i 
Determination of Nitrogen in Organic Compounds. 257 
Drs. V. and W. state that when the body contains a large por- 
tion of nitrogen, this accident is more to be apprehended, and 
they recommend the mixing of an equal weight of some sub- 
stance free from nitrogen, as for instance, sugar, with the body 
containing nitrogen, and with the alkali lime, which by forming 
gases not absorbable by the acid, will cause no error, re — 
any accident. 
“ After the whole length of the tube is ws hat feck outcail 
longer generated, when all the carbon of the substance is burnt, 
and the mixture inthe tube appears white, the small end.of. the 
burning tube is broken, and a quantity of air drawn through the 
burning tube, and absorption apparatus, in order to bring all the 
ammonia in the tube in contact with the hydrochloric acid; the 
air is drawn through by means of the extremity g, a small tube 
containing potash being placed between it and the mouth, to pre- 
vent one from inhaling the acid vapors.” 
“We proceed to analyze fluids exactly as in the burning with 
the binoxide of copper. A little of the alkali lime is first intro- 
duced into the burning tube, and upon that is dropped the little 
bulb, containing the known quantity of the fluid to be analyzed, 
with its capillary extremity broken off, and then fill the tube as 
before with the alkali lime. The operation goes on more regu- 
larly, if we eommence by heating the first third of the tube to 
redness, and then warming that part of the tube containing the 
bulb, from which the fluid is expelled, which disseminates itself 
over the middle part of the tube, without being decomposed ; if 
we now carry the fire from before backwards, a gentle and con- 
stant current of gas will be evolved.” 
“ After the burning is complete, and the air passed through the 
apparatus, the contents of the absorption appafatus are emptied 
into a‘small porcelain capsule. With a dropping tube we intro- 
duce first into the apparatus, a mixture of alcohol and ether, 
which must beshaken backwards and forwards, and then added 
to the first:fluid. ‘The bulbs are now washed with water, until 
it-affords no acid reaction, and all the washings added to the hy- 
drochlorie acid containing the hydrochlorate of ammonia. The 
washing with alcohol and ether has for its object the dissolving 
of any carburetted hydrogen which may be formed during the 
burning, and by collecting in the bulbs would prevent the» water 
from coming perfectly in contact with sides, and thereby ren- 
Vol. xxir, No. 2.—Jan.-March, 1842. 
