Madonna of tears: medical report on the liquid that came out of the Madonnina's eyes

CLARIFICATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS

The liquid in question is very slightly opalescent and contains very small, slightly yellowish corpuscles. The quantity of liquid to be tested is approximately one cubic centimeter and does not allow for any chemical macro-reaction. A series of orientation micro-reactions are then used with comparison tests on distilled water, spring water and physiological serum (9 per thousand sodium chloride solution); moreover some specific and fundamental reactions related to chemical-physical-biological research are performed in comparison of adult tear secretion (taken from Dr. Cassola by Dr. Cotzia) and tear secretion of a child of two years and seven months old, belonging to the Kindergarten Nest of Syracuse: Galeota Giuseppe di Santo - Via Molo. The chemical micro-reactions are also screened at various magnifications under the microscope, with the observation of the entire field of the chemical reaction, determining the appearance of the precipitate, always compared with preparations from comparison reactions as mentioned above. For this purpose, the reactions were prepared in microscope slides, well cleaned and after the ocular observation, that is with the naked eye, the microscopic observation began (after affixing the coverslip), comforted by the comparison tests on the liquids already said and on tears secreted by human subjects, taken as mentioned above, in the laboratory. The observation of the various reactions was checked by each member of the Commission and the visual observation was supported by an accurate evaluation and coordination, both technical and scientific, of what had been observed. The micro-reactions carried out were also limited to those characteristic researches relating to the composition of the material which constitutes the relief of the "Madonnina".

ANALYTICAL PROCEDURE

Determination of the reaction.
The determination of the reaction was carried out using special papers for the comparative research of PH, obtaining PH = 6,9.

Reactions performed.

The micro-reactions were carried out by taking the liquid under examination with absolutely clean platinum loop, the reagents were placed on the slides also with other platinum loop well cleaned by flame.
Search for sulphates
Tested liquid added to barium nitrate: it did not give rise to the formation of any precipitate: Absence of sulphates.
Test liquid added with hydrochloric acid: some effervescence was not obtained:
Absence of carbonates.
Tested liquid added to potassium sulphocyanide: the characteristic red color denoting iron has not been obtained:
Absence of iron.
Tested liquid added to potassium pyroantimonate: crystalline white precipitate characteristic of sodium pyroantimonate:
Presence of sodium.
Presence already detected by the flame by means of a humid platinum wire of the liquid under examination, giving rise to the intense yellow coloring of the sodium in an oxidizing flame. Calcium was also absent, because no orange red coloring was observed in the oxidizing flame. Test liquid added with silver nitrate in a nitric acid environment: White caseous precipitate with a slight tendency to yellow, stabilizing in the characteristic coarsely flaky precipitate, from the formation of silver chloride denoting the presence of chlorine. The slight anomaly of the coloring of the precipitate with amorphous nodules found on microscopic observation (amorphous nodules with a blackish appearance), gave rise to a scientific-technical discussion between the members of the Commission, who in addition to repeating the test, performed comparison tests both in physiological solution and in spring water, observing the characteristic of the appearance of the precipitate of silver chloride, always under the microscope field without however detecting in some of them neither the characteristic coloring, nor the amorphous nuclei of blackish appearance. We then resort to the comparison of the reaction on the adult tear secretion, finding a similar precipitate with morphous nuclei of blackish appearance. The same reaction is still performed on the aforementioned child's tear secretion and has given rise to the more abundant precipitation than in the two previous tests, but of a whiter appearance and less rich in amorphous nodules with a blackish appearance. Now, since in the tear secretion, in addition to the presence of sodium chloride, there are very small particles of proteins or similar substances always of the quaternary type, that is, formed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen; it can be concluded that as regards this assay, screened and checked, silver nitrate gives rise to the formation of soluble silver proteinate also in the presence of sodium chloride and acid which, in relation to the quantity present, favors the coloring that can go from pale yellow to yellow-brown and also intense brown, depending on the amount of protein substance. In the protein composition (quaternary) removed by an excretory liquid, such as the tear secretion, it is possible the presence, by conductive affinity and composition, of amorphous nuclei such as possibly the alkaline urates (also quaternary) which determine, in the presence of silver, the formation of a blackish compound such as the nuclei found both in the liquid under examination and in the two human tear secretions, and which are mostly found in the secretion of the adult and, especially in the latter, the yellowish color of the precipitate of the silver chloride.

PROJECTED IMPACT

Ultimately, the appearance, alkalinity and composition lead one to believe that the liquid examined has a similar composition as the human tear secretion. Syracuse, 9 September 1953.
signed: Dr. Michele Cassola, Acting Director of the Micrographic Section of the Provincial Laboratory.
Dr. Francesco Cotzia, Assistant Provincial Micrographic Section, Syracuse.
Dr. Prof. Leopoldo La Rosa, hygienist chemist.
Dr. Mario Marletta, Surgeon.
The undersigned Parr. Giuseppe Bruno certifies that he attended the examination tests carried out on the liquid, referred to in this report 4, and that he received the oath, on the SS. Evangeli, of the signatories, who have signed me in my presence. In faith Giuseppe Bruno Parish priest of S. Tommaso Ap. - Syracuse