The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-11-29 00:00:00

INQUESTS

it. It May not he known that there is in every instance stiffi
bient copper to destroy the children, as the acid kt the stomach
acts on the copper, and turns it into verdigris, but fortunately,
at the same time that the child eat sthe poison, it eats the antidote,
as the saccharine matter in the gingerbread destroys the powers
of the copper; were it not for that many children would be
poisoned. In circler to detecrthe poisons of copper one or two
simple tests will only be necessary. Slice the pickles, and Wash
them in distilled water; neutralize the acid if there be any, and
add ammonia which will produce a deep blue tint. The copper
is first precipitated and then dissolved by the ammonia. We
then have a solution of the ferrocyanuret of potassium which
will give us a chocolate-coloured precipitate which has been used
as a pigment.
The next poison is lead, which is never administered or taken
wilfully; nevertheless lead has been the cause of many deaths,
accidentally and wilfully. In Devoushite a disease prevails
which is generally called the Devonshire cholic. This arises
from the practice of pressing the apples in leaden vessels,
whereby the acid of the apples combines with the lead, and
forms that very deadly poison sugar of lead or acetate of lead.
When the cyder becomes dead, the farmer sweetens it by push-
ing a piece of lead through the hung-hole. ./Setate of lead is
also employed in adulterating wines for the purpose of making
fine old port and fine old sherry. Lead, ton, has become poi-
sonous in consequence of leaden vessels containing water for a
considerable time, by which carbonate of lead, or *kite lead, is
formed. It is a little singular that spring or river water is not
liable to this, but that rain water is. Carb.onate of lead is not
soluble in water, but may be separated by simple filtration. It
is very well known that our lead pipes, through which the water
proceeds, become corroded; but the corrosion takes plate exter-
nally. Nevertheless all these evils might be prevented if plum-
bers would use the tinned lead pipe which has been introduced
within the list few years. The lead pipe is introduded before it
is drawn into a bath of tin, and the coating of tin is drawn out
with the pipe. Sheets of lead are tinned and drawn in the
same manner. Tin is not acted upon either internally or eater=
daily, and if every cistern were made of this tinned lead, no
apprehensions need be entertained. It is not, however, a Mat-
ter of surprise that these are not used; —" it is too dear," says
the plumber; "it lasts too long; it will never wear out." The
antidotes to lead are the sulphate of soda or the sulphate of
magnesia (Glauber's salts and Epsom salts.) These convert it
into harmless insoluble sulphate of lead. They are powerful
tests and antidotes. We have many other tests which may be
employed for this purpose. Hydriodate of potass, chromate of
potass, and sulphuretted hydrogen are amongst these. The
latter forms a black precipitate; the hydriodate of potass and the
biehro nate of potass give a beautiful yellow. •
We must now consider the effects of the vegetable acids, and
we may confine ourselves to one only, as what is said with re-
spect to that will in every case- apply to the others, and the
remedies will almost always apply. Oxalic acid is frequently
taken by mistake for Epsom salts, for which it is sometimes sold
by the druggist, It is somewhat difficult to account for one
being taken for the other as a medicine, the taste being so dif-
ferent, one being a perfect acid, and the other having a bitter
taste; but this may be accounted for, as persons taking salts
gulp them down without tasting them. We have, however;
powerful tests to distinguish the poison frorhiba_tnialicine. The-,
irst is by dropping a little ink into water, Oxalic acid wi 1
destroy the colour of the ink, but Epsom salts will not. If lime
water is poured into a solution of oxalic acid, the mixture will
become turbid, forming an oxalate of lime But in private fa:,
milies there is no better test than this. A piece of chalk is as•
good a test es can be desired; for if it is plunged into a solution
of oxalic acid, an effervescence will ensue, which will not take
place in Epsom salts. -An infusion of violets will is like man=
ner be reddened by the oxalic acid, whilst the Epsom gaits pio-
duce no change in it. In cases of poisoning by oxalic acid, or
any other acid, the remedies are chalk, whiting, or potash mixed
with water, or, when these are not at hand, a large quantity of
soap suds. Were any of these antidotes quickly administered,
many lives would be saved. . -
In the lecture of to-morrow evening, Mr. Hemming will show
the most improved modes of Obtaining and supplying artificial
light, and new contrivances for procuring instantaneous light by
friction, percussion, and chemical action. As this will, un-
doubtedly, be the most brilliant lecture of the course, so we have
no doubt it will be the most interesting and attractive.