Poisons Their Effects and Detection by Alexander Wynter Blyth

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Title: Poisons: Their Effects and Detection
A Manual for the Use of Analytical Chemists and Experts

Author: Alexander Wynter Blyth

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Title page

POISONS:

THEIR EFFECTS AND DETECTION.

BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

Fourth Edition. At Press.

FOODS:

THEIR COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS.

With numerous Tables and Illustrations.

General Contents.

History of Adulteration—Legislation, Past and Present—Apparatus useful to the Food Analyst—“Ash”—
Sugar—Confectionery—Honey—Treacle—Jams and Preserved Fruits—Starches—Wheaten-Flour—
Bread—Oats—Barley—Rye—Rice—Maize—Millet—Potato—Peas—Chinese Peas—Lentils—Beans
—Milk—Cream—Butter—Cheese—Tea—Coffee—Cocoa and Chocolate—Alcohol—Brandy—Rum
—Whisky—Gin—Arrack—Liqueurs—Beer—Wine—Vinegar—Lemon and Lime Juice—Mustard—
Pepper—Sweet and Bitter Almond—Annatto—Olive Oil—Water. Appendix: Text of English and
American Adulteration Acts.

“Will be used by every Analyst.”—Lancet.

“Stands Unrivalled for completeness of information. . . . A really ‘practical’ work for the guidance of practical
men.”—Sanitary Record.

“An ADMIRABLE DIGEST of the most recent state of knowledge. . . . Interesting even to lay-readers.”—Chemical
News.

In Large 8vo, Handsome Cloth. 21s.

FORENSIC MEDICINE

AND

TOXICOLOGY.

By J. DIXON MANN, M.D., F.R.C.P.,

Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology in Owens College, Manchester; Examiner in Forensic Medicine in

the University of London, and in the Victoria University; Physician to the Salford Royal Hospital.

Part I.—Forensic Medicine. Part II.—Insanity in its Medico-legal Bearings. Part III.—Toxicology.

“By far the MOST RELIABLE, MOST SCIENTIFIC, and MOST MODERN book on Medical Jurisprudence with which we
are acquainted.”—Dublin Medical Journal.

“A most useful work of reference. . . . Of value to all those who, as medical men or lawyers, are engaged in
cases where the testimony of medical experts forms a part of the evidence.”—The Law Journal.

London: Charles Griffin & Co., Ltd., Exeter St., Strand.

POISONS:

THEIR EFFECTS AND DETECTION.

A MANUAL FOR THE USE OF ANALYTICAL

CHEMISTS AND EXPERTS.

WITH AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY ON THE GROWTH OF MODERN TOXICOLOGY.

BY

ALEXANDER WYNTER BLYTH,

M.R.C.S., F.I.C., F.C.S., &c.,

BARRISTER-AT-LAW; PUBLIC ANALYST FOR THE COUNTY OF DEVON; AND MEDICAL

OFFICER OF HEALTH AND PUBLIC ANALYST FOR ST. MARYLEBONE.

THIRD EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED.

With Tables and Illustrations.

LONDON:

CHARLES GRIFFIN AND COMPANY, LIMITED,

EXETER STREET, STRAND.

1895.

(All Rights Reserved.)

D. VAN NOSTRAND COMPANY,

NEW YORK.

PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

The present edition, which appears on the same general plan as before, will yet be found to have been in great part re-
written, enlarged, and corrected.

Analytical methods which experience has shown to be faulty have been omitted, and replaced by newer and more
accurate processes.

The intimate connection which recent research has shown to exist between the arrangement of the constituent parts of
an organic molecule and physiological action, has been considered at some length in a separate chapter.

The cadaveric alkaloids or ptomaines, bodies playing so great a part in food-poisoning and in the manifestations of
disease, are in this edition treated of as fully as the limits of the book will allow.

The author, therefore, trusts that these various improvements, modifications, and corrections will enable “Poisons” to
maintain the position which it has for so many years held in the esteem of toxicologists and of the medical profession
generally.

The Court House, St. Marylebone, W.

June, 1895.

[v]

CONTENTS.

PART I.—INTRODUCTORY.

I. THE OLD POISON-LORE.

Section
Page

1.
The History of the Poison-lehre—The Origin of Arrow-Poison—Greek Myths,
1

2.
Knowledge of the Egyptians relative to Poisons—Distillation of Peach-Water,
2

3.
Roman and Greek Knowledge of Poison—Sanction of Suicide among the Ancients—The
Classification of Poisons adopted by Dioscorides,
2-4

4.
Poisoning among Eastern Nations—Slow Poisons,
4, 5

5.
Hebrew Knowledge of Poisons,
5

6.
The part which Poison has played in History—Statira—Locusta—Britannicus—The Rise of
Anatomy—The Death of Alexander the Great—of Pope Alexander VI.—The Commission of
Murder given by Charles le Mauvais—Royal Poisoners—Charles IX.—King John—A
Female Poisoner boiled alive,
5-9

7.
The Seventeenth Century Italian Schools of Criminal Poisoning—The Council of Ten—John
of Ragubo—The Professional Poisoner—J. B. Porta’s Treatise on Natural Magic—Toffana
and the “Acquetta di Napoli”—Organic Arsenical Compounds—St. Croix and Madame de
Brinvilliers—Extraordinary Precautions for the Preservation from Poison of the Infant Son of
Henry VIII.,
9-13

II. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN METHODS OF CHEMICALLY

DETECTING POISONS.

