If upon adding some of the substance under examination to the above mixture a clear blue coloration ensues, and the insoluble matter thrown down possesses a deep blue color, the presence of coloring matter of the blood is indicated. The mixture also imparts a blue color to moistened spots from which the blood stains have been as completely extracted as possible. Unfortunately sulphate of iron gives the same reaction.[X]
b. Upon heating the fluid obtained by treating the stains with cold water in a test-tube, its brown or reddish color disappears, and greyish-white flakes of coagulated albumen are thrown down. The precipitate acquires a brick-red color, when treated with an acid solution of nitrate of mercury containing nitrous acid. The albumen is also coagulated by the addition of nitric acid: it assumes a more or less yellow color, if heated with a slight excess of the acid. Chlorine-water, especially upon heating, likewise precipitates albumen in the form of white flakes.
c. If the fluid is acidulated with a few drops of acetic acid, and a drop of ferrocyanide of potassium added, a white precipitate, or, at least, turbidity is produced.
d. The flakes of albumen, separated by heating, dissolve in caustic alkalies to a solution, from which they are re-precipitated by nitric acid, or chlorine water.
e. Upon treating blood stains with chlorine-water, a solution which contains chloride of iron, and acquires a red coloration by the addition of sulphocyanide of potassium, is formed.
f. Should the stains have failed to be affected by cold water (which, as has already been remarked, is the case when they have been previously washed with hot water), they are treated with weak soda lye. Nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and chlorine water will produce in the solution so obtained a white precipitate, which exhibits the general properties of albumen previously described. In case the stains are deposited upon linen, it is necessary to replace the soda by ammonia, in order to avoid dissolving the fabric.
g. Solutions of the alkalies, which dissolve the albumen, leave the coloring matters intact, and consequently do not decolorize the fabric. If the latter is afterwards subjected to the action of hydrochloric acid, the coloring matter is dissolved, forming a solution that leaves upon evaporation to dryness a residue containing iron, which gives a blue coloration with ferrocyanide of potassium, and a red coloration with sulphocyanide of potassium.
h. The coloring matter of blood dissolves in boiling alcohol, to which sulphuric acid has been added, to a brown dichroic fluid (appearing green by transmitted light, and red by reflected light). A mixture of rust and blood exhibits the same phenomenon.
i. If substances containing blood are heated in a dry tube, an odor resembling that of burnt horn is emitted. In case the stained fabric is a substance that would produce this odor, (such as wool, silk, or hair), the test naturally loses all value.
j. If the fluid obtained by treating the stains either with water or alkali is evaporated with a little carbonate of potassa, and the residue heated, at first at 100°, then to redness, in a glass tube to which a fresh quantity of carbonate of potassa has been added, cyanide of potassium is formed. When cold, the tube is cut above the part containing the fused mixture, the mass heated with iron-filings and water, the fluid filtered, and the filtrate then acidulated with hydrochloric acid: ferrocyanide of potassium will be present in the fluid, and upon adding a drop of solution of perchloride of iron a green, or blue, color will be produced, and a precipitate of Prussian blue gradually thrown down.