Mathieu Orfila

Mathieu Orfila

Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila (1787 - 1853) Spanish born French toxicologist, regarded as the founder of forensic medicine. Orfila was one of the first to publish books on toxicology and patterns of decomposition of dead bodies. He was consulted as the foremost toxicologist for evidence in many celebrated murder cases in 19th century France. Orfila was also a physician, but his primary interest was in forensic and legal medicine. One of his most celebrated cases was the sensational Marie LaFarge case in 1840, in which he conclusively proved that arsenic was used as a poison to perpetrate the murder.