Annual Report of the Consulting Chemist for 1881. 343 
lead as the soft water No. 1, which produced decided symptoms 
of lead-poisoning. Probably the presence of the considerable 
proportions of nitrates and chlorides in these waters explain their 
action upon lead pipes. 
Interesting Poisoning Cases. — A member of the Society wrote 
to me as follows : 
" Deak Sir. — Having lost some beasts, aud several others being ill, whick 
have recovered after having been treated with sulphuric acid, I have reason 
to believe that the illness has been caused by the floor of the mixing-house 
getting mixed with the animals' food. I have sent you, therefore, a small 
sample, and shall be glad if you will give me your opinion on the following 
points : — 
1. Whether it is of an injurious nature. 
2. What the injurious element is — lead, sulphate of lime, or anything else. 
3. What quantity of the stuff would cause death." 
The material sent for examination had the appearance of 
cement or mortar, and on analysis was found to have the 
following composition : — 
Water, and loss on heating 11*70 
White lead 14-62 
Sulphate and carbonate of lime, &c 53*38 
Insoluble sihceous matter 20 ' 30 
100-00 
The large proportion of white-lead, which, somehow or other 
had become mixed up with the food of the animals, fully explains 
the cause of the death of some of the animals and the serious ill- 
ness of others. It is scarcely probable that white-lead had been 
used in the construction of the floor of the mixing-house, and in 
all likelihood the mischief was caused by rubbish, containing 
white-lead, gypsum, and mortar, having been left on the floor. 
Another gentleman sent me for examination a bottle of a 
mixture which he obtained from a farrier, as a remedy against 
a bad cough, and subsequently the following note : 
" On the 17th I had a cob with a bad cough. 1 asked 
to give me a draught for him ; he gave me the bottle I sent 3'ou, 
and the directions are on the bottle : a half to be given in the 
morning, which my man gave ; the horse at once was seized 
with dreadful pain, and I sent for him, stating he had poisoned 
the horse. He came up and said he was very sorry, but had 
taken down the wrong bottle. The horse had neither eaten nor 
drunk since ; his throat seemed quite closed. The farrier says 
that he put liquor ammoniae into the mixture by mistake, but I 
think it must be something worse," 
The examination of the contents of the bottle showed that in 
addition to a decoction, or infusion, of some vegetable substance, 
the liquid contained a large proportion of strong liquor ammonia; 
and also much oil of turpentine. On allowing the bottle con- 
