ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN87702FP019

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN87702BP021

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE A N A L Y S T . SOCIETY O F PUBLIC ANALYSTS. Aft Ordinmy Neetiny was held on the 14th June, 1877, at Burlington Rouse, Piccaddly. THE President, Dr. Dupr6, F.R.S., in the chair. The minutes of the pr:vious meeting were read and confirmed. The scrutineers appointed to examine the ballot papers reported that Dr. James Mitchell Milne, of Glasgom, Public Analyst for Kinning Park and Dunfermline, and Mr.Wm. Xogforde Hamlet, of King’s Lynn, Public Analyst for that Borough, had been unanimously elected members of the Society. Mr. A. H. Allen, F.C.S., read a paper ( ( On some points in the Analysis of Potable Waters,” and a discussion ensued, in which Nr. Heisch, Mr. E. W. T. Jones, Dr. Nuter, and Dr. Dupr6 took part, and Ur. Allen replied. Professor A. H. Church, M.A., read a paper I r o n some recent Butter Cases at Cheltenham,” and copies of correspondence which had appeared in the local newspapers were circulated amongst the members present.A long discussion then took place, in which most of the members joined, and it wa8 ultimately proposed by Dr. Muter, seconded by Mr. E. W . T. Jones, and unanimously resolved ‘‘ That this Society having heard Professor Church’s remarks, and also reviewed the correspondence which has appeared in the Cheltenham ExamiNer and Cheltenham Telegt-aph, considers Professor Church to be perfectly justified in his stated opinion by the figures of his analyses.” A short note by Mr.Carter Bell, ‘‘ On a very hard Water used in the Manufacture of Vinegar,” was also read. Dr. Muter’s paper “On Oleic Acid,” and Mr. Wigner’s paper “On the Sale of Food and Drugs Act,” were again postponed, as was also a paper by Mr. W. Thornson, ‘ I On the incongruity of the mode generally adopted of stating the results of Milk Analyses.” In connection with the above resolution T e arc requested by the Secretaries to state that they have received an intimation from Xr. Horsley that he withdraws from the Society of Public Analysts.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN877020055a

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST. 61 ON SOXE POINTS I N T’HS ANALYSIS OF WATER, AXD THE INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS. BY ALFLZED H. ALLEN, F.C.S. .Rend &fore the Society q/’ Pddic Aianlysls, 13th June, 1877. I PEEL some diffidence in reading a pnper on such a well-worn subject as water analysis, bcfoye a Society of Professional Analysts, but my apology is: that while I may occupy the time of the Society with what somc of its members will rightly regard as truisms, the facts brcught forward are systematically ignored by many water analysts, and discredit frequently brought upon the profession in consequence.Any chemist who has had experience in the examination of potable waters, will, occaeionally have found a difficulty in pronouncing an opicion on the fitness of a sample for domestic use, mhen neither pains nor time have been spared in gdthering dritcl to enablc him to come to a definite conclusion.The number of cases in which this difficulty occurs, is greatly increased by the fact, that at the present time, water-analysts may be divided pretty sharply into two groups : those who practice the method of Frankland and Armstrong, and those who employ the process of Wanklyn and Chapman.The use of one process or another is, in many branches of chemical analysis, a matter of compsrative indiffcrcnec ; but in water-analysis, i t seems often to be understood to imply a distinct belief in one set of ~‘symptoms,” with simultaneous dig-belief in another set. This discreditable and unsatisfactory state of things has its origin in unfortunate difkrences between the authors of what may fairly be called the rival methods of water- analysis. Of the two methods, it may fairly be snid that Wanklyn’s is infinitely the more popular, and is the process in general use.On the other hand it is urged that the popularity of Wanklyn’s process is due less t o its intrinsic merits, than to its rapidity and facility of execution; Frankland’s process being admittedly one of the most delicate operations in the whole range of chemical analysis, and, according to its enemies, incapable of giving accurate results, except by accident.Of Frankland’s method of determining the organic carbon and nitrogen in water, I have not myself had any direct experience, and, owing to the small number of chemists employing it, instances of concordant results having been obtained independently, by the analysis of the sample by different chemists, arc difficult to obtain.An instance, however, was made public recently, i n which duplicate analyses of the same sample were made independently by Dr. Frankland, and by Nr. J. W. Thonias, Public Analyst for Cardiff. The results of the two analyses agreed closely, and I am acquainted with several other unpublished cases in which equally satisfactory agreements have been obtained.“ It may, however, be fairly open to question, whether Frankland’s method would give absolute results in tho case of samples containing large amounts of nitrates.It is evidently not sufficient that the sample should give concordant results in the hands of different chemists, but that test experiments should be made on known quantities of some unstable form of crgcnic niatter in presefice of a Inrye emess of nitrates.I am not Q Among the members of this Society, Drs. Campbell Brown and Hill are well-known to ernploy Franklauit‘s methud.62 THE ANALYST. aware that any results bearing on this point have ever been obtained, or a t least published, by DF.Frankland or his disciples, although the objection has been so repeatedly and forcibly urged by Nr. TVanklyn, that it certainly requires some kind of answer. As to Wanklyn’s method of estimating albuminoid ammonia, the possibility of obtaining by it concordant results in the hands of independent