Bitter Pit in ApjjJr.s. 403 



Six Hours' Exposure. — After two weeks numerous brown spots 

 and deep pits of variable size. 



Customs' Analyst: — ''No arsenic detected, but the extract 

 frothed over owing to a mishap, before the test was quite com- 

 pleted. If any arsenic was present it was less than in the 

 following cases." 



One Day's Exposure. — General browning and two large dead 

 areas 2 to 4 mm. deep. 



Customs' Analyst: — "The total arsenic content of the apple 

 ' Q ' was equal to about 0.05 mg. arsenious acid (As^Og), or 

 l-3300th of a grain." 



Two Days' Exposure. — Whole superficial layer soft, brown and 

 dead to a depth of 5 to 10 mm., a little dead tissue also 

 radiating from the core into the outer pulp. 



Customs' Analyst: — "Apple 'R' contained a slightly larger 

 amount of arsenious acid than apple ' Q.' " 



Four days' Exposure. — Same effect as before, but more pro- 

 nounced. The volume of the apple was 104 cc, and approxi- 

 mately half of the pulp was dead. 



Customs' Analyst: — '"The apple 'S' contained the largest 

 amount, equal to about 0.10 to 0.15 mg. As^Or, (l-1600th to 

 1-lOOOth of a grain)." 



The arsenic was therefore in this case in a concentration of 

 approximately 1 in 300,000 to 1 in 500,000. 



In another experiment a Jonathan apple was exposed to the 

 AsH-g from 5 mgms. of AS2O3- for one week. After three weeks 

 in air, the skin was browned all over, and a few shallow pits 

 developed. Even here the Federal Analyst was able to detect 

 distinct indications of the presence of arsenic, although appa- 

 rently hardly in accurately measurable quantity. 



Perhaps the most important point here is that apples appear 

 to have the power of decomposing arseniuretted hydrogen and 

 retaining its arsenic. The gas itself is only sparingly soluble 

 in water, and after two to three weeks in air, it is hardly 

 likely that any of the gas could still be present as such 

 in the apples particularly when the arsenic is only present in the 

 skin, as in the first and last experiments. Hence very minute 

 traces of arseniuretted hydrogen could be picked up and accumu- 

 lated by apples until in time the exceeding!}^ small amount neces- 



