If, finally, an ammoniacal solution of nitrate of silver has been employed to cause the coloration, the hair is immersed, for some time, in a dilute solution of cyanide of potassium, and the fluid subsequently examined for silver. In case a portion of the salt has been converted into the sulphide, it will be difficult to restore the original color, as the removal of this compound is not easily effected.
The hair has been decolorized.
Black hair can be bleached by means of chlorine-water, the various shades of the blonde being produced by the more or less prolonged action of the reagent. In this case, the odor of chlorine is completely removed only with great difficulty, and the hair is rarely uniformly decolorized. The expert may therefore be able to observe indication that will greatly assist him in arriving at a definite conclusion. The hair should be carefully examined up to the roots: if several days have elapsed since the decolorization has been performed, the lower portion of the hair will have grown and will exhibit its natural color. No method has yet been proposed that restores the original color to bleached hair. It is very possible, however, that this end would be attained by allowing nascent hydrogen to act upon the decolorized hair. For this purpose, it would be necessary to immerse it in water containing some sodium amalgam, and slightly acidulated with acetic acid.
DETERMINATION OF THE NATURE OF THE HAIR.
In examinations of this character use is made of the microscope. The hair to be examined is suspended in syrup, oil, or glycerine and placed between two thin glass plates. Human hair is sometimes cylindrical; sometimes flattened. It consists either of a central canal, or of a longitudinal series of oblong cavities which contain oily coloring matter, and possesses the same diameter throughout its entire length. The brown hair of the beard and whiskers, medium-sized chestnut hair, the hair of a young blonde girl, and the downy hair of a young man possess respectively a diameter of 0.03 to 0.15; 0.08 to 0.09; 0.06; and 0.015 to 0.022 millimetres. These exhibit on the surface slightly projecting scales, which are irregularly sinuous at the border, separated from each other by a space of about 0.01 m.m., and are transparent, whatever may be their color.
The hair of ruminants is short and stiff, and is characterized by containing cavities filled with air. Wool, however, forms an exception, as it consists of entire hairs, homogeneous in appearance and possessing imbricated scales, which bestow upon it the property of being felted.
The hair of the horse, ox and cow never exceeds 12 m.m. in length, and is tapering, its diameter gradually diminishing from the base. It is perfectly opaque, and does not appear to possess a central canal; has a reddish color, and frequently exhibits lateral swellings, from which small filaments occasionally become detached, in the same manner as a twig separates itself from the parent branch.
EXAMINATION OF FIRE-ARMS.
(Proposed by M. Boutigny.)
The examination of fire-arms is sometimes useful in determining the date at which a weapon has been discharged or reloaded. The methods used in examinations of this nature vary, as the weapon under inspection is one provided with a flint or an ordinary percussion lock. The value of the tests employed is also affected by the kind of powder used; i. e., whether common gunpowder, gun-cotton or white gunpowder (prepared by mixing yellow prussiate of potassa, chlorate of potassa and sugar) has been taken.