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134

ARSENITE OF POTASSIUM.

though much changed in appearance by exposure, it yielded a pe limate of octahedral crystals.

It need hardly be observed that the quantity of arsenic fou stomach or other organs can convey no accurate idea of the actually taken by the deceased, since more or less of the poison been removed by violent vomiting and purging as well as by a and elimination. A large quantity found in the stomach or boy cates a large dose; but the finding of a small quantity does that the dose was small. The value of chemical evidence does n on the discovery of any particular quantity of poison in the sto is merely necessary that the evidence of its presence in the bo be clear, distinct, conclusive, and satisfactory. At the same tim onable objection may be taken to a dogmatic reliance upon t discovery in a dead body of minute fractional portions of a gr considering the great liability to fallacy from the accidental pr that date of arsenic in the articles used for its detection, the cher dence in the French case of Madame Laffarge (1840), in which quantity discovered in the dead body was stated to be the 1-1 of a grain, was of a most unsatisfactory kind, and should have jected. No man ought to base evidence on such a minute qu poison in a case of life and death.

The condition of the arsenic found in a stomach should be noticed. A witness should be prepared to say whether it i powder or in coarse fragments; whether it is mixed with soot o or whether it is in the ordinary state of white arsenic. These p be material as evidence in reference to proof of possession, of or administration. Arsenic is not a normal constituent of th body. Under no circumstances is it found in the tissues aft except in cases in which it has been taken or administered during

ARSENITE OF POTASSIUM. LIQUOR ARSENICALIS. (FOWLE TION.)-Symptoms and Appearances.-There is a case recorded this medicinal solution destroyed life. A woman took half a ( = two grains of white arsenic) in divided doses, during a peri days, and died from the effects. There was no vomiting or pur after death the stomach and intestines were found inflamed. (Pro 1848, p. 347.) A mixture of arsenic, soft-soap, and tar-water i used in agricultural districts for killing the fly in sheep. This ha death, under the usual symptoms of arsenical poisoning, in at 1 instances. In 1874 the Coombs family, consisting of eight pers father, mother, and six children-were all poisoned by drinkin from a bucket which had contained an arsenical sheep-dipping tion. The mother and three of the children died. The sympt duced were unusual-diarrhoea being a less prominent sympt vomiting. The poison appeared to exercise a profound impressi the nervous system, producing tetanic spasms and convulsio arsenical rash was a characteristic of the severest and fatal cases. bodies of the mother and one child the editor detected arsen bodies of the other two children were not examined for poison.

Analysis. The solution has the odor of tincture of lavender reddish color, and has an alkaline reaction. One fluid ounce of it 4 grains of arsenious oxide. It gives a green precipitate (ar copper) with sulphate of copper and a yellow precipitate with n silver. Acidulated with hydrochloric acid, and treated with a cu sulphuretted hydrogen gas, it yields a yellow sulphide; and, whe

FLY-WATER-ARSENITE OF COPPER.

135

with that acid and pure copper & deposit is obtained which readily furLikes, by heat, octahedral crystals of arsenious oxide.

FLY-WATER is a name applied to solutions of various arsenical compands in water. Mixtures of this kind are formed by dissolving one part of the arsenite of sodium or potassium and two parts of sugar in twenty parts of water. Paper soaked in this solution, and dried, is used for Kling flies under the name of Papier moure; and perhaps this is the atest form in which arsenic can be used for such a purpose. The editor bas found the fly-papers of commerce to contain from 7 to 10 grains each of arsenious acid in a soluble form. In 1884 two women were convicted Rez. v. Flannagan and Higgins, Liverpool Winter Ass., 1884) of the Larder of four persons by means of infusions of such paper. Jour.. 1884, i. pp. 419, 469.)

(Brit. Med. EMERALD GREEN.-This

ARSENITE OF COPPER. SCHEELE'S GREEN. is a metallic arsenite, met with in commerce and the arts; and it contitates, wholly or in part, a great variety of green pigments employed for paper-hangings, known as emerald green (aceto-arsenite of copper), mineral green, Brunswick, Schweinfurt, Vienna, or Paris green. It is also found in the form of oil-paint, forming cakes in boxes of water-colors, spread over confectionery, in wafers, on adhesive envelopes, in wrappers for chocolate, isinglass, etc., and lastly, and most abundantly, in various kinds of green decorative papers used for covering the walls of sitting and bedrooms

Although this compound is insoluble in water, it is sufficently soluble in the acid mucous fluids of the stomach to be taken up by the absorbents and carried as a poison into the blood. Roussin has traced the means by which the insoluble poison finds it way through the skin, and the circumstances under which it may be absorbed by the unbroken skin. In two cases which proved fatal in 1865, the workmen suffered chiefly from vomiting and colicky pains. The skin was tinged of a green color and arsenic was detected in the soft organs. He found that all poisons were liable to be absorbed by the unbroken skin when, as a result of evaporation, a solid fim was left on the surface. Alcohol and other solvents of fat, when used asolvents for the poisonous solid, would favor its absorption into the body. (Ann. d'Hyg., 1867, pp. 179, 182.)

