154 
Detection of Gorjpuscles. 
[Monthly Microscopical 
Journal, Sept. 1, 1869. 
muslin or linen; and lastly, those upon cloth and other woollen 
fabrics. In order to be forearmed against the objections of in- 
genious counsel, he should in murder cases, wherever practicable, 
be provided with spots made before witnesses, with fresh blood from 
the corpse upon different unstained portions of the identical articles 
of the supposed murderer's clothing, and also with specimens of the 
blood dried in a thin film upon glass slides, for the purpose of dis- 
proving any hypothesis of leucocythemia, or other blood diseases, 
which might alter the normal character or relative proportion of 
the blood elements. 
In examining the moistened clot, great care must be taken to 
avoid any movement of cover upon the slide, which, when it occurs, 
often rolls the interposed disk into an apparently homogeneous 
mass ; and it is advisable to keep up a current of fresh water, at 
least, until all tinge of colour is removed from the clot, otherwise 
none but the granular lymph corpuscles can be visible. Should 
any doubt remain as to the identity of these bodies, it can be set 
at rest by treating them with acetic acid or solution of aniline, as 
noted in a paper on the " Detection of Undiluted from those of 
Diluted Blood-stains," in the American * Med. and Surg. Keporter,* 
Jan. 9,1869. In order to complete a chain of evidence it is probable 
that the decolourized corpuscles in a fragment of clot after being 
rendered more distinct by iodine, as above mentioned, might often 
be demonstrated, if required in court, to intelligent jurymen, espe- 
cially where as surveyors, watchmakers, or engravers, the jurors 
were not unaccustomed to the use of lenses. 
It may not be out of place to subjoin a comparison of the rela- 
tive delicacy of the different processes recommended by medical 
jurists for the discovery of blood-stains. 
By the intricate and tedious method of M. Taddei,* " A piece 
of linen or cotton, which hardly contained 28 to 30 centigrammes 
(between four and five troy grains) of dried blood furnished enough 
for the determination of its nature." 
A plan suggested by Dr. F. Kunge, in which the iron of the 
blood was tested for by ferrocyanide of potassium, is spoken of by 
Dr. Fleming as being so very delicate, that a single drop of blood 
sufficed for complete detection. 
By spectrum analysis lately vaunted as successful when ordinary 
microscopic examination fails, it is claimed that toW^^ ^ grain 
of dried blood may be recognized, but no clue is thus afforded to the 
animal from whence the vital fluid is derived. 
Through the courtesy of Dr. Linderman, Director, and Mr. 
J. K. Eckfelt, Chief Assayer of the United States Mint, I was 
enabled to estimate the delicacy of the microscopic test for blood, as 
follows : — Upon a square of waxed paper determined by Mr. Eckfelt 
* Fabre, ' Bibliotheque du Medecin Praticien,' torn. xv. p. 264, Paris, 1851. 
