537 
FACTS AND FALLACIES CONNECTED WITH THE RESEARCH 
FOR ARSENIC AND ANTIMONY; WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR 
A METHOD OF SEPARATING THESE POISONS FROM 
ORGANIC MATTER. 
By Alfred S. Taylor, M.D., F.R.S. 
(i Continued from p. 4 L5.) 
Disj l'illation Process for Arsenic. 
The plan which, after many experiments, I feel justified 
in recommending for the separation and detection of arsenic 
in liquids and solids, whether organic or inorganic, is based, 
1st, on the ready conversion of arsenic into chloride ; 2d, the 
transformation of this compound to hydride by Marsh’s pro¬ 
cess; 3d, the production of metallic arsenic, of arsenious and 
arsenic acids from the hydride; and 4th, testing the products. 
When once obtained in the state of chloride the presence 
of arsenic admits of easy verification, either by resorting 
to the process of Reinsch or that of Marsh. The quantity of 
arsenic present may also be determined either in this or a sub¬ 
sequent stage. 
First stage —conversion to Chloride .—If the substance to be 
examined for arsenic is solid , it should be reduced to a fine 
powder, or cut into small pieces. In the analysis of the 
liver, spleen, or other soft organs, it will be proper to cut 
these into small portions, and to dry them either by a current 
of air or by the aid of a water-bath, so as to deprive them as 
much as possible of water. The complete elimination of the 
arsenic depends greatly on the perfect desiccation of the 
substance and the concentration of the acid, as the following 
J C5 
experiments will show: 
One grain of white arsenic was mixed with two drachms 
of pure hydrochloric acid, in which it was readily dissolved, 
and the solution was distilled to dryness. The acid liquid in 
the receiver measured three drachms, one drachm of water 
having been placed in it for the purpose of condensing the 
acid vapours. Arsenic was abundantly detected in the dis¬ 
tillate by all the usual processes. The washings of the 
retort (for there was no apparent residue) gave a mere trace 
of arsenic, calculated not to exceed the 1-4000th part of a 
grain. When a similar quantity of arsenic was boiled with 
the diluted acid (1 to 8), it was not dissolved; and when 
distilled, the greater part was left in the retort. When the 
