n 
REPORT—185 4. 
Note on the Presence of Lead in Hydrochloric and Nitric Acids. 
By Stevenson Macadam, Ph.J)., F.C.S. 
In the course of some analyses made with the view of determining, if possible, tlx 
presence of lend in animal organisms, the author saw reason to suspect that the ncidi 
employed by him might contain lead. On testing these— which were the purest to 
be purchased from manufacturer?—small but very distinct indications of lend were 
obtained. In commercial or impure specimens of hydrochloric and nitric acids, tho 
lead is much more abundant. The importance of such a discovery in reference to 
searching for metallic poisons iij organized tissues is so great, that the author would 
caution analytical chemists against the use of the acids for such purposes without 
previously testing them for lead. 
On the Distribution of Iodine in the Mineral, Vegetable , and Animal King¬ 
doms. By Stevenson Macadam, Ph.D., F.C.S. 
The author stated, that an experiment where 100,000 cubic feet of air w«e 
analysed ; a second, where 80 gallons of rain water were examined; and s third, 
wncre jo gallons of snow-water were tested, having failed to exhibit tho minuud 
cc o iodine, ho was satisfied that other and more carefully conducted experiments 
umn those advanced hy Cliatin and his adherents were required before the statement 
• j presence of iodine in appreciable quantity in our atmosphere could be ad- 
. raln w ? ter a |'pours free from iodine, vet some spring and n'or 
bm nb niidTi" " trnC i'„ 100 gnUons of the water forced into the houses of E J m- 
tiiv- i i ere Usc ' J for (lomc *tic purposes, the author discovered ft minute qu^>- 
coniab tb . ol°, CCm '.' ? B Wdl 88 mai '' ne plnnts and animals, have been long known to 
tions of its IKnt 111 t i u ^ s , 1 ' 0 ! 1 * Terrestrial plnnts have more lately shown nulici- 
lareo ntmd.Ip °■ ^ ‘ at ' n aU( l the author havo published separate list* 
from nddiivrr n 6 IC P^ 11 * 8, In examining plants and animals, the author refrain* 
he was not^iwnr ,c I n <' cnt lor fJia purpose of more immediately fixing the iodiur. »» 
lime cndanirnnW o nl Y ” J i c ^ Woul( l huve been serviceable, wltliout at the same 
the nrcsenrf «?!*** 0 . < * ,,ll I !:fl,0,, that substance. In this, the present researches on 
Dublishod c\ !" Pj n,lla Olid animals dilfrrs from any other which have bee 
don and dm.,u n " d ? , * lcr „ a drenched their plnnts with potash previous toi inancr*- 
w hicl, tbnv * h . * lc , a,1 ^ lop docs not question the presence of iodine in the few plan 
one ^ cammed, yet ho docs not consider the process followed by them 1 6°°“ 
or eh amber ° carefil n lhc .V Wt, re simply charred in a large covered iron cruc ' b ^ 
ground to nnwrl* ' ^ to » low red heat. On cooling, the charred mow 
2# fWhich dissolved onfall the soluble salts, ai 
liquidate drvne« J loiW « which the plant contained. On cvnporaUng d 
alcohol heated' r;it* J*? 0 ^ quantity of saline matte r was left, which w as treated « 
small quantity nf ^m! 1 eva P oratcd to dryness, and ultimately dissolved ut a vff J 
hydrocCc T' V"* w *» « starch, nitmte of potass*, vA 
• • ' . weeding in this wav, the author demonstrated the presence 
" vx s p'“ nt3 » many of which are edible. Potatoes, wheat, baric • 
hydrochloric 1 !^ WR }? r ‘ I* 118 liquid was tested with starch, nitrate of potass*, # c 
iodine in unward« , r< ' Cce< J ,n fi in tbis wav, the author demonstrated the presence 
oats beans’P lan,s » many of which are edible. Potatoes, wheat, baric j 
ivstt-m l ^ e f 0(> d of animals necessitates its introductioni into th* 
In every instance but ono'mi^**1 *“** ,llc tlofr ' ,lie FS> the cow, the horse, and mtt£ 
In the horse, however, the Iuni"?;!. ! V' 3 ' par f uf lh ° 1 a, { i ."? al wdt'- bf 
muscle, were examined and /„!$’ ’ , ! c ? r, > T ,c ' en > D,ul kidneys, ^ 
cow, and common cm,’ £ t o7in iodine ' 
’ riaitu Hr a similar manner, gave a like affirmative r 
