1835.] Improvements in Science. 215 



no effect will be produced on the addition of sulphate of 

 barytes. Hence, the precipitate consists of albumen and 

 protoxide of copper. In one experiment the percentage of 

 oxide was 1*69, and in another 1*60, affording a very small 

 saturating power to the albumen. The serum of ox blood 

 exhibited the same appearances. A solution of colouring 

 matter of blood produces with sulphate of copper a flocky 

 reddish brown precipitate, which is a compound of the red 

 matter and protoxide of copper, containing 1*901 per cent, 

 of oxide. 



Albumen and Chloride of Iron. — By the mixture of the 

 solutions of these substances a reddish brown precipitate 

 is formed, which is readily soluble in an excess of ether. 



The moist precipitate dissolves easily in ammonia, and 

 potash has the same action. 



Acetic acid and solution of sulphate of copper dissolve it 

 likewise. In the heated residue of the precipitate with 

 carbonate of soda, no trace of chlorine can be detected. In 

 this combination the percentage of peroxide was in one trial 

 2-799, and in a second 2-887. 



Albumen and Sulphate of Zinc. — This precipitate is white 

 and is dissolved by an excess of either constituent. It is 

 very soluble in acetic acid, ammonia, solutions of carbonate 

 of soda and sulphate of copper. In the three first solutions 

 no trace of sulphuric acid can be detected. Hence, the 

 precipitate consists of oxide of zinc and albumen containing 

 2*729 per cent, of oxide. 



Albumen combines with many other bases, the most of 

 which are soluble both in an excess of albumen and of the 

 salts of the base. (Poggendorff's Ann.) 



Colouring matter of Blood. (N. Journal fur Chemie, iv. 

 314.) — Hembstadt conceives that as sulphur forms one of 

 the constituents of the blood, and as iron exists in the 

 colouring matter, the red colour of the blood may proceed 

 from the presence of the sulpho-cyanate of iron. He states 

 that the colour of the blood may be imitated by mixing 

 albumen, water of the blood, or milk with hydro-sulphuret 

 of cyanogen and a little chloride of iron. 



Concretions. — Lassaigne found an elastic concretion in 

 the lungs of a horse to consist of some fat and fibrine of 

 the blood. 



