ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN87702FP001

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN87702BP003

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

4 THE ANALYST. ON PRUSSIC ACID FROM CASSAVA. By E. FRANCIS, F.C.S. Gouernment Laboratory, Trinidad. IT is well-known that two species of the tropical plant manioc or cassava are described; one of which is credited with powerful toxic properties, while the other, considered harmless, is cooked and freely eaten throughout the Weat Indies and South Amorica. The two kinds are named by Tohl, manihot utilissima, and manihot a@; respectively, but they are commonly known as bitter and sweet cassava.Observations respecting the poisonous action of bitter cassava upon men and animal8 have Lccn frequently recorded, and the presence of prussic acid in the juice expressedTHE ANALYST. 5 - from the roots has long been established ; although no attempts have apparently been made to determine the quantity of the poisonous acid yielded by the plant.This point having formed the subject of inquiry, a number of determinations of prussic acid from bitter cassa-ra were made; attention was then directed to the sweet kind, with the unexpected result of finding, that, not only did it yield prussic acid, but the quantity obtained from it often nearly equalled that from the bitter, and in no instanco did it fail to furnish a certain amount of the poison. The results of the examination for prussic acid of a number of samples of each kind of the plant are shown in the following table; the quantities being given in percentages, and also as grains of prussic acid from an avoirdupois pound of the fresh root.TABLE I. Quantity of Prussic Acid yielded by Cassava Roots.No. of Sample. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Mean. Highest. Lowest. SWEET. Per cent. of HCN. '0158 '0121 '0125 '0133 '0113 -0 194 '0226 '0199 '0208 '0238 ,0202 -0134 '0202 '0149 -0117 ,0168 '0238 '0113 Grains of HCN. per lb. 1'106 0'847 0.875 0'931 0'791 1'358 1'582 1'393 1'456 1 <666 1'414 0.938 1'414 1.043 0.819 1 '1 75 1.666 0-791 No. of Sample.1 2 3 4 6 6 7 8 9 10 Mean. Highest. Lowest. BITTER. Per cent. of HCN. '0377 '0237 '0142 -0440 '0132 '0209 ,0348 '0221 ,0133 '0215 ,0275 '0442 00132 Grains of HCN. per lb. 2.639 1.659 3'091 3.080 0'92t 1'463 2'436 1'547 0,931 1,505 1.927 3.094 0.924 The samples indicated in the table were obtained from as many sources as possible : gome from stalls in the public markets, others direct from the different cultivators, pains been taken to avoid substitution of one kind for the other.The similarity of the plants renders such a mishap possible. Indeed, so close is the resemblance, that opinions are not wanting, expressive of belief that the one is merely a rariety of the other, and not 8 diatinct species." The mode of determining the prussic acid requires mention, special treatment being necessary, owing to the starchy nature of the roots.Distillation was requisite to obtain the prussic acid in a form adapted for ePtimation, but the thirty per cent. of starch, which the roots contain, had to be excluded from the retort. The following method of operating was adopted :- The mixture was allowed to stand in a well-closed vessel fijr about two hours, and the liquid was then 500 grammes of the root were quickly grated into 500 C.C.of water. * See Pharm. Journal, 3rd series iii. 569 ; M. Paul Lagot, on the Manioc, or Tapioca Plant,6 THE ANALYST. squeezed through a linen cloth into a flask. Ths flask being corked the starch was allowed to deposit, and then 200 C.C. of the upper portion of the liquid were decanted and distilled.The retort was connected by a caoutchouc joint to the condenser, the end of which dipped beneath the surface of water made alkaline with soda, and contained in a closed receiver. The quantity of prugsic acid found in the 200 C.C. of liquid represented one-fourth of that actually present. This estimate is arrived at in the following manner :-both bitter and sweet cassava were found by a number of determinations t o contain close upon sixty per cent.of water. The 500 grammes of root taken, therefore, would furnish, approximately, 300 C.C. of water, which, augmented by the 500 C.C. added, would make an aggregate of about 800 C.C. All the prussic acid jielded by the sample, would, of course, be found in solution in this quantity of liquid.The amount present in the 200 C.C. removed, would thus represent The prussic acid in the alkaline distillate was estimated either volumetricallj or by precipitating and weighing as silver cyanide. The results were occasionally verified by combining the methods; first determining the prussic acid by volumetry, then adding excess of the silver solution to the same portion, acidifying with nitric acid, and collecting and weighing the silver cyanide produced. Fairly concordant results were thus obtained as shown by the following average examples.I. Prussic acid from sweet cassava. or Q of the total quantity. Per cent. ... Grains of of HCN. ... HCN.perlb, Volumetric Method . . . . . . *01992 ... 1.3944 Gravimetric ,, . . . . . . -01924 ... 1.3468 11. Prussic acid from bitter cassava.Per cent. ... Grains of of HCN. ... HCN. per Ib. Volumetric Method . . . . . . .02090 ... 14630 Gravimetric ,, . . . . . . 41996 ... 