analysts, has been repeatedly proted, and although the fact that the results are only comparative, is now fully recognized, the iiidications are generally regarded as exceedingly valuable.The difficulty introduced by the fact that different kinds of nitrogenous organic matter yield different amounts of albuminoid ammonia has been greatly exaggerated ; for there is every reason to suppose that the number of kinds of nitrogenous organic matter existing in water is extremely limited, and if that be the case, the amount present ought to be tolerably strictly proportioncd to the albuminoid ammonia yielded on distillation.Certainly, the opinion of ti very large number of chemists who employ Wanklyn’s process, is decidedly in favour of it as a means of discriminating between bad and good water, though probably few place in it so implicit a reliance as its authors contend it deserves.But although Mr. Wanklyn deserves the thanks of chemists for the introduction of his method of determining albuminoid ammonia, he has unfortunately originated a fertile source of discord, and done much t o retard the development of water-analysis, by under-rating the value of the oxidised nitrogen as an indication of contamination. Unfortunately, Nr.Wnnklp’s views on water-analysis are accepted as gospel by a large number of medical officers of henltJh, and other sucking analysts,” and his remarks are too frequently interpreted literally, without the judicious qualifications which JUr. W a n k l p himsclf would be the first to introduce. Thus, a member of our Society holding two appointments as Public Analyst, has exprcssed his belief that the determination of free and allsuininoid ammonia is all that is necessary for forming an opinion on the quality of a drinking water, and he backs that opinion by pronouncing on s;imples submitted to him so/e?y on the results of those two estimations.+ On the other hand, few chemists appear inclined to support the extreme view of Dr.Prankland, that the presence of nitrates in water (in more than minute quality) is absolutely positive evidence of previous contamination of the watcr by animal matter ;-a view which has been contradicted by the researches of Boussingault, who found coiisiderable quantities of nitrates in water in which contamination by animal matter was out of the question.The grave mistake which is made by those who ignore the value of oxidised nitrogen in water as an indication of previous contamination by animal matter is evident, when it is remembered that 97 per cent. of the combiued nitrogen of sewage was found by the Rivers Pollution Commissioners to become converted into nitrates during its slow percolation through a gravelly soil only five feet thick.As, therefore, free ammonia, urea, and the substances which are represented by albuminoid ammonia, are rapidly changed under favourable conditions, with formdion of oxidised compounds of nitlrogen, it is evident that the omission to regard the latter as indicatioiis of previous contamina- tion is practically t o ignore any infiltyation of sewage, which is not oery recent.As w e * I t is worthy of notice that the average amount of free ammonia found by Dr.Angus Smith in the rain of country places was upwards of ten times as great as the maximuin quality which is found in pure drinking waters, so that average rain-water would inevitably be condemned by the above soi-disant chemist, as being contaminated by sewage.THE ANALYST. 63 have good reason t o believe that the organisms to which we attribute enteric diseases, resist oxidation far more energetically than dead organic matter, it is evident that all trace of free ammonia, and the greater part of the albuminoid ammonia might disappear and yet the water be dangerous to drink.There is another circumstance connected with the presence of nitrates, especially in the water of shallow wells, which is too often lost sight of.According to the researches of Pettenk6Aer and others, much zymotic disease is due to the alteration of Zeuel of subterranean water. This, of course, is almost synonymous with thc l e d of the water in shallow wells. I n dry weather, when the water is lorn, sewage filtering through the soil from neighbouring ashpit's and cesspools becomes thoroughly oxidised, the nitrogenous organic matter and ammonia being converted into nitrates.But in wet weather, the soil being filled with water, the same oxidation cannot take place, and free and albuminoid ammonia appear in the water of the wells. It is eyident, therefore, that a change of weather, or other conditions, may 60 injuriously effect the water as to chmge what was possibly safe, though of bad antecedents, into what all chemists agree in regarding as positively dangerous.As pointed out by Dr. Angus Smith, whose views on water-analysis are too little known and appreciated, it is often interesting and important to distinguish between the nitrogen of nitrous acid, and that of nitric acid. As nitrates contain an atom more of oxygen than nitrites, their presence indicates a more complete oxidation and destruction of the organic matter than obtained in the latter case.If all the combined nitrogen of tt water exist in the form of nitrates, it is dear that a wry thorough oxidation has occurred, and therefore that the contamination is comparatively old or distant. The presence of nitrites, on the other hand, shows that complete oxidation has not occurred, and therefore that the pollution is near at hand or recent.I t has also been found that some kinds of organic matter will abstract oxygen from nitrates, reducing them to nitrites, or even to ammonia. Equally, therefore the presence of nitrites indicates a recent contamination. On this account, in studying the history of a drinking water, it is desirable to ascertain whether the oxidised nitrogen exists wholly as nitric acid or nitrites, or whether nitrites are not also present.Another point on which I believe the practice of late years has been distinctly retrograde, consists in ignoring the loss on