Background
Forshufvud was born in Ramsele, Sweden and was the son of district medical officer Oscar Bengtsson and Eva Melin.
Forshufvud was born in Ramsele, Sweden and was the son of district medical officer Oscar Bengtsson and Eva Melin.
Once back to Sweden, he carried on his studies in Biology at Lund University where he conducted his Doctor of Philosophy thesis in Medicine in 1941.
He wrote a book, in Swedish, about this in 1961. He later published his ideas in English, in a book on whose authorship Ben Weider collaborated. He passed his studentexamen in Uddevalla in 1921 and passed his dental exam in 1924 and was active as a dental surgeon at the University of Bordeaux in 1934.
Forshufvud received a odontology doctor degree in 1949.
Forshufvud tested five of Napoleon"s hairs with Ben Weider for traces of arsenic. They found fluctuations of arsenic levels ranging from normal to 38 times greater than average.
This would purportedly suggest that Napoleon was given arsenic in different concentrations at different times for almost five years prior to his death. Forshufvud"s findings have been disputed since the hairs that were tested have never been decisively dated, or even proven to be Napoleon"son
However, all of the hair samples that Forshufvud had tested by an independent laboratory were family heirlooms that were handed down through generations.
Plus all the samples were very similar. Several samples of these hairs did not pass through Forshufvud"s hands and were sent directly to the testing laboratory in Scotland. All supported Forshufvud"s theory.
Forshufvud and Weider suggest that their theory that Napoleon was assassinated by a Frenchman who served on Napoleon"s staff during his exile (most likely suspect being Montholon) is repugnant to the French people who now honor Napoleon as one of France"s great heroes.
As a result, they understood that their "proof of poisoning" would always be questioned or ridiculed by those serving France.
These hair samples were supposedly given to members of Napoleon"s staff and others he favored.