230 
RESEARCH FOR ARSENIC AND ANTIMONY. 
titioner arsenic was found. It was detected in some of the 
green incrustation derived from the action of chloride of 
sodium on metallic copper, showing that, in some forms of 
cupreous poisoning arsenic is certainly present. Scheele’s 
green, in all its varieties, whether on paper-hangings or in 
confectionery, yields arsenic by distillation in great abun¬ 
dance. Out of five samples of bismuth supplied by respect¬ 
able druggists, arsenic was found in three; and out of as 
many samples of gray powder, arsenic was found, and that 
only doubtfully, in one. 
I have lately employed this process on a large scale, in the 
examination of the viscera of three persons w r hose bodies were 
exhumed after from six to nine months 5 burial, and of the vis¬ 
cera of two persons recently deceased. The results were nega¬ 
tive for arsenic. Antimony was found in four of the bodies; 
but no trace of this metal was procurable by distillation with 
hydrochloric acid. When large quantities of viscera are used, 
a capacious retort or flask must be employed. Arsenic, when 
present in large quantity, may be obtained by the distillation 
of viscera in their ordinary state with strong hydrochloric acid. 
I find, however, that it is much better to reduce the bulk and 
expel the water by drying the substance cut in slices, and by 
exposing them to a free current of air. The operator can then 
not only deal conveniently with more matter in one analysis, 
but he is more certain of obtaining the arsenic in the form of 
pure chloride in the distillate. The dried viscera, finely cut up, 
should be allowed to digest for a few hours without heat in the 
closed retort or flask in which they are to be distilled. This 
breaks up the structure, and renders distillation easy. It will 
be understood in the application of this process that it may 
be sometimes necessary to re-distil the distillate, if coloured, 
in order to separate organic matter; and at other times, the 
residue in the retort may require a second distillation with 
strong hydrochloric acid. In all cases, the residue in the 
retort should be tested by Reinsch’s process, in order to deter¬ 
mine whether any arsenic is retained in it. By adding to 
one portion of the residue, chlorate of potash and a little hy¬ 
drochloric acid, and boiling the mixture, the organic matter 
may be destroyed; any arsenic converted to arseniate of 
potash, and the clear filtered liquid tested by Marsh 5 s process. 
In the distillation of recent and undried viscera, most 
offensive products, including sulphur-compounds, are evolved. 
These are decomposed if the distillate is kept for a few days, 
and sulphur is deposited. If tested immediately with the 
hydrogen apparatus, sulphuretted hydrogen is evolved. This 
may be stopped by a salt of lead, in the manner already 