ignition. Because the loss of weight which occurs on igniting the residue left on the evaporation of a water cannot be strictly regarded as organic matter, i t has become usual to omit the determination altogether.I believe the actual loss of weight is not without its yalue, especially when taken in connection with the total solid matter. I n a good water the loss on ignition is rarely more than one-fifth of the total weight of the residues, but even if the exact loss be disregarded, the ignition often gives valuable information which can scarcely be obtained in any other way short of an estimation of organic carbon and nitrogen by Frankland's method.Thus in presence of much organic matter, the residue blackens, and if it be of animal origin often gives a distinct smell of burnt feathers. Oxidised compounds of nitrogen of course prevent the blackening, but often give rise to an evolution of red fumes.These and similar indications make the ignition test one which the careful analyst cannot afford to omit, especially as phosphates and lead can be looked for in the ignited residue more conveniently and safely than in any other way.64 THE ANALYST. In the discussion which took place- Mr. Heisch said that there were several things said by Mr. Allen on which he would gladly have made some remarks, but as that would involve a discassion of the whole subject of water analysis, he would confine himself to one point.Mr. Allen said that he (Mr. Heisch) had introduced a delicate test for phosphoric acid, he (Mr. Keisch) repudiated this. Dr. Frankland found that growths were producible by putting together nitrate of ammonia, phosphate of soda and sugar, but he (Mr.Heisch) denied the identity of these growths, with those which he considered due to sewage. Dr. Frarikland only saw his growths after they had assumed the condition of mycelium, in which state they could not be distinguished from many other growths. It was at their first formation that they were most characteristic. One of their great peculiarities was, that they did not require the presence of atmospheric air, the first place in which he had observed them being in a liquid, saturated with carbonic acid, The proper way to try the experiment was, to put about 10 grains of the purest sugar in 5 ounces of the water, in a perfectly clean bottle, which it should quite fill, and stopper it down well, then expose it to day light, at a temperature of about 70° ; in the course of about 24 hours certain little bodies could be seen floating about which required carefully looking for ; the best way was to put a black cloth against the wall, and look a t it through the water, these bodies when examined under $ or i t h objective, were found t o consist of cells, with very brilliant neuclei.I f the bottle was shut up a little longer, these cells would be found to group themselves something like a bunch of grapes.The grouping was rery peculiar and very different to anything obtained when the bottle was left open. Ultimately the Gdour of butyric acid became perceptible. The great point was to exclude atmospheric air, as these germs formed without the presence of air, and in the presence of carbonic acid as well ; but the bodies which Dr.Frankland found would not form without the presence of atmospheric air, these were always accompanied by bachteria and not by the formation of butyric acid. He, Xr. (Heisch,) had under his notice recently three waters which came from a place where typhoid fever had broken out; chemically he found little difference between them, but in one, when treated as described, these peculiar bodies were found, and he said if either of the waters had anything to do with the fever it must be that one. The people there were up in arms as this water happened to be a pet one, because it was supposed to come from a spring having its origin in a coppice, and was therefore supposed to be as pure as could be, but the fever increased, and Dr.Guy was sent down by the Local Government Board to examine the question, and ultimately he found the origin of the spring to be immediately under a new workhouse, and not far from the cesspools of that establishment. Of the three waters it was only in that one he (Mr. Heisch) found these bodies. Mr. E. W. T. Jones, had had considerable experience with both the Frankland and Wanklyn processes, but was not wedded to either.Of course they all thanked Mr. Allen for his paper, though he had not brought forward anything which he (Mr. Jones) had not observed 01' known before, which he thought would be the case with most of those who had had much to do with water examination. No doubt, as Nr. Allen said, the Frankland organic carbon and nitrogen method was one of extreme accuracy and required the greatest care, and was therefore subject to objections from causes not due to the subject itself, He regarded that as the worst feature of the organic nitrogen method.All the circumstances connected with the determination were such as to make onc liableTHE ANALYST. 65 to errors, which would affect the process considerably, whereas by the Wanklyn alljumenoid ammonia method you could with due oare show that no error took place during the process of analysis.The solubility of carbonate of lime (which he thought was understood by all of them) is scmething like 3 in 100,000, but he could not see how it bore upon water analysis ; it could not affect one at all unless with a view of getting at the constitution of the mineral matter.He held that the data should be taken coh?ectiueZy to see whether they agreed with one another. As to the influence of nitrates upon the determination of organic nitrogen, he thought that had been settled by Frankland and others of his school. He himself had obtained good results in the presence of nitrates, which he thought could be decomposed in the way Dr.Frankland said, although there was a danger of leaving some nitrogen in the residue, but, on the whole, he thought the albumenoid process was preferable. After a few words from