Determination of Nitrogen in Organic Compounds. 257 



Drs, V. and W. state that when the body contains a large por- 

 tion of nitrogen, this accident is more to be apprehended, and 

 they recommend the mixing of an equal weight of some sub- 

 stance free from nitrogen, as for instance, sugar, with the body 

 containing nitrogen, and with the alkali lime, which by forming 

 gases not absorbable by the acid, will cause no error, and prevent 

 any accident. 



" After the whole length of the tube is red hot and gas no 

 longer generated, v/hen all the carbon of the substance is burnt, 

 and the mixture in the tube appears white, the small end of the 

 burning tube is broken, and a quantity of air drawn through the 

 burning tube, and absorption apparatus, in order to bring all the 

 ammonia in the tube in contact with the hydrochloric acid; the 

 air is drawn through by means of the extremity g, a small tube 

 containing potash being placed between it and the mouth, to pre- 

 vent one from inhaling the acid vapors." 



" We proceed to analyze fluids exactly as in the burning with 

 the binoxide of copper. A little of the alkali lime is first intro- 

 duced into the burning tube, and upon that is dropped the little 

 bulb, containing the known quantity of the fluid to be analyzed, 

 with its capillary extremity broken off", and then fill the tube as 

 before with the alkali lime. The operation goes on more regu- 

 larly, if we commence by heating the first third of the tube to 

 redness, and then warming that part of the tube containing the 

 bulb, from which the fluid is expelled, which disseminates itself 

 over the middle part of the tube, without being decomposed ; if 

 we now carry the fire from before backwards, a gentle and con- 

 stant current of gas will be evolved." 



" After the burning is complete, and the air passed through the 

 apparatus, the contents of the absorption apparatus are emptied 

 into a small porcelain capsule. With a dropping tube we intro- 

 duce first into the apparatus, a mixture of alcohol and ether, 

 which must be shaken backwards and forwards, and then added 

 to the first fluid. The bulbs are now washed with water, until 

 it affords no acid reaction, and all the washings added to the hy- 

 drochloric acid containing the hydrochlorate of ammonia. The 

 washing with alcohol and ether has for its object the dissolving 

 of any carburetted hydrogen which may be formed during the 

 burning, and by collecting in the bulbs would prevent the water 

 from coming perfectly in contact with the sides, and thereby ren- 

 voi. xLii, No. 2.— Jan. -March, 1842. 33 



