You ought not to have carried this loose in your pocket.

For legal purposes that would seriously interfere with its value as evidence.

Bodies that are suspected of containing poison should be carefully isolated and preserved from contact with anything that might lead to doubt in the analysis.

It doesn't matter much to us, as this analysis is only for our own information and we can satisfy ourselves as to the state of your pocket.

But bear the rule in mind another time." We now ascended to the laboratory, where Thorndyke proceeded at once to dissolve the lump of sugar in a measured quantity of distilled water by the aid of gentle heat.
"Before we add any acid," said he, "or introduce any fresh matter, we will adopt the simple preliminary measure of tasting the solution.