Mr. Cunningham.

We don't, no. Basically, the paraffin test is the preparing of the cast. We don't do that. We will run the chemical processing of these casts at the request of the local law-enforcement agency.

Mr. Eisenberg.

To rephrase it, if the FBI is having an investigation by itself in a matter it has primary jurisdiction over, will it use the paraffin test?

Mr. Cunningham.

No; not the paraffin-chemical test.

Representative Ford.

Is that because of the feeling that it is not as reliable as it should be?

Mr. Cunningham.

It is the feeling that it is definitely not reliable as to determining whether or not a person has fired a weapon. It is positive, and diphenlybenzidine solution is very positive and very sensitive, as to whether or not an oxidizing agent is present and it is used in chemistry.

Mr. Dulles.

You and I with our pipes would be in trouble here, wouldn't we?

Mr. Cunningham.

Yes, sir; I mentioned that this morning.

Representative Ford.

He brought it out this morning.

Mr. Cunningham.

I would be willing to state right now if we processed both of your hands you would come up positive, because invariably pipe smokers stick their finger in the bowl and you would get a positive reaction.
I am a cigar smoker, I also would come up positive.

Mr. Eisenberg.

I don't have any further questions, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Dulles.

Do you have any further questions?

Representative Ford.

I have no questions.

Mr. Rhyne.

I take it in sum and substance that these paraffin tests are practically worthless?

Mr. Cunningham.

For the determination of whether or not a person has fired a weapon.

Mr. Rhyne.

A gun?

Mr. Cunningham.

Yes.
Now the test is not worthless in chemistry.

Mr. Dulles.

What use are they then except possibly from this psychological angle that you have mentioned?

Mr. Cunningham.

We don't

Mr. Dulles.

Are they useful in other ways than but for the psychological reasons you mentioned?

Mr. Cunningham.

As far as whether or not a person has fired a gun?

Mr. Dulles.

Yes.

Mr. Cunningham.

No. Even with the mere handling of this weapon I could pick up residues. One could not testify that a person has fired a weapon because be had residues on his hands, which I showed you this morning, for example.
There is a spot right there on my hand, and all I have done is empty the weapon.

Representative Ford.

Did the FBI conduct a paraffin test on Oswald?

Mr. Cunningham.

No, sir; the Dallas Police Department did.

Representative Ford.

The FBI did not?

Mr. Cunningham.

We did not, sir.

Representative Ford.

You didn't analyze it?

Mr. Cunningham.

We did not. We obtained the paraffin casts and another agent in the spectographic unit took them to Oak Ridge and had them subjected to neutron activation, with which I am not familiar. But we did not do the original examination and the reporting. I don't know definitely as to what the Dallas Police Department did.

Mr. Eisenberg.

It was under the supervision of the Dallas Police Department. I think a doctor performed the test, I am not sure whether it was a police doctor or not.
By the way, after the paraffin test is run, does the positive reaction stay evident on the paraffin cast?

Mr. Cunningham.

No, it does not, due to the fact you have to wash it off. The solution of diphenylbenzidine is 70 percent sulphuric acid. The solution we were using in these tests was .25 grams of diphenylbenzidine to 100 ml. of 70 percent sulphuric acid, and sulphuric acid is corrosive. In other words, the majority of the solution is 70 percent sulphuric acid.