420 
NEW TEST FOR ALBUMEN, ETC. 
that the dog was still perfectly free from putrefaction, while 
another dog, not killed with prosphorus, but placed in the 
same position, was in a state of decomposition. 
In the stomach and oesophagus of the poisoned dog was 
found a yellow, frothy substance, impregnated with the vapours 
of phosphorus. This substance, when heated, afforded a white 
flame and dense vapour, showing thereby the presence of free 
phosphorus. The mucous membrane of the oesophagus and 
stomach had a strong red colour. By agitating the fluid of 
the stomach with sulphuret of carbon, the authors found that 
after filtration the liquid separated into two layers, one watery, 
and the other oily — the latter consisting of the solution of 
phosphorus in sulphuret of carbon, from which the phos- 
phorus may be again separated as a residue by spontaneous 
evaporation . — Lancet . 
NEW TEST EOR ALBUMEN, CASEIN, FIBRIN, AND GELATIN. 
According to Humbert, the above-named substances ex- 
hibit a characteristic behaviour to Trommer’s sugar test. 
For example, when a solution containing albumen is first 
mixed with caustic potash, and then with the copper solution 
it acquires a violet colour ; this coloration has much resem- 
blance to that of a solution of hypermanganate of potash. 
The origin of the albumen has no influence on the reaction, 
or it results as well with the albumen of eggs as with that of 
blood, &c. If the fluid be rich in albumen, the reaction 
appears in the cold ; in other cases it is necessary to employ 
heat. One per cent, of albumen can be thus recognised. 
Fibrin, casein, and gelatin, afford very similar results, 
only with fibrin and casein the boiling must be continued 
longer to bring these substances into solution. With coagu- 
lated albumen the reaction can also be produced when it is 
previously dissolved in caustic potash. 
Fibrin gives a more wine-red and gelatine a more blue-red 
coloration. If an acid be added to the coloured fluid ob- 
tained from one or other of these substances, the gelatinous 
liquid is decolorized without any turbidity resulting. With 
the like solutions of fibrin, albumen, and casein, a decolori- 
zation also ensues, but at the same time a white turbidness. 
With albumen and fibrin the precipitate is homogeneous and 
adhering, but with casein it is curdled . — Reports of the Pro- 
gress of Chemistry , by W. Bastick , Esq. } in the Lancet. 
