"A Chemist" complains, through the Times, that be has devised
a sure test for the detection of arsenic; but that he endures gross official neglect. " At the commencement of last year, I set about discovering some substance to mix with arsenic, to render it observable when united to aliments. After some trouble, I was rewarded with a powder that., in itself inert, when mixed with arsenic in the proportion of one per cent was so sensitive as to render a few grains palpable in food. Thus, a basin of bread and milk immediately became blue; and not blue by the admixture of a colouring matter, but by a chemical action theta philosopher could not avert. Broth, 'gruel, puddings, tea, coffee, porter, beer, wine,. all came within the rangeof its operation—changing of different colours and rendering detec- tion inevitable. I laid the matter before moatof our leading chemists; whoapplanded it; one of whom—a most distinguished professor—condescended to offer to read a paper upon it at the Southampton meeting of the British Association. I sent a specimen of the prepared arsenic to the Premier, (Lord John Russell,) proposing that Government should license each seller of arsenic at 18. a year, compelling them to sell none other than the prepared arsenic. Each vendor may prepare the arsenic at the cost of half-a-crown a hundredweight. The receipt of my letter was acknowledged—that was all: I was without patronage."
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