In a case which was the subject of a criminal trial, the substance was proved to have caused the death of a gentleman by reason of its having been employed to give a rich green color to some blanc-mange served at a public dinner-the person who employed it considering that emerald or ineral green was nothing more than an extract of spinach, which is commonly employed for coloring confectionery and ices. It led to death under the usual symptoms, and the parties were convicted of manslaughter. (Reg. v. Franklin and Randall, Northampton Sum. Ass., 1848.)

The symptoms of poisoning that have been observed in persons who have inhabited rooms of which the walls were covered with this arsenical Compound are as follows: dryness and irritation of the throat, bronchial ough, irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes and nostrils, languor, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, colicky pains, numbness, cramp, irritability of the bowels attended with mucous discharges, great prostration of strength, a feverish condition, and wasting of the body. These symptoms may not all present themselves in any one case; they are derived from the examination of numerous cases. No suspicion of the cause has in Tuany instances been entertained until ordinary treatment had failed to impart relief and an analysis of the paper had been made. The connection of the symptoms with this cause appears to have been in some instances

136

SULPHIDES OF ARSENIC.

elearly established by the fact that, after the removal of the pap ally from bedrooms, the symptoms have disappeared. (Brit. M 1876, ii. p. 653; also, 1877, i. p. 8.) Yet comparatively few of t are exposed suffer from symptoms of poisoning. Various death among children, from the use of this paper are now recorded; probable that to the noxious practice of covering the walls of ou and bedrooms with large quantities of arsenic in loose powder sidious cases of illness and chronic disease may be referred. women employed in the manufacture of these poisonous pigmen severely. Girls employed in making artificial green leaves, in w substance is used in fine powder, may suffer from inflammatio conjunctivæ, with thickening and swelling of the eyelids. (Land i. p. 174.) The precautions now adopted render such cases rare. C toys are often colored with this poisonous compound. In on child, æt. 5 years, was seized with sickness, diarrhoea, and grea sion. The cause of these symptoms was traced to a box of colored bright green. The child had imbibed the poison, either ling or putting the counters into its mouth.

Analysis. For the chemical characters of SCHEELE'S GREEN 128. The wall-paper pigment called EMERALD GREEN is a mi arsenite and acetate of copper. The green color is very intense, candle-light. The presence of arsenic in this compound may detected by the test for solid arsenic (p. 126); but the follow simple method which admits of speedy application: A slip of pected paper should be soaked in a moderately strong solution of a The green color is removed, and a blue compound of copper is for dissolved in a few minutes. This result establishes only the pro a compound of copper soluble in ammonia. If the ammonia does come blue, there is no compound of copper present; if it does beco a large crystal of nitrate of silver should be placed in a white sa a small portion of the blue liquid poured over it. The presence of in the blue liquid is revealed by the production of yellow arsenite over the surface of the crystal.

ARSENIC ACID. ALKALINE ARSENATES.-Arsenic acid is an product almost entirely confined to the chemical laboratory and manufactory. Some authors state that it is a more powerful than arsenious acid; others, that it is less poisonous. No fatal poisoning by it in the human subject has been recorded. The a of potassium and sodium must be regarded as active poisons, althoug are but few instances on record in which life has been destroyed by Analysis.-Arsenic acid is a white, non-crystalline, deliquescen 1. It is very soluble in water, forming a highly acid solution. precipitated of a brick-red color by ammonio-nitrate of silver.

SULPHIDES OF ARSENIC. - ORPIMENT, or YELLOW ARSENIC, O poisonous properties to the presence of a variable proportion of ar acid, sometimes amounting to as much as thirty per cent. of its Orpiment is much employed in the arts, in painting, dyeing, pape ing, the coloring of toys, and formerly for the coloring of sweet but it is not often used as a poison. In the exhumation of the bo persons who have died from arsenic it is common to find the yell phide in the stomach. White may be converted into yellow ars the dead body, but yellow cannot be changed into white arsenic. putrefaction.

Orpiment produces symptoms and appearances similar to those by arsenious acid; but the dose required to destroy life varies acc

CHLORIDE OF ARSENIC-ARSENETTED HYDROGEN.

137

to the proportion of arsenious acid with which it happens to be mixed. This is not a common form of poisoning; the yellow color of the poison would lead to suspicion; but by reason of this color, orpiment may be given or taken by mistake for mustard or turmeric. The editor has met in his practice with one fatal case. The symptoms differed in no respect from those of a typical case of poisoning by white arsenic. Orpiment is largely used in tanning.

