REVIEWS — Taylor's treatise on poisons. 293 



to this we must decidedly demur, as there is no difficulty whatever 

 in determining the amount in a few ounces. The only real objection 

 would be the question whether the arsenic is equally diiFased through- 

 out the whole mass of the organ, but this is believed to be the case. 

 (See Orfilaand Flandin.) " In order to determine the proportion of 

 absorbed arsenic in an organ, (e. g. the liver) which under any cir- 

 cumsfcances can be done only approximately, we take a weighed quan- 

 tity (four ounces), slice it and treat it by B-einsch's process, separate 

 the whole of the arsenic by copper gauze, (may not some be lost 

 during the boiling ?) and determine or estimate the weight of the 

 sublimates obtained, doubling this weight to allow for unavoidable 

 loss, &c. I believe the quantity thus determined is always below the 

 amount actually present. Some prefer to determine the quantity by 

 passing the arsenuretted hydrogen generated in Marsh's apparatus 

 through a weak solution of nitrate of silver, &c., &c., or of chloride 

 of gold, &c., &c. In pursuing these methods, there may be a loss of 

 arsenic in carbonizing and heating to dryness the organic matter 

 with sulphuric acid, a portion of the arsenic is liable to be separated 

 and deposited in the apparatus used ; and it is not improbable that a 

 portion combines with the reduced silver and gold." 



It is to be hoped Dr. Taylor does not regard these as the latest 

 improvements furnished by chemistry to medico-legal investigations, 

 For anything more loose and unsatisfactory it would be difficult to 

 conceive. 



In conclusion, the writer in venturing to differ as to the value of 

 a process from so eminent an authority as Dr. Taylor, is aware that 

 the weight of greater experience is against him ; but on the other 

 hand the same opinion is entertained by several of the most distin- 

 guished G-erman toxicologists with whom the process originated, and 

 an experience of nearly all the poison cases which have occui^red in 

 Upper Canada during the last sixteen years, and a careful practical 

 examination of all the methods hitherto proposed, may give some 

 weight to the conviction that the process originated by Duflos, and 

 improved by Wohler, !Fresenius and Otto is the best, the most reli- 

 able and the easiest of execution of all those proposed for tho detec- 

 tion and determination of arsenic. Like all other untried operations 

 it seems at first sight very complicated, the first trial may appear 

 difficult, but every successive one will be easier, and the writer can 