8.
Phases through which the Art of Detecting Poisons has passed,
13

9.
Treatise of Barthélémy d’Anglais—Hon. Robert Boyle—Nicolas l’Emery’s Cours de
Chimie—Mead’s Mechanical Theory of Poisons—Rise of Modern Chemistry—Scheele’s
Discoveries,
13, 14

10.
History of Marsh’s Test,
14, 15

11.
Orfila and his Traité de Toxicologie—Orfila’s Method of Experiment,
15

12.
The Discovery of the Alkaloids—Separation of Narcotine, Morphine, Strychnine, Delphinine,
Coniine, Codeine, Atropine, Aconitine, and Hyoscyamine,
15, 16

13.
Bibliography of the Chief Works on Toxicology of the Nineteenth Century,
16-19

PART II.

I. DEFINITION OF POISON.

14.
The Legal Definition of Poison—English Law as to Poison,
20, 21

15.
German Law as to Poisoning—French Law as to Poisoning,
21, 22

16.
Scientific Definition of a Poison—The Author’s Definition,
22, 23

II. CLASSIFICATION OF POISONS.

17.
Foderé’s, Orfila’s, Casper’s, Taylor’s, and Guy’s Definition of Poisons—Poisons arranged
according to their Prominent Effects,
23, 24

18.
Kobert’s Classification,
24, 25

19.
The Author’s Arrangement,
25-28

III. STATISTICS.

20.
Statistics of Poisoning in England and Wales during the Ten Years 1883-92—Various Tables,
28-31

21.
German Statistics of Poisoning,
31-33

22.
Criminal Poisoning in France,
33, 34

IV. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN TOXIC ACTION AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION.

[vii]

[viii]

23.
The Influence of Hydroxyl—The Replacement of Hydrogen by a Halogen—Bamberger’s
Acylic and Aromatic Bases,
35, 36

24.
The Replacement of Hydrogen by Alkyls in Aromatic Bodies,
36-38

25.
The Influence of Carbonyl Groups,
39

26.
Oscar Loew’s Theory as to the Action of Poisons,
39-41

27.
Michet’s Experiments on the relative Toxicity of Metals,
41, 42

V. LIFE TESTS: OR THE IDENTIFICATION OF POISON BY EXPERIMENTS ON

ANIMALS.

28.
The Action of Poisons on Infusoria, Cephalopoda, Insects,
42-44

29.
Effect of Poisons on the Heart of Cold-blooded Animals,
44, 45

30.
The Effect of Poisons on the Iris,
45, 46

VI. GENERAL METHOD OF PROCEDURE IN SEARCHING FOR POISON.

31.
Concentration in a Vacuum—Drying the Substance—Solvents—Destruction of Organic
Matter,
46-50

32.
Autenrieth’s General Process—Distillation—Shaking up with Solvents—Isolation of Metals—
Investigation of Sulphides Soluble in Ammonium Sulphide—of Sulphides Insoluble in
Ammonium Sulphide—Search for Zinc and Chromium—Search for Lead, Silver, and Barium,
50-53

VII. THE SPECTROSCOPE AS AN AID TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF CERTAIN

POISONS.

33.
The Micro-Spectroscope—Oscar Brasch’s Researches of the Spectra of Colour Reactions
—Wave Lengths,
54-56

Examination of Blood or of Blood-Stains.

34.
Naked-eye Appearance of Blood-Stains—Dragendorff’s Process for Dissolving Blood,
56, 57

35.
Spectroscopic Appearances of Blood—Spectrum of Hydric Sulphide Blood—of Carbon
Oxide Hæmoglobin—Methæmoglobin—of Acid Hæmatin—Tests for CO Blood—
Piotrowski’s Experiments on CO Blood—Preparation of Hæmatin Crystals—The Guaiacum
Test for Blood,
57-62

36.
Distinction between the Blood of Animals and Men—The Alkalies in various Species of
Blood,
62, 63

PART III.—POISONOUS GASES: CARBON MONOXIDE—CHLORINE

—HYDRIC SULPHIDE.

