Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-23
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH %, 1859.
TIE EFFECTS OF ARSENIC.

TIE EFFECTS OF ARSENIC.
The proceedings of the Boston Society
of Natural History are full OF Interest,"
We copy the following from the report OF the
Boston Traveller:
Mr. +. III. Storer read a paper on the pow
er possessed by the larvae of various common
flies Of consuming without apparent injury
to themselves, the flesh of animals which have
died from the effects of arsenic. Last June
he found several Larvae upon the liver of a sub
iect in whose stomach he had previously de-
tected the presence of arsenic; this liver was
found on analysis to be saturated with arscn-
ic. In order to determine if the larvae were
actually nourished by such poisonous flesh,
the bodies Of several rats, poisoned to death
by arsenious acid, were exposedto the flies;
in 48 hours they were completely hy-blown,
and in the course of week all the flesh had
been consumed by the larve; after this they
were changed into chrysalids.
These chrysalids on analysis yielded
metallic arsenic. 1t might be supposed that
the arsenic, thus obtained, had been attrac-
ted mechanically to the external surface of the
larvae, and had not been swallowed, especial
" as the bones denuded of flesh were cover
ed with white powder resembling arsenic;
however this may be, the larvae must either
instinctively reject the poison, or it is excreted
by them after ingestiOn. A number of these
chrysalids were kept in order to ascertain if
they would undergo metamorphosis. and, if
30, whether the perfect insects would be
healthy and vigorous-some were kept for
two months, at the end of which time they
were accidentally lost, without undergoing
any change, remaining, however, in apertect
state of preservation and full Of pulp; num-
Der of small flies, apparently not ichneumous,
which gained access to them, died almost i'm
mediately, as was supposed from having fed
upon them: the empty shells of other chrysa-
lids found about the room showed that some
had been metamorphosed, as none but the
arsenically fed larvae had been admitted to
the apartment.
Experiments made to determine how large
quantity of arsenic might be contained in
flesh without rendering it unfit for the food
of these larvae were not very satisfactory,
from the hardening of the tissue by solutions
of this substance, preventing the deposition
of the eggs; eggs developed in such tissue
bring forth living worms, which in his e1per-
imsnts died in or 8 hours. The adult flies per-
ished in great numbers while depositing the
eggs upon the poisoned flesh. Jaeger Quot
ed BY 0rfla Toxicologie l, 379) alludes to
the fact that larvae of flies live little longer
than the perfect insects when arseneous acid
is introduced into the digestive organs or APP
piled to their external soft parts. Under
favorable moist conditions, the larv9 lived 3
or days, and were evidently nearly ready
to pass into the chrysalid state. Experiments
with arsenic acid, used, however, i'll too con-
centrated state, also showed that there is
limit to the amount of arsenic which these
larvae can support.
He was inclined to belive that they can eat
with impunity any flesh into which arsenic
has been carried by vital processes, from the
fact of their being found upon the arsenicat-
ed liver, an organ capable of absorbing
very large quantity of this poison; anatomi-
cal preparations injected thoroughly with ar
senic acid, have been found completely riddl-
ed and alive with larva.
This matter is important to chemists oc-
cupied in judicial Investigations, who should
not infer that a ayblown organ can contain
arsenic; though, if flies die almost immedia-
tely after alighting on a suspected substance,
arsenic is probably present, and should be
specially sought for. These facts are also
interesting, DIS sno"in 'ho Si0"' "iii.A y.
which existin animals in their several condi-
tions of metamorphosis, and as indicating
the caution with which the results OF expert
ments on one species should be received as
applying to other species.
The popular belief that body, dead from
the effects of arsenic, must of necessity be
preserved from decay for an indefinite length
of time, is unquestionably an error. In
many cases Of murder or suicide, where a
great amount of the poison is administered,
portions Of, or even the whole, body may be
preserved for long time; but the few grains,
which it is admitted are enough to cause
death, cannot preserve from decay so large a
mass as the human body; that small, though
fatal, dose will not prevent decomposition, is
well known to all who have ever had poison
ed rats die in the walls Of their houses.