Chemical Science. 391 



and put by M. Chevreul. Are not the alkaline liquids of the 

 animal system in a different condition with regard to oxygen gas 

 to the acid liquids, even when the latter contain the same prinr 

 ciples as the former? 



Has not the alkali contained in the blood some influence on 

 respiration ? consequently, is there not in the organs of animals, 

 inorganic bodies possessed of an activity much greater than has 

 as yet been recognized ? 



Is the alkalinity of the fluids destined during life to receive the 

 impression of the air essential to respiration, or is it simply a 

 concomitant phenomenon with the combustion of the carbon and 

 the hydrogen in the blood ? u If," says M. Chevreul, M the ne- 

 cessity of the alkaline nature of the blood during respiration be 

 confirmed, it will establish an important difference between the 

 blood of animals and the sap of vegetables, which is always acid." — 

 Mem. du Museum, xii. 867. 



3. Thorina, not a distinct earth. — M. Berzelius has ascertained 

 that the substance which he described 10 years ago, as a new earth, 

 does not merit that distinction, being merely a sub-phosphate of 

 Yttria. We are glad of this correction, and think, that in the 

 present state of chemistry, the man who strikes an earth or metal 

 off the list, deserves more thanks than he who puts one on. 



4>. On the Distillation of fatty Bodies, by M. Dupuy. — M. Dupuy 

 is a student in pharmacy, who, having occasion, in 1823, to distil 

 some oil, observed that the temperature exerted an important in- 

 fluence on the nature of the products. When the oil was not 

 raised to ebullition, a solid product was obtained equalling three- 

 fourths of the quantity employed ; whilst, if a temperature higher 

 than ebullition was used, a liquid product was obtained during 

 the whole of the operation. These results were communicated to 

 M. Thenard, who recommended the author to submit them also to 

 M. ( hevreul, in consequence of his peculiar interest in researches 

 on fatty bodies. The conduct of M. Chevreul was so honourable 

 and delicate on this occasion, as to deserve the marked approba* 

 tion of all scientific men. Seeing that the experiments were highly 

 interesting, he advised the student to continue them, supplied his 

 want of means and experience by giving him the use of his labo- 

 ratory and his advice ; and, though he knew of all the facts before 

 the publication of his work on animal fatty bodies, would not, 

 from delicacy, refer to them ; nor could he be persuaded by the 

 author himself to take up the subject for quicker and better in- 

 vestigation, because as a man of honour he considered it the in- 

 violable property of M. Dupuy. 



