It is well known that when the stinging hairs of the common nettle (Urtica dioica or U. urens) are caused to discharge their contents upon blue litmus paper, intensely red spots are produced. On the subsequent exposure to the air of the paper thus spotted, the red colour gradually diminishes in intensity, and in a day or two is scarcely distinguishable, although it does not entirely disappear even after several weeks' exposure. This behaviour indicates that the reddening is due, in the main at least, to a volatile acid, and the range of acids probably present is thereby very strictly limited.
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