166 



OF THE ELEMENTARY PARTS OF THE HUMAN FABRIC. 



Femur. 



29-54 

 1-82 



57-42 



Scapula. Rib. 



Os innomi- 



natum. Vertebra. Sternum. 



c. Probably the most exact and comprehensive analyses yet made of Bone, are those of 

 Von Bibra;* whose laborious investigations may be said to have almost exhausted the sub- 

 ject. The following table shows the relative proportions of the principal ingredients in some 

 of the principal bones of a woman aged 25 years. 



Occipital 



bone. 



Organic matter. 

 Cartilage 

 Fat . 



Inorganic matter. 

 Phosphate of lime } 

 with a little fluo- > 

 ride of calcium. ) 

 Carbonate of lime 



29-87 

 1-40 



57-66 



32-90 

 1-73 



33-06 

 2-37 



54-75 52-91 



38-26 

 1-77 



49-72 



43-44 

 2-31 



44-28 



46-57 

 2-00 



42-63 



Phosphate of magnesia 

 Soluble salts 



8-92 8-75 8-58 8-66 8-08 8-00 



1-70 1-69 1-53 1-40 1-57 1-44 



0-60 0-63 0-51 0-60 0-60 0-53 



? 19 

 1-11 

 0-50 



100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 



The analyses of the long bones of the arm and leg correspond closely with that of the 

 femur; but we observe that the proportions of ingredients in the more spongy bones are 

 widely different. It is difficult, however, to say how far this variation is due to a difference 

 in the proportions of gelatine and earthy matter, in the actual osseous substance ; or how far 

 it may be accounted for by the presence of an increased proportion of membrane, forming 

 the lining of the cancelli. The same uncertainty must attend the explanation of the differ- 

 ences that present themselves at different ages; as shown in the folio wing table, which gives 

 the comparative analyses of the long bones (generally the femur) at different ages. 



Man Woman 

 25 years. 62 years. 



Organic matter. 



Cartilage 



Fat . 



Inorganic matter. 



Phosphate of lime } 

 with a little fluo- > 

 ride of calcium. } 



Carbonate of lime 



Phosphate of magnesia 



Soluble salts 



Fcetus 

 6 mouths. 



40-38 

 a trace 



Foetus 

 7 months. 



34-18 

 0-63 



Child 

 2 months. 



33-86 

 0-S2 



Child 

 5 years. 



31-28 

 0-92 



53-46 



3-06 

 2-10 



1-00 



57-G3 



5-86 

 1-10 

 0-60 



57-54 



6-02 

 1-03 

 0-73 



59-96 



5-91 

 1-24 

 0-69 



29-70 

 1-33 



59-63 



7-33 

 1-32 

 0-69 



28-03 

 2-15 



63-17 



4-46 

 1-29 



0-90 



100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 



From this it will be seen that there is a gradual diminution in the proportion of animal 

 matter, through life ; and a corresponding increase in the proportion of the earthy components. 

 But this is not nearly so great as is usually supposed ; and the greater solidity of the bones 

 of old persons is doubtless owing chiefly to the fact, that their cavities are progressively con- 

 tracted, by the addition of new bony matter ( 201). 



d. The following comparative analysis of the bones of different animals, are selected from 

 the very extensive series given by Von Bibra; which contains 143 of Mammalia (independ- 

 ently of Man), 151 of Birds, 31 of Reptiles, and 23 of Fishes. They were mostly made 

 upon the long bones ; except in the case of Fishes, in which they were made upon the Ver- 

 tebrae. 



Organic matter. 

 Cartilage 

 Fat ... 



Inorganic matter. 

 Phosphate of lime with 



a little fluoride of cal- 



ciuin. 



Carbonate of lime 

 Phosphate of magnesia 

 Soluble salts 



Sheep. Horse. Wolf. Thrush. Frog. Cod. Salmon. 



29-68 

 0-70 



27-99 

 3-11 



27-44 

 1-45 



28-02 

 1-54 



30-19 

 5-31 



31-90 

 2-34 



21-80 

 3S-S2 



!> 



J 



55-94 54-37 57-87 62-65 59-48 57-65 36-84 



12-18 

 1-00 

 0-50 



12-00 

 1-83 

 0-70 



11-09 

 1-13 



1-02 



6-05 

 0-90 

 0-84 



2-25 

 0-99 

 1-78 



4-81 

 2-30 

 1-00 



1-01 

 0-70 

 0-S3 



100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 



* Chemische Untersuchungen iibcr die Knochen und Ziihne des Menschen, und der Wir. 

 belthiere. 



