M. Raspail suggests the following method for detecting arsenic: The surface of a brass plate is rasped by filing. In this condition the plate may be regarded as an innumerable quantity of voltaic elements, formed by the juxtaposition of the molecules of zinc and copper. The suspected materials are boiled with caustic potassa, the solution filtered, a drop of the filtrate placed upon the brass plate, and a drop of chlorine water added. If the plate is then allowed to stand for a moment and the substance under examination contains arsenic, a mirror-like spot is soon deposited upon its surface. In order to avoid confounding this deposit with those produced by other metals, the substitution of granulated brass for the plate is in some cases advisable. The granulated metal is dipped successively in the suspected solution and in chlorine water. The granules retain a small quantity of the solutions and, owing to the action of the chlorine water, become covered with metallic spots, if arsenic be present. They are then dried, placed in a tube closed at one end, and exposed to the heat of an alcohol lamp. In case the spots are arsenical, the metal volatilizes and condenses in a ring upon the cold part of the tube, which is submitted to the tests previously described. This method can hardly be of great service, inasmuch as it extracts the poison from but a very small portion of the solution containing it: we have not, however, personally tested its merits.[G] [G] The omission in the text of Reinsch's test should be supplied. This test is based upon the fact that when solutions of arsenious acid or an arsenide are acidulated with hydrochloric acid and boiled with metallic copper, the latter becomes covered with a film consisting largely of metallic arsenic: it is extensively employed in chemico-legal examinations. The materials to be examined are completely disintegrated by boiling with hydrochloric acid, and the fluid filtered. Some pure copper gauze or foil, having a polished surface, is then immersed in the boiling solution, and notice taken of the formation of a grey deposit. If a coating be formed, fresh pieces of the metal are added, so long as they become affected. The copper is then withdrawn from the solution, thoroughly washed with water, and dried, either by means of the water-bath or by pressing between bibulous paper. It is next introduced into a dry tube, and heated over a spirit lamp. The arsenic present volatilizes and is oxidized to arsenious acid which forms a deposit, consisting of octahedral crystals, on the cold part of the tubes. These are subsequently tested by means of the reactions distinctive of arsenious acid. It need hardly be added that the absolute purity of both the hydrochloric acid and of the copper is to be carefully established. The deposit obtained in the above operation was formerly regarded as pure arsenic, but it has been proved to be an alloy consisting of 32 per cent.