the deposit of lead in the animal tissues. Dr. Corson of New York, has since published an article on this subject, which fully substantiates this plan of treatment. As a proof of the large quantities of this medicament which may be borne, one of Dr. C's cases took five grains three times a day for eleven months. Dr. C., notices also the fact, which is familiar now to the experience of many of the Faculty, who have used this treatment, that the lead is eliminated sometimes so rapidly that the symptoms of lead poisoning are wonderfully exaggerated under the use of the iodide. The salivation, which occasionally results after the remedy has been employed for awhile, is never present, unless mercury has been previously taken and become fixed as it were in the tissues. Hence is seen also the propriety of following up a long course of mercurial treatment, with the iodide of potassium as a means of removing any ill effects of the mercury. V. Prof. Doremus of New York, has been doing good service to the cause of public hygeine by his paper on the "poisonous effects of soda water from copper fountains and lead pipes. His attention was attracted to the subject by the sudden illness of several persons immediately after drinking a single glass of mineral water. In some soda water examined, on boiling off the excess of carbonic acid, a green scum of carbonate of copper arose to the surface, which yielded as much as one grain and a half of metallic copper. The condensers are generally made of copper, which are said to be lined with tin. This coating however, even if well put on, is liable to be removed in part by chemical and mechanical action. Then the carbonic acid slowly causes the formation of a carbonate, which is soluble in carbonic acid water. The longer the water remains in the condenser, the more copper will it contain under these circumstances. The condensers examined by Prof. D., however, were often found to be lined with tin mixed with soft solder, and the lead in the latter of course was readily destroyed-leaving the interior of the vessel more or less denuded of its lining and exposed to the action of the water. * American Medical Monthly, II-25 and 137. It had been known for years, that injurious effects have occasionally resulted from the use of soda water, and this had always been attributed to the lead pipes through which the water was forced before it reached the fountains. Honest vendors of the article, aware of this, employed tin pipe for the conveyance of the water. But these experiments of Doremus, show that still more caution is to be employed in order to prevent an agreeable beverage becoming an insidious poison. As to the effects of the copper not being more generally experienced as dangerous, Doremus remarks, that the cases are not few in New York where immediately after drinking soda waters, parties were seized with vomiting, epigastric pain, &c.; and that “it is probable the syrups which are the usual accompaniments of the soda draught act in many cases as antidotes." He suggests, that this poisoned soda water may be an exciting cause of cholera in those predisposed to it, and during its prevalence. The mode of preventing all danger is to have the condensers well tinned, and the connecting pipe composed of pure tin, or what is still better to have the condensers made of stone ware, as in Boston, "covered externally with copper and circlets of iron to secure strength." The season is now here when great quantities of this beverage are employed, and we should be prepared not only to understand apparent anomalous cases of poisoning that may arise in this way, but, as conservators of the public health, to warn against the use of mineral waters unless obtained from those who are known to be careful in their preparation. It is true according to the experiments of Wackenroder,* that the blood may contain very small quantities of copper without injury, yet where it is admitted so freely into the system as in the way just spoken of, pernicious consequences must result. A case of poisoning by the eating of a root, is recorded in the papers of the day as having taken place in Baltimore county in the month of April. Judging by the symptoms, it is presumed the root was that of the aconitum uncinatum. There was severe epigastric pain, vomiting, general coolness of surface, spasmodic movements of the limbs; the whole series closing with death before *Chemical Gazette, XII, 176. medical aid could be made available. Two cases are reported in English journals of death* through the tincture of the same vegetable, being administered in large dose. One case of poisoning by the same substance which however yielded to treatment, came under the knowledge of the Chairman of the Committee, during last summer. The patient took too large a dose of the officinal tincture-and was seized with the special symptoms of poisoning by aconite-burning in the throat and stomach, foaming at the mouth, an obscuration of vision, epigastric pain, spasmodic movements of the limbs, vomiting, &c. The case was successfully treated with alcoholic stimuli, and aqua ammonia; it is believed that this treatment preceded by active emesis, in the early stages of such cases will generally be effectual. An interesting case of the detection of cyanhydric or prussian acid is published in the Comptes Rendus of Nov. 13, 1854.