Dr. Muter, Dr. DuprO said that he neter omitted any one of the points mentioned by Mr. Allen. He had never had a water in which he could not detect phosphoric acid. One thing he always did, viz., testing the water itself by permanganate --i.e., by taking half a litre of the water, and adding a very small quantity of perrnanganate ; if that is decolorized a fresh quantity is added until the color remains for 1 hour, The proportion of permanganate added at a time contains 0.08 milligram of available oxygen.Sometimes if the history of a water is not known an analyst might be seriously misled, and condemn a water which he would not do if he had known the history of it, but this simple permanganate test mould prevent the mistake being made.He had adopted a plan which might bc useful to others. One of the great drawbacks of Frankland’s process was that you must always have your Sprcngel pump in order or have a room you can set aside for it, but if you have to take your pump, &c., &c., to pieces it is a tedious job. He had some success in estimating the carbon and nitrogen by the ordinary combustion process ; he simply estimated the amount of carbon by the old oxide of copper method. He took no precaution about the nitrogen. He passed the gas through a carbonic acid tube vhich he charged with baryta water, and filtered in such a may that no carbonic acid could get at it, dissolved the barium carbonate in hydrochloric acid, and finally converted i t into sulphate, 1 milligram of which corresponded to 0.05 milligram of carbon. The nitrogen he estimated in a separate portion by combustion with soda lime, and, if the amount wits very small, determined the ammonia produced by nesslerising. He also considered that no water should be passed without being tested by sulphuretted hydrogen. Dr. DuprO concluded by observing that he hoped no one would be prevented bringing the subject forward again because it was old, for all of them might learn something new at each discussion. hfr. Allen, in replying, suggested that Mr. Heisch’s remarks should be published in ‘ 6 THE ANALYST,” so that the members might have an opportunity of seeing them in print.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8770200061

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST. 65 REDUCED SPIRITS. IN the House of Commons on the 14th of June, Xr. ISAAC asked the President of the Local Government Board whether sub-sections 1 and 4 of Clause 6 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1875, would not exempt from penalties pcrsons selling spirits reduced with water in the natural and customary course of trade, and withwt fraud to the purchaser ;66 THE ANALYST. whether hc was avare that prosecutions had reccntly been instituted for reducing gin by its admixture with water, and whether, inasmuch as in such case no fraud had been practised or intended, and the sales of gin so reduced had been made a t a lower price, such prosecutions were in accordance with the intentions of the Act ; and whether, if there existed any doubt as to the interpretation of the Act, he was prepared t o introduce an amending Bill to exempt from penalties persons who sell gin reduced with water and not otherwise adulterated. Mr.8CLATER-BOOTH.-In reply t o tho first question, I may say that if the water is added for the preparation of the gin as an article of commerce in a fit state for con- sumption, the 1st sub-section applies and no offence is committed, and, so far as in the process of distillation n certain amount of water remains mixed with the spirit, the provisions of sub-section 4 mould likewise apply i n har of a prosecution.I am aware that recently there have been prosecutions, such as are alluded to in the question, The case of “Pashler v. Steoenitt ” came before the Judges of Appeal on the 27th ult. I n that case it appeared that the Justices in Petty Sessions held that gin at 44 per cent.below proof could not be considered as gin, and the Judges held that the seller was properly convicted. I t appeared that gin sold by retailers varies in strength from proof t o 20 per cent. under proof. The Judges held thnt the question was one for the magistrates, who must use their discretion on the facts before them, and that they had rightly decided that a mixture of water so far as 44 per cent.below proof was a fraudulent increase of the measure of the liquid. A decision reported in to-day’s newspapers is t o the same effect. I n reply t o my hon. friend’s third question, I cannot bgt hope that the effect of these decided cases will be to pat an end to any uncertainty as to the interpretation of the Act, if such exists, and I am certainly not prepared, as a t present advised, to introduce any amending Bill on the subject.THE ELECTR,IC CANDLE. WE recently had the opportunity of witnessing in Paris the working of Jablochkoff’s electric candle, under circumstances which were more thctu usually favorable, t o enable a fair judgment t o be formed on the matter.The invention is, without doubt, an excellent one, and there seems no question that i t mill speedily come into use. The idea of wrapping the carbons of the electric lamp in a sheath of asbestos and placing them side by sidt: in a parallel position, insulated only by the asbestos itself, is certainly one of the most novel contrivanccs which has recently been introduced into electric apparatus. We have good authority for saying that arrangements are being made for its introduction into several large establishments in Paris. Monsieur Breguet of Paris is aIso, we believe, making nrrang~ments for further tests in England.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8770200065

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

