Mr. Middleton's Analysis of Recent and Fossil Bones. 17 



lyses, I am indebted to the kindness and courtesy of the au- 

 thorities of University College. It will be readily seen how 

 important they were to the investigations with which I set out, 

 as also how directly they bear upon the truth to which my in- 

 vestigations led me, viz. "that fluorine in fossil bones is a pro- 

 duct of infiltration." 



The first of these analyses, and the ninth in order, is that 

 of a Greek skull, its age being about 2000 years, as indicated 

 by a coin found under the jaw, and which, according to usage, 

 had no doubt been placed in the mouth of the corpse previous 

 to burial. The bone had so far assumed a fossil character as 

 to be friable; easily pulverized in a mortar, and having a 

 faintly pinkish tint, due to the presence of peroxide of iron. 

 The following were found to be its constituents : — 



per cent. 



Phosphate of lime 70*01 



Carbonate of lime 10'34 



Fluoi'ide of calcium 5*04< 



Organic matter 9*97 



Insoluble in acids 1*68 



Soda and chloride of sodium . . 1'15 

 Phosphate of magnesia .... 1*34 

 Peroxide of iron, a small quantity 



Tenth. Skull of an Egyptian mummy. 



per cent. 



Organic matter 38*50* 



Phosphate of lime 50*76 



Carbonate of lime 6*01 



Fluoride of calcium .... 2*35 

 Phosphate of magnesia . . . I'l^ 

 Soda and chloride of sodium . 1*12 

 Eleventh. Analysis of a portion of a skull lately recovered 

 from the wreck of the Royal George. This bone had under- 

 gone but little change in appearance from its normal state, 

 while it had all the tenacity of recent bone. It had, however, 

 a slightly yellowish tinge, and the cells between the plates 

 were charged with a white substance, which, when examined, 

 was found to consist of chloride and oxide of magnesium. 

 The following were its constituents : — 



per cent. 



Organic matter 31*59 



Phosphate of lime 50*58 



Carbonate of lime 9*83 



* I can only account for the large proportion of organic matter and the 

 small proportion of carbonate of lime by supposing them to be results of 

 the process of embalming. 



Phil, Mag. S. 3. Vol. 25. No. 163. July 184-4.. C 