I. CARBON MONOXIDE.

37.
Properties of Carbon Monoxide,
64

38.
Symptoms—Acute Form—Chronic Form,
64-66

39.
Poisonous Action on the Blood—Action on the Nervous System,
66, 67

40.
Post-mortem Appearances,
67

41.
Mass Poisonings by Carbon Monoxide—The Leeds Case—The Darlaston Cases,
67-70

42.
Detection of Carbon Monoxide—The Cuprous Chloride Method—Wanklyn’s Method—
Hempel’s Method,
70, 71

II. CHLORINE.

43.
Chlorine; its Properties—The Weldon Process of manufacturing “Bleaching Powder,”
71, 72

44.
Effects of Chlorine,
72

45.
Post-mortem Appearances,
72

46.
Detection of Free Chlorine,
72

III. HYDRIC SULPHIDE (SULPHURETTED HYDROGEN).

47.
Properties of Hydric Sulphide,
72, 73

48.
Effects of breathing Hydric Sulphide—Action on the Blood—The Cleator Moor Case,
73, 74

49.
Post-mortem Appearances,
74

50.
Detection,
74

[ix]

PART IV.—ACIDS AND ALKALIES.

Sulphuric Acid—Hydrochloric Acid—Nitric Acid—Acetic Acid—Ammonia—Potash—Soda—

Neutral Sodium, Potassium, and Ammonium Salts.

I. SULPHURIC ACID.

51.
Varieties and Strength of the Sulphuric Acids of Commerce—Properties of the Acid—
Nordhausen Sulphuric Acid,
75, 76

52.
Properties of Sulphuric Anhydride,
76

53.
Occurrence of Free Sulphuric Acid in Nature,
76

54.
Statistics—Comparative Statistics of different Countries,
76, 77

55.
Accidental, Suicidal, and Criminal Poisoning—Sulphuric Acid in Clysters and Injections,
77, 78

56.
Fatal Dose,
78, 79

57.
Local Action of Sulphuric Acid—Effects on Mucous Membrane, on the Skin, on Blood,
79, 80

58.
Action of Sulphuric Acid on Earth, Grass, Wood, Paper, Carpet, Clothing, Iron—Caution
necessary in judging of Spots—Illustrative Case,
80, 81

59.
Symptoms—(1) External Effects—(2) Internal Effects in the Gullet and Stomach—Intercostal
Neuralgia,
81-83

60.
Treatment of Acute Poisoning by the Mineral Acids,
83

61.
Post-mortem Appearances—Rapid and Slow Poisoning—Illustrative Cases,
83-85

62.
Pathological Preparations in the different London Hospital Museums,
85, 86

63.
Chronic Poisoning,
86

Detection and Estimation of Free Sulphuric Acid.

64.
General Method of Separating the Free Mineral Acids—The Quinine Process—The Old
Process of Extraction by Alcohol—Hilger’s Test for Mineral Acid,
87, 88

65.
The Urine—Excretion of Sulphates in Health and Disease—The Characters of the Urine after
taking Sulphuric Acid,
88-90

66.
The Blood in Sulphuric Acid Poisoning,
90

67.
The Question of the Introduction of Sulphates by the Food—Largest possible Amount of
Sulphates introduced by this Means—Sulphur of the Bile—Medicinal Sulphates,
90, 91

II. HYDROCHLORIC ACID.

68.
General Properties of Hydrochloric Acid—Discovery—Uses—Tests,
91, 92

69.
Statistics,
92, 93

70.
Fatal Dose,
93

71.
Amount of Free Acid in the Gastric Juice,
93, 94

72.
Influence of Hydrochloric Acid on Vegetation—Present Law on the Subject of Acid
Emanations from Works—The Resistant Powers of various Plants,
94

73.
Action on Cloth and Manufactured Articles,
95

74.
Poisonous Effects of Hydrochloric Acid Gas—Eulenberg’s Experiments on Rabbits and
Pigeons,
95, 96

75.
Effects of the Liquid Acid—Absence of Corrosion of the Skin—Pathological Appearances—
Illustrative Cases,
96, 97

76.
Post-mortem Appearances—Preparations in the different London Museums,
97, 98

77.
(1) Detection of Free Hydrochloric Acid—Günzburg’s Test—A. Villiers’s and M. Favolle’s
Test—(2) Quantitative Estimation, Sjokvist’s Method—Braun’s Method,
98-101

78.
Method of Investigating Hydrochloric Acid Stains on Cloth, &c.,
101, 102

III. NITRIC ACID.

79.
Properties of Nitric Acid,
102, 103

80.
Use in the Arts,
103

81.
Statistics,
103

82.
Fatal Dose,
104

83.
Action on Vegetation,
104

84.
Effects of Nitric Acid Vapour—Experiments of Eulenberg and O. Lassar—Fatal Effect on
Man,
104, 105

[x]

