umpkin
originally came, procured a portion of the same at the house where the
poisoning occurred, and sent it to the writer for examination.

The results of the examination as reported in Serial No. 552, below,
showed that the canned pumpkin contained an amount of stannous salts
equivalent to 6.4 maximum doses and 51.4 minimum doses of stannous
chloride per pound. On being notified of this fact, the dealer sent a
can of the same brand of pumpkin from his stock. The inner coating of
the can was found to be badly eroded, and upon examination, as
reported in Serial No. 563, below, one pound of the pumpkin contained
tin salts equivalent to 7 maximum and 56 minimum doses of stannous
chloride.

The unexpected large amount of tin salts in such an insipid article as
canned pumpkin, and the claimed ill effects of the consumption of the
same, suggested the advisability of extending the investigation to
other canned goods in common use. Accordingly a line of articles was
purchased in open market as sold to consumers, no pains being taken to
procure old samples. The collection embraced fruits, vegetables, fish
and condensed milk. With the exception of the condensed milk, every
article examined was contaminated with salts of tin. In most cases the
amount of tin salts present was so large that there can be no doubt of
danger to health from the consumption of the food, especially if
several kinds are consumed at the same meal.

METHOD.

The method employed in the determination of the tin was simply as
follows:

The contents of each can were emptied into a large porcelain dish, and
the condition of the inner coating of the can noted. After thoroughly
mixing the contents, fifty grammes were weighed off and incinerated in
a porcelain dish of suitable size. The residue was treated with a
large excess of concentrated hydrochloric acid, evaporated to dryness,
moistened with hydrochloric acid, water was added, and the mass was
filtered and washed, the insoluble matter being all washed upon the
filter. After drying the filter with its contents, the whole was again
incinerated in a porcelain dish and the residue treated as before. The
solution thus obtained was properly diluted and saturated with
hydrogen sulphide. After standing about twelve hours in a covered
beaker the precipitate was filtered off and the tin weighed as stannic
oxide.

RESULTS OF EXAMINATION.

_Serial No. 552._--Sample of canned pumpkin, received of F.A.
Dert