616 POISONS : THEIR EFFECTS AND DETECTION. [§ 782 . 
3 grms. moistened with diluted nitric acid, warmed with successive 
portions of fuming nitric acid until red fumes cease to be evolved, 
and then dried and carefully heated to redness, leave a whitish residue 
weighing not less than 1-6 or more than 1-8 grm. 
(b) Non-Official. 
Antimony Ointment (Unguentum antimonii tartarati) is a mechani¬ 
cal mixture of tartar emetic and lard, or simple ointment ; 1 strength, 20 
per cent. There is no recorded case of conviction for the adulteration of 
tartar emetic ; cream of tartar is the only probable addition. In such a 
case the mixture is less soluble than tartar emetic itself, and on adding 
a small quantity of carbonate of soda to a boiling solution of the suspected 
salt, the precipitated oxide at first thrown down becomes redissolved. 
Solution of Chloride of Antimony is a solution of the terchloride in 
hydrochloric acid ; it is a heavy liquid of a yellowish-red colour, power¬ 
fully escharotic ; its specific gravity is 1-47 ; on dilution with water, the 
whitish-yellow oxychloride of antimony is precipitated. One drachm 
(3*549 c.c.) mixed with 4 ounces (112 c.c.) of a solution of tartaric 
acid (-25 : 4) gives a precipitate with SH 2 , which weighs at least 22 
grains (1*425 grm.). This liquid is used on very rare occasions as an 
outward application by medical men ; farriers sometimes employ it in 
the foot-rot of sheep. 
Purified Black Antimony (Antimonium nigrum purificatum) is the 
purified native sulphide Sb 2 S 3 ; it should be absolutely free from arsenic. 
2. Patent and Quack Pills:— 
Dr J. Johnson’s Pills. —From the formula, each pill should contain :— 
Grains. 
Grm. 
Compound extract of colocynth 
. 2-5 = 
•162 
Calomel ...... 
. -62 = 
•039 
Tartar emetic .... 
. -04 = 
•002 
Oil of cassia ..... 
. -12 = 
•007 
3-28 = 
•210 
The oil of cassia can be extracted by petroleum ether ; the calomel sublimed and 
identified by the methods given in the article on “ Mercury ” ; the antimony de¬ 
posited in the metallic state on platinum or tin ; and the colocynth extracted by 
dissolving in water, acidifying, and shaking up with chloroform. On evaporating 
the chloroform the residue should taste extremely bitter; dissolved in sulphuric acid 
it changes to a red colour, and dissolved in Frohde’s reagent to a cherry-red. It 
should also have the ordinary reactions of a glucoside. 
Mitchell’s Pills contain in each pill:— 
Grains. 
Grm. 
Aloes ..... 
. 11 = 
•070 
Rhubarb 
. 1-6 = 
•103 
Calomel ..... 
•16 = 
•010 
Tartar emetic ..... 
. 05 = 
•003 
2-91 = 
•186 
1 Simple ointment is composed of white wax 2, lard 3, almond oil 3 parts. 
