152 Experiments on the Distillation of Animal Suhstances. 



Component parts o.f white snails : Volatile matter 93*82 



Oxide of carbon 6*18 



100 parts. 



Experiment XLT. 

 Black Snails, 6*37 grains. — A shrivelled coal was found to 

 be the result of the distillation of these animals, mixed with 

 nearlv one-third part of caustic lime of a gray earthy colour : 

 the whole weighed 30 grains; the loss by distillation having 

 fccen 587. 



Component parts of black snails: Volatile matter 9215 



Oxide of carbon 7*85. 



100 parts, 



Experiment XLU. 

 Earth Worms, that had been kept for some weeks to 

 cleanse themselves, 1000 grains. — A considerable quantity 

 of gas was evolved during the distillation, and the usual 

 smell of the combustion x>f animalmatter. A firm bulky 

 mass of coal weighing 130 grains was obtained, mixed with 

 concretions of earthy matter. Loss by distillation 870 grains, 



Component parts : Volatile matter . 87 



Oxide of carbon "J 

 mixed with earths J 



100 parts. 



Tt is rendered highly probable from these experiments, 

 that eXery animal substance contains a portion of oxide of 

 carbon ; and many of those that exhibit but a small residuum 

 in the state of coal, part with a considerable quantity in 

 the state of £,as and flame, dissolved in hydrogen, but 

 which is lost from a recompounding affinity not being pre- 

 sent at the period of disengagement. From this circum- 

 stance most probably may arise, in part, a well established 

 fact, that the same quantity of any of the substances before 

 operated upon, will communicate a greater share of carbo- 

 naceous matter when in a raw state, than the same sub- 

 stance 



