Aids to Forensic Medicine and ToxicologyRobertson, W. G. Aitchison (William George Aitchison )
Science
Aids to Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
Robertson, W. G. Aitchison (William George Aitchison )
Medical jurisprudence; Poisons
_Method of Extraction from the Stomach._--The coats of the stomach
should be examined with a lens for any white particles. These, if
present, may be collected, mixed with a little charcoal in a test-tube,
and heated. If arsenic is present, a metallic ring will be formed in the
cooler parts of the tube. If this ring be also heated, octahedral
crystals of arsenic will be deposited farther up the tube, and are
easily recognized by the microscope. The contents of the stomach, or the
solid organs minced up, should be boiled with pure hydrochloric acid and
water, then filtered. The filtrate can then be subjected to Marsh's or
Reinsch's process.
_Tests._--In _solution_, arsenic may be detected by the liquid tests.
(1) Ammonio-nitrate of silver gives a yellow precipitate (arsenite of
silver). (2) Ammonio-sulphate of copper gives a green precipitate
(Scheele's green). (3) Sulphuretted hydrogen water gives a yellow
precipitate.
_Marsh's Process._--Put pure distilled water into a Marsh's apparatus
with metallic zinc and sulphuric acid. Hydrogen is set free, and should
be tested by lighting the issuing gas and depressing over it a piece of
white porcelain. If no mark appears, the reagents are pure, and the
suspected liquid may now be added. The hydrogen decomposes arsenious
acid, and forms arseniuretted hydrogen. The gas carried off by a fine
tube is again ignited. A piece of glass or porcelain held to the flame
will have, if arsenic be present, a deposit on it having the following
characters: In the centre a deposit of metallic arsenic, round this a
mixture of metallic arsenic and arsenious acid, and outside this another
ring of arsenious acid in octahedral crystals. The deposit is dissolved
by a solution of chloride of lime, turned yellow by sulphide of ammonium
after evaporation; on the addition of strong nitric acid, evaporated and
neutralized with ammonia and nitrate of silver added, a brick-red colour
is produced--arseniate of silver.
_Reinsch's Process._--Boil distilled water with one-sixth or one-eighth
of hydrochloric acid, and introduce a slip of bright copper. If, after a
quarter of an hour's boiling, there is no stain on the copper, add the
suspected liquid. If arsenic be present, it will form an iron-grey
deposit. If this foil be dried, cut up, put in a reduction-tube, and
heated, crystals of arsenious trioxide will be deposited on the cold
part of the tube.
These tests are difficult to apply, but as arsenic is a ubiquitous
poison, and as there are many sources of fallacy, it would be well, when
possible, to obtain the services of an expert.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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