66 THE ANALYST. PARIS GAS. THE following notes as to the gas supply of Paris will, perhaps, be of interest to some of our readers. The gas was tested i n a laboratory close to the Madeleine, on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th May. Each day it was free from sulphuretted hydrogen; the amrlunt of sulphur in other forms was :- On the 1 s t day, 15.6 grains per 100 cubic feet ,7 2nd 7, 15.3 9 7 2 7 9 7 3rd 7 ) 15.1 7 7 ? t On the other side of the Seine, at a place not far from the Luxembourg Gardens, the sulphur, on the average of two days, was 11.5 grains per 100 cubic feet. G . W. W.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8770200066

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST. 67 DISEASED MILK. l J T ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ v. ELDRXDGE. This was an action to recover the sum of 329 9s. 5d., the value of the milk supplied during the month of October, 18iG, the plaintiff being Mr. Westaway, a farmer near Staines, and the defendant a retail milk dealer, of Peckham, named Eldridge. For the defence it was contended that, the milk so supplied, was diseased and unfit for human consumption and that it had actually produced illness in cases where it had been used.The result of this was that the defendant had been unable to vend the milk and had thrown away large quantities, thereby68 THE ANALYST. incurring beyond the direct loss consirlcrable damage to his trade and reputation, insomuch that aftcr the 12th October he refused to buy of the plaintiff. I n course of his cvidence the plaintiff called as witnesscs to the good quality uf thc milk his wife and liis head cow-keeper.Mr. dllnutt, a veterinary surgeon, stated that after the drfendant’s refusd to receive the milk he had examined the cows and found them, gencrally, in a healthy condition ; one of the auirnds had the pmtterior portion o l the udder dried iip, :ml xn cross- examination the witness admitted that this might have resulted from previous inflammation.Professor J. A. Wanklyn stated that he received a sa::iplo of milk from the plain!iK, and Ire cIitrustcd its cheniic:il analysis to his assistant. The milh was h y f o r e, good and gmuine. I n cases of disewcl milk lie frcqucritly found that the prc- pondcrance of solids not fat, was too great. He had exarnincd the .milk al.yo, physiologically, i.e., Ae had administered a doae qf it to his a s s i s h i t , who was ill Court, dive m d well.Ci-oss-exnmined by Ptr. JViMis : X e had not used the microscope, as ho hnd 120 coi?fideizcc in it for &terting lurtcal disease. The def‘endant being called described the condition of the milk, which turned bad very qtiickly.IIe deposed that he had remon- strated with the plaintiff and had sacrificed the milk. Becoming nl:irrncd, he asked tlic Public Analyst for Lambeth to examine it. He (Dr. Muter) informed him that the sample was too far gone for analysi3, aiid he therefore supplied him with a fresh sample direct from the rail. In the result Dr. Muter warned him not to continue dealing in the milk, as some of the COWS must be diseased.Defendant accordingly returned the milk to the plaintiff, and declined to receive any more. Several customers of Mr. Eldridgo were called to substantiate his complaint as to the quality of the milk, and their evidence showed that the fluid was ‘‘ slimy ’ I and ‘‘ smelt.” Two female witnesses deposed that their infants were seriously affected by a diet of the milk.Dr. John Muter, Vice-President of the Society of Public Andysts, and Public ,4nalyst for Lambeth, &c., stated that he had received two samples of milk, The first sample being wholly unfit for analysis, he confined his researches to the second, and had observed under the microscope a quantity of PIIS and casts from the tubes of the milk glands.IIe decidedly considered the Inilk unfit for human food, as the presence of pus was a clear indication of inflammatory disease in one or more of the cows. He agreed with Mr. Nanklyn that the milk was good in fatty constituents. and also that i t had not been watered; but i t was only by aid of the microscope that the evidence of disease such as he had perceived could be detected.For that purpose ordinary chemical analysis mas useless. Cross-examined by Mr. Wright : iTo wcm having experiewe ifa the w e qf the microscope would mistake matuval fut globules of milk f o r pus glo6uLes, which h a p p a to be exit-eiiiely ckracteristic. Mr. D’Arcy Power, F.L.S., said he was assistant to the last witness. H e saw the milk under the microscope, and entirely agreed with Dr.Muter as to the presence of pus and the inadequacy of ordinary analysis to deal with such a case. Mr. Justice Denman, in summing up, reminded the jury that in face of a direct conflict of evidence they must take into account which of the two sets of witnesscs mere leait shaken i n their evidence by the cross-examination. I n the scientific evidence they had on one side Yr.Wanklyn, whose analysis was made some days after the return of the milk, and w h o ndi,tilted that he Aad lnot wed the +nZ’Croscope, and, on the other hand, they had Dr. Muter, who stated positively that he had noted certain appearances incompatible with healthy milk, and who explained that in such cases the microscope was m reliable guide. After reviewing thc evidence in a speech which occupied an hour, he left the facts to the consideration of the jury.Without leaving the box, the jury found a verdict for the defendant, and judgment wag accordingly given, with costs. It p r o d to have a fairly iiormal m o u n t of E d , solids not fat, and ash, REDUCED SPIRITS. WEBB, APPELLANT, v. KNIGHT, RESPONDENT. THis case which was an appeal from a conviction by the Burslem Justices for selling gin adulterated with water, came before Justices Mellor and Lush, on the 13th June.The certificatc of the Analyst was that thc gin was 43 under proof. The case had been previously before the Court, and had been referred back to the magistrates for a fuller statement as to whether the liquor sold was of the nature, substance and quality of Gin usually sold at theprice in the wigAbourhood, and the magistrate said he could only refer to other cases of a similar character waiting the decision of the High Court. I n these cases the followkg were the prices paid for the gin, and the percentage of water i n each case :-Prices paid, 2s.per pint, 29.8 p x cent. of watcr ; 1s. 10d., 35.6 ; IS. 4d., 32; is., 51.10 ; Zs., 44-10 ; is.4d., 40.30 ; and 1s. Bd., 62.28. After a full argument the conviction was confirmed, Mr. Jlrstice Lush saying that no doubt gin was a compound article, which had in it a mixture of water, but was i t of the quality as well as nature of the article purchased. It was R qiicstion of degree and of the quantity of water added, and here the magistrate had i n fact found that the quantity added was in excess of what could properly be added.The Court could not contradict that findirig nor differ from the decision cited. Mr. Justice Meltor’s judgment was practically identical. The purchaser could not for the lowest price, expect a purer and stronger spirit.THE ANALYST. 