Ott ftfE FECULA OF GREEN PLANTS. j£ 



Are accuftomed to call putrefaction, all at once they flop in a- ' 

 ftate of permanence, in which, unknown combinations feem 

 to fix, and as it were to fait them, to embalm them, fo as to 

 infure their duration in this new ftate and to fecure them from 

 all fubfequent deftruction. 



When, for example, the curd, the fecula, the gluten, or but a permanent 

 the flefh, after having paused through all the changes of an in- ftate * 

 fection, which is often deadly, and thofe derangements of co- 

 lour and of form which disfigure them, have at laft arrived, 

 the one to a cheely ftate ; the vegetables, the dung-hills to 

 mould, turf, or poudrette ; — flefti itfelf has not been annihi- 

 lated after an ichorous ftagnation of fifteen years : all ftop at 

 this point, without being able to pafs the limit, without ever 

 attaining, at leaft under our eyes, that final diflblution which 

 muft terminate their exiftence, or reduce them to a mere 

 earthy matter, inert non ab jimile?n cineribus t to ufe the ex- 

 preflion of Stahl, in ftiort, to a ftate in which no trace of the 

 radical of their organization can be difcovered. 



Putrefaction of this kind in ftri&nefs takes place no where. Complete de- 

 No fooner do we perceive the derangement of the organiza-. ^J. lv . e P* tr€- 

 tion of an animal or vegetable matter, lividity, infection, where feen, 

 but we conclude that this procefs has commenced ; and with- 

 out confideration, we confound thefe appearances, which be- 

 long to a fpecies of fermentation, little known, with the ef- 

 fects of that which alone is the true putrefaction, if its end 

 agrees with the notions we form of if ; if it be truly an ope- 

 ration determined by nature to analyfe and refolve into their 

 laft principles, thofe fubftances which are fubmitted to it. 



Hence we may conclude, that ab folate putrefaction is a 

 thing we are totally unacquainted with. But let us return to 

 the fecula ; it is time to attend to that which is in fuch a ftate 

 of divifion as to pafs the filtre. 



VII. We will take as an example, the filtered j uice of cab- Fecula from cab- 

 bage, one of thofe plants which yields it moft abundantly. k a S e J u ^ e > 

 And, at the fame time, the better to demonftrate the differ- albumen. 

 ence between this fecond fecula and albumen, we will fubmit 

 the latter to the fame proofs. The white of an egg beat up 

 with a pound of water, and filtered, will furnifh the teft li- 

 quor we want. 



lft. Into water heated to 50 degrees, immerfe two matrafles, It feparates fro» 

 one with the filtered juice, the other with albumen. In an ^ r b > kfs 

 C 2 inftant 



