on the Nature and Properties ofAlbumeti, S^c, 19 



magnifying power. When acted on by reagents the follow- 

 ing were the results. 



A. Sulphuric acid formed a pale reddish solution with pu- 

 rulent mucus; remaining nearly transparent, afterdilution with 

 water. 



B. Nitric acid dissolved it with great difficulty, and not 

 until after the application of heat : a pale yellow solution was 

 then obtained, becoming orange red on the addition of a so- 

 lution of potass. 



C. Ammonia by the assistance of heat yielded a turbid so- 

 lution : when this was poured into cold water, it formed, after 

 a few seconds' repose, a thin layer on the surface ; which, when 

 viewed from above downwards, appeared quite diaphanous, but 

 when placed horizontally between the eye and the light, ap- 

 peared like a layer of semi-opake jelly : this after some time 

 subsided in a manner closely resembling the subsidence of 

 silicic acid from hydro-fluosilicic acid, after the addition of a 

 potass- salt. 



D. Hydrochloric acid partly dissolves puriform mucus, 

 forming a lilac-coloured trouble djluid. 



E. Acetic acid did not dissolve it, even after the application 

 of heat : it appeared to contract the mucus into a corrugated 

 membranoid mass, which floated on the surface of the fluid. 



F. By careful incineration in a platinum crucible, a nearly 

 white ash was obtained, which exerted an alkaline action on 

 turmeric paper, and partly dissolved with effervescence in dilute 

 acids. It is unnecessary to make any remark upon these re- 

 actions, as they resemble those produced by simple mucus, 

 modified only by the presence of particles of free albumen. 



7. Some ounces of rather opake mucus of bronchitis were 

 placed in a flask furnished vi^ith a tube bent twice at right 

 angles, and immersed in lime water. A lamp heat was then 

 applied to the flask ; and in a few minutes, long before actual 

 ebullition, bubbles of gas were copiously evolved from the mu- 

 cus ; and on passing through the lime water, they rendered 

 it quite milky from a copious deposit of carbonate of lime; 

 hence proving most satisfactorily the presence of carbonic 

 acid in mucus, either free, or in so loose a state of combination 

 as to be evolved by a very gentle heat. 



B. Two fluid ounces of similar mucus were mixed with a 

 small quantity of a solution of potass, in a flask furnished as 

 before with a bent tube, the end of which was immersed in a 

 small quantity of pure dilute hydrochloric acid. On applying 

 heat to the flask, the upper part and tube became soon filled 

 with white fumes ; and after five minutes' boiling the lamp 

 was removed : the dilute acid being carefully evaporated to 



C2 



