DETECTION  OF  NITROGLYCERIN. — CARBOLATE  OF  QUINIA.  449 
DETECTION  OF  NITROGLYCERIN. 
By  A.  Werber. 
To  detect  nitroglycerin  in  cases  of  poisoning,  the  author 
proceeds  in  the  following  manner  : — The  organic  material  to  be 
tested  is  extracted  with  ether  or  chloroform,  the  extraction  mixed 
on  a  watch  glass,  with  two  or  three  drops  of  pure  aniline,  and 
evaporated  upon  the  water-bath.  A  few  drops  of  concentrated 
sulphuric  acid  are  then  added,  when,  if  nitroglycerin  is  present, 
a  purple  coloration  appears  which  changes  to  a  dark  green  on 
dilution  with  water.  As  little  as  -001  grain  of  nitroglycerin 
may  thus  be  identified. — Lond.  Ohem.  Neivs,  July  10, 1868,  from 
(Schmidt's  Jahrb.  d.  yes.  Med.,  1867,  and  Zeitschr.  Analyt. 
Chem.,  vii,  158.)   
CARBOLATE  OF  QUINIA. 
Prof.  Wenzel,  remarks  {Jahrbucher  der  Gesammten  Med., 
Aug.  28,  1867),  that  carbolic  acid,  which  in  solution  acts  as  a 
poison  upon  the  lower  animal  organisms,  is  borne  in  propor- 
tionate, though  large  doses,  by  the  higher  animals  and  man,  when 
introduced  into  the  body  in  a  diluted  state.  It  was  adminis- 
tered to  some  animals  with  advantage  in  their  food  in  England 
at  the  time  of  the  rinderpest.  With  bases,  even  weak  ones  such 
as  quinia,  carbolic  acid  loses  in  a  great  degree  its  irritating 
properties  at  the  point  where  it  is  applied  ;  when  combined  in 
the  proportion  of  two  equivalents  of  the  acid  to  one  of  quinia, 
the  compound  is  characterized  by  a  slight  sharpness,  and  a  de- 
cidedly bitter  taste.  Professor  Bernatzik  proposes  a  prepara- 
tion composed  in  this  manner,  and  he  hopes  that  it  will  prove  an 
energetic  disinfectant  for  internal  use.  G.  Braun  has  given  it 
wTith  benefit  in  puerperal  diseases,  and  Duchek  in  several  typhous 
cases,  and  in  one  of  pygemia.  Pills  containing  1  grain  of  quinia 
with  -6  of  a  grain  of  carbolic  acid  were  given  repeatedly  without 
causing  the  slightest  inconvenience,  and  according  to  these  state- 
ments 3  to  6  grains  of  carbolic  acid  were  given  daily  without 
injury.  The  compound  was  prepared  by  dissolving  60  parts  of 
carbolic  acid  with  100  of  quinia,  in  300  of  highly  rectified 
spirit,  filtering  the  solution,  distilling  and  evaporating  to  the 
consistence  of  turpentine,  and  then  mixing  some  extract  of 
acorus  and  powdered  cassia. — Amer.  Jour.  Med.  Sci.,July,  1868. 