1.3972 The higher results furnished by volumetry, doubtless, showing the usual error arising from the slight excess of standard solution required to indicate the completion of the process. The silver solution used was nominally decinorual, but, its exact strength was fixed with care.During the grating of the cassava, which occupied about five minutes, a slight loss of prussic, acid was made evident by its odour. Nevertheless, this was certainly too small to seriously affect the correctness of the determinations, since the quantity of prussic acid found in the normal juice, seldom exceed8 one part in two thousand of liquid, and such dilute solutions bear moderate exposure without being sensibly altered.Estimations made at intervals of the prussic acid in the diluted juice, showed that, standing in a loosely-covered beaker, it Buffered no apparent loss during two hours; but a loss of about one-tenth was found after sixteen hours. When fermentation was in progress, the prussic acid soon diminished, and in six days became reduced to one-fifth of the original quantity.The juice, although a t first nearly neutral, quickly became acid, and was always so at the time of distillation. I n somc of the earlier experiments, sulphuric acid was added to the contents of the retort, usually after all the free prussic acid had paesed over, but the yield was not found to be influenced by this treatment. The high temperature prevailing in this climate rendered it necessary to prove that prussic acid could be isolated by distillation from dilute solutions without loss.AqueousTHE ANALYST. 7 SWEET. prussic acid, therefore, was prepared, and diluted until 20 C.C. made up to 200 C.C. with water would furnish a solution containing about twice the quantity found in the liquid strained from the roots.Two such mixtures having been made, the prussic acid in one was estimated directly, and in the other after distillation. The following results were obtained :- HCN. in 200 C.C. of solution. 1 Not distilled ... ... ... ... ,06824 grm. 2 Distilled ... ... ... ... '06744 ,, Corrected temperature of water passing from condenser 2 5 .2 O c; of laboratory 27P c ; A second trial was made by diluting 20 C.C. of the same aqueous prussic acid to Two portions of 200 C.C. were measured, and the prussic acid in each estimated this temperature being usual. 500 C.C. as before. HCN. in 200 C.C. of solution. 1 Not distilled ... ... ... ... 92734 grm. 2 Distilled ... ... ... ... .02726 ,, A final experiment determined whether a known quantity of prussic acid added to the diZuted juice suffered loss by distillation. The juice used had not been distilled, or deprived of the prussic acid naturally present, bnt this w~ls estimated by a separate experiment and allowed for. The usual quantity was taken, and 100 C.C. of prussic acid, which had been found to contain *02599 grammes of €t C.N. mere added. The mixture was distilled. Total HCN. by distillation ... ... ... *03447 grm. HCN. natural to juice ... I.. ... ... .0095P ,, HCN. recovered ... ,,. ,02496 grm. BTTTEB. 59 $40 No. of Sample. Mean. I 1 1 Mean. 1 Per cent, of No. of H2O. I Sample. 1 58'73 68'33 69-13 61.31 68.25 6 0.65 Per cent. of HaD. 59 #40 60'80 G 1 -80 61'24 62.07 62-79 61'35

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN877020004b

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST. 7 PRESENCE OF CINCHONIDINE IN THE QUININE SULPHATE OF COMMERCE. BY B. H. PAUL, Ph.D. THE samples were dried at 2 1 2 O F, and weighed in a weighing glass, perfectly closed, EO that no moisture could be absorbed. The cinchonidine was separated by dissolving four or five grams of the salt in 80 to 100 C.C. of boiling water, and, after cooling, filtering the liquid, and then shaking it with sufficient ether to leave n distinct layer undisadved.On Pharmaceutical Journal [3]. No. 347, p . 672.8 THE ANALYST. the addition of ammonia solution in excess, the alkaloid separated was in most instances only partially soluble in the ether ; with the samples containing least cinchonidine, the whole of the alkaloid was at first dissolved by the ether; but after the lapse of a few hours, the cinchonidine was deposited in the form of crystals, which were collected on a filter and weighed.The quinine sulphate separated on cooling the hot solution, was again re-crystallized in the same way as at first, and the mother liquor was treated as before with ether and ammonia. I n this way a further quantity of alkaloid, insoluble in a moderate quantity of ether, was obtained, and by repeating the re-crystallisation of the salt a third time, another smaller quantity was obtained.The mother liquor obtained by a fourth re- crystallisation gave no evidence of cinchonidine, so far as treatment with ether was capable of indicating its presence. The first six samples were taken from sealed ounce bottles, of which only No. 3 had been previously opened. I n all these instances the amount of crystallisation water was not much different from that normally appertaining to the salt, viz., : 14.45 per cent. The smaller amounts of water in the samples Nos.7, 8, and 9, were, probably, due t o some degree of efflorescence, since these samples had been for some time exposed to the air; so that, making allowance for the circumstance, the proportions of cinchonidine sulphate in the original salt would be somewhat less than those stated as the result of analysis.Apart from the loss attending the operation, the amounts of cinchonidine sulphate indicated by these results are to be regarded in all cases as minimum amouuts, inasmuch as some cinchonidine still escapes separation by ether. No.(1) ... (2) ... (3) ... (4) ... ( 5 ) ... (7) ... (8) ... (9) ... ( 6 ) ... Water, per cent. 15-05 15-51 14.90 15001 14.20 15-15 13-67 8-10 10.37 Dry Cinchonidine Sulphate, per cent. . . . . . . 7.98 ... . . . . . . 7.51 ... . . . . . . 4.22 ... . . . . . . 5.92 ... . . . . . . -99 ... . . . . . . 3.16 ... . . . . . . 4.90 ... . . . . . . 4-65 ... . . . . . . 