Mr. Barnes. Well, really it is a V-cut on the thumb and forefinger, and a straight parallel line down the left- or right-little finger.
Mr. Belin. On the side of the palm of the hand?
Mr. Barnes. Right.
Mr. Belin. Have you done any reading as to what this test shows and what its limitations are at all?
Mr. Barnes. Well, yes; the purpose of it is when you put the heated paraffin on the hand, for the nitrates which might be on the hand, to be stuck to the paraffin that you place on there.
This paraffin that you place on the hand—I will rephrase this a little bit.
When you put the paraffin on your hand, the nitrates that might be on your hands will stick to the paraffin as it cools, and when you remove the paraffin, then this nitrate or powder residue which might be on the hands will be hardened into the paraffin and will slip off with the paraffin.
Mr. Belin. Now when you say nitrates, I believe you used the word "residue"?
Mr. Barnes. Powder residue and nitrates.
Mr. Belin. Is nitrate a compound which is in gunpowder residue?