288 REVIEWS— TAYLOR S TREATISE ON POISONS. 



The acid residue dissolved in water sTiould be neutralized by pure 

 carbonate of potasb, and again brougbt to dryness, the arseniate of 

 potash thus produced (if arsenic were present) may be separated 

 from the other salts by a small quantity of water. This solution may 

 be introduced into Marsh's apparatus. "When Marsh's process is 

 employed I have found this to be the best plan of proceeding for 

 destroying organic matter and avoiding a loss of arsenic." 



" In the event of Eeinsch's process being selected at this stage, it 

 will be necessary to reconvert the arsenic into arsenious acid. This 

 is eifected by evaporating to dryness with a strong solution of sul- 

 phurous acid." 



" Eresenius and Babo destroy the organic matter by hydrochloric 

 acid and chlorate of potassa, and advise a series of proceedings of a 

 most minute and elaborate kind. In fact this mode of detecting 

 arsenic may be designated an exhaustive process. It provides for 

 the exclusion of lead, bismuth, mercury, copper, tin, antimony, and 

 other metals ; but in thus excluding many bodies which are never 

 likely to be found, it encumbers the investigation with the employ- 

 ment of so many chemicals that a question might fairly arise whether 

 arsenic had not been, actually introduced into the organic matter 

 during the operation. I have known only one case in which it has 

 been medico-legally employed in this country, that of Eeg. v. "Wool- 

 er, and there fortunately the proof of death from arsenic was so 

 clearly made out from other facts, that it was unnecessary to make 

 this elaborate mode of testing a subject of cross-examination. The 

 reader who is curious about this process, the complication of which, 

 according to Orfila, surpasses all credibility, will find the details in, 

 &c. &c." 



Dr. Taylor then goes on to say, that he has found Eeinsch's pro- 

 cess, without previous carbonization, well adapted for the separation 

 of absorbed arsenic. The substance is digested with dilute muriatic 

 acid (proved to be free from arsenic), &c. &c. 



The reasons for Dr. Taylor's preference seem to be that the first 

 process is more simple, requires fewer chemicals, and thus avoids the 

 risk of extraneous arsenic, destroys organic matter completely, and 

 causes no loss of arsenic, while the second process is incredibly 

 elaborate and complicated, is rendered unsafe by the number of sub- 

 stances employed, and is altogether so ridiculous, that, although 

 recommended by Rose, Wohler, and especially by Otto, who occupies 



