Substances connected with an Egyptian Mummy. 291 



was macerated one hour in water, at about 1 70 u ; the solution 

 had a light yellow colour and a saline taste. 



2. — The portion remaining was repeatedly digested in boil- 

 ing alcohol (*835 rectified spirit of wine), until the spirit ceased 

 to acquire any colour : the alcoholic solutions deposited a yel- 

 low-coloured substance upon cooling. The whole of the so- 

 lutions were mixed together and diluted by about twice their 

 amount of water; an immediate yellow-coloured precipitate 

 fell down : on the application of heat the precipitate melted, 

 and floated upon the surface of the water ; it was ascertained 

 that this substance became solid at 110° Fahrenheit: it was 

 thus removed, and after being dried between the folds of fil- 

 tering paper, weighed 23 grains. 



3. — The remaining liquid, when cool, was opaque, but upon 

 being heated to 212° became transparent. On evaporation 

 to dryness, it weighed 12 grains, and proved to be almost en- 

 tirely gelatine. 



4. — The aqueous solution, (No. 1.) was evaporated to dry- 

 ness ; the residue, which was of a dark-brown colour, brittle, 

 and covered with bright saline crystals, weighed 9 grains. 

 The addition of a few drops of water converted the whole of 

 it into a mucilage ; the saline part consisted almost entirely of 

 carb&nate of soda, with some muriate and sulphate, and ap- 

 peared identical with the salt found in the bandages. The 

 mucilaginous portion was gelatine. 



5.— The part undissolved by the action of both water and 

 alcohol, weighed,when dry, 51 grains ; it did not inflame readily, 

 and gave out when burning the peculiar smell of burnt horn. 



6. — The substance (2) had a deep yellow colour, and a greasy 

 feel very much like that of cerate ; it possessed little either of 

 taste or smell when cold : when fused, it gave out the odour 

 of the spices found about the body ; it inflamed, and emitted a 

 large quantity of light during its combustion. It was entirely dis- 

 solved in liquid ammonia, and the solution remained perfectly 

 transparent on the addition of water ; this alkaline solution ex- 

 posed in an evaporating-dish to the air, deposited a soapy 

 substance as the ammonia evaporated. Potash formed with 

 this substance a soap soluble in water. Boiling nitric acid 

 scarcely acted upon it. Subjected to destructive distillation, 

 it presented the following appearances. Upon the application 

 of heat it melted, and bubbles of air were rapidly disengaged ; 

 — after a short time, the liquid became quiescent, the retort 

 was filled with dense white fumes, and a few drops of water 

 were condensed. No trace of the formation of ammonia was 

 perceptible, nor did the water taste acid ; at a more elevated 

 temperature a dark-coloured oily fluid trickled down the beak 



2 P2 of 