5.44 ... Crystallised Salt, per cent.cqual to 9.19 ,, 8-64 ,, 6-81 ,, 1.14 ,, 3.64 ,, 5.64 ,, 6.24 ,, 6.26 ,, 4.86 A. W. B. We reproduce the following letter from The Grocer of Narch 24th, in the hope that the trade generally will follow the excellent example of the writer. SIR,-I think I may presume that upon the clearest medical testimony it has been proved that preserved bright green peas contain a proportion of metallic copper, and therefore are, and should be, unsaleable.And yet in the face of this fact, and after several convictions, these bright green peas are being sold to the public, My pet brand I have had analysed by one of the first in the profession, and the report before me is (per tin) *42 metallic copper, equal to 1.65 grains of sulphate of copper ;-the sale of which I have stopped.Now, the question I wish to raise is-Is it wise on the part of the trade to continue to sell an article known to be injurious to health ? There can be no excuse for such, from the fact that Messre. Crosse and Blackwell’s Circular, dated March Ist, states :-“ Preserved Green Peas. -We beg to remind our friends that the peas and other vegetables prepared by ourselves and Messrs. Philippe and Canaud have always been perfectly pure and uucoloured.” These peas are certainly not of so bright a green colour, but in my humble opinion are in size and flavour all that can be desired. My own feeling is, that the sale of the bright peas should at once be stopped ; and I say without hesitation that it is a disgrace to the trade to have it said that such peas can be purchased by the public, after the clear medical evidence given. I am, &c., Clapham, M a d 21st. E. J. WRIGHT.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8770200007

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST. 9 RETURNS OF ANALYSES MADE UNDER THE SALE OP FOOD AND DRUGS’ ACT IN 103 DISTRICTS DURING 1875 & 1876. WE have great pleasure in presenting the following Returns to our readers, and in expressing our obligation t o those gentlemen who have, at considerable trouble to themselves, enabled us to make them so complete. We feel that speaial aoknowledgment is due to some gentlemen, who, not being members of the Society, have never- therless favoured us with their reports.Analysts, as a rule, know very little if anything of the proseoutions, and it is better that they should not. The results were laid before the Meeting of the Society on the 14th inst, and considerable interest was taken in them. As regards the number of Convictions the table is necessarily incomplete. 0 4 m Y l.4 a cI1 m ? f N.A. ADAMS ... Kent. A. H. ALLEN ... A. ANQELL ..) Southampton. R. APJOHN .. . , .. Cambridge (Borough). Cambridge County). Ely (Isle of\. Huntingdon (County). Upper Strafforth and (Samples collected by Police.) North Derbyshire. Sheffield. (Samples collected by Police.) W. BAKER ...... Rotherham. Tickhill. J. J. BANCROFT Denbighshire. (Act suspelzded) J .C . BELL Salford and Cheshire W. BETTEL Middlesbor ough T. B. BLUNT ... Shrewsbury. Shropshire, and Mon tgomeryshire. J. BRIERLY . . . ... Southampton. J. C. BROWN ... Lancaster (County). Liverpool. Preston, (Act not ert- forced tiid 1877.) 3. A. CAMERON... Carlow. Cavan. Clare. Down. Drogheda. Dublin (City). Dublin (County). Fermanagh Galway Eerry Kildare Eilkenny Limerick Leitrim Mayo Meath Queens Roscommon Sligo Tipperary W aterford Wexford Westmeath Wicklow f 8 0 - 118 23 17 256 38 6 430 96 - 3 7 15 14 - - 5 7 - L 2 - 96 1s 13 - 0 0 - 14 4 - 1 0 - 31 8 - 13 4 -- 13 - - - I - - 0 0 - 182 85 30 41 4 4 40 5 4 - 10 - 22 - 2 - 6 - 18 5 2 3 - 1 1 206 72 21 412 102 - 222 73 4 1 0 0 0 42 17 85 11 63 7 - - 8 1 - 6 1 1 1 - 5 2 1 130 18 3 1 1 1 20 7 7 1576 205 112 268 65 46 26 12 9 40 16 10 18 6 2 69 20 12 10 - 43 l7 1 3 - 1 1 - 15 9 4 10 3 3 40 10 4 11 5 5 26 15 8 3 0 - - - - - - - - - - 7 6 2 - 1 2 - 7 - 1 - 7 - 162 41 57 8 8 4 14 - 3 3 19 1 8 - 11 - 1 - 8 - 3 - 6 1 5 - 14 1 - - L - - - - - 5 - c 1 - - 2 - 2 - 3 - L 110 THE ANALYST.m“ .d .+ 2 a 2 8 - 28 10 14 6 - 1 40 8 12 6 11 19 4 5 1 17 7 4 21 27 7 27 4 10 10 12 46 49 10 2 1 - -.a 5 - - I - - - - - - - - - - 15 2 27 - 26 - 13 8 62 5 28 29 24 8 9 5 2 7 14 27 24 1 4 11 - 22 20 1 23 1 10 4 2 - 5 20 31 10 30 33 95 276 10 1 8 12 8 1 - - - - - - - - J. CLARK ........ Paisley. Dumbarton. E. L. CLEAVER ,. . Kensin ton. J. H. CoLLINs ... Cornwagll. W. H. CORFIELD St. George’s, Hanover Sq. M. CORNER ...... Mile End Old Town. A. DUPRE’. ........Westminster. A. M. EDGEB ... Durham. Gateshead. C. ESTCOURT ... Blanchester. H. GOODE ......... Derbyshire. 3. H. GXAMSHAW Gravesend. C. HEISCH ...... Hampstead. Lewisham. A. HILL ......... Birmingham, 3. F. HODGES ... Belfast. J. HORSLEY ...... Gloucester County. Ditto City. 0. JARMAIN ... Huddersfield. H. JOHNSON ... Shrewsbury. E. W. T. JONES South Staffordshire. Wolverhampton.J. R. LEEBODY.. . Londonderry City & County. R. MCALLEY ..... Falkirk. S tirling, MCCOWAN & BIGOART, Greenock. 5. M, MILNE ...... Dumferline. Kinning. Govan (Parish). E. H. MOORE Brighton, and East Sussex. W. MORGAN ... Swansea J. MUTER ... Bermondsep Lambeth Rotherhithe St. George’s, Southwark. Wands w orth Cork County. J PATTINSON South Shields Newcastle F. T. PAXTON West Sussex.W. PROCTER ... Beverley. F. M. RIMMXNGTON Bradford E. SERGEANT ... Bolton. J. SHEA ............ Reading. A. W. SMITH ... Rye. T. STEVENSON ... Bedfordshire. St. Pancras, Surrey. W. W. STODDART Bristol and Somerset. R. R. TATLOCK Govan Borough. J. W. THONAS Cardiff. J. W. TRIPE ... Hackney. WALLACE, TATLOCK & CLARK Glasgow. WN. WALLACE,. . A yr. J. WIGQEN ...... Ipswich.HAssALL & HEHNER, Isle Of Wight. ... f C. O’KEEFFE ... Cork City. Kilmarnock. Rutherglen. Colchester. and f 14 22 458 168 72 133 167 138 113 66 106 59 89 164 252 605 73 82 3 712 173 105 - I - 164 14 62 60 24 1 315 447 456 119 27 1014 106 66 13 199 6 247 49 86 319 237 694 1572 30 230 214 - - 4 8 48 20 1 13 48 21 50 15 24 1 11 60 90 37 16 22 1 125 15 10 - - -- - 25 1 - - - l o - - c - e - 16 27 I - 3 - 3 8 33 16 11 - - - 1 21 2 1 - 7 1 - 1 - - 7 1 A 27 26 23 69 57 34 15 9 45 26 5 11 43 1 26 16 2 37 60 64 398 11 27 9 - - 1 7 1 1 3 1 - - 9 44 - 1 - - I 21 - 9 12 - - 2 2 - - - 2 15 26 - - - l o - 1 - 1 - 4 - - - - - - 3 - 9 25 0 9 10 8 133 4 6 1 98 13 2 - 5 - 1 - 8 2 11 - - - 1 1 1 - East Suffoik. ( Greenwich and Deptford. 0, W. WIGNER 275 213 136 42 19 31 19 9 12 6 16 6 1 2 - 12 7 - 1 - 1 - 1 - Plumstead. Woolwich. TOTAL ... 15,989 2896 626 1483 833 66 175 80 -

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8770200009

