ORFILA (M.-P.). Secours à Donner aux Personnes Empoisonnées ou Asphyxiées: Suivis des Moyens Propres à Reconnaître les Poisons Et les Vins Frelatés, Et à Distinguer la Mort Réelle de la Mort Apparente.1818

Paris: chez l'auteur, Crochard & Desoer, First edition, 12mo (172 x 95 mm), xxiv, 238pp., some light foxing, marbled endpapers contemporary calf, boards with a double gilt border, bands ruled in gilt, second compartment with red leather lettering-piece, others with a single tool, a nice copy. Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila (1787–1853) is now regarded as a pioneer in forensic toxicology. This is a handbook intended for use by the general public, but it is based on his 2 volume Traité des Poisons, 1814. There are sections on foods such as how to recognise poisonous mushrooms and pp.199-216 deal with the adulteration of wines. Wellcome IV, 267; Oberlé, 460.