158  Analytical  Bcsearches  and  Invest igations.   { "^""AiuirissT"** 
on  the  other  was  aceomplislied.  This  supposition,  which  is  based  on 
an  observation  of  Amelia  in  a  case  of  complex  poisoning  with  arsenic 
and  strychnine,  does  not  agree  perfectly  with  the  experiments  on  warm- 
blooded animals  by  which,  through  the  simultaneous  application  of 
arsenite  of  potassium  and  strychnine,  the  tetanic  spasms  were  not 
prevented,  provided  that  the  strychnine  was  given  in  a  toxic  dose. 
.From  still  another  point  of  view  the  ptomaines  containing  arsenic 
appear  to  be  of  significance  in  toxicology,  from  the  fact  that  they 
help  to  explain  an  affection,  that  of  chronic  arsenical  poisoning,  as 
|)roduced  by  arsenical  wall-papers.  As  Selmi  has  shown  that  a  vola- 
tile arsine  is  formed  by  the  contact  of  arsenious  acid  and  albuminous 
matters,  which  possesses  a  strongly  toxic  action  and  differing  somewhat 
from  that  of  arsenious  acid,  the  author  thinks  it  may  be  presumed 
ihat  a  similar  product  can  be  formed  from  the  glue  which  is  employed 
for  affixing  the  arsenical  wall-paper  of  a  room,  whereby  perhaps  the 
moisture  of  the  air  plays  a  part  in  the  formation  of  the  arsine. 
ANALYTICAL  RESEARCHES  AND  INVESTIGATIONS. 
Collated  by  Pkof.  Fkederick  B  Power,  Ph.D 
Dectedion  of  Chloroform  in  Cases  of  Poisoning.  By  D.  Vitali. — 
The  author  brings  the  liquid  which  has  been  distilled  from  the  intes- 
tines into  a  three-necked  flask,  and  conducts  a  current  of  hydrogen 
through  the  same.  The  hydrogen  v/hicli  escapes  through  a  glass  tube 
provided  with  a  platinum  point  is  then  ignited.  If  chloroform  is  pre- 
sent in  the  liquid,  it  will  be  carried  along  with  the  hydrogen,  and  burn 
with  the  formation  of  hydrochloric  acid.  If  a  piece  of  fine  copper  wire 
be  now  held  in  the  flame,  the  latter,  in  consequence  of  the  formation  of 
cupric  chloride,  will  assume  an  intense  green  color.  A  small,  scarcely 
visible  drop  of  chloroform,  when  mixed  with  30  cubic  centimeters  of 
water,  will  produce  the  green  coloration  very  perceptibly. —  Chem, 
Zeitung,  1882,  No.  3,  p.  47,  from  Giorn.  Farm.  Cheni.^  30,  p.  529. 
Examination  of  Meal  for  Impurities. — The  meal  is  gently  warmed 
with  70  per  cent,  alcohol  to  which  5  })er  cent,  of  hydrochloric  acid  has 
been  added.  With  pure  wheat  and  rye  meal  the  alcohol  remains  col- 
orless, barley  and  oat  meal  color  it  pale  yellow,  corn  meal  and  the 
bearded  darnel  (Lolium  temulentum)  orange,  vetch  and  bean  meal 
purplish-red,  and  ergot  blood-recl. — Ibid.,  from  Bieder^nann^ s  C.-Bl.y 
ii,  69. 
