_Bradford, near Manchester, January 27, 1872._
THE TEST FOR ALBUMEN.
_To the_ EDITORS.
GENTLEMEN,—It is over two years since I devised the carbolic mixture for
detecting traces of albumen. At the time I did not think it of
sufficient photographic interest to occupy your space in detailing
experiments on the subject; but, as you do not remember the author’s
name, I beg to remind you that I am the author. It was published, I
believe, as a note by a friend of mine—an eminent chemist and
toxicologist—in a medical work.
On one occasion we were talking over the means of detecting albumen, and
having experimented with phenol or “carbolic acid” for about eight
years, many times in connection with albumen, I knew its properties
well, and, on my attention being directed to a test for albumen, I
commenced experiments with a mixture of phenol and acetic acid, then
with the addition of alcohol, and finally with phenol and alcohol, equal
parts by weight. My friend and self then went through a comparative set
of experiments side by side—my friend taking his old nitric acid test
and I my new phenol mixture—the result being that my test indicated
albumen both in plain water and urine, diluted one in ten after the
nitric acid failed to indicate any further.—I am, yours, &c.,