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST. 11 THE WORKING OF THE SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, DURINa 1875 & 1876, BY (3. W. WIGNER, F.C.S., &ad before the Xocietg of Public Alzalysk, at BwZington HOZGSB, PiccadiZ&, on the 14th Barch, 1877. I HAVE much pleasure in laying before the Society this evening a large number of returns, which have been most courteously communicated by the Members of this Society, and by some Public Analysts who do not yet belong t o us, showing the degree of success or otherwise which has attended the working of the present Anti-Adulteration. Act.The returne possess many features of great interest, but the most important point is the percentage of all the samples which were found to be adulterated. During the well-known investigations of the Lancet Commission, Dr. Hassall and others found that about 65 per cent.of the samples purchased were adulterated. Under the Act of 1860, the amount of work done was so small that it would be worthless as a comparison. The Act of 1572 made a change, although it was not universally enforced ; yet in the course of Rome sixteen months nearly 15,000 samples of food were analysed, and even then the striking result was shown that 26 per cent.of the whole number were adulterated. These samples, it must be remembered, were not purchased by private consumers, but in nearly every case by a public official, who was well known and therefore presumably well served. The returns I hold in my hand show the first results of the Act of 1815, which it must be borne in mind is still simply a permissive, and not a compulsory Act, and, at the first glance, the result is gratifying, for we find that while in 103 districts 15,989 samples have been analysed, only 2,895 have been found to be adulterated, or 18.10 per cent.of the total number, thus showing an improvement of 8 per cent. in two years. The improvement thus shown is probably below rather than above the truth, since the processes in use for analysis have been perfected, and many samples which would have been passed as pure two years since, would now be condemned.There are, however, some very unsatisfactory features to set against this, for instance the number of samples of adulterated milk has actually increased from 1066 to 1483, in other words from 28-24 per cent. t o 51.22 per cent.of the total number of adulterated samples. This would certainly indicate that the milk trade has not thus far been rendered moral by Act of Parliament. It has not been possible to procure the exact list of samples purchased in each case, but in nearly all the Districts the analysts have kindly furnished the names of the adulterated articles, and calculating these on the total number of samples purchased, we find that :- 9.28 per cent.were Adulterated Milk. 5-27 ,, I ? Groceries. 4 1 $ 9 ,, Drugs. 1.09 ,, 9 3 Beer, Wine and Spirits. -50 9 , ?? Flour and Bread. 1.55 ,, ?, Sundries. 18.10 ,, Total. During the previous period the adulterated milks were only 7.31 per cent. of the total samples.12 THE ANALYST. On viewing the matter in another light, we find that the adulterated samples alone may be divided as follows :- Milk ...... ... ... 61.22 per cent. Groceries . , . ... ... ... 29.15 ,) Drugs ... ... ... ... 2.27 ,, Beer, Wine and Spirits ... ... 6.04 ,, Flour and Bread ... ... ... 2.76 ,, Sundries ... ... ... ... 8.56 ,, 100*00 What with watering and skimming therefore, milkmen are responsible for more than half the adulteration which at present goes on; grocers for nearly three-tenths, and even chemists and druggists, though their goods are but comparatively seldom examined (in fact not one-tenth as often as they ought to be) figure nearly as high as the bakers, who expect a periodical visit from an inspector. Thia state of things is not as it should be.% From the general view of the subject we pass to the specific, and here the permissive and, consequently, uncertain character of the Act is well exemplified.Thus, a1 though competent analysts have been appointed for Cambridgeshire, Denbigh- shire, Meath, Wexford, Westmeath, Cornwall, Gravesend, Falkirk, S tiding, Beverley, and Rye, not a single sample has been submitted for analysis in any of the eleven districts. While in the Counties of Kent, Huntingdon, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Montgomeryshire, Down, Leitrim, Waterford, Wicklow, West Sussex and East Suffolk including the tovns of Ipsmich and Colchester, eleven counties in all, only forty-six samples have been analysed, or a fraction more than four per county.I t is not to be wondered at that one third of these samples were adulterated, or that all the four samples submitted from Carlow, Down, Leitrim, and East Suffolk were so.I t is not in human nature t o avoid selling impure things where the vendors know they will escape, but it certainly appears t o me a clear indication of the necessity of altering the Act so as to make some provision for such cases as these. A careful examination of these returns points out clearly another defective feature in the Act.I n the County of Kent only eight samples were taken, but all were pure. The reason is not far to seek, for we find they were all purchased by policemen in uniform. In Mile End Old Town, where it is not generally considered we should find the purest articles, only one sample out of 7 2 was adulterated, at Hampstead, one out of 59, and at Hackney, nine out of 214 ; in each case the inspectors who purchased the samples were well known local men.Scotland presents an unfavourable figure in the returns, only 633 samples have been examined, but 248 or more than 39 per cent were adulterated. London (although our returns here are even now incomplete) counts for more than 25 per cent. of the total number of samples, and the percentage of adulteration actually shown is only 10.08 per cent.of the samples of which 219 or 5.32 per cent. are milk. It is singular that such towns as Salford and Qlasgow, although both fortunate in securing the services of competent men as analysts, stand worst in the returns, the former showing 46.70 per cent. adulterated, of which 21.98 per cent. were milk, and the latter 53.20 per cent.of which 39.20 per cent. were milk. The remedy is obvious. * In reference to the author’s remark, we draw attention to a letter from Dr. Dupr6 appearing in this number, -EDITOBB’ ~ A L Y B T .THE ANALYST. 