80 M. E. Peligot on the Composition of Asses' Milk. 



* 



posing this conjecture to be verified, to determine the circum- 

 stances which influence the relative qualities of the proximate 

 principles. 



The method which M. Peligot followed consists in sub- 

 mitting a certain quantity of milk, the volume and density of 

 which was noted at the commencement, to the heat of a vapour- 

 bath. When the residuum ceased to lose more by evaporation, 

 it was weighed ; it was then treated with a mixture of alcohol 

 and ether, which removed all the fatty matter ; it was again 

 subjected to heat and dried, and then weighed, and the differ- 

 ence of the two numbers gives the weight of the butter. Fre- 

 quent washing with cold water separates the sugar of milk from 

 the caseum, the quantity of which is then determined in the 

 same way as was the greasy or oily matter. 



The density of asses 1 milk varies from 1030 to 1035, water 

 being 1000. It is very nearly the same as cows' milk, which, 

 however, contains a considerably greater quantity of solid mat- 

 ter. This result, which appears contradictory, is explained by 

 the large quantity of butter in cows' milk compared with the 

 other, which contributes to diminish the density. 



Ass-milk differs much from other milks ; owing especially to 

 the great proportion of sugar of milk which it contains ; and it 

 is to the preponderance of this ingredient, according to M. Pe- 

 ligot, that we are probably to attribute its chief medicinal vir- 

 tues. 



As an average of sixteen analyses, the author finds that 100 

 parts of ass-milk contains 



(Butter, .... 1.29 



Solid matter, . 9.53 . . < Sugar of Milk, . 6.29 

 Water, . . . 90.47 (Caseum, .... 1.95 



100.00 



The proportion of the solid matter obtained varied from be- 

 tween 7 and ll^per cent, of the milk; it is sometimes, though 

 rarely under 7 per cent. 



The composition of asses 1 milk may, like that of other milk, 

 vary under the influence of different causes, and especially un- 

 der that of nourishment. For the purpose of manifesting, the 

 effects produced by this last cause, the same ass was fed with 



