30 SEPIA, OR CUTTLE FISH. 



did not affect its colour, but the nitric after standing a day or 

 two changed it to a brown. 



but not by ox. li. Oxymuriatic acid did not occasion a precipitate with the 

 solution of sepia j and mixed in the proportion of one part of 

 the former to three of the latter, the colour was not affected ; 

 but when mixed in equal parts, it was changed to a brown. 



Dried s. is ]2. Sepia, after having been dryed by spontaneous evapora- 



a * lion, was insoluble in oxymuriatic acid. 



Ox.mur. of 13. A solution of oxymuriate of mercury being added to a 



dD^coDUJuriv solution of sepia, occasioned a copious precipitate. 



as does nitrate 14. Nitrate of silver precipitated sepia from its solution in 



ot suver, water, but did not injure its colour. 



and also sulph. 1.5. Some solution of sulphate of iron, being dropped into a 



ot iron. solution of sepia, the sepia was precipitated, but its colour was 



not affected. 



Deduction. From the above experiments, particularly from 2, 3, 5, (5, 7* 



11, and 13, we may reasonably infer, that the sepia is composed 

 for the most part of albumen. Example 8 and 9 indicate the 

 presence of gelatine. 



Sepia stands As tne oxy muriatic and nitric acids have so little effect on the 



colour. colour of sepia, we may confidently conclude that it possesses 



the valuable property of standing well. This conclusion is 

 also strengthened, and in a great measure confirmed, by the 

 information of Dr. Leigh, from whom we learn that sepia has 

 been sometimes used as writing ink, and that in a piece of 

 writing of ten years standing, which he had seen, the colour 

 of the sepia was still retained. 



Indian ink It has been conjectured by some writers,* that Indian ink is 



t d o be™™™. 6 ** nothin g else than the se P ia of the cuttle fish - A ve, 7 intelligent 



gentleman, with whom I corresponded on the subject, and who 



was of a contrary opinion, writes me as follows : ** I have 



great reason to believe that not a particle of sepia enters into 



Sepia is far the composition of Indian ink. The colour is very different j 



superior. anc j ge p- ia j g as SU p er i or t0 Indian ink with respect to the ease of 



working 



* " Sepia piscis est qui habet succum nigerrimum instar atramenti quern 

 chinenses cum brodiooriza vel alterius leguminis inspicsant et formant, et 

 in universuni orbem transmittunt,sub nomine atramenti Chinensis." — 

 Pauli Hermani cynosura, t. 1. p. 17, pars II. Vide etiam Elemens de 

 Chirnie, par M. Chaptal, torn. iii. p. 357 ; Moutpellier edit. 17D0. 



