274 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



the difficulty of controlling the decomposition once commenced, the 

 puffing up of the mixture, and the necessity of having the salts dry to 

 begin with, render this method (which was proposed by the author 

 for forming chlorine) useless in processes for removing the sal-ammoniac 

 in analysis. 



NEW METHOD OF ANALYSIS FOR ORGANIC POISONS. 



Flaudin has recently published his observations on organic poisons, 

 together with a new method of analysis for the detection of the same. 

 The author commences by laying down the principles on which he 

 supposes the action of poisons may be explained : 1. Poisons are unas- 

 similable substances. 2. They pass into the organism by absorption. 

 3. Their action is that of presence. 



If these principles be correct, it follows that all poisonous substances, 

 whatever they may be, must be found in the organs with which they 

 have been brought into contact, or to which they have been trans- 

 ported by absorption. In the case of the inorganic poisons, experi- 

 ence has shown that there is no exception to the rule. It still remains 

 to be shown that the same rule applies to the organic poisons. 



Christison states, with regard to opium, that as a general rule, the 

 medical jurist can scarcely obtain satisfactory proof of the existence of 

 this substance by the best methods of analysis at present known. 

 Now the best methods of analysis known at present for ascertaining 

 the presence of opium, and of the organic proximate principles in 

 general, consist in treating the suspected substances either with acetic 

 acid or alcohol, filtering the liquid, and evaporating it to the consist- 

 ence of an extract. This extract is then re-dissolved in water, either 

 pure or acidified, and decolorized by animal charcoal, or the animal 

 matters are precipitated as far as possible by various re-agents, such 

 as subacetate of lead, sulphuretted hydrogen, nitrate of silver, &c. 

 Lastly, the extractive matter thus obtained is tested by different 

 re-agents, such as nitric acid and perchloride of iron, when it is desired 

 to ascertain the presence of morphine, the active principle of opium. 

 In this way, however, no satisfactory result can be obtained. The 

 poison is not isolated ; it is not directly acted upon by the re-agents ; 

 its characteristic properties consequently cannot be ascertained. 



The author considers that animal substances may be divided as fol- 

 lows : 1. Proteine or albuminous substances. 2. Coloring matter. 

 3. Fatty substances. 



The proteine substances are readily coagulable, and in this state 

 they become insoluble in water, alcohol, acids, &c. 



The colored or coloring matters are easily changed by various acids, 

 and alkaline agents, anhydrous lime and baryta for instance, without 

 mentioning heat. 



The fatty substances are separated with ease from all the other mat- 

 ters by alcohol and ether. 



Now, if an inorganic substance be mixed with organic substances 

 there is nothing more easy than to discover it. The organic sub- 