63 At Narylehone, John Merry, cheesemonger, was summoned for selling adulterated butter ; the analysts’ certificate showcd adulteralion with fat, other than butter fat.Tlie butter was sold wrapped in a paper, which bore the following label : (‘ This compound is warranted sold as imported, and declared according to the Act, section 8,” Mr. Greenwell said the parish did not wish t o press the case heavily, and would be content with the costs, 4s. 6d., which the defendant was ordered to pay.Thomas Dowding, cheesemonger, was summoned for a similar offence, and filled 10s. At Lambeth, Joseph Audn, cowkeeper, Old Kent Road, was summoned for selling adulterated milk, on being asked by the inspector for a pint of milk from a particular vessel, the woman serving said, (‘ oh, tbat’s milk arid watcr.” I I e then bought a pint from another vessel on the counter, which was said to contain milk. The analyst certified it to be adulterated with 9 per cent.of water, Mr. Ellison fined him 40s. and costs. I n answer to the court, the inspector said i t mas the practice when officers asked to be served with milk to be met with the reply : ‘ ( I t s milk and water we are selling.” Mr. Ellison said if a case with sufficient evidence to convict was brought before him, he would impose the uticost penalty the law allowed.At Liverpwl, lx. Elstone, grocer, was suninioned for selling preserved peas, colored with a suhstance injurious to health. The certificate of the anaiyst was that they contained 2.6 grains of crjstallised sulphate of’ copper pcr lb. Sarah Warton and Messrs. Brooks and Beck, were summoned for a similar offence, and the same fine mas imposed in each case. The case against another dcfcndant was withdrawn, because he proved that directly the peas had been purchased for analysis, he had for his own information, sent a sample to the public analjst, and finding that they were injurious he had withdr<iwn them from sale.The certificate of the Analyst, Mr. E W. T. Jones showcd that he found * 2 per cent.of fat other than butter fat-this was animal fat but was probably TTholesome. The dcfence was that the butter had been purchased from the market as Jersey butter, but it turned out to be biitterine. At Marylebone, William Hopkins, a milk seller, mas summoned for refusing to sell milk to Thomas Reeves Clifford, one of the inspectors of Paddington. On the afternoon of the 22nd ult., the inspector saw the defendant in Hall P<irk selling milk.H e went up to him and askcd him for a quart out of a can from which a customer had just been supplied. The defendant said that he could not let him have any out of that can, but he could have some out of another can he had on a barrow. The inspector said that he must have some out of the can he had first pointed out.The defendant eaid that he had not enough in it. The inspector thereupon opened tlic lid and saw Chat i t contained about three pints, and he told the defendant that he would take as much as he liked to supply him with. H e however refused to let the inspector have any of that milk. The inspector told him who he was, and that he would be summoned. These proceedings wcre taken out under the 17th section of the Food and Drugs Act, and i t says that ‘ 6 if any officer, inspector, or constable as described by the Act shall apply to purchase any article of food or any drug exposed to sale, or to sale by retail on any premises or in any shop or stores, who shall tendcr the price for the quantity which he shall require for the purpwe of analysis, not being more than shall be reasonably requisite, and the person exposing the same for sale shall refuse to sell the same to such officer, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding $10.’’ Mr.Mansficld thought that the summons must fail, as the milk had not bcen exposed for sale in a shop or stores. Mr. Hortin observed that he relied on the section as far as the comma at ‘‘ sale,” and contended that the other part of the section referred to a different matter altogether.If this prosecution should fail the Act Would be comparatively a dead letter. The question was, no doubt, arguable. Mr. Mansfield now observed that there mas a great deal of ambiguity about the section, but there must be a conviction. The defendant wonld have to pay a fine of 20s.and the costs. At Westminster, Francis Baker, milk pur vcyor, of 29, Commercial-road, Pimlico, was summoned for selling milk not of the substance, nature, and quality demanded by the purchaser. I t appeared from the evidence that a pint, of milk was purchased by the Nuisance Inspector for aid., the price of the best milk, and on analysis by Dr. Corfield was found to contaiu no less than 30 per cent.of added water. The defence was that the boy who sold it had mistaken the bowl, and had served “ skim milk ” instead of the best article. At Clerkenwell Police Court, a baker was summoned for selling bread adulterated with alum. Dr. Stevenson’s certificate mas, that it contained 35 grs. of alum per 41b. loaf, which in his opinion mra8 injurious to health, The defendant’a foreman admitted in cross examination that alum was known in a bakery as $ 6 the doctor,” and that i t would give inferior flour tbe appearance