† The The stomach was examined three weeks after death. "On the addition of pure neutral nitrate of silver, a yellowish floculent precipitate was formed in abundance, which, when well washed, dried in vacuo, aud afterwards heated for a few moments on the sand bath, acquired a grayish color." This was soluble in ammonia and cyanide of potassium; prussian blue and prussic acid were readily formed from the cyanide of potassium into which it was converted by means of the decomposing power of potassium. There did not seem to be any chemical combination with the organic matter, and a quantity equal to 0.120 gr. of anhydrous acid was obtained. The Herapath's of England have lately communicated some views on the changes which this most active poison may undergo during the putrefaction of the animal body, and which changes have heretofore been overlooked in chemical examinations. These gentlemen found that there were clear indications of the presence of sulphcyanhydric acid in the blood, when prussic acid had previously been taken, although all tests failed to detect the latter substance. This acid (as also the sulph cyanides,) they hold, has not yet been detected in normal blood by the most careful analyses, and indeed it is admitted by Heintz and Lehman, that it only exists *Medical Monthly, I, 223. † Chemical Gazette, XIII, 51. Chemist, I, 321. in the saliva. Now if it does not appear as a normal constituent of the blood, it is easy to perceive how it may have been produced by the action of nascent sulphydric acid gas, on prussic acid which had entered the system from without. Thus the spontaneous decomposition of albumen might prepare the way for the disappearance of the prussic acid, with the formation of the sulphcyanhydric acid. It remains however, before we trust to this experiment, to have instituted the most thorough and complete analyses of the blood with reference to the presence or absence of this substance in its normal condition. If it be not a normal constituent, prussic acid can be recognised with as little difficulty as a metallic agent. It would only be necessary to evaporate to dryness at a low heat, the organic substance to be examined; then to boil it with some strong alcohol, being mixed with some pure and recently ignited ivory black. The alcoholic solution should be filtered, evaporated to dryness, and dissolved in a few drops of water. If a sulphcyanide be present, on acidulating the solution with chlorhydric acid and adding a few drops of a transparent solution of a persalt of iron, a blood red color will present itselfnot likely to be confounded with that produced by the presence of any other substance. The molybdate of ammonia has been recommended as a capital test for the detection of an arsenical from an antimonial tache, as produced in the process of Marsh. This salt has the property of forming a yellow colored compound with phosphoric or arsenic acids,* even though the latter should be present but in small quantities. The tache must be dissolved in boiling nitric acid, and the addition of the molybdate will produce a precipitate of a yellow color, if arsenic be present. Dr. Tschudi has published descriptions of toxicophagi, or poison-eaters, who live in the lower part of Austria and Styria, and who are habituated to the use of arsenic They consume it for a double purpose;" to give themselves a fresh and healthy appearance and a certain degree of embonpoint." This is done by the peasant girls and young men by way of increasing their personal attractions; and "to attain more freedom in respiration so as *Will's Outlines of Chemical Analyses, 121. to be able to ascend high mountains with ease." For the latter purpose they put a small piece of arsenic in their mouths whenever they have long excursion to take up a mountain. This seems to give them the ability of ascending high mountains with an ease not otherwise accomplished. They commence with a piece about a half grain in size. After some time has elapsed, during which they use this quantity twice a day—the quantity is somewhat increased. A case is mentioned of one who followed the habit for forty years-taking as much as four grains a day-and had transmitted the habit to his son. Whenever the habit is dropped, emaciation follows. It increases the sexual feeling. The Vienna coachmen mix a little of it with the food of their horses-with the view of giving them "a bright aspect of the skin, roundness and elegance of form, and foam at the mouth." This communication of Tschudi settles the point, which has been mooted for years, whether any one could keep up the habit of arsenic-eating for a long time without being a victim to the supposed cumulative effects of the poison. In the detection of blood spots in medico-legal examinations, the chairman of the committee has found that the suggestions of M. Morin of the School of Rouen,* were very valuable and reliable, in cases where it is necessary to examine such spots on clothing that has been washed with boiling water and soap. The stained part has a greater consistence than the tissue itself, and the stain cannot after the treatment just mentioned, be removed by water either hot or cold. The course to be followed, is first to immerse the stain in a solution of pure caustic potassa. This solution will dissolve out the stain and the addition of nitric or chlorhydric acid produces a white precipitate, which indicates the presence of a proteine compound. Secondly-the stained tissue is to be placed in contact with pure chlorhydric acid, which dissolves the entire matter of the stain, forming a solution that, when concentrated, will give us a blue precipitate with the ferrocyanide of potassium, and a blood red with the sulphcyanide of potassium. *Journal de Chimie Medicale. |