85.
Effects of Liquid Nitric Acid—Suicidal, Homicidal, and Accidental Deaths from the Acid,
105, 106

86.
Local Action,
106

87.
Symptoms—The Constant Development of Gas—Illustrative Cases,
106, 107

88.
Post-mortem Appearances—Preparations in various Anatomical Museums,
107-109

89.
Detection and Estimation of Nitric Acid,
109, 110

IV. ACETIC ACID.

90.
Symptoms and Detection,
110

V. AMMONIA.

91.
Properties of Ammonia,
111

92.
Uses—Officinal and other Preparations,
111, 112

93.
Statistics of Poisoning by Ammonia,
112

94.
Poisoning by Ammonia Vapour,
112

95.
Symptoms—Illustrative Case,
112, 113

96.
Chronic Effects of the Gas,
113

97.
Ammonia in Solution—Action on Plants,
113

98.
Action on Human Beings and Animal Life—Local Action on Skin—Action on the Blood—
Time of Death,
113-115

99.
Post-mortem Appearances,
115

100.
Separation of Ammonia—Tests,
115, 116

101.
Estimation of Ammonia,
116

VI. CAUSTIC POTASH AND SODA.

102.
Properties of Potassium Hydrate,
116, 117

103.
Pharmaceutical Preparations,
117

104.
Carbonate of Potash,
117

105.
Bicarbonate of Potash,
117

106.
Caustic Soda—Sodium Hydrate,
117, 118

107.
Carbonate of Soda,
118

108.
Bicarbonate of Soda,
118

109.
Statistics,
118

110.
Effects on Animal and Vegetable Life,
118, 119

111.
Local Effects,
119

112.
Symptoms,
119

113.
Post-mortem Appearances,
119-121

114.
Chemical Analysis,
121

115.
Estimation of the Fixed Alkalies,
121, 122

VII. NEUTRAL SODIUM, POTASSIUM, AND AMMONIUM SALTS.

116.
Relative Toxicity of Sodium, Potassium, and Ammonium Salts,
122

117.
Sodium Salts,
122

118.
Potassium Salts—Potassic Sulphate—Hydropotassic Tartrate—Statistics,
122

119.
Action on the Frog’s Heart,
122

120.
Action on Warm-Blooded Animals,
122, 123

121.
Elimination,
123

122.
Nitrate of Potash,
123

123.
Statistics,
123

124.
Uses in the Arts,
123

125.
Action of Nitrates of Sodium and Potassium—Sodic Nitrite,
123, 124

126.
Post-mortem Appearances from Poisoning by Potassic Nitrate,
124

127.
Potassic Chlorate,
124

128.
Uses,
124

129.
Poisonous Properties,
124

130.
Experiments on Animals,
124, 125

131.
Effects on Man—Illustrative Cases of the Poisoning of Children by Potassic Chlorate,
125

132.
Effects on Adults—Least Fatal Dose,
126

133.
Elimination,
126

[xi]

134.
Essential Action of Potassic Chlorate on the Blood and Tissues,
126

135.
Detection and Estimation of Potassic Chlorate,
126, 127

Toxicological Detection of Alkali Salts.

136.
Natural occurrence of Potassium and Sodium Salts in the Blood and Tissues—Tests for
Potassic and Sodic Salts—Tests for Potassic Nitrate—Tests for Chlorates—Ammonium
Salts,
127, 128

PART V.—MORE OR LESS VOLATILE POISONOUS SUBSTANCES

CAPABLE OF BEING SEPARATED BY DISTILLATION FROM

NEUTRAL OR ACID LIQUIDS.

Hydrocarbons—Camphor—Alcohol—Amyl Nitrite—Ether—Chloroform and other Anæsthetics
—Chloral—Carbon Bisulphide—Carbolic Acid—Nitro-Benzene—Prussic Acid—Phosphorus.

I. HYDROCARBONS.

1. Petroleum.

137.
Petroleum,
129

138.
Cymogene,
129

139.
Rhigolene,
129

140.
Gasolene,
129

141.
Benzoline—Distinction between Petroleum-Naphtha, Shale-Naphtha, and Coal-Tar Naphtha,
129, 130

142.
Paraffin Oil,
130

143.
Effects of Petroleum—Experiments on Rabbits, &c.,
130, 131

144.
Poisoning by Petroleum—Illustrative Cases,
131

145.
Separation and Tests for Petroleum,
131

2. Coal-Tar Naphtha—Benzene.

146.
Composition of Commercial Coal-Tar Naphtha,
131

147.
Symptoms observed after Swallowing Coal-Tar Naphtha,
132

148.
Effects of the Vapour of Benzene,
132

Detection and Separation of Benzene.

