Mateu Josep Bonaventura Orfila i Rotger was a well known figure in European medical circles in the nineteenth century. His active participation in famous poisoning trials meant that his name echoed far beyond the boundaries of the academic community. Papers in this volume grew from an international conference held in Mahon, Minorca, in March 2004. Examining Orfila's multifaceted career, they shed light on many characteristics of nineteenth-century medical chemistry, toxicology, and forensic medicine.