G'afternoon Larry: Where were you when I was tagged to be my friends assayer and mill forman? You could have simplified my learning process. However, since you are my good friend today, your are forgiven. More Limeade ?

My self learning references were a high school chem book, and an article on fire assaying from an old mining magazine, plus an instruction book on a completely defunct Elmer -Perkins AA..

I managed to overhaul and recalibrate the AA, and found previous references to titrating the Cyanide solution, as well as to making the end point solution.

However, as is common with self taught thingies, I eventually managed to be hit with Cyanide poisoning through carelessness - no it didn't kill me, I just smell a bit rank after a few days on the trail with no bath..

HOWEVER, it did sensitize me to Cyanide, I can now smell a open container of Cyanide up to 50 ft away - I have won several bets on this sensitizing. It gives me an uncomfortable sickly sweet feeling or odor.

After being hit, I started checking on other methods of extracting, and did see a reference to a starch extraction method a long time ago. I never followed it up since there were no further articles on it in my sources of information.

Most of my problems with cyanide were in keeping it 'active' and of the correct strength.

Once as an experiment, I tried a 3 # solution , if I remember correctly. A year old enormous Charolois broke through the fencing barricade, she took a big slurp from the open tank and we had meat for a few days. she simply collapsed on the spot.

Frankly I would be very interested in such an extraction process, if practical, it would be valuable to me.

Will get to Arsenic poisoning some other day, also due to carelessness.

Don Jose de La Mancha (el clumsy amature)