149.
Separation of Benzene—(1) Purification; (2) Conversion into Nitro-Benzene; (3) Conversion
into Aniline,
132, 133

3.
Terpenes—Essential Oils—Oil of Turpentine.

150.
Properties of the Terpenes, Cedrenes, and Colophenes,
133

4. Oil of Turpentine—Spirits of Turpentine.

151.
Terebenthene—Distinction between French and English Turpentine,
133, 134

152.
Effects of the Administration of Turpentine,
134

II. CAMPHOR.

153.
Properties of Camphor,
135

154.
Pharmaceutical Preparations,
135

155.
Symptoms of Poisoning by Camphor,
135

156.
Post-mortem Appearances,
136

157.
Separation from the Contents of the Stomach,
136

III. ALCOHOLS.

1. Ethylic Alcohol.

158.
Chemical Properties of Alcohol—Statistics of Poisoning by Alcohol,
136

159.
Criminal or Accidental Alcoholic Poisoning,
137

160.
Fatal Dose,
137

161.
Symptoms of Acute Poisoning by Alcohol,
137, 138

[xii]

[xiii]

162.
Post-mortem Appearances,
138, 139

163.
Excretion of Alcohol,
139, 140

164.
Toxicological Detection,
140

2. Amylic Alcohol.

165.
Properties of Amylic Alcohol,
140

166.
Experiments as to the Effect on Animals of Amylic Alcohol,
140, 141

167.
Detection and Estimation of Amylic Alcohol,
141

168.
Amyl Nitrite—Properties—Symptoms—Post-mortem Appearances,
141

IV. ETHER.

169.
Properties of Ethylic Ether,
141, 142

170.
Ether as a Poison,
142

171.
Fatal Dose,
142

172.
Ether as an Anæsthetic,
142, 143

173.
Separation of Ether from Organic Fluids, &c.,
143

V. CHLOROFORM.

174.
Discovery of Chloroform—Properties, Adulterations, and Methods for Detecting them,
143-145

175.
Methods of Manufacturing Chloroform,
145, 146

Poisonous Effects of Chloroform.

1. As a Liquid.

176.
Statistics,
146

177.
Local Action,
146

178.
Action on Blood, Muscle, and Nerve-Tissue,
146

179.
General Effects of Liquid Chloroform—Illustrative Cases,
146, 147

180.
Fatal Dose,
147

181.
Symptoms,
148

182.
Post-mortem Appearances,
148

2. The Vapour of Chloroform.

183.
Statistics of Deaths through Chloroform—Anæsthesia,
148, 149

184.
Suicidal and Criminal Poisoning—Illustrative Cases,
149, 150

185.
Physiological Effects,
150

186.
Symptoms witnessed in Death from Chloroform Vapour,
150, 151

187.
Chronic Chloroform Poisoning—Mental Effects from Use of Chloroform,
151, 152

188.
Post-mortem Appearances,
152

189.
The Detection and Estimation of Chloroform—Various Tests,
152, 153

190.
Quantitative Estimation,
153

VI. OTHER ANÆSTHETICS.

191.
Methyl Chloride—Methene Dichloride, &c.,
154

192.
Pentane,
154

193.
Aldehyde,
154

194.
Paraldehyde,
154

VII. CHLORAL.

195.
Chloral Hydrate; its Composition and Properties,
154, 155

196.
Detection,
155

197.
Quantitative Estimation of Chloral Hydrate,
155, 156

198.
Effects of Chloral Hydrate on Animals—Depression of Temperature—Influence on the
Secretion of Milk, &c.,
156, 157

199.
Action upon the Blood,
157

200.
Effects on Man,
157, 158

201.
Fatal Dose,
158, 159

202.
Symptoms,
159

203.
Action of Chloral upon the Brain,
159

[xiv]

204.
Treatment of Acute Chloral Poisoning,
160

205.
Chronic Poisoning by Chloral Hydrate,
160, 161

206.
Manner in which Chloral is Decomposed in, and Excreted from, the Body,
161, 162

207.
Separation from Organic Matters—Tests for Chloral,
162, 163

VIII. BISULPHIDE OF CARBON.

208.
Properties of Bisulphide of Carbon,
163

209.
Poisoning by Bisulphide of Carbon,
163

210.
Action on Animals,
163, 164

211.
Chronic Poisoning by Bisulphide of Carbon—Effects on the Brain, &c.,
164, 165

212.
Post-mortem Appearances,
165

213.
Separation and Detection of Carbon Bisulphide—Tests,
165

214.
Xanthogenic Acid,
165

215.
Potassic Xanthogenate,
165

IX. THE TAR ACIDS—PHENOL—CRESOL.

216.
Properties and Sources of Carbolic Acid,
165, 166

217.
Different Forms of Carbolic Acid—Calvert’s Carbolic Acid Powder—Carbolic Acid Soaps,
166, 167

218.
Uses of Carbolic Acid,
167

219.
Statistics Relative to Poisoning by Carbolic Acid,
167-169

220.
Fatal Dose,
169

221.
Effects on Animals—Infusoria—Fish—Frogs,
169, 170

222.
Effects on Warm-Blooded Animals,
170

223.
Symptoms Produced in Man—External Application—Action on the Skin—Effects of the
Vapour—Use of Carbolic Acid Lotions—Injections, &c.—Illustrative Cases,
170-172

224.
Internal Administration—Illustrative Cases,
173

225.
General Review of the Symptoms induced by Carbolic Acid,
173, 174

226.
Changes Produced in the Urine by Carbolic Acid,
174, 175

227.
The Action of Carbolic Acid considered Physiologically,
175, 176

228.
Forms under which Carbolic Acid is Excreted,
176

229.
Post-mortem Appearances,
176, 177

Tests for Carbolic Acid.

