The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-01
Method OF Procedure in Gases Of
Suspected fioSOning.
LABORATORY OF THE y. E. STATE
EXPERIMENT STATION,
CUApEI UHJ An,il u 1870

EXPERIMENT STATION,
CHAPEL HILL, April n, 1879.
To the Coroaers and County S~uperintea-
tents Of HeaM IF the state Of NORTH
Cor0l;n0:
| BEG TO call your attention to Section
If Of An Act Supplemental to an Act
creating a State Board Of Health"
passed by the late Assembly and ratified
or March l4th. This Section is as fol
lows:
"When the County Superintendent
of Health shall, in the course of his i'm
v~estigation required at Coroner's in
quest. think it necessary to subserve the
ends of justice that a chemical analysis
of the ciscera or fluids of the body be
made, he shall carefully pack up and
seal the suspected article i'll a proper
receptacle, III the presence OF a witness,
and forward it to the Chemist of the
Agricultural Station for analysis. (Such
analysis shall be made free OF charge,
and be returned to the Coroner of the
county, such analysis having precedence
over other matters Of Investigation not
of a similar character, then in the Labo-
ratory of the Chemist : : x"
The Board of Agriculture. recognizing
not only the claims of the law but the
claims of humanity upon them, have
made arrangements by which the analy-
SEES III question can be made through the
Experiment Station. Knowing that
We're | compelled to make such analysis
IN person, it would occasion great delay
and serious interference with my work,
especially during long absences from my
post when testiiying at Court, &c, they
adopted the following resolution:
"Resotred, That the Chemist Of the
Board be authorized to employ such
additional labor as MAJ be necessary to
prosecute the analyses in cases Of sus-
pectel poisoning, "a required BY Section
il of An Act Supplemental to an Act
creating a State Board Of Health, at an
expense for the same of not more than
: dollars per nun
In compliance with the above reSolu-
ton OF the Board, | have secured the
cooperation Of Prof. \. +. Redd, of
the University, who will devote himself
to any eases which may arise under the
provisions of the law above cited. Prof.
Redd has made all the analyses of this
character that have been required IN
the State during the last two years. SO
far "a | am informed. Your attention
called to the following instructions
which should be followed as nearly as
possible to comply with the law, and TO
secure an ANALYSIS which will stand in
Court.
Isl. Except in special cases, it will be
sufficient TO place the stomach, the
whole OF the liver and spleen and the
bladder each IN a separate, perfectly
clean glass jar, with tightly fitting glass
Ia fruit jar serves we'll. Care
should be taken that none OF the con
tents OF the stomach or bladder escape.
disintectant or preservatlye should
be added III any case.
ID. Seal each jar thoroughly and
abel Il tinctly with the name of its con
Sd. Secure. If possible, any vomit or
urine voided Immediately before death,
md also any liquids, powders or other
substances which are suspected of
caused death, or any walls or
,ther recepta:leS which may have con
aimed the poison. sealing each as be
ore.
4tli. Let these jars be delivered at
he station BY some one, property au-
horizei, IN person. Do not send by
xpresS. The person bringing the jars
h puld never allow them Tor the recep-
ace N which they may be packel), to
ct out Of his sight, unless to 90 under
lock, to which the carrier holds the
ey. The messenger will bring the jars
0 the experiment station and deliver
hem to me, oil to Prof. Reid, in my
The expenses of these analyses will
e betrayed by the Department OF
agriculture, but the pay of Prof. Redd
1 Attendance upon Court will still be
egulated by the laws specially provid-
~ for the remuneration Of witnesses
nj experts.
Resi- e%etfully, /.
ALBERT X. IEDOUX,
Chemist to the Dept. of Agrl.