124 THE ANALYST. TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSIS. The Detection of Morphia in Decomposing Bodies. T. Panzer. (Xed. fiir Untersuch. der Nahr. und Genussmittel, 1902, v., 8-lO.)-The author found traces of morphia in two corpses, and, for the purpose of ascertaining the stability of morphia in the presence of decomposing matter, kept portions of the bodies for six months (from June to December), morphia being again looked for after this period. The stomachs, portions of the intestines, kidneys, livers, and urine were stored in loosely-covered vessels at the ordinary temperature of the room. Although intense decomposition had taken place, morphia was plainly detected. The following method was employed : The decomposed matter was diluted with water, acidified with tartaric acid, and gently warmed on the water-bath for some hours.After cooling and filtering, the filtrate was evaporated to a syrup, precipitated with alcohol, and again filtered. The alcohol was driven off from the filtrate, the residue dissolved in water, filtered from insoluble matter, and shaken out with ether. The aqueous liquor was then made alkaline with potash and again shaken out with ether. A third extraction with ether was made after acidifying with hydrochloric acid and making slightly alkaline with ammonia. The morphia was now extracted from the liquor by shaking with amyl alcohol. On evaporating the amyl alcohol a brown, sticky residue was obtained. This was dissolved in cold dilute hydrochloric acid and the solution extracted with amyl alcohol, which removed almost the whole of the colouring matter.The acid liquor was rendered alkaline with ammonia and shaken out with acetic ether, which had previously been washed with water. On allowing the acetic ether to spontaneously evaporate, an amorphous residue was obtained, dissolving completely in hydrochloric acid. AfterTHE ANALYST. 125 standing, this acid solution deposited crystals which gave the usual reactions of morphia. w. P. s. Destruction of Organic Matter in Toxicological Analysis. G. Meilldre. (Jozcrn. Pharm. Chim., 1902, xv., 97-99.)-The following modification of Gautier and Poutet’s methods is stated to effect the complete destruction of 250 C.C. of any organic tissue within two hours. This quantity of the organic matter is finely divided, and mixed with 5 gramrnes of potassium sulphate and 100 C.C.of a mixture of 1 part of sulphuric acid and 4 parts of nitric acid. The porcelain basin is next cautiously heated until the organic matter has become liquid, after which a further quantity of the acid mixture is introduced into the centre of it by means of a dropping funnel with a stopcock regulated so that 200 C.C. are delivered within an hour. From time to time 1 C.C. of the liquid is evaporated to dryness, and if the residue turns black the addition of acid must be continued. According to the author, this method is applicable to the detection of lead, arsenic, copper, and zinc in animal or vegetable tissues. For the determination of total phosphorus in milk, cereals, lecithin, etc., the following method gives good results, and has the additional advantage of enabling a simultaneous determination of total chlorine and sulphur to be made : The substance is heated with a large excess of pure fuming nitric acid containing 1 per cent. of silver nitrate, which effects a rapid destruction of organic matter. The silver chloride formed is separated, and the excess of silver in the filtrate precipitated with hydro- chloric acid. The phosphoric acid can then be precipitated from this filtrate by means of ammonium molybdate. When the sulphur is to be determined the bulk of the nitric acid should first be removed by evaporation. C. A. M.