Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-09-30
THE CHEMISTS STORY.
BY DIR. ROSS WILSON.

BY DIR, ROSS WILSON.
l am a chemist. Many doubtless,
would find 1t difficult to define what
the duties Of a chemist are, If asked.
To such ! say, chemist Is q collector
Of facts. 1t is the business of his life to
aid In unmasklng for the worlds ben
eft, the good and evil lowering even
In the air we breathe, burrowing in the
earth we tread, mingling with the
food we eat, and swimming In what
we drink.
Then again, the law waits on the
chemist. A human being has passed
suddenly away. The chemist exam
ines the body Of the supposed victim.
The law listens hat in hand to science.
The suspected party trembles in antic-
ipation. The oracular lips Of the
chemist move; he names out one Of q
fearful list Of poisons. II is eltherstrych-
nine, prussic acid, or that deadly oil
bitter almonds. The law then puts on
Its hat, takes the decision into court,
and hangs the prisoner.
In short, the chemist must know
the why's and wherefores Of everything
in the phenomena Of life, as far rs
eeble man can know. The compost
ton of the ocean he must be familiar
with; he must be able to name the
gases Of the air, and capable of re-
solving the human body itself into
visible vapors. lam the occupant Of
this responsible and important posi-
tion In the Medical College Of p.
1t was about eleven O'Clock on q
stormy evening that l bade good
night to my student, Tom Richard, al
the door ofmy laboratory, at the south
end Of the college building,
"Good-night, Professor said Tom;
1--WE are going to have a fall Of hydro.
gen, oxygen, and q trace of saline"
Hydrogen and oXygen-in our no
menclature, II. 0. is water.
II hope" ! said, in answer to Tom
playful words, that 1t will not rail-
before l get home.n
80 no; it won't for an hour yet,
said Tom.
"Then," l said with a sigh, noticing
that the mercury in my barometer wa,
| falling, a sign of violent storm, Z"
shall certainly get wet.n
Tom was very anxious to know
what would keep me up after twelv'
| clock; 80 told him l was about t
commence analyzing the stomach OF
Mrs. johnson, whose husband nov
layIin P Jail, just across the road from
the college, on suspicion that he wa
the murderer. Tom said had WORKED
hard enough that day and deserves
the night to myself. He spoke tn
truth, Still I had delayed examining
| the woman's stomach so long; and tn
trial was so near at hand, that coul
not ia conscience put Off the examl
nation farther; although had hear
several classes recite at the dlileren
nnblio schools in the morning, had dc
Iiyered q lecture in the college prope
in the afternoon, and one in the labora
tory that evening, besides attendin
TO nv several duties as police surgeo
during the day. ,,
AS Tom was passing out Of the co
lege yard, through the gate, ms hea
turned, bidding me good night; y
brushed against man standing wit
, his hack to the college and his face t.
ward the prison. The street lam
showed me that the man was clad
the police uniform.
Re.entering nay laboratory, / too
down a glass Jar from a shelf, and s.
down before my sink to examine !
The lar, which contained Mrs. JONI
cloth, duly tied with strlngs,, al
nroperly sealed with my official Sc
In red wax. Breaking through IL
cloth and seal, lifted the stomach Of
with a disseoting hook and laid II
/ the white platter before me; then . .
came busily engaged In applying thI y
tests ito its contents by which we d
,, tect the presence of injurious s''
An hour had passed since the depal
ure Of young Richards. l had car
fully emptied the contents OF U
J stomach into number OF bowls al
basins, / had labored hard to disco,v
r traces of poison in oil this, but d.
been unsuccessful. Joe johnson, !
suspected man, had been o student
0 | mine few years before. l thoug
\ him a good-hearted, intelligent fello
q only a little wild, and really beg
:. To hone that he might prove lnnocel
. when among the macerated IoC
y I came upon q small, inhnltesslIn q
j. white grain. By careful manipuIatl
a and the use of the magnifyins glass
d managed to get this upon Q piece
l. evoked glass, and examined It.
III sl was then certain that / had q
rs covered arsnic; but to make assurGI
70 Joubly sure, | determined to appli
NJ vyoiI tnown test for that poison. 4
w cordingly / placed in the W9mtsa
10 Stomaeh the usual acids, and tl
hc m tTrned on the blow-pipe ilame,
m presently there appeared tnat ptlLla' ,,l hr'
~ ~ metallic mark worthy Of Cams D['
Ms rs which is the sign and signet Oh
~ ~ Poison Fend. I,,,r thot
y. y, WYes, y I exclaimed, as | saw y, Una, !,
ok ia, bIaaon, "Joe Johnson is the n
Oh derer of his witeI With the eVlut
Ip- of that mark to back me, no po
At- @ oan lave him from The rope ~
HDo you really think S soS' ~ ~
Ig: ' turned quickly and discover
cr- tall, lank policeman HAVING tN,ng a,
lly weak and watery eyes, standlng u
ng, of,ice door and staring in; ms Il.
} Is locked as # Il had been rolled ouE