COMPONENTS OF THE ANIMAL FABRIC. ALBUMEN. 103 



view, pure Albumen is not soluble in water; its solution being only accom- 

 plished by union with an alkali. When dissolved in water, it coagulates 

 at 158 ; a very dilute solution, however, does not become turbid until it is 

 boiled. When the coagulation of Albumen takes place rapidly, a coherent 

 mass is formed, which shows no trace whatever of organization ; but, when 

 the process is more gradual, minute granules present themselves, which do 

 not, however, exhibit any tendency towards a higher form of structure. It is 

 thrown down from its solution, in a coagulated state, by Alcohol, Creosote, 

 and by most Acids (particularly nitric) with the exception of the acetic. 

 These precipitates are definite compounds of the Acids with the Albumen, 

 which here acts the part of a base. On the other hand, coagulated Albumen 

 dissolves in caustic Alkalies, and neutralizes them ; so that it must here act 

 as an acid. A solution of Albumen in water is precipitated by acetate of lead, 

 and by many other metallic solutions: and insoluble compounds are formed, 

 of which one the albuminate of the chloride of mercury is of much interest, 

 as being that which is produced by the mixture of a solution of albumen with 

 one of corrosive sublimate. Albumen, both in its soluble and insoluble state, 

 always contains a small amount of Sulphur, which blackens metallic silver ; 

 and also a minute quantity of Phosphorus. Soluble albumen dissolves Phos- 

 phate of Lime ; and about two per cent, of this salt may be separated from it 

 in its coagulated state. 



114. So long as Albumen remains in the state regarded by Chemists as 

 characteristic of it, no tendency to become organized can be discerned in it ; 

 but subsequently to its introduction into the living Animal body, it undergoes 

 a transformation into a compound, termed Fibrine, which is distinguished from 

 it by new and peculiar properties. It appears from the analyses of Mulder 

 and Scherer, that there is no essential difference in the ultimate composition 

 of these two substances ; the relative proportions of the constituents of each 

 being, according to them, as follow: 



MULDER. SCHERER. 



Albumen. Fibrine. Albumen. Fibrine. 



Carbon .... 54-84 54-56 53-850 53-671 



Hydrogen . . . 7-09 6'90 6-983 6-87S 



Nitrogen . . . 15-83 15-72 15-673 15-763 



Oxygen . . . 21-23 22-13 ) 



Phosphorus ... -33 -S3 S 23-494 23-688 



Sulphur ... -68 -36 ) 



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The wide difference in their properties must be referred, on this view, solely 

 to a change in the molecular arrangement of their ultimate particles. Accord- 

 ing to Dumas, however, there is a marked difference in composition, between 

 Fibrine and the various forms of Albumen; the former having less Carbon, 

 and more Nitrogen, than the latter. The following are the results of his 

 analyses : 



ALBUMEX. FIBRINE. 



From serum. From eggs. 



Carbon .... 53-32 53'37 52-78 



Hydrogen .... 7-29 7-10 6-96 



Nitrogen .... 15-70 15-77 16-78 

 Oxygen ^ 



Sulphur . 23-69 23-76 23'48 

 Phosphorus . . ; 



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