BONES. 225 



etc., are present. Should entirely dissimilar bodies 

 of strikingly different color (for example, pit-coal 

 ashes, small pieces of brick, etc.), which have been 

 whitened externally by powdering over with lime, 

 have been intermixed for a fraudulent end in the 

 specimen under examination, they will be detected 

 at a glance. If the turbid fluids procured by the at- 

 trition of the bone-dust are allowed to stand for a 

 short time free from all agitation, the powdery parts 

 will be deposited at the bottom of the glass, and 

 may in like manner be collected upon paper and an 

 opinion arrived at respecting their quantity. What- 

 ever proportion of this sediment is dissolved by 

 strong vinegar is to be regarded as an admixture of 

 lime. Any addition of clay or loam would be recog- 

 nized at once by its appearance, and by the capabil- 

 ity of kneading the partially dried precipitate. The 

 quantity of water in powdered bones is ascertained 

 by leaving a portion, which has been previously 

 weighed, in some warm situation, and again weigh- 

 ing when dry. 



2. Test by Acids, Pour one pint of strong vine- 

 gar over two ounces of bone-dust in a sufficiently 

 roomy crucible, and place it for half an hour in a 

 warm place ; if there is any adulteration of lime, a 

 remarkably brisk effervescence will ensue, and the 

 lime will be dissolved. Let the whole be then poured 

 upon a piece of fine linen stretched over another ves- 

 sel, and rinse the vessel and the linen strainer a few 

 times with water. Upon this, place the strainer with' 



