TI33 BNAZYBT. 195 CORRESPONDENCE. To THE EDITOR OF “THE ANALYST.” SIa,-It will perhaps interest some of your readers to learn that two or three years ago a Patent was taken out in America for the conversion of-ordinary fat into butter, by precisely the Bame agencies as are described in the valuable paper of Dr, Bartlett, in No, 10 of Th6 Anazyst. Fat of the cow, according to the Patentee, is transformed into a substance resembling butter, by simply digesting it at a blood heat for some length of time with pig’s or calf’s stomach.I f the time of digestion be regulated by analysis, there seems to be every reason for believing that a fat may thug be produced, identical with natural butter fat. As httle as we are able to distinguish between, say natural and artificial urea, so it would be impossible to discriminate between natural and artificial butter fat.Iam, $c., 25th Janzcary, 1877. OTTO HEHNER, F.C.S. To THE EDITOR OF “TEE ANALYST.” Sm,-In the published reports of a case of oatmeal adulteration lately decided at Hammersmith police court, I am reported to have said that oatmeal always contained barley meal to the extent of 15 per cent.or under.196 THE BNALYHT. I need hardly say that the accounts are ermneous, and, as I have been asked by several membew of the Bocieby of Public Analysts why 1 made such a statement, I tbink that some explanation in your columns would be desirable. What I said was as follows ;-- That I examined a large number of samples of oats as imported, and every one OC them contained varying quantities of barley in one case to the extent of fifteen per cent.The difference between the two statements b very great, and a glance at the paper read by me at the meeting of the Society of Public Analysts, will I think be sufficient to show my opinion on that subject. 18th January, 1877. I am, &c., E. L. CLEAVER. To THE EDITOR OF (( THE ANAZYLST.” Sm,-The substitution of salicylic acid for bisulphite of lime by brewers to German acid is I t s detection prevent secondary fermentations is rapidly becoming the fashion, imported at a low rate, some brewers using fifty pounds worth in a month.islbut a simple matter.* 1s.salicylic acid an adulterant in beer, and further, what isbeer legally nrrderthod. EDWARD MOORE. I am, &c., Brighton, 20th Janumy, 1877.To THE EDITOR OF “THE ’ANALYST.” Sm,-Having resigned my appointment as Food Analyst for this County, in consequence of increasing professional work, I would call the attention of those Public Analysts who are so usefully devoting their whole energies to their special department -to the subject of the adulteration and impurities of drugs. That this is a matter of pressing importance is the painful experience of the whole medical profession-and more particularly that branch of it whose prescriptions are at the mercy of any struggling dispensing chemist, whose drugs are necessarily obtained in the cheapest market.Many London Physicians direct their patients to go to some particular druggist, and even to ask for an especial dispenser by name, surely, sir, a sufficiently significant fact as regards (‘ town” drugs! What then is the condition of the country shops? We know that there is such an article as a town-hat and a country-hat, although issued by the same firm,-and we have some reason to believe that a similar vtlriety obtains in the matter of town and country drugs.Shortly before the much lamented death of my friend Dr.Anstie, I was in correspondence with him on the subject of ‘‘ Country Bismzcth,” out of a large number *Nom.-l”he detection of salicylic acid in beer is rendered simple by the process detailed in our present number, but we are not aware that any process for this purpose has previously been made public. EDITOR, THE ANALYST.”TRE ANAZPST. 197 of samples of Trisnitrate, obtained from ’‘ Chemists ’’ in various towns in the midland counties, almost all contained arsenic-and some to an alarming extent-now although this substance is only present as an imparity, I have personal knowledge of a case where the administration of Bismuth produced symptoms of arsenical poisoning, and its presence was subsequently confirmed by analysis.If considered only from a mediao-lggal point of view, to what important results might not this subject lead ! I am aware that many other mineral drugs contain arsenic as an impurity, but take bismuth as a type.Poisoning by arsenic, in continued moderate doses produces symptoms that have in certain cases been mistaken for those of typhoid fever. Bismuth has been administered as a remedy! Nary Cotton, at the Durham Assizes not long ago, would have undoubt- edly escaped by this loophole, had not her victims been too numerous, and other evidence too clear against her.This line was suggested to the Counsel for the defence ; the medic.al witnesses stated that the cases were treated for typhoid, and had taken bismuth ; the expert, Dr. Scattergood, of