13 From all these figures the inference that the Act needs amendment is clear. It is radically wrong that nearly a third of the counties should be entirely or practically exempted from the action of a salutary Act such as this is.We also see clearly the evil effect of well known men purchasing samples. I think two more inferences may fairly be drawn. 1st. The trivial fines generally imposed in milk cases are quite insufficient to prevent adulteration. It is more profitable to dilute and pay the fines, laying the blame on to the man who takes the milk out, than t o carry on business honestly. Of all articles they should be the most piire, yet, I believe, that if I could, in each district, find the number of drugs purchased for examination, the resulting per ceritage found impure would be startling. I hope to bring the matter before the Society again at our next meeting, with a view of our making some representation t o the Government on the matter. 2nd. Drugs need much more attention than has hitherto been given to them.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8770200011

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST. 13 ON THE ESTIMATION OF ALUM I N BREAD. By W. C. YOUNG, F.C.S. FOR a long time past the old I ‘ Normandy ” or ‘ I Soda ” process for the estimation of alum in bread, has been condemned on account of the great difficulty experienced in redissolving the aluminic hydrate or phosphate, after its precipitation together with tri-calcic phosphate, &c. This has led to the production of several processes, most of which are very complicated.By a slight modification in the usual method of procedure, the “Normandy” method can be rendered as accurate in its results as any of those which have replaced it. This consists in adding the boiling acid solution of the charred bread to a boiling solution of sodic hydrate, containing a large excess. I proceed as follows :--1,000 grains of bread are burnt down to a small bulk, powdered with about 100 grain measures of hydric chloride, and Tvarmed for a few minutes ; about two ounces of water is then added, boiled for five minutes, and filtered, &c.A solution containing about 250 grains of pure sodic hydrate is made in a very little water, and to this solution, Then boiling, is very cautiously added the boiling acid solution of the charred bread, the whole boiled for a few minutes, filtered and washed.The filtrate, after the addition of a few drops of a concentrated solution of disodic phosphate, is slightly acidified with hydric chloride, and subsequently rendered just alkaline with ammonic hydrate and boiled. To test the accuracy of this method, I had four loaves of bread made in my kitchen, one with no alum, the others with varying quantities.Care was taken to leaye as little as possible of the dough adhering t o the sides of the vessel in which it was made, 80 that each loaf contained, practically, all the alum that was dissolved in the water with which it was made. The loaves were weighed when one day old, and 1000 grains taken of The precipitate is collected, washed, and weighed as aluminic phosphate, ch.Weight of Loaf. 1 2 3 4 Grains of Alum put in. 0 10 20 40 Weight of Al. PO4 from 1000 grains. = grttins of Alum in loaf. 3.50 12-39 23.80 44-20 It will be seen the method leaves nothing t o be desired in point of accuracy, and will favorably compare with any other in respect to simplicity.% *Since devising the above process, I have been informed by Mr. Heisch, that he, and he thinks others, have for many years applied the same principle (viz., the addition of the acid solution to an excess of boiling alkali), to the separation of aluminic hydrate from other gelatinous precipitates, having found it impossible completely to re-dissolve the aluminic hydrate by any amount of sodic hydrate if it were once precipitated.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8770200013

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

14 THE ANALYST. COBBE8PONDEiVCE. [The Editors are not responsible for the opinions of their Correspondents.] To THE EDITOR OF (( THE ANALYST.” THE ‘( ORGANIZATION AMONGST CHENISTS.” SIR,-will you grant me a line of your space to ask if it be really true, as I have heard, that by the scheme, as at present proposed, all chemists now in business are not to be admitted, as a matter of course, into the new organizaticu, but that the sapient few who have nominated themselves as judges a e to select whom they please to be dubbed ti competent.” Perhaps some of the leaders of our profession, as they call themselves, will.satisfy the curiosity on this point, which is shared by many Analysts throughout England, and by none more 10 than by ONE WHO HAS BEEN IN PRACTICE FOR TWENTYEARS. To THE EDITOR OF (‘THE ANALYST.” SIR.