(>£ ON SWEAT AND ITS ACID. 



first class belong the blood and bile: to the second, the 

 urine, milk, and sweat! 



Hence arise naturally two questions; what are the alkalis, 

 and what are the acids, proper to these fluids ? The first lias 



S<xTa i the only a ] pea( jy ^ een so l ve d, as the researches of Cadet and Deyeux 

 have proved, that we never meet with any alkali but soda in 



What are the animal substances. The solution of the second however is 

 but little advanced : even the data, that might lead to it, are 

 for the most part inaccurate: and many of the results relat> 

 ing to some of these parts are too deficient in proof, to be 

 placed in the rank of demonstrated truths. This is the 

 question therefore, that will form the subject of the present 

 memoir; and, that I may treat it in a manner suitable to 

 the object I have in view, I shall tirtt present as full aq ana- 

 lysis of the sweat, as we have of urine and of milk. 



Part I. Of the Sweat. 



Sweat. The sweat is a fluid separated from, the blood in the skin 



by exhalant vessels, with which its texture is traversed or 

 filled. It is more or less copious in different individuals: 

 and its quantity is perceptibly in the inverse ratio of that of 

 the urine. All other circumstances being similar, much 



That of an more is produced during digestion than dnring repose. The 



adult from maximum of its production appears to be twentv-six "rains 



1S20 grs. near ' , . , . F . , • • • * • 



2 lbs. avoivd., and two thirds in a minute, the minimum nine grains, troy 



to 58400, near weight. It is much inferior however to the pulmonary tran- 



M lbs. per day. . n . " . . V1 ' , *\ 



r .r, c , spiration: and there is likewise a great inherence between 



i hat from the P p ' . 



luuns still their nature and manner of formation. Ihe one is the pro- 



* n " re « duct of a particular secretion, similar in some sort to that 



crvtloa" 1 a **' °f tne urme: tne Other* composed of a great deal of water 

 and carbonic acid, is the product of a combustion gradually 

 effected by the atmospheric air. 

 Ir quarries. The sweat, in a healthy state, very sensibly reddens litmus, 



paper or infusion. In certain diseases, and particularly in 

 putrid fevers, it is alkaline: yet its ta*te is always rather sa- 

 line, and similar to that of salt, than acid. Though colour- 

 less, it stains linen. Its smell is peculiar, and insupportable 

 when it is concentrated, which is the case in particular during 

 distillation. But before I speak of the trials to which I sub- 

 jected it, and for winch 1 had occasion for a great quantity, 



I 



