes diff
icult in room where drop of the IL
quid has been spilled. As a poisonous substance
nicotine possesses excessive power. In expert
rnents made about ten years ago, in ten minutes
M. Orhla killed many dogs, on the tongues Of
which he had applied five drops of this alka; with
twelve drops death ensued in two minutes. But
this powerful poison cannot escape the investiga-
ton of men Of art. Pure nicotine (according to
the conclusions Of Messrs Orfla and Stas) has Ger
tain characters by which il is detected easily
a mineral poison. II can be discovered in the di
gesve channel, and. its existence therein proved,
slough that channel contain but q few drops And
even when the poisonous substance has been alb
sorbed-whe 1t has passed into the other organs-
il still be discovered in those organs and es-
pecially in the liver M. Orila has tried, on the
liver of animals poisoned with twelve or fifteen
drops of nicotine, two methods of chemical analy-
sis, which he describes, and he has invariably sue
ceeded in procuring certain quantities of the poi
sons sought for.
nj. Stas, by making use Of third method on the
body of Gustavus Fougnies, extracted nicotine
from the tongue, the stomach, and liquid con-
tanned therein he also found in the liver and
lungs. He moreover obtained il from the wood
flooring OF the dining-room in which Gustave 6ied,
although that flooring had been washed with soap,
oil, and warm water and, in his learned investi-
cation, the Belgian toxicologst had received no in
dication from the judge d'instruction. Before he
periments relative to tobacco and nicotine, he
had already found that the poison introduced
into the body Of the victim was neither sulphuric
acid (as had been supposedly nor acetic acid, but
either concine or nicotine.
The progress which medical jurisconsults have
made recently is SO great that poisoning by NOR
phyne, strychine prussc acid, and other vegetable
substances, hitherto regarded inaccessible TO
means Of investigation, may now be detected and
recognised in the most incontestible manner.
M. Orfla, in closing his notice, might well say
"After these results of judicial medical investgs-
ton, the public need be under apprehension.
No doubt intelligent and clover criminals, with
view to thwart the surgeons, will sometimes have
recourse to very active poisons little known by the
MAS, and difficult Of detection, but science is
the alert, and soon overcomes all difficulty; pene-
trating into the utmost depths Of our organs, it
brings out the proof of the crime, and furnishes
one Of the greatest pieces Of evidence against the
guilty"