-In order not to allow the important question raised by the letter of Dr.Lowe in the January number of The Analyst to drop, without some further discussion, 1 beg to forward the following account of my experiencc regarding the purity and strength of the drugs and medicines dispensed in London. I have, during the last five years, carefully examined 165 samples of drugs and medicines bought at the better class of chemists’ shops i n all parts of London.With very few exceptions, all these drugs were bought under the Latin name, by which they are distingnished in the British Pharmacopma (1867) or more directly still as representing the pharmacopea standard. I n many cases the bottles or packets were labelled B.P.or Brit. Pharm. ; in some the label stated contains so and so much of such and such as the case might be. If, under these conditions, the strength of the drug or medicine bought falls considerably below the standard of the Pharmacopcca, I consider the article adulterated, entirely irrespective of the intrinsic harmlessness or othemise of the substance used for adulterating, The value of a drug or medicine depends in great measure on its really being of the strength it is supposed to be7 and any material departure from such a standard is highly injurious.Well, out of the 165 samples examined no less than seventy-one were found adulterated, some to a very considerable extent. I will give a Eew examples. LIQUOR ARSENWALIS. Should contain four grains of arsenious anhydride per fluid ounce. Six samples were examined, containing the following proportions of arsenious acid; per ounce, 2 .4 3-2, 3.7, 3.75, 3.8, and 3.9. The first of these proportions presents an adulteration equal to a dilution of 60 per cent., or 100 ounces of true liquor arsenicalis had been made into 160 ounces. SCAMMONY. According to the Brit. Pharm. this should contain 80 or 90 per cent.resin soluble in ether, and should be free from carbonates and starch. Fluckiger and Hanbury give 88 to 90 and state that scammony which does not afford at least 80 per cent. of matter soluble in either, should be rojected. Six samples examined, etherial extract in five ranged between 65.2 and 70.3, in one just comes up to 80 per cent. All samples contain chalk, some more than ten per cent.; three contain starch in addition, FERRI ET QUINIB CTTBAS. Seventeen samples examined, six came up to standard, in eleven the alkaloid, not always pure quiuine, ranged between 4.1 and 10.3 per cent., the ferric oxide from 19 3 to 33 per cent. I will give the short remarks in my laboratory book with regard to two, at least, of these samples. No.19 labelled “contains 25 per cent. of citrafe of quinine” (which would be correct) contains 4.69 per cent. of quinine, and 2.35 per cent. cinchonine ; tartaric acid too much ferric oxide (24.1 per cent.) 10 per cent, carbonate of potassium in ash. Very bad sample. contains 28 per cent. of citrate of quinine ” contains 4’46 per cent. of quinine, and 0.5 per cent. of cinchonine, much tartaric acid, too much ferric oxide (22.6 per cent.) 6.9 per cent.carbonate of potassium in ash. Very bad sample, Drugs con- sisting of sugar, well defined chemical compounds, such as bromide of potassium, iodide of potassium, sulphate of quinine. &c., kc., are nearly always found pure. All such, on the other hand, as should Should contain 16 per cent. of quinine, 20 per cent, of ferric oxide.No. 20 labelled But it is useless to multiply examples. My experience may be summed up as folIows.THE ANALYST. 15 contain a certain proportion of active ingredients, or should be the more or less altered natural product, are frequently adulterated. Thus out of forty-nine samples of the first class, two only were found adulter- ated, whereas out of 116 samples of the second class no less than 69 were found adulterated.As Analyst for Westminster, I have examined 359 articles of food and drinks, viz., 135 sample8 of milk, and 224 samples of breild, tea, coffee, sugar, mustard, butter, ale, porter, gin, port wine, vinegar, pepper, jam, oatmeal, arrowroot. Out of 135 samples of milk, 40 were found adulterated with water, and 8 more had been skimmed, total48, or a little more than one-third.Itis right, however, to state that at Brst the proportion of samples found adulterated, was considerably higher, while at present, it is considerably lower. Of the remaining 224 samples, 14 only were found adulterated, and in two more adulteration waa suspected, but could not be proved; thus of the drugs, 43 per cent. were more or less adulterated, and of other articles, only w little more than 17 per cent. Comment, I think, is needless, I remain, &c., A.DUPRB Westminster Hospital, Xarch 19th, 1877. THE following correspondence between the Public Analyst for Gravesend and the Local Government Board is of such general intereet, that we reprint it for the benefit of our readers. To THE MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNKENT BOARD.January 23rd, 1877. GmTLEMEN,-on reporting the fulfilment of my duties as Analyst during the past quarter, 1 find 1 have had to analyse water three times, and to report on the examination of meat once ; this is all. I t is not to be supposed that articles of food sold in the town are all free from adulteration, such, I know, is not the case. I t appears to be the duty of no one to bring them for examination, therefore they are not examined.I gather also that my duty docs not extend to searching for adulteration, but that I am only to examine what is brought to me by the Inspector, an official complaint having been made. Milk is almost universally sold mixed with 25 per cent. of water, and confessedly so. A large quantity of butter called “ Irish,” is also sold at Is, B pound, and I could, I believe, find other May I then ask for information on the following points? articles of the same impure character.1. Hove I the power in my own hands of directing the Inspector t o procure specimens of articles 2. Is it my duty to do this ? 3. Have I the power to direct him to procure me water from wells which are complaiaed of, or must I wait for the order of the Water Sanitary Authority, whose officer I am supposed to be, and who pays the whole of my salary ? I believe many wholesale dealers know well in what towns analysis is frequent, and act in their sales I suspect to be adulterated, and to bring them to me far examination ? accordingly I am, yours truly, J.B. GRAMSHAW, M.D., Artalyst for Gravesetad. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD, February 6th1 1877. SXR,-I am directed by the Local Government Board to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 23rd ultimo, with reference to your powers and duties as Public Analyst for the Borough of Gravesend, and in reply, I am to refer you to section 13 of the “Sale of Food and Drugs’ Act,’’ 1876, which provides for procuring samples for analysis “ under the direction of the Local Authority,” and to point out that it is by the Authority, and not by the Analyst, that the direction to procure samples must be given to the Inspector or other officer, I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, W. BOBSON, Assistant-8ecrrtary.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8770200014