Analysis. The commercial sulphide yields a solution of arsenious acid. on boiling it in water acidulated with hydrochloric acid. It readily gives the well-known sublimates of metallic arsenic, either with soda-flux or cyanide of potassium (see p. 126).

CHLORIDE OF ARSENIC.-This is a solution of arsenic in diluted hydrochloric acid, used in pharmacy. It contains 43 grains of arsenious acid in one fluidounce. It is a highly poisonous preparation. In 1857 a woman took, in three doses, thirty minims over a period of twenty-four hours. The quantity of arsenic taken was not more than the tenth part of a grain, and yet the symptoms which followed were of a severe kind, resembling those of chronic poisoning. These were constriction of the throat, pain and irritation of the stomach and bowels, tingling and numbness of the hands and feet, loss of muscular power, and a feeling of extreme depression. The medicine was withdrawn, and the patient slowly recovered. It seems that she had not taken arsenic previously, and there was no evidence of the existence of a peculiar susceptibility to the effects of arsenic. The quantity taken was very small to produce such alarming symptoms. The usual medicinal dose of this solution is from two to eight minims.

Analysis. This compound is the product obtained in the separation of arsenic from organic solids by distillation with hydrochloric acid (see p. 130). It may be tested by the processes of Marsh and Reinsch, as there described. When boiled with fuming stannous chloride, it is decomposed and metallic arsenic of a brown-black color is deposited.

ARSENETTED HYDROGEN. This is a gaseous poison of arsenic, producing when respired, even in small quantity, very serious effects upon the system. It has caused death in several instances among chemists who have incautiusly breathed the deadly vapor while performing scientific experiments. Trost has reported three other fatal cases with a full account of the symptoms and appearances. These cases occurred accidentally among workmen engaged in separating silver from lead by means of zinc and hydrochloric acid. The latter was found to contain much arsenic, which escaped with the hydrogen. (Vierteljahrsschr. f. Gerichtl. Med., 1873, 1, p. 269. See ON POISONS. Chem. News, 1863, ii. p. 307.)

138

MERCURY-CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE.

CHAPTER XII.

POISONING BY MERCURY.-CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE.-SYMPTOMS.-CHRONIC POISONI PEARANCES AFTER DEATH.-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS.-PROCESS FOR MERCURY IN LIQUIDS.-CALOMEL.-WHITE AND RED PRECIPITATES.-OTHER COMPOUNDS OF A

METALLIC mercury is not commonly regarded as a poison. It is stated that a large quantity of it may be swallowed without a health, or without causing more uneasiness than that which ma from its great weight. It rapidly passes through the bowels. which occurred to Gibb shows that this is not strictly true. For t pose of causing abortion a girl swallowed four and a half our weight of mercury. It had no effect on the womb, but in a few d girl suffered from a trembling and shaking of the body (mercurial ti and loss of muscular power. These symptoms continued for mont there was no salivation and no blue mark on the gums. (Lancet i. p. 339.) If mercury is breathed or swallowed in a state of vapo applied to the skin or mucous membrane in a state of extreme mec division, in which state it appears to be easily susceptible of oxida is liable to be absorbed, and to produce a poisonous action on the The effects are principally manifested by salivation, trembling, voluntary motions of the limbs, loss of appetite, and emaciation. symptoms are occasionally seen in workmen engaged in trades in they are exposed to the inhalation of mercurial vapors.

CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE.—This substance has received a vari chemical names. It has been at various times called Oxymuriate ride, Bichloride, Mercuric Chloride, and Perchloride of Mercur prevent any confusion from scientific chemical nomenclature, the o popular name of Corrosive Sublimate, expressing the principal pro of the substance, is here retained. It is commonly seen under th of heavy crystalline masses, or of a white crystalline powder. It is powerfully austere and metallic, so that no poisonous quantit, could be easily swallowed without the person becoming imme aware of it. Its solutions, even when very highly diluted-1 in 20 have an intensely metallic (coppery) taste. It is very soluble in hot or cold, and speedily sinks in it, in which properties it differs ingly from arsenic. At the ordinary temperature it dissolves in fifteen parts of water; but the poison is more freely soluble in al liquids and ether. It is largely used as an antiseptic.

Symptoms. The symptoms produced by corrosive sublimate ger come on immediately, or within a few minutes after the poison ha swallowed. In the first place, a strong metallic taste in the mouth, described as a coppery taste, is perceived; and there is, during the swallowing, a sense of constriction almost amounting to suffocation burning heat in the throat, extending downwards to the stomach. few minutes violent pain is felt in the abdomen, increased by pre especially in the region of the stomach. There is nausea, with fre vomiting of long, stringy masses of white mucus, mixed with attended with severe pain in the abdomen and profuse purging. countenance is sometimes swollen and flushed; in other cases it has

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