The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-02-06

has occurred at Prague recalls, in many
of its details and circumstances, the
quaint traditions that were once preva-
lent in regard to the mediaeVal alche-
mists. Prof. Fischer, Of the Prague
gymnasium, young man only . years
of age, and of the highest cminence in
his professionalism Of chemistry-has
come to an untimely end under the most
melancholy circumstances. No one
needs to be told that cyanide of potaa-
stun, drug largely used in photo
graphy, is poison of the most deadly
character Its active ingredient is prus
sic acid. Prussic acid in Its pure, or, as
chemists would term 1t, ''anhydrous'
form, is a substance too dangerous to
be kept, or even manufactured If a
glass capsule containing a wine-glass full
Of pure prussic acid were broken in the
pit Of a theatre, those among the audi
ence who were nearest the doors might
escape, but the great majority would be
killed on the spot. The prussic ecid
ordinarily sold, and occasionally used
for killing dogs and cats, contains about
drop of the pure acid to quarter of
pint Of water. Pure prussic acid no
chemist dare keep. He might as well
compress ton Of dynamite into single
cartridge, supnosing such package to be
possible, and then leave the deadly pack
age lying loose on the table.
Cyanide of potassium is not, like prus-
sic acid, volatile. 1t is white powder,
rather resembling flour or chalk. 1t is,
however, SO poisonous that mere pinch
of 1t, sprinkled over an open wound or
sore, will cause almost instantaneous
death; that fragment almost imper-
ceptible to the eye will, if swallowed,
prove equally fatal; and that its mere
smell has before now produced instant
death. 1t was, it seems, the ambition
of Frof. Fischer to discover some means
of rendering cyanide potassium harm
less. We can do this with gunpowder
although the analogy is not strictly
exact-the means employed with gun
powder being mechanical, while those
for which Prof Fischer sought were
chemical. We know what happens if a
hight is applied to key of gunpowder.
If, however, we mix the powder with
four or five times its bulk Of sawdust, a
torch may be applied to it with impuni-
fy. The mechanical resistance Of the
sawdust makes it impossible for the ex-
ploslon to at once spread to the whole
mass, and the consequence is that sort
OF sp.utter ensues, like that of squib
or blue light Prof Fischer idea was
that, If cyanide Of potassium were thor
oughly mixed with salammoniac, it
would be as harmless as gunpowder mix
cd with sawdust, but would still re-
main equally available for all those pur-
poses of photography for which it is at
present absolutely indispensable.
IN the course Of his researches, Mr..
Fischer made mixture. Of which. in
lis own mind. he felt assured that it
would meet the conditions Of his nrob-
lem. lie compounded the cyanide with
some other substance, and then turning
to his laboratory assistant. said
"science has now 50 far advanced as
to be even able to render harmless so
dangerous an agent as cyanide of potas
stun.
With these words. he tasted the mix
ture, and was almost in an instant seiz-
ed with the most violent and excrnc;at-
inc aconies He at once imnlored his
assistant to send for medical aid Cva-
noeen. however, whether rs nrnssic
acid or cyanide of potassium kills AL
most instantaneously. In few seconds
Prof. Fischer was beyond help. We
are told that tbera ; M noss;bl, ra,son
to snppose that n deliberate suicide had
been manned and carried ont unaar the
mask of experiment On the contrary
there is every reason 70 believe that tho
professor has met the fate which bocau
oniv too many of tho eorIr obou;s,, ona
their predecessors, the alchem;stS
w ~,
*