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

16 THE ANALYST. NOTES OF THE MONTH. THE report of the Inland Reyenue Laboratory, just issued, was the subject of some comments by our President at the last meeting. While not wishing to detract one iota from the merit of gentlemen, who seem to have been sedulously educating themselves for the novel duties thrust upon them, we cannot help thinking that their remarks as to the milk standards adopted by our Society arc uncalled for.Are they to set up their hundreds of samples against the collected thousands of the Members of our Society? If so they should in fairness publish their standard, so that we might either work by it or criticise it in a fair spirit. Then, as regards the butter and whiskey cases-in the latter the Society agreed with the Inland Revenue Chemists, and acted upon their conviction in such a decided manner as to cause the removal from their body of the person implicated.On the other hand, in the butter case, there were on one side our present President, one of the Vice-presidents, and the Secretary, unanimously pronouncing the sample to be ‘ I butterine,,’ and for the defence the Inland Revenue Chemists standing alone. Some degree of self congratulation is taken in the report that magistrates have invariably adopted the Somerset House view of questions in dispute; but in the butter case, those who were in court will remember that Bh.Partridge (the stipendiary magistrate,) specially said that he felt himself bound 6y the Act to accept their DICTUDI. So long as the Inland Revenue Chemists pursue the even tenor of their way and continue to strive after the best processes they will have assistance from all, but let them keep out of their reports anything approaching to self adulation.Their will has become law, and let them be thankful for that, and not stoop from the high position in which the legislature has placed them. Above all, when they adopt a standard different from ours, we call on them in all justice to communicate it officially to our Society so as to avoid discrepancies, which are always painful to us, as being bound to be the losing party, and which must also be annoying to them, as gentlemen feeling for their fellow workers in science.Personally, we much respect Mr. Bell and his coadjutors, and we trust they will take our remarks in all friendliness, as an exposition of the matter from the point of view necessarily held by our Society.The scheme for organization amongst chemists is now considered, by its promoters, to be on the fair road to success, inasmuch as the committee appointed by the select nucleus has furnished a definite scheme which has been adopted, If what has, according to our correspondent, (whose letter we print), leaked out in the profession is true, the real working analysts, into whose handa the commercial analyses of the country are now intrusted, will, nerertheless, look upon the scheme with considerable caution before recognizing it.A movement of this kind to be succefisful, and even honest, must not interfere with existing interests. Would Parliament, for example, ever have passed the Pharmacy Act, unless i t had contained the clause providing for the registration of all men actually in business for themselves, within a certain time of the passing of the measure? Yet we hear that there is no such provision in the scheme, but that the new authority is to choose whom it shall admit ! Suppose in some country town A happens t o have obtained a place in the nucleus, is it in human nature to suppose that he will not try his utmost to prevent the election of B, whose practice far outsteps his own, soTEE ANALYST.17 that he has no time t o look after the organization business, and has, therefore, not been asked to join. Rcprceenting, a8 we do, the rcal backbone and sinew of the analytical profession, we invite those who are desirous of doing so to rnako use of our columns for the exprcssion of their views on a subject so vitally important to all analytical chemists throughout Great Britain.We observe with sorrow the results of somc cases of drug adulteration, which have been used by the trade journals as another opportunity to denounce analystEc. We would earnestly recommend all Public Analysts, before they give adverse reports respecting a substance of which they have not had much experience, to consult some other member of the Society, who has made a speciality of the article.On this point our respected President made some very cogent remarks at the last meeting, which ended in the following excellent proposal. His idea was that each member should state to the Secretaries his willingness t o always examine fer any Public Analyst, free of charge, any article on which he had written or had made special researches, and in reference to which the Public Analyst proposed to return a certificate of adulteration ; the conditions being that the Analyst and the Referee should both sendin their results to the Secretaries for publication in this journal. I n this way the best analytical skill in our particular branch of chemistry would be brought to bear on anything novel, and if the case should be defended, confirmatory evidence would be available.We shall be glad to receive communications on this subject from any gentlemen willing to co-operate in our President’s generous scheme. Surely there must be some mistake in a report which we reprint in another place, from the Standard