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MISCELLANY. 
possible The oil thus procured was pure and colourless. No trace 
of nitrogen could be detected by Lassaigne's test, which I found to be 
exceedingly delicate, afFording indications of the presence of that body 
in extremely minute quantities of morphia, narcotine, &c; it consists 
in adding to a very small quantity of the substance to be tested, in a 
small German glass tube, a fragment of potassium, about the size of a 
millet-seed, and heating the tube in the flame of a spirit-lamp, until 
the organic substance is completely carbonized, the carbonaceous resi- 
due is treated with cold water, and to the clear decanted liquor, a drop 
of a solution containing the mixed oxides of iron is added; a dirty green 
precipitate is immediately formed, which, if nitrogen be present, is 
changed into a bright blue, on the addition of a drop of hydrochloric 
acid. 
Five drops of this pure oil were administered to a rabbit, and no 
effect being produced, ten more, dissolved in olive oil, were given to 
the same animal the following day, still without any injurious results? 
except slight irritation, attributable to the acridity of the oil; thus giving 
satisfactory evidence of the fact that essential oil of bitter almonds 
when pure, does not possess poisonous properties. 
The extreme difficulty of freeing the oil from the hydrocyanic acid 
by the usual process, seems to account for the contradictory results of 
former experiments; and when we reflect on the numerous fatal con- 
sequences attending the use of this article for domestic purposes, and 
the simplicity and economy of the above process, it becomes important 
that manufacturers of this article should give their attention to the sub- 
ject, and endeavour to supply the public with a preparation at once 
perfectly harmless, and still possessing the agreeable flavour for which 
it is so highly esteemed. 
The following letter, relating to this subject, from the Manchester 
Guardian of June 19th, has been forwarded to us by a correspondent : — 
Caution to Druggists and Housekeepers. 
To the Editor of the Manchester Guardian. 
Sir — I think it my duty to give publicity to the following case, not 
with a view to censure any one, but to caution druggists and house- 
keepers against the practice of vending and employing for culinary 
purposes, the essence of bitter almonds, without due printed instructions 
as to the quantity to be used, and the danger of deviating from the 
instructions given : 
I was called professionally to a lady labouring under symptoms 
which induced me to inquire into the diet taken on the previous day, 
when a statement was given, proving that some custard of which she 
had partaken had acted poisonously (though, happily, not fatally,) her 
