Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-13
DIR. MUNpoRF's INTERVIEW,

In speaking last night of the result of the
analysis and his success in demonstrating
the possibility of discovering whether
strains on iron or steel is blood or not, DR..
Mundorf said:
''The possibility of detecting the nature
of old stains. supposed on circumstantial
grounds to be com posed of blood. is of great
interest to scientists. There can be no ques-
ton but that the methods now used by va
rious observers will insure gratifying results
when the conditions governing their appli-
cation are at all favorable. As scientific
methods they have been too long and thor
oughly tested to set them aside as valueless.
There are Instances on record where
these tests have been used by
various observers, in cases of extraordinary
difficulty, not only in way fatteriDg to the
individuals who performed the tasks, but
also to prove the resources of this depart
ment of modern science in settling doubtful
points that involve the, salvation or de-
struction of human life. These methods
may employ the use of microscope and
Photographic powers that run up to the
enormous extent of 10000 diameters, as
when the question of the relative sizes of
blood cells from various animals are to be
contrasted, in order TO tell the blood of q
human from that of the dog, the OK. the
sheep and the goat, the blood cells of which
diminish in size from man to the goat in the
order mentioned.
ALMOST LIKE MAGIC.
There is, indeed. something of the air of
magic hanging around the means occasion
ally employed, in these instances, to bring
the truth to light. And where the reaching
of that truth depends upon some impercepti-
BILE particle coming from them, and subject
to changes that go far to destroy its char
acteristic, shape and structure, as ,or
instance, an old blood stain, tie novelty of
the task increases.
'In the examination OF ola blood stains,
the first pointOf inquiry is: From what ami
NAL belonging to the great MAMMALIAN group
does the spot Of dried blood come? The need
of care in deciding this point is evident when
we bear In mind that several domestic ami
mails have blood cells very similar in size
and appearance to those of man, and to dis
criminate among them is to accomplish task
that has not vet satisfied the relentless de-
mands OF scientific precision in all cases.
In blood discolorations there is fortu-
nately another mode of procedure which
NAV be made use of, whether the blood
stain be new or old, one that is the forma-
ton by properly selected chemicals applied
to the suspected substance, of certain tvpi-
cal CRYSTALS that are thus constructed by
chemical reactions set up in the
coloring matter OF the blood. These
crystals are exceedingly minute and
are known as haemin crystals,
and for their detection require the use of
the microscope. But if the blood stain
happens to be old and deposited as simple
speck of ofdiscoloration, in no wise resembling
blood, on the blade of a knife. the difficult
ties in the way OF the discharge of the task
are increased. 1t is a well known act that
blood deposited on iron and steel, will un-
dergo changes that prevent the formation of
even haemin crystals, and hence leaves the
worker little or no chance OF resolving the
speck into blood.
ONE OF THE TESTS.
I'm order to solve question as to a Ger
tain point, discolorations discernible on the
large blade of a dark handled penknife,
placed for that purpose in nv hands, with
the statement that it was the knife OF a sui
eide. With great patience and care a very
minute quantity of debris was obtained from
the discotored spots, transferred to perfectly
clean glass sides and submitted to the proper
chemical tests, heat and the microscope.
The first two experiments failed. The third
experiment, submitted to some changes
mesnwhile, succeeded, and it had the char
acteristic appearances aof the coloring
matter of the blood with the haemin
crystals under my observation. This blood
contained in its midst three hairs cut short
off as by a razor. showing that the suicide
had Probably been recently shaved. The
knife was placed in my hands for examina-
ton By Captain Stewart and Inspector Nc