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TIIE CHEMICAL GAZETTE. No. CCCCXII.—December 15, 1859. SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY. Chemical Examination for Copper and Lead of Samples of Arrack, Rum, and Sugar, with Experiments on the Best Means of remov ing these Metals when existing in Spirits used for Drinking Pur poses. Eg F. A. Abel, Chemist to the War Department*. The object to be attained by the chemical examination of samples of arrack, rum, and sugar forwarded from Ceylon to this country, by direction of Staff-Surgeon Alexander Smith, and referred to Mr. Abel for report by the Secretary of State for War, was to ascer tain whether and to what extent, lead and copper existed in the samples in question. Corresponding examinations, for comparative purposes, were also made of well-authenticated samples of Jamaica, Demerara, and Mauritius sugar of different qualities obtained from brokers in London, and of specimens of “ Navy ” rum obtained from the vic tualling yards at Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Deptford. The methods employed for the examination of the samples of sugar and spirit were as follows:— 1. Examination of the Samples of Rum and Arrack.—The spirit, in quantities varying from three pints to one gallon, was concen trated by careful distillation to about one-fourth its volume; then evaporated to a viscid consistence on a w ater-bath, and finally trans ferred to a porcelain crucible and gently evaporated to dryness. The residue w'as ignited, with addition of a little nitric acid, and the ash afterwards digested with hydrochloric acid, in which it dissolved, with the exception, in some instances, of a minute quantity of floc- culent matter. The solution was neutralized with carbonate of soda, acidified with acetic acid ; a small quantity of bichromate of potassa * From a Report to the Secretary of State for War, on the Results,—1. of a Chemical Examination for copper and lead of samples of arrack, rum, and sugar, collected in Ceylon by Staff-Surgeon Alexander Smith, M.D.; 2. of a similar examination of other samples of rum and sugar obtained in this country; 3. of experiments made to trace the effect of the use of Metal Stills on the purity of a spirit, such as arrack; and 4. of experiments on the best means for the removal of copper and lead when existing in spirits to be employed for drinking purposes. Chem. (iaz. 1859. 2 b