Toxicology and Chemistry in the Law
Shelby Turner
Blandy trial of 1752
Mary Blandy was the murderer in the Blandy trial. She poisoned her own father Francis Blandy at the request of her lover. The murder took place on August 14, 1751. Cranstoun her lover sent her a powder that he said was a love potion that would change her fathers mind about the marriage. Mary put the powder in her fathers tea and gruel, he became sick a few days latter and died. Mary was found guilty of murder and latter hung on November 30, 1752. The significance of this murder is that she used a poison that probable would have never been found if not for toxicologist.
Marsh Test of 1836
In 1832 John Bodle was arrested for poisoning his Grandfathers coffee. A chemist by the name James Marsh tested the coffee by producing a yellow precipitate of arsenic sulfide. The precipitate was unstable and by the time of the trial had deteriorated. Marsh latter created a better test that would stand up in court creating the "Marsh Test". The significance of the testing was he used chemistry to prove that there was poison in the drink.
Toxicology
What is a controlled substance?
A controlled substance are drugs that have some potential for abuse or dependence. These drugs are regulated by the federal Controlled Substances Act.
Federal Analog Act.
Federal Analog Act is a section of the United States Controlled Substances Act passed in 1986 which allowed any chemical "substantially similar" to a controlled substance listed in Schedule I or II to be treated as if it were also listed in those schedules, but only if intended for human consumption.