of the best wheaten ; ” the clefendant was f i n d 20s.and costs, and a second summons for a similar offence on anothcr day was allowed to be withdrawn on pqment of $2 4s. costs. At Coventry, a farmer was recentlv summoncd for selling milk, f r o x which crcarn to the amount of one-fourth had been abstracted by skimming.The analysis of Dr, Horace Swete, Public Analyst, shoived that i t coiitairied 2.22 pcr cent. of fat, and he stated that the lowest quantity in good milk was 3.2. The defendant and his son and salesmen were examined, and declared that the milk had not been tampered with from the timc i t was milked to the time i t was sold.The bench dismissed the case and allowed the defendant’s costs. The defendant was fined 20s. and costs. At Wednesbury, a grocer was summoned for selling adulterated butter. The defendant was fined 25 and &2 13s. 8d. costs. The case was adjourned in order that the matter might be looked into. Thc defendant was fined 10s. and 12s. costs.70 THE ANALYST. OBITUARY. OUR readers will regret to see the announcement of the deathof Mr. J. J. Griffin, F.C.S., who has been in business for many years as head of the firm of Griffin and Sons, of Garrick-street, Covent Garden. His name appears atnong the original members of the Chemical Society when it mas founded in 1841. He made a considerable number of improvements in different kinds of chemical apparatus, and there is no question that the catalogue of scientific apparatus issued by his firm under the name of ‘‘Chemicat Handicraft,’’ has been of great assistance t o many chemists in selecting apparatus suitable for special researches.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN877020067b

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

70 THE ANALYST. NOTE8 OF THE MONTH. The prize of 300 marks offered by the L & p y Pharmaceutical Nim for the discovery of a process of butter analysis, still continues to crop up in various journals, no doubt through the active scissors and paste of the sub-editors. Not the least amusing of these paragraphs is one which win& up with a moral reflection to the effect that our own Chemical Society would be better employed iu offering such rewards for useful processes ofTHE ANALYST.71 analysis, than in subsidising those wtio entirely direct their attention to the discovery of organic compounds with unpronouncable names. No doubt this is to some extent true, as it is a fact that, at Burlington House, the manufacturer of some rare organic salt certainly holds his head higher (at least in his own estimation) than the humble originator of some process of analysis useful for the guidance of nicn engaged in commerce, but, unfortu- nately, thc good moral is attached to a bad illustration.We would suggest that Herr Eohlmann, of Leipsig, should save his 300 marks by investing ten of them in the purchase of back numbers of ‘‘ T h e Analyst,” and therefrom inform his mind on butter analysis, While on the subject of abstrcse organic research umus improvements on practical analpis, we may note that the former has many advantages, of which two are especially prombent, yiz.:-(1) It may secure an invitation to the debates of the selected few who are going (if they can) to proclaim themselves, and those whom they may choose, the only competent analysts in Great Britain, and (2) It has the grand advantage that a man may say pretty well what he likes, as i t is most likely that no one will take the trouble of repeating his experiments ! An awful whisper is going round the laboratories to the effect that the gentlemen who have been privately attempting to form themselves into a proposed Iiistitute of Professionad Chemists (taking care t J keep the power of selection in their own hands, by inviting no one they did not like), are meeting with a most determined opposition, and have already been obliged to drop the word Professional, and become simply an ‘‘ Institute of Chemistry.” As the select nucleus contains Pharmaceutical and manufac- turing, as well as analytical chemists and diilettanti, the raison d’etre of the whole affair evidently becomes dissipated into misty air.Have we not already a “ Chemical Society,” admitting every class of persons interested; and, if so, what need is there for an “Insti- tute of Chemists,” also receiving Pharmacists and manuf‘acturers ? Such a society could scarcely expect t o obtain from Uovernment tile power to dub analysts competent or not.as they please, and we should fancy that the analysts in practice throughout England would think twice bcfore they permittcd thcir qualifications, and consequent existeuce, to be submitted t o the pleasure of a body of’ men who have given no public invitation to their meetings, and who are not ail themselves even, strictly, chemists. I n pleasant contrast to the hole and corner work of‘ attempted private organisdon, stands out the Society of Public Analysts, t o which the ground of admission is, that the ca.rididate for membership shall be an analytical chemist in actual practice, known to a certain number of his cottj%es, who can vouch for his knowledge of his professional duties ; and that the associates shall be the actual assistants of analysts in practice who may be recommended by the Council.Here is a society with a definite object, strictly and properly limited to actual practising analysts, and therefore entitled to insist on the recognition by the public of the competence of its members, who one and all live by their profession. If, as we shortly hope will be the ctlse, the word ‘‘ public ” be definitely dropped from the title, the Socicty will be in theory, as it is now in fact, an organisation of purely professional chemists, which no amount of opposition or backbiting has been able to shake, and which will eventually become the true nucleus of the more extended scheme of iuture examinations or such siniilar tests of‘ competence as may be adopted.We now possess as members most of the practising analysts in England; let the remaining few come forward and