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49
The next best substance to potash for dissolving a body is nitric
acid, but potash is the best. Nitric acid would require double por-
tion ; it would take the whole weight of the body, of nitric acid, to
dissolve it. The effect of it, when applied to a body, would depend
entirely upon caloric; if gently heated, it would give off very little
gas, and if boiled, a very large quantity. The odor of nitric acid is
very disagreeable, but it is not necessary that the gas should be
confined, for the safety of the operator; an open vessel would do. I
saw nothing large enough to dissolve any considerable amount of
matter at a time, in the laboratory. There were in the laboratory
several bottles containing one or two pounds each, or perhaps more,
some of nitric and. some of muriatic acid, nearly full, on the window
near the staircase. Did not examine all the bottles, but ,think there
was not more than ten pounds of it altogether.
There was on the wall, (which was painted white,) and on the stair-
case side of it, drops of green liquid, (the stairs were those leading from
the back room in the rear of the lecture-room.) I sent to my labora-
tory, and got some filtering paper, which would absorb the green
liquid. Dr. Gay took that paper, and absorbed some of it, and carried
it home with him. Since I received the things that Dr. Gay had, I
have examined that paper, which I recognized to be the same paper
with the green fluid in it, and found that green fluid to be nitrate of
copper.
The drops were very abundant in quantity, extending all along the
stairs, from top to bottom, and on the adjoining wall. Was satisfied
that it was nitrate of copper; think it was spilt on the stairs, and
did not run down from the top ; the drops were more abundant at
the bottom than at the top of the stairs. Nitrate of copper attracts
moisture from the air, and remains in a liquid state a long time; the
stains were in a fluid state when I was there. Nitrate of copper has
an astringent acid taste like copper. With regard to the spots of
blood, I was requested. by the Government to. make an examination
of them ; but considering the blood a more prper subject for micro-
scopic observation, I transferred the duty to Dr. Wyman.
Have had no experience of the effect of nitrate of copper on blood.
A pair of pantaloons was discovered, with spots of blood on them.
I think it was on Sunday Dr. Wyman cut out pieces from them. A
powerful microscope is the only test to discover small spots of blood.
Slippers were also found, with appearances of blood on them. Dr.
Woman cut pieces from them also.
Several punch pieces of copper were found in one of the drawers in
Dr. Webster's laboratory. Others were found, much thinner, under
the furnace, having upon them nitrate of copper, showing that the
oxyde of copper-had probably been introduced into nitric acid, for the
purpose of making nitrate of copper.
I found, in the substances given to me,
Dr. Gay found,
And in a piece brought to me by Mr. John L. An-
drews, the secretary of the coroner's inquest, I found, 81;aa grs. gold.
Total, 173TVa grs.. gold.
The market value of this gold, would be $6.94. There is some
4
453a grs. gold.
47 grs. gold.
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