286 Comparative Analysis of Beceni and Fossil Bones, 



In this search it occurred to me that fluorine might exi«t in common 

 water ; and, if so, that its accumulation in fossil bones would be found 

 to be the result of infiltration, as with carbonate of lime, peroxide 

 of iron, &c. In order to ascertain whether there was any founda- 

 tion for this view, I examined the toUowing substances, and found 

 them to contain fluorine, some in greater, some in less proportion : — 

 1. Deposit in a chloride of lime vat, 2. Deposit in a water-con- 

 duit pipe of a coal-mine. 3. Stalactitic deposit from the old red 

 sandstone.* 4. Deposit in a wooden pipe for conducting water from 

 a building. 5. Deposit in a kettle used solely for the boiling of 

 water. 6. Portion of a vein of sulphuret of barytes from the old 

 red sandstone above mentioned. 7. Fossil wood from Egypt, fos- 

 silized by infiltration of carbonate of lime. 8. Fossil wood from 

 Egypt, fossilized by infiltration of silica. f 



I no longer entertained a doubt as to the source of fluorine in 

 recent bones, and of its accumulation in fossil bones. The fact 

 which my investigation also disclosed to me, viz. that fluorine is not 

 confined to the bones of recent mammalia, but exists also in those 

 of birds and reptiles, as also in the shells of mollusca, was also thus 

 accounted for. Indeed, the last fact is alone enough to prove that 

 the source of fluorine must bo as generally diffused as water is ; 

 while the reception of that substance by the organism being secured 

 and placed beyond the dominion of tastes or caprice, seems to elevate 

 in importance the function which it has to fulfil. 



I shall now proceed to detail a hvf of the analyses made in pro- 

 secution of the object with which my investigations were begun. My 

 inferences as to the geological bearing of the results have already 

 been submitted to the Geological Society. 



First, Colossochylus atlas of the Sewalic Hills — entosternal bone 

 of the sternum, Caut. and Falc. ; phosphate of lime, 64*95 per cent. ; 

 carbonate of lime, 22*36 ; fluoride of calcium, 11*68; peroxide of 

 iron, 1*00. 



Second, Fossil ruminant of the Sewalic-— phosphate of lime, 

 78*00 per cent.; carbonate of lime, 11*34; fluoride of calcium, 

 10'65 ; peroxide of iron, trace. 



Third, A fossil horse of the St.^walic — phospliate of lime, 58*46 

 percent.; fluoride of calcium, 11*24; carbonate of lime, 28*80; 

 peroxide of iron, 0*60. 



Fourth, Fossil camel of the Sewalic — phosphate of lime, 62*35 

 per cent.; carbonate oi lime, 25*23; fluoride of calcium, 11*16; 

 peroxide of iron, 0*76. 



Fifth,\ Part of a fossil alligator, Sewalic — phosphate of lime, 



* Contained about 8 per cent, of fluoride of calcium. 



t A minute trace of fluorine. 



X The state of this fossil differed essentially from that of the foregoing ; 

 the}' being soft and friable, hard and refractory, and having quite a mi. 

 neral character. 



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