230.
(1) The Pine-Wood Test—(2) Ammonia and Hypochlorite Test—(3) Ferric Chloride—(4)
Bromine,
177, 178

231.
Quantitative Estimation of Carbolic Acid,
178, 179

232.
Properties of Cresol, and Tests for Distinguishing Cresol and Carbolic Acid,
179

233.
Properties of Creasote—Tests,
179, 180

234.
Separation of Carbolic Acid from Organic Fluids or Tissues,
180, 181

235.
Examination of the Urine for Phenol or Cresol,
181

236.
Assay of Disinfectants, Carbolic Acid Powders—E. Waller’s Process—Koppeschaar’s
Volumetric Method—Colorimetric Method of Estimation,
181-183

237.
Carbolic Acid Powders,
183

238.
Carbolic Acid Soaps,
183

X. NITRO-BENZENE.

239.
Properties and Varieties,
183, 184

240.
Effects of Poisoning by Nitro-Benzene,
184

241.
Illustrative Cases of Poisoning by Nitro-Benzene Vapour,
184, 185

242.
Effects Produced by taking Liquid Nitro-Benzene,
185, 186

243.
Fatal Dose,
186, 187

244.
Pathological Appearances,
187

245.
The Essential Action of Nitro-Benzene,
187, 188

246.
Detection and Separation from the Animal Tissues,
188

XI. DINITRO-BENZOL.

247.
Properties of Ortho-, Meta-, and Para-Dinitro-Benzol,
189

248.
Effects of Dinitro-Benzol,
189, 190

249.
The Blood in Nitro-Benzol Poisoning,
191

[xv]

250.
Detection of Dinitro-Benzol,
192

XII. HYDROCYANIC ACID.

251.
Properties of Hydrocyanic Acid,
192

252.
Medicinal Preparations of Prussic Acid—Various Strengths of the Commercial Acid,
192, 193

253.
Poisoning by Prussic Acid—Uses in the Arts—Distribution in the Vegetable Kingdom,
193-195

254.
Composition and Varieties of Amygdalin,
195

255.
Statistics of Poisoning by Prussic Acid,
195-197

256.
Accidental and Criminal Poisoning,
197, 198

257.
Fatal Dose,
198

258.
Action of Hydric and Potassic Cyanides on Living Organisms,
198, 199

259.
Symptoms observed in Animals,
199, 200

260.
Length of Interval between taking the Poison and Death in Animals,
200, 201

261.
Symptoms in Man,
201, 202

262.
Possible Acts after taking the Poison—Nunneley’s Experiments,
202, 203

263.
Chronic Poisoning by Hydric Cyanide,
203

264.
Post-mortem Appearances,
203, 204

265.
Tests for Hydrocyanic Acid and Cyanide of Potassium—Schönbein’s Test—Kobert’s Test,
204-206

266.
Separation of Hydric Cyanide or Potassic Cyanide from Organic Matters—N. Sokoloff’s
Experiments,
206-208

267.
How long after Death can Hydric or Potassic Cyanide be Detected?
208, 209

268.
Estimation of Hydrocyanic Acid or Potassic Cyanide,
209

269.
Case of Poisoning by Bitter Almonds,
209, 210

Poisonous Cyanides other than Hydric and Potassic Cyanides.

270.
General Action of the Alkaline Cyanides—Experiments with Ammonic Cyanide Vapour,
210

271.
The Poisonous Action of several Metallic and Double Cyanides—The Effects of Mercuric and
Silver Cyanides; of Potassic and Hydric Sulphocyanides; of Cyanogen Chloride; of Methyl
Cyanide, and of Cyanuric Acid,
210, 211

