On an alleged fallacy in Marsh's process for the detection of arsenic / by Arthur Gamgee, M.D.

  • Gamgee, Arthur, 1841-1909.
Date:
[1864]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On an alleged fallacy in Marsh's process for the detection of arsenic / by Arthur Gamgee, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    ON AN ALLEGED FALLACY IN [ARSE'S PROCilSS FOR THE DE OF ARSENIC. By ARTHUR GAMGEE, M.D., ASSISTANT TO THE PKOFE330E OF MEDICAL JUKI3PEUDENCE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDmBDBQH. EeprirUecl from the Edinburgh Medical Journal, November 1864. Ln the Journal de Pharmacie et de Ghimie for December 1863, M. Blondlot published a highly interesting little memoir, entitled ' Recherclies toxicologlques sur la transformation de 1'Arsenic 3n hydrure solide, par I'hydrogfene naissant, sous I'influence des jomposbs nitreux ou de la pression. The statements made in this paper are of the greatest importance to toxicologists, as, if proved \o be true, the gravest doubts would be cast upon a large number of the analyses for arsenic which have been performed in medico- legal cases during the last few years. It is needless to insist upon the propriety of being accurately acquainted with the fallacies to which any scientific process is liable, more especially of a process famishing evidence which may lead to the death of a fellow creature; on the other hand, it is equally important that we should not be deterred by alleged fallacies, which have no existence except in the imagination of their originators, from using with confidence valuable and really reliable methods of investigation. It has long been known that under certain circumstances either the conversion of arsenical compoimds into the gaseous hydride of arsenic (AsHa), through the agency of nascent hydrogen, is altogether prevented, or the gas having been formed, is subse- quently decomposed. Copper, mercury, and chlorate of potash have been shown to act in this way.^ M. Blondlot has, in the memoir to which allusion has already been made, endeavoured to sliow that under two other circumstances the conversion into gaseous hydride of arsenic is prevented, the solid hydride of arsenic being instead produced. » See Dr Taylor on Facts anrl Fallacies connected with the Research for Arsenic and Antimony, etc., in Guy's Hospital Reports, Third Series, vol. vi., 1860.