Leeds, said that bismuth did frequently contain arsenic, but only in small quantities ; still, pari pas24 this would have accounted for the presence of arsenic in the exhumed bodies, in many cases a sufficient evidence in favour of the accused.But it is not only mineral drugs that demand the attention of Public Analysts, a wider and more difficult field looms t o the front, viz., our tinctures, “as one star differs from another star in glory,” so does one sample of %ictwa Awantiz’ from another sample of the some simple stomachic, and so of other tinctures-of what vile ingredients are they composed ? consider the quality of the spirit dope-I have known the simplest Placebo produce violent headache after each dose.Again, take chloroform-how must the revered names of Duncan and Flockhart be abused! sulphurio ether too, and spirit of nitrous ether, and a host of other drugs would amply repay an analytical examination.A few well selected cases would arouse popular attention, and revolutionise, for a time at least, the whole drug trade; at present it is safer to trust t o one or two well-known firms-but every prescription that leaves our hands is felt to be an uncertainty, and the burden thus experienced by our profesaion calls for remedy at your hands-for with your assistance, Mr.Editor, the subject will be carefully investigated by the members of our well organised Society, and then, Sir, I do not doubt the result. Mr. Allen, of Sheffield, has already done good and courageous service in this field, and it is to him and his fellow-labourers that we confidently look for further and more brilliant results.Trusting that the importance of the subject will be sufficient apology for the length of this communication. I am, &c., Lincoln, Jamary 8th) 1877. BEO. MAY LOWE, N.D.198 THE ANALYST. RECENT CHEMICAL PATENTS. THE following specifications have been published during the current month, and can be obtained from the Great Seal Office, Southampton Row, Chancery Lane, London.- 1876. X O . - 650 999 1256 1302 1337 1499 1619 1680 1697 1747 1782 1783 1796 1839 1851 1856 1865 1875 1893 1904 1927 1930 1977 1998 2001 2000 2053 2069 2080 2147 2305 2939 2398 2420 2501 2605 2516 2534 2535 2563 2591 2846 - Name of Patentee. C. Wright ... .. . E. Solvay ... ... W. R. Lake ... ... W. T. Carpenter ... F.W. Mackay ... K. M. L. P. Louttit ... Spalding and another.. . T. Bowen ... ... J. H. Porter ... ... H. V. Weyde ... ... J. Har reaves ... ... W. H. Gilberi :.'. ... B. Hunt ... ... Simpson and'otheis ... D. Esplavier ... ... A. Lloyd ... ... G. Barhandy ... ... Rawson & Slater . . . E. Solway ... .. H. Deacon ... ... W. Clark ... ... Downing & Hughes ... C. Humphrey ...... W. M. Browne ... W. M. Browne ... Coxeter and another ... W, E. Robinson ... G. Bischof ... F. W. B. Moh; ... J. Schwartz ... ... W. E. Newton ... E. Morgan . . . . . . P. Jensen ... ... F. W. Colls ... ... E. 8. Rrewer ... A. Browne ... ... A. M. Clarke ... ... A. M. Clarke ... ... Swindells and another T. B. Redwood ... S. Hjerleid ... . , . J. A. Juller I . . ... ... ... ...... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... I.. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . I . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1.. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1.. ... ... ... Title of Patent. Treating Metallic Ores ... ... Manufacture of Carbonate of Soda Manufacture of Gas ...... Ditto ... ... Manufacture of Ice... .L. .. . Manufacture of Gas ... ... Treating Lye Waste ... ... Concentrating Sulphuric Acid . . . Filtering Water ... ... ... Photography . . . . . . . . . Manufacture of Sulphate of Soda .. . Manufacture of Gas ... ... Distilling Alcohol .., ... ~ Tanning . . . . . . . . . . . Preparation of Alizarin ,..... Artificial Manure .. . . . . ... Preparation of Cocoa Extract . , . Food for Cattle ... ... ... Purifying Sewage . .. Manufacture of Carbonste'of Sodh" Manufacture of Chlorine ... ... Treating Sewage Matter . . . ... Paper Pulp ... ... ... ... Treating Mineral Oils ... ... Purifying Turpentine . . . . . . Filters ... ... ... ... Surgical Batteries . . , . . . Treating Phosphatic Minerals .. . Purifying Water and Sewage ... Treating Spent Oxide ... ... Sugar , . . . . . , . . , . , Treating Refuse or Sludge Oil ... Milk Powder ... ... ... Tredng Nilrated Alkalies . .. Gas ... ... ... ... ... Bleaching Wool ... ... ... Extracting Essential Oils . . . . . Black Dye ,.. ... ... ... Preparing Bone Black ... ... Manufacture of Ammonia ... Manufacture of Gas ... ... Manufacture of Sulphate of Soda . . . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... , I . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . .. ... ... ..I ..I . . a ..< ..4 ..I ..< - rice. id. Id. id. ;d. id. id. id. ;d. id. 5d. Sd. ;d. 5d. 2d. 2d. Id. 1 d. 4d. 4d. ad. 6d. ad. 2d. 6d. 2d. 4d. 2d. 4 d. 4d. 2d. 2d. 4d. 2d. 4d. 2d. 2d. 3a. 2a. 4a. 2a. 4a. 4a.