XIII. PHOSPHORUS.

272.
Properties of Phosphorus—Solubility—Effects of Heat on Phosphorus,
212, 213

273.
Phosphuretted Hydrogen—Phosphine,
213

274.
The Medicinal Preparations of Phosphorus,
213

275.
Matches and Vermin Paste,
213-215

276.
Statistics of Phosphorus Poisoning,
215, 216

277.
Fatal Dose,
216

278.
Effects of Phosphorus,
217

279.
Different Forms of Phosphorus Poisoning,
217, 218

280.
Common Form,
218, 219

281.
Hæmorrhagic Form,
219

282.
Nervous Form,
219

283.
Sequelæ,
219, 220

284.
Period at which the First Symptoms commence,
220

285.
Period of Death,
220

286.
Effects of Phosphorus Vapour—Experiments on Rabbits,
220, 221

287.
Effects of Chronic Phosphorus Poisoning,
221, 222

288.
Changes in the Urinary Secretion,
222

289.
Changes in the Blood,
222, 223

290.
Antidote—Treatment by Turpentine,
223

291.
Poisonous Effects of Phosphine,
223, 224

292.
Coefficient of Solubility of Phosphine in Blood compared with Pure Water,
224

293.
Post-mortem Appearances—Effects on the Liver,
224-228

294.
Pathological Changes in the Kidneys, Lungs, and Nervous System,
228

295.
Diagnostic Differences between Acute Yellow Atrophy of the Liver and Fatty Liver produced
by Phosphorus,
228, 229

296.
Detection of Phosphorus—Mitscherlich’s Process—The Production of Phosphine—Tests
Dependent on the Combustion of Phosphine,
229-232

297.
The Spectrum of Phosphine—Lipowitz’s Sulphur Test—Scherer’s Test,
232, 233

[xvi]

298.
Chemical Examination of the Urine,
233, 234

299.
Quantitative Estimation of Phosphorus,
234

300.
How long can Phosphorus be recognised after Death?
234, 235

PART VI.—ALKALOIDS AND POISONOUS VEGETABLE

PRINCIPLES SEPARATED FOR THE MOST PART BY ALCOHOLIC

SOLVENTS.

Division I.—Vegetable Alkaloids.

I. GENERAL METHOD OF TESTING AND EXTRACTING ALKALOIDS.

301.
General Tests for Alkaloids,
236

302.
Group-Reagents,
236, 237

303.
Phosphomolybdic, Silico-Tungstic, and Phospho-Tungstic Acids as Alkaloidal Reagents,
237-239

304.
Schulze’s Reagent,
239

305.
Dragendorff’s Reagent,
239

306.
Colour Tests,
239

307.
Stas’s Process,
239

Methods of Separation.

308.
Selmi’s Process for Separating Alkaloids,
240, 241

309.
Dragendorff’s Process,
241-254

310.
Shorter Process for Separating some of the Alkaloids,
254, 255

311.
Scheibler’s Process for Alkaloids,
255

312.
Grandval and Lajoux’s Method,
255, 256

313.
Identification of the Alkaloids,
256

314.
Sublimation of the Alkaloids,
256-261

315.
Melting-point,
261

316.
Identification by Organic Analysis,
261, 262

317.
Quantitative Estimation of the Alkaloids—Mayer’s Reagent—Compound of the Alkaloids
with Chlorides of Gold and Platinum,
262-264

II. LIQUID VOLATILE ALKALOIDS.

1. The Alkaloids of Hemlock (Conium).

318.
Botanical Description of Hemlock,
264

319.
Properties of Coniine—Tests,
264-266

320.
Other Coniine Bases,
266

321.
Pharmaceutical Preparations of Hemlock,
266, 267

322.
Statistics of Coniine Poisoning,
267

323.
Effects of Coniine on Animals,
267, 268

324.
Effects of Coniine on Man,
268

325.
Physiological Action of Coniine,
268

326.
Post-mortem Appearances—Fatal Dose,
268, 269

327.
Separation of Coniine from Organic Matters or Tissues,
269

2. Tobacco—Nicotine.

328.
General Composition of Tobacco,
269, 270

329.
Quantitative Estimation of Nicotine in Tobacco,
270, 271

330.
Nicotine; its Properties and Tests,
271-273

331.
Effects of Nicotine on Animals,
273, 274

332.
Effects of Nicotine on Man,
274, 275

333.
Some Instances of Poisoning by Tobacco and Tobacco Juice,
275-277

334.
Physiological Action of Nicotine,
277, 278

335.
Fatal Dose,
278

336.
Post-mortem Appearances,
278

337.
Separation of Nicotine from Organic Matters, &c.,
278, 279

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3. Piturie.

338.
Properties of Piturie,
279

4. Sparteine.

339.
Properties of Sparteine,
279, 280

5. Aniline.

340.
Properties of Aniline,
280

341.
Symptoms and Effects,
280, 281

342.
Fatal Dose,
281

343.
Detection of Aniline,
281

III. THE OPIUM GROUP OF ALKALOIDS.

344.
General Composition of Opium,
281, 282

345.
Action of Solvents on Opium,
282, 283

346.
The Methods of Teschemacher and Smith, of Dott and others for the Assay of Opium,
283, 284

347.
Medicinal and other Preparations of Opium,
284-288

348.
Statistics of Opiate Poisoning,
288, 289

349.
Poisoning of Children by Opium,
289

350.
Doses of Opium and Morphine—Fatal Dose,
289, 290

351.
General Method for the Detection of Opium,
290, 291

352.
Morphine; its Properties,
291, 292

353.
Morphine Salts; their Solubility,
292, 293

354.
Constitution of Morphine,
293, 294

355.
Tests for Morphine and its Compounds—Production of Morphine Hydriodide—Iodic Acid
Test and other Reactions—Transformation of Morphine into Codeine,
294-296

