On Bromine as a Toxicological Agent. 405 
differing so widely from each other that I was led to suspect some 
serious difficulty in the process. It was found upon trial, that ear- 
bonate of baryta was partially decomposed by boiling with chlo- 
rid of ammonium in a neutral solution, and also that chlorid of 
ammonium when boiled by itself is converted into an acid salt. 
- This holds true with many of the salts of ammonia with the 
stronger acids. - A solution of chlorid of calcium in alcohol pro- 
\ duced no better results. The precipitated carbonate of lime was 
| mevormposrd by the chlorid of ammonium formed, even in presence 
1°) : 
I then tried some of the organic salts. Succinie acid gives 
with chlorid of barium no precipitate, but upon the addition of 
ammonia a fine crystalline precipitate is produced, only slightly 
soluble in water, and insoluble in alcohol. But as succinate of 
baryta is slightly soluble in ammoniacal salts, it was found that 
no use could be made of this method. 
It would appear therefore that none of these modifications are 
capable of affording accurate results, and that the original process 
by Schmidt, unless some very essential feature is omitted in our 
account of it, must be considered faulty. 
Arr. XLVIIL—On Bromine as a Toxicological agent; by 
Henry Worrz, Assistant in the Yale Analytical Laboratory. 
I wave not found in the various toxicological writings any sug- 
gestion as to the use of bromine for destroying the organic matter 
of stomachs. Nevertheless, the unparalleled intensity of its action 
upon organic tissues, together with the convenience of its use, 
seem to give it some advantage over the ordinary agents used for 
this purpose. 
An experiment to this effect was made upon a human stomach 
sent to this laboratory for examination. 
with water, and about an ounce of bromine poured in, which 
had been previously ascertained to be free from any other sub- 
Stance of a poisonous nature. pe : 
A gentle heat was now applied, much below the boiling point 
of water, and the stomach was turned over from time to time 
with a glass rod. : eae Sead 
(Especial care should be taken that this operation be periorm 
_ ina strong draught, because the action of the bromine ree 
_ Upon the lungs and eyes is injurious beyond the ordinary belief. 
To of accidental injury from this cause, the best antidote is 
inhalation of chloroform or ether.) 
& 