newspaper, of the proceedings at Brighton in a Milk case.No analyst in his senses would ever be guilty of such a statement as the one attributed to our Brighton cofifrere, viz. : that serving milk from a dish, without stirring, would cause the under portion to show 25 per cent. depreciation (i.e. water). We invite the gentle- man affected by the report to explain what he really said, and meantime we reserve our remarks till we have his statement.BOOES, &c., RECEIVED. The Miller ; The American Chemist ; The Chemist and DruggiRt ; The Brewers’ Guardian ; The British Medical Journal ; The Medical Examiner ; The Medical Times and Gazette ; The Pharmaceutical Journal ; The Sanitary Record ; The Telegraphic Review ; The Medical Record ; The Geological Society’s Proceedings; The Anti-Adulteration Review ; Health ; The 15th Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dublin; The Report of the Principal of the Somerset House Laboratory; Adulteration Returns for Norfolk and Parmouth, by F.SUTTON; Dr. F. V. HYDEN, on the Use of Salycilic Acid. We are compelled through want of space to omit for the present the following papers :- The Qualifications of Public Analysts.Butter Fat, its Analysis and Composition, by E, W. T. JONES, F.C.S. Alum in Flour, by J. CARTER BELL, F.C.S. Copper in Pens, by C. H. PIESBE, F.C.S.18 THE ANALYST. RECENT CHEMICAL PATENTS. The following specifications have been published during the current month, and can be obtained from the Great Seal Offico, Southampton Row, Chancery Lane, London.1876. NO. 2016 2524 2564 2679 265 1 2685 2694 2704 2741 274'1 2767 2815 282 1 2844 291 1 2938 2941 303'2, 3050 3066 3069 3078 3094 8095 3107 3124 3145 3148 3160 3169 3170 3177 3224 3236 324% 2805 Namc of Patentee. 13. E. Newton ... ... A. M. Clark .. . ... ... J. Muirhead, Jun. ... ... J. Stnbbs and 5. Corrigan E. T.Hughes ... Duncan & Newlands 1'. H. Gray ... G. W, yon Nawrocii' S. H. Johnson ... F. T. Bond ... ... W, Clark ... ... J. Mactcar ... ... J. H. Johnson ... G. Znnni ... .. . J. H. Johneon ... W, R. Lake ... ... W. R. Lake ... ... J. W. Brown ... ... W. R. Lake ... ... R. Reichenheim ... A. M. Clark .,. ... J. Cockshott ... ... J. Stuart ... ... A. M. Clark ... ... 5. W. Slater ...... W. F. Grier .., ... Robertsou ... ... E. S. Cathels ... ... ... ... *.. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... I . . ... ... ... ... ... ... ..* L. Swindells and R. Lancaster C. Madge . . . .. . ... 8. Pitt ... ... ... ... J. Millar ... ... ... H. 5. Haddon . . . .. . A. D. Wolochoff ... ... B. J. B. Mills 1.. ... .A. Brown ... ... ... - - ... a * . ... ... ...... *.. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1.. 1.. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Title of Patent. Removing extraneous Vegetable Matters fr. Fabrics Evaporating and Incinerating . , . ... .. . Electric Telc raphs ... ... ... ... Preserving Wood and Vegetable Fibre ... ... Treating Sugar ... ... ... ... ... Manufacture of Starch .. , ... . ..... Uniting or combining Iron and Steel ... ... Filter Presses ... . . , . . . . . . . . . Filtering and purifying Water ... . . . .. . Apparatus for rnakirig TOR, Coffee, & other Extracts Furnaces for Manufacture of Chroniates Extracting Metallic Zinc ... ... ... .. , Magneto-electric and Electro-magnetic Apparatus Refining and Condensing Iron, &c. .. . ,.. Cases for Preserved Food ...... . . . . . . Galvanic Batteries . , , ... .. . ... ... Electric Telegraphs . , , . . . . .. , , . Cleaning Cotton Wool, &c. ... ... ... Preparing Bare Skins . . . . , . . . . . . . Producing and applying Heat ... . . . . .. Dispensing Apparatus for Chbmists ... ... Genratnm. and Hydrtng. Sulphurous & other Gases Deodorizbiing and Purifying Sewage ... ... Compound for preserving Food, &c.... ... Apparatus for exhausting Gaa, &c. ... ... Yurification of Gas m.. ... ... ... Manufacture of Ammonia . . . . . . . . . Treating Tin and Terne Plate Scrap ... ... Treating Silicates of Copper, Nickel, &c. ... Treating Sewage ... ... ... ... ... Dressing Tampioo and Bristles . . . .. . .. , Marking Divisions on Scientific Instruments ... Manufacture of Fecula, Farina, and Starch ...Producing Paintings on Textile & other Fabrics.. . Gassing and binding Yarns ... *. 0 . . Microscopes . . . . . . . . * ..* ~ Price. 6d. 1 s. 6d. Gd. 6d. 6d. Sd. 6d. 8d. 8d. Sd. Gd . 6d. 6d. 6d. 6d. 6d. 6d. 8d, 4d. Gd. 6d, 4d. 4d. 2d. 6d. 2d. 2d. 2d, 6d. 2d. 2d. 2d. 4a. 2a. 2a. PROBECUTIONS UNDEB THE SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS' ACT.BRIGHTON.-& the Hove Police-court on March 12th, a milk carrier, named Mockford, was summoned for refusing to sell milk to the inspector appointed to obtain samples of food and drugs. A t the time the inspector applied for milk the defendant was going his round, and he refused to serve the inspector because he had received orders to supply only his master's regular customers. The case was then difficult to decide, as it involved a point of law. For the defence i t was urged the milk was not exposed for sale at the time whilst the prosecution contended that it was. The magistrates were of opinion that the law had been infringed, and inflicted a fine of one shilling.-A dairyman named Brooks was summoned for supplying milk not of the quality asked for. The inspector asked for some new milk, and on what he was supplied with being subjected to analysis it was found to be depreciated to the extent of 25 per cent. The defendant had served several customers before the inspector, and the cream rising to the surface had been served to the first buyers, and this, the analyst said, would cause the depreciation of the milk to the extent of 26 per cent. The magistrates dismissed the case.- h'tandard. The Election of Public Analyst for the Poplar District took place on the 27th ultimo, when Mr. W. C. YOUNQ was returned.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8770200016

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC