ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN87803FP037

出版商:RSC    

年代:1878

数据来源: RSC

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN87803BP039

出版商:RSC    

年代:1878

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE A N A L Y S T . OCTOBER, 1878. ON THE IRCONSTANT COMPOSITION OF WELL WATERS. By CHABLES A. CAMERON, M.D., Fellow and Professor of Hygeine and Chemistry, R.C.S.I. ; Medical Officer of Health for Dublin. Read before the Society of Public Analysts, at Bublin, 19th August, 1870. FOE some time past I have been engaged in examining the water of deep wells, and I have noticed the important fact that very often the water varies in composition a t different levels in the same.Well, the most remarkable instance of this kind which I have, up to the present discovered, is that afforded by a well at Glenfarme Hall, near Enniskillen, the residence of Mr. A. Loftus Totterham, D.L. Two speoimens of water taken out of this well, one a few minutes after the other, mere found to have the following composition :- No.1, No, 2, Grains. Grains. Total solids per gallon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29.012 - 47’40000 Albuminoid Nitrogen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0%26 - 0.0060 Saline Ammonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.010 - 0.0003 Chlorine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.137 - 1,795 Including- The water marked No. 1 was yellowish and very impure.It wa3 in fact a very bad water. No. 2, on the contrary, wa8 colourless, bright, and remarkably free from organic matter. I n this case, therefore, a bad water and a good one were simultaneously procurable from the one well. The bad water was obtained by dipping a vessel into the well; the good water was pumped up from the bottom of the well, which was more than 50 feet deep.It was clear that the lower part of the well was supplied with water derived from springs; or, at any rate, which had percolated through a large amount of soil and had become purified, so far as ite organic matter was concerned. The upper part of the woll contained surface drainage, which appears to have floated upon the somewhat heavier water beneath. Specimens of water were a second time procured from this well, and again it was found that the water near the bottom was harder and purer (from organic matter) than that near the top.In four waters from deep wells, which I have quite recently examined, I found that the composition of the water in each varied somewhat according to the depth. I n one case the solids amounted to 66-23 grains per gallon at the bottom of the well, whilst nemer the surface the solids were only 3 grains per gallon. We may, in short, have two kinds of drainage water collected in the same well,-namely, surface drainage, and arterial or deep drainage. It does not, however, always happen that the water in a deep well varies in quality according to the level at which it is collected, for I found no such variation in the waters bf several very deep wells. It was very much harder than No. 1.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8780300337

出版商:RSC    

年代:1878

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

338 THE BNALYBT. ON BONE EXPERIMENTS WITH THE SILICATED CARBON AND SPONGY IRON FILTERS. By G. W. WIGNRB, F.C.S. WHEN staying at Margate recently I was dissatisfied with the character of the water supply, which was not, in my opinion, fit for drinking, and as it was therefore necessary to provide a filter, I considered it a good opportunity t o test two of the rival filters which are among the most extensively advertised.The London water, although it is not by my means perfect, i R yet too good t o give any value whatever to the results of such an experiment. The Margate water, besides being evidently contaminated by infiltration from the sea, has a very unpleasant smell and taste, and the microscope shows a variety of objects which might be more readily passed in surface drainage than in drinking water.It was therefore fairly suitable for such an experiment. The two filtem chosen for the purpose were the ‘( silicated carbon ’’ and the ‘ I spongy iron,” both were perfectly liew and bought direct from the makers. As regards the construc- tion I may just note for the information of those who have not seen both, that the principal mechanical advantages of the silicated carbon are-that the filtering body is a porous slab, cemented into the stoneware-so that it is impomible for any portion of the liquid to escape without passing through the entire thickness of the filtering material. The advantage of this< is obvious, while the fact that this porous slab is effectively aGrated every time the filter is allowed t o run dry is no small advantage. On theother hand the speed of filtration cannot be regulated, and in practice it is somewhat irregular.In the spongy iron filter the regulation of the speed of filtration, though somewhat troublesome to the user, is very efficient; but owing t o the very coarse grain of the principal filtering material it is not only possible but) probable that a good deal of the water escapes without having been subjected to the influence of the Bpongy iron at all.The rate of filtration is much dower than in the silicated filter. I did not consider it of any use to test these filters while quite new, as it must beTHE ANALYST. 830 evident that if tliey were not capable of working satisfactorily for a few weeks on such water as that used the experiment was concluded.They were therefore put up side by side-filled regularly as nearly as possible with the same quantity of water and at the same time, the amount being about two gallons per day each and allowed to work thus for fire weeks. During this time I found that the silicated water was always preferred for table use. Even those who were entirely ignorant of the fact that filters were used would sometimes complain of a flat taste in the spongy iron water.Since it is obvious, from what I have said, that each filter possesses adrantages peculiar t o itself, I determined, in addition to testing the water which had simply passed through each filter, t o test samples which had passed through both, and as i t seemed possible that the order in which the filters were used might make some difference, it was decided to try with silicated filter first and with spongy iron first.I therefore had in all five samples, viz. :- 1. Water from main. 2. Ditto filtered through silicated carbon filter. 3. Ditto filtered through spongy iron filter. 4. Bitto filtered 1st through silicated carbon and 2nd through spongy iron. 5. Ditto filtered 1st through spongy iron and 2nd through silicated carbon.The samples were distilled for ammonia as soon as possible. The following are the results of the fire analyses :- No. 1 No. 2 Tap in Silicated Main. Carbon Filter. Colour ... ... Yellow Green Pale Blue Suspended Matter . . . Traces None Smell ... ... Offensive Very Slight Taste ... .. Slightly Saline Slightly Opaque Offensive Hardness before boiling 27.20 Hardness after boiling 9-40 Total Solids ...... 69.60 Loss on Ignition ... 5.80 Total Mineral Matter 63-80 Chlorine as Chloride of Sodium ... } 36'66 Nitrogen as Ammonia Xone Do. Albuminoid} ,oo33 Ammonia Do. Nitrates -7500 Do. Nitrites Traces these 4 forms ... ) '7533 from Permaneanate 1 Total Nitrogen in Oxygen absorbed 16.90 5 30 66.90 6.80 60.10 36.66 None None Traces -7300 07300 None No.3 Spongy Iron Filter. Pale Blue None Offensive Saline and offensively flat 11.60 9-30 58.35 6.35 63.00 36-46 *Oi28 -0161 -6600 Traces -7489 -0630 " Microscopical Zxamina- Very bad Organic Satisfactory tion of Residue ... Animal and debris minute It was very vegetable traces only. free from debris. Some Mineral matter suspended small spores.traces. matter. Quartz. No. 4 1st Silicated. 2nd Spongy, Opaque Blue Traces Decidedly Offensive Unpleasant and very flat 1 4*0° 10.7O 4.80 66.90 36.50 60.70 -0875 00140 -6600 -7616 -0314 Satisfactory Traces No. 5 1st Spongy. 2nd Silicated. Chalky Blue Sligb t Traces Decidedly Offensive Excessively flat and ohjectionable 17.10 7 *2" 69.75 9.40 60.35 36-60 -0149 -0051 07300 ,7600 Traces *0183 Satisfactory On looking a t these results, the fnst general feature which deserves attention is that tlic two filtere when used together do not appear to have effected any additional340 THE ANALYST.purification, but rather the reverse. It is very difflcult to account for this fact. I n both cases an ample quantity of the once filtered water was allowed to flow through the second filter ao as to rinse it out, and the rinsings were rejected. It is true the filters were not continuously worked under these conditions for any length of time, but this ought hardly to be an essential for this experiment. Leaving this I would next point out the special features shown by columns No.2 and No. 3, which are the two filtered waters, as compared with column No.1, which is the unfiltered. Both filters have equally removed the yellow green colour of the water, and the ettspended matter. The silicated f&er has greatly reduced the smell, but the spongy iron has merely changed its character, so that instead of resembling decaying vegetable matter it is a sort 6f indescribable smell, perhaps more resembling the smell of impure hydrogen prodaced by the action of acid on iron than anything else; but of course very faint, though offensive.The silicated removed the offensive taste, and left only the saline. The spongy iron left the saline, but added to it a taste a little worse than if the water had been boiled, that is, there wae eomething besides the flat taste. Bischaf has alluded t o a gas which he has observed within the bulk of spongy iron after it had been in use some time, which gas he says is sometimes explosive, sometimes not, and on one occasion he found this gas t o contain a hydro-carbon ; may not this hydro-carbon be the cause of this smell and taste? The effects on the hardness are singular, The silicated reduced the temporary hardness by 6*2p, and the permanent hardness by 4*1°, total reduction 10.3O.The Bpongy iron reduced the temporary hardness by 15*5O, but only reduced the permanent hardness ? ~ y a decimal. The spongy iron therefore reduces the total hardness the most, but bearing in mind the greater importance of permanent hardness, there is probably little to choose. It is remarkable that the reduction of total mineral matter does not more closely follow this reduction of hardness.I have not yet made full mineral analyses of the residues to determine this point. It is, however, in the ammonia and albuminoid ammonia, which are so often viewed as almost the sole proof of purity or otherwise, that the most important resulte appear. The silicated removes even the small proportion of albuminoid ammonia which waa present, but the spongy iron produces a very marked proportion of free ammonia and so much albuminoid ammonia that the water would probably be condemned by those who tivst mainly to that determination. If the albuminoid ammonia determination is of value, then pro tanto the filtered water is worse than the unfiltered.I f the filter is a good one, and certainly many other experiments have pointed out that it is, then any analyst who reported on such a water, in ignorance of the fact that it had been through spongy iron, might be deceived.But still further, if ppongy iron acts in this way, is it possible that metallic iron may in a less degree? I n considering this point all the special circumstances of the case must be borne in mind. For instance, the very saline Character of the water, and the fact that this salt is partly due, in all probability, to infiltration from the sea, but still the fact rebains, The taste has apparently been affected in a similar way. This result is a serious one, in whichever light we view it.THE ANALYST. 34 1 'It is unnecessary to go at length through the other columns.It is well, however, to point out that when two filters were used, in the case where the spongy iron was last the ammonia and albuminoid ammonia were almost as high as in No. 3, while, where the silicated was last, they were far less, though not so low as when the water passed through the silicated only. It woald be very desirable to have reports of similar trials on the water suppls of other places, but I hope it will be possible t o take the precaution of using new filters and keeping them at work for a month before &king the samples.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN878030338b

出版商:RSC    

年代:1878

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST. 34 1 BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEETING. The following are abstracts of two papers read at the Meeting in Dublin, and will be found of interest to our readers :- MILK ADULTERATION. BY E. H. COOE, 3.8~. SINCE the introduction of the Adulteration Act, the services of the public analyst had been most frequently called in to decide the question of the adulteration of milk; and he feared they must add that more unsatisfactory decisions were given than in other proBecutions. Instances had occurred in which innocent milk sellers had been fined for selling a pure article, and in many cases they might be sure the fraudulent dealer had gone unpunished.I n his own experience he had found a difference of as much as 18 per cent., and Dr. Voelcker had published analyses in which as great a differewe as 25 per cent.occurred. -4s a result of four years’ experience on this subject, it appeared to Mr. Cook t h d milk was subject to a variation owing to the food, a variation owing to the season, a variation owing to the animal, and a variation owing to health. The best milk was given by those cows which were fed on grass, and the better the grass (other things equa1) the richer the milk.That the quantity of milk yielded by the same cow varied at different seasons of the year was well known, and the quality also varied considerably. Generally speaking, milk was richer in summer because the milk-producing articlcs were thhn available for food. Some cows gave better milk than others, which might be due to some individual peculiarity of the animal or to the breed.Guernsey was the best breed for qudity combined with quantity. Devons produced milk rich in fat but were inferior t o Guernseys. Herefords were good useful cows, as also were Shorthorns; but the first place must be given to Guernseys. Their milk is richer in solids and in fat, and the butter is of a finer colour. The course adopted by most analysts was to take as their standard the lowest percentage of solids or of 4 4 solids not fat” which pure milk had ever been found to contain; but this was open to objections.By tho Adulteration Act the analyst was to fix the percentage himself, and it varied. I n order that justice might be done, fraud detected, and the dignity of the chemist maintained, it was necessary to remedy that unsatisfactory state of things. Only one method appeared to offer a chance of success, Briefly, that was to buy and sell milk by quality instead of by quantity.One method of introducing the practice would be to divide the milk into two qualities, first and seconll, the former to include all milkE containing 12 per cent. of solids, or 9 per cent. Milk was a substance which varied greatly in quality.34 2 THE ANALYST.of “ solids not fat,” and to be sold, say, at 4d. per quart, and the latter t o include milks containing less than 12 per cent. of solids, or 9 per cent. of solids not fat,” and t o be sold at a lesser price. The vendor thus selling according t o the quality, no unjust prosecution could arise. Some efficient instrument, however, should be put into the hands of farmers and others, so that a rough analysis might be made, and the milk sold on the results o’btained. This system, the author thought, would tend to stop adulteration, because it would no longer pay t o adulterate, a better price being got for the better articles, and it would tend to put an end to those colnplaints of medical men, who, after advising their patients to take milk, found its effect so uncertain and unsatisfactory.ON THE ADULTERATION OF DRUGS. BY CEARLES R. 0. TICHBOXNE, LL.D. THE author stated that in his paper he should not refer t o the adulteration of the expensive drugs and chemicals such as saffron, scammony, quinia, nitrate of silver, which no douht did occur ; but a few recent experiences vould illustrate the fact that adulteration is perhaps even more extensively carried on with cheap drugs than dear ones.H e had been informed on good authority that powdered hematite-red iron ore- is frequently sold as the peroxide of iron. It is still a favourite remedy, particularly among amateur doctors; and as the Pharmacopceial article is only worth a few pence per lb., a vaiiable rock with various proportions of oxide of iron-I0 t o 70 per cent,- should not be eubstituted for it.He was not, however, prepared to vouch for the eorrcctness of this statement from actual observation ; but the following instances had come under his own immediate notice :- ( ( Phosphorus and nitric acid,” he said, ‘( are not very dear substances, and thcrefore we would suppose that a preparation like phosphoric acid would always be made, as directed from those chemicals, particularly when sold as the B.P. acid; but I place before you a specimen of the so-called 3. P. acid which is made from bone-ash and oil of vitiiol, On reference t o Watts’ ‘ Dictionary of Chemistry,’ vol. iv., pages 500 and 644, it is there stated that a Yery pure acid may be obtained by treating bone-ash with oil of vitriol, repeated treatment with H,SO,, evaporation, and other manipulations not necessary to specify in this paper.The writer says, after describing the process, ‘ The filtrate, when boiled, constitutes a solution of ortho-phosphoric acid, contaminated with B trace of sodium, but otherwise pure.’ Now, whether it is possible to remove the whole of the lime and magnesia by easy and cheap means I am not prepared to say.But, as far as I can see, the sample of so-called phosphoric acid under examination more exactly represents the biphosphate of lime of the manure-makers than the Pharmacopceial acid. I t gave a voluminous precipitate on adding chloride of ammonium and carbonate of ammonia, and a l ~ o contained appreciable quantities of magnesium. Here we have a chemical product cheap in itself, cheap a8 regards the sources from which it is procured, and yet sold impure.The doctors’ dose-30 drops-is not much, and yet it must be cheapened for the commercial greed. ( ( Linseed is n Terg cheap commodity, owing partial17 t o the extensive cultiyation of the plant for flax and other putposes, and also because, as regards the seed, we utilise the whole of the residue after expressing the oil.After getting the latter yalualleTHE ANALYST. 343 product we have the linseed cake, also Faluable as a cattle feeder, which, when ground, is prized by the medical man for its emollient properties. Well may the plant be called Linum usitatissinaum. Of such universal application is this substance that it becomes important that we should have it extremely pure and free from extraneous matter.Yct even the cheapness of this commodity has not saved it from the adulterator’s handd. Extensively as it is pressed for oil, grapes are much more extensively pressed for winc and, unfortunately, the wine-grower cannot utilise the produce of his wine-press except for manuring his vineyard ; therefore the wine-press residue may be practically considered as a dead loss.Hut one ingenous wine-grower bethought himself that, as he had a press, it was only necessary to add a little linseed farina t o grape residue to produce a very presentable linseed cake, as far as the eye went. I show you now specimens of linseed cake manufactured abroad, in which the residue of the grape, stones and stalks, can be easily recognised by a very low power of the microscope.” Now the Pharma- copaeia describes colocynth as ( L the dried decorticated fruit freed from the seeds.” A colocynth apple had been found to be thus composed- Professor Tichborne next showed three mmples of colocynth.Per cent. ... Seeds (inert) ... ... ... ... .,. 47.19 Rind (nearly inert) ...... I . , ... ... 33-78 Pulp ... ... . # . . I , ... ... ... 19.03 So that, taking Meissner’s analysis, which states that the pulp only contains 14 per cent. of colocgnthin, we have- Per cent. of active principle, Pure sample ... ... I.. ... . a . ... 14.3 Turkey pulp ground without removing seeds .., ... ... 4.2 Colocynth ground with rind and seeds ... ... ... 2 G Of three samples shown to the Conference, Professor Tichborne said all were obtained in commerce. ( ( One is a sample of the very best average quality, but dill containing a very large proportion of seed ; in fact, it is very seldom without indications of the presence of that substance, and I believe it is generally the practice to powder the colocgnthin pulp with the seeds remaining in it. The second sample is one which is much darker in colour, and consists of the whole colocynthin apple ground. The third sample is not only the whole colocynth ground up, but a sufficient quantity of potato starch, added to make the colour light-as well as being a profitable transaction. A medical man, indeed, prescribing 8 grains of such a powder, would be disappointed in the results.” 100~00

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8780300341

出版商:RSC    

年代:1878

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST. 343 PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. We give below some abstracts of some papers read at this Conference in Dublin :- THE TITRATION OF HYDROCYANIC ACID AND CYANIDES, AND IT3 HELATION TO ALKALINETRY. BY LOUIS EIEBOLD, F.C.S. Read before the British Pharmaceutical Confwence. LXEBIQ’S method for estimating the strength of hydrocyanic acid by means of decinormal solution of silver nitrate giws perfectly accurate results if the following precautions be obaerved :-344 THE ANALYST.(1) The solution of sodium or potassium hydrate should be placed in the beaker first, and the hydrocyanic acid added to it from the pipette. If, instead of this, the acid is placed in the beaker first, and the alkaline hydrate added afterwards, there may be a slight 106s by eraporation, which becomes appreciable whenever there is any delay in the addition of the alkali.(2) The mixture of hydrocyanic acid and alkali should be largely diluted with water before the silver ritrate is added. The most suitable proportion of water, according to my experience, is from ten to twenty times the volume of the officinal or of Scheele’e acid, which is mare than twice the quantity recommended by Fresenius and other authorities.With such a degree of dilution the final point of the reaction can be observed with greater precision. (3) The amount of alkali used should be as exactly as possible that required for the conversion of the hydraoyanic acid into alkaline cyanide, as an insufficiency or an excem both affect the accuracy of the result. With an excess the results are too high ; with an insufficient quantity they are too low.The error due to the first named cause is but small and is pointed out in some of the standard analytical works, which therefore recommend the use of sufficient alkali to produce a distinct alkaline reaction and the avoidance of an undue excess. But it is just this direction which may lead tl conscien- tious yet inexperienced manipulator t o the far more serious mistake of using too little alkali, because litmus entirely fails to mark the point at which the hydrocyanic acid has been completely converted into sodium or potassium cyanide.These cyanide8 are 80 strongly alkaline to test paper, and hydrocyanic acid is so weak an acid that a mixture of the two may have a distinct or even a very strong alkaline reaction and yet contain a considerable amount of free hydrocyanic acid.Hence it follows that the use of a quantity of sodium hydrate quite sufficient to produce a strong alkaline reaction may only ensure the conversion of a portion, and perhaps of the smaller portion, of the hydrocyanic acid actually present into sodium cyanide, The inevitable result will be a serious error in the estimation, as the quantity of silver nitrate solution required to produce a permanent precipitate will only indicate that portion of the hydrocyanic acid which has entered into combination with the alkali; and this error may possibly amount to a8 much as 75 per cent.I have alluded to this source of error at one of our previous meetings, in connection with a paper on the preservation of hydrocyanic acid, and I pointed out on that occasion that the alkalinity of the mixture at the end of the reaction, e.g., after the addition of sufficient silver nitrate to produce a slight permanent precipitate, may be regarded as n sure indication that a sufficient quantity or rather an excess of alkali has been used, and that the result of the determination will be fairly correct, or in the presence of an undue excess of alkali a little too high.The alkalinity of the mixture of hydrocyanic acid and sodium hydrate completely ceases after the addition of the required amount of silver nitrate, unless some excess of alkali was used, and if it does cease, the result of the analysis will almost certainly be too low.My reason for again touching upon these points is that the neutrality of the double cyanide of sodium and silver (the product of this reaction), on which these conclusions were b a d , also forms the basis of my present communication. From what I have already stated it is clear that the titration of hydrocyanic acid with eilver nitrate cannot give results of scientific accuracy unlesg tho quantity of alkaliTHE ANALYEIT.345 used is exactly that required to combine with the acid, or unless a correction can be made for the excess of alkali employed. It is true that a slight excess of the latter does not appreciably affect the result, but then the question arises how to make certain that the exam used is but a slight one. I t will not do to start with just sufficient soda to render the mixture alkaline and then to add gradually more as the alkalinity ceases during the titration, because in that case free hydrocyanic acid would be present in the mixture during nearly the whole of the process, and under the influence of the exposure and the continual stirring a portion would inevitably be lost by evaporation, thus causing an error which, though perhaps not considerable, is certainly greater than that which would result from the ucje of even an immoderate excess of soda to start with. I find, however, that the following modus operandi will meet the difficulty and en~ure results agreeing perfectly with those grsvimetrio determinations :-The acid is allowed to run from the pipette into an excess of solution of sodium hydrate; decinormal solution of silver nitrate is then added drop by drop until a slight opalescence is produced, and this point being attained, standard normal hydrochloric or sulphuric acid is added until the opalescence begins to increase, which does not take place until the whole of the free alkali is neutrdized. From experience I find that for each C.C.of standard mineral acid thus required 0.01 C.C.should be deducted from the volume of the silver solution used, and the remainder calculated for HCy. It will be seen that in this process the cyanide of sodium and silver acts as an acidimetric indicator, and indeed, it answers well for the purpose, for a single drop of free acid produces with it a very distinct precipitation of silver cyanide.The fact, that in the abscence of a suflicient quantity of soda the volume of silver solution required to produce a permanent precipitate only indicates that portion of the hydrocyanic acid which has been used up in the formation of sodium cyanide, and that thia determination of NaCy is in no wise affected by the presence of free hydrocyanic acid, renders this method applicable for the analysis of mixtures of the free acid and alkaline cyanides.Supposing the solution to be analysed contained free hydrocyanio acid and potassium cyanide, the volume of silver solution required to produce a per- manent opalescence would show at once the quantity of ECy present. On now adding NaHo in slight excess and continuing the titration until the opalescence ia again produced we find the quantity of free HCy.Before quitting thia subject I wish to refer to a very handy process for the estima- tion of cyanides recently communicated to the Chemical Society by Mr, J. B. Hannay. It consists in the addition of decinormal solution of mercuric chloride to the hydrocyanic acid or cyanide rendered previously alkaline with ammonium hydrate, until a permanent precipitate is formed, which does not occur until the whole of the cyanogen has been used up in the formation of mercuric cyanide, as alkalies have no action on the latter.I have tried the prooess repeatedly with most satisfactory results, and believe that it will find much favour with pharmacists in the testing of hydrocyanic acid, especially But it cannot be used like the other for the analysis of mixtures of free HCy and cyanides.I now come to the second part of my report, viz., the relation of the titration of cyanides to alkalimetry. It stands to reason that if an alkaline cyanide can be correctly estimated in the presence of free hydrocyanic acid by silver nitrate, this titration must answer as well for the estimation of a caustic alkali as for that of hydrocyanic acid.For that purpose the quantity of KCy or NaCy found, or the volume of ailver eolution The results thus obtained are quite exact, an excess of alkali does not affect its accuracy.346 THE ANALYST. used, is simply calculated for KEO or NaHO instead of HCy. Now if the applicability of this test for alkalimetric purposes were confined to the determination of caustic alkalies, I feel certain that nobody would think of using prussic acid and silver nitrate in preference to the customary sulphuric acid and litmus ; but I find that it answers equally well with the alkaline carbonates, and here I consider it decidedlypreferable to the process in general use, for the following reasons :- (1.) The solution of alkaline carbonate does not require boiling, as the carbonic acid does not interfere.(2.) The change from perfect clearness to an unmistakable turbidity, as produced by a single drop of the silver solution, is more striking than that of the colour of litmus brmght about by one drop of standard sulphuric acid. (3). As a decinormal solution is used the results are more accurate than those obtained by normal H2S0, or HC1.(4). The results may be readily checked, without the necessity of operating on a fresh portion of the sample ( 5 ) . The chloride present in commercial alkaline carbonates can be estimated by the same process with but little additional trouble. It is well known that hydrocyanic acid does not decompose alkaline carbonates at an ordinary temperature. But in the presence of silver nitrate the decomposition takes place in accordance with the following equation- IC2C03 + 2HCy + AgNO,= KAgCy, f KNO, + C02 + H2O The first drop of silver solution added in excess precipit,ates silver cyanide.The weak solution of the carbonate to be tested (about 0.5 to 1 gram in 100 C.C. of water) is mixed with 10 to 20 C.C. of hydrocyanic acid of Scheele’s strength (a decided excess), and the decinormal solution of silver nitrate added drop by drop, stirring well all the time until a permanent turbidity is produced.Each C.C. of the silver solution required corresponds to 0.138 gram E$03 and to 0.0106 Na2C03. I quote the results of a few determinations to show the accuracy of the process. XAgCy, + AgNO, = 2AgCy + KNO, Pure &CO3 used Found 0.5850 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5861 0.1670 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.1672 0.8775 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.8779 0.2088 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2085 If after the addition of the required quantity of si:ver nitrate the mixture is boiled down t o less than half its volumeor until the excess of free HCy has been completely expelled, then mixed with a few drops of solution of potassium chromate and the additionof silver nitrate now proceeded with until the colour of the mixture changes to red, the volume of the test thus used will be found equal t o that uscd in the first titrrtion.This may serve to check the previous result. I n the presence of chloride, however, the number of C.C. used in the second titration will be greater than that used in the first.The difference between the two exactly indicates the chloride I f 40 C.C. were used in the first and 45 C.C. in the second experiment the difference of 5 c.c must be calculated for chloride. A few of my results will show the value of the method. Used. Found. Pure NaCl Of680 NaCl 0.0683 &GO3 0‘9750 Pure NaCl 0-1825 NaCl 0,1830 (I). Pure KzC03 0.2000 I(zc03 0.2005 (2).Pure &c03 0,9750THE ANALYST. 347 Hence I believe, that this method merits the attention of those who are much engaged in alkalimetric estimations. I have also employed silver nitrate with success i n the analysis of mixturesof hydrocyanic acid and mineral acids, and indeed I find that these processes may be advantageously extended to other applications, but my experiments in this direction are not yet completed. THE VOLUXETRIC ESTIJIATION OF SONE IRON CONPOUNDS OF THE PHARMACOPCEXA. BY H.N. DRAPER, F.C.S. TEE author said he brought forward his notes rather as queries than as results. Profcssor Tichborue had questioned to him the correctness of the figures given by the British Pharmacopceia in the volumetric estimation of arseniate of iron.The quantity of bichromate solution said to be necessary for the conversion of 2 grammes of ferrous arseniate seemed t o Professor Tichborne too small. According to the British Pharmacopceia 100 C.C. of the solution are capable of converting from proto to per salt 1.68 gramme of iron. This statement is theoretically correct, and Mr. Draper found by actual experiment, taking the mean of three made with piano wire, that the actual quantity required was 97 C.C.Now regarding arseniate of iron, the Pharmacopceia states that 2 grammes require 17 C.C. I f it were possible to prepare the arseniate so that all the iron should be in a ferrous state the conversion would require 44.84 C.C. This shows that the British Pharmacopceia standard is that of a salt containing only 37.9 per cent.of absolute ferrous arseniate, a constitution which is but inadequately described by the phrase I‘ partially oxidised.” But on making the arseniate according t o the Pharmaccepia instructions even this proportion of ferrous arseniate was not realized. The mean of three experiments gave only 21.7 per cent. Other specimens purchased in Dublin gave respectively 3.34, 5.2, 6.64 and 13-6 per cent, The British Pharma- copceia requires a standard of 44.8 per cent.of absolute ferrous phosphate. By preparing the salt according to its instructions a proportion of 60.9 per cent. was obtained, and from four purchased specimens the following proportions were respectively found : -24.1 29.6, 31.3, 49.2. I n magnetic oxide the British Pharmacopceia requires, by its volumetric standard, only a proportion of 28.8 per cent. of true ferroso ferric oxide.A specimen prepared according t o directions, howzver, was found to contain only 19.4. This is because the iron is in a ‘< partially oxidisetl” condition. A different result was obtained with the ferrous phosphate. M, TEISSERENC DE Bow has just charged the Agronomic Institute to mako a chemical analyses of all the wines sent to the Paris Exhibition.The number of samples to be examined is more than 10,000, coming from France, Spain, Italy, Austria, America, Africa, &o. Mr. J. H. Collins, Public Analyst for the County of Cornwall, and for the Borough of Penzance, has been appointed Analyst for the City of Truro and for the Borough oi Launceston,548 THE ANALYST. ANALYSES OF BERLIN BEER. THE following analyses are from the dllgerneine Zopfeelz Zeitzcfig, Beer brewed in the celebrated Brauerie Konigstadt, of Berlin, was found to contain a8 follow8 :- LIGHT COLOURED BEER. Alcohol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.501 per cent, by weight Saccharine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1'893 .. 9 ) Dextrine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0,861 .. ,, Albuminoids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0,630 .. 1, Hop-bitter, extractive andsaline matter . . . . . . 2,296 .. 9 ) Acid... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.006 .. t, Unfermented extract 6.680 per cent. DARK COLOURED BEER. Alcohol Saocharine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1'950 .. $ 9 Dextrine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.053 .. $1 Albuminoids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.621 .. 9 ) Hop-bitter, extractive, and saline matter . . . . . . 3.366 .. 1, Acids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.005 I 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.260 per cent. per weight. Unfermented extract 7.010 per cent.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8780300343

出版商:RSC    

年代:1878

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

548 THE ANALYST. LAW REPORTS. At the Southwark police court, Henry Hopkins, provision dealer, was summoned by the sanitary inspector of St. George’s, Southwark, for selling as butter a compound containing not a particle of butter. Yr. Edwards said that he purchased at defendant’s shop a half-pound of butter. I t was labelled ‘I Good butter, 1s. 2d. a pound.” He paid id. for it, and took a portion to Dr.Muter‘s for analysb, He produced a certificate from the latter, setting forth that there was not a particle of butter in it, but it WBB not injurious to health, The defendant said he sold it as he received it from the wholesale dealer a t Mile End. He thought the sanitary officers ought to look after the manufacturers as well as the dealers. Mr. Benson told him that whenever he liked to take proceedings against the manufacturer he would render him all the assistance in his power, but the defendant must pay a fine of 10s.and 12s. 6d. coats. A t the Tunstall police court, Mr. Robert Lloyd, grocer and provision dealer, was summoned under the Food m d Drugs’ Act, for sel!ing adulterated oatmeal, The oatmeal was purchased by William Giffard, an assistant to the inspector, who handed it to Mr.Jones, the county analyst. Mr. Jonee certified that the article contained 15 per cent. of barley-meal. The defendant’s reply to the charge waB that the oatmeal was precisely the same aa he had purchased it, A fine of 1s. and COB^ was imposed. The defendant wm told from the Bench that he had his remedy against the party who supplied him with the article. MABYLBBONE.-MILIL ADULTERATION.-JOhn Turney, milk dealer, wag summoned by one Of the sanitary inspectors of St.Pancras, for selling milk adulterated with water. The certificate of Dr. Eltephenson, the public analyst for St. Pancras, showed that the milk was adulterated with 8 per cent. of added water, and was deficient in butter fat, The defendant said he sold the milk as he received it.Mr. Cooke observed that the percentage of water wag very small, but as the defendant sold adulterated for pure milk, he must be held liable. He must pay a fine of 2s 6d. and 2s. costs. Simon Ebben was summoned for a similar offence, the quantity of added water being 16 per cent. The defence was that the milk was Bold as bought. BELFABT.-~VLTEBATED MILa.-Milliam Holden, farmer, was summoned by William John Anderson, sub-sanitary officer, on a charge of selling butter-milk adulterated with 28.48 parts of water.The offence was proved, and defendant was fined 20s. and costs. Defendant, on hearing the sentence of the Court, remarked that it was not justice, whereupon Mr, O’Donnell committed him for contempt of Court. Defendant then expressed his sorrow for having made use of the words in question, and hir worship did not enforce the order.-Ann Jane Carlile waa also summoned by Mr.Anderson for selling adulterated sweetmilk. A certificate was produced from Professor Hodges, borough analyst, stating that there was 34-21 per cent. added water in the sample, Defendant was fined $5 and costs. At Guildford Borough Bench, before the Mayor, Christopher Wrist, grocer, High Street, w a ~ charged with having sold a quarter of a pound of cocoa which was not of the nature and quality of the article demanded by the purchaser, Defendant pleaded (( Not guilty.” Police Constable Butcher said that on July 2i, he went to the shop of the defendant, where he purchnsed a quarter of a pound each of cocoa and coffee, and half a pound of butter, for which he paid 1s.aid. He told defendant that he ww going to have the goode analysed, and that if he choee he might retain one-thud. Mr. Cooke fined the defendant 20e. and costs.THE ANALYST. 349 Defendant replied that he did not care to do that, but that the coffee waa not pure. Mr. Superintendent Law said he received the articles named from the last witness on July 27.On the 31st of that month he handed them to the borough analyst at Southampton, and he now submitted&# certi6cate. The Clerk read the certificate, which stated that the cocoa contained 30 per cent. of starch and sugar. Defendant handed in a letter from Messrs. Epps and Co., stating that the label on the paper in which the cocoa WBB wrapped contained all that was necessary to comply with the requirements of the Act.The Mayor, having looked at the label, said it represented a true statement of the article, and if the analysis was found to be correct, the purchaser knew at the time what he waa purchasing. Mr. Law : I take it that there was a label of this kind upon the article purchased, but I maintain that it is not suficient, for the officer went into the shop and asked for a quarter of a pound of cocoa.There was no mention made as to a mixture, The Mayor : Was it supplied in a packet similar to this (holding up one of Epps’~ packets)? MI. Law : I maintain that when a person sells an article of that kind he must call the attention of the purchaser to the fact that it is mixed with some foreign substance.No person would think of reading the whole of that printed matter on the lable before he purchased. The Mayor : Then what’s the use of the label? Mr. Law ! I maintain that it is worthless. The Mayor : The purchaser has full knowledge of the nature of the article purchased by the label attached to it. MI. Law : The purchaser’s attention muet be called to the fact that it is not genuine, There being a number of other cases, it was decided to proceed with the remainder before giving a decision.-Mr.John Fulk, grocer, Woodbridge Road, was similarly charged with having sold H. quarter of a pound of cocoa. Defendant pleaded “ Not guilty,” and Hr. G. White appeared on his behalf. Police constable Butcher said that on July 27th he purchased from the defendant a quarter of a pound each of coffee and cocoa, and half a pound of butter, for which he paid 1s.and 2d. Mr. White suggested that, as there was another charge against defendant, he would like the Bench to hear them separately, SO that the one would not prejudice the other. Mr. Law : The articles, the coffee and the cocoa, were obtained at one and the same time. The Mayor : The witness can give evidence of that I think.Mr. White : Do you mean that you will hear both together ? The Mayor : Yes. Mr. White : They are separate and distinct oases, and I object, on behalf of my client, to hare them heard together. I t wan decided to hear the case of the cocoa first, and the constable stated that he handed the articles he had bought to Mr. Law, Cross-examined by Mr.White, he said that it was on a Saturday when he went to defendant’s shop. He was in plain clothes at the time. Defendant was the person who served him. He would swear that. Mr. White asked witness a number of minor questions, and the Mayor inquired if they were all necessary; they had got the fact that the constable bought the cocoa. Mr. White replied that he was conducting his case properly and fully, and he had no intention of occupying the time of the Court unnecessarily, but he had an object in view in asking the questions he had done.There had been a mistake made in the last case-the certificate was dated two days before the analyst received the articles- and he wished to conduct this case olosely. Witness resumed: He first asked for cocoa, and afterwards for flake cocoa.Mr. White ssked for the production of the sample sold. Mr. Law handed to Mr. White a packet, which he said contained the cocoa that the constable purchased at defendant’s shop. On MI. Whib opening.it, and showing the contents to the constable, the latter swore that it was not what he bought from defendant. Mr. Law was about to make an explanation, when Mr.White said he had no right to inter- fere, There was a witness under cross-examination, and until that was completed no other person had a right to interfere in the case. Mr. Law : It is to your own advantage what I was going to say. Mr, White : I want the proper cocoa produced. If this is not it, and the policeman swears that it is not, where is it 3 MI. Law : This is the cocoa that wan obtained Prom Mr.Fulk. MI. White : Well, your witneas distinctly states that it is not. The Mayor : The question is, is that the article that he bought and took to Mr. Law t Mr. White : He says it is not. Police constable Butcher, in reply to the Mayor, said the cocoa produced wm not the same as he bought from Mr. Fulk. The Mayor : Mr. Law says that is the article you brought him.There is a mistake in the certificate of the analysis, which is dated July 29, whereas I handed the articles to him on July 31. Mr. White : That’s the reason I have in addressing myself more particularly to the details in this case. Mr. Law : The certificates are all wrongly dated. No rock cocoa has been returned adulterated, The certidcate states that this is rock cocoa.A Voice : Then he doesn’t know his business. Mr. White : There has been some mistake somewhere, and one thing I know is that we hare not the right article here. The Mayor : I think this case had better be dismissed, at any rate. Nothing can be done with the analysis dated wrongly. Mr. Law : I shall ask that the whole of the cases be dismissed. The analyst has made a great mistake in dating his certificates.I cannot possibly, under the circumstances, go on with the cases. I took the articles myself and handed them to him personally on July 31. The cases were then disrniesed, and MI. Charles Seymour was informed that t h e summons against him would be withdrawn. Mr. White was making some sotto voce observations to the Bench prior to retiring, when Mr.Law observed that the police were only doing their duty. Mr. White remarked that if they had gone far enough into the case the Bench would have seen that the constable had been telling nothing bnt false- hoods from beginning to end. The Mayor said they could not allow such remarks. The matter then dropped. Mr. Lav : It is quite clear that it is the article bought from Mr.Fulk.350 THE ANALYST. At Greenmich policc court, on Thomas Clark, cowkeeper, Lewisham, appeared to a summons before 3Ir. Slade, a t the instance of the Lewisliam District Board of Works, charging him with sclling as milk an article adulterated. The case had been twice before the court, when evidence was given that a man named Robinscn was engaged by the appointed inspector undcr the Act to purchase a pint of milk a t defendant’s premises, and that on asking for such quantity and being served he tendered a three- penny piece, and received a penny change from defendant’s wife.The iuspector entered the place of business during this transaction, and said the milk was bought for analysis, when the defendant, who was in another part of the premises, entered the place of sale, and the wife of defendant went and brought a board, the back of which only could be seen in the place of sale, and the front only by passing under a porch. The board in question bore painted notices that pure milk was sold at 5d.a quart, and milk at 4d. with 20 per cent. of water, and this had been certified to exist by hfr. Heiscb, analyst to the Board.On the part of the defendant it was stated about three years ago he was summoned, and fined 20s. a t this court for a like offence by hIr. Balguy. At that time the defendant had exhibited the notice board over the door of the saleroom, and the magistrate suggested, from explanations given, that more publicity should be given, This has been since followed out, but it was asserted on the part of the prosccution that the sight of the notice board was obstructed by the porch, To settle this disputed point, i t was arranged that Mr.Slade, the magistrate before whom the present case had bcen brought, should visit the premises in question. Nr. Slade now stated that he had viewed the premises on the previous day with the chief clerk, and he confessed that in entering the porch he should not have seen the board unless it had been pointed out to him.The price a t which the analysed milk had been sold, at 4d. per quart, had notliing to do with the case, as a t various dairies pure milk mas sold a t that price. I n considering his judgment he had to look to the poor and illiterate persons who wou1.l go tp the dairy for small quantities of milk for their infants, not being able to see or read the notice if seen, and again he had to protect a tradesman who did all he thought he could do.The defendant had evidently followed out what was suggestcd a t the hearing of the former case, hut that was not sufficient and thercfore he should only impose a fine of 10s. and 5s. costs.-1Ir. Edwards, solicitor to the Board, said that the defendant having been fined 20s.previously, the fine ought to be increased, the full penalty being 220, but Mr. Slade would not alter his decision. At the Southwark police court, Mr. Griffith Jones, grocer, carrying on business a t 94, Spa Road, Bermondsey, was summoned by Mr. Thomas, the inspector appointed by the Bermondsey Vestry, for selling as prime butter a compound containing 80 per cent.of foreign fat. Mr. Thomas said that on June 13 last he saw a placard in the defendant’s window on which was written in large letters, “ Prime Ilutter, One Shilling a Pound.” As soon a8 the assistant had served the butter, witnrEs took it and divided il into three portions, telling the assistant he was going to have one portion analysed. Witness took it to Dr.Muter, who certified that there was not a particle of butter in i t ; that it W‘PS a compound of animal fat, manufactured to resemble butter, hut not iujurious to health. Mr. Benson did not think that prime butter, or any sort of butter, could be had for Is. per pound. Rlr. Edwin was positive that i t could not, and the inspector must have known it. The compound in question was largely imported from France, and was highly nutritious.His client bought i t from a large firm a t Greenwich, at 10d. a pound, and sold it for Is., and when it was sold the wrapper was generally stamped ‘ l compound ” ; but, by some mistake, the assistant forgot to stamp the wrapper. His client had promised for the future to placard i t I ‘ butterine.” Mr. Benson observed that i t was a fraud upon the public to sell as ‘(prime butter ” a compound not containing a particle of butter; but as the defendant had promised not to sell thc compound again as butter, he should infiict only a small fine of 5s., and 12s.Gd. costs. Mr. Joseph Eughes, grocer, 28, St. James’s road, Bermondsep, was fined 2s. 6d., and 12s. 6d. costs, At Sbeffield, Mr. William Sheldon, grocer, was summoned for unlawfully selling two ounce8 of sweet epirits of nitre which was not of the nature, substance, and quality of the article demanded.Mr. A. H. Allen sent a certificate which stated that the sample WIS almost destitute of the real nitrous ether, which formed the most important coristituent of “sweet spirits of nitte” and “spirit of nitrous ether” of good quality.Mr. Allen appended to the certificate a statement that sweet spirits of nitre gradually deteriorated from decomposition and evaporation of the nitrous ether contained in it. I n undiluted specimens this change occured very slowly, extending over many months, and was rarely complete. Defendant stated that he sold the nitre precisely as he bought i t from a Sheffield chemist, who declared i t to he of good quality.Edwin Wiles, Mitchell Street, the chemist from whom the nitre was purchased, said i t was entirely undiluted a t his place. He bought it from a respectable house in York. The magistrates imposed a fine of S2 and costs, pointing out to defendant that, as regarded the present case, it did not matter in what state it was when he bought it.If, however, he sold it under quality, he was liable to a penalty of $20, The question before him to decide was if sufficient publicity mas given. I n consequence of that he sent his man into the shop for one pound. for selling a8 pure mustard a mixture containing 50 per cent. of turmeric, flour, and starch. The saniple had not been watered. As a remedy it was useless.THE ANALYST.35 1 At the West Bromnich police court, Mr. Henry Dabbs, grocer, Hunter’s Lane, West Bromwich, was summoned for selling adulterated coffee. Richard Foy, assistsnt to Mr. J. G. Horden, inspector under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act for the district of South Staffordshire, proved to visiting the defendant’s shop and asking for two ounces of coffee, and upon being supplied he divided i t into three parts, and informed defendant that he was going to have it analysed.H e gave the defendant one part, MI. Horden the other, and sent the third to Mr. Jones, the county analyst; and a certificate had been received that the coffee was adulterated with 57 per cent. of chicory. The Bench commented strongly upon the practice of selling adulterated goods, and fined the defendant 40s.and costs, or in default six weeks’ imprisonment. ADULTERATED MUSTARD AT WEDh’EsBuRY.-Edward Wardman, of Xing’s Hall, Wednesbury, was summoned for selling adulterated mustard. Fop, assistant to hlr. Horden, purchased 202. of mustard at the defendant’s shop, and on a portion of it being analysed by Mr. Jones, it was found to contain 64 per cent. of mustard and 36 per cent.of wheat flour. Defendant, who said he never sold genuine mustard, was fined 2s. 6d. and costs. HEAVY FINES FOR ADULTERATION.-MeSSrS. J. Hughes, J. Melter, and F. IIarshall, dairymen, of Camberwell, and Charles Howe, C. Radliffe, T. Williams, and E. Stills, of Brixton, were summoned a t Lambeth Police Court, by direction of the respective parochial authorities, for selling adulterated milk to the inspectors.Evidence was given as to the purchase of milk, and upon exarhation it was found in each case to be adulterated with water. For the defence it was urged that the milk had been purchased in the country, and that it was sold as it was received. The magistrate, in deciding the cases, said the milk, as stated, might have come from the country in an adulterated condition, but if parties like defendants neglected to protect themselves by having a warranty, they must put up with the consequences.Such a system was an important matter for customers, and he considered it useless to inflict small penalties. He sbould order each of them to pay a penalty of $10 and costs, mith the exception of Howe and Williams whom he ordered to pay €5 and costs.ASSAULTING AN INSPECTOR.-'^^. Helen Evans, of 35, Dattmouth Street, Westminster, was summoned for selling milk not of the nature and substance demanded by the purchaser. She was also summoned for as. aaulting the inspector while in the execution of his duty. Mr. Warrington Rogers prosecuted for the T e s t - minster District Board, aud Mr. W. Wonton Smyth defended I t appeared from the evidence that the inspectoi sent his son into the defendant’s shop on 30th June, and purchased a pint and a half of milk for which he paid 33d.After the purchase was completed, the inspector himself walkedinto tbe shop, and said the sample obtained was for ana!psis. The defendant said she knew it was wrong, and begged him to give it her back, but he told her that he was bound to do his duty.She then came from the other side of the counter and endeavoured to upset the milk. Having partially succeeded in doing this, she struck him on the head and face and kicked him, without, however, occasioning him any serious hurt. Mr. Rogers put in the certificate of Dr. Dupr6 the analyst, showing the adulteration to be to the extent of 40 per cent. Five years ago the defendant was convicted at this court for an adulteration of over 80 per cent. of water, an& fined €1J by the late Mr. Arnold. The defence was that the milk was paid for at the rate of fourpence: R qnart, and, inasmuch a8 a notice was put up stating that this quality‘was adulterated, the defendant was not liable, as it had been recently held by the Queen’s Bench in the case of a publican selling diluted spirits that the notice placed about the premises were a sufficient protection. Mr Smyth also submitted that the milk was not sold “ to the prejudice of the purchaser,” as the inspector had almost admitted that he didnot expect to get pure milk at this particular shop. The defendant admitted that the notice she relied on was covered with the shutters, as the shop was partially closed, i t being Sunday. The magistrate thought it a very bad case, and fined the defendant €5 for the adulteration, and 20s. for assaultiug the’ inspector,

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8780300348

出版商:RSC    

年代:1878

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST. 651 NOTES OF THE MONTH. The Chemist and Druggist has, we must admit, got some good ground of complaint' in the fact that in the quarterly reports of some analjsts such expressions are found as that '' two samples of drugs were found entirely wanting of their principal ingredients '! ; '' five samples, three adulterated " ; and so on, while no prosecution has followed to test the correctoess of thesc statements.We decidedly agree that were the analysts the prosecutors no articles should appear as adulterated in the quarterly reports unless the352 THE ANALYST. cases had been fully taken before the court. Our contemporary, however, should remember that it sometimes happens that, for occult reasons only known to themselves, a local authority will not institute a prosecution even when the article is found bad.In such a case the analyst has no option, and he cannot withdraw the mention of the case from his quarterly report. Setting aside disputed questions of nomenclature and recognised strengths, the only real cases of absolute admixture of drugs that eyer came under our notice were one of a sample of powdered jalap containing linseed flour and one of sulphate of quinine containing more than 90 per cent.of the other cinchona alkaloids. The former article was, it turned out, purchased not by a chemist but at a small oil shop, and notwithstanding the certificate the authorities declined to prosecute on the ground that the oilman, not understanding drugs, knew no better! Doubtless the case after- wmda appeared in the quarterly report, but what could the analyst do t o prevent i t ? The latter case certainly should have been made the ground of prosecution.This appears just one of the points to be considered in any amendment of the Act, and the Chmist and Drzlggist does well to record it, only do not let the blame be thrown on the analysts personally for what they cannot help.I f the Government would give the pharmacists an absolute monopoly of the sale of all drugs-a monopoly to which as men of education they are now as much entitled as their German compeers, and in return insist that nothing should be sold except in accordance with a definitely recognised scale of purity, &.-it would put an end t o much trouble and misconception. On the other hand some authorities will rush blindfold into prosecution on matters which never ought to be taken into court.An analyst is often snubbed when he makes the remark on his certificate that such and such a result does not give a good ground for proceedings, and is told plainly to mind his own business and leave them to judge. The result is that such really trivial cases as the recent slight deficiency in the alcoholic etrength of a mmple of tincture of jalap are brought into court.Our view is that in such a difficulty the analyst might address a letter to the inspector, saying that if asked his opinion on oath he would state that he did not consider the deficiency of any real importance. If then the prosecution was brought the analyst could publicly wash his hands of the whole affair.The only difficulty would be when his re-election came on. And if any Board could be found to object t o such a letter, we say-let them. An interesting case at Guildford, in which the question oE whether a label on Epps’ cocoa declaring it to be a mixture, was a sufficient declaration without the vendor actually calling the attention of the purchaser to it, was unfortunately nipped in the bud by it being found that the analyst’s certificate of the analysis performed at Bouthampton waa wrongly dated, Such errors would be avoided if an analyst would always make a practice of filling in the heading of his certificate together with the weight of the article while the inspector was actually present.The thing must be done anyway, and to enter into another book and write all the certificates after the analyses have been made saves no time and giveis room for error when there are several inspectors at work.THE ANALYST.353 The Dairyman, naturally indignant that the publicans should have tried to get a little side wind of favour in the matter of watering their goods, makes the following amusing but perfectly true remarks :- “ It is, however, coming it a little too strong, for these publicans, who it would seem are anxious to compel their customers to be water drinkers to a certain extent, to attempt to get the Act so altered that they onZy shall adulterate with impunity, while all other traders, forsooth, are to be subjected to the pains and penaltier deuervedlp attaching to dishonesty of the description named.The mere fact of these gentle- men desiring to get such a clause interpolated in the Act, plainly indicates that they have a misgiving as to the legality if not morality of supplying gin and water when gin only is asked for, and it is satisfactory to know that they are still in the same uncertain frame of mind, as the BiII, in which the ill-advised amend- ment was embodied, has been withdrawn, and the Act of 1875 remains in statu QUO.” And yet, strange to say, the Local Government Board appears to have consented to act as foeter father to the publicans’ clause.We are sure that this cannot have been done with auch careful consideration as Mr. Sclater-Booth bestowed on the original Bill itself. The Local Government Board is still bestirring itself re analysts’ appointments, and the Plymouth Town Council has received a gentle hint that it is its duty to protect the interests of its fellow-townsmen by forthwith appointing a public analyst.After such dictation to that august body we fear that the individual appointed wiU not exactly lie on a bed of roses. The silly season in the papers has lately had a new feature besides the time- honoured gigantic turnip.Popular science nowadays is everything, and 80 we have 8 Mr. J. B. Wateon writing to the Times as follows :- ‘‘ Be the fees of the analytical chemist are beyond the means of many, a few simple teat papers might be prepared and used for many purposes. Certain cards should be prepared and hung in closets, which, by changing colour, would immediately betray the presence of sewage-gas in the atmospbere.Other papers might be prepared for testing the purity of water or tea, or other articles of daily consumption. The paper for testing water would immediately, should lead be present, betray ite existence ; the papers for testing tea would betray the presence of copper and so forth. The papers might be prepared in packeo and labelled, These test papere would be very inexpensive, and could be used by the most inexperienced with confidence.” 80 far 60 good, but why not at once start a company to supply the public with papers dipped in the true elixir vitw, so that simply chewing one every day would make it a matter of indifference what they ate altogether. Perhaps Mr.Watson would object that the real article is as yet unknown, but then is not the same thing true of his ‘‘ simple test papere 3 ” Until he gives us his formula we fear the “ simplicity ” would be all on the eide of the purchasers.But even this grand idea is not original, because it appeared eomewhere in the silly season last year. When we noticed in the Times that Messrs. Wanklyn and Cooper had read a paper on “ Elementary organic analysis by a moist process,” we experienced quite an eager desire to peruse so important a discovery; but alas ! how our spirits fell when we read that it was only an extension of the old limited oxidation to cane sugar, for it seems that the other experiments were made before they ‘‘ discovered the secret how to get the oxidation complete,” ‘‘ Small beginnings make great endings,” so now that the hidden myatery of (‘ evaporation to dryness ” is made manifest, we shdll look forward with absorbing interest to the next paper.354 THE ANALYST, It is requested that when medical men prescribe orange-flower water they should put the word concentrated if they want it pure as imported, for it has leaked out at the Conference that some chcmists critically examine the prescription! and if they in their wisdom deem that it is added only as a flavouring and not as a sedative they supply it diluted with water one in three.Sailors hare a decided objection to ( 1 three water grog,” but this wonderful article actually improves by dilution ; besides what do patients know about it, and then-look at the extra profit ! One of our contemporaries suggests that licensed victuallers ( I should imitate the example of dairymen, and apply their trade society funds to prosecute adulterating members of their trade rather than t o defending them against the consequences of their equivocal practices.” This would be more like the common honesty which trade societies should possess, RECENT CHEMICAL PATENTS.The following specifications have been published during the past month, and can be obtained from the Great Seal Office, Cursitor Street, Chancery Lane, London. 1818. Name of Patentee. NO. 174 A. E. Healey ... 244 J. Livesey and J. Kidd 301 W. M. Brown ... 317 L. Peroni . . . . . . 372 F. L. H. Danohell 448 J. Lee . . . . . . 449 J. H. Johnson ... 456 J. Johnson . . . . . . 498 J.Wadsworth ... 500 J. Hollomy ... 511 11. Baggeley ... 619 A. S. L. Leonhardt 622 W.Young . . . . . . 581 R. Punshon ... 630 A. M. Clark ... 646 E. Field . . . . . . 647 E. Field . . . . . . 682 A. Fryer . . . . . . 714 A. M. Clark ... 729 W. P. milson .. 771 E. P. Alexander ... 786 J. H. Johnson ... 1324 C. D. Abel . . . . . . ... ... ... ... .I. ... ... ... ... ..I ... ...... ... ... ... I.. ... ... ... ... .I. ..I Title of Patent. Prke. ... Treatment of Paper and Woven Fabrics . . . . . . . . . 6d. ... Production of Combustible Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . 6d. ... Evaporation of Cane Juice . . . . . . . . . . . . 6d. ... Construction of glass Tubes for Thermometers . . . . . . 6d. ... Refining and Decolourizing Oils Spirits and Syrups ... 4d. ... Manufacture of Gas from Wood Peat, &c.. . . . . . 2d. ... Treating Sugar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6d. ... Manufacture of Dextrine and Glucose . . . . . . . . . 2d. ... Apparatus for Evaporating and Drying Sewage . . . . . . 6d. ... Sulphur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4d~. ... Treatment of Sewage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4d. . ,. Recovering Arsenic from the Residue of Magenta Colours 6d, ...Manufacture of Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8d. ... Treatment of Sewage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2d. ... Dyeingand Printing with Derivatives of Aniline ... 4d; ... Treating Fatty and Oily Matters . . . . . . . . . 6d. ... Saccharification of Amylaceoiis Matter . . . . . . . . . 4d. ... Treating the Refuse of Towns . . . . . . . . . . . . 6d. ... Manufacture of Sulphate of Alumina . . . . . . . . . 4d. ... Manufacture of Loaf Sugar . . . . . . . . . . . . Bd. ... Decolorizing Solid and Liquid Matters . . . . . . . . . 2d. ... Purification of Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8d, ,.. Production of Colouring Matters for Dyeing and Printing 4d. BOOKS, &c., RECEIVED. The Chemist and Druggist; The Brewers’ Guardian; The British hledical Journal; The Medical Examiner ; The Medical Times and Gazette; The Pharmaceutical Journal; The Sanitary Record; The hledical Record ; The hliller ; The Anti-Adulteration Review ; Jcurnal of Applied Science; The Boston Journal of Chemistry; The Dairyman; The American Dairyman; The Practitioner; 0. Jones, 011 Violet Powder.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8780300351

出版商:RSC    

年代:1878

数据来源: RSC