INORGANIC POISONS. 339 



According to the experiments of Mulder* the 

 equivalent in which fibrin combines with muriatic 

 acid, and with the oxides of lead and copper, is ex- 

 pressed by the number 6361. It may be assumed 

 therefore approximatively, that a quantity of fibrin 

 corresponding to the number 6361 combines with 

 1 equivalent of arsenious acid, or 1 equivalent of 

 corrosive sublimate. 



When 6361 parts of anhydrous fibrin are com- 

 bined with 30,000 parts of water, it is in the state 

 in which it is contained in muscular fibre or blood 

 in the human body. 100 grains of fibrin in this 

 condition would form a neutral compound of equal 

 equivalents with 3^ - grains of arsenious acid, and 5 

 grains of corrosive sublimate. 



The atomic weight of the albumen of eggs and 

 of the blood deduced from the analysis of the com- 

 pound which it forms with oxide of silver is 7447, 

 and that of animal gelatin 5652. 



100 grains of albumen containing all the water 

 with which it is combined in the living body, should 

 consequently combine with 1 \ grain of arsenious 

 acid. 



These proportions, which may be considered as 

 the highest which can be adopted, indicate the 

 remarkably high atomic weights of animal sub- 

 stances, and at the same time teach us what very 

 small quantities of arsenious acid or corrosive subli- 

 mate are requisite to produce deadly effects. 



* PoggendorfF's Annalen, Band xl. S. 259. 



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