join us, and organisation will at once be tcn fcit Prosecutions of tradesmen on such results as those reported by our Coventry contemporary are to be much deplored, but they are not to be wondered at, when local Boards go on appointing Medical Officers of Health as Public Analysts, instead of selecting nien trained to the profession of practical chemistry by a long course of laboratory work as student, assistant, and afterwards master.ncconzp 12.. We abstract from the Coventry local paper the report of a milk case. The Lancet of 16th June, incidentally refers to a subject which bears a certain relation t o this matter. It says, i n reriewing the Handy Book of Forensic Medicine by Drs.Tidy and Woodman. ‘* It is certainly not to be expected of the ordinary medical “ man, that he sliould be able to carry o u t the details of the most difficult of all annljdes,72 THE ANALYST. ( I and it i s certaidy most unfair to the accused that he should attempt t o do so.” We agree with otlr contemporary as regards many analyses, besides poison cases, although we have known ordinary medical men undertake even them.I n a recent note to the Berlin Chemical Society, Herr Stein prTposes to make the beams, &c., of the balance of the future from rock crystal. The idea is certainly novel, and the lightness and unalterable natiire of the substance, appears t o recommend it, but how about the cost, seeing that the difficulty of working the crystal must be immense? We should like t o know more also about its flexibility.We reprint an important case of diseased milk, but, under the circumstances, we must refrain from remarks, simply leaving the evidence to speak for itself. Before our next issuc the question as t o the permissibility of putting copper into preserved peas will have been settled by a rehearing, on appeal, of a case in which the magistrate convicted.We understrind thltt many of the leading members of our Society and several eminent incdical men will give their evidence as t o the danger of permitting the sale of’ vegetables artificially coloured with copper. It will be interesting t o note who will respond to the call of the defence, and come forward and smear that copper administered daily is not only quite inuocent, but an excellent tonic.We hear that there is one gent81cnian who has given his opinion to that effect. Suppose he were t o begin now, and try it for a few weeks on himself; but then he would, of course, object that theory is one thing and practice another ! BECENT CEIEMICAL PATENTS. The following specifications have been published during the past month, and can be obtained from the Great Seal Office, Southampton Row, Chancery Lane, London.1876. Name of Patentee. KO. 3552 R. Applcgarth . . . . . . . . . 3830 F. Tomasi . . . . . . . . . 3885 T. L. Parker . . . . . . . . . 3914 H. C. Ahrbeclter . . . . . . 3946 A. E. A. Detiaque 4006 N. B. Downing & J. E.’Hughes’ 4015 E. Revnolds . . . . . . 40.52 IT. A: Cartcr .. . . . . 4075 G. Fahnehjelm . . . . . . 4085 J. C. H. Sievier. . . . . . 4111 J. H. Johnson . . . . . . 4112 Ditto . . . . . . 4204 G. D. Mcase . . . . . . 4269 G. Schaub . . . . . . 4295 T. Shaw and J. Heap ... 43ul J . H. Johnson . . . . . . 4312 A. &I. Clark 4362 R. Powell and T f I Atkin; 4418 G. W. Von Kawrocki ... 4426 C. Rosway and H. Gcary 4433 A. M. Clark .. . . . . 4516 C. 11. Abel . . . . . . 4673 c ) . Rands . . . . . . . . . 4577 W. R. Lake *.. 4624 J. Harvey 4912 W. V. Viilson a c i H. Cint 4586 H. &I. Whitehead’ ... 0 . . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Title of Patent. Price. Electric Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4d. Uydrothermic motive power engine . . . . . .. . . 8d‘ Treating Tobacco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2d. Fluid hIeters .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6d. Italian Paste Covers for Enclosiilg Medicinal Substances 6d. Evaporating Alkaline Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . 6d. Centrifugrtls, Pumps, and Fans . . . . . . . . . . . . 8d. Incinerating Furnaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6d. Explosive Compound . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 4d. Manufacture of GRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4d. Sugar . . . . . . . . . ... 6d. Treating Adjmal a i d Vegetable Substances with‘Hydro- Carbons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6d. Furnaces for Decomposing Chlorides of Sodium and Electro- hfagnetic Engines.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6d. Refining Saccharine and other Liquids . . . . . . . . . 2d.Electric-Light Buoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6d. Manufacture of Hyposulphate of Soda . . . . . . . . . Gd. Apparatus for Manufacture of Concentrated Sulphuric Treatment of Impure Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . 4d. Decolorising and Purifying Saccharine Juices . . . . . . 4d. Purifying Sewage and other Foul Waters . . . . . . 2d. Treatment of Vegetable Substances to obtain Alcoholic Liquids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2d. Salts and Soaps for Preparation of Fabrics . . . . . . 4d. Preserving Meat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2d. l’reserving Meat, Fish, &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4d. Aniline Dyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2d. Potassium, Manufacturing Alkalies, &c. . . . . . . 6d. Annealing Pans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4d. Acid, &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4a. BOOKS, &c., RECEIVED. The Chemist and Druggist ; The Brewers’ Guardian ; The American Chemist ; The British Nedical !ournal; The Medical Examiner ; The Medical Times a i d Gazette; The Pharmaceutical Journal ; The Sanitary Record; The Telegraphic Review ; The Medical Record ; The Geological Bociety’s Proceedings; The htiller ; The Anti-Adulteration Review

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN877020070b

出版商:RSC    

年代:1877

数据来源: RSC