FOODS AND DIETARIES 257 



Study the analysis of one of them, which follows : 



Sulphuric acid . . . . . &ofl%. 



Sulphurous acid ^ of 1 %. 



Water about 99%. 



Note. _ Sulphuric acid is oil of vitriol. Sulphurous acid is much like 

 it. Both are poisons. 



Conclusions. 1. What have you learned about the composition of 

 tliis compound ? 



2. Do you think that it is necessary to buy such patent medicines ? 

 jVoje. Their acids are known to be positively injurious to health. 



3. Find out the cost of the ingredients given in the analysis. Also the 

 cost of a bottle of the medicine as sold at the drug store. How much 

 profit is there on the original cost ? Who gets most of it ? 



4. Guinea pigs were treated with one of these compounds, and' they 

 died, in varying periods of time. (See report of Lederle Laboratories, 

 518 5th Avenue, New York, of October 21, 1905.) What does that indi- 

 cate as to its probable effect on other similar, animals and even man ? 



5. Why have such states and communities as North Dakota, San Fran- 

 cisco, and Lexington, Ky., forbidden their sale ? 



c. The Subtle Poisons 

 1. HEADACHE AND NEURALGIA CUBES 



Note. Most headache powders depend for their action on 

 the presence of acetanalide. Acetanalide depresses heart action, 

 and many deaths are directly charged to its use in various 

 antipain preparations. 



Observations. 1. Place a small quantity of a headache pow- 

 der in a dry test tube with a like amount of zinc chloride. 

 Heat it slowly until fumes arise. Hold a wood splint in its 

 fumes. Is the splint colored by the fumes ? Note. The 

 presence of a red or yellow color, or both, indicate? the presence 

 of acetanalide, a substance unsafe to take without the advice of a 

 physician. 



2. Test as many other alleged headache powders as possible 

 for acetanalide. 



Note. If any of the powders do not respond to the test for 

 acetanalide, they should be tested for other dangerous drugs. 

 SHARPE'S LAB. MAN. 17 



