658 POISONS : THEIR EFFECTS AND DETECTION. [§ 837. 
by hydrochloric acid, parts with copper into the three solvents 
mentioned. 
It might be argued from the insoluble character of the phyllo- 
cyanate of copper, and especially seeing that it does not dissolve in 
strong hydrochloric acid, that it would be perfectly innocuous ; but 
Tschirch has proved that, whether the tartrate of copper (dissolving 
easily in water), or copper oxide (not dissolving at all in water, but 
soluble in hydrochloric acid), or phyllocyanate of copper (insoluble both 
in water and in hydrochloric acid) be used, the physiological effect is 
the same. 
Copper may be found in spirits owing to the use of copper con¬ 
densers, a remark which applies also to the essential oils, such as oleum 
cajepute, menthce , etc. 1 In France, it has been added fraudulently to 
absinthe, to improve its colour. 2 Green sweetmeats, green toys, green 
papers, have all been found to contain definite compounds of copper to 
a dangerous extent. 
§ 837. Preparations of Copper used in Medicine and the Arts. 
1. Medicinal Preparations:— 
Sulphate of Copper, Cupri Sulphas, CuS0 4 5H 2 0. — This well-known 
salt is soluble in water at ordinary temperature, 3 parts of water dis¬ 
solving 1 of the sulphate ; but boiling water dissolves double its weight. 
One part of copper sulphate dissolves in 2J of glycerin ; it reddens 
litmus, and is slightly efflorescent ; its solution responds to all the 
usual tests for copper and sulphuric acid. A watery solution of the 
salt to which twice its volume of a solution of chlorine has been added, 
gives, when treated with ammonia in excess, a clear sapphire-blue solu¬ 
tion, leaving nothing undissolved, and thus showing the absence of 
iron. Besides iron, sulphate of copper has been found to contain zinc 
sulphate. 
Nitrate of Copper, Cu(N0 3 ) 2 3H 2 0, is very soluble. 
Cuprum Aluminatum.— A preparation called cuprum aluminatum 
(pierre divine) is in use in France and Germany, chiefly as an external 
wash. It is composed of 16 parts cupric sulphate, 16 potassic nitrate, 
16 alum, fused in a crucible, a little camphor being afterwards added. 
Regular and irregular medical practitioners, veterinary surgeons, 
farriers, and grooms, all use sulphate of copper (bluestone) as an appli¬ 
cation to wounds. Copper as an internal remedy is not in favour either 
with quacks or vendors of patent medicines. 
2. Copper in the Arts. —Copper is used very extensively in the 
arts ; it enters into the composition of a number of alloys, is one of the 
chief constituents of the common bronzing powders, is contained in 
1 According to Eulenberg ( Getverbe Hygiene, p. 716), Oleum cajepute, Menth. pip., 
Melissce, Tanaceti, etc., are almost always contaminated with copper. 
2 Tardieu, Etude Med.-Leg. sur V Empoisonnement. 
