Card/Transcription No.: 596d-2

596 d Stick

The dark red colour on the gold consists of a definite applied
layer; when heated it first intumesces and then blackens and
finally leaves a pinkish residue, which is soluble in
hydrochloric acid, giving a colourless solution, which does not
give the tests for iron. During the heating a very definite smell
of burning nitrogenous matter (animal matter), such as glue, is
given off. The coloured layer floats off with hot water and is
partly dissolved, producing a yellowish solution; this solution
on boiling froths (which again is suggestive of glue) and again
gives a smell of burning nitrogenous matter (e.g. glue)
Conclusion The red coloured material is an applied coating and
consists of glue coloured artificially. The quantity of material
is too small to allow the nature of the colour to be determined,
but a pink-coloured residue is left on the gold when the glue is
burned off.