356.
Symptoms of Opium and Morphine Poisoning—Action on Animals,
296-298

357.
Physiological Action,
298, 299

358.
Physiological Action of Morphine Derivatives,
299

359.
Action on Man—(a) The Sudden Form; (b) the Convulsive Form; (c) a Remittent Form of
Opium Poisoning—Illustrative Cases,
299-303

360.
Diagnosis of Opium Poisoning,
303, 304

361.
Opium-Eating,
304-306

362.
Treatment of Opium or Morphine Poisoning,
306

363.
Post-mortem Appearances,
306, 307

364.
Separation of Morphine from Animal Tissues and Fluids,
307

365.
Extraction of Morphine,
308, 309

366.
Narcotine; its Properties and Tests,
309, 310

367.
Effects of Narcotine,
310

368.
Codeine—Properties of Codeine,
310, 311

369.
Effects of Codeine on Animals—Claude Bernard’s Experiments,
311

370.
Narceine—Properties of Narceine—Tests,
312, 313

371.
Effects of Narceine,
313, 314

372.
Papaverine—Properties of Papaverine—Tests,
314

373.
Effects of Papaverine,
314

374.
Thebaine; its Properties,
314, 315

375.
Thebaine; its Effects,
315

376.
Cryptopine,
315, 316

377.
Rhœadine,
316

378.
Pseudomorphine,
316

379.
Opianine,
316

380.
Apomorphine,
316, 317

381.
Reactions of some of the Rarer Opium Alkaloids,
317

382.
Tritopine,
317

383.
Meconin (Opianyl),
317

384.
Meconic Acid—Effects of Meconic Acid—Tests,
318, 319

IV. THE STRYCHNINE OR TETANUS-PRODUCING GROUP OF ALKALOIDS.

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1. Nux Vomica Group—Strychnine—Brucine—Igasurine.

385.
Nux Vomica—Characteristics of the Entire and of the Powdered Seed,
319

386.
Chemical Composition of Nux Vomica,
319

387.
Strychnine—Microscopical Appearances—Properties—Medicinal Preparations—Strychnine
Salts,
319-322

388.
Pharmaceutical and other Preparations of Nux Vomica, with Suggestions for their Valuation—
Vermin-Killers,
322-324

389.
Statistics,
324-325

390.
Fatal Dose—Falck’s Experiments on Animals as to the Least Fatal Dose—Least Fatal Dose
for Man,
325-328

391.
Action on Animals—Frogs,
328, 329

392.
Effects on Man—Symptoms—Distinction between “Disease Tetanus” and “Strychnos
Tetanus,”
329-331

393.
Diagnosis of Strychnine Poisoning,
331, 332

394.
Physiological Action—Richet’s Experiments—The Rise of Temperature—Effect on the
Blood-Pressure,
332, 333

395.
Post-mortem Appearances,
333

396.
Treatment,
333

397.
Separation of Strychnine from Organic Matters—Separation from the Urine, Blood, and
Tissues,
334-337

398.
Identification of the Alkaloid—Colour Tests—Physiological Tests,
337-339

399.
Hypaphorine,
339

400.
Quantitative Estimation of Strychnine,
339, 340

401.
Brucine; its Properties,
340, 341

402.
Physiological Action of Brucine—Experiments of Falck,
341, 342

403.
Tests for Brucine,
342, 343

404.
Igasurine,
344

405.
Strychnic Acid,
344

2. The Quebracho Group of Alkaloids.

406.
The Alkaloids of Quebracho—Aspidospermine—Quebrachine,
344

3. Pereirine.

407.
Pereirine,
344, 345

4. Gelsemine.

408.
Properties of Gelsemine,
345

409.
Fatal Dose of Gelsemine,
345

410.
Effects on Animals—Physiological Action,
345

411.
Effects of Gelsemine on Man,
346

412.
Extraction from Organic Matters, or the Tissues of the Body,
347

5. Cocaine.

413.
Cocaine; its Properties,
47, 348

414.
Cocaine Hydrochlorate,
348

415.
Pharmaceutical Preparations,
348

416.
Separation of Cocaine and Tests,
348, 349

417.
Symptoms,
349

418.
Post-mortem Appearances,
349, 350

419.
Fatal Dose,
350

6. Corydaline.

420.
Properties of Corydaline,
350

V. THE ACONITE GROUP OF ALKALOIDS.

421.
Varieties of Aconite—Description of the Flower, and of the Seeds,
350, 351

422.
Pharmaceutical Preparations of Aconite,
351

423.